Thumbs up to the success so far at the Pepperell Mill Campus, which is welcoming several new tenants in building 13, across from the Happy Dragon Chinese restaurant. It’s an exciting time for downtown Biddeford, with plans for a 150-seat restaurant, mortgage processing center, expansion of Hyperlite Mountain Gear, and new businesses such as Banded Horn Brewing, Impact Fitness and Maine Pie Company getting under way.
As the mills fill up with enterprise, however, it’s becoming more and more clear that a parking plan needs to be implemented. The mill will be taking over some private lots that have long been open for public use: the parking lot at the intersection of Main and Alfred streets, across from the Happy Dragon, and the one on York and Laconia streets, will soon be closed off to the public. Construction of a parking garage, as well as implementing the other proposals in the mill district parking plan, is clearly the way forward. Now that the development is coming to pass, perhaps voters will understand the bigger picture and lend their support to implementation of the parking plan to help support downtown growth.
Thumbs down to the closure of Flotation Technologies and layoff of the company’s 40 employees during this holiday season. According to a petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance for its workers, the company states that it cannot compete with its European competitors’ pricing. Flotation Technologies was founded in 1979 and had added an expansion in 2010. It’s a shame to see this local success story come to such an unfortunate end. We’re glad to hear, however, that the TAA funding has been approved for these employees, who will now receive additional assistance to pursue education and training for a new career, through the Maine Department of Labor.
Thumbs up to all the organizers, volunteers and donors to the Toys for Tots program, Santa Bil’s workshop, Joyful Harvest kid’s shopping event and other charity gift programs this Christmas season that helped children in low-income households enjoy a bright Christmas and learn the joys of both giving and receiving. Without the support of all involved, many children would go without on Christmas morning and lose out on that magical experience of finding a gift from Santa ”“ a tradition that is held dear in American culture.
Thumbs up to the appointment of The Most Rev. Robert P. Deeley as the 12th bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. Deeley, who is set to be installed Feb. 14, will replace Bishop Richard Malone, who has been serving as the state’s apostolic administrator since he vacated the bishop’s seat in Maine for a position in Buffalo, N.Y. in May of 2012. Deeley has served as auxiliary bishop of Boston since Jan. 4, and as vicar general and moderator of the curia of the Archdiocese of Boston since Sept. 1, 2011. Maine has a significant Catholic community that deserves local, dedicated leadership, particularly in this time of new vision in Rome with Pope Francis, who is giving Catholics a renewed sense of focusing on mercy and outreach. Deeley comes with high praise to take on that role and we’re glad to see that he is also coming from nearby.
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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.
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