APRIL 2017 • $5.95 MESENIORS.COM
A Man for All Seasons
Also Inside: • Garden of Eden • A Voice for the Homeless • Zest: The Bubbly of Life! ...and more!
Dream Weaver
Jazzing Up Maine
I love my generation.
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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 Lois N. Nealley Mark D. Roth Clyde Tarr
Spring is a particularly important time for Mainers.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ian J. Marquis Victor Oboyski
SALES & DISTRIBUTION
Christine Parker George Holton Scott Bakar Melissa Howard Jim Gorham A. Peter Legendre Roseanne Bolduc Dale Overlock Fred Connell Deborah Batting Victor Oboyski Clyde Tarr
The word spring connotes a bounce upward or forward, to rise, emanate from, proceed with some momentum. It is in spring that many of us celebrate Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This celebration is held between March 21 and April 25, on the first Sunday after the first full moon, following the northern spring equinox. The very essence of spring can bring with it a feeling of hope for all of us. Enjoy the story of Pastor Richard Berry who has given such hope to the homeless in “A Voice for the Homeless”.
Some of us are fortunate to have had a career that we truly enjoyed. Read about Roger Guay, a Game Warden who enjoyed his career so much he wrote a book about it, A Good Dog and a Man.
WRITERS
Paulette Oboyski Mark J. O’Donnell Brad Eden Cathy Genthner Dr. Len Kaye Jane Margesson Chloe Jon Paul Fia Marquis Hunter Howe Chris Kuhni
From waitress to school teacher, she followed her dream. Share in the passion of Janie Snider in “Dream Weaver”. Now let’s jazz things up a bit with the State Street Traditional Jazz Band in“Jazzing Up Maine”.
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.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
10 issues for $29.95 by making a check, payable to Maine Seniors Magazine. Mail to Maine Seniors Magazine, 87 Hillside Avenue, Bangor, Maine 04401. Recycled paper made in Maine
1 • MAINE SENIORS
T
he winters can be difficult in many ways and it is not unusual for us to look forward with hope and anticipation to our spring season.
In addition to the above inspirational stories we have some early gardening tips, recipes, wit and humor and other information in our expanded variety of content. Also, an article “Paper and Ink”, speaks to an art form unique to each one of us. It covers the importance of the hand, eye, and brain working together to write and/or draw… and the special value of handwritten correspondence. Plus, the magic behind all the greats is shared by our very own Chloe Jon Paul in, “Zest: the Bubbly of Life”! At Maine Seniors, we want all of our senior partners to spring ahead with zest.
—David S. Nealley, Publisher
Maine’s
Four Ways to be a Senior Partner! Subscribe today! Get 10 issues for only $29.95.
Visit our website! Point your browser to meseniors.com
BIG Hit Music Station Take us on the Turnpike from Kennebunkport to Newport!
Visit YouTube and search for "Maine Seniors"
Visit us on Social Media by searching for "Maine Seniors" on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Also learn more about the people of Maine with
To purchase a back copy of any issue,send $5.95/issue and $6.95 for shipping and handling to MAINE SENIORS Magazine 87 Hillside Ave, Bangor, ME 04401.
weekday mornings! GLEASON MEDIA SERVICES 555 Center Street, Auburn 207-784-5868 MainesBIGZ.com APRIL 2017 • 2
SENIOR POWER
Maine Seniors Spreads the Word About SENIOR POWER! •
Seniors are the most significant factor in Maine's economy.
•
Nearly 40% of Mainers are 50 plus and they control 70% of the disposable income and 80% of the financial assets. Seniors are the volunteers and Maine has the highest volunteer rate in the Nation.
•
Seniors are on the boards of both for profits and non-profits providing experience and leadership.
•
Seniors are the philanthropists.
•
Senior Power is Maine's greatest natural resource!
Celebrate your
SENIOR POWER!
Maine Seniors Magazine is chockfull of inspirational stories about Maine’s seniors. Each issue speaks to the great value of our senior partners and how they improve our community way of life.
Become a Senior Partner! 10 issues for only $29.95! Mail your check (payable to Maine Seniors Magazine) to 87 Hillside Ave, Bangor, ME 04401
Don't delay, subscribe today!
Learn more at www.meseniors.com
3 • MAINE SENIORS
SENIOR POWER
David Nealley, Publisher of Maine Seniors, shares Senior Power with the Sanford Chamber
The Sanford Chamber of Commerce participating in a conversation about Senior Power.
APRIL 2017 • 4
Contributors
Brad Eden
Paulette Oboyski
Fia Marquis
Dr. Lenard W. Kaye
Ellen L. Spooner
Ian J. Marquis
Jane Margesson
Clyde Tarr
Rev. Dr. Cathy Genthner
Hunter Howe
Chloe Jon Paul
OUR CONTRIBUTORS HUNTER HOWE Hunter’s Maine roots run deep. He has written for the Cape Courier and penned a column called Senior Moments for the Senior News, a publication of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.
REV. DR. CATHY GENTHNER Cathy is a freelance writer and registered Maine Guide who lives in Gorham. An ordained minister and Doctor of Ministry, she has been a journalist for over 30 years.
DR. LENARD W. KAYE Dr. Kaye is the Director and Professor
ELLEN L. SPOONER Ellen Spooner is a retired speech- lan-
for the Center on Aging at the University of Maine. He has been in the forefront of promoting and planning elder issues at the state level.
guage pathologist who lives in Brewer. Her hobbies include reading, knitting, cooking, sporting events, and traveling to the coast where she enjoys visiting lighthouses.
IAN J. MARQUIS Ian is an artist, designer, writer, musician, and creative director. Born and raised in the state of Maine, he lives in Portland with his wife, Fia, and their daughter, Lyric. His latest album of music, Legacy Drivers, is available on iTunes and at www.ianmarquismusic.com. FIA MARQUIS Fia is a food writer, recipe creator, and member of the Maine food scene. A Maine native and mother of one, she lives in Portland with her husband—Maine Seniors Magazine Creative Director Ian Marquis.
JANE MARGESSON Jane Margesson has worked for AARP for over 20 years in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and now Maine. Jane appears frequently on Maine’s television and radio news programs and is a public speaker on scam and fraud prevention. PAULETTE OBOYSKI Paulette retired early at 45 to a farm in Washington, Maine, and edited ten fundraising cookbooks for non profits in town and cocompiled the book, Washington, Maine People and Places, for the town’s bicentennial. She now lives in Brunswick with her husband. 5 • MAINE SENIORS
CLYDE TARR Clyde Tarr is a native of Maine, with roots in the state dating back to 1636. His writing has appeared in the Ellsworth America, Bangor Daily News, the Maine Sunday Telegram, Employment News, and Assisted Living Today. Clyde lives in Belfast with his wife of more than forty years, Paula. CHLOE JONPAUL A longtime advocate for seniors and 2003 Ms. Maryland Senior America, Chloe has published four books including What Happens Next? A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits . . . and More, and Entering the Age of Elegance - A Rite of Passage and Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing Woman. She has traveled all seven continents and is happy to be retired in Maine. BRAD EDEN Brad Eden is an artist, writer, and registered Maine Master Guide. He has lived in Maine for three decades, and is an avid outdoorsman and sportsman.
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Page 9
APRIL 2017 ISSUE 1 Publisher's Note
BY DAVID S. NEALLEY
5 Contributors 9 Prime Mover: Roger Guay
BY PAULETTE MCKEEVER-OBOYSKI
19 Prime Mover: Janie Snider
BY CHRIS KUHNI
Page 29
29 Prime Mover: Richard Berry
BY PETER J. BOLDUC
37 Sage Lens: A Tribute to Stanley M. Marshall, Jr.
BY DR. LEN KAYE
41 Arts & Entertainment: Jazzing Up Maine
BY CATHY GENTHNER
49 Special: Paper & Ink: In Plane Sight
BY MARK J. O’DONNELL
55 Health Treasures: Talk to Your Doctor!
Page 41
GUEST ARTICLE
59 Just Pondering: Wedding Day Blues
BY WALDO CLARK
61 The MAINE Point: Spring Cleaning
& Medications • BY JANE MARGESSON
63 Bridging Generations: Playing in the Dirt
BY JOAN CLARK
65 A Trail Less Traveled: Garden of Eden
BY BRAD EDEN
67 Residential Review: Dirigo Pines
Page 65
GUEST ARTICLE
71 Chloe's Corner: Zest: The Bubbly of Life!
BY CHLOE JON PAUL
73 Food for Thought: Comfort Between Two
Pieces of Bread • BY FIA MARQUIS
77 From the Porch: The March of Time
BY HUNTER HOWE
Page 49
APRIL 2017 • 8
PRIME MOVER • Roger Guay
Roger with Dog Saba and Snow & Nealley Axe
9 • MAINE SENIORS
Roger Guay • PRIME MOVER
A Man for ALL SEASONS Roger Guay
BY PAULETTE OBOYSKI • PHOTOS BY JOLYENE GUAY Roger shares, “The game warden’s job is much more difficult and dangerous than it seems. My most rewarding experiences as a game warden involved saving lives and bringing hope to those without; the drive home after the recovery is a pretty good feeling.”
Roger Guay was a game warden for twenty-five years (1986 to 2010) in the big woods of Maine. Roger has had extensive experience in finding missing persons, homicide investigations and body recovery, as well as catching poachers.
H
A GOOD MAN WITH A DOG
e is a K9 master trainer and certified K9 handler. During his career, he has received numerous awards and has helped recover the bodies of over 300 people.
Call today & say you saw us in Maine Seniors Magazine.
In his recently published book about his career as a game warden, A Good Man with a Dog, Roger states,“I can’t build things. I have no gifts when it comes to doing anything creative. But I can find people.” His co-author, Kate Clark Flora was familiar with Roger because
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PRIME MOVER • Roger Guay
she previously had consulted with him on the phone about her book, Finding Amy. It was a story about a homicide case in which Roger and his dog, Reba, played a role in locating a buried body. They met in person while she was working on a second book, Death Dealer, about a hidden body in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Roger had been on that search. They began their endeavor of writing his book with something to trade – his expertise in describing search and rescue skills for her and her author skills for writing his book. Flora helped him write A Good Man with a Dog (recently nominated for an Agatha Award), but she says that the book is “his own personal story”. He recounted his experiences in the Maine Warden Service to her while she rode with him in his truck through the areas in Maine where he had worked. “While Roger likes to claim that the title of the book should be A Good Dog with a Man,” Flora says,“one thing I learned while riding in that truck collecting Roger's stories is that he's a genuinely good man. I was particularly struck by his faith in people, shown by his willingness to share the deeply personal story of his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”
Roger and Co-Author Kate Clark Flora
11 • MAINE SENIORS
Roger Guay • PRIME MOVER
Roger and K9 Reba in New Orleans
HURRICANE KATRINA AND PTSD
Near the end of his career with the Maine Warden Service, right after Hurricane Katrina, Roger and his partner, Wayde Carter were sent down to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans with their cadaver dogs, Rader and Buddy to help with the difficult and dangerous recovery of missing persons (cadavers). He claims that it was a“total train wreck – and a soup of death- the whole city was out of control – everything was unsafe”. Roger recalls, “Most law enforcement officers are subject to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because they see the things that people do not want to see. During my time in New Orleans helping with the recovery of victims of hurricane Katrina, there was no normalcy. The water was the only thing that was normal.” These experiences and the stresses from his dangerous game warden job dealing with fatalities and adversity all helped to trigger Roger’s PTSD. With the help of his family, fellow game wardens and
competent doctors, he was able to learn coping mechanisms to help him endure. He hopes that one of the outcomes of his book might be to help others be aware that they also can endure PTSD. PERSONAL HISTORY
Roger was born in 1958 in Jackman, Maine where he was raised. His parents were Paul Guay and Jacqueline Couture Guay. His parents are of French Canadian descent and French was his first language until kindergarten. Roger graduated from Forest Hills High School and attended Unity College and the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Rene Guay, Roger’s first cousin, relates, “Roger and I grew up as brothers. We spent a lot of time in the woods, hunting and fishing. As a child, Roger was always the “goody-two-shoes” and I was the renegade. Roger always seemed like a natural for the Game Warden Service. He is a straight shooter, he thinks things out, and always APRIL 2017 • 1 2
PRIME MOVER • Roger Guay
Roger and Dog Rader in New Orleans
has an intelligent perspective of things.” Rene was an officer in the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department. He now owns Spirit of the Woods Rustic Furniture Company and recently gave his Chaga Mountain, Inc. mushroom tea company to his son. Roger married his childhood sweetheart, Jolyne. He first kissed her when he was five years old. Together they have three children and seven grandchildren. Jolyne says, “Roger and I have always been a team. He was in the Warden Service Academy when the kids were small. I helped him study for the Academy – I quizzed him constantly. In the early days of his career as a warden in Princeton, their headquarters was based 2½ hours away in Bangor, so the wardens would congregate in our home for their planning and de-briefings. They always welcomed something to eat and I loved feeding them.” “From the start of his career as a warden, Roger would work a rotating schedule of six days in a row and then would have two days off.” Jolyne continues, “While our children were growing up, we home-schooled them so that our family could be together on 13 • MAINE SENIORS
Roger’s days off. As a result, our three children have developed self-confidence and are self-motivated. Our oldest son, Jeremy is an international graphic designer. Our middle son Justin has a Ph.D. in biomedical research and is currently employed at Tufts University in Boston. Our daughter, Jenna has her degree in social work. Now that Roger is retired from the Warden Service, and can live wherever we like, we have chosen to live in Guilford, closer to our parents.” Roger’s daughter Jenna Hladik states,“My father has always been protective of us kids, preparing us for every worse-case-scenario imaginable, yet for himself was always willing to take any risk needed. Growing up, family time meant a fly rod or shot gun/ rifle in hand, or more often, laying out tracks for the dogs to find us. It wasn't uncommon for Dad to say ‘Bring a book, I need the track to sit for a while before we come find you.’ There were always other wardens around, either training dogs, planning details, or just stopping in for coffee. They became like family, and I always sold a ton of Girl Scout cookies to them.”
Roger Guay • PRIME MOVER Father of Bride, Roger with Daughter Jen
Roger and Jolyne Photo by Victor Oboyski
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PRIME MOVER • Roger Guay
Guay Family, July 2016
Jenna resumes, “Kate is my three-year-old daughter and Roger’s youngest grandchild. Kate brightens his world, she lights up when she sees him. They have a special bond. She has Cystic Fibrosis. My Dad and Mom help spread awareness about her disease and support us as we raise funds to find a cure through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.” GAME WARDEN SERVICE
The Maine Warden Service website states that it is a modern, professional, highly effective law enforcement agency. The organization dates back to 1880, when the first wardens were appointed to enforce laws giving Maine's moose and deer their first legal protection. Members are certified law enforcement officers who use state-of-the-art equipment. Maine game wardens have a very broad spectrum of law enforcement responsibility. They oversee enforcement of all hunting, fishing, and trapping activity and all recreational vehicles. Game wardens manage all search and rescue operations. They have general state law enforcement authority and have the training and authority to enforce motor vehicle laws, investigate domestic 15 • MAINE SENIORS
Roger and Reba found people
that should not have been found, homicide victims that were not supposed to be found. They saved many lives together and ended many families’ worries about what happened to their loved ones.”
Roger Guay • PRIME MOVER Roger & Jolyne at his Retirement Party
Lt. Kevin Adam
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PRIME MOVER • Roger Guay
“I would describe his career as stellar, including his expertise in the woods, with clue detection, vegetation disturbance, ability to read maps, combined with how to use a compass, and just his overall drive to succeed.” Lt. Adam continues, “Those skills and qualities brought him to the successful warden career that he had. He had those woods, navigation, interview, and people skills mastered, and then when he became a K9 officer; he just excelled.” The Lieutenant confirms,“There are times in a career or life when you are excellent at what you do and you are combined with other teammates who also make you better. There was that time—with Roger and his K9 Reba the Labrador Retriever, Lt. Pat Dorian, and Debbie Palman—when those wardens showed up at an incident, especially a search—it would be very rare when someone was not found. Roger and Reba found people that should not have been found, homicide victims that were not supposed to be found. They saved many lives together and ended many families’ worries about what happened to their loved ones.”
GREAT PLACES. GOOD PEOPLE. Roger still enjoys the great outdoors here in Maine.
violence issues, and enforce all other state laws. Currently, there are 122 sworn game wardens in Maine. Roger summarizes, “We just do what all public safety personnel do – enforce the laws, assist the injured, and deal with death. We just do it in the middle of the woods, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the winter. And everyone we meet is carrying a gun.” Lt. Kevin Adam is a Maine State Game Warden who has worked with Roger for about 15 years.“We mostly worked together on the incident management team, when at one point he was an incident commander and I was a mapper/planner, then for many years while he was with the K9 team.” 17 • MAINE SENIORS
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Roger Guay • PRIME MOVER
Thank you to Roger Guay and
all of the officers who are a part of the Maine Warden Service.
We are grateful for all the sacrifices
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“His expertise was in K9 training—to tap into their highest potential as a team. I would classify him as an expert K9 trainer, only because he has probably made every mistake he can in that small field of expertise, and learned from it. The way he trained, and performed—getting Reba to notice and alert on the slightest scent and learned how to read her when she was doing that. At that time, Roger and Reba were the best in North America.” Lt. Adam concluded, “I think that the legacy that he left was the Warden Service K9 team. Showing that, with proper training, hard work, and great woods skills, you can achieve the impossible with the people he found and the criminal cases he helped solve. Now, he did not do it alone. He needed skilled investigators, mappers, logistics personnel, but when all those pieces of the puzzle came together, they did things that people thought were impossible.” Since retiring from the Maine Warden Service, Roger has remained very active. He recently taught some law enforcement classes at Beal College, is a licensed Private Investigator, is the owner and operator of Azimuth Investigation and K9 Services, is currently training K9s for local law enforcement agencies as well as behavioral training for the private sector. He also has trained two of his dogs, Nilla and Friz to search for bed bugs and has used them to locate bed bugs in such places as college dorms, motels and private homes. The Maine Warden Service is an important and vital law enforcement agency. Thank you to Roger Guay and all of the officers who are a part of this heroic organization. We are grateful for all the sacrifices that they make in assisting the people of Maine and visitors to our big woods. MSM
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PRIME MOVER • Janie Snider
Dream Weaver “Follow your dream”, says Milbridge native, teacher, artist and now illustrator, Janie Snider.
J
anie’s dream came true earlier this year when she learned that a children’s book she had illustrated with author Chris Higgins was being published. Mr. Marden’s Garden was actually written 19 years ago. Janie met the author five years ago and together, they brought the story of Mr. Marden to life. “It
19 • MAINE SENIORS
BY CHRIS KUHNI
is a great story”, says Janie,“with many early, emergent reading skills. I loved putting pictures with the words, all the while thinking like a child. As a lover of gardening, it was a perfect fit.” But the success did not come overnight. The book was turned down by a couple of publishers, but Janie and Chris never gave up on their dream that one day it would become a “REAL” book. Her journey to become an artist and illustrator took a winding path. Although she knew as early as third grade that she wanted to be an artist, that dream, too, was put on hold for a number of years. Janie graduated from Narraguagus High School in 1977 and went to work at the Red Barn Restaurant in Milbridge as a waitress.
Janie Snider • PRIME MOVER Who's been eating in my garden?
The book was turned down by a couple of publishers, but Janie and Chris never gave up on their
where she continues to inspire children to reach their creative potential. She earned her K-12 Visual Arts degree through the Our residents LOVE living here . . . We’re confident YOU will too.
dream that one day it would become a “REAL” book.
After 10 years of waiting tables and raising two small children, she decided it was time to pursue what would become her life’s passion. In 1987, she enrolled at the University of Maine, Machias. She graduated in 1993 with a degree in elementary education and a minor in art. Fate led Janie to her first teaching job, where she was hired to fill in as an itinerant substitute art teacher for SAD#37. She ended up staying for nine years and transformed the arts program into a vibrant and exciting experiential program for children. Anyone who ever had the pleasure of visiting the annual“Arts Night” at one of the local elementary schools remembers the captivating work that she inspired from her students. The hallways of each school were transformed into wondrous art galleries. In 2002, Janie started teaching at Hancock Grammar School,
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PRIME MOVER • Janie Snider
From a former student of Janie's: “I was the kind of student that didn’t think of myself as creative, and had trouble coming up with my own artistic ideas. Janie really knew how to bring out my own creative ideas without doing the project for me. She really made this deathly shy student comfortable and confident during art class. Actually, I still think of her when I see anything to do with Where the Wild Things Are. She used the book to inspire my class to make ‘Wild Thing’ masks and I still have mine, all these years later. It was one of my favorite art projects from elementary school. I loved having Janie Snider as a teacher and thought of her often and fondly after she stopped teaching at my school.” —Kayla Pinkham, Milbridge, 2015 graduate UMaine Machias, with a degree in English, Creative Writing and Book Arts.
Janie reading to her students in the read-to-me challenge!
Maine Department of Education, “not the traditional path, but a path that has served me well.” Alahna Roach is one of the many young people who count Janie Snider as an inspirational mentor. As a teen, Alahna assisted Janie with a summer arts program and saw firsthand her masterful techniques as an art educator. “She prioritized balance between process and product, between learning about great art movements, and being true to one’s own artistic voice. And she just plain made things fun. She was so skillful in child development that her students followed her lead like joyful little ducklings. And after all these years, she shows up to support every effort I make to offer art to our community, and brings her total confidence in the creative process to bring out the best we all have to offer.” Alahna now holds a master’s degree in art therapy. In 2014, Janie was named Maine Middle School Art Teacher of the Year. Her selection was, in large part, based on her history of bringing the arts into her community. Her passion for her work is evident.“I love what I do! Art, children, nature and a love of people are my inspiration! Art means the world to me; it is an essential part of who I am. Over the years, I have noticed it grows with me. As I reflect, there was a short time when art was not in my life much and I was a bit lost. I remember the day I realized this loss and it scared me. Had I lost a part of me? Was my art still there? What did I have to do to find that joy again? I found it in an art class and I never once took it for granted again.”
21 • MAINE SENIORS
Janie Snider • PRIME MOVER
For this artist and educator, her art is always evolving. “I have personal art, symbolic and abstract, public art, commissioned work, florals, landscapes, seascapes and now children’s book illustrations. My art is maturing along with me. The dreams I had as a child are coming into being, because I never let them go!” Life is busy but rich for this full-time teacher, mother and grandmother. But she shows no signs of slowing down. Janie is the curator for the Milbridge Historical Society and has created several stellar displays highlighting the history of the small fishing village. Her strong desire to reach young people has been an integral part of her museum work. “I made a commitment to myself and my town to elevate youth involvement in our community. I have developed and instituted a children’s museum literacy program for the past two summers. Seeing kids enjoying all the museum has to offer has been so rewarding.” This past summer, Janie and the
In 2014, Janie was named
Maine Middle School Art Teacher of the Year. Her selection was, in
large part, based on her history of
bringing the arts into her community. Historical Society introduced a youth nature study that honored local naturalists and authors Frank and Ada Graham. The Grahams provided summer nature camps at McClellan Park in Milbridge from 1968-1976. A young Janie Snider attended those programs and was strongly influenced by the beauty she found in the natural elements. APRIL 2017 • 2 2
PRIME MOVER • Janie Snider
You’ll getatmore You’ll get more 304!at 304
Drawing from nature, age 8
Janie is an avid gardener and is known for her spectacular perennial beds. Illustrating Mr. Marden’s Garden was a natural progression and provided the opportunity to meld her passion for art, gardening and teaching.
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PRIME MOVER • Janie Snider
Recent notes to "Mrs. Snider": “You will never know the impact you’ve truly had on me. The little ways of guidance, motivation and love you’ve poured out have really touched my heart.” —Samantha, Lamoine Consolidated School
“Ever since kindergarten, I have been in love with art, and you being my teacher has strengthened that love. Art has been an amazing way for me to express myself and I felt that in every class I learned a little bit more about myself. You have taught me many techniques in art, always a helping hand when I was stuck. When I said ‘I can’t’, you said I could. Your encouragement has strengthened me in art and beyond.” —Lucy, Hancock Grammar School
Copy of Caroline reading and looking at Grammies illustrations on a winters day! 2017
Mr Marden's Garden
Another great passion for Janie is her support of the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor. Each year for the past ten years, Janie has been one of the Maine artists contributing to their annual art auction. For Janie, this provides another opportunity to promote art. But the auction is also her way of contributing to childhood enrichment programs at the museum, something she values enormously. For over twelve years, Janie has been a dedicated volunteer at the Women’s Health Resource Library in Milbridge, most recently providing her popular painting classes. She has also been a volunteer gardener for the WHRL’s Incredible Edible Milbridge community vegetable gardens. “My advice to others: Never turn your back on your dreams! You might have to tuck them away, close to your heart, during parts of your life that require your attention. But be there, be present, work hard, work with others, build relationships, collaborate, communicate, share your ideas, your talents and your gifts with others. Believe in family and community. Envision yourself as you are in your dreams. BE FULL OF LOVE.” MSM
25 • MAINE SENIORS
Janie Snider • PRIME MOVER
Janie painting in her studio
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Happy Easter
...and Happy Spring from all of us at Maine Seniors Magazine!
27 • MAINE SENIORS
PRIME MOVER • Richard Berry
Richard & wife Selma (Sam)
a voice for the homeless
RICHARD BERRY • BY PETER J. BOLDUC
How many people would think of Skowhegan, Maine as the center for public awareness of “Homelessness” here in America or of Pastor Richard Berry as a “voice for the homeless?”
N
ot many. But that number is quickly changing as he travels across the United States telling the story of what God has accomplished in this obscure corner of the country. What began as a simple response to a friend who told him that he would be homeless unless Berry did something about it, has grown 29 • MAINE SENIORS
into a ministry that has seen the miraculous birth and completion of a 60 bed men’s shelter valued at $140,000.00 which was paid for by large and small donations from all over the country as well as donated labor and materials from local (and not so local) churches and businesses. Of course, we mustn’t forget the many willing and talented homeless people who passed through during construction, gladly giving of their time and talents. Also completed is the conversion of classrooms in the Trinity Evangelical Free Church building into a coded family shelter and a food pantry that feeds over 800 families in three counties. Plans for a new 48 bed family facility
Richard Berry • PRIME MOVER
What began as a simple response
to a friend who told him that he would be homeless unless Berry did something about it, has grown
into a ministry.
are in the making with the hope of beginning construction in the spring of 2017. All this is being done with no budget whatsoever, just trusting that God will somehow keep the money, food and necessary materials and labor coming in.
Top: Trinity Evangelical Free Church Bottom: Pastor Richard Berry
Why homelessness and why Berry? Berry believes that God would like to wake up the church in America to what love is truly all about through caring for those in need. He also believes that God delights in using the most unlikely people to do great things. That way,“God gets all the glory.”
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APRIL 2017 • 3 0
PRIME MOVER • Richard Berry
Volunteers from a church in Windsor Lockes, Connecticut who donated time and trade skills to the shelter project
Since answering the call to take in the homeless, awareness of his success has been spreading like wildfire. Churches from all over have heard what God is doing in Skowhegan and want to hear about it directly from Berry so they ask him to come and share the story and he does. Berry has found himself as a guest speaker at a pastors’ conference of the Evangelical Free Churches of America in San Diego, California, and the featured speaker at a gathering of the New Canaan Society at the Rockefeller Center in New York as well as numerous churches scattered in between. Anywhere they call from he is willing to go and share the story. And what a story! What started as a way of taking care of a close friend soon developed into a church with people living in it. Inevitably the town got wind of it and tried to put a stop to it but what they didn’t expect was that God’s plan for the whole thing would lead to a brand new 60 bed, fully coded, handicap accessible men’s facility now standing beside the church and a pastor traveling all over the country to raise funding for and awareness of the plight of the homeless. 31 • MAINE SENIORS
Richard Berry • PRIME MOVER
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Pastor Berry & Mark LaVerdiere
The ordeal began with threats from law enforcement and snowballed when church members, including members of his own family, began walking out because they didn’t want to be around “those kind of people.” Eventually being reduced to a church of just eighteen people, things finally began to turn around. Now hundreds of people per year pass through the church and shelter and hundreds receive “salvation”, having surrendered their lives to Jesus. Lost and broken souls find new hope and meaning for their lives as they discover the love of Jesus in the form of a back woods pastor. Berry likens the whole process to the biblical story of Gideon who overcame an overwhelming enemy only after God reduced
Richard Berry & Jake Neubauer APRIL 2017 • 3 2
PRIME MOVER • Richard Berry
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Richard Berry • PRIME MOVER
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PRIME MOVER • Richard Berry
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Trinity Men's Shelter
“Hick-inese” personality. Consequently, he is willing to tell anyone, anywhere what God has done in his life and with his little church in Skowhegan, Maine. “I no longer have faith”, he quips, “I simply have expectation.” After a couple of years of traveling about, Berry began to get requests to write it all down in a book. Even though he never imagined himself as anything remotely resembling an author, he finally gave in and wrote the story. The book is called Sheltered by Jesus (A Voice for the Homeless) published by Nextstep Resources. Since publication it has become their number one best seller. A mere 116-page chronicle of heartwarming and astounding events, it is difficult to put down. Truly a must read for anyone who thinks there is no God or that He just doesn’t do things like that anymore. Not surprisingly, the responses from people who either hear him relate the story or read his book are phenomenal. Most are moved to tears whether out of empathy or joy. Some find it hard to believe as did one gentleman who requested spending a week with Berry at the shelter to see if it was the “real deal.” At the end of the week he was convinced it was and, as it turns out, he is a movie producer and has decided to tell the story on film. The feature will be called Sheltered by Jesus and though still in the planning stages, filming will hopefully begin in 2017 if funding is available. A second book is also about to be published, necessarily a continuation of the first due to the ongoing miracles and the deep insights the Lord appears to be giving Pastor Berry into the condition of the church here in America. Having read the initial 35 • MAINE SENIORS
The Catholic Foundation of Maine administers over 112 endowments that support Catholic ministries in the State of Maine. If you wish to give to any of them or open your own in memory of a loved one, or for a special purpose, please contact the Foundation in confidence. Charitable gift annuities, gifts of life insurance, stocks, proceeds from a retirement account, and real estate may also be given to the endowments as well as outright bequests. For more information, please call Elizabeth Badger, Executive Director, at (207) 321-7820 or email elizabeth.badger@portlanddiocese.org.
207.321.7820 www.catholicfoundationmaine.org
The hand painted mural depicts a lighthouse at the edge of the sea, signifying a guiding light and safe haven for those struggling with the storms of life.
Richard Berry • PRIME MOVER
draft of the new book, I find myself wondering if we are looking at a new kind of Never-ending Story. The book is available on line at www.nsresourses.com or at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church at 12 McLellan St. Skowhegan, Maine. If you would like Pastor Berry to speak at your church, group, or facility, he can be reached at: trinity-efree@yahoo.com. To learn more about the upcoming film or to help with funding it go to killatainment.com/shelteredbyjesus.html. MSM
APRIL 2017 • 3 6
A TRIBUTE TO the Ultimate Volunteer and Decent Man:
Stanley M. Marshall, Jr. BY DR. LEN KAYE
I am writing this month’s column with a heavy heart having just learned that a deeply respected colleague passed away on February 23rd.
I
had known Stan Marshall since I first arrived at the University of Maine in 2001. I realize, of course, that many of my colleagues and readers of this magazine knew Stan for much longer periods of time than I, but I believe that no one has likely come to respect all that he represented more than I. I think I may be guilty of taking for granted Stan’s unfaltering energy and dedication to the projects he took on. The fact is, Stan spoiled me, and, no doubt, many others, given the high standards he set when it came to personal follow-through. If Stan said he was going to do something, you just knew you could count on him to finish what he started. You can be sure he was not going to throw in the towel before he had accomplished what he set out to do. Stan was unrelenting. He persevered through thick and thin when there was a job to be done. Whether it was serving as Executive Director of the Pulp and Paper Foundation at the University of Maine, doing the organizational legwork required to get the Penobscot Valley Senior College off the ground in the early 2000s, or volunteering to prepare the tax returns year after year 37 • MAINE SENIORS
Stan Marshall
Well-being & Peace of Mind.
Stan’s enthusiasm was contagious. And,
his powerful work ethic was impressive. I will never forget and will always be deeply grateful for Stan’s support and belief in the work of the Center. for older adults in the greater Bangor community, Stan performed his tasks with the tenacity of a bulldog. He was not the sort to take “no” for an answer. How else could he have succeeded in so quickly building the Penobscot Valley Senior College into one of the largest senior colleges in the state? His success in recruiting a small army of dedicated and like-minded older adults to work with him in the early days to make this life-long learning program a force to be reckoned with was truly impressive. Stan’s enthusiasm was contagious. And, his powerful work ethic was impressive. I remember when I approached him some 15 years ago to take the lead in organizing the first senior college in the greater Bangor area. He asked tough questions—What kind of support would the Center on Aging and other organizations be able to offer? Would he have the authority to shape the program in a way that made sense to him? Would he have the green light to recruit other leaders who could help him make the program successful? Once he decided to take on the challenge there was no stopping him. I knew I had better be available when needed, but, most importantly, I realized I had to just get out of his way and watch the magic happen. When the University of Maine Center on Aging was considering relocating from the campus in Orono to an off-campus location, Stan was, once again, a loyal and influential player in the process. In fact, he proved instrumental in convincing the Penobscot Valley Senior College board that they should pony up a significant sum of financial support to make that move possible. While ultimately the Center ended up not relocating, I will never forget and will always be deeply grateful for Stan’s support and belief in the work of the Center—enough to convince his board at the time to approve what would have been the lion’s share of accumulated reserves in support of the Center’s future.
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With a sparkle in his eye and the gumption to ask the toughest questions, Stan was the ultimate “energizer bunny”, setting the standard for what civic engagement and volunteering (par excellence) can look like in one’s later years. We can all learn a critically important lesson from Stan in terms of how each of us can give back to our communities in significant and meaningful ways by marshalling the expertise and experience each of us has accumulated over a lifetime. A 30-year board member of the Penobscot Theatre Company, a chair for ten years of Maine Legal Services for the elderly, and more than 10 years serving as a volunteer with AARP’s Tax Aid Program both here in Maine and in Minnesota (where he and his wife relocated to just a few short years ago), Stan was the consummate contributor to worthy causes. His sharp financial and accounting eye and impressive skills in fund raising and organizational strategizing no doubt saved many older adults from paying excess taxes and steered multiple community organizations toward more healthy futures.
Retirement? This was not a word to be found in Stan’s vocabulary. Stan died 77 years young and only because damn cancer finally got the best of him. Rumor has it that his wife Mary is planning a Celebration of Stan’s Life in the Veazie/Bangor area this summer. It should be a wonderful event. Stan, you will be deeply missed.
MSM
Do not miss our Women of Influence Issue! June Fitzpatrick
Every May we dedicate our issue to Women.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
JAZZING UP Maine
BY CATHY GENTHNER
The State Street Traditional Jazz Band has been entertaining audiences since 1989.
The State Street Traditional Jazz Band
has been bringing music and smiles to Mainers since it began in 1989.
M
aine in 2017 may seem very distant in time and geography from early 20th century New Orleans— that is unless you are treated to a performance by the State Street Traditional Jazz Band, based out of Portland. When the band starts playing, “Has Anybody Seen My Gal,” every foot in the audience is tapping along with the beat that takes you to 41 • MAINE SENIORS
the days of flappers, festivities and the free-flow of alcohol around the time of prohibition. The band transports the tunes of the early 1900’s into the present with every note played. Traditional jazz refers to the Dixieland and ragtime styles of the early 1900’s which usually used a frontline of trumpet, trombone and clarinet compared to those more modern styles using a saxophone, before the emergence of beat music. The band plays over 100 songs composed roughly between 1900-1929. John Page started the band in 1989 after playing with the Bellamy Jazz Band for ten years, which he also helped to form. Page, who recently turned 70, has been playing the trumpet since the age of eight.
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John Page, leader of the band
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“I love the trumpet sound—the tone, the mood, the spirit— depending on what song we are pIaying, which can range from up-tempo jazz numbers to the blues or old spirituals. Each evokes its own spirit and mood,” said Page. “I come from a musical family. I feel a spiritual connection to the music of New Orleans and the wonderful musicians I met there during my many trips there over the years. I try to emulate them on stage just the way I saw them perform. This gives it real‘authenticity’. The musicians in the bands are wonderful performers and personal friends. All of this defines who I am at this stage in my life.” It was when Page was in a different stage of his life, when he was a midshipman attending the Maine Maritime Academy in 1966, that he was able to experience traditional New Orleans Jazz in person. The Maine Maritime Training Ship was docked in New Orleans as part of its annual training cruise. Page was enjoying some free time APRIL 2017 • 4 2
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Barry Daniels on clarinet and Peter Dunphy on banjo
“Music is above me, below me, in
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front of me, behind me and on either side of me. I am surrounded by music,” said Ann Page.“I tell everyone,‘I have the strangest phenomena
—A band follows me wherever I go.’”
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on shore. Walking around the French Quarter, he heard the most wonderful music coming from Preservation Hall, the home of the world-famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Following graduation in 1968, Page shipped out of ports across the country as part of his maritime career that spanned 45 years. In 2014, he and his wife Ann retired and now he works full time with the band. Ann is the principal booking agent for the band.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Bill Rayne plays the trombone
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“Music is above me, below me, in front of me, behind me and on either side of me. I am surrounded by music,” said Ann Page.“I tell everyone, ‘I have the strangest phenomena—A band follows me wherever I go.’” That band consists of members featuring Peter Dunphy, banjo; Barry Daniels, clarinet; Bill Rayne, trombone; Bill Thurston, drums; Doug Protsik, piano and Pat Whitaker, tuba. Additionally, Peter Lord plays the saxophone when Barry Daniels is unable to play the clarinet. The band’s youngest member is 67 years old and the oldest is its 76-year old tuba player. Whitaker started playing the trumpet at the age of eight and “progressed” to the tuba when he was 11. He is a self-described “music junkie”. “Music has been my life as long as I can remember. My father was a competent amateur trumpet player when he was young and played the piano and the cello towards the end of his life. I grew up listening to a wide variety of music ranging from opera, symphonies and jazz,” said Whitaker, who holds a PhD in Mathematics. Though his
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Bill Thurston on drums with John Page
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favorite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach because Bach’s music is mathematically pristine,“Traditional jazz is just plain fun to play.”
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The band is usually paid for their performances, although they do many free performances especially in the summer to introduce younger people to the style of traditional jazz music. However, many factors motivate them to play.
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“To be honest, my friendships with the other musicians is one of my primary motivations for playing and, of course, I enjoy the music, too,” said Barry Daniels, 70, who plays the clarinet.“I started playing the clarinet at the age of 8. My grandmother and uncle were both members of the Portland Symphony. My great grandfather was an accomplished violinist. My uncle played jazz in St. Louis. My father was a fine clarinet player. Music helps to remind me that I am just one in a long line of family musicians.”
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45 • MAINE SENIORS
The band’s piano player, Douglass Protsik, 67, still works as the director of the Maine Fiddle Camp. He joined the band the first time he heard them rehearse, which remains his most memorable experience of the band. “At the first rehearsal I attended, I was so impressed with how welcoming and skilled my potential new band members were. It was very exciting to have the music sound great, right from the very beginning,” said Protsik. “I love the old-time tunes and the piano
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The State Street Traditional Jazz Band is a living art form, bringing
the past to the present, through the talents of those who will pass along the
love of this music to future generations, just as it was given to them.
Bellamy Jazz Band nearly 40 years ago. John recruited him and the two share a rich score of musical history. Doug Protsik plays the piano
style of the era. The piano is so versatile. You play all the parts— bass, rhythm, melody, harmony, so you understand all aspects of the music and can solo by oneself.” Trombonist Bill Rayne played with founder John Page in the
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“John asked me to accept the trombonist ‘chair’ which I understood was an honor,” said Rayne.“I like to coddle my audience and always acknowledge requests, whether or not we can or will perform them. Another convention that draws musicians together is openly revering each genius and innovator that came before us. It is a language of respect, whether declaimed in words or in musical quotation. John is strong in addressing his audience and his insistence on presenting an authentic rendition of the 1920’s jazz development puts the reverence ever in front of the players.” It is tradition for the band to end every concert with the New Orleans’s signature song, “When the Saints Go Marching In”, sealing their performance as something that is truly soul-lifting, Pat Whitaker plays the tuba
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immortal and timeless. The State Street Traditional Jazz Band is a living art form, bringing the past to the present, through the talents of those who will pass along the love of this music to future generations, just as it was given to them. For example, sometimes Paul Mattor, who plays the banjo, will sit behind Peter Dunphy, who holds the banjo chair in the band. This means that it is Dunphy’s chair and no one gets it unless he lends it temporarily or leaves permanently. “Paul, (who is not a senior), sits behind Peter to learn and the band makes space for him because he has a hunger to learn this music.
47 • MAINE SENIORS
This is how it works. The older ones teach the younger ones. This is how John learned it from the original masters at Preservation Hall in New Orleans when he was shipping out of that port as a Maine Maritime Academy cadet and then a graduate,” said Ann Page. It is a saintly calling that is only for those who are willing to listen and then repeat what they have heard through the sacred conduit of music. MSM For a schedule of concerts visit:www.statestreettraditionaljazzband.com or visit them on Facebook.
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SPECIAL
BY MARK J. O’DONNELL
Several months ago while flying to South Carolina, I had a layover at the Baltimore airport. My granddaughter had asked me to draw her something on the way down. She is 5 years old and loves to draw.
I
feel that illustrating or drawing is a great personal gift that I could give her versus buying another electronic device to plug into. Children will know that it comes from you and this creates a personal link and memory. I’ve always carried paper and ink pens with me when traveling. Once we found our way to my boarding gate, I sat down and began to draw. The most obvious subject matter was directly in front of me “The Southwest Airline plane”. There was only so much time before we had to board our flight, so I began the process of documenting 49 • MAINE SENIORS
what was in front of me. I took out the few pens that I had and began to draw the passenger jet as seen here in this article. Again, there was only limited time to capture the essence of what I saw – my granddaughter knew that somehow this “Mechanical Eagle” delivered us to her home town – she also made that connection. Once we boarded the plane and were seated, I continued to draw upon my memory as the ink flowed from my pen to paper. There was no turning back – once you put ink down on paper like this, you are committed. You can’t erase what you’ve done. With that in mind I had to stop shortly after we headed up into the clouds. The turbulence interrupted the line and hand movements as I tried to compose the remaining illustration. Once we landed in South Carolina, we finally made our way to our destination where I completed the drawing with the help of
SPECIAL
my grandchildren’s colored pencils and pens which they kept in their storage bin. This picture now resides in my granddaughter’s room – framed, signed, dated and with a personal note scribed on the back.
and still practice to this day. Copperplate has a beautiful style and when delivered on paper it captures the human spirit. This was not a template, computer-generated font that is stamped out as you type but rather a hand written letter.
My only intent was to thank them for a job well done and a good memory overall. We don’t receive enough positive feedback these days. People mostly lodge complaints versus a positive thank you.
Once the protective envelope was sealed, I mailed it out the following day. I entered the Portland Post Office and then patiently waited in line. As I put my package on the counter the postman looked down at the address and said,“We don’t see this all the time”. At first I didn’t know what he was referring to. Then I realized that he was looking at the copperplate hand writing. After applying the postage to the mailing envelope he said,“This should get someone’s attention “. Again I didn’t think about it nor the real meaning of what he was referring to, or what was about to transpire.
Well, to say the least, I sat down and wrote them a personal letter on a nice piece of parchment paper, then gently placed that on top of the illustration. This was finally inserted into a protective mailing envelope. There was only one difference – this letter was written using a “copperplate” script that I had learned years ago
About two weeks later I came home from work and there on the kitchen counter was a letter waiting for me. My wife said, “You received a letter today from Southwest Airline.” The senior public representative from the Southwest Airlines took time from her very busy day to actually respond to my letter. I stood in my kitchen
But wait, it doesn’t end there. Several months later while sorting my computer room, I decided to mail a copy of this graphic and my experience to the Southwest Airlines corporate office in Texas.
Dear Winter, ave been so Lately you h I long for more cold to me. e. light in my lif warmth and ld do us both A break wou leaving you. good. So I’m Goodbye. Me
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APRIL 2017 • 5 0
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and read the letter aloud. Someone actually read my letter and appreciated the illustration and my experience at the Baltimore airport. The letter was a wonderful thank-you for my effort and handwriting. I’ve always felt that cursive handwriting actually has more benefits when compared to printing or typing a letter. This is not new. Many studies have shown that the brain is more active while engaged in this process. Your left and right brain activity is actually firing more dendrites. (Though the jury is still out on what the real benefits are – opinions vary.) This is due to the fact that you need to stay focused while your thoughts, brain, eye, arm, wrist, hand and fingers navigate the paper landscape – all the while leaving a trail of ink in its wake. The neat part is that you have now unplugged, detached, undocked, disconnected and unleashed yourself from the digital computer world. No one knows where you are. It is akin to hiking in the woods alone, off the radar, only you are holding a hand held compass. No digital compass to hold your hand, no GPS —you are making your own way. If you make a mistake you may be heading in the wrong direction. If you make a mistake with a pen charged with droplets of ink, you can also lose your way; therefore, close attention is also needed to traverse this paper landscape. The paper may be lying flat on the table but the sheet itself must be set at a writing angle as your pen begins to slide and at times even catch the paper fibers with its nib, thus releasing a beautiful inked line. I try to position my feet squarely on the floor. You may laugh, but it’s all connected. Keyboards are linear in that they produce mostly vertical and horizontal symbols we call text. There is no flowing of lines, density, angles or variations of line weights or personal style that cursive writing or calligraphy deliver visually. There is a time and a place to use a manuscript, calligraphy and/or common everyday type writer font. You just need to figure out when to use them. With cursive handwriting, you have control. I just checked my ink bottle
51 • MAINE SENIORS
– there are no ink trails to be seen, only tea and coffee stains on old parchment paper. My belief is that paper is not going away. What do you think? When you move ink across a sheet of paper you are in essence your own “GPS”. You are personally navigating where you want to go with the message that you intend to send. You need to stop, think, write and visually capture the imagination of the person you intend this letter to go to. The person or company who receives a hand written letter knows “first hand” (no pun intended here) that you took the time to write a real personal note.
SPECIAL
There are many pen and writing societies/foundations that teach groups while promoting the art of writing – “playing” it forward and keeping it viable. I’m also very lucky to have such gifted siblings who are masters at art quilting, sculpting, painting, bookmaking and instrument fabrication. Our parents gave us that as well. Teach your children to make things – unplug and discover. We are visual beings – responding to what scientist’s call“visuospatial processing, color differentiation, and motion perception.” Your visual cortex responds to the color of your shirt, makeup, hairstyle, iPhone, car shapes, color, and street signs. The Logan Airport“On/ Off” ramp signs quickly tell the driver which lane to follow. Sending a written letter also aligns the reader- moving him/her subtlety into a lane that is slower and personal, and that depends largely on you. You took the time to write a letter and your handwriting is another part of that process. When I walk into a pen shop today, some of the ink bottles look like expensive perfume. I think about what kind of lines I can draw.
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SPECIAL
Ink & Ink Spots:
Explore and create new possibilities and see where it takes you. Practice: Here’s a 10-minute rough draft that I did on
note paper while waiting in a doctor’s office. I added the flourishing and color at a later date—another 10 minutes. It becomes part of your visual vocabulary and you begin to see more interesting ways in which to use it.
Celebrating a birth: Here’s a pen, ink and watercolor
drawing. This document is a wonderful reminder— celebrating the birth of a beautiful baby girl—Raegan Anne Flanagan. Her proud parents Ryan and Hannah Flanagan now have this hanging in her room. This is a wonderful reminder of that special day.
If you look closely you will see her smiling back at you – bottom right. Her friend the white dove is near, while the wind rushes by.
53 • MAINE SENIORS
SPECIAL
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Finally: Back in the day people actually took time to write and
when the mail was sent – it took time. Alone at a table, you took a pen and dipped it into an ink well and wrote a letter to someone. It spoke of your real creative self – your very own brand. People were more apt to read it because they did not have the visual noise to contend with that we have today, pulling at you – quietly stealing your time. Unplug and connect—see where it takes you. You might be pleasantly surprised . . . MSM
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"Talk to your doctor!" OPEN COMMUNICATION CAN PROMOTE YOUR HEALTH Photo: Brian Fitzgerald/Fitzgerald Photo
We all know that good communication can lead to more satisfying and effective relationships in many areas of our lives, and health care is no exception.
S
tudies show that patients who communicate well with their health care providers report a number of benefits: they are happier with the care they receive, are more likely to stick to their individual health plans, and report better health outcomes. There's even some evidence that good communication reduces unnecessary tests and referrals for specialty care.* While many patients may think that communication is mainly their doctor's responsibility, it’s important to remember that communication is a two-way street. As a patient, there are a few simple things you can do to improve communication with your doctor and get the most out of your office visits.
55 • MAINE SENIORS
BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
In the weeks before your appointment, put together three lists to help you prepare: •
Questions you have for your doctor. The day before your visit, put those questions in order of importance. You may not have time for all your questions, so make sure you ask those that matter the most to you.
•
Current symptoms you have. Keep a diary of when the symptoms started, what they feel like, how often they occur, how long they last, and what seems to make them go away.
•
Current medications you take. Include prescription medication, vitamins and dietary supplements, and over-thecounter items such as aspirin, antacids, or cold or allergy medicines. Include the name, dose, and how often you take it. If you’d like to use a template, search the Internet for “Medication Tracker.” There are even smartphone apps you
Photo: Brian Fitzgerald/Fitzgerald Photo
can download to keep track of your prescriptions! You can also simply bring all of your medicines to your appointment to review with your doctor.
•
Share your thoughts and feelings about the visit. Did you feel rushed, worried, or confused? If so, ask for clarification. If you need more time, you can offer to return for a second visit.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT
AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT
Communication during your appointment is especially important. The following tips can help you make the best use of your time with your doctor:
The two most important steps after a visit are follow-up and follow-through:
•
Bring a family member or friend. They can take notes, ask their own questions, and help advocate for you if you feel you need it.
•
Use the lists you prepared. Explain your symptoms or any problems you’re having. Be honest, don’t just say what you think your doctor wants to hear. The more you share with your doctor, the better he or she can address your concerns.
•
Ask questions and take notes. Make sure to ask questions if you don’t understand something. Write down the answers and any information or instructions your doctor provides.
•
Ask for a post-visit summary at check-out. This document should include notes about your visit and any follow-up recommendations.
•
Follow up by scheduling future appointments. These might include your next annual wellness visit or physical exam. If you need to see a specialist or get a test or lab work, check with your insurance provider to make sure these are covered and that you get a referral to see a specialist if your insurance requires it.
•
Follow through with your doctor’s recommended instructions or treatment. If you don’t understand any APRIL 2017 • 5 6
Martin’s Point Scarborough Health Care Center
Photo: Rene Roy, Rene Roy Photography
Q&A with Martin Wesolowski, DO
Family Physician and Assoc. Health Plan Medical Director, Martin’s Point Health Care Q:As a doctor, what information is important for your patients to share with you? A: The more I know about a patient, the better I am able to support them. This begins with learning their unique health goals so I can partner with them and guide their treatment appropriately. I encourage my patients to ask questions so I can give them the information they need to actively engage in their health care decisions. I try to instill trust so my patients feel free to talk about any topic, even the very personal. This includes any barriers to health like difficulty affording medications or challenges at home. We may be able to find a solution if we are aware of a problem. The simple phrase, “talk to your doctor” really says it all in a nutshell— honest and open communication is often the key to getting the best health care.
While many patients may think that communication is mainly their doctor's responsibility, it’s important to remember that communication
is a two-way street.
instructions, experience side effects, or the treatment isn’t working, call your doctor. Also, let your doctor know if you can’t afford or can’t pick up your prescriptions. A less expensive option or mail-order delivery might be available. Relationship is key! It's important to have a trusted provider who listens to and respects you. If you’re not comfortable enough with your current doctor to openly share all of your health concerns, consider switching. Sometimes that’s all it takes to make a big improvement in your health! MSM
*Moira Stewart, PhD, Judith Belle Brown, PhD, Allan Donner, PhD, Ian R. McWhinney, MD, Julian Oates, MD, W. Wayne Weston, MD, John Jordan, MD. "The Impact of Patient-Centered Care on Outcomes." The Journal of Family Practice 49, no. 9 (2000): 796–804. Give MSM a call at 207-299-5358 to find out how you can tell your story to our readers in your very own Guest Article. 57 • MAINE SENIORS
What are you waiting for? Maine Seniors Magazine is chockfull of the stories, photos, moments and memories that you love— and it's only $29.95 for 10 issues! To start getting your favorite magazine right at your front door, mail your check (payable to Maine Seniors Magazine) to 87 Hillside Ave, Bangor, ME 04401. Don't delay—subscribe today!
Entertaining, enjoyable, informative, and effective. Take a look at why Maine Seniors Magazine has become the premiere print media opportunity for your message.
Call 299-5358 today to learn more! APRIL 2017 • 5 8
Wedding Day BLUES BY WALDO CLARK
With the wedding season approaching, if you’re thinking of inviting me to your daughter’s big day, don’t bother.
I
won’t come. But, I will send a witty RSVP.
OK, I anticipate my Readerland’s response, “There goes sourpuss Waldo again, using his soapbox to pontificate against the sacred wedding.” You’d be right. Listen, I’m not anti-marriage, although Groucho Marx said,“I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.” That said, I do have a problem with most weddings. Sure, I’m a Gloomy Gus wedding guy. I dunno, I find them so predictable, like home buyers salivating over granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances—yet, everyone in the neighborhood has them. And that’s my point, if you’ve seen one wedding, you’ve seen the sameness of most of them: boring, tired, plain vanilla, whacky. The Big Snooze. Gauntlet thrown. How about the average expense, upward of $35,329 according to the The Knot Website (“Your Personal Wedding Planner”)? Huh? Hey, pitch a large tent in a meadow behind a barn up in the County, 59 • MAINE SENIORS
cow poo and all. Put away money for a swell honeymoon in Italy and a down payment on a house. Make sense? How about summer weddings? When I’m King, my first edict will be to ban the July/August hoopla. I’ve sat through two 90-degree plus events trying not to pass out. I remember the restless shuffling of shoes and folks tossing sneaky glances at the doors, plotting their escape. Avoid that horrible hostage held feeling-- sit in the rear. How about the cost of admission, the gift? I believe an escrow account should hold them only to be released after seven years of marriage, returned if divorce. Only fair.
Sure, I’m a Gloomy Gus wedding guy. I dunno, I find them so predictable, like home buyers salivating over granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances—yet, everyone
in the neighborhood has them.
How about the bride, unrecognizable after 20 hours in the tanning booth, a weird hairdo with a bizarre hat perched on her head, let alone a pink dress with a purple sash making her look like a South American dictator? “You look lovely, dear.” How about the bridesmaids with all those attire malfunctions? They fiddle with the spaghetti straps, they pat, pull up, pull down, smooth out, and wiggle. Then, they clump down the aisle, unsteady in their high heels, flashing bewildered, half smiles. Darn awkward. How about all that gushiness, all that insufferable oohing and ahing over the dresses, shoes, and flowers? Eddie Cantor said,“A wedding is a funeral where you smell your own flowers.” How about the groom and best men decked out in all white with purple sashes to match the bride’s? I’m old-fashioned. Go with the traditional black tux, baby. How about the vows, those magic words, “For better or worse”? I’m thinking that there’s at least 50% odds the bride and groom are looking at their future ex. I know, another snide comment. How about the 30 mile ride to the Lion’s Club reception hall, then enduring a long delay while the annoying photographer snaps 3000 pictures? Phyllis Diller said, “Our dog died from licking our wedding pictures.” How about the seating arrangements? You realize your importance when you finally find your table in the far rear, the cheap seats. And the shallow conversation--“What’s your name again, Clem?” Your blah fried chicken or mystery meat arrives in hospital-like
containers. I’d take fish tacos and marshmallows or pizza and Twinkies. Creativity please. How about the bride and groom dance? They’ve practiced for four months at an Arthur Murray studio, to no avail; they end with the requisite dip to false cheers. Others join in, elbows and fannies flying like out of control helicopters—bad bodies, bad dancing. Oh my gosh. How about the garter throw caught by a woman married five times, stiff from six scotch and sodas? Ya know, doncha love those movies where the bride bolts down the aisle to her true love, leaving the stunned groom behind? Look closely, the fella holding the door open, Old Waldo. MSM
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334 Stillwater Avenue, Bangor | www.stillwater-healthcare.com 334 Stillwater Avenue Bangor, Maine 04401 www.stillwater-healthcare.com
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APRIL 2017 • 6 0
Spring Cleaning! Time to Safely Dispose of Unused and Expired Medications “Spring Cleaning” is a notion I aspire to every year. I take a look in my closets, glance into the garage and generally take in the organized and not-so-organized corners of my home with fresh eyes.
F
or some reason, this idea of decluttering seems to take hold each spring, just as the name implies. I’m not sure who first decided that this was the season for this activity, but, as I knew I would, I am once again feeling the urge to divest now that the weather has warmed up a bit. One area that is often overlooked in American homes is the medicine cabinet. If you take prescription drugs or if someone in your household is taking them, you may be one of the millions of consumers whose medicine cabinet could use a Spring Cleaning, too. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), since 2010 during their annual April “drug take back” events across the nation, well over 5 million pounds of unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs have been collected and safely destroyed. There are several reasons why it is important to properly dispose 61 • MAINE SENIORS
BY JANE MARGESSON
of unneeded or expired medications. Pills thrown into the trash can be removed by people who wish to take them themselves or even sell them. Medications that are thrown away in your weekly garbage could also be found and consumed by children or even animals. Further, if not disposed of properly, the chemicals and toxins from drugs could eventually leach into the ground and our groundwater. Imagine those 5 million pounds of pills polluting the environment year after year. Many of my readers know that I was a caregiver for my mother-inlaw for almost 10 years. When she died last year, I took on the task of gathering together all of her medications for safe disposal. Some of the drugs she was taking towards the end of her life one hears about in the news like the Fentanyl patch and morphine. I wanted to be sure that these and her other medications didn’t fall into the wrong hands. It turns out my local police department has a medication drop-off box right at the station and they were happy to take all the drugs I had including cough syrups and other liquid prescriptions. Many police departments participate in similar programs. As they do each year across the state of Maine, Sheriff’s offices are holding medicine disposal events at the end of April to coincide
THE MAINE POINT
If you take prescription drugs or if
We help you stay on
the go
someone in your household is taking them, you may be one of the millions of consumers whose medicine cabinet
could use a Spring Cleaning, too.
with the DEA program. I strongly encourage participation in this anonymous program. On April 28th and 29th, we are also hosting free document shredding events in the counties of Cumberland, Kennebec and Penobscot so you can dispose of sensitive materials at the same time. Please go to www.aarp.org/me for specific information about each location.
275 Marginal Way, Portland
207-871-0008 1113 Stillwater Avenue, Bangor
Whereas many Spring Cleaning initiatives may be cosmetic in nature, safely disposing of medications and sensitive documents has extra benefits: It can actually contribute to your peace of mind. MSM
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APRIL 2017 • 6 2
HEALTH TREASURES
PLAYING in the DIRT
BY JOAN CLARK
My father, Waldo, is a very active senior. I love to work in his garden with him.
I
t is always such a pleasure to be out in nature to help tend his plants, and reap the rewards of nutritious fruits and vegetables while getting some vitamin D and fresh air. The exercise helps with Dad’s mobility; it is heart and bone healthy too. These are some of the tools and methods that my Dad uses to make gardening easier. •
He chooses plants that are easy to maintain, like pansies, marigolds, sunflowers, morning glories, herbs, tomatoes, beans, peppers and cucumbers.
•
Some of the herbs, like dill and basil, he starts from seed, but most of the plants he purchases as seedlings from our local farmer’s market.
•
His padded garden kneeler/seat protects his knees and can be turned over and converted to a seat.
•
•
He covers his tools with bright colored tape to make them easy to find when dropped.
We have built some raised beds to make it easier to cultivate the plants.
•
Water is always handy to keep Dad hydrated.
•
Many of his tools have long handles so he does not have to stoop very often.
•
Gardening gloves are a must when digging in the dirt.
•
Most of the gardening is performed in the early morning and evening when it is cooler.
63 • MAINE SENIORS
Some of the herbs, like dill and basil, he starts from seed, but most of the plants he purchases as seedlings from our local farmer’s market.
My Dad has been my mentor from day one. It is wonderful to be able to learn from him while he plans his garden, tends to it and shares the bounty with his family. MSM
I love my generation.
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A Trail Less Traveled
GARDEN
of Eden STORY AND ARTWORK BY BRAD EDEN
Getting anxious to get your hands dirty? Try these gardening tips and enjoy a bountiful harvest this year.
I
f you’re like me, you are poring over your seed catalogs right now. So, in anticipation of warmer weather, I’ve prepared some tips and techniques that will help you grow a more successful Maine vegetable garden this year.
April 15-30: Hardy vegetables that can stand cold and frost are
I had a huge vegetable garden at the old farmhouse for 26 years. My kids even set up a vegetable stand and sold our overflow. When we became empty nesters and downsized to our humble abode in the woods, I inherited ten 4’ x 8’ raised beds. Raised beds are certainly different from a ground garden, but general soil preparation and planting are the same.
can go in now. Potatoes aren’t particularly hardy but they won’t break the surface for a couple weeks.
First off, you have to know when to plant particular vegetables. Everyone seems to rush things and they end up replanting multiple times. Here are some dates for planting a basic Maine vegetable garden.
65 • MAINE SENIORS
peas, spinach, radishes, and onions. A gardener can be smug if he is eating peas on the 4th of July. May 1-15: Lettuce, beets, carrots, broccoli, cabbage and potatoes
May 16-31: Corn, beans, squashes and pumpkin seeds can be
sowed since they won’t pop up til after the last expected frost date. Avoid planting any starter plants. June 1-15: Now that the soil has warmed up, cucumbers,
tomatoes and peppers can go in. I prefer starter plants rather than seeds. While your neighbors’ plants are struggling yours will catch up and thrive.
A Trail Less Traveled
When watering is necessary
do it in the early morning or evening when the sun isn’t
beating down and evaporating the water before it soaks in. The most important component for a successful garden is soil preparation. Whereas before I would till in organic matter like leaves and compost, with raised beds I supplement the soil with home compost, bags of composted manure, and this year plan to spike it with good old-fashioned cow manure from a neighboring farm. I am not caught up in the organic scene, so I also sprinkle in some 5-10-10 commercial fertilizer. Naturally a rototiller isn’t the right tool for raised beds, so some elbow grease and a garden fork will work to turn over and mix in the top layer of soil. Fill up your garden with vegetables. It drives me nuts when I see gardens that are 25% vegetables and 75% dirt. Pack everything into those raised beds or in wide rows if a ground garden. Once a garden is well under way, all that growth acts as natural mulch and keeps the soil warm and moist. By mid summer you shouldn’t see very much dirt at all–just a canopy of rich green vegetables. Don’t get fixated on watering. I’m a water miser from years of only having a hand dug well, and even now with a drilled well, I hate to waste precious water. You will never see a sprinkler going for hours on my property. I keep sown seeds, young sprouts and transplants well watered by hose or hand at the onset, and then wait until we have a couple of hot days, followed by the inevitable soaking shower. Then I mulch around the plants with straw, not hay (hay has weed seeds). That mulch keeps the soil warm and wet for a long time. When watering is necessary do it in the early morning or evening when the sun isn’t beating down and evaporating the water before it soaks in. Drench the garden occasionally for a long period so the water goes deep into the soil. You want to stress your plants a little so the roots have to reach down deep to find moisture and nutrients. If you water often and lightly the plants find what they need at the surface, and won’t establish strong roots, and never produce to their capacity. And over watering can cause mold and promote blight.
Bugs can really set a garden back so I lightly dust my vine crops (cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins) with 5% Sevin when they first break the surface or are transplanted. I repeat this if we have any rain. This keeps the cucumber beetles at bay and allows the young plants to get off to a good start. Once those plants are established they can handle some nibbles from bugs and resident rabbits. If you try my methods I promise you will work less, enjoy gardening more, and reap a cornucopia of fresh vegetables. With today’s food prices, growing your own food has become less of a luxury and more of a necessity. MSM
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Naturally a rototiller isn’t the right tool for raised beds so some elbow grease and a garden fork will work to turn over and mix in the top layer of soil. APRIL 2017 • 6 6
RESIDENTIAL REVIEW
Searching for
YOUR NEXT HOME It’s that time in Maine, between the sparkling snow scenes of winter and the trees leafing out in spring. Yes, mud season. But it’s also the time when many think about moving.
Y
oung couples may be ready for a larger home in anticipation of a new baby. Professionals might be starting a new career after children finish school in June. But what about you? You have lived in your home for fifty years. You’ve retired. Your children are on their own. How do you decide when the time is right to make a move? For seniors, thinking about leaving a home may feel like losing independence and identity. But it may also be a matter of safety,
67 • MAINE SENIORS
peace of mind, or convenience. Maybe the idea crept in when shoveling the walk after that last late snow storm, or worrying about frozen pipes when the power was out in February. Whatever it was, the thought of doing it again next year makes it clear that it is time for a change. However, getting started can be a monumental task. Some decide to stay in their home simply because the process seems too difficult, only to realize later they wish they had made a move earlier in life. The solution to this dilemma, of course, is to make a plan. But where to start? If you are wondering if this is the year, take a few minutes to consider the following questions. Be honest with yourself. Your answers will help you decide if it is the right time for you to move and, if so, where to move to improve your quality of life.
RESIDENTIAL REVIEW
For seniors, thinking about leaving a home may feel like losing
independence and identity. But it may also be a matter of safety,
peace of mind, or convenience.
Do you look forward to common chores such as mowing, home repairs, laundry, shopping, and cooking? Does someone do these tasks for you? Or do you just leave them undone? Are you able to maintain a safe environment? Are you in relatively good physical condition? How is your balance? Does it take you a long time to do things that once took no time at all? Do you feel unstable as you get dressed or step into the shower? Are you falling more often? Is it difficult to do things you once did easily, such as balancing your checkbook, or getting to appointments on time? Do you feel busy every day, yet rarely get anything done? Do you still feel comfortable driving? Do you stay home from events you would normally enjoy, because it is raining or you would have to drive after dark? Have trusted friends or family members expressed concern about your driving? Do you use all the space in your house? Or do you spend most of your time in three rooms? What are your expenses each month? Be sure to consider the cost of rent or mortgage, food, utilities, insurances, taxes, transportation, and any services you use, such as paying a housekeeper, your gym membership, or lawn service. If you are still physically fit and enjoy doing everyday tasks, but find you have more space than you really use, you might consider downsizing to a smaller home that doesn’t require as much maintenance and has fewer stairs to climb. If you prefer to do less heavy lifting outdoors but still manage indoor tasks well, a condominium that provides maintenance services might free your time for activities you enjoy or allow you to travel without worrying about the lawn getting out of hand while you’re gone. APRIL 2017 • 6 8
RESIDENTIAL REVIEW
in each community.
the terms “senior” or “retirement”, though. Often the minimum age requirement is only fifty-five, which means some residents may not actually be retired at all! Many of these communities provide a variety of housing options catering to adult residents, allowing you to choose from a private home, an apartment, or assisted living studio. This helps ensure that you only pay for services that you want and need, but enables you to add services over time, as your need for assistance and preferences change. This continuum can help you avoid another major move later in life.
If, on the other hand, you find that you are already entrusting many indoor and outdoor tasks to others, you feel unsafe living in your home, or you just feel ready to give up the responsibilities of home maintenance, you may want to consider a senior living or retirement community like Dirigo Pines. Don’t be misled by
To learn more about retirement communities in your area, you can start with an internet search, call your local Area Agency on Aging, or ask for a referral from a trusted friend, family member, or healthcare provider. Feel free to ask for information in print, and request a tour of each community you wish to consider. You may be able to join in an activity with other residents, or stay for
Don’t be afraid to bring a list of questions and someone you trust
with you. Be sure you understand
what services are included in the price, as it is likely to be different
69 • MAINE SENIORS
RESIDENTIAL REVIEW
a meal in the dining room. Some might allow you to move in for a short “trial” stay to see if it is a good fit. Don’t be afraid to bring a list of questions and someone you trust with you. Be sure you understand what services are included in the price, as it is likely to be different in each community. A community with the right services for you can be more affordable than you might think. For example, a community with excellent transportation services could save you the expense of car payments, gas, tires, oil changes, repairs, registration, and insurance. Most importantly, don’t feel pressured to make a decision before you are ready. If you are looking for a place where you can live without the worry of any upkeep and care, then Dirigo Pines is the place for you. With the right planning and support, searching for your next home can be a great adventure. And if you start now, you might never have to pick up another snow shovel again. Who can argue with that? MSM
Give MSM a call at 207-299-5358 to find out how you can tell your story to our readers in your very own Guest Article.
APRIL 2017 • 7 0
CHLOE'S CORNER
Zest
The Bubbly of Life!
BY CHLOE JON PAUL
Many years ago, I heard a sermon based on attitude. For example, you could greet the new day by saying “Good God! Morning! or… “Good morning, God!” The latter appealed to me as a solid expression of a certain zest for life.
U
nlike perseverance and empathy, it doesn’t depend on certain circumstances to induce it. It’s free-form, uninhibited, and suited to every moment and purpose. It’s the “how” of intense, vigorous pursuit of what is at hand.
Zest is the hallmark of athletes, mystics, prophets, and politicians. It isn’t confined to any particular ethnic group. Consider the Greeks and their plate smashing at a party – a fine indicator that a good time was had by all! Then there are the Polish youth with their stomping and shouting through endless polkas! Religion and history are studded with personalities who displayed zest. How about St. Francis of Assisi with his passionate canticle to Brother Sun? Alexander the Great ruled with it. Columbus sailed with it. Our Pilgrim Fathers, our Revolutionary heroes and western pioneers fashioned our country with it. I recall Marilyn and Mike Ferguson’s book, Champagne Living on a Beer Budget – written with such zest! You’ll find it in one’s spiritual life as noted in Dom Hubert Von Zeller’s book, We Die Standing Up.
71 • MAINE SENIORS
Zest is the hallmark of athletes,
mystics, prophets, and politicians.
It isn’t confined to any particular ethnic group.
It can be found in a myriad of musical compositions: Italian tarantellas, Jewish horas, national anthems, and military marches. The Madison Avenue boys cornered the market with it in their commercials. How about those wonderful theatrical productions featuring the brawny, lusty Zorba the Greek or Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof? Life without zest is drab and uninviting; with it …satisfying and colorful! That’s why I begin my day with “Good morning, God” and then reach for my coffee mug with Carpe Diem printed on it ~ Seize the Day! This daily celebration of life is what matters most. MSM
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Comfort between two pieces of bread.
BY FIA MARQUIS
Sometimes when I find myself in a meal rut, I like to look for inspiration on the web. Sometimes I’ll look for new ideas based on what I have in the pantry and freezer—but sometimes that’s what got me stuck in the rut in the first place.
Q
uite some time ago, I discovered there are a number of little-known food holidays just waiting to be celebrated and to bring a spark of creativity into your kitchen, and I like to call them up as a reference when I start to feel a little like I’m Bill Murray in the culinary version of Groundhog Day.
Take April, for example: when I searched for April food holidays, I got a list of at least one for each day of the month (my birthday, for example, is National Prime Rib Day—which seems fitting.) I also saw that April is the national month for two classic favorite sandwiches: the BLT and the grilled cheese. It also happens to be National Garlic Month and National Soft Pretzel Month, so of 73 • MAINE SENIORS
course this combination of things got my brain churning (and my stomach growling). The best grilled cheese sandwich that I ever had was made on a flat-top grill in a food truck, at an outdoor music festival. It was made with garlic and butter, and inside were slices of warm, sweet tomato and perfectly-wilted spinach leaves; the cheese was almost irrelevant at that point, more of a condiment than the focal point of the sandwich. I don’t even remember the bread, other than it was KITCHEN TIP: Love bacon but are tired of being splashed with gobs
of hot grease? There's an easier way to get your fix: the oven. Use a quality, solid baking sheet or jellyroll pan, and place a short cooling rack on top of it (grate-style works best). Lay your bacon across the grate, and preheat your oven to 425 degrees. When the oven is at temp, in goes the bacon—and off goes the oven. Leave your bacon in for 16 minutes, then remove. Voila: perfect bacon with no flipping and no mess. You can even save the leftover rendered fat in a mason jar in your refridgerator for future recipes.
The best grilled cheese sandwich
that I ever had was made on a flat-top grill in a food truck, at an outdoor music festival. It was made with garlic and butter, and inside were slices of warm, sweet tomato and perfectly-wilted
spinach leaves.
toasted perfectly, not too greasy, and had slices of crispy, griddled garlic stuck to it. As much as I love a classic grilled cheese with a bowl of tomato soup on a snowy winter day, the inclusion of fresh produce gives a nod to more seasonal tastes, and the approach of summer just around the corner. I don’t recall when or where I had my first soft pretzel; I want to say
it was probably at a movie theater, or perhaps a kiosk in the mall or an airport. Frozen pretzels can be hit or miss (Kim & Scott’s stuffed pretzels have long been a favorite) and making my own from scratch has yet to yield desirable results. Here in Maine, however, you can get really decent pretzel buns right in the bakery section at Hannaford. Typically, I would view mustard on a BLT as an abomination, but a pretzel without mustard just seems wrong, and I think you’ll agree that the intersection of these two favorites makes a solid case for exception from my personal, somewhat arbitrary, rule. The best thing about these sandwiches is that they’re hearty enough to have for dinner, but they’re also quick and easy to make, especially if you roast your bacon for the BLT in the oven. I highly recommend roasting bacon over frying it in the pan. Placing it on rack inside a cookie sheet and sliding it into a cold oven, then turning it to 425°F and setting a timer for 17 minutes is, as far as I am concerned, a far cry above standing around babysitting a pan, especially after a particularly long or busy day. Use that seventeen minutes to relax, or to slice up your tomato. It’s your time, you earned it. MSM
Can't get enough Food for Thought? Read past recipes and more at meseniors.com/food
APRIL 2017 • 7 4
Featured Recipes GARLIC GRILLED CHEESE INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons butter, softened 1 clove garlic (2 if you really, really like garlic like I do) 4 slices of your favorite sandwich bread 1 tomato, sliced 2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach 2 slices American cheese 2 slices sandwich-sized Cheddar cheese for sandwiches
PRETZEL BLT INGREDIENTS: 2 pretzel rolls, halved and lightly griddled 6 slices of bacon 1 tomato, sliced thinly 4 large leaves of butter lettuce Mayonnaise Mustard (I like Raye’s Maple Horseradish.)
DIRECTIONS: 1. In a food processor, blend garlic with butter, and spread onto one side of each slice of bread. 2. Place two slices of bread butter-side-down on a medium-hot griddler (or in a skillet over medium heat). 3. When slices are heated through but not fully crisped, top each with one piece of each cheese (or use a cheddar American blend.)
DIRECTIONS:
4. To assemble the sandwich, first place two slices of tomato on each piece of bread in the pan, then arrange spinach leaves. Place the remaining slices of bread on top of each sandwich, butter-side up.
1. Cook bacon to desired level of doneness (I highly recommend cooking your bacon in the oven, if you haven't already tried it—it's life-changing).
5. When the bottom slice of bread seems reasonably crispy and golden brown, carefully flip to toast the other side. Allow to cool slightly before cutting and serving.
Avocado (optional)
2. Griddle rolls until the cut side is crispy and golden brown. Spread both halves of each roll lightly with mayonnaise. Add a small amount of mustard to the top roll and spread evenly. 3. To assemble the sandwich, place two leaves of lettuce on the bottom bun, followed by three slices of bacon, and two or three slices of tomato. 4. If you are using avocado, I like to mash about a quarter of an avocado and spread it on the top bun before closing the sandwich, but if it’s not quite ripe enough you can use slices.
75 • MAINE SENIORS
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FROM THE PORCH
The MARCH of TIME BY HUNTER HOWE
Sometimes, we’re unsettled by a strong feeling that’s buried deep within. Soul searching, we realize that it’s time to move on, that somewhere over the far horizon, a new place and a new home beckon.
L
ouis L’Amour, the prolific writer of western novels, wrote, “Folks had it down that I was a wanderin’ man, but most wanderin’ men I’ve known only wandered because of the home they expected to find … and hoped to find … Most of all, I needed what all men need, a destination.”
No doubt, many Maine Seniors, relatively healthy and still leading active lives, entertain such thoughts of moving on before old age and necessity make the decision for them. In other words, they’re interested in engaging life to the fullest. Tired of snow blowing, lawn mowing, equipment maintenance, and other related nuisances, they seek a sense of security coupled with 77 • MAINE SENIORS
making new friends and participating in new activities. And they grapple with that nagging question, What’s next? L’Amour reminds us,“The wind does not wait.” Yet, self-doubt kicks in. The idea of pulling up roots again overwhelms. More so, age dictates, do not make a major mistake. Looking back, I had no problem with the various age milestones such as 30, 40, and 50. But, I detested 60; after that, it seemed like every four months another birthday came around. Sound familiar? Time moving faster. Then, I turned 70—I didn’t like that either. Then, those high-on-life optimists proclaimed, “Oh Hunter, age is just an attitude.” Yeah, right. I asked myself why I detected small changes in my body and wondered why my neck muscles sagged and wrinkles appeared. Attitude didn’t cause those, age did.
FROM THE PORCH
I’ve traveled far. The lonely wind’s
no longer restless. My spirit glows. I’ve chosen a destination, yet not, the end of the trail. My heart beats
with the march of time.
Tell her
Thank you with the gift of
Maine's Premiere Magazine!
Like a character in L’Amour’s novels, I realized that I couldn’t wait for something to happen. I yearned to take to the open trail again. I yearned to embrace life more. He wrote, “There comes a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.” And timing is everything. Ready to pack my saddlebags, this aging cowboy pondered which trail to take and where to go. To see, through the shadows. Early on, I decided that an active 55+ retirement community might best suit me. As a writer for the Maine Seniors Magazine, I had an advantage over many other seniors in that I had familiarity with the various options in Maine. In fact, we had featured some of them. As always in real estate, location mattered most. I wanted quick access to highways; I wanted to live near a mid-sized town with stores, shops, culture, and medical facilities; I wanted a single-family residence with all outside maintenance taken care of; I wanted to meet vibrant folks of varying ages from Maine and other states. Most of all, I wanted to maintain my independence—we Mainers do thrive on that. Once I’d selected a community, I spent a total of 14 hours talking with their operations and marketing staff, visiting homes for sale, meeting with other residents, and reviewing the website’s informative videos. After deciding on a home, the staff put me in touch with a financial advisor, a banker, and their insurance company; and, I tackled the tedium of the community’s financial stability, a key factor when exploring these venues. Detailed by nature, I pushed the pencil hard reminding myself, this was not the age or time for screwing up. I leaned on the old adage, Worry About the Questions. I asked many and I listened to the answers with the precision of a trial attorney.
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FROM THE PORCH
Satisfied that I’d done my homework, I signed a purchase and sale agreement. L’Amour penned, “The calling of the horizon finds a quick response in the heart of the wanderer.” Consumed by anticipation and excitement, I looked forward to the future. Excitement’s a good thing at age 70—it’s invigorating. I wondered how many weary cowpokes in the days of yesteryear, while still able to saddle up, set out feeling the same way. However, the period between selling a home and moving to the new one requires much patience along with a degree of sadness. I remembered leaving one home that I particularly loved. I took a final walk in the woods that surrounded the house, the woods that I’d spent 13 years exploring with my precious dogs. I walked on those trails, one more time. I opened the door to my playhouse/ cabin tucked in a grove hidden from the house and sat in a worn wicker chair thinking of good memories such as drinking wine with friends in the waning daylight; and I said goodbye to my beloved nuthatches and cardinals who welcomed me each day. Emotions amplified. The worst part, closing the front door, never to return, then driving down the street and tossing a glance back, one more time. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote,“Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” That said, sometimes we must do what is best for ourselves, while … we … can. And that may mean, moving on. L’Amour summed it up this way, “… often I have wondered what is it that starts the drum of a man’s life to beating? For each of us walk to the heartbeat of our own dream, an unleashed rhythm of all our moments and thought.”
79 • MAINE SENIORS
I’ve traveled far. The lonely wind’s no longer restless. My spirit glows. I’ve chosen a destination, yet not, the end of the trail. My heart beats with the march of time.
MSM
Consumed by anticipation and excitement, I looked forward to the future. Excitement’s a good thing at age 70—it’s invigorating.
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