Whether your year was filled with highs, lows or a bit of both, there’ve been a number of stories from 2010 that the staff here at the Aroostook Republican won’t be forgetting any time soon; before the year officially comes to a close, here’s a recap of the events that made 2010 unique.
January
• The tourism/hospitality industry got off to a slow start as snowmobiler-drawing snowfall was lacking; Aroostook County had less than a foot of snow at the start of 2010.
• United States Coast Guard officials announced that the Loran-C signal transmitted out of the Caribou Coast Guard Station would be shut off later in the year. The Coast Guard first purchased the property in 1973 and when the signal terminated, the 298-acre station contained two buildings, four 770-foot towers and had four Guardsmen stationed at it.
• Caribou Fire Chief Roy Woods was recognized by Verne Ouellette, director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency with a plaque honoring Woods’ longtime and relentless work don to continuously assure the safety of the citizens of Caribou, should the city come face-to-face with a disastrous situation.
• Over 300 music students from across the County came together at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School for the annual All-Aroostook Concert.
• Caribou City Councilors faced a tight budget for FY10, which included a $260,000 reduction in state revenue sharing with a $230,000 loss that impacted municipal government.
• Members of the RSU 39 School Board approved the installation of a woodchip boiler at the Limestone Community School.
• Limestone was abuzz with talks about reducing the stipend for volunteer firefighters; proposed by Selectperson Mary Morin, the measure was one of many suggestions made by Morin to save the town money; the suggestions was highly controversial and many community members weren’t shy about sharing their opinions on the matter.
February
• The Aroostook County Commissioners expressed their concerns for the FY11 Correctional Services Budget; particularly about the decision made by members on the Board of Corrections and the Corrections Working Group to remove step increases and cost-of-living adjustments to Aroostook County jail budgets as well as the jail budgets of other counties.
• Limestone Town Manager Donna Bernier informed the selectpeople that the Davis Long-Term Care Group has chosen Limestone as the new location for their new estimated $5 million building; the group currently owns and operates the current Limestone Manor.
• The Federal Highway Administration gave approval to the Maine Department of Transportation to move forward with Caribou Connector Project, which is one segment of the envisioned North-South Highway in Aroostook County. Construction was anticipated to begin on the connector before the end of 2010.
• The Limestone Rotary Club organized the first annual Fun in the Snow Day, which was a communal success.
• John Sweetser of Presque Isle won the Maine Veterans’ Home Valentine’s Day Raffle, winning a diamond ring.
• The Caribou Lioness Club sponsored their annual Ladies Night Out, which was once again a spectacular night of laughs for the women of Caribou.
• Caribou’s National Honor Society members completed their annual carnation sale with a record-breaking 2,442 flower sold.
• The annual Chocolate Festival had kids nose-deep in their desserts during a chocolate pudding eating contest — always a popular event.
• RSU 39 administrators signed contracts for $2.8 million in infrastructure improvements; the updates are estimated to save more that $250,000 annually.
March
• Isabelle Pelletier of St. Jacques, N.B. wowed the Northern Star judges during the first-ever Northern Star International Competition presented by the United Way of Aroostook County. It was the first time that Canadians were allowed to compete in the former Aroostook Idol competition.
• RSU 39 Board members heard concerns regarding the suggested change in duration for the annual school harvest recess.
• Caribou High School FFA members celebrated their 80th annual Caribou FFA Banquet.
• Staff and Faculty of the New Sweden School earned a Bronze National Recognition Award for their school through continued implementation of health-oriented curriculum and their participation in the Healthy Schools Program.
• Daren Woods, chief of North Lakes Fire and Rescue was named Firefighter of the Year by members of the Stockholm American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
• Four out of five of Caribou’s queens were named: Miss Teen Caribou Hannah Hebert, Jr. Miss Caribou Victoria Keaton, Miss Pre-Teen Caribou Samantha Fortin and Little Miss Caribou Amber Moir.
• Members of the Snowy Mountain Trail Club in Stockholm raised $2,700 in their annual Karen Sprague race and decided to donated it to the Salvation Army in order to help support Haitian relief efforts.
• Students from Caribou’s Destination Imagination teams did well in regional competitions.
• Sisters Ellyzabeth and Kennedy Bencivenga were crowned Junior and Little Miss Limestone, respectively.
• The County received good budget news, as its fund balance grew by $317,496.67.
• David Sleeper, Deborah Doody Sirois and Andrea Swanberg were named Citizens of the Year during the Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual Recognition Night.
• The Limestone Selectpeople approved $9,000 from the economic development account to fund a 25-hour a week consultant to facilitate the opening of the proposed Northern Woods Folk Art School.
• Teague Park students completed their annual Jump Rope for Heart program and had a hair-raising incentive for their enthusiastic participation; students got to watch a couple of their instructors have their heads shaved.
• Members of the Limestone Snow Hawks snowmobile club were named 2009 Citizens of the Year during the annual Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce Recognition Banquet.
May
• Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan received recognition from the Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition for his work throughout the county in substance abuse prevention and education with the awarding of the Bridge Builder Award.
• Aroostook County was one of two counties in New England to achieve Storm Ready certification by the National Weather Service.
• Alyson Michaud was crowned Miss Caribou; Audra Kirk was crowned Miss Limestone; Julia Weatherhead was crowned Teen Miss Limestone; and Kaysie Pelletier was crowned Miss Maine National Teenager.
• CPAC was filled with students eager to hear Max Slabotzy’s story; Slabotzy is a Holocaust survivor and was asked to speak with Caribou’s high school and middle school students by the Social Studies Department. Students were silent as they listened to Slabotzy’s story and the tales of fellow survivor Charles Rotmil.
• Limestone’s new outdoor basketball court was dedicated to the memory of Trevor Holmquist, a former Limestone student who passed away in 2006.
• Caribou’s City-wide Yard Sale was another thrifty success, as 133 homes signed up to have their sales listed on the iconic yard sale map.
• Limestone Freemasons gave second-grade students of the Limestone Community School free bikes to each student who read for 1,000 minutes between April 5 and May 14; every student met the challenge.
• The halls of the Limestone Community School were filled with purple ribbons as part of the annual Relay for Life fund-raiser.
• The Caribou Parks and Recreation Department once again partnered with the Caribou Rotary Club and brought smiles to more than 100 area second-graders as they fulfilled their annual Bicycle Safety Program by distributing 120 helmets to students from Caribou, Stockholm, Woodland and Connor.
• With approximately 100 guests, the grand opening of the new Border Patrol Station in Fort Fairfield was celebrated.
• The Robert A. Frost Memorial Library in Limestone celebrated their new facilities with an open house, featuring tours of the new building.
• Limestone’s United Methodist Church celebrated its 120th birthday; special masses featuring historical aspects of the church were held.
• $123,000 was raised through 60 Relay for Life teams to benefit the American Cancer Society.
• Caribou City Council set the mil rate at 24.1.
