March 1, 1995

The Westbrook City Council voted last week to require tobacco retailers to have a city license, revocable for sales to minors. Close on the heels of that action came an award for the city: the first-ever President’s Award of the American Lung Association of Maine. “It’s kind of ironic,” Westbrook Mayor Kenneth Lefebvre said. “Here I am trying to bring business into Westbrook, and I’ve got to move my own out of it.” Cellular One, of which Lefebvre is Northern New England regional vice president, will be moving around May 1 from Westbrook to a South Portland office park. The new building meets the company’s need for some 18,000 square feet of office space.

The head of the Preservation Committee of the Gorham Historical Society has started a petition campaign in an attempt to delay demolition of the Frederick Robie School in Little Falls. The 107-year-old building at 666 Gray Road needs multiple repairs.

Gorham Memorial Post VFW hosted Voice of Democracy winners on Feb. 1. They included Jennifer DeDominici and adviser Gary Stevens of Gorham High School. Commander George Gerrish presented a $100 savings bond to winners and a certificate of appreciation to advisers.

Frederick J. Carr of Westbrook came home Feb. 17 after five weeks at Maine Medical Center. He is weak but is gaining each day.

March 2, 2005

Judge Judy Sheindlin awarded Gorham resident Cathy Davis $1,500 for the value of her pet chicken, Princess, and the “pain and suffering” of watching her die. Davis alleged that two dogs owned by neighbor Philip Csoros had attacked Princess. The case wound up on “The Judge Judy Show,” and was taped Jan. 19. Csoros said he was “very confident that my dogs didn’t do it.” Davis had sought $4,500 in damages, and the $1,500 award was paid by the TV program.

The 133rd Engineer Battalion of the Maine National Guard, of which Westbrook-based Company B is a part, is finally coming home. The soldiers are scheduled to return home to a celebration at Westbrook High School sometime this evening. Buses bound for Westbrook were expected to leave from Fort Drum in New York State in the early morning.

Scoring among the top 50 students in the state, two Gorham High School seniors were honored last month at the Augusta Civic Center. Mary Johnston and Adam Lord received certificates from Susan Gendron, education department commissioner, who recognized them for the top scores they received as juniors in the Maine Educational Assessment testing. Johnston is the daughter of David and Anita Johnston. She hopes to go to the Boston Conservatory. Lord, son of Christine and Christopher Lord, has been accepted at Georgia Tech and is waiting to hear from MIT.

Developer Tim Flannery is seeking to extend his line of credit with the city of Westbrook for his One Riverfront Plaza office building. The $1.2 million line of credit was issued April 2003, and Flannery agreed to repay the loan, including all interest and legal fees, once he secured permanent financing.