Metro - March 2020 by Bangor Daily News

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The BRAIN Issue

$5.95

CONTENTS

MARCH 2020

FEATURES 40

GETTING YOUR ZZZS

Why Maine’s doctors and researchers want to watch you sleep

TRAIN YOUR BRAIN

How you can improve brain health

QUIETING THE MIND

Learn how mindfulness can benefit your life

THINKING AHEAD

Can I protect my brain from Alzheimer’s?

GET OUT

GETTING YOUR ZZZS

QUIETING THE MIND

Visit the Carrabassett Valley region

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local news & sightings

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

WOODS & WATERS

Exploring from above with drones

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Acting out the movie of my life

The Brain Issue. Design: Amy Allen Photo: tk/adobe stock

2 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

PHOTOS: TKTK

ON THE COVER

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 AT THE INTERSECTION OF MUSIC & SCIENCE Bangor Symphony Orchestra to perform new piece as part of Maine Science Festival

FOOD & DRINK 18

IN SEASON NOW

Learning to love parsnips

LUCKY FINDS

5 places to get a St. Patrick’s Day meal in Maine

HEALTH & FITNESS 24

HIKE ME

Learn the art of forest bathing and the best spots to do it locally

WORK IT OUT

What exactly is a cortisol-conscious workout all about?

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HOME & FAMILY 34

WORKING SMARTER

Setting up your home office to boost your brainpower

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

Make sea glass candy at home

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www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

Brain

EDITOR’S NOTE

HEALTH

DEAR READER,

When I initially was deciding on themes for 2020’s Bangor Metro issues, I spent a lot of time thinking about the things we’ve covered in the past and the things we haven’t yet tackled. Along the way, brain research in Maine came to my attention. As I dug more into the topic, I realized that with Brain Health Awareness week being March 12 to March 19, it was the perfect time to look at the brain and Maine. What an interesting topic it turned out to be! From how to better care for your brain (page 44) to practicing mindfulness (page 48) to the importance research surrounding sleep and brain health happening in Maine (page 40), our writers have looked at the brain in many varied ways this month.

I HOPE YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND GET INSPIRED TOO. Plus, we’re taking you inside the exciting collaboration between the Maine Science Festival and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra happening this month (page 14). And don’t miss any of your favorites — from how-tos (page 38) to cooking (page 18) to Aislinn Sarnacki’s Hike ME column (page 24). HOPE YOU LOVE THIS ISSUE AS MUCH AS I DO.

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro bangormetro talkback@bangormetro.com

4 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Katie Smith, Bob Duchesne, Emily Morrison, Crystal Sands, Sam Schipani, Karen Tietjen, Natalie Feulner www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

6 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

SPRING CLEANING

This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written permission of the Publisher. Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates from Portland, Maine. Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit. Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication. Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metro’s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine both in print and online. Editorial: Queries should be sent to 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

“

JAM?

Whenever I am doing something that requires me to get moving — like spring cleaning — I love to put on some Broadway show tunes. It reminds me of my theatre-geek days in high school, and I forget that I am dancing with a broom or cleaning the counter for a second.” — SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

“Sadly, as much as I love the coming of spring, historically I have never been one to engage in the annual tradition of spring cleaning. Or, as they say in the French speaking St. John Valley, the ‘Grand Menage.’ Regardless of the season, I give my house the minimum it needs to not have the health department come in. When I feel it needs better cleaning, I schedule a dinner party. When I feel it needs a deeper clean, I invite my in-laws. (Disclaimer — I now have a wonderful person who comes in every other week to clean. It’s an indulgence I allow myself and love.)” — JULIA BAYLY, STAFF WRITER

“Genre-bending Spanish songstress Rosalía’s dramatic flamenco-pop bop ‘Juro Que’ has me dancing my way through spring cleaning (and, once I’ve tired of playing it on repeat, I can always switch over to her seminal 2018 album, ‘El Mal Querer,’ which never gets old).” — SAM SCHIPANI, STAFF WRITER

“I clean to the sound of my dishwasher.” — ROSEMARY LAUSIER, STAFF WRITER

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

MARCH Join the Bangor Symphony Orchestra for lunch with their adult education series held at Bangor Arts Exchange. BSO Deep Dives: The Warming Sea offers patrons an indepth look at a new composition by Lucas Richman which will be premiered later in March as part of the Maine Science Festival. Event-goers will be led on a musical journey by Lucas Richman and special guest Kate Dickerson from the Maine Science Festival. $20 per person includes a light lunch with coffee, tea, and cookies. Tickets available from the BSO. bangorsymphony.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 14TH ANNUAL WINTER BEACH BALL Get a little slice of summer this March with an annual event for a good cause. The Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Auxiliary’s annual Winter Beach Ball, will be held at the Anah Shrine, 1404 Broadway, on Saturday, March 7 beginning at 7 p.m. The event 8 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show

will benefit the Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Tickets are available online at northernlighthealth.org/Locations/ Foundation/Events-and-Programs/2020/ March/EMMC-Auxiliary-Beach-Ball.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 PURIM MASQUERADE BALL Dancing, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and a masque contest will be the highlights of the Purim Masquerade Ball planned for March 7 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Bangor Arts Exchange Ballroom. This event will benefit the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine & Cultural Enrichment Programming by Beth El. Tickets are $25 per person or $15 per student with ID. eventbrite.com/e/ purim-masquerade-ball-and-silent-auctiontickets-89434092779

MARCH 12-29 SAFETY NET Chris Dove is the first female fire captain in a small Alabama town. That town is at war

with opioids and Chris is facing it head-on with her heart-out. Her spitfire-of-a-mother tries to conjure stability with bundt cakes and Bible verses, but when Chris’ childhood friend drifts back into their lives, each woman finds herself at a tipping point between what is safe and what saves. In partnership with the Maine Science Festival, this brand new play is provocative and timely. Tickets available via the Penobscot Theatre Company box office.

MARCH 13-15 EASTERN MAINE SPORTSMEN’S SHOW Every year over 150 vendors, ranging from sporting goods dealers to hunting and fishing guides, gather at this event. The Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show is a great place to see the latest outdoor activities and products. The show runs from Friday to Sunday at the University of Maine Field House in Orono. Tickets are $8 for those ages 12 and up. PHOTO: BDN FILE

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 LUNCH WITH THE BSO

MARCH 13-15

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

STILL STUMPED? Here are the answers to last month’s Pop Quiz.



  Answers to this month’s Pop Quiz on page 13: Question 1: D; Q2: A; Q3: A; Q4: C; Q5: B.

10 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

WHAT’S HAPPENING TUESDAY, MARCH 17 THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS From the iconic music to the creative stunts to the amazing ball action, the Harlem Globetrotters bring a unique blend of showmanship and athleticism in every

performance. See them with their unrivaled family show on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. crossinsurancecenter.com

MARCH 18-22 MAINE SCIENCE FESTIVAL

Science is everywhere, and for one weekend in March every year, it’s thoroughly explored for the enjoyment of kids at SUNDAY, MARCH 15 the Maine Science Festival. This year’s festival is being held on March 18STATEHOOD DAY CELEBRATION 22 at the Cross Insurance Center. The State of Maine turns 200 years old in 2020, There are also pop-up locations and there are many events planned to celebrate throughout greater Bangor for the Bicentennial. Among them is the Statehood climate change art, music and Day Celebration that will take place at the Augusta more. From virtual reality to Armory, 179 Western Avenue in Augusta, at 1 p.m. Maine’s fascinating crustaceans, on March 15. The event will feature music by a sleep to the science of dog training, live orchestra and choir, poetry, speeches the there’s so much to explore at that Maine congressional delegation, the state can’t-miss event. Find out more at historian and members of the Penobscot mainesciencefestival.org. Nation, birthday cake and more! Free.

MARCH 21-22 MAINE MAPLE WEEKEND Sugarhouses throughout the state will open their doors for a variety of activities from free maple syrup samples to demonstrations on how pure Maine maple syrup is made. Many farms offer games, activities, treats, sugarbush tours, music, and so much more. Visit mainemapleproducers.com/mainemaple-sunday for a directory of farms participating and details.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 12TH ANNUAL SYMPHONY SOIREE The 12th annual Symphony Soiree will celebrate Lucas Richman’s 10th season leading the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Bid on unique and exciting items in live and silent auctions, snack on delicious food and take in the great entertainment. Proceeds benefit the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and its education programs. $70 per person. bangorsymphony.org/soiree/buy-tickets

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

WHAT’S HAPPENING

HERE’S A LOOK AT JUST A FEW SPECIAL EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH... 2 1 1: More than 1,000 people gathered at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor for the annual Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner. 2: Hodgdon Mill Pond School recently held its annual “Geography Bee.” Students participating in this year’s event were (seated from left) Reiley Wright (runner up), Hayden Crowley (winner), and Addison LaPointe (third place); and (back row) Alyssa Elland, Elijah Fournier, Natalie Bartlett, Molly Suitter, Ava Wells, Shae Gilbert and Anne Hopkins. 3: The Brewer Kiwanis’ 2020 Wishing Under the Stars Gala was held recently. In the past seven years, the organization has presented Make-A-Wish Maine with $225,000, enough to grant 33 complete wishes for children with life threatening illnesses right here in our community.

SHARE YOUR EVENT PHOTOS! 12 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

Email your photos and captions to

talkback@bangormetro.com

PHOTOS: (1) MICHAEL DOWD; (2) JOSEPH CYR: (3) JEFF KIRLIN / THE THING OF THE MOMENT; (4) COURTESY OF SUNDAY RIVER; (5) JENNY WATSON

BREATH IN, BREATH OUT... Focus your mind and play our brain health Pop Quiz!

4 4: Every year Butch and Roseann Gower of Pittsfield create an amazing holiday display, with lights synchronized to music played on 89.1 FM. Santa was available this year to discuss important holiday wish list matters with kids like Ron Watson IV, son of Jenny and Ron Watson. 5: In keeping with 20 years of holiday tradition, Sunday River held its annual Santa Sunday event in December. 240 Saint Nicks skied and snowboarded to raise $6,200 for The River Fund, which is the highest fundraising total in the event’s history. The River Fund helps kids in the area to achieve success and growth through education and recreation.

Find answers on page 10! FIND ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S POP QUIZ ON PAGE 10! www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

ARTS & CULTURE

MUSIC & SCIENCE At the intersection of

“THE WARMING SEA” TRANSLATES SCIENCE TO SOUND BY SARAH WALKER CARON

CAN THE MELODIES of music tell a story 200 years in the making that’s steeped in science? That’s the goal of a new performance by the Bangor Symphony Orchestra this March as part of the Maine Science Festival. “The Warming Sea” is a brand-new symphony written by Lucas Richman, conductor of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, written after months of learning and research about climate change in Maine. It will be performed for the first time ever on March 22 at Collins Center for the Arts. “I love pulling together the idea and finding the structure by which those ideas can be best heard and understood,” Richman said. Richman, an award-winning composer, and Kate Dickerson, the founder and director of the Maine Science Festival, worked in collaboration to develop the piece. Together, they spent months visiting scientists and experts throughout the state

14 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

learning first-hand from them how Maine is being impacted by climate change. “I’ve had what adds up to my own personal seminar on climate change and the effects it’s had on the Gulf of Maine,” Richman said. The education in climate change provided by Dickerson has taken the pair all over the state, visiting oceans, marshes, interior lands and more. Along the way, experts shared their knowledge, teaching him about the impact on water, temperature, marine life and more. “Every person we have met has a different view of what’s most important,” Richman noted. “Somewhat by design,” Dickerson admitted. By showing Richman the many facets of climate change and its effects, Dickerson was able to give him a broad understanding of the issue so it could be translated to music. It’s been an evolution of knowledge.

“I have found that inspiration comes from the most unique places,” Richman said. But how does one translate science to music? Richman began with the data — specifically, 200 years of temperature variations. Richman said that the symphony he’s written has 200 measures, each representing a year in Maine’s history and the average temperature data from that year. From there, he’s built history into the piece. The foghorn, for instance, wasn’t introduced until 1859, so an ode to that will happen in that measure of the piece. “Included with the standard orchestra, I will have ‘found’ elements that are added to the percussion section including the use of seashells and other elements that will invoke the environment and the ocean,” Richman said. The Bangor Area Children’s Choir and a women’s chorus will also bring the piece to life.

“I HAVE FOUND THAT INSPIRATION COMES FROM THE MOST UNIQUE PLACES,” RICHMAN SAID.

“I knew I wanted to have a women’s chorus as part of this but I didn’t quite know why but then it came to me: the women represent the sirens that would lure the sailors to their deaths on the rocks,” Richman said. “In this case, they represent the climate change deniers. Their song is very seductive and if we all listen to it, we will all die.” Richman wrote the song — a poem — and had it translated into Greek, the language it will be performed in. The result, they hope, will be a piece with broad impact and reach. Dickerson sees this collaboration as a way to bring the subject to a larger audience. Richman hopes that, “communities will recognize that what we’re doing here is applicable in their communities.” “We’re all smarter together,” Dickerson said.

The collaboration has been more fun than Dickerson anticipated. But it has also fulfilled something she’s seen clearly before: science and art can complement each other and get messages to a greater audience. “Brilliance in isolation cannot be seen or heard,” Richman said. The 3 p.m. performance, “Sounds of the Sea,” will also include “La Mer” by Claude Debussy and “Bicentennial Fanfare,” written by Rockland-native Walter Piston, among other works.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

OBSESSIONS

OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

EAT LUCY’S REALLY NUTTY PECAN GRANOLA FROM EAST BLUE HILL, MAINE WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Call me crunchy, but I do love granola. As a breakfast cereal with milk, as a topping for yogurt or by the handful as a snack. Good quality granola has it all — sweet, crunchy and when not consumed by too many handfuls as a time it’s a healthy selection. Lucy’s Really Nutty Pecan Granola, made here in Maine in Blue Hill by business founder Lucy Benjamin pushes all those flavor and texture buttons for me. Benjamin makes all of her granolas in small batches and without using chemical or artificial ingredients. In the nutty pecan it’s a mix of rolled oats, pecans, wheat and spelt flakes and flax meal. For the touch of perfect sweetness she uses maple syrup and honey. I love it on yogurt, on ice cream and — of course — by the handful. I found Lucy’s Really Nutty Pecan Granola is available at Tiller & Rye [20 Main Street, Brewer] and it’s available in health food stores and grocery stores around central Maine in addition to online at www.lucysgranola.com. — JULIA BAYLY

WATCH PARASITE WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Bong Joon-ho’s black comedy-slash-thriller “Parasite” is a masterful rumination on class tensions, disappointed expectations and the karmic consequences of greed. The film is gorgeously shot, and the script is at once hilarious and heartbreaking. Anyone following this year’s Oscar’s buzz may already know that “Parasite” is set in South Korea, but the messages are undoubtedly universal. Even if you are subtitles-adverse, this is a movie that is worth broadening your cinematic horizons for. Look for it on DVD or Bluray. — SAM SCHIPANI

STREAM WHY DO WE LOVE IT? When it comes to movies, my tastes can best be described as eclectic. I’m a sucker for a good action flick, a cheesie disaster movie, a smart comedy or one that is forwarded more by solid dialog than action. Most recently, I streamed Troop Zero, an Amazon Prime Movie, and was enchanted. Set in rural 1977 Georgia, Troop Zero centers on misfit Christmas Flint, played in skinned knee, rumpled clothes, book-loving glory by Mckenna Grace. When 16 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

Christmas learns of a national competition among Birdie Scouts that offers the chance to have her voice recorded on NASA’s Golden Record, she rushes to join the local troop. When that troop won’t have her, Christmas collects and forms her own Birdie Scout group — Troop Zero. The cast also includes two of my favorite actresses: Viola Davis and Allison Janney to end up as competing Birdie Scout mamas. It’s funny,

poignant, sweet and yes, fairly predictable. I won’t spoil the ending, but it may not be bad to have a tissue or two handy if you are sucker for coming of age stories like I am. — JULIA BAYLY

PHOTO: TKTK

TROOP ZERO

READ

LOCAL EATS

Every month, many new books cross my desk. I purchase even more. These are a few that I particularly enjoyed and recommend. “CATHERINE’S WAR” BY JULIA BILLET — There’s been so much new, good literature about World War II lately. “Catherine’s War,” is an excellent example. This middle-graph graphic novel is a story of survival, heroism, talent and coming of age. It’s also a tale of the extraordinary efforts taken to protect some children during the war. The protagonist of this story captures what she sees and experiences with a camera given to her in a children’s home, even as she moves from place to place to stay safe. Based on a true story, it also includes a map the real-life journey taken by the author’s mother. (MIDDLE-GRADE GRAPHIC NOVEL) “ALL THE FLOWERS IN PARIS” BY SARAH JIO — Past and present are woven together in this breathtaking novel of survival. In Paris, during World War II, a young widow fights to keep her daughter safe even as her conditions worsen. In present-day Paris, a woman with amnesia fights to remember her past — and the daughter she catches glimpses of in flashes of memories. Beautifully written, I couldn’t put this down. (HISTORICAL FICTION)

“LET’S HATCH CHICKENS!” BY LISA STEEL AND ILLUSTRATED BY PERRY TAYLOR — Part story, part guide, this book is a cute and informative introduction to chickens hatching. The story of Violet, a chicken, educates kids about the process of chickens laying and hatching eggs. There’s also information about using an incubator to hatch eggs, holding chicks and more that also encourage responsible behavior. A good read for curious kids. (PICTURE BOOK)

Your ad could be on this page. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Food & Drink section. Call 990-8000.

“MUD, SAND, AND SNOW” BY CHARLOTTE AGELL — This board book caught my eye, knowing that mud season is on the way. Maine author and illustrator Charlotte Agell has created a colorful look at life and the seasons in Maine for the littlest readers. This is just the kind of book my kids loved when they were toddlers — not a story per se, just scenes of life and simple sentences about them. (BOARD BOOK) — SARAH WALKER CARON www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

in season now

FOOD & DRINK

PARSNIPS STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON

IN SOME PLACES, March is the time when crops get planted and farmers ready themselves for the summer growing season. That’s largely not true here in Greater Bangor (and much of Maine). Instead, we’re still enjoying storage crops like parsnips. Parsnips are a root vegetable with a similar shape to carrots. The two vegetables are related — edible cousins, if you will — but the flavors are distinctly different. Where carrots are sweet, parsnips are more savory. Keep an eye out for them at the farmers market. You can also often find them at local grocers too. Rich in potassium, folate and fiber, parsnips are a healthy addition to your eating habits. Try them in stir fries, stews, mashes and more. Or make the recipe below. It’s a great and easy introduction to this vegetable. In the parsnip fries recipe below, parsnips become a fry-like side dish, perfect for this time of year. A dusting of cornstarch and spritz of cooking oil gives them a crispy outside after baking. Seasoned with salt and pepper, they’re delightful dipped in ketchup. They’re also delightful roasted, as in the pasta at right.

BAKED PEPPERY PARSNIP FRIES 4 servings

INGREDIENTS Spray oil 1 lb parsnips (about 3), peeled and cut into French fry shapes ½ tsp cornstarch ½ tsp kosher salt ½ tsp pepper

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a parching sheet with parchment paper or other nonstick paper. Spray with a thin layer of oil. In a large bowl, toss together the parsnips, corn starch, salt and pepper. Spray in a single layer on the baking sheet. Spray with additional oil spray. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring and flipping once or twice, until golden. Remove from the oven. Serve.

18 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLE PASTA WITH TOMATOES 4 servings

INGREDIENTS 2 carrots, peeled and small diced 2 parsnips, peeled and small diced 5-6 small shallots, peeled and quartered 1 quart grape tomatoes 2 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper 1 15.5-oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed ½ pound gemelli pasta

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the carrots, parsnips, shallots and grape tomatoes on a nonstick baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the cannellini beans and stir. Spread into an even layer. Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the vegetables are tender. Cook gemelli pasta according to package directions, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. In a serving bowl. toss together the pasta and roasted vegetable mixture. Add the reserved water, a little at a time, to desired moistness. Taste and season, as needed, with salt and pepper. Enjoy!

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro magazine and the author of several cookbooks including “One-Pot Pasta,” “The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook,” and “Grains as Mains.” Her latest cookbook, “The Easy Appetizer Cookbook,” is out now from Rockridge Press. She is also the creator of the popular food blog Sarah’s Cucina Bella (www.sarahscucinabella.com).

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

FOOD & DRINK

Lucky FINDS 20 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

5 PLACES TO GET A ST. PATRICK’S DAY MEAL IN MAINE BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER

MY FIRST ST. PATRICK’S DAY away from home — my freshman year in college — I was determined to find an Irish meal to eat. Growing up, my mom would make an Americanized version of an Irish Boiled Dinner — corned beef, potatoes, turnips, carrots and cabbage cooked in one pot, typically called New England Boiled Dinner. I was excited to meet anyone who understood my undying love for “corned beef and cabbage.” I take great pride in my Irish roots, even making an annual trip to the outer edge of Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Ohio Street to help clean and put flowers on the grave of our ancestor, Seamus Finnegan. As I’ve gotten older, I feel more connected to my Irish heritage, but my favorite way to connect with it is through the food. Luckily in Maine, there is no shortage of Irish pubs where I can get my fix. From shepherd’s pie to colcannon, Maine’s Irish pubs bring the best of Ireland to the East Coast. Here is a list of the few where, Irish or not, you can still gather with a pint of Guinness and fully embrace the essence of “Erin go Bragh” — through food.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LEARY’S LANDING IRISH PUB; BDN FILE; COURTESY OF GEAGHAN’S PUB & CRAFT BREWERY

There’s more than one way to serve a sandwich at Leary’s Landing Irish Pub.

Doug Fuss, owner of Bull Feeney's stands with a pint of Geary's ale.

Andrew, Pat, Larry and Peter Geaghan of Geaghan's Pub & Craft Brewery.

 LEARY’S LANDING IRISH PUB 156 MAIN ST., BAR HARBOR Open since 2007, Leary’s Landing offers traditional pub fare such as shepherd’s pie made the traditional way with lamb, fish and chips (the patrons’ favorite) and Bangers and Mash made with bangers sausage, mushroom-onion gravy, garlic-herb mashed potatoes and vegetables to more classic New England staples such as fresh crab rolls and hamburgers. “It’s pretty much for everybody,” said Cody Gordon, owner of Leary’s since 2015. Leary’s also offers traditional Irish drinks such as Guinness, Magnus Irish Cider and a variety of whiskey. Although the food is inspired from across the pond, Leary’s also sources its meat somewhere much closer: A Wee Bit Farm in Orland.  BULL FEENEY’S 375 FORE ST., PORTLAND Sitting in the heart of Portland’s Old Port, Bull Feeney’s highlights Portland’s deep Irish roots. John A. Feeney emigrated from the village of Spiddal County Galway, Ireland to Portland in June 1854. John was the father of John “Bull” Martin Feeney, a Hollywood director. As its website reads: “Bull Feeney’s would like to honor those families who immigrated to Portland and elsewhere in the U.S. whether recently or, like Bull’s family, generations ago.” Opening on St. Patrick’s Day of 2002, Bull Feeney’s has some lesser known Irish dishes on its menu such as Bangers & Colcannon, a potato dish made with kale or cabbage served with the Irish pork sausage. Bull Feeney’s just wants to celebrate its Irish origins through the food.  GEAGHAN’S PUB AND CRAFT BREWERY 570 MAIN ST., BANGOR Geaghan’s Pub and Craft Brewery — formerly known as John Geaghan’s Roundhouse Restaurant — opened in 1975 and is today owned by brothers Larry, Peter and Pat and Larry’s son Andrew, who heads brewery operations. Adapting to customer preferences over the years, Pat Geaghan said they eventually settled into doing more comfort and pub food. “We became more of an Irish pub. Because that was our true identity,” he said. And the Geaghan’s food lives up to that. The pub serves corned beef and cabbage on Wednesdays, pot roast on Thursdays and will offer traditional Irish specials throughout the year such as Dublin coddle — a sausage potato stew — and colcannon. And don’t forget to try the Bailey’s pie before you leave — a recipe borrowed from another Peter Geaghan over in Ireland.

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FOOD & DRINK

Byrnes Irish Pub in Brunswick.

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PADDY MURPHY’S 26 MAIN ST., BANGOR John Dobbs first opened the downtown Bangor staple Paddy Murphy’s in 2007. With roots in Northern Ireland, Dobbs said he loved the culture, sounds and excitement that the pub scene provides. The outer sign of Paddy’s reads “The Best of Ireland With a Taste of Maine,” and it couldn’t be more true. Dobbs said that while they do have traditional Irish foods, Paddy’s tries to include Maine favorites like blueberries and seafood to the menu seasonally. Paddy’s offers traditional American staples for those who aren’t a fan of Irish fare such as avocado fries (my personal favorite), chicken fingers and an assortment of salads and burgers. But on the the menu are the featured “Irish Jewels,” which include customer favorite Dublin Fish and Chips, Guinness Stew, Cottage Pie — ground beef, onions and spices topped with a potato crust and cheddar cheese — and traditional soda bread. Add a Guineess or Murphy’s and you’re all set. And St. Patrick’s at Paddys is an experience. With doors opening at 6 a.m., Dobbs said customers “line up the door and out the block.” BYRNES’ IRISH PUB 16 STATION AVE., BRUNSWICK AND 38 CENTRE ST., BATH Joe Byrnes and his wife Pam opened the first Byrnes’ location in Brunswick on St. Patrick’s Day in 2008 and their second location in Bath the same day two year later. Like Geaghan’s, Byrnes’ Irish Pub is also a family business with two of the couple’s three children serving as managers of the two locations. Byrnes’ does a little bit of a twist with some Irish favorites, making its shepherd’s pie with beef and pork and a Guinness onion gravy, as well as American favorites like the BLT. But there are some meals you can’t deny are quintessentially Irish. From the potato dish champ and Irish Bangers and Mash (made with Maine potatoes) to corned beef hash and a reuben made with corned beef instead of pastrami, this place can be marked as the real deal in my book.

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

Angela Gamble serves customers on St. Patrick’s Day (above) and makes a four-leaf clover design in a glass of Guinness.

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HIKE ME

A bench is located by the edge of Seaward Mills Stream near a hiking trail of Seaward Mills Stream Conservation Area in Vassalboro.

SHINRIN-

YOKU PLACES TO FOREST BATHE IN MAINE STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

SUNLIGHT FILTERS THROUGH the treetops, illuminating patches of the forest floor. The hiker stops on the trail, selects one of these bright-lit spaces, and takes a seat. The ground, covered with a layer of pine needles, is cool and soft beneath her. A breeze brushes her face, carrying with it the scent of sap and decaying leaves. Overhead, a chickadee sings and a woodpecker drums. “It is by relaxing into the forest’s embrace that we are most likely to receive its benefits,” M. Amos Clifford wrote in his 2018 guidebook to forest bathing. A practice that originated in Japan, forest bathing — “shinrin-yoku” in Japanese — is

a form of therapy or healing that involves immersing and being present in nature. At first glance, the term may inspire images of skinny dipping in a woodland watering hole, but the practice rarely involves water or nakedness. More often, it simply means sitting or lying on the ground and experiencing your natural surroundings with your five senses. In her 2019 book “Forest Bathing: A Start Here Guide,” Naturopathic doctor Cyndi Gilbert wrote of the practice’s benefits. “Spending more time in green and blue spaces of the natural world can help to normalize blood pressure and blood sugar, build resilience to stress, increase vitamin D

stores, encourage healthy aging, ameliorate mood and enhance cognitive functions,” Gilbert wrote. In recent years, this practice has gained momentum in the United States, including Maine. Local guides have started to offer guided forest bathing sessions at preserves and parks. But it’s also something that people can pursue on their own, without any special equipment or skills. To help you get started, here are a few quiet woodland trails where you can find great spots to forest bathe. Once you get there, remember to slow down. Breathe deep, and open yourself up to the world around you.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

SEAWARD MILLS STREAM CONSERVATION AREA

IN VASSALBORO EASY

Owned and managed by the Kennebec Land Trust, the 44-acre Seaward Mills Stream Conservation Area features a mixed deciduous forest, a stand of mature hemlocks, 3,800 feet of frontage on the historic Seawards Mills Stream and 15 acres of agricultural fields. A 0.7-mile trail explores the forested part of the property and travels close to the banks of the stream, where benches are located at scenic locations. These rustic seats present an opportunity to relax by the rushing water. The most common forest on the property is aspen-birch, according to Kennebec Land Trust. But youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also notice several large oak trees, a sugar maple forest, and a mature hemlock stand. Also, along the stream, you can find patches of bluejoint, a type of tall, long-lived grass that serves as food and cover for certain animals, including deer, muskrats and moose. The property is open to the public for hiking, nature observation, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hunting. Motorized vehicles are not permitted. Dogs should be under voice command or on a leash. For more information, visit tklt.org or call 207-377-2848. 26 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

MCLELLAN-POOR PRESERVE IN

NORTHPORT

EASY TO MODERATE

A yellow-rumped warbler perches on the branch of a budding tree.

DIRECTIONS: From Route 201 in Vassalboro, drive east on the Webber Pond Road for 1 mile, then turn right onto Hannaford Hill Road. Drive 2.1 miles, then turn left onto Cross Hill Road. Drive 1.6 miles, then turn right onto Seawards Mills Road. Drive about 0.2 mile and the sign marking the trailhead is across the field on your right, at the edge of the woods. Park on the side of the road, well out of the way of traffic. Do not park in field entrances (what looks like a pull out or the beginning of a driveway).

The 66-acre McLellan-Poor Preserve is owned and maintained by the Coastal Mountains Land Trust. The property features mature forestland, two large brooks flowing through distinct ravines, an abandoned field and overlooks on Belfast Reservoir Number One, which is a 37-acre pond maintained by the Belfast Water District. Four intersecting hiking trails explore the preserve. Altogether, these trails total just over 2 miles and have two trailheads, which have small parking lots and kiosks. The forest on the preserve features a wide variety of old trees, including large yellow birch trees with golden bark, and some mature ash and hemlock trees. During spring run-off, the brooks are rushing with water. And where the Overlook Trail reaches the banks of the pond, the sun bathes a forested hill; there the snow will often melt away before it does in the more shaded, sheltered areas of the forest. This makes it a great spot to forest bathe in early spring. The preserve is open year round during daylight hours. Wheeled vehicles, horses, camping and fires are not permitted. Dogs are permitted but must be leashed at all times. Hunting is permitted. For more information, visit coastalmountains.org or call 207-236-7091. DIRECTIONS: The preserve has two parking lots. The largest parking lot is on Route 1, about 100 yards south of the Belfast-Northport town line. If driving from Belfast, it will be on your right. The other parking lot, which only fits about two vehicles, is on Herrick Road, about 0.6 miles from where Herrick Road begins at the intersection of Perkins Road and Lower Congress Street. Driving away from that intersection, the parking lot will be on your left. Both parking lots are marked with signs. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

SUNKHAZE MEADOWS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

IN MILFORD

EASY TO MODERATE Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a large parcel of conserved land just north of Bangor that features a number of short hiking trails. These trails travel through a beautiful mature forest to views of the boardwalks and wildlife observation platforms at the edge of the meadow. The trails in the refuge are: 3.5-mile Johnson Brook Trail, 1.5-mile Carter Meadow Road and 1.3-mile Oak Point Trail. In addition, a 0.1-mile trail leads to the refuge’s Ash Landing Canoe Launch, and the 2-mile road

McLaughlin Road is a good place to walk because it’s only open to vehicles from September through November (hunting season). These trails are almost never crowded. In fact, you’re more likely to run into resident wildlife — such as a ruffed grouse or white-tailed deer — than you are to cross paths with another person. In the spring, expect sections of these trails to be muddy and wet. Wear waterproof footwear. Snow often melts from boardwalks and observation platforms before it melts from the ground. Therefore, if

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.

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forest bathing in early spring, these wooden structures may offer a dry seat for you. The trails are for foot traffic only. Dogs are permitted but must be kept under control at all times. Hunting and trapping is permitted on the property. For more information, visit fws.gov/refuge/sunkhaze_ meadows or call (207) 454-7161. DIRECTIONS: From Route 2 in Milford, turn onto County Road and travel approximately 8 miles to a short drive on the left. The drive leads to a small parking area and kiosk with information and a map of Johnson Brook Trail. The loop trail begins on an old, grassy road that is gated off near the kiosk. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29

HEALTH & FITNESS

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WORK IT

OUT CORTISOL-CONSCIOUS WORKOUTS ARE TRENDY, BUT WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY? BY SAM SCHIPANI

IN A WORLD marked by uncertainty and instability, our society has become increasingly aware of the role that stress plays in our daily lives. As “self-care” becomes a part of our lexicon and soothing face masks fly off convenience store shelves, it seems only right that “cortisolconscious” workouts would emerge as the latest trend in fitness. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that responds to stress or danger by increasing your body’s metabolism of glucose. “The role of cortisol acutely is to activate a fight or flight concept,” said Tudor Vrinceanu, a PhD candidate in the Department of Medicine at the University of Montreal who studies cortisol, exercise and aging. “When you exercise, if it’s intense enough, you release cortisol to direct the resources your body needs.”

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HEALTH & FITNESS Recently, though, trendy trainers and studios point to other impacts of the hormone. For example, cortisol temporarily hits pause on some bodily functions, including immune response and bone formation. Studies have also linked high levels of cortisol production to increased abdominal fat (evolutionarily, visceral fat protects the organs, which is useful in stressful situations in the wild). Enter “cortisol-conscious” workouts. The workouts claim to burn up to 1,000 calories per class through high-intensity, lowimpact interval training — think more rowing machines and stretchy resistance-bands, fewer burpees and deadlifts. A number of popular health and fitness blogs and publications have named cortisol-conscious workouts the hot exercise trend for the new decade. Gyms centered around cortisol-consciousness, like P.Volve and LIT Method, have cropped up in the epicenter of trendy health and fitness: Los Angeles. As with hot yoga and CrossFit before it, cortisolconscious workouts could soon find their way to Maine. But what does science say about this new trend in workouts? The body produces cortisol throughout the day at fluctuating levels, Vrinceanu said. Regular exercise helps you to better manage those fluctuations so you are less stressed. “There have been studies that show that cortisol released from exercise might be beneficial,” Vrinceanu said. “The more you work out, the level at which the cortisol is released [increases], and you have to work out even harder to get to the threshold.” But what about that belly fat? Vrinceanu said that many of these studies that link cortisol to fat storage focus on chronic stress producing consistently high cortisol levels, which is not the same as the burst of cortisol produced by exercise. Exercising with an eye towards stress is not necessarily a bad thing for certain competitive athletes, though. “There’s a lot of work done in endurance athletes that compete in competitive levels,” Vrinceanu said. “When they do intense exercise, even at rest, they have higher cortisol levels that may delay recovery. For the average person that’s working out, I don’t think it will make a huge difference.” The trending popularity of low-intensity cortisol-conscious workouts might be a response to the prevalence of high-intensity workouts, like CrossFit. Adam Swartzendruber, assistant professor in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, said that these gyms have a high rate of injury not because of cortisol, but because of beginners attempting highimpact workouts that their bodies aren’t ready for. “It sounds to me that [gyms promoting cortisol-conscious workouts] are just giving another name to workouts that will help [people] be more fit without overtraining them,” he said. “It’s already something trainers should be doing in the first place. The studios that are advertising cortisol-conscious workouts aren’t necessarily lying. It’s just not the whole picture. Cortisol is not the problem.” Vrinceanu recommended mixing it up when it comes to your exercise regimen. “Different kinds of training have different benefits,” Vrinceanu said. “If you do intense exercise, you get a lot of cardiovascular benefits that you wouldn’t get from a softer exercise training, but at the same time, those other exercises give you other benefits. Dance has benefits on chronic levels of cortisol that aerobic exercise doesn’t seem to have. It’s best to combine all different types of exercise in a training routine.” 32 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

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HOME & FAMILY

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WORKING

Smarter SETTING UP YOUR HOME OFFICE TO BOOST BRAINPOWER BY KAREN TIETJEN

ANYONE WHO’S WORKED from home knows that it’s a double-edged sword: You’re in the comfort of your own home, but it’s a challenge to stay focused around household distractions like noisy family members, unfinished chores, and easy access to your television or the snack pantry. But whether you’re looking to log some post-office hours, you work remotely full-time, or you just need a nook for paperwork, there are some tricks to setting up your home office to boost brainpower and get more done. Michelle Chase, owner and designer at Anchor Design Co. in Bangor, said that the first step toward making an efficient space is to define its purpose. When it comes to decorating for clients, “I always begin by assessing how they’ll be using the home office,” she said. Some questions she considers (that you should, too): “Are they looking for a place to organize and pay bills? Will they be working out of the office? How many hours a day do they anticipate spending in there? And sometimes most importantly, how many people will be using the office?” CREATE A CALM ATMOSPHERE Jeanie Rogers, a licensed clinical social worker who owns Healing Tree Therapy LLC, a private practice in downtown Bangor, knows the importance of ambiance when it comes to decorating an office. As a therapist, she strives to create a soothing environment for both herself and patients, vibes that can enhance any workspace, no matter your industry. To capture a sense of calm and keep your thought process flowing (and anxiety at bay), consider taking Rogers’ approach. “Light and natural-colored walls such as beige, cream, yellow, and light blue contribute to a positive mood,” she said. Chase is also partial to seaworthy hues. “My office has high ceilings and features a floor-to-ceiling wall of open shelving that’s painted a great shade of blue/green,” she said. “That color reminds me of my favorite place — the water — and is always inspirational!” In the name of keeping the calm — and blocking the chaos out — having a space where you can shut the door, or at least turn your back from the rest of your home, can minimize distractions while you’re trying to stay on-task. LIGHTING Lighting is also key in setting the tone you’re after; to some extent, it’s dependant on the work you do, Rogers said. In Rogers’ case, the goal is to promote relaxation, so in her office, “Desk and floor lamps provide an atmosphere that feels safe and warm.” When it comes to where you work, consider whether a too-dim glow will make you too sleepy, and notice if you feel energized by natural light. If setting up shop near a window isn’t an option, consider daylight-mimicking bulbs that keep you alert without causing excess eye strain. INCORPORATE NATURE Especially during the long Maine winters, bringing a bit of the outside in can make your home office feel fresh. “I believe every workspace needs life,” said Chase. “I always incorporate live plants of various sizes and types.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35

HOME & FAMILY Her favorites include low-maintenance succulents and air plants that thrive in off-theground planters. “I love to use air plants in interesting containers, and can always find what I’m looking for at The Rock and Art Shop in Downtown Bangor,” she said. “The store is full of whimsical items!” EQUIP YOUR AREA FOR ORGANIZATION Of course, it’s difficult to be productive when your work area is in chaos. “Research shows that clutter may be a contributor to anxiety and depression,” Rogers explained. So when it comes to equipping your space for cleanliness, look for chic storage options that do double-duty as decor. Chase knows this from experience. “I need to have a clutter-free work area, so I’ve incorporated several file cabinets and drawer storage for supplies,” Chase said of her own home office. “My wall shelves are both functional and decorative. I use them to store blueprints, client portfolios, and house my printer.” MAKE THE SPACE YOURS While a home office serves a functional purpose, Chase emphasizes that it shouldn’t be sterile. “Don’t be afraid to let your personal style shine through in your office space,” she advised. “Use colors and textures that speak to you, motivate you, and draw you in.” Some of her favorite personal touches in her workspace include “Photos of my family, plants, and a large wooden countertop square that belonged to my father are out in the open ... All things that hold meaning to me.” Further, she recommends choosing decor that’s tailored to your taste. “I believe a desk, chair, and area rug that suits your personality is important,” she said. “Whether it be dark wood with a formal feel, distressed lighter-toned wood with a relaxed, beachy style, or glossy and modern, it should reflect your style and be a place you want to sit at!” After all, how can you practice peak brainpower in a place that feels impersonal? “If it isn’t a room you look forward to being in, you’re killing your motivation before you even walk through the door!” the designer said.

FOR SALE

REALTORS

Your listing could be on this page. Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section. Call 990-8000.

36 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

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HOW-TO

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

MAKE YOUR OWN

SEA GLASS CANDY ONE OF MY SON’S favorite things to do is collect sea glass. Scouring a sandy beach for treasure is a pretty great way to spend some time and he’s done a lot of it — with bags of sea glass stashed all over our house to prove it. Also high on his list of favorites: candy. So when his third grade teacher brought in sea glass candy for a holiday treat, he couldn’t wait to tell us all about it and try making it at home. With some grownup assistance, this project is really simple, lots of fun and comes together quickly. Plus you get a tasty treat in the end. Plan to have all of your ingredients, a candy thermometer and a parchment-lined sheet pan all ready to go before you start. We found the trickiest part of this project was moving quickly once the sugar was up to temperature. Because you’re melting sugar to a high temperature, it’s a good plan to have an adult do the melting, then the kids can help out when things cool off. Making hard candy is pretty simple: combine sugar and syrup and boil to the “hard crack” stage — which is conveniently marked on candy thermometers (at about 310°F). Then we added our flavor and a drop of food coloring (it doesn’t take much. Less is more for the “glass” effect). Then we poured the hot mixture onto the parchment paper to let it cool. We stuck ours in the fridge to move the cooling process along. Once your candy is hard and set up, the fun begins. Using something hard (like the end of a rolling pin), start smashing. Once you’ve got bitesized pieces, dust them with powered sugar to prevent sticking. Wipe the candies off with a clean dish towel and you’ve got delicious “sea glass.” 38 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Candy thermometer • 1 cup sugar • 1 /4 cup corn syrup • 1 /4 cup water • Confectioners sugar • 1 /2 tsp flavor extract (optional) • Food coloring • Parchment paper • Baking sheet

DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. In a saucepan with a candy thermometer attached to the side, stir together 1 cup of sugar, 1/ 4 cup of corn syrup and 1/ 4 cup of water. This will make a small batch of candy — if you want to make a larger batch, simply double the amounts. It’s an easy recipe to adjust, depending on your needs. 2. Over medium heat, boil the ingredients, stirring frequently. Keep a close eye on your candy thermometer. Boil the mixture until it reaches 310°F, the “hard crack” stage. 3. Take the mixture off the heat and let cool for about a minute until it stops boiling. If you want to make multiple colors or flavors, pour some of the mixture into a heat-safe measuring cup. Add the flavor and food coloring. The candy sets quickly, so you’ll have to work fast. 4. Stir and pour the hot liquid into a puddle on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Let cool. We put ours in the fridge to cool it off faster. 5. Once the candy is set and hard, use something hard (like the end of a rolling pin) to smash it into bite-sized pieces. 6. Put the pieces in a resealable bag with confectioners sugar and shake. This will prevent sticking. Wipe them off with a clean dish towel and you’re ready to eat.

CRAFTING

with KIDS

FEATURE

Getting your

ZZZ s WHY MAINE’S DOCTORS AND RESEARCHERS WANT TO WATCH YOU SLEEP BY SAM SCHIPANI

OVER THE PAST decade or two, scientists and clinicians alike have woken up to the importance of sleep, for both cognitive and physical health. Besides the day-to-day problems caused by lack of sleep (fatigue, lack of focus, crankiness — we’ve all been there), interrupted sleep has been increasingly linked to heart disease, stroke and Alzhemier’s disease. Certain factors in Maine make the struggle for sleep in the Pine Tree State unique. Clifford Singer, chief of Geriatric Mental Health and Neuropsychiatry at Northern Light Acadia Hospital, has been studying sleep for more than 30 years. He said two factors stand above the rest when it comes to understanding sleep in Maine: the aging population and the sunlight, or lack thereof.

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The extreme changes in daily sunlight between Maine’s winter and summer months can not only exacerbate seasonal depression — which itself can impact sleep — but, depending on the person, it can also muddle the body’s natural rhythms. “We each have different tendencies in our normal circadian rhythm and flexibility to adjust,” Singer said. “The problem in Maine is that your body clock may tend to get desynchronized because it’s not getting light exposure early enough in the morning, so your sleep time can drift later and later, and your wake up time can drift later and later.” Aging also impacts the quality of sleep. Singer said that as we age, sleep becomes more fragmented, with more nighttime awakenings and resulting daytime sleepiness.

The cognitive decline that comes naturally with aging often exacerbates sleep issues. Plus, older people are less likely to socialize and be active — both important to sustained cognitive health — in the winter, especially in rural areas. With the stakes for mental and physical health, doctors and researchers alike are working to better understand what keeps us from sleeping, how it impacts our health and what can be done to bring Mr. Sandman to more Mainers. HOW A SNORE TURNS INTO MORE Take sleep apnea, a common disorder affecting nearly 22 million Americans where interruptions in breathing during sleep cause regular, sometimes undetected, arousals. Even a slight gag in a rolling snore

is enough to impair attention, focus and retention throughout the day, even if the disturbances go unnoticed. “Sleep apnea is [a] source of problems with thinking and memory,” Singer said. “When your airways close and you’re struggling to breathe, that triggers a microarousal and that can happen hundreds of times during the night.” Sleep clinicians have also seen that sleep apnea is more common in aging populations. “We have the oldest state in the country,” said Robert Weiss, a pulmonologist and sleep disorders specialist at Mount Desert Island Hospital, “[and] sleep apnea is more common in the elderly.” Weiss, who has been practicing sleep medicine for over two decades, said that the number of referrals for the disorder have increased over the last decade. He said at the beginning of his career in Maine, he saw sleep apnea cases that fell in the classic paradigm — specifically, overweight, middle-aged men. Now, that’s changing. “In the last 10 or so years, we’re seeing more or more people we wouldn’t have thought of as having sleep apnea,” Weiss said. “We’re more aware of [sleep apnea], but we’re also getting older, we’re getting heavier [and] we have all these electronic things that are interrupting our sleep.” Stephen Gorman, medical director of the Maine General Sleep Disorders Clinic, has also observed an increase in the number and variety of sleep disorder patients in Maine over his 13 years practicing sleep medicine in the state. “The complexity of patients has increased,” Gorman said. “Many patients with sleep apnea have other medical conditions, and sleep apnea has been increasingly linked to cardiac problems.” THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SLEEP AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Increasingly, studies suggest that lack of sleep precedes — and may contribute to — the on-set of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers in Maine have started delving into this connection. “A reasonably large percentage of patients with Alzheimer’s disease also experience sleep disruption,” said Kristen O’Connell, principal investigator at the O’Connell Lab at The Jackson Laboratory.

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FEATURE “In many of those patients, sleep disruption precedes memory loss, but the methods that underlie it are not well understood.” The prevailing theory is that during sleep, the production of an amino acid called beta amyloid shuts down and the protein is cleared from the brain. The build-up of beta amyloid “plaques” that haven’t been cleared away is the first step in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are not yet sure how causal this connection is, though, given other factors, like diet, exercise and genetic makeup. To try to determine how central a role sleep plays in the on-set of the neurodegenerative disease, O’Connell and her colleagues at Jackson Lab genetically engineered lab mice with the same genetic markers present in humans with Alzheimer’s disease. O’Connell said that the genetically-engineered mice present similar symptoms as human Alzheimer’s patients, including neurodegeneration, synapse loss and cognitive impairment. The scientists study the mice — ones with the genetic markers, and control populations without that show what normal mouse aging should look like — over their lifetimes in different conditions. “In our studies, we are able to manipulate the light cycle, but we can also control exercise and socialization,” said Catherine Kaczorowski, principal investigator at The Jackson Laboratory. “You can start to disentangle which of those things matter more for cognitive disabilities and dementia.” The mice sleep in cages with sensors built into the floor to track the subjects’ breathing and movement during sleep to determine the quality and quantity of their sleep. “What we’re able to do is get at the mechanisms of sleep apnea disruptions in humans and ask is it casually related,” Kaczorowski said. “Whether sleep apnea is exacerbating the symptoms is very different from knowing whether it’s causing dementia.” BRINGING SLEEP STUDIES TO THE BEDROOM Though the mice at The Jackson Laboratory are considered, according to Kaczorowski, the

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“most translationally relevant mouse models pick up tiny movements in the bed that THE FUTURE OF SLEEP IN MAINE for Alzheimer’s disease,” the fact remains that could potentially be linked to developing As technology continues to advance, doctors studies like these are limited, for now, in that cognitive disorders — not unlike the mice in and researchers see potential for continuing they cannot be conducted on humans. the sensor-laden cages. to improve the availability of sleep data. Even for physicians, studying and “We make decisions using an artificial “There are a number of consumer treating sleep can be difficult. Conducting a intelligence software that we developed in our gadgets that have not been completely sleep study on a human in a lab is invasive. laboratory by looking at the characteristics of validated as medical devices, but there’s They require patients to stay at least people with mild cognitive impairment and probably a role in the future for more of the overnight in unfamiliar locations hooked what their sleep looks like [when it comes consumer wearable devices to monitor sleep up to various leads on their heart, chest, legs to] autonomic variables like tiny movements and aid in the diagnosis of sleep disorders and other parts of their bodies. Add that of your hands and respirations,” said Marie and treatment,” Gorman said. to the fact that much of the state’s aging Hayes, CEO and co-founder of Activas Though Singer works closely with population lives in rural areas. Diagnostics and professor of psychology at researchers across the state, he is generally “It is somewhat more difficult and the University of Maine. skeptical about the quality of data gained challenging to study sleep in a rural from human subjects using simple tests area,” Weiss said. “Typically, sleep centers when it comes to drawing broad conclusions are in cities, so access in rural Maine is about sleep and the brain. challenging.” “If you’re going to draw conclusions With advancing technology though about certain brain disorders, you need “THERE’S INCREASING sleep studies can be conducted at to know exactly who you’re studying,” home. Weiss described one home Singer said. “We want to make sure AWARENESS...ABOUT SLEEP, sleep test that is basically a sensor [the] cognitive problems aren’t in a box that is strapped to due to Parkinson’s or stroke or SO PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER the patient’s chest to monitor depression or medications or UNDERSTANDING OF ITS IMPORTANCE,” breathing along with a pulse any one of dozens of medical oximeter clipped to the finger and neurologic and psychiatric SINGER SAID. “THERE’S STILL A LITTLE to track oxygen levels. disorders. There’s too much BIT OF A BADGE OF HONOR OF PEOPLE “For testing for sleep heterogeneity in that system, apnea, it is preferred, and too much noise, too many BRAGGING ABOUT HOW LITTLE SLEEP insurance will only pay for other things impacting sleep THEY GET AND HOW LITTLE SLEEP a home sleep study,” Weiss and cognition.” said. “A very sick person or Still, Singer said, “It’s good THEY NEED [BUT] I THINK WE’RE someone who has complex to have a skeptic among people sleep disorders may have to come doing the research,” and he still GETTING PAST THAT. PEOPLE ARE in [to the lab].” believes that Maine is headed in a PRIORITIZING SLEEP MORE...” Home sleep studies do not positive direction. provide the same array of data that “There’s increasing awareness and lab tests do, but even diagnosing sleep sophistication about sleep, so people have apnea could bring patients one step closer a better understanding of its importance,” to improving brain health. Singer said. “There’s still a little bit of a “Those home tests have become badge of honor of people bragging about increasingly available in the last five to Hayes said that the non-invasive tech- how little sleep they get and how little sleep 10 years,” Gorman said. “That has helped nique will not only open access for doctors they need [but] I think we’re getting past with access.” to diagnose patients, but it will also help that. People are prioritizing sleep more. It’s Maine researchers are looking to yield more accurate results. an important public health issue.” take the in-home sleep test to the next “To do a really good sleep study is really level, especially with respect to detecting quite invasive,” Hayes said. “You do that to cognitive disorders. Activas Diagnostics, a person with mild cognitive impairment, a company founded by professors of that is not going to be ok. Very small electrical engineering, biomedical science disruptions are very big disruptions to them. and psychology at the University of Maine, We are excited to offer this product because has developed a mattress pad designed to it addresses the concern and discomfort.”

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FEATURE

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Train

your

BRAIN HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE BRAIN HEALTH BY KATIE SMITH

OUR SOCIETY is consumed with messages about staying healthy and fit. There are lots of resources available to help us keep our bodies working up to their highest potential through diet, exercise and drinking enough water. Meanwhile, many are concerned with taking enough time for self-care so we can keep our hair, nails and skin healthy. But what about brain health? It shouldn’t be overlooked. Our brains are in charge of all our organs and their functions so keeping them health is essential to our overall health. “Simply put, our brains and bodies are connected. An injury to the body is an injury to the brain and vice versa. Taking care of the brain by protecting it, feeding it properly, giving it plenty of rest and avoiding noxious rewards, we can help promote brain-health while preserving our identity and sense of self,” said Patrick McFarlane, director of Integrated Behavioral Medicine and Primary Care Psychiatry at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. Moreover, while our heart, liver, and lungs can be replaced, our brains are irreplaceable. So where do you begin with practicing good brain health?

PRACTICE A GOOD DIET Eating well is a good place to start, according to McFarlane. He suggests a well-balanced diet that is mindful of the updated USDA regulations is the best way to “feed” our brains. Since our brain is our master organ, it needs the same nutrients as the rest of our organs although certain foods have been coined as ‘brain foods.’ McFarlane said the term brain food refers to a diet rich in vegetables, grains, and Omega-3 fatty acids (as found in oily fish like salmon). “There are not definitive random controlled trials which support the notion of ‘superfoods’ for the brain,” McFarlane said. However, he does recommend avoiding processed foods when you can along with sticking to a balanced diet for brain health. According to Consumer Health Digest, spinach can help fight against dementia and improve brain function and dark chocolate can keep our memory sharp. COMMIT TO EXERCISE When you get moving, you aren’t just benefiting your body — it’s also

good for your brain, experts say. “Regular exercise that promotes movement, balance, breathing, and makes one sweat is generally good for the brain,” McFarlane said. So take a walk, go for a bike ride or head out on a hike. Your brain will thank you. But physical activity isn’t the only way we can exercise our brains. Anything which encourages us to socialize is good for the brain as well, McFarlane said. Our brains were created to make stories, and connections — so socializing works that storytelling and connection-making muscle. Likewise, we can also give our minds a workout by playing games or doing crossword puzzles for example. Playing games of memory and skill have popular efficacy for promoting brain health, McFarlane said. SLEEP WELL Tired? Do your brain a favor and give in. Sleep, too, is imperative for good brain health because while we are sleeping, our brain repairs itself, McFarlane said. If you’re feeling like you’re extra forgetful, your sleep habits could be the culprit. Sleep also seems to be where we consolidate memories, according to McFarlane.

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FEATURE

EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN 1

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ACROSS 1. Dip with tomatoes and onions 4. Focus your mind 8. You can call Paul Simon this 9. It’s not you, it’s __ 10. Stares menacingly 11. Mess up 12. The one in charge 15. Chai or chamomile 17. A record with more tracks than a single, but less than a whole album 18. Truth __ dare 20. Fatigued 22. What 80’s kids used to play Pong 23. Short sleeps 25. Former partner 46 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

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26. To some extent 27. Double it up to cheer for your team 28. Not opaque 30. Yang’s counterpart 31. Four-string instrument 32. Found in a traditional St. Paddy’s Day meal 35. One goes from Fort Kent to Florida 38. One of Maine’s tallest peaks 43. The FAA calls it a UAV 45. The Associated Press 46. First name of the original James Bond 48. Midwestern U.S. state 51. Slang for “no idea”

52. Walks and fundraisers in November often benefit this disease 54. Unclear speech 55. Home of the Galaxy 56. North or Red

DOWN 1. Good source of Omega-3 fatty acids 2. Beer 3. Too much can impact your brain health 5. Style of rock music 6. Skillful and clever 7. Electronic weapon 12. Forest ___ (a way to connect with nature)

Good sleep hygiene will set the stage for a restful night. To achieve this, McFarland said slightly cooler temperatures where you are sleeping will help. Darkness is also important as it’s a signal for our pituitary gland to release melatonin to relax for sleep. You should avoid artificial lights, including screens an hour or two before sleeping as it will help you rest more soundly, McFarlane said. STRESS Stress was also “inversely associated with cerebral brain volume,” according to a study published in November of 2019 in the journal Neurology. In other words, our brains actually get smaller due to stress. According to McFarlane, stress affects all the systems of the body and definitely has an impact on the brain. “Specifically the brain can be affected by cortisol or what we call ‘stress hormones,’” he said. In another study for Neurology, researchers from Harvard Medical

13. Green leafy vegetable reportedly helpful in fight against dementia 14. Rind 16. Not hard 19. One way to order a steak 21. A balanced diet and this are the keys to a healthy lifestyle 24. Friend 28. Ice cream question: Dish or ___? 29. First name of actor from “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Parks and Recreation” 31. Hormone produced in response to stress or danger 33. Mix of odorless, tasteless gases surrounding the earth

34. Self-esteem 36. One of many root veggies found in boiled dinner 39. Baby’s first word? 40. Sleep ___ is a disruption in breathing 41. Weaving apparatuses 42. Nickname for band led by Dave Grohl 43. Craig, Radcliffe, Bonaduce, Aykroyd 44. First name of head football coach at West Virginia University 47. Munchkinland and Emerald City can be found here 48. ___ Haw 50. Retirement account

School in Boston, Mass., reported, “Higher cortisol was associated with worse memory and visual perception, as well as lower total cerebral brain and occipital frontal lobar gray matter volumes.” As social animals, it’s important we get social support while we are stressed. Go to coffee with a friend, talk with your partner, or simply get out of the house. “This can help reduce your stress hormones and promote a return to pre-stress functioning,” said McFarlane. You may notice while you are in distress you crave more sleep, food or have the urge to isolate yourself but McFarlane suggests keeping up with a normal exercise routine, getting reassurance from others through socializing, and proper eating and sleeping can get you back to baseline functioning. If we take care of our brain, it will take care of us. It’s comforting to know that a few simple things like doing puzzles, keeping stress under control, and eating a healthy balanced diet, can help keep our brains healthy.

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Quieting

THE MIND HOW MINDFULNESS CAN BENEFIT YOUR LIFE BY NATALIE FEULNER

“Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know that I am breathing out.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

IN THE PAST two decades, the practice of mindfulness and meditation has gone from being a spiritual practice done at ashrams in India where it originated thousands of years ago, to as mainstream as the celebrities who tout its benefits. Headlines boast about mindfulness’ effectiveness at reducing stress, improving sleep and even helping with weight loss. Meditation retreats in beautiful, exotic locations promise a chance to reset and “dive deep” while phone applications make it easy to zen out on the go. But what is meditation really? What happens when the mind is quiet, and instead of chatter, it focuses on the simple yet profound act of breathing? In and out. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mindfulness as “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions or experiences on a moment-tomoment basis.” Simply put, it is being aware of the present moment and accepting it for what it is. “Informal mindfulness walking entails noticing what is happening as you move from one place to another,” said Rebecca MacAulay, assistant professor of Psychology at University of Maine in Orono. 48 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

Walking from the car to the grocery store, you may become aware of the sky and notice — is it grey? Is it blue? “Then perhaps you notice the sensation of your legs, your torso, your muscles moving as you’re moving forward,” MacAulay said. “You’re noticing the temperature on your skin, and you’re noticing the temptation to perhaps judge [that temperature].” It’s quieting that judgment, that’s key. “Our brains are constantly categorizing things, mindfulness stops the categorizing and helps us accept the moment for what it is,” MacAulay said. “You’re not trying to change it, and you’re not trying to influence how you feel, you’re simply aware.” Not to mention, with the invention and ever-increasing popularity of social media platforms, many people of all ages are focused on capturing the perfect photo of an activity rather than experiencing it. “I think about Snapchat or the selfies, we are missing the important moments in our lives because we’re thinking about taking a picture or telling someone about it later,” MacAulay said. “But then, you’re no longer there. You’ve left the room, and you’re thinking about the future.” Focus or concentration meditation — where the user thinks more about

l u o Sh deep breathing than perhaps a mantra or statement — is believed to activate the frontal lobe circuitry, the area of the brain focused on attention and cognitive control. The benefit? “It is improving our ability to not give in, by creating freedom from distraction, you are reinforcing the neurocircuitry that makes us better able to focus,” MacAulay said. That means practicing meditation on a regular basis, even briefly, can make you less likely to curse at the driver who cuts you off or respond negatively to an unplanned change. “It’s removing reactivity,” MacAulay said. “In clinical psychology, we work on pressing pause if someone is feeling strong emotions. With mindfulness [practices] they’re all encouraging you to be aware and in the moment.”

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? e t a t i , n d i e h t a m e r B I t u ld o h t brea FINDING YOUR FOCUS Focused meditation is just one of many types of mindfulness, and each carries different benefits. Just as important, though far less researched, MacAulay said, is knowing that mindfulness doesn’t work for everyone. “One of the things that’s probably less talked about and less understood is who doesn’t mindfulness work for,” she said. “It is becoming a panacea of sorts, and soon mindfulness is going to become the cure-all for everything.” In their book “Altered Traits,” authors Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson argue that while there are lasting results to meditation, it is not just about hours spent sitting on a pillow. To receive the longterm benefits, practitioners need to make

sure they are seeking master teachers and those well-trained in giving feedback and encouraging non-attachment. Still, MacAulay says benefits are undeniable. Other types of meditation include loving-kindness meditation, which aims to help the practitioner cultivate a sense of love and kindness toward everything. Body scanning meditation, on the other hand, encourages people to scan their bodies — one area at a time — looking for tension. Once noticed, meditators then try to release those areas and let go of the pressure they initially felt. Still, other meditation such as mindful walking and many styles of yoga, including Vinyasa and Kundalini, combines physical activity with deep breathing.

“With walking meditations, often you will start walking very slowly, you may even start off by standing, noticing that moment then taking very slow steps,” MacAulay said. “Usually it’s done in some form of a circle or back and forth and involves you noticing what it’s like to make each movement [required to move forward]. What it’s like to lift your foot, what you feel as the thigh muscles engage.” INCREASING ACCESS TO MEDITATION While meditation classes and retreats in Maine abound, MacAulay says in the coming year she and her Ph.D. level students will focus their research on making sure marginalized communities in the state have access to the skills needed to bring about more mindfulness. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49

FEATURE Older adults, she argues, or those in rural communities or in low socio-economic areas, may not have the resources to attend workshops or training sessions about mindfulness. But it’s those communities, she said, that could benefit greatly. “I recently returned from a MindfulnessBased Stress Reduction training … [but] being able to [do] that is a luxury,” MacAulay said. “I think what researchers need to look at is how we can get these things out in more rural areas, to older adults, more economically disadvantaged adults, it is extremely needed in stress management.” In the coming months, she and her students will begin working on that very idea. “If you think about meditation, it can be a bit esoteric, for example, the brain naturally starts wondering ‘am I doing this right.’ It can be really hard to pick up on your own,” MacAulay said. “We want to make it more accessible and look at can we teach these skills in workshops where we will boil down some of the components and make them more accessible.” Number one tip on her list? “Just try it.” And then, let go of any pretense that it will be easy. “When you first try meditation, you may notice your mind straying, and that’s normal,” MacAulay said. “We spend our lives thinking, our minds want to carry us away because that’s how the brain works. With meditation, you’re starting to quiet those networks, the self-referential component of the brain that causes us to ruminate, mindfulness can help quiet that. But it takes time, and it takes practice, so don’t get discouraged.”

“WHEN YOU FIRST TRY MEDITATION, YOU MAY NOTICE YOUR MIND STRAYING, AND THAT’S NORMAL... WITH MEDITATION, YOU’RE STARTING TO QUIET THOSE NETWORKS, THE SELF-REFERENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE BRAIN THAT CAUSES US TO RUMINATE, MINDFULNESS CAN HELP QUIET THAT.

50 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

MEDITATION IN MAINE Interested in learning more or trying out meditation for yourself? Check out one of these Maine-based classes or practice virtually from anywhere.

NORTHERN MAINE ARAYA WELLNESS offers public, semi-private and private meditation classes in Presque Isle and Mars Hill.

BANGOR AREA

ARAYAWELLNESS.COM

THE BLUE HERON WELLNESS CENTER offers drop-in meditation classes as well as other energy/mindfocuses workshops.

PORTLAND

WWW.THEBLUEHERONWELLNESSCENTER.COM OM LAND YOGA offers many different styles of yoga as well as occasional workshops like “Mindfulness of Yoga: Overcoming Barriers to Joy.” WWW.OMLANDYOGA.COM UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF BANGOR offers a mindfulness meditation group that meets regularly during the month.

PORTLAND ZEN MEDITATION CENTER offers regular Zen meditation classes as well as community meetings to discuss group issues and individual practice. WWW.PORTLANDZENCENTER.COM NAGALOKA BUDDHIST CENTER teaches two types of meditation — Mindfulness of Breathing meditation technique and Metta Bhavana meditation. WWW.NAGALOKABUDDHISTCENTER.ORG

WWW.UUBANGOR.ORG

THE MINDFULNESS CENTER OF MAINE in Saco offers workshops, courses, and consultations about mindfulness, meditation and personal growth.

MIDCOAST AREA

WWW.MINDFULNESSCENTER.ORG

THE MIDCOAST CENTER FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS offers several mindfulness programs, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. WWW.MIDCOASTHEALTH.COM/WELLNESS/ MINDFULNESS THE DANCING ELEPHANT in Rockland offers Buddhist and mindfulness teachings as well as a mindfulness eating group and a meditation and knitting group. WWW.ROCKLANDYOGA.COM THE HAVEN in Camden offers meditation retreats and courses, including Hemi-Sync, a binaural technology developed by Robert Monroe, who founded the nonprofit Monroe Institute. WWW.GOHAVEN.ORG NORTHERN LIGHT ZEN CENTER in Topsham offers meditation practice, training workshops and zen retreats led by zen masters and master Dharma teachers of the Kwan Um School of Zen. NLZC.INFO

VAJRA VIDYA PORTLAND is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation center offering retreats, classes and weekly study groups for those just starting with meditation as well as continuing practitioners. WWW.PORTLANDMAINEBUDDHISM.ORG OPEN HEART SANGHA in the Portland area is a sitting and walking meditation group that follows the teaching of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. OPENHEARTSANGHA.ORG

ONLINE:

Several free and paid apps are available for those interested in practicing meditation anytime, anywhere, including Calm, Headspace, buddhify, Simple Habit, Insight Timer, and 10 percent Happier. Many apps geared toward meditation skeptics, those on the go, or anyone looking to start or continue a mindfulness practice.

FEATURE

Thinking AHEAD CAN I PROTECT MY BRAIN FROM ALZHEIMER’S? BY CRYSTAL SANDS

ONE OF THE biggest influences when I was a child was my great-grandmother. She had raised my father and was very close to him — and, therefore, was very close to me as well. She was my babysitter, my friend and the coolest grownup I knew. Even after my parents divorced and I didn’t see my dad as much, she remained a presence in my life. I saw her less, but our bond was strong. She was what we would call a “homesteader” today. My great-grandmother raised huge vegetable and flower gardens and chickens in a coop right next to her little house in a very small town. She made homemade jam, and told the best stories in the world. She told me my first fairy tales, all from the oral tradition, rich in detail and character. I was a pre-teen when my father and stepmother explained to me that my greatgrandmother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. They explained to me that she was having trouble remembering who people were. For some time after that, she still remembered me, but then, one time, she didn’t remember me when I first saw her for a visit. She called me by the name of her sister, and it took her a little bit to remember me. 52 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

Being a child, this scared me a little, but I remember feeling the most overwhelming sadness when the day came that I realized she was never again going to remember who I was. I wondered if she had also forgotten the stories she told me and the days we spent together in her garden when I was very young. My father told me that my greatgrandmother had been “escaping” from her nursing home and wandering around the town lost on a couple of occasions. I remember, in my kid-thinking, feeling so sorry for her and wondering if she was going to die soon. I didn’t mourn so much when I found out she died because I had already mourned. I remember my family being somewhat confused that I wasn’t more distraught but it was like she was gone to me long before she actually died. Alzheimer’s had felt frightening to me, and I didn’t know what to do but to distance myself from something that seemed too scary to me. Alzheimer’s is a disease characterized by plaques and tangles in the brain, which alter memory and behavior. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include mental decline and confusion, making things up, delusion,

forgetfulness, as well as aggression, agitation and even wandering around to the point of getting lost. It’s not easy on those who love people who develop Alzheimer’s. Kristie Miner is a speech language pathologist who worked for 17 years as a support group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association and continues to offer support for patients with dementia here in Maine. Miner contends that it is important for the public to understand that those who are caring for people with Alzheimer’s are often under extreme amounts of stress and report a lot of loneliness and isolation as caregivers. “Friends no longer feel comfortable being around someone with Alzheimer’s,” Miner said. While it is helpful and important to learn that my reaction of distancing myself from my great grandmother was not unusual, I wanted to know more about how I could help prevent Alzheimer’s from being a part of my future — and if my family history is a predictor of Alzheimer’s for me. My great-grandmother wasn’t my only relative to develop Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is present in my mother’s side of the family as well, but as I began to understand the genetic component to this disease, I learned

that having a family history with the disease does not guarantee I will have the genes which influence whether or not a person will develop Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are “risk genes” and “deterministic genes.” The risk genes increase the likelihood of Alzheimer’s but do not guarantee it. The deterministic genes, which do guarantee Alzheimer’s, account for less than one percent of Alzheimer’s cases. Still, with a family history, I knew I needed to learn as much as I could about Alzheimer’s and establish health habits in my life that would help me care for my brain. Due to her extensive work with the disease, Miner’s advice helped clear up a lot of confusion I had about Alzheimer’s. For example, I wasn’t sure about the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia. According to Miner, dementia is an “umbrella term” used to describe “a set of symptoms which can be caused by a number of diseases, Alzheimer’s being one of those diseases,” says Miner. Of course, my most important question about Alzheimer’s is likely the one that most people would want to know: Can

Alzheimer’s be prevented? I try to eat healthy and stay on top of my exercise. I read a lot, and I force myself to learn new and challenging things, even though, sometimes, the learning feels almost painful. But are these things actually helping me prevent Alzheimer’s? The short answer is no, not exactly, but I am doing the right things to help fend off the disease. “Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to protect your brain from Alzheimer’s,” Miner said. “We have known for a long time that what is heart healthy is also brain healthy … Mental health also plays an important role. Being engaged socially, even if it is with just a couple of people with whom you are close, greatly impacts mood and brain function. Challenging yourself to think and learn and try something new is thought to build new connections in the brain, building what we call ‘cognitive reserve.’” According to Miner, this “cognitive reserve” is so important because it builds a kind of “back up” in terms of neurological paths. “I think of ‘cognitive reserve’ as building side streets and detours in case a thought runs up against one of those brain plaques or tangles [of Alzheimer’s],” Miner said.

Sleep is also of critical importance to overall brain health. “Sleep is being more and more recognized as vital to our brain health and, in my clinical opinion, is not often enough discussed with primary care physicians,” said Miner. So, while there is no guarantee I won’t develop Alzheimer’s later in my life, there is clearly much I can do now to help support my cognitive function and reduce my risks of cognitive decline. The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of 10 things we can do to “love our brains.” This list consists of exercising, learning new things, quitting smoking, taking care of our hearts, protecting our brains from injury, eating a healthy diet, specifically the Mediterranean diet, getting good sleep, managing stress and depression, making friends, and challenging ourselves. The more we learn about Alzheimer’s the better prepared we can be to help stave off its symptoms. While my powerful experiences with Alzheimer’s in my family will forever impact me and my concerns for my own brain function, I feel hopeful that there are things I can do to fight against the disease, even if I do have some genetic risk. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

Did you know...

VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD Center on Aging

FOR YOUR BRAIN HEALTH! Volunteering not only helps your community, it can also support brain health! Research has connected volunteering with a variety of positive impacts for older adults. In fact, volunteering can help you maintain your brain health by helping you to learn new things, meet new people, and stay physically active. The University of Maine Center on Aging carries out research, education, and community services to improve the lives of older adults and their families in Maine and beyond.

If you or someone you know is looking for ways to serve as a volunteer that are fulfilling, exciting, and make a difference, we have exciting volunteer program opportunities with both our Senior Companion Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM (SCP)

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP)

If you or someone you know is a Maine resident age 55 and older and interested in helping homebound or isolated adults age in place, this may be for you! Income eligible volunteers will receive a tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement.

UMaine Center on Aging RSVP members, age 55 and older, invest their skills and life experiences to make a difference for generations in eastern Maine through volunteer service.

WHAT DOES A SENIOR COMPANION DO?:

JOIN US! RSVP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

• Serve 10+ hours per week visiting homebound or isolated seniors

• Reading aloud to children • Help fight food insecurity • Lead senior exercise classes • Provide respite for caregivers through Adult Day Programs

• Provide companionship by talking, reading, taking walks, shopping, and being a friend • Provide respite for family caregivers

CALL 207.262.7927 OR E-MAIL donald.r.lynch@maine.edu

CALL 207.262.7924 OR E-MAIL paula.burnett@maine.edu

GET OUT

GET OUT:

CARRABASSETT Valley Region

WHERE FUN MEETS FUNKY STORY & PHOTOS BY JULIA BAYLY

JUST WHEN I THINK I’ve got a handle on all the wonders of Maine, something new pops up on my radar that begs to be explored. Frankly, that’s one of the best parts about living in Maine. There is always something new to discover. My most recent adventure took me to the northwestern mountain region of the state and the Carrabassett Valley area, about two hours west of Bangor. I had a weekend to explore with my tiny dog Chiclet in tow along with a friend and her own tiny dog. As a region, Maine’s northwestern mountains include small towns like Eustis, Carrabassett Valley and Kingfield. And, of course, there are region’s mountains — including Bigelow, Saddleback and Sugarloaf, which are among the 10 56 / BANGOR METRO March 2020

mountains greater than 4,000 feet (there are only four other mountains in Maine with this distinction). The region also has hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling and ATV trails galore. Plus, it’s the only place in the country two major recreational trails intersect — the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and the Appalachian Trail. There’s more, a lot more, too — art galleries, gift shops, museums, historical sites and cultural attractions. In fact, so much more it was impossible to see and do it all in a single weekend. So let’s break it down. DO As luck would have it, we arrived in Kingfield just in time for the village’s monthly art walk, held from 5 to 7:30

p.m. on the first Friday of every month from November to May. The participants and entertainment lineup change month to month, but you can be sure to experience local art, craft, music, poetry, food and beverages along Kingfield’s short Main Street and several side streets. Don’t worry if your travels are not on an art walk night since those businesses and galleries are open during the day to welcome you. Kingfield is smack in the middle of ski country, so it makes sense it’s home to the Ski Museum of Maine [256 Main Street, www.skimuseumofmaine.org] which pays homage to all things alpine and nordic ski-related in the state. Permanent exhibits include replicas of a ski shop featuring vintage tools used in the early days of ski

manufacturing, a children’s corner with displays of early toys and ski-related items and a display devoted to the World War II’s skiing 10th Mountain division. The museum is also home to the Maine Ski Hall of Fame, founded in 2003, which to-date has inducted more than 100 men and women who have made major contributions to the state’s skiing and snowboarding culture. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Private tours may also be arranged Mondays through Fridays by emailing executivedirector@skimuseumofmaine. Learning about skiing in Maine is one thing, seeing it in practice is another. So we took the half-hour drive up Route 27 to one of the state’s premier outdoor recreation

destinations — Sugarloaf Mountain [5092 Sugarloaf Access Road, www.sugarloaf. com], a one-stop shop for all things outdoor recreation in Maine. On the day we stopped in, it was overcast and a bit dreary, but that was not keeping folks from hitting the slopes. The sky might have been grey, but on the ground it was a riot of colors between the people wearing bright ski outfits and the rows of vibrantly designed skis and snowboards leaning against any solid surface that would support them. Walking into the resort’s main lodge, we were greeted by a cheerful Sugarloaf representative asking if we needed directions or assistance. After chatting briefly with him, my friend and I — and our

tiny dogs — headed up a flight of outdoor stairs to the main shopping and food center. There we found everything a person could need for après ski relaxation and dining as well as shops selling ski gear and winter apparel for skiing and souvenirs. In the middle of the courtyard, there were happy families of skiers and ‘boarders sitting around a blazing fire sipping cocoa or coffee. As we stood outside near the firepit, we could look up and see overhead other skiers and snowboarders gliding along on the chairlift heading out for a run down one of the mountain’s 60 trails, including the 3.5-mile Tote Road trail. In the Downhill Supply Company Store [5092 Sugarloaf Access Road], I chatted with an employee about the newest craze www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

GET OUT At Eighty 8 Donuts the only limit on the donut varieties is your imagination.

A flight of Maine craft beers is always on tap at Rolling Fatties.

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to hit the mountain — Sno-Go ski biking. These full suspension rigs combine the best of cycling and downhill skiing into one awesome looking package. They have handlebars like a bicycle and skis — one in front, two in back — where the wheels would be. Instead of sitting, you stand on special foot boards as you carve your way down the mountain. At Sugarloaf, the employee told me, you can rent and get lessons in using a ski bike before hitting the slopes. A certified guide is required to accompany everyone renting one of the ski bikes, even if you have had the lessons. This, the clerk told me, is being done to keep the skibikers on designated trails and to keep them from inadvertently riding into the paths of skiers or snowboards. Heading back down the mountain, you can hang a left onto Route 27 for one of the state’s most scenic drives. For about 40 miles, the road weaves through pine forests with the Carrabassett River on your right. Along the way, you see the peaks of Maine’s tallest mountains, lakes and quite likely the state’s largest mammal — a moose. In fact, the large critters are considered a hazard along this particular stretch of road, so keep your eyes peeled and use caution. The route ends in Coburn Gore, a tiny community on the Maine-Quebec border. It has one store with a gas station, a few houses and a port of entry between the United States and Canada. Be sure to also check out the Stanley Museum [40 School Street, Kingfield] which showcases the lives and heritage of the Stanley family. Twin brothers Francis Edger Stanley and Freelan Oscar Stanley were the inventors and manufacturers of the famous Stanley Steamers, the original steam-operated motor vehicle, from 1902 to 1924. Carlton Stanley was a violin maker, Chansonetta Stanley Emmons and her daughter Dorthoy Emmons were accomplished photographers and painters. The museum houses original examples of all their works, including four vintage Stanley Steamer automobiles. EAT/DRINK My mother always said breakfast was the most important meal of the day. In the Carrabassett Valley region, one can heed her advice at the numerous spots to grab everything from a quick cup of coffee on the fly to a full scale hot breakfast featuring a menu heavy on locally sourced ingredients.

Tiny dogs are welcome at the very pet-friendly Sugarloaf Lodge outdoor fire ring. Chiclet and her pal Lil Bean gave it four paws up, each.

That’s exactly what we found at Orange Cat Cafe [329 Main Street, Kingfield]. It’s a glorious mix of the region’s aforementioned eclectic, upcycling and locally sourced goods. Open daily, the cafe features freshly baked pastries, quiche, sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads. Since I believe in doing my travel research, I tried both a cinnamon roll and the quiche-of-the day — cheese, tomatoes, spinach, sausage and asparagus — for breakfast. Both were outstanding as was the spiced hot chocolate made with rich, dark cocoa infused with cinnamon and cayenne pepper. You can take out or eat in, and trust me, you want to eat in. You can relax on a couch or sit on upcycled hair salon seats — complete with the old fashioned hair dryers still attached — around a table. More often than not, the owner or her mom will come out and chat with customers. It’s colorful, quirky and among my new favorite places in Maine. Speaking of local food, you want to try out Rolling Fatties [268 Main Street, Kingfield]. Located in an old house, the atmosphere is casual and the vibe is funky. When we were there it was packed with locals, tourists and winter sports enthusiasts all enjoying the plump burritos, local craft beer and live music. We found two seats together at the bar and were immediately involved in lively conversations with the

other people sitting nearby. It’s the kind of place in which you feel like a regular on your first visit. I went for a flight of four Maine craft beers and a falafel fatty — locally made falafel, fresh lettuce, pickled onion, seasonal veggies and tzatziki sauce rolled up in a handmade burrito. My friend opted for the fish fatty with fried fresh Maine haddock, groats, black beans, fresh salsa and seasonal veggies. Both were massive and outstanding. Though, I will admit to being a bit taken aback when mine showed up oozing purple liquid — compliments of the beets inside. If not for food allergies and a certain aversion to some possible ingredients, I would have gone for the Freedom Fatty — a burrito loaded with whatever strikes the chef’s fancy at that particular moment. For a more formal, but equally welcoming atmosphere there is Longfellow’s Restaurant [247 Main Street, Kingfield]. The menu has something for everyone from wild mushroom ravioli scampi to Bistro Beef Filet served with caramelized onions and a balsamic glaze to Three-Cheese Haddock. We went for an early dinner, opting to order from the appetizer menu since our appetites were light. We ended up getting the hot spinach dip served with fried tortilla chips and the AuCoin’s Appetizer — a platter of traditional Lebanese tabouli

served with grilled Naan flatbread and hummus. Portions were generous and more than enough to share and satisfy. Looking for a quick, sweet treat? Check out the Eighty 8 Donut Cafe at Sugarloaf. The small cafe tucked into a corner near that blazing fire pit mentioned above has made-to-order mini donuts in just about any flavor combination you can think of. Maple glazed, chocolate glazed, vanilla glazed, topped with candies, cereals, fruit or nuts. If you can imagine it, Eighty 8 can create it with a donut. SHOP Drop me down in a major metropolitan shopping center and I will likely leave empty handed and my credit cards intact. But plunk me down in any of Maine’s small towns where local goods line the shelves? Just take my money. I ended up leaving the region with hand-painted towels, books, jewelry, clothing and several other hand-made items. I was struck by the opportunities to purchase “upcycled” goods at local art galleries and shops. In the Red Barn Upcycled Market [253 Main Street, Kingfield], there were baskets with handles made from old ice tongs and vintage hand-operated drills, old wooden shipping crates turned into storage bins, vintage furniture with hand painted, www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59

GET OUT

Craft meets upcycling at The Red Barn Upcycled Market in Kingfield.

whimsical designs, old bottles, handmade soaps and jewelry. I also have to give a shout-out to owner Barbara Wiencek, who was three-for-three with her recommendations on where to grab a bite to eat in the area. Across Main Street from Wiencek’s shop is the High Peaks Artisan Guild [245 Main Street, Kingfield] home to an array of locally created paintings, prints, photographs, glassware, pottery, carvings, jewelry and textiles in addition to a good selection of used books and antiques. I was struck by the original paintings done on vintage wooden skis by local artist Patty Thomas, who creates unique nature scenes that can cover up to a half dozen of the old skis. I had intended to just pop in and out of the shop to get an idea of what they offered, but an hour later I was still inside perusing the shelves and chatting with Thomas about the local art scene in the region. STAY While exploring the area we stayed at the Herbert Grand Hotel [246 Main Street, Kingfield]. This is a hotel with a lot of history behind it. Built in the early part of the last century, it allegedly became a gathering place for somewhat nefarious politicians during the days of prohibition. These same politicians would entice their rivals with promises of alcohol and women and then threaten blackmail if they gave in to temptation. Today there are no nefarious goings on at The Herbert Grand, which underwent a complete renovation in 2016. The rooms are large, clean, comfortable and — best of all — pet friendly. There is a pool table in the lobby free to play on across from the fireplace and large screen television. For better or for worse, it’s worth noting that it is the only TV in the entire building. I, for one, did not miss having a television in our room at all. There is plenty of offstreet parking, too. There is also, allegedly, a resident ghost and the hotel is the only “certified haunted” hotel in the area. I am happy to report that my easily frightened self did not see any spectral shenanigans. At Sugarloaf there are an array of lodging options including the signature Mountain Hotel and hundreds of condos for rent up and down the mountain. Sugarloaf’s website has a link to check availability and to book lodging. For an intimate experience, check out The Inn on Winter’s Hill [38 Winter Hill

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Street, Kingfield]. This romantic, Victorian inn is on the property of the original Winter mansion which at one time was the area’s medical clinic. In fact, many of today’s residents of the region were born there! It has since been converted into a 16-room inn. You can enjoy high tea in the afternoon or order a cocktail featuring the inn’s signature “shrubs,” a vinegar-based drink using their own raw, organic apple cider vinegar infused with local honey. The inn also has a dining room featuring a full menu of locally sourced creations. DON’T MISS It’s a funky, fun, friendly and eclectic scene in Carrabassett Valley. So don’t miss checking out the local galleries that have made a true art out of upcycling or using local materials in their creations. Likewise, be sure to explore the locally-sourced food inspired menus in these small towns. The region packs in a ton of things to do and see, and I can’t wait to go back with Chiclet to experience more of it. And to get one of those Orange Cat Cafe cinnamon rolls.

GET THERE We left Bangor late on a Friday afternoon, with just enough daylight left to enjoy the scenery along US Route 2 after turning off Exit 150 in Interstate 95 toward Pittsfield and Skowhegan. In Madison we turned on to US201-A for a few miles before hitting 16W to our final destination of Kingfield, named after Maine’s first governor William King. Kingfield, population 1,000, was our homebase for the next two days of exploration and is a great spot from which to access the area’s recreational, historical, cultural and culinary offerings. Located in a river valley created by the Carrabassett and West Branch of the Carrabassett Rivers that cut through the Longfellow Mountain Range, it’s hard to imagine a more scenic location, regardless of the time of year, whether those rivers and streams are snow and ice capped, bordered by the deep greens of the pine and spruce or decked out in vibrant fall foliage. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

WOODS & WATERS

Exploring from

THE SKY

DRONES ADDING NEW HEIGHT TO THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE... BUT DO YOU KNOW THE RULES? BY BOB DUCHESNE

DRONES HAVE FAST BECOME an outdoor reality in today’s America. As for their uses in tomorrow’s America, the sky’s the limit. Until recently, most Mainers enjoyed their woods and waters in two dimensions, with feet planted firmly on the ground. Drones are adding height to the experience. To be sure, radio-controlled aircraft have existed for decades, but not until this century did model planes and helicopters become more popular. Then came drones. Advances in miniaturization allowed electronic components and batteries to shrink. Some flying machines are so small, they can be stuffed in your pocket. At the same time, this century’s boom in digital photography has married lenses to drones in a way that opens the sky for all kinds of recreational and commercial uses. Most drones are quadcopters, built with four propellers. Some models boast 6, 8 or more propellers. Different drones are designed for different uses, or multiple uses. Commercial flyers require a Remote Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration. Recreational users are required only to register their drones with the FAA, a $5 online registration that’s good for three years. Recreational flyers primarily use drones for aerial photography. More advanced models can perform commercial tasks. But this is America. If it has a motor, Americans will figure out a way to race it. Racing drones are now on the market, and racing clubs are springing up across the continent, including Maine. At the other extreme, there are low-cost toy drones that even children can fly. Technological advances regularly leap ahead of regulation and ethics. In 2015, the FAA made an effort to catch up, instituting rules to govern Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Recreational users may

MOST DRONES ARE READY TO FLY RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. MOST BEGINNER PILOTS AREN’T. ANTICIPATE A LITTLE TRAINING AND PRACTICE. EXPECT ADVENTURE.

fly only in daylight, no higher than 400 feet above ground level, and must keep the drone within visual sight at all times. Most importantly, operators must stay out of restricted airspace, which includes a radius within five miles of an airport, and over national parks and government buildings. States have similar laws. Maine prohibits flights over state parks, historical sites, and public boat launches. Drones are also treated as aircraft under hunting laws; they may not be used for hunting purposes. Common-sense safety tips apply. Never fly over groups of people. Never fly near emergencies. Never fly under the influence. It may take longer to sort out the complex ethical issues. Privacy is the biggest concern. Drones can peer into neighbor’s backyards. They can follow people. They can be particularly intrusive at a beach. Unethical use of drones can terrorize wildlife, which is already illegal under wildlife harassment statutes. Nonetheless, responsible users are discovering whole new ways to enjoy the beauty of Maine’s outdoors. Recreational

flyers can get above the treetops, and film a panorama that was once unreachable. Drones can sweep and swoop along landscapes, shooting awesome video at up to 60 frames per second. Conversely, drones can hover in place, taking photos of people and scenery at new angles. Some can even be controlled by hand gestures, offering exhilarating new ways to take selfies. The more advanced drones are packed with helpful features. Some are equipped with GPS, and can be programmed to follow a planned route. Some will return to their launch points automatically when their batteries run low. Some have built-in obstacle detection and avoidance. Commercial use, which the FAA defines as any use where the operator receives a direct or indirect financial gain, is exploding. One company in Bangor, New England Drone Works LLC, uses a whole arsenal of drones to survey woodlots,

inspect farms and crops, film weddings, and capture video for real estate ads. Owners Jim Weston and Mike Watson are also pioneering the use of drones on search and rescue missions with the Maine Warden Service. Drones are particularly good at inspecting towers and other tall structures, reducing the need for dangerous climbs. Some models can fly indoors, and search through burning buildings. Drones have become an essential tool for travel bloggers. YouTube is full of astonishing aerial videos. There are drones the size of a smartphone, which fold up and fit neatly into a backpack or pocket. These go-anywhere flying cameras are so light, their weight is barely noticeable on an outdoor adventure. Most drones are ready to fly right out of the box. Most beginner pilots aren’t. Anticipate a little training and practice. Expect adventure.

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 WOMAN

who lives

THE VIEW FROM HERE

BY EMILY MORRISON

What then? I’ll tell you what then. I’ve already planned it. My husband and children will be devastated. They’ll cling to my writings, maybe even publish that book I wrote, all in their devoted affection for my memory. There will be mourning, celebrating and sadness and then they’ll move on. They’ll have to — that’s life. Red will remarry some nurturing, ethereal beauty who will love him back to happiness while simultaneously raising my three besought children, and I hate her already. I’m thankful for her, of course, but who wants to be replaced by some healthy-meal making, blanket-knitting, sports enthusiast? Not this dead chick. Lily, I envision her as a Lily, has already published a book or two, and she’s amazing in all the ways I wasn’t. She has an effortless grace, a button nose and no visible signs of aging. She never storms off in a huff, always kisses the kids goodnight and asks about my husband’s day like she’s really, truly listening. Naturally, I hate Lily with the white hot fury of a thousand desert suns, and I hope she gets run over by the same bus. But that’s not what this foray into death is all about. I’m attempting to come to terms with my mortality. Why does this matter so much to me? The simple answer is “Because.” Because it does. I’m not ready for death. I don’t want a quick calamity or a long illness to befall me. When that old deathtrap rattles around the bend, I hope I stayed home that morning. I hope I was cuddling with Red and making the children breakfast instead of slogging out those miles on the road, worrying about my waistline. I hope the kids were eating waffles and feeding Benny bacon under the table. While the bus rounded the corner, I’d be pouring myself a second cup of coffee and firing up the pellet stove to warm my babies’ cherubic cheeks. The movie of my life always ends with me living. Every time, I’d get to be the woman who lives.

HAVE YOU EVER seen those movies where the woman riding a bike gets hit by a bus in the end? You suffer through some angsty two-hour love affair between two people who are so wrong for each other that they’re so right, and then at the moment of sweet union, the girl steps out for a loaf of bread only to get creamed by a fast-moving Chevy? Think “City of Angels” with Meg Ryan, “One Day” with Anne Hathaway or “An Affair to Remember” with Katharine Hepburn. I know, Hepburn’s character isn’t on a bike and she doesn’t die, but she’s wheelchair bound and miserable until Spencer Tracy puts two and two together — close enough. In the movie of my life, I’m afraid I may be the unfortunate waif who gets hit by oncoming traffic the exact minute I arrive at inner peace. Here’s why. Recently, while running along my country road on a 12 degree morning, I was nearing the end of a four mile run — the temperature alone should’ve killed me. Just as I began to cross the blueberry field in front of my house, I heard the rumble of a school bus coming around the bend. When the pavement began to tremble, I veered onto the shoulder and thought, “This is probably my dramatic death scene.” The sky had lightened to the first baby blue of the morning. The sun greeted me with the promise of a new day. The sight of my house, nestled in the woods, had just come into view. This would be the most cinematic moment to die. The newspaper headline would read, “Beloved school teacher, tragically killed by school bus 500 feet from her home in East Jesus.” Wouldn’t that be so Hollywood? Woman spends her whole life teaching children and focusing on her fitness only to be killed by the bus that picks them up while out for her morning run? Of course, I survived, but my mind couldn’t let it go. Perhaps because I’ve been ruminating on unforeseen calamities like this my whole life: airplane failure, incurable illness, natural disaster, mosquito bite. You name it, and it’s already killed me. Honestly, I’m terrified that when my life is at its zenith, death, that old, draggy school bus, will round the corner and mow me down.

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.