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Your people, your region, your magazine.

Virtual Classrooms How technology is changing the way students learn

A Piece of Maine:

Eastport Mover & Shaker The Midcoast’s Kay Stephens

Healing Hands

Pain relief through osteopathic manipulative treatment

LooHoo Dryer Balls A spin on the traditional Maine blueberry pie Q&A with the chef at Youngtown Inn

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contents

features A Writer’s Life / 13 Kay Stephens is an energetic and passionate writer in the Midcoast.

Taking the Toxins Out of Your Dryer / 17 Cyndi Prince’s LooHoo Dryer Balls make your laundry room a healthier place.

Manipulative Medicine / 18 How osteopathic physicians take a holistic approach to healing.

The Virtual Classroom / 22 Technology is helping sudents of all ages learn from beyond the classroom walls.

A Piece of Maine: Eastport / 38 Eastport is more than a picturesque coastal town. Find out what makes it so special.

30

Open-Faced Blueberry Pie / 58 Joe and Joanne Alex share a blueberry pie recipe that’s easy and delicious.

Youngtown Inn / 62 Manuel Mercier has been serving creative cuisine in Lincolnville for decades.

22 2 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Photos: (top) Kevin kratka; [bottom) courtesy of maine connections academy

Long Live Books! / 30 Print is not dead. Books have a viable and important place in our future.

38

Photos: (clockwise from top) don dunbar; mark mccall; courtesy of loohoo dryer balls; jim nickelson

18

17

in every issue

columns

TaLk of the Towns / 8 Stories from Brewer to Fort Kent.

Metro Wellness / 21 Create a training plan for success.

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

woods & waters / 66 Controlling urban deer.

Metro sports / 48 Haley Spiers from Husson University and Eric Hoogterp from Old Town High School.

last word / 70 The value of an education.

What’s Happening / 51 There’s lots to do in September.

Perspectives / 64 Abstract photographs by Jim Nickelson. savvy seniors / 67 Staying sharp as you age.

64

Unsung hero / 72 Fighting fires with Josh Cote.

Special Section 2014 college & Career guide Put your future on the path to success with our College & Career Guide.

Special Section Crown of maine / 73 Our special feature section on Aroostook County!

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 3

editor’s note

S

Melanie Brooks, editor

4 / Bangor Metro September 2014

The Bangor Metro Region

Photo: Kate Crabtree

eptember in Maine is just about as perfect as you can get. I love September with just as much passion and exuberance as I hate March.

I live in Orono, and the return of the UMaine college students signifies a new beginning. Sure, traffic gets ugly on Stillwater Avenue and more news stories of rowdy parties show up in the newspaper, but a new school year is a clean slate.

I loved everything about college. The freedom, the independence, and the responsibility. If I could make a living just being a college student, I would.

While I enjoyed my field of study—television and magazine journalism—I find that now, as an adult, there are so many more things I am interested in and wish I had time to delve into and explore. I wonder what my life would be like today if I had pursued economics, for example. It wasn’t a passion of mine, but the classes I took were interesting and the principles I learned easy to grasp.

What if I had steered towards political science? Would I be running for office in the upcoming election somewhere? The possibilities read like a choose-yourown-adventure book.

Education today is nothing like it was when I was in school. I graduated high school in 1996, and the Internet was barely permeating my life. Getting my first email address in college was magical; my first cell phone was life altering. When I was a freshman in college, my boyfriend was a senior in high school. He didn’t have an email address and no one had cell phones. We wrote each other letters twice a week and had a standing telephone date on the weekend. Thankfully my parents paid my phone card bill (remember those?) while I was in college.

Communicating today is completely different. Even classrooms are different! Overhead projectors? Please! Today you don’t even have to show up to class to be involved. Our feature story on virtual classrooms gives you a peek into what high school and college classes are like in the 21st century. It’s amazing what we can do over the computer these days.

Our annual college guide will give parents and high school students a taste for what lies ahead of them. Maine has a collection of wonderful colleges, universities, tech schools, and apprenticeship opportunities. You can find the complete list here, and start dreaming about your future.

FR E S H W A T E R ST O N E www.bangormetro.com 263 State Street, Suite 1 Bangor, Maine 04401 Phone: 207.941.1300

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Bangor Metro Magazine. September 2014, Vol. 10, No. 7.

Copyright Š Metro Publishing LLC.

Everything you need.

PEOPLE YOU TRUST.

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

Certified Business

Friendly

8 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Fort Kent: Another gemstone was placed in the Crown of Maine recently when Fort Kent became the 27th municipality to be approved by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) as a Certified Business-Friendly Community.

Located at the beginning of U.S. Route 1, the community of Fort Kent prides itself on being business friendly and focused on economic development.

The statewide Certified BusinessFriendly Community program encourages municipalities to examine their business attraction strategies, including assessing the interaction with local businesses, as a way to foster new private investment.

Fort Kent received the certifica-

tion based on the institution of a more user-friendly permitting and regulatory process, the promotion of economic development through strategic use of revolving loan funds and tax increment financing, and collaborative work with businesses, trade groups and educational institutions. Fort Kent has also successfully marketed America’s First Mile to create brand identity for the town.

Downtown Fort Kent will soon have an updated look as well. The business district is being revitalized, which will include some new business facades.

“Our goal is to build on Fort Kent’s growth and development and show that this honor is, in fact, well-deserved,” said town manager Donald Guimond.

photo: Michael Freeman

talk of the towns

A New Leader

photos: (top) Courtesy of the University of maine; (right) courtesy of emhs foundation Children’s miracle network hospitals

Orono: The University of Maine in Orono is starting the new school year with a new leader at the helm. Susan J. Hunter has the distinction of being the first woman president of UMaine. The Executive Committee of the University System’s Board of Trustees unanimously supported her two-year appointment.

“There is no greater honor than being named to lead the institution where I have spent essentially my whole career,” Hunter says. She started her career at UMaine as an adjunct professor in 1987, became a full-time faculty member in 1991, and has since served in various academic and administrative capacities including associate provost and dean for Undergraduate Education.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from James Madison University, a Ph.D. in physiology from Pennsylvania State University, and completed post-doctoral work at Case Western Reserve University and Pennsylvania State University.

“Dr. Hunter’s depth and breadth of experience at our flagship campus is unsurpassed,” says University of Maine System chancellor James H. Page. “She is, moreover, already extremely well-known throughout the state as a tireless advocate for public higher education. She is the clear choice to advance the University of Maine.”

A Miracle Champion Brewer: Brewer’s Noah Tibbetts looks like a typical happy and healthy 9 year old. And he is…now. But when Noah was just 3 weeks old, he was fighting for his life at Eastern Maine Medical Center. He was admitted with a high fever and urinary tract infection. Tests revealed bacterial meningitis.

He survived in what could be described as a true miracle. The family’s gratitude and appreciation made them want to support the EMHS Foundation Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN), a nonprofit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals in the United States and Canada, including several EMHS hospitals in central, eastern, and northern Maine. The organization was incredibly helpful during Noah’s hospital stay, and the family wanted to give back by helping to raise money for other Maine families in need.

The Tibbets family held a Halloween fundraiser called “Dare to Scare” the year

Noah was released from the hospital, and Noah and his younger brother, Gabe, put together a candy drive. The family is currently planning a fundraiser called “Nickels for Noah.”

Every year, the nonprofit organization identifies a child with a remarkable medical story from each state to be a Champion and serve as the face for the millions of children treated at CMN hospitals. Noah’s story and philosophy is a testament to his spirit, which is why the Children’s Miracle Network named him the 2014 State of Maine Champion Child.

Noah and his family are proud to represent EMHS Foundation Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the state of Maine.

In November, they will head to Washington, D.C. and Orlando, Florida to meet with delegates and media to highlight the vital work taking place at children’s hospitals, including Eastern Maine Medical Center’s pediatrics department, where Noah was treated for meningitis.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 9

biz buzz SALLY WEYMOUTHCARLISLE joined Allen

Insurance and Financial as an outside sales producer.

Carlisle has nearly a decade of experience in the insurance industry. The Belfast native is a licensed property, casualty, life, and health insurance producer in Maine. www.alleninsuranceandfinancial.com SUSAN HUNTER has been

selected as the 20th president of the University of Maine in Orono. She will serve a two-year appointment. Hunter joined the University in 1987 as an adjunct professor, becoming a full-time faculty member in 1991. She has served in various academic and administrative capacities including associate provost and dean for undergraduate education; assistant director in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture; and chair of the department of Biological Sciences. She has most recently served on the chancellor’s cabinet as vice president for academic affairs for all seven of Maine’s public universities. She is the first woman to hold the presidency. www.umaine.edu LAURA TARDIFF joined

Veazie Veterinary Clinic as a veterinarian. A native of Old Town, Tardiff moved back to Maine after completing her degree at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. www.veazievet.com GREGORY A. DUFOUR ,

president and CEO of Camden National Bank, has been elected as chairman for the Maine Bankers Association for the upcoming year. He sits on the board of directors for Camden National Bank, Camden National Corporation, and Acadia Trust, N.A. Before joining Camden National Bank in 2006, Dufour was managing director of finance at IBEX Capital Markets. www.mainebankers.com 10 / Bangor Metro September 2014

HEIDI EASTMAN of

Hampden joined Security One Lending as a reverse mortgage consultant for Maine. Previously Eastman worked in the nonprofit industry for eight years and in the banking/mortgage industry for 10 years. www.s1l.com Maine Savings has chosen three employees to open its new branch on College Avenue in Old Town. JOSH HOWES of Bangor will be the branch’s manager. He started his career at Maine Savings as a teller nine years ago. KAREN-ANN ELLIS of Carmel and KRISTEN BRASSLETT will be the branch’s member service representatives/ loan officers. Ellis is a Notary Public and has completed training in IRA basics, lending and as a certified teller specialist.

Brasslett joined Maine Savings in 2010 as a teller. www.mainesavings.com TOBIN MALONE has been

named executive director of The General Henry Knox Museum in Thomaston.

She has been with the museum since 2011, working as the assistant to the executive director. She became the director of programming and marketing in 2012 and acting executive director in 2013. www.knoxmuseum.org JOSEPH D. DOMAGALA , CPA, MST has been named

a shareholder, officer, and director with Melanson, Heath & Company, PC, a regional public accounting firm with offices in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Domagala has more than 21 years of public accounting experience and has been working with the firm since 1998.

He works in the firm’s Ellsworth office as director of commercial services. www.menalsonhealth.com

CHERI L. DOAK is the new senior vice

president and market leader for KeyBank in Aroostook County. Doak joined KeyBank in 1989 as a management trainee and loan officer. Most recently, she was senior vice president and senior business service officer. She is active in the Presque Isle community, currently serving as president of the United Way of Aroostook board, as well as sitting on the board of the Aroostook Chapter of Junior Achievement and the Caribou Recreation Foundation. www.key.com SUSAN FARLEY has been chosen by the

board of directors at the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce as the organization’s new executive director.

Farley was previously employed as the family assistance advocate for the Washington Hancock Community Agency. She also worked as the coastal bureau chief at WABI-TV 5 covering Hancock and Washington counties. www.ellsworthchamber.org PATRICIA BIXEL, Ph.D. has been named

dean of the School of Science and Humanities at Husson University.

Previously, Bixel was an associate academic dean at Maine Maritime Academy. In addition to her administrative duties, Bixel has taught history, geography, and world politics at MMA for the past 13 years. www.husson.edu Two prominent central Aroostook County business and community leaders have assumed leadership posts on The Aroostook Medical Center Board of Trustees. GENE LYNCH II of Mapleton is the president and owner of Lynox Welding Supply and Lynox Cleaning Systems. STEVEN ST. PIERRE of Presque Isle is the vice president and senior relationship manager for Key Bank, NA. They have been elected chair and vice chair respectively. www.tamc.org R. STEPHEN GURIN, JR. joined Bar

Harbor Bank & Trust as vice president/ team leader of regional business banking. Most recently, Gurin worked as senior vice president/business banking sales leader for KeyBank in Vermont. www.bhbt.com

Tobin malone photo: Linda Stevenson

On The Move

AUTO | HOME | BUSINESS | HEALTH | LIFE

The James Russell Wiggins Down East Family YMCA hired JIM TRACY as director of youth development. He has more than 30 years of experience working with children as a gym teacher, childcare worker, and youth pastor. www.defymca.org SUSAN JAMES has been hired as the

marketing and public relations manager for Morris Yachts in Trenton. She has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and design. She will lead Morris’ customer communication, marketing strategy, and execution for its new boats, service, brokerage, and charter services. www.morrisyachts.com Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has promoted two of its employees at their Ellsworth branch. SARA O’CONNELL has been promoted from assistant vice president/ human resources to vice president/ human resources. She joined the bank in 2012. JENNY SAUNDERS has been promoted from sales assistant and operations specialist with Bar Harbor Financial Services to assistant vice president/financial consultant. She has been employed at the bank for 15 years, the last three as part of the Bar Harbor Financial Services team. www.bhbt.com Three people have been appointed to the St. Joseph Healthcare Board of Trustees. ROBERT A. CLARK is the president of Husson University. Clark also serves as president of the Maine Independent College Association and is a member of Rotary International, as well as numerous other professional organizations. GLENN D. GOODWIN is a partner in the accounting form of Loiselle, Goodwin & Hinds. He serves on the boards of numerous Bangor area nonprofit organizations and is a member of Rotary International.

PATRICIA L. QUIRK is president and CEO of Hampden Home Builders, Inc. and a licensed broker with the real estate firm of ERA Dawson-Bradford.

She is also the president of the executive board of the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine in Orono. www.stjoeshealing.org

Awards CORY LAPLANTE of Northern

Prosthetics and Orthotics was selected as the 2014 Aroostook Entrepreneur of the Year by LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development and Momentum Aroostook. LaPlante started his business in 1997, which has grown to include nine full-time and two part-time employees. Northern Prosthetics and Orthotics is located in Presque Isle. www.northernprosthetics.com Several attorneys from Rudman Winchell, Counselors at Law in Bangor have received high ratings from Chambers and Partners, a prestigious and worldwide legal rankings firm.

FRANK T. MCGUIRE was honored for labor and employment; DAVID C. KING and PAUL W. CHAIKEN were honored for litigation; WILLIAM H. HANSON was honored for real estate; and GEORGE F. EATON was honored for corporate/ mergers and acquisitions. www.rudmanwinchell.com

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Grants MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL

recently received $55,000 in grant funding for its newly opened Community Dental Center located in Southwest Harbor. The Doree Taylor Charitable Foundation granted $50,000 and the Fisher Charitable Fund granted $5,000. The funding will help support the center’s comprehensive schoollinked oral health program. www.mdihospital.org

How Confident Are You about

Your Financial Future?

Estate & Retirement Planning

Corrections In our Best Restaurants article last month, we incorrectly stated that Taste of India won for Best Ethnic in Greater Bangor. The real winner was Yoshi in Brewer. We also stated that Pat’s Pizza of Ellsworth won Best Sandwich in the north. The real winner was The Pizza Box in Presque Isle. In Metro Health, we misspelled Aimee Gerbi’s name. In Kitchen Confidential, we gave the wrong phone number for Chef on Demand. The correct number is 207-319-2714. We apologize for these errors and the confusion they may have caused.

Tom Duff

President & Branch Manager

Joel West

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www.duffandassociates.com www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 11

sight ings 1

2

3

1: Sarah McCarthy and her daughter Maisie hang out at the Cool Sounds Summer Concert Series on Central Street in downtown Bangor.

2: Brian Brooks and his granddaughter Violet attend the Cool Sounds Summer Concert Series in downtown Bangor.

12 / Bangor Metro September 2014

5 3: Julie Hartford, Logan Rich, Denise Long Needham, Nicole Yeo-Fisher, Jessica Ward, and Kiana Prescott McKunes have fun on the ERA Dawson Dream Home Tour in Bangor.

4: The foursome of Josh Hellum, Zac Louten, Tony Manzo, and Matt Burgess work on their putting skills at St. Joseph Healthcare’s Frank C. Chapman Memorial Golf Tournament at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

5: Seth A. Goodall and Marilyn Geriox from the Small Business Administration present the SBA Top 7(a) Dollar Volumne Lender in Maine award to Jon Prescott (center) president and CEO of Katahdin Trust.

Photos: #3 courtesy ERA Dawson

4

movers & shakers

K A Writer’s

Life

Kay Stephens’ passions helped her create a niche in Maine’s midcoast.

Photo: Melanie Brooks

By Melanie Brooks

ay Stephens never meant to become an expert on cyberbullying—it just sort of happened.

“I’ve worked as a camp counselor, teacher, nanny, and mentor, and have always gravitated toward working with teens and tweens,” she says. The writer has penned two non-fiction books on the topic, and created a series of webinars for teens and parents to learn how to deal with being cyberbullied.

“It was 2007 or 2008 when cyberbullying was manifesting, and some kids I knew had gotten hurt,” she says. Stephens wrote Ethel is Hot LOL about a 12year-old Maine girl, an oddball with big dreams, who attends an all girls’ school.

The antagonist in this tale is a California transplant who is enamored by YouTube fame and uses online videos to make fun of Ethel. “The book talks about ways to deal with cyberbullying and gives other oddballs some hope on how to deal with it.”

But Stephens knew she could do more.

She co-wrote Cyberslammed, an adult cyberbullying guide for parents, teachers, and school officials as the companion to Ethel is Hot LOL. Both books are self-published under her independent publishing company, sMashup Press.

She received a sponsorship from Time Warner Cable to publish Cyberslammed in 2012 and used a Kickstarter campaign to publish Ethel is Hot LOL in 2014.

Stephens’s passion has turned into a niche, and she has identified the most common ways kids are being cyberbullied and offers strategic ways to deal with it. During the school year she offers webinars about the six most common cyberbullying tactics and how parents can educate and protect their children. Her number one tip for parents is to take the conflict offline and turn it into a face-toface resolution. “Parents should take the time to learn about what kinds of social media their kids are attracted to,” Stephens says. “There are some great tools out there, like www.uknowkids.com. It’s the smartest parental intelligence system I’ve ever seen. The service combs your kids’ social media sites looking for trigger words around cyberbullying, drug references, and anything that worries you as a parent. If they find them, the service will send you an alert.”

Her expertise on cyberbullying came

from her passion for writing and education. Stephens grew up in upstate New York and earned her master’s degree in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. “In Boston I was a small fish in a big pond,” she says. “I didn’t feel right in a big city. I came up to Maine in 1993 and immediately made a community in Camden.”

Stephens carved out a niche in the midcoast for arts and entertainment reporting. “Newspapers in the area weren’t really doing a lot of coverage of that beat at that time,” she says. Before the Internet and Photoshop were prevalent, Stephens and some friends created a paper-zine.

The format was an 11x17 sheet of paper that was very cut and paste. “It was an old school layout. We made copies and hand delivered them. The zine was funny, topical, and covered arts and entertainment in the midcoast. It was a great time to be creative!”

Her creative, free spirit is what drives Stephens every day. But the journey hasn’t been easy. “I’ve done every job known to man to work as a writer in the area,” she says. “Waitressing, catering, temp jobs, you name it. Newspapers came and went, jobs came and went.

Sitting in an office for eight hours a day wasn’t something I wanted to do. I realized I needed to be my own boss.”

Stephens started her company, Kay Stephens Creative Content & Social Media, seven years ago. “With social media, I can help people in arts and entertainment promote what they’re doing because I know how to write for their audience,” she says.

In addition to her freelance magazine writing, she currently writes part-time for The Penobscot Bay Pilot, as an arts, entertainment, and lifestyle reporter.

She’s also working on her second book of fiction. Her first, The Ghost Trap, is about the gritty life of lobstering on the Maine coast. Her new book is set on an island in Maine in the 1920s and features magical elements that surround a seafaring life.

Her books are a labor of love, and Stephens gets positively giddy when talking about her newest project.

A passionate, outgoing, and artistic professional, Stephens is committed to the life she has built for herself in the midcoast. “It’s a safe, welcoming, and kind place,” she says.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 13

business SPOTLIGHT

Maine Savings 10 branches across Maine

M

aine Savings, one of Maine’s largest credit unions, is a growing modern financial institution with state-ofthe-art technology and a strong commitment to providing a range of in-person financial services to members. This summer, Maine Savings continued to challenge traditional credit union and banking trends, reinventing strategies and reaching out to a younger audience.

John Reed, president and CEO (right), has shaped the longterm vision for the organization. “We see our role as clearly defined by our members and by the communities we serve. Today, with dramatic changes in the financial industry, we need to continually look at ourselves and determine what we need to do to stay relevant.

For us, that has meant investments not just in technology, but also in bricks and mortar.”

At a time when many banks are eliminating “free” and even adding or raising fees on checking accounts, Maine Savings wants to put more money back in its members’ wallets. As such, it launched its new free RedWallet™ checking accounts in June.

Qualifying account holders can also receive monthly rewards, which range from cash back to iTunes downloads.

Free checking, iTunes downloads and easy access to online and mobile banking are designed to appeal to the next generation of Maine Savings members. The Maine Savings app, available for iOS and Android, even provides the ability to deposit a check remotely using a mobile phone or tablet. No need to go to a branch to make the deposit.

With branches already in Bangor, Bar Harbor, Brewer, Corinth, Ellsworth, Hampden, Milo and North Vassalboro, Maine Savings just opened its newest branch on College Avenue in Old Town, adjacent to the

University of Maine campus in Orono.

“At a time when the financial services industry is abandoning local communities and closing branches, we are investing in those communities,” said Reed. The new branch features free standing service units, a collaborative meeting and study space, as well as free coffee and sufficient access to WIFI. “Maintaining the financial integrity of Maine Savings is our priority. We continue to see steady growth of new members and are proud to also have impressive asset and loan growth. We are pleased with our financial strength, the sound nature of our operations and our significant recent investments,” added Reed.

With more than 26,000 members, 10 branches and nearly 100 employees, Maine Savings will continue to expand, as well as develop and implement new products, services, and technologies to continue to better serve its members.

•

Guidance & Solutions.

At Machias Savings Bank we want to share in the vision of your business and be an active player in your success by offering you the right balance of products and services. Whether you are just getting started or growing the family business, we specialize in helping you every step of the way, just like we’ve done for Ron, April and Lydia, we can do the same for you.

Machias Savings Bank is now providing business banking solutions in the Presque Isle, Caribou and Portland communities.

Ron Dennis

April Murchinson

Lydia Pryor

Dennis Paper & Food Service Hampden, Maine

Possibilities Fine Gifts & Home Furnishings | Lincoln, Maine

Bayview Animal Hospital Gouldsboro, Maine

Š 2014 Machias Savings Bank. Member FDIC.

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eye on industry

Taking the Toxins Out of Your Dryer Sometimes the best business ideas are born out of necessity.

That’s certainly the case with LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls.

By Melanie Brooks

photo: courtesy of loohoo dryer balls

W

hen Cyndi Prince of Camden became a mother she wanted to make sure she was creating the healthiest home environment for her new baby.

That meant taking a closer look at the ingredients of all of her household cleaners.

She chose to cloth diaper her baby and switched her laundry detergent to a more natural and organic product. When she took a closer look at her dryer sheets she was shocked at the list of chemicals. “Dryer sheets leave a coating on fabrics, inhibiting their ability to breathe or absorb moisture,” Prince says. “They can take years to break down in landfills and have a long list of dangerous and toxic petrochemicals.”

Those chemicals include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), camphor and linalool (can cause central nervous system disorders), and benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant).

She immediately stopped using the dryer sheets and sought out an alternative. She learned about wood dryer balls

and purchased some to try out. They worked OK, but didn’t last as long as Prince thought they should have. Finding them online wasn’t easy, either.

Many of the companies she researched online were out of stock. She figured she could do a better job making her own.

“That was a huge green light for me,” she says. “There is a need and a desire for this product. It’s so simple and so needed for a lot of people.”

Prince, who grew up on a farm in North Buxton, Ontario, started experimenting. Wool is a great material to work with because it is natural, sustainable, biodegradable, and absorbs odors, which is great for your laundry. She found some local wool to use and eventually came up with a system for creating the balls that worked the best. She named her business after her childhood nickname and sent the dryer balls to market in 2010.

Her LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are a little bit larger than a baseball and are made from 100% Maine wool from Bartlettyarns

in Harmony. Prince suggests using three balls for a small load and up to nine balls for large loads. “The friction of the balls against fabric naturally softens the clothes,” she says. The balls speed up drying time because they help break up the lumps of wet clothes in your dryer, creating more airflow between your garments.

Pieceworks, Inc. in Montville provides the wool and production help. “I made all of them by myself at first, and it was my business counselor who suggested I work with Pieceworks,” Prince says. “I’ve been working with them for two and a half years and we have an amazing relationship.”

Prince found that every time she would turn over more of the production to Pieceworks, business would grow. Today, all of the balls are formed by hand at Pieceworks and Prince felts them at home in batches of about 80. She also assembles and packages the dryer balls in her home office. Even though most of her time now is spent on sales and marketing, she still likes to have a connection to her product before it gets sent out into the world.

You might think that Prince would have a background in textiles or business, but she doesn’t. “My background is in geology,” she says. She spent four years working aboard a scientific research vessel before moving to Maine.

She was introduced to the Midcoast area through photography courses she took at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport. “It was so much fun!” Prince says. “Every time I came to Maine I wanted to stay longer and longer.”

Eventually she made the leap and landed in the Midcoast for good. She met her husband and got a job at a fine art gallery in Rockland.

After she launched her company, Prince worked part-time up until late last year. Each week, 700 to 1,000 LooHoo Dryer Balls are produced, and business is growing. In fact, business is so productive that Prince was honored with the 2014 Small Business Administration Home-Based Business Champion Award for Maine and New England. She was also named a Spanx Leg Up winner for 2013.

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls can be found in more than 200 retail locations across the U.S. and Canada. “[LooHoo] has always been a growing business,” Prince says. “I’m always trying to stay focused and grounded.” www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 17

metro health

Manipulative

Medicine

A hands on, holistic approach to healing is prompting patients to seek out osteopathic physicians in Maine. story by Joy Hollowell | photos by mark McCall

18 / Bangor Metro September 2014

“W

hat’s a DO?” Seven years after opening the Osteopathic Center for Family Medicine in Hampden, Dr. Jack Forbush is used to getting asked that question. Forbush is a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), also known as an osteopathic physician. Doctors of osteopathic medicine are medical doctors, however, their focus is a holistic one.

“We view the body and all its parts as being integrally connected,” explains Forbush. “You can’t have a change in one system without it reflecting somewhere else.”

into alignment. Their ultimate goal is to keep patients off pharmaceuticals. Certainly there are times when medication is needed, Forbush says. “So in addition to using these traditional medications, we can incorporate other techniques to minimize the dose or, in some cases, work cooperatively with it.”

“We like to call ourselves the total package,” Mamula says. “We’ve been trained to do what the allopathic doctors do but, in addition, we’re trained to treat the mind, body, and spirit as a whole.”

Osteopathic medicine has been around since the late 1800s. It was developed by a doctor after he concluded that many medicines of the 19th century were useless or even harmful. “Osteopathic medicine is the fastest growing health profession [in the United States],” says Angela Westhoff, executive director of the Maine Osteopathic Association.

“It is estimated that more than 100,000 osteopathic physicians will be in active medical practice by the year 2020.”

There are approximately 750 licensed DOs in Maine, according to Westhoff.

One out of every three physicians delivering primary care in rural Maine is a doctor of osteopathy.

“Musculoskeletal complaints are the number one reason why patients go to a doctor,” says Forbush, who is also the president of the Maine Osteopathic Association. “Our advantage is that we can do something to directly address that patient’s complaint.”

One of the most widely used therapies is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment or OMT. A doctor will use their hands to move joints and muscles back into place. Gentle pressure is applied to the soft tissues of the affected area, and through bending, lifting, stretching, and other methods, a DO will effectively re-align the body to allow itself to heal more efficiently.

“We’re like the big tree trunk for all these other off-shoots of manual treatments,” Forbush says. “Physical therapists do some of the things that we do, chiropractors do some of the things that we do, and massage therapists as well.

Historically, in the western world at least, Dr. Meghan Mamula, DO at Brewer Medical Center.

Dr. Jack Forbush treats his patient, Sylvia Ritz, in his Hampden office.

“I am always aware that what is presented as one thing, could actually be a manifestation of something else,” says Dr. Meghan Mamula, a DO at Brewer Medical Center, part of Penobscot Community Health Care. “For instance, sometimes when there is something wrong with your stomach, there are levels in your vertebrae that can also be giving you pain. So there could be a connection of one causing the other pain or vice versa.”

A DO goes through the same schooling as a doctor of medicine (MD), but DOs receive additional training on the musculoskeletal make-up of the body and how to manipulate those areas back www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 19

metro health

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we were the first profession to say, ‘Hey, we can do things to and with the body that actually make people feel better.’”

Sylvia Ritz will only subscribe to osteopathic medicine. The Bradford woman suffers from a congenital musculoskeletal condition. She started seeing

of medicine,” she says.

Both Mamula and Forbush graduated from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford. It is Maine’s only complete medical school. “One of the first things we learned in school is that DO also stands

“We’re like the big tree trunk for all these other off-shoots of manual treatments.”

—Dr. Jack Forbush Forbush about six years ago for OMT. “At this point, I probably only see him every couple of months,” says Ritz. “At times, it’s been more frequent.”

Ritz’s condition is incredibly painful, leaving her nearly unable to move. “I would get to the point where I was having difficulty doing the things I wanted to do, like gardening and walking. [Dr. Forbush] keeps me mobile. That’s huge; he’s a big part of my life,” she says.

Ritz and her husband run several free medical clinics in Paraguay. For the past four years, Forbush has made annual trips to the South American country to care for patients in the clinics. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment is used on many of them.

“There was a young girl with a birth defect that left her face deformed and she couldn’t see out of one eye,” explains Ritz. “After Dr. Forbush worked on her facial bones for about an hour, she could see out of that eye again.”

Ritz says OMT has worked for so many patients at her clinics that many of them now refer to Forbush as “Little Jesus.”

Mamula has her own OMT miracle story. “My mom has Lou Gehrig’s disease and had lost her ability to speak,” Mamula says. “Being a DO, I thought, ‘Why don’t we utilize manipulation?’”

The family sought out one of Mamula’s mentors from medical school who performed cranial manipulation on Mamula’s mother. “While he was doing it, her speech returned to almost 100% normal,” she says. “My dad and I were in tears.”

Unfortunately, the effect only lasted a few hours but the next few times they went back for manipulation, Mamula says her mother’s speech would return at each visit. “It really is a fascinating area

for delivery of oxygen,” explains Mamula. “It’s one of the philosophies behind osteopathic medicine.”

The belief is that if there’s a musculoskeletal dysfunction, it’s also likely there’s less oxygen following to that area of the body. “The job of a DO is to correct that dysfunction to get a better delivery of oxygen,” Mamula says.

Three-quarters of patient visits to Forbush include some form of OMT. He uses OMT on infants to help with earaches, colic, and constipation. He relieves pressure through points in the head, neck, and other areas to allow fluids to drain.

His practice also includes kids and teenagers with Attention Deficit Disorder. Forbush says he’s seeing promising results using OMT. “Do I have an anatomical explanation for that?” he asks.

“No. I find the areas of the body that aren’t quite working the way that they should, I address them with osteopathic treatment, and they get better. Now, do I have kids that need that plus medication like Ritalin? Of course. But there’s enough of a suggestion, if I can use that term, that there is efficacy in using [OMT] as a treatment approach.”

Mamula says many patients seek her out because she’s an osteopathic physician. “It is a certain type of person who is able to understand that our bodies are connected intuitively,” she says. “They want their body to be fixed as a whole.”

Forbush agrees. “I think that approach to looking at a patient is the preferred approach,” he says. “Just because there are so many factors that traditional, bio-medicine doesn’t give credence to. In a perfect world, I think if all physicians, all health care providers, looked at patients the way we do, we’d have a lot more health and a lot less disease.”

metro wellness

The Benefit of a

Training Plan

Signing up for a race is just the first hurdle.

Create a training plan to make sure you make it across the finish line. By Emilie Brand Throckmorton

photo: alexey boldin/thinkstock.com

E

ven though I said, adamantly, that I’d never do it again, I have found myself training for another marathon. Last year I started feeling a pull to sign up for a race, though I hemmed and hawed for several months.

When I finally decided to commit to the challenge (and even though this will be my fifth marathon, it is still quite a challenge for me), I felt tremendous relief.

Having that date on the calendar means I have a sense of purpose in my fitness life again, a feeling that I have stepped onto a moving train and there is nowhere to go but forward. I am committed and locked into the singular goal: crossing the finish line after 26.2 miles.

In almost every part of my life, I am a planner and a leader. I strive to make all my own decisions, and I cringe when anyone takes a parental tone with me.

Knowing this about myself, it still surprises me to admit that when it comes to exercise, I just want someone to tell me what to do. I have recently found great joy in working out in group exercise “boot camp” classes with an instructor who pushes me, and swimming with a group of dedicated early-morning swimmers who call out the workout. I just put my face in the water and do as they say.

Similarly, I love a marathon training plan that clearly sets out exactly what I have to do for exercise each day. I have no decisions to make, just directions to follow. In the past six years, I have obediently followed training plans for various distances and, in fact, I credit the “couchto-5K” training plan for teaching me that I

could actually run at all. I have completed training plans for 10Ks, half marathons, triathlons, and marathons. I print them up and proudly put them on my fridge.

When I complete a workout, I check it off on the chart to declare it DONE. For running, I have always used the free training plans online by the accomplished runner and coach Hal Higdon (halhigdon. com). I feel like Hal and I have really been

With a training plan in place, I appreciate having one thing in my life that is decided for me. It’s a no-brainer. Run 12 miles? Okay, fine, let’s go. And if Hal tells me that I need to run 12 miles, and I get back to my house at 11.7, then you better believe that I will run up and down the street until my GPS watch beeps at 12 miles. That’s a lot of power that I give up to a man I’ve never even met, but I am

“I love a marathon training plan that

clearly sets out exactly what I have to do for exercise each day. I have no decisions

to make, just directions to follow.” through a lot together. He has gotten me from huffing and puffing through one little mile to the finish lines of four marathons.

Sometimes I say, “Really Hal? It’s a weekday and you are telling me to run eight miles today? Okay, Hal. I will do this for you.” Following a training plan makes all the difference in the world for me in terms of how I frame exercise in my life. If a workout is on the plan, I have to do it. It’s an appointment that I cannot miss. Being “on plan” means that I am saying, “Yes, I will” to my workouts instead of, “Maybe, well, probably, I mean, I’m definitely going to try.” I just have to be creative (and an early riser) in order to get the runs done.

As a teacher, I create a lesson plan for all of my classes each day. As a mom, I choose outfits, pack lunches, plan meals, and organize activities for my family.

loyal to Hal’s plans because I trust in his long-term vision that if I do what he tells me to do, I will be standing at the starting line feeling strong and prepared.

There are training plans available for every skill and experience level. There are short-term or long-term plans, and plans for all kinds of races. Some are free on the Internet, others available in training books, and still others that could be customized for you by a personal coach. If you need some motivation or would appreciate having to make one less decision in your daily life, I suggest you find a plan, stick it on your fridge, and head out the door.

Emilie Brand Throckmorton is a mom and runner who co-chairs the English Department at Bangor High School and writes the blog One Mom in Maine. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 21

Photos: LuckyBusiness, moodboard, Wavebreakmedia Ltd/thinkstock.com

feature story

The Virtual

Classroo

22 / Bangor Metro September 2014

m Online learning has come a long way. Traditionally used in college courses, the virtual classroom is making its way to a younger audience in Maine. Today’s middle and high school students now have the option to learn from home, just like their college counterparts. By Henry Garfield

M

aine’s first virtual charter school is virtually a reality.

As this issue of Bangor Metro went to press, Maine Connections Academy, the controversial online public school voted into existence by the state legislature earlier this year, announced that it had received commitments from the minimum required number of students in grades 7 through 12, and would launch its inaugural school year this September. Barring unforeseen developments, classes will have begun by the time you read this.

Enrollment is capped at 297 students for the first school year. The charter school legislation also mandates certain quotas for school districts around the state.

Students attend Maine Connections Academy for free, as they would any other public school. But they are not required to go anywhere­. The school is controversial because it is the first of its kind in Maine, and it allows parents to

pull their kids out of local schools at the expense of their local school districts.

The concept of charter schools has long been a political football, with Republicans generally favoring them as an alternative choice for parents and Democrats largely opposed because they funnel public funds to private, for-profit corporate education providers. Maine Connections Academy is governed by a five-member board composed of Maine residents and the school’s teachers, who are required to be Maine-certified just like all other public school teachers in the state. It is also an arm of a large multi-national corporation: London-based Pearson PLC, the largest education company in the world. The company is also in the publishing and curriculum development business. Its American subsidiary, Connections Education LLC, based in Baltimore, will provide curriculum materials and support for Maine Connections Academy.

Members of traditional school boards www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 23

Connections Academy Student completing math lessons.

24 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Photos: courtesy of Maine Connections academy

feature story are elected by voters in their school districts, but MCA’s board of directors are appointed by the seven-member Maine Charter Schools Commission, created by the state legislature. The commission has oversight over all things related to the operation of a charter school, including the school’s board of directors.

In concept, the virtual school allows students to learn largely from home, with an hour of interactive class time per subject per week. Maine Connections Academy will provide every student with a computer and the necessary software to access the curriculum. (Students may also opt to use their own computers.) Teachers will conduct classes from a physical headquarters in South Portland, and will be available throughout the school week for one-on-one virtual interactions with students.

Amy Linscott is a member of the new school’s board of directors and will have two daughters in enrolled in the school in its inaugural year, one in eighth grade and one in tenth. “I live in northern rural Maine,” she says. “There just aren’t the opportunities up there for the variety of courses that Connections Academy can offer in terms of advanced placement courses and gifted and talented programs. My kids are excited about it.”

Linscott sees the new school as a viable option for families challenged not only by geography and limited local course offerings, but by social issues such as bullying or physical disabilities.

Maine Connections Academy also offers remedial courses in math and reading for students who may be falling behind.

The one-hour classes are synchronous lessons conducted in real time, Linscott says. “It’s just like a live classroom, only on the Internet. Every student can see the teacher’s white board and can ask questions during the class, but the teacher cannot see into the student’s home. Every lesson is recorded, so that if a student can’t attend a particular class because of a doctor’s appointment or something, that student has access to go back and watch the lesson later.”

Class sizes are slightly larger than in regular public schools, averaging about 35 kids. “The students are paying attention to that teacher throughout the lesson,” Linscott say. “There’s no ‘I need to go to the bathroom’ or anything like that. And there’s a lot of room for individual interaction. If a teacher sees a need to see a stu-

dent more than an hour each week, there’s a mechanism in place for them to do that.”

Linscott scoffs at the criticism that virtual students will miss out on the development of social skills as compared to their peers at “brick-and-mortar schools,” a favorite phrase of online learning advocates to describe traditional schools. If anything, she says, the flexibility of schedule

also planning a series of live field trips throughout the school year, and a live graduation in the spring.

“The cost of tuition is covered by the local districts, at this point,” Linscott says.

“The money follows the child.”

“This is not home-schooling; it’s school at home,” says Alan Chapman, a recruiter for Connections Academy

“I live in northern rural Maine. There just aren’t the opportunities up there for the variety of courses that Connections Academy can offer in terms of advanced placement.

My kids are excited about it.” —Amy Linscott will enable her kids to be even more active in their community.

“If my social calendar was any fuller with my children, we wouldn’t have a second left in the day,” she says.

As with home-schooled students, Maine law mandates that MCA students are eligible to try out for sports teams in their local school districts. The board is

based in Maryland. Chapman has made several recent trips to Maine to talk up the school to interested parents and students. The company currently operates virtual charter schools in 26 states.

Chapman explains that each student must select a “learning coach,” who has full access to the online curriculum and the teachers. In many cases the learning

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coach will be a parent, but it can also be a close relative, family friend, or even an educator in the local school system. A student can have up to five learning coaches.

Each student’s class schedule is individualized. “A typical student day is anything but typical,” Chapman says. A seventh-grade student can, for example, be enrolled in a tenth-grade math class.

The school also offers specialized elective courses and club activities in areas such as music, robotics, Chinese and Japanese, debating, and digital storytelling.

In a survey of parents with children currently enrolled in Connections Academy schools nationwide, parents cited their three top reasons for choosing to send their kids to school online: the desire for a change from their local school, flexibility of schedule, and the need for a safe learning environment. Other factors 26 / Bangor Metro September 2014

included a wish for more involvement in the children’s education, health concerns, and bullying in a previous school.

More than 90% of parents responding to the survey said they would recommend Connections Academy to other parents.

All MCA students will be required to take the same standardized tests as their “brick and mortar” counterparts, Chapman says, and these tests must be taken on the same days and at the same locations that they are administered to traditional students.

“Connections Academy’s commitment to accountability is one of the reasons that we chose them as our online learning provider,” says Amy Volk, a Republican state legislator and the president of MCA’s board of directors.

Teachers will be paid about the same as those in brick-and-mortar schools, according to Linscott. The school will have

eight full-time faculty members and a guidance counselor. In July, MCA hired its first principal, Karl Francis, who formerly worked at Westbrook High School and served as the district’s online enrichment programming coordinator.

But is online learning effective? Do students learn as much? Connections Academy students from other states have been accepted by some of the country’s top colleges and universities. And online classes at the college level are routine. It’s possible to get a college degree entirely online, though some of the institutions that offer such programs have been criticized as “diploma mills.” College students are expected to exercise self-direction in their education, but will online learning work for students in middle school and high school? The 297 students who will enroll in MCA’s first year constitute the first test

Photo: courtesy of Maine Connections academy

Teachers at virtual public school Connections Academy interact with students on the phone, over the Web, and at in-person field trips and social activities.

feature story cases in Maine’s grand experiment.

A bit of disclosure is necessary here.

As an adjunct professor in the English Department at the University of Maine in Orono, I have been teaching an online creative writing class for the past eight years. I don’t consider what I do to be a virtual classroom, however; there are no real-time lessons, for example, and I do not teach in an interactive classroom that allows students to stop me and ask questions or to converse by video with one another. Some of my colleagues do some of these things, but I communicate with my students mostly via the written word, though I encourage phone calls and office visits.

I spoke with several people at the University of Maine about the present and future states of virtual education, and encountered a bit of ambivalence.

Online classes seem to work well for some students and not so well for others.

In general, students near the top of their classes tend to do better than those who might need a bit of extra help. And every online teacher faces a higher rate of attrition—students starting a class who fail to complete it—significantly higher than traditional classes held in a classroom. “I see a lot of dissatisfaction among faculty,� says Andrei Strukov, director of the Faculty Development Center at UMaine. “They’re very successful in the classroom, but when they teach the same class online, they struggle.�

According to Gail Garthwait, an associate professor of education at UMaine who has studied online learning extensively, virtual high schools are a growing phenomenon, but like their college counterparts, they have a higher dropout rate than traditional schools. “The challenge of distance education,� she says, “is that the distance is psychological as well as physical. My goal is to try and bridge that.�

The weak link in online education at the university level, Strukov says, is professional development. “You need that human bond,� he says. “Many online classes are static. They’re boring for students. The tools are there—you can make it engaging—but schools are not investing enough time in educating teachers and in training faculty how to use the technology effectively.�

Part of the problem is that teachers are typically not compensated for the time it takes to develop an online class and educate themselves in the uses of rapidly

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Andrei Strukov, director of the Faculty Development Center at the Univeristy of Maine.

Gail Garthwait, associate professor of Education at the University of Maine.

28 / Bangor Metro September 2014

changing technology. Many teachers videotape lectures that they continue to use semester after semester. One reason for this is that a teacher is usually paid a onetime stipend for putting the class together, but must contend with limited or nonexistent departmental budgets for making updates once the class is up and running.

Keeping up with the technology can be daunting, Garthwait says, but the teacher doesn’t have to know everything. “It’s good for students to teach the teachers sometimes.” Online learning, she says, has evolved from the “one to many” model of remote classes conducted by video at satellite campuses, like the Hutchinson Center in Belfast and URock in Rockland, to the “many to many” classes being conducted on Google Hangout and other technologies that allow for increased group interaction.

“Attention spans these days are highly diminished,” says Duane Shimmel, a faculty technology consultant at UMaine.

“The teachers that are successful online keep their presentations short—five or 10 minutes. You put up a 90-minute lecture, I guarantee you nobody’s watching it.”

According to Garthwait, “Students work harder in online classes. The work is out there for everyone to see, and nobody can hide in the back of the room.”

But students still seem to thrive on live, face-to-face interaction with their teachers. Most students will tell you that they learn more in a live class. Nate Swan is an undergraduate at UMaine majoring in computer science. Like many oncampus students, he’s taken a mixture of live and online classes. “Unless there’s a face-to-face media component, you don’t learn nearly as much in an online class,” he says. Introductory courses are more forgiving, but as a student moves through school and encounters progressively more difficult material, the gap between live and online classes widens. “I can’t imagine taking a course like thermodynamics online,” he says.

Yet advanced online courses exist, and the phenomenon of the virtual classroom continues to expand, both downward into middle school and upward into graduate school. “Having online students puts a sparkle in administrators’ eyes,” Garthwait says. The reasons are obvious: less infrastructure costs, from dining halls to dorm rooms to classroom facilities. But do the outcomes justify the savings? Can a virtual classroom deliver the same quality of education as a physical one?

“A few years ago, if you asked me that question, I would have said that the virtual classroom spelled the end of brickand-mortar universities,” Strukov says.

“But now I think you’re going to see more of a blended, hybrid approach.”

In recent years, larger universities have been experimenting with MOOCs, or “massive online open courses.” Garthwait says that while these huge lecture classes can be cash cows for universities, their effectiveness as teaching tools has yet to be determined.

Strukov sees more potential in the “flipped” classroom, a new concept in which students view the lectures online and come to class to do homework and group assignments. The idea is to combine the convenience of online technology with the hands-on guidance of a live teacher. “If it’s successful,” Strukov says, “this model will gain more and more popularity.”

Photos: Ruth Clark

feature story

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Barb Klausmeyer at Belfast’s Left Bank Books.

30 / Bangor Metro September 2014

feature story

Long Live

Books!

Despite technological advances in book publishing and reading, many people still prefer the experience of manually flipping the pages of their favorite books. The future of books in Maine is bright, and we couldn’t be happier. By Tom Avila

Photo: kevin kratka

I

f someone discovers you’re a writer living in the greater Bangor area, you will inevitably be asked some sort of question about Stephen King. Have you met him? Have you seen the house? What’s your favorite King book?

For the uninitiated, Maine’s book scene is all haunted cars and Tommyknockers and ill-fated prom nights. But the reality is more vibrant, more diverse, and supported by a culture that, once discovered, is quickly recognized for its bright enthusiasm. There are the big name authors like Lily King, Richard Blanco, Joe Hill, Richard Russo, and Ron Currie, Jr. who appear on the pages of The New York Times Book Review. There are the self-published, the academics, and the commuting scribblers.

There are the loyalty-inspiring bookstores like Blue Hill Books, Camden’s

Owl & Turtle, and downtown Bangor’s BookMarc’s, where new and used, local favorites, and national bestsellers share cozy quarters. There are the places like The Briar Patch in Bangor, where parents know they’ll not only find the perfect picture book or the latest volume of the young adult series everyone is reading, but maybe stumble across R2D2 or Where’s Waldo’s Waldo.

With graphic novels and comic books finally getting their storytelling due, folks can walk the few steps from The Briar Patch to Top Shelf Comics, where a friendly and always helpful crew is quick to disprove the negative stereotype of the dreary, forbidding comic book shop. A quick dash to the Rock and Art Shop and you can pick up the latest issue of Detritus, an arts, culture, and comics journal founded by Bangor artist Chris Peary.

And then there are the libraries, some

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Valerie Osborne at the Bangor Public Library.

of which are worth a visit if only to marvel at the architecture (though you could certainly pick up a book or two while you’re there). Think of the gleaming, newly restored copper dome at the top of the Bangor Public Library, a building that will soon undergo a multi-million dollar facelift. Or, consider the stately Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, which entered the National Registry of Historic places in 1991, or Camden Public Library’s sun-drenched reading room. There are fantastic libraries on islands like Vinalhaven, university campuses, and even a scattering of folks who have set up “Little Library” boxes in their own front yards.

32 / Bangor Metro September 2014

It’s a landscape of readers and writers as diverse and energetic as the place they call home.

Deb Taylor is the book buyer for the oldest bookstore in Maine—Sherman’s Books and Stationery in Bar Harbor. The store’s interior mirrors the summer bustle on Main Street, with shelves and tables and displays filled to overflowing with books just waiting to find the right owner.

“I think there is a resurgence of people reading books,” Taylor says. “Some of it might be due to the economy, with people feeling like they have a little more money to spend, and some of it might be because of the new focus on buying local and

supporting independent stores. People are coming into bookstores and, even if they’re on their own, they’re joining conversations with people asking, ‘Did you read this? Have you read that?’ It’s an exciting time to be involved with books.”

As is the case for so many, Taylor’s interest in books and reading started young.

“My mother was a book nerd before we were all using the word ‘nerd’ to describe it. There were five of us and she had a passion for reading so she would read to us.

We all listened well beyond the time we needed to be listening. She’d be reading to the youngest and we’d all still snuggle in on the couch to listen. If you have a pas-

feature story reputation for the high-profile authors they are luring north of Portland, much to the delight of readers.

“We were going to be celebrating 10 years in business and thought that instead of throwing a party we’d shoot for the moon and start inviting some of

had gotten her to come to Maine for a fundraiser he was hosting, and my semiannual letter arrived soon after that. She thought I knew she was already coming but it was just serendipity.”

Patchett, who in addition to being the author of books like Bel Canto,

“It’s amazing when you see someone who didn’t read or says they don’t read and then they’re finally given that book that turns them into a lifelong reader.” —Deb Taylor our dream authors to come,” says Barb Klausmeyer. Klausmeyer, who owns Left Bank Books along with Marsha Kaplan and Lindsay McGuire, still seems a bit surprised by their good fortune and how many of their dreams are coming true.

“I had written to Ann Patchett a few times over the years and she had always sent back handwritten, personal notes that were just delightful. Richard Russo

Truth & Beauty, and State of Wonder, is herself a bookstore owner and fierce proponent of independent, brick-andmortar bookstores. She drew a crowd of 300 excited readers to First Church of Belfast for a reading and then a signing back at Left Bank Books.

“The reaction from people was overwhelming,” Klausmeyer says. “For days beforehand they were emailing and

Photos: (above) kevin kratka; (right) courtesy of sherman’s books

Sherman’s Books and Stationery in Bar Harbor is the oldest bookstore in Maine.

sion for reading, you know what it is to be captured by a story, and you want that for everyone. It’s really such a wonderful feeling and you get to see it time and time again when you work in the book business. It’s amazing when you see someone who didn’t read or says they don’t read and then they’re finally given that book that turns them into a lifelong reader.”

Sometimes discovering that book that inspires comes not from browsing the shelves, but from hearing an author bringing their own words to life. Belfast’s Left Bank Books, which moved from Searsport to its current Church Street location in 2012, is quickly gaining a new www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 33

feature story

Barb Klausmeyer at Belfast’s Left Bank Books.

34 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Photo: (opposite) kevin kratka; Illustration: (right) Mark Ricketts

An illustration for Mark Scott Ricketts’ book, Adventures in Vacationland.

calling in from Thomaston, Port Clyde, and Bangor, way beyond our immediate community. And then, for two weeks after Ann Patchett, people were coming in just sort of rapturous about that experience. It was really lovely because people specifically came to us to say how much it meant.�

Patchett’s July visit was followed by a series of high-profile writers including Maine’s Richard Blanco, the 2012 Inaugural Poet; Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout; and naturalist and writer Bernd Heinrich. Lily King will return to Left Bank Books to close out the national tour of her new Margaret Mead-inspired novel Euphoria. “This really is a landmark year for us,� notes Klausmeyer. “Owning a bookstore isn’t a way to get rich, but it’s a great way to make friends.�

Comic book writer, author and illustrator Mark Scott Ricketts has made a few friends of his own amongst Maine’s book lovers. Born in Arkansas, Ricketts’ now lives in Maine and has channeled his unique interpretation of the state

from the last day of vacation WR WKH Âż UVW GD\ RI UHWLUHPHQW No matter where you are in life, from buying your first home to planning your first day of retirement, opportunities arise. At Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, we are committed to helping you capitalize on current opportunities and plan for those on your horizon.

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www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 35

feature story

“The library is not just a place anymore...

It’s shifting from traditional materials, like books, to virtual materials like downloadable e-books and audio books.”

—Laurie Carpenter into his new children’s book Adventures in Vacationland. If you’ve been wondering what it might look like to see a herd of Galloway cows wearing kilts and hurling blueberry pies at lost travelers, Ricketts has that covered for you.

“The world is full of distractions,” says Ricketts. “You wouldn’t think folks would have time to read or write anymore…that they’d be too busy photographing their lunch for their Facebook ‘friends.’ However, in the time I’ve spent in Maine, I’ve met a lot of folks with a passion for reading. And Maine readers will flat out tell you exactly what they think. One lady came to a signing to tell me she’d read my book A Flatlander’s Guide to Maine and as a ‘true Mainer’ felt compelled to tell me I got some things dead wrong. I explained 36 / Bangor Metro September 2014

I was just trying to be funny and didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes. She said, ‘I know you didn’t dear. I just thought you might want to be better prepared for your next book.’”

Several years back, a group of Maine librarians were among those who let the Pulitzer Prize committee flat out know what they thought. Valerie Osborne, northeastern Maine district library consultant, was part of the group that kicked off a grassroots response to the Pulitzer’s decision not to make a fiction award.

“There were three finalists. Any one of them would have been a good selection but the committee said they couldn’t agree,” Osborne says. “So, we took the books that had been finalists, and had library people promoting them and en-

couraging their patrons to vote on their favorite. We called it ‘The Mainelitzer.’”

After naming Karen Russell’s Swamplandia! the winner that first time around, the group decided to formalize things, creating the Maine Readers’ Choice Award as a way of promoting exceptional literary fiction, encouraging reading among adults, and instigating conversation about good books.

This year will see the state’s fiction lovers deciding the second Readers’ Choice winner out of a selection of four finalists (drawn from a long list of more than 140 titles) that includes Benediction

by Kent Haruf, TransAtlantic by Colum McCann, The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, and The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

“Many states do this kind of award, but Maine had never done it,” Osborne says. “Those of us who really enjoy fiction think it’s important people here have a voice in choosing what’s good literature. It was time to have something that was our own.”

Libraries and librarians have played a leading and vocal role in the Readers’ Choice Awards, by securing additional

Photos: kevin kratka

Barbara McDade, director of the Bangor Public Library, and Valerie Osborne, northeastern Maine district library consultant.

copies of the finalists and promoting it to patrons. But, in many ways, the job of the librarian is becoming more complex, just as the local library is becoming less secure. Funding cuts and increased dependence on outside fundraising are causing some to limit hours and availability while others are struggling to keep their doors open.

It’s a daunting situation, made more difficult by the fact that the idea of the public library is, for some people, mired in the past. A short visit with a librarian will change that perception quickly. “The library is not just a place anymore, it’s also services,� explains Laurie Carpenter, director of the Orono Public Library. “Because of our growing technology, people are looking for ways of accessing more and more from home.

It’s shifting from traditional materials, like books, to virtual materials like downloadable e-books and audio books.

People can go online and get what they want at any time, and they can return their borrowed items virtually.�

In other words, just because you

pack an e-reader for that trip to camp instead of a hardcover book with a return slip tacked to the back, doesn’t mean avoiding your local librarian. “A good many Maine libraries are involved in the download library,� explains Osborne. “It’s a program funded by the Maine State Library and individual libraries that pay a fee. It’s open to anyone who has a library that is participating or, if not, any resident of the state can get a Maine State Library card and use the service. Why pay for it if you can do the download for free with your library?� she asks.

What both Osborne and Carpenter are certain to make clear, however, is their great faith in the future of the traditional book. Those who watch the literary landscape have recently begun noting that the “death of the physical book� that has been the subject of countless articles and debates—sparked by the birth of the e-reader—has gone quiet. In fact, recent surveys have found that while reading electronic books has increased in recent years, strong support for hard copy books remain. One poll indicated nearly

half of all those interviewed only read in hard copy.

There is also that aspect of books and reading that is impossible to send wholly to the screen. Whether it’s index cards with staff picks taped to a shelf or a casual conversation with a stranger over a table of new titles, there’s a human connection that attracts even the most private of readers. It’s that aspect that makes patronizing the independent shop on the corner and keeping the doors of local libraries open all the more important. “For me, right now, the library is community,� says Carpenter. “I started as a youth services librarian and that’s what brought me to the library, a love of children’s literature. Now I’m a director and it’s a totally different world. What I see and value about libraries today is the community piece. It brings people together.

For those people who aren’t going to fit in or can’t fit in or can’t find acceptance in any other place, they can come here.

We’re here to welcome people. We’re here to be a place for them.�

from sunrise to sunset

Taylor will never know what it’s like to work only 40 hours a week in a warm, dry office.

And he wouldn’t have it any other way. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is proud to stand behind the independent businessmen and women building better futures for their families and their communities.

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www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 37

a piece of maine: eastport

Coastal Charm

N

othing quite portrays Vacationland like a small fishing village built on the state’s legendary rocky coast.

Maine is home to many of them, each one with its own unique charm and history. Travelers whose journey takes them far enough east will be greeted by a sign that reads, “Welcome to Eastport. Easternmost City in the USA.” True enough, as Eastport is located across the bay from New Brunswick, Canada.

38 / Bangor Metro September 2014

“We don’t have any big box stores or major chains [except for a dollar store],” says Meg Keay, president of the Eastport Chamber of Commerce. “The shops are locally owned and independent. There are no traffic lights. The town put one in but there were more accidents than before so they took it back out.”

HISTORY Eastport may have been incorporated as a town in 1798, but the Passamaquoddy

Photo: Don Dunbar

Eastport is centuries old and has survived wars, storms, and a depressed economy. But nothing can keep this little town down for long. By Carol Higgins Taylor

Photos: courtesy of the library of congress by Lewis Wickes Hine

A tranquil view of Eastport’s waterfront.

have called this area home for at least 10,000 years. The first European to explore the area was Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer who spent time in present day Calais and St. Croix Island before settling in Nova Scotia’s Port Royal.

The first settlers came from Newburyport, Massachusetts and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. These fisherman made their home in what was called Plantation Number 8 PS by the Massachusetts General Court. The name Eastport paid homage to the fact that it was the easternmost port in the United States.

Eastport has always been a fishing town. Because of Eastport’s dramatic tides—about 25 feet—the harbor remains free of ice all winter long. The first sardine factory was built in 1875 and by 1886, over a dozen sardine factories lined the town’s shores. At this time about 800

Top: A view of Eastport from the water circa 1911. Middle: A group of workers at Seacoast Canning Co. Bottom: A settlement of sardine workers, many coming from neighboring towns, such as Perry. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 39

a piece of maine: eastport

Fishing vessels pack Eastport’s shores.

Population: 1,331 Summer Population: 2,200 Incorporated: March 3, 1893 Population Density: 385/square mile Mil rate: 23 Median Age: 53.6 Median Household Income: $28,654 Median Home Value: $121,200 Education: • Eastport Elementary School • Shead High School Major Employers: • Shead High School • Eastport Healthcare, Inc.

40 / Bangor Metro September 2014

men, women, and children kept the sardine plants running 24 hours a day.

In 1893, Eastport was reincorporated as a city and experienced a burgeoning population because of the successful canning industry. It was not to last, however, and the city succumbed to bankruptcy in 1937 as the industry declined and residents moved away to find other work.

In 1976, the Groundhog Day Gale destroyed many buildings on the waterfront. Now, almost 40 years later, Eastport is shining brighter than ever. It’s a community steeped in innovation, creativity, and the can-do attitude for which Mainers are so well known.

Visitors can inhale the salt air and imagine themselves as residents of the past ambling along the streets of downtown. There are 29 buildings in the National Historic Register to help solidify visions of yesteryear. Most of these buildings are more than 100 years old; part of

a rebuilding project after a massive fire destroyed the downtown area in 1886.

THE PEOPLE Eastport may only have a population of 1,331 residents, down from the all-time high of 5,300 at the turn of the last century, but community pride is unmeasurable.

“Eastport has positive human and natural energy,” says Linda Godfrey, her voice catching in her throat, a testament to the emotional attachment residents have to their community.

Godfrey, who’s made Eastport her home for the last 24 years, is a partner in The Commons, located at 15 Sea Street.

The building was built in 1908 and was then known as the American Can Building. Ownership of the historic building most recently changed hands in 2003.

Nine area women—Sue Crawford, Alice Otis, Ruth Brown, Alice Gough, Anna Baskerville, Med McGarvey, Nancy Asante, Linda Godfrey, and Vera Francis—

Photos: Darrell Keay

stats

are bringing life and commerce back into the old building with the intent to honor the town’s fishing history while creating new space to showcase local creativity.

“Eastport has a collaborative nature,” says Godfrey. “We build on the past. We honor where we are, and the challenges we have here, so that we can be built upon that in the future.”

And build they do. Right down to the language. Godfrey was frustrated by the use of “de” words—like depressed and decline—when hearing or reading descriptions of Eastport. She and her group set about changing the verbiage that perpetuates the vision of their fair city.

“These are negative words and they are not a good representation of Eastport,” Godfrey says. “We need to use words that tell the real story. The ‘re’ words, like reinvent, reenergize, and renew. That is what Eastport is all about.”

Eastport is willing, hoping, and expecting to be a role model and a leader

as a revitalized community as well as to learn from other communities who have done the same, Godfrey says.

“Eastport has a strong future. And we take good care of our elders, our children, and the community.”

TOURISM & THE ARTS While the sardine industry has waned in Eastport, the tourism industry has grown.

“Fishing is not what it used to be,” Keay says. “Sardines came and went. Waters all over the world have been fished out. Tourism in July and August has a major impact on us. Without it, I don’t think we’d survive. And every dollar that comes into town gets turned over four or five times. It has a ripple effect in the community.”

There is plenty for tourists to see and do in Eastport. There are numerous museums for history enthusiasts, including extensive historical Passamaquoddy Tribal culture, breathtaking scenery for artists to commit to canvas,

whale watching, bird watching, and festivals of all sorts.

Nature lovers will find Eastport a paradise. Seafarers will rejoice in the aquatic wildlife that includes whales, porpoises, and seals, while the more adventurous might seek passage via motorboat across the whirlpool named Old Sow, located between Moose Island in Eastport and Deer Island in New Brunswick. It’s said that the name Old Sow came about because piglike sounds could be heard coming from the whirlpool. Old Sow doesn’t churn alone, as there are numerous smaller whirlpools, deemed “piglets,” in close proximity.

Old Sow is the largest natural whirlpool in the western hemisphere and is only one of five significant whirlpools worldwide. In fact, the Old Sow Whirlpool Survivors’ Association issues certificates to those who have bravely passed through this tidal phenomenon and survived.

Landlubbers can have the best of both worlds by combing the rocky beaches in East Coast Ferries provide service between Eastport and ports in New Brunswick, Canada.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 41

a piece of maine: eastport A giant seafarer statue, a prop from a reality TV show filmed in Eastport in 2000, stands guard over the town.

42 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Artists and craftspeople sell their creations at The Shop at The Commons.

search of lost treasures left behind by others and beautiful, coveted sea glass.

Others who are itching for a longer trek can don their hiking gear and head to the 90-acre Shackford Head State Park on Moose Island, named for Captain John Shackford, a veteran of the Revolu-

Keay, who moved to Eastport from New Hampshire in 2006, describes the coastal city with warmth and pride.

“People are very hard working, sincere, religious, and patriotic,” she says. “They are community oriented and work hard to care for one another.”

Photos: Don Dunbar

“Young smarties, as I call them with so much admiration, have lived here or visited here and come back and prove that you can live anywhere and do great things.” — Linda Godfrey tionary War and a settler of the island. It’s not a particularly long journey by hiking standards, and those making the trip will be rewarded by breathtaking scenery.

City dwellers might prefer a walk around downtown to take in art galleries and restaurants while enjoying spectacular views of Passamaquoddy Bay and the Canadian Maritimes. Eastport is only about four square miles, but the activiDowntown Houlton ties and possibilities are boundless.

The community energy lends itself to the muses who are ensconced in this city of artists. Dozens of artists and craftspeople sell their creations at The Shop at The Commons. Everything from burl bowls, to garments, to paintings, to jewelry are on display just waiting to capture the eye of the right buyer.

The Shop is but one of the entities taking up space in this iconic building.

The building also has space for meet-

ing rooms, small theatre performance possibilities, room or suite rentals, and Road Scholar, formerly known as Elderhostel, which is a not-for-profit organization that provides educational travel tours to adults.

Another creative hot spot in town is the Tides Institute and Museum of Art, home to an art reference library and works by local artists on both sides of the border.

“The Tides Institute represents a connector, collector, preserver, and innovator to the community,” says the director of the institute, Hugh French. “We work a lot with Canada in an effort to encourage greater cross border cultural ties. We’re systematically building cultural collections that reflect this region and connect it to a broader world.”

The Tides Institute began in 2002 and was only one of two places open on Sunday afternoons. “Back then, on a good Sunday, we might have one person come in,” says French. “Now, Sunday is often our best day with 50 or more people coming in and 15 or more other business open in the downtown.” www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 43

a piece of maine: eastport A humpback whale’s tail fluke in Eastport’s harbor.

EASTPORT GUARDIAN Eastport is watched over by a 12-foot statue of a bearded, gruff-looking fisherman who is clutching a large fish. He looks like he 44 / Bangor Metro September 2014

could have been their guardian for centuries. In reality, the statue is a prop from the Hollywood production of Murder in Small Town X, which was filmed in Eastport in 2000. When the television mini-series wrapped up, the production company gave the fisherman statue to the city, much to the delight of the residents.

Ten contestants took part in this whodunit reality show and tried to solve a murder for a $100,000 purse. A New York City firefighter, Angel Luis Juarbe, Jr., 35, walked away with the prize. Tragically he was killed in the bombing of the World Trade Center. The statue also holds a special place in the annual 9/11 remembrance when Eastport pays homage to Juarbe.

To the city of Eastport, the giant fisherman was more than mere staging. The old seafarer, who looks suspiciously like John Pike Grady, an Eastport icon, historian, and philanthropist, became a symbol of the community.

The statue is a tourist attraction, with

hundreds of people taking photos of it every year. It is also a staple in the 4th of July celebration. But in 2005, Godfrey recalls, the statue’s presence in the festivities was iffy. The fisherman was sent half-way across the country to be refurbished, and some worried it would not be back in time for the parade.

“You should have seen it,” Godfrey says.

“The parade was coming to an end and the very last thing was a flatbed truck with the statue lying down in the back. What that truck driver went through to get it here on time!” Cheers erupted from the crowd and the statue was back in its rightful home.

BUSINESS INNOVATION Eastport is about building business and innovation. A great example is Millennium Marine, which moved to Eastport from New Brunswick, Canada. The boatbuilding company has set up shop in the Guilford Mill, and is bringing jobs into the coastal community.

Significant investment, both private

Photo: Don Dunbar

Foodies will love the Pantry Store at Raye’s Mustard Mill and Museum, which is the last operating stone-ground mustard mill in the country.

Music is alive and well in Eastport. The Eastport Strings, a nonprofit community children’s strings ensemble, helps encourage children to nurture their talent.

The ensemble’s youngsters consist of violinists, violists, cellists, and doublebassists. The organization is a constituent group of the Eastport Arts Center, located in the former Washington Street Baptist Church, built in 1837. The Center boasts a 106-seat auditorium, a stage, and professional lighting. The historic building has become home to many creative groups enabling the Center to continue fostering the imagination of the community’s artists and musicians.

PHotos: Parks Canada/D. Wilson

and public, has been made in Eastport’s downtown in the last decade with new restaurants, new galleries, and new stores like a pet store, candy store, and recently a pharmacy.

Economically, growth in Eastport is also happening at a grassroots level. Eat Local Eastport is a coordinated effort that connects farmers with their customers to bring more year-round access to Mainegrown foods. In keeping with the concept of renewable resources that the Eastport community lives by, Eat Local Eastport’s farmers employ sustainable growing practices, including several who are Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association certified organic producers.

In an effort to preserve the freshness of her own produce, Sally Erickson invented the Vejibag, and the promise of “No more slimy vegetables.”

When Erickson invented the bag, she made a decision not to compromise which is why she is adamant about using 100% U.S. grown and milled organic materials in her bags, which are reusable, returnable, environmentally friendly, and functional, saving not only natural resources but money by reducing wasted produce.

“I decided, while designing the bag, that if I was going to do it, I was going to do it right,” she says. Erickson wanted everything natural and locally done. The fabric comes from Texas because Maine doesn’t grow cotton and the tags are made from recycled paper.

“The bags are as green as it gets,” says Erickson proudly. She is excited to be attending the New England Made Giftware & Specialty Food Show this month in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

The concept is ingeniously simple and true to nature. Vegetables love moisture but they also need to breathe which is impossible when they are crammed into plastic bags. Once dampened, the Vejibags allow the moisture to slowly evaporate, keeping the vegetables moist but breathing. The result is fresher produce for a much longer period of time.

“People are so happy to be able to keep their high-quality, locally grown organic product fresher longer with the bags,” Erickson says. “People also like that they are made locally by two women in their own homes.”

Ventures such as this are often thought of as big city activity, the product of corporate America. But ingenuity

is not based on geography.

“Young smarties, as I call them with so much admiration, have lived here or visited here and come back and prove that you can live anywhere and do great things,” Godfrey says.

The only thing missing in Eastport, according to Keay, are beds. “What we really need here is a hotel,” she says. “If any developers are reading this, we need beds. We had two bed and breakfasts but the owners have retired so they closed.”

One project that has been making news recently is new innovation that takes advantage of a natural resource—the ocean’s tide. The Maine Tidal Energy Project is using the tides in the Bay of Fundy, between Eastport and Canada, to produce sustainable electricity. Over 100 billion tons of water flow in and out of this bay each day, making it one of the most robust tidal energy resources anywhere in the world.

Ocean Renewable Power Company has been working on the Maine Tidal Energy Project since 2006, and plans to use the tides to create enough electricity to power about 2,000 homes and businesses. Maine’s economy has benefitted from the $21 million that has been invested into the state, which includes more than $5 million in Eastport and Lubec.

The changes in Eastport have not gone unnoticed. “A photographer who has photographed rural communities throughout Maine returned here recently and said that of all the communities that he had photographed, Eastport has changed the most,” says French.

The annual The British are Coming, The British are Coming! event commemorates the 1814 capture of Moose Island.

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Eastport

On the Creative Edge

college sports

Softball

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Senior Haley Spiers is a leader on and off the field. By Eric B. Gordon

F

or Husson University senior Haley Spiers, playing softball just seemed natural. “My older brother played baseball. I always did what he did,” Spiers says. “So I started playing tee-ball, and then progressed to softball. It’s really become my passion—I just love it. I’d play softball year round, if I could.”

Spiers’ passion for softball led her to Husson University.

“The campus and facilities are great. Plus the coaches are really nice,” she says.

In fact, the softball program at Husson University is such a standout, the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) held their collegiate softball tournament at the campus this past May. On day three of the tournament, Husson’s women’s softball team captured their sixth straight NAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament. Spiers, who plays left field and is the team’s captain, was an outstanding player during the tournament.

“Haley always comes to practice ready to work hard,” says Kristie Hawkins, head softball coach and director of compliance at Husson University. “It’s her work ethic and bubbly personality that make her a success both on the field and in the classroom.”

Softball is helping Spiers succeed as she works toward her bachelor of science in nursing degree. “Sports is what gives me the structure, discipline, and motivation I need,” she says. “I’m always trying to do better. If I didn’t have softball, I wouldn’t excel in my studies.”

Demonstrating her academic commitment, Spiers was one of nine student-athletes 48 / Bangor Metro September 2014

named to the NAC’s 2013-14 Winter/ Spring All-Academic Team, from among 75 student-athletes who participated in a winter or spring sport. To be honored, student-athletes must have reached junior academic standing, have competed a minimum two years of varsity competition at their institution, and maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50.

Earning good grades is just one way Spiers demonstrates leadership. As a softball team captain, she serves as a role model to her fellow players. “Being

nursing as her life’s work. During the coming school year, she’ll be joining Husson University’s School of Nursing assistant professor Laurie Eddy and six other health care students from a variety of disciplines on a trip to the Dominican Republic. During this trip, Spiers will work with doctors and nurse practitioners in providing diagnoses and medical treatments to local citizens living in remote locations within this developing country.

“While this will be a great learning experience, it will also provide some physical challenges,” Spiers says. “I’ll

“With the support of my teammates,

my coaches, and my professors,

my life is going to be a home run.” a team captain is a responsibility,” she says. “My teammates voted for me to be their leader, and while that feels good, you always want to make sure you’re doing your best. Some of the younger players ask for advice on what they can do better and how they can improve their skills. I know that people are looking up to me and depending on me.”

Providing advice never bothers Spiers; she enjoys helping people. It’s one of the reasons why she decided to choose

need to do a lot of walking. Sometimes I’ll be on my feet 10 to 12 hours a day.

My endurance training is going to come in handy. But despite the challenges, I’m still fascinated by everything nurses do.

Catheters, IVs, medications—it doesn’t matter. It’s just so rewarding to help others. I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve gotten at Husson University.

With the support of my teammates, my coaches, and my professors, my life is going to be a home run.”

NOMINATE

AN ENTREPRENEUR

Today!

Nominations close Nov. 1, 2014 We want to know who is going

above and beyond in your community so we can reward them for their hard work and dedication.

Winners will be chosen by region. Í * HK ÙHL I Includes Bangor, Brewer, Hermon, Hampden, Orono, Old Town, Winterport, Frankfort, Bucksport, Holden, Eddington, Veazie, Glenburn, Milford, and everything in between.

Í IH KH

Photos: (athlete) courtesy of husson university; (glove and ball) Mark Hilverda

STATS

husson softball team captain haley spiers

TEAM: Husson University Softball // Eagles POSITION: Left Field // Team Captain 2014 SEASON RECORD: 31-12 HONORS: Named to the NAC’s 2013-14 Winter/Spring All-Academic Team TEAM ACCOLADES: Sixth straight NAC Championships and host of the 2014 NAC collegiate softball tournament GOING ABOVE & BEYOND: Haley is traveling to the Dominican Republic with Husson University’s School of Nursing to help provide medical treatment to local citizens WORDS OF WISDOM: “Sports is what gives me the structure, discipline, and motivation I need.

I’m always trying to do better. If I didn’t have softball, I wouldn’t excel in my studies.”

Includes Thomaston, Warren, Rockland, Rockport, Camden, Lincolnville, Northport, Belfast, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Brooks, and everything in between.

Í ÚI L H K

Includes Bar Harbor, Castine, Blue Hill, Ellsworth, Trenton, MDI, Jonesport, Machias, Eastport, Calais, and everything in between.

Í 3I K includes:

Includes Millinocket, Lincoln, Lee, Topsfield, Houlton, Mars Hill, Presque Isle, Caribou, Van Buren, Fort Kent, and everything in between.

Í N K includes:

Includes Palermo, Unity, Thorndike, Pittsfield, Newport, Skowhegan, Jackman, Greenville, Dover-Foxcroft, Dexter, and everything in between.

Event Partner

To submit your nomination:

bangormetro.com

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 49

high school sports

Basketball, Baseball, and

Building Relationships

E

ric Hoogterp, 17, began preparing for his sports career right around the day he learned to walk. He discovered the Nerf basketball hoop and his love of sports was born, according to his very proud father, Brett Hoogterp, assistant principal and athletic director at Old Town High School, where Eric is a senior.

that important game he led his team in scoring with 26 points and was voted the game’s Most Valuable Player. His efforts helped lead Old Town High School to its first state championship in 23 years with a 64-39 victory over Poland at the Cross Insurance Center.

This game has special significance to Old Town and history buffs. The very

“The best thing about playing sports is the level of competition and the relationships that are developed with teammates.”

“He’s just a natural,” Brett Hoogterp says. “He started tee-ball at age 4 and basketball at age 3 or 4. He loved it.” And he was very good at it.

While working as the varsity basketball coach at Leavitt Area High School in Turner, Brett Hoogterp would take Eric to the basketball court to shoot with the high school team at practice. “The other kids loved it and were amazed by him and his skill,” Brett says. “He could make 3-point jump shots at 5 or 6 years old.”

Today, Eric is just as adept at baseball as basketball. He played football for a time but baseball and basketball are his true passions. His proudest achievement was being part of the Old Town High School basketball team that won the state championship in 2014. In 50 / Bangor Metro September 2014

first state championship was played in the Bangor Auditorium in 1957. Old Town won against Edward Little. Fifty-seven years later, the first state championship game played at the Cross Insurance Center, the venue that replaced the Bangor Auditorium, was also won by the Old Town High School boys.

“I’ve talked to other coaches who have lived in Maine longer than I have and they all said that Eric’s performance was in the top five performances in all state title games in basketball,” says Brian McDormand, the boys varsity basketball coach at Old Town High School.

Eric’s accolades don’t stop at basketball. In his baseball career, he was voted the league runner up for the Most Valuable Player, batting .434. He led the

league in hits, stolen bases, and the combo of runs scored and RBIs. He was also named all-conference first team.

“The best thing about playing sports is the level of competition and the relationships that are developed with teammates,” said Eric. “The hardest part is that it can be tiring day in and day out.”

His father has seen the toll sports can take on a young body. “Think about it,” Brett Hoogterp says. “You get off the bus from a game at 10:30 at night and have to get up at 6:30 the next morning to do it all over again. It can be tough.”

But it’s all worth it to Eric. “The biggest life lesson I have learned from playing sports is that you have to work together to accomplish your goals,” he says. “I am looking forward to playing in college and seeing where that takes me.”

Coach McDormand is optimistic.

“The sky’s the limit for him if he works hard,” he said.

For Eric, it’s about doing his personal best. “I can see the focus in his eyes,” his father says. “Everything else disappears. It’s the thrill of competition and performing at his highest level and maximizing his teammates to their best abilities.”

This mirrors Eric’s advice to children who are playing sports now or thinking about getting involved in sports. “Have fun and be determined to be your best,” he says.

Photos: (Athlete) amy allen; (Basketball hoop) Yobro10/thinkstock.com

Old Town High School’s Eric Hoogterp is a natural on the field and on the court. By Carol Higgins Taylor

what’s happening

september

Photo: (top) ron wyman; (right) valery121283/thinkstock.com

september 4 BOMBINO/Rockland

BOMBINO with Micromasse Rockland • September 4 Meditative and earthy, Niger-based musician BOMBINO conjures the expansiveness of the Sahara landscape.

Klondike Mountain Applefest Lubec • September 13 A celebration of all things apple.

This event will have something for everyone: apple picking, apple eating, apple jelly making, apple cider pressing, apple art creating, and more.

September 13 Klondike Mountain Applefest/Lubec www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 51

Events

Theater

September 1 Viking Run Caribou High School Kids’ running races of different distance according to age group. Registration begins 8 am. Race begins at 9 am.

764-6561 www.centralaroostookchamber.com September 1 Labor Day Road Race Caribou High School Ski Building The 5K walk starts at 10:30 am. 8K run starts at 11 am.

764-6561 www.centralaroostookchamber.com September 4 NT Live: Medea The Grand, Ellsworth Helen McCrory returns to the National Theatre to take the title role in Euripieds’ powerful tragedy, in a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell.

2 pm. $17 adults; $15 seniors; $14 Grand members; $12 students; $10 youth ages 10 and under.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org September 4 BOMBINO with Micromasse The Strand, Rockland Meditative and earthy, Niger-based musician BOMBINO conjures the expansiveness of the Sahara landscape.

7:30 pm. $25.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com September 4–21 Honky Tonk Angels Bangor Opera House Three gutsy gals meet on a bus bound for Nashville and find they share more than amazing vocal talent and a love for music.

942-3333 • www.penobscottheatre.org September 4–7 International Seaplane Fly-In Greenville Every year after Labor Day weekend, seaplanes from all over the world fly in to the Moosehead Lake Region. The weekend will consist of float plane competitions, educational exhibits, the Moosehead Lake Region’s largest craft fair, and lots more.

695-2702 • www.mooseheadlake.org

52 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Music September 5 First Friday Artwalk Meets Fashion Night Out Bar Harbor Gallery and shop owners will be dressed to the nines, so join in for a night out on the town. Enjoy a variety of fine art and crafts by Maine artists. 6–9 pm. www.rdalessio.com/ barharborartwalk.html

September 6 & 7 Life in the American Revolution Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard’s Mills, Bradley Re-enactors bring Revolutionary War history to life at Leonard’s Mills. See for yourself how people in our area lived during colonial times. 10 am–3 pm. $10 adults; $5 children.

974-6278 • www.leonardsmills.com

September 6 Bangor Car Show: Wheels on the Waterfront Bangor Waterfront Hundreds of classic cars will be on display at this annual Bangor event.

New this year is a swap meet. Buy, sell, or swap parts, automobilia, tools, and other auto/truck/bike related items.

Rain or shine. 8 am–2 pm.

947-5205 www.visitbangormaine.com

September 6 & 7 Bangor Gun Show Cross Insurance Center, Bangor With over 100 vendors gathering at the new Cross Insurance Center, this yearly event, hosted by the Penobscot County Conservation Association, is a mustsee. Sat. 9 am–5 pm; Sun. 9 am–2 pm. $7-$8; free for children under 12. www.conservationassociation.org

September 6 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.

Minimum age is 12. Advanced reservations and pre-payment required.

Please bring a flashlight to this event. 6, 7:30, & 9 pm. $15.

469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com September 6 12th Annual Medieval Tournament Fort Knox, Prospect Knights in armored combat, medieval music, arts and science displays, and an archery demonstration will be featured at this event-packed day. 10 am–4 pm. $5 per vehicle donation requested.

469-6553 www.fortknox.maineguide.com September 6 Orono Festival Day Orono Spend the day in Orono starting with a pancake breakfast at 7:30 am. Then enjoy vendors, children’s games, truck petting zoo, reading tent at the library, chicken barbeque from 4:30–6:30 pm and listen to the Mallet Brothers Band from 6:30–8:30 pm. Fireworks at 9 pm.

866-2556 • www.orono.org

September 6 & 20 City of the Dead: Mount Pleasant Cemetery Walking Tour 449 Ohio Street, Bangor Mount Pleasant Cemetery is the resting place of some great names in Bangor’s history. Known to be the final resting place of many Irish families and kept by the Catholic Diocese it has been split by the interstate, moved, and contains one of the grandest mausoleums in the city.

10 am. $10.

404-4113 • www.dawnlandtours.com September 7 Pedal the Penobscot Bangor Waterfront Bangor Land Trust needs your support to secure public access to local lands, conserve wildlife habitat, and maintain trails. Your participation shows that biking is fun and important, and it will help to make Bangor more bicycle friendly. Choose from 14-, 28-, 50-, 76-, and 100-mile routes. All routes travel along the beautiful Penobscot River.

942-1010 • www.bangorlandtrust.org September 7 Redy…Set…Let’s Go! Youth Triathlon University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Gentile Hall The triathlon is perfect for beginners and more experienced competitors between the ages of 7 and 14. 1–5 pm. $20.

764-6561 www.centralaroostookchamber.com

September 8 Full Moon Sail on the Schooner Olad Camden Watch the sun go down behind the mountains of Camden Hills State Park; then turn seaward and watch the moonrise over the islands of Penobscot Bay. BYOB. 5:15–7:15 pm. $39.

236-2323 • www.maineschooners.com September 9 WoodenBoat Sail-In Brooklin The fall gathering of the fleet takes place on the waterfront at the WoodenBoat School. This annual event includes live music, local refreshments, and boat school tours–not to mention a harbor full of schooners.

1-800-807-WIND www.sailmainecoast.com September 9 So You Think You Know Rockland?

The Strand, Rockland Rockland Main Street, Inc. is hosting six teams that are willing to take on the challenge to answer questions about Rockland’s history during this fun quiz show. 6 pm.

593-6093 www.rocklandmainstreet.com September 12 Fairmount Cemetery Walking Tour Fairmount Cemetery, Presque Isle The one-hour walking tour of Fairmont Cemetery offers a glimpse of Presque Isle’s history and some of its better known citizens who have been laid to rest there. 5:30 pm. $5.

762-6333 • www.pihistory.org September 12 moe.

Collins Center for the Arts, UMaine, Orono This is the preeminent progressive rock band on the music scene today, and they’re coming to Maine. Critical acclaim and a solid national and international fan base has built a dedicated following that grows every year. 8 pm. $28–$33.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

September 12 Bangor Chamber Golf Tournament 2014 Bangor Municipal Golf Course Join us for a for a fun day of golf, networking, and socializing with other chamber members. Coffee and breakfast will be served in the morning, and a BBQ will follow the tournament.

7 am–4 pm.

947-0307 • www.bangorregion.com September 13 Asleep at the Wheel The Strand, Rockland This iconic Western swing band has spent more than 40 years honing its energetic, evolving, and highly crowdpleasing sound. The Austin, Texasbased band has won nine Grammy Awards for their country, western swing, honky tonk, and Texas country music. 7:30 pm. $35 in advance; $40 day of the show.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com September 13 & 27 Mount Hope Cemetery Tour Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor Take a tour of the second oldest garden cemetery in the country. Walk along the trails and hear stories about some of Bangor’s more famous people who have been laid to rest at the cemetery. 5 pm. $10 adults; $5 children under 12; free for children under 5.

942-1900 • www.bangormuseum.org September 13 16th Annual MDI Garlic Festival Smugglers Den Campground, Southwest Harbor This festival is all things garlic.

Restaurants, musicians, brewers, and garlic growers alike join together to enjoy a day of entertainment, celebrate the harvest, and raise money for KidsPeace in Ellsworth. 11 am–5 pm. $5.

288-0269 • www.nostrano.com September 13 Klondike Mountain Applefest Klondike Mountain Preserve, Lubec A celebration of all things apple. This event will have something for everyone: apple picking, apple eating, apple jelly making, apple cider pressing, apple art creating, and more. Please bring your

YOU

Yes, !

YOU

make

what’s happening

HAPPEN Want your event to show up in our What’s Happening section?*

SUBMIT IT online at BangorMetro.com

Simply click Events— >Add an Event and follow the instructions. *Events MUST be submitted on the website in order to be included in the magazine.

DEADLINES FOR INCLUSION October Issue: August 29 November Issue: October 3 December Issue: October 31 www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 53

Events

Theater

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.org 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

Music own jars for jelly and cider. 11 am.

255-4500 • www. downeastcoastalconservancy.org September 13 Molly the Trolley Citywide Tour Presque Isle Enjoy this 3-hour citywide tour on Molly the Trolley. The tour will begin at the historic fire station. 9 am. $5.

762-6300 • www.pihistory.org September 13 Mars Hill Mountain Challenge 5K Obstacle Course Big Rock Mountain Registration closes on September 8. First heat starts at 10 am. Big Rock Bash After Party from 4–7 pm.

764-6561 www.centralaroostookchamber.com September 13 Asleep at the Wheel The Strand, Rockland Listen to this country/western swing band who have retained a loyal U.S. fan base since the early 70s. 7:30 pm. $35 advance. $40 day of the show.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com September 13 6th Annual Maine Open Lighthouse Day Lighthouses Statewide Over 20 lighthouses throughout the state of Maine participate in this special event, now in its fifth year. Take the opportunity to see, by guided or self-guided tours, the operations of a lighthouse, keepers’ houses, and light towers. 9 am–3 pm.

594-4174 • www.lighthouseday.com September 13 Strut Your Mutt Hollywood Pet Salon, Houlton Celebrate your pooch with this annual event. Pre-registration at 9 am. Walk at 10 am.

532-7387 • www.greaterhoulton.com

September 14 Annual Brennen Lowe Memorial Golf Tournament Causeway Club, Southwest Harbor Each year, more than 40 golfers come together for a fun morning of golf, followed by awards, prizes, and a delicious lunch. 8:30 am.

244-3713 • www.harborhousemdi.org September 14 Parker Quartet Minsky Recital Hall, UMaine, Orono The Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet has rapidly distinguished itself as one of the preeminent ensembles of its generation. 3 pm. $35.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com September 16 NT Live: A Streetcar Named Desire The Grand, Ellsworth Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece will be broadcast live from their London home by National Theatre Live. 2 pm. $17 adults; $15 seniors; $14 Grand members; $12 students; $10 youth ages 10 and under.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org September 17 All Day Sail and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse Tour Camden Celebrate Maine Lighthouse Week by taking a full-day sail with us to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. Then we will tie up to the lighthouse dock and have a guided tour of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. Lunch, snacks, appetizers, and beverages will be provided. BYOB. 10 am­–5 pm. $120.

236-2323 • www.maineschooners.com September 18 NT Live: Medea The Strand, Rockland Helen McCrory returns to the National Theatre to take the title role in Euripieds’ powerful tragedy, in a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell.

2 & 7 pm.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com

Submit your event online at bangormetro.com 54 / Bangor Metro September 2014

September 19 Reverse Order Band The Grand, Ellsworth Reverse The Trend is an Anti-Bullying concert and assembly created by the young band Reverse Order to help combat the rise of bullying across America. The band starts the program by performing a few songs to excite and engage the students using popu­lar music that all will enjoy. 10 am. $3.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org September 19–21 Common Ground Country Fair Unity The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is putting on their 25th annual country fair to celebrate rural and organic living.

Celebrate the rural and agricultural traditions of Maine. $10 adults; $8 seniors; free for children 12 and under.

568-4142 • www.mofga.org

September 20 The Chad Hollister Band The Strand, Rockland The Chad Hollister Band returns to Maine as a benefit performance for the Hope elephants. Based in Vermont, this nine piece band has been touring for more than 15 years. 7:30 pm. $40.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com September 20 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Collins Center for the Arts, UMaine, Orono For the past 21 years, this nine piece ensemble has been entertaining swing dancers and big band lovers of all ages.

8 pm. $28–$43.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com September 20 Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Half Marathon Acadia National Park The course includes 9 miles on

Acadia National Park’s Carriage Roads, providing a pristine, car-free experience. The 5K is a professionally timed race and is held on a GPS measured course. 8:30 am 288-3511 • www.mdiymca.org September 20 Annual Riverfront Harvest Festival Houlton This event features a 5K race, a community market, Maine crafters, BBQ, ATV parade, and much more. You won’t want to miss it.

532-4216 • www.greaterhoulton.com September 20 Harvest Heritage Tea Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center This fun, free event is co-sponsored by the Bloomfield Garden Club. Enjoy music by Foxwell & Company. 2–4 pm. www.skowheganhistoryhouse.org

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Events

Theater

September 21 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Bangor Waterfront Help fight breast cancer by running, walking, or dancing through the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. www.komenmaine.org September 25-28 Camden International Film Festival 2014 The Strand, Rockland Camden Opera House CIFF is recognized as one of the top 25 documentary film festivals in the world.

593-6593 • www.camdenfilmfest.org September 26 An Arabian Adventure by Tanglewood Marionettes The Grand, Ellsworth Replete with clever stage illusions and lighting effects, this fun show is a fast-paced, action-packed drama that is especially good for older children. 10 am & 6 pm. $3 for the morning show; $10 adults and $5 youth for the evening performance.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org September 26 & 27 St. Croix International Quilt Guild Biennial Quilt Show First Congregational Church, Calais Quilt lovers will enjoy and appreciate this annual showing of quilts. Come get inspired. Fri. 1–6 pm; Sat. 9 am–3 pm.

454-2308 • www.visitstcroixvalley.com September 26 & 27 O.P. Pierson Days Caribou Celebrates Olof Powers Pierson, Caribou native and inventor of the frozen French fry. There will be an antique car show and fireworks.

498-6156 • www.cariboumaine.org September 27 Art Along the Waterfront Calais Riverfront Walkway Enjoy an outdoor art show, wine tasting, and live music along the banks of the St. Croix River. 12–5 pm.

454-2308 • www.visitstcroixvalley.com

56 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Music September 27 Tour of Vera Estey House Presque Isle Take a one-hour guided tour of the Vera Estey house, built in 1875. 1 pm. $2.

762-6300 • www.pihistory.org September 27 Wine Extravaganza Grape-to-Glass Experience Cellardoor Winery, Lincolnville Experience the midcoast amid the brilliant colors of fall foliage with a grape-to-glass affair for wine lovers of all palates. The day features guided tastings of wine flights, food and wine pairings, cooking demonstrations, and winery tours and demonstrations.

11 am–2 pm. $75.

763-4478 • www.mainewine.com September 27 Guided Walking Tour Presque Isle Begin at the Vera Estey House Museum and embark on a guided walking tour of historic downtown Presque Isle. The tour lasts about two hours. 10 am. $2.

762-6300 • www.pihistory.org September 28 MAINEiacs Charities Half Marathon Run and 5K Walk/Run Odlin Road, Bangor This out-and-back course starts at the Holiday Inn in Bangor. Awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishes in several age groups.

MAINEiacs Charities is the charitable arm of the Maine Air National Guard.

8 am. $55 for half marathon; $25 for 5K. Race day registration fees increase. www.runreg.com/Net/3877 September 28 Night Sky “Under the Stars” Boat Cruise Bar Harbor Join Abbe Museum educator George Neptune as he shares information and stories about the Passamaquoddy and their relationship with the stars as the boat cruises into Frenchman Bay. $26 adults; $20 seniors (62 and older); $15 juniors (14 and under). 6:30–9 pm.

288-2386 www.acadianightskyfestival.org

September 28 The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers Present: The Legend of the Banana Kid The Grand, Ellsworth Little Chucky heads to the Wild West to outwit outlaws in this cowboy adventure. With a fistful of bananas, Chucky rides into town on his trusty goat for a showdown with Big Bad Bart and his gang of bandits. 1 pm. $10 adults; $5 youth ages five and under.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org September 28 Brantley Gilbert: Let it Ride Tour Featuring Aaron Lewis Cross Insurance Center, Bangor Country music lovers are not going to want to miss this show. Special guests also include Chase Bryant and Brian Davis. 6:30 pm. $24.95–$37. www.crossinsurancecenter.com September 30 Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights Collins Center for the Arts, UMaine, Orono Aquila Theatre brings to life Emily Bronte’s classic story of all-consuming passion with its new production of Wuthering Heights. The production recounts the tale of ill-fated lovers, Heathcliff and Catherine, on the lonely moors of northern England. 7 pm. $28–$38.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

Submit your event online at

bangormetro.com Simply click Events Add an event and follow the instructions.

Deadline for October events: August 29

stunning views. fantastic food.

seafood |

steaks | pasta | salads | sandwiches

429 wilson street, brewer | 989-3300

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8& 3& (*7*/( "8": " %": www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 57

food file

Open-Faced

Blueberry Pie This recipe is a favorite of the Alex family from Old Town.

And it’s easy to see why! It’s super simple and packed full of flavor. Story & PHotos by Melanie Brooks

58 / Bangor Metro September 2014

J

oe and Joanne Alex have lived in the apartment above their Stillwater Montessori School for 31 years, but that wasn’t how it was supposed to be. “We had a five-year plan,” Joe says. “We were going to live here for five years then move to a house nearby. But we’re still here!”

The couple are born-and-bred Mainers—Joe from Unity and Joanne from Mexico. The couple met as undergraduates at Colby College in Waterville.

Joanne’s love of education infected her husband, and the duo opened Stillwater Montessori School in 1983. The old farmhouse on the corner of Stillwater Avenue and College Avenue in Old Town used to

be an apartment building, but the couple renovated the space for their purposes, adding two multi-room classrooms on the first floor and space for their growing family on the second and third floors.

A Montessori education is different than a public school education. It’s named after Italian educator and physician Maria Montessori. Montessori’s child-centered approach to education allows children to work and learn in a teacher-prepared environment that meets the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual developmental needs of the child. In a Montessori school, children learn academic skills and real-world concepts while working and engaging with specially designed materials, their peers, and Montessori-trained teachers.

“As a Montessori teacher I love watching the kids become empowered and strengthen their independence, concentration and love of learning,” Joanne says.

“What the Montessori method does is let children explore the world with curiosity

sity of Maine in Orono and Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor affords a great educational experience for college students to learn about Montessori education. Education, nursing, nutrition, and speech therapy students visit the school to practice what their coursework is teaching them. Many international families in the area send their children to Stillwater Montessori, which provides a rich cultural environment that is not ac-

cessible in many areas of Maine.

Stillwater Montessori students also benefit from the Alex’s passion for partnership with the community. They bring in a teacher for Spanish as well as creative movement, art, and music.

“The local community has so much to offer our school,” Joanne says. Some of these people are community members and friends, and some of them are the family members of the students

Joanne Alex heats the blueberries on her stove.

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Your one-stop shop for laser printer sales and service in Maine! and a sense of wonder, while they develop their respect for self, others, and the environment.“ The majority of their students range in age from three to six years old. The school is a licensed private school and daycare and welcomes students from preschool through fifth grade. They also offer after-school programs including Chess Club and Environmental Club.

The school’s proximity to the Univer-

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food file and alumni. “We are a family-oriented school,” says Joe. “We’ll often have potluck suppers and pool parties together as a community.” Supporting the students as well as their families is a hallmark of the Alex’s school.

Joanne is the school’s education director and head teacher. The Maine Department of Education named her the Maine Teacher of the Year in 1998, and she currently teaches classes at the University of Maine in Orono and the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor.

Joe is the school’s director, a term he uses loosely. “I’m the support person who makes sure the teachers have what they need to do their jobs,” he says. He

handles the business side of their nonprofit school, and started and runs the after-school Chess Club.

The couple’s three children still live in New England, and maintain close connections to each other and their parents. In fact, it was the couple’s youngest daughter who suggested they make the blueberry pie for this article. For over 30 years the Alex family has been vacationing on an island off the coast of Downeast Maine, where they pick wild Maine blueberries that work best in this pie.

The recipe is fairly simple and doesn’t take long from start to finish. The difference between this pie and traditional blueberry pies is that this pie has no top crust.

With any leftover dough, Joanne makes what her family calls “Puppy Dog Tail” pastries, which are strips of dough topped with softened butter and cinnamon sugar that are rolled and sliced into rounds.

Joanne made this pie in late July, when the wild blueberries in Maine weren’t yet ripe. Instead she used storebought blueberries, which are plumper and sweeter than the local variety. While she prefers to use Maine blueberries, the pie with the out-of-state variety was beautiful and delicious. Joe whipped the cream with a little sugar and vanilla extract, and topped each slice with a hefty dollop. It’s easy to see why this recipe is an Alex family favorite.

recipes Pie Crust Makes two 9-inch pie crusts 2 cups sifted flour 1 tsp. salt 2/3 cup shortening 1/4 cup water 1/2 tsp. baking powder Sift dry ingredients together. Add shortening.

Add the water a little at a time so that the dough is not wet but will hold together in a ball. Roll out and fill pie pan. Crimp edges and bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes.

Blueberry Pie Filling 4 cups of blueberries (wild Maine blueberries are best!)

1/4 cup water 3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. salt 1 heaping Tbsp. cornstarch Place 1 cup of blueberries in a saucepan and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on medium heat until the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat and cool a little, then add the remaining 3 cups of blueberries to the pan and stir. Place mixture into the piecrust and let set for a few minutes. Top with whipped cream and enjoy.

Use the leftover dough to make Puppy Dog Tail pastries by rolling out the remaining dough and covering it with soft butter and sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top of it.

Roll up into a log and cut into 1/2 -inch thick sections. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 425 degrees until lightly brown.

60 / Bangor Metro September 2014

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kitchen confidential Where are you from?

I was born in Paris and spent my teenage years in the south of France. While I was working on a small cruise ship in 1988, I met my wife MaryAnn. She was a passenger and I was the sous chef. It was the classic shipboard romance, but then I made one of those life-changing decisions and accepted her invitation to join her on her return to New York City.

We were married in 1989 and moved to Maine in December, 1992.

What is your first food memory?

The farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; market in the south of France. It would come to my town twice a week and take over the town square. I was interested in all the different foods.

The smell of chickens roasting or paella cooked in a giant pan and, of course, all the different cheeses.

What are some of your early cooking experiences?

I started working in restaurants when I was 15. I really enjoyed watching and learning from the chefs.

Any family influences on your style and taste?

I knew that food was in my future at a very young age. My family would visit my grandparentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; house and I would always watch my grandmother cook.

She would cook with such passion and with the freshest ingredients from the market. I think that because of my French heritage and that I am classically trained, this has always been my style. I spent many years in Provence, so I tend to cook with the French country flair, focusing on flavors and creating Provincial cuisine using the freshest ingredients from the local markets.

Youngtown Inn This quaint and cozy Lincolnville inn is home to fantastic French chef Manuel Mercier. story & photos by Melanie Brooks

62 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Where did you study and apprentice?

When I was 18 I received an apprenticeship position at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes. I spent two years working in every section of this large kitchen under the guidance of Chef Bagnasco.

When did you realize you were a chef?

I realized when I was about 16 that I wanted to be a chef. I enjoyed being around food all the time. I had already developed an acute sense of taste and smell and challenged myself to determine the ingredients of a dish before asking for the recipe. I remember the first special dish I

made that the head chef put on the Plate du Jour (special of the day). It was a filet of sole stuffed with crab and lemon dill sauce. It sold out in the first hour of service. That was very rewarding for me.

What do you consider to be your pivotal career move?

Jumping ship to court MaryAnn! And then convincing her to abandon her urban life and take a risk by moving to Maine. I feel so fortunate to be able to have had my own restaurant and inn here for the past 22 years. In 2012, I became a U.S. citizen and am proud to be able to contribute an authentic experience of my native country to an appreciative clientele here.

When did the inn open? How did you come to be the owners?

I was a private chef for a very affluent (and demanding) French family in New York City. That job made me realize that I wanted to own my own restaurant and be my own boss. MaryAnn and I started looking for restaurants for sale through The New York Times. Each weekend, MaryAnn and I scoured the newspaper and set out looking for restaurants for sale. One week we came across a listing from a business broker in Maine. I had never been to Maine, but we hopped in the car and took what seemed to be a very, very long ride. We saw about 10 properties before arriving in the Camden hills area. It was spectacular! The ocean and lakes with mountains all around felt very similar to the south of France, just on a smaller scale. We took the scenic drive down Route 52 past Maiden’s Cliff and there it was—the Youngtown Inn, a federal farmhouse built in 1810. We made an offer that day. That was September, 1991. We moved in on December 5, 1992, with our four-month old son, Matthew.

What do you love about your location?

This is utopia. We are located four-anda-half miles from Camden center, tucked into the Camden Hills. We are far enough off busy Route 1 to enjoy the quiet and country feel, but close enough to the surrounding towns to attract appreciative customers and tourists. It has been a wonderful place to raise our three sons and to build a life, which has allowed us to make a living by sharing our home and our talents. MaryAnn is the innkeeper.

She has a natural skill at making people feel at home and part of the family.

Left: Manuel Mercier. This photo: Chef Mercier’s favorite ingredient to work with is fresh seafood—like these scallops.

What is your favorite ingredient to work with?

I love working with fresh fish. I enjoy getting the whole fish, filleting it, and using all the bones to make stock.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Chez Bruno in Lorges, France. If you love truffles, this is the restaurant for you. Order a simple baked potato with crème fraiche and truffles.

Least favorite job-related task?

Having to do the dishes if our dishwashers (our sons) are not available.

When was the last time you really surprised yourself in the kitchen?

I am not a pastry chef. I try, but measuring is not my thing, and you need to measure in pastry. That’s why I like soufflés so much. They work with a pinch of this and that. Last year I was making truffles and decided I would try using the recipe in a cake. It’s now the best selling dessert on our menu. It’s a chocolate lover’s dream.

What does a perfect day off look like?

Sitting by the fire, drinking a fine brandy, while reading a good book.

What would you want your last meal to be?

Roast chicken with truffles between the breast and skin. Crusty country bread, St. Andre cheese, and a bottle of Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape.

What do you love most about your job?

That guests drive to the “middle of nowhere” to eat my food and stay in our guestrooms. It’s so rewarding to have guests return time and time again and to still have new ones discover us. Our customers really do have to go out of their way to find us, and once they do we make sure that they eat well and truly enjoy their experience.

I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by the most loyal staff I have ever seen in the restaurant business. My wife has worked side-by-side with me, and some of our wait staff has been with us since the day we opened. I love that this is truly a family business.

more info Youngtown inn 581 Youngtown Road, Lincolnville 207-763-4290 Hours: May through October, 7 days a week. Weekends and holidays the rest of the year.

Specialties: French American cuisine

Accolades: Local and national magazines, newspapers, and TripAdvisor.

Sample menu items: Lobster ravioli, rack of lamb, and crème brulee.

Directions: At the corner of Route 52 and Youngtown Road in Lincolnville.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 63

per spectives

Jim Nickelson

64 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Jim Nickelson is a photographer whose work is driven by an intense and abiding interest in science and nature. He works full time as a fine art photographer and custom digital printer and teaches workshops on photography and digital printing both privately and through Maine Media Workshops.

“For my pyrotechnic project, I became interested in how fireworks, as a quintessentially man-made object, mirrored many aspects of the natural world once they were abstracted to their basic forms,” he says. “The incongruity of the noisy, ephemeral, and commonplace fireworks bringing to mind beautiful and delicate forms from nature continues to inspire me in this ongoing project.”

Nickelson’s work resides in corporate, public, and private collections across the United States and Canada. He makes his home in Camden with his amazing wife and daughter. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 65

maine woods & waters

I

Controlling

Urban Deer The Expanded Archery Season is working to keep the Maine white-tailed deer population at a tolerable level.

By Brad Eden

was perched in a ladder stand a couple hundred yards behind a residential home at the beginning of the 2013 Expanded Archery Season. I could hear the buzz of traffic from I-95 to my right and a kids’ soccer game going full tilt in a housing development to my left. With all the noise I figured I wouldn’t be encountering any deer this evening. I was wrong. I glanced to my right and coming down the main deer trail was a small buck.

He paused once at the roar of the soccer crowd and then kept coming. His direction of travel would put him in approximately the same spot where I had arrowed two other deer in past seasons. When he disappeared behind some small trees I came to full draw.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife in affiliation with The Maine Bowhunters Association established the Expanded Archery Season in 1997. This season was in response to growing and problematic deer populations in southern Maine, particularly along the coast and islands. Since then, the zones have expanded to include urban centers from Portland to Bangor. The Expanded Archery Season, not to be confused with the statewide October archery season, runs from mid-September until midDecember. During the expanded season, bowhunters can purchase a buck tag and limitless doe tags.

Unlike in the north woods where the white-tailed deer is struggling, deer thrive in the more moderate temperatures found further south, particularly along the coast. They have become our neighbors, bedding just yards from homes and feasting on landscaped

charge zones and the posting of property against hunting is epidemic. I commend municipalities that have allowed resident bowhunters to manage their deer rather than hiring sharpshooters, who sit in tree stands over bait piles—under the cloak of darkness—armed with rifles equipped with night vision scopes and silencers.

I particularly thank home and property owners for allowing bowhunters onto their property and for understanding the need for game management.

For those folks with a deer problem please understand that bowhunting is a safe and effective solution. A typical bowshot is under 30 yards and more often within 20 yards. Given the nature of the sport, an archer, from an elevated stand, has ample time to confirm what he is shooting at and the shots are taken downward toward the ground. Given the challenge and skills needed to successfully harvest deer with a bow, archers are typically dedicated, experienced, and earnest in their efforts.

As the buck strolled into sight I settled the sight pin just behind his shoulder and touched my release. At the shot, the buck trotted forward and stopped. He turned and looked back at the arrow sticking in the ground, even taking a couple curious yet suspicious steps back towards it. I was as confounded as he was. Before I could nock another arrow he meandered off and I watched him casually pick his way through a pine grove behind me, right towards the soccer game. After inspecting the arrow, and diligently following his path for any sign of a hit, it was obvious that he had been closer than I had anticipated and I had overshot him, never cutting a hair.

My next shot opportunity from this stand came in mid-December with snow

lawns, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables.

Overpopulation leads to deer causing property damage, vehicle collisions, and the spread of Lyme disease. The good news is the Expanded Archery Season has worked to bring down and to keep deer populations at a tolerable level in these areas.

The key to this success has been town and private property owner cooperation. Typically urban areas of the state institute no firearm dis66 / Bangor Metro September 2014

on the ground and freezing temperatures. This time a deer came home with me. The thankful landowner was delivered a bag of steaks, burger, and a roast.

That same landowner contacted me this spring to tell me he had counted upwards of 15 deer on his lawn. It looks like I will be back up in that stand this fall, continuing to do my part for game management.

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

Photo: jcrader/Thinkstock.com

Given the challenge and skills needed to successfully harvest deer with a bow, archers are typically dedicated, experienced, and earnest in their efforts.

savvy seniors

Photo: jupiter images/thinkstock.com

Staying Sharp as We Age Don’t forget to think about your brain to keep your gray matter sharp into your golden years.

By Jane Margesson

M

any of us have had the experience of forgetting where we left our car keys or difficulty recalling someone’s phone number. Sometimes these incidents are simply annoying, and might be due to fatigue or stress. It can be easy to think that as we get older our ability to remember even simple things, such as a phone number, will fall by the wayside. However, there is plenty of research to support the notion that losing one’s brain power does not have to be inevitable. Here are a few simple steps that may yield remarkable results: Stimulate Your Brain: The more you use your brain, the stronger and more agile it will be. Crossword puzzles, reading about new topics, or learning a new skill are great ways to keep your mind sharp.

This also holds true when it comes to social activities. Quality time spent with friends and loved ones can be wonderful for brain health as it often reduces stress and depression.

Learn Something New or Help Others Learn: An inspiring way to stay intellectually active is to take a class or, if

you are an educator at heart, teach one yourself. The Maine Senior College Network offers both opportunities. Network classes are taught by volunteers and each of the 17 participating colleges has its own volunteer leadership. You can either take intellectually stimulating non-credit courses designed for adults 50 and older or, if you prefer, you can propose courses for the Network which you feel would appeal to an older audience. For more information, please call (800) 800-4876 or go to www.maineseniorcollege.org.

Eat a Healthier Diet: Eating a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins provides your brain with the vitamins and amino acids it needs to stay healthy.

Eating a healthy diet also reduces the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health conditions that contribute to cognitive decline.

Try to Stay More Organized: It is hard to stay focused in a cluttered space.

Donate items you don’t need, send junk mail directly to the recycling bin, and file bills and receipts as soon as you are done with them. Many people find it helpful to write appointments on a calendar www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 67

savvy seniors â&#x20AC;&#x153;I helped my dad...

We can help your family!â&#x20AC;? ~Kathy Frodahl, CEO NEHHC

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and maintain a to-do list. You may even sense a boost in confidence as you start to check things off the list!

Find Ways to Give Back: Volunteering offers opportunities to meet new people and learn new skills. However, giving back can also provide a sense of purpose which, in turn, can improve overall mental health. This could be the perfect time for you to get involved in a community project or reach out to a neighbor who could use a helping hand.

For more insights about brain health and staying sharp, take a look at the Dana Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www. dana.org or go to www.aarp.org/health.

There are many resources available that can offer a personalized and stimulating brain workout.

Staying mentally sharp as we age may be a challenge, but hopefully by following a few of these suggestions, we can all keep our brains focused and our memories well intact.

Jane Margesson is the AARP Maine communications director.

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Join us as we celebrate ten years of hosting kitchen tours!

Help us support EMMC Raish Peavey Haskell Children’s Cancer and Treatment Center by touring seven beautiful kitchens in the greater Bangor area. Gather ideas for decorating as you enjoy food, drink, and other fine offerings from vendors present at each home. This is a special year for us and we have planned an extra special tour for you.

VENDORS: Brayer Ridge Soap Oats Any Time The Purple Pear The Whoopie Pie Café Right Bag at ‘Ya Savour Chocolatier Savage & Sons Coffee Tea Maineia PATRON SPONSORS: ANM Properties, LLC Bangor Daily News Bangor Metro Katahdin Trust Libby Brothers

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TENTH ANNUAL KITCHEN TOUR

September 27, 12-4 PM Tickets $25

Available online and at the EMMC Gift Shop, Patrick’s Hallmark, Rebecca’s Gift Shop, Miller Drug (Westgate), Huckleberries, Anthony John’s, and EMHS Cianchette Building in Brewer Proceeds will benefit EMMC Raish Peavey Haskell Children’s Cancer and Treatment Center in Brewer

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Go to bangormetro.com www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 69

last word

What’s an

Education

Worth?

You’d be surprised at how vocabulary and algebra can help you in the real world. By Chris Quimby

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

70 / Bangor Metro September 2014

image: kmlmtz66/thinkstock.com

A

n old friend of mine once stated insultingly, yet accurately, that some people have been educated beyond their own intelligence.

I heard this while in high school and have since been subjected to great gobs of education, including six years of college and various episodes of John Tesh’s Intelligence for Your Life (which should be called Superficial Trivia for When Your Favorite Radio Station is Unavailable).

After all of these years of accumulated knowledge, I do not know if I have been educated beyond my intelligence or whether I still have a ways to go. I’m not really even sure how to determine such a thing.

It would be nice if our brains came with a capacity gauge, like our gas tanks. That way, if we were anticipating an upcoming mentally taxing situation, like a national debate or the decision on what to order for dessert, we could be better prepared.

If we noticed that we were running close to empty, we could stop at a library and pump a few dollars worth of information into our brain holes.

But we’d also need to be aware of the converse, especially those of us with “smaller tanks” who might be running on fumes, only to read the bottom of a Snapple cap and begin to overflow with tiny chunks of information spilling out before us onto the ground below.

Regardless of our various capacities for understanding, education is important. But outside of the benefits of greater employment and increased ability to process the world around us, the main benefit of a solid post-secondary education is something guidance counselors rarely reveal.

Scrabble dominance.

Too often, students sit snoring in lecture halls or drooling into large textbooks and wonder: When are we ever going to use this stuff in life?

Well, Scrabble. That’s when. Remember those big words. They will come in handy when playing your aunt.

For example, I was never able to beat my grandmother, and I don’t think she was educated beyond ninth grade, but she possessed an arsenal of strategically placed two-letter words with which she assaulted me mercilessly. And I am not bitter, because she was an adorable woman.

In addition to big words, I highly recommend math. An acceptable understanding of algebra can be a real money saver. It was only years ago that I determined, using said math discipline, that it was cheaper per unit to split a large pizza with a friend than for each of us to buy smalls.

In my explanation, I may have educated him beyond his intelligence, as he stared back at me like I was doing magic tricks in front of him.

I always had difficulty maintaining an interest in history, though.

Teachers would waste no opportunity to declare that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. With that in mind, I have endeavored to appreciate our past in a way I never have before, honoring such moments as when Lincoln crossed the icy waters of the Delaware River in the early morning of the Magna Carta in order to wrest control of the Ring of Power from the Ewoks.

So whatever your capacity for knowledge is, I encourage you to respect it by utilizing it wisely. Either that or rent out the additional space to those who could clearly use it.

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The Next Generation

Josh Cote, Levant, Firefighter/EMT for Levant Fire and Rescue, Levant. By David Brown

72 / Bangor Metro September 2014

M

y inspiration for becoming a firefighter is an interesting story. A few years back a neighbor’s house burnt down. At a benefit dinner for the family I was approached by a member of the Levant Fire and Rescue officer team and asked if I had any interest in becoming a firefighter. I didn’t want to do it at first, but didn’t have the heart to say no. I was really unsure of myself and didn’t think I would be any good in public safety. I quickly grew to love the field and have been working in it for almost three years.

One of my greatest experiences was when I won a gold metal award at the SkillsUSA Championships this year. This event showcases the best career and technical students in the country. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. The philosophy behind the competition is to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance, and to keep training relevant to employers’ needs.

This year I competed in First Aid/CPR. I competed in five scenarios involving CPR or first aid skills and I won gold in the postsecondary division of my competition. I was psyched. I had trained hard, and without the support from everyone at Levant Fire and Rescue, I couldn’t have done it.

What keeps me doing what I do? Love and ego. For me, the crew at the station is my family. The people I work with are amazing, and I care a lot about them. At the end of the day, I just want to do something that matters, and to do a good job at it.

A hero, to me, is someone who fights injustices. Heroes are people like those of our armed forces or civil rights leaders.

I’m not a hero. I’m just some guy who is foolish enough to play with fire and help people out.

Public safety needs people. We need people to write grants, drive trucks, understand and deal with politics, cook, do mechanical work, create a new technology for the future, manage files, and train personnel, to name a few. Simply put, we need people. Especially young people.

Being a part of SkillsUSA and seeing thousands of young people performing career trades and doing them well was awesome. It drives me crazy when I hear people say that this generation is afraid to work or is lazy. I think my generation is ready to take on the economy and give it the jump-start we so badly need.

Photo: david brown/northstar photography

unsung hero

New! A Special Section Featuring Northern Maine Introducing our new bi-monthly feature section focusing on life in Aroostook County

Photo: Ingram Publishing/thinkstock.com

Asian Influence Presque Isle High School seeks to expand diversity by hosting foreign exchange students from China.

By Carol Higgins Taylor

C

hildren across the country are all too familiar with the phrase “Back to School” but for six high school students from China, the popular fall adage has special meaning.

As part of the growing Chinese Initiative at Presque Isle High School, the six teenagers, mostly juniors and seniors, will study and live alongside local students. School officials hope that diversity will be increased and that the students will absorb each other’s culture.

While not the first time Presque Isle High School has welcomed international

students, it is the first time the school will host several at once.

“Last year, we had one student and people were intrigued,” says Presque Isle High School principal Ben Greenlaw. “But it was one student out of 550 at the high school. The students are excited about six more students being here. And the great thing about high school kids is that they are so adaptable and very willing to get to know other people. I’m sure the experience will have a positive impact on the community and school culture.”

Bringing Chinese students to Presque Isle does a couple of things for the community. First, the program brings diversity to one of the least diverse schools in one of the least diverse states in the country. Secondly, fiscally, the Chinese Initiative is a benefit to the community and the school district.

There was no financial outlay of funds for the program, but because the students will be paying tuition to attend Presque Isle High School, there will be a net profit of $55,000.

The biggest adjustment for these Chinese students is the language barrier, Greenlaw says. The school has put supports in place to help them be successful.

A tutor traveled with the students from Beijing and will help them throughout the year to improve their English language skills. The tutor will also be teaching Mandarin to students at the Presque Isle High School.

“You’d be amazed by the student we had last year,” Greenlaw says. “He had good language skills, but by the end of the year he could converse very well and that speaks to the emersion aspect of the program.”

The international students will begin classes August 20. They will be living with host families in Presque Isle for the year.

For Greenlaw, it’s all about the experience. “The chance to learn from someone who lives in a completely different culture than you do is rare,” he says. “The students will be sharing experiences and that benefits not only them but the community as a whole.” www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 73

1 Viking Run

September Events

Kids’ running races of different distance according to age group. Registration begins at 8 am at Caribou High School. Race begins at 9 am.

764-6561 • www.centralaroostookchamber.com

1 Labor Day Road Race

The 5K walk starts at 10:30 am at the Caribou High School Ski Building. 8K run starts at 11 am.

764-6561 • www.centralaroostookchamber.com

7 Redy…Set…Let’s Go! Youth Triathlon

12 Fairmount Cemetery Walking Tour

The one-hour walking tour of Fairmont Cemetery offers a glimpse of Presque Isle’s history.

5:30 pm. $5.

762-6333 • www.pihistory.org

13 Molly the Trolley Citywide Tour

Enjoy this 3-hour citywide tour of Presque Isle on Molly the Trolley. The tour will begin at the historic fire station. 9 am. $5.

762-6300 • www.pihistory.org

13 Mars Hill Mountain Challenge

Registration closes on September 8 for this 5K Obstacle Course at Big Rock Mountain. Big Rock Bash After Party from 4–7 pm.

764-6561 • centralaroostookchamber.com

13 Strut Your Mutt

Celebrate your pooch with this annual event at Hollywood Pet Salon, Houlton. Pre-registration at 9 am. Walk at 10 am.

532-7387 • www.greaterhoulton.com

20 Annual Riverfront Harvest Festival

This Houlton event features a 5K race, a community market, Maine crafters, BBQ, ATV parade, and much more. You won’t want to miss it.

532-4216 • www.greaterhoulton.com

26 & 27 O.P. Pierson Days

Celebrates Olof Powers Pierson, Caribou native and inventor of the frozen French fry. There will be an antique car show and fireworks.

498-6156 • www.cariboumaine.org

27 Guided Walking Tour of presque isle

Begin at the Vera Estey House Museum and embark on a guided walking tour of historic downtown Presque Isle. 10 am. $2.

762-6300 • www.pihistory.org

74 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Social Media Connects Aroostook County High school and college students can now “friend” and “follow” potential employers on social media.

by Jon Gulliver

A

n ambitious project that includes a social media campaign using Facebook and Twitter, a job-posting website, and workforce development efforts is underway in Aroostook County. The goal is to help grow the population of 18 to 44 year olds in the region.

Opportunities Aroostook grew out of the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) Education to Industry initiative, which works to connect high school and college students with emerging jobs in The County. Even if the region retained every current student, projections indicate there still would not be a large enough workforce to meet the workforce needs in Aroostook County.

“Our goal is to work with our business community to raise the necessary funds to create a state-of-the-art presence on the web that will entice job seekers,” says Ryan Pelletier, the executive director of LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development. “We also want employers to post resumes, job announcements, etc., and for the site to be a resource that guides people back home to the area.”

The Opportunities Aroostook social media sites highlight jobs, events, quality of life, and other reasons to locate or

Image: Rach27/Thinkstock.com

At the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Gentile Hall. The triathlon is perfect for all between the ages of 7 and 14. 1–5 pm. $20.

764-6561 • www.centralaroostookchamber.com

Encouraging the balanced development of Aroostook County.

Cary Medical Center’s Oncology Rehab Program is the first of its kind in northern Maine, and the only Oncology Rehab Program in Aroostook County.

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For more information, please contact us at:

Allan Espinosa, MD Hematologist/Oncologist

PO Box 779 11 West Presque Isle Road Nadia Rajack, MD Caribou, ME 04736

For more information please Northern call 498-1618.

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www.nmdc.org 207-498-8736 rclark@nmdc.org

www.leadaroostook.com 207-498-8736 rpelletier@nmdc.org

Development Commission

return to Aroostook County. “We hope to engage alumni associations, local media, and others to spread the reach of the social media efforts,” says Pelletier.

Once engagement increases on the social media sites, a more formal jobs website, created by Northern Maine Media in Houlton, will go online.

“I think if this is done correctly, and is used by the business community, it will have tremendous potential for getting the word out and attracting folks back here,” says APP president Bob Dorsey.

“The social media component will help keep the younger generation informed of what the opportunities are.”

Pelletier said this effort is still in its initial stages and fundraising has just started, but early indications are the business community is willing to support Opportunities Aroostook.

Initial donors include Pines Health Services, MMG Insurance, Katahdin Trust Company, and The Aroostook Medical Center.

“I think many County businesses are starting to realize finding quality employees will be a challenge in the future,” Pelletier says.

For more information, check out the Opportunities Aroostook Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Opportunities Aroostook.

www.appme.org 207-493-5769 rdorsey@nmdc.org

Cary is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 75

A Vital Study County patients take part in a study that has nationwide significance. By Jason Parent

TAMC Urology Offers New GreenLight™ Laser Therapy New technology helps northern Maine patients get treatment right in their home community.

By Jason Parent

76 / Bangor Metro September 2014

I

t may sound like something from a science fiction or superhero movie, but a new, state-of-the-art green light laser treatment at The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) is setting a new standard of care for urology patients in northern Maine.

“GreenLight Laser is a way of treating benign prostate hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, that affects a lot of older

men,” explained Dr. Gary Wikert, who, along with Robert Hunt, PA-C, are the current full-time providers in the TAMC Urology practice.

An enlarged prostate presses on the urethra, and the pressure can obstruct the flow of urine. This obstruction can cause problems such as frequent urination, especially at night; weak urine flow; sudden urge to urinate; trouble starting

PHoto: Comstock/Thinkstock.com

R

esidents in Aroostook County who suffer from a rheumatic disease such as arthritis, gout, osteoporosis or hundreds of other conditions may now have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their friends or neighbors who may suffer from similar disorders in the future.

John Assini, MD, a rheumatologist who works through TAMC’s Outpatient Specialty Clinics, is collecting data to help study people with, and treatments for, rheumatic conditions. Dr. Assini has asked patients at the Rheumatology Clinic to volunteer to take part in this vital study.

“You may not be helping yourself, but you may be helping your neighbor in the future,” he explained.

The purpose of the study is to collect data into a national databank for rheumatic diseases. The data will provide a basis for studying treatments, safety of treatments, and outcomes of treatments

for patients suffering with a rheumatoid disease on a nationwide scale.

In addition to the national importance of the study, there are local implications as well.

“Looking at a rural, relatively isolated population, it can help show if there are any differences in what types of patients we see and what types of treatments they’re receiving and make sure these people are getting the same main stream treatment as the rest of the country,” said Dr. Assini.

The ongoing study will continue indefinitely for as long as it continues to generate good, useable information, according to Dr. Assini.

Dr. Assini received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his MD from Albany Medical Center College.

“You may not be helping yourself, but you may be helping your neighbor in the future.”—John Assini, MD After completing his internal medicine training at Albany Medical Center Hospital, he completed his Rheumatology Fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. He is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He has operated his own private practice in Schenectady, New York for more than 30 years and has provided monthly services at TAMC’s Rheumatology Clinic since 2012.

and stopping the urine stream; inability to completely empty the bladder; pushing or straining to urinate; and pain or burning during urination.

Previously, treatment for the condition was more complicated, requiring anesthesia and an overnight stay. It involved re-sectioning of the transurethral tissue, and there was a greater chance for complications such as excessive bleeding.

“I use a GreenLight Laser, which vaporizes tissue. So with the transurethral section, we remove tissue a chip at a time,” Wikert says. “With this, we vapor-

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Hours: Sun–Fri 11–8, Sat 11–11 ize the channel, and it creates a bigger channel for the patient to void through.”

Over 400 patients visit TAMC Urology Services in a given month. Staff members treat a variety of conditions and illnesses, including kidney stones, incontinence, urinary frequency, elevated PSA blood levels, testicular abnormalities, and erectile dysfunction.

New treatment options, such as the GreenLight Laser therapy, will help better serve those patients who previously would have had to travel nearly three hours for access to similar technology and care. www.bangormetro.com Bangor Metro / 77

Chamber Connection

Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce 207-764-6561 visitaroostook.com

Caribou Chamber of Commerce 207-498-6156 cariboumaine.net

Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce 207-472-3802 fortcc.org

Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce 207-316-3498

fortkentchamber.com

Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce 207-532-4216

greaterhoulton.com

limestonechamber.org

Madawaska Chamber of Commerce 207-728-7000

greatermadawaska chamber.com

Van Buren Chamber of Commerce 207-868-5059

vanburenchamber.org

78 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Food Co-ops Grow in Aroostook County Aroostook County diversifies ways to feed residents in need while supporting local farmers. by Jon Gulliver

T

wo groups on opposite ends of Aroostook County have started food co-ops with the help of Northern Maine Development Commission’s (NMDC) resources.

NMDC submitted a $100,000 grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market Promotion Program to strengthen local farm connections through local food co-ops in northern Maine. The grant funds have not been awarded yet, but everyone involved remains hopeful that their proposal will be funded.

In 2013, the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) identified diversified agriculture as an area of potential growth

PHoto: Martin Poole/Thinkstock.com

Limestone Chamber of Commerce 207-325-4704

during the Mobilize Northern Maine asset-based planning process. Through the initial work of the group, it became clear marketing help would benefit all small farming operations.

Diversified agriculture is the practice of producing a variety of crops or animals on one farm, as distinguished from specializing in a single commodity. In the context of Aroostook County, it is developing alternatives to potatoes, niche crops, and utilizing available land to grow the farming economy of the region.

The grant application is a result of work being done by the APP Diversified Agriculture working group.

In partnership with the County Coop & Farm Store in Houlton and the Market Street Co-op in Fort Kent, NMDC proposes to encourage and promote direct marketing of agricultural commodities to local consumers.

“Each of the co-ops has recently been incorporated and are in need of financial and technical assistance in local farm connection and coordination, marketing and promotion, guidance in cooperative operations, board development, and initial or upgraded equipment,” says Mike Eisensmith, NMDC director of regional planning. “These food co-ops were formed to meet the needs of the local food system economy to address food insecurity and poor nutrition.

The goal of the project is to strengthen local farmers’ access to market opportunities through better connections with food co-ops that are serving residents living in areas of concentrated poverty, he added.

“Food co-op and food hub efforts are growing all across Maine and our two in the County are a great start that will hopefully lead to more demand for produce and products from local small farmers as well as encourage others to come to the County and conduct profitable farming operations,” says APP president Bob Dorsey.

Diversified agriculture has significant potential, says Eisensmith. “At the same time, it is not going to create 300 jobs all at once. This effort is about building momentum and impact—a few jobs at a time and recognizing that the opportunity and land resources are present and offer real potential to grow the local economy.”

For more information on the effort, contact Michael Eisensmith at 498-8736 or by email at meisensmith@nmdc.org.

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Food Survey Yields

F

Fresh Results

reshness is the biggest factor that influences Mainers when they choose which foods to buy, according to the recently released Maine Food Strategy Consumer Survey, which details the food-purchasing habits of nearly 600 Mainers. Other major factors were flavor, nutrition, and cost.

The Maine Food Strategy’s overarching goal is to create an action plan that will strengthen Maine’s farming, fishing, and food economy while supporting Maine residents’ ability to access healthy food.

Maine Food Strategy co-director Tanya Swain presented the findings in Caribou to the Aroostook Partnership for Progress Diversified Agriculture working group, industry leaders, and others, and discussed how to apply the survey results. “Agriculture is economic devel-

80 / Bangor Metro September 2014

Freshness tops the survey list on what makes food desirable to Mainers. by Jon Gulliver

opment. People want these products,” Swain says, referring to locally produced food. She indicated that for most of the respondents, local meant Maine.

“Eighty percent prefer local when given a choice,” Swain says. Survey topics included: where Mainers purchase their food; barriers to buying more locally produced food and seafood; possible confusion about food labeling; and numbers of households involved in hunting, gathering, fishing, or gardening to meet some of their food needs.

Elizabeth Sprague, business development manager for Maine Farmland Trust, was one of more than 20 people who attended the briefing. “There are a great many threads to follow in this survey,” she says. “But what we really need in order to improve the economics for local farmers is more value-added processing.”

Swain added that the purpose of the

survey was to determine if Maine consumers want local food. The numbers say yes, but there will be some hurdles to overcome. Seventy percent of respondents said that cost is a factor and the majority who attended the meeting agreed with present policies geared toward the large-scale agriculture, marketing, and distribution challenges making local food more expensive.

“Scale up or get out seems to be the message right now and how do you change it,” says Bangor’s mayor Ben Sprague, who attended the meeting on behalf of the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board.

Other notable findings from the report included: 80% of the consumers purchase their food from chain grocery stores, 27% spend $51 to $100 a month on locally grown or produced food, and 24% do not buy Maine food due to a lack of access.

Brent Folster, Tony Crews and Steve Thomas

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