The strong storms and flash flooding in the Lewiston and Auburn area July 25 caused significant water damage to the Lewiston branch of Community Credit Union at 144 Pine St., resulting in its closure until further notice.

An email sent to customers informing them of the closure states the building’s condition does not allow employees to work out of the branch until the building and offices can be cleaned up and repaired. Employees of the Lewiston branch are now working out of the Auburn and Turner branches.

The credit union said its technical infrastructure remains fully operational and that it has secured a mobile unit from Changing Seasons Credit Union, which is now on site to service its Lewiston customers at the Pine Street location.

Additions and Subtractions salon relocates in Lewiston

A hair salon with a loyal following has relocated from 19 Bartlett St. to 77 Sabattus St. Additions and Subtractions, owned by Nola Downing, was at the Bartlett Street location for 20 years. She moved to a newly renovated building that also houses Washrite Laundromat, which opened in March after extensive renovations by owner Billy Yasin.

Downing is leasing the salon as she welcomes her customers to her new place. “I have a lot of loyal clients,” she said after the recent move. She’s downsized a bit but has two chairs. Additions and Subtractions is a unisex hair salon focused on hair styling, perms and colors and Downing said she welcomes all family members to the new digs.

The salon is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. On Wednesday afternoons, Downing heads to Schooner Memory Care, where she does hair for the residents, then goes back to her shop.

Downing says she is very happy with her new location because it has better parking, a dedicated lot, and more visibility in a familiar part of town.

New Dollar General store permitted off Lisbon Street

The Lewiston Planning and Code Enforcement office has approved a permit for the construction of a new Dollar General store at 11 Dave’s Way, a newly designated street that is described as the existing entrance/driveway to what was the Promenade Mall. The entire property was previously 855 Lisbon St. and has since been subdivided, resulting in the creation of a number of new lots requiring frontage. This resulted in a private drive that needed to be named.

The building is listed as just under 11,000 square feet and the estimated cost of construction is put at $775,000. David Gendron is listed as the applicant and the owner, with D. Gendron Construction listed as the contractor.

The new Dollar General store is being built next to Advanced Auto Parts.

John F. Murphy Homes constructing new facility on Hotel Road

For those wondering what the long fence and construction is at 958 Hotel Road, The Buzz can confirm that it will be a new John. F. Murphy residential home. Chief executive officer Todd Goodwin said construction has started at the 13-acre site and that it will be an intermediate care facility for adults and will become the new home to eight adults in early 2024.

Goodwin added the new facility will replace an existing one in Lewiston that is more than 25 years old. John F. Murphy homes operates more than 50 residential facilities in the Lewiston and Auburn area that house some of Maine’s neediest people, some of whom have medical issues in addition to disabilities.

The nonprofit organization operates seven special-purpose schools for children 18 months to 14 years old, providing services for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities from Randolph to Saco. The Margaret Murphy Centers for Children is a part of JFM.

Goodwin said there are increasingly fewer and fewer of these types of facilities in Maine and that it is getting harder to locate them for myriad reasons. He added the need for them will only increase in the coming years.

The Buzz offers quick hits about trending area business happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact business writer Christopher Wheelock at 689-2817 or cwheelock@sunjournal.com

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