With the Cellar Door closing down, Lewiston Police Chief Bill Welch has been meeting with bar owners to ensure the problems of noise and unruly patrons experienced at one club in Auburn won’t be traveling across the Androscoggin. Police and Lewiston’s City Council just aren’t willing to let that happen.

Good.

Carmine Cartonio, who owns Lewiston’s Club Adrenaline, has hired the Cellar Door’s DJ, is offering that bar’s drink specials and is hoping to attract the Cellar Door’s former clientele, but he doesn’t want the trouble the club had. He has hired a bigger staff and has been working with the police department to provide staff training on detecting fake IDs and crowd control.

Good.

Lewiston has been aggressive in the past, clamping down on disturbances at bars. Anticipating problems before they start and being proactive about law enforcement are smart moves by police and bar owners.

Lewiston and Auburn, if serious about continued vibrancy in their downtowns, need to maintain a safe but attractive social scene. Cartonio promises that’s what his patrons will experience. So, too, should patrons at Auburn’s Midnight Blues Club now that the Cellar Door, its often rowdy sister, is locked.

That’s good for both cities and for patrons eager to frequent these clubs.