Bangor Metro April Issue by Melanie Brooks

3 Lovely Landscapes Area landscape designers turn dreams into realities

Working Waterfront

InsIDE: Local sports Savvy seniors Regional events $5.95

April 2012

•

Horn of Plenty

•

Bang o

International cuisine at Houlton’s

Garden r’s

ow Sh

How JB Turner is reshaping the Belfast waterfront

Into the

let Insid

Woods With the Maine Youth Fish & Game Association

700 employees. 160 years. 56 branches. One promise.

You matter more. Bangor Savings Bank was established in 1852 to serve the hardworking men and women in our own community. Ever since, we have been dedicated to supporting the lives and livelihoods of our customers, our neighbors, and our employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the people and businesses of Maine. Thank you for your patronage.

Member FDIC

april 2012

contents

features Building up belfast / 10 JB Turner is helping to turn Belfast harbor back into a working waterfront. Expanding their horizons / 12 Certified Nursing Assistants in our area are leading the nation by taking part in a groundbreaking training program. Three Lovely Landscapes / 18 We asked three landscape designers to design a Maine dream home. See what their imagination conjured up. into the woods / 26 The Maine Youth Fish & Game Association is getting kids out from behind their computers and video games an into the Maine wilderness. Horn of Plenty / 50 This international oasis in northern Maine is the creation of Chef William Roderick.

Photos: (top) sha-lam photography; (Right) courtesy of the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association; (far right) Michael farmer

18 www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 1

columns

in every issue

Metro Fitness / 16 How to battle a sedentary lifestyle.

TaLk of the Towns / 6 Three news nuggets from Old Town to Presque Isle.

woods & waters / 56 Springtime is a perilous time for newly- hatched ground chicks. last word / 64 Sometimes it’s easy to let something go when you have memories that remain.

Biz Buzz / 8 People and places on the move. what’s happening / 42 A list of ways to start enjoying spring.

Metro sports / 48 The tennis talents of Geroge Steven’s Academy and the tale of UMPI’s traveling baseball and softball teams. Perspectives / 54 A view of northern Maine from photographer Ragina Kakos. savvy seniors / 57 Check out this useful elder care glossary.

2 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Photos: (top) ragina kakos; (middle) courtesy of university of maine, presque isle; (bottom) courtesy of the complex group

contents

263 State Street, Suite 1 Bangor, Maine 04401 Phone: 207-941-1300 x121 Fax: 207-942-1613

issues just

.95 4 2

subscribe today

the Save $34 off ice newsstand pr

Term

cover price

save

pay only

1 Year (10 issues)

$59.50

58%

$24.95

Double my order!

Lock in the best price for 2 years and pay just $34.95 now. Call 941-1300 x121 to place your order or mail this form to: Bangor Metro 263 State Street, Suite 1 Bangor, Maine 04401

Please print clearly! Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City______________________________________________________________ State_______________ Zip____________________ Phone___________________________________________________________ Promo Code__________________________________ Email address_ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

p Pay by check.

Credit card number ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Expiration date _____________________________________________ CCID Code (3 digits on back of card) ________________ Name on card ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Authorized signature ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Description

Value

10 issues of Bangor Metro—only $2.50 per issue

p $24.95

20 issues of Bangor Metro—only $1.75 per issue

p $34.95

Eastern, Midcoast, and Northern Maine’s premier magazine for events, news, business, sports, and entertainment

INCLUDED

Editorial Features: • Regional Lifestyle and Business News • Health & Fitness • Sports & Outdoors • Senior Topics • Events Calendar • Local Restaurants • Local Photographers

INCLUDED

Add a gift subscription to Bangor Metro—only $15.00* Name ____________________________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________

p $15.00

City, State, ZIP____________________________________________________________________ *Gift subscriptions are only available with purchase of your subscription.

Remember to visit www.bangormetro.com for: • Our Feature Stories Online • Event Listings • Digital Magazine with Hotlinked Ads • Local Vendors Total

$ ____________

editor’s note

Melanie Brooks, editor

4 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Photo: Kate Crabtree

h, April. The sneakiest month of the year. It can be 55° out and sunny one day, and then Mother Nature will drop a couple of feet of snow on us the next. While April may dash our dreams of spring, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start dreaming of green grass, warm breezes, and beautiful blooms and flowering trees. I have been waging a war with my own landscaping. Last summer I planted a small garden, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, and summer squash. My husband and I had a blast making bread-and-butter pickles to give out as Christmas gifts to family and friends. In fact, we made so many jars we’re still sharing them, and, of course, eating them, too. When it comes to plants and flowers, my thumbs turn brown. While my mother and grandmother had a knack for what plants work in what parts of their yards—I don’t have a clue. I know what I like…but that doesn’t mean what I choose will thrive and grow around my yard. That’s why I was particularly interested in writing the feature on landscape design you’ll find on page 18. We asked three landscape designers to create a plan for three different landscapes—an in-city home, a coastal cottage, and a lakeside lodge. Depending on where you live, we hope you can glean some inspiration from these talented professionals. You will also find a pullout guide in this magazine for Bangor’s Garden Show. This event is a mustsee for anyone interested in learning more about landscape design and the plants and trees that thrive in Maine’s climate. The Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center is always jam packed with knowledgeable vendors who are ready and waiting to answer your gardening questions. I hope you enjoy our April issue, and allow yourself to dream of greener pastures—no matter what Mother Nature throws at us this month. The Bangor Metro Region

www.bangormetro.com

263 State Street, Suite 1 Bangor, Maine 04401 Phone: 207.941.1300 Email: editor@bangormetro.com

PUBLISHER

Metro Publishing, llc EDITOR

Melanie Brooks melanie@bangormetro.com SALES DIRECTOR

Christine Parker christine@bangormetro.com AD SALES CONSULTANTs

Kelly Enberg kelly@bangormetro.com Laura Manzo laura@bangormetro.com ART DIRECTOR

Sandy Flewelling Contributing PHOTOGRAPHers

Mark McCall, Ragina Kakos Sha-Lam Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tom Avila, Brad Eden, Henry Garfield Annaliese Jakimides, Rachel Rice Carol Higgins Taylor, Wendy Watkins SUBSCRIPTIONS

Sue Blake sue@bangormetro.com 10 issues $24.95 Bangor Metro is published by Metro Publishing, LLC. Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine or on the web. Please address written correspondence to 263 State Street, Suite 1, Bangor, ME 04401. For advertising questions, please call Christine Parker, Sales Director, at 207-404-5158. Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates in Bangor, Maine. Newsstand Cover Date: April 2012. Vol. 8, No. 2, copyright 2012, issue No. 68. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit. ADDRESS CHANGES: To ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of cover date. Opinions expressed do not represent editorial positions of Bangor Metro. Nothing in this issue may be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. Bangor Metro is published 10 times annually. To subscribe, call 941-1300 ext. 121 or visit www.bangormetro.com. Cover photo: courtesy of the maine youth fish and game association

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 5

Youth Inspiration statewide: Thanks to a group of area high school students, teens that suffer from anxiety and depression are being portrayed in a positive light through film. The Road Back is a 35-minute-long film that offers hope to young people dealing with anxiety and depression. Spearheaded by The Acadia Hospital in Bangor, a team of high school students from Hermon, Hampden, Bangor, and Old Town worked with southern Maine-based Project AWARE and Gum Spirits Productions to create the film from start to finish. “This film depicts youth in a genuine and authentic way,” says Alan Comeau, communications officer at The Acadia Hospital. “It’s a stepping point for discussion and will hopefully raise awareness and change attitudes in regards to anxiety and depression.” “The students working on this film went through a lot of research, and I learned a lot of the scientific reasons on why 6 / Bangor Metro April 2012

kids have anxiety and depression, as well as the emotional drain it causes,” says Faith Bishop, who wrote the script and directed the film. “I joined this project to help change people’s lives for the better with my writing and my words. If the script or the movie touches one person’s heart, or changes how one person feels about themselves, then all the work is completely worth it.” The project, which was funded through grants from the Davis Family Foundation, Bingham Program, Spring Harbor Hospital, and Bangor Savings Bank, is being sent to every interested middle and high school in the state, free of charge. Two Hermon High School students—Natalie Johnson and Josh Devou—act as the main characters in this film, which was shot over five days at Hermon High School and locations around Old Town this past October. There were over 100 students involved in the project, including actors, extras, sound crew, and production help. “This truly is a youth-created film,” Comeau says. To learn more about the film and The Acadia Hospital’s Youth Services, visit www.acadiatheroadback.org.

movie poster: kiera plante; photos: courtesy of the acadia hospital

talk of the towns

Center Stage

photos: (top) courtesy of the complex group; (right) samantha marie white

old town: Old Town native Nick Noonan made waves recently in a big way—his pop band, Karmin, made up of Noonan and his fiancé, Amy Heidemann, were the musical guests on Saturday Night Live. Noonan, who graduated from Old Town High School in 2004, was a big part of the school’s award-winning jazz program, along with his trusty trombone. He met Heidemann at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music and the duo’s infectious sound, style, and self-made YouTube videos have shot them to stardom. The group credits their cover of Chris Brown’s song “Look at Me Now” as a turning point in their career. The homemade YouTube video features Heidemann rapping with Noonan jamming on the keyboard. In three days, their video had been viewed over 560,000 times. At press time, the video has over 56 million views. Their first CD, Inside Out, was released in May 2010, and they were nominated as one of MTV’s Breakthrough Bands of 2011. Karmin also brought home a new award at the American Music Awards in November 2011 called New Media Honorees in the “group” category. Not only do Noonan and Heidemann upload a cover video and an original each week on their YouTube channel, they’ve

Go Bald

for a Cause

recently toured with the likes of Lady Gaga and have just been signed to Epic Records. They’ve been doing television appearances, interviews with magazines like Rolling Stone, and their second album, featuring all original material, is set to be released this spring. Not bad for a local jazz trombone player and his talented girlfriend.

presque isle: People in Presque Isle celebrated the 82nd anniversary of the discovery of Pluto in a far-out way—by shaving their heads and having them painted as planets. The sixth annual Planet Head Day was held at the Wieden Gym at the University of Presque Isle, and people of all ages turned out to help raise funds for the

Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery, aka C-A-N-C-E-R. Planet Head Day is the main fundraising event for C-A-N-C-E-R, and money raised goes to support area community members diagnosed with the disease. “Our services are many and are custom designed to fit the needs of each patient,” says Louise Calabrese, C-A-N-C-E-R chairwoman. Community members can use funds from the nonprofit organization to pay for prescriptions, heating oil, food, and anything else not covered by insurance— including travel and overnight accommodations for medical visits to Bangor, Portland, or beyond. This year, the event raised more than $28,000, nearly doubling the amount raised last year. About 100 people participated by either shaving their heads or wearing a “bald” cap to cover their hair to create a canvas for the volunteer Planet Head painters, who painted each participant’s bald or capped head as the planet, dwarf planet, or moon of their choice. People came from all over Aroostook County and western New Brunswick, and even as far away as Boston, to be painted. It’s a fun, annual community event that’s out of this world. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 7

biz buzz On the Move LISA MAGES-HASKINS,

AuD, has joined Penobscot Community Health Care’s Warren Center, providing audiology services. Prior to joining PCHC, MagesHaskins worked at Northern Hearing Services of Anchorage, Alaska. www.pchc.com Pen Bay Healthcare has a new communications and design specialist. TORY REIFF moved to the midcoast area in 2012 from Rhode Island and has recently joined the Pen Bay Healthcare Communications Department. She takes the role over from MEGAN WILLIAMS, who is now the director of communications at the hospital. www.penbayhealthcare.org

SPENCER MAYNARD has been hired as the manager of the company’s field office in Caribou. www.fgscmt.com

Old Town-native ALEX CANDLIN BARRY has been selected as a new pilot for the Maine Warden Service for the Eagle Lake patrol. Barry joined the Maine Air National Guard in 2003 and has been a full-time aircraft commander stationed in Bangor since 2005. www.mainegamewarden.com FirstMRI welcomes Jody Roberts to their Bangor-based diagnostic imaging practice. Roberts has over 15 years of sales, customer service, and management experience and will fill the role of marketing representative. Previously, Roberts was a manager at Athenahealth in their client support center and enrollment departments. www.firstmriassociates.com

MARIE ALBERT, DO, has

joined Penobscot Community Health Care as a family practitioner. Albert has been practicing medicine in the Bangor area for over 20 years and is a member of the American Osteopathic Association. www.pchc.com

ANTHONY CARUSO, longtime assistant director at Bangor International Airport, has been appointed interim director of the airport until a permanent director is hired. Caruso’s background includes experience in airport management and operations. www.flybangor.com

James W. Sewall Co. in Old Town, has been selected by the University of Maine System trustees to serve as chancellor for the Universtiy of Maine System. www.maine.edu MIKE HAWS has been appointed as managing director of the Sappi Fine Paper Somerset Mill in Skowhegan. Haws has over 26 years of experience in the paper industry, and was previously the vice president of operations at Verso Paper’s Bucksport mill. www.sappi.com

Fessenden Geo-Environmental Services/Construction Materials Testing has recently hired three new employees. The Bangor office welcomes JAMES MCCARTHY, EIT, geotechnical engineer, and DENNIS CURRAN, marketing and environmental services manager. 8 / Bangor Metro April 2012

POWERWISE, an energy monitoring services company in Blue Hill, has been given a grant from Efficiency Maine totaling $88,267 to test whether homeowners use less energy if they know more about their energy consumption. www.powerwisesystems.com

Awards The BAR HARBOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is the winner of the 2012 Sustainable Tourism Award from the Maine Office of Tourism, due to the chamber’s efforts with town wide recycling, energy efficiency among members, and environmentally sustainable practices. www.barharborinfo.com RISTEEN MASTERS BAHR, marketing

WALLY MCDONALD has taken over as the James page, CEO of the

million donation from Presque Isle native Mary Barton Akeley Smith. The funds will be used to help build a $6 million renovation of two NMCC facilities. The dining commons will be transformed into the Rodney Smith Center for Fitness and Occupational Wellness, in honor of the donor’s late husband, and the current gymnasium will become the Akeley Student Center, in honor of the donor’s parents and family. www.nmcc.edu

new mill manager at Verso Paper’s Bucksport location. McDonald has 24 years of experience in the paper industry, and was previously the operations manager for Verso’s Androscoggin mill. www.versopaper.com

Grants The Maine Coastal Program, a part of the State Planning Office, has awarded grant money to two area public organizations. The CITY OF BELFAST received $40,000 to study the feasibility of constructing over two miles of a multiuse pedestrian and bicycle path along the Passagassawakeag River, and the HANCOCK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISION was awarded $35,000 for a Blue Hill Bay watershed needs assessment. www.cityofbelfast.org www.hcpcme.org NORTHERN MAINE COMMUNMITY COLLEGE has recently received a $5

manager for the Bangor International Airport, recently received the Governor’s Tourism Award for Commitment to Community. Bahr, who has been active in the tourism community for 20 years, was previously the director for the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the marketing manager for the CAT highspeed ferry service. www.flybangor.com Two graduates from the Hutchinson Center’s Midcoast Leadership Academy, LORI ROMING and DAN BOOKHAM, were presented with the Jim Patterson MLA Leadership Award for their exemplary leadership and their accomplishments in making a difference in the midcoast area. www.hutchinsoncenter.umaine.edu Ellsworth Police Department officer ANDREW WEATHERBEE was recently given the Maine Association of Police’s heroism award for his rescue of a man from a burning car in October 2011. The

sight ings award is given to those officers who prevent a death or serious injury under adverse conditions. www.cityofellsworthme.org The EARLY COLLEGE FOR ME program at Northern Maine Community College has received a State Merit Award from the New England Board of Higher Education. The award is given to recognize the innovating work of organizations, institutions, and individuals throughout New England on the basis of the advancement of educational opportunities. www.nmcc.edu

1 5

JON and NANCY DAWSON, of ERA

Dawson Bradford Co. Realtors of Bangor, recently earned the Lifetime Membership award from the Maine Association of Realtors for their 30 years of dedicated service to the real estate industry. www.eradawson.com

RICHARD P. CROSSMAN of Allen

Insurance and Financial was recently honored by Certified Risk Managers International for leadership and professionalism in the field of risk management. Crossman has been in the insurance business since 1979, and is one of the first in Maine to obtain this designation. www.alleninsuranceandfinancial.com

6 3

Photos: (1 & 3): Anne Schmidt Photography; (2): sandy cox

The Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce presented awards to several businesses and citizens at their annual banquet earlier this year. The Integrity Award went to HEIDI CARTER; the Small Business Award went to GEIPC INC.; the Betterment Award to ROGERS’ SPORT CENTER; the President’s Award to RITA CANAAN; the Member of the Year Award to PARADIS SUPERMARKET and PHARMACY; the Longevity Award to LAKEVIEW RESTAURANT; and Citizen of the Year Award to ELLERY “ARMS” LABBE.

www.fortkentchamber.com PLEASANT RIVER LUMBER in Dover-

Foxcroft was recently recognized by The SafetyWorks! Program of the Maine Department of Labor. The company was presented with a Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program certificate for providing a safe and healthy work environment. www.pleasantriverlumber.com

4 1: David and Jessica Whitehill attend Bangor Greendrinks at Sweetest Thing Weddings • Floral Design • Events in downtown Bangor. 2: Marion Syversen, Becca Lloyd, and Jeni Lloyd at the Bangor Greendrinks event at Sweetest Thing Weddings • Floral Design • Events. 3: Earl Black with Nancy and Jon Dawson as they show off their recent Lifetine Achievement Awards from the Maine Association of Realtors. 4: Lori Fecteau, Marcia Baker, and Willow Sherwood at Bangor Fusion’s Noontime Network event at the Penobscot Theatre.

7 5: Quarry Hill and Knox Center executive chef John Roy and Kelly MacDonald, manager of Cappy’s Chowder House, show off their first and second place awards at the 2012 Chili and Chowder Challenge at the Camden Snow Bowl. 6: Peter McCorison from the Aroostook Mental Health Center and Kris Doody and Shawn Laferriere from Cary Medical Center with a check from AstraZenica HealthCare Foundation. 7: Nick Pike and Jesse Moriarity at a recent Story Slam event at Verve in Orono.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 9

movers & shakers

Building up Belfast The Belfast waterfront was vacant for 10 years after Stinson Cannery closed. Today it’s again a working waterfront, thanks, in part, to JB Turner. by henry garfield

oats are in JB Turner’s blood. The president of Front Street Shipyard in Belfast grew up in a small Connecticut town at the mouth of the Mystic River. Now he’s overseeing the transformation of Belfast’s working waterfront, and with it, quite possibly a new era for Maine’s boatbuilding and boat-service industries. The shipyard sits on the site of the former Stinson Cannery, near the recently renovated footbridge. For 10 years after the cannery closed, Belfast tried to find a developer for the property. There were several false starts and at least one lawsuit. One proposal called for a condominium complex, another for a mixed residential and waterfront recreation area. But the land lay fallow, its potential unrealized. Then, in January 2010, Turner and five partners purchased the property, and they haven’t looked back. “When we bought it, there was the crumbled hulk of what was the sardine cannery, so we had to take that down,” he says. “Then we had to start rebuilding what we call building three, put up new siding, new insulation. We got our travel lift running July 1, and we opened for business on July 2.” Four more buildings have gone up since then. Inside one of them is a 106foot aluminum power cruiser named Stoneface, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, undergoing a complete refit. The boat weighs 110 tons; the travel lift can handle boats up to 165 tons. Turner’s initial partners in the project were Steve White, owner of Brooklin Boat Yard, and Taylor Allen, owner of Rockport Marine. “Their own facilities are pretty small,” Turner says. “There was no way

repair up to that point, but Lyman Morse was where I first started working on the boatbuilding side of things,” he says. In 2010 he parted company with Lyman Morse and went to work at Kenway Corporation, a composites manufacturer in Augusta. Kenway’s owner, Ken Priest, is one of the six partners who purchased the five-plus acre property on which Front Street Shipyard now sits. “They all have their own businesses to run, so they tapped me to run this place and get it organized,” he says. Things have moved rapidly. “We’ve been madly building buildings, travel lifts, and docks. All the land the travel lift goes on had to be rebuilt so that it could handle 200 tons.” Turner is married and lives in Warren; his daughter is a college freshman and his son is in eighth grade. He gets to work at 6:30 a.m., and says there is no such thing as a typical day. “Basically, I deal with the issues that come up during the day. It could be a systems thing, a paint thing, or a deadline we’re trying to meet. I make a list every day, and that’s out the window usually by eight o’clock.” Turner says the city of Belfast has been cooperative from the outset. “This land is under what they call contract rezoning,” he says. “We can pretty much do whatever we want to. We can build right on the water, we can build over the water. We have a master contract with the city and then we have amendments to it. If we want to put up a new building, we go to the city council for an amendment.” Though the shipyard hasn’t started any new boat construction projects, several potential contracts are in the works.

they were going to be able to rework them to do bigger projects, and bigger projects kept coming up. Most entrepreneurs don’t like to say no.” Turner came to Maine in 1994 after spending nearly a decade managing a boatyard in Stonington, Connecticut. He was the service manager at Wayfarer Marine in Camden for four and half years before moving to Lyman Morse in Thomaston. “I had been working in service and 10 / Bangor Metro April 2012

As of March, the workforce numbered 66; Turner hopes to get that up to about 125 by the end of the year. “If we can get together with Hinckley and Wayfarer and other yards, we can create a Maine destination,” he says. “People can have four or five options. Labor rates are more attractive here than in southern New England. We can make Maine a place that people want to come to get work done.”

Photo: courtesy of jb turner

“We can make Maine a place that people want to come to get work done.” —JB Turner

The tune up grows up to optimization

t wasn’t too long ago when a trip to the garage to get the old truck tuned up required not much more than a couple of hands, a wrench, and a rag. Engines were pretty straight forward back then and the knowledge of what to do and how to do it was mostly stored in the brain of the local mechanic. Precision was more of a measurement of gut instinct born from experience than anything based on data, reports, and statistics. Today, the process is completely different. Auto mechanics rely heavily on precision measurements from specialized computer systems. The modern professional has a series of certifications, is well-versed in computerized diagnostics, and can achieve far more precision than days gone by. While nothing can replace the skill achieved from real world experience, the profession has certainly shifted from relying solely on gut instinct to measuring optimized precision. This is true for the heating systems that warm our homes and heat our water as well. While furnace tune-ups have historically been viewed as a way to make sure furnaces are cleaned and well-maintained, the technology and capabilities of today’s heating systems are complex, complicated, and designed for greater efficiency than ever before. And to stay abreast of those complexities, today’s service techs require continued training and advanced certifications. With the range of heating equipment and fuel sources being as vast as ever, combined with prices being volatile, maintaining peak efficiency to ensure you are getting the most heat for your money is more important than ever to

today’s homeowners. And this can be best accomplished by not only choosing the right systems and fuels that make the best sense for your home, but by optimizing the heating system efficiency each year. Optimization of your heating system goes beyond regular cleaning. It includes finding out specific performance requirements you seek and fine tuning the balance between output and fuel consumption to achieve that balance. To revisit the auto analogy, it’s similar to the choice between having a heavy horsepower muscle car that is ready to perform with speed and power without consideration of fuel use or driving a hybrid that achieves higher miles per gallon and gets more from a tank of gas. Of course, there are ranges in between but the extremes are used to illustrate a point: The choice between performance and fuel consumption no longer has to be out of your control as a homeowner. But engineering those efficiencies takes skill and expertise that comes with advance training and certification. If you’re interested in learning how you can find your preferred balance of performance and fuel consumption, consult a certified professional service technician and learn more about your options. Letting them know what your family water and heating demands are can help them craft a plan specific to you. Knowing how to get the most out of your heating system will assure you not only have the heating efficiency you seek, but the performance on demand that best fits your family’s needs and budget. Bob Foster is President of R. H. Foster Energy www.RHFoster.com

More than you’d expect from your energy company. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 11

metro health Jeff Boal, director of education for MDI Hospital leading a class in Bar Harbor.

The nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first advanced education and accreditation program for certified nurse assistants has taken flight right here in our corner of Maine. By Tom Avila

12 / Bangor Metro April 2012

n early November 2011, a group of 14 certified nursing assistants (CNAs) made their way from six Maine hospitals, located between Down East and Greenville, to a Marriott Courtyard in Concord, New Hampshire, to participate in the Northeast Safe Patient Handling Conference. On the surface, it would seem to be just another one of those professional conferences many professionals would opt to avoid, and hardly the start of a groundbreaking new project. But, for those CNAs and the hospitals where they work, it was history in the making.

Photos: Mark mccall

I Horizons

Expanding Their

That Concord trip was the opening academic outing for the inaugural class of the nation’s first advanced education and accreditation program for CNAs. “This is probably the most enthusiastic group of students you have ever come across,” says Jeff Boal, director of education for MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor. “For some of them, this was the first time since they had been practicing in the field that they were given the opportunity to go to a conference.” Once a CNA goes through their initial training, there has really been no formal education arena in which they can pursue—until now. This lack of a defined route for continuing education was the inspiration behind the advanced CNA certification. The program’s developers say it is not intended to replace the training or the tasks usually provided by a registered nurse. The goal of the program is to expand a CNA’s skills in such a way that they are able to better serve patients and assist their colleagues. Six hospitals are taking part in the program’s pilot year—Maine Coast Memorial in Ellsworth, Blue Hill Memorial, Down East Community in Machias, Mayo-Regional in Dover-Foxcroft, and Charles Dean Memorial Hospital in Greenville, with MDI Hospital and Boal taking the lead. Students who participate in the program receive their accreditation through Eastern Maine Community College. Financial support comes from the Health Care Sector Grant Fund—a grant awarded to Maine’s Department of Labor under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Despite the administrative, regulatory, and bureaucratic hurdles the creation of a program like this presents, Boal highlights the straightforward and commonsense approach taken in its development. “MDI Hospital is a critical care access facility, which means that, at best, we

Students spend time at each of the six participating hospitals over the course of their year long program.

said, ‘We want to offer this program. We have a limited budget, and what we would like to do is take two people from each

“The advanced CNA training is a great program to help prepare experienced CNAs for acute care, especially in small community hospitals.” —Nikki Chadwick have limited resources as far as education is concerned,” Boal says. “What we did was contact other hospitals in the area that are also critical access facilities and

hospital and have the classes taught at the respective facilities.’ What we were looking for was the experiential component for the students.”

Once a month during the yearlong course, the CNAs travel to one of the partner hospitals for an eight-hour class that draws on the strengths of each facility. From end-of-life care to pain management to geriatric care to comparing the roles and responsibilities of CNAs in different settings, the education provided to the students is as multifaceted as it is practical and rigorous. “The advanced CNA training is a great program to help prepare experienced CNAs for acute care, especially in small community hospitals,” says Nikki Chadwick, a registered nurse and the vice president of quality and education at Mayo www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 13

metro health

Nikki Chadwick and her fellow classmates.

Regional Hospital. “This is a great pilot to develop the skills and bedside knowledge for the CNA to better care for our patients and our community.” It’s also offering a potential boost to CNAs looking to advance in a field that has been identified by the U.S. Department of Labor as one that will grow in coming years. Statistics from the Maine Department of Labor show that the number of healthcare jobs nearly doubled between 1992 and 2010. All that growth, however, has not made the healthcare job market less competitive. That’s why MDI Hospital CNA Audrey Hanley, a pre-nursing student currently waiting to gain admission to a nursing program, saw the advanced CNA program as an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. “The most important thing is the education that you’re getting, because it gives you a chance to learn things you might need later on,” Hanley says. “Maybe it will mean better opportunities or the ability to connect with a nursing program. Something like this can help move someone toward that new career.” A particularly exciting aspect of the advanced CNA program is its mobility. “We wanted to create a portable education tool that could be adopted by any facility,” Boal explains. “St. Mary’s in Lewiston contacted us while we were developing the curriculum and said they had been trying to do something similar for about 20 years. Using our tools, they’ve been able to set up a program tailored to their facility.” 14 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Life is full of

exceptional moments.

At Machias Savings Bank, we know that your home is where memories are made. And the equity in your home can help you make your special place even more special. Whether you envision projects large or small, we can help your dreams become a reality this spring. So start building your exceptional memories today. Visit MachiasSavings.com for more information KJ >HH KC PEB %KIB "MQ¾PU )K>J KLP¾KJO SB KƪBN

metro fitness

Battle Your Sedentary Lifestyle

16 / Bangor Metro April 2012

how much time a person spends in sedentary pursuits, like watching television or working on a computer.” The more we sit, the higher the chance we’ll develop health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. But even more sobering are the higher

against solely using a pedometer to see if you’re getting enough exercise, they are a fun and useful took that I use as a personal trainer to keep my clients moving. If used during the course of the day when you’re sitting, the pedometers can help you track if you’re getting enough ac-

The more we sit, the higher the chance we’ll develop health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. mortality rates based on the number of daily hours spent sitting. So, what are you supposed to do? It’s pretty simple: Move. If possible, get up at least once an hour and take a lap. If you can’t do that, stand up for a while. Don’t just sit there—do something with your body. Be busy, be active, and continue with your workouts. The ACSM has a long list of what you’re supposed to do every week for exercise, but the key thing is to move—a little is better than nothing, so don’t sweat it if you can’t meet the minimum standards. They recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate cardio a week. That can be racked up over many shorter sessions (a great idea for combating a sedentary lifestyle). If you work out harder, you don’t have to work out so long. When it comes to weight training, adults should work each major muscle group and should engage in flexibility exercises two to three days a week. Functional fitness exercises—which work balance and agility—should be done a couple days a week. And even though the ACSM warns

tivity during your regular (i.e., non-workout) daily life. In other words, the pedometer can help keep you non-sedentary. When choosing a pedometer, there are few features to look out for—durability, how securely it clips to your clothes, and accuracy. Pedometers now come with all sorts of other features, including estimated calorie burn, heart rate monitors, activity calculators, and more.   The Fitbit Ultra ($99) not only tracks your steps, but also how many calories you’ve burned, and it features a bunch of cool (and free) online tools. Omron makes quite a few well-rated pedometers, ranging in price from $15 to $50, depending on how many functions you want. If you have an iPod Nano (fifth generation), you already have a built-in pedometer designed to track your steps and estimated calorie burn. Activate the function on the touch screen, slip it into your pocket or clip it on your waistband, and go! Wendy Watkins is a personal trainer and lifestyle coach at Bangor-Brewer Athletic Club in Brewer.

Photo: ©istockphoto.com/thinkstock.com

f you’re like most Americans, you sit all day—at work or school, during your commute, at home when you’re relaxing. But you also might work out in the morning before starting your day, or perhaps hit the gym a couple nights a week and then again on the weekend. You’re doing everything you can to keep your body fit and healthy, yes? Apparently, no. I was going to write a column about some cool pedometers but when doing some research, I found a recent study by the American Council on Sports Medicine—the standard-bearer when it comes to physical activity guidelines. The ACSM cast some sobering news for those who think they are undoing a day’s (or week’s) worth of sitting around by spending an hour or so engaged in exercise a few times a week. Or even by racking up the recommended 10,000 steps per day on their pedometer. While getting in those pedometer steps—or that intentional physical exercise—will give you some health benefits, it isn’t enough to combat the diseases associated with being sedentary if you spend most of your day sitting down. “Sedentary behavior—sitting for long periods of time—is distinct from physical activity and has been shown to be a health risk in itself. Meeting the guidelines for physical activity does not make up for a sedentary lifestyle,” ACSM researchers wrote in their report. “It is no longer enough to consider whether an individual engages in adequate amounts of weekly exercise,” wrote Carol Ewing Garber, PhD, associate professor of movement sciences at the Teachers College of Columbia University, in the study. “We also need to determine

Vote for your favorites! Turn to page 34 or go to bangormetro.com or scan this QR code!

Beautiful New Facility Opening Summer 2012 115 Guest Rooms on 3 floors t Indoor Pool & Whirlpool t Spacious Fitness Center Business Center t Complimentary Wi-Fi t Complimentary Local Shuttle Service 100% Nonsmoking t Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast t Ideal Location

Hampton Inn t Haskell Road t Bangor t 207-990-4400 www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 17

feature story

Lovely Landsc

18 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Looking for ideas on how to make the most of your outdoor living space? Read on...

apes

image: © charobnica/shutterstock.com

story by melanie brooks

his year’s mild winter weather has us dreaming of springtime temperatures earlier than ever. Sure, Mother Nature can still drop a foot of snow on us in April—it’s happened before—but we’re turning our sights toward the sun and getting ready for summer. We all know that summertime in Maine doesn’t quite last long enough, so we take every advantage we can to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. And what better place to do that than in your own yard? We asked three talented landscape gurus to help us create three different landscape designs for this feature. Mike Farmer from Rockland’s Farley and Son Landscaping tackled a seaside residence, complete with vegetable garden and grape arbors. Corey Thibodeau from Mainely Hardscapes created his landscape design around a lakeside lodge, incorporating an outdoor fireplace and stonework. Lastly, Bob Bangs of Windswept Gardens designed an outdoor living space for an in-town residence. Bangs used Bangor’s Little City neighborhood as the basis for his design. You can incorporate their ideas into your own home, no matter where you live. Let your imagination run wild as you read through the next six pages.

Seaside Residence

20 / Bangor Metro April 2012

ike Farmer was getting ready to retire when the owners of the landscape division of Hoboken Gardens, Farley & Son Landscaping, approached him for part-time employment. Farmer, an Illinois native, ran his own business, Michael T. Farmer and Associates, in Rockport for 35 years before joining Farley and Son last year. He earned his degree in landscape architecture from the University of Illinois in 1972, and moved to Maine three years later. After working with local architects and construction companies, Farmer opened his business in 1980. “I had always had a pipe dream of moving to Maine or Alaska,” Farmer says. “I always liked the hunting and fishing as-

pect out here. A lot of people have gravitated to this area over the last 30 years and there’s been a lot of work for me.” The first thing Farmer takes into consideration when designing an oceanfront landscape is clients’ goals, lifestyle, and expectations. Do they need recreation areas? How about outdoor living areas or extra parking spaces. Maybe the client wants a special garden for roses, herbs, or a Japanese water garden. He takes all of this into consideration before reaching for his pens and markers. Another important factor in planning is site drainage. “Proper drainage is critical to the success of the whole project,” Farmer says. Existing soils and bedrock also play a part in the design consider-

Illustrations: Michael Farmer

feature story

more info Suggested salt-tolerant plants • Anthony Waterer Spirea • Austrian Pine • Bar Harbor Juniper • Beach Plum • Blackhawk Viburnum • Blue Rug Juniper • Cockspur Hawthorn

ation, as does Mother Nature. The elements play a huge role when creating a plan for an ocenfront site. “Wooded sites are more protected,” he says. “On the ocean there is a lot of wind and salt spray—it’s a harsh environment. The rain doesn’t always come straight down.” Farmer also has to consider the view. He finds out which vistas need to be preserved and which views require screening or buffering with plants. An ocean view can be lovely—and add to the value of the property—but Farmer has to take into consideration the way the wind blows and the areas where the sun hits. As a site planner and landscape architect, he’s sensitive to existing site ameni-

ties, such as existing vegetation. He even takes protective measures to keep heavy equipment away from the root systems of existing plants. In this plan, Farmer uses a mixture of ferns, lilacs, bushes, and trees around the property. He’s taken erosion into consideration along the banks, and alloted for snow removal zones on the right arm of the driveway. “My forte is the drawing and drafting of the designs,” Farmer says, and he prefers to do it freehand. By this time of year, the entire Farley and Son team is getting busy. “I really enjoy working here,” Farmer says. “There are a lot of employees who have been with this company for a long time. It’s fun to be on the design end of it.”

• Common Lilac • Crimson King Maple • Dwarf Mugo Pine • Endless Summer Hydrangea • Hayscented Fern • Highbush Blueberry • Japanese Black Pine • Japanese Tree Lilac • Low Gro Sumac • Mohawk Viburnum • Northern Bayberry • Norway Spruce • PeeGee Hydrangea • Red Chokeberry • Red Oak • Rugosa Rose • Serviceberry • Summersweet • Swamp Azalea • Sweetfern • White Ash • White Spruce • Winter King Hawthorn www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 21

feature story

Lakeside Lodge

22 / Bangor Metro April 2012

orey Thibodeau, a graduate of Old Town High School and the University of Maine, has been running Mainely Hardscapes since 2006. “I’m a pretty independent person,” he says. “Owning my own business just made sense.” His educational background is in landscape horticulture and design, but his passion is stonework. It’s the masonry aspect of his business that keeps him busy year-round. “We do a lot of indoor work around building fireplaces and that sort of thing,” Thibodeau says. “My business is fairly small, usually just me and another guy working on a project, and we’re pret-

ty busy from the first of April through the beginning of December.” As the owner, foreman, and laborer on every project, Thibodeau is on the job site everyday—and that’s what his clients like. “I like a challenge,” he says. “Most of the stuff I do I design myself. I don’t like to reproduce projects: I take a lot of pride in creating something new for every client. Even if someone wants the exact same fireplace in their house that their neighbor has, something I do will be different.” Thibodeau designed a rustic, lakeside lodge for this project, and brought the natural feel of the log house into his design for the outdoor living space. He used

Illustrations: corey thibodeau

a lot of irregular shapes to create a less formal atmosphere—sweeping curves as opposed to straight and perpendicular lines. You can find some great boulders on the shores of Maine’s many lakes, and Thibodeau works hard to reuse existing rocks on the property and moving them if necessary. “There’s a lot of thought in placing rocks, just as there is in placing plants,” he says. When moving a boulder, Thibodeau will be careful to dig the stone a new hole, so it sits into the ground like it’s been there forever. As you can see in this design, there are a variety of stone walls around the property. Thibodeau will use Maine field-

stones for these walls and build them by hand himself. For the patio here, Thibodeau would choose to use Pennsylvania flagstone or bluestone, which is similar to slate. “I primarily use these types of stones because they’re smooth, easy to work with, have a nice color, and are readily available,” Thibodeau says. And of course, the fireplace master couldn’t create an outdoor living space without an outdoor fireplace. There’s even a lakeside fire pit added too, for a camping-like atmosphere where you can easily roast marshmallows as you look out over the water and let the call of nearby loons lull you to utter relaxation.

more info Suggested plants • Pieris Brouwer’s Beauty • Ivory Silk Lilac Tree • Jane Magnolia Tree • Purple Gem Rhododendron • Mountain Laurel, aka Tiddlywinks • Viburnum • Vanilla Spice, aka Summersweet

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 23

Intown Residence

24 / Bangor Metro April 2012

ob Bangs has been running Windswept Gardens in Bangor for the past four decades. Originally from just outside of New York City, Bangs moved to Maine in 1966 as a college freshman. He attended the University of Maine for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in soils and horticulture. He’s been in the Bangor area ever since. Before starting in on a landscape design project for a client, Bangs and his crew complete due diligence before they start digging in. “We want the design to

complement the existing environment and the architecture of the house,” Bangs says. He also takes into consideration what the area will look like in five to 10 years. “We don’t want to plan anything that is going to grow to hide the house,” he says. In this rendering, the deck on the back of the house already existed, but the clients wanted an additional space for their BBQ grill. Bangs designed the step-down patio addition, which he likens to an outdoor room. The patio opens onto an intimate lawn area, which is enclosed by

Illustrations: bob bangs photo of illustrations: Mark Mccall

feature story

plant material. “It’s a fairly good size outdoor room that’s private,” Bangs says. “It’s protected by the neighbors with a cedar hedge and trees on one side, and a narrow opening to the rest of the lawn on the other.” Perfect ideas for the owners of a neighborhood home who want a little more privacy. The lawn area in this design measures 16 feet across and 28 feet in length. The most important part of his designs isn’t deciding what plants to use, but in creating outdoor living spaces and flow patterns while helping create energy-

conscious designs. “During the planning stage, we don’t think about specific plants unless the clients ask for them,” he says. “Once the spaces are planned, we take a look at what plants will thrive well in the area.” While Windswept Gardens will plan, build, and even maintain your outdoor living space for you, Bangs creates his plans to incorporate very little plant management from the owners, making it easy to enjoy the space all season long. When choosing what plants to use in his designs, Bangs considers color, form, and texture. The shape of the plant and how it grows is just as important as the beauty and timing of its blooms. One of Bangs’s favorite plants is the Dwarf Korean Lilac. And Bangs should know—he’s written the landscape design section for the Maine Nursery and Landscape Certification and is himself certified in both. Not sure what you want to plant? Don’t be afraid to ask. “People come in to buy plants that they like, but don’t quite fit in the desired location,” Bangs says. “There’s a right plant for the right space.”

more info Suggested plants • Bloodgood • Cyprus • Day Lilies • Daydream Roses • Geranium • Hosta • Lady’s Mantle • Lilac • PeeGee Hydrangea • Rhododendron • Tom Thumb

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 25

feature story

Woods Into the

26 / Bangor Metro April 2012

The Maine Youth Fish and Game Association is giving youngsters the opportunities to get out and explore the wonders of the Maine woods. By Henry Garfield

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife regularly stocks Pickerel Pond with brook trout. Here, summer campers help move the fish from the tank to the open water.

o a certain kind of Mainer, this is the real Maine: a land of trees, lakes, and dirt roads, miles from the nearest town. Pickerel Pond, where the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association (MYFGA) has its camp, is tucked into the upper corner of Hancock County—in Township 32, to be precise—though the easiest way to get there is through Milford, across the river from Old Town. There’s a small sign at the turnoff, but pretty soon the signs disappear. There’s an occasional gate, and an even more occasional homestead. An old landing strip, once used for survival training by Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, but abandoned since World War II, cuts through the trees on the far side of the pond and is sometimes used by hunters for target practice. But the sense of being out on the land and out from under the veneer of civilization is palpable. “You turn left out of here, and you can ride these roads all the way to Princeton,” says a man standing next to one of many pickups in the small parking lot. Much of the surrounding land is still owned by International Paper; the roads are maintained by American Forest Management. On this day in January, the wide gravel roads are covered with a thin layer of snow; a gray sky is spitting small flakes. That hasn’t stopped some 200 people from making the trek out here to enjoy a day of ice fishing. It’s an annual event, put on by the MYFGA for anyone who wants to show up. The organization supplies bait, equipment, coffee, hot chocolate, and lunch. “The great thing about this is that they literally provide everything,” says Jeff Mahaney, who brought grandsons Jeremiah www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 27

Carter Sevigny, a 4 year old from Old Town, caught the biggest brook trout at Januaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ice fishing derby at Pickerel Pond. 28 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Photos: courtesy of the maine youth fish and game association

feature story

and Shawn to the event. “If you’re not an outdoor person, you can bring a kid here and they provide the traps, the bait, the food—everything for free, to get kids involved in the outdoors.” Pickerel Pond is designated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a “youth only” pond. Fishing is limited to those 15 years of age or younger. It is one of approximately two dozen bodies of water in the state (and the only one in Hancock County) devoted entirely or partially to youth fishing. “Anybody can fish here at any time, provided they’re under 16 years of age,” says Travis Roy, an MYFGA board member. “There’s a two-trap, two-trout limit. Of course adults are welcome to come out here to coach and assist; they just can’t fish.” It’s good fun, especially when someone else does much of the work. The frozen pond bristles with machinery; in two hours, volunteers working with powered augers have drilled more than 150 holes in the ice. Though the winter has been mild, by late January the small pond has

The annual ice fishing derby brings youngsters from all around the greater Bangor area to Pickerel Pond. The pond is a designated “youth only” pond where the only people who can fish in it are aged 15 or younger. Above: Emilee Pinkham shows off the brook trout she caught.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 29

feature story Top: Nels Kramer and Brian Campbell demostrate electrofishing in Kunkhaze Stream. Middle: A helicopter from the U.S. Army touches down on the shores of Pickerel Pond for a hands-on visit. Bottom: Kids learn how to navigate the pond using a variety of watercraft—from canoes and kayaks to motorboats.

frozen to a thickness of half a foot—plenty to support snowmobiles and four-wheelers. All around the pond small encampments have formed around flags in the ice, and the hot chocolate flows freely as the young fishermen wait their first bites. It doesn’t take long for kids to begin trooping excitedly to the MYFGA trailer to have their wriggling fish weighed and measured. So what’s the key to being successful at ice fishing? “If you were to go around the pond and ask 10 different people, you’d probably get 10 different tips on technique,” Roy says with a chuckle. “But in a stocked body of water like this, there really isn’t much to it. Drill a hole, drop the line, and wait.” There are contests and awards, but the best part of the day is simply being out here, with several hundred like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, breathing the crisp, clean air and feeling the cold radiate upward through the thick soles of winter boots and wool socks. A group of kids have groomed a small sledding run on the slope leading down to the pond. They stop what they’re doing momentarily to watch as a helicopter from the Maine Warden Service buzzes overhead, checking out all the activity. But there’s much more to the story of the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association than an annual day of ice fishing for kids. The organization runs a popular summer camp at Pickerel Pond, and facilitates events throughout the year, including safety training for all-terrain vehicles and opportunities to accompany state biologists on species surveys. They also allow access and use of their equipment to other organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, the University of Maine, and College of the Atlantic. It all began, most of the principals seem to agree, in 1999. In the waning days of the 20th century, a group of men got together to discuss what they could do to pass down their heritage of outdoor recreation to the next generation of Maine youth. International Paper was willing to lease them the land, which it eventually 30 / Bangor Metro April 2012

donated to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for MYFGA’s use. “We have 16 acres in a horseshoeshaped pattern around the lake that IP donated to us back in 2006,” Roy says. “The other end of lake is still owned by the paper company, but they let us use it for hiking and orienteering and stuff.” With the help of state representative Matt Dunlap of Old Town, the small group of men began to gather support from area businesses and citizens. Dunlap, a Democrat who served four terms in the legislature and was House Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, is currently running for Olympia Snowe’s seat in the U.S. Senate. Soon the trickle of support became a flood. “Their dream in 2000 was that if they had enough bake sales they could someday put up a building,” Roy says. “When they announced their plans, Northern Log Homes donated the building. Someone else donated the foundation. The Maine National Guard and some other people got together and put the whole thing up.” “Everything’s donated,” says founder and board member Steve Greenleaf, who’s out on his snowmobile to enjoy helping the kids fish on this day despite having only one leg—he lost the other one years ago in an industrial accident at the Old Town paper mill, where he still works part-time. “We as board members and families and friends put a lot of work

The organization runs a popular summer camp at Pickerel Pond, and facilitates events throughout the year... into it, but all the materials were donated by people who wanted to support us and what we do.” Other sponsors include Old Town Canoe, The North Woods Sporting Journal, Georgia Pacific Community Outreach, Ducks Unlimited, Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs, Hat Trick Charters, and Port Harbor Marine. TBA (Tires Batteries and Acwww.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 31

feature story

Summer camp participants get to try out all sorts of activities. Here, girls and boys get a lesson in archery.

cessories) donated the orange building on runners that can be slid out onto the ice and serves as outdoor headquarters during the ice-fishing derby. “We couldn’t have done all that we have without tremendous support from the community,” Roy says. The organization came into official existence in 2001. “We signed our charter the day after 9-11,” says Ed Leblanc, MYFGA’s current president. Its mission statement reads: The Maine Youth Fish and Game Association was established for the purpose of promoting the love and respect for the Maine outdoors by the youth of Maine and extending to these youth, the treasures of experience in the outdoors. Our mission is to share with our children in the beauty and bounty of nature in all its works; to teach the ways of wildlife, to promote conservation, the importance of habitat, and the joys of discovery to be found in the woods, waters, and the skies of Maine. 32 / Bangor Metro April 2012

No one is turned away for inability to pay. The organization sets aside funds to make scholarships available for families requesting financial support. In addition to a board of directors, MYFGA also has a youth board, made up of “graduates” ages 16 and 17, too old to fish in Pickerel Pond but still eager to participate in all the fun and learning. Tyler Leblanc, Ed’s son, is a student at Orono High School and vice president of the youth board. Now 17, he grew up with a love for Maine’s outdoors and wants to make sure that gets passed on to those who come after him. This year, the youth board is sponsoring and judging an essay contest. “The topic is: What’s your favorite part of fishing?” he says. “The winner got a free lifetime fishing and hunting license.”

That’s a valuable prize indeed for someone not old enough to drive. The centerpiece of MYFGA’s operation is the summer camp, held in two oneweek sessions: a day camp for youths ages 7–11, and a combination five-day overnight/day camp for older kids ages 12–15. Most of the campers come from Hancock, Penobscot, and Piscataquis Counties, but some participants come from as far away as South Portland. “The 8–11 camp is so overrun with people that we’re thinking of adding a second week,” Roy says. Costs are kept low so that everyone who wants to can attend. “This will never be about the haves and the have-nots,”

Roy says. “Everything we do is absolutely free, except for the summer camps, and we just charge enough to cover our costs.” The cost of a week at camp is just $75 for the younger kids and $125 for older campers. Activities at camp include fishing, fly tying, fly casting, archery, firearm and hunter safety, map and compass orientation, astronomy, outdoor survival skills, boat safety, camp cooking, and knot and knot tying. Additionally, MYFGA taps its ever-increasing army of volunteers in outdoor professions for presentations on such topics as fisheries biology and fish stocking, search and rescue dogs, and logging operations. No one is turned away for inability to pay. The organization sets aside funds to make scholarships available for families requesting financial support. Every April, MYFGA hosts an auction and banquet to raise money for the summer camps. This year’s event will be held at the Old Town Elks Lodge on April 14. The organization is also embarking on an ambitious capital campaign to raise approximately $150,000 for an expansion of the lodge. The handsome, two-story wooden structure, with a slanted roof, a large kitchen, and a long front porch facing the pond, has been outgrown by MYFGA’s continued success. “When we have large groups, we’d like to be able to get them all inside,” Roy says. “It can get a little crowded in there sometimes.” Some $60,000 has been raised as of this writing, and Roy says they hope to start construction on the addition, which will double the size of the building, sometime in the spring. If the past 11 years are any indication, there will be no shortage of people willing to contribute time and energy, as well as a few dollars, toward the goal. Some of the youngsters out on the ice in January will be campers come July; others will have to wait a few years—MYFGA association events tend to bring out kids as young as 2 and 3, accompanied, of course, by parents or grandparents. The continued support augurs well for the future, not only of the association, but of a new generation of wildlife biologists, game wardens, resource management experts, and stewards of Maine’s magnificent outdoor heritage.

www.bangormetro.com Have you been there? Visit our website today to subscribe, read, browse, and find local events & advertisers.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 33

This is your official ballot for Bangor Metroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4th annual Best Restaurants contest. Hurry! Ballots must be received by JUNE 1, 2012. VOTE for your favorite restaurant...by county! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great way to give kudos to your favorite local spots from Fort Kent to Rockland and Greenville to Eastport. Send in your ballot TODAY!

Vote ONLINE!

Go to www.bangormetro.com or scan this QR code!

We span eight counties and thought it only fitting that we expand our annual Best Restaurants competition to better serve all of the communities we reach. When voting, please include the name of the restaurant as well as the town where it is located.

You can vote two ways: By mail: Tear these pages out of your magazine or pick up a ballot at your local Chamber of Commerce. Complete the survey and mail it to Bangor Metro, 263 State St., Suite 1 Bangor, ME 04401. Online: Visit www.bangormetro.com to fill out our online survey, or use your smartphone to scan the QR code on the left. Rules: 1) One ballot per person. 2) Any restaurant in the Bangor metro area is eligible. 3) Fill out only those categories and counties you feel strongly about.

Your name

Email address

34 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sandwich

Best Bar

Restaurant name

Town

Best Burger

Best Microbrew

Restaurant name

Town

Best BBQ

Best Cocktails

Restaurant name

Town

Best French Fries

Best Coffee

Restaurant name

Town

Best Wings

Best Whoopie Pie

Restaurant name

Restaurant Name

Town

Best Chowder

Best Ice Cream

Restaurant name

Town

Best Lobster Roll

Best Blueberry Pie

Restaurant name

Town

Best Fried Clams

Best Donuts

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sushi

Most Romantic

Restaurant name

Town

Best Ethnic

Best Family Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

Best Vegetarian

Best New Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

aroostook

Best Breakfast

Including Fort Kent, Caribou, Presque Isle & Houlton â&#x20AC;˘

Best Pizza

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 35

hancock Including Bar Harbor, Blue Hill, Ellsworth & Bucksport â&#x20AC;˘

Best Pizza

Best Breakfast

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sandwich

Best Bar

Restaurant name

Town

Best Burgers

Best Microbrew

Restaurant name

Town

Best BBQ

Best Cocktails

Restaurant name

Town

Best French Fries

Best Coffee

Restaurant name

Town

Best Wings

Best Whoopie Pie

Restaurant name

Restaurant Name

Town

Best Chowder

Best Ice Cream

Restaurant name

Town

Best Lobster Roll

Best Blueberry Pie

Restaurant name

Town

Best Fried Clams

Best Donuts

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sushi

Most Romantic

Restaurant name

Town

Best Ethnic

Best Family Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

Best Vegetarian

Best New Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

36 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sandwich

Best Bar

Restaurant name

Town

Best Burgers

Best Microbrew

Restaurant name

Town

Best BBQ

Best Cocktails

Restaurant name

Town

Best French Fries

Best Coffee

Restaurant name

Town

Best Wings

Best Whoopie Pie

Restaurant name

Restaurant Name

Town

Best Chowder

Best Ice Cream

Restaurant name

Town

Best Lobster Roll

Best Blueberry Pie

Restaurant name

Town

Best Fried Clams

Best Donuts

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sushi

Most Romantic

Restaurant name

Town

Best Ethnic

Best Family Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

Best Vegetarian

Best New Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

knox county

Best Breakfast

Including Camden, Rockland, Union & Vinalhaven â&#x20AC;˘

Best Pizza

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 37

penobscot Including Bangor, Lincoln, Millinocket & Newport â&#x20AC;˘

Best Pizza

Best Breakfast

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sandwich

Best Bar

Restaurant name

Town

Best Burgers

Best Microbrew

Restaurant name

Town

Best BBQ

Best Cocktails

Restaurant name

Town

Best French Fries

Best Coffee

Restaurant name

Town

Best Wings

Best Whoopie Pie

Restaurant name

Restaurant Name

Town

Best Chowder

Best Ice Cream

Restaurant name

Town

Best Lobster Roll

Best Blueberry Pie

Restaurant name

Town

Best Fried Clams

Best Donuts

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sushi

Most Romantic

Restaurant name

Town

Best Ethnic

Best Family Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

Best Vegetarian

Best New Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

38 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sandwich

Best Bar

Restaurant name

Town

Best Burgers

Best Microbrew

Restaurant name

Town

Best BBQ

Best Cocktails

Restaurant name

Town

Best French Fries

Best Coffee

Restaurant name

Town

Best Wings

Best Whoopie Pie

Restaurant name

Restaurant Name

Town

Best Chowder

Best Ice Cream

Restaurant name

Town

Best Lobster Roll

Best Blueberry Pie

Restaurant name

Town

Best Fried Clams

Best Donuts

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sushi

Most Romantic

Restaurant name

Town

Best Ethnic

Best Family Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

Best Vegetarian

Best New Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

piscataquis & somerset

Best Breakfast

Including Greenville, Dover-Foxcroft, Pittsfield & Skowhegan â&#x20AC;˘

Best Pizza

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 39

washington Including Calais, Machias, Lubec & Eastport â&#x20AC;˘

Best Pizza

Best Breakfast

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sandwich

Best Bar

Restaurant name

Town

Best Burgers

Best Microbrew

Restaurant name

Town

Best BBQ

Best Cocktails

Restaurant name

Town

Best French Fries

Best Coffee

Restaurant name

Town

Best Wings

Best Whoopie Pie

Restaurant name

Restaurant Name

Town

Best Chowder

Best Ice Cream

Restaurant name

Town

Best Lobster Roll

Best Blueberry Pie

Restaurant name

Town

Best Fried Clams

Best Donuts

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sushi

Most Romantic

Restaurant name

Town

Best Ethnic

Best Family Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

Best Vegetarian

Best New Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

40 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sandwich

Best Bar

Restaurant name

Town

Best Burgers

Best Microbrew

Restaurant name

Town

Best BBQ

Best Cocktails

Restaurant name

Town

Best French Fries

Best Coffee

Restaurant name

Town

Best Wings

Best Whoopie Pie

Restaurant name

Restaurant Name

Town

Best Chowder

Best Ice Cream

Restaurant name

Town

Best Lobster Roll

Best Blueberry Pie

Restaurant name

Town

Best Fried Clams

Best Donuts

Restaurant name

Town

Best Sushi

Most Romantic

Restaurant name

Town

Best Ethnic

Best Family Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

Best Vegetarian

Best New Restaurant

Restaurant name

Town

waldo

Best Breakfast

Including Winterport, Belfast, Lincolnville & Unity â&#x20AC;˘

Best Pizza

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 41

what’s happening

april 13 Rustic Overtones / Ellsworth

april 21 Park Day Cleanup Project / Bucksport

Rustic Overtones Ellsworth • April 13 This seven-piece band started out in Portland in the early 1990s and has been wowing fans across the country ever since. After a hiatus in the mid2000s, the band has regrouped and started touring again. Don’t miss your chance to catch them in Ellsworth at The Grand. Park Day Cleanup Project Fort Knox, Prospect • April 21 Spend your Saturday volunteering for a great cause. Fort Knox needs all hands on deck to help clear away the winter debris before the park opens for the 2012 season. Volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt as well as a tour of the fort.

42 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Photos: (top) courtesy of the grand; (bottom) leslie wombacher/sundial photography

april

Events April 1 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Gracie Theatre, Husson University Bangor The Bangor Ballet teams up with conductor Lucas Richman and musicians from the Bangor Symphony Orchestra to present this Bangor premiere of the classic story by Washington Irving. 3 pm. $20 adults; $10 children under 18. www.gracietheatre.com April 3 Katie Armiger in Concert Gracie Theatre, Husson University Bangor Katie Armiger’s powerful vocals and skillful songwriting have been compared to country singers Sara Evans and Martina McBride. Sponsored by Husson’s student activities. 8 pm. $15; $10 with student ID. www.gracietheatre.com April 4 Bob Marley Comedy Show Old Town High School Maine comedian Bob Marley comes to Old Town for a benefit show for Old Town High School’s Project Graduation. Tickets can be purchased at OTHS, Bell’s Orono IGA, Birmingham’s Store, Tim’s Little Big Store, and the Old Town Elk’s Lodge. 6 pm. $15. 852-7724 April 4 Cordis The Grand, Ellsworth For over a decade the contemporary quartet Cordis has been redefining contemporary chamber music by fusing an original combination of custommade and traditional ethnic instruments to create their signature sound. The group will hold a worshop preceding the show. Workshop 4–6 pm; show at 7:30. $15 workshop only, $20 for workshop and performance and performance only. 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org

April 5 Sagapool Unity Centre for the Performing Arts Unitiy With its contagious joie de vivre and its vibrant music, this band of six musicians has created an original and dazzling repertoire that reflects the colorful influences of Montreal’s cultural mosaic. 7:30 pm. $15. 948-SHOW • www.unity.edu/UCCPA April 6–8 Bangor’s Garden Show Bangor Auditorium Bangor’s first taste of spring blossoms with eight colorful and delightful gardenscapes by award-winning local landscapers. There will also be over 50 vendors featuring all you need to get your garden up and going for 2012. This year’s show will feature a kid’s Easter egg hunt and an Easter bonnet contest with great prizes and lots of fun. Fri. and Sat. 10 am–8 pm; Sun. 10 am–4 pm. $5 adults; free for children under 12. 947-5555 www.bangorciviccenter.com April 7 KahBang Arts Spring Gallery Featuring the Mallett Brothers Band Zen Asian Bistro, Bangor The Mallett Brothers Band closes out two weeks of activities, arts, and music in downtown Bangor. 10 pm. www.kahbangarts.org April 7 Battle of the Bands Brewer High School This seventh annual event, presented by the Brewer High School Music Department, features local student bands playing everything from rock and pop to jazz and country. 6:30 pm. 989-4140 April 7 Annual Easter Egg Hunt Harbor House Community Service Center, Southwest Harbor For children ages pre-k through 4th

Theater

Music

grade. Come have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. 10 am–12 pm. 244-9824 • www.harborhousemdi.org April 7 Live from the Met: Massenet’s Manon Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Strand, Rockland The Grand, Ellsworth Anna Netrebko’s dazzling portrayal of the tragic heroine in Laurent Pelly’s new production travels to the Met from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot also star, with the Met’s Principal Guest Conductor Fabio Luisi on the podium. 12 pm. 581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com 594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org April 12 Ellsworth Chamber After Hours Beth C. Wright Cancer Center Ellsworth Join the Ellsworth Chamber for their monthly after hours event. Please RSVP. 5 pm. 667-5584 • www.ellsworthchamber.org April 13 Rustic Overtones The Grand, Ellsworth When this band reemerged in 2007 for a hometown show before 6,000 rabid Portland-area fans, it was a reunion that was only supposed to last the summer. The response was so positive that they’ve been together ever since. Catch them in Ellsworth for a memorable show. 7:30 pm. $17 in advance; $20 at the door. 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org April 13 & 14 Robinson Ballet LIVE 2012 Ellsworth High School Athleticism, artistry, mood, movement, poetry, emotion, and imagination are just some of the elements you will find in Robinson Ballet LIVE 2012. 7 pm; additional youth matinee on Sun. at 3 pm. 990-3140 • www.robinsonballet.org

Please visit our site, www.bangormetro.com, and submit your event under our submissions tab. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 43

Events

Theater

April 14 Northestern Maine Heart Ball Bangor Auditorium This 1940s-themed black tie affair, sponsored by the American Heart Association, will feature a live and silent auction, dinner, dancing entertainment from world champion ballroom dancers, music by Sentimental Journey, and much more. 6 pm–midnight. $125. 862-8119 • www.heart.org April 14 Live from the Met: Verdi’s La Traviata Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Strand, Rockland The Grand, Ellsworth Natalie Dessay will put on the red dress in Willy Decker’s stunning production, in her first Violetta at the Met. Matthew Polenzani sings Alfredo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky is Germont, and Principal Guest Conductor Fabio Luisi is on the podium. 1 pm. 581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com 594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org April 14 Carmina Burana Strom Auditorium, Rockport Down East Singers joins forces with noted soloists Suzanne Nance, John McVeigh, and Andrew Garland, and instrumentalists for a first-time performance of Italian musical theater. 7:30 pm. $30-$40 adults; $8 children 18 and under. 263-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org April 14 & 15 Southern Aroostook Trade Show John A. Millar Civic Center, Houlton Come see your favorite vendors and meet new ones. Events will be happening throughout the two-day event. Sat. 9 am–7 pm; Sun. 10 am–4 pm. 532-4216 • www.greaterhoulton.com April 14 & 15 Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ Discovery Auction Thomaston This special event features over 1,200 lots of amazing objects ranging from fine art and furniture to jewelry and firearms.

44 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Music Preview at 9 am; auction starts at 11 am. 354-8141 www.thomastonauction.com April 15 Pavel Haas Quartet Minsky Recital Hall, UMaine Orono The Pavel Haas Quartet has performed at the world’s most prestigious concert halls and recorded three award-winning CDs. Don’t miss the opportunity to see them in Orono. 3 pm. $33. 581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com April 19 Fusion Bangor’s Noontime Network Wellman Commons, Bangor Grab your business cards and join young professionals in the area for a networking lunch hour. RSVP to programs@ bangorregion.com. 12–1 pm. $10 in advance; $12 at the door. 947-0307 • www.bangorregion.com April 19 Shanneyganock Unity Centre for the Performing Arts Unity This group has charmed many through their stirring ballads, powerful shanties, and rib-rattling jigs and reels. 7:30 pm. $15. 948-SHOW • www.unity.edu/UCCPA April 20 Broadway’s Next H!t Musical! Gracie Theatre, Husson Universitiy Bangor This hysterically funny show features master improvisers taking suggestions from the audience to create a full-blown improvised musical, complete with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and plot twists galore. 7:30 pm. $32. www.gracietheatre.com

The 42nd Annual Bangor Home Show attracts 20,000 patrons and over 300 vendors each year. The finest displays are on show, so don’t miss this popular event. Fri. 1–9 pm; Sat. 10 am–9 pm; Sun. 10 am–5 pm. $7 adults; free for children 12 and under. 800-237-6024 • www.homeshows.com April 21 Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race Kenduskeag to Bangor Snag a seat on the riverbanks and watch dozens of canoeists and kayakers brave the 16.5-mile journey from Kenduskeag to the Penobscot River in Bangor. 992-4490 www.kenduskeagstreamcanoerace.com April 21 Hope Festival Student Recreation & Fitness Center, UMaine Orono We all need hope during these difficult times, so mark your calendar for this year’s HOPE (Help Organize Peace Earthwide) Festival which will be held at the University of Maine’s Student Recreation and Fitness Center. 10 am–5 pm. 942-9343 • www.peacectr.org April 21 Washington County Fiddlers’ Showcase & Dance Beehive Grange, Machias Come and listen to live fiddle music and kick up your heels. This fun event benefits the Maine Fiddle Camp. The family dance runs 6–7 pm and the fiddle free for all runs 7–8 pm. The community contra dance starts at 8 pm. $10; $30 family; free for children under 5. 904-7623

April 20 & 21 Robinson Ballet LIVE 2012 Bangor Opera House Athleticism, artistry, mood, movement, poetry, emotion, and imagination are just some of the elements you will find in Robinson Ballet LIVE 2012. 7 pm; additional youth matinee on Sun. at 3 pm. 942-3333 • www.penobscottheatre.org

April 21 Park Day Cleanup Project Fort Knox, Prospect Volunteers are needed to assist in Park Day Cleanup, held by Fort Knox, the Civil War Preservation Trust, and the History Channel. Volunteers who pick up and remove winter debris will receive T-shirts and a tour of Fort Knox. 10 am. 469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com

April 20–22 Bangor Home Show Bangor Auditorium

April 21 Dancing With the Ellsworth Stars The Grand, Ellsworth

Don’t miss these local stars as they compete to raise money for The Grand’s program fun. This year’s lineup includes Timber Tina, Rich Malaby, Tim Tunney, Louie Luchini, Robin Clarke, and Mallory Nightengale. 7 pm. $22 adult; $17 youth. 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org April 23 Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild Collins Center for the Arts, Orono “Jungle Jack” brings his family-friendly animal show to Orono, featuring many of his animal friends as well as fascinating and humorous footage and stories from his adventures around the world. 7 pm. $38. 581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com April 24 April Verch Unity Centre for the Performing Arts Unity April Verch is an internationally renowned Canadian fiddler, singer, songwriter and stepdancer. Her performances are always lively and memorable. 7:30 pm. $15. 948-SHOW • www.unity.edu/UCCPA April 26 So You Think You Know Rockland? The Strand, Rockland Rockland Main Street Inc.’s annual quiz show features two teams competing to answer 20 questions about Rockland’s people, events, buildings, businesses, and more. There will also be a silent auction. Doors open at 5:30 pm; event starts at 6 pm. $10 adults; $5 students. 593-6093 www.rocklandmainstreet.com April 27 Dancing With the Local Stars Camden Opera House This fourth annual event features dances performed by local celebrities and community members. Local dance troupes also get in on the action between each act. Proceeds benefit The Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden. Doors open at 6:30 pm; show starts at 7. $25 adults; $10 children aged 12 and under. 236-7963

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 45

Events

Theater

April 28 Tale of the Dancing Mermaid University of Maine at Machias Performing Arts Center This theatrical belly dance performance by the University of Maine at Machias Belly Dance Divas tells the love story between a mermaid and a surfer. 1 pm. 255-1200 • www.umm.maine.edu April 28 Hike for the Homeless Bangor Waterfront Help support the community by hiking from Bangor, Brewer, Orono/Veazie, or Hampden to the Bangor waterfront for a cookout, raffle prizes, and an opportunity to learn more about the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. 947-0092 www.hikingforthehomeless.org

museums Hancock County Abbe Museum Bar Harbor 822-3519 • www.abbemuseum.org Birdsacre-Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary & Homestead Ellsworth 667-8460 • www.birdsacre.com George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History Bar Harbor 288-5015 • www.coamuseum.org Seal Cove Auto Museum Seal Cove 244-9242 www.sealcoveautomuseum.org Wendell Gilley Museum Southwest Harbor 244-7555 www.wendellgilleymuseum.org Woodlawn Museum Ellsworth 667-8671 www.woodlawnmuseum.org Knox County Coastal Children’s Museum Rockland 385-1105 www.coastalchildrensmuseum.org

46 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Music April 29 Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;est Magnifique! Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, featuring conductor Lucas Richman, pairs with the University of Maine Singers and Oratorio Society for this stirring performance. 3 pm. $19â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$43. 581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com April 30 Riverdance Bangor Auditorium Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss your opportunity to experience one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beloved live shows. This incomparable live performance, on its worldwide farewell tour, visits Bangor for what will surely be an evening of magic and majesty. 7:30 pm. $39â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$49. 990-4444 www.bangorciviccenter.com

Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center Rockland 596-6457 www.farnsworthmuseum.com Maine Lighthouse Museum Rockland 594-3301 www.mainelighthousemuseum.com Owls Head Transportation Museum Owls Head 594-4418 â&#x20AC;˘ www.ohtm.org Penobscot County Hudson Museum at the University of Maine Orono 581-1901 www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum Leonardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mills Bradley 974-6278 â&#x20AC;˘ www.leonardsmills.com Maine Discovery Museum Bangor 262-7200 www.mainediscoverymuseum.org University of Maine Museum of Art Bangor 561-3350 â&#x20AC;˘ www.umma.maine.edu

)DEAL ,OCATION ,UXURIOUS 'UEST 2OOMS /NSITE 2ESTAURANT %LEGANT 'RAND "ALLROOM $ELICIOUS #ATERING 3ERVICES AND -ORE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything, right where you need it.â&#x20AC;?

(ASKELL 2OAD s "ANGOR -% s s WWW BANGOR HGI COM

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 47

SAVE UP TO 30% ON YOUR BUSINESS ENERGY COSTS!

metro sports: high school

Easy Enrollment Flexible Terms No Switching Fees No Interruption No Maintenance Fees Electric Deregulation for All Clients

Ready to start saving? Here’s how it works...

2. We analyze your energy bill. We perform a no cost, no obligation usage analysis to determine if you qualify for a better rate and program. 3. You start saving money. We present a detailed savings analysis. You decide to activate your savings. There is no cost to switch providers. You are assured the same energy, save delivery company, same poles & wires.

Call your energy specialist today to see how we can help you save money! Call 207-664-6198 or 352-284-0045

Energy Management Solutions 48 / Bangor Metro April 2012 New Choice In Energy Providers

Grand Slammers The George Stevens Academy tennis program is a force to be reckoned with in Eastern Maine. By melanie Brooks

eorge Stevens Academy in Blue Hill has always had a stellar tennis program. Both the girls and the boys teams took home the Eastern Maine title in 2011, and are looking to go all the way in 2012. “We have always had competitive teams,” says coach Tim Farrar, who has been with the program since its inception in 1995. There aren’t many other schools in the Bangor Metro region that have such strong tennis programs. The state titles, however, have been primarily dominated by southern Maine schools. The last Eastern Maine teams to bring home the state title were the Caribou boys team in 2008 and the Camden Hills girls squad in 2003. The boys won the state title in 2004, but so far, the girls haven’t been able to seal the deal. The GSA boys and girls team fell to Waynflete School of Portland in the state meet at Colby College last year. The girls have taken home the Eastern Maine title in 2001, 2007, 2009, and 2011 while the boys have won the Eastern Maine title eight times in the last 10 years, only losing it in 2005 and 2009. “One of the most important reasons we have been so successful is the tremendous support we get from the community,” Farrar says. Blue Hill Country Club allows the players to use their two

private courts, and 40/15 Tennis sponsors summer clinics at George Stevens Academy that help provide the program with a base of younger experienced players. The school is also located fairly close to the Castine Country Club and the Ellsworth Tennis Center, which serious tennis players can use year-round to sharpen their skills. This is especially important in the winter months when the outdoor courts are covered with snow. “Equally important to our ability to stay competitive is our very successful junior varsity program, led by a talented coach named Brian Clark,” Farrar says. With a solid combination of returning varsity players and talented new-comers, both the girls and boys tennis teams should, once again, be very competitive this season. Three returning players on the boys team, juniors Johnny Xue and Jasper Adam, and sophomore Alex Heilner, are players to watch, and should be state ranked, according to Farrar. Players on the girls team to watch are senior Sotherd Steer and sophomore Charlotte Reiter. After a five year hiatus, Larry Gray returns to the squad to help co-coach with Farrar. Gray and Farrar started coaching together during the early years of the program, and the team is looking forward to having Coach Gray back on the court.

Photo: courtesy of george stevens academy

1. We gather information. You provide us with a copy of your energy bill.

metro sports: college

Love of the Game The baseball and softball teams at the University of Maine at Presque Isle are anything but ordinary. By Rachel Rice

Photo: courtesy of the University of maine, at presque isle

he University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls take their baseball and softball seriously. They have to in order to play the game they love. For years, the teams have had to hit the road for just about every game they’ve played because of the long northern Maine winters. They do most of their practicing indoors, they’ve been known to play four games in one day, and they rarely have fans cheering for them because they’re playing hundreds of miles from home. A few years ago, that dedication caught the eye of a New York Times reporter and, in March 2009, Bill Pennington wrote a story about the baseball team that appeared on the front page of the Sunday Sports section. The story sparked emails, donations, and media coverage from around the country. And it’s made recruiting easier. “I used to say, ‘If I recruit 50, I get one.’ Now if I recruit 50, I may get four or five,” says baseball coach Leo Saucier. “Kids across the country are now aware that we have a baseball program up here in northern Maine. Recruiting services know about us. I probably get 20 emails a day from them looking for places for their clients to play baseball.” While recruiting has changed, coordinating a busy but efficient schedule has not. UMPI softball coach Peter Coffin,

who’s settling into his first year of coaching for the Owls, said that to get the “biggest bang for their buck,” they arrange to play six games over a weekend instead of two. They also work to develop strong connections with other teams, hoping to convince them to meet up for a game at a halfway point in southern Maine. Another thing that hasn’t changed for the Owls is that recurring theme of working hard for the chance to play the game. Ghazaleh (OZ-i-lay) Sailors from Santa Barbara, California, is number one on the team’s roster. Sailors, a female, has been playing baseball her whole life—she played high school baseball in the Los Angeles area and she’s a member of the USA Baseball Women’s National Team. “She’s reached the highest level of women’s baseball there is,” Saucier says. “The only way to go higher was to go to college somewhere and play baseball.” And that was no easy task. Sailors had to find colleges that were willing to consider her. Saucier says he looked at her videos and knew, just based on the talent level he was seeing, that he had to give her a shot. The freshman is now the UMPI Men’s Baseball team’s relief pitcher and backup second baseman, and is already just another member of the team. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 49

kitchen confidential What is your first food memory? Being around the house with my mother while she cooked. My first experiment with cooking was making pizza—making the dough and the whole bit. I was probably 13 years old. My pizza has always turned out pretty good. What are some of your early cooking experiences? I made shrimp scampi before knowing what it was. When I went to culinary school I thought, “Oh! I’ve made this!” I’ve always been good at making pasta and sauce. When I was a child I would always make the potato salad for family picnics in the summer. My dad and I would go fishing and cook up the fish and pick wild mushrooms for tomato sauce. Where did you grow up and how did you come to Maine? I grew up in Bristol, Rhode Island. My dad and I would take a hunting trip every November and we’d try different areas in Maine. When I bought my piece of land, I was working in Newport, Rhode Island. The place I was working for was bought by a new owner and they wanted everyone to reapply for their jobs. I decided I was ready for a change. When my dad and I would head up to Island Falls to hunt, I saw this little restaurant and I thought “Maybe I’ll move up here and open a restaurant.” My wife and I talked it over and figured, what was the worst that could happen? I brought some of my culinary friends up here and drove through town and they thought I was nuts to open a restaurant up here. I said, “You cook the food and they’ll come.”

Chef William Roderick took a leap of faith when he and his wife, Nancy, moved from Rhode Island to Island Falls in the beginning of 1993 to open up a little restaurant called Horn of Plenty. Their gamble has paid off, and they have been serving delicious international cuisine to happy customers at the tip of I-95 for nearly 20 years. By melanie Brooks 50 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Where did you study? I went to school at Johnson and Wales in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1974. Back then it was quite small; there were about eight students to a class. Now there’s about 30. When did you realize you were a chef? When I got the job at Oceancliff Resort in Newport, Rhode Island, in my late 20s. I

Photos: sha-lam photography

Horn of Plenty

Any family influences on your style and taste? I’m Portuguese, so I love cooking with seafood and chorizo. I come from the same area as Emeril Lagasse.

started as a sous chef and it was about that time that I realized I was good. We would host events that other chefs in Newport would attend, and they would tell us the food was excellent. It’s a big compliment when your peers think you’re a good chef.

Opposite page: William Roderick in the dining room at the Horn of Plenty. Above: Steak Melonaise featuring a New York sirloin topped with fresh lemon and garlic.

Do you have a memorable experience of a time when you took a risk and it paid off? When I was younger I spent a summer working at the Harborside Inn on Martha’s Vineyard. I was a pantry cook, which meant I made salads, openend oysters, baked muffins for breakfast, and did the prep work for the cooks. I was told that if I did not follow the recipes to a tee that I would be fired. I knew I could make the blueberry muffins better by adding a sprinkle of sugar and some lemon rind on top—so I did that one morning before baking. The manager, chef, and assistant chef all came in wanting to know who made the muffins, and I said I did. When the owner came in asking, “Who made the muffins?” I thought I was going to be fired. Instead he said they were excellent and he wanted them made that way from then on. What was your pivotal career move? Moving up to northern Maine. Every chef wants to have their own restaurant. It’s been great. When did the Horn of Plenty open? We opened on August 3, 1993, in Island Falls. We moved the restaurant to Houlton a couple of years ago. What is your favorite ingredient to work with? The Horn of Plenty is an international reswww.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 51

kitchen confidential taurant, so we’re not stuck on one thing. I like to use a lot of garlic and pasta with seafood. I also love using this rub we call Texas coffee rub that we put on the steak.

® ® Pirouette Pirouette Window Window Shadings Shadings

PLUS SAVE PLUS BUY BUY SAVE 1 Luminette 1 Luminette Privacy Privacy Sheer Sheer or or Modern Modern Drapery Drapery ®

® ® 2 Pirouette 2 Pirouette Window Window Shadings Shadings ®

$100 offoff each each $$100 additional additional unit unit 100* * $100 $50 offoff each each $$100 additional unit unit 100* * $50additional

Pirouette Window Shadings

® ® 2 Silhouette 2 Silhouette Window Window Shadings Shadings

$50 offoff each each $$100 additional unit unit 100* * $50additional

BUY SAVE PLUS

1 Luminette® Privacy Sheer or Modern Drapery 2 Pirouette Window Shadings ®

2 Silhouette® Window Shadings

® ® Silhouette Silhouette Window Window Shadings Shadings

$100

$100 off each additional unit

$100*

$50 off each additional unit

$100*

$50 off each additional unit

Buy Buymore, more,save savemore morewith withthese theseelegant elegantlight-diffusing light-diffusingwindow windowfashions, fashions, ® ® now nowthrough throughJune June17. 17.Plus, Plus,get geta afree freeLiteRise LiteRise cordless cordlesslifting liftingsystem system ® ® window windowshadings. shadings. upgrade upgradewith withyour yourpurchase purchaseofofSilhouette Silhouette Silhouette Window Shadings ®

® ® Luminette Privacy Privacy Sheers Sheers and and Modern Modern Draperies Draperies Luminette

Buy more, save more with these elegant light-diffusing window fashions, now through June 17. Plus, get a free LiteRise® cordless lifting system upgrade with your purchase of Silhouette® window shadings. Luminette® Privacy Sheers and Modern Draperies

COASTAL INTERIORS 21 Water St Ellsworth ME We also Monday–Friday, 8-5offer: Saturday, 9–2 Flooring | Wall Coverings | Cabinetry | Counters | Hardware | Lighting 207-667-7166 21 Water Street | Ellsworth, Maine | 207-667-7166 | www.coastalinteriors.info www.coastalinteriors.info .POEBZo'SJEBZ o t 4BUVSEBZ o CORP_120911A_MAG_FULL_ads__f.indd CORP_120911A_MAG_FULL_ads__f.indd 1 1 1/27/12 1/27/12 1:07 1:07 PMPM *Manufacturer’s *Manufacturer’s rebate rebate and and upgrade upgrade offers offers validvalid for qualifying for qualifying purchases purchases made made 4/3/2012 4/3/2012 – 6/17/2012. – 6/17/2012. A qualifying A qualifying purchase purchase is defi is ned defined as aas purchase a purchase of any of any of the of product the product models models set forth set forth above above in thein quantities the quantities set forth set forth above. above. If youIf purchase you purchase less less thanthan the specifi the specifi ed quantity, ed quantity, you you ® ® will not will be notentitled be entitled to a to rebate. a rebate. Rebate Rebate offers offers maymay not be notcombined. be combined. All rebates All rebates will be willissued be issued in U.S. in U.S. dollars, dollars, in thein form the form of anofAmerican an American Express Express Prepaid Prepaid Reward Reward Card.Card. © 2012 © 2012 Hunter Hunter Douglas. Douglas. All rights All rights reserved. reserved. All trademarks All trademarks usedused herein herein are the are property the property of Hunter of Hunter Douglas, Douglas, Inc. Inc.

MAGAZINE MAGAZINEFULL FULLPAGE PAGE––REBATE REBATE *Manufacturer’s rebate and upgrade offers valid for qualifying purchases made 4/3/2012 – 6/17/2012. A qualifying purchase is defined as a purchase of any of the product models set forth above in the quantities set forth above. If you purchase less than the specified quantity, you will not be entitled to a rebate. Rebate offers may not be combined. All rebates will be issued in U.S. dollars, in the form of an American Express® Prepaid Reward Card. © 2012 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas, Inc.

CORP_120911A_MAG_FULL_ads__f.indd 1

MAGAZINE FULL PAGE – REBATE

ased on inside-mounted shades in all windows. Savings vary with such factors as specific Architella fabric, window R-value and climate. For tax credit details and restrictions and a list of qualifying products, or check out the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement and FAQs at hunterdouglas.com/taxcredit. Hunter Douglas and its dealers are not tax advisors. Consult a tax professional regarding your individual tax ty to claim a tax credit related to the purchase of the qualifying Duette Architella honeycomb shades with Architella fabric. © 2009 Hunter Douglas. ® Registered trademark of Hunter Douglas.12666

1/27/12 1:07 PM

What is the dish we are featuring? Steak Melonaise. It’s a classic Mediterranean recipe using a broiled New York sirloin, topped with garlic, fresh lemons, parsley, and butter. What are some of your favorite restaurants? My wife, Nancy, and I were just down in Boston and we love going to Moon Villa in Chinatown. We’ve been going there since 1987. We hadn’t been there in years and when we went back it was just as good as I remembered. I also love pizza from my hometown—Sam’s Pizza. You can’t recreate it. What is your least favorite job-related task? Washing the pots and pans—that’s why I have other people do it. What does a perfect day off look like? A perfect day is staying at home with my wife and animals, having a bottle of wine, and just chilling out. We have a beautiful home, live off the grid, and even have a windmill.

more info Horn of plenty 382 north street, houlton 207.532.2260 Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 11 am–2:30 pm for lunch, 4:30–8 pm for dinner; Sunday 10:30 am–2:30 pm for brunch. Specialties: Seafood, Texas coffee roast steak, buffalo wings. Everything is homemade. First-timer tip: Nancy works the front-of-the-house and knows the menu inside and out. Not sure what to order? Ask Nancy. Sample menu items: Rockport Eggs, Veal Marcello, and The Mount Katahdin Sandwich.

52 / Bangor Metro April 2012

3 F O J B 5IF .

I D U B 8 P U O P FBT /FXT 8FBUIFS GSPN "-- PG .BJOF

45&7& .$,":

$)3*4

'"$$)*/* www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 53

per spectives

Ragina Kakos

54 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Ragina Kakos took her first photograph at the age of 7. She’s since graduated from her 35mm to a professional Nikon digital. The Ohio native lives in Mars Hill, and loves taking photos in the County and feels honored to call northern Maine home. “I’m surrounded by mountains and ever-changing scenery in northern Maine that provides constant beauty and inspiration,” Kakos says. A studio-trained photographer, Kakos has two sons with her husband, Andrew. Photo of photographer: JMG Photography

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 55

maine woods & waters

Spring Hatch

Hopes

Springtime is a critical and perilous time for our ground-nesting game birds. story and photo by brad eden

portspeople are worriers. We always have our heads cocked with an eye to the weather. We’ve kept our fingers crossed for a reasonably mild winter to ensure a healthy deer herd emerges this spring. As I write this homily, old man winter hasn’t loosened his grip entirely, so the jury is still deliberating. As this apparently kind winter disappears in the rearview mirror, us outdoor hand wringers start sweating spring conditions. Springtime is a critical time for our revered game birds—the ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and the wild turkey. First thing in spring, the breeding rituals begin in earnest: The cock grouse sits atop a mossy log and beats his wings to a staccato rhythm, called “drumming,” which attracts the resident biddies; the male woodcock performs a dazzling aerial display wooing his mates; and the tom turkey shakes the ground with rattling gobbles announcing his availability to the coy hens. Soon after the libidinous activities are complete, the respective hens head off to make nests and lay eggs. This is where evolution dealt them a bad hand; they all nest on the ground, basically scratching out a depression in the leaf litter, laying their eggs, and calling it good. Granted, some of these nests are snugged up against a tree trunk or in heavier brush, but for all intents and purposes are vulnerable to a multiplicity of dangers. The grouse hen lays close to a dozen eggs, the woodcock up to four, and the hen turkey produces as many as 14. Incubation for all species runs from three weeks to a month before the chicks peck their way out of their shells and into the big, cruel world.

Probably the chick’s best line of defense is mother hen. Their biggest threat is not necessarily the egg-and-chick-devouring avian and four-legged predators, but is a wet and cold spring. The reduction of wildlife populations through natural attrition is expected, but extreme deluges of flooding rain can wipe out ground nests and unseasonable cold can kill newly hatched chicks. If a nest is destroyed, these game birds will attempt to renest, but the deck is 56 / Bangor Metro April 2012

still stacked high for late broods. But these birds have developed some unique adaptations to help them survive. The chicks are all both “precocial” and “nifidugous,” which are terms that mean they are born with eyes open and are almost immediately mobile and ready to leave the nest and follow momma in search of food. Remarkably, the grouse, woodcock, and turkey fledglings can all start flying within a week or two, an advantage in avoiding creatures that want to eat them. Probably the chick’s best line of defense is mother hen. Anyone who has muddied some boots off pavement has likely encountered the dragon lady; the ruffed grouse hen defending her nest or newly hatched brood. She will start by trying to draw you away by dragging a wing and acting wounded, but if you get too close she will attack you, your dog, your bike, or your ATV with a frenzy you have to experience to believe. The woodcock is a more sensitive soul by nature and makes shorthop flights attempting to attract you away from her babies. There is some speculation and belief that a hen woodcock will carry her chicks between her legs in flight to safety. I have witnessed what looked like this phenomenon, but could never completely confirm it so remain skeptical. The wild turkey hen, although certainly dutiful, seems less outwardly protective of her young. I have been startled more than once when a hen turkey burst from a relatively open field or blueberry barren, within spitting distance, followed by her pin-feathered progeny. All these game bird chicks freeze and remain still, relying on their remarkable camouflage coloration when danger approaches. With so many dangers it’s understandable why sportspeople stress out about the health and welfare of our beloved game birds. But that’s not just in the hope for more opportunities to fill limits come hunting seasons—it’s because they enrich our lives and draw us into beautiful places, and the Maine woods are desolate without them. Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega Gasset said it best in his book Meditations on Hunting: “One does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted…” Brad Eden is an artist, writer, Registered Maine Master Guide, and owner/editor of the online magazine www.uplandjournal.com

savvy seniors

Elder Care Glossary Dealing with the various needs of the elderly can be a frustrating experience when you don’t understand the vocabulary and terms being used. We’re here to help you figure out the jargon. by carol higgins taylor

f you’re a senior looking into services for yourself, or an adult child trying to help an aging family member, you may feel like you need a special dictionary to understand all the terminology that is thrown around. It can certainly be confusing when you’re not really sure what questions to ask, and when you do get an answer it’s unclear what it means. Not to worry! The following is a list of some commonly used terms that you may find useful in your quest for information. A caregiver is someone who provides unpaid assistance to someone else—usually a loved one. This assistance can come in the form of cooking, help with dressing, transportation, or cleaning—anything the

older person can no longer do alone. By the nature of the word and activity, a caring relationship is implied. Activities of daily living (ADLs) is the term used when describing things like personal care, eating, and walking. Incidental activities of daily living (IADLs) describes things such as help with money management, meal preparation, medications, and laundry. Assisted living facilities are housing complexes for seniors who are able to live independently, providing they receive a little help with ADLs. Residents do not require skilled nursing care and live in private apartments, which they decorate in their own style with their own belongings. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 57

savvy seniors

Visit www.bangormetro.com to subscribe, read, browse, and find local events and advertisers. 58 / Bangor Metro April 2012

Residential care facilities offer similar services as the assisted living facilities; however, residents live in a private or semiprivate room. Independent housing with services is a term used when seniors live independently in their own apartments but may share some meals in a central dining room. They can contract out with a variety of agencies for other services, such as home-based care or private duty nursing. This is done on an individual basis and usually at the resident’s expense. Continuing care retirement communities offer a long-term option, which can meet a senior’s changing needs. One may start out living independently, then, as time passes, may move to the assisted living section or even the skilled nursing unit if necessary. Usually these options are offered at the same location. A geriatric care manager conducts an assessment of a person’s physical, mental, environmental, and financial conditions. A care plan is developed, which assists the person with housing, medical, and social needs, among other services. RN refers to a registered professional nurse. These nurses are required to be licensed in the state of Maine and they practice under state of Maine rules. They are accountable to the Maine State Board of Nursing. CNA refers to a certified nurse’s aide. A CNA is certified to assist people with personal care and transfers. They are listed on a registry and operate under Maine rules and are accountable to the Board of Nursing and their duties are assigned by a registered professional nurse. PSS refers to personal support specialist. These specialists, formerly known as PCAs or personal care assistants, often work in a person’s home or in a residential facility. They are not currently listed on a registry, however, do have professional training. Homemaker services refers to a program that provides help with grocery shopping, laundry, housekeeping, and sometimes assistance with errands. The state of Maine funds a homemaker program. A hospitalist is a physician who serves as the primary doctor for people who are in a hospital. Upon discharge, patients return to the care of their own doctor. Duly authorized licensed practitio-

ner refers to an individual who is currently licensed in Maine as a physician, physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant, or nurse practitioner. A MED (medical) assessment refers to the long-term care assessment from a Goold Health Systems nurse assessor, who will determine whether a person is eligible for home care services that can be paid for by MaineCare (not Medicare) or by the state of Maineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Based Care program. An assessment by Goold is required prior to seeking a nursing home. Long-term care refers to any services that provide assistance to a person on a daily basis, such as home health, residential care, community based, volunteer, or other types of support services. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is a service offered in Maine to any person or family that is using longterm care of any sort. This includes nursing homes, home health, or assisted living facilities. The volunteers and social workers on the staff can help you with issues that you have with the agency or provider, and they work to help you with solutions. Medicare home health pays for the acute care needs of a patient. Medicare is short term, rehabilitative, and the person must meet certain criteria and require the care that can only be provided by a registered nurse or therapist. Services that are provided at home must be ordered by a physician. Medicare certified agency refers to an organization or hospital that has met the requirements set forth by Medicare which enables them to serve Medicare patients. Your local Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Center are nonprofit agencies designated by the state to plan and coordinate services for seniors and adults with disabilities in specific geographic areas. They can answer your questions and help you with everything from Medicare to caregiving to social security to senior housing. Specially trained staff can make sense of the confusing, and ease the stress of trying to figure out things alone. Call 877-3533771 to learn more.

Stay in your home... Stay independent... with care you can trust N Personal Care N Mobility Assistance N Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & Dementia Support N Meal Preparation N Housekeeping

[207] 990-1995 LovingTouchInHomeCare.com

M a i n e L o c a t i o n s : s ! T H E N S s

!UGUSTA

$ OVE R & O X C RO F T

&ARMINGDALE

&RENCHVILLE s ,IMESTONEs -ACHIAS s 3EARSPOR T s 3PRINGVALE s 5NION

Extraordinary Assisted Living Every Davis Long Term Care Group assisted living home provides personalized, compassionate care to each and every one of our residents. We provide spacious and comfortable accommodations, elegant dining experiences, and lots of fun social opportunities that create lasting friendships.

$EVOTED 4O ,OVE #ARE !ND #OMPASSION

800 239 0954

www.davisltcgroup.com

Carol Higgins Taylor is director of communications at Eastern Area Agency on Aging. She may be reached at chtaylor@eaaa.org.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 59

How to Safely Plan to Age in Place Donna Gormley from Loving Touch In-Home Care talks about the importance of planning ahead.

60 / Bangor Metro April 2012

“H

ome Sweet Home,” “Home is where the Heart is,” and who could forget Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz clicking her heels and repeating ”There’s no place like home… there’s no place like home!” These expressions—while a bit hokey—really do ring true. Given the choice, most elderly people would prefer to live out their lives at home—according to an AARP survey, 89% want to live in their own home for as long as possible. That is why in-home care is becoming one of the most popular services for the elderly and adults stricken with an illness or short-term disability. Home is a place of comfort, familiarity, and independence. This is especially true for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s and dementia specialists agree that familiar surroundings benefit those individuals by reducing the anxiety they feel when faced with new situations. Aging in place—that is, living at home—is the most ideal situation, but sometimes that choice can put seniors at risk. They could fall, become dehydrated, or forget to take their medication. Some can even forget to eat. Not that long ago, aging parents would move in with their adult children or vice-

versa. That way, someone could keep an eye on mom and dad—cook their meals, take them to their doctor’s appointments, and make sure they were taking their medications. That isn’t often the case these days. Many families are splintered, living in different parts of the state or country. The children now have families of their own that need attention, not to mention a job or two outside the home. It is difficult, if not impossible, for them to stay with or check in on their parents on a regular basis. This is where in-home care agencies can help. These agencies provide a safety net for seniors and others who need a little extra help to live safely and confidently at home. It also provides peace of mind for the children who worry about their parent’s health and safety. In-home care is different from home health care. Home health care provides skilled care for medical needs and related assistance generally ordered by a doctor and usually covered by Medicare. Care is provided for a specified number of hours a week and for a limited period of time. In-home care provides nonmedical support in the home. Sometimes that support is fairly simple—a trip to the store or a ride to their doctor’s appointment. In other cases, the person requires more inten-

savvy seniors

sive care and supervision. Most long-term care insurance plans cover in-home care services, which include personal care like bathing and dressing, housekeeping, meal preparation, mobility assistance, medication reminders, transportation, and safety supervision. This is especially helpful for those with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and dementia. Family members are often the first to step in as caregivers, but as needs increase, the ability to â&#x20AC;&#x153;do it allâ&#x20AC;? becomes overwhelming and, at times, impossible. While it is wonderful to have supportive family and friends willing to help provide care for your loved one, you need to make sure there is a backup plan. If mom and dad canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be left alone and you come down with the flu, you need to know someone else can step in. That is why many people turn to agencies for help. In-home care agencies often work with family members, home health providers, and hospice workers to provide an integrated and cohesive care plan for the client. Questions to ask when looking for a home-care agency:

Dirigo Pines Retirement Community in Orono offers exceptional variety for a vibrant and fulďŹ lling lifestyle.

â&#x20AC;˘ How long have they been in business? â&#x20AC;˘ Are they willing to provide references and not just written testimonials? â&#x20AC;˘ How experienced are their caregivers? â&#x20AC;˘ How do they screen and select their employees? â&#x20AC;˘ Are they insured? Licensed? Bonded? â&#x20AC;˘ Do they put together a plan of care and have a system in place to update that plan if needed? â&#x20AC;˘ Ask the agency if it offers a free consultation to discuss your individual situation. â&#x20AC;˘ Ask for contact information of former or current clients, and ask them to rate the agency. In-home care agencies provide the support needed to allow people to live and grow old in home they love, and give family caregivers much needed respite and the assurance that when they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be there, their loved one is being well cared for. Donna Gormley is the owner/care advisor of Loving Touch In-Home Care. She may be reached at donna@lovingtouchin homecare.com.

Area Agencies on Aging

877-353-3771

Adult Protective Services

800-624-8404

Confidential number to report suspected elder abuse or financial exploitation.

Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

800-499-0229

Investigates complaints made by or on behalf of someone in a long-term care setting or who is receiving inhome care.

Maine Hospice Council

800-438-5963

How Confident Are You about

Your Financial Future? Estate & Retirement Planning Serving our clients for over 25 years

Cottage Living Independent Living Apartments Assisted Living Apartments Memory Loss Suites Call for a tour today! 207-866-3400 â&#x20AC;˘ 9 Alumni Drive Orono, Maine www.DirigoPines.com

resources for seniors

Initial Complimentary Consultation 5PN %VĂ˛

President & Branch Manager

Joel West

Financial Advisor

DUFF & ASSOCIATES An independent firm Securities offered through:

470 N. Main Street, Brewer

t t XXX EVĂ˛BOEBTTPDJBUFT DPN www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 61

Now, this is what we call a chat room. Instant messages, tweets and online chats are great, but nothing can substitute for celebrating your closeness in person. So pick up that smart phone and do a smart thing: go to FlyBangor.com, book online, and this time - send yourself. Scan for BGR Online Booking

Nonstops, connecting flights, competitive fares and friendly customer service.

Bgr_Metro_SendYourself.indd 3

62 / Bangor Metro April 2012

8/9/11 10:54 AM

market place Attorneys

Home & Living

Kitchen Design

Retirement Planning

Your Retirement is Our Business Tucker Law Group â&#x20AC;˘ Bangor

INITIAL COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION

One Cumberland Place, Ste. 308 945-4720 www.tuckerlawmaine.com Providing effective representation of employers and insurers in Maine.

Joel West, Financial Advisor / .BJO 4USFFU t #SFXFS t XXX EVĂľBOEBTTPDJBUFT DPN Securities offered through:

Food & Drink

-PDBM #SFXTÂ° $MPTF UP )PNF 33 School St., Brewer, ME

"UMBOUJD #SFXJOH $P #"3 )"3#03 Â&#x2026; 1035-"/% 888 "5-"/5*$#3&8*/( $0.

if your ad were here, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be reading it right now.

Music

991-9889

www.schoolstreet pictureframing.com

Flewelling Guitar Works Northport â&#x20AC;˘ 338-5091

Custom handmade guitars, repairs on banjos, mandolins, and electric, acoustic, and bass guitars. Home of the Paddle travel/camping guitar.

to learn more about effective, affordable marketplace ads, call 941-1300.

OR WKIT ZONERADIO COM www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 63

last word

Nothing Is Forever It’s OK to let go of things if you can still hold on to the memories. by Annaliese Jakimides

Annaliese Jakimides’ prose and poetry have been published in many journals, magazines, and anthologies, broadcast on public radio, and nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She lives in downtown Bangor. 64 / Bangor Metro April 2012

have always been a person who doesn’t see the need to get rid of a perfectly functional piece of furniture. My bureau is my dad’s, now painted white, the one that in its life with him had sported a variety of colors. My mother painted everything to match the ever-changing walls. The truth is that I have only had two couches during my entire adult life. The first, my then-husband and I, newlyweds, hauled out of a friend of a friend’s attic. You know the kind: flat maple arms, six cushions—three for the seat, three for the back, stout, interwoven, metal springs holding the whole shebang up. It lasted for years. I re-covered the cushions—a few times. We reinforced the metal support system, but the seating continued to sag. Here was where my youngest son lay when he had the chicken pox, when his fever refused to be contained, when every square inch of his 3-year-old body was pocked. The children all had one room at the time, and so he came to the couch and I lay on a quilt spread over the wide-planked spruce floor beside him. Here is where we read the unabridged Pinocchio, the youngest son still small enough to sit on my lap, his brother to my left, his sister to my right. All three heads would converge on my body. Night after night they came together, and listened to the convoluted language, the complex sentences. They were 4, 6, and 7. Here is where we made caves, removing the cushions, draping sheets across the tipped-over frame. Again, there were books, plus a flashlight, often a picnic of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cloth napkins, bread-and-butter pickles. The second couch also had cushions, three up and three down. It was new. I bought it with some money I received when my mother died. It was southern yellow pine, too heavy to tip over. Here is where we watched videos we rented from Pa’s Pizza. Here is where serious discussions happened and jokes were told. This is the couch that moved with me from my house to my apartment, from Mt. Chase to Bangor. This is the couch I gave away last week. It’s still in great shape. One morning I walked into the living room and said, out loud, “I’m done with this.” Such clarity has never been part of my story. So I waited. I sat on the couch that night. I sat on it every night. That couch was my go-to place, where I read, where I worked, where I listened to music. Again, I said, “I’m done with this.” I lit candles—I love candles— and poured myself a glass of wine—I love wine, too, but not as much as candles. I sat in the black leather chair I have rarely used, and I looked out over the empty couch that would soon leave my world, at the collage I had made years ago and hung on the wall behind the couch. I rarely saw it from this angle. I looked at the small colorful sculpted dancers swinging from the ceiling on slender fishing line—one with feathers and turbaned hair, the other a quintessential Isadora Duncan free spirit. Their slight shadows played on the wall, and I knew immediately that my world had shifted. There are so many reasons one could argue I might need a couch, but I know I will not replace it. Just because something has worked perfectly well doesn’t mean it’s forever.

SO ETHING

EXCEPTIONAL IS COMING TO

BREWER April 27, 2012

SCAN FOR SOMETHING

EXCEPTIONAL

ExceptionalBanking.com