Staff Writer
The City of Caribou will celebrate its 150th anniversary in less than two years and local organizers are planning a celebration that they hope will create many a memory. But they say they need the citizenry’s assistance.
To encourage more participation, the anniversary committee will hold a dinner in early January where plans for the celebration will be presented and volunteers from the public can become involved in the committee of their choice.
“It’s really not too early to start,” said Robert Mockler, a member of the organizing committee, during its meeting last week. The 150th celebration is scheduled for Sept. 3 – 7, 2009. In addition, “build-up” events will be held during the spring and summer, according to organizers.
The dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the Chan Center at Cary Medical Center. During the evening, chairmen of the various committees will discuss their ideas for the observance.
“We have a wealth of ideas,’’ said Jim Cyr, the committee chairman.
Suggestions for activities range from a pageant being written by local authors, a community music festival, an ecumenical church service and sporting events.
The committee also is continuing to accept entries to be considered as a logo for the sesquicentennial. According to Wendy Landes, director of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry, interested artists may submit their entries until Jan. 31.
The winning design could be used on commemorative items, such as a collectible coin, that would be sold during the celebration.
In other business, Landes explained to the committee that the chamber will request $15,000 as part of its annual budget request for 2008 from the Caribou City Council. The funds will be used as seed money in order to begin planning for the celebration, she said.
Committee members said that the funds should be kept separate from routine chamber funds.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 3:30 p.m. at the Chan Center at Cary Medical Center.
