This is Caribou Cares About Kids Week! Please see the promotional pages in this week’s paper for a rundown of the activities and pick up a brochure at Paradis’ Shop ‘N Save or at Sleeper’s.
People have asked me about the parade route. The parade starts at Skyway Plaza, travels up Bennett Drive, then down High Street, over to and down Herschel Street and then on to Sweden Street to the courthouse. This year’s theme is, “Caribou Past, Present and Future.” Who doesn’t love a parade!
This year’s Caribou Cares About Kids is sponsored by the Chamber, The Caribou Parks & Recreation Department, Cary Medical Center, Pines Health Services, the Aroostook Republican, Spud Speedway and Gallagher Insurance Agency. Thank you!
Thursdays on Sweden was a lot of fun last week. It was Pirate Night and lots of folks really played up the theme and there were swashbucklers all over the street. Sound Friendship was terrific and though the weather threatened and the fair was in full swing, a good turnout resulted. United Insurance/The Kieffer Agency sponsored a dunking booth and I am told that even Ginger Kieffer took a turn in the booth! What fun!
Did You Know?
This week’s “Did You Know” item is this: Did you know that 7 percent of the Chamber’s budget ($5,000) goes to promoting the area? The Chamber carefully considers tourist media outlets and places ads for the area as a destination. Between courting tourism and promoting city and area events, the Chamber is the number-one promotional tool for the area.
I realize that many get so wrapped up in living lives up here that thinking of this area as a tourist destination is outside of comprehension. But what we fail to see sometimes is the breathtaking beauty that surrounds us, the hometown feel of our people and that our area still provides some glimpse of America as it used to be before the hustle and bustle of the outside world around us closed in.
Between hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, kayaking, ATVing, motorcycle riding, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, the lakes, the golf courses, the trails, the history, the planets and many other resources, our area is a wonderful place to visit without breaking the bank. And our local lodging has a more friendly touch than you get elsewhere.
Besides those items listed above, expats love to come “home” to visit, reunions take place and even events such as Thursdays on Sweden have prompted people to visit to have a good old time.
The Chamber is a source of light that illuminates our area to the outside world and we get many requests for information that we send out to people coming to the area. Those packets cost us $5 to mail and we get several a week, a cost that is not included in the figure listed above.
Of course, I am biased, but I think the Chamber serves a very important role in this way and we are proud to do it to the best of our ability.
Have a great week and I’ll see you at the parade! I will be in the judging booth at the Caribou Wellness Center.
Executive Director William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or email him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
