Nov. 1, 1989
The first heroin arrest in Westbrook since the 1960s took place Wednesday night. Portland and Westbrook police arrested a 34-year-old woman at her Brackett Street apartment, where police say people were dealing and shooting up the highly addictive drug. Detectives seized 42 small bags of heroin, which they say is $2,500 worth, some Valium tablets and 12 hypodermic needles. Police say each bag of heroin represents on dose of the drug, with a street value of $60. A woman in the apartment who said she went along on a trip to Spanish Harlem to buy the drugs said the price they paid there was $10 a bag.
The $5 million, three-story Springbrook nursing home on Spring Street won Planning Board approval during a meeting last week that packed the room. The home originally was going to be on a 15-acre site. After the City Council changed the zoning ordinance to permit nursing homes in an RFC district served by a public sewer, the developers said they would use only part of the 15 acres for the nursing home. The Planning Board approved this arrangement, leaving 9.2 acres to be put to some other future use. The board also called on the city to increase enforcement of speed limits on Spring Street, and called for a longer 25-mph zone south of the nursing home. Michael Prior, the developer, said groundbreaking would come in late December or January.
Three hundred underground oil storage tanks in Friendly Village Mobile Home Park, Gorham, are buried above a major aquifer. Some of these tanks are 15 years old, making them susceptible to leakage. The Department of Environmental Protection has ordered their removal. The question being raised by the mobile home park’s residents is: Who is responsible for that removal? The DEP had required the tanks’ removal by Oct. 1, but that deadline has not been met because of confusion over the issue by park owners and homeowners alike.
An open house invitation has been issued by the North Gorham United Church of Christ to those friends wishing to attend the reception in celebration of the recent marriage of the Rev. Alex Cairns, pastor of the church, and Dr. Anne Lemire. The event is set for Wednesday, Nov. 8.
The Prides Corner Congregational Church, 235 Pride St., Westbrook, will hold its annual Corner Country Fair from 6:30-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. The usual baked bean and ham supper will be served at 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday. Also, homemade muffins, fish and corner chowder, pea soup and pies will be available. Fair items include candy, county store, plants, crafts, knitted items, white elephant, clothing, woodworking and more.
Nov. 3, 1999
Ever since Michael Coffin was about 4 years old, he knew he wanted to be a police officer. And by the sixth grade, he knew he wanted to study law enforcement at Southern Maine Technical College. His dad, Lt. Wayne Coffin, now second in command at the Gorham Police Department, was his role model. Now, Michael Coffin is getting that chance as one of Gorham’s two newest patrolmen.
The Gorham Planning Board voted 5-0 Monday to approve a lateral gas pipeline of 1.9 miles that would supply Calpine Corp.’s new natural gas power plant currently under construction off Saco Street in Westbrook. American National Power Co.’s plans to build a similar plant off Route 25 in Gorham lag far behind the Calpine project, but are still on track, said the company. The lateral line will be owned and operated, along with a new multi-million dollar metering station, by CMP Natural Gas. The metering station will be located off New Portland Road in Gorham, along with 1.05 miles of the full 1.9-mile lateral line. The line already had the approval of the Westbrook Planning Board and the federal Army Corps of Engineers.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins recently praised Westbrook resident Napoleon “Nappy” LaCance in a speech on the floor of the Senate. LaChance, 95, earned gold medals in the fast walk, bowling and golfing competitions of the Maine Senior Olympics this fall. “Mr. LaChance has achieved success in his career as well as in athletic competition,” Collins said. “In 1917 Mr. LaChance began working at the Vallee Pharmacy as a floor sweeper and errand boy. Through hard work and dedication, he became a registered pharmacist and managed the pharmacy until his retirement. Mr. LaChance’s accomplishments are an inspiration to everyone who aspires to greatness.”
Gorham’s skateboarders and roller skaters want a skate park. They are presenting a petition signed by 131 youngsters, parents and other adults when the Town Council meets Nov. 9. “I wholeheartedly support their efforts,” said Cindy Hazelton, Gorham recreation director. “I think it’s long overdue.” She thinks there are several sites available in Gorham, but she hopes it would be in a “centralized, safe place.” Youngsters tell her they want the park because skateboarding is fun, and they want “to show people we can do something well.”
Gov. Angus King will visit Westbrook’s Canal Elementary School Nov. 4 to promote a new program that offers every fifth-grader in the state the opportunity to ski 45 days this winter for free at any Maine ski slope. Westbrook School Superintendent Stan Sawyer said that King chose to visit only two schools, one in northern Maine and one in southern Maine, to promote the program.
On Oct. 18, 1996, a hurricane stalled off the coast brought heavy rains to portions of southern Maine. Westbrook was in the path of this storm and received more than 18 inches of rain. The Presumpscot River overflowed its banks, causing severe damage throughout the city. Bridges on Spring Street and Saco Street were washed away, The Highland Lake Dam collapsed, and S.D. Warren (Sappi Fine Paper) sustained millions of dollars in damages. Homes and businesses in the area of the river also sustained serious damage. This photo shows Bridgton Road at East Bridge Street on the morning of Oct. 22, 1996, with the intersection under water. The first floor of the building occupied by Dunkin’ Donuts was under water, as was the T & T Golf Course and adjacent office building across the street. The one-story pro shop at the golf course was washed away. 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. Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story