PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The PROBUS Club of Aroostook met at Northern Maine Community College’s Reed Commons on Thursday, June 15, 2017. The meeting was led by the president, Thomas Lunn.
Dana Crory, program chairperson, introduced the special guest, Scott Thompson. Thompson was born and resides in Mapleton, is married and has a stepson. He graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and received his degree in recreation and leisure. His love of outdoors has resulted in a long, rewarding career in recreation.
As manager of Aroostook State Park for the last 12 years, he works to maintain the land’s natural resources and gives community members opportunities to enjoy the park and its environment.
He has worked in many different areas in the state: Nickerson Lake in Houlton, Quoddy Head State Park in Lubec, and Lamoine State Park in Hancock County. While in college Thompson returned to Aroostook State Park.
Thompson mentioned the sign that says “The Way Life Should Be,” but said Aroostook County needs a boundary marker on I-95 that says, “The Way Life Should Be and Continues to Be.”
Aroostook State Park is Maine’s first park, still natural and is located on Echo Lake. It is a quiet, clean, and friendly place. The many events held at the park have grown. Fall foliage can be seen on North Peak which gives an overview of the areas. The four seasons are full of activities. For example, in the spring there are fishing, hiking and camping. There are 29 camping sites at the park which run from May 15 to September 10. In the winter there are 15 miles of ski trails and 6.5 miles of snowshoe trails, and a sliding hill.
Birding is another activity and includes approximately 150 species. The park has four of the five different types of woodpeckers. Special sleds have been made for use for those with special needs in the winter. Bears, moose and deer are present in the park.
For more information contact: Aroostook State Park, 87 State Park Road, Presque Isle, ME 04769, www.maine.gov/aroostook or call 207-768-8341.
The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports for the month of May were accepted as read.
The closing was by Janet Snow from a book entitled “The Book of Totally Useless Information” by D Voorhees. “What are the origins of today’s wedding rituals and customs?”
The next meeting will be Thursday, July 20, at NMCC, Reed Commons, at 10 a.m.
