Inside New $1.4 Million Sugarloaf Golf Course Irrigation System

FALL 2012
Published annually by the town of Carrabassett Valley, Maine
Board of Selectmen: Robert Luce, Chair • John Beaupre • Lloyd Cuttler • Tom Butler • Jay Reynolds
New $1.4 Million Sugarloaf Golf Course Irrigation System nearing completion
Much excitement this year is being generated by
the installation of a new $1.4M state of the art golf
course irrigation system on our golf course. When
completely installed by early 2013, the system will
provide a much more efficient and effective water
management system and improved playing conditions. Noted golf course consultant Ross Forbes of
Forbes Golf Course Design, LLC was hired to assist
the Town and the Golf Course Greens Committee
in planning and implementing this project. After
a formal bid process, Environmental Solutions of
Yarmouth, Maine was hired to construct this project.
This project is a collaboration between the Town of
Carrabassett Valley, which owns Sugarloaf Mountain Golf Club, and Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation
who has a long-term lease on the course. Both entities will share equally in the debt payments.
Inside
2 Notes from the Town Manager
3 Notes from the Town Office
3 Notes from the CEO,
Assessor & Planning Board
4 Notes from the Police Department
5 Notes from the Fire Department
5 Notes from the CV School District
6 Maine Huts & Trails Updates
8 Notes from the CVPL
9 Notes from CVA
10 Notes from Sugarloaf Area
Christian Ministry
10 Notes from the JV Wing
Snowmobile Club
11 Notes from the Sugarloaf Golf Club
12 Notes from the Outdoor Association
13 Notes from the Sanitary District
14 Franklin County
Economic Development
15 News from ATV Club
15 Trash Talk: Recycling News
16 News from the Mountain Bike Club
17 NorthStar EMS
18 Notes from AGC & Rec. Department
19 What’s new at Sugarloaf
20 Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
22 WSKI: TV17
23 Western ME Center for Children
23 Outdoor Adventure Camp
24 Sugarloaf Water Association
Visit us online at
www.carrabassettvalley.org
1
Notes from the Town Manager
Submitted by Dave Cota
Dear Citizens and Taxpayers of Carrabassett Valley:
I hope all of you enjoyed a great summer and
fall….We’ve been pretty busy here in “the Valley” fully recovering from last year’s flood (the
aftermath of Hurricane Irene) and completing
a number of projects and improvements to the
Town’s recreation infrastructure.
Working closely with Sugarloaf Mt. we put parts
of the golf course back together after the Aug.
28th, 2011 flood including re-establishing stream
bank stabilization (rip rap, etc.) and rebuilding the
eighty-five foot 12th tee bridge. As a golf course
maintenance project, we also rebuilt the bridges to
the 14th and 15th greens. In addition, we recently
completed an extensive flood repair project on the
Narrow Gauge Pathway. We have been fortunate
in receiving partial F.E.M.A. funding for some of
these projects. We have heard many good compliments concerning the result of
the work on the Pathway Project.
This is such a wonderful asset
and many people enjoy biking,
walking and skiing on this trail.
for the golf course. The course already looks much
“greener” where the system has been installed
and is operational.
Another recreational infrastructure project we have
been working on is the continued development of
our mountain bike trail system. This is the second
year of the Town’s financial investment in the trail
system at the Outdoor Center and we are receiving
many great compliments concerning the new trail
system. Under the direction of resident Josh Tauses a
new trail has been completed near the warming hut
and a new trail is under construction “around the
bog” (the Bog Loop). Trail work started in 2011 has
also been completed. We would like to thank Josh
and, other workers and volunteers from Carrabassett
Valley Mountain Bike Club that have contributed so
much to the completion of these trails.
you are interested please feel free to contact me
for updates.
Other community trail systems have also seen extensive improvements this past summer. The ATV Club
(see related article) has worked diligently to improve
their trail system. A lot of drainage and other improvements were made to the trail system near the
Valley Crossing area. The Snowmobile Club also continues to maintain 55 miles of trail.
Looking to 2013, we hope to be able to continue
the progress being made at the golf
course and the mountain bike trail
system. Also, an ambitious New
Pool Committee continues to look
into replacing our existing outdoor
swimming pool with an expanded
new pool and pool house. They
are currently conducting fund raising and seeking grant opportunities
with the idea of coming to the voters
of the Town in the near future with a
proposal (see related article).
In addition to flood related projects on the golf course, the big
news this year is the construction
of a new golf course irrigation
system. As I write, we anticipate
total expenditures for this project
to be in neighborhood of $1.4
million. The twenty-year debt
I wish to thank Police Chief Scott
service payments will be shared
Nichols for his five-year tenure with
equally by Sugarloaf Mt. and the
us as he hopes to become elected
Town through a new golf course
as Franklin County Sheriff. Scott
lease amendment. The comhas made a significant contribuCarrabassett Valley Board of Selectmen (left to right): Tom Butler,
pany constructing the project,
tion to our Police Department and
John Beaupre, Bob Luce (Chair), Jay Reynolds, Lloyd Cuttler
Environmental Solutions, Inc.
the Sugarloaf Communications and
of Yarmouth Maine, has comSecurity System.
pleted several extensive drainage projects on our
golf course in the past few years and we are very
Speaking of the Outdoor Center, we are in the proFinally, I hope you will take the time to read the
pleased with their work and progress on the new cess of developing a new forest management plan
articles contained in this newsletter as our purpose
irrigation system project. While most of the project for the Town’s 2100 public lot around the Center.
is to annually connect with you and bring you up
will be completed during this construction season,
As soon as a draft is completed (around the first
to date with our Town Departments and all of the
they will need to come back in the spring to finof the year) we will hold a public hearing(s) to great work that all of the various organizations in
ish up. As funding allows, we are also installing
receive public input into the plan. This plan will our wonderful community do. Please feel free to
needed additional drainage to holes #4, 7 and consider first and foremost the recreational trail
contact me ([email protected]) with
9 as part of this project. When completed, Sugusage on the lot and will lay-out natural features
any suggestions or comments you may have. Winarloaf Mt. Golf Course will have a state of the art and potential options for on-going sustainable ter will soon be upon us and let’s hope for a great
irrigation system that will provide an efficient, ecoforestry. We will post a draft of the plan on the
winter season!!
nomical and effective water management system Town’s website as soon as it comes available. If
2
Notes from the Town Office
Wendy Russell - Town Clerk, Tax Collector, School Secretary & Registrar of Voters
•
Lori Hocking - Treasurer
TOWN OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm. We are closed on all State holidays.
Check the Town’s website for updates on office hours and meeting schedules at www.carrabassettvalley.org.
Real estate taxes were due September 30, 2012.
Interest has started to accrue on any unpaid balances as of October 1st. If you still have unpaid taxes,
call the Town Office (207-235-2645) to receive an
updated amount to pay. Also, please remember to
call us with any mailing address changes to your
account. Tax accounts not paid by noon on December 31st will be listed in the 2012 Town Report.
The Town is accepting credit & debit cards for
your convenience. We accept MasterCard, Visa &
Discover. Please note that Visa has restricted the
use of their card to only Excise Tax and Real Estate
Taxes. If you are planning on using a Visa debit
or credit card for a vehicle registration you should
bring another form of payment for the Agent fees &
State Registration fee portion of the costs. Another
thing to note is that there are fees charged to you
by the credit card service we use. It’s usually approximately 2.45% of your total transaction.
Hunting & Fishing Licenses, and ATV, Snowmobile
and Boat Registrations can all be obtained here at
the Town Office.
Dog Licenses expire on December 31, 2012 and are
due on January 1, 2013. New licenses are available at the Town Office for 2013 starting Nov. 1st.
Reminders will be mailed to those of you that have
registered dogs with us in the past. If you are new to
Town or have a new dog, please bring your current
rabies certificate and spayed or neutered certificate
in to register your dog.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 is the State of Maine
General (Presidential) and Referendum Election.
Please see the Secretary of State’s webpage for more
information on this election at www.maine.gov
TRANSFER STATION HOURS:
Thursday thru Monday: 8:00am – 3:45pm
Tuesday & Wednesday: CLOSED
There is a list of recyclable items on our website:
www.carrabassettvalley.org
Credit Cards now being accepted,
however, charges apply
News from the Code Enforcement Officer,
Assessor, and Planning Board
Although the construction season has been quieter
than past years, we’ve been busy working with property owners in their efforts to repair damages from
last year’s flooding, as well as reviewing many upgrades to existing properties throughout the community. We were fortunate to see six new single family
Locally, our annual Carrabassett Valley Town Meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2013.
Election of Town Officers will take place from 8:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Town Office. We will reconvene at the Outdoor Center to vote on the remaining Town Meeting warrant articles at 7:30 p.m.
Nomination papers will be available for Selectmen,
School Committee and Sanitary District on December 11, 2012 and are due back by January 21,
2013. Absentee ballots will be available February
5, 2013 for the election of officers only.
Bill Gilmore
homes, two replacement homes, a major addition to
the Carrabassett Valley Academy facility and a new
(fourth) Maine Huts and Trails hut on Stratton Brook
overlook (adjacent to the Bigelow Preserve) under
construction in 2012. All things considered, we are
fortunate to have these additions to the community
this year. We look forward to the potential for better things to come in 2013.
Due to an unexpected surplus in the
Education Account this past year, we
were able to actually reduce and maintain a very (low) healthy tax (mil) rate
this year at .0063 (per thousand dollars
of valuation). Most property taxpayers
saw a decrease in their tax bills.
Construction of new Maine Huts and Trails hut
With regards to tax assessments, Transfer Tax Declarations have shown that
property values in homes that have sold
have begun to decline to some extent, compared
to earlier sales of “like properties.” However, most
of these sale prices have been reasonably comparable to our current assessments. I will certainly
continue to monitor these trends going into our
next tax commitment in the spring (of 2013).
If you have any questions concerning either town
code enforcement, land use and building permitting or tax assessments please don’t hesitate to
contact us. I look forward to seeing you on the
slopes this winter.
Sincerely,
Bill Gilmore
3
Notes from the Police Department
Scott Nichols, Chief
CARRABASSETT VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT
9000 Main St. Village West - CARRABASSETT VALLEY, MAINE 04947
Voice: 207-237-3200
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 207-237-6911
Information and Services Concerning...
Carrabassett Valley Police Department, Carrabassett Valley Communications Center, Sugarloaf Mountain Security
Dear Friends,
It appears that the date to write the fall letter
comes quicker each year! Time surely flies by.
municate anywhere in the community using only
our hand-held radios.
When I first came here in March of 2008, my goal
was to create a police department whose members were 100% academy trained. I am pleased
to report that we reached that goal last December
and continue to maintain the same personnel. This
milestone is important because it guarantees the
consistency of law enforcement service to our residents and guests from one season to the next.
Throughout the year, we continued to offer handgun safety training through the Carrabassett Valley
Outdoor Association. We also provided concealed
weapons permits and gun locks to our residents.
We continued the practice of registering skis and
snowboards and donated lost property that has
been unclaimed for over a year to local charities.
We also participated in two “drug take back” programs which keep unwanted prescription drugs
from being improperly disposed of.
This year brought unique challenges to us–we
were forced by Federal mandate to “narrow band”
our radio frequencies as well as our radio systems,
which also required us to change our FCC licenses
at considerable expense. This created additional
problems because once we had switched to narrow band we experienced degradation of our radio
signals so our patrol units could not communicate
with our base station at extreme ends of the town!
However, working with Fire Chief Knapp and the
staff of our vendor “Maine Radio,” we were able
to overcome this issue by placing our radio frequency on the town’s repeater system located on
Redington. As a result we not only boosted our car
radio capability but also made it possible to com-
As most of you know, I entered the race for Sheriff of Franklin County. In June, I won the first ever
primary battle by a substantial margin and I’m currently campaigning to win the fall general election
against the incumbent Sheriff. I decided to run for
Sheriff because (in my opinion) as a fellow tax payer
and law enforcement officer we are not well served
for the amount of money we spend on county law
enforcement. The current administration just has not
kept up with the changes and challenges of policing
in the 21st century. A lot of the practices that I have
implemented at CVPD to reduce crime have never
been practiced before in a large geographic area.
However, I believe if properly deployed, they will
work to reduce crime county wide.
Sugarloaf Explorer
Transportation
Call 237-6853
or visit
www.sugarloafexplorer.com
for winter season service!
4
The Sugarloaf Explorer Transportation System
will once again be operational starting the
Thanksgiving Holiday. There will be no midweek service from November 26th through
December 14th (unless to accommodate
large group occupancy at Sugarloaf) and
service will cease immediately following
Reggae weekend. Most of the buses are now
equipped with outside ski racks. For more
information regarding the bus schedule log
on to the Sugarloaf Website or call 2356853 for service.
My plan is to increase visibility of deputies in the
county without adding manpower. I plan on using
new technologies to help report crime, even if the
reporting party does not want to be identified. I
plan on increasing efficiency and communication
between the State Police and the Sheriff’s Dept.
by working closely with State Police troopers under
a strengthened call sharing agreement, creating
teams of patrol officers who will work together, instead of having two agencies occupying the same
space and not working together.
If I lose the election, I will remain here as your
Chief and continue to work for you and our guests
by providing the best law enforcement and security
we can possibly provide.
In closing, I encourage you to stop by the Communications Center any time day or night. My door
is always open for your questions or concerns. I
can be reached at 237-3200 or by email at [email protected].
Respectfully Submitted,
Scott
Notes from the Fire Department
Every day the Fire Service faces new challenges. Our department is no different
than others across the country. Several years ago the auto industry, in its drive
to make vehicles safer, started to incorporate new high strength steels in vehicle
design. These new engineering features have greatly improved the survivability
of victims involved in motor vehicle accidents by insuring the passenger compartment remains intact. However, the task of removing the injured from the
newer cars and trucks has become much more difficult. Only recently have newer rescue tools (i.e. Jaws of Life) been available to effectively cut through the
new high-strength steels used in auto construction.
Courtney Knapp, Chief
the region. Dave Harrison, a CVFD member led
the training session. Thanks to Brian Fletcher,
owner of Brian’s Auto Body, for providing all
the junk vehicles.
Our 20 year old rescue tool needed to be updated.
In addition, no other Fire Department in our region
had the newer rescue tools. In June, we applied to
the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation seeking
funding to purchase the latest technology in rescue
tools. In mid-July we received the wonderful news
that we were awarded a $25,000 grant from this
Foundation. This funding has allowed us to acquire
the latest vehicle extrication tool system with no local tax dollars needed.
This equipment will give us the ability to efficiently
cut and spread the high-strength steel used in new
auto construction. We received the new tools in early
September and Sunday the 23rd of September we
had our first training at Brian Auto Body cutting and
spreading junk cars. Eighteen fire fighters from Carrabassett, Kingfield and Eustis participated. We will
share this new equipment when needed throughout
Members of the Carrabassett Valley Fire Department
Notes from CV School Department
Submitted by George Joseph, Superintendent
Carrabassett Valley School Department Fall Report
Greetings from the Carrabassett Valley School Department! I am pleased to report that all of our
students have now settled into their respective
schools and are doing well. At the time of writing
of this report, the fall student enrollment at each
of the receiving schools is as follows:
Carrabassett Valley Academy – 14
Kingfield Elementary School – 10
Stratton Elementary School – 19
Mt. Abram High School – 9
Kents Hill School – 2
Total Enrollment: 54 students
Like other school systems across the State, Carrabassett Valley enrollments have continued to
decline with enrollments going from as high as
ninety students just a few short years ago to the
present K-12 enrollment of fifty-four students.
Basically, we have fewer students entering kindergarten each year as compared to the number of
students who are graduating.
I would like to mention that Kathi Gary, one of
the School Committee members and a long time
teacher at CVA, has moved out west with her family. The School Committee, as well as myself, would
like to publicly thank Kathi for her years of service
to the school committee and the community. We
want to wish her well and good luck on this new
chapter in her life. The school committee will appoint someone in the near future to fill this school
committee vacancy.
As always, all are welcome to attend the school committee meetings, which are usually held on the third
Thursday of the month at the town office. If anyone
has any questions or concerns I can be reached by
calling Wendy Russell at the town office.
5
Maine Huts & Trails Announces Opening of Fourth Hut
UPDATE
Stratton Brook Hut to Open for the Winter Season Offering 50 Miles of Hut-toHut Skiing Adventures with Warm Accommodations & Home-Cooked Meals
Kingfield, ME – Maine Huts & Trails is pleased to
announce the opening of the Stratton Brook Hut on
December 21, 2012. Stratton Brook is the fourth
of twelve planned backcountry huts and eco-lodges
connected by 180 miles of trails in Maine’s scenic Western Mountains region. This planned 180
mile connected hut-to-hut trail will be the longest
groomed ski trail in America.
The Stratton Brook Hut is located in Carrabassett
Valley and provides excellent access to Maine’s
many 4,000 foot peaks. It will be the first hut within Maine Huts & Trails to have an alpine setting,
offering spectacular views of both the Carrabassett
Valley and Sugarloaf Mountain. The hut will have
ten rooms, four of which are private, and will sleep
a total of 44 people. It will be accessible via a 3-to4 mile trail from a new trailhead parking area off
Route 27, just north of the Sugarloaf access road.
“The hut-to-hut system gives unprecedented access
to one of the most scenic stretches of mountains,
forests, lakes and waterfalls in the eastern U.S. It
has been specifically designed to make minimal
impact on this region’s outstanding natural resources ensuring it will be preserved and enjoyed
for many generations,” said Nicole Freedman, Executive Director of Maine Huts & Trails.
The Stratton Brook Hut was made possible by a
generous donation from Clem and Rolande Begin,
local residents and major supporters of Maine
Huts & Trails.
All huts at Maine Huts & Trails feature best-inclass amenities and offer a variety of unique special events and activities such as hiking, mountain
biking, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, skiing,
and snowshoeing. Each hut features hearty, homecooked meals using locally sourced organic ingredients; comfortable beds; bathrooms with hot showers
and shuttles to take gear from hut to hut.
For more information and to book your stay please
visit www.mainehuts.org or call (207) 265-2400.
Book by December 15th to save and take advantage of Maine Huts & Trails’ winter sale! Members
can book weekday stays for just $49 and for nonmembers, $64, a savings of $20 off good for visits
made between December 21st and January 21st
6
One of the many views from the new Stratton Brook Hut
at all huts including the new Stratton Brook Hut.
Guests must reference the “Winter 2012” sale to
take advantage of these limited-time savings!
For media inquiries or to request visual materials, please call Aigner/Prensky Marketing Group at
(617) 254-9500.
Maine Huts & Trails is a nonprofit organization which
contributes to the economic, social and natural environment of Maine’s Western Mountain region. Its
backcountry trails enhance access to remote lakes,
rivers and forest lands, and its low impact huts facilitate outdoor adventure and learning.
NARROW GAUGE PATHWAY FLOOD REPAIR PROJECT COMPLETED
As most of you know, the Narrow Gauge Pathway
received extensive damage due to the effects of August
28th, 2011 flood (from Hurricane Irene). Much of the
minor damage was repaired in the fall of 2011 but
due to the extent of the major damage, approximately
10,000’ of the six-mile pathway could not be repaired
until this past summer. After engineering plans and
specifications were developed this project was put out
to bid and, of the six bids received, Jordan Excavation
of Kingfield was awarded the contract to complete the
work. The worked started on June 20th and completed
on July 24th. Over 6,000 cubic yards of heavy rip rap,
rock fill, gravel and gravel surface was required to fill
the huge voids and recreate the damaged section of trail.
The finished project is a trail that should better stand up
much to another one-year flood if we should have the
misfortune of witnessing another one any time soon! We
would like to thank Jordan Excavation for the great job
they did and to Chris Parks who was hired by the Town
to monitor the construction. We’ve heard many good
comments concerning the “new trail.” Get out and enjoy it!
Completed Narrow Gauge Pathway after repairs
Damage to the Narrow Gauge Pathway from the August 8th, 2012 flood before the repairs
7
Notes from the Carrabassett Valley Public Library
This newsletter marks the 3rd year in our new space!
The Carrabassett Valley Public Library offers a
wide variety of services for residents and guests. Our
cozy environment is filled with current books, computers, WIFI (inside and out), printing capabilities,
movies, magazines, newspapers, children’s books
and programs- including a story time/playgroup for
parents and children on Thursdays at 10:30. Any time
the building is open, which includes most weekday
business hours, you are welcome to sit in the lobby
and access the Internet…even if the library is closed.
The library has registered over 2,100 patrons since
the February 6, 2010 opening and attendance to
date is nearly 7,000. Our shelves are filled with books
thanks to the town’s contribution to our book budget
and a multitude of generous donations. Let me take
this opportunity to say THANK YOU for these donations and to the wonderful group of volunteers who
continue to help with checking out books, processing, cataloging and shelving. ILL (interlibrary loan)
is available through the Maine State Library and enables patrons to request any title. All registered library
patrons can download free audio books and e-books
through the Maine State Library; search http://
download.maineinfonet.org. Stop by for your free
library membership number soon. Additionally, we
have two Nooks (the Barnes & Noble electronic book
readers) and a Kindle Fire for patron use. The lobby
provides a very nice venue for local artists to display
their work in a gallery setting. Visiting artists have
included Karen Campbell, Isaac White, Saskia Reinholt, Greg Thomas, Patty Ritzo; the beautiful quilts
of Joanne Noyes; photography by Greg Thomas, Don
Waterhouse & John Orcutt; painters Nora West, Bar-
bara Stewart and Kitty Cole Jones. Please email us
if you are interested in receiving an application to
display your art here.
Please contact Library Director, Andrea DeBiase, at
237-3535 or email: [email protected].
me.us for information about volunteering, donating
to the library, purchasing a Forever Stone (we are a
501(c)3 non-profit organization) or with any other
questions we can help you answer!
The Begin Family Community Room has been busy!
It has been regularly used for after school programs,
town and selectmen’s meetings, condo association
and school committee meetings, Boy Scout meetings, Carrabassett Valley Academy gatherings, and
Senior Group events. In addition, every 2nd and 4th
Saturday of the month during the winter months,
free movies are shown on the “big screen.” Other
community room uses have included the Kingfield
Healing Arts - Wellness Day, bone density screenings,
CPR and First Aid classes, memorial and birthday
parties, story times, and after school programs. A big
hit for the children again last winter was the special
event, “Maine-ly Balloons.” Music filled the air with
the folksongs of Taylor’s Grove and our very own
(if we can call her that!) Leah Tysee. Leah’s parents
are residents of Carrabassett Valley, and we were
very fortunate to have her sing for us after Christmas
here in the Begin Room to a full house! This summer the Summer Reading Program was enjoyed by
over 100 children through Outdoor Adventure Camp,
and we had the pleasure of hosting MAD SCIENCE
here in the Begin Room for the campers and public as
well. Periodically, the library hosts author visits and
book signings, including Kenny Wing
and Alan Burnell: The Lost Villages of
Flagstaff Lake; Tim Caverley: Allagash
Tails; Nancy Prince: Libby’s Loons; Angus King: Governor’s Travels. More
interesting events are planned for the
coming year.
Director of the CVPL, Andy DeBiase, is pictured
with some young readers!
8
Submitted by Andie DeBiase, Director
The library has proven to be the perfect place to gather. Every corner of
the library and Begin Room is being
used and enjoyed, from the fireplace
to the café tables, including the children’s area, mezzanine and the new
patio! All events are published in
local newspapers, WSKI and on the
Carrabassett Valley Public Library
Facebook page. Check it out and support your library’s programs!
SPRING/FALL HOURS:
TUESDAY & THURSDAY & SATURDAY
10 am-1 pm
WEDNESDAY 1 pm-4 pm
FRIDAY 1 pm-7 pm
WINTER HOURS:
TUESDAY 10 am-1 pm
WEDNESDAY 1 pm-4 pm
THURSDAY 10 am-5 pm
FRIDAY 1 pm-7 pm
SATURDAY 10 am-5 pm
SUNDAY 1 pm-4 pm
SUMMER HOURS:
WEDNESDAY 1 pm-4 pm
THURSDAY 10 am-12 pm
FRIDAY 4 pm-7 pm
SATURDAY 10 am-12 pm
Extra hours may be added during
vacation weeks. Look for our “OPEN”
sign in front of the building.
Playgroups, senior socials &
story times continue
Notes from Carrabassett Valley Academy
Carrabassett Valley Academy Head of School Says Thank You
By Kate Webber Punderson
“There is great good in returning to a landscape
that has had extraordinary meaning in one’s life.
It happens that we return to such places in our
minds irresistibly. There are certain villages and
towns, mountains and plains that, having seen
them, walked in them, lived in them, even for
a day, we keep forever in the mind’s eye. They
become indispensable to our well-being; they
define us, and we say: I am who I am because I
have been there.”-N. Scott Momaday
As Carrabassett Valley Academy enters our 30th
year, we are grateful for all our partnerships
within this beautiful town. I wanted to say thank
you to the people, businesses, and organizations
in this community which provide such a wonderful
and rich quality of life for our students as they
learn both in and out of the classroom. CVA’s
ties to this community are deep…and so is our
future. As we build our academic center and move
one step closer to completing our King Cummings
Campus, I wanted to take a moment to reflect
upon the community that defines us and has
become indispensable to our wellbeing.
We are constantly reminded of the support offered
by this tight-knit community at events such as the
annual CVA/Sugarloaf Golf Classic in August. It
was here that we were treated to a touching speech
by Anna Drumstas. Anna is a freshman student
The mission of Carrabassett Valley Academy is to foster
focused individual student-athlete development by providing
the optimum balance between outstanding college preparatory
academics, responsible community living and world-class athletic
training in competitive skiing and snowboarding.
at CVA who lives with her family in Carrabassett
Valley. The audience that day included John
Beaupre and Steve Pierce, members of the
Ayotte Scholarship Fund Committee, who were
so touched by her speech that they announced
on the spot a donation of $1,000 to the Martha
B. Webber Scholarship fund. Needless to say, it
was a moving and emotional moment for all in
attendance.
We are so thankful for places like the Anti-Gravity
Complex and the Carrabassett Valley Public
Library. We held our school’s annual registration
at the AGC on September 3rd, and I marveled at
what a wonderful resource this is for all community
members. The library is a beautiful facility which
fosters lifelong learners with educational and
other outreach programs. We held CVA’s first ever
public art show in the library last spring.
The library building also houses the Western
Maine Center for Children, a childcare facility
where CVA faculty and staff and many other
employees from area businesses feel safe and
comfortable dropping their children off every day.
The Sugarloaf Ski Club is an organization
whose members support local students in their
competitive and social endeavors. Funds from
their efforts and the efforts of the Sugarloaf
Regional Ski Educational Foundation make it
possible for local youngsters to engage in a
lifelong sport which keeps them active and happy
for many years.
The Sugarloaf Area Ministry provides a valuable
community service by connecting people together
for mutual encouragement. It supports CVA
by helping us deliver our responsible living
curriculum and weekly, the Christian Athlete Team
(CAT) meets in our conference room for those
students who wish to participate in a youth group.
The Carrabassett Region chapter of the New
England Mountain Bike Association has been busy
building trails in the area and improving existing
ones for all ability levels to enjoy. We are thankful
that CVA’s mountain bike team can train and race
on these trails every fall.
I also wanted to thank the business owners
throughout Carrabassett Valley and our
neighboring towns who welcome our students and
their families to their businesses on a daily basis
throughout the school year, as well as
donating much-needed funds to the school
to keep us alive and well.
Last, but not least, Sugarloaf Mountain
provides our students with training
grounds that are unparalleled in the
East. The employees, the volunteers at
competitions, and the management are all
supportive of our pursuits, and for that we
are so grateful.
CVA student’s lives are never the same
after leaving here. Thank you to everyone
in the town of Carrabassett Valley for
making their experience life changing.
9
Sugarloaf Area Christian
Ministry
Connecting With Valley Seniors
Almost two years ago Sugarloaf Area Christian
Ministry volunteers went out on a community
listening exercise in Carrabassett Valley, our
hometown. We heard some concerns expressed
that we had not anticipated. The more the
team listened, the clearer it became that our
community was aging. Feelings of loneliness,
isolation, lack of elder care services and the
lack of transportation to medical appointments
outside the valley were expressed.
Carrabassett Valley has some of the most active
seniors in Western Maine, but the number of
homebound seniors, or seniors now living alone,
is on the rise. The challenge is to find ways help
aging seniors to remain independent, stay safely
at home and access home care services. Aging in
place and living independently in our rural setting
often requires outside services. The questions
were: what services are available, where are they
located, and how can people access the services
they need? To help answer those questions, the
Ministry has established a website known as
www.cvalleynetwork.org to provide web-based
information of interest to seniors, caregivers and
family members. We have also established a
volunteer-based community outreach program
known as Good Morning Calls to make daily
telephone contact with homebound valley area
residents.
In addition, the Carrabassett Valley Public Library
and Community Center has established Wednesday
mornings as informal meeting times for Valley
Seniors, and presented two blocks of handson computer training for seniors to access the
worldwide web and establish email accounts. The
Valley Seniors have joined our Ministry volunteers
in making Good Morning Calls to check-in with
other seniors living alone or homebound to assure
Notes from the JV Wing Snowmobile Club
J. V. Wing Board:
President – Bill Munzer
Vice President – John Tobias
Treasurer – Jackie Munzer
Secretary – Pattie Schloth
Directors:
Gary Curtis • Norm Sherman • Ted Crowell
10
their well-being. The daily contacts also provide
opportunities for volunteers to help out with
seasonal chores and to provide rides to medical
appointments outside the valley.
We encourage Carrabassett Valley area residents
who would like to receive daily calls or volunteer
to make calls, or do both, to contact the Sugarloaf
Area Christian Ministry at 207-237-2304, or
to leave a written comment on the website;
www.cvalleynetwork.org.
Gerry Baril, Ministry Board Chair
Submitted by Pattie Schloth
On the bright side – The J.V. Wing S.C. is looking forward to the Farmer’s Almanac prediction for
plenty of snow for 2012 -2013.
from just about everyone, snowmobilers, hikers,
cross country skiers, etc. The club is so pleased to
hear that everyone is enjoying this great bridge.
Our 2nd Annual Raffle was a great success, thanks
to all who bought a ticket. The club really needed
the extra money to help cover the expenses incurred
by the damage to trails caused by Hurricane Irene.
The club would like to thank all the residents, taxpayers & selectmen for all your support and we
also would like to thank the landowners for the
use of their land.
We had a great “End of Year Dinner” at Judson’s.
The meal was outstanding. We are so sorry Vanessa & Pete are not going to be there next year. They
had to close up shop – and they tried so hard.
We did not have a lot of snow for snowmobiling
this past season, but our groomer operators did a
fantastic job keeping those trails as well groomed
as possible – especially considering the conditions.
The new 110 ft. bridge across the Carrabassett River
is the Greatest! We no longer have to worry about
the river freezing – yeah! We got great feedback
Respectfully,
Bill Munzer, President
News from Sugarloaf Golf Club
Installation of state of the art irrigation system generates excitement
This was a year full of positive changes and exciting improvements taking place throughout the
golf course facility. Maine native Abby Spector was
hired as the new head golf professional. Abby is
a seven-time Maine women’s amateur champion
and a past New England women’s amateur champion. She is the head teaching professional and
the director of the junior golf programs. Everyone
was excited to have her at Sugarloaf.
The installation of a new $1.4M state-of-the-art
golf course irrigation system on our golf course has
also generated a lot of excitement. When completely installed, the system will provide a much
more efficient and effective water management
system and improved playing conditions. Noted
Golf Course Consultant Ross Forbes of Forbes Golf
Course Design, LLC was hired to assist the Town,
Sugarloaf and the Golf Course Greens Committee
in planning and implementing this project. After
a formal bid process, Environmental Solutions of
Yarmouth, Maine was hired to construct this project. In addition, all the materials (pipe, sprinkler
heads, gravel materials, etc.) for this project were
put out to bid saving significant dollars. Due in
part to these savings, we also anticipate completing substantial drainage improvements to the 4th,
7th and 9th holes while we are “digging up” these
holes installing the irrigation system. This will
improve play on these holes considerably. Both
Boyne/Sugarloaf and the Town will share equally
in the annual debt amortization payments for this
project going forward. We wish to thank the voters of our wonderful community for supporting this
much needed project.
In the midst of our country’s current economic conditions many golf courses are closing their doors.
The Town and Sugarloaf are spending 1.4 million
dollars on a desperately needed new irrigation
project. This project meant having only 17 holes
open for play on weekdays throughout the summer and as a result rates were reduced by 40%.
Regardless of this inconvenience the number of
rounds of golf played this year increased by almost
500 and we did not lose any members. Members’
and guests’ morale increased measurably as each
hole was completed.
Other 2012 capital projects at the golf course
included replacing the 85’ bridge to the 12th
tee which as destroyed by the August 2011 flood
and rebuilding the bridges to the 14th and 15th
greens which needed attention. These were substantial projects that were also put out to bid and
completed by local contractors.
In 2012, Sugarloaf Golf Club hosted the State of
Maine Championship and a Pro-Am run by the
New England PGA, and the State Two-Man Championship run by the MSGA. The crew running the
irrigation project, and especially Matt and Warren,
were very accommodating during these big State
events and stepped aside giving us an 18-hole
Groundbreaking: John DeBiase Sugarloaf Golf Director, John Beaupre Chairman Greens
Committee, Bob Bruce Golf Course Supt., Warren Michaelsen Owner and CEO of
Environmental Solutions the Contractor and Ross Forbes Golf Course Consultant.
golf course on days we normally would not have
had the entire course available.
Finally, a quick announcement...Sugarloaf Golf
Club will have the privilege of hosting a junior
national golf tournament next summer. The organization is called the American Junior Golf Association and their events attract junior golfers from
all over the world as an avenue for college golf
scholarships. These events are hosted each week
all summer at different sites around the country.
Ours will be July 28-31, 2013. Due to the prestige
of this event some aesthetic improvements will be
made to the golf course, cleaning up around the
edges and improving landscaping. We are looking
forward to next year and years to come as Sugarloaf Golf Course continues to improve its conditions
and beauty.
Come join us next year!!!
11
Notes from CV Outdoor Association
CVOA: The Active Outdoor Club!
We started out as a litter patrol more than a decade
ago, a small band of outdoor enthusiasts committed to keeping our neighborhood pristine. Today,
with more than 600 members, CVOA is recognized
as a leader for its dedicated efforts to protect our
outdoor heritage, create recreational opportunities
and organize outdoor activities.
But it’s not all work. We also love to have fun!
Our annual adventure calendar is always jampacked. In 2012, we skied Aspen and snowshoed
Mont Megantic. We hiked, biked and kayaked our
way through Downeast Lubec, Eastport, Campobello and Deer Island. We fished, hiked and canoed Nahmakanta Lake in the thick of the 100Mile Wilderness. Closer to home, we organized full
moon ski treks at the outdoor center, hiked Little
Bigelow, toured our waterfalls and biked the Solon
to Bingham rail trail.
In 2013, we hope to ski Vail, Mont Massif and
Banff. We’ll be snowshoeing and Nordic skiing in
Baxter State Park and Mont Megantic Provincial
Park. We’ll be hiking, biking, fishing, camping and
kayaking along the southern Maine coast and its
islands .. around Stonington further down east ..
at Kidney Pond in Baxter .. at Acadia National Park
in Bar Harbor and at 4th Deb wilderness camps in
the great North Woods.
We’ll be hiking Tumbledown and the AT and canoeing and kayaking on the Dead River and Scarborough Marsh.
But we are so much more than a social club.
Every year, we help the town clean up Route 27.
We pick up trash on our hiking trails. And some of
our members are responsible for maintaining four
sections of the AT that run through our backyard.
We’re out there cutting brush, building bog bridges and painting blazes on the AT over Sugarloaf,
South Crocker, Flagstaff and the campground at
Crocker Cirque.
12
In the fall of 2012, we published a comprehensive hiking guide to our area .. “Take A Hike,”
an insider’s guide to help our visitors enjoy our
mountains, rivers, waterfalls and bike trails. Every year we publish a calendar featuring fabulous
photographs of some of the most scenic spots in
our state. We’ve published a cookbook, “Potluck
in Paradise,” that was a big seller.
And More!
We have built and maintain a top-notch pistol and
shooting range in a first-rate setting. It sits off Rte.
27, just 1.7 miles north of the Sugarloaf Access
Road. Its backdrop: the majestic Bigelow Moun-
tain range. Local law enforcement officers train
here. We run programs there for kids to introduce
them to the sport.
Our range was built on the backs of volunteers and
with an assist from the Boy Scout troop we sponsor. We have trap shooting, a pistol range, a rifle
range and an archery range. We’ve built a clubhouse where it’s warm .. and the coffee pot is on!
Want to know more? You can find us on the web at:
WWW.CVOUTDOORS.COM.
You’ll find news, information about upcoming adventures and a collection of awesome photo albums.
SO...JOIN THE FUN!
JOIN CVOA AND GET MOVING!!
Notes from the Sanitary District
Submitted by David S. Keith, Superintendent
News from the Lagoons: Mischief and Commitment
Mischief
Try this. Go to WWW.Grainger.com (an industrial
products website), under product search type the
word CRAPPER. You will be quickly directed to the
catalogs selection of toilets and other fine porcelain fixtures. My initial thought regarding this
discovery was that it had to be the result of some
mischief by a data entry clerk while compiling
“search engine key words and phrases.” I imagined the clerk was directed to compile numerous
keywords to help direct the customer to the appropriate product. Curiosity being my motivation,
I continued my investigation by typing in the word
Hopper and was immediately directed to a selection of very fine industrial hopper carts, some with
pneumatic tires others with hard rubber wheels.
Not to be defeated, I pulled out the big guns…
I’m hoping, at least a few of you are curious. The
website could not find my request and asked, “Did
you mean Shutters?”
A quick search of “Wikipedia” revealed that Thomas Crapper, born 1836, in Thorn of Yorkshire, held
numerous patents pertaining to water closets. Contrary to popular belief, Crapper did not invent the
toilet. He is though credited with the development
of related inventions such as the venerable ballcock. In 1861, Crapper set himself up as a sanitary
engineer with foundries and workshops. Before the
use of vitreous china and porcelain, many early
toilets were cast in brass or iron. Thankfully, all
four materials have the same comforting coolness
many of us appreciate when in a less than flattering situation. Crapper received numerous royal
warrants from Edward VII and George V for the
installation of plumbing and lavatories in the Royals’ homes and business offices. The installation of
Thrones, so to speak…
Popular culture has claimed the euphemism for
human waste originated with Thomas Crapper
because of his trademark branding on lavatories
and other plumbing fixtures. The Oxford English
Dictionary suggests the origin of the word crap is
Middle English from “crapping ken” where ken means
a house. The most likely origin is a combination of more
ancient words; the Dutch
“krappen,’ to pluck off, cut
off, or separate; and the Old
French “crappe,” meaning
sifted or rejected matter from
medieval Latin for “crappa”
or chaff.
Armed with this bit of knowledge, I returned to the online catalog responsible for
this educational adventure
and conducted a product
search by entering the manufacturer’s name as my first
preference. Thomas Crapper
& Co. was nowhere to be
found. American Standard,
Sloan, Gerber and Crane were
well represented…aahhha
Mischief!
Commitment
The Carrabassett Valley Sanitary District will mark
its twentieth anniversary on June 24, 2013. Over
these past two decades, the District has focused
its efforts to determine and correct deficiencies
with the sewage collection system and wastewater
treatment facility. Operational efficiencies and effectiveness at the treatment facility in combination
with the removal of groundwater and surface-water intrusions to the collection system have created
excess capacity within the system that will allow
the District’s user base to double in size, based
upon current regulatory requirements, without the
need to expand the existing treatment facility.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize
and thank those citizens of this community who as
members of the District’s Board of Trustees have
taken an active part in guiding the District over
these past 20 years:
Carl Demshar – Trustee since the formation
of the District & current Chairman of the Board
Robert Briggs – Vice Chairman
Neal Trask – Secretary
Richard Smith – Treasurer
Stephen Piece – Clerk
Larry Warren – former trustee & chairman
Alfred Webster, John Clements, Richard
Crommett, and George Quirk, all former
trustees.
These 10 people have voluntarily given their time,
expertise and sage advice. Their efforts have been
instrumental in developing this District into an organization that is respected by its peers and regulatory agencies. The District has become a resource
to other communities and agencies for information
regarding policies, procedures, tools for operational processes, collection system repairs and maintenance and most importantly, asset management.
Mischief and Commitment
Think of us when you flush and remember, we’ll
be there taking care of your assets.
13
Franklin County Economic Development
Submitted by Shelby L. Childs, Executive Assistant
Greater Franklin Development Corporation
For those in the know, the Unorganized Townships
have always had plenty of activity going on, from hiking trails, kayaking, snowmobiling, and other outdoor
recreation activities that take place there, but over the
last year, the activity level has increased exponentially, thanks to successful applications to the Franklin
County TIF.
In 2008, when the TransCanada Maine Development
Inc. Kibby Wind Project was completed, the County
Commissioners worked with the company to establish
a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. The County
will capture $4 million dollars over a 20 year period
of time to spend on economic development projects
in the UTs.
This pool of funds is managed and distributed by
the County. Greater Franklin Development Corporation facilitates a TIF Application Review Committee,
which accepts and scores applications and submits
their recommendations to the County Commissioners. The Commissioners review the recommendations
and make final decisions on funds awarded. The first
round of funding took place over this past year, and
has been a very successful initiative to date, with over
$85,000 awarded to groups seeking UT project funding, and UT residents seeking employment skills training scholarships.
The Arnold Trail Snowmobile Network has successfully stepped the trailside banks of Bag Pond
Mountain, hauled new materials to the area, and
cut drainage leading to a nearby brook to create safe
water flow.
The Carrabassett Valley ATV Club has plans to develop the Redington Range Multipurpose Trail and is
currently working on securing land agreements.
Creating an Appalachian Trail scenic byway turnout
in Wyman Twp. was the goal of the Flagstaff Area
Business Association. The group has conducted a
site analysis, and provided landscaping and vegetation management of the area. In addition, they have
repaired the existing parking lot and have constructed
a kiosk to house 4’ by 7’ maps, which will be installed
later this fall.
Franklin Search and Rescue received funds to purchase five radios for team members. Although the
radios are less than six months old, they have already
been used to monitor the Franklin County fire channel
for rescue calls, communicate during the three weekends that search and rescue coverage was provided,
conduct training at Smalls Falls and on the Rapid River, and rescue two college student hikers on Bigelow
Mountain. It’s clear that the purchase of the radios
has had a significant impact on the safety and effectiveness of both rescuers and operations in the UTs.
The High Peaks Alliance had a desire to enhance the
Fly Rod Crosby Trail attraction as a visitor destination.
To accomplish this goal, they received funds to design
and build a parking area and kiosk, hire interns, develop, print, and distribute a Trail Guide and hikers’
map, create interpretive signs for the trail, and hire
a paid part-time community organizer, Ben Godsoe.
The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust has been busy
at work conducting a Phase 1 Environmental Site
Appalachian Trail Turns 75 in Carrabassett Valley
On August 18th a 75th “community” anniversary of
the completion of the “A.T.” was held in Carrabassett
Valley. The event was sponsored by the Town of
Carrabassett Valley, Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley
Academy, Schoolhouse Gallery, the Rack, the Trust
for Public Land, Poland Spring Water, Plum Creek and
Gritty’s Brew Pubs and was organized by the Maine
Appalachian Trail Club, the Maine Appalachian Trail
Land Trust and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The
adjourning picture is of the plaque, located on the trail
on the south side of Sugarloaf that commemorates the
location of the completion of the final link in the Trail
14
in 1937. Much of the original trail has been relocated
from roads and private land to public lands (now part
of the National Park System). The A.T. extends 2,180
miles through fourteen States from Springer Mt.
Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. The Celebration in
Carrabassett was marked by organized hikes, chairlift
rides to the top of Sugarloaf and a gathering at the
Rack. The event was attended by many interested
local folks and proceeds from the sale and raffle of
donated items were given to the Trust for Public Lands
to assist in their fund raising efforts for the Crocker
Mountain Conservation Project.
Assessment (ESA) on the property locally known as
Poacher’s Paradise, as well as the former Madrid
Store. As a result of having the assessment done,
the group can move forward and correct the issues
revealed by the ESA with the assistance of the Maine
DEP. The goal is to create and implement a scenic
turnout for the area.
The Rt. 27 Scenic Byway Corridor Advisory Group
has been hard at work outlining a comprehensive interpretive signage and gateway plan, which will be
concluded at the end of the year.
Seeking to enhance and promote the Perham Stream
Birding Trail, the Sandy River Land Trust has used
their TIF funds to work on their new website, utilize
local interns, and prepare materials to be used by
Steve Engle of the Center for Community GIS to create a map and brochure. They have also used GPS
to map points on the trail, enlisted the talents of
several local people to design the kiosk and logo,
and are currently planning an inaugural guided tour
to celebrate its official opening.
With these projects well on their way to completion,
economic growth is happening in the Unorganized
Townships in ways that would not be possible without
the TIF funds.
The second round of TIF applications have been submitted and are currently awaiting funding awards. For
more information about how to apply for the third
round of funding, contact Alison Hagerstrom at Greater Franklin Development Corporation at 778-5887.
News from ATV Club
Submitted by John McCatherin
Club completes $12,000 project, achieves record membership, new ATV map a hit
I decided to take a little ATV ride one day not too long
ago. After all, contractors and our own volunteers had
just finished up a two-month long, $12,000 project on
the trail from the south end of Spring Farm to where
it crosses Rt. 27 beyond Judson’s paralleling Route 27
and I figured I’d see what it finally looked like.
What I found was a far cry from where it started last
spring – disheveled corduroy strips, broken down
bridges, mean old mud holes and rocks that would
make a quarry man cry. In its place was 1.7 miles
of dry, sometimes downright smooth, trail that would
bring a smile to any rider on an ATV, a bicycle or, for
that matter, afoot. You could almost take the family
Buick across (if it wasn’t illegal)….And wait ‘til the
snowmobilers hit it this winter. They’ll notice a big difference too, even with a couple of feet of snow on it.
We, of course, coordinated with them throughout the
project on the joint trail.
When we first started the club, two short years ago, we
began to pick away at this section of trail but it needed
a massive infusion of manpower and money. Well, this
year we were in an improved condition. First, membership reached an all-time high – over 50 members.
And money was available for a change.
After successful grant applications with the Town of
Carrabassett Valley, the State, the Polaris Corporation
and Poland Spring, we were in a position to get going. Led by our Co-Trailmasters Peter “GAP” Gorman
TRASH TALK
RECYCLING
and Mike Trask, our primary team included President
Neal Trask and me, but we had help from other club
members as well (among them Evening Despres and
Tom Carey). Combined, we spent well over 200 hours
rebuilding bridges, constructing box culverts, cutting
brush, putting up signs and getting things ready for the
“big guns”…Then came the heavy equipment: excavators, dump trucks and Skid Steers (you know, those
Bobcat –kind of front end loaders on tracks). In the
ensuing months, excavators moved rocks, dug drainage ditches and installed culverts. Truckers delivered,
and Skid Steers distributed, over 500 yards of gravel
and rock. The result is that great ride I experienced
recently. If you haven’t already, get out there and give
it a try. It will serve all of us well for years to come.
Our goal has always been to provide a safe and userfriendly trail system that will not only showcase some
of our community’s natural assets but will also connect
riders with neighboring trail systems. This stretch now
surely meets that goal.
with the Carrabassett Valley Sanitary District, Central
Maine Power, the Town of Carrabassett Valley and Al
and Bonnie Morgan, all of whom permit us to use their
wonderful resources. In return, it’s our responsibility to
make sure that we do not abuse these privileges and
that we remain on trails, avoid littering and operate
safely and in such a manner to not do any harm to
these lands.
By the way, we owe a great debt of gratitude for the
map to our friend Tom Lapointe of Skowhegan for doing the GPS and map layout for us and to Sarah Trask
at Partners Printing in South Portland who was, as she
frequently is on such projects, indispensable. If anyone
asks, copies of the map are available for $3 at Ayotte’s
and possibly other outlets in the area.
We’re getting great feedback on our new full-color trail
map that we recently published. It’s all GPS-plotted
and includes features such as estimated trail distances,
scenic and historic sites and lots of information about
safety, rules and regulations and our regional trail system, the Moose Loop. And importantly, it includes a list
of landowners who make our trails possible. We are,
indeed, privileged to have such good neighbors as the
Penobscot Indian Nation, our primary landlord, along
By Kimberly Truskowski
RECYCLE while you visit the Valley
Recycling is really not a “newfangled” idea; it
has been around since we were kids. Every time
we put our dishes in the sink or dishwasher to be
washed and reused we are recycling. However,
somehow when it comes to the packaging that
most of our food comes in, we think of it as trash
to be used one time and discarded. Imagine if we
did that with our dishes? It would be such a waste
of money and resources. Recycling allows is to
reuse the natural resources over and over again
that have been extracted from the earth, made into
products and packaging, and takes less time than
doing the dishes.
Today we are provided with the opportunity to recycle more items than ever before. In Carrabassett
Valley, we can now recycle the following items:
All paper, cardboard, newspaper, mixed paper,
tin, aluminum, clear glass, brown glass, green
glass, and #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 plastics, metal,
electronic equipment, and tires. Also, if you are a
gardener, having a home compost bin at home recycles your food waste. So, with all these options
to recycle our natural resources and give them another life, why are there still so many truckloads of
“trash” going to the Transfer Station? Many of the
“Condo Associations” provide recycling containers.
If they are not available please use the “minirecycling center” located on the right going into
the Snowbrook Road or the Transfer Station on top
of Bigelow Hill.
If you have any questions about how to improve
your recycling efforts, please contact Kimberly at
(207) 237-6907.
Together, we CAN make a difference!
15
News from the Mountain Bike Club
Submitted by David Hughes, CR NEMBA President
Mountain biking in Carrabassett Valley has never
been better and the future is bright! The Carrabassett Region chapter of the New England
Mountain Bike Association (CR NEMBA) is near
the end of its second full season in existence. For
such a young club we have experienced incredible growth and have some impressive accomplishments under our belt.
This summer the Town of Carrabassett Valley,
with assistance CR NEMBA, completed year two
of an initial three year mountain bike trail build
plan at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center (OC). The
first two years focused on the development of
beginner and intermediate mountain bike trails.
If you go the center today, you will find a kiddie
trail loop of about 900 feet, a beginner trail that
connects the Outdoor Center to Campbell Field
and the Narrow Gauge rail trail, a beginner loop
that circles the Moose Bog, and an intermediate loop that runs from just below the warming
hut and uses x-country trails 7, 29 & 32 with
a defined and buffed tread within the X-country
tail corridor and single track reroutes. The Moose
Bog Loop is currently under construction and not
yet open. All of these trails were professionally
designed and built to the highest level of sustainability by local talent. Next season promises
to be a big build year with more intermediate
and now expert single track being added.
Miles of existing trails have been improved
throughout the valley including connector trails
to Redington, the Stratton Brook trail within the
Bigelow Preserve, along the Narrow Gauge Rail
Trail and on the Maine Huts and Trails corridor.
The club organizes periodic volunteer trail construction and maintenance days. These are a lot
of fun! This is how we make it happen. No trail
care, no trails. It’s that simple. Build Ride Repeat! If you have been out building trail with us,
you know how much fun we have. If you haven’t,
I encourage you to come out and leave your mark
on the system. Check our web site www.carrabassett.nemba.org or like us on Facebook to keep up
on volunteer opportunities.
All of the above mentioned trails have been
mapped and have directional signage placed
on them by CR NEMBA. Maps are available at
Carrabassett Valley Bike Shop located at the
Outdoor Center, from Maine Huts & Trails, at the
16
New trail development continues
Sugarloaf Hotel or at kiosks located at the Outdoor Center and at Campbell Field trail heads.
Partnerships are essential to CR NEMBA’s success
and to the future growth of mountain biking in
the region. We want to recognize and thank our
partners, the Town of Carrabassett Valley, Maine
Huts and Trails, Sugarloaf, the Penobscot Nation
and Maine Department of Conservation. Without
the support from these organizations and access
to land they own and/or manage, none of this
would be possible.
We have also been fortunate to receive grant funding. Bikes Belong, www.bikesbelong.org, awarded us a substantial grant for the construction of a
trail around the Moose Bog at the OC (the Moose
Bog Loop) and the town matched it 100%. We
also received a grant form L.L. Bean toward the
construction of the Moose Bog loop as well as the
materials for the kiosk at the OC. NEMBA awarded
us a grant for the purchase of trail building tools.
To be recognized and supported by such prestigious organizations is a big boost to our volunteer
base and our efforts to make Carrabassett a world
class mountain bike destination.
While construction of new trails is rewarding,
we also ride bikes…Here is a list of some of
the other activities and events that CR NEMBA
hosted this year:
The club helped the Town host the second annual running of the Carrabassett Backcountry
Cycle Challenge (CBCC). It was held on July
22nd and attracted over 150 riders from all
over New England and Atlantic Canada. With
the help of nearly 50 volunteers and beauti-
ful weather, it was a great success. This was
a single loop, 53 mile race that started and
finished at the Outdoor Center. This is our biggest fund raiser and a huge success.
We hold weekly group rides on Sunday mornings at 10:00AM from the Outdoor Center and
Monday afternoon woman’s rides throughout
the summer. Times and meeting places for the
Woman’s ride vary, so ‘like us’ on Facebook or
check our website www.carrabassett.nemba.org
for updates on this and other club activities. The
rides are led by club members and are open to
anyone who wants to check out the trails and
meet area riders.
Something new this year was workshops. We
held a woman’s mountain bike skill clinic and
a mountain bike maintenance clinic. These were
a huge success and we plan to continue to offer
these and other workshops in the future.
It will take years to develop the trail network we
envision but if the past is any measure of the
future, it will happen (maybe in a shorter time
frame than we dare to imagine).
Whether you live in “The Valley,” have a vacation home here or are just planning a visit, be
sure to bring your bike and gear to the Carrabassett Outdoor Center where you will find a friendly
face in the bike shop and information about the
trail network.
Build, Ride, Repeat!
NorthStar EMS – Regionally Strong, Locally Active
Submitted by Mike Senecal, Co-Director, NorthStar
NorthStar is a regional Emergency Medical Service and one of the largest ambulance services in
Maine. NorthStar operates five strategically located bases, including Carrabassett Valley (located
adjacent to the Town Office and Fire Department).
With this great regional strength, we respond not
only to local emergencies and medical calls but
also provide support and backup to the entire
2,800 square-mile overage area. This assures that
no matter where one ambulance is there will always be another available for the next call.
Area residents should also be aware that NorthStar offers a free outreach program called “House
Call.” Through the House Call Program, NorthStar
visits area homes and performs simple health
screenings, blood pressure checks, and homesafety checks. Anyone is eligible but this program’s
main focus is on residents recently discharged from
the hospital or nursing home or with extensive
medical history. If you would like more information on this free service, please call 235-2224.
NorthStar provides a one-paramedic ambulance
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During the
ski season NorthStar provides an additional
ambulance from 9am to 5pm during weekends
and vacation weeks. These two ambulances respond to over 500 requests for service during the
year. We also increase our staffing during special
events in our area to help maintain appropriate
ambulance coverage. We also have several EMS
providers who monitor the radio waves and respond from home as needed.
Carrabassett Valley resident and paramedic, Becky Morin, retires after 37 years of dedicated
service. Thank you Becky, you will be missed!
Over the past year we have realized a slight decrease in our call volume. We attribute this to
several factors including low snowfall. We saw a
decrease in the number of skiers transported via
ambulance. This could be due to low snow fall
or that visitors are becoming better skiers (we’re
leaning toward low snow fall). We will continue
to monitor our volumes and hope for more snow
this winter.
Late this spring, long-time Carrabassett Valley
resident, and paramedic, Becky Morin, retired
after 37 years of dedicated service. Becky began
responding to calls with her husband Ron in 1975.
Over the years she has responded to all manner of
calls ranging from chest pain to a hiker injured on
top of Crocker Mountain. Residents will continue
to see her smiling face on the many hiking and
biking trails in the valley. She will be missed by all
of us at NorthStar.
Thank you for making us a part of your community. We’d love to hear from you (other than through
911, of course!). As always, NorthStar is proud to
be your ambulance service.
One of the NorthStar emergency
response vehicles available 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year
17
Notes from the AntiGravity Center &
Recreation Department
Visit us at www.carrabassettvalley.org. 2012 summer program highlights included events such as our
Auction and Fundraiser for the construction of the New
Outdoor Town Pool, The Carrabassett Valley Backcountry
Cycle Mountain Bike Challenge, Youth Outdoor Adventure
Camp, The Alden MacDonald Junior Golf Program, The
Fourth of July Celebration, Summer Fest, Swim Lessons,
Water Aerobics, The CVA Skate and Trampoline Camp,
Mountain Bike Trail development l and a joint venture
with the Appalachian Mountain Club and Sugarloaf Celebration, the 75th Anniversary of the Appalachian Trail.
We are in the process of organizing a very ambitious fall
and winter program schedule, one that includes some-
Carrabassett Back Country Challenge
sponsored by the Town of Carrabassett Valley
and the Carrabassett Region of the New
England Mountain Bike Association was
held on Sunday July 24, 2012. More than 130
biking enthusiasts ascended and descended
the 25 and 50 mile course. The race was part
of a New England Endurance Race Series with
New Hampshire and Vermont as collaborators.
A special note of thanks to our area business
sponsors, trail volunteers, course volunteers and
race coordinators for a job well done. We are
very proud of the success of the race and continue
to work hand in hand with the volunteer directors
of The Carrabassett Region Chamber of the New
England Mountain Bike Association.
Fitness Classes/Activities
Schedule Subject to Change
Mon. Core Flow Pilates
Spin/Cycling
Tues. Boomers/Seniors
Shape Up
Wed. Core Flow Pilates
Winter Sports Condit.
Thurs. Yoga Fit
Adult Volleyball
Fri. Core Flow
Winter Sports Condit.
Sat. Yoga Fit
18
7:30-8:30 am
5:35-6:20 pm
7:45-8:50 am
8:20-9:45 am
7:30-8:30 am
8:40-9:30 am
8:15-9:00 am
6:30-8:30 pm
7:30-8:30 am
8:40-9:30 am
9:00-9:45 am
Submitted by Deb Bowker,
Recreation Director
thing for everyone. Recreational program opportunities
will include: fitness classes with leading area instructorsStacy Keene, Aaron Solomon and Fitness Director Sherri
Tripp. Adult Pilate’s & Yoga classes, total body fitness &
conditioning classes as well as an indoor spinning class
will be offered. Why not access our cardio- fitness mezzanine where you can achieve strength, flexibility and
the cardio fitness levels you so desire, adult drop-in volleyball takes place once a week and you can connect with
new players each week. We also have instructors that
can assist you with your trampoline skills, climbing wall
skills, a potpourri of after school programs, and youth
gymnastics with certified Coach Theresa Nielsen.
Alden MacDonald Junior Golf
We were pleased to be able to continue our long
term partnership with the Sugarloaf Golf Course
staff. Golf Pro Abby Spector, teaching staff and Golf
Director John DeBiase provided our area youth’s
with golf lessons and course access throughout the
summer months. The Alden MacDonald Junior Golf
Program accentuates the importance of the game
of golf, course etiquette and good sportsmanship.
In addition to the golf course staff, parents play
a very critical role in our program delivery. They
assist the program through volunteering on course,
driving the golf carts, assisting at the driving range
and through skills development.
Junior Golf Fundraising
AGC
PUBLIC HOURS
11/5/12- 4/21/13
207-237-5566
Monday-Thursday
6:00 am -10:00 am
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday
6:00 am -10:00 am
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday
6:00 am - 1:00 pm
4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Sunday
7:00 am - 9:00 pm
Please note that our hours
are extended during school
vacation weeks.
2012/2013
AGC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
RATES & MULTIPASS RATES
A very special thank you is once again extended to
John DeBiase and Joni Blanchard for raising more
than $2,000 towards the junior golf program.
In addition to the above efforts the Fall Frolic
Golf Classic will also bring in additional funds to
sustain the program. Cary Audet facilitates the
Mr. Bits winter fundraiser, and his efforts and the
participants are lifesavers in terms of the program.
Annual Individual
Taxpayer...........................$90 per person
This does not include specialty classes or
access to the trampolines or climbing wall.
Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
Memberships include access to the
gymnasium, locker room skate park
and fitness mezzanine.
Adult Ice Hockey – Pick up Scrimmages
Weather Permitting
Start Date: Tuesday, January 8, 2013
6:30-8:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday
Helmets are Mandatory.
Full protective gear strongly suggested!
Annual Family Taxpayer................ $225
Includes 2 adults & 3 children. An additional $25 per child after 3 children. This
does not include specialty classes or access
to the trampolines or climbing wall.
The Trampoline, Climbing Wall and
Special Fitness classes are an additional fee per class.
New snowmaking, new terrain, new ski shop
top list of improvements in year three of Sugarloaf 2020
$1 million in new low-energy snowguns made possible by Efficiency Maine Grant
When skiers and riders return to the hill this winter
they will be greeted by a revamped snowmaking
system, new terrain on Burnt Mountain, a new ski
shop, redesigned restaurant and other enhancements in year-three of the Sugarloaf 2020 plan.
Eastern Territory. “By starting at the bottom and
working up, you always have new, usable terrain
every year,” said Roddy Ehrlenbach, Assistant Ski
Patrol Director. “What we’re doing this year is really key to opening up new terrain in future years.”
Following a winter with one of the lowest snow
totals in recent memory, Sugarloaf invested $1
million in the latest snowmaking technology this
summer, purchasing 300 low-energy snowguns
from Snow Economics Inc. / HKD Snowmakers. The
new technology is expected to improve the resort’s
ability to make snow in key areas and at warmer
temperatures, while simultaneously reducing its
electricity consumption.
In the Sugarloaf Village, both skiers and snowboarders will experience a new location to shop
for the latest equipment and clothing, with the
opening of the new Downhill Supply Company.
Construction crews gutted the home of the old
Sugarloaf Ski Shop this summer, redesigning
the shop and moving entire tuning department
downstairs. Designed around a logging theme,
the Downhill Supply Company is reminiscent of
an old general store; a one-stop-shop for every
mountain adventurer. The store will feature skis,
snowboard, helmets, gloves, goggles, jackets,
boots, and state-of-the-art tuning equipment,
along with a knowledgeable staff. The Downhill
Supply Company celebrated its grand opening on
Friday, October 5th.
The investment was made possible by a
$300,000 business grant from Efficiency Maine,
an independent trust dedicated to the efficient
and cost-effective use of energy in order to save
money for Maine residents, grow the economy,
and create jobs. The competitive grant program
allowed Maine businesses, institutions, and governments to compete for project funding for large
electrical energy efficiency and distributed generation projects. The grant was awarded based
on the expected energy savings from the new
snowmaking technology and a commitment of a
$700,000 investment from Sugarloaf.
The 300 HKD SV10 Impulse snowguns are the
most advanced energy-efficient snowmaking technology on the market, and can make the same
amount of snow as a traditional gun while using
up to 90 percent less compressed air, the largest
area of electricity consumption in the snowmaking process. The new snowmaking technology will
greatly improve Sugarloaf’s ability to make snow
at warmer temperatures and open trails early in
the season, resulting in more available terrain
during the important Christmas vacation period. Of
the new snowguns, 275 will be installed on towers
in fixed locations, while the remaining 25 will be
sled-mounted guns that can be transported around
the mountain and utilized in multiple locations.
Elsewhere on the mountain, worked continued to
expand Sugarloaf’s skiable terrain further onto
Burnt Mountain. Sugarloaf’s glade crew continued to open up new terrain on the lower portions
of Burnt’s northern flank, extending the ski area
boundary further than ever before into the new
All of these improvements and more are part of
the ongoing Sugarloaf 2020 plan. First unveiled
in 2010, Sugarloaf 2020 outlines plans for vastly
expanded terrain, new lifts, village improvements,
new summer offerings, and more.
For more information on the Sugarloaf
2020, please visit
www.sugarloaf2020.com.
For additional photos, videos, and information on this summer’s upgrades, visit our
2020 Blog at
http://sugarloaf.tumblr.com.
A new arcade will move into the location previously
occupied by the Sugarloaf Board Room, providing
a new hangout for kids and teens once the lifts
have closed. The Base Lair Arcade will feature the
latest games and gaming systems, and will open
for the season in December.
Installation of one of the
300 new HKD SV10 Impulse snowguns
19
Notes from the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
Submitted by Dave Cota
Mountain Bike Trail Development Continues
‘Redington Loop’ back in the Nordic Ski Trail System • Disc Golf Plan moving forward
New Forest Management Plan being developed
There’s exciting news at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
and the adjourning Town Public Lot. Mountain bike
trail development continues, the 12.5 kilometer
‘Redington Nordic Ski Loop’ has been reconstructed,
an ambitious ‘Disc Golf Group’ has been making
plans to build a “disc golf course” utilizing existing
Nordic ski trails in the summer months and the Town
is preparing a new forest management plan for the
Town’s 2,100 acre public lot.
Approximately two miles of new “single track”
mountain bike trail has been completed in 2012
as part of the second year of the Town’s mountain
bike trail development program. In addition, some
existing trails that were started last year have been
completed and improved. The Town has expended
approximately $25,000 in each of the last two years
developing this trail system and it is anticipated
that more will be expended next year (with possible
assistance from grant funding) in an attempt to
create a top-notch mountain bike trail system at
the Outdoor Center in combination with other area
trails. Much has been accomplished with assistance
from Carrabassett Valley Region Mountain Bike Club
member volunteers and with Town employees under
the supervision of Town (and Club) Trail Master Josh
Tauses. It’s “not cheap” to create quality sustainable
trails but the word is out that the Carrabassett
Valley trails are great and “more is on the way.” In
addition, Town representatives have met with both
Club and Maine Huts and Trails representatives in
ongoing discussions about how to work together to
create a significant mountain bike destination that
will boost recreational opportunities and economic
benefits in the summer/fall season.
The addition of Bob Ashe’s Mountain Bike Shop in
the Outdoor Center this past summer and fall also
generated a lot of activity and excitement and was
a much needed component to the mountain biking
program.
Sugarloaf Mountain Corp. (who leases the Outdoor
Center from the Town) made a sizeable expenditure
this past summer and has reconstructed the bridges
and trail that comprise the ‘Redington Nordic Ski
Loop.’ This will add 12.5K of wonderful trail back
into the Nordic Ski trail system for all to enjoy. We
wish to thank the Penobscot Indian Nation for their
permission to use their lands for this purpose. This
trail is also part of the mountain bike trail system.
20
A very ambitious
Disc Golf Club
met with the
Town’s Outdoor
Center
Trail
Committee this
past summer and
permission was
granted to allow
a temporary fourhole disc golf
course which was
constructed this
fall. The Club and
the Committee
will assess “how
this is working”
and plans for
additional hole
development will
be evaluated. The course will be “carry in carry
out”, non-smoking and all fixtures above ground
level will be removed prior to the winter Nordic ski
season. This has generated additional activity at the
Outdoor Center and we are hopeful this will work in
the longrun.
The Town has recently hired American Forest
Management, Inc. a forestry consultant firm,
to assist the Town in completing a new Forest
Management Plan. The plan will consider all of
the goals and objectives that the Town previously
outlined in an extensive 2006 Outdoor Center
planning process (recreation being the first priority).
All trails at the Center will be mapped (GPS), a
new “forest inventory” will be completed and
then a management plan will be developed. We
anticipate that the inventory will be completed by
the end of 2012 and the management plan will be
developed in January and February. At least one
public hearing will be held to receive public input
into the management plan. We will post all drafts
and related information concerning the plan on
the Town’s website (carrabassettvalley.org) as the
plan is being drafted and we encourage interested
residents and/or Carrabassett property taxpayers
to be involved. Your participation in this process is
important (email Town Manager Dave Cota directly
at [email protected] and you will be sent
all information as it becomes available).
Upcoming Nordic Ski Season:
Amie Hewett has been hired by Sugarloaf to be
the director of the Nordic Ski Center this upcoming
season and Sugarloaf will be consolidating Nordic
Ski Grooming with their mountain grooming
operations. The following is a list of currently
planned events at the Center:
Dec 1 Outdoor Center Opens
Dec 14 High school Opener
Jan 20 Maine Huts & Trails Tour and Race
Feb 9 CVOA Full Moon Snowshoe & Ski
Feb 13 Middle School Freestyle State Meet
Feb 19 Ski Club Spaghetti Dinner & Skating
Mar 10 Inferno Nordic Downhill
Mar 16 TD Bank Marathon
Mar 16 CVOA Annual Meeting
Mar 30 Paintball Biathlon
April 7 Outdoor Center closes
COME JOIN US THIS WINTER!!
New Town Pool Being Considered
Submitted by Committee Member Kim Kearing
The New Pool Committee has been diligently working
on plans and raising money for a new town pool
and bathhouse. The committee was formed about 3
years ago to examine the pool’s needs and study the
many options for developing plans to build a new
public pool. When built in 1987 the pool was an
adequate size, 30’x60’, similar size to a backyard
family size pool and has served the local community
needs for many years. Over the last several years
the pool has experienced a tremendous increase in
usage and interest for new programing. While this
is exciting, the fact remains that the pool is old, 25
years, and is facing some major issues. Currently,
there is inadequate drainage beneath the pool and
patio decking creating an unstable foundation for
both which has resulted in heaving and cracking.
The liner system inside the pool is vinyl and is a
costly 5-6 year replacement. The bathhouse is
outdated and in need of replacement. Springloaded faucet handles make hand washing difficult
and unshowered patrons increase the need for more
frequent chemical use in the pool. There is also often
an unwanted smell in the pool area resulting from a
poorly engineered septic system.
The new pool/bathhouse plan is very exciting! The
new 40’x75’ design would include an 80-year lifeexpectant gunite (mixture of concrete and sand)
interior with a 3’ shallow end and a 12’ deep
end. A larger pool would allow for multiple uses at
one time. For instance, having a lap lane always
available during swim lessons and open swim, the
ability to accommodate more participants in the
water exercise classes and the chance to offer/host
more community safety courses. The new pool would
have an updated filtration system which would
eliminate chemical contact by the staff and conform
to current ADA and OSHA standards (allowing
proper handicap access and self closing gates). The
new bathhouse will offer showers for not only pool
patrons to use to rinse off before entering the pool
area but an opportunity for people using the tennis
courts, mountain biking and hiking trails, etc. to use
before going home or back to work.
The Committee continues to work hard fundraising
for this project and hopes to have enough support to
move forward with the new bathhouse this spring.
If you would like to make a donation or pledge to
the New Pool Fund please contact Deb Bowker at
[email protected], 1001 Carriage Rd.,
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04942.
New Patio at the Library & Community Center Constructed
Thanks to everyone who contributed toward the building of the patio behind the
Carrabassett Valley Library & Community Center! It is complete, being used, and gorgeous.
Norpine Landscaping created a delightful spot with
two types of paving tiles and three seating areas
surrounded by planting beds. We have a few chairs
and a bench presently with plans for more to come,
including a Spillway chair. (Thanks, Sugarloaf.)
Already, people have spilled out onto the patio during
artist receptions; it is a delightful use of the space and
can be accessed directly from the Begin Family Room,
the parking lot and the child care play area. We are
delighted to share it with the community.
The gardens that surround the patio are presently in
the planning stage, but hopefully by spring 2013
we will have bulbs and perennials popping up.
Additionally, there are approximately 35 engraved
patio tiles already designed and dedicated to family,
friends, pets, and local businesses. But many more are
available for engraving. If you would like to purchase
a tile, there are order forms in the library. Stop by, see
the patio, and design your own stone.
21
[email protected] • 237-6895 •www.wskitv.com
Hello & Thank You, Carrabassett Valley residents & property owners!
We are grateful for the voters’ support once again at the Town Meeting in March, with 25% of the Town’s franchise fees from Time Warner helping to
keep WSKI in operation, thanks to you all!
Keep www.wskitv.com as one of YOUR ‘Favorites’! We hope all of you are able to take advantage of our services via our website, if you are unable to
watch us on Time Warner locally year-round. Our website is a regional tourism tool to find all there is to do in the Western Mountains of Maine.
Videos of Carrabassett Valley on WSKI-TV 17 & www.wskitv.com
Carrabassett Valley Activities
• Appalachian Trail hikes
• Anti Gravity Complex
• Burnt Mountain Hike
• Carrabassett Chapter of NEMBA “Mountain Biking is Back”
• Crommett Hike
• CV Bike Shop
• CVOA
• Fly-fishing
• Happy Tunes summer kayak expeditions
• Mountain Biking in the Valley
• Larry’s Loop Hike (via Maine Huts and Trails)
• Outdoor Adventure Camp
• Outdoor Center: New Mountain Bike Single-track
• Snowmobiling in Carrabassett Valley and beyond
• Spring Paddling on the Carrabassett
• Waterfall tour
• Swimming spots
Carrabassett Valley Events
• Town Meeting 2012, PLUS Golf Irrigation Explanation for additional airplay
• Snowcross 2012
• Untamed New England 2012
• Appalachian Trail 75th Anniversary Celebration 2012
• 2011 & 2012 Carrabassett Backcountry Cycle Challenges
• Special Olympics Maine Winter Games
• November 18, 2011 was the official opening of the new bridge
• Carrabassett River August 28, 2011
• Locavore Dinners at the Shipyard
• Carrabassett Summer Fest
• Franklin County CoC & Seth Wescott Scholarship Golf Classic
• Sugarloaf Marathon
• NE Pan Festival
Please see additional videos on WSKI-TV 17 & www.wskitv.com for more of
all there is to do in our region!
Also remember, we ARE Snowfields Productions, the regional video production experts for any purpose: website videos to weddings.
PLEASE let Time Warner know if you are not getting us properly, be it poor audio or video. Our signal is separate from all the rest of the channels at their
head end, so when problems arise with WSKI’s TW reception in your home, condo or camp please let them know!
On another matter, as a Flagstaff Area Business Association member, I (Nadene) was elected to serve as the new president in July. We are the only
organization looking out for the economic welfare of our entire region from Kingfield to the Canadian border. We have been responsible for projects such
as the improvements to the Trailhead at the Appalachian Trail crossing at the top of Bigelow Hill, representation on the Scenic By-way Committee, the
Franklin County Tourism Network, Maine’s Lakes & Mountains Tourism Council, & others.
THINK SNOW EVERYONE!
Nadene McLeod & all the Crew of Snowfields Productions
22
News from the Western Maine Center For Children
Submitted by Tracey Butler
It is hard to believe that another ski season is rapidly
approaching. Western Maine Center for Children had
a fantastic year and the kids enjoyed many varied
activities over the past months. We had a number of
our students “graduate” from our program and enter
kindergarten this fall. From what we hear, they are
enjoying school a lot!
We were also fortunate to receive grant money from
the Maine Community Foundation (Western Mountain
Fund) and the Sugarloaf Region Charitable Trust in
order to further our programming. The focus for the
coming year for these funds is the implementation of
a healthy eating program, advancement of our afterschool program and working with the Valley Seniors
group for social/reading time and healthy snacks.
The center had a nice garden this summer and the
children were able to enjoy eating potatoes and beans
that they grew themselves. We also had Master Gardener Kerry Ouellette join us once a month for a few
hours at a time. She introduced the kids to a variety of
seeds and vegetables, and assisted us with the maintenance of our garden. She also came to us with a
lesson plan about gardening for each of her visits. It
was a pleasure having her join us, and the children
really looked forward to her visits.
Western Maine Center for Children continued its
fundraising efforts with the 3rd Annual WMCFC Golf
tournament which was held on August 9, 2012 at
the Sugarloaf Golf Club. The event raised a significant amount of money for the operation of our programs through the tournament and the live auction
afterwards. Many area businesses donated goods and
services for the event and we appreciate their ongoing
support of our mission to provide quality child care to
the Sugarloaf region. If you missed the event this past
summer, mark your calendars now for next summer!
We look forward to seeing familiar faces again
this winter; on the hill, in
the valley, and “around
town.” If you find that you
would like more information about our organization (who we are, what we
do, why we do what we
do, etc.) please feel free to
drop us a line or give us a
call. We would be happy
to hear from you! 207237-3223 or [email protected]
Outdoor Adventure Camp
Submitted by Marcia White
Year fifteen of Outdoor Adventure Camp wrapped up on August 13th,
another glorious summer in the record books. The camp barbeque satisfied
the appetites and six weeks of fun times filled the memory banks! Yes, the
counselors jumped in the pool with their clothes on again, and did a little
synchronized swim exhibition… much to the delight of all present!
Our Peak Baggers hiked Cranberry Peak, The Horns, Kennebago, Sugarloaf,
and Tumbledown Mountains, and the last week all campers (ages 4-13) hiked
a section of the Appalachian Trail in celebration of its 75th Anniversary. Our
mountain biking Rough Riders honed their skills with rides on the Narrow
Gauge, Outdoor Center and Sugarloaf trails, and the 13-mile ride from Wyman
on the Stratton Brook Pond Road through the Bigelow Preserve to Carrabassett
Valley Riverside Park. We took overnight camping trips to Cupsuptic, Round
Barn, and Kennebago, hiked up and slept in Bullwinkle’s; kept the skate park
humming until 10 PM on the AGC overnight, and walked in 8 miles to the
Grand Falls Hut…and yes, out 8 miles the next day!
the Valley to meet demand (and then some) and pottery projects painstakingly
created by small hands are in every home along with brightly colored tie-dye.
All activities were expertly delivered by an involved counselor and specialty
staff with support from our professional pool and town office personnel.
Local school children from Carrabassett Valley, Kingfield, Stratton, New Portland,
Strong and Phillips joined visiting children from all points in Maine, as well
as Texas, Washington D.C., Florida, Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
and France! They made new friends, shared laughs, grew socially, and honed
new skills, thanks to the continued support of the Town of Carrabassett Valley,
Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation, Kingfield Recreation Department and most
generously YOU…the CV taxpayers.
I am privileged to enjoy such company, gratified by the hard work, and thankful
for all the fun and the friends made.
We attended a play at Monmouth Theater, were entertained and instructed by
Todd Brodeur the 2-time World Champion Frisbee thrower, and had an exciting
visit from Julia Clukey, Maine’s Olympic Luge Team member. The Little Red
Wagon traveling theater group from University of New Hampshire and Mad
Science’s Lightening Lucy visited as well. The Annual Penny Challenge brought
in $323 for the new pool fund and we made containers and collected buttons
for United Way’s Buttons for Babes project. There are enough fairy houses in
23
w w w . c a r r a b a sse t t v a l l ey. or g
1001 Carriage Road • Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
Town Manager
Dave Cota
Ph: 207-235-2645
e-mail: [email protected]
Treasurer/Deputy Tax Collector
Lori Hocking
Ph: 207-235-2645
e-mail: [email protected]
Town Clerk/Tax Collector
Wendy Russell
Ph: 207-235-2645
e-mail: [email protected]
Code Enforcement/Assessing
William Gilmore
Ph: 207-235-2645
e-mail: [email protected]
Recreation Director
Deborah Bowker
Ph: 207-237-5566
e-mail: [email protected]
Fire Chief
Courtney Knapp
Ph 207-235-2991
e-mail: [email protected]
Police Chief
Scott Nichols
Ph 207-237-3200
e-mail: [email protected]
For additional copies, please contact the Town
Office at 207-235-2645 or stop by.
by Rick Knowlton, Chairman of the Board of Directors
The Sugarloaf Water Department began operations
in 1955 with two wells serving the base area. The
water system was owned and operated by Sugarloaf
Mountain Corporation as a necessary component of the
mountain operation. The system grew with Sugarloaf
through the years, expanding to provide water and fire
protection service to businesses, condos, and homes
across the mountain. In 1992, the water system was
separated from Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation and
the Sugarloaf Water Association (SWA) was formed as
a nonprofit organization to own, operate and maintain
the water system. Now in the 20th year of existence,
the Sugarloaf Water Association is governed by 7
elected Trustees.
Today the water system consists of 7 wells, 1 filtration
plant, 2 water storage reservoirs, 7 pressure reducing
24
Annual Newsletter from the town of Carrabassett Valley
stations, 1 booster station, 13 miles of water main,
82 fire hydrants, a laboratory and an office/shop.
With its mountainside location, the Sugarloaf water
system is known to be one of the more complicated
water distribution systems to operate in the state.
The system has 7 different pressure zones covering a
vertical elevation change of almost 1,000 feet. Most
water systems in small towns equal in size have only 1
pressure zone and lower pressures. The system pumps
an average of 142,000 gallons per day during the ski
season and 56,000 gallons per day.
2012 has brought a change in management to SWA.
The Trustees are pleased to welcome Jeff Lawrence
as the manager of the system. Jeff started his career
in water utilities in 1993 and started working for
Sugarloaf in 2003. Lead operator Eric Copeland has
been with SWA since 2005 and operators Kendall
Willard and Mike Warren complete the four man team
that work full time maintaining the water system. The
staff provides the traditional responsibilities for water
sampling and testing, building/property maintenance,
equipment maintenance and administrative reporting
and record keeping. Additionally, the staff operates
a sophisticated computer based control system that
continuously monitors the water system to insure
our service to you meets water quality and service
standards. The system includes remote control,
alarming and video surveillance with full capability to
communicate to system operators via cell phone. It is
incredible to start a 200 hp pump from a smart phone
and to access and see all system pressures, flows, and
valve positions in seconds from anywhere you have a
signal. This technology was all completed in house
by department personnel. Why so much technology?
To provide better service and to ensure safe drinking
water to our owners and guests at Sugarloaf.
If you have any questions, problems or concerns, or
just want to learn more, call us at Sugarloaf Water
Association 237-6865 or check us out sometime this
winter at our new website at www.sugarloafwater.net.
Team SWA will be happy to assist you!