Bangor Metro - August 2022

hoolwork

l latin l a b t e k s club ba jazz band?

club

ski team?

H E L P IN G K ID S F IN D UD EN T TI PS TO HE LP YO UR ST VI TI ES BA LA NC E TH EI R AC TI AN D SC HO OLWOR K

FRO M SPE ND ING TO WO RK ETH IC TO RES ILIE NCY, IDE AS TO HEL P PRE PAR E STU DEN TS FOR REA L LIFE

soccer

AP science?

homework! guitar lessons

?

Plus...

PACK A LUNCH!

NEW IDEAS FOR SCHOOL LUNCH BOXES

HISTORY & MUSIC

VISIT SURRY ARTS AT THE BARN

EXPLORE BY BOAT MAINE PONDS & LAKES TO PADDLE THIS SUMMER

get a job?

play

BALANCE

LIFE PREP

track

vol

engineeri

y r o t s i h AP

sleep!

VI SI T

AR OO STOO K! TAK E A TRI P TO MA INE ’S LAR GES T COU NTY

scho

key club

MAINE MADE US STRONG

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CONTENTS

AUGUST 2022

FEATURES 36

LIFE PREP

Preparing students for real life

44

FINDING BALANCE

Helping students find balance between school work and extracurricular activities

VISIT AROOSTOOK 50

TWO-WHEELED BLISS

Some of the best cycling can be found in Aroostook County

56 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN THE COUNTY Meet Aroostook’s female chefs who are making their mark

36

LIFE PREP

50

TWO-WHEELED BLISS

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local events & our Metro Pop Quiz

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

62

WOODS & WATERS

Protecting Maine’s natural resources

64

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Endings, beginnings and what we do with them

ON THE COVER Educating tomorrow’s leaders.

2 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

PHOTOS: (TOP) ELINAMANNINEN/ADOBE STOCK; (BOTTOM) JULIA BAYLY/ BDN FILE; (FLOWER) AFRICA-STUDIO.COM/ADOBE STOCK

12

ARTS & CULTURE 10 HISTORY & MUSIC IN A MAINE BARN The musical legacy of Surry Arts at the Barn

r

Check out ou

FOOD & DRINK 16

IN SEASON NOW

Tasty ideas for packing in back-toschool lunch boxes

nt New Shipme ugs! of Area R

HEALTH & FITNESS 20

­

HIKE ME

Canoe or kayak on Maine’s many lakes and ponds

26

IMMERSE YOURSELF

Forest bathing might be the stress reducer you’ve been looking for

HOME & FAMILY 32

SUMMER ROMANCE

Looking back on a 1940s Maine wedding

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

Educating

EDITOR’S NOTE

TOMORROW’S LEADERS AS I SAT DOWN TO WRITE this editor’s letter, I reflected on the many topics Bangor Metro has tackled since I took the reins in 2017. From the #MeToo movement to eco-friendly changes in Maine, diversity in Maine education to getting married in the Pine Tree State, we’ve endeavored to balance thoughtful journalism with fun reads.

One of my favorite stories over the last five years was an essay written by Caroline Castonguay for the April 2020 issue. In it, she wrote: “Whenever I have the time during the winter season, I go walking in the woods. There, the world is shrouded by a white veil. I like to believe that I’m piercing it, that I’m walking through a portal made of maple and pine to the past.”

So poignant.

Likewise in a story about lessons we might give to our younger selves written by Sarah Cottell and published in the August 2018 issue, local artist Kat Johnson said, “Regardless of the career or job you choose, strong speaking, writing and collaborative skills will always be an asset. The same is true of kindness and generosity.”

That advice, too, has stuck with me.

And now, as we present the August 2022 issue, I hope you will find it to be the mix of poignant and thoughtful, useful and interesting that we’ve endeavored to have.

In this issue, we’re covering the life skills that Maine teens need as they venture out into the world (see page 36), how forest bathing can benefit mental health (page 26) and the female chefs who are making their mark on Aroostook County (page 56). We’ve also got the hikes (page 20), recipes (page 16) and Obsessions (page 12) to help you find fun this August. And historic buff Richard Shaw takes us into the beautiful details of his parents’ 1940s wedding here in Maine (page 32).

AUGUST HAS ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE CORNERSTONE MONTH — A PLACE WHERE THEN AND NOW MEET. We wrap up our carefree summers and turn the corner into the responsibility of the school year. The hot mornings give way to cool ones. And before we know it, it’s September.

There’s a certain symmetry to it all. There’s a certain symmetry to this issue as well.

In August 2017, I wrote my first letter as editor. And now, in August 2022, I am writing my last. Bangor Metro will cease publication as a monthly magazine after this issue — something we’re so sad about. Creative Director Amy Allen and I have loved bringing this slice of local Maine life to you month after month for so many years.

But Bangor Metro isn’t totally disappearing. The brand will live on in special sections that subscribers of the print edition of the Bangor Daily News will receive quarterly.

Thank you for welcoming Bangor Metro into your lives, for all the kind words shared with us over the years and for sticking with us through dark times.

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST,

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

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

4 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS 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

The August issue of Bangor Metro will mark the final issue of our regular schedule.

We are moving from 10 issues per year to a quarterly schedule in an effort to reduce costs and continue to reach as many readers as possible. Bangor Metro is partnering with the Bangor Daily News to insert magazines into the newspaper, which will be distributed to BDN subscribers in the greater Bangor region, as well as the Ellsworth and Belfast area. Each of the four annual magazines will be a double issue, featuring your favorite Bangor Metro content PLUS popular additions like our summer events special section Experience Maine and our festive Holiday Gift Guide.

SOME IMPORTANT NOTES: SALES MANAGER

Laurie Cates

lcates@bangordailynews.com

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen

aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Fred Stewart

fstewart@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

• Current subscribers will be refunded any remaining balance on their accounts.

• Subscriptions and individual copy sales will no longer be available, however, we will make the new quarterly Bangor Metro issues available digitally at bangordailynews.com/ special-sections and on the Bangor Metro Facebook page so readers can still have access to future editions.

• The quarterly issues of Bangor Metro magazine will be inserted in the Bangor Daily News and delivered to BDN subscribers in the greater Bangor area, as well as the Ellsworth and Belfast areas, beginning this November with our winter issue.

• Each of the quarterly magazines will be double issues with flipped covers like our 2022 June/July Bangor Metro and Experience Maine combined publication, which means you’ll find more content in each of these quarterly copies.

Rosemary Lausier rlausier@bangordailynews.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Julia Bayly, Bob Duchesne, Emily Morrison, Joanna O’Leary, Aislinn Sarnacki, Richard Shaw

The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on subscription and newsstand sales for many publications. It is expensive to print and distribute a magazine, so by consolidating the number of issues we release, we will be able to continue producing Bangor Metro and sharing it with our readers.

Thank you for reading and supporting Bangor Metro!

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT

LIFE SKILL DO YOU WISH YOU

LEARNED SOONER? “ Not ‘sooner’ — not ‘yet’: Driving stick! I have to get on that.”

— JOANNA O’LEARY, WRITER

Bangor Metro Magazine. August 2022, Vol. 18, No. 6.

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.

Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.

COVER DESIGN: Amy Allen ORIGINAL IMAGE: Vadym Drobot/Adobe Stock

“I wish I’d learn to save money. Mom taught me how to balance my checkbook before I went to college, but I rarely did it. As long as I had enough money for midnight Dominos deliveries I thought I was rich. Ah, youth.”

— EMILY MORRISON, COLUMNIST

“I wish I had learned to listen to my elders at a much younger age. My parents, grandparents and others took many wonderful stories with them when they died. I jotted down a few, but others are lost forever. Now, at age 70, a published author and avid historian, this information could serve me well. But many family memories remain indelible.”

— RICHARD SHAW, WRITER

“It took me years to understand how to manage money in a way that gave myself personal security. I wish I learned how to do it much earlier — like when I was 11 and just beginning to earn money.”

— SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

6 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

WHAT’S HAPPENING

PULL OVER!

Maine’s known for some unique roadside attractions.

Here’s a pop quiz on some favs for tourists and locals alike!

AUGUST AUG. 4-7 SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: ROMEO AND JULIET

Ten Bucks Theatre presents its annual Shakespeare Under the Stars production at Fort Knox in Prospect. This year’s play is Romeo and Juliet, a tragic tale of star-crossed lovers, directed by Julie Arnold Lisnet. Shows begin at 6 p.m. and tickets ($15) are available at TenBucksTheatre.org.

AUG. 12-14 THE HOBBIT

Penobscot Theatre Company’s Dramatic Academy presents The Hobbit, based on the beloved J.R.R. Tolkien novel at the Brewer Performing Arts Center. This winding journey follows homebody Bilbo Baggins as he joins wizard Gandalf the Grey and 12 dwarves to recover stolen treasure. This is a tale of bravery, friendship, magic and adventure. Evening productions on Aug. 12 and 13 begin at 7 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m. on Aug. 13 and 14.

SEPT. 23-25 COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR

OCT. 1-2 MAINE CRAFT WEEKEND

​​ Maine Craft Weekend is a statewide tour of craft studios, businesses and events where the public can explore the life and work of craft artists. It’s educational and familyfriendly. Check MaineCraftWeekend.org for more information on where to visit and what’s possible.

Find answers below.

Answers to this month’s Pop Quiz: Question 1: A; Q2: A; Q3: B; Q4: C; Q5: A. 8 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Plans are underway for the Common Ground Country Fair, which is set to return in person from Sept. 23-25 in Unity. This will be the first in person fair since 2019. Check mofga.org/the-fair for the latest on this event including speakers, vendors and more.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

ARTS & CULTURE

History & Music THE MUSICAL LEGACY OF SURRY ARTS AT THE BARN

BY CRYSTAL SANDS

10 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

N

estled in the hills and trees of Surry, overlooking Acadia National Park, stands a beautiful old barn. But this barn is unique among old Maine barns. It doesn’t contain cows or goats or chickens. This barn houses a Steinway grand piano and provides center stage for a variety of musical performances. Each summer, Surry Arts at the Barn hosts dozens of musical events, and though some may not have heard of the organization, it boasts a long history of bringing music, art and culture to rural Maine.

Alan Wittenberg is the director of Surry Arts at the Barn, but the program was originally founded in 1965 by Walter Nowick, a classical pianist, Julliard graduate and the son of immigrant potato

farmers from Long Island, New York.

Nowick’s classical music study brought him to Maine the summers of his youth, and in 1965, he started a music program in Surry for young Japanese students and professionals. In the 1980s, Nowick began an opera program that brought Russian artists to Maine and Maine artists to Russia. Wittenberg, who studied with Nowick for decades, said Nowick studied languages and music “but above all else, he was a visionary.”

“Nowick decided music was a way to bridge the differences between the American people and the Russian people,” Wittenberg explained. In 1986, the Surry Arts program made their first trip to Russia and made more than a dozen trips in the

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SURRY ARTS AT THE BARN

IN A MAINE BARN

Surry Arts at the Barn has a long history of bridging the gap between Maine and the world through music.

years to come. Russian artists performed in Maine more than a dozen times as well, thanks to the program.

During this time, the program expanded.

The artists in Surry went on tour with Russian artists and performed around the world in countries such as Japan, France and Germany. Nowick and the Surry Arts program were featured in the likes of the New York Times, People magazine and CBS’s “On the Road” with Charles Kuralt.

“It was an incredible unfolding of music, friendship and the way we saw the world,” said Wittenberg.

Today, the barn serves as a symbol in Maine for bringing people together with music and the arts. Surry Arts at the Barn boasts wonderful acoustics and has

provided a venue for dozens of concerts every summer for decades. The barn seats about 100 people, and with such a beautiful location near Acadia National Park, the program is a draw for many musicians. Wittenberg said the program has expanded their offerings in recent years to include more than just classical music and now offers programming in jazz, the blues, folk, film and dance.

The calendar for this summer is full of diverse events, including an August 19 performance by the jazz band Swingmatism.

The summer 2022 season will host more than 30 concerts and events from June through October.

Wittenberg runs an Airbnb on the beautiful property where the barn is located

to help keep the music and arts program funded, but he also has plans to grow the offerings at the barn and says the program accepts donations of support. Of course, one of the best ways to support this historic barn and music program is to attend one of the many events this summer.

Surry Arts at the Barn features “an iconic old Maine barn with a fantastic legacy,” said Wittenberg. Its walls and wood are full of history and music, making this barn a treasure for our state. You can read more about Surry Arts at the Barn and view the calendar of events at surryartsandevents.com.

Originally printed June 17, 2022 in the “Discover: Downeast Maine” special section in the Bangor Daily News. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

OBSESSIONS

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

EAT

CAFFEINATE

CHARLIDEW GOURMET SPREAD FROM PLEASANT RIDGE PROVISIONS

BREWED AWAKENINGS

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Say the words “snack dinner” around my family and cheers will erupt. What started as a way to use up some party leftovers while simultaneously having one less dinner to cook, has turned into one of our favorite meals — just a bunch of appetizers, raw veggies, cheese, crackers, etc. Anything goes. We love a trip to Bangor Wine and Cheese for prosciutto, “fancy cheeses,” crusty bread and whatever else looks tasty. Last summer we discovered Charlidew Gourmet Spread from Pleasant Ridge Provisions out of West Gardiner and now we can’t get enough. The hand-crafted gourmet cheese spread is just a little sweet, perfectly spicy, packed with flavor and, as the label warns, “slightly addictive.” It’s great to dip with veggies or crackers — particularly Mill Cove Baking Co.’s The Old Salt Cracker, made in Portland and also available at Bangor Wine and Cheese. Yum. According to their Facebook page, Charlidew is also available locally at Tiller & Rye and Emery’s Meat, both in Brewer — and I just learned they also make a Salsadew and a sour cream-based Chippydew, so now I know what will be on the menu for our next snack dinner!

— AMY ALLEN

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I was recently in Wells for a beach weekend, but had to work remotely from my hotel room one morning. I unfortunately didn’t have time to go to my favorite breakfast place, The Maine Diner, and my dad and I were getting hungry.

But that’s how I found Brewed Awakenings. Located on the Post Road, Brewed Awakenings is this super charming to-go (at the moment) shop with bagel, breakfast sandwich and brunch offerings along with a plethora of caffeinated drinks. I was able to order online and avoid the lines, which gave me extra time to visit their goats and chickens on site. They even have this cute barn with picnic tables for patrons who want to stay and eat. The perfect option for a working person on the run in a busy tourist town.

PHOTOS: COPRID, PAMELA_D_MCADAMS, MARA ZEMGALIETE, FEDOROVACZ/ADOBE STOCK

— ROSEMARY LAUSIER

12 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

READ Many books come across my desk each month and I purchase even more.

These are some that I’ve particularly enjoyed recently and recommend. Hope you find something you love!

“STATION ELEVEN” BY EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL — A fastmoving flu spreads across the world, killing a vast segment of the population.

Civilization collapses. In the decades that follow, the world remakes itself without the trappings of technology or centralized governments. Towns become the center of life and The Traveling Symphony becomes the beacon of art and hope for many in the area that used to be parts of Canada and the United States near the great lakes. But a violent prophet threatens the troupe’s very existence. Told in alternating scenes from the past and present, this book unfolds beautifully. If you watched the Netflix show, take heart. The book is wonderful and dynamic in its own very special way. Read it. (FICTION) “THIS TIME TOMORROW” BY EMMA STRAUB — Alice is about to turn 40. She likes her job, is happy with her apartment, still adores her best friend from high school and values her independence. But her father is sick and she feels like something is missing. Then she wakes up on her 16th birthday, a teenager again experiencing life with her single dad in a new way. Between SAT prep and the party she barely remembers, Alice views everything through a new lens. Given the opportunity, how should she change the past? With a fresh spin on time travel, this book imagines the possibilities — and explores the fallout. Highly recommended. (FICTION) “OUR MISSING HEARTS” BY CELESTE NG — After years of civil unrest and economic instability, there’s a new America where laws and law keepers seek to preserve American culture. But the dark underbelly is the villainization of those deemed unpatriotic — especially those of Asian descent. It’s in this world that Bird Gardner grows up, following rules and attempting to be seen as the model citizen. In doing so, he’s had to disavow his Chinese American mother and her poetry, which is seen as a beacon for the resistance. This gripping novel about a broken world, the attempts of those in power to fix it and the reality of ignoring injustices will keep you engrossed, page after page. (FICTION, DUE OUT OCT. 4) — SARAH WALKER CARON

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

OBSESSIONS

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

WATCH “DETECTORISTS” ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO WHY DO WE LOVE IT? The British comedy series “Detectorists” is slow-paced and quiet, especially compared to sometimes-frenetic American television, and so dry that at first the humor was hard to catch. But just a couple of episodes in, I was hooked. The show, about the lives and loves of two members of a metal detecting club in England, is often laugh-out-loud hilarious, the theme song haunting and the scenery bucolic. But most of all, humanity shines from the characters and the writing. Just like the gold the main characters seek, there are treasures aplenty to be found here. Available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

— ABIGAIL CURTIS

DINE OUT WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Sometimes you just need a good date night out. I’ve worked from home throughout the pandemic, which is great in many ways, but also really isolating. My husband has been very accommodating in getting me out of the house for regular date nights (sometimes our kids tag along, sometimes they choose to stay home — an incredibly underrated benefit of them getting older). On a recent kid-free date night at Mason’s, we got to take our time and try a variety of things from the menu.

The tastiest of which had to be the Fried Bao Buns. Bao buns are a sweet, white, fluffy bun that is typically steamed. Mason’s version is fried so the outside is crispy and stuffed with Cuban-style brisket (yum!), pickled red onion (one of my absolutely favorite things) and dressed with a cherry pepper mayo. The combination is simply delicious. Pair with Mason’s Crystal Margarita (blanco tequila, triple sec, simple syrup and acid water — a mixture of acids to replicate the flavor of lime sour mix without using actual juice) and you’ve got yourself a perfect snack for sharing on date night.

— AMY ALLEN

14 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

PHOTO: (MARGARITA) MARK MCCALL; FEDOROVACZ, GRISPB, MITAND73/ADOBE STOCK

FRIED BAO BUNS AT MASON'S BREWING COMPANY

FOOD & DRINK

IN SEASON NOW

PACKING

LUNCH BOXES TASTY LUNCH BOX RECIPES FOR KIDS (& GROWN-UPS TOO!)

WHEN MY SON was three, I enrolled him in preschool and his excitement bubbled all summer. He couldn’t wait to meet his teacher, Mrs. Robinson.

On the morning of preschool orientation, he was smitten. He played, listened intently to two stories (“The Rainbow Fish” and “Llama Llama Misses Mama”) and had so much fun he didn’t want to leave. I have a photo of him outside my car, arms crossed, refusing to go home — he wasn’t done yet.

That was 15 years ago. Now, as we approach his senior year, I am happy to report that his zeal for education never subsided.

Though he’s traded the puzzles and push cars for complex equations and research on solar energy, he still eagerly approaches school each day. And yet, he’s ready for what’s next. Next year, he’ll be on to new adventures in a new type of schooling — and it will be me standing, arms crossed, not ready for him to be done yet.

Oh, how quickly these seasons pass.

As August sets in, I’ve always found myself looking ahead to the school year. What will our schedule be like? What will my children take for lunches? What do I need to stock the kitchen with?

The answers are always some variation of hectic, whatever we have and everything.

And these recipes are my answer to whatever we have. They are some favorites that have been packed into my kids boxes over the years … and just might be again this year, during my son’s last year of high school.

I hope you find a recipe here that will delight your kids.

16 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

PHOTOS: (RECIPES) SARAH WALKER CARON; ANAUMENKO, OLESYA SHELOMOVA/ADOBE STOCK

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

BARBECUE ROAST BEEF WRAPS Serves 2

INGREDIENTS 2 soft taco-size tortillas 2 tbsp barbecue sauce 2 slices deli American cheese ¼ lb deli roast beef ½ green bell pepper, very thinly sliced

INSTRUCTIONS Lay out the tortillas. Spread each with 1 tbsp barbecue sauce.

Top each with 1 slice of American cheese and 1/2 of the roast beef and green pepper slices. Roll up tightly and secure each wrap half with toothpicks.

Cut in half. Pack in sandwich containers.

ALPHABET CHICKEN SOUP

serves 4

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 tbsp unsalted butter

In a large stockpot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the celery, carrots and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened — about 7-8 minutes.

1 tbsp olive oil 2 celery ribs, small diced 2 carrots, peeled and small diced 1 yellow onion, small diced ½ lb chicken breast, small diced salt and pepper ½ tsp dried thyme 4 cups chicken broth ¹⁄3 cup alphabet pasta

Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Stir well, cooking until the chicken is opaque on all sides. (Note: it will finish cooking in the broth, so it need only be opaque on the outside.)

Stir in the dried thyme and chicken broth. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.

Stir in the pasta. Cook for 7 minutes or until al dente. Remove from heat. Taste, and adjust seasonings as desired. Enjoy.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

FOOD & DRINK

LEMON CRUMB MUFFINS

Yields 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS 1 large egg

INSTRUCTIONS

½ cup olive oil 2 cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 tbsp baking powder ½ tsp kosher salt 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 12-slot muffin tin with muffin liners. If using paper liners, spray each one lightly with cooking oil spray to prevent sticking. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and oil. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, lemon zest and lemon juice. Stir until smooth, about 1 minute, and then let sit for 10 minutes.

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

In a small bowl, stir together the flour and light brown sugar for the crumb topping. Use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the butter into the mixture.

CRUMB TOPPING

Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin liners. Sprinkle the tops with the prepared crumb topping.

zest of 1 lemon

¼ cup flour ¼ cup light brown sugar 2 tbsp cold unsalted butter

Slide the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until golden. A toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins should come out cleanly.

Remove from the oven. These can be enjoyed immediately, or stored in an airtight container for up to five days.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro magazine. She is the author of eight books.

Her latest, “The Disney Princess Tea Parties Cookbook,” was released earlier this year. Signed copies are available at The Briar Patch in downtown Bangor. She’s also the author of Sarah’s Cucina Bella (sarahscucinabella.com), a long running food blog focusing on quick and easy cooking for home cooks.

18 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

PHOTOS: SARAH WALKER CARON

1 cup milk

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

HIKE ME

boat EXPLORE BY

CANOE OR KAYAK ON MAINE’S MANY LAKES AND PONDS STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

MOVING HIS PADDLE slowly through the water, a canoeist propels his boat forward, over lily pads and spears of pickerelweed. Dragonflies dart over the calm surface of the pond. Now and again, one lands on the gunwales of the boat to rest.

The lone paddler hugs the shore where there’s a chance he’ll spot wildlife. Inlets, outlets, islets and wetland areas all present opportunities to see something new.

Just ahead, for example, a painted turtle basks in the sun atop a half-submerged log. As the boat draws near, the creature silently slides into the water to hide within a mass of aquatic plants. Peering down into the shallows, the canoeist tries to catch a glimpse of the turtle’s round shell, but all he sees are the lacy fronds of bladderwort and a school of small, glittering fish.

Around every bend of the shore, a new scene unfolds. In some areas, the water’s edge is lined with camps and cabins. In others, trees crowd undeveloped stretches of shoreline, where the paddler might spot an eagle or kingfisher perched on a branch.

Maine is home to about 6,000 lakes and ponds, many of which are accessible for the public to explore by boat. These bodies of freshwater are home to a diversity of wild creatures, from majestic great blue herons to lodge-building beavers. You’re bound to spot something that fascinates you.

“The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer” by Delorme is a great resource for finding lakes and ponds in your area, along with the location of any public boat launches. Here are a few popular paddling spots you might want to try out.

PUSHAW LAKE IN THE BANGOR AREA Covering more than 4,680 acres, Pushaw Lake stretches through the towns of Glenburn, Hudson, Old Town, Orono and Penobscot.

It’s by far the largest body of water in the Bangor area, making it a popular place for canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and other water sports.

More than 900 camps and homes are scattered along the shore of the lake, but there are stretches of undeveloped shoreline, too.

Bald eagles, loons, red-winged blackbirds, wood ducks and many other bird species call the lake and its shores home.

The native name for the lake was Pegwadukgomah, meaning “bent stream lake,” then Kukunsook, meaning “cedars,” according to the Greater Pushaw Lake Association. It was later named Pushaw after an early French settler.

The lake’s principal fishery is smallmouth bass, white perch and chain pickerel.

For information about lake access and parking, contact the town office of the town where you plan to access the lake. A parking pass may be required at some boat launches.

DIRECTIONS: There are several points of public access to Pushaw Lake. The townowned Lakeside Landing, located off the Lakeside Landing Road in Glenburn, features a boat launch, as well as a public beach, picnic tables, horseshoe pits and lawn. Gould’s Landing, owned by the Maine Department of Transportation, is located at the end of Essex Street in Orono. It features a canoe/kayak launch, beach area, picnic tables and a short hiking trail.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

A wading bird called Greater Yellowlegs hunts the shallows of Graham Lake.

GRAHAM LAKE IN ELLSWORTH Covering over 7,800 acres, Graham Lake is a man-made body of water with shoreline in Ellsworth, Mariaville, Waltham and Fletchers Landing Township. In the 1920s, the lake was created to hold water for hydroelectric power generation on the lower portion of the Union River.

While the lake is home to plenty of houses, it also features stretches of undeveloped shoreline, wetland areas and small islands that attract a wide variety of wildlife. While paddling, keep an eye out for wading birds such as great blue herons and greater yellowlegs. Belted kingfishers are also commonly spotted fishing along the shore. Listen for their loud, rattling calls.

Graham Lake is shallow, making it an especially good place for warmwater fish species. According to surveys conducted by the Maine Department of 22 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the lake is home to pickerel, smallmouth bass and white perch. Coldwater species such as landlocked salmon and brown trout have been caught in the lake but aren’t as numerous.

For information about access to Graham Lake, visit the City of Ellsworth website at ellsworthmaine.gov.

DIRECTIONS: There are three public boat launches on Graham Lake, according to The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer by Delorme. The southernmost landing is off Patriot Road in Ellsworth, where the lake flows into the Union River. The second launch is nearby, off Route 179 in Fletcher’s Landing Township. Coming from Ellsworth, this will be after the bridge over Day Brook.

And the third launch is on the north end of the lake, off Morrison Farm Road in Mariaville, where the Union River flows into the lake.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME A great blue heron perches atop a tree on the edge of Fields Pond in Orrington.

FIELDS POND IN ORRINGTON Home to an abundance of wildlife, Fields Pond has long been a popular place to paddle and fish. Most sources state that the pond covers 191 acres, while other sources include the surrounding wetlands in that calculation, which expands the pond to over 500 acres.

A few houses are located at the pond’s north end, with the rest of the shoreline undeveloped. Located on the northeast side of the pond is Fields Pond Audubon Center, a 229-acre preserve that includes a trail network and nature center.

Out on the water, paddlers oven spot loons and a variety of ducks. Great blue herons hunt in the surrounding wetlands, along with American bitterns, spotted sandpipers and other wading birds. Ospreys and eagles are also frequently spotted.

The pond features a 22-acre island, which is a part of Fields Pond Audubon Center. The island is mostly surround-

ed by open water, with a portion of the northwest side hemmed in by a wetland. If you paddle along the shore, you can find a boulder that displays plaques memorializing three local people: “Nate” Francis Ford, “Duke of Fields Pond” (1913-1999), Virginia Ford (1917-2014) and Malcolm “Mack” Carter (1922-1993).

For more information about the pond and neighboring preserve, visit maineaudubon.org/visit/fields-pond.

DIRECTIONS: A boat launch is located at the end of a gravel driveway at Fields Pond Audubon Center, just west of the center’s main entrance at 216 Fields Pond Road in Holden. If driving from the east, the boat launch driveway is about 1.2 miles from where Fields Pond Road ends at Wiswell Road in Holden. If driving from the west, the driveway is 1.8 miles from where Fields Pond Road ends at an intersection with Brewer Lake Road and Johnson Mill Road at Bob’s Kozy Korner store in Orrington.

AISLINN SARNACKI is a columnist for the Bangor Metro and a registered Maine Guide. An expert on the Maine outdoors, she’s the author of the guidebooks “Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine,” “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path” and “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine.” Follow her adventures at bangordailynews.com/outdoors.

You can also find her @mainenaturehikes on Instagram and @1minhikegirl on Facebook and Twitter.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

IMMERSE

Yourself Moss covers the forest floor in Ice Pond Preserve in Hancock.

26 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

FOREST BATHING MIGHT BE THE STRESS REDUCER YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR

S

STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

unlight filters through the canopy to dance on the mossy ground. The clean scent of fir trees and fresh greenery mingles with the earthy aroma of fallen trees and decaying leaves. The long, tumbling song of a winter wren echoes through the trees.

Your breathing slows. Your shoulders relax. Your thoughts quiet.

Many people believe that spending time outdoors can reduce stress, whether that outdoor space is a forest, lakeshore, mountaintop or flower-filled meadow. But why?

In recent years, an increasing amount of research has been conducted in an effort to understand the possible health benefits of spending time outdoors. At the same time, the Japanese practice of “shinrin-yoku,” which roughly translates as “forest bathing” or “forest immersion” — has gained traction in the United States.

The practice involves using your senses to stay in the present moment while spending time outdoors, often in a forest.

How does the wind feel against your skin? What colors can you see in the petals of that wildflower? These are the things you think about while forest bathing.

“If people are drawn to it, they should try it,” said Jeanne Christie, a Registered Maine Guide and certified forest therapy guide from Windham. “It helps people to slow down, feel grounded and connected.”

Christie offers forest therapy experiences through her guide service, Connect to Wilderness. She describes it as “outward meditation” that includes transitioning from using the “executive brain” to the “default brain.”

“Spending time in the default brain and in nature can increase cognitive ability and creativity, and reduce stress,” Christie said. “It’s extremely good for mental health.”

Even if you don’t attempt this special form of meditation, simply spending time amongst trees and other plants could be beneficial to your health, according to numerous studies conducted in Japan and other countries.

For example, a 2006 study in Japan found that essential oils emitted by trees (called phytoncides) increase the activity of human natural killer cells, which help fight things like viruses and tumors.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

(Right) Derek Runnells of Dedham takes a break on a bench while hiking in the Frank E. Woodworth Preserve in Harrington. Trail benches are great places to sit and engage in the practice of forest bathing, which involves slowing down, opening your senses and reconnecting to the natural world.

(Below) The last portion of Mount Willard Trail in New Hampshire strikes through a thick forest to an open view of the White Mountains and Crawford Notch.

28 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

A paper published in 2010 looked at the results of field experiments conducted in 24 forests across Japan. In the experiments, people who spent time in the forest had lower concentrations of cortisol, also known as the body’s “stress hormone.” Overall, they also had lower pulse rate and lower blood pressure, which can also be indicators of stress.

These studies and related research are listed in an article about forest bathing published online by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The article also points out gaps in our knowledge about how the forest affects us as humans.

“While the research in Japan is groundbreaking, we need more research on trees growing in the Northeastern US,” the article states. “We share some of the same genera with Japan, like pine, birch and oak, which all give off different phytoncides, but we have different species. The more we know about our local trees, the more applicable the science will be.”

In recent years, scientists from a number of countries have dived into the topic. In 2020, research conducted by Italian scientists found that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in forest air could benefit human health in a multitude of ways.

The research paper’s abstract states: “Inhaling forest VOCs like limonene and pinene can result in useful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the airways, and … some terpenes (natural chemicals found in plants and animals) absorbed through inhalation may be also beneficial to promote brain functions by decreasing mental fatigue, inducing relaxation, and improving cognitive performance and mood.”

While scientific studies can certainly shed light on how the world works, some of the ways that a forest or other outdoor setting can impact a person’s health and wellbeing may not be measurable.

“Science is useful but limited,” Christie said, “and we run the risk of being limited ourselves if we’re utterly dependent on the things it can measure at this point in time … You can’t measure [the feeling of] connection to the world around you.”

Juno follows a hiking trail through a mossy forest at Baker Hill Preserve in Sullivan.

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HOME & FAMILY

(Above) The happy couple, Ward Shaw and Frances Duran, along with their 1942 engagement annoucement.

(Left) Corinth Methodist Church, during the town’s Centennial in 1911, later site of the Shaws’ 1942 wedding.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW

32 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

Summer

ROMANCE LOOKING BACK ON A 1940S MAINE WEDDING

T

BY RICHARD SHAW

he bride wore white satin and clutched a bouquet of red roses. A flower girl led the procession. After the ceremony, tied to the rear of the newlywed couple’s car, a symphony of tea kettles clattered on the return trip to Bangor. Even the honeymoon was traditional, from the carried-over-the-threshold hotel arrivals to the champagne breakfasts.

I wasn’t even a twinkle in my parents’ eyes when they were married on Aug. 12, 1942. My birth came 10 years later, as child No. 3, when Mother was an “old” woman of 38. But throughout their lives, I heard plenty about their wartime wedding, from Dad’s ill-fitting Army uniform (there wasn’t time to have it tailored), to the bride’s father’s very public stumble, which left the guests in stitches.

Corinth’s Methodist Church, 20 miles northwest of Bangor, was the setting for the town’s social event of the year. At least, that’s what my grandmother, Hattie Duran, wife of Town Clerk Zopher Duran, might have claimed after her only daughter, Frances, a violin-playing secretary, tied the knot. The guest list included close friends and Dad’s divorced parents, Lewie and Hazel Shaw, who met awkwardly inside the white frame meeting house.

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HOME & FAMILY

(Above) Ward and Frances Shaw’s wedding party at the Corinth Methodist Church, Aug. 12, 1942.

(Left) Newlyweds Ward and Frances Shaw danced to the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Lewiston Armory in 1942.

(Below) The couple in New York City circa 1943.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW

34 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

“Miss Nellie M. Whitney, maid of honor, wore a blue lace and georgette crepe,” reported a Bangor newspaper, “and the bridesmaid, Miss Mary E. Shaw, a sister of the groom, was attractive in yellow lace with veil and carried yellow roses. …

Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the bride’s [parents’ Corinth] home.”

Before the day was finished, Dad would be fast asleep at Bangor’s Penobscot Exchange Hotel, a favorite honeymoon haunt owing to its proximity to Union Station, a railroad hub. Traveling two days by train from Camp Blanding, Florida, with his best man and Army buddy, Barney Beach, was too much for the 26-year-old sergeant and base bugler, and any love making would have to wait.

Presumably, romance rekindled in the days to come, as the couple moved on to Portland’s Eastland Hotel. But we didn’t discuss such intimate business when I was a child. Only that Mom met Dad, a young, single student who lodged nearby, around 1940, when he cut across her family’s East Side Bangor lawn while en route to a waiting trolley car. She coyly accused him of trespassing, sparks flew and the rest is family history.

“Glenn Miller, oh sure, we danced to his orchestra, at the Lewiston Armory,” Dad would comment, when prompted for a honeymoon highlight. “When Frances and I heard he was performing at a dance one night, we went up and saw him. I went outside during an intermission, and there was Miller, all by himself, having a smoke.

His orchestra members kept their distance.”

Back in Bangor, Dad packed his bags and returned to his Florida base. Mom made occasional trips south to see him at his final assignment, Fort Bragg, N.C., but home life, and rearing a family, had to wait until after his discharge late in 1945. After that, he enjoyed a long railroad career, and moonlighted as a trumpet player with various bands. My stay-at-home Mom died of a stroke in 1982, four months before what would have been her 40th wedding anniversary. Dad never remarried, dying at age 90 in 2006.

I still store Mom’s wedding dress on the top shelf of my bedroom closet and imagine that, 80 years ago this summer, it was purchased for $25 at Freese’s Department Store. I also have the “nuptials” church guest book, along with an 8mm black-and-white home movie that Barney Beach shot of the wedding party mingling outside the church.

Everyone looks so happy.

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FEATURE

Life Prep PREPARING STUDENTS FOR REAL LIFE

BY EMILY DENBOW MORRISON

D

TECHNOLOGICAL RESTRAINT — LIMIT TIME SPENT ONLINE Since Covid-19 hit, the amount of time children have spent online has exponentially increased.

For the last two years, half of students’ schooling has been spent at home on the other end of a Zoom call. Because of safety protocols, kids have missed out on daily social interaction with peers as well as special rites of passage like school dances, concerts and assemblies.

36 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

PHOTO: HALFPOINT/ADOBE STOCK

id you know that little over half of Maine high school graduates enroll in college, or that of those who attend, only one-third earn a degree or credential of value within six years?

Though postsecondary education is merely one measure of success, sobering statistics like these from Educate Maine’s “2021 Education Indicators Report” highlight a number of issues facing Maine educators, parents and children including access to mental health services, nutrition and high-speed internet.

Coupled with socioeconomic disparities and declining enrollment, the task of preparing Maine’s youth for “real life” has become more important than ever. How can stakeholders do a better job at raising well-balanced individuals ready to tackle the challenges of adulthood?

The answer: Adults can acknowledge all aspects of childrens’ lives that prevent them from accomplishing their goals and help them develop the real life skills Maine kids need the most.

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38 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

FEATURE

PHOTO: RAWPIXEL.COM/ADOBE STOCK

This dearth of opportunity for in-person communication has given rise to a plethora of technological distractions. According to a new study from Microsoft Corp., “People now generally lose concentration after eight seconds, highlighting the effects of an increasingly digitized lifestyle on the brain.”

Teens know this first hand.

“When I was four, I was out running in the woods. Now, my four-year-old brother knows how to operate a tablet, Playstation and cell phone. It’s crazy,” said Brayden Moulton, a junior at Bucksport High School.

How can adults help kids put all the gadgets down? Develop rules around screen time. Mayo Clinic recommends, “Limiting screen time to one hour per day for children between the ages of two and five.” Though there aren’t specific guidelines for every age group, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that caregivers of children between 5 and 18 set consistent limits on technology use.

FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE — LEARN HOW TO EARN, SPEND AND SAVE One problem facing students’ today is the perceived disconnect between what they’re learning in school and the relevance of this knowledge in their outside lives. How can financial algebra help them pay the bills?

“Instead of teaching us what x equals, we should be taught how to do taxes, how to make a [budget] and how to take out loans,” Moulton said. “No one wants to loan money to a kid. Like for their first car? Most kids have to work [a long time] to get a little bit of money and then buy a cheap car.”

Creating hands-on learning opportunities to teach children about the value of money is one way that Ashely LeBaron, a University of Arizona doctoral student, suggests adults can bridge the gap between theoretical and applied knowledge.

In her paper “Practice Makes Perfect: Experiential Learning as a Method of Financial Socialization,” LeBaron concludes, “It’s tempting to just shield kids from everything related to money, but it’s really important for parents to get money into kids’ hands early on so they can practice working for it, managing it and learning how to spend it wisely.”

This learning looks different at different ages. LeBaron suggests that children ages 3-5 start a piggy bank. Kids from 6-14 can help grocery shop and decide which items to purchase by comparing cost.

Teens between 16-19 should learn about www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39

FEATURE the dangers of maxing out credit cards, how interest works and the importance of building credit responsibly.

WORK ETHIC — UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK Conversations about joining the ranks of adulthood often focus on helping children develop a strong work ethic. Most people agree that getting ahead in life comes from a willingness to put in the work. What adults disagree on is how to instill this willingness in younger generations.

Of course, the bottomline in this debate is the way educators and caregivers choose to teach children. Adults need to do more than talk about the importance of working hard. They need to show the importance of hard work.

Students need real opportunities to work toward their goals. By giving ageappropriate tasks, chores and responsibilities, educators and caregivers can provide authentic ways for kids to learn the value of work.

40 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

In a 2020 study published in

BY GIVING the Journal of Family and Economic Issues titled “How do AGE-APPROPRIATE Parents Teach Their Children TASKS, CHORES About Work? A Qualitative Exploration of Household AND RESPONSIBILITIES, Chores, Employment, and Entrepreneurial ExperiEDUCATORS AND CAREGIVERS ences,” researchers conCAN PROVIDE AUTHENTIC firmed three major methods for teaching children about WAYS FOR KIDS TO work: “(1) implementing household chores and allowLEARN THE VALUE ances, (2) facilitating paid emOF WORK. ployment, and (3) encouraging entrepreneurial experiences.”

When children learn first-hand the direct corollary between effort and outcome, they learn valuable lessons. Youngsters understand they are part of a family unit that requires SELF-CARE — PRACTICE GOOD their participation. Teenagers find that MENTAL HEALTH HABITS employment can help them further their Recently, self-care has become a Hollywood career goals and pay for necessities. And buzzword. Celebrities and influencers post young adults discover how to manage pictures and stories online informing their money and become more independent. millions of followers of the improvements

PHOTO: ELINAMANNINEN/ADOBE STOCK

they’ve made to their physiques, but this concept goes deeper than skincare. In the world of psychology, self-care has been around since the 5th century BC when Socrates founded this method for improving oneself in order to better serve one’s community.

Following Socrates’ tradition, therapist Holly Jones, LCSW, shares strategies of self-care by age group so adults can help children develop age-appropriate mental and physical health habits.

In an article published by the nonprofit ChildSavers, “Self-Care For Kids By Age: Everything You Need To Know,” Jones suggests that younger children blow their own nose, brush their hair or get their own drink. Whenever they encounter difficulties, adults can offer to break these tasks down into simple steps. For middle and high schoolers Jones says, “See if they can wake themselves up in the morning, prepare a meal or care for a family pet.”

Practicing self-care strategies daily helps children and teens learn how to take good care of themselves. By doing

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FEATURE

RESILIENCE — ADJUST TO ADVERSITY Barriers to Maine students’ social, emotional and academic growth abound.

Sadly, bullying, domestic violence, trauma, substance abuse and poverty are not specific to our corner of the globe — adversity is everywhere. Though childhood is often characterized as a carefree time, the uncertainty of maturing in a postpandemic world is anything but idyllic.

The good news is: resilience is a learned skill.

According to the American Psychological Association’s “Resilience Guide for Parents and Teachers,” building resilience centers around helping children develop ten healthy habits. Establishing these habits doesn’t guarantee kids won’t experience distress. It does, however, encourage them to learn healthy ways to react to discomfort.

The guide stresses the importance of children making connections with peers and family members to create a support network, performing acts of empathy, maintaining a daily routine, focusing on what’s within their control, practicing selfcare, working toward goals, nurturing a positive self-view, keeping challenges in perspective, looking for opportunities of self-discovery and accepting change.

Perhaps the hardest habit to practice is the last — accepting change is scary for everyone, adults included. Helping kids understand that change is part of life is one way educators and caregivers can reassure them that life won’t always be scary. If children seem overwhelmed or unable to use these tips, the APA recommends talking to someone who can help, such as a psychologist or mental health professional.

There is no doubt that these are hard times, but difficult moments can help us determine what is most important.

If adults continue to focus on the health of the whole child, acknowledging the complex needs of Maine learners, then we can help them build a brighter future for themselves and for us all.

42 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

PHOTO: ELINAMANNINEN/ADOBE STOCK

so, kids of all ages become more aware of their own physical and emotional needs.

Studies show that even small acts of selfcare like painting, coloring, molding clay, listening to music, singing and dancing can decrease stress, improve relationships and promote wellness.

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FEATURE

AP science?

drivers ed

homework!

rights club? guitar lessons

?

soccer

sleep!

get a job?

WORKout

sch

volunt

eer

key

44 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

track team

hool play

finding

BALANCE BALANCING EXTRACURRICULARS AND SCHOOLWORK

PHOTO: DROBOT DEAN/ADOBE STOCK

club?

W

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

hen my children were in elementary school, it was simple: I’d limit them to no more than two activities at a time.

That might mean a sport like soccer or basketball coupled with a school club, depending on the season.

Using that strategy meant there was plenty of time for play and reading, for going to parks and for skipping rocks. And during those years, they sampled so many things — soccer, basketball, dance, robotics, running, languages and more.

As they grew older, I didn’t hold to that rule though.

It was okay in middle school if my daughter wanted to go to student council before school and track practice after school, sometimes leaving for a dance class. And it was fine if my son wanted to join three clubs that met a few times each month and also do a sport each season.

As long as they were happy, I was happy.

But as they hit high school, things began to shift.

Classes were more demanding and came with more homework. We started to talk about prioritizing and making choices.

Do you want to dance every day or join the track team?

Do you want to be your class representative to the student council or be in the school play?

Do you really want to be in all these clubs or might you drop some to have more time for homework?

Would you rather compete with the math team or have enough time to get that project done well?

Can you do all this and still get good grades and plenty of sleep?

Teens today are presented with so many options. At school, they can choose from a buffet of classes in every subject — from challenging AP classes to interesting literature classes to creative art classes. And outside of school, there are clubs, teams and lessons for just about every interest imaginable. Plus, there are teen centers, church youth groups, volunteer opportunities and other organizations holding interesting activities.

As if that’s not enough, there’s also the potential for jobs and even travel.

On top of that, teens are growing up in a heavily connected world where social media and smartphones keep them tethered to friends, interests and more 24/7.

That adds more demand to their days.

Together, this is creating a stress-rich environment that’s negatively impacting mental health for modern teens. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey updated in March 2022, 31.1 percent of teens said that their mental health was most of the time or always not good in the previous 30 days. The survey also revealed that 44.2 percent of teens reported feeling sad or hopeless in the previous 12 months. About 19 percent seriously considered suicide. On top of that only 23.5 percent reported getting 8 hours or more of sleep most nights.

In the always connected, always on world that’s full of choices and options, teens need help balancing the things they need to do with those that they want to do.

And they need to make sure they aren’t stuffing their days so full they don’t have time for self-care.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 45

FEATURE

sleep!

AP math? homework!

basketball

key club

get a job?

latin club?

student council

field hockey

jazz band?

So how can teens approach balancing extracurriculars and schoolwork to help lessen the stress?

CHOOSE WISELY There are certain things teens have to do, like go to school and take certain classes like math, science and English. But within those topic areas are choices. For some, AP classes, which are the most challenging, are worthwhile because they can provide college credit. But for others, finding an engaging class they are interested in is more important. Do they want to take AP U.S. History, or would they rather take 46 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

Music and Popular Culture in the 20th Century, both of which are options for sophomores at Bangor High School.

Likewise, when it comes to activities outside of school, there are choices to be made. Do they need a job? And if so, what amount of time does that leave them for other things? Do they want to be in the school play, join a sports team, be in a club or join student government? A person can’t do everything and thus they might piece together the needs with the wants without overloading their schedule.

With so many options available, a person could fill their days to the brim

with activities and classes. One or two extracurricular activities is enough, according to Bangor High School Counselor Sharon Pelletier-Ayer. She advises students to focus on choosing things they enjoy doing.

DON’T OVERDO IT Practice, rehearsal, classes, homework, work … The to-do list can get pretty heavy pretty fast if a person isn’t careful.

And sometimes it can sneak up on them.

Maybe they have time before practice and there are a few clubs they want to check out. Maybe they agree to work a

PHOTO: ASIER/ADOBE STOCK

dance class?

few hours on days with a lighter schedule.

Next thing they know, they’re up until midnight finishing homework.

How much is too much? That really depends on the person. Some students may take the hardest classes, play sports every season and join a few clubs too.

Others may opt for interest area classes and join a single club. It all depends on personal interests.

The key is not to overdo it. PelletierAyer said that if grades begin to suffer, it’s time to reconsider what the student is doing. Another key indicator, she said, is if a student isn’t sleeping enough. That can mean too much is on the student’s proverbial plate.

WHAT ABOUT JOBS? Part time jobs are a must for some teens who need to help with home expenses or transportation costs. For others, they are a means to freedom, filling bank accounts and providing money for fun.

Adding a job to the mix adds another layer to the delicate daily schedule. Teens must balance the demands of work and school. They must make time for homework too. It might mean that there’s no time for other activities though.

That’s okay, according to PelletierAyer. She said that a student’s ability to hold down a job while going to school is held in high regard by colleges. It’s a sign that students are mature and can balance multiple things.

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WHAT COLLEGES ARE LOOKING FOR Balancing activities with schoolwork can also be seen as prep for college admissions. But what activities a student does is a personal choice and colleges aren’t looking for certain activities. They really just want to see that a person is engaged in their community, according to University of Maine Vice President for Enrollment Management Chris Richards.

After all, he said, they are seeking people who won’t just be a good fit for coursework, but also for campus life.

While there’s no magic formula of activities, Richards did say that progression is key. Students who stick with activities they enjoy and eventually take on bigger roles in them are attractive.

And leadership, which can come in many forms, is important, Richards said. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47

Vi s i t AROOSTOOK TAKE A TRIP TO MAINE’S LARGEST COUNTY

TWO-WHEELED BLISS

PHOTO: JULIA BAYLY/BDN FILE

A CYCLING GUIDE THROUGH AROOSTOOK

WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN THE COUNTY FEMALE CHEFS MAKE THEIR MARK

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VISIT AROOSTOOK COUNTY

TWO-WHEELED

50 / BANGOR METRO August 2022

Author Julia Bayly gets ready for a ride.

SOME OF THE BEST CYCLING CAN BE FOUND IN AROOSTOOK COUNTY

C

STORY & PHOTOS BY JULIA BAYLY

yclists dream of miles of paved roads devoid of traffic. They dream of miles of dirt trails that go on forever and have something for every level of gravel or mountain bike experience.

While a bicycling utopia may not exist, the cycling opportunities in Aroostook County come close.

Aroostook County is the kind of place where you are just as likely to share the road or trail with a moose or bear as with a motor vehicle. It’s the kind of place where if you stop to take a drink or check a funny noise on your bike, someone driving past will slow and ask if you need anything. On the chance that you do, they will do what they can to help out.

In my four decades of riding the roads and trails up north, I have had people — complete strangers, mind you — offer food, water, rides and repair expertise. On one memorable ride, I had just made the turnaround to complete what would have been a 60-mile ride and the chain broke on my bike. In no time someone with a pick-up truck, traveling the opposite direction, had pulled up and offered to bring me and my bike the 30 miles back to my starting point.

During another ride — this one around Long Lake in St. Agatha — I was with several friends who were new to cycling up north. We had stopped to regroup in a handy driveway next to the road and realized we were blocking the homeowner from driving out. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51

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We apologized through her open car window as she slowly drove past us and she laughingly told us she had to get to the store because she had forgotten to buy bacon for her planned brunch that morning.

I, in turn, asked her jokingly what time we should be back for that brunch. Her reply? It would be ready in about two hours.

After she left, I turned to my friends and told them she was dead serious and, to this day, I wonder if she was a little disappointed we never took her up on the offer.

Experiences like that are not unusual for anyone who logs miles on two wheels in Aroostook.

“People who have never ridden here are always amazed at the hospitality,” said Penny McHatten. “It’s why a lot of them want to come back.”

McHatten is a longtime Aroostook cyclist who has also helped organize bicycling events including Ride Aroostook, a two-day ride that looped cyclists over 120 miles. While that event is no longer held, McHatten said it really helped introduce people from southern parts of the state to all that the north has to offer.

“They loved coming up here and riding,” she said. “It was fantastic for them.”

What made it fantastic — and what makes cycling in Aroostook fantastic in general — were the miles of low car traffic roads.

“The population [in Aroostook County] is so much smaller than anywhere else that we just don’t have as many drivers as they do downstate,” she said. “I talk to folks now who live in the southern part of the state and they tell me they don’t ride on the roads at all anymore because of how much traffic and distracted drivers there are.”

And while drivers may disagree on the overall quality of the paved roads in Aroostook — yes, there are potholes and frost heaves — for the most part, it’s a great surface for road bikes.

“Up here the majority of roads are like the nice roads downstate,” said Brent Jepson, a longtime County cyclist. “But up here it’s good pavement and no traffic.”

In The County the vehicles on the road tend to respect cyclists on the road and follow the state law of giving them three feet of clearance when passing.

“There are some roads where there are lumber trucks, then there are a lot of nice little country roads that are almost abandoned,” Jepson said. “We really have some great spots up here.”

One of many sights you’ll find on a bike ride through St. Francis in Aroostook County.

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The most recognizable and easily spotted scale model in the Maine Solar System Model is Saturn, located just north of Mars Hill on US Route 1. The ringed-planet is a popular stopping spot for cyclists looking for a good photo opportunity.

If pavement is not your thing, there are also miles of old railway lines that have been reclaimed as multi-use trails. Where roads can quickly become challenging with steep hills and fast descents, these rails-totrails are flat and easy to pedal.

For more of a challenge on gravel, there are tons of dirt roads in the more rural areas of Aroostook, not to mention dedicated biking trails at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center, Four Seasons Lodge in Madawaska or the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle. Some of these trails are fairly technical and require some advanced skills and bikes matching the terrain.

Pavement, dirt, gravel or single track all have one thing in common — amazing scenery.

Depending on where and when you ride, the vistas are going to include potato fields in full flower, working farms, wildlife, rivers, lakes, fields or expansive scenic vistas. So don’t forget to tuck a small camera or your smartphone with a camera into your jersey pocket.

If you are looking for specific routes to try out, I do have some favorites.

START IN MADAWASKA For road riding, start in Madawaska and head east on US Route 1 toward Van Buren. It’s a fairly gentle route with rolling hills with the St. John River on one side and farmland on the other. It’s about 30 miles one-way, so plan accordingly for your turnaround. Take time to check out the Tante Blanche Acadian Museum in Madawaska, The Musée Culturel du Mont-Carmel in Grand Isle and the Acadian Village in Van Buren. Misty Meadows Organic Farm just down the road from the Mont-Carmel museum is a great place to grab locally sourced food.

FROM FORT KENT TO ALLAGASH Heading the opposite way up the St. John River you can ride from Fort Kent all the way to the end of the paved road in Allagash. Instead of farms, you are going to be going past woodlands on this 32mile one-way ride. If you get to Allagash, stop at Two Rivers Diner for lunch.

FROM PRESQUE ISLE In central Aroostook, one of McHatten’s favorite rides makes a 30 to 45-mile loop from Presque Isle through Easton and Mars Hill. Take Route 10 from Presque

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Isle into Easton and then turn on to the West Ridge Road into Mars Hill. From Mars Hill get on US Route 1 north back towards Presque Isle. To get maximum miles, turn on to the Spragueville Road just south of Presque Isle. This takes you past the Double Eagle II Balloon launch site and loops back into Presque Isle via the Chapman Road.

START IN HOULTON Farther south, you can start in Houlton and follow US Route 1 up to Presque Isle stopping at each of the planets that are part of the Maine Solar System Model.

Start at the visitors center in Houlton where a diminutive Pluto is on the wall and end at the University of Maine at Presque Isle which houses the sun.

There are miles of other options I can’t begin to describe, but really you can’t go wrong no matter what route you choose.

And who knows? You may just be invited to a brunch.

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What’s Cookin’ in

THE COUNTY FEMALE CHEFS MAKE THEIR MARK ON AROOSTOOK COUNTY

BY JOANNA O’LEARY

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W

ith regard to food options in Aroostook County, the future is female.

A small but mighty coterie of cooks, bakers, chefs and restaurant owners are making their mark on the county’s gastronomic landscape. From creating novel edible offerings and fresh takes on familiar classics to designing and fostering welcoming dining spaces, these women are proving what many have known for years: Aroostook Country is a hidden gem when it comes to eating well in Maine.

Here are five of our favorite female culinary professionals of Aroostook County.

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KRISTIE FITZPATRICK AND ROBIN GREEN SADIE’S BAKERY (5 WATER ST., HOULTON, ME 04730) In 1948, Sadie Hand opened her eponymous bakery, which quickly became Houlton’s go to spot for delectable donuts and other yeast confections. Sadie’s changed hands over the following years, but its consistent selection of hand-crafted baked goods never faltered and hence neither did its loyal patronage.

When friends and coworkers Robin Green and Kristie Fitzpatrick first saw the opportunity to buy the bakery in 2014, they were enticed but the timing wasn’t right. Two years later, the logistical stars aligned and they purchased Sadie’s from then-proprietors Sharon and Timmy O’Donnell

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(Above) Robin Green, left, and Kristie Fitzpatrick, owners of Sadie’s Bakery in downtown Houlton.

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(Left) Grammy’s Country Inn in Linneus is now under new ownership by Shelby Boudreau.

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(who also incidentally happened to be Robin’s sister and brother-in-law). For the past 8 years, Green and Fitzpatrick, who are affectionately referred to as “Sadie’s Ladies” by their customers, have maintained the quality of the bakery’s most popular items, its donuts (rotating daily signature varieties include chocolate and maple) as well as expanded Sadie’s line of offering to include muffins and breads.

Although their sweet journey to success has not been devoid of obstacles, Green and Fitzpatrick wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We love our little hometown business,” Green said. “For any female thinking of starting their own business, our advice is do it. You are so capable and there are resources out there to guide you. Maine, with all of its small communities, is a great place for a small business.”

SHELBY BOUDREAU GRAMMY’S COUNTRY INN (1687 BANGOR RD., HOULTON, ME 04730) Famous for its bountiful platters and nostalgia-inducing homestyle desserts, Grammy’s has been an Aroostook County institution for decades but had to close temporarily due to licensing issues. Enter entrepreneur Shelby Boudreau, who purchased Grammy’s with the intent to revive the restaurant and preserve most of its beloved menu options like buttery fruit crumbles, bacon-wrapped scallops and poutine smothered in gravy, mushrooms, peppers.

But it’s not just preserving the menu that is important to the continued success of Grammy’s, whose slogan is “When the atmosphere is like home and the food is likely family.” The restaurant is slated to reopen sometime this summer.

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(Below) Jillian Bell, owner and baker at Bells Variety Bakery of Wade, recently surprised the Washburn Police Department with a special cake to thank them for their service.

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JILLIAN BELL BELL’S VARIETY BAKERY (WADE, ME) “Let me make cake,” is the mantra of Jillian Bell, who soaked up ambient culinary energy from an early age. “I grew up in a family that loves to cook,” said Bell fondly.

“I always watched my grandmother make her homemade spaghetti sauce and my grandfather made his homemade French pancakes (crepes).”

As a student at the Rhode Island School of Design, Bell honed her artistic skills, but she put her creative aspirations on hold for a few years while working as a medical assistant, but then eventually channeled her artistic prowess into baking. She launched her namesake bakery in 2020, which satisfies the sweet tooths with a rotating line-up of cookies, brownies, and cake pops. Other unique standout sugary treats include “loaded” candy apples, in flavors such as cookies and cream, chocolate, and peanut butter as well as decadent chocolate mousse-filled hearts.

Bell’s specialty, however, is her show-stopping tiered cakes, which she lovingly decorates with edible adornments for all special occasions ranging from children’s birthdays to weddings. There’s no storefront for this bakery though. Bell’s creations are available for purchase online at bellsvarietybakery.com or by phone at 207-762-0918.

PHOTOS: (RESTAURANTS) BDN FILE; (BACKGROUND) SEA WAVE/ADOBE STOCK

(Above) A Pastry Harvest owner Florence Joseph (middle) poses with her employees Jacob Vess (left) and Kylee Pelletier in 2021.

FLORENCE JOSEPH A PASTRY HARVEST (6 STATE RD, PRESQUE ISLE, ME 04769) Nestled inside Presque Isle’s Mainely Mexican restaurant, Pastry Harvest is the brainchild of Florence Joseph. A veteran of the food service industry, Joseph was initially brought on to Mainely Mexican’s team as a cook. Her enthusiasm for and expertise in executing the dessert side of the menu readily became apparent to owner Jay Edgecomb, eventually partnering with Joseph to launch an in-house bakery.

Pastry Harvest now gives Mainely Mexican’s customers an opportunity to cap off their meal of tacos, enchiladas, or fajitas with a sweet coda in the form of cheesecake, cream horns, whoopie pies, scones, and cannoli. Pastry Harvest is currently opening during Maine Mexican’s regular business hours, but Joseph looks forward to expanding its operating capacity.

WOODS & WATERS

Protecting Maine’s

THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE’S ROLE IN MANAGING OUR CO-EXISTENCE WITH NATURE

BY BOB DUCHESNE

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IN THE NATURAL WORLD, human beings are an invasive species. Homo Sapiens tip the balance of nature their way wherever they go, often crowding out the creatures that once lived there.

Science documents six mass extinction periods since life began on Earth. Five occurred due to natural phenomena. The most recent occurred 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, when an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs.

The current mass extinction time frame is called the Holocene Epoch, and nearly all of the extinctions are a direct result of human-related activities. Species are disappearing from the planet at a rate up to 80 times faster than normal.

Extinction is natural. Around 98 percent of all species that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct. It’s today’s rapid rate of extinction that is both ominous and preventable.

In Maine, the task of managing our co-existence with other creatures falls primarily to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In one way or another, virtually every animal species in Maine is managed.

Game management makes most of the headlines. Populations of Maine’s four big game species — deer, moose, bear and turkey — are monitored carefully. Wildlife biologists set harvest limits annually to ensure that hunting is sustainable. Likewise, seasons and bag limits regulate the sustainable hunting of small game, upland birds and waterfowl. Trapping is monitored closely in order to avoid harm to threatened species, such as Canada lynx.

Nongame management often flies under the radar, but it shouldn’t. Everybody’s somebody’s lunch, and the entire food chain matters when managing human interactions with wildlife. Birds eat pests. Insects pollinate crops. Black fly larvae nourish brook trout.

DIF&W produces one set of plans for game species, and another whole set of plans for managing nongame species.

Scarce and vulnerable species get special attention. These include mammals such as New England cottontail rabbits, northern bog lemmings, and Maine’s six species of bats.

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NATURAL RESOURCES

Birds endangered by a loss of habitat are monitored and protected, such as piping plovers and Bicknell’s thrush.

Piping plovers nest on busy beaches.

Bicknell’s thrushes nest on mountaintops, where they were generally safe from development … until windpower came along.

Wetland habitats have been especially vulnerable to encroaching development over the last century. Whole classes of fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates depend on wetlands. Such critters are often small and go unnoticed. It’s only in the last 30 years that they’ve gained enough attention to be protected by Maine’s Natural Resources Protection Act. Dragonflies, damselflies and a host of other insects depend on wetlands, and these species are also monitored

by DIF&W biologists.

Humans have a habit of accidentally spreading toxins around. DDT insecticides famously poisoned ospreys and peregrine falcons, nearly driving them to extinction.

Mercury poisons fish. Lead shot poisons ducks and eagles. Lead sinkers poison loons.

Now widespread contamination from a

class of chemicals called PFAS has led to local restrictions on consumption of venison.

Humans also spread invasive pests.

A century ago, chestnut trees dominated the eastern forest. Chestnut blight, accidentally introduced from China, destroyed nearly all of them. Shortly afterward, Dutch elm disease decimated the stately elms that once graced many neighborhoods. Nowadays, wooly adelgids threaten Maine’s hemlocks, emerald ash borers threaten Maine’s ash trees, and Asian long-horned beetles threaten multiple hardwood species. These pests grip the attention of Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. So do invasive plants such as purple loosestrife, originally brought into Maine as a backyard ornamental.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources has its own invasive species to monitor. Green crabs arrived in the ballast water of ships more than a century ago. Without a

natural enemy, the crabs have feasted relentlessly on Maine’s shellfish ever since.

In the last few decades, humans have had to accept another reality. Animals migrate, and human developments often impede them. Millions of migrating birds are killed every year in collisions with skyscrapers and towers. Dams block searun fish. Whales journey from their calving grounds in tropical waters to the food-rich North Atlantic every year, risking collision with maritime shipping in both directions.

Even many of the smallest critters migrate.

Some salamanders will travel over six miles to reach their breeding areas in vernal pools each spring, a journey made more perilous wherever pavement creates barriers.

Maine is blessed with an abundance of wildlife. It may seem like we coexist well.

If so, it’s because virtually every creature is state-managed, to ensure that we don’t crowd them out of existence.

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

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j Endings, Beginnings Z

THE VIEW FROM HERE

AND WHAT WE DO WITH THEM

BY EMILY MORRISON

B

Most days, I’m just holding on for dear life and telling the world my troubles.

So, I guess my solution isn’t so much to face my fears, it’s to admit them. I talk about them and say, “Hey, I’m having a hard time today because I’m worried about things changing. I’m worried about life getting even more complicated. Do you feel that way too?”

I don’t know about you, but every time I’ve opened up and admitted to my tribe that I’m feeling scared, they’ve never solved my problems. Instead, they’ve helped me realize I’m not facing them alone. Because, ultimately, that’s what we’re all looking for, people who will face our fears with us and encourage us to hold onto our strength.

I think that’s the most we can do for each other. Any time when life gets scary, whether it’s the beginning of things or the end, commiserating and sharing what we’re going through is probably the best free therapy I’ve ever had.

And therapy ain’t cheap, so if you can write about it in a column, share it on your social media, tell a colleague, friend or partner, maybe you’ll feel a little less alone too. Maybe you’ll find what I’m finding now, that beginnings and endings don’t have to be as scary as we think.

Because the truth is, we’ve all had to start over, and we’ve all had to move on. We’ve all had to learn that the cycles of life are temporary. And even though it’s hard, there’s something so beautiful about knowing that life moves on despite all of our fears and best wishes. Whether we want it to or not, time marches on with and without us.

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YOU KNOW WHAT they say about endings and beginnings?

They’re hard. I don’t know who said it first, but I want to repeat it. Endings and beginnings are especially rough for me.

I’m not entirely sure why I feel this way. I suppose everybody does. All I know is that since I was a little girl I’ve always dreaded the last day of school as much as I’ve dreaded the last day of summer, which doesn’t make much sense.

How could I not want summer to start as badly as I didn’t want it to end?

I don’t know what terrible event I thought would happen on these “last days.” I only know that when things are over, it’s difficult for me to go through the motions of appearing happy about it.

The same angsty feeling arises at the beginning of things. The first day of school, summer camp, college, new job, marriage, motherhood, marathon training, grad classes, all of my first days have been hard in the same way the last days have been.

It’s the fear of the unknown, isn’t it? That’s what scares me.

But knowing that I’m afraid about what’s going to happen next doesn’t change how I feel about not knowing. The question is, what the heck do I do with these feelings?

What the heck does anybody do with fear?

Of course, the corny thing to say would be that we should face our fears. Mental health gurus tell us to channel our inner strength, focus on problems we can solve and be positive about whatever life brings our way. But this advice doesn’t ring true for me.

Whoever faces their fears by looking in a mirror and saying, “I can do it! ‘Can’t’ isn’t a word!”, kudos to you my friend. You have reached a higher emotional plane than me. I might stare at myself and take a few deep breaths, but I’m certainly not chanting this mantra before the beginning or end of major moments in my life.

z

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.