Thumbs up to Kenny Blow of Blow Brothers and to Ocean Properties for donating $5,000 each to help clean up the site of a burned down house in Saco. These two came together to remove a blight and help out a family in need, all in one action, and there is no higher form of community support. The home of Doris Loomer burned down in February and the insurance had lapsed, leaving the family with no recourse to rebuild their lives, much less clean up the mess. It took a community effort, with considerable outreach efforts by Rep. Don Pilon and former mayor Bill Johnson, to find enough support to remedy the problem for both the family and the city. We hope the family, including Loomer’s young granddaughter, who was living in the home at the time, will be able to find their way back to normalcy now that this obstacle has been overcome.

Thumbs up to North Parish Congregational Church in Sanford, which is celebrating 225 years since its founding. While New England is dotted with quaint old churchhouses, many are empty and few of them can boast such long-lasting congregations. It is a testament to the perseverance of the people of this area that North Parish has survived so long. The church is commemorating the anniversary with a new mural depicting the beauty of Maine scenery. The mural is meant to evoke how the church is evolving, the minister said, and we wish parishioners all the best as they continue to adapt to the changes of the coming years.

Thumbs up to the City of Biddeford for pursuing the development of a parking garage in the downtown district. As noted by Economic Development Director Daniel Stevenson, parking is limited downtown and a garage will be necessary to entice a major employer to set up shop in the area. Easier parking will be a huge boost to the downtown center, not only during the workday but also for nightlife, and is an important step in revitalizing an area that is already teeming with so much potential.

Thumbs up to the developments at Saco Island, particularly the plans of University College at Saco to expand into building 7. This expansion will create a new type of classroom space that will be more conducive to online and distance learning, as well as provide a more comfortable environment for non-traditional students. Along with the college’s expansion, Saco Island developers are finally moving forward with their plans to create housing at the former mill. Those plans were derailed when the economy took a downward turn, and have been amended to include market rate apartments instead of condos. Hopefully, all of these projects will continue to draw new tenants and make the mill a bustling hub of education, life and commerce once more.