Feb. 8, 1984

John P. Chandler submitted his resignation as Gorham’s fire

chief, effective March 30. He has been chief 11 years and a member of the department 30 years. Increasing responsibilities in his business, Home Builders, Inc., contributed to his decision, Chandler said. Chandler’s pay as chief is $2,000 this year. Last year it was $1,500 and in prior years, $1,000 or less.

Superior Court Justice Stephen Perkins restored the full liquor

license of Andy’s Tavern Thursday for the rest of 1984, unless it is lifted sooner by court action. Andy’s, at Brown and North streets, Westbrook, was closed for a week after the Maine State Liquor Commission upheld the action of the Westbrook mayor and City Council in refusing it a 1984 license. Their decisions were based particularly on complaints from a number of

neighbors, young and old, about drunkenness, noise, profanity, men and women urinating in public, dangerous driving, vandalism and other troubles that they connect with Andy’s, especially since it added hard liquor.

Gorham’s Rodney Quinn said in empathic and colorful terms that he would not be the much-sought Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat held by William Cohen, Republican. Rumors that he was seriously considering it have been circulating in his hometown since soon after Gov. Joseph Brennan decided against

running.

If Maine raises its minimum wage to $4, “the State Development

Office might as well close up shop,” Donald C. McNamara told the

Westbrook Chamber of Commerce Thursday. McNamara is the vice president for economic development of the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Portland Region. He said a bill in the Legislature asks for a minimum of $4, up from the national minimum of $3.25 an hour. Passing it, he said, “Would be a clear signal to the business community that this state is not receptive to business.”

Thanks to Hopi’s friends, Hopi’s Volkswagen Repair will open by Monday. “I tell you, it’s some wonderful to have friends like them. Some even took time off from work to help out,” said Donald Hopkins, the “Hoppy” of the business name. The garage on the North Gorham Road, Gorham, burned to the ground Jan. 26. The fire was most likely caused when Charlie, Hopkins’ 7-year-old German shepherd, “went to visit the cat” and knocked over a gas can tank just removed from a car and set aside, Hopkins said.

Feb. 9, 1994

Acting Mayor Kenneth Lefebvre may have winced last week when the City Council-School Committee discussion turned to the high percentage of unpaid city property taxes in Westbrook. Records in the Registry of Deeds indicate that he owes two years’ taxes (1991-93) on two properties, totaling $13,802, and 1991 sewer

assessments on two properties, totaling $1,545.14. Liens have been taken by the city against the properties of Lefebvre, at-large alderman, City Council president, acting mayor and candidate for the Democratic for Mayor. Lefebvre said that he has worked the balance due down to about $9,000 and will pay it in full on Friday. He said a foreclosure on property in which he owned a share on Stroudwater Street put him in the hole four years ago. Bankruptcy was an option but he resolved to pay it all off in full, he said.

Westbrook’s central school offices were closed Friday by a leak

in the ground out front. Whether it was freeze related isn’t clear,

but it appeared to be just a penny-size hole that developed in the

feed line, Supt. Edward Connolly said. Water was flooding into the basement and leaking down the hill outside. A digger was brought in Monday morning and the Portland Water District fitted a sleeve that cured the problem.

Loss of 243 jobs at the S.D. Warren paper mill in Westbrook means an annual loss of $8,505,000 in payroll, the State Planning Office has told Westbrook. On average, Warren workers have been making $35,000 a year, the Planning Office said.

The Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota, New York, is in possession of

one of the largest collections of boxing memorabilia in the country, thanks to Charley Parker, Hillview Road, Gorham. Charley, 89, recently donated more than 200 issues of Ring Magazine from 1926 on, in addition to many news clippings and rare books about boxing.

Westbrook Junior High School students will be given an hourlong

presentation on the Maine AIDS Memorial Quilt in two assemblies March 10.

Police notes: A Gorham man claimed he was growing tomatoes, not marijuana, in a basement closet. Police believe otherwise, after finding a small bag of marijuana, a waster pipe, and items used in growing marijuana in the home.