August 1981
U. S. Senator George Mitchell held a “town meeting” in Westbrook. One citizen complained about “double dippers” – people who earn a pension in one job but do enough part-time in another to qualify for Social Security benefits. Mitchell looked sympathetic but didn’t comment.
Louis P. (“Pete”) Blanchette, a Republican who is in his seventh term on the Westbrook City Council, announced that he will be a candidate for mayor in November if he sees a suitable list of City Council candidates, both Democrat and Republican.
Westbrook Alderman Robert Lister, who has been a grade school teacher in Yarmouth for 10 years, was hired Monday by the Westbrook School Committee to teach sixth grade in Westbrook’s Canal School.
Halsey Smith died Friday. A banker, he drew praise for his civic leadership in the Portland area, seeing things clearly and moving swiftly and decisively to meet needs.
This is the 10th anniversary of Westbrook’s vote to create the Westbrook Urban Renewal Authority. An editorial argues that it was a mistake, with various stores and offices vacant. The editorial calls for a new look at Orrin Dolley’s idea – a roof over Westbrook Commons.
The Westbrook School Committee voted 6-0 to discontinue hot lunches in Westbrook schools. Eleven workers will be laid off.
Westbrook’s City Council voted to pay the $250 fee of lawyer David Pinansky who won acquittal for Police Sgt. Robert Abbott on a speeding charge brought against Abbott by fellow Westbrook Police Sgt. Timothy Farr. The cop vs. cop case got national attention.
Maxwell’s Farm Market calls its sweet corn “peak of season” this week.
Tighter rules and new disciplinary measures in Gorham High School this fall are aimed to make it “a more efficient place for learning.”
Westbrook High School’s class of 1931 held its 50-year reunion in the Merry Manor, South Portland.
Windham’s School Committee adopted a policy that the schools will report to the state’s Human Services Department when they see evidence of child abuse or neglect.
An article with photo by Kay Soldier calls for warning signs at the intersection of Chute Road and Hemon Cobb Road, South Windham, where a man went off the road and was killed last year.
John T. Flaherty is asking Scarborough’s Zoning Appeals Board for an OK to build a vegetable stand at 123 Payne Road.
Willard M. and Mary (Gagnon) Fenderson, 29 Fairfield Ave., Westbrook, marked their 60th wedding anniversary Aug. 24.
August 1991
Hurricane Bob set rainfall records, and washed out roads. A photo shows Richard Gray and Ben McDonald in foot-deep water on Westbrook’s Wayside Drive.
The hurricane damage to Gorham roads and bridges was estimated at from $500,000 to $1 million, by Town Manager Paul Weston and Town Engineer William Taylor after they toured the town.
Gorham plans to introduce DARE, a national drug prevention program, in sixth grade at the Village School.
A Windham committee has reported that town-wide curbside pickup of trash and recyclables is the most cost-effective way.
State drug officers pulled up 90 marijuana plants on Central Maine Power transmission lines in two locations in Westbrook. Some were six feet tall, and buds were as big as an average fist.
The estate of Agnes Gibbs will be auctioned Friday. She was a Maine radio and television pioneer of the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, she moved to Maine in 1947, settling in North Gorham. Nationally famous persons were among guests on her shows “Maine Farm, A Year of Country Life” on WCSH. She was 86 at her death in May.
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