CARIBOU, Maine — Calvary Baptist Church joined forces with Caribou Parks and Recreation to give the library’s gazebo a much-needed makeover.
Library Director Anastasia Weigle and Parks and Recreation Superintendent Gary Marquis both said on Monday that people had been vandalizing the gazebo for years, and that the renovation, which includes new signage and motion activated lights, has deterred most of the vandals.
“It had been a struggle trying to keep the library grounds clean,” Weigle said. “I would see strange people loitering around the library, smoking in the corner and throwing cigarette butts on the ground.”
The librarian said the security lights and renovations have helped tremendously, and that volunteers at the church did a “superb job.”
“The community reaction has been great,” Weigle said. “We have one person who loves to have lunch at the gazebo, and now they come every day. We also had a summer reading program at the gazebo with children and parents.”
Though the vandalism has waned, Weigle said she and staff are trying to keep up by picking up trash thrown by people who cross through library property while walking through the city at night.
Josh Presley, lead pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, said their involvement is part of a church program called “Calvary Cares about Caribou” in which members volunteer to help beautify the city.
Presley said the church typically contacts Gary Marquis in the summer, who lets them know what aspects of the city need volunteer work.
Marquis said the Calvary crew did an excellent job and commended the participants for their hard work, adding that the concept of renovating the gazebo came up as a way to curb the vandalism
“They sanded and restained the whole gazebo, and rebuilt 13 balusters,” Marquis said. “They even went as far as renovating the roof and weathervane.”
Marquis said the crew spent three eight-hour days working on the gazebo, adding that he installed signage indicating that there is no loitering after 7 p.m. and no smoking on library grounds.
“We wanted to help the library and the family of Barbara Brewer, who donated the gazebo, and figured there was no better time to do it than with the help of Calvary,” Marquis said
Presley said it’s always good to give back to the community and help a “part of the city we live in.”
Weigle said staff and volunteers at the library are grateful for the renovations.
“When you see the community get together to help another community group, it sends an important message to Caribou,” Weigle said, adding that she wants to make sure Caribou residents know the city’s organizations care about each other as well as the people living in the city.
