American Journal, December 22, 1982
Scott Paper Co.’s S.D. Warren Division will close down the No. 9 paper machine by June. It is the first step in a redirection of Warren’s Westbrook mill to produce in the future only “specialty papers” and plain (uncoated) printing grades of paper, turning the mill away from its traditional product, high-quality coated paper. The No. 9 machine employs 28 papermakers in four shifts. An uncertain number of
others work on the paper after it is made, coating, cutting and
packaging. Warren has five paper macines in Westbrook, Nos. 2, 6, 9, 11 and 14.
Hannaford Bros. Co. is buying the 77-acre race track propery in
Gorham, but has no immediate plans to develop it. The closing will take place Dec. 28, Larry Plotkin, Hannaford’s real estate manager said. He said the company respects the wishes of the town of Gorham, which has refused to rezone the property for commercial use, and will not ask for rezoning at this time.
Westbrook police notes: Portland police asked help in catching two men who escaped with a Casco Bank money bag after holding up Mike’s Service Station, Morrill’s Corner, at 10:10 p.m. Nov. 26. They wore ski masks and one carried a handgun. All patrolmen on duty were sent to Westbrook Gardens at 10:25 p.m. to break up a big fight. Three were
hurt – Patrolman Allanach, leg; Reserve Office White, head; and Reserve Gagan, hand. A woman said her husband’s ex-girl friend was throwing rocks at her windows at 10 p.m. and 20 minutes later. A dog hit by a car in front of the Big Apple took off running. A red fox hanging from a tree in the yard of Richard Capen, Bridgton Road, was stolen. Capen valued it a $50. Thirty cows were in Stroudwater Street at 11:15 p.m. after a fence went down at Mr. Randall’s field.
A wastepaper recycling program for Westbrook might break even if householders were required to take part. If it were voluntary, judging by Brunswick’s experience, only about 15 percent would take part. At that rate, revenues would be far behind costs.
Mayor William O’Gara announced his appointment of Wayne Sypers as deputy police chief of Westbrook. He said Sypers finished first in the tests given by the Public Safety Commission and in the ratings of a special board of officers that reviewed the candidates. Two other finalists, Patrolman Ronald Allanach and Sgt. Tim Farr, received the
mayor’s congratulations.
Dec. 23. 1992
With a new purchasing requirement – two separate votes on anything over $1,000 – about to take effect Jan. 1, it has come out this month that the Westbrook School Committee spent $289,442 on purchases since July 14 on single-reading votes with scant, if any, public notice of its meeting. The spending took place by unanimous votes at a meeting in the superintendent’s offices at 5:15 p.m. after a 5 p.m. “agenda
meeting.”
Westbrook police call Westbrook tow trucks in rotation. In recent years, towing companies owned in Dennis Westcott’s family have been called three times for anyone else’s once – that’s half the time. The City Council is about to change that. The burly, congenial Westcott is one of Westbrook’s best-known citizens. He has served as a reserve policeman and as a member of the city Public Safety Commission. The
initiative for change comes from Police Chief Ronald Allanach, who has been under pressure from other town-truck operators. The change under way would have the mayor and city council, instead of the police chief, decide who will be on the towing list and how the calls will be rotated.
Westbrook schools must keep spending on computers indefinitely, William C. Riley, consultant, told the School Committee. Referring to a $215,000 purchase in July of 117 computers, 13 printers and many pieces of software for use by students K-12, he said, “The school department has recently made a very positive and substantial step towards introducing students to modern computer technology. Unfortunately, this technology is changing daily and if meaningful computer literacy is to remain a part of our curriculum, there must be
a continued commitment towards funding additional technical
expertise.”
The Gorham Planning Board last week inspected the property where developers are proposing a 22-lot subdivision. The land is located on the east side of Libby Avenue, in the vicinity of Road numbers 110 and 118. The proposal was submitted by Kasprzak Inc., in an area zoned urban residential.
Gerard L. Hamilton Sr., Constitution Drive, Westbrook, and his
sister, Bonnie Hamilton Osgood, Newfane, Vt., never knew they had a brother until one day recently a registered letter arrived for Gerard from Fairbanks, Alaska. The letter was from Wayne W. Walker, whose adoptive father died nine years ago. Gerard immediately telephoned Wayne, who flew here Oct. 28 and stayed in a South Portland hotel with get-togethers every day. All three were born to Gerard and Alice Hamilton, but were raised by other parents. Bonnie was born in Madison
in 1941. She was married to Mel Osgood. Gerard was born in 1944. Wayne was born in Fairbanks in 1946. He is married and they have a son, Jason, 16. They had a family reunion at Gerard’s home.
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