Aug. 19, 1987

William J. Michaud, 35, was appointed and confirmed as the new principal of Westbrook Junior High School, moving over from assistant principal of Westbrook High School. His pay rises from $32,147 to $38,500. Michaud succeeds Tim McCormack, who is leaving to become assistant superintendent in Auburn. The two men will have about two weeks to work together in the transition. Donald Harriman continues as assistant principal of the junior high.

People should help the police fight against the use of alcohol and drugs by children, Charlotte Adams, a youth aid officer in the Westbrook Police Department, told Saccarappa Grange this week. Adams talked about police work after accepting a Community Service Award Plaque from the Grange. She also accepted in his behalf the Grange’s Outstanding Service Award to Westbrook Police Chief Ronald Allanach.

Westbrook residents Mr. and Mrs. Dennis F. Connolly, Ryan and Jenna, and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. LeBeau, Gregory, Krista and Kara, have been hosts for the Maine Irish Children’s Program. For six weeks this summer the Connolly family welcomed into their home 10-year-old Ciaian Francis Brennan, and the LeBeau family enjoyed 10-year-old Haley Glover. The boys flew from Ireland with 22 other children who also stayed with host families in the area.

The Gorham Planning Board has approved construction of a new clubhouse at the Gorham Country Club on McLellan Road. The clubhouse, which will house a new pro shop and snack bar, was approved two weeks ago with the condition that the club come back with a more detailed design and landscaping plan. The approved plans call for replacing the existing clubhouse, a wood structure considered to be a fire hazard, with a metal building about 4,800 square feet. The old clubhouse had a floor area of about 4,300 square feet. The board requested the club “endeavor to shield from public view” the clubhouse with vegetation.

Scarborough police reported a loose horse around Route 22 and Horsefeathers, but Gorham police checked the area and all horses were accounted for in the stables. A stray cat was reported on Woodlawn Road, and Patten’s Farm, Route 22, reported a loose pony. Police could find neither the pony nor the owner.

LP Furniture, Bridgton Road, Westbrook, advertising apartment and camp specials, including a GE single-door refrigerator, l0.6 cubic feet, for $299; and a four-burner GE electric stove, also $299.

Aug. 20, 1997

Westbrook School Committee has approved a $947,885 plan for high school athletic fields improvements. The plan next goes to the City Council, which will be asked to send it out for bids. The committee pushing the plan hopes work on the football field and track can start “before frost,” according to William Michaud, high school principal. The cost estimate, presented by Sebago Technics and its president, Walter Stinson, is higher than anything previously mentioned.

For the family of Felix and Brenda Sepulveda of Gorham, Saturday was road race day. They had five finishers in the Gorham Family Fair. Among them was the day’s youngest runner, Daniel Sepulveda. At the age of 3, Daniel ran the whole 2-kilometer (1.24 miles) children’s race. Ahead of him but turning to cheer him on, were Theresa, 7; Katherine, 8; and Elizabeth, 4. Felix, their father, ran the 5-kilometer race, 29th among 63 finishers, with a time of 21 minutes, 46 seconds. The race winner was Bob Winn, with a time of 15 minutes, 18:45 seconds, a course record.

Garrett Gordon, 14, who will be entering Westbrook High School as a freshman, has now visited all 28 Major League parks. He visited his 28th park, the Texas Rangers BallPark, in Arlington on Aug. 4. He saw his first Major League baseball game in Fenway Park when he was 7.

Westbrook City Council voted on first reading this week to give the Westbrook Housing Authority a two-year option to buy the old Westbrook High School. Several factors were left to be decided, including the price. The option does not include the City Hall Annex building, and specifies that the city can lease back any part of the property it wants.

On recommendation of the new principal, Randall Zito, the Westbrook School Committee this week named James O’Leary to replace Dennis Connolly as athletic director at Wescott Junior High School. Connolly has moved to Florida. O’Leary has taught and coached in Westbrook 26 years. He will receive a stipend of about $4,500.

The Gorham Planning Board has given final approval to 44 new housing units, gave preliminary approval to an additional 76 units and sent a plan for 16 more back to the drawing board. Developer Susan Duchaine’s clustering plan for a 16-lot subdivision of single-family homes off Dingley Spring Road was rejected. Gateway Commons is the 76-lot clustered subdivision of single-family homes off lower Main Street, developed by Steve Kasprzak. Royal River Development Co. was granted final OK for 25 new condominiums off Main Street. John T. Hawkes won final approval for a 19-lot clustered housing subdivision of single-family homes off Bracket Road.

Tony Abbiati, a 1989 Westbrook High School graduate and Bowdoin College grad in 1993, has earned an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He has begun employment with the investment bank Goldman Sachs and will live in Boston after completing seven months of training in New York City.

Taken in 1960, this photo shows the  intersection of Main and Brackett streets. Brackett Street entered Main Street between the Westbrook Congregational Church, built in 1834. The next building which was the Brackett Block, built in 1850 by Zachariah Brackett. The church and the Brackett Block were both demolished by urban renewal, and Brackett Street between Main Street and Wayside Drive was closed off. 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. (Photo and research courtesy of Mike Sanphy)