Three cheers and a jeer:

• Cheers to the Citizens Commission on Lewiston-Auburn Cooperation for continuing its important work, despite the fact that Auburn turned its back on the group and Lewiston did nothing to resurrect the commission’s efforts. Commission members carried on, meeting Thursday to approve their final report, trustfully fulfilling their mission to identify savings through consolidation efforts between the Twin Cities. 

There are consolidation foes on councils in both cities, despite the widespread support in the streets for the concept that the Twin Cities can be more efficient and effective if they combine some services. It’s a concept that’s been talked about since the cities first sprang up along the Androscoggin, and increasingly supported by citizens for the past decade. It’s a concept that can absolutely be realized without erasing the individuality of the cities, or jeopardizing their respective character.

The now-disbanded citizens group identified some $2.7 million in possible savings to taxpayers if the cities could put aside their political differences and work together. That’s the local cost of political posturing: $2.7 millon.  

Jeers to councilors in Auburn and Lewiston for leaving that money on the table, ignoring constituents’ real pleas to save money. 

• Cheers to Michael Bussiere, appointed chief of the Lewiston Police Department Friday. A graduate of St. Dom’s, Bussiere knows this city. He knows its people, and he knows its problems.

His appointment maintains continuity within a department that Bussiere has called “the best in the state,” and recognizes an employee whose career has been devoted to this city.

A graduate of the University of Southern Maine, New England Institute of Law Enforcement and the FBI National Academy, Bussiere started working at the Lewiston department in 1990, spending some of his career assigned to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and working as a detective before being promoted to deputy chief in 2002.

His co-workers see him as a cop’s cop — tough, honest and dedicated to the job — and citizens know him to be a man of integrity. That’s a tremendous combination to bring to the city’s top cop job. Congratulations.

• Cheers to the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, which teed off its 10th annual Scholarship Scramble at Martindale Country Club Wednesday, raising a record amount of money to benefit local students through scholarship. The golf tournament, played on a spectacularly welcome summer day, was held in partnership with the Central Maine Community College Foundation, and funds scholarships for students at CMCC and high schools throughout Androscoggin County.

As a result of Wednesday’s effort, better than $42,000 will be available to help local students fund their education.

In this economy, where people are pinching pennies and foregoing extras, it’s inspiring to see local businesses and individuals contribute so handsomely to benefit local students. The resulting benefit to businesses as these students embark on their careers, of course, is a better educated work force.

The wedge-wielders of Harriman Associates and Camden National may have been crowned scramble champs for gross and net scores, respectively, but the real winners here are students.

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