New hours for Walker library

Westbrook’s Walker Memorial Library has announced new expanded hours for the new year, including the addition of Saturday hours.

The Walker Library Board of Trustees approved a new schedule for the library starting on Jan. 5. The library will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. This will replace the old five day schedule throughout the year.

Interim director Bill Alexander said this week that everyone is excited about the addition of Saturday hours. “Our new motto will be ‘New Year, New Hours,'” he said.

Ice cream shop to move

Catbird Creamery, downtown Westbrook’s well-known ice cream shop, is moving to a new home. The business’s last day at its current location at 846 Main St., will be Sunday, Jan. 11.

In a recent post on the company’s Facebook page, owner Corey DiGirolamo said, “We have been very busy planning and discovering our new home and we think we found one!” She told the American Journal she would not reveal the new location until the plans were final.

Catbird is also still in the midst of a crowd-funding campaign to help with the move. The address is www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-the-bird-catbird-creamery-needs-a-new-home.

New ‘Maine’ album for Hawkes

Legendary Westbrook, Maine bluegrass and country musician Al Hawkes has released a new CD entitled “I Love the State of Maine.”

According to a press release, the album is a tribute to the state of Maine and contains a collection of 17 songs written “about places and features that are distinctive to Maine.”

CDs are priced at $15 and all of the proceeds go to the Maine Parkinson Society.

Hawkes has been recording music for more tha five decades, and has received over 30 regional and national awards in country and bluegrass music. The International Bluegrass Music Museum in Kentucky has recognized Hawkes as one of the “First Generation Bluegrass Pioneers.” The CD will be available at all Bull Moose locations and can also be ordered by visiting www.alhawkes.com.

Church hosts weekly meal for now

Hazel Maloney of Trinity Lutheran Church has announced that the free Wednesday community meal sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church and Wayside Food Services will be held at Trinity Church, 612 Main St., during January.

The meal has shifted to the church pending completion of repairs at My Place Teen Center on Main Street.

The hot meal in January will be served from 5-6 p.m. every Wednesday in the church’s fellowship hall. Handicapped accessibility is available. “The meal is open to everyone and all are welcome,” Maloney said in an email.

For more information, call the church at 854-5653 or visit the church web site at www.trinitywestbrook.com.

Meeting at Blue Spruce Farm

Meeting set on Blue Spruce Farm Risbara Properties is conducting a second public meeting to discuss Blue Spruce Farm, a 180-unit subdivision on the site of the former Clarke Farm, at 333 Spring St. in Westbrook. The meeting is being held in Room 111 at Husson University’s Southern Maine campus located at 340 County Road in Westbrook, on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. Representatives from Risbara will present the proposed Blue Spruce Farm subdivision plans, and will seek further public comment and neighborhood feedback. The proposed subdivision will include a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, market-rate apartments and condominiums.

Four generations of Westbrook’s LeConte family are represented in this recent photo. Pictured, from left, are former City Councilor Paul E. LeConte, 80; Michael Paul LeConte, 61, son of Paul and the late Dianne (King) LeConte; and Christopher Benjamin LeConte, 33, son of Michael and Beverly (Linehan) LeConte, holding the youngest. John Benjamin LeConte, 6 months, is the son of Christoper and Ashely (Cahill) LeConte. Courtesy photoNewly hired Westbrook police officer Jaci Lorenzen, right, stands with Westbrook Police Chief Janine Roberts just a few days after she began at the department. Roberts said Lorenzen injured her hand during her second day on the job while chasing two juveniles, who were later charged with criminal trespassing and criminal mischief in the vicinity of the former Prides Corner Elementary School. Courtesy photo