PDEN • HOULTON • NEWPORT • DOVER-FOXCROFT • ROCKLAND • FORT KENT • BAR HARBOR • MILLINOCKET • BREWER • PRESQUE ISLE • FRANKFO
Special Guide to Summertime in Maine Included Inside! MUSIC & CONCERTS EAT & DRINK FAMILY FUN THEATER OUTDOORS MUSEUMS
THE BEST OF SUMMER 50+ not to be missed events
FARMERS MARKETS find fresh maine produce
The Criterion
LIGHTHOUSE TOUR OF MAINE discover which ones are open to visitors
Bar Harbor Theater Gets New Life
Kitchen Confidential:
Tea House 278 Then & Now Southwest Harbor
Inside:
A Visit to Cellardoor Winery A Mindful Approach to Stress Relief Bowdoin College Rowing The Secret Recipe to Cleonice’s Lamb Burger
Summer Fun for the
Family
$5.95
June/July 2015
Hike, paddle, explore – our ultimate guide to 7 outdoor family adventures
Your people, your region, your magazine.
JUNE/JULY 2015
features THE LIBRARY IS OPEN / 12 Willimantic couple restores town library WINE AND DINE / 14 Cellardoor Wintery brings fine food and wine to the midcoast GRAND SLAM / 16 Local youth raises major funds for Champion the Cure Challenge MIND THE STRESS / 18 Brewer physician teaches unique technique to relieve stress POLISHING A GEM / 22 The Criterion Theater in Bar Harbor gets a major renovation and new life OLD FASHIONED, NEW-FANGLED / 30 Maine general stores are a vital part of small town living THEN & NOW: SOUTHWEST HARBOR / 38 A visit to the quiet side of the island
22
7 OUTDOOR FAMILY ACTIVITIES / 44 Fun ideas to get out and enjoy the summer with the family
SPICED LAMB BURGER / 58 Dig into a highly sought-after recipe from Cleonice Mediterranean Bistro STEEPED IN TEA / 62 Enjoying all things tea at Tea House 278 CROWN OF MAINE / 79 News from Aroostook County
58 2 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
PHOTOS: (TOP) GABOR DEGRE; (BOTTOM) CARY HANSON
FOREIGN AFFAIRS / 54 Meet Ken Eisen, founder of Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville
Visit Southwest Harbor, page 38
Tea House 278, page 62
PHOTOS: (TOP) BDN FILE; RGBDIGITAL/THINKSTOCK.COM
44
in every issue
columns
TALK OF THE TOWNS / 8 News from your communities
METRO WELLNESS / 21 On parenting brave kids
BIZ BUZZ & SIGHTINGS / 10 People and places on the move
ROOTED IN ME / 57 DIY fruit creamsicles for hot days
METRO SPORTS / 51 Bowdoin College’s Rowing Club
MAINE WOODS & WATERS / 75 Tips for combatting black flies
PERSPECTIVES / 66 The unusual art of Jodi Renshaw
LAST WORD / 84 Insight and tips for family bonding
SAVVY SENIORS / 68 There’s no excuse for elder abuse REAL ESTATE / 70 Classic cape for sale in Orono
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES • Scan the code to visit us at bangormetro.com Visit us out on Facebook to enter fun giveaways! Check out our interactive map of Southwest Harbor (featured on page 38)
BONUS FEATURE! THIS IS MAINE 2015 Your guide to all Maine has to offer this summer!
More photos from events around our region.
MUSIC & CONC ERTS
EAT & DRIN K
Email your own event photos: sightings@bangormetro.com
FAMILY FUN
THEATER
OUTDOORS
MUSEUMS
THE BEST OF
50+ not to be
SUMMER
missed events
FARMERS MAR KETS
find fresh maine
LIGHTHOUSE
produce
TOUR OF MAIN discover which E ones are open to visitors
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3
editor’s note
Summer is in full swing and it’s evident that – after a longer-thannecessary winter – April showers finally brought May f lowers.
Welcome Gunner!
In our house, we also have an extra reason to celebrate as April also brought us a new baby boy. My husband Cory and I welcomed our newest addition, Gunner Jackson Thibodeau, in mid-April. Big sister Chloe couldn’t be happier or a bigger help. And although we’re all a little sleep deprived and still adjusting to having a newborn in the house again, our crazy little life is even more perfect and we can’t wait to celebrate summer in Maine. You might already have noticed that this is a special issue of Bangor Metro that features many of the things we think make Maine a great place to be in the summer. This summer we’d like to share some fabulous food from a Maine chef, outdoor activities that will help you explore in ways you might not previously have considered, and a fun feature on the general stores that once (and often still are) the focal point of Maine communities. And no matter what your plans are for taking advantage of the summer sun, be sure to check out our 2015 Summer Guide for a list of Vacationland must-dos. Whether you’re a lifelong Mainer finally getting a chance to explore the treasure of what lies in your backyard or a visitor here for the first time, get out there and experience what this great state has to offer.
Aimee Thibodeau’s daughter Chloe is one proud big sister. AIMEE THIBODEAU, MANAGING EDITOR
Connect with Bangor Metro Online! bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro editor@bangormetro.com
4 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
MANAGING EDITOR
Aimee Thibodeau athibodeau@bangordailynews.com
www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000
STAFF WRITER
ART DIRECTOR
Emily Burnham
Amy Allen
eburnham@bangordailynews.com
aallen@bangordailynews.com
SALES MANAGER
Laurie Cates lcates@bangordailynews.com
SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER
Pat Lemieux plemieux@bangordailynews.com
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5
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Improve signal to your cell phone or cellular data card, giving you maximum signal performance for rural or remote locations. Boosters available for use in car, boat, or in-building. Systems utilize outside antenna, inside antenna, power adapter, and cellular amplifier. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Bob Duchesne
Natalie Feulner
Joy Hollowell
Chris Quimby
Deb Neuman
Aislinn Sarnacki
Richard Shaw
Emilie Brand Throckmorton
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ARTISTS
Gabor Degre
Jodi Renshaw
Bangor Metro Magazine. June/July 2015, Vol. 11, No. 5. Copyright Š 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. Editorial: Queries should be sent to Aimee Thibodeau at athibodeau@bangordailynews.com. Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Manager, Laurie Cates at 207-990-8149. Subscriptions/Address Change: A one year subscription cost is $19.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date. Please contact Pat Lemieux at 207-990-8219. Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Laurie Cates at 207-990-8149.
COVER PHOTO: Elena Elisseeva/Thinkstock.com
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7
talk of the towns
Displaced millworkers taking a woodworking class at EMCC speak with Sen. Susan Collins earlier this year.
BANGOR: Twelve displaced workers, including 10 people laid off from the Verso Mill in Bucksport, are being retrained in a customized fine woodworking and cabinetmaking program at Eastern Maine Community College. The program is the result of a collaborative effort between EMCC, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and Maine Quality Centers to train dislocated workers for fine woodworking careers, primarily in the boatbuilding industry. Upon completion of the program in July, participants will have earned 14 college credits and a variety of industry8 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
recognized skills certifications. Courses include beginner, intermediate, and advanced fine woodworking as well as computer aided drafting and design, and participants will design a variety of different cabinets and furniture over the course of their training. “We have seen an increasing workforce need in Eastern Maine’s boatbuilding companies, as well as fine furniture and cabinetmaking businesses,” said Matt McLaughlin, director of business and industry for EMCC. “This training program will help former Verso workers get the education and skills needed to break into
this strong labor market.” Local boat building companies, such as Hinckley Yacht, were consulted in the development of the training program and have made commitments to interview and potentially hire trainees. “Our goal is to connect business and workforce development to ensure that businesses have available to them a workforce that fits their needs. We are happy to be part of the fine woodworking training program as it does just that,” said Hook Wheeler, deputy director of business and workforce development for Eastern Maine Development Corporation.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF EMCC, PENOBSCOT MARINE MUSEUM, AND DOWNTOWN BANGOR PARTNERSHIP.
Learning New Skills
That’s a Big Camera SEARSPORT: The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport will this summer host a huge exhibit showcasing Maine photography – specifically, the treasure trove of 35,000 historic glass plate negatives and photographs that were were rescued from a flood in 2007 by archivist Kevin Johnson. In addition to those photos, tens of thousands of negatives, prints, slides, postcards and daguerreotypes of other images taken around the world have poured into the collection, making Penobscot Marine Museum’s historical photography collection one of the largest and most comprehensive in New England. “Exploring the Magic of Photography: Painting with Light” is the museum’s first major exhibition utilizing this photography collection, which opened May 23 and will run through Oct. 18. As part of this exhibit and celebration, the museum will install on its campus a gigantic pinhole camera for the whole summer. A pinhole camera, also known as a camera obscura, is the precursor of our modern camera. Its principles were used
An artist’s rendering of the huge pinhole camera coming to the Penobscot Marine Museum.
by the ancient Greeks to observe solar eclipses. Inside the museum’s giant camera, which will measure more than eight feet in height by ten feet in length, light sensitive paper will be available for visitors to take their own “photographs” from the projected image, and paper and pencils will be available for sketching the image. In addition to the giant camera, museum visitors can visit a replica of a
help plant Girl Scouts from Troop 1046 ntown Dow 4 201 the a garden during Bangor Adopt-a-Garden day.
19th century darkroom, post their own selfies taken in the museum, and check out exhibits, including features on shipbuilding and women in photography. The PMM exhibit is part of a larger statewide program called the Maine Photo Project, which brings together 26 different organizations and sites throughout 2015 to celebrate the art of photography. For more information, visit mainephotoproject.org.
BrigDowntown htening
BANGOR: The Downtown Bangor Adopt-a-Garden program has grown to include more than 90 spots. The community event, this year held on May 16, invited individuals, families, organizations and businesses to “adopt” a tiny piece of land in downtown Bangor and plant flowers, shrubs, decorative plants and even fruits and vegetables. This year, all 90 sites – ranging from a four-by-four foot square of sod around a tree on the sidewalk to full flower beds in parks and green spaces downtown – were adopted in less than one week of being posted online. Volunteers are tasked with planning their garden, supplying the plants and planting them, and periodically maintaining them through the summer and fall. Several volunteers, including Bangor resident Marcia McGrath, water side streets and less prominent garden sites multiple times through the year, in an effort to further beautify downtown. Lowe’s Home Improvement donated more than 2,000 seed packets for volunteers interested in starting their own seedlings; many volunteers also purchase seedlings and other plants from area nurseries. Volunteer gardeners have planted everything from a children’s garden sporting rainbow-colored flowers inspired by Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” to simple plots of marigolds and pansies. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9
biz buzz & sightings On the Move STEPHAN BUNKER, vice
chair of the Farmington Board of Selectmen, has been named Maine Municipal Association president, and LAURIE SMITH, town manager in Kennebunkport, was appointed MMA’s Vice President. Bunker replaces former Ellsworth city manager Michelle Beal. Smith, who has served on MMA’s executive committee since January 2012, replaces Bunker as vice president. TOWLE TOMPKINS recently
joined the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in Maine as its new executive director. Towle has supervised the marketing, sales, production, and creative aspects of television, digital, print, and events at Maine’s two CBS television affiliates; the Maine cable channel, Outside Television; and at the Bangor Daily News. He has served on the boards of the American Diabetes Association, United Way, Portland Ballet, and Maine Medical Center’s Children’s Miracle Network. KRISTA K. PUTNAM has
been promoted to vice president of marketing for Katahdin Trust Company. Putnam joined Katahdin Trust Company as marketing assistant in 2003, was promoted to marketing officer in 2008 and to assistant vice president of marketing in 2012. In her new role she will continue with responsibilities in all areas of marketing and will assume additional duties in management and communications. A Washburn native, Putnam attended Washburn schools and received a B.S. in Business Administration from Husson University. ANDREA IRWIN has been selected as the
Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center’s next executive director, beginning June 1. Irwin worked previously as staff attorney and policy
10 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
advocate Consumers for Affordable Health Care, as well as its legal and policy director for the past year. She was a health and reproductive rights law fellow for the National Women’s Law Center. She currently serves on the board of the Maine Women’s Lobby and is a member of Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Andrea grew up in Brewer, graduated from Bates College and earned her law degree from American University in 2006. Opera House Arts in Stonington has appointed MEG TAINTOR as its new producing artistic director, beginning June 1, taking over for outgoing director Linda Nelson, who was one of the founding directors of OHA. Taintor is a Boston-based director, producer, actor, teacher, and community organizer. She currently directs a team at ArtsEmerson: The World on Stage at Emerson University in Boston. For nine years, Taintor served as the artistic director for Whistler in the Dark Theatre. She is a co-founder of the Small Theatre Alliance of Boston, where she served as the inaugural president of the board, and has also served on the Board at StageSource, the theater service organization of Boston.
Awards The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that Rockland business owner KATE MCALEER of Bixby & Co. LLC is the winner of its annual Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2015. Bixby & Co. LLC is located in Rockland, and was started in 2011 by McAleer as an organic producer of chocolate bars. In 2013, the company moved to Maine from New York state. Since the move, McAleer has participated in numerous entrepreneurial development opportunities, such as Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development’s “Top Gun” program, Gorham Savings Bank’s “Launchpad” competition, and the Women’s Business Center at CEI. Brewer businessman JOE CYR was honored at the annual Franco-American Day celebration at the State House this spring. Cyr, who is president and CEO of John T. Cyr & Sons in Old Town, was inducted into the Franco-American Hall
of Fame during a day-long celebration of French and Canadian culture and language in Maine. Local illustrator/author JOSH ALVES was recently selected as the winner of the international TigerCreate interactive book competition. A panel of publishing professionals selected the Glenburn artist’s entry as the winner of all three categories: Innovation, Interactivity and Kid’s Favorite. Along with publication in the Tiger Books app, Alves will be flown to Italy to receive the award at a ceremony during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. LISA POHLMANN, executive director of
the Natural Resources Council of Maine, received high distinction from the National Wildlife Federation for her work protecting Maine’s environment. The Women in Conservation Award is presented to women that have shown exceptional leadership and dedication to issues related to conservation and climate action. Pohlmann was applauded for her contributions to efforts that reduce carbon emissions, promote clean energy, and protect wildlife and their habitats from risks posed by climate disruption.
Grants THE AROOSTOOK MEDICAL CENTER
(TAMC) is working to reduce incidents of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome locally through both education, and through a gift that new parents can put to use at home. TAMC presents each new infant born at the hospital with a HALO sleep blanket. The American Academy of Pediatrics, First Candle/ SIDS Alliance and the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Death all suggest the use of a wearable blanket, like the HALO SleepSack, instead of a loose blanket to help keep a baby warm. Loose blankets in the crib pose a significant risk to the baby as they can cover the face and interfere with breathing. In addition to its role in sleep safety, these wearable blankets, embroidered with the TAMC logo, serve as a commemorative gift from the hospital staff.
Whether you want
to dress up, dig in the dirt or enjoy people watching, our region is bustling with events for all. PHOTOS BY JEFF KIRLIN
1: The Friends of the Cross Insurance Center held their annual Gala event in April, which raised $50,000 for the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, the Shaw House, and Spruce Run/ Womancare Alliance. Left to right, Josh DiFranco, Rebecca Lloyd, Lily Fryer and Robert Fryer.
1
2
3
2: One of the true signs of spring is the BDN Garden Show. Jessica Ladd, Joe Ladd and Jeremy Ladd of JL Landscaping won Best of Show and Best Hardscape in the landscaping competition at the show. 3: The Rock & Art Shop in downtown Bangor held an opening reception in April for The Identify Project, a photographic exhibit by Jodi Renshaw depicting ordinary Maine residents, asking spectators to guess what political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation and personality traits the people in the photos might be, based solely on appearance. Left to right, Jodi Renshaw, Einstein Scott Hickman and Officer Russ Twaddell of the Bangor Police Dept. 4: Mike Wellington and Melissa Higgins of Sprague’s Nursery and Greenhouse at their booth at the BDN Garden Show.
4
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11
unsung hero
David and Madeleine Thayer
The Library is
OPEN
schoolhouse in the tiny Piscataquis County town of Willimantic hadn’t been in regular use since the 1970s and had slowly fallen into disrepair. But in the past few years, the 19th century clapboard building has had new life breathed into it by a couple of dedicated volunteers. David and Madeleine Thayer, both retirees and longtime residents of the town, since 2009 have devoted countless hours of their own time – and often their own money – to renovating the old schoolhouse into a fully functional library. The Norton’s Corner Schoolhouse and Library, open Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. year-round, now boasts an ever-expanding collection of books, a number of historical documents collected over the town’s existence, and provides vital internet access for many 12 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
residents who are unable to get internet at their homes due to the remoteness of the town, population 135. “We just wanted to bring it back together and have a library for the town,” said David Thayer, now in his 80s. “It was a slow process to fix it up, but we took our time with it. We wanted people to have a gathering place for the community.” The Thayers spearheaded efforts to fix the roof of the building, remove dangerous lead paint, install new windows and a ramp, and renovate the interior. They managed to salvage some of the old school desks and blackboards, which sit alongside new tables and shelving units. Since 2013 it’s been a fully functional library, and in addition to lending books and offering wireless internet, it’s also played host to a variety of events, including presentations on
making maple syrup and on the Civil War. Madeleine Thayer volunteers at the library leading crafting and art workshops, and helps to run a summer reading program for kids. Year-round, residents of all ages can be found sitting on the stoop of the building, utilizing the WiFi that they can’t get at home. “It just gives people an outlet to do their thing,” said David Thayer. “It was a need the community had and we’re glad we could do something about it.” The Thayers are selling wooden birdhouses, constructed by hand by David Thayer, to benefit the library. They are selling for $20 and are available at the library during regular library hours. For more information and updates on future programming, look up the Norton’s Corner Schoolhouse and Library on Facebook.
PHOTOS: MARILYN TOURTELOTTE
T
he old one-room
Willimantic couple leads charge to restore town library. BY EMILY BURNHAM
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eye on industry Bettina Doulton holds some of the wines her vinyard, Cellardoor Winery, makes.
W
hen Bettina
Doulton phoned her mother to tell her she was buying a farm in Maine, the silence that followed her big announcement was very loud. “You could have heard a pin drop,” said Doulton. It was in 2007, and Doulton was ready to make a major life change after a two decade long career in the finance
“I’m very proud of where we’ve taken the business. It has evolved a lot,” she said. The winery currently produces 23 wines manufactured in a 15,000 square foot winemaking facility. Most of the grapes used in their wines are brought in from California and Washington, but some wines combine Maine fruits in their blends. Last year the winery produced 13,000 cases of wine.
Wine and
Dine
Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville brings fine food and wine to the Midcoast. BY DEB NEUMAN
14 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
industry in Boston and a personal battle with cancer. Today, that farm is Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville, which has become a destination for those who want to experience great wines in an atmosphere that combines the character of a Maine farmhouse with modern design in a picturesque setting. In addition to the wine, Cellardoor has become known for offering events that range from wine pairing lunches to well-known musical acts performing in the vineyard, including Huey Lewis and the News, Chakka Khan, Al Jarreau and Colbie Caillat. When Doulton acquired the 68 acre property from the former owners, she took the winery they had already started and developed it further, expanding the facilities, the wine production, entertainment and the overall guest experience.
“We probably offer too many wines, but we like to offer a full palate from dry wines to fuller bodied to novelty and specialty wines,” said Doulton. “We really want everyone to find a wine that suits their palate and taste. We love helping our guests discover what kind of wines they like. Buying wine shouldn’t be intimidating.” Cellardoor has been patiently growing its own grapes in its vineyard, and will produce its first estate wine this year, made with its own Maine-grown grapes. “Growing grapes in Maine is brutal and one of the most challenging parts of this business.” said Doulton. “You can’t beat Mother Nature.” Arriving at Cellardoor, one of the first things you’ll see will be the “H” symbol throughout the property and on every bottle of wine. Early in the 20th century, a hobo searching for work and safe haven carved the symbol in the farmhouse door. His mark signaled to fellow travelers that the 200-year old farm was a safe, welcoming place. That is exactly what you will find there today. The Cellardoor experience is friendly and intimate, and Doulton and her team greet their guests with a warm welcome and a smile. Guests can sit comfortably around an inviting bar to sample wines and engage in conversation with the knowledgeable members of the staff. They can browse the shop that offers an extensive selection of wines, unique gifts and Maine made products. They can take a class and attend a private function or event. Providing an exceptional guest experience is the number one priority for Doulton and her team of 30 full and part time employees.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CELLARDOOR WINERY
We really want everyone to find a wine that suits their palate and taste. We love helping our guests discover what kind of wines they like.”
“We’re fortunate that we work in a business where people are already in a good state of mind when they come here,” she said. “We want to make their experience the very best it can be. We have to constantly evolve to keep our guests interested. What we did last year was not enough. We want to exceed their expectations.” Cellardoor attracts visitors who live both nearby and far away. “We have become a destination winery for people. When we started out we were riding the coat tails of other businesses in the area. We were what you did on a rainy day,” Doulton said. “Today we are proud that we contribute to the local economy by attracting people to our winery and referring them to other businesses in the area.” One of those guests has been Doulton’s mother, who at first was not overly enthusiastic about her daughter’s intent to move to Maine to buy a farm. On her first visit she looked around and was clearly impressed. “[She said] ‘Oh, this is nice. Really nice. I’m liking this ‘barn’ thing,’” said Doulton.
The interior of the barn at Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville.
B
aseball legend
Grand Slam
Local youth raises more than $20,000 for Champion the Cure Challenge. STORY BY DEB NEUMAN
Above: Tommy Hosmer with his beloved grandmother “Mimi.” Below: Tommy accepts a check from Rick Varney. Varney Buick GMC in Bangor is the Team Mimi Homerun Hero sponsor of Tommy’s annual softball tournament fundraiser.
16 / BANGOR METRO May 2015
Jackie Robinson once said, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” That quote is a favorite of Tommy Hosmer, a Bangor youth who in the 14 years he has lived has made more of an impact on other people’s lives than most of us will in a lifetime. Hosmer, a freshman at Bangor High School, has raised more than $20,000 for Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Champion the Cure Challenge, to fund local cancer research. He was 10 years old when he began fundraising to honor his beloved grandmother, “Mimi,” who passed away after a three battle with ovarian cancer. “She was sick for almost half my life,” said Hosmer. “I did get to see her one last time before she died and tell her I loved her. She squeezed my hand.” His family’s loss led him to want to do something about it. “I don’t want other families to go through what we went through,” he said. Mimi passed away just before the opening of a state of the art cancer care center in Brewer, Maine. The Lafayette Family Cancer Center opened its doors in 2009, and Hosmer’s grandmother wanted to go there for treatment. She died just before they opened. Inside the Lafayette Family Cancer Center are walls with names of donors in honor of friends and family. “I wanted to raise enough money so Mimi’s name could be on that wall so people will remember her,” said Hosmer. He started his fundraising efforts in 2010 with a book sale, after a neighbor gave him 188 romance novels after cleaning out the house of a relative. “I wanted to do something good with those books so I decided to have a book and bake sale for Mimi,” he said. The media heard about what Hosmer was doing and he was featured on local TV stations and CNN. “That brought in a lot more books – 4,000 total,” he said. “I even went to Stephen King’s office and they gave me a limited edition book to raffle off.” The following year, Hosmer decided to take his fundraising to another lev-
el. A baseball fan and player, he thought it would be a great idea to organize a softball tournament in Mimi’s name. “Mimi used to come to my games and sit in the car and watch me play,” he said. Twelve teams signed up to play in the Team Mimi Annual Softball Tournament, and area businesses donated food, shirts, and other items. “I write a lot of letters to businesses asking for donations,” Hosmer said. “I’m shy, so it’s hard especially when I get ‘no’ for an answer. But most of the time I get a ‘yes,’ and that is what keeps me going.” That first tournament raised more than $5,000, and it continues to grow. Recently, Hosmer wrote to businesses asking if they would become a major sponsor for his fundraising. After meeting him, Rick Varney from Varney Buick GMC in Bangor gave Hosmer the first donation and became the first Team Mimi Homerun Hero. “I never thought it would grow into something this big,” says Hosmer. “I even have business cards now.” All of his success and recognition for his efforts has not gone to his head. Hosmer was among those honored at an event for raising money for the EMCC Champion the Cure Challenge. “I’m just some kid who raises money through softball tournaments, and these grown-ups who give so much more money actually talked to me,” he said. At one such event six-year-old Tyler Priest of Old Town took notice of Hosmer’s accomplishments and became inspired to do something too. The two youngsters have now teamed up to raise money together, through their “Seeds of Hope” idea. Lowe’s of Brewer donated seed packets, and the pair are giving them away for a suggested $5 donation. “It feels really cool that someone that young was inspired by someone like me to help out,” said Hosmer. Future fundraising plans include more softball tournaments and other events to honor his grandmother by helping out cancer patients and their families. “Mimi taught me about giving. She always did good things for people and always wanted to do more. I will keep striving to honor her by helping others.” For more information, look up “Team Mimi’s Annual Softball Tournament” on Facebook, or visit the EMMC Champion the Cure Challenge website at ctcchallenge.org.
PHOTOS: (TOP) COURTESY OF BOBBI HOSMER; (BOTTOM) EMILY BURNHAM
movers & shakers
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17
metro health
Mind the Stress Brewer physician uses meditation to help relieve stress and encourage health. STORY BY JOY HOLLOWELL PHOTOS BY EMILY BURNHAM
18 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
A
s a family physician
in Brewer, Dr. Mary Eyerer would ask her patients at yearly physicals about their spiritual wellbeing. But what she discovered is that a number of patients were actually put off by the question. “I was trying to open a dialogue about that. Research shows that spirituality has an effect on health,” said Eyerer. “I stopped because I sensed that it caused some defensiveness.” Eyerer wanted to find a different way to connect with her patients on a higher level. A long time meditator, at that time she had just participated in a Circle of Trust retreat, which focuses on the importance of aligning a person's work with their inner values. It was there that
Eyerer's instructor suggested she teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, which was started in 1979 by Jon KabatZinn, who at the time was a molecular biology graduate student at MIT. Kabat-Zinn’s method is based in understanding how the body and mind react to one another and learn how the two can work in symmetry – there’s no religion of any sort involved, and approaches mindfulness and meditation from a more scientific standpoint. Initially Kabat-Zinn offered it to patients in chronic pain, but today, the eightweek course is taught around the world to a variety of people. “Mindfulness is taught in schools, to the military and to law enforcement around the United States,” said Eyerer.
“Studies show that those who go through the course make fewer errors in battle.” Eyerer took an eight-week class in 2012 at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness in Shrewsbury, Mass. She also took a week-long course with Jon Kabat-Zinn in California. Her classes now take place at the Green Gem Holistic Healing Oasis in Bangor. At first, her students were primarily her patients. Now that’s a very small percentage of her class, as word has spread. Most who start the class are surprised to learn just how much of an impact stress can have on their lives. “When we're stressed, there is no saber toothed tiger, but we act like there is one,” explained Eyerer. “About 85 percent of our brain is wired to have that – you're almost in a car accident response. And because there's no socially acceptable way to react to a giant stress, we put it into our bodies, which leads to all kinds of problems.” The Green Gem Holistic Healing Oasis in Bangor.
Left: Dr. Mary Eyerer at the Green Gem Holistic Healing Oasis in Bangor. This photo: Dr. Eyerer teaching her students meditation techniques.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19
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20 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
Eyerer says that just like other muscles, the brain can also be strengthened and changed. “Research shows that the amygdala, which is the part of your brain that fires when you're under stress, shrinks in people who've done mindfulness based stress reduction,” said Eyerer. “It can happen as soon as three weeks.” As a real estate agent in the Bangor area for more than 30 years, Joan Osler knows a little bit about stress. “Oh, most definitely,” she agreed with a laugh. Osler also runs the Blue Heron Wellness Center in downtown Bangor where Eyerer previously taught her classes. Osler decided to go through the program this past winter. “I try to practice being mindful daily,” said Osler. “It helps to be able to find time
not about getting rid of the thoughts – it's about taking a tiny step back from them. The thoughts are always going to be there but we can become more aware.” The real crown jewel of the class, as Eyerer calls it, happens between week six and seven. “That's when we go on a day of silent retreat together,” she said. No talking and no eye contact for six straight hours. “People are nervous at first, but they like it after,” Eyerer said. “The silent lunch is neat because I ask them to bring something crunchy to eat.” Kim Walls says Eyerer made her feel at ease throughout the eight weeks. The Orrington woman calls herself a “semiregular meditator” who wanted to deepen that practice as well as help reduce the stress in her life.
“It's extraordinarily empowering to realize that we always have a choice. It really is like being mentally fit.” – Dr. Mary Eyerer for just me and let all the mind chatter go. And I find that I'm more productive when I can do that on a regular basis.” “We tend to be pretty cut off from our bodies, especially if we're in pain,” said Eyerer. “So initially in the class, it's about becoming aware of the body and realizing there is this capacity to be steady.” The course begins with a raisin. “We notice the raisin – how it feels, how it smells, how it sounds,” explained Eyerer. “How amazing it will be put it in your mouth. And then when we do, how that raisin tastes, the urge to swallow, and your judgments on all of those experiences.” Homework that first week is what Eyerer calls a body scan. “This takes 30-40 minutes,” she explained. “And it's just being with the body. Starting with your big toe and then working your way up. The idea is to get out of our head.” As the weeks go on, students are asked to notice one pleasant thing every day as well as something unpleasant, and how the body and mind react. “The idea is to notice those thoughts and strive to be patient with those thoughts when they come up again, and again and again,” explains Eyerer. “It's
“One of the things she asked us to do was pick something every day to do mindfully,” said Walls. “I decided to try to mindfully shower in the morning so I could get the task off my plate. It surprised me how different this really felt versus my old way of showering. It's something I still practice.” Like many women, Walls says she's always been a multi-tasker. “That doesn't seem so important to me now,” she says. “The important things still get done but mindfulness meditation has slowed me down and shifted my priorities. It has really opened up more time and space for me to fully live.” Eyerer said the classes can get emotional, as participants release their inner thoughts and anxieties. Those emotions run the gamut from tears and frustration to relief and delight. “It's extraordinarily empowering to realize that we always have a choice,” she said. “It really is like being mentally fit.” Eyerer offers the course throughout year at the Green Gem Holistic Healing Oasis, located at 900 State St. in Bangor. The class costs $220 and partial scholarships are available. For more information, visit MindfulnessMaine.org.
metro
wellness
Leaps
of Faith On Parenting Brave Kids.
PHOTO: JOGGIEBOTMA/THINKSTOCK.COM
I
BY EMILIE BRAND THROCKMORTON
often reference
Ray Bradbury’s famous quote with my students: “Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.” I would go so far as to say that I live by Bradbury’s decree, that I have enough faith in myself to “jump” even when I’m not sure of the outcome. But thanks to two of my kids this year, I was forced to reflect on the more literal meaning of this expression. My step-daughter Hillary, who graduated from college last month, jumped out of an airplane. My eight-year old son Reed, snowboarded over a large jump at a terrain park on Sugarloaf Mountain. While Hillary and Reed are similarly tenacious and courageous, their big jumps had opposite outcomes. Hillary landed gracefully on the ground with a huge smile. Reed got way too much air on his jump and landed so hard on his back that he was immediately met by the ski patrol who strapped him to a spinal board, and then took him by ambulance to the emergency room. But let’s rewind the footage and put them both back in the air. When Hillary went sky-diving, she paid the extra fee to have the jump filmed and edited into a cool music video, which is why I can so vividly describe the details of her leap. The videographer flew in the little prop plane alongside Hillary and captured the view from 10,000 feet, and proved to us how extremely calm Hillary was. Even moments before, when I would be a quivering wreck, she was just visibly excited about the impending jump. Next the video shows the side of the plane open and Hillary’s skydiving instructor scoot her over so that she was sitting with her legs dangling out of the plane. In the next six seconds, something
amazing happened: Hillary’s face flashed with what I can only describe as primal fear, and her hands frantically searched for something to grab onto. She was face-to-face with the open sky, and it was as if she realized for the first time that she was about to jump out of a plane. And then you see her decide to not be afraid. (I’ve watched this part many times.) With one deep breath, her face actually changed from sheer terror to determination, and she mouthed “Let’s GO!” She then rocked back and forth, counted to three, and whoosh, she was flying. Thankfully, I don’t have video footage of Reed’s ill-fated jump, but the image is burned in my memory. My little blonde snowboarder was having the time of his life that warm, sunny day on the mountain. Even though it scared me, I accompanied him down the half-pipe and then up and over the four jumps below it. Reed may be young, but he is athletic and capable on a snowboard. However, his confidence is not quite proportional to his skill. He took the first two jumps slowly, not much air, with sloppy landings. Third jump, he caught a little more air and landed it perfectly. I saw him pump his fists in the air and cheered for him. On the fourth jump, he got too much air and went flying. Too much speed. Too much confidence. My brave boy with the blue blue sky in front of him; if only I could hit the pause button just there and we could reflect together on the price of being overconfident.
With Hillary, I had the benefit of seeing her jump out a plane only once she was sitting next to me with all of her limbs intact. But after Reed’s jump, I had to watch him lying in the snow unable to move and struggling for breath. I then skied behind his stretcher and rode an hour in an ambulance before the doctors in the ER determined that nothing was broken. That evening, with only a few bruises, he walked out of the hospital and into the ice cream shop where I had promised him a large with extra sprinkles. While I wouldn’t necessarily say that I am glad Hillary hurled herself out of a plane, I am incredibly proud. Most people say they want to go skydiving, but Hillary did it with fearless grace. And even in hindsight, I would not make a different decision about taking Reed snowboarding down that trail. He learned some life lessons the hard way and will be more cautious now, but hurting himself did not change who he is, a gutsy and spirited child. As parents, we want our kids to be brave and confident. We want them to take risks and push their own limits. We are reminded to “let them fall down.” All of these leaps of faith mean sometimes I am left to hold my breath, sometimes I have to look away, sometimes I have to ride in the back of an ambulance squeezing tightly onto a little hand. But I have decided that worry and heart-pounding moments are a fair price for the honor of sharing my life with kids who are brave enough to trust their wings.
EMILIE BRAND THROCKMORTON is a mom and runner who co-chairs the English Department at Bangor High School and writes the blog One Mom in Maine.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21
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Polishing a Gem The Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor gets a major renovation and creative rebirth. STORY BY EMILY BURNHAM | PHOTOS BY GABOR DEGRE
The interior of the Criterion Theatre, one week before it opened for this summer. 22 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
W
hen it opened
in 1932, the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor was built to top of the line specifications, reflecting the art deco movement of the era. A great glass chandelier cast the auditorium in gauzy, diffused light. Elegant silk tapestries lined the walls. The chairs, doorways, bannisters and even bathrooms were adorned with custom-made decorative moldings. The “flying” balcony – suspended by steel bars, rather than held up by columns – held private loge boxes. There even was a speakeasy in the basement, for patrons in the know that wanted to indulge in a couple of illicit Prohibition-era pops. When transportation magnate George McKay and his partners opened the Criterion all those years ago, it was heralded as an engineering marvel and a grand house for orchestras, operas, ballet, vaudeville and then-new talking pictures. John Barrymore and Greta Garbo sent congratulatory telegrams. People with last names like Rockefeller and Vanderbilt sat in those balcony loge boxes. In its heydey, it was a gem among gems on Mt. Desert Island. Three-quarters of a century later, the 800-seat Criterion Theatre was in an entirely different state. Mold had crept into the walls and the tapestries. The chairs were creaky and the bricks were warped. A variety of financial woes and revolving landlords and building managers added further troubles. Aside from a handful of live events and movies on the weekends, for the most part, the Criterion sat dark for the better part of a decade. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23
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Opening day fo r the summer season at the 1937, when th Criterion – back e theater was in showing Disney 's "Snow White ."
24 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
A fresh start, a firm footing
Michael Boland, chair of the Bar Harbor Jazz Festival and one-time owner of the theatre, has loved the Criterion since he first moved to the island. The history, the potential, and of course, the architectural beauty of the space has held a special place in his heart since he first walked through its doors more than 25 years ago. “There’s just something about it. It’s beautiful, of course… it’s incredible to think that a space that’s so well-preserved is right here in town. It’s truly a landmark,” said Boland, who owns Bar Harbor restaurants including Havana, Guinness & Porcelli’s and the ChocoLatte. “But it still needed a ton of work. It has for a long time. And now, finally, we’re able to do it.” The McKay family – including Criterion founder George McKay – owned the theater for more than 30 years, before selling it to MDI summer resident Betty Jean Morison in the late 1960s. Boland and his former partners bought the theater in 2001 from Morison, then sold it six years later to Erin Early Ward and her then-husband Anthony Uliano for $1.4 million. A nonprofit group was established to rent and operate the theater, but they struggled with financial solvency and other problems – including racking
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO: COURTESY OF CRITERION THEATRE
Scenes of the interior of the Criterion during the months of renovation; improvements included new walls, new chairs, an extended stage and new carpeting.
Until, that is, a series of extremely fortunate events in September and October 2014 turned it all around. An anonymous donor gave $2 million to the Bar Harbor Jazz Festival, the non-profit organization that produces the summer festival of the same name, in order to buy the Criterion. Within a few weeks, the BHJF had purchased it for $1.4 million, with the remaining cash left over to sink into the muchneeded major renovations. After years in the dark, finally, the lights are back on.
Criterion executive director Eli Mellen stands beneath the marquee of the newly-renovated theater. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25
feature story up a $150,000 bill to rebuild the marquee – before they ran out of money and lost their lease in 2011. With the $2 million gift, the Criterion is now owned in full by the Bar Harbor Jazz Festival non-profit, meaning the theater is now debt-free and eligible for grants and tax benefits, and able to pay for those renovations and hire staff, including new executive director Eli Mellen. “This is a gift that really ensures the future of the theater,” said Boland. “I’m sure people got tired of dining at Havana because I’d ask them how their dinner was and then ask them if they had an extra two million to buy the theater.” Renovating the historic theatre has been no small feat – though smaller cosmetic renovations have happened over the past eight decades, nothing major has happened in all those years. Boland and his lead contractor, Cassady Pappas, knew they had to strike a balance between needed updates and fixes, and preserving the historic nature of the building. Fortunately for them, the history of the building has been well-documented over the years. “A full historical renovation means you remove nothing – not even the plaster,” said Boland. “We just couldn’t do that. There are things we had to do for
energy efficiency, for financial reasons… but everything we’ve done is based on what is historically accurate. On what this place looked like in the 30s.” The biggest project has been the mold remediation – a problem that’s plagued the Criterion for decades. Contractors had to tear down the plaster on the walls on both sides of the stage and remove the silk tapestries; tapestries that have hung there since the 1930s. “You can’t just scrub the surface and be done with the mold. You have to get into the walls,” said Boland. “Those silk panels had to come down, as sad as it is. They were just too moldy and mildewy… but we recreated the exact pattern on the new panels, just as we’re having the carpets replaced with new carpets with the exact 1930s pattern.” Though companies in Florida and Pennsylvania made the new carpets and fabrics, they were installed by local companies like Family Floor Store in Ellsworth – and the handmade glass
sconce covers throughout the building that needed replacing were made and installed by O&P Glass in Waterville. The floors have been stripped and replaced with period accurate red-andblack tiles, the original color of the tiles in the 1930s. The seats in the auditorium were re-upholstered with plush purple velour, but the bottom frames of the chairs remain the same. In particular, the “standards” – the sides of the chairs – are the originals from the 1930s, each featuring a original art deco design, cast and molded for each individual seat. Crews have also reset the seats and removed a few of them, giving audience members more leg and elbow room.
After months of renovation, the interior of the Criterion is brought to shiny new life, included restored seats, fresh paint and balcony seating rearranged for comfort and aesthetics.
26 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
Since 1947
“They have that patina and vibe that you know someone has held onto these things for all these years, through scary movies and funny movies,” said Boland. “People that have been here before will notice immediately that there’s more room. It’s much more comfortable.. and amazingly, the company that made these seats, Irwin Seating [in Michigan], is still around.” Other renovations include making all the bathrooms disability accessible, installing a brand new PA system, and reducing the size of the orchestra pit beneath the stage but extending the stage a few feet in a thrust. Later this year, the organization plans to install a new heating system in time for the winter. The Criterion has also purchased a digital projector for the theatre – a $70,000 investment that will bring the theater into the 21st century as a movie house, and will allow them to show firstrun movies like the upcoming new “Star Wars” films and other big blockbusters. Some things haven’t changed at all, however. The floating balcony still stands solid, one of the largest on the east coast and renowned as major feat of engineering when it was built in the 30s. The loge boxes will remain in place, though seats
have been removed to make the boxes roomier. And that beautiful glass chandelier, made in the 1930s in France, still hangs above the audience, adding oldfashioned ambience to the space. “It’s remarkable just how many things haven’t changed at all,” said Boland.
Taking the stage
Along with the renovations, the remaining amount of the $2 million donation given to the Bar Harbor Jazz Festival after buying the building went towards hiring
hometown of Washington, DC. “The pace of life, the way of life here is just much more my style,” said Mellen. “I want to feel like I’m a part of a community.” Creating community is Mellen’s passion – and running the day-to-day operations and programming at the Criterion is one of the best ways to do it. After all, as much as the Criterion is a happening spot for the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit MDI each year, it’s also a place for the community to gather, especially during the colder months.
The floating balcony still stands solid, one of the largest on the east coast and renowned as major feat of engineering when it was built in the 30s. staff. First order of business: hiring executive director Eli Mellen. Mellen, 26, graduated from College of the Atlantic in 2011, but knew he wanted to make Bar Harbor his home even before he finished school. He far preferred the tight knit small town community of Bar Harbor to the harried frenzy of his
Mellen, who has also worked at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor and as a curator at the Naturalist’s Notebook in Seal Harbor, seeks to create an events lineup at the Criterion that serves all the town’s demographics. Summer residents, who enjoy the opera or classical music; families with young children, www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27
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looking for things to do together; COA students and other young people who want to see bands and local art; and movies and theater, for everyone. “We’re starting slow, certainly, but we’ve got lots of ideas,” said Mellen. “As the summer progresses you can expect to see the schedule really start to flesh out.” Right off the bat, however, Mellen booked two things. The Criterion opened to the public on May 1 with the premiere of Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” setting the course for yearround movies. And starting in late May, the Barn Arts Collective (formerly the Mohawk Arts Collective) began offering their original choose-your-own-adventure children’s theater experience, “We Run The Ship.” Mellen wanted to work with Barn Arts, a performing arts collective that operating out of Bass Harbor, because the collective has already immersed itself in the MDI community, from offering cabarets, variety shows, children’s theater and concerts at the Common Good Cafe in Southwest Harbor, to hosting summer residencies for artists from 28 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
Despite all the renovation, some things at the Criterion stay the same, like the great glass chandelier on the ceiling and the little art deco touches, like the bathroom signs.
all over the country. “We Run The Ship” is an interactive musical theater and puppet show, in which kids aged 5 to 12 choose the direction of the plot. “There’s not a lot for families to do together in town in Bar Harbor, so this is something that’s really fun and unique that everybody can enjoy,” said Mellen. Other events planned for the summer include performances during the Bar Harbor Music Festival and the Bar Harbor Jazz Festival, live music from both local and nationally known bands and artists, and, hopefully, some musical theater. All the things that have happened over the past year – less than a year, actually – have dovetailed, in what’s particularly good timing for the Criterion. The renovations and the new staff and new creative direction are ushering in what both Mellen and Boland hope is a new era of creative community for Mt. Desert Island – and for eastern Maine as a whole.
“I feel like now is a really great time for the arts in Maine. There’s something really unique happening, and I think this is an amazing time for the Criterion to come back and to be a part of it,” said Mellen. “We have an incredible opportunity to become a hub for something extremely special.” For more information on the Criterion, like them on Facebook or visit www.criteriontheatre.org.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29
feature story
PHOTO: BRIAN FEULNER
Regular customers enjoy a cup of coffee at the Pine Tree Store in Grand Lake Stream, where you can pick up lots of sundries, like the fishing flies pictured in the foreground.
30 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
Old-Fashioned, New-Fangled General stores are still a vital part of small town life in Maine. BY EMILY BURNHAM
I
t’s lunchtime.
You’re hungry. You also have a couple sundry items you’ve got to pick up, and you don’t want to go out of your way to get them. You know exactly where you’re going to go to get what you need, and you’ll probably end up running into somebody you know while you’re there and catching up on the local news or gossip. You’re going to the general store, right down the road. The general store is a seemingly oldfashioned symbol of small town living. A place where you can get breakfast or lunch, grab a newspaper or a cup of coffee, get gas, get snacks for a long day spent snowmobiling, hunting or hiking, get paper towels or cat food, see your second cousin Bobby or that nice lady that works at the bank – all the while supporting a local business. While the general store might be considered a relic of a simpler time when giant chains didn’t dominate the country, there’s plenty of them right here in Maine, where the rural life is alive and well. And many of them are offering food, beverages and other goods that are decidedly www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31
feature story 21st century, be it locally grown organic produce, craft beer and cider, or art from local artists. Though you can still get coffee and a paper and fill up the tank. Some things never change. Here’s 18 spots from York to St. Agatha that we think epitomize all the good things about your local general store.
Hussey’s General Store 510 Ridge Road, Windsor
Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily Why it’s special: You’ve probably seen the sign on social media: Guns. Cold Beer. Wedding dresses. Hussey’s sells a little bit of everything, from groceries, gas and booze to hardware, sporting goods and, yes, Bonny Bridal, a full service bridal shop. A true original. A must buy: An Italian sub and some fresh baked cookies – sounds pretty good right now, doesn’t it?
H.B. Provisions
15 Western Ave. Kennebunk Hours: Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
A must buy: The legendary Seven Napkin Burger. Made famous by TV and magazines nationwide. Voted by a number of publications as the best burger in Maine. There’s a reason it calls for seven napkins.
A must buy: The Corned Beef Hash, made in house; they also make ‘cronuts,’ the doughnut-croissant hybrid.
Kokadjo Trading Post
Owls Head General Store
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; call 695-3993
2 South Shore Drive, Owls Head Hours: Open daily year round, except for a winter break around March. Why it’s special: There are an awful lot of things to love about this store – breakfast, lunch and dinner. House made cakes, pies and other sweet treats that are out of this world. Seasonal menu items and locally made gifts. Nice people, too.
3434 Lily Bay Road, Kokadjo Why it’s special: The last stop before miles of wilderness, this general store, restaurant, cabin rental and everything in between lies 18 miles north of Greenville on Moosehead Lake. Snacks, groceries, beer and wine and souvenirs – and dinner eat in or take out, too. One stop shopping for adventurers. A must buy: Prime rib on Fridays. Get some motor oil or something with a moose on it, too.
PHOTOS: (HUSSEY’S) BDN FILE; (COFFEE) DANIEL COLE/THINKSTOCK.COM
Why it’s special: Snacks, wine, sandwiches and other deli items, but also the feeling of two women – owners Helen
and Bonnie – who have made it their job to make their store a community center. They even run a fuel fund to help those in need get through the winter. Former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara are purported to be big fans.
32 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
PHOTO: COURTESY OF KRISTI UNRUH FRANKLIN OF KIKI'S CORNER PHOTOGRAPHY
(Left) The exterior of Hussey's General Store in Winthrop. (This photo) A young customer at the Owls Head General Store enjoys a Seven Napkin Burger. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33
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Babin’s Grocery Outlet
358 West Main St., St. Agatha
each other. Pizza, sandwiches, groceries and a sassy, fun-loving staff.
Hours: Open daily, but call ahead to make sure; 543-9369
A must buy: Get a loaf of Friar’s Bakehouse bread, or get a killer BLT.
Why it’s special: A real, genuine family-owned general store in the heart of the St. John Valley, where you can buy specialty Acadian food items right alongside movie rental, a tanning booth and a full service lunch counter.
East Boothbay General Store
255 Ocean Point Road, East Boothbay
fishing in the summer or snowmobiling in the winter, the Pine Tree Store in Grand Lake Stream is the center of the community year-round. It’s an old-fashioned general store in the truest sense of the word: groceries, beer, supplies and the talk of the town.
Hours: Varies depending on season; for June and July, opens at 7 a.m. daily
A must buy: Fishing supplies. No trip to GLS is complete without going fishing.
A must buy: See what traditional Acadian treats are available – you’re in St. Agatha, after all.
Anania’s Variety
Three locations, 1227 Congress St., 606 Washington Ave. and 323 Broadway Hours: Varies for each location; visit ananiasvariety.com for a full list Why it’s special: For more than 50 years the proud Italian-American family the Ananias have operated the original Congress Street location of their grocery store and lunch counter; the family has since expanded to three locations, all offering the same brand of basic supplies and hot Italian classics. A must buy: An Italian sub, pasta with homemade sauce, an eggplant parm. Anything, really.
Berry’s General Store Route 201 in West Forks
Hours: 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week Why it’s special: For more than 50 years hunters and snowmobilers have stopped into this family-owned establishment to get coffee and supplies. Food, snacks, drinks, homemade doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, lunch specials and some of the nicest folks this side of the Kennebec River. A must buy: Get a Berry’s General Store trucker cap and wear it proudly.
Fairmount Market
662 Hammond St., Bangor Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily Why it’s special: The sound of the screen door slamming at Fairmount Market means it’s summertime -- and this neighborhood institution off Hammond Street in Bangor is a place where folks all over Bangor’s West Side run into 34 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
Why it’s special: It’s a downhome place to get basic groceries and amenities on the quieter side of the Boothbay peninsula, with a lovely porch and Mainemade gifts, too. It also offers a wide array of traditional and funky menu options, an espresso bar and a great beer and wine selection. A must buy: The Peanut Butter and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.
The Pine Tree Store
3 Water St., Grand Lake Stream Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily Why it’s special: Whether you’re fly
The exterior of the East Boothbay General Store in East Boothbay.
Pine’s Market
975 Arnold Trail, Eustis Hours: 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays. Why it’s special: Next stop, Canada. Pine’s Market is just about 25 miles from the border on Route 27. It’s the last stop for gas by the gallon before it switches to liters over the border, and you can pick up plenty of snack and steaks, drinks and pizza. Did we mention pizza? It’s good pizza. A must buy: Pizza! Darn good pizza.
Brooklin General Store 4 Read Road, Brooklin
Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily Why it’s special: Fresh produce, fresh seafood, all your basic amenities and groceries, plus clothing, gifts and conversation. We hear they make some great chicken wings, chili dogs and pizza, too. A must buy: Pick up some super fresh, caught-that-morning seafood, hauled in by local fishermen.
Welcome Kate Bielinski Machias Savings Bank welcomes a new Business Banker to its team of experienced bankers at their Bangor location.
PHOTOS: (STORE) COURTESY OF EAST BOOTHBAY GENERAL STORE; (GAS PUMP) PAUL FLEET/THINKSTOCK.COM
To experience Exceptional Banking in Bangor, call Kate at 207-561-3938. Kate Bielinski Business Banker 1126 Hammond Street Bangor, ME 04401 207-561-3938
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A snowmobiler gasses up during the winter at Coffin's General Store in Portage Lake.
Orland Market & General Store
Coffin’s General Store
Hours: Open daily
Hours: Open daily
Why it’s special: It’s your regular general store, sure, but it’s got some special charm including great pizza and subs, a specialty beer selection that rivals anything else in the area, and some excellent, unique specials – like South American stuffed beef or a variety of ethnic soups and stews.
Why it’s special: Right in the center of town, you can start off your adventure right here – snowmobiling, swimming or canoeing in the lake, hunting, whatever suits your fancy. Grab groceries and other supplies, and pick up a tasty sub, or pizza, or pastry treat while you’re at it. Gab with the locals. It’s a nice place to stop in.
A must buy: The smoked ribs. Call (4699999) and make sure they’re available.
2084 Portage Road, Portage Lake
A must buy: Doughnuts, baked fresh daily by Chris’ Bakery in Ashland; some of the best doughnuts in Maine.
Long Sand’s General Store 121 Long Beach Ave., York
Hours: Open April through October, 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Why it’s special: This beach side stalwart has got you covered – snacks, groceries, beer, wine and souvenirs, as well as a full service deli and sandwich bar. You’ll definitely see more flip flips
36 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
PHOTOS: (TOP) BDN FILE; CHRIS_ELWELL & SHAIITH/THINKSTOCK.COM
91 Castine Road, Orland
feature story and sun hats than fancy duds. A must buy: A soft serve ice cream, dipped, in a waffle cone.
Hope General Store
449 Camden Road, Hope Hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. daily Why it’s special: They proudly advertise 140 types of beer, fresh baked goods, local produce and maple syrup, and “upscale” pizza and sandwiches. Most interestingly, this store was allegedly founded in 1832, making it likely one of the oldest continually operating stores in Maine. A must buy: We’ve heard the pizza is the best takeout pizza in the region.
Pine Tree Market
121 Main St., Northeast Harbor Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Why it’s special: You might be rubbing elbows with an heiress or real estate tycoon, or maybe a salty lobsterman.
Either way, you’re probably stopping at Pine Tree Market in beautiful, tranquil Northeast Harbor, where you can buy groceries, wine and tasty hot specials year-round. A must buy: Very reasonably priced lobster and crabmeat rolls.
Frye’s Leap General Store Frye Island, in Sebago Lake; accessible only by boat
Hours: Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day Why it’s special: It’s on a tiny island in Sebago Lake, frequented by the handful of summer residents and by visitors alike. Casual dining, groceries and gifts, in one of the most unique stores in Maine period. It’s the only business on the island, so it stays busy in the summer months. Boat in and see what they’ve got on the menu. A must buy: Margarita Mondays. A breakfast buffet on Saturdays and Sundays.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 37
southwest harbor then & now
An undated photograph showing Southwest Harbor, Beech Mountain ). (left) and St. Souveur Mountain (right
38 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
On the Quiet Side of
The Island
Explore the many offerings of beautiful and historic Southwest Harbor. ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SHAW
V
HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOUTHWEST HARBOR PUBLIC LIBRARY, BANGOR DAILY NEWS, BANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND MAINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
isiting Southwest
Harbor in summer can be anything but quiet. There are mountains to climb and lobsters to eat on Mount Desert Island’s advertised “quiet side.” But somehow, the old village retains a relaxing ambiance all its own. The Hancock County town’s yearround population of 1,765 swells in the warmer months as visitors explore the community described in a 1912 journal article as “abounding in historical interest and amid most picturesque surroundings.” To get there, drive to Ellsworth on Routes 1 and 1A and follow Route 3 to the Trenton bridge. On MDI, take Route 102 for 11 miles through Town Hill and Somes-
ville. Southwest Harbor’s Main Street, with its anchor businesses McEachern and Hutchins hardware and Sawyer’s Market, awaits your arrival. “We have a fabulous library, three churches, Pemetic Elementary School, MDI High School [in Bar Harbor], and Harbor House Community Service Center,” said Susan Buell, who moved to town in 1985 with her author husband, John Buell, with whom she raised three children. “The year-round downtown includes a pharmacy, two medical centers, two banks, a grocery, a wine and cheese shop, restaurant, hardware store, and insurance and real estate companies.” Although the town has “changed hugely” in 30 years, Buell said (property values are up, the school population is www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39
southwest harbor then & now A photo from 1906 showing a Wellesley outing at Southwest Harbor.
Town Stats First Incorporated: February 21, 1905 Named For: Geographical opposite of Northeast Harbor Motto: Quiet Side of Mount Desert Island Population: 1,765 (2012 estimate) Median Resident Age: 47.2 Elevation: 118 feet Area: Total, 22.69 square miles Land: 13.51 square miles Water: 9.18 square miles
Notable People: • Wendell Gilley, decorative bird carver • Alison Hudson, filmmaker, survived April 25 earthquake in Nepal • Ralph Stanley, Maine shipwright laureate • Marty Lyons, community service leader • Deacon Henry Higgins Clark, entrepreneur • Myrna Fahey, Movie and television actress • Jesse L. Parker, wrote town narrative • Annie Sawyer Downs, library visionary
Landmarks: U.S. Coast Guard station, Mt. Desert Oceanarium, Claremont Hotel, Beech Mountain fire tower, Ellis Boat Co., Hinckley Yachts, Morris Yachts
40 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
Municipal Website: www.southwestharbor.org
down, and no more canneries), it holds its own alongside Bar Harbor’s cruise ships and Northeast Harbor’s yacht clubs. Clayton Rogers would agree. In 1952, at age 25, he got his first teaching position at Pemetic High School. Classes were filled with fishermen’s kids living in town and in Manset, Tremont, Seal Cove, and Bass Harbor. His other job was playing organ at the Tremont Baptist Church. The high school closed after consolidation in 1968 and now is an elementary school. The region’s deep harbor and the fiord, Somes Sound, attracted early explorers. Champlain dropped anchor at Acadia in 1604. In 1613, Jesuits attempted to found a permanent settlement here. The 300-ton passenger ship Grand Design, out of Ireland, was grounded on Long Ledge in 1740. The vessel freed herself and drifted into an inlet now known as Ship Harbor. By 1905, when the town split from Tremont, it was flush with canneries and fishing fleets. Spared the wrath of
The wooden walkway down to the harbor.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 41
southwest harbor then & now
the 1947 Bar Harbor fire, the wharves at Clark’s Point and Great Harbor Marina today lure artists and photographers. Activities include golfing at the Causeway Club, swimming at Echo Lake, and hiking Beech, Mansel, Acadia, and St. Sauveur mountains. Hinckley Yachts is based in nearby Manset. Morris Yachts and Ellis Boat Co. are nearby. The Southwest Harbor Public Library, the Historical Society museum, and the Wendell Gilley Museum are worth visiting in any kind of weather. The MDI Oceanarium and U.S. Coast Guard supply store are fun stops, along with the The Harbour Cottage Inn, the Lindenwood Inn, and the Claremont, which hosts an annual croquet tournament. Along with the Quietside Flamingo Festival (July 17-20), it has put the town on the map. “Quiet” never felt busier and more fun than during summer in Southwest Harbor.
42 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
(At right) Outside the Hinckley Company located in Southwest Harbor, Southwest Lobster, and the Harbor House Community Service Center. (Below) The Claremont Hotel through the years.
Check out our interactive map of Southwest Harbor at bangormetro.com
Wondering what to do tonight? Visit bangormetro.com and check out our calendar of events www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 43
metro sports
1. Hunt for Treasure 2. Fill your passport
3. Explore the shore
4. Pa dd le quiet water 5. Unc over loc al gems
7. Embrace nature
Aislinn Sarnacki stands on a rock formation called a “Cathedral” on Katahdin in Baxter State Park. 44 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
PHOTOS: BDN FILE; (#2) KEVIN KRATKA; (GEM STONE) ALEXANDER BELYAEV/THINKSTOCK.COM
6. Enter the big woods
7
Outdoor
Family Activities Summer is finally here – now get outside and enjoy it! Outdoor enthusiast Aislinn Sarnacki offers up seven great ideas for family fun.
I
t’s Saturday morning,
and a warm breeze lifts the curtains of your bedroom window. Birds are chirping; bees are humming; flowers are stretching toward the sun. It’s time to rise, step outside, and embrace summer with family and friends. But what to do? It’s easy to get into the habit of visiting the same old park or beach, but why not try something different? After all, some of the best memories are made when we step outside of our comfort zones, travel a few extra miles and get creative. To get you started, here are a few family-friendly outdoor activities that are easy to plan, inexpensive and might shake up your summer routine – in a good way...
BY AISLINN SARNACKI
metro sports
Maine tidal pools offer a beautiful variety of sealife to explore.
1. Hunt for treasure
Geocaching is an activity that combines outdoor exploration and the art of navigation. Essentially, it’s a treasure hunt set up by complete strangers. The goal is to find geocaches, which are little containers that contain logbooks and prizes, and
park and historic site, you’ll find a brown passport station, which you can unlock (with a combination found in the passport pages) to collect different stamps for your passport. The more locations you visit, the more stamps you collect, the more prizes you can win. For example, if
At each Maine state park and historic site, you’ll find a brown passport station, which you can unlock to collect different stamps for your passport. these geocaches are hidden at specific coordinates, listed online. To play, all you need is a GPS (which many people have available right on their cell phones), and access to the internet. Geocaches are everywhere, in local parks and preserves, even in the middle of cities. Anyone can participate in this global treasure hunt, but there are a few rules, so do a little reading online, at sites such as www.geocaching.com, beforehand.
2. Fill your passport
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
Pick up a Maine State Parks Passport and go on road trip. At each Maine state
you collect 16 stamps, you receive a state park patch, and if you collect 48 stamps, you receive a free vehicle season pass to Maine state parks and historic sites. To learn more, visit www.maine.gov. Passports are available for free at any Maine state park or historic site from May 18 through September.
3. Explore the shore
Learn about the many beautiful and unusual creatures of the ocean by searching through tidal pools along Maine’s rocky shore. Periwinkles and dogwinkles, crabs and scuds – they’re all there for the viewing, all you have to do is get down on your hands and knees and look
Crazy Camo is a tra dit ion al ge oca che inc ludes a logbook which is signed by allin the Bangor Cit y Forest. The cache the ge ocachers who have found it.
metro sports
Worn stone steps await hikers ascending the Bald Rock Mountain Trail in Camden Hills State Park. 48 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
closely. And if you’d like to learn more about this fascinating little world, there are plenty of materials online, including the “Teachers Guide to Marine Life of the Gulf of Maine” by Maine Department of Marine Resources Education Division. Tidal pools are located all along the Maine coast, but some of the most popular places go tidepooling are in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island: Wonderland, Ship Harbor and the Bar Island sand bar. It’s important to plan your trip during low tide, when more of the intertidal zone is exposed.
4. Paddle quiet water
Home to thousands of lakes and ponds, Maine is the ideal place to learn the art of paddling. Even if you don’t own a boat, a wide variety of kayaks and canoes are available for rent at outfitters throughout the state. For beginners, it’s good to start with “quiet water,” a spot without waves or strong currents. Outfitters can give you ideas about paddling spots, or you can refer to guidebooks such as “Quiet Water Maine: Canoe And Kayak Guide” by John Hayes. Regardless of your paddling skills, it’s Maine law that you wear a lifejacket or PFD (personal floatation device). Learn about paddling safety before your trip at www.paddlesmart.org.
5. Uncover local gems
PHOTO: BDN FILE
Unearth glittering tourmaline, quartz, garnet and beryl with a recreational mining operation in western Maine. These outings are perfect for families. The guides share knowledge about local gems and the rich history of mining in Maine, all the while leading you on a hunt for actual treasure. And typically, what you find, you’re allowed to keep. These adventures will bring you to stunning outdoor destinations such as Mount Mica, Orchard Pit and Mount Apatite Park. Two popular recreational mining guides are Poland Mining Camps and Maine Mineral Adventures, both available online. And if you can’t make the drive to western Maine, the Desert of Maine in Freeport is another great place to learn about geology and gemstones.
6. Enter the big woods
You don’t have to climb Maine’s tallest mountain, Katahdin, to enjoy the beauty of Baxter State Park. The park is home to a variety of trails, many of which are www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49
A sign marks the beginning of the Owl Trail in Baxter St ate Park, approxim ate ly 1.1 miles down the Hunt Trail from Katahdin St ream Campground . A kayaker and her dog paddle the quiet waters of Upper-JoMary Lake, located about 20 miles west of Millinocket.
easy enough for children. Walk 0.5 mile to Sandy Stream Pond, where people often spy moose; go swimming at the scenic Togue Pond, where there are restrooms and places to change; or try the 1-mile hike in to Katahdin Stream Falls. Families can also check out Baxter’s schedule of children and evening programs. For information on these programs, call 723- 9500 or 723- 8537. For more ideas of family-friendly activities in Baxter, visit baxterstateparkauthority.com.
Nature programs are regularly offered by land trusts, parks and other organizations throughout the state, and these events are usually free or low cost. From sit-down presentations to hands-on field trips, these programs are a great opportunity to get outdoors, learn something about the environment and meet new people. To find an event, look up nearby land trusts on the Maine Land Trust Network website, mltn.org. Other places that host nature events in Maine are the Maine Audubon at maineaudubon.org; the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park at schoodicinstitute.org; and Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson at hvnc.org. 50 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
7. Embrace nature
metro sports
Rowing to
Victory
Bowdoin College Rowing Club brings medals and team effort to competitions. BY JODI HERSEY
I
t's a little
PHOTOS: (PADDLES) MAMPFRED/THINKSTOCK.COM; (ROWING) KATHLEEN LEDGER CASSIDY
like dance and a little like boxing," is how Gil Birney describes the sport of rowing. He's been coaching the Bowdoin College Rowing Club for the past 19 years and steering his student athletes to victory one race at a time. "Rowing requires an enormous amount of power and also controlled grace to allow the boat to achieve speed," said Birney. "The sport is fundamentally the same as it was in the 1800s but what has changed dramatically is the charac-
races are called head style racing. It's on a time trial basis. So you start off one at a time and time is taken when you cross the starting line and finish line. We usually start at about 20 second intervals. If you are faster from behind, you get to pass the crews in front of you." It's that competitiveness that attracted former tennis player and 22-year-old Bowdoin senior, Mary Bryan Barksdale of Mississippi, to give rowing a try. "Racing is pure and intense and I love
“Racing is pure and intense and I love that you can go out and row for 40 minutes and you’re doing the same motion over and over again but you always have something you want to work on and improve.” — Mary Bryan Barksdale
that you can go out and row for 40 minutes and you're doing the same motion over and over again but you always have something you want to work on and improve," said Barksdale. "Sometimes in tennis you may have an off day, but with racing usually the better crew wins." Out of the 45 members on the Bowdoin Rowing Club, Birney says only a handful have any previous experience with rowing. Barksdale believes that is what gives Bowdoin the edge over other schools. "The good thing about our team is we have a lot of good athletes who have played other sports," said Barksdale. "So many of the successful rowers are really big and really tall and we're not. And when everyone's movements match up in the boat and you have good timing, you can feel it."
ter of the equipment. Boat builders have moved away from wood, went through a phase where they were fiberglass and now all the fast boats are made of carbon fiber." The Bowdoin Rowing Club has nine boats. The athletes all race in teams of four. That means there are four rowers per boat along with one coxswain, the driver responsible for steering the boat. The length of each race varies. In the spring are the 2,000 meter races and in the fall are the 5,000-6,000 meter races. "In the spring we race in what you call script season. That's where boats are lined up side by side, you shoot the gun and the first guy to cover 2000 meters wins," explained Birney. "The fall www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51
metro sports
52 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
ways even better for your fitness when we use rowing machines and weights.
“Even if you don’t do it competitively anymore, just being able to take a single scull and go for a row in the morning to start out your days is something I envision doing the rest of my days.” — Cal Brooks So the Maine crews tend to be really fit and then the question is can we get in enough time actually rowing to compete with schools from Florida," said Brooks. Despite the challenges, the Bowdoin Rowing Club has proven it can hold its own against teams here and
definitely thinking of getting involved with that," explained Brooks. "Even if you don't do it competitively anymore, just being able to take a single scull and go for a row in the morning to start out your days is something I envision doing the rest of my days."
PHOTOS: KATHLEEN LEDGER CASSIDY
The team practices as much as it can on the New Meadows River, approximately five miles from campus, which separates the town of Brunswick from Bath. "We practice early in the morning because you need the water to be flat, meaning you can't have waves. And the wind usually takes off in the afternoon so we go out in the morning to get better water," said 21-year-old Bowdoin senior Cal Brooks. But Maine winters often affect how frequently the team gets to practice in open water in the spring. "We race schools from Florida who are on the water year round. But we have an advantage in our own way because the workouts we do on land when the water is frozen is really in some
abroad. They've competed in Boston, Philadelphia and across the pond in England, and returned home with several medals in tow. "At the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia our women's side has been in the medals for six consecutive years and the last two years we've won it," said Birney. "At the Head of Charles in Boston this past fall our men's four and women's four won the bronze medal, so we've got a pretty good little streak here." Both Brooks and Barksdale, two of Bowdoin's most decorated rowers, said they hope to continue rowing long after their college days are over. "A lot of Bowdoin alumni have been graduating and moving on to row for these really fast clubs which are often faster than collegiate teams, so I'm
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53
arts & culture Audience members clap during a screening at the 2014 MIFF. (Right) Ken Eisen (left) awards Glenn Close the Mid Life Achievement Award at the 2014 MIFF.
Affairs I
Ken Eisen, founder of Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville, talks about the theater’s roots and the future of film. BY EMILY BURNHAM
54 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
n 1978,
Ken Eisen began showing foreign films on government issue 16 millimeter projectors in his adopted hometown of Waterville. 37 years later, Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville, the long-running movie house that started all those years back, is one of the finest independent cinemas in the Northeast, a nationally recognized haven for independent, foreign and art house film. In 1998, Eisen and the staff at the Maine Film
Center – the not-for-profit organization that now owns Railroad Square – began the Maine International Film Festival, the 18th edition of which is set for July 10-19 of this year in Waterville. Eisen, 63, who also runs Maine-based film distribution company Shadow Distribution, talked to Bangor Metro Magazine about the films that thrilled him as a young man, starting a business that doesn’t make a lot of money, and the future of film.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MAINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Foreign
Where were you born? What brought you to Maine? I was born in New York, came to Waterville to go to Colby, and stayed. The longer story is that by the time I was in high school we were living in the suburbs in Virginia, and I hated it. I knew I liked hiking in New Hampshire. I decided northern New England was the place for me. Now I’m an adjunct professor at Colby, and I teach at University of Maine at Augusta as well.
What were some of the formative films that first got you into it? I think most people who grew up when I did had important experiences with movies in the theater. I wonder what it’s like for a lot of kids these days who only see things on TV or computers or, worse, their phones. The first movie I saw was “Snow White,” and then an even bigger impact, for me, was “Pinocchio.” It was a boy hero, who had to earn his humanhood. That was a big psychological lesson taught by Mr. Disney! My parents were also really into foreign films, so they took me to see “Mon Oncle” by Jacques Tati, which I thought was wonderful. My father took me see Ingmar Bergman, which I hated, but it did make an impression… by the time I got to Colby I was more obsessed. When I was 21 or 22 I saw “The Conformist” by Bernardo Bertolucci and it blew my head open. I thought, ‘That’s the greatest thing I ever saw.’ I wanted to make that. But I knew
I never would. So, if I can’t make that, I thought, I want to show movies that are as good as this. When you started Railroad Square back in 1978, what was Waterville like? Well, starting a cinema was an imbecilic business decision, and it still is! But that’s not why we did it. We didn’t do it because we thought we’d get an return on investment. We did it because we loved movies, and movies that weren’t being shown in Maine in particular. We had army surplus 16-millimeter cameras that cost us nothing. They’d die after a few screenings and we’d just throw another one on there. It wasn’t a major financial investment. It was an emotional investment. Waterville was actually a larger town at the time – about 18,000, instead of 16,000 today – and it was a mill town with a college. Scott Paper, Hathaway Shirt, Cascade Mill. It www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55
was a tough town, but there were still some of us stragglers from the fringes of culture there. It was our home, and that’s why we did it. How has MIFF changed in the 17 years since it started? What has it done for Central Maine and for Maine in general? In a way, it’s hard for me to say because I’m so close to it. But I think it’s a way for people to get excited about film and a way for people to easily experience something different. They can plunge into film from the rest of the world in a way that you just can’t the other 355 days of the year… our audiences at Railroad come to the festival, and they get more adventuresome. They’ll try new things. They are more open. That’s exciting. What is your advice to young filmmakers in Maine? Something I tell a lot of young filmmakers – and there are a lot of tremendously talented young people right here in Maine – is that if you really have something you have to say, and film is the medium through which you have to express it, then you should just go ahead and do it. Because now, today, it’s easier than ever to just make a film. The technology is there. You may not have the money to make it as grandiose as you want, but if you have talent and drive, something will come out of it. And if you don’t have something to say and don’t have that compulsion – don’t do it! Save yourself and us the time and effort! It’s so easy to make a film these days. If you’re going to do it, show us something worthwhile. It’s a sacred medium with the ability to move people like nothing else. It needs to be treated with respect.
Film Festival Preview
Here’s a sneak preview of some of what’s screening at the Maine International Film Festival, to be held July 10-19 in Waterville, this year… The World Filmmaker’s Forum A special event featuring acclaimed filmmakers including discussions and screenings from Turkey’s Huseyin Karabey, Argentina’s Barbara Francisco, France’s Claus Drexel and Mexico’s Andres Clariond Rangel. Restorations of classic films Including Douglas Sirk’s “Imitation of Life” (1959), Rene Clement’s “Forbidden Games” (1952) and 1951 opera film “The Tales of Hoffman.” Several Maine-made films world premiere Including College of the Atlantic professor Nancy Andrews’ “The Strange Eyes of Dr. Mies” and Portland filmmaker Mike Boucher’s “The Hungry Years.”
56 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
rooted in ME
Everything is
Popping Up Summer
Sweet fruit-filled popsicles make the perfect summer treat. BY NATALIE FEULNER
O
ne of my fondest
childhood memories is cold. It’s also sticky and sweet. Eating popsicles poolside. There’s not much better than eating ice-cold, sugary popsicles when the mercury starts to creep up, school is out for summer and the endless days seem to meld together. This summer, I’m excited to introduce my daughter to popsicles. We tried them last year, but her 8-month-old eating skills weren’t quite there yet – not to mention her toothy gums made it a little tricky to bite down.
Homemade popsicles are probably the easiest summer treat to make, and the possibilities are truly endless. You don’t need any fancy equipment, flavorings or even much time. I have a popsicle mold that makes four pops, each about 4 inches tall and 1 inch wide. But you can make popsicles in basically any freezer-safe container. Dixie cups and craft sticks work great, as do small reusable plastic containers with cardboard straws. I made these fruit-filled yogurt pops in less than 10 minutes then left them to freeze overnight. Voila!
Homemade Fruit Creamsicles Basic recipe (yields one popsicle about 4 inches long by 1 inch wide) /3 ⅓ cup vanilla yogurt
1
/3 ⅓ cup mashed fruit of choice
PHOTOS: (TOP & BOTTOM) CHARLIEAJA & M-CHIN/ THINKSTOCK.COM; (MIDDLE) NATALIE FEULNER
1
/8 ⅛ cup cool water
1
Mix all ingredients together and pour into molds, add stick to the center and freeze for 24 hours. Optional: Consider mixing in miniature chocolate chips, sprinkles or nuts.
NATALIE FEULNER is a journalist and “semi-crunchy” cloth diapering momma to a rambunctious toddler named after a county in California. She blogs about her adventures in parenting and Maine at www.rootedinme.bangordailynews.com.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57
food file
Grilled Middle Eastern
Spiced Lamb Burger
Cary and Rich Hanson share their love of food and a highly sought-after recipe from Cleonice Mediterranean Bistro. STORY & PHOTOS BY CARY HANSON
M
y husband
and I didn't have children; we had a restaurant. For more than 12 years we poured body and soul into Cleonice Mediterranean Bistro in Ellsworth. We worked closely with local farmers, fishermen, and food artisans,
sion of the flavors of the region, the concept of terroir if you want to get fancy. The way the food of a region expresses the place. Letting the freshness and flavor of ingredients shine. The recipes are bold and full flavored, but not too intricate or involved. Bringing this philosophy home
doing our best to support our local community. We made great friends, beautiful food, and had a lot of fun. As Rich and I rediscover ourselves as our own beings outside of the all-consuming restaurant, we have time to share our recipes and reminisce about Cleonice. Our passion for great cooking and supporting local food is as strong as ever. What we have always loved about Mediterranean cuisine is the simple expres-
58 / BANGOR METRO June/Jluy 2015
to Maine, using local ingredients to create our own versions of Mediterranean cuisine was Cleonice's purpose. Our community, be they customers, staff, or purveyors, all contributed to and celebrated this commitment. We feel that one of the great successes of Cleonice was that our regular customers became as conversant in Htipiti, Tzatziki, and Romescqu sauces as they were with Ketchup, Mustard, and Relish.
PHOTO: (MINT) VOLOSINA/THINKSTOCK.COM
What we have always loved about Mediterranean cuisine is the simple expression of the flavors of the region. The way the food of a region expresses the place.
The Lore of the Lamb Burger at Cleonice
In traditional Maine cuisine, lamb isn't as common as in the Mediterranean. When we do cook it, it's often long-roasted or stewed to a tasty and tender very well done. We wanted to show another side of lamb and make it more accessible. A Mediterranean take on the Hamburger seemed to be the perfect vehicle. A quick grill instead of a long roast makes the lamb lighter and brighter, a satisfying lunch dish that won't send you off for a nap. Instead of an alarmingly green mint jelly, we put fresh mint inside the burger. Adding Middle Eastern inspired spices to lamb and serving it with traditional souvlaki condiments highlights the flavors of the meat. The combination is addictive. Many a customer said “I always want to try something else for lunch, but can't say no to the lamb burger.” While there were certainly customers who claimed the same of the spinach salad, our lamb burger was our number one seller at lunch through the years. The flavorful Maine-raised lamb mixed with garlic and spices, grilled to a juicy medium rare and served in a slightly sweet pita with tzatziki and feta sauces only came off of our menu once, very early in our years, and the outrage was instantaneous. We would change-up our lunch menu seasonally, trying to keep things exciting and fresh for us and our customers, but the lamb burger was a staple (or an addiction) that couldn't be denied. After that first time, our second year I think it was, it never came off of the menu. So for Angie, for Mona, for you; our Lamb Burger.
Step 1
Prep the ingredients
Step 2
Test your seasoning
Pound three cloves garlic with a pinch of coarse salt in a mortar and pestle to release the flavors and create a paste. If a mortar and pestle is not available, use a garlic crusher. Add one tablespoon minced fresh mint, two teaspoons Aleppo (or red) pepper, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, the garlic, a pinch of sea salt, and black pepper to the lamb. The pepper is the heat in this recipe, so if you are sensitive to hot, dial it back. Don’t add too much if you like things hot, you want to heighten the flavors, not mask them.
Mix the ingredients well with clean hands. Rich would taste the mix raw – we trusted our farmers. You might want to make a small taster burger to make sure you’ve got the spices right, it’s also a special treat for the chef! Take a small piece off, make a mini patty with about half an ounce of mix and fry it off. Once you’ve tasted it, you can adjust your seasoning. After adjusting your seasoning, separate the lamb into four evenly sized balls and form into patties.
food file Step 3
Grilling the burgers
Lamb burgers are best on a grill, but a grill pan will do. Always start with a hot pan to avoid sticking — or if you’re grilling make sure your grill is hot and the grate clean of debris. Add olive oil (for frying like this don’t use your fancy extra virgin olive oil, use the non-extra virgin, or pomace oil). Put your burger patties in the pan, and allow to cook for about four minutes. After you have a good crust on the first side, flip the burgers. You will likely need to press down on the patties with your spatula to make sure the interior of your burgers cook. The cooking lamb tends to shrink, and the burgers become more spherical as they cook, so pressing down on them makes sure they don’t become too round. Often, at the restaurant we would cut the burgers in half towards the end of cooking in order to get the centers closer to medium rare, plus, the half burgers fit better into the pita. The burgers will take about four minutes on each side to cook. This burger is best served in a pita — you can make one at home using various recipes, but it’s just as easy to find one that you like at your local market. Serve your lamb burger with some crunchy romaine lettuce on a pita of your liking with tzatziki and feta to add as you eat. Enjoy.
Cary Hanson, and her husband Rich Hanson, owned and ran Cleonice Mediterranean Bistro from 2002 to its closing at the end of 2014. This summer you'll find them at Raven's Nest in Winter Harbor serving up “Flavors of the Rocky Coast and Salt Water Farm.”
Food File Grilled Middle Eastern Spiced Lamb Burger INGREDIENTS 1 pound of ground lamb 2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper (or crushed red pepper) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 3 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh mint 1 tablespoon of olive oil for cooking Sea salt and pepper to taste 4 pitas of your choosing Romaine lettuce, tzatziki sauce and feta cheese
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INSTRUCTIONS Crush the garlic. Add the Aleppo pepper, cinnamon, garlic and mint to the ground lamb and mix thoroughly. Form into four patties and either grill or cook on a hot grill pan until medium rare (no more than medium). Serve in pitas stuffed with romaine lettuce, drizzled with tzatziki and sprinkled with crumbled feta.
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kitchen confidential
L
Lynn Benson pours tea at her Bar Harbor teahouse.
Steeped in Tea
Lynn Benson brings a passion for all things tea to Bar Harbor. STORY BY EMILY BURNHAM
Summer time is in full bloom in the rock garden at Tea House 278.
used to maintain an extensive wine cellar in the Mt. Desert Island home she shares with her husband, John. Nowadays, however, those unopened bottles of Merlot grow dusty, as another obsession has taken the place of wine: tea. For the past seven years, Benson has developed a near-encyclopedic knowledge of tea; Chinese tea, specifically, as tea is native to China, and is where more than a quarter of the world’s tea is grown. At her Bar Harbor business, Tea House 278, she has served since 2012 a wide array of tea – and a menu of yummy baked goods and Chinese savory snacks – to tea-lovers and tea novices alike. “There’s an endless amount to learn about tea, where it comes from, how it’s made. Each [tea] is unique, depending on where it came from, who grew it, how it was processed,” said Benson, originally from Pennsylvania, but who moved to Hancock County 20 years ago. “It is like wine, in that every one is different. It really is fascinating.” On the outside, Tea House 278 appears to be a normal Bar Harbor home, located right on Main Street. Walk through the wooden fence, however, and the bustle of downtown begins to disappear, as you pass a tranquil rock garden and gently bubbling stream and koi pond, designed and built by David Kramer of Natural Earth Garden Designs in Trenton. You then step up through the red wooden gates – old salvaged temple gates, brought over to Maine from China – and into the house, where elegantly arranged shelves displaying the various tea you can purchase gives way to a long, custom-designed tea counter. Benson herself there serves patrons tea, gently inquiring about their preferences and familiarity with tea in general, before beginning to rinse, steep and pour. The overall effect of being served tea at Tea House 278 is one of calm relaxation. Benson meticulously times each steep of each individual tea, measures the water temperature she uses to the decimal point, and counts the number of steeps each tea gets, lending a kind of meditative element to the process. Two ounces of some types of tea can in some cases get as many as 30 teacup servings of tea, of varying levels of flavor and body. By the time you’ve sampled everything, you may have spent several hours
PHOTOS: (TOP LEFT) EMILY BURNHAM; (BOTTOM LEFT, RIGHT) COURTESY OF LYNN BENSON
ynn Benson
drinking eight or nine small cups of tea, talking and learning – never noticing the throngs of tourists and traffic wending their way through town. Tea House 278 is an oasis in the busy Bar Harbor summer. “Tea, unlike coffee, makes you feel relaxed. It makes you feel balanced,” said Benson. “You don’t get that jittery feeling from the caffeine… and the process [of making tea] is very mindful. It requires your attention.” For the past five years, Benson has traveled to Taiwan and China to meet with tea farmers and distributors and to buy tea for the shop. After her most recent visit to Taiwan in April 2015 she brought back with her many pounds of tea, from black tea and oolong tea to Pu-erh, a dark tea that is fermented traditionally by exposing the dried tea leaves to naturally occurring bacteria. The tea farmers that Benson buys from are all small, organic growers, each with a unique and different product, which in most cases has been harvested by countless generations of the same family. In addition to selling the teas at the shop, Benson also maintains a busy online business for her products. In addition to the many varieties of tea Benson serves, Tea House 278 offers a variety of small snacks to pair with your blacks, greens and oolongs. Her baked
Tea Facts
• There are five different types of tea – green tea, white tea, oolong tea, black tea and dark or fermented tea, of which pu-erh is a part. • All types of tea are from the Camellia sinensis species, an evergreen shrub native to China. • The differences between different types of tea are in the enzymatic oxidation – the browning of the leaves. Green tea is zero percent oxidized, white tea is ten percent oxidized, oolong tea is anywhere between ten and 90 percent oxidized, and black tea is 100 percent oxidized.
Benson serves customers a selection of traditional Chinese tea outside in the rock garden at Tea House 278 in Bar Harbor.
• Dark or fermented teas, such as pu-erh, have been exposed to microbial fermentation, resulting in a number of different tastes and textures. Pu-erh is the most common dark tea, processed in Yunnan province in China. • Botanical drinks, also known as herbal teas, are not teas at all – they are flowers or other plants steeped in water. • Though there are common names for different types of tea – Ruby 18 black tea or Gunpowder green tea, for example – each variety tastes just a little bit different, depending on the growing conditions, climate and farmer’s methods.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63
kitchen confidential goods – molasses ginger or sesame honey cookies, for examples – are all gluten-free, though as those familiar with the varying quality of gluten-free treats may attest, they certainly don’t taste that way. She also offers tea eggs, a traditional Chinese snack in which an egg is hard-boiled, and then cracked and boiled again in a blend of tea and spices. Egg rolls and scallion pancakes are also offered at times.
more info TEA HOUSE 278 278 MAIN ST., BAR HARBOR 288-2781 Hours: Open during the summers from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, from mid-May through early October. In the winter it is open by appointment. Website: teahouse278.com
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per spectives
Jodi Renshaw
66 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
J
odi Renshaw,
owner of Studio 36, a photography studio in Bangor, loves whimsy, photography, pop culture, and playing with toys. She combines these passions in her artwork. Renshaw has been photographing toys in realistic poses doing various activities and actions since her first photography class as a high school sophomore. She started by photographing her Pee Wee Herman doll as he went on dates with various Barbies. Over 20 years later, she finds that sharks, Darth Vader, and Legos are among her favorite subjects. Sometimes, she uses children's toys to express ideas about society, gender and concepts of good versus evil. But mostly, she simply creates images that make her giggle. Currently, her work can be found in various shops and galleries throughout New England and beyond, including Good Soul in Bangor, and A Little Mad in Bar Harbor. In addition to her toy photography, Renshaw has worked on photo projects involving Vietnam veterans and long photo essays about personal identity. She lives in Bangor with her husband, Halis, and son, Isaac. To see more of her work, visit studio36bangor.net and like Studio 36 on Facebook at facebook.com/studio36bangor.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 67
savvy seniors
for Elder Abuse June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. BY JUDITH M. SHAW
coming to an end, what are you looking forward to most this summer? Spending time at the beach? Shopping in one of our many picturesque villages? What do you think you will be doing on June 15th? The Maine Council
While living outside of urban areas may not be a risk factor for elder abuse, social isolation is; many Mainers reside in small communities and may experience significant social isolation. for Elder Abuse hopes that you are taking the time to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Although elder abuse is an issue across the country, with an aging population, Maine is likely to see an increase in cases of elder abuse and financial exploitation. You may know that Maine is,
68 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
per capita, the oldest state in the country, but we are also the most rural, based on the 2010 Census results. While living outside of urban areas may not be a risk factor for elder abuse, social isolation is; many Mainers reside in small communities and may experience significant
social isolation. Elder abuse affects men and women of all cultures, races, and socio-economic groups, and it is largely unreported. The National Center on Elder Abuse suggests that only 1 in 14 cases of abuse is actually reported to the authorities. Sometimes it can feel like
PHOTO: ANITA_BONITA/THINKSTOCK.COM
No Excuse W
ith a long winter
there is nothing you can do to help, but it is possible to end elder abuse in Maine. Elder abuse is a community problem with community solutions. It is important for community members to become advocates and speak out on behalf of those who cannot. Engaging people through grassroots organizing, campaigning for public awareness, and observing Elder Abuse Awareness Day are all great ways to get involved. This year, the Council is encouraging Mainers, young and old, to spread the message that there is no excuse for elder abuse. The Council wants to see No Excuse For Elder Abuse bumper magnets all over the state: on cars, boats, tractors… the sky is the limit! Photos of the magnets can be shared using social media or just with friends – the goal is to start the conversation about elder abuse. The mission of the Council is to support collaborative efforts to combat
elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. To learn the warning signs of elder abuse and where to go for help or to receive a free bumper magnet to show your commitment to this cause, visit the Council’s website www. elderabuseprevention.info or call Lindsay Laxon at (207) 624-8551. As you enjoy the beautiful Maine summer, take a moment to think about what you can do to help end elder abuse in your community. The challenge is daunting, but every little bit helps. JUDITH M. SHAW is the Securities Administrator in The Office of Securities which protects Maine investors by investigating and prosecuting violations of the securities laws.
For More Information: Interested in learning more, where to go for help or how to receive a free bumper sticker? On the Web: elderabuseprevention.info Phone: (207) 624-8551
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 69
real estate
Classic Cape Charming
Eco-friendly 1950’s cape with lots of updates and charm available now in Orono.
Jessie Daniels, Realtor Realty of Maine 991-8980 • www.jdaniels.realtor
Pick of the Month: 1 College Heights, Orono
What do you love about this home? “This is an amazing ecofriendly, beautifully landscaped home just seconds from the University of Maine and all that Orono has to offer.
CALLING ORONO HOME... PROPERTY DETAILS:
MLS# 1206018 1 College Heights, Orono Details: Classic cape with greenhouse, low-maintenance landscaping, natural gas furnace, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths
70 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
COMMUNITY DETAILS: Population: 10,362
Attractions: Home of the University of Maine; year-round recreational opportunities including walking and biking paths; municipal swimming pool; senior center; Webster Park, located between the Stillwater River and North Main Street, a 5-acre riverside park
(Opposite page, top to bottom) This classic cape was built in 1950 and includes an attached garage. The .33 acres are beautifully landscaped and low maintenance. Raised garden beds and fenced vegetable patches are ready for growing. (This page, clockwise from above) In addition to gardens, the corner lot has a deck and outbuilding. The kitchen includes a pantry and lots of storage. The charming living room has a Jotul wood-burning fireplace. The cheery entry way welcomes guests. Built-in cabinets add character to the dining room. An attached green house offers additional growing space.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 71
real estate
Looking to Make a Change?
H
Ready to upgrade that kitchen or build an addition? Talk to the pros at Bangor Federal Credit Union about a Home Equity Loan.
are often used to finance major expenses such as home repairs, medical bills or college education. There are various types of home equity loan to choose from, including easy equity loans from Bangor Federal Credit Union which offer 100 percent of the appraised value of your home with a fixed rate. Home Equity Lines of Credit, or HELOC, have a variable line of credit. When you’re ready to make a major change to your home or need extra cash to help put junior through college or pay off medical bills, call 947-0374 to talk to a loan officer at Bangor Federal Credit Union.
A Home Equity Line of Credit, the borrower can choose when and how often to borrow against the equity in the property.
An Easy Equity Loan is a one time lump-sum loan of the 100 percent of the appraise value and a low fixed rate. Article supplied by Bangor Federal Credit Union.
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Call 947-0374
www.bangorfederal.com 105 Godsoe Road • Bangor • 947-0183 171 High Street • Belfast • 338-0900
Your listing could be on this page Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Real Estate Guide. Call 941-1300.
PHOTOS: OCEANFISHING & INGRAM PUBLISHING/THINKSTOCK.COM
ome equit y loans
PENOBSCOT COUNTY
Orrington • MLS#1211883 Exceptionally well maintained 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial in one of Orrington’s nicest subdivisions. Open concept, radiant heat, finished basement. Lisa Caron Realty of Maine Office: 207-745-5568 lisacaronrealtor@gmail.com
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aine pr od
ts uc
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HANCOCK COUNTY
CELEBRATE
SUMMER!
WALDO COUNTY
Belfast • MLS#1142153 Oceanfront cottage on Penobscot Bay! Rare find with 1.87 acres. 2 bedroom log home, open kitchen/living room, porch, separate studio w/ beautiful water views. Price reduced! $275,000 LuAnne Adams 107 Main Street, Belfast Cell: 207-322-5930
Your listing could be on this page Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Real Estate Guide. Call 941-1300.
Maine themed gifts for home and camp
Edinburg • MLS#1158106 Endless possibilities for this 37,000 sq ft, 3 story commercial building with 4 garage bays. 25 mins to Bangor and incredibly low taxes! $124,900 Jessie Daniels Realty of Maine Office: 207-991-8980 jdanielsbangor@gmail.com
Gifts made from repurposed shells and pottery make unique gifts for others and yourself Carmel • MLS#1162190 Oversized cape with lots of nice surprises, including vaulted addition, granite counters, jetted soaking tub in master bedroom. $179,500 Linda Gardiner Better Homes and Gardens The Masiello Group Office: 207-478-5841 lindagardiner@masiello.com
Enjoy Maine blueberry products all summer long
Brewer Hannaford Shopping Center 207-989-0865 huckleberriescardandgift.com
Article supplied by Huckleberries. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 73
74 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
maine
woods & waters
Fly Me to the Moon
Finding a way to combat black flies.
A
STORY BY BOB DUCHESNE
ccording to Wikipedia,
PHOTOS: (TOP) ROBBI AKBARI KAMARUDDIN/THINKSTOCK.COM; (BOTTOM) BDN FILE
there are 1,800 known species of black fly in the world. Eleven are extinct. That’s a good start. Only 1,789 to go. It’s unfair. When relief from a prolonged winter finally arrives, the black flies take over and ruin the solace. Mainers are game for a fight, but there are many folk remedies, myths and old wives tales that divert us from victory. I decided I needed professional help. Jim Dill is a pest management specialist at the University’s Cooperative Extension Service. He is also a state senator. It’s good to have somebody in Augusta familiar with pest management. Here are some tidbits I gleaned from him. Black flies breed in swift moving waters. That’s one reason they can be so miserable near trout streams, but not so bad in town and along the coast. They spend the winter on the bottom of such rivers, waiting to be unleashed once the ice disappears. By contrast, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so the only time you are
Mainers are game for a fight, but there are many folk remedies, myths and old wives tales that divert us from victory. I decided I needed professional help. plagued by both pests is when you are near both types of water. I can think of many such places in Maine and I cringe at the memory. I asked Professor Dill why God would permit such hellspawn to exist, and he gave me an acceptable answer. Black flies are great fish food. Trout love ‘em. To which I say, “Eat all you want!” Jim also confirmed that Maine black flies do not carry and transmit diseases, which perhaps makes them slightly less loathsome than mosquitoes and ticks. DEET works. Apparently, biting insects find the odor objectionable. Who can blame them for disliking a chemical with the full name of N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide? Unfortunately, DEET also has solvent properties, which can slowly melt plastics and synthetic fibers. It can irritate damaged skin. Products with higher concentrations of DEET repel insects longer with each application, but Dill advises that 30% DEET is sufficient. Other advisories suggest even lower concenwww.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 75
that students start out with the natural repellents, but shift back to DEET within a short time. The problem is that the natural repellents wear off too quickly and need constant reapplication. Bug shirts work. Such clothing is treated with Permethrin, an insecticide. It has low toxicity to humans, but still comes with a warning label. The effect diminishes with time as the chemicals are laundered out. Barriers work. Sort of. Black flies are insidious. They crawl up sleeves, under head nets, and beneath waist bands. Like many Mainers, I am less affected by black fly bites these days. I’ve been bitten so many times that I am certain my blood is mixed with black fly DNA and my antibodies no longer treat bites like foreign invaders. Color works, a little. Black flies are attracted to the carbon dioxide we give off with respiration, but they are also drawn by dark moving objects such as furry mammals. The less you look like a moose, bear, or deer, the better. Light colored clothing may not dissuade a
Mainers have all kin ds of tricks for fending off black flies, including netting and speci al clothing.
black fly from biting you, but it might be enough to encourage the fly to bite the person next to you. My thanks to Professor Jim Dill. You are now armed to fight back. May your blood remain within your body.
BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.
Need ideas for something to do? Visit bangormetro.com and check out our calendar of events
76 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
PHOTO: THOMAS NORTHCUT/THINKSTOCK.COM
centrations are appropriate for children. Since DEET should be washed off when not needed, lower doses and more frequent application is probably best. Picaridin works. This new compound entered the marketplace within the last decade and seems to be as effective as DEET, but without the solvent and toxicity problems. It’s the active ingredient in Natrapel and other Johnson brands. I bought some last year and used it interchangeably with Ben’s 40% DEET, and I noticed little difference. I keep both in my outdoor bag, and nowadays I apply whichever I reach first. Avon Skin-So-Soft works. Dill postulates that black flies don’t like the oiliness. Since black flies constantly fly in your face and ping off your skin, contact with slippery goo is dissuasive. However, frequent applications are necessary and it has less effect on mosquitoes. Natural botanical repellents work, for a short time. Since grad students are expendable, Dr. Dill sends them out into the field for research work, armed with an assortment of repellents. He reports
SUPPORT
Local HEALTHCARE Summer fun that makes a difference. June 7 June 20 June 22 June 28 July 17 July 25 August 1 August 10 August 15 August 20
EMHS Foundation Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Sam’s Club Family Fun Day TAMC Charity Passenger Train Excursions Mercy George H.W. Bush Celebrity Golf Classic Point of Light Gala Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital Bike and Boat EMHS Foundation Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Golf Classic Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital Moosehead Try-athlon Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Fun Run Eastern Maine Medical Center Heroes • Hope • Healing McDonald’s Golf Classic Eastern Maine Medical Center Champion the Cure Challenge Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital Forrest Whitman Memorial Golf Classic
For more information, call 207.973.5055 or visit our website
www.emhsfoundation.org
Bangor Presque Isle Kennebunkport Greenville Hermon Greenville Blue Hill Orono Brewer Greenville
Special Section Featuring Northern Maine
by Bangor Metro
Countdown Begins for
Biathlon World Cup
T
he countdown
is on for Aroostook County’s hosting of the 2016 International Biathlon Union World Cup. Officials recently announced the dates and early details for when the world’s top biathletes will converge on northern Maine for the eighth in a series of nine stops on the 2015-2016 circuit. Aroostook County is the only stop in the U.S. The announcement was made at the administrative offices of the Pineland Farms Naturally Potatoes processing facility in Mars Hill, along with news that the corporation will come on board as a lead partner/sponsor at the gold level for the first Biathlon World Cup to come to U.S. since 2011, when it last was held in Aroostook County. IBU World Cup 8 will be hosted by the Nordic Heritage Sport Club at their world-class Nordic ski and biathlon venue with competition dates planned for Feb. 11-14, 2016. Teams and visitors from the participating countries are expected to arrive in Aroostook County three days prior to the start of competition and depart the region on Feb. 15. “Our club is very excited to again be hosting an international event of such caliber at the Nordic Heritage Center,” said Paul Towle, president of the Nordic Heritage Sport Club. “Events such as these provide significant exposure not only for our world-class facility, but also for our County communities and the State of Maine. We most certainly would not be in a position to host such events without the outstanding support of the hundreds of area residents who volunteer, the communities who host visitors from around the world, and certainly not without the support and generosity of partners such as Pineland Farms.”
County distinguished as the only U.S. spot to host the 2016 International Biathlon Union World Cup. BY AIMEE THIBODEAU
Towle also acknowledged the contribution of the Maine-based Libra Foundation, which recently announced its support for operation and maintenance of the Nordic Heritage facility as key to the club’s ability to move forward with hosting such activ-
ities. The club president also noted the importance of the revenue generated for both the organization and Central Aroostook region when such events come to northern Maine. “Hosting major events like the coming Biathlon World Cup are essential
“Hosting major events like these are essential to sustaining operations at the Nordic Heritage Center, as well as our ability to continue offering the variety of year-round community programs.” – Paul Towle
Paul Towle and Jan e Towle receive samp les of the natural ma product produced in shed potato Mars Hill at the Pin eland Farms facilit y McCrum, company from Rodney president and COO (center). Joining in the Haley Kelley and Ste presentation are ve Towle. Pineland Farms announced the board as the first go y would come on ld level partner for the international bia thlon event. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 79
Save the Date!
The Crown of Maine Balloon Festival will take place Aug. 27-30 in Presque Isle. Color will fill the sky of Aroostook County for the 12th year in a row as hot-air balloons of all shapes, sizes and colors take flight. Festivities include a craft fair, 5K race and balloon rides, of course.
80 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
to sustaining operations at the Nordic Heritage Center, as well as our ability to continue offering the variety of yearround community programs and recreation opportunities our area residents enjoy,” said Towle. “The revenue we are able to generate from these events supports the funding of normal operations at NHC year after year.” Jane Towle, event director for the 2016 International Biathlon Union World Cup who has been involved in leadership capacities in the hosting of several such events that have come to The County, underscored the economic development, cultural and social benefits that come each time the region has the opportunity to shine on the world stage. “We are so excited to be hosting World Cup 8 of the nine-competition series 2015-2016 season IBU circuit. The biathletes will travel from Calgary, Alberta after competing in World Cup 7. When they leave Aroostook County, they will head back to Europe to compete in the World Championships,” she said. “There will be tremendous international media exposure, especially in Europe where the prime-time televised broadcasts of our competition are the top rated winter sports television programs.” The event director announced that upwards of 300 of the world’s top male and female biathletes, ages 20 and over, from more than 32 countries are expected to be in Aroostook County for the competition. The biathletes will participate in six competitions at the Nordic Heritage Sport Center venue: sprint, pursuit, and relay in both men’s and women’s divisions. The 2016 World Cup is the latest in a number of national and international Nordic ski and biathlon events to be hosted at the Nordic Heritage Center. The most recent such activity was the IBU Youth/Junior Biathlon World Championships in late February/early March 2014. The last World Cup hosted in The County, in February 2011, had stops in both Presque Isle and Fort Kent. The 2016 event will mark the first large-scale event hosted in The County since the Nordic Heritage Center has operated independent of direct support provided by the Maine Winter Sports Center.
Teaching Children To Save
T
Katahdin Trust bankers help teach children healthy savings habits.
hroughout April
and May, bankers from Katahdin Trust started children throughout northern and central Maine on the path to a positive financial future by participating in the annual Teach Children to Save Day, a nationwide event to teach children their financial ABCs. “Education and hands-on money experience are critical to ensuring a new wave of smart money managers,” said Katahdin Trust Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications Vicki Smith, who oversees the bank’s efforts in the program. “We want parents to know that saving is important and everyone can do it, even kids. Teach Children to Save Day starts children off on the right path to saving for their future and is an important service that we can provide in our community – to our friends, neighbors, and customers.” Katahdin Trust offers the following tips for money-savvy parents raising money-smart kids: • Set the example of a responsible money manager by paying bills on time, being a conscientious spender and an active saver. Children tend to emulate their parents’ personal finance habits. • Talk openly about money with your kids. Communicate your values and experiences with money. Encourage them to ask you questions, and be prepared to answer them – even the tough ones. • Explain the difference between needs and wants, the value of saving and budgeting and the consequences of not doing so. • Open a savings account at your local bank for your children and take them with you to make deposits, so they can learn how to be hands-on in their money management. • Give your kids positive feedback. As they get older, give them responsibility over how they spend their money.
PHOTO: RYANKING999/THINKSTOCK.COM
Since its inception in 1997, the American Bankers Association Education Foundation’s Teach Children to Save Day has reached more than 6 million young people with the help of some 177,000-plus banker volunteers. For more information, visit teachchildrentosave.com.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 81
last
I
word
n Maine we wait
FamilyFun
Activities Summer is here – now how are you going to make the most of it? Here are a few suggestions to get you started on the right foot. BY CHRIS QUIMBY
a long time for the arrival of that special week we call summer. But without proper planning the season can quickly pass us by. Of particular difficulty is choosing activities an entire family can enjoy, especially if that family includes teenagers. People in that period of life have developed a keen awareness of the importance of coolness, a sense that atrophies as we age. For example, I used to be cool myself. It was only for about a week, but during that time I wore a leather jacket and had an office in the ladies bathroom of a popular eatery. Men and women alike showed me deference and respect as I captured the amazement of general citizens while riding my motorcycle around town and repeating my catch phrase: “aaay.” Now that I am older I no longer have this sort of an aura. And along with that, I cannot trust my mind, for I am not certain that memory was not actually of an episode of “Happy Days.” But thankfully, in 2015, I no longer need a brain because I have the internet. Using a word search, I was treated to an almost endless number of suggested activities I can engage in with my teenaged human offspring. 1. Grab a blanket, spread it out in the grass and cloud watch. This sounds fun, especially on a partly cloudy day when blue skies are interrupted with light, passing, pillowy forms. High likelihood of family arguments, though, when one family member sees a potato salad that another insists looks like Winston Churchill. Probably less drama than this would have been for the family of Mr. Churchill, who might have been offended at the suggestion of his children that he resembled a tasty picnic sided ish. 2. Walk barefoot through the grass. If you have outdoor pets, this is better done later in the summer after the seasonal heat has had a chance to decompose their droppings. Nudefooted strolls through the fields in early May provide squishy sensations during which mud is hard to discern from pet dookie. 3. Catch lightning bugs. Fireflies are one of the great wonders of God’s creation, but they must get annoyed when people imprison them in jars so they can fly around while people look at their butts. Talk about body objectification. I’m very thankful my rear end doesn’t light up, because I want to be free. 4. Have a wet T-shirt relay race. This was actually a suggestion of something to do with your teens. Either I should have investigated further for a proper explanation or I should be more careful about which websites I visit. 5. Sleep in your backyard, under the stars. This is like climbing Mount Katahdin. I’ve done it often, but always try to remind myself during the task that the process is much less enjoyable than my romanticized vision of it. I have spend the night outside in tents with the whole family and also with only my wife. What seems like a quaint idea at the outset usually yields cranky curmudgeons with multiple bugbites who reek of a mix of Bens 100, general body odor and campfire smoke. 6. Bury a friend in the sand. This can be lighthearted, but also dangerous. Before offering yourself as the FTBB (Friend To Be Buried), make sure you are on good terms with the OWWBY (One Who Will Bury You). Any outstanding debts should first be repaid and forgiveness should be sincerely requested for
all offenses. If you play your cards right, you will only be covered by a few inches of material. Beware if the OWWBY employs the use of an excavator. Hopefully, these suggestions will be helpful for your family as you investigate clever ways to bond with your teenaged children. Any effort made to tear people away from staring at a screen of some sort and getting outside to enjoy the beautiful summer weather in Maine is a good thing. And, as far as this aging man is concerned, pretty cool. 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. 84 / BANGOR METRO June/July 2015
IMAGE: DYNAMIC GRAPHICS/THINKSTOCK.COM
Of particular difficulty is choosing activities an entire family can enjoy, especially if that family includes teenagers.