Broaddus is award nominee
Marion Broaddus will be nominated by the GFWC Westbrook Woman’s Club for the GFWC Jennie Award contest through the GFWC/Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Each state selects one member to be entered in the regional contest and a winner from each of eight regions is considered for the award. It is the highest honor bestowed by GFWC and recognizes individual members for personal excellence in volunteerism and community service.
Broaddus is a second-generation GFWC/MFWC member. Her mother was a district director from the Old Town Our Neighborhood Club. She remembers participating in their programs as a child, and she joined GFWC Westbrook Woman’s Club in 1994 and immediately became involved by serving on the following committees: Education Awards, 11 years; Legislation, five years; and Community Improvement, six years.
She is a member of Westbrook Warren Congregational Church, where she was a trustee for 12 years. As a representative of the church, she volunteered 22 years at the Wayside Soup Kitchen. Broaddus has served on the Festival of Trees Committee since the event originated and was instrumental in establishing the popular “Mad Hatters Tea Party” and “Businessman’s Luncheon” that she continues to coordinate.
She was a trustee of Walker Memorial Library for 17 years and is a member of Friends of the Library and Westbrook Historical Society. She retired from teaching in 1981, but continues to be involved with the students by coordinating workers who knit mittens, hats, and slippers that she distributes to the schools. Marion has been involved with the Girl Scouts since 1929 and received the Golden Eaglet Award and the Silver Trefoil Life Membership Award.
She is an active volunteer with the VNA-Mercy Hospital and previously volunteered at Westbrook Community Hospital, where she received the Board of Trustees Award in 1991. Marion continues to be an active member of the University of Maine Alumni Association and received the Hilda Sterling Class Correspondent Award in 2007.
Gowen plans Eagle Scout project
Boy Scout Nathaniel Gowen of Troop 83, chartered to the Highland Lake Congregational Church, has been approved by the Pine Tree Council to begin his service project for the achievement of the Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank in Boy Scouting.
Gowen’s project will be the placement of a granite marker in the interior of the Highland Lake Cemetery on Route 302 in Westbrook. “The marker will display the name of the site, as no other obvious means of identification is present,” Gowen said.
The marker will be visually “enhanced” by shrubs and a rock bed placed around it. In addition, a large section of overgrowth from the surrounding woods will be cut back on the north side of the cemetery. The granite sign will be supplied and installed by the Maine Memorial Company and the supplies for the landscaping around the sign are being donated by The Home Depot. In addition, the cement for the foundation of the sign will be poured by the Auburn Cement Company.
Westbrook Public Works and its deputy director, Arty LeDoux, will assist Gowen.
Gowen hopes to raise $1,500 and through this spring and early summer he’ll be setting up fundraisers for the project. Gowen also welcomes any private or public donations.
The Highland Lake Congregational Church is acting as the collecting agent for all donations and funds raised for the project in care of the church treasurer, Jim Gowen, 138 Hardy Road, who can be reached at 854-4130.
Gammon earns honors
A freshman at Riverview High School in Sarasota, Fla., Alex Gammon was recently recognized for high achievements during the fourth annual International Baccalaureate Awards ceremony.
Gammon, 14, is a freshman in the International Baccalaureate program. He was recognized in the category of “Academic Awards, GPA, Freshmen.”
He is the son of Westbrook-born and -raised Craig Gammon and his wife, Tricia Gammon, of Sarasota, Fla. Craig Gammon said he’s lived 28 years in Sarasota.
Alex’s paternal grandparents are Malcolm and Annette Gammon of Windham and Robert and Maureen Calnan of Brownfield (formerly of Westbrook). Maternal grandparents are Charles and Vesta Wendorff of Lake Placid, Fla.
Seniors to meet
Westbrook Senior Citizens will meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 6, at Mill Brook Estate, 300 East Bridge St.
The group will be entertained by Doc’s Banjo Band.
The seniors are planning a trip on Wednesday, May 13, to Lake Pearl Luciano’s in Wrentham, Mass., to see a show by the Four Aces and to dine.
For more information about the seniors or the trip, call 854-2292 or 854-2705.
Sawtelle in Walker author series
Elizabeth Sawtelle will appear in “The Author Speaks Series” at Walker Memorial Library, 800 Main St., at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.
Sawtelle will be reading and sharing comments about her newly published “Journey From the Heart.”
“The book is a personal and powerful reflection of life as Elizabeth has experienced it,” said Marian Peterson, assistant library director.
Peterson said Sawtelle was brought up in the Christian faith but her message is for peoples of all faiths. “Many know Elizabeth from her years working at Westbrook Junior High School,” Peterson said.
For more information, call the library at 854-0630.
Walker adding T1 line
More of a good thing is coming to Walker Memorial Library, 800 Main St.
Janet McKenney, coordinator of Learning and Technology Service at Maine State Library, announced recently that Walker Memorial Library would be given an additional T1 line in July.
Analysis of the library’s bandwidth and usage in early winter demonstrated a need for increased capacity. Currently, Walker is using service from MSLN. Statistics demonstrate that citizens use Walker computers at the rate of more than 1,300 times a month. The number appears to be increasing at a steady pace each month.
When users access video and video clips on Walker’s computers, more traffic space is used on the bandwidth. This slows down access. With an additional T1 line, videos and video clips should load faster and more smoothly.
Marian Peterson, assistant director at the library, said Walker Memorial Library continues working hard to make users’ experience as comfortable as possible.
For more information, call the library at 854-0630.
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