stretch your dollars across maine MADAWASKA 207-728-7234 81 Fox Street
I95 North to Houlton � Rt 1 North to Madawaska � Left onto 25th Ave. � Left onto Fox St. Marden’s is on the right.
Be on the l kout for a marden’s near you! marden’s
surplus & salvage
PRESQUE ISLE 207-762-3417 803 Main Street
come in and see for yourself why we’re the bargain hunter’s pardise!
I95 North to Houlton � Rt 1 North to Presque Isle. Marden’s is on the left.
HOULTON 207-532-9125 120 North Street
I95 � exit 302. Marden’s is on your right.
LINCOLN 207-794-2013 28-32 Main Street I95 � exit 227. Right turn off exit � At intersection, turn left onto Rt 2 � 1-1/2 mile stop light � Left turn onto Main Street.
CALAIS 207-454-1421 189 Main Street
I95 � exit 182A � 395E � Rt 9E � Rt 1S Follow to Canada. Marden’s is on the left just before the border. Furniture/Flooring store is on right across from McDonalds. Ph. 207454-1459
ELLSWORTH 207-669-6036 461 High Street
I95 � exit 182A � 395E � Parkway exit � Right turn � Traffic light. Right turn onto Wilson Street.
Maine:
the way life should be
I-95 � exit 182A � 395E � Merge onto Rt1A to Ellsworth � Rt 1A becomes Rt 1 and Rt 3 North � Follow High St./Rt. 3E � Marden’s is 1.3 miles on the right.
BREWER 207-989-1750 564 Wilson Street
We carry • shoes • clothing • hardware • furniture • flooring • fabric • houswares • general merchandise • seasonal items!
Marden’s:
the way bargains should be
we also have stores in biddeford, sanford, scarborough, Gray, Lewiston, Rumford and waterville. Visit our website at www.mardens.com for driving directions
Contents
October, November and December 2010
F e at u r e s
14 Antique Tractor Club by Tamra Kilcollins
22 The Goose Hunt by Rebecca Bowmaster 28 Fair is Fair by Dan Ladner 34 Maine Veterans’ Home by Trish Thibodeau 40 Aroostook State Park by Scott Thompson 42 Hunting Safety by Warden Charles Brown 44 An Aroostook Wreath by Judy Sherman
Departments 8 County Events 46 County Health Sleep Apnea Nutrition Labels 50 County Critters 52 The County Eats 54 Focus on Business 56 Our Communities 64 Higher Education 80 Illustration
by Holly Hardwick
o
ur Thoughts Whew! Could it really have only been a year ago that the first issue of Our Maine Street Magazine was released? The past year has been a memorable one for us. Starting a new endeavour is never easy, and like all new businesses we have certainly had our share of learning experiences and challenges, but the rewards and lessons have definitely been worth it. We have met some amazing people, seen some beautiful images, explored this area we call home, learned a thing or two along the way and have had the pleasure of speaking to others about how great The County is (seriously, we think it’s pretty cool). I was recently reminded about how amazing the community in The County is while helping out at the Relay for Life in Caribou. Originally, we hadn’t planned on including a piece on the Relay in this issue, as it would be held after our normal press deadline. As the Relay approached it became clear that this was one event that we just couldn’t miss, and as a result we held the magazine from the presses two weeks past our normal press date. While this has certainly made for a fast-paced pre-press schedule (compared to normal anyway) we feel it was worth it, and hope that we managed to capture a bit of the amazing atmosphere we experienced while at the Relay. Kudos to the Relay team and all of those that participated, donated and supported the cause. We hope you’ll sit back, relax, and enjoy the articles and images of our summer issue. Thanks for everything Aroostook; we’ll see you in October.
Craig Cormier Our Maine Street Magazine craig@ourmainestreet.com
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FALL 2010
Our Maine Street m agaz ine
Publisher Our Maine Street LLC Editor In Chief Craig Cormier Circulation / Advertising Charles Cormier Staff Illustrator Holly Hardwick
Many Thanks to: (in no particular order)
Tamra Kilcollins, Ragina Kakos Rebecca Bowmaster, Ken Lamb Dan Ladner, Gene Cyr, Trish Thibodeau Scott Thompson, Charles Brown Oxbow Wreaths, Kim Jones, Allison Heidorn Professional Home Nursing, Dr. Terri McQuade, Kaitlyn McLaughlin Content and subscription information: content@ourmainestreet.com 207.472.3464 232 Main Street Suite 2 Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 www.ourmainestreet.com Our Maine Street LLC is jointly owned by Charles, Cheryl and Craig Cormier. Proudly printed in the State of Maine, United States of Amerca.
OUR PRINTING IS 100% WIND POWERED
This publication is made possible by the generous support of our advertising partners. Please let them know you saw them in Our Maine Street Magazine and that you appreciate their support of County projects.
Aroostook Home Health Services Aroostook Technologies Audibert Polaris Boondocks Grille Bouchard Family Farms Caribou Inn & Convention Center Cary Medical Center Chandler Farms Inc Clifford L Rhome CPA, P.A. Cormier Cabinetry Dean’s Motor lodge, Inc Fort Kent Ski-Doo Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce Greater Madawaska Chamber of Commerce Husson University I Care Pharmacy John’s Shurfine Food Store M.A.C.S Trading Post Made In Aroostook Maine Solar and Wind LLC Maine Veterans Home Marden’s McGillan Inc Monica’s Scandinavian Imports Nadeau House of Flooring Nadeau House of Furniture Northern Maine Community College Northern Prosthetics Overlook Motel Pines Health Services Power of Prevention Presque Inn & Convention Center Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce Professional Home Nursing Quigley’s Building Supply University of Maine at Fort Kent University of Maine at Presque Isle Valley Home Health Services Thank You! Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher, staff or advisory board. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information present in this issue is accurate, and neither Our Maine Street Magazine nor any of its staff are responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright © 2010 Our Maine Street LCC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system without written permission, in writing, from the publishers. FALL 2010
5
Clifford L Rhome CPA, P.A. 34 North Street, Suite 3 Presque Isle, ME 04769 Tel: 207 764-5800 Fax; 207 764-1083 crhome@myfairpoint.net
“A Name you can trust”
Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce Presque Islewww.pichamber.com Area Chamber of Commerce Proudly Serving the communities of Ashland, Blaine, Castle Hill, Chapman, Easton, Mapleton, Mars Hill, Masardis, OxBow, Portage, Presque Isle, Washburn and Westfield. 3 Houlton Road P.O. Box 672 Presque Isle, Me 04742 Tel: 207 764-6561
Fax: 207 764-6571
© 2010 Ragina Kakos, Viewpoint photography, viewpointbyragina@yahoo.com
County Events
October - December 2010 a look at upcoming activities in aroostook
October 2 & 3 Fall & Winter Expo Location: The Forum For more information call Shannon Cook at 760-1188
October 25 30th Annual Cary Health Fair For more information call Cary Medical Center’s Public Relations Office at 498-1112
October 9 & 10 Fall Arts, Crafts & Collectables Fair Location: The Forum For more information call The Forum at 764-0491
November 11 Holiday Arts & Crafts Show For more information call The Aroostook Centre Mall at 764-3616
October 11 Closing of Patten Lumbermens Museum Location: Patten Lumbermens Museum For more information call The Northern Katahdin Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce at 463-4634
November 19 Main Street Mania For more information call The Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce at 764-6561
October 15 Haunted Walk at Aroostook State Park For more information call The Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce at 764-6561 October 16 & 17 Caribou Fall Arts & Crafts Festival For more information call The Caribou Chamber at 498-6156 October 17 Ice Season Begins Location: The Forum For more information call The Forum at 764-0491 October 23 Sherman Pumpkin Festival Location: Sherman For more information call The Northern Katahdin Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce at 463-4634
Chandler Farms Inc.
November 26-27 Houlton Annual Winter Craft and Gift Fair sponsored by Houlton Parks and Recreation November 26th from 11am -5pm and November 27th from 10am -4pm
1089 State Road Mapleton, ME 04757
OFF ITS 88
Tel: 207.764.5228 8 County Events
Fax: 207.764.1673 FALL 2010
November 21 16th Annual Dickens of a Christmas For more information call The Greater Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce at 834-5354
November 27 Tree Lighting Ceremony & Santa Parade For more information call The Caribou Chamber at 4986156
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Location: Fort Kent Library For more information call The Greater Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce at 834-5354 The Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce presents the Annual Holiday Light Parade, tree lighting ceremony and visits with Santa. Parade starts at 6pm November 27 & 28 30th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair Location: University of Maine at Fort Kent For more information call The Greater Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce at 834-5354 November 28 Sherman Christmas Parade & Events Location: Sherman For more information call The Northern Katahdin Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce at 463-4634 December Annual Gingerbread Contest For more information call the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce at 207-532-4216 Christmas in the Village For more information call the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce at 207-532-4216 December 4 Holiday Light Parade For more information call the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce at 764-6561 December 14 Annual Holiday Home Decorating Contest & Annual Business Decorating ContestJudging For more information call the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce at 207-532-4216
FALL 2010 County Events 9
Photo Š 2010 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
10 County Events
FALL 2010
Firearms new, used, trade ins, Hunting, Fishing, and more. Come see us! 382 North Street Houlton, Maine 04730 207.532.9700
Sales, Service, Parts, Accessories Route 161, Caribou Road Fort Kent, Maine 04743 207 834-3659
www.overlookmotel.com 3232 aroostook road eagle lake, me 04739 207 444-4535 Wireless Internet, AC, Cable, Coffee Makers, Private Decks, Hot Tub Suites, Efficiences, 2 & 3 Bdr. Apts, Continental Breakfast, Boat Rentals, Tanning Bed, Private Beach, Coin-Op Laundry
BOONDOCK’s BOONDOCK’S ~ ~ GRILLE est. 2009
Steak, Seafood, Pizza Phone: 207-472-6074 294 MAIN STREET, FORT FAIRFIELD T-TH 11am-8pm FR-SAT 11am-9pm SUN 8am-1pm CLOSED MONDAYS
FALL 2010 County Events 11
Our Maine Street M a g a z i n e
232 Main Street Suite 2, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742 www.ourmainestreet.com 207.472.3464
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14 Antique Tractors FALL 2010
Antique Tractors by Tamra Kilcollins
Antique tractors are truly a thing of beauty. They’re unique and powerful machines; mechanical work horses that come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They’ve stood the test of time and are an immensely important part of our agricultural heritage. Antique tractor enthusiasts are just as unique; their passion for restoring and preserving these great machines is evident, and their knowledge of tractor mechanics, regardless of make, model or year manufactured, is amazing. And, it goes without saying there is often times a fierce loyalty to a particular brand. But, in the end, whether you’re a John Deere man, (or woman), or a Farmall, Massey Harris, Allis Chalmers, Cockshut, Ford, or Oliver ……you name it…… whatever the make and color, you have a common bond and interest for all that’s tractor. Over the past several years the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club, (NMATC), has grown to over 150 members. Members from throughout Aroostook and Penobscot Counties, and neighboring New Brunswick, Canada, that all have an interest in the preservation of our rural heritage, and a passion for owning and/or restoring part of our history, whether it be old tractors, different types of equipment and engines or any related items that were used in the farming industry by past generations. The club’s mission is to build an awareness of our agricultural heritage
for present and future generations, by displaying and showing our old tractors and equipment at work. And in the process our goals are always to have fun, show sportsmanship and develop lifelong friendships. This year was an extremely busy one for the NMATC. From June to October, rain or shine, almost a dozen Antique Tractor Pulls from Fort Kent to Springfield were held, along with the Annual Antique Plow Days Event, the Antique Memorial Tractor Trek for Charity, participation in trade fairs, several antique tractor, farm machinery and equipment displays, and other community and family events. Antique tractor displays are so interesting. Where there’s an antique tractor, there’s usually a group of people standing around talking, reminiscing and comparing old to new. One of the club’s display highlights is during Northern Maine Fair week in August, where the NMATC partners with The Northern Maine Fair Association in operating the newly constructed Agricultural Heritage Museum on the fairgrounds in Presque Isle. Our Antique Tractor Pulls are enormously fun and full of friendly competition. The pulls are made possible by so many club members working together to make it all happen; up and down the rural highways of Northern Maine each weekend with all the needed equipment to lay out the pulling track, transporting the scales and, of course, FALL 2010 Antique Tractors 15
one of the two “progressive drags.” There’s much more to it than just backing up my Farmall Super M to the drag, that intricately designed big hunk of mechanized steel, with all its gears clanking and weights working against me. No pull is ever the same because of the different track conditions, and the working status of your old tractor. There’s constant chatter and bantering back and forth among members about weights and where to place them, what gear to go in, and the best direction to head down the track. Everyone is always talking about engines, drawbars, pistons, plugs, RPM’s, weights, and all that tractor jargon. I’m so lucky because my husband handles all the “technical stuff.” I just have to worry about what gear I’m going in, how to work the throttle and watching the tires to see if they’re “biting.” At each pull, there are odd and even weight classes from 2,000 to 7,500 lbs, and the Open Class for the big, weighted down, machines. It’s especially fun to watch our Youth Pullers. For them, these antique tractors must seem pretty ancient. Most of the tractors are pre-1960, so were manufactured and in use long before they were born. And, when the day is done and another pull is over, whether or not you’ve won any ribbons, it’s been an incredibly great time, with great friends, all bonded together by their love of antique tractors and our rural heritage. For more information about the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club and all of the club’s activities, please visit our website at www. northernmaineantiquetractorclub. com. Oh, and for the record, even though I enjoy driving any antique tractor, and I don’t really have a preference over one make or model, there’s nothing like the familiar and comforting clank clank clank of my Super M’s muffler cover softly caressing the top of the stack, as I’m sitting waiting in line to pull.
16 Antique Tractors FALL
1
2
Photos © 2010 Tamra Kilcollins
Starting top left counterclockwise 1. Norman Lajoie of Van Buren pulling a 1948 Ford 8N 2. Roger Quint of Hodgdon pulling a 1950 Farmall H 3. Tractors ready to pull in Madawaska 4. Perlin Bull of Washburn pulling a 1953 Farmall Super H 5. Beau Bradstreet of Bridgewater pulling his 1949 Massey Harris 30.
3
4
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Top photo – A great summer day for a tractor pull in St. Agatha Left photo – Tractors ready to pull in St. Agatha Right photo – (In foreground) Farmall Antique Tractor Collection owned by Meredith Folsom of Monticello; (in background) Tractors parked at Meredith’s home on Route #1 in Monticello while the group takes a break as part of the Annual Tractor Trek for Charity.
Photos © 2010 Tamra Kilcollins
FALL 2010 Antique Tractors 19
Š 2010 Ragina Kakos, Viewpoint photography, viewpointbyragina@yahoo.com
The Goose Hunt by Rebecca Bowmaster with photos by Ken Lamb
I am not a morning person. Ok that isn’t completely true, for ninety percent of the year I am not a morning person. I don’t like getting out of my warm bed in the morning and I definitely need some “me time” right when I get up. What happens the other ten percent of the time? Goose hunting. There is nothing quite like laying in a blind, covered in cut grain in a deserted field on a chilly September morning, watching the sun come up. I don’t mind that I woke up at 3 a.m. I don’t really care that my toes are a little cold. I am just happy to be there. Growing up I was surrounded by hunting and fishing. It was something that was a constant in my life. My parents owned a set of sporting camps so it was a way to make a living, as well as a staple of the culture in my little Maine town. My father is a Master Guide and trust me, if you want to hunt something, he will find it for you. But even though hunting was always in my life, I didn’t have any interest in participating. I always enjoyed going target practicing with my father but I in no way actually wanted to trudge through the woods in search of various game. I didn’t get into goose hunting until I met the man that would become my husband.
Pete and I met in the spring. So initially I didn’t know how much of an outdoorsman he really was. As the year progressed and it got closer to the fall I began to get a better idea of his love of the outdoors. As it turned out, Pete was an avid goose hunter. When the season got closer, he asked me if I would go on a hunt with him. Not ever wanting to be the girly-girl, I immediately said sure. He then proceeded to let me know that we would be waking up at 3 a.m. and it would be freezing cold. Things never sound as bad when they are coming from the guy you’re head over heels for. So on that first day, I rolled begrudgingly out of bed, put on approximately 20 layers and climbed grumbling into the truck. Did I mention I’m not a morning person? For our first hunt together on that frigid morning we drove in darkness to a broccoli field in Fort Fairfield. Pete took the truck around the back of the field and found a suitable location to drop off all of the decoys and blinds. He then drove off to hide the truck leaving me in darkness surrounded by life size plastic geese, wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into. Thankfully, I was only alone for a few minutes and Pete was back. We arranged
© 2010 Ken Lamb, northernshutter.com Opposite and inset phoros by Rebecca and Pete Bowmaster
the fake geese in such a way that any real geese flying over would want to drop in and check things out. It didn’t take long for us to then place the blinds out and cover them with frozen broccoli plant remains. At this point in the very early morning I was starting to actually wake up and light was starting to creep up over the horizon. I laid down in my blind still very aware of the fact that I could see my breath every time I spoke and that it was too early for any sane person to be out of bed. Then it happened, the single moment where I became so very happy to be in that frozen field at that incredibly early hour. The sun came up. Yes, I know, it comes up every day, but I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been awake enough to notice it. It was so beautiful on this particular morning. It took the frigidness out of the air, and it made the entire field of broccoli plants glisten. I would love to tell you that after the awesome sunrise we had a phenomenal hunt. But that sadly wasn’t the case. Apparently the geese were not interested in broccoli that day. We had flocks fly right over us but none actually landed, so I didn’t get to shoot my first goose during my first actual day out in a field. My father would say that they call it hunting for a reason. Since then I have shot a fair amount
of birds on the various hunts that I have been on. Nothing, of course, close to my husband’s count, but definitely enough to call myself a goose hunter. As with any other form of hunting, there are plenty of regulations and restrictions to insure appropriate management of the goose population. During the season there are different limits on how many geese one person is able to shoot and when you start and stop hunting. All of these rules are put into place for proper conservation. True hunters enjoy the hunt too much to want to injure the population of whatever it may be that they are hunting. I knew the first time that I met Pete that there was something different about him. I simply knew that I needed to get to know him better; that he was someone that I wanted in my life. I, because of him, have a new love for goose hunting. I now have a reason to look forward to the autumn. I have a reason to be outside breathing in the crisp air and watching the sun slowly rise over a harvested field. I knew that he would bring something new and exciting to my life. I didn’t know that the new and exciting things would include goose hunting. I am so very happy that it does. FALL 2010 The Goose Hunt 23
Š 2010 Ken Lamb, northernshutter.com
24 The Goose Hunt FALL 2010
26 The Goose Hunt FALL 2010
Š 2010 Ken Lamb, northernshutter.com
The Goose Hunt FALL 2010 27
Fair is Fair by Dan Ladner
Is it just me, or has the Northern Maine Fair lost its flair for excitement through the years? I realize that through children’s eyes, things seem much bigger and better than they really are, but is that reason enough for me to lose interest in even attending the fair any more? Back in 1945 when I was eight, and my sister Ann was four, the fair was a big deal. Families looked forward to the annual event with great anticipation. We kids gawked at fair posters tacked to telephone poles all over town. There were even billboards back then announcing the big week-long event. My folks always built it up by talking about all the things we were going to see and do – and all the rides we were going to go on. Ann would be so excited a day or two before it opened, she would always have a nosebleed. My dad was an ABC Bakery delivery man and he was assigned to distribute bread, hot dog and hamburger rolls, and pastries to all the eating
establishments on the fairgrounds. He took me with him every day in his truck during the deliveries. I could hardly wait! The World of Mirth Midway was brought to Presque Isle by railroad flatcars. Arriving very late on a Saturday night, many townspeople (including my little family of four) would gather at the railroad station to wait for the arrival of the train. It was one of the most exciting feelings that a rural American child could experience in his life…it was literally “the circus coming to town!” Even the unloading process was exciting – and noisy. Large Cole’s Express trucks would be lined up and down the streets to haul the circus-like boxcars from the train to the ground, then roar off with them from the station to the fairgrounds. Even at midnight, Presque Isle was alive with excitement for this big happening. The carnies worked throughout the night
unloading and setting up the midway, so by Monday morning everything was ready for the grand opening of the big event. Everybody could hardly wait to see if there were any new rides this year. The fairgrounds weren’t paved in those days, so big stakes were driven into the ground to support the rides, especially tall ones like the Ferris wheel and the Zipper. World of Mirth brought its own generators for electricity and those large self-contained motors roared and smelled of diesel in many locations throughout the midway. People’s conversations were halted when walking by them, so most of us avoided going near them to ease the aggravation of the noise and smell. Local farmers (and there were many in those days) brought their animals and latest equipment in for display, and 4-H Club members scurried around grooming their animals and displays for competition. I always liked to visit the exhibitions by county grange members and extension groups. They displayed their handiwork for public admiration and competition – everything from flowers and vegetables to quilts, blankets, and doilies.
I’m sure they were proud to take home a ribbon or two for their efforts. Large cone-shaped speakers were attached to the flag-adorned grandstand, and announcements were continually blasted away about upcoming events and attractions. Harness racing was held every afternoon, bringing in lots of racing fans anxious to put their money down on their favorite horses. My dad loved to wager on the races and often celebrated as a happy winner (that is after delivering all his bread products of course). We didn’t worry back in those days about pedophiles, kidnappers and all those scary things, so Dad trusted me enough to drop me off when he reached the fairgrounds and allowed me to wander around by myself while he was delivering bread products. Some of the dirty and greasy-looking carnies were so scary-looking, that people kept their distance from them as much as possible anyway. In case of emergency though, I always knew where Dad parked his truck. The midway contained many sideshows – always a couple of girly shows, a House of Mirrors (I was afraid FALL 2010 Fair is Fair 29
your opportunity Discover an exciting career or an affordable start to a four year degree...
33 Edgemont Drive l Presque Isle, ME 04769 (207) 768-2785 l www.nmcc.edu
Photo Š 2010 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
to get lost in that one), a freak show, a House of Horrors (afraid of that one, too), and one of my all-time favorites “Dancing Waters.” I went to that show almost every day to listen to the beautiful classical music while water was sprayed in rhythm to the music, an early precursor to the famed fountains at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. I was too little to go into the girly shows of course, but I stood with the many other kids and adults outside the tent when the girls would come out to dance in their skimpy costumes, enticing people to pay to come in to see the show. Years later when I grew up, I heard that the hot Saturday night shows were the ones to attend for various and assorted reasons. The freak show consisted of showing people and animals with oddities of human nature – like a cow with two heads, a real bearded lady, a sword-swallower, a man with elephant skin, and other such things that were twists of fate. When some of them came out on a platform before the show started, I think I felt like a peeping Tom or a voyeur, although at eight years old I didn’t even know that word. It seems strange to me now, but my whole family always went to what was called The Midget Show, actually a wonderful and wholesome family-oriented variety show done by Little People. The show was always sold out and I don’t ever remember anyone making fun of them…we were more in awe and appreciation of their talents and abilities. My grandfather Jim Ladner was often a tickettaker at the sideshows, no doubt a job my father found for him. It was fun to see Grampy doing that, although he often looked sleepy or bored to death by the middle of the week. I remember being a little embarrassed though when I saw him taking tickets at the girly shows. The fair offered all kinds of attractions. After horsepulling competitions in the morning, and I suppose as a filler between other major events, a platform containing a big Hammond Organ with large speakers was wheeled onto the racetrack and a lovely costumed lady would climb aboard the organ bench and begin to play flashy popular music, the sounds amplified throughout the fairgrounds and wafting into the surrounding neighborhoods. Wherever I was, when I heard that organ music begin, I would rush over to the racetrack, sit on the ground nearby and watch her play by the hour, mesmerized by her hands playing on the different keyboards, her feet practically dancing on the foot pedals. I loved it, and wonder now if she might have been one of the inspirations for my own future interest in becoming an organist. Before the days of television, rural Americans didn’t have the opportunity to see live variety shows and one of the big features of the fair was the George E. Hammond Revue, a vaudeville show performed each
evening on a large stage in front of the grandstand. My whole family always got all dressed up and attended this show, our tickets having been purchased in advance as it was almost always sold out. It was truly a huge theatrical production, with professional lighting brought in, a live orchestra, a chorus line of fifteen or twenty beautiful dancers in lavish costumes, comedy routines, magic acts, and vocal and instrumental soloists. I’ll never forget one of my all-time favorites: The Banana Man, a clown act featuring a man in a large overcoat filled everywhere with bananas. Each time he pulled out a banana or two, he would make a comical gargling sound with his voice. The more he pulled out, the more the audience laughed. He finally ended up with what seemed like hundreds of bananas piled around him on the stage. People loved his routine, so much so, that he often returned year after year with the troupe to repeat his performance. The big extravaganza was always topped off with a death-defying high-wire trapeze act set up next to the stage. The show was the talk of the town (and the county) and audiences could hardly wait to see what George E. Hammond would bring to next year’s fair. In the weeks following, our neighborhood kids would produce our own vaudeville shows and someone (usually me) always mimicked The Banana Man – substituting string beans for bananas. Unfortunately with the advent of television, especially The Ed Sullivan Show, traveling vaudeville troupes faded away because now the world’s greatest performers and entertainers were brought right into our own living rooms…no tickets required. Without those flashy shows, and because of my advancing age and changing interests, my attendance at the fair began to wane. I thought, “Same old—same old” and finally stopped going altogether. Then something happened that rekindled my interest. Having four little girls to take to the fair was almost like having a summertime Christmas. Oh, they were so excited (must have been in their genes) and as new parents, the experience of being able to share that excitement with them was priceless. I remember putting those little tots on their first merry-go-round ride, putting them into those little cars and boats to drive around and around, the kid’s rollercoaster – and that first taste of cotton candy…they were all Kodak moments. Now their baby books are filled with those fond childhood memories. But alas, there’s not much of interest for me to go to the fair anymore. I’ll just do it in my own memory book, but I have to admit that almost every year, I take a little drive by the fairgrounds to see if there are any new rides on the midway. FALL 2010 Fair is Fair 31
Nadeau’s House of Flooring “A New Era in Customer Satisfaction”
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189 West Main Street Fort Kent, Maine 04743 Phone: (207) 834-7113 Home: (207) 834-5514
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© 2010 Ragina Kakos, Viewpoint photography, viewpointbyragina@yahoo.com
Maine Veterans’ Homes CARING FOR THOSE WHO SERVED by Trish Thibodeau
Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH) is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of honorably discharged war veterans. The eleven members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by the Governor. The 108th Maine Legislature created MVH to provide long term care and related services for Maine’s veterans, spouses, widowed spouses and gold star parents (a parent who has lost a child in the line of duty). MVH operates as a separate corporation, working closely with state and federal agencies, veterans’ service organizations, the Department of Veterans Administration and local communities. Construction of the homes is funded with federal monies and state matching grants. MVH is certified by Medicare to provide skilled services to their veterans along with MaineCare. The Veterans Administration requires that 75% of all beds be reserved for veterans and provides a daily stipend to qualifying veterans. MVH-Caribou is one of six homes in the MVH Corporation; it is the most northern home and the second home to be built. Opening its doors in 1990 as a long-term care (LTC) /skilled nursing facility (SNF), this marks the 20th year of service to veterans. At MVH-Caribou the 40-bed LTC/SNF unit is dual-certified which allows residents to reside in any bed whether they are receiving skilled services (rehabilitation) or long-term care services. Dual-certification creates consistency with care as the resident’s level of care changes. The LTC/SNF unit has registered nurse (RN) coverage at all times. Physician coverage is provided to MVH-Caribou residents 24-hours per day seven days per week. Certified nursing assistants are considered primary caregivers providing assistance with activities of daily living such as personal grooming, bathing or dressing to the same residents for weeks at a time. When recovering from a significant illness or surgery, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, utilizing a residents Medicare, can bridge the gap between hospital and home. An individualized plan of care is initiated to help regain independence. SNF services include, but are not limited to; IV medications and hydration, wound care, surgical aftercare, physical and occupational therapy (PT/OT), speech-language pathologist (SLP), pain management, and medical monitoring. Comprehensive discharge planning is provided for residents that are able to return home. This may include home assessments, equipment recommendations and home health services. 34 Maine Veterans' Homes FALL 2010
End of life care is provided for terminally ill residents to provide them with comfort in their final days. MVHCaribou partners with the Maine Hospice Council and the Hospice Veterans Partnerships of Maine to ensure that excellent end of life care is available for veterans and their families. Certified activity staff is always busy planning activities for residents to enjoy. A variety of programs are offered to residents such as musical events, games, parties, homestyle meals, religious services, and many more. Two favorite programs are Bingo and music with live local performers. Various Veteran Service Organizations and community based service groups donate countless hours and financial support to the residents at MVHCaribou. A climate controlled wheelchair accessible van and bus are available for transporting residents to doctor’s appointments, community events and group activities. Computer access is available for e-mailing and using the internet. Over the years, the Caribou facility has undergone many changes and upgrades. In 2003, MVH-Caribou opened its residential care unit for residents who have dementia and are in need of supervision and some assistance with daily care. The supervision and assistance is far less than provided on the LTC unit. The residential care unit is a locked unit providing safety to our residents that may wander. This unit has 30 private rooms each with its own bathroom. Residential care provides a home-like environment including several common areas such as a kitchen, dining room, living room, game room, quiet room and separate shower and whirlpool rooms. In the center of the unit is an enclosed courtyard with gardens, patio furniture and raised planting beds. Residents are able to roam freely in this area. The mission at MVH is “caring for those who served”. Here at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Caribou we pride ourselves on meeting the healthcare needs of our veterans and lending support to their families. We offer modern facilities, progressive programs and compassionate staff. These three features along with sincere respect for veterans make the difference between quality care and extraordinary care. MVH-Caribou is located on the Van Buren Road on the Cary Medical Center Campus. If you would like a tour of the facility contact Melissa H. Graham, Administrator, to set up an appointment.
FALL 2010 Maine Veterans' Homes 35
36 Maine Veterans' Homes FALL 2010
P.O. Box 430 291 West Main Street Fort Kent, Maine 04743 Tel: 207.834.5354 info@fortkentchamber.com www.fortkentchamber.com
357 Main Street P.O. Box 144 Madawaska, Maine 04756 Tel: 207.728-7000 Fax: 207.728.4696
www.greatermadawaskachamber.com
Carvings by CotĂŠ
Master Traditional Carver
Thomas L. CotĂŠ 8 Summit Street Limestone, Maine 04750
ph 207 325-4258 cell 207 325-1233 artist_nook@hotmail.com www.maineinaroostook.org
Š 2010 Tamra Kilcollins, Fort Fairfield
Aroostook State Park:
Four Seasons of Fun and Adventure by Scott Thompson For 75 years, Maine State Parks have been providing residents and visitors, of this great state, a wonderful opportunity to recreate and relax in the vast unspoiled beauty of our parks. This includes the Gem of the North, Maine’s First, Aroostook State Park. In 1938 the Presque Isle Merchants Association donated 100 acres of land to the Maine State Parks Commission, which was turned into a park one year later. Since that time the park has expanded to just over 800 acres, thus continuing to provide an excellent natural area for outdoor recreational activities. Even though the activities and facility have changed over the years, the overall belief in strong, healthy community and families has not. The Park’s future will continue to flourish as long as we do not forget the rich history which created it, our community. The four seasons of activities provide fun and enjoyment for everyone of all ages. The cool fall air brings excitement, knowing that the explosive colors of the trees will soon bring hikers up the rugged but rewarding three mile hiking trail. At the top, hikers will gaze at brilliant spectacular views. In recent years, fall activities have included Fall Foliage Hikes and a Haunted Woods Walk. The fall season also means hunting in The County. Hunters will find the campground open throughout October, making it an ideal place to camp while hunting for moose, bear, waterfowl and upland birds. Great hunting areas are only minutes away from the Park gate. Winter offers picturesque, well maintained trails for classical cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The groomed 15-mile ski trail system offers a wide variety of skiing for all skill levels. Grooved, double-set track weave through distinctive Aroostook County forest and farm land areas, allowing visitors a chance to explore all the Park’s 40 Aroostook State Park FALL 2010
winter beauty. The packed five mile snowshoe trail offers a vigorous trek to the top of Quaggy Jo Mountain. The trail system has two warming huts, allowing the users a chance to rest and meet new friends next to the fire. For those young at heart, use the plastic sleds provided or bring your own, a sliding hill near the Park entrance is packed and ready for a quick run down memory lane. There is an ice skating rink on the lake; it is generally open conditions permitting. Winter camping is growing in popularity, as is the Winter Fun Day event. The Winter Fun Day, every February, has been designed to promote good, healthy, outdoor winter time activities that family and friends could enjoy together. Spring at Aroostook State Park welcomes fisherman to Echo Lake, which is stocked annually. This setting is ideal to introduce children to fishing. Fish from the shore or launch a boat, anglers can try to hook a two to three pound brook trout, which are numerous. It is not uncommon to catch a trophy class fish in the four to five pound class. A small, well-maintained campground offers families an opportunity to spend time under the stars, making lasting memories. Hot showers, flush toilets and a kitchen shelter are available for the camper’s convenience. Sites are large and can accommodate RVs and tents; there are no hook-ups. A handicapped site is also available, along with two group areas that can accommodate larger organized groups. The Birding Festival, in June, is a new event that provides guided walks by local experts. The goal of the event is to help people understand and identify the “many” species of birds that migrate and reside in Aroostook County. Come see what the Park has to offer! FMI: call 7688341 or go online at www.parksandlands.com.
Photos court and frie esy Aroostook nds of A S roostoo tate Park, k State Park
Hunting Safety is more than blaze Orange by Warden Charles Brown
This fall, thousands of Maine residents and nonresidents take to the field to enjoy one of their favorite sports hunting. The most popular hunting sports include upland game (ruffed grouse) migratory waterfowl (ducks, geese) and big game (bear, moose, turkey, and deer). The dangers of hunting are mostly associated with the open firearm season on deer. Yet incidents also occur in ruffed grouse and turkey season. When shooters fail to identify their target, this action leads to incidents. Hunting incidents and fatalities in Maine have dropped since 1964. According to Mike Sawyer, Safety Officer with Maine Department Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, this decline is due to the passage of two laws: the mandatory hunter safety course law, and the 1973 law requiring hunters to wear hunter orange clothing. Anyone who hunts any species with a firearm or crossbow during any firearms season on deer must wear two articles of hunter orange clothing and these articles must be in good condition. Anyone who hunts any species with a firearm or crossbow in a Wildlife Management District that is open to moose hunting must wear one article of solid-colored hunter orange. Waterfowl hunters are exempt from wearing hunter orange while waterfowl hunting from a boat, blind, or in conjunction with waterfowl decoys. While hunting in Maine a hunter may not shoot at a target without being certain that it is the wild animal or wild bird sought. The identification must be based upon obtaining an essentially unobstructed view of the head and torso of the potential target. Here are some important safety tips from the Maine Warden Service to help keep you safe this hunting season. •Do not rely on your gun’s safety. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded and ready to fire. •Never cross a fence, climb a tree stand, or jump a ditch with a loaded gun.
42 Hunting Safety FALL 2010
•Never hoist a loaded gun into a tree stand. •Never load or carry a loaded firearm until you are ready to use it. Always unload firearms before riding in any motor vehicle, including ATV’s. •Wear hunter orange so you can be seen. •Keep your finger outside the trigger until you are ready to shoot. •Do not shoot unless sure of your target and beyond. •Know the range of your firearm. Remember, even a .22 rimfire can travel over a mile.
•Always be sure your gun barrel and action are clear of obstructions. •Always carry handguns with the hammer down on an empty chamber. •Do not consume alcohol before and during shooting. •Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return. If you move from one hunting area to another, advise someone. •Dress for the weather. Take a GPS or compass to prevent getting lost. •Do not rely on your cell phone many areas in the woods you may not have service. •Carry a survival pack and flashlight. Always follow these rules of ethics anytime you are hunting. •Obey all the rules of safety and insist those around you do the same. •Obey all game laws and insist that those hunting with you do likewise. •Acquire marksmanship and hunting skills that assure a clean kill. •Support conservation efforts that assure good hunting for future generations. •Pass along to other hunters the attitudes and skills essential to being a true outdoor sportsman. •Ask permission before hunting on private property.
What to do when approached by a Maine Game Warden: Each year, Maine Game Wardens check thousands of hunters for compliance with wildlife laws. A compliance check by a Game Warden is an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to have positive interactions with wardens while in the woods of Maine. Game Wardens can help explain laws and can help you learn more about outdoor opportunities and conditions in your area. When Hunting: Game Wardens are concerned with firearm safety and compliance with hunting regulations when checking hunters. When approached by a Maine Game Warden you are expected to follow all basic firearms handling rules. •Do not attempt to load or unload your firearm while being approached by a Game Warden. •Point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction away from the approaching Game Warden. •Make sure the safety is on. Keep your finger away from the trigger. •Comply with all the instructions directed to you by the Game Warden.
FALL 2010 Hunting Safety 43
An Aroostook Wreath A Look At The Winter Tradition from OxBow Wreaths & Deep In The Woods Gift Shop
OxBow Wreaths & Deep In The Woods Gift Shop TRADITION: The tradition of the wreath extends back thousands of years. It was used to celebrate victory and worn as a headpiece. The original wreaths were made of branches and leaves. Many cultures adopted the wreath by using their own species of plants and flowers that were available to them. The wreath is a symbol of eternity…there is no beginning or end. It can be made out of anything; but the circle has no end…it goes on forever. The evergreen wreath was born to celebrate the Christmas season. It did not have to worry about losing its leaves. It is like the circle, it is ever green. What better way to celebrate the birth of life.
our logo, brochures, etc. Judy had a small general store in OxBow and would be able to make some wreaths to sell to the locals and to the hunters that would stop in. I think the first year we made around 100 wreaths. Our business has grown into what it is today. We make between 1200 – 1500 wreaths per year. Steven and Judy’s brother go out harvesting the tips as soon as possible. They bring them to Judy and her crew to get to work. One worker does all the cutting, one makes the bouquets, and Judy makes the actual wreath. As soon as the wreaths are made, they are taken back outside and stored in the cold. They stay outside until it is time to come back in to be decorated. Once decorated, they are either delivered locally, picked up, or shipped to customers all over the USA. The days are long and the nights are very short during the holidays. The workers start at 7:00 a.m., and the gift shop is open 9:00 – 7:00 daily in November and December. Family and friends pull together during this very busy time stopping in to lend a hand when they can. We couldn’t do it without them! They even drop cones off all year long to be used for decorations. Judy gathers most of the material herself from the local area. During the holiday season Steven is also busy harvesting Christmas trees for his customers. His Balsam Fir trees are all sheared by hand. He has around 15,000 trees in the ground right now that he tends starting as soon as he can in the spring right up until the time of harvest. On average, a tree is 10 years old when it is cut.
OUR STORY: In 1986 our dear friends, Phyllis and Leonard Hutchins, gave us a video that they had just received in the mail. It was on making Balsam Christmas wreaths. As soon as they watched it, they knew that it was more than they wanted to embark upon. So, after watching this video, we went down east and visited the business that made the video. We were very impressed with the whole operation. A short time later, we were in business. We sat down with family and friends and developed FALL 2010 Wreaths 45
Healthy You:
The Secrets Lurking In Your Pantry by Kim Jones, Cary Medical Center
A few years back, I was diagnosed with several food allergies and was told that the best way to treat this condition was to avoid the foods I was allergic to. Armed with this information, I set out to follow my doctor’s orders by reading food labels to figure out what I should or should not eat. I soon discovered, however, that that was no easy task. (Did you know there are over 70 ingredients considered as dairy, one of my allergens, including many I hadn’t heard of before like potassium casseinate, whey protein hydrolysates, lactalbumin, and recaldent? I sure didn’t!) It turns out that reading and understanding food labels can be tricky. 15-letter ingredients, deceptive food industry marketing, changes in nutrition recommendations, and lax Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policies can make grocery shopping as challenging as the final round of Jeopardy. But regardless of whether or not you have food allergies, it is important to understand labels so you can make smart food choices. Study after study has proven that what you eat plays a significant role in your risk for diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, as well as contributes to how you look, feel, and age. THE SECRETS One of the biggest obstacles in deciphering food labels is misleading marketing. It pains me, as a marketing professional, that many companies rely on deception to sell their products. In the food industry, they know that many people are in a hurry when they are grocery shopping and that most won’t take time to read the fine print. “It’s easy to be confused by food labels,” said Kim Malone, Cary Medical Center Registered Dietitian. “Unless you’re buying only fresh fruits and vegetables, it’s very likely that you will purchase foods that appear to be healthier than they actually are because of exaggerated claims on the label.” To help you make healthier choices the next time you’re shopping for groceries, be aware of these common food industry secrets: Secret #1: A picture is worth a thousand calories. Food companies spend millions of dollars on designers, artists, and the like to make their product stand out on crowded store shelves. Marketers know that the right picture can give the impression that the product is healthful or tasty, therefore increasing the likeliness that the consumer will buy it. A classic example of this is fruit drinks. 46 County Health FALL 2010
Colorful, fresh fruits adorn the front of many popular juice bottles, but a glance at the back of the label shows that the first three ingredients are water, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavoring with less than 2% actual juice. And if you look closely, many packaged foods are photographed as part of a meal with the words “serving suggestion” in tiny print at the bottom. “When a consumer makes their food choice based on the package picture rather than reading the nutrition information, they may not get what they want or need,” said Malone. “The picture can give consumers the wrong impression about the nutritional value of the product or what the package actually contains.” Secret #2: Contains 0 grams of fat…if you only eat half of it. Marketers are savvy at taking advantage of food labeling guidelines to make their products appear healthier. One trick is to put nutrient information on the front of the package. Phrases like “no saturated fat”, “low in carbohydrates”, and “all natural” are used to persuade the customer that the product is a healthy choice. But there’s a catch…or two. First, these claims are often based on one serving size. “In this age of portion distortion, many foods are packaged for two or more servings. For instance, one granola bar may be 100 calories and low in fat like it says on the front of the label, but if you eat both bars in the package, you’d have to double the values listed on the nutrition facts label. It’s common sense, but many people don’t take time to read labels carefully and just assume that the nutrition information is per package not per serving,” said Malone. And the FDA guidelines only add to the confusion. A product can be labeled as having zero grams of fat, but can actually have up to 0.5 grams per serving. Eat a sleeve of no-fat crackers and suddenly your zero-fat food has added two or three grams of fat to your snack, which can add up over time. The same ambiguity applies to allnatural foods, which only have to be free of artificial colors or ingredients and be minimally processed based on very loosely defined FDA policies, and “made with…(real fruit, whole grain, real cheese, etc.)” foods which simply means that that ingredient has been used, even if it’s just a trace amount. Ingredients are listed in descending order starting with the ingredient used the most. So, for example, if flour is the first item on the list, that would mean there is more flour in that product than any other ingredient.
Secret #3: It’s organic so it must be healthy. This one is simple. Organic junk food is still junk food! Don’t be fooled by the “o” word – just because a product is heralded as being organic doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy. Granted, some foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, are generally better for you in their organic state because they are not covered in pesticides or pumped full of artificial hormones or preservatives. But even a candy bar can be organic if the ingredients originated from farms or factories that adhere to the FDA’s fairly minimal guidelines. The bottom line is an empty calorie from a $1 bag of chips is the same as an empty calorie from a $3 bag of organic chips. Secret #4: But this candy is low in fat. There is a lot of psychology in marketing food, including persuading a person to think something is good for them even when they know it isn’t. Admit it – you’ve probably purchased the licorice because the words “A Low Fat Candy!” appear in big letters on the front of the package and that is surely a better snack than all those ‘fattening’ candies, right? Don’t beat yourself up…you’re not alone. Be aware that marketers will highlight what a food isn’t (e.g. low-fat, no-salt, cholesterol free, low in sugar, etc.) in hopes that you won’t see what the food is. When a manufacturer removes or reduces the amount of fat, sugar, salt, etc. in a product it is generally replaced with ingredients that are often equally unhealthy in order to achieve a taste that consumers will find appealing. As for the licorice, it’s made mostly of ingredients you’d be better off not eating - corn syrup, refined flour, sugar, cornstarch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, salt, artificial flavoring, preservatives, and red dye…but hey, it’s low in fat! Secret #5: Who needs a multi-vitamin when there are breakfast pastries? One of the most common food label claims is that the food is a good source of vitamins and minerals. Occasionally, this statement is true because the ingredients are actually good for you. But, far too often, the nutrients have been artificially added to highly processed foods that otherwise have poor nutritional value. For example, there is a popular breakfast pastry that is an ‘excellent source of 7 essential vitamins and minerals’ making it seem like a good way to start your day. However, a closer look at the nutrition label shows that the pastry is loaded with fat, sugar, and calories. “It’s best to get your vitamins and minerals from foods that are naturally rich in nutrients, like fruits and vegetables, rather than enriched foods,” said Malone. THE FACTS These and numerous other food industry secrets can sabotage even the most health-conscious grocery shopper, but there are some ways you can boost your health through good food choices: •Check the serving size: This will help you more accurately interpret the rest of the information on the nutrition label. •Check for saturated and trans fats: Lowering your intake of all kinds of fats can help you to lose weight, but the saturated and trans fats are the ones that contribute to heart
disease. If you see partially hydrogenated oils anywhere in the ingredients list, then the food contains at least some trans fats. Choose foods with less than 5 grams of total fat and less than 3 grams of saturated fat per serving. •Understand the daily value: These are the numbers that tell you what percentage of the recommended daily nutrient is in each serving based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet. For instance, if the daily value number on the sodium line of the nutrition facts is 23%, that means that if you eat one serving of that food, you will have consumed 23% of the sodium that is recommended for you for the entire day. 5% or less of a nutrient (e.g. vitamin A, calcium, iron, etc.) is low; 20% or more is an excellent source of the nutrient. •Watch for empty calories: Empty calories provide little to none of the nutrients a body needs to function properly, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. They typically come from foods that contain added sugars, like sweets, which also tend to be high in fat and salt. •Check for dietary fiber: Include foods in your diet with at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. Aim for 25 – 35 grams of fiber daily. •Read the ingredients list: Generally speaking, the fewer ingredients in a food product the better. Chicken nuggets that contain 18 different ingredients probably isn’t a healthy food choice. Try to eat simple foods that are not highly processed or full of hard-to-pronounce additives. •Pay attention and read the fine print: Taking those few extra minutes to read labels thoroughly can prevent you from being deceived. Make it a priority to choose healthy foods based on the facts. Sources and additional information: The United States Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov) WebMD (www.webmd.com) Kids Health (www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/labels.html) Men’s Health Magazine (www.eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/18supermarket-lies-revealed.html
Healthy You is a free community program from Cary Medical Center that address your overall wellbeing including physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. For program information or calendar of events, log on to www.carymedicalcenter.org or call Cary Medical Center’s Public Relations Department at 498-1361. FALL 2010 County Health 47
The 40 Assets by Allison Heidorn
The question of why some kids have a fairly easy time growing up, while others struggle, why some get involved in dangerous activities, while others lead productive lives are usually answered by focusing on problems such as poor choices due to socioeconomic status, lack of supportive families, or being surrounded by bad influences. What if we changed our lens and looked for other answers –answers that would tell us how kids prevail, not fail. Search Institute in Minneapolis did just that when developing what are now called the “40 Developmental Assets”. Their approach to answering these questions became upbeat, optimistic, hopeful, and they highlighted what was right with youth. What they found as a result of over 40 years of research and surveys of hundreds of thousands of young people was that Developmental Assets protect and empower youth. What are Developmental Assets? They are the opportunities, skills, relationships, values, and self-perceptions that all young people need in their lives. The 40 Developmental Assets fall into eight broad categories of human development including; Support, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations, Constructive Use of Time, Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies, Positive Values and Positive Identity. When young people are surrounded by these assets in their lives they thrive. As shown by the bar graph, youth with 3140 of the Developmental Assets have much lower incidences of alcohol use, illicit drug use, sexual activity and violence. The bottom line is that the more assets a young person has, the better! In an effort to create healthy communities for young people to grow up, Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP), a countywide substance abuse prevention coalition, recognized the importance of incorporating the 40 Developmental Assets into their work. After becoming a certified Developmental Asset trainer by the Search Institute in July 2008, Allison Heidorn (Developmental Asset Coordinator, ASAP) began spreading the asset message to a variety of communities throughout Aroostook County. As the demand for information increased, it became apparent that communities were looking for positive ways to build healthy places for youth to call home. In July 2010, Allison began work on a community Developmental Asset Model in Caribou. The purpose of the model is to create an asset rich environment in Caribou but to also use this model as a guide for other communities. Having done a significant amount of asset work in the past two years, ASAP coalition recently joined nearly 600 communities and multiple organizations throughout the world as a member of the Healthy Communities ∙ Healthy Youth initiative. This national movement provides the vision, structure, resources, and training to educate people in all corners of the community about what they can do to
make sure young people get what they require to grow up to be healthy, happy, caring adults. We have all heard that it takes the collective efforts of an entire community to help young people succeed in life, but in many cases, various community sectors are not equipped to work toward a common goal or do their part. Caribou’s Community Asset Model will define a common goal, and provide direction on how to build assets in all aspects of a community. Although it would be naïve and self-defeating to think that it is possible to create a “perfect world” for our youth, Asset building does give us hope. Hope that we can make a difference in the lives of young people. One
of these days, those same youth in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces will be the people in charge – in charge of their own lives and in charge of the world. What an incredible gift we can give them by facilitating and helping to nurture the opportunities, skills, relationships, values, and self-perceptions that all young people deserve. It is that foundation of strength that will help them navigate and thrive in a world that certainly is not perfect. Want to know more about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them? Visit www.search-institute.org/assets. This article was brought to you by Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention. For more information about ASAP and 40 Developmental Assets contact Allison Heidorn, Developmental Asset Coordinator (540-6772) or visit www.asapcoalition.com
Sleep Apnea
by Professional Home Nursing Sleep Apnea is a serious condition. When you are sleeping your throat becomes blocked and your breathing will stop for short periods of time. You have interrupted sleep from this. These cycles repeat themselves throughout the night, which is why you may wake up feeling tired. A crooked (deviated) septum can make snoring worse and lead to sleep apnea. A receding jaw may also cause snoring or sleep apnea secondary to the tongue sitting too far back and causing blockage of the airway. People with sleep apnea are much more likely to fall asleep during the day and sometimes even while driving. Sleep apnea could also cause other health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Symptoms of Sleep Apnea -Gasp or snort in your sleep -Wake up tired after a full night’s sleep -Wake up with a headache -Feel very sleepy during the day -Fall asleep easily without meaning to -Have problems with memory or concentration -Be cranky or short-tempered Tips to help decrease or stop snoring and prevent mild sleep apnea -Sleep on your side -Lose weight -Avoid alcohol 3-4 hours before bed -Certain medications such as sedatives, sleeping pills and antihistamines. -Unblock your nose, possibly using nasal strips -Mouth pieces -CPAP (Continuous positive air pressure) -Surgical procedures such as: nasal surgery, jaw surgery and surgery to your soft palate and uvula
Partners Sleeping with a Snorer -Try to go to bed first -Wear earplugs to bed -Use a fan or other source of background noise -Go to doctor’s appointments with partner to explain their breathing and snoring patterns -Support your partner by exercising with them
FALL 2010 County Health 49
County Critters with Dr. Terri McQuade
Chocolate and your Pets With the onset of fall, the holidays are rapidly approaching. October brings Halloween followed shortly by Thanksgiving and Christmas, and finally New Years. This is a time of celebration but too much celebration can harm our pets. During the holiday season we have many calls from frantic owners because their dog or cat has ingested chocolate that was meant for the family and friends, (the human ones!) . We have all heard that chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, but how much chocolate is dangerous? Chocolate toxicosis is more common in dogs but is a potential problem for any species. Keep candy out of pets reach and don’t let pets in the kitchen unsupervised. Never feed a dog chocolate because the dog may develop a taste for it and subsequently seek it out. Chocolate contains theobiomine and caffeine. The amount depends on the type of chocolate. In general, the less sweet it is, the more toxic it can be. Unsweetened baking chocolate contains seven times more theobiomine than milk chocolate, which is why a dog can eat an occasional piece and not get sick.
163 Van Buren Road, Caribou, Maine www.carymedicalcenter.org 207.498.3111 an equal opportunity provider
Cormier Cabinetry
Type of chocolate Toxic dose for a 60 pound dog milk chocolate 60 ounces semi-sweet chocolate 18 ounces baking chocolate 6 ounces Clinical signs of chocolate toxicosis include: vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased heart rate, heart arrhythmias, seizures and even death. Some of these signs can be seen with ingestion of as little as 0.25 ounces of baking chocolate in a 10 pound dog. If you suspect your pet has ingested chocolate, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Be sure to relay what kind of chocolate, and how much was eaten, and how much the animal weighs. In chocolate toxicosis vomiting may be induced, stomach pumping and activated charcoal may be given to decrease absorption. Fluids may be administered and general supportive care may be given in the hospital. If your pet has eaten a small amount of milk chocolate, don’t panic. There is very little actual chocolate present. Call your veterinarian for advice. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so keep that chocolate away from your pets. www.mainesolarandwindllc.com mainesolarandwind@hotmail.com
Phone: 207-834-2651
Cell: 207-540-6669
FALL 2010 County Critters 51
Aroostook Eats
Courtyard Cafe
This past May, The Courtyard Café celebrated its 12th anniversary with founder, proprietor and chef Joyce Transue at the helm. With several years of culinary experience in the Boston area, Joyce brings a cosmopolitan flair to her cuisine that enhances the many flavors of the traditional foods of this northern Maine town. Located in downtown Houlton, The Café offers fine dining in a relaxed, yet upscale atmosphere. Whether dining in the casual Garden Bar or the more intimate dining room, you will find your visit a most enjoyable one. The Café, however, did not have its beginning here on Main Street, but started rather in Joyce’s home kitchen. In 1993, Joyce decided to combine her enjoyment of cooking and entertaining into a small catering business known as “The Traveling Gourmet”. Fine gourmet meals were prepared and served in the privacy of the customers’ homes. The goal was to provide the client delicious foods, time off from food preparation, and the opportunity to relax in an intimate setting while enjoying the company of family and friends. “The Traveling Gourmet” was a success! Such a success that requests came to cater for many types of events and at a variety of locations. As they say. “the rest is history”! Today The Courtyard Cafe is known as one of Maine’s best caterers. No event is too small or too large. The Café will cater at your chosen location or at the restaurant. The menu will be designed by you and tailored to meet your needs. Please contact Joyce to meet and discuss your next event. You will not be disappointed with the results! What is the theme of the Courtyard Cafe and do you have any specialties? The theme of the restaurant is Gourmet/Fine Dining and our
Chef is Joyce Transue. Our specialties include: Homemade Creamy Herb Tomato Soup (A cafe mainstay), Bourbon Glazed Sockeye Salmon, Fresh Seafood, Homemade Crusty Water Rolls, All soups and dressings are homemade. Fresh, Fresh, Fresh Salads (Joyce is a fanatic about the greens and lettuce presentation). People eat with their eyes first, if it doesn’t look good first, it probably won’t taste good. What sets you apart from other restaurants in the area? We pay close attention to service, presentation, fresh ingredients and we cater to peoples dietary needs and restrictions. We have a fully licensed bar and three different rooms to dine in. The main dining room, the Garden Bar, and we also have a function room with the capability to serve up to 25 in that room. You can find the Courtyard Cafe at 61 Main Street, Houlton, ME. 04730 Located in The Fishman Mall 207-532-0787 Hours: Monday thru Friday 11am to 2 pm, Monday thru Thursday 5pm to 8pm and Friday and Saturday 5pm to 9pm. We take reservations and we recomend making them. We are also a full service caterer, and have lots of experience and references. We also do take out and if you are dining with us and have a time limit, you could call ahead and place your order and we’ll have it ready for you when you arrive. We welcome one and all to visit us. We use as many local vegetables and fresh herbs and flowers as possible in the short season we have. We look forward to seeing you in our dining room. FALL 2010 Aroostook Eats 53
Focus on Business:
Monica’s
Can you give us a brief history of your business.
The original store was established by Monica Soderberg in 1964. For over 30 years, Monica’s was the place to go for fine Scandinavian gifts and housewares. When Monica retired in the late 1990’s, the store closed. In December 2004, Monica’s son, Carl Soderberg, his wife Lisa, and I, Megan Olson re-opened the store in a newly-refurbished facility located at 176 Sweden Street in Caribou. I (Megan) first became involved with the original store as a high school student in the 1980’s, when I worked for Monica after school and on weekends. I have been working with “the new Monica’s” since day one. Tell us about the products and/or services your business provides. Monica’s carries a unique selection of Scandinavian items, including dinnerware and crystal, sweaters, Dansko clogs, jewelry, linens, greeting cards, candles and specialty foods. Since 2005, we have carried the popular Trollbeads, and have become one of the top dealers in New England. What sets you apart from your competition? Monica’s Scandinavian Imports is the only full service Scandinavian gift shop north of Portland. We carry many hard-to-find items from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and beyond. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff 54 Focus on Business FALL 2010
provides our customers and friends with personal service. We also offer free gift wrapping. How many people are involved in your business? Besides myself (Megan), there are three other employees at Monica’s, as well as a few additional holiday workers. They are a well-traveled, enthusiastic and interesting group of ladies. Two staff members visited Sweden last year, another will soon be traveling to Ireland, and another will be traveling to San Francisco to attend the opera. Yet another coworker will be traveling to Cancun in November. Please provide us with your hours of operation, address and contact information. Monica’s is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we are also open Sundays from 12:00 noon to 4 pm. Monica’s Scandinavian Imports 176 Sweden Street Caribou ME 04736 Tel. (207)493-4600 e-mail: info@monicasimports.com Web site: www.monicasimports.com Is there anything else you would like readers to know about your business? Customers sometimes seem surprised to learn that Monica’s has two floors. The second floor is worth a look, too!
Our communities
in this issue:, Houlton, Fort Kent, Greater Limestone and Presque Isle
Š 2010 Kaitlyn McLaughlin, Fort Fairfield 56 Our Communities FALL 2010
HOULTON’S COMMUNITY MARKET A THRIVING VENTURE Houlton’s Community Market, held each Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the center island of Market Square in downtown Houlton is filled each week with shoppers looking for fresh picked produce, farm fresh eggs, home-baked goods and unique hand-crafted items. The atmosphere that the Market creates for our downtown is quite incredible. Our local downtown merchants are happy and excited to see the square filled with Saturday shoppers. It has become a gathering place, a place where folks can catch up with each other after a busy work week. The success of the Community Market lies in the determination of a board of volunteers who would not give up on their vision of what the market could be. Making the market a success was simply a matter of changing the venue and then watching it grow, quite literally every week! It is an example of a like- minded group of people having a vision and doing something to make it happen. The marketers are an example of who we are as a community-hard working people who see the value in their labors and are willing to share it. The economic impact of the market is significant to our community. The marketers, downtown merchants and other local businesses see the positive results. We breed wonderful entrepreneurial spirits here in the County. Those who are willing to share their bounty, gardening skills, ability to create items that you and I can’t live without – so much talent and so many gifts! Thank you to all who participate in your local community markets and those who believe that buying locally grown and created things helps your community. For information about Houlton’s Community Market, contact the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce at 207-532-4216. Contributed by Lori Weston, Executive Director of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce.
Houlton
Greater Fort Kent Winterville Plantation to the town of Allagash and North East to St. Agatha
As many of you have already heard the 10th Mountain Lodge will be holding their second E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup event in February, 2011. This in itself would be a huge event for Aroostook County but this year will be even more special with a second E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup event being held at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle!!! The marketing capabilities of such events are extraordinary which should generate large amount publicity and hopefully bring many people to the County. Here are a few facts to give everyone a measure of how large these events may be. It is expected to have extensive broadcast coverage by 5 international networks. It is anticipated that from these broadcasts, there will be 120 million impressions generated throughout Europe and North America. The last World Cup in 2004 attracted 20,000 spectators and it is expected that even more biathlon goers will attend the 2011 E.ON Ruhrgas World Cup event. So as you can see this has the potential to have a huge impact for many communities. This is a great opportunity for the County but it is extremely important that everyone be prepared and contributes in any way that may be possible. There are endless opportunities for people to get involved in the overall celebration. The first is those with time to volunteer and are interested in doing so, should get in contact with your local event organizers. They will be more than happy to put you to work and will be able to find a task to utilize your talents. The second is if you are a business or organization, do things to promote yourself and this 58 Our Communities
FALL 2010
will help add to the festivities as well. One example of this would be decorating store fronts or having specials for those two weeks. This is not limited to just those entities within the towns of Fort Kent and Presque Isle but, it is equally important that other communities welcome the tourists into their towns as well. The third option in getting involved is if you have a house, spare room, or a camp that is vacant; make it available to spectators. Housing will be a major task to ensure everyone has a place to stay. By folks opening up their homes this will guarantee that there will be room for all people who may be interested in attending events. A subcommittee has been formed to match interested individuals up with prospective spectators who are in need of housing. Simply call 1(800) SEE-FKME if you are interested in either leasing housing or looking for available accommodations. For those individuals who are from away and also those living in the county, if you have the ability, you should make every attempt to come and witness such events. Spectators will have the opportunity to see many Olympians who participated in the Vancouver Olympics. Not only is biathlon a fun sport to watch, spectators will get to enjoy all the entertainment and festivities. At the event in 2004 it was said that it was the biggest party ever seen in our area, this year will be even bigger and better. Please consider being a part of either or both E.ON Ruhrgas IBU World Cup venues. Remember also, that just because you don’t live in Fort Kent or Presque Isle, it doesn’t mean that you can’t be part of these wonderful events and contribute greatly.
Greater Limestone Autumn is upon us now and I imagine, in a flurry, the holidays will be here before we know it. The next few months bring lots of new and exciting events to Limestone – and we’re quite sure you won’t want to miss out on some of them … if not all of them! A Harvest Festival will be taking place at the end of October. Friday, the 29th to Sunday, the 31st (Halloween!). As of this writing, exact details about the events are still being worked out but there are quite a few ideas on the table (such as an adult Harvest Dance!) and it should prove to be an exciting weekend for both young & old. The events are being coordinated by Limestone’s Parks & Recreation Director, Amanda Brooker. If you haven’t met her, be sure to stop into the center & share your ideas with her. Amanda is all about fun and offering a variety of programs to the community. One event in particular that Limestone’s new Recreation Director has planned for Halloween at the school, which you & your children will not want to miss, so mark your calendar now … is a “Trunk or Treat!” Vehicles that belong to local businesses and organizations will be all spooked out on the evening of Halloween in the school parking lot – complete with cobwebs, bats, vampires, spiders, gravestones, skeletons … eeekkk! It’ll definitely be a sight worth checking out. So bring your little goblins to collect all kinds of treats! And no sooner will Halloween be over and we’ll be heading into the holiday season with Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Chamber of Commerce will once again be hosting the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony which includes singing carols with Mr. & Mrs. Claus, and is followed by the Holiday Light Parade, all of which will be held downtown on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. We hope you can join us at one of these events – and wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season! Submitted by Grace O’Neal, on behalf of the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce
Presque Isle the star city
Autumn in Aroostook County means back to school, potato harvest, changing leaves, beautiful days and restful nights. Now is the time for hiking the many miles of wood trails, but remember to wear your orange vest or jacket as you will be sharing the woods with people enjoying the sport of hunting. Perhaps you are interested in moose, bear or deer hunting. In addition to the many acres of accessible land, there are many qualified guides in the area who can increase the likelihood of a successful hunt. While enjoying the hunting experience, you can stay at one of the many well-equipped cabins close to hunting areas or you may choose to stay at a hotel or motel to be found closer to other services. Whatever your choice, you will be greeted by Aroostook County hospitality. Crisp autumn days supply great weather for exploring the over 1,000 miles of ATV trails in Aroostook County. You can trailer your bikes as far as Houlton, and then spend days visiting other towns throughout the county. The ATV trails are all well maintained and provide access to restaurants, accommodations, gas and more. Area ATV clubs organize many club runs and dinners. I am sure you will find one that appeals to you. For the avid riders, you can start at the coast and bike all the way to the Allagash River. What a fabulous experience that would be! If ATVing is not your way of seeing the area, there are many secondary roads that offer beautiful scenery around every turn. Perhaps you would like to travel by bicycle and enjoy the scenery at your own pace. As we celebrate the agricultural bounty of the region, harvest dinners will be found at many community centers and churches. No one will ever walk away from a harvest dinner hungry. We are fortunate in this region to have a variety of harvesting methods used so you will be able to watch everything from hand dug to the most modern potato harvester unearth the varieties of potatoes grown in Aroostook County. There may be specific events that will attract you to central Aroostook. University of Maine at Presque Isle holds its annual Homecoming Weekend, September 17-19. This is an opportunity to reconnect with friends and professors, watch a soccer game and perhaps be part of the team that challenges the present UMPI team. The full schedule will be on UMPI’s website. Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Haunted Woods Walk at Aroostook State Park October 15 & 16. The evening walks are not intended for children under 14. The creatures that will be haunting the woods are not for the timid. There will be an opportunity for younger children to visit the park and play games in the afternoon. Complete details will be available at PIACC office or on their facebook page. Presque Isle Forum will be hosting a number of trade shows and sales, so check their calendar for dates. Local produce is available at roadside stands and at farmer’s markets. Whatever you are looking for in the beauty of an Aroostook County fall, you will find it. 60 Our Communities FALL 2010
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© 2010 Our Maine Street
Photos on this and the facing page Š 2010 Kaitlyn McLaughlin, Fort Fairfield
See the world from a
different perspective University of Maine at
PRESQUE ISLE North of Ordinary www.umpi.edu
ďż˝
Need a Physician?
Call 1-800-371-6240
Pines Health Center: Caribou
498-2356
Family Health Center: Presque Isle
769-2025
St. John Valley Health Center: Van Buren
868-2796
Ophthalmology Services: Caribou
496-6851
Loring Health Center: Limestone
328-4631
Surgical Services: Caribou
498-2595
Urology Services: Caribou
498-8678
Center for Women’s & Children’s Health: Caribou Pediatrics 492-3451
OB/GYN 498-6921
Occupational Medicine - Company MD: Presque Isle 769-2025
Limestone 328-4631
Going Green
NMCC invests in changes to its programs & campus
Investing in the future. It’s at the very essence of Northern Maine Community College. Never has that been more evident than it is today, and never has that ideal served a more global purpose. At the core of the transformation are familiar buzzwords such as energy efficiency, conservation, environmental stewardship, going green and reducing the carbon footprint – but at NMCC these concepts have gone beyond rhetoric and become reality. “As a campus community we take very Howard Vics (left) of CleanEdison leads five NMCC faculty through a hands-on energy audit at a Presque Isle residence seriously our role and as part of training they took to earn their building analyst responsibility to be certification. Taking the course were (from left) Pam Buck, computer aided drafting; Todd Maynard, electrical construc- good stewards of both the public and private tion and maintenance; Al St. Peter, plumbing and heating; Donald Hanson, adjunct instructor for building science funds entrusted to us to courses; and Brian McDougal, chair of the trade and technisupport the work of the cal occupations department. institution. The strategic initiatives we have undertaken in recent Through years are crucial to the future of the sustainsweeping changes ability of our campus community and the economic development of our region, as well in curriculum, as the environment. The commitment of our infrastructure and fiscal and human resources, combined with the changes that are currently being implemented to our academic programs in this campus mindset, regard are significant,” said NMCC President NMCC is investTimothy Crowley. The investment is widespread across the ing in its future, campus community and is most readily apparent in changes being implemented to the as well as that of academic programs – especially in the area its students, the of trade and technical occupations. Work is region’s economy underway, through a $225,000 grant from the Efficiency Maine Trust, to incorporate and the planet, in new curricula to include greater emphasis on green energy, building methods, energy audits ways that promise and weatherization of existing structures in the construction related trade offerings. Also to pay great divi- planned is the introduction of new classes dends for years to over the coming year, such as energy auditing and solar domestic hot water. NMCC’s unique distinction of become. ing host to the only wind power technology
64 Higher Education FALL 2010
program in New England is drawing statewide, national and international attention. Wayne Kilcollins, wind power technology instructor, has traveled to other parts of the country and to Europe gaining both valuable information to strengthen the curriculum and to share many of the best practices initiated on the NMCC campus, especially innovations in the area of wind technician and student safety. As the campus prepares to send forth its first associate degree wind power technicians into the workforce in May 2011, employers in Maine and elsewhere are demonstrating a high need for the trained graduates. The College was also successful in obtaining grant funding to erect a meteorological, or met, tower on the north end of campus to measure wind speed and direction. It will be used as a teaching tool for students enrolled in wind power technology, and could lead to construction of a wind turbine on campus that would serve as a hands-on learning laboratory for the students. The transportation trade related programs are adjusting curriculum to reflect new hybrid vehicle technology and a new water-based paint for auto refinishing was demonstrated on campus to both students in the automotive collision repair program and to professionals in the field throughout Aroostook County. The new direction is accompanied by a new campus-wide dialogue, which has stressed the green and energy efficiency theme. An energy task force established on campus has worked with the information technology and facilities office to identify areas in which the campus could reduce energy costs and simultaneously be more environmentally friendly. That “green transformation” is well underway as several projects, designed both to reduce energy costs and the College’s carbon footprint, have been undertaken in recent months. The work represents an investment of more the $2.25 million, and the scope of the work completed ranges from building and lighting upgrades to mechanical renovations and insulation and building controls installation.
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The Pro p
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University enjoys busy summer, prepares for exciting 2010-2011 academic year With the 2010-2011 academic year underway, the University of Maine at Presque Isle has stayed busy with several community-focused events, educational partnerships that benefit students close to home and across the state, and even the premiere of a student film created with the help of an award-winning writer and a Hollywood cinematographer. Members of the UMPI campus have overseen several important events during the summer of 2010, including the 35th National Institute on Rural Social Work – which brought together more than 100 social work and human services professionals from across the country, Canada and as far away as Qatar – for a conference focused on issues surrounding rural social work. The event was sponsored by UMPI’s Social Work Program and the National Rural Social Work Caucus. UMPI was proud to serve as a major sponsor for this summer’s Third Annual Music in the Park series, which offered up four Sunday afternoons of music at Riverside Park in Presque Isle. Hundreds turned out for the free music series, which featured everything from Acadian and jazz music to alternative country and African drumming. The University recently joined forces with Northern Maine Community College to announce a partnership that benefits NMCC students preparing for jobs as Head Start teachers and early childhood educators. The partnership creates a pathway for NMCC students in the Early Childhood Education Program so that, upon graduation, they can transition seamlessly into UMPI’s Elementary Education Bachelor’s degree program. Officials developed an Early Childhood Education concentration within the bachelor’s degree so that these students could meet new state requirements for teaching in their field. Another educational partnership, which is impacting students from across the state, involves the work UMPI’s Vice President for Academic Affairs is doing as he also serves as the Acting Executive Director for the Maine School of Science and Mathematics for the 2010-2011 school year. In this part-time position,
Music in the Park
Dr. Michael Sonntag will serve as MSSM’s public spokesperson and top official, while the nationally recognized public high school conducts a search for a permanent executive director. Early in the fall, UMPI was proud to see the premiere of the student film The Proposal take place at the Braden Theater in downtown Presque Isle. The film, created by UMPI students in a screenwriting class taught by award-winning writer Cathie Pelletier, brought together a cast and crew hailing from Fort Kent to Portland all working under the direction of Zoran Popovic, a Hollywood cinematographer whose credits include War, Inc. The premiere celebrated the work students did both in screenwriting and actual filmmaking, and also ensured that the wider community had a chance to take part and view the final cut. Artists in the community can take advantage of another opportunity being offered by the University this fall. UMPI’s Reed Fine Art Gallery is seeking drawing submissions from Aroostook County artists for possible inclusion in a juried art exhibition connected with the Maine Drawing Project. The “Just Line” exhibition is meant to feature local talent and will be displayed in the Reed Gallery during its 20102011 regular season. More than 20 institutions are participating in the statewide project, each presenting an exhibition associated in some way with drawing. Organized by the Maine Curators Group, this is the first time a statewide initiative concerned solely with drawing in its many forms and mediums has been undertaken. The submission deadline is Oct. 15, 2010. To download an entry form and detailed instructions, visit http://www.umpi.edu/files/home/pdf/just-line. pdf. Find out more about what’s happening at the University by visiting www.umpi.edu. FALL 2010 Higher Education 65
c
NOW HIRING!
207 Development Dr Limestone, ME 04750 207-328-4515
From the home, farm, forest, and fields... Made in Aroostook captures the character and craftsmanship of Maine’s great Aroostook County www.madeinaroostook.org
Presque Isle On The Run Caribou One Stop Fort Fairfield One Stop Mars Hill One Stop
tion / Winter 2009
Photo Š 2010 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
Photo Š 2010 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
Photo Š 2010 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
Š 2010 Our Maine Street
Husson in Bangor offers a university experience in a collegiate setting.
founded in 1898
But you can also get a Husson degree in Presque Isle. Offering graduate and undergraduate programs in business, health and counseling. Visit us online at www.husson.edu/presqueisle, or call 760-1176 for more information.
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Photo Š 2010 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com
Š 2010 Our Maine Street
The County’s Long Term Care Home Health Provider Since 1983
Valley Home Health Service LLC
providing the human touch
Aroostook Home Health Services
Providing Skilled Nursing Services Across Aroostook County
658 Main Street, Caribou, ME 04736
658 Main Street, Caribou, Maine 04736
Caribou: 207 492.8250 Ft. Kent: 207 834.2990 Houlton: 207 532.9971
Caribou: 207 492.1149 Ft. Kent: 207 834.3756 Houlton: 207 532.9686
Helping Hands For Independent Living
Maine’s Platinum Trollbeads Dealer Clogs, Jewelry, Table Linens, Swedish Specialty Foods Scandinavian Sweaters, Crystal, Dinnerware, Bridal Registry www.monicasimports.com 176 Sweden Street, Caribou, Me 04736 Tel / Fax: (207) 493-4600
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SPRING BREAK SUGARHOUSE & GIFT SHOP
www.mainemapleandhoney.com
HOURS: WED - FRI 10am - 4pm SAT 9am - 1pm Specializing in MAINE & USA made products 207-757-7373 (Sugarhouse) 3315 US Route 2 Smyrna Mills, Maine 04780
Photo Š 2010 Gene Cyr, Washburn, northernmainepictures.com