August 1982

After nearly a year’s delay, the Westbrook Housing Authority is ready to go ahead with construction of a million-dollar apartment house for low-income elderly off lower Main Street at Larrabee Road. It has awarded a contract for $999,487 to B&D Builders, Falmouth. Issuance of a building permit is expected this is week.

After years of “putting it off,” the Gorham Town Council decided

to “take the bull by the horns” and borrow up to $180,000 to fix

school roofs. It will issue bonds.

A female black duck recovered in April in Carmanville, Newfoundland, was banded on the Androscoggin River in West Leeds on Aug. 21, 1956 – making her 26 years old. Black ducks normally suffer a 66 percent mortality in their first year of life, and have an average life span of 21?2 years.

A woman showed up at the door of an East Valentine Street home at 11:25 p.m. and said she needed a place to stay until her plane left in the morning for Ohio. She was drunk. Police sent her to the Portland Jetport by taxi.

Complaining that they were tired of potential buyers backing out of purchasing their Spring Street frontage when they found out a road might someday go through the site, Bruce and Victoria Chuluda and their real estate agent, Hazel Bonin, offered their five acres to the city of Westbrook for $35,000. The land is assessed at $24,000.

Verillo’s ad: “Down East Shore Dinner for Two. Two great New England traditions are now one! Verrillo’s proudly presents, for your summer dining enjoyment: Native steamed clams, with bouillon and butter, whole Maine lobster, clam chowder,

French fried potatoes, corn on the cob, hot bread and butter,

blueberry cake, coffee or tea; one person, only $8.95, two for only $16.95″

After hearing numerous complaints from neighbors, the Gorham Planning Board took a walk at a site on the southerly side of New Portland Road where Shaw Brothers Construction Co. proposes a storage building. Dan Shaw said they need additional space because the business has progressed faster then anticipated. Jack Snow, New Portland Road, an abutter, commented, “My biggest concern here is property value. What’s that going to do to the value of my property, let alone the noise?” Robert Dow asked how residents of a nearby old folks’ home will like the proposal “if they won’t even put up with a barking dog.”

A section of Rust Road in Gorham, from the Fort Hill Road for a mile west, will be closed six months starting in November, the Gorham Town Council voted unanimously, because it crosses an impassable bridge.

August 1992

After 20 years, Westbrook is closing its Sandy Hill Dump, Saco Street, to all residents and businesses effective Jan. 1. All household rubbish will have to be left at the curb. Businesses will have to take or send waste directly to the Regional Waste Systems burner, outer Congress Street, Portland. The city maintains two containers at Sandy Hill where residents with stickers can dump household rubbish until it closes. Public Works Director George Googins admitted that there may be

some strong fragrances from household rubbish that has to sit for week after a lobster party in the summer.

The Cornelia Warren Foundation is giving the city of Westbrook $35,000 for a lighted ice hockey rink on Lincoln Street that can be used for roller hockey in other seasons. Eventually, it could have artificial ice.

From the police log: A man called a Gorham woman, threatening to blow up her house, car, kids and person. Police are watching the residence closely. Gorham teacher Marge Ridge, or one of her students, accidentally tripped the alarm at the high school. Police noted that this was the sixth incident.

In the interest of the employees of the town, Gorham Town Manager Paul Weston has proposed that new employees no longer enroll in the Maine State Retirement System. Weston suggests that all new employees be enrolled in FICA and have an option to enroll in the international City and County Management Association Retirement Corp.

Robert H. Smith, 23, hopes to unseat incumbent William Lemke for the District 34 House seat this November. Smith, who ran for mayor of Westbrook last year, had strong words for the conduct of the state Legislature. “I was offended and embarrassed by the behavior and antics of our elected officials last year. It seemed like every day the state budget grew, and the childish partisan bickering intensified.” Smith says his priorities are restoring public trust in the legislators.

A truck backed into a car, knocking it into another, which was in

turn, knocked into another in the Cornelia Warren Swimming pool’s parking lot in Westbrook. Jennifer M. Pease, 17, of 9 Shaw’s Mill Road, Gorham, drove the 1988 GMC pickup truck. Total damages to the three vehicles were $4,600.

The Maine Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization’s drill team will give a free public show Aug. 23 at Smiling Hill Farm, County Road, Westbrook. The organization promotes the use of ex-harness racehorses for pleasure riding.