Stays Stays
DO YOU DARE?
PLAN A STAY AT MAINE’S SPOOKIEST HAUNTED INNS
Spooky Spooky
DISCOVER WHAT
LIES BENEATH
LIES BENEATH LIES BENEATH
UNDER THE BUILDINGS AND STREETS OF DOWNTOWN BANGOR LIES A MYSTERIOUS NETWORK OF TUNNELS...
WHYDO DOTHEY THEY EXIST? EXIST? WHY
$5.95
October 2021
AND... HIKE, BIKE & PADDLE TO FALL FOLIAGE • MIX IT UP WITH TABATA
PLUS MARRY ME — A SPECIAL SECTION FOR MAINE COUPLES
CONTENTS
OCTOBER 2021
FEATURES 48
SPOOKY STAYS
Inside Maine’s spookiest haunted inns
54
TUNNELS OF MYSTERY
What exactly is under Bangor?
60
BEHIND THE SCENES
How does one stay safe while exploring creepy tunnels? You take along a golf club of course
IN EVERY ISSUE 08
54
TUNNELS OF MYSTERY
20
HIKE, BIKE & PADDLE TO FANTASTIC FOLIAGE
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Local events & Metro’s Pop Quiz
18
OBSESSIONS
What we can’t get enough of this month
44
PERSONAL FINANCE
Can’t budge on that budget?
62
WOODS & WATERS
A unique experience in our own backyard
64
THE VIEW FROM HERE
Time to begin again
Our special wedding section for Maine couples Starts on page 35
2 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
PHOTOS: TKTK
MARRY ME
ARTS & CULTURE 14 MAKING BOOKS & FRIENDSHIPS Author and illustrator Eric Zelz shares about his latest work
FOOD & DRINK 20
IN SEASON NOW
Enjoy pumpkin desserts three different ways
HEALTH & FITNESS 20
HIKE ME
Hike, bike and paddle your way to a fall foliage adventure
26
MIXING UP THE ROUTINE
Have you tried tabata? Check out our tips and exercises to get started
HOME & FAMILY 30 ‘NEATH THE COVER OF OCTOBER SKIES A paean to a song of destiny
32
CUTE AND COMFY
Level up your sweats with these trendy looks this autumn
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
Wishing You a Spooky
HALLOWEEN
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I watched the made-for-TV version of Stephen King’s “IT.” The network of tunnels that the psychotic clown Pennywise traveled in was everything that scared me — an unknown system right beneath the feet of townsfolk where horror lived. Of course, I was already afraid of storm drains for good reason. I slid into a round one set into our New York road as a child but was fortunately pulled free before I ended up in the sewer beneath the street. After that, I always gave drains of all kinds a wide berth.
MOVING TO BANGOR GAVE ME A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL THE HAIRS ON MY NECK RISE AS I LEARNED THAT MY FIRST HOME HERE WAS LOCATED STEPS FROM THE FICTIONAL BARRENS. But years older and perhaps a little wiser, I found the real-life-existence of the tunnel system more fascinating than fear-filled. When we were planning this issue of Bangor Metro, I thought again about hidden tunnels. Writer Julia Bayly was also interested and volunteered to check out the mysterious network that runs beneath the streets of downtown Bangor (see her story and essay beginning on page 54). While we didn’t find a definitive guide to the tunnels, we did learn lots about what’s down there. Likewise, with Halloween nearing, it seemed like the perfect time to revisit Maine’s haunted history. Writer Aislinn Sarnacki is as fascinated by the supernatural as I am, so she was excited to dig into the rumors of hauntings at Maine inns. See her story on page 48. Of course, October isn’t all scares and frights. It’s also when autumn weather really takes hold. Writer Katie Smith is showing us how to be cozy and comfortable but fashionable and put-together as the temperature cooler by dressing up sweatsuits (page 32). In this issue you’ll also find recipes for pumpkin-based desserts (page 16), an interview with local artist Eric Zelz who has illustrated some lovely new children’s books (page 10) and much more. HOPE YOU LOVE WHAT YOU FIND IN THESE PAGES AS MUCH AS I DO!
SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR
Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro talkback@bangormetro.com
4 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000
PUBLISHER
Richard J. Warren
EDITOR
Sarah Walker Caron scaron@bangordailynews.com
SALES MANAGER
Laurie Cates
lcates@bangordailynews.com
ART DIRECTOR
Amy Allen
aallen@bangordailynews.com
SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER
Fred Stewart
fstewart@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
Julia Bayly jbayly@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
Rosemary Lausier rlausier@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
Aislinn Sarnacki asarnacki@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
Sam Schipani sschipani@bangordailynews.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Duchesne, Emily Morrison, Todd Nelson, Joanna O’Leary, Kaylie Reese, Katie Smith www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5
6 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS
WHAT’S YOUR
Bangor Metro Magazine. October 2021, Vol. 17, No. 8. Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company. Bangor Metro is published 10 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.
ALL-TIME FAVORITE HALLOWEEN COSTUME?
“
I love dressing up for Halloween and have rocked everything from homemade unicorn onesies to inventive queen of darkness costumes over the years. But my very favorite was a Medusa costume I wore in 2014. Between the snakes in my wild red wig, the flash jewelry and the scales I created on my face, I felt every bit like the famed Greek mythological creature.” — SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR
Editorial: Queries should be sent to Sarah Walker Caron at scaron@bangordailynews.com. Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Director Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129. Subscriptions/Address Change: The one year subscription cost is $15.95. 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 207-990-8075. Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.
COVER DESIGN: Amy Allen ORIGINAL PHOTO: BDN File
“I’m a big ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, so I was thrilled to dress up as Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, from that hit book series and TV show back in 2013. I committed to the costume to the point of bleaching my hair whiteblonde and hand-stitching an outfit the character wore in the TV series. I also spent several weeks crafting three dragon eggs out of paper mache, clay, glue and acrylic paint. But that’s not all. I threw a Game of Thrones themed Halloween Party, and to decorate, I painted giant banners for each of the noble houses in the GOT world. And, of course, I convinced my husband to dress as Khal Drogo (another major character in the show) — as long as I made his costume. It took a lot of effort, but I always have seen Halloween as a time to get creative and crafty.” — AISLINN SARNACKI, COLUMNIST
“Somehow when I was around 10 years old, Halloween took my parents by surprise and my mom gave me a pair of glasses with the nose attached, my dad’s sport coat and a tape cassette case that looked sorta like a brief case with a piece of paper on it that said ‘Computer Repair Man.’ Mind you, this was back before computers were everywhere. I got so much sympathy candy that year. It was the best Halloween costume ever.” — EMILY MORRISON, COLUMNIST
“Growing up, my mother was known for sewing us all amazing and elaborate Halloween costumes (she still does, for that matter) — but the best ever was a Rainbow Brite costume she made for me when I was in first grade. It had the poofy sleeves, the funky boots — the works. It was so good I got to wear it for our first grade play production of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears... and Rainbow Brite.’” — AMY ALLEN, ART DIRECTOR
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7
WHAT’S HAPPENING
OCT. 9-10 53RD ANNUAL FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL IN BOOTHBAY
Celebrate the crisp air and colorful foliage this October with a special festival. A family tradition in the midcoast, Boothbay’s Fall Foliage Festival includes vendors, entertainment, music, fall foods, artists and more. Held at the Railway Village Museum in Boothbay, there’s also an antique car museum, model railroad and village goats to fill out the experience. More information can be found at www.boothbayharbor.com.
OCT. 2-3 MAINE’S GARLIC FEST AT LAKE GEORGE REGIONAL PARK
Calling all garlic lovers! Maine’s Garlic Fest will be held at Lake George Regional Park this year and will feature vendors, live music, fun activities and lots of garlic. Presented in partnership with Crazy4Garlic, this is your chance to celebrate all things garlic. There is an entrance fee ($3 for adults, according to the event website). For more information, visit mainegarlicfest.com. 8 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
OCT. 1-2 HAUNTED WOODS WALK IN PRESQUE ISLE
Time to get your scare on! The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce is organizing the 2021 Haunted Woods Walk and they warn folks to prepare to be scared. It will be held at the Nordic Heritage Center. There will be food vendors on site as well. Recommended for ages 12 and older. Tickets at $5 each and the event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 1-2. For more information, visit www.centralaroostookchamber.com
OCTOBER 8-11 DAMARISCOTTA PUMPKINFEST & REGATTA
If you haven’t been to Damariscotta in October for the annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta, you are missing out. Giant pumpkins, decorated pumpkins, a race of pumpkin boats and more. You can even watch the pumpkin boats get constructed. Check out the full list of events at www.mainepumpkinfest.com.
PHOTO: BDN FILE
OCTOBER
Artist Melissa Glendinning carved a 1,425.5-pound pumpkin into a chilling scene from Stephen King’s book and movie “It,” during the 2017 annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta.
BWAH HA HA!
Hope you don’t spook too easily! How much do you know about Bangor’s (aka Derry’s) own Stephen King? Let’s dig in, shall we...
Find answers below. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9
Answers to this month’s Pop Quiz: Question 1: A; Q2: C; Q3: B; Q4: A; Q5: C.
ARTS & CULTURE
Making
BOOKS & FRIENDSHIPS
10 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
LOCAL AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR BRINGING WHIMSY TO THE PAGE
L
BY KAYLIE REESE
ocal author and illustrator Eric Zelz has had a lot to celebrate over the summer, with the publication “My Monster Moofy.” Zelz illustrated the children’s book written by Annie Watson that follows a story about a mischievous “monster” named Moofy, as told by a little girl. The book highlights Zelz’ delightful illustrations, which readers may recognize from local publications and from other esteemed children’s books such as “Read this Book if you Don’t Want a Story,” written by Richard Phillips, and “Pass the Pandowdy, Please: Chewing on History with Famous Folks and their Fabulous Foods,” which he co-wrote with his wife, Abby Ewing Zelz. He also used to illustrate for The Bangor Daily News, Bangor Metro’s parent publication. Moofy is a whimsical book that introduces its readers to a variety of literary devices page by page, as the protagonist describes the wild adventures and curious characteristics of her beloved best friend, whose ears are “as pointy as tortilla chips.” Moofy was published by Tilbury House Publishers and hit bookstore shelves on June 22. It has already received glowing reviews from Wall Street Journal. And if Zelz’ work brings you as much joy as it does to me, be on the lookout for his next book set to debut in the spring. Q. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR NEWLY PUBLISHED BOOK, “MY MONSTER MOOFY” “My Monster Moofy” is the tale of a little girl and the adventures of her mischievous monster. It’s written in the little girl’s voice and employs various figures of speech to tell the tale. Her little monster finally turns out to be — well, I won’t give it away. I think that it’s a fun book for a young reader and also one that a future writer can grow with. I even learned a lot about figures of speech from the definitions at the end of the story. Metaphor, simile, alliteration, allusion, hyperbole, rhyme — we use this stuff all the time! Q. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH ANOTHER WRITER? Collaboration is great. Working with Abby on the first book allowed for wonderful brainstorming and exchange of ideas. The same has been true with working with Richard and Annie. I feel it not only fine-tunes the project by creating a little, immediate focus group but has also kindled some ongoing friendships. We kept out of each other’s way creatively, but we were always open for tweaks along the way. The same has been true in working with my publisher, Jonathan Eaton and his wife, Mariellen. We made books and friendships. What could be better? Q. WHAT INSPIRATIONS DID YOU PULL FROM WHEN DESIGNING THE LAYOUTS FOR THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS BOOK? When approaching a book, it’s crucial to have a well thought out storyboard to present to the publisher early on. This is a mockup of the story, page by page. It shows how art, text, and page flow all work together. I do a lot of sketching as I approach the final illustration, greatly expanding on the storyboard “thumbnails,” or small sketches. I look at other artists’ work, I think about how loose or detailed I want the art and what medium to use: watercolor, chalk, colored pencil or combinations of all three. Some of the small things I tuck into the illustration are www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11
ARTS & CULTURE often things around my house: colorful socks, a kitchen chair, a Matchbox car, a toy block with my daughter’s initials or a window star given to us by our German exchange student. Illustrating can be a bit isolating at times, so it’s fun to include these things. It amuses me, at least. DID THE LITERARY AND POETIC DEVICES, SUCH AS ALLITERATION OR HYPERBOLE, USED IN THE BOOK AFFECT YOUR DESIGNS? They affect the illustration and design inasmuch as they guide the art to include that literary device featured. In “My Monster Moofy,” Annie’s text was so colorful and direct that the illustrative representations of the figures of speech she chose came rather quickly. As I lay out or design the book, I try to give each page or spread enough air and uniqueness so the reader is hopefully a little surprised with each turn of the page. HOW DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR ILLUSTRATION STYLE? It’s just sort of evolved over the years. There are always things I want to accomplish, artistically, with each set of illustrations, be it using new materials, exploring a new palette or being tighter or looser in style. I sometimes think of my style as one that moves from mistake to mistake, covered up, painted over or simply abandoned. But I enjoy the process; I enjoy just going for it, without too much prep. The spontaneity in an illustration is frequently the most fun. And, as I said, I love looking at other artists’ work. WHAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING AND REWARDING PARTS ABOUT ILLUSTRATING FOR A PROJECT SUCH AS THIS? I think we all create standards for our work, and illustrating is no different. I constantly ask myself (and my family) is the artwork “any good?” I’ve certainly ripped up a few pieces. One instinctively knows where one wants to go, what one wants to try or learn, and one strives to make each piece a little better, in concept, use of materials or relationship to the other pages. The most rewarding part is when you finish and you really like how it turned out, that you’d be proud to show it.
(Above) Author and illustrator Eric Zelz. (This photo) Zelz’s watercolor illustrations from “Pass the Pandowdy, Please: Chewing on History with Famous Folks and their Fabulous Foods.”
12 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT DO YOU HOPE THIS BOOK HAS ON READERS? I always hope readers enjoy it, share it and, hopefully, learn from it. I had a lot of fun with my portion of creating it, and I want that to show. I want to share it. I always think about when I read to my child those years ago and wonder how many others are doing the same thing now, with this book. Being a part of that togetherness is very nice. I hope my work brings a smile, suggests a bit of whimsy and gives some joy to people.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ERIC ZELZ; (LAST) BDN FILE
ARE THERE ANY MAINE ELEMENTS IN YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE BOOK? The overall sense of calm, discovery, and friendship I think is very Maine. Although there are not specific Maine elements, there are “my home in Maine” elements. These might be what music I was listening to while I worked on a piece or what evening sidewalk chatter I overheard through a nearby screen door as I painted. Little things like that are implanted in each illustration for me, and that’s all happening here in Maine.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13
OBSESSIONS
OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.
WATCH “KATLA” ON NETFLIX WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I like my horror quiet, creeping and ideally a little folksy. I couldn’t have asked for a better fix than Netflix’s “Katla.” This Icelandic series revolves around the eruption of the Katla volcano in rural Iceland. The town is coping with the constant stream of dust and ash from the active volcano, which is bad enough... until, suddenly, people mysteriously start emerging from the ash. The fact that the eerie series is rooted in Icelandic folklore is just an added bonus. — SAM SCHIPANI
MAKE A TRADITION
WHY DO WE LOVE IT? The Glorious 40’s Melt is like a fancy grilled cheese for adults. The first time I tried it, I wasn’t looking for a big meal, so this was the perfect size! Made with a chopped burger patty, American cheese, grilled onions and Mason’s house burger sauce on grilled white bread, it goes great with a side salad and beer (I love Hipster Mutation: Citra). It is an explosion of deliciousness in your mouth and you won’t regret trying it. I’m taking advantage of Mason’s outdoor seating while I still can, and the Glorious 40’s Melt is the thing to get. — ROSEMARY LAUSIER
14 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
WATCHING A SPECIAL SERIES WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Watching “What We Do In the Shadows” is a Halloween tradition for my boyfriend and me. The mockumentary-style dark comedy directed by Taika Waiti follows vampire roommates in New Zealand as they go about their hijinks. There is a TV series based on the movie, but nothing holds a candle to the original. — SAM SCHIPANI
PHOTOS: ©PUHIMEC, ©CHERRYANDBEES, ©BRENT HOFACKER/ADOBE STOCK
EAT GLORIOUS 40'S MELT AT MASON'S BREWING CO.
SIP PUCKER UP TEA FROM TEA MAINEA WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Sometimes I get really tired of drinking plain water. There are times I would much rather have a nice, refreshing drink that’s popping with flavor. West Market Artisan Coffeehouse sells an assortment of Tea Mainea teas and my favorite has been the iced Pucker Up. It has hibiscus, dried lemon, lemon myrtle, lemongrass, licorice root and sunflower petals, giving it a tart, but slightly sweet, taste. Even better, it’s herbal so I can have it any time of the day. It has now become my go-to drink, rivaling my beloved lattes. You can buy loose leaf Pucker Up tea at West Market or order some at teamaineia.com. — ROSEMARY LAUSIER
READ Every month, many new books cross my desk. I purchase even more. These are a few that I particularly enjoyed and recommend. “THAT SUMMER” BY JENNIFER WEINER — Set in the same world as Weiner’s book “Big Summer,” this book takes us back to Cape Cod for a twisty, windy tale of friendship, secrets, intrigue and surviving the past. This book weaves together the tales of two women — one trying to overcome her past and the other trying to figure out her future. It’s engrossing, thoughtprovoking and well done. (FICTION) — SARAH WALKER CARON
EAT PHO HOA GRILL WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I was only recently made aware of the existence of Pho Hoa Grill on Ohio Street. I love Vietnamese food. Not only did I grow up on it — there was (and still is) a Vietnamese restaurant walking distance from my childhood home — but I also traveled to Vietnam in college and lived with a local family during my time there. As such, I am a little snobby about my pho. Pho Hoa Grill scratches that itch in a way that I haven’t had since I moved to Maine. I will definitely be indulging in more pho as the weather gets colder, and I’m happy to know they’re around. — SAM SCHIPANI
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15
FOOD & DRINK
in season now
PUMPKIN BY SARAH WALKER CARON
ONE OF MY FAVORITE class trips as a child was to the pumpkin patch. We’d bump along the roads in a school bus as a class to a nearby farm. There would be some activity that involved learning about pumpkins. They’d ply us with apple cider too. And then we’d be let loose in the patch — free to find the very best pumpkin of all. For me, that always meant the largest pumpkin I could find. The bigger, rounder and harder to carry, the better. When my kids were little, I would take them to pumpkin patches each autumn too. And it always surprised me to find that they didn’t go for the biggest pumpkins. For them, it was all about finding the perfect shape in what they considered the right size. Go figure. There is a right size for everyone — whether you are talking about buying pumpkins or choosing a pumpkin dessert. For this month’s In Season Now, I wanted to feature pumpkin in three different desserts. For those who love cheesecake, Pumpkin Cheesecake Squares are a wonderful seasonal treat. For pumpkin pie lovers, Pumpkin Pie Squares with Pecans are delightful — and a little easier to make than a full pie. And for those who love both pumpkin pie and pecan pie, Pumpkin Pecan Squares are the best of both worlds. I hope you find your perfect pumpkin on this page — and in the patch this autumn.
PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE SQUARES Serves 12
1½ cups finely ground ginger snaps ½ cup unsalted butter, melted 2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, softened to room temperature ½ cup pumpkin puree ½ cup packed light brown sugar ½ tbsp pumpkin pie spice 3 large eggs 1 tbsp vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper (it should rise up the sides of the pan). 16 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
In a small bowl, stir together the ginger snaps crumbs and the butter. Press into the bottom of the pan, spreading it to the edges. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cream cheese, pumpkin, brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Beat until smooth. Add the eggs and beat again until fully combined. Add the vanilla extract and beat again until combined. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the prepared pan. Tap gently to even it out. Slide the baking pan into the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out cleanly. Let cool slightly before slicing into squares.
PHOTOS: SARAH WALKER CARON; (TOP) ©IGOR_KELL/ADOBE STOCK
INGREDIENTS
PUMPKIN PIE BARS WITH PECANS Serves 8-10
INGREDIENTS COOKIE/CRUMB LAYER 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into slices ½ cup chopped pecans PUMPKIN LAYER 1 15-oz can pumpkin purée 2 eggs ½ cup sugar ¼ cup flour 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 13 x 9-inch glass baking pan with butter. Set aside. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and brown sugar for the cookie/crumb layers. Add the butter and cut in using two knives or a pastry blender. Reserve 1 cup of the cookie/crumb mixture and press the remaining cookie mixture into the prepared pan. Whisk together the pumpkin, egg, sugar, flour and pumpkin pie spice for the pumpkin layer. Spread evenly over the cookie layer. In a small mixing bowl, combine the reserved 1 cup of the cookie mixture with pecans, and then sprinkle all over on top. Slide the bars into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden. Let the bars cool and then slice into 1.5x1.5-inch bars.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17
FOOD & DRINK
PUMPKIN PECAN BITES Yields 12 bites
INSTRUCTIONS
INGREDIENTS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
CRUST: ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ¼ cup granulated sugar 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
Combine the ingredients for the crust in the bowl of a food processor and process until coarse crumbs form. Pour into an ungreased glass 9x9-inch baking pan and press into a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes. The edges should be slightly golden when you remove it from the oven. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the pumpkin puree, eggs, light brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Beat on medium until smooth. Add the pecans and beat briefly to combine. Pour the topping over the pre-baked base of the bars. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the topping is set in the center. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting into 12 squares. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro Magazine and the author of five cookbooks including the “Easy Frugal Cookbook,” released in July. Her book “Classic Diners of Maine” is available where books are sold. Signed copies are available at The Briar Patch in Bangor.
18 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
PHOTO: SARAH WALKER CARON
TOPPING: ½ cup pumpkin puree 2 large eggs 1 cup packed light brown sugar 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice ½ cup chopped pecans
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19
HIKE ME
Fall Foliage
ADVENTURES HIKE
PADDLE
BIKE
ENJOY THE COLORFUL LEAVES IN NEW WAYS STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI
THE FOREST CANOPY is a patchwork of vibrant hues. Fiery orange, crimson, pale yellow, neon peach, deep purple — the colors dance as a cool breeze sweeps through the woods. A group of hikers trek through the brilliant landscape, the fallen leaves crunching under their boots. Every once in a while, one hiker stops and tilts her head up to gaze at the colorful foliage, illuminated by the sun overhead. Nearby, a mountain biker weaves through the trees on a single-track trail, his bike bumping over roots and rocks. For him, the colors are a blur as he focuses on the route ahead. But upon reaching a clearing, he pumps the brakes and rolls to a stop. A big sugar maple draws his attention. One of the showiest trees of the fall, its leaves are a dazzling red-orange. Less than a mile away, two paddlers propel a canoe across a tranquil pond. Along the water’s edge, the rippling surface is aflame with fall colors as it reflects the trees lining the shore. A great blue heron hunts the shallows, lingering a bit longer before it flies south to weather the winter. In Maine, peak fall color is typically seen from the end of September through mid-October, with the leaves changing in the north and western mountains before they do in the south and along the coast. During that time, people embrace the beauty of the season in a variety of ways. Here are just a few leaf peeping adventures that combine different types of exercise with outdoor exploration.
20 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
CLARRY HILL
IN UNION AND WALDOBORO HIKE
EASY TO MODERATE
In the fall, Maine’s many blueberry barrens look as if they’ve caught fire as the leaves of lowbush blueberries turn vibrant red. There are several places where you can enjoy this phenomenon, including Clarry Hill in Union. Rising 643 feet above sea level, Clarry Hill is home to the largest contiguous acreage of productive blueberry land in the midcoast region — approximately 400 acres. The hill also offers open panoramic views that extend to the ocean and the western mountains of Maine. Maintained by Midcoast Conservancy, the 1.25-mile Clarry Hill Trail weaves through the fields and explores the bordering woodlands. Bicycles and motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trails. Dogs are permitted but must be kept under voice control and in sight at all times or on leash. Hunting is permitted on certain parcels of land on the hill. Hikers are advised to wear blaze orange during hunting season. Access is free.
For more information, visit midcoastconservancy. org or call 207-389-5150. DIRECTIONS: The west trailhead (at the bottom of the hill) is on Jackson Road in Waldoboro, about 1.2 miles from where it intersects with Old Augusta Road and Feylers Corner Road, near the east end of Little Medomak Pond. The east trailhead (near the top of the hill) is on Elmer Hart Lane in Union, about 0.2 mile from its intersection with Clarry Hill Lane. Make sure to only park in the designated parking area at each trailhead. At the west trailhead, the small parking area is obvious, extending into the woods from Jackson Road. At the east trailhead, the parking area is by the trailhead kiosk. Neighboring landowners have had trouble with visitors blocking the road and driveways. If the parking areas are both full, visit another time. Arrive with a plan B hike, just in case.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21
HEALTH & FITNESS
HIKE ME
ETNA POND IN ETNA PADDLE
EASY TO MODERATE One of the best ways to view fall foliage is by boat. On Maine’s many ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, each colorful tree bordering the shore is reflected in the water below -- and the effect is stunning. Etna Pond is just one of the thousands of paddling destinations in the state. Covering 362 acres in the towns of Etna, Carmel and Stetson, it’s an excellent place for paddling, fishing and using small motorized boats. The pond is split into two basins, which some locals refer to as Big and Little Etna ponds. A narrow section of open water joins these two basins, and flowing out of the smaller of the two is a wide, calm portion of Souadabscook Stream — another great place to explore by boat. A few houses dot the pond’s edge, but much of the shoreline is undeveloped, including the entire shore of the pond’s smaller basin. A wide variety of tree species grows
22 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
along the shore, including plenty of leafy trees that turn vibrant colors in September and October. As always, exercise caution and wear PFD at all times. As autumn progresses, the water will cool, making it more dangerous to boaters. A PFD could save your life if you capsize or fall overboard, as it will keep you afloat even if you develop hypothermia. For more information about this body of water, call the Etna town office at 207-269-3551 or the Carmel town office at 207-848-3361. And for more ideas of where to paddle this fall, public boat launches are marked on the Delorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. DIRECTIONS: One boat launch is located at the end of Town Landing Road in Etna. From Route 2 in Etna, turn onto Lakins Road (Route 43) and drive north about 0.7
mile. Turn right onto Town Landing Road and drive about 0.3 mile to the boat launch, continuing straight at any intersections along the way. At the boat launch are signs directing traffic in a one-way loop to drop off boats by the water, then continue to park in the gravel parking lot a bit farther from shore. A second boat launch is located on Fuller Road in Carmel. From Main Road (Route 2) in Carmel, turn onto Fuller Road and drive about 0.3 mile, passing straight through the intersection with Damascus Road, and the boat launch will be on your left. It has a big gravel parking area. This boat launch is a great option if your main goal is to explore Souadabscook Stream. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23
HEALTH & FITNESS
HIKE ME
GREAT POND MOUNTAIN WILDLANDS
IN ORLAND BIKE
EASY TO STRENUOUS Fall is the perfect time for biking. The air is crisp and cool, making the activity a lot more comfortable than it is during the height of summer. And biking is a great way to view fall colors, especially if you visit a spot that has a lot of leafy trees, such as the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands in Orland. The Wildlands is home to miles of wide, gravel multiuse trails that are open to bikes. And in recent years, the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust has worked with area volunteers to add two mountain biking trails to the property. There’s the 0.3-mile Popple Grove beginner loop, just 0.25-mile from the South Gate off Valley Road. And there’s the 1.8-mile Capstone Trail, which is accessible from the Wildlands’ Dead River parking lot. The Wildlands cover 4,500 acres, so there’s plenty of space to explore. On the property you’ll find a wide variety of trees, including maples, oaks, aspens, birches
and poplars — all of which display vibrant fall colors. While exploring the Wildlands by bike, it’s important to stay off the hiking trails, which are for foot traffic only. Dogs are permitted on most trails but must be kept on leash. Hunting is permitted with special permission. Visitors are advised to wear blaze orange during hunting season. Access is free. DIRECTIONS: There are four access points to the Wildlands, all in the town of Orland. The South Gate is at 1574 Acadia Highway. The North Gate is on Bald Mountain Road, about 0.3 miles west of the intersection of Bald Mountain Road and Winkumpaugh Road. The Dead River Gate is on Don Fish Trail (which is a road), about 0.5 mile past Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. There’s also parking at Mountain Trailhead, which is 0.5 mile past the Dead River Gate on Don Fish Trail.
AISLINN SARNACKI is a staff writer for Bangor Metro and the editor of Act Out, a section of the Bangor Daily News. An expert on the Maine outdoors, she is author of the guidebooks “Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine,” “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path” and “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine.” Follow her adventures at bangordailynews.com/act-out.
24 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
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HEALTH & FITNESS
Mixing Up the
ROUTINE
26 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
TABATA MIGHT BE THE WORKOUT YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR
J
BY JOANNA O’LEARY
azzercise. Tae Bo. Zumba. Many forms of fitness become relegated to the realm of fads: enormously popular one day, passé the next. Those that do ultimately transcend trend status most often do so not only because they produce change but also because science buttresses their claims that these results are lasting and beneficial. High Intensity Interval Training (aka “HIIT”), which comprises alternating short bursts of highly intense exertion with periods of recovery, is one such form of exercise. Numerous longitudinal peer-reviewed studies documenting how HIIT builds endurance and expedites weight loss have led decades of professional as well of amateur athletes of diverse sports to incorporate it into their training regimens. In the last five years, one specific type of HIIT has attracted a legion of devotees comparable to that seen only by the likes of such fitness cults as CrossFit: tabata. Tabata is so named for Izumi Tabata, an exercise scientist who designed these intense workouts in the 1990s in collaboration with Irisawa Koichi, the coach for Japan’s Olympic speed skating team. Tabata based his eponymous mode of training upon the theory that truncated albeit grueling exercise in the form of sprints alternating with rest would increase skaters’ muscle mass and cardiovascular capacity. Significant performance improvement among the Olympian skaters prompted Tabata to investigate further the impact of this workout style in amateur athletes in their 20s.
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HEALTH & FITNESS
GIVE TABATA A TRY AT HOME CIRCUIT 1
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MINUTE 1
EXERCISE 1 HIGH KNEES
CIRCUIT 2
EXERCISE 2 TRICEPS CHOP
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MINUTE 2
EXERCISE 3 SLOW CLIMBERS
In his study, Tabata divided his athletes into two cohorts: the first pedaled on an ergometer at moderate intensity for one hour and the second pedaled for 20 seconds at maximum effort, then rested for 10 seconds, again and again, for a total of 4 minutes (8 intervals). Both groups repeated these workouts five days a week for six weeks. The results, as published in his landmark 1996 paper, were compelling, for not only did the interval-style trained athletes (Group 2) see greater improvements in sprinting (anaerobic performance) but they also experienced similar enhancements in endurance (aerobic performance) as those in Group 1 despite having exercised for a shorter amount of time. Essentially, 28 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
EXERCISE 4 LUNGE
this high intensity interval training had the remarkable bonus of engendering both anaerobic and aerobic gains without requiring double the time investment. It was a game-changer, to say the least. As a subcategory of interval training, tabata in its most basic form is like HIIT on steroids … except without the pills and with greater intensity and less rest. Whereas in general HIIT, each bout of exertion is followed by a period of recovery equal or even greater in length, with tabata, the recovery period is always less (often half or even one-quarter) as long as the effort. This disproportionate on-again, off-again regimen (e.g., 45 seconds of “push,” followed by 20 seconds of recovery) is exhausting but,
according to followers and as demonstrated by numerous scientists in addition to Tabata himself, can pay off in spades with regards to athletic improvement. Many cardio enthusiasts prefer tabata to typical endurance training because tabata, while extremely tiring, is less time-consuming than say jogging or running mile after mile at steady-state intensity. Tabata training can be employed with virtually any type of aerobic and/or machine-based exercise, such as spinning, elliptical, swimming and sprinting — with one exception. As deftly noted by exercise physiologist Katie Lawton of the Cleveland Clinic, a treadmill is not the ideal apparatus for tabata training as increasing and decreasing the belt speed fast
CIRCUIT 3
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MINUTE 3
EXERCISE 5 LEG RAISES
CIRCUIT 4
EXERCISE 6 PUSH-UPS
•
MINUTE 4
EXERCISE 7 FLUTTER KICKS EXERCISE 8 PLANK
enough to maintain precise intervals is often prohibitively difficult. If you’re looking to use tabata to train for your next 5K or marathon, she recommends doing those running intervals on a track. Tabata also can be applied to bodyweight-based calisthenics, like lunges, squats, burpees and crunches. And while many prefer group sessions led by a trainer as the external encouragement in combination with class camaraderie (i.e., “we’re in all in pain together”) to help you push yourself harder, technically all you really need for tabata is a timer (and a towel to mop up your sweat). Any old clock with two hands will suffice, but there are also fancier (and free) online programs specially
designed for tabata timing. For these reasons, another advantage of tabata and other forms of HIIT is that they are easier to perform while traveling and/or away from one’s formal workout space, which is particularly attractive to those who double as weekend and road warriors. When it comes to HIIT, more is not always more and there is a limit with regard to its benefits. Too much tabata may translate into diminishing returns, and even result in damage on a molecular level. A 2021 study published in Cell Metabolism found that those who engaged in HIIT forms of exercise on a daily basis experienced acute, severe dysfunction in their mitochondria, the cellular components responsible for
respiration and energy production, as well as irregularities in blood sugar levels. When participants decreased the intensity of their workouts, these aforementioned adverse metabolic issues improved but were not eradicated, which led researchers to hypothesize that the range of benefits (or absence) is related to the amount of high intensity exercise. Thus, “everything in moderation” is cliched but nevertheless constructive advice for fitness buffs who worship at the altar of tabata, and those new to this HIIT exercise are similarly advised to ease into the workout in order to avoid injury. In other words, take your time (irony noted) when trying out tabata. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29
HOME & FAMILY
’Neath the Cover of
OCTOBER SKIES A PAEAN TO A SONG OF DESTINY BY TODD R. NELSON
IT’S AN ANNUAL REUNION. After just a few cold, crisp nights in October, when “the leaves on the trees are falling,” and there’s a harvest moon foxtrotting among the branches, I am snapped back into the teenage barn dance where and when I first heard “Moondance” by Van Morrison. He’s my Mr. October. It requires only the first two ascending piano chords of “Moondance” to restore all the old feeling. Like an astral Courtier poet, Van sets the stage for love. “Well it’s a marvelous night for a moondance … with the stars up above in your eyes … the calling of your heartstrings soft and low.” It always evokes the mood of that first hearing, “neath the cover of October skies.” It is an ode to autumn as a puckish eve of romance. That October becomes this October, every October. My high school friend Doug had been decorating his suburban barn for
30 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
the occasion. Harvest theme, of course. I remember several attendees, a little swing dancing, refreshments, hay bales, subdued strings of light; happy vibe and cooling temperatures. Was there a moon? Maybe. However, “Moondance” is what’s deeply etched in memory. It jump-started 11th grade and set a romantic mood before there was romance. It was the soundtrack, perhaps the litmus test, to future romance. It was the song for us, before there was an us. I had yet to discover just whose eyes the stars were up above. On the album (vinyl, of course), you must first hear “And it stoned me,” and its story of jumping right in a swimming hole. Then comes “Moondance,” then “Crazy Love.” Van gave a soundtrack to my various rural teenage escapades, like skinny dipping in the town reservoir, and he anticipates many later scenes, a musical suite for adventurous high school years.
Moondance is the kind of album that becomes our album. Thirty years later, now married with three kids, we saw Van Morrison live in San Francisco. Georgie Fame, Junior Wells, Jimmy Witherspoon and John Lee Hooker joined the all-star backing band. Van’s is not so much a singing voice as it is a tenor saxophone. The audience awaited “Moondance,” and its re-orchestration as an r&b medley was perfect. It arrived with “Gloria,” Van’s 1960s hit with his Ulster bandmates, Them. Every garage band knows its three chords and narrative. “She makes me feel alright.” And it’s a spelling lesson, second only to R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We later bought the live recording of the concert and wore it out. Come to think of it, there’s always been a Van album in the car CD player, and attached to every period of our life. Van accompanied us with albums like “Hymns to the Silence,” “Enlightenment,” “The Healing Game.” He was in heavy rotation as we moved
REALTORS
across the country, changed houses, added children to the family, switched jobs and enjoyed myriad adventures. Previously, from way back, before iTunes, Van awaited. And every band I played in had Van in the repertoire starting with the first band, in 7th grade, playing “Gloria” down in the wood-paneled basement rumpus room. Three chords, no bridge and “Shout it every night.” Onward to “Domino” and “Brown-eyed girl.” There are other album/song reunions triggered by just the right memory, stashed deep in our soul of souls, sometimes undetected, lying dormant. And there are literary complements: “If music be the food of love,” as Duke Orsino says. That line is a reunion for us English majors. “Play on. Give me excess of it.” In October. “Moondance” is a bower of possibility, of romance, of swaying cheek to cheek; of “fantabulousness” that is rare, ideal, but
possible. Love set to music. A dance tune: not a symphony, but a lyric that gets your feet tapping and makes the room swoon because there’s only one other dancer in it. All your dreams will come true then. “Shall we make the welkin dance indeed?” You remember how Van brings it home. “Can I just have one more moondance with you…in the moonlight…on a magic night….Can I…just have…one more… moondance…with you…my love.” Saxophone and flute trill. Fade away. Van the Man out. Never gets old; a reunion every time. I’m back in the Avalon-barn; smitten with being smitten; dancing and seventeen; redreaming on a mystic isle of memory and a backward persistence of vision, there and then. G-L-O-R-I-A in excelsis moondance. Play on. Todd R. Nelson is a retired English teacher in Penobscot, Maine.
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HOME & FAMILY
Cute and COMFY LEVEL UP YOUR SWEATS THIS AUTUMN BY KATIE SMITH
FOR A LONG TIME, sweatpants and sweatshirts were meant only for lounging and relaxation. That’s left a lot of people feeling like they can’t go out to dinner in sweatpants. And they really should change that sweatshirt before attending a concert. But loungewear is changing. It’s now in all the stores, and looks like it’s here to stay. These days, you really can leave the house feeling comfortable without looking sloppy. The trick is to give your sweatsuit an edge with just a few accessories, shoes, and different pieces you probably already have in your wardrobe.
ADD A BLAZER Pairing your favorite sweatpants with a comfy tank or t-shirt can be leveled up by throwing on your favorite blazer. Sweats come in every color, and so do blazers. Pair your pants and blazer in the same color, or do black sweatpants with a khaki or denim blazer.
PRO TIP THINK PROPORTIONS IF YOU WANT TO DRESS UP YOUR SWEATS — IF YOU ARE WEARING A BAGGY BOTTOM, GRAB SOMETHING MORE STRUCTURED FOR YOUR TOP AND VICE VERSA.
ADD JEWELRY Just because you are wearing a sweatsuit doesn’t mean your jewels won’t stand out. Put on some cute hoop earrings, your favorite bracelet stack or a statement ring. Jewelry can give any outfit an edge and sweats are no exception.
32 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
PRO TIP IF YOU BUY A MATCHING SWEATSUIT TO LOUNGE AND BAKE ON SUNDAY, YOU CAN BREAK THE PIECES UP AND MAKE SEVERAL OUTFITS WHICH GIVES YOU MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.
ADD CUTE SHOES Sneakers and slip ons are super cute with any outfit. But to level up, try your favorite pair of loafers, slides or even heels with your sweatpants.
PRO TIP SWEATS COME IN SLIM FIT FOR A MORE TAILORED LOOK AND THEY ARE JUST AS COMFORTABLE.
OUTFIT IDEA #1 Take your favorite sweatpants and pair them with an oversized t-shirt and pull on your favorite denim jacket and loafers. Add a long necklace or hat to give them some flair.
OUTFIT IDEA #2 Your favorite sweatshirt will look great with a pencil skirt, slip-ons, and cute hat. If you have a zippered sweatshirt, put a cute tank or cami underneath, leave it unzipped, and pair with your favorite jeans.
PRO TIP SWEATSHIRTS MAKE GREAT LAYERING PIECES. THROW ON A VEST, LEATHER JACKET OR YOUR FAVORITE SCARF OVER YOUR SWEATSHIRT.
PHOTOS: KATIE SMITH; ©IRENASTAR, ©ICONOGENIC, ©NYS, ©NEW AFRICA, & ©LESZEK CZERWONKA/ADOBE STOCK
OUTFIT IDEA #3 Throw on a concert t-shirt tied at the waist and your favorite sweatpants and heels with a leather jacket for a night out.
PRO TIP SWEATSUITS COME IN LOTS OF PRINTS AND COLORS SO DON’T BE AFRAID TO GRAB BOLDER PIECES.
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marry
A special section devoted to getting married in Maine
Celebrating your Maine wedding
HOSTING A
Uniquely
Maine Wedding FROM HIRING EXPERIENCED MAINE VENDORS TO ADDING NATURAL ELEMENTS
A Message in the
PHOTO: ©PROSTOCK-STUDIO/ ADOBE STOCK
Blooms
YOUR
GettingHitched Checklist
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35
marry
HOSTING A
Uniquely
Maine Wedding FROM MAINE VENDORS AND VENUES TO LOCAL CUISINE AND FAVORS
A
BY ASHLI CAMPBELL
popular destination spot for nature lovers, Maine’s natural beauty has made it one of the most soughtafter states in which to host a wedding. With a myriad of stunning locations and landscapes to choose from, the East Coast’s northernmost state is the perfect place for weddings of any style. Whether you’d prefer a seaside ceremony or a mountainous backdrop, there are plenty of options within the Maine’s diverse regions. The majestic scenery, mouthwatering cuisine, gorgeous venues and countless activities will make your guests understand why it earned the slogan “The Way Life Should Be.” To celebrate the Pine Tree State, we’ve rounded up some ways for you to showcase Maine’s natural elements and charm through your wedding design. Whether you’ve chosen a coastal wedding, a rustic barn or a quaint bed-and-breakfast, these tips will help you incorporate the natural landscape into an elegant wedding design.
r HIRE MAINE VENDORS
The best way to host an authentically Maine wedding is to curate a team of professionals who know the region best. Local vendors know how to get the most out of their state (and each other!) to give you the best service for your special day. Maine artists and experts can be trusted to ensure that your wedding design reflects your vision and the local customs, scenery and culture. Though a vendor doesn’t necessarily have to have worked in a particular area in order to do their job well, experience on their home turf helps to set a relaxed tone for the day and guarantee that it runs smoothly. They can be especially helpful when it comes to insider knowledge on locations, local contacts and the perfect sunset spot for your photos. Show some local love with your favors and bridal party gifts, too! Seaside-inspired goodies that are uniquely Maine www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 37
marry are a great way to remind guests of their time here. Pick up buoy ornaments as a wedding favor or gift bait bag clutches to your bridesmaids.
r EAT WELL
CHOOSE YOUR VENUE With a broad range of venues to choose from, you’ll likely find your head spinning if you don’t narrow down the type of venue you’re looking for first. Here we’ve listed our favorite types of Maine venues: ON THE COAST: Maine’s biggest appeal is inarguably it’s 3,478 miles of rocky coastline, and nothing says “Maine wedding” quite like an ocean backdrop. The unrivaled ocean views will make your special day even more magical than you thought possible. LAKESIDE: The ocean isn’t the only aquatic beauty that makes Maine so breathtaking. The state abounds with sparkling lakes, many of which are home to the perfect campground or wilderness lodge for a picturesque wedding and reception. BARNS APLENTY: A trendy and unique setting, barn weddings have been steadily growing in popularity in Maine and across the nation. Many couples enjoy the simplistic yet romantic feel of an open-air barn structure, which can range from modern and chandeliered to pastoral and rustic. With over 100 Maine barns to choose from, you’re sure to find one that matches your personal style. HOMEY B&B: A quaint bed and breakfast may be the perfect spot to host a more intimate guest list. Typically all-inclusive and convenient to plan, a B&B can often be completely rented out so that your guests can stay on-site. STYLISH AND MODERN: For couples who’d like to combine coast and city, there are chic hotel ballrooms, private estates and renovated industrial buildings that reveal exposed brick, rough hewn wood, steel beams and concrete floors for a contemporary aesthetic.
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One of the greatest things about Maine is the food, hands down. The winding coastline offers fresh sea-totable fare with an unparalleled level of deliciousness. With an array of offerings from local caterers, it’s easy to integrate local seafood into your hors d’oeuvres with mini lobster rolls, crab cakes or an elegant oyster bar. Wow your wedding guests with a freshcaught Maine lobster dinner or host a traditional lobster bake for the rehearsal dinner to give your bridal party and families a true Downeast eating experience. Note: If you decide on a lobster bake, don’t forget the classic lobster bibs so your guests can dig in, carefree! Of course, no meal would be complete without dessert, and there are many tasty local options to please a crowd. One fun fact you may not know about Maine: It’s the largest producer of blueberries on the planet! Maine blueberries are small, tart, packed with flavor and perfect in pies for the dessert table or mini jam jars as a wedding favor. Runners-up desserts are famous Maine-made whoopie pies and Maine potato donuts. You definitely can’t go wrong with any of these sweet options!
r CELEBRATE NATURAL ELEMENTS
Make your wedding a full Maine experience throughout your decor. Load up your Pinterest boards and immerse yourself in the world of New England event design! Drawing from the rugged yet serene coastal Maine landscape, you can use nautical blue mussel shells, seafoam linens, sand-colored driftwood and anchor or buoy accents to tie in Maine’s oceanic appeal. Planning your wedding inland? No worries — there’s plenty you can do to celebrate the scenic wilderness. Decorate with fir-colored greenery or pinecone place holders, and be sure to feature the state’s plentiful natural wood.
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r HELP YOUR GUESTS PLAN THEIR VACATION
If you have guests coming from out of town, it’s a thoughtful gesture to help them out with a list of accommodations in the area and activities to do during their stay. After all, Maine isn’t called Vacationland for nothing! From Portland to Boothbay to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor to Baxter State Park, there are a plethora of one-of-a-kind experiences for people to enjoy during their stay. You can even call some hotels in the area and block off rooms for the weekend if available lodging is precarious. Maine has fabulous activities for almost every heart’s desire. Up the coast are quintessential New England towns with local eateries, charming shops, boutiques and antique stores, and heaps of seaside fun. The city of Portland boasts gorgeous historic neighborhoods with museums, impressive art galleries, and plenty of cozy bookstores and cafes. For those who like to answer the call of the wild, summertime and fall in Maine are practically heaven. The state and national parks and wilderness getaways galore are perfect for hiking, camping, canoeing, paddleboarding, mountain biking — the list goes on. If you happen to get married in the fall, locals and visitors alike will enjoy the crisp weather and foliage bursting with vibrant colors.
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marry
A Message in the
Blooms ADD SPECIAL MEANING TO YOUR WEDDING DAY BOUQUET AND ARRANGEMENTS
L
ove, patience, honor, happiness, new beginnings — certain flowers carry with them special meanings. Tucking some of these beautiful blooms into your wedding day arrangements can add more meaning and emotion than just being pretty and matching a particular color scheme.
· AMARYLLIS: This flower is symbolic of splendid beauty and can be used to indicate worth. · ASTER: The aster symbolizes patience, elegance and daintiness. · CALLA LILY: This bloom symbolizes magnificence and beauty, as well as purity and
innocence. That is why Calla lilies are often the flower of choice in wedding bouquets. · CARNATIONS: These are one of the most popular flowers in the world and are generally
symbolic of love and fascination. · DAFFODIL: Daffodils symbolize regard and chivalry. They also can be indicative of
rebirth, new beginnings and eternal life. A single daffodil can signal misfortune, while a bunch expresses joy and happiness. · GERBERA DAISIES: With large, beautiful blooms in a wide assortment of vibrant colors,
gerbera daisies are a favorite flower for cheerful sentiments. · GLADIOLUSES: These tall, striking flowers are eye-catching and make great gifts for
significant others. The gladiolus symbolizes honor, infatuation and strength. · IRIS: Irises represent faith, hope and wisdom and are cherished for their big, beautiful
blooms. · PEONY: This flower, which resembles a rose, symbolizes a happy life, happy marriage,
prosperity and good health. · ROSE: Roses symbolize love in its various forms, and different colors of roses symbolize
different things. For example, yellow roses represent care and friendship, while pink roses are given as a token of admiration. 40 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
marry
YOUR
GettingHitched Checklist
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE THE BIG DAY BY ASHLI CAMPBELL
W
ith the question popped and the knot ready for tying, couples engaged to be married have some work ahead of them to successfully plan a wedding. But with events back in the swing of things — hopefully for good — 2021 husbands- and wives-to-be can now enjoy the fun of wedding planning as they traditionally have. If you aren’t sure where to begin, don’t fret; we assembled the following list to help you prepare for the wedding of your dreams!
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VENUE
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CATERING
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RENTALS
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Naturally, finding the venue is the first task because that will determine so many other parts of the wedding. Start checking venues out online and book tours with your top contenders. Make sure to ask the right questions before booking a tour, like if the space will hold all of your guests and what other vendors you’ll need to hire for the space (catering, lighting, rentals and decor).
The food and drinks are another huge part of the day, but you can conquer this task in bite-sized pieces. Your venue will likely have worked with multiple caterers and/or bar services and can recommend their highest-rated partners. Contact a couple of caterers for a tasting selection of hors d’oeuvres and dinner, where you can decide what you’d like to serve your lucky guests. You can do the same with a bakery for your desserts, although your caterer may even do wedding cakes, too — it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Rentals are a decision that relies not only on the venue, but on the type of dinner service you’ve chosen. Depending on where you go, you may need to rent furniture and food service items. Thankfully, your venue and caterer should have a list of any items you’ll need to rent, and will be able to offer recommendations on the best rental companies they’ve worked with in the past.
Fourth on this list, but arguably one of the most important pieces of your wedding, is the photographer. Your party will last only one night, but memories are forever. 42 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
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MUSIC
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OFFICIANT
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FLORALS
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STATIONERY
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ATTIRE
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REMEMBER WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!
Music is the life of the party! Choose an experienced DJ or band that can command a room, and ask for a list of songs they’ll play at your wedding. If there are songs you’d love to hear, or some that you’d rather not, then think about sending over a “Definitely Play” and “Please Do Not Play” list!
The officiant is the person who will be ceremoniously sanctifying your nuptials. Find someone who you enjoy speaking with, since they will be officiating your “I do’s.”
Bouquets, boutonnieres, cake toppers, centerpieces — florals play a big part in your wedding decor. Greenery can be hung from chandeliers for an ethereal experience or draped across the middle of tabletops to bring nature closer to home. Speak with your florist about your overall vision and get their ideas on making it come to life.
Once you have your date nailed down and favorite vendors booked, you’ll want to mail the save-the-dates, and later on, the invitations. If you have other stationery needs, such as menus, name cards, table cards or ceremony programs, you can coordinate them with your invitations for a polished, put-together spread. This is something that can be DIY’d, but if you’d rather avoid the task, there are plenty of paper shops with gorgeous designs to choose from.
You may know exactly what you want to wear on your big day before you’re even engaged — or you may not! Call your bridesmaids and groomsmen, try on dresses and tuxedos, and have some fun.
After months (sometimes years!) of planning, it’s amazing how quickly the day of your wedding can fly by. Don’t forget to enjoy each moment of your wedding day! It’s important to have fun celebrating your relationship and future and not to sweat the small stuff. Small hiccups will inevitably happen, on your wedding day and in life, but your special day will be something to remember forever!
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PERSONAL FINANCE
CAN’T
BUDGE
ON THAT
BUDGET?
44 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
THE IDEAL BUDGET IS THE ONE THAT HELPS YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS
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BY SAM SCHIPANI
hen my boyfriend Alex and I moved in together years ago, there were so many things to think about. Whose pots and pans would we keep? How are we going to make our decorations work together? What’s the policy on bathroom emergencies when the other person is in the shower? One of the things our love-addled brains neglected to think about, though, was making a budget. We weren’t living above our means, and we had all that extra cash that comes from splitting rent and groceries. Besides, budgets are boring! We’re young, footloose and fancy-free! But now that we’re saving for a house and a future together, the need for a budget is much clearer. How can we plan if we don’t know where our money is going? Abby Morton, planning director at Gather Financial Planning in Falmouth, said that having a goal in mind is a good first step to setting up a budget, whether you’re a single person, a young couple or a family of 15. Goals can range from paying off credit card debt, saving for a trip or starting an emergency cash reserve (three to four months worth of expenses is a good rule of thumb, she said). I had tried budgeting for myself in the past, but never had much luck with it. I loved setting up the spreadsheets and downloading the cute and colorful apps, but would inevitably fall off of tracking my spending after a few weeks. Well, Morton said that she has seen that same behavior with many of her clients. “There are perhaps a thousand budgeting apps and spreadsheets solutions, but most people don’t have success with adopting them for the long term,” Morton said. “Most people, especially families, are too busy for that. I really try to talk to people about creating a very simple framework that will actually work and will be pretty much automated after they put the work in to set it up.” The first step is to figure out how much money is coming into the budget through income. “Sit down together so you know what you’re bringing home every month,” said Heather Massow, certified housing counselor and educator at MaineStream Finance.
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PERSONAL FINANCE Next, you have to see how you are currently spending your money. This means monthly bills, yes, but also any discretionary spending, to get a sense of your habits. Rebecca Grant, financial coach and savings consultant and MaineStream Finance, recommended tracking your expenses for a month in the way that is most comfortable for you, whether it is saving paper receipts or maintaining an Excel spreadsheet. Be honest with yourself, too. If you’re spending $20 a week buying breakfast empanadas at the gas station even though you have eggs and toast at home (just … hypothetically …), make sure that is accounted for. “A lot of people have those little habits and expenses and they’re not thinking about when they’re putting together their budget,” Grant said. “Make sure you’re tracking all those little expenses.” Once you have your expenditures for the month, add in any regular charges that come annually, semiannually and quarterly. Then, it’s time to figure out where your spending can be adjusted to better meet your goals. One popular guide is to think of your budget in terms of percentages. For example, about 30 percent of your budget should go towards housing, 15 percent towards groceries, 10 percent towards savings (Massow emphasized the importance of including savings into this breakdown, and setting up automatic payments to your savings account) and so on. There are a variety of different suggested breakdowns floating around the world wide web, but ultimately, the percentages will vary based on your lifestyle. ONE POPULAR GUIDE “It’s just a guide, roughly,” IS TO THINK OF YOUR BUDGET Grant said. “It’s going to vary based on the person’s IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES. situation to begin with.” FOR EXAMPLE, ABOUT 30 Morton said that it can also be helpful to consider PERCENT OF YOUR BUDGET average expenditures in different categories. SHOULD GO TOWARDS “I’ll often do that with HOUSING, 15 PERCENT TOWARDS groceries,” Morton said. “If you are a family of GROCERIES, 10 PERCENT four, $10,000 on groceries TOWARDS SAVINGS ... is normal whereas $17,000 is kind of high. Percentages AND SO ON. will break down sometimes when you have different kinds of
Travel
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PHOTO: ©PIXEL-SHOT /ADOBE STOCK
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income, especially for things like groceries and housing and things like that.” Grant said to figure out what elements of your spending are “needs” and what are “wants.” Some are obvious — you need a roof over your head, but you probably don’t need a breakfast empanada every morning — but others will vary depending on a person’s circumstances. “If [you’re] working from home and their job requires [you] to have internet, internet becomes a need and not a want,” Grant said. “If it doesn’t fall into the category of what you need for everyday living, to get to work, to have a safe home for your family, then it may not actually be a need, it might just be a want.” Not every “want” has to go away, but chances are, you will have to make some cuts in your spending. If the cuts hurt, Grant said it can be helpful to remind yourself of your goal — perhaps the cuts are only temporary until, say, you pay off your credit card debt. Also, you don’t have to cut out all the joy in your life. “We’re not saying don’t ever eat out again,” Grant said. “We’re just saying to cut back.” Once you have figured out your budget, the final step is to make it stick. Massow suggested trying the “envelope method,” where you take out the money for each part of the budget in cash at the beginning of the month and put it in envelopes. When your money is gone at the end of the month you don’t have any more to spend on that until you get paid again. If you don’t think you can do this in the long-term, Morton said to try paying in just cash for three months. “The cash really slows the process down and it’s a whole different psychological exercise, especially if you bring in big bills,” Morton said. “You psychologically don’t want to break that $50 so you’re a little more careful with it.” Once you have settled into your budget — or “cash flow management system,” as Morton said she sometimes prefers to call it — it should, ideally, be easy to maintain. “‘Budget’ can start to be a dirty word that people don’t want to hear,” Morton said. “You don’t want that negativity of a budget being boring or dragging you down or a stumbling block. I love budgeting because it’s just such a fundamental piece that almost everything else is better once you have got a handle on that.”
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Stays
FEATURE
Spooky
A LOOK AT MAINE’S SPOOKIEST HAUNTED INNS
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t was a cold night. A fierce snowstorm was rolling in, and the inn was empty of guests. But the night auditor, Roberto Salinas, still had a job to do. Sitting at the front desk, he was crunching numbers and balancing the books when he heard what sounded like rapid footsteps on the hallway upstairs. “You know when there are a lot of kids and they’re running around together? It sounded like that,” he recalled. “Then I could hear people dancing or jumping in the room above, and I actually heard the door open three or four times.” The room directly above him was Room 8, rumored to be the most haunted room at The Lucerne Inn. 48 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
“At first I told myself it was my imagination. This is an old building. There are a lot of cracks and crevices that the wind can come through. I thought that maybe a window was left open upstairs, but then I realized the windows are sealed. They don’t open,” he said. “The ghosts were having a party.” Salinas had worked nights at the inn for several years at that point, and it wasn’t his first time hearing or seeing something strange. He was getting used to the idea that the building might be haunted. But he wasn’t necessarily afraid. After all, if there were lingering spirits, they had never harmed him. As the “party” became more rambunctious, Salinas heard water running as if fill-
ing a tub, then a toilet flushing over and over. At that point, he was worried that a pipe had sprung a leak, so he went upstairs to investigate. “As I started going up the stairs, maybe halfway up, everything quieted down. There was not a sound,” he said. “As I’m speaking to you, I’m having goosebumps all over my body.” Upon reaching the second floor, he could hear a pin drop. He walked down the hallway and past Room 8. Silence. So he continued on and headed back downstairs. “As I’m walking down the stairs, it all started up again — people running, having a good time. I said, ‘OK. I’m not going back up. You’re having a good time, I’m not
PHOTOS: (TOP) BDN FILE; (DOOR) AISLINN SARNACKI
BY AISLINN SARNACKI
The Lucerne Inn 2517 MAIN ROAD IN DEDHAM
going to bother you,’” Salinas said. “Just don’t come down to see me.” Perched on a hill above a scenic lake, The Lucerne Inn is one of many historic inns in Maine rumored to house ghosts alongside their guests. Spooky stories from more than a dozen inns scattered throughout the state are featured in the book “Ghosts of Maine” by T.M. Gray. But some establishments, such as the Lucerne, are more famous for their ghost stories than others.
(Above) The Lucerne Inn in 1948. (Below) Room 8 at the Inn is rumored to be haunted.
The Lucerne Inn’s history stretches back to 1812, when Nathan Phillips built a house and stable at the location. Taking advantage of the fact that the property was located halfway between Bangor and Ellsworth, he started taking in travelers (and secretly serving them champagne cider during a time when Maine was a dry state). Over the years, the inn has changed hands several times and has expanded to include an event center, restaurant and pub. Somewhere along the way, ghost stories became associated with the inn. One story in particular is told time and time again. It’s rumored that in the early 1900s, a caretaker at The Lucerne Inn caught his wife cheating on him in Room 8. He shot the lovers before killing himself. It’s said that his spirit remains in the room but is harmless. He causes mischief, moving furniture around, casting shadows on the walls and turning the lights on and off. “Personally I haven’t experienced anything,” said David Silverman, who purchased the inn with his wife Jayne Silverman in 2016. “To me, the ghost stories are just sort of fun little myths. I’m just not a believer, but there are plenty of people who come here that are.” Just down the hall from Room 8, Room 5 is said to be just as haunted. People will specifically call and ask for those rooms in hopes of experiencing something supernatural, the Silvermans said. Several have even set up ghost hunting equipment such as cameras, voice recorders and thermometers in hopes of collecting evidence of lingering spirits. But it’s difficult to pin down exactly where the Lucerne ghosts reside. A group of guests using a Ouija board to communicate with spirits told the owners that a ghost had moved into Room 10. “On the top floor, Room 11 is directly above Room 8, and on three different occasions, guests have called me at night or in the morning to ask if we could tell the people beneath them if they could quiet down because they couldn’t sleep,” Salinas said. “And all three times, I had to tell the guests that nobody was staying below them.” There are plenty of employees at the inn who have never experienced anything remotely spooky. But they’re happy to share the location’s rich history with guests, along with a few ghost stories — all in good fun. You don’t even have to stay at the inn to potentially spot one of its rumored ghosts. It’s said that the ghost of a little girl wearing a yellow sundress skips around the inn’s pub, sits at the tables and follows the bartenders around. She’s even been spotted outside on the lawn during a wedding, Salinas said. “I’ve never seen her. That would really freak me out,” Salinas said. “But I’ve had two guests come to the front desk and ask me who the little girl belongs to, and several people who have worked here through the years have told me the same thing.”
FEATURE
The Kennebunk Inn 45 MAIN STREET IN KENNEBUNK Flickering lights, inexplicable footsteps, flying objects — these are the classic ways that the ghosts of The Kennebunk Inn make themselves known. The oldest part of the inn, built in 1799, served as a private residence for over a century. In 1928, a large wing was added onto the building and it was converted into an inn. But it wasn’t until much later that rumors of the inn being haunted became heavily publicized. “In the 1980s, they had glasses flying off the shelves, things like that,” said Shanna O’Hea, who purchased the inn with her husband, Brian O’Hea, in 2003. “We’ve never seen anything like that, but I can tell you one story.” Early in their days as innkeepers, the O’Heas would put the inn to bed each night, turning off all the lights and locking the doors. In the mornings they’d wake early to unlock the doors for the front desk employee. One morning, they walked downstairs to find all the doors open, the lights on and the music blaring in the bar. “We’ve had lights turn on and off before, which could be a bad circuit or something else,” Shanna O’Hea said. “But that one [event] was really hard to come up with an explanation for.” They may never know the music-playing culprit, but the O’Heas do know the names of three of their resident ghosts. The most famous is Silas Perkins, a poet who worked as a night watchman there during the mid-20th century. “He had a heart attack when crossing the street, then came back and died in room 17,” said Shanna O’Hea. “So that’s tentatively the most haunted of all the rooms.” The second ghost is Cyrus (last name unknown), who used to work as a front desk clerk at the inn. And the third is a playful little girl named Emily, who likes to sit on the front steps of the inn and knock on guest room doors. The O’Heas embrace their business’s ghostfilled history. In fact, in 2020, they added inscriptions for each of the ghosts to the inn’s bar during renovations. The names Silas, Cyrus and Emily can be found alongside the names of the building’s former owners on the surface of the bar. “Most people I think enjoy hearing about it,” Shanna O’Hea said. “Some people say they feel a presence or have had experiences and talk to the ghosts. It’s a part of our history, so we don’t ignore it.”
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The Kennebunk Inn is shown as it once looked in the 1930s and how it looks today. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KENNEBUNK INN
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FEATURE
Photos from the past of the Captain Lindsey Guest House in Rockland. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LINDSEY GUEST HOUSE
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Today’s view inside the inn. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LINDSEY GUEST HOUSE
Captain Lindsey Guest House 5 LINDSEY STREET IN ROCKLAND Built in the 1830s by Captain George Lindsey, the inn now aptly called the Captain Lindsey Guest House is said to be home to quite a few ghosts. In fact, members of the Paranormal Association of Maine have reported that the inn is haunted by as many as 36 spirits, including Captain Lindsey himself and another former owner, T.B. Severence, according to the book “Ghosts of Maine.” Eric and Raleigh Churchill purchased the inn in February of 2021, and have already had a few peculiar experiences. “We had a cleaning crew in here to do a deep cleaning,” Eric Churchill said. “They started at the top of the inn — it’s three stories — and worked their way down, and they said that they felt like they weren’t alone, that there was a presence.” Eric Churchill was told that the inn is home to three spirits: young twins and an older lady. “I don’t feel a threatening presence or really any presence at all,” he said. “Raleigh and I like to joke that if there is a ghost, we call him Ghost Malone because he’s kind of like a friendly, non-threatening spirit.”
He personally doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he enjoys hearing and passing on the many ghost stories connected with their inn. He even has a personal story to share. Just after purchasing the inn, he was hauling boxes down into the basement when he saw something he can’t quite explain. “I came up the stairs and rounded the corner and I swear I saw someone walk into the parlor,” he said. “As far as we understand, it’s the oldest part of the house. If anything were to be haunted, that would be it.” He only saw the tail end of the person, so he assumed it was his wife, who had been offering guidance on where to store items. “Hey, what’s next?” he asked, walking into the parlor. There was no one there. “I thought she was playing a trick on me,” he said. “So I looked around for her, then she came down the stairs. I said, ‘How did you do that?’ And she said, ‘I was upstairs the whole time.’”
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FEATURE
TUNNELS
of
MYSTERY
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WHAT EXACTLY IS UNDER BANGOR?
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BY JULIA BAYLY
eneath the buildings and streets of downtown Bangor lies a mysterious network of tunnels with more questions than answers. Why do they exist? When were they built? How extensive is the tunnel network? Those are among the questions without answers. In fact, there are no known plans of the tunnels or any maps detailing their routes beneath the city streets. Here’s what is known: Several historic downtown buildings that date back to the 1830s have openings to the tunnels in their basements. It appears the tunnels once connected the basements of the historic buildings to areas under the streets. Much of the tunnel network is largely blocked off now. But the entrances, carved into solid rock deep below street level, are still visible. Some have been bricked over. Others are covered with sheet rock. Others have unusual coverings that building owners don’t look behind. At least two of the tunnels though give a glimpse into what might have been. Those two run about 15 feet before meeting dead ends — solid walls built to block them. SHROUDED IN MYSTERY The City of Bangor engineering department knows there are tunnels under downtown Bangor. But they don’t have any maps. In fact, City Engineer John Theriault said he doesn’t know of anyone who has ever seen a map to the tunnels. Still, the city has to contend with them from time to time when unexpected openings are found. “We have come across old coal chutes before and have filled them up with concrete,” Theriault said. “But it’s always a surprise when we find one.” At the Bangor Historical Society, there are no clear answers either. But where explanations lack, imaginations fill in the gaps. “There has never been a definitive explanation of where the tunnels go but there seems to be two main schools of thought about them,” said Matt Bishop of the Bangor Historical Society. Some believe they were either used as part of the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape slavery and find freedom in the north in the early- to mid-19th century, Bishop said. Bangor did have stops on the Underground Railroad. Others think the tunnels were used during prohibition to transport alcohol in secret, Bishop said. The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution made it illegal to make, transport, import or sell alcoholic drinks in this country from 1920 until it was repealed in 1933. This era of prohibition ushered in a thriving underground trade in alcohol and according to Bishop, Bangor was part of that trade. “Bangor had a unique relationship with alcohol,” Bishop said. “The city had the ‘Bangor plan.’”
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FEATURE During prohibition, the authorities knew full well who was selling liquor to whom in Bangor and where they were doing it. Once a year, according to Bishop, these same authorities would arrest those who were doing the selling, slap them a nominal fine and send them on their way to resume their illicit alcohol business dealings. “Personally, I’ve never been sold on the idea that the tunnels were part of the Underground Railroad,” Bishop said. “For me, prohibition makes more sense.” It would make sense, Bishop said, that during prohibition, people needed places to stash illegal and bootleg booze. Rooms and tunnels made of stone hidden in basements would be perfect, he said. There are other possibilities as well, based on Bangor’s history. About a century before prohibition, Bangor was a thriving lumber town, taking full advantage of its location on the Penobscot River and Kenduskeag Stream. “In the 1830s this was a lumber capital with a fully working waterfront,” Bishop said. “There would be ships moored all up and down the Penobscot and logs all over the river coming down from the far north woods.” Back in those days, he said, the Kendeskeag was a much wider body of water
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FEATURE as it ran through downtown and smaller vessels would run cargo up and down it to the larger ships moored in the Penobscot. At some point, it is possible tunnels were constructed as underground passages for goods. With the lumber boom came other business booms as well. Much of what is downtown Bangor today, had a somewhat unsavory reputation in the 1830s when it was known as The Devil’s Half Acre. Back then it was home to brothels, bars and cheap hotels. Perhaps some of those tunnels were used to get from one to the other, without being seen by people on the streets. “Whenever tunnels get brought up to me, they talk about the one in Brewer that goes to the river,” Bishop said. “There is also a rumored one under the old Bangor Hydro building on Exchange Street and one under the old Bangor House.” The rumored Brewer tunnel was supposedly under a house that once stood where Chamberlain Freedom Park is now located and led down to the river. WERE THE 1830S THE YEARS FOR TUNNELS? When the Bangor Courthouse was undergoing renovations in 2008, a system of tunnels was discovered when a section of concrete was removed from the basement floor. According to an article in the Bangor Daily News, contractors speculated the tunnels were part of the original building’s ventilation system. The original courthouse building was built in 1833 and neither the original plans nor those for subsequent construction in 1901 and 1903 indicated the presence of those tunnels. Many of the historical buildings with tunnel openings in downtown Bangor date back to the 1830s, including the Circular Block, which houses a number of businesses and apartments including Paddy Murphy’s. “In our basement you can see the archway of the tunnel and it goes about 15 feet in,” said John Dobbs, owner of Paddy Murphy’s. “Whatever it was used for, it was extremely well made.” Before they were closed up, those tunnels appear to have traveled under the roads. Where there is an old opening in one basement, you can often see another in a basement of a building directly across the street. Dobbs is of the opinion that his tunnel was likely a connector to a basement 58 / BANGOR METRO October 2021
under a building across Main Street and was possibly used to transport coal at one time. The tunnel has a square opening to its ceiling that leads to the street above, and would have made a suitable coal chute, he said. The basement of Paddy’s has another underground mystery. Under some old shelving is a hole that appears to drop into a tunnel that leads to the river. Nearby are several old plank boards laid in the concrete floor with narrow spaces between them. Looking between those cracks reveals a dark abyss of undetermined depth. Next to the planks an old cast iron door covers something — Dobbs has no idea what — but at some point it was securely riveted to the concrete floor. “My staff has their own theories about this,” Dobbs said. “They are all convinced the building is haunted.” PRACTICAL, ALBEIT BORING, EXPLANATIONS Dobbs has no doubt all of this served some practical purpose at one point. He points out that several of the tunnels have conduit running through them and would have been access points to repair underground pipes and wiring. But where’s the fun in all that? There is little doubt that tunnels — often dark, damp places home to rodents and spiders — are creepy enough on their own. Toss in some imagination and you have a much better story than utilities’ access or storage areas. Bangor’s own Stephen King certainly has shown that talent. His bestseller “It” takes place in the fictional town of Derry, but is based on actual Bangor locations. The story’s demonic clown Pennywise uses sewers and tunnels below Derry as a transportation system. It’s pretty hard to not think of Pennywise — or other monsters — when peering into the dark recesses of one of the downtown Bangor tunnels. Bishop, who has never been in one of the tunnels, said he is well aware of the rumored hauntings around Bangor and said some of those rumors likely involve the tunnels. Ultimately, the reason behind Bangor’s underground tunnels may never be known. Oddly, people rarely ask Bishop about those tunnels. He’s not sure why. Could it be that the only thing scarier than the mystery of a dark tunnel is solving it? www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59
FEATURE
BEHIND THE SCENES EXPLORING BANGOR’S UNDERGROUND TUNNELS WITH A VINTAGE DRIVER BY JULIA BAYLY
I KNEW I HAD HUNG on to my great grandmother’s golf club for a reason. This summer, while researching the story on the Bangor tunnels, I was determined to explore them to get a first hand look. Luckily, I have contacts who have access to several buildings with old tunnels in their basements and they were more than willing to show me around. In my imagination, I was picturing a twisting network of subterranean passageways accessed by secret cellar trapdoors, possibly littered with artifacts from those who trod them a century ago. Pirate swords, treasure chests, rum casks are just a few of the things I was certain were down there. Oh, and rats. I was 100 percent sure rodents the size of small dogs lurked down below, which brings me back to the golf club. It’s the driving iron my great grandmother Jessica McTavish Johnson used when she won the Oregon Golf Championship in the 1920s. I was confident it would make a dandy weapon in the event we came face to face with any hostile, subterranean rodents. Turns out, there may have been swords, treasure or casks of rum laying around the tunnels. The problem was, the tunnels themselves have long been sealed up. As for the rats, we did not see any in person, but in a few dark, unused basement corners there was plenty of evidence they were around. In fact, those were some of the largest rat droppings I have ever seen. In the absence of rats, the most use I got out of the driver was clearing out the impressive cobwebs hanging
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from the tunnel area ceilings. That and using it to steady myself crawling up and over fallen and broken chunks of concrete to access two tunnel areas that still extend 20 or so feet before dead ending. I did give serious consideration to using the driver as a club to break through some of the less solid looking bricks. I’m not going to lie — if I had been on a solo expedition I may well have tried it. The sealed-up tunnel entrance that already had a jagged hole near the bottom was very tempting. But I was reminded by my guides that doing so was against city codes protecting historic structures. So, for now what lies beyond remains a mystery. Even lacking full access to what appears to be a tunnel network, it was not hard to get excited about the passages. Some are cut into solid rock. It had to have been a massive engineering and construction project to dig them with hand tools. Standing in one of the alcoves I could feel the weight of the stone, dirt and concrete street over my head. I pressed my hand to the thick, solid cut stones lining one of the alcove walls. It was cool to my touch and I could only wonder at the men — and possibly women — who worked so hard under Bangor all those years ago. How many years? And was it dug by hand? No one knows. Leaving the tunnels and coming back out into daylight, I had so many more questions than when I went down. And we may never know the answers. But it’s sure fun to let our imaginations run wild. Rats and all.
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WOODS & WATERS
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
in our own backyard
HOW THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB CREATED A FOUR-SEASON DESTINATION IN MAINE
THE MAINE WOODS INITIATIVE is an expansive, expensive project. It’s doubtful any organization without the history and experience of the Appalachian Mountain Club could pull it off. In fact, it’s fair to ask if even the AMC could accomplish it. It’s a question the organization asked itself in a just-completed 15-year assessment of progress. The short answer is, yes, mostly. Soon after the turn of the century, International Paper decided to divest a million acres of its woodland in Maine. One parcel of roughly 35,000 acres was located within a region known as the 100-Mile Wilderness — an area in Piscataquis County bisected by the Appalachian Trail, containing free-flowing rivers, undeveloped lakes and challenging peaks. About that same time, AMC was asking itself, “What’s next?” AMC was established in 1876, and it was instrumental in the creation and conservation STORY & PHOTO BY BOB DUCHESNE of the White Mountain National Forest. Over the next 120 years, it developed lodges and hut systems throughout the northeast. When the IP parcel went on the market, AMC recognized its ecological and recreational value, and bought it in 2003. That was the kickoff for the Maine Woods Initiative. Acquisition of more parcels boosted the acreage to 75,000, and AMC is currently in line to finalize an additional parcel, boosting ownership to just over its goal of 100,000 acres. MAINERS ARE Mainers are inherently distrustful of people from away taking over INHERENTLY DISTRUSTFUL any part of “their” woods. Although Maine has its own AMC Chapter with 6,500 members, the majority of AMC members live in the urban OF PEOPLE FROM AWAY... corridor between Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. AMC knew from the get-go that it would have to earn local respect and trust — THUS, AMC HIRED LOCAL. IT an uncomfortable lesson it had already learned in New Hampshire. RECRUITED MAINE RESIDENTS TO Thus, AMC hired local. It recruited Maine residents to work with towns and civic organizations to ensure the initiative would fit right WORK WITH TOWNS... TO ENSURE into the Piscataquis County community. It contracted local. It bought THE INITIATIVE WOULD FIT RIGHT local. It worked with snowmobile clubs to assure traditional trail access, while specifying non-motorized use for ecologically sensitive areas.
INTO THE PISCATAQUIS COUNTY COMMUNITY.
AMC logged. Rather than treat the forest as a primeval parcel to be left unsullied by the ax, the organization developed a forestry plan that would reinforce the health and diversity of its woodlands. They have remained part of the wood basket upon which the northern Maine economy depends, using a model that prioritizes sustainability over bottom-line profits. AMC quickly became an integral part of the Piscataquis County economy. AMC acquired and upgraded three traditional sporting camps, investing millions in renovations. One of the three — Little Lyford — had operated on the site for over 140 years before getting its much-needed facelift. Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins on Long Pond began its existence as a single-household private camp in 1867. Medawisla on Second Roach Pond, east of Moosehead Lake, also needed facility upgrades. Today, all three AMC facilities offer modern, ecologicallyfriendly amenities without sacrificing the rustic feel that has always made sporting camps popular.
Then AMC took it a step further. The organization created a stewardship plan that segmented its 75,000 acres according to best use. About a third was set aside as ecological reserves, protecting and restoring habitat for wildlife and fisheries. A significant portion was designated for sustainable timber harvesting. A system of crosscountry ski trails was established to create a lodge-to-lodge winter experience, while accommodating traditional snowmobile routes through the region. It was a grand experiment, and it has worked for the most part. Pre-COVID, the wilderness lodges cumulatively racked up 82,000 bed nights. Postpandemic visitation is rebounding. If there is a definable weakness in the initiative, it’s that many Mainers don’t realize what they have right here at home. It’s common to see license plates from Massachusetts to Maryland in the
parking lots, far fewer from Maine. Partly, it’s a marketing challenge, since many Mainers already have their own ideas on how to experience the remote woods and waters of the state. Most probably don’t perceive the AMC experience as unique. But it is. AMC has created a four-season destination in Maine’s most economicallystressed county. In a tourism region that also contains Moosehead Lake, AMC now accounts for 5-7% of the area’s hospitality jobs. Few accommodations deep in the Maine woods can match its modernized lodges. There are 130 miles of trails, many useable year-round. And, to top it off, the International Dark-Sky Association certified the entire AMC acreage as New England’s first Dark Sky Park earlier this year — far, far, far from the city lights. There’s a unique experience available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.
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THE VIEW FROM HERE
BEGINNING AGAIN BY EMILY MORRISON
begin again
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first time since the pandemic began. We’re all starting something new, and it’s got me thinking. There’s something so unbelievably freeing yet scary about beginning again. We have a chance to create a new life, a new routine, a new set of friends and people that we interact with, but we also have a chance to mess up, to not do so hot at this peopling, schooling, starting over thing. What if it doesn’t go so well? Honestly, I can get so trapped in anxiety and overwhelmed that sometimes I let those things stop me from starting, but do you know what’s so amazing about taking that first step? Once I do, even if it goes horribly wrong, I have a sense of pride in myself. At least I’m doing it. At least I’m trying. It’s only up from here, right? Looking back at my life, the most rewarding experiences have come from the hardest beginnings. Becoming a teacher, wife, mama, writer, marathoner and grad instructor, all of these roles initially filled me with fear, but they also filled me with a sense of wonder and purpose. I think that’s why they’ve been so fulfilling. I’ve learned how to adapt, how to stretch myself in new ways, all while trying to improve and be the best me I can be. I don’t always do it all well, but hey, at least I’m doing it. And my kids, they may not be able to balance everything they’ve got going on either, but they’re giving it the ol’ college try, and that means the world to me. So, if you’re feeling like I’m feeling this fall and you’re a little overwhelmed by all this starting over business, know you’re in good company. And listen, if you want to steal my tattoo idea and get the words “Begin Again” inked on your solar plexus, have at it. You’ll be in good company. I might add a little flower or butterfly to mine to jazz it up a bit because you know what? You’re never too old to try something new. Happy beginning again!
EMILY MORRISON is a high school English teacher, freelance writer and editor from coastal Maine. She is living happily-ever-after with her handsome husband, three beautiful children and two beloved dogs. And a cat.
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
IN MAINE, people generally like the fall. Sure, it’s not a summer swim in the lake or a springtime walk in the woods, but fall has a certain kind of allure to it around here. The air is crisp, the cider is flowing and anything is possible. Optimism hangs in the atmosphere like an autumn rainbow and life begins again. Recently, I was driving to my daughter’s 18th birthday party with my son as my co-pilot and we were rocking out to Taylor Swift’s “Begin Again.” That’s when it came to me. For the better half of the last decade, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out a tasteful, inspirational tattoo I would never regret because I’m all about manifesting what I believe in on the inside outside. Confused? Here’s what I mean. If I talk about something often enough, then I’ll be more inspired to make it happen. If I think or dream about running faster all the time, then I’ll be more committed to making myself run faster. “Manifesting your intentions” sounds a lot hokier than it actually is. It’s just a fancy way of saying, “Put your thoughts into words and then follow through with your actions.” Anyway, Swift’s words lit up my brain like a fourth of July firecracker and I told Jack, “I got it! That’s it! That. Is. It!” He gave me a look only a 13-year-old boy can give his random, quirky mom and held back his laughter until after I shared my epiphany, God bless him. “I need to get ‘Begin Again’ tattooed somewhere on my person because that’s the hardest thing to do in life isn’t it? Beginning again. This can be my new mantra!” He laughed so hard he cried and we continued our Taylor Swift serenade with mostly tattoo free talk after that. It was a sweet moment for me, if not for my dashboard drummer. The thing is, this year my oldest is beginning her first year of college and my two youngest are going back to school for the
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