March 17, 1993

At a few minutes after noon on Thursday, teacher Susan Blanchard was sitting alone working in the library of the Prides Corner School in Westbrook when she happened to look out the window. There, on a tree branch about 30 feet from the school and 10 feet off the ground, sat an American bald eagle. “I looked at it for a minute to make sure it was real. Then I ran and told the other teachers,” she said. Most of the students were at recess outside. Word spread there, and many flocked over near the fence for a chance-of-a-lifetime, up-close look at our national bird.

“The $64,000 question” facing Westbrook High School’s new schedule is how to keep students interested for 80 minutes, but there are ways to do it, Principal William Michaud told the School Committee Wednesday. He mentioned “exhibitions rather than paper and pencil,” teaching for long-range goals and getting students “out of the classroom into the surrounding area.” Superintendent Edward Connolly, who favors the switch from 42-minute to 80-minute class periods, said he’ll decide, not the School Committee. It’s not a policy matter, he said.

Residents in area towns weathered the weekend blizzard in fine style, with some saying they enjoyed the 18-inch snowfall and hurricane-force winds. But there was so much that some had to figure out where to put it. A few chose the street. Police found people responsible at Bridge and Winslow streets and ordered them to clear away their snow from the street. They were ready to give the same orders on Hardy Road, but the culprit turned out to be the wind. Meanwhile, one of Westbrook’s police cruisers went out on patrol Saturday and Sunday with an old-fashioned but sure-fire protection against getting stuck – tire chains.

Fearing traffic problems in the heavily traveled County Road/Spring Street area, Westbrook’s Planning Board voted 5-1 last week against a proposed center on Thomas Drive for testing the emissions of all gas-burning autos two or more years old. The question before the board was whether the rules for Industrial zones should be changed to permit an auto emission testing facility. The vote against the change is a recommendation to the City Council, which will decide.

The proposed Gorham school budget for 1993-1994 is $11.7 million, up $717,000 of 6.5 percent from this year. Of that total, about $5.8 million would come from local tax revenues. Superintendent Timothy McCormack said last week the proposed budget compensates for a $190,000 budget decrease in 1992-1993. He also pointed to climbing enrollments as driving the need for more money.

Lisa Kent, daughter of Mr. and Mr. David Kent, Fort Hill Road, Gorham, is home from Kentucky Farrier School, Mount Ida, Kentucky, where she took a two-week course to learn to be a blacksmith. Lisa, an accomplished equestrian and owner of Kent’s Stables, felt that she should know how to trim and shoe horses.

For many years McLellan’s Store occupied the building at 851-855 Main Street. In the 1930’s, 851 Main Street was occupied by the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A & P Store), 853 was occupied by McLellan’s and 855 Main Street was occupied by the F. W. Woolworth Co. McLellan’s expanded into 851 & 855 Main Street when the A & P store moved to a new building on the opposite side of Main Street and The Woolworth Company closed it’s Westbrook Store. The McLellan’s Chain went out of business in the late 1990’s and the building was renovated and divided into Amato’s Bakery on one side and office space on the other. Amato’s moved to Thomas Drive and Full Court Press and a restaurant now occupy the building.