theScene Nov/Dec 2012

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E A T • D R I N K • P L AY • W A T C H • L I S T E N • R E A D • B E M E R R Y HOLIDAY SEASON 2 012 VOL. 3 • NO. 8 DISTRIBUTION ALONG THE COAST OF MAINE: LINCOLN, KNOX AND WALDO COUNTIES

FREE!

issue In this

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OPENING COLUMN

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FILM SCENE: Cloud Atlas

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BREW SCENE: Holiday Cheer Part One

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FOOD SCENE: Yankee Chef

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TOP DISH: The Mermaid Restaurant

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MUSICIAN SCENE: Blind Albert

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HOLIDAY DRINK SCENE

10 TOP 10 11 RECYCLED ART SCENE: How to make less trash 12 SOAP SCENE: Home Brewed Soaps

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Jim Bailey Chef Jim Bailey is a Maine native who has more than 25 years experience in the New England kitchen. Although proficient in international cuisine, he’s an authority of Yankee Food History, New England genealogy and the New England lifestyle since the 17th Century. With two cookbooks just written, Chef Jim looks forward to hearing from you at via email theyankee@aol.com or theyankeechef.com.

Daniel Dunkle Daniel Dunkle writes the humor column, “Stranger Than Fiction,” and “Down in Front” blogs and movie reviews. He is News Editor for Courier Publications, LLC, which publishes theScene, The Courier-Gazette, The Camden Herald and The Republican Journal.

Follow him online at villagesoup.com or on twitter at twitter.com/#!/DanDunkle.

20 NEW YEARS IN BLUE HILL

scene

the

18 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Things to do this Holiday Season

91 Camden St., Suite 403 Rockland, ME 04841 207.594.4401

Contact us: thescene@villagesoup.com Send calendar items to: calendar@villagesoup.com Published Monthly

facebook.com/thescene1

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After 30+ years in the record business in Los Angeles including long stints at Warner Bros. and DreamWorks Records, Marc consults and manages artists and has started an independent music label that concentrates on singer - songwriters. It’s called Mishara Music and is based here in Midcoast Maine. Marc writes about the national and local music business.

Visit marc online at misharamusic.com & marcrescue. wordpress.com Write him at marcrescue@gmail.com or here at thescene@villagesoup.com

Richard Ruggiero

14 MUSIC SCENE: The gift of music for free - all year long

17 SOCIAL MEDIA MAVEN

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13 HANDCRAFT SCENE: The Wreath Nook, ETC

15 HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Marc Ratner

A graduate of Siebel Institute for Brewing Studies in Chicago, Ruggiero worked as a consultant across the East Coast setting up a micro-brewery on Long Island, N.Y. called James Bay Brewing Company. In 1995 he relocated to Rockland, Maine to build Rocky Bay Brewery which closed in 2007. He is now the brewmaster at the new Shag Rock Brewing Company in Rockland, located at the Amalfi On the Water restaurant.

Editor • Holly Vanorse Spicer

Gail J. VanWart Production Department Manager • Christine Dunkle Designers Heidi Belcher, David Dailey, Debbie Post, Kathleen Ryan Sales Department Manager • Dave Libby Sales Representatives Candy Foster, Karen Mehorter, Jody McKee, Pamela Schultz, Alysha Steltzer

VanWart is a fourth generation farm steward, author and illustrator with a love for Maine’s people, places and happenings, who lives at Peaked Mountain Farm in Dedham, Maine.

Gail and her dog, Blae, contribute regular posts about Maine at nosingaroundmaine.blogspot.com.

Ad Deadline for January/February is 1/3/13

theSCENE • November - December 2012

Pints for Paws

Opening Column

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By Holly Vanorse Spicer

he Winter holidays mean many different things for many different people. For me, it’s a lot of planning, scheduling, traveling to see our families, along with lots and lots of food. When it was decided to have the November issue become a twomonth issue instead of just one, my brain kicked into overdrive.

The holidays. All of the things from celebration to food that it involves. I could have easily found a hundred and one things to include in this special, holiday issue. However, because of space, I had to spend a lot of time determining just what exactly to include. Sort of like Christmas present shopping. You always have that one person that is really, really easy to buy gifts for. You have an idea list a thousand miles long, but you need to stick to that budget so you can get all of your friends and family gifts. You can only get that easy-to-shop-for person one or two things. So which things on that list do you get them?

There are a lot of great things in this issue that all cater to the upcoming weeks during the holiday season. Everything from the usual reviews, columns and contributors to local handmade gift ideas, special holiday drink mixes for parties and fun holiday events. Happy Holidays!

Nutcracker

The Atlantic Ballet Company presents Nutcracker at the Camden Opera House from Nov. 30 until Dec. 2. Tickets are $14 for seniors and children under 12 years of age and $20 for adults. They are available at HAV II, Reading Corner, Opera House Video and Personal Bookshop. For more information, visit atlanticballetcompany.org

Burnham’s Bloomers Maine’s Midcoast Primitive Gift & Floral Shop Pottery • Candles • Curtains • Potpourri • Lamps Lampshades • Holiday Decor & much more!

The Loyal Biscuit Co. and Trackside Station are teaming up again for a fun fundraiser for the Humane Society of Knox County.

Everyone is invited to come to Trackside Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. for Pints for Paws, a social for animal lovers for the benefit of animals.

The evening will feature entertainment by local musician Paddy Mills and raffle prizes from many areas businesses. For every pint of beer sold, Trackside will donate $1 to HSKC. Attendees of all ages are welcome and are asked to bring an item to donate to the shelter — canned dog or cat food, paper towels, gallons of bleach, old towels or blankets, etc.

The Loyal Biscuit Co. has held this event at locations in Rockland, Camden & Belfast and have raised over $5,588 for local area shelters. Trackside Station is located at 4 Union Street in Rockland. For more, information visit www.facebook. com/loyalbiscuit; or call Loyal Biscuit at 594-5269. Due to the location, pets are not allowed at the social.

There’s a lot to smile about!

Holiday Open House Saturday, December 1st Mon-Sat 9-5 • Sun 10-4 14 Washington Rd., Waldoboro (across from Moody’s Diner) (207) 832-4222 • www.burnhamsbloomers.com

Dr. Robert M. Rosenberg, D.D.S. Orthodon st Accep ng New Pa ents • All Insurances Taken 232 Broadway (at the corner of Beech) Rockland, ME 04841 • 594-2124 Excellence in orthodon cs at affordable prices Call for free ini al exam theSCENE • November - December 2012

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Film

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B

Cloud Atlas, a beautiful effort

y the time you read this review, “Cloud Atlas” will have already been relegated to the bargain bin as a box office failure.

Well, what of it? Yes, it failed to make money. It bit off more than it could chew with a myriad of characters and five or six story lines spanning centuries. With a threehour running time and an R rating to scare away the tweens, it never really had much hope.

But it deserves a good hard look because I think this was a really ambitious effort on the part of some very talented people. “Cloud Atlas” took some risks, and I’m sorry to see it fail because that may mean it will be an even longer time before we see anything more interesting than a caped, tights-wearing hero streak across the big screen again.

I happened to catch the fiveminute trailer about a month ago and thought it looked fascinating. When I saw that it was based on a novel, I was thrilled and ran out to pick up a copy of David Mitchell’s book.

The book contains several loosely related stories. A lawyer makes his way across the South Pacific with a crazy doctor in 1849.

A young composer labors in the 1930s under the tyrannical watch of an older, established but burnedout musician. In the 1970s, a young, female journalist takes on crooked energy tycoons in a thrilling tale of corruption. An foul-mouthed, aging publisher has to stage a jail break from a horrific nursing home.

Then there are two stories set in the future. One is of a “fabricant” fast-food restaurant employee who joins a revolution against a totalitarian regime. The other comes long after the apocalyptic collapse of civilization, when a young goat herder guides a woman through a

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Down in Front

By Daniel Dunkle

Hugh Grant in Cloud Atlas. savage world to a place where she can contact the last remnants of a technology-based human society.

The book is 500 pages of highend writing that somehow captures everything about human existence.

It ruminates on our pasts and futures, our existential angst, our impending environmental crisis, and the moral dilemmas we face. Love, war, comedy, triumph, failure... it’s all in there.

It’s very fast-paced and exciting and highly philosophical.

The movie is as true to the book as it can be, but it’s just too much stuff to digest all at once. Many of the stories are trimmed down quite a bit to fit, and I think it might have been difficult to follow if you hadn’t read the book first.

Any one of the stories would have made a terrific movie on their own. The movie includes a terrific cast with Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving and other less famous but equally talented players all taking on multiple roles to see

how reincarnated souls change and evolve over the ages.

The gimmick kind of works, with the actors changing races and genders through the use of makeup, but it also kind of distracts from the story(s).

Hugh Grant may have earned some respect in the acting community for playing against type.

Here he appears not only as a big energy executive in the 1970s, cut as an aboriginal warrior of the savage future in skull makeup. Wow! The biggest problem with the movie is that the moral, philosophical musings that seemed so strong in the book came across as a bit corny or rushed on screen.

However, I think this is also part of a larger trend. I’ve noticed that any story these days with a moral compass is dismissed as trite or overly earnest, while some snarky, sarcastic, immoral, nihilistic hogwash is championed as “brave realism.”

I appreciate philosophical

Dan’s

grade Cloud Atlas (Rated R): B

idealism and moral inspiration.

This was directed by Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski. The Wachowskis were, of course, the directors of “The Matrix” and “V for Vendetta.” My hope is that they aren’t discouraged by this setback. They’re definitely on the right track and will reach an audience with something big down the line.

Besides, maybe this will become one of those cult movies that takes on a new life on video or cable in the future. It’s a reincarnation movie after all, so maybe it will do better in the next life.

theSCENE • November - December 2012

Brew

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Review

ummer has fades away, with all the fall colors, and the holiday season is upon us. We still have football and all the holiday joy that will meld together in a wish of family and friend celebrations. And with the holiday season, comes all those lovely winter holiday brews that taught our palettes, ales and lagers full of flavor and sporting such names has Double Brown Ale, Double Chocolate Stouts, Spiced Scotch Ales ,just to mention a few. Winter is full of flavor with hearty beers to complement the heartier fair that we encounter; most of these special beers are brewed only once a year, and in very limited small batches, so let’s baste our palettes with these next three brews, and take in all the holiday flavor we can handle!

Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale - DL Geary Brewing Co. Portland, Maine DL Geary Brewing Co. was the first micro-brewery to make its presence in Portland Maine, and has been brewing some very special ale’s since. Geary’s Hampshire Ale or HSA has the locals branded it!

Is absolutely one of their special limited fall/winter beers. This Ale pours into the glass with a very rich

Holiday Cheer Part One

amber color and off white thick long lived head, which settles slowly leaving a nice lacing appearance on the sides of the glass. The aroma of specialty roasted malts comes to play, with the wonderful boutique of hops, which is slowly taken by the hints of nutmeg, fruit and coriander.

As the beer passes over the palette, with a very large and rich mouth feel the sweetness of malt suddenly balances to a wonderful round hop bitterness, that turns the palette with a fantastic toasted caramel finish, beautifully well balanced Ale that will give youre taste buds a wonderful complex flavor ride!

A must try Winter Ale. Falls in the Strong English Ale category at 7% ABV. I have been told they even brew a very limited version that is whiskey infused! I will have to search for this special ale.

more lately. Attenuator Dopplebock is one of their many diverse beers which are available at their attached pub Three Tides. Off the tap ,this beer pours with an amber copper glow with good brightness’ in color. It poured off the tap with a wonderful two finger off white head that retained to the side of the glass creating lustfully lacing.

The rich aroma of Carmel malt and alcohol come to play, has this beer is consumed, the flavors of sweet malt come through and lay beside a hint of nutty flavor and the warming of alcohol. The mouth feel is surprising smooth with light but pleasing carbonation which finishes with a slight delightful hint of coffee.

A great example of the style, and well balanced, worth a try at your favorite pub, or a trip to three tides for a pint or two!

Attenuator Dopplebock - Marshall Wharf Brewing Company - Belfast, Maine

Hop Noir - Peak Organic Brewing Company - Portland, Maine

Marshal Wharf Brewing Co. has been brewing outside the box unique styles of Ales and Lagers for quite some time, although they are attached to a wonderful restaurant /Pub, I have been seeing their unique brews on draught at local pubs and restaurant more and

Peak Organic located in Portland Maine, is another brewery producing unique Ales and Lagers, and has quickly become a favorite brew across the great state of Maine, Hop-Noir is definitely one if these type of Ales. This is not an everyday drinking beer, at least in my book,

Head 2 Toe

Leather Works & Cobbling

Leather works, cobbler, seamstress and beautician The only female cobbler in the State of Maine • Custom Leather Clothing • Leather Accessories •Repairs If you can think of it, I can make it!

Like us on

135 Thomaston St., Thomaston • 594-2342 Mon ~ Fri 10 - 7, Sat by appointment

theSCENE • November - December 2012

By Richard Ruggiero

but what this beer communicates well is that almost anything is possible. This beer pours with a thick dark tan head, and nearly black in color with some ruby highlights when held up to the light. The aroma of sweet malt with a hint of fruitiness and chocolate. The flavor takes over the palette with a strong hop profile up front which is slowly balanced out to sweatier malts, which finish out to a wonderfully silky smooth mocha creaminess.

A very complex interesting beer, and well worth the search, I had the pleasure of sampling this Ale at Rock Harbor Pub on draught and like I mentioned previously, not an everyday drinker, but well worth a try to find the specialty holiday niche on your bucket list of beers!

So while you soak up the holiday cheer this season, do it with this three fine unique beers, and celebrate with a toast to flavor!

Cheers have a safe and cheerful holiday season, Rich

The Holidays are Coming!

Make reservations for our popular Thanksgiving Buffet prepared by our award winning Chef.

Serving 11-2 for $1999 We are currently taking reservations for Holiday Parties - small and large.

Call 338-2646 for information or to reserve your space today!

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Food

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he Yankee Chef would like to extend a great big Season’s Greetings to all the readers of the Scene. With this issue being on the stands for two months, I have the pleasure of doubling my column.

I could give you run of the mill recipes for classic holiday dishes or I can stop talking and give you some out of the ordinary treats you just may make a tradition in your family. So without rambling, enjoy the season, your family and friends and above all, take a peek at this Yankee treats.

Now we have all tried, at one time or another, Warm Indian Pudding. I must say you have never tried it this way. Go to my blog, theyankeechefblogspot.com to find more sauces and the original Yaqnkee Indian Pudding recipe for the dish listed below.

Indian Pudding Fritters One recipe Indian Pudding, cooked and cooled overnight Dessert sauce of your choice, one is listed below 3 c. prepared pancake batter 1 qt. vegetable oil 1 large pot* Candy thermometer* Fill your large pot with the vegetable oil. Heat to 350- degrees , checking the temperature with a candy thermometer.

Place prepared pancake batter in a bowl; set aside. Remove Indian Pudding from refrigerator and carefully,

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Season’s greeting from the Yankee Chef and thinly, remove top “skin” from the top. With a tablespoon or melonballer, scoop out about a heaping tablespoon of cold pudding and roll between your hands to form a ball. Place in the bowl of pancake batter and continue until you have 6 balls in the batter. Make 6 more balls and set them on a plate to coat in batter.

When oil is hot enough, and with 2 forks, roll each ball in batter to evenly and thickly coat. Gently lift out the Indian Pudding balls with two forks and lower into the hot oil, frying 6 “fritters” at a time. Cook for approximately 45-60 seconds, turning to make sure that all sides are browned.

Transfer to a paper towel lined plate or tray. Upon lifting the last ball into oil, place the remainder of the balls into the batter and begin coating.

Repeat process with the last 6 fritters. Serve with Apple Cider Sauce, listed below, or visit my blog for many more sauces that truly elevate this New England dessert to today’s level. * Or follow manufacturers instructions for deep frying in your deep fryer. heat at least 1 qt.oil to 350degrees F.

up and it will thin out. Also, As you reduce the cider, stir more frequently so that it doesn’t scorch or burn on the bottom.

And don’t forget that veritable French Creme Fraiche. Often overlooked, this less-sour version of sour cream has always been a delight when served with fre3sh fruit. The Yankee Chef offers that although we may be a tad stubborn when it comes to our food, we are not going to overlook an addition to our culinary heritage if it is complimentary. And I assure you, the Indian Pudding Fritters and Creme Fraiche do just that!

Figgy Pudding has stepped out of the limelight as of late, but let’s Yank it and try it all over again!

Apple Cider Sauce

Warm Chocolate Fig Cakes

1/2 c. dark rum.

1 qt. pure apple cider That’s It! Put cider, and rum if you are using, in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat and gently boil, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half and syrupy in texture. This may take anywhere from 12-25 minutes, depending on the strength of your stoves heating element. If you boil it down too much, remember a couple of things. If you decide you want the cider more thick, once removed from the stove, it will thicken even more. If you have left over syrup you want to use again, simply, and gently, heat it back

This recipe uses custard cups(ramekins), I have had luck with muffin tins in the past but just barely. I urge you to spend $2 a cup and keep 6 on hand. The only problem with muffin tins is that 5 may be done while a sixth will not.

1 c. figs, chopped 2 T. finely chopped hazelnuts or pecans 2/3 c. butter or margarine 3/4 c. chocolate chips 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate 2 eggs 4 egg yolks 1/2 c. sugar 3 T. flour Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter eight

By Jim Bailey 6-ounce custard cups(or use a muffin tin) or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place cups on baking sheet.

Sprinkle figs and nuts in bottom of cups, dividing evenly. Heat butter, chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate in small saucepan over low heat or in microwave until smoothly melted; set aside to cool slightly. Beat eggs, egg yolks and sugar with electric mixer on high speed until mixture is very thick, like meringue, about 3 minutes. Fold in chocolate mixture, gently but thoroughly. Fold in flour.

Spoon batter into prepared dishes, filling almost full.

Bake in center of oven 15 to 18 minutes or until puffed and set around edges. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife around edge of dishes and invert cakes onto serving plate. Serve immediately.

The Holidays wouldn’t be the same without some sort of cookie for everyone. Look no further!

Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies 3 c. flour 2 t. baking soda 1 1/2 t. cinnamon 1 1/2 t. ground ginger 3/4 t. ground cloves 1/2 t. salt 1 1/2 c. packed brown sugar 1 c. (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

theSCENE • November - December 2012

Top

dish

The Mermaid Restaurant and Pub at Homeport Inn is a full service pub and restaurant located at 121 E Main St in Searsport, Me. We offer chef prepared meals specializing in fresh local seafood, angus steak, grass fed buffalo, fresh chicken, burgers and kid’s meals.

Come try our hand cut french fries, sweet potato fries or onion rings. Save room for one of our home made desserts. Reserve a table by the fireplace or come watch your favorite team on one of our flat screens. Book your Holiday Party with us. Visit us at HomeportHistoricInn.com or reach us at 548-0084.

The Mermaid Restaurant

121 E Main St. • Searsport Restaurant: 207-548-0084 HomeporthistoricInn.com

RESTAURANT HOURS: Open Tue - Sat 4 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. • Sunday 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. • Closed Mondays • Happy Hour Tues - Thurs 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sun 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Ming’s Chinese Restaurant Check out our Daily Lunch Specials Serving Beer & Wine • Take Out or Dine In

Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am-9pm Delivery within 5 miles 207.338.2216 / 207.338.2226 Voted Best Chinese Restaurant “2007, 2008, 2009 & 2011” 185 Searsport Ave., Route 1 (near The Welcome Center) Belfast, Maine

1/3 c. molasses 1 egg 1 2/3 c. (11-oz. package) butterscotch chips Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat sugar, butter, molasses and egg in lg. mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour mixture until well blended.

Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded T. onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

So simple, you’ll wonder why you have never made this before.

‘Tis the Season Gingerbread Bark Parchment or wax paper 2 (8 oz.) dark chocolate candy bars, finely chopped 1/4 c. white chocolate chips 1 t. vegetable oil 1/3 to 1/2 c. chopped or crumbled gingersnap cookies Line baking sheet with parchment

theSCENE • November - December 2012

The Mermaid Restaurant & Pub at Homeport Inn 121 East Main St. Searsport, ME 04974 Inn: (207)-548-2259 Pub: (207)-548-0084

or wax paper. Melt 2/3 of dark chocolate in uncovered, microwavesafe bowl for 1 minute; Stir. If pieces retain some of their original shape, microwave at additional 10- to 15second intervals, stirring just until melted. Add remaining dark chocolate and stir until melted. Spread chocolate into 10 x 8-inch rectangle on prepared baking sheet.

Microwave white chips in small, heavy-duty plastic food storage bag for 30 seconds. Knead bag until chips are smooth. Add oil; knead to combine. Cut tiny corner from bag;

Oriental Cuisine

138 Main St., Belfast, ME 04915 338-6262 • 338-6266 Sunday - Thursday 11 - 9pm Friday - Saturday 11 - 10 pm

WED-SUN 11:00-2:30 LUNCH BUFFET $695 FRI & SAT 4:00-8:00 DINNER BUFFET $795 DELIVERY within 5 MILES

squeeze to drizzle over dark chocolate.

Immediately sprinkle chopped cookies over bark.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Break bark into 24 pieces. Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Cook’s Tip: 1 1/4 c. chocolate chips may be used in place of dark chocolate baking bars.

Here is something your kids will surely love. Visit my blog for many, many children’s candy ideas. Simply put the word Christmas in the search space and you will find some hilarious ideas to treat the kids to.

Homemade Christmas Coal 1/4 c. butter or margarine 10 oz. marshmallows 1/8 t. black food coloring 4 c. rice cereal Melt butter and add marshmallows in a large saucepan. Add black food coloring and mix in well. Add rice cereal and stir until blended. Drop by small spoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper. Make different shapes and sizes. Cool. Place 3-5 of

them into a small cellophane or ziptop bag and tie with ribbon.

Include a tag saying…

“I heard you have been naughty not nice, and Santa even checked his list twice.

So all the way from the cold North Pole all you’re getting is a bag of coal.”

I will see you next year everyone, and thank you for all the readership, emails and visits I have gotten since my column first appeared in The Scene. I truly hope everyone continues to read this great paper, the free monthly’s are slowly going by the wayside. Don’t let this happen to The Scene. Happy Holidays and please feel free to email me at theyankeechef@aol.com with ideas, questions and responses.

7

Musician

scene

Location: Rockland,Maine Sounds like: Blind Albert [is] one of a kind.

Influenced by: The world’s great musicians, songwriters and guitar players How long have you been a musician? I started playing music back in 1965, about 45 years.

What led you to make the choice?

My dad played guitar so there was

always a guitar in the house. Once I heard the Rolling Stones back in 1965, I was hooked [I’ve] been rockin’ and rollin’ ever since.

What’s it like being a musician in Maine? Well you certainly don’t get rich. I have been able to make a living playing music, it’s not as glamorous as most people would think. I’ve been able to work and play with a lot of great blues people over the past 22 years I’ve been in Maine.

Have you faced any challenges?

Many. Lots of traveling through snow storms, late night driving, getting home at 4 a.m., equipment and cars breaking down, showing up at a club to find it closed, dealing with unscrupulous club owners who don’t want to pay you, etc.

It all comes with the territory.

Furniture, Toys, Birdhouses, Art, Cutting Boards, and hundreds more items.

The Prison Showroom offers high quality wood products built by prisoners trying to rebuild their own lives.

Blind Albert Where are some of the places you’ve performed? North Atlantic Blues Festival, most clubs in the Midcoast area and around the state, California, Connecticut, Cape Cod. What is the most memorable thing someone has said to you in regards to a performance, a song or to you as a musician in general? There’s been a few. I’m also a live sound engineer. I’ve worked with some of the greatest blues people in the world. Shemekia Copeland once asked me to be her sound man for her shows but I was unable to travel, [it was] a very nice complement.

Having people come up to me after a performance and tell me how much they enjoyed my playing and singing and also the overwhelming response I’ve received from an NPR interview

that was produced by Tina Antolini and a documentary I produced about my experiences in combat in Vietnam.

Your favorite song to perform/ sing? Any of my original songs.

Are you going to be performing anywhere over the upcoming holiday season? I’ll be performing with my band in Portland in the upcoming months at a great blues and jazz club called Gingko Blue. I’ll be performing in and around the Midcoast area, a great place called Fresh at Bayview Landing in Camden, Rock City in Rockland, Highlands Coffee House in Thomason and a few other venues. You can find me on Facebook, my schedule etc. Do a search for Vincent Gabriel Blind Albert and my page will pop up.

Nunn’s Home Decor & More

Hand crafted products make for unique gift ideas with new products being introduced all the time.

MAINE STATE PRISON SHOWROOM 358 Main St., Route 1, Thomaston Open 7 days a week from 9AM- 5PM

110 Searsport Ave. Belfast, ME 04915 207.218.4110

visit us online: www.maine.gov/corrections/industries/ 8

theSCENE • November - December 2012

Holiday Drink

L

scene

ooking for a new drink to have a taste of this coming holiday season? Here are some fun, yummy drinks that are perfect for the winter season. Or maybe you don’t want to ring in the new year with plain old champagne? There are two toastperfect drinks included.

Gingerbread Apple Cocktail 2 oz. Domaine de Canton 1 oz. vanilla vodka 2.5 oz. apple cider A few drops of lemon juice Orange zest Agave syrup Line a chilled martini glass lightly with agave syrup on a dish followed by spiced graham cracker crumbs.

Place all ingredients except for orange zest in a shaker and shake vigorously.

Strain into glass.

Freshly grate orange zest on drink and serve immediately.

Mocha Nog Punch

10 parts Kahlúa Mocha 5 parts Absolut Vanilla 20 parts eggnog Combine ingredients and serve in a punchbowl with a floating ice block.

Hint: Freeze ice with coffee beans for decoration.

Cranberry Spice 1 oz. Domaine de Canton 1/2 oz. Cabernet Sauvignon 1/2 oz. Chambord 2 oz. cranberry juice Shake well with ice. Use 3 cranberries for garnish.

Rum Butter Cider 1 oz. Grand Marnier 1 oz. Bols Butterscotch Liqueur 1 1/2 oz. Zacapa 23 Year Rum 4 oz. hot apple cider Put the first three ingredients in a mug and add the hot cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a star anise.

Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake Martini

Chambord & Champagne

2 parts EFFEN Raspberry Vodka 1/2 part chocolate liqueur 1/2 part Irish cream Serve in a cocoa-rimmed martini glass with a raspberry garnish.

Delicious Night Blackberry Martini

2 1/2 oz. Chambord Champagne Raspberries, for garnish Add Chambord to bottom of flute glass and top with champagne. Drop in a raspberry for garnish. Quick and easy but glamorous all the same.

Ruby Sipper

1 oz. p.i.n.k. Vodka 1 1/2 oz. cranberry juice 1 oz. blackberry brandy 1/2 oz. Cointreau Splash of sour mix Fresh blackberries Combine ingredients over ice and shake well. Strain into a wellchilled martini glass. Pour 1 1/2 scoops of mulled blackberries through the center.

Stir slightly.

Garnish with a blackberry on the edge of the glass.

This modern beverage lends itself perfectly to being the signature cocktail at a holiday gathering or to putting a spin on the traditional New Year’s toast.

1 1/4 oz. citrus vodka 3/4 oz. peach liqueur 2 oz. white cranberry juice 1 1/2 oz. Barefoot Bubbly Premium Extra Dry Pomegranate seeds Place spoonful of pomegranate seeds in a chilled martini glass. In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodka, peach liqueur, and white cranberry juice with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into chilled martini glass. Top with Barefoot Bubbly and serve.

SCARBOROUGH’S COLLISION REPAIR All Makes & Models

“A historic country store in Round Pond Village”

Our annual Christmas Sale starts Friday, Nov. 23rd with everything 20 % off * Drop in for a cup of hot cider while you browse for stocking stuffers.

Penny Candy • Cards • Children’s books • Toys • Irish pj’s, robes, & Connemara walking hats and socks • Maple syrup • Jams • Danica candles and Catnip mice...

Mon.-Fri. 9am~5:30 • 207-563-5281 77 Biscay Rd., Damariscotta (3/10 miles from McDonald’s on the right)

the

scene

A D • TA K E A R I D E W AT C H • L I S T E N • R E E AT • D R I N K • P L AY •

SOUTH THOMASTON

Glass on Fire

UNION

A Blueberry Affair

ROCKLAND

Music from the Patio

BOOTHBAY HARBOR

Rustic Sprucewold

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theSCENE • November - December 2012

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Top

1. Reflected in You (Sylvia Day) 2. The Racketeer (John Grisham) 3. 50 Shades of Grey (E L James) 4. 50 Shades Freed (E L James) 5. 50 Shades Darker (E L James) 6. The Panther (Nelson DeMille) 7. The Casual Vacancy (JK Rowling) 8. My Kind of Christmas (Robyn Carr) 9. Back to Blood (Tom Wolfe) 10. Cloud Atlas (David Mitchell)

Theater Movies

Books (non-fiction, combined print)

1. Wreck It Ralph 2. Flight 3. Argo 4. The Man With the Iron Fists 5. Cloud Atlas 6. Taken 2 7. Paranormal Activity 4 8. Silent Hill: Revelation 3D 9. Hotel Transylvania 10. Here Comes the Boom

1. Proof of Heaven (Eben Alexander) 2. Killing Kennedy (Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard) 3. No Easy Day (Mark Owen, Kevin Mauer) 4. Killing Lincoln (Bill O’Reilly, Martin Dugard) 5. Rod (Rod Stewart) 6. The Signal and The Noise (Nate Silver) 7. Makeup to Breakup (Peter Criss, Larry Sloman) 8. How Children Succeed (Paul Tough) 9. America Again (Stephen Colbert) 10. Heaven is for Real (Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent)

Digital Music Downloads 1. “Gangam Style” PSY 2. “Locked out of Heaven” Bruno Mars 3. “Die Young” Ke$ha 4. “One More Night” Maroon 5 5. “Diamonds” Rihanna 6. “Some Nights” fun.

7. “22” Taylor Swift 8. “I Cry” Flo Rida 9. “Home” Phillip Phillips 10. “I Almost Do” Taylor Swift

Albums 1. Red (Taylor Swift) 2. good kid - (m.A.A.d city) 3. Night Train (Jason Aldean) 4. Babel (Mumford & Sons) 5. Viva Duets (Tony Bennett) 6. Black and Blu (Gary Clark Jr.) 7. House of Gold and Bones Part 1 (Stone Sour) 8. The Truth About Love (P!nk) 9. On This Winter’s Night (Lady Antebellum) 10. Two Eleven (Brandy)

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Books (fiction, combined print)

Kindle downloads

1. Perfect Hope (Nora Roberts) 2. The Racketeer (John Grisham) 3. American Patriot’s Almanac (William J. Bennett, John T.E. Cribb) 4. The Secret of Ella and Micha (Jessica Sorensen)

5. The Unwanted Wife (Natasha Anders) 6. Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn) 7. Reflected in You (Sylvia Day) 8. Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (Manel Loureiro, Pamela Carmell) 9. 50 Shades Freed (E L James) 10. NYPD Red (James Patterson, Marshall Karp)

Video Games

1. Assassin’s Creed III (XBox 360) 2. Assassin’s Creed III (PS3) 3. Just Dance 4 (Wii) 4. Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition (PC) 5. Just Dance: Disney Party (Wii) 6. FIFA Soccer 13 (PS3) 7. FIFA Soccer 13 (XBox 360) 8. Pokémon Black Version 2 (DS/3DS) 9. Madden NFL 13 (XBox 360) 10. New Super Mario Bros 2 (DS)

iPad/iPhone downloads (free)

1. Podcasts 2. Find My Phone 3. Pinterest 4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 for iPad 5. Drop Box

6. CSR Racing 7. Chrome 8. Temple Run — Brave 9. Mega Run — Redford’s Adventure 10. Skype

theSCENE • November - December 2012

Recycled Art

scene How to make less trash, by making more art

By Destiny Ward

I

believe that everyone is an artist, and everyone can make art. You don’t need to go out and spend lots of money on fancy art supplies to be creative! Sometimes, all you need to create something beautiful, is a new way of looking at old things, and the courage to give it a try. Challenge yourself to think outside the box to come up with a use for some of the things you might otherwise throw out.

Making art out of recycled materials is a win/win situation. You are saving yourself money by making something on your own, and you are helping the environment and your community by choosing to reduce the amount of stuff you contribute to landfills.

Never underestimate the potential you have to create something amazing.

You can make something beautiful and have a positive affect on people around you as a result. This might sound like a lofty goal for something as simple as re-purposing household garbage, but making the choice to reuse materials can have some great consequences.

Artist Vik Muniz, created art using garbage from one of the world’s largest dumps, which is located in Brazil. He used all the money from the sales of his artwork, to help the community in which the dump is located. His goal was to try to improve the daily lives of the “catadore”, or garbage pickers, who make their living by sifting

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through and organizing, mountains of garbage every day. You can learn more about Vik Muniz and his project in the documentary film, “Wasteland”, directed by Lucy Walker.

A neighborhood in Detroit was revitalized thanks to the Heidelberg Project and the art of Tyree Guyton.

He decorated buildings in his neighborhood with works of art using found materials and paint in wild colors. He made something people would want to look at, because he wanted encourage people to visit the city, and breathe life back into his community.

Necessity is the mother of invention. These days we have no choice but to consider the impact

we each have on the environment.

Throwing things away is expensive!

Recycling items by either reusing them or taking them to a recycling center is free! If you can’t use your recyclables, surely someone can. At Midcoast Solid Waste in Camden, you can bring your returnable bottles to donate to The Lions Club, which will help to fund their community service programs, such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets they create and distribute to community members in need.

Local schools will usually take donations of materials for their art classes. Egg cartons, cereal boxes, newspapers, and yogurt containers are RECYCLED page 16

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11

Soap

scene Home Brewed Soaps Q & A with Melanie Landi

Business name: Home Brewed Soaps What is it that you make and sell?

I make beer soap out of Olive, Castor, Coconut, Shea Butter, Avocado oil, home brewed beer and lye.

How did you get started making it? I started making soap about 7 years ago for Christmas presents and fell in love with not only the art of making soap but more importantly the way my skin felt after using homemade soap. I stopped making soaps for a couple of years before I came across the idea of making beer soap. My partner brews beer as a hobby and one day we were brainstorming and I said, “ I wonder if I can make soap with beer?” So then I googled it and found that the process

was very much the same as I already knew so I began making it with beer rather than water. Shortly after Home Brewed Soaps was born.

When did the idea of selling it come to you? The idea of selling it came to me after gifting the soaps that year for Christmas. Everyone that I gave the soap to kept telling me that I should sell the soaps, so I did. I sold them for awhile at various craft shows in the area as a very part time business. Then there was a time in between my old method of soap making to my now new method of beer soap making where I didn’t make soap at all. The idea of selling has always been with me in just about any venture I take and have taken throughout my

life. I am an entrepreneur at heart and I naturally always have the thought in my head, “I wonder if I could sell this and make a business out of it?”

Where is the home base for your business located? My business or should I say soap shop/brew room is located at my house on Oliver Street in Rockland. I have a soap shop in my garage where I make the soap. I don’t have a retail store there however I do have customers come by for their beer soaps by appointment only.

Where are Home Brewed soaps available for sale? Home Brewed Soaps are available for sale both locally and online. You can find Home Brewed Soaps locally at The Good Tern Co-Op in Rockland, Fresh off The Farm in Rockport, The Wine Shack in Freeport, Snapdragons Flowers and Gifts in Rockland, Pure Maine LLC in Blue Hill, and at The Waldo County Craft Co-Op in Searsport. Online you can purchase Home Brewed Soaps at www.homebrewedsoaps.com and on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/ HomeBrewedSoaps. Home Brewed

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Soaps are available in regular size bars and also custom size guest soaps for Inns, Party Favors, Wedding Favors and more. For custom orders contact me at homebrewedsoaps@gmail.com with questions.

What have been the challenges of making and selling your own product? The challenges of making and selling my own product is keeping up with the demand, and juggling life and work. It is hard to delegate and organize time. Also with soapmaking it is very difficult to draw the line with the scents.

I find it very hard to stick to certain scents. My soap shop is flooded with different essential and fragrance oils just waiting to go into a batch of soap!

Rewards of having your own business? I enjoy being able to work when I want to and not having a set schedule and it is really rewarding and gratifying to hear positive feedback from customers who love my beer soap!

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theSCENE • November - December 2012

Handcraft

scene

The Wreath Nook, Etc.

What is the Wreath Nook, Etc.?

The Wreath Nook, Etc. is a homebased, retail business. I hand –craft seasonal, along with year ‘round, wreaths and décor. I have several other hand-made items also; this is where the “Etc.” comes in. I make everything myself in a cozy room in the back of my home.

How did it get started? I have always enjoyed creating with my hands. I actually began making Christmas and dried floral wreaths when I was a teenager. I worked locally for a couple of different companies. It wasn’t until around 1994 that I decided to branch out on my own, and began setting up at craft fairs around the state. I did take a break for several years to spend time with my daughter and just be a Mom. I picked it back up a few years ago, working mostly during the holiday season.

I have been painting since 2005, when I realized my love for the art.

I came from a long line of artists, including my great-grandfather, whose work is still being displayed in the Smithsonian, New York Historical Society and the Cooley Gallery. My Father was also an incredible artist, in the areas of portraits, landscape, sketches and graphic art, as well as illustrating some of my Mom’s books.

I would sit for hours as a child and watch him work. I guess that is where I picked up my painting talent. I love to paint on slate or wood mostly.

What types of items do you make? I hand-craft Maine balsam fir wreaths, garland, kissing balls

theSCENE • November - December 2012

Q & A with Cynthia Schmand-Philbrook

Any other time of the year, I would say that my eucalyptus and dried floral wreaths would be my specialty product. I have recently designed a “Pink” wreath for Breast Cancer Awareness as suggested by many customers. 10% of all proceeds from the sale of this particular wreath will be donated to the Susan G. Komen fund.

whatever the customer wants.

Most of my slates are done by request. If you have a specific name, address and/or picture, I will paint it on a slate.

The best way to special order is through my contact information on my Facebook page or to send your request to my business email: cschmand66@yahoo.com.

Where is the home-base for the Wreath Nook, Etc.? I am located in the small town of Dover-Foxcroft. I work right out of my home. We just bought our house this summer and I have a cozy room on the back of the house that I work in. I encourage my customers to stop in to see what I might have made up or to make an order. I do try to be very accommodating.

and tabletop trees for the holidays, along with a variety of eucalyptus and dried floral wreaths and decors for all seasons. I also make handpainted signs on roof slates and wood.

Holidays are a busy time as I make hand-painted wooden ornaments and cross-stitched pillow ornaments also.

The pillow ornaments are filled with a wonderful balsam scent. Recently, my daughter has added a couple of items to the business as she is making fleece, hand tied pillows and mini security blankets.

Is there a “specialty” product that you make and sell? I guess my specialty product around the holidays would be my Balsam Fir wreaths and kissing balls. I have picked up several new customers, including local businesses, in the past few years, and I have a long list of repeat customers every year.

Where can they be purchased?

Products can be purchased right out of my home, but I do also have a Facebook page and Etsy page. I try to keep them updated as much as possible. Customers have the option to purchase readymade items or to special order what they desire, than I ship them as they are completed. I will send a picture of the finished item if they prefer before shipping, in case they want to add anything.

My Facebook page is https://www. facebook.com/pages/The-Wreath-NookEtc/197885520256659, where you can Like my page and see items that I post, comment, send a message and order. My Etsy page is http://www.etsy. com/shop/wreathnooketc where you can order particular items that I post for sale.

Do you make things upon request? Yes, I do make things upon request. I have made several dried floral designs by color schemes for customers. My Christmas wreaths and décor also have the option of choosing bow colors, extra decorations, and pretty much

13

Music

scene

The gift of music - for free - all year long

By Marc Ratner

A

fter a year of writing assorted columns about music in 2012 I thought this last “holiday” column of the year, which will run in the combined November and December issue of “The Scene”, should be about where and how to discover new music and artists - but with a twist.

As this is another tough year financially for many of us in Maine - instead of just recommending this artist and that musician and suggesting where to buy their music - let me introduce you to two places where you can discover new artists and get new music from them for free.

Completely legally and with the artist’s blessing.

First let’s talk about Noisetrade. www.noisetrade.com It’s started with Derek Webb.

Derek Webb started his music career over 20 years ago as a founding member of the Texas-based folk/rock band Caedmon’s Call and moved on from the band after 10 years to pursue a solo career. In 2006 he decided to give away one of his albums for free online in trade for some information from his fans - their name, an email address and a zipcode. Those three items used with permission allow an artist to communicate about new music releases and shows in the fan’s area.

After Derek made the offer over 80,000 fans made the trade for the free album.

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From this start came Noisetrade.

Derek and five other companions started the company and website which helps musicians of every kind make that same trade with fans.

The number of artists that have signed up and traded single tracks, EPs and full albums now numbers in the thousands.

The music is always free for the fans but there is a way to “tip” the artist for sharing their music if you want to help them financially. Noisetrade is always completely free as well for the artists and only makes money by taking a percentage of the “tips”.

There are 18 different musical genres featured on the Noisetrade site including “Singer - Songwriter”,

“Country”, “Jazz”, “Children”, “World”, “Classical” & “Rock”.

A lot of artists use the site to give away special releases in-between their regular studio recordings. For instance The Civil Wars - 2012 double Grammy Award winners - have listed a live album on the site: It’s great way for music fans and musicians to find each other in a world where commercial media is limited in their ability to expose new music.

If Noisetrade is too much of an adventure to start looking for free new music then there’s a website that is even easier to use to download free songs and albums....Amazon.com Amazon not only has thousands of free songs that they offer in many

different genres they also promote new artists with their “Artists On The Rise” feature that monthly promotes musicians they love with free songs.

Amazon on their “Best Sellers” mp3 music page lists both the top 100 best selling albums and the top 100 ranking free albums....and do the same for songs.

Here’s how you get to the free songs on Amazon.

After you link to Amazon.com click on the arrow next to “Search” and choose mp3 music and hit “Go”. Once you’re on the mp3 page - click on “Best Sellers”. That will bring up the Top 100 sold and free charts. Then on the left hand side of the page click on either mp3 songs or albums and that will again bring up the Top 100 charts but also will bring up music genres down the left hand side. Clicking on any of them will bring up the top free songs or albums (whichever type you’ve clicked on) for that genre.

It’s easy and it’s free. Download away.

Best of all the artists encourage you to do it.

Why? Here’s the strange part.

In almost every case - the songs and albums that are given away for free end up being the best sellers for the artists as well.

How do I know?

My Camden based indie music label Mishara Music has given away

theSCENE • November - December 2012

over 600,000 songs on Amazon.

We regularly feature samplers on Amazon and have four in release now: To find them on Amazon - go to the “Search” mp3 box and type in Mishara Music. That will bring up the samplers which have 39 different free songs for downloading.

3 of the artists on the samplers Barnaby Bright www.barnabybright.com, Connor Garvey www.connorgarveysongs. com and Chris Ross www.chrisross.net (both Connor and Chris are from Maine - Barnaby Bright is a married couple from Kansas who now live in Brooklyn, NY) will be at the Camden Opera House for a Mishara Music evening of music on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

Tickets will go on sale in December and if you’re looking for a special way to spend Valentine’s Day on a dark night in the middle of winter in Maine come join us for a warm, special evening of music.

But don’t trust my judgement about the music and the evening - download their free songs for yourself and make up your own mind.

My holiday present to you along with thousands of other free songs.

Happy Holidays!

Marc

Winter Music Picks

Sara Willis’ album picks from “In Tune By Ten” - heard Monday through Friday at 10pm & Sunday at 10am on MPBN - the Maine Public Broadcasting Network (for station frequencies & streaming go to www.mpbn.net) 2012 was a great year for music and I could list 25-50 records you should buy, but instead I will tell you about the two that just have never gotten out of the cd players here in the studio. In this time of downloading single songs, these records have ALL great songs.

Kathleen Edwards’ record, Voyageur and Sara Watkins’s record Sun MIdnight Sun are the two that I just keep coming back to. Both records have great songwriting and the best musicians, and the songs range from gorgeous ballads to edgy rock songs. It’s all there from these two fabulous artists! Happy listening!

Denis Howard’s album pick from WERU 89.9 Blue Hill, 99.9 Bangor & streaming at www.weru.org

In 2012 there was no album more anticipated and more rewarding at WERU than The Avett Brothers’ “The Carpenter”. People were requesting songs from the album before we ever received our copy. After it did arrive it was easily one of the most requested and most played records of the year at the station. Only Bonnie Raitt’s new album “Slipsteam” came close to that kind of reception in 2012. Happy holidays from everyone at WERU.

Holiday Happenings wraps on Sunday, Nov. 25, starting with a pancake breakfast with Santa.

The breakfast is at the Tradewinds restaurant, Red Jacket, from 8:3010:30 a.m. For more information, visit the Rockland Main Street website at rocklandmainstreet.com

Harbor Lights Festival (Boothbay Harbor) Festival of Lights (Rockland) The 2012 Rockland Festival of Lights Celebration will kick off on Friday, Nov. 23 at 12 p.m. when Santa arrives by U.S. Coast Guard boat. The lighting of the world famous lobster trap tree will happen later that evening at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m., the annual Festival of Lights Parade will start at Harbor Park and proceed down Main Street. The street will remain closed until 8 p.m. to allow people to enjoy shopping, hot cocoa and other festivities. The festival

theSCENE • November - December 2012

From Saturday, Dec. 1 through Dec. 2, enjoy Boothbay Harbor’s 26th annual Harbor Lights Festival.

The event kicks off with the Festival of Trees on Friday, Nov. 30. The weekend is full of fun, family friendly events like the annual craft show and Christmas fair. Christmas carols will be sung with Santa on the lawn of the Boothbay Memorial Library.

Santa will be available for lap time at Gimbel’s Country Store. A lighted boat parade will proceed around the harbor. For more information visit boothbayharbor.com

New Years By The Bay (Belfast)

Christmas by the Sea (Camden, Rockport, Lincolnville) The 26th annual Christmas by the Sea event kicks off on Friday, Nov. 30 with the arrival of Santa by boat to the midcoast. The event, that runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, includes photos and story hour with Santa, musical entertainment, a community tree lighting ceremony, a parade and fireworks. Stores and restaurants will also have Holiday sales and specials.

For more information visit visitcamden. com.

Ring in the New Year at Belfast’s 15th New Years By The Bay. The event, a chem-free celebration, provides a fun, family friendly way to end 2012 and start 2013. Admission buttons for the event can be bought in advance at Parent Gallery, The Belfast Co-Op, Comfort Inn Ocean’s Edge, Hannaford’s service desk, Mr. Paperback or online at nybb.org. On New Year’s Eve, buttons can be purchased at most venue locations until they are sold out.

For more information on participating event restaurants and venues, as well as music performances, visit nybb.org.

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RECYCLED, from page 11

all useful materials in the classroom.

I use fabric scraps from my son’s outgrown or ripped clothing, to make patchwork quilts, stuffed toys, and baby blankets for friends. Most of my paintings are made on scrap wood or recycled canvases. I shop at Goodwill for unique frames that I can repaint, and use to display my kid’s artwork. The possibilities are endless when it comes to reusing objects, and when you create your own art you are guaranteed to come up with something one of a kind.

To keep your house from looking like it belongs on an episode of Hoarders, try to keep your recycling clean and organized, and only hold onto what you’re sure you can use in the next month. While it’s just not

possible to find a use for everything, there are some items that I find I never have to throw out because I can always come up with a use for them: laundry detergent bottles soup cans stained, ripped, or outgrown clothes baby food jars pasta sauce jars gift wrap or tissue paper coffee cans With the holiday season quickly approaching consider the DIY (Do-ityourself) approach to gift giving and decorating. Try making your own gift wrap, tree ornaments, or greeting cards.

It’s easy, and free- most of your supplies can be found in your recycling!

For more FREE recycled art projects and gift ideas visit my website www. theyellowhousegallery.com

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theSCENE • November - December 2012

Social Media

maven

T

his is a series of articles relating to social media trends, tips and tricks for your personal and business lives by Shannon Kinney of Dream Local Digital. She has more than 16 years of experience in the development of successful Internet products, sales and marketing strategy. She has worked on the teams developing successful Internet brands such as cars.com, careerbuilder.com, over 60 online media properties for newspapers all over the U.S. and Canada, and has worked with high profile companies such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and many others on their online strategy development.

Why many businesses are missing the boat with social media (and how to make sure you’re not one of them!)

Social media and blogs reach 80% of all active internet users in the U.S., and businesses are flocking to social media to market themselves. However, many of them are not leveraging the platforms to their potential. Here are seven tips to help you find success for your business with these tools.

Not using social media: Many small businesses are concerned that they aren’t sure how to use social media tools, or do not have the time to effectively manage social media campaigns. As more and more consumers turn to social media and search engines to make decisions on what to buy, where to eat, shop, vacation and more, businesses that avoid social media are missing out on tremendous opportunities to connect with customers and prospects alike. If your team is lacking the knowhow or the time to manage social media, find help. Dream Local Digital has a wealth of resources to assist you.

Not being part of the conversation: Some businesses believe that starting to utilize social media will “invite” controversy or bad reviews, and that ignoring it is a proper strategy.

However, in today’s environment, businesses will be talked about on

theSCENE • November - December 2012

By Shannon Kinney

social media whether they like it or not. Coca Cola, in fact, did not start their Facebook page, two fans did.

When the page quickly reached 2million fans, the Company realized they needed to take control of the page and it is now one of the largest in the world with over 55million fans at this writing. Social media is word of mouth on steroids and in public, and each business should take the management of their brand and reputation online seriously by being part of the conversation, and understanding what is said about them where online and responding appropriately. Before social media, when the average person had a bad experience they told ten other people.

With social media, that number increases exponentially. The average person has more than 225 friends on Facebook alone. There are several tools available to allow you to monitor what is being said about your brand and where online, and it’s important for businesses to take control of their reputation management.

Use the right networks: While Facebook is the largest (more than 1billion active users at this writing), and for most businesses the most important network, each social network has different strengths and abilities to reach your potential customers. Pinterest or Instagram may be the best choices for jewelry or fashion, Foursquare is powerful for deals and loyalty programs, LinkedIn is strongest for business to business, and Twitter is strong for customer service, discovery, and promoting content. It’s important to understand each network and its strengths, and how you can best deliver your brand messages to your audience.

Develop clear goals and have a plan: When first starting out with social media, building brand awareness and audience are primary goals, but they could also include reaching new target markets, developing loyalty programs and engaging with

customers, customer service, and more. Have realistic expectations and goals, and match them to your overall marketing plan for your business. Also, have a strategic plan on how to use social media – what messages will be posted where, when? What target audiences are you trying to reach?

Successful businesses have wellthought out strategies and do not post on a whim on social media. You wouldn’t whip out a TV commercial at the last minute, and you shouldn’t do that for social media posts either.

Know your customer, and how to find them online: One of the beauties of online marketing, particularly with social media, is the ability to specifically target niche audiences.

On LinkedIn, for example, you can target your message only to specific industries, companies, or job titles.

On Facebook, you can target users by geography, interests, and other key demographics. Unlike traditional advertising that more than likely needs to have broad appeal, you can be specific with your audience and connect with the on a deeper level.

This requires business owners to be specific. Who are you trying to reach?

Out of your entire product or service line, what is the most profitable to you and who buys that? Where do they hang out online?

Become an expert and resource: The most successful businesses online utilize social media to become a resource and establish their expertise. What questions are you best able to answer for potential customers? What are frequently asked questions in your industry or about your business?

What objections do you need to overcome in the sales process? Create social media (and potentially blog) posts on these topics and promote them. It will build credibility, brand awareness, increase your rankings in search engine results, and drive sales.

Measure results: The adage is true “what you measure, moves”, and social

media marketing provides detailed reports and statistics on results.

Utilize the reporting available on the networks (Facebook Insights are the strongest across networks), and also review the Google analytics of your site to gauge traffic being driven to your site from social platforms.

Not sure how to do this for your business? Need help growing your business with social media? Write dream@dreamlocal.com and we will get you a free social media review with recommendations and tips just for you and your business!

Have a question for Shannon or suggestion of what you’d like to see in the next issue? Send it to shannon@dreamlocal.com. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram and many more. www.facebook.com/dreamlocal www.twitter.com/shannonkin

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17 November

n Harvest of Talents Variety Show, 6 to 9 p.m. Chili and cornbread supper fol-

lowed by 7 p.m. show n Rockport Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. of music, singing, to 12 p.m. Rockport Farmer’s Market, 461 monologues, Commercial St., Rockport Marketplace, skits, readings Rockport. Organic eggs and produce; and knitting, with pastured pork, beef and poultry; lies; dessert at intermisbreads, pastries, sandwiches; fresh and sion, at United Methodist Church, aged cheeses. Year round. Indoors in winter. 23 Mill Lane, Belfast. Cost: $10; $6 younger Every Saturday. than 12. FMI: 338-5575. Evening ends with a free giveaway. n “Artfull Gifts”, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Invitational fine art and craft event featur- n “All Shook Up”, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Rockin’ ing the work of 50 New England-based musical filled with Elvis Presley hits preartists, artisans and artisanal food creators sented in gymnasium of Belfast Area High at Point Lookout, Route 1, Northport. Cost: School, 98 Waldo Ave. Cost: $8; $5 students, $3. A percentage of all admissions benefit senior citizens. Fridays and Saturdays at 7 Coastal Mountains Land Trust. p.m.; and 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 18. n Frozen Turkey Hunt, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the Frozen Turkey Hunt,

a great, free Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens tradition, different age groups search for apples, many of which win prizes to enhance the Thanksgiving feast, dozens of turkeys, as well as other foods and popping-corn cobs. A Golden Apple hidden along with the other apples will be good for 150 gallons of fuel oil, donated by the presenting sponsor, the Dead River Company. Other activities include apple tasting, decorating sugar cookies, creative coloring, and a fall obstacle course presented on the Great Lawn by Air & Water Quality, Inc. Complimentary apple cider and hotdogs fresh off the grill, courtesy of Cap’n Fish Whale Watch. 132 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay. n “Barrymore”, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Filmed 2011 performance by Christopher Plummer at Elgin Theater in Toronto plus “Backstage with Barrymore” short documentary screened one-time-only at Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., Rockland. Cost: $8.50/ $7.50. FMI: 594-0070.

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“Cinderella”, 7 to 9 p.m. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical presented at Oceanside East, 400 Broadway, Rockland.

Cost: $8; $6 students, senior citizens.

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“The Spiral Staircase”, 7 to 9 p.m.

Mount View High School drama students present stage adaptation of classic thriller at the Clifford Performing Arts Center of the school, Route 220, Thorndike. Cost: $5, $4 with a non-perishable food donation. Nightly through Nov. 17. Proceeds support the MVHS drama program, funded solely by donations and ticket sales.

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n “West Side Story”, 7 to 9:30 p.m.

Camden Hills Regional High School presents Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” in the Strom Auditorium of the school, Route 90, Rockport.

Cost: $12 reserved; general admission $10, $6 students/senior citizens in advance at stromtickets.com. Tickets will be $15/$12/$8 at door. FMI: 236-7800, ext. 282. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 17.

Cost: $10. Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 17.

18 November n “Artfull Gifts”, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Invitational fine art and craft event featuring the work of 50 New Englandbased artists, artisans and artisanal food creators at Point Lookout, Route 1, Northport. Cost: $3. A percentage of all admissions benefit Coastal Mountains Land Trust.

“Cinderella”, 2 to 4 p.m. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical presented at Oceanside East, 400 Broadway, Rockland.

Cost: $8; $6 students, senior citizens.

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Holiday Season do 30 November

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Winter farmers’ market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aubuchon Hardware greenhouse, 231 Northport Ave., Belfast.

There will be 16 vendors selling local produce, cheese, baked goods, chicken, lamb, beef, water buffalo, preserves, chutney, apples, cider, honey, yarn, soap, crafts and more. There will be no market Nov. 23, the Friday after Thanksgiving.

1 December

Holly Berry Fair, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rockport Garden Club’s Annual Holly Berry Fair at the Rockport Opera House. Gingerfilled with Elvis Presley bread houses, jewelry, handmade articles, hits presented in gymnadecorative hand-painted items, Granny’s sium of Belfast Area High Attic treasures, beautiful centerpieces with School, 98 Waldo Ave. Cost: $8; $5 students, senior citizens. Fridays and greenery and decorative baskets, homebaked delights, and many more artistic Saturdays at 7 p.m.; and 3 p.m. Sundays goods. All proceeds are to benefit the through Nov. 18. beauty of Rockport, and for scholarships to local graduates.

n “All Shook Up”, 3 to 5:30 p.m. Rockin’ musical

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23 November

n Harbor Lights Festival, 9 a.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus with Elves arrive by boat, festival of trees display in historic Opera 231 Northport Ave., Belfast. There will be House with silent auction, horse-drawn 16 vendors selling local produce, cheese, wagon rides, holiday craft fairs, lighting of the town tree, holiday baked goods, chicken, lamb, beef, water buffalo, preserves, chutney, apples, cider, carols, live nativity and honey, yarn, soap, crafts and more. There spectacular lighted will be no market Nov. 23, the Friday after boat parade. Call for full schedule of events. FMI: Thanksgiving.

633-2353

n Winter farmers’ market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aubuchon Hardware greenhouse,

24 November n Rockport Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rockport Farmer’s Market, 461

Commercial St., Rockport Marketplace, Rockport. Organic eggs and produce; pasn “Once on This Island”, 7:30 to 9:30 tured pork, beef and poultry; lies; breads, p.m. Medomak Valley Players present Lynn pastries, sandwiches; fresh and aged Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s tropical dance theater musical at Medomak Valley cheeses. Year round. Indoors in winter.

High School, Manktown Road, Waldoboro. Every Saturday.

n Rockport Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rockport Farmer’s Market, 461

Commercial St., Rockport Marketplace, Rockport. Organic eggs and produce; pastured pork, beef and poultry; lies; breads, pastries, sandwiches; fresh and aged cheeses. Year round. Indoors in winter.

Every Saturday. n The Met: Live in HD, 1 to 4 p.m.

Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., Rockland,

theSCENE • November - December 2012

presents Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” live 256 High Street, Belfast. FMI: 338-2222 or via satellite broadcast. Cost: $27; season waterfallarts.org tickets available. FMI: 594-0070 or rocklandstrand.com. Encore 1 p.m. Dec. 11; $23, December $15 student. n Rockport Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rockport Farmer’s Market, 461 December Commercial St., Rockport Marketplace, n Harbor Lights Festival, 9 a.m. Santa Rockport. Organic eggs and Mrs. Claus with Elves arrive by boat, and produce; pastured festival of trees display in historic Opera pork, beef and poultry; House with silent auction, horse-drawn lies; breads, pastries, wagon rides, holiday craft fairs, lighting of sandwiches; fresh and the town tree, holiday carols, live nativity aged cheeses. Year round. Indoors in winter. and spectacular lighted boat parade. Call Every Saturday. for full schedule of events. FMI: 633-2353 n Makem & Spain Brothers, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Considered the definitive Irish singDecember ers of their generation, the powerhouse voices of the five Makem & Spain Brothers n 100 Years of Movies Screenings, 7 bring a hint of an Irish Christmas to the to 9:30 p.m. Colonial Theatre, 163 High Opera House tonight. 50 years ago the St., Belfast, screens “The Makem brothers’ father, Tommy, burst on to Descendants” (2011, the US folk scene with an appearance on USA) at 6:45 p.m.; “The the Ed Sullivan with his band The Clancy Artist” (2011, France/ Brothers. Irish music has grown in popularBelgium/USA) at 7 p.m. ity in the US ever since and his sons carry and “Hugo” (USA, 2011) on the tradition. Join us as we welcome the at 7:15 p.m. Free. Finale of theater’s 100th traditional sound and expansive talents of anniversary year celebration. the Makem & Spain Brothers this holiday season. Advance tickets $20, day of show tickets $25. Special advance priced $10 December tickets for under 18. Opera House at Boothn Winter farmers’ market, 9 a.m. to bay Harbor. Doors open at 7 p.m. FMI: 6331 p.m. Aubuchon Hardware greenhouse, 5159 or online at boothbayoperahouse.

231 Northport Ave., Belfast. There will be com.

16 vendors selling local produce, cheese, baked goods, chicken, lamb, beef, water December buffalo, preserves, chutney, apples, cider, honey, yarn, soap, crafts and more. There n The Met: Live in HD Encore, 1 to 4 will be no market Nov. 23, the Friday after p.m. Strand Theatre, 345 Thanksgiving.

Main St., Rockland, screens Dec. 1 performance of n Handmade at Clifford Gallery, 5 to Mozart’s “La Clemenza di 8 p.m. There will be an opening reception Tito”. Cost: $23; $15 student. FMI: 594-0070 for Handmade on Friday, Dec. 7 from 5-8 or rocklandstrand.com. p.m. in the Clifford Gallery. Handmade is

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an annual exhibit showcasing featuring a curated collection of unique, high-quality December handmade goods and artwork from over 40 indie and alternative artists and crafters. n Winter farmers’ market, 9 a.m. to Handmade will be open Thursday through 1 p.m. Aubuchon Hardware greenhouse, Sunday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. from Dec. 6-23. 231 Northport Ave., Belfast. There will be

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16 vendors selling local produce, cheese, baked goods, chicken, lamb, beef, water buffalo, preserves, chutney, apples, cider, honey, yarn, soap, crafts and more. There will be no market Nov. 23, the Friday after Thanksgiving.

15 December n Rockport Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rockport Farmer’s Market, 461

baked goods, chicken, lamb, beef, water buffalo, preserves, chutney, apples, cider, honey, yarn, soap, crafts and more. There will be no market Nov. 23, the Friday after Thanksgiving.

22 December n Rockport Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rockport Farmer’s Market,

461 Commercial St., Rockport Marketplace, Commercial St., Rockport Marketplace, Rockport. Organic Rockport. Organic eggs and produce; eggs and produce; pastured pork, beef and poultry; lies; pastured pork, beef breads, pastries, sandwiches; fresh and aged cheeses. Year round. Indoors in winter. and poultry; lies; breads, pastries, sandwiches; fresh and Every Saturday. aged cheeses. Year round. Indoors in winter.

Every Saturday.

18 December

n S’Mores & More Holiday Party, 4 to 7 p.m. Delight in holiday fun and sea-

sonal decorations indoors and out at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. At this free event, enjoy lantern-lit tours of the Central Gardens, toasting marshmallows over campfires to make scrumptuous s’mores, quaffing hot chocolate and cider, making evergreen swags in workshops ($5 materials fee), and music. Sponsored by Good ‘N You of Boothbay Harbor. FMI: mainegardens.org

20 December n

Bay Chamber: Irish Christmas in America, 7 to 9 p.m. Festive seasonal cheer with Irish and Scottish music and dance at the Camden Opera House, 29 Elm St., Camden. Cost: $40 age 21-35; $10 younger. FMI: 236-2823 or (888) 707-2770

21 December n Winter farmers’ market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aubuchon Hardware greenhouse,

231 Northport Ave., Belfast. There will be 16 vendors selling local produce, cheese,

29 December n Rockport Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rockport Farmer’s Market, 461

Commercial St., Rockport Marketplace, Rockport. Organic eggs and produce; pastured pork, beef and poultry; lies; breads, pastries, sandwiches; fresh and aged cheeses. Year round. Indoors in winter.

Every Saturday.

31 December n New Year’s By The Bay, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Ring in the New Year in Belfast with

food, music and fun! The 15th annual, chem-free celebration offers a fun, family friendly way to start off 2013. FMI: 323-1748 or nybb.org. n New Year’s Eve Blues Party, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Ring in 2013

with the Bobby Messano Band at the Trade Winds Motor Inn, Park Drive, Rockland. Cost: $199 plus tax per couple, includes room, four-course dinner, dance, party favors, champagne toast, use of the pool and hot tub and full breakfast buffet. Call Paul Benjamin, 596-6055.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!! theSCENE • November - December 2012

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Last Night! New Years in Blue Hill

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f you’re looking to ring in 2013 in a way that’s somewhat reminiscent of days gone by while, at the same time, filling your heart with hopes and dreams for a better future; plan to attend Last Night! On December 31, this year.

You’ll find a warm glow of community spirit and hope alive and well, even on a cold winter’s night, in the small coastal town of Blue Hill, Maine.

Maine is renowned for its unique line-up of homegrown events that bring communities together to foster traditions that are often lost in the glitter of blinding bright lights in our fast-paced, modern culture. A prime example is an event that started in 2003 with a steel band performance

by Flash! In the Pan on New Year’s Eve at the Blue Hill Town Hall. Their performance that particular “last night” sparked inspiration that’s since evolved

into an annual fun-for-the-entirefamily event that attracts visitors from miles around. One has to personally experience a New Year’s Eve in Blue Hill to honestly feel its significance.

Having done so, myself, I can attest that the entertainers, businesses, and volunteers turn the entire town, from end to end, into an unforgettable celebration. Plus, everything offered at the festivities is donated, from its food and drink at the firehouse right down to its performances by musical entertainers, poets, storytellers, actors, puppeteers, etc. hosted around town.

As Nigel Chase expresses, “It is such an amazing sight to see so many people walking the streets in the bitter cold…” as they migrate from venue to venue throughout the night. Nigel is a member of the Last Night Committee, which is a subcommittee of Peninsula

By Gail J. Vanwart

Pan, Inc, the official organizer for the event and a non-profit organization supporting steel drum music and education in Down East Maine. He’s pleased with how Last Night! has evolved and very proud of the many personalities and performers who step up and share their talent for free—on an evening which they would be paid for elsewhere. Over the years, even Noel Paul Stookey, the Blue Hill resident, so well known as the singer and songwriter who’s the “Paul” in the legendary folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, has stepped up to volunteer his time and talent.

Its venue may change from year to year but Last Night! Is becoming a solid New Year’s Eve tradition in the Blue Hill community. The 2012 schedule includes poet Arnold Greenberg,

and live music by Timbered Lake, Jay & Bjorn Peterson, O.C. and Sara, Bluegene, Loose Cannon Jug Band, Flash! In the Pan, Brooklin Community Band and more. Additionally, there will be dancing, kids crafts, a puppet show, and Radio Playsperformance

by New Surry Theatre. For complete information and schedule, as the date draws closer, please visit http://www. flashinthepans.org/penpan/index.html.

Season’s Greetings from Harbor Hounds Turkey for Thanksgiving!

Voted Best of the Best

Oh Boy, Roast Beef for Christmas!

Silly boys, it’s the eggnog!

Let your pets enjoy the Holidays with us.

311 Park St., Rockland, ME “Rockland’s Hotel for Hounds” 207.593.7913 – Visit us on Facebook 20

theSCENE • November - December 2012