Nov. 29, 1989

About 75 people packed the Westbrook School Committee Monday to hear how the school would handle a proposed no-cut policy in sports below eighth gade. The meeting, with seven times the usual attendance, drew so many residents because of a plea by Westbrook resident Louie Lampron at a School Committee meeting two weeks ago to avoid cutting youths from sports below eighth grade. Only three members of the public spoke about the proposal, although the audience waited two hours and 40 minutes through a sometimes tedious meeting to wait to see what would happen. School Superintendent Edward F. Connolly told the committee and audience in a prepared statement that he supported “all athletic endeavors.” But, he added, he wanted a policy statement that the committee would not allow cuts in interscholastic programs before eighth grade. The committee will decide on the wording in two weeks and whether to approve putting it out before the public. Connolly characterized the issue of cutting 11- and 12-year-olds from teams as a “sleeping dog that wasn’t biting anybody.”

Photo caption: Roger Knight shows off Pasta, a 21?2-year-old llama to members of the Westbrook Senior Citizens at the Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church Nov. 20. Knight, who owns Smiling Hill Farm on the County Road, takes one of his four llamas around to senior citizen groups and nursing homes during the winter. Pasta was born on Knight’s arm. Knight said the animals are naturally housebroken, making them suitable for visiting nursing homes and churches. There are about 100 of the South American animals in Maine. “They make a great pet if treated properly,” said Knight.

In a request submitted only a few days before he suffered a heart attack, Westbrook’s municipal forester, Wesley McKague, asked the City Council to approve spending $6,587 for 108 trees for the 1990 tree planting program. McKague plans to plant 74 trees along Larrabee Drive, Wayside Drive, Prospect Street Extension, Walker Street, Lincoln and Web streets, Sunset Drive and Pike, Dodge and Rochester streets. Thirty-four trees will be planted on private property. Most of the trees are maples.

Advertisement: Starting today, breakfast at Flagg’s Tavern. Serving every day from 6-11 a.m. Remember us for lunch, dinner and spirits from 11 a.m. on. 920 Main St., Westbrook.

As Westbrook’s Little League season came to a close this year, it became painfully obvious the new infield was in need of total renovation. This June, sun had baked it and left it hard, dry and dangerous. League president George Apt declared the field “unsafe and unplayable.” It needed to be completely dug up and replaced with new loam, tons of ballpark mix and complete turfing. Such a project came with expenses over $8,000, and the Little League was $5,000 short. The Westbrook Eagles Club’s board of trustees agreed to host a Casino Day Nov. 19 with proceeds going to the Little League. When the final figures were tallied, the proceeds are $4,882. Eagles Club Manager Paul McDonald announced that the club would donate an additional $118 to reach the goal.

Gorham hosts three Westbrook teams Nov. 29 in a series of exhibition basketball games. All three games will be played at the Gorham High School gym. Gorham opens its season Dec. 1 at Gray-New Gloucester. Last year Gorham had a 19-2 record. They lost to Lincoln Academy by 2 points in the Western Maine finals.

The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Portland Region, along with local communities and service organizations, will sponsor Christmas tree lightings Dec. 3 at 3:30 p.m. at Robie Gym in Gorham and at the same time and date at the Scates Block in Westbrook. There will be hot chocolate and coffee during the Christmas caroling in Westbrook.

The Dorcas Society, founded by Kate Douglas Wiggin in 1897, will present Wiggin’s “The Old Peabody Pew,” at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Tory Hill Meeting House in Buxton.

Dec. 1, 1999

Westbrook’s Fred Hale will celebrate his 109th birthday Dec. 1. The city’s oldest resident, Hale still attends a monthly meeting of fellow beekeepers. After doctors told him at age 106 that he could no longer drive or climb stairs on his own, Hale moved from Mt. Vernon Street in South Portland, his home since 1921, to Riverside Estates on Brook Street in Westbrook. Hale was born in 1890 on the family farm in New Sharon. He worked for the railroad most of his life, starting in Farmington Falls in 1914 as a sub-clerk.

“The Presumpscot River is a rough jewel that needs our attention,” Westbrook City Planner Mathew Eddy said, in announcing two lectures and a public-participation idea session planned in January. They are part of a city project to get people to pay more attention to the river’s beauty as it passes through the downtown, and to use it to help draw attention to the city. River historian Stephen Brooke will speak Jan. 6 on his experiences helping the city of Augusta make plans for its frontage on the Kennebec River. A week later, two more speakers with experience in helping develop riverfronts will talk. On Jan. 15, the city will host a “charette,” a roundtable discussion for the whole community. The city is studying building a river walk along the east bank of the river, the Frenchtown side. That bank doesn’t offer the long stretches of park land and city land that lie across the river, where a paved walkway has been built. Much of it is in the back yards of private houses.

Westbrook Postmaster Regina MacDonald said she loves her job and “the whole town is very friendly.” She has been in Westbrook about a year, six months as officer in charge and since June as postmaster. She will be formally installed in the job in a ceremony Tuesday at the Westbrook First Baptist Church, with the oath of office administered by Barbara Patterson, district manager of customer service. MacDonald grew up in the Portland area and began her postal career in Portland after college nine years ago, starting as a clerk.

Susan Duchaine’s proposal for a 19-lot subdivision called Sewell Farms, off Queen Street in Gorham, is being challenged by across-the-street abutter, Grace Smith, 89 Queen St. Smith thinks the lot frontages were laid out too narrowly and that the error was compounded when Code Enforcement Officer Clint Cushman gave them his stamp of approval in an Oct. 8 letter to the Planning Board. She has appealed his decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Sewell Farms would be located on 23 acres of rolling meadow behind a historic Shaker house at the intersection of Queen Street and Gray Road (Route 202). The property’s former owner, Albert Sewell, died earlier this year. The subdivision was given preliminary approval by the Planning Board Nov. 1, and is scheduled to come before the board for final approval Dec. 6.

Advertisement: Hey kids – Santa is in town Dec. 5-10, 4-7 p.m., new location: Westbrook American Legion Hall, 300 Conant Street. Free admission. Bring your camera.

One of Gorham’s newest patrol officers, Seas Edwards, graduated from the Maine Police Academy Nov. 19. Edwards, 22, began working in Gorham Aug. 23. He is currently doing two weeks of field training with Patrolman Dana Thompson. His next field training will be under Sgt. Chris Sanborn. Edwards was raised in Howland and graduated from the University of Southern Maine.

The Scates Building was constructed at the head of Bridger Street in 1903 by local businessman John C. Scates, and was occupied by various tenants over the years. The Westbrook municipal offices were at one time located there, and the municipal court was on the second floor for many years until the state created the district court system in each county. The Masonic Corp. was the last owner before the building was razed by urban renewal in 1981, despite strong local opposition. The CVS and parking lot now occupy the site. To see more historical photos and artifacts, visit the Westbrook Historical Society at the Fred C. Wescott Building, 426 Bridge St. It is open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, and the first Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m., September-June. Inquiries can be emailed to westhistorical@myfairpoint.net. The website is www.westbrookhistoricalsociety.org.