1602

SQUE ISLE • BANGOR • PORTLAND • STOCKHOLM • CHERRYFIELD • GOULDSBORO • MEDWAY • SANGERVILLE • KNOX • ELLSWORTH • ALNA • WINSL

quoggy jo ski center

sebec lake

height of land

OUR FAVORITE PLACES

Inside:

Crafting with kids Heart health

downtown belfast mount battie

News from the Crown of Maine

LOTS TO LOVE INSIDE $5.95

February 2016

maine candy makers

then & now: china lobster recipe

seawicks candles

online dating

reading with dogs

FEBRUARY 2015

contents

features CANINE COMPANIONS / 20 Reading to dogs makes learning fun HAND-MADE SUCCESS / 22 Meet the family behind Seawicks Candles DOWNTOWN REVIVAL / 24 Breanna Pinkham Bebb is bringing back downtown pride HEALTHY HEART HINTS / 26 29 ways to heart your heart LOVE ME / 32 Our staff and writers share their favorite spots in Maine SUGAR HIGH / 40 Sweetening your Valentine’s with a visit to Maine candy makers THEN & NOW: CHINA / 48 This historic town is a long way from Asia LOBSTER KING / 56 Maine’s Lobster Chef of the Year shares a romantic recipe CRAFTING A BUSINESS / 60 A master metalsmith talks about the business of art ALL-STAR FAMILY / 68 Meet a Washburn basketball family

48 2 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

PHOTOS: (CHOCOLATE) BDN FILE; (CHINA) COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW

40

Our favorite Maine places, page 32

A recipe from Maine’s Lobster Chef of the Year, page 56

PHOTOS: (LOBSTER) ANTONIO GRAVANTE/THINKSTOCK; (COMPUTER) CYANO66/ THINKSTOCK; (HEIGHT OF LAND) SARAH JUNE MICHALOWSKI; (BASKETBALL) BDN FILE

68

in every issue

columns

TALK BACK & SIGHTINGS / 8 Our readers thoughts and photos

METRO WELLNESS / 30 Life after loss

BIZ BUZZ / 14 People and places on the move

METRO FAMILY / 66 Prepping toddlers for winter fun

WHAT’S HAPPENING / 15 Local news and events

MAINE WOODS & WATERS / 70 Maine hunters have the right to silence

PERSPECTIVES / 62 The work of Emilie Stark-Menning

LAST WORD / 80 Traveling with the super sun

AIMEE & AMY TRY... / 64 Fall in love with easy bird feeders

CROWN OF MAINE / 77 News from Aroostook County

• Scan the code to visit us at bangormetro.com Visit us out on Facebook to enter fun giveaways!

Check out our interactive map of Then & Now (featured on page 48)

SAVVY SENIORS / 72 Beware of romance scammers METRO HOME / 74 Tips for a basement makeover

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

Avoid a bad romance, page 72

More photos from events around our region.

Email your own event photos: sightings@bangormetro.com

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

• PORTLAND • STOCKHOL M • CHERRYFIELD • GOULDSBO RO • MEDWAY • SANGERVIL LE • KNOX • ELLSWORT H • ALNA • WINSLOW PRESQUE ISLE • BANGOR

editor’s note

$5.95

quoggy jo ski center

sebec lake

height of land

Inside:

OUR FAVORITE PLAC

Crafting with kids Heart health

ES

downtown belfast mount battie

News from the Crown of Maine

February 2016

LOTS TO LOVE INSID E

maine candy makers

then & now: china

18 below

seawick’s candles

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

online dating

velocity girl’s soccer club

The magazine cover might have given it away, but it’s no secret we at Bangor Metro love Maine.

February is the month of love and the timing seemed perfect to share a variety of heart-related things with you: information about heart health, places we heart in our great state, candy we heart to eat, and a diamond buying guide for the one you heart the most.

We hope you love this issue as much as we do, but we’d love it even more if you share some of your favorite things about Maine with us. We’d love to feature you in our new Talk Back section on page 8.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what a great time we had at this year’s Entrepreneurial Awards. A huge thanks to all of our winners, those who took time to send in nominations, and especially our sponsors and co-workers who helped make it a success. Check out photos from the event starting on page 10 by the always-wonderful Jeff Kirlin of Thing of the Moment photography.

Tune in next month for our green issue featuring tips and tricks for sustainable living.

PUBLISHER

Richard J. Warren

MANAGING EDITOR

Aimee Thibodeau athibodeau@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Emily Burnham eburnham@bangordailynews.com

SALES MANAGER

Laurie Cates lcates@bangordailynews.com

Getting a little prop happy at the Bangor Metro 2016 Entrepreneurial Awards!

AIMEE THIBODEAU, MANAGING EDITOR ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Fred Stewart

Connect With Us Online! bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro editor@bangormetro.com

4 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

(RIBBON) IVANMIKHAYLOV/THINKSTOCK; (GROUP) JEFF KIRLIN/THE THING OF THE MOMENT

fstewart@bangordailynews.com

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

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Jane Margesson

Deb Neuman

Chris Quimby

Richard Shaw

Ashley Thornton

Emilie Brand Throckmorton

Bangor Metro Magazine. February 2016, Vol. 12, No. 2.

Copyright Š Bangor Publishing Company.

Bangor Metro is published 12 times annually by Bangor Publishing Company. 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 Sales Manager, Laurie Cates at 207-990-8149.

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www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

talk back & sightings

We Love Hearing From You

Share your thoughts ...

Joel Alex

Excited and honored to be recognized with Bangor Metro’s 2016 Entrepreneurial Award for Central Maine!

We didn’t even know we were being considered!!!

FILE PHOTO: BDN

Joel Alex, Blue Ox Malthouse, Lisbon Falls

M

Owner, Blue Ox Malt house, Lisbon Falls

aine has

a vibrant craft brewing community and strong agricu ltural economy, but lacked the infrastructure connect these needed to two important industries — Joel Alex left until now. In 2013, his job, apart ment , and "9-5" life Blue Ox Malth to found ouse with the goal of becom fostering relatio ing a catalyst nships betwe for en farmers, brewe food producers. rs, and other In January 2014, with two tons County, Joel of grain from processed his Aroostook first pilot batch of Farms and Food malts at Coast s, Inc. in Belfas al t, ME. This would groundwork for lay the Blue Ox Malth ouse's work with agriculture and the state's brewing comm unities to provid Maine malt. e the perfect A year later in Spring of 2015, Blue Ox Malth permanent home ouse found a in Lisbon Falls.

Winner Central Maine

Nominated by:

Joe Alex

“Blue Ox Malthous e seeks to use barley/wheat grow n in northern Maine to make malt for use in Maine craft Brew eries and thus keep it local.” www.bangorme

tro.com BANGO R METRO / 67

From our Facebook page: Emily Stoddard Burnham did a super fun interview with me for the Bangor Metro. You can now read it online!

Check out this cool Maine ski company I wrote about for Bangor Metro – love how they are combining tradition with technology! You made the COVER story Lucid Skis!

Jonathan Wyman, Westbrook

arts & culture

Maine music producer Jonathan Wyman’s story can be found in our January issue.

Deb Neuman, Bangor

O n t he Record

BY EMILY BURNHAM

42 / BANGOR METRO

January 2016

nd? What brought What’s your backgrou chance if you’ve , and to Maine? you to recording from a Maine raised outside Boston. listened to an album I was born and years, Jonathan where I studied band in the past five Went to Bates College, won’t it. He’s worked was in a band. I Wyman produced psychology and it’s bands Maine of who of the band, because with a true who’s tell you the name The band Rustic Overtones. it was not a good and artists. Spose. embarrassing and The Mallett Brothers we went into a recordGhost of Paul Revere. [laughs]. Anyway, Sparks the I was 19, and Collide. when Band. When Particles ing studio in Boston with the whole and the North. North Rescue. Chris Ross I just became smitten up taking an unpaid list goes on. of Nashville. The process. I ended excellent record to pay off what we’d There are several assistant gig there a but Wyman, who graduating, I got producer s in Maine, recorded, and after k ten renovate d Westbroo Portland, and about records in the job at a studio in coas Halo, which he on my own. Now, barn dubbed The years ago struck out Elhow often you get producer Darren owns with fellow a studio owner, I know nd. in-dema most kids who want a job, der, might be the emails from pimply he out getting talked about why know how I lucked don’t I Wyman recently so that g, how things have Boston, because got into recordin that initial gig in to years, and what, changed over the was my launch point. him, sounds good.

here’s a good

All Dressed Up ROBBINS

WE’RE EXCITED Here’s a look at what our staff is psyched to share with readers this month

T

PHOTO: MATTHEW

er Maine music produc talks Jonathan Wyman about how things have sounds changed and what good to him now.

We traded in our jeans for a little sparkle and snazz at the 2016 Bangor Metro Entrepreneurial Awards.

Many thanks to everyone who nominated a local mover and shaker for this year’s awards. You can find their full bios in last month’s issue (available at bangormetro.com if you don’t already have a copy), and lots of photos from the event on the next few pages thanks for photog extraordinaire Jeff Kirlin.

What Do You Think?

Meet a basketball family from Washburn, page 64

All Over The Place We’re all over the state this month! From Washburn to China, we’ve got it covered.

Therapy dogs Opie and Skylar encourage reading for Hampden school children, page 16 Visit China (the one in Maine), page 44

We want your feedback! We’ve kicked off a new year and we’re making little tweaks, changes and updates – and we need your help. What do you want to see in the magazine? Share with us!

We want to hear your story ideas and suggestions.

Coming NEXT MONTH...

It’s the Green Issue! We’re talking to local companies and home owners about reducing their carbon footprint.

Have a comment or story idea? Share! Email us at editor@bangormetro.com

8 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Kicking off

the New Year right was the intent of the Downtown Countdown in Bangor.

Happy Valentine’s Day! February is full of fun facts so get ready for a pop quiz! Cozy up with your sweet heart and a box of conversation hearts and test your knowledge.

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for the answers!

PHOTOS BY JEFF KIRLIN

2

1

1: Trendy Robots perform during Bangor’s Downtown Countdown New Year’s Eve celebration.

2: West Market Square was filled with thousands of New Year’s Eve revelers

watching the ball drop from the top of the Paddy Murphy’s building.

3: Attractions in West Market Square included a pig roast by local restaurant Blaze and a tent for music and dancing.

3

Visit our Bangor Metro Facebook page for answers!

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

2016

ENTREPRENEURIAL

Awards

Thank you

to everyone who joined us last month for the 2016 Entrepreneurial Awards!

Congratulations to our winners: Derik Smith, Gabrielle Melchionda, Jeff and Diane Kelly-Lokocz, Joel Alex, and Danai and Jutamas Srisodsai.

PHOTOS BY JEFF KIRLIN, THE THING OF THE MOMENT

Thank you to our sponsors Presenting Sponsor

Signature Drink Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Swag Bag Sponsor

Whitten’s 2-Way Service Day’s Jewelers Table Sponsor

Varney GMC Business Elite 10 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Chocolate Sponsor

Savour Chocolatier

Bronze Sponsor

Photo Booth Sponsor

School Street Picture Framing Special Thanks to

Hilton Garden Inn Bangor

1

2

3

1: Entrepreneurial Award winners Joel Alex, Gabrielle Melchionda, Diane and Jeff Kelly-Lokocz, Danai Srisodsai and son, and Derik Smith.

2: Metro staffers and Lori Smart of Bangor Savings pose for a selfie with photographer Jeff Kirlin.

4

3: Bangor Daily News Publisher Richard Warren, Bangor Chamber of Commerce President and CEO and emcee for the evening Deb Neuman with Metro staffers Amy Allen and Emily Burnham.

4: Metro Managing Editor Aimee Thibodeau with Metro writer Joy Hollowell.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

2016

1

ENTREPRENEURIAL

Awards

2 3

1: Representative from The First, the event’s Presenting Sponsor, strike a pose.

2: Metro Sales Manager Laurie Cate and Managing Editor Aimee Thibodeau present an award to Joel Alex, owner of Blue Ox Malthouse.

4

3: Jeff Kirlin grabs a selfie with Bangor Daily News Publisher Richard Warren.

4: Gabrielle Melchionda of Mad Gabs in Westbrook is presented with her award.

5: Enjoying the event are Matthew Irwin, Floyd Rockholt, Lynn Whitten Bustard, Nathan Bustard, Amanda Jane Nadeau, Milt Smith, Derik Smith and Ellyn Whitten Smith.

5 12 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

biz buzz On the Move MICHAEL WHELAN has

joined Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems as the first system vice president of Facilities and Supply Chain. In this new role, under the office of the chief financial officer, Whelan will oversee all of facilities and supply chain management, real estate, security, environmental services, biomedical engineering, construction, and renovation projects.

In addition, he will serve as chair of the EMHS Environment of Care Team (safety committee) and will direct the overall maintenance and repair operations for EMHS. Whelan will assume this role on Feb. 15.

Maine Coast Memorial Hospital welcomes CHARLES RADIS, D.O. , specializing in rheumatology. Dr. Radis will be seeing patients in The Mary Dow Center. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Bates College before attending the University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri. For the past 23 years, Dr. Radis has practiced in Portland at Rheumatology Associates.

As Business Lending Solutions continues to grow, it has announced AL MORONEY as loan officer in Midcoast Maine and welcomed back WILL HATT as senior vice president and chief operating officer.

Moroney has more than 30 years of banking and lending experience. Moroney earned both his master’s degree in business administration and bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maine. Most recently, Hatt served as the senior vice president and senior commercial lender at Skowhegan Savings Bank, he has returned to BLS to support its immense growth. Hatt completed the Prudential/Pentatura College training program, the Key Bank/Pinnacle Corporation Banking program, as well as various financial services classes through the University of Maine System.

14 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

DAVID RAWCLIFFE, DO, has joined the

medical staff of Penobscot Community Health Care’s Brewer Medical Center at 735 Wilson St. Rawcliffe’s practice centers on all aspects of high-quality medical care, including patient physicals, acute visits, and health care maintenance, for people of all ages.

Rawcliffe received undergraduate degrees in Zoology/Genetics and Nursing from the University of Maine and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from the University of New England.

Awards MAINE OXY in Auburn has earned the

Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program Award in recognition of its rigorous safety achievement program. Maine Oxy is a supplier of welding supplies, industrial and specialty gases, and innovative industry solutions. Acceptance into SHARP by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recognizes this work site as a model for safety and health standards.

FORT KENT FIRE AND RESCUE has

earned the Safety and Health Award for Public Employers. SHAPE recognizes public-sector organizations that voluntarily undertake a rigorous safety achievement program for their workers.

Grants JAMES SULIKOWSKI, PH.D., professor in

the Department of Marine Sciences at the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND, accepted in December a donation of $10,000 from the Marine Anglers for Research and Conservation of Belgrade (photo), bringing the total amount of

money donated to UNE by the Marine Anglers to $17,500 over the past two years. The funds are used by UNE to support undergraduate research on conservation and management of local fish species.

L.L.BEAN recently announced approval

of its Charitable Giving Program that will allocate $2.1 million in grants to more than 80 organizations for annual gifts, plus additional funding in small grants to dozens more. The program was approved by the L.L.Bean Board of Directors at its December meeting and represents an increase over last year’s charitable program. The gifts, ranging from $5,000 to $225,000, will be disbursed to organizations involved in the areas of conservation and recreation, health and human services,education, and culture and the arts. For a complete list of recipients, visit llbean.com.

The Palmyra Walmart and Walmart Foundation awarded the CHARLOTTE WHITE CENTER a community grant of $1,000. The Walmart Community Grant addresses the needs of local communities and the underserved. The Charlotte White Center’s residential programs serve approximately 100 low-income adults who either have intellectual, developmental, behavioral, and/or physical health disabilities.

Penobscot Community Health Care announced that the Trustees of the Plum Creek Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 grant to help fund a HVAC installation project at JACKMAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER at 376 Main St. The center is staffed by Patricia Doyle, MD, and Anna Babiarz, PA-C.

what’s happening

Winning

Ways

Left to right: Coach Rick Doyon, Natalia Profenno of Saco, Sarah Champagne of Buxton, Erin Gorton of Kennebunk, Camryn Morton of Gorham and Coach Laurie Holbrook.

PHOTO: (TOP IMAGE) JUPITERIMAGES/THINKSTOCK; (TEAM) COURTESY OF VELOCITY GIRLS SOCCER CLUB

Portland girl’s soccer club turns loss into something positive.

PORTLAND: The Velocity Girls U16 Soccer Club recently donated their hard earned savings of $3,788 – first intended for an out-of-state tournament – to The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, where the team of girls aged 15-16 years old has volunteered on Sundays for the past few years.

Velocity team members train in Gorham and Saco, but its membership extends throughout southern Maine. In 2014, the U15 girls’ team was crowned champions in the State Cup premier soccer tournament qualifying them to participate in the Region I tournament to be held in West Virginia during the July Fourth weekend – a costly trip for which they raised money in a variety of ways including selling homemade Christmas ornaments, hosting bottle drives and car washes.

In late June, the team was told that due to a clerical error they had been listed as a boys team and would not be allowed to participate in the tournament.

They turned their anger, frustration and tears into something positive.

Sunday morning trips to visit the kids there and do what they could to help make a hard situation maybe a little better. The team loved their visits and helping to try and put smiles on those children’s faces.”

“The girls truly represent our club’s motto: ‘It’s not just about soccer.’”

–Rick Doyon “The team talked about what to do with the money they had collected.

Without hesitation, the girls themselves made the decision to donate the entire amount to The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital,” said Coach Laurie Holbrook. “Over the past couple of years this team, along with others in our club, had made many

Coach Rick Doyon also is proud of the team’s choice.

“This team has stuck together and will once again be making regular visits to the hospital this year in hopes of continuing our club’s tradition of giving back to the communities,” he said. “The girls truly represent our club’s motto: ‘It’s not just about soccer.’” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

what’s happening

Jan. 28-Feb. 14 “Hair Frenzy” at Penobscot Theatre When a really bad hair day leads Hollywood superstar Toryn Bennoch back to her hometown of Clara, Maine, and into the chair of the best stylist she knows, her old friend Tina, worlds collide and scissors fly. With an outrageous entourage in tow and an offer that’s hard to refuse, the diva whips everyone into a frenzy, and Tina is forced to consider the way life could be as she contemplates a makeover of her own. “Hair Frenzy” is a world premiere from Orono resident Travis Baker, the award-winning author of “One Blue Tarp.” penobscottheatre.org Jan. 31-Feb. 8 Camden Winterfest Camden Winterfest bills itself as Maine’s Mardi Gras. This is a weeklong celebration of winter with outdoor and indoor activities, beginning with ice carving and snow sculpting

16 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

and culminating with the Toboggan Nationals at the Camden Snow Bowl. camdenmaineexperience.com Throughout February Concerts at the Strand Theatre, Rockland The Strand Theatre in Rockland has a packed month of great concerts on its beautiful, intimate stage. Featured performers for February include Maine’s own David Mallett on Feb. 6, legendary songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson on Feb. 11, and virtuoso guitarist Kaki King on Feb. 27. rocklandstrand.com Throughout February Moosehead Lake Region Activities The Moosehead Lake region offers a plethora of outdoor events this February, including Wilderness Sled Dog Races on Feb. 6; Snofest, a winter festival, Feb. 13-15; the 12th annual Chocolate Festival set for Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day; and a chili and chowder cookoff set for Feb. 19. mooseheadlake.org

Throughout February MPA Basketball Tournaments The biggest sporting event of the year is undoubtedly the basketball tournaments, held throughout February in Bangor, Augusta and Portland. New this year is a five-class system, up from four, meaning that there are now 132 games in total played across three locations: the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, the Augusta Civic Center, and the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

Who will you cheer on? Check your local venue for updated schedules.

Feb. 5-7 and 12-14 Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s “Patience,” Ellsworth The longstanding theater company that keeps the joy and fun of Gilbert and Sullivan alive in Maine offers up their take on “Patience” this winter, Feb. 5-7 and Feb. 12-14 at the Grand Theatre. Tickets for this homespun but professional production are available online. grandonline.org

Feb. 14 Avner the Eccentric at the Collins Center for the Arts Treat your kids on Valentine’s Day this year, with a performance from Avner the Eccentric, a wildly talented clown, mime and physical comedian. He’ll be at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono on February 14. collinscenterforthearts.com Feb. 12-14 Great Maine Outdoor Weekend The schedule is full to brimming for the winter version of the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend. Locations all over the state, from state parks to nature preserves to city land and many others, will offer workshops, guided tours, hikes, snowshoes, nature walks and more. Go online for a full schedule. greatmaineoutdoorweekend.org Feb. 13 Bangor Symphony Orchestra Pops: An Evening of Romance Make it a date night with the BSO this Valentine’s Day weekend. In this “Evening of Romance,” the symphony highlights romantic favorites from classical music and the movies before welcoming Noel Paul Stookey to the stage. Famous as a member of Peter, Paul and Mary, don’t miss this chance to hear Noel Paul Stookey bring hits like “Wedding Song” and more to life, backed by the BSO. Tickets are available by calling (207) 581-1755.

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

Feb. 13-14 Portland Symphony Orchestra: Portland in Love Like its older brother in Bangor, the Portland Symphony also hosts an evening of classical romance, with a concert of the most romantic symphonic and pop hits played by your Portland Symphony Orchestra.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14, at Merrill Auditorium in downtown Portland. porttix.com

Jan. 31-Feb. 8 Camden Winterfest

Feb. 14 Chocolate Festival, Greenville

All February High School Basketball Tournaments

Feb. 13-14 53rd Annual Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby Support Milo Fire Department charities and events and join in the fun. The derby includes fish caught in Ebeemee, www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

Feb. 13-14 Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby

Seboeis and Boyd lakes. Your $10 ticket includes the entry fee and the chance to win prizes totaling over $15,000 – including a 2016 Polaris ATV. Call (207) 943-2303 or go online for details. trcmaine.org

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Feb. 27 and 28 Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby The Sebago Lake Rotary Derbyfest and Cumberland County Derby are Maine’s largest and richest ice fishing derbies.

Sponsored by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club in Windham, this ice fishing derby is a big deal, attracting anglers from all over the Northeast to see who’s fishing skills take the trophy. Go online to sign up for your spot — or to just experience a real Maine winter tradition. icefishingderby.com

What Are You

Doing Tonight?

Find Ideas on our online

calendar of events

bangormetro.com

bangormetro.com 18 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

unsung hero

Canine t 10-years-old,

Opie and Skylar are starting to slow down and show some signs of their age, but community involvement is still a top priority for the canine duo that makes reading fun for kids.

The Shih Tzus are owned by Ron and Cheryl Lare of Hampden. Once a month, they visit the Earl C. McGraw School where students practice their literacy skills by reading to the dogs.

On a recent Friday morning, the certified therapy dogs and their owners were nestled in on the rug in Sue Ward’s classroom, ready to listen to stories from the kindergarten class. They’ve been read to by students in her class for at least four years.

“It’s different than reading to a teacher,” Mrs. Ward said. “It’s a great way for them to share everything that they’ve learned. It helps them build their confidence.”

As they took turns sitting next to Opie and Cheryl or Skylar and Ron, each student wiggled in close with their book.

20 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Opie and Skylar make reading fun for kids. BY AIMEE THIBODEAU

After they’d read their story, some gave the dogs an easy pat and before returning to their seats, they would give Ron or Cheryl a high-five.

“You can tell people that your dogs won’t bark in their classroom, or jump up on people, but until they see it they don’t believe you,” Cheryl said. “When

“It’s different than reading to a teacher.

It’s a great way for them to share

everything that they’ve learned.

It helps them build their confidence.”

–Sue Ward “I come from a family of teachers, so reading’s important,” Cheryl said.

A few years ago, she noticed that her 5-year-old granddaughter — who didn’t like to read — was reading to Opie.

It took one year of training for Opie and Skylar to become certified therapy dogs, and another two years to convince teachers and administrators that the idea of bringing dogs into the schools for students to read to was a good idea.

this harness goes on them at home, they know that they are going someplace to work.”

Both dogs laid quietly, lifting their heads only when a different student sat down next to Cheryl or Ron to read.

When asked why he liked reading to the dogs, Chase, 5 of Hampden, had a simple answer.

“Because they’re dogs. I like dogs,” he said, noting that he has a dog named

PHOTOS: AMY ALLEN

A

Companions

Volunteer Cheryl Lare listens as Chase, a kindergarten student, reads a story to Opie, a therapy dog that has been listening to children read for the past four years at Earl C. McGraw School in Hampden.

Dozer at home. On Friday, he read Opie and Cheryl “At the Zoo.” “It’s about zoo animals, like monkeys and snakes, lions and bears, giraffes and zebras and birds,” Chase said, proud that he knew all of the words in the book.

Cheryl noted that one of the main concerns schools have is allergies, but Opie and Skylar are hypoallergenic dogs — their hair is no different than humans.

“If schools could open their minds a little bit, this is the best way for kids to read,” Cheryl said.

Another cause the Lares are passionate about is honoring the men and women of the military — Ron was in the air force and several other members of their family also served in the military.

Over the last several years, Opie and Skylar have greeted more than 2,000 troops at Bangor International Airport.

There are fewer flights nowadays, Cheryl noted, but the dogs are still there to greet each one.

“I just really wanted to give back,” she said.

A kindergarten student at Earl C. McGraw School in Hampde n reads to therapy dog Skylar and own er Ron Lare.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21

eye on industry

Hand-Made

Success

One Maine family takes a business risk that’s turned into a booming business. BY DEB NEUMAN

I

t was back

in the summer of 2007 when Michael and Cara Gaffney were thinking about a new chapter after Michael was downsized from a corporate job.

“It came down to whether we would move to Boston for another corporate job in my field, or find a way to stay in Maine,” Michael recalled.

The couple had a long love affair with the state of Maine. Since the 1920s, Cara’s grandmother had a cottage on a Maine island where Cara had spent her summers since she was a child.

s’ labels feature Many of Seawick of the Gaffneys’ os ot real ph y e this one of a laz grandparents, lik a dock. on ing ath nb summer day su

Seawicks Candles are hand poured in small batches using 100 percent soy wax from American grown soybeans.

“Our fragrances are delicately blended to ensure freshness and evoke memories of times shared with family and friends, including happy hour on the front porch and the scent of lilacs hugging a coastal summer cottage,” Michael said.

“Our business is about so much more than candles; it’s about evoking memories of simpler times and childhood summers spent on the coast.”

“We were driving by the ocean and got this idea to make candles with a “sea” theme, and that’s when the idea for Seawicks was born,” Michael said. “The candlemaking idea came from constantly losing power in that cottage and desiring candles that had more of a summer scent.”

Michael had worked for a large candle manufacturing company for a period of time. That expertise served the couple well when they officially launched the Seawicks line in 2011.

“Even with experience in candle making, it took us five years to get the formula right,” Michael said.

22 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Seawicks has built a brand that celebrates summers in Maine. Follow their Facebook page and you will see photos of their grandparents spending lazy summer days sunbathing on a dock.

“Our business is about so much more than candles; it’s about evoking memories of simpler times and childhood summers spent on the coast,” said Michael.

Today, Seawicks is producing more than four lines of candles in more than 30 scents out of their Boothbay Harbor studio where they sell direct online to customers and to more than 400 retailers, including L.L. Bean.

While the couple has been growing a business in Maine, they have also been growing a family. Married for 12 years,

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SEAWICKS CANDLES

–Michael Gaffney

Seawicks’ owners Michael and Cara Gaffney with sons Ross and Finn.

The University of Maine offers a wide variety of summer courses on campus or online! the Gaffneys have two sons, 7-year-old Ross and 9-year-old Finn.

“Finn has taken an interest in the business,” Michael said. “He likes to help us out in the studio and he is especially interested in the idea of making his own money.”

Being a couple and family in business has advantages and challenges.

“We love the flexibility our business affords us. We get to spend a lot of time with our kids and we have never missed attending one of their events,” Michael said. “We revolve our work around our family, rather than the other way around.”

When it comes to being together as a couple in business and in life, Michael says, “Sometimes you naturally crave a little more personal space. But we know each other really well, so we enjoy being together and maintain our sense of humor.”

“Working together has its share of challenges but it is fun to be together and there is enough independent work to give us each some space,” Cara said.

One of the keys to being in business together is to balance each other out.

“Cara is really good at logistics. She can get a huge order of wax from point A to point B,” Michael said. “My strengths are in the manufacturing, sales and marketing. We make a good team.”

As the Gaffneys plan for the future of their family and their company in Maine, they offer this advice for others considering going into business: “Do take a risk and go for it. If you fail, just keep going.

My only regret is not starting this business five years sooner,” said Michael.

REGISTER NOW

umaine.edu/summeruniversity The University of Maine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

movers & shakers

I

’m a die-hard

Downtown

Revival

Breanna Pinkham Bebb is bringing back downtown through Our Town Belfast.

BY DEB NEUMAN

Mainer. If the world was falling apart, Maine is where I want to be,” said Breanna Pinkham Bebb.

Bebb was raised in Winter Harbor where her stepfather worked for Stinson's Seafood. Seeking better employment opportunities, the family moved south to southern Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

“We moved around a lot, but Maine was always home,” Bebb said. The family moved back to their home state after Bebb graduated from high school. She attended several of Maine’s public universities, graduating from the University of Maine at Machias in 2012.

“I did the eight year college plan, and worked all sorts of jobs to put myself through school,” Bebb said.

Those jobs included working as a dulse picker for Maine Coast Sea Vegetables. Bebb also served as the assistant to the director for Schoodic Arts for All, an organization based in Winter Harbor committed to providing opportunities to expose people of all ages to the arts.

Bebb to her current position as the director of Our Town Belfast, an organization that is part of a nationwide Main Street program to revitalize downtowns.

“In an eight week period I graduated from college, got married and started this job. Now I’m a new mom and there is no place I’d rather be than here. Mainers are hardy — they can build things, grow things, fix things — and the vast majority are the kind willing to always help out their neighbors,” she said.

Bebb explained that the organization she leads focuses on several areas to improve the quality of downtown Belfast.

“Our priorities include the design, aesthetics and comfort of downtown.

Our promotions committee works to create a buzz with events to draw people in and we work with economic development partners to create a positive business climate for downtown merchants.”

“There’s a lot going on to make Belfast a great place for walking, biking, and hiking,” she added. “In the downtown, empty storefronts (once common) are a

“I love that we can enjoy our rugged coast, beaches, mountains, lakes, farms and at the same time we have these great towns and cities that have preserved and are bringing back their Main Streets.”

Breanna Pinkham Bebb, director of Our Town Belfast, poses with a bear from a summer public art installation. Art and a pedestrian-friendly downtown are important to economic vitality, Bebb believes.

24 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Her passion for serving Maine led her to participate in the Maine Development Foundation’s Leadership Maine Program.

“Leadership Maine is a great program for anyone interested in knowing more about the state, especially if they want to do something to make a positive impact,” Bebb said.

The desire to make an impact led

rare occurrence, businesses are growing, and there’s something to do for locals and visitors alike throughout the year.”

Bebb is optimistic about the future of Belfast and at age 29, she is passionate about the opportunities that exist in Maine, particularly for young people and their families.

“I love that we can enjoy our rugged coast, beaches, mountains, lakes, farms and at the same time we have these great towns and cities that have preserved and are bringing back their Main Streets,” she said.

When asked about what she would say to other young people and families about choosing to live in Maine, Bebb said, “It can be hard, but it is so worth it.

There are so many opportunities to make it your own and make things happen. We all need to stick around and contribute to making it easier for people to stay and live here in the future.”

PHOTO: BDN FILE

– Breanna Pinkham Bebb

metro health

Healthy Heart In honor of the leap year, here are 29 days of heart healthy ways to get your new year started right.

COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

F

ebruary is American

Hints

Heart Month, a great time to begin a hearthealthy lifestyle. It’s also a leap year, so the American Heart Association has put together 29 Days of Heart Healthy Ways to get you started.

1. There’s a two-for-one bargain you can’t live without — exercise! You’ll gain about two hours of life expectancy for each hour of regular exercise you do.

2. There are 1,440 minutes in every day. Why not schedule 30 of them for exercise?

3. Take time at lunch or right before or after dinner to walk.

4. Adding physical activity every day can be as easy as playing with your children or pets after work.

6. Sitting for long periods is bad for your heart. Park the car farther away, take the stairs, and get up and move every hour.

7. Before or after work or meals is often an available time to be active. Look at your weekly or daily schedule and plan out your daily activity.

8. Labor-saving devices at home save time, but cost us in physical activity. Turn off the self-propel option on the vacuum cleaner and use your legs.

9. Americans watch an average of four hours of TV/day. Do sit-ups, push-ups, leg lifts, weights, or use a stationary bike, treadmill, or stair climber while you watch.

10. Smoking raises blood pressure, lowers good cholesterol, decreases exercise tolerance and causes fatty buildup in arteries. Get support and quit today.

11. Some risk factors for heart disease are not in your control, like family history. Telling your doctor about them will help you find ways to lower your risk.

26 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

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5. Did you know that when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease and stroke drops, your senses of smell and taste come back, and you have more energy?

12. Ever wonder why kids are so energetic? Recess! Adults need recess, too, so take time to move every day.

13. Fill up on the good stuff. Fruits and veggies give you vitamins, minerals and fiber with fewer calories, less fat and sodium than other snacks.

Dr. Kevin Chasse Now Accepting New Patients 24 YEARS IN PRACTICE SPECIALIZING IN TREATMENT OF SPINE PAIN & PAIN MANAGEMENT MAYO REGIONAL HOSPITAL STAFF MEMBER

14. Fish provides lean protein and those high in omega-3 fatty acids, like mackerel, lake trout, tuna and salmon are all great for your heart.

15. Get your friends together for a Saturday morning walk and make your “group habit” a healthy one.

16. Making healthy choices on the road is easy with a few simple guidelines: try broiled, baked or steamed foods — not fried; add a salad, not fries as your side order; and drink skim milk, not soda.

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17. When eating out, ask your server to wrap half of your order to go before it’s even served. It’s economical and healthy!

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www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27

metro health 18. To lose a pound of fat, you have to burn 3,500 calories or eat 3,500 fewer calories. Boxing, bicycling, and running burn the most calories.

19. Drop that mocha latte! Hidden calories and fat are likely lurking in your beverage. Opt for small-sized, “skinny” versions and hold the whipped cream.

20. Are you ready for fitness at a moment’s notice? Keep a pair of walking shoes in your car and office.

21. When dining out, order a low-fat appetizer as your meal, split an entrée with a friend, or order half-orders of pasta or “petite” cuts of meat.

22. Slow down! It takes 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain you’ve been fed. By eating slowly, you eat less.

23. Ever wonder why dancers’ bodies are so strong and healthy?

Dancing burns an average of 350 calories per hour!

24. Exercising just 3-5 times per week can enhance a child’s academic performance and classroom behavior. Exercising with your kids is a smart choice.

25. Winter is a great time to get your kids moving. Try taking them to an ice skating rink, bowling alley, or museum to keep them active when the weather is harsh.

26. Children spend an average of 25 hours per week watching TV — more than any activity besides sleeping. A 15-minute family walk after dinner is a great way to fit in activity.

27. For every one-hour increase in daily TV viewing, children had higher intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages and total calories.

28. Caring for a family member who is a stroke or heart disease survivor adds stress to your already hectic life. Learn tips for self-care at heart.org/caregivers.

29. Take all the daily tips to heart and live a heart-healthy life by making small, simple changes. For more information and to get your personal “heart score,” visit mylifecheck.org.

28 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE U.S. MAKE CONTROL YOUR GOAL

67 MILLION American adults have high blood pressure

1 in 3

69%

77%

74%

of people who have a first heart attack...

of people who have a first stroke...

of people with chronic heart failure...

HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

ONLY ABOUT HALF of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control

REDUCING average population systolic blood pressure by only 12-13 mmHg could reduce:

37% 21%

47%

EAT A HEALTHY DIET with more fruits, vegetables, potassium, and whole grains

LIMIT ALCOHOL to no more than:

1 drink per day for women

25%

2 drinks per day for men

Stroke

Coronary Heart Disease

13%

Deaths from Cardiovascular DIsease

Deaths from All Causes

GET ACTIVE

and maintain a healthy weight.

Aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes of activity per week

Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

metro

wellness

We Grow Accustomed to the Dark:

Finding Light in Loss

Being grateful for the gifts we are left with after the loss of loved one.

BY EMILIE BRAND THROCKMORTON

I

lost my dad

to cancer 12 years ago and I could write a million words about all the things I miss about him.

For a very long time, I fixated on all the moments missed, the meals together, the phone conversations and walks in the woods we couldn’t have anymore, not to mention all the events he has missed in my life since he died. My kids will grow up never knowing their grandfather, and my dad never saw me as a mother, two things I will always mourn.

My dad, a German immigrant with a charming accent and sparkle in his eye, was the grand prize of dads. He cracked us up with his mispronunciations and silly sense of humor. Growing up, we would sometimes hear him say to himself “How did I end up with these crazy American teenagers in my house?” He was the best pancake maker, bear hugger, and an overall lover of life. He listened with a level of attention that was unmatched, as if the warmth of his light was shining right on you.

He was the perfect combination of gentle and disciplined, known both for the way he strummed folk songs on the guitar and for the German precision with which he packed the trunk of our car. He was one of a kind.

The biggest lessons my dad gave me he taught by example: treat others gently, give the benefit of the doubt, see the good in everyone. He not only gave me this advice, he lived it. He was always quick to assume good intentions, he was kind to everyone he came across, friendly to strangers, and appreciative of whatever each person had to offer.

30 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

I feel my dad with me all the time. I really do. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I do believe in the strength of my dad’s presence. I trained for and ran my first marathon a few years after he died, and I used to swear I could feel his hand pushing into the small of my back when I was running uphill. And here’s a story: One September night, which happened to be the 5th anniversary of his death, I went for a run late in the evening, and because it was near dark, I ran up to the local high school track where there

one man, built like my dad, way on the other side of the field, leaning against the fence. He waited until I was safely up the hill to the parking lot, illuminated by streetlights, and then he shut off the lights. The sudden absence of the previously unnoticeable buzz of the lights left a deep silence. With the darkness behind me now, I put up my arm in a wave to the man, and ran home. What a kind and fatherly gesture. Do I believe my dad was with me that night? Well, like I said, I think he’s always with me.

For anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one, I promise that the darkness does not last forever; it very gradually evolves into gratitude, into a blessing, into light. was a soccer game being played under the lights on the field above the track. I ran for a while, but the game ended, and the players filed off the field, so I knew I didn’t have much time left with the lights on. I wanted to cover four miles though, so I started running faster, knowing the track could go dark at any turn. I ran on, repeating a line from this Emily Dickinson poem in my head to prepare myself: "We grow accustomed to the Dark—When light is put away.”

I ran faster and faster, but the lights stayed on. I finished my four miles and headed for the gate, when I looked up to the totally abandoned field and parking lot. Everyone was gone. Why were the lights still on? And then I spotted

Recently, a friend of mine lost her dad, and I told her that even though he wasn’t here anymore physically, he would continue to father her. I knew that in her immediate grief, she would not be able to believe that. She is in a darkness to which she has not yet grown accustomed. But just as our eyes can adjust to darkness, our hearts can adjust to loss. In that first year of his death, I would have never believed I could be grateful for my dad’s gifts without being sad.

Time has softened the edges of my grief. At some point over the years, I reached a day where I was focusing less on what I lost and more on what I still have. I definitely miss my dad. How could I not? But he is so alive in me that

I actually get to experience him a little bit every day. I wanted to tell my friend: Hang on! I know that right now, every second you are feeling the sting of this loss, but what your dad gave you is a gift that is deeply a part of you, and no one can take it from you. He is yours. He is you.

My dad remains, even after his death, my best teacher of patience, fairness, optimism and cheerfulness. He is the filter that sits just behind my view of the world, and through which I view every beautiful day, every conflict with a friend, every personal challenge. I’ll always remember that night at the track, not because I think my dad was watching over me, but because my dad is such a bright light within me. For anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one, I promise that the darkness does not last forever; it very gradually evolves into gratitude, into a blessing, into light.

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 / 31

quoggy jo ski center

sebec lake

height of land

OUR FAVORITE PLACES downtown belfast mount battie

thuya gardens inn on the harbor

There’s no need to complicate the message — we love Maine!

32 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

roque bluffs

feature story

F

or this

love-filled issue, several of the Bangor Metro staff members, freelance writers and columnists got together to come up with this fun list of our favorite places to stay and play. From The County to Downeast to the mountains of western Maine, we appreciate the riches found right in our backyards.

We hope you’ll take the time to check out at least one or two of the places on our list over the next year and share your photos with us on our Facebook page or email editor@bangormetro.com. We’d also like to hear about your favorite places to spend time in our great state.

 Bangor Cit y Forest and Orono Bog Boardwalk

Deb Neuman Freelance Writer

Contact: cityforest.bangorinfo.com and umaine.edu/oronobogwalk.

You can also find them on Facebook.

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Can you get there from here: The Bangor City Forest is accessible from two parking lots, one on Kittredge Road and one on Tripp Road in Bangor. Kittredge Road is at the intersection of Hogan Road and Stillwater Avenue, not far from the Bangor Mall. Tripp Drive is located off Stillwater Avenue closer to Orono, 1.6 miles north of the junction of Stillwater Avenue and Hogan Road.

Why I love it: This is my favorite place to go when I need to “get away” and get some fresh air but don't have a lot of time. There are more than 9 miles of well-maintained trails perfect for a run, walk with my dog, hike or cross country skiing in the winter time. Open year round, every season offers a different experience and opportunity to get outdoors without having to travel far from my home in Bangor. The Orono Bogwalk is open seasonally and features a 4,200 foot long boardwalk over a beautiful bog surrounded by forest. It is my “go to" place when visitors come to town. They rave about it! www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Three Tides deck in downtown Belfast is the perfect spot for date night in the summer.

 Downtown Belfast

Emily Burnham Staff Writer

Contact: Belfast Chamber of Commerce, 338-5900; belfastmaine.org Can you get there from here: Turn off Route 1 in Belfast and drive into town.

Why I love it: I grew up in Waldo County, and downtown Belfast — even before it began its ongoing renaissance — has always been, for me, a combination of gathering place, shopping and eating mecca, and chill out zone. As a kid, I remember walking through what was then the pre-MBNA ruins of the old waterfront chicken plants, making my way to Alexia’s for pizza or to Darby’s for a bowl of French fries. As a teenager, my friends and I would hang out at the Belfast Co-op, or at The Game Loft, or see a movie at the Colonial Theatre, or wander aimlessly up and down Main Street. In my 20s, one of my first dates with my now-husband was at Three Tides and Marshall Wharf Brewing Company.

Every year I look forward to things like the All Roads Music Festival and Friday night art walks. Even though I’ve lived in Bangor for more than 15 years, Belfast is the coolest, most welcoming town in Maine, and it’s the place I still call home.

Cost: How much do you want to spend?

34 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

feature story

 Inn on the Harbor

Bob Duchesne Columnist

Contact: 45 Main St., Stonington, ME 04681; (207) 367-2420; innontheharbor.com Can you get there from here: Get on Route 15 and keep driving south until it ends at their front door.

Why I love it: This is the way Maine looks on the postcard. It's a working harbor, landing more lobsters than anywhere else in Maine. Stonington is an eclectic place, comfortable being both a fishing village and an artistic community. The Inn is built right over the shoreline, staring out at sensational scenery. A cup of coffee or glass of wine on the deck is absolute heaven. Totally relaxing in any season.

Cost: $87-$187 per night

Enjoying the view from the top of Mount Battie.

Stonington’s working harbor is a beautiful sight.

 Mount Battie

Chris Quimby Columnist

Can you get there from here: Take Route 1 south of Bangor and it’s about a 90 minute drive to Camden Hills State Park and access to Mount Battie.

Why I love it: This destination is far enough from my home to feel like I've gotten away, but not so far that my rear end falls asleep during the journey. Ambitious visitors can satiate their consciences with a fairly easy hike to the top, while those wishing to avoid sweat and effort can drive up the ascension. Either way, a clear day will reward you for your efforts as you can stare inspired for hours at the profound simplicity of God's creation.

Cost: Day use for Camden Hills State Park is $3 for resident adults, $4.50 for non-resident adults, and $1.50 for senior citizens.

PHOTO: (HEIGHT OF LAND) SARAH JUNE MICHALOWSKI

 Height of Land

Aimee Thibodeau Managing Editor

Can you get there from here: Located in the western Maine mountains on Route 17 in Roxbury, it’s a little bit of a drive but well worth it.

Why I love it: I grew up in western Maine, and although I spent most of my teenage years trying to figure out how to get as far away as possible from small town life, I now love and miss the serenity of the mountains. The view is breathtaking any time of year, but comes to life as a sea of green and clear blue waters in the spring and is vibrant with foliage in the fall. I have fond memories of long Sunday drives with my parents and grandparents (never taking the same road home as we took to get there) and stopping along the way to take in the scenery.

Pack a picnic and tailgate at the scenic overlook — and don’t forget your camera.

Cost: Only the gas it will cost you to drive there.

36 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

feature story Laurie Cates with her grandparents Hilda and Rip Morrill at their camp on Sebec Lake.

Laurie Cates Sales Manager

 Sebec Lake

Can you get there from here: You can get there from here, but a quick Google search for directions is your best bet depending on which part of the lake you want to get to. It’s about a 90 minute drive from Bangor.

Why I love it: I spent many summer days at my grandparent’s camp on Sebec Lake and have fond memories of swimming, fishing and playing along the shore. If you’re not fortunate enough to know someone with a camp on the lake, there are plenty of ways for the public to access the water and experience the area. Public boat launches are located around the lake in Dover-Foxcroft (Greeley’s Landing), Sebec Village (Cove Road), and Bowerbank (Landing Road). PeaksKenny State Park lies on the shores of Sebec Lake, offering day visitors and campers a peaceful, wooded setting in which to enjoy boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and picnicking. A sandy swimming beach, staffed by a lifeguard in summer, offers lovely views across Sebec Lake to Borestone Mountain, a 1600-acre nature sanctuary with a summit trail.

Cost: There is a nominal entry fee at the state park, but access to the boat landings is free. You also can pay to camp at Peaks Kenny.

A postcard of the beach at Roque Bluff circa 1920.

 Roque Bluffs State Park

Dick Shaw Columnist

Contact: maine.gov/roquebluffs

Can you get there from here: Take Route 1 to Jonesboro or Machias, then 8 miles to land's end. About 90 minutes from Bangor.

Why I love it: I love Maine's little secrets, and Roque Bluffs fits the bill. It is close to Route 1 but is also secluded and special.

There is nearly a mile of beach to walk, along with woods trails.

Plus, plenty of parking. Some of the cottages in the village, which includes a historic church, are more than a century old.

Cost: There is a nominal entry fee at the state park. But it's free to drive along the road and enjoy the view. Be sure to follow the road past the park to the boat launch.

feature story Amy Allen Art Director

 Quoggy Jo Ski Center

Contact: (207) 540-1496; skiquoggyjo.org or find them on Facebook Can you get there from here: From Presque Isle, head northeast on the Fort Fairfield Road. It's the snowy hill on the left. Not to be confused with Quoggy Jo Mountain, which is part of Aroostook State Park.

Why I love it: Growing up in The County, downhill skiing is what my family did in the winter. There are a few bigger hills nearby like Big Rock in Mars Hill and Lonesome Pines in Fort Kent that are great, but Quoggy Jo is my favorite.

It’s where I spent every weekend and most weekday nights just as soon as there was snow. Ski races were manned by parents on Sunday afternoons, and there were always friends to ski with and a grown-up to go ahead of you in line to hold up the impossibly heavy rope tow that would shred your gloves. It’s still a great place to ski, and I can’t wait to bringing my own kids there this winter. And best of all, a few years back they replaced the rope tow with a T-bar.

Cost: Day passes are just $8 and rentals are $12.

Emilie Brand-Throckmorton Columnist

 Thuya Gardens/Northeast Harbor Contact: gardenpreserve.org; (207) 276-3727; info@gardenpreserve.org

Can you get there from here: Northeast Harbor is on Mount Desert Island, about an hour from Bangor and about a half hour from Ellsworth. There is a small parking area at the bottom of Thuya Gardens near the Asticou Inn. Why is it your favorite place: I love Northeast Harbor because it has all the ocean views and winding roads that make Mount Desert Island so amazing but without the crowds. My husband Tim and I were married at the Asticou, so that whole corner of the island feels magical to me. Thuya Gardens is a gem — a quarter-mile walk up from the water on a series of old stone steps and paths; below you the view of Northeast Harbor and Asticou Inn gets better and better as you climb. At the top, you enter through an old carved wooden door, and find a beautiful garden inspired by old semi-formal English gardens and includes a reflecting pool and a pavilion that invites you to sit and look out at the rows of flowers and herbs. It feels like “The Secret Garden” — the paths along the back edges of the garden duck through wooden gates and connect to hiking trails.

Cost: Free/donation.

ther Amy Allen with her bro y Jo ogg Qu at Jacob Bowler 0s.

198 late the in

Fred Stewart

Fred Stewart with his son at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden.

Customer Advocate Manager

 Fields Pond Audubon Center

Contact: 216 Fields Pond Road, Holden; (207) 989-2591; fieldspond@maineaudubon.org Can you get there from here: At Exit 5 from I-395, go right on Parkway South for 0.3 mile. Go right on Dirigo Drive 0.5 mile. Go right on Green Point Road 0.8 mile. Go left on Wiswell Road 1.5 miles. At Fields Pond Road, go right 1 mile. The Audubon Center is on the left.

Why I love it: There's a public boat launch and an Audubon Center offering a number of hiking trails great for exploring forest, wetlands, and lake-shore. This is my favorite spot because it's where I taught my son to fish. We go there often throughout the year to explore and to try to catch "the big one," and to just spend quality time together. It is easily accessible from The Fields Pond Road, which runs between the Wiswell Road in Holden, and the Brewer Lake Road in Orrington.

Cost: The property/trails are open free of charge every day from dawn to dusk.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39

feature story

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Sugar High 40 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

A visit to nine Maine candy makers to sweeten up your Valentine’s Day.

W

BY EMILY BURNHAM

e defy anybody

to claim they don’t like candy. Everybody loves candy.

Whether you’ll eat anything made out of sugar and chocolate, or your palate is more discerning and reserved for only higher end treats, or you only eat it very sparingly as you’re watching your diet, you can’t deny it.

You like candy. Which certainly goes a long way towards explaining why it, along with flowers, is the most popular Valentine’s Day gift. You want something sweet to give to the person you’re sweet on. It’s really just about the definition of sweet. If you’re looking for that special gift for your special someone, here are nine places to go right here in Maine, to find something unique and local for a V-Day gift.

Black Dinah Westbrook and Isle Au Haut

BLACK DINAH CHOCOLATIERS Dark chocolate and Earl Grey tea in milk chocolate hearts from Black Dinah chocolatiers.

We heart Black Dinah, the Isle au Haut originating Maine candy company that’s nationally renowned — Martha Stewart gave them her blessing — for its artful treats. Whether you’re looking for their adorable chocolate-peanut butter frogs or almond date hedgehogs.

There’s dark chocolate and Earl Grey tea in a milk chocolate heart, lemon-infused white chocolate in a white chocolate heart, Downeast sea breeze, a blend of Maine bog cranberries, house infused cranberry vodka and Venezuelan milk chocolate; and much more. Almost too pretty to eat. Check them out online at blackdinahchocolatiers.com. They have shops in Isle au Haut and Blue Hill and a production facility in Westbrook.

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feature story

Savour Chocolatiers Veazie

numbers like Toboggan (cranberry, pistachio and sea salt), there’s something for everyone. Available online at bixby bars.com or in stores statewide.

Kim Dagher — who studied at the renowned Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy in Canada — makes more than 30 varieties of high end chocolates and other candies, and has since 2011. Her truffles are to die for, be they blackberry lavender or Maine maple praline. For sharing, she makes lovely brittles, taffy and barks. And her Black Bear Claws, made from caramel and nuts, are an indulgence you can keep all to yourself. It’s one of the best-kept secrets in Maine, as, with the exception of one location in Portland and another in Massachusetts, it’s only available to purchase in stores in the Bangor area, or online at savourchocolatier.com.

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium Bar Harbor Since the early 1980s, Ben & Bill’s in Bar Harbor has been synonymous with two things that are a part of any perfect coastal vacation: ice cream and candy.

On the candy side of things, the best way to enjoy these sweet treats is to go into the shop, located at 66 Main St. in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor. Barks, brittles, clusters, truffles, fudge and their world-famous buttercrunch, piled high in glass cases. Can’t you smell it from here? The store is closed for the winter, but re-opens in mid-March.

Can a candy bar also be healthy? Some say that’s impossible, but Rocklandbased Bixby Bars proves that wrong.

Bixby, the baby of Kate McAleer, Maine’s 2015 Small Business Association Young Entrepreneur of the Year, makes organic, all-natural, often vegan chocolate bars that will satisfy both your sweet tooth and your conscience. With varieties like Knockout (bing cherry, chipotle and peanut), Birdie (hazelnut, currants and sea salt), Nutty For You (peanut butter and sea salt) and limited edition

Can a candy bar also be healthy? Some say that’s impossible, but Rockland-based Bixby Bars proves that wrong.

Dean’ s Sweets Portland For more than a decade, Dean Bingham has beautiful candies out of his Portland kitchen — the aesthetics of which reflect his previous career as an architect. He’s best known for his truffle, each a thing of beauty, though in the humble opinion of the Bangor Metro staff, the Maine Potato Chip candy bar and the Bacon Buttercrunch are out of this world. The shop is open seven days a week on

SAVOUR CHOCOLATIERS Kim Dagher of Savour Chocolatier measures sections of taffy to cut.

42 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Bixby Bars Rockland

SWEET TOOTH

PHOTOS: (DEAN’S SWEETS) MELISSA MULLEN PHOTOGRAPHY; (OTHERS) BDN FILE

Dean Bingham of Dean’s Sweets (right) creates a unique piece of art with each truffle, hand-dipping each one.

(Below) Chocolate-covered pretzels roll off the line at Haven’s Candies in Westbrook.

MORE THAN ICE CREAM In addition to Ben & Bill’s famous lobster ice cream, the chocolate emporium makes delicious hand-made candies.

feature story

CHOCO-LOBSTER Chocolate lobsters cool in their candied shells at Haven’s Candies in Westbrook.

Haven’ s Candies Portland Haven’s Candies last year celebrated its 100th birthday, making it one of the oldest continually-operating candy makers in New England. And with good reason — this most traditional of candy makers offers up good old fashioned chocolates, fudge, saltwater taffy and peanut brittle as well as Valentine’s Day specific chocolate-dipped strawberries and fancy hearts, in each of its three locations (Portland, Westbrook 44 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

and Scarborough). In fact, to celebrate its centennial, in August of 2015 they crafted a 90-inch long, 418 pound chocolate lobster. No word on how long it took to eat that one.

Monica’ s Chocolates Lubec The story of Monica’s Chocolates is as extraordinary as the beauty of its Lubec setting. Monica Elliott, a native of Peru (the country, not the Maine town), learned the art of chocolate from her family. Now, having lived in Maine for decades, Elliott supplies chocolate lovers statewide with bon bons filled with Sicilian pistachio creme, Peruvian liqueur, caramel-filled

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

Fore Street in Portland’s Old Port; all of Dean’s many sweets are available online at deanssweets.com as well.

CHOCOLATE FIX

A Valentine’s Day assortment of bonbons from Monica’s Chocolates in Lubec.

PHOTOS: (TOP) COURTESY OF WILBUR’S OF MAINE; (BOTTOM) BDN FILE

Wilbur’s of Maine (left) in Freeport caters to the throngs of shoppers by offering chocolates shaped like Bean boots and delicious truffles.

(Below) Dianne Bowen of Black Dinah Chocolatiers on Isle au Haut. The company expanded production last year to the mainland, with a production facility in Westbrook as well.

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feature story “sea urchins” and Maine fruit truffles.

Available at the Lubec shop year-round, or online at monicachocolates.com.

Wilbur’ s of Maine Freeport The most Maine-centric of the makers on this list, the folks at Wilbur’s cater to the throngs of shoppers in Freeport by offering stuff like chocolates shaped like Bean boots, Maine mud hot fudge, Maine pebble candy, Moxie and blueberry-themed gift packs and a huge array of Valentine’s Day specific treats, like a chocolate umbrella, chocolate flowers, and, of course, a Wilbur the Moose, a half pound, milk chocolate moose. Available

CANDY CRUSH Christia Pham makes nonpareils at Haven’s Candies in Westbrook.

46 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

online at wilburs.com or on Main Street in Freeport.

Nelson’ s Candies Cornville Equally venerable is Nelson’s Candies, located in the village of Cornville, just outside of Skowhegan. For more than 100 years these folks have crafted candies in their kitchens, and are best-known for their peanut brittle and butter crunch, as decadent a treat as there is. Traditionally made fudge like penuche and chocolate walnut are pretty easy to eat, too. Heck, it’s all good. Nelson’s is available at their shop in Cornville; check nelsonscandies.com for hours. You can also buy online.

OH, FUDGE! The walnut fudge is always a crowd pleaser at Nelson’s Candies in Cornville.

“We feature old fashioned recipes that date back to the early 1900's.

My dad taught me everything I know about the candy trade.”

–Janet Bernard

Is Your Child

Learning at Full Potential?

Academic excellence

Personalized learning

Computers for all students

Extended day program available PHOTOS: (LEFT) BDN FILE; (TOP) COURTESY OF NELSON’S CANDIES

Comprehensive clubs, fine arts and athletic programs

Affordable tuition starting at less than $20 a school day

Join us for a Campus Tour & Open House Luncheon Meet faculty, students, and parents Tuesday, February 2 11am to 1pm All faiths welcome!

Pre-K to Grade 8

Or call to schedule a tour anytime!

RSVP: 947-7063

Saint Mary’s Campus 768 Ohio Street, Bangor

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china then & now

(Above) A historic look down Main Street in China, Maine. (Left) The famous “international” signpost just off Route 3 in South China.

48 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

A Long Way

From Asia HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION, UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AND THE RICHARD SHAW POSTCARD COLLECTION.

C

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SHAW

hina’s 4,300

residents have a polite way of nodding and smiling whenever visitors joke about their town’s foreign-sounding name. A long way from Asia, aren’t you, they wisecrack. Hope you make it home from Augusta sometime this year, is another old canard.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, and that’s just what the Kennebec County community did some years ago when it erected a 10-town international signpost just off Route 3 in South China. Now, travelers can discover how far it is to such places as Denmark (95 miles), Sweden (232 miles), and Egypt (73 miles).

Merchants sell China, Maine, sweatshirts, and the China Dine-ah

on Route 202 has helped put the town back on the map. Aided by a catchy commercial jingle, the eatery’s pleasant ambiance and home cooking attract customers from far and wide. So do Greg’s Place and The Green Bean Coffee Shop in South China in addition to a seasonal ice cream, burger, and seafood takeout at the head of China Lake called The Landing.

Locals stress that China is composed of four separate villages: China Village, South China, Weeks Mills, and Branch Mills. Donald Bassett and his son, Hauns, an Erskine Academy graduate and Jobs for Maine’s Graduates employee, like to say where they’re really from. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49

china then & now “I’ve always stated that I’m from Weeks Mills, not China,” Hauns said.

“Most of us in Weeks Mills proudly proclaim that fact. Each village had its own sports uniform, which was great.”

A Registered Maine Guide, Bassett keeps a watchful eye on China Lake, which has rebounded after “dying” after being flooded with too much agricultural runoff. Locals coined the phrase “China Lake Syndrome” to highlight the town’s chief natural resource’s troubles.

February is a month for ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing on the lake and the town’s open fields.

February is a month for ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing on the lake and the town’s open fields. Town Manager Daniel J. L'Heureux shares seasonal information for day visitors and overnight travelers.

“I can tell you why our town is named China,” said Mary Grow, librarian at China Village’s historic Albert Church Brown Memorial Library. “Japheth Washburn wanted to call the place Bloomville, but after facing opposition from the people of Bloomfield [in Somerset County], who feared confusion over two similar(Top) China Village’s historic Albert sounding names, he decided Church Brown Memorial Library. on the name of one of his fa(Middle) China Lake cabins vorite hymns, ‘China’.” then. ) now and (below Dr. Grow explained in a 1974 bicentennial town history that the act passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 4 and the Senate on Feb. 5, 1818, when the town was incorporated. After Maine became a state in 1820, China expanded a final time when it annexed the remaining three-eighths of Harlem, the town’s original name.

In 1774, first settlers named Clark settled here and established Jones Plantation.

In 1796, the plantation was 50 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Town Stats

The China Baptist Church today and (below) in the past.

First Incorporated: June 5, 1818

Landmarks: South China international

Named for: A favorite hymn of founder

signpost; China Dine-ah; Rufus Jones’

Japheth Washburn Motto: Town of four villages

birthplace; South China Meeting House; Pond Meeting House; China Baptist Church; Albert Church Brown Memo-

Population: 4,307 (2012 estimate)

rial Library; South China Public Library;

Area: Total, 56.86 square miles

China Lake Conference Center; The

Notable people: • Rufus Jones, Quaker theologian • Johanna Lindsey, author • Laroy S. Starrett, inventor • Gerry Boyle, mystery writer • David Lancaster, wood turner • Lee Feigon, filmmaker

Landing takeout food Website: china.govoffice.com

The grange building and in Methodist Church oto. a historic China ph (Below) The China and Village post office ay. tod ll Ha e Grang

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51

china then & now

China’s Quaker Friends Meeting House today and (right) in 1949.

incorporated as Harlem. Parts of Albion and Winslow were also taken into China at its 1818 incorporation.

China’s Wikipedia page theorizes that, in addition to the 8-mile-long China Lake and abundant farm fields, “… these families migrated here because it represented a safe area which slave hunters would not approach as China and several other towns were ‘Quaker’ towns which would not tolerate slave hunters, no matter what either federal Fugitive Slave Act demanded.”

There is a Friends Quaker international camp on Route 202, near the historic Pond Meetinghouse. Next to the town office, is a historical museum located in the old town house. Across the road is a strip of century-old summer lodges and cottages, including Killdeer and Candlewood.

Reminders of China’s religious past and present are the Baptist Church on Causeway Road in China Village, China Lake Conference Center, and South China Community Church. While in South China, be sure to visit the South China Library, the state’s oldest continuously operating community library.

Housed in a 1900 building, it is staffed entirely by volunteers.

You really can get there from here.

February is a good time to check out China’s natural resources and down home cooking.

Check out our interactive map of China at bangormetro.com

52 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

Put a Ring On It What to consider before buying a diamond. COURTESY OF METRO NEWS SERVICE

L

stand before an officiant and say, “I do,” many make another pledge to each other by getting engaged and agreeing to begin a new life together.

In a 2011 survey by from XO Group, Inc., formerly The Knot Inc., the average engagement ring costs Americans $5,200. Canadians spend around $5,000 as well. Considering an engagement ring is typically a once-in-a-lifetime purchase, many men say the high cost is warranted and are even willing to finance the purchase or push their budgets to procure a beautiful ring.

Many engagement rings feature a 1-carat center stone with some smaller stones surrounding, accounting for a 1.4 total carat weight on average. It can take a groom-to-be around three months to find his (and her) ideal ring, sometimes longer. Considering a ring is such a significant investment, it pays to have some knowledge in gem selection.

Sponsored by

qualityjewelers.com In Bangor at 57 Washington St. • 207-990-1199 In Ellsworth at the Mill Mall, 248 State St. • 207-412-0677

Start by answering a few questions Having an idea of what you want can help anyone get a better deal, whether one is shopping for a new sofa or an engagement ring. An informed shopper can avoid being taken advantage of or buying something that really isn’t worth the asking price.

The 4 Cs are a good place for shoppers to get started. Various attributes affect the value, quality and beauty of a diamond. The 4 Cs stand for cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The cut refers to the shape of the stone as well as the skill involved in achieving the shape of the facets so that it reflects the light brilliantly.

The color is designated by the International Gemological Institute. The grading color in a diamond determines how closely a diamond’s color approaches colorlessness. The diamond will be assigned a letter grade. The lower the letter in the alphabet, the whiter the stone. Clarity refers to the amount, size, type, and location of internal flaws in a diamond, also known as inclusions. The cost of

LILIIA RUDCHENKO, DOLGACHOV, IKONACOLOR, AEYA/THINKSTOCK

ong before couples

the diamond increases when there are fewer inclusions in the stone. Finally, the carat weight is the size and weight of the stone. The larger the stone, the more pricey it can be.

Another question to ask is which style of ring your girlfriend prefers?

Your fiancee-to-be may have a certain setting style and diamond shape preference. It pays to know what she wants, including the type of setting the stone will be encased in. You should also know whether she will be happy with a larger stone that may have some imperfections not easily seen to the naked eye or a smaller, flawless stone.

Know your budget Many expenses are associated with planning a wedding, and some couples may not want to begin their lives together in debt. This may need to be factored in to the decision-making process. You should go to jewelry stores to price out different styles and see how diamonds compare.

This way you will have an accurate idea of just how much rings cost.

It also pays to understand a jeweler’s return policy. Even if you may know what she likes, in the event that the ring doesn’t work out, find out if the style can be changed or if you can get a refund or make an exchange.

Other Tips for Savings Success There are ways to maximize your budget and still end up with a beautiful stone.

• Ask for a stone that is slightly less than the next carat, for example 0.9 instead of one carat. This nearly indiscernible difference can add up to substantial savings.

Experts say the price difference between a 1.90 carat diamond and a 2.0 carat diamond can be as much as $5,000. Also, choose a stone that has more surface area, which will make it appear larger even if it does not have as much sparkle.

• If she prefers the look of platinum, realize white gold is a more affordable option and will still give off that silvery hue she desires. Mixed gold colors, including white, pink and yellow, can be unique.

• Make sure the store is accredited by the Jewelers of America or is a member of the Gemological Institute of America. This way you know you are buying from a reputable source and the diamonds were acquired ethically.

• Negotiate the price. Just because it is jewelry doesn’t mean you can’t comparison shop and find out if another jeweler will match a competitor’s offer. Many stores will be willing to negotiate if it means making a sale.

An engagement ring is a large purchase that requires ample forethought. Following some guidelines can yield the results couples desire.

Metal Mania

Know what color band to choose before you buy.

Rose Gold

Platinum

Making the Cut

Gold

Round

White Gold

Princess

A diamond’s shape is one of its most defining characteristics. Round cut diamonds are some of the most popular, however, every bride-to-be has her own favorite.

Marquise

Oval

Radiant

Emerald

Pear

Lobster Maine’s Lobster Chef of the Year Matt Ginn shares a simple and romantic recipe.

BY EMILY BURNHAM

56 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

King

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CAITLIN PRENTICE

food file

A

PHOTOS: ANTONIO GRAVANTE, VALENTYNVOLKOV, TARZHANOVA, INERIKA/THINKSTOCK

fter being named

Maine’s Lobster Chef of the Year for 20152016 at the annual Harvest on the Harbor, held each October in Portland, Matt Ginn of new Portland eatery EVO had a chance to reflect on his whirlwind 2015.

After all, he’d gone from relative obscurity to being one of the hot new chefs in Maine — as well as getting fast notoriety for his skill with Maine’s favorite crustacean. His technique for cooking lobster is a bit unorthodox for the average Maine boiled lobster dinner fan, but he swears by it.

“I think the real secret to perfectly cooked lobster is that the tails and claws are cooked separately and for different amounts of time. I like to cook the claws in boiling water for 6 minutes and the tails for 4 and half,” said Ginn. “If I am being a traditionalist and cooking the lobster whole, my secret is to use ocean water. If ocean water is not available make sure your water is thoroughly salted, and you can even throw in some seaweed if you’ve got it.”

Ginn, a native of Cape Elizabeth, is no stranger to seafood cooking, though his tastes have expanded over the years to encompass many different cuisines.

At EVO, located in the Old Port Hyatt and where he has cooked since the late summer, he draws from the flavors of Turkey, Lebanon, Greece and other Eastern Mediterranean to create an exotic — yet accessible — menu.

“We combine Eastern Mediterranean flavors with local Maine products very naturally, organically and seasonally,” said Ginn. “It is amazing how many staple ingredients in those cuisines are farmed so well here in Maine, everything from eggplants, tomatoes, peppers to fava beans and squash and not to mention all the herbs. I think of a fusion as something forced, but this combination comes very easily.”

In fact, Ginn sees a lot of similarities between New England and Mediterranean cuisines.

“I feel the approach to New England cuisine is very much done in the same idea as Eastern Mediterranean cuisines.

That is to say, cooking from the soul,” he said. “They are both all about slow cooking, building flavor and making an event of a meal, whether it be stewing baked beans all day or making a chowder, it is

Maine’s Lobster Chef of the Year has a unique way to ensure perfect cook time for your lobsters

Step 1

Cook the lobsters

Matt Ginn’s method for lobster involves cooking the claws and tail separately. He recommends 6 minutes for the claws and 4 and a half minutes for the tail. Once cooked, remove them from the boiling water and place them into ice water to stop cooking and chill.

He also suggests using ocean or thoroughly salted water, with seaweed if you’ve got it, for the best results.

Step 2

Cook the beets

Add a little extra flavor to your beets and try cooking them in 50-50 mix of white wine and water. Season the poaching liquid with salt, sugar, black peppercorns and a bay leaf. Boil the beets until tender, about 7-10 minutes depending on the size. Once cool, peel the outside layer of skin. Reserve some of the cooking liquid for the vinaigrette.

Step 3

Prepare the vinaigrette

Whisk together champagne vinegar, olive oil, salt, ground sumac or lemon zest, cooking liquid from the beets, and rose water.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

food file the same approach as stewing tomato shakshuka of making a fava bean soup.”

Prior to joining EVO, Ginn cooked at Five-Fifty Five in Portland and at the acclaimed Harvest in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also had the chance to cook with another young upstart chef in Maine — a chef equally as comfortable blending Maine ingredients with international flavors and techniques.

“Before EVO opened, I had the chance to cook at Tao Yuan in Brunswick for Chef Cara Stadler, where she and her staff put out some seriously amazing Chinese, and southeast Asian food, with a similar approach to EVO, by using tons of local products,” said Ginn.

“I only worked at Tao for six weeks, just getting my feet wet in those Asian flavors, techniques and ingredients, and it was a real tease! I could have spent two years there learning.”

Step 4

Compose the salad

Toss the shelled and chilled lobster with the room temperature beets. Dress with the vinaigrette. Season with a pinch of sumac and/or lemon zest and garnish with fresh mint and parsley.

Food File Chilled Maine Lobster with Red Beets Poached in Wine

Two 1¼ quarter pound lobsters 1 pound beets White wine, for boiling ½ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar ¼ teaspoon rose water (if available; if not, omit) ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more black peppercorns for boiling ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more salt for boiling 1 tablespoon sugar, for boiling 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon ground sumac or lemon zest Fresh mint and parsley for garnish For the lobster: Boil the lobsters in salted boiling water, either whole, or by Matt Ginn’s method, which is 6 minutes for the claws and 4 and half minutes for the tails. Once cooked, remove them from the boiling water and place them into

58 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

ice water to stop cooking and chill. Then remove the meat from the shell and set aside.

For the beets: Poach the beets whole in a white wine and water mix, half wine, half water. Season the poaching liquid with salt, sugar, a few black peppercorns, and a bay leaf. Place the beets in the poaching liquid whole, bring the liquid up to a boil and let them cook until tender, about 7-10 minutes depending on the size. Once cooked, remove them from the liquid and let them rest and come to room temperature. Peel the outside layer of skin off the beets and cut them into eighths. Reserve some of the cooking liquid for the vinaigrette.

For the vinaigrette: In a mixing bowl, whisk together thoroughly champagne vinegar, olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground sumac or lemon zest, ½ tablespoon cooking liquid from the beets, and 1 teaspoon rose water, if available.

To compose: Toss the chilled lobster with the room temperature beets and dress with the vinaigrette. Season the salad with an additional pinch of sumac and/or lemon zest. Garnish with ample fresh mint and parsley.

PHOTOS: (RESTAURANT) NICOLE WOLF; (LOBSTER) SNOWFLOCK/THINKSTOCK

Serves 2-3

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arts & culture

Crafting a

Business

BY EMILY BURNHAM

60 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

T

hough her work

has been nationally recognized and in December she was honored with the 2015-16 Maine Arts Commission Belvedere Hand Craft Fellowship, master metalsmith and jeweler Cara Romano has, for the most part, remained in her childhood home of Hancock county for most of her life. The Gouldsboro native, who operates KOT Contemporary Craft in Ellsworth in the same downtown building where she has her studio, is not just a gifted artist — she’s a canny businesswoman, opting for the affordability (and sense of community) of Downeast Maine as a home base, and marketing her geometrically perfect metal and fabric jewelry items around the country via craft fairs and online.

As president of the board of the Maine Crafts Association, she’s also instrumental in nurturing and educating the next generation of Maine crafters. Romano spoke with Bangor Metro about the Maine craft scene, the interplay of fabric and metal, and getting her start in jewelry in her middle school gymnasium.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CARA ROMANO

Master metalsmith and jeweler Cara Romano talks about the business of art.

Where are you from originally? What does the Ellsworth region afford you that other places don’t?

I grew up in Gouldsboro. I think a big part of it is comfort and connection, yes, but as I get older — I’m 37 — I think about the fact that it’s really easy to do what I do here. You can start things here. The cost of living is low. And there are a lot of people here that are two or three generations above me that believe in the area, and want to see it thrive, and want to pass the torch to a new generation…

I think Ellsworth has ebbed and flowed over the years, of course, but there’s a ton of potential for people here. You can start a business. You really can.

ond to the metalworking, but in this new collection, in which I use industrial felt with gold geometric shapes in it, I had to reverse the process.

As president of the Maine Crafts Association and a longtime member, what changes have you witnessed here in the state? What do you find the next generation of crafters and artists needs to learn about the most?

When I joined the board in 2010, the organization was kind of treading water. But I would say that with Sadie Bliss coming on as executive director, we have experienced a kind of renaissance.

We were on the phone for about two

I think Ellsworth has ebbed and flowed over the years, of course, but there’s a ton of potential for people here. You can start a business. You really can.

When did your passion for jewelry and metalsmithing begin?

I’ve known I’ve wanted to be a jeweler since I was in seventh grade when I did my first craft fair in the Steuben gym at the Ella Lewis School. But I went through grade school and high school thinking I couldn’t be an artist because I can’t draw. I’m a terrible drawer. I’m not an illustrator. But when I got to college, I met a fellow jeweler, Lisa Smiley, and she was a metalsmithing major at Maine College of Art. She’s who helped me realize I could do it.

There seems to be two fundamentally opposing forces at work in what you create — hard, inorganic metals, and soft, organic fabrics. What do you think draws you to working within these wide parameters?

I do really enjoy the interplay between hard and soft — that’s obvious. But I had to figure out a way to kind of tailor that soft, pliable fabric within the parameters of metal. What was most appealing was taking the soft edges of wool and felt and containing it within the bounds of metal. Making fabric do things in a controlled environment.

Sometimes the fiber work comes sec-

years trying to keep the thing afloat. We wanted to realize our vision within the landscape of Maine craftspeople, and make ourselves viable, and find out what people need. And really, it’s not training or anything to do with their actual craft — it’s business and career development.

It’s marketing tools and branding themselves and all the things that people don’t like to talk about when they talk about the arts… It’s an uncomfortable conversation for a lot people, but artists have to talk about their business practice as well as their creative practice.

What has the organization done specifically? And what’s next for you?

One of the things I’m most proud of we’ve done is trying to offer new opportunities for artists to sell, and the Portland Fine Crafts Show is the newest one, which will happen again in August 2016.

We’ve also got our new artist apprenticeship program, which matches artists with mentors so they can pass on traditional and practical and business skills...

I think the Maine Arts Commission is helping to shine a light on the artists community here, and I think they are also helping to bring to the forefront the fact that our per capita spending on the arts is much below the national average.

You know, when I was younger, I spent a lot of time outside of the state making a name for myself with my work, and inevitably, people would come to me and say, ‘Oh, Maine, I went to summer camp there!’ or ‘That’s my vacation spot.’ And I realized I should be proud of where I’m from and capitalize on that. I think we’re starting to do that as a state. It’s a really exciting time to be an artist in Maine. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

per spectives

Send the Eye Out to Sea, acrylic and house paint on canvas, 72”x 60”, 2014

Emilie StarkMenning

OverBoard, spray foam, insulation foam, plaster gauze, cardboard, oilcloth, polyester stuffing, fake plants, and house paint, 85”x62”x25", 2014

Forever Fun, acrylic and oil on canvas, 58”x68”, 2015

62 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Johnny Angel, acrylic, house paint, pool noodle, and duct tape on canvas 80”x48”, 2014

E

milie Stark-Menning

is an interdisciplinary artist, working in painting, sculpture, video, and performance. She has lived in Maine since 2012. In 2007, she received a bachelor’s in fine arts in combined media from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. After undergraduate school, she biked with her collaborator Kazoo across the country, performing a dance musical in laundromats along the way. She returned to upstate NY to build kinetic sculpture in a studio that glistened with indoor icicles. Those days, she got most places by horse and buggy. Last summer she was in a group show, Float, at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockland. She’s had solo shows at the Leonard R. Craig Gallery at Unity College in Unity; Elizabeth Moss Gallery in Falmouth; and the Coleman Burke Gallery in Brunswick. Currently, she is a master of fine arts candidate at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Her installation, “When We Land,” was included in the 2015 Portland Museum of Art Biennial. She is included in the 2016, issue 122 of New American Paintings from the Open Studios Press. Most recently, she skied off an alter and down the aisle in a three minute performance called “Shred the Prayer.” Check out her website atemiliestark-menneg.com for updates. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63

aimee & amy try...

Who We Are..

With a grand total of 4 children ages 0-8, Bangor Metro staffers Aimee Thibodeau and Amy Allen are well versed in keeping kids busy.

Each month we’ll try a new project and share the results – be they great or disasterous.

W

LoveBirds the

Watch the birds (and squirrels) fall in love with these fun feeders.

Supplies

hen the cold

weather keeps kids inside, it’s time to get creative. With minimum supplies, these bird feeders are a quick and simple project, with the added benefit of showing some love for hungry birds and squirrels this winter. There’s a little break to wait for the feeders to dry, so invite some friends and make it a playdate.

We’ll admit it was a little messy – your table will be sticky and you’ll be finding bird seed on the floor for the next few days. But you can see by the smiles that it’s a fun project, and a great way to attract some feathered (and furry) friends to your yard.

• 2 packets gelatine (each box contains 4 packets) • 2/3 cups boiling water • 2 cups bird seed (smaller seed mixes work best) • Parchment or waxed paper • Straws • Cookie cutters (bigger shapes work best)

A big gray squirrel discovered our feeders very quickly.

64 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Step 1: Dissolve 2 packets of gelatine in 2/3 cup of very hot water. Heads up: it’s a little stinky before you add the bird seed.

Step 2: Stir in 2 cups of bird seed. We found a smaller seed mix worked better for working into the cookie cutter shapes.

Step 3: Let the kids pick out their cookie cutters. Bigger, simple shapes with few details work the best.

Step 4: Fill the cookie cutters and press the seed mixture into the shape using parchment or waxed paper.

Step 5: Use straws to create holes in the shapes (not too close to the edge) so you can hang them later.

Step 6: Set your shapes outside to cool and harden. Ours hardened within 30 minutes out in the cold.

Step 7: Remove the straw. One straw would be plenty if you cut it into pieces – instead of using whole ones like we did.

Step 8: Carefully press your shape from the cookie cutter mold.

Step 9: Thread a ribbon or pipe cleaner through the hole and hang the feeders outside for hungry winter critters.

Project Review

• Degree of Difficulty: Pretty easy. The kids could do just about every step, but it is a little messy and sticky. We did have one feeder loose an appendage, but the squirrels didn’t mind just picking it up off the ground.

• Average Time: About 20 minutes to create the feeders; 30 minutes to dry outside.

• Degree of Fun According to the Kids & Moms:

1:

We better get paid for this.

5:

Fun, but once was enough.

10:

Super fun, let’s make one for everyone!

Pretty simple and fun for everyone. The kids liked that they could do it themselves, and we had fun watching the end result get carried off by some neighborhood squirrels.

Sponsored by

metro

family

Winter

Struggles The joys of preparing toddlers for outdoor “fun” in the winter.

BY ASHLEY THORNTON

O

h winter,

how I loathe you. I used to be annoyed with those people who complained about the seasons and couldn’t just find something enjoyable about all of them.

After all, variety is the spice of life, right?

consider spending a portion of my day outside lugging children up hills so they can spend 17 seconds hurdling down a snowbank into several hazardous obstacles (streams, parked cars, steep embankments, swing sets, trees, sheds,

As if the cold, snow, ice, oil bills, lack of sunlight and layers of clothing weren’t enough — throw kids into the mix and I’m daydreaming of buying one-way tickets to the tropics.

Well, I have very rapidly turned into a curmudgeon about winter. As if the cold, snow, ice, oil bills, lack of sunlight and layers of clothing weren’t enough — throw kids into the mix and I’m daydreaming of buying one-way tickets to the tropics.

With the weather being somewhere between frigid and arctic, my children are cooped up inside. Not only does this make them antsy, needy, and mischievous, but I end up with a house that looks like a small tornado has wound its way through each room. Just when I get things picked up in one room, they come running back out and trash the place again. I read somewhere that cleaning with your kids home is comparable to brushing your teeth while eating Oreos.

I couldn’t agree more.

Then there is the rare day where the temperature rises just enough that I will 66 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

etc.), only to narrowly avoid each one and demand to be carried back up the hill to do it again.

If it were only that easy. Let’s remember that I have a one-and-a-half year old and 3 year old. Dressing to go outside is a considerable undertaking. It easily takes 30 minutes to wrangle everyone’s snow gear and wrestle them into it.

It never fails, one of them gets too hot while they wait for me to put ski pants on the other. Then the first child has to go to the bathroom. While that one is using the bathroom, the smaller one takes off her painstakingly tucked in mittens, pulls off her boots, and hides her hat in an obscure location. When I finally get everyone put back together, I have just enough time to throw on some boots and my jacket before I risk having to repeat the process.

There is no need to worry about frostbite though. After 10 minutes outside, one or both kids will fall and give themselves a whitewash, creating hysteria.

The next 10 minutes are filled with me running laps around the house, dragging a baby sled with a tiny, pink-clad, dictator perched atop. If I slow down or stop, I will be scolded and the screaming demands will commence. Meanwhile, my son is struggling to entertain himself and quickly losing his patience.

Sometime within those 10 minutes, the whining will start because they are cold, hungry, and tired, and it will persist until I can’t take it any longer.

Finally, I will drag them inside despite their protests, and bribe them with hot cocoa. The shedding of winter garb takes the entirety of 1.3 seconds, and results in what looks like an L.L. Bean catalog threw up in my entryway, complete with sopping wet mittens and boots.

After wiping noses and providing food and drinks, I can check the outside play portion of the day off my to-do list.

It only took 30 minutes to prepare, 20 minutes of forced enjoyment, and 2 seconds of disrobing. Now what will I do with the rest of my day? Wipe runny noses.

That’s right, my two small children are apparently in a tight competition for the most snot to freely flow out of one tiny nose. Since they are not yet proficient in the art of the elbow cough/sneeze, and love to share their germs with everyone around, the winter months are filled with cold after cold. They both are around plenty of other kids, all of whom are adept in the art of germ sharing, and our youngest hasn’t quite outgrown the “let’s see what this tastes like” phase. My son has asthma, so each cold sends me into an anxietyfilled high alert, where I feel like I am ready to pounce with his nebulizer at the drop of a hat (or the first sign of a wheeze). Between the runny noses, barking coughs, and respiratory issues, you would think that life could get no worse. But suddenly, I know that I spoke too soon, because my husband walks in the door coughing and sniffling, and we all know that there is nothing worse than a man with a cold.

Maybe it’s time to find a travel agent!

ASHLEY THORNTON of Milford is a mom of two rambunctious toddlers.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 67

metro sports

All-Star , basketball is a family affair.

Mitch and Kenzie Worcester’s love for the game began with small, plastic hoops their parents kept around the house when they were young. Next came a hoop in the basement. And an adjustable one outdoors. And finally they took to the hardwood where their basketball careers took off.

“The hoops just kept getting bigger,” their father, Larry Worcester, said.

Larry, who played basketball at Penquis Valley High School, surpassed 1,000 career points while playing at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. His wife, Kim also passed the 1,000 point mark during her high school career at Washburn, helping the team win a state championship in 1986.

And though their achievements are still remembered, it’s their kids that are drawing the attention now.

Mitch and Kenzie Worcester, sophomore and freshman at Husson University, respectively, have followed in their parent’s footsteps, but as Larry Worcester said, “they really went above and beyond anything that I did.”

68 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Family, community and basketball: Worcesters share a love for the game. BY SHELBY HARTIN Mitch started at the University of Maine as a redshirt freshman. He has since transferred to Husson, his first year in the 2014-2015 season. A stress fracture in his ankle left him sidelined for a few months of the 2015-2016 season, but he recently abandoned his crutches and started practicing again.

Though Mitch’s career at Husson is starting to take shape, his high school record stands on its own.

also surpassed the 2,000 point mark while at Washburn.

The numbers and accolades speak for themselves, but for the Worcester family, basketball means much more than statistics.

Larry, an elementary school principal at Easton, and Kim, a sixth grade teacher at Washburn, both grew up in small towns surrounded by the support offered in a tight-knit community.

“At Washburn, basketball is the main thing that ties everybody together as a community.

Everybody shares the interest.”

– Mitch Worcester He became the second-leading scorer in Maine boy’s basketball history with 2,297 points during his high school career, but Mitch isn’t the only one in the family to reach such a milestone.

Kenzie, who was named the Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association Co-Rookie of the Week in December with Alayne Felix from Maine Maritime,

Larry described his hometown of Brownville Junction as “basketball town” — a place where the community rallied around its teams. It brought the town and its people together.

He remembers being taken to the basketball tournament “down in Bangor” and watching players like Tony Hamlin and Wally Russell, two standouts of their time.

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

F

or the Worcesters

Family

“I lived out in the country, so there weren’t really a lot of people around to play against, so I would just go out and play,” Larry said.

“Basketball became my favorite out of all the sports,” Larry said. And after a career of his own, watching his children grow up in a similar supportive community was rewarding for him, and a reminder for those who were able to watch Larry and Kim during their own time.

“They’ll say, ‘The kids play like you and have your love for the game,’” Larry said.

For both Mitch and Kenzie, high school basketball provided them with an unwavering support system.

“At Washburn, basketball is the main thing that ties everybody together as a community,” Mitch said. “Everybody shares the interest.”

“You knew you always had the community there for support,” Kenzie said. “A lot of them would travel, no matter what the weather was like. To hear them cheering us on was really encouraging and helped us push through the tough times.”

And it also provided them both with a strong connection to one another as a family.

“After any game, if there was anything that went wrong I knew that I could come home and talk to [my parents] about it,” Kenzie said.

“Kenzie is really interested in the coaching part of it. She really would ask about, ‘What do you think of a certain play or defense or offense?’ She’s kind of analytical that way,” Larry said.

Mitch said that he and Kenzie would squabble when they were young, but as they grew, they formed a close bond and were able to learn together.

But perhaps most important are the memories.

There are the photos: Mitch Worcester standing with his parents after he scored his 1,000th career point. A snapshot of Kenzie taking a layup where she was told she looks just like her mom.

Countless captures of the two at games.

There are the experiences: Larry Worcester watching his children run out onto the floor for their very first tournament games. And their very last.

Coaching Kenzie at summer camps and watching Mitch positively contribute to his college team.

There’s basketball: The sport that ties them all together. And there are the hoops to remind them of how it all began.

(Left) Two generations of the Worcester family each achieved the 1,000-point career scoring mark in basketball. Showing off their milestone basketballs are (from left) Mackenzie, Larry, Kim and Mitchell Worcester.

Mackenzie and Mitchell both scored more than 2,000 points in their high school careers.

The photos: hallmarking two outstanding high school basketball careers that Mitch and Kenzie Worchester are continuing now in their college careers at Husson University.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 69

maine

woods & waters

Silence, Please

BY BOB DUCHESNE

I

t is now

legal to hunt with silencers in Maine. That surprises a lot of people. It even surprised me, and I voted for it. Well, “voted” is a bit strong. Actually, LD 942 was approved by the Legislature without a vote. The Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee gave the bill unanimous support, so it joined a list of other unanimous bills on a consent calendar. All bills on the consent calendar pass without discussion, unless there is objection by any member.

You would think that such a bill would be controversial. Hollywood has given silencers a sinister reputation. They are the cinematic tools of spies, assassins, and hitmen.

Movies portray them as being no louder than a blow dart. In reality, silencers aren’t silent.

There are three components to the sound of a shot. There is the minimal noise generated by the mechanical movements of trigger and hammer. There is the loud report of gases exploding from the barrel. And there is the sharp crack of the bullet as it breaks the

Hollywood has given silencers a sinister reputation. Movies portray them as being no louder than a blow dart. In reality, silencers aren’t silent. sound barrier. Silencers, also called suppressors, affect only the explosive gases. Gases are channeled into baffles, allowing them to expand into a larger area that muffles the sound. The sharp crack of the bullet remains. The sound of a large caliber firearm may be reduced to the level of a smaller-caliber weapon, but it still sounds like a gunshot.

That matters this time of year. Most coyote hunting happens after dark, and the noise of gunfire carries far on the still air of a cold winter night. No one can blame a homeowner for mistaking a legal coyote hunt for illegal deer poaching. Now that hunting with 70 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

PHOTO: (HUNTER) JULIAZARA/THINKSTOCK; (SILENCERS) BDN FILE

Maine hunters have the right to remain silent.

lay.

Sound suppressors on disp

suppressors is legal, their use can reduce disturbance to distant residents.

They also reduce disturbance to close neighbors. Gun clubs, shooting ranges, and sand pits used to be commonplace on the outskirts of town. But suburbia has encroached on those areas, leading to noise disputes. Suppressors have been useful in quieting the conflict.

Suppressors also reduce the impact on the shooter. Hearing protectors are universally used during target practice, but they’re impractical for use in the woods. Hunters hoping to preserve

their hearing welcome the new law. For them, a suppressor on a firearm serves the same purpose as a muffler on a lawn mower.

Of course, a big concern for many Mainers is that silencers might make it harder to catch a poacher. As the fisheries and wildlife committee discovered, the chances of illegal use are very low, because the penalties are very high.

Furthermore, it has always been legal to possess a silencer. If they were going to be a problem, they already would be.

It’s true. It has always been legal to possess silencers. Suppressors are regulated by the federal government, and each silencer must be registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. It’s an expensive, exhaustive process. The application must be accompanied by fingerprints, photos, and a signed letter from a local law enforcement chief attesting that the applicant is legally qualified to own one. Anyone with a criminal history is ineligible. Oh, and the application must be accompanied by a $200 check, and it can take up to eight months for federal approval.

Silencers are not cheap. They can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500. Penalties for misuse are high. On the first offense, the violator loses the firearm, the silencer, $1,000, the right to hunt for five years, and any future right to possess a silencer. And that’s on top of any other penalties imposed for crimes related to the offense, such as night hunting or discharge too close to a residence. Then there are the lawyer fees. It’s about the most economically disastrous way to poach.

Small wonder that most states already allowed hunting with noise suppressors.

Until passage of LD 942, Maine was one of only 11 states that didn’t. Even with federal permission to possess a silencer, an additional permit is now required from the state to hunt with one, and the hunter must show the permit to a game warden when requested.

So, hunters, rejoice. You have the right to remain silent.

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 / 71

savvy seniors

Romance scammers aren’t interested in earning your love – they want your hard-earned money.

BY JANE MARGESSON

72 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

W

ith Valentine’s

Day approaching, many adults will seek companionship and romance online, creating a spike in online dating activity on sites across the nation. Online daters need only create a quick profile and the dating website plays the role of matchmaker, sorting through millions of other profiles to find Mr. or Ms. Right. While many clients are honest and forthright, online dating sites are also rife with fraudsters looking for individuals to manipulate with false promises. If this sounds like an unlikely ploy, consider this: According to the FBI, Americans lost $82 million to online dating fraud in the second half of 2014 alone.

Of note is the fact that online dating sites that are faith-based are often a favorite target for scammers.

“Try as they may, online dating sites do not succeed in keeping scammers from posing as legitimate people looking for love,” said Judy Shaw, administrator for the Maine Office of Securities. ”When the dating site is faith-based, that adds the ability to use mutual love for God as an additional connection to tug at the emotional heart strings. People, often women, have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on these sites.”

This is what is called “affinity fraud” — we trust people who we can relate to and who we believe share the same morals and beliefs as we do.

PHOTO: CYANO66/THINKSTOCK.COM

Bad Romance

AARP Maine is working with agencies and law enforcement in the state to crack down on scammers. More broadly, the AARP Fraud Watch Network, a national initiative, is taking a proactive stance, urging dating websites themselves to take commonsense steps to fight back against criminals who are stealing hearts and bank accounts. We'll be delivering petitions to the top online dating websites – Match.com, eHarmony, Plenty of Fish, Zoosk, OK Cupid, SeniorPeopleMeet and Our Time – urging them to do more to keep these heartless criminals off their sites and educate their users on how to spot and avoid romance scammers and what to do if they are victimized. To sign our petition, please go to visit aarp.org/ fraudwatchnetwork and click on “sign our petition to fight fraud.”

In the meantime, here are 10 ways you can spot a romance scammer: Watch out if you "meet" someone who: • wants to leave the dating site immediately and use personal email or instant messaging to communicate.

• makes several spelling and grammar mistakes when communicating.

• sends a personal photo that looks like something from a magazine.

• professes love too quickly.

• claims to be from the U.S., but is traveling or working overseas.

• makes excuses about not being able to speak by phone.

• plans to visit, but cancels at the last minute because of a traumatic event or a business deal gone sour.

• asks for money for a variety of reasons (travel, medical emergencies, hotel bills, hospitals bills for child or other relative, visas or other official documents, losses from a financial setback).

• requests you to wire money or to cash a check or money order and send money back or to a third person.

• makes several, ongoing requests for more money.

It is prudent to remember that although we all want to make that special connection and find fulfillment with another person, when online interaction is involved, particular care must be taken.

Remember it is far better to be momentarily lovelorn than permanently fleeced.

Keep your warm heart safe with a cool head when seeking connections online.

JANE MARGESSON is the AARP Maine communications director.

metro home

Basement Makeover Four easy tips to improve your underground space.

BY SCOTT MCGILLIVRAY, METRO NEWS SERVICE

Get creative with a fresh coat of paint Transform the dull and boring space into an inviting entertainment oasis or a colorful playroom with a simple coat of paint. When considering the paint, think about what color will compliment your existing furniture. To add some drama, consider adding depth and visual interest to your space with a different colored accent wall.

Installing a new floor or updating the existing one can improve the overall comfort level and look of your basement. Many unfinished basements have basic concrete flooring, which is cold year-round. Flooring options are endless — hardwood, laminate, cork and Berber flooring all add warmth to a basement bedroom or TV room; play mats are great for kids’ playrooms; and carpets are perfect to make any room feel more comfy and welcoming.

74 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

PHOTOS: ELENATHEWISE, PIOVESEMPRE, ALEXRATHS, DESIGN PICS, WARRENGOLDSWAIN/THINKSTOCK

Out with the old, in with a floor

INSURANCE

T

he start of

a new season is the perfect time to check some tasks off of your to-do list — whether it's to get in shape or tackle at-home projects. If you're planning on making some simple but effective changes at home, here are some

tips on how to give your basement a total 180-degree makeover.

SCOTT MCGILLIVRAY is an awardwinning TV host, a full-time real estate investor, contractor, author, and educator.

Follow him on Twitter @smcgillivray.

Soundproof it Installing acoustic insulation is the perfect excuse to crank up the subwoofer, host a get-together or let the kids run wild. Soundproofing is the ultimate solution to maximize your basement’s peace, quiet and privacy. Industry experts suggest using Roxul Safe n’ Sound, which effectively absorbs sound and is easy to work with.

Your ad could be on this page Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section. Call 941-1300.

Accessorize it Throw pillows, rugs, lighting, and artwork are simple additions that can immediately enhance or change your basement’s look and feel. Pot lights can modernize, while art work and throw pillows can add a splash of color. Decide on a theme and color scheme for your room and keep your eye out for staple pieces that will make it feel like an entirely new space.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 75

76 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

Special Section Featuring Northern Maine

by Bangor Metro

Supporting the

Community

Presque Isle Rotary Club doubles Special Project goal during 68th auction.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF QUOGGY JO SKI CENTER

BY ANTHONY BRINO

T

he Presque Isle

Rotary Club wrapped up its 68th annual Radio and TV Auction on a high note, raising more than $92,000 during the three-night event and doubling its $25,000 fundraising goal for its Special Project.

Money raised during the event benefited seven non-profit organizations in the region and the auction's Special Project, Quoggy Jo Ski Center.

The 2015 auction featured over 600 items including three-night special items, onenight items, half-hour items, and CHAIR-ity art auction items generously given by more than 190 donors. The total value of these items was estimated at more than $54,000.

“It is clear that the love for this community and the desire to see it flourish is a common theme each year to make this auction happen and be so successful. The results of the auction make our communities a better place to live and work for our families, friends and neighbors.“ – Gina LeBlanc-Eggert “This year's Rotary auction was once again a great success and a lot of fun!

There are so many to thank for contributing to this year's achievement, including, but not limited to, all of our club's Rotarians and their families, business donors, www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 77

crown of maine More than $50,000 was raised for Quoggy Jo Ski Center as the Special Project. Taking a moment to thank generous donors were, from left, front row: Daren Hunter, Brandy Cronin and Jenn Edgecomb. Back row, Laura Hunter, Rotary Special Project cochairs Joe Clukey and Sharon Cambell and Grant Clark.

78 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

cubic feet) and hand trucks to hold 600 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, milk products, eggs and cheese that all need to be refrigerated during a week's time.

Presque Isle Fire Department: $2,500 to give its fire extinguisher fill station ventilation hood system the ability to fill empty fire extinguishers. This will allow the fire department to fulfill its duty to protect local citizens from small fires not requiring a water hose.

More than $50,000 was raised for Quoggy Jo Ski Center as the Special Project.

That money will help to fund its Safety Project Campaign for Capital Improvements.

Presque Isle Historical Society: $2,000 to fund an exhibit to educate the general public, primarily children and youth, as to the rich history of agriculture, farms and specifically potato farming in the area.

Presque Isle Snowmobile Club: $2,000 for the replacement of the club's 6-burner gas range. The club offers its clubhouse to many non-profit organizations for Stew Nights, parties and meetings.

Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery: $1,263 for the purchase of 30 5-by 8-feet American flags to be used to fly

goal of raising money for our community," Pooler-Hall said. "It also gives us an opportunity to develop stronger relationships with our very generous donors and other local organizations.

"I am so thankful for the support shown by our businesses and bidders for our auction. Without them, we wouldn't have this auction."

With the 2015 auction completely wrapped up, club members already are beginning preliminary work to prepare for the 2016 auction, which will be held Tuesday to Thursday, Nov. 29 and 30, and Dec. 1.

PHOTO: BDN FILE

philanthropists, recipients, bidders and friends,” Gina LeBlanc-Eggert said.

“It is clear that the love for this community and the desire to see it flourish is a common theme each year to make this auction happen and be so successful. The results of the auction make our communities a better place to live and work for our families, friends and neighbors. That is why, time and time again for 68 years, this auction has been such a huge success.”

More than $50,000 was raised for Quoggy Jo Ski Center as the Special Project. That money will help to fund its Safety Project Campaign for Capital Improvements. This effort will address the much-needed replacement of aging equipment and help the ski center to provide safe, reliable and economical winter recreation activities to the children and families of Presque Isle and the surrounding communities.

In addition to the Special Project, the annual Rotary Auction raised funds through its regular auction to benefit several local groups, including: Aroostook Autism Support Group: $2,000 to support the Annual Aroostook Autism Conference 2016, which will bring trainings and resources to Aroostook County, and various vendors and agencies that provide assistance and support to individuals affected by autism.

Grace Interfaith Food Table (GIFT): $1,300 for an upright refrigerator (24

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, May through Veterans Day in November at the cemetery's Avenue of Flags.

St. Apollonia Dental Clinic: $4,000 for the inhalation sedation equipment needed to treat children requiring care for extreme dental disease that would otherwise be referred to Bangor or further south.

Another major component of the auction was the annual art auction. The Presque Isle Rotary Club partnered with Wintergreen Arts Center on the effort, with all proceeds going toward children's programming at the center. Up for bid at the 2015 auction were 15 unique chairs transformed by local artists into works of art as part of the center's CHAIR-ity Art Auction.

"Rotary Auction week is genuinely my favorite week of the year. It gives all of the Rotarians an opportunity for fellowship with each other and a feeling of camaraderie as we work towards our

Honoring

Employees

The Aroostook Medical Center honors V.I.P. employees at special breakfast event.

T

he Aroostook Medical

Center honored a special group of its own at a breakfast at the A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle recently.

Although TAMC acknowledges all of its employees are VIP’s, those with over 20 years of service are given the designation V.I.P. – Veterans-In-Partnership. The impressive gathering of TAMC’s most tenured is celebrated at a breakfast each December.

Nine employees were welcomed to the V.I.P. ranks, bringing to 158 the total number of TAMC team members currently in the program – that’s about 16 percent of the non-profit healthcare organization’s workforce.

The nine employees who most recently reached the 20-year milestone of service are: Vilma Craig of Ashland, chief nursing information officer; Dale Gordon, FNP of Caribou, a provider in the emergency department; Penny McDonald of Presque Isle, from the environmental services department; Kathleen McKinnon of Bridgewater, a CNA at the Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill; Rhonda Orser of Mars Hill, administrative assistant at the Aroostook Health Center; Barbara Rafford of Ashland, from the revenue cycle department; Laura Turner of Washburn, community liaison; John Whittaker of Mapleton, from Crown Emergency Services; and Elizabeth Wipperman of Presque Isle, from patient accounting.

“We are very fortunate as an organization to have such talented and dedicated employees who have spent either their entire career or a good portion of their career with us.

These team members have contributed to our growth and have helped mentor many employees over the years.”

–Joseph Siddiqui

“We are very fortunate as an organization to have such talented and dedicated employees who have spent either their entire career or a good portion of their career with us,” said Joseph Siddiqui, vice president of human resources. “These team members have contributed to our growth and have helped mentor many employees over the years.”

That sentiment was echoed by TAMC President and CEO Sylvia Getman.

“That’s why we are the organization we are today, because we have people who are committed and see things through,” she said.

In her comments to the gathering, which included more than 75 V.I.P. members and other TAMC leaders, Getman shared a letter from a TAMC patient which highlighted the great patient care she and her family have received from TAMC. She told a poignant story of a health scare with her infant daughter and how the nurses in TAMC’s Women & Children’s Department so inspired her that she went back to school to earn a nursing degree. Getman used the story to underscore the difference TAMC employees make in the lives of those we serve. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 79

last

word

I

Traveling with the

Super Sun

Confusing carnies and pizza toppings with dizzying science.

BY CHRIS QUIMBY

want to say

that I haven't traveled much, but that would be a lie.

Technically, even if I didn't go anywhere, I would be going somewhere — and fast. According to my guess, the Earth spins at roughly 78,000 miles per second. Think of it this way: If you were 1 millimeter tall and standing on the edge of a piece of pizza in one of those spinning convenience store units that was traveling at 3 inches per second, the pepperonis would look huge.

Still confused? Well, consider also that the Earth spins around the sun at one circle per year (or c/y). The circle is a unit I made up which is a thin, gray line that the Earth stays on while traveling around the sun. It is clearly seen by looking at a drawing in any high school science book or by abusing prescription drugs and looking into the sky at night (which I do not recommend — either drug abuse nor looking at a high school science book).

So, as you can clearly see, even if I was sitting on a loveseat wearing only a pair of cutoff sweatpants and watching Jeopardy on a 9-inch black and white TV, I would be traveling around the Earth and the sun, possibly surrounded by large pepperonis. And, had I looked at my high school science book more often, I might've learned that the sun is traveling around something, too — perhaps a Super Sun, which might often taunt our familiar and lesser sun by making fun of its sunspots.

So, there I would be, half-dressed, going many places at a great speed, twirling and spinning around, not much unlike a carnival ride. And you can't tell me nothing like that has ever happened at your local state fair. My newspaper's police beat section is usually filled with such items as "Disoriented Eddington Man Found Nearly Nude on the Tilt-A-Whirl, Carnie Stunned."

And it takes a lot to stun a carnie.

Many people, however, do not appreciate knowing about our constant, involuntary traveling. Take the man that interviewed me for that job after graduation. He said, "Do you mind traveling?"

I spent the next 30 minutes educating him on spin speeds, Earthular circlepaths and pepperoni. He must have preferred ham as a pizza topping, because I did not get the position, plus I was escorted out by security. In hindsight, I probably should've just said travel was OK with me, but I'm not really sure I would've liked being a door-to-door Walmart greeter anyway.

It sounds so invasive.

Had I looked at my high school science book more often, I might've learned that the sun is traveling around something, too — perhaps a Super Sun, which might often taunt our familiar and lesser sun by making fun of its sunspots.

My goal in life now is to travel at such a speed and in such a direction that I am actually standing still in relation to the Super Sun. I'm not sure this has ever been done.

I am going to need some supplies, though, like a GPS. GPS is an amazing technology named after its inventor, George Positioning Satellite, which allows you to find out where you are on the planet. They are especially helpful when you wake up in the woods and say to yourself, "Where in the world am I?" GPS will not help, though, with your inevitable withdrawal from abusing prescription drugs and reading high school science books the night before.

Neither of which I recommend.

CHRIS QUIMBY is a Christian comedian, speaker and writer, morning news anchor and host of Soup du Jour on VStv, and owner of Chris Quimby iPhone Repair. He resides in Brooks with his wife and two children.

80 / BANGOR METRO February 2016

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