I am back in the saddle after a couple of weeks of vacation spent with my mom down in Florida. And while I enjoyed sitting by her pool reading some good books, our area was greatly missed. For one thing, there is nothing like the lush green of Aroostook during the summertime. In an area like Florida, even the green plants seem muted as most of the vegetation has a brownish tinge due to the heat.
The biggest thing missed about not being in the area was the people here. Around here, if you go to Burger King, McDonalds, Pizza Hut or Subway, you deal with well-trained, friendly staff that smiles and serves you politely and efficiently. Once you travel away from here, you understand such service is more the exception and not the rule. Even as close as Portland in the southern part of the state shows a lack of the same commitment to the paying customer. Head down to Florida and you are lucky to get grunted at and no effort is made to go beyond the limits of the job description. We take a lot of this for granted up here.
A trip to the Florida grocery store might mean a bigger store with a little more options, but do not expect the same kind of greetings and service as Sleeper’s or Paradis’ Shop ‘n Save. So it is good to be back here where friendly, caring people are still the norm.
The ramp and deck of the Nylander Museum/Caribou Chamber of Commerce has a fresh coat of stain and man, does it look better! Much thanks goes to Myke of MRC Building and Property Maintenance for such a nice job. Stop by and take a look!
Don’t forget Thursdays on Sweden this week! It is Beach Party Night and Adequate is the band for this week. At last count, there are over 40 vendors signed up to offer a little bit of everything for people to meet on the street!
I also want to remind everyone about Caribou Cares About Kids taking place on August 8 and 9. The theme for this year’s CCAK is: “Past, Present and Future.” This seemed to make sense with milestone anniversaries for local businesses like S.W. Collins, Sleeper’s, Cary Medical Center, Highway Tire and the Caribou Inn and Convention Center.
The Chamber kicks it off on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with our annual Tie-Dye Extravaganza. Tim the Tune Man will be there providing entertainment. There will be other fun activities, the Aroostook Republican crew will be cooking hotdogs and there will be an ice cream truck there too! T-shirts will be sold for the kids to tie-dye for just $2 each.
The Caribou Cares About Kids Parade will line up at Skyway Plaza starting at 5:15 for a 6 o’clock start. If you, your business, or your organization would like to participate in the parade, please go to the Popular Forms link on our website to get the registration form or pick one up at the office here or at the Caribou Wellness Center.
After the parade is Movie Night at Teague Park. The movie will begin soon after the parade starts. Free popcorn is provided.
Saturday will be Family Fun Day in Teague Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a joint project of the Parks and Recreation Department and Cary Medical Center, and the festivities will end with a Teen Night at the gazebo from 7-9 p.m. A DJ will play and there will be games and activities.
It’s going to be a fun weekend!
If you haven’t driven up North Main Street in a while, take a trip and see the great work being done on the runway at the airport. It’s coming along nicely and should be a big improvement to that facility.
I recently enjoyed the 31st annual Cary Classic Benefit Golf Tournament hosted by the Caribou Country Club and was sponsored by the Katahdin Trust Company. The Cary Foundation and the country club really did a great job with the tournament and many of our fine members sponsored holes along the way and other special events like closest to the pin and long drive contest. Great job, everyone!
Executive Director William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or email him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
