Archive for ‘News’

  • SAD 61 considering elementary school building options

    By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer A few years ago, the idea of “repurposing” Crooked River Elementary School was an attempt to trim costs as SAD 61 faced yearly cuts in state aid. Today, the school board may be targeting the Route 11 facility to once again house elementary-age students. PDT Architects recently turned over […]

  • Casco voters back new town hall

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — A new town hall is on the horizon. The building will be raised from the foundation up; and, the location is on the same piece of property as the current town hall and the fire station. Residents who attended Casco Town Meeting on June 10 approved $600,000 […]

  • New Bridgton police chief to be named within days

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Bridgton’s new Police Chief should be named within days, now that the search has been narrowed to two finalists, Town Manager Bob Peabody said on June 9. The Police Chief Search Committee interviewed five candidates on June 5, wrapping up their role in helping to find a replacement for Police […]

  • Casco supports bus service, blueprints for dam

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO – The approval of municipal budget funds to keep the Lakes Region Bus service going went off without a hitch. The vast majority of voters at Casco Town Meeting wanted to keep on the road the rural bus service that runs from Naples to Portland with stops in […]

  • Catch some Blues this weekend in Naples

    NAPLES — It was a little more than 10 years ago when a physics professor walked into his favorite pub and said, “What do you think about starting a blues festival?” It was an idea that had teeth, something that has grown for a decade and become a yearly event like no other. When co-founders […]

  • Winslow, Belanger elected selectmen in Harrison

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer HARRISON — Archille “Archie” Belanger came in second in the four-way race for Harrison Selectman, winning a seat on the board along with top vote-getter Bill Winslow, the current chairman. Belanger’s 158-vote count was only 11 votes fewer than the 169 received by Winslow, who has led the board with […]

  • Bridgton: Town Hall challenged rejected; Watkins wins big, McHatton by one vote

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer The “Save Our Old Town Hall” movement carried the day Tuesday in Bridgton, as did funding for the Lakes Region Bus, but voters soundly rejected a third question seeking to prevent changes to existing sewer system allocations. Newcomer Greg Watkins was the biggest-winning candidate, earning one of two seats on […]

  • Close-call fire destroys new restaurant, Vivo, but owners will rebuild

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Oil-soaked rags left out on the deck caused a devastating fire Friday to Vivo’s Italian Kitchen and Bar, destroying the century-old building at 18 Depot Street just days before the new 30-seat bistro-style restaurant was to open. The blaze sent shock waves through town and an resulted in an immediate […]

  • Henry buys back foreclosed properties in Bridgton

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Bridgton Selectmen accepted quit claim deeds Tuesday on three foreclosed properties in the downtown from their former landlord, Nelson Henry, who promised to take care of any remaining code violations. Nelson’s attorney at Mittel Asen in Portland provided the town with a total of $12,476 to pay off outstanding property […]

  • ‘Finders Keepers’ — Locals have first dibs on Stephen King book signing

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Author Stephen King will once again demonstrate generosity at its best by offering greater Bridgton readers signed copies of his new novel, Finders Keepers, which explores obsession at its worst. King, a summer resident of Lovell, has arranged with Bridgton Books to hold the book signing at the Magic Lantern […]