June 2019 Maine Seniors Magazine by Maine Seniors Magazine

JUNE 2019 • $5.95 MESENIORS.COM

Inside: • A Maine "Sta-cation"! • Waldo's Joint • Small Mouth Bass • Father's Day Tradition ...and so much more!

Clifton Eames Community and Business Leader

George Manning Leadership Guru

David Brenerman Community and Public Policy Leader

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE

PUBLISHER

David. S. Nealley EDITOR IN CHIEF

Ellen L. Spooner CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Ian J. Marquis EDITORS

Catherine N. Zub Mark D. Roth

Lois N. Nealley Sheila D. Grant

coming soon

Publisher David S. Nealley

Good Shepherd Food Bank’s new food distribution center in Hampden

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Victor Oboyski

Joe Sawyer

SALES & DISTRIBUTION

Christine Parker Randall Nichols Dale Overlock Larry Allen Jim Gorham A. Peter Legendre Clyde Tarr Jim Nute David Poirier Cornell McLellan

Dan Perreira Kim Reid Linda Allen Bob Bechard Jody Hinkley Judy Legendre Diane Nute Edward McGeehan Laurie A. Poirier

WRITERS

Barbara Beardsley Dr. Len Kaye Hunter Howe Larry Grard Gary Crocker Carey Kish

Shelagh Talbot Jane Margesson Brad Eden Ellen L. Spooner Sheila D. Grant

SOCIAL MEDIA

Shane Wilson BUSINESS OFFICE

87 Hillside Avenue, Bangor, Maine 04401 Phone: (207) 299-5358 Maine Seniors Magazine is published in the State of Maine by Maine Seniors Magazine, L.L.C. in association with Maine Media Consulting, L.L.C. All information herein represents the views of individual writers and their understanding of the issues at hand, and may not represent the views of the Maine Seniors Magazine, its management, or editorial staff. For more information about Maine Seniors Magazine, visit www.meseniors.com.

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On Leadership...

shared, in our October 2018 issue, my humble opinion on leadership as follows: The best leaders are those who inspire others to share and carry forward their vision. Such leaders are optimistic, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and tested. These leaders are role models due to their own behavior.

To be honest, I do not really know much about good leadership, although, I do appreciate it when I sense it from others who inspire me to do my best. In this issue of Maine Seniors, we have the good fortune to learn from a leadership guru, Dr. George Manning. Dr. Manning had the opportunity to study under Viktor Frankl, Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, who was also the author of Man’s Search for Meaning. Manning suggests that “Leadership means social influence, and that won’t happen unless leaders care about the work and care about the people. One without the other isn’t enough.” Both Clif Eames and David Brenerman are ideal examples of leaders based on Dr. Manning’s definition. Please enjoy the inspirational stories of Dr. George Manning, Clif Eames and David Brenerman. The following quote by Dr. George Manning is one for all of us to consider. “Maine seniors are in a position to mentor younger generations. Young people pay attention to what older people say and the way that they are. These people are role models, whether it’s a grandpa, a CEO, or an older doctor. People are watching them, to learn what they need to do.”

1 in 5 of Maine’s children lack adequate access to nutritious food on a regular basis. Childhood hunger has long-lasting impacts, far into adulthood. We want to change this. We distribute 25 million meals through food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal sites across the state. But to solve hunger we must do more. We’re transforming the former Bangor Daily News printing plant into a food distribution center, allowing us to provide more nutritious meals to children, seniors, families, and individuals. Help us grow. Help Mainers live healthy, productive lives. Learn more about our Food for All Campaign by visiting www.feedingmaine.org/hampden.

Cheers to all of our Senior Partners! —David S. Nealley, Publisher

1 • MAINE SENIORS

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FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

This issue's Featured Contributor is Carey Kish

arey Kish is an outdoors and travel writer, plus a veteran hiker, a beer enthusiast, Registered Maine Guide and certified “funmeister”.

JUNE 2019 ISSUE

Kish is the author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes Along the Maine Coast and editor of the AMC’s Maine Mountain Guide, and his regular hiking and camping column has appeared in the Maine Sunday Telegram for almost two decades.

2 Publisher's Note • BY DAVID S. NEALLEY

Page 5

3 Featured Contributor: Carey Kish Carey Kish

5 Prime Mover: Dr. George Manning

BY SHEILA D. GRANT

An active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, New England Outdoor Writers Association and New England Travel Writers Network, his writing and photos have appeared in numerous other publications, most recently Activities Guide of Maine, the Maine Brew Guide, Maine Today Travel Magazine and Green & Healthy Maine.

Europe, Kish has twice hiked the entire 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, the second time in 2015 at age 56. He has also hiked the 1,100-mile Florida Trail, and has plans to tackle all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.

15 Prime Mover: Clif Eames • BY SHELAGH TALBOT

Kish is currently working on a fun new book, Beer Hiking New England, which pairs 60 selected hikes and craft breweries from around the six-state region. Among some twodozen long distance treks in the United States, Canada and

Kish lives right next to Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island with his wife, Fran Leyman, and a mountain of outdoor gear. We are pleased to have him share his activities with Maine Seniors in a new column, Outdoor Adventures!

39 Just Pondering: Waldo's Joint

25 Prime Mover: David Brenerman

35 Sage Lens: Q&A with an Expert on

Our way of life, community spirit and strong work ethic. Why not invest with a Maine company that has built itself on those same values?

Alzheimer's Disease • BY DR. LEN KAYE

Page 25

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43 Special: Father's Day Tradition • BY GREG GLYNN 47 The MAINE Point: Leaving no Stone

You live in Maine for all the right reasons...

BY LARRY GRARD

Unturned • BY JANE MARGESSON

49 A Trail Less Traveled: Smallmouth Bass

BY BRAD EDEN

53 Legacy: You Are Able to Care for Your

Loved Ones • GUEST ARTICLE

Page 15

55 Humor ME: A Maine Sta-cation!

BY GARY CROCKER

57 Food for Thought: Loie's Green Pea

Salad • BY ELLEN L. SPOONER

59 Residential Review: Plant Memorial Home

& Thomas Cottages • GUEST ARTICLE

63 Outdoor Adventures: Set Sail on a Maine

Windjammer • BY CAREY KISH

67 From the Porch: Thinkers Exchange

Call us to start a conversation (207)873-2200

BY HUNTER HOWE

70 A Look Back: My Dad • BY BARBARA BEARDSLEY

Page 63

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MAY 2019 • 4

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PRIME MOVER • Dr. George Manning

Manning has also done trainings for Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Colby College board members and staff, and for the Maine Public Broadcasting Network, “which I think is significant because they tie the state together culturally speaking,” he said.

Dr. George

Manning

Manning and Peter Vigue, chairman of the board and former CEO of Cianbro, teamed up to present leadership training for the Maine State Police in April, 2018. Manning spoke about leadership theory; Vigue, leadership practices. A second session was held in the fall for officers unable to attend the first. “Our recent leadership training provided by Dr. George Manning and former Cianbro CEO Peter Vigue was an important milestone within our agency,” said Maine State Police Lt. Col. William Harwood. “Dr. Manning and Mr. Vigue collaborated to provide current leadership training that translates well from business to law enforcement. Dr. Manning used exercises mixed with great humor to present current leadership theory. Mr. Vigue explained his life lessons

BY SHEILA D. GRANT

r. George Manning, 75, of Trenton, Maine, is a Professor of Psychology and Business at Northern Kentucky University (NKU), and an internationally known speaker, author, and consultant. His client list includes AT&T, the American Medical Association, IBM, Marriott, the IRS, the United States Navy, and the National Institutes of Health. Manning has also taught leadership skills and ethics closer to home, and in ways that have touched the lives of many Mainers.

“I’ve had a chance to serve this state, and I’m so glad,” Manning said. During an Art of Leadership session for Maine’s superintendents and principals, he challenged them to develop 15 ways to create a healthier workplace that would attract and retain good personnel. “They came up with a 16-point plan and have been working it for the last several years,” Manning said. “Dr. Manning has keen insights on the importance of developing a positive culture of leadership within a school district,” said Steven Bailey, executive director of the Maine School Management Association. “He knows and helps establish the importance that relationships play between leaders and other stakeholders within the organization and high-quality performance of leaders and the organization. His passion is endless, as is his willingness to give of himself to help leaders and organizations succeed!”

5 • MAINE SENIORS

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Dr. George Manning presented a seminar recently for the Commonwealth Hotel Collection leadership team.

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PRIME MOVER • Dr. George Manning

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fused with practical applications of the theory. What we have learned from them has caused us to build more of a community within our agency, making us stronger and better positioned to serve the public." Manning also presents to a cohort of new Cianbro leaders from all over the country each year. The group spends two or three days in Portland, and then has eight weeks to apply what they’ve learned before coming to Pittsfield for their capstone. This year, Cianbro leadership students will find the training has a theme, based on the advice of former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. “He always taught his players three lessons,” Manning said. “Show up and do your best; be considerate and kind to others; and make your life your masterpiece. He ingrained that into their brains because it was ingrained into his brain by his father. So many good sayings like this get passed down from older to younger. I think for Maine seniors, every one of them can relate to the idea of making their life their masterpiece!”

A roundabout path to a “worthy life”

Dr. George Manning presenting on leadership for Maine's Associated Builders and Contractors.

Manning said he wasn’t always this focused. “I was your typical college student that would be a lifeguard or a bar tender or that kind of guy,” he said.

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Manning said he wasn’t always this focused. “I was your typical college student that would be a lifeguard or a bar tender or that kind of guy,” he said.“But I got my eyes opened by going to Vienna for a semester abroad during my junior year, where I was influenced, as many people have been, by Viktor Frankl.” The Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor was also the author of Man’s Search for Meaning. Studying under him provided direction and focus to Manning’s academic and professional life. Manning studied philosophy and psychology. After graduation, he was interested in the Peace Corps, but didn’t want to be away for another three years. He chose to attend graduate school, but less than two weeks into his studies in Arkansas, Manning realized that the program was not for him. “It was all pigeons and rats and experimental this and experimental that,” he said. People seemed left out. He considered military service, but poor eyesight and flat

Dr. George Manning and Peter Vigue, chairman of the board and former CEO of Cianbro, pose with graduates of a leadership summit they presented for the Maine State Police in April, 2018.

7 • MAINE SENIORS

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PRIME MOVER • Dr. George Manning

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Dr. Manning on

“I thought to myself, if the world of work really is that important, what if we could help morale be higher and productivity be higher in all jobs."

Aging Well “One very important thing about older people is that everybody our age needs two things – love and work – you need someone to love and something important to do,” Manning said.“So older people need to be sure they have those things going.” “Maine seniors are in a position to mentor younger generations,” he said.“Young people pay attention to what older people say and the way that they are. These people are role models, whether it’s a grandpa, a CEO, or an older doctor. People are watching them, to learn what they need to do.”

Dr. George Manning walking and talking with Peter Vigue, chairman of the board and former CEO of Cianbro, on Cadillac Mountain.

Manning advised that we all take a page from a Danish philosopher who stated that there are two kinds of people in the world – drifters and drivers, i.e. givers and takers.“What the world needs is driving givers, not drifting takers, so older people need to model that going forward. They have got to speak up and have their words be known because they are experienced. They know things. People may disregard, or say yes or no, but at least they would be saying what they think, and they need to do that.”

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feet ruled that out. Luckily, Manning discovered a peoplecentered psychology program at the University of Cincinnati. And while pondering Karl Marx’s theory that how a society does its work determines most other things about that society, Manning became fascinated by workplace psychology and how that might impact…everything. “I thought to myself, if the world of work really is that important, what if we could help morale be higher and productivity be higher in all jobs, from nursing to engineering. That would be a worthy life,” he recalled.“So I bought into the psychology of the workplace in my heart.” After graduation, Manning held a labor relations job with Ford Motor Company while also studying for his doctorate. In the late 1960s, cutbacks led to Manning accepting a severance package from Ford and finishing his doctorate ASAP. 9 • MAINE SENIORS

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Manning cited the collaboration between country singer Toby Keith, 57, and actor/producer Clint Eastwood, 88, as an example. The pair was golfing, as Manning tells it, and Keith asked Eastwood, who was making a new movie, how he kept up this pace. Clintwood replied that he gets up in the morning and “doesn’t let the old man in.” Keith pondered that, and wrote the song, Don’t Let the Old Man In, which ended up in the soundtrack for Eastwood’s movie, The Mule. “This is a good thing for people to know about,” Manning said.“Clint Eastwood was being a good role model of making his next act his best act, and this is a great example of collaboration between an older and younger person. Any older person can make their next act their best act, whether they’re a school crossing guard, serving lunches, volunteering at a hospital or starting a business – anything that’s going to be driving and giving, not drifting and taking.” JUNE 2019 • 1 0

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By that time, he had met and married Nancy (Miller) Manning, who had two sons, Page and Larry. The couple soon added a daughter, Heather, to the family. For a time, Manning worked as a consultant to make ends meet. Then, when a four-year school was created at NKU, Manning was the first teacher hired. “It was like a dream job to have that, and a solid income,” he said. Manning blended humor and philosophy into the subjects he taught, making him popular with students in his economic, management, organization and leadership classes. “I’ve been there for 49 years,” he said.“It’s been a great success!” Workshops and writing spread leadership concepts

To earn extra income while teaching at Northern Kentucky University, Manning began offering leadership workshops for business, industry and government leaders. “Leadership means social influence,” Manning explained.“And that won’t happen unless leaders care about the work and

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PRIME MOVER • Dr. George Manning

PRIME MOVER

Even after all these years, Manning enjoys his work. “Every teacher loves to learn and teach. It’s better than a cheeseburger and fries!”

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Associated Builders and Contractors' President Hope Perkins, Dr. George Manning, and ABC Member Services Director Tami Staples.

care about the people. One without the other isn’t enough.” Whenever possible, he also works leadership ethics into his presentations. Manning found himself in demand with the courts and criminal justice system, and increasingly, from the transportation industry. “I still do airports and the FAA, but it got to be more the corporate world,” he said. “Last year, it was healthcare.” Manning uses his wide variety of contacts to help students secure internships, and for real-world examples that keep his classes fresh.

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Manning also used sabbaticals away from NKU to create eight books on human behavior, stress, and “other things that would impact morale and performance.” The books sold well. Eventually, a publisher requested titles on the three most popular topics: building community through communication; the art of leadership; and stress in a rapidly changing world. Manning and his friend/colleague Kent Curtis wrote the first book, but then a shakeup with the publisher’s management left the duo with no publisher for the latter two – until McGraw-Hill accepted the projects. Stress: Living and Working in a Changing World is now in its third edition; The Art of Leadership is in its sixth, with plans for a seventh.

Nancy Manning, a source of love and meaning in George's life

13 • MAINE SENIORS

Even after all these years, Manning enjoys his work. “The reward is the doing of it,” he said.“Every teacher loves to learn and teach. It’s better than a cheeseburger and fries!” Love and purpose give life meaning

George and Nancy were married for 50 years. Nancy passed away two years ago, after a series of strokes beginning in 1990 left her first wheelchair bound, and later, bedridden.

“No one really knows me as a person unless they know of our relationship all those years,” said Manning. “What matters most to people is family. That’s how I feel about Nancy. She is always with me. “Nancy was a knockdown gorgeous model, but by the time I met her she was done with all that traveling and wanted to be a homemaker. A normal working man and homemaking mother – that’s what we were. She loved horses, dogs, cats, goats, critters of every sort. When I was on the road and would call home, Nancy was always in the barn,” recalled Manning. “We had a wonderful life,” he said. “We moved to Maine in 2000. Although we are Midwest folks and always will be, the

beauty and the people of Maine won us over. She would be here all the time while I would fly back and forth when school was on. Now my status is professor emeritus, so to speak. I still have an office, staff and money if I need it back at the university, but primarily, my home is in Maine and I swing by the university occasionally.” When in Maine, Manning enjoys spending time with his children and three granddaughters ranging in age from 6 to 33. “That’s my fun, for sure,” he said. He also enjoys “walking MSM and talking” with friends. To learn more about George Manning, visit www.nku.edu/~manningg.

JUNE 2019 • 1 4

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PRIME MOVER • Clif Eames

Eames Clif

Committed to Community BY SHELAGH TALBOT

Clifton Eames II, comes from a long line of Mainers imbued with a strong sense of community service and obligation. Like his forebears and relatives, Clif has been happiest when he is helping others and contributing to his part of the world. His family was, and is, close-knit, with keen loyalty and commitment to their workplace –N.H. Bragg & Sons, a distributor of industrial and safety supplies that has been in business in Bangor for 165 years, which recently became a division of Horizon Solutions, a regional distributor of electrical, industrial, and safety supplies. Clif is one of the last patricians in the Bangor area, coming from an era when doing good for others was a family responsibility, and helping those less fortunate was expected in order to be a viable part of the community. Many Bangor families functioned with this spirit in mind, his being one of them.

15 • MAINE SENIORS

Clif enjoys the “Eames” chair that Bangor Savings gave him for his years of service.

The Landlords photographed at Debbie Boles’ wedding reception August 27,1966. From left to right; Tom Needham, Robbie Hanson, Al Casterlin, Clif Eames, Sid Bamford, John Conti, Gleason Rand (in the foreground), Bob Eaton, Bob Boles (the Groom), and John Ballou.

He graciously invited me into his living room where we spent time chatting about his life and the things that were important to him—love of home and family, love of work, church and service to others. Clif, now a remarkably youthful 92-year old, sat in a sunny corner of the room in his favorite chair— designed by architect and furniture designer Charles Eames. His modesty and soft manner of speech belied the intensity of his love of home, career and all things Bangor. Clif remembers a “very pleasant childhood”, growing up in the same neighborhood where he lives today, the Fairmount district of Bangor. His parents Donald and Frances (Bragg) were both dedicated to the company and passionate about serving the needs of less fortunate neighbors. Clif noted that his father believed“family was one’s first responsibility, but the company was a close second.” Every day he saw his father leave early for work.“He put in whatever hours were needed to do

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PRIME MOVER

PRIME MOVER • Clif Eames

150th celebration of N.H. Bragg and Sons—Clifton Eames, John Bragg, Jon Eames Clif sailing on Phillips Lake with first wife, Barbara

Stephen King and Clif

Brett Seekins Brett Seekins has joined the Bangor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (BNRC) as its CEO & Administrator. Board Chair, Jonathan Pottle said, “Brett comes to BNRC with over twenty-five years’ experience as an active leader in long-term care services and is a strong champion for seniors, as well as others in need.”

“There is no greater calling than to help those in need,” Seekins said. “Our seniors built Bangor and our country. They deserve our best, in their greatest time of need. At BNRC we will be assisting residents by advancing tomorrow, together, today.”

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17 • MAINE SENIORS

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the things he saw needed to be done,” Clif wrote in 2004. He remembered his parents at the end of the day discussing the various events happening at the company, the successes as well as the disappointments. He learned everything he could about the company from these evening conversations and knew early on that he too wanted to be a part of N.H. Bragg. Clif went to Bangor High School when it was still located downtown and after graduation, joined the Navy in 1945. “Within a year from when I joined, the war ended so I only served 14 months before heading to college,” he said.“We did a shakedown cruise in the Caribbean on a Bath-built destroyer before going through the Panama Canal to deliver the ship to San Diego.” He went on to the University of Maine in Orono and majored in business administration, graduating in 1950. That same year he joined N.H. Bragg & Sons. “It was during my early years of college that my grandfather Franklin Bragg told me he hoped I’d join the company,” he said. “Family connections are powerful, so when I graduated I went directly to N.H. Bragg. I started out like everybody else—at the bottom. I worked in the warehouse. At the time we were in the steel business so I loaded and unloaded steel bars, barrels of chain and even horseshoes for the Great Northern Paper Company. Heavy hardware and equipment were the things we were into in those days.”

During his first years at the company, Clif began volunteering. “Philanthropy started very early for me,” he observed. “I was in my twenties. It was always a family tradition—my father,

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PRIME MOVER • Clif Eames

Clif helping dismantle the organ pipes at his church Clif third from left Bangor Hydro Electric

grandfather, grandmother, uncle and mother were all very much involved in the community, especially the non-profits. The first things I got involved in were campaigns for the YMCA, the Boy Scouts and Eastern Maine General Hospital. This tradition made it seem logical to me that when someone in

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the community asks you to do something—you do it,” he grinned. He noted that the city of Bangor has a long reputation of volunteerism. “It was a natural fit for me,” he said. “All my friends and family were doing that sort of thing.” A friend ribbed him years ago about his passion for volunteering his time. “He said, ‘You must have extra members of the family helping you so you can do all that!’ As it happened, there were at least four of us involved at one time—my grandfather, father, uncle and me.” Clif was part of N.H. Bragg & Sons for 42 years, with his last eleven years serving as company president. He was the fifth generation of the Eames family to do so and when he finally retired in 1992, his son Jonathan had picked up the mantle of responsibility and became the sixth generation of the family to lead the company. Some of Clif's awards

Jon Eames is understandably proud of his father. When I asked him to give me some insight from his growing-up years he was only too glad to oblige. ““I am blessed to have been brought up by an awesome father, mentor and leader,” he wrote. “My father was a great role model and helped instill in me a strong work ethic at an early age.” Like his dad, Jon joined N.H. Bragg after graduating college. He also noted,

“My father’s passion to serve the community rubbed off on me at an early age, but my involvement pales in comparison to the significant contributions he has made.” Jon joined some of the same organizations early on but when he moved to southern Maine, he“got involved in the national industry organizations that our company (N.H Bragg) was a member of.” However, retirement for his father did not mean just sitting around and doing nothing for the rest of his life. Quite the contrary! Clif became more active than ever in community affairs. His record of service (so far!!) is remarkable. He has been President of the Bangor Jaycees, Chairman of the Bangor Planning Board, President of the Lucerne-in-Maine Village Corporation, President of the Counseling Center (now known as Community Health and Counseling Services), Chair of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross, Campaign Chairman and later Chairman of the Board of the United Way. He was also Chairman of the Board of Eastern Maine Medical Center and very active when that hospital grew through a number of expansions. He chaired committees for JUNE 2019 • 2 0

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PRIME MOVER • Clif Eames

Above: The cabin was built by hand in the early 1950s on the shores of Phillips Lake by Clif and his first wife Barbara • Right: Clif and current wife Kay

Bangor Savings photo taken between 1992 and 1998 • Front row, left to right: Gary Smith, Vice Chairman, James Dowe, President, Clifton Eames, Chairman, Martha Newman • Standing, left to right: Robert Strong, Calvin True, David Carlisle, James Goff and Kenneth Hews

Eastern Maine Healthcare and was a founding director of the Eastern Maine Healthcare System. With his continued interest in area healthcare, Clif was Director and past President of Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, served on the Board of Trustees for Acadia Hospital and on the Board of Directors for the Bangor YMCA and The Home for Aged Men (which morphed into the Phillips-Strickland House). If that weren’t enough, Clif was president of the Bangor City Club and the Rotary Club. He was a member of the original steering committee of the Bangor Region Leadership Institute and was the first lay member of the Maine Bar Association Grievance Committee and later a member of the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar. He was a Director of Bangor Hydro Electric Company, President of the Action Committee of 50, an economic development organization for Bangor, and also President of BanAir Corporation, a non-profit whose mission is to “encourage and manage development at Bangor International Airport and in the City of Bangor.” For a long time he was Chairman of the Board of Bangor Savings Bank; the bank, in gratitude for his service, presented him with his beloved Eames chair. On one of his hall tables, sits a cluster of awards he has received over the years. The Bangor Region Chamber of 21 • MAINE SENIORS

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A Word in Tribute

"I served for many years with Clif on the EMHS Board, now Northern

the community. Clif is a bright, progressive man who is both very

Light Health (as well as other boards) and he always conducted

positive and humble.”

himself in a caring, thoughtful and responsible manner" —DAVID CARLISLE, PRENTISS & CARLISLE

“Clif stands among Bangor Savings Bank’s most influential figures, "As a member of the Landlords (a barbershop singing group), Clif

playing a key role in the development of our employee-focused

sings lead... as with his leadership role in the community, he

culture and driving our commitment to community giving through

neither seeks nor trumpets that role. He is just a lead in the group.

his early support of the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation. The

His remarkable volunteerism and commitment to community is

Foundation and its support of organizations across Maine is an

inspirational. We value his friendship and his steady participation.”

incredible source of pride for BSB, and it wouldn’t have happened

—ANDY HAMILTON OF EATON PEABODY

without Clif. In fact, the bank would likely be a much different place without Clif and others who shared his vision. We are incredibly

“He is the epitome of a gentleman with a steadfast commitment

Commerce presented him with their Norbert X. Dowd Award; he has a “2 Those Who Care” Award from Channel 2 in Bangor; the Katahdin Chapter of Boys Scouts honored him with a Distinguished Citizen Award; there was also

—GARY SMITH, BROOKINGS AND SMITH

fortunate to count him among the bank’s fiercest advocates. Just

to family, church and community. Having been on the Bangor

imagine what could be accomplished if more people had even half

Savings Bank Board for 27 years, I witnessed first-hand his top-

his passion or energy…”

quality character traits and even though Clif is thrifty and cautious

—BOB MONTGOMERY-RICE, PRESIDENT & CEO

when it comes to spending for himself, he is very generous to JUNE 2019 • 2 2

PRIME MOVER

PRIME MOVER • Clif Eames

LU C E R N E I N N

What an amazing legacy this man

has created. Even though he may have slowed down a bit, he is still vitally engaged and involved in his

beloved community of Bangor, Maine.

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He also has been in the church choir for that length of time.“I really enjoy singing in a group,” he said. He has a fine baritone voice and in addition to being in the choir all those years he was one of the founding members of a male a cappella group— “The Landlords”. His current wife Kay is the organist at the church. “We come early, around 7:30 every Sunday morning so she can practice the whole service,” he explained. “I sit and read the Sunday paper while she practices on that fine Moeller organ. I guess I spend many hours at church, probably more than most would,” he smiled.

a Leadership Award from the Rotary Club of Bangor, and he holds an honorary degree from Husson College (now Husson University). The Bangor Region Leadership Institute (BRLI) has created an award in his name—the G. Clifton Eames Leadership Award, which is given every year to a BRLI alumnus who has“used their leadership skills, knowledge and resources to benefit the community and the region.” As of this writing, Clif is still active on a few committees and as a Rotary Club Director. He laughed when I told him this article was for a Maine Seniors Magazine Prime Mover.“I’m not moving much these days,” he chuckled. His other loves revolve around his wife Kay and children Jon and Kathy, his church, the All Souls Congregational Church and his camp on Phillips Lake that he and his late first wife Barbara built themselves starting in 1951. He has been a member of All Souls for more than sixty years, serving at times as Moderator, Deacon, Trustee and Treasurer. 23 • MAINE SENIORS

Built by hand, his camp at Phillips Lake has been a refuge for almost seventy years. “I love to sit on the porch at camp and watch the Sunday afternoon sailing races,” he said. “We called our club the Lucerne-in-Maine Yacht Racing Union and I used to sail, but I sold that boat at least 10 years ago. It’s become difficult for me to come about and move quick enough to sail safely.” He also relishes the neighborhood get-togethers every Saturday. They circle their camp chairs around a fire and share stories. “I look forward to that every summer,” he said. He also plays golf when the weather allows. We wound up our time together with Clif looking at his watch. “I have a meeting to go to,” he pronounced as he got up. “Plus, we’re going out for lunch at Mo’s Barbecue. Now we live to eat,” he twinkled, “as opposed to the other way around!” We shook hands and I recall thinking what an amazing legacy this man has created and even though he may have slowed down a bit, he is still vitally engaged and involved in his beloved community of Bangor, Maine—surely a person to emulate. Thank You Clif! MSM

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PRIME MOVER

PRIME MOVER • David Brenerman

David

David Brenerman at Portland City Hall

Brenerman BY LARRY GRARD

NALE LAW OFFICES When David Brenerman was elected mayor

of Portland by his fellow city councilors in 1984, he became, at 33, one of the youngest people to serve the post in that city.

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He served three terms in the Legislature, from 1976-1982.

His parents, Saul and Hazel Brenerman.

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hirty years later, Brenerman became the oldest member of the city council when he was elected to the District 5 seat.

“It was as if I never left,” Brenerman said. “In fact, some of the folks working in City Hall were still there. I was older and wiser, and probably a better councilor. Email was the biggest difference between the early days and the later days.” Brenerman discovered public service well prior to becoming mayor and continued long afterward. Listening to city council meetings on the radio with his Eastern European immigrant father, Saul, Brenerman developed an interest in government much earlier than most. In November of 1976 – still in his mid-20s - he won a seat in the Maine House of Representatives. Brenerman sits on various boards today, including Creative Portland, which strives to support the city’s creative economy through the arts. Ask David Brenerman what qualities might have served him best during a long, successful public and private sector endeavors, such as Union Mutual (UNUM), and he’ll tell you, “I hope I’ve been a good listener. I have a lot of patience, and that helps, too.”

25 • MAINE SENIORS

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Tellingly, that’s the same answer that Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, provides when asked what Brenerman brought to the table when both men served the state chamber. “He listens and asks questions before he leaps,” Connors said. "He respects others. In the world we live in today, that’s a very welcome trait. He speaks to issues, but he always does so with respect and consideration to the other person.” This past January, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded Brenerman its award for Leadership in the Public Sector. The lifelong Portland resident, who says internships were instrumental in shaping his career, got “the bug” early on.

Brenerman poses with former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State George Mitchell.

Growing up on Munjoy Hill and graduating from Portland High School in 1969, Brenerman said,“There’s a strong bond among those of us who grew up there.” Both his father and his mother, Hazel, fostered in him an interest in the public good. “They were very active members in the Jewish community,” Brenerman recalled.“And they volunteered a lot, and I learned from that. They both belonged to various organizations.” JUNE 2019 • 2 6

PRIME MOVER

PRIME MOVER • David Brenerman

Brenerman served for three terms, including membership on the Taxation Committee and the all-important Appropriations Committee.

Brenerman, who was mayor of Portland at the time, throws out the first ball at the reopening of the renovated Hadlock Field in 1985.

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Brenerman’s father, who had owned a clothing store was, at that time, working part-time at Sears selling clothing. The company laid Saul Brenerman off when he turned 65, even though he was their top salesman. With Brenerman’s support, the state passed a bill banning mandatory retirement for public sector workers and followed that up with a law for private sector workers. “Sears called my father and gave him his job back,” Brenerman said.“That was one accomplishment I was really proud of.” All the while, Brenerman was known well in Democratic party circles. He became executive director of the Democratic Party. “That was a fun job,” he said. “Part of the job was getting the party out of debt. Probably the most interesting thing we did was a Presidential straw poll in 1984. Every candidate came to Maine to try to win it. My job as executive director was to run the whole thing, with Barry Hobbins, our chair. All

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As Portland Mayor, Brenerman meets with Mayor Eitaro Taga of Shinagawa, Japan, at the signing of the Sister City Agreement between the two cities in 1984.The Sister City relationship continues today, one of the longest sister city relationships in the world.

Brenerman went to Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts where he played baseball and served as sports editor for the college newspaper. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Government. At the University of Maine, Brenerman obtained his Master’s in Public Administration in 1975. “I have given back to the community ever since I got out of graduate school,” he said. “I volunteered every Christmas for Meals on Wheels, to give those other people that day off.” While in graduate school, Brenerman interned at the Portland city manager’s office. In his next internship with the State of Maine, he gained valuable learning about the tax system. “People suggested I go to the Legislature because of my knowledge of the tax system,” Brenerman said. “I decided to run for the Maine House of Representatives and won.”

27 • MAINE SENIORS

JUNE 2019 • 2 8

PRIME MOVER

PRIME MOVER • David Brenerman Greg Mitchell, Portland’s economic development director, worked closely with Brenerman, who was chairman of the council’s Economic Development Committee. “That committee does a lot of the heavy lifting,” Mitchell said.“David was involved in a number of initiatives.” Mitchell explained that Brenerman developed committee agendas, many of which involved the city’s selling and acquisition of property. Public works had occupied buildings at Bayside. Heavy equipment was stored there – not a good place for that in the downtown, where the city wanted to promote growth. The city sold those properties, following a recommendation from the committee.

Left: David Brenerman poses with his daughter, Molly, who works for the Maine Mariners. Right: Artist Jamie Wyeth and Portland Mayor Brenerman at the first anniversary celebration of the newly constructed Portland Museum of Art.

The Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce made note of Brenerman’s accomplishments in those roles. “During his most recent service on the Portland City Council, Brenerman chaired the council’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) for two years,” the Chamber noted in its award presentation. “During that time, Brenerman led the committee and the city council through a period of

these candidates came, I got to meet them, and the national press would call.” Fritz Mondale won the first and only Maine Democratic Party straw poll, as the concept fell into disfavor with the national party. Meanwhile, in 1982, Brenerman won an at-large seat with the Portland City Council and was elected mayor in 1984.

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“David has great leadership skills,” Mitchell said. “He knew how to run a good meeting, and always did his homework. He was a great facilitator in supporting a project. His history was important to the city council.”

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While serving as mayor, Brenerman was offered a job by UNUM in government relations. He started a 29-year career with UNUM in 1984.“I needed to start a profession instead of being in politics my whole life,” he said. “I kept up with the

tremendous economic growth, particularly downtown, and laid the foundation for growth in West Bayside and on the Eastern Waterfront. In addition he helped develop the Office of Economic Opportunity, which integrates new Mainers into the Portland Region’s workforce and economy.” Brenerman has also been a leader for several non-profit organizations, such as the past president of the board of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, past president and current board member of the Portland Public Library, and the current President of the board for Creative Portland. He noted that during his tenure with the city council, the city built its first ice arena for professional hockey, and renovated Hadlock Field, which later became home to the Sea Dogs. “We signed an agreement to become a sister city with Shinagawa, Japan,” he said. “It’s still going today. We still have visits back-and-forth, mostly for kids, such as a basketball exchange. I visited there once; it’s a borough of Tokyo. We saw it as a way toward world peace.”

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PRIME MOVER

PRIME MOVER • David Brenerman doing for these last five years,” he said, “and I’ve started my own business on governmental affairs, Brenerman Public Policy Consulting.” During his tenures with UNUM and Martin’s Point, Brenerman has served as a board member with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Dana Connors has known Brenerman since way back, when the former was a Department of Transportation commissioner. “He is one of those friends who is hard to find,” Connors said.“Every association should have a board member like David Brenerman. Issues are not just black and white with him. He was chairman of the board. As chairman of the board, the job is to chair a big board, and we had a public policy. He listened first. He exemplified that. When you know your opinion is welcome and honored, you’re more willing to express it.”

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Brenerman said he worked closely with Connors. “It was interesting,” he said, “that they would have me, a Democrat, as chairman of the board of the Maine State Chamber. I learned how to deal with businesses outside of Portland. “As

Former Vice President and Presidential candidate Joe Biden poses with David Brenerman in 2018.

Dave Brenerman with his wife, Nancy.

Legislature, and long-term care. We developed legislation and regulations on long-term care. I got to testify in a number of states, and before Congress.” His primary responsibility was to direct the company’s external response to legislative, regulatory and political issues in Maine and Massachusetts, the home states of two of UNUM’s largest subsidiaries. In addition, he led the company’s government affairs activities on a national basis on several priority issues. Later, Brenerman accepted a position with Martin’s Point Health Care, contracting for them. “That’s what I’ve been

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PRIME MOVER • David Brenerman

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“David is a kind and patient man,”

Minot said. “He is thorough and caring. He’s a bear of a leader and has a wonderful sense of humor." chair of the city council’s Economic Development Committee for two years, I was appointed by the mayor and council to serve on the Creative Portland board,” Brenerman said.“After I retired from the city council in 2017, the board asked me to stay on as a member and to assume the presidency of the organization. I am in my second year as the volunteer leader of the organization. We have an executive director who manages the operation day-to-day. Creative Portland was established by the city council and is responsible for promoting and encouraging the creative economy in Portland. It is focused on providing services to the arts and culture sector, which brings $75 million annually to the Portland regional economy.“Portland has a thriving and growing arts and culture scene, so I am excited to play a part in the work that Creative Portland does to try to market and promote visual and performing artists and to offer services such as continuing education programs, cultural summits, monthly First Friday Downtown Art Walk, presentation of different types of artists at city council meetings, Two Degrees Portland (for folks new to Portland to network), and Monday morning meet-ups (for visual and performing artists to get together over morning coffee to share ideas).” Dinah Minot, executive director of Creative Portland, said Brenerman brings experience and organizational skills to the board. “David is a kind and patient man,” Minot said. “He is thorough and caring. He’s a bear of a leader and has a wonderful sense of humor. Our stakeholders know that we are there to support them. He has experience with boards. David is aware of the importance of a board alignment.” Brenerman, continues with his own business life, as the principal advocate at Brenerman Public Policy Consulting. MSM 33 • MAINE SENIORS

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Q&A with an Expert

on Alzheimer’s Disease

Question: Is it important to keep my mind active? If so, what can I do, in particular, to promote a healthy brain?

BY DR. LEN KAYE

Yes, it’s important to keep your mind active. When you learn new things and new skills, you generate brain cell connections and stimulate production of brain active peptides that promote brain growth. Do this by staying socially engaged (conversation…really listening and thinking about what people are saying so you learn), reading, listening to books and podcasts, playing games, word and number puzzles, doing art (drawing, painting, sculpting, multimedia, etc.), working with your hands, playing music, learning a new language and so forth. We know that learning and education early in life delays cognitive decline later in life, but we also think that it’s never too late…that’s why we promote activities like Senior College

This month, I decided to go to the source and get the latest word on what we know about Alzheimer’s Disease.

hat meant, of course, talking to Dr. Cliff Singer, Chief, Geriatric Mental Health and Neuropsychiatry, Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor. Here’s what he had to say.

Question: Is there a particular group of older adults at greatest risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease?

The two most common causes of “Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders” (ADRD), or more commonly, “dementia”, are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the primary cause in about 60% of older adults, but these diseases frequently co-exist, especially after age 80. Age is the most important risk factor for both, with the prevalence doubling for every decade of age after 60. Alzheimer’s disease can develop in some younger people, and of course, strokes causing vascular dementia can also occur in middle-age and young adults, but early onset of either is thankfully rare. Women are at slightly higher risk than men for Alzheimer’s disease and men for vascular dementia. African Americans are at higher risk for both. Some other types of dementia, such as Lewy body disease and frontotemporal dementia, are slightly more common in men.”

35 • MAINE SENIORS

Question: What else can I do to guard against the onset of Alzheimer's disease? As important as cognitive activity is, it’s at least as important to use your muscles. Move. Sitting too long is not good for the brain. Get up at least once an hour and stretch and move. If able, engage in physical activity that gets you breathing a bit faster at least 30 minutes a day. The exceptions to the sitting rule are sleep and meditation. Seven or more hours of sleep every 24 hours helps reduce levels of betaamyloid and tau proteins in the brain, which are the underlying markers of Alzheimer’s disease. We don’t know yet whether this sleep has to be at night, but it’s probably best if you have a primary sleep period at night with a shorter (less than 1 hour) daytime nap. Sitting meditation (whatever form that takes for you) for 20-30 minutes once or twice a day is also helpful for brain health according

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doesn’t predict higher risk for developing dementia until it starts to affect more common and familiar names, such as family members and close friends. But names of movie stars and musicians? Coming up with those can take some effort, even in cognitively healthy people.

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Despite some recent books that promote the idea we are near “the end of Alzheimer’s disease”, we are far from there. Brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease are complicated problems.

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to several studies. Finally, a heart-healthy diet, low in animal fats (except fish oil, which is brain-healthy), rich in plant-based fats (e.g. olive and nut oils), fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains, has been shown to preserve memory and cognitive function in many studies.

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37 • MAINE SENIORS

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Despite some recent books that promote the idea we are near “the end of Alzheimer’s disease”, we are far from there. Brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease are complicated problems. We are definitely making progress though. We know lots of things that help to preserve brain health (see above) and we know lots more about the biology of Alzheimer’s disease than we used to. And we are testing promising treatments. I’m cautiously optimistic that within a few years, we will have new therapies that significantly slow Alzheimer’s disease in ourselves and in our children, and very optimistic our grandchildren won’t have to worry about this for themselves.

Question: When will we have a cure or a way in which to prevent people from getting the disease?

really concerned you can come in and get screened for a clinical study we’re doing for people with Alzheimer’s disease in their families. If you’re interested in this study, or just want to stay informed about brain health, write to us at meinah@emhs.org.

If he actually had Alzheimer’s disease and not another cause of dementia, you may be at higher risk. But your risk can also be lower since you are less likely to have smoked and more likely to have more education and a better diet, all of which lowers your risk. If you’re

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music. Owners and chefs boast of their 40 martinis, seaweed and cucumber appetizer bites, quail eggs, and other “grassy” stuff; they boast that they only use the freshest ingredients (I hope so), their food is “honest” (huh?) and “approachable” (what?), and their fish direct from the wharf, never frozen (right). Let’s not forget the 500-bottle wine cellar.

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Times change. Tastes change.

or many years, I preferred to dine out at high-end, upscale restaurants. With few exceptions, I enjoyed many satisfying meals with first-rate service.

A camera closes in on an $18 gourmet burger lathered in 10 different ingredients, the $12“perky” salad, a $42 Argentinian steak plopped on top of mashed potatoes, and the $31 halibut hidden under three inches of a “secret” sauce. You’d need a weed whacker to get to most of the main dishes.

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Times pass. Many of these places eventually succumb to loyal but fickle customers who move on, chef turnover, waitstaff shortages, and rising costs such as high rents. Lights out. Tough business. To point, the lead on a front-page piece in The Boston Sunday Globe said,“Why are so many Boston restaurants closing?” I thought of a comment I once heard,“I do enjoy beans under candlelight.” I wondered if a sensible, discerning fella from Beals Island said that? As I age, I attempt to prevent my retirement savings (yikes, the scary stock market, paltry Social Security increases, and inflation) from potential erosion. And, my stomach calls a technical foul each time I sift through a “secret sauce.” But I sure don’t want to stop eating out. Sound familiar? I remembered the Blue Plate Specials many diners use to offer—simple, straightforward, tasty, identifiable, and priceworthy dishes. Nothing fancy, just good food, conjuring up memories of casseroles, stews, and soups.

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And I got to pondering—it’s what I do. Why not open up my own joint? I know, you’re thinking here comes another Waldo Whopper. I’ll call it Gramma’s Wicked Good Home Cookin’.

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That’s right, classic comfort food, pub grub, homemade, tried and true. With me? I’ll find a superb location, tucked away in a suitable neighborhood, no mall for me. I’ll design it after an English pub/tavern with bow windows on either side of a sturdy oak door. You’ll enter to a warm, welcoming atmosphere, smell the flavors of heavenly food, enticed by dark, high-backed wooden booths, a bar with 20 stools, the walls adorned with pictures of Charles Dickens, Samuel Johnson, Sam Adams, and John Hancock, along with a sign hanging from the ceiling: “Full Belly, Happy Heart.” You’ll love my overall ambience, one of hearty conversation and laughter, one that feels like a calming and soothing teddy bear. Like the western saloons of yesteryear where cowpokes checked their guns with the barkeep, you’ll check your smartphones at the door. You’ll have a beverage in your hand, some quick. I’ll tickle your taste buds with heaping plates of old standbys: meatloaf, American chop suey, chicken pot pie, beef stew, chili, mac and cheese, roast chicken, fish chowda,

72612MUSENMUB_807

Yankee pot roast, spaghetti and meatballs, prime rib, Shepard’s pie, slices of soft, oven-baked bread, and my special chipped beef on toast. Getting hungry? Oh, you’ll find Heinz Ketchup and Worcestershire Sauce on every table. Finally, I’ll ensure that the menu includes a dessert missing from most modern restaurants, puddings: Indian, rice, and bread. Get it, Waldo’s serves “approachable” traditional fare. No frills, no mystery, no nonsense. JUNE 5 - 22

JULY 17 - AUG 3

JUNE 26 - JULY 13

AUG 7 - 24

207-725-8769 MSMT.ORG BRUNSWICK, ME 41 • MAINE SENIORS

The best part, when you leave, I’ll greet you with a firm handshake and a sincere request for feedback. And, if you bring a Maine Seniors magazine with your favorite Just Pondering column, I’ll autograph it and give you a 10% discount toward your next meal, no expiration date. I doubt Bon Appetit or Food and Wine will review Gramma’s. Who cares—the only review I want, is your own. As Orson Welles said, “Ask not what you want from your country. Ask what’s for lunch.” At Waldo’s Joint.

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SPECIAL

FATHER'S DAY TREK

Father’s Day Tradition

John and Heather

GREAT PLACES. GOOD PEOPLE.

Where’s Your Grill?

79-Year-Old in Trek Across Maine

Father and daughter side by side

BY GREG GLYNN

ike most fathers, John Harris would do anything for his daughter, so when his daughter Heather asked him to ride in the Trek Across Maine, a 180-mile bike ride to support the American Lung Association, he said yes. Little did he know, it would become a Father’s Day tradition for 14 years.

It all started when Heather, a nurse at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, participated in the event for the

On the deck at your new house. first time in 1999. After she completed the Trek, she explained to her dad how much she loved riding and how awesome the people were. John still remembers her saying,“I just spent the

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weekend with so many fun people and the jerk factor was zero.”

Established 2011

Established 2011 600+ moves

That’s how Heather started to convince her dad to ride. Then the following year, John met her at the finish line to celebrate her accomplishment and that’s when she casually convinced him to sign paperwork to register for the following year’s event. That casual commitment from John, not really knowing what he signed up for has turned into 14 years of riding together.

John and Mary

It wasn’t long before Heather also had her mom riding in the event.

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Mary (nicknamed “Koko”) became part of the Trek tradition, riding for several years. By 2010, for Mary’s 70th birthday she asked for no gifts, only for people in the family to participate in the Trek. That year, she made it a three-generational event with John, Mary and Heather participating, along with her brother and sister and three of their grandchildren. Mary has since retired but continues volunteering as one of the more than 750 volunteers that are needed for the Trek Across Maine each year. The passion the Harris family has for the event runs deep. The family loves the people and the camaraderie of the Trek that takes place in Maine every Father’s Day weekend. As

Happy Father's Day JUNE 2019 • 4 4

SPECIAL John and Mary have aged, they have also seen the impact that lung cancer can have on people. This is one of the reasons both volunteer as drivers for the Road to Recovery program that provides transportation for cancer patients in Lincoln County to several cancer centers across the state. They are also hospice volunteers. It’s the same passion that motivated John and Mary to stay involved in the Trek for all these years. Before the Trek, the last time they had ridden a bike was delivering newspapers as teenagers. This year, with John’s 80th birthday just around the corner in July, he has decided this will be his final Trek with Heather by his side. When asked his advice for people who want to ride until they’re his age, he shared, “Every morning I am training on a stationary bike while I read the newspaper. The key is to stay moving and stay active.” Funny how things work out in life. It was Heather who first asked her father to ride. Now their final Trek Across Maine together is the best Father’s Day gift he could ask for. MSM

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THE MAINE POINT 

At 73, Sammee seems to leave no stone unturned. She is constantly casting her attention to something new;

some way to enhance community programs and inspire others to join her.

Kennebec Trail Walk

Leaving no

Stone Unturned BY JANE MARGESSON

When I first met Sammee Quong several years ago, I knew I was meeting someone unique.

ammee has a smile that will knock you flat, and beautiful tattoos several of which are ginkgo leaves in honor of her Chinese heritage.

Saying that she is “retired” is a bit of a misnomer. In her professional life, she was a nurse and caring and kindness infuse everything that she does. For years, Sammee has helped a dear friend who, unfortunately, has endured physical challenges as she has aged. In addition to helping with basic chores and housekeeping, Sammee helped her friend relocate into senior housing, which has proved to be a much better option. Sammee’s friend is now in a less expensive home that is all on one floor which will enable her to live independently for years to come.

47 • MAINE SENIORS

At 73, Sammee seems to leave no stone unturned. She is constantly casting her attention to something new; some way to enhance community programs and inspire others to join her. I love Sammee’s adventurous spirit and I hope that some of it rubs off on me! I would love to be that engaged and inspired as I get older. In fact, in our office we have a photograph of Sammee scaling a climbing wall at her local gym. We featured the photo as part of a new ad campaign that showcases older adults in Maine who are doing amazing things. As a volunteer with AARP Maine, Sammee has taken on many roles. She testifies at the State House, writes letters to the editor on issues she cares about, and she is also a pivotal figure with the Augusta Age-Friendly Community. In addition, Sammee serves on the Board of Directors of the wonderful Viles Arboretum, a 224-acre botanical garden and arboretum located in Augusta.

Sammee loves to travel and has been just about everywhere including Egypt and Machu Picchu. It is here at home in Maine, however, where Sammee seems to really make her mark. She quietly goes about initiating local programs and many she leads herself. In just one example, Sammee started weekly walking excursions on the Kennebec River Rail Trail which take place every Thursday morning. Rain or shine, Sammee goes out walking from 8:30-10AM with her intrepid friends and other local residents. The walks have turned into a lovely time to socialize and meet new friends, all the while enjoying an outdoor fitness activity. I’m interested in finding out if Maine Point readers might be willing to join in this effort in other towns. With so many trails from which to choose in our beautiful state, there are easy opportunities to organize simple, short, local walks and excursions. If you would be interested in working with us and other volunteers as a Volunteer “Walk Captain,” please send a note to me@aarp.org to get started. Our goals don’t have to include running marathons or anything – just a light stroll will get the ball rolling. Everyone has the ability to create positive change in their communities and in themselves. As Sammee often says,“We are all in this together!” In the spirit of keeping moving and getting outside this summer season, let’s follow in Sammee’s MSM footsteps and leave no stone unturned.

While too many Americans struggle to make ends meet, the big drug companies continue to rake in billions. It’s no wonder, considering that they make us pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world. Mainers shouldn’t have to choose between buying medication and buying food for our families.

Call your state legislators today at 1-844-226-7030 and tell them to put people before drug company profits.

Paid For by AARP

Facebook.com/AARPMaine

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aarp.org/ME

JUNE 2019 • 4 8

A TRAIL LESS TRAVELED

Smallmouth Bass:

Happy Father's Day

When in doubt, it's gotta be

Uncle Henry's.

Interloper or the Ultimate Game Fish?

e r s h t a F e s al i & Uncl

It’s only natural to live life to the fullest. love

In lieu of the finicky trout and salmon, the often-maligned smallmouth bass can provide rod-bending excitement.

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STORY AND PHOTO BY BRAD EDEN

ost every outdoor person regardless of age can look back to their youth and recall touchstone moments in their outdoor careers that are indelibly etched in their minds. Maybe it was watching their first whitetail buck appear out of nowhere, or witnessing the first Point from their bird dog pup, or hearing their first wild turkey gobble. Such a notable event occurred with me 45 years ago in an aluminum rowboat. This was the day an annual fishing trip with my older brother turned into one of those benchmark moments. To say the fish were biting this early summer day is an understatement. They were in fact, like sharks in a feeding frenzy. We had somehow placed ourselves on the water of a large lake at the exact moment the smallmouth bass had decided to strike pretty much whatever passed in front of their noses. We were fishing with medium weight spinning gear, and quickly learned that a deep running Rapala crankbait bumped along the bottom was the most effective lure. It seemed like every cast was rewarded with a hook-up that initially felt like we had snagged an old tire, until the line ripped through the water and a “Smallie” would launch itself skyward, shaking its head trying to free itself. A rod bending tug-of-war followed that spectacular aerial display. The fish weren’t huge by most 49 • MAINE SENIORS

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A TRAIL LESS TRAVELED

Pound for pound, no fish fights harder than the smallmouth bass.

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Also Inside: • Turtles Crossing • Waterford's Worlds Fair • Two Summer Salads • Memories in the Mist ...and more!

Jamie Wyeth

A Tribute to Barbara Bush Charlie Daniels

Two Maine Mountains with Beautiful Views

Also Inside: • George Denney of Freeport • Surviving the Black Fly Scourge • No Fish In That Cove • Tasty Potato Gherkin Salad • Riding Again! ...and so much more! • Think Tank

standards being in the 1-4 lb range, but they were battlers. Repeat that exercise time and time again and you’ll understand why we ended the day with sore wrists, and grins tattooed on our faces. I’ve been a loyal fan of the smallmouth bass ever since. Maine is renowned for its much-revered cold-water salmonoids like brook trout, landlocked salmon and togue (lake trout). Fly fishing and trolling the revered Maine lakes and rivers for trout and salmon is a long-standing tradition. Many fishermen consider the smallmouth bass a trash fish, a trespasser, and not as welcome or worthy as the other more desired species. That’s somewhat understandable since they are often dumped or illegally stocked into Maine waters where they aren’t supposed to be. They typically thrive, sometimes to the detriment of other fish species. The smallmouth bass is part of the black bass family

micropterus dolomieui. They can be found in many Maine ponds and lakes, and deep running rivers like the Penobscot. They are overshadowed, quite literally, by the largemouth bass, which is popular with tournament fisherman. The smallmouth run somewhat smaller on average, are more streamlined, and are distinguished by a short upper lip, as opposed to the upper lip on the largemouth that extends past the eye, thus the contrasting names. They are most notable for their combative attitude when attached to the end of a fly line leader or monofilament fishing line, as compared to the comparatively slovenly largemouth. What they lack on the dinner plate as compared to the delicious pink flesh of a native brook trout, they make for with their eagerness to attack a variety of lures, jigs and flies. Pound for pound, no fish fights harder than the smallmouth bass. I’ll still delicately fly cast for finicky trout and mindlessly troll for reluctant salmon when given the chance. But if you put me in a canoe on a lake or a river, with a sturdy fly rod, or medium weight spinning gear, and throw in some scrappy Smallies, I’m that young kid again with a grin that just wont quit. MSM

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BROKER INFORMATION: MAINE SENIORS DAY

September 8, 2018

INSIDE: To reserve your space for this great edition of Maine Seniors Magazine,

The 50-plus market and how best to reach them • Identifying the most important market segment in Maine How you can build your brand awareness with our readers • How Maine Seniors can enhance your marketing mix

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1-800-539-5133 Calling this number will redirect you to a licensed insurance broker.

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JUNE 2019 • 5 2

LEGACY

• The age requirement, • Social Security’s definition of disability, • Criteria regarding significant functional limitations and, • Has a letter from a licensed physician.

You are ABLE

If on SSI, the ABLE Act sets some limitations. The first $100,000 in an ABLE account is exempted from the $2,000 individual resource limit. If the ABLE account exceeds $100,000, the SSI beneficiary’s cash benefit is suspended until the account falls back below $100,000. This does not affect the beneficiary’s medical assistance through Medicaid. After the death of the ABLE account holder, the state may file a claim for all or a portion of the funds in the account through the “Medicaid Pay-Back” provision to recoup costs from the MSM time the account was established.

to care for your loved ones BY BERT LANGUET, CFP® Bert Languet, CFP®

ou are retired and financially secure, but you worry about your child, grandchild, or family friend with a disability. How will they be taken care of after you are gone? How do you assist them now? Maybe you have set up a special needs trust, or maybe you haven’t because of the costs associated with establishing and maintaining the trust. You want to ensure there is money for the loved one, and that the funds do not interfere with any public benefits they receive. What can you do to ease your mind? ABLE Act

Congress passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act in 2014 commonly known as the ABLE Act. These are taxadvantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families. The beneficiary of the account is the account owner, and all contributions are made with after-tax dollars. In the state of Maine, contributions can be made by any person up to a total limit of $15,000 per year per beneficiary. In addition, a disabled individual may be able to contribute part or all of what they earn up to $12,140 (2019 poverty line amount) per 53 • MAINE SENIORS

year as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but only if they meet certain criteria. You do not have to wait for the state of Maine to establish an ABLE program; you can use any state’s program that allows for nationwide enrollment.

Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act also allows for a Saver’s Credit of up to $2,000 that can be used to decrease the tax owed. A beneficiary can only have one ABLE account. Earned income grows tax-deferred and, if used for qualified expenses, is not taxable. Maine allows for contributions to an account up to a total value of $400,000. The account can grow beyond the $400,000, but once the threshold is met, contributions are not permitted. LD 1421 was signed into law on March 6, 2016. Who is eligible? To be eligible for the ABLE Act, an individual’s disability must be significant, and its onset must have been before the age of 26. The beneficiary can be older than 26 and still establish an account. There is discussion of raising this age of onset limit to 46. If the beneficiary meets the age criteria and is receiving benefits under SSI or SSDI, then they are automatically eligible to establish an account. If the beneficiary is not a recipient of SSI or SSDI, he or she can qualify if they meet the following: JUNE 2019 • 5 4

HUMOR ME

A Maine

Sta-cation! BY GARY CROCKER

Muthuh and I love to travel, but with the price of gas being what it is we decided a Maine Sta-cation was in order.

ut we still wanted the “feel” of visiting exotic places. So, I dug out all the road signs that had somehow accumulated in our barn over the years. I raced around Central Maine putting up signs like Fort Kent, 14 miles and Entering Houlton. We also had signs for Bethel, Eastport, Rangeley, Boothbay and many other vacation spots. And boy oh boy did it work! In fact, it worked so well I didn’t see Muthuh for a week. I did get a glimpse of her speeding by the trailer, but she was talking on her phone, to me, and didn’t realize she was that close to home. She was carrying on about how she had driven through Boothbay that afternoon and couldn’t understand how she ended up in Bangor 30 minutes later. And then she added that the oddest thing happened right after breakfast. "Right after I left Bethel heading for West Gardiner, I came upon a sign that said, Welcome to Houlton." So, she decided to spend the night in Houlton rather than drive home at night. It turns out they have a Senator Inn in Houlton just like the one in Augusta. And their pool and spa are identical! She said it was a shame I wasn’t with her because 55 • MAINE SENIORS

she was seeing the entire state. And the Senator Inn staff were treating her like a queen. I didn’t have the heart to tell her she was in Augusta. So I just said,

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“Have a safe drive home from Houlton tomorrow and watch out for moose on the highway.” Unfortunately, before I could pick up all those signs a fella from Bridgton stopped at our place in West Gardiner and asked where he could sign up for a whale watch! So those signs are staying in the barn from now on. And Muthuh is still confused about how the State House ended up in Houlton. As is always the case, Muthuh and I will look back on our Stacation experiment and laugh...but not until she gets reoriented here in Central Maine! As for me, I think I’ll swing by Rockland and get some milk and eggs for the weekend! MSM

Serving our clients for over 30 years Joel West Joel WestAdvisor Financial Joel West Financial Joel WestAdvisor Financial Advisor Financial Advisor

Tom Duff Duff President & BranchTom Manager Tom Duff President & BranchTom Manager Duff President & Branch Manager President & Branch Manager

To contact Gary, for more or less humor at your event, visit garycrocker.com

Investment Advisory Services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Duff & Associates is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Loie s Green Pea Salad 1

BY ELLEN L. SPOONER

knew it was time to make my first potato salad of the season. And, to go with it . . . barbecued spare ribs. What vegetable would I serve? After some consideration, I decided on sister Loie’s Green Pea Salad . . . a great accompaniment to any warm-weather fare. It provides great color, wonderful texture, and a little “bite” to awaken your taste buds. Moreover, it's easy to put together and can be made ahead of time.

So I set to work in my kitchen. Two hours later, the ribs were ready to go, the potato salad and Loie’s Green Pea Salad were cooling in the refrigerator, and the prep dishes were washed and returned to their respective cupboards. Dinner was prepared! I had the remainder of that beautiful day all to myself, and it was only 10:30 in the morning! By dinnertime, the clouds had rolled in, the breeze had become a fairly strong wind, and the temperature had dropped to a somewhat nippy 55 degrees. Oh well, that’s life in Maine. Perhaps I was a bit premature in my menu planning. Our dinner was great, however. Try this dish. If you like peas, I know you will love Loie’s Green Pea Salad. Remember, even though quality frozen peas can be used in this recipe, fresh green peas will soon be found in abundance at farmers markets, in grocery stores MSM and, maybe, even in your own back yard.

Featured Recipe LOIE’S GREEN PEA SALAD (SERVES 6–8) INGREDIENTS:  4 cups green peas, fresh or frozen  1 1/2 cups celery, chopped  1/2 cup red onion, chopped  1/3 cup Miracle Whip  1/3 cup sour cream  2 tablespoons Dijon mustard  Salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: 1. Fresh peas: cover with water, bring to a boil, and cook for one minute only. Remove from heat and rinse with very cold water. If using frozen peas, thaw in hot or boiling water but do not cook. Then, rinse with very cold water. 2. In large bowl, combine peas, celery, and onions and mix gently. If desired, you may also add: 1 cup crisp bacon bits, 1 cup cheddar cheese, cubed, or 2 cups pasta al dente (elbow macaroni, shells, etc.). I prefer the dish without these additions, however, as it allows the peas to take center stage. 3. Combine Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise), sour cream, and Dijon mustard and fold into pea mixture. You may need to increase the Miracle Whip mixture if you have added pasta. 4. Add salt and pepper to taste. 5. Chill for at least two hours.

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JUNE 2019 • 5 8

RESIDENTIAL REVIEW

A TRAIL RESIDENTIAL LESS TRAVELED REVIEW

Guest Article

"This home is founded on my sincere belief that those who have lived honest, industrious lives and are without means or friends to care for them, have earned the right to be cared for." —THOMAS PLANT. FOUNDER

The Thomas Cottages have walking paths along the grounds and in the park, plus a wraparound driveway which offers safe maintained pavements for you and your furry friends. Raised bed gardens, pet park, and a picnic area, offer you plenty of opportunities to enjoy the scenic beauty. Residents can experience Historic downtown Bath, which is home to a wealth of antique stores, specialty shops, galleries

Thomas Plant

of the Plant Memorial Home and Thomas Cottages Thomas Plant, the visionary and founder of The Plant Memorial Home, was a man familiar with what mattered in life.

orn an impoverished French-Canadian immigrant in 1859, Mr. Plant worked diligently creating his shoe factory and amassing a fortune. Recognizing the need to provide for those less fortunate he purchased 24 acres in his hometown of Bath in 1917, and built The Plant Memorial Home. For the benefit of seniors, he endowed the home with 3,300 shares of his shoe company, equating to

59 • MAINE SENIORS

“THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY MUSEUM.”

$400,000 at the time. His vision for this home remains the same today: "This home is founded on my sincere belief that those who have lived honest, industrious lives and are without means or friends to care for them, have earned the right to be cared for. Only through the labor and expenditures of others is it possible..." The Plant Memorial Home continues to meet Thomas Plant’s vision by providing subsidized housing for seniors and also on the property are the Thomas Cottages which provide for independent living. Both the Plant Home and The Thomas Cottages are nestled in 24 beautiful acres along the Kennebec River in Maine’s richest seafaring community of Bath.

MAINE MARITIME MUSEUM Bath, Maine • 207-443-1316 • www.MaineMaritimeMuseum.org

JUNE 2019 • 6 0

RESIDENTIAL REVIEW

The Plant Memorial Home and Thomas Cottages nestled in the beautiful community of Bath.

and many fine restaurants. The Maine Maritime Museum is less than a mile away and is filled with history and tales from watercraft and lobstering, to shipbuilding, and sea trade. To the south, visit Portland Maine, which is less than twenty minutes away and filled with arts, culture, and dining with a city whose roots are urban sophistication. To the north, visit beaches, lighthouses, with Midcoast Maine just a short drive away. You can also just relax on your porch and watch ships cruising along the shorefront. This beautiful campus provides a dignified lifestyle in a spectacular setting that many seniors enjoy today. MSM For more information and to schedule a tour, call (207) 443-8986. 61 â&#x20AC;˘ MAINE SENIORS

JUNE 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ 6 2

OURDOOR ADVENTURES

OURDOOR ADVENTURES Captain J.R. Braugh pilots the Ladona

Passengers and crew working together to hoist the sails on the Ladona

Invigorating salty air, sublime seascapes and squawking gulls marked each day of our four-day passage through the colossal Penobscot Bay archipelago.

chest on deck. A sumptuous multi-course dinner followed, a millionaire’s meatloaf creation or lobster macaroni and cheese perhaps, finished off with key lime pie or peach cobbler.

Set Sail

Between meals the hours drifted by in delightful succession, as did the spectacular natural gallery of bell buoys and lighthouses, spruce-studded islands, granite sea cliffs and neat clapboard cottages tucked into rocky coves. In the intimate confines of the schooner, friendships developed, games were played, and conversations covered the world, transporting us to destinations past and those only dreamt about. Relaxing

A scenic shoreline stroll on Marshall Island, the Ladona anchored offshore in the distance

On a Maine Windjammer

BY CAREY KISH

“Heave ho!” bellowed the first mate, prompting crew members and passenger volunteers into action, one mighty collective tug after another on the halyard.

he mainsail was next, then the staysail, and finally the jib. The dividend for the determined effort was immediate, however, as the Schooner Ladona scudded over the frothy green waves of Penobscot Bay on a brisk southwesterly wind.

Schooner Ladona, piloted by Captain J.R. Braugh, is one of eight traditional tall ships in the Maine Windjammer Association fleet, which hails from the ports of Rockland and Camden. The Ladona, christened in 1922 and painstakingly restored to her original yachting glory six years ago, is coowned by Captain Noah and Jane Barnes and Captain Braugh. 63 • MAINE SENIORS

The Ladona’s sailing itinerary is subject to the winds and tides at the time, and with the freedom to go here or there, whether by whim or weather, the journey is both liberating and exciting. There are bays and thoroughfares to explore and island paths to wander by day, relaxed dining with exceptional food, fine wine and good company each evening, and then a calm harbor mooring with restful slumber under star-filled skies. Invigorating salty air, sublime seascapes and squawking gulls marked each day of our four-day passage through the colossal Penobscot Bay archipelago, which amounted to an amazing kaleidoscope of sights and sounds and precious memories. Mornings began with a casual breakfast of coffee, fresh fruit, sweet treats and a cooked-to-order specialty. Lunch was hearty soup or stew, salads and hefty sandwiches. Happy hour meant tasty hors d'oeuvres and a selection of wines, or maybe a cold beer for those who’d stashed some in the ice

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Lunch on Marshall Island featured a classic Maine lobster bake

JUNE 2019 • 6 4

OURDOOR ADVENTURES

with a good book, journal writing or a nap below deck in the cradling coziness of a cabin consumed the quiet time for some.

Passing Burnt Coat Harbor Light

“Island time” was an important part of each day. Mooring off Swan’s Island, guests walked the quiet lanes from the dock crowded with lobster pots and fishing gear out to Burnt Coat Harbor Light, a pleasant few hours of healthful exercise that afforded a glimpse into the unvarnished existence eked out by residents of this remote locale. A stop at Marshall Island, entirely conserved by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, featured a lovely beach and meadow stroll capped off with a classic Maine lobster bake at the tideline. One of the true joys of the journey was interacting with the able crew, which included four strong, young men and women, their knowledge of cruising the sea and tackling the myriad tasks at hand clearly evident in their energy and efficiency (they were also talented musicians by night). Affable and poised, Captain Braugh effused the confidence built upon years at the helm. A cruise on the Schooner Ladona or other Maine windjammer is a surprisingly affordable, all-inclusive vacation of a different kind. The cruising schedule, which includes voyages of varying lengths as well as themed cruises, extends into the MSM fall foliage season.

Guests were encouraged to take a turn at Ladona's helm

Executive chef Anna Miller prepares dinner in the galley

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Guests enjoyed musical entertainment after dinner each evening

Heave ho!

Check schedules and rates for the cruises mentioned in this story at the following: Schooner Ladona  www.schoonerladona.com Maine Windjammer Association  sailmainecoast.com

65 • MAINE SENIORS

JUNE 2019 • 6 6

FROM THE PORCH

Exchange

Thinkers

BY HUNTER HOWE

FROM THE PORCH

Ponder this witty ditty: “What do you get if you cross a philosopher with a godfather? An offer you can’t understand.” I wonder how many Maine Seniors have looked back and wished they’d elevated their own thinking ability earlier on in life? I’ll admit to being a late bloomer. I now realize that two things helped me. The first, for eight years I worked in Human Resources, spending two of those years as the Senior Recruiter at Gillette Corporate in Boston. I learned how to probe into a perspective employee’s background, delving deep for relevant information needed to decide whether to hire; hiring the right person for the right position is the cornerstone for any successful company. During this time, my interviewing skill, with all its components, dramatically improved. The second, to no surprise, my writing; writers learn to lean on the five W’s: Who, What, When, Where, and the most important, Why.

I think, I think, I think…

but do I think enough?

he Belgium detective, Hercule Poirot, said, “It is the brain, the little gray cells on which one must rely.” English sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, a first-rate thinking man, pushed his powers of observation, logic, and reasoning to solve the most challenging of his cases. He massaged his brain, relentless in his pursuit to find the answers. Sherlock said,“My mind is like a racing engine, tearing itself to pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was built.” He possessed a crucial life skill, the ability to think with critical objectivity which is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement. It involves smarter, higher, and disciplined careful thinking. This leads to rethinking, asking more questions, and more. 67 • MAINE SENIORS

Now, I understand what Voltaire meant when he said,“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” I learned to pay close attention to the simple phrase, “Worry About the Questions.” Without doubt, this phrase served me well over the years leading to enhanced thinking skills. Yet, I’ve wrestled with how I could have developed these practiced skills at an earlier age. Educators wrestle with the same dilemma, how to build productive curricula such as history, science, math, and English with the goal of enhancing their student’s thinking process. One answer is the study of philosophy which comes from the Greek words,“Love of Wisdom.” Using the tools of logic and reasoning, philosophy’s a way of thinking about the world, the universe, and society. It asks the basic questions about the nature of human thought. What better discipline is there that offers the development of the thinking skill, the benefits of the ability to understand and evaluate arguments, to write and read clearly, to arrive at JUNE 2019 • 6 8

FROM THE PORCH

A LOOK BACK

logical analysis, to communicate better, to research, to handle conflict resolution, and much more. Over the ages, many significant and influential philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Michele de Montaigne, John-Paul Sartre, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Rene Descartes, David Hume, and Ludwig Wittgenstein taught us to think, utilizing the many life skills found in philosophy. If you can think with clarity and depth, the world waits. Educators and employers know that the study of philosophy has many transferrable skills including the ability to look for different approaches and take an open mind to issues. David Silversweig, a Harvard Medical School professor, once had his childhood dentist ask him what he was majoring in at Dartmouth. David said, “I’m majoring in philosophy.” The dentist responded, “What are you going to do with that?” David replied,“Think.” This reminds me of Descartes famous words, “I think, therefore I am.”

On Union College’s (New York) philosophy department’s website, it says“Most study philosophy as a way of broadening their intellectual horizons before pursuing a career in another field…philosophy majors learn how to think clearly and creatively about difficult, abstract problems, and the critical thinking skills they develop undoubtedly serve them in the fields of their choice after graduation.” On James Madison’s (Virginia) philosophy department’s website, it says, “Much of what is learned can be applied in virtually any endeavor. The study of philosophy helps us to enhance our ability to solve problems, our communication skills, our persuasive powers, and our writing skills. Philosophers have the skills necessary for an enormous range of both academic and non-academic jobs.” The following are career fields where philosophy majors apply their learning: the arts, business, computer science, law, health, engineering, journalism and communications, government service, clergy, teaching, social work, financial management, among others. Pretty impressive. On a lighter note, many philosophers retain a sense of humor. What about one of our modern philosophers, actor, author, and producer, Woody Allen. Most of his work portrays his fascination with philosophy. He’s always asking why, he’s always asking questions, and like most philosophers, he travels with a sense of frustration.

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Ponder this witty ditty: “What do you get if you cross a philosopher with a godfather? An offer you can’t understand.” Perhaps William James said it best,“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.” I suppose by now you’re wondering what this all “means.” If you have asked this insightful question, you’re on the right track, wondering why, asking questions, and searching for answers. We grow older but we still desire to improve our thinking. Socrates said,“I confess that I’ve been blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom later than never to learn it at all.” Think about that.

MSM

MyDad BY BARBARA BEARDSLEY

My father, Bronson David Beardsley,

was a complicated, intelligent, neurotic, and hilarious human being.

Barbara and her father, late Summer, 1970

and we had many differences of opinion, I still, somewhere in the recesses of my mind, believed that when push came to shove, he would show up for me.

id I hear someone say something about the apple not falling far from the tree? Anyway, from my earliest memories, I can recall him being there in the dad way. He taught me to swim, to ice skate, to be cautious, and to follow through. He told a million jokes, and I learned how to entertain. He played his records on the Hi-Fi, and sang along with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Sammy Davis, Jr., and I fell in love with music. He encouraged me to play piano, and I learned to play. He helped me learn to read by reading to me, and I devoured books before I attended the first grade. We used to watch the Huntley-Brinkley Report together in the 1960’s, and I became aware that being informed was important, and being able to discuss politics, world news events, and cultural events, was required. At bedtime, we often did a special greeting to one another; since my dad’s middle name was David, he became Brinkley, and I was Huntley. “Good Night, Chet”, he would say from his bedroom on the other side of my wall; “Good Night, David”, I would reply. I always knew that my dad would have my back. As I grew up,

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JUNE 2019 • 7 0

FATHER'S DAY

I remember being a freshman at Boston University, and having a gum infection. I was given penicillin at the infirmary and was alone in my dorm room for a few days. I started breaking out in a rash that itched like I was tied to an anthill. Raised welts started to completely cover my body, until I looked like I had some new version of elephantiasis. I phoned home. When I described what was going on, my father said, “I’ll be right there”. Now, Portland, Maine is about a two-hour drive from Boston if you encounter smooth sailing, no construction, and no traffic jams of any sort. My dad arrived at my room in about 90 minutes. He whisked my now enormous puffy body into his car and drove back (at top speed) directly to our Doctor’s office in South Portland. Dr. Paul Rieger diagnosed me immediately with a severe allergic reaction and I was treated with the proper antidote. I recovered at home in a couple days. During my College years, the differences were more visible. I was as staunchly Left Wing as he was Republican. I was protesting the war that his President was waging. I was a vegetarian from the age of 19, and he was a carnivore. I joined Greenpeace, Amnesty International, the Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Fund, and lots of other ecological organizations. Dad was in the local Kiwanis, the Shriners, and involved in teaching and coaching hockey. Ideologically, we went our separate ways as I became an adult.

2. You better be able to support yourself in this world, as it might be that no one else will. 3. Having good friends is essential. 4. Clean up your messes. 5. Give something back to the community. Dad found it hard to express sentiment and emotion. Like most men of his generation, those things were frowned upon and mostly suppressed. But, in the end he was able to always tell me he loved me and was proud of me. These days I think that all those lessons I learned from my father long ago taught me some other things. I learned that much was expected of me, and that was all right. I learned that having strong beliefs and knowing yourself well could propel you forward. I learned, too, that someone having your back gives you a kind of self-esteem that not everyone owns. I’m not sure, but I think the influence of these ingrained precepts helps me every day. The instruction from a toughlove Yankee Father made me strong, independent, and confident. So, Dad, you were right. You were right about me not going to Woodstock. I cried and despised you for not allowing me to go with my friends, but you were right. I would have hated the rain, the mud, and no bathrooms! And you were right when I cried about a young man who dumped me after a three-month love affair; you said, “Flash in the pan, huh?”, and I thought you were unfeeling and heartless. But, you were right again. I was infatuated, and it would never have worked.

When I married and moved to San Francisco, dad and mom came to visit. Two decades later when I married for the second time, and moved to Homer, Alaska, dad came to visit. When I became a professional singer and performed in local bands in Portland, dad came to gigs. When I opened several gift shops and made my living as a retailer, dad came to check out my shops. He might have disagreed with all my choices, personal and professional, but he did show up to see what I was doing, and to have a basis on which to form his opinions.

The photograph on the previous page was taken in late Summer, 1970. I was 19-years-old and had just returned from my first trip to California, tanned and exuberant. We were sitting on my dad’s cabin cruiser boat after a day on the ocean. That was a good day.

My father had strong convictions and he was usually immoveable. Right or wrong, you knew where he stood. Here are several things I learned from him that have been very important to me over the years:

Dad, if you were here tonight, we would watch the evening news together, and you would shake your head at the mess in which we find ourselves today. But we would have an intelligent discussion about all of it and find a joke in it somewhere.

1. Your Word is your Bond.

“Good Night, David.”

71 • MAINE SENIORS

Compassionate

MSM

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