Coast Guard rescues sailors

Three passengers on a Bayliner were rescued around Cape Porpoise by the U.S. Coast Guard Sunday afternoon, after the boat began to take on water.

South Portland Coast Guard received a call about 1:30 p.m. from a passenger who said the 26-foot boat was taking on water. The Coast Guard’s 25-foot rescue boat pumped water from the boat and eventually towed it to a marina in the Saco River.

All three passengers were safe and no injuries were reported.

Chappells donate trees

Tom and Kate Chappell, former owners of Tom’s of Maine, have donated $25,000 to Kennebunk’s downtown enhancement project.

“We’re very proud to be a part of this community,” Kate Chappell said.

Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said the donations were used to purchase new trees for the downtown area, including 18- to 20-foot red sunset maples, 4-inch flowering pear trees and winter king horn bean trees.

Four pear trees were planted last week and the maple trees will be planted this week.

Cast iron tree guards and a special soil mix also were purchased with the donation to protect the trees and help them grow. Selectman Chairman Wayne Berry said some trees removed as part of the enhancement project had root bulbs only two inches big.

“It’ll be much better this time around,” Berry said.

Excavation uncovers tank

Department of Environmental Protection officials were called to Kennebunk last week when workers on the downtown revitalization project found a buried gasoline tank in front of Perfecto’s Caffé.

Construction workers were digging out a portion of Main Street and the adjoining sidewalk in front of the café when they hit a metal object, said Town Manager Barry Tibbetts.

Work was stopped on the project until DEP representatives could look at the site. The 500-gallon tank was unearthed and 433 gallons of gas and water were pumped out. The ground was tested for contamination and the site passed a DEP inspection.

“Tags on the tank date it to the early 1940s,” Tibbetts said.

Tibbetts said the site housed a hardware store in the 1940s that sold gas in front of the building. He said the tank may have been paved over when Main Street was widened around the 1940s or 1950s.

The DEP generally requires 30-days to evaluate asite, but Tibbetts requested an exception because of the ongoing revitalization project.

The town will be responsible for the tank removal because it was found in the town’s right of way. Tibbetts estimated cleanup and repairs will cost $5,000 to $7,000 and he is looking for grants to cover the cost.

When asked if the town had found any money while digging, Tibbetts responded, “Not one penny.”

– Complied by Suzanne Hodgson