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Lumberjack Legacy A look back—and ahead— at one of Maine’s great industries

A Piece of Maine:

Caribou

The Great

Schooner

Race

Mover & Shaker Kerrie Tripp from the Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau

In the kitchen with Rockland’s

In Good Company

Inside:

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June/July 2013

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contents

features Rallying the Region / 11 As head of the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kerrie Tripp makes it her mission to champion the region.

sailing adventure / 18 Come along as we hit the high seas in the Great Schooner Race.

Built by axe and saw / 26 Lumberjacking has a long history in Maine. Find out how the industry is changing to suit the times.

A Piece of Maine: Caribou / 34 This caring community is a gem in the crown of Maine.

A slice of history / 44 Dana Lippit and Jennifer Pictou recreate a couple of old-fashioned recipes.

44

In good company / 48 For nearly a decade, Rockland’s own Melody Wolfertz has been serving fresh and seasonal foods from her Main Street restaurant.

34 2 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

26

Photos: (top) mark mccall; (bottom left) melanie brooks; (bottom right) courtesy of the bangor museum and history center

new barn doors / 14 The Bangor Area Recovery Network has found a new home in Brewer.

Photos: (top) mark mccall; (top right) ziggymaj/thinkstock.com; (bottom right) istockphoto/thinkstock.com

18

in every issue

columns

TaLk of the Towns / 6 Citizens’ police academy, the Declaration of Independence, and some super-smart students.

eye on industry / 12 Tourism is the lifeblood of summertime in Maine.

Biz Buzz & sightings / 8 People and places on the move.

What’s Happening / insert Check out our This is Maine summerguide calendar of events for what’s happening in June, July, and August.

6 54

Metro Wellness / 17 The diary of a juice fast. woods & waters / 54 Proximity to a lake revives Brad Eden’s interest in fly fishing. last word / 64 A human’s relationship to the animal kingdom can be quite complicated.

Metro sports / 42 We’re looking for your nominations for Student Athlete or High School Coach of the Month!

Perspectives / 72 Images from above by Ben Magro. savvy seniors / 55 Travel tips for seniors on the go.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 3

editor’s note

O

ur June/July summerguide issue is always a doozy—and this one is no exception. You’ll see that our This is Maine summerguide pull-out is every bit as big as our regular magazine, which means that our small team has, essentially, created two full-sized magazines this month. Needless to say, we are all exhausted.

As I write this editor’s note, we are on deadline. It’s gorgeous outside—we’ve had a great stretch of early May weather, and I’m grumpy that I have not had time to get outside to enjoy it. My son’s daycare provider has been sending me photos of my child enjoying the nice weather, as well as the food he can now chew with his new teeth. I’m itching to whisk my son and my husband away to Bar Harbor, Camden, Belfast—anywhere with a salty sea breeze and a place to picnic.

I have vowed to make up for lost time and enjoy the heck out of our region this summer. This time last year I was very, very pregnant. My body hurt, and my ankles were swollen. I was on doctor’s orders to take it easy and keep my feet up—there was no hiking, kayaking, or camping for me last summer. I cursed having taken it all for granted, and vowed to make the summer of 2013 the most fun yet.

My parents opened their camper to air it out this past weekend, and my two nieces played inside with my 9-month-old looking on. Ayda, who is six, loves to go camping with her Nana and Papa, and is eager to show the little ones how to do it right. She reminds me of how I was at that age—excited and ready for an adventure. Which is really what summers in Maine are all about—getting out and enjoying what people “from away” yearn for all year long. What they get to experience on their one- or two-week trip to Vacationland, we get to take advantage of through September.

I hope you pull out our This is Maine summerguide and keep it handy this season.

We work hard to include as many events from Memorial Day to Labor Day as possible. From concerts, to festivals, to historic walking tours, to schooner rides—there is no need to be bored for one moment this summer. I plan on introducing my son to all the sights, sounds, and flavors that summers in Maine have to offer. And I look forward to experiencing all those things again through his eyes, as if for the first time.

Melanie Brooks, editor

4 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Photo: Kate Crabtree

The Bangor Metro Region

www.bangormetro.com 263 State Street, Suite 1 Bangor, Maine 04401 Phone: 207.941.1300 PUBLISHER

Jack Cashman EDITOR

Melanie Brooks melanie@bangormetro.com SALES DIRECTOR

Christine Parker christine@bangormetro.com ad sales consultants

Laura Cole laura@bangormetro.com ART DIRECTOR

Sandy Flewelling Copy editor

Sara Speidel editorial intern

Kaylie Reese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Tom Avila, Matt Blymier, Jack Cashman Brad Eden, Henry Garfield, Craig Idlebrook Emilie Brand Manhart, Chris Quimby Kaylie Reese, Carol Higgins Taylor Contributing PHOTOGRAPHers

Kevin Kratka, Ben Magro Mark McCall Circulation

Bill Osborne bill@bangormetro.com 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 Metro’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.

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Newsstand Cover Date: June/July Vol. 9, No. 5, copyright 2013, issue No. 80. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit.

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www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 5

talk of the towns

Science Scholars

6 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

dedham: Four middle school boys from Dedham—Jaxen Call, Ricco Call, Lucien Jellison, and Braeden Ward—have recently returned from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s annual meeting, an international conference that was held in Boston, where they showcased the groundbreaking work they have been doing in discovery science. The impact of their studies could play a pivotal role in cell regeneration. And no, this isn’t a theoretical simulation.

“This turned out to be much bigger than we thought it would be,” says Rhonda Tate, who teaches middle school science at the Dedham Middle School.

Tate partnered with Vanderbilt University a couple of years ago to bring their “Aspirnaut” program—an outreach program that allows students in middle and

high school to engage with science—to Maine.

Through the pilot project, the boys were given the opportunity to conduct actual scientific research. Working with a PhD student from Vanderbilt, the boys harvested sea anemones from Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island.

After running several tests, the students detected the presence of sulfilimine chemical bonds in the anemones’ tissues. These bonds work to hold cells together and allow animals, such as starfish, to regenerate tissues. The boys’ discovery could have the potential to change our understanding of cell regeneration.

“Learning about science is not just about being observers, but being observers and contributors,” Tate says.

—Kaylie Reese

photo: courtesy of Aspirnaut

From left: Aaron Fidler, Jaxen Call, Ricco Call, Lucien Jellison, Braeden Ward, and Dr. Billy Hudson at the Experimental Biology conference.

History on Display Bangor: Feast your eyes on a piece of American history, right here in Bangor. A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence is on display this summer at the Bangor International Airport. The copy is one of 50 known copies still in existence from William J. Stone’s original 1823 printing.

The original text of the Declaration of Independence was drafted on vellum parchment (made from animal skin), which is extremely susceptible to damage from light, heat, and humidity. After about 50 years, the document was beginning wear.

In 1820, Stone was commissioned to make a facsimile of the manuscript. He kept the original document in his shop while he handetched a copper plate, creating a mirror image of the original Declaration. After three years of work, he had reproduced the document as accurately as possible. In 1823, Stone printed 201 parchment copies—one to keep for himself, as was customary—which were to be distributed across the U.S. The copy on display at BIA was donated to the Bangor Historical Society in 1914 by a woman from North Newburgh, Maine.

“We’re just so pleased to be partnering with BIA and providing them with this fascinating piece of history,” says Jennifer Pictou, executive director of the Bangor Museum and History Center. “One of the reasons why we put it there is for the hundreds of thousands of troops who fly through the airport. For many, this is their last stop on American soil before being deployed, and their first stop on American soil, coming home. To be able to tie this in, along with the troop greeters, is just incredible.” — Kaylie Reese

photos: (top) istockphoto/thinkstock.com; (Bottom) courtesy of cameo dunton

Police Academy Bangor: Ever wanted to take a behind-the-scenes look at your local police department? The Bangor Police Department is giving you the chance to do just that.

This spring, the Bangor Police Department graduated its first batch of students from the Citizens’ Police Academy.

The free eight-week class, which quickly filled to its 50-person capacity, provided interested citizens with an insider’s view of police department operations.

Each class featured an informational topic, including an overview of patrol operations, criminal investigations, drug enforcement, a K9 demonstration, the special response team (SWAT), bomb squad, crime scene investigation, and OUI enforcement. Participants also learned about the process police officers go through in order to join the force.

“It’s a nice behind-the-scenes look at what we do and how we do it,” says

Jason McAmbley, community relations officer for the Bangor Police Department. “It’s a great way to build a relationship between the police department and

members of the community.”

According to McAmbley, the police department is preparing to host the program again in the fall. —Kaylie Reese www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 7

biz buzz On the Move SUSAN HABEEB has joined

Dirigo Pines Retirement Community as the director of transitional care. Habeeb has 30 years of nursing experience at Eastern Maine Medical Center and was actively involved in the adult and pediatric oncology programs. www.dirigopines.com TIMOTHY CANHAN, PA-C has joined the medical staff of the Penobscot Community Health Center in Bangor. He will provide services at their new walk-in care center. www.pchc.com SUZANNE R. SPRUCE , APR

has been named chief communications officer for Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. Spruce leads the strategic communication, public relations, and brand management efforts for EMHS. She has been with the system since 2001. www.emhs.org LISA GALLANT has been

named the retail banking officer and market manager of the Orono and Old Town Camden National Bank branches.

Gallant has been with Camden National Bank since 2011, previously serving as branch manager in Bucksport. She has 12 years of banking experience, and worked at Key Bank in Maine and Middlesex Savings in Massachusetts prior to joining Camden National Bank. www.camdennational.com Machias Savings Bank has named LAMARR CLANNON as stormwater engineer. She brings 18 years of experience in environmental engineering to her new role, including nine years as the program coordinator of Nonpoint Source Education for Municipal Offices, a program that reaches out to Maine towns to assist

8 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

with stormwater management and water quality issues. www.sewall.com Machias Savings Bank has named LUKE L. LIBBEY as its Lincoln branch manager. Libbey brings more than three years of banking experience to his new role, having previously worked as a small business relationship manager for TD Bank. A native of Lincoln, Libbey volunteers as a Little League coach and a Recreation Department football coach. www.machiassavings.com KRISTEN ROZANSKY, a

Pennsylvania-based development professional with 17 years of fundraising experience for academic and medical institutions, will join The Jackson Laboratory as vice president for development and communications.

She will oversee the Laboratory’s development, foundation relations, and communications offices. www.jax.org Podiatrist DAVID FRANKLIN, DPM has joined the medical staff at the Helen Hunt Health Center in Old Town.

Previously, Franklin was a podiatric surgeon at Foothills Podiatry in Maryville, Tennessee. www.pchc.com Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine has hired JOE TURCOTTE as its school-based manager. He will recruit, screen, train, and support mentoring relationships between high school and college students and youth in the community. Turcotte previously worked in the Maine Senate Majority Office as a legislative aide for three Maine senators. www.bbbsmcm.org

joining PCHC, Roberts served as a physician assistant for the United States Army. He is a member of the Society of Army Physician Assistants and certified by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants. www.pchc.com Air & Water Quality Inc. of Ellsworth has hired three new employees. KRISTI KELSHAW is the new office administrator. She spent the past 12 years working at U.S. Cellular. ROD CHAFFEE is a technical sales consultant/master plumber. He spent the past two decades working at Norlen’s Water Treatment.

MATT GILLIE is a radon technician/ installer. He previously worked at Gillie Truck Caps. www.awqinc.com Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth has hired ROSEMARY LORING as vice president of human resources. Loring previously worked at Rudman Winchell LLD/Starboard Leadership Consulting. She also owned her own staffing business for 14 years. www.mainehospital.org The First, N.A. recently opened a branch in Bangor and hired nine staff members to fill multiple roles.

COURTNEY BREHAUT is assistant vice president, Bangor branch manager; CYNTHIA FOGG is vice president, senior mortgage account officer; JEREMY DAIGLE is vice president, business relationship officer; NAZARIN DIXON is relationship manager for First Advisors, the bank’s investment management division; JESSICA BEAL is senior loan assistant; JEFFREY COLE , LACY MASSENGALE , and TORIE LEBRETON are banking associates; and KURT DEWITT is Bangor facilities supervisor. www.thefirst.com

CHARLES ROBERTS, PA-C

Eastern Maine Development Corporation has welcomed six new members to its board of directors. The new members are GAIL KELLY, DAVID MILAN, CHUCK ROHN, MICKI SUMPTER , ERIC WARD, and ELIZABETH MACTAGGART. www.emdc.org

has joined the medical staff at Penobscot Community Health Care’s Helen Hunt Health Center in Old Town. Prior to

DENISE BLACK has joined Healthy Peninsula of Blue Hill as director. Black has worked as a community health coordinator for Healthy Peninsula

since 2008 and has more than 15 years of community work in the area. www.healthypeninsula.org MICHAEL EVANS has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at Unity College. A Fulbright Fellowship winner, Evans most recently served as interim dean of the Indiana University School of Journalism. He has won several awards at Indiana University, and will begin his new job at Unity in July. www.unity.edu

Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth has hired PATRICIA PATTERSON KING as the new director of marketing and public relations. King previously worked as the director of marketing and business development at a hospital in Arizona, as well as in various marketing positions for Abbott Laboratories in Illinois and Arizona. www.mainehospital.org AOIFE O’BRIEN, CNM is the newest addition to Blue Hill Memorial Hospital’s Blue Hill Women’s Healthcare practice. She brings extensive experience in midwifery to the area, including a four-month stint studying with a group of Mayan midwives in Guatemala. www.bhmh.org

nications and Hollywood Slots. www.ucu.maine.edu

Awards The Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce has announced its annual award winners for 2013. Hancock County sheriff WILLIAM CLARK was selected as the Citizen of the Year, 86 THIS! won for the New Business of the Year, BAR HARBOR BANK & TRUST was given the Revitalization Award, and WALLACE TENT was awarded the Directors Award. www.ellsworthchamber.org The Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce recently honored local businesses at its annual awards event.

ISLAND RISE & SHINE RESTAURANT of Verona Island was named the New Business of the Year, FORGOTTEN FELINES OF MAINE was chosen as the Nonprofit Group of the Year, MARY JANE BUSH was honored with the Hans Honders Community Service Award, and Members of the ORLAND BOY SCOUT TROUP 102 and VENTURE CREW 1102 were honored as Acadia Rescue Heroes. www.bucksportbaychamber.com

employees invested over 13,000 hours of volunteer service for a host of civic, charitable, church, educational, and economic development organizations. www.katahdintrust.com DIRIGO PINES INN was recognized by Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems with the Annual Safety Excellence Award for their commitment and dedication to employee safety and excellence in loss prevention and returning injured employees back to the workplace. www.dirigopines.com

The UNIVERSITY OF MAINE has been named as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the U.S. and Canada by the Princeton Review. Three hundred and twenty-two colleges were named to the list, based on their course offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation, as measures of their commitment to the environment and sustainability. www.umaine.edu

THE AROOSTOOK MEDICAL CENTER

The Hub of Bar Harbor, a citizen-led organization interested in the betterment of downtown Bar Harbor as an economic engine and center of community pride, has announced the members of its new board of directors: CHRIS VICENTY (president), AMY ROEBUCK (vice president), ERICA BROOKS (treasurer), ANGIE CHAMBERLAIN (secretary), SUSAN BOYER , CINNAMON CATLIN-LEGUTKO, DARRON COLLINS, CHRIS FOGG, KIM HARTY, DORRIE LABIANCA , PAT SAMUEL , and HEATHER SOROKIN. www.hubofbarharbor.org AMY KENNEY, UCU campus development officer for the University Credit Union in Orono, has been promoted to member development officer. Kenney joined UCU in 2012 at the credit union’s UMaine Memorial Union Campus Branch. Prior to joining UCU, she worked in marketing for OTT Commu-

has been recognized by the Maine Tobacco-Free Hospital Network for its excellence in creating a tobacco-free environment for patients, employees, and the community. The Gold Star Award is the highest level of recognition given by the Hospital Network. www.tamc.org NEWLAND NURSERY AND LANDSCAPING INC. of Ellsworth won “Best of

Show” honors at the 2013 Bangor Garden Show. Their exhibit featured a boathouse on a lake in northern Maine and included an authentic outhouse, shower, and sauna. www.newlandnursery.com The American Bankers Association has honored KATAHDIN TRUST COMPANY with its Community Commitment Award. In 2012, Katahdin Trust Company donated over $225,500 to the communities it serves. The bank’s 194

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 9

sight ings 2

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1: Patty Kitchen and Betsy Saltonstall attend the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner in Rockport.

3: Kathryn Jovanelli attends the I-95 Triennial 2013 and John Bailly opening at the University of Maine Museum of Art in Bangor.

at the doctor’s public farewell event sponsored

by Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems and held at the Hiilton Garden Inn in Bangor.

2: Lee Martin, Gerry Deschaine, Maggie Michaud, Karyn Woolley, and Bruce Sandstrom gather to present the EMG Safety Excellence Award to Dirigo Pines.

4: The dodgeball team from Means Investments: Malorie Sprague, Kristen McNutt, Josh McNutt, Lindsey Mercier, Brian Hackett, Ryan Willette, Ben Sprague, and Zach Means—were the winners of the Fusion:Bangor-sponsored league.

6: Vicki Smith and Jon J. Prescott receive the 2012 American Bankers Association Community Committment Award on behalf of Katahdin Trust Company.

5: Natalie Colson gives Dr. Erik Steele a big hug

10 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

7: Carolyn and Karen Cashman take part in Erin’s Run 5k race in Bangor.

Photos: #1 marti stone photography; #4 justin russell

3

movers & shakers

K

Rallying the

Region

Kerrie Tripp from the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau says that you can get there from here, and take in some show-stopping scenery along the way.

Photo: danielle dorrie

By kaylie reese

errie Tripp, the executive director of the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau, loves lighthouses and lobsters, but she aims to help visitors realize that Maine, has a lot to offer north of Augusta, too.

“It is the Greater Bangor CVB’s job to help people realize that Maine is more than just the coastline and help our guests understand that you truly can get there from here,” Tripp says. “It’s an old cliché, but give the GBCVB any location in Maine and we will find you a great way to get there, plus amazing, unique, and authentic Maine attractions to see along the way.”

From a temporary location next to the Bangor International Airport, in a retired military building designed for drying parachutes, Tripp and her team work to find ways to bring visitors to the greater Bangor area and provide them with opportunities to have the best possible experience. Besides luring visitors to the region, the GBCVB also works to entice meetings and conventions to hold their events in Maine. Through a network of industry partners and a bidding process, the GBCVB makes important connections to secure business for the greater Bangor region and its membership.

A Massachusetts native, Tripp landed in Maine about 15 years ago, and has been with the Greater Bangor CVB for 10 years.

“When I started working at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, I totally fell in love with this region,” Tripp says. “I love being in Maine, and I love all the scenery, attractions, and world-class experiences that are right outside my doorstep or an easy drive away. I love the fact that I can live and work in a community that is filled with great people, many of whom I’ve made some really solid friendships with.”

Tripp began her work at the GBCVB as the membership and convention sales coordinator, a position she held for five years. After a brief stint working for another organization, she returned to the GBCVB as executive director. Her team includes a director of marketing and promotions and a membership and convention sales coordinator. “We all have different roles that we play, and we all complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Tripp says. “I say it a lot, and I continue to say it: I have the best team in town. I really do.”

In addition to working with in-office

staff, Tripp and her team rely on the support of their membership and work closely with the board of directors—a group of area businesspeople who are very active within the community. “[Their involvement] makes my job that much better,” Tripp says. “Working with the variety of community representatives that we have on the board of directors allows the organization to shine, because everyone is invested and involved, which shows in the work we are doing.”

When Tripp travels out of state, she says she often finds that people are surprised that organizations throughout Maine work together—something she says is a must. According to Tripp, networking, reaching out, and working with the Maine Office of Tourism, Greater Portland CVB, New England Society of CVBs, chambers of commerce, and many other organizations in the state is inherent to what the organization is all about.

“I very much subscribe to the idea that a rising tide raises all boats,” she says.

Tripp says that one of the best ways to network and be aware of what’s going on around the state is by being active in the local community. In addition to working at events hosted by or in collaboration with the GBCVB, Tripp volunteers for community events and encourages her family to do the same.

“This job reminds me daily how important it is to have my family involved in the community,” Tripp says. “To be able to influence my son and some of his friends to participate has, for me, been amazing to watch.”

The Greater Bangor CVB hosts annual, in-house events run by committees.

These events include a gala event honoring those who work in the hospitality industry, the Bangor Car Show: Wheels on the Waterfront, and a new event this year called Bangor’s Beer Festival—Tap Into Summer, which will celebrate Mainemade brews. In addition to hosting these events, the GBCVB works closely with other annual events that bring in large volumes of visitors from away, including the American Folk Festival, KahBang, the Senior League World Series, and the Waterfront Concerts.

“There are limitless and exceptional experiences that you can only do here, and the greater Bangor region is evolving in such a fantastic way,” Tripp says.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 11

eye on industry

Vacationland With license plates that read “Vacationland,” it is no surprise that tourism in Maine consistently ranks as one of our leading industries. By Jack Cashman

12 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

photo: istockphoto/thinkstock.com

V

isitors come to Maine every year to experience the natural beauty that residents of the state sometimes take for granted. From the western mountains to our famous rock-bound coast, Maine provides a uniquely beautiful setting for hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, hunting, boating, mountain climbing, and birdwatching. Virtually any outdoor activity one can imagine can happen here. Add the great supply of unique shops, museums, and seasonal festivals, and it is no wonder our state is a destination for vacationers.

Vacationers are attracted to Maine for varying reasons. Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island is the most visited site in Maine. The summertime season traditionally sees well over a million visitors to the island. The rest of Maine’s coastline is not far behind MDI when it comes to summertime activity. The Midcoast area of Belfast, Camden, Rockport, and Rockland are bustling with tourists in the summer and fall.

In wintertime, the ski resorts in Maine’s western mountains—Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Saddleback—are a huge attraction, providing excellent downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. Northern Maine provides snowmobilers with ideal conditions, and snowmobile trails are plentiful in places like Aroostook, Piscataquis, and northern Penobscot counties.

Forty-eight state parks and Maine’s many lakes provide attractive surroundings for boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking. The Greenville area, with its superb hiking trails and Moosehead Lake, is a great example of inland recreational opportunities. Of course, we can’t forget Baxter State Park and majestic Mount Katahdin, perhaps the most challenging climb on the East Coast.

Finally, there is a long list of festivals and state fairs that attract visitors year after year. Some of the major festivals in the Bangor Metro area include the Blues Festival and Lobster Festival in Rockland, the American Folk Festival in Bangor, the Blueberry Festival in Washington County, and the Potato Blossom Festival in Fort Fairfield.

As the overall U.S. economy has shown signs of coming back to life, tourism figures have also shown improvement in Maine. According to figures

Photo: John Bryson, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

from the Maine State Office of Tourism, visitors to Maine increased by 8.5% from 2011 to 2012. Overnight visitors numbered over 14 million, while day visitors added another 13 million. Last year there was $5 billion in tourism-related direct expenditures—which averages out to $13 million per day. All of this supports 85,500 jobs in our state, about 13% of Maine’s total employment.

The busiest tourist season is the summer, which comes as no surprise to Mainers. About 60% of tourist traffic is generated in the spring and summer months. However, fall, with our beautiful foliage, and winter, with our ski resorts, snowmobile trails, and other winter sports, still attract millions of travelers to Maine—most of them visiting from Massachusetts and New York.

The Maine Office of Tourism, a division of the Department of Economic and Community Development, is tasked with promoting Maine as a tourist destination. While the staff in the office is small, with only seven full-time employ-

ees, and their budget is only $9.7 million, they work closely with industry representatives to assist in the promotions.

Peter Daigle of the Lafayette Hotel Group has served on volunteer committees within the department. “The tourism office has always worked closely and had great relationships with industry groups like the Innkeepers and Restaurant Associations, Ski Maine, Maine Campground Owners Association, and the eight tourism region marketing groups,” Daigle says.

They also work closely with the privately funded Maine Tourism Association, which was founded in 1921. The association is under contract with the Office of Tourism to staff the state Visitor Information Centers and print the travel planner Maine Invites You. Funding for this nonprofit organization comes mostly from the tourism industry. The CEO, Vaughn Stinson, is looking for a strong tourism season in 2013. According to Stinson, advance bookings are up over last year.

Mount Katahdin has long been a favorite for vacationers. This photo from the turn of the 20th century is a view of the eastern peak and ”chimney,” with Katahdin Lake in the distance.

“I’ve heard positive reports from most areas about advanced bookings,” says Carolanne Ouellette, the director of the Maine Office of Tourism. “National reports indicate that Americans’ attitude toward travel is more positive.” Which bodes well for Vacationland.

“We were treated with sensitivity and dignity.”

MARGARET MCCREA Friend of a patient at Pen Bay’s Bob Gagnon Suite for Palliative & Hospice Care

“All the nurses provided comforting and considerate attention and care, both to our friend and to her many visitors.”

Your good health is our priority. We are dedicated to involving you and your family in decisions about your care. That’s why it’s called partnership care—because together, we are better. www.pbmc.org/iampenbay

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 13

metro health

Fonda Smith and Jean Baker outside the Brewer facility.

The Bangor Area Recovery Network, a nonprofit created in 2009, is quickly settling in to its new facility in Brewer, thanks to a bevy of local supporters. By Tom Avila

14 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

photos: Mark McCall

New BARN Doors F

rom the outside, the Bangor Area Recovery Network’s (BARN’s) new home is decidedly unremarkable.

The boxy white building on Center Street in Brewer looks exactly like the commercial building it once was.

Step inside, and it’s another story altogether. Brightly painted walls, a wellorganized common space, and a series of comfortable, homey rooms spread out before you. There are even additional, unfinished rooms tucked in further back, just waiting to be put to good use.

The overall effect is cheerful and welcoming and instantly erases any pre-conceived notions that might exist about what a community recovery center should look like.

“I think we’ve always been proud of our past facilities, but the respect people show each other now that we’re here is noticeable,” says Jean Baker, president of BARN’s board of directors. “The people who use our services were part of the change,” adds Karen Bradford, the nonprofit organization’s board secretary.

“When we took over this building, it needed a lot of work. So, our members came in.

Maybe they were on vacation for a week, so they came and offered to help put the place together. Everyone was a part of it, so there’s a real sense of ownership that people have for the new facility.”

Baker says that people are pleased that there is a center created just for them, which has been the case since BARN was started in a small storefront on Bangor’s Hammond Street in 2009. It was, Baker, Bradford, and volunteer coordinator Fonda Smith recall, just a tiny building with a collection of small rooms.

“We thought it would work well because, while we knew that there was a real need for what we wanted to offer, we were a new organization, just starting out,” Baker says. “It was a kind of, ‘If you build it they will come’ thing.”

By the time those first BARN doors opened, the space was already too small to accommodate the demand.

What the BARN’s founders had set into motion was one of those great ideas that manages to be both entirely simple and, at the same time, incredibly revolutionary. Furthering its mission to support recovering individuals and their families in the Bangor area, the volunteer-driven center in Brewer offers a variety of 12-step-based and other self-help programming for individuals recovering from a variety of addictions.

BARN also provides social activities like monthly pancake breakfasts, open mic nights, and chemical-free dances.

Inside, bookshelves hold games and puzzles for children whose parents’ lack of childcare might otherwise cause them to miss meetings. Large-screen televisions and comfortable sofas give individuals a place to gather and simply enjoy one another’s company.

But perhaps more striking than the BARN’s embracing, whole-family approach to supporting recovery, is the fact it has been structured as a membership organization. While anyone with a need is able to participate in the center’s self-

From left: Fonda Smith, Jean Baker, Susan Look, Tom Beede, Denny Pelkey, Jamie Ploss, Phil Audet, and Hartwell Kalel.

“We’ve actually had several neighbors come up to the door and come in. They were really positive and glad to see us in the community because they know it’s needed. We get a lot of support.” — ­ Fonda Smith help meetings and non-members are given an opportunity to take advantage of the facility for periods of time before and after meetings, members are given broader access and a role in BARN’s governance structure. More importantly, members make a tangible investment, not only in their own recovery process, but in others, through support and encouragement.

The Brewer facility marks another milestone for the BARN—an expanded and diversifying board is another—and one that came faster than anyone expected. The building, the BARN’s third home since its start, was a short sale that Baker stumbled upon when looking for possible rental spaces on the Internet.

“The board decided that maybe it was time to own our own building,” she says.

“We put in an offer in April of 2012, and because it was a short sale, we assumed

we wouldn’t hear until the end of the year. We had a response from the bank in two weeks that they were accepting our offer, so we hit the ground running.”

Making the transition easier was the outstanding support they received from Bangor Savings Bank, which holds the BARN’s mortgage, as well as support from their new neighbors. While many facilities associated with recovery and addiction issues find themselves struggling with cries of “not in my backyard,” that was not the case for the BARN. “We wondered if we were going to have trouble,” Bradford says. “When we went to the city after we acquired the building they said we would have to go before the planning board and that letters would be sent out to neighbors about a public meeting. If they had questions they could come to the meeting and we Dr. Carey Fister and one of would need to respond.her We wentpatients. to the pediatric www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 15

Chef Arturo Montes has returned to Black Bear Inn /ğń įğğĸĜĝĴ ijğĿ ĆŠĆˆĆ‰Ć‹

#ĚĎİĸ #IJĎĿ *ĝĝ t ĆŒ ĴğĹijĿIJņ ÄŻÄšĹƒÄą t ğĿğĝğ ĺĎĜĝIJ ĆŠĆˆĆ? Ć?ĆŽĆŽ Ć?Ć‰ĆŠĆˆ t Ĺ„Ĺ„Ĺ„ įĚĎİĸįIJĎĿĜĝĝğĿğĝğ İğĺ

16 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

meeting and there were crickets.� “We’ve actually had several neighbors come up to the door and come in,� Fonda Smith says. “They were really positive and glad to see us in the community because they know it’s needed. We get a lot of support.�

The BARN is now in the process of generating additional financial support for its operations—to continue building renovations, to pay down its current mortgage, and to expand its programming to include offerings like telephone recovery service and recovery coaching.

There’s also hope of establishing a more sustainable, long-term revenue stream so that attention can be focused on providing services.

But no matter how the BARN continues to evolve, transform, and grow, it will hold fast to its central belief. “We want to make recovery visible,� explains Baker. “People don’t wear a sign that says, ‘I’m a recovering alcoholic.’ I might be standing next to you at the grocery store. My kid might be in gymnastics with your kid. People who are successful in their recovery become members of the community again, and we want to help them do it.�

Recovery doesn’t have to be through Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or Overeaters Anonymous, Baker says. “Come and volunteer here.

Get to know other people and work with us on what keeps you sober and keeps you away from whatever your addiction is. There is such a stigma about being a person affected by addiction, we want to keep recovery from being shame-based.

We want to celebrate the fact that people do recover.�

photo: Mark McCall

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metro wellness

Raise a Glass Thinking about trying a juice fast? Emilie Brand Manhart gives it a shot, and shares how she felt throughout three days of her liquid diet.

By Emilie Brand Manhart

Photo: Gordan Jankulov/iStockphoto/Thinkstock.com

J

uice fasts, or juice cleanses, are rising in popularity and promise to rid your system of toxins and preservatives, while reinvigorating your diet or kick-starting a weightloss plan. Juice fasts claim to give you a boost of energy, clearer skin, and a sharper mind. As an already healthy eater myself, I was recently intrigued by the juice-only concept as a way to reenergize myself for summer. I decided to give it a shot, to see if the hype was for real.

When I began to search for information, I was overwhelmed by stories of people who juiced for up to 60 days—that seemed like a really long time to drink my meals. I also found kits you could order, which included fancy supplements, and recipes requiring chili peppers, kumquats, and psyllium. After more research, I decided to go for a three-day juice fast that used only raw veggies and fruit that I could easily purchase right at my local grocery store. No expensive supplements needed. I stocked my fridge with pineapples, watermelon, apples, pears, carrots, cucumbers, parsley, kale, ginger, beets, and oranges.

I admired the colorful array of natural goodness that would feed my body for the next three days. On day one, I woke up raring to go, feeling brave and confident, as I revved up my juicer. For most of the day I felt good, if a little empty. That evening, I managed to pack snacks and lunches for my kids to bring to school

without licking the peanut butter off the knife or mindlessly grabbing handfuls of crackers. I felt powerful and in control, sipping on colorful juices all evening. As I climbed in bed, I noticed that I was indeed feeling calmer, cleaner, and lighter from the inside out.

On day two, I woke up feeling slightly empty, but energized, and ran my pile of fruits and veggies through the juicer, filling three bottles to take to work.

Throughout the day, I had periods of tremendous focus and productivity, even though I was hungry. As a mind-overmatter kind of girl, I simply did not allow room for negativity and focused on the delicious and nutrient-rich juices I was giving my body. My body did feel different. I can best describe my feelings as warm and quiet, as if my mind and my organs were on a tropical vacation.

When I woke up on day three, I felt clean and light; my clothes were loose, and my skin dewy. I longed for solid food, but I steeled myself for one more day. By late morning, my energy began to crash, and I felt painfully hungry and irritable.

“Mind over matter” be damned; by the evening of day three, I was plain mad.

Hungry, agitated, and frustrated, I went to bed early, because I just wanted this fast to be over. In the morning, I found relief in a steaming bowl of oatmeal.

A juice-only diet was a worthwhile experience, and I learned a lot about myself. Ingesting only juice allows the body

to absorb nutrients more easily and gives the digestive system a rest, which leads to a tingly lightness throughout the body.

Completing the fast reminded me to be mindful of what I eat and how my energy ebbs and flows in response to certain foods: sugar and carbs give me a spike, and then I feel tired, but on the juice cleanse, I maintained an incredibly even flow of energy. After a thorough cleansing, I was inspired to stick with healthy and whole foods—anything processed or artificial felt like a major violation.

While it was challenging to maintain the fast for three days, as I juggled work and parenting, I certainly felt the benefits of the cleanse and will do it again, though perhaps a two-day cleanse would work best for me. If you are interested in trying a juice cleanse, a nutritionist or doctor can help you decide how long to juice, whether or not to use supplements, and whether you should alter your exercise routine while juicing.

Besides the success I felt from the cleanse, the most valuable thing I extracted from those piles of fruits and vegetables is gratitude for my healthy body and for the variety of wonderful foods around me. Cheers to that.

Emilie Brand Manhart is a mom, runner, and triathlete who co-chairs the English Department at Bangor High School and writes the blog One Mom in Maine. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 17

feature story

18 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Sailing Adventure The Great Schooner Race attracts people from across the country and around the world to the Rockland area each July.

Whether these people are passengers on the ships or viewing the race on the shore, it’s a tradition unlike any other.

Story By Henry Garfield | photos by mark mccall

I

n the days of old, when sailing ships transported cargo from port to port, the need for speed drove the great schooners that plied the Atlantic Coast. Getting in first paid handsome rewards. The captain would fly as much sail as safely possible, in an effort to beat his competition and capture the best market prices.

On Friday, July 5, the essence of that vanished time will come back to life at the entrance to Rockland Harbor. The 37th annual Great Schooner Race, hosted by the Maine Windjammer Association, will finish off the Rockland breakwater. If the weather is clear and, if the wind is up, spectators will be treated to the sight of as many as 20 majestic Maine schooners bearing down on the finish line under full sail.

“A century ago, every schooner trip was a race against time, and a captain’s profits depended heavily on his crew’s sailing skills,” says Meg Maiden, market-

ing director of the Maine Windjammer Association.

These days, captains and crews race for fun and bragging rights rather than profit. That’s not to say that they aren’t in business, for running a windjammer schooner is a full-time job. But today, the business is tourism, not delivery.

The Great Schooner Race, unlike many yachting events, is open to anyone who signs on, regardless of sailing ability or prior experience.

Maine’s windjammers are now passenger vessels, offering multi-day excursions around Penobscot Bay and the surrounding waters. The Great Schooner Race has become a part of the windjammers’ busy summer schedule, coming at the end of a week, when passengers have been aboard for several days. It’s the only race of its kind, according to Maiden, in which cruising passengers are invited to participate.

Captains Doug and Linda Lee have www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 19

feature story A dinghy is a great way to get a closer look at the schooners.

“Every one of the 43 people on board took a turn at the helm. We didn’t win the race, but that was sort of beside the point.”

—Captain Linda Lee sailed in every race since the first one in 1977. “There had been an annual race in the early 1950s, between a couple of the smaller coastal schooners,” says Linda Lee. “A few of the windjammer captains wanted to bring that back.”

Four schooners participated in that inaugural race, from North Haven to Bucks Harbor in East Penobscot Bay, including the Isaac H. Evans, a 64-foot classic coasting schooner, originally built in 1886, which the couple rebuilt at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. “It was a wonderful race, in perfect conditions,” Lee recalls. “It inspired us to do it again.”

A few years later, the couple began building the 95-foot Heritage, which they launched in 1983. With topmasts up, the Heritage is the tallest windjammer in Maine.

“We wanted to carry more passengers, and we wanted to go faster,” Lee explains. “Our two daughters basically grew up on board. As they got older, they and several of their friends became good crew members.”

The Heritage, built and based in Rockland, has berths for 40 people and carries a crew of six, including two mates, a cook, 20 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

and a cook’s assistant. During the sailing season, the Lees take passengers out for cruises of up to a week, plying the coast between Boothbay Harbor and Schoodic Point. This schedule is typical of Maine’s working schooners; cruises feature stops at islands, lobster cookouts, and handson sailing. The week of the Great Schooner Race has become one of the most sought- after weeks of the season. By race day, the rituals of hoisting and trimming sails and rounding marks have become, if not routine, at least ingrained.

“One year we received the Frank Swift Award, named after a captain from the 1930s,” Lee says. “It’s given to the vessel that best embodies the ideals of the race.

Every one of the 43 people on board took a turn at the helm. We didn’t win the race, but that was sort of beside the point.”

At 30 years old, the Heritage is the newest boat in the race. The oldest boat is the 55-foot Lewis R. French, built in 1871. Ironically, it’s owned and skippered by the youngest captain in the fleet, 40year-old Garth Wells.

Wells grew up on Cape Cod and gained early sailing experience in the Caribbean and on Chesapeake Bay. He

came to Maine and crewed on the Lewis R. French for five years before purchasing the boat 10 years ago. “I loved the coast, and the fact that sailing here was all about taking folks out to sights you can’t see from Route One,” he says. “It’s amazing to meet people who’ve lived here all their lives and have never really been out on the water.”

Like the Lees, Wells and his wife work on their boat, either sailing or getting it ready to sail, most of the year. “It’s not my hobby,” Wells says, on a spring day when his crew is scraping, sand-

Photographer Mark McCall rode along on the Schooner Grace Bailey to capture these shots from the 2012 Great Schooner Race. The schooner pictured here is the Heritage.

ing, and painting the wooden hull. “The goal is to have the boat be your job. It’s a small business.”

Though people come from all over the country and around the world to experience the slice of history that is Maine’s windjammer fleet, both Wells and Lee say they are seeing an increasing number of in-state passengers on “staycations.”

“It attracts people who like to pull on lines,” Wells says. “We usually fly six sails, and three of them have to be actively tended every time we tack. We have teams on each sail.”

Most schooners in the fleet are sailed much as they were a century ago, with human muscle instead of hydraulics.

Many of them, including the Heritage, have no inboard engines. To maneuver in and out of harbors and in calm conditions, they are nudged along by a motorized “yawl boat.” These small tenders often have colorful names; the Lees’ is dubbed Clark Kent. (Use of yawl boats during the race, except in an emergency, is, of course, prohibited.)

In past years, the racecourse has been set informally by the participating

captains, depending on the wind speed and direction and the overall weather conditions. This year’s race will begin near Islesboro and finish off the Rockland breakwater. The day before the race, Thursday, July 4, the schooners will conduct informal maritime exercises in the waters off Islesboro, before rafting up in Gilkey Harbor for the night. On race day, the captains will meet aboard the largest boat in the fleet, the three-masted, greenhulled, Victory Chimes, to determine the exact course of the race and the division of classes. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 21

The idea, Lee explains, is to handicap the race in such a way that the schooners will arrive off Rockland at nearly the same time. Since the participating schooners vary in size and design, some will start earlier than others, and some will sail slightly different courses.

“It’s always been a big week for all the schooners involved,” Wells says. “There’s a lot of informal racing out there during the season. We all look forward to the race, and to competing for bragging rights.”

The boats range in overall length from smaller schooners of approximately 40feet, to several vessels just under 65-feet, 22 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Suzanne Nance from MPBN.

to the Victory Chimes at 132-feet. Wells explains that many traditional coastal schooners were built as close to 65-feet as possible, because more expensive construction regulations governed boats 65-feet and over.

The schooners are divided into four classes. The windward class encompasses the largest boats; the leeward class and coaster class are for mid-sized boats built after and before World War I, respectively; and boats under 50-feet compete in the flying jib class. Prizes are awarded in each category. The race is open to any traditionally-rigged schoo-

ner on the Eastern Seaboard.

“It’s a lot of fun any time the race is close,” Wells says. “When you get a good breeze of around 12 to 15 knots, that allows the boats to fly all their sails, and three or four of you are going around a mark at once; it’s really spectacular.”

Spectators can walk out to the end of the Rockland breakwater for a front-row seat at the finish line. Excursion boats will also be available in Rockland Harbor to take people out to see the race.

Following the race, the fleet will anchor in Rockland’s south end, and an awards ceremony will be held at the Sail,

Power, and Steam Museum.

The schooners will remain in the area all weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, the Maine Windjammer Association will host open schooner tours from 2 to 4 p.m. Visitors may stop by to tour the Angelique, Lewis R. French, and Mary Day in Camden; the Timberwind in Rockport; the American Eagle, Heritage, and Isaac H. Evans at Rockland’s North End Shipyard; and the Nathaniel Bowditch and Stephen Tabor at Windjammer Wharf on Tillson Avenue in Rockland.

Many of the participating schooners are National Historic Landmarks, which www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 23

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seems an odd designation for working, floating, moving sailboats, but they are living pieces of history. “Artifacts this old are usually found in museums or tied up to docks,” Maiden says. “Not so with our fleet of historic windjammers.”

Every race is different. In past years, the finish line has not even been determined until the morning of the race. This year, Maiden says, the race’s organizers wanted to provide a more rewarding experience for spectators, and also to plan a post-race awards ceremony on shore.

If conditions are good, the schooners should arrive at the Rockland breakwater in mid-afternoon.

Joan Kritzberg of San Bernardino, California, has been coming east to participate in the race for years. “In 1997, I had a business law professors’ conference in Atlanta, and I wanted to combine it with a cruise of some kind, because I never met a boat I didn’t like,” she says. “I suppose only a Californian would consider Maine ‘on the way’ to Atlanta. A friend who, like me, had never been to Maine, showed

me an ad in a magazine, and I sent for a package of brochures from the Maine Windjammer Association. I ended up on the Heritage, with no idea of what to expect. At the end of the week, I booked the next summer’s trip. It wasn’t long before I realized that it would be more efficient to sail for two or three weeks at a time. This summer will be weeks number 31 and 32 on the Heritage.”

“It’s a week or more with no TV and no radio,” says Frank Hamilton of Weatherby Lake, Missouri, another repeat passenger. “You get to talk to people and listen to the captain’s stories. What I look forward to the most is simply the atmosphere of being there. During race week, 70% of the people will be return passengers, so you’re sure to know someone.”

“The evening before the race, the whole fleet anchors together in a raft, so the passengers can walk from one boat to another, visiting each other and comparing boats and accommodations,” Kritzberg says. “The view of the whole fleet in the sunset is magnificent from a tiny rowboat after supper.”

The race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. In some past years, captains and crew have drifted across the starting line in calm waters, waiting for the first breath of wind. “One year we had a kazoo band on deck doing songs to entice the wind,” Hamilton recalls. “There are times when you work really hard, pulling on lines when you’re tacking, and there are other times when there’s no wind or you’re on a long passage that you can sit back and relax, enjoy the scenery.”

Other races have been beset by fog, adding navigational challenge to the mix.

Sometimes there’s a fair wind, and captains will struggle to hold their boats behind the starting line until the horn sounds.

Last year’s race started in Rockland and ended in Camden and featured 19 schooners in all four classes. The race was hampered by light winds, and many of the boats took up to six hours to complete the course.

But that’s part of the beauty of sailing: it’s unpredictable. Whatever the conditions, the windjammers will work their way to Rockland, where they will be welcomed with as much zeal as their cargocarrying predecessors. “It’s wonderful when the Heritage wins her class,” Kritzberg says, “but the passengers are always winners, no matter what.”

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DIKH7D9;Å <EHÅ7BBÅOEKHÅ :H;7CI By purchasing your insurance coverage through Sargent Tyler & West, you will get the coverage you need with the personalized service you deserve.

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AX

26 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

E & Saw The days of swinging an axe to clear the land have faded to folklore. Blood, sweat, and tears have been traded for machines.

The industry has changed, but it hasn’t disappeared.

tival planners had gathered a handful of times in the Veazie living room of Channel 5 station manager Dick Bronson to debate what the statue should look like, says Rick Bronson, Dick’s son and a former city councilman. They decided the statue should represent the city’s character, but Bangor was then immersed in the messy shoe industry, “It wasn’t an image we liked,” Bronson says.

During one meeting, Dick’s wife Connie suggested Paul Bunyan. The idea resonated with the committee, since

Photo: Darin Burt/Thinkstock.com

By Craig Idlebrook

T

he celebration to commemorate Bangor’s 125th birthday included many events that city planners hoped would be memorable. During a fall weekend in 1959, the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers came to town to play an exhibition game; the Giants won against the Packers and a rookie coach named Lombardi. There were parades, speeches, the carving up of a giant cake.

And then there was the unveiling of a new statue. Throughout the year, fes-

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 27

feature story

The state had enough straight hardwood to keep the British Royal Navy well stocked, and, more importantly, it had navigable waterways to float the lumber to sea.

28 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Bangor owed its existence to the logging industry. Founded near Penobscot Bay, with access to the Penobscot River and the Kenduskeag Stream, Bangor connected the North Woods to the outside world.

It once boasted some two-dozen separate sawmills and more than a handful of shady establishments for lumbermen.

The festival’s organizers knew that Paul Bunyan’s birthplace was a contested topic. Historians believed he first appeared as a mythical Robin Hood-like logger, who defied English authority in Quebec; his story was later refined for an advertising campaign in the Midwest, complete with the appearance of a blue ox.

Towns in rural Michigan and Minnesota claimed to be his birthplace. But northern Maine was the nation’s first great lumber stand; its trees were harvested for masts before Maine became a state. If Paul Bunyan were born in the U.S., Maine had a good claim to his lineage.

Local visual artist J. Norman Martin was commissioned to create the Bunyan statue. When it was unveiled, the fiberglass and metal sculpture stood more than 30 feet high and offered a prototypical depiction of the famous lumberjack, smiling jauntily with his axe slung over his shoulder.

“Many people laughingly say it’s really Norm Martin in a lumberjack outfit, and I believe you can make a case for that,” Bronson says.

Logging’s Heyday Just a few miles from the causeway to Mount Desert Island, the essential skills of logging are practiced much as they were in the 19th century. At the Great Maine Lumberjack show in Trenton, “Timber” Tina Scheer and her band of lumberjacks and lumberjills swing axes and pull crosscut saws through wood at alarming speed, in much the same way lumberjacks worked during Bangor’s logging heyday, albeit with better safety equipment. A native of Wisconsin, Scheer chose to locate the lumberjack show in Maine in part because of the state’s logging legacy. Whether she’s performing at international competitions or afternoon shows for tourists, Scheer loves to push herself to cut with as much speed and precision as possible.

“When the word ‘go’ is called, you forget everything else,” she says.

Maine is a state built by the axe and

Photo: melanie brooks

Paul Bunyan stands tall outside the new Cross Insurance Center on Main Street in Bangor.

Photos: courtesy of the bangor museum and history center

An old-fashioned logging camp.

the saw. It was opened up by lumberjacks, and every aspect of its economy sprang from the logging industry, says Don Wilson, a land surveyor and author of Logging and Lumbering in Maine. The state had enough straight hardwood to keep the British Royal Navy well stocked, and, more importantly, it had navigable waterways to float the lumber to sea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They could move logs and potential lumber from pretty much all over the north part of the whole state,â&#x20AC;? Wilson says.

Logging activity cleared the way for other endeavors, he says. Wherever the woods were thinned, hunting and trapping took root; agriculture, too, as teams of log-pulling horses needed feed. Hotels, bars, and restaurants sprang up to gently siphon off the pay of lumberjacks, and then cater to the tourists who came to explore the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forests and rivers.

After Maine gained statehood in 1820, lumber barons began to align their business holdings vertically to control costs from stump to ship. They built rail-

River drivers disentangling logs.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 29

feature story

Catch Timber Tina and her crew of lumberjacks and lumberjills in Trenton.

30 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

roads, roads, dams—whatever was needed. They were the economic and social luminaries of the state, but they also didn’t easily take no for an answer. Legislators were controlled and, sometimes, even bought. In 1853, General Samuel Veazie, a prominent lumber baron, led an effort to carve out a section of Bangor to create a municipality in his name, because he balked at Bangor’s property tax rate.

“They were known to be pretty ruthless,” Wilson says. “They were looking to control everything they could, in order to make a lot of money.”

But their power in Maine ebbed as the timber industry moved west. Also, national clean water regulations did away with the yearly log drives, saving Maine’s rivers from choking layers of bark, while making the logging truck ubiquitous on state roads. As Maine’s lumber industry changed and modernized, the number of loggers shrank, and the pre-industrial

PHOTOS: (TOP) courtesy of unity college; (bottom) laura cole

Travis Courser from Unity College’s Woodsmen’s Team saws through a log at a recent competition.

skill set of felling a tree with muscle and ingenuity faded.

But Scheer isn’t the only one still practicing the old-fashioned craft of the lumberjack. There are three collegiate woodsmen teams in Maine, at Colby College in Waterville, the University of Maine in Orono, and Unity College.

Not all loggers have grey beards; about 20% of the state’s loggers have started logging since 2000, according to a recent survey. (“Woodsmen,” like “lobstermen,” is a term used to cover both men and women.) These teams compete regionally and nationally, and some meets even garner ESPN coverage.

Travis Courser, president of Unity College’s Woodsmen’s Team, had never worked as a logger before arriving on campus, but there was something about the woodsmen competitions that appealed to him. He likes the fact that when he’s trying to beat his best time at shimmying up or felling a tree, he’s competing both individually and as part of a team.

Courser, who is completing an education degree, also hopes to go pro as a woodsman after college. Unlike many sports, one can compete in lumberjacking for decades. What is lost by age is gained by experience, and he’s amazed at veteran lumberjacks who can read everything they need to know about a tree before the first axe stroke.

“If you know how to read the wood, you can pretty much tell how you are going to do, if you’re good at it,” Courser says. “They can tell me their time roughly before they start.”

A Complicated Business Any viewer who caught an episode of the American Loggers television show on the Discovery Channel knows that logging in Maine no longer is a swing-and-chop business. The show followed the fam-

ily behind Pelletier Brothers Inc., as they managed a Millinocket logging business.

Logging these days is mostly mechanized, making the business of logging as much about logistics and management as muscle. The Pelletiers constantly have to manage a sprawling workforce, everevolving lines of credit, and mutinous machinery to bring 150,000 to 200,000 cords of wood to the mills each year.

Any Maine logger working on an industrial scale for large landowners must invest in mechanized equipment to fell, size, and load logs, says the company’s

co-president Eldon Pelletier. His company even invests in its own trucking line.

The price for such investment is steep. “It will cost you well over a million,” he says.

Mechanization and the high price of doing business have cut the state’s logging workforce to just a remnant of what it once was, says Michael Beardsley, executive director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine. Beardsley estimates there are some 2,700 loggers working in Maine’s woods, representing a workforce reduction of 70% since the heyday of logging. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 31

feature story

“Even in the last 50 years, we’re probably a fourth of what we were,” Beardsley says.

The workforce may shrink even further, but reports of its extinction through attrition are overblown, says Jeffrey Benjamin, an associate professor of forest operations at UMaine and the author of a recent report on innovation in the Maine forest industry. Not all loggers have grey beards; about 20% of the state’s loggers 32 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

have started logging since 2000, according to a recent survey.

Even if many veteran loggers retire without young blood to replace them, Maine’s logging output would not suffer, Benjamin says. Most of the wood cut in the state is harvested by a fraction of the logging workforce. Many of Maine’s 2,700 loggers run smaller operations, working with chainsaws and small skidders, but they don’t produce the same

volume of timber.

“You could lose half of the guys with a chainsaw and add a few other machines, and you’re back in business,” Benjamin says.

That’s not to say that something wouldn’t be lost, however. That’s why Beardsley, Benjamin, and others are constantly brainstorming ways to encourage and support Maine’s loggers, both big and small. Benjamin sees potential for greater collaboration between Maine’s logging industry and the state’s university forestry programs; he just worked with a logger to adapt a feller-buncher so it can weigh logs before depositing them on trucks. Beardsley is hoping to change Maine’s labor laws to allow logging families to teach their children the many facets of the logging industry at an earlier age.

“Right now, they can’t technically train their own children by the time they reach 18,” says Beardsley. “That’s kind of a challenge.”

Logging is a demanding job that requires a successful practitioner be able to navigate everything from muddy roads and stubborn limbs, to balky technology, but the profession has so many rewards, Beardsley says. It’s one of the few economic opportunities for people in rural areas to earn a good wage. It also is a great profession for self-starters, who enjoy working outdoors.

“You’ve got to have the desire to do the job,” Beardsley says. “You’ve got to get people who want to work at four in the morning and want to work 150 miles away from home.”

Looking Ahead Ultimately, the future of Maine’s logging industry will be tied to the state’s future land use. Many of the state’s lumber barons sold their holdings to paper companies in the second half of the 20th century. More recently, paper companies have been selling off as well, causing a fragmentation in the ownership of Maine’s forestland. Future generations of loggers cannot expect to deal with just a handful of landowners throughout their careers, says Beardsley. “You can’t put that genie back in the bottle,” he says.

Maine land ownership has become an attractive investment vehicle for fund managers and wealthy individual landowners, says Eric O’Keefe, editor of

PHOTO: courtesy of unity college

Cody Jackman, a member of the Unity College Woodsmen’s Team, practicing his skills for an upcoming meet.

business in hermon The Land Report, a publication which tracks national trends in land purchases. In an unstable economy, where even treasury bonds are yielding historically low returns, Maine land can provide an attractive investment.

“You’re looking at something that’s very reassuring, very proven,” O’Keefe says.

These new owners of Maine’s woods sometimes have competing visions for the best use of the forest. Some are trying to flip the investment for short-term gains, while others, notably Burt’s Bees founder Roxanne Quimby, advocate for creating new conservation land alongside traditional forestry. Recently, headlines have been made about Plum Creek Timber Company’s plan to develop traditionally logged land into a large-scale housing development.

Fragmentation and development mean that Maine’s logging workforce will have to continue to adapt. Some have needed to manage their credit lines more carefully in the face of shorter-term contracts, while others have practiced low-impact logging practices to accommodate small-scale landowners. Maine’s loggers have always been creative about business models, Benjamin says. “People use the term ‘logger’ and I don’t know what they mean, because [it has] such a breadth,” he says.

No matter what, Maine loggers will have to continue to be flexible. Tom Fox’s operations in Orland are a perfect example. Fox, who recently competed nationally in a lumberjack competition, has learned to be many things to many people. He runs a small and successful business working with many landowners throughout the state as a forester, logger, and consultant.

“It’s important that you stay competitive, that you have a variety of things you can offer,” Fox says.

Fox has carved out a niche in forestry working with small woodlot owners.

He loves the daily challenge of forestry and speaks about his work like an artist painting a canvas. It’s a skill he knows he will never be finished practicing, as each woodlot, each tree, offers a new challenge. The same is true for every good logger in Maine, and each approaches the work with a unique vision.

“Forestry is a big picture,” Fox says.

“It’s just a matter of where you see yourself fitting in.”

A GREAT TOWN TO WORK

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a piece of maine: caribou

Northern Exposure

T

oo often, when the word “pioneer” is used, thoughts race to the Great Plains, to covered wagons, and Little House on the Prairie—not to those whose quest to stake new territory did not drive them west, but north. Folks like the rugged individuals who settled what would become the most northeastern city in the United States.

“We started out as a pioneer community,” explains William Tasker, executive director of the Caribou Area Chamber

34 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

of Commerce. “We take a lot of pride in that.”

Back in the 1830s, there was almost a third war between England and the United States over the northern border territories. After it was settled, Maine was interested in populating the area of northern Maine. “You saw the same kind of land deals that you saw in Oregon and Kansas,” Tasker explains.

“People who were the second or third or fourth sons, and working on family

Photo: melanie brooks

Caribou is a city that embraces its pioneering past and brings the same determination to building its future. By tom avila

farms in Southern Maine, where the land was rockier and more limited, moved north,” Tasker says. “The original lots were 160 acres each, but it was nothing but woods. So, they cut their lives out of the forests.”

That spirit continues to inform life in Caribou today, a city that embraces its pioneering past and is employing that same determination to build its future.

Photos: public domain, from wikimedia commons and the library of congress

History Pirates! Battling lumberjacks! A bloodless war! Trans-Atlantic balloon crossings!

Each play their own role in the history of Caribou, which leads one to wonder why the city isn’t built into the curriculum in every Maine classroom.

In 1808, Captain William Eaton was awarded 10,000 acres of land in what was then far (far, far) northern Massachusetts, to pay tribute to his heroic victories over the Barbary Pirates. That parcel became known as the Eaton Grant.

Ownership of the border territories had been in dispute since the end of the Revolutionary War, with the region’s timber a valuable and prized resource for shipbuilding. Starting in 1820, when Maine gained statehood, the desire to protect those natural resources escalated.

It was late December of 1838, when a group of Canadian lumberjacks were seen cutting timber on the Eaton Grant.

Members of the Eaton family quickly gathered together a group of American lumberjacks and willing allies and, when the Canadian lumberjacks attempted to return on New Year’s Eve, blocked their passage.

A volley of shouts and insults broke out between the two bands of lumberjacks, which might have been the beginning and end of the battle, until several of the Canadians were set upon by a black bear. Unconcerned with land ownership, the bear was seeking to protect its nearby cub.

The Canadians shot the animal to protect themselves, but those on the American side believed they were being fired upon. The Americans returned the Canadian fire (or so they believed) and the Canadian lumberjacks—facing both gunfire and the confusion caused by a bear attack—made their retreat.

It was 1842 when the Webster-Ashburton Treaty set the boundary line be-

Top: Main Street, Caribou, circa 1940. Middle: Trucks outside a starch factory in Caribou, October, 1940.

Bottom: Map of Caribou, 1893. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 35

a piece of maine: caribou

Above: NOAA’s Weather Forecast Office in Caribou.

This facility serves as the primary means of gathering weather data in the northeast region of the United States. Balloons launched from the deployment tower every 12 hours relay weather information back to the operations room, where data is monitored and processed into national and global databases.

Information and photo courtesy of the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, www.eere.energy.gov.

36 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

tween Maine and New Brunswick, and the Bloodless Aroostook War ended with just one casualty. Two, if you count the bear.

With the border firmly established, Maine offered large allotments to encourage settlement. Eaton Grant was soon joined by two other areas—called Letter H and Letter I. That area was officially named Caribou in 1877.

Over the course of its history, Caribou and the surrounding area have grown in fits and starts. The establishment of the Bangor Aroostook railroad line in the late 19th century encouraged a boom in the region’s agricultural industry, while the escalation of the Cold War led to the building of Loring Air Force Base in nearby Limestone in the 1940s.

In 1984, the eyes of the world turned

to Caribou, when the aerial daredevil Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II launched the Rosie O’Grady’s Balloon of Peace, setting out on the first successful solo crossing of the Atlantic in a gas balloon.

And then there are the unexpected bits you can discover by spending time exploring Caribou’s Historical Center & Museum and the quirky Nylander Museum of Natural History.

Never a Dull Moment Caribou City Manager Austin Bleess is not simply new to the job; he’s new to the state. “I’ve only been here about six months; I was born and raised in Minnesota,” Bleess says. The region’s landscape played a huge role in Bleess’ pioneer-like move to Maine.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful up here. When my wife and I came up to interview, it was early fall, and the leaves were starting to change. With all the hills and trees, it was just beautiful.â&#x20AC;? The abundance of outdoor activities was also a draw. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You could cross-country ski a different trail every day for a month, before youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have to circle back. There are some of the best snowmobiling trails that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever been on,â&#x20AC;? Bleess says.

Come February, the month when cabin fever starts to set in for many, the city of Caribou celebrates Winter Carnival. In previous years, the fun has included sleigh rides and sledding, giant snow sculptures, ice skating, and, of course, the chance to check out some of the 1,600-miles of Aroostook Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snowmobile trail system. The Caribou Ski Center near the high school offers skiers some three miles of trails to enjoy, with lights on more than half the course for skiing after dark.

When the weather turns warm, hikers can take advantage of the nearby Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1998, when the U.S. Air Force transferred 4,700 acres of land from Loring Air Force Base to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Visitors to the area can book a large, comfortable room at the Caribou Inn & Convention Center and perhaps catch a performance in the Caribou Performing Arts Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 826-seat theater. In the spring, you can hunt for treasures at the annual City-Wide Yard Sale and attend the Maine Swedish Colony Midsommars Celebration, which includes activities in the nearby towns of New Sweden, Stockholm, and Woodland. There are frequent church suppers, numerous civic organization events, and, in late summer, the Caribou Cares About Kids festival. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is so much going on,â&#x20AC;? says Bleess. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is never a reason to have a dull evening.â&#x20AC;?

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All in the Family Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to talk about Caribou without talking about two of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more widely known familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the Sleeper family and the Collins family. This takes nothing away from any of the others whose roots and service to the community dig deep into the northern Maine soil, but speaks highly of what these two families have accomplished in raising the profile of this sometimes overlooked www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 37

Saw mill, 1957

S. W. Collins store, 1980

38 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

northern city.

Were it not for a dislike of warm weather, the city of Caribou and the state of Maine might never have come to benefit from the Sleeper family. After Joseph Sleeper arrived at Ellis Island, he headed south, to Colombia, South America. Unhappy with its tropical climate, it wasn’t long before he headed to Northern Maine to join other friends and relatives.

Sleeper was a peddler who, first on foot and later with a horse and wagon, sold items ranging from sewing goods to small housewares to the area’s farmers. It was 1914 when he opened his first store, and 1930 when he made the move to the location where the Caribou Sleeper’s still resides.

Step inside Sleeper’s and you’ll instantly think of a modern general store, with full-service butchery and fresh seafood available in the well-stocked grocery area, and Carhartt work wear and trend-minded clothing available just beyond. It’s the kind of place you’ll quickly wish was in your own hometown.

For nearly a century, Sleeper’s has held an important place in the city of Caribou, with family members responding to good times and bad by paying close attention to the needs of their customers, taking care of those who were in trouble, and remembering the legacy on which they were built.

The main S.W. Collins store sits on the plot of land in Caribou where the original saw and grist mill that gave the company its start was established in 1844, on the banks of the Aroostook River.

“There was a time when we were harvesting and sawing our own logs and floating them in the pond beside the building,” says S.W. Collins vice president Gregg Collins. He and his brother Sam, the company’s president, are leading the family business, which has expanded to be a full-service lumber and building supplies center with a home design center located just a short walk away. Stores in Presque Isle, Houlton, and Lincoln expand S.W. Collins’ presence in Aroostook County and beyond. But it is the Collins family’s committment to the city of Caribou, as much as the business, which makes them noteworthy.

“We’ve always been huge supporters of Caribou and have been very involved with a number of community efforts, says Collins. “We have a successful business,

Photos: courtesy s. W. Collins

a piece of maine: caribou

and we want to give back, not just monetarily, but through our service.”

One of the most famous Caribou natives is Gregg and Sam’s sister, Sen. Susan M. Collins, who has represented Maine in the United States Senate for the past 17 years. “Growing up in Caribou, I learned the values of hard work, integrity, and caring for one another,” Sen. Collins says. “One of my earliest childhood memories is of being taken to the Caribou Memorial Day Parade by my dad. A decorated World War II veteran, he would hoist me onto his shoulders, so I could see everything—streets lined with people, the veterans proudly marching, and the American flags waving in the breeze. No matter where I go in the world, Caribou will always hold a special place in my heart.”

In addition, Patricia Collins—who is Gregg, Sam, and Susan’s mother ­was given a place in the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame in 2005, and has given her time to everyone, from the Caribou Library Board to the University of Maine Board

caribou stats Incorporated: 1859 Population: 8,189 Population Density: 103.3/sq mi Median Household Income: $42,583 Median Age: 44 Mil Rate: 26.07 Median Home Value: $85,800 Education: • Hilltop Elementary School • Teague Park School

• Caribou Middle School • Caribou High School • Husson College • Northern Maine Community College • The Caribou Technology Center • University of Maine at Presque Isle Major Employers: • Cary Medical Center • Chand Eisenmann Metallurgical • Pines Health Center Leading Employment Sectors: • Health Care • Lumber • Manufacturing • Agriculture Major Natural Resources: • Lumber • Rivers & lakes • Limestone • Shale • Gold

www.carymedicalcenter.org/WIC Cary is an equal opportunity employer and provider

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 39

a piece of maine: caribou

of Trustees, to the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“I’m not French,” Patricia Collins says, “but the French way of looking at family and faith and community really infuses this area. They care about children, and they care about older people. It’s almost seamless, the way everyone is involved with one another. And the people here in Caribou are so kind. It’s why we like it here and why we stay.”

Top: Michael Saucier, CRNA, Kris Doody, and Dr. Irene Djuanda. Above: An aerial view of Cary Medical Center.

40 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

If there’s a topic of conversation that brings the pioneering spirit of Caribou most clearly into view—the idea that anything can be done with the right attitude, hard work, and a plan—it’s the economic future of the area.

“Caribou has the 10th largest credit union in the state, the only large equipment sales company between Houlton and Canada, and the largest accounting firm north of Bangor,” William Tasker says. “There are still people who dream up here, who are creative. We want

Photos: courtesy of cary medical center

Economic Future

people to rediscover Caribou.”

Robert Clark, the executive director of the Northern Maine Development Commission, is one of the people determined to make those discoveries happen. “About two years ago we changed our strategy and rather than list all the weaknesses we had, we decided to concentrate on our assets,” he says.

A review of those assets has led to a particular focus on encouraging the growth of renewable energy development, forestry and manufacturing, and specialized agriculture.

“Our two greatest strengths are the forests and the agriculture,” explains Robert Dorsey, president and CEO of the Aroostook Partnership for Progress. “Our land is some of the best land in North America. Even though we’re known for potatoes, we have a growing sector of organic farming and organic beef cattle.”

And, where renewable energy might seem an odd addition to the mix in this rural area, the logic of it soon becomes crystal clear. Given the region’s cold winter temperatures and remote location, energy costs quickly become an economic concern.

“For every dollar we spend on foreign oil, 78 cents leaves the economy,” says Clark. “Every dollar we spend on biomass, it all stays here.”

Money not spent on fuel oil becomes money that’s available to hire new employees—employees Dorsey wants to see coming from, and to, northern Maine.

“The common expression is that there are no good jobs here,” he says. “You have to leave the County or leave the state to get a good job, and that’s not true. We have an initiative, Education to Industry, that’s trying to get kids acclimated to the fact that there are jobs here and get them the skills needed to get those jobs,” Dorsey continues. “We want to create more job-shadowing opportunities for junior high and high school students and internships for college students, to help move them into employment.”

Industry is becoming more sophisticated, Dorsey says. “Forestry is no longer a hard hat and a chainsaw. Kids are running half-million dollar machines with GPS and three computers. As the skills required for these jobs become more intense, the salaries, in general, start to come up too.”

And it’s not just workers who stand

to gain from economic development in northern Maine; businesses stand to benefit from a population that is ready to get to work. “We have a lot of people who are skilled,” says Clark. “Unlike a lot of places, there is very little turnover and zero absenteeism. You have a lot of loyalty here and a lot of workers with a sincere interest in making a business successful.”

Caring for the Community If you’re looking for a place to see that loyalty and commitment clearly in view, you need go no further than Caribou’s Cary Medical Center. A public hospital with some 700 employees, Cary Medical is the area’s largest employer. It’s also, quite definitely, part of the community.

“We just had our volunteer banquet,” says Kris Doody, RN and CEO of Cary Medical Center. “The 60 people who volunteered their time last year gave in excess of 8,000 hours. For a 65-bed rural hospital tucked in the northern corner of Maine in a community just shy of 9,000, that’s special.”

Doody was born at Cary Medical and, as a teenager, became a candy striper. “I started at the old hospital. I’d play cards with the patients and sold them candy bars for 10 cents off the cheer cart,” she says. “If you count that, I’ve been here 36 or 37 years.”

This seems to be as much a part of the culture of Cary Medical as its friendly collegiate atmosphere. Cary has three employees who are about to celebrate 50 years of service and several more with more than 25 years of commitment.

Four of the nine members of Cary’s senior management team were born in Caribou; five are graduates of the local high school.

“Where most hospitals are struggling for staff, we have no vacancies,” says Bill Flagg, Cary’s director of community relations and development. “We have people pounding on our door.” They also have people praising the hospital wildly, with multiple awards for customer satisfaction and a five-star facility rating based on patient experience.

“In 1980, there was a group of veterans that came together because they wanted more locally available health care. They advocated and we got a small, one-room clinic here that was really limited in the scope of what it could do,” says Flagg. “So they kept pushing. We ended up getting

the first community-based outpatient clinic for veteran services in the nation,” says Flagg. “We’ve since added a longterm nursing home and residential care and we received the American Hospital Association’s Award of Honor for the work that we’ve done.”

Cary’s commitment to veteran services also earned them one of just five places nationally in the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot, which allows non-Veterans Administration facilities to provide care. They’ve also built a new orthopedic center and, in what is clearly a point of pride for all involved, a new women’s imaging center, which feels like nothing less than a luxury hotel spa with warm colors, gentle mood lighting, and a calming water feature that is the centerpiece of Maryanne’s Room, a lounge where patients can relax.

“We started to dream about what this could be,” says Doody. “And then we made it happen.” Which, while a bit long, should perhaps become Caribou’s new city motto.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 41

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metro sports: college

Sail Away

Photo: courtesy of maine maritime academy

M

aine Maritime Academy’s sailing team is the underdog in every race they enter.

This is fine with coach Tom Brown, who lost his leg while battling cancer at a young age, and embraces the underdog mentality. The team embodies the coach’s resolve, and Brown is fueled by his team’s determination.

“We’re very happy going into every race as the underdog,” says Brown, who is in his sixth season as the coach at MMA. “We’re not nervous—we’re confident, and we put it all on the line.”

Maine Maritime competes with much bigger schools, such as the U.S. Naval Academy, Boston College, Georgetown University, and Stanford University. Schools with a considerably larger student body than Maine Maritime’s, which enrolls 973 students. Bigger schools can recruit student athletes and pour money into their athletic programs. It’s an issue that Brown knows limits his team, but an issue that he won’t allow to slow his program down.

The Maine Maritime Academy sailing team is a gem in the collegiate world of competitive sailing. By Matthew Blymier “We have some limitations being a small school,” says Brown, a threetime Paralympic competitor, who won a bronze medal in 2000, and a silver medal in the 2004 Paralympic Games. “I’ve tried recruiting, but it’s tough to compete with those bigger schools for kids.”

Brown makes up for those limitations by selling prospective students on the school and will, at times, recruit students who are already enrolled for his sailing team.

“Most of these kids have recreational boat experience but not any competitive experience,” Brown says. “Most of the kids are from Maine and come to Maine Maritime because this is a great school for the maritime industry.”

The Mariners have been able to compete with the big boys of sailing on a consistent basis. Maine Maritime has won the Port of Los Angeles twice, the Intrepid Cup at Navy in 2008, and the Storm Trysail Intercollegiate Regatta in 2009.

“We’re racing at a Division I level, and it’s fun to win those races,” Brown says.

The success of any sailing team depends on the same factors that make any athletic team successful: practice, watching film, chalk talk, and workouts. The Mariners have 6 a.m. weightlifting and cardio sessions three times a week, practice from 4 to 6 p.m. five times a week, and debriefings after practice, with film study.

“We do a lot of chalk talk,” Brown says.

“We go over scenarios that we may see in a race and talk about possible wind shifts. When you go into a race you need to know the field, but you have to be prepared for the weather elements.”

The men’s and women’s sailing teams compete in the fall and the spring and host their own race called the Harmon Cup. Their season has them sailing in Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island, Annapolis, Maryland, New London, Connecticut, and Los Angeles, California. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 43

food file

D A Slice of History Want to know how Americans ate during the Civil War? You can, thanks to the Bangor Museum and History Center. By Melanie Brooks

44 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

ana Lippit and Jennifer Pictou are hard at work in Lippit’s kitchen, wearing matching Bangor Museum and History Center aprons that they made especially for this occasion. Lippit, the museum’s curator, is working on an apple pie, while Pictou, the museum’s executive director, is cooking a fragrant pineapple sauce on the stove.

Both of the recipes the women are making come from The Sanitary Fair Cook Book, which was first published in December, 1864 by members of the Bangor Sanitary Commission. The U.S. Sanitary Commission, founded in 1861, was devoted to providing Civil War soldiers with food, clothing, medical care, and, if necessary, safe passage home.

When the book was first printed, it was sold at a fair and raised $15,000— which was a lot of money back then.

The Bangor Museum and History Center didn’t even know about the cookbook until it showed up in the mail in 1967, sent by an anonymous person in Palos Verdes, California.

“There was a large contingency of Mainers living in California, mainly due to the Gold Rush,” Lippit says, as she starts shaping the dough for the pie crust.

While Lippit usually makes her pie crust using Crisco, this recipe calls for butter.

Crisco didn’t exist in the 1860s.

Lippit and Pictou had the idea to recreate the cookbook and adapt it to modern times to help publicize the museum’s "Women in War" exhibit, that ran from May 2012 to March 2013. They asked Bangor’s Cheryl Wixson’s Kitchen to help update the recipes, and Laurel McFarland spent months adapting the recipes to today’s measurements and common ingredients. It was harder than it sounds.

For example, the original cookbook used a “gill” and “teacup” as measurements. A gill is roughly half a cup, and a teacup is anyone’s guess. Unless you have a teacup from the 1860s on hand, it’s hard to tell. “We didn’t know how to transfer the recipes to modern equivalencies,” Pictou says. This is where McFarland had to test and sometimes retest the recipes in order to get them right.

Oftentimes, McFarland would bring what she had made to museum functions, as a way for supporters to taste test the recipes. “She brought the war cake to a brown bag lunch to distribute, and an elderly man came up to me with tears in eyes, asking if we sold the cake,” Pictou says. “I said, ‘No, but we’re selling the

Photos: Mark McCall

Dana Lippit rolls out the dough for her apple pie.

Leadership in business and in life.

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L to R: Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arcy Main-Boyington, Economic Development Director Nicole Gogan, Economic Development Specialist

Contact Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;arcy Main-Boyington, Supplied Original Economic Development Director Â&#x2122;nÂ&#x2122;Â&#x2021;Ã&#x2021;xääÃ&#x160;UÃ&#x160;Ã&#x153;Ã&#x153;Ã&#x153;°LÃ&#x20AC;iÃ&#x153;iÃ&#x20AC;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;i°}Â&#x153;Ã&#x203A; `Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;LÂ&#x153;Ã&#x17E;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ã&#x152;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;JLÃ&#x20AC;iÃ&#x153;iÃ&#x20AC;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;i°}Â&#x153;Ã&#x203A; www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 45

food file cookbook, and you could make it.’ He said he didn’t cook, but that this war cake was the closest thing to the gingerbread his father used to make, and he hadn’t tasted anything like it in years. These recipes aren’t just a piece of history, they are a familial connection.”

Any recipe that had the word “war” attached to it, like the gingerbread War Cake, signified that it was a frugal recipe, using scant resources to make it, Pictou says. The War Cake recipe does not use sugar or eggs, which could be hard to find in wartime.

While Lippit finishes the apple pie and slides it into the oven, Pictou takes her pineapple sauce off the stove and brings it to the sink to cool. The recipe calls for cream, and Lippit reaches into the fridge with disdain.

“I couldn’t find just cream,” she laments. “Look what’s in this.” The ingredients on the carton of cream include carrageenan, mono- and diglycerides, and polysorbate 80. Lippit, who grew up in Colorado, and Pictou, who grew up in Aroostook County, were surrounded by fresh milk and farm-fresh vegetables as children. “I didn’t used to like how milk tasted fresh from a cow,” Lippit says.

“Now I miss it!”

Pictou recalls how her mother would get milk from a farmer in Blaine each week.

She would leave the milk in the pail overnight, and the next day they would have cream. “I didn’t realize how lucky we were to grow up eating organic food,” Pictou says.

“The simplicity of this cookbook has made me rethink my eating. What am I putting into my body when I get food at the grocery store?”

The 99 recipes in the cookbook use, on average, about five ingredients each. “They all include much less sugar,” Pictou says. “I think it brings out the flavor of the other ingredients more.” Sugar, like brandy and eggs, which appear in other recipes, was a luxury during wartime.

Ingredients used then, which aren’t so common today, include lard, beef drippings, potato water, and suet—which many of us use to feed the birds in the wintertime. But what they lack in complexity, they make up for in taste. Lippit’s

Jennifer Pictou tends to her pineapple sauce.

buttery crust, while difficult to maneuver into a pie plate, was perfectly flaky and delicious.

The cookbooks can be purchased through the Bangor Museum and History Center, and all proceeds benefit the local nonprofit organization. Pick one up for yourself, or try the two recipes below, to get an authentic taste of Maine’s culinary past.

recipes 2 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into small pieces 1 tsp. lemon juice

Apple Pie Crust: ½ lb. butter, shortening, or lard, or any combination 3 cups flour ½ tsp. salt Scant 1¼ cups cold water Filling: 8–9 apples, peeled and sliced thin ½ cup sugar, or more, to taste ¼ tsp. nutmeg ½ tsp. cinnamon 46 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. For the crust, sift flour and salt together. Cut butter or shortening into flour. With a fork, mix in the water (the colder the better) until the dough just begins to come together. Handle the dough as lightly as possible.

Divide the pastry in half and roll out two circles. Line the pie dish with one of the circles. Alternately layer apples, sugar, and spices in the dish until the dish is full. Sprinkle lemon juice on top and dot with butter pieces.

Put second pie crust on top, making sure to crimp the edges, so that the juice does not boil over. Bake 10 minutes, and then reduce heat to 350 degrees. Bake an additional 35–40 minutes, until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

PineApple Tarts 1 pie crust (see recipe above) 1 pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into pieces 2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup cream Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour sugar over cut pineapple and let sit for half an hour, until the juice has drained out. Bring mixture to a boil and let simmer for about half an hour. Let cool. Line pie dish with pastry. Mix cream in with cooled pineapple mixture. Pour mixture into prepared pie dish and bake one hour, until set.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 47

kitchen confidential

In Good Company Where are you from and how did you end up in Maine?

I was born in Rockland and lived here in Maine until I left for the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, in the 1980s. After living in Washington D.C., Colorado, and Texas, I moved home in 2000.

What is your first food memory?

My grandmother lived with us part of the year, and we would have lunch together. Her corn chowder was one of my favorites.

What are some of your early cooking experiences?

My best friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother was a home economics teacher, and I can remember the 48 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

first time she taught me to make ĂŠclairs.

I thought you could only buy them in a store. It had never occurred to me that everything is made by someone.

Any family influences on your style and taste?

For family gatherings, my grandparents would always set a lovely table with silver, crystal, and china. As a kid it seemed so beautiful. My mother loved having different sets of plates to use for different occasions.

Where did you study and apprentice?

I went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and did my externship at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Photos: kevin kratka

Sit back and relax while hometown girl Melody Wolfertz creates a culinary masterpiece for you at her Rockland restaurant, In Good Company. By Melanie Brooks

Above & Beyond.

Way Beyond.

When did you realize you were a chef?

I had an epiphany when I was 16 years old. I was preparing a four-course dinner out of Gourmet magazine for friends. It was after 11 o’clock at night, and the rest of the house was in bed. I had a mound of dishes to do, and I was very tired, and it came to me. What else could I do, that I would have that much fun doing, even when I was so tired? I never looked back.

What do you consider to be your pivotal career move?

Choosing to go to the Culinary Institute of America. Also working at the Willard in D.C., Baby Routh, Parigi, and The Crescent Club in Dallas, The Hotel Jerome in Aspen, and opening my own restaurant in Rockland.

When did In Good Company open?

How and why did it happen?

I opened July 14, 2004. It happened because I had been looking for a space and I walked in to buy flowers for a wine tasting at The Wine Seller and saw the “For Rent” sign. It was the first time I had noticed the ceilings or the backroom. I walked around the space, and I could just see a restaurant there. It came together because a lot of very creative, supportive, and inspiring people helped me make it happen.

April Murchinson Possibilities Fine Gifts & Home Furnishings | Lincoln, Maine

At Machias Savings Bank we believe in going above and beyond the call of a traditional business banking relationship. We want to share in the vision of your business and be an active player in your success by offering you the right balance of products and services. We helped April at Possibilities Fine Gifts & Home Furnishings select the perfect business checking account for her needs, and we can do the same for you.

Call us at 1-866-773-9394 or email BusinessBanking@machiassavings.com Opposite page: Melody Wolfertz. Above: Maine Shrimp and Georgia Ice Cream Grits.

What do you love about your location?

I love the building and its history. I fell in love with the original plaster ceilings and the large windows looking out on Main Street. I love Rockland itself—that it is a working class town with great food, art, stores, and people.

Business Relationship Checking Business Analysis Checking Community Checking

© 2013 Machias Savings Bank. Member FDIC.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 49

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kitchen confidential What is your favorite ingredient to work with?

Anything fresh and in season.

What is the dish we will be featuring?

Maine Shrimp and Georgia Ice Cream Grits.

Your favorite restaurant?

That is a pretty long list! Here are my Maine picks: Long Grain, The Slipway, Suzuki, 555, Primo, and Wasses Hot Dogs.

I also love the scones at The White Barn Inn.

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

Least favorite job-related task?

Scheduling.

The last time you really surprised yourself in the kitchen?

Thursday when I made Chocolate Krantz Cake.

What does a perfect day off look like?

Sunny and warm, with time in my garden or walking the dog. Hours at The Slipway with friends or a good book.

What would you want your last meal to be?

Baked potato, with sour cream and butter, and a great steak.

What do you love most about your job?

Making other people happy.

more info in good company 415 Main St, Rockland Hours: 4:30 pm to close, 7 days a week Specialties: Beef Tenderloin, Fudge cake First-timer Tip: Plan on staying awhile, relax, and enjoy.

Sample menu item: Artichoke-Crusted Cod on Zucchini Tomato Salad Directions: 415 Main Street, by the intersection of Limerock Street. Two blocks north of the Farnsworth Museum on the right.

50 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

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per spectives

Benjamin Magro

52 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Benjamin Magro has been a working photographer in Maine since 1972.

His photographs have been published in many state and national publications, including The New York Times Sunday Supplement, National Geographic Traveler, The Christian Science Monitor, Horticulture, The Chicago Tribune, Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, and Yankee magazine.

In addition to editorial, commercial, and fine art images, Magro makes high resolution aerial photographs from his own helicopters for clients throughout Maine and New England. He is an experienced commercial helicopter pilot, flight instructor, avid bow hunter, member of the Screen Actors Guild, and proud father of two grown children.

Visit www.benmagrophoto.com and www.coastalhelos.com to see more of his work.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 53

M

Fly Fishing

Revival

Sometimes life circumstances can lead you down a path of rediscovery. by Brad Eden

y wife and I recently sold our old farmhouse and have embarked on a new adventure of sorts. After 25 years, it was time for another young couple to breathe life into the old abode. Since last fall, we’ve been renting a house that is just a short stroll from a large lake.

Kayaking on the lake, when we first moved in, and snowshoeing to some ice shacks this winter have made me anxious to wet a line this spring and summer. I have admittedly neglected fishing in favor of my hunting activities throughout the last decade, but the convenience of a body of water so close to my front door and a stream out my back door has me dragging out my fishing gear.

One of the first things I did this spring, besides buying my Combination Hunting & Fishing License online, was to snatch a copy of the 2013 Maine Open Water & Ice Fishing Law book from my town office. Gone are the days of a small newsprint law book filled with confusing rules and regulations for every drop of water in Maine. The new law book is in a glossy, colorful magazine format, very attractive, well designed, and easy to navigate. I simply reviewed the General Open Water Fishing Laws and found the color-coded map showing the location of my lake and turned to the corresponding page to check on any special regulations.

After doing further research I feel like I’ve hit the fishing lottery. This lake holds brook trout, brown trout, lake trout (togue), landlocked salmon, and smallmouth bass, along with the requisite perch and sunfish. And patrolling the stream out back, which empties into

trary to popular belief, fly fishing isn’t all that difficult. Most are familiar with spinning and bait casting rods and reels. The ability to cast with those setups is dependent on the weight of the bait or lure at the end of the monofilament line. With fly fishing, the fly is basically weightless, so it’s the heft of the line itself that is used to cast. Certainly, some folks have a better feel for casting a fly line, and the method can be graceful and even poetic, but with a bit of practice, anyone can be laying out enough fly line to catch a fish.

I don’t have enough room here to delve too deeply into the minutiae of fly fishing gear and techniques, except to say that once you have succeeded in catching a fish with a fly, you are the one who is “hooked.” Unlike spinning or bait casting, where the reel does the grunt work, fly fishing puts you in concert with the stiffness and flex of the fly rod; you work the line by hand, letting it slide through your fingers, as you play the fish to your net. You are, in essence, directly connected to the fish through the line and can practically feel its heartbeat.

Successfully landing a fish on a fly takes a degree of finesse and patience, especially if the fish is of bragging size.

My suggestion for someone wanting to start fly fishing is to get your hands on the L. L. Bean Fly Fishing Handbook by Dave Whitlock. I have an old dog-eared copy that I still refer to, and L. L. Bean offers a second edition of this handy and comprehensive guide.

And you don’t have to remortgage your house to buy fly fishing gear. A starter kit with all you will need can be found at most sporting outfitters. If you are really ambitious, search around for a beginner fly fishing seminar or class, or even better, find a mentor willing to spend time with you streamside.

Before you know it, you will be crouched over a fly-tying bench tying your own flies and matching the hatch. Regardless of what type fishing gear you choose, little can compare with spending time on the water in our great state of Maine. Tight lines!

You are in essence directly connected to the fish through the line and can practically feel its heartbeat. the lake has revealed the darting forms of native brook trout as well. Granted, most of the coldwater fish in the lake are maintained through stocking, but I’m not picky.

Although I will certainly utilize my spinning gear, the main emphasis of my fishing rebirth will be fly fishing. Con-

54 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Brad Eden is an artist, writer, and Registered Maine Master Guide.

photo: ANDY BOWLIN/istockphoto/thinkstock.com

maine woods & waters

savvy seniors

Allure of the

Photo: ron chapple studios/thinkstock.com

Open Road Summertime means travel for many Mainers. But before you hit the road, there are several things you should do to ensure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re adequately prepared for any mishap.

By Carol Higgins Taylor

E

ven though gas prices are somewhat high, albeit stable, the allure of the open road is often too much of a temptation. Everybody knows somebody who heads to camp at some point after Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. For some people, summer fun lies behind the wheel. They grab a gazetteer or plug in a GPS and hit the highway. And after the seemingly never-ending winter, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. The pave-

ment ahead is dry and welcoming, not wet and menacing.

While travel is an enjoyable experience for many seniors, sometimes things happen which require emergency medical attention. Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thinking of traveling semi-close to home, or taking day trips, being prepared for the unexpected emergency is still important.

Emergency physicians often see elderly patients who are away from home and in need of medical care due to falls, www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 55

savvy seniors

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medication interactions, chronic illness, or as a consequence of not taking usual medications, reports the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), a national medical society, that is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research, and public education.

Seniors use emergency medical services at twice the rate of other age groups, yet some travel-related emergencies may be avoidable. This may seem like a lot of work for a day trip, but you never know what can happen.

Being just a few hours from home in an emergency can be frightening, and even car trouble can force you to spend the night in a motel, when you fully expected to be sleeping in your own bed.

The ACEP recommends these travel preparations for long trips and short: â&#x20AC;˘ Make sure all of your prescriptions are filled and that you have enough medication to cover the length of your stay, as well as enough for a few days after you return home. â&#x20AC;˘ Keep essential medications and medical equipment with you, rather than in your checked luggage, if traveling by plane. â&#x20AC;˘ Wear a bracelet or necklace that identifies any special medical conditions, and carry this information in your wallet or purse, as well. â&#x20AC;˘ Program an emergency contact number into your cell phone using the acronym ICE instead of a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name. Medical providers are increasingly using this mechanism to obtain medical information, as they will understand that an entry of ICE means â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Case of Emergency.â&#x20AC;?  â&#x20AC;˘ If possible, take an extra pair of eyeglasses, especially if you need them to drive. â&#x20AC;˘ Pace yourself when planning activities, so as not to put undue strain on your unsuspecting body. It is normal to want to do everything, but be careful, and listen to your muscles and joints. â&#x20AC;˘ Leave friends and family a copy of your travel itinerary. â&#x20AC;˘ Identify emergency medical facilities in the areas where you will be traveling.

Now that you are all prepared for your trip, ACEP suggests you keep the follow-

56 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

ing recommendations in mind while you are away: • Keep a list of all allergies and medications, including drug name, dosage, and frequency, with you at all times.

• Don’t stop taking your medications as prescribed, even if your daily routine is different.

• Walk around and stretch your legs when seated for long periods. It’s inconvenient, for sure, but critically important, because it encourages blood circulation and helps prevent blood clots.

• Stay hydrated. Drink more water and avoid excess alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.

• If you’re diabetic, monitor blood sugar carefully and follow dietary restrictions.

• Eat regular, well-balanced meals, and avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar content. This suggestion can be tricky when traveling, because restaurant dining isn’t always known for being healthy. And, if you are on a fixed income, eating in restaurants can get expensive pretty fast. When traveling by car, consider taking a cooler full of healthful items, like fruit and whole-grain products. Some nutrition drinks only need to be poured over ice to be delicious.

• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes with good support.

• Inform your tour guide about any chronic medical conditions.

You should never leave home without a fully stocked first-aid kit. Important items to include are: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin tablets, antihistamine, anti-nausea/motion sickness medication, bandages of assorted sizes, bandage closures, safety pins, triangle bandage, elastic wraps, gauze and adhesive tape, sharp scissors with rounded tips, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide, and disposable, instant cold packs.

It is also a good idea to take a CPR course, if possible, before your trip. You never know when you might need it. And by the way, don’t forget to have fun.

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

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savvy seniors

See the Difference

I

t’s a tough decision to open a new local business in these challenging economic times. But some opportunities hit you like a tractor trailer on the highway of life. When Pearle Vision closed their Bangor Mall store last July, it opened the door to open Mainely Eyes optical in January 2013.

What made moving Mainely Eyes into that retail space so exciting was that several conditions were already in place, which made success a likely outcome.

Trained, experienced people were ready to get back to work. Technology, equipment, and inventory were all in place and in working order. It was Mainely Eyes’ hope that folks throughout northern Maine, who had been accustomed to great customer service and quality optical goods from Pearle Vision for over 25 years, would be able to continue find the same at the new retail space without skipping a beat!

There were some other factors that weighed heavily in the decision to reestablish an optometry business in the former Pearle Vision location at the Bangor

58 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Mall. Dr. Goldthwait’s busy optometric practice—Goldthwait Vision Care—is adjacent to the new retail business. The familiarity of the Pearle Vision retail store and the convenience of the mall location were also instrumental in opening Mainely Eyes.

Quality Matters Many people may not realize what goes into making a really great pair of prescription glasses. It requires a fairly laborintensive process, where measurements must be taken accurately. Lenses are fabricated and edged to exacting standards.

The completed pair of glasses represents a multitude of steps, completed exactly as the doctor specifies. Because of these exacting measures, why would patients, who trust their favorite eye doctor to use technology, experience, and judgment to create the perfect pair of glasses, run the risk of ruining the experience by purchasing glasses online? A well-made pair of glasses is a finely-honed piece of artistry that has passed an entire checklist of requisites specific to each patient. At

Mainely Eyes, no glasses are dispensed, which do not pass muster.

Mainely Eyes has expanded the large selection of lenses and frames formerly carried by Pearle Vision to better serve patients’ needs, and to give them a wider choice of options to better fit their particular tastes and pocketbooks. The goal at Mainely Eyes and Goldthwait Vision Care is to truly satisfy every patient they see.

They hope that, in a short time, people will equate the name Mainely Eyes with quality and customer service, and that will separate the business from the express discount opticals.

“I like to think that the difference in purchasing a pair of glasses from Mainely Eyes, as opposed to a discount optical, is like purchasing something from L.L. Bean, as opposed to a dollar store,” Dr. Goldthwait says. “My name is on the business, and I will protect my reputation by offering the public only the best products and prices possible. I invite all who read this to come in and try us out.” One thing is certain: You’ll see the difference.

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

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real estate

Top Tips to Sell Your Home Choosing the right Realtor and getting your house in shape are two of the most important aspects when putting your home on the market.

By Julie Dawson Williams, ERA Dawson Bradford Co. Realtors®

10 Services to Expect from Your Realtor®: 1. Advise you on preparing your home for sale 2. Complete a home value analysis 3. Provide representation 4. Market the home through cooperating agents, contacts, and the Internet 5. Supply security through an Electronic Lockbox System 6. Evaluate offers and guide you during negotiations 7. Keep the transaction on track, from under contract to closing 8. Adhere to the Realtor® Code of Ethics and be your fiduciary 9. Have local knowledge of the market and community 10.Provide vendor/home services recommendations (for lenders, inspectors, closing services, and insurance professionals, for example) Once you have selected the Realtor® who is right for you, the next thing to consider is how best to prepare your home for sale. Many sales will be made or lost before the potential buyers reach the front door—or as soon as they walk through it. You will have to put careful thought into customers’ first impressions. This is frequently called “Curb Appeal”—the feeling customers get from

ers see your house in its best light, both inside and out.

Tips to help sell your home: 1. Reduce distractions (i.e., neutralize the appearance and smell of the home).

2. Fix anything that might need attention—your Realtor® will be able to make suggestions, but you may even want to consider a “pre-inspection,” where an inspector comes in before the home is on the market to point out areas that might be a red flag for a buyer later on, so that it can be corrected ahead of time.

3. Take photos of your favorite aspects of the house.

4. De-clutter—the fewer belongings you have crowding your rooms and closets, the bigger the home will appear, and the easier it will be for potential buyers to envision placing their own possessions there.

5. Remove fixtures you want to keep, like the heirloom chandelier or the cast iron stove.

6. Thoroughly clean your kitchen and bathrooms.

7. The appearance of fresh flowers and the smell of something delicious baking appeal to the senses.

Think about picking up a bouquet at your local florist and throwing some chocolate chip cookies into your oven before a showing.

8. Make a list of things you love about your property and give it to your Realtor® to share with potential buyers.

Positive first impressions will expedite the sale, and securing the services of a qualified Realtor® will increase your chances for a timely and successful sale.

“Many sales will be made or lost before the potential buyers reach the front door—or as soon as they walk through it.” —Julie Dawson Williams the upkeep of the exterior of the house and the grounds. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, curb appeal alone accounts for 50% of all home sales. Because of this, you want to do everything you can to make potential buy-

60 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

Your real estate professional can guide you in all the above matters and more.

Whatever it takes, your Realtor® will give you the confidence that, for some buyer soon, the showing of your home will be love at first sight.

image: istockphoto/thinkstock.com

T

he spring real estate market is in full swing, and if you are thinking about taking advantage of the upsurge in the market, it is time to choose a real estate professional.

Select a Realtor® who is right for you.

A great Realtor® will take the time to get to know you and your wants and needs and demonstrate his or her ability to get the job done for you.

insurance

Life Insurance You insure your home and car for the unexpected times in life: why wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you insure yourself?

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Ă&#x2122;HL I Ă? aĂ&#x2DC;0M $â% % Looking for a property with income potential? This two unit apartment building has two bedrooms in each. Great Parking. $ 104,000 Jamie MacNair Compass Point Real Estate Office: 207-374-5300 www.compasspointrealestate.com

Agents

Louise Rolnick, CRS, GRI, ABR Relocation Specialist Buying, Selling or Relocating â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Breeze with Louise!

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Town & Country Office: 207-942-6711 X114 Cell: 207-299-7768

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0 Ă?HL Ă? aĂ&#x2DC;0M %"â%% Well built & maintained 4 BR home with multiple out buildings. This property offers various business opportunities. A very successful home business of 23 years is being run in this property.

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Carriage house/garage. $450,000 Mary Condon Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Town & Country Office: 207-942-6711 Cell: 207-745-2675

Sell it faster.

Advertise in Bangor Metroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Real Estate Guide and your ad will also be listed on www.bangormetro.com.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 61

Jeffrey W. Jones, P.A. ELLSWORTH

J

effrey W. Jones. P.A. is an Ellsworth law firm limiting its practice to estate planning, trusts, estates, probate and elder law. At present, Jeff Jones is the only attorney (but read on for exciting news). Jeff’s wife, Jeanne Jones, R.N. is the firm’s Director of Client Service, and the “go-to”person who makes sure our clients get the services they need. Other key members of the team include legal assistant Rosemary Campbell and contract paralegals Cecilia Rhoda and

Shirlee Smith. To more quickly and economically handle probate estates, Jeff usually engages either Cis or Shirlee to assist with the aspects of probate administration that do not require a lawyer.

We spend a lot of our professional time helping clients plan for the protection and transfer family real estate, businesses and other important assets to their loved ones.

We also help our clients plan to manage their legal and financial affairs, make health

care decisions and take care of their minor or disabled children in case of illness, accident or other event resulting in short or long term incapacity. This is the essence of estate planning, as we practice it. Estate planning involves much more than wills.

We begin every new case by getting to know our client, the client’s family and other important relationships, then review the client’s assets and special concerns. Next, we help our clients develop and implement a plan. The plan may be a simple estate plan with a trust or will, or it may be more complex: perhaps a trust to protect beneficiaries from creditors and predators, or a business plan in which family and business dynamics are fitted together like a puzzle.

To implement our client’s plans we create trusts and wills, Limited Liability Companies, Family Limited Partnerships, corporations, and various kinds of contracts and agreements.

We prepare Durable Powers of Attorney and supervise the probate of estates and preparation of Federal Estate Tax Returns. With IRAs, 401k plans and other pension plans representing an ever-increasing share of our clients’ net worth, we also spend a good deal of time integrating retirement plans into estate plans. As a client once said “a will is just an instrument, but an estate plan is more like a symphony.”

Our firm does not accept new legal matters outside of these areas. However, we maintain referral relationships with lawyers in Maine and other states that handle all kinds of legal matters. Thus, we can assure competent representation of our clients, no matter what the legal issue of the moment happens to be.

On July 1, 2013, Jeff will merge his practice with those of two other Ellsworth lawyers, Roberta Kuriloff and Rebeccca J. Sargent.

The new firm will be called Jones, Kuriloff & Sargent, LLC, and will have over a dozen professionals, with a practice focused on trusts, estate planning, probate and elder law. The new firm and its lawyers will also serve as private trustees, personal representatives, conservators and agents under client’s powers of attorney, when requested. s

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last word

Animal Kingdom From bald eagles to the neighborhood dog, Chris Quimby has a complicated relationship with Maine’s animal population. By Chris Quimby

Chris Quimby is a husband, father, Christian comedian, writer, and graphic designer from Brooks. Visit him on the web at chrisquimby.com or nachotree.com.

64 / Bangor Metro June/July 2013

image: istockphoto/thinkstock.com

A

pparently, without advanced notice, a bald eagle spent some quality time in our neighborhood yesterday.

I learned this on Facebook, which is where I get most of my news, keeping myself informed of which desserts ladies are making on any given night and how often and when their children are throwing up. I’m never sure how often there might be correlations between the two.

My father and cousin each posted photos of the bird on their pages, long after I would’ve been able to get to their homes in time to experience the viewing myself. This was unfortunate, since bald eagles are my favorite animal, and I’ve rarely seen them in person.

The eagle is a strong, determined looking bird with huge talons. If I were ever being assaulted by a group of thugs and needed to be avenged by a bird, I would choose an eagle every time. Their sharp feet would wreak havoc on the soft skin of my enemies, much more so than those of a chickadee, for example.

I can’t say with confidence whether eagles have emotions, but they always sport a bothered look on their faces, a look that I sometimes flash at my children when they displease me.

Maybe I have such an affinity for the bird, because we have so much in common.

I am not, however, always missing sightings of Maine animals. I was quite pleased a couple of weeks ago, while at Fair Haven Camps in Brooks to see a live porcupine only 10 feet from me, a sight I enjoyed safely from my vehicle. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen hundreds of porcupines, but over 99% of them have been roadkill, which isn’t the best way to view the creature unless you have curiosities about its inner biology.

The porcupine in question stopped when it saw my vehicle, likely because it was afraid, but possibly because of surprise at how bad my car looks with all of its chipping paint. After remaining still for almost a minute, he executed his Plan B and wobbled off slowly, ambling at the speed of a turtle.

I tend to have most of my success with animal sightings with dogs, due in large part to the generosity of local canine owners, who unselfishly disobey leash laws to allow their pets to roam freely throughout the greater community.

I am an avid cyclist, and it’s difficult for me to rationalize why I suffer such anger when aggressive dogs chase me on my bike. They’ve never even caught up to me, nor do I expect great physical damage if they do. Perhaps it’s because I tend to be a people pleaser, and am sure I also seek validation from animals, too. When I see a dog chasing me, my reactive thought is that he is not a fan, and wishes to express it by injuring or killing me.

But maybe that’s not it at all. Maybe the dogs love me, and are running after me in glee, like a teenage girl might chase a child celebrity.

Unfortunately, the risk taken in not preparing myself for the worst is too great. It only takes one time for a dog to quickly pursue and, undaunted by my girlish screams, saturate me with violent slobber and rip my cycling shorts to shreds.

It would be at that point, out of desperation, that I would hope to be rescued by the eagles, eventually finding the ability to take it easy and enjoy a peaceful, easy feeling.

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