A veterans group runs out of places downtown to put a fund-raising carnival.
LEWISTON – A carnival sponsored by a local veterans group wound up on two sides of Main Street because there was no other place downtown to put it.
“Some of the more traditional places didn’t work because of construction projects at the time of year,” City Administrator Jim Bennett said. “That corner was available right now.”
The carnival is being sponsored by the Lewiston-Auburn Veterans Council to raise money for a memorial in Veterans Park. Bert Dutil, president of that group, said the carnival traditionally sets up in Great Falls Plaza in Auburn, across the river. The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel construction and new parking lot across from the Auburn Esplanade crowded the carnival out.
“We need to get $40,000 to build the memorial we want,” Dutil said. “We know we won’t get it from the carnival this week, but we hope we’ll get a good start.”
Bennett said the city tried to put the carnival at other places along Lincoln Street.
“But we didn’t want to ruin the sod in Railroad Park by putting it there, and most of the lots that are big enough to hold it are being used for parking during the week,” he said. “We didn’t have many other choices.”
Crews tore down the building on the lot last month. The city took the property by eminent domain last year and helped relocate the businesses that called the corner home. Frank Morgan, owner of Captain Morgan’s Fine Line Tattooz said Friday he’s relocated to 805 Main St. The Lewiston House of Pizza is scheduled to move to a new building on Lincoln Street.
The city plans to build a park on the lot. City Purchasing Director Norm Beauparlant said he expects to begin taking bids on the park construction toward the end of May.
Construction could begin mid-June and wrap up two months later.
Dutil said the carnival is scheduled to open at 10 a.m. Saturday and should continue for the rest of the week. Police will be posted at Main Street, occasionally stopping traffic to let carnival-goers get across.
staylor@sunjournal.com
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