Jan. 12, 1983
The Papermakers’ Union accepts the shutdown of No. 9 paper machine and will join with management in trying to make Westbrook “the No. 1 specialty mill in the world,” according to William Carver, Gorham, president of the union’s Local 1069. Carver said he believes that “Scott Paper Co.’s S.D. Warren mill in Westbrook can grow to at least twice its present capacity in specialty papers.” Carver was asked for the union’s view of the Warren changes announced just before
Christmas. “A lot of people are worried about their jobs,” he
said,”but our local is sophisticated enough, we’ve been through enough hard times, and we know the problems of the marketplace right now to respect a company that is looking for a way to secure what it has.
Major changes in the methods for petitioning for overrule of
council actions, or for enactment of orders, ordinances or resolves, were considered by the Gorham Charter Commission. The commission also discussed changing the amount the Town Council can spend on capital improvements without going to referendum. The limit is now $100,000. Commissioner Frances Harriman lobbied for reducing it to $50,000. Commission Chairman Bernard Rines is for raising it to $250,000. The vote
was 5-0 to table the action.
Westbrook schools need to respond to the changes in job
opportunities today’s young people face, Edward Connolly, acting superintendent, told the Westbrook School Committee Wednesday. “America is not going to be the manufacturing giant we were after World War II,” he said. “We’ll be a technological giant and a service giant. The change is already upon us, but it came too quick. Nobody was prepared for the recession of 1982. Nobody ever anticipated the collapse of the American automobile industry, despite the planned
obsolescence of those cars we suffered through.” Some of the old tried-and-trues of education may not be so tried and true any more.
The Westbrook City Council’s Finance Committee gave its blessing Jan. 3 to a compulsory city-wide household waste paper recycling plan after it got assurance that there would be very gentle treatment of violators. However, the only opposing vote was from Ward 5 Alderman Norman Conley, who objected that there will be no teeth at all in the city’s bite, since the ordinance lacks a penalty clause. He said it will take at least some threat to get the widespread participation the plan needs.
Jan. 13, 1993
James O. Born, who was first appointed to the Westbrook Planning Board 30 years ago and served 26 years, declined, with thanks, another appointment from Mayor Fred C. Wescott. For many years he was vice chairman. Over the years, Born has spent roughly 650 Tuesday evenings in Planning Board meetings. The pace quickened during the 1980s, with
up to 30 meetings a year, but a long-time average of 25 a year is about right, he estimated. He retired in 1984 as chief engineer of the Maine Central Railroad. He is a native of Fort Collins, Colo. His wife is the former Vaun Dole of Portland. They live at 398 Brook St.
Despite opposition from the planning director and Planning Board, Gorham councilors changed the Land Use and Development Code to delete a provision that had regulated vehicle curb cuts. They called the “access limitation” rule a burden on landowners and over-regulation by the town. Only Councilor Janice Labrecque voted to keep the rules in
effect. Planning director Jay Grande recommended further study of alternatives to the provision, including a shared driveway approach. He told councilors that deleting the provision would make the zoning ordinance inconsistent with the town’s 1986 Comprehensive Plan update,
as well as town transportation policies.
Two Gorham sisters were elected to state All-Star field hockey
teams recently. Kristin Frazier, a 17-year-old junior at Gorham High School, attended an invitational banquet last month that recognized the best field hockey players in Maine. It was held at the Spare Time Recreation Conference Center in Lewiston and sponsored by the Maine Field Hockey Association. Kelly Frazier, a 21-year-old senior at Bates College, was elected by college coaches and referees to the All-Star college team. Kristin and Kelley are the daughters of Susan and Robert
Frazier of 5 Teran St.
Westbrook College Dental Hygiene Clinic will again provide
comprehensive care at affordable prices beginning Jan. 25 and running through the first week of May. For about $15 for adults and $8 for children over 3 years old, patients receive a complete examination, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment and check-up X-rays. Dental hygiene students under the supervision of dentists and dental hygienists provide the services in two or three hours. The clinic is located on the Westbrook College campus on Stevens Avenue, Portland.
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