VOLUME 15, ISSUE 29 PO Box 75, North Waterboro, ME 04061 • 247-1033 • [email protected] FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017 FREEEVERY FRIDAY SHOP LOCAL www.waterbororeporter.com LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED Lake level contention Fire claims three businesses BY BRIGIT MCCALLUM [email protected] A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 25 at 6 p.m., as the Waterboro selectmen move toward enacting an ordinance to be known as the “Little Ossipee Lake Water Level Management Ordinance of the Town of Water- boro, Maine.” Town officials have moved to create the ordinance in the hope that it will stop the pro- cess whereby the Department of Environmental Protection could gain control of regulating water levels in the lake. There is a DEP public hearing currently scheduled for Aug. 21, to hear testimony from the Town and from Cleo Smith and 58 other lakefront residents who The remains of Brookfield Place in Waterboro at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 16 after a fire started around 10 a.m. that destroyed the complex at 1009 Main submitted a petition to lower water Street. The businesses lost in the fire, of which the cause is undetermined, were Plummer’s Ace Hardware, Family Dollar and Asian Taste. levels in the lake ten years ago. If PHOTO BY KERRY DEANGELIS the August hearing occurs, water level controls could be taken over by the DEP. In case the creation Fire taxes of this ordinance does not prevent water supply the DEP hearing, and the hearing goes forth, the Town has submitted BY BRIGIT MCCALLUM sworn testimony from four wit- [email protected] nesses to defend itself against the requests in the petition. The fire that leveled three The petition was originally businesses at Brookfield Place on submitted to the DEP on Aug. 2, Rte. 202 in Waterboro last Sun- 2007, following significant flood- day, July 16, brought multiple ing after storms in 2006 and 2007. crews from local communities to At that time, the DEP began to fight it, and drew heavily on both process the petition, and the se- the local Water District’s water lectmen, of which current Board supply as well what was brought Chair Dennis Abbott was also in with tanker trucks from multi- then a member, began to create A Youth Group based at the Lakeside Community Church in North Waterboro with former selectman Jon Gale doing ple dry wells in area ponds. an ordinance in response. Then, volunteer work last week at the Waterboro Community Gardens. PHOTO BY BRIGIT MCCALLUM By the following Wednesday, (Continued on page 6) David Benton reported that the District’s water tank was fully replenished. Benton, who serves both as the town’s Public Works Mission Waterboro Director and is a Trustee of the Another win! Waterboro Water District, report- BY BRIGIT MCCALLUM our library like a breath of fresh ed that at one point during the [email protected] air! Several teens and their leader fire, emergency crews thought arrived ready and willing to take the power had been cut off, but it The second week of July was on several tasks to freshen up the turned out to be just low voltage “Mission Waterboro Week” for library.” The chores they took on that slowed the pumps. He later the Youth Group based at the included cleaning off the back reported that the Water District, Lakeside Community Church porch, the front steps, and sweep- that fed the apparatus through lo- in North Waterboro. According ing under the book drop outside. cal hydrants connected to the Dis- to their adult leader, Nicholas Inside, while a group took books trict, could have never up with the Harpin, the goal of the fifteen off the shelves in the children’s water they needed. “We only have seventh through twelfth grad- room and dusted and replaced the 330,000 gallons in storage in that ers was to serve their communi- books, a few others wiped down big tank.” He was referring to the ty. Each morning the group ran the board books and washed all tall blue stand pipe that most peo- a playgroup for children in the the toys. They assembled four ple call a water tower that rises up Lake Arrowhead Community, new desk chairs that now sit at the on the hill across Rte. 202 from leading games and activities for patron computer desks, cleaned the scene of the fire. “We couldn’t around 15 children. Afternoons window sills and finished up let them use all that, or people saw them tackling hard work by vacuuming the floors. Keith wouldn’t have the domestic water with enthusiasm, beginning with wrote, “Wow! We are so appre- the District supplies. That’s one cutting back brush at the church ciative of all the work they ac- of the reasons we’re in the pro- grounds on Route 5 on Monday complished!” cess of trying to put in a second and helping out a family by split- Thursday and Friday after- storage tank, and may have to ting and stacking firewood and noons found the group taking on drill an additional well.” other chores on Tuesday. Wednes- some big jobs at the Waterboro He says it was fortunate timing The 9-10 year-old softball all-stars from Shaker Valley/Alfred-Lyman Little day had them busy at Waterboro Community Gardens on Town- that, as the supply in the District’s League topped Lincoln 8-3 on Tuesday, July 18 in the state tournament. Library. Interim Director Pauline house Road. WCG member Sandy tank neared the level where Ben- From left, catcher Candice Daigle, first baseman Kate Boissonneault and Keith wrote, “The Lakeside Youth Jorgensen wrote, “This group was ton had to advise Waterboro Fire pitcher Katherine Hanlon. See story on page 5. COURTESY PHOTO group worked their way through (Continued on page 7) (Continued on page 6) PAGE 2 Friday, July 21, 2017 REPORTER ALFRED Saturday activities Allison Williams Although skies were overcast, [email protected] it never did rain for the many ac- 324-5823 tivities which kept festival goers busy on Saturday. Following the Chili, chowder, pie Lion’s Club breakfast, there was the “Run for Fun,” library book contest opens festival sale, penny raffle (very popular The line of hungry festival go- and the door prize kayak with ers appeared endless on Friday, roof rack and paddle was won by when the Massabesic Lions Club Jennifer Stonehouse), and numer- opened activities with its annual ous things for children to do on Chili, Chowder and Pie Cookoff. the courthouse lawn. Cups were provided for choices An especially busy place was of chili or chowder. An amazing the demonstration tent. John Syl- variety of pies followed. vester demonstrated rock split- The “People’s Choice” win- ting to an interested audience, ner for chili was Karen Gosselin both youngsters and their parents Diebolt and for chowder, York took advantage of the stilts which Bob Reynolds, 80, and Abigail County Shelters. Also, there were Almon Williams brings each year. Gilley, 6, were the oldest and first, second and third place win- He played his autoharp while they youngest runner in the Run for ners determined by a panel of lo- wobbled on stilts. (Not intention- Fun on Alfred Festival Day. cal judges. These were, in order ally.) There was rug hooking by of placement, Karen Gosselin two Museum Rug Hookers, chair Parish Church ended the festivi- Diebolt with “Old Days Chili”, caning by Ken Shaw and Lego ties with an entertaining musical Julie Canning with “Salicha (Sau- Block creations under the direc- performance by “MeCa”. sage in Spanish) Chili” and Di- tion of Librarian Gus Hedden. A family picnic at Brothers ane Holden with “Scratch Corner The Run for Fun included 24 Beach on Sunday gave everyone From left, Elsie Wehmeyer, Evelyn Boonstraw, Kaylee Boonstraw Chili.” runners. The overall winner was a chance to relax. Al Carlson of and Aria LeBoeuf were lined up and waiting to try their skills at stilt Chowder contest winners Jackson Pierce, 16, and first Al- the Conservation Commission walking at the Alfred Festival on July 15. were York County Shelter with its fred runner to come in was Han- was head chef , with assistance, PHOTO BY ALLISON WILLIAMS Seafood Chowder, Emily Cook nah Pierce, 25. Bob Reynolds, providing hamburgers to accom- with Double Scalloped Chow- 80, was the oldest runner and the pany everything from casseroles Library news der and Arlene Carroll with Easy Parish church youngest was Abigail Gilley, 6. A to pizza brought by those in at- Storyhour was unusually suc- Corn Chowder. A new bereavement group surprising number of youngsters tendance. Some took advantage cessful with 40 in attendance the Pie contest winners were Beth meets on Thursday mornings at took part. of the kayaks loaned by the Par- week of July 10, which included DeWolfe with Ginger Pear Pie, 10 a.m. For more information The winners in various cate- ish Paddlers and paddled around a yoga session. Another attraction Lisa Cook with Orange Pie and contact Pat at 459-5155. This gories were Jeff Nicoletti, Matt- a very peaceful Shaker Pond. Up this past week was Allie Brock’s Pam Bridges with Batter Crust will be in Conant Chapel and is an Soule Parent, Mel Maisel, Tra- at the Shaker Museum there was draft horse. Repairs to the library Apple Pie. open group, July through August. cy Roberts, Bob Reynolds, Dan a “Simple Gifts” concert by Andy walk have been made – no more Judges were Emily Spasotaio, In August a meditation group will Rooney, Jackson Pierce, Hannah Happel.