June 6, 1984

Hit with a court ruling that will cost it an estimated $113,000 in extra Westbrook taxes, the S.D. Warren Division of Scott Paper Co. issued a quiet warning this week: “With a tax burden here that is substantially higher than those at other locations, it is extremely difficult to maintain a cost competitive position,” a company spokesman said. “The city of Westbrook’s tax burden puts this mill at a severe cost disadvantage compared with other Warren mills and more importantly, with competitive mills throughout the country,” the spokesman said. “The only way the Westbrook mill can continue to survive is by being a low-cost producer.”

Peter Foye’s bid of $160,000 took the C.E. Noyes building in the bankruptcy court’s auction yesterday. Alfred E. Porell bid $155,000. Sebago Inc. had entered an offer of $135,000.

Foye’s lawyer, Benjamin Zuckerman, said he was not at liberty to say what Foye intends to do with the big brick building, a former retread plant on Dana Court.

Henry Gagnon has sold to Roger P. and Shirley Welch a half interest in the downtown Westbrook store occupied by McClellan’s. Gagnon bought the property from the Northeast Bank of Westbrook two years ago. Gagnon is a prominent Westbrook real estate agent. Welch, a lawyer, has been chairman of the Westbrook Urban Renewal Authority and clerk of Northeast Bank of Westbrook.

The Westbrook Together Days fairground has reservations for 80 booths in Riverbank Park for the festival June 16, more than double last year’s 38 and the most the festival has had in its five years, chairman Nancy Carr Millett says. Include are food, games, crafts and displays.

A new Cumberland Farms store planned at the current Winslow’s Mobile station in Gorham now needs only the Zoning Appeals Board’s approval of a change from full service to self-service gasoline sales at the location. The store received Planning Board approval May 21.

Gorham police notes: Police drove a man to Westbrook from a woman’s home on the New Portland Road, and told him he would be arrested if he returned. Eight lacrosse sticks found in a gully behind someone’s house were returned to Gorham High School.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Quint, Stroudwater Place, recently returned from a camping trip in Pennsylvania.They attended the 12th Annual Fire Expo in Lancaster and toured the Amish country for six days. They visited their son, David, in Connecticut on Memorial Day weekend. The highlight of the weekend for Arthur was a one-hour, hot-air balloon flight he took over the Connecticut countryside, during the Balloons Over Bristol Festival, in which 20 balloons lifted off together.

June 8, 1994

Maine votes Tuesday, June 14. On separate ballots, Democrat or Republic, the parties choose their nominees for Congress, governor, the Legislature and county offices. In some communities, voters will get separate ballots for local elections and-or referendum questions. Westbrook will have a special election for mayor. Candidates are Kenneth Lefebvre, Democrat; Philip Spiller, Republican; and Alfred E. Porell, independent. Gorham will hold a referendum on recall of the budget. Both Westbrook and South Portland will elect a trustee of the Portland Water District.

Westbrook is hosting the Maine Special Olympics. Athletes, parents, teachers, and volunteers from as far as Presque Isle and Fort Kent will descend upon Westbrook High School for two full days of competition and fun. The event, which is usually held at the University of Maine, is expected to attract more than 1,400 athletes and 2,700 volunteers, brought by 87 buses and 57 vans. A parade at 10:30 a.m. on Friday will kick off the weekend’s schedule. All of the athletes and three marching bands from Westbrook (from the high school, junior high, and primary school) will march from the foot of Monroe Street to Olmsted Field at Westbrook High School for opening ceremonies.

Westbrook police notes: A youth called Ingraham Volunteers and said he was going to commit suicide. He said he did it as a prank. They spoke to his mother. A woman and a man had a dispute about a chain saw. He wound up trashing the apartment on Stroudwater Street. Kids were running into the street in front of cars and throwing balls at cars at Dearborn and Longfellow streets. Police spoke to an 8-year-old, but the others ran off.

When coaches Kelly Littlefield and Sue Hannibal took over Gorham High School’s softball program four years ago, a playoff appearance, or even a winning record, seemed a long way off. Gorham finished that season with one win and 15 losses. Expectations were not very high. Since then, with a lot of work, extra training over the summer months and perseverance, Gorham recently finished the 1994 regular season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses and has become a contender for the Class B softball championship.