I thought I would start the column this week with a story. The event that occurred is just one of those small things that happen in life and nobody hears about it. And the story involves all of five dollars. But I think the story illustrates what makes living here so great and why it is worth fighting for, even when the negativity encountered doing so threatens to smother the largest light of optimism.
The story was related to me by Laurie Colton of the County Federal Credit Union. I hope I get all the details right, but if slightly off; this is the gist of it. One of the chores Laurie has given her daughter is to use a wagon to take the returnable bottles to Bennett Drive Redemption which is not far from where the family lives.
Laurie’s daughter took a fairly large amount of bottles and came home with $1.45. Laurie knew there should have been much more than that and fumed that her daughter had been ripped off. Laurie did nothing with this knowledge other than to vow never to return to that redemption center.
A few days later, there was a knock on her office door at the credit union. A man introduced himself as the owner of the redemption center and asked if Laurie had a daughter and gave a description of her. Laurie said “yes.”
The man related that he had noticed that there was one transaction for 100 bottles that he had not rung into the machine and knew he had shorted somebody. He then thought of that young girl and figured she was the one … except that he did not know who she was or her name.
After days of investigating, he had an idea that it was Laurie’s daughter and he was there in her office to confirm that it was and make right on the five dollars.
That is the kind of businesses we have and the kind of people we have here in our area.
This is my last opportunity to invite you all to our final installment this year of Thursday on Sweden tomorrow night and the part it plays in the much larger event of O.P. Pierson Days in Caribou. Come join the celebration, get some good food and be sure to come to the downtown mall on Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and to the high school on Saturday for the fireworks. It is going to be a great three days.
I am very pleased and grateful to Phils Florist & Greenhouses for becoming a new member of the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce this week. First, the membership resulted from a great conversation I had with Patty Corriveau and second, it provides me a chance now to tell their great story.
Not only does Patty and her staff do wonderful work as florists and with the greenhouses, but the site at 358 Washburn Road also contains oodles of square feet of really neat and unique items. Patty has a great eye and goes all around the state looking for great “picks” to bring back to the shop. Many of these hand-made or antique items cannot be found anywhere else. They are one-of-a-kind items that will bring joy and dress up that special spot in a home. Two of my favorite things are found at Phils Florist & Greenhouses: flowers and plants and old things. Now, if Patty were to sell golf equipment, I would have all my passions under one roof!
Please stop by Patty’s member page on our website and read more about Phils Florist & Greenhouses. Welcome to the Chamber!
A man from coastal Maine made the trip up to Caribou for one purpose. He had some fossil samples he found locally at the edge of the ocean down there and heard we were “the fossil place.” He donated some of his rocks and gave Jeanie the location of his find. Jeanie thinks this might be a previously unknown source of Maine fossils and that is quite exciting.
Have a great week and enjoy O.P. Pierson Days. I will see you there!
Executive Director William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or e-mail him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
