Trinity celebrates with workday

Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook joined thousands of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in America (ELCA) in a workday on Sept 8 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the formation of the group.

Using the theme “God’s Work, Our Hands,” members of Trinity and staff and teens from the My Place Teen Center and the Westbrook Food Pantry joined together to spruce up the two community organizations.

At the teen center, the kitchen, dining area, bathroom and other downstairs rooms were thoroughly cleaned. Another bathroom was painted, and a shed was built. At the Food Pantry, all the rooms and kitchen were cleaned from top to bottom.

“There were 47 people who lent their helping hands and had a great time doing God’s work,” said Brenda Orach of Trinity.

Bicentennial is historical society topic

The Westbrook Historical Society’s program at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Westbrook Community Center, 426 Bridge St., will be about Westbrook’s bicentennial celebration.

A video produced by Westbrook’s Ted Lampron shows historical events, both worldwide and local, that have gone into the city’s 200-year history. Lampron, who now lives in South Carolina, remembers with affection his years spent growing up in Westbrook.

The meeting is free, and the public is invited.

Woman’s club to meet

Westbrook Woman’s Club will meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main St. Susan Gay of Hannaford will speak about nutrition and the guiding stars program. Light refreshments will be served.

Data General reunion

Data General’s disk-drive manufacturing facility in Westbrook is having a reunion beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Stockhouse Restaurant in Westbrook. The reunion is a come-as-you-are event and will continue until closing time. Beverages and dinner may be ordered from the menu.

Data General in Westbrook employed 1,200-1,500 people and operated from approximately 1975 through 1990 at the current location of Idexx.

Those planning to attend are asked to email DGWestbrook@gmail.com. For more information, visit the Data General alumni organization’s Facebook page, available by searching, via Google, “Google DG Westbrook Alumni.”

Workshop set for family history blogging

Craig Siulinski, a Westbrook native, will hold a free workshop on Saturday, Oct. 5, to guide people through starting their own blogs to share family history.

The workshop is open to the public and starts at 12:30 p.m. in the Westbrook Historical Society, in the Fred C. Wescott Community Center at 426 Bridge St.

Siulinski, who works as an instructional coach, has been interested in genealogy since 2007. Two years later he started his first blog – August Legacy. He recently found three “long-lost” second cousins after taking a research trip to New York in an effort to find the Polish ancestral town of an immigrant ancestor.

During the program, Siulinski will offer advice and tricks to help write a family history using the internet. One attendee will win a free consultation from Siulinski.

Fund-A-Kid Gala

Tickets are available for the My Place Teen Center’s Fund-A-Kid Gala to be held from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct.8, at the Masonic Temple, 415 Congress St., Portland.

Along with silent-auction items, the gala will have food from Blue Elephant Catering and music by Uke’n’Smile. Maine humorist Tim Sample will also be on hand to kick off the evening’s festivities and entertain everyone.

Unum COO Kevin McCarthy will accept MPTC’s Corporate Partner award on Unum’s behalf. Award winners for this year’s Community Partner and Volunteer of the Year will also be announced.

Tickets are $50 with a $3.74 fee. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.myplaceteencenter.org or call 854-2800.

Brit seeks lost pen pal

The Westbrook Historical Society recently received a request from Richard Budgen of Oxford, England, who is trying to locate a pen pal named Sandra Brown.

“In my teens – I’m now 63 – I had a pen-pal called Sandy Brown who lived at 22 Brown St. We lost touch, and I’d love to know how she is and what she’s doing,” Budgen wrote.

If anyone knows of Sandra Brown, Westbrook High School class 1965, contact the historical society at: info@westbrookhistoricalsociety.org.

Trinity Lutheran Church workers gather for community service.Craig Siulinski