Gov. John Baldacci’s proposal to eliminate the personal property tax on business equipment would gradually cut local tax revenue for cities and towns while reducing the state’s expenses – an uneven tradeoff that would hit some communities harder than others. Portland last year took in $14 million on the tax followed by South Portland, which […]

Minding the gap The city of Westbrook has a hole in its budget that’s large and growing larger. As we reported in front page story in last week’s American Journal, the city is covering a growing gap in its budget because revenue from the city’s downtown tax increment financing district isn’t meeting expectations. The city […]

On Sunday, April 24, during the 8:30 a.m. Mass, the parishioners of the Westbrook Catholic Community presented Rev. Joseph Manship with a gift of a beautiful magenta vestment with a matching embroidered stole. Because this is the year of the Holy Eucharist declared by Pope John Paul II, the stole was embroidered with the Holy […]

People make a school system great. I have for many years realized that the most important element of a school system is the quality and dedication of our teachers, administrators and staff. We have been very fortunate in Westbrook to have exceptional personnel. As more of the “baby boomers” reach retirement age, Westbrook and other […]

Gorham Middle School Principal Dennis Duquette won’t be leaving for a job in Cape Elizabeth. Marie South, chairman of the Gorham School Committee, said Friday that Duquette had withdrawn his application for a position as principal of Cape Elizabeth Middle School. South said Duquette hand delivered a letter to the Cape Elizabeth superintendent’s office Thursday. […]

May 2 Knights of Columbus business meeting, St. Mary’s Parish Hall May 2 Westbrook Senior Citizens meet, 1:30 p.m., Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church May 2 City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Room 114, High School May 2, 3 Visiting Artist Carol Hanson at Congin School May 3 WRVC Advisory committee “Thank You” Dinner, 6 p.m., Culinary Arts […]

May 2 Knights of Columbus business meeting, St. Mary’s Parish Hall May 2 Westbrook Senior Citizens meet, 1:30 p.m., Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church May 2 City Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Room 114, High School May 2, 3 Visiting Artist Carol Hanson at Congin School May 3 WRVC Advisory committee “Thank You” Dinner, 6 p.m., Culinary Arts […]

A Dana Court business owner is scrambling to run his business after losing computer equipment to burglars twice in one week. Raymond Foote, who owns Southern Maine Newspaper Printing Company, said, on April 18, he came to work and discovered that someone had entered the building where his business is located and had taken a […]

The Westbrook Planning Board was expected to hold a public hearing on new site plan review standards for large-scale projects in the Gateway district this Tuesday at 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School, after the American Journal’s deadline. The new Gateway standards are in response to concerns about a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter […]

The Westbrook Planning Board was expected to hold a public hearing on new site plan review standards for large-scale projects in the Gateway district this Tuesday at 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School, after the American Journal’s deadline. The new Gateway standards are in response to concerns about a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter […]