Readfield Emporium

06/14/2023

the Readfield Revolution began today. A David Linton landslide election to the Select Board - A shift from the politics of division. The people have begun to restore their town ideals and historic legacy. This is the first step in an enormous effort. David Linton will need the continued support from all of us to maintain this positive momentum that you have created today.

05/23/2023

Readfield - A New Legend

Last night I discovered a little information about David Linton. A Google search mysteriously revealed a 2022 Sun Journal article and its author Evelyn Potter. A half page article about Mr. Linton, his family and business written by the Readfield historian more than a year ago. Yes, In small print the author of the article was revealed...Evelyn Potter. Evelyn and I share a passion for history. I dabbled for years. It is her life’s work to discover the heart of our town and its most powerful legacy. Evelyn is not whimsical. Why has she written an article about this man?

Evelyn’s historic monographs dig deep to understand the powerful elements of Readfield’s historic buildings and their families. Evelyn’s article about David Linton and his wife, Mandi, could be placed in one of her Readfield historic monographs. Evelyn took David’s “work family” photograph to capture the reality of a contemporary pioneer family business. Evelyn’s photo of David, his buildings, work-family could be included among her historic photos of Readfield men and families who built this town with hand-wrought forged steel tools and granite. Looking at this photo you know that this is a man who has the integrity to follow a path that is guided by a north star.

David Linton’s Facebook and campaign photos contain a photo of both David and his wife. More than an attractive partner, Evelyn’s article describe the life of a pioneer Maine family. Evelyn describes a bond that is not typical of couples except in Maine homes where both husband and wife work together through hard times, build a family and learn to survive a Maine economic winter. It is a Maine pioneer story not understood by “out of state” people who travel the easy college path to jobs.

Look at the newspaper photo. No fancy layout. It is the unvarnished truth of a strong Maine family and business. The photo shows a line of workers, Dave and his wife, Mandi stand side by side. This is the strength of a 50 year old Maine oak. Dave speaks with pride about owning a tree management company and working with trees since he was 16. Dangerous work since he was a boy. In meetings, he spoke with confidence and care. This is Maine’s Abe Lincoln with an ax. This is a man who understands risks to embrace the future and navigates them with care. He is a businessman who understands the value of a dollar and family. Mandi we are told is equally skilled and ambidextrous. She can use the Champion Viking pallet nailing gun while taking a break from bookkeeping. He and Mandi work hard for the security that brought them a home. They recently survived a business building fire which they reopened with a community behind them.

David speaks with pride of his status as Maine Guide. It attests to his intimate knowledge of the moss, fish and elements of this land. Thoreau recognized the qualities of the Maine hero as he traveled through the state in 1845. Thoreau would have loved David. David Linton and Mandi are the reason Helen and I love Maine. They are the Honest, Modest, represent the unvarnished Truth that is Maine. Strong and a no-nonsense powerful education in business and life are the assets David brings to a position on the Select Board. David Linton is the best of Maine. I’ve heard him speak at several meetings. He is Confident. And he listens.

I don’t know David Linton. I said: “hello”, once at a meeting. I’ve heard many praise him. This is the Maine hero, Evelyn Potter celebrated a year ago. We discover him today as he steps forward to provide a balance to the current Select Board. I am pleased.

You ask, How can you help this candidate?

Make your own hand-made poster and put it on your lawn. Just one word - Linton

Read:

MT. VERNON — In 1993, Mandi Clark went to work at the Edgar Clark Pallet Mill in Mt. Vernon. She took the job, at the time “just to help out, for one of the workers was ill.” She had just graduated from Maranacook School and was looking for work. She was already doing bookkeeping for […]

05/10/2023

Readfield Select Board: Find a way to keep the Emporium closed
The greatest thefts ever committed against the people of a Maine town

The Readfield Emporium may reopen but needs to renew its beer/wine license, as every restaurant does to survive. Dennis Prices’ Select Board researched the Emporium’s 40-year business history in order to find a FLAW… THEY FOUND IT! A 1980 Planning Board parking demand of “23” parking spaces behind the store. A Board member concluded that the Emporium parking area is too small and without adequate gravel to meet Planning Board parking demands and therefore no longer eligible for a license. And the new 2022 Select Board Parking Law removes street parking at the center of town.

Restaurants need this license and street parking to survive. The Select Board knows this and denies both. The hearing began with Dennis Prices’ fake accusation of Bob Bittar as a criminal which has been dismissed by the court. This was the prelude to a 40 year old review of the level of parking lot gravel. One reasonable person at the meeting said: “You are penalizing this restaurant based on a 1980 report. There is adequate street parking on route 17 and it is used by everyone. The people want the restaurant to reopen.”

The Select Board concluded that they cannot provide a license. The Select Board will ask the Planning Board to change their fictional impossible parking decision that will permanently close the Emporium. A Select Board request to change Planning Board decisions illustrates the arbitrary nature of Planning Board decisions. These decisions are often without consideration of the applicant or the town needs. If the Board does alter their decision, it will underline the false basis upon which they have made a 5 year series of arbitrary decisions to kill the legal town Community Center. The Boards will never allow the Emporium or Community Center to open or survive. They will never change their decisions. Dennis Price continues the war to show his power.

Both the Select Board and Planning Board have made frequent errors in judgment which violate their claim to “Help Business” or help the people. They interpret their position as wardens who must monitor local business as a suspicious enterprise. Readfield Boards have NO “common sense”. They have no business experience. They are Out of Touch with the needs of the town people.

Board decrees and declarations underscore the inexperience of a group of teachers and office workers who have never built a business and are out of touch with realities that people face. One Board member said: “your application says you intend to open the Emporium on June 29. You have plenty of time if we decide to grant a license in mid-June.” The comment was meant to be concerned but it speaks to the inexperience of people who have never had a business with ongoing tax, insurance, utility bills without income. It takes months to hire and train a staff, obtain state food licensing, buy and prepare the supplies. These town boards operate on their familiar teacher subsidized schedule. They believe everyone is paid at the end of the week. They do not understand the reality of business. By June 29, this season will be lost. For many Maine businesses this would be a final death sentence. And the Emporium will not be able to open for another year. Board power brokers will kill the Emporium as they killed your Community Center.

Town people know and love the Emporium. The Boards will kill it. Imagine the sadness to know that the boards have also killed a legal community center that would have been a centerpiece of the town. Imagine if the people actually saw what was stolen from them. It will be sold. Visit it. See the greatest thefts ever committed against the people of a Maine town - The Emporium and Helen’s Barn

04/28/2023

In my last post...I ASKED FOR: “The clarity of a young strong clear sound of truth and hope in the future.”

AND MAGIC: “DAVE LINTON appeared.”

Facebook: Linton Readfield Select Board

I read Linton's brief bio. I spoke with a couple of people who know him. They said: “He is the real deal.”

This 82 year old man, Bob Bittar will not be on the ballot this June.

QUESTION: How can we support Dave Linton? He faces a powerful opposition. This large organized opposition lobby is fully funded and engaged in reelecting their board chairman. They control the communication, meetings and money. Are you able to help? Visit his page. Share it with your friends.

Will you help DAVE save the integrity of this town?

03/28/2023

It is 4am and I've submitted my attempt to run again as the Readfield Select Board Reform Candidate in a small town in Maine. Last time i almost won. For those who wonder why I would run again: the reasons are varied and clear. At 82 years old I understand that younger voices are important. I stand here in a Maine wilderness waiting for the clarity of a young strong clear sound of truth and hope in the future. Whispered voices behind closed doors and false rumors are the source of information available in this New England witch trial. After 50 years as teacher/professor I have “liberal” credentials. BUT I look for balance. “Liberal” Voices dominate Readfield. They are good but they allow no discussion. Readfield has silenced all voices except friends of a ruling group. It is time for all our town people to join in our town meeting. Our only fear should be the attempt by any one group to silence the full expression of our democracy. I look for a vibrant discussion of all liberal and conservatives. Without that we have tyranny.

03/05/2023

the sun rises, snow dominates, and we reminded of tomorrow

03/05/2023

What are you doing old man? Robert Bittar...You 82 year old fool. You’ve saved enough money to go anywhere in the world. You lived in the best spots to live in the world. You’ve been to the beautiful cheap world winter resorts. You can truly live like a king anywhere. Why do you live in one room above the second floor of an old Readfield restaurant? Why is the music of Maine musicians so important? Why fight socio-paths like Eric Dyer and Dennis Price?
Yes. I know. “Claro. Entiendo.” “Una Baradaf kulshee” “Je sais”. I speak 4 languages. I can go anywhere. I have seen the world and know that the U.S. is special. Readfield is the American rebirth I understood to be real freedom. It isnt a wh***ng commercial state. It claims no commercial future. It is honest. It is a place to test your beliefs. Maine simple pure Maine musicians like Dan Simon and the writer, Thoreau (“a tourist”) they speak a truth. And like Mount Vernon, Maine and Vienna Maine, I stand in Readfield.

03/04/2023

DENNIS PRICE has declared that the Community Center/Senior Center petition is illegal. BUT
this denial is based on “misinformation” from the town attorney. This denial is an LGBTQ constitutional crime. Legal Expert & Preti Flaherty Attorney K. Collins states there are ONLY 3 legal reasons to deny a petition. And none of them apply in this case. There are no legal grounds to deny the Mill Stream petition! Will Dennis Price follow the law and reconsider the petition denial? Will Readfield get a Senior Center? A Maine Superior Court Discrimination Appeal will begin.
All legal documents are posted on ReadfieldTruth.org.
The community center petition signed by 250 residents is a basic American freedom. It was discarded for a third time by the legal manipulations of DENNIS PRICE, Select Board Chair and his associates. Dennis Price, E. Dyer (town mgr) and Matt Nazar (neighbor) are members of the Comp Plan Committee. In 2018 Eric and Matt lied to Maine State Officers to evict the owner of the community center building. These conspirators are joined by Paula Clark, Planning Board Chair to lead the Comprehensive Plan process. This new Comprehensive Plan is the final part of a 6 Year plan to kill the community center. The new Comp Plan will set new land use regulations against property use by Rural and Residential property owners. Dennis Price and committee members continue to plan the death of our town community center. Elimination of the community center will be hidden in a Comp. Plan restrictive rural and residential new land use law. Dennis Price has organized this group and their agenda. Dennis is expected to run for office again this year. Will he follow the laws to permit a community center? OR will he follow elite neighborhood power brokers who will force permanent closure of our legal Community Center?

Last year we warned against the unnecessary and irresponsible $5 million “Broadband” bond project. It was defeated. But be Warned!
A new Town mega-project has already secretly been launched. Dennis Price’s TWO PART COMP PLAN :
Comp Plan Part 1: Boards declare Community Centers illegal and other restrictions in the Rural and Residential zones.
Comp Plan Part 2: Dennis Price and Select Board pass a new wasteful $5+ Million Community Center Bond to build a new community center in a remote area

The 2023 Comp Plan VISION - Another $5 - $6 Million Bond
THE COMP PLAN “Vision” was distributed in a Comp Plan Vision handout – at the Comp Plan hearing 2/24/23.
My Cost Estimate of the Comp Plan:
“DEVELOP A PLAN FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER” design and construction estimate 4 – 7 million 4, 000,000
Expansion of the town parking lot for the Union Meeting House 200,000
A transportation system to “local service centers” such as Union Meeting House and parking lot?, 100,000
Church Road Sidewalk to the parking lot estimated 2019 250,.000 (most likely 30% more now 250,.000
50,000 allocated for the purchase of land. That initial allocation may be increased to 100,000 or more 50,000
Continued financial tax gift to the Union Meeting House a private club- currently $5000/ year – (+100,000?)
New Community Center Construction- Overruns, additional expenses, Maintenance etc…commonly + 10% (+500,000?)
Basketball courts, a new softball field ???? Landscaping to integrate the areas with the trails (+150,000?) ___________
TOTAL - ESTIMATE OF COST of a construction bond (Conservative Estimate) 4, 700,000

EVERY new Maine community center built in the last 5 years is required to comply with state and local codes. Consequently it will cost between $4 and $6 Million. The Mill Stream Center is the ONLY Readfield building with approved state engineer permits for Fire, disability and construction safety. It complies with state & local codes.
Who in Readfield has ever given so much to the people as Helen Bittar and received so much town hate?
In 2013 She gave her life savings from teaching ($500,000) to families so they could enjoy the only historic site in Readfield. She wanted the people to celebrate Readfield history, music, art and life that were special to her. She worked from her bed, the years she knew were her last, to select a town site and design a place she thought was to be one of the most beautiful. Dennis Price will deny evenings at a Mill Stream classical concert or a romantic afternoon or evening by the Mill Stream. Mill Stream C.C. was built as a Creative Magical Center: a Readfield Historical Disneyland Family Center. Can it be saved?
Today Readfield senior citizens feel the tight economic constraints of higher food and gas prices. We are threatened with recession and higher taxes. Mill Stream is local and free. Imagine senior citizens strolling Mill Stream paths at Helen’s magical family center, just a hop from home. Imagine a quiet evening walking along Helen’s garden trail under tree branches lit with Christmas lights and sitting on a bench near the stream. This was her gift which has been stolen from you. This is not a dream wish list. It exists now!

Today we are shocked by the 2022 Tyre Nichols’ violent death and scenes of Alabama discrimination and violence. We are comforted by a thought that Readfield violence does not exist, but Administrative Violence Exists in Readfield! Does Helen’s memory and her husband deserve the town administration’s 6 years of targeted violence and discrimination? Do they deserve website vilification, intimidation, eviction, fictional criminal charges? This 82 year old neighbor/professor with no criminal history has been arrested on fake charges, isolated as a violent felon for three days to sleep on a jail floor. Readfield 2023: Bittar, a 40 year Readfield resident, has lived through a Readfield Witch Trial in which administrative threats of: discrimination, eviction, violence, criminal trials, multiple arrests, and intimidation continue, and threaten anyone who appears to be against the administration agenda to kill the community center which was legal in 2013 and legal today. What Maine town treats its innocent 80 year old citizens with threats and violence? The Bittar crime? They built a legal beautiful community center for families on a dead end gravel road 600 – 1000 feet away from neighbors.

26 Mill Stream Road Community Center is a multi-functional community center. It has State Engineering and DEP Permits, declared safe by DOT and State Fire Marshal engineers; an installed fire safe sprinkler system, professional installed and approved kitchen fire suppression Ansul system, engineering permits verifying compliance with every State, DEP, Code and Standard. It has land for a Senior Center, farmer’s market, basketball courts, summer and after school center for children and so much more. There is something wrong with this Readfield government that targets the destruction of a beautiful needed town center for its citizens while at the same time proposing construction of a new center with taxpayer money. Dennis Price is Select Board Chair and leads this irrational attack. Can it be reversed?
Where are the brave men and women of this town who speak for truth and moderation? The Emporium is available for you to organize!

02/24/2023

COMMUNITY CENTER PETITION UPDATE
THANK YOU to all those who signed the Mill Stream Road Community Center petition. Many people spoke about the needs of Senior Citizens in town. Few Readfield facilities exist for Seniors.

COMMUNITY CENTER TO INCLUDE SENIOR CITIZENS ACTIVITIES
The SSMH mission has been expanded to include support of Senior Citizens. The Mill Stream community center is an inviting and free place for Seniors to meet. Programming for Senior Citizens activities will be planned. For example, Mill Stream community center facilities may be used to provide “Pot Luck” luncheons or evenings.

The PETITION was DELIVERED to the Town Office Feb. 13. It was signed by approximately 240 residents. The new petition followed the legal requirements itemized by the town attorney. The petition is now in the hands of the Select and Planning Boards.

Construction costs today are extravagant.
The 2020 Readfield Fire Department and Library remodeling cost $1.2 million. The 26 Mill Stream Rd Community Center is the ONLY Readfield building approved by State engineers for Safe family gatherings. (It is approved by the State for Fire, disability and construction safety). A modest Community Center like 26 Mill Stream Road could easily cost $5 million. The 26 Mill Stream Rd. buildings are available free of cost to the town. They can be used to benefit the entire Readfield Community. Please contact board members and the Comprehensive Plan Committee to speak of your support for this needed resource.

12/01/2022

THE REASONS THE EMPORIUM REMAINS CLOSED
Everyone Asks “WHY DON’T YOU OPEN THE EMPORIUM? WE LOVE IT” … AND we answer: “We would love to open it. We can’t.”

REASON # 1 - I AM WORKING TO FULFILL MY WIFE’S WISH TO BE BURIED BY HER COMMUNITY CENTER
Helen died in 2018. I am working to try to bury her in the way she asked – at her Community Center. Her cremation ashes are spread on daffodils at the Community Center garden. She asked to be spread near her daffodils planted to greet people who visit. The Community Center was dedicated to celebrate the art, music, and history she loved. A community center was a legal use of the property when we bought the property in 2013. It continues to be legal. I will work every day to bury her as she wished. This is my promise to my wife of 60 years.

REASON # 2 - TOWN BOARDS CREATED A MODEL FOR DISCRIMINATION WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY END OUR TOWN DEMOCRACY
I’ve know many of the men and women on the boards for 30 years. They volunteer time work for all of us. In past years they have acted with thoughtful dedication. BUT THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST THE MILL STREAM COMMUNITY CENTER ARE A VERY GREAT HISTORIC AND LEGAL WRONG AGAINST PEOPLE’S PROPERTY RIGHTS AND BASIC FREEDOMS. Since 2018 powerful neighbors organized to kill the community center which is 600 – 1000 feet from their homes. With the help of friends on the Planning Board, they used Maine State loopholes to establish de facto discrimination. The Planning Board is powerful. They are appointed and cannot be removed. Their targeted discrimination is designed to stop town residents on the “Other” Readfield Roads from walking near the Kent’s Hill Road houses of their friends. This new Planning Board goal invalidates Readfield democracy. I am working to reverse this Elite agenda. A new group may occupy Planning Board positions to impose their own social preferences, discrimination and land uses to FURTHER LIMIT PERSONAL FREEDOM AND PROPERTY RIGHTS. The Planning Board, for example, can invent reasons to deny house permits because a Board member feels that the house or business is a “NUISANCE” and “should move to an isolated place in Readfield”. THAT IS ONE OF THEIR POWERS. The town has spent over $100,000 of our tax money to stop Helen’s Barn. They have doubled the annual legal budget. Readfield Democracy is in serious trouble It is important to help them see that this is a disaster for the town.

THE SECOND PETITION TO PUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ON THE BALLOT WAS DECLARED INVALID BY THE SELECT BOARD. A NEW PETITION MUST BE SIGNED.
After 200 signatures the Select Board declared THE SECOND petition invalid. The Select Board sent reasons for their rejection. Those criticisms were rectified. The town will not evaluate the NEW Petition until it is signed by another 200 residents. We hope that the Board does not continue to prevent the community center from being placed on the ballot for voter approval. EVERYDAY, We will stand in the cold outside the Post Office with the new petition. READFIELD RESIDENTS: PLEASE COME, ASK QUESTIONS, AND PLEASE SIGN IT.

FIGHTING FOR REFORM, PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE DEMOCRATIC LEGACY OF READFIELD IS A FULL TIME JOB.
I studied the Readfield Comprehensive Plan, the Readfield Land Use Ordinance, and Maine Criminal Law. I spent weeks in the Law Library and studied Maine law learning how to defend Town Democracy. I have been a teacher most of my life, with no criminal record. The Town Manager arrested and jailed me on false charges after my Select Board August request for an investigation into administration illegality. The Town Manager then dismissed the charges to avoid perjuring himself in court. Our town Democracy is the most important motivation for my reform effort. If administration and Boards continue on this path, it will be an indelible stain on the character and history of the town similar to the apartheid crimes of 1920 Alabama.

REASON # 3 - THE EMPORIUM JOB: COOKING DINNERS FOR MORE THAN 100+ PEOPLE EVERY DAY - A big job and I LOVED IT.
The Readfield Emporium occupies three very old three-story buildings. Anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant knows it is a 24 hour 7 Days/week all year job (accounting, state forms and exams, regular large improvements, and repairs, repairs). Emporium Staff - 13 men and women who were like our “family”. They moved on. Emporium will need to train another group of lovely people to sautee, bake, grill Italian, French, Arabic, Thai, Greek foods. I loved working with and teaching everyone to be a cook-chef. BUT I AM UNABLE TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY AGAINST THE TOWN ILLEGALITIES AND CONTINUE TO COOK DINNER FOR 100+ PEOPLE EVERYDAY. The Emporium had to close.

My wish? A Christmas ending to all of this. A Hollywood ending...where The Boards recognize that our town would be better if Helen’s dream was fulfilled. Maybe this Christmas dream can come true for our town this year.

I hope that people support me in this. Please write an letter ( anonymous if you wish) to the Readfield Town Office at 8 Old Kents Hill Road, ZIP 04355. Ask the Town manager, Select Board Chair Dennis Price and Planning Board’s Paula Clark and Jack Comart to consider our concern for town property rights and community. These are good people. Ask them to find a new path that allows the center to open so that we can restore the creative town life that we love.

UNTIL THEN
The Emporium will remain closed until democracy returns

Robert Bittar

06/17/2022

I am pleased. The election results are corrected from that which was published in the newspapers. My campaign message which warned against town debt when the we face difficult years was not in vain. Voters sent a clear powerful message to the town administration: "excessive town spending must stop". The millions of dollars in debt was voted down by the voters. Future years of hardship for our must vulnerable residents has been avoided. A path is now possible to move forward with the construction of a reasonable girl's softball field.

06/15/2022

Political Campaign for Select Board 2022

My thanks to all those who welcomed me into their homes as I traveled through town. The political campaign for my position as a member of Readfield’s Select Board is ended. I was not successful.

The election allowed me an opportunity to bring you information about the town financial mismanagement. The excessive spending on the fiber cable and the Fairgrounds was not stopped. We tried to remove financial burdens which many of our neighbors would have faced in the coming year. But I regret that I failed to prevent the unnecessary tax burden and to also failed to restore the freedoms which have been denied to the people.

Town people have asked that I (OPEN THE EMPORIUM!). They ask that I invite the town to celebrate with me, eat, drink and share the music and hospitality of our Readfield Emporium Home. They ask me to prepare the foods and welcome everyone. We were prepared to open. Everything was ready. We waited for an accommodation which would have permitted an opening of the Barn-community center.

People ask about Helen’s Barn – Community Center. May 23, the Planning Board held another hearing. The Board declared new arbitrary standards to deny all use of the Barn in spite of receiving documented satisfaction of ALL demands which they established only a few months earlier. A few powerful people in this town have violated the law and used arbitrary standards to close The Barn -Helen’s Gift to this town.

I have decided that the dream that Helen and I began 35 years ago is no longer possible. My lovely wife is dead. Helen’s ashes remain at the entrance of the Barn in a field of daffodils to welcome Readfield visitors.

The town website creates a site which uses false documents to falsely state that Helen and I committed crimes in building the Barn. This is a public insult to her memory and our work. My position on the Select Board would have permitted an opportunity to address this. That is not now possible.

The Emporium and barn will be closed and boarded up for future years.