Towns in the Lakes Region fared well as did some local businesses despite the heavy rains that deluged the Northeast during the weekend.

Despite localized flooding and weather-related traffic accidents in Maine claiming three lives and causing several injuries, local town officials report next to no problems or damage resulting from the storm.

According to the National Weather Service in Gray, which recorded total rainfall in two Lakes Region communities, South Windham received 7.9 inches over a 36-hour period. Raymond’s amount, though less, was still significant at 6.35 inches.

Standish didn’t get a single call due to the heavy rain, according to Roger Mosley, director of the Public Works Department.

And Windham’s Public Works Director Doug Fortier gave the same report, contributing their good fortune in part to the work they’ve been doing on the roads.

“Over the past four seasons we’ve been doing a lot of construction,” Fortier said, “making culverts bigger and keeping ditches cleaned out.”

Ted Shane, Sebago’s town manager, said the damage was so slight that “it didn’t take but a couple of hours to clean up.”

In Casco, Town Manager David Morton said the town had some minor problems with partially plugged culverts.

“But no washouts, no roads closed and no big expensive catastrophes,” he said.

Raymond also had minor problems with culverts, according to Public Works Director Nathan White, but, again, “no washouts.”

And Naples Town Manager Derrick Goodine said they had very little, if any, damage.

“I haven’t heard of anybody complaining,” he said.

Some of the area’s businesses did a brisk business over the weekend while others suffered as a result of the bad weather.

“The weekend was wonderful,” said Don Drew, owner of Cricket’s Corner in Raymond. “When it rains, people have to shop or eat – they can’t do anything outside.”

But next door at Montebello Ristorante, owner Enzo Raggiani saw no evidence of the rain making people eat. He said the weekend’s bad weather hurt his business.

“Good weather always makes people happy and go out,” he said. “It makes people smile more. Hopefully the fall season and the colors will make people happy and want to go out more.”

Bad weather didn’t keep the crowds away from Levinsky’s in Windham. Owner Eric Levinsky said his weekend’s business was “wonderful” – akin to the third weekend in December.

“It brought all the shoppers out,” he said, “and coincided with our moving sale.”

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