WESTBROOK – Teenage drug and alcohol abuse is a plague in Westbrook – a community problem that needs a community solution, participants in a public forum concluded Monday. “This is an epidemic,” said Bruce Dyer, moderator of a panel convened to lead the forum and a Westbrook High School substance abuse counselor for a decade. […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster, Web
Spending votes take center stage in Westbrook May 7
WESTBROOK – While the initial vote on the combined city and school budget will take center stage at the Westbrook City Council meeting on May 7, another important vote will impact the final budget figures. At the meeting, to be held at 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School, the council will take […]
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Posted inAmerican Journal, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
Time to act
The time has come for us older Americans to engage in the battle to save our wonderful country. Those of us over the age of 60, who were greatly blessed to be born as children of the “Greatest Generation,” have an obligation to restore this nation to the high moral and ethical standards our forebears […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Lakes Region Weekly, Southern Forecaster, Web
Final chapter for South Windham Library
GORHAM – The South Windham Public Library, located on the Gorham side of the Presumpscot River since 1934, is set to close its doors in August due to lack of patrons. The one-room library, which doesn’t have a bathroom or telephone but which is stocked to the brim with books, opened in the 1930s in […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster, Web
Psyching out an arsonist
GORHAM – State and local investigators continue to probe a series of six fires that have put Gorham residents on edge. The fires include five the State Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled as arson and another as suspicious. And according to a university psychologist and professor, it’s difficult to predict what an arsonist would do […]
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I’ll be back, vows Gorham pizza shop owner
GORHAM – The owner of Gorham House of Pizza believes he can reopen the popular restaurant within four months, following a fire last week that heavily damaged the building in Gorham Village. Investigators have ruled the fire accidental and say it is not connected to the recent string of arsons in Gorham. An outpouring of […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Current, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
EDITORIAL – Officials must accommodate public comment
At an April 2 meeting of the Westbrook City Council, James Tranchemontagne, a resident and local business owner, rose to speak during the public comment period. Reading from prepared remarks, Tranchemontagne, a member of a group known as Westbrook Taxpayers United, said irresponsible spending and a misguided attitude toward economic development are hurting the city, […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
ON THE RIGHT LANE – Between death and taxes
It’s budget season again in Windham and other municipalities along with the state and county budgets as well. As far as Windham goes, both the proposed school and municipal budgets call for an increase in taxes and I seriously doubt the school committee or town council will do any serious cuts to those proposed budgets. […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Lakes Region Weekly, Web
Standish Corner zoning a central issue
As I listened to the public comments expressed at the April 10 Standish Town Council meeting regarding the proposed ordinance change to allow retail drive-thrus in the Standish Corner District, two themes seemed to dominate the discussion: 1. Mr. Richard Higgins was a very well-liked and respected man in this community. Several people came out […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Southern Forecaster, Web
Means loses seat on Gorham economic panel
GORHAM – The former vice chairman of the Gorham Economic Development Corp. board is trying to find out why he wasn’t reappointed by the Town Council. “I’ve never been fired in my life,” said James Means, “and now I’ve been fired from a volunteer job.” The council action last week came after Means, 62, spoke […]