Minimal damage from four-alarm Sappi blaze

A four-alarm fire at Sappi Fine Paper on Friday, July 25, caused minimal damage, according to Westbrook Fire Department Deputy Chief Andrew Turcotte.

The blaze was caused by sparks coming from a dump elevator in a building that houses wood chips, said Turcotte. He said the fire was problematic due to heavy smoke, wind, and high temperatures.

“It was a small fire overall, but went to a fourth alarm, because it took a lot of manpower to get in there,” he said.

Seven agencies responded to the fire, and three firefighters sustained minor injuries during the response. Turcotte said Sappi’s sprinkler and alarm systems were beneficial to halting the blaze.

Westbrook website wins award

Westbrook’s municipal website has been recognized for creativity in two international competitions. The city won an outstanding achievement award and a platinum award in this year’s Hermes Creative Awards competition, sponsored by Vision Internet in Santa Monica, Calif.

In addition, Westbrook won a silver star in the Creativity International Awards.

“Our goal was to make our city website visually appealing, flexible, interactive and informative,” Bill Baker, Westbrook’s assistant city administrator of business and community relations, said in a statement.

Seniors plan trips

Westbrook Senior Citizens has bookings available for two trips. The group travels to Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire on Thursday, Aug. 28, for a cruise, lunch and to visit Castle in the Clouds.

The group goes to New Orleans from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1 for a tour of the city and a Caribbean cruise. For more information, call 854-2705 or 883-5046.

Now is Now in park concert

The series of free summer concerts continues from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, with Now is Now.

Proceeds from a barbecue from 5-7 p.m. benefits American Legion Post 62.

Messer adds company

Westbrook-based Messer Truck Equipment recently acquired HSE Gould, LLC, a longtime petroleum equipment distributor.

HSE Gould traces its roots to 1928, when Ralph Gould founded Gould Equipment Company in South Portland. This is Messer Truck Equipment’s first acquisition and will grow the company’s workforce to 27 employees.

“The acquisition was a natural fit,” Jeffrey Messer, president of Messer Truck Equipment, said in a statement. “We were serving the majority of Gould’s customer base with service bodies, van interiors, cranes, and liftgates. Now we can offer a complete package, supplying and servicing their delivery trucks too.”

Celebrating its 115th year, Messer Truck Equipment represents more than 40 major truck equipment product lines and has a customer base of more than 1,000 accounts throughout Maine and New Hampshire.

“With more than a hundred years of experience behind us, Messer Truck Equipment is well positioned to continue to provide our customers with quality products and excellent service for many years to come,” Messer said.

Infinity Federal Credit Union recently donated $500 to My Place Teen Center in Westbrook. Pictured are Adam Carrier of the credit union presenting the check to Donna Dwyer, executive director of My Place Teen Center.