Dana and Cheryle Trufant decorate a tree Monday for the Westbrook Festival of Trees celebration that opens Saturday. Robert Lowell / American Journal

Festival of Trees set to open

Decorating began Monday for the annual Festival of Trees that will be held over the next two weekends.

The doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main St., for tree viewing until 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. The opening day also includes breakfast with Santa from 8:30-11 a.m., along with free photos with Santa. From 5-6 p.m., a pork dinner will be served $10 for adults and and $5 for children.

The festival will be open from 1-7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, featuring a bean supper for $10 each; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 11.

Caroling, a $10 mystery gift tree, cookie decorating and a model train display will be featured each day.

Missing this year, for the third year in a row, is the popular Tips for Charity Luncheon fundraiser, which was canceled because of COVID-19 safety concerns, according to Roberta Morrill. The entire festival was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic, and a partial festival was held last year.

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As of last week, civic, community, business and church groups had registered 39 trees for the festival, down from the usual 50 at festivals pre-pandemic, Morrill said.

For a complete schedule of festival activities, visit Westbrook Festival of Trees on Facebook.

Santa, tree lighting

The city’s tree lighting coupled with the arrival of Santa will happen at 4:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Riverbank Park.

WPD promotes Grasser

The Westbrook Police Department recently promoted Officer Brian Grasser to sergeant.

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Grasser has been a Westbrook officer since 2012, and prior to that he was an intern with the department while attending Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

He has served as a field training officer. “In that role, he has had a huge part in shaping our department and ensuring our new officers provide quality service to the community,” the police department said on its Facebook page.

Grasser also is a body camera and dash camera administrator for the department.

Grasser will be assigned to the midnight shift.

Friday’s food truck

The Steemie Weenie will be at Westbrook Community Center on Friday, Dec. 2.

50 years ago

The American Journal reported on Nov. 29, 1972, that the Westbrook Jaycees was selling Christmas wreaths for $2.50 each. Nelson Graham was handling the sales.

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