Metro - November 2019

EMBRACE The

QUIET

HIKE THROUGH MAINE’S OFF-SEASON

VISIT the ST. JOHN VALLEY

The importance of

READING

TOGETHER

$5.95

November 2019

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2019

FEATURES 38 30 WAYS TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER From nature walks to volunteering, autumn adventures await

44

READING WITH KIDS

Advice from a mom and teacher

48

READ MORE

Giving Maine first graders the gift of books

50

THANKSGIVING GREETINGS

A history of Thanksgiving in Maine

56

44

READING WITH KIDS

50

A HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

GET OUT

Head north to the St. John Valley

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local news & sightings

14

OBSESSIONS

64

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Be the like the camel — and store up precious moments of happiness

ON THE COVER Embrace the quiet of late autumn.

Design by Amy Allen

2 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

PHOTOS: (TOP) EVGENY ATAMANENKO/ADOBE STOCK; (BOTTOM) COURTESY OF BANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY

What we can’t get enough of this month

FOOD & DRINK

HEALTH & FITNESS

HOW TO

18

24

30

IN SEASON NOW

Tktkt

20

HIKE ME

Embrace the quiet with a hike through Maine’s off-season

GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GONE

PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) SARAH WALKER CARON; AISLINN SARNACKI; CALENDAR BY KATIE SMITH; MATT GAGNON; ©JACOB LUND/ADOBE STOCK

OUTSIDE

34

62

Maine students are learning affirmative consent and how it might change a culture

CREATE IT AT HOME

Create a holiday advent calendar

HOME & FAMILY CONSENT MATTERS

Making fun yarn-wrapped letters

00

What to do with all those Thanksgiving leftovers

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

WOODS & WATERS

Meet the unlikely team helping local hunters find their deer

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy, healthy

FAMILIES

WHEN THE DAYS were long and the temperatures were high, I spent a lot of time working in our raised bed gardens. I weeded almost daily, harvested frequently and brought the spoils of our garden to the kitchen for preparing.

Pounds and pounds of produce went into the freezer with the expectation that come November, we’d have homegrown veggies to enjoy on Thanksgiving. I can hardly wait to defrost the green beans, roasted carrots and squash.

A decade ago, I couldn’t have imagined being this organized about our growing (in truth, I planted some veggies with Thanksgiving in mind). Even a year ago, this felt so far off. But as last winter melted away, I decided that it was time to take control of our garden and our harvest. I ordered seeds thinking ahead to what we’d store for later. My kids and I planted, tended and watered. I invested in the Goldilocks of deep freezers — 5 cubic feet, not too small or too large.

And then … well, it worked.

I won’t say it was the most perfect harvest — I realized too late in the season, for instance, that we planted way too many string beans. But it was a harvest worth saving and savoring. It was also a harvest that reminded me of the importance of patience and perseverance. Plants take months to grow. Harvesting takes a regular time commitment. Never mind all the planning and preparation you need to do too.

But now that we’ve done it once, I feel like it’s more doable to do again. So we will.

IN THE MEANTIME, IT’S TIME FOR GRATITUDE. I am grateful for the time with my children that the garden affords me. I am grateful for the help I have been given as I’ve learned to plant, tend and grow.

Spending time together as a family needn’t be limited to summer days in the garden though. Writer Sarah Cottrell has a list of 30 ways to spend time together this holiday season on page 38. Reading is also a wonderful way to spend time together. Get tips on reading together from a teacher and mother on page 44 and learn about the family bringing books to first graders in Maine through their new organization on page 48. Plus, there’s hiking on page 24 and a trip to the St. John Valley on page 56.

But, also don’t miss the important story on page 34 by writer Nina Mahaleris about teaching affirmative consent. Schools around the state are now required to do so — and it’s a good thing.

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR THIS YEAR?

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

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

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

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen

aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Fred Stewart

fstewart@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Julia Bayly jbayly@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Abigail Curtis acurtis@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Rosemary Lausier rlausier@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Aislinn Sarnacki asarnacki@bangordailynews.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah Cottrell, Bob Duchesne, Nina Mahaleres, Emily Morrison, Richard Shaw, Katie Smith

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

6 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT MAKES YOUR

FAMILY’S

Bangor Metro Magazine. November 2019, Vol. 15, No. 9.

Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company.

Bangor Metro is published 10 times annually by Bangor Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written permission of the Publisher.

Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates from Portland, Maine.

Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit.

Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication.

Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metro’s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine both in print and online.

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.

THANKSGIVING

“

SPECIAL?

We usually have a small family gathering and my mom makes the most amazing meal. The food is a big part of it, but we never leave the house on Thanksgiving and instead will watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, have breakfast together and sit down and watch a couple of movies. Thanksgiving has always been lowkey and relaxing — except maybe for my mom (but we help of course) — and that’s what I like most about it. We’ll take the day after Thanksgiving off to go shopping in Downtown Bangor, but never rush the Christmas festivities. Thanksgiving deserves the whole weekend, decorations and all, and we will keep it that way.”

— ROSEMARY LAUSIER, STAFF WRITER

COVER DESIGN: Amy Allen

“I have so many aunts, uncles and cousins living in Maine that my family’s Thanksgiving dinner is massive. Usually we cook three turkeys and a ham, and everyone contributes various side dishes and pies. We bring extra chairs and split up among two or three long tables. It just feels special to be surrounded by so many relatives and so much love. It can be a bit hectic, but I wouldn’t trade it for a quieter holiday.”

— AISLINN SARNACKI, STAFF WRITER

“Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It has all the socializing, food and drink that Christmas does, without the pressure of gift giving. Plus there’s football on the television all day. These days, my friends are my family and some years we all gather for a traditional turkey feast with traditional trimmings like mashed potatoes, stuffing, carrots, breads and pies. There is laughter, bantering, deep discussions and just a ton of fun. Other years, it’s just me and my furry or feathered ‘family’ here on Rusty Metal Farm. After sleeping in way too long on Thanksgiving morning, I look forward to prepping my own — albeit downsized — dinner with a locally purchased small organic bird, local potatoes, boxed stuffing (sorry mom) and a salad. And, of course, pie. Then it’s the couch, my critters and whatever game is on TV.” — JULIA BAYLY, STAFF WRITER

“Many of my childhood Thanksgivings were spent by the pool in Florida. My family vacationed that week for years and years. And what that taught me — we didn’t have elaborate homecooked meals when on vacation — was that Thanksgiving was about people, not food. So even though I do make an elaborate homecooked meal for Thanksgiving now, what makes our celebration special is that my parents and siblings come to Maine and enjoy it with us. The food is just a bonus.”

— SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

SATURDAY, NOV. 2 DOWNTOWN BANGOR EARLY BIRD SALE

NOV. 2-3 BANGOR ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW

SATURDAY, NOV. 9 GENTLE THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION

Get your shop on! Downtown Bangor starts its holiday season early on the first Saturday in November with the early bird sale. Special discounts for the earliest of birds at stores throughout downtown. See the Downtown Bangor Facebook page for more details.

The 31st annual Bangor Arts & Crafts Show returns to the Cross Insurance Center featuring Maine artisans selling unique crafts. Free parking, admission is $3, kids under 12 free.

Celebrate the fall harvest in the company of friends and family to benefit our farm animal residents and enjoy a different type of holiday tradition where animals are beloved friends, not food. Enjoy time with the animals, live music, and an incredible vegan holiday feast including complimentary wine and beer! 12-4 p.m. at Peace Ridge Sanctuary in Brooks.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2 DOWNTOWN BANGOR HOLIDAY ART BAZAAR Make local art part of your gift-giving strategy this holiday season. The Downtown Bangor Arts Collaborative is hosting their first-ever Downtown Bangor Holiday Art Bazaar. Artists selling turned wood, paintings, prints, jewelry and more will be selling their art. 2-5 p.m. Free to attend. Visit the Downtown Bangor Arts Collaborative Facebook page for more details.

8 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

SUNDAY, NOV. 3 7TH ANNUAL HARVEST CONCERT The Bangor Band is back from our late summer break and ready to once again bring you the sounds of the seasons! Lift your spirits on November 3 at Peakes Auditorium (Bangor High School) at 3 p.m. The 7th annual Harvest Concert is co-sponsored by Realty of Maine. Admission is free but donations are welcome!

SATURDAY, NOV. 16 GOAT YOGA AND FRIENDSHIP ADVENTURE Maine Yoga Adventures is going back to the farm — an ethical, caring, community first farm, Lone Spruce Farm in Dedham! Adventurers will enjoy goat yoga (high hopes that the goats

PHOTOS: (TOP) MANDICJOVAN/ADOBE STOCK: (RIGHT) BDN FILE

NOVEMBER

NOV. 2 Downtown Bangor Early Bird Sale

come close and join adventurers as they flow!), whipping up some recipes for a mini friendsgiving before the big day of gratitude, and coming together for a special weaving project during the event from 1-6 p.m. Cost: $60. Register online at maineyogaadventures.com or call 207-299-0082.

NOV. 21-24, 29-30 FEZTIVAL OF TREES Anah Shriners’ eighth annual Feztival of Trees will be held multiple days beginning on Thursday, Nov. 21, at Anah Shrine, 1404 Broadway from 4 to 8 p.m. The Gingerbread Cafe is available to purchase snacks, lunches and refreshments, and an ATM is on site. Admission plus the cost of tickets. Santa Claus will be available for photos by donation. Net proceeds will benefit the work of Anah Shrine. Payments are not deductible as charitable donations.

NOV. 21-24 & 29-30 Feztival of Trees

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOV. 23-24 MAINE HARVEST FESTIVAL Celebrate the harvest at the 9th annual Maine Harvest Festival at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Sample the best of the best from our Maine vintners, brewers and distillers. Shop the array of vendors including fiber artists, farms, wood artists and more. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. both days. Admission is $8. Ages 12 and under are free. Veterans are $5.

Maine Made Crafts will host its 40th annual Thanksgiving Weekend Christmas in New England, its largest show of the season, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Augusta Civic Center. The fair will feature artists and crafters from Maine and New England.

It’s the perfect time to start buying all your holiday gift items from these talented artisans selling their one of a kind products.

NOV. 23-24 Maine Harvest Festival

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







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

PHOTO: BDN FILE

NOV. 30-DEC. 1 40TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING WEEKEND CHRISTMAS IN NEW ENGLAND

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: The Bangor Symphony Orchestra celebrated the opening of its 124th season and Lucas Richman’s 10th anniversary as Music Director with a night of fine dining and entertainment at the Bangor Arts Exchange.

2&3: The 4th International Maritime Film Festival lit up the night recently, with films projected on a schooner sail and a gala awards event at the Alamo Theater in Bucksport. The International Maritime Film Festival is a juried contest of films, and a joint venture between Main Street Bucksport, WoodenBoat Publications, Inc., The Island Institute, and World Ocean Observatory.

SHARE YOUR EVENT PHOTOS! 12 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

Email your photos and captions to

talkback@bangormetro.com

PHOTOS: JEFF KIRLIN / THE THING OF THE MOMENT

3

THANKS FOR PLAYING!

4

We’re feeling thankful!

Try your luck with our Thanksgiving Pop Quiz!

4: Literacy Volunteers of Bangor Executive Director Mary Marin Lyon and Jeff Taylor celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary at Bangor Savings Bank.

5: Niki Lynn Cyr heads up a Beer Can Yoga session in the outdoor patio at Bangor Beer Co. with AJ Capuccio.

6: Main Street Bucksport held its second annual Community Cider Pressing as part of Maine Craft Weekend.

5

6

FIND ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S POP QUIZ ON PAGE 11!

Find answers on Page 11!

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

ARTS & CULTURE

OBSESSIONS

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

GO THE GREEN HAND IN PORTLAND

READ

—SARAH WALKER CARON

TRY

THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN E MOISTURE CREAM WHY DO WE LOVE IT? This was my go-to moisturizer in my 20s. I loved how silky smooth it made my skin feel. Over the past several years, I have tried many different moisturizers, looking for the right one for my skin. Over the summer, I picked up a jar of this old favorite — and wondered why I ever stopped using it (truth: I think I ran out and just tried to sub in something else).

Vitamin E Moisture Cream is a thinner moisturizer that quickly gets absorbed into the skin. I smooth a little on every morning, and often in the evening too. Locally, it’s available at some beauty supply stores like Ulta.

—SARAH WALKER CARON

14 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

Every month, many new books cross my desk. I purchase even more. These are a few that I particularly enjoyed and recommend.

“THE BOOKSHOP ON THE SHORE,” BY JENNY COLGAN — A single mother from London accepts a job running a little mobile bookstore in Scotland, and a post as an au pair for a mysterious family there. So she and her son (who doesn’t speak — by choice) move there — to an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people and lots of challenges. This is a beautiful story of overcoming challenges, thriving in difficult circumstances and charting your own course. An interesting read that kept me hanging on to the very end. And while this can absolutely be read as a standalone novel (the author says it’s not a sequel), you will recognize some familiar characters from “The Bookshop on the Corner.” (ADULT FICTION) “CURRY & KIMCHI,” BY UNMI ABKIN AND ROGER TAYLOR — There isn’t a recipe in this recently released cookbook that I don’t want to try. Seriously. Short Rib Tacos? Yes, please. Thai Chicken Rice Bowl? YESSSSSS. Salmon Teriyaki Bento Box? Oh, yes. This cookbook is for anyone who loves the flavors of Asian cuisine and wants to enjoy those flavors at home. (COOKBOOK) —SARAH WALKER CARON

PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I almost don’t want to write this at all, because I don’t want to share The Green Hand — not one little bit. I love this secondhand bookstore and make a point of stopping there pretty much every time I am in Portland. They have shelves and shelves of books older and newer. But my favorite part of the store is the cookbook section, where I lust over 19th century cookbooks and debate the merits of the Boston Cooking-School Cookbook versus other old, reliable cookbooks. If you like old books (and I do!) this is worth a lengthy stop. 661 CONGRESS ST IN PORTLAND — CLOSED ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS.

FOOD & DRINK

OBSESSIONS

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

DRINK

EAT

AQUA VITEA KOMBUCHA

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Fresh tuna is one of those things that is easy to ruin if prepared improperly by overcooking or over seasoning. Thankfully, that’s never a risk at Evenroods (25 Broad Street, Bangor).

And trust me, I’ve done the legwork on this.

Part of the downtown eatery’s appetizer menu, the tuna is seared in a coating of black pepper — just enough to give it some kick, but not so much that it overwhelms the delicate flavor of the pink-fleshed fish.

The tuna is then sliced thin and each slice is placed on a crispy cucumber round. It’s then dotted with pickled ginger, wasabi and a sweet soy sauce. The result? A perfect blend of heat, ginger and soy in which the tuna manages to hold its own. I often order it as the foundation of my meal and pair it with a soup or salad.

And I never leave disappointed.

—JULIA BAYLY

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? What I love about living alone is going to the grocery store and buying things I’ve never tried before. I’ve been hesitant about Kombucha before, but thought I’d give it a chance. Now, I can’t get enough of it.

Kombucha is fermented sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria. It helps promote digestive health, lowers cholesterol and blood sugars and is loaded with antioxidants. I’ve tried different brands like Brew Dr. and KeVita, but my favorite is Aqua ViTea, made in Middlebury, Vermont.

It’s low in sugar (4 grams/8 oz) and doesn’t make me feel sick like high-caffeine drinks. My favorite flavor is peachmint and I can make it last for a couple of days. For those concerned about any alcohol content, Aqua ViTea extracts any excess alcohol to make it truly non-alcoholic. I love waking in the morning and remember I have some cold Kombucha in the fridge waiting for me.

—ROSEMARY LAUSIER

PHOTO: TKTK

PAN-SEARED TUNA APPETIZER AT EVENROODS

ORDER

LOCAL EATS

GRILLED CHEESE AT BAGEL CENTRAL WHY DO WE LOVE IT? A grilled cheese is one of those sandwiches that is simple, yet comforting. I don’t know who came up with the idea of eating melted cheese in between two slices of bread, but they are a personal hero.

Bagel Central’s grilled cheeses are gooey, salty and honestly the best ones I’ve ever had. You can choose what kind of cheese and bread you want — I get cheddar on white — and they staff makes them crazy fast. On a cold, rainy day, a grilled cheese will hit just the right spots.

—ROSEMARY LAUSIER

Your ad could be on this page.

Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Food & Drink section.

Call 990-8000.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

in season now

FOOD & DRINK

CRANBERRIES

STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON

THE TABLE IS SET. The groceries are purchased. And the family will arrive at 5. But what will you be serving them?

Cranberries, which are harvested in autumn, are widely available at markets and stores at this time of year. From baked goods to the ubiquitous sauce, they are versatile too.

Cranberries, which grow in bogs in North America, are a Maine crop though production has slowed since Cherryfield Foods stopped farming cranberries after the 2015 season. In 2017, an estimated 4,079 barrels were picked in Maine, according to data from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. That’s down from 21,023 barrels in 2015. Each barrel is 100 pounds.

Still, if you look at farmers markets, grocers like Tiller & Rye in Brewer, the Natural Living Center in Bangor and the Belfast Co-Op, you might just find some local cranberries just waiting to be put to good use.

And these recipes for two delightful appetizers will help.

In the first recipe, use a little of your prepared cranberry sauce to make a delectable baked brie appetizer. Then serve it up with bread, crackers, apples or whatever you like your hot, melty cheese with.

In the second recipe, raw cranberries are bathed in sugar and enjoyed on a crostini. Of course, if you have extras, they are also wonderful on desserts.

CRANBERRY HONEY BAKED BRIE Serves: 8-10

INGREDIENTS 8 oz wheel Brie cheese ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce 1-2 tbsp honey

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the brie on it. Top with cranberry sauce. Bake for 7-10 minutes until the brie is soft.

Transfer brie to a serving plate. Drizzle with honey.

Serve with your choice of dippers — like bread, crostini, crackers or sliced apples.

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).

PHOTOS: SARAH WALKER CARON

For serving: Bread, crostini, crackers, sliced apples or a combination thereof

SAGE RICOTTA CROSTINI WITH SUGARED CRANBERRIES Serves: 8

INGREDIENTS Sugared cranberries ½ cup water 1 cup sugar, divided 1 tsp vanilla extract ¼ lb cranberries Sage Ricotta Spread ½ cup ricotta cheese 2 tbsp parmesan cheese 2 tsp finely chopped fresh sage 1 tsp salt ½ tsp ground pepper 1 loaf French bread, cut diagonally into ¼-inch slices

DAY AHEAD Start by making the syrup: Combine the water and ½ cup sugar in a small saucepan. Heat gently over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Do not let it come to a boil. Stir in the vanilla extract and remove from heat. Place the cranberries in a small bowl. Cover with syrup mixture. Use foil to both cover the bowl and press the cranberries gently into the syrup. Chill overnight.

DAY OF

PHOTO: ©JENIFOTO/ADOBE STOCK

Drain the cranberries (syrup can be reserved and used to sweeten drinks, if desired). Place the remaining ½ cup sugar in a shallow dish that will allow the cranberries to remain in a single layer. Toss the cranberries with the sugar and then chill for at least 1 hour. Toss again and use as desired.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush bread slices with olive oil on both sides. Bake for about 10 minutes until crispy.

In a mixing bowl, stir together the ricotta, parmesan, sage, salt and pepper until well combined.

Spread a little of the ricotta mixture on each of the bread slices. Top with 2-3 of the cranberries. Arrange on a platter.

Serve immediately.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

FOOD & DRINK

GOBBLE, GOBBLE,

GONE WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE THANKSGIVING TURKEY LEFTOVERS

BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER

ALTHOUGH THERE’S never more than a few of us at a Thanksgiving dinner, our family always has to get a 20-plus pound turkey. We need to get the heaviest turkey so we can maximize the number of days we can eat turkey leftovers. An 18 to 25 pound bird is the preferred size and it has to be cooked perfectly. Our meals in the days following depend on it!

The meals my mom makes post-Thanksgiving can be more popular than the Thanksgiving meal itself: turkey soup, turkey casserole, sandwiches … there’s so many!

Here’s a list of ideas to carry your food coma into the next week.

TURKEY SOUP

PHOTO: TKTK

The key to making turkey soup: keep the bones. My mom will put the bones in a pot and start simmering them with water for turkey stock on Thanksgiving night. She will strain the stock, throw out the bones, and use the meat that is left. She’ll only use additional turkey from Thursday’s dinner if needed. Use the stock, and then add chopped onions, carrots and celery — and noodles (or rice) and the turkey at the end — to create that flavorful, comforting soup. Since we make my nana’s “cinnamon copper pennies” (as written about in our September issue), we don’t use our leftover carrots in the soup. But if you do, add them at the end since their already cooked. If you want a soup like the ones at Bagel Central, you can add your leftover whole cranberries to the mix as well. This is also great to have with your leftover rolls.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21

FOOD & DRINK

TURKEY CASSEROLE

“Gobble Good Turkey Casserole” is the Thanksgiving recipe that has stood the test of time. My sisters and I had the same 2nd grade teacher and we did this craft project where we made a turkey out of brown paper bags and construction paper. Attached to each paper turkey was a recipe for “Gobble Good Turkey Casserole.” The ingredients are pretty simple: you mix cream of mushroom soup, milk and dry onion soup mix and pour it over the turkey and rice. Casseroles can be pretty adaptable — add other vegetables to the mix, such as green beans, carrots, peas and carrots, or switch out the soup mix. As long as you have a creamy mixture to hold everything together, you should be good. My mom’s tip to keep the turkey from drying out is adding more milk and less rice to the meal.

TURKEY SANDWICHES

Lunch can be a hard meal to plan for, but is so much easier after Thanksgiving. You can take soft bread and spread mayo on each side and put in the shredded turkey pieces. Or if you really want to go all in, slather some of the stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy in between the turkey pieces — so the bread doesn’t get soggy — and go to town. Try toasting the bread to help battle the moisture as well. All those Thanksgiving flavors come together in one bite. Of course, you can put as many or as few leftovers as you want on your sandwich.

TURKEY SALAD

This can be something else you can make for another sandwich or put on top of a bed of romaine lettuce or spinach. All turkey salad requires is cooked shredded turkey and mayo that you mix together with whatever else you’d like such as mustard, apple cider vinegar, dill or pickle relish. And there’s a bunch of variations you can try out like adding whole cranberries for a sweet, tangy and crunchy addition.

SECOND THANKSGIVING

I love to have a second Thanksgiving, but with all the yummy leftovers from the first one. This gives me a chance to eat the last few morsels of my beloved stuffing, before I have to part with it for another year.

Anything we don’t finish — such as the potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce, onions and carrots — we use as a side for soup or a casserole. Believe me, no Thanksgiving leftovers should get thrown out. If you don’t finish it the first or second time, have it a third or fourth. It should still taste good for that first week — if they last that long. If we don’t have enough leftovers to make a whole meal, or we’re saving them, my mom will sometimes make some extra mashed potatoes or cook some broccoli.

TURKEY POT PIE

The first time we tried this, it did not go over so well. We used two pie crusts (from the box) with only turkey and gravy in the middle.

With turkey pot pie, you need all those extra veggies to make it robust. You pile in the turkey pieces, drizzle or lightly pour the gravy over it, and mix in your leftover carrots and peas or green beans. If you’ve run out of any of the vegetables, it’s okay to go out and buy some. Just remember to cut some slits at the top of the pie to help with the cooking. Any extra leftovers such as rolls, potato or veggies you don’t use or decide to leave out can go on the side.

22 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

HIKE ME

EMBRACE The

QUIET

HIKE THROUGH MAINE’S OFF-SEASON STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

THE LEAVES have fallen. The songbirds have flown south. Days are short.

And the tourists have fled.

With skeletal trees and a biting wind, November, at first glance, is a bleak month in Maine. But if you take a moment to embrace the quiet, you might be surprised at the subtle beauty that this time of year holds.

On a woodland trail, ice is forming, its crystals knitting intricate patterns over puddles and ponds. A red squirrel sits on a fallen tree and munches on a pine cone. Vibrant green moss coats the forest floor. A woodpecker drills into bark for bugs.

After a busy fall foliage season, the number of hikers quickly dwindle as the temperatures cool during November. And in that lull of activity, a special peace can be found on the trails.

So if you’re longing for some fresh air and solitude, bundle up in a fleece and some blaze orange — to be visible to hunters who might be sharing the woods with you — and hit the trails.

24 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

CARTER MEADOW ROAD TRAIL

SUNKHAZE MEADOW NATIONAL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY IN MILFORD

EASY TO MODERATE The Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge protects the second-largest peatland in Maine and contains several raised bogs or domes, separated by streamside meadows. Sunkhaze Stream bisects the refuge with its six tributaries, creating a diversity of wetland communities. The unit in Milford covers 11,485 acres.

Carter Meadow Road Trail is one of five short hiking trails scattered throughout the refuge. Hiking the entire thing is about 2.2 miles, including the short span of woods road that leads to the loop trail. At the far end of the loop, the trail leads to an observation platform on the edge of Sunkhaze Meadows Bog. Access is free. Dogs are permitted but must be kept under control and picked up after. Hunting is permitted. For more information, call 207-454-7161 or visit fws.gov/refuge/sunkhaze_meadows.

DIRECTIONS: From Route 2 in Milford, turn onto County Road, which starts out paved and quickly transitions into a well-groomed dirt road. You will pass several gated drives. At about 6.4 miles, park in a small parking area on the left. There a kiosk contains refuge trail maps. To find the trail, walk southwest on the road (back the way you came) for a few hundred feet. The gated Carter Meadow Road is just after Little Birch Stream on the same side of the road as the parking area. Walk past the gate and down the road 0.3 mile, passing a few private camps. At the end of the road is a small red building. You can start the hike of the loop trail from the right or left of the building.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

NORTHERN HEADWATERS TRAIL IN MONTVILLE MODERATE The Northern Headwaters Trail is one of the many trails that are owned and maintained by the Midcoast Conservancy. Forming a loop that’s about 3.5 miles long, the trail travels along the ridge of Whitten Hill, the edge of a field and along the banks of the Sheepscot River.

Along the way, the trail passes a large stone wall, a cellar hole and fruit trees — all evidence that a homestead once stood on the property.

A part of the Sheepscot Headwaters Trail Network, the Northern Headwaters Trail is connected to the 5.3-mile Goose Ridge Trail, the 1.4-mile Hemlock Hollow Trail, the 0.5-mile Whitten Fields Trail and the 0.5-mile Whitten Hill Trail. These trails branch out to connect with other trails for a total of 19.2 miles of intersecting trails that span three preserves.

Access is free. Dogs are allowed, but they must be kept under control at all times. Hunting is permitted, though special permission from the land trust is required in some areas. For more information, call Midcoast Conservancy at 207-389-5150 or visit midcoastconservancy.org.

DIRECTIONS: There are two parking areas from this trail. From the intersection of North Mountain Valley Highway (Route 220), Halldale Road and Freedom Pond Road in Montville, drive about 1.6 miles south on Halldale Road. The first parking area that you can use will be on your left marked with a sign that reads “Whitten Hill Trailhead.” The second parking lot is another 0.9 mile south on Halldale Road, also on your left. A short dirt road leads to this parking area, which is for the Northern Headwaters Trailhead.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

PARKMAN MOUNTAIN AND BALD PEAK ACADIA NATIONAL PARK ON MOUNT DESERT ISLAND

CHALLENGING Both rising over 900 feet above sea level, Parkman Mountain and Bald Peak stand side by side on Mount Desert Island, east of Somes Sound, and their summits are so close together that hikers usually visit both in one outing. Located in Acadia National Park, the mountains both provide panoramic views of the stunning landscape of MDI and the nearby ocean, dotted with smaller islands.

Well-maintained park trails climb both mountains and span between their peaks, allowing for a loop hike that is a little less than 3 miles long. Carry a park map with you on your hike so you can confidently navigate any trail intersections.

All visitors to Acadia are required to pay an entrance fee upon entry May through October. Dogs are permitted on this hike if kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times and their owners pick up after them. Hunting is not permitted. For more information, call 207-288-3338 or visit nps.gov/acad.

DIRECTIONS: Drive onto Mount Desert Island on Route 3. At the intersection after the causeway, veer right onto Route 198 and drive 4.3 miles. Veer left onto Route 198-Route 3 and drive 4.1 miles and park in the small Norumbega Mountain parking area on your left, which is about 0.1 mile past the larger Parkman Mountain parking area, on the right. The trailhead is located across the road.

AISLINN SARNACKI is a staff writer for Bangor Metro and the Outdoors and Homestead sections of the Bangor Daily News. An expert on the Maine outdoors, she is author of the guidebooks “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path,” “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine” and the newly released “Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine.”

Follow her adventures on her blog, actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com.

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HOW-TO

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

YARN-WRAPPED LETTERS MAKE FUN LETTERS TO DECORATE KIDS' ROOMS STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY ALLEN

IF THERE'S ONE KIND OF PROJECT my kids will always get excited about, it’s decorations for their bedrooms. I don’t know if they’ve watched too much HGTV or just feel a need to personalize their own space, but they are always on the search for new things to add or make. My tween and her friend spent an exceptional amount of time working on this project, tediously wrapping their initials in yarn.

And in a last minute moment of inspiration, adding pom-pom hair and giant googly eyes to create a fun letter person.

We found unfinished wood letters at a local craft supply store, but you could also make your own from stiff cardboard. One pro tip on choosing your letters: wrapping yarn around curves and flourishes is very tricky.

We recommend using letters in a sans serif, simple font with straight lines.

Because this project does take some time and patience, a good option for younger kids is to simply paint their letter and wrap just a section of it.

When you’re done, these are fun to hang on a bedroom door or wall. These could easily translate into a “grown-up” project, and would make a great gift to use as nursery décor or as a seasonal decoration (imagine “Give Thanks” or “Ho Ho Ho” spelled out in holiday colors and embellished with autumn leaves or red berries).

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Lots of yarn. Decide ahead of time if you want to stick with one color, multiple colors or make a rainbow or ombré effect or pattern.

• Letter cut-outs. We found some at a local craft store, but you could make your own out of stiff cardboard.

• Hot glue gun • Scissors • Popsicle sticks

DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. Choose your yarn. Using yarn of different weight will create a uneven effect, while using similarly weighted yarn will produce a more unified look. Decide ahead of time if you want to create any kind of ombrĂŠ effect or pattern.

2. Using straight letters with the fewest number of angles and serifs will make this an easier project. We found the key is to glue down the yarn at multiple points, on the back of the letter when possible, to keep a clean look on the front and prevent slipping. For your starting line and any other lines near the edge of the letter, run a thin line of glue along the front of the letter as well to hold the yarn in place.

3. Once your starting line is in place, keep wrapping and tacking down the yarn with glue to prevent it from moving out of place. We used popsicle sticks to help line up the yarn and push it tight together. Sticks are also helpful for adjusting glue without burning little fingers.

4. To switch colors, simply cut the yarn off on the back of the letter and start again with a different color. Strategize ahead of time about good starting and stopping points.

5. For those tricky sections or any spots that get missed, adding a decorative element or pompom is a simple way to cover up mistakes and bare spots. Googly eyes add another fun element.

6. Hang your letter on a bedroom door or wall to display and admire your hard work!

with KIDS

HOW-TO

CREATE IT AT HOME

HOLIDAY

ADVENT CALENDAR START A NEW TRADITION WITH THIS SIMPLE DIY CALENDAR

BY KATIE SMITH

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GROWING UP, my mother would always pull out a quilted advent calendar on Dec. 1 and hang it on the basement door. While I loved seeing this — it meant the holiday season was starting — there were no treats hidden in little pockets like I’d noticed in some of my friend’s homes.

In our house, each morning we moved a little stuffed bear around a different part of his house, and he hung there with a safety pin.

When I had kids, I wanted an advent calendar that could house little tiny treats like gold coins, Hershey Kisses, or Matchbox cars. But, I also wanted something simple that would go with my decor for years.

I came up with something easy that anyone can do (get your kids to help!) — a blank slate that can be decorated with different or clip-on ornaments (I’m obsessed with birds right now) or garlands as your taste and colors in your home changes.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Large white canvas — I used a 36-inches x 48-inches • 24 party bags in the color of your choice with handles removed • Scissors • Glittered numbers 1-24.

To make this really easy, I found 2-inch adhesive numbers on Etsy so I don’t have to glue them. If you have great handwriting, you could also draw numbers on envelopes.

• Glue • Ornaments and garlands of your choice • Treats to fill pockets

DIRECTIONS 1. Snip handles off bags.

2. Glue, draw or stick numbers to envelopes.

3. Arrange bags in a design you like on canvas, then glue onto canvas.

PHOTOS: (INSET & CALENDAR) KATIE SMITH

4. Add garland or ornaments to your canvas.

6. Hang and fill your advent calendar with treats.

at

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HOME & FAMILY

CONSENT MATTERS

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WHY MAINE STUDENTS NEED TO LEARN AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT AND HOW IT MIGHT CHANGE A CULTURE

PHOTO: ©JACOB LUND/ADOBE STOCK

BY NINA MAHALERIS

YES MEANS YES. That’s the message that Maine secondary students will learn in health classes as a result of new legislation passed earlier this year. The legislation mandates that health curriculum must now include “instruction on affirmative consent, communication and decision making regarding sexual activity and the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics on the ability to give affirmative consent, communicate and make appropriate decisions.”

Regardless of school budgets or cultural stigmas, all students will now learn these important lessons.

While this particular education has long been at the forefront of discussion for sexual health professionals, violence prevention organizations and educators, the law underscores the importance and brings a renewed importance to presence of affirmative consent in school curriculum.

While working on an act to address campus sexual assault in 2015, State Representive Mattie Daughtry of Brunswick realized that Maine students needed to learn about affirmative consent much earlier in school and thus started a movement towards legislation. Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill, “An Act Regarding Secondary School Education Concerning Sexual Activity and Sexual Assault” into law on June 5.

While 29 states, plus Washington D.C., mandate that sex education is taught, a May 2018 report from the Center for American Progress revealed that only eight states were teaching consent as part of their sex education curricula. A year later, the same organization published an updated list of the 22 states that had either already adopted or were in the process of enacting laws to include consent or sexual assault education as part of their sex ed curricula.

Maine, which enacted the law a month after the updated list was released, was not included previously but now joins the collection of states teaching some variation of consent in schools.

“We need to make sure that students are having this education before stepping foot on college campuses,” Daughtry said. “It’s absolutely and utterly necessary.”

WHAT IS AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT? The new law defines affirmative consent as “consent to sexual activity that can be revoked at any time and does not include silence, lack of resistance or consent given while intoxicated.” According to Daughtry, it will ensure that all parties are “on board” when it comes to consent. “It allows you to advocate for what you believe in,” she said.

However, it won’t only teach kids how to give consent — it’s also aimed at empowering students to acquire skills to communicate effectively and create healthy relationships with their peers, Daughtry said.

While instruction on consent may vary between states, Maine’s law “highlights the need to acknowledge that the world is changing in different dynamics,” she said.

Jean Zimmerman, a health and physical education consultant for the Maine Department of Education, said that teaching consent is a “key criteria” of education which needs to be taught over time through foundational learning approaches.

“Affirmative consent is a really important thing to teach because people might think, ‘well, what is a ‘yes?’” Zimmerman said.

EARLY TEACHING IS KEY According to Dr. Elizabeth Schroeder, a New Jerseybased sexuality education expert, teaching consent needs to happen early and parents and educators can work together to successfully teach affirmative consent.

“We are a culture that is so obsessed with getting it ‘right’ but this isn’t linear,” she said.

The lessons also need to be reinforced through the years, Schroeder said, and an important piece of teaching consent is allowing kids to be “the experts of

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HOME & FAMILY

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PHOTO: ©STOCKPHOTOPRO /ADOBE STOCK

their own lives,” by giving them opportunities to express what they like and what they don’t like.

If children don’t learn these lessons early enough, then educators must overcompensate later on to “unlearn” some of the misconceptions students have subconsciously consumed about sexual health.

Many subliminal messages are deeply-rooted in our society especially in children’s shows, which is why parents need to understand what their kids are seeing and be prepared to talk about them, Schroeder said.

“Things that are unfamiliar feel scary,” she said. However, “parents are actually helping by talking about these topics.”

AN UNCERTAIN PATH FORWARD While the new Maine law may be a step forward in ensuring that all Maine students learn about affirmative consent, some educators seem unsure of how it might impact schools that already teach the subject.

Stacey Vannah, who has been an educator in Maine for over 20 years, said that many schools and educators have been including consent in their lessons plans for a long time.

However, Vannah said this law is a step in making sure that all students are learning the same information, especially for schools that didn’t teach affirmative consent before.

The new law will simply ensure that schools across Maine are being “more intentional” with their curriculum when it comes to teaching consent, said Kelli Deveaux, the communications director for the Maine Department of Education.

This is education that young people need, Vannah said, adding that students actually want to talk about how to navigate the complexities of their social relationships.

But consent education is a complex and nuanced topic, which can sometimes be difficult for kids to fully grasp, Vannah said. It becomes especially challenging for students to understand why verbal consent is needed every time between consistent partners and, even more, that they don’t owe their partner anything, she said.

“There’s this perception of what affirmative consent is and isn’t. The more we can help the students become comfortable with agency, the more that becomes a normalized behavior,” said Deveaux.

STAGGERING STATISTICS, HOPE FOR CHANGE According to the 2017 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, 7.2 percent of Maine high school students reported that they were physically forced to have sexual intercourse when they didn’t want to. The same study revealed that 15.8 percent of

girls and 5.4 percent of boys reported having been forced to have sexual contact during their lifetime.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Vannah said, when students first learn about affirmative consent and some realize they’ve had sexual experiences where consent wasn’t present.

Affirmative consent could impact how students respond to sexual violence in the future, too. This model is giving students the vocabulary and the skills to identify and talk about their experiences, said Oronde Cruger, the program manager for “Speak About It,” a Maine-based organization that aims to prevent sexual violence through performance-based education.

He explained consent education as a public health priority. Teaching affirmative consent is not so much about sex as it is about providing tools and resources for young people so they may be better equipped to pursue social relationships in a healthy way, he said.

Teaching kids about affirmative consent and sexual health early on might also encourage them to put off sexual activity and use protection when they do.

According to the 2017 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, 38 percent of high school students reported they had sex at least once.

Nationally, the number of sexually active teens has declined since 1988. Data from the National Survey of Family Growth revealed that girls and women ages 15 to 19 who report that they have ever had sex has declined from 51 percent in 1988 to 42 percent between 2011 and 2015. For high school boys and men, that number has dropped by 16 percent within the same period.

“Sex-positive isn’t always sex-pursuant,” Cruger said. “We’re saying, pursue sex in the way that feels safe to you, which can sometimes mean not pursuing sex.”

In a written testimony to the Maine Legislature in support of the law, Catherine Buxton, the organization’s communications manager stated, “By mandating consent education curriculum across the state, we are ensuring that teachers and administrators will be equipped to handle conversations and teach skills about consent, sexual assault, and dating violence.”

Buxton wrote that providing affirmative consent education in schools will prevent sexual violence before it happens and is a “concrete solution” to the problem.

While educators and lawmakers agree that the law is a small part of the ongoing work to expand consent instruction, it symbolizes a movement towards change.

“It’s an important first step in building a culture of affirmative consent,” said Buxton.

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FEATURE

30 to Spend Time Together

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FROM NATURE WALKS TO VOLUNTEERING, AUTUMN ADVENTURES AWAIT

BY SARAH COTTRELL

FALL IN MAINE is not only a stunningly beautiful experience but it is also the perfect time to connect with family and friends by getting out into the community to check out activities, adventures, volunteer opportunities, and events. From nature walks and 5K’s to art shows and theatre, there is so much to do both indoors and out. What better time than fall, when the holidays season is just getting warmed up, to find ways to reconnect with the people you love most?

With the spirit of connection in mind, we’ve rounded up a robust list of things to do for families that will hit all the right notes: kid-friendly, fun, affordable, and local. The best part?

There is always something awesome going on in the Greater Bangor area, which means you’ll never find yourself saying “there’s nothing to do.”

PHOTOS: ©MONKEY BUSINESS/ADOBE STOCK; (KITTEN) WWW.PHOTOCREO.COM/ADOBE STOCK

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Check out a performance of ‘Gaslight’ at the Penobscot Theater but be sure to get your tickets early since the final showing is on Nov. 3.

Help out some furry friends over at the Bangor Humane Society where the shelter always needs loving hands to help with everything from dog walking to kennel cleaners and everything in between.

Kids as young as 10 can sign up to volunteer!

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Share a Meal, Share Your Heart at the Ronald McDonald House where guest chef volunteers can cook a hot meal for a family staying at the charity house.

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FEATURE

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Check out the Maine Discovery Museum on November 5 for a fun family activity called Science Detectives where kids can make wicked cool discoveries.

Swing by Husson University for the Designing Women Bangor art show featuring more than 40 local female artists on Nov. 2.

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Be a tourist in your own town and take a selfie in front of the world-famous Paul Bunyan statue in downtown Bangor.

Take a lovely walk along the Penobscot River Walkway and see beautiful views of the Crown City.

Even though Halloween is still lingering in our short term memory, try taking a self-guided tour of the beautiful and world-famous Mount Hope Cemetery.

Too cold to be outside? Spend an afternoon marveling at the Cole Land Transportation Museum but hurry because the museum closes for the season on Nov. 11.

PHOTOS: (PAUL BUNYAN) BDN FILE; (TRUCK) SNAPPYSTOCK, INC./ ADOBE STOCK; (CHILD) ADOBE STOCK

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Grab your warmest fleece and head outside with friends and family to enjoy more than 10 miles of beautiful trails for hiking, biking and more at the Bangor City Forest.

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Teens can enjoy Game Night at the Bangor Public Library on Nov. 13 and kids can enjoy Mother Goose Story Time every Wednesday morning at 10:15.

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Feeling like going for a run? Try the 38th Annual Brewer High School Turkey Trot on Nov. 24.

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Sometimes you just need to have silly fun, so head over the Playland Adventures to bounce around on inflatables then enjoy some pizza with your family.

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Looking for something fun to do with your dog?

Bangor has an amazing Dog Park that is clean, friendly, and welcoming!

The Bangor Public Library hosts a series of wonderful free art shows with a rotating schedule of artists.

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PHOTOS: (LIBRARY) BDN FILE; (DOG) ©ANNAAV/ ADOBE STOCK; (PAINTING) ©FRESH STOCK/ ADOBE STOCK; (KEYS) ©RUSLAN GRUMBLE/ ADOBE STOCK

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Take in some contemporary and modern art at the University of Maine Museum of Art in downtown Bangor where admission is free thanks to generous grants and kids are encouraged to learn about art through fun games like a modern art scavenger hunt.

Totally nerd out on the fascinating history of Bangor over at the Bangor Historical Society where patrons can dig deep into Bangor’s colorful past.

Find some of the coolest and maybe the weirdest treasures over at the Rock N Art Shop’s Cabinets of Curiosity.

19 Test your family’s sleuthing skills by signing up for an adventure at the Bangor Escape Rooms.

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FEATURE

PHOTOS: (THIS PAGE) AISLINN SARNACKI; ©TARASOV_VL/ ADOBE STOCK; ©HELGIDINSON/ ADOBE STOCK; ©AFRICA STUDIO/ ADOBE STOCK

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Mark your calendars for Nov. 11 when Acadia National Park admission will be free to all in honor of Veterans Day.

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REALTORS The Maine Harvest Festival is sure to something for everyone in your family on Nov. 23 and 24.

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If you love all things rocks then check out the Penobscot Mineral & Lapidary Club Rock & Gem Show at the Brewer Auditorium Nov. 2 and 3.

Head over the Fields Pond Audubon Society for a public talk called ‘A Birding and Wildlife Adventure at the End of the World’ with Ron Davis $8 for admission.

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The Elks Lodge Annual Thanksgiving Weekend Craft Fair will be held at the Bangor Elks Lodge on November 30.

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Catch a taping of the Nite Show with Danny Cashman on Nov. 20 at Gracie Theatre!

Join a fall bowling league and get the family out for some fun over at Family Fun Lanes.

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Your listing could be on this page.

Sell it faster.

27 Be spontaneous and take the family to Nicky’s Cruisin’ Diner for a retro dinner and finish it off with banana splits.

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The 31st Annual Bangor Arts and Crafts Show is being held at the Cross Insurance Center on Nov. 2 and 3.

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Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section.

Call 990-8000.

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Catch a performance of Brahms and Prokofiev with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra on November 10 at the Collins Center for the Arts.

Pop into The Briar Patch bookstore in downtown Bangor for amazing games and books for kids. On Nov. 30, treat your family to an author talk with the whimsical Matt Tavares who will be hosting a book signing. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 43

FEATURE

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READING with KIDS ADVICE FROM A MOM & TEACHER

BY EMILY DENBOW MORRISON

PHOTO: EVGENY ATAMANENKO/ ADOBE STOCK

AS PARENTS, there are so many “things” pulling at our time, sitting down and reading to or with our kids can seem like a luxury. Looking at the big picture though, many of the dreams we have for our children hinge on their ability to read and enjoy reading.

Being a strong reader helps a child develop intellectually, socially and emotionally, but encouraging a love of reading is about much more than improving a child’s intelligence quotient, social sphere or emotional well-being. Reading is about discovering who they are in relation to the world around them, what they believe in, and ultimately, what they want to do with their lives.

As writers Pamela Paul and Maria Russo write in their new book “How To Raise A Reader,” “School is where children learn that they have to read. Home is where kids learn to read because they want to.”

So how can parents help children read because they want to?

START EARLY One of the joys of parenting is reading to your kids when they’re so tiny they have no choice but to stay put. Whether you prop a book up on your baby bump, sit beside the crib or cuddle in your own bed, the best time to start reading to children is when they’re immobile. For infants and toddlers, consider sharing books they can touch, drool on and possibly chew, that focus on familiar images. Board books such as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” and “Goodnight Moon” are a few favorites.

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FEATURE

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Choose books with simple pictures of people, animals, places and objects around your baby. Just be aware, too much visual stimuli can be distracting.

Remember, you’re immersing them in words. When they’re little amoebas, they aren’t going to know what you’re saying. They may or may not look at the pictures while you go on about something in a language they don’t understand yet.

Give it time.

One day they’ll point to their belly-button and all that drooling and gnawing will be forgotten.

PHOTO: ©PATRICK /ADOBE STOCK

READ WHAT YOU LOVE Your little one understands pictures and words, hooray! Now what? What stories should you share with your emerging reader? Go back to your favorite books as a child, The Little Golden Book Collection, The Berenstain Bears, or Grimm’s Fairy Tales are classics. It’s always a good idea to start with what you know.

Young ones are always learning, and there’s no better way to teach them than through books you loved. You don’t have to read about bulldozers and trucks with boys and babies and Barbies with girls.

The same holds true for race, religion, and culture.

Identity should be given room to grow at any age but even more so when children are young.

Take them to the library or bookstore. Let them paw through the shelves. If you’re more digitally inclined, go online. Whether children smell the paper and turn the page or read from a screen and scroll, reading is reading. You can’t go wrong with “Charlotte’s Web,” or beloved characters like Harry Potter, Junie B. Jones, or Percy Jackson. If none of these float their boat, find out what their personal reading tastes are and serve it up. If you’re having trouble finding something they like, talk to book lovers: teachers, librarians or bookstore owners. They can give you a few recommendations better suited to your child’s interests.

GIVE THEM THE REINS We now have a whole genre of literature based around the interests of adolescents. It’s called “Young Adult Lit,” and it’s on fire right now. Books like “The Fault in Our Stars,” “The Hate U Give,” “The Book Thief,” “The Outsiders,” and “The Giver” are some of the most popular. For parents, it’s important to give children the freedom to come up with their own reading lists. Whether they’re interested in fiction,

biographies, self-help, science-fiction, graphic novels, graffiti art, or photography, books can help teens build a bridge between their present and future selves.

We need to let go of the reins and let them direct their own reading journey.

Just because your kid loves The Hunger Games series doesn’t mean they want to fight to the death themselves. We read for friendship, enlightenment, and escape — not because we want to do everything we read about. Young adult literature is all about rebellion, dystopia, romance, and fantasy. Let them read by themselves, and don’t stress out when they don’t want to talk about what they’re reading. They need time and space to find their way, and we need to give it to them.

TALK, BUT DON’T TALK TOO MUCH Parents ask kids about what they’re doing in school, what they’re binge watching, who they’re dating and what their friends are up to, so why shouldn’t we ask them about what they’re reading? (Or if they’re reading!)

Having conversations at the breakfast or supper table, during the commute to school, in waiting rooms, on the sidelines or any other stray moment reinforces that you’re interested in what they’re interested in.

Usually, when food is involved, kids are more inclined to talk. Or, if they’re trapped in a moving vehicle with you, their cell phone is dead and the radio doesn’t work, they might open up. Choose your timing well.

Sometimes, sharing with them what you observe, “I don’t see you reading much anymore,” is all you need to say to get the ball rolling. On the other side of the spectrum, maybe you’re worried they’re reading too much. The important thing is, you should say what you see as carefully as you can, and then figure out what they need from you. Whether they’re reading one romance novel after another or barely cracking open their school books, your children should know that you are their ally, not their adversary. You want to help them lead a rewarding reading life, not dictate to them what they do with it.

At the end of the day, helping children want to read comes down to surrounding them with good stories, giving them a variety to choose from, finding out what they like, and then letting them decide what and how much they read. This is one time where it pays to have your nose in a book. If children see parents doing what they love, they’ll be more convinced by this than anything you say to them about the value of reading.

It takes a reader to raise a reader.

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FEATURE

Read MORE GIVING MAINE FIRST GRADERS THE GIFT OF BOOKS

BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER

FOR BOTH Dan and Karen Cashman, childhood revolved around books. With mothers who were librarians, they were each exposed to reading at an early age.

They devoured timeless favorites like Ramona Quimby books and the Berenstain Bears as well as authors like Roald Dahl.

But the couple realizes that not all kids are growing up with those same opportunities.

“Everybody around here had … book order [forms],” said Dan Cashman. “I specifically remember there were always a few kids who weren’t part of that.”

They hope to change that.

The Cashmans officially launched their new program “Dirigo Reads” at the end of August. The goal of the program is to help the wellbeing and health of children in Maine through literacy. They aim to provide all first graders in six Maine towns with a book each month, with the overall goal to expand the program to all first graders in the state by 2025.

The six towns in the program this year are Brewer, Caribou, Castine, DoverFoxcroft, Machias and Madison — serving six schools and 332 first graders in total.

Dirigo Reads has been in the planning stages for almost a year, Karen Cashman said.

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She saw a lot of teachers who were asking people to sponsor kids in the classrooms to provide books for them, so she wanted to see if that could work on a “macro level.”

The Cashmans discussed the logistics of the program with people in the Brewer school system, the now-former superintendent Cheri Towle, teachers and agencies to get a concrete plan for how the program was going to work. They discussed potential book titles to give to the students which will include a mix of fiction, non-fiction and poetry books such as “It’s snowing, It’s Snowing,” by Jack Prelutsky.

What’s better, is that the students will keep every book and will not have to return them at the end of the school year.

“There’s something special with having a book to keep,” said Dan Cashman. “Every year, they will have a home library of 9 to 10 books that they can keep forever.”

Brewer Community School is the largest school in the program with five first grade classrooms and 100 students. Castine’s Adams School is the smallest with two students.

“Above and beyond improving academic achievement, we also want our students to learn to LOVE to read, and it is undeniable that children with greater access to books and print express more enjoyment of

books, reading and academics,” said Allison Kahkonen, a principal at Brewer Community School at the Dirigo Reads launch. “What is so great about this program is that by increasing access to high quality books for ALL kids, every month, during a critical year for literacy development, we can do both!”

The Cashmans concluded from their studies that the most successful way to increase students’ achievement is to increase their access to books. According to a 2018 study by Educate Maine, 22 percent of economically disadvantaged fourth graders were proficient in reading compared to 49 percent of non-economically disadvantaged.

“The thing about literacy, it plays a huge role in helping their wellbeing,” said Karen Cashman. “It will help people feel more confident in themselves and will help in the future.”

According to a 1991 study by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, there is almost a 90 percent probability that a child will remain a poor reader at the end of fourth grade if the child is a poor reader at the end of first grade.

And while Maine’s fourth grade math scores have improved, said a 2014 study

by Educate Maine, reading scores have basically been stagnant.

(TOP & BOTTOM) Dan and Karen Cashman chat with students at SeDoMoCha School, serving students in Sebec, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Charleston.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW LARRABEE, IT DIRECTOR FOR RSU 68

(MIDDLE) Karen Cashman of Dirigo Reads with partners Derek Cashman of Cross Insurance, Melissa Denbow of Machias Savings Bank, Cary Weston of Sutherland Weston, Dan Cashman of Dirigo Reads, and Shirar Patterson of United Way of Eastern Maine.

PHOTO BY LISA STURGEON, SUTHERLAND WESTON

PHOTO: ©IGORZVENCOM/ ADOBE STOCK

“There’s a big emphasis on STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics], but without the basic foundation of reading, STEM becomes a lot more difficult,” said Dan Cashman. “To help lay that foundation through books, to teach people to learn, and for enjoyment, helps propel things along.”

Karen Cashman said that first graders were the prime age to receive books from the program because they are at the age when their reading starts to advance, but they are not getting new books or they outgrow the ones they got when they were toddlers.

“It’s when they’re learning to read instead of reading to learn,” she said.

Parents of two daughters, Karen Cashman said her now-second-grader kind of served as an inspiration for the program. She saw her literacy skills in first grade and saw the amazing progress that students can make in their reading over the course of the year.

Community supporters of Dirigo Reads are Cross Insurance, Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications, Bangor Savings Bank, the United Way of Eastern Maine and Machias Savings Bank.

The Cashmans realize that providing books to 13,000 students per month by 2025 is a lofty goal, but they are determined to get the support and find a way to achieve it. They are already looking into 2020 and will see how many schools they can add to the program each year. But their main goal is to give back to the community no matter what the numbers show.

“The program is about sharing optimism,” said Karen Cashman. “We hope it will inspire other schools or towns to do things to help their own communities.”

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49

FEATURE

50 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

A 1930’s Thanksgiving postcard.

A HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING IN MAINE

IMAGE: COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW

BY RICHARD SHAW

YOU HAD TO HAND IT to Fred French, a vestryman at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bangor. He knew how to impress his 16 dinner guests with a classic 1878 Thanksgiving Day feast.

As described in a 1934 Bangor newspaper article, the meal began with oyster soup and crackers, followed by a mammoth turkey (no trimmings except for its own brown skin), two large boiled fowl, and an English roast of beef. Vegetables included mashed potatoes, squash, boiled onions, and cranberry sauce. “... With the turkey the guests were served unlimited quantities of champagne — in spite of the fact that even then, Maine had prohibition,” the article noted. “At each corner of the table was a cut glass decanter of rum, gin, brandy, and whiskey, for those who preferred the stronger drink to the somewhat milder champagne.”

Next came mince, squash, apple and pumpkin pies. Then the table was cleared and candies, nuts, raisins, figs, dates, and port wine, snatched from the church’s communion cupboard, topped off the meal.

Coffee came last, served in breakfast-sized cups. Hopefully, the guests made it home safely after this glorious epicurean exercise.

Maine’s Thanksgiving history is brimming with stories of both lavish meals and Great Depression famines, when families depended on public assistance to get through the holiday. Today, dining out in a restaurant, or attending a soup kitchen dinner, is as common as preparing a meal at home. But French might wince at the thought of diners insisting that vegetarian Tofu Turkey tastes as though it once gobbled and lived on a farm.

“When I was growing up in the 1940s and 50s, most people celebrated Thanksgiving quietly,” said David Crouse, a historian and researcher from Bangor.

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An 1800’s New England Thanksgiving.

52 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

“Now, people feel pressured to do things more expensively. Dad earned just above what most people in town made, which wasn’t much.”

Crouse lived with his parents and sister in the town of Stow, a rural Oxford County town that has a current population of around 411. Before noon each Thanksgiving, they would travel the short distance to his grandparents’ home in Chatham, N.H., and enjoy a modest meal. His mother typically supplied the apple pie.

“This wasn’t a traditional turkey dinner,” Crouse said. “Grandmother made a sort of turkey stew covered with biscuits. You might have called it a pie. We never had a turkey until a company that father worked for later donated one for the holidays.”

Stow had a one-room schoolhouse where the teacher, Mrs. Andrews, was like a second mother to Crouse and his classmates.

Her young charges crafted paper Pilgrim hats, and probably also read the accepted account of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, attended by the Pilgrims and local Indians at Plymouth Plantation.

She might have cited another New England holiday connection, the role that New Hampshire’s Sarah Hale, a well-known magazine editor, played in persuading President Abraham Lincoln to establish a legal holiday in 1863, giving thanks on the last Thursday of November.

Before Maine became a state in 1820, Thanksgiving was commonly observed on this day. A document signed by Maine’s first governor, William King, archived in the University of Maine Fogler Library Special Collections, proves his support of this unofficial holiday.

Yet another area Thanksgiving connection alleges that the first meal was actually served at Maine’s Popham Colony, 14 years before the Pilgrims’ feast. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan fueled this theory in a proclamation, stating that the time and date of the first American Thanksgiving observance was uncertain and then mentioned as his first example that a band of settlers arriving in Maine in 1607 held a service of thanks for their safe journey.

Whatever the truth about where America first broke bread and gave thanks, Thanksgiving remains a placid holiday filled with food, football, and parades.

Thanksgiving provides a reason for culinary researchers to leaf through old grocery advertisements and restaurant

PHOTOS: (TOP) COURTESY SOMETHINGOLD.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM; (BOTTOM) UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOGLER LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

FEATURE

(Clockwise from top left) Children perform in a pilgrim play at Bangor’s Abraham Lincoln School in 1940.

BDN FILE PHOTO Dow Army Airfield cooks on Thanksgiving 1944. COURTESY BANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY, THOMPSON COLLECTION A private Thanksgiving dinner in 1938 at the Pine Tree Restaurant with owner Forrest Marsh in the chef’s uniform with his family.

COURTESY MARJORIE MARSH QUIGG Ellen Severance, longtime Oronoka Restaurant waitress, served many Thanksgiving dinners, maybe including lobster circa 2001. BDN FILE PHOTO Pilots Grill in Bangor, as seen in 1960, was once a favorite Thanksgiving dinner destination. COURTESY RICHARD SHAW www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

FEATURE

Advertisements from the Bangor Daily News featuring Thanksgiving specials through the years, circa (clockwise from top left) 1940, 1942, 1940 and 1925.

54 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

IMAGE: COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW

Thanksgiving Day — The Dinner,

by Winslow Homer for Harper’s Weekly, November 1858.

menus to discern the cost of earlier meals compared to today. In 1940, for only 50 cents, Bangor’s Brass Rail restaurant served a full Thanksgiving dinner, including a choice of native young tom turkey or Virginia ham, Hubbard squash, English plum pudding, and hot mince pie.

In 1980, the Red Lion’s traditional dinner of turkey, vegetables, and Indian pudding cost $6.95. Today, dining out on turkey day can run anywhere from $25 to $50, depending on drink orders.

The cost of cooking your own dinner is surprisingly cheap, compared to prices stretching back to the 19th century.

In 2017, a Maine supermarket chain advertised a Thanksgiving dinner for eight for less than $20. Included were grade A frozen turkey for 39 cents a pound, a bag of russet potatoes for $3.49, and butternut, buttercup, or acorn squash for 39 cents a pound.

By contrast, during the war year of 1917, the Bangor Cash Market was selling

fresh-killed fancy Vermont turkeys for 40 cents a pound, chickens for 33 cents, and geese for 30 cents. Seven pounds of sweet potatoes went for 25 cents, and two quarts of Cape Cod cranberries, 25 cents.

In today’s economy, that would be a far heftier cost.

By 1975, when inflation was rampant, the new self-basting turkeys sold for 53 cents a pound at one local supermarket.

Four 16-ounce cans of cranberry sauce sold for a dollar.

Today, it is important to preserve your families’ Thanksgiving stories to gain perspective on how Maine, and the nation, have observed the holiday. Mary Ellingwood Andrews, a retired real estate broker, antique dealer and appraiser from Bangor, recalls the holiday feasts of her youth in 1940s Winterport.

“A chicken from our hen house was slaughtered the day before and mincemeat and pumpkin pies were baked in the cast iron Wood and Bishop kitchen wood stove,”

she recalled. “Vegetables from the garden were washed in the pantry and prepared for cooking the next day, and preserves were brought up from the basement.”

“The square oak dining room table was covered with a special tablecloth and special dinnerware was set while the whole house was filled with the smells of vegetables cooking and a chicken with our traditional family stuffing recipe baking in the oven, and later biscuits, too,” she said.

It was a day free from chores, she recalled.

“Time to give thanks for the year’s harvest of activities and projects completed and gratitude of Thanksgiving for those who came before us, sacrificing through challenges and hardships to make life easier for us who followed,” she said.

“Today, quiet time shared with families is almost lost with members scurrying in different directions, commitments, and interests. We live in a different world of what is next, how, when, and where.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55

GET OUT

ST. JOHN VALLEY

GET OUT:

Head North to the St. John Valley

BY JULIA BAYLY

MADAWASKA

FORT KENT

ST. FRANCIS

ALLAGASH

11

56 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

PHOTOS: JULIA BAYLY

HAVE YOU EVER wanted to toss a few things into a bag, hop in your car, pick a compass point and just start driving? That’s really not a bad way to start a weekend getaway. If I may suggest a compass point from Bangor, head due north.

Four hours of driving north from central Maine will bring you to the St. John Valley, a region of the state where all northbound roads do, in fact, end. Unless you want to cross into Canada to keep going, that is.

The St. John Valley stretches roughly 92 miles along Maine’s shared border with the Canadian provinces Quebec and New Brunswick. Looking at it from west to east, it starts in Allagash and runs along the St. John River to the town of Van Buren.

VAN BUREN First along Route 161 and then US Route 1. I’ve done the drive from Allagash to Van Buren — with a few side stops along the way — in a single drive.

It’s doable and takes several

1

hours. But a pleasure drive through the St. John Valley should not be a rush job. You want to take time to soak up all the history, culture, cuisine, scenery and recreation the region has to offer.

So, let’s break it down.

SOME HISTORY Long before the first European colonists arrived in what is now northern Maine, the area was home to the Indigenous Maliseets, a branch of the Algonquin people. In fact, the municipality of Madawaska — the northernmost town along the St. John Valley — comes from the Algonquin language: “madawes” for porcupine and “kak” for place. And yes, there are still plenty of those prickly critters in and around The Place of Porcupine.

Missionaries and French fur traders began exploring the region in the 1600s but it was in 1785 that the big land rush started with the arrival of the French Acadians who had been forced off their lands or deported by the British government from parts of Maritime Canada. This action became known historically as “The Great Expulsion” or “Le Grand Derangement.”

The first wave of deportations in the mid1700s forms the basis for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem “Evangeline” in

which the title character searches for her love Gabriel after they were forcibly placed on separate boats bound for separate ports.

After arriving and colonizing the St. John Valley in 1785, Acadian farms, homes, businesses and towns sprung up along the river. Many of today’s residents of the region are descendents of those early Acadians or from Quebecois who later arrived in the area.

OUI FRANÇAIS PARLÉ ICI There was a time when French was the dominant language in most of the St. John Valley — a result of the Acadian and Quebecois influence. You are still going to hear French in a lot of Valley businesses and homes, but more and more it’s spoken only by the older generations.

For many of these people, French was their first language and the only language spoken in the homes. This was disrupted in the middle of the last century when Frenchspeaking children of the St. John Valley were forced to speak only English in school — a move meant to “assimilate” them into American culture. But that does not mean it’s a dead language by any means.

Go into a restaurant in Fort Kent, an auto parts store in Madawaska or a grocery store in Van Buren and you www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

GET OUT

ST. JOHN VALLEY

are going to hear business conducted in French, English and often a combination of the two. It’s a truly international experience right in our backyard.

WHAT ABOUT ALLAGASH? At the western terminus of the St. John Valley is the tiny community of Allagash, population 267. This area was settled in the early 1800s by Scots-Irish so it has a very different heritage and culture than the Acadian portion of The Valley. There is one road leading in and out of the town which is 30 miles west of Fort Kent. Many of today’s residents are direct descendents of the loggers and farmers who came to work and live at the confluence of the Allagash and St. John Rivers two centuries ago.

It’s a community I love to visit and the drive to Allagash is one of the prettiest in the state. Heading out of Fort Kent on Route 161 you have the St. John River on your right the entire way. For the first 20 or so miles to your left are potato fields that butt up against the rolling, tree-covered hills beyond.

The closer you get to Allagash — passing through the even smaller communities of St. John Plantation and St. Francis, farmland gives way to forestland with evergreens and maples bordering the road.

In the spring and summer it’s every shade of green you can imagine with the blue waters of the river slicing through it.

Fall brings the colors of autumn and in winter snow and ice create a wonderland fit for a Disney movie.

THE WESTERN END OF THE VALLEY There is no right or wrong way to explore the St. John Valley. You can go east to west, west to east or start dead center and pick a direction. For now I am going to take you on a tour from Allagash eastward.

In fact, it’s worth getting up early and heading — as we say here in The Valley — “up river” for breakfast at Two Rivers Lunch [75 Dickey Road, 207-398-3393, www.two-rivers-lunch.business.site]. But be warned — you may end up having so much fun chatting with the locals and hearing stories of life in the Maine woods, you’ll end up staying for lunch.

After a hearty breakfast of a pancake — served one at a time as they are large enough to cover an entire plate — or the combination of eggs, bacon, baked beans and fried potatoes fit for a lumberjack, you might want to walk off those calories.

Consider a hike to Allagash Falls. But be 58 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

sure to get really good map directions from someone who knows the way. Or, better yet, arrange for a guide to take you.

Heck, at Two Rivers they will even pack a lunch for you.

Heading back downriver, there is also a really fun historical society building in St. Francis [www.stfrancisme.com]. It, too, is a testament to the area’s agricultural and lumbering past. I’m not sure what I enjoy more — looking at the collection of artifacts or chatting with the volunteers, some of whom remember using those artifacts in their daily lives.

St. Francis was the end of the line for the old Bangor and Aroostook Railroad, which made its last run to the town in 1990.

A short walk through the woods from the historical society building takes you to the old “turntable,” the circular configuration of railroad tracks on which the cars turned around for the return trips east.

FOLLOWING US ROUTE 1 Right next to the United States Port of Entry and international bridge in Fort Kent is the monument to America’s First Mile.

It showcases the fact that US Route 1, the major highway running south for 2,369 miles to Key West, Florida, begins in Fort Kent. It’s also our route for the next 50 or so miles as we now head downriver.

But first, take some time to explore this town that includes a branch campus of the University of Maine and which has hosted numerous national and international sporting events.

At the University of Maine at Fort Kent you can visit the Acadian Archives [23 University Drive, 207-834-7535, www. umfk.edu/archives] to learn more about the area’s French history while looking at maps, books, artifacts, textiles and other items that are on display. The staff at the archives is always ready to answer your questions and show you around.

If that is not enough history for you, be sure to visit the Fort Kent Blockhouse and the restored train station that houses the Fort Kent Historical Society Museum.

Fort Kent is a town dedicated to the outdoors. There are trails for hiking, biking and skiing into the woods or along the rivers.

In fact, you can ride your bicycle, ATV, dog sled or snowmobile — depending on the season — along the old rail bed that runs from Fort Kent all the way up to the turntable in St. Francis. This flat, smooth trail runs through woodland for about eight miles

before crossing the road and then continuing along the St. John River for another few miles. The final leg of this 16-mile trail is back in the woods. In the winter it’s groomed for snowmobiles with trails that branch off leading to Allagash and beyond.

If you are looking for trails upon which you have zero chance of sharing with a motorized recreation vehicle, head to the Fort Kent Outdoor Center, formerly the 10th Mountain Center, home of world class nordic ski trails and a biathlon range.

The center has hosted two World Cup biathlon events in addition to numerous nordic events including Olympic trials and international ParOlympic games.

When not hosting events, the 10 miles of trails are kept groomed for classic and skate nordic skiing. There are also several miles of groomed snowshoe trails and a 1-mile “poop loop” for walking your four-legged friends. At the end of your ski or snowshoe, the 10th Mountain Lodge is a great place to come in and warm up. There are even saunas available for public use inside.

Summers are almost as busy on the trails which are great for running, hiking, walking or mountain biking.

The trails are fairly well marked, though I did manage to get a bit turned around snowshoeing there last winter. Luckily the maps are posted in various locations along the trails so I was able to figure out where I needed to go.

Make sure to bring your camera as several of the trails lead out to amazing views of the St. John River. Plus, you never know who — or what — Maine character you will meet around the next trail corner.

Moose, deer, fox, rabbits and a variety of birds are frequent visitors along the trails.

You get to the Fort Kent Outdoor Center by driving out of town on Route 11 toward Eagle Lake. The turn off to the center is several miles outside of town and is well marked with a sign.

Not as well marked, but equally impressive for hikers, are the Fish River Falls.

Drive out of Fort Kent on Route 161 toward Caribou. In two miles you will take a right hand turn on to Sly Brook Road.

Then look for the next right in about a quarter mile. Follow that dirt road all the way to the end.

There you are going to park at the Fort Kent landing strip — a parcel of land used for small, private aircraft. Crossing the grass runway gets you to the trail leading to the falls.

PHOTOS: (TOP, MIDDLE) JULIA BAYLY; (BOTTOM) MATTHEW LAROCHE

It’s about a quarter mile walk mostly downhill to the falls. Along the way are interesting plants, birdlife and maybe a moose. The falls themselves are impressive and the perfect spot for a picnic. In the winter it’s also fun to snowshoe down and see how the freezing conditions transform the rushing water to ice sculptures. And keep your eyes peeled for the resident otters who slide down the banks into the river.

There are more great trails to explore as we head downriver into Madawaska, another Valley town that shares a bridge with neighboring Canada.

Madawaska is also home to the Four Seasons Trail Association which maintains close to 15 miles of hiking, biking, snowshoeing and ski trails at its outdoor center right in town on Spring Street near the high school. Trust me when I say they have something to do there all four seasons. I’ve had a blast hiking the trails, snowshoeing on my lunch hour and feeling like a kid again zooming down a hill on a sled. And don’t worry if you forgot to pack skis or snowshoes — they are available for rent onsite at the lodge. And some of the best photos of sunsets over Canada have been taken from the hills above Four Seasons Trail lodge.

As you drive east out of Madawaska you pass through Lille, a tiny community between Madawaska and Van Buren.

Customers are never really alone at Two Rivers Lunch in Allagash.

A variety of game trophies keep an eye out from vantage points around the restaurant.

An example of an original Louis Jobin religious sculpture sits in the former Mont Carmel church’s choir loft awaiting restoration.

...YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR BUSINESS CONDUCTED IN FRENCH, ENGLISH AND OFTEN A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. IT’S A TRULY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD.

The view at Allagash Falls.

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ST. JOHN VALLEY

Fort Kent’s bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee helps maintain a foot trail to the Fish River Falls.

60 / BANGOR METRO November 2019

A JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF MAINE Lille is home to what many — myself included — feel is the crown jewel of the St. John Valley’s historical buildings — the Musee Culturel du Mont Carmel [993 Main Street, 207-895-3339, www.nps. gov/maac/planyourvisit/montcarmel]. It’s part museum, part historical building, part ongoing renovation project and part performance venue.

The former 19th century Catholic church was purchased in 1984 by L’Association Culturelle et Historique du Mont‑Carmel, a nonprofit organization, which is restoring the church building as a museum and a performing arts center headed by Don Cyr. Don lives in the former rectory, which was purchased along with the church. The rectory is physically connected to the church via a series of twisting hallways and short staircases of three or four steps each leading up and down different levels of the floor. It gives Don easy — albeit somewhat circuitous access — to the church. Don has put his life and resources into bringing the old church building back to life. And talk about a work in progress.

Sometimes working with the help of outside restoration specialists or volunteers, but mostly on his own in his spare time, Don has painstakingly uncovered original woodwork, frescoes and paintings that had been covered by later-day “improvements.” The original wood-carved angels that once adorned the twin spires are now safely in the entryway with gorgeous reproductions on high in their place. Throughout the year the old church hosts musicians and performers from around the country and Canada.

I love stopping by and just walking up down the nave up to the altar where, if you look up, you see the original artwork of celestial stars. As for Don? Well, when it comes to local and Acadian history or music, if he does not know it, it’s probably not worth knowing. The man has an encyclopedic mind when it comes to all things Acadian. Not to mention he is a delight. Spending time with Don learning about history or culture never feels like a lecture. It’s more like a kitchen conversation over coffee with a good friend.

So there you have it. A weekend getaway to the very top of Maine. Friendly, international, adventurous and fun. What more could you ask for?

PHOTO: DON ENO

GET OUT

WHERE TO EAT Even though I have lived in the area for close to four decades, going out to eat locally is still a treat. In Fort Kent, I divide my time and appetite often between The Swamp Buck Restaurant and Lounge [290 West Main Street, 207-834-3055] and Moose Shack II [76 East Main Street, 207-834-4444]. At Swamp Buck my goto item is their Reuben. I love a good Reuben sandwich and a Swamp Buck they pile on the corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese in perfect proportions.

Meanwhile at Mooseshack, for me it’s all about the pizza. Specifically the Potato Pickers’ Pizza with alfredo sauce, bacon and potatoes — no picking required.

When I am in the mood for wings — really, really good wings — I head down to Madawaska to Big Ricks Burgers & Wings [280 Main Street, 207-728-9098].

It’s a dizzying selection among traditional wings, boneless wings, fried wings or naked wings. As for the sauces? Big Ricks currently offers 27 different options

like barbeque, honey mustard, roasted garlic, habanero mango and, my personal favorite, maple bourbon.

WHERE TO STAY In Fort Kent there is Northern Door Inn [www.northerndoorinn.com, 356 West Main Street, 207-834-3133]. This hotel was formerly known as Rock’s and a fun fact — there really was a Rock Ouellette and he was my husband’s uncle. The inn has pet friendly rooms and includes a continental breakfast.

It’s location across from the international bridge provides great access to the Heritage Trail and downtown Fort Kent.

In Madawaska check out and check in to The Inn of Acadia housed in a former convent of the Filles de la Sagasse — the Daughters of Wisdom. The inn has 21 rooms with four kitchen suites. Plus there is the inn’s Voyageur Lounge on the top floor with an amazing menu of specialty dishes like prime rib, lobster ravioli or the “poutine of the week” — that Quebecois creation layering french fried potatoes, cheese curds and gravy.

My pic? The Guinness poutine with dark beer gravy and tender chunks of beef.

There is also plenty of space for recreational vehicle camping at Riverside Park in Fort Kent. Or at Lakeview Camping and Resorts in St. Agatha. Here you can park your RV or pitch your tent in one of the 80 sites then walk over to the Lakeview Restaurant where it’s tough to decide what’s better — the comfort food served there or the views of Long Lake.

GETTING TO THE VALLEY Driving to the St. John Valley is a bit of an adventure on its own. Start by heading north on Interstate 95. In 80 miles at Sherman, you have the option of taking the exit and continuing on up Route 11. This twisty, winding, hilly road provides some great views and plenty of opportunities to see wildlife like moose and deer. For that reason — drive with caution.

Taking Route 11 lands you in Fort Kent. You can also stay on I-95 to its very end in Houlton and head to the St. John Valley by way of US Route 1 and 1A, taking you to Van Buren.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

WOODS & WATERS

Blood TRACKERS

GOT YOUR DEER YET? Normally, the answer is yes or no. When the answer is “maybe,” Lindsay Ware gets the call.

Lindsay is a blood tracker. More accurately, Aldo is a blood tracker. Aldo is Lindsay’s wire-haired dachshund — a diminutive species that was intentionally bred to track

BY BOB DUCHESNE wounded animals. Based in Ellsworth, Lindsay and Aldo are one of the teams currently licensed in Maine to search for and recover game animals.

Responsible hunters take pride in making well-placed shots, harvesting game as humanely as possible. But not every shot hits its mark. A mortally wounded deer can travel a long way before it succumbs, through woods that are thick and wet.

Recovering the animal can be the most difficult part of hunting. Failure means the game is wasted.

A HUNTER MEETING The number of blood-tracking teams in Maine continues to increase, as more hunters have recognized how helpful they can be. Lindsay and Aldo ALDO FOR THE FIRST TIME are apt to get calls at all hours. They get little sleep this time of year.

MAY BE FORGIVEN FOR Although Aldo is now the star of the show, Lindsay first established SNICKERING AT SUCH A her tracking reputation with Gander, a Labrador mixed-breed with unlimited enthusiasm. Larger breeds make good blood trackers, too. A SMALL DACHSHUND TAKING hunter meeting Aldo for the first time may be forgiven for snickering ON SUCH A BIG JOB... IT at such a small dachshund taking on such a big job, especially when Aldo arrives at the scene carried under Lindsay’s arm. It only takes a ONLY TAKES A MOMENT TO moment to realize that Aldo is a tracking wizard. He sniffs his way REALIZE THAT ALDO IS A through challenges that would defeat a lesser dog.

TRACKING WIZARD.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAGNON

MEET THE UNLIKELY PAIR THAT CAN HELP HUNTERS FIND A DEER

Hunters themselves create some of those challenges inadvertently. One of the most important things that hunters sometimes neglect to do is to flag both the hit site and the spot where they lost track of the deer. These are the locations where tracking usually starts, and restarts if the trail is lost.

In their urgency to track, hunters sometimes “bump” the deer. That is, they don’t wait long enough before starting the search. A badly-wounded deer will tend to lie down as soon as it feels safe, where it will likely expire. But if startled, it may run much farther before dropping. Except for a leg hit, it’s often best to wait a few hours before searching.

Another way hunters make Aldo’s job more difficult is to gather friends for a grid search. Not only does this trample the area, there is a strong likelihood that a searcher will step on a drop of blood and spread the scent around. Occasionally, someone will try using their own dog to locate the deer.

Using an untrained dog is not only useless, it spreads even more scent around.

Besides, it’s illegal. Blood trackers are specially trained and state-licensed. They can do things that others can’t.

As soon as it becomes apparent that a game animal is going to be difficult to recover, the smartest thing to do is to call the nearest blood tracker promptly. Most are volunteers. Many have full-time jobs, and they also may have several other searches to conduct. Lindsay and Aldo do much of their work at night.

The most important part of the whole process is the phone interview. A successful hunter gets one chance per year to search for his or her deer, or perhaps a few chances if helping friends. Trackers go out on 50 searches or more in an average year, gaining vastly more experience in a short time. Before the search ever begins, Lindsay will ask a ton of questions, intended to reveal the best strategy for recovery. Caliber? Tree stand? Blood

color? Posted land? Most importantly, how did the deer react? Whether a deer jumps up or drops down reveals a lot.

Trackers will tell you: never trust an instant drop. Many hunters are convinced that they’ve made a lethal shot if they see the deer drop instantly to the ground.

In reality, the shock of a high-back hit may have merely stunned the deer. It can recover quickly, and disappear just as quickly, leaving the hunter wondering where his prize went.

Successful blood tracking is all about making Aldo’s job easier. And Lindsay’s.

Tracking dogs remain on a leash.

Wherever they go, the trainer goes — through brush, brambles and swamp. There is nothing in the world that a tracking dog wants more than to find the deer, and it will keep trying to the point of exhaustion.

A tiny wire-haired dachshund lives for this moment — a true woodland champion.

BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63

Z

BE LIKE THE

BY EMILY DENBOW MORRISON

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They take the heat, the sand, the lack of water and the weight of the world on their hump like champs. They keep the bit in their mouth, a saddle or something like a bag on their back and they just keep walking through the sandstorm like there’s nothing to see here (probably because they can’t see anything in a sandstorm).

I want to be more like a camel and less like a donkey. No offense to Eeyore, but I’m tired of hearing people say, “End of the road, nothing to do, and no hope of things gettin’ better.

Sounds like Saturday night at my house.” An unhappy donkey is bad news. They’ll chew stuff (fences, barns, trees) and they can be quite mouthy. Apparently, two camels are much easier to live with than one sad donkey.

My kids laugh at me because my inner-Eeyore comes out with one person in my life. No matter what kind of day I’ve had, when I talk to my mom on the phone, I always sound like I’ve been through the wringer. I could’ve had a phenomenal day, but when I hear the sympathy in my mother’s voice, I tell her the one thing that went wrong.

Why do I do that?

Maybe my mom is my water stop, and I feel like I can tell her what bothers me. Maybe that’s it, that’s the key that helps people transition from donkeys to camels. We all need a safe person, a cool, watery oasis. We need someone to remind us that happiness is just around the corner. When we give ourselves a moment to be Eeyore with someone, we can actually turn the corner and head back into the sandstorm.

People help us find a way to move through it and keep going.

Whether we need hard times or not, we’re all going to have them. When we keep trekking, rather than hemming and hawing at everyone we meet, we choose to be like the camel. Me, I’m going to embrace the hump on my back and accessorize with some cool saddlebags.

PHOTO: ©ALI /ADOBE STOCK

LIFE IS FULL of gorgeous moments that take my breath away — the sky at sunset, my children’s laughter, my mother’s smile, the sight of my husband cleaning. When I find myself in the midst of one of these soul-satisfying experiences, I suck every last ounce of happiness out of it like the jelly from a jelly-doughnut.

The question is, do we really need hard times in life to appreciate the marvelous ones? Because I’m pretty sure if we missed out on all of the awful things, we’d still be grateful for greatness. Does anybody really take greatness for granted?

For argument’s sake, let’s say I was living on a yacht like Beyoncé, sailing around Saint Tropez, popping out twins and looking fabulous. I’m fairly confident I’d be thankful. I’d know I had it good ’cause everybody around me would call me “Queen Bey,” and I’d be married to Jay-Z. I wouldn’t need the yacht to break down or some tropical storm intervening to remind me to enjoy life on the upper-deck.

I’d appreciate the wind and how it ruffles my amazing hair, every, damn, day.

But I’m not Queen Bey. The real question is, how do the rest of us mere mortals reconcile these moments of breathtaking beauty with our normal, humdrum, it’s Tuesday, time to take the trash out kind of lives? Whether we’re living the dream or just living, we’re still here. Still taking the trash out, still baking a casserole and doing the dishes afterward. Still harping on our kids to clean their rooms and put away their laundry.

So what is it that keeps us feeling like that next moment of gorgeous happiness is right around the corner?

Maybe we’re happiness camels, and we store these precious moments of felicity in our hump while making the long trek across the desert, searching out one blessed water stop after another. You know, camels always look so cool, even when it’s hot with lots of hair and that awful hump, maybe two, on their backs.

You never hear a camel complaining.

B

camel

THE VIEW FROM HERE

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.