May 9, 1990

Although the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” children know so well all have Italian names, they were created on the banks of the Presumpscot River near Westbrook’s Frenchtown. Kevin Eastman, their creator, graduated from Westbrook High School in 1980. The young artist tossed pizzas at Louie’s Variety and struggled to keep up with tuition costs at Portland School of Art, a battle he eventually lost. He moved on to Amherst, Mass., and shortly thereafter, met another artist, Peter Laird. One night in late 1983, the two artists began to sketch. As Eastman says of the birth of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, “I did it to make Peter laugh.” With $800 in borrowed money, the two men launched Mirage Studios and the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” comic book. Sandra Eastman, Kevin’s mother, sold some of those first copies to Westbrook friends and neighbors. Comic books, toys, a TV series, and now a blockbuster movie – things worked out well for the pair.

The S.D. Warren paper mill will be cutting its work force in Westbrook as it strives for efficiency that will protect its future, Charles Roe, vice president and mill manger, told Westbrook city officials Thursday. Rose did not say how deep the cuts will be, but said they will be done through attrition, not replacing workers who retire or leave.

A small group of Gorham residents is organizing to fight the proposal by Hannaford Bros. to build a 200,000-plus-square-foot shopping center on the site of an old racetrack, at the corner of Narragansett Street and Cressey Road. “Our question is, should there be a shopping center of this size in Gorham, and the answer is no,” said newly elected group chairman Bob Harris. He and his wife Martha live at the intersection of Cressey Road and Flaggy Meadow Road.

The Westbrook Fire Department has a weekend of activities planned to celebrate its 100th anniversary. A parade May 11 will feature floats, the high school marching band and over 30 pieces of firefighting equipment. A firemen’s muster will be held May 12 at Riverbank Park, featuring firemen from miles around competing in ladder climbing, hose hookups and water fights. On May 13, each firehouse in the city will be open to the public.

Scott Allison, son of Philip and Sarah Allison, Mosher Road in Gorham, is graduating this month with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Management at Boston College. His sister Amy will be graduating from Gorham High School and plans to attend college.

Gov. John McKernan will be grand marshal of the Westbrook Together Day parade June 2, according to the Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the day. Dozens of llamas, provided by the Maine Llama Association, will be among parade attractions.

May 10, 2000

Imagine buying for 10 cents an original story by Stephen King – the real thing, one of a kind and in the author’s own handwriting. Gorham’s Gertrude Hanscom used to do it. She was Stephen King’s cousin and she was encouraging Stephen and his brother David to write. King’s connection to Hanscom came to light this week with word that King and his wife Tabitha are giving $50,000 to the fund drive for modernization of the Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham. Hanscom was a writer, too. For 16 years, until her death in 1988, she was the “Gorham Notes” correspondent of the American Journal. A teacher who retired to the home where she was born, at 200 South St., in Gorham, she regularly called every home in Gorham to ask for family news, completing A-Z four or five times a year.

Boys and girls ages 4-19 who can swim at least 25 yards are invited to join the Seals Swim Team, which swims in Davan Pool, Wescott Junior High School in Westbrook. Keith Kennedy is in his third season as head coach, and all staff members are U.S. Swimming certified.

Nick D’Alfonso III, an eighth-grader at Wescott Junior High School in Westbrook, won the Youth American Bowling Association State Handicap Division in bowling recently. He will represent Maine in the Coca-Cola National tournament in Las Vegas in July, all expenses paid. He is an A student, has played on the football and baseball teams and is in the band. For his Maine title he won a $350 scholarship, a jacket and merit pins.

Three subdivision-related requests will be heard by the Gorham Planning Board May 15. They include preliminary approval of a subdivision amendment to create two new lots and a private way on a 24-acre lot off Goodall Road; preliminary approval of a three-lot subdivision of Wilson and Sebago Lakes roads; and preliminary approval of a two-lot subdivision off Wescott Road.

After a public hearing on its budget May 15, the Westbrook School Committee will vote on what budget it will ask the mayor and City Council to approve next month. Superintendent Stan Sawyer’s proposal is $21,558,732, up $2,261,569 – or 11.7 percent – over this year’s budget. Pushing the new budget up are an increase in payroll and first payments on construction of the new vocational center and Canal School expansion.

Lewis W. Edwards operated a dry goods store out of a large wooden building that was located on Main Street at Bridge Street. A meeting room was located on the second floor, with entrance on the Bridge Street side. This room was known as Small’s Hall. The Baptists and  Episcopalians occupied the hall at different times, as well as civic groups. In 1891, Edwards replaced the old wooden building with a two-story brick building. He eventually closed his business and the F.W. Woolworth Co. occupied the building for a period of time prior to Warren Furniture Co. purchasing the building. The Westbrook Telephone Exchange was located on the second floor from 1907 to 1917. Warren Furniture Co. went out of business in 2005 and the building was sold. Portland Pie Company occupies the first floor of this building. 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