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energy

guide inside

Natural Gas A look at the past, present, and future of this popular fuel

A Piece of Maine:

Hermon

Metro Health A national report on the health of our region

Kitchen Confidential Pairings at Winterport Winery

Inside:

Transportation for a Cause EMCC’s Golf Team Decadent Cheesecake

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Women Agriculture in

October 2013

Your people, your region, your magazine.

Jack Hersom Education

Kaleigh Morneau Hospitality & Tourism Management

Jerinda Watson Pharmacy

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october 2013

contents

features An Entrepreneur with a big heart / 13 Between his two companies, Jim Gamage is fully invested in the midcoast area.

The state of our health / 16 How does your county rank in this national health survey? the fuel of the future / 22 Natural gas is becoming more prevalent in our region. Find out why and how you can jump on the bandwagon.

Women in agriculture / 28 These six women play a major part in putting local food on our plates.

2013 energy guide: Part 1 / 44 We share some tips on how to make your home more energy efficient.

Sweet cheesecake / 64 Tammy Underwood makes a decadent cheesecake that’s hard to resist.

28

Pairings at winterport winery / 66 Cooking may be Laurie Turner’s second career, but it was her first true passion.

36 2 / Bangor Metro October 2013

22

Photos: (top and bottom right) mark mccall; (bottom left) melanie Brooks

A Piece of Maine: Hermon / 36 More than just a rural haven, the town of Hermon has a lot to offer.

Photos: (top) ryan batza photography; (right) kaylie reese

71

in every issue

columns

TaLk of the Towns / 8 News you can use, from Hampden to Presque Isle.

eye on industry / 14 A look at Maine’s construction industry.

Biz Buzz & sightings / 10 People and places on the move.

Metro Wellness / 18 Ideas for packing healthy school lunches.

What’s Happening / 54 Autumn happenings all month long.

woods & waters / 74 The menacing porcupine.

Metro sports / 70 Central Aroostook’s Chandler Brewer and EMCC’s golf team.

last word / 80 A view of the ocean from a landlubber’s perspective.

Perspectives / 72 Perfectly adorable portraits by Hannah Wilde.

9

savvy seniors / 75 How to stay warm and safe, at the same time. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 3

editor’s note

I

don’t know about you, but I’ve been joyfully awaiting fall for months.

Don’t get me wrong, I love summertime in Maine. But there is just something about the fall that I can’t get enough of. It’s the crisp air, the colorful leaves, the bountiful harvest, and the understanding that it will all fade quickly into snow.

One of the things I love to do in the fall is to make canned goods for Christmas gifts. My bread-and-butter pickles, which I make using an old recipe from our November 2011 issue, is a fan favorite. My father-in-law loves them the most. I’ll be canning a whole bunch of pickles this fall, along with other wonderful treats.

I’ve already taken advantage of the tomato season and canned six extra-large jars of my husband’s favorite roasted tomato and basil soup recipe. It’s a time-consuming and labor-intensive recipe that requires the use of a food mill, so I like to make it in big batches. To prepare, I headed to the Orono farmers market and bought nine pounds of tomatoes and the biggest bag of fresh basil you will ever see. I think I took that farmer by surprise. Who buys basil by the pound besides me?

I adore farmers markets. The vegetables are at their peak of freshness, the fruit is juicy, and the meats are phenomenal. The farmers who work these farm stands are among the hardest workers in our region. It’s not easy to run a farm, and some of them even do it without the use of modern technologies. Buying from these hard-working people makes me happy, and I like knowing where my food comes from.

We have featured six fabulous women in our Women in Agriculture feature who work hard so that we can put healthy food on our tables.

Women have always been a big part of family farms throughout history, and we’re proud to showcase just a handful of the many, many amazing women who keep these farms afloat.

A great way to pay tribute to all of these hardworking Mainers is by attending the annual Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Common Ground Country Fair in Unity. It’s a great place to learn about the farmers who work in the Bangor Metro region, and it’s also a great place to sample mouthwatering food!

Melanie Brooks, editor

4 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Photo: Kate Crabtree

The Bangor Metro Region

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ART DIRECTOR

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At Machias Savings Bank, we understand the exceptional joys of home ownership. And it’s truly our joy to help you find the mortgage that’s right for you. Whether you’re building a new home, looking for a seasonal home or are ready to refinance, our exceptionally helpful staff are here to walk you through the process and help your dream become a reality.

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Insuring Your Most Valuable Assets Maine’s New Health Insurance Option is Good for You & Your Employees Healthy employees can help improve the health of your organization’s bottom line.

Our new plans provide competitive pricing, your choice of providers, and a range of plan designs that include hospitalizations, doctor’s visits, preventive care, prescriptions, and more.

Small businesses may also qualify for tax credits.

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Katrina Mumford

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Hannah Wilde

Bangor Metro Magazine. October 2013, Vol. 9, No. 8.

Copyright Š Metro Publishing LLC. Bangor Metro is published ten times annually by Metro Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.

This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written permission of the Publisher.

Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates from Portland, Maine.

Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit. Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication.

Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged.

Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metro’s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine both in print and online.

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www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 7

talk of the towns

Above: Tim Doak, TAMC facilities engineer, explains to U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud how compressed natural gas is removed from the trucks via red hoses and sent into the decompression station before it can be used by the boiler plant. Sylvia Getman, TAMC president and CEO, and Jim McKenney, VP of diagnostic and support services look on.

8 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Presque Isle: The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) is among the nation’s alternative energy pioneers. A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital, TAMC’s largest facility, is the first in the state and the second in the country to convert its heating and cooling system from heating oil to compressed natural gas.

The switch from oil to compressed natural gas was a “green” decision, in more ways than one. Not only does it burn cleaner than oil, it’s also a more cost-effective.

“We investigated several different options, including wind power and biomass,” stated James McKenney, TAMC vice president for diagnostic and support services. “Given the low start-up costs and stable natural gas market, we assessed that CNG was the most costeffective option.”

TAMC built a decompressing station on campus that will transfer the gas via

an underground pipeline to the existing boiler plant. Thanks to a minor modification, the CNG can run through TAMC’s existing boilers to heat the hospital. They will also be able to burn heating oil as a back-up.

“This not only makes sound economic sense and helps us advance our mission, but it allows us to greatly reduce our carbon footprint and makes our organization a much better steward of the environment,” stated Sylvia Getman, TAMC President and CEO. “The switch to CNG promises to reduce TAMC’s fuel costs by a significant percentage. While the actual savings will vary based on the ultimate cost of the fuels, the savings is projected to be between $400,000 and $500,000 per year.”

XPress Natural Gas, a New Englandbased company that partners with Dead River Company, is the compressed natural gas provider for the TAMC facility.

photo: courtesy of tamc

Leading the Way With Natural Gas

The Next Generation Bucksport & Bangor: It’s no secret that Maine is one of the oldest states in the nation, and our aging workforce is a problem that worries Maine’s paper mills.

Verso Paper is taking a proactive approach. It’s been estimated that 45% of Verso’s 1,500 Maine employees will retire in the next four years, so recruiting younger workers is important. The company, which has a paper mill in Bucksport, has partnered with Eastern Maine Community College and the town of Bucksport to launch a new training program aimed at preparing younger people for the papermaking industry.

The two-year degree program will allow a student at RSU 25—Bucksport, Orland, Verona Island, and Prospect—to finish high school and enroll for one year in EMCC’s papermaking degree program, graduating with an associate’s degree. The town of Bucksport is helping to finance the program using funds from a tax increment deal with Verso in 2010.

photos: (top) courtesy of verso paper corp.; (Right) Kaylie Reese

Fuel Your Fleet With Propane Ellsworth & Hampden: R.H. Foster has made history in Maine by opening the first public-use propane fueling station for automobiles on High Street in Ellsworth. They have since opened a second pump at their corporate facility in Hampden. Autogas, the term for propane or liquefied petroleum gas intended for automotive use, is an alternative to diesel fuel and gasoline.

The company has been working hard to educate businesses and individuals in Maine about the many benefits of converting to propane fuel. R.H. Foster’s current target market is commercial fleets, but their pumps are available for passenger cars to use, too, according to Jim Van Uden, the wholesale sales and business development coordinator at R.H. Foster. He believes that, as the infrastructure changes and more vehicles are designed or adapted to use Autogas, they will see more traffic at their pumps.

A report by the U.S. Department of Energy shows that, in the spring, propane cost 24% less per gallon than gasoline and 31% less per gallon than diesel. This price difference is made greater with a 50 cent per gallon federal tax credit, as a result of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which was extended through the end of 2013. However, the cost savings from switching to Autogas is not the only benefit, Van Uden notes. Another advantage is environmental.

“Propane is very clean-burning, compared to gasoline,” Van Uden says.

Also noted is the reduction of the dependency on foreign oil, since propane is a natural product that is produced in North America, according to the R.H. Foster website. R.H. Foster is currently running several of its commercial vehicles on propane,but they are working to convert their fleet to propane. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 9

biz buzz On the Move STACI COOMER , executive

director of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed president of the Midcoast Chamber Council for the 2014 fiscal year. The Midcoast Chamber Council is a regional alliance of eight chambers in the area, spanning from Bath to Searsport. www.mainesmidcoast.com RON KORSTANJE, Ph.D, a

Jackson Laboratory researcher who specializes in kidney disease, has been promoted to assistant professor. He has worked for Jackson Laboratory for nine years, three as part of a postdoctoral fellowship. He has been a senior research scientist since 2011. www.jax.org

community who suffer from mental illness. www.bangormaine.gov BRAD LIBBY has joined the

team at Results Physical Therapy and Wellness Center. He will be working with patients at the company’s Dover-Foxcroft and Brewer clinics. Libby also works as the assistant men’s basketball coach at Husson University. www.physicaltherapy.org

CHRISTOPHER JOHNSTON, DO has joined

the medical staff at Penobscot Community Health Care’s Helen Hunt Health Center in Old Town.

His practice focuses on patient physicals, acute visits, osteopathic manipulation therapy, and healthcare maintenance. www.pchc.com Bangor Police Sergeant PAUL EDWARDS has been promoted to lieutenant. He began his career on the police force in 1987 as a patrol officer and was transferred to the detective division in 1998. Edwards is the founding member of the department’s Crisis Intervention Team, a group of officers specially trained to work with those in our

10 / Bangor Metro October 2013

The University Credit Union has promoted CATHY PHILBRICK to branch manager for the Rangeley Road and Memorial Union branches at the University of Maine. Philbrick was previously the Bangor assistant branch manager. www.ucu.maine.edu CARIN SYCHTERZ has joined the

JO-ANN NEAL has joined

Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden as an employee benefits account manager. She brings 10 years of experience in human resources and benefit administration to her new position. Neal lives with her husband in Nobleboro. www.alleninsuranceandfinancial.com

CYNTHIA LEVICK, FNP-C

has joined the medical staff of Penobscot Community Health Care’s Helen Hunt Health Center in Old Town.

Levick will provide walk-in care services for acute medical care and treatment. www.pchc.com

employees: JIM CADDELL, PA; DANIELLE ST. ONGE, PA-C; and JACOB BROOKS, DO, MPH. www.downeastorthopedics.com

CHRIS FRAUENHOFER has been hired as

the chief financial officer at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth. Prior to joining MCMH, Frauenhofer served as CFO for Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, New York. He also worked as the CFO at Niagra Falls Memorial Medical Center in Niagra Falls, New York. www.mainehospital.org

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce as the organization’s program director.

Previously Sychterz has worked as the development coordinator for the American Folk Festival and as the development and marketing director for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. www.bangorregion.com The Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra has appointed SASCHA ZABURDAEVA and TREVOR MARCHO as interim conductors. Zaburdaeva, who sits in the first violin section of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, is a string coach for the BSYO. Marcho is the instrumental music teacher at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln and serves as the assistant conductor of the Bangor Band. www.bangorsymphony.org

JACQUES WEINSTEIN, MBA , a certified

general appraiser with Appraisal Connection, LLC in Bangor, has joined the board of Penobscot Community Health Care. www.pchc.com Longtime radio personality, PAUL DUPUIS, has joined the staff at Maine Internet Radio. Dupuis previously worked at WQCB 106.5 and WBFB 104.7 FM. He will host the Coastal Café radio show. www.maineinternetradio.com Stillwater Dental Associations welcomed RYAN M. JEFFREY, DDS to their practice.

He will provide general dentistry services, as well as crowns and bridges, implants, dentures, and oral surgical work. www.stillwaterdentalassociates.com Bangor-based Down East Orthopedic Associates, P.A. has three new

TED QUADAY of Santa Cruz, California,

has been hired as the executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Quaday is a former program director at Farm Aid and has dedicated the past 15 years to working to assist family farms and sustainable agriculture. www.mofga.org The Bangor Police Department hired several new officers. KEITH LARBY is an Old Town native who received the Carl Andrews Memorial Award upon graduating from Beal College. KRIS BECK hails from Hermon, served seven years in the U.S. Army, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during a deployment to Iraq. JOE ORCUTT is a graduate of Bucksport High School and the New England School of Communications. JOSE VIDAURRI is a

Texan who, after visiting family in Maine, decided to pursue his law enforcement career in Bangor. www.bangormaine.gov SHAWN YARDLEY, MS has joined

Penobscot Community Health Center as its director of community services.

Previously, Yardley served as the director of health and community services for the City of Bangor, as the director of the River Coalition, and as the director of adoption for the Maine Adoptions Placement Service. He serves on several local and statewide boards, including the Maine Public Health State Coordination Council, the Bangor Region Public Health Advisory Committee, and the Husson University Board of Visitors and Alumni Board. www.pchc.com CAROL M. CAREW, RN, BSN, MBA has

been appointed as the executive director for the Bucksport Regional Health Center. Carew previously worked as chief nursing officer at Eastern Maine HomeCare. www.bucksportrhc.com DANIELLE DORRIE joined the

conference sales division at the Cross Insurance Center. Dorrie previously worked as the membership and convention sales coordinator for the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau. www.crossinsurancecenter.com

Awards ALLEN INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL

has earned two top honors from Safeco Insurance: the President’s Award and membership to the Premier Partner Program. Both recognize excellence performance for agencies nationwide that sell Safeco Insurance. www.alleninsuranceandfinancial.com TAMC’s AROOSTOOK HEALTH CENTER

in Mars Hill has been awarded Medicaid’s five-star status for their online Nursing Home Compare service, a resource for consumers to compare ratings and other information regarding nursing homes. AHC scored above average ratings across the board. www.tamc.org

ST. JOSEPH HEALTHCARE was recently

rated with an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit. The score demonstrates that the hospital has exhibited excellence, in regard to patient safety measures, based on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. www.stjoeshealing.org THE AROOSTOOK MEDICAL CENTER in Presque Isle and ACADIA HOSPITAL in

Bangor were recently named one of the nation’s top 25 Most Wired Small and Rural hospitals from the American Hospital Association. EASTERN MAINE MEDICAL CENTER in Bangor, SEBASTICOOK VALLEY HOSPITAL in Pittsfield, and BLUE HILL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL were recognized in the AHA’S Healthcare’s Most Wired category. www.emh.org The CROSS FAMILY, founders and owners of Cross Insurance, have been named the recipient of this year’s Major Achievements in Construction Award from the Associated General Contractors of Maine for their efforts to advance the construction industry in the state. www.crossagency.com

in the top 10% of nearly 800 rehabilitation facilities in the country.

The 2013 Top Performer Award recognized outstanding performance. www.tamc.org DENNIS CARTER and ANNELI CARTERSUNDQVIST, owners of the Deer Isle

Hostel, have been named Homesteaders of the Year by Mother Earth News magazine. They opened their off-thegrid hostel in June 2009. www.deerislehostel.com

Grants The 2014 WORLD ACADIAN CONGRESS has been awarded a $50,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The money will help fund several cultural events throughout the two-week congress, including the headline performance by Cajun musician Zachary Richard. www.cma2014.com The UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FORT KENT has received the largest financial gift in its history from Wallagrass native and UMFK alumna, Esther C. Labbee.

Esther C. Labbee bequeathed the school more than $300,000, which will be distributed as scholarships for incoming students. www.umfk.edu

UNITY COLLEGE has been honored as a

College of Distinction for the 2013-14 school year. This designation is given

by Colleges of Distinction, a web-based guide for high school juniors and seniors. The honor awards excellence in four categories: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes. www.unity.edu

The KNOWLTON COMMUNITY PARK CAMPAIGN in Ellsworth was recently given a $25,000 grant from Bangor Savings Bank. The campaign’s total goal is $1.2 million. Construction on the community space is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2014. www.cityofellsworthme.org MAINE COAST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

The UNIVERSITY OF MAINE and the COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC have been included in the 2014 edition of the “Fiske Guide to Colleges,” which highlights top colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. www.umaine.edu www.coa.edu

received a gift of $21,800 from the Hannaford Charitable Foundation in support of the hospital’s Mary Dow Center for Cancer Care. The money will be used to purchase and install flow benches in the center’s dedicated pharmacy and three mobile patient medication carts. www.mainehospital.org

The Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation has ranked the rehab unit at THE AROOSTOOK MEDICAL CENTER www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 11

sight ings 1

4

6

1: Lesa Berard, Jeff Howland, Katy DeGrass, Alyssa Rolerson, Aimee Bermudez, Kasey Ahlquist, and Amanda Stover attend the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce After Hours Event at Dream Local in Rockland.

2: Shane Perry, Rafal Subernat, and Orville Hartford at the KahBang Brew Fest.

12 / Bangor Metro October 2013

5

4

7

3: Abby Caron gets her face painted by Reilly Bolin at the Neighborhood Block Party at Chapin Park in Bangor.

6: Megan Fowler, Nikita Cate, and Theresa Fowler sign people up for rides at the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest in Presque Isle.

4: Zoey McLaughlin enjoys a snack after participating in the 2013 Champion the Cure Challenge.

7: Gary R. Haynes, Kaja Veilleux, and Cali Veilleux attend an opening at Haynes Gallery in Thomaston.

5: Craig Colson and Lindsey Mills at the 2013 American Folk Festival in Bangor.

Photos: #1 5iveLeaf Photography; #4 Angela McLaughlin; #6 jeff kirlin; #7 maggi blue

3

2

movers & shakers

W

An Entrepreneur with a

Big Heart

Photo: courtesy jim gamage

Jim Gamage is the owner of two midcoast companies who work hard to give back to the community. By kaylie reese

ith the flip of a few switches, Jim Gamage of Rockland-based All Aboard Trolleys and Limousine Co. explained how his white trolleys can go from elegant transportation for a wedding party, with oak bench seats, a fireplace, and a roomy interior, to a fully fledged party, complete with lasers and a karaoke machine. Ten years ago, Gamage took a risk when he purchased two trolleys and four limousines—a hummer and three escalades. He has since sold the limos and traded the older, smaller trolleys for larger, newer ones, and his business is booming.

Gamage also runs a valet service, a 20-passenger bus, a couple of 15-passenger vans, a minibus, and a shuttle system. Although much of the transportation needs are for charter or private use, Gamage runs special events, such as a haunted trolley ride to Fort Knox in Prospect or the ever-popular Grape to Glass wine tours.

Gamage is thrilled how businesses in the Penobscot Bay region have been working together to provide a great experience for visitors and residents alike.

“I had a conversation with a guest yesterday, who we took on a wine tour,” Gamage says. “They’ve been coming up here for the last five years, and their comment to me was, ‘Wow, this place has changed in a year!’ Everybody’s figuring out—especially the downtown businesses on Main Street—that if we work together, we’re much more productive than if we compete against each other.”

But Gamage doesn’t just don a chauffeur cap. He also runs the All4U staffing agency, which currently employs 105 workers, who are staffed for seafood processing, housekeeping, welding, manufacturing, landscaping, and more.

He believes that if someone comes into his office with the desire to work, he will provide transportation to and from work, for a small fee. Gamage strives to provide everyone he can with a second chance, including hiring inmates out of the Knox County Jail or the Boulder Correctional Facility in Warren. “They get treated the same exact way any employee would, with their rate of pay, way of travel,” Gamage says.

Gamage truly wants his employees to succeed and invests time and finances

to give them every opportunity to do so.

Not only does he assist with transportation, he will also provide clothing and gear needed for the job, which will be paid back in small increments. He’ll even do an advance on a paycheck, if one of his staffers needs the money.

“I firmly believe that everybody deserves a second chance,” Gamage says.

“We give you all the tools you need. It’s up to you to show us that you want to work.”

Gamage, who grew up in the Rockland area, enlisted in the Navy a year after high school. After three years, including a six-month tour aboard Bath-built frigate the U.S.S. Hawes, he realized that the Navy was not a good fit. He returned to Rockland and began as a temp for Nautica’s manufacturing facility. He worked his way up in the industry in Maine before he was transferred to facilities in New Jersey and Virginia. But in 2001, Gamage changed gears and decided to return to Maine to open a staffing agency.

Gamage believes strongly in the importance of giving back to his community. One of the ways he does so is by combining his staffing know-how and transportation service. Gamage works with the prison system and Rockland Main Street, volunteering time to transport and supervise inmates while they work community service. Not only are they working to improve the downtown, Gamage says it’s a way to show them what it takes to be proactive, productive, and to give back. “It’s also a good way for us as a community to give them the opportunity to do that,” Gamage says. “That’s a good way that we work together.”

But that’s not the only community service program that Gamage dedicates time and services to. A couple of years ago, Gamage began Miles of Hope, a free service to transport cancer patients to and from treatments. So far, they’ve traveled about 50,000 miles, over 1,500 hours, to more than 15 locations, for 20 patients, Gamage says.

“We determined there was a need and decided to do something,” Gamage says.

In 2012, the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce honored Gamage with the Community Service Award, which recognizes a business, individual, or nonprofit organization whose efforts have significantly enhanced the quality of life for community members. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 13

eye on industry

Maine’s Construction Industry

14 / Bangor Metro October 2013

R

ecent Maine Department of Labor figures show that there are more than of 5,000 construction companies in the state. The vast majority of these jobs employ fewer than 20 people. These companies build everything, from single-family homes to major commercial buildings. Some handle millwork and some earthwork. One thing is certain, they all work hard.

Construction companies are represented by two national organizations: Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) and The Associated General

photo: Kuzma/thinkstock.com

You’ve probably heard that saying that there are four seasons in Maine: fall, winter, spring, and construction season. While the industry is seasonal, it provides a good living for thousands of Maine workers and business owners. By Jack Cashman

Contractors (AGC) of America. These two organizations closely work together on many public policy issues. While their differences have dissipated over time, they have not merged.

The ABC and AGC of America have chapters located here in Maine, with about 200 members belonging to each organization. Their primary mission is to work on legislative issues that will affect the construction industry, both in Maine and across the nation. In addition, they provide training, safety education, and limited legal assistance to their members. “Our mission is to work to provide members with legal, educational, and networking services to enhance their business,” says Hope Perkins, president of the Maine chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. The construction industry in Maine shifts dramatically during the year. Late summer is the peak season for the industry. Last year there were 27,886 construction jobs in August. According to 2012 Maine Labor Department statistics, February was the worst month for construction jobs, with only 22,214 jobs. That’s a swing of 5,672 employees.

Department figures for the last three months of 2012 show an average of 5,451 companies employing 26,008 people with a total payroll of $296,410,072.

While these figures have rebounded from the peak of the recession, the department’s figures show that, prior to the economic slowdown, Maine had over 30,000 construction jobs during the busy summer months.

Pittsfield-based Cianbro Corporation is Maine’s largest construction company. Cianbro is diverse in geography (they operate in 40 states) and in terms of their areas of expertise. Peter Vigue, Cianbro’s CEO, says he has not seen a major increase in construction activity, in Maine or nationwide, over the past few years. “There is significant activity in the area of energy projects but a downturn in public works projects, both in Maine and nationally.” He adds that it will be a few more years before we get back to pre-recession activity.

Sargent Corporation, in Old Town, is one of the state’s largest earth contractors. Their CEO, Herb Sargent, has a similar view as Vigue. “A lot depends on

the type of work a company is doing, but the early recession years for us were not bad years,” Sargent says. “We had some major projects that carried us through.

More recent years have been difficult, but we have seen a moderate improvement this year.”

The experience of these two large companies is a reflection of the indus-

try in general. The exceptions would be in companies that have specific projects that are holding up their volume.

While overall growth remains rather flat, the industry still provides a healthy number of good paying jobs. Maine Department of Labor figures show a construction worker in the state takes home an average weekly wage of $877.

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metro health

A national study has ranked the health of our state, county by county.

How does your area measure up?

Read on to find out. By Kaylie Reese

16 / Bangor Metro October 2013

photo: Brian Swartz/thinkstock.com

The State T of our Health

his spring, a report by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked the health of counties nationwide. The study focused on two measures: health outcomes and health factors. The counties were ultimately ranked by their health outcome score, which, according to the website where the study is published, represent how healthy a county is based on mortality (premature death) and morbidity (poor or fair health, low birth weight, and days spent in poor mental or physical health). But the study also examines health factors—namely health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment—that may contribute to health outcomes. Focusing on the factors can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the rankings.

From there, we can work to make improvements on what is and what is not working.

The counties in the Bangor Metro coverage area are ranked as follows: Hancock County has been leading the ranks since 2010, alternating between first and second place with health outcomes.

This year, they ranked highest among the counties as far as physical environment. Health outcomes for Knox, Penobscot,

and Waldo Counties ranked fifth, ninth, and 10th, respectively. When looking through annual reports that date back to 2010, they have stayed near the middle of the pack, with respect to their rankings.

Aroostook, Washington, Somerset, and Piscataquis Counties finished out the health outcome rankings at 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th, respectively. These counties have been struggling near the bottom 25% of the rankings for the past four years. However, their positions change drastically with the release of each annual report, dating back to 2010.

Perhaps the most significant change in recent years is with Piscataquis County. In 2011, they ranked 10th for health outcomes. Last year they dropped to 13th place, and this year they came in last. Several health criteria in Piscataquis County rate twice the national benchmark, defined as the “point at which only 10% of counties in the nation do better,” according to the website where the study was published. The areas of concern include adult smoking, adult obesity, unemployment, children in poverty, and drinking water safety.

Health officials in the Penquis region, which encompasses Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, are working hard to turn these statistics around. Jessica Fogg, the Penquis Public Health Liaison for Maine the Maine CDC and DHHS, says Penquis Public Health examines the results of studies, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation rankings, to develop plans that will attend to priority areas in public health. One way to do this, Fogg describes, is to bring health officials in both counties together to assess what works and what needs improvement.

From there, they can work to develop a plan of action that will best suit the needs of the region. “[We look at ways to] get everyone working toward the same goals and initiatives, so we can get more bang for our buck,” Fogg says.

C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital in Greenville, located in Piscataquis County, has developed several programs they hope will be sustainable for the future.

One of the ways they are doing this is by working with Greenville schools, with the idea that starting health education at a young age will have a lasting impression as the students grow up.

“I think that once we show progress

and results, with people’s lives changing and improving, people will want to adopt and take advantage of those programs,” says Dennis Welsh, executive vice president and corporate compliance officer for C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital.

While he acknowledges that there are difficulties in Piscataquis County that need to be addressed, he says they are continuing to work and develop strategies to implement as a hospital with the hope of improving the health of their community.

One of the health organizations in the Piscataquis County is the Piscataquis Public Health Council (PPHC), which has been working for over a decade to combat some of the sustained health issues the area is facing. According to Robin Mayo, the community partnership director for PPHC, says that community involvement is necessary for making a change.

The organization focuses specifically on preventing adult smoking, obesity, and substance abuse and improving access to recreational facilities and healthy foods, Mayo says.

The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) in Presque Isle has also been working hard to design programs to educate community members. One of which includes the Senior Connections outreach program, which hosts the

where patients are treated for the issues they already have, toward “population health,” which is a preventative method that works to improve the health of the community.

“We are [looking at ways to get] patients in at an earlier stage, rather than waiting for them to get sick,” Therrien says. “Not just treating patients for why they’re here, but looking at the cause.

That’s where I think health care is starting to make dramatic improvements.”

Therrien suggests that the consistently high rankings in Hancock County are a fortunate result of being in a great location, with communities that are focused on health and overall wellness. One of the ways the community is making health a priority is through employers. According to Therrien, Jackson Laboratory and Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, the two largest employers in Hancock County, are among the businesses that are putting employee health at the forefront. He notes that wellness programs, including ones that businesses are implementing, have already made noticeable improvements, but he believes be even more significant in the future.

These preventative programs are not new to health care, but several hospitals in Maine are part of a pilot program that works to improve the efficiency and

“We are [looking at ways to get] patients in at an earlier stage, rather than waiting for them to get sick ... not just treating patients for why they’re here, but looking at the cause.”—Charlie Therrien “Healthy Aging” luncheon. According to Kerri Watson-Blaisdell, communication specialist at TAMC, doctors and specialists present on topics with the intention of engaging and informing attendees while they enjoy a healthy lunch. While the trend of developing programs to promote healthy living is not new, the focus as a hospital priority has become more widespread.

Charlie Therrien, CEO of Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, describes this shift in health care as one that moves away from “episodic care,”

quality of patient care, working to prevent health problems before they start and improve coordination, accessibility, and consistency when needed. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are being tested at 32 health organizations in the nation, including the Eastern Maine Healthcare System. So far, they have noticed favorable results. But it is just one of the many ways health care programs in Maine are working reverse the trends and promote healthy living, bringing communities together so they live Dr. Carey Fister can and one of prosperous lives in goodher health. patients. pediatric www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 17

metro wellness

Beyond the Boring Brown Bag Lunch Pack healthy school lunches to help your favorite students get through their day.

By Emilie Brand Manhart

I

don’t know about you, but I find the beginning of the school year to be a welcome shift from the wide open summers. I am invigorated by the routines, the earlier bedtimes, and the new shoes. I even find packing lunches for my kids to be fun for a while. Making and organizing healthy, whole foods in their lunch boxes feels like a tiny act of love for each of them.

Hot lunches served at school have come a long way since I was in school, but I would challenge a homemade lunch to a school-made lunch any day, in terms of nutritional value and quality ingredients. If your child eats a lunch that consists of whole foods and a good source of protein supplemented by fruits and vegetables, then your child will have a more productive day at school.

My kids enjoy your basic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, of course, made with whole-wheat bread, all-natural peanut or almond butter, and honey. Other favorites are a thermos of soup, a bagel with cream cheese, or turkey in pita bread. I supplement with a lot of snacks: pretzels, dried fruits, grapes, sliced apples or pears (squeezed with lemon to keep them from browning), sliced strawberries, clemen-

recipes 1 cup white flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 2 eggs, whisked

Amazing Peanut Butter Energy Bars (makes 24 Energy Bars) 1 tsp. vanilla 1/3 cup oil 2/3 cup honey 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 small zucchini)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the first six ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Place the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir just until the ingredients are combined. Pour the muffin mixture into large or small muffins cups (use a small ice cream scooper to fill the muffin cups). Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Store in an air-tight container or freeze for future lunches.

18 / Bangor Metro October 2013

1 cup rice crispies 1 cup almond butter or peanut butter 1 cup honey 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup chia seeds (optional) 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup dried cherries 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Mix all above ingredients in a big bowl. Warm up in a pan on the stove and add the almond butter or peanut butter and the sweetener. (I used honey, but the recipe recommends brown-rice syrup or barley malt syrup.) Mix the wet ingredients with the dry. Work quickly before it cools. Then, wet your hands with cold water and press the whole conglomeration into a baking dish (sprayed with cooking spray). Press them down firmly so that they will stay together when you cut them. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and put in the freezer.

After about an hour, pry the frozen sheet of bars out with a butter knife and dump it onto a cutting board. Then, slice them into bar size and wrap in plastic wrap. Keep them in the freezer and then grab them as you need them.

photo: Tony Marinella/thinkstock.com

Zucchini Mini-Muffins (makes 24 Mini-Muffins)

tines, carrots, and snap peas.

My eight-year-old daughter has recently been asking for green salads with cucumbers and tomatoes, squeezed with a little lemon juice. And I’m not even bribing her to eat it—proof that if you just keep putting good food in front of your kids, they will eventually learn to love it.

My six-year-old loves to bring Greek yogurt and small containers of blueberries, sliced bananas, and granola to school. I include in his lunch box a small plastic bowl, and he assembles it all himself.

Both kids also love to have a smoothie in a thermos that I blend in the morning, made with almond milk, bananas, and blueberries.

After a few weeks, though, I tend to run out of new ideas, and our lunches get a little boring. So I do what any good mom would do: I get on Facebook and ask all of my smart friends to spill the beans on what healthy and creative lunches they pack for their kids. It turns out my friends are adventurous lunch packers. Their kids are eating cucumber sushi rolls, hummus and corn chips, mini calzones made with whole-wheat dough, quesadillas, hardboiled eggs, and thermoses filled with lentil soup, rice and beans, mac and cheese, or chicken and veggie soup. Several friends use the popular bento box lunch boxes (like a Tupperware box with small compartments) filled with finger foods like turkey pepperoni, croutons, grape tomatoes, cheese cubes, and berries.

As annoying as it is for busy parents, most of the convenient pre-packaged snacks marketed for school lunches are unhealthy, full of sugars and fillers. That is why, instead of buying pre-packaged or sugary snacks, I try to make my own.

I have shared two of our favorite standby lunch snacks, which can you can make in bulk ahead of time and store in the freezer.

Fill your kids’ lunch boxes with goodness, and you’ll feel better sending them out the door each morning. And I’m hanging onto these years when my kids are still little enough to appreciate the most important ingredient: a love note from mom.

Emilie Brand Manhart is a mom, runner, and triathlete who co-chairs the English Department at Bangor High School and writes the blog One Mom in Maine. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 19

wedding is an event dreamed of, planned for, and fantasized about. A multi-billion dollar industry nationwide, it cannot be overstated: There is money in the wedding business. This thriving industry in Maine is made even better by remarkable individuals that choose to use that economic resource to give back to their communities. Pink Initiative Inc., a Maine-based nonprofit, has been doing just that, since October of 2008.

Pink Initiative Inc. is self-described as a collection of wedding industry professionals and private donors dedicated to funding awareness, outreach, education, and research for breast cancer. The organization is young, but it has been more than 20 years since the idea began to form in the mind and heart of founder Emilie Sommer, who was just 12 years old when the reality of breast cancer infiltrated her world.

When Donna, a close family friend, was diagnosed with the disease, it was the first time young Emilie had been touched by cancer. She looked on, helplessly, as cancer took its toll on her beloved friend.

When Donna passed away in 1991, it cemented Sommer’s desire to impact the breast cancer community and enact positive change in her honor and memory.

Sommer has since established herself as a wedding photographer, so incorporating her passion into her business was the next logical step. How fitting, then, that an industry largely powered by female consumers and service providers should come together for a cause that affects the female demographic so heavily?

“The statistics are staggering,” Sommer says. “One in seven women will be diagnosed in her lifetime.”

Once it was officially recognized as a nonprofit in August of 2009, Pink Initiative Inc. picked up speed. A primary focus of their work involves raising awareness, as well as funds. These efforts are facilitat20 / Bangor Metro October 2013

ed through a large number of grassroots events that members and collaborators create and host. From themed parties and silent auctions to trivia nights and poker tournaments, these events all center on a shared desire to eradicate the effects of breast cancer in any way possible.

Funds raised at such events are combined with annual member donations to fund breast cancer research through established nonprofits like the National Breast Cancer Research Foundation as well as a yearly Pink Initiative donation.

The beneficiary of this unique donation varies year to year and is determined by the board of directors.

Most recently, the 2012 annual donation went to a breast cancer survivor named Olivia, currently back in treatment after being diagnosed with a recurrence. After receiving a less than favorable prognosis, she dreamed of taking her family to Walt Disney World. Thanks to a generous donation by Pink Initiative Inc., a trip was booked for the whole family this past spring. In a thank-you letter, published on the Pink Initiative Inc. website, Olivia writes, “For me, there is no greater gift than bringing joy to my Mickey-obsessed son and a sense of normalcy to our little trio.”

A previous annual donation sponsored a mobile mammography van for a day of free screenings. Offered by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, these mobile screenings are of inestimable value to women who cannot afford them. On the sponsored day, five scans showed abnormal results.

Perhaps the most beautiful part of this organization is that anyone can be involved. Vendors, engaged couples, and general donors are all welcomed through their website. Now boasting an online directory of over 70 vendors from across the country, Pink Initiative Inc. provides a resource for conscious consumers. A simply browse of the vendors offers a list

Pink: Breast cancer awareness Pink and blue: Male breast cancer awareness Burgundy: Oral cancer awareness Orange: Leukemia awareness Yellow: Bone cancer awareness, endometriosis awareness, suicide prevention awareness Gold: Childhood cancer awareness Jade green: Liver cancer awareness Lime green: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma awareness Teal: Ovarian cancer awareness Teal and white: Cervical cancer awareness Blue: Colon cancer awareness Light blue: Prostate cancer awareness Periwinkle: Stomach cancer awareness Purple: Gynecologic cancer awareness, testicular cancer awareness, pancreatic cancer awareness Violet: Hodgkin’s lymphoma awareness Gray: Brain cancer awareness Black: Melanoma awareness, kidney cancer awareness White: Lung cancer awareness

Note: This is a sampling of different cancers and their corresponding ribbon colors. Many other diseases also have awareness ribbons. of members who are committed to donating a portion of their revenue to the cause. From photographers and florists to wedding coordinators and officiates, every wedding service is represented.

By securing one of these vendors, clients are treasuring Donna’s memory, supporting Olivia’s family trip, funding research trials, and providing life-giving screenings.

There’s no doubt, the tenacious forces behind this organization are dedicated to making a real, tangible impact.

For Donna, for Olivia, for survivors and co-survivors everywhere, Pink Initiative Inc. is on the move.

Lily Fryer is the daughter of a breast cancer survivor. She is a fierce advocate for those affected by cancer.

photo: istockphoto/thinkstock.com

One nonprofit is giving back to the breast cancer community by raising awareness through the wedding industry. By Lily Fryer

Has cancer touched you in a meaningful way? Show your support by wearing your ribbon!

A regular mammogram is the best defense against breast cancer.

C. A. Dean’s mammography machine is one of the newest, state-of-the-art units in the state and our mammography technologists pride themselves on providing high quality services with compassionate support in a comfortable environment. We have designed our services so that the whole experience of breast care is easier and more pleasant.

We provide the following education and screening services: r Clinical breast exams and mammograms r Individual and group education on breast self-examination r Breast cancer education r Risk assessment, counseling, and DNA testing for women with family history of breast cancer or other special concerns r Free breast health education Other diagnostic services include: r Follow-up on discovery of a breast lump or an abnormal mammogram r Breast exams by breast health professionals r Imaging studies r Treatment for non-malignant conditions r We’ll support you through the entire experience with videos, educational literature, access to local, state, and national resource organizations and support groups.

Vikki Ryder, Mammography Technologist

364 Pritham Avenue | Greenville | 207-695-5200 | www.cadean.org

www.carymedicalcenter.org/WIC Cary is an equal opportunity employer and provider

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 21

feature story

Future

the fuel of the

The number of homes in our area using natural gas increases each year, as more and more neighborhoods connect to the pipeline.

Not only does using natural gas decrease your dependence on foreign oil, it makes economic sense. story by Tom Avila-Beck photos by mark mccall

D

espite being another member of the fossil fuels family, natural gas has never received the Dallas treatment.

Like oil—its glamorized sister—today’s natural gas deposits came about thanks to a minor extinction event that occured some 360 million years ago. Trees, plants, and other organic matter died, sank to the bottom of swamps, and slowly became peat. The peat was covered by sand and clay and compressed, removing the water, to become sedimentary rock. After millions of years, heat and pressure transformed it into deposits of coal, oil, and natural gas.

Natural Gas in the U.S. It was during the early 1820s, in Fredonia, New York, when gunsmith William Hart established the first successful, commercial natural gas well. It was pretty much a 22 / Bangor Metro October 2013

BNG’s Dalton Fagan works on a home conversion to natural gas.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 23

feature story

shovel-dug hole in the ground. The pipeline, which connected the well to the five commercial buildings it served, was constructed with hollow logs and tarred rags.

Hart reportedly used a washtub, a gun barrel, and a candle to fashion a means of detecting the invisible, odorless gas.

At this point, uses for gas were limited. “Manufactured gas,” as it was then refered to, was created by the gasification of combustible materiels, including coal, wood, and oil. It was the most notably used fuel in lamp lighting by elite individuals and institutions in cities such as 24 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Philadelphia and Baltimore.

An 1816 advertisement by American painter Rembrandt Peale stated, “It is not necessary to invite attention to the gas lights by which my salon of paintings is now illuminated; those who have seen the ring beset with gems of light are sufficiently disposed to spread their reputation.”

Hart’s endeavor was the muddy antithesis to Peale’s salon-bound “gems of light.”

By the time a natural gas well was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859, porous wooden pipes had been re-

placed by lead and tin. But a lack of significant infrastructure hampered the growth of the fuel source into the 19th century.

Companies were discovering natural gas when they were drilling for oil, but it was often vented into the atmosphere, burned off, or completely ignored.

After World War II, the potential of natural gas opened up, with new welding techniques, improved pipes, and the development of better technologies. The discovery of a massive well in the southwestern U.S. (some 117 trillion cubic feet of natural gas) improved the economics,

This photo: The Bangor Natural Gas office on Maine Avenue in Bangor.

Right: Mary Dosen, Andrew Barrowman, Matt King and Rodd Lougee.

and the influence of large holding companies drove the expansion of interstate infrastructure.

By the middle of the 20th century, thousands of miles of natural gas pipeline had been put in place, and the manufactured gas that Peale once showcased was replaced by natural gas in all U.S. utilities.

Natural Gas in Maine The attraction to natural gas in Maine is as obvious as the state’s long, cold winters.

“Maine has a long history of dependence on fuel oil,” says Maine Public Utilities chairman Thomas L. Welch.

“Greater availability of natural gas in the residential market will give some customers an opportunity to choose a less expensive option for heating.”

However, as it did during those early days of hollow logs, the pipeline is still what governs expansion.

Currently, Bangor Natural Gas (BNG) serves 1,950 residential customers, 1,939 small-commercial customers, and 45 large-commercial customers. There’s also a group of 42 transportation customers, according to BNG’s sales and marketing manager Andrew B. Barrowman.

“We’re growing at a rate of about 900 to 1,000 new customers a year, which could go up, now that we’ve taken possession of the Loring pipeline,” says Barrowman. The Loring pipeline was originally created to deliver jet fuel from Limestone to Searsport, but it has since been repurposed for natural gas delivery.

BNG is converting the pipeline in four phases. The first phase, to run natural gas from Bangor to Mattawamkeag, has been completed. The second phase will

extend the pipeline from Bangor to Searsport, from Mattawamkeag into Aroostook County and, finally, to Limestone.

BNG is using a numbers-based approach to run and activate lines. “As customers call in, we track on a yearly basis to see where we get the most inquiries.

We then figure out what it will cost to lay pipe, and what will be our rate of return.

The strongest prospective streets, called ‘go’ streets, go on the initial budget,” explains Barrowman.

BNG’s list of “go” streets is then submitted to Gas Natural, BNG’s parent company, and a final budget is approved. Streets that can’t be covered by the budget are put into consideration for the following year.

Barrowman notes that there are costs involved that potential customers need to consider, and there are steps to take in advance. “You should call a qualified contractor who installs natural gas pipe and equipment and get a quote,” he says.

According to Barrowman, the cost of converting a heating system to natural gas can range anywhere from $3,000 to upwards of $10,000, depending on what needs to be replaced, such as new pipe www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 25

feature story Think you own the ugliest holiday sweater?

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or the installation of a new boiler, or furnace. “If a business or residence converts their heating system to natural gas, the service line is installed by BNG at no charge, per the regulated standard terms and conditions,” Barrowman says. “Most customers who are able to convert their existing heating system rather than have to replace it will see a payback period of about two years.”

Ted and Rose Marie Curtis of Orono recently switched over to Natural Gas. After conducting some research on his own, Ted Curtis attended a local informational session on the fuel hosted by Bangor Natural Gas. “It’s quiet, it’s clean, and it has saved us probably 60% on our fuel bill,” Curtis says. “It paid for itself within two years.”

Preparation is a key factor when taking advantage of conversion. Once a business or residence has been connected, homeowners have 60 days to activate service or they become liable for the costs BNG has incurred for the connection.

“If we run a line, we usually find that 75% to 80% of those who can convert do so immediately. But the other 15%—they often can’t afford the conversion,” Barrowman says. “We see that as one of the next challenges to be addressed.”

Environmental Impacts

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Like other fossil fuels, the challenges of natural gas extend beyond finances.

“Anyone who claims natural gas is better for global warming than oil needs to contend with the issue of methane leaking from ‘fracking’ or pipelines, not just the fact that gas emits less pollution when burned,” says Dylan Voorhees, clean energy director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM).

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, requires large quantities of chemicals, water, and sand to be injected into deep wells at extremely high pressures. This releases gas deposits. It’s a shift from that 27-foot-deep well Hart first dug. “We need federal regulations to reduce the environmental damage, such as polluting drinking water, reducing/storing toxic waste, or accidental natural gas releases that cause enormous global warming damage,” Voorhees says.

However, even with the risks involved, NRCM did support an omnibus energy bill that passed in the Maine legislature, which included natural gas

Eastern Maine Community College

Great College. Smart Choice.

BNG’s fleet runs on natural gas.

incentives. “We supported the bill because it will significantly lower energy costs to Maine homes and businesses, with an emphasis on increased energy efficiency as the means to do so. It includes a major, long-overdue funding increase for Efficiency Maine programs, which cut heating costs for thousands of homeowners each year. And the bill lowers global warming pollution limits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.”

Finally, Voorhees offers this advice for those who make the move to natural gas.

“Use it as efficiently as absolutely possible. That means have a home energy assessment and invest in efficiency improvements such as insulation and airsealing first. This is almost always the most cost-effective way to bring down heating bills.”

The Limits of Natural Gas If there’s one thing that everyone appears to agree with, it’s the limitations of natural gas in Maine.

Dead River Co. recently partnered

with Xpress Natural Gas to supply compressed natural gas (CNG) to large commercial customers that lack pipeline access. “The energy forecasts show a strong future for natural gas, but, for the foreseeable future, it’s not going to be possible or make sense for every customer,” explains Claudette Townsend, director of new products and services for Dead River Co. “That’s why we’ve been diversifying what we can offer and why we’re committed to helping people make the right decision for their own energy needs. Because of the equipment involved to convert CNG to usable natural gas, this isn’t something for the pizza shop down the street. However, for large commercial interests that want to move off fuel oil, this makes natural gas an option.”

PUC chairman Welch sees potential even for those for whom the option isn’t an option. “We’ll never reach a point where every home in the state will have access to natural gas. What this will do though, is make everyone sharpen their pencils and be competitive. That’s going to be good for all customers.”

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feature story

agriculture

Maine women in

Farming has long been a family business, but the matriarchs have often been overlooked.

These six women have made a name for themselves in our agriculture industry by working extremely hard to follow their passion. By Craig Idlebrook

Photo: mark mccall

T

he term “farmer’s wife” has always been a misnomer—one that implies that women who marry into a farming family can somehow avoid being actively involved in growing food themselves. Women have always been farming, even if some haven’t labeled themselves as farmers on their tax forms.

But if United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) census figures are any indication, women are taking an expanding role in food production, especially on small farms that form the backbone of Maine agriculture. The 2007 USDA agriculture census shows that the number of women farmers increased by 19% since 2002. That figure is only expected to climb, as 2012 census results are tabulated. The growth rate of women entering agriculture is outpacing the growth rate of the male counterpart, and the women’s farming renaissance has been cited by USDA officials as a major factor in the resurgence of small farms in America. Even so, such statistics don’t reveal the number of women who work away from the fields to strengthen food networks, such as farmers markets

28 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Cynthia Thayer www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 29

feature story and farm-to-school programs.

We’ve picked six women in the Bangor Metro area who are making a difference in their local food movements and strengthening Maine agriculture.

The Matriarch Cynthia Thayer Darthia Farm, Gouldsboro When a fire destroyed the 153-yearold barn of Cynthia and Bill Thayer’s Darthia Farm, killing much of the farm’s beloved livestock, the veteran farmers didn’t really have much time to contemplate retirement. Shortly after news broke of the fire, money poured in from community members for rebuilding the beloved post-and-beam structure, where many area farmers had their first taste of the growing life. Cynthia Thayer said she and her husband had little choice but to continue farming.

“Money started coming in,” she says.

“We felt kind of like we owed it to the people.”

The fundraising effort is a testament to the mark Thayer and her husband have left on the Downeast community. Ever since the pair began farming in the 1970s, they have hosted a steady stream of farm apprentices, many of whom have gone on to start their own farms. Each year, three to four fresh new faces would come in to learn about how to farm organically, from one of the longest established certified organic farms in the state.

Thayer and her husband also have been active in civic life and helped orga-

nize and create the Schoodic Arts Festival, which has since become one of the biggest Downeast events of the year. A noted novelist, she also has been hosting writing groups in her home for years.

“We didn’t realize we were doing so much for the community,” she says. Darthia Farm has become a Downeast farming institution, as generations of Mainers have come to the farm’s little store to pick up their produce. The shy farmers often attract headlines, as crowds have gathered for the arrival of the farm’s new team of draft horses and later for the barn-raising. Because of such an outpouring, Cynthia says she and her husband have an excuse to put off thoughts of retirement for a while longer.

“We’re a little nuts. My husband is 76, and I couldn’t picture him doing anything else,” Thayer says.

The Seed-Saver Maria Reynolds Groundswell Farm, Solon Most gardeners only think about seeds when they start their gardens in spring, but for Maria Reynolds, seeds are her career. Reynolds and her partner Mike Bowman grow and harvest organic and heirloom seed stock on about 10 acres in Solon. As varieties of vegetables have dwindled in recent years, due to market forces and consolidation within the industry, their patch of land at Goundswell Farm is a bit like an ark for seed biodiversity.

“Pretty much every year, we are losing

a vast majority of the seed diversity that we have,” Reynolds says. “Most of the seeds that are offered come from a dozen seed companies.”

Reynolds and Bowman specialize in growing seed stock that is acclimatized to New England weather, as well as adaptable to climate change. They focus on reviving and strengthening heritage varieties of dried beans, like Bumblebee and Marfax, that may have fallen out of favor with large-scale seed companies because of marketing considerations. However, according to Reynolds, these very varieties actually may be more genetically 30 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Photo: (left) melanie brooks

Maria Reynolds

Photo: (Above) mark mccall

CIFF at The Strand Theatre CarlyinDelSignore Rockland.

equipped to withstand unpredictable weather patterns.

“By having genetic diversity, that’s going to guarantee that we’re going to have some dry beans around for a while,” she says.

Like many farmers, Reynolds also wears many hats, including sales, outreach, and development coordinator for Crown O’ Maine, a successful organic produce distribution cooperative. She also raises heirloom varieties of pigs, feeding them the culls from the farm’s produce and seed-stock business. These pigs have a higher fat content than most

pigs bred for large-scale pork production.

In the past, pig fat was used for oils and soaps, but the pork industry has been favoring lean pigs with little fat content.

That’s changed the flavor profile, and Reynolds loves reintroducing her farm’s meat to pork connoisseurs.

“They’re shocked at the difference of the flavor,” she says.

The Back-to-the-Lander Carly DelSignore Tide Mill Farm, Edmunds Township Many of today’s female farmers are either first generation pioneers in their

family, or they are returning to revive their family farm. For Carly DelSignore, both proved to be true—if you count inlaws. DelSignore did not come from a farming family, but her husband, Aaron Bell, did. His family’s farm, in Washington County, laid mostly fallow for years, as his family had sold their milking herd on the day he was born.

But that didn’t stop DelSignore and her future husband from being as smitten by farming as they were for each other, when they met at the University of Maine in Orono. The pair decided to keep a garden and some pigs off-campus, but www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 31

Katie Freedman

they didn’t know much about how to farm and learned the hard way. “The pigs got out as soon as we opened the door. We just had no idea what we were doing, chasing pigs in the woods,� DelSignore laughs.

When they decided to start a family, the family farm seemed the best place to put down roots. The garden- and animal-keeping progressed until they realized they had started a live farm, complete with a dairy herd.

To be successful, they needed to build up infrastructure. Machias once had three creameries, but the dairies in Washington County had vanished over the years. Eventually, DelSignore signed on to sell organic milk with HP Hood, only to be booted off the company’s distribution route during the economic downturn in 2008.

Tide Mill Farm quickly banded together with a small group of farmers and Maine agriculture officials to form a new organic milk label, Maine MOOMilk. The project seems to have reached a sustainable level, DelSignore says. She hopes the

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32 / Bangor Metro October 2013

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Photo: mark mccall

feature story

Sarah Smith

efforts of her and other rural dairy farmers in Maine will make it easier for the next generation.

“We want it to be better,” she says. “We don’t want it to be so hard to be a dairy farmer five years from now or 10 years from now.”

The Connection

Photo: melanie brooks

Katie Freedman, Coordinator Healthy Acadia, Bar Harbor When coordinators with Healthy Acadia first began talking about the possibility of making a connection with Downeast farmers and school cafeteria staff, they were met with skepticism on both sides, says Katie Freedman, a Healthy Acadia coordinator in Hancock County.

In 2005, many farmers didn’t know how to sell directly to schools, and many cafeteria staff could only envision higher costs and more labor in order to prepare school lunches. That thought process has since shifted, says Freedman.

“The national dialogue about food and nutrition has really stepped up to a whole new level,” says Freedman.

“There’s nobody who really doesn’t know what I’m talking about when I say ‘farmto-school.’”

That shift can be seen locally, and Freedman credits everyone who has worked with Healthy Acadia before her, as well as her colleagues, for making farm-to-school a part of the curriculum for most schoolchildren in the Washington and Hancock Counties. Now cafeteria staff from 25 area schools work with farmers to bring fresh, local produce to schoolchildren, while also working to strengthen the local farming economy.

In addition, Healthy Acadia’s all-female staff also brings farming into the classroom, sends classrooms to visit farms, and helps kids get dirty by growing their own food at school. The program just completed a new round of grants that provide funding for 22 different farm-to-school programs, including programs that help schools keep their own gardens.

Now Healthy Acadia is no longer content to be just part of the school day.

They have since expanded their mission in recent years to connect food pantries with local farms, now offering subsidized, community-supported agriculture shares to low-income Mainers, as it’s part of the important effort to fight rising levels of food insecurity in Maine.

“We’re just trying to bring healthy, local food to people, regardless of income, while still supporting the farm economy,” she says.

The Organizer Sarah Smith Grassland Farm, Skowhegan For Sarah Smith, the farm was a nice place to visit, so she decided to live there.

A child of two households, Smith grew up visiting her father’s farm in Skowhegan.

While at college in North Carolina, she and her husband, Garin, began working summers on the farm for her father.

“Once I was there, and I was working on the farm, I realized that what I loved was farming,” Smith says. “We came back

to work for my dad and just knew we were going to farm somewhere.”

They took over management of the farm in 2005. While Smith and her husband focused on growing a herd of cows and a diverse crop of vegetables, she has also been focusing on growing the community. She took over the struggling Skowhegan farmers market and transformed it, bringing in over a dozen new vendors. It’s now been voted one of the best farmers markets in the country, according to an American Farmland Trust survey.

After seeing the numbers of farmers who, for a variety of reasons, are shut out of the farmers market model, she created a multi-farm community supported agriculture (CSA) venture on her www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 33

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farm in 2011. The Pickup, as it is called, it combines produce from as many as a dozen local farms for customers to enjoy each week. It even includes a three-daya-week restaurant on the farm, which provides a venue for farmers to convert imperfect-looking produce into valueadded products. Smith thinks the Pickup allows each farm to play to its strengths while giving the customer a quality product.

“Each of us have our niches in the CSA, so the customer gets this great diverse bag without a glut of any one thing,” she says.

She regularly travels to Washington, D.C. to talk with lawmakers and provide a voice for small-scale farmers who can’t find the time to get off the farm. But she denies that she has any special gift for community-organizing.

“I don’t claim to be anybody special, believe me,” Smith says. “This just is what I’m passionate about.”

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Marada Cook, co-founder Northern Girl, Van Buren Marada Cook quickly learned the need for marketing while she was growing up on

a potato farm in Aroostook County. Her father, Jim Cook, began to farm potatoes, and the family soon found themselves with a growing pile of cosmetically-imperfect spuds they couldn’t sell. Potato growers are held to high standards by large-scale buyers, and blemished potatoes, or “No. 2s,” just don’t make the cut.

“We had a 25% cull rate in a good year and a 50% in a bad year,” she says. “It was very hard to sell them at any price.”

That’s one of the reasons her father started the Crown O’ Maine Organic Cooperative on his farm in Grand Isle. He wanted to create statewide markets for farmers in Aroostook County and in other remote farming regions in Maine. The idea took off, and Crown O’ Maine grew into a statewide network that connects over 140 distributors with hundreds of customers, generating $1 million in sales.

Crown O’ Maine moved its headquarters to Vassalboro, but Cook, her sister Leah, and a handful of other investors have started a new venture in Aroostook County to help northern farmers command better prices. The new venture, appropriately named Northern Girl, creates value-added products for No. 2 potatoes,

Photo: melanie brooks

Leah and Marada Cook

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beets, and carrots, packaging and marketing them to command a higher price.

Cook says the goal is to help customers see how good Aroostook County root vegetables can be and to help farmers sell all parts of their crops.

“We want to do very simple preparation for good quality vegetable crops,” she says.

In its first two years, Northern Girl has been trying out product lines. So far, Cook and the others have found that simple is best. The company’s pre-baked Russet Wedge potatoes have proven most popular. Customers also like their roasted root vegetable mix of potatoes, beets, and carrots.

Northern Girl has been operating out of a kitchen at the old Loring Air Force Base in Limestone. This fall, they will move to a renovated 4,800-square foot facility on town-owned property in Van Buren, thanks to two rural development grants totaling $550,000. It was important for Cook and the other investors to locate the new facility in Aroostook County, she says.

“That’s the region where we’re from,” she says. “We want to see this region thrive.”

8/9/11 10:54 AM

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 35

a piece of maine: hermon

The Best of Both Worlds

History The town of Hermon was incorporated in 1814. It was formerly known as Plantation No. 2 in the Second Range West of the Penobscot River, Lincoln County, District of Maine, State of Massachusetts.

Early settlers came to the area in the late 1700s by way of the Penobscot River and the Souadabscook Stream in search of land and opportunity. The first settlement 36 / Bangor Metro October 2013

was located around Hermon Pond. The Hermon Pond School was built in 1819.

Early businesses around the pond included sawmills. Many area farmers used the sawdust as bedding for their herds.

When D. Whitting and Sons of Boston built a creamery in Hermon and opened their own icehouse, the sawdust was used as packing around the ice blocks that were harvested from the pond and

Photo: melanie brooks

The town of Hermon has been experiencing a growth spurt.

During the past decade, nearly 1,000 people have moved to the town of Hermon, with more than 400 households and 250 new families. More people means more business, and Hermon’s open-arm policy and low tax rate make it a perfect spot for many open up shop. By Melanie Brooks

Photos: courtesy The Hermon Historical Society

Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum

shipped via rail to points west.

Railroads are a big part of Hermon’s history. At one time the town had four stations. Trains brought industry and business to the area and helped the resorts and hotels around the pond flourish with tourists. It is estimated that in the 1920s and ’30s, 80% of Hermon’s workforce worked in the railroad industry.

While passenger lines dwindled between the 1930s and ’50s, due to the popularity of the automobile, trains were used to transport goods and lumber north and south. The face of industry in Hermon has changed over time, but the rail lines still exist as a reminder of a bustling chapter in the town’s history.

The Great Outdoors Along Route 2 in Hermon lies a natural oasis called Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum. Ecotat’s 91 acres of land are home to more than 55 gardens, which contain 280 varieties of trees, more than 1,500 varieties of perennials, along with animals, birds, and insects.

Visitors can access the gardens all year long for free from dawn to dusk.

There are tours of the gardens in the

Top: The Village School on Billings Road, circa 1930’s. Middle: Workers at Northern Maine Junction on the coal loading ramp, circa 1940s. Bottom: The viewing stand at the Sesquicentennial Parade, Hermon Corner, 1964. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 37

a piece of maine: hermon

“We just built a new home in Hermon.

We loved the closeknit community and the growing population.”—Rob Pyle

38 / Bangor Metro October 2013

summer, but there are trails available for hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing depending on the season. Another good place to relax is along the shore of Hermon Pond.

It’s a great place to enjoy a picnic or cast your fishing line.

If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, and you’re not afraid of the cold, then head to Hermon Mountain Ski Area.

With 20 trails and snowmaking capabilities, skiers and snowboarders can tackle the mountain for a reasonable rate.

The Whitcomb family has owned Hermon Mountain for nearly 30 years.

“We thought about selling the mountain, but our kids, who were in their late teens and early 20s at the time, thought that that was a bad idea,” Bill Whitcomb says.

“It’s cool to have your kids working with you. It’s worked out quite well for us.”

Hermon Mountain’s family-friendly atmosphere has kept people coming back—customers and employees alike.

“In the last five years, we’ve had 90%

of our employees return each season,” Whitcomb says. “The guy who runs the tubing lift has been here as long as I can remember.”

Whitcomb has seen the number of season passes for families shoot up over the past several years, which he attributes to the upgrades and changes that have happened at the mountain. The installation of a chair lift was the first big improvement. They also implemented a 100% snowmaking system and started to use modern grooming equipment. At 59 years old, Whitcomb isn’t even considering retirement. “I’ll still be that old fool hiking up the mountain in the middle of the night, making snow.”

If you put away your skis in the spring to pick up your golf clubs, you’re in luck.

Hermon Meadow Golf Club and Driving Range is family-owned and caters to golf players at every level.

The town has also been working to develop several new walking trails to

Photos: (this page) Sandy Flewelling; (opposite) Melanie brooks

Jackson Beach on Hermon Pond.

help connect the community. The first project was the creation of a trail in between the high school and elementary school. The second phase of the project will be the creation of a trail between the high school and middle school.

Hermon Meadow Golf Club

Living in Hermon Jennifer Freese and her husband Rafal Subernat bought a home in Hermon in 2009. “There were few other places where we could find a house that we loved with lots of land in a nice neighborhood,” Freese says. “Most other developments have cookie-cutter houses on a small piece of land really close to the neighbors. Here we have three acres.” The proximity to Bangor is also important to this couple, since Subernat is frequently on call for his job at Eastern Maine Medical Center. “We’re just 20 minutes away,” Freese says.

“We just built a new home in Hermon.

We loved the close-knit community and the growing population,” says Rob Pyle.

His neighbor Matt Nevells agrees. “My

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www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 39

a piece of maine: hermon

Business is Good

Dr. Ben Phillips at Hermon Family Dental.

40 / Bangor Metro October 2013

When Ben and Caroline Phillips moved to Maine, they had no idea they’d be opening a business. The couple and their three children moved to Hermon from Buffalo, New York, for Ben Phillips’ first dentists job at Penobscot Commu-

Photos: melanie brooks

wife Kendra and I really like our development—lots of land and close to Bangor. In my opinion, Hermon is the most economically friendly town in the area to live in. It is frugal in how it spends money, and the tax rate shows it. It’s a great community to be a part of,” Nevells says.

The mixture of real estate choices appeals to many people. “You can live rurally on a quiet country road, in one of the numerous beautiful subdivisions, or in one of the many rental properties,” says Lauren Applebee, a broker and Realtor with ERA Dawson Bradford Co. “It’s conveniently located minutes to Bangor, near Interstate 95, the Bangor International Airport, and offers shopping and recreational activities.”

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A GREAT TOWN TO PLAY

Hermon Meadow Golf Club and Driving Range, is Maine’s most family friendly golf course. Five sets of tees can challenge every level of golfer and provide fun for all ages. We are a Par 72, 18-hole course with tees for juniors to experts.

Hermon High School

nity Health Care in Bangor.

“We had a short amount of time to find a house, and the one in Hermon fit our needs the best,” Caroline Phillips says. “Opening a business here has been great.”

Hermon Family Dental is the only dental office in Hermon. Located next to Danforth’s Down Home Supermarket, the practice is both convenient and state of the art. There are televisions on the ceilings so that patients can watch movies while getting their teeth cleaned. Patients can even get a chair massage while having tartar removed.

“The town made it extremely easy to open this business,” Ben Phillips says. “It serves a large population that, until now, had to travel to Bangor for their needs.”

Ron Harriman, who heads up the town’s economic development, works to attract entrepreneurs such as the Phillips’ to Hermon. “We appreciate the businesses, so we’re not going to make people jump through hoops,” Harriman says. “We’re going to help them through

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hermon stats Incorporated: 1814 Population: 5,416 Population Density: 151/sq mi Median Household Income: $52,270 Median Age: 40.4 Mil Rate: 11.9 Median Home Value: $194,000 Education: • Hermon Elementary • Hermon Middle School • Hermon High School

42 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Major Employers: • Dysarts Transportation • Danforth’s Down Home Supermarket • Gardiner Construction • Pottle’s Transportation • Hermon Mountain Ski Area Leading Employment Sectors: • Retail • Trucking • Transportation • Municipal Natural Resources: • Hermon Pond • Hermon Mountain • Walking and snowmobiling trails • Scenic open spaces including forests and stream

the entire process so that it’s easy and friendly.”

There are hundreds of businesses in Hermon and four bustling business parks. The Coldbrook Business Park, for example, opened in 1999 and is filled to capacity and expanding. FedEx will be moving into that business park in the near future, employing about 100 people at their two-acre facility, Harriman says.

A deal like that takes years to cultivate, but it’s worth it.

Ray Wood, owner of Pinewood Business Park, is also at capacity. Wood grew up in Brewer and lives in Eddington, but he decided to cross the river and open up his business park in 2000 because of Hermon’s business friendly climate.

“Hermon is the most business friendly community of any in the surrounding area,” he says. “They are the most ag-

Photo: melanie brooks

a piece of maine: hermon

gressive in actually helping developers like myself, rather than putting up road blocks. Ron Harriman has done a heck of a job bringing businesses to Hermon over the past 10 years. The numbers don’t lie. I can’t say enough about the town of Hermon. They’ve treated us extremely well. Ron has done much, much more for developers than I’ve heard in any other community.�

The Snowman Group moved from Bangor to Hermon in 2000. “We needed a facility where we could house our printing and mailing operation under one roof,� says Rich Armstrong, company vice president. The town helped to facilitate their move by voting to extend the sewer and water lines out to their location, which is now in the Coldbrook Business Park. “We were here before they ever built the park,� Armstrong says. “We purchased our five-acre lot from the Dysart family, and the park was built around us.� Armstrong loves everything about his new facility—the location, the atmosphere, and the clean and professionallooking business park.

And, being visually appealing is one great way to attract businesses to your town. Hermon has been working on doing just that to their village area along Route 2. “The vision for the village area was to create a more connected community,� Harriman says. They are doing that by putting in sidewalks to make the area around the entrance to the high school more pedestrian friendly. “We’re trying to cultivate a certain image of Hermon, that it’s not just a rural farm town. We want to create a connected community that provides a rural lifestyle while attracting the types of businesses that residents want to see.�

And one of those businesses was a grocery store. Dick Danforth opened Danforth’s Down Home Supermarket in 2007. It has since become an anchor in the community, and the reason other businesses have flocked to Danforth’s Plaza. “The need was there for a supermarket,� Danforth says. “I knew the population would support one and that it would be good for the community.� Danforth, who worked for Hannaford Supermarkets for 33 years, just brought the Hannaford brand into his store. “It’s a local name and a Maine company,� he says. “That’s important.�

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energy guide

2013

ener 3

2

1

5

4

44 / Bangor Metro October 2013

8

11

gy guide Whether you’re building a house from the ground up or are renovating your existing home, being energy conscious is key.

It can get very expensive to heat your home and run electricity here in Maine. Your decisions can save you tons of money in the long run.

6

I

f you are renovating an existing home, the first thing you should do is to schedule a home energy assessment, also called an energy audit. This is the best way for you to find out how you can make improvements that may cut energy costs.

9 10

7

STRUCTURE & EXTERIOR 5

image: istockphoto/thinkstock.com

5

of the insulation. You will want to insulate the attic, walls, floors, basement, and crawlspaces. The most cost-effective way to keep your home warmer in the winter is by making sure your attic is properly insulated. Adding insulation to your existing home attic is easy and affordable.

Measure the thickness of the insulation, too—if it’s less than 11 inches thick, you could benefit from adding more.

1. Insulation:

2. Solar Power:

Heat loves to find cool places. In the winter, air from your heated spaces flows to unheated spaces— basements, attics, garages, and even closed-off extra rooms, for example. In the summer, warm heat from the outside flows into the cooler interior of the home. To stay comfortable, we use heating systems in the winter and air conditioning units and fans in the summer.

Properly insulating your home will reduce heat flow by creating a barrier.

When purchasing insulation, take into consideration the R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the effectiveness

You don’t have to live in Arizona to take advantage of the sun. If you use solar power here in Maine, you may be eligible for a 30% federal tax credit, along with an Efficiency Maine rebate. Here are two ways your Maine home can benefit from this renewable energy source.

When you see solar panels affixed to a roof, you are seeing a grid-tied solar electricity system. These photovoltaic panels, as they are called, allow you to generate electricity when the sun is out.

When you produce more electricity than you need, you can export it to the grid and earn credits. When you need more www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 45

energy guide

t s li o d y e n o H It’s that time of year once again, so get ready for winter. Here is your list of things to do this month to help you get started.

Have your furnace cleaned

If you have a contract with your heating fuel provider, double-check to make sure an annual cleaning for your furnace is included. If it’s not, it’s wise to pony up the money to have it done. It will help your furnace run more safely—and efficiently— over the next 12 months.

Get an Energy Audit

Professionals use devices like infrared cameras to see where your home is losing

Program your thermostat

If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, think about getting one. And make sure to turn the heat down at night before you go to bed and in the morning before you go to work. No need to heat your house if no one’s home.

Rotate your ceiling fan

Make sure your ceiling fan is rotating clockwise in cold weather. You want it to push warm air down, not suck it up to the ceiling.

Weatherstrip

the most heat—a great first step in deciding what to do to your home before the snow flies.

Close off doors

Ready your house for the elements. Caulk air leaks around windows, doors, pipes, and ducts, and weatherstrip doors and windows. Winter weather will not take

Is there a spare room in your house

advantage of your house after proper

that isn’t being used? Perhaps your kids

weatherizing.

have left for college or there’s an extra bathroom you don’t use often. Keep the door closed and seal off the room—no need to heat an area that is rarely used.

Upgrade

Visit Efficiency Maine’s website, www.effi ciencymaine.com, to find out what home improvement projects you can do by the end of 2010 that will earn you tax credits and rebates. You might be surprised at the amount of money you can save.

46 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Turn down water heating temperature

Lower the temperature on your water heater, especially during the winter months. With each 10°F reduction in water temperature, you can save 3–5% in energy costs.

electricity, you can get it from the grid, as you normally do now. The credit you get by generating more electricity can be used to pay future electric bills.

3. Windows: When building a new house, take sunlight into consideration as part of your design. The more daylight you have, the less electricity you will use in turning on the lights.

Incorporate daylight into your home by designing a dwelling with south-facing windows. These allow the most winter sunlight into the home but very little direct sunlight in the summer. Northfacing windows provide good daylight, too, with little unwanted direct summer sun.

When purchasing windows, take the U-factor into consideration. The U-factor is the rate at which a window, door, or skylight conducts non-solar heat flow.

The lower the U-factor, the more energy efficient the window is. You will also need to decide on the type of glass or glazing to get. The most common are gray- and bronze-tinted windows, which reduce the penetration of light and heat. Blueand green-tinted windows are a little better, allowing in more visible light and a bit less heat. When considering your decisions, think about what direction your windows face in your home.

If you want to go a step further, purchase windows that have low-emissivity coatings. These “low-e” coated windows cost a little more than regular windows, but they can significantly reduce energy loss. This type of coating lowers the Ufactor of a window.

Don’t want to replace all of the windows in your home but still want to save energy?

Seal any leaks around your windows with caulk. How about installing storm windows? These windows can be installed on the interior of the primary window, and they can help to reduce air movement into and out of existing windows.

• Skylights: A skylight can reduce your lighting costs. Positioning is key.

North-facing: consistent, but cool, light.

South-facing: best choice for winter, but often lets in heat gain in the summer.

East-facing: best light and heat in the morning.

West-facing: best light and heat in the afternoon.

To minimize heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, skylights can be glazed using various techniques.

Talk with your installer about what is best for your skylight location.

INTERIOR 4. Water Heaters: A water heater has a lifespan of about 10 to 15 years, so if your model is getting old, start researching! Energy Star models are a good investment, as they are highly efficient.

• Electric Storage Water Heater: These water heaters are the cheapest on the market. If you’re buying a new electric storage water heater, make sure it is Energy Star qualified for the most savings. If your home already has one,

make sure it is insulated. Keeping the water in the tank warm until you want to use it wastes energy. Insulation can help. You can buy insulation and cover it yourself, easily.

• Heat Pump Water Heater: These are about two to three times more efficient than a system that stores heated water. They can save you an average of $300 a year.

• Gas-Condensing Water Heater: This water heater is a choice for homes that use natural gas. They are super efficient at heating water and can reduce your natural gas bills by more than $100 a year.

• Indirect Water Heater: This heater uses the main furnace or boiler to heat a fluid that circulates through a heat exchanger in the storage tank. The energy stored in the tank saves energy by allowing the furnace to turn on and off less often.

• Tankless Water Heater: These only provide hot water when needed and use your home’s heating system to heat the water. Because they don’t heat and store large amounts of water, like conventional water heaters, they use less energy. While they are more efficient than a regular storage water heater, there is a limited flow of hot water. This is a good fit for a new home or a major remodel—just make sure you buy the right model for your needs.

Had Enough?

• Solar Water Heater: These are 50% more efficient than a storage water heater and work from May through October, when the sun in Maine is at its peak. Instead of using a boiler to heat the water, the energy comes from the sun, which is free!

5. Energy-Efficient Appliances: When shopping for new appliances, find ones that have an Energy Star label. Energy Star is a U.S. Environmental Protec-

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energy guide tion Agency (EPA) volunteer program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. If you see an Energy Star label, you know it’s an efficient appliance.

• Refrigerators Energy Star refrigerators are required to use 15% less energy than non-certified models. By replacing your old fridge with an Energy Star model, you could save $200 to $1,100 on energy costs over the lifespan of your fridge.

• Dishwashers An Energy Star dishwasher can save you $40 a year on your utility bill. It uses less water, saving 1,300 gallons over the lifespan of the dishwasher. Be sure to turn down your hot water temperature to 120 degrees. Savings can be anywhere from 7% to 11% of waterheating costs.

• Freezers Freezers that are qualified save 10% more energy than non-certified models.

6. Lighting and Fans: There are new light bulbs on the market that are energy saving.

• Energy-saving incandescent bulbs, also called halogen lights, are about 25% more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to three times longer.

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• Compact florescent lamps (CFLs) can save more than $40 over the bulb’s lifespan. These bulbs last six times longer than the old incandescent light bulbs and use 75% less energy. They also give off 75% less heat, making them safer.

• Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are the most energy-efficient bulbs on the market. They last up to 25 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs and save 75 % to 80% of energy.

The easiest way to be energy efficient when it comes to your lights is to turn them off when you aren’t using them.

Don’t leave your lights on when you aren’t home. When you leave a room, turn the light off. You can put your outside lights

Need New Window Coverings? on a sensor. For example, instead of leaving your outside light on all day for when you come home at night in the dark, put that light on a sensor so that it turns on when you approach your door. If you are concerned about your home when away on vacation, put a light on a timer so that it turns on in the evenings.

The same goes for ceiling fans, which can be energy efficient when used properly. It’s a waste of energy to keep a fan on when people are not in the room. Be sure to turn them on and off as you enter and exit the room. Many Mainers can get through the summer months without an air conditioner if they have ceiling fans. In the winter, reverse the direction of your ceiling fan to push the warm air from the ceiling down to where the people are. This causes the air in the room to stay warmer, thus the air around the thermostat is warmer. When running your ceiling fans in the winter, run them on the lowest speed. Airflow over your body will cool you off.

HEATING SYSTEMS 7. Heat Pumps: Heat pumps use electricity to move hot air from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool areas cooler and the warm areas hotter. It’s an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners, as it moves heat rather than converting it from a fuel.

The most common type are airsource heat pumps, which moves heat between your house and the outside.

High-efficiency heat pumps can trim your electric bill when it comes to heating or cooling your home with electricity. During the summer, the heat pump moves the heat from inside your house into the warm outdoors. In the winter, the heat pumps take cool outdoor air and warms it up to keep the inside of your home comfortable.

If you live in a home without ducts, the mini-source heat pump is for you. These pumps are small. They work well for zone heating, and they are easy to install. They also work well as add-ons for homes that heat with wood, oil, or propane.

A new type of heat pump is called the absorption heat pump, or gas-fired heat pump. These pumps use heat as their energy source, which makes them useful

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energy guide with many different types of sources.

8. Bioheat: If you already heat your home with oil, think about heating with bioheat. This is a heating oil that is blended with biodegradable materials, like soybean oil that is domestically produced, to create a greener home heating option. Bioheat will work with your standard heating

equipment. All you have to do is fill your tank. Besides reducing dependence on foreign oil, bioheat burns cleaner, which is better for our environment.

9. Wood: Maine has a lot of trees, so it’s no wonder many of us heat with wood. Today’s wood- and pellet-burning appliances are cleaner, more efficient, and more power-

ful than ever before.

• Pellet Fuel: Consider installing a pellet stove for an alternative way to heat your whole home with a boiler or a portion of it with a stove. There are Maine businesses that produce pellets, so you can help out the local economy by buying local pellets.

Heating with pellets is convenient and clean, and it produces very little air pollution. Pellet stoves are suitable for any sized living area, from condominiums to entire homes. You can also get a fireplace insert for your existing fireplace. While they are easy and clean to use, they require electricity to run fans, controls, and pellet feeders, resulting in about $9 worth of electricity a month.

Unless there is a back up power supply, pellet stoves do not create heat when the power goes out.

• Firewood Old homes have drafty fireplaces. Consider installing a high-efficiency fireplace insert to make the most of your beautiful fireplace. These inserts function much like woodstoves and use the existing chimney. They will help reduce air pollution and make your fireplace safer overall.

If you have a chimney (or several) in your home, make sure you aren’t losing valuable warm air. Flues leak heat out of your home. Be sure your flue is in good working condition, and be sure to close it when not in use. If you have a fireplace that you don’t use, plug and seal the flue.

Wood stoves are the most popular way to burn firewood and, depending on the type, can be 60% to 80% efficient.

The downside is chopping and storing the fuel. Make sure your wood is properly seasoned, as a lot of energy can be used burning wet wood. Cover the top of your woodpile but leave the sides open for air circulation. You can keep it dry by storing it up off of the ground.

• Masonry Heaters These are commonly known as Russian, Siberian, or Finnish fireplaces.

They produce more heat and less pollution than other wood burning or pellet burning stove or boiler. They produce a small but intense fire that results in

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energy guide little air pollution and creosote build up in your chimney. Put your Masonry heater in a sunny spot in your home, and the heater will absorb the sunlight and release it slowly into the room. Disadvantages to Mansonry heaters is that they are expensive and cannot provide heat quickly from a cold start.

Chimney tips: If you are constructing a new home, consider putting the chimney inside. Conventional chimneys, which are placed along the outside of the home, lose valuable heat to the outside air.

If you already have a chimney, make sure it is properly insulated. Older chimneys can be relined to connect them to newer wood-burning appliances. Make sure you hire a chimney sweep to clean your chimney every year.

10. Propane:

Warmth at the flip of a switch

Propane gas is a clean-burning fuel that meets the clean air energy standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You can use propane in a variety of ways, including heating your home, cooking, heating your water, and running your clothes dryer. Nearly 90% of all propane is made right here in the U.S. Propane furnaces and boilers have an energy efficiency rating of 90% or higher, offering you more heat for less money. They’re also small, so they are great for apartments. Wall-hung boilers can even fit in a closet. Propane storage tanks are installed outside of your home, giving your more space and no potential for indoor leaks.

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Buying a new furnace is a big decision, so take the time to make the right one for your home. An Energy Star-certified gas furnace can be up to 16% more efficient than baseline models, which can save you nearly $100 a year.

Regardless of the kind of furnace you have, you should have the filters cleaned regularly. Dirty filters restrict airflow, which increases your energy use. Schedule a regular furnace cleaning once a year in the fall to get your furnace running in tip-top shape before winter sets in.

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what’s happening

october

Performing Arts for Children Series: Cinderella The Grand, Ellsworth • October 11 The Tanglewood Marionettes are putting on a production of Cinderella, told with wit and style, that is sure to please audience members of all ages. A dozen lavishly costumed 30" marionettes will bring this 18th-century fairy tale to life.

Maine Battery Cannon Firings Fort Knox, Prospect • October 12 & 13 A full-scale Civil War-era Parrot cannon will be fired throughout the day. This is the real deal and will provide some explosive excitement for all who visit.

October 11 Cinderella / Ellsworth

54 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Photos: (top) istockphoto/thinkstock.com; (Left) courtesy tanglewood marionettes

october 12 & 13 Maine Battery Cannon Firings / Prospect

Events

October 2 2 Those Who Care Gracie Theatre, Bangor WLBZ 2’s 2 Those Who Care event honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional service to the community. www.wlbz2.com October 2 Mother Goose Bangor Public Library Mother Goose is the feature of this 2o-minute program, filled with stories, songs, and finger plays, designed for babies up to 24 months old. 10:15 am.

947-8336 • www.bpl.lib.me.us October 2 Woodlot and Christmas Tree Management Searsmont Experience firsthand the modern management of a woodlot. Jim Robbins, owner of Robbins Lumber Company, will guide a woodlot tour to show you modern, sustainable forestry management for white pine lumber and Christmas trees in Searsmont. Join Jim and his wife Ann afterward for a reception at their home. 3 pm. $25-$35.

594-5166 • www.georgesriver.org October 3 The Long View: Thirty Years Transforming a Garden Rockport Opera House Schleppinghurst Garden’s Ken Greaves, who has been working for three decades to transform a quarry into a floral sanctuary, is opening his garden to visitors. His work has earned him an award from the New England Wildflower Society. 2:30-3:30 pm.

594-4449 www.mainedreamvacation.com October 3 Art Collector Maine Reception with Janis Sanders Cellardoor Winery at the Villa, Rockport Welcome the October Artist of the Month, Janis Sanders, with a kick-off reception at the Villa. Stop by and enjoy wine and art as you get a chance to meet the artist and mingle with friends.

Call ahead to add your name to the guest list. 6-9 pm.

763-4478 • www.mainewine.com

October 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 28, & 30 Ghostly Bangor Walking Tour Thomas A. Hill House, Bangor Prepare for the paranormal as you follow a winding path through haunted Bangor and stop at several sites to hear tales of reported ghostly activity. 7-8:30 pm. $10 adults; $5 children ages 5-12; free for children 5 and younger.

947-5205 • www.visitbangormaine.com

Theater

Music

Twilight Walking Tour Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor Take an unusual tour of the second oldest garden cemetery in the country, and learn about the history of several Bangorians who have been laid to rest there.

Recommended for ages 12 and up. 5-6:30. $10; $5 for children 12 and younger; Free for children younger than 5.

947-5205 • www.visitbangor.com

October 4 First Friday Art Walk Downtown Bar Harbor At venues all over town, peruse the gala that showcases a wide variety of fine art and craft, with special performance events including theater and music at many locations throughout the town.

6-9 pm.

288-9428 • www.barharborinfo.com

October 5 9th Annual Kitchen Tour Brewer, Bangor, & Hermon Join the EMMC Auxiliary as it presents an afternoon of food, fun, and fabulous kitchens at the 9th Annual Kitchen Tour. There is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. Proceeds will benefit the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Family CancerCare Center in Brewer.

12-4 pm. $25. www.emmcauxiliary.org

October 4 Bob Marley with Special Guest Krazy Jake Collins Center for the Arts, Orono Bob Marley, one of the most soughtafter comedians in the country, is celebrating 15 years as a stand-up comic. Krazy Jake is the special guest for the evening. 8-10 pm.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

October 5 Sounds of the Supremes Gracie Theatre, Bangor Since the late 1980s, the Sounds of the Supremes have performed in over 60 countries and have achieved a remarkable degree of worldwide success. 7-9 pm. $25-$32.

941-7051 • www.gracietheatre.com

October 4 & 5 Bangor Book Festival Bangor Public Library The Bangor Book Festival, now in its seventh year, brings Maine and Maine-connected writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s books to Bangor. Writers and illustrators will read and discuss their work with readers of all ages.

947-8336 • www.bangorbookfest.org October 4-6 Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend Cross Insurance Center, Bangor Friends, new and old, meet in Sesame Street in Bangor. No matter where you’re from or where you’ve been, everyone is special, so join in! $17-$62.

561-8300 www.crossinsurancecenter.com October 4, 11, 18, & 25 Mount Hope Cemetery

October 5 Rushad Eggleston Camden Opera House Rushad Eggleston is a world-renowned, innovative cellist, known for his mastery of rhythm and improvisation.

7:30 pm. $15; $15 students, seniors.

236-7963 www.camdenoperahouse.com October 5 Live from the Met: Eugene Onegin Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Strand Theatre, Rockland The Grand, Ellsworth Anna Netrebko and Mariusz Kwiecien star as the lovestruck Tatiana and the imperios Onegin in Tchaikovsky’s fateful romance, Eugene Onegin.

The show is a co-production of the Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera. 1 pm. $27-$28.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com 594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 55

Events

Theater

October 5 Midcoast Maine Mushroom Festival Breakwater Vineyards, Owls Head Enjoy mushroom foods and wine pairings, mushroom walks around the vineyards, and learn how to identify different varieties of mushrooms.

12-5 pm. Free.

594-1721 www.breakwatervineyards.com October 5 Jill Sanders Reception Cellardoor Winery, Lincolnville Welcome the October Artist of the Month, Jill Sanders, by enjoying wine, cheese, and a four-course gourmet dinner prepared by special guest Chef Shannon Bard of Zapoteca at the newly renovated Cellardoor Farmhouse.

Reservations required. 6-9 pm. $85.

763-4478 • www.mainewine.com October 5 The Glants of Ingersoll Ingersoll Point, South Addison Explore the forest at Ingersoll Point, with hikes designed for audience members of all ages. 10 am.

255-4500 • www.downeast coastalconservancy.org October 5 20th Annual Paws on Parade Bangor Waterfront The Bangor Humane Society is hosting its 20th Annual Paws on Parade, a mile-long event that raises awareness and benefits animals awaiting forever homes. 9 am-1 pm.

942-8902 • www.bangorhumane.org October 5 Ghosts of Fort Knox Guided Tours Fort Knox, Prospect Join the East Coast Ghost Trackers on a guided tour of Fort Knox in search of ghosts and paranormal phenomena.

Bring a flashlight. 6, 7:30, & 9:00 pm departures. $15.

469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com October 5 Perry Harvest Fair Perry This annual fair, now more than 30 years old, features arts and crafts, a farmers market, live entertainment, an apple 56 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Music pie contest, scarecrow building, food vendors, and a harvest supper. 9 am.

853-4478 October 5 & 6 Living History Days Leonard’s Mills, Bradley Step back in time to the 1790’s as the colonial village comes alive. See technology of years gone by with demonstrations that include Colonialera spinning, woodworking, trapping, blacksmithing, and many other traditional activities. You can even try some bean-hole beans or take an oldfashioned horse-drawn wagon ride.

10 am-4 pm. $10; $5 children.

974-6278 • www.leonardsmills.com October 5, 6, 12, & 13 Train Rides Belfast Make memories with your family on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad, which offers hour-long excursions, including pizza trains, chocolate trains, wine trains, and fall foliage trains.

11 am-3 pm.

722-3899 October 5, 16, & 26 Beech Nut Open House Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport The historic sod-roofed stone hut, atop Beech Hill on the Beech Hill Preserve, is open to the public. Beech Nut, as the house is called, is a special building that was restored in 2007. The views alone make the walk up the hill worthwhile.

10 am-2 pm.

236-7091 • www.coastalmountains.org October 5-7 Searsport’s Fling Into Fall Searsport Celebrate fall at this annual fair.

Activities include concerts, hayrides, a scarecrow contest, craft and food vendors, an antique car show, a historic ghost tour, public suppers, and a free raffle for a week’s stay in a vacation house in Florida.

338-5900 • www.belfastmaine.org October 5-7 Carol Sebold Fall Harbor Arts Juried Arts & Crafts Show Harbor Park, Camden About 100 arts and artisans will

display, discuss, and sell their work in a festive, open marketplace nestled beside Penobscot Bay. 9 am-5 pm.

236-4404 www.camdenharborarts.com October 5-7 Foreign Auto Festival & Antique Aeroplane Show Owls Head Transportation Museum See vintage vehicles from all over the world, with Volkswagen as the featured marque. There will be vehicle demonstrations, Model-T and biplane rides, and lots of family activities, too.

9:30 am-5 pm. $12; Free for children 18 and younger.

594-4418 • www.owlshead.org October 6 Potluck and Photography Thomaston Historical Society At this community event, bring plates and utensils, a covered dish, and photographs to share or to get help to identify. A-H bring side dish, O-Z bring main dish. 4 pm.

354-7029 October 6 Treworgy Orchards Concert Series: Frigate Treworgy Family Orchards, Levant The Maine-based rockin’ contradance band—with heavy New England, French Canadian, old-timey, and maritime influences—is sure to get people dancing.

4 pm.

884-8354 www.treworgyorchards.com October 6 WERU’s 25th Anniversary Celebration TheGrand, Ellsworth Celebrate WERU’s 25th anniversary with a live performances by Noel Paul Stookey, Tim Sample, Dave Mallett, Bill Schubeck, and Heidi Daub. 4-6 pm. $12-$27.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org October 6, 13, 20, & 27 Public Chairlift Ride & Pancake Breakfast Camden Snow Bowl Fuel up with a hearty pancake breakfast before taking on the Camden Snow Bowl during the fall season. Ride the chairlift with your bicycle for a mountain biking adventure, hike down, or enjoy the beautiful fall foliage from atop

the mountain. 7-10 am for pancake breakfast. 9 am-4 pm for chairlift rides. $5 per ride; $15 unlimited rides.

236-3438 www.camdensnowbowl.com October 7, 14, & 21 Historic Rockland Walking Tour Historic Inns Rockland Take a self-guided tour through neighborhoods of homes and buildings on the Historic Register, stopping at four Historic Inns of Rockland. Maps will be provided. Guests provide their own transportation. Proceeds benefit Pies on Parade, a fundraiser for Rockland’s food pantry. Ticket purchases include a cookbook and light refreshments. 12:30 pm. $15; $25 per couple.

596-6611 October 8 Bangor Greendrinks Bangor If you have an interest in building community around green businesses, organizations, and ideas in the Bangor area, attend this fun, monthly gathering of green-minded people. Location TBD. 5-8 pm. www.bangorgreendrinks.org October 9 PBRCC Business After Hours The Strand Theatre, Rockland All members of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce are invited to attend the monthly Business After Hours, which is the perfect chance to network with fellow business owners.

5-7 pm. www.rocklandstrand.com October 9 Fall Foliage Tour of the Thomas Hill Standpipe Thomas Hill Standpipe, Bangor Spend the afternoon taking in the colors of the season at the top of historic Thomas Hill Standpipe, built in 1897 and designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. 3-6 pm.

947-4516 • www.bangorwater.org October 10 Broadway Series: Blue Man Group Cross Insurance Center, Bangor Experience the phenomenon of the Blue

Man Group, best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts that combine comedy, music, and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. 7:30 pm.

561-8300 www.crossinsurancecenter.com October 11 Performing Arts for Children Series: Cinderella The Grand, Ellsworth The Tanglewood Marionettes are putting on a production of Cinderella, told with wit and style, that is sure to please audience members of all ages. A dozen lavishly costumed 30” marionettes will bring this 18th-century fairy tale to life. 10 am. $3.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org October 11 & 12 18th Annual Acadia Oktoberfest Smugglers Den Campground, Southwest Harbor This traditional October celebration will feature some of Maine’s finest brewers, great local food, live music, and Maine crafts. There will be wine and cheese tasting on Friday. Saturday is for beer

lovers and friends.

244-9264 • www.acadiachamber.com October 11-13 2013 Shakespeare in Maine Communities Tour: Twelfth Night Cumston Hall, Monmouth See William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night before the show goes on the road, touring schools and performing arts centers.

933-9999 www.theateratmonmouth.org October 12 MDI Lions Club Triathlon Ponds End, Somesville At this annual event, which is a take on a traditional triathlon, teams and individuals run, bike, and canoe/kayak.

9:30 am.

288-3511 • www.mdiymca.org October 12 Antique Power: Fall Crank-up Skowhegan Fairgrounds See antique power in action at the Fall Crank-up event.

474-2947 www.skowheganstatefair.com

museums Aroostook County Caribou Historical Society Caribou 498-2556 • www.cariboumaine.net Hancock County Abbe Museum Bar Harbor 822-3519 • www.abbemuseum.org George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History Bar Harbor 288-5015 • www.coamuseum.org Knox County Coastal Children’s Museum Rockland 596-0300 www.coastalchildrensmuseum.org Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center Rockland 596-6457 www.farnsworthmuseum.com

Maine Lighthouse Museum Rockland 594-3301 www.mainelighthousemuseum.com Owls Head Transportation Museum Owls Head 594-4418 • www.ohtm.org Penobscot County Hudson Museum at the University of Maine Orono 581-1901 www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum Maine Discovery Museum Bangor 262-7200 www.mainediscoverymuseum.org University of Maine Museum of Art Bangor 561-3350 • www.umma.maine.edu

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 57

Events

Theater

October 12 Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players Camden Opera House Grammy-nominated Justin Roberts is truly one of the All Stars of the indie family music scene. Joining him are the Not Ready for Naptime Players, who will be dishing out unexpectedly intelligent and whimsically rocking music for kids and their parents. 10:30 am. $12; $8 children.

236-7963 www.camdenoperahouse.com October 12 3rd Annual Great Ellsworth Puppet Festival The Grand, Ellsworth Enjoy an evening of entertainment by skilled puppeteers. The festival starts with the Tanglewood Marionettes’ production of Cinderella, followed by Nappy’s Puppets presentation of Mother Goose shadow puppets, and ends with the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers’ rendition of The Headless Horseman.

Shows begin at 1, 3, and 6 pm. $10; $5 children ages 12 and younger.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org October 12 Ghosts of Fort Knox Guided Tours Fort Knox, Prospect Join the East Coast Ghost Trackers on a guided tour of Fort Knox in search of ghosts and paranormal phenomena.

Bring a flashlight. 6, 7:30, and 9 pm departures. $15.

469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com October 12 Hank Williams Jr. Cross Insurance Center, Bangor The son of the legendary Hank Williams is bringing the music he grew up with to Bangor, playing a similar style to his father and a few of his own originals.

5 pm. $34-$70.

358-9327 www.waterfrontconcerts.com October 12 & 13 Union Art League Sale Union Attend a juried show of paintings, sculpture, woodwork, furniture, pottery, and metalwork created by fine artists and 58 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Music craftsmen of the inland Midcoast area.

695-3079 www.mainedreamvacation.com October 12 & 13 Cultivate’s Fall Celebration Open Studio and Farm Tour Belfast Bring your family and visit artists as they work in their studios, watch a forging demonstration, or learn how to make cheese at this open studio and farm tour in the Belfast area. 10 am-4 pm.

323-8692 • www. belfastcreativecoalition.org October 12 & 13 Maine Battery Cannon Firings Fort Knox, Prospect A full-scale Civil War-era Parrot cannon will be fired throughout the day. This is the real deal and will provide some explosive excitement for all who visit. 10 am-4 pm Saturday; 10 am-3 pm Sunday.

469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com October 12-14 Taste of Thomaston The General Henry Knox Museum, Thomaston Taste of Thomaston is a food, wine, and seasonal know-how festival that features area growers, chefs, farmers, vinters, foragers, and all things foodie. There will also be a lot of fall-related activities, like hay rides, pumpkin carving, wood-stacking demonstrations, and maple-syrup tapping. 10 am-4 pm Saturday; 1-4 pm Sunday and Monday.

354-8062 • www.knoxmuseum.org October 12-14 Fall Harvest Weekend Seal Cove Auto Museum Celebrate fall with old-fashioned harvest activities and auto obstacle races. There will also be an auto collection treasure hunt, and free apple cider and popcorn.

10 am-5 pm. $2-$6.

244-9242 www.sealcoveautomuseum.org October 13 Belfast CoHousing and EcoVillage Cider Making and Pumpkin Carving Belfast CoHousing Village Celebrate Fall with two of the harvest’s

best fruits by making cider and carving pumpkins. This event is perfect for families and children of all ages. 2 pm.

338-9200 • www.mainecohousing.org October 13 Bob Marley Camden Opera House Laugh “wicked haahd” with Maine’s king of comedy, who is celebrating 15 years as a stand-up comic. 7 pm. $25.

236-7963 www.camdenoperahouse.com October 13 Columbus Day Horseshoes Northland Hotel, Jackman Partake in some friendly competition at this annual tournament. 1 pm.

668-4446 October 13 Stuart McLean & The Vinyl Cafe Collins Center for the Arts, Orono Stuart McLean is bringing his radio show, The Vinyl Cafe, to Orono as part of their 2013 tour, which will feature new Dave & Morley stories and live music. 3 pm. $48.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com October 13 Camden National Bank 5K Run/Walk C.A. Dean Hospital, Greenville Come to Greenville for this wonderful event, which takes participants along the shore of the beautiful Moosehead Lake with plenty of fall foliage to complement.

All proceeds benefit scholarships for Greenville-area residents.

564-7111 • www.prymca.org October 13 Woodsmen’s Breakfast American Legion Post 94, Greenville Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Moosehead Lake, as the American Legion Post 94 holds one of their all-you-can-eat breakfasts. 7-10 am. $8 suggested donation.

695-2702 • www.mooseheadlake.org October 14-18 2013 Place Settings: Restaurant Benefit Week Camden, Rockland, & Rockport Each weeknight a different restaurant will support the Land Trust with half of their night’s proceeds. The restaurants, Monday through Friday, are 3Crow,

Natalie’s at Camden Harbour House, Saltwater Farm Cafe & Market, La Bella Vita at Samoset Resort, and Fromviandoux. Support local land conservation by indulging in some of the area’s finest dining.

236-7091 • www.coastalmountains.org October 15-17 86th Annual ME Safety & Health Conference Cross Insurance Center, Bangor Network with professionals in the health and safety sector. This year’s theme is “Safety is a Big Deal!” There will be six professional development courses on the first night, keynote speeches by Charlie Morecraft and L.L. Bean Inc.’s Bob Prixotto, and dozens of vendors to keep you up to date on the latest in health and safety.

854-8441 • www.shcnne.org October 16 Exhibition On Screen: Vermeer and Music The Strand Theatre, Rockland

The National Gallery in London is offering a major exhibition on one of the most startling and fascinating artists of all time Johannes Vermeer, painter of “Girl with a Pearl Earring.”

Vermeer’s 30 works will be juxtaposed with music. 10 am.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com

20th and 21st centuries. 7 pm.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

October 16 PBRCC Business After Hours Maine Media Workshops, Rockport All members of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce are invited to the monthly Business After Hours, which is the perfect chance to network with fellow business owners. 5-7 pm.

236-4404 • www.mainemedia.edu

October 17 London’s National Theatre Live: Macbeth The Grand, Ellsworth The Strand Theatre, Rockland The National Theatre Live will broadcast Manchester International Festival’s electrifying new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a tragic tale of ambition and treachery, within the walls of an intimate deconsecrated Manchester church. 2 pm.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org 594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com

October 17 Orchester Jakobsplatz Munich Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Orchester Jakobsplatz Munich brings together musicians from more than 20 countries, and programming focuses on rarely played works by Jewish composers combined with music of the

October 17-November 3 The Woman in Black Bangor Opera House This is a spine-chilling ghost play that combines the power and intensity of live theatre with a cinematic quality inspired by the world of film noir. $24.

942-3333 • www.penobscottheatre.org

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 59

Events

Theater

October 18 Comedy Event Spectacular Event Center, Bangor Comedians Mark Scalia and Rob Steen are co-headlining this night of laughs.

Refreshments will be served. 8:30 pm. $15.

947-8700 www.spectaculareventcenter.com

Music October 18, 19, 25, & 26 Fright at the Fort 2013 Fort Knox, Prospect Visitors are led through the dark passageways of Fort Knox, where indescribable things lurk in the shadows, creating screams of fright. 5:30-9 pm. $10; $5 children ages 12 and younger.

469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com

October 18-27 Stage East: The Glass Menagerie Eastport Arts Center Stage East’s fall production will be Tennessee Williams’ thought-provoking play The Glass Menagerie. $12.

853-4650 • www.stageeast.org October 19 Maine Made 2013 Samoset Resort, Rockport This unique consumer show showcases the variety and high quality of products that are made right here in our own state, from chocolates and other sweet confections to soaps, fine furniture, photography, and energy-efficient products. 10 am-4 pm.

236-4404 www.mainemadeshow.com October 19 Parents Night Out! Camden Opera House Are you a parent? Afraid you’ve become just like your parents? Well hire a babysitter for the night, because “Parents Night Out!” is here to help audiences find humor in the crazy world of parenting. 8 pm. $16.

236-7963 www.camdenoperahouse.com October 19 5th Annual Spook-tacular Ghostport Festival Downtown Bucksport This Halloween-themed event offers something spooky for all ages. The day includes a children’s costume parade down Main St., a bone-warming chili cook-off, pumpkin-carving contest, and “Jonathan Buck’s race to the Grave” coffin race. The evening will conclude with a horror movie screening followed by an epic firework display.

469-6818 • www.ghostportme.com October 19-22 Cash for Clothes Sale American Legion Hall, Camden Attend this quality used clothing sale to benefit Coastal Opportunities, an agency providing services to autistic or developmentally disabled adults in the Knox County area. 10 am-4 pm Saturday; 11 am-4 pm Sunday; 7-11 am Monday. www.mainedreamvacation.com

60 / Bangor Metro October 2013

October 20 Tommy Knockers and More Bus Tour Bangor Waterfront The world’s only literary tour based on Stephen King’s novels happens right in Bangor. See the city through the books and movies of this famous author on an air-conditioned motorcoach. The tour is sure to entertain, with a mix of educational, historic, and interactive sites. All tours leave from the Bangor Waterfront. 2-3:30 pm. $20.

947-5205 www.visitbangormaine.com October 20 Caring Connections SplashFest Swimathon Bangor YMCA Individuals and families of all swim levels are invited to participate in this special fundraiser event to benefit Caring Connections.

941-2808 • www.bangory.org October 20 Shoot the Bull Contest Jackman The fourth annual Shoot the Bull Moose Calling Contest, where competitors can submit to two categories: a moosecalling video and a wildlife photo or video. 7 pm.

668-9252 October 20 2013 MDI Marathon Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor Runner’s World voted this course as the most scenic, as runners travel through the beautiful Acadia National Park during its most colorful season. Preregistration is required. www.mdimarathon.org October 21-28 PopTech 2013 Camden Opera House Each year, PopTech welcomes 600 leaders in business, industry, science, technology, design, social and ecological innovation, the arts and humanities, philanthropy, and many other fields to come together for three days in the beautiful seaside town of Camden. 9 am.

236-7963 www.camdenoperahouse.com

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 61

Events

Theater

October 22 Salmon Ecology Walk Ducktrap River Preserve, Lincolnville Peter Ruksznis of the Maine Department of Marine Resources is hosting a walk to discuss salmon ecology on the Ducktrap River Preserve, which includes most of the river’s critical spawning habitat for Atlantic salmon.

2-3:30 pm.

236-7091 • www.coastalmountains.org

Music October 25 Mike Daisey: The Secret War Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Secret War is a monologue ripped from the headlines, telling the story of three different whistleblowers: Daniel Ellsberg, Bradley Manning, and Edward Snowden.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

October 25 Paula Poundstone Live The Strand Theatre, Rockland Comedienne Paula Poundstone returns to the Strand as she tours during her 25th year of comedy. Her newest comedy album is “I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Boston.” 7 pm.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com October 25 MDI YMCA Family Halloween Party MDI YMCA, Bar Harbor Celebrate Halloween with games, activities, and crafts that are appropriate for toddlers to children up to 8 years old.

There will be a costume contest for kids and adults, too. 5:30-7 pm.

288-3511 • www.mdiymca.org October 25-27 Ghost Train Boothbay Railway Village Experience Halloween at the village, with steam train rides and more.

633-4727 • www.railwayvillage.org October 25 & 26 Skowhegan Chamber Haunted Hayride Skowhegan Fairgrounds A hayride in the fall is a perfect way to celebrate the season.

474-2947 www.skowheganstatefair.com

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October 26 Barbara Fenlason Student Recital Bangor Public Library Attend this “Spooktacular Music” recital, presented by area music students in costume. Kids of all ages are welcome to attend, in or out of costume. 2-5 pm.

947-8336 • www.bpl.lib.me.us October 26 Live from the Met: The Nose Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Strand Theatre, Rockland The Grand, Ellsworth This opera is based on Gogol’s comic story. The Nose is a co-production of the Metropolitan Opera, the Festival d’Aix en Provence, and the Opera National de Lyon. 1 pm. $28.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com 594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org

October 26 & 27 Bangor YMCA Wilderness First Aid Training Course Bangor YMCA’s Camp Jordan, Ellsworth The Bangor YMCA’s Adventure Seekers program is offering medical training for trip leaders, guides, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts, rangers, and anyone who works or plays in remote locations.

8 am-5 pm.

941-2808 • www.bangory.org October 26-31 Spooky Car Days Seal Cove Auto Museum Learn about the “deceased creators” of the Brass Era Autos at this spooky event.

Free treats for all! 10 am-5 pm. $2-$6.

244-9242 • www.sealcovemuseum.org October 27 Pre-Halloween Family Bash Bangor YMCA Come in your costume or come as yourself. Either way, you’ll have a frighteningly good time. There will be swimming, arts and crafts, games, and more for the whole family. Be sure not to miss the haunted house. 2-7 pm.

941-2808 • www.bangory.org October 31 All Hallow’s Eve Merryspring Nature Center, Camden Hosted by Merryspring and Ashwood Waldorf School, this is a chance for wee sprites and goblins to be guided through a jack-o-lantern-lit wood filled with fairytale vignettes. They will then enjoy twilight refreshments in the garden. 4 pm.

236-2239 • www.merryspring.org October 31 Halloween at the Fort Fort Knox, Prospect Spend Halloween night at Fort Knox with the East Coast Ghost Trackers, who will take visitors on a guided tour of Fort Knox in search of ghosts and paranormal phenomena. 7 pm-1 am. $30.

469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 63

food file

Sweet Cheesecake Cooking the perfect cheesecake requires attention to detail. According to Tammy Underwood, practice makes perfect. By Melanie Brooks

64 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Photos: melanie brooks

T

ammy Underwood, her daughter Olivia, and their Chihuahua mix Paco live in a tidy house that overlooks the picturesque Kebo Valley Golf Course in Bar Harbor. “There are trails right outside of my house that lead right into Acadia National Park,” Underwood says. Talk about a great backyard.

Underwood grew up in Bar Harbor, leaving the island for college. After three years at the University of Maine at Farmington, she returned to Bar Harbor, to work in the restaurants owned by her father, Whitey Griffin. She moved to Portland a couple of years later, where she took a job as a certified nursing assistant, working with Alzheimer’s patients. It was at this job that she realized she wanted to be a nurse and enrolled in Saint Joseph’s College where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

Four years ago, she returned to Bar Harbor to be closer to her family. Her father’s family has been living on Mount Desert Island for generations. He works as a dietician at Mount Desert High School, and her mother, Mary Carol, is a Deacon at the Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove. “It’s a tight-knit community here,” Underwood says. While the winters can be a bit harsh, Underwood can’t imagine moving. Olivia started fourth grade this fall and has the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time with her grandparents.

“It’s such a beautiful area,” she says.

“There are a ton of community events going on throughout the year.” Underwood recently bought a bicycle, so she and Olivia can traverse the nearby carriage trails together on her days off.

Underwood has been working as a nurse at Mount Desert Island Hospital for two years. When she isn’t working one of her 12-hour shifts, she loves to be in the kitchen. “My dream is to take a cooking class in Italy,” she says. “I love tasting and pairing wines with different foods.”

Today, Underwood has traded her chef’s hat for a baking apron to make a decadent cheesecake with layers of semisweet chocolate.

Underwood is blessed with a large kitchen that has a lot of counter space, which she puts to good use as she blends together the ingredients for the cheesecake filling. “You don’t want to overbeat the cream cheese,” she says. “That will cause the cheesecake to crack.” Other

ways to avoid the dreaded cheesecake crack is to cook it in a water bath. To do this, find a pan that is larger than your cheesecake springform pan and fill it with about an inch of water. Underwood used a broiling pan. When your cheesecake is ready to go into the oven, place it in the water bath and put the whole thing into the oven. “You can also avoid cracking by keeping the oven door shut—don’t keep opening and closing it,” she says.

“You also want to be careful not to overcook the cheesecake.”

She admits that the cooking time for the cheesecake will vary depending on your stove. She checks on it frequently.

After about 90 minutes, she opens the door and gives the cheesecake a little shake. It’s OK if the middle of the cake jiggles a little bit, she says, and she suggests turning off the oven with the cheesecake still inside and letting it cool with the oven door open.

As the cheesecake is cooking and the smell of warm chocolate wafts through the air, Olivia comes down from her upstairs bedroom, asking for something to eat.

“Do we have any chocolate?” she sweetly asks her mom. The delicious smells from the kitchen would elicit a craving for anyone who has a sweet tooth.

“You can’t eat this cheesecake until

Once the top of the cheesecake has cooled and set, top it with melted chocolate.

tomorrow, you know,” Underwood says.

“You need to let it sit in your refrigerator overnight and let me know how it turns out.” As she’s putting on the top layer of decadent chocolate, it’s hard to imagine having to wait to give this delicious

cheesecake a try. When she’s done, she lets Olivia lick the chocolate off the spatula, which she does with gusto. Driving back to Bangor with the warm, fragrant cheesecake in my car was a lesson in discipline.

recipe Chocolate Filling and Topping 2 11.5 oz. bags of semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. vanilla extract 2/3 cup evaporated milk 1 Tbsp. peanut butter, optional

Chocolate Layered cheesecake

Crust 2–2 1/2 cups finely crushed graham crackers 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup unsalted butter Grease the bottom and sides of 12-inch springform pan. Melt the butter, then add the sugar and crackers. Mix well, and press into the bottom of the pan.

Melt chocolate and butter together, being careful not to let it burn. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour a little more than half of the combined mixture on top of the crust and reserve the rest for the topping. Once the cheesecake is cooked, pour the rest of the topping on and smooth to the edges.

Cheesecake Filling 5 blocks of cream cheese at room temperature 1 cup sugar 3 Tbsp. flour

5 eggs 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream 1 tsp. vanilla extract Combine the cream cheese, sugar, and flour and beat until smooth at medium speed.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating the mixture between additions.

Add the vanilla and cream until mixed.

Pour the filling into the pan, on top of the crust and chocolate. Create a water bath and place into the oven.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 250 degrees and bake for one hour. Cheesecake should be set and look slightly wet in the middle. Turn off the oven and let the cake cool completely before topping it with the rest of the chocolate.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 65

kitchen confidential Where are you from?

I grew up in Central Maine on the homestead that has been in my family since 1721. In 1927, my grandfather designed and built what is now known as Lakeview Golf Course. My parents owned and operated it from 1961 to 2010. My two of my sisters, our spouses, and I purchased the golf course and homestead in 2010, with the desire to carry on the family legacy.

What is your first food memory?

With family roots steeped in Maine traditions, I’d have to say venison cooked in a searing hot cast-iron skillet with buttermilk biscuits fresh out of the Queen Atlantic cook stove, topped with farm fresh butter and drizzled with dark molasses.

Pairings at

Winterport Winery It took years for Chef Laurie Turner to turn her passion for cooking into her second career. If you’ve tasted her food, you’ll know her hard work has paid off. By Melanie Brooks

66 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Any family influences on your style and taste?

When I entered culinary school, I really thought I’d become a pastry chef.

My aunt, who is a baker, lived with us while I was growing up. As a child, I’d spend hours watching her as she created her cake masterpieces. She would give each of us kids one of her sugar flower creations. I saved mine. I couldn’t bring myself to eat something so beautiful. I was captivated.

Once in culinary school, it wasn’t long before I began to realize that her influence of gardening and foraging the Maine countryside ran much deeper than I thought. I have many memories of riding the back roads of Central Maine, discovering asparagus, lilacs, and lilies from long-abandoned farmhouses. I still recall the first time my taste buds ever experienced lightly sautéed asparagus.

Oh my!

My husband and I carry on this tradition today. I cannot express the sense of connection I feel when I find those abandoned plants, transplant them to our farm, and that first spring day when they pop through the soil and eventually make their way to our plate. I enjoy wondering about the previous families

Photos: mark mccall

What are some of your early cooking experiences?

Fudge and doughnuts. My dad loved fudge, and we learned at an early age how to make it. My mom made the best potato doughnuts. We’d cut them out, and our reward was the doughnut holes.

on yesteryear farms, who may have experienced those same amazing flavors from the same simple plant. The connection to the roots, the soil, the tradition—is there anything better?

Where did you study?

Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor—a gem within our community.

When did you realize you were a chef?

It has been a journey! While in high school, in early 1980s, I was intent on attending culinary school. A well-meaning guidance counselor scoffed at my desires, and I allowed her to convince me that it was not the path for me. Instead, I attended the University of Maine, worked in the paper industry, and raised a family, all the while allowing the words of my high school guidance counselor to mold my thinking. It wasn’t until my girls were venturing off to college that my husband encouraged me to pursue my long-forgotten dream. I thank him daily for knowing me better than I knew myself at the time.

I’ve never been happier than when I’m in the kitchen.

What do you consider to be your pivotal career move?

Without a doubt it was my first visit to Winterport Winery. On a field trip for culinary school, Mike Anderson, the owner, winemaker, and brewmaster, took my class on a tour. The Pairings’s kitchen was under construction. Boxes containing Wolf stoves were scattered around what is now the main dining room. Yes, I pulled at the corners to take a peek at the glorious stove. Mike’s passion for what he does and his vision for Pairings was contagious. It captured the deepest recesses of my culinary desires.

Bay Brewery.

I believe that Mike would also be a chef if it weren’t for the fact that he is the owner/winemaker/brewmaster. There just isn’t enough time in the day for him to do it all. It makes it fun when one is surrounded by people who love, appreciate, and understand what drives and motivates you.

What do you love about your location?

What is not to love? The kitchen is top of the line, and the dining room is beautiful. As chef, I have the freedom to create.

Pairings is a truly unique venue. Without the pressures of a

find your perfect pairing

On-site & off-site catering for private events, receptions & corporate seminars Private cooking classes with Chef Laurie Turner Monthly dinners with Chef Doug Winslow

279 S. Main Street | Winterport | 207-223-0990 | pairingsinmaine.com

,ODGING s &INE $INING s )RISH 0UB Opposite page: Laurie Turner. Above: Chef’s Decadent Brownie Almond Delights.

When did Pairings open?

Mike and Joan Anderson, who have owned Winterport Winery since 2001, opened Pairings in 2006. The winery is the result of a home-winemaking kit Joan gave Mike in their early years of marriage. With a deep appreciation for fine food, good wine, and ale, Pairings was created as an outlet for Mike and Joan to share and educate people on how to enjoy all three of their businesses: Winterport Winery, Pairings, and Penobscot

OPEN ALL YEAR

Eclectic Dining from a Classic Kitchen Summer Special: Stay any two days between Sunday and Wednesday and get a $50 dinner credit

22 Reach Rd, Brooklin

207 359 2777

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 67

kitchen confidential full-scale restaurant, I have the opportunity to sit down, face to face, with a client, discover their unique personality, and design a menu that reflects that.

I can honestly say, when you have a Pairings event, it is all about you. Every time I step in to the Pairings kitchen, my challenge is to capture the flavors that will represent my clients’ personality in their special menu on their special day.

Pairings blesses me with a beautiful arena to fulfill my inner desire to serve people and make them happy with fine food, good wine, and ale. Lakeview fills that place deep within my soul that desires to have a connection to the generations that have worked the property for over 286 years, saw something bigger than themselves, and carried the torch for the next generation, while holding onto the family traditions. The aromatics and deep flavors of the Reynolds Family Chicken BBQ, a favorite at many of the events held at the course, connects me to my dad, his dad, and the story continues.

What is your favorite ingredient to work with?

Wine, though it’s really impossible for me to select one ingredient. I’m learning each and every day. Working with talented chefs that challenge me, owners who love food, wine, and ale, clients who are truly unique, and a farm that provides me with fresh discoveries on a seasonal basis. May the wine continue to flow and the discoveries never end.

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What is the dish we will be featuring?

My grandmother’s brownies. My grandmother died from multiple sclerosis when I was very young. I have few memories of her, yet I loved hearing the enduring stories my dad would share. When my dad asked me to make some of her brownies, I was honored and excited. This is my most cherished recipe.

I encourage each one of my students who attends my cooking classes to use a recipe as a guideline, make it your own, have fun, and enjoy. I have made some tweaks to my grandmother’s recipe, had fun with it, and made it my own. Now known as “Chef’s Decadent Brownie Almond Delights,” these brownie sandwiches, with almond butter and cream cheese frosting, drizzled with chocolate

ganache and toasted almonds, are little bites of pure joy that encapsulate my deep ties to my family legacy, my desire to adapt items to ones own tastes, and the simple elegance that Pairings has to offer. I think my dad and my grandmother would approve.

Least favorite job-related task?

Driving. There is a lot of pavement between the little piece of heaven on earth I call Turner Farm, Pairings at Winterport Winery, and Lakeview Golf Course.

Do you ever surprise yourself in the kitchen?

Some of the best ideas and surprises come from my frugal roots and my desire to put everything to use. At Pairings, we are unique in that when we do events, dinners, classes etc., not only is the menu created exclusively for that event or client, every ingredient is purchased exclusively for its intended pur-

pose. There is no pulling from a fully stocked pantry that will be utilized for three meals a day, seven days a week.

We shop exclusively, for each and every event. Determined to use everything I have purchased for our client, some great menu items have been created from this desire and our clients are often treated to a surprise menu item.

What does a perfect day off look like?

Working my farm. A work in progress that started out to be a dream of my husband’s has turned into my passion.

When I’m in the garden, in my kitchen, or in the barn grooming my mini donkeys, I feel that I’ve finally come home.

more info pairings at winterport winery 279 South Main Street, winterport Hours: The tasting room at Winterport Winery has regular hours.

January & February: Closed March & April: Fri. & Sat. 11 am–5 pm May–December: Tues.–Sat. 11 am–5 pm Specialties: Wine and ale dinners, cooking classes, special events.

Directions: 279 South Main Street, Winterport. Head down (or up) U.S. Route 1A and you can’t miss it.

What would you want your last meal to be?

Wine and cheese. I have recently been diagnosed with a few severe food allergies. I’ve had to completely eliminate all casein from my diet. I miss cheese.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 69

Nailing the Target Chandler Brewer’s positive attitude has kept him afloat, no matter the season. By Kaylie Reese

“T

ry to win,” says Chandler Brewer, a junior at Central Aroostook High School, exuding perfect Maine wit when asked about his approach to competitions. How you try to win, though, is by having a positive attitude, according to Brewer.

“You can’t get down on yourself,” Brewer says. “Playing [golf] is all about the mental, your attitude toward it. If you’re in a situation where there’s a tree in the way, you’ve got to figure out what to do about it.”

Sure, this is a problem that all golfers will face at one time or another. But Brewer says he carries this attitude beyond the fairway.

Brewer has been playing golf for four 70 / Bangor Metro October 2013

years, but it didn’t take long for him to become the player to beat. After only one year of experience, he was in the No. 2 spot on his team, which he has held onto ever since.

He looks back to a round played during his freshman year as one that transformed his perspective on the game. “We were in Fort Fairfield when I shot a 43,” he says. “I realized, ‘Woah, I’ve made a huge improvement on the game.’”

But what you might not know is that this stand-out player is tough. Four years ago, the same year he started playing golf, Brewer had a metal bar placed in his chest. When Brewer was playing basketball and other sports, his lungs weren’t able to expand properly, which was affecting his breathing and heart function.

The bar, removed just last year, served as a brace to correct the indentation and permit Brewer full function so he could play sports comfortably.

“Some days it would really get aggravated,” he says of his experience playing sports with the bar. “But now that it’s out, my [golf] swing is better.”

According to his golf coach, Adam Metzler, that difficulty didn’t hinder his positive attitude.

“No matter what medical issues he has had to deal with, he has always had a positive attitude and excelled in golf and basketball,” Metzler writes in his nomination.

Not only does Brewer have a great supporter in his golf coach. His father, Tim Brewer, is his basketball coach.

And this father-son basketball relationship has been intact for the majority of Chandler’s play. In addition to coaching Central Aroostook High School’s boys basketball team, Tim Brewer also coached an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team.

Before Chandler threw on his Panthers jersey, he played on the AAU team, with his father as the coach. Chandler recalls frequent trips back and forth to Portland and Bangor, traveling for competitions and scrimmages. Two years ago, when he was playing on the Black Bear North team, under his father’s coaching, Chandler and his team won the AAU state championship.

“I really wanted my dad to be my coach when I got older,” Brewer says.

“When I was in the seventh or eighth grade, [my dad and I] sat down and talked about whether I wanted him to be my coach [during high school]. I said yes. He wanted what’s best for me.”

Brewer, who plays a guard, has been a varsity starter since his freshman year.

During his freshman year, the Panthers during their second round of the tournament. But Brewer wasn’t discouraged with that loss. Instead, it motivated him to play better for the next year. And that motivation certainly paid off, as the Panthers won the Eastern Maine Class D boys title just one year later.

Between the golf and basketball seasons, you might find Brewer hunting deer or partridge. When asked whether a shooting a partridge or golf was a more difficult target, Brewer responded, “Definitely golf.”

Photo: natasha brewer

metro sports: high school

metro sports: college

Hitting the Green Eastern Maine Community College has a growing golf team that practices as hard as they play. By Katrina Mumford

Photo: ryan batza photography

T

he Eastern Maine Community College’s Golf team has had its ups and downs throughout its 20-year history. Some years only four student athletes were on the team, and some years there have been close to a dozen. Coach Jamie Leavitt has recently seen an uptick in interest from students looking to extend their athletic career.

The Golden Eagles are flying high in their 2013 fall season, with the help of skillful recruiting and what coach Leavitt refers to as “a little bit of luck.” The team

has a steady rotation of 11 players this year and projects continued this growth as more students learn about the educational and athletic opportunities available at EMCC. “Being a two-year college, offering associate’s degrees, makes building a team difficult, in comparison with four-year schools, who can work with players for four years,” Leavitt says. “The constant turnover of players makes it hard to keep a solid nucleus of players to build off, year after year.”

EMCC’S 35 academic programs are designed to help students go directly into the workforce or help them transfer to a four-year learning institution. That means EMCC student-athletes only have two seasons to play before they graduate.

That’s not a lot of time.

Twice a week the EMCC team hits the links at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono, often between classes or after work. A typical practice starts out on the driving range. After hitting about 30 golf balls, the team works their short game for a little under an hour, playing nine holes

either alone or with teammates rounds out each practice. Dedication is the name of the game, with practices often lasting more than three hours.

Despite the team’s practices, Leavitt, who was once a member of the Golden Eagles golf team, is a strong believer that his student-athletes invest in their education first and golf second. He believes that the commitment to competing in 10 tournaments each season needs to match the commitment in the classroom. Team members are expected to manage their time wisely between work, classes, and golf during the relatively short monthlong season.

Last year, the Golden Eagles golf team was recognized with the 2012 Yankee Small College Conference Sportsmanship Award. EMCC was selected by their peers within the conference for their positive attitude and kindness, both on and off the course. This award represents a jewel in the crown of the EMCC Golden Eagles athletics program, which prides itself on remembering that there is more to any game than winning. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 71

per spectives

Hannah Wilde

72 / Bangor Metro October 2013

Hannah Wilde is a natural light portrait photographer in the Bangor area. She works mostly on location at her clients’ homes and other local spots. Wilde photographs families, high school seniors, maternity, babies/newborns, and more, but her passion and focus is with children. She prefers to capture them naturally and loves to freeze the beauty in each fleeting moment.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 73

T

Porcupine

Wars

These dawdling and innocent-appearing creatures can be destructive and even deadly. by Brad Eden

he lumbering and lackadaisical porcupine is a common sight for those of us who venture into the Maine woods. But given their dawdling behavior, they also end up as the bulk of the road kill we all encounter. The common North American porcupine is a fascinating creature, but it is also maligned and persecuted—some feel for good reason.

One of the largest rodents, the porcupine is known for its spiny coat of upwards of 30,000 barbed quills. These quills, which vary in size, are shallowly embedded in the porcupine’s muscles.

When a porcupine is alarmed, the quills are pulled upright in a defensive position and are released upon contact. Despite a common myth, porcupines can’t fling quills, so they can be approached quite closely. The tapered and hollow quills have a banded natural coloration that Native Americans often use to decorate clothing and baskets and to create jewelry.

Porcupines have a propensity to chew through the bark of conifers or softwood trees to get to the inner cambium layer, which exposes the tree to disease, insects, and sometimes death. This was considered egregious enough back in the early 1900s, during the logging boom, that some states in northern New England, including Maine, instituted bounties on porcupines. An enterprising woodsman could collect 30 to 50 cents per animal when presenting body parts that proved the demise of a “Quill Pig.” Porcupines don’t limit their destructive tendencies to trees. They are the bane of camp owners because they chew through plywood, gnaw porch railings, camp tools, canoe paddles, and anything that has a trace of salt—particularly items handled by a humans’ sweaty hands. Its not uncommon to come upon

The waddling form of a porcupine elicits a reaction in dogs that inexplicably causes them to attack or harass the animal. an antler shed and find its been chewed on by a porcupine, for the salt found in the calcium and phosphorous. You can’t completely begrudge them since, like a beaver, their two front incisor teeth grow continuously. There is no end to 74 / Bangor Metro October 2013

their gnawing, in order to keep them at a proper length.

Despite its formidable armor of spiny quills, the porcupine still ends up as an occasional meal. The real mountain men among us will eat porcupine, and I have heard it is quite tasty. Fishers are particularly adept at avoiding the quills and dining on porcupines. Other predators, such as coyotes and foxes, have figured out how to get a porcupine onto its back, exposing its bare belly, then kill and eat it.

Domestic dogs are the most susceptible to the grim consequences quills can inflict, with bird-hunting dogs topping that list. This month, upland enthusiasts will be in the thick stuff, hunting game birds with their dogs and keeping a wary eye for porcupines. Dogs don’t generally need to kill and eat critters, but many are still driven to prey. The waddling form of a porcupine elicits an inexplicable reaction in dogs that causes them to attack or harass the animal. Some seem to develop a grudge and get quilled, time and time again. The barbs on the quills are angled backwards in such a way that, once poked through a dog’s skin, work their way in, deeper and deeper. A dog can look like a veritable pincushion after such an encounter, with a face, muzzle, and the inside of the mouth covered in quills.

Bird hunters routinely carry a hemostat or a multi-tool with pliers to pull quills in the field. In most cases the quills can be successfully removed and the hunt can continue. But sometimes the dog is so uncooperative and the quilling so severe that a trip to the vet is necessary. Even a quill-extracting session, under anesthesia, doesn’t always find every quill or quill fragment. That’s when they can migrate inwards, puncturing muscle and internal organs, causing infections and abscesses. Eyes can be lost and even death can result. My spaniel Cash was quilled, and surgery was required to remove a cluster of fully embedded quills in his chest. I found two migrating quills weeks later that I was able to work through the skin and remove.

If you come across a porcupine, quickly leash your dog and head the other direction. Otherwise you may end up with a hefty vet bill and the potential for serious consequences to your dog’s health.

Brad Eden is an artist, writer, and Registered Maine Master Guide.

photo: Tom Brakefield/thinkstock.com

maine woods & waters

savvy seniors

Photo: antos777/thinkstock.com

Fire Safety As the weather turns colder, the cost of heating your home may be foremost in your mind, but fire safety deserves some attention, too. by carol higgins taylor

S

eniors who are 65 years old and older are among the highest risk groups for dying in a fire. For those who are 85 years old and older, the risk increases to five times the rate of the general population, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. The risk increases for many reasons. Sometimes seniors can’t act quickly when there is a fire, or they may be taking medications that impair their cogitative function, preventing them from making a splitsecond decision. Perhaps they live alone in a rural setting and have no one around to assist in an emergency.

With October being National Fire Prevention Month and the month that people generally start gearing up for the

cold winter months, it’s the perfect time for safety reminders.

Many frugal Mainers typically wait until the last possible second before turning on the furnace, then resigning themselves to the change of season and the bills that come with it. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) reports that home heating is the second leading cause of fire death and the third leading cause of injury to people ages 65 and older.

While the cost of fuel may consume our thoughts, fire safety deserves our attention as well.

Colder weather may mean the utilization of space heaters. These handy devices can certainly take the chill off and can heat a room quite nicely, but you can’t be www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 75

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too careful. Be sure to carefully follow the manufacturers instructions in order to safely operate your space heater.

It’s pretty startling to hit a cold bathroom floor in the morning, but resist the urge to put a space heater in there. Electricity and water don’t mix. Most heaters need to be at least three feet away from everything else. Never place them near anything flammable, such as papers or clothing, and keep an eye on heatseeking pets that can get too close in an attempt to stay warm. Be sure your space heater automatically shuts off if it’s knocked over.

Another popular way to stay warm is by cooking soups and stews, but safety needs to be a first priority here, too. The USFA reports that the leading cause of fire related injuries for seniors is the result of cooking accidents. The most common problem is leaving the kitchen to do other things. Stay put and focus on what’s cooking so you can react quickly if necessary. If you do need to leave the stove unattended, turn it off first.

In the case of a grease fire, smother the flame with the lid of a pot. Never try to extinguish it with water. Also, it is best not to use baking soda, which can cause burning grease to splash back. Small fire extinguishers are readily available, easy to use, and are a good investment.

Keep your burners clean and clear of clutter and debris. Also be sure to wear tight-fitting or short sleeves when cooking to prevent igniting your clothes on a burner. Tragically, there are reports of elderly people dying when their clothing catches fire while cooking. Also, keep towels, potholders, and wooden spoons away from burners, as they could easily ignite.

We have all heard that Maine is the oldest state in the nation, but we also have an aging housing stock, which usually means that the wiring is faulty, the appliances are older, and what few outlets are available are overloaded. Never overload sockets. If necessary, call an electrician to check out the wiring.

Finally, the leading the cause of fire deaths among seniors is careless smoking. A dropped cigarette can ignite clothing, rugs, upholstered furniture, and other materials, such as nearby newspapers and magazines. A cigarette can smolder for hours before a fire breaks out.

Immediately extinguish your smoking materials if you begin to feel drowsy and check around furniture for discarded cigarettes that may have fallen. Use large, deep ashtrays and soak the ashtray to be sure all smoking materials are completely extinguished before tossing the butts in the trash. Never walk away from smoking materials and never ever smoke in bed. Be sure to have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors installed and have an escape plan, making sure visitors, especially children, are aware of it. If there is a fire, get out first and then call the fire department.

Call 911 in the event of any fire, because some of the smallest fires can escalate out of control.

The USFA also recommends the following: • Know at least two exits from every room. • If you use a walker or wheelchair, check all exits to be sure they can fit through the doorways. • Make any necessary accommodations, such as providing exit ramps and widening doorways, to facilitate an emergency escape. • Unless instructed by the fire department, never use an elevator during a fire.

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last word

Landlubber The benefits of being out on the water are nothing compared to the danger. By Chris Quimby

Chris Quimby is a husband, father, Christian comedian, writer, and graphic designer from Brooks. Visit him on the web at chris quimby.com or nachotree.com.

80 / Bangor Metro October 2013

image: istockphoto/thinkstock.com

I

am sitting back in a comfortable wicker chair, on the porch of a small cottage in Belfast, overlooking the Penobscot Bay. Please know that this second home is not my own. My current budget just barely affords me the luxury of having one home, but my wife has a weekly cleaning job at this location, which gives me the opportunity to cast my gaze across the beautiful landscape.

I recognize the satisfaction I enjoy, while staring at the water, but it’s difficult for me to determine the reasons for its appeal. I mean, I would not want to be in the bay. The water is quite likely frigid, and I would undoubtedly scream like a little girl if I were submerged in it. I would not like to drink it. In fact, I just drank a glass of skim milk not even 30 minutes ago, and skim milk is pretty close to being water. I am not thirsty, but even if I were, I would hardly lust after a cup of saltwater.

The idea of being on a boat is appealing to me, however, but I’m not immediately sure why. I suppose traveling along the water, held afloat by such a vessel, represents freedom and discovery. The sea and other such bodies of nature’s most abundant liquid, by the virtue of their composition alone, tend to limit the amount of traffic and congestion you’d find compared to a summer drive on U.S. Route 1 in Camden or in any aisle of Walmart at any time of the year.

All are welcome in and upon the sea, but it demands that certain rules be respected. It does not discriminate, but it is demanding.

For example, you must find a way to keep your head above it, at least every so often, or it will kill you. These rules seem harsh and the punishment severe, but they are non-negotiable. These guidelines are not written anywhere, and an ocean doesn’t require you to sign off on your recognition of the risks for legal reasons before entering.

If you injure yourself in a lake, you cannot sue it. And even if you could prosecute it for all its contents, you’d have difficulty transporting your reward and would likely have no place to store it (excepting, of course, those large, plastic soda cups at your local convenience store).

People don’t simply end up in or on the water by accident. They normally have a plan. For example, you’d hardly expect to sail one mile from shore and encounter a group of teenaged boys who simply wandered there aimlessly, chatting among themselves while underwear-exposing, low-waistline jeans acted as nets, catching the occasional trout as it swims by.

The people you find at sea have made an effort to be there. They have purchased and maintained seaworthy vessels and gathered their sextants, not because they will be needed, but simply because the name sounds funny to those with a junior-high boy’s sense of humor. Like me.

With exception to the occasional invitation from a friend or family member, you will not find me on the water. I suppose that’s some of the basis of the wonder I experience while observing the few people who are. Right now I am looking across an area that would represent many square miles, but I only see two boats.

Bound here on land, without a ship, I experience a bit of mystery and wonder about how my life out there might be, of how the experience of writing this column might be enriched by the feel of wind through my hair and the sound of close, rushing waves that beat against the side of the vessel. And my continuous grumblings of frustration in not being able to find a wireless connection.

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