Eagles club to serve outdoors

Westbrook’s municipal officers have granted permission to the Eagles Club at 89 Saco St. to begin serving alcohol on a back deck, as long as it’s before 7:30 p.m.

The officers, made up of the City Council plus Mayor Colleen Hilton, voted 6-1 to allow the expansion of the club’s existing liquor license at the officers’ meeting Monday night. Councilor Mike Foley was the lone dissenting vote.

The club drew fire from the public six years ago when it took over the building, which used to house the Knights of Columbus. Residents complained that the club would function as a private bar, and have an adverse effect on the neighborhood.

On Monday, Brian Campbell, the club’s general manager, assured the officers and the public that the club would have no music playing outdoors, and that rowdy behavior by any of its patrons is not tolerated. Campbell also promised that the deck would not be seen or heard.

Bullying ?forum set ?for Westbrook

Local radio talk show host and Westbrook resident Ray Richardson will host a forum on bullying Thursday, Aug. 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the Westbrook Middle School cafeteria.

Scheduled to participate in the forum are Michael Pardue, Westbrook public safety director, and Christine Thibeault, assistant district attorney for Cumberland County and head of the juvenile justice division. Other members of the community will be involved, as well, Richardson said.

The purpose of the forum is to educate students and parents to recognize the signs of bullying and the issues surrounding technology and bullying, as well as to encourage people who are being bullied to come forward.

City moves to close part of Pike Street

The City Council has agreed to close a portion of Pike Street to make room for a development of buildings that used to belong to St. Hyacinth Church. The council voted unanimously for the measure Monday night, saying the move would help a project the city has been anticipating for years.

“This is an important re-use of some buildings that have been vacant almost as long as I’ve been alive,” said Councilor Mike Foley.

Developers Collaborative, a consortium of private for-profit developers, wants to restore two aging buildings that were once part of the parish. When done, both buildings would house 37 apartment units marketed toward families.

The project, before the Planning Board now, would require shutting down a portion of Pike Street to accommodate parking and part of one of the buildings. The Planning Board is expected to discuss the project at its Sept. 4 meeting.