Caribou
While we’re sad our 150th Birthday Year has ended, we
have big plans for “add-ons” with our Annual Events for 2010!
We attended four parades the last year, ending in Presque Isle
celebrating our birthday’s end as we began it the year before at
their Light Parade! Our Aroostook County friends who made this
possible are the RSVP volunteers, who each year sell mittens at
the Caribou Arts & Crafts Fair, as a fundraiser for their programs.
Margaret Kimball, and the RSVP ladies made 2,000 mittens for
us to give out to the children at the Light Parade! The mittens
(which they generously donate to Santa’s Arrival for the children
each year), were extra special for the Light Parade! The ladies
really outdid themselves, spending countless hours knitting for
us, many were complete with fringe, and exotic patterns! We
are grateful for their help and generosity, and strongly encourage
anyone who may have a need for volunteers to not only consider
this worthy program in our county, but tell your family and
friends!
Beginning at the first of the year with Winter Carnival
(February 12th to the 14th), we will be participating in the
Caribou Children Discovery Museum’s wildly popular “Chocolate
Festival,” which everyone is welcome to attend! If you haven’t
gone the past few years, you will not want to miss it! Literally
dozens and dozens of local individuals, businesses and civic groups
contribute chocolate goodies to satisfy any whim or craving you
can imagine having. There are games for the children, great door
prizes, and all the proceeds go directly to the CCDM.
Caribou’s Annual Citizen and Business of the Year
Appreciation Dinner this year in March is a final celebration and
58 Our Communities WINTER 2010
Thank You to the participants who made the 150th Celebration
possible. Alias the recipients are a secret at this point, but keep
an ear to the ground as we near March 20th!
Other plans for 2010 include an event at the Potato
Blossom Festival for the children (potato racing, stay tuned for
details), complete with categories including: Potato Puffs, Drag
and Vintage potato categories! May includes the Annual City
Wide Yard Sale the third weekend, and in June we’re going to
have a Spring Arts/Crafts Farmers Market (a new event mirroring
the October Craft Fair). The sign ups from crafters and artisans
through out the state has been overwhelming, and there is indeed
a waiting list, but if you know someone who needs to sell their
wares, do get on the list! We plan to volunteer at The Big E
this coming fall, and can’t wait to tout our potato farmers, and
Aroostook County potatoes to all those Bostonians!
Finally, beginning with the New Year, we have a few new
ways you can communicate with us this year including a blog
titled “Caribou Notes,” a twitter account, and an ever-expanding
photo folder of the community on our facebook and myspace
accounts! All accounts may be accessed as well through our
regular website!
Take Care and Be Well!
Wendy Landes
Executive Director
Caribou Chamber of Commerce & Industry
24 Sweden Street
Suite 101
Caribou, ME 04736