FThe Claus Cause
Meet a few of the Mainers donning red coats and beards this holiday season
BY JOANNA O’LEARY
I f Christmas is the Superbowl of holidays, then Santa Claus is the quarterback. And just as in any given season there are many terrific QBs, each year there are a plethora of people primed to play Santa. Maine may be the ninth least populous state in the nation, but in terms of men (and women) masquerading as Father Christmas, there is far from a shortage. We talked to Mr. and Mrs. Clauses across Maine to learn about their motivations for embodying these iconic characters, as well as their experiences on the job.
or Tony Marshall, who serves as Santa Claus at fundraising events for the VOGM Support Network of Bangor, inspiration for playing St. Nick came early.
“When I was young, Mike Dolly was Santa Claus on WABI TV in Bangor. My Mom told me I would bounce around the house after the show, and say, ‘Well, well, well, what would you like old Santa to bring you for Christmas?’ I was about 5 years old! When my hair and beard turned white at 45 years old, I took it as a sign!”
Similarly, Markus and Angelique Steelgrave, aka Mr. and Mrs. Claus of Southern Maine Santa, have been honing their craft for decades. Markus donned the red jumpsuit for the first time about 50 years ago.
“I was working at a department store during the holidays as an elf, and one day Santa reported for duty ‘under the weather,’ shall we say. The manager quickly grabbed a spare suit, beard, wig, and hat, and told me to get dressed in that and go out and keep the kids from being disappointed,” Steelgrave said. “The kids’ reactions to me as a ‘real’ Santa were great, and that’s a feeling that still keeps me going.”
His partner in Claus and in life, Angelique, also has been on the jolly job for decades.
“I’ve been a professional performer all my adult life, mainly an actor. When Markus and I got together 22 years ago, I initially played an elf to his Santa. After a couple of seasons of that I decided to make the switch to being Mrs. Claus and have loved it ever since.”
And since Christmas celebrations take many forms, it’s no surprise gender-bending is sometimes involved in the casting of Santa. Such is the case in Dover-Foxcroft’s 2024 production of “Miracle On 34th Street,” in which Jolly Old Saint Nick is portrayed by Sheri Kreider. When Kreider originally auditioned it was for any open role, but when she was offered Kris Kringle, she gladly accepted.
“When I say Santa lines, especially about children and to the children, I actually feel good inside,” Kreider said. “I feel like I really am Santa. I am hopeful I can give that kind of joy to everyone watching the show.”
And while some might find the casting unorthodox, Kreider is rightly
confident that a female can believably play a traditionally male role because “more important is being believable in the feelings and spirit of the holiday.”
While everyone with whom we spoke sincerely enjoyed slipping into that Santa suit, the role is not without its challenges. In addition to working long hours during the holidays (often daily through Christmas Eve), Santas must deal with some tough customers, i.e., kids.
“Sometimes children ask very difficult questions, and coming up with a good answer can be challenging,” notes Markus Steele. “Not just the ‘how do you get to every house in the world in one night’ question, but things like ‘my dad/ grandmother/whomever just passed away, can you bring them back on Christmas?’ Knowing that they believe so strongly that ‘Santa Claus’ is magic and can do amazing things, but also knowing that even if I were really Santa it wouldn’t be possible. That’s hard, and very humbling.”
Joe Hall, who for years has played Santa at the Boothbay Lights celebration, explains, “I always [want] to meet and go above and beyond peoples’ expectations of what they could ever imagine. No matter how you feel as yourself, you have to switch gears when you put the costume on.”
The actors with whom we spoke had different relationships to the Christmas holiday itself, with some feeling more a secular than religious attachment, but all emphasized how much joy they derived from playing Santa or Mrs. Claus.
Sometimes, there were even some touching moments of role reversal, including one particularly charming anecdote from Marshall. “There is [this child] Malachi, who brought ole Santa a gift four years ago. There was a great quiet sadness [about] him and his mom. He said, ‘Santa, you give gifts to everyone but ask for no gifts for yourself, so I wanted to give you these gloves (double knit alpaca), so your hands will be warm.’ He continues to visit me and comes with a gift every year… and recently I found out last year that the first time [he and his mom] came, Malachi had just lost his Dad in a tragic accident. Malachi had an understanding that giving would help him [in grieving].”
Such was one of countless stories of gratitude and kindness from children and their families recounted by our aforementioned Santas, ample evidence that when it comes to playing Father Christmas, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Strengthening our Community Bonds
COURTESY OF RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN OF GREATER MAINE
There’s something special about being part of a community — it’s more than just a place where we work and live. It’s about the connections we forge, the lives we touch, and the moments we share. This year has deepened our roots in Maine’s soil through meaningful actions that reflect our heartfelt commitment to strengthening our community bonds.
When we say community, we mean the families finding comfort at Sarah’s House of Maine, the child whose eyes light up as a wish comes true through Wayne’s Wiffle for a Wish, and the dedicated teachers who shape our future generations. We mean the veterans who’ve sacrificed so much for our country, now sharing stories over a barbecue. These aren’t just organizations or events — they’re the threads that weave our community together.
As we celebrate 10 years in Maine, we’re reminded that true community impact isn’t measured in numbers or lists of achievements. It’s measured in the warmth of a shared meal, the relief on a family’s face when they receive support, and the joy of a child’s dream coming true. It’s about recognizing that we’re all connected, and when we lift one another up, our entire community grows stronger.
Our journey of giving back has shown us that the strongest communities are built on compassion, understanding, and active participation. Whether we’re stocking pantry shelves, supporting our educators, or spending time with our veterans, each action reinforces our belief that we’re not just working in Maine — we’re part of Maine’s story.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to this vision of community support. Not because it’s expected, but because we believe that strong communities are built by people who care, who show up, and who understand that we’re all in this together. This is our home, and we’re dedicated to making it an even better place for all who live here.
Winterport Sisters on a Mis�ion
Sisters Beverly Kennedy and Mary Lou Deane grew up in Winterport Village, attending the town’s Methodist church. As the two eldest of six children in the Ryan family, they said they were always active and involved in the community, and could often be found in the kitchen.
“When you have a big family, you cook a lot,” Kennedy chuckled. Years later, the pair are still cooking and volunteering for the greater good.
Though their childhood church closed in the 1980s, the sisters have found a new church community at the Ellingwood Corner United Methodist Church in Winterport. About six years ago, Mary Lou Deane found herself volunteering at the Corner Church’s popular thrift shop. It wasn’t long before she was asked to take over the reins.
“I said I would do what I could do,” Deane shared. “I had no idea what it would involve, but it’s all good.” Deane said she volunteers in memory of Debbie Calderwood, an integral servant of the church whose life suddenly ended in an auto accident in 2017.
Deane’s sister soon joined the Ellingwood Corner Church community as well.
“I was not active with any church, but still engaged in mission work on an individual basis,” Kennedy said. “It was an inner voice that pulled me towards the church.”
Within a year of Kennedy joining as a church member, COVID hit and all of the long-standing monthly church community suppers ended, stalling income for the church and its missions.
But the sisters and fellow volunteers didn’t let that stop them. They took advantage of the time, reorganized, and began curbside meal pickup opportunities.
“Our mission work exploded because there was a greater need in the community,” Kennedy said.
Pastor Reeni Cipullo said volunteers are what keep these smaller churches alive and active. She remarked on the sisters’ dedication and passion.
“Oh my goodness, they do so much. Mary Lou actually gave up her job to serve us at the church with such commitment to her faith,”
Pastor Cipullo said. “They are a tremendous help and support because they know the community so well. There is so much energy and passion in this church community. It’s absolutely amazing.”
Church volunteers coordinate community breakfasts, Christmas wreath making, and bake sales.
“A lot of this work is just automatic for us,” Deane said. “Everyone loves our cooking. It’s crazy.”
The fervent team of volunteers also create Christmas stockings and Easter baskets for Partners for Peace, in addition to supplying food for the homeless and assisting with clothing needs.
“We even make yeast rolls as a promotion for any stocking stuffer donations made,” Kennedy added.
BY ANNE GABBIANELLI
Sisters Mary Lou Deane and Beverly Kennedy at work in the kitchen.
Volunteers from Ellingwood Corner United Methodist Church baked up 29 pie orders for Thanksgiving.
When asked if the sisters ever get tired of each other, there was a collective laugh as they looked at each other showing the divine bond between them. They not only share their life-long love for each other, but their faith has made them a vital part of the Ellingwood Corner Church.
PHOTO CREDIT: ANNE GABBIANELLI.
Take Hot Chocolate to the Next Level
COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE
People tend to think of sipping ice cream floats in the middle of summer when temperatures are soaring. Ice cream floating in a bubbling base of cola or root beer can be a welcome treat on a hot day. However, floats can be just as delicious when the weather chills, particularly when ice cream enhances rich and decadent hot chocolate.
For this Hot Chocolate Float from “Chocolate: Over 100 Temptingly-Tasty Dishes” by the Love Food editors, coconut- and chocolate-flavored scoops of ice cream bob and melt in creamy hot chocolate. Feel free to use your favorite flavors of ice cream to make this recipe your own, and you can even make this drink a boozy version with the inclusion of a shot of flavored vodka.
Directions: :
Hot Chocolate Float Serves 4 Ingedients:
2 cups milk
8 ounces semiswe�t chocolate
2 tablespo�ns superfine sugar
8 sco�ps coconut ice cream
8 sco�ps semiswe�t chocolate ice cream Whipped cream, to decorate
Pour the milk into a saucepan. Break the chocolate into pieces and ad� to the saucepan with the sugar. Stir over low heat until the chocolate has melted, the sugar has dis�olved and the mixture is smo�th. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Put 1 sco�p of coconut ice cream into each of 4 heatpro�f glas�es, top with a sco�p of chocolate ice cream, then repeat the layers.
Pour the chocolate flavored milk into the glas�es, top with whipped cream, and serve immediately.
Good Works Through Music
BY CRYSTAL SANDS
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, Maestro Lucas Richman, have been doing more than spreading joy through music this year; they have been using their talents to make the Bangor community a better place. From the Paths to Dignity Project to serving meals and playing music at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, the BSO is doing good work in the Bangor area and beyond.
Founded by Richman and BSO concertmaster Mitchell Newman, the Paths to Dignity Project works to use the arts to raise awareness about the homelessness crisis in America, but it does more than that. Paths to Dignity uses music to connect with the unhoused and provide an opportunity for them to explore music in a way that supports their mental health.
“The project has touched people in ways we could not have anticipated, including inspiring people to get back into expressing themselves through music,” Richman said. “Some of the unhoused have been musicians at some point in their lives and being involved in the project has revived a spark in them. We have also had people tell us they feel inspired to make the effort and get into housing.”
While the Paths to Dignity Project is a national program, Richman and Newman have spent a lot of time on the project in the Bangor area. Richman says they work to adapt the programs in each city to the needs of that city. In Bangor, one of the Paths to Dignity programs involved Richman working with HEAL (Health Equity Alliance) in Bangor to bring a four-week song writing workshop to the Health Equity Alliance Resource and Testing Center, where people who are homeless come to receive medical care. The song writing workshop encouraged people to write poetry and set it to music.
Through Paths to Dignity, Richman and Newman have also presented a violin concerto, composed by Richman and performed by Newman.
The Paths to Dignity concerto for violin was performed with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra in April.
Beyond the Paths to Dignity project, Richman and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra have been doing good works in our community in a variety of ways. This year, the BSO donated a grand piano to the Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Center and hosted a concert blending classical music and traditional Indigenous styles of music. And, twice each year, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra donates food, makes dinners, and plays music at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.
If you would like to connect to the music the BSO brings to our community, there are opportunities coming up in 2025. Richman says a fundraiser for Dignity First in Bangor is in the works to raise funds for the unhoused in Bangor, and there will be more programs through HEAL. For example, Richman says a drumming circle with HEAL is on the horizon.
In January, the BSO Masterworks series continues with Mozart, and in March, the BSO will be playing side-by-side with young musicians in our area, performing Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” with the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra. The BSO offers a number of tickets to each concert to those who are unsheltered. For more information about those tickets, contact Josh D’Alessio at the Health Equity Alliance in Bangor.
For 129 years, the BSO has been bringing beautiful music to the Bangor area, and they have been working to make our community a better place. Richman and members of the BSO are doing good work throughout the Bangor area, making connections and raising awareness about homelessness, mental health, and more.
“The services in Bangor are wonderful,” Richman said. “When you add the universal language of music, it adds a spark to the humanity and interaction between the housed and unhoused.”
Stitching with Spirit
BY JODI HERSEY
LIPKVICH
The methodical hum of sewing machines can be heard resonating up from the basement of the Danforth Baptist Church like a well rehearsed choir. This is where the Dorcas Sewing Sisters meet twice a month to stitch together dresses, shorts, and pants for widows and orphans around the world. Ja-Net Cronkite started this all volunteer senior citizen sewing group back in 2017 after reading about the plight of children in orphanages in Haiti.
“Our motto is we can’t go, but we can sew,” Cronkite said. “We want to be an encouragement, and when you’re busy for the Savior, you don’t have time for anything else.”
Cronkite named the group after a lady from the New Testament.
“It comes from Acts 9 in the Bible. This Dorcas lady, she was also called Tabitha, and she loved to sew and make things for the townspeople,” Cronkite explained.
One of the first members of the group was Lydia Preston of Weston. She’s an avid dress maker whose eyesight has been failing, but that hasn’t stopped her from stitching away on her vintage Singer sewing machine.
“Having bad eyesight is nothing to God,” Preston said matter of factly. “The orphanages are so destitute in everything and I can still sew, so I figure I can do that to help out. I’ve made over 1,300 dresses.”
The group is made up of 20 seasonal and year-round members ranging anywhere from 60 to 90 years old. Some don’t drive or have televisions in their homes, so they spend their time sewing and collecting hygiene kits, which include toothbrushes, soap, and washcloths, for widows and orphans in the countries of Haiti, Moldova, and elsewhere. Then the group boxes up
their donations at the church and mails them to Samaritan’s Purse or Moldova’s Orphans Hands — charities that provide spiritual and physical aid to those in need.
“Whatever we send, they find a use for,” said Norma Mason, a seasonal member of the Dorcas Sewing Sisters. “We feel at least purposeful in our old age and not just idle, and that’s satisfaction in and of itself.”
Mason, who summers in Maine, knits and sews, finding both peace and purpose in her actions.
“I have no TV. I have a radio and that’s it. So I listen to the Christian radio station while I sew or knit and it allows my hands to be busy,” she said. “We all just want to serve the Lord in a way that helps other people.”
When Cronkite formed the group all those years ago, she was hoping to create something to keep Maine seniors involved and active. What she discovered was a family of women willing to use their time, talents, and resources to better the lives of people around the world.
“We’d like every woman to know that you are not useless, no matter what age you are,” said Cronkite. “Some of the women [in the group] have told me this has given them something to live for, a reason to get up in the morning each day.”
Those who would like to donate to the cause can send donations to: Dorcas Sisters’ Ministry c/o Danforth Baptist Church P.O. Box 88
Danforth, ME 04424
PHOTOS BY ANNE
COURTESY OF VERSANT POWER
This October, representatives from Versant Power and non-profit organizations in Versant’s service territory gathered at The Stage Door in Bangor for check presentations. Ten organizations received $10,000 in honor of Versant’s 100th Anniversary. These grants were shareholder funded and not funded by ratepayers.
“Versant Power has been providing safe and reliable power to northern and eastern Maine for over 100 years, and what better way to celebrate this milestone than by being able to show our support to the communities we serve and get our employees involved in the process,” said John Flynn, president of Versant Power.
After over 200 applications came in during the summer, Versant team members voted to award $10,000 to each of these non-profit organizations:
• AROOSTOOK HOUSE OF COMFORT – PRESQUE ISLE
Versant Power Awards $100,000 to 10 Local Non-profits to Celebrate 100th Anniversary
• BANGOR HUMANE SOCIETY – BANGOR
• CENTRAL AROOSTOOK HUMANE SOCIETY – PRESQUE ISLE
• HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – ORLAND
• HOPE AND JUSTICE – PRESQUE ISLE
• LOAVES & FISHES FOOD PANTRY – ELLSWORTH
• MAINE YOUTH FISH & GAME ASSOCIATION – MILFORD
• SARAH’S HOUSE OF MAINE – HOLDEN
• SPCA OF HANCOCK – TRENTON
• RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES – BANGOR
Five additional non-profits were awarded $1,000 grants through the program: Beth C. Wright Cancer Research Center, Town of Frenchville Fire Department, Old Town Animal Orphanage, Penobscot Theatre, and Safe Kids Maine.
Versant Power would like to thank its employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders for all their support over the years. A lot has changed since the Bangor Hydro-Electric Company was organized in the summer of 1924, but our commitment remains intact, then, now and into the future.
For more information about Versant’s 100th anniversary, visit versantpower.com/about-us/100-year-anniversary
Tina Morrill (left) and Marissa Minor (right) from Versant Power present Abbey Clair (center), Executive Director of Aroostook House of Comfort, with one of the ten $10,000 grants awarded to local non-profits.
Go�d News from AARP Maine
ACOURTESY OF AARP MAINE
s 2024 comes to a close, AARP Maine is proud to share with BangorDailyNews readers the many efforts and accomplishments driven by our dedicated volunteers throughout the past year. A sincere thank you is owed to our citizen advocates, community members and collaborative partners for their spirited, action-oriented, and tireless work.
Once again this year, we filled the halls of Augusta with our trademark red shirts and continued our tradition of Tuesdays at the State House. Each week, volunteers convened at the State House and over Zoom to hear legislative updates, learn the intricacies of policy-making, chat with state representatives, and plan outreach campaigns. Our members and volunteers testified throughout the legislative session and shared powerful stories about important issues such as the challenges of being a family caregiver, the effects of high utility costs on vulnerable households, and the necessity of a stable broadband connection in communities everywhere.
We also hosted over 200 local events for AARP members, volunteers, and community members including a forum on elder abuse, free movie screenings, ice cream socials throughout the summer to advocate for Social Security, and monthly coffee gatherings in Bangor (as well as four other Maine communities) with a variety of guest speakers. All of these events were offered for free to anyone who wanted to participate. Our electric bill workshops helped local Mainers stay informed about their electric bills and better understand ongoing efforts to maintain fair and reasonable utility rates in Maine.
In addition to their legislative efforts, many of our volunteers felt particularly inspired by AARP Maine’s mission: to empower Mainers 50-plus to choose how they live as they age. Some of the volunteer-led activities you might recognize include ontaps at a local brewery, e-bike demos, and special events such as a sold-out performance of BirthdayCandlesat the Penobscot Theatre.
AARP Maine staff members and volunteers were thrilled to return to Pride festivals in four communities including Bangor, showcasing an unwavering commitment to supporting Maine’s LGTBQ+ community. We see diversity as a source of strength and LGBTQ+ communities are a vital part of the quilt of American life. We met so many local residents at this year’s Bangor Pride and at our documentary screening event of BarStoriesat the Gracie Theatre.
Our office is also deeply committed to supporting communities across Maine and their efforts to become more livable for residents of all ages. We partner with local leaders, organizations and dedicated residents to help make that vision a reality, including in Greater Bangor. As part of our livable communities work, we recently hosted an online event about becoming an advocate for pedestrian and bicyclist safety that highlighted the City of Bangor’s work in this important area.
Finally, we celebrated with our volunteers at our Annual Meeting this fall which was held in Bangor. We honored retired teacher Pamela Partridge with our annual Andrus Award for Community Service, an award named after our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. Pam’s commitment and service to others is exactly what AARP strives to achieve. Additional awards were presented to Healthy Peninsula in Blue Hill, the City of South Portland, and longtime AARP Maine volunteer Jessica Linzer Simpson. We hope the successes of the past year inspire you to reach out and get involved. We love hearing from you and welcome your ideas! Please visit our website at www.aarp.org/me, find us on social media @aarpmaine, and email us at
me@aarp.org to learn more about how to join our efforts in 2025. We have many exciting endeavors on the horizon as AARP Maine continues to advocate for older Mainers and their families.
In the meantime, on behalf of our staff, volunteer advocates and our nearly 200,000 members in the state, I wish you and your family a wonderful and safe holiday season.
Noël Bonam
AARP Maine State Director
12-Year-Old Makes Sure No Kid Goes Without a Birthday Cake
BY JUDY HARRISON
Dorian Maxwell Pillsbury celebrated his 12th birthday this fall. As he looked at his cake, he wondered how many kids don’t get to have cakes, frosting, and candles for their birthdays because their families can’t afford them.
That sparked the Brewer boy — nicknamed D-Max — into action. He launched a fundraising effort that allowed him to donate nearly 400 birthday kits to Bangor area food pantries so no one experiencing food insecurity would go without a cake on their birthday.
For more information, visit his website at thedmax.com or his Facebook page at facebook.com/ 207kids.
dentist and orthodontist who died in 2023, ran the Angel Tree Project and cofounded Brewer Youth Hockey, a program his grandson participates in.
D-Max’s fundraising efforts started five years ago when he was a second grader at Brewer Community School, according to his mom. He asked Liberatore for extra snacks to share with kids whose families couldn’t afford them.
“Maine covers breakfast and lunch but not snacks,” she said. “So, often kids share snacks with their friends or teachers pay for them out of their own pocket.”
figure out a way other people can have this.”
D-Max now sells hats, T-shirts, hoodies, and teddy bears on his website at thedmax.com. Ten percent of proceeds from those sales go to the snack fund. He also posts regularly on his Facebook page.
“I figured, ‘Hey, I have this beautiful cake in front of me,’” he said, “I need to figure out a way other people can have this.”
stories were picked up by 50 stations
Since 2019, D-Max has raised more than $4,000 to purchase bikes and helmets for the kids at the Boys and Girls Club, and more than $2,000 to purchase a new PA system for Brewer Little League, all while continuing to raise money for the snack fund. To raise money for his projects, D-Max has solicited funds from individuals and organizations, set up lemonade, cider, and hot cocoa stands, and sold D-Max merchandise.
D-Max’s efforts attracted the attention of local television stations and those stories were picked up by 50 stations nationwide. Word also spread on social media and donations came in from across the country. The Penobscot Theatre Company joined the act and asked theatergoers attending its fall production of “Birthday Candles” for donations.
“My final delivery [was] to the Boys & Girls Club of Bangor,” he posted on social media in October. “We dropped off 58 birthday cake kits! It makes me happy to know so many kids are going to have an extra happy birthday now! Thank you!”
D-Max’s mom, Lisa Liberatore of Brewer, and her family strongly believe in philanthropy and community building. A teacher, entrepreneur, author, and investor, Liberatore said that she is teaching her son the importance of fundraising and volunteering. Her father, Dr. A.U. “Lib” Liberatore, a Brewer
His efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2020, he was named volunteer of the year by the Heart of Maine United Way for his work with the Dorian and Christine B Foundation delivering food to those fighting cancer. This fall, he won the Maine Venture Fund Startup Challenge in the K-8 category for his work with D-Max Merch. He won the $1,000 prize over more than 150 applicants and is spending that money to have his website improved.
Since the pandemic, Liberatore has home schooled D-Max. She said that his volunteer work provides valuable lessons in entrepreneurship. A next step will be for him to create a non-profit for donations to go through.
D-Max wants to play professional hockey when he grows up. In addition to playing hockey in Brewer, D-Max also plays baseball, football, golf, and video games, but he plans to continue fundraising when he sees a need because he finds it so rewarding.
“It’s truly exciting to make people happy,” he said.