Westbrook City Council President Donald Esty released a statement Monday in which he called on Westbrook voters to reject a referendum attempt to repeal the city’s dead-ending of Turner Street. The vote is Tuesday. “The majority of the City Council and the Mayor have supported making Turner Street a dead end,” he wrote. “It’s a good and fair decision.”

Westbrook aldermen have decided to ask South Portland for a share, perhaps 20 percent, of the taxes on the proposed Cummings Road Business Park where the Guy Gannet Publishing Co. plans a newspaper publishing plant. The area needs access to Westbrook’s sewers. Alderman were to meet last night to decide whether to accept in the meantime the $62,000 one-time payment offered by developer David Cook for a sewer connection. Alderman Alexander Juniewicz proposed the tax sharing on grounds that so many acres in that area of South Portland appear to be dependent on Westbrook sewers. Donald Mannett, Westbrook’s director of engineering, listed $562,290.60 worth of investments by Westbrook in the Spring Street sewer line (Spring Street becomes Cummings Road in South Portland).

Westbrook girls soccer came up short in their first playoff attempt Saturday, losing to Cape Elizabeth 3-1. After a rough start and a few mistakes, they gave up three goals in a span of three minutes in the first half. But they fought back to bring the Cape lead down to two goals on a goal from senior captain Linda Richard, assisted by Moe McInnis early in the second half. The rest of the game was good defensive efforts by both teams.

The traditional hostility in “town-gown” relations was evident last week as residents near the proposed 396-student housing project on the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus voiced strong objections about the noise and traffic problems resulting from the large increase in student population. But in the end, the Gorham Planning Board voted to give preliminary approval to the project with certain conditions attached. Mary Collins abstained, and Burleigh Loveitt, a partner in the project, sat in the audience and joined the meeting after the issue was decided. Opponents had questioned the propriety of the board’s consideration because the university has not yet purchased the property, nor does it have a clear option to buy. Town attorney Kenneth Cole indicated that USM’s agreement to negotiate with the property owner did not constitute an option. The school argued that their agreement was similar to an option. The board finally voted to hear the matter.

The Westbrook Historical Society will meet in the society’s room in the old high school Nov. 4. Members are asked to bring an article to show, a book or some thing that would be of interest to the group, especially pertaining to the history of Westbrook. Refreshments will be served.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Partridge, North Gorham Road, Gorham, recently went on a four-day mystery bus trip, which took them to Ellensville, N.Y., and the Catskill Mountains. The weather was lovely.

Oct. 29, 1997

Downtown Westbrook has been plagued with business property vacancies ever since urban renewal and they are at an all-time high now. It was offered a new remedy last week – parking meters. The hostile reaction of remaining merchants was voiced last night at a meeting at Hub Furniture. The suggestion comes from John O’Hara, who has no opposition in his re-election bed Nov. 4. It drew praise from James Bennett, the mayor’s administrative assistant. Bennett said Old Orchard Beach nets $100,000-$225,000 in a 160-day season from the 225 meters installed while he was town manager. In downtown Westbrook, businesses have not been allowed to own parking spaces for their customers and employees. Urban renewal abolished most street parking and put out of business the Westbrook Parking Authority and its metered parking spaces. It then developed free parking lots to serve the whole business community. O’Hara said meters would return $42,600 a year to Westbrook. He proposed merchants could use the money to brighten downtown.

The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation study will meet Nov. 4 in Westbrook to review three routes under consideration for a new highway connection for Larrabee Road with Warren Avenue in Westbrook. All would use Delta Drive for access to Larrabee Road. One would fork eastward to meet Warren Avenue at the Portland line. One would follow a straight line along Delta Drive and continue straight to Warren Avenue. The third would turn westward at the railroad tracks and follow the tracks to meet Warren Avenue near the S.D. Warren wood yard. Objectives are to take traffic off Riverside Street in the Exit 8 areas and give easier access to S.D. Warren trucks.

Gorham High School’s girls soccer team finished the regular season with a losing record, 5-6-3, and just barely made it into the playoffs, edging out Wiscasset for the eighth place. The Rams fortunes changed quickly as they pulled off a major upset, beating first-place Yarmouth 1-0 on the road in the first round of playoffs. Gorham was 12-1-1 last season, upset by Marshwood in the first round of playoffs.

Dot Sampson, Sebago Lake Road, Gorham, knows now what a big birthday celebration is. On Oct. 10 she turned 80, and there was a family party at her home with gifts, birthday cake and ice cream. Dot had 14 family members present. Also, the White Rock Baptist Church held a special service Sept. 28 with luncheon following, as they recognized Dot and Mildred Dunlap on their 80th birthdays within a month.

The Westbrook School Department is seeking two cheerleading coaches for the junior high school, and a cafeteria helper for four hours a day. Resumes should be sent to Superintendent Robert W. Hall.

In September 1937, the Rev. Kenneth Clark Hawkes, acting pastor of the Prides Corner Union Church on Elmwood Avenue, realized the need for some type of club in the community to promote good fellowship and sociability, and also create greater interest in the church. A group was organized as the Prides Corner Community Club. On Sept. 7, 1938, Frank Foster donated land on Elmwood Avenue for a building and money was raised by public suppers, socials and miscellaneous entertainment. The building was constructed and a formal dedication was held on June 5 and 6, 1939. Through the years, the building served as a place for social gatherings, weddings, meetings and other events. In later years the building was home for a period of time to AMVET’s Post 15. The building then became vacant and on the market for several years before being purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Holloway, who extensively renovated it into apartments.To see more historical photos and artifacts, visit the Westbrook Historical Society at the Fred C. Wescott Building, 426 Bridge St. Inquiries can be emailed to westhistorical@myfairpoint.net. The website is www.westbrookhistoricalsociety.org.  
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