Andover College is coming to downtown Lewiston.

The school will make a great new neighbor and represents a major investment in the redevelopment of Lisbon Street.

With plans to open in March, the school will convert the former Good Shepherd Food Bank warehouse into classrooms and laboratories. The business college will spend $500,000 to renovate the property and plans to offer its entire curriculum, which includes programs in business administration, criminal justice and medical assistance.

But even more important than the cash investment is the faith the leaders of Andover have placed in the city. The school has signed a 10-year lease and expects to enroll as many as 500 students at the Lewiston campus. That commitment will bring new life to downtown, drawing students and faculty into the heart of the city. The college also will bring new business into the shops, restaurants and other businesses located along the Lisbon Street corridor.

Andover fills an important gap in the social fabric of the community. The school replaces Mid-State College, which closed during the summer. More than just that, it brings a center of learning – a college campus – downtown. With it comes new energy, new life and new people.

The college joins other recent recruits to the gateway area of the city. Northeast Bank and Oxford Networks are also moving in.

“No community in Maine is changing faster than this one in terms of perception and true economic development,” City Administrator Jim Bennett told those gathered Monday at the announcement of Andover’s plans.

He’s right. There’s still work to be done, but this is exciting.


Called up
More Mainers are headed to the war zone.

Members of the 152nd Field Artillery unit of the Maine Army National Guard will be deployed in January. The destination is Iraq.

The Aroostook-based unit, which also has elements in Calais and Waterville, joins about 800 other members of the guard from Maine who are currently in the war zone or are waiting to be deployed.

All in all, according to the Associated Press, this is the largest mobilization of Maine’s National Guard since World War II. We find that statistic unfortunate and frightening.

For the families of these men and women, the holidays will be difficult. We wish all the soldiers, Marines, air crews and sailors serving in Afghanistan and Iraq could come home. But until that happens, we will not forget the men and women who are serving in faraway and dangerous places.
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