Fa st m ar il ts y o
n gu pa i ge de 93
Park Loop Road Take a relaxing ride on this picturesque stretch of roadway
A Piece of Maine:
houlton Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers
Entertaining the young and the young at heart
Kitchen Confidential
Cliff Richard, Chef on Demand
2014 t Restaurants Bes
Maine Potato Board’s Farm Family of the Year Clever Campfire Rings Fiore’s Nancy O’Brien A Simple Mexican Meal $5.95
August 2014
127 Winning
Eateries From Rockport to St. Agatha
Your people, your region, your magazine.
Summertime See all the shows and ride family fun... all the rides for just $12!
July 25 ~ August 3
AUGUST 2014
contents 2014
features
t Restaurants Bes
Accidental Entrepreneur / 13 Nancy O’Brien built an olive oil and vinegar empire from scratch. The Perfect Campfire / 14 Fred and Monica Patterson are making camping a whole lot more fun. A Natural Choice / 18 Breastfeeding is the preferred way for mother’s to nurture their growing infants. Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers / 22 Three creative siblings have found a fun way to entertain the young and the young at heart. park loop road / 30 This peaceful roadway is the best way to view Acadia National Park. A Piece of Maine: houlton / 36 The gateway to northern Maine, Houlton has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike.
42
Simple Summertime Meal / 76 Three Florida transplants get together to make a tasty meal as a team. Chef on Demand / 80 Take a step inside Cliff Richard’s kitchen.
30 2 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Photos: (top) melanie Brooks; (bottom) kevin kratka
2014 Best restaurants / 42 Find out who our readers chose in this year’s survey.
Photos: (top left) Melanie brooks; (Top right) monkeybusinessimages/thinkstock.com; (above right) Melanie Brooks; (bottom) kevin kratka
93
76
36
in every issue
columns
TaLk of the Towns / 8 Stories from the farms of Aroostook County to the coast of Maine.
Metro Wellness / 21 Quit talking and take action.
Biz Buzz & sightings / 10 People and places on the move. Metro sports / 62 Greenville’s Trevor Richards and EMCC’s award-winning soccer coach. What’s Happening / 64 End your summer on a high note. Perspectives / 82 The colorful art of Willy Reddick.
woods & waters / 84 Taking care of wandering turtles. last word / 90 Feeding a family.
Special Section 2014 family guide / 93 From tips on pre-school to online health care options, find ways to improve your family life.
savvy seniors / 85 Fitness tips to keep you healthy.
22
Unsung hero / 92 OJ Logue runs for a cause.
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 3
editor’s note
I
Melanie Brooks, editor
The Bangor Metro Region
4 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Photo: Kate Crabtree
’m nostalgic about August. It starts with a birthday and ends with my wedding anniversary. My son, Ian, will be two in August, and my goal is to not cry my way through his birthday party like I did last year. To be honest, I was completely surprised at how emotional Ian’s first birthday was for me. I remember how stressed out I was the morning of his party. My husband’s family was coming in to town to celebrate along with my family and a few friends, and I was running around like a madwoman. I knew I was teetering on the edge of sanity when I began sobbing when I couldn’t find the bag of couscous I bought to make a salad. My sister consoled me, but I could tell she thought I was losing it. I got myself together enough to head across the street to my neighbor’s house to fetch my niece, who was playing with her friend Nathan. When I told my neighbor what we were doing that day she paused and looked me in the eye, and asked me if I was ok. I bit my lip and nodded my head. “The first birthday is always the hardest,” she said. And she should know—she’s been through three of them. I was able to hold it together until I got home, where I promptly lost it again. I hopped in the shower to ‘cry it out’ before the rest of my guests arrived. Either I pulled myself together enough to look normal, or my sister ran around warning the family that I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Either way, no one mentioned my fragile state, and I was able to enjoy the party. My favorite thing about parties is creating a menu. My sister, who is a talented baker, was tasked with making a beehive birthday cake for Ian last year, and she knocked it out of the park. This year we’ll have munchies for kids and adults, and a beautiful trifle and cupcakes for dessert. While my husband and I do a fair amount of cooking from home, we also like to eat out—both with and without Ian. There are some great family restaurants that welcome our silly toddler, and there are some that we wouldn’t even conceive of bringing him to. If you’ve got kids, or are looking for a night away from them, check out our readers’ picks of the Best Restaurants in our region on page 42. Over 1,000 people voted on the best of the best in 25 different categories. From Rockland to the County, our readers have spoken with their votes—and they did a great job! We hope our 2014 winners will entice you to try something new, and we hope you love it.
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Bangor Metro Magazine. August 2014, Vol. 10, No. 6. Copyright © Metro Publishing LLC. Bangor Metro is published ten times annually by Metro Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written permission of the Publisher. Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates from Portland, Maine. Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit. Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication. 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 both in print and online.
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Farm
Family
of the Year
8 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Houlton: The Maine Potato Board has crowned the Albert Fitzpatrick family from Houlton as the 2014 Farm Family of the Year. The Fitzpatricks grow 300 acres of potatoes on their farm, which is run by Albert, his wife Mary Beth, their daughter Erica Fitzpatrick Peabody, and her husband, Barrett Peabody. “My grandmother, Kathryn Fitzpatrick, still visits the fields during planting and harvest, and makes sure that the crew gets treats,” Erica says. She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and a master’s degree in plant pathology from the University of Maine. She and her husband built a home on the family farm. “You’re only as good as your family around you and your good help on the farm,” Albert says. One of Albert’s farm staff has been working with him for 36 years, another for 33. “Family and good help
make all the difference. I’ve been lucky.” Albert, a Houlton native, was a member of the second class to attend the then-Northern Maine VTI in Presque Isle in the mid 1960s. In 1973, he grew his first 100 acres of potatoes. Recently, the Fitzpatricks incorporated four of the farms previously owned by Barrett Peabody’s family into their operation, allowing for better crop rotation. Potatoes from the Fitzpatrick farm are sold for processing to McCain’s (as part of the Littleton Potato Growers cooperative), Frito Lay, and to Naturally Potatoes. They also grow fresh market acres for sale. “I love growing things,” Erica says. “Farming involves making both business and science-based decisions. A potato farm family must be well versed in both business skills and science knowledge to make good decisions for their farm.”
photo: A. Fogarty Photography
talk of the towns
Lighthouse on the Big Screen Jonesport, Machiasport, and Mistake Island: New York-based actor, writer, and filmmaker Erica Fae will be heading to the coast of Maine this month to film a movie in Jonesport, Machiasport, and on Mistake Island. The script, written by Fae, was inspired by stories of women lighthouse keepers in the 1800s. The main character of the film, a woman named Abbie, is a composite of many women lighthouse keepers who lived during the late 19th-century. “I find their strength, bravery, and courage wildly inspiring, especially as they were all somewhat quiet and humble about their accomplishments, living in remote outposts at the edges of the sea,” Fae says. Many folks in the film industry suggested Fae film her movie outside of Maine, in a state that offers more incentives for filmmakers and is closer to her home base of New York City. But Fae wouldn’t have it. “I felt dedicated to actually being in Maine,” she says. “The landscape is so essential to the story, it simply would not be the same if I shot it anywhere else.” Moose Peak Light was chosen as the starring lighthouse for several reasons, Fae says. “First, and most importantly, Moose Peak Light is gorgeous. Its shape, size, scale, and remote location are all simply perfect. Secondly, it hasn’t already been restored or renovated, so it retains a true sense of age.” The filming is set to take about three to five weeks. “The owner of the lighthouse and the whole town of Jonesport have been remarkably supportive and amazing,” Fae says. “We are so thankful for everyone who has supported us coming to make this film in Maine.”
photos: (top) erica fae; (right) nathan levesque
Starry, Starry Night Bar Harbor: Each September, The Acadia Night Sky Festival celebrates Down East and Acadia’s stellar night sky as a valuable natural resource. The five-day event works to inform the community about local scientific research and ongoing efforts to improve our lighting. The event was conceived at the 2007 Bar Harbor Conservation Commission Conservation Summit, where the need to preserve the night skies over Mount Desert Island and surrounding communities was brought to light. Acadia National Park is gorgeous by day, and the views of the starry night sky are legendary. To promote this event, the Acadia Night Sky Festival, in collaboration with Birds Eye View Magazine, launched a search for the iconic image that would become the 2014 festival poster. Amidst the overwhelming flood of talent that was submitted, one photograph in particular stood out. “Milky Way Over Sand Beach” by Nathan Levesque was declared the winning image. “This image captures the true awe and wonder that our night sky offers,” says Jennifer Wright, events and development director for the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. “It illustrates beautifully the magnificence of what lies above us when we turn out the lights.” www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 9
biz buzz On the Move Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park has appointed MARK BERRY as its new president and chief executive officer. He previously worked as the executive director at Downeast Lakes Land Trust in Grand Lake Stream. www.schoodicinstitute.org JOHN BECKETT joined
Bangor’s Varney Agency as director of alternative markets. He has 40 years of experience working in liability, workers’ comp, change management, compliance, and marketing, and more than 30 years of experience working in the energy sector. www.varneyagency.com
ANGELA CAMPBELL joined
Eastern Maine Development Corporation as a business development specialist for the statewide Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. Campbell will implement the federally funded program for Maine companies from EMDC’s Bangor office. www.emdc.org SANDRA L. PAYSON of
Rockland joined Allen Insurance and Financial as a personal lines account executive. She brings more than 30 years of industry experience to her new position. She holds the Accredited Adviser in Insurance (AAI) and Associate in Insurance Services (AIS) designations. www.alleninsuranceandfinancial.com
ROBERT PETERSON has
been chosen as the chief executive office for the Millinocket Regional Hospital. A seasoned health care executive with more than 25 years of health care leadership experience, Peterson formerly served as patient care administrator for surgery and women and children’s services at Eastern Maine Medical Center. www.mrhme.org CHELSEA KONDRATOWICZ
has been named program assistant for the Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) program through the Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC). Previously, she was an administrative assistant at EMDC, working part time on the Maine PTAC program. www.emdc.org KYLE TARDY joins the
United Way of Eastern Maine as a resource development manager. He brings more than 10 years of experience in social service settings and more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry to his new role. Previously, Tardy worked as a human resources business partner at Hollywood Casino. www.unitedwayem.org 10 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Unity College has added several new faculty and staff to the college community: MARY SAUNDERS BULAN, Ph.D., director of Half Moon Field Station and assistant professor of sustainable agricultural enterprise; JENNIFER LORRAINE CARTIER, Ph.D., director of teacher education and science; MATTHEW W.H. CHATFIELD, Ph.D., assistant professor of conservation biology; ZACHARY FALCON, assistant professor of conservation law and environmental policy; JEFFREY (STEVE) KAHL, Ph.D., director of sustainability; JAMES KILLARNEY, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental chemistry; BILL KOVARIK, Ph.D., professor of environmental writing; SHERYL G. SPANN, MBA , director of marketing and communications; JAMES SPARTZ, assistant professor of environmental communications. www.unity.edu
JOSHUA GASS has been
appointed festival director of the KAHBANG Festival. Gass has acted as KAHBANG’s creative director since 2010 and currently sits on the board of directors for the Robinson Ballet and the Downtown Bangor Partnership. www.kahbang.com The Bangor SCORE chapter named two new officers. MATTHEW CHABE was elected as chairman. Chabe is the president of ChapterTwo Marketing & Public Relations and a seven-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. JENNIFER MORIN was elected secretary. She is a senior relationship manager at Bangor Savings Bank. KATE STEIN, owner of The Bottom Line, was elected treasurer. www.bangor.score.org Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School has added two new faculty members to its roster of professionals. NATE MARTIN, a double bass instructor, has been playing the instrument since he was 13. He’s performed throughout New England, in Canada, and China. NICOLE RABATA is a flutist who has performed extensively throughout Europe and the U.S. as a soloist and chamber musician. www.baychamberconcerts.org
Machias Savings Bank has promoted several of their employees. In their Machias office, DANIELLE CARICOFE has been promoted to senior vice president of human services, CHARITY DENNISON has been promoted to vice president of marketing and project management, and WENDY SCHORS has been promoted to vice president of asset management. AMANDA LOOK has been promoted to vice president of cash management solutions in the bank’s Columbia Falls office, and JAMES GEHRKE has been promoted to vice president of business banking in the Brewer office. www.machiassavings.com
Awards For the fifth consecutive year, the UNIVERSITY OF MAINE has been named a “green college” by Princeton Review for its exemplary commitment to sustainability in academics, campus infrastructure, and programming. www.umaine.edu GO LOGIC, an architecture and
construction firm based in Belfast, has received Fine Homebuilding Magazine’s 2014 Houses Award for the Bets EnergySmart Home for its Jung Haus Passive House project in Michigan. www.gologic.us
Eastern Maine Community College
Great College. Smart Choice.
The Society of Hospital Medicine honored KENNETH SIMONE, DO, SFHM , a physician at EMMC Family Medicine, with the Award for Outstanding Service in Hospital Medicine. www.emmc.org The society of Certified Insurance Counselors recently recognized GILBERT FIFIELD of Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden with a certificate honoring his 30 years of faithful participation in advanced education. www.alleninsuranceandfinancial.com BARBARA VEREAULT, DO, a physician at
Penobscot Community Health Care, has been named the 2014 Maine Family Physician of the Year by the Maine Academy of Family Physicians. The annual award is given to a physician who provides his or her community with compassionate, comprehensive, and caring medical services on a continuing basis, is directly and effectively involved in community affairs and activities that enhance the quality of life in their home area, and provides a credible role model as a healer to their community. www.pchc.com BAR HARBOR BANK & TRUST was the
only bank in Maine to be named to the American Banker magazine’s list of the top 200 community banks in the nation. There were 851 banks in the nation that fit the list’s criteria. BHBT was ranked No.118. www.bhbt.com BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S PARKING ENFORCEMENT TEAM
received the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau Travel Employees of the Year award at the 19th Annual Tourism Awards Event. Comprised of eight employees, the team works around the clock balancing customer service and enforcement to help ensure passenger safety for those using the Bangor International Airport. www.flybangor.com The National Association of Development Companies recently honored EASTERN MAINE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION as one of the nation’s Top Ten Community Advantage Lenders by volume. EMDC ranked third among the top performing
Community Development Corporations nationwide. www.emdc.org The Maine Real Estate and Development Association (MEREDA) has honored Bangor’s CROSS INSURANCE CENTER as one of last year’s most notable commercial development projects. Six projects were chosen from around the state based upon criteria including environmental sustainability, economic impact, energy efficiency, social impact, and job creation. The other projects were located in Augusta, Brunswick, Portland, Sanford, and Westbrook. www.crossinsurancecenter.com
Technical Career & Transfer Education
Health Information Technology Certifcate
BANGOR SAVINGS BANK has been
ranked the sixth best bank in the U.S. for the baby boomer generation by GOBankingRates.com, an online financial information resource. Banks from across the country were rated on their retirement and estate planning services, excellent customer service, and bank accounts designed for customers ages 50 to 68. www.bangor.com
Grants Irving Woodlands, LLC has contributed a $1 million endowment to the UNIVERSITY OF FORT KENT FOUNDATION. It is the largest single gift
in the university’s history. www.umfk.edu The UNIVERSITY OF MAINE received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for the continued development of their Aqua Ventus project, an ocean-based wind energy pilot project located off the coast of Monhegan Island. www.umaine.edu BANGOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BIA) and PRINCETON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT have received funding from
the Federal Aviation Administration for airport safety and facility improvements. BIA will use $795,000 to restore an access road in front of a terminal and Princeton Municipal Airport will use $161,000 for a new runway lighting system. www.flybangor.com www.airnav.com/airport/KPNN
Flexible Schedule. Affordable Price. Your Future is Here.
At only $90 per credit hour: We’re a Great College, and a Smart Choice!
207.974.4621 www.emcc.edu Like us on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/EMCCBangor
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 11
sight ings 2
3
5 1: Jim Donnelly (left) stands with Rich Brooks and presents a check to Christina Caron and Jusin Russell (far right), Social Media Breakfast Bangor organizing committee members. The funds will help the group bring more internet marketing experts like Brooks to Bangor each month.
4
6 Feigel work the Moe’s Original BBQ booth at the Bangor Beer Festival.
2: Kristin Hosfelt, Kerri Tripp, and Josh Brewer at the Bangor Beer Festival.
4: Cynthia Fogg (far right) from The First presents a check to Trudy Plummer, Niles Parker, Colette Sabbath, and Courtney Brehaut from the Maine Discovery Museum. The funds will go toward the museum’s “10 Years and Growing Stronger” Capital Campaign.
3: Dewey Hasbrouck, Kathryn Courant, and Dan
5: Joe Siddiqui, Jay Reynolds, Joy Barresi Saucier,
12 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Sam Yu, Lana McNamee, Alan Mautz, Terry Jandreau, and Randy Bacon take part in a ribbon cutting ceremony at The Aroostook Medical Center to celebrate the Nuclear Medicine suite and the addition of a new SPECT camera. 6: Karen Brezsnyak and Dorothy Havey attend the combined Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce and Penobscot Bay Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours event at Point Lookout in Lincolnville.
Photos: #1 yuri nabokov; #2 & 3 couretesy of the greater bangor cvb
1
movers & shakers
W Accidental Entrepreneur Nancy O’Brien didn’t know a thing about olive oil when she bought a storefront in Bar Harbor to sell the product. Now she’s an expert with an awardwinning brand that’s taking the state by storm.
Photo: courtesy fiore artisan olive oils and vinegars
By Stephanie Harp
hen Nancy O’Brien was a child, she ate lots of meat and potatoes. “I still eat meat and potatoes,” she says, “but with a twist.” The twist comes from her FIORE Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars, in astonishing variety and seemingly endless combinations. The FIORE website offers recipes for Organic Persian Lime Olive Oil and Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Vinegar over swordfish, Baklouti Green Chili Olive Oil and Pomegranate-Quince Balsamic Vinegar with shrimp. There’s a sangria made with balsamic, a champagne cocktail, sorbet, and fruit salad. This is not your mother’s oil and vinegar. Six years ago, Nancy and Pat O’Brien had just gotten married and lived in Connecticut, where she was working “the American dream corporate job,” she says. But they owned a house in Bass Harbor and were looking for a way to live in Maine year-round. A mutual friend introduced them to an importer and they talked about the business of olive oils. On Memorial Day weekend of 2009, their real estate agent called to tell them about a storefront in Bar Harbor. “We had one foot in the kayak and we turned around,” O’Brien says. “Five weeks later, we opened. It was a crazy, crazy time.” Their Connecticut home sold in two weeks and O’Brien thought, “Holy smokes, what am I doing? I don’t even know anything about olive oil.” But she does now. She knows that the olives that make her extra virgin olive oils have been pressed within six hours of harvesting, which keeps the free fatty acids low, keeping the oil from breaking down. She knows the complicated aging and decanting process in vats made of different woods, which produces deep, brownishred, traditional-style balsamic vinegar with complex flavors. O’Brien is also familiar with the growers and producers from both hemispheres. “People will say
As an entrepreneur, she’s doing everything right. After five years, her Recipe Club mailing list is at 18,000 and growing, and she engages her customers through Club FIORE which, for an annual membership fee, offers samples, discounts, and opportunities to help choose what flavors will be offered to the public. “So much of it is just common sense,” O’Brien says, “but also going with your gut. And being around the block a couple of times.” In 2010, after only a year in business, FIORE received the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s “Rising Star Business of the Year” award, and last year was the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2013 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year for the State of Maine. After opening in the quickly remodeled Bar Harbor storefront, O’Brien added FIORE stores in Rockland and Freeport, at Bangor Wine and Cheese, The Vault in Lewiston, Tasteful Tides in Northeast Harbor, Island Spirits in Vinalhaven, and North Haven Grocery. In 2009, O’Brien was the only employee; now FIORE has 28. All locations encourage customers to sample. “People come in and it’s an experience,” O’Brien says. “We’ll show them the proper way to taste olive oil. You take the cup and you rub it inside the palm of your hand to warm it, then slurp it. They say, ‘This is great. This tastes like olive oil.’ And people are blown away by that. What they’ve been using is just something to coat the pan.” But Nancy O’Brien doesn’t think of herself as a salesperson. “I always tell people, ‘I can’t sell anything.’ And they look at me and say, ‘Are you kidding?’” Her passion and her enthusiasm are infectious. “If that’s selling, I’ll take it,” she says. Of the more than 50 different FIORE Artisan Olive Oils and Balsamic Vin-
“People come in and it’s an experience. We’ll show them the proper way to taste olive oil.”—Nancy O’Brien to me, ‘So you just get this from some broker?’ Heck, no, I know exactly who these people are. I know where it’s coming from, when they’re harvesting,” she says. “People who buy from us trust us, so that is a really huge responsibility on the part of FIORE, to make sure that what I’m giving them is exactly what I’m saying it is.”
egars, which are O’Brien’s personal favorites? “I would have to say mine is the chocolate balsamic with the blood orange olive oil.” Then she thinks about it. “Oh, no, wait. Maybe it’s not that one.” When even the owner has trouble choosing, you know you’re looking at a whole world of flavors. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 13
eye on industry
Fred and Monica Patterson never intended to start a business, but when opportunity came knocking on their camper door, they opened it. By Jenny-Lin Bennett
W
hen asked how Fred and Monica Patterson got the idea to start their company, TPC-n-Smore, LLC Campfire Rings, Monica Patterson chuckles and says, “It’s a funny story actually.” It all began in the summer of 2003. The Patterson family was camping, like they often did, but one thing was different– they sat around a 26-inch campfire ring decorated with cut-outs of a buck, moose, and the word “Maine” on both sides. The orange and yellow flames danced, bringing the images to life. Fred Patterson, who was working in the metal manufacturing industry, made the campfire ring before the trip. While the Pattersons and their friends enjoyed the new ring, other campers kept coming by to admire the campfire. “This is a business,” one of their friends said, and they were right. The idea for TPC-n-Smore, LLC Campfire Rings was ignited with a spark. When the Pattersons packed-up to go 14 / Bangor Metro August 2014
home they brought with them something unexpected—several orders from campers wanting their very own campfire ring. The husband and wife team was not planning on starting a business. “When opportunities knock, you just have to take it,” Monica Patterson explains. “We are family-orientated, and having a business that creates family time for others, that can create many hours of memories, is very rewarding.” The company started with five designs for the campfire rings and has since grown to 116 choices. Each new design is added at the request of a customer. The designs are not standard clip-art; Fred Patterson designs them all. “If you look at the cabin design on our website, you can see the details put into a design. It’s not just a house,” Patterson
photo: courtesy tpc-n-smore, llc campfire rings
The Perfect Campfire
says. The cabin design is outfitted with windows, a front door, log wood siding, and a chimney with smoke rising from the top. A custom design request takes up to two-and-a-half weeks to complete from start to finish. Like the designs, the campfire rings have expanded over the years based on customer requests. Removable options include a grill and a cooking pot hook. More permanent options include legs and a safety rail, which doubles as a footrest. The bestseller is dubbed the “Granddaddy” because it includes both the legs and safety rail/footrest. In recent years, TPC Fire Rings added a square campfire ring per customer request. “[Custom requests are] one of the things I love most,” Patterson says. “We are always willing to try something. It’s a lot of fun.” The most unique request resulted in a whopping eight-foot campfire ring. Standard campfire rings are 26- or 36inches. While most customers prefer the personalization of a custom order, TPC Fire Rings does have a limited supply of graphics-only campfire rings on hand for same-day purchase. They can also ship; the furthest campfire ring is being enjoyed in Washington state. Each campfire ring is easy to care for and made to last using 3/16-inch thick steel. “Some people baby theirs and bring it inside in the winter, some people leave them out; it’s up to the customer and either way works fine,” Monica Patterson says. “You get what you pay for and we have a quality product.” The Pattersons know this first-hand as they still use the 11-year-old campfire ring that started TPC-n-Smore, LLC Campfire Rings more than a decade ago.
There’s no app for that. Mobile apps, tweets and IMs are great, but nothing can compare to the moment when you finally see each other again. So pick up that smart phone and do a smart thing: go to FlyBangor.com, book online, and this time - send yourself. Scan for BGR Online Booking
Nonstops, connecting flights, competitive fares and friendly customer service.
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www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 15
Each month we showcase one of the business practices of our partners. Our September 2014 featured business will be Maine Savings. Make sure your
business SPOTLIGHT
business gets the
EXTRA n attentio
it deserves! When you advertise in Business Spotlight, you get a great deal!
AND You’re also entitled to a full-page story about your business!
Contact Christine at 207-404-5158
Guidance & Solutions.
At Machias Savings Bank 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. Whether you are just getting started or growing the family business, we specialize in helping you every step of the way, just like we’ve done for Ron, April and Lydia, we can do the same for you.
Machias Savings Bank is now providing business banking solutions in the Presque Isle, Caribou and Portland communities. Ron Dennis
April Murchinson
Lydia Pryor
Dennis Paper & Food Service Hampden, Maine
Possibilities Fine Gifts & Home Furnishings | Lincoln, Maine
Bayview Animal Hospital Gouldsboro, Maine
Š 2014 Machias Savings Bank. Member FDIC.
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metro health
A Natural
Choice
August is National Breastfeeding Month. Maine ranks among the top states when it comes to parents choosing to breastfeed their babies. By Joy Hollowell
Besty Lundy feeds her youngest at a recent breastfeeding support group at Central Street Farmhouse.
“D
oes he need to eat?” Aimee Gerber settles down onto the couch next to Amy Allen, who is trying to soothe her 7-week-old son, Quinn. “I can try,” answers Allen. She's having trouble getting Quinn to latch onto her breast, a key component to successful breastfeeding. It's also one of the reasons why Allen attends one of two breastfeeding support groups held every week at the Central Street Farmhouse in downtown Bangor. “Can you do that again?” asks Gerber, watching Allen carefully. As a La Leche League leader, Gerber is trained to recognize why a mother might be struggling with breastfeeding. She shows Allen a different way to hold her newborn while nursing. 18 / Bangor Metro August 2014
But Quinn still can't latch on. His crying increases in intensity. Allen looks to Gerber for help. “Let me take a look at his palate,” says Gerber, picking Quinn up. His wailing continues. “Oh, crying is good,” soothes Gerber, looking into his mouth. She hands Quinn back to Allen. “His palate isn't too high,” Gerber says. “And I'm not seeing any other major issues with his mouth. Can we try breastfeeding again?” Patiently, Allen coaxes her son back to her breast. “Wait until he opens wide and then roll his mouth towards the nipple,” says Gerber, watching Quinn intently. “OK, try it now.” Suddenly the crying stops. Quinn enjoys a much-anticipated dinner and Allen enjoys some peace and quiet.
“Thank you,” she smiles to Gerber, then lets out a sigh of relief. Allen's story is a familiar one to Gerber. She's been running the breastfeeding support groups for about four years. “Moms will cry on the couch,” Gerber says. “They just can't hold it in anymore. And that's OK, we've all been there, we've all gone through this. And it's just awesome to see other moms just surround and support her.” It's why Central Street Farmhouse coowner Betsy Lundy started the group. “When my now 5-year-old daughter was born, we had incredible trouble breastfeeding,” she explains. “It was painful for months. I joined a support group. It was a great experience and it got me through a lot.” According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other groups, a
Photos: ruth clark
baby should be fed breast milk exclusively for the first six months of its life and up to a year accompanied by foods. After that, whatever is mutually desirable for mother and baby is suggested. Among other things, experts say breastfeeding protects against respiratory illnesses, infections, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, leukemia, obesity, and some allergies. There are also studies that show breastfed babies are up to 50% less likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, mostly because they wake up more at night. And, for a nursing mother, her chances of contracting breast and uterine cancer decreases. Pen Bay Medical Center takes an active role in promoting breastfeeding for the approximately 300 babies born each year at the Rockport hospital. Lynn Tauss is one of six internationally board-certified lactation consultants there. She says the discussion about nursing starts early on in the pregnancy. “That's the time to ask mothers, ‘What have you heard about breastfeeding?’ And then if the mother has concerns or questions, those can be addressed,” Tauss says. Once the baby is born, the consultants check in often with the mothers in their hospital rooms. There is also a postpartum clinic where mom and baby return a few days after being discharged. “When the babies are four or five days old, and mom’s milk is first coming in, things can be hard, and we want to help people through that point,” Tauss explained. If a mother has clearly stated that she wants to bottle feed, Tauss says the hospital does not try to change her mind. “What we do, though, is encourage all mothers, after birth, no matter how they're feeding their baby, to have some skin-to-skin time in the birthing center.” If a mother cannot physically feed her newborn from her breast, the second best scenario, according to the AAP, is to feed the baby pumped breast milk. Third on the list is breast milk from a milk bank, followed by specialized formula and then formula. “The gold standard to feed babies is breast milk,” says Veronica Sweeney, co-chair of the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition. “That's what mothers are naturally designed to do. But for many years, we had to prove that breastfeeding was the better way to go. It started with the benefits of breastfeeding. And then we got a little smarter and asked, what
are the risks of not breastfeeding?” Sweeney says much of their group's effort is based around the U.S. Surgeon General's call to action in regards to breastfeeding. “Anything is better than nothing,” she says. “The more exclusivity, the better; the longer, the better.” Sweeney knows the topic can be a touchy one for parents. “People have their own personal feelings,” she says, “and it presses many buttons when you discuss it.” She believes a lack of knowledge about the benefits is a big part of that. “I think people believe breast milk and formula are the same thing,” Sweeney says. “And they're not.” Overall, Maine ranks high compared to the rest of the nation when it comes to breastfeeding. The latest report by the Centers for Disease Control show that about 75% of babies in Maine have been breastfed. The research also shows that the num-
ber of mothers in our state who stop breastfeeding after six months drops to about 50%, and babies who are breastfed exclusively at six months of age is only about 23%. Difficulty nursing, a lack of support, and the ease of formula are the most common reasons given for the decline. “Babies will have periodic growth spurts and will want to nurse frequently. Moms will give the baby a bottle [of formula] because they believe they don’t have enough milk,” Tauss says. “If you give the baby a bottle of formula and then you don’t pump, your body gets the message: make less milk!” Up to 5% of women nationally cannot breastfeed, whether it's for physical, hormonal, psychological, or health reasons. Medical conditions include insufficient glandular tissue around the breast, breast cancer, or pituitary or thyroid imbalances. Ashlee Francis was 17 when her first child was born. “I didn't know a lot about
Alishia Bretzke watches baby Mabel Lundy play during a breastfeeding support group meeting.
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 19
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metro health breastfeeding,” says the Washington mom. “We ended up switching formulas three times before finding one that was acceptable, but it still left him constipated.” Because of that, Francis chose to nurse her two other kids. She says the bond between her and her baby and the monetary savings that come with breast milk far outweigh the convenience of formula. Workplace issues can also complicate things. “Only about 49% of mothers breastfeed as long as they want to,” Sweeney says, citing national statistics. “And some of that has to do with going back to work and not having support. It can be hard to find time or a place to pump and then store breast milk.” Nerin Maroney says nursing and going back to work proved to be a challenge. “I breastfed for about seven months,” says the Searsmont mom. “My goal was to last a year, but it was too hard to find time during work. Because of that, my milk supply dwindled.” Maroney started a new job when her daughter was 6 weeks old. When asked about a place to pump her breast milk, she was told to use the bathroom. “Being new, I did not want to be picky,” Maroney says. “But after several weeks, I decided it was too gross, and I was tired of people constantly knocking on the door, so I asked for a different place.” Maroney was then given a conference room, but says it was typically being used when she needed to express her milk. She ended up going to her car to pump. “While my coworkers and my supervisor were friendly, I don't think they understood the challenge of breastfeeding and pumping,” Maroney says. In Maine, there are several laws protecting nursing moms. A mother is legally allowed to breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be. Employers must provide adequate time for a mother to express her milk, for up to three years following childbirth. They must also make “reasonable efforts” to provide a clean room to pump in privacy. Breastfeeding can be easy and natural, and other times it can be a struggle. “You need to be comfortable with how you feed your baby,” Tauss says. “What I tell moms at the end of every breastfeeding class is that after all this incredible, wonderful stuff about breastfeeding, it has to feel right in your heart."
metro wellness
Quit Talking and Start Doing “You are what you do, not what you say you'll do.” — C.G. Jung By Emilie Brand Manhart
photo: Dmitry Naumov/thinkstock.com
M
y brother Christopher is one of my heroes, and one of the most inspirational people that I know. In his careful work as a designer and furniture maker, in the healthy way he eats, in the adventurous trips he takes, he sets and meets incredibly high standards for himself. He is a detail-oriented man of action. My brother has traveled, hiked, biked, and surfed all over the world, though he won’t announce to anyone (even his family!) where he is headed until the trip is confirmed and booked, and sometimes, until he’s on his way to the airport. I love this about my brother. I love that sometimes he calls me while I’m standing somewhere mundane like the grocery store check-out line, and says, “I’m leaving tomorrow for a three-week trek in Nepal,” or, “Just booked a surf trip to Costa Rica.” One time I was weeding the garden and he called to say, “Hey! I’m on my way to Norway with my bike and I’m riding it to Italy.” Six weeks after he landed in Norway, I received a message from Chris with a photo of himself standing at the Italian border with his bike. I envy Chris’s free-spirited, adventure-filled life. I admire the ambitious feats he is able to pull off with little fanfare. Because I’m a mom to young kids, I can’t jet off to exotic destinations too often, but the most important thing I have learned from Chris is a simple lesson that we can all apply to our lives. Do great things, yes, but don’t be all talk. Say you are going to do something only when you are ready to do it, or willing to start putting in the work.
My last summer in college, a dear friend of mine and I decided that we were going to ride our bikes across the U.S. We talked for hours imagining ourselves, tanned and toned, gliding across the prairies and the plains, throwing our arms up in victory as we reached the Pacific Ocean. I would casually trace with my finger the route on a map and tell everyone I knew about our plan. I thought this cross-country venture made me sound cool and gritty. A few problems: we both had heavy mountain bikes that were fine for getting around campus but not at all equipped for long distances. We also hadn’t been putting in enough miles on our bikes in preparation. I kept imagining how amazing it would feel to accomplish the goal, and forgot about implementing a realistic plan to get there. I’m all for dreaming and making ambitious plans, but there is a time to quit talking about what you are “going to do” and start making it happen. I talked a big game, but I never rode my bike across the country, or even across the state. Many years older and wiser, when I decided to train for my first marathon, I thought about that bike trip that never happened and how it still bothered me that I had talked-up something I couldn’t deliver. I only said the word “marathon” aloud once I was fully committed and had a detailed training regimen in place. I knew I was going to cross the finish line, and I did, because I now understand, like my brother has taught me, about preparation, dedication, and commitment to a goal. We all know the people who talk and talk about plans to change, to lose weight,
to eat more healthy foods, to drink less, to workout more, and blah blah blah. I too sometimes fall into the habit of perpetually talking about new races I’d like to sign up for, or reading about training plans, or hypothesizing aloud about the best strategy for this or that, and then I get annoyed with myself. Quit talking. Make a plan. Start doing. My brother’s approach applies to many healthy lifestyle choices we all tend to chat about. Of course, a lot of feelings are tied up in our desire for change. We want to process our ideas with friends and motivation can stem from good conversation. But I wonder if we just talk ourselves in circles when sometimes the solutions to our problems are pretty simple. Want to lose 10 pounds? Step away from the donuts and start eating differently today. Talking about going on a long-overdue vacation? Start saving money now, make a realistic plan, and make it happen. You’ve been vocally lamenting how you want to get back into your old workout routine? Tomorrow would be a good time to start again. Really want to be able to run a 5K with your friends but you can’t even run around the block yet? Stop reading about other people who have achieved their fitness goals, quietly slip out the door, and go running. Set yourself up for success by doing your research and making a plan. Then stop talking and go do it. 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 / 21
feature story
Frogtown Mountain
Puppeteers
This sibling trio of talented puppeteers make magic happen at each one of their shows. by Henry Garfield | Photos by kevin kratka
22 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Robin Erlandsen and Erik and Brian Torbeck pose with the puppets from “The Legend of the Banana Kid” at the Bangor Opera House.
H
ave you ever seen a banana subdue two outlaws in slow motion? It isn’t every western saloon shootout that offers instant replays, let alone one involving a banana in place of a gun, but midway through the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers’ production of “The Legend of the Banana Kid,” that’s exactly what happens. The hero stops the action and the
scene rewinds, complete with sound effects. Then it plays forward, slowly, and you see the flight of the banana, like the hockey puck you couldn’t follow in real time, as it tumbles end-over-end from the hero’s hand to the chins of first one bad guy and then the other. Wait. Special effects in a puppet show? How’d they do that? The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers,
based in Bar Harbor, have been doing it since the turn of the century. Their shows are marvels of set design, choreography, and ensemble voice acting, punctuated by music, sight gags, and jokes aimed at audiences of all ages. So much happens above the curtain that it’s often difficult to believe only three people are behind it, figuratively speaking, pulling the strings. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 23
Erik Torbeck shows off one of his puppets. 24 / Bangor Metro August 2014
The three puppeteers are siblings Erik and Brian Torbeck and Robin Erlandsen, and there aren’t any strings—the puppets are the “mouth and rod” type made famous by the late Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets. Since 2000, they’ve been taking their shows on the road throughout the eastern United States and as far away as Phoenix, Arizona. What began as a fun sidelight that grew out of a class at the College of the Atlantic (COA) has become a full-time career. “We all grew up watching Sesame Street,” says Brian, who makes most of the puppets. But it was his older brother Erik who took the elective class at COA that shaped their future. Their sister Robin joined them in the venture and now handles most of the bookings and publicity. “Our first show was at a renaissance fair in Pennsylvania, near where we grew up,” Erik says. Frogtown Mountain, from which the troupe takes its name, is near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, the family’s hometown. “Maine was the place our family came for vacation,” Erik explains. “Eventually, my brother and sister started coming up to Mount Desert Island to work in the summer.” “The first five years, while we were building up the number of shows, we all had side jobs,” Brian says. “As we got more and more gigs, we kept downsizing them.” Brian attended Elizabeth College in Pennsylvania, and joined the Peace Corps after graduation. His two-year stint in the Dominican Republic gave him an opportunity to put his puppetry experience to practical use. While there, he put on small educational shows and led puppet-making workshops. “When I got back, Robin had graduated from Colby, and all three of us moved to Bar Harbor,” he says. “It sort of took off from there.” In addition to “The Legend of the Banana Kid,” the troupe regularly performs a swashbuckling show titled “Everybody Loves Pirates,” and a comedic twist on an old Washington Irving Tale, “The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.” “We probably do the pirate one the most,” says Erik, who writes the first drafts of the scripts, drawing on his experience as a stand-up comic. “The Headless Horseman is our oldest show. We do that one mostly in the fall.” As the shows move from page to
feature story
stage, Brian and Robin will kick in suggestions and ad-libs during rehearsals. Many of these favorite lines end up written on pieces of masking tape attached to the wooden stage framework at eye level, as touchstones for the performers during a show. “Erik’s always written the scripts,” Robin says. “I get to type them up. We’re always changing and editing things. We’ve been doing most of these shows for 10 years or more, and that’s how we keep them fresh.” Once a script is completed, the next step is to assemble a cast. This is done with puppet “blanks” on a sewing machine. The movable mouths so familiar to anyone who grew up with Sesame Street are constructed of cardboard and sewn into the puppet. The eyes are pingpong balls cut in half. A sewing machine is used to add hair, facial features, and other identifying characteristics. The three puppeteers frequent thrift shops, on the lookout for used children’s clothing in good condition. “We always like to ask the kids in the audience after the show if they recognize any of the clothes,” Erik says. The simpler puppets take “a day or two” to make, Brian says. Others can take a week or more. Most human characters can be built from a basic pattern. Animal puppets tend to be more complicated. All the shows have large ensemble casts; consequently, creating a new show is labor-intensive at the front end. A typical show will use 15 to 20 puppets. “We must have close to 200 puppets of various shapes and sizes,” Brian says. Mouth-and-rod puppetry involves
Brian Torbeck gives audience members a look at how he maneuvers one of the troupe’s puppets.
a lot of stage business—characters are forever throwing things at one another or hitting each other over the head with something. The hands of the puppets are animated and seem to be able to grasp and manipulate any number of props. “Everything a puppet holds is on a rod,” Brian explains. This allows the puppeteers to move objects around, creating the illusion that the puppets are doing it themselves. At the beginning of “The Legend of the Banana Kid,” Chucky and his sister Elizabeth are watching TV and arguing over which show to watch. A television sits on the stage, and the characters that appear on its screen are finger puppets.
This “show before the show” allows the puppeteers to riff on the banalities of television—there’s even a faux commercial for a radioactive cleanser. In the tradition of Sesame Street, it’s aimed at kids, but with a few jokes thrown in for the grownups, too. Chucky wants to watch a Western featuring “Dudley Do Nothing,” but his sister keeps changing the channel at crucial points in the plot and Chucky misses the ending. Dejected, he goes out into the yard to play cowboy by himself with a banana for a sidearm, falls asleep, and, well, you’ll have to see the show for yourself. Suffice it to say that it’s a masterwork www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 25
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of motion and sound, infused with familiar and not-so-familiar cowboy songs, with never more than a few seconds between laughs. Characters enter and exit and interact with alacrity. One old guy never moves from his saloon barstool. “Never had a reason to,” he drawls. (This puppet can, and does, remain on stage throughout the show, moving only when needed, freeing the puppeteers to animate other characters around him.) Unlike magicians and card sharks, the three siblings don’t mind revealing the tricks behind their creations. They encourage audience members to stick around for a short presentation and question-and-answer period after the show, in which they demonstrate the ways they make the characters move and talk, and how they do the special effects, like the slow-motion banana. “We actually have 13 fake bananas that we use in this show,” Brian says. “We 26 / Bangor Metro August 2014
also have a stunt zucchini that does the dangerous work.” Some of the trick bananas include: a swirling double banana attached to a hand drill, various bananas in the hands and holsters of characters, and of course the slow-mo, end-over-end banana, operated by a rod attached to each end. The magic begins with the staging— 14-feet long and six-feet high—that the puppeteers stand behind. It comes in sections and on wheels, so it’s relatively easy to put in place. A black curtain covers the front of this wall, and the puppets appear above it. Robin Erlandsen, who is slightly shorter than her brothers, wears shoes with lifts to compensate. All three wear headsets with microphones and vocalize multiple characters. They typically arrive at a venue at least two hours before show time. They transport stage, puppets, props, sound system, and themselves in a shuttle bus with a wheelchair lift. “We have it down
to enough of a system that we can get it set up pretty fast,” Brian says. “Before every show we prep everything. At the end of the show, it’s all in a pile.” The three of them can see what’s going on by looking up at the puppets, which they operate by holding over their heads. When rehearsing, they routinely videotape themselves to see what the show looks like to the audience, but they don’t use video monitors during the show itself, relying instead on their instincts and the rapport they have developed through years of practice. Sight gags abound. A bear with a 20foot arm (operated by two puppeteers) steals pine nuts from an unsuspecting cowboy. A goat that Chucky rides instead of a horse chews up everything it can get its teeth on. Sound effects include train whistles, clacking coconut shells, and even a little yodeling. The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers perform around 140 shows a year—fewer
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This photo: A scene from “The Legend of the Banana Kid.� Below: Robin Erlandsen.
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feature story gigs than major league baseball players but more than many touring musicians. Performance venues include theaters, libraries, schools, community centers, and outdoor fairs. As their reputation has grown, they have had to do less marketing, and Robin frequently receives e-mails out of the blue asking about the troupe’s availability. Most shows are booked several months in advance, but they have been known to travel to nearby schools on short notice. Though they have performed far and wide, the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers have stayed closer to home in recent years. “I have a 2-year-old,” Robin explains. “We don’t travel out of state as much as we used to.” Sometimes her husband and son are able to accompany her to out-of-state shows. But they do still get around. This August, the three siblings and their puppet entourage will travel to the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival in Almonte, Ontario, Canada, near Ottawa. One annual engagement is a 10-day run at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta
in late October and early November. On the way there, they will stop for a week of shows in their native Pennsylvania. Their travels give the siblings a chance to share experiences and compare notes with other puppeteers. Every September for the past few years, they’ve returned the favor, hosting a puppet festival at the Grand Theater in Ellsworth. “We’ll be doing a show, as well as bringing in other groups from out of state,” Brian says. “There will be marionettes, shadow puppets, some other stuff. It’s a good opportunity for people to see some different types of puppetry.” The trio look too young to have been in business together for going on 15 years. In reality, they are in their early forties and late thirties. “Puppetry keeps you young, I guess,” Brian says. It’s obvious that they’re having fun, and that might have something to do with it, too. The fun is contagious, as audiences have discovered. And there’s even more fun on the horizon. They’re developing a new show—a dinosaur musical—sure to please kids of all ages. It’s at least a year away from its first
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performance, but Erik has written a script and they are making the puppets, which, as you can imagine, are more complicated than usual. “We haven’t quite settled on a title,” Brian says. “But we’re excited about it.” Their parents have recently retired and relocated to Bar Harbor, and are able to experience and enjoy their children’s success. “We didn’t grow up thinking we’d become puppeteers,” Erik says. “Our dad was in the Navy, and for awhile he had a mindset of ‘when are you going to get a real job?’ But they’ve both been extremely supportive.”
Need ideas for something to do? Visit bangormetro.com and check out our calendar of events
250 Haskell Rd, Bangor, ME 04401 ~ 207-262-0099 ~ Bangor.HGI.com 28 / Bangor Metro August 2014
WHY WILL YOU TAKE THE
CHALLENGE?
www.ctcchallenge.org www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 29
feature story
park loop Some of the most picturesque views of Acadia National Park can be found along the Park Loop Road. Photos by kevin kratka
30 / Bangor Metro August 2014
road
Kebo Mountain 407 ft 125 m
Wild Gardens of Acadia
Nature Center
Bear Brook
Eagle Lake Abbe Museum Dorr Mountain 1270 ft
Cadillac 387 m Mountain
Bubble Pond
Sieur de Monts Entrance
Park Loop Road
Champlain Mountain
Precipice Trailhead
1058 ft 323 m
1530 ft 466 m
Schooner Head
The Bubbles Entrance Station Pemetic Mountain
Overlook
The Beehive
1248 ft 380 m
520 ft 158 m
Great Head
Gorham Mountain
Jordan Pond Nature Trail
525 ft 160 m
Otter Creek
The Triad 698 ft
Thunder Hole
Gatehouse 213 m Wildwood Stables
Sand Beach
Gorham Mountain Trailhead
Fabbri
Day Mountain 583 ft 178 m
Blackwoods
Otter Cove
Otter Cliff Otter Point
Seal Harbor
T
he Park Loop Road circles Acadia National Park and all its beautiful glory. You can hop on for a drive at the Hulls Cove Visitors Center off of Route 3. The road was financed in part by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. Construction began in 1922, with work crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1933. The CCC was a public work relief program created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression. Crews not only helped create the Park Loop Road, but the Carriage Roads, too. Most of the road is one way, and travelers must pay a fee at the Entrance Station just north of Sand Beach. There are numerous observation points along the road, including Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff, and Sand Beach. Wildlife is as abundant as the gorgeous views, so drive slowly and enjoy your surroundings.
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 31
32 / Bangor Metro August 2014
feature story Sand Beach is one of the most popular spots in Acadia National Park. With 290 yards of beautiful sand and surf, it’s no wonder people flock to this inlet during the summer months.
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 33
feature story Thunder Hole gets its name from the thunderous sound that is created when large waves crash into the inlet. Water can splash as high as 40 feet when the right size wave hits.
34 / Bangor Metro August 2014
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 35
a piece of maine: houlton
Gateway to the Crown of Maine
I
f you’re heading to northern Maine, chances are you’ll drive through Houlton. It’s where I-95 ends and where U.S. Routes 1 and 2 intersect. But instead of flying through, why not stop a while and see what the gateway to Aroostook County has to offer? 36 / Bangor Metro August 2014
History The Maliseet were the first people in the area we know today as Houlton. Massachusetts pioneers Captain Joseph Houlton, Aaron Putnam, and Oliver Taylor arrived in the area in the summer of 1804. Their journey north from New Salem,
Photo: melanie brooks
The Town of Houlton is the gateway to Maine’s northern border. But it’s more than just a pit stop. Take a closer look at this historic town and you will find a four-season destination spot that has all the charms of small-town Maine. By Melanie Brooks
Photos: courtesy library of congress by jack delano
The Gateway Crossing footbridge.
Massachusetts was harrowing. They became lost and survived without food for days. Thankfully they made it to their destination, finding it so appealing that they decided to settle the area the following summer. Putnam returned to northern Maine with his family, along with Samuel Houlton, Varney Pearce, Jr., and Luther Tyron, naming their new home Houlton Plantation. Joseph Houlton and family followed two years later. It was officially incorporated as a town in 1831. The military created a post in Houlton in 1828 called Hancock Barracks. This area saw action in 1839 during the Aroostook War. Major R.M. Kirby was in charge of managing and leading the 12 companies of militia that occupied the base. The Aroostook War was a confrontation over the boundary between Maine and the British colony of New Brunswick. There were no armed battles, and the dispute was quickly settled. The
Top: Houses along the Meduxnekeag River, circa 1940. Middle: Jeweler’s store, circa 1940. Bottom: Bridge, circa 1940. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 37
a piece of maine: houlton Webster-Ashburton Treaty was signed in 1842, creating a permanent border. The U.S. Army abandoned the Hancock Barracks five years later. During the mid 1800s, Houlton was home to cheese factories, starch factories, a canning factory, a woolen mill, several lumber and flour mills, a tannery, iron foundries, machine shops, printing offices, and numerous stores that sold boots and shoes, clothing, cigars, and more. Houlton was the center of trade for the county and was a busy, thriving town. Two newspapers were published in Houlton during this time, the Aroostook Pioneer (1857 to 1933) and the Aroostook Times (1860 to 1916). During World War I, the Army installed its first transatlantic Radio Intelligence Station in the area. The Houlton Radio Intelligence Station was the first of its type, intercepting German communications. The success of the program helped pave the way for AT&T’s first transatlantic commercial telephone service, linking New York and London, in 1927. The AT&T Transoceanic Receiver Station was located two miles from Houlton town center. In 1941, the U.S. Army was back in town, establishing the Houlton Army Air Base. The base was used during World War II and, in 1944, a large part of the base was converted as a prisoner of war internment. Called Camp Houlton, the camp held 3,700 German prisoners of war. Select prisoners were allowed to volunteer to work on local farms during their capture. They were paid $1 a day, which they could use at the base store to buy tobacco, toiletries, beer, and other provisions. In 1946, Camp Houlton was closed and the area was developed as Houlton International Airport.
A view of downtown Houlton.
stats Population: 6,123
Median Age: 43
Incorporated: March 8, 1831
Education: • Houlton Elementary School • Houlton Southside School • Houlton Jr./Sr. High School
Population Density: 166.8/square mile Mil Rate: 21.75
38 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Maine’s abundance of Northern White Cedar is not only beautiful, but useful, too. The wood has benefited one Houlton business for more than 90 years. Ward Cedar Log Homes has been creating log homes, buildings, and cabins since 1923. The company uses Northern White Cedar from Maine exclusively, and has manufactured over 10,000 residential buildings throughout the U.S. and around the world. While their corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant are in Houlton, the company has 60 sales people scattered throughout the country
Photo: melanie brooks
Natural Resources
and recently signed a European distributor and hired a salesperson in Bulgaria. “The climate conditions in northern Maine are great for this cedar to grow,” says Ron Silliboy, who has been working in sales and marketing for Ward Cedar Log Homes for the past nine years. “Cedar is easy to work with, is durable, and is a great insulator.” The company has thrived for nearly 100 years due to the abundance of cedar and the fact that they sell their products globally. “We’ve exported log homes to Thailand, the Netherlands, and Japan,” Silliboy says. “All of the wood comes from right here in Maine.” Silliboy grew up in Houlton and is a 2005 graduate of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. “Houlton is a small town, and everyone knows everyone,” he says. It’s the quality of life that keeps him there. “It’s quiet, there’s less traffic, and smaller school systems,” he says. Farming has been a way of life in Houlton for generations. Houlton Farms Dairy has been in operation since 1938. Alan H. Clark founded the business, pro-
A Ward Cedar Log Home built with Northern White Cedar.
cessing raw milk with a wood-fired steam boiler. Nothing was automated, and the collection, pasteurization, homogenization, bottling, and delivery was a 24-hour job, seven days a week. Over the years, modern technology made the process easier and faster. In 1983, Houlton Farms Dairy opened their first ice cream shop in Presque Isle.
Shops in Caribou and Houlton followed a year later. Their delicious ice cream continuously tops the list of Best Ice Cream in Aroostook County in this magazine’s Best Restaurants poll. Back in the late 1930s, there were more than 50 pasteurizing plants in the state. Today, there are only a few—and Houlton Farms Dairy is the only one
Encouraging the balanced development of Aroostook County. Caribou Presque Isle Houlton Lincoln www.swcollins.com
Photo: courtesy ward cedar log homes
“ A n d e r s e n ” a n d t h e A W l o g o a r e r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k s o f A n d e r s e n C o r p o r a t i o n .
Where Me mbership Makes a Difference!
Presque Isle 768-5051
Fort Fairfield 768-5051
Caribou 768-5051
Houlton 532-7325
www.countyfcu.org
For more information, please contact us at: Northern Maine Development Commission
www.nmdc.org 207-498-8736 rclark@nmdc.org
www.appme.org 207-493-5769 rdorsey@nmdc.org
PO Box 779 11 West Presque Isle Road Caribou, ME 04736
www.leadaroostook.com 207-498-8736 rpelletier@nmdc.org
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 39
a piece of maine: houlton
north of Portland. The farm, owned by the Lincoln family, is currently the only locally owned dairy in Aroostook County. The business employs 14 people in the plant. “We’re a small milk plant with our own ice cream shops,” says Eric Lincoln. “We make our own mix and use high quality ingredients.” They also separate their cream cold. “Most of
the other dairies separate warm cream. It’s faster. We go slower, but I feel it’s a better quality cream.” The Lincoln family has no intentions of growing beyond their borders. “We’re not interested in being statewide,” Lincoln says. “We’re happy to be where we are.”
The Great Outdoors
46 North Street • Houlton
207-532-4037
www.firstchoicerealestate.com
40 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Houlton is perfectly situated so that people can take advantage of everything nature has to offer. If you love the great outdoors, Houlton is a great spot. To the north is Mars Hill, which offers fantastic views whether you are in hiking boots or on your downhill skis. Aroostook State Park is not too far away, and is a great place to take your family for hiking, boating, camping, fishing, and picnicking. Just south of Houlton sits Maine’s tallest peak—Mount Katahdin—located in Baxter State Park in the Millinocket region. Grab your golf clubs and head over to the Houlton Community Golf Club. They
have events happening all summer long, and Putters Pub is a great place to grab a bite to eat. This golf course was designed in the early 1900s and offers something for every level of golfer. The Meduxnekeag Lake, also known as Drew’s Lake, offers fun on the water. It was created in the 1940s when a dam was built across the Meduxnekeag River. The lake offers a public boat launch on the eastern bay and 18 miles of shoreline to explore. Nature lovers will want to bring their binoculars and search for wildlife. If you love hockey, you’re in luck! The Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association (SAMHA) has programs for boys and girls of all ages at the John Millar Civic Center. Snowmobilers flock to the Houlton area from all over to take advantage of Northern Maine’s extensive snowmobile trail system. Many local businesses here cater to snowmobilers, and there are several area snowmobile clubs in southern Aroostook.
Photos: melanie brooks
The Cary Library in downtown Houlton.
People who live in Houlton appreciate the quintessential small town life. People like Jane Torres. Originally from Yarmouth, Torres moved to Houlton 22 years ago. Her husband was a merchant marine, and after visiting her sister who lived in Houlton, they decided to move north. “It’s a great place to raise a family,” she says. And she would know—Torres and her husband raised three children in Houlton. Their two oldest have moved back to the area to settle. Torres’ family isn’t unique, she says, as more and more young people who grew up in the area are moving home to start families. “At one time, Houlton had more millionaires per capita than any other place east of the Mississippi River,” she says. “They were potato barons and logging barons. There used to be 25 clothing stores downtown back in the day.” There also used to be a college. Houlton Academy opened in 1848 and was renamed Ricker Classical Institute in 1887. It became Ricker Junior College in 1943 and was a private liberal arts college until 1978. Graduates still flock back
to Houlton for reunions every few years. When the college closed, Houlton lost a lot of its population. “We’ll never be what Houlton was before,” Torres says. “Houlton is different today, and it’s on the upswing again.” Torres has been at the helm of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce for three years, with seven years of experience on the board. “We have a very active board of directors that kicks it into high gear when we have an event,” she says. The Chamber hosts 10 main events each year, and often ends up taking over other events, like the Fourth of July parade, when there isn’t someone in the community to lead the charge. “You can’t let those things go,” she says. Their recent Independence Day celebration brought 5,500 people to downtown Houlton. The county seat of southern Aroostook was hopping! Torres works very closely with Lori Weston, who is the head of community development in Houlton and the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation. “This little triangle of knowledge really gets things done,” Torres says.
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Houlton Greater
Chamber of Commerce
100 years
The Way Life Should Be
The Houlton area is rich with natural beauty and history. Planning a visit, relocating, or starting a new business? The Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce is ready to assist you.
For more information, contact Executive Director
Jane Torres at 207-532-4216
Quality work by experienced professionals.
800-339-2601
Downtown Houlton
98 Bangor Street, Houlton www.hphac.com www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 41
Over 1,000 people voted in this year’s Best Restaurants survey, and their voices have been heard! We are so excited to announce the winners that topped our lists in
42 / Bangor Metro August 2014 2014
2014, and we’d like to thank all of the local restaurants, cafés, bars, bakeries, and breweries for doing what they do best— keeping us happy and content!
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 43
best restaurants
Bar TIE Nocturnem Draft Haus Hero’s Sports Bar BBQ Moe’s Original BBQ blueberry pie Dysart’s Bangor
breakfast Geaghan’s Pub burger Five Guys Burgers & Fries
chowder Geaghan’s Pub coffee Shop/Café Bagel Central cocktails The Fiddlehead Restaurant doughnuts Frank’s Bake Shop ethnic Taste of India family Moe’s Original BBQ french fries Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Best Breakfast Geaghan’s Pub
fried clams McLaughlin’s Seafood ice cream Gifford’s
Best french fries Five Guys Burgers & Fries
44 / Bangor Metro August 2014
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
Best Wings
Best Chowder
Best Breakfast
Mircrobrew Best
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 45
best restaurants / bangor lobster roll McLaughlin’s Seafood microbrew Geaghan’s new restaurant Blaze pizza Tri City Pizza
Best microbrew Geaghan’s Best new res taur ant Blaze
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS BBQ & Family Best
Best vegetarian Verve
Thanks for Voting Us Best BBQ and Best Family Dining in Bangor!
A Southern Soul Food Revival! s &RESH FROM THE 0IT !LABAMA STYLE ""1 s 3OUTHERN 3IDES s (AUL IT (OME 0ACKS s #ATERING FOR 3PECIAL %VENTS 0ARTIES
"ROADWAY "ANGOR s s WWW MOESORIGINALBBQ COM 46 / Bangor Metro August 2014
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS t New Restaurant Bes
Craft Beer & Wood Fired Flavors Dishing up fantastic gourmet wood fired flavors, craft beer from our 52 taps, great boutique wines and signature cocktails.
18 Broad Street s Bangor 922.2660
cucina italiana
NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH 207.945.5600 s 96 Hammond Street s Downtown Bangor www.massimoscucinaitaliana.com
Serving Authentic Italian Cuisine
Established 2011
BREADS
207.659.7575 130 Hammond Street s Downtown Bangor www.massimosbreadstogo.com
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 47
best restaurants / bangor
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
most romantic The Fiddlehead Restaurant
egetarian Best V
sandwich Giacomo’s
burritos
sushi Ichiban vegetarian Verve The Fiddlehead Restaurant Miguel’s Mexican Restaurant
TIE
whoopie pie Friar’s Bakeshop
OPEN 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M. EVERY DAY
Đ-),,Đ342%%4Đ Đ/2/./ Đ-!).Đ342%%4Đ Đ"!.'/2
wings Geaghan’s Pub Best wings Geaghan’s Pub
Generations of good tastes! CATERING • HOME-STYLE MEALS-TO-GO LUNCHES • SPECIALTY CAKES DELICIOUS BAKED GOODS
os
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
oughnuts Best D
Photo: Mark McCall
Frank’s Bake Shop and Custom Catering
service traces its roots back to 1945. It is currently owned and operated by the third generation of the Soucy family. The expertise of long experience, combined with old fashioned customer service, are the reasons for their loyal customer base and continuing success.
Mon–Fri 5:30AM–6PM, Sat 6AM–5PM
199 State St., Bangor • 947-4594 • www.franksbakery.com 48 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Includes Brewer, Hermon, Hampden, Winterport, Frankfort, Bucksport, Holden, Eddington, Orono, Old Town, Veazie, Glenburn, Milford
Bar Woodman’s Bar & Grill, Orono
chowder Angler’s, Hampden
BBQ 4Points BBQ, Winterport
coffee Shop/Café The Family Dog, Orono
blueberry pie Dysart’s, Hermon breakfast Dysart’s, Hermon
Best family The Family Dog
cocktails Woodman’s Bar & Grill, Orono
burger The Family Dog, Orono
Best BBQ 4Points BBQ
family The Family Dog, Orono french fries The Family Dog, Orono fried clams Angler’s, Hampden ice cream Spencer’s Market, Bradley lobster roll Eagle’s Nest, Eddington www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 49
best restaurants / greater bangor microbrew Black Bear Microbrew, Orono
Best pizza Pat’s Pizza
new restaurant The Boom House, Old Town pizza Pat’s Pizza, Orono most romantic The Lucerne Inn, Dedham Best whoopie Pie Pizza Gourmet
sandwich Harvest Moon Deli, Orono sushi Yoshi, Brewer vegetarian The Family Dog, Orono whoopie pie Pizza Gourmet, Hampden wings The Roost, Orono
Fantastic entrees ranging from the area’s best hamburger to sushi grade tuna and filet mignon. The bar features award winning cocktails and an exciting microbrew draft selection.
Now Serving Sunday Brunch
10 am
to
1 pm
.BJO 4USFFU t 0SPOP woodmansbarandgrill.com
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS Bar & Cocktails Best
50 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Best vegetarian The Family Dog
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS Best Sandwich
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 51
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
Best Burger
ly Restaur t Fami ant Bes
French Fries Best
egetarian Best V
Thank You Bangor Metro readers for Naming The Family Dog the Best!
serving the area’s best burgers, grilled chicken, all-beef hot dogs & vegetarian options.
gourmet hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, and hot dogs
6 Mill Street, Orono • 207-866-2808 • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Open 7 days a week • 7 am–10 pm
Mention this Ad and Receive 20% Off Your Next Bill of $10 or More 52 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Expires 8/31/14 *Does not include beer, wine or spirits
Includes Thomaston, Warren, Rockland, Rockport, Camden, Lincolnville, Northport, Belfast, Searsport, Stockton Springs
Bar Three Tides, Belfast BBQ Pig Out BBQ, Belfast
Best bar & best Cock tails Three Tides
blueberry pie Ralph’s Café, Brooks breakfast Ralph’s Café, Brooks burger The Brick House, Searsport chowder Cappy’s Chowder House, Camden
coffee Shop/Café Rock City, Rockland cocktails Three Tides, Belfast doughnuts Willow Bake Shop, Rockport
Best Burger The Brick House
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 53
best restaurants / coastal Best fried clams The Brick House
ethnic Long Grain, Camden family The Brick House, Searsport french fries The Brick House, Searsport
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS Bar & Cocktails Best
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS icrobrew Best M
54 / Bangor Metro August 2014
fried clams The Brick House, Searsport
Best microbrew Marshall Wharf
ice cream Stone Fox Creamery, Monroe lobster roll Graffam Brothers, Rockport microbrew Marshall Wharf, Belfast
Best ethnic Long Grain
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
Burger & Fries Best
Best Wings
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
Best Family
ried Clams Best F
Searsport, Maine
23 East Main Street • 207-548-6550 www.thebrickhousemaine.com
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 55
best restaurants / coastal Best New res taur ant Comida
new restaurant Comida, Camden pizza Thorndike’s, Rockland most romantic Primo, Rockland
sushi Suzuki’s Sushi Bar, Rockland vegetarian Chase’s Daily, Belfast whoopie pie Ralph’s Café, Brooks wings The Brick House, Searsport
Best lobster roll Graffam Brothers
Best wings The Brick House 56 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Lobster roll photo: Courtesy Graffam Brothers Seafood Market
sandwich Ralph’s Café, Brooks
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
2014 BEST RESTAURANTS
Best Chowder
t New Restaurant Bes
Best Ethnic
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 57
best restaurants
Includes Bar Harbor, Castine, Blue Hill, Ellsworth, Trenton, MDI, Jonesport, Machias, Eastport, Calais
Bar Finn’s Irish Pub, Ellsworth BBQ Mainely Meat BBQ, Bar Harbor blueberry pie Helen’s Restaurant, Machias
best fried clams Jordan’s Snack Bar
breakfast Martha’s Diner, Ellsworth burger Jordan’s Snack Bar, Ellsworth
chowder Chipper’s, Hancock
doughnuts Helen’s Restaurant, Machias
coffee Shop/Café The Maine Grind, Ellsworth
ethnic Bangkok Thai, Ellsworth
cocktails TIE Cleonice, Ellsworth Chipper’s, Hancock
family Pat’s Pizza, Ellsworth french fries Jordan’s Snack Bar, Ellsworth fried clams Jordan’s Snack Bar, Ellsworth
lobster roll Jordan’s Snack Bar, Ellsworth Best coffee shop/café The Maine Grind
58 / Bangor Metro August 2014
microbrew Bar Harbor Brewing Company, Bar Harbor
Photos: Brian Brooks
ice cream Morten’s Moo, Ellsworth
new restaurant Salt Box, Hancock pizza Pat’s Pizza, Ellsworth most romantic Cleonice, Ellsworth sandwich Pat’s Pizza, Ellsworth sushi Shinbashi, Ellsworth
We at Bangor Metro magazine offer our sincere condolences to the owners of Helen’s Restaurant, their friends and staff, and the community of Machias for the devastating loss of their facility. We wish them the best as they undertake the rebuilding process.
Best blueberry pie Helen’s Restaurant
vegetarian Cleonice, Ellsworth whoopie pie Friends & Family Market, Ellsworth wings Chipper’s, Hancock
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 59
best restaurants
Includes Millinocket, Lincoln, Lee, Topsfield, Danforth, Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Kent
Bar The Courtyard Café, Houlton
doughnuts Sadie’s Bakery, Houlton
BBQ Rib Truck, Presque Isle
ethnic Jade Palace, Presque Isle
blueberry pie Grammy’s Country Inn, Linneus
family Burger Boy, Caribou
breakfast Grammy’s Country Inn, Linneus burger Burger Boy, Caribou
french fries Burger Boy, Caribou fried clams Burger Boy, Caribou ice cream Houlton Farms Dairy, Houlton
chowder Grammy’s Country Inn, Linneus
lobster roll Burger Boy, Caribou
coffee Shop/Café Star City Coffee, Presque Isle
new restaurant The Whole Potato, Presque Isle
cocktails TIE Copper’s Lounge, Presque Isle The Courtyard Café, Houlton
pizza Pizza Box, Presque Isle
Best whoopie Pie & Breakfast Grammy’s Country Inn
Best cocktails The Courtyard Café
60 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Includes Palermo, Unity, Thorndike, Pittsfield, Newport, Skowhegan, Jackman, Greenville, Dover-Foxcroft, Dexter
ethnic Cervesas Southwest Grill, Newport family Ken’s Family Restaurant, Skowhegan french fries Headed North, Newport ice cream Butterfield’s, Dover-Foxcroft lobster roll Angler’s, Newport microbrew Kennebec River Brewery, The Forks
Best coffee shop/café Star City Coffee
new restaurant Head North, Newport pizza Al’s Pizza, Skowhegan
most romantic Café Sorpreso, Presque Isle
photos: (Above) Ragina Kakos; (Right) Courtesy of Kennebec River Brewery
sushi Oriental Pearl, Presque Isle vegetarian The Whole Potato, Presque Isle whoopie pie Grammy’s Country Inn, Linneus wings Lakeview Restaurant, St. Agatha
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 61
Motivation and Commitment Greenville’s Trevor Richards works hard to fit four varsity sports into his busy schedule. By Melanie Brooks
62 / Bangor Metro August 2014
S
tudy hall isn’t just a time to goof off for Trevor Richards. The four-sport athlete makes the most of this time at Greenville Consolidated High School to get as much homework done as possible. While fitting four sports into his schedule wasn’t so bad his first two years of high school, it was the last two that had him worried. “Going into my junior year I knew it would be tougher because I was taking more challenging classes,” Richards
says. “There were many nights this past year that I was up past midnight, and I still had to get up early to study or do homework because of traveling so far for a game the previous day.” Richards plays golf and soccer in the fall. Soccer is his primary sport, meaning if there is a soccer game on the same day as a golf meet, he plays in the soccer game. “The athletic director doesn’t usually schedule soccer games on the same day of a golf meet, so there aren’t many conflicts,” he says. “If there is a soccer game, then I skip golf practice. If there is a golf meet, I skip soccer practice.” His only complaint with doing both after school is that he doesn’t usually have time to eat anything. Basketball and baseball round out the rest of his repertoire. Golf, though, is his favorite. “Even though it’s not my primary in the fall, and isn’t my best sport overall, I still like it the best,” he says. “It is a game in which the only thing that can beat you is yourself, so you always have to be mentally prepared to play.” That mental preparedness is what makes Richards a successful student athlete. “It’s about pure motivation and commitment,” he says. “You have to be able to take on the challenges presented to you, make the best of them, and try your hardest. Learning time management for balancing academics with sports is very important. You have to have a supportive community as well as supportive parents to be successful, and I have been very fortunate.” When he starts his senior year at Greenville Consolidated School, the speedy athlete will most likely play in the striker position for soccer and the point guard position for basketball. He plays both outfield and pitcher on the high school baseball team. Unsurprisingly, Richards comes from an athletic family. His mother and father were both standout athletes. His father has been coaching him and his brother, Tristan, in soccer since they were in middle school, then moved up to coach his sons in high school. “After losing a bunch of seniors after my sophomore year, including my brother, my dad brought us back to the Western Maine finals,” he says. “My dad dedicates so much time to prepare us physically and mentally for the season. He is such a great role model for me. It has been great being able to play for him.”
Photo: Jonathan Pratt
metro sports: high school
metro sports: college
EMCC’s
Coach of the Year First-year coach Eric MacDonald built a soccer team from scratch and received accolades from his peers in doing so. Not a bad start to a college coaching career. By Matt McLaughlin
Photo: courtesy of eastern maine community college
T
he 2013 season was Eric MacDonald’s first year coaching men’s soccer at the collegiate level. It started out with just five students during pre-season and a serious need to breathe new life into the Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) program. It turns out that the former Calais High School coach was just right for the job. By the end of the season, he was recognized by the Yankee Small College Conference as Coach of the Year. “I applied for it and was lucky enough to get it,” says MacDonald, who also serves as director of finance for EMCC. “I have a lot of passion for [coaching]. It’s not just about soccer, it’s about gaining life skills that teach you to be a better person and a better student.” This underlying mentality and a focus on consistency, fairness, and competitiveness are what MacDonald built the program around. In recruiting, he was particular in creating a team made up of students who had a passion for soccer, wanted to play fairly, and wanted to win. This isn’t always easy at a community college where students aren’t necessarily looking to build their athletic career. “It can be challenging,” MacDonald says. “Most high school athletes want to go on to a four-year institution. So we are looking for those students who, in addition to wanting to get a technology or
transfer education from a two-year college, want to build their athletic career.” There were 19 students on the roster by the time the soccer season kicked off. In addition to building a team and friendships amongst the players, MacDonald was driven to connect the soccer team to the rest of the campus community. “Our whole focus was to get the soccer team engrained into the campus,” MacDonald says. “I had my soccer players on campus on move-in day, helping other students and saying, ‘Hey, we’re your soccer team. We represent you. Come watch our games.’ That built a lot of new friendships.” The team finished the 2013 season 2-11. MacDonald notes that the wins and losses aren’t the most important thing, particularly during a building year. Instead, it is the fact that his players showed up to every single game and competed fiercely. “It’s not about wins and losses,” he says. “It’s not about one dominant superstar on the team. I want guys on the field to support each other and want to play together. That is the kind of team we’ve built. We are able to show other teams and leagues that EMCC is serious, and we are here to compete and do it the right way.” Doing things the right way included a strong concentration on ball movement, clean play, effective defense, and effective passing.
“Eric is someone who is committed to getting the team to the best they can be,” says EMCC athletic director Kent Corey. “He is a role model in doing things right on the field. He motivates the players to be aggressive, play through the ball, and see what they get out of it. It’s all about a mindset of not doing things the cheap way but the right way, and earning what you get for it.” Corey credits this mindset for earning MacDonald the Coach of the Year Award. The accolade is voted on by other coaches within the Yankee Small College Conference, which is made up of schools throughout New England. The selection of MacDonald by his peers, Corey notes, speaks to the conference seeing something that was above the normal statistics of wins and losses. “The other coaches saw something really good that Eric was doing. He is a great team coach and is doing his best to improve the program. He is there for the right reasons. It’s not about him, but about the program and the student athletes.” That much is clear in MacDonald’s own reflection on being Coach of the Year. “Coaches get awards because their players buy into their system,” he says. “In this case, our team committed to working hard, being good sports, and playing the game the right way. That’s what we built the program on. The players delivered on that and are determined to get even better.” www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 63
what’s happening
August
August 7–10 KAHBANG/Bangor
July 25–August 3 Bangor State Fair State Fairgrounds, Bangor You can enjoy rides, midway games, outdoor concerts, a demolition derby, great food, a petting zoo, and much more at the 165th year of the Bangor State Fair. www.bangorstatefair.com July 30–August 3 Maine Lobster Festival Rockland Harbor Rockland Harbor Park hosts the 67th 64 / Bangor Metro August 2014
annual world-famous festival, one of New England’s great summer events, with tons of steamed Maine lobsters served, pageantry, waterfront activities, maritime displays and demonstrations, Maine arts and crafts, visits to Navy and Coast Guard ships, harbor cruises, entertainment, a parade, lobster-crate races, and more. 596-0376 www.mainelobsterfestival.com July 31–August 3 Shakespeare Comes to Fort Knox Fort Knox, Prospect Ten Bucks Theatre Troupe performs under the stars. 6 pm. $10. 469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com July 31–August 3 Monmouth Fair Monmouth
This annual fair entertains and educates through shows, displays, demonstrations, participation, and celebration. 933-2249 • www.monmouthfair.com August 1 Belfast Garden Club Open Gardens 2014 Whyte Garden, Belfast Heirloom favorites in several relaxing spaces are joined by a fieldstone pathway in this backyard, which features a terraced stone patio, waterfall, fire pit, and a variety of shady trees, shrubs, phlox, and more. 10 am–4 pm. $4. www.belfastgardenclub.org August 1 First Friday Art Walk Bar Harbor First Friday Art Walk is a dynamic downtown gala that showcases a
Photo: COURTESY KAHBANG festival
July 25–August 2 Northern Maine Fair Northern Maine Fairgrounds, Presque Isle This large, family friendly fair includes rides, exhibits, harness racing, and lots more. www.northernmainefairgrounds.com
wide variety of fine arts and crafts, with special performance events, including theater and music at locations throughout the town. Many of the galleries host “meet-the-artist” events on these evenings. Join the fun and stroll downtown Bar Harbor to enjoy works by an array of creative and talented people. 5–9 pm. www.rdalessio.com/barharborartwalk August 1 BDN Maine: What’s Next Conference Gracie Theatre, Bangor This day-long presentation features experts’ visions of creativity and technology, from tech to apps, social media to video. www.bdnmaineevents.com August 1 From France to America Rockport Union Hall A performance featuring Jose FranchBallester on the clarinet and Ran Dank on the piano. 9 pm. $35. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 1 Iris DeMent in Concert Camden Opera House Legendary singer-songwriter Iris DeMent returns to Camden to help celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Camden Opera House. 7:30 pm. $28. 236-7963 www.camdenoperahouse.com August 1 25th Annual Frank C. Chapman Memorial Golf Tournament Bangor Municipal Golf Course This tournament is run by St. Joseph Healthcare and sponsored by People’s United Bank and Coca-Cola. Proceeds provide equipment for improved patient care services, assiting with renovations, and much more. www.stjoeshealing.org August 1 & 2 Deer Isle Jazz Festival Deer Isle-Stonington The opening night of the 14th annual Deer Isle Jazz Festival will feature Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez. Perez’s bassist, Ben Street, will be the festival’s visiting musician at Haystack
Events Mountain School of Crafts. Maine’s own jazz and pop vocalist Emilia Dahlin opens with her quartet. The Henry Butler Trio from New Orleans plays on August 2, headlining the festival. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 2 John Fogerty Cross Insurance Center, Bangor Grammy Award-winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty will perform in Bangor during the Bangor State Fair. $49. www.crossinsurancecenter.com August 2 Exploring Bugs Blue Hill Mountain Lynn Havasall will help you explore the insects that live on Blue Hill Mountain. Fun for the whole family. Sponsored by the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. 10:30–11:30 am. 374-5118 www.bluehillheritagetrust.org August 2 Dover-Foxcroft Homecoming Dover-Foxcroft This annual event includes a parade, vendor booths, food, and activities for the entire family. 564-3318 August 2 Children’s Heritage Fair Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center The whole family will enjoy a look back to the mid-1800s, with a special emphasis on what activities children enjoyed and the life of youth in the mid-19th century. Enjoy games, a tour of the History House, and refreshments. 1–3 pm. 474-1083 www.skowheganhistoryhouse.org August 2 & 16 Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour Bangor Take a tour of the second oldest garden cemetery in the country. While you walk along the trails, a guide will tell you about some of Bangor’s more famous people, including stories of wealthy lumber barons and vice president Hannibal Hamlin. 5 pm. $10. 942-1900 • www.bangormuseum.org
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August 2 & 16 City of the Dead: Mount Pleasant Cemetery Walking Tour Bangor Mount Pleasant Cemetery is the resting place of some great names in Bangor’s history. 10 am. $15. 404-4113 • www.dawnlandtours.com August 2, 16, & 30 Box Car Box Office Machias Catch a free, family friendly movie at Station 1890 on U.S. Route 1. Bring a lawn chair and blanket. Sponsored by the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. One hour before sunset. www.machiaschamber.org August 3 Beech Hill Blueberry Free Pick Beech Hill Reserve, Rockport Join Coastal Mountains Land Trust for a day of picking blueberries. Bring a picnic and enjoy the great outdoors. 8 am–2 pm. 236-7091 • www.coastalmountains.org August 3–10 Claremont Croquet Classic Somes Sound, Mount Desert Island Since its start in 1976 by innkeepers Allen and Gertrude McCue, community members of all ages play each year. This unique tournament brings in more players every year to play on the beautiful lawns of the hotel at the mouth of Somes Sound. 244-5036 www.theclaremonthotel.com August 4 Flash in the Pans Blue Hill Town Park Catch this free community steel band concert, sponsored by Healthy Peninsula at Home Downeast. Rain venue: Blue Hill Consolidated School. 7:30–9 pm. www.flashinthepans.org August 5 Dover Quartet Neighborhood House, Northeast Harbor Dover Quartet performs Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Dvorák, accompanied by pianist and musical director Todd Crow. 8:15 pm. 266-2550 • www.mtdesertfestival.org www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 65
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August 5 Lobsters on the Sound Southwest Harbor This elegant annual fundraiser is a must for anyone who loves Mount Desert Island. Join them for lobsters, cocktails, music, and dancing under the stars. 244-3713 • www.harborhousemdi.org August 5 & 12 Bangor Band Concert Bangor Waterfront Enjoy a free concert by one of the oldest community bands in the country. www.bangorband.org August 6 Live for $5: Norman Ng Magic Experience Stonington Opera House Ng’s show is an exciting fusion of magic, comedy, and audience participation. $5. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 6 Merryspring’s Annual Kitchen Tour Camden, Rockport, & Lincolnville Visit eight uniquely designed residential kitchens, while enjoying demonstrations and tastings from area chefs at each location. Proceeds to benefit Merryspring Nature Center educational programs. 236-2239 • www.merryspring.org August 6 Story Walk Kingdom Woods, Blue Hill Grab the kids for this fun event with Quatie Bryan, sponsored by the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. 10:30–11:30 am. 374-5118 www.bluehillheritagetrust.org August 6, 13, 20, & 27 Summer Family Film Series Agamont Park, Bar Harbor Enjoy an outdoor movie in downtown Bar Harbor. Family friendly films will begin at 8:30 pm, with free popcorn provided by presenting sponsor Camden National Bank. 288-5103 • www.barharborinfo.com August 7 Pairings 101: Farmer’s Market Creations Cellardoor Winery, Lincolnville Learn how to pair wine with the bounty 66 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Music of Maine’s abundant harvest. The pairing will take you though sensory evaluations and aroma identifications. 5:30–7:30 pm. $35. 763-4478 • www.mainewine.com August 7 Dialogue Rockport Opera House The first concert by an ensemble of much loved Bay Chamber musicians and friends. The show will feature Geoff Nuttall on violin and viola, Livia Sohn on violin, Christopher Costanza on cello, James Austin Smith on oboe, and Pedja Mezijevic on piano. 7:30 pm. $45. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 7 A Revolutionary Affair Union Hall, Rockport This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Knox Museum’s annual gala dinner. A retrospective presentation from the museum’s highlights reel will be shown, and merriment will be had by all. 7 pm. 354-8062 • www.knoxmuseum.org August 7 Madams & Murders Walking Tour Bangor Take a walk into Bangor’s past, to the days when madams were the queens of their trade and the infamous crime of murder was just a breath away. Meet at the Greater Bangor Convention & Visitor Bureau’s Visitor Information Center at 330 Harlow Street. 7 pm. $15. 404-4113 • www.dawnlandtours.com
August 7–10 KahBang: Music, Art, & Film Festival Bangor Independent music lovers rejoice for the KahBang Annual Music Festival, bent on discovering “the next big thing.” www.kahbang.com August 7–16 Skowhegan State Fair Skowhegan This fair includes grandstand shows, horse shows, family friendly events, food, and much more. 474-2947 www.skowheganstatefair.com August 8 Fairmount Cemetery Walking Tour Presque Isle The tour begins at the Civil War Monument in Fairmount Cemetery on U.S. Route 1. Parking is available across the street at the Chamber of Commerce. Hear the history of the cemetery and stories of some of Presque Isle’s interesting historic figures. 5:30 pm. $5. 762-1151 • www.pihistory.org August 8 Belfast Garden Club Open Gardens 2014 Muir Garden, Brooks Enjoy a day perusing this garden, with a delightful stone walkway under an arbor and through a gate to a garden filled with fanciful vignettes, birdhouses, roses, daylilies, and more. 10 am–4 pm. $4. www.belfastgardenclub.org
August 7 Cool Sounds Summer Concert Series: The Roman Counterpart/ The Skastitutes Central Street, Bangor Come out and enjoy live music. Outdoor market opens at 5 pm; concert begins at 6 pm. www.downtownbangor.com
August 8 Couperin–Berio–Mozart Rockport Union Hall Featuring Geoff Nuttall on violin and viola, Livia Sohn on violin, Christopher Costanza on cello, James Austin Smith on oboe, and Pedja Mezijevic on harpsichord. 9 pm. $35. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org
August 7–10 International Homecoming Festival Calais This 10-day event celebrates Calais, Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick, as they host events on both sides of the border. www.internationalhomecoming festival.com
August 8 & 9 KahBang Brew Fest Bangor In conjunction with the annual KahBang festival, the Brew Fest features a Homebrewers Expo, as well as tasting events. The Brewing Network will be at the event, recording a special episode of their show, The Session, which will
focus on Maine’s brewing scene. www.kahbang.com August 8 & 9 Forest Heritage Days Greenville Join the annual celebration of the Moosehead Lake Region’s Heritage and History. Events include woods tours, education exhibits, a craft fair, and logging games. Witness professional loggers as they compete with their saws with great precision and skill. www.forestheritagedays.org August 8–10 12th Annual Maine Boats, Homes, & Harbors Show Rockland This is the only in-water boat and home show, featuring the state’s finest artists, architects, boat builders, craftsmen, designers, furniture makers, and marine gear vendors. The show will also have live music, Maine food, marine activities, demonstrations, book signings, and the World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials. 10 am daily. $12; under 12 free. 594-8622 • www.maineboats.com August 8–10 33rd Annual Maine Antiques Festival Union Dealers from across the U.S. and Canada will be offering a variety of antiques and vintage collectibles for sale. Sat. 9 am– 5 pm; Sun. 9 am–4 pm. $10. 221-3108 • www.maineantiquefest.com August 8–10 Annual Ploye Festival Fort Kent Check out the world’s biggest ploye (a buckwheat pancake) at this fun, family friendly event. 834-5354 • www.fortkentchamber.com August 8–10 International Muskie Derby Fort Kent Grab your fishing pole and take part in this 10th annual event. The St. John River has more than 225 miles of prime habitat for muskie fishing. If you reel in a fish worthy of the new state record, you could win a car. www.fortkent-muskie.com
August 8–24 World Acadian Congress St. John Valley The fifth Congress will be held in the St. John Valley, between Maine and Canada. It is a celebration of all things Acadian and will draw Acadians to the region from all over the world. Events are varied and can be found on the Congress Mondial Acadien 2014 website. www.cma2014.com
374-5118 www.bluehillheritagetrust.org August 9 Moon Viewing Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Prospect Catch a view of the moon from this unique perspective. Rain and/or clouds will result in cancellation. 8–10 pm. $5. 469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com
August 9 Rossport Farms Guitars by the Sea Eastport Experience the music of legendary guitarist, Dick Dale, King of the Surf Guitar, in one of the most beautiful spots in Maine. This all-day event is for the adventurous music lovers. 11 am– 11 pm. $35–$55. 321-9071 • www.rossportfarms guitarsbythesea.com
August 9 50th Annual Winter Harbor Lobster Festival Winter Harbor This world-renowned lobster fest is one of the largest in the state. Activities include a parade, craft fair, the 5K George Schaefer Memorial Road Race, live entertainment, and more. 288-1360 • www.acadia-schoodic.org
August 9 Natural Resources Walk & Talk Hundred Acre Wood, Brooklin Join Cathy Rees and learn about the natural resources in the Hundred Acre Wood. Sponsored by the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. 9–11 am.
August 9 Guided Walking Tour of North Cemetery Skowhegan The “Useful Citizens” tour is led by Melvin Burnham, director of the Skowhegan History House Museum &
museums Aroostook County Caribou Historical Society Caribou 498-2556 • www.cariboumaine.net Hancock County Abbe Museum Bar Harbor 822-3519 • www.abbemuseum.org George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History Bar Harbor 288-5015 • www.coamuseum.org Knox County Coastal Children’s Museum Rockland 596-0300 www.coastalchildrensmuseum.org Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center Rockland 596-6457 www.farnsworthmuseum.org
Maine Lighthouse Museum Rockland 594-3301 www.mainelighthousemuseum.com Owls Head Transportation Museum Owls Head 594-4418 • www.ohtm.org Penobscot County Hudson Museum at the University of Maine Orono 581-1901 www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum Maine Discovery Museum Bangor 262-7200 www.mainediscoverymuseum.org University of Maine Museum of Art Bangor 561-3350 • www.umma.maine.edu
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Research Center. Tour departs from the cemetery gate behind Walton Apartments on Madison Avenue. 10 am. $5. 474-1083 www.skowheganhistoryhouse.org August 9 41st Annual Street Fair and International Parade Main Street, Calais This fun event features jewelry, crafts, food vendors, and so much more. 9 am–5 pm; parade starts at 12 pm. 454-2308 • www.visitstcroixvalley.com August 9 & 10 Wings and Wheels Spectacular Owls Head Transportation Museum Classic cars, steam engines, and assorted aerobatic aircraft performances will highlight the museum’s most impressive show of the summer. 9 am–3 pm. 594-4418 • www.owlshead.org August 9 & 10 Fort Knox Pet Show & Contest Fort Knox, Prospect Saturday will be “Dog Day,” and Sunday will be “All Other Pets Day.” 469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com August 9 & 23 The Great Fire of 1911 Tour Bangor In April, 1911, a spark ignited a fire that devastated much of Bangor’s downtown, threatening many neighborhoods. Join us as we follow the flames’ path, learn which structures survived, and how Bangor and her citizens recovered from near total destruction. Bangor Historical Society tours are the official Historical tours of the City of Bangor. 5 pm. $10. 942-1900 • www.bangormuseum.org August 9–16 Senior League World Series Shawn T. Mansfield Stadium, Bangor For the 12th year in a row, Bangor will host the Senior League World Series championships. Five U.S. regional winners, as well as teams from Canada, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East will compete. http://worldseries.bangorinfo.com August 10 Full Moon Sail on the Schooner Olad 68 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Music Camden Public Landing Watch the sun go down behind the mountains of Camden Hills State Park, then turn seaward and watch the moon rise over the islands of Penobscot Bay. BYOB. 6–8 pm. $39. 236-2323 • www.maineschooners.com August 10 Full Moon Cruise Camden Public Landing Join Camden Harbor Cruises to see the sun set and the moon rise. Half off drinks. 8–9 pm. 236-6672 www.camdenharborcruises.com August 10 2014 Distinguished Lecturer John Yau Rockport Opera House Each year, CMCA presents a lecture by one of today’s most distinguished and entertaining art critics. This year’s speaker, John Yau, is an art critic, independent curator, poet, essayist, novelist, and teacher. www.cmcanow.org August 11 Flash in the Pans Blue Hill Town Park Catch this free community steel band concert, sponsored by Last Night! Rain venue: Blue Hill Consolidated School. 7:30–9 pm. www.flashinthepans.org August 11–17 Acadian Festival Madawaska The Acadian Festival is Maine’s largest cultural festival. Events include a reenactment of the first Acadian landing in northern Maine, a traditional Acadian supper, Soiree du bon Vieux Temps (“night of good old times”), traditional cultural displays, a golf tournament, a family fun day, and a festival parade. www.acadianfestival.com August 11–17 Steamboat Katahdin 100th Anniversary Celebration Greenville This weeklong celebration features themed cruises, special presentations, an art and photo contest, and gala. 695-2702 • www.mooseheadlake.org
August 12 Miami String Quartet Neighborhood House, Northeast Harbor Miami String Quartet performs Haydn, Shostakovich, and Schubert, accompanied by pianist and musical director Todd Crow and cellist Mark Shuman. 8:15 pm. 266-2550 • www.mtdesertfestival.org August 12 Pollinator Walk Beech Hill Reserve, Rockport Master gardener and beekeeper Amy Campbell will lead this walk up Beech Hill to discuss native pollinators and their importance to our blueberry fields and beyond. 10–11:30 am. 236-7091 • www.coastalmountains.org August 12 Nature Walk Snow Natural Area, Brooksville Join Sarah O’Malley for this earth science and nature walk. Sponsored by the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. 10–11:30 am. 374-5118 www.bluehillheritagetrust.org August 12 Trio Nuevo Burnt Cove Church Community Center, Stonington Listen to an evening of traditional string duets and trios, featuring Lea Zelnick, Angel Hernandez, and Caroline ReinerWilliams. $20. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 13 Festival Opening Gala Concert Rockport Opera House This is your first chance to hear the artists who will be performing at the Bay Chamber Festival. 6 pm. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 13 Lieder and Art Song Rockport Union Hall Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival is hosting a vocal recital, performed by baritone Tyler Duncan, soprano Martha Guthwith, and pianist Erika Swizer. 9 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org
August 13 Guided Walking Tour of Historic Skowhegan Falls & Island Skowhegan This tour is led by Melvin Burnham, director of the Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center. Tour departs from Arnold Park on Skowhegan Island. 10 am. $5. 474-1083 www.skowheganhistoryhouse.org August 14 Music for Winds Rockport Union Hall Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival is hosting a performance featuring James Austin Smith on oboe, Alicia Lee on clarinet, Adrian Morejon on bassoon, Livia Sohn on violin, Margaret Dyer on viola, Kris Saebo on bass, and Pedja Muzijevich on piano. 12 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 14 Parker Quartet Rockport Opera House
This performance will feature the Haydn Quartet for Strings in F-minor and Dvorak Quartet in A-flat Major. 7:30 pm. $45. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 14 Alessio Bax & Lucille Chung Rockport Union Hall Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival is hosting an innovative program of virtuosic piano music for four hands. 9 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 14–17 Bach for Breakfast Pascal Hall, Rockport Join cellist Christopher Costanza for a breakfast Bach performance, hosted by the Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival. 10 am. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 14–17 Portage Lake Whoopie Pie Festival
Portage Lake Many wonderful events make up the celebration of this delicious dessert. There will be a train ride to Fort Kent, motorcycle rodeo, pig roast, fireworks, and much more. 435-6211 August 14–17 & 21–24 The Last Ferryman Stonington Opera House Attend this new Opera House Arts “popera,â€? directed by Judith Jerome and original music and lyrics by Paul Sullivan. This performance continues the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Deer Isle-Sedgwick Bridge through song, drama, and real stories. Thurs.–Sat. 7 pm; Sun. 3 pm. $25 & $35. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 15 A Program of French Music Rockport Opera House Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival is hosting an event that will feature the Parker Quartet, James Austin Smith on oboe, Alicia Lee on clarinet, Adrian
July...between Friday and Monday A Maine summer weekend the way it was meant to be — family, friends, the outdoors and the joy of spending time together. At Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, we’ve seen a lot of summers come and go, but our commitment to the lives of the people we serve is brighter than ever. XXX CICU DPN t
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Morejon on bassoon, Livia Sohn on violin, and Pedja Muzijevich on piano. 12 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 15 Belfast Garden Club Open Gardens 2014 The Maine Garden, Waldo View the results of tireless efforts by Bill and Lynn Warman to hybridize and breed new daylily traits. There will be an afternoon demonstration of large-scale composting, based on shellfish and seaweed. 10 am–4 pm. $4. www.belfastgardenclub.org August 15 Eleanor Sokoloff Tribute Gala Concert Rockport Opera House Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival will feature Meng-Chieh Liu on piano, performing Brahms, Albeniz, and Liszt. 6 pm. $60. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 15 Candlelit Baroque Concert Rockport Union Hall Don’t miss this innovative program of Bay Chamber Festival string players, as part of the Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival. 9 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 15 Midcoast Breast Cancer Classic Golf Tournament Rockland Golf Club Join the Rockland Women’s Golf Association for the Fourth Annual Midcoast Breast Cancer Classic Golf Tournament. This is a co-ed, shotgun start tournament. Funds raised will benefit breast cancer support services in the Midcoast in partnership with the Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation. 8 am–12 pm. 594-6707 August 15 & 16 Champion the Cure Challenge Lafayette Family Cancer Center, Brewer The Champion the Cure Challenge offers something for everyone. Choose from a 1K family walk; a 5 or 10K walk/ run; a 25-, 50-, or 100-mile bike ride; 70 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Music or a 50-mile motorcycle ride. All proceeds stay in Maine and directly benefit patients at Eastern Maine Medical Center Cancer Care. $25; $15 for children ages 8-17. www.ctcchallenge.org August 15 & 16 Madawaska Mega Arts & Crafts Fair Madawaska High School Gym This amazing arts and crafts fair is sponsored by the Greater Madawaska Chamber of Commerce. Thurs. 10 am– 4 pm; Fri. 12–6 pm; Sat. 10 am–4 pm. 728-7000 www.greatermadawaskachamber.com August 15–17 Aroostook Band of Micmacs Mawiomi of Tribes 2014 Caribou Celebrate Mother Earth through traditional song, dance, food, and ceremonies. 764-1972 • www.micmac-nsn.gov August 15–17 54th Annual Potato Feast Days Houlton This family friendly event includes a parade, lobster fest, live music, craft fair, kids activities, and more. www.greaterhoulton.com August 15–17 Belfast Harbor Fest Belfast Steamboat Landing Park will be a flurry of activity for this fifth annual event. Sponsored by the Belfast Rotary Club, this celebration of Belfast’s boatbuilding tradition includes a national boatbuilding contest, pancake breakfast, 5K run, music, food, and much more. 338-2081 www.belfastcreativecoalition.org August 15–17 Go Greek Bangor Opera House Penobscot Theatre Company’s Dramatic Academy Summer semester presents Go Greek. Area students spend two weeks immersed in this program and will perform at the end of the session. www.penobscottheatre.org August 16 37th Annual New England Auto Auction
Owls Head Transportation Museum The museum’s biggest fundraiser of the season has become a legend in the automotive community. Up to 200 antique, classic, and special interest vehicles go up for bid in one of the greatest car shows in New England. 9:30 am. 594-4418 • www.owlshead.org August 16 Paint a Pathway to the Bog Bangor The Bangor Paint Out and Auction is a fun fundraiser for the Orono Bog Boardwalk, sponsored by the Bangor Art Society. Artist registration begins at 6:30 am at Gracie Theatre at Husson University. Auction to follow at the Gracie Theatre from 6–8 pm. www.bangorartsociety.com August 16 Men and Their Machines & Blacksmiths’ Round-up Leonard’s Mills, Bradley Celebrate hard labor with antique power exhibits, a blacksmith’s forge, a timberframe building class for kids, and an open house at the machine shop. 10 am–3 pm. 974-6278 • www.leonardsmills.com August 16 Crystal Bowersox Rockland Strand Singer, songwriter, and actress Crystal Bowersox’s rich amalgam of blues, country, folk, and rock makes her one of the most dynamic young voices to come along in years. She has performed alongside Harry Connick, Jr., Alanis Morrisette, and John Popper. 7:30 pm. $17.50. 594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com August 16 Ghosts of Fort Knox Guided Tours Fort Knox, Prospect Join the East Coast Ghost Trackers on a guided tour of Fort Knox in search of ghosts and paranormal phenomena. Minimum age is 12 years old. Advanced reservations required. Please bring a flashlight. 7, 8:30, and 10 pm. $15. 469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com August 16 Kennebec River Tour of Skowhegan Proper via Canoe/Kayak Skowhegan
This tour is led by Ben Doty, curator of the of the Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center. Tour departs from Arnold Park on Skowhegan Island at 10 am. $5. 474-1083 www.skowheganhistoryhouse.org August 16 Jonathan Fisher House Antiques Show Blue Hill Fair Grounds One of Maine’s most popular antiques shows, this seventh annual outdoor show features dealers from all over New England. Early buying: 8 am–9 pm, $15. General Admission: 9 am–2 pm. $7. 374-2459 www.jonathanfisherhouse.org August 16 Parker Quartet and Friends Rockport Union Hall Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival is hosting the Britten Phantasy Quartet for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 2, with featured artist James Austin Smith on oboe. In addition, the Mozart String
Quintet will perform in G-minor, K. 516, with featured violist Margaret Dyer. 12 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 16 Jazz on the Water Rockport Harbor Park Don’t miss this free outdoor performance by members of the Creative Ensemble Collective, part of the Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival. 4 pm. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 16 One Silken Thread Rockport Opera House This performance, which is part of the Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival, will feature Jeffrey Zeigler on the cello and pianists Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung. 6 pm. 25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org
August 16 Contrasts Rockport Union Hall Music by Nico Muhly, Elliot Carter, and Tchaikovsky will be featured at this Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival performance. 9 pm. 25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 16 Town of Princeton Summer Festival Princeton The Friends of Princeton are sponsoring a day full of activities, games, food, raffles, and more for all ages. www.grandlakestream.org August 16 & 17 Wild Blueberry Festival Machias The Blueberry Festival offers a wide variety of great artisans, crafters, and food vendors. www.machiaschamber.org
between hill and dale The natural beauty at our doorstep is one of the reasons we choose to call Maine home. At Bar Harbor Bank & Trust we’re committed to supporting the people who make up the communities we serve, no matter what path they travel.
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August 16 & 17 Paranormal/Psychic Faire Fort Knox, Prospect Meet people who believe in things unusual, including psychics, East Coast Ghost Trackers, author Patricia Hughes, and more. Fort admission and a suggested $2 donation requested. 469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com August 16–23 Union Fair Union Celebrate agriculture in the state of Maine on fairgrounds that are nestled among rolling hills and beautiful farmlands, with activities and entertainment for all ages. www.unionfair.org August 17 New Music Brunch Rockport Union Hall Don’t miss the performance of renowned cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, who will curate a program of new music. This event is part of the Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival. 9 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 17 Tommyknockers and More Bus Tour Bangor The world’s only literary tour based on Stephen King’s novels happens right in Bangor. See the city through the books and movies of this famous author on an air-conditioned motor coach. The tour is sure to entertain with a mix of educational, historic, and interactive sites. All tours leave from the Bangor Waterfront. 2 pm. $20. 947-5205 www.visitbangormaine.com August 17 Pimpinone Brewster Point Barn Telemann’s opera, Pimpinone will be performed by baritone Tyler Duncan, soprano Marth Guth and the Bay Chamber Festival Ensemble. This Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Festival event will be directed from the harpsichord, by Jerry Steichen. 6 pm. $25. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org
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Music August 18 Flash in the Pans Castine Town Dock Catch this free community steel band concert, sponsored by the Castine Women’s Club. Rain venue: Maine Maritime Academy. 7:30–9 pm. www.flashinthepans.org August 18 Using All 5 Senses Walk Snow’s Cove, Sedgwick Amy Bebell will help you use all your senses to enjoy nature. This event is child friendly. Sponsored by the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. 9–11 am. 374-5118 www.bluehillheritagetrust.org August 19 Brentano String Quartet Neighborhood House, Northeast Harbor The Brentano String Quartet will perform Mozart, Shostakovich, and Elgar, accompanied by pianist and musical director Todd Crow. 8:15 pm. 266-2550 • www.mtdesertfestival.org August 20 Live for $5: Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys Stonington Opera House Hailing from Prince Edward Island, The Rhythm Boys’ exhilarating live show has drawn international attention. $5. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 20 Arcade Fire Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor Grammy Award-winning Arcade Fire brings their Reflektor tour to Bangor, as part of the Machias Savings Bank Concert Series. Doors open at 6 pm. $25–$59.50. www.waterfrontconcerts.com August 21 Beethoven–Dohnany Rockport Opera House This resident ensemble is joined by Steven Prutsman on piano; Nathan Schram, Geoff Nuttall, and Livia Sohn on violin; Nathan Schram on viola; and Christopher Costanza on cello. 7:30 pm. $45. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org
August 21 Forrest Whitman Memorial Golf Tournament Mount Kineo Golf Course, Greenville This will be a scramble-format tournament with four-person teams. Proceeds will benefit C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital. 695-2702 • www.mooseheadlake.org August 21 Fire & Brimstone Walking Tour Bangor From temperance to prohibition and everything in between, this is not just a simple church tour. Listen to tales of purity, hope, and piety, alongside stories of great works, scandal, and ruin. The tour is 2.5 miles long. Meet at the Rite Aid Parking Lot on Union Street. 7 pm. $15. 404-4113 • www.dawnlandtours.com August 21–24 Piscataquis Valley Fair Dover-Foxcroft This event features carnival rides, food, product vendors, and fun for the whole family. 564-7533 August 21–24 Crown of Maine Balloon Fest Northern Maine Fairgrounds, Presque Isle With 12 balloons in attendance, this is the most colorful weekend in northern Maine. 764-6561 www.crownofmaineballoonfest.org August 22 Golf Fore Kids’ Sake Hermon Meadows Golf Course This golf tournament benefits local Penobscot County children facing adversity through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine. The tournament includes team mulligans and course challenges. $400 per foursome. 236-2227 • www.bbbsmidmaine.org August 22 Grape Affair II The Vineyard at Cellardoor Winery, Lincolnville Grab your boots and get ready to kick up your heels: Cellardoor is going a little bit country. Spend a summer evening dining and dancing under the stars.
AUTO | HOME | BUSINESS | HEALTH | LIFE 5:30–9 pm. $100. 763-4478 • www.mainewine.com August 22 Adventures in Jazz Rockport Union Hall This evening’s performance will feature Geoff Nuttall and Livia Sohn on violin, Nathaniel Schram on viola, Christopher Costanza on cello, and Steven Prutsman on piano. 6 pm. $35. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org August 22 Sherlock Jr. Rockport Union Hall A screening of Buster Keaton’s 1924 comedy will be accompanied by a live performance, with an inventive score for piano and string quartet, composed by Steven Prutsman. 9 pm. $35. 236-2823 www.baychamberconcerts.org
August 22 The Gibson Brothers in Concert Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft If you love bluegrass, then don’t miss this dynamic duo. 8 pm. 564-8943 • www.centertheatre.org August 22 Belfast Garden Club Open Gardens 2014 Coller/Wilson Garden, Belfast Located behind the children’s playground lives a true secret garden, featuring a living room, dining room, and a leafy tunnel. 10 am–4 pm. $4. www.belfastgardenclub.org August 22–24 American Folk Festival Bangor Waterfront More than 15 performing groups on five stages. The lineup includes bluegrass, zydeco, blues, Irish, Quebecois, Native gospel, and much more. There will also be a children’s area, food, crafts, and workshops. 992-2630 www.americanfolkfestival.com
Look what’s coming to The Gracie this fall!
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2014-2015
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Events
Theater
Music
August 23 Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour Bangor Take a tour of the second oldest garden cemetery in the country. While you walk along the trails, a guide will tell you about some of Bangor’s more famous people, including stories of wealthy lumber barons and vice president Hannibal Hamlin. 10 am. $10. 942-1900 • www.bangormuseum.org
August 23 Knoxfest The General Henry Knox Museum, Thomaston This year, Knoxfest recognizes France’s help in winning the American Revolution by celebrating Acadians, descendents of 17th-century French colonists. Listen to a Cajun dance band and taste New Orleans-inspired dishes. 5–9 pm. 354-8062 • www.knoxmuseum.org
August 23 Barnstormers Ball Owls Head Transportation Museum The Barnstomers Ball is the museum’s inaugural event fundraising gala. Don your glad rags and join in for a night of music, fine food, festivities, and a chance to win a 1951 MG. 6:30 pm. 594-4418 • www.owlshead.org
August 23 & 24 6th Maine Battery Cannon Firings Fort Knox, Prospect A full-scale, Civil War-era Parrot canon firing demonstration will take place throughout the day. This is the real deal and will provide some explosive excitement. 10 am–3 pm. 469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com
August 23 Guided Walking Tour of Presque Isle Vera Estey House, Presque Isle This free walking tour of historic Presque Isle will begin and end at the Vera Estey House on Third Street. The tour covers two miles and lasts about two-and-a-half hours. 762-1151 • www.pihistory.org August 23 Guided Tour of the 1875 Vera Estey House Presque Isle This historic tour lasts approximately one hour. Reservations are suggested. 1 pm. $2. 762-1151 • www.pihistory.org August 23 Le Festival Chautauqua Frenchville Celebrate the third annual Festival Chautauqua. Each year, the event showcases the small town with a big heart. www.greatermadawaskachamber.com August 23 Tour of Horsepower Farm Penobscot Let the Birdsall family take you on a tour of their organic farm. Sponsored by the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. 2–4 pm. 374-5118 www.bluehillheritagetrust.org
74 / Bangor Metro August 2014
August 23 & 24 Ride Aroostook Presque Isle This two-day bicycle tour helps benefit children’s health, specifically Camp Adventure, a regional summer camp for children between the ages of 12 and 17 with Type 1 diabetes. Take in the beauty of Aroostook County and enjoy the excellent hospitality the County is famous for. $50 registration fee and a $200 fundraising pledge is required. www.ridearoostook.org August 24–27 8th Annual Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Festival Moosehead Lake Region Help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication “The Maine Woods” with a cruise on the Katahdin and three days of activities. 695-2702 • mooseheadlake.org August 25 Flash in the Pans Blue Hill Town Park Catch this free community steel band concert, sponsored by ARK Animal Shelter. Rain venue: Blue Hill Consolidated School. 7:30–9 pm. www.flashinthepans.org
August 25 Stargazing Caterpillar Hill, Sedgwick Let Charlotte Clews take you on a tour of the night sky. Sponsored by the Blue Hill Heritage Trust. 7:30–9 pm. 374-5118 www.bluehillheritagetrust.org August 26 BOOM: The Baroque Orchestra of Maine Burnt Cove Church Community Center, Stonington This diverse, unusual evening of chamber music will blend violin with harp, cello, dance, and video. $20. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 27 Special Event & Community Play Reading Stonington Opera House Come celebrate Judith Jerome’s last season as artistic director of Opera House Arts, with a reading of David Mamet’s The Duck Variations, directed by Joshua McCarey and featuring Judith Jerome and Cherie Mason. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 28 Date Night Tour: Love and Lust in the Queen City Bangor Spice up your date night routine with an adult-themed walking tour of Bangor. Start off the evening with a drink at Nocturnem Draft Haus and make your date a night to remember. Adults 21 and over only. Preregistration required. 7:30–9 pm. $20 per person. 404-4113 • www.dawnlandtours.com August 28 Two Ponds Press at Howe Hill Camden Liv Rockefeller and Ken Sure open their Camden home for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The hosts are the proprietors of Two Ponds Press, which curates projects with worldrenowned artists. Learn about the techniques of classic and fine printing, wander through beautiful gardens, and meet new friends. $35 members; $45 nonmembers. 594-5166 • www.georgesriver.org
August 28–September 1 Blue Hill Fair Blue Hill Situated in the small coastal town of Blue Hill, the Blue Hill Fair is a true “down to earth” country fair. Always scheduled around Labor Day weekend, the fair boasts some of the finest entertainment, attractions, and exhibits. 374-3701 • www.bluehillfair.com August 29 Camden Windjammer Festival Sail-In Camden Public Landing Travel back to the golden age of tallship sailing, as the schooner Olad joins the entire windjammer fleet as it enters Camden Harbor for the Windjammer Weekend. 12–4:30 pm. $39. 236-2323 • www.maineschooners.com August 29 Camden Windjammer Festival Cruise Camden Public Landing Watch the historic Maine Windjammer fleet parade of sail from Penobscot Bay, as they enter Camden Harbor for the Maine Windjammer Festival. 2–4 pm. 236-6672 www.camdenharborcruises.com August 29 Camden Windjammer Festival Fireworks Sail Camden Public Landing Watch from the decks of the schooner Olad and celebrate the Camden Windjammer Festival with fantastic fireworks over Camden Harbor. 7–9:15 pm. $39. 236-2323 • www.maineschooners.com August 29 Steely Dan: Jamalot Ever After Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and helped define the soundtrack of the 1970s. Doors open at 6 pm. $28.75–$102.75. www.waterfrontconcerts.com August 30 New Traditional Jazz Band Stonington Opera House This well-knit ensemble will play a wide variety of traditional jazz and vintage
pop, with outgoing, infectious, and sparkling personality. $20 & $22. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 30 Noel Paul Stookey Camden Opera House Singer-songwriter Paul Stookey will perform a concert in Camden, revealing his gift for connecting diverse contemporary concerts to inspired musical performances. 7 pm. 367-2788 • www.operahousearts.org August 30 Piscataquis Region YMCA Golf Tournament Foxcroft Golf Club Grab some friends and head out the YMCA Golf Scramble. Cash and prizes are up for grabs. All skill levels are welcome. 564-7111 August 30 Lady Antebellum Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor Headliners Lady Antebellum are joined by Billy Currington and Joe Nichols for their Bangor performance. This is an energetic concert that is not to be missed. Doors open at 6 pm. $32–$72. www.waterfrontconcerts.com August 30 & 31 Vintage Motorcycle Meet Owls Head Transportation Museum This much anticipated annual gathering attracts hundreds of antique motorcycles from all over New England. 9 am–3 pm. 594-4418 • www.owlshead.org
August 30 & 31 Eastport Salmon Festival Eastport Celebrate some of Maine’s most delicious specialties at the Eastport Salmon Festival, which focuses on the salmon aquaculture industry; fish and shellfish specialties, such as oysters on the half shell; chowders of all kinds; and other delicious foods that are fished or harvested from Passamaquoddy Bay’s icy waters. The weekend also features wonderful Maine arts and crafts, green-living vendors, and craftsmen who will demonstrate their talents. 853-4644 • www.eastportchamber.net August 31 Harvest Half Marathon University of Maine at Presque Isle Compete as an individual or form a relay team of up to four people. The race will start and end at the University of Maine at Presque Isle campus. 8 am. $45 individual; $85 relay. www.competitorme.com August 31 Jason Aldean with Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Farr Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor The 2014 Burn it Down Tour rolls into Bangor. Country music fans will not want to miss this. Doors open at 6 pm. www.waterfrontconcerts.com
2 N D A NNUAL
S TORYTELLING BY THE S EA A F ESTIVAL C ELEBRATING S TORY
IN ALL ITS
August 8 & 9, 2014 Castine, Maine
F ORMS
STORIES Stories from here Stories from away Downeast stories Japanese stories South American stories Musical stories Stories in poetry Stories in mime Stories by clowns For complete festival schedule:
www.wilsonmuseum.org/ calendar/festival
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 75
food file
Simple Summertime Meal Danielle Dorrie, Josh Kearns, and Melissa Page are three Tampa, Florida transplants who have made a home in Maine. Story & photos by Melanie Brooks
76 / Bangor Metro August 2014
I
t’s a warm summer night in Bangor at the home of Melissa Page and Josh Kearns. The kitchen is open and inviting, and the only room in the house the couple didn’t have to renovate when they became homeowners last summer. “This house sat empty for two winters before we bought it,” Page says. “We hired contractors to redo everything but the kitchen.” The kitchen was the first room the couple saw when looking at the house, and the main selling point. “Missy didn’t get past the doorway before asking how much the house was listed for,” Kearns says. “I didn’t want to see any more if it was out of our price range,” Page says. Kearns busies himself readying the margarita glasses as Page gives us the grand tour. A Realtor with ERA Dawson,
Page is happy to show off the improvements she and Kearns have made to their house. From new wood floors to art deco wallpaper and bright pops of color on the walls, the house is perfect for a young, fun couple. You can tell Page and Kearns spent a lot of time on the details. They bought the house in August, 2013, and moved in two months later. Their friend Danielle Dorrie arrives with the bulk of the ingredients for the turkey tacos and immediately gets to work cutting the vegetables for the chunky avocado guacamole. Dorrie, originally from Tampa, made her way north about four years ago in search of adventure. “I wanted to experience things and places I’d never seen,” she says. “I had some friends who were living in Maine, and when I came up
Melssa Page and Josh Kearns invite Danielle Dorrie over to cook dinner in their Bangor kitchen.
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Kearns mixes margaritas to enjoy while Page and Dorrie prepare the meal.
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food file to visit them, I decided to stay.” Kearns, from Pittsburgh, and Page, from outside of Chicago, both took jobs in Tampa after college. It was Kearns’ job that relocated him from the Sunshine State to the Pine Tree State. “I had met Missy in October, 2010 and moved to Maine in June, 2011,” Kearns says. “We did the long distance thing for a year.” Missy followed in July, 2012. “I remember thinking, who lives in Maine?” she says and laughs. Kearns finishes the margaritas while Dorrie cuts the avocados for the guacamole and Page browns the turkey on the stovetop. It’s a social atmosphere, and it’s just the way these three like it. Kearns and Page met a lot of people when they first moved to the Bangor area, including Dorrie, at the quarterly Newcomers Nights put on by Fusion:Bangor, a nonprofit group of young professionals. “I was leaving the event when I found out Missy and Josh were from Tampa,” Dorrie says. “We ended up chatting about Florida for another 45 minutes!” While all three individuals love the lo-
Danielle Dorrie slices avocados for the guacamole.
recipes
Turkey Tacos With Black Beans Serves Four
Healthy Gal Margarita Per Drink 1-11/2 shots of tequila Juice from 1 lime Splash of soda water Splash of triple sec Fill your glass half full with crushed ice. Mix tequila and lime together and pour over the ice. Add the soda water and triple sec and enjoy. 78 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Low-fat ground turkey Whole grain taco shells Taco seasoning 1 tsp. cumin 1 can of low-sodium black beans Fresh pineapple chunks Brown the turkey on the stovetop and drain. Add taco seasoning according to package directions. Drain and rinse the black beans. Cook the beans on stove at medium-low temperature. Add cumin and diced pineapple to taste. Warm taco shells in the oven to desired temperature. Fill with turkey and black beans and enjoy.
Chunky Avocado Guacamole Serves Four 3 firm, ripe avocados 1 variety pack of small tomatoes 1 small red onion (use only half) 1 mango 1 large lemon 1 large lime 1/4 cup white shredded cheddar cheese Cilantro Peel and dice the avocados and mango. Dice the tomatoes and onion. Put them into a bowl and toss. Juice the lemon and lime and add the juice to the bowl, along with the cilantro. Mix and top with the cheese.
cal restaurant scene, they all enjoy cooking at home, too. “I try to cook with a lot of color, and with fresh, healthy, organic ingredients,” Dorrie says. Her guacamole includes yellow and red tomatoes, a red onion, mango, and cilantro. It’s as colorful as it is delicious. As a conference sales manager at the Cross Insurance Center, Danielle Dorrie has a busy schedule. Throw in trips to the gym after work and take into account her large social circle, and she sometimes
doesn’t get home until after 8 p.m. “I cook a lot on Sundays while my boyfriend cooks mostly during the week,” she says. “We use the grill all summer long.” Kearns and Page love healthy recipes too. The margaritas Kearns made for the evening meal are a low-calorie version of the typical concoction. Paired with the delicious turkey tacos and guacamole, it’s a pretty, satisfying, and homemade meal that anyone can pull together on a weeknight.
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kitchen confidential Where are you from? I was born in Bangor and raised in Old Town. I traveled all over the world to gain work experience before moving back to Maine to settle in 2005. My family now lives in Milford and our kitchen office is in Brewer. What is your first food memory? Making pasta with my grandmother, Rose Hooks. I can remember sitting on the counter, making the dough, and hanging the spaghetti over a line. I was around 6 years old at the time. What are some of your early cooking experiences? Hanging out in Gram’s kitchen and making holiday cookies with my family are the earliest. I also cooked at the Winter Carnival in Quebec, Canada and was a finalist in a dessert competition at Eastern Maine Community College. After culinary school, I took a job with Maine Maritime Academy and sailed to Europe. We cooked with local ingredients in the ports. It was a whirlwind, but an amazing experience. Any family influences on your style and taste? My mother and grandmother definitely encouraged me, but my style and taste are a combination of experimentation and work experience. I have a broad palate. My own personal taste is rarely my motivation or jumping off point. I tend to be able to please a range of tastes so my style is to make whatever I’m working on taste good. I think back to basics, fresh-from-scratch cooking leads to wholesome, great tasting food. That is definitely something our parents and grandparents knew well and lived by.
Healthy food for your family or function doesn’t have to be hard to come by, especially when there’s a guy like Chef Cliff Richard nearby. By Melanie Brooks
80 / Bangor Metro August 2014
When did you realize you were a chef? When I was confident handling any issue in the kitchen. There came a time when I couldn’t get hired as a line cook because I was considered overqualified. After that I became comfortable with the role and title of chef.
photos: melanie Brooks
Chef on Demand
Where did you study? Formally at United Technology Center in high school and Eastern Maine Community College for my associate’s degree. As any chef will tell you, work and life experience are immeasurably important in this trade.
What do you consider to be your pivotal career move? Meeting my wife and business partner, Felicia, and following her encouragement to stop working for others and open Chef on Demand. When did Chef on Demand open? We began taking personal chef and cheffor-hire work on the side in 2007. In 2009, we started teaching community classes and taking larger contracts. In 2012, I quit my day job to take a large contract catering for the film shoot for “Beneath the Harvest Sky” on location in Aroostook County. We opened our Chef on Demand studio in Brewer in January, 2014. What do you love about your location? It’s very centrally located and easily accessible from several different towns. It’s also custom designed with industrial home-style appliances to help us continue our mission to empower people in their own kitchens at home. Private cooking lessons and visits show folks that, with the right attitude and a basic skill set, that anyone can create fresh, healthy meals at home. What is your favorite ingredient to work with? Garlic powder. I use it as a flavor enhancer. Just enough brings out the flavors in food, and you never know it’s in there! What is the dish that we are featuring? Dredged chicken breast with a three mustard sauce, sautéed radishes, and brussels sprouts on couscous. The name pretty much says it all. The sauce is a cream reduction and is very simple. We teach it in our sauces class and it was derived from a dish I cooked while working in South Beach, Miami. What is your favorite restaurant? Choosing a favorite is difficult! As a professional, I see all the nuances in a dish or atmosphere. I’m more of a tradesman than a foodie, so it’s easy to be critical, which makes dining out hard to enjoy. There are a lot of great local restaurants in the Bangor area, and I like to try each one at least once. Mostly I enjoy a meal because of the company I am with. My favorite place to dine is at my kitchen table with my wife and kids.
Left: Cliff Richards in his Brewer kitchen. This photo: Delicious dredged chicken with a three mustard sauce.
Least favorite job-related task? Since I have become self-employed, there is nothing I dislike. There are always jobs I don’t necessarily look forward to, but even washing dishes feels like a task with meaning. When I was working for others I always disliked cleaning up after other employees. The last time you really surprised yourself in the kitchen? In recent months I was working on a contract and was called in at the last minute. I was handed a menu I wasn’t familiar with in a high-pressure setting. There were several times I thought it might all blow up. Instead, things went well, people were impressed, and I was amazed that I had pulled it off. Nothing is better than happy patrons! What does a perfect day off look like? I love being outdoors. I collect vinyl records, so finding a great deal on a great
pressing would be excellent. Any day that includes time with my family without watching the clock is a good day. What would you want your last meal to be? A Spamwich. My wife hates that answer, but it’s true. The first time I drove across country on my own I packed Spam, mustard, bread, and fruit cocktail cups. It was easy food to travel with, and now I have a proud connection to enjoying a Spamwich. What do you love most about your job? It’s mine; my vision. I am building it from the ground up. I’m learning, growing, teaching, and being challenged. I’m thrilled to meet and teach and feed people. I love that I can show my kids that dreaming can lead to so many awesome things. It can be frightening and hard, but I truly feel like the sky is the limit.
more info chef on demand 480B South Main Street, Brewer 207-596-7447 Hours: By appointment, with some store hours for pickup. Specialties: From comfort food to highend fare, we can do anything, but we specialize in quality, fresh ingredients and down-to-earth service.
First-timer tip: We offer custom services, culinary instruction, personal chef services, consultations, and more. If you have a need for a quick, healthy meal or culinary expert, give us a try. Sample menu: Freezer meals made with no added preservatives, vacuum sealed, and ready to eat in minutes. We currently offer a range of dishes, from homestyle mac and cheese to low-sugar/salt options. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 81
per spectives
Willy Reddick
82 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Willy Reddick has been working professionally as a painter and white-line woodblock printmaker for over 25 years. She is well known for her meditative images of sleeping dogs and cats on busy, vibrant patterns and regularly exhibits in galleries and museums around New England. Her work is also in the collection of the New Bedford Whaling Museum as well as in countless private collections. In addition to producing woodcuts, she designs and manufactures her own line of Willy Wires jewelry, is a freelance designer, and for many years handpainted prototypes for the toy industry. She is a founding partner of Ă…arhus Gallery in Belfast and lives with her husband Wes in Belfast, Maine.
www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 83
maine woods & waters
I
Turtles Crossing The misunderstood and often persecuted snapping turtle has laid its eggs over the summer. Now it’s time to watch out for the hatchlings. story & photo By Brad Eden
t’s not uncommon to see snapping turtles lumbering across our paved roads during the summer. This is when the females are seeking soft soil or sand to lay their eggs. Perfect nesting conditions are often found along roadways and in backyard gardens. Snapping turtles range in size from a dinner plate to a manhole cover. They can grow huge. These creatures are often persecuted because of their menacing appearance and nasty disposition when harassed. Their snapping jaws, hissing, and stinky glands are defense mechanisms. They can’t completely withdraw into their shell, so they are exposed and vulnerable to predators. Many never make it across the roads they are crossing because they are run over by vehicles, sometimes purposely. Kinder souls drive around them or even stop to help them. In the past, I always picked them up by the tail, which keeps their snapping jaws away from digits, but it’s now believed this may actually harm the turtle. There are ways to grasp the upper shell, or carapace, without getting bitten, but it’s best to leave them alone. If it’s a busy road you can find a stout stick and let the turtle bite onto it and then walk it to safety, always in the direction it was heading. Don’t drag it on pavement since this can harm its lower shell, or plastron. If it is stubborn, then stand back and keep watch, which may deter any turtle crushers. Attitudes towards snapping turtles have changed for the better since I was young. I grew up close to an Audubon Sanctuary consisting of ponds and marshes—perfect snapping turtle habitat. At that time the belief, even amongst
bles. Then the chase was on. One of us would maneuver the boat while the other tried to scoop up the turtle with the net. If successful, a keystone cops routine ensued with two kids in a rocking rowboat with a 20- to 30-pound angry snapping turtle at our feet. We never capsized, but I do remember bailing out and slogging waist deep through the marsh and mud, dragging the now commandeered rowboat to shore. We were told our catch was relocated, but I suspect something less pleasant became of our bounty. Young turtles have plenty of natural predators as well. As summer wanes, the 20 to 40 white, ping-pong-ball-sized eggs laid by the mother turtle will begin to hatch, and the hatchlings will dig their way out of the shallow nests. That’s if the eggs haven’t already been dug up and eaten by raccoons, skunks, and crows. It is estimated that 90% of snapping turtle nests are destroyed before the eggs hatch. The hatchlings that see the light of day instinctively head towards the safety of water, but are still far from being out of the woods. They are tiny with soft shells; a perfect appetizer for hungry predators including birds and snakes. Even if they do run the gauntlet and successfully slip into the sanctuary of water, fish and other snapping turtles are there, waiting for an easy meal. The few that survive grow hard shells and eventually become virtually predator free, except for the threat from humans. A snapping turtle can live up to 40 years or more in the wild. Some people eat snapping turtles and there are no harvest limits in Maine unless it’s for commercial purposes. They often live in stagnant and polluted waters, and collect
I’ll be keeping a bucket in my truck in case I see any migrating baby snappers and will carefully transport them to the other side. wildlife professionals, was that snapping turtles killed too many ducklings and goslings. The director of the Audubon Sanctuary paid a friend and me $2 apiece for every snapper we caught. Snapping turtles prefer shallow water with a muddy bottom where they lay low, waiting for something tasty to swim by or above their snout. My friend and I would paddle along the edges of the ponds and marshland in a small rowboat manned with huge landing nets. Once disturbed by our presence, the turtles would move leaving clouds of disturbed mud and telltale bub84 / Bangor Metro August 2014
contaminants and PCBs in their flesh, so it’s not recommended to eat too many. Keep an eye out through late summer and early fall for snapping turtle hatchlings navigating their way across roads. I’ll be keeping a bucket in my truck in case I see any migrating baby snappers and will carefully transport them to the other side. It’s the least I can do for this fascinating yet misunderstood and unappreciated creature. Brad Eden is an artist, writer, and registered Maine Master Guide.
savvy seniors
Fitness Tips Photo: Stockbyte/thinkstock.com
Staying physically fit isn’t only great for our aging bodies, it’s important for our aging minds, too. By Jane Margesson
A
s we age, it can become increasingly difficult to maintain a consistent fitness level. It is likely that our metabolism will start to slow down and we may start to experience more muscle pain or arthritis, which can be very frustrating. If you are having trouble getting in shape or are finding it hard to meet your weight loss goal, these tips may help you develop and achieve a healthy fitness plan. It is important to set small goals that are attainable. While it is motivating to have a long-term goal, make sure you also set smaller goals along the way. Using the SMART acronym (from MindTools.com) can help. Your goals should be: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Cardio workouts can often be more challenging for older adults. AARP Fitness Ambassador and tennis great Martina Navratilova suggests strength training for older adults because it helps rebuild
muscle mass and is a good calorie burner. Go slowly at first and try not to over exert yourself. Working too hard can lead to serious injuries. If you are living with a disability, work with a physical therapist or a trainer. Having the advice of your physician is always a good idea no matter your starting fitness level. Losing weight may not always be easy, but it does not mean that you have to cut back on all the foods you love. Monitor what you eat by controlling portions and keeping a food diary of everything you eat in a day. You are more likely to become aware of unhealthy eating habits if you keep a food diary. Although we know that physical exercise is important for the health of your body, it also keeps your brain sharp. Two studies were presented at the 2011 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris that added to the growing body of research suggesting exercise can help protect your brain against mental www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 85
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decline that occurs with aging. In fact, researchers from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference found that a brisk 30-minute daily walk can delay mental aging by five to seven years! Another good idea is setting motivating goals. For example, you could sign up for a local charity walk or even the Maine Senior Games. This is a great way to connect with people with shared interests. Anyone over the age of 50 can participate in the Senior Games and there are many different events for the active adult. Not quite ready for the Maine Senior Games? Why not start a walking group in your area? Exercising with a friend or neighbor can provide just the right incentive for starting a walking routine and sticking to it. No matter your fitness level, you can do it! With some motivation and the right information, it can become easier for us all to get fit in 2014. Jane Margesson is the communications director for AARP Maine.
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Feeding a Family Writer Chris Quimby finds joy in handing the meal-management torch to the next generation. 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. 90 / Bangor Metro August 2014
image: zitramon and pradono kusumo/thinkstock.com
I
love pizza. Whether I’m busy or lazy, I find it an easy choice for a meal. All I have to do is make a telephone call and it can be ready in half an hour. However, mealtime gets complicated when more than one person wants in on the pizza. A few years ago, my wife and I would order a large to split between us and have a little left over. My children were toddlers then, and could just sit in their high chairs and smear pureed banana on their faces while sticking green beans up their nostrils. Now my children have appetites, and they’re not afraid to use them. Each of us has our pizza topping preferences. My son likes Hawaiian and can eat about half of a large pizza by himself. My daughter prefers mushroom and eats about half of what my son eats. My wife says she likes mushroom, too, but when I get pepperoni and ham on my side, she is known to abandon her choice for my greasy delights. Even for someone who enjoys math, as I do, I experience a great deal of stress trying to make sure each of my family members has enough of their favorite pizza so they are satisfied, but not so much that it goes to waste. I also have to filter my wife’s requests for mushrooms with a realization that she will stray towards my pepperoni and ham. Sometimes I feel a bit perplexed as the needs and desires of my family cannot be adequately served in the offerings of my local pizza shop. ME (ordering for my family): Yes, I would like a large Hawaiian pizza and, no. No. Make that, wait, can you just put the Hawaiian stuff on three quarters of it, and throw a few mushrooms on the last quarter? Then, I need a large with pepperoni on all of it, but ham on half and mushrooms on the other half. Wait. Can you take half of the mushroom and pepperoni half and replace the mushroom with ham for my wife? Or, do you have a kind of mushroom that is only a mushroom for a while and eventually turns into ham, because my wife changes her mind a lot? I fully expect that many people have, out of frustration, cooked my pizzas and then spit upon them. While I think that is unethical, I totally understand. My children, who are teenagers, are beginning to experience the frustrations of eating out. In fact, they took me out to a local franchise restaurant on Father’s Day and offered to pay for whatever I wanted. Thankfully for them, I was on the third day of an attempt to lose weight. Keep in mind that I have caught some flak over the years for trying to keep the price of a family meal out at a restaurant less than the monthly lease of a sports car. No soda. No desserts. No fun. My son opened up the menu and expressed great amazement when he discovered the price of what he normally orders. Collecting himself, he finally calmed down and said out loud to himself that this was going to be OK. It was a day intended to please me. And it was, perhaps in ways he did not intend. For, food is good, but so is the enjoyment of beginning to hand over the torch of meal management. One day, he will experience the thrill of juggling the desires of his own family. And perhaps he’ll be feeding his elderly father, who, in all likelihood, will sit in a recliner, smearing pureed banana on his face while sticking green beans up his nostrils.
unsung hero
y name is OJ Logue. I volunteer for the Expect Miracles Foundation, which is based in Hingham, Massachusetts. The money raised goes to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for brain cancer research. Meeting Brandon Higgins this past fall at Deer-Isle Stonington High School was an inspirational event for me. Brandon, who lives in Brooklin, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011. He was 15 years old. He has a tumor on his brain stem, which is deemed inoperable because of where it is located. Brandon received radiation therapy, which helped shrink the tumor. But this spring, the tumor started growing again. He graduated from Deer Isle-Stonington High School in June, and began chemotherapy at the Lafayette Family Cancer Center in Brewer. After getting to know Brandon and learning about his valiant fight against an inoperable brain tumor, I decided to run a marathon in his honor and to raise 92 / Bangor Metro August 2014
OJ Logue, Southwest Harbor, director of student services for the Deer IsleStonington School Department. By David Brown
money for brain cancer research. I chose to run the Sugarloaf Marathon in May of this year. Sugarloaf is Maine’s oldest continuously run Marathon. The 26.2-mile event was difficult, but I knew I would finish no matter what, especially with Brandon and his family on the course and at the finish line. My advice for anyone interested in running for a charity is to just pick an organization that you believe in, then select an event that allows you to run in support of that charity. There are so many great opportunities out there, and these organizations are terrific in helping you along the way. I would have to say that my greatest moments of satisfaction come from the deep friendship that has evolved between Brandon and me. There is great satisfaction in knowing that we have been able to raise close to $8,000 so far towards his favorite charity. However, our goal remains to raise more than $10,000 toward much needed brain cancer research. We
are hopeful that spotlighting our activities will encourage the community to push us over our goal. What keeps me doing what I do? It’s the realization that I can make a difference as a runner; plus, it always felt like the right thing to do. I drew a lot of inspiration from Terry Fox, the legendary Canadian runner, who attempted to run across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Although I do not consider myself a hero in any shape or form, I view those individuals and family members who fight the good fight each and every day as the true heroes. Expect Miracles Foundation, formerly Mutual Funds Against Cancer, is one of the leading advocates in the fight against cancer within the financial service industry. Proceeds benefit cancer patient care initiatives nationwide and cutting-edge cancer research at the Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Learn more by visiting www.ExpectMiraclesFoundation.org.
Photo: david brown/northstar photography
M
Running for a Cause
Family Guide 2014
Dinner is Served Quick & Easy Recipe Ideas
Reclaim the
Great Outdoors
Teaching FUN Preschool Education Tips
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family guide
Better Communication, Better Healthcare
I
f you haven’t already, you’ll soon be encouraged to communicate with your doctor and your health care team online. Most likely, this information will be exchanged through a patient portal. This is a secure (confidential) website that allows patients to access their medical information. Through a patient portal you can schedule appointments, request prescription refills, pay bills, view lab reports, e-mail your doctor, and view notes from office visits. Portal features vary from organization to organization, and there are bound to be hiccups as more doctors and patients start using them. Still, if a portal is available to you, you’ll find the benefits make it worthwhile.
Convenience Your doctor knows that you have health care needs between visits. A patient portal gives you a powerful tool to get information you need, when you need it, without waiting on hold or engaging in a round of phone tag. In just a few clicks, you can view your lab results, your current prescriptions, or request a prescription refill. Using a patient portal to clarify questions you may have can also save you an office visit. 94 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Accuracy and Understanding It’s difficult to remember everything you talk about with your health care provider during a visit, but with access to your electronic medical record you can look it over at any time. You no longer need to wait for your follow-up visit or make a call to get clarification. You can look over the notes from your visit and email if you still have questions. Email is self-documenting, so you can refer back to conversations over and over again for clarity.
Timeliness Government guidelines require that certain lab results are available in the patient portal within 36 hours of your health care provider’s office receiving them. For many patients this will mean faster access to their lab result information. Access to current and previous test results allows you to track your progress more easily if you’re working to improve your health or monitor a condition. Your doctor will still consult with you about your results, but there’s a chance you might see them before they have a chance to call you. You should talk to your doctor about how to interpret the results and what to do if you’re concerned about them. Patient portals encourage partner-
ship between health care providers and patients, and increased knowledge empowers patients to be involved in their care. Managing chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and congestive heart failure is easier when health care providers and patients have access to the same data. Research shows that patients engaged in their care using portals are more likely to receive all of their recommended screenings than patients whose providers rely on paper records. Even more importantly, they are more likely to have favorable outcomes in their health due to those screenings. Patient portals are not meant to replace face-to-face visits. There will always be times when office visits are needed, but your patient portal experience should make those office visits more effective. If you haven’t logged on yet, call your health care provider or go to their website to get information about their patient portal and how to enroll. Dr. Sheena Whittaker is chief medical officer at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth. A board certified pediatrician, she also sees patients at Maine Coast Pediatrics, an out-patient department of the hospital.
photo: graphicsdunia4you/thinkstock.com
Patient portals are making health care easier for patient and provider. By Sheena Whittaker
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Healthy Pregnancy F Building a family starts with a healthy mother. by Kimberly S. Kauffman, MD
96 / Bangor Metro August 2014
amily means different things to different people, but often the word evokes images of mother and baby. When contemplating their plans for a family, women often seek the advice of an obstetrician-gynecologist. An ob-gyn cares for women during pregnancy, when hoping to delay or prevent pregnancy, or when pregnancy does not happen when desired. The first step to a healthy pregnancy is a healthy mother-to-be. Before conception, women are advised to eat a healthy diet, including a prenatal vitamin supplement for most, and to establish an enjoyable exercise regimen that can be continued during pregnancy to maintain a healthy weight and sense of well-being. Keeping track of her menstrual cycle timing and symptoms can help a woman identify the time when she is most likely to be fertile. A typical 26- to 33-day cycle, with menstrual bleeding occurring on days 1 through 4 to 7, results in peak fertility on about days 12 to 16. Significant variation from this
photo: pojoslaw/thinkstock.com
normal pattern should prompt a woman to speak with her health care provider. Chronic medical problems such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy should be well-controlled, ideally with the medications that are safest to use in pregnancy. This may require collaboration between a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary care provider and her ob-gyn. Family history of pregnancy complications or birth defects should be discussed, as prevention exists for some of these (such as the prevention of spina bifida with higher than usual doses of folic acid). Routine care in pregnancy consists of diagnosing and treating infections or medical problems that could harm a pregnancy, and guiding women through a normal but sometimes strange process. Care for the uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery can be safely provided in a variety of settings, by family doctors, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and obstetricians. Women often choose their providers based on the recommendations of family, friends, and their pri-
mary care providers. In addition to prenatal visits with an ob provider, many couples attend childbirth classes at the hospital where they will deliver. Some women also choose to employ the services of a doula, a knowledgeable support person for labor. Preventing pregnancy can, at times, be an integral part of building a family. Since the 1960s, effective hormonal contraceptives have allowed women to plan their families. Currently these hormones can be delivered by pill, patch, injection, vaginal ring, or implant. Newer implant options provide effective, longterm (3 to 5 to 10 years), reversible contraception. And when a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family is complete, surgical options exist for permanent sterilization. Sometimes medical assistance is needed to achieve pregnancy. An infertility evaluation is recommended if a woman is not pregnant after trying for about one year, or sooner if she is older than 35 or has irregular menstrual cycles. Basic testing can be initiated by a
primary care provider, including semen analysis for the male, evaluation of fallopian tube patency (ensuring there are no obstructions), and some evaluation of ovulation with lab or ultrasound testing or basal body temperature charting. Treatment usually requires referral to a gynecologist and can include ovulation induction with the medication clomiphene citrate and intrauterine insemination. More advanced treatment such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) requires the expertise of a reproductive endocrinologist. Although there are no IVF centers in Maine, local gynecologists work closely with the specialists at both Boston IVF and New England Fertility Center, helping to provide as much of the intensive monitoring for IVF cycles as close to home as possible. Referral to the Maine Adoption Placement Service is another option for families looking to grow. Kimberly S. Kauffman, MD, is a board certified specialist in obstetrics and gynecology at the office of Dr. Joseph Benoit.
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family guide
Learning to
Love Nature
I
have a penciled school paper from second grade, circa 1970, on which I wrote, “I want to be a pioneer because I love the wilderness. I think that it is beautiful.” I spent my childhood tromping through the woods, playing in streams, and hunting for fossils, rocks, and minerals. My childhood formed in me a deep love for the natural world. In 1982, I acted on my naïve pioneer impulse and moved to Alaska. Last fall, after 31 years in Alaska, I moved back to Maine and am now re-exploring the Northeast woodlands that fascinated me as a child. I believe my active outdoor lifestyle has kept me healthy. But statistically, health and a love for the outdoors may be slipping away from our youth. Famed writer, scientist, and conservationist Rachel Carson believed that gifting children with an enduring sense of wonder and love of nature would help 98 / Bangor Metro August 2014
sustain them through the challenges of life. Forty years ago, parents quickly answered children’s complaints of boredom with the automatic command: “Go outside!” That’s not the norm these days. Richard Louv, author of the national bestseller Last Child in the Woods, coined the phrase “nature-deficit disorder” to describe the modern dilemma of children who find themselves in a culture that is geared and wired to entice them to stay indoors. A few months ago a colleague told me that his son prefers to live in a virtual world online rather than the real world around him. Disengagement from the natural world and growing familial and societal health challenges are alarming. There have been efforts to combat this growing trend. Last fall the Appalachian Mountain Club and Massachusetts General
Hospital for Children unveiled a pilot program called Outdoors RX. In the program, health care providers prescribe regular outdoor activity to combat the sedentary lifestyles of stressed and over-scheduled families, which can lead to childhood obesity, Type 1 diabetes, and asthma. Mom’s command to “go outside” is now, officially, just what the doctor ordered. In Piscataquis County, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) in Greenville has launched the Moosehead Area Schools Project as part of its Maine Woods Initiative. The goal is to contact every school-aged child three times during the course of their education with the opportunity to have an outdoor overnight experience. Wanting to learn more about AMC’s programs I headed to Greenville to talk to Shannon LeRoy, AMC’s business office
photo: Siri Stafford/thinkstock.com
Experiencing the outdoors as a child is no longer taken for granted. Luckily, our corner of Maine has excellent opportunities to get outside to play. By Brad Clark
manager, and Casey Mealey, Maine Wilderness Initiative Programs and Recreation manager. LeRoy and Mealey are both passionate about AMC’s outreach to children. There are several family adventure camps and weekends geared toward specific age groups. “It’s a great thing to watch the kids decompress and unwind, and see them begin to explore their surroundings,” Mealey says. The duo shared a story about one girl who came running out of her cabin, exclaiming in amazement, “Mom! They use fire as light!” The Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District office in DoverFoxcroft also runs summer youth camps focused on engaging youth in active outdoor learning to promote wellness and foster an appreciation and respect for the natural world. Their Teen Camp culminates with a trip to AMC’s Little Lyford Lodge near Moosehead Lake. In today’s society, it’s hard not to over-schedule your family. Even Dr. John Pearsall, a pediatrician at Mayo Practice Associates in Dover-Foxcroft, acknowledges that, as a parent of two grown children, he can look back and see that his kids didn’t have the same freedoms he enjoyed for unstructured outdoor exploration. He sympathizes with today’s parents and the dilemma of wanting to get children outside but also wanting them to be safe. Another area organization dedicated to equipping children for fun and safe outdoor activities is the Cobscook Community Learning Center (CCLC) in downeast Maine. Alan Furth, the center’s executive director, says that if you prepare kids to be well outfitted and give them the proper skills, it can set the foundation for a lifetime of incredibly enjoyable and nurturing activities. Rachel Carson believed that all the life of the planet is interrelated. While children may learn this intellectually in a classroom, nothing replaces instilling this experientially through exposure first hand in nature. Be a mentor and help a child explore a backyard, a nearby trail, park, beach, pond, or tidal pool. Brad Clark is the director of marketing, community, and physician relations at Mayo Regional Hospital in DoverFoxcroft. He loves hiking, cross-country skiing, and backcountry adventures.
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family guide
I
n my profession as a registered nurse and lactation consultant, I am inundated with questions from moms choosing to breastfeed. They are worried their baby is getting too little, or too much, or that they need to follow a particular diet. Questions are good, as they indicate the mothers’ interest in providing quality nutrition to their babies right from the start. Most women are able to successfully breastfeed their children without needing to follow any particular diet themselves. However, it is important that they 100 / Bangor Metro August 2014
Infant nutrition is incredibly important. By Beth Shorey
select a good assortment of healthy food options. During this time, mom can consume an extra 500 calories a day to help support healthy milk production. This opens the door for some fun recipes and snacks, like fruit and yogurt parfaits, smoothies, and of course, the occasional ice cream cone. Breastfeeding is not only giving your child the best start nutritionally, it also helps form a nurturing bond, provides health benefits for both mom and baby, and can be a financial savings for the family. Formula can cost at least $200 each
Making a Healthy Transition from Breast Milk to Whole Foods Infants will begin experimenting with solid foods starting around six months of age. This can be a very fun time for families to share the experience of healthy eating through a focus on healthy food selection. Children learn healthy eating and lifestyle habits from the adult role mod-
photo: asife/thinkstock.com
Feed Your Children Well from the Start
month and doesn’t provide the baby with the unique nutritional needs that can only be supplied through breastfeeding. Twenty years ago, as I began training to become a board certified lactation consultant, I was amazed to learn all the health benefits associated with breastfeeding. I learned the specialized balance of proteins in breast milk allows for quick, easy digestion (which is why those small tummies need to be filled more often than ours); healthy fats help the brain, retinas, and nervous system develop; and leukocytes (living cells) are transferred from mom to baby to help fight infection. As the baby grows, so does the structure of the breast milk, providing the perfect combination of nutrients at just the right time. Babies will eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full. As long as you’re seeing wet and soiled diapers throughout the day, know that your baby is taking in what is needed. When I had my children, breastfeeding wasn’t the norm. As more and more women entered the workforce, it became highly challenging to return to work and maintain a breastfeeding schedule. Society seemed to frown upon this, and there were many impediments to breastfeeding. Fortunately, with the increased focus on the health benefits of breastfeeding, legislation was enacted to support breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. In 2009, Maine enacted a lactation break statute, (26 M.R.S.A.§604), and in 2010, the federal government enacted a similar statute. The statutes require an employer to provide reasonable, unpaid break time and a private room—not a bathroom—for an employee to express breast milk. We have become more educated about just how amazing and complex breast milk is. In 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported 74% of all babies started out being breastfed; and the goal by 2020 is to have nearly 82% starting their lives with breast milk.
photos: (left) courtesy of dana moos; (right) jeff kirlin
els around them. This means that adults have a golden opportunity and responsibility to model healthy behaviors that will start children on the important road to lifelong wellness. The following are a few ideas on how to set a good example: Establish a family mealtime. Children who eat regular meals with their family typically eat less high-fat foods and more nutritious, higher fiber foods than those who do not. The family dinner table is the best place to demonstrate healthy eating habits and make eating a pleasant social activity for kids. Keep mealtimes regular and consistent. Eliminate television and other distractions at mealtime. Try to include a selection of foods from each food group at the dinner table, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and low-fat dairy foods. Explain the correct message. Children of various ages are exposed to a surprising amount of information about food—both good and bad—on a regular basis. Television advertising aimed at children is perhaps the most common source. Making food choices based on advertising typically results in greater consumption of empty calories—calories from added sugars and fats in foods otherwise lacking in nutrients. Take the time to talk with kids about the messages they hear and emphasize the lifelong importance of making healthy choices. Accentuate the positive. Focus on the healthful, positive aspects of making good food choices and being physically active. Emphasizing the connection between nutrition and fun, healthy activity is a way to positively reinforce healthy behaviors rather than focusing on limiting “bad” foods. Make mealtime fun by involving children in meal preparation, having a picnic, or planting a garden. Proper food handling should be taught from the start, including hand washing, even for your six month old. Hydration is also key, as young children are not able to regulate temperature as well as adults. Plan ahead for healthy meals and take time out to enjoy the fruits of your labor! Beth Shorey, RN is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and works at Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln.
Easy & Delicious! APPETIZER Not-So-Blackened Shrimp and Grilled Pineapple By Ann Marie Orr 2 lbs. of shrimp, no tails 1 Tbsp. sea salt 1 Tbsp. black, red, and white pepper 1 Tbsp. paprika 4 Tbsp. butter 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 fresh pineapple Prepare shrimp: Combine all spices in a shallow bowl. Add shrimp and toss. Melt butter in a skillet. Once the butter is bubbling, add the shrimp and cook until pink—7 to 10 minutes. Turn off heat and add lemon juice in pan. Place on a platter and serve with grilled pineapple. Prepare pineapple: Prepare your grill by coating it with olive oil. Place sliced pineapple rings on grill and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side to caramelize.
ENTREE Panko-Crusted Pork Scaloppine with Shallot Mustard Sherry Cream By Dana Moos 4 pork cutlets, pounded thin 3 eggs 1 cup of flour (for dredging) 1 3/4 cups panko bread crumbs 4 Tbsp. vegetable oil 2 large shallots, thinly sliced 2 cups heavy cream 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. sherry 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped Dana Moos is a cookbook author, chef, bed and breakfast broker, and former innkeeper.
Season pork cutlets with a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Dredge in flour and set aside. In a small saucepan, add butter and shallots and lightly brown. Add cream and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until the cream coats the back of a spoon, stirring to keep it from boiling over. Add sherry and mustard, reduce heat to low and mix. Cook on low for a few minutes while preparing to fry the pork. Put panko crumbs in a shallow bowl. Lightly beat eggs and put in another bowl. Add oil to sauté pan and heat on medium. Dredge cutlets in egg, then coat in panko crumbs, and fry in hot oil for about 5 minutes on each side until browned. Top cutlets with a couple of tablespoons of sauce and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.
DESSERT Lemon Mousse By Ann Marie Orr 1 cup heavy cream 8 oz. cream cheese 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup lemon juice Berries 4 wine or martini glasses (to serve) Whip cream in bowl until peaks are formed. Carefully scoop whipped cream into another bowl. Do not bang on bowl with spatula. Exchange whipping attachment for blending attachment. Combine sugar and cream cheese and blend until creamy. Add lemon juice and blend completely. Gently fold into whipped cream. Chill. Serve in glasses topped with your favorite berries and a sprig of mint to garnish.
Ann Marie Orr is the owner of Ann Marie’s Kitchen Catering & Event Planning and 11 Central— Downtown Eatery in Bangor. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 101
family guide
Preschool is Spelled F-U-N
T
he preschool set is totally my crowd. I have been teaching 4and 5-year-old children for the last 10 years and I can honestly say they are the most fun people to hang out with. They get me and I get them. They are just beginning the journey into education and I have had the great honor of providing them a foundation for learning. My number one rule, aside from walking feet and inside voices, is to HAVE FUN! Learning is a joy and a privilege, something that should not be overshadowed by unreasonable expectations to achieve. Competition and achievement will come later in life, but preschool is for the basics, and it is our responsibility to teach these basic skills to very young children so that they can eventually be healthy and prosperous adults. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not talking about learning how to read and write. Sure, fine motor development, along with early math and literacy skills are important, but all of that will come with time. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m talking about social-emotional development. The ability to adapt, to communicate, to
advocate for oneself and oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peers, to practice conflict resolution, to cultivate empathy, to cooperate, and to find confidence through creativity, independence, and personal accountability; those are the tools that we need to be giving our preschool-aged children. Those are the tools that will ultimately propel them toward success. Preschool-aged children are not meant to sit still and be quiet for longer than five to 10 minutes at a time. They may not properly grasp a pencil, write their names correctly, or cut a complex shape. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not meant to color inside the lines, nor have a working knowledge of phonics. Yes, there are children who are ready for those tasks, and if your child is one of them, that is fantastic. But there are plenty of children who are still right on target even if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not yet ready for those things. If your preschool-aged child is coming home and singing you a song, telling you a story they learned that day, showing you what appears to be an abstract painting they made, or telling you about how they shared a toy
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W O N D E R I N G q C R E AT I N G q G R O W I N G 102 / Bangor Metro August 2014
with a friend or invited another child to join their play, then your child is doing exactly what they should be doing. Early childhood educators use the most benign and common situations as teachable moments (â&#x20AC;&#x153;How do you think Tommy felt when you took away his blocks?â&#x20AC;?). Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re weaving all of these lessons into games and activities (â&#x20AC;&#x153;How many children can stand inside this hula hoop? Remember, no pushing.â&#x20AC;?). We are asking them to complete cool tasks that develop their fine motor skills (that pasta necklace is so much more than what it seems). There is much to be discovered by playing pretend in a toy kitchen, dressing up with your friends, and building a block tower. We must not forget how important the simple act of play can be in learning. And the coolest thing about teaching very young children is that they think theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just having fun! They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re learning valuable lessons about life. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best magic trick ever, and if we do it right they will equate school and learning with fun. Imagine that! So, the next time you pick up your kiddo from preschool, please measure the success of their day by what they can share with you about their adventures. Undoubtedly, the best question you can ask them is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What did you do today that was FUN?â&#x20AC;? You might be surprised by what you find in their answers. Kathryn Ravenscraft is a graduate of Ashford University, where she majored in social sciences with a concentration in education. She has more than 13 years of experience working with very young children, 10 of them as a teacher at Highland Preschool in Hampden.
photo: metinkiyak/thinkstock.com
The simple act of playing teaches preschool-aged children valuable lessons about life. By Kathryn Ravenscraft
family guide
M
Relaxation
y birthday was a milestone this year. I hit the common speed limit—55. Since life seems to be rushing by faster and faster, I took a few minutes to stop and notice my surroundings. Things are changing. Beauty at age 21 is much different than at 55. I have gone from wearing what is in fashion to what looks fashionable on me. The days of wearing beautiful four-inch high heels are gone. Two-inch heels are about all I can handle now. But, I love the transition to older age. I am comfortable in my own skin. It is not perfect, but I realize that it doesn’t have to be. Working on my inner beauty becomes transformational. With all my newfound wisdom, I decided to create a place for women and men who want the same things: Beauty on the outside (with no diameters of what that can be) and beauty on the inside. I tried my first cranialcacral therapy treatment, my first hypnosis session, and reiki. What amazing experiences! I became addicted to relaxation. My life is busy. I am a full-time insurance agent and owner of a small pet apparel business and ladies leather belt 104 / Bangor Metro August 2014
line. Time is a very important commodity. But using holistic treatments for relaxation, allergy relief, stress relief, and muscular pain has changed my way of life. I wanted to share this experience with others and create an environment where people can come, relax, have a glass of wine, and let a professional transform them with new hair cuts, glistening nails and toes, and beautiful skin through natural product facials. Where women can get permanent makeup application so that they never have to apply that crooked, smugged line of eyeliner ever again. Where women with reconstructive breast surgery have a place to have a nipple tattooed to recreate a natural look. A place that offers deep tissue and hot stone massage, polarity therapy, and reflexology. A place where you can relax and rejuvenate for an hour or a whole day. Being beautiful on the outside is easy, but being beautiful on the inside takes commitment and strength. I wanted to share a place like this with others—so I created Seychelles Spa and Holistic Center in Bangor. Any parent, spouse, or teenager can struggle with stress from parenting,
school, relationships, finances, or illness. Life is hard, and there are daily struggles. Stress can tear families apart, strain relationships, and make you ill. I am not a doctor, but I know from my own experience how beneficial holistic treatments can be for many types of stress. Couples massages can provide a quiet, peaceful environment for couples to share an hour or more of pure pampering. Hypnosis can help reduce or end bad behaviors or instill new health behaviors. Whether you want to quit smoking, lose weight, start exercising, or reduce anxiety, it can all be done with a commitment to hypnosis. Of course, you have to be ready to make the change! Our minds are powerful organs and don’t like to give up on our old habits. Get away from everything for a day, an hour, or even a few minutes. It will refresh and center you. Your kids and spouse will notice the difference. Make them do it, too! A family that relaxes together stays together. Cynthia Rollins is the owner of Seychelles Spa and Holistic Center at 176 Mt. Hope Avenue in Bangor.
photo: Jacob Wackerhausen/thinkstock.com
The Power of
Beauty on the outside is easy. Being beautiful on the inside takes commitment and strength. By Cynthia Rollins
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CAMDEN NATIONAL BANK WELCOMES A FAMILIAR FACE.
Brent Folster
We are delighted to welcome Brent Folster, a well-known local leader with 35 years of banking experience, to our commercial lending team. As a community bank, we are excited that Brent will continue to develop long-lasting, trusted relationships in the Bangor, Old Town and Orono communities that he knows so well, and that Camden National Bank is proud to serve. Contact Brent today to discuss any of your business banking needs: bfolster@camdennational.com 207-299-1318 Bangor 80 Exchange Street
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