Jan. 25, 1989
A consultant’s report released last week on the Westbrook Police Department recommends a “substantial restructuring,” most notably the elimination of the deputy chief’s position. The two current problems cited as creating the need for the reorganization are a lack of communication between command personnel and the bypassing of the chain of command by officers who take their problems directly to the chief, rather than their immediate supervisors.
The first skirmish in an upcoming showdown over a proposed “parenting center” at Westbrook High School was fought Monday as opponents of the plan turned out to protest at the School Committee meeting. The opponents spoke after Joel Rogers, a member of the Westbrook Task Force on Teen Pregnancy, brought forward the recommendation for a teen parenting center. Rogers outlined what he said was broad-based support for a center on the high school grounds that would assist high school mothers with children. Ella Clement was among the residents addressing the board. She said the only other schools with day care in the state also have a clinic that gives out sexual information. “I would ask the board not to take on any more social programs. The clinic is a companion plan to the day care center,” she said. According to the Adolescent Pregnancy Report received by the School Committee, 21 births were recorded in Westbrook in 1986 where the mother was 19 or younger.
Marland and Schonen Wing of Westbrook presented their proposal for saving the Warren parsonage Monday to the City Council. The council will decide by Feb. 6 between it and the first proposal received, that of Marie Rackley.
Marie Hoover, owner of the three-story apartment building in Gorham that burned Jan. 6, plans to have the house repaired. The building was fully insured. Hoover was one of 14 people displaced by the fire. Much of the damage to the interior of the 114-year-old building came from smoke and water.
Rachael Patricia Delcourt, born at 12:36 p.m. Jan. 2 to John and Lorena Brett Delcourt, 197 Saco St., Westbrook, was the first baby of the year whose parents live in Westbrook, Gorham or Windham. She weighed in at 9 pounds and is the Delcourts’ first child.
Jan. 27, 1999
The Westbrook City Council’s Finance Committee voted 5-0 Wednesday to borrow $10,490,000 with bond anticipation notes. Part is for new projects, including $2 million to build a road off Eisenhower Drive to serve the proposed new gas power plant, to be built by General Electric Co. and Needham, Mass., developers Bob Place and John O’Leary. The council approved a $47 million, 20-year tax break for them in December. Whether the plant will be built isn’t definite. The borrowing also covers the $4.9 million expansion of the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center and $1 million to close out the Sandy Hill landfill.
The Gorham Planning Board would have wide-ranging power over particulars of downtown development, and flat roofs, certain kinds of building materials and parking spaces and gas pumps in front of buildings would be banned if town councilors approve zone changes meant to promote a “village” atmosphere in Gorham Village. Working under a 90-day renewable moratorium that halts new construction in the downtown, the council’s Economic Development Committee is drafting new regulations with the help of consultant Mark Eyerman of the firm Planning Decisions.
Waino Ray, an active Gorham senior citizen, has written a book, “A Young Finn on Cape Ann,” about the Finnish stonecutting community he grew up in. It has gone through three printings the first year and he has received more than 100 letters from readers of the book.
Assistant School Superintendent Mike Kane told the Westbrook School Committee Jan. 13 that he’ll be asking that two brand new buses be included in the next school budget. He expects that they’ll cost about $65,000 each.
Advertisement: The Westbrook Music Boosters present Tony Boffa, Saturday, Feb. 13, St. Hyacinth’s Hall, Westbrook, Valentine’s Day Dance. Tickets $20 each. BYOB.
Shooter’s Pub in Westbrook is seeking a liquor license for a new location, at 922 Main St., the former CVS Pharmacy. Shooter’s owner David Brochu said he wants to move his business there from 11 Bridge St. by April 1. The City Council set a public hearing for March 1.
This photo, at Main Street at Harnois Avenue, was taken just before the building and the ones next to it were cleared to make way for the new Rite-Aid Pharmacy. Port City Glass had just vacated the building on the corner and moved to Rochester Street. This building was at one time a Mobil gas station operated by George Robicheaw. The other buildings were apartment houses. 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. Send questions/comments to the editors.
