IMarch 22, 1989

Another Gorham election season came to an end last week with the resounding defeat of Burleigh Loveitt and Daniel Willett for Town Council seats in what many observers have described as one of the nastiest campaigns in memory. Loveitt, a veterinarian, is a well-know name in local politics and a past member of both the council and the Planning Board. Willett is the current Planning Board chairman. The two were considered by some as favorites to win, but later charges of conflict of interest arouse, since the two are now developing a 40-acre parcel of land off Fort Hill Road near the Standish line. The top vote-getter among the three winners of council seats was Allene Bowler, with 770 votes, a former Planning Board member.

Two-term incumbent Carol Day received 707 votes. Phil Charest captured 688 votes in his first try for local elected office. Loveitt received 428 votes and Willett, 460.

Fred Astaire movies, golf games and mystery novels will fill the days for Georgette Brushwein now that she’s retired after 21 years as secretary in the Westbrook assessor’s office. It won’t be the first time she’s retired from that job – she officially retired in February 1988 but came back to help out for two short periods. She’s been back this time since Jan. 6, but as of Friday retired for good. “I love this job. I love the people, but I’m getting tired now. I want to be out and do what I want to do. When you work, all you do is eat, sleep and work.”

Every five years, on the fourth Tuesday of May, Westbrook voters have the opportunity and responsibility to elect one of the nine trustees to the Portland Water District. That election comes around again May 23 this year. On Monday, Westbrook’s aldermen decided to let voters handle something else when they go to the polls – they’ll vote on whether to spend $1.85 million to expand and improve Saccarappa Elementary School. Westbrook’s water district seat is held by David. L. Rolfe, who is expected to seek a second five-year term.

The Westbrook High School library is sponsoring its fourth festival of reading, consisting of a week of guest author visits, telephone interviews, workshops, contests and games that celebrate and encourage reading. Among the guest authors are Chris Crutcher, whose novels for young adults, including “Running Loose,” “Stotan” and “The Crazy Horse Electric Game,” have won national acclaim. Other writers are Paul Janeczco, West Gray, Mary Beth Owens, Gerda Haas and Robert Cormier.

Most of the remaining acres in the Laffin farm, a prosperous piggery until the 1950s, will be sold off by Tuffy Laffin for an 18-lot subdivision that should gain city approvals by the end of May. The Laffin property on Stroudwater Street has been in that family for many years, and Tuffy Laffin, former state representative, now will sell of the remaining 12 acres to GHR Associations, a corporation whose principals are Don Richards, owner of Don’s Lunch; Wally Geyer, owner of Ledgewater Pools in Saco and Falmouth; and David Hilton of Brown Homes. The development will be called Westwood Meadows and will be located on property behind Tuffy Laffin’s present residence and adjacent to Sroudwater Place.

This year’s Westbrook Together Days festival will be held on June 10 around the theme, “Celebrating our Heritage.” It will be the 10th year of the local festival.

March 24, 1999

Portland city officials are reported to be hoping to keep a new U.S. Postal Service distribution center in their city, if just barely, suggesting that it locate on a parcel of wooded land across the Stroudwater River from the dead end of Hutchins Drive. It would evidently be served by a new bridge across the Stroudwater from Hutchins Drive, the road off outer Congress Street where Federal Express headquarters are located. A new entrance ramp to the Maine Turnpike now being built will leave Congress Street right across from Hutchins Drive. The postal service is now soliciting proposals for a new site for the planned mail handling center, looking as far afield as Topsham and Lewiston, and looking for the first time at existing buildings as well as vacant 25- to 30-acre sites.

The National Labor Relations Board heard arguments in Boston Friday over whether the 20 charge nurses should be included in a proposed labor union at the Gorham House nursing home. Gorham House administrators argue that charge nurses are considered supervisors and should not have a voice in negotiating contracts. The union would be affiliated with the Maine State Employees Association. It claims to have the support of a majority of Gorham House workers.

Westbrook Fire Department mascot Aspen, an 8-year-old collie, and handler Debbie King will leave for Portugal April 14 to help firefighters there establish an educational program similar to the one that Westbrook has. Aspen teaches children in Westbrook schools and day care centers how to “stop, drop and roll.” Aspen doesn’t know any Portuguese, said King, but she is trained in English, French and hand signals. Not bad for a dog that was returned to its breeder and labeled “uncontrollable” at 5months old. King took Aspen in soon after and she was adopted by the Westbrook Fire Department.

Westbrook School Department resignations include Linda Livack, who quit her position as special services director at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center, and Jean L. Ekowicki, who is leaving her position as half-time literacy coordinator at Saccarappa School.

The City Council’s Committee of the Whole will take up Councilor John O’Hara’s suggestion that Westbrook repeal its rent control ordinance, which applies to The Hamlet mobile home park on Saco Street. The meeting is March 29. O’Hara has spoken against the ordinance on free market grounds and on the idea that it will costs the city money to defend the ordinance against a court challenge threatened by Hamlet owner Richard Kellam.

The “Shop Gorham” trade show is March 27 at USM’s Field House on the Gorham campus, sponsored by the Gorham Business & Civic Exchange. It will feature more than 100 booths showing local products and services. There will also be performances by Village School chorus, Centre of Movement dances and adult education line dancers.

A 70-student enrollment increase is chiefly behind the proposed $1.18 million, 7.61 percent increase in Gorham’s proposed nearly $17 million school budget, school officials say. The School Committee meets informally March 24 to discuss the budget.

50 YEARS AGO

The Westbrook American reported on March 18, 1964, that hostess for the March 19 meeting of the Women’s Club of Gorham were Mrs. Lena Day, Mrs. Edna Peavey, Mrs. Edward Taber and Miss Elizabeth Fox.

Harvey Grant, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Grant of Bar Mills, was given a farewell party at Sue’s Snack Bar in Buxton Lower Corner before he left for duty with the U.S. Air Force.

n 1964, the Stop & Shop Co. of Braintree, Mass., purchased a large tract of land on Main Street at the Portland line to develop into a shopping center. Bradlees Department Store and Martin’s Discount Foods occupied the main building.Cinema City Theatre’s 1 & 2 were built across the parking lot from the main building, along with some smaller stores such as Bartlett Radio & TV, Nationwide Insurance Co., Percival’s TV & Appliance and a separate building for the First National Bank of Portland. Sof-Spray Car Wash and Bradlees Gas Station were located at this plaza also. This photo shows Bradlees just prior to going out of business and the Shop ‘n Save store prior to relocating to a new building on Hannaford Drive. Kohl’s Department Store now occupies this building and Shaw’s built a new supermarket alongside it.Cinema City and the other small business are gone, replaced by new businesses, and the area is now known as Westbrook Crossing.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.