Jan. 4, 1984

Philip D. Spiller, Westbrook’s first new mayor in 10 years, said

in his inaugural address Monday that it’s time to do something about a tax rate that is “the highest in the state and a per-capita debt that is the highest of any major municipality in the state.”

He said the cost-management review he proposed in his campaign in October will be a first step, and, with its help, a savings of $500,000 a year while maintaining quality services “would seem to be attainable.”

Andy’s Tavern, at Brown and North Streets, Westbrook, continues to operate in 1984, but a sword hangs over its neck. It’s operating day-to-day while the State Liquor Commission decides whether Westbrook’s mayor and City Council were right in denying it a 1984 license.

Two of the commission’s three members listened attentively

Wednesday as a succession of neighbors told of troubles they connect with Andy’s. The commission had a chance to see, as well as hear, some of what the neighbors don’t like; it showed a drunken man being helped out of the gutter at Andy’s doorstep and several men watching who then went into Andy’s.

Westbrook police notes: Animal Control Officer Gagne captured the thoroughbred black French Lop rabbit of Mrs. Marshall, 43 Lyman St., after it escaped from its cage. A small shepherd dog, so thin it seemed to be near starvation, showed up at the home of Francis Lyons, 463 Methodist Road. Police took it to the Animal Refuge League. A raccoon, reported to be acting peculiar at 855 Cumberland St., was picked up by Ed Gagne, found to be OK, and taken to another area and released. Two horses were loose on Route 302. They were captured near Wormell’s and returned to the Graffams of 37 Reed St.

With the passing of the question to the new City Council, the

upper hand appears to have gone to Dr. Norman Valliere in the contest for Westbrook’s downtown twin lots. The outgoing council tied, 3-3, defeating a motion to sell the land to the Family Credit Union. How the incoming aldermen will stand on the question remains to be seen, but if Blanchet holds to his steady position and voting continues otherwise on the same party lines, Dr. Valliere looks to have the stronger position.

Jan. 5, 1994

His family, his church, his close friends and many others took

part Saturday, New Year’s Day, in the funeral services of Westbrook Mayor Fred C. Wescott.

He died of cancer Wednesday, Dec. 29, 10 weeks after he first

became aware of his illness. In the meantime he had been elected to his third two-year term as mayor. His inaugural would have been Monday.

“He is inaugurated today as a permanent citizen of Heaven,” said

the Rt. Rev. Robert C. Lavoie, in conducting the funeral Mass. “He really didn’t miss his inauguration.”

Kenneth M. Lefebvre said Monday he is “seriously considering” seeking election as Westbrook’s mayor when voters pick the successor to the late Fred Wescott.

Lefebvre is 39 years old and is vice president and general

manager of Cellular One, an East Coast cellular telephone company with an office at 2 Thomas Drive, Westbrook.

Gorham police notes: A Gorham resident wrote five bad checks to the Sunday River Ski Resort totaling $338.77. The person gave a fake phone number and the check was written on a closed account. A Chestnut Circle woman reported that her car was either stolen or repossessed. The car was repossessed. Two men in an old red Pontiac Grand Prix stole $15 worth of gas from Cumberland Farms. A 23-year-old woman was in a single-car accident at the intersection of Dingley Spring Road

and Fort Hill Road. An estimated $2,000 damage was done to her black Toyota wagon. Reynolds Auto Salvage towed the vehicle. A woman said older neighborhood kids were threatening her children. The older kids used boards pierced with nails to intimidate them. A 23-year-old woman struck a deer with her vehicle. The woman was not injured, the deer was killed, and the car had $3,000 damage. A safe was stolen from a Gorham residence Sunday night. The safe was taken from a home on South Street. There are suspects, but Police Chief Edward Tolan declined to comment on the case, saying police were

still investigating.

A petition signed by 1,202 Gorham residents will force a

referendum vote, probably in the March 8 town election, on restoring to the Town Council line-item control of the school budget. The council had that authority under a 1979 referendum vote, but asked voters to remove it in 1988, and they did, 2,701-2,081. It had not been used much.

Donald Lowell of Westbrook and Holiday, Fla., died in Florida

Monday night just after returning from the funeral of Westbrook Mayor Fred Wescott. Lowell and Wescott were the grandfathers of Rachael and Marcia Wescott, daughters of Wayne and Diane Lowell Wescott.