By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU, Maine — Anyone who has taken part in an outdoor sporting event at Caribou High School recently has most likely noticed the construction that has been taking place on the premises.
Volunteers have been busy working on an addition to the building located to the right of the gymnasium/Caribou Performing Arts parking lot that is referred to as the “ski shack.” The work is being done on behalf of the Caribou Athletic Boosters, an organization that raises money to support CHS athletic programs. According to Rob Kieffer, chairman of the committee heading up the project, the sesquicentennial celebration for the city of Caribou in 2009 prompted the idea of adding on to the building.
“We realized that it would be nice to have a place set up for people to get warm food and snacks during events, like the sesquicentennial, that take place at the high school,” Kieffer explained.
The Boosters weighed the option of constructing a separate building or adding on to the current structure, whose main purpose is as a timing shack for ski events held on the trails behind the high school. After surveying the public for their input, the group decided an addition would be their best option.
“An addition made the most sense,” said Kieffer. “There’s already a furnace and electricity hooked up, so we wouldn’t have to go to that extra expense.”
The total cost for the addition is estimated to be around $100,000. So far, the Boosters have raised approximately $45,000 — $6,000 of which came from proceeds from a barbecue held at the sesquicentennial fireworks that took place at the high school. The Caribou Rotary Club donated $15,000, along with volunteering several man hours helping with construction of the addition.
The remaining money has come from donations and fundraisers such as the sale of sweatshirts and concessions at sporting and other miscellaneous community events. Ford Motor Company has also sponsored Drive 4 UR School test-driving events for two consecutive years, bringing in over $3,000 the first year alone.
In addition to Rotarians, numerous local contractors have also volunteered their time and have donated materials for the project. Over the past two weekends, Rotarians and contractors came together to put up the trusses and do other construction work.
“It’s been a real nice community event,” Kieffer said. “A lot of people have come together to offer their support.”
And even volunteers outside of the Caribou community have pitched in to help. A Calvary Baptist Church mission group from Missouri volunteered their time a few weeks ago to put up the walls for the structure.
“They were doing work for the Caribou Recreation Department and Kathy Mazzuchelli sent them our way,” Kieffer explained. “They did a great job.”
The addition is currently 40 to 50 percent complete. Kieffer advised that the Boosters hope to have it enclosed this winter and it will be available for use on a limited basis. The goal is to have the addition fully operational by next fall.
“We will continue to move forward until we run out of money,” Kieffer said.
Once the project is complete, ownership will be turned over to Eastern Aroostook RSU 39. They will maintain the addition as they have with the current structure, which was constructed approximately eight years ago also by the Athletic Boosters.
Over the past 10 years, the Athletic Boosters have raised between $50,000 and $60,000 in support of Caribou athletics. They have contributed to projects such as bleacher repair and resurfacing the track.
While the Boosters raise the funds, they do not influence how the money is used. Those decisions are made by the CHS Athletic Department.
The addition will feature a new kitchen for preparing items such as burgers and hot dogs, larger bathroom facilities and the addition of a handicapped accessible bathroom. There will also be a viewing area for people to go inside and get warm during the winter months and still be able to watch the event going on outside.
