We need your help. The Annual Recognition Dinner is coming up on May 9 at the Caribou Inn & Convention Center. The Chamber board needs nominations for the awards we give out for that event. The awards and some brief descriptions are as follows:
• Lifetime Achievement Award — What person who, during his or her long association with the community, has done much to enrich Caribou and its citizens.
• Business of the Year — What business had the most impact on our community during this past year?
• Citizen of the Year — Who made a difference this year? Who inspired or fascinated you?
• Spirit of Caribou — What person, business or organization best exemplifies our way of life, our ideals and our hopes.
• Downtown Revitalization Award — What downtown business or organization gave the most hope of turning our downtown into a place to go?
Send me an e-mail at cacc@cariboumaine.net or call me at 498-6156 with your nominations.
Some early birds have already been out to the Chamber office at the Nylander to sign up for the City-Wide Yard Sale and that’s great.
Hey, speaking of that, there are always a few who take advantage of the car traffic and decide to run a yard sale without signing up and being put on the map. Look, I understand that you want to save $15, but consider that your neighbors have paid and seriously, those who pick up the hundreds of maps do pay attention to what yard sales are on the map, what those have for categories of things to sell and make their rounds accordingly. You may save 15 bucks but you may lose more in sales too. Be a good neighbor and sign up and get your signs to proudly display down by the road.
I visited S.W. Cole Engineering this week. Chad McPherson and Sarah Ashley were kind enough to fill me in on the work they and their company does in the area. It made for a neat story that you can find on the Chamber’s Facebook page.
A visit was also paid to County-Wide Vacuum up on North Main Street. John Kavin is an interesting guy and his business is very unique, not only in Caribou but in all of Maine. Check out his story on the Facebook page.
A County tradition that means winter is almost over happened this week when Burger Boy opened for the season. It is the business equivalent to when robins first appear back in town. The Chamber was there at the opening and the pictures are on the Facebook page.
I met with our new Assistant Town Manager, Tony Mazzucco, for lunch this week. I came away impressed with his ideas and the way he looks at things. With Austin Bleess in the top spot, Tony in support and our new city council Mayor, Caribou is in good hands and has the right people in place to bring Caribou into a positive chapter in its history. I’m glad to be working along side them. Be a part of the action and come to council, planning board, school board and other meetings and let’s get this puppy moving!
The Chamber will be pleased to be a part of the grand opening and open house for Northern Lighthouse, Inc. at 559 Sweden Street on April 2. Representatives of our city council and the town office will be there to take part. Please come to say ‘Hi’ at 10 o’clock and welcome this new business to our community.
We will also be participating in the grand opening of Frontier Pharmacy on Bennett Drive in the very near future. Stay tuned to the Facebook page for when that date becomes firmed up. New businesses are always very exciting!
More work has been done toward the Maine State HOG Rally coming to town on July 18 through July 20. If you have a business or organization and are a member or not a member and want to advertise in the welcome booklet that will be passed to each rider, then please contact me as soon as possible before we run out of room. This is a great opportunity as these folks are coming en masse and will likely be riding around looking for places to eat and spend.
Also, if you have a large tent you can spare the Chamber that weekend, please let me know.
Happy Anniversary to Caribou’s Subway which became of a member of the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce way back in 1995. Thank you so very much for your faithful membership.
William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or e-mail him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
