The last time we chatted, my car had died on the road on Thursday (with Town Manager, Austin Bleess in the car no less). On Friday, my mechanic delivered the eulogy and the car had gone to the great scrap yard in the sky (well, more like in Caribou on the road to Limestone). By Friday afternoon, I had made a few calls and on Saturday morning, I picked up a new car. I love the car and hate having car payments. But such is life.
I had also reported on the busted pipe we incurred here at the Nylander building last week. Jeanie McGowan worked like a mad woman for two days and got all the soggy stuff bagged up and on Monday of this week, the fine folks of the Public Works Department came and hauled it all away. Jeanie is truly amazing.
Having a car allowed me to brave this crazy weather week to make several trips to members. I visited Brian Sipe over at Gallagher Insurance. I made a stop in to see H&R Block across the street from the office here. Both of those stories are on the Facebook page. I visited Family Eye Care/Mavor Opticals on Herschel Street, but, as you would expect, Dr. Craig Small was with patients. I took some pictures and Dr. Small later called me when he had a chance to talk.
I visited Caribou Hydraulics & Machine on the East Presque Isle Road and met Jeremiah Oliver and Katherine Doig. Again, it is amazing what you learn about a business driven by a hundred times if you take the time to stop in. Fantastic work is done there and the breadth of parts they carry is staggering. Check them out on our Facebook page.
I also stopped in at The Maine Winter Sports Center and met CEO, Andy Shepard, who was nice enough to take the time to speak with me for a half hour on one of his whirlwind trips to The County. The effect this organization is having in Maine and in Aroostook County is a huge story that has not yet been adequately told. I am going to try and give it a bit of a go on the Facebook page. But even that might not explain it well. Suffice it to say for now that Andy’s organization is one of the most exciting developments in Caribou and surrounding communities in quite some time.
Richard Cilley, president of the Caribou Historical Center and Museum, stopped in the office for 90 minutes this week. Mr. Cilley is a remarkable man who has had a full career and yet is spending his late years in life energetically recharging the museum and its mission. His organizational skills are setting the museum’s course for decades to come.
And perhaps it might be pertinent to mention how special the Caribou Historical Center and Museum is. The museum has over 10,000 displayed items and the collection has led to a new barn for displaying some of the larger pieces. There are several acres of trails behind the museum that are becoming well known and studied for their natural significance by university students and others.
Most special to me is that the place is the repository of historic artifacts, genealogies, and the like that show the special ingenuity and creativity of the city’s founders to carve a community and a life out of virgin forest all those years ago. The museum is a special place and Mr. Cilley is a godsend of a man to lead it.
After the second planning meeting for the Winter Carnival was held, it was decided to scale back plans to just vacation week as Kathy Mazzuchelli will run events for the kids and a few other activities will be planned that week. A firm schedule of events should be available in the coming week.
The new Chamber newsletter was completed and printed and by the time you read this, should be available in logical spots around town.
Happy Anniversary to the Caribou Inn & Convention Center, which became a member on Feb. 6, 2001 and to Tim Hortons which joined the Chamber on Feb. 12, 2003. Thank you!
William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or e-mail him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
