I am still not over the thrill of getting new members that join the Chamber. In fact, I hope I never get over that thrill. Each new member gives me a renewed sense of purpose and energy to promote the businesses and organizations of our community.
This past week saw two new member businesses join. Both are owned by Loren Gordon. The first is C&L Apartments on Fort Street. These very clean and well-maintained units are mostly single bedroom and smoke free. The second was Loren’s martial arts school, also on Fort Street called, Caribou School of Martial Arts. The school teaches ninjitsu, To-Shin Do and others and is one of only two schools in Maine licensed to teach Lessons in Violence Evasion (LIVE) for women. Thank you, Loren, for joining the Chamber and may we have a long relationship as I do all I can to promote your businesses.
I received several kudos on my post last week. So thank you. I was speaking with my heart and trying not to insult the writer as that was not my intension. I believe what I wrote. I believe we are the cusp of some really good times here. This is the last non-congested area on the East Coast. People are discovering that and several factors are leading people to move and retire here.
First, our housing market is one of the few places left on that same East Coast where home owning is not so out of reach. And apartment living is much cheaper here. The Maine Veterans Home is a big draw as is our health facilities ability to care for former military personnel. Many ex-pats are moving back when the lifestyle draws them back away from long lines and high stress environments.
But there are other things. Again, I see terrific things from Austin Bleess and Tony Mazzucco. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty, are always thinking of new ideas and revenue streams and are prolific grant writers. If there is money out there for Caribou, they will find it. And I think there is an acknowledgement that some of our ordinances and zoning are detrimental to business and the Planning Board is tackling all of that. Plus, we have a well-rounded, dedicated and smart City Council. I love what I see and the optimism is real.
I want to talk about common sense here for a minute. The topic falls a little outside of my job description here, but I think it needs to be said. The city has taken a common sense approach to the new reality of citizen-purchased fireworks. The rules are fair. But I think common sense has to be added to the users of those fireworks too.
Some users, once they get their permit, think they are all set and they do not have to think about anything else. But again, common sense needs to prevail here. If the owner of the fireworks lives in a neighborhood, the common sense approach to being a good neighbor might not be shooting off those fireworks in that neighborhood.
First, fireworks are best at night. In the summer, nightfall does not usually arrive until after nine. There are still a lot of people in our neighborhoods who go to bed by then and those fireworks are hard to sleep through. Some of our neighbors might have small children who also go to bed early. Dogs tend to go crazy when fireworks go off. And some people buy homes and move to a neighborhood because they want peace and quiet. Ignoring those realities because a permit is in hand does not seem to be neighborly.
Everybody is getting excited about the city’s new “Thursdays on Sweden” venture. Many will have a good time and get a chance to get out and about. The city is allowing vendors, whether it be food or arts, or crafts or any other type of vendor to participate for free. But we need you to contact us that you are coming so we can make everything work. Please call me at the Chamber at 498-6156 if you would or your organization would like to come and set up a booth or a table.
We also are looking for musical groups and acts to come and play/sing/deejay for an evening for great exposure to the public. Please call me if you or your band/act/etc. want to come and provide music for Thursdays on Sweden. The Thursday night street scene will begin June 27 and run every other week for the rest of the summer.
Members of the Veterans Memorial Park Association have been busy at work in beautifying that triangle between Lyndon Street and the Chamber office. They are a dedicated bunch and the place is really shaping up. Soon, a new encasement will be added to the statue and the Association members are very excited by its design. That will be a fitting climax to their efforts. Keep your eyes peeled for that!
We are much closer to getting the ads booked to pay for the new Caribou map. We need a few more to get the new tool printed at a breakeven point. Friday of this coming week is really the drop dead date to getting ads booked and artwork in for the map if that is something that interests you.
Mary Lou Brown and Rev. Bentum of the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church were in to discuss their plans for this fall’s big celebration as the cornerstone to their beautiful building was laid a hundred years ago in 1913. This is going to be a wonderful week-long celebration and the Chamber will be excited about helping them celebrate. Stay tuned!
Happy Anniversary wishes this week go to Brambleberry Market, which joined us last year; Caribou Utilities District, which joined in 2008; Professional Home Nursing Inc. which joined in 1996; Progressive Realty which joined in 2012; and WebXCentrics Design Group, which joined in 1996. Thank you! And many more to come!
