August 1981
Mayor William B. O’Gara and a majority of the City Council defeated a proposed zoning change that would have allowed subsidized housing for the elderly, with first-floor stores, on the Scates Block site in downtown Westbrook. The mayor and others still hope for a supermarket on that site.
The juvenile court is handling theft charges against three Westbrook boys who swallowed pills they took from the medicine cabinet of a woman when one of them, age 16, was baby-sitting her children. Other juveniles got some of the pills.
In a 4-3 vote, the Westbrook School Committee rejected 6 percent raises for superintendent Carl Knowlton and his assistant, Russell Fearon. Knowlton is left at $36,180 and Fearon at $24,500.
The Department of Environmental Protection gave approval for construction of a solid waste transfer station on Gorham’s Huston Road. A dump at that location was closed by the DEP two years ago because of pollution.
Cumberland Farms will buy the Stop-N-Go stores in Gorham and Windham.
Windham’s Town Council gave Scott Howland a permit to strip loam from an area 325 feet by 425 feet on the Rousseau Road where he plans construction.
Windham is considering extending the limit on temporary signs, now 30 days, to 90 days.
Windham revenue workers, who get mileage payments for rescue calls, now will get mileage for out-of-town training sessions as well.
Represented by lawyer Frederick Williams, the Silver Spur Saloon succeeded in convincing the Windham Town Council to continue its license over the objections of Code Enforcement Officer Roger Timmons and Charles Lane, the town’s lawyer.
Windham Police are getting radar to help control speeders. The Town Council approved buying two machines, at $1,095 each.
Portland’s $5 million City Hospital, which will open next year, will be good news for the suburbs too – residents of other communities probably will occupy about 65 of its 180 beds.
Jeff Begin, president of the Scarborough Chamber of Commerce, said that it’s an excellent summer for the tourist business.
The White Rock Royals, girls’ softball team, defeated their mothers, 16-11. The daughters played 9 games this season; coach was Cheryl Riley.
Standish Cub Scout Pack 874 will go to a Red Sox game in Boston. Fathers and mothers will go too.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Doughty, 18 Woods Road, Westbrook, were honored on their 25th wedding anniversary. Syd Lerman and his orchestra played for dancing.
The third leading cause of death among adolescents is suicide. The rate is twice as high as it was 10 years ago, and a researcher calls it an epidemic.
August 1991
In Westbrook, Martin Pizzo announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for mayor. He is proprietor of Marty’s Variety, president of the Westbrook Merchants’ Association, a member of the Westbrook Planning Board, and vice chairman of the Democratic City Committee.
Possible routing of commuters is under study in Windham.
Westbrook is switching to four bills a year, instead of two, for property taxes (25 percent in each).
Someone dumped a quantity of a solvent cleaning agent into Westbrook’s sewer system and it caused an explosion at the County Road pumping station. The explosion blew off metal doors at the pumping station but damage was minimal and no one was hurt.
In a letter, Alfred E. Porell says the 1975 revaluation of Westbrook property by Cole-Layer-Trumble Co. resulted in a shift of the tax burden “from the haves to the have-nots,” and predicts a similar result now that Westbrook has hired the same company for a new revaluation.
The complete list of new Westbrook real estate tax valuations was published by the city as a supplement to the Aug. 7 American Journal.
The Maine Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is proposing to buy cameras to be installed in Gorham police cruisers and used to make film records of drivers arrested for drunk driving.
The Portland Water District may build a plant in Windham to process and find a market for the sludge that is produced by its Portland and Westbrook sewage treatment plants.
The Westbrook Historical Society has published a 16-page booklet reviewing the city’s century of mayors. Vaun Born is the author.
Linda and Roland Nadeau, Windham, have given a greenhouse to Saint Joseph’s College, Standish.
Vanessa Crawford, Windham, and Kate Iverson, Westbrook, 12 years old, attended the Space Academy from July 14-17 in Huntsville, Ala.
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