Archive for ‘News’

  • Berkowitz to tax-shifting lawmakers: ‘Stop this insanity’

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer Forcing SAD 61 taxpayers to pay 100% of teachers’ retirement pensions is like adding insult to injury, and it has got to stop. That’s the essence of the message in a letter to Maine House and Senate members drafted by Bridgton Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz, authorized by the Bridgton Board […]

  • Disband or keep FPD? Fryeburg explores police coverage options

    By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer FRYEBURG — Keep it or disband? Chief Philip Weymouth sees the question of whether residents wish to keep the Fryeburg Police Department as a matter of “local control.” Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant believes his agency can meet the needs of the Town of Fryeburg and bring some resources […]

  • DEP removes five oil drums from Casco tributary

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO – The spring day brimmed with perfection. The sunshine had wiped away a morning fog. The trees were lively with the bristling of birds. Lockets of purple flowers sprouted from a mossy carpet. It was flawless — except for the five oil drums sitting above the brook, which […]

  • SAD 61 budget passes first test, quietly

    By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer 32 minutes One comment about whether school officials could have cut deeper to lighten the burden on taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes and struggling due to a bad economy. $27,928,764 to be spent on local education. Add money to keep schools open for community activities, subsidize the food […]

  • LEA, Loon Echo respond to Agenda 21 concers

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer (Editor’s note: The Bridgton News asked the executive directors of two of the Lake Region’s leading nonprofit environmental organizations to respond to last week’s article reporting on a talk given by Dr. Michael Coffman, saying the United Nation’s Agenda 21 action plan for sustainable living on the planet is now […]

  • Piecing together Naples town budget

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — Planning a budget has a few obvious steps. First, plug in all the reliable revenue. Then, estimate — or don’t count on — the questionable revenue. Next, set aside money to cover all the necessary bills, staff salaries and anticipated purchases. Also, put aside funds for those […]

  • Garden Wizards are whimsical hit at Mark’s Lawn & Garden

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer What began with his first attempts to duplicate his grandfather Edmund Fectue’s wizard-faced woodcarvings has blossomed into a cement sculpture sideline business for Mark Cartonio, owner of Mark’s Lawn & Garden in Bridgton. Examples of this new business venture, called Garden Wizards International, are tucked here and there and everywhere […]

  • Casco can’t tax phantom trailers

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — How does a town collect taxes on phantom trailers? It doesn’t. The Casco Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to remove from the tax collection list the $200-plus owed in property taxes for two trailers that had been removed from Point Sebago Resort’s land. On Tuesday, the board […]

  • Bridgton finalizes referendum, election warrant

    By Gail Geraghty Staff Writer It’s official — Ken Murphy is the only official candidate for the one open seat on the Bridgton Board of Selectmen. And Fred Packard, who originally wasn’t going to run again for the Planning Board, has changed his mind. On Monday, the day after the deadline for returning nomination papers […]

  • LRHS students hear about ‘fake weed’ dangers

    By Dawn De Busk and Wayne Rivet Staff Writers NAPLES – “Spice” is hardly nice. In fact, the so-called “fake weed” is potentially toxic, yet has become a “designer drug” and “fad” amongst teenagers. Spice, also known as K-2, is being sold as a herbal incense. Although a warning — “not for human consumption” — […]