Aug. 9, 1989

Kenneth M. Lefebvre resigned his Ward 4 seat on the Westbrook City Council Friday and began work Monday morning as interim administrative assistant to Mayor Philip Spiller. He said he definitely intends to seek the Democratic nomination and run for a new full two-year term in the Ward 4 seat in the November elections, He won the seat unopposed in 1985 and 1987. The City Council voted Monday to set Lefebvre’s pay at $750 a week. That’s at the rate of $39,000 a year, which Spiller said is less than Lefebvre was making until two weeks ago as manager of the Exit 8 Holiday Inn. Marti Blair, who resigned the administrative assistant job effective Friday, was making $44,400. Both Lefebvre and Spiller said he is not a candidate for permanent appointment as administrative assistant.

Westbrook aldermen gave final approval Monday for borrowing $6.5 million for alterations and additions at Westbrook High School, but not until they were assured that if the work costs less, less will be spent. Alderman Alexander Juniewicz said interest rates are coming down and he understood that bidding was very competitive for the job.

As the muggy air of summer presses down, a few ambitious souls whose taste buds long for last year’s treat head for the bush – the blueberry bush. As famous as any are the high-bush blueberry bushes that sprout beneath the pole line at the Gorham-Scarborough-Westbrook line. Cars line the road as their occupants pile out and wade chest deep into the high bus to pluck from the berries that will soon be ingredients in muffins, pancakes and pies. Last Sunday morning, Jeanette Plowman of Gorham stole a few minutes away from the house and kids to gather a couple quarts.

Fall sports physicals for Westbook High School will be given by the school doctor Aug. 14 for students who cannot schedule one with their family doctor. Most practices for the various teams start next week.

Don Andersen of Westbrook’s Stop ’N Talk variety says that business is off because more people are brown-bagging it. “I used to get people ordering a sandwich every day. Now they order once or twice a week,” he said. Andersen says salesmen tell him things are off everywhere. Felgar Nicely of Nicely’s Market in Gorham agrees. “The construction workers are working 40 hours; last year it was 60 and 70 hours. Make less, spend less.”

Aug. 11, 1999

Westbrook has chosen a new school business manager and it’s someone who is very familiar with the new superintendent. Scott B. Vaitones has worked as SAD 52 business manager under Superintendent Stan Sawyer for the past 13 years. Sawyer was chosen earlier this summer to succeed Robert Hall, and now Vaitones has been chosen to succeed Frank Amoroso, the retiring business manager. Sawyer, meanwhile, and 25 other Westbrook school administrators are planning to get to know each other better with a canoe trip on the Saco River and a full day of activities at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. The schedule includes “trust-building activities,” a softball game and other team sports and a barbecue.

Citing job changes and family commitments, Susan Olson said last week that she won’t be seeking a second term on the Gorham Town Council. Nomination papers for the Nov. 2 town election are now available and are due back Sept. 18 with the signatures of at least 25 residents. Available seats are two, three-year seats on the council, those held by Olson and Michael Phinney; and three School Committee seats held by Jane Willett, Kathy Maurer and William Neily. Phinney said he has not yet decided whether he will run.

Tony Boffa will perform a free concert tonight from 6-8 p.m. in Westbrook’s Riverbank Park. The AJ Doane Swing Band will perform Aug. 18.

The Gorham Town Council voted 7- Aug. 3 to kill an informal proposal to ban adult bookstores in Gorham Village and Little Falls. It was suggested by former Council Allene Bowler, who said that a ban “would be like preventative medicine before a cancer arrives.” Councilor Burleigh Loveitt said he thinks the town’s site review plan for businesses that want to establish themselves in Gorham “should offer enough scrutiny to protect the people.”

Westbrook’s Prides Corner Garden Club celebrated all members’ birthdays July 21 at the annual picnic at the home of Philip and Trudy Hartford, 764 Cumberland St. It was a perfect summer day. Members brought covered dishes and shared birthday cake. Some went swimming in the Hartfords’ pool, and some played croquet.

The Gorham Family Fair ’99 is Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Narragansett School. Events include a road race, parade, children’s fire muster, cow chip bingo, dunk tank and a fire department chicken barbecue dinner. Entertainment throughout the day will be provided by Julie & Brownie, Village School Chorus, Fan Fare Band, Country Line Dancers, Cattle Call Country, Royal River Chorus, Cole Brothers Band and Dented Fender Band. Fireworks end the festivities at 9 p.m

---

50 YEARS AGO

The Westbrook American reported on Aug. 5, 1964, that Alfred Wood, son of Mrs. Donald Ingalls of Gorham, was traveling in Europe and visited Stig Ammentorp in Denmark. Wood and Ammentorp, who had been a foreign exchange student at Gorham High School, were classmates and graduated in 1963.

Mr. and Mrs. Buster Libby of West Buxton were entertaining their grandson from Portland.

These buildings once stood on Main Street just west of Bridge Street.  The building on the right was 881 Main St., with George’s Barber Shop (George Belanger) and The Smoke Shop (Mabel Shapiro) on the first floor, Margaret Shane operated a rooming house on the upper floors. The large building in the center was the L.W. Knight & Son Hardware Store, operated by Leland W. Knight and his son Robert. The next building at 885 Main Street was Pete’s Diner, which was owned and operated by Pierre Z. Gaudreau. The Smoke Shop later became Kit’s Smoke Shop (Kit Nadeau) and the diner became Len’s Diner (Lenny Jacques). During urban renewal, 881 Main St. was demolished, Knight’s Hardware building was dismantled and moved to Scarborough and the diner was moved to Windham. A parking lot now occupies the space where these buildings once stood. To see more historical photos and artifacts, visit the Westbrook Historical Society at the Fred C. Wescott Building, 426 Bridge St. It is open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon, and the first Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m., September-June. Inquiries can be emailed to westhistorical@myfairpoint.net. The website is www.westbrookhistoricalsociety.org. 

Copy the Story Link