Welcome sledders, skiers and canines

    Somehow everyone except Vancouver got our snow this year. They have our snow! Well, it’s an overstatement, we do have some snow: we have enough snow, and snow makers too to even out the rough spots! We have enough snow for the dogs, enough snow for the skiers, enough snow for the snowmobilers who love Northern Maine. Enough perhaps too for those of us dependant on shovels and paying someone else to plow our driveways for us.     Nonetheless … we have snow, and we’re anxiously awaiting all the guests to The County! The next two weeks should be great, with lots to see and do, and lots of opportunities to interact with happy folks from away, happy to be here for their events, happy to eat our food, see the sights, and stay with us for a time!
    For our part, we can’t wait to see all the sleek athletes and their families for the XC Olympics, and we are anxiously awaiting all the dogs! We contemplated placing an ad in the St John Valley Times welcoming mushers, with the catchy phrase: “Stock-Up; get Fed-Up and Put-Up too – All in Caribou!” but the general consensus was it might be too catchy and a bit well, not entirely crowd pleasing …. (I admit, it may just be me: stodgy).
    We like animals here at the Chamber. We wish we had the claim to fame of an animal event every year as the northern neighbors do. While some of us are quite taken by cats, others of us like any and all dogs. All animals are generally welcome to pass through, and many of course end of having their photos taken, along with the children and other town notables. We’re satisfied to have an Aroostook event which draws larger crowds each year, and we’re happy to be a part of the area’s welcoming party. We are anxious to eat, and visit!
    While it would take at least a pack (is that six or eight?) of dogs to carry me anywhere by sled, we do have one young lady who would not need to be pulled, and we’ll have her ride a malamute next weekend! We could dress her up in the high school’s Viking costume (which will also be warm), and have ourselves a live advertisement at the Can Am!
    And in just a few days 500 cross country skiers will come to The County for nearly two weeks! Especially good stuff, we are sure they’ll have a nice time! They may even motivate some of us to move and improve ourselves! Just as soon as we’ve finished the ployes and poutine.
    For our part, we hope they have a great time, get to know the locals a bit, and want to come back: come back and do it again! Come back to try the sledding and the skiing! Maybe even come back in the summer and try the ATVing. We especially hope some may think, “you know, this is a great place, maybe we should think about a second home …” Maybe just maybe they’ll think, this would be a great place to raise children, and live. We’re hoping!
    Both activities have Web sites: www. can-am.sjv.net and www.juniorolympics2010.org where you can get all the details about specific events, times etc. Countless volunteers have worked very hard on each program, and wouldn’t have been possible without all the County supporters! Keep an eye out for the Viking, he may or may not be on the back of a malamute! Take care, and enjoy the festivities!
    Wendy Landes, MPA, is the executive director of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She can be reached in person at 24 Sweden Street, Suite 101; by telephone at 498-6156 or via e-mail at wlandes@cariboumaine.net.