This was a very positive week here at the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce. We picked up two new members! The first was Works of Heart, the labor of love from Sandy and Dave Marrett. Works of Heart is the only 100 percent Made-in-Maine gift shop in Aroostook County and are enjoying the extra room and parking in their new store at 124 Bennett Drive. The other new member is The Old Iron Inn Bed and Breakfast, a beautiful place to stay in the heart of Caribou owned by Kate and Kevin McCartney. The McCartneys have been friends of mine since I moved up here in the early 1990s and having them see the value of joining the Chamber is very encouraging. Kate also brought over a scanner for the Chamber to use. Thank you very much!
The Chamber’s Facebook page had a very good week and picked up 10 more “Likes” to bring the total to 4,711. All of the posts there this week received lots of attention and positive comments. That is wonderful.
The Chamber’s Board of Directors is stronger by three after our monthly meeting this week. The board voted to accept the three to our ranks starting in June. I would tell you who they are, but first, a letter has to go out to our membership as they have a right to petition for different members to choose from. I will let you know next month how that all turns out.
Despite my late coming to the party, several people and organizations signed up for the Memorial Day Parade. I really wish I had jumped on that earlier because the holiday, along with Veterans Day, means a lot to me. My dad, William R. Tasker, was born in 1923 and served our country during World War II. He was just one of many heroes that fought in that conflict.
Dad was a radio man in an Air Force bomber that flew many missions in Africa and in Europe. My proudest possession is a display case with all of his medals. I cannot even fathom what it must have been like in one of those flying fortresses with flak and danger lurking everywhere he went. I cannot even fathom being shot at, to be frank with you.
Unfortunately, he did not do as well after the war and died in a car accident in 1966. I was 10 years old. It saddens me that I cannot close my eyes and picture him or hear his voice. I remember him lying on the floor because his back hurt. I can also remember him running around with us boys chasing us and throwing stuffed animals at each other.
Dad was an ordinary man, who, like so many, many others, did what he had to do when his country needed him. His courage still inspires me and fills me with patriotic zeal. And part of that is remembering him and all the others on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. It is not just a chance for a three-day weekend and for barbecues — not that those are bad things, especially if you buy your supplies at one of our member businesses. It is a chance for us to remember and to be thankful for what these men and women did for all of us.
Thank you, Dad. You are my hero.
Member, Maine Winter Sports Center, provided the guest speaker at Rotary this week. I love what this organization provides for The County.
Two houses in my neighborhood sold after a relatively brief time on the market. That bodes well for our local housing market.
I went to a meeting for our golf league this week and was very pleased to hear that the Par & Grill would be providing the after-golf meals for both the men’s and women’s leagues this season. That was awesome news.
Also great was seeing our new town manager, Austin Bleess, come to the meeting as a new league member. I hope I get to play against him. Heh. At what point does a “new” person in a position stop being called that? A year? Two years?
With the passing of the holiday, this office really needs to get cracking on sending our vender the text for the new Caribou Map. That project is now on the urgent list. Also urgent is the need for advertising on the map.
This is our big deal when it comes to town literature. Ten thousand will be printed and this map goes to every inquiry into visiting or moving to our area. It also goes to all tourist information locations as well. Please call me as soon as possible if you are interested.
RLW Management, Inc. has purchased the office building at 123 Sweden Street. I have been informed that two offices are currently for rent. That is a really nice building and is now in great hands.
One of the highlights of my week is getting my weekly e-mail from Sleepers. David Sleeper does a great job sending that e-mail out every week with lots of great deals and is well done with great pictures. There are two reasons for mentioning this. First, if you are not on David’s mailing list, you should be because his information is great. Secondly, this is an example other businesses should follow in reaching out to their local customers.
Happy Anniversary wishes this week to go: The American Red Cross whose local chapter has been a member since 2008 and C.S. Management, Inc., which joined in 1992. Thank you so much for your partnership with the Chamber.
Executive Director William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or e-mail him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
