A Family for Me and Project Sparrow showed about a dozen people Saturday what it takes to recruit foster families and others to help children in need.

Proponents say the traffic change could help the local economy, but detractors are concerned it would take away parking and hinder firetrucks.

The north end of the Front Street parking lot was closed Friday, possibly through the weekend, because of minor flooding from the Kennebec River.

Firefighters expressed a need to keep at least one lane of the bridge open so firetrucks can arrive quickly to deal with emergencies downtown and in nearby locations.