Pictured are Lori Weston and Jane Torres, who spoke at our January 27^th Rotary Meeting.

Our District Governor was scheduled to be our guest speaker today, however due to the weather was unable to attend. So Lori Weston stepped up to the plate and gave us information on events and what’s happening around town. She started by explaining her position as the Community Development Director for the Town of Houlton. Many of us see Lori working away at all the wonderful events that the Town and the Chamber do together, but there is a lot more to her job then that! She explained several grants she has submitted for various things around town including beautifying Market Square with new trees, snowmobile bridge, and many others that will improve our community in ways that you may never think of. Lori showed us some of the applications that needed to be completed for various grants and wow, they were vey long, some well over 100 pages. I recall a conversation that Lori and I had when she first started with this position regarding training that she was going to Central Maine on installing water lines and safe construction – it was very intense and inspirational to see just how far she is willing to go to improve our community, she was laughing as she is explaining the “field trip” with a hard hat on and learning what is the right way to do this, she is truly inspirational! Lori and Jane spoke on a meeting that they attended in Hallowell for the Farmers Market organization on learning what others are doing in the State and how we can improve or expand on our wonderful Community Market. It is still a little while before spring, but it will be here soon, and when it comes you really should spend a little time at our Community Market, it sure has grown over the years. I do not know the numbers but it was like just three years ago they had less then 10 vendors, and last year around 30-40. You can get many different items there, I will not list them here you will have to come check it out for yourself. You will want to come on a weekly basis because there are some that can not make it every week and if you are not there that week they are you just don’t know what you are missing! The greater Houlton area is a wonderful place to live with lots of things going on, if you are not sure what there is to do, check out the Pioneer Times, or stop into the Greater Houlton Chamber or even the Town Office. If you are lucky you may even get a chance to see Lori at the office. Lori spoke of Moosestompers that I sure hope you all got a chance to go and experience, and The County Coop and Farm Store that is working its way to opening maybe this fall. Lori expressed her gratitude for all the community members that give of themselves to make this a wonderful place to live, in return the Houlton Rotary Club would like to say thank you to you Lori, you are doing a great job!!