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PDEN • HOULTON • NEWPORT • DOVER-FOXCROFT • ROCKLAND • FORT KENT • BAR HARBOR • MILLINOCKET • BREWER • PRESQUE ISLE • FRANKFO

EV SPE CE EN CI LE TS AL BR F AT ROM FEA IN T TU G R 6 L HE OC CR ES AL OW INS EN N O ID E TR F EP MA !

RE I NE NE UR S

Women in Business 5 Women Leading Popular Local Companies

Kitchen Confidential:

Bear Brew Pub Savvy Seniors 10 Ways to Save This Winter

Eye on Industry Camden Toboggan Company

Inside:

Then & Now: Milo Making a Winter Salad with Brewer’s Nicole Gogan Feeling Better in 7 Days

$5.95

January/February 2015

Trip of a

Lifetime Maine Veterans Visit Washington, D.C. Memorials Through Honor Flight Program

Your people, your region, your magazine.

a o

Regional Hospital Together, We're Better.

Welcome

Dr. Veronica Simmonds OB/GYN, Board Certified

NOW

SCHEDULING (207) 564-4470

Now scheduling patients at :

Mayo Women's Health

To schedule an appointment or to learn more, please contact us:

www.MayoHospital.com I (207) 564-4470 Suite 500, 891 W Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft, ME

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

contents

features BELIEVING IN HERSELF / 12 St. Joseph Hospital Medical Staff President Cynthia A. Self, MD. CAMDEN TOBOGGAN COMPANY / 14 These hand-crafted toboggans are perfect for racing and family fun.

MOVING BEYOND A PAINFUL PAST / 16 Unconventional therapy helps trauma victims by confronting memories.

TRIP OF A LIFETIME / 20 Maine veterans travel to Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials.

28

THEN & NOW: MILO / 36 Friendly Milo is welcoming visitors to see what makes this little town so special.

WINTER SALAD / 50 Brewer’s Nicole Gogan shares her recipe for a hearty winter salad.

BEAR BREW PUB / 54 Eugene “Buddy” Syphers III serves up brick oven pizza in Orono.

20 2 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

PHOTOS: (TOP) BDN FILE PHOTO/JOHN CLARKE RUSS; (BOTTOM) KRISTINA DAY OSGOOD

WOMEN IN BUSINESS / 28 A look at five local women leading popular businesses in our area.

PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) COURTESY OF CAMDEN TOBOGGAN COMPANY; MELANIE BROOKS; RICHARD SHAW; MELANIE BROOKS

50

14

36

in every issue

columns

TALK OF THE TOWNS / 8 News from Bar Harbor to Orono.

METRO WELLNESS / 19 Take the Clean Food Challenge.

BIZ BUZZ & SIGHTINGS / 10 People and places on the move.

MAINE WOODS & WATERS / 63 A look at local winter camps.

UNSUNG HERO / 15 Corinna couple dedicated to animal rescue.

LAST WORD / 64 New Year’s resolutions to consider.

METRO SPORTS / 42 Champion runner Sully Jackson.

WHAT’S HAPPENING / 44 Wonderful winter happenings.

PERSPECTIVES / 56 The whimsical art of Kimber Lee Clark.

SAVVY SENIORS / 58 Top 10 tips for cutting energy costs.

54

SPECIAL SECTION / 65 CROWN OF MAINE Special bi-monthly feature section focused on The County.

SPECIAL SECTION / 73 2014 ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS Celebrating six local entrepreneurs making great strides in our area.

REAL ESTATE / 60 Coastal home for sale in Winter Harbor. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

editor’s note

W

elcome to 2015!

It’s hard to imagine that another year is gone. I know I say this every year, but time really does fly by—especially with a 2-year-old keeping me on my toes. Working on a monthly magazine skews time, too. Here it is, not even Thanksgiving, and I’m writing the editor’s note for the January/February issue!

As many of you know, the Bangor Daily News has purchased Bangor Metro, and this will be my last editor’s note. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these letters, as it’s the only time I’m writing something for publication where I don’t need to interview anyone or check facts. I am so focused on the work of a journalist that this is the only time that I sit down with my laptop without notes. I will miss it.

This magazine has changed dramatically since I joined the team five years ago, and I look forward to watching it grow and change under new ownership. I’m happy that there will be a new team helping Bangor Metro live on, because it is such a wonderfully positive publication that our area of Maine so desperately needs.

I’ve been fortunate to have had many incredible experiences at Bangor Metro that I won’t ever forget. I’ve interviewed Senator Susan Collins, Andy Santerre, and Don McLean in their homes. I’ve had the pleasure of watching how the American Loggers TV show was made, taken a ride on The Katahdin, and met some of the most interesting people from Rockland to Fort Kent. It’s been a great five years—thank you for making Bangor Metro a part of your life, too.

The Bangor Metro Region

4 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

PHOTO: KATE CRABTREE

MELANIE BROOKS, EDITOR

www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000

MANAGING EDITOR

Aimee Thibodeau athibodeau@bangordailynews.com

EDITOR

Melanie Brooks melanie@bangormetro.com

SALES MANAGER

Laurie Cates lcates@bangordailynews.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Stacy Jenkins sjenkins@bangordailynews.com

ART DIRECTOR

STAFF PHOTOS: JUSTIN RUSSELL & MELANIE BROOKS

Amy Allen

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

6 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Bringing Power to the People of Maine for Generations

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bob Duchesne

Jane Margesson

Joy Hollowell

Henry Garfield

Deb Neuman

“Growing up, I remember my dad responding to outages in the middle of the night. He was a real hero to me.

Now I get to work alongside my father.

That’s a pretty good feeling.”

Richard Shaw

Luke Ireland Bringing Power to Maine Since 2007

Emilie Brand Throckmorton

Chris Quimby

www.emeramaine.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ARTISTS Bangor_Metro_Energy_Issue_Nov_2014.indd 1

Dave Brown

Kimber Lee Clark

10/10/2014 4:41:01 PM

Justin Russell

Bangor Metro Magazine. January/February 2015, Vol. 11, No. 1.

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

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

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

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

Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged.

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

Editorial: Queries should be sent to Aimee Thibodeau at athibodeau@bangordailynews.com.

Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Director of Sales, Laurie Cates at 207-990-8149.

Subscriptions/Address Change: A one year subscription cost is $19.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date.

Please contact Pat Lemieux at 207-990-8219.

Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Laurie Cates at 207-990-8149.

COVER PHOTO: Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT/ BDN File Photo

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

A Whale

of a Database

8 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

BAR HARBOR: Allied Whale, the marine mammal research organization at College of the Atlantic, has reached a huge milestone. They recently entered an image of the 8,000th individual humpback whale into their photographic database. The database is part of a program that uses photos of whales’ natural markings and patterns to identify and track their behavior and migratory patterns.

The program was started by College of the Atlantic faculty and students in 1977. A slim volume was created and contained black and white photos of 120 humpback whales collected by researchers from around the north Atlantic.

“While this has grown to be come one of the most commonly used techniques for studying whales today, it was a revolution in whale research at the time,” says Peter Stevick, senior scientist at Allied Whale. The addition of the 8,000th

individual whale into the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog (NAHWC), “would have seemed inconceivable to that first group who got the catalog started,” Stevick says.

About 700 groups have contributed their photos and data to the NAHWC, and hundreds of COA staff, students, and volunteers have kept the effort going over the years. “While changing technologies have transformed much of how the project is done, the Herculean task of comparing whales to the collection takes hundreds of hours of patient and careful comparison,” Stevick says.

The 8,000th whale has been photographed twice—both times a long way from Maine. In April 2010, it was photographed swimming off the coast of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. In November 2013, it was photographed off the coast of Norway in the Arctic.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALLIED WHALE

talk of the towns

Memorial to a

Conservationist ORONO: Conservationist Sally Jacobs was honored with a new granite sculpture, created by Steuben artist Ray Carbone, for her work on conservation and trail projects through the region. Jacobs, who passed away in November 2012 after battling cancer, was instrumental in founding the Orono Land Trust and the Downeast Sunrise Trail.

Alix Hopkins, who had worked with Jacobs over the years, spearheaded the fundraising for the sculpture. Forty donors contributed a total of $15,000 for the sculpture and installation into Brownie’s Park, which overlooks the Stillwater River off Bennoch Road.

Jacobs was the founding president of the Orono Land Trust, which oversees 1,000 acres of land in Orono, Old Town, and Veazie. As the founding president of the Sunrise Trail Coalition, Jacobs helped create the Downeast Sunrise Trail, which runs from Ellsworth to Calais.

“Sally was the most remarkable woman ever!” says Sue Owen, who worked with Jacobs on the Orono Land Trust. “She just had to save the world—she worked all the time. She wasn’t only active in the Orono area, she was also active on several statewide boards.”

Along with the new monument in Brownie’s Park, a marble seat was placed in her honor along the Downeast Sunrise Trail in Machias, and the Orono Land Trust erected a marble plaque in her memory on their property in Orono.

PHOTOS: (TOP) MELANIE BROOKS; (BOTTOM) RUTH CLARK

Little Free Library BANGOR: Todd Bol of Wisconsin started the Little Free Library (LFL) program in 2009.

He built a replica of a one-room schoolhouse, as a tribute to his schoolteacher mother, filled it with books, and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors loved it and he built several more for friends.

By January 2014, the number of registered Little Free Libraries across the world numbered 15,000—and four of those are right here in the Bangor area. You can find a little schoolhouse filled with books on Cottage Street, Elm Street, Pine Street, and outside of Central Street Farmhouse in downtown Bangor.

The mission of the Little Free Library is simple—promote literacy and the love of

reading by building free book exchanges.

“I heard a story on NPR about the Little Free Library, and thought it was a great idea to share books I’ve finished and start conversations with our neighbors,” says Ruth Clark, owner of the LFL on Pine Street. “I’m pretty social, and I love to read and talk about what I’m reading, so having a LFL seemed like something we should have.” Clark’s husband’s uncle built their LFL almost completely out of items he found from his local transfer station.

“The reaction has been great!” Clark says. “Whenever I look inside, there are always new books and old favorites taken.

I’m so glad we built it!” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

biz buzz & sightings On the Move ISIDORE OKERE, MD has

joined the team at EMMC Northeast Cardiology Associates. He completed his fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of Iowa Hospitals and his interventional cardiology and advanced interventional cardiology fellowships at the University Hospitals/Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. www.emmc.org ARDELLE C. BIGOS, RN, MSN, CMSRN has been

appointed chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth. She was most recently the chief nursing officer and chief experience officer at Newton Medical Center in Newton, New Jersey. www.mcmhospital.org RICHARD (RICK) MATLZ

joined Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as EVP/chief risk officer. He brings more than 30 years of experience in banking to his new position, spending 15 of those years at Bangor Savings Bank in a variety of executive positions. www.bhbt.com JODY LANDRITH has been

named assistant vice president, branch manager for the Camden branch of Camden National Bank.

Landrith, who has been with the organization since 2004, has 11 years of banking experience and 18 years of customer service and sales experience. Prior to this position, she served as assistant vice president, corporate and government sales officer. www.camdennational.com Pen Bay Healthcare welcomed two certified nurse midwives to their OB/ GYN program. EVE K. HADLEY, CNM and ERIN L. MONBERG, CNM joined the Pen Bay Women’s Health department on November 1. www.penbayhealthcare.org

10 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

PHYLLIS YOUNG joined Woodlawn

Museum in Ellsworth as their marketing and development coordinator. Previously, Young worked as the associate director of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce. www.woodlawnmuseum.com Jones, Kuriloff & Sargent, LLC of Ellsworth, recently welcomed NICOLAS T. CARTER, ESQ. to the firm. Carter most recently worked for the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General and has previous law experience in southern Maine. www.joneskuriloffsargentlaw.com RON WEATHERBEE is the new town

manager of Lincoln. Previously he worked for the town as the cemetery, parks, and recreation director. He has been the town’s interim town manager since July. www.lincolnmaine.org

Awards The town of VAN BUREN has been designated Certified Business-Friendly by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The town was awarded a certificate of achievement, two Maine DOT road signs, and becomes a key part of Maine’s business attraction strategy. www.vanburenmaine.com

supporting events such as Maine Startup and Create Week and the BigGig Pitch contest. www.eatonpeabody.com Ellsworth’s CADILLAC MOUNTAIN SPORTS has been selected by Outdoor USA Magazine as one of the Top 100 Retailers in the nation. The publication chooses their list based on nominations provided by leading industry brands and distributors. www.cadillacsports.com The New England Newspaper & Press Association named THE ELLSWORTH AMERICAN the Newspaper of the Year among large-circulation, weekly newspapers in New England. The MOUNT DESERT ISLANDER was named a Distinguished Newspaper in the small-circulation category. www.ellsworthamerican.com www.mdislander.com CHRISTOPHER FOGG, executive

director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, was named Chamber Executive of the Year by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Each year, the Maine State Chamber recognizes a local chamber of commerce executive’s hard work and dedication. Fogg has been the executive director at the chamber in Bar Harbor since 2006. www.barharborinfo.com

JASON BROOKS of Brooksy Inc. in

Bangor was named a FedEx Ground Entrepreneur of the Year. His company provides transportation services and has 15 employees operating 13 vehicles.

This distinction recognizes small business owners for growth, development, customer service, safety record, community involvement, and business ethics. www.fedex.com

The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce has announced their 2014 award winners. JOHN SIMPSON was honored with the Norbert X. Dowd Award; R.H. FOSTER was named Business of the Year; Bangor Mayor BEN SPRAGUE and Brewer Mayor JERRY GOSS were given the Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Service; MARK WOODWARD received the Jane Irving Community Service Award;

EATON PEABODY was recently

THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE INNOVATION CENTER was named Nonprofit of the Year; DENNIS MARBLE

recognized with the Leaders for Growth Award from Blackstone Accelerates Growth. The law firm was honored for its leadership in supporting the creation of the Bangor Angel Fund, an organization that invests in and mentors innovators and startups, as well as their involvement in

was honored with the Arthur Comstock Professional Service Award; and the Bion and Dorain Foster Entrepreneurship Award was given to C&L AVIATION GROUP of Bangor. www.bangorregion.com

1 Two Quarry Hill employees have been honored by the Maine Health Care Association with the organization’s 2014 Celebrating Excellence in Caregiving Awards. SHANNON BLACK is a service representative for Quarry Hill’s assisted living and nursing care centers. LINDA MESERVY, CNA provides bedside care for residents of the Gardens, Quarry Hill’s nursing care community.

Excellence awards are given annually to long-term care employees who exemplify commendable levels of caregiving, dedication, and professionalism in caring for elderly and disabled citizens in Maine nursing homes and assisted living centers. www.penbayhealthcare.org Four Rudman Winchell attorneys have been selected as Best Lawyers in America by U.S. News–Best Lawyers.

PAUL W. CHAIKEN, DAVID C. KING, FRANK T. MCGUIRE , and EDMOND J. BEAROR have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2015 list. www.rudmanwinchell.com The law firm of EATON PEABODY achieved top tier rankings in the 2015 Best Law Firms list from U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers. The Bangor firm was recognized for trust and estates law and land use and zoning law. www.eatonpeabody.com EASTERN MAINE MEDICAL CENTER has

1: Pat Lemieux, Jeanne Luetjen, Kelly Anne Donnelly, Garrett Wilkin, and Erin Rhoda at the third annual Bangor Walks to End Abuse put on by Spruce Run. 2 & 3: (Left) Ally and Paul Monyok and (right) Susan Carliles and Lee Souweine attend the Maine Discovery Museum’s 12th annual gala dinner-auction at the Bangor Hilton Garden Inn. 4: Joanne Fortin (far right) from Northern Maine Medical Center drops off a donation for the Pitch in for the Paws project with Laura Nickerson Williams and Jean Cobb from the PAWS Animal Welfare Society in Fort Kent.

2

3

received an “A” in patient safety measures from the Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization that awards hospitals that perform well in quality measures. This is the sixth consecutive time EMMC has been top ranked. www.emmc.org

PHOTOS: (1, 2, & 3) JEFF KIRLIN

Grants The JACKSON LABORATORY has received a gift from David Roux and his wife, Barbara, totaling $5 million. The funds will support research into finding cures for genetically based diseases. The Roux’s gift will trigger a matching gift in their honor by Jackson Laboratory for a total of $10 million. www.jax.org

4 www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

movers & shakers

S

Believing in

Herself

Cynthia A. Self, MD is the first female medical staff president at St. Joseph Hospital. BY JOY HOLLOWELL

oon after graduating from college in 1990, Dr. Cynthia Self landed her dream job in Atlanta, Georgia as an information systems consultant. “I did a lot of software design and development for a consulting firm that specialized in consumer products,” she explains. “It appealed to the technical side of me and I really thought I’d love it.”

But just six months in, Self knew she’d made a mistake. “There was no human interaction and I didn’t feel my work was helping the world in any way,” she says.

A year later, Self gave her notice and embarked on a vision quest. “I sort of made a project of what it was that I wanted to do that would cause purpose in my life,” says Self. “And I really intensely worked on that for a few months. Everything pointed to health care.”

Soon, Self was back in school. “I explored the different surgical sub-specialties and just fell in love with ophthalmology,” she says.

Learning how to use the latest gadgets and lasers fulfilled her techy side, she says. But being able to help people see was the higher calling she was searching for.

“I tell you, I’ve never been as happy as when I made that decision,” Self says.

A close second on the happiness scale would be in 2005. Self, who had been working at Boston University, received a call from Eastern Maine Eye Associates in Bangor to join their practice as a partner.

She’d been waiting five years to come to

children, Darby, 10 and Owen, 9. “I tell my kids that it’s important to take care of people, not just in my job but on a larger scale,” she says.

Part of that includes Self’s work for the Maine Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. She’s their councilor to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, “which basically means I represent the state of Maine to a national organization,” Self explains.

Her role includes a lot of advocacy work on behalf of patients. “Every year we go to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and advocate for patients with the senators and congressmen,” she says.

In January, Self took office as the first female elected president of the medical staff at St. Joseph Hospital. Prior to that, she was vice president. More than 200 area physicians make up the staff at the Bangor hospital. The presidential term is two years but Self will actually serve three after the previous president had to leave his position early.

“It’s basically a volunteer position,” she explains. “We have duties such as committee work and different meetings.”

“We’re thrilled to have Dr. Self as our new medical staff president,” said Mary Prybylo, president and CEO of St. Joseph Healthcare. “St. Joseph has a long history of female leadership going back to our founding under the Felician Sisters.”

Self admits she was surprised to learn about the history-making title. “I really consider it an honor to be the first female

Maine. “I found myself coming up to visit Maine all the time,” she says. Self had first visited Maine in the summer of 2000 to participate in an ophthalmology course.

“It was then that I fell in love with Maine,” she says. She also visited in the winter, “just to make sure I knew what I was getting into,” she adds with a laugh.

Self replaced another ophthalmologist who was retiring from the practice.

“My two partners, Jeff Jordan, MD and Garth Wilbanks, MD, are just wonderful people to work with and it’s a really special practice,” she says.

Self sets her sights high when it comes to being a role model for her 12 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

even though I don’t think it’s anything spectacular because they’re very prowomen [at St. Joseph].”

A board-certified ophthalmologist, Self specializes in the cornea. “The cornea is the clear watch glass on the front part of the eye,” she explains. “We treat diseases of the cornea, and do corneal surgeries including corneal transplants. I really love the cornea aspect of my job,” she says.

Self considers herself blessed to be where she is. “The best part of my job is getting to meet and take care of so many people,” she says. “It’s nice that they trust their eyesight to me. I love what I do. It’s not just a job, it’s really who I am.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ST. JOSEPH HEALTHCARE

“I sort of made a project of what it was that I wanted to do that

would cause purpose in my life. And I really intensely worked

on that for a few months. Everything pointed to health care.”

Each month we showcase one of the business practices of our partners.

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eye on industry

Camden Toboggan Company Toboggan fans nationwide descend upon Camden each February for the U.S. National Toboggan Championships.

And lucky sledders have a beautiful toboggan for the race that was hand-crafted locally. BY DEB NEUMAN

W

inter is here and that means kids and adults will be dragging sleds, cafeteria trays, and cardboard boxes to snow-covered hills throughout Maine.

Some will be riding a toboggan made by the Camden Toboggan Company.

David and Maureen Nazaroff founded Camden Toboggan Company on a whim in 1992. It was in December and their construction business, The Penobscot Company, was slow. A friend of theirs who was the editor of the local paper suggested they place an ad to make and sell toboggans for the upcoming toboggan races held at the Camden Snow Bowl. Toboggans are big in Camden as the town is the host for the U.S. National Toboggan Races, held in February each year. Hundreds of sledders from around the world ride toboggans down a 400-foot toboggan chute, 70 feet in elevation, onto the frozen pond below. The fastest toboggan down the chute takes the prize and bragging rights!

70s, plans to keep making toboggans for as long as he is able. The process begins during the summer months when the ash wood used in the sleds is milled and the pieces and parts are cut and prepped. By the time orders start coming in, Reed has his workshop set up and ready to roll with all the parts and pieces organized for fast assembly. He can craft a toboggan in a matter of days. They are available in 6-, 8-, and 10-foot models.

The story about the Camden Toboggan Company is much more than a story about making sleds. It’s about the people buying those sleds and the relationships they have forged with the company. David Nazaroff can tell you which sled belongs to whom and their story. There is the customer who orders several every year for gifts. The customer from California who ordered one to hang on a wall as a piece of art after seeing the toboggans featured on an episode of Tim Sample’s Postcards from Maine on CBS. Another customer called the com-

David Nazar off

Although the Nazaroffs were skilled in construction when they placed that ad, they had never built a toboggan before. The races were months away, so they figured they had time to figure it out. Much to their surprise, that ad led to their first order! A customer wanted four toboggans and wanted them in time for Christmas. They had one week to build them. Through trial and error, they successfully delivered the toboggans to the customer just in time for Christmas.

Those first toboggans were numbered one through four. They are now up to numbers in the five hundreds.

Their toboggans have come a long way since the first four. They are as much a work of art as they are a means of winter fun and transportation. Each is handcrafted by David Reed who produces about 40 toboggans a year. Reed, who is in his 14 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

pany from a phone on a plane to order one after reading an article about the company while en route to London.

Demand for Camden Toboggan Company’s sleds are high, but the company has no intention to expand.

They’re not interested in mass-producing the toboggans, and back orders are not uncommon. But their customers don’t seem to mind. They’re willing to wait for a one-of-a-kind hand-crafted toboggan that is sure to last a lifetime and be passed down for generations. If you’re interested in seeing these toboggans in action, head to Camden the first weekend in February for the 25th Annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships. You’ll see a lot of sleds flying down the chute that were beautifully hand crafted by the Camden Toboggan Company one sled at a time.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE CAMDEN TOBOGGAN COMPANY

Toboggans are big in Camden, host of the U.S. National Toboggan Races.

unsung hero

Mountain’s

Animal Rescue The Mountains lend their generous spirit to help rescue needy animals. BY DAVE BROWN

L

aurie and Dave Mountain are animal welfare advocates from Corinna, Maine. They own an animal rescue operation that networks statewide with other rescue groups, shelters, and like-minded individuals, such as the University of Maine at Augusta Bangor Vet Tech Program and Lucerne Veterinary Hospital. With the help of many people who support their cause, the couple runs a thrift shop, Mountain’s Inc., full of donated items that not only help fund their rescuing efforts, but also provides a physical location to focus on the educational aspect of animal welfare.

PHOTO: DAVID BROWN/NORTHSTAR PHOTOGRAPHY

Describe one of the greatest moments of your involvement: Dave: Rescuing 24 needy cats from a crowded, dirty, two-room efficiency apartment in Bangor. Another moment was bringing two cold, lifeless newborn kittens back to life, then watching them grow and thrive!

Any advice for someone wishing to follow in your footsteps?

Dave: Give up any ideas of having a normal life, but be prepared to go to bed at night hopefully knowing you made a difference in a life that day.

Laurie: Network with everyone you possibly can; it takes a village to help a needy animal. Don’t let anyone tell you something is impossible and try to make a difference in some little life every day!

What keeps you doing what you do?

Laurie: Looking into the faces of all the ones we’ve saved. Thinking that with just a little more effort, we can help just one more…just one more…just one more…just one more… www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

metro health

Moving Beyond a Painful Past An unconventional type of therapy helps trauma victims unblock painful memories by confronting them.

STORY BY JOY HOLLOWELL | PHOTOS BY JUSTIN RUSSELL

S

ix years ago, Jennifer Dudley lost her best friend to breast cancer.

Months later, she lost half of her business to a fire. Then, more devastating news. “I went to my doctor’s office and got test results that showed precancerous cells in my body,” says the Winterport woman. “Very quickly, it went from level one to level two.”

Dudley had tried counseling but she didn’t feel like she was getting anything accomplished. “It was therapeutic in that I had someone to talk to, but I wanted tools that I could plug into my daily life when I felt the stress starting to go up and be able to dissolve it myself,” she says.

Around that time, a friend called Dudley to share her experiences with Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR). The therapy was developed by Dr. Franke Gerbode with the Institute for Research in Metapsychology in the mid-1980s.

The method takes participants back to a traumatic incident in their life, confronting it over and over again until they 16 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

can move on from the negative effects associated with the event.

Dudley liked the sound of that, so she made an appointment with a facilitator that was located in Old Town at the time.

“I was absolutely blown away,” she says.

“Every time I left her office, I felt like I was getting something done. I had tools and techniques that I was able to use on my own. I didn’t have to be sitting in her office to use them.”

TIR can be used for various kinds of traumas and upsets, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “There’s a science behind how our brain stores traumas,” explains Dudley. “TIR helps to confront that stress and find a way to process it so the emotional charge can be released.”

A facilitator repeatedly walks a client through the trauma, carefully monitoring and listening to them each time they recount the incident. “And as we go through it, the trauma lessens and lessens and lessens,” says Dudley. “So we’re really contacting that trauma.”

The goal is to reach what is called an end point. When a client has fully viewed an incident, they often have realizations, insights, or shifts in perspective. Those end points, and how clients show them, are highly individualized. “When I hit my end point, I was laughing so hard that I cried,” says Dudley. “The solution and the conclusion that I was able to reach was so impactful.”

When Cheryl Morin was 18 years old, her father was killed in a trucking accident. In 2005, the Abbot woman lost a son to suicide. “I had heard about TIR through a friend,” Morin says. “She was a new facilitator that was looking for clients and I thought, ‘Gee, I’d make a good client.’”

Morin, 55, went to the first session assuming she’d talk about her deceased son. “But once I got there, I realized that I was very uncomfortable with that, so we took it right off the table,” she says.

Instead, they talked about Morin’s other son. “The facilitator was asking me

questions using a technique called unblocking. And I suddenly felt this thing in the pit of my stomach,” she explains.

“It almost made me sick, to be honest.

And I told her, ‘Oh my God, I feel kind of sick.’ And the next minute it came up to my chest and I said, ‘Oh my God, there’s something coming.’ It went up my throat, and out my mouth came, ‘It’s not about my son, it’s about my father.’

That was so eye-opening to me.”

Like most who go through TIR therapy, Dudley and Morin were both surprised at how quickly their issues became resolved. “I started in the fall of 2009 and I am pretty certain by Christmastime, I was done,” says Dudley. “And that wasn’t going every week.”

The women were so impressed they decided to become facilitators themselves.

“I took the very next training,” Morin says.

A growing number of people already employed in the social work field are choosing to incorporate TIR into their therapies. A TIR training workshop lasts four days. Facilitators can then go on to become certified. That requires at least 50 clinical hours, 10 hours as an actual client, and a written test. The certification is good for two years, but facilitators are required to participate in some sort of continuing education during that time.

TIR is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices.

However, there is no prerequisite to becoming a facilitator. “We’re not therapists, we’re not psychologists,” explains Morin.

“We’re lay people who have learned some great techniques to help someone find their own resolve to traumas.”

TIR is 100% client-centered—they call the shots on what needs to be worked on.

The facilitator will acknowledge a client’s answers, but does not give advice. “We’re 100% non-judgmental,” Dudley says. “We don’t interject anything. I could think in my head that I know where a client might go with an end point, but in many cases, I’m wrong. And that’s good because that reminds me of why we have the facilitation rules that we do. If I had said something, the client may have gone in a different direction, but it would have been my direction, not theirs.”

Melissa (who asked us not to use her last name) used TIR therapy for two of her daughters. “When my oldest daughter was in third grade, she was so stressed out

that she was crying all the time,” says the Midcoast mother. “I was called to school one day by staff who said my daughter was sick. When I arrived, I found her hyperventilating and quickly realized she was having a panic attack.”

Melissa reached out to Dudley after reading about her on the TIR website. “I just didn’t feel like traditional counseling would do what my daughter needed to have done,” she says. “And I liked what Jen wrote about her services.”

them. In just a matter of months, the stress was gone for her. Life just got so much better because she had the tools she needed.”

Currently, there are only about five certified TIR facilitators in Maine, and three full-time trainers. Their therapy sessions are not covered by health insurance. However, both Dudley and Morin say their client base is growing, as they believe more are realizing how well the therapy works.

“I’m living proof,” says Dudley.

Three months after she completed her

The method takes participants back to a traumatic incident in their life, confronting it over and over again until they can move on from the negative effects associated with the event.

Less than six months later, Dudley and Melissa’s oldest daughter were done with their sessions. “I have just been absolutely amazed with what Jen did for her,” Melissa says. “We struggled for years, honestly, before seeking out services with her. There were certain issues that we couldn’t figure out, and Jen was able to work her through

TIR sessions, Dudley went back to her doctor for follow-up tests. “I was given the all clear,” she says with a big smile.

“There were absolutely no precancerous cells found at all. We hear an awful lot about the mind and body connection. I had to experience it first hand to really, really understand that.”

Jennifer Dudley at her Winterport office.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

18 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

metro wellness

Feeling Better in

Seven Days Need a mid-winter boost?

Take the Clean Food Challenge.

BY EMILIE BRAND THROCKMORTON

PHOTO: GERENME/THINKSTOCK.COM

A

few years ago, after I had been sick for two weeks and felt bogged down by the winter doldrums, I wanted to do something to kick-start my immune system and give me some energy, and did some research on doing a week-long cleanse, or detox.

At first, I was discouraged by what I found. I was not interested in starving myself, nor was I interested in spending a lot of money on mysterious powders or supplements. And no thanks to the “water, lemon, maple syrup, and cayenne” cleanse. I just wanted to cut out anything unnecessary in my diet and “clean” myself out. I spoke with a nutritionist friend, and after some more reading, designed a simple cleanse consisting of eating only whole foods for seven days, and dubbed it the Clean Food Challenge (CFC). I have done this five times over the course of three years, and each time, I really do feel fantastic and energized. The CFC serves as a healthy reset button on my diet. It reminds me how good I can feel if I stay away from processed foods or too much sugar. It takes some discipline to complete, but the payoffs are big. Among other things, you will notice an overall lightness in your body, and you will break the cycle of sugar highs and lows.

The rules for a seven-day CFC are as follows: Think pure and simple. Only eat whole foods, fruits, vegetables, nuts, some grains, and fresh-pressed juices.

No dairy, sugar, alcohol, gluten, or processed foods. Some people eliminate caffeine, but I allow myself one cup of coffee a day (to avoid headaches, and for the well being of those who live with me).

You may eat meat, but only organic and lean proteins like fish and chicken. Drink one gallon of water each day, which sounds like a lot, but you can do it.

Try not to think of the CFC as foods you cannot have, but focus on all the wonderful things you get to have. Walk through your health food store with an eye for something new, try interesting and colorful foods, and make it an adventure.

Sample Day on the CFC: • Breakfast: Oatmeal with blueberries and a drizzle of maple syrup, a cup of green tea.

• Lunch: Spinach salad with garbanzo beans, apples, beets, and almonds, and a banana smoothie.

• Dinner: Chicken breast; quinoa with black beans, peppers, onion; pureed butternut squash.

• Snacks: Apple slices with almond butter, a handful of cashews.

Here is my advice to make the CFC a positive and successful experience: Plan Ahead. Pack your fridge and cupboards full of CFC-friendly foods. Make a few soups and salads (like quinoa, veggie, and bean salads) to have in your fridge for quick lunches. If you google “Clean Food Recipes” you will find an abundance of ideas. Almonds, dried fruits, cashews, pre-sliced fruits, and vegetables work well for snacks on-the-go. The afternoon hours before dinner are hardest for me, so I like to drink a smoothie to get me through the dinner prep time. I also prepare for the CFC by deep-cleaning my fridge and my oven. It just seems like the right time to do it.

Eat clean together. If you can get your spouse or family to partake in the CFC alongside you, your experience will be much easier and more enjoyable. Or, convince some friends to join you so you can compare notes and swap recipes.

Drink the water. This will be challenging but helpful. Water helps the cleanse

process because it flushes your system and keeps you feeling satiated. If you can succeed in drinking the recommended gallon of water a day (equal to eight 16-ounce glasses a day, or my Camelbak water bottle filled 5 times), your skin will feel healthier, too.

Go for filling, flavorful foods. You are not eating processed food, but that doesn’t mean you need to be eating celery sticks for a week. Especially if you are exercising, you’ll want to feel full after you eat. Anything made with beans, potatoes, or squash will fill you up. Try cubing and baking a sweet potato and then put it, still warm, on top of a giant salad.

For a snack, slather almond butter on a banana, eat handfuls of dried fruit and nuts, or a whole avocado sprinkled with sea salt. Grill some pineapple or mango for a fruit salsa. Add curry or cayenne or paprika to your dishes. Make a pesto (no cheese) to put over fish or chicken. Eat spicy black beans and salsa with homemade guacamole.

While parts of the CFC are difficult and require willpower, I find that seven days of eating clean truly makes me feel more awake and alive. Your body will be brimming over with nutrients, and your digestive system will feel rested. My friends laugh, but I describe my post-CFC body as sparkly and lighter. I feel more alert with no peaks and valleys in my energy. The CFC reminds you to get back to the basics, to focus on home-cooked, healthy, whole foods. After one week is over, you will continue to be more deliberate about what you put into your body, and your body will thank you.

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 / 19

Guardian and Vietnam veteran Fred Small pauses with World War II veteran Harry Dixon in front of the Field of Stars at the World War II Memorial. The gold stars, 4,048 total, represent the 405,000 American lives lost during World War II. 20 / BANGOR METRO January/February November 2014 2015

feature story

Trip of a

Lifetime Honor Flight Maine is a new nonprofit that is making veterans’ dreams of visiting the war memorials in Washington, D.C. a reality.

STORY & PHOTOS BY KRISTINA DAY OSGOOD

I

t’s a picture-perfect August afternoon—warm air, sun shining, and a bright blue sky with just a few wispy clouds here and there. An airbus carrying 12 veterans and their travel partners flies from Owl’s Head down the coast to Portland International Jetport. An air of excitement fills the cabin as everyone looks out the windows, admiring the view from above, commenting over their headsets on the number of islands along the coast, and the proximity with which they can fly over Bath Iron Works, where the Navy’s newest destroyer, the U.S.S. Zumwalt, is under construction. It is pointed out that if it weren’t for the very veterans on this airplane, we wouldn’t enjoy the freedom

in this country to fly so close to a shipyard that builds ships for the military.

Across the state, from Bar Harbor to Lewiston to Monmouth, similar flights are taking place at the same time, with the same destination. Ten planes total are taking Maine veterans to participate in what many will call the trip of a lifetime. This is the beginning of the inaugural trip for Honor Flight Maine, the newest hub in the national Honor Flight Network, of which Earl Morse is the founder. Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization dedicated to flying America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated in their honor.

Priority is given to World War II veterans and any veteran with a terminal illness,

followed by veterans of the Korean War and those of the Vietnam War. Honor Flight trips are completely free of charge for these veterans. For each veteran that goes on an Honor Flight, there is one volunteer guardian to accompany him or her. Guardians pay their own way.

Morse founded Honor Flight in Springfield, Ohio in 2005 while he was working as a physician assistant at the Department of Veterans Affairs. When the World War II Memorial was dedicated in 2004, Morse noticed that his World War II veteran patients were enthusiastic about going to see their memorial. However, as time passed, he realized that this dream was not becoming a reality for most of the veterans he saw.

feature story Morse found that financial and physical constraints were preventing the veterans from making the trip they had been so eager to make only months before. Subsequently, Morse saw a need to help these men and women get to Washington to see their memorial before it was too late. According to the Department of

“[World War II veterans] all know they have a memorial, and they’re all curious as to what it would be like to visit the memorial,” Morse says. “Then reality sets in and they realize that they’re probably never going to see their memorial. And it’s tremendously joyful and fulfilling for me to make that happen.”

“It was an emotional trip, no question

about it, to see these monuments

dedicated to our country.”

— Harland Dunham Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 World War II veterans pass away each day. This instilled a sense of urgency in Morse to do what he could to remedy the situation.

At the time, Morse, a retired Air Force Captain, held a private pilot’s license. He offered to personally fly one of his patients to Washington, D.C., free of charge. Morse’s offer was met with tears of joy and gratitude. Thus, Honor Flight was born.

In fact, many of those who go on an Honor Flight do so specifically because they know it may be the only way they will get to see their memorial. Harland Dunham of Ellsworth drove tanks during World War II. He went on Honor Flight Maine’s inaugural trip. “It was an emotional trip, no question about it, to see these monuments dedicated to our country,” Dunham says. “You can’t see that much history and not be affected

World War II veteran George Dreves, pushed by his daughter Sandra O’Brien, carries a flag representing those Maine veterans who passed away before they were able to visit their memorial in the Flags of Our Heroes ceremony at the World War II Memorial. The other veterans and guardians look on with respect.

22 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

by it. It was tremendous, it really was. I probably would not have gotten there without Honor Flight.”

Madeline Littlefield of Searsport served during the Korean War. She went on Honor Flight with her husband, Clarence, who drove trucks in the Philippines during World War II. “We had never seen the World War II Memorial and we really wanted to see it,” she says. “It was beautiful and very sad. We would never have gotten to see it otherwise.”

Morse had been trying to get an Honor Flight hub started in Maine for eight years before he moved to Vinalhaven in 2013 to become one of the island’s physician’s assistants. “When this job opportunity presented itself I couldn’t wait to get up here,” Morse says. “I love Maine and there wasn’t an Honor Flight program, so I was really excited to come up here. Literally the first week I was here I started talking to people and finding out how many World War II vets were on the island. They seemed pretty excited about it.”

The Maine Honor Flight program began in March 2014 with a group of four Vinalhaven veterans who participated

William Waterbury served as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and enjoyed a long career in aviation after the war. In deference to his flying experience, he was given the co-pilot’s seat on flights between Owl’s Head and Portland International Jetport. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

feature story in what the Honor Flight Network calls the Lone Eagle program. The Lone Eagle program is designed to accommodate veterans who don’t live near an Honor Flight hub, but who would still like to visit their memorials. One World War II veteran, one Korean War veteran, and two Vietnam War veterans from the island were flown to Washington, D.C. for the same tour that other Honor Flights enjoy, except sometimes with a smaller group.

While this flight took four veterans to Washington, other Honor Flight trips often take as many as 56 people, including guardians. This flight served to introduce the program and the Honor Flight organization to the people of Maine.

Once they returned, Morse set to work garnering support for a Maine hub of the Honor Flight Network. He put together a board of directors and called on volunteers to help with logistics and fundraising, among other things. Honor Flight Maine became an official hub of the Honor Flight Network on April 8, 2014. Honor

Left, top: Guardian and Air Force veteran Shawn Chilles takes a moment at the Maine State pillar at the World War II Memorial to read about Charles Mitchell, Jr., a World War II veteran who passed away before he was able to visit his memorial.

Middle: Special T-shirts identified the Maine Honor Flight veterans. Bottom: The tour included the World War II Memorial, the Navy Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial.

24 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Flight supporters immediately set to work planning the next trip for August.

Honor Flight organizers pull out all the stops for the veterans going on their trips, starting with a hero’s welcome at the airports. Crowds of flag-waving well-wishers cheered as the veterans boarded their airplane in Portland and as they disembarked in Baltimore, Maryland. John Hovestadt of Auburn served in Italy during World War II. He also flew with Honor Flight Maine in August. “Getting off that elevator in Portland was the most spectacular thing I’d ever seen in my life,” he says. “I couldn’t believe Portland had that many people.”

Roger Hamann of Greene earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses in the Vietnam War. He is a friend of Hovestadt’s and traveled with him as his guardian. “The biggest thing for me was the reception in Baltimore,” he says. “Being a Vietnam vet we didn’t get anything. That really hit me. When I came back from ‘Nam it was differ-

ent. You didn’t come back as a group like they do now. You came back alone.

So getting that reception, I think that’s what I’ll remember most.”

There are certain things that are standard on an Honor Flight trip. While in Washington, D.C., Honor Flight travelers spend a busy day visiting the World War II

cial honor bestowed there. The inaugural trip of Honor Flight Maine had two such events. First, at the World War II Memorial, the group took part in the Flags of Our Heroes ceremony, a program designed to honor veterans who pass away before they are able to see their memorial. The ceremony recognizes one veteran, but in

The ceremony recognizes one veteran,

but in actuality, it represents every veteran from that state that will never be

able to visit his or her memorial.

Memorial, the Navy Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial. However, every Honor Flight is a little bit different in that there may be a special ceremony here or a spe-

actuality, it represents every veteran from that state that will never be able to visit his or her memorial. In this case, World War II veteran George Dreves of Nobleboro was honored to carry a flag representing Vinalhaven World War II veteran Charles Mitchell, Jr. The flag was placed at the Maine State Pillar at the World War II The Honor Flight Maine group gathers in front of the Rainbow Pool for a group photo at the World War II Memorial.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25

feature story

A Tomb Guard Sentinel (right) gives instructions to Caroll Nelson, Jr. (left), Frank Scott (middle), and Fred Small (behind) as they prepare to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

26 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

feature story Memorial, along with a framed photo and obituary of Mitchell for all to see and read during their visit to the memorial.

Three veterans on this trip enjoyed an extraordinary privilege when they were chosen to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. One veteran representing each war was asked to go inside the cordoned off area with the Tomb Guard Sentinels who gave the veterans precise instructions on how and where to walk. Vietnam veteran Fred Small, of Vinalhaven; Korean War veteran Carroll Nelson, Jr., of Lebanon; and World War II veteran Frank Scott, of Newport, all carried a wreath brought from the state of Maine and laid it at the foot of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier while a crowd of tourists watched in silence. “I thought it was great,” Scott says. “I got a thrill out of doing that. I think it was a special honor. I was very, very happy that I was picked to do that. It was a complete surprise.”

While it is important that the veterans have the opportunity to see their memorials, often it is the experiences they have at the memorials, not the me-

morials themselves, that are most moving. Veterans on every Honor Flight trip find themselves approached by strangers, sometimes even foreigners, thanking them for their service and asking about their experiences.

William Waterbury of Vinalhaven was a Lt. Commander in the Air Force during the Korean War. He was also surprised by the positive way he was received by people on this trip. “The attitude of people everywhere we went pleased the heck out of me,” he says. “People go out of their way to thank you for your service.”

Shawn Chilles of Vinalhaven served in the Air Force and traveled on Honor Flight as a guardian. He learned that the experience of a guardian on an Honor Flight trip could be just as moving as the experience of some of the older veterans. He noticed something change in some of the World War II veterans at the World War II Memorial. “To see the expression on the older veterans’ faces, then the stories started coming. That was pretty special,” he says.

While guardians and veterans have different experiences on an Honor Flight

Maine trip, all agree that it is a wonderful experience. “I couldn’t believe how well handled it was,” says Waterbury. “The whole organization was fascinating.”

“This was the trip of a lifetime,” Scott says. “Those are the only words I can use to explain. It’s the one trip that stands out in 70 years or more. I’ve never experienced a trip like this.”

Since August, there have been two more Honor Flights from Maine, one in October and one in November. Flying season ends in November and will resume in March 2015. According to Madeline Littlefield, since coming home from their Honor Flight Maine trip, she and her husband have been doing just what Honor Flight Maine organizers had hoped, and that’s getting the word out. “We really enjoyed it,” Littlefield says. “We’ve talked to a lot of people about it, making sure they get their name on the list.” However, as the sole female veteran on the trip who was not a guardian, Madeline Littlefield has one suggestion for future flights. “Encourage more women to take advantage of Honor Flight,” she says.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27

feature story

Women in Business These five women have been leading fan-favorite businesses across the Bangor Metro region for years. BY HENRY GARFIELD

28 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

T

he Bangor Metro area is full for enterprising women.

Some of the most popular and successful businesses in our region are owned and run by women. Wonder how they do it? Here’s a look at how five of these women got their start and the secret to their success.

IMAGES: LUMINASTOCK & RASTUDIO/THINKSTOCK.COM

MARY DYSART HARTT Mary Dysart Hartt likes to keep moving. At work, she shuttles back and forth between the Dysart’s Restaurants in Bangor and Hermon. In the winter she travels, each time to a different part of the country, pursuing her goal of running a marathon in each of the 50 states. Spring will find her in a canoe on the weekends of the big races. Throughout the year she takes pictures. Her photographs adorn the wall of both eateries, between and among the old boats and antique snowmobiles hanging from the ceiling.

Hartt has co-owned Dysart’s with her brothers, Ed and Tim Dysart, since their father Dave died 15 years ago. The original Dysart’s Truck Stop opened in 1967, under the proprietorship of Ed Dysart, Mary’s grandfather. The company now has more than 400 employees spread between two restaurants, nine convenience stores, and their oil delivery business.

She describes their division of labor succinctly: “I don’t buy oil, and they don’t buy food.”

Hartt and her brothers bought the gas station at the corner of Broadway and Griffin Road in late 2012. The back half of the building was vacant, one large room that the siblings subdivided into three: a family restaurant up front, a pub in back, and a room for special events off the pub.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29

feature story “It’s different from the truck stop in that we serve alcohol here, and we close,” Hartt says. “But the idea is still the same.

My grandmother was a good cook. The truck stop served the kind of food we ate at

“I’m a goals person. I started reading running magazines and running regularly, and I did my first marathon in Las Vegas. My husband waved to me from the blackjack table. There were several

“The truck stop served the kind of food we ate at home. The working aspect was always that people who are traveling would like to eat a home-cooked meal.”

–Mary Hartt home. The working aspect was always that people who are traveling would like to eat a home-cooked meal.” The pub stays open until 11 p.m. on weekends, with karaoke on Friday and live music on Saturday.

Though she’s been canoe-racing for years, Hartt only took up long-distance running after turning 50. “I guess I was suffering from empty-nest syndrome and needed something to do,” she says.

runners wearing T-shirts about doing marathons in all 50 states, and that’s what first got me interested. It sounded like a great way to see the country.”

So far, she’s completed 21 marathons in 21 states, including one in California’s Death Valley, and one in Nashville, where she and her husband toured the capital of country music. Upcoming plans include a race in Hawaii.

Business at the new location has been good, she says. “In the winter, our Broadway location is right on a snowmobile trail. Our customers have always been outdoor people. They stop in on the way to their kid’s ballgame, or on their way to camp. We’re a friendly place to stop.”

BETTINA DOULTON A brush with breast cancer brought Bettina Doulton to Maine in 2006, and though she had no background in either wine making or construction, she’s now in both businesses, as the owner of Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville and Phi Home Designs in Rockport.

Prior to that, she worked at Fidelity Investments in Boston for 21 years. “I loved it,” she says. “It was an awesome place to work. But at the same time, I felt like I was a bit of a utility player. My father, who owned a manufacturing company for many years, used to tease me that I was in the gambling business. After I had cancer, I starting talking to him about owning my own business rather than analyzing other people’s.”

PHOTOS: (THIS PAGE) BDN FILE PHOTO/LINDA COAN O’KRESIK; (OPPOSITE PAGE) BDN FILE PHOTO/JOHN CLARKE RUSS

Mary Dysart Hartt at the Dysart’s Restaurant in Hermon.

30 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Bettina Doulton, owner of Cellardoor Winery and at partner at Phi Home Designs.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31

feature story Restoring and furnishing the old barn got her involved in furniture and architecture, which led to her to Phi Home Designs in Rockport. Doulton became a partner at the company in 2012.

“My style is to mentor up, not manage down.

Your most important asset walks out the door every night, and that’s your team.”

–Bettina Doulton barn that Doulton has restored. Cellardoor has since built a modern winemaking facility across the road from the barn.

They produce more than 20 varieties of red, white, and specialty wines from locally grown and imported grapes. Tours and wine tastings are offered in the summer and shoulder seasons.

Cheri Goodspeed at her Greenville office.

32 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

“If I can keep my language appropriate to the business I’m in at the moment, I’m doing well,” she says. “There’s a little more cursing at a construction site than there is at a winery.”

Doulton doesn’t let her inexperience in either business get in her way.

Instead, she employs knowledgeable,

skilled people and learns from them.

“My style is to mentor up, not manage down,” she says. “In both places, your most important asset walks out the door every night, and that’s your team.”

CHERI GOODSPEED “We decided that Greenville still needed a junk store.”

Cheri Goodspeed and her brother Randy Coulton grew up near Wells and Ogunquit beaches, but their parents frequently took them on camping trips in the North Woods. One of their favorite stops was the now-defunct Indian Store in Greenville. After she got married, Goodspeed continued to visit the Moosehead Lake region with her husband, and decided it was the place she wanted to live. When the opportunity to open her own store came along, she jumped at it.

PHOTO: BDN FILE PHOTO/ KEVIN BENNETT

She bought the winery first, in 2008.

“I fell in love with the location,” she says.

The winery is about three miles inland from Lincolnville Beach, on a 68-acre farm and vineyard with a 200-year-old

“It’s kind of like a country store—we sell a little bit of everything,” she says.

“We sell new furniture and antiques, plus the trinket kinds of things we found here as kids.”

The two siblings are now co-owners of Kamp Kamp, housed in the same building in downtown Greenville that once housed the Indian Store. It’s an old building from the 1890s, and in the winter, it can be a bit drafty.

“You can’t light a match in here on a windy day,” Goodspeed jokes. “People think I lose about 20 pounds every spring, when I really just peel off the layers I’ve been wearing all winter.”

But though the building may be chilly, the greetings customers receive when they walk through the door are as warm as a steaming cup of hot chocolate. “We’re having a good time doing what we do, and we want people to have a good time when they come in here,” she says. “When someone comes through that door, we’re yakking at ‘em, welcoming them.”

Cheri and Randy bought the store 13 years ago. Randy drives around the state, going to estate sales and auctions to collect inventory. Cheri runs the store. She brought business experience with her, having owned and operated a restaurant in Wells for the previous 10 years. “We started selling trinkets and other stuff, and it just took off,” she says. She compares the store’s eclectic collection to that of Perry’s Nut House in Belfast.

Kamp Kamp is also known for its taxidermy. “We have the largest collection of taxidermy north of L.L. Bean,” Goodspeed says.

Goodspeed is a member of the Moosehead Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, and heads the Greenville Junction Depot Friends, a group of local residents working to restore the depot building at the Greenville train station. “We are restoring that old bird a little at a time,” she says. “The new owners of the railroad have been extremely supportive.”

She recalls the days when passenger trains from Canada used to stop at Greenville Junction in the wee hours of the night. “One of my dreams is to someday ride that rail,” she says, “because it’s some of the prettiest rail in north America.”

TINA DEL SANTO The Belfast waterfront is a happening place these days, bustling with shipbuilding and commerce. And Tina Del Santo is one to watch.

She came to Belfast from southern Maine 10 years ago, when she was in her early 20s. “I moved up here to be a bartender,” she says, “but my dream was always to open a restaurant.”

Today, Del Santo is the owner or part-owner of three food and drink establishments in downtown Belfast: Delvino’s Grill and Pasta House, La Vida (a Mexican/Caribbean restaurant whose name means “the life” in Spanish), and the Front Street Pub. It was at the pub that she met her partner and soon-to-be husband, Anthony Jacovino.

“He was friends with Katherine, my

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33

feature story other business partner, and he came into the pub to say hi to her,” Del Santo recalls. Among his other talents, Jacovino is a carpenter, and he built the bar and booths in Delvino’s, making it a comfortable place to enjoy a meal in Belfast’s downtown business district.

The restaurant, which opened in 2010, has quickly attracted a local following.

The emphasis is on locally-produced food. Del Santo gets all her meat and fish, and many of her vegetables in season, from Maine sources.

She has a background in the food business. “My parents catered a lot of events when I was growing up,” she says. “I’ve done everything—I’ve been a dishwasher, a prep cook, a bartender,

you name it. I went to culinary school [at Southern Maine Technical College] because I discovered that I loved it.”

Since Front Street Shipyard opened, in the location of the old Stinson’s sardine cannery, Del Santo says that the entire downtown has seen a significant boost in business. “It’s been huge,” she says. The shipyard has transformed the Belfast waterfront. “We get a big lunch crowd, and a big after-work crowd at all three businesses,” Del Santo says.

Her plans for the immediate future include marriage, “a bunch of babies,” and possibly opening a cake company.

Downtown Belfast is growing thanks in part to business people like Tina Del Santo, owner or part-owner of Delvino’s Grill and Pasta House, La Vida, and the Front Street Pub.

34 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

All over the state, historic downtowns are enjoying a renaissance. In Presque Isle, Cathy Beaulieu, owner of Wilder’s Jewelry, is right in the middle of it.

She bought the business and the historic building that houses it in 1996; the building dates from the 1880s. Originally from Fort Kent, she went to school in New York City to study gems before returning to Aroostook County.

Wilder’s Jewelry opened in 1932 as a watch repair shop. It’s one of those old Maine businesses at which generations of families have worked or shopped, and people coming back for family and class reunions often stop by to reminisce.

Beaulieu has built on that continuity.

“When I bought the building, I was a young single mother of two boys,” she recalls. “The women who worked for the previous owner stayed on to help me. It was a big team effort. I was very young and very inexperienced.”

The Wilder Block building has long been a local landmark. “People give directions: ‘Go to Wilder’s and then do this,’” she says. “That’s one reason I didn’t change the name. You can’t erase history and redo it. You want to build on it.”

It wasn’t easy. “The bones of the building were strong,” she says, “but we had bad chimneys, bad wiring, bad lights. It’s been a labor of love.”

So has the business itself. “We carry an eclectic mix of products,” she says.

“Men keep us open during the holidays, but women keep us open the rest of the year. Mainers like independent businesses. If you take care of them, they’ll take care of you.”

And Beaulieu believes in taking care of her community. Over the last 10 years,

PHOTO: BDN FILE PHOTO/ABIGAIL CURTIS

CATHY BEAULIEU

as the business has grown, she’s been involved with Presque Isle’s Downtown Redevelopment Committee, which has helped bring business back to the center of town. A movie theater has reopened and a new hotel has been built. “There’s a lot of walking traffic downtown now,” she notes with pride.

Cathy Beaulieu at Wilder’s Jewelry in Presque Isle.

“Mainers like independent businesses. If you take care of them, they’ll take care of you.”

– Cathy Beaulieu Beaulieu also sits on the board of the Wintergreen Arts Center, a downtown art facility for children. She approaches community ventures with the same spirit she brings to her business.

“You get to meet a lot of people, and find out what they need,” she says. “It’s about your customers. You have to be willing to spend the time to listen and share. It’s not a Wal-Mart mentality.”

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35

milo then & now

36 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

The view driving into downtown Milo.

Town of Three Rivers Positioned between the Sebec and Piscataquis rivers, friendly Milo welcomes visitors. STORY & PHOTOS BY RICHARD SHAW HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY OF MILO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

M

ilo’s catchy twin slogans, “The Town of Three Rivers” and “A Friendly Town,” have been around for generations. Perched at the junction of Routes 11 and 16 and at the confluence of the Sebec and Piscataquis rivers, the southeastern Piscataquis County community welcomes visitors with open arms.

Friendliness is written on the faces of the town’s roughly 2,300 residents and the commuters who work in its schools, stores, factories, and cafes. “The town truly gets into your heart,” said Kathy Witham of the Milo Historical Society. “Any true Miloite knows this town also gets into your skin.”

Sometimes overshadowed by the shire town of Dover-Foxcroft to the west

and former mill capital Millinocket to the north, this North Woods gateway has weathered the shutting of American Thread and Dexter Shoe Company factories and Bangor and Aroostook Railroad shops in Derby, formerly called Milo Junction. It also survived a 2008 fire that displaced downtown businesses.

Typical of first settlers Benjamin Sargent and his son, Theophilus, who arrived in 1802 from Methuen, Massachusetts, and those who incorporated it in 1823, the people of Milo, named after the ancient Greek athlete, Milo of Croton, carry on.

Residents derive pleasure from attending the town’s four churches as well as Masonic and American Legion activities. Three Rivers Kiwanis has moved into new quarters at Eastern Piscataquis Business Park. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 37

milo then & now

Milo’s Main Street, circa 1807.

town stats First Incorporated: January 21, 1823 Notable People: • Nelson Bragg, radio’s “Merry Mayor of Milo, Maine.” His son, Nelson, is a percussionist with the Brian Wilson Band.

• F. Davis Clark, soldier, politician, court judge • David French, CNN anchorman, CIA officer • Isaac Weston Maxim, mill owner, father of machine gun inventor, Hiram Maxim • Curly O’Brien, country music singer • E. Bradstreet Owen, U.S. Army Brigadier General • Theophilus Sargent, whose wilderness survival story is the basis of the children’s book The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Spear 38 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Milo’s boom years, which began in 1868-69 with the arrival of the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad and continued in 1879, when the Boston Excelsior Company built a factory, are recalled at the Historical Society, based in an 1852 church building on High Street.

Chronicled is everything from the 1901-1902 including the arrival of the thread company, which manufactured wooden spools.

Factory closings and geographical hurdles ended Milo’s boom, but its movie theaters and dance halls live on in Lloyd Treworgy’s two-volume, The

“The town truly gets into your heart.

Any true Miloite knows this town

also gets into your skin.”

–Kathy Witham

Milo Story; in Arcadia Publishing’s illustrated Milo, Brownville, and Lake View, and in histories written by William R. Sawtell.

Today, JSI Fixtures on Park Street is a major employer. Conceived in 1991 by the Awalt family, the business designs and sells merchandise displays.

Up the road is Eastern Maine Industries and Maine Alternative Solutions, where Ron Demaris sells state-of-theart heat pumps. Elaine Poulin, owner of Elaine’s Café & Bakery, is doing a brisk business in the rebuilt Main Street fire district. There’s a Pat’s Pizza, www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39

milo then & now Town Manager David Maynard appreciates the Milo of yesterday, but today’s town doesn’t look so bad, either. Friendliness has its rewards.

40 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

VIEWING MILO’S THREE RIVERS Fertile land and fresh water from Milo’s Sebec, Piscataquis, and Pleasant Rivers drew first settlers Benjamin Sargent and his son, Theophilus, from Methuen, Massachusetts, in 1802. Today, the three rivers remain clean and inviting to boaters, fishermen, and naturalists. The Sebec River, which slices through downtown, is best viewed from the Main Street bridge and Veterans’ Park public waterfront

and boat launch. Rushing water over the dam near the bridge is a favorite photo opportunity. The Piscataquis and Sebec Rivers can be seen from the Route 11 bridge near the old Rhoda farm south of town. Pleasant River views are abundant along Pleasant Street, which passes the Town Hall and crosses the old green bridge before stretching into Medford. A nearby river walk is a popular attraction.

Milo House of Pizza, and Hobnobbers Pub. Tradewinds Market took over the old Farmers’ Union, and Three Rivers Hardware is located in the old thread company building. A new Family Dollar sits next to Rite Aid. “We’ve got a lot of growth going on,” Witham said. “Main Street has just moved up onto Park Street.”

Town Manager David Maynard appreciates the Milo of yesterday, but today’s town doesn’t look so bad, either.

Friendliness has its rewards.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 41

college sports

A Runner for Life Sully Jackson’s focus on the racecourse transfers to the classroom.

O

n a dark November afternoon, Sully Jackson readies for his last cross-country race of the season. The 20-yearold college sophomore has ridden 11 hours from Maine to New York to represent the University of Maine at Machias (UMM) as the school’s only competitor at the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association’s Cross Country National Championship.

It is 35 degrees on the course in upstate New York, and it’s spitting snow and ice. His slight, 125-pound frame feels every dropping degree as the starter’s pistol shot rings out and hundreds of runners scramble forward. The mud quickly plasters Jackson’s body and the sleet soaks through his thin uniform. Just 200-meters in, there is an unforgiving dogleg to the left. Rounding on the outside, digging into the muck and grime with the toes of his shoes, Jackson watches as 12 runners, the entire interior flank, lose their footing

42 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

and slide to the ground. It’s the worst slip he has ever seen. He runs on.

His body gobbles glucose, and his muscles release lactic acid. He can hear his heart. He can see his breath. Jackson knows this means he is losing moisture.

As he hits his stride, he begins to torch calories—100 per mile. His body temperature rises and he flushes, then starts to sweat to keep from overheating.

At one point in the 8K, Jackson crosses an icy tarred area and literally skates across on his spikes. Twenty-nine minutes and 19 seconds after he begins, he crosses the finish line, 37th in the field of over 200—only two minutes and 71 seconds behind the leader. He is soaked, covered in mud, exhausted, and ecstatic. This is what Sully Jackson calls “a good race.”

Jackson says that if he had to pick one word to describe how he feels when running it is: Journey. “A season is a length of adventure with many journeys in it,” he says. Another word would be focus.

“Running is sometimes painful yet sometimes there is barely any discomfort,” Jackson says. “When I used to run 5Ks, I would think about a lot of things like strategies, the course. But running the 8K, it is so much longer and mostly I focus on hanging on to the pace and pushing forward. I get into a non-thinking

zone. Really, I’m just thinking about getting from here to there.”

Jackson’s running career began in Wilton, Maine, when he joined the middle school track team. As a freshman at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, he switched to cross-country. “The transition was less than pleasant,” he says.

“I had been used to sprinting. In crosscountry, our first workout was four miles on a 95 degree day.”

But Jackson was undeterred and kept running. He ran himself right through pretty much every competition he faced.

In high school, he rose quickly as a star runner and earlier this fall he won the Yankee Small College Conference championship for UMM. His daily discipline of running has translated well into the classroom. He has a 3.8 GPA at UMM and, in his major of environmental studies, he carries a heavy load of classes: environmental writing and presentation, environmental economist, chemistry, and revolutionary history.

“He is exactly the kind of student-athlete we want here on campus,” Jackson’s coach, Rich Lupo, says. “Sully is a loyal and respectful person and teammate. He always works hard, he is never late, and it shows on race day. The sky is the limit for Sully and I look forward to working with

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF UMM; (STOP WATCH) THOMAS NORTHCUT/THINKSTOCK.COM

BY SHARON KILEY MACK

him this spring and summer for next season. Sully shows true character and represents his family and this university with great class and attitude.’’

“Sully is very focused and dedicated.

He knows what he wants and what he has to do to achieve his goals,” says Dr. Ellen Hostert, Jackson’s academic advisor at UMM. “He has a bit of a quirky sense of humor, and he is thoughtful of others, as well as thoughtful in the sense of thinking things through.”

Jackson says it has never occurred to him to stop running. “If I became discouraged, I heard my dad’s voice saying ‘You are a Jackson and Jacksons aren’t quitters.’‘’ He says that running cross-country will serve him well in the future. “Unlike a sport such as soccer or football, I can keep running all my life. Running also carries a lot of traits over into life, such as self-discipline, hard work, focus, and dedication.”

What really matters to Jackson is the journey, whether he is running on a muddy course in the sleet or sitting in a university classroom puzzling over environmental policy. To him, it’s as simple as Kenyan marathoner Paul Tergat says: “Ask yourself: ‘Can I give more?’ The answer is usually, ‘Yes.’”

STATS

RUNNER SULLY JACKSON TEAM: University of Maine at Machias Cross-Country Running Team // Clippers ACCOLADES: As a Mt. Blue High School runner, he qualified for the state meet as an individual and with his team three times. In the U.S.A. Track and Field meets he was Maine’s state champion twice and qualified for the national USATF meet twice.

UMM CAREER: At UMM, he has qualified for the USCAA national meet twice and been nominated to the YSCC all conference team twice, placing first in 2014. He has also competed in multiple road races including three half-marathons (13.1 miles) and one marathon (26.2 miles).

FUTURE PLANS: After college, he hopes to pursue a career in environmental policy or organic food production.

IN 1847, MAINER HANSON GREGORY INVENTED THE DONUT HOLE. THERE’S BEEN NO STOPPING US EVER SINCE.

Today’s entrepreneurs welcomed whole heartedly.

Rudman Winchell is a full service law firm with more than 30 attorneys located in Bangor. We encourage and support the enterprising spirit while becoming a true strategic partner with those we serve.

• Forming a corporation, LLC, joint venture or partnership • Purchase or sale of businesses • Venture capital and equity financing transactions • IP Law including patents, trademarks and copyright • Trade secret protection and noncompete agreements • Franchises • Commercial leases • Choice of entity for start-up enterprises • Operating agreements

BANGOR, MAINE • TEL 207.947.4501 RUDMANWINCHELL.COM alt.donuts.indd 1

9/16/14 3:31 PM

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 43

what’s happening

JANUARY

January 2 & 3 Maine’s Own Comedian: Bob Marley The Grand, Ellsworth Bob Marley’s comedic bits about life in Maine resonate with audiences across New England and beyond. Fri. 7 pm; Sat. 7 & 9 pm.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org January 9 NT Live: John Collins Center for the Arts, Orono This production by DV8 Physical Theatre is extraordinary and touching.

Years of crime, drug use, and struggling to survive lead John on a search in which his life converges with others in unexpected places. Broadcast live from London’s National Theatre. 7 pm. $18.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com 44 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

January 10 MET Live: Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg Collins Center for the Arts, Orono James Levine returns to one of his signature Wagner works conducting this epic comedy about a group of Renaissance mastersingers whose song contest unites a city. 11:55 am. $28.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

January 16 Sister Act: National Broadway Tour Collins Center for the Arts, Orono This feel-amazing musical comedy tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in a convent. 8 pm. $58–$63.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

January 10 Cabin Fever Reliever Gracie Theatre, Bangor Bangor Ballet will put on a performance that will feature alumni guests and will be followed by a cocktail reception.

945-3457 • www.bangorballet.com

January 16 9th Annual Winter Beach Ball Cross Insurance Center, Bangor This annual event is a whole lot of fun.

The Bob Charest Band will be performing and there will be light refreshments and a cash bar. Dress in your best Hawaiian shirt and sun dress and help raise money for the Raish Peavey Haskell

PHOTO: BDN FILE PHOTO/KEVIN BENNETT

JANUARY 10 Bangor Ballet Cabin Fever Reliever/Bangor

EVENTS

THEATER

Children’s Cancer and Treatment Center, Children’s Miracle Network, and nursing scholarships. 7:30–11:30 pm. $35 per person; $350 per table.

973-5055 • www.emmcauxiliary.org January 16–18 SnowCon Cross Insurance Center, Bangor BangPop! Presents the best weekend of face-to-face tabletop gaming in Maine. www.snowconmaine.com January 17 MET Live: Lehar’s The Merry Widow Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Grand, Ellsworth The great Renee Fleming stars as the beguiling femme fatale who captivates all Paris in Lehar’s enchanting operetta, seen in a new staging by Broadway virtuoso director and choreographer Susan Stroman. 12:55 pm.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org January 17 17th Annual B-52 Memorial Snowmobile Ride Greenville Join the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club on their annual ride up Elephant Mountain to the memorial site of where a B-52 bomber crashed in 1963.

Spaghetti lunch in the clubhouse at 12 pm; ride starts at 1 pm. www.mooseheadlake.org January 17 & 18 Bangor Wedding Show Spectacular Event Center, Bangor Find the best local vendors for your wedding all under one roof. There will be prizes and raffles given away, including a set of wedding bands and a honeymoon getaway. Sat. 5-8 pm; Sun. 11–3 pm. $10. www.maineweddingassociation.com January 21 Music at Noon Farnsworth Museum, Rockland Enjoy a midday break with light lunch and lovely music in the relaxed, intimate atmosphere of the Farnsworth Museum in downtown Rockland. Ticket includes a freshly-prepared lunch provided by

MUSIC Atlantic Baking Company plus access to the museum following the performance.

12 pm. $25 adult; $10 under 21. www.baychamberconcerts.org January 22 NT Live: Treasure Island The Grand, Ellsworth Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money, and mutiny is brought to life in a thrilling new stage adaptation

by Bryony Lavery, broadcast live from the National Theatre. 2 pm.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org January 23–25 Annual Togue Ice Fishing Derby With Ricky Craven Moosehead Lake There will be prizes for the largest togue and more at this fun annual event.

Door prizes, including trips to Universal Studios Orlando, a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas, and a trip to Las Vegas are up for grabs. A wild game dinner will be from 4–7 pm on Saturday at the American Legion Hall. www.mooseheadlake.org January 24 Eagle Lake Sled Dog Races Eagle Lake The Irving Woodlands 100 and Mad Bomber 30 races are on the menu at this weekend event. The purse for the 100 is $5,000 and $2,500 for the 30. www.eaglelakesleddograces.com January 24 150 Years of American Song: A Celebration of the University of Maine Collins Center for the Arts, Orono From Frank Sinatra to Michael Buble, there is something for everyone.

Featuring a full orchestra, big band, and talented vocal performances by UMaine students, faculty, and Maine community members. Proceeds benefit UMaine School of Performing Arts Student Initiatives and Outreach Programs.

7:30 pm. $25. 581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com January 24 USCC East Snowmobile Race Long Pond, Jackman This high intensity event is fun for the whole family. Proceeds benefit the

grooming and maintenance of the trails.

668-9031 • www.borderridersclub.com January 24 & 25 Long Lake Fishing Derby Long Lake, St. Agatha Take out your fishing gear for a chance to win prizes for the largest salmon, togue, brook trout, and cusk. www.stagatha.com/derby January 25 11th Annual Pies on Parade Rockland The Historic Inns of Rockland, local restaurants, and businesses serve up more than 45 different pies to benefit area nonprofits. 1–4 pm. $30; $10 children 10 and under.

596-6611 www.historicinnsofrockland.com January 29–February 15 Guys on Ice Bangor Opera House In this manly musical, two long-time pals pass a chilly afternoon in their home away from home, a ramshackle ice-fishing shanty. There they plot to appear on a popular cable TV fishing show, scramble to protect their beer from Ernie the Moocher, and pass the time by swapping jokes, playing cards, talking about women, and occasionally breaking into song and dance. www.penobscottheatre.org January 31 MET Live: Les Contes d’Hoffmann The Grand, Ellsworth The magnetic tenor Vittorio Grigolo takes on the tortured poet and unwitting adventurer of the title of Offenbach’s operatic masterpiece, in the Met’s wild, kaleidoscopic production. 1 pm.

667-9500 • www.grandonline.org January 31 Comedy Show Spectacular Event Center, Bangor Get your laugh on with comedians Harrison Stebbins and Jody Sloane.

Tickets include appetizers; cash bar available. Doors open at 7:30 pm; show starts at 8:30 pm. $15.

941-8700 www.spectaculareventcenter.com

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 45

what’s happening

FEBRUARY

U.S. National Toboggan Championships • February 6–8 This fun competition draws over 400 teams and includes a chili and chowder challenge, music, tailgate parties, costume contest, souveniers, and children’s activities.

Mallett Brothers in Concert • February 7 Don’t miss this foot-stomping, handclapping musical performance by Maine’s own Mallett brothers.

FEBRUARY 7 Mallett Brothers in Concert / Camden 46 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

PHOTOS: (TOP) BDN FILE PHOTO/KEVIN BENNETT; (BOTTOM) COURTESY OF THE MALLETT BROTHERS

FEBRUARY 6-8 U.S. National Toboggan Championships/Camden

EVENTS

THEATER

February 1 BSO: Midori and More!

Collins Center for the Arts, Orono Internationally renowned violinist Midori joins the BSO for a special performance and weeklong educational residency as part of the Orchestra Residencies Program.

3 pm. $19–$45.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com February 6 Down the Chute Beer & Wine Tasting Camden Snow Bowl Sample beer and wine from Maine brewers and vinters. 2–7 pm. $25 in advance; $30 at the door; $5 designated drivers. Ages 21 and over.

592-1806 www.westbayrotaryofmaine.com February 6–8 U.S. National Toboggan Championships Camden Snow Bowl This fun competition draws over 400 teams and includes a chili and chowder challenge, music, tailgate parties, costume contest, souveniers, and children’s activities.

236-3438 www.camdensnowbowl.com February 6–8 The Moose is Loose!

Houlton Grab the kids and join your neighbors for outside fun in Community Park for this day-long event.

532-4216 • www.greaterhoulton.com February 7 West Bay Rotary Chili Challenge Camden Snow Bowl This 7th annual event brings local restaurants and individual chefs into a fun and fierce competition for bragging rights to the best chili in the midcoast region. The winner is chosen by the public. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits, charities, and Rotary International programs.

11 am–2 pm.

236-7997 www.westbayrotaryofmaine.org

MUSIC

February 7 Plum Creek Wilderness Sled Dog Race Greenville Teams of sled dogs and drivers will race through the last forested wilderness east of the Mississippi.

Courses are 30 or 100 miles. www.100milewildernessrace.org February 7 MET Live: Les Contes d’Hoffmann Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The magnetic tenor Vittorio Grigolo takes on the tortured poet and unwitting adventurer of the title of Offenbach’s operatic masterpiece, in the Met’s wild, kaleidoscopic production. 12:55 pm. $28.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com February 7 Mallett Brothers in Concert Camden Opera House Don’t miss this foot-stomping, handclapping musical performance by Maine’s own Mallett brothers.

470-7066 www.camdenoperahouse.com February 8 Voice Minsky Recital Hall, UMaine Orono For their second North American tour, the wonderful British ensemble Voice, tours a program of songs exploring the beauty, heartache, and humor of love. 3 pm. $35.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com February 13 Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet The Strand, Rockland Rich Cajun traditions of Louisiana artfully blended with elements of zydeco, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex, country, blues, and more. 7:30 pm.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com February 13 NT Live: Treasure Island Collins Center for the Arts, Orono Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money, and mutiny is brought to life in a thrilling new stage adaptation

by Bryony Lavery, broadcast live from the National Theatre. 7 pm. $15.

581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com

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what’s happening February 14 MET Opera Live: Iolanta and Bluebeard’s Castle The Strand, Rockland The Grand, Ellsworth Collins Center for the Arts, Orono In this double bill, broadcast live in HD from New York’s Metropolitan Opera, soprano Anna Netrebko stars as the heroine in Tchaikovsky’s enchanting fairy tale Iolanta, and Nadja Michel is the unwitting victim of the diabolical Bluebeard, played by Mikhail Petrenko, in the erotic psychological thriller Bluebeard’s Castle. 12:30 pm.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com 667-9500 • www.grandonline.org 581-1755 www.collinscenterforthearts.com February 15 11th Annual Chocolate Festival Greenville Choose up to 12 samples from over 40

different unique chocolate concoctions.

There will be a Chinese auction and silent auction, too. 1–4 pm.

695-2702 • www.mooseheadlake.org February 18 Music at Noon Farnsworth Museum, Rockland In partnership with New England Conservatory, pianist Cristian Budu will perform at the Farnsworth Museum. Tickets include a light lunch and admission to the museum following the concert. 12 pm. $25 adult; $10 under 21. www.baychamberconcerts.org February 19 NT Live: Treasure Island The Strand, Rockland In this captured-live HD broadcast from London’s National Theatre, Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money, and mutiny receives a thrilling

new stage adaption. 2 & 7 pm.

594-0070 • www.rocklandstrand.com February 20 The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience Starring Joby Rogers Gracie Theatre, Bangor Joby Rogers’ stunning resemblance combined with intricate dance moves presents an exhilarating performance depicting Michael Jackson, America’s pop icon. 7:30 pm. $25–$35. www.gracietheatre.com February 20 Chili/Chowder Cookoff Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club, Greenville Sample some of the best chili and chowder that Moosehead Lake has to offer. 5–7 pm. www.mooseheadlake.org

museums AROOSTOOK COUNTY

New Sweden Historical Society & Museum www.maineswedishcolony.info Oakfield Railroad Museum www.oakfieldmuseum.org Northern Maine Museum of Science/UMaine Presque Isle www.umpi.edu St. Agatha Historical Society & House 543-6911 St. Francis Historical Society Museum 398-3387 Acadian Village www.connectmaine.com/ acadianvillage Woodland Historical Society Museums 493-3081 or 498-8430

HANCOCK COUNTY Abbe Museum www.abbemuseum.org

Bar Harbor Historical Society Museum www.barharborhistorical.org George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History www.coamuseum.org Mount Desert Oceanarium & Lobster Hatchery www.theoceanarium.com Sieur de Monts Spring & Nature Center www.acadia.ws/sieur-demonts.htm

Wilson Museum www.wilsonmuseum.org Salome Sellers House 367-2629 Birdsacre-Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary & Homestead www.birdsacre.com The Telephone Museum www.thetelephonemuseum.org Woodlawn Museum www.woodlawnmuseum.org Great Harbor Maritime Museum 276-5650 Seal Cove Auto Museum www.sealcoveautomuseum.org Wendell Gilley Museum www.wendellgilleymuseum.org

KNOX COUNTY

Camden–Rockport Historical Society/Conway HomesteadCramer Museum Complex www.conwayhouse.org Friendship Museum 832-4221 Owls Head Transportation Museum www.owlshead.org Coastal Children’s Museum www.coastalchildrens museum.org Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center www.farnsworthmuseum.org Maine Lighthouse Museum www.mainelighthouse museum.com

Center for Maine Contemporary Art www.cmcanow.org

Dexter Historical Society Museums 924-5721

General Henry Knox Museum www.generalknoxmuseum.org

Hampden Historical Society’s Kinsley House Museums 862-3182

Thomaston Historical Society & Museum www.thomastonhistorical society.com

Penobscot Indian Nation Museum www.penobscotnation.org

Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage/Union Fairgrounds www.matthewsmuseum.org

Lee Historical Society & Museum 738-5014

Vinalhaven Historical Society Museum www.vinalhaven historicalsociety.org

Old Town Museum 827-7256

PENOBSCOT COUNTY Bangor Museum & History Center’s Hill House www.bangormuseum.org Bangor Police Museum 947-7384 Cole Land Transportation Museum www.colemuseum.org Maine Discovery Museum www.mainediscovery museum.org University of Maine Museum of Art www.umma.umaine.edu Leonard’s Mills www.leonardsmills.com Brewer Historical Society’s Clewley Museum www.brewermaine.gov

Hudson Museum, University of Maine/Collins Center for the Arts www.umaine.edu/ hudsonmuseum Page Farm & Home Museum www.umaine.edu/pagefarm The Patten Lumbermen’s Museum www.lumbermensmuseum.org

PISCATAQUIS COUNTY Blacksmith Shop Museum 564-8618

S/S Katahdin & Moosehead Marine Museum www.katahdincruises.com Monson Museum 876-3073

WALDO COUNTY

Belfast Historical Society & Museum www.belfastmuseum.org

Islesboro Historical Society 734-6733 Davistown Museum www.davistownmuseum.org Lincolnville Historical Society Museum www.lincolnvillehistory.org Penobscot Marine Museum www.penobscotmarine museum.org

WASHINGTON COUNTY Cherryfield-Narraguagus Historical Society www.cherryfieldhistorical.com Raye’s Mustard Mill Museum www.rayesmustard.com Tides Institute & Museum of Art www.tidesinstitute.org Maine Coast Sardine History Museum 497-2961 Lubec Historical Society Museum 733-2274 Robert S. Peacock Fire Museum 733-2341 West Quoddy Head Visitor Center & Museum www.westquoddy.com Burnham Tavern Museum www.burnhamtavern.com Milbridge Historical Society Museum www.milbridgehistorical society.org

EVENTS

THEATER

February 20–22 28th Annual Camden Conference Camden Opera House and The Strand, Rockland The 2015 topic is “Russia Resurgent” and features presentations by leading experts in the field.

877-214-8579 www.camdenconference.org February 25 Greg Brown in Concert Camden Opera House The living folk legend returns to help celebrate the Opera House’s 120th anniversary. 7:30 pm. $29 in advance; $34 at the door.

470-7066 www.camdenoperahouse.com

MUSIC available. Doors open at 7:30 pm; show starts at 8:30 pm. $15.

941-8700 www.spectaculareventcenter.com February 28 & 29 Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race Fort Kent

This weekend-long event, a qualifier for the Iditarod and a major attraction for Fort Kent, features a 30-, 60-, and 250-mile race with $40,000 in winnings for the top teams. All races start from Main Street and end at Lonesome Pines ski lodge. www. can-am-crown.net

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February 28 Comedy Show Spectacular Event Center, Bangor Laugh the night away with comedians Paul Nardizi, Rob Steen, and Pat Napoli.

Tickets include appetizers; cash bar

Now, this is what we call a chat room.

Instant messages, tweets and online chats are great, but nothing can substitute for celebrating your closeness in person. So pick up that smart phone and do a smart thing: go to FlyBangor.com, book online, and this time - send yourself.

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www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49 8/9/11 10:54 AM

food file

N

Winter Salad Nicole Gogan of Brewer invites us into her new house to share one of her favorite recipes.

STORY & PHOTOS BY MELANIE BROOKS

50 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

icole Gogan moved into her new house in August, and there is much to admire. “My brother lives in Eddington, and on my way to visit him three years ago I noticed that this house was on the market,” she says. She was interested, but the timing wasn’t right. But when she noticed the house was up for sale by owner in the summer of 2014, she jumped on the opportunity. “This house was meant for me!” she says.

She’s still getting the feel for the place, and admits there is a lot that still needs to be done. But she’s taking her time to make sure she does it right. “You can see there are no curtains on the windows yet,” she says. “But I’m still trying to figure out what is going to look best.”

Careful consideration and action is what Gogan is all about. She is the deputy director of economic development for the City of Brewer. She, along with D’arcy Main-Boyington, are the one-two punch for business growth in Brewer. Right now the city is getting ready to complete the transfer of the last of the four elementary schools that closed when the new Brewer Community School opened in 2011. The school on State Street was recently demolished, making way for affordable family housing. The former middle school will be renovated for affordable housing for the elderly. “The school projects were a lot of work, but the end result is pretty great,” she says.

There’s been a lot of interest recently for businesses moving along Brewer’s waterfront and downtown area. “Having Rand & Rand buy the old Muddy Rudder building was amazing,” Gogan says.

“And there is a green grocer who is going into the old pharmacy across the street.

They’ll be selling locally sourced fruits, veggies, and meats, and have a café. This is something Brewer’s never had, as far as I know.”

Gogan grew up in nearby Orrington and graduated from John Bapst Memorial High School in 1995. She attended Springfield College in Massachusetts for sports medicine, then moved to Bath, Maine. “I never thought I’d live in this area again,” she says. But when her stepfather fell ill and her mother needed help, Gogan moved back to Orrington. “Everything happens for a reason,” she says.

Nicole Gogan sautes shallots for her winter salad.

Everything.

Right where you need it.

Gogan decided to pursue her MBA at the University of Maine in Orono and, upon graduating in May, 2011, was offered a job with the City of Brewer. “The timing was perfect.” She still spends time at UMaine, though as a professor, not as a student. Gogan works as an adjunct instructor, teaching intro to business courses for first-year students.

Gogan doesn't shy away from hard work. During Brewer’s bicentennial in 2012, Gogan, who is an avid golfer, decided to start a golf tournament. To date, the Joshua Chamberlain Golf Classic has raised just over $10,000 for the Maine Infantry Foundation.

“I was looking for a benefactor for the tournament that had something to

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food file recipe

do with the military, as a nod to Joshua Chamberlain,” Gogan says. “I hadn’t heard a lot about the Maine Infantry Foundation, but I was so impressed with their mission.” Founded in 2009, the Maine Infantry Foundation preserves Maine’s infantry history while recognizing the sacrifices made by the

"I wish I could take credit for the recipe, but I can’t," Gogan says of her sister's salad recipe.

“It’s an awesome winter salad.”

MIXED GREENS WITH SPICED PECANS AND WARM CIDER DRESSING 6 cups torn mixed salad greens 1 cup thickly sliced fennel bulb 11/2 large McIntosh apples, cored and thinly sliced Crumbled goat cheese (to taste) WARM CIDER DRESSING 2 cups apple cider 1 Tbsp. honey mustard 1/ cup olive oil 2 8 slices of bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 3 shallots, minced 1 tsp. cinnamon When ready to prepare the salad, place the cider in a small saucepan and boil until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 20-25 minutes. Set aside. Saute the bacon in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat until crisp.

Drain on paper towels and discard all but 3 tablespoons of the fat remaining in the skillet. Add the shallots to the skillet and saute over medium heat until softened about 3-5 minutes. Whisk in the reduced cider, olive oil, cinnamon, and honey mustard, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep the dressing warm over low heat.

Toss the salad greens, 1 cup of the spiced pecans, the reserved bacon, fennel, apples, and goat cheese together in a large salad bowl. Toss with the warm cider dressing and serve immediately.

52 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

SPICED PECANS You can make these ahead of time and store for up to two weeks.

2 cups pecan halves 21/2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1/ cup of sugar 4 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/ tsp. nutmeg 4 1/ tsp. ground cloves 4 1/ tsp. ginger 2 1/ tsp. dry mustard 2

infantry today.

“I had never put together a golf tournament before, and it was a lot of work,” Gogan says. “My one stipulation was that I got to play in it!”

The recipe Gogan is sharing today comes from her sister. “I wish I could take credit for the recipe, but I can’t,” she says, as she slices the apples. “It’s an awesome winter salad.”

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place the pecans in a small bowl and cover with boiling water and let soak for 15 minutes.

Drain well and pat dry on paper towels.

Spread the nuts on an ungreased baking sheet and toast in the oven, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes. Remove the nuts and increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Whisk together the vegetable oil, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and mustard in a mediumsized bowl. Add the hot nuts and toss to coat thoroughly. Spread the nuts in a single layer on the baking sheet and put back in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Let cool, then store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Nicole Gogan at home in her kitchen.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

kitchen confidential Where are you from?

I’m originally from Bangor. I lived in Florida for 10 years before returning home to raise a family. I have three daughters.

What is your first food memory?

My grandmother making me dropped eggs on toast.

What are some of your early cooking experiences?

I loved cooking on my Boy Scout camping trips. I also used to make myself breakfast as a little kid.

Where did you study/apprentice?

At Testa’s Palm Beach in Florida. I started there in the pantry and it took less than two seasons for me to learn all the positions on the line. I learned from chef Scott Butters, who was also the kitchen manager.

When did you realize that you were a chef?

When it became natural.

What do you consider to be your pivotal career move?

Moving to Florida in the fall of 2000 with my then-girlfriend Kelley—who is now my wife—and being hired to work at Testa’s.

When did the Bear Brew Pub open?

In 1995. I’ve been running the kitchen here since April, 2010.

What do you love about your location?

It’s right in the heart of Orono.

What is your favorite meal to make?

Pizza in the brick oven—it’s an art form!

Not everyone can handle cooking with an open flame.

Bear Brew Pub

Chef Eugene “Buddy” Syphers III earned his cooking chops in Florida before returning home to Maine to raise a family.

STORY & PHOTOS BY MELANIE BROOKS

What is the dish we are featuring?

The pizza! When I took over the kitchen in 2010 we kept all of the best menu items from the original owner. We have added a few different items over the last four years, picking the most popular ones to add to our menu.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Poor Boys in Bar Harbor.

Least favorite job-related task?

Cutting wings.

54 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Bear Brew’s brick oven pizza takes about seven minutes to cook.

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

A few years back we had an extremely busy lunch with just one waitress working (Abbi Brewer) and myself. We did it with no problems. Pizzaland is in the front of the pub and the kitchen is in the back. One person navigating two areas can be disastrous, especially when a pizza in the brick oven cooks in just seven minutes. We both rocked that day! I was pleasantly surprised and proud of the two of us.

What does a perfect day off look like?

Spending the day with my wife and three girls—Emma, 8; Ava, 6; and Sally, 21 months—doing whatever they want to do.

What would you want your last meal to be?

A medium-rare filet, loaded baked potato, and a side salad with bleu cheese dressing. And a slice of banana cream pie for dessert.

What do you love most about your job?

Working with people I like. We have a small staff here, so I feel it’s important to surround yourself with people that you like and that do their job well.

more info BEAR BREW PUB 36 MAIN STREET, ORONO 866-4111 Hours: Kitchen is open from 3–10 pm, seven days a week. Bar is open Sun.­–Wed. 3 pm–12 am; Thurs.–Sat. 3 pm–1 am.

Specialties: Brick oven pizza and hand patted 8 oz. angus burgers.

Accolades: Voted Best French Fries for 2013 in Greater Bangor in Bangor Metro’s Best Restaurants survey.

First-timer tip: Start with an order of wings, then have a burger or pizza. Wash it all down with one of our 28 draft beers.

Directions: Located in the heart of downtown Orono at 36 Main Street. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55

per spectives

Kimber Lee Clark

56 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Kimber Lee Clark’s acrylic paintings and prints convey a story being told with wit and whimsy infused into her subject matter. She has a unique style that combines her love for color and texture. Her work has been shown in Maine; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Key West, Florida; and the British Virgin Islands. She and her husband, Scott Sebold, have owned the Saturday Cove Gallery on Route 1 in Northport for 20 years. For more information, visit www.saturdaycove.com.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

savvy seniors

W

inters in Maine can be challenging for a host of reasons. Slippery roads, blocked parking spots, and cancelled events are just some of the inconveniences. Winter can be tough for more serious reasons, too. Many older Mainers become isolated if they cannot easily get around, and the cost of heating one’s home can be truly daunting when the temperature drops.

Are your high energy costs a problem this winter? You could blame the price of electricity or heating fuel, but high energy bills are often due to inefficient systems or components in your home, such as leaky windows, loose duct installation, or faulty heating or cooling equipment.

You don’t have to choose between your wallet and your comfort. Here are 10 easy tips for reducing your energy costs and saving money with winter season: 1. Use Heat-Generating Appliances During Cooler Hours of the Day. Use 58 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

machines such as washers, dryers, or ovens during the morning or evening when temperatures tend to be cooler.

This can actually help distribute a little extra heat in the house.

2. Turn Off Lights in Unoccupied Rooms. How many times have you left a room and forgotten to turn out the lights?

You might be surprised at the amount of energy you can save. Also, don’t forget to switch off the kitchen and bathroom ventilating fans after they’ve done their job. If left on, ventilating fans can quickly remove a home’s heated (or cooled) air, which will cost you more money on energy bills.

3. Lower the Temperature on Your Water Heater. Lower your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees to trim down water heating costs. Some manufacturers pre-set water heater thermostats to 140 degrees, although most households require only a temperature of 120 degrees. You can save between 3%

Follow these 10 easy steps to save money on your energy costs this winter. BY JANE MARGESSON and 5% in energy costs for each 10 degree drop in water temperature. Reducing your water temperature also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes, which can help your water heater last longer and operate at its maximum efficiency.

4. Run Washer and Dishwasher Only When You Have a Full Load. Even if you run the machines with a small load, it is still using the same amount of water and energy as if you had a full load.

So, load up! In addition, use the cold water setting of your clothes washer when possible. This will not only save you money on water and energy bills, but will also help preserve the efficiency of your appliances.

5. Clean Your Dryer’s Vent System. Lint buildup can cause the dryer to run longer to dry your clothes, which wastes energy and costs you more money. Even worse, lint buildup in the vent can lead to a fire.

PHOTO: IMAGEEGAMI/THINKSTOCK.COM

Savings May Be Within Easy Reach this Winter

AUTO | HOME | BUSINESS | HEALTH | LIFE

6. Lower Your Thermostat at Night.

Sleep under extra blankets or a comforter during cooler months. Lowering your thermostat by just one degree can reduce energy use by 3%. So put an extra blanket on your bed, lower your thermostat at night, and save some money!

7. Remove Window Air-Conditioning Units. In the winter, it is best to remove the A/C units to prevent heat from escaping. If the unit cannot be moved, put a cover over it to prevent drafts.

8. Unplug. Unplug phone, flashlight, small appliance, and toy chargers when not in use. Chargers and basic appliances consume energy even when they are turned off or left in “sleep” mode. Some estimates show that 10% of monthly energy use is a result of this “phantom” use.

9. Insulate Exposed Hot-Water Pipes.

Without insulation, your house’s hot water pipes transfer heat too quickly.

Even if the water left the heater at 105 degrees, this heat loss would mean the

water would barely be lukewarm 15 minutes later. Encased pipes cut down the amount of time your water takes to heat up, and save money on your water bill.

10. Shut Fireplace Dampers. When the temperature is low, shut your dampers to prevent heated air from escaping up through the chimney when the fireplace is not in use. This will help keep warm air inside the house and lower your heating bills. Please do remember to open the damper again when you lay your next fire.

If you improve the energy efficiency in your home, you may even be eligible for a grant to help pay for it. Go to www. mainehousing.org/weatherization to find out more.

Just following a few of these steps can make a big difference in your monthly costs and help you stay warmer during another winter in Maine.

JANE MARGESSON is the AARP Maine communications director.

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www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59

real estate

Living on the

Coast

Enjoy views of Cadillac Mountain and Egg Rock frrom your waterfront deck. Here’s a sneak peek inside a coastal home available now.

Barbara Bragdon, Realtor The Winter Harbor Agency

Why do you love this property?

“I love the idea of sitting on the deck, enjoying a cup of coffee, and watching the sun rise over Cadillac Mountain and Egg Rock.

It’s a beautiful property to explore.”

60 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

BACKGROUND PHOTO: JAYSONPHOTOGRAPHY/ THINKSTOCK.COM

Pick of the Month: 153 Deep Cove Road, Winter Harbor

Opposite page: Beautiful home on Grindstone Neck in Winter Harbor, featuring 1.4 acres of land. This page, clockwise from above: The spacious living room features a brick fireplace. The 2-car garade offers addtional space upstairs.

Three bedrooms showcase the timber peg post and beam architecture. Enjoy stunning views from the kitchen windows. The property includes 175 feet of deep water frontage with views of Egg Rock, Iron Bound, and Cadillac Mountain. The large deck is the perfect spot to enjoy the breath-taking scenery.

CALLING WINTER HARBOR HOME...

PROPERTY DETAILS: 153 Deep Cove Road, Winter Harbor

COMMUNITY DETAILS:

MSL ID: 1117157

Attractions: Grindstone Neck offers a yacht club, nine hole golf course, tennis courts, and footpaths.

Price: $599,000 Lot Size: 1.4 acres Details: 3 Bedrooms, 2-car unattached garage, fireplace, large deck overlooking 175 feet of deep water frontage on Grindstone Neck in Frenchman’s Bay

Population: 516

Fun Fact: The town got its name because the harbor does not freeze over in winter, making it an attractive port for local fishermen. Today it still has an active fleet of lobster boats.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

real estate Take the Stress Out of Moving

PENOBSCOT COUNTY

HANCOCK COUNTY

By Following These Top Tips and Tricks from Fox & Ginn Movers Properly pack your boxes by filling them completely to the top so the contents don’t jostle around inside.

Levant • MLS#1142367 Farmhouse on 32 acres with oversized 2-car garage with storage.

4 bedrooms, 2 baths, updated kitchen.

Located at 403 Stetson Rd West. $184,900 Lisa Caron Realty of Maine Office: 207-942-6310 lisacaronrealtor@gmail.com

MOVING COMPANIES

Edinburg • MLS#1154137 Amazing modern home overlooking Penobscot River. 4 br, 2.5 ba, 2 car garage, 17 acres. 25 min to Bangor. $369,999 Jessie Daniels Realty of Maine Office: 207-991-8980 jdanielsbangor@gmail.com

Purge as you pack.

A good rule of thumb: If you haven’t it used in a year or so, you probably don’t need to move it!

Holden • MLS#1146917 Open-concept contemporary ranch on 10 acres. Master suite, multi-level decks, pool. 2-car attached and 1-car detached garages.

Linda Gardiner Better Homes and Gardens The Masiello Group Office: 207.942.6711 lindagardiner@masiello.com

For safety, flammable liquids, fireworks, ammunition, and pressurized containers should not be shipped.

105 Godsoe Road • Bangor • 947-0183 171 High Street • Belfast • 338-0900

Your listing could be on this page Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Real Estate Guide. Call 941-1300.

Date night?

Date night?

Visit bangormetro.com and check out our calendar of events

62 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Visit bangormetro.com and check out our calendar of events

PHOTOS: MIKE WATSON, PURESTOCK, & RIDOFRANZ/THINKSTOCK.COM

Simple Rules

maine woods & waters

I Rustic Winter

Camps

There are still some rustic camps in our area that ignite the nostalgia of Bob Duchesne’s youth.

BY BOB DUCHESNE

n 1946, my grandfather bought a set of sporting camps. My father was 16 at the time. As my grandparents got older, my father took over much of the upkeep of the ancient cottages. Perforce, I was assigned my own set of chores. By the time I reached high school, I could look forward to spending the frosty week of April vacation painting interior walls. In spring, during the worst of mosquito season, it was my task to rake the leaves. To this day, I abhor raking leaves.

On the other hand, I became perfectly comfortable with spending winter days in camps that were barely insulated.

My grandmother was famous for stitching together heavy quilts. Our beds were snug on cold nights. It was second nature to fill the small kerosene heater by hand, or stoke the pot-bellied stove. In winter, there was no plumbing. We chopped holes in the ice and carried water from the lake. We washed in tubs.

To this day, wood smoke is a soothing aroma. The stars on a calm night are astonishing, even at 20 degrees below zero. During a brisk walk out onto a frozen lake, the sky is bright from horizon to horizon. These memories stay with me.

I was already in college when my parents bought a snowmobile, so I didn’t get much time on that old Ski-Doo. Perhaps that’s just as well. In those days, the exposed carburetor was in your lap and a broken drive belt was always lying in wait for you down the trail. With no sleds at college, I took to cross-country skiing.

It’s been years since I’ve spent a winter night at Nicatous Lodge in Burlington. That’s a shame, because it most closely resembles the cabins in which I grew up. The encampment dates back to 1929. Although it is deep in the woods and off the grid, its location on the shores of Nicatous Lake guarantees that it’s a bustling place in the cold months, full of snowmobilers and ice fishermen.

If there is one place that has everything, it’s the New England Outdoor Center (NEOC). If you can remember way back to when it was Robinson’s Twin Pines Camps on the shores of Millinocket Lake, you can appreciate that the small cabins retain their rustic charm. Since acquiring the camps and founding NEOC in 1982, Matt Polstein has created a whole range of accommodation options. All cabins have cooking facilities, but visitors will likely take advantage of the River Driver’s Restaurant on the premises. NEOC offers snowmobiles for rent.

The Birches in Rockwood has rental snowmobiles, too, plus 40 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. The lakeside cottages possess the rustic simplicity that I recall from my youth, save that the gas heat is quicker to take the chill off a sub-zero night. (When I wake up in the morning, I expect frost on the inside of the window.) I will forgive The Birches for offering amenities unfamiliar to me during my boyhood. The restaurant and lounge, the sauna, and the delivered-right-to-your-door, wood-fired,

PHOTO: RYAN MCVAY/THINKSTOCK.COM

To this day, wood smoke is a soothing aroma. The stars on a

calm night are astonishing. These memories stay with me.

Still, you can assess someone’s family heritage by whether they find the rumble of machines outside their cabin at daybreak to be exhilarating or annoying. I’m in the first category.

And so it is that I still seek out rustic cabins in winter. Most sporting camps are closed, but those that remain open this time of year are extraordinary. There were no microwave ovens when I was a lad, nor even electricity in some cottages. Propane fired the stove and lights.

I lived on cans of Spaghetti-Os. Nowadays, winter cuisine is vastly improved.

There is quite a range of culinary choices in the woods today.

personal hot tubs were not even within my imagination in the 1960s.

Historic Pittston Farm on Seboomook Lake above Rockwood is on everyone’s top 10 list of winter getaways. It lies at the junction of two rivers and a lake, with roads heading off in several directions.

During a winter adventure, start there, go anywhere. Rustic accommodations, good meals in the dining room, solitude—now that’s what I’m talking about!

BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63

last word

I

’ve never been one to develop a New Year’s resolution. That is not to say I do not think I should make changes to improve my life. In fact, I showered a couple of days ago without even being told it was necessary.

I am actually a firm believer that we’d all benefit from taking a deep inventory of our own lives and modifying the areas that need it. I just feel that it should happen whenever I am motivated, not just on January 1.

I do realize that I am in constant need of improvement and, with that in mind, I will now list the top three possible considerations for change that I may or may not ever initiate in my life.

Constant Need of

Improvement

Resolutions to change your life shouldn’t be limited to the first of the year. BY CHRIS QUIMBY

1. DISGUSTINGLY DIRTY CAR INTERIOR The interior of my Hyundai Sonata tends to become disgusting every few months. I am usually pretty comfortable with this, since the outside looks unappealing, too. I fear that if I greatly improve the looks of the interior, I will present an inconsistent Total Car Look, confusing the general public as to the image I am going for. Sure, every few months I grow motivated enough to shovel out all of the apple cores and Pop Tart wrappers and see if I can find the carpet, but there still exists enough of a total volume of random mementos to make this a fruitless task.

2. EMBARRASSING MY CHILDREN My children are 15 and 16 years old, and it is fun to use my Powers of Uncoolness to annoy them. My wife is great at this, too, as a couple of years ago she threatened to wear a pair of pointy elf ears to our family’s viewing of The Hobbit, but my son wouldn’t allow it.

One thing I have to guard against is being That Facebook Parent. You know, the one that needs to comment on every one of their children’s posts and who brings embarrassing family issues out to the world through post comments.

3. EATING MORE FOOD THAT DOES NOT TASTE GOOD I have a bad habit of eating foods that I enjoy, many of which come in a bag and are very crunchy. Unfortunately, many of these choices are slowly killing me. For this reason, I really should eat more foods that I have no interest in, like fruit and vegetables.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. There are actually people out there who enjoy fruits and vegetables. Well, I submit that there are also people who say they enjoy the taste of Moxie, which is impossible. Obviously, you cannot trust what people say.

Think about it. Many people will often keep plastic fruit on their tables for some reason. This has always confused me, but I suppose it makes sense, since probably many people aren’t tempted to actually eat fruit, so the decorations are safe. If, however, homemakers were to display plastic Snickers bars or Doritos, many of their visitors would need to be taken immediately to the hospital.

Those are just a few of the many things I should change in my life. I could actually come up with a much longer list if I had allowed my wife to help.

In 2015, regardless of how awesome you think you are, I encourage you to look into the mirror and consider what you might do to improve your own life.

Setting your sights on a respectable goal and persevering to that end is a great way to add quality to your existence.

And if you have trouble thinking of something, please at least come over and clean my car.

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.

64 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

IMAGE: MAREKULIASZ/THINKSTOCK.COM

Regardless of how awesome you think you are, I encourage you

to consider what you might do to improve your own life.

sque Isle • Fort Fairfield • St. Agatha • Houlton • Van Buren • Littleton • Caribou • Fort Kent • Mapleton • Mars Hill • Ashland • We

Special Section Featuring Northern Maine A bi-monthly feature section by Bangor Metro

Sled Dog Racing in Fort Kent Iditarod qualifier coming February 28

UMPI Welcomes Speakers Unique lectures open to public

Van Buren Receives Recognition The newest business friendly community

Photo: Courtesy of University of Fort Kent

Sled Dog Racing at its Finest The Can-Am Sled Dog Race comes to Fort Kent. BY BEURMOND J. BANVILLE

T

he Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Race board of directors has been hard at work since the fall of 2014 for the race that will hit the trails from the corner of Main Street and Meadow Lane on the weekend of February 28.

The Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Race in Fort Kent is the most demanding and longest sled dog race in the United States east of the Mississippi River. It is a qualifier for the famed 1,100-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaska and the 1,000mile Yukon Quest. It is considered to be one of the hardest tests of man and dog in the sled dog race circuit.

Mushers will race through the challenging route from Fort Kent to Portage Lake, then westward to isolated checkpoints in the silent, snowbound northern Maine forests. They then turn northward to Allagash and back to Fort Kent in a scenic loop that traverses varied terrain including unforgiving forests, brooks, lakes, open fields, populated areas, and demanding hills and mountains.

Founded on October 16, 1992 to establish a mid-distance sled dog race to serve a community of mushers throughout the Snow Belt and to enhance the area’s image as a winter destination point, this annual 250-mile event has become

The sled dog races begin on Main Street in Fort Kent.

a glowing jewel in the Aroostook County Crown. Shorter 60-mile and 30-mile races were established in 1994 and 1997 to create starter races for fledgling mushers working their way up to the 250-mile classic. Thirty teams are allowed annually to compete in each of the races and more than 500 volunteers help out to make this event a success.

About 6,000 spectators come from Canada and throughout the United

States, nearly doubling the town’s population on race day. Scores of enthusiasts line the finish line at Lonesome Pine Trails in Fort Kent, cheering for each of the finishers in all three races. The shorter races finish on Saturday, and mushers and dogs in the 250-mile race begin to arrive at the finish line starting in the early Monday morning hours.

The race can be followed on the web at can-am.sjv.net.

Economic Growth Gets a Boost half-million dollars in funding is coming to Northern Maine for loans and grants to support rural business activities that will boost economic growth in rural communities.

Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) is one of two economic development agencies in Maine to receive U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Microenterprise Assistance Program (RMAP) funding.

Under RMAP, USDA provides loans to Microenterprise Development Organi66 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

zations (MDOs) that, in turn, make microloans for business startup or development to eligible microentrepreneurs with 10 or fewer employees. Grants are available for MDOs to provide technical assistance and training, particularly in rural areas experiencing persistent poverty or significant outmigration. USDA does not directly provide funds to the ultimate recipients.

“These USDA Rural Development funds will have a significant impact on business and economic development in nine Maine counties, as well as a sub-

stantial impact on business development and job creation and retention in Maine,” says Virginia Manuel, USDA Rural Development state director.

The $500,000 to NMDC, administered by the Business Finance Division, will impact businesses in Aroostook and Washington counties, as well as the Penobscot County towns of Mount Chase, Patten, Stacyville, and three unorganized townships. Nineteen unorganized townships in Piscataquis County will also benefit. The plan is for funds to assist 18 businesses and create 45 jobs.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAN-AM CROWN SLED DOG RACES

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U.S. Department of Agriculture funding helps rural businesses. BY JON GULLIVER

An Adventure

Amazing snow sculptures are just one of the many wonderful aspects of Winter Carnival.

through the

North

Maine Woods T PHOTOS: (TOP) COURTESY CENTRAL AROOSTOOK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; (BOTTOM) COURTESY OF NMMC

he North Maine Woods can be an adventure any time of year, but never is that more true than in the winter months.

That has not stopped the hearty voyagers who take part in the annual trek through the logging roads of northern Maine to travel to Quebec City for their famous Winter Carnival.

The Maine Quebec Winter Carnival Caravan tradition began 58 years ago and

continues this winter, when another group will gather at Dean’s Hotel in Portage Lake on February 13 to travel west through the North Maine Woods, crossing into Quebec at Saint-Pamphile, and heading to Quebec City. Those who join the adventure will enjoy the festivities of the annual Quebec Winter Carnival and have the chance for a personal tour of Quebec Parliament and a reception at City Hall.

Since the first caravan in 1957, there

have been many tale-worthy trips, including the 1965 one, which boasted more than 225 adventurers. While the trip happened annually through the 1960s, it stopped for a number of years before being resurrected by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce a decade ago.

Those interested in joining this year’s fun should contact the Chamber at 207764-6561 or go to www.centralaroos tookchamber.com.

NMMC Renovation Project Begins

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A new, upgraded emergency room is well underway in Fort Kent. BY JOANNE M. FORTIN

ork is well underway to upgrade the emergency room at Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC). The ER renovation project is the first since the Emergency Room was built during an addition to the hospital in the 1970s.

With minimal changes to the space over the past 40 years, the upcoming renovations will bring many improvements to emergency patient care. On August 13, NMMC’s governing board approved the $2 million dollar project and the work has begun to upgrade the space.

Feedback from patient satisfaction surveys has been taken heavily into account for the design of the project, as well as regulatory changes that have been implemented into the specifications for hospital emergency rooms by the American Institute of Architects.

According to Alain Bois, RN, director of

nursing at NMMC, the ER renovation project will be rolled out in three phases. In the first phase, a 1,500-square-foot addition will be built adjacent to the existing ER. In the second phase, the existing ER space will undergo renovations to meet regulations. Each patient treatment area will be private and an advanced cardiac monitoring system will be installed.

In the third and final phase, the reception and waiting areas will be reconfigured to be more welcoming and to ensure improved privacy and confidentiality. Overall, the benefits of the renovation project will increase efficiency, quietness of the area, confidentiality, safety, patient comfort, and will meet the newest standards for safety. Emergency services will operate at full capacity during all three phases of construction. The renovations are expected to be complete by April of 2015.

An exterior view of the ER expansion at NMMC.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 67

Jan/Feb Events

JAN 24

EAGLE LAKE SLED DOG RACES The Irving Woodlands 100 and Mad Bomber 30 races are on the menu at this weekend event. The purse for the 100 is $5,000 and $2,500 for the 30. www.eaglelakesleddograces.com

JAN 24 & 25

LONG LAKE FISHING DERBY Take out your fishing gear for a chance to win prizes for the largest salmon, togue, brook trout, and cusk in Long Lake, St. Agatha. www.stagatha.com/derby

FEB 6–8

THE MOOSE IS LOOSE! Grab the kids and join your neighbors for outside fun in Community Park in Houlton for this day-long event.

532-4216 • www.greaterhoulton.com

FEB 28 & 29

CAN-AM CROWN INTERNATIONAL SLED DOG RACE This weekend-long event, a qualifier for the Iditarod and a major attraction for Fort Kent, features a 30-, 60-, and 250-mile race with $40,000 in winnings for the top teams. All races start from Main Street and end at Lonesome Pines ski lodge in Fort Kent. www.can-am-crown.net

High Quality Low Cost

Get BOTH at the University of Maine at Presque Isle UMPI is one of the 15 TOP PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the North* and THE MAINE REGIONAL COLLEGE in the North

for graduates with the LEAST DEBT*

umpi.edu 207 768.9532

*U.S. News and World Report 2015 BEST COLLEGES list

Unique

Speakers

Coming to UMPI University of Maine at Presque Isle announces spring DLS schedule.

F

BY RACHEL RICE

rom endangered alphabet crusaders to hip-hop culture examiners, the University of Maine at Presque Isle is pleased to present its speakers for the spring 2015 semester.

All talks in the series are free and open to the public.

The first spring 2015 speaker is Distinguished Student Lecturer (DSL) Brigitte Pratt who will deliver her talk Tanzania: My Learning Safari on February 24, at 7 p.m., in the Campus Center. Pratt, a UMPI senior majoring in athletic training, traveled to Africa in June 2014 to be the first participant in the Athletic Training Program’s newly developed international clinical opportunity at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. While there, she observed in a number of hospital departments and worked with a community-based organization that serves the needs of chil-

1

PHOTOS: (TOP) PHOTO COURTESY OF UMPI; PHOTO 1: COURTESY OF NMDC

Byron Hurt

dren with special medical conditions.

The following month, the university presents Tim Brookes for his talk titled Endangered Alphabets. Brookes, who will deliver his lecture on March 19 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center, is the founder of the Endangered Alphabets Project. Incorporating his skills as an artist, writer, painter, and woodcarver, Brookes is working to “save” alphabets around the world that are on the verge of extinction by carving them in wood.

Brookes is the award-winning author of 14 books including Endangered Alphabets and a 20-year commentator for National Public Radio. Several examples of Brookes’ Alphabets carvings will be on display during his talk.

To kick-off UMPI’s annual University Day activities, Byron Hurt will deliver his talk, HIP HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, on April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center. Hurt is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, published writer, and anti-sexist activist. Hurt has hosted the Emmy-nominated series REEL WORKS with BYRON HURT and he has been featured by The New York Times, O Magazine, NPR, CNN, Access Hollywood, and MTV. Hurt will discuss his most popular documentary, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens. The film tackles issues of masculinity, sexism, violence, and homophobia in today’s hip-hop culture.

The University Distinguished Lecturer Series was established in 1999.

Each year, the UDLS Committee sponsors four to six speakers who come from Maine and beyond, representing a range of disciplines and viewpoints.

1. Photo: Jim Irving of J.D. Irving Company (in front) with Governor Paul LePage at the grand opening ceremonies at the new J.D. Irving sawmill in Nashville Plantation and Ecoshel and ReEnergy in Ashland. The three businesses will employ more than 100 in the forest economy, an industry sector that is primed for additional growth.

2. The United Way has teamed up with nursing staff at The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) in Presque Isle, Cary Medical Center in Caribou, Houlton Regional Hospital, and Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent have all signed on

in support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a nation-wide initiative that puts a new book in the hands of a child each month from birth through age 5.

3. Following a year of fundraising, NMCC’s Student Nurses’ Association presents a $1,000 donation to the Aroostook House of Comfort.

Pictured (front row from left) is SNA advisor Sue Dugal; student nurses Becky Millett, association president; Janell St. Peter; Chelsea Quinn; Megan Davis; and Aroostook House of Comfort board members Mary Hunter and Darrylin Keenan.

2

3

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 69

Chamber Connection

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

Caribou Chamber of Commerce 207-498-6156 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

Limestone Chamber of Commerce 207-325-4704

limestonechamber.org

Madawaska Chamber of Commerce 207-728-7000

greatermadawaska chamber.com

Van Buren Chamber of Commerce 207-868-5059

vanburenchamber.org

70 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Students Give Back

S

tudents, faculty, and staff at Northern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Presque Isle recently participated in their First Annual Food Fight in honor of Hunger Action Month.

Business Friendly

V

an Buren is the most recent Aroostook County community to be designated Certified BusinessFriendly by Governor Paul LePage and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

“It is exciting to be recognized for the hard work and commitment put forth by the town of Van Buren in promoting new economic development and helping our existing businesses grow and prosper,” says Dan McClung, Van Buren’s town manager. “We have an aggressive growth strategy for economic development and this certification is a key piece of the puzzle.”

The Certified Business-Friendly Community program, administered by the DECD, encourages Maine municipalities to take a critical look at all areas of their business attraction strategy and examine ways the community interacts with businesses to promote new private investment.

In a letter of support for the designation, Northern Maine Development

The institutions challenged each other to participate in the food drive, held between September 19 and October 3, to help stock the shelves at local food pantries. Through the event, 1,536 pounds of food was donated to Catholic Charities Maine.

Van Buren becomes the latest community to receive special designation.

BY JON GULLIVER

Commission executive director Robert Clark wrote, “Over the past decade, Van Buren has been proactive in putting in place both infrastructure and processes that will assist new enterprises in doing business in the community.”

Clark added that Van Buren took advantage of having a USDA Empowerment Zone designation to obtain funding from both the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and USDA Rural Development to expand their industrial park. As a result, a value-added food processor, Northern Girl, and Northern Maine Paving have moved into the park with the help of the Pine Tree Zone program, Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement and Business Equipment Tax Exemption programs, and Tax Increment Financing, with the assistance of NMDC. Since the Certified Business-Friendly Community program began in 2012, the list of Certified Business-Friendly communities in Aroostook County has grown to include Caribou, Fort Kent, Presque Isle, and now Van Buren.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF NMCC

cariboumaine.net

A representative from Catholic Charities (far left) helps Phi Theta Kappa members Grahm Freme, Caleb Williamson, and Matthew Farkas carry donated food items to the delivery truck.

Meet our

2014 Winners

2015

entrepreneurial awards

Abe and Heather Furth

Owners of Verve, Woodman’s Grill, & The Orono Brewing Co. Orono & Bangor

T

he past 10 years of Abe and Heather Furth’s lives have been a whirlwind of business growth.

The duo graduated from the University of Maine in 2004, got married, and opened Woodman’s Bar and Grill in Orono in 2005. They opened Verve across the street in 2009 and spent the better part of 2012 renovating the adajacent four-story buildings in downtown Bangor to house six apartments and another Verve restaurant, which opened in 2013. This past year,

growing their businesses and looking forward, Heather prefers to focus on the details and make sure what the couple tackles is successful. “We’ve really grown up together,” Heather says. “Abe spends most of his time at Woodman’s and the brewery, and I spend most of my time at Verve.”

The couple say, without question, that they would not be where they are today with out the help of their business coach, Tom Gallant from the local Small Business Development Center (SBDC). “We wouldn’t

“That’s the number one advice I would give to someone looking to start a business in the area—find a business counselor.”

–Heather Furth 2014, the duo renovated the basement of Verve in Orono to open Orono Brewing Co. The couple also celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary with a trip to Scotland. Not bad for a couple of 33-year-olds.

“I knew in college that I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” Abe says, who majored in English. Both individuals had a background in restaurants, as they both worked in the industry through college. This entrepreneurial spirit is solely their own—their parents are educators, a nurse, and an electrician.

The duo complement each other in every way. While Abe prefers to focus on 74 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

be here without him,” Abe says. “He has taught us so much. That’s the number one advice I would give to someone looking to start a business in the area—find a business counselor,” Heather says.

The learning curve was steep when the couple was working on opening Woodman’s. They worked hard to get traditional funding to open. They had to come up with $50,000 on their own before they could even hope to get a business loan. “Where do you come up with $50,000 when you’re 23 to start a business?” Abe says. “You borrow a little bit from a lot of people,” Heather says. “We paid everyone back in five years.”

They’ve also partnered with people who have helped them find success. The couple own Woodman’s Bar and Grill with chef Mark Horton. Asa Marsh-Sachs, a local brewmaster, will brew full-time at the Orono Brewing Co. Abe gets visibly excited when talking about the brewery.

Their nine brews will be served at Woodman’s, Verve locations, and sold by the pint and growler in the draft room. The Orono Brewing Co. is a part of the Maine Brewers Guild and the Maine Beer Trail.

With the popularity of microbrewing in Maine these days, are the Furths worried about competition? “A rising tide raises all boats,” Heather says. “Brewery tourism is growing, and we hope that our brewery will help bring more people to Orono. We think this will help Orono become the college town we know it can be.”

With four brick and mortar business under their belt, you’d think the Furths would be ready to slow down. The couple has decided to take 2015 to focus on their existing businesses before moving forward with anything new. “The biggest challenge we’ve faced is fear and selfdoubt,” Heather says. “But the more you do it, the less scary it is. Opening Verve in Orono was easier than Woodman’s, and opening Verve in Bangor was easier than opening the one in Orono.”

“You only get one chance in life, so if an opportunity presents itself, go for it,” Abe says. “Of course that doesn’t mean you leap without a solid plan!”

PHOTO: BDN FILE PHOTO/GABOR DEGRE

2015

Gerry Nasberg

2015

Owner of Pat’s Pizza Ellsworth

PHOTO: COURTESY OF GERRY NASBERG

T

he only thing Gerry Nasberg knew about pizza when he decided to open a Pat’s Pizza in Ellsworth was that he loved it.

“I ate a lot of pizza growing up,” he says. Nasberg, 55, was raised in Bangor.

He studied construction engineering at Michigan State University and earned an MBA from the University of Maine in Orono. After school he went to work for a construction company in Jay, Maine. “I worked there for five years and I decided I wanted to do something different.”

Nasberg turned to Bruce Farnsworth at the original Pat’s Pizza in Orono.

“Bruce said he really wanted a Pat’s in Ellsworth,” Nasberg says. He took the time to do some market research. What he found was that about 20,000 UMaine graduates lived in the greater Ellsworth area. It’s a rare student that spends four years at the University of Maine in Orono without eating at least one pizza from Pat’s. The nostalgia, Nasberg thought, would help bring in customers.

That was 25 years ago. Today, the Pat’s Pizza in Ellsworth is one of the largest ones in the state. “Our size allows us to do a lot more with the community,” he says.

“We do a lot with the area schools. That’s our target audience. One of the Ellsworth High School sports teams even put ‘Fueled by Pat’s Pizza’ on their jackets. We didn’t ask them to do that—they did it on their own! I was so surprised!”

Nasberg never thought he’d own a pizza joint. And starting wasn’t easy. He was able to get a small loan to open the restaurant, and Bruce Farnsworth spent two weeks helping him get up and going. “We put an ad in the paper a couple of weeks before we were set to open in 1989 and no one showed up for a job. Not one person, ” Nasberg says, then laughs. “We ran the ad again the following week and Ed Griffin showed up. He was my first hire.

He must have been about 17 or 18 years old at the time. I ended up hiring Ed’s mom, his brother, and a bunch of his friends. As

many of his friends as he could bring in.” Griffin, who worked at Pat’s for years, is now at Marlintini’s Grill in Blue Hill.

Nasberg credits his employees with the restaurant’s success.

“We have some people who have been here for a long, long time,” he says. Another one of his first hires in 1989 was Pam Vafiades, who is still employed at Pat’s. “We’re on the second generation now with some of our employees and we’re looking at the third generation here in a few years.”

rant since 2010, has helped build a presence on Facebook. “He runs our Facebook page and all of our promos,” Nasberg says.

“I think our social media outreach has paid off, it’s given us a boost.” McCarthy

“We’re on the second generation now with some of our employees and we’re looking at the third generation here in a few years.”

–Gerry Nasberg One of the biggest lessons Nasberg has learned in starting and running a successful business is that hard work goes a long way. “When we first opened, I worked 80 hours a week and lost 60 pounds,” Nasberg says. He spent a decade living in an apartment on the second floor of the restaurant on High Street. “I literally didn’t have to go outside to get to work!” he says.

He bought the building and has renovated and expanded, adding a drive through area for families on the go.

Four years ago he opened a Pat’s Pizza on Rodick Street in Bar Harbor. His brother, Pete, runs that restaurant. “Bar Harbor is a different market with different challenges,” he says. The Bar Harbor Pat’s is much more seasonal, even though it’s one of the few restaurants in town that is open year-round.

Nasberg’s business has also grown virtually. Tim McCarthy, who has been the general manager of the Ellsworth restau-

uses it to promote giveaways and contests in the restaurant. Last year, Nasberg gave away a cruise to the Bahamas.

He also offers to help community groups raise money. One of his most popular promotions is the Tip A Cup. This is where Ellsworth police officers take over Pat’s as servers, and all of the tips they earn go towards a fund or nonprofit of their choice. “Some of these guys have been doing it for so many years that they are really great servers,” he says. “They really know the menu!”

Nasberg has learned a lot of lessons throughout his 25 years of ownership.

“I believe that if you go into a business or start a business that is fully funded by someone else, you won’t do well because you’re not as invested,” he says. “Using your own money makes you work harder.”

When asked about retirement, Nasberg balks. “I can’t see stopping. It’s too much fun!” he says. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 75

entrepreneurial awards

Norma J. Desjardins

2015

St. Apollonia Dental Clinic Presque Isle a toll on her health and she began experiencing pain in her neck, shoulders, and arms. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and had to rethink how she was going to continue working.

“At first I was devastated,” she says. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to be a dentist anymore.” She started limiting the number of hours she saw patients and

“I want to be sure people understand that it takes a lot of people to achieve something like this. I didn’t do it on my own.

I had a lot of help along the way.”

–Norma Desjardins who got to have braces—my bite was really bad.” Her early dental experiences were positive, and she attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, graduating in 1992.

After graduation, she and her family moved north where she opened a private practice in Van Buren. In 1995, she merged her practice with another local dentist and founded Academy Dental in Presque Isle. In March 2012, she went a step further and opened St. Apollonia Dental Clinic, a low-cost pediatric dental clinic. She doesn’t see patients at St. Apollonia, and doesn’t draw anything from the payroll, but her role as CEO fulfills her.

“I felt called to do it,” she says of the clinic. “I have a lot of faith, I was just drawn towards it.” The idea to open the clinic came to her in 2009. Her busy practice and long hours started to take 76 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

devoted more time to getting the clinic up and running. She taught herself how to write and apply for grants, which helped secure the funding she needed to get St. Apollonia off the ground.

She decided to set up the clinic as a nonprofit so that it was easier to accept MaineCare. “Many people these days are working poor,” Desjardins says. “To be able to run a business with a low reimbursement rate is hard. We want kids, no matter what kind of coverage they have, to be able to be served here.” And they are. To date, the clinic has about 2,300 patients, which is a lot for a single dentist. Dr. Erik Johnson joined the practice in July 2013. He has two full-time hygienists on staff to help him care for all those kids. Many of their patients are seeing a dentist for the first time. “This is the first time Aroostook County has had a pediatric dentist,” Desjardins says.

“The extent of disease is great, and little ones need this specialist care.”

Nationally, 10.1% of people live in a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA), which is defined as a region with fewer than one dentist for every 5,000 residents. In Maine, 200,000 people (16%) live in a DHPSA, according to the Center for Workforce Studies. In 2012, Maine had the lowest dentistto-patient ratio in New England at five dentists to every 10,000 people. Before Desjardins moved back to the area, many families in Aroostook County had to drive to Bangor or Augusta for dental care.

“With the experience of running a practice, I felt that I could help people who weren’t able to come to a regular practice,” Desjardins says. “Many kids come in with their grandparents—we had to figure out permission forms. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”

Desjardins says that there will always be a percentage of operating funds that the organization will get through grants. She says she’d like to keep that number at 10 to 15%. “The Maine Access Foundation has been incredibly helpful. I want to be sure people understand that it takes a lot of people to achieve something like this. I didn’t do it on my own. I had a lot of help along the way.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF NORMA DESJARDINS

N

orma Desjardins always knew she would return to The County to practice dentistry.

She and her husband, Paul, are both from Van Buren and planned to raise their two children in northern Maine.

“We went away and got our education and came back to give back.”

Desjardins was one of eight children in her family. “My mom and dad did what they could so we could see the dentist in town at least once a year,” she says. “I was the only one in the family

2015

Abby Freethy North Wood Gourmet Girl Greenville

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ABBY FREETHY

A

bby Freethy has turned a craving for ketchup into the beginnings of a lifestyle brand called Northwoods Gourmet Girl.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Freethy came to Maine for the summer of 1999 to work as a private chef on Mount Desert Island. She was hooked.

Years later she returned to Maine to visit a friend and never left.

Food has always been a big part of Freethy’s life. “My whole line of products is based around how I thought my Gramma would want it,” she says. Add to that Freethy’s touch of sophistication from her background in culinary arts and design.

The Culinary Institute of America graduate started Northwoods Gourmet Girl when she was pregnant with her son. She had cravings for ketchup and French fries, but had always preferred healthy eating and the brands she found on the store shelves didn’t fit the bill. So she made her own. Her country ketchup was the first item she made and sold out of her home-based kitchen in 2005. In 2013, she built a commercial kitchen in Greenville, thanks in no small part to her parent’s help, and expanded her offerings.

Her space in Greenville is a kitchen, store, and packing and shipping center.

The 3,000-square-foot space is built with all green products. In May, 2014, Freethy expanded again, opening up a storefront in downtown Belfast. It’s a growth spurt for Freethy, who continues to live in Greenville, and she looks forward to her second summer in 2015.

Freethy’s big dreams and creativity stem from a small town. She is fiercely loyal to Greenville, and sits on the board of a committee that is making it their mission to rebrand Greenville as a destination. “This small town is so important to me,” she says. “We have a world-class lake! I talk to people all the time who have no idea where Moosehead Lake is.” The rebranding process is

shop, some dishes, and you’ll eventually see silverware. We want to offer things that are proprietary, like the fabrics used in the clothing.” Freethy creates all the paintings and has started to make tea towels that proved to be extremely popular at The Maine Harvest Festival this past November. “I want to have the freedom to create anything that relates to food for my brand.”

“Any time someone would say that I couldn’t do something or perhaps I would fail, it would hurt. But then I turned it around into positive energy.”

–Abby Freethy helping the community figure out how to highlight their strong points and make them stand out. “We’re working on identifying what will bring people to this area and how to provide them with the best experience possible.”

That idea of having the best experience is something Freethy strives for in her own business as well. In an effort to build her lifestyle brand, Freethy’s stores in Belfast and Greenville will start offering homemade food, such as chicken pot pie, flourless chocolate torte, and carmelized onion and goat cheese tartlets. “These are things that can be enhanced with my other products,” she says. “My lifestyle brand is centered all around food. It’s an outlet for all kinds of creativity. You’ll see glassware in the

Freethy will spend the winter working on a cookbook that will share recipes and experiences from every part of her life.

“There are going to be big, bright photos and ideas that range from down home recipes to throwing a swanky party,” she says.

You’re probably wondering where Freethy gets all of this energy, this creativity, this need to make things. “It’s an unknown fire,” she says. “Any time someone would say that I couldn’t do something or perhaps I would fail, it would hurt. But then I turned it around into positive energy. I knew from the very beginning that I would get there. I didn’t know how, but I would do it.”

It’s been nearly 10 years since her first bottle of ketchup, and Freethy shows no signs of stopping. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 77

entrepreneurial awards

78 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

Geaghan Brothers 2015

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE GEAGHAN BROTHERS

N

o one is happier that the “other” end of Main Street is now bustling with activity than Peter Geaghan. He and his two brothers, Larry and Pat, have been working at Geaghan’s Restaurant and Pub since they were teenagers. July 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of one of Bangor’s favorite establishments.

“We all started here as dishwashers,” Geaghan says. Pat ventured outside of the family business for a little while, but this is the only real job Larry and Peter have had. “I’ve done every possible job here over the past 40 years,” Geaghan says. All the brothers pitch in when needed, but Larry mainly runs the office and Pat works mostly in the kitchen, Geaghan says. “I’m from a family of 11. At some point, everyone worked here.”

But after nearly 40 years, you couldn’t blame the brothers for looking forward to retiring. “Larry, Pat, and myself, we’re in our 50s getting close to our 60s,” Geaghan says. Larry is the oldest of the three and Peter is the youngest.

About five years ago, their conversations turned towards how they were going to phase out the family business. “Things were happening at this end of town, and we were growing at a comfortable clip,” Geaghan says. The addition of Hollywood Casino, the Waterfront Concerts, and the new Cross Insurance Center has brought a lot of business their way in

Geaghan’s Pub and Geaghan Bros. Brewing Co. Bangor

the last decade. How were they going to hang up their hats?

Larry’s son Andy overheard their conversations and proposed an idea. “He told us he didn’t want the business to end and that he wanted to be more involved,” Geaghan says. Andy is a graduate of the University of Maine and was teaching at Brewer High School when he decided to join his dad and uncles full-time at the pub.

“When that happened we stopped talking about slowing the business down and started talking about expanding.”

It was Andy who came up with the idea to start brewing. It was an interest that he had had since college, and he knew that craft brewing was taking off. He thought that his family could capitalize on the growing trend and make something with it. Boy was he right.

The family built a five-barrel brewing system onto the dining room side of their Bangor establishment. Geaghan Brothers Brewing opened in December 2011. In 2015, the business is expanding their brewing operation across the river in Brewer. The new facility will be able to produce eight times the amount of beer as the original facility in Bangor, and will allow the brothers to reach markets they can’t currently provide for. “Our distributors always want more than we have,” Geaghan says. “This won’t be a problem with the new Brewer facility.”

The new brewery will produce their

most popular brews—Bangor Brown, Smiling Irish Bastard, and The Refeuler.

Along with increasing keg distribution, the Brewer facility will also be able to bottle beer for sale.

But it’s not all about business for the Geaghan brothers. This family has been involved in community giving ever since John and Arline Geaghan began the business in 1975. The Geaghans have called Bangor home for generations, so giving back is something they feel passionate about.

“We do a lot of small fundraising all year long, but we’ve focused a lot with Champion the Cure,” Geaghan says. The family has also helped with the fundraising efforts for the new multiple sclerosis wing at the Lafayatte Family Cancer Center. “MS and cancer have touched our family in different ways,” Geaghan says.

The Geaghans also sponsor Fusion Sports, a program that is part of Fusion:Bangor, and the Bangor Roller Derby. “We have our fun sponsorships and our serious sponsorships,” Geaghan says.

“We’re a restaurant, but we touch a lot of people,” Geaghan says. “The restaurant has become bigger than us in some ways. It’s a part of the community thread.” And that community, Geaghan says, is still the same as it was when his parents ran the business. “Greater Bangor is a group that cares about their neighbors, and they always will.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 79

entrepreneurial awards

Nancy O’Brien

S

ix years ago, Nancy O’Brien and her husband, Pat, were trying to figure out how to spend more time in Maine. The couple, who had been living in Connecticut, had a home in Bass Harbor, and wanted to become year-round residents of the Pine Tree State. “We came to Bass Harbor as often as we could, and every time we had to leave we cried,” O’Brien says.

Though she had a corporate career, O’Brien was looking for a change. A friend had introduced her to an importer and they had discussed the olive oil business.

FIORE Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars Bar Harbor, Rockland, & Freeport

has a presence, a store within a store, at Bangor Wine and Cheese, Crossroads Beverage in Newport, and The Vault in Lewiston. “We rent space within these stores and our employees work there,” O’Brien says.

O’Brien learned about artisan olive oils and vinegars at a breakneck pace. She is careful who she sources from and when her growers and producers are harvesting. In 2009, O’Brien was the only employee; today she has 28. FIORE specializes in Ultra Premium extra virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars. Ultra Premium (UP) is a new category of olive oil that

“I really wanted to be local right from the

beginning. We are not absentee owners.

We like to have a presence in the stores.”

–Nancy O’Brien But it wasn’t until their real estate agent called them with the news that there was a storefront on the market in Bar Harbor that the olive oil idea became a reality.

They put their Connecticut home on the market and sold it two weeks later. Five weeks after that, FIORE Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars opened at 8 Rodick Place in Bar Harbor. Since then other stores have opened in Rockland and Freeport. FIORE 80 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2015

distinguishes it as the highest quality in the world. Their products hail from Italy, Greece, the Iberian Peninsula, California, Chile, Peru, Australia, and South Africa.

In 2010, FIORE received the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s Rising Star Business of the Year award after just one year in business. Yankee Magazine named FIORE the Best Around the World Tasting Room in New England in 2012. The fol-

lowing year, O’Brien was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2013 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year for the state of Maine.

With over 50 different FIORE Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars, tasting is key to sales. FIORE doesn’t sell anything pre-bottled—everything you buy is filled onsite by an employee. “It’s all about the freshness,” O’Brien says. The oils and vinegars are all stored in stainless steel containers, called fustis, imported from Italy.

They are seamless vessels so that no air or light gets in. “Air and light are your two worst enemies,” O’Brien says. Each fusti holds about 30 375mL bottles. FIORE’s glass bottles are UV resistant to keep light from reaching the oil.

It’s not uncommon to see O’Brien or Pat working in any of their retail stores. “I really wanted to be local right from the beginning,” she says. “We are not absentee owners. We like to have a presence in the stores.” Pat handles the marketing and delivery and helps source the olive oils and vinegars. O’Brien handles the administrative side of the business, including hiring and managing their 30 employees, some of whom have been with FIORE since they opened. “We have a really great group of dedicated employees. They love the product and it shows!”

PHOTO: BDN FILE PHOTO/GABOR DEGRE

2015

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