Caribou Area Year in Review Part 2 |
Editor’s Note: The following is the second of two articles highlighting some of the top news stories from 2023. This article compiled by Melissa Lizotte highlights events from July to December.
July
Stockholm became the first town in Maine to open an inclusive playground. Stockholm’s new recreation committee said they wanted the playground to be welcoming to children with developmental and physical disabilities and those on the Autism spectrum. Community members raised the entire $200,000 necessary to purchase and install the playground.
Limestone celebrated the Fourth of July with a parade down Main Street. At least 50 people from area businesses and organizations took part, including Limestone Rotary Club, Boy Scout Troop 193, Caswell Girl Scout Troop 1587, Limestone Fire Department and Limestone Trail Hawks.
Limestone residents passed a school budget of $4,756,393, an increase from the 2022 budget of $4,341,088, despite concerns from several residents. Most of the increases came from employee salaries and benefits, high school student tuition and an increase in special education students, according to school leaders.
The Mallett Brothers Band brought their popular Maine-based music to this year’s Arootsakoostik festival in New Sweden. They joined eight other Maine bands playing in genres like rock, bluegrass, Americana, jazz and big band funk and ska.
Caribou residents became heroes after assisting a woman with a flat tire at the Freshies convenience store. After cashier Amber Madore unsuccessfully tried changing the tire using her tire iron, resident Jim Morrell offered his help. Anthony Collins, who was fixing a Pepsi machine at the store, and Tim Ouellette lent a hand too. Cashier Allyson Adams let the woman borrow her car so she could arrive on time to a job interview.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was the grand marshal in this year’s Maine Potato Blossom Parade in Fort Fairfield, which celebrated the town’s rich agricultural history. The parade’s theme was “All About Agriculture” and featured over 80 participants.
Fort Fairfield councilors hired Tim Goff as the new town manager. Goff, a Fort Fairfield native, is the town’s former marketing and economic development director and chairperson of the Quality of Place Council. Goff said he wanted to help usher in a new era for the town, which had been facing enormous financial challenges.
Several new local businesses opened at the former Loring Air Force Base as developers from Green 4 Maine looked to revitalize the Loring Commerce Center. Ryan Lemire jumpstarted the Green 4 Maine Creative Arts & Digital Media Center as a space for arts-themed events and classes. Mechanics Chris King, Dan Berentes, and siblings Chelsey and Artie Rossignol opened Runway Auto & Small Engine.
Sixty-eight Woodland residents approved both the town and school budgets during the annual town meeting. The school budget for Union 122 totaled $2,748,286 compared with $2,494,471 in 2022. The town budget included $754,750 for Public Works, $10,000 for highway equipment and building reserve accounts and $220,230 for general government.
Delinquent tax records obtained at Woodland’s annual town meeting showed that Select Board member Thomas Drew owed over $10,000 in unpaid taxes. Drew said he would work with the town to pay back the taxes, which accrued due to a recent “financial hardship.”
Gov. Janet Mills signed a significantly altered version of the legislative bill that proposed more funding to the Maine School of Science and Mathematics. LD 1458 would have increased the Limestone magnet school’s funding by nearly $2 million and include full coverage of annual room and board fees. Instead, the approved version of the bill will only include only a $500,000 one-time payment to the school for fiscal year 2024-2025.
August
Visitors had positive responses to Kacie’s Campground, which local developers Troy and Julie Haney opened this summer. The campground is named for Kacie Haney, Julie’s daughter and Troy’s stepdaughter, who died in 2020. Caribou officials said that the campground is a positive step forward in redeveloping the city’s riverfront.
Limestone’s Select Board threatened to cut off fire service to Loring Commerce Center on August 31 if Loring officials did not pay $1.2 million for eight years of police and fire protection. Loring President and CEO Carl Flora claimed that Loring paid Limestone $20,000 yearly for police protection but never had an agreement for fire service payments.
A Limestone man’s generosity led to a new home for County couple Melissa Wilcox and Parys Ciuksza and their family. Before his passing, Duncan MacKenzie bequeathed his house on Albert Road to Aroostook County Action Program. After finding themselves nearly homeless, Wilcox and Ciuksza became the new owners of MacKenzie’s former home through ACAP’s housing program.
Caribou councilors approved a final mill rate of 19.5 mills per $1,000 of property value. The council had initially approved an 18.55 rate in July before learning of tax software errors.
Fort Fairfield generated its largest revenue since the beginning of its financial crisis. Interim Town Manager Dan Foster said that the town recorded $100,000 from office transactions, mostly from vehicle registrations and excise taxes.
Woodland’s Select Board approved a 1.3-percent increase in the town’s mill rate from 18.5 to 19.80. The 2023 rate includes an overlay of $16,005 compared to a $10,260 overlay last year.
Caribou leaders chose the former Birds Eye food processing plant site as the city police department’s future home. The three and a half acres of property has been vacant since the city demolished all Bird’s Eye buildings in 2018.
Alvin Lam stepped down from his role as Limestone’s town manager to become the town’s special projects director. Select Board member Alan Mulherin left his post to become interim town manager.
The Limestone Select Board voted to continue fire service at Loring Commerce Center for at least one month, hoping to negotiate with Loring Development Authority. Loring officials said they cannot pay the town’s requested $280,000 due to financial losses. Limestone officials also urged Loring to address dangerous buildings in the Manser Drive complex.
September
Goughan’s Farm announced the design and theme of their 2023 corn maze: “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” The Caribou farm invited families to wind their way through in search of the “great pumpkin.”
Over 150 campers and even more locals flocked to Fort Fairfield for the County Bluegrass Festival. Fans enjoyed music from returning favorites and newcomers and marveled at the festival’s “family reunion” atmosphere.
After the closure of Miss Jordyn’s Child Development Center, local parents feared having to choose between working and caring for their children, if they could not find alternative child care. Jordyn Rossignol announced in early August that her center would close, leaving over 100 children potentially without care. The news spurred a partnership between Caribou Community School and Aroostook County Action Program.
The two-story home at 15 Prospect St. burned after “smoking material” used on a mattress started a massive fire, according to Caribou Fire & Ambulance. The home’s destruction left court action against the homeowner, John Barretto, in limbo.
Graffiti containing obscene language and images remained on the back wall of Caribou Public Library after a year. Library Director Peter Baldwin said that a more powerful industrial cleaner would be needed to remove the remaining images. The graffiti was fully removed from the building later in September.
Visitors to Limestone stepped back in time for the annual Renaissance Faire. Celtic harp music filled the air as guests tried out swordplay and enjoyed a variety of demonstrations, including those in blacksmithing, woodworking and jewelry making.
Grocery stores quickly sold out of bottled and distilled water after Caribou Utilities District issued positive test results for E. coli. The district lifted their do-not-drink order the following day, after follow-up tests determined that initial results were false.
Caribou Emergency Amateur Radio Service began fundraising in hopes of installing a nearly 200-foot radio tower in New Sweden. Group members want the tower to serve as a crucial communication link for emergency personnel between Caribou and the St. John Valley.
On September 19, Woodland residents voted to postpone that evening’s regular Select Board meeting after Chairperson Harold Tardy said that board member Thomas Drew and Town Administrator Vicki Page would not be present. The following Tuesday, Drew did not show up after disagreeing with how the meeting was rescheduled. Tardy had resigned by then.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began an emergency action related to Caribou’s former steam plant, due to its proximity to the Aroostook River. The defunct steam plant contains more than 11,000 feet of asbestos pipe insulation and 14,000 square feet of surface material with asbestos.
Limestone’s Select Board voted to continue fire protection at Loring Commerce Center. The board accepted Loring officials’ offer to pay $35,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024, with monthly payments of $2,916.
Caribou Community School started the new year with 776 students total. The new pre-K to grade eight school has seen a major influx of families since COVID. The school ended the 2020-2021 year with 670 students but that number quickly jumped to 708 the following year, then 770 by June 2023.
Lynn Espling Silcox donated newly discovered family artifacts to the New Sweden Historical Society. Silcox’s great-grandparents and grandmother were part of the first group of immigrants to settle land that became New Sweden.
The first ever DustBowl events brought Maine’s grass drag race series to Spud Speedway in Caribou. Riders in 14 race classes, including two for children, came from northern and central Maine towns and as far south as South Carolina to take part.
October
Woodland Select Board members set their next meeting for October 17 following contentious emails between members Kathy Ouellette and Thomas Drew. Ouellette and Drew had disagreed over when and how to reschedule the board’s September 19 meeting.
The Nordic Lakers Snowmobile Club began the process of disbanding due to a lack of volunteer trail groomers and funding. The club had maintained 16 miles of trails in New Sweden, Westmanland and Stockholm. Caribou Parks & Recreation Superintendent Gary Marquis said that his department will be taking over maintenance of at least 13 miles of Nordic Lakers trails.
As students struggled with mental health challenges post COVID, more County schools began taking them outside. Several districts, including those in Limestone, Caribou and Van Buren, spoke about the social and emotional benefits of gardening, skiing, hiking, maple syrup production and other outdoor activities.
The Caribou Area Ride Service, renamed County Area Ride Service, put out a call for volunteer drivers. Organizers of the ride service, operated by the Center for the Advancement of Rural Living, said that more riders are needed to expand into other areas of Aroostook, especially rural towns.
After a Woodland Select Board meeting, it was revealed that Town Clerk Bridget Coats chose a new chairperson illegally. Coats chose Kathy Ouellette at random, even though the Maine Municipal Association advises clerks to use a method like drawing straws or a coin toss. Ouellette later said she did not consider herself the legitimate chairperson.
Limestone’s Select Board lowered the town’s mill rate from 28 mills to 22.69 mills per $1,000 of property value. The town’s tax assessor, Brandon Saucier, said that tax revenue from 58 properties owned by Green 4 Maine at the Loring Commerce Center and new solar farms played a role in the decreased mill rate.
Limestone’s Interim Town Manager Alan Mulherin revealed that the town owed the Internal Revenue Service $52,007 in unpaid employment taxes, interest, penalties and fees. The total amount spaned from January 2019 to June 2023. Mulherin said that he was communicating with the IRS on how the town can get a waiver on $29,000 of penalties and fees. He later scheduled a special town meeting in part so residents could vote on spending the $52,007 to pay the IRS.
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry stated that they had begun investigating whether a Woodland Select Board member, Thomas Drew, allowed potato waste to be dumped too close to neighboring properties. Residents Diane Stubbs and Merton and Sharon Pete alleged that the waste made their well water unsafe to drink and cook with.
Caribou resident Grant Spinney turned his front yard into a Halloween party for community members. He also turned the party into a fundraiser for local organizations, like Caribou Fire & Ambulance and the Caribou Ecumenical Food Pantry.
Huge crowds turned out for the Caribou Arts & Craft Fair at the high school, including 138 vendors. Shoppers were impressed with the variety of artwork, handmade clothes and mittens, baked goods and other items for sale. At the Wellness & Recreation Center, folks put in their tickets for a chance to win prizes at the Fall Spectacular.
The Nylander Museum of Natural History reopened to the public after several years of being closed during and after COVID. Museum Director Peter Baldwin said that the new working board of directors is working to create new opportunities for local students and visitors. The museum welcomed back Wiscasset-based Chewonki and their live owls for its first public event.
November
RSU 39 officially named Jane McCall the district’s new superintendent. McCall had been serving as interim superintendent since the departure of Tim Doak in summer 2023.
A fire claimed the lives of three family members in Fort Fairfield. Erik Elmer, 47, Jessica Elmer, 39, and their 17-year-old daughter Rose Elmer all died in the fire. A fourth unidentified family member escaped. The tragedy left residents and students grieving and doing what they could to honor the Elmers.
Fort Fairfield resident Adam Green, 36, was arrested and charged with terrorizing and harassment by Topsham and with felony terrorizing by Fort Fairfield police. Green had allegedly threatened multiple schools in Aroostook and one in Topsham, claiming that someone would go to the schools and shoot an AR-15. Schools in Topsham, Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle went into soft lockdown. Green had also allegedly threatened Pres. Joe Biden.
Caribou had a high turnout for this year’s election, with 1,545 of the city’s 5,610 registered voters casting their ballots on statewide referendum questions and local races. Incumbent Courtney Boma and newcomers Tamara Lovewell and Jennifer Kelley all won seats on Caribou City Council. Lou Willey and Jan Umphrey-Tompkins were elected to the RSU 39 school board.
Gerald Anderson of Woodland and Donnie Anderson of New Sweden honored their brother and father, Roland Anderson, for his service in World War II on Veterans Day in Caribou. Roland had turned 100 on October 6. He passed away November 5. The commemoration was part of the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery.
Caribou city councilors waived foreclosures on over two dozen properties, many of which have become blighted, in hopes of encouraging more property owners to pay back taxes.
Caribou officials approved a Village Partnership Initiative with the Maine Department of Transportation. A feasibility study and final report will recommend upgrades to roads and sidewalks in downtown Caribou aimed at improving pedestrian safety.
For the second time in two months, Woodland residents learned that there would be no Select Board meeting after board member Thomas Drew did not show up. Drew declined to comment at the time.
Family, friends and colleagues unveiled a special angel light in honor of late firefighter Danny Raymond outside Caribou Fire & Ambulance. Firefighters also purchased new Christmas street lights for Caribou’s downtown after raising the funds in memory of Raymond.
With declining membership, Aroostook veterans organizations tried brainstorming ways to attract younger veterans. Many local leaders noted that family and work responsibilities and a reluctance to talk about war have been deterring young veterans for years.
December
A Superior Court judge in Caribou denied bail to Susan Kochanowski, the woman accused of allegedly burning down an apartment building at 7 Water St. and murdering 30-year-old resident Jason Donahue.
Caribou city officials asked a Superior Court judge to uphold the city’s declaration that property at 15 Prospect St. is both dangerous and a nuisance. The former home at that property burned in a fire but debris still exists and makes the yard unsafe, city officials argued. Property owner John Barretto said he needs more time to remove debris.
Limestone held its annual light parade, featuring seven floats from community businesses and organizations. Children visited Santa Claus at Rotary Park prior to the parade. Chamber of Commerce and community volunteers saved this year’s parade from being canceled.
Woodland resident Matthew Cole was elected as the town Select Board’s newest member, in place of Harold Tardy, the chairperson who resigned in September.
Caribou Public Library began seeing success with a new hotspot and laptop loan program for city residents. Library Director Peter Baldwin also said that plans for a future bookmobile are underway. He recently purchased a van through grants and donations.
Rob Constantine, the new executive director for the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, said his long-term goals include more frequent interactions between staff and state legislators and educational leaders. He also wants to help increase student enrollment and lead the public magnet school through financial challenges.
Limestone leaders announced several security measures aimed at better protecting election ballots and clerks during the November 2024 election. The Chamber of Commerce will relocate their office from the main floor to the former police station. Volunteers and non-office staff will no longer have their own office keys.
