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| Photo courtesy William Tasker Machinist Scott Tracy puts his touch to one of the Chand Eisenmann Metallurgical products. |
This was a very good week at the Chamber. Three new members joined the rolls and that is exciting and gratifying.
Gagnon’s Rental Properties, LLC has purchased and restored several empty buildings around town that now house businesses and office space. Owned by Gary Gagnon, Gagnon’s Rental Properties, LLC rents in the commercial and personal markets that include stores, offices, homes and apartments. Many of our members are located in Gagnon buildings.
Also joining this week is VC Print, which specializes in printing and graphic design. Owned by Vickie Cummings, VC Print has worked with many organizations around the area and has produced the City of Caribou annual report.
Last but not least, Chester M. Kearney, CPAs has joined the membership ranks. Chester M. Kearney, CPAs provide a full line of accounting, auditing and tax services. I’m sure the latter is humming as we are in the full swing of the tax season. The firm has six certified public accountants on staff and has been a fixture in our area for a very long time.
All three have been added to the Membership Directory on our website.
Stories and pictures on Facebook this week have included Gary’s Auto and RV Sales, Martin’s Point, Chand Eisenmann Metallurgical and Community Health and Counseling. Each story has been fascinating to write and explore. Visiting and gaining an insight and appreciation for these business and organizations is one of the really enjoyable parts of this job. More stories should be available by the time this is published.
While all of these visits and stories are cool and important, I was blown away by my visit to Chand Eisenmann Metallurgical. There is a good chance you’ve never heard of this manufacturer located on Armco Avenue, a location you might not know either.
The Chand Eisenmann Metallurgical story is yet another example of how there are amazing things happening all around the Caribou area. This company is one out of only about 25 manufacturers around the world that do what they do and their custom parts are shipped every day to the four corners of the earth. Even the winery of Ernest and Julio Gallo are among Chand’s customers.
The manufacturer runs 24 hours a day to keep up with orders and employs 40 people. They have added 11 in each of the past two years.
And did you know that Community Health and Counseling began in 1883? Let’s see … that is 130 years! Imagine how many people they have helped in that long history of time!
I hope you are reading these stories and the Facebook page. If you do, you will start to understand that Caribou and the area is not this dying place with nothing going on. There are all kinds of interesting and fascinating people, businesses and organizations making a difference and working hard and creatively to carve out niches in this changing world.
Driving around town on Wednesday, Feb. 13th, I noticed that the local florists were burning the midnight oil to get out those last-minute Valentine’s Day orders. I was fortunate enough to get mine during lunch hour. One of the recipients was my wonderful daughter, Shaina, who was born on Valentine’s Day. No wonder she is such a sweetheart.
Speaking of sweethearts, I was driving to the office on Thursday on Valentine’s Day itself and drove by this tall, rugged looking fellow with a couple of cans of spray paint in his hands. He looked furtively at me and I wondered if he was up to no good. But I was soon smiling as I noticed that he was spray painting big red hearts on the snow banks of his driveway. Ah … romance is not dead.
Speaking of romance, our area is certainly growing a romance with skiing. Check out the Events Calendar on our website and you will see how many ski events that happen all the time around here. Coming up on Friday, Feb. 22 beginning at 8:30 a.m. is the Aroostook Youth Ski Festival, a joint event from the Northern Skiiers Club, The Maine Winter Sports Center and Cary Medical Center. Check out youthskifest.org for details and registration.
The ski festival is just one of the events happening this school vacation week. If you have not seen the flyer on the week’s activities, they can be located at Sleepers and at Paradis Shop ‘n Save as well as here in the office. They are also outlined on the Chamber’s website and Facebook pages.
And watch out this Friday as those krafty and klever Keystone Kops will be out making arrests around the city. It is not too late to sign an arrest warrant. I have them here at the office. This is always a fun fundraiser from the Kiwanis Club of Caribou. And yes, I love alliteration.
And finally, happy anniversary wishes go out to the Gallagher Insurance Agency, who joined the Chamber in 2002. Thank you for your faithful membership.
Have a great week!
William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or e-mail him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
