A controversy is brewing near University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus as residents whose property abuts a proposed student-housing complex, called Woodside, are objecting to a recent Planning Board decision that gave it preliminary approval. Woodside is a 66-unit, 396-student project of cluster housing planned by two prominent local residents, John Alden and Burleigh Loveitt. Woodside will have 11 buildings and is the first attempt by USM to work with private developers to solve the student housing shortage. Nearby residents say that Woodside is essentially a private project that has sailed through the early stages of board review under the umbrella of the university. State projects are effectively exempt from most local zoning regulations but must undergo subdivision review by the local Planning Board and meet local codes and obtain necessary local permits. They also object to the fact that the board acted despite the fact that the university does not own, or have a clear option to buy, the property.

Westbrook aldermen have agreed to a zone change for a $3 million health club behind Michel’s Restaurant in the Exit 8 area of the city. Two swimming pools and a Jacuzzi, racquetball courts and exercise rooms are called for in the 40,000-square-foot building to be built by Paul R. Albert, Westbrook, and Dan Hamblet, Cape Elizabeth. The club would be located in the midst of the growing motel and business complex at Exit 8, and have a big parking area. The health club facilities would be leased to Albert’s Southern Maine Physical Therapy, which would move from the Men’s Shop building in downtown Westbrook. Albert is a son of Roland Albert, a Men’s Shop owner, and is a registered physical therapist.

Westbrook High School’s Sock & Buskin Society will present “The Odd Couple,” a comedy in three acts by Neil Simon, in the school auditorium Nov. 19-21. Scott Leonard and Darryl Quinlan will play the lead roles. Also in the cast are Brady Bridges, Andy Campbell, Dave Kimball, Bob Pallang, Laura Kilmartin and Heather Connolly.

Democrats held their 4-3 control of the City Council and Republicans held their 5-2 control of the School Committee as Westbrook returned its mayor, city clerk, all seven alderman and a School Committee member to office in last week’s voting. City Clerk William Clarke, unopposed, led all candidates with 5,091 votes.

Advertisement: Shirley’s Deli and Variety, formerly Dion’s Market, has opened at 186 Bridge St., Westbrook. All new – clean – modern. Delicious foods, morning to night. Breakfasts, sandwiches, pizzas. Enjoy breakfast at our new counter. Seats 12. Breakfast special: ham or bacon, 2 eggs, toast or muffin, coffee – $2.95.

Gorham residents who enjoyed the town’s 250th anniversary festivities last May will soon be able to purchase a commemorative book on the celebration. “Gorham’s 250th Anniversary Remembered” is a 156-page paperbound book with more than 200 photographs. It will be published in early December by the Gorham 250th Celebration Committee. The book, to cost $7, will feature many articles on various anniversary events. It will be available at the Gorham Municipal Center, the Baxter Library and Shop ‘n Save.

Nov. 12, 1997

Voters dumped four of the seven City Councilors in last week’s election, with only Ward 1’s independent, John O’Hara, surviving to be seated in the new council Jan. 5. Losing were Council President Elmer Welch, at-large Democrat; Ward 2 Alderman Ann Peoples, Democrat; Keith Gorman, at-large Democrat in Ward 3; Alexander Juniewicz, Ward 5 alderman, the council’s only Republican and chairman of the Finance Committee. The outcome delighted Don Richards, Ward 3 Democrat. Those defeated all were in the majority when the council took the unprecedented action of ousting him in favor of Welch as council president in mid-term. New aldermen-at-large are Martha Day, Republican, and Jennifer Connolly, Democrat. James Garland is new Ward 2 alderman. Steven Willette, an independent, took Ward 3. Don Esty, Democrat, defeated Paul LeConte, independent, for mayor; and Barbara Hawkes, Republican city clerk, won re-election over Kathy Ummah, Democrat. The high school vocational center bond won 2-1 approval.

Gorham Town Councilor Calvin Hamblen received a gift of his gavel from Gorham Town Council Chairman Norman Justice at Monday’s meeting. Hamblen, a former chairman who served four terms, has stepped down. Justice was elected by unanimous vote of his council colleagues to serve his second year as chairman. William Wise was elected to serve as vice chairman.

A Christmas Fair at Duck Pond will be held Nov. 15 at the Highland Lake Congregational Church, 1303 Bridgton Road, Westbrook. Baked food, crafts, greens, knit goods, attic treasures and a tea table will be featured.

Gorham High School’s Drama Club will perform William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” Nov. 14-16, in the high school auditorium. Seniors Quinton Johnson and Kelly Caulfield start as Kate and Petruchio. Derek Pierce is director.

Advertisement: A Pinette & Son, fuel oil, 33 Seavey St., Westbrook. 89.9 cents/gallon. Net 30 days cash price for credit-qualified customers.

To show more cars to Main Street traffic, Lee Motors bought the house and land next to its dealerships at 200 Main St., Westbrook, and gave the house to Habitat for Humanity, which moved it to 540 River Road in Windham last week. The house will be sold on an interest-free mortgage to owners chosen by Habitat’s Family Selection Committee. The house, sliced horizontally, went down Main Street in two pieces, one piece Tuesday and one piece Wednesday.

Westbrook High School students are holding a citywide bottle drive Saturday to raise money for the athletic fields restoration project.

Rocheleau’s Clothing Store, shown here in 1914, opened in the early 1900s at 861 Main St, when Westbrook was a thriving community of local businesses. Rocheleau’s survived the hard times of the Great Depression and survived a devastating fire in 1942 that destroyed the upper floors of the building in which it was located. The urban renewal project – with its torn-up streets, elimination of on-street parking in much of the downtown area and its storefront sign limitations – ushered in the demise of many local businesses. Rocheleau’s was the last of these retailers in downtown Westbrook.  Bill Rocheleau, grandson of the stores founder, closed the store in November 1981. Saccarappa Art Collective is now located at the site.