Staff Writer

LEARNING TO CARE FOR OTHERS — are these Lake Region Vocational Center certified nursing assistant students, back, from left: Cassidy Decker, Ashley Williams, Instructor Mrs. Kathiann Shorey, R.N., Nikki Shivers and Emma Flaherty. Front, from left: Jennifer Woods, Melissa Foster, Danielle Keller, Kayla Eastman and Andrea Comeau. (Ackley Photo)

A few years ago, anyone in the Lake Region who wanted to become a certified nursing assistant had to travel to Portland or Lewiston, after they graduated from their local high school.

Today, students from Fryeburg Academy, Lake Region High School, Sacopee Valley High School and home schooled students — all have the opportunity to enroll in the Lake Region Vocational Center’s certified nursing assistant program — with many finding employment as soon as they graduate.

However, certified nursing assistant program instructor Kathiann Shorey. R.N., said that, while technical nursing skills can be taught, compassion cannot — it comes from the heart.

“I call it High Touch versus High Tech,” Mrs. Shorey said. “A good nurse has to be able to find a balance between the two.”

As National Nurses’ Week was being celebrated from May 6 through 12, the LRVC certified nursing assistant students were hard at work diligently studying for their CNA state board exams which they took yesterday, May 16.

Students in the LRVC’s certified nursing assistant program spend the first part of the fully accredited class learning from books and classroom instruction. Later on, they practice the medical skills they have learned about on mannequins, as well as each other. It is only after those areas of instruction are completed that they undertake “on-the-job” training at Bridgton Hospital and area health care centers.

Mrs. Shorey pointed out that it is often the high technology factor that draws a student to the field of nursing. However, she said, “Competence and caring is what makes a good medical professional.”

Asked recently why they wanted to become a CNA and what they think their career path will be after that — this year’s LRVC certified nursing assistant students were also asked to speak about their “passion” and how that will direct their career choice in the future.

Here is what they said:

SHOWING A NEW MOTHER — how to breastfeed her baby properly are Ashley Williams (at left) and Jennifer Woods. (Ackley Photo)

Andrea Comeau — Senior — Home School Student — My passion is to love, encourage and care for my patients and residents. Ever since I read about Florence Nightingale caring for the wounded soldiers by bringing them comfort and a gentle touch, I have wanted to do the same thing. I have wanted to serve others and to bring a smile on dreary days. I love to encourage people, whether it’s by sitting next to them and holding their hand, listening to their fears, or by helping out with simple needs. This is why I am a Certified Nursing Assistant. In the coming years, I am going to study to become a Registered Nurse. I want to move forward in the health career, so that I can learn more to help those around me. With each step forward, I will be able to give more specific and holistic care to my patients and residents. I feel that the more I know the more I can give.

Taking the Nurse’s Aide course in high school was an extreme blessing. If it had not been for the LRVC (Lake Region Vocation Center) I don’t know that I would have been able to take the Nurse’s Aide course at all or for a very long time due to costs related to taking the course as an adult. Because I was able to take the class in high school, I now have a head start and a step up to fulfilling my passion. It is a job I have desired and dreamed about and this course has made that dream possible.
Jennifer Woods — Senior — Lake Region High School — I wanted to be a CNA because it is a good starting point for what I truly want to do. I am so glad I took this course; it gives me a taste of what nursing is like instead of just jumping into it when college starts. We take our exam May 16th. After I pass my exam I plan on putting an application in to a nursing home and hopefully getting a job so I can start using my CNA. From there, I am going to the University of New England studying nursing. Along with I will be working as a CNA which will help my studies. I plan on going back to school after that and becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Nicole Shivers — Senior — Fryeburg Academy — I applied to the Lake Region Vocational Center CNA program because I knew it would be a great way to begin my career in nursing. I have always wanted to be in the medical fields and this class introduces all of the possibilities from Dental to Physical Therapy. In the fall, I will be attending SMCC for nursing where I will get my associate’s degree, then transfer and major in Obstetrics. My passion is the mother-baby connection. It is what I am most interested in, and I know it is what I am going to pursue.

Emma Flaherty — Senior — Fryeburg Academy — I decided to take the CNA course now as a senior because I wanted to get my feet wet to see if I actually want to be a nurse and if this field is for me. The CNA was a great course for me to take, just in case I feel like Nursing isn’t my thing, because I still can go and help people.

After this I will be heading up to Fort Kent going “undecided” but I am going to change into the nursing program to study psychiatric nursing.

My passion is to become a psychiatric nurse, because I just love the way the brain functions and how, when the wiring goes wrong, you could become a different person.

Kayla Eastman — Junior — Fryeburg Academy — I started this program looking for an opportunity to get my feet in the door. CNA seemed like a good starting point to start out my career in the medical field. This program was a free way to get my CNA license and it was close to home. It is very beneficial and it gives you the knowledge you need.

If I decide to further my career in the medical field, I want to be an X-ray technician. This course gave me the people skills you need everyday and the compassion for caring for other people. The best part about being a CNA is you learn more about others and even yourself.

Cassidy Decker — Senior — Sacopee Valley High School — Why did I choose to become a CNA? I wanted to because I want to be a nurse! I love helping people, knowing that I contributed to helping someone get better in anything just gives me great joy!

What’s next? I plan on hopefully go on to college and pursue my nursing degree and hopefully work with children.

Danielle Keller  — Senior — Lake Region High School — Why CNA now? I wanted to be a nurse, ever since I was in the 8th grade. Once I got into the high school and heard about the voc center, I’ve always wanted to get into the health occupations program. My junior year I applied to get into the voc center for my senior year and I got in. Now, I only have a few more days until my final state board exam.

What next? I want to continue my work as a CNA and eventually work my way up to an RN and maybe an OR Nurse.

Passion? My passion is to take care of people and to love them. I want to be a nurse because that gives me the perfect opportunity to show people who I truly am.

Ashley Williams — Junior — Sacopee Valley High School — I wanted to be a CNA because it was a great stepping-stone into the medical field.

Being a CNA has showed me all the wonderful possibilities! I know this class will help me get into a good college and I am proud I took it.

For the next step, I want to go to college and get my bachelor’s degree. I want to become an RN, and then work in Oncology, or in Pediatrics.

My passion is helping people, so I truly believe I am in the right career. It makes me happy when I can make someone’s day, or make someone feel better. Seeing a smile on someone’s face, makes all the hard work we do worth it.

Becky Mowatt — Junior — Lake Region High School — Why CNA? I chose to take the CNA program at Lake Region Vocational Center because I wanted a place to start my medical career. Knowing I could take the state board and get my certification was a big benefit.

What next? After I complete high school, I plan to attend a four-year college, hopefully at St. Joseph’s College, to get my R.N. Later, in the future, I may continue onto getting a doctorate degree.

Passion? Looking back at all the clinical sites that I have worked at, I have found my passion in pediatrics and also oncology. Infants and small children are fun to work with and they kept me busy! I may continue my love for pediatrics by getting my OB-GYN (certification). Oncology is always changing and I love learning about cancer and how I can pursue a career in that field. It’s a career that I could also see myself doing.

Melissa Foster — Junior — Fryeburg Academy — I took this class in high school because it was a free class that usually takes $800-$900 and it is a good program to do and let’s you learn about the job before you pay all that money and not like it.

I want to go on to become a pediatric nurse or something to do with kids. I will have to go to college and have sent my S.A.T. scores to four colleges in Maine.

I love helping people and want to help people get better and be comfortable. I love playing with kids. I have experience with children with disabilities. I lived with a three-year-old boy who had a rare stomach cancer at the age of four months. He can walk with a walker and says minimum words, but he signs better than anyone I know. He teaches you patience and to take your time and you will get better at what you do.

I chose to become a CNA because my aunt was a CNA when she was my age and she did it for many years. She taught me a lot through fixing me up when I would get hurt. I was accident-prone so had a lot of injuries that she would fix. I have a caring and kind personality that helps when you need to cheer up patients.

By Allen Crabtree

Guest Writer

THE DENMARK MOUNTAIN HIKERS at the summit of Black Cap Mountain at the Anna Stearns memorial on a foggy wet day. May 4, 2012. (Photo by Allen Crabtree)

Black Cap Mountain is the highest peak in the Green Hills Preserve and offers fine views from its summit of the Green Hills range, Cathedral and White Horse Ledges, and Mount Washington.

It is an easy hike with some delightful rock scrambling on the bare granite ledges at the summit.  The Black Cap Trail begins at a parking lot on Hurricane Mountain Road and runs almost level through spruce woods, then climbs at a moderate pace through mixed hardwoods to the ledges at the top.

There is an information kiosk at 0.5 miles from the trailhead, at 0.7 miles the Cranmore Trail leaves to the right, and at 0.8 miles the Black Cap Connector Trail leaves to the right. The main trail is well marked with pink blazes and signs at the trail junctions.

Black Cap is located east of Cranmore Mountain. In 1951, Cranmore obtained an easement on 500 acres of land on Black Cap with plans to expand the ski area to the top of Black Cap. Had this happened, Cranmore would have seen an increase of 700 vertical feet to 1,800 feet, making it the second highest ski area in the Mount Washington Valley. However, through the efforts of local conservationists, The Nature Conservancy purchased 2,822 acres of the Green Hills in 1990, effectively stopping the proposed ski area expansion.

A ledge at the summit of Black Cap is inscribed to Anna B. Stearns who was instrumental in preserving the Green Hills for all to enjoy. The inscription reads, “The Green Hills, preserved by The Nature Conservancy through the generosity of Anna B. Stearns as a memorial gift to her mother and father, 1990.”

This was a delightful, easy hike for the Denmark Mountain Hikers and we recommend it for children as well. The Black Cap Trail is well used, but we have never found the summit crowded on our several excursions there.

Hike facts

Black Cap Mountain is located in Carroll County, North Conway, N.H.

Difficulty: Easy

Trail distance: To the summit (one way)  – 1.1 miles

Hiking time: To the summit (one way) – 1 hour

Elevation: 2,369 feet

Vertical gain: 650 feet

Coordinates: 44^o03’21”N 71^o04’00”W

Directions: To the trailhead, from US 16/302 in North Conway at the scenic overlook, take Hurricane Mountain Road east 3.8 miles to the Black Cap Mountain trailhead and parking lot on the right side of the road. Hurricane Mountain Road is steep and winding and is not maintained in winter.

The trail to Black Cap is well marked with pink blazes and trail signs at the trail junctions. The trail passes through the Conway State Forest and lands of The Nature Conservancy in the Green Hills Preserve.

What to bring: Good boots, rain or wind gear, touring poles, tick and mosquito repellant, sunglasses, water and snacks, personal first aid kit, map and compass, and cell phone. Let someone know your hiking plans before you leave!

Next time: South Moat Mountain, Conway, N.H.

Staff Writer

Drew Shane is a relatively quiet lacrosse player, but he leads by example by always working hard at practice, having a positive attitude and doing whatever is asked.

“Drew loves to play lacrosse and is fun to coach. He’s worked hard at improving his skills,” Lake Region varsity lacrosse coach Don White said. “As a sophomore, he is the starting center middie and face off man for our team. He’s really improved at winning ground balls and supporting his teammates on defense.”

Drew also likes to “give back.” Once a week, after high school practice is over, he helps coach the third/fourth grade team and the fifth/sixth grade team.

“He is a tremendous help in teaching the kids the skills they will need to be better lacrosse players,” Coach White said. “On weekends, he helps out with the youth teams by becoming a referee for the games.”

Coach White is looking forward to coaching Drew for two more years to see his continued progress and watch the leadership role he will take on.

In recognition of her strong work ethic, determination, commitment and good sportsmanship, Drew is this week’s Boosters and Hancock Lumber “Player of the Week.” Each week, a Lake Region athlete is recognized for his/her dedication (does more than what is asked), work ethic, coachability and academic good standing. Recipients receive a specially-designed t-shirt, sponsored by Hancock Lumber.

Athlete: Drew Shane

Year in School: Sophomore

Town: Casco

Parents: Billie J. Shane and Anthony Emery

School activities/sports: Lacrosse, basketball

Q. Why did you choose lacrosse? DS. I wanted to try something new and I was bored of the slow pace of baseball.

Q. What do you hope to accomplish this season? DS. I really just want to finally beat a team other than Fryeburg.

Q. What do you enjoy the most? DS. I like practicing and hanging out with my team. They are all fools and it can be pretty funny.

Q. What do you like the least? DS. Having to search through the woods for balls after practice.

Q. What makes you successful? DS. I’m always looking to improve and I put my best effort in. I seize any opportunity I get to play lacrosse.

Q. What would be your dream moment? DS. Scoring a behind the back shot in a game.

Q. What has the sport taught you? DS. It has taught me that it takes a lot of hours to be good at anything.

Q. Who has inspired you? DS. TJ Leach, definitely! He is very talented and I love watching him play. He has taught me so much about the game of lacrosse.

Staff Writer

CLASSROOM FOR TWO — Kelsey Fadden, left and her best friend Miranda Cady made tuna finger rolls Monday at Crosswalk Community Outreach at the Naples Town Office. The Lake Region High School juniors say they are learning firsthand how many residents of Casco, Naples, Sebago, Harrison and Bridgton depend on the mission’s twice-monthly food distribution and mealtime. (Geraghty photo)

NAPLES — Two Lake Region High School juniors are learning firsthand about hunger in their hometowns, and will be going door-to-door to do something about it.

Kelsey Fadden and Miranda Cady will be leaving 500 Hannaford bags on the doors of homes in Bridgton, with a note with their picture, explaining their project and asking for at least one canned food donation. They’ll pick up the bags a week later, and donate the food to Crosswalk Community Outreach in Naples, which serves Casco, Naples, Sebago, Harrison and Bridgton with twice-monthly food distribution and meals at the Naples Town Office.

It’s a simple idea with a big impact — similar to the annual food collection done by the U.S. Postal Service — and one that any high school student with a car can do, the girls said. They want to challenge other students, throughout the state and nationally, too, to follow their example.

“We want (fellow students) to see how volunteering can be — that one person can make a difference, either a small difference or a big difference,” said Kelsey.

This past weekend, the Bridgton Post Office workers collected 1,500 pounds of food during their annual drive to fill the shelves of the Bridgton Food Pantry, which has been hard-hit by a 50% cutback in federal funding.

Kelsey and Miranda have been working with Crosswalk Secretary Joanna Moore on the project, and both of them say Moore has taught them a lot about local food hunger and food insecurity. Before coming to the Naples Town Office to see Crosswalk’s operation firsthand, all they knew was that there were a whole lot of cars at the town office on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The mission serves around 125 families at each of these distribution days.

The two girls, who have been best friends since seventh grade, chose the project for their Academy of World Studies class, where the teaching team challenged students to come up with a project that would have some impact environmentally, globally or financially.

“They decided to do something locally, and they’ve really planned it out,” said their science teacher, Mark O’Connor. The 85 juniors and seniors in the Academy of World Studies class formed teams of two, and each team was charged with coming up with, and then executing, a project that would have a positive impact on the community or world. One team is gathering sneakers to ship to Africa, he said.

“They’ve taken to the projects with gusto,” said O’Connor. “So far, so good. The project is just awesome in the teachers’ eyes.”

Miranda is the daughter of Alyssa and (stepdad) Phil Delvecchio of Casco. Kelsey, 16, the daughter of Matt and Cathy Fadden of Bridgton, came up with the idea from her father, who led an annual “Scouting for Food” door-to-door food collection effort as Scoutmaster for Bridgton’s Boy Scout Troop #149. That food was donated to the Bridgton Food Pantry at the Bridgton United Methodist Church.

This is the high school’s first year of instituting an academy model of teaching, which is designed to encourage students to develop executive thinking skills that will help them when they move on to college, O’Connor said. Along with the Academy of World Studies, there is an Academy of Design and an Academy of Engineering. The courses are embedded in the belief that self-monitoring fosters the development of critical thinking skills.

Staff Writer

COUNTDOWN FOR THEIR CUTS — Stevens Brook Elementary School fifth graders (left to right) Olivia Thompson, Abby Bricault and Brenna Barboza prepare for their class’ big moment — a haircut to benefit the Wigs for Kids program. Teacher Allison Sands and several of her students will shed their locks to help others next month. Before that happens, all three girls pictured will play roles in the school’s upcoming production of “Cinderella” with Brenna taking on the lead character. (Rivet Photo)

Matthew Mayo always thought it would be cool to shave his head.

“Then, I could look like my grandpa,” the Stevens Brook Elementary School fifth grader said. “I’ve had buzz cuts before.”

Matthew’s parents nixed the idea until their son told them he had a very good reason for wanting to sport a bald look.

“I think they thought I would look a little weird, especially since I am going to a number of sports camps this summer,” Matthew said. “A lot of sports athletes shave their heads, so I think it will be cool.”

Next month, Matthew, along with several classmates and his teacher, Allison Sands, will be buzzing their heads and cutting their locks to benefit the Wigs for Kids program.

“I’ve had these students for the past two years. Last year, one of the students — Felicia Gesimondo-Granger — came to me and said she had a friend who cut her hair for Wigs for Kids. So, we decided as a class that we should do it too since we would all be together for two years,” Sands said.

When children lose their hair, whether as a result of medical treatments, health conditions, or burn accidents, they don’t just suffer physically. The change in their appearance can drastically undermine their self-image and sabotage their self-esteem. To combat this additional trauma, Certified Cosmetic Therapist™ Jeffrey Paul founded Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit organization that has been serving children suffering from hair loss since 1981.

According to the Wigs for Kids website, the program is a cooperative effort among Certified Cosmetic Therapists™ throughout North America who share a common goal.

“Children shouldn’t have to worry about how they look, especially when they’re in the middle of a health crisis,” Paul said. “We want to give these kids the opportunity to feel good about themselves again.”

The “wigs” are custom-made hair replacements.”

“Each prosthesis is hand-tied and is made completely from human hair. We make sure they look just like a child’s own hair,” Paul said. “They won’t come off on the baseball field or in the playground. Kids can count on them. And because kids look just the way they did before, they feel better about themselves. They look in the mirror and their eyes light up. To see that light in their eyes — that’s priceless.”

Paul was personally touched by a child’s heartache. According to the Wigs for Kids website, Paul — a successful hairdresser with a thriving business — traveled all over the world to work with powerful presidents and gorgeous models. But one day, his 15-year-old niece walked into his salon, crying. She tearfully begged him to stop her hair from falling out. His immediate thoughts were that it was not serious.

When Paul saw the look in her father’s eyes, he knew it was something more. It turned out that she had just been diagnosed with leukemia.

“Uncle Jeff, you know I’ve been trying to get on the gymnastics team all my life,” she cried. “My hair is going to be falling out when it’s time to try out.”

Chemotherapy would help save her life, but the potent drug would also leave her with no hair.

“I promised her that she would have hair,” Paul said. “And when you make a promise to a kid, you keep it.”

Through a great deal of research and consultations with doctors and prosthetics specialists, Paul devised a hairpiece that would withstand typical kid activities, such as swimming, gymnastics and sleepovers. They came up with a wig that adhered to the scalp under the most aggressive conditions. And if it got wet, it would look like everybody else’s hair, because every strand of hair was hand-tied.

Paul kept his promise to his niece, and he has since made a major difference in the lives of many other youngsters through the Wigs for Kids program.

Paul’s niece was fitted with her wig in time for her gymnastics competition.

“My heart was pounding as my wife and I sat in the stands,” he recalled. “And when my niece jumped off the apparatus, she looked up into the stands at us and pointed to her head. Tears ran down my face. I knew that God was taking me to another place in my life. The time was right for me to reach out.”

Each handcrafted wig is made of about 150,000 strands of natural hair. The individual strands of hair are hand-tied onto the foundation of the wig, which is created from a mold of the person’s head for a snug fit.

Hair and donations help bring some normalcy to children battling difficult medical situations.

About three or four months after the Stevens Brook Elementary School class decided to take on the project, Felicia arrived at school one day wearing a pretty short haircut.

“She forgot that we were doing this (project)! So, she suggested that students should have the opportunity to raise money for the organization instead of cutting their hair,” Sands said.

Since it cost between $1,500 to $3,000 to create wigs from donated hair, Sands thought seeking pledges by students who decided not to cut their hair or shave their heads was a way to involve the entire class. Permission slips were sent home to parents listing four options — cutting one’s hair a minimum 10 inches, shave one’s head, no cutting or shaving but participating with the pledge drive, or no participation in the project.

“We’ve had a great response,” Sands said.

Sarah Lowell DeKubber, owner of Running with Scissors in Bridgton, will cut the girls’ hair and assist with shaving the boys’ heads on June 12 at SBES.

“It’s sad to see kids lose their hair because of cancer, so we felt it was a way to help,” said student Mindy Miller, whose hair measures out at 15 inches, at the moment.

Classmate Olivia Thompson, whose hair has reached 23 inches in length, said it will be “weird” to sport a shorter cut, something she hasn’t had since she was “little.”

Sometimes, short haircuts become a necessity. One girl said her mom cut her hair “up to the bottom of my ears” one year because of a “bug problem.” This time around, the young lady is looking forward to a short hairdo.

Student Keiser Garcia said he is going to feel good about himself knowing he is helping others, who are battling serious illness. “If it makes them feel better, it is worth it,” he said.

Students said their teacher’s willingness to join the effort has been inspirational.

“It’s neat that Mrs. Sands is helping us in this act of goodness,” said Keiser, who proudly noted that his hair measured out at 7 inches.

“I think it’s important to set the right example,” said Sands, whose hair measured out at 24-inches, tying Brenna Barboza for the longest locks at press time. “I wanted the kids to feel confident in what they were doing, and knowing they weren’t alone in this.”

Sands can’t wait to shorten her hair.

“I’m going through a lot of spray detangler,” she said.

“I hate that,” said Brenna, who will play the lead role in the upcoming school production of “Cinderella.”

“Long hair can be a pain, really. When I get up in the morning, I brush it out for about 10 minutes. It really hurts. It pulls and hair comes out,” Mindy said. “It’s going to be different having hair just down to my ears. I’m a little scared about that.”

“Yeah, do you notice all the hair on the floor of the bathroom?” Sands asked her students.

“I find it’s easier to comb my hair out in the shower so that doesn’t happen,” Olivia Thompson said.

Matthew Mayo is ready for his shave.

“I know when I look at myself in the mirror the first time, it will look weird,” he said. “I’ll probably just laugh at myself.”

But, he knows it was all for a very good cause.

Anyone interested in making a donation to the cause can contact Mrs. Sands at Stevens Brook Elementary School or send an e-mail to allison.sands@lakeregionschools.org

Staff Writer

FRYEBURG — Attendance was at a minimum, at last week’s public hearing on the proposed $15,803,563 budget for School Administrative District 72.

Budget approval vote May 24

The budget approval meeting on the proposed budget will take place on May 24 at 7 p.m. at the Molly Ockett Middle School here.

The budget proposed for 2012-2013 is $196,487 more, or 1.26% higher, than last year’s $15,607,076 budget approved by voters.

Proposed town assessments

Assessments to all seven towns that comprise SAD 72 are increasing for 2012-2013, over 2011-2012 — from a low of a 0.60% increase for Fryeburg to a high of an 8.84% increase for Stoneham.

These are the proposed assessments for each SAD 72 member town, followed by the impact in dollars and then the impact by percentage:

Brownfield — $1,682,117; $59,423; 3.66%

Denmark — $2,010,361; $98,645; 5.16%

Fryeburg — $3,650,441; $2,182; 0.06%

Lovell — $2,506,183; $84,712; 3.50%

Stoneham — $336,430; $27,339; 8.84%

Stow — $465,207; $16,055; 3.57%

Sweden — $645,812; $26,432; 4.26%

State valuation figures show that the combined valuation of all seven towns for 2012-2013 is $1,597,300,000, or $32,200,000 less than for 2011-2012.

“Good news”

SAD 72 Superintendent of Schools Gary MacDonald, at the outset of the budget process, that the “good news” for 2012-2013 is that:

• The state subsidy is about the same as last year;

• There is a larger balance forward than anticipated;

• The District set aside $500,000 last year for the FY 13 “funding cliff”; and

• There is a savings in tuition paid to Fryeburg Academy, due to decreased enrollment and the Insured Value Factor is at 5%.

“Every year, you and I know taxpayers are having a hard time — everyone knows that,” Supt. MacDonald told the school board members. “So, the critical question is, ‘To what degree can we provide for the educational needs of the students, while being sensitive to the local taxpayer’s situation?’ That’s the question you’re facing… and the ultimate decision the taxpayers will make (at the May 24 budget approval meeting).”

Enrollment decreasing

Overall student enrollment from the seven towns in SAD 72 has steadily declined, since 2010-2011 — from 1,251.0 students in 2010-2011, to 1,217 students in 2011-2012 to a projected 1,194.5 students for 2013-Dec.

School board’s budget recommendations

Here are the SAD 72 Board of Directors’ recommendations for articles on the May 24 warrant that authorize expenditures in cost center categories with the percentage increase or decrease over last year shown in parentheses:

Regular Instruction, $8,358,493 (-1.85%); Special Education, $2,625,703 (10.18%); Other Instruction, $171,433 (-1.65%); Student & Staff Support, $758,955 (19.63%); System Administration (Directors/Superintendent’s Office), $494,580 (4.83%); School Administration (Office of the Principal) $578,987 (2.47%); Transportation & Buses, $1,338,088 (10.04%); Facilities & Maintenance (Operations and Maintenance/Capital Projects) $1,042,267 (4.88%); Debt Service and Other Commitments, $341,845 (-2.62%).

Additional local funds

A written ballot is required on Article 14 that reads: “To see what sum the District will raise and appropriate in additional local funds which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model as required to fund the budget recommended by the school board.

The SAD 72 Board of Directors recommends $2,600,899 for additional local funds and gives the following reasons for exceeding the State’s Essential Programs and Service funding model by $2,336,761: “The District has higher secondary private tuition costs than are recognized by the Essential Programs and Services funding model. The District also has higher special education costs than are recognized by the model, and due to the geographical size of the District, smaller class sizes and higher transportation costs than are recognized by the model.”

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Over 100 people attended the annual budget meeting for School Administrative District 61 Tuesday night, passing a budget that is $14,177 more than the $26,104,903 proposed budget recommended by the Lake Region School District’s Board of Directors.

The total amount approved, as amended at the May 15 budget hearing, is $26,119,080.

Now voters from Bridgton, Casco, Naples and Sebago will go to the polls in their respective towns from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 22 to validate the budget by referendum.

It took just over two hours Tuesday evening for all 20 warrant articles to be discussed and approved.

Several speakers addressed the $8,899,592 amount proposed for the Regular Instruction K-12 cost center, with Grant Plummer of Casco making a motion to add $30,000 to that line item of the budget.

Board member Phil Shane of Casco asked, “What’s the $30,000 for?”

“It’s for the reinstatement of a full-time position at Stevens Brook Elementary School, a fourth grade teacher, and a fifth grade teacher at Songo Locks School,” said Grant Plummer.

Sally Plummer stepped to the microphone next, saying, “My understanding is there is $55,000 (budgeted) for two Ed Tech positions.” She suggested that by adding $30,000 more to the $55,000 the two teachers could be reinstated, rather than having two Ed Tech IIIs.

Requesting they “reallocate” the $55,000 for the Ed Tech IIIs and add the $30,000 for that purpose, Sally Plummer asked the board members to honor their request, “so we can educate our kids in a manner they both need and deserve.”

Lisa Magiera of Casco, the mother of two students at Songo Locks School, spoke in favor of reinstating the teacher’s position at SLS, saying it “would be unthinkable to handicap” these students “at a pivotal time in their education.”

Referring to the directive by the school board to the SAD 612 Leadership Committee to keep the budget at “level funding,” Kelly Clavette of Naples bluntly told the school board members, “So, you’re essentially replacing teachers with ed techs to save money.”

Clavette went on to say that increased class sizes “hinder a teacher’s ability” to be as effective as possible and also makes students have to deal with the change to a larger class size.

“Fifth grade is an important year, when teachers are preparing students for a major transition to middle school,” said Clavette. “I don’t agree with increasing any class sizes…and an ed tech is not a replacement for a teacher…it’s $30,000 (requested) in a $26 million budget…This affects 84 kids — that’s $250 per child.” She then asked the school board to accept the $30,000 request in order to show “you believe in our kids and our kids do come first.”

Marie Caron of Naples suggested that “people taking Adult Ed could pay a little bit more” so that the teaching positions could be reinstated.

Attendees approved amending Article 2 by adding the amount requested, with only a dozen or so opposed.

Bridgton Director Laura Ordway rose from the directors’ table and walked out front to the audience microphone, saying she wanted to “address the situation of the kindergarten ed techs.”

Ordway said the goal in her years on the board was to have the kindergarten ed techs help the first year students adjust to school “on every level.”

“Because we don’t offer Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten “has been crucial.”

“Ed techs are very beneficial, especially for kids having a tougher time (adjusting),” said Ordway. “This year, because of what the (school) board charged the Leadership Team with (to bring in a level funded budget), the Kindergarten ed techs would be replaced “with ed tech IIIs which will overlap Grades K through 2.”

“My amendment would be to take 6.5 ed tech IIIs in the amount of $192,549 plus/minus and replace them with nine ed tech IIs in the amount of $229,726,” Ordway stated. “To clarify my amendment, the board had added in nine ed tech IIIs for K through 2 and I would like to remove those and have only nine kindergarten ed techs, for a savings in the budget of $25,823.”

No guarantees for carrying out suggestions

It was at this point in the budget meeting that SAD 61 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Beecher made a point that she reiterated throughout the rest of the evening — that amendments to warrant articles may be approved by the voters for specific purposes, but that does not ensure, in any way, that those suggestions and recommendations will be carried out by the school board.

“I want to be clear,” Dr. Beecher stated. “The amounts (of warrant articles) can be changed, but what those amounts are used for can not.”

“The board is hearing and I am hearing what you are saying,” said Beecher, “but putting in money and saying what you’d like it to be used for” does not mean it will be used for the purpose requested.

Moderator John Robinson explained further, saying, “The purpose of this meeting is not to identify where money is spent…You can debate what articles you want, but the bottom line is the board and administration” make the final decision.

“Dr. Beecher is exactly correct,” said Ordway. However, she said, amounts identified for certain purposes “are not set in stone.”

Ordway’s amendment to Article 2 was approved and the main article passed as amended in the amount of $8,903,769, with less than a half dozen voters opposed.

Article 5 on the budget warrant — Other Instruction in the amount of $436,642 brought out some impassioned comments.

Trevor Kidd of Casco made a motion to amend the article by adding $10,000 for the purpose of supplementing the sports at Lake Region High School that are designated as pay-to-play activities.

Brook Sulloway, who is the volunteer coach for boys’ tennis at LRHS, spoke in favor of Kidd’s proposed amendment, saying that last year, in order to reach the level-funding goal set by the school board, “$20,000 was taken out of athletics,” which resulted in Nordic skiing and boys’ tennis being eliminated, he said. He noted that Athletic Drector Paul True told him varsity boys’ tennis could be offered at a cost of approximately $5,000.

“We only have four spring sports,” said Sulloway, “and two are funded.”

“Our job here is to keep kids active,” Sulloway said further. “Tennis is a life-long sport — we should be trying to provide opportunities, not eliminate them — and we’re trying to fight obesity. When you (the school board) said we need to stay at a level budget, we shoot ourselves in the foot and we need to get it to heal.”

Dr. Beecher explained that some high school sports — lacrosse, ice hockey and girls’ volleyball — are called “club sports.”

Explaining why those sports are pay-to-play, Dr. Beecher said, “The board felt we didn’t have the funding (for those sports) and they wanted to do it (offer them) in a creative way.”

Kidd’s amendment to add the $10,000 to Article 5 was approved by the voters, and it was passed in the amended amount of $446,642, with about half dozen voters opposed.

Articles 6 and 7 — asking $2,420,155 for Student and Staff Support and $778,795 for System Administration, respectively, passed without any discussion whatsoever. However, that was not the case, regarding Article 8 — School Administration, budgeted at $1,209,048.

Bill Vincent of Bridgton asked what the $31,376 in that cost center was for, and Dr. Beecher replied that it is for salaries and benefits increases “for principals and all administrators.”

When Moderator Robinson said the motion to approve Article 8 as written had passed by a show of hands, Carmel Collins of Bridgton asked for a recount of the vote.  The recount showed 55 in favor and 62 opposed — so the article failed to pass.

Kidd then offered an amendment to reduce the amount for Article 8 by the $31,376.

At this point, Dr. Beecher explained that the District has three groups with which it has negotiated bargaining agreements.

“The only way we could make that cut would be somewhere in administration and secretaries at school offices,” said Dr. Beecher.

“We would have to assess how we take that cut,” she stated.

John Tingley of Naples asked how much of a percentage increase the employees in those categories were receiving.

Dr. Beecher replied, “The Administration group is currently in negotiations, so we don’t have an amount yet.”

The superintendent said all of the bargaining units, or associations, would be having a four percent increase in health insurance coverage.

“That part we know — the salaries we don’t know — they’re in negotiations, at this point,” said Supt. Beecher.

Longtime SAD 61 Director Phil Shane of Casco stood up and walked to the public microphone on the gymnasium floor.

Said Shane, “I’m sort of disappointed in the staff of Lake Region voting this down — these are the people who support you! I’m kind of disappointed, seeing that.”

“There has not been a zero increase for any of the negotiated groups in the last five years,” said Supt. Beecher, in response to a voter’s question.

Jan Piper of Sebago then asked for a written ballot on Article 8, saying, “It’s very difficult to vote by hand about your boss…”

The amendment to reduce Article 8 by the $31,376 failed, by a vote of 55 in favor and 67 opposed. The article then passed, as written.

Request to reconsider Article 2 nixed by moderator

When Grant Plummer asked to have a reconsideration of the vote on Article 2 to “reinstate the $25,8233 removed previously, Moderator Robinson refused, ruling the request as “out of order.” However, Naples Town Manager Derik Goodine brought up a “point of order,” saying Robert’s Rules of Order allow such a reconsideration. Robinson said he would have allowed it, had there been a second to Plummer’s amendment.

Plummer once again made the motion to reconsider Article 2 and James Gerry of Casco seconded Plummer’s motion.

Robinson said the voting body present would have to approve reconsideration of any warrant article.

Sulloway said, “A motion was brought forward that passed — I think you had the support of the public — another motion broke even — it’s a done deal — I recommend we not reconsider Article 2.” The voters agreed with Sulloway, defeating the motion to reconsider Article 2, with only 20 or so people opposed.

A motion to amend Article 19 by reducing the amount for Adult Education made by Marie Caron of Naples failed overwhelmingly, and the article passed in the original amount of $317,615. ­

Staff Writer

NAPLES – Not unlike the flurry of the birds and the bees that arrives with spring, the Naples community is chirping and buzzing with the excitement of tomorrow’s ribbon cutting ceremony for its new bridge.

Everywhere in town, residents are speaking words of praise about the bridge that has been built. Locals have been brimming with excitement as they nail down their part in the plans for Friday’s ceremony. (It’s been a long haul to May 18, 2012, from the public-input meetings that started five years ago.)

The state’s resident engineer on this project isn’t as interested in the impending fanfare as he is focused on getting those big rigs, recreational vehicles, heavy duty American-made trucks and hundreds of gas-efficient cars rolling on down Route 302.

“I can’t wait to put traffic up on the bridge here,” Craig Hurd, the resident engineer with Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), said on Monday afternoon.

“Four more days – I can’t wait. They are putting in curbs today, the granite curbs up over the bridge,” he said.

Two weeks ago, the construction project passed a slight bump in the road – when rain held up paving the thoroughfare that crosses over the bridge. But, once paving started, the job was done in less than a work day, according to Hurd.

“They paved. We were done in six hours. We just needed a sunny day or a dry day. It took a while, but we finally got one,” he said.

“Everybody is pretty excited about this thing,” Hurd said of the countdown to the ribbon-cutting event.

At a recent workshop meeting of the Naples Board of Selectmen on May 4, both Chairman Christine Powers and Selectman Bob Caron Sr. described the upbeat feedback they were hearing from residents about the completed Causeway construction and the upcoming commemoration of the Bay of Naples Bridge.

“Every day, people come into the library and say positive things about the bridge,” said Powers, who works at the Naples Public Library. She added only one person in the community has continued to complain about the loss of a swing bridge.

“Almost 100 percent of the people in this town have nothing but positive things to say about the bridge and the Causeway – and I think that is really great,” Powers said.

Caron, who sat on the Causeway Renovation Committee, had high accolades for all of its members, especially Chairman Bob Neault.

Caron commented that he has lived in Naples since 1972, and has served on many boards and committees including the NPL Board of Trustees. However, he has never seen a group of people so in agreement – and so much on the same page when it was all said and done – as the group who was involved on the town’s Causeway and bridge committee.

In the beginning, it was necessary to limit the number of people on the committee to 16 because a bigger crowd often makes it more difficult to get things done, he said.

Committee members included Hurd who replaced initial MDOT employee Jim Wentworth, the MDOT engineer who designed the concrete arch bridge Jeff Folsom, Neault, Caron, Selectman Rick Paraschak, Naples Town Manager Derik Goodine, Naples Secretary Barbara McDonough, Jim Allen, Dan Allen, Kathy Sweet, Merry Watson, Maggie Krainin, Barbara Clark, Jim Bigelow, Dave Sherlock and local Rep. Rich Cebra.

“At the end of the day” the diverse group of people was able to find a common ground – and most votes were unanimous or close to it, and the end result included everybody’s input, Caron said.

Caron’s vintage vehicle – a 1975 Chevrolet Caprice Classic convertible – will be among those driven across the old and new bridges during the parade.

Committee chairman Neault, a longtime Naples resident and business owner, has been involved in this bridge construction project since meetings began between MDOT and the town.

“In the 15 months since we had our groundbreaking, it has been amazing,” said Neault.

He cited not only the moving of the earth as a job for which the town was thankful to general contractor Wyman and Simpson, Inc. and subcontractor R.J.Grondin and Sons, Inc., but also that employees of both companies showed flexibility and integrity.

“The work they put in, the manner in which they conducted themselves is invaluable,” Neault said.

“It is hard to say how well they treated the community,” he said.

“In response, the community has embraced the project in a way it might not have been if the contractor had not been so dedicated to them,” he said.

Neault’s two daughters, Katie and Beth will be part of the dedication ceremony. The sisters will be singing this country’s national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

On Monday evening, 17-year-old Katie said she thought singing at this week’s ceremony “is going to be really cool actually.”

“Definitely, ‘cause it is a new bridge, and it’s exciting to have it all finished. It has taken so long,” she said.

“It’s really cool because I remember a while ago when my dad was showing us pictures. He got input from my family about all the pictures he showed at the meetings,” Katie said.

“To go from seeing ideas and stuff, and the initial project to a finished bridge – that’s pretty exciting,” she said.

In the days before the ribbon cutting, Neault said he was “feeling great” about it; and  apparently, he wasn’t the only one.

“From the comments I am hearing about this project now, I can tell the community has embraced it and has become excited about. This is spilling over to more people,” Neault said.

“In the past couple weeks, the bridge has pavement on it, and people can see how the road is going to flow. It is clicking with people, and they are saying, ‘This is a wonderful project,’ ” he said.

While many residents were around to witness the day-to-day progress of the construction, Sonny Berman and his wife Pat left Naples for Florida in December, and returned to their home on Long Lake in April.

“I was thrilled to see the progress that has been made while we were gone. I came back to a beautifully constructed bridge,” Berman said.

He added that he and his wife had walked over the bridge in the evening after eating dinner at Merced’s On Brandy Pond. The road – at the time – was still dirt, and the elevated view of the mountains and lake were fabulous, he said.

“I am feeling excited about it (the ribbon cutting ceremony.) They have asked us to use our old car and drive it behind the fire truck. It is an honor,” he said.

“For a small town to do something like this is unusual – I think,” Berman said.

“Obviously, everyone has watched the construction taking place for some time now. To see the finished product, and to be part of it, is impressive to the citizenry of Naples. Plus, the weather report looks good for Friday,” he said.

“From what I understand on the street, people I meet are enthused about it,” Berman said.

“The town is getting a new bridge,” he said.

Staff Writer

Pondicherry Park, the 65-acre natural jewel of downtown Bridgton, will become an official town park — complete with a dog loop trail — next Tuesday, if Bridgton selectmen agree to accept three documents governing the park’s ownership, management and stewardship.

The three documents were the result of carefully-crafted negotiations begun last fall between Loon Echo Land Trust, Lakes Environmental Association and the town, represented by Selectmen Bernie King, Doug Taft and Woody Woodward, with Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz serving as moderator. The negotiations were part of a condition under which voters agreed last November to take over ownership of the park, made possible by over $700,000 in donations from 710 donors through the purchase of separate parcels over six years.

On Tuesday, LELT Executive Director Carrie Walia, LEA Executive Director Peter Lowell and the three selectmen put the finishing touches on the three documents, which are as follows:

• A Quit Claim Deed with Covenant Reserving a Conservation Easement, which conveys the property from Loon Echo Land Trust to the town. It also grants LELT a permanent conservation easement to ensure that the park will remain forever wild, with no more than three miles of trails, for low-impact pedestrian use during normal town park hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It also prohibits motorized vehicles, smoking, hunting, camping or open fires, and creates a Pet and Bicyle Area, defined by a loop trail accessible via the Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge on one end and the park entrance on South High Street across from the First Congregational Church. Domesticated pets must be leashed, and waste picked up by their owners.

• A Committee Agreement for a Pondicherry Park Stewardship Committee, to be comprised of one regular member each representing LEA and LELT, and three regular members representing the town. Public Works Director Jim Kidder will work with this committee to carry out maintenance tasks and any repairs to trails, using up to $5,000 from the Moose Pond Trust Fund. The Stewardship Committee will assure the implementation of the Management Plan, oversee volunteer efforts on behalf of the park, work on grants and fundraising, report to selectmen at least quarterly and recommend to them additional activities and projects that could take place in the park in the future.

• A Pondicherry Park Management Plan, of which the town will have oversight, detailing the natural, cultural and man-made features of the park. The town, with volunteer help from the Stewardship Committee, will regularly inspect all structures to make sure they are safe and in good repair, inspect and make repairs to the trails in spring, summer and fall, and keep the trails clear of brush and fallen trees or branches. Up to six picnic tables may be located in the park a short distance away from existing trails, and one larger picnic facility will be placed in the woodland on the forest edge of the Keene Field.

All that said, Lowell pointed out Tuesday that the park was designed to be “minimalistic,” with benches, signs and walking trails for passive recreational use and nature study, and he expects that its care will be to a certain extent self-monitored by the people who use it. Taft, who initially had concerns about the cost to the town of maintaining the park, said it was a pleasure to work with Walia and Lowell, who he said were very willing to try and accommodate the town’s perspective.

Woodward said, “We realize (the management plan) is not going to fit everybody’s needs. Some people want a walk in the woods, while others want a theme park with rides on it.”

Fishing and trapping will be allowed, subject to Maine law, as will snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and picnicking at designated locations. There will be no grilling equipment at the picnic facility, and picnickers will not be allowed to walk in with hibachis. Fire is a real safety concern, the group said.

Walia said LELT’s expenses in caring for the park as its fiscal agent for the past six years have been for such things as providing insurance, mowing the field, creating and distributing brochures and a website, and LELT staff time expenses.

Special to The News

SEBAGO — The Town of Sebago is fortunate to have a dedicated core of volunteers, who respond at all hours of the day and night, in all seasons and weather conditions, to help protect the lives and property of our citizens.

Members of the Sebago Fire Department and the Sebago Emergency Medical Service devote countless hours every year to hone their technical skills and respond to medical emergencies, house fires, vehicle accidents, water and ice rescues, and a host of other emergencies.

Sebago has four stations where essential public safety apparatus is housed, but some stations are aging and expensive to maintain and heat. The oldest, Station 2 in East Sebago (initial building 1947), is in serious need of major renovation. Stopgap measures to patch and repair the older stations are not cost effective.

Since 1996, the town has been struggling with how to maintain the effectiveness of the fire and rescue response to protect the town while reducing operating costs at these stations. A number of different recommendations have been presented at town meetings over the years.

A new Fire and Rescue Building is proposed

A Fire and Rescue Task Force appointed by the Sebago Board of Selectmen is proposing that the town build a new 10,000-square-foot Fire and Rescue building that would allow consolidating fire and rescue apparatus from three of the four stations into one facility.

This would reduce operating costs and response time, and would allow closing Station 2 and converting Station 3 (North Sebago) and the Rescue building to other needed town functions.

This new Fire and Rescue building would be centrally located between North and East Sebago at the sandpit north of East Sebago on Route 114. The site is now owned by Shaw Brothers.

At the June 2011 town meeting, Sebago voters approved transferring $268,674 from town funds already saved to purchase a site there for the building and to do site development. None of these funds have yet been spent to purchase the site nor to begin site development work — this will wait until after there is a positive vote from taxpayers at the June 12 referendum. The site purchase from Shaw Brothers would then be finalized and site development work would be done by them for a total price of $267,284.

Preliminary design work and site plan engineering have been done. The Sebago Planning Board held two public hearings and approved the site plan application for the new building at their March 13 meeting.

What will the building cost?

Construction of the building is separate from the site purchase and site development work described above and would involve an additional cost. Very favorable bids were received from five firms to construct the new building. All of the bids were well below the $878,039 construction estimate that officials had obtained earlier this year, reflecting the realities of the present economy. Security Construction Services was selected as the general contractor with a low bid of $730,115, contingent on voter approval of the referendum.

The town proposes to finance the new building with a 15-year bond through the Maine Municipal Bond Bank at an average 2.25% interest rate. Voters will be asked to approve $830,000 in bonding, which will include building construction, building pad excavation and backfilling, a 5% town contingency, a 4% architects fee, and hiring a “clerk of the works.”

The annual net cost of the new building would be $50,040 per year for 15 years, or a millage increase of 14.3¢ per year. This would represent an increase in taxes for a $200,000 home of $28.64 per year for 15 years (8¢ per day). The 15-year note means the cost of the building will be spread over current and future taxpayers, all of whom will benefit from this 50-year building.

What is next?

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 22 at the Sebago Town Hall starting at 6 p.m.

Three public hearings were held earlier to present the proposed new building to the voters and to respond to questions.

An exhaustive evaluation of other sites was done, the option of building the new station on town land was given a thorough review, and the cost of renovating Station 2 in East Sebago so the town could continue using it was reviewed. None of these options were as cost effective as the proposed building on the proposed site.

This fourth public hearing on May 22 is to update voters on what is proposed. Voters are urged to attend the public hearing to help them become familiar with the proposal.

Sebago voters will have an opportunity to vote on funding for the new building at a referendum on June 12. If approved by voters, site development and building construction would begin immediately thereafter with occupancy anticipated in early 2013.

The Fire and Rescue Building Task Force “strongly recommend that the new building is needed and long overdue.” Officials said the time is right and prices may never be more affordable for the building and financing. The new building will serve Sebago’s public safety needs for the next 50 years.