T. AGATHA • HOULTON • JONESPORT • GUILFORD • POLAND • HERMON • JACKSON • WARREN • SCARBOROUGH • MONMOUTH • LINNEUS • BELFAST
Inside:
2016 Green Guide Scuba Diving in Maine Then & Now: Dexter Visit Fire Fly Farm Save the Date: Maine Science Festival
A Place at the
TABLE Mainers gathering to fix food insecurity
$5.95
March 2016
Your people, your region, your magazine.
contents
MARCH 2016
features RUNNING FOR A CAUSE / 16 The story behind Eastern Trek for Cancer UNITING COMMUNITIES / 18 Meet United Way leader Shirar Patterson A PLACE AT THE TABLE / 20 Mainers working to fix food insecurity UNDERWATER ADVENTURES / 32 The coast of Maine offers many scuba diving opportunities THEN & NOW: DEXTER / 38 Explore Dexter in the heart of Maine CONNECTED TO THE EARTH / 44 The Enchanted Kitchen at Fire Fly Farm offers a delicious recipe for crepes MAD SCIENCE / 48 Save the date for this year’s Maine Science Festival
RAISING NEMO / 72 Raising tropical fish in Maine COHOUSING ON THE COAST / 76 Belfast community provides unique living arrangement SUSTAINABLY DELICIOUS / 84 One of the greenest businesses in Maine is powered by ice cream
ON THE COVER Mainers working to fix food insecurity. See story on page 20.
Photos: Jason Paige Smith 2 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
32
PHOTOS: (TOP) JASON PAIGE SMITH; (BOTTOM) COPYRIGHT STEVE DE NEEF, 2015
20
ADAPTING TO WINTER / 58 Making skiing accessible for adults and children with disabilities
Perspectives artist Joe Kennedy, page 50
58
Science gets hands on, page 48
PHOTOS: (SCULPTURE) JOE KENNEDY; (FISH) COURTESY OF SOREN HANSEN; (SKIING) DAVID KAMILA; (SCIENCE) JEFF KIRLIN
72
in every issue
columns
TALK BACK & SIGHTINGS / 8 Our readers’ thoughts and feedback
METRO WELLNESS / 30 Parenting tweens
BIZ BUZZ / 10 People and places on the move
METRO FAMILY / 54 Realizing your own good luck
WHAT’S HAPPENING / 11 Local news and events
MAINE WOODS & WATERS / 60 A lesson in logging
PERSPECTIVES / 50 Plumbing turned art
LAST WORD / 88 Trying to be cool with speech-to-text
AIMEE & AMY TRY... / 52 Making leprechaun traps SAVVY SENIORS / 62 Insight on senior living METRO HOME / 64 Efficiency tips for older homes CROWN OF MAINE / 67 News from Aroostook County
BONUS INSIDE! 2016 GREEN GUIDE From cohousing to sustainable ice cream, Mainers are going green.
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 Dexter (featured on page 38) More photos from events around our region. Email your own event photos: sightings@bangormetro.com
Find the Green Guide starting on page 71 www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3
editor’s note
We’ve gone green in all aspects of this month’s Metro.
Making leprechaun traps, page 52
Sustainable ice cream on page 84
From features on businesses and communities making a positive impact on our planet; lessons on how to make leprechaun traps to catch those little green men this St. Patty’s Day; and information on how to save some green on your tax return. We also tackled one of our largest projects to date in a feature about hunger and food insecurity in Maine. While we can’t solve the problem, we wanted to take the opportunity of March being National Nutrition Month to raise awareness about a problem that continues to plague our state and many areas of the country. What we learned is that no one organization can solve the problem on its own, but Mainers are working on many levels to reduce the percentage of residents — young and old — who are hungry. Please take time to read the feature that starts on page 20. We hope you find it to be informative and eye-opening, and that you might be inspired to help in even the smallest way. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank local photographer Jason P. Smith for his dedicated work in connecting with people and organizations all over the state — politicians, food pantries, medical professionals and big businesses — to help illustrate just how big this problem is and how far it stretches.
AIMEE THIBODEAU, MANAGING EDITOR
PHOTOS: MINGMAN SRILAKORN & FUSE/THINKSTOCK
Our Green Guide on page 71
4 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000
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Get the most out of your heat pump. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bob Duchesne
Jodi Hersey
Clean FILTERS regularly. When your heat pump is running at its best, you’ll realize maximum comfort and savings. Set the MODE to heat or cool for greatest efficiency. Use the auto setting for the FAN, so your system can adapt as indoor and outdoor conditions change. For optimal COMFORT at a standing or seated level, you may need to adjust the temperature up or down depending on the season.
Jane Margesson
Richard Shaw
Deb Neuman
Chris Quimby
Heating with a ductless heat pump is comparable to heating with oil at $1.50 a gallon. So let the heat pump do the work to increase your SAVINGS.
Jason Paige Smith 2015-12-03 Bangor Metro Jan Issue - Get the Most.indd 1
Ashley Thornton
12/6/2015 8:39:17 PM
Emilie Brand Throckmorton
Bangor Metro Magazine. March 2016, Vol. 12, No. 3. Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company. Bangor Metro is published 12 times annually by Bangor Publishing Company. 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 $24.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date. Please contact Fred Stewart at 207-990-8219. Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Laurie Cates at 207-990-8149.
COVER PHOTOS: (Headshots) Jason P. Smith; (Plate & fork) Dmytro Panchenko & koosen/thinkstock
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7
talk back & sightings
We Love Hearing From You You shared your favorite places with us on Facebook...
“Schoodic!” Jean Bickford
“Interesting what they came up with at Bangor Metro. Locally I would have said the City Forest, Orono Bog Walk & Thomas Hill Standpipe (when it is open). Regionally my #1 would have been Acadia National Park! Two favorites there are hiking/climbing Dorr Mountain and of course any of the Eagle Lake area hikes.” – Karen L. Kellerman
“Orono Bog Boardwalk.” Michele Dwyer
From Twitter:
Laura Lynn Michaud
From Facebook:
“As an agency that espouses #PayItForward thanks to Rick Bernstein, we love this item in the BangorMetro!”
“Take a look at this past November Bangor Metro Article by Deb Neuman as we approach our 1st anniversary get an inside look on my story. Thank you to Bangor Metro and Deb for publishing my words so beautifully. One More Day can truly save your life.”
Literacy Volunteers, Bangor
Find the full story in our February issue or online at bangormetro.com
Katy Coffin, Bangor
Rabbit, Rabbit!
WE’RE EXCITED Here’s a look at what our staff is psyched to share with readers this month
Awwww! Nothing says spring like a visit from a bunny. This fuzzy guy from Little Lane Rabitry hopped all over the Metro desk. He definitely brighened our day, but his typing skills left a lot to be desired. Visit us on Facebook for more behind-thescenes photos from Bangor Metro.
What Do You Think?
Learn about the history of Dexter, page 38 All Over The Place
Discover delicious gelato in Brunswick, page 84
“There are so many places to love in Maine, but I love Boothbay Harbor!”
From co-housing in Belfast to raising awareness of hunger all over the state, we’ve got it covered.
Raising tropical fish in Franklin, page 72
We want your feedback! What do you want to see in the magazine? Share with us! We want to hear your story ideas and suggestions.
Coming NEXT MONTH...
We’re springing into April with our Farm & Garden issue, visiting area farms, farm-to-table restaurants and more! Have a comment or story idea? Share! Email us at editor@bangormetro.com
8 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
Local leaders
were honored recently during the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner. PHOTOS BY JEFF KIRLIN
1
2
1: Bangor Mayor Sean Faircloth poses for a selfie with photographer extraordinaire Jeff Kirlin of The Thing of the Moment. 2: Mark Pellon and Shelley Sund enjoy the festivities at the 2016 Bangor Region
Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner. 3: The Chamber Awards Dinner took place January 20 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
3
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9
biz buzz On the Move DR. JOHN N. SHORT is the
new president of the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Short’s career in public higher education spans nearly 40 years, with experience as both a faculty member and administrator. His most recent post has been serving as CEO and dean of the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac. Short will begin work on April 1. Eastern Maine Medical Center has added pediatric gastroenterologist AJAY RANA, MD to its growing team of specialty physicians who care for children and adolescents. As the area’s only pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Rana cares for problems with the digestive organs, including the intestines, stomach, colon, gallbladder, and liver. Dr. Rana received his medical degree at B. J. Medical College in Pune, India. He completed a pediatric residency at Albany Medical Center and a pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Dr. Rana also has a master’s degree in clinical and translational research from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Rana is currently involved in several research projects that could improve care for irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric patients. Eastside Center for Health and Rehabilitation announced that CRAIG MOORS, R.N., is the new center’s new director of nursing. Moors brings more than 28 years of health care experience to the position, as well as 16 years of direct experience in skilled and long-term care. Community Health Options has announced that three new board directors begin their terms in 2016, accompanied by three formation board directors who were elected to the board. The newly elected board members are: ANGELA BERRY, Human Resource Manager for East Branch Delivery Service and a Community Health Options Member; DR. FRED CRAIGIE JR., Clinical psychologist, medical educator
10 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
and writer; previously a Community Health Options formation board director; JIM DAVIS, CEO, Pines Health Services. Jim’s responsibilities at Pines Health include overseeing all aspects of executive leadership for this multispecialty safety net provider serving northern Aroostook County; TONUA FEDUSENKO-VANCEA , owner/president of TJS Communications, Inc. (a public relations firm), and a Community Health Options Member; FELICITY MYERS, LCSW Therapist/Mediator/Guardian ad litem and a Community Health Options Member; and DAVID SHIPMAN, supervisor at Fedco Seeds, a consumer/ worker cooperative; previously a Community Health Options formation board director. MATTHEW WEED has joined Eastern
Maine Healthcare Systems as senior vice president and chief strategy officer. Weed will be responsible for developing and implementing both short- and long-term strategies. In addition, he will provide leadership and coordinate activities for the Strategic Planning Committee of the EMHS Board of Directors, as well as select leadership steering committees and teams.
Awards For the fourth year in a row, U.S. News & World Reports has selected the UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT AUGUSTA in its national ranking of universities offering top online bachelor’s degree programs.After ranking in U.S. News & World Reports top picks for the past three years UMA has made a steady climb from 103rd in 2013, to 61st in 2014, 40th in 2015, and now 30th in its newly released 2016 list of universities with the Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs in the nation. Maine Agriculture in the Classroom announced its 2016 Teachers of the Year at the 75th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show. They are MORGAN KERR and STEPHANIE ENAIRE (photo) from
Gray-New Gloucester Middle School. The teaching partners for grades 5/6 at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School have added agriculture to all subjects across their curriculum. For example, they use their school garden to teach science, math and language arts. They have raised chickens with their students, visited local farms, explored agricultural careers and even studied history through the remaining rock walls and foundations left from farms in their area. Kerr has been a summer youth education director at Wolfe’s Neck Farm. Enaire grew up on a dairy farm right in the same county.
Grants The MAINE TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE approved two new awards from its Cluster Initiative Program for collaborative projects that boost Maine’s high-potential technology-intensive clusters. Awards made under the CIP program support the success of Maine businesses by funding joint work of companies, service providers, research laboratories and educational institutions and expanding the infrastructure that helps them to thrive. This round of CIP awards leveraged $128,450 in matching contributions from private donations for planning and piloting projects supporting Maine’s food and aquaculture clusters. With this investment, MTI joins the private sector effort led by Michael Dubyak and Andrea Cianchette Maker to strengthen and revitalize opportunity and prosperity in Maine by accelerating the creation of quality jobs within a few select traded sectors that have high growth potential based on global growth projections and Maine’s competitive advantages in those sectors.
what’s happening
Tooth Fairy
Adventures
IMAGES: AIMEE THIBODEAU; (GAME) COLEMATT/THINKSTOCK
Educational, fun and a reminder all in one. BY AIMEE THIBODEAU BREWER: It’s no secret that a trip to the dentist isn’t high on the list of things most people love to do. But by developing a dental “home” for children by age 1, some of that anxiety and fear can be alleviated, according to Dr. Carey Fister, a Brewer pediatric dentist and her dad, Dr. Jeffrey Fister, a retired local dentist. Not to mention healthy oral hygiene habits can be established at a young age. In order to encourage such activity, the father-daughter dentist duo created ToothFairy Adventures — a board game for children ages 3-8. Before starting the game, parents read a poem with
their children about the relationship between the dentist and the Tooth Fairy — the two are best friends. Then, as children travel around the tooth, they learn about good oral hygiene practices, dental vocabulary, the importance of eating healthy, and to brush their teeth twice a day and floss before bed. “It’s a means to try to educate the parents, as well as the kids,” Jeffrey Fister said. He noted that dental decay is prevalent in children, with 28 percent of children ages 2-6 having some dental decay. That number increases to 40 percent for children who enter kindergarten.
Tooth Fairy Adventures took three years to develop, and is expected to be available for purchase by March. Illustrator Scott Sherman, now living in Florida but a Maine native, designed the original art and prototype, which was later picked up by Panda Game Manufacturing. For the Fisters, selling the product isn’t about making money. The game is expected to sell for $24.95 (available at toothfairyadventures.net), and a portion of the proceeds will go toward Healthy Smiles for ME, which provides dental care for children who can not afford treatment. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11
what’s happening
March 1-12 Maine Restaurant Week Maine Restaurant Week is your annual opportunity to try out one of Maine’s countless amazing restaurants for a reasonable price. Restaurants all over the state (though clustered in southern Maine) offer three-course meal deals at several price tiers — from super fancy to casual. Go online for a full list of participating restaurants, as well as other special events. mainerestaurantweek.com
March 4-5 and March 18-19 Maine Drama Festival Just as the basketball tournaments are a big deal for athletes, the Maine Drama Festival is the big event for actors and artists. Each year, schools all over the state host drama departments, which bring their one-act play productions to compete in both regional and state levels competitions. It’s also a great opportunity to see a lot of theater, all in one place. Google the Maine Drama Festival to see where performances take place.
March 4 EMMC Winter Beach Ball, Cross Insurance Center One of the most fun events held each year in the Queen City is the the Eastern Maine Medical Center Auxiliary’s annual Winter Beach Ball, a little slice of summer near the end of a long cold winter. Tickets for this party — which benefits the many good things going on at the hospital — are available via the EMMC Auxiliary website. emmc.org/Auxiliary
March 4-8 Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race MUSH! Each year, hundreds of sled dogs and their mushers descend on Fort Kent for the Can-Am Crown, a series of three dog sled races — 30,100 and 250 miles — that tests the mettle of dog and human alike. Races start and end in Fort Kent, and there are lots of other festivities in the community around the races. can-am-crown.net
12 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
March 6 Bangor Symphony Orchestra Presents Brahms & Tchaikovsky, Collins Center for the Arts Brahms and Tchaikovsky, two greats of of the Romantic era, are featured in the BSO’s March 2016 Masterworks concert. Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme” will feature the cello pyrotechnics of Inbal Segev, before Maestro Richman explore Brahms’ sublime second symphony. A charming piece for chamber orchestra will shed new light on Stravinsky at the start of the program. Tickets are available online. collinscenterforthearts.com March 10-27 Penobscot Theatre’s “The Last Five Years” This contemporary musical features just two characters — a man and a woman — and imagines how they meet, fall in love, and fall apart, bending and shifting time and perspective as the story progresses. Tickets are available via penobscottheatre.com, or at the Bangor Opera House box office. penobscottheatre.com
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PHOTO: BDN FILE
March 4-5 & March 18-19 Maine Drama Festival, Statewide
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13
what’s happening March 11 & 12 Bull Riders Tour, Bangor
March 11 and 12 Professional Bull Riders BluDef Tour, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor For two nights, the best up and coming bull riders in the world will be battling the fiercest bovine athletes the sport has to offer, who weigh nearly 2,000 pounds each, more than 10 times their cowboy counterparts. Tickets for each of these two nights of rodeo-style fun starts at $17 and go up to $57. crossinsurancecenter.com March 23 Megadeth, Children of Bodom, Suicidal Tendencies, Havok at Cross Insurance Center, Bangor Waterfront Concerts brings a big metal show to the Queen City, featuring metal legends Megadeth in their first Maine appearance in decades. Tickets are $35$45 and are available online. waterfrontconcerts.com
PHOTOS: (CONCERT) BDN FILE; (BULL RIDER) HEPT27/THINKSTOCK
March 23 Megadeth, Bangor
14 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
What Are You
Doing Tonight? Find Ideas on our online
calendar of events
bangormetro.com
bangormetro.com www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15
unsung hero
Matt Dexter and Nicole Geoffrion on the trek in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
A for a Cause
Running Student starts Eastern Trek for Cancer to raise funds and awareness in memory of his mother. BY JODI HERSEY
16 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
t the young
age of 13, Matt Dexter experienced something no child or teenager ever should — the loss of a parent. His mother Christine died of stomach cancer. It was a heartbreaking time for his entire family and one that caused them to do a lot of soul searching. Dexter often found comfort, healing and hope in running; especially during stressful times like applying for colleges. He eventually created the Christine B. Foundation (or CBF), in honor of his mother. And last year, the fourthyear University of Maine student from Acton, Massachusetts, began the Eastern Trek for Cancer. The event is a seven-day run from Maine to New York that raises funds for those affected by the disease. "It was started to unite young adults to participate in an event that combined running and supporting the cancer community socially," said Dexter. "We're not an organization that hones in on one specific diagnosis. We support all cancers and not only the patient but also the caregivers." Dexter is both the president and founder of the CBF non-profit and its programs, which include the Eastern Trek for Cancer. His father serves as treasurer and his sister is the secretary. "I kind of got them involved to make my dream a reality," said Dexter. "I participated in a similar [trek] event and really enjoyed and loved the logistics, the business side of it and the mission. So I wanted to spread it to the east coast and parts of the country that the program didn't touch." All trek participants run in pairs for 2 to 3 miles at a time for a total of 7 to 10
miles each day. Dexter expects at least a dozen people to participate in the journey from Portland to New York this July 3-9. Each registrant is required to raise a minimum of $2,000 prior to the event. Those proceeds are then invested into CBF comfort bags that are handed out to patients at a cancer center on the one rest day runners are given during the weeklong event. "Handing out those comfort bags is where the runners get to see their impact," said Dexter. "We not only provide positive thoughts and motivation but also provide CBF comfort bags with blankets, back scratchers, lotion and things patients have actually requested. We don't know them, we're just supporting them and their battle against their cancer." The funds raised are also used to award two $2,000 scholarships to an undergraduate student affected by cancer. Then any and all remaining monies go toward covering the cost of the race itself including food, lodging, gear, vans and travel expenses. "I'm not sure what my mom would think [of the foundation and trek] but I know she'd be doing the same if she beat her battle with cancer," Dexter said. The disease may have shortened his mother's life, but it certainly has not stopped him from helping others beat cancer, one step, one dollar and one comfort bag at a time. For more information, visit chrisb foundation.org.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF 2015 EASTERN TREK FOR CANCER
Marie Miller, Zach Smith, Maggie alez Halfman, Matt Dexter and Alex Gonz ry. Kitte in off send at the 2015
This photo: Katie Carsky, Madeleine Carsky and Matt Dexter on the Connecticut–New York state line. Below: Katie Carsky and Matt Dexter at Stamford Health: Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center in Stamford, Connecticut.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17
Uniting
Communities
For United Way leader Shirar Patterson, it’s all about friends, family and community. BY DEB NEUMAN
18 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
A
s is true
with many people who make Maine their home, Shirar Patterson of Milford, grew up out of state, but spent her childhood summers in Maine. Patterson was raised in Westford, Massachusetts and summered in the Biddeford area. When the time came to apply to colleges, the University of Maine was on her list. “I still remember the day we visited the UMaine campus. It was a gray, damp day but the people were so friendly,” she said. “I knew it was the right place for me.” Patterson graduated from the University of Maine in 2001 with a degree in public management. She earned her master's degree in public administration two years later. Today, Patterson is the senior vice president and chief operating officer of the United Way of Eastern Maine, and recently was one of 12 people selected nationwide to be part of the United Way Worldwide Advanced Leaders Program. The year-long program provides training and networking opportunities to prepare senior leaders in the United Way to advance within the organization. “It’s exciting to be part of an organization that has such a large network internationally, but we are still able to have local autonomy,” Patterson said. Patterson began her career with the United Way right after college, where she spent two years working as a community impact associate. “I always loved the work, but I needed to get out and get more experience
if I wanted to move up in the organization,” she said. That experience included working for the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce as a program director and for the City of Bangor working on downtown economic development and cultural projects. She stayed involved with United Way as a volunteer and returned to work for the organization in 2012. “As a 24 year old, I really thought I was ready for more responsibility within the organization. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t. My advice for young people who want to advance in their careers is to go out and get more experience but stay connected to the things you care about,” Patterson said. The work the United Way does is what Patterson is passionate about. “Being able to find a position that is aligned with my values and makes use of my strengths and allows me to give back to my community is what it’s all about for me. It’s much more than about a paycheck,” Patterson said. The United Way of Eastern Maine serves Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington and Waldo counties. “A lot of people don’t really understand the work we do even when they generously contribute to their employer’s United Way campaign. We work on pursuing issues in the five counties we serve. We partner and leverage relationships with the business community and help bring awareness and action to an issue,” she explained. At 37 years old, Patterson looks forward to many more years making a contribution to her community and serving as a role model for her kids. Patterson and her husband, Ryan live in Milford with two year old, Wade and 10 month old, Cale. “We live in the town where Ryan grew up, so we are surrounded by family. We are very lucky that his Mom watches our kids during the day,” she said. When asked what she hoped for her kids in the future, Patterson said, “I hope they are able to find their passion and do what they love while giving back to the community. I hope that wherever they end up, they always have a happy place to come home to. For me it’s all about three things — friends, family and community.”
PHOTOS: (BLACK & WHITE) DANS LA VIE PHOTOGRAPHY; (AT PODIUM) COURTESY OF SHIRAR PATTERSON
movers & shakers
metro health
20 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
A Place at the
Table Mainers gathering to fix food insecurity.
N
o one image
STORY BY AIMEE THIBODEAU | PHOTOS BY JASON PAIGE SMITH
or single person’s story can capture the severity of a startling problem facing our country and impacting the lives of many Mainers — your neighbors, loved ones, colleagues. You’d likely be surprised to learn how close to home the economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food truly is. And while the problem is not new, there is a heightened sense of awareness that has resulted in ongoing and increased efforts to bring quality food to those in Maine who need it most. The reality is that there is enough food for all Mainers to be well fed and food secure. Unfortunately, there are economic, geographic and other obstacles that deny access to those resources. Rates of hunger and food insecurity are higher in Maine than in the nation as a whole, and no Maine community — urban or rural — is untouched by the issue. But organizations, individuals, and businesses are stepping up and working together to try and alleviate hunger in Maine.
KRISTEN MIALE is president of Auburnbased Good Shepard Food Bank, which aims to eliminate hunger in Maine by sourcing and distributing nutritious food to people in need, building strong community partnerships, and mobilizing the public in the fight to end hunger.
22 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
metro health “Children who are food insecure or hungry tend to have a problem learning in school. Older adults are more likely to be hospitalized and have longer stays [and are] more likely to be readmitted after being released from the hospital.” – Doug Michael
Good Shepherd Food Bank, based in Auburn, is one of the leading organizations tackling the issue on a statewide level. “Just this past year, we distributed more than 17.5 million meals to Mainers in need through our network of local partner agencies,” the organization reports. “This food is feeding and nourishing 178,000 of our neediest neighbors each year in every area of Maine, from Kittery to Fort Kent.” Their programs are numerous and focus on the food needs of all Mainers, from providing backpacks of food for school children to take home over the weekend and school vacations, to ensuring that food pantries and meal sites throughout the state are well-stocked with nutritious food, to engaging policymakers and mobilizing the public on behalf of vital hunger relief programs, including federal assistance. “Children and elderly tend to be disproportionately impacted,” said Doug Michael, Chief Community Health &
Grants Officer for Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. His primary role at EMHS is to work with the system as a whole to make stronger partnerships in promoting community health, and he noted that food insecurity has been an issue of growing concern for those working in the health industry. “There’s a strong connection between food insecurity and causal medical issues such as asthma, obesity, depression, mental health, suicide, and the list goes on,” Michael said. “Children who are food insecure or hungry tend to have a problem learning in school. Older adults are more likely to be hospitalized and have longer stays [and are] more likely to be readmitted after being released from the hospital.” The geography and rural nature of our state also makes providing access to food difficult, even in communities where there are food pantries. “These issues are exacerbated in our rural communities … [they] tend to be
SARA TRUNZO is director of Veggies For All, a project of Maine Farmland Trust that was started in 2007 by Tim Libby and other young farmers who recognized the great potential for local agriculture to relieve hunger in our region.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23
Childhood Food
Insecurity
Definition: Children under age 18 living in households, where in the previous 12 months, there was an uncertainty of having, or an inability to acquire, enough food for all household members because of insufficient money or other resources.
20.6% to 22.0% 22.1% to 24.4%
Data Provided by: Maine Children's Alliance from 2013
24.5% to 26.5% 26.6% to 28.9%
24 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
MAINE SEN. JUSTIN ALFOND is passionate about trying to end hunger in Maine on both a political and local level through volunteerism.
metro health less diverse and less resilient to economic downturns, our wages are lower, we have older than average populations, more people living in low-income households, greater distances to travel for work, groceries and essential services, more geographic food deserts where access to healthy food options are limited,” Michael said. “All of these factors conspire to reduce access and availability of healthier foods in rural Maine communities. On the other hand, we have good reason to be hopeful.” On all fronts, there have been improvements, particularly when it comes to various sectors — both public and private — working together to provide access to food in Maine. EMHS continues to partner with other agencies to assure all community members have access to healthy food. Examples include:
• The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle partners with the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging to provide more than 2,500 nutritious “Meals on Wheel” to older adults each year. • Inland Hospital in Waterville partners with the Greater Waterville Area Food Bank and has helped purchase a van that delivers each month 15,000 pounds of food to those in need. • Sebasticook Valley Healthcare in Pittsfield partners with Kohl’s Foundation and five area schools to support school-based gardens, growing produce for healthy snack programs and school cafeterias. • Charles A Dean Memorial Hospital partners with the Greenville schools as part of the BackPack Program — part of a program of Feeding America that provides children who are suffering the effects of chronic hunger with nutritious, easy-to-
DOUG MICHAEL, chief community health & grants officer for Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, where he works to make stronger partnerships in promoting community health, of which food insecurity has been an issue of growing concern. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25
Give & Receive There’s been a shift in the perception of needing, asking for, and accepting help. It’s no secret that Mainers are stubborn and proud, making it difficult for many to accept what they view as handouts. But now many of the people who are receiving food at meal sites and food banks throughout the state are giving back and working and volunteering at those same locations.
ABDI KARSHE (top) and SALAH SAMATAR (right) turned to Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn for help feeding their families, but also worked at the warehouse as volunteers as a way to give back to the organization.
Editor’s Note: Just days before this issue went to press, Bangor Metro learned that Abdi Karshe had died. In a message from Good Shepherd Food Bank to our Bangor Metro staff, Good Shepherd Food Bank wanted to be sure to acknowledge Karshe for his years of service to the organization.
26 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
prepare food to eat during weekends and school vacations when crucial reduced or free school meals are unavailable. • And in Portland, Mercy Hospital partners with local growers to provide CSA farm shares to women and children of McAuley Residence, a transitional home to women with children, who are in early recovery from substance abuse. Additionally, EMHS is taking a muchneeded longer-range look approach to promoting food security through its recently funded Partnerships to Improve Community Health consortium (PICH). The three-year, $4 million initiative is a community prevention partnership working in seven northern Maine counties where there are high rates of chronic disease and food insecurity. Not only is EMHS
metro health working to identify needs, but research is being conducted on the structural needs of the food security system. Specific efforts include, increasing the number of hunger relief organizations — currently 80 food pantries and community meal sites — with increased access to healthy foods for distribution; providing grants to help food pantries purchase infrastructure, such as freezers and refrigerators to properly store food; partnering with Good Shepherd Food Bank to create a new food storage and distribution center in Hampden; and organizing farm-to-pantry gleaning and food recovery partnerships. “For a household with limited income, whether it’s elderly or a working family, there are discretionary and nondiscretionary items in their family bud-
get. If you’re deciding whether to have the power turned off or buying healthier food — you’re going to pay your electric bill,” Michael said. “Buying healthy food is one of the last items to consider.” To ease that burden, larger businesses also are pitching in. At Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway in Bangor, leftover food from the Epic Buffet is donated to local organizations. “One of the most important things we can do in life is to help each other out,” said the casino’s General Manager Jose Flores. “Maine is a cold state and sometimes things like heating costs make it difficult for everyone to make ends meet in the winter
months. We saw an opportunity with the Epic Buffet to be able to give a hand up to those in need with a steady, solid donation of unused food to people who need it the most. So every week, we end up donating about 100 pounds of unused food, and we rotate those donations between
JOSE FLORES is general manager of Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway in Bangor. Each week, the company donates about 100 pounds of unused food from its Epic Buffet to local organizations.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27
metro health
NICK BARTLETT is the assistant store manager in Belfast. Each Hannaford store and distribution center contributes rescued food to local pantries, meals programs and Good Shepherd Food Bank. The company also donates to local food organizations in other ways and has a focus on providing local, nutritious food to customers.
the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter and Manna. For us, it just makes sense. But something that ‘just makes sense’ for a business or organization can really make a big difference for hard working Maine families.” Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, operates over 180 stores and employs more than 27,000 associates in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, and is another example of a big business making a difference. Each Hannaford store and distribution center contributes rescued food — products that may be approaching their freshness date or have cosmetic damage — to local pantries, meals programs and Good Shepherd Food Bank. 28 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
“Last year, we donated 11.6 million pounds of rescued food to hunger relief in Maine, including 1 million pounds of meat and 3 million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Eric Blom, Hannaford’s external communications manager. “Hannaford has been working with regional food banks and pantries to further improve systems for recovering harder-to-handle fresh items, making sure that there can be regular pickups and ensuring they have the processes and equipment to handle that food safely. As part of that work, we have donated or helped pantries and food banks to purchase vans, refrigerated truck trailers, refrigeration units and other equipment.” In addition, the supermarket chain partners with customers to raise funds
and food donations through programs such as its Fight Hunger shopping bag where 25-cents for each bag purchased is donated to Good Shepherd, and its annual Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger campaign. They also sponsor Cooking Matters, a statewide program that helps teach low-income people how to shop and cook nutritious meals on a budget, and they support school-based food pantries and food backpack programs in a number of Maine public schools, bridging nutrition gaps that inhibit learning. Each of these programs is helping to decrease the state’s level of food insecurity, which heightened nationwide in 2008 during the recession and remains high in Maine despite some economic upturn.
“We think it has to do with some of the erosion and weakening of different safety net programs, such as a reduction in housing and fuel and food assistance programs,” Michael said. “I think we were less resilient with the great recession once it hit.” But there is hope. “We are seeing a convergence of policymakers, thought leaders and organizations to address the issue,” Michael said. “Fifteen years ago, for most public health professionals, it would have largely been off the radar [and was] understood maybe as a social problem but less as a health problem. We’re beginning to build the bridges between different sectors … to make sure that our communities have access to healthy food.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29
metro
wellness
Tweens
Parenting ear parents of
pre-teen kids, can we talk? Have you noticed as our kids turn the corner from kid toward teenager that our job description has changed pretty dramatically? My daughter is now 11 and has grown up so much in the last year. The tricky part of parenting her seems to be that I am supposed to simultaneously acknowledge how capable and independent she is while not forgetting that she still needs me. Some days I feel like we are walking such a fine line along this new boundary that one tiny step in the wrong direction, and suddenly she is running upstairs to her room, and I am eating Nutella straight out of the jar. On any given day, it’s just not as easy to know whether I’m being a good mom to her. Even though I swore it was challenging at the time (the sleep deprivation!), the baby and toddler stages were a breeze in comparison. Am I right? As long as I fed her, smiled at her, got her to take a good nap, rocked her and patted her little diapered butt before bed, I felt like the champion of all the mothers. The parenting books I had dog-eared on my bedside table always told it to me straight. “At 18 months old, your baby should be able to: say several single words, shake her head no, point to one body part, drink from a cup and eat with a spoon.” I always passed these little tests, giving me the false impression that I had this parenting thing figured out. Now the answers to all of my parenting questions are “maybe” or “it depends” or “not a clue.” Should I follow her up to her room when she retreats there? Should she have an Instagram account because most of her friends do? Is it unforgivable that I nag her about deodorant and hair brushing? How candidly should I answer her questions about sex? Should I intervene when she 30 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
thinks a teacher is being unfair or let her sort it out? Can I educate her about food and exercise needs without giving her a body-image complex? Some days she wants help, some days she doesn’t, sometimes I embarrass her when my intentions are only to help. Last week, she was upset about something, and we were lying on her bed. After some major eye rolling and frustration, made worse by my assumption
how she isn’t sure Jane is a good friend anymore, what she is worried about, and what she’s looking forward to. It’s true that sometimes she wants to be alone in her room, but other times she wants to hang out and be silly, and still other times she wants a heart-to-heart. I need to keep asking good questions, to be quiet and listen, to let some things go, to apologize when I get it wrong, and most importantly, to just be there for her.
It’s humbling to have your kid, who needed you for every single thing, suddenly morph into this smart and opinionated person who needs you less, or at least differently. she was just being “moody,” she said: “I just feel like I’m trying so hard to be a grown up but I still feel like a little kid,” I thought, well, there it is. My daughter actually has a pretty special knack for articulating how she feels, and I should have just asked her. I should have absolutely known that this push-and-pull between little kid and grown up is at the forefront of every moment for her. I’m starting to figure out that as she gets older, I don’t need the parenting books anymore. I have this tremendous resource right in front of me. Lying on her bed that night, I vowed to accept that I may not always know what she needs, but most of the time, she knows. And even when she doesn’t know, she needs me only to be patient, to listen, and to offer love, love, and more love. My job now is to keep the lines of communication open. I need her to keep telling me what Susie said at school, and
Our growing kids are working especially hard to make sense of the world and all of these new feelings, bigger responsibilities, changing bodies, and complications with friendships that had previously been easy. The last thing they need is a parent who refuses to see them as the adults they are becoming. Maybe parenting pre-teens and teens is challenging because we are clinging to the vestiges of being the one who had all the answers, who passed all the tests. It’s humbling to have your kid, who needed you for every single thing, suddenly morph into this smart and opinionated person who needs you less, or at least differently. Just remind yourselves, and remind me when you see me in the corner with a jar of Nutella, that kids who want to establish independence, to do things their own way, are proof that we are, as a matter of fact, passing the test.
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.
PHOTO: RYAN MCVAY/THINKSTOCK
D
Figuring out our parenting roles as kids get older. BY EMILIE BRAND THROCKMORTON
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feature story
PHOTO: COPYRIGHT STEVE DE NEEF, 2015
A scuba diver explores the water off the coast of Nubble Light on Cape Neddick in York.
32 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
Underwater
Adventures
The coast of Maine offers some of the best and most unique dive spots you can imagine. Learn where to go and how to get started. BY EMILY BURNHAM
T
he rocky coast,
the endless forests, the charming towns and great food — all reasons people come to Maine. Under the surface, however, there’s a whole other world to explore, one that Mainers and tourists alike can access with a little bit of training and practice, and a lot of curiosity. Though its waters are cold, the opportunities for scuba diving in Maine are both unique and plentiful, with teeming marine life and geological formations that are different from region to region. The diving in York County, for example, is highly different from what there is in Washington County. And every diver, whether they’re a seasoned pro or a weekend warrior, has their own special place to go. “For me, by far, the best diving in Maine is in Eastport,” said “Diver” Ed Monat, owner of the popular Dive-In Theater boat cruises in Bar Harbor, and a more than 30-year dive veteran. “There’s marine life on steroids. With those huge tides and the cold, there’s just so much to see. Corals and anemones and big fish and starfish. There are people that own camps out there just to dive on the weekend. It’s amazing.” Dave Sinclair, owner of Sea Ventures Charters in Port Clyde, however, says the island of Monhegan offers the best diving. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33
feature story
34 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
Though most people associate recreational scuba diving with tropical waters, Maine’s waters — though not crystal clear, and in some cases quite cloudy — nevertheless offer a wealth of things to see.
Star fish in the water of the coast off Nubble Light on Cape Neddick in York.
PHOTO: COPYRIGHT STEVE DE NEEF, 2015
“It’s 12 miles off shore, so it’s exposed to the open water, and you get all sorts of pelagic fish and deepwater bottomfish,” said Sinclair. “There are high cliffs and big rocks and all sorts of great habitats.” Still others suggest that the diving around Nubble Lighthouse in York boasts the best combination of sea life and rocks, while many swear by the diving around Mt. Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Some even dive in freshwater lakes, including Moosehead and Sebago. And for those divers that are also professionals, either diving for scallops or urchins or who are involved in underwater rescue, there may be favorites spots for entirely different reasons. Regardless of the where, it’s the how that’s the biggest obstacle for those who are interested in diving. For starters, in order to go scuba diving, one must be certified through PADI or NAUI or another nationally-recognized scuba certification organization. This usually involves a minimum three to four days of classes, depending on how quickly you’re able to go through the necessary training. There are a number of places in Maine where someone can get certified, whether it’s through a dive shop or through an independent diver. Once you’re certified, then the fun can begin — though Sinclair cautions that the most important thing a novice diver can do is to get as comfortable as they can with their equipment. “You’ve got to feel comfortable and safe in your gear. That’s the key,” said Sinclair. “Don’t jump beyond your capabilities. Just relax, get used to everything, and be comfortable. You’re in a foreign environment. You’re not meant to be there.” Though most people associate recreational scuba diving with tropical waters, Maine’s waters — though not crystal clear, and in some cases quite cloudy — nevertheless offer a wealth of things to see. In Eastport, there’s are anemones, soft corals, sea cucumbers, huge lobsters, and a variety of fish, including the fearsomelooking but largely peaceful wolffish. “The huge tides and all that nutrientrich water really makes for an ideal situation,” said Monat. “But I’m based on MDI, so I’m in Frenchman’s Bay a lot, which also has a lot of cool stuff to see. There’s a lot of different habitats and sea life, and
Dive Shops
and Where to Get Certified Aqua City Scuba Water Street, Waterville • 873-0266 Classes, rentals, sales, repairs and tank fills Downeast Dive Shop Sea Street, Eastport • 217-2096 Classes, repairs, tours, tank fills Johnson Sporting Goods Rockland, Brunswick and Portland • 725-7531 Classes, repairs, sales, tank fills Aqua Diving Academy Commercial Street, Portland • 772-4200 Classes, repairs, sales, tours Rollins Scuba Associates Washington Avenue, South Portland • 799-7990 Classes Blue Harbor Scuba Elm Street, Camden • 236-3196 Classes, repairs, sales and tank fills Downeast Dive Shop Route 1A, Holden • 843-7711 Sales, repairs and tank fills www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35
feature story
“It’s a huge world. And we only get to see a teeny tiny piece of it.”
A diver surfaces in the water surrounding Mt. Desert Island.
– Ed Monat
Popular Dive Sites in Maine Eastport, Washington County Nestled between the U.S. and Canada, Eastport offers eye-popping underwater beauty. The cold water and huge tidal effect from the Bay of Fundy means the channel in between Eastport and Deer Island, New Brunswick, is chock full of wildlife, from fish and seals to wildly colorful anemones and corals. It’s easy for shore diving, as the channel drops off to deep water not far out from shore.
Mt. Desert Island, Hancock County There are a number of dive sites around Mt. Desert Island, both in and out of the park. They include Little Hunter Beach near Otter Cove and Seawall and Manset. If you have access to a boat, the diving in Frenchman’s Bay is also interesting. Urchins, anemones, moray eels, starfish, school of fish and sea peaches are just some of the creatures you can find.
Monhegan, Lincoln County This remote island is often known for its enormous black cliffs and boulders underwater, as it is its marine life, though both are equally spectacular. Shore diving isn’t really an option here, but Capt. Dave Sinclair of Sea Ventures Charters in Port Clyde can take groups out on charters. Expect to see anemones, sea cucumbers, lobsters, schools of fish and, if you’re brave and there in the month of August, sharks while in a shark cage.
Rachel Carson Salt Pond Preserve, New Harbor, Lincoln County
Ships Cove at Fort Williams, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland County While Fort Williams itself is a beautiful place, the diving here is also fun. There are big ledges to explore, and skates, flounder and sea dollars can be found, as well as some wrecked marine craft.
Nubble Light, Cape Neddick, York County This dive site is one of the most popular in the Northeast, with an easy access parking lot and lagoon, making it ideal for shore diving. Skates, crabs and flounder are hidden among rocks, and after dusk, there’s instances of bioluminescence, and squid and small shark sightings.
36 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
PHOTO: EDNA "CAPTAIN EVIL" MARTIN
Getting in from the shore can be tricky, but once you’re in, the sea life abounds at this nature preserve, from urchins, anemones and starfish to lobsters, crab and fish.
I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of stuff people haven’t seen, since I have a boat and I get out pretty far.” Shore diving — in which divers enter the water from the beach and swim out — is obviously easier to do in terms of resources than boat diving, in which divers head out and dive straight from the boat. But boat diving can offer more opportunities for unique sightings. In Monhegan, shark sightings are quite common. Sinclair each August takes a few shark cage trips off Monhegan, in which divers will hopefully see blue sharks, and perhaps makos sharks, porbeagles and thresher sharks. Sinclair also offers catch and release shark fishing on his boat, the Lady Anne, and has tagged sharks with radio tags to see where they go. “It’s fascinating to see where they go after they’ve been in our front yard,” said Sinclair. “They end up all over the world. They’ve been to Cuba, the Azores, the west coast of Africa, Columbia.” The world’s oceans are uniquely sensitive to disruptions, and longtime divers have noticed subtle — and sometimes not so subtle — changes in the water over the past decade. The impact of fishing, and of divers in popular sites, can change or reduce the population of different species in some area. Invasive species, such as various types of algae or seaweed, can change various habitats. Ocean acidification effects lobster, crab and other shellfish. And climate change is already affecting the Gulf of Maine, with temperatures rising in its waters three times faster than the global mean rate, and increasing seven-fold since 2004, according to a Gulf of Maine Research Institute study published in January 2016. Divers can sometimes see these effects first hand. “I think overfishing and the use of draggers effects things. And I know there are some careless divers out there that strip wildlife from places, and we see the impact,” said Monat. “We have to be really careful about what we take from [the ocean].” The world beneath the waves, after all, is a world that even today is still largely unexplored, and rife with new discoveries. “It’s a huge world,” said Monat. “And we only get to see a teeny tiny piece of it.”
dexter then & now
The A look down Main Street, Dexter over the years. (Above) The downtown business district in a postcard dated 1910. (Top left) Main Street in 1942, (left middle) in 1960, and (bottom) today.
Maine
Heart of
HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, BANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY’S JAMES VICKERY POSTCARD COLLECTION, AND THE BANGOR DAILY NEWS
H
istory is
everywhere you turn in Dexter. The town’s two historical museums, Soldiers’ Monument, Abbott Memorial Library and white churches cry out for travelers speeding through on Route 7 — the Harold Alfond Memorial Highway — to stop and stay awhile. And there’s the Dexter of today, with the sparkling Ridge View Community School for grades pre-k to eight. Snowmobiles and Jet Skis define the seasons on Lake Wassookeag and happy hour drink specials are a hit at Factory One
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SHAW
Bar and Grill and Bull Moose Lounge. Toots Deli sells Subway sandwiches, Reny’s department store lures shoppers, and China Garden is your only option if you’re craving Chinese food. Then and now are bedfellows in this northwestern Penobscot County community of nearly 3,900 residents. The population spiked at just over 4,400 in 1990, when Dexter Shoe employed hundreds. And in 1920, when the Faye & Scott and Abbott Woolen mills were operating, there were 4,113 living in the small town. The Eastern Gazette, which www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39
dexter then & now still publishes, ran pages of clothing and grocery ads that catered to factory workers and their families. Enticed by low tariffs and cheap overseas labor, the factories shut down, leaving a community of retailers, outfitters, and entrepreneurs attempting to fill the void. Businessmen like Frank Spizuoco Jr. are investing in the town and serving on the Revitalization Committee. “Funding is really scarce, but I managed to buy the old brick woolen mill,” Spizuoco said. “Right now, we have adult education classes, 207 Footwear, and Tri-County Technical Center, which had a fire and had to relocate.” Spizuoco’s father, Frank Spizuoco Sr., a dairy farmer in nearby Ripley, shares his son’s vision for the future and passion for the past. He helped found the Dexter Historical Society in 1966, which thrives with the help of fellow teacher Richard Whitney and other dedicated volunteers. He hopes to publish a book containing the photographs of the late Dexter photographer Bert Call, who achieved nationwide attention.
Then and now are bedfellows in this northwestern Penobscot County community of nearly 3,900 residents. (Top) The Brewster Inn today, and (middle) when it was the residence of Ralph Owen Brewster, a former Maine governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator. (Below) The Abbott Woolen Mill.
40 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
The elder Spizuoco’s 1995 Arcadia Publishing pictorial on Dexter history tells the story of the town’s settlement in the early 19th century by New Hampshire residents. Originally called Elkinstown, it was renamed Dexter after Judge Samuel Dexter when the town was incorporated in 1816. Dexter was an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Massachusetts, of which Maine was still a part, losing to John Brooks, for whom the town of Brooks, also incorporated in 1816, was named. Owing to its location on the east branch of the Sebasticook River, Dexter overtook Brooks and prospered throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Across town at the 107,000-squarefoot former Dexter Shoe plant, once
Town Stats Incorporated: June 17, 1816
Notable people:
Named for: Judge Samuel Dexter
• Bert Call, photographer
Motto: The Heart of Maine
• Ralph Owen Brewster, governor, U.S. representative, U.S. senator
Population: 3,864 (2012 estimate)
• Justin Alfond, state senator
Total Area: 37.16 square miles
• Amy Morin, best-selling author
Landmarks: Grist Mill Museum, Abbott
• Holman Day, editor and novelist
Memorial Library, Bank Block, Nancy the Clock, Zions Hill, Abbott Mill, First
• James E. Bailey, Medal of Honor recipient
Universalist Church
Municipal website: dextermaine.org
(Top) The Abbott Memorial Library today and (middle) in a historic Dexter postcard. (Right) The Fay & Scott Machine Works building in an undated historic photo.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 41
dexter then & now
(Top) The Dexter Methodist Church, which is now Antioch Missionary Baptist Church (right). (Far right) The Fitzgerald Mansion in an undated photo and (below) in a photo from 1906.
42 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
owned by Harold Alfond, new owner Adrian Cronkhite hopes his Factory One beer and pizza tavern is the beginning of big things to come. Last year, he told a newspaper reporter that he also planned to manufacture solar panels in another part of the building. “I guess the best part of Dexter is the people,” said Town Manager Shelley Watson. “We have a new tennis court, thanks to the work of volunteers fundraising, and a new playground. There’s a ninehole golf course owned by the town and run by an independent contractor. And there’s a wonderful downtown with the municipal building in the middle topped by Nancy the Clock.”
Historic Main Street buildings appeared on the cover of Stephen King’s novel, “Needful Things.” Historic Main Street buildings appeared on the cover of Stephen King’s novel, “Needful Things,” and in his “Hitchhiker” story of the movie “Creepshow 2.” March visitors will find Tillson True Value Hardware and Snowflakes clothing shop open, but should check with the Dexter Historical Society for the Grist Mill and Abbott museums’ offseason hours. Its website is dextermaine. info/historical-society. Up on Zions Hill is the restored former home of Ralph Owen Brewster, the town’s best known native son who served as Maine’s 54th governor, U.S. representative and U.S. senator. Now a bed and breakfast owned by England native Mark Stephens, the Brewster Inn is worth a visit. The first Red Hot Dog Festival is planned for Aug. 13. Other events marking the bicentennial of the town’s incorporation will be announced on the website at dextermaine.org.
Check out our interactive map of Dexter at bangormetro.com
The First Baptist Church now (above) and then.
food file
Connected
to the Earth
BY EMILY BURNHAM
44 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
I
f you’re a
regular visitor to the farmer’s markets in Orono, Bangor and Belfast, there’s one booth it’s hard to avoid. There’s always a line of people, waiting to snap up savory pies, cookies the size of your hand, garlicky hummus and hot, made-toorder crepes, stuffed with a tasty array of fillings. Billi Barker, the owner, farmer and chef behind the many treats available from Enchanted Kitchen at Fire Fly Farm, is almost always running that booth, offering a winning smile along with the many goodies that come out of her kitchen. The St. Albans-based entrepreneur raises chickens and pigs and plants an array of vegetables on her 20-acre farm — and then uses those ingredients in her recipes, along with other local, organic ingredients sourced from other Maine farms. Juggling all those elements isn’t an easy task, but Barker has help from a trust crew of part-time farm and kitchen employees, and she loves her chosen profession. It allows her to do the two things she loves most: be connected to the earth, and cook up delicious, nourishing food. “I’ve always wanted to be a farmer, but when I started I found I had so much food leftover that I couldn’t possibly cook it all,” said Barker, who has lived in Maine for 25 years after moving here from Michigan in the early 1990s. “This way, I can dig into the work of farming, and grow enough that I can then make stuff with it. And I’ve always loved food, too. It’s such a great combination.”
PHOTOS: (LEFT) COURTESY OF BILLI BARKER; (TOP) LUCATO/THINKSTOCK
The Enchanted Kitchen at Fire Fly Farm is bringing simple street food to a new level.
This simple recipe requires minimal ingredients and mixes easily in a blender. Very little food goes to waste in the Enchanted Kitchen. In particular, the crepe-making element of Barker’s farmer’s market presence exemplifies sustainability, since crepes are a selfcontained food, able to be cooked up with a minimum of waste and served to the customer with nothing more than a single paper plate. Though the crepe is a traditionally French and French Canadian food — creperies in Paris and Montreal are ubiquitous, and buckwheat ployes, a type of crepe, are synonymous with the St. John Valley — it’s an icon of grab-and-go eating worldwide.
PHOTO: VBLINOV, COPRID & ELNUR AMIKISHIYEV/THINKSTOCK
There’s always a line of people, waiting to snap up savory pies, cookies the size of your hand, garlicky hummus and hot, madeto-order crepes, stuffed with a tasty array of fillings. “It’s something you can enjoy while you’re on your feet. Farmers markets are always moving, and a crepe is something you can serve with no utensils,” said Barker. “I love the idea of simple street food, where you can put anything in them, and they’re not too heavy, and they’re good cold. You can never get bored with them.” For the 2016 season, Barker will expand her made-to-order food making capabilities at the markets with the addition of a fully-equipped food truck, which she will spend the spring renovating. Come summer, she’ll add tacos and tamales to her list of Maine-grown, organic street food offerings.
Step 1
Mix It Up
In a blender, blend 3 eggs, 3/4 cup of cold water, 1 1/4 cups of cold milk and a half stick of melted but cooled unsalted butter. Next add 1 1/2 cups of flour, and blend all for a few more minutes until mixture is smooth.
Step 2
Cooking the Crepes
Barker recommends a cast iron skillet, though any skillet will work to cook your crepes. The trick is to generously butter your skillet before making each crepe. In a medium high heated skillet, pour some of the batter and tilt the pan around to thinly cover the bottom. If necessary, pour any excess back into the batter bowl. Let the crepe cook until it’s golden on the bottom — it will be a bit drier on the top and you can use your spatula to peek.
Step 3
Time to Flip
Using a silicone spatula, ease the up the ends of the crepe. It’s important to get your spatula almost half way under the crepe before flipping so it doesn’t tear. Flip and cook for just one minute or less.
Step 4
Fill It Up
If you are making a savory crêpe, this is a good time to add your grated cheese and heated ingredients. Place the savory filling in the middle of the crepe and fold the ends over your filling to wrap up your crepe. If you are making a sweet crepe, add a brush of melted butter and cinnamon sugar to the crepe, cook a little more, then fold in half once and then one more time to make a triangle. Plate and drizzle with maple syrup.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 45
food file How Barker manages to juggle farming, baking, catering gigs and running busy market stalls three days a week is a testament to her work ethic and her general good-natured outlook. “Sometimes I struggle to make my schedule sustainable, because in the middle of the summer I’ve got to farm, and then I’ve got to bake, and then I’ve got to go to market, and it gets a little crazy,” said Barker. “But then, in January, when things are slow and we’re all rested and relaxed, I’m in planning mode. I can’t wait to get planting. I come up with new recipe ideas. I can’t wait to get back at it.”
Creative Crepes
Billi Barker of Enchanted Kitchen at Fire Fly Farm says crepe filling options are endless. Here are a few ideas for sweet or savory crepes to get you thinking creatively. SAVORY CREPE FILLINGS:
SWEET CREPE FILLINGS:
• Cheese (any kind!)
• Maple syrup or honey
• Eggs
• Any sliced fruit
• Sauteed vegetables like onions, peppers, greens, mushrooms
• Peanut butter, nutella or chocolate sauce
• Bacon or ham
• Lightly sweetened ricotta or mascarpone cheese
• Leftover chili or bolognese pasta sauce • Smoked salmon
• Pie filling, like pumpkin, blueberry, cherry, key lime or lemon • Crumbled candy bars
Food File Basic Crêpe Recipe 3 eggs Half stick of melted but cooled unsalted butter 3/4 cup cold water 1 1/4 cup cold milk 1 1/2 cup flour Blend eggs, milk, water and melted butter in blender. Add flour, and blend all that for a couple more minutes until mixture is smooth.
I move the pan around to cook the ends before flipping — using a silicone spatula is great since you can ease up under the ends of the thin crêpe. You will want to try and get almost half way under the crêpe before flipping so it won't tear as easily. Once you flip, it will only need another minute or less on this side. If you are making a savory crêpe, this is a good time to add your grated cheese and heated ingredients. Your crêpe is merely a vessel to hold anything you desire. Place the savory filling in the middle of the crêpe in a
46 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
row in the center, and fold the ends over both sides (over your filling) to wrap up your crêpe. If you are making a sweet crêpe, you can add a brush of melted butter and cinnamon sugar to the crepe, cook a little more and fold in half once and then one more time to make a triangle and line them up on a platter to drizzle with maple syrup. The possibilities are endless.
PHOTO: HIMCHENKO23/ THINKSTOCK.COM
In any skillet you can make crêpes, though cast iron is usually the best. Before every crepe you will want to generously butter your skillet. Either brush melted butter on the bottom of a medium high heated skillet, or run a butter pat around the bottom of the pan quickly and set the rest of the butter aside. I pour some of the batter in the skillet and tilt the skillet around to thinly cover the bottom of your skillet (you can dump any excess back into the batter bowl). Let cook until it looks like it is ready to flip — it will be a bit drier on the top and you can take your spatula and peek. If it’s golden, it is time to flip.
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arts & culture
Mad Science BY EMILY BURNHAM
SAVE THE DATE The Maine Science Festival is set to return to Bangor March 18-20.
48 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
I
n 2015,
its inaugural year, the Maine Science Festival, held in March in Bangor, attracted hundreds more than the number of attendees organizers had originally hoped for. Kate Dickerson, a Bangor resident who dreamed up the festival four years ago, was thrilled. Now, for the second annual Maine Science Festival, set for March 18-20 again in and around Bangor, the scope of the event is appropriately bigger and broader, encompassing a wide array of scientific disciplines, individuals, companies, organizations and institutes, all with one aim: to make science as a whole accessible and fun to people of all ages. Dickerson, whose background is in chemistry and environmental policy, has thrown herself full-tilt into its preparations; as its executive director and prime mover and shaker, she’s got big plans and even bigger dreams for
the festival. Bangor Metro spoke with her about demystifying science, shining a light on resources right here in Maine, and why brass instruments are a scientific instrument. Why do you think people struggle to understand science? It can seem so daunting to people that haven’t thought about it in any meaningful way since high school. I think people don’t understand it because it’s not their language. They don’t speak the language. Scientists often forget that. They’ve been working in their fields for 15 years, surrounded by people who all speak the same language, and then, when they try to explain it to someone who doesn’t speak the language, they are met with total confusion. It’s true in every field, too, not just science. I think a lot of people go through school
PHOTOS: JEFF KIRLIN, THE THING OF THE MOMENT
Maine Science Festival is making learning accessible to all ages.
like this is going to be for younger kids, but we were adamant that we really cater to all age groups. Adults sometimes haven’t had an experience with science since they were in high school, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t interested… my mother got really excited about the panel on drones we had last year. It will really surprise you, the things people are into.
Hundreds showed up for Mad Science presentation and participated in the inaugural Maine Science Festival last year.
having poor experiences with science, and not having that “Aha!” moment that clicks the light on… while we will never dumb anything down or patronize about anything to anybody, we will try to make it as accessible as possible. This festival is an opportunity for people — both adults and youth — to have that moment. When did you first have your “Aha!” moment about this festival? I can tell you exactly. In April 2012 I read an article in the New York Times about this champion of sciences festival; his name is John Durant and he’s at the M.I.T. Museum. I remember reading it and thinking “How great is this?” Imagine if my son Connor — who is a total geek and is proud of it — had a chance to go to something like that. And then I thought “Someone in Maine should do this.” And then I thought “Why not me?” So I spent
that whole summer talking with all kinds of different people about how to do this… we really took our time. We asked tons of questions. We asked for criticism and advice. We got the three biggest nonprofit research facilities in the state on board — the Jackson Laboratory, the MDI Biological Laboratory and the Bigelow Lab, and they were all immediately interested. The amount of support right out of the gate was just remarkable. Why do you think the first year was a success? What about it seemed to work? Well, the really important things are that we have an amazing core group of people that work on this with us, including folks from the Girl Scouts of Maine, the Maine Discovery Museum, the Challenger Learning Center, the Maine Math and Science Alliance, and many, many more. We also have a board of advisers that really do advise on the decisions we make. We originally were going to have the first festival in 2014, but we postponed it by a whole year because we just weren’t ready… I also think that one of the best things about the festival that I heard about repeatedly from people who went was that they really loved that there were things for teenagers and adults to do. I think people assume something
What’s your philosophy behind programming? What in particular did people really respond to last year? People freaked for the VEMI [Virtual Environment and Multimodal Interaction] Lab program, which is an incredible virtual reality lab at UMaine. They singlehandedly brought the most people into the festival. Everybody loves space stuff. The folks from the University of New England brought sheep brains for people to dissect, and people absolutely loved that. The beer workshop that Central Street Farmhouse [in Bangor] had was a big hit too. One of the rules that we’ve made about the festival is that we can’t do the same thing each year. So all three of those organizations are doing something different — the VEMI Lab is building a virtual world in real time. Kind of like Minecraft, but you can see the coding that goes into it. Central Street Farmhouse is doing to do the science of wine this year. UNE is bringing up a larger than life model of a brain, and samples of brains to see how different diseases and injuries affect it. The possibilities are endless. What do you think this festival brings to the state as a whole? Our ultimate goal is to make people celebrate science. But more specifically, I believe we’re not going to get better as a state until we start appreciating what we have around here. We’re not very good at highlighting the remarkable work that goes on here, but if we can shine a spotlight on the amazing scientists and researchers and thinkers here, maybe we’ll inspire kids to do something. Maybe we’ll inspire adults, too... I also think the location is important. Bangor is no more than [about] three hours from any point in the state, so people from Aroostook County and Down East can easily make it. Plus, everything but the headliner is free. It’s something that literally everyone can come to. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49
per spectives
Joe Kennedy
Searching The Beyond
50 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
Glass Gears
Triflection
Cricket Empire
Suspended In Time
Artist Joe Kennedy talks about his unique use of materials for his Beyond Plumbing work.
M
y art evolved
from my plumbing trade. Beyond Plumbing is a merging of the two, tethered together, a symbiotic relationship of two worlds. The old world is orderly, familiar and predictable. The new world is exciting, unknown and unexplored. The trade offers technical experience and most of the material — left-over parts, scrap and hundreds of related items that become amusing, engaging and thoughtful pieces of sculpture. The word beyond is used to signify a few things. I continually experiment with the inclusion of found objects, especially glass. It represents the water that once flowed and, used in a variety of modes, that elevates the art form resulting in a style that I claim as my own. Eventually I discovered steam punk art and was very surprised and happy to see that my work dovetailed sweetly with that realm but that it is also distinctly mine. I delight in the emergence of the whimsical and enchanted fantasy world of steam punk. I find much joy seeing relics of a useful past, whose time has ended, be reborn again to serve us in a different but fulfilling way. While you study each piece with its shine and gleam and quirkiness you may find yourself, like me, transcending to another place and time, surprised and delighted. I want to make you smile. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51
aimee & amy try...
Who We Are..
To Catch a
With a grand total of 4 children ages 0-9, Bangor Metro staffers Aimee Thibodeau and Amy Allen are well versed in keeping kids busy. Each month we’ll try a new project and share the results – be they great or disasterous.
A
Leprechaun
Trapping a leprechaun is a tricky business that requires creativity.
s St. Paddy’s Day
approaches, signs of those mischievous little creatures known as leprechauns spring up everywhere. From your milk turning green to tiny green footprints running across your table, they tend to create mayhem and bedlam wherever they go. And there’s only one thing to do: Trap them. Our little ones took a variety of approaches to catch a leprechaun, from trapdoors to piles of candy and glitter to entice the tiny Irish elves. We used our collective leprechaun knowledge base and added plenty of rainbows, gold, green and shiny things to lure them in. Remember, they’re tricky little guys so you have to be creative!
• Boxes. Shoe boxes with covers work great, as do empty cereal boxes, oatmeal containers, and pretty much anything with an easy-open cover. • Any and all craft supplies: colored paper, fun ducttape, pompoms, popsicle sticks, sparkly pipe cleaners, old egg cartons (they make great pots of gold) and glitter, lots of glitter. • For the grown-ups, a mat knife is very handy for creating a trapdoor and punching holes.
PHOTOS: (HAT & GOLD) OMENDRIVE/THINKSTOCK
Do not attempt this craft at 4 p.m. on a Sunday.
Supplies
52 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
Step 1: Select a box (shoe boxes work great) and wrap it in paper or colorful ducttape to disguise the outside.
Step 2: Decorate the box with glitter, paint, pipecleaners, candy and whatever else might attract leprechauns.
Step 3: Add a trapdoor or other device to catch the leprechaun in the trap, as well as plenty of incentives to get him in there.
No leprechaun can resist a pot of gold. Babies can’t resist a pot of gold eit her, as it turns out. We recommend sparkly popsicle stick ladders to help your leprechaun climp up the trap.
A flashlight is a nice touch if you feel bad about trapping your leprechaun in the dark.
Project Review • Degree of Difficulty: Easy to medium, depending on how detailed you get.
Sponsored by
• Average Time: 20-45 minutes, again depending on level of detail. • Degree of Fun According to the Kids & Moms:
1:
We better get paid for this.
5:
Fun, but once was enough.
10:
Super fun, let’s make one for everyone!
We made the classic mistake of trying to start a project at 4 p.m., aka meltdown o’clock, which made this one a little more challenging. Once the kids got going and saw what everybody else was doing, however, they perked up and came up with some pretty cool traps. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53
metro
family
Lucky Me The challenge of finding a positive perspective and realizing your own good luck. BY ASHLEY THORNTON
G
rowing up in
an Irish family, March was a time that my red-headed spitfire of a Nana would don her handmade (by me) four-leaf clover sweater, we would gather to eat boiled dinner, and talk about leprechauns and luck. Luck is actually something that I think about often: How little I have of it, and that if I didn’t have bad luck I wouldn’t have any at all. I have come to realize, though, that my impression of luck is all about perspective. This past summer, I ran into a situation that, at the time, felt like extremely bad luck. I had an issue with the certification office that had impeccably bad timing. I had what I needed for certification, but constant phonetag, vacation schedules, and the start of the school year all led to the loss of my job. I had taught
fice that everything had been straightened out and my certification was fine, it was even back dated to the original timeframe. Looking back, I can clearly see that it was a blessing in disguise. Though I loved teaching, I was ready for a change and probably never would have initiated it myself. The time that I was unemployed gave me the opportunity to explore my options. I focused on writing and even actualized a dream by finding someone willing to give me a chance and publish my work. Beyond that, I ended up finding a job that is perfect for me and my family. I am using my special education certification, all the experience from my previous jobs, and have reignited my passion for early intervention services. It gives me the fulfillment that I need, but
My son asks a million questions from the back seat and I’m reminded that having children, and having them be healthy enough to communicate with me is the most incredible stroke of luck I have ever had. third grade at the same school for four years and I was devastated. A week or two after the school filled my position, I received notice from the certification of-
(Above) Michael Thornton, 3, has fun in the tub. (Right) Quinn Thornton, 1, chillaxes in her carseat.
54 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
the ability to be present and focused on my family, as well. I didn’t have to force a perspective shift on this situation — time did that for me. Nearly every morning, in my mad dash to get two children to their Nana’s house and myself to work, I always get stuck behind the person who refuses to go the speed limit. I typically come upon this car, curse under my breath, and think, “Oh, isn’t this just my luck?!” while I take deep breaths and field the onslaught of questions coming from the back seat. I have to remind myself that I am lucky — that I have a wonderful mother-in-law who watches my children, and I have never once worried about leaving them with her. I am lucky that my coffee cup is full, because if I have to drive this slow, I can at least use this time to enjoy my coffee and have a conversation. My son asks a million questions from
Wilson Electronics
Cell Phone Signal Booster
the back seat and I’m reminded that having children, and having them be healthy enough to communicate with me is the most incredible stroke of luck I have ever had. It did not always look like having healthy children was in the cards for me. Not only am I the 1 in 4 women who has experienced miscarriage, but I have also lost a newborn. My oldest daughter, Harper, was born prematurely and was very sick. She had a large tumor on her liver that she only had a 1 in 100,000 chance of having. She was scheduled to be flown from Bangor to Boston Children’s hospital, but the helicopter had to turn around because of freezing rain. While I cannot honestly say that I can turn this entire situation around by shifting my perspective, I can easily pick out the positives. Because the plane did not make it to take her to Boston, she spent her entire life surrounded in love, including her very peaceful last moments. I wish every minute of every day, with every fiber of my being that she were here with us, but I am also able to look at her life and feel lucky that I had the privilege of being her mother. I was able to experience a life force so strong and a spirit so pure that I have no doubt the world is a better place because she lived in it, no matter how briefly. Harper made me a mother, and I will forever be grateful for that. The loss of my babies gave me a deeper appreciation for motherhood, and everything that it entails. So, while it may be hard to look at the positives when your son throws a ball and it somehow manages to knock your cell phone directly into the toilet, it’s safe to say that there is always a different lens to look through. Perspective is everything in the case of luck. It is easy to look at a situation and blame an imaginary force for making you so miserable, but the real challenge is to look at things differently and make the best of it. Now that I have given it a try, I think it is safe to say that I am the luckiest unlucky person that I know.
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.
ASHLEY THORNTON of Milford is a mom of two rambunctious toddlers.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55
Growing
Maine
Expanding Opportunity Maine: Making a great program even better.
A
ttracting and
retaining quality, skilled employees has been an ongoing challenge for Maine. You see news stories about it all the time. Concerns abound about the graying of Maine. Not only is our population aging, it is also shrinking as well. A recent report noted that for the first time since 1800, New Hampshire has more residents than Maine. The cause of the problem is two-fold. There’s a natural decrease taking place – more people are dying in Maine than being born and not enough young people are choosing to stay in the state. In order for Maine to grow and thrive, we need to find innovative ways to stem these trends. One program that has been working to do this is Opportunity Maine. Created by a bi-partisan, grassroots coalition, the goal of the initiative is to promote Maine’s economic security through sustainable enhancement of the education and skills of its workforce. Focusing specifically on the rising cost of higher education and the rapidly growing burden of student debt, the Educational Opportunity Tax Credit (EOTC) program was enacted. The EOTC is one of the boldest college affordability initiatives in the nation. Maine is the only state in the U.S. to offer an incentive of this type. The EOTC provides significant tax credits to Maine
residents who have earned a college degree in Maine and continue to live and work in the state. The potential savings are substantial, as the benefit can add up to thousands in tax credits. Individuals who earned a bachelor’s degree from a Maine college or university can be eligible for a maximum annual tax credit of over $4,000. And for those who earned an associate’s degree, the program can provide nearly $800 in yearly state income tax credits. Program expansions recently enacted will increase eligibility, making even more Mainers able to apply for the valuable tax credit. Changes to EOTC for tax year 2015 (which Mainers will file this April) include the elimination of the requirement that an individual work for an employer that has offices located in Maine. That means, as long as you live and work in Maine, where your employer is based no longer matters. In addition, self-employed individuals can now claim the EOTC. Previously, those who were self-employed could only claim the tax credit through their business for student loan payments they made for their employees. That has changed. Now self-employed individuals can claim the tax credit for themselves, and may also be able to claim the EOTC as an employer as well. Even more exciting expansions are Paid Advertisement for Opportunity Maine.
slotted for the following year. For the 2016 tax year, (which will be filed in the spring of 2017) the EOTC will further expand to include eligibility for graduate degrees. In addition, tax credits on all qualified associate degrees will be considered refundable. Previously, only associate and bachelor’s degrees were eligible for EOTC and only STEM degrees were considered refundable tax credits. Perhaps the biggest change in the program, which is slated to come into play for the 2016 tax year, will be that degrees earned at non-Maine colleges or universities will become eligible as long as the individual lives and works in Maine. This is a huge advantage, as many students choose to go out of state for college, but would like to return to Maine after graduation. This expansion can act as a strong incentive for college graduates to start their career, family, and/or business here in Maine. Innovative programs like Opportunity Maine offer a way to lure more young professionals to the state. Being able to receive substantial tax credits on student loan payments can be an extremely attractive perk for many. These expansions are a great step in the right direction to try to tackle Maine’s population issues and need for more economic development. For more information on the EOTC and the eligibility details, visit www. opportunitymaine.org.
PHOTO: SJENNER13/THINKSTOCK
BY OPPORTUNITY MAINE
metro sports
Winter M
Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation is making skiing fun and accessible for adults and children with disabilities. BY AIMEE THIBODEAU
58 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
aine Adaptive
Sports & Recreation, a year-round program for adults and children with physical disabilities, provides more than 3,500 lessons winter and summer, free of charge. In order to make this happen, fundraising events are held throughout the year, the largest of which is the annual ski-a-thon. “This event, I think, is really the highlight of the program and it’s sort of our annual community meeting,” said Maine Adaptive Marketing & Development Director Deb Maxfield. “Companies have annual meetings, and we have the ski-a-thon.” This year’s event will be held Saturday, March 19, at Sunday River in Newry.
Funds raised supply about 50 percent of the yearly operating funds for Maine Adaptive, and it’s the only time of year when a majority of the organization’s participants, volunteers, and supporters are gathered to celebrate as a whole community. Participating in the Ski-A-Thon is simple. Teams of up to five people raise a minimum of $1,000, or $200 per member, with incentives and prizes for those who go above and beyond. Last year’s event brought in about $350,000. “Many of them exceed that threshold significantly,” Maxfield said. “There’s definitely a lot of friendly competition among the mix.” The ski-a-thon is a daylong event where participants spend the day skiing
PHOTOS: DAVID KAMILA
Adapting to
and enjoying a variety of events related to this year’s theme — Snowdeo. In the evening, there is an Apres-ski celebration, a live band, and awards. “Other parts of the day include a costume contest around the snowdeo theme, a lunch, and there will be some new elements that we will introduce,” Maxfield said. Maine Adaptive programming is open to children and adults with a variety of physical disabilities. While most well known for providing opportunities
on the slopes, such as skiing and snowboarding, the organization also offers nordic skiing and snowshoeing in winter, and golf, cycling, hiking, fishing, tennis and paddling in summer months. “Our program provides opportunities and quality instruction to individuals who might not otherwise have access to these programs,” Maxfield said. For more information or to register for the ski-a-thon, visit maineadaptive. org or call (800) 639-7770 or find them on Facebook. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59
maine
woods & waters
A Lesson in Can you tell the difference between a grapple skidder and feller buncher? Bob Duchesne gets an education in Maine logging. BY BOB DUCHESNE
A grapple skidder and a feller buncher work in the woods during a logging demonstration in Millinocket.
60 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
T
he line between
woods and waters gets a little blurry this time of year. In March, the woods are so frozen that all of the earth’s surface is concrete. In another month, the ground will be so mushy that it may as well be porridge. Right now, the forest is alive with loggers. Like most Mainers, I take logging for granted. We see logging trucks daily. When we navigate the woods, we see harvesting operations. Because we are so familiar, we think we know all about logging. We don’t. I learned this lesson the hard way. I spent a day in the woods with master loggers Tony Madden of Milford and Scott Madden of Old Town. My first flop came as we drove north to Lee, where we
visited a couple of active harvest sites. On the way, I tried to identify what types of trees were in each passing truck. It was a failure of epic proportions. Without the leaves, all trees look surprisingly alike. I could barely tell hardwood from soft. Scott and Tony explained that the bark of oaks and maples is crooked. Beech and aspen are smooth. Birch is, well, birch. If there is a lot of color shade variation, it’s probably a load of mixed hardwood. If it’s all uniformly colored with similar bark, it’s probably softwood, though it could be any of spruce, fir, pine, or hemlock. Next, I tried to guess the destination. I was even worse at this game, failing to get even one prediction correct. Eventually, I learned to judge the grade of the wood. Large diameter hardwood was likely bound for a sorting yard to become sawlogs or veneer. Eight foot lengths of softwood were almost certainly bound for Verso in Jay to be turned into pulp. But tree length softwood could be going there, too, or to the mill in Madison. It would be cut to length on site. Tree-length logs that were straight and sufficiently uniform were destined for a sawmill.
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
Logging
On location, I was no better. To me, it was all just harvesting. The Maddens carefully explained the difference between the two operations I was privileged to witness. The first site was a cut-to-length system. A feller buncher (which, thankfully, I recognized) cut the tree and left it on the ground. A processor followed. It picked up each tree and stripped the branches. During the act of de-limbing, an onboard computer system assessed the length and girth of the tree and automatically cut it to the appropriate length. The operator then sorted the piles right there in the forest. Later, a forwarder came along to pick up each sorted pile. Forwarders, unlike skidders, lifted the trunks into the back and carried them out to the road. I judged that this cut-to-length system was particularly easy on the land. Slash was left in the woods, often providing a corduroy path for the heavy equipment, so as not to gouge the earth. Nutrients from the decaying residue would nourish future growth.
The second operation was described as a tree-length system. A harvester cut the trees, leaving them where they fell. A grappler grasped several trunks at a time,
and often the type of harvest and the soil conditions determine which method is most appropriate. Huzzah, I can now recognize the difference.
When we navigate the woods, we see harvesting operations. Because we are so familiar, we think we know all about logging. We don’t. lifted the butt end, and dragged them out whole. This is an improvement on the old fashioned cable skidders that merely dragged the trees out, sometimes digging up the soil as they went. Once the whole tree was on the road, a delimber stripped the branches. A slasher cut them to length and loaded them for transport. This system was particularly useful if the branches were to be chipped and taken to market for use in biomass energy plants. Otherwise, the slash was returned to the woods. Both systems have advantages,
I also learned that pine must be rushed to market before the sun stains and cracks it. I learned that chainsaws are seldom used at a harvest site anymore. And I learned that trained operators are in high demand. It’s hard work with long hours, but for someone who dreams of an office in the woods, it’s heaven.
BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61
savvy seniors
Age-Friendly Communities AARP’s survey of local residents offers insights into age-friendly opportunities.
Maine, large and small, face a formidable challenge: How to meet the growing needs of their residents as they age. While we hear of “snowbirds” going south for the winter, many Mainers reside here year-round and others are considering Maine as a place to retire. Maine towns would benefit from looking ahead to develop strategies that support age-friendly communities where there are adequate housing and transportation options, and opportunities for older Mainers to participate in community and civic activities. Across the state, AARP Maine is working with city and town officials, as well as local residents, to support their efforts to become more age-friendly. Some have formed aging advisory councils and others are creating programs to tackle issues such as accessibility and isolation. Still others are working to improve their housing and transportation options. Age-friendly towns, cities and counties are great for people of all ages, and 62 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
AARP has resources and tools available to help initiate planning strategies. At aarp.org/livable, you’ll find information about The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, a growing network of towns, cities and counties across the country that are taking steps to make their communities more agefriendly. With the use of resources such as toolkits, webinars, surveys, shared best practices and resource guides, town planners, municipalities and state or local leadership can work together to develop an age-friendly action plan that is just right for their own community. What may help propel age-friendly initiatives is the fact that a vast majority of people want to stay in their own homes and communities as they age. Surveys recently conducted in Maine show that nine out of 10 residents 50 and older want to stay in their own homes and local communities as long as possible. A Bangor-specific survey, conducted at the end of 2015, offers insights into the needs and concerns of local residents which
could help Bangor decision makers as they consider age-friendly opportunities. The Bangor survey focused on community livability issues which help residents to age-in-place, and foster residents’ engagement in civic, economic, and social life. It is clear that Bangor residents age 50 and older love their city, with over 90 percent rating it as a good, very good or excellent place for older people to live. Of note in Bangor is the strong desire of survey participants stay in their community and in their home for as long they can. While half say it is extremely or very important to stay in their community as they age, even more (85 percent) say it is important to stay in their own home as they age. Asked about what areas of livability might be improved, residents noted concerns about transportation options, the conditions of streets and sidewalks, pedestrian and bike facilities, and access to community information, especially for the homebound.
PHOTO: MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES/THINK
C
ommunities across
BY JANE MARGESSON
What Are You Concerning transportation issues, Bangor residents age 50-plus say that all community transportation features are extremely or very important to them. Personal vehicles are the primary mode of transportation for older Bangor residents with nine out of 10 respondents (89 percent) saying they most often drive themselves when they need to go somewhere. With this in mind, it is not surprising that well-maintained streets (96 percent) top the list of the most important transportation-related community features, with well-lit, safe streets (94 percent), easy to read traffic signs (93 percent), and enforced speed limits (91 percent) following close behind. Public transportation items, such as special transportation services (90 percent), safe public transportation areas (90 percent), and affordable, reliable and wellmaintained public transportation (87 percent) are community features that are highly important as well.
What may help propel age-friendly initiatives is the fact that a vast majority of people want to stay in their own homes and communities as they age.
Doing Tonight? Find Ideas on our online
calendar of events
bangormetro.com
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The 2015 AARP Livable Communities Survey of Bangor Residents Age 50-Plus was conducted by AARP to provide information to Bangor leaders on the wants and needs of local residents age 50 and over. To learn more about AARP’s agefriendly tools and resources, visit aarp. org/livable. If you are interested in getting involved locally, or if you would like a copy of the complete survey, email Jay Els at jels@aarp.org or call 776-6302. Working together, we can make Maine communities age-friendly and help all Mainers stay in their own homes in our beautiful state where we know they want to be. JANE MARGESSON is the AARP Maine communications director. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63
metro home
Making Your Older Home
More Efficient
STORY COURTESY OF METRO NEWS SERVICE
64 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
O
lder properties tend
to have a sense of charm that newly built homes may lack. Perhaps it’s their lived-in feel or design elements that remind homeowners of yesteryear that make older homes so popular among home buyers. What older homes have in character they may lack in modern amenities. For example, whereas many homes are now built with energy efficiency in mind, older homes may not be so eco-friendly. Fortunately, there are many ways for homeowners who love their older homes to keep that love going strong while making their homes more energy efficient at the same time. • Check for leaks and plug any you find. Homes may develop air leaks over time, and such leaks allow air to infiltrate the home. When that occurs, homeowners instinctively turn up the thermostat in winter to combat the cold air getting in. Come summertime, those same homeowners will run their air conditioners on a higher setting in an effort to stay comfortable when hot air is creeping through the cracks. Rather than adjusting the temperature inside, fix any sources of air infiltration you find. Run your hand along doorways and windows to determine if any drafts are coming through. Older homes may also develop cracks in bricks, around the foundation and in siding or stucco. Seal any areas where you feel air infiltrating your home, which will save money, reduce your energy consumption and make your older home more efficient. • Add insulation. Many older homes are poorly insulated. But according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, adding insulation can reduce energy costs by as much as 50 percent. Installing insulation can be tricky, especially if insulation was not originally included in your home, as is sometimes the case with older homes. Insulation can become damp and prove ineffective if installed improperly. Damp insulation also may contribute to mold growth and rot in the home’s framing. Older homes may be lacking adequate insulation around attics, crawl spaces, basements, heating and cooling ducts, and water pipes. Cover your water heater with an insulated water heater blanket so the heater retains more heat and consumes less energy to heat the water.
PHOTOS: HIGHWAYSTARZ-PHOTOGRAPHY, DAVID SACKS, SVETL, JUPITERIMAGES/THINKSTOCK
What older houses offer in charm, they may lack in energy efficiency. Here are a few tips to modernize inefficiencies.
• Stay on top of your home. Much like older vehicles, older homes require a little extra TLC on the part of homeowners. Don’t allow your home to fall into disrepair. Even if your energy bills are not on the rise, inspect windows and doors to make sure they are closing tightly, as over time such seemingly minor problems can add up to substantial energy loss. Don’t forget to clean gutters and downspouts, removing debris that can add up and lead to water damage that may ultimately compromise the effectiveness of your home’s insulation. • Book an energy audit. Energy audits, which may be offered free of charge by your utility company, can help detect any additional areas where a home may be using energy inefficiently. Even if you have to pay for an audit, the cost savings if any additional inefficiencies are discovered will likely add up to more than the cost of the audit. Older homes are attractive to many homeowners, who can take several steps to make sure their homes are operating as efficiently as possible.
WALDO COUNTY
LANDSCAPING
Searsport • MLS#1236795 This 4-bedroom New Englander has charm and original features like hardwood floors, built-ins, 2 sun porches, gazebo, lots of storage & brick fireplace with a recent pellet stove. $184,900 LuAnne Adams 107 Main Street, Belfast Cell: 207-322-5930
Your ad could be on this page Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section. Call 941-1300.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 65
66 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
Special Section Featuring Northern Maine
by Bangor Metro
A Heart for
Giving W
County gift shop making a difference for dialysis patients.
hen the renovated
gift shop at The Aroostook Medical Center’s Gould Memorial Hospital opened in its new location in the fall of 2014, it was given a new name to better fit its new look — Country Heart Gift Shop. The name encompassed more than just the new image of the store, but also a commitment to have a “heart for giving,” and that vision came full circle recently with a donation to the County Dialysis Center.
Having such a worthy cause to support not only made employees and volunteers who staff the store feel good but customers as well, according to Beaulieu. “We wanted customers to feel good about making a purchase in our store and our volunteers to feel like their donated time volunteering was purposeful and with meaning. Whenever we thank a patron of the store for shopping with us, we let them know that they just helped to support our Dialysis Center and dialysis
“We wanted customers to feel good about making a purchase in our store and our volunteers to feel like their donated time volunteering was purposeful and with meaning. Whenever we thank a patron of the store for shopping with us, we let them know that they just helped to support our Dialysis Center and dialysis patients.” – Sherry Beaulieu “We felt we wanted our new store to have an even greater purposeful heart behind it,” said store manager Sherry Beaulieu. “We chose TAMC County Dialysis Center as we recognized that giving back to a service that is desperately in need by its patients and our community was the perfect fit for our store’s cause. We recognized the financial strains it takes to keep such a critical service viable.”
patients. You can see the warm feeling of pride coming over them and a big smile knowing that they just contributed to something important for the wellbeing of others,” she said. Those proceeds added up over the course of the year, and a gift of $39,078 was recently presented to the County continued on page 69 www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 67
crown of maine
Saving Science
The Francis Malcolm Science Center needs $125,000 annually to sustain itself.
ith some help
from kindred stars, the Francis Malcolm Science Center will be able to afford a new digital planetarium system, as it transitions to new financing plans. The Francis Malcolm Science Center, a museum that entered the new year with the risk of closure, has received a $38,500 contribution from Lili Nelms and Robert Ingram of Houston. The donation will allow the center to replace its 33-year-old planetarium projector with a new system from ASH Enterprises that shows astronomy and other science programming, said planetarium director Larry Berz. “Our current optical mechanical system, installed in 1983, has served the center well over the years, but has been eclipsed by today’s digital technology,” 68 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
BY ANTHONY BRINO
Berz said. “We are grateful that these generous supporters are making this much-needed upgrade.” Nelms went to school in Virginia with Liz Orser, the wife of Francis Malcolm Science Center trustee Jim Orser, the great-great nephew of Francis Malcolm, an Easton native whose endowment helped start the science center in 1983. The new system is expected to be installed by the end of March, Berz said. “We are excited and anxious to showcase this impressive new technology and use it to support our programming for students and the general public,” he said. The Francis Malcolm Science Center also is moving forward with organizational changes, transitioning to “a community-supported organization” as it seeks $120,000 to stay open through
the rest of the year. The center has been trying to find long-term funding from multiple sources. “We will pursue funding from public and private sources and individual donors through our newly created Galaxy of Stars capital campaign,” Berz said. The center started off the campaign with the promise of matching a grant of $10,000 from Roger and Diane Libby of Mars Hill. “It’s that kind of support and commitment that lets us know that people really want to see the Francis Malcolm Science Center remain a vital community resource,” Berz said. For more information or to donate, go to the Francis Malcolm Science Center at 776 Houlton Road in Easton, visit francismalcolmsciencecenter.com or call 488-5451.
PHOTO: BDN FILE
W
The Francis Malcolm Science Center in Easton hosts between 5,500 and 6,000 visitors each year for a variety of natural science programs that represent the legacy of an Aroostook County native who never forgot his roots.
continued from page 67
Dialysis Center on behalf of the Country Heart Gift Shop. “This gift is so appreciated,” said Pamela Frank, manager of the County Dialysis Center. “We have more than 50 patients who travel from all over Aroostook County to come here multiple times a week for life-sustaining treatment. Without the center, they would have to travel to Lincoln or Bangor for treatment. Having a dialysis center close to home allows patients to receive local care while having the support network of their families and friends.” Frank says the funds will be used to replace aging equipment and for providing comfort to patients who spend much of their time receiving treatments. “These patients spend a great deal of time at the dialysis unit, approximately five hours total, three times a week. Having comfortable chairs and reliable, up-to-date equipment will help enhance their comfort and safety,” she explained. After the success of this first year, the leaders of the gift shop have chosen to continue dedicating store revenues toward the County Dialysis Center in 2016. “County Dialysis Center is a service that is operated at a loss each year, but it is a unit that this community desperately needs,” said Eugene Curtis, TAMC director of support services. “We want to continue to support this important service and the patients that they help.” For those unfamiliar with the store, Beaulieu points out that the Country Heart Gift Shop is more than just a place to purchase gifts for patients. It offers everything from Starbucks coffee to silk florals and primitive décor. Visitors can purchase a variety of packages and prepared gourmet food products from Stonewall Kitchen and Deli Muffins, or gourmet fudges and chocolates from Abdullah and Marich. The store also has various artwork, Willow Tree collectible figurines, Silver Forest jewelry and garden décor among other items. The gift shop, located just off the main lobby of the hospital, is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Need a
Gift Idea? Send some love with
a subscription to
Bangor Metro! For subscriptions,
call 990-8219 www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 69
Green
GUIDE 2016
GREEN BUSINESS Making eco-friendly gelato
COASTAL COHOUSING Growing a green community in Belfast
RAISING NEMO
Mainers protecting coral reefs
going green Sea & Reef Aquaculture president Soren Hansen feeds clown fish at the company's incubation location at the University of Maine Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin.
Raising
Nemo g raised Maine Mocha clownfish bein at Sea & Reef Aquaculture.
Breeding tropical fish in Maine to help protect the coral reefs. BY DEB NEUMAN
think about Maine as being home to tropical fish, but there is a place in Hancock County where you will find hundreds of thousands of them — from clownfish to dottybacks to cardinalfish. Sea & Reef Aquaculture, located at the University of Maine’s Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin, was founded in 2003 by marine biologist Soren Hansen. The company breeds ornamental tropical fish that are shipped from Maine to pet stores and distributors worldwide to be sold to tropical fish hobbyists. The company was born by Hansen’s love for the coral reefs and his desire to protect them and the fish that inhabit them. Wild harvesting of tropical fish not only damages the reefs, but the fish that are harvested often suffer from high mortality rates due to stress, disease and long transportation times to their new homes.
Wild harvesting of tropical fish not only damages the reefs, but the fish that are harvested often suffer from high mortality rates due to stress, disease and long transportation times to their new homes. Hansen, a marine biologist who received his doctorate from the University of Maine in 2013, conducted years of research at the university prior to launching the company. His work was focused on how to successfully breed tropical fish in 72 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
PHOTOS: (TOP) BDN FILE; (FISH) COURTESY OF SOREN HANSEN
W
e don’t typically
captivity to create healthy, colorful fish with long lifespans. Today, Sea & Reef Aquaculture breeds more than 50 species and color morphs of fish in a facility that’s leased from UMaine. A team of biologists, including several UMaine graduates, manage the operation, tending to the tanks, to the fish and filling orders that come in on a daily basis. The fish are ordered by pet stores and distributors worldwide to be sold to consumers. Retail prices range from $20 for a more common “Nemo” clown fish, up to more than a hundred dollars or more for a designer or rare species. Shipping fish is a matter of life and death and Sea & Reef has systems in place to ensure the fish travel well and arrive at their destination safely. “We pack each fish into a bag with water and place them in a shipping container. We have a great relationship with FedEx to be their last pickup of the day, so the fish aren’t sitting in the truck for long,” Hansen said. “Our goal is get them safely to their final destination within 24 hours.”
Larger orders are taken to the airport, where the fish are carefully loaded onto planes and flown to their destination. “We have an employee who drives them to Bangor International or Boston’s Logan, depending on available flights. He wants the fish to have a stress-free experience so he plays music and sings to them during the drive that can take from two to seven hours,” Hansen said. The fish raised at Sea & Reef enjoy the best environment, the best food and loving care. Unlike their wild brethren, they don’t get stressed worrying about a predator around the corner. They are larger, brighter, live longer than wild caught fish and are disease free. They adapt more easily to living in fish tanks, are less aggressive than wild caught fish and are used to interacting
Neon dottybacks are am ong the species of tropical fish being raised at Sea & Reef Aquacultu re.
with humans. Future plans for the company include raising ornamental shrimp, seahorses, macro algae and corals. “The end goal will be that marine aquarium hobbyists will be able to stock their entire tanks with all captive bred organisms,” Hansen said. Thanks to Sea & Reef Aquaculture, Maine is becoming known as a place where tropical fish can be successfully raised, sold to worldwide markets to satisfy tropical fish lovers and protect the coral reefs.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 73
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Comfort
Vs.
Efficiency What comes first, comfort or energy efficiency? BY KEITH TREMBLEY HOME SOLUTIONS, A BPI CERTIFIED COMPANY
PHOTO: ANTONIOGUILLEM/THINKSTOCK
A
friend of
mine recently told me that his heat pump business has slowed dramatically. It’s no wonder, with oil at $1.77 a gallon there is no urgency for homeowners to cut their heating bills. Many of us, however, still suffer from uncomfortable or unhealthy homes. One of the many things I have learned over the years of visiting homeowners is to listen to their concerns about their home. The concern is rarely about the heating bill but more about being uncomfortable in areas of the home. A cold room, a cold floor, a draft, noise, ice buildup, or bad smells are just some of the more common complaints. And sometimes I hear them explain they have had some work done but the problem persists. That’s because not all insulation companies are created equal. I equate it to going to the doctor. Many of us can relate to that. We find we have high cholesterol or one of the many other common issues, and the doctor prescribes a daily pill. Sound familiar? While other professionals out there will look at your overall lifestyle and recommend some changes and alternatives that may solve the issue you went in for, and also improve your overall health and well-being. For example, you have a very cold kitchen floor and you're uncomfortable standing at the stove and sink. That’s a very
common complaint. If you call a heating contractor, they probably will recommend more heat or upgrading your heating system. If you call a building contractor, they may want to sell you windows and doors. Call an insulation company, and they may advise you need to insulate your attic. In the end, you may still end up with a cold floor. A good home performance professional will do many tests for you and then recommend various solutions so that you can choose what fits your budget.
energy efficient, they have created some comfort issues for me. As with any blown air heat source we now have a nice and warm living room but my wife’s sewing room and my office are very cold. At least 10 degrees colder. I need to run an electric heater if I want to sit in my office and work. Kind of defeats the energy efficiency first thing, doesn’t it? We use our five senses to know if we are comfortable in our homes. When you focus on comfort the light comes on in
A good home performance professional will do many tests for you and then recommend various solutions so that you can choose what fits your budget. A recent Rocky Mountain Institute report stated that 70 percent of homeowners who had some energy improvements done on their home cited comfort as the reason for the upgrade. Consumers are telling the industry they want comfort, and contractors are responding with energy efficiency as if the two were synonymous. They are not. For example, heat pumps have exploded on to the market, and for good reason. They are very efficient. And I like heat pumps — I have three in my home. But while being
a eureka moment and people get Twitter crazy! Research Institutes all around the world are advocating the benefits of home comfort on wellness, learning, productivity and health. These items resonate with the general public. So when looking for advice on your home’s comfort issues look for a Building Performance Institute certified Home Performance company, one that will listen to your concerns and offer specific solutions to address those concerns. When you promote comfort in your home, energy efficiency will follow.
Paid Advertisement for Keith Trembley Home Solutions.
(Top) Some community members enjoy having their own gardens in the field behind the homes or in their back yards. (Left) An aerial view of Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage community in Waldo County.
76 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JEFFREY MABEE
going green
Cohousing on the Coast Belfast community providing a unique living arrangement. BY JODI HERSEY
M
ost of us
are familiar with the famous line from the “Cheers” theme song: “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.” Those words couldn't be more true than inside the Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage community in Waldo County. The families, retirees and business professionals who live in this 36-unit residential area don't just know each other's names, they know somewhat intimate details about their neighbor's families, including dietary restrictions and hobbies. They've opted to share
their lives, resources and land with one another for a more enriching and environmentally friendly way of life.
This unique living arrangement was tossed around for several years before 20 buyers committed to the project and
“It's about wanting to eat meals together, sharing resources together and wanting to work together.” – Jeffrey Mabee “People don't want to live isolated lives [here]. It's about wanting to eat meals together, sharing resources together and wanting to work together,” said Jeffrey Mabee, one of the first members of Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage.
construction began in 2011. Now, situated on 42 acres of land close to town, the village is bustling and all units are either sold or rented. All the homes are duplexes, triplexes or a quadplexes and are clustered www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 77
78 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
ing because of its social, economical and environmental benefits. “All the homes have triple pane windows and doors, and we have lots of windows on the south side of all the homes for passive solar gains,” she explained. “The homes are heated primarily by the sun, with little supplementary heat needed.”
This type of living arrangement also means there's always a second set of hands around to help or in case of an emergency. “My wife is fond of telling this story where it was summertime and the door was open and the screen door was closed. She spilled hot water on herself
This type of living arrangement also means there's always a second set of hands around to help or in case of an emergency. Since the buildings use less energy for heating and cooling than an average house, many of the residents are saving money on their utility bills. “The first year we lived here, our utility bill was zero,” said Mabee.
and she screamed and within a minute she had an RN and an ER doctor at her door,” shared Mabee. Despite all the advantages cohousing offers, Lozanova admits it might not be for everyone.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JEFFREY MABEE
on approximately seven acres of land with a shared roadway that many residents consider to be more like a driveway. There's also a common house that residents can use for meetings, sit down meals, homeschooling or special events. And the entire community benefits from a shared garden. Sarah Lozanova and her family moved in 2013 from Madison, Wisconsin to Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage. “I wanted to have a rich and dynamic environment for my kids, and this is a very safe place for kids to play and roam,” said Lozanova, a freelance writer. “For example, our neighbors might be out playing instruments on their porch and my kids get exposed to that and excited about it.” Lozanova and her husband, who is in the environmental field, chose cohous-
going green
(Left) 5-year -old Abbie Morgan helps her mom with the harvest. (Right) The annual Maypole celebration in front of the common house. The celebration is set to take place this year April 30 on National Cohousing Open House Day. (Below left) A CSA member shows off some freshly harvested cabbage. (Below right) Community members work together to build a “light berm.�
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 79
going green (Left) A little more than half the community members are pictured during a going away party. (Below) “Green manure� is used between the rows of kale harvested by community members.
80 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
“We have what is called a Design & Review Committee. Most permitted changes to our homes require approval from our committee,” she said. Mabee lived in Belfast for 35 years before moving to cohousing. “I didn't have to leave my community but it was still hard for me because I left a waterfront home and downsizing was very difficult,” he said. Lozanova has no regrets about her decision to live a more organic and collaborative way of life, where everybody knows her and the community members are not just her neighbors, but also an extended family. “I still miss Madison, but moving here is certainly moving toward something instead of moving away from something,” she said. For more information about Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage, visit mainecohousing.org or call 338-9200. The website frequently has information about open houses for those interested in learning more.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JEFFREY MABEE
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What’s Old is
New Again
G
o beyond
Striking Gold Jewelers can recycle your old jewelry into something new.
traditional recycling and have your old jewelry rendered into something brand new! For decades, Striking Gold Jewelers has recycled the gold, platinum, silver, diamonds and other gemstones from customers’ old jewelry to create new custom pieces with unique stories. Jewelers, designers and owners, Peter and Leesa Farnsworth welcome you to explore the many opportunities your old jewelry can offer you once again. People recycle their old jewelry for many reasons; for example it may be broken beyond repair, not your style or
you desire a new family heirloom that combines many pieces and memories. Whatever your reason, you will come away with something new that you will love and cherish. And you’ll be surprised at how affordable it is! At Striking Gold Jewelers in Ellsworth, you will take a trip back in time — back to when jewelry was made entirely by hand, before the advent of modern technology and the industrial revolution. With the exception of a dremel-style handpiece and the polishing lathe, all work is performed entirely by hand. Hand fabrication is a humble and
The customer started with this.
dying art that Peter and Leesa practice and strive to preserve every day. All work, including accurate repair, is done on-site by one or both of the jewelers. Peter is a master bench jeweler who has been fabricating for 44 years, while Leesa, also a bench jeweler, has been fabricating for 28 years. The process is truly fascinating — your old jewelry is melted down with a torch into little “M&M’s,” then rolled by hand through steel plates making flat bars or square wire. For round wire, the square wire is then pulled by hand through steel plates. The torch is the “ultimate eliminator” of bad memories, yet perfectly preserves the meaningful ones. Don’t own any old or broken jewelry? No problem — Striking Gold can use the same hand fabrication process using newly recycled pure gold, which is then blended into four colors of gold in many karats. Either way, your new piece of jewelry will reflect your personality because you assist in the design process. Choose from the many unique designs Striking Gold offers in-store, or bring your own design for a piece that’s truly one-of-a-kind. For information, visit strikinggold jewelers.com.
Paid Advertisement for Striking Gold Jewelers, Inc.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 83
going green
Joshua Davis, who co-founded Gelato Fiasco in 2007 with Bruno Tropeano, displays one of the more than 1,200 flavors of gelato and sorbetto the company has produced.
Sustainably
BY EMILY BURNHAM
84 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
N
ine years ago,
the delicious ice creams made by Gelato Fiasco were available in just one place — their storefront in downtown Brunswick. Now, pints of Maine Wild Blueberry Crisp, Dark Chocolate Noir, Mascarpone Pistachio Caramel and many other flavors are available in groceries stores statewide and in Whole Foods and other speciality stores across the country, as well as at the original Brunswick storefront and the Portland store. Owners and founders Joshua Davis and Bruno Tropeano now employ more than 50 people in the Brunswick area, and this month, an expansion of their “flavor foundry” more than doubles their capacity — as well as brings their carbon footprint to a new low. As one of the only locally-owned food businesses in the state named a Maine Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Leader, Gelato Fiasco is also one of the greenest businesses in
Maine. They’re not powered by fossil fuels; they are powered by ice cream. Joshua Davis spoke with Bangor Metro about his company’s commitment to sustainability, and about the time they tried to make onion ice cream.
Joshua Davis
Owner of Gelato Fiasco in Brunswick. First off, tell us about your green certification from the state — what does it entail and why was it important to you to get it? Maine DEP Environmental Leader? It’s a way for businesses that are taking steps to be as green as they can to get recognition. We were doing a lot of things like composting and picking suppliers that allow for recycled material, and making as many choices as we could about how we get out power, and just doing things as efficiently as pos-
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GELATO FIASCO
One of the greenest businesses in Maine isn’t powered by fossil fuels; it’s powered by ice cream.
Delicious
sible. The other thing is that you always have to keep improving. That’s always been a focus of our business. What have you done recently to increase your energy efficiency? We’re doubling our capacity this year, and we wanted to reduce our wastewater, and reduce the amount of energy we use to actually make the gelato. We hired a consultant [with support from Efficiency Maine] to look at our process. We were using all this water to heat up the gelato, and we were just dumping it down the drain. That’s $17,000 worth of water… now, we’re not even using water. We’re using a medium glycol in a closed loop to heat it up and then cool it down… For us, it’s firstly a smart business move. We’re building energy efficiency into the building. But, it’s also important to us for make sure we’re trying to be as green as possible. We’re using no fossil fuels at all in the new building.
PHOTO: BOBBY GUERETTE
More to the important point: you’re known for both traditional and funky flavors, from Smoked Maple Gelato to Strawberry Balsamic Sorbetto. You must experiment all the time — what are some of the more unique flavors you’ve offered, or some that never made it past the experimental phase? One of the great things about gelato is that we’re always making small batches, so there’s no limit on what we can try, because we’re not committing to huge runs. The worst we’ve ever done was a sweet vidalia onion ice cream. It was literally a fiasco. People tasted it, and their breath alone made other people not want to try it. We thought it would be a sweet onion flavor, but ‘sweet’ in that case is still a relative term. But we’ve also had a lot of fun experimentations. One thing we do every year is a partnership with Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick for a special flavor for each show. So for “Fiddler on the Roof” we’re doing Biddy Boddy Babka, a chocolate babka flavor. We get to use our imagination. It’s the hard part of the job, but someone’s got to do it.
On the Menu
Depending on the season, you never know what flavors you might find at Gelato Fiasco.
Nutty Irishman Gelato
Starts with smooth pistachio butter and adds toffee, pistachio pieces, and a jackpot of chocolate coins.
On the Bear’s Trail Gelato
A creamy chocolate and honey base with a swirl of whole blueberries and chunks of our own chocolate truffles.
Maple Sap Tap Gelato
Maine maple syrup with our own maple walnut toffee.
Horchata Gelato
With coconut milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and lime juice.
Cucumber Lime Cilantro at Gelato Fiasco.
Why ice cream? What was it about this particular product that drew you and Bruno to it a decade ago? There’s a lot of great things about saying that you work at a gelato shop. It’s a much bigger company now, of course, but the www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 85
going green things we were originally attracted to — focusing on one thing and doing it really, really well — is absolutely still true. We have nearly limitless combinations and we can be as inventive as we want. It’s fun. What more could you ask for?
more info GELATO FIASCO 74 MAINE STREET, BRUNSWICK AND 425 FORE STREET, PORTLAND Website: gelatofiasco.com
BANGOR
BREWER
BUCKSPORT
A TASTE OF
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Latin-Caribbean Cuisine 14 North Main Street, Brewer atasteofsunshineinmaine.com
86 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
Also available at: Many grocery stores statewide and in Whole Foods and other speciality stores across the country.
PHOTO: VASILIUMOSISE/THINKSTOCK
You’ve expanded a great deal in the past few years. What is the primary driver for such increased demand? We were lucky that we tapped into something that later became a trend. And we’re able to use a lot of Maine ingredients, like milk from Houlton Farms Dairy. Every pint that leaves our flavor foundry is made by real people, and I think people respond to that. People respond to us being from Maine. I just got back from a trade show in San Francisco, and there, and everywhere, people want to tell us stories about their experiences with Maine. They associate Maine with good things. And I think that’s been a big part of our success — our story resonates with people.
Hours: Both locations are open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
HAMPDEN
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ELLSWORTH
last
word
N
ow in my
Talk
to Me
The challenges of trying to look cool while using speech-to-text. BY CHRIS QUIMBY
early 40s, I find myself developing a greater appreciation for old people. You might be wondering what I consider old. Me, too. I hesitate to define such people by an actual number of years lived. Let’s just say if you read the first line of this piece and didn’t turn the page, you’re probably old. And if in turning the page to arrive at this column you found yourself lame and out-of-breath, you are likely VERY old. Perhaps the greatest reason for my growing affinity for the aged is that I’m looking for a group to identify with. My teenaged children have made it no secret that my reasoning, language, sense of humor, grooming, pop culture knowledge, dancing skills, body fat percentage, clothing style and vehicle all not only remove me from consideration as acceptable among today’s youth, but also cast me into a pile of virtual irrelevance. I lay within this pile of discarded 40-something parents weary from life, passing the time humming tunes from “Footloose,” sharing stories of life before the Internet and burning copious photographs of myself sporting big hair and tie-dyed jeans. And worse, any chance of the pronouncement of my ascending age being only from my own offspring was put to rest the day after Christmas 2015. I was repairing an iPhone in a local deli for a young lady whom, as evidenced by her language, grooming, body fat percentage and clothing style, was quite young. As she returned for her device at completion, I was finishing up dictating a text to another customer by using my phone’s speech-to-text function. After finishing and excusing myself for not giving her my full attention, I appealed for sympathy by explaining to her that my children repeatedly proclaim that I am “uncool” for not simply typing my texts and that “nobody” uses that feature. Well, that is simply not true. Many people I know use it. Many of my friends. Many other old people. The girl’s response was less than reassuring as she smiled and gently said, “Yes. My father uses that, too.” So now, being abandoned by the young, I am seeking identity with others. So about one month later, and many times before that, I was in a coffee shop, repairing a device for another customer. As is often the case in arriving to these places early, there was a table of male senior citizens socializing. I’ve eavesdropped upon many of these conversations lately, finding myself freshly interested in their discussion topics and their usually lighthearted, but sincere critique of current culture. From frustration of governmental gridlock fueled by partisan stridency to discouragement over the general sense of entitlement and lack of work ethic among today’s teens, I discovered that these men were not trying to be cool or young at all. Whether they had grown apathetic of the opinions of others or simply were too hard of hearing to have received their complaints, these men had embraced their age, albeit in spite of the pains said embraces initiate from their bum shoulders and weak lower backs. So, while I am now too young to officially join their ranks, I am ambitiously collecting the requisite physical pains and social irrelevancy to one day be accepted on the first vote upon eligibility. One day, a few decades from now, when you are sitting in a business that currently doesn’t exist using a piece of technology that also currently doesn’t exist, speaking in acronyms or some bothersome dialect that alienates most of the general public while you wear clothing that looks ridiculous to everyone except those that wear the same clothing, listen in to my conversation. I’ll be in the corner with a group of elderly men, either listing verbally to the group the medications I am on, or texting my wife at home on the same smartphone I’ve owned since 2015. Using, of course, speech-to-text. CHRIS QUIMBY is a Christian comedian, speaker and writer, morning news anchor and host of Soup du Jour on VStv, and owner of Chris Quimby iPhone Repair. He resides in Brooks with his wife and two children.
88 / BANGOR METRO March 2016
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