June 1980

Westbrook’s books don’t balance for 1979, and Mayor William O’Gara has hired a college student to help find the problem. He denounced a report by Alexander Landry, citizen, that as much as $200,000 may be involved.

William J. DiBiase, Falmouth, proposes to build federally-subsidized apartments for the low-income elderly on vacant land between the Men’s Shop and LaVerdiere’s drugstore in downtown Westbrook, with land for parking. He would buy the land from the Westbrook Urban Renewal Authority. Roger Welch, the authority’s chairman, suggested putting the parking at basement level under the building.

Luc Levesque, East Sebago, caught a 31-inch togue in Sebago Lake weighing 13.5 pounds. He has had it mounted.

The S. D. Warren credit union has changed its rules on mortgage loans of more than $1,500. The most it will lend is now 75 percent, not 90 percent.

Whoever stole gas from the VW of Debra Tucker, 18 Pleasant St., Westbrook, took the gas cap and left a Volvo cap that doesn’t fit.

In a letter, Steve Caron, a charter member of the Westbrook Rescue Unit, recalled its beginnings in 1969. Members put in 40 and 50 hours a week and slept in rat-infested quarters, rewarded only by the knowledge that they had helped someone. He recalled several stages of advancement in training. He was commenting on plans to start paying Rescue Unit members.

South Portland City Councilor Jerome C. Simpson is recommending that the city set up an all-purpose appeals board and abolish four present boards – Traffic Board; Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; Sewer Appeals Board; and Cable TV Program Advisory Board.

Jack Hayworth defeated incumbent Keith Moore for trustee of the Portland Water district from South Portland.

The University of Southern Maine pays Brunswick Transportation $115,000 a year to run buses between its Portland and Gorham campuses. Expanding that to general bus service Portland-Gorham would double the cost, and there’s no one to pay the extra, according to Leo Hurtubise of the Council of Governments.

Windham is buying 18 acres between the high school and the town garage, for recreation.

Scarborough students are carrying home questionnaires asking parents what they see as needed in reading, writing, spelling, and other language arts.

Bobby Orr, of professional hockey fame, is pictured with Marc Conley, 9, son of Alderman and Mrs. Norman Conley, Westbrook. He gave Marc a Bobby Orr Sportsmanship Award recognizing Marc’s play in Amateur Hockey Association games.

June 1990

Fire that apparently started from wiring swept Bertin’s Greenhouses, Westbrook, a loss estimated at $200,000.

South Portland has pulled the food service license of Peking Garden because the business is behind in its property tax.

Scarborough is laying off eight teachers and two half-time teachers.

Phil Charest, elected last year to the Gorham Town Council, is resigning. A 22-year employee of the Central Maine Power Co., he has been promoted to a job in Bridgton.

Tina Winter, Haskell Street, Westbrook is pictured with her ferrets, Sasha and Darcie, at Westbrook Together Day. Several thousand people attended in “perfect” weather.

Norman Conley, who was chairman of this highly successful Together Day, is looking forward to a celebration next year, perhaps three days, of the 100th anniversary of the chartering of Westbrook city government. Authorized by the Maine Legislature in 1887, the charter was accepted by the people, 448-291, on Feb. 24, 1891.

In a letter, Stan Marzul reports that Westbrook pays $30 an hour for floodlighting the high school tennis courts and nobody plays. He suggests coin-metered lights.

Standish neighbors are suing a Shaw’s Mill Road couple, saying their new house is smaller than their deed requires.

Scarborough’s Town Council has approved a $25,000 bond issue to buy a rescue boat for the Black Point fire station, an 18-foot boat with 70-horsepower engine. It replaces a 15-footer with 35-horsepower engine.

Maine Marble Manufacturing, which makes cultured marble sinks and countertops, is moving from the Scottow Hill Road to 6 Washington Ave., Scarborough.

The Standish Baptist Church intends to build on land it is clearing opposite Steep Falls Building Supply.

Charles W. French, 16 Phillips Road, South Portland, was honored for 50 years’ membership in Hiram Masonic Lodge.

William E. McLaughlin, candidate for sheriff, wants the county to look at expanding the jail instead of building a new one. The present jail’s walls were designed to bear a third story, he says.

In the cover article of its national weekly edition, the Washington Post writes of “Citizenship in Decline,” lamenting lack of interest in their government among Americans.

Maine’s largest labor union, the 14,000-member Paperworkers, endorses James E. Tierney for the Democratic nomination for First District Congressman.

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