Westbrook City Historian Mike Sanphy, standing at right, addresses a large turnout March 20 to see a quilt, not pictured, a gift to the Westbrook Historical Society. Robert Lowell / American Journal

Presumpscot Quilters last week presented a quilt the group created to Westbrook Historical Society. Pictured, from left, are Betsy Krantz, group founder Jami Bouley and Karen Eggert. Robert Lowell / American Journal

Westbrook gifted quilt

The Presumpscot Quilters on March 20 presented a historic “Time Capsule” quilt depicting 14 structures, people and special items to Westbrook Historical Society.

Jami Bouley founded the 35-member club that produced the 60-by-74-inch quilt. A large turnout, including Mayor David Morse and Assistant City Administrator Angela Holmes, attended the presentation and City Historian Mike Sanphy gave histories of the various depictions on the quilt.

The quilt will be displayed at City Hall before being entered in the Maine Quilts Show, happening July 23-26 at the Augusta Civic Center. Then club members hope it will hang locally in Walker Memorial Library and afterward will permanently be displayed by Westbrook Historical Society at the Community Center, 426 Bridge St.

One of the quilters, Karen Eggert of Westbrook, said 14 individuals worked on the quilt. “It was really fun,” Eggert said. “(Bouley) is the glue that holds us together.”

Betsy Krantz, of Westbrook, said the quilting group is just a year old and members from 13 communities produced it to give back.

School budget vote

The Westbrook School Committee is set to vote on the superintendent’s proposed $54 million budget next week.

A public hearing, and first reading vote, is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, in Room 114 in the high school. It follows a meeting of the board’s Finance Committee at 5 p.m., according to the school department website.

Superintendent Peter Lancia, school Finance Director Brian Mazjanis and Assistant Superintendent Kim O’Donnell said in a March 5 letter that the proposed budget is up $3.5 million, representing an increase of 6.95% from the current budget.

“Factors … include (increases) in salaries that were negotiated in collective bargaining agreements, a reserve for health insurance benefits, the required assessment for Maine Paid Leave, increased cost for utilities, and upgrades to technology including enhanced human resources and transportation software,” they wrote.

End of an era

This week marks the American Journal’s farewell print issue on March 27 after six decades. Former owner and editor Harry Foote bought both the old Westbrook American that began about 1950 and also the South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Journal in 1965. Foote merged the two weeklies in 1968, according to Foote’s obituary in 2012.

Foote, inducted in the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame in 2002, previously had been an editor for both the Portland Press Herald and Evening Express. He sold the American Journal in 2002 when he retired at age 86.

Post 62 dinner

Veterans are invited to attend an American Legion Post 62 dinner at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, at the post headquarters, 17 Dunn St., in Westbrook. Dinner is $10 and a guest speaker will present a program about “Working Service Dogs.”

50 years ago

The American Journal reported on March 26, 1975, that marriage intentions on file at City Hall were those of William Carroll Fullerton of Spring Street and Gail Lois Copson of Seavey Street.