Jan. 6, 1988

The Westbrook Housing Authority will break ground – or “push slush” – Friday noon for $2.5 million worth of mostly unsubsidized (but non-taxed) rental housing for the elderly on a rocky hillside beside the Larrabee Woods subsidized housing project off lower Main Street. Most of the 36 two-bedroom apartments will rent for $650 and $675 a month plus utilities. Work actually started at the site more than a week ago, after the authority awarded the construction contract to Larry Donatello of Falmouth without asking for bids.

Gorham Police Chief David Kurz will attend the FBI National Police Academy in Quantico, Va., for 11 weeks beginning April 4. Kurz is one of six police officers from the New England region who have been invited to attend the academy. He was chosen after a lengthy selection process, including many interviews. He will concentrate on master’s degree-level courses in the area of forensic science, management skills and budget preparation, among others. Lt. Ronald Shepard will act as chief during Kurz’s absence.

The capacity of the new Gorham Village sewer system may reach a straining point within the next 10 years, much sooner than anticipated, a draft study shows. The study, prepared for the town by the Greater Portland Council of Governments, indicated the town has some tough choices ahead in deciding how to divide up the available capacity. The design life of the system had been expected to reach the year 2005. Town Planner Keith Moe said that he and other town officials have only seen an initial draft of the study. The final draft is expected this week. Gorham Town Manager Donald Gerrish declined comment on the contents of the COG study. Moe said the study is based on certain assumptions, such as a rate of build-out and that there will be no capacity increase in the Westbrook treatment plant. All effluent from the village sewer system now being constructed will eventually flow to the Westbrook treatment facility.

Inaugurated in ceremonies in Westbrook High School was Westbrook Mayor Philip Spiller for his second two-year term. Also taking the oath of office were aldermen Kenneth Lefebvre, Fred Wescott, Malcolm Noyes, Donald Esty Jr., Terry Quinland, Lyle Cramer and Alexander Juniewicz. School Committee members inaugurated were James Garland, Elinor Doughty, Nancy Curran and John Pettengill.

Gorham residents traveling for the holidays were Miss Edna F. Dickey of White Rock Road, who was the guest of her sister, Mrs. Barbara DeVittori in Rochester, N.H.; Mrs. Rachel Euphas and Miss Simon Duchaineau, Mosher Road, and their sister-in-law, Mrs. Cora Duchaineau, Westbrook, who spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Doucette in Bangor.

Finn Parker Road in Gorham is the intended site for a 14-bed residential home for multi-handicapped people aged 18-25. The proposal, which has yet to receive Planning Board approval, is being presented by CASA Inc., a nonprofit organization formed in 1979 to develop alternative, homelike placements for mentally handicapped persons previously placed in institutional settings, such as Pineland. CASA presently operates an eight-bed home on Gorham Road in Scarborough, which is home to handicapped youths up to the age of 18. CASA also operates a home on North Street in Portland. Like the residents at the Scarborough home, those in the Gorham facility would not be ambulatory, said Dorothy Bender, CASA’s director of nursing.

Jan. 7, 1998

Taking over as Westbrook’s mayor Monday, Donald E. Esty Jr. brought a promise of cautious support for the city’s present initiatives and a promise of openness in government. While endorsing major moves made by his predecessor, Kenneth Lafebvre, Esty had a few words of difference. He spoke of higher standards for tax increment financing, and echoed the hopes of the Lefebvre administration for a gas-fueled electric generating plant, while proposing to “closely consider and evaluate” it. As for Boundless Energy, the company Lefebvre expects to market the electricity, Esty said, “We will only be involved with it as long as it serves your interests, the citizens of Westbrook.”

The town of Gorham this week gave all but final approval to the 30-plus-acre quarry proposed by R.J. Grondin & Sons off Route 25 on Brandy Brook Hill. The quarry was last used in the 1960s. All that stands in the way of the quarry operation is final approval by the Planning Board, which is expected to come at its next meeting Monday night after the wording of the proposal’s conditions is finalized, according to Deborah Fossum, Gorham town planner.

Andrew and Helen McSween, 215 Prospect St. in Westbrook, have set up a $2.1 million charitable remainder trust to benefit Saint Joseph’s College, Standish. The gift will be used to establish endowment funds and grants. An $800,000 portion of the gift will establish a scholarship fund commemorating Andrew McSween’s sister, who died in 1987. Sister Dolores was a professor at Saint Joseph’s and academic dean for 14 years. McSween and Sister Dolores were two of the four siblings, and income from the fund will go to four annual scholarships, each given in the name of one of the four siblings, who also include Allie Sablon and Adeline Baillargeon.

The Gorham Planning Board is expected to give final approval to developer Steve Kasprzak’s proposed subdivision off Lower Main Street. Some 70 new homes priced in the $135,000-$185,000 range will be built in four phases. The first phase calls for 24 lots. The development will be known as Gateway Commons. The developer is looking to create “a sense of neighborhood,” according to Jim VanWyck, company vice president.

The Gorham school community is accepting applications from Gorham residents to serve on the screening committee for the superintendent search. The committee is expected to be in action three weeks starting Feb. 10. The search for a new superintendent could take about four months.

The Westbrook sixth-grade girls basketball team defeated the Gray girls, 45-33, to win the Yarmouth Clipper Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament championship. Westbrook, coached by Louis Lampron, made it to the championship undefeated.

The Ladies Tuesday Night Bowling Team from the Colonial Bowling Center, Westbrook, enjoyed dinner at the Village Cafe?, Portland, then had dessert and coffee and a Christmas gift exchange in the home of Joan Labrecque on Crestwood Drive.

This photo of the old city garage building at 15 Stevens Ave. was taken just before it was demolished several years ago. The building served as city garage from 1934 to 1970, when a new facility was built on Saco Street.  This building went on to serve as the first quarters of the Westbrook Rescue Unit from 1969-1976, when new quarters were built at 419 Warren Ave. (adjacent to the old police station). The city’s Forestry Department was also located here before moving to the city garage on Saco Street. The property was sold and a new commercial building was built at the rear of the lot. 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.