March 7, 1990

The Westbrook Planning Board voted 3-2 last week against allowing gas stations in Business General zones. Its recommendation goes to the City Council, which asked for the board’s opinion. The council suggested the change after turning down Ralph Leo’s request for a change from Business General to Business Highway zoning for his filling station and used car sales lot at Main and Lamb streets. Both are forbidden in Business General zones. Leo’s business, Ralph’s Autos, is grandfathered because it has been there since 1977.

Four weekend snowstorms have contributed to the higher than expected overtime in Westbrook’s street maintenance account, using up the $50,000 budget plus about $25,000 more. Peter Eckel, administrative assistant, said as a result, much of the snow removal would have to wait for the day crew. He also said road salt supplies throughout the area have been exhausted. Westbrook is expecting to receive two truckloads from New Brunswick this week, he said.

Joan Elwell of Gorham, wife of Bob Elwell, celebrated her 50th birthday in great style on Feb. 24. Bob took her to the Village Inn for dinner, where they were joined by family members. The appearance of the balloon lady costumed as an elephant attracted a crowd. Joan has a ceramic elephant collection. The “elephant” carried nine balloons representing Joan’s nine grandchildren.

The Gorham Arts Council will present a concert by children’s entertainer Rick Charette and the Bubblegum Band, March 17 at Gorham High School. Charette is a well-known local entertainer whose popularity is spreading. A recent concert in Long Island, N.Y., was sold out.

March 8, 1990

Mercy Hospital plans to spend $2 million this year on the expansion and renovation of the former Westbrook Community Hospital, 40 Park Road, which it acquired in a merger last year. A 9,200-square-foot recovery center will be built on part of the front lawn and parking lot to house Mercy’s chemical dependency program. Extensive renovations to the 17,400-square-foot building will then be completed, in part to make way for Mercy’s inpatient chemical dependency program, currently housed in the downtown Portland hospital building.

Gorham was a big name Friday in high school basketball in Maine. Its boys won the state championship for next-to-biggest high schools and its girls (best in the west) almost did the same thing. The boys romped to a 74-52 victory over Hermon High School. The girls lost, 60-51, to Camden-Rockport High School.

James Bennett is staying in Westbrook as administrative assistant to Mayor Don Esty. He announced in a letter dated Feb. 29 that he sent to Lewiston officials, that he decided to withdraw from the selection process for city administrator.

Don’s Lunch late-night food van returned to its usual parking spot in the lot of Mike Williams’ Muffle Shop at 959 Main St., Westbrook last Tuesday. A long list of repairs, starting with a blown motor, sidelined it for seven or eight weeks. “They kept finding one thing after another, so we had it all done,” said owner Don Richards last Tuesday. The truck is a converted 1973 GMC motor home.

The Gorham School Committee will meet March 8 to consider allowing a student representative from the high school to participate in meetings as a non-voting member of the School Committee. The representative, a freshman or sophomore, would be chosen by the high school student council and would begin serving at the April meeting. The student would be expected to attend all School Committee meetings and workshops, but not executive sessions.

Gorham’s Baxter Memorial Library renovation fund has hit the $1.1 million mark, and community interest hasn’t waivered in getting to the $2 million mark. When the money has been raised and renovations completed, the library will be 15,500 square feet, twice what it is now.

The original Westbrook Trust Co. office at 106 Main St., which started at the intersection of Longfellow and Conant streets. The numbers were later changed with the lower numbers starting on Main Street at the Portland line. Dr Anderson’s Dental Parlor’s was on the second floor. The man second from the left is Leander Valentine, first mayor of the city of Westbrook and first president of Westbrook Trust Co. A new bank building was constructed to the left of this building and Alice St. Pierre operated a millinery shop in the old building until it was demolished to make way for a drive-through window for the new bank building. Bank of America presently occupies the former Westbrook Trust building on Main Street. 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.Photo and research courtesy of Mike Sanphy