Archive for ‘News’

  • Building permits peak, slow down after interest rate hike

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — For the last half of 2022, the building permits taken out in the Town of Casco total more than one a day. “We have had 238 building permits since July. That includes tree-cutting, new construction, and decks,” according to Casco Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) John Weissman. The […]

  • Solar moratorium halts projects in Casco

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — As of last month, no new solar project applications will be accepted in the Town of Casco.  That is because there is a Solar Moratorium in place. Of course, the two previously approved solar farm projects are grandfathered-in, and so is the project with Revision Energy to […]

  • Naples tables land lease until April

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — A local company that has been leasing land from the Town of Naples asked if it could extend the lease for another three years. The lease agreement ends in May 2024. Therefore, one year and five months remains before the contract expires. The lot is located off […]

  • Convincing argument leads School Board to change hat policy

    By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer It had always been considered good etiquette — often a sign of respect — to remove a hat once inside a public building, restaurant and house of worship. Times change, attitudes change. Teens Joseph Deschenes and Lucas Gosselin felt the time was right to again float the idea of […]

  • State Trooper Cane holder — ‘Handsome Harry’

    By Elsie Leonard BN Intern Law enforcement has been a part of Harry Hansen’s whole life.  Within his adventures, he found the nickname ‘Handsome Harry’ and stories to tell that seem so unreal it’s like reading an adventure novel. The love for law enforcement has been ingrained in Harry Hansen since age 11. Decades of […]

  • Casco to demolish two ‘unsafe’ homes

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — Two dangerous buildings, both located off Route 11 in Webbs Mills Village, will be removed through the demolition process. The timelines will be slightly different. That’s because the town recently purchased one of the lots, a parcel with burned out home at 466 Poland Springs Rd. Since the […]

  • Casco to interview revaluation firms

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — The Town of Casco is preparing for the inevitable — doing a complete property revaluation to bring the land values in line with the real estate market. If the town does not do a revaluation and the assessed values drop to less than 70% of the market […]

  • Naples closes gym, seeks expert opinion

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Carpenters performed a popular song, which had the lyrics, “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.”  That was how Naples Town Manager John Hawley’s workweek started — except that this Monday it was raining inside the town gymnasium. “Water was leaking into the gym because […]

  • Cornshop Bridge slated for replacement in 2025

    By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer Cornshop Bridge on Depot Streetis showing its age. Built in 1947, the bridge spans Stevens Brook, and is targeted by the Maine Department of Transportation for replacement in 2025.  MDOT is in the preliminary phase of the project, producing a “scope of work” video outlining why the bridge needs […]

  • Still chippy at 75

    By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer LOVELL — Golf is frequently referred to as “a lifelong sport” because people can continue to play it beyond their retirement years. Four friends — whose combined ages equal 300 years — played a friendly game of golf at the Lake Kezar Country Club (LKCC) this fall and recalled […]