1608

PLETON • BREWER • SOUTH PORTLAND • LINNEUS • NORTH BERWICK • RUMFORD • SEARSPORT • WESTBROOK • PRESQUE ISLE • OLD TOWN • MILLIN

Inside:

2016 Study Guide: Get smart about education in Maine Blueberry Harvest School Then & Now: Bristol

$5.95

Highland

FUN & GAMES Throw, heft and toss your way to Topsham for the Maine Highland Games

August 2016

Your people, your region, your magazine.

AUGUST 2016

contents

features FARM RAISED / 18 Solon resident earns 4-H lifetime award BUILDING BLOCKS / 20 UMaine professor creates building blocks for success TANGO FOR TWO / 22 The health benefits of dance for Parkinson's patients HARVESTING EDUCATION / 28 Mainers working to combat education issues faced by migrant workers THEN & NOW: BRISTOL / 36 Plan a trip to the midcoast BREAKFAST TO GO / 42 Save time on busy school mornings with make ahead breakfast burritos DOWNTOWN DISH / 46 The tasty stylings of Evenrood's Dustin Cyr

36

HIGHLAND FUN & GAMES / 58 Toss, heft and throw your way to Bristol for the Maine Highland Games LANGUAGE OF LEARNING / 74 Talking the talk in Rockland HANDS ON LEARNING / 76 Real world training at UTC

ON THE COVER Robert Muelenberg competes in a Highland Games event earlier this year.

See story on page 58.

Photo: Victoria Jones 2 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

76

PHOTOS: (TOP) RICHARD SHAW; (BOTTOM) DEE DAPHINEE

THE BEST FESTS FOR MUSIC OF ALL KINDS / 50 August was made for Maine music lovers

The ultimate giant bubble recipe, page 54

Meet the Maine Farm Family of the Year, page 68

PHOTOS: (BUBBLES) AKINSHIN/THINKSTOCK; (FARM) COURTESY OF THE FLEWELLING FAMILY; (FISH) MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Unique educational opportunities for migrant families, page 28

in every issue

columns

TALK BACK & SIGHTINGS / 8 Our readers thoughts and photos

METRO WELLNESS / 27 Living in the moment

BIZ BUZZ / 10 People and places on the move

METRO FAMILY / 56 Choosing compassion

WHAT’S HAPPENING / 11 Local news and events

MAINE WOODS & WATERS / 62 Whale watching adventures

PERSPECTIVES / 52 Nate Parker celebrates Acadia

LAST WORD / 88 Keeping it classy

AIMEE & AMY TRY... / 54 Blowing giant backyard bubbles SAVVY SENIORS / 64 Securing Social Security METRO HOME / 66 Create the perfect study environment CROWN OF MAINE / 68 News from Aroostook County

BONUS INSIDE! 2016 STUDY GUIDE Get smart about education in Maine

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

Check out our interactive map of Bristol (featured on page 36) More photos from events around our region.

Email your own event photos: sightings@bangormetro.com

Find our Study Guide on Page 71 www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

editor’s note Aimee's little ones Chloe and Gunner enjoy a summer swim. www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000

PUBLISHER

We have been busy. Very, very busy.

Fred wit h his kids Freddy and Laura enjoying a game at Fenway Park.

Richard J. Warren

MANAGING EDITOR

As I write this, we are just about to put the August issue to bed (magazine talk for being almost ready to send this bad boy to the printer).

Once that button is pushed, there are moments of relief that we made it through another month, but also of panic that we forgot something, that a headline contains a misspelling, or that we unintentionally put a dot on the map in the wrong place. All things that tend to cause editors to wake up in a cold sweat in the wee hours of the morning.

One common misconception about magazines is that because we only publish one per month, people often think that we have a large amount of downtime in between issues. Not true. We are constantly working on ads, content, layout, website and social media updates, and more.

But it can’t be all work and no play. Our staff agrees that there’s nothing like summer in Maine and we all enjoy spending it with our families. Whether we’re playing at the beach, captaining a boat, taking in a Sox game or casting a line we need to remember to cherish these moments of fun in the sun.

Here are a few snapshots of what we’ve been up to so far this summer. We’d love to see what you’ve been doing. Find us on Facebook or email your photos to athibodeau@bangordailynews.com and who knows, you might see your picture in an upcoming issue.

Aimee Thibodeau athibodeau@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Emily Burnham eburnham@bangordailynews.com

SALES MANAGER

Laurie Cates lcates@bangordailynews.com

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

AIMEE THIBODEAU, MANAGING EDITOR

Amy's father Steve wit h Finn and Maggie sail around Stockton Springs.

Fred Stewart fstewart@bangordailynews.com

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

4 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Pictured: Susan C. and Paul M. O'Brien Jr.

“Katahdin Trust really has their customers in mind.”

They don’t just sell things to sell things. They are focused foremost on helping Maine people thrive. Not only do they offer incredible rates, they provide sound advice and let you know what your options are.

Katahdin Trust makes sure your money is working for you and not against you. I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone.

Susan C. O'Brien Co-owner, Bickmore Manor LLC Old Town, Maine Find one of our 19 banking locations

www.KatahdinTrust.com 1-800-221-2542

Yes way!

If you’re experiencing any kind of hip or knee pain, EMMC is the place to go.

We always explore non-surgical options first, like medication, injections, or physical therapy. If surgery is necessary, our orthopedic specialists are expertly trained in the latest approaches, and together you’ll discuss the best option for you.

You’ll also have a surgical navigation team with you every step of the way making sure you’re prepared from the very start. And because of all this, 95% of our patients are up and about 12 hours after the procedure. How’s that for a little relief?

Get your questions answered here.

AlwaysRemarkable.emmc.org | 973-8278

SM

© 2016 Eastern Maine Medical Center

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kate Beever

Sarah Walker Caron

Dee Dauphinee

Bob Duchesne

Jodi Hersey

Jane Margesson

Chris Quimby

Richard Shaw

Emilie Brand Throckmorton

Bangor Metro Magazine. August 2016, Vol. 12, No. 8.

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.

Subscriptions/Address Change: A one year subscription cost is $24.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date.

Please contact Fred Stewart at 207-990-8219.

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

COVER PHOTO: Victoria Jones

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

talk back & sightings

monhegan isla

nd then & now

WeHearing Love From You Share your feedback and you might just see it here next month!

Monhegan artist Alison Hill recently shared Richard Shaw’s article “Enchanted Island” with us. It was very helpful to us in preparing for our upcoming feature show, “Monhegan on the Mainland.” The exhibition will showcase new work by Alison and many of our other gallery artists, and will run from July 2-22.

Please pass along our thanks to Richard for writing such an informative article and for including part of Alison’s story. It offered us valuable insight into Monhegan’s fascinating artistic history and culture.

Barbra, Camden Falls Gallery

44 / BANGO R METRO June 2016

d is a favorite

HISTORIC PHOTO

spot of artists,

fishermen and

S COURTESY

summer tourists.

OF MAINE HISTO RIC PRESERVATION AND BANGO COMMISSION R PUBLIC LIBRAR , BANGOR DAILY Y’S JAMES B. NEWS, VICKERY POSTC RD SHAW | PHOTO ARD COLLECTION S BY PAGE EASTM AN, BRIAN F. SWARTZ, AND RICHARD SHAW

STORY BY RICHA

A

scant

three-quarte r miles wide and a mile and sparkling ocean a half long, that remain storied Monhegan unchanged into the 21st Island might century. just be Maine’s most “I came here enchanted spot.

14 years ago Located 12 with an artmiles off Maine ist-boyfriend from Newp ’s midcoast, this rockbound ort, Rhode land, and fell retreat has lured Isin love with fishermen, artists, the place,” said and tourists Hill, who began for nearly 200 painting portra years. Yet, it is its before expanding to home to only landscapes. “I about 68 yearround reside live here yearround and still nts who watch am in awe of the sun rise and set over the island and its beauty. All an ever-changi season ng seasca s offer somet Rockwell Kent, pe. has the feeling hing. It Edward Hoppe of being back Andrew Wyeth r, and in time, with dirt roads, hardly are among any vehicles, the pantheon of artists and rustic buildings and who have captu fish houses.”

Monhegan’s red Part-t ime reside granite lighth ouse and nt Kevin Beers crashing surf. drawn to the was Today, painte island becau rs such as Alison Hill se of Hopper’s inspir ation. are still inspir ed by the pure light, “I love being moody shado immersed in ws, and the landscape,” he said.

“You don’t hop into a www.bangorme

tro.com BANGO R METRO / 45

Thank you to everyone who shared, commented and voted in our 2016 Best Restaurant contest!

We’re sifting through more than 20,000 (WOW!!!) votes right now, preparing to bring you the winners – as well as name the lucky voter who will win a gift card to a winning restaurant in their region!

Stay tuned for the results coming in next month’s issue!

We can’t wait to share!

Getting Creative

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

All Over The Place

Crown of Maine Balloon Festival, page 11

Enchanted Island Monhegan Islan

(Top right) Summe r visits stroll through Monheg an while the Coast Guard cutter “Cowsl ip” stands in the backgro this undated photo und in from the past. (Top left) Monhegan today remains virtually untouched.

Manana Island stands in the background. (Left) Summer tourists visit Monheg an in this photo from the past.

We’re checking out fun educational opportunities all over Maine this month!

Meet an Orono professor challenging students to give back and keep learning, page 20 Visit Bristol, then and now, page 36

We recently moved our office up a few floors in the One Merchants Plaza building in downtown Bangor. We now work in even closer proximity to the Creative Department for the BDN, and when we suggested making this month’s Aimee & Amy Try project a grown-up adventure, they were more than willing to participate (page 54). They also went to town creating some art for the office walls while we were at it. Now you know what happens if you set the Creative folks loose with some paint and bubbles!

Coming NEXT MONTH...

It’s finally here! The 2016 Best Restaurant award winners will be announced, along with all kinds of good eats!

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

8 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Summer fun

is well underway!

Here’s a look at just a few special events from the past month...

PHOTOS BY JEFF KIRLIN / THING OF THE MOMENT

1 2

1: Jeff Kirlin snaps a selfie with Dave Melochick on the rainbow-painted crosswalk at the Bangor Pride Festival in June.

2: Bangor celebrated diversity with Pride events, a parade, and a downtown festival hosted by The Bridge Alliance and Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center, as well

as sponsors athenahealth, KeyBank, Paddy Murphy’s, EqualityMaine, Bangor Daily News, UMA-Bangor Student Life and Penobscot Theatre Company.

3: Twenty Maine breweries participated in the 5th annual Tap into Summer Beer Festival on the Bangor Waterfront in June.

3

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

biz buzz On the Move PETER T. GROSS has joined

Phi Home Designs of Rockport to bring his experience and expertise to the development of Phi Architects, a newly established division of the company.

Gross earned his Master of Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and was most recently principal at his own firm, Peter T. Gross Architects in Camden.

BERNSTEIN SHUR , one of

northern New England’s largest law firms, announced the selection of Peter J. Van Hemel as practice group leader of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group. Van Hemel, a shareholder, has focused his real estate practice on commercial lease negotiations, wind energy and telecommunications development projects, transactional work, boundary disputes and easement negotiations.

Husson University has named SARAH CARY ROBINSON as its vice president of advancement. Previously, Robinson was a vice president and trust officer at Bar Harbor Trust Services where she specialized in consulting with nonprofits about charitable gift planning. In her new role, Robinson will be responsible for leading the university’s advancement division. This includes alumni relations, major gifts and planned giving efforts.

She was selected after an extensive national search.

smartphone (photo). O’Brien discussed an alternative screening technique using an acoustic method of detecting fractures which has been developed utilizing a smartphone-based platform.

Middle school students from Cumberland, Hampden and Madison are the winners in Maine Municipal Association’s fifth annual statewide essay contest, which carried the theme: “If I Led My Community…” Essays were judged based on: knowledge of municipal government; writing quality and clarity; and, originality. The winners are: ABIGAIL JEAN STEINBERG, of Greely Middle School in Cumberland; MEGHAN IRELAND, of Reeds Brook Middle School in Hampden; and, JEFFREY DANIELS of Madison Junior High School. Each student will receive a certificate and a $250 prize to be used for educational purposes.

BRUCE HEWS JR. , Hope House Health & Living Center campus manager, was nominated by Director Ann Giggey, and received a 2016 Next Step Maine Employee of Promise Scholarship to support his pursuit of a Substance Abuse certificate from Beal College.

Workers’ compensation insurer The MEMIC Group presented awards for workplace safety to 10 of its more than 20,000 policyholders, including the following Maine businesses: FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Damariscotta; GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK of Auburn; INTERMED, P.A. of Portland; LUMBRA HARDWOODS INC. of Milo; and RIDGEWOOD ESTATES LLC of Madawaska.

TODD O’BRIEN, podiatrist at Penobscot

Grants

Community Health Care’s Helen Hunt Health Center in Old Town, was recently invited to speak at the World Podiatry Congress in Montreal regarding a novel way to detect fractures of the foot and ankle via

The NORTHEAST DELTA DENTAL FOUNDATION recently awarded grants totaling nearly $60,000 to Maine oral health programs. Grant recipients include: Access Health for Leavitt's Mill Free Health Center, Bar Mills,

Awards

10 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

$3,000 for its denture fabrication program; City of Portland's Children's Oral Health Program, $13,990 toward the costs of digital x-rays and digital sensors with software; Harrington Family Health Center, Harrington, $5,000 for a dental technology upgrade; Maine Association of Nonprofits, Portland, $2,000 for scholarships for the professional development of nonprofit leaders in the oral health field; Maine Health Access Foundation, $6,000 toward the costs of the Maine Oral Health Funders Program Coordinator; New York University College of Dental Medicine, $10,000 to support the student dental outreach program in Machias; Oral Health America, Chicago, Illinois, $5,000 to support the oral health outreach of the Smiles Across America Program in Aroostook County; Penobscot Community Health Center, Bangor, $7,980 for its dental records upgrade project and sensors; Waldo County Dental Care, Belfast, $5,000 for dental equipment.

The DAVIS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION has selected UNITY COLLEGE for a $10,000 Presidential Grant to research innovations to the first- and second-year educational experience in small, private higher education. The funds will be used as part of an ongoing, multi-year student success effort aimed at re-imagining the the first two years of an undergraduate experience, and comes a year after an anonymous $200,000 gift to support market research focused on how sustainability education can better meet emerging student, employer, and societal needs.

what’s happening

THE SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL IS: Thursday, Aug. 25 5:30 a.m. – Thursday Flight (pre-Balloon Festival flights by available balloons) 5:30 p.m. - Festival opening and ribbon burning 5:30 p.m. - Mass Ascension Friday, Aug. 26 5:30 a.m. - Mass Ascension 4-9 p.m. - Craft Fair and Vendors 4 p.m. - Tethered Balloon Rides, $10 for ages 12 and over; $5 for children under 12. Tickets will be limited to 150, on a first come, first served basis.

5:30 p.m. - Mass Ascension 6:30-8 p.m. - Showing of the movie “UP” in commercial building.

Dusk - Balloon Glow

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

Saturday, Aug. 27 5:30 a.m. - Mass Ascension 7-10 a.m. - Pilot and Crew Breakfast, Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club, Chapman Cost is $7 per person 8 a.m. - City Wide Yard Sale 10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Youth Day at the Forum, Sponsored by Presque Isle Kiwanis Club and Cary Medical Center 11 a.m.-9 p.m. - Craft Fair and Vendors Open 11 a.m. - Aroostook County Firefighter Parade travels through town ending at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds. The Firefighter Muster will begin after the parade and will be behind the Forestry Building.

Noon-5 p.m. - Antique Tractor Club Special Events sponsored by: Northern Maine Tractor Club and R.H. Foster Energy.

1 p.m. - Tractor Pulls start 1-4 p.m. Tractor Train Rides 5 p.m. - Tethered Balloon Rides, $10 for ages 12 and over; $5 for children under 12. Sponsored by Northern Prosthetics & Orthotics. Tickets will be limited to 150, on a first come, first served basis.

5:30 p.m. - Mass Ascension Dusk – Balloon Glow Sunday, Aug. 28 5:30 a.m. - Mass Ascension 8:30 a.m. - Sponsor and Landowner Breakfast, Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center, $10 per person 10 a.m. COMBF 5K Road Race For information, visit crownofmaineballoonfest.org.

Up, Up

and Away

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest kicks off soon

PRESQUE ISLE: The 13th annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, with a ribbon burning and mass ascension.

The festival was born as part of the 2004 Isle Fest, when local pilot Dena Winslow and Canadian pilot Wild Bill Whelan convinced the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce to give it a try. In addition to Winslow and Whelan, Doug Shippee from New Brunswick flew that first year.

Isle Fest 2005 saw the expansion to five balloons and in 2006 the number of balloons rose to nine and Isle Fest was renamed the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest. Since then, the festival has continued to grow and has seen some of the best flying around.

Aroostook County also holds a place in ballooning history as the home to two famous Transatlantic Balloon Flights. In 1978, the Double Eagle II launched from Presque Isle and made the first successful crossing of the Atlantic. In 1984, Joe Kittinger became the first person to make the solo Transatlantic balloon journey, he launched from Caribou. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

what’s happening

July 29-Aug. 7 Bangor State Fair, Bass Park, Bangor For 167 years the Bangor State Fair has delighted fun-lovers of all ages, with rides, games, music, exhibitions, farm animals, agricultural displays, competitions, food and much more. The fair, as always at Bass Park in Bangor, will offer $12 admission and an array of other fun things to do. bangorstatefair.com Aug. 3-7 Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland The king of crustaceans is the reason for this beloved yearly summertime festival, set for Aug. 3-7. In addition to eating lobster in both roll and boiled form, there’s rides, music, games, crafts, children’s activities, the Sea Goddess competition and much, much more fun to be had. mainelobsterfestival.com 12 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Aug. 12-14 Ployes and Muskie Festivals, Fort Kent Every August for the past eight years, the Greater Area Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce has held a Ploye Festival in conjunction with the area businesses holding a Muskie Derby. During this weekend, it’s all about Ployes, the iconic Acadian buckwheat pancake, and Muskies. One of the featured events is the making of the world’s largest ploye — and trust us, it’s a big one. This year’s event is set for Aug. 12-14 fortkentchamber.com

dogs and a red hot dog eating contest. redhotdog.org

Aug. 13 Maine Red Hot Dog Festival, Dexter This inaugural festival celebrating that iconic Maine delicacy — the red hot dog — is set for this August in Dexter.

Activities include a giant inflatable obstacle course, live music, cooking contests, auctions, children's activities, a rubber ducky race, beer and food tents, and of course, plenty of red hot

Aug. 17-20 Woodlawn Antiques Sale, Ellsworth America’s longest running summer antiques show and the region’s premier cultural event featuring 28 dealers from Maine and across the United States. The fun starts at 5 p.m. Aug. 17 with a kickoff party at the museum; the official show starts on the 18th. The antiques dealers will present an array of quality antiques

Aug. 13-14 Paranormal and Psychic Faire, Fort Knox State Park, Prospect Meet with people who believe in things unusual, including psychics, the East Coast Ghost Trackers, Loren Coleman, one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, and Christopher Gardner and Cindy Proulx, who will lead discussions on the topic of Unidentified Flying Objects. Regular fort admission and a $2 event donation requested.

PHOTO: BDN FILE

August

Aug. 12-14 Ployes and Muskie Festivals, Fort Kent

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

14 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

what’s happening

PHOTO: BDN FILE

and art, American and English furniture and accessories, American paintings and watercolors, Native American material, quilts, prints, rare books, ceramics, folk art, silver, jewelry oriental rugs and more. Show admission is $15, including tour of the museum, or $10 for show only. There will also be a cafe. For details, call Woodlawn at 207-667-867 or email events@woodlawnmuseum.org. woodlawnmuseum.org

Aug. 18 Jimmy Buffett at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor

Aug. 18 Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor The legendary Jimmy Buffett will bring his Coral Reefer Band to Bangor in a first-ever performance in the Queen City. The man known for his songs “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” will bring his laid-back island vibes to the stage at the Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. waterfrontconcerts.com

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

what’s happening

Aug. 26-28 American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront This annual rite of summer passage is once again set for the Bangor Waterfront, and features worldclass music from artists and groups representing countless world traditions.

Plus, delicious food, great shopping and wonderful people-watching. Suggested donation is $10 per day. americanfolkfestival.com 16 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Aug. 26-28 American Folk Festival, Bangor

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Aug. 19-21 Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, Machias One of the sweetest festivals in the state is in Machias, in the heart of Down East Maine. The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, set for Aug. 19-21, doesn’t need a midway or rides or anything like that: just good folks, good fun and good food. There’s a truly dazzling selection of desserts made from the most Maine of treats: blueberries. There’s music, performances, suppers and much more, too. machiasblueberry.com

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

unsung hero

Farm Raised Two long-horned rams relax in their sheep pen at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds.

18 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

F

or more

than half a century, Eleanor Pooler has led the Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club. At age 10, she joined Franklin County's Tough Nuts 4-H Club, and three years later the Franklin County Dairy 4-H Club.

She won many awards, which included trips to the University of Maine, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. And at age 19, she became a 4-H volunteer leader.

Still active in the organization as a 4-H representative on the Somerset County Executive Committee and the

Skowhegan State Fair board, Pooler has raised funds for the Somerset County 4-H Leaders Association, chaired the 4-H Day Parade at the Skowhegan State Fair and organizes the 4-H livestock demonstrations at the nation's oldest consecutively running agricultural fair.

Her club's community service projects include family suppers at the Masonic Hall, fundraisers for the local food

PHOTO: BDN FILE

Solon resident earns 4-H volunteer outstanding lifetime award.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAINE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

pantry and preparation of food trays for elderly residents. Pooler practices what 4-H represents: she involves all types of learning in a wide variety of club activities and models a strong commitment to community service.

It’s this dedication that earned her the 4-H Volunteer Outstanding Lifetime Award earlier this year. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

movers & shakers

Building

Blocks

niversity of

Maine Associate Professor Will Manion doesn’t just teach by the book, he teaches by example. The Old Town resident is a Construction Engineering Technology associate professor whose passion for the industry is so strong he can’t help but work in the field when he’s not in the classroom.

“Both civil and construction engineering are very people-oriented professions. We’re the folks that design, build, maintain and do the management of all the roads, bridges, buildings, schools and just about everything we live and work in,” Manion explained. “To understand our place in the world, you can’t just have all the math and technical skills, you have to understand the purpose of these projects, too.”

For almost two decades, Manion has been teaching students the ins and outs of the industry. He started his career in the civil engineering department before moving over to construction technology, where he’s been 20 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

BY JODI HERSEY

making big changes in the curriculum in order to keep students up to date in regards to today’s industry needs.

“The construction industry is a little different now and I’m trying to change things up a bit so we appeal more to the millennial generation,” he said. “The BIM course, which stands for Building Information Modeling, is new. It’s essentially

Mills in Bradley, and most recently to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor.

“I sat down with Habitat in January [and they] had a house donated to them

by Wells Fargo Bank that had been uninhabited for many years and it needed everything. So I broke the students into small teams. We completely gutted it out, changed it from two bedrooms to three

Manion said his biggest hope is that all his students continue to be lifelong learners long after their school days are behind them. building a building on a computer in 3-D before we actually construct it. And I kind of reinvented the whole senior capstone sequence where the students will do little service projects for different community organizations essentially helping them out, investigating and maybe doing a little design work for them.”

Manion’s students have donated their time and building skills to Leonard’s

and put on a new roof, insulation and siding. We basically reconstructed the whole thing,” Manion said.

Lynn Hempen, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor said without Manion and his students, the organization’s 1960s era home would still be under construction.

“They contributed more than 900 hours to the project. We couldn't have

PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAINE

U

UMaine professor creates building blocks for success.

University of Maine Associate Professor Will Manion assists Engineering students with their “Chem Cars” (vehicles they've constructed and engineered to run off various chemical reactions).

completed the home on such a short timeline without them,” Hempen said.

“Because of their sheer commitment, Will and UMaine’s Construction Engineering Technology program received the Volunteer of the Year award at our annual volunteer appreciation event [in June].”

“It was a great project,” said Manion.

“I was inspired by how the students really got into it. They’d be out there on Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends to try and get it done. They got to plan and organize what they were going to do and then actually do it and see how it worked.”

Manion said his biggest hope is that all his students continue to be lifelong learners long after their school days are behind them.

“What I try to do is inspire students to never stop learning. Their education at the University of Maine, with all its great parts and components is wonderful. But they need to leave with the ability to learn for themselves because things change and you have to be able to work with those changes and adapt to what our society and our environment needs,” he said.

metro health

Tango Dance may help patients with Parkinson’s Disease gain balance and movement.

BY KATE BEEVER

22 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

I

f you’ve

never studied dance, you probably aren’t skilled at the demi-plié or the soft shoe, but you can manage the basic movements of walking or cutting a rug at a wedding. You probably also take for granted the fact that you can walk out of your house, forget to check your mailbox, and walk backwards five steps to the mailbox and lean sideways on one foot to look inside it — and then spin around to head back to your car.

There’s no dance terminology for the steps of our daily tasks, but for anyone with an aging body or a disease such as Parkinson’s, these become a frustrating hindrance — more of a “step-ball and chain” than a “step-ball-change.”

But recent research shows that learning to dance — and more specifically how to dance the Argentine Tango — can help

people with Parkinson’s Disease move more freely in their daily lives.

The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital created a 12-week Argentine tango course for patients with Parkinson’s Disease and found that the dance significantly improved balance and functional mobility, while also reducing fatigue. Another study from the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation found that balance improved and patients were able to walk further and faster. The symptoms of the groups who did not receive Tango lessons worsened or stayed the same. A year after the foundation’s study, Tango students with Parkinson’s had increased their participation in all activities — gardening, socializing, games and the list goes on.

Those who have Parkinson’s Disease can experience “freezing,” a sud-

PHOTO: KZENON/THINKSTOCK

for Two

den inability to move, when they are walking or turning around. This can result in falls. Dancing the tango involves turning, stepping backwards, starting and stopping, which requires total control and attention. Practicing this is both physical and mental exercise, using visual cues, obstacles, and auditory cues for stopping and starting.

This rhythmic, metered movement activates the basal ganglia, structures in the base of the brain that are involved in coordination.

KATE BEEVER is a board-certified neurologic music therapist and owner of Maine Music & Health, which provides services and consulting to healthcare and arts agencies throughout the state. Read more of her work at beever.bangordailynews.com. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

metro health

Lunch Habits What schools are doing about childhood obesity.

COURTESY OF METRO NEWS SERVICE

24 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

T

he U.S. Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that childhood obesity rates have more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the last 30 years. This is happening in spite of indications that childhood obesity could reduce life expectancy by five years or more. Many children are not participating in free-time physical activity and only 25 percent of children in the United States eat a healthy diet.

Considering children spend six or more hours at school and many eat

school lunches or receive school-provided breakfasts, schools can play a pivotal role in helping to control the rising epidemic of childhood obesity. Here's a look at just how schools are taking on that challenge. • Discussing obesity in health and physical education classes. Information is power, and one way to help curb obesity rates is to give children the data needed to make informed decisions. Some schools have implemented healthy eating and exercise initiatives

PHOTOS: JUPITERIMAGES & KELLY CLINE/THINKSTOCK

Changing School

and made nutrition and other health-related topics key parts of health curricula. • Modifying school lunch offerings.

Schools are taking inventory of not only the foods they offer on lunch menus, but also the feel of the cafeteria so that healthy eating is encouraged. This may include removing vending machines that contain unhealthy snacks or providing a greater array of offerings that include fresh fruits, whole grains and lean protein sources. Some schools also are investing in components, such as salad bars, to store, prepare and display healthy foods. • Extending lunch hours. Giving students adequate time to eat and digest can promote healthier eating habits.

Research indicates that eating slowly can help a person feel full faster. According to Harvard Medical School, scientists have known for some time that a full stomach is only part of what causes someone to feel satisfied after a meal; the brain must also receive a series of signals from digestive hormones secreted by the gastrointestinal tract. Eating slowly may prevent children from overeating later in the day.

That can be achieved by having more time to eat at lunch. • Teaching children how to prepare healthy foods. Some schools are taking the mystery out of food preparation by showing students how foods are being prepared in the cafeteria kitchen, while others include basic culinary education in their curricula and extracurricular offerings.

Childhood obesity may be an epidemic, but schools are in the position to curb obesity in young students. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25

26 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Hang

metro

wellness

on to This

Living in the moment and hanging onto the innocence while it lasts.

BY EMILIE BRAND THROCKMORTON

PHOTO: (DANDELION) PETRA R?DER/THINKSTOCK

F

orget yoga

or meditation.

Living with my 9-year-old son Reed is my best strategy for mindfulness and living in the moment.

I need the help — I am actually terrible at staying present. I have been known to start thinking about my next meal while eating my current meal, or planning my next vacation while on vacation.

The two most common lines I hear from other parents are, “Enjoy them while they are little because it gets harder!” Or, when going through a trying stage they advise, “Hang in there, every year it gets a little better.” Contradictory and yet still both totally true. With every year that passes, our kids become more independent and capable. They can dress themselves and shower themselves and get ready for bed and school on their own. This is good, right? But growing up also means they have opinions about the world that sometimes lead to arguments, and then there are complicated friendships at school and concerns about social media and peer pressure. And because I teach high school, I know about all of the major concerns on the horizon for our kids. The bigger the kid, the bigger the problem.

Sometimes it feels as though I just fluctuate back and forth between feeling nostalgic for the simpler days — when my babies wore footie pajamas and I would pat their sweet diapered butts to help them fall asleep — and feeling anxious about the challenges and dramas of middle school and high school that are just around the corner. With all of the crazy shuttling kids to and from their activities, cooking meals, folding laundry, and making

lunches, I fear I’m going to blink a few times and they will be off to college.

But Reed forces me to live in the moment because every day right now feels like a bonus day of having a little one in my life. He is my last baby. I know that in the next couple of years he will enter puberty and his focus will move away from me. But right now, and for heaven knows how much longer, he will hold my hand when no one is looking. He snuggles up to me on the couch and wants me to sit on the counter in the bathroom while he’s showering so he can talk to me. He sits on my lap and tells me everything about what happens at school, about the

parenting. I am loving this blessed last stage before armpit hair and bad moods.

When Reed first started playing baseball he would run out of the dugout to see me between every inning and jump in my lap. I loved that. My husband would say, “Enjoy this now, because it’s going to end soon.” The next year, he did become much more aware about what was cool and what was uncool, but he’d still come out of the dugout to talk to me after every at bat. This year, at age 9, he mostly stayed in the dugout with his team. But because I usually sit right behind the fence at home plate, he would often turn to look at me between pitches. With our

But Reed forces me to live in the moment because every day right now feels like a bonus day of having a little one in my life. cute girls, or the embarrassing thing that happened, or the teachers he loves. He still wants my opinions. I can still make him laugh so hard he spits out his drink.

He still has a little boy sweetness that I am privileged to witness.

At the same time, he is definitely growing up. He can be helpful around the house. He makes his bed and sets the table. I can trust him to ride his bike outside without constant supervision. He’s just so darn easy to be around, and never worries about anything — except maybe how he’s going to get his next snack. Age 9, I have decided, is the sweet spot for

eye contact, he was saying, “Are you watching me, Mom?” and I was saying back: “Every single second, kid.”

I am fully aware that my relationship with my boy will not always remain as it is today, and so I find myself saying, “Hang on to this,” every time he grabs my hand or launches into a long story about something that happened at school. I will not be the leading lady in his life forever, and his life won’t be this simple for much longer, but I am loving every second of this while I have it. When I am with Reed, I’m not looking forward or backward. I am just enjoying this present moment.

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 / 27

feature story

Harvesting

Education From frequent moves to language barriers, migrant workers and their children face unique educational challenges. BY DEE DAUPHINEE

28 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

I PHOTOS: (BLUEBERRIES) BDN FILE; (GROUP) COURTESY OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

n 1963,

(This photo) Maine blueberries begin to ripen.

(Top) Participants of the Blueberry Harvest School.

my father built a camp on a lake in Beddington, Maine. Every summer, we fished the streams that wind through the blueberry barrens of Washington County. In the heat of the season, we would see the blueberry rakers as they toiled, baked by the sun, bent over the lowbush blueberries. Father appreciated hard workers, and I remember him often stopping to see if they wanted water. They were almost always Native Americans from the Princeton area.

These days, the rakers are more likely to be from Honduras.

Migrant farmworkers, or the children of farmworkers, who travel to find work harvesting crops face unique challenges, the language barrier being only one; educational discontinuity could be the greatest hurdle. The children often miss school when their families move from one worksite to another. Also, economic necessity often forces migrant students, particularly teens, to work instead of attend school. The challenge begins with mobility. Distance learning programs that move with the students and which allow them to access their coursework www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29

feature story from anywhere they live could provide the greatest potential for academic success. The second major challenge is the language barrier, followed by the selfconfidence and self-esteem issues that may exist either from poverty, or the cultural differences when the students come from a foreign land.

Migrant farmworkers are the most undereducated major subgroup in the country, Katherine Milton and Jack E. Watson wrote in 1992 in the paper “Distance Education for Mexican-American Migrant Farmworkers” prepared at Arizona State University. That was true of much of the country. Fortunately, the times are changing, especially in Maine.

The seasonal, migrant workers of Washington County have woven themselves into the fabric of local communities, and have been embraced by the locals.

In Cherryfield, the local shad fishermen proudly tell anglers from away about the best burritos in the state — right next door in Milbridge.

In the early 90s, communities in Washington County experienced an influx of migrant farmworkers who decided to leave the “migrant stream” and settle in Downeast Maine. Instead of recoiling from the mix of cultures, the town of Milbridge immediately stepped up and offered a variety of educational programs at the public library and the town office. Local schools pitched in, and there were even potluck suppers.

Before long, language classes were offered, and in 2005, the non-profit organization Mano en Mano/Hand in Hand 30 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Blueberry Harvest School uses hands on experiences and field trips to Maine farms to teach the children of Maine migrant workers.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

In 2005, the nonprofit organization Mano en Mano/ Hand in Hand was incorporated, and Blueberry Harvest School, an educational summer program for children was born.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31

feature story

Blueberry Harvest School, run by Mano en Mano, has evolved into a three-week program federally funded through the Maine Department of Education Migrant Worker Program.

32 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

was incorporated, and Blueberry Harvest School, an educational summer program for children was born.

The school, run by Mano en Mano, has evolved into a three-week program federally funded through the Maine Department of Education Migrant Worker Program. The program serves a unique group of some of the most disadvantaged students in the nation, and provides services year round to students who are in the state, but this service

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Blueberry Harvest School uses a projectbased learning model that relies on environmental education themes, blending math, science, social studies, and reading, engaging the students in culturallyresponsive techniques. provision intensifies during the summer when the population increases for the blueberry harvest. A student qualifies because they moved to a new school district either as the worker or with a worker in search of seasonal work in agricultural or fishing. While students up to age 21 qualify for the migrant workers programs, those age 14-21 are able to rake blueberries and therefore, the school provides field trips on the weekends and classes in the camps during the week to attend. The age requirement for BHS throughout the week is 3 to 13.

Last year, there were 522 students in the program, of which 132 attended BHS. “A major part of the Maine Migrant Education Program experience for both students and staff is recognizing the unique cultures and backgrounds of our families,� said David Fisk, state director of migrant education. Each student may already have a label associated with him/her based on their educational background. Migrant, struggling learner, and ESL are all tags with which many

Send your love with a subscription to

Bangor Metro!

bangormetro.com www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33

feature story

students in the program nationwide are associated. We’re fortunate to have incredible tutors and advocates in the MEP who strip away those tags and deliver a meaningful and educational experience to each student who qualifies.”

The Blueberry Harvest School uses a project-based learning model that relies on environmental education themes, blending math, science, social studies, and reading, engaging the students in culturally-responsive techniques. The teachers use hands-on learning with field trips and active education throughout Downeast. And it works.

At BHS, students develop an appre34 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

ciation of the natural environment while preventing summer learning loss. In 2015, the school won the Maine Environmental Education Association Excellence in Environmental Education Program Award.

Ian Yaffe, executive director of Blueberry Harvest School, is proud of his program and staff.

“Just a few weeks ago, a young migrant student returned to Maine and told me that none of her friends back home even believed that the BHS existed,” he said. “The idea that learning can be fun, that it can be meaningful and relevant, and that it can take place outside is something that not a lot of

kids believe. We are honored to partner with MEP to offer a data-driven program that is built around the unique needs of migrant children and celebrating their identities and possibilities.”

In a world where cultural diversity is not celebrated everywhere, it is surely embraced in Downeast. Former Blueberry Harvest School students have not only become part of the community, they have opened a fine takeout restaurant and a dairy bar. From what this writer has experienced in Milbridge and surrounding towns, the communities couldn’t be happier. There is even a sense of pride in the locals.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Blueberry Harvest School uses environmental education themes and active education to teach students.

YOUR INJURY IS PERSONAL You did not expect to be in a car crash.

The other driver was negligent and now you are in pain and out of work.

Your hospital bills are piling up and you are getting the run-around from the insurance companies.

W�'�� H��� T� H��� Y�� M������� Y��� F�������� R�������.

CALL (207) 942-2898

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY. 133 Broadway, Bangor • lanhamblackwell.com

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35

bristol then & now

Coastal Charm

Including the midcoast villages of Pemaquid, New Harbor, Bristol Mills, Round Pound and Chamberlain, a trip to Bristol is a must for your summer itinerary.

(Above) The gasoline dock at New Harbor.

(This photo) Boats in the harbor at South Bristol.

36 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY RICHARD SHAW HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY OF BANGOR DAILY NEWS, BANGOR PUBLIC LIBRARY’S JAMES B. VICKERY POSTCARD COLLECTION, BRIAN F. SWARTZ, BELINDA OSIER, AND OLD BRISTOL HISTORICAL SOCIETY

W

elcome to

old home month in the town of Bristol, a delicious cluster of five midcoast villages: Pemaquid, New Harbor, Bristol Mills, Round Pound, and Chamberlain. Every August, schools and families hold reunions, luring one-time residents back to the relaxing Lincoln County region where they once lived and worked.

Inns, museums, and seafood shacks roll out their welcome mats during Maine’s last full month of summer.

The fun and fireworks intensify during Olde Bristol Days on Aug. 13 and 14.

Now in its 64th year, the festival’s activities celebrate the town’s rich colonial heritage, while allowing Saturday’s pa-

rade participants to act a little silly disguised as pirates and lobsters. Colonial Pemaquid’s Old Fort Grounds will host food and craft vendors along with Pete Collins and his jazz band.

Following an evening pyrotechnics show at Pemaquid Beach, Sunday’s featured event will be the Merritt Brackett Lobster Boat Races at Pemaquid Harbor. Visitors should expect traffic delays both days, especially during the parade, which winds through New Harbor and Pemaquid.

Navigating Bristol’s serpentine roads and windswept coves, and digesting its five centuries of recorded history, can take time in any season. Volunteers at Bristol Mills’ visitors’ center on Route 130 www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 37

bristol then & now Tourists pose on the rocks in Bristol.

can help travelers find lodging and eateries, and guide them to historic sites.

“Pemaquid’s role defending the colonies’ northeastern frontier during the 1600s and early 1700s is significant,” said Belinda Osier, co-president (with her husband, Chuck Rand) of Old Bristol Historical Society, housed in an 1857 Pemaquid schoolhouse. “Without the continued resettlement of the area after attacks by the French and Native Americans, half of Maine might well now be part of Canada.

“The 19th century after the end of the War of 1812 is another fascinating period for Bristol, which saw the rise and fall of various industries that benefited a developing America,” Osier continued. “Shipbuilding, ice harvesting, the production of pogy oil and fertilizer, and the quarrying of granite each had their turn as Bristol’s main industries. By the end of the 19th century, when each of these had run their course, Bristol turned to tourism and lobstering, which remain our main industries to this day.”

Bristol’s two most visited places — Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and Fishermen’s Museum, and Fort William Henry

The Fort House and ruins at Fort William Henry through the years.

38 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Back cove is a famed spot in New Harbor for photographers and artists.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39

bristol then & now and the museum at Colonial Pemaquid — are good places to begin your visit.

Other treasures include Pemaquid’s Harrington Meetinghouse, dating to 1772, the 1835 Old Rock Schoolhouse near Round Pond, and Chamberlain’s Victorian-era cottages. Favorite photo stops include the iconic Hotel Pemaquid, C.E. Reilly & Son grocery in New Harbor, Granite Hall Store in Round Pond, and the Contented Sole restaurant in Pemaquid Harbor.

Visitors might consider going on an excursion with Hardy Boat Cruises out of New Harbor to Monhegan Island or Eastern Egg Rock, famous for its puffin population. The Rachel Carson Salt Pond Preserve in New Harbor is family friendly.

And summer lectures are held at the Old Bristol Historical Society and concerts at Round Pond’s Union Church, known locally as the Little Brown Church.

While no longer part of Bristol (it set off as its own town in 1915), the town of South Bristol, which includes Walpole, along Route 129, shares Johns Bay and centuries of history with its neighbor to the east. Christmas Cove has been the subject of more than 1,000 postcard views over the last century, as well as classic inns and the swing bridge to Rutherford Island, currently being replaced with a more efficient drawbridge.

“South Bristol may have Maine’s lowest mill rate,” said David Andrews, who offers a wealth of information at the town’s historical society. “Oh, and don’t forget to visit the Thompson Ice House Harvesting Museum up the road. It is fascinating.”

Many historians have chronicled Bristol’s vibrant past. Recommended reads are Helen Camp’s “Pemaquid, Lost and Found,” John Johnston’s “A History

of the Towns of Bristol and Bremen,” “Pemaquid Peninsula: A Midcoast Maine History,” by Josh Hanna, and “Angel Gabriel: The Elusive English Galleon,” by Warren Curtis Riess.

Check out our interactive map of Bristol at bangormetro.com

Hotel Pemaquid, then and now.

40 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Town Stats First Incorporated: June 21, 1765 (South Bristol split and incorporated on March 26, 1915) Villages included: Pemaquid, New Harbor, Bristol Mills, Round Pound and Chamberlain Population: 2,729 (2012 estimate) Named for: British home port of Pemaquid Patent proprietors

• Rusty Kempton, stage name Rusty Rogers, the Pemaquid Cowboy, country, rockabilly singer • Gene Tunney, boxer, owned Johns Island • John Johnston, historian, author • Eric Lax, author • Douglas Preston, author

Website: bristolmaine.org

Notable people: • Dixie Bull, British pirate, sea captain • Samoset, Abenaki sagamore

Landmarks: Fort William Henry, Pemaquid Beach archaeological site and museum, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and Fishermen’s Museum, Rachel Carson Salt Pond Preserve, Granite Hall Store, Union Church (aka Little Brown Church), Loudville Church, Harrington Meetinghouse, Hotel Pemaquid, Bradley Inn, Gosnold Arms Inn, New Harbor’s Back Cove, Willing Workers Hall, Old Rock Schoolhouse, Arch Bridge, Johns Island

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in 1971 and (below) today.

• Marcus Hanna, Civil War hero, lighthouse keeper • Thomas Drummond, judge • Louis Reilly, veteran of three wars • Reggie Reilly, store owner • Helen Camp, historian • Robert Bradley, archaeologist

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 41

food file

Breakfast

To Go

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

W

hen my kids

were very little, they were both always clamoring to pull a chair up to the kitchen counter and help with whatever I was doing. Their little hands quickly learned to operate my stand mixer, and how to sift dry ingredients with a whisk. I taught them how to measure ingredients, pour batter and set a table. Back then, I couldn’t imagine a time when they wouldn’t be on my heels in the kitchen, helping in some way.

salad for dinner. My son has a laundry list of things he loves to do … but seldom does “make cookies with Mom” make the list anymore. He’s 11, and the allure of so many other things captures his attention more now.

It makes me a little sad. I miss the days when all they wanted was to help me — when I was the center of their universes. There was a time when if they saw me making something like these burritos, they would have insisted on

Soon, they’ll head back to school. Our relaxed summer mornings, lingering over breakfast together, will be replaced with busy mornings where we rush to get ready and out the door in time to catch the school bus.

But then things changed, and they’re growing up. These days, my 8-year-old daughter would rather play outside with her friends than make a 42 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

being involved. Not so anymore. But at the same time, I see them growing and making smart choices, and am so proud that these two little humans are mine.

PHOTO: SARAH WALKER CARON

Make ahead burritos save time on busy mornings.

Or whenever.

Step 1

Saute Onions & Peppers

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saute pan, then add ½ cup diced sweet onions and ½ cup diced bell peppers.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden.

Remove from the pan.

Step 2

Cook Eggs

Whisk 6 large eggs with ½ cup milk and season with salt and pepper. Pour into the hot saute pan and cook, stirring frequently, until fluffy and cooked through. Remove from heat and stir the peppers and onions into the eggs.

Step 3

Fill & Roll

PHOTO: (BOTTOM) SARAH WALKER CARON; (OTHERS) HOWARD SHOOTER & YEKOPHOTOSTUDIO/THINKSTOCK

Divide the egg mixture evenly among the tortillas, arranging it in the center of each. Sprinkle with sharp cheddar cheese and top each with 3 halves of bacon. Fold the tortilla ends up and then roll to close. Wrap in foil and store in a resealable bag in the freezer. To enjoy, remove from freezer and microwave on high for 1 minute on each side.

Be sure to let cool for a few minutes before digging in.

The fact that Paige comes home and wants to ride her bike, play imaginative games outside and run around? That’s awesome. It’s healthy. It’s the childhood I wanted for her. And the fact that Will is often nose deep in a book. Or riding his bike. Or creating things with his LEGOs — things that come from his imagination instead of an instructions booklet? That’s amazing, too. I can practically see his brain at work, thinking, planning and learning.

This is when family life gets tricky.

As a parent, I want to cultivate and encourage their interests, even if I don’t share them. I want them to enjoy life too, and play outside. But I also want them to recognize the value of family, and together-time. And, I want them to contribute to our household through chores and helping with dinner. Cooking, in particular, is an important skill to learn — so I still have them help with dinner whenever I can. But I’m walking www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 43

food file a delicate line, trying to make sure they have both roots and wings.

Soon, they’ll head back to school.

Our relaxed summer mornings, lingering over breakfast together, will be replaced with busy mornings where we rush to get ready and out the door in time to catch the school bus. They’ll be less time — for eating, waking up, connecting, whatever.

That’s where these Make-Ahead Bacon Breakfast Burritos will come in handy. Whip up a batch on the weekend, and you can freeze them until you want to eat ‘em. Just microwave them from frozen for about two minutes, and you have a hot, nourishing breakfast that’s totally portable — perfect for the busiest of mornings. Or whenever.

Want to try them? The trick to making these comes in the rolling up process.

Place the filling in the center of the tortilla, in a line. Then fold in the ends. Final-

ly, roll them up, tucking the filling inside and the ends in as you go. You want them rolled tightly with the ends tucked in for the best eating experience.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the BDN features editor. She writes a weekly column called Maine Course, which can be found at mainecourse.bangordailynews.com.

Her book, “Grains as Mains: Modern Recipes Using Ancient Grains,” is available at amazon.com.

Food File Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos Yields 4 burritos 1 tbsp olive oil ½ cup diced sweet onions ½ cup diced bell peppers 6 large eggs ½ cup milk salt and pepper, to taste ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese 4 burrito-size tortillas 6 slices cooked bacon, cut in half 1. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the onions and peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden. Remove from the pan.

3. Divide the egg mixture evenly among the tortillas, arranging it in the center of each. Sprinkle with the cheese, dividing it evenly among the burritos. Top each with 3 halves of bacon. Fold the tortilla ends up and then roll to close. Wrap in foil and store in a resealable bag in the freezer.

4. To enjoy, remove one burrito from the freezer and unwrap, discarding the foil.

Place the burrito on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 1 minute.

Flip and microwave for 1 minute more. Let cool for a few minutes before digging in.

44 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

PHOTO: MARK STOUT/THINKSTOCK

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour into the hot saute pan and cook, stirring frequently, until fluffy and cooked through. Remove from heat and stir the peppers and onions into the eggs.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 45

kitchen confidential

A

s downtown

Bangor has grown, the dining options available in the Queen City have exploded. A decade ago, a restaurant like Evenrood’s, which opened last summer in the historic Circular Block Bank Building on Broad Street, was barely conceivable. Now, it’s among the many high caliber dining destinations in downtown.

Chef Dustin Cyr leads the kitchen at the stylish yet comfortable eatery, and though Cyr’s influences and approach to food come out of nearly a decade of work and study in other locally owned restaurants, his attitude is decidedly laid back — he’s a local boy, after all, and a graduate of Hermon High School and the University of Maine. Evenrood’s, with its visually appealing interior, mixture of high end seafood and classic American dishes and carefully crafted selection of cocktails, is the ideal place for a chef like Cyr to show off his extensive skill set.

Dustin Cyr

Chef at Evenrood’s

With a menu inspired by local produce, Maine seafood and the people of Bangor, Evenrood’s Dustin Cyr is making a name for himself.

BY EMILY BURNHAM

46 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

How would you describe your approach to the food at Evenrood’s?

We started here as a Mediterranean restaurant, but we were ready to change.

We didn’t know what Bangor needed.

I’d seen what other restaurants were doing in Bangor, and we wanted to see

PHOTO: EMILY BURNHAM

Downtown Dish

What’s your background, and what inspired you to become a chef?

I grew up in Hermon, and when I was in college at the University of Maine I did some restaurant work in area restaurants, like prep cook and dishwashing. As a sophomore I started working at the [now closed] New Moon Cafe [in Bangor], when Melissa Chaiken was head chef there. That’s where I really started appreciating what I was doing.

It’s one thing to cook in a big restaurant. It’s another to really appreciate making something. From there, it was a lot of self study and working under Melissa both at the New Moon, and later at the Fiddlehead Restaurant in Bangor for six years. She let me try new things and learn.

Blackened Mahi Mahi over riced cauliflower

what we could do to fit in. We wanted to utilize Maine seafood, but not just frying it. We wanted to serve high end steaks… we wanted to use local produce. And people have grown to expect to see really good ingredients.

What are your most popular menu items, and what are your personal favorites?

We try to keep halibut on the menu year-round. We serve it with a chile beurre blanc sauce, and a mushroom risotto cake. Our new tuna appetizer, with sushi-grade tuna and pickled ginger over sweet soy and wasabi. It’s like deconstructed sushi. I learned a lot of my Asian influence from Mel [Chaiken]. Our scallop dish is also one of our most popular dishes, and we always sell out of prime rib on the weekends.

And, to be honest, our burgers. We have all-natural burgers with Pineland Farms beef.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF EVENROOD’S

As someone who has cooked in downtown Bangor for almost a decade, what’s the biggest change you’ve noticed, both in restaurants and in customers?

I think people know much, much more about food. They like to know things.

When I was a kid, it was all chain restaurants and family-style restaurants, and it was all the same. Today, people like to go out, and they like to be surprised and try new things. They want to see what speaks to them on that particular night. If I post a special on Facebook, someone that might think about going somewhere else will come to us.

They want things to be special. And that’s very, very different from what it used to be.

If there’s one culinary destination in the world where you’d want to travel and spend a week eating, where would it be?

I’d probably have to go to France. I mean, I do love American food, and barbecue is one of my favorite cultural food experiences, and that’s one of the things I love the most, but so much of what we do originates in France. The cookbooks I have are French. They took peasant food and made it fancy.

I’d love to go there.

On the Menu Just a few of the favorite menu items from Evenrood’s in Bangor.

Appetizers

EVENROOD’S CLASSIC MUSSELS Classic: White Wine, Butter, Chili Sauce Or Spicy: Coconut Milk, Jalapeno and Red Curry Broth

Entrees

PAN-SEARED OR CHAR-GRILLED SEA SCALLOPS Served with fried polenta, spinach, and a sundried tomato cream sauce VEGETABLE ZITI With summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, asparagus and tomatoes in a sherry parmesan cream sauce.

With Shrimp or Chicken PAN-SEARED HALIBUT Served with a parmesan and mushroom risotto cake and lemon chile beurre blanc NEW ZEALAND LAMB RACK Marinated and roasted, served with red wine demi-glace

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47

kitchen confidential Finally, your longtime girlfriend Kara is also an accomplished pastry chef, operating Flour Box Bakery for the past few years. You must be quite a pair in the kitchen. Do you find your two culinary skill sets complement each other?

When I’m eating breakfast in the morning, she’ll be baking. I think I’ve helped her become a better cook, but she’s the baker. She’s amazing. I’m terrible at baking. Baking is a science. Cooking is more of an art, and I do so many things by look and feel and trial and error. Baking is chemistry. She asks me questions about flavor pairings and profiles, which can lend to what she does. We make a great team.

more info EVENROOD’S 25 BROAD STREET, BANGOR 941-8800

BUCKSPORT

BREWER

BANGOR

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Website: evenroods.com Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (Bar may close later in the evening) Description: Take a step into our historic building and become immersed in a unique upscale atmosphere. Creative dishes and excellent service will keep you coming back.

Your listing could be on this page Attract more customers.

Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Restaurant Guide. Call 941-1300.

48 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

PHOTO: COURTESY OF EVENROOD’S

Lobster scampi with red onions cherry tomatoes and capers tossed in a lemon butter sauce.

arts & culture

The Best Fests for

Music of All Kinds

BY EMILY BURNHAM

W

hether you

like traditional bluegrass or folk music, you’re into heavy metal or heavy techno, or you simply want to lose yourself in a Bach cantata or a mesmerizing West African highlife band, Maine in the summer offers something for every type of music fan. In August alone there are multiple festivals every weekend, offering lineups as diverse and unique as anywhere in the country — most of which have affordable ticket prices, or even simply ask for donations. Here’s eight of the best music festivals happening in the Pine Tree State this month.

Sweet Chariot Music Festival Aug. 2-4, Swan’s Island

Genre: Folk, maritime, singer-songwriters, vocal/instrumental Where and why: For starters, the Sweet Chariot Music Festival is held on Swan’s Island, located off the coast of Mt. Desert Island, accessible only by the ferry from Bass Harbor or by private boat. Second, festival-goers must either have their own boat or be coming on another person’s boat, or must have arrangements for overnight lodging on the island in order to attend (the ferry doesn’t run at night). Third, the four days of this yearly festival are among the most eclectic and unusual musical happenings in Maine, bringing together Maine songwriters like David Dodson and Denny Williams, ensembles like the Backboners and the Morningsiders, and many, many more, representing a spectrum of traditional American and Celtic music, contemporary folk and instrumental music. Admission is $20 per night per person, plus a one-time $25 boat registration fee if needed; email sweetchariotmusicfestival@gmail.com to inquire.

50 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

PHOTO: (TOP) BDN FILE; (MIC & TRUMPET) THOMAS NORTHCUT & VICENTE GARCíA MARíN DE ES/THINKSTOCK

From Swan’s Island to Portland, August in Maine means music for all.

BelTek Festival Aug. 5-7, Belmont

Genre: Electronic/EDM Where and why: BelTek has had its ups and downs as a festival — from a totally homegrown gathering of Maine DJs and techno fans in a field on a farm in Waldo County, to a huge, three-day EDM festival with national headliners, to not happening at all for a few years, BelTek in 2016 is back as a full weekend festival open to the public. More than 30 DJs from all over the world will descend on a field in rural Belmont, starting in the afternoon on Friday and not stopping until Sunday morning. If you like or love electronic music, rave culture or are even just curious, head over to beltekfestival.com and take a look.

Picnic Music & Arts Festival Aug. 6, Portland

Genre: Indie rock, punk, folk, experimental Where and why: Held each year in Lincoln Park in downtown Portland, located on the corner of Congress and Franklin streets, this free festival features over 100 vendors selling clothing, jewelry, prints, accessories, bags, plush, stationery, photography, housewares, fine art, and more, as well as a day-long lineup of Portland area indie rock bands. This year’s exceedingly hip lineup includes Cool Tara, Kafari, Tarantula Brothers, Fenimore, Roy Orbitussin, $300, Morgan Bouton, Bright Boy and Burr. The fun lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, visit picnicportland.com.

Rise Above Fest Aug. 6, Bangor

Genre: Heavy metal, hard rock modern rock Where and why: Every year Waterfront Concerts hosts this day-long festival of heavy music, from noon to 11 p.m., held at the Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion and featuring more than ten bands from all over the world. It’s loud, it’s hot and it’s heavy. This year’s headliners include Disturbed, Volbeat, Alter Bridge, Killswitch Engage, Hatebreed and Seether, the latter of whom help to organize the festival, which benefits a national suicide prevention organization. For a full lineup, visit waterfrontconcerts.com.

Screen Door Summer Music Festival

Aug. 17-21, Camden/Rockport Genres: Classical, jazz, world, experimental Where and why: The re-imagined version of Bay Chamber Concerts’ annual summer music festival, Screen Door still offers chamber and classical music — but with more genres beyond that. While you can get your Bach, Beethoven or Brahms fix at the festival, you can also cozy up with percussion groups, novel combinations of string instruments with guitars and electronics, projected visual art combined with physical performers and classical musicians,

or dazzling harpsichord and theorbo players performing in new chamber operas. Held in multiple locations throughout the scenic Camden/Rockport area, a full list of events can be found online at baychamberconcerts.org/concerts/summer-festival.

Harbor Fest Launch Party Aug. 19, Belfast

Genres: Rock, pop, indie rock Where and why: Downtown Belfast is beautiful, and this festival — actually the kickoff for the following day’s maritime-themed community festival — brings together three lovely things: music, the ocean and tasty beer. Sponsored by Three Tides & Marshall Wharf Brewing, this festival starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, in a big tent in Steamboat Landing Park, and features music from Celtic rockers Frogpipe, retro rockers Unorganized Hancock, power pop band The Sun Parade and pop/rock band Bronze Radio Return. There is a small cover charge at the gate.

Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival Aug. 24-27, Litchfield

Genre: Bluegrass Where and why: Some of the best bluegrass music you can see and hear, at one of the largest family-friendly musical events in New England! Blistered Fingers takes place twice every year — once in June and once in August — bringing thousands of Music lovers to Litchfield in Central Maine, to hear banjos, fiddles, and those high, lonesome harmonies. This year’s August festival features artists including Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Gibson Brothers, Band of Ruhks, Nothin’ Fancy and many more. Held at Litchfield Fairgrounds, tickets range in price and are available at the gate, or online at blisteredgfingers.com.

American Folk Festival Aug. 26-28, Bangor

Genre: Latin, African, bluegrass, Celtic — just about everything Where and why: What’s not to love? Celebrating its 15th year, the festival is free (well, donations are gratefully accepted), it’s outdoors, it’s family-friendly, and it’s always, consistently fantastic. Bands and artists from all over the world, great food and shopping, all on the Bangor Waterfront. Music lovers can find few better opportunities to get a taste of a huge variety of international genres. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit americanfolkfestival.com.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51

per spectives

52 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Nate Parker

N

ate Parker

lives on Mount Desert Island, home of Acadia National Park, which this year is celebrating 100 years of conservation and community. Landscape photography has been his passion since he moved to MDI in 2000.

“It provides an opportunity to really appreciate nature and get away from the hustle bustle of the real world,” he said. “My process is a ‘slow photography’ where in two hours probably only a few or a dozen exposures will be made, that provides the chance to really “see” what is there and let the scene reveal itself. I'm constantly finding new scenes to shoot along the incredibly dynamic coastline of Maine and in Acadia National Park.”

His work is available for purchase at Spruce and Gussy at 12 Mount Desert St. in downtown Bar Harbor.

Parker also conducts individual and group tours of the island. Learn more about him at nateparkerphotography.com.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

aimee & amy try...

Who We Are..

With a grand total of 4 children ages 1-9, 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.

A

word of warning:

Backyard

Bubbles

if you decide to make giant bubbles with a bunch of grownups on the side of the Kenduskeag Stream in downtown Bangor you will get a few odd looks. But no matter – bubbles are fun for all ages. Especially giant bubbles. That’s why we had to share this one with our coworkers.

We can’t explain the science behind the ultimate giant bubble recipe or why blue Dawn works better than orange or why Karo syrup is involved at all, but we do know we’ve perfected it over the course of the summer through extensive trial and error with Amy’s son Finn, who’s a bubble aficionado. Just trust us on this one. Mix the bubble recipe first and let it sit for a few minutes – that also seems to help the bubbles hold together longer. The giant bubble wands are simple to create with wooden dowels or sturdy sticks with an eye hook on the end, some yarn and a metal washer to give it weight to dip in the bubble solution. The bubble solution holds up well in a Mason jar or covered container of some kind, just give it a gentle stir before use as it will settle.

We highly recommend this project as a group activity on a sunny day – whether you’re looking to entertain a group of kids or coworkers.

54 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Supplies

• Dawn dish detergent (the blue kind) • Corn starch • Karo light corn syrup • Baking powder • Glycerine • Yarn • Wooden dowels or sticks • Metal washers • Eye hooks

Bubble Recipe • 6 cups water • 1/2 cup blue Dawn dish detergent • 1/2 cup corn starch • 1/4 Karo light corn syrup • 1 Tbsp baking powder Step 1: Combine the bubble recipe ingredients. We found glycerine available in the baking section of craft stores.

Step 2: Gently mix together the bubble recipe, taking care not to get it too frothy while stirring. Let sit for a few minutes.

Step 3: Cut 3 equal lengths of yarn.

We found about 2-3 foot sections worked best.

Step 4: Screw eye hooks into the ends of 2 equal length dowels or sticks.

Step 6: Gently dip your giant bubble wand into the solution, taking care not to tangle the yarn.

Step 7: Walk backward or catch a light breeze to blow the ultimate giant bubble!

• 1 Tbsp glycerine

Step 5: Tie on your yarn to create a triangle shape, with the washer tied in the bottom section for weight.

PHOTOS: (BUBBLES) AKINSHIN/THINKSTOCK

Project Review

• Degree of Difficulty: Super easy! And you’ve already got most of the ingredients and supplies at home.

• Average Time: 10 minutes to make the recipe; 10 minutes to make the wand.

• Degree of Fun According to the Moms & Grown-ups:

1:

We better get paid for this.

5:

Fun, but once was enough.

10:

Super fun, let’s make one for everyone!

Fun, not too messy, and sure to entertain over and over again. And perfect for kids of all ages.

The moms in the group all wanted the recipe to take home immediately. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55

metro

family

Choosing

Compassion

BY ASHLEY THORNTON

A

fter recent

events both locally and nationally received so much press, it was only natural for people to start forming opinions. The events I am speaking of are the tragic and freak accidents where children’s lives were lost, or could have been lost. The immediate amount of criticism pointed at the parents of these children was absolutely overwhelming.

As a bereaved parent myself, though through a much different situation, I offer a different perspective and perhaps inspire a little compassion. Before my daughter passed, I was one of the many who would point fingers and place blame

But the truth is, accidents happen.

They happen even when you are the most persistent, observant parent, and meticulously remove every potential hazard. That is the terrifying, and horrible truth. Now that I have lost a child, I can recognize that things happen.

My own daughter was gravely ill, and she had a one in one million chance of developing such a combination of illnesses. It was rare, it was spontaneous, and there was nothing I could have done.

I have come to terms with the phrase, “there was nothing I could have done,” and I tell it to myself several times every day. There is something that you may

The comforting idea that you would watch your kids closer, that you wouldn’t have let that situation transpire because you are a superior parent, or that the parent’s in question were negligent is an easy scapegoat. for accidents. Mostly, I believe that people do this because they want to create a reason for what happened, and a reason why it couldn’t happen to them.

Losing a child is too terrible and painful. The comforting idea that you would watch your kids closer, that you wouldn’t have let that situation transpire because you are a superior parent, or that the parent’s in question were negligent is an easy scapegoat.

56 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

not know, or recognize if you have not lost a child. The guilt that comes with living everyday without them will completely consume you and eat you alive.

Even now, almost five years later, I have to tell myself multiple times a day that it wasn’t my fault — something I only can say after years of intensive therapy.

I mention this, because of the many articles that I read after each of these incidents. I noticed that most of the writ-

PHOTO: WEERAPATKIATDUMRONG/THINKSTOCK

Think before you speak.

Tragic events are not the time to judge.

ers were quick to point fingers. They wanted to come up with ways in which the parents could have prevented these tragedies. Here’s the thing, there isn’t a single thing in this world that you could point out to these parents that they have not already thought of.

They have gone over every millisecond of that day over and over again in their minds, and they will continue to do so for the rest of their lives, and none of this will bring their child back. They will regret every decision they made, and blame themselves profusely. From my own experience, I will tell you that I blamed myself for everything, and even invented ways in which I could bear the responsibility.

Instead, I propose an idea – let’s be compassionate. Let’s embrace these families and recognize that they are the ones going home without their child. They are the ones that will stand in the doorway of their child’s bedroom and sob longingly while crumpling into a heap on their bed.

They are the ones who will continue to feel this, long after you have moved on to the next big news story. Every birthday and holiday will be torture. Every day it will take all that they have just to function. As difficult as it may seem, put yourself in their shoes. Imagine going home to an empty house, or a home with one less child, and then see if you feel the need to criticize these parents.

An act of compassion in this case would be to simply embrace these families and know that they are struggling.

Support them in any way you can, and appreciate your own children as the blessings they are.

Smile at the silly things they say, hold them even though you have things to do, and take the time to truly play with them.

Children grow up quickly, and you will look back and long for the days where a scraped knee required kisses and hugs. The days that they are bubbling with excitement to show you the new trick they learned on their bike, or how they learned to “dive” into the pool are fleeting. Recognizing how fragile life is, and that accidents could happen to anyone, make appreciating this time even more urgent. Cherish your family, tell them that you love them, and make great memories — many of them.

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

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

metro sports

HigFun hland& Games The Maine Highland Games bring together men and women of different skill levels to throw, heft and toss heavy objects of varying size and unwieldiness.

BY EMILY BURNHAM

T

he 2016 Summer

Olympic games may be happening this month in Brazil, but here in Maine, another unique, time-honored athletic event is set for Aug. 20 in Topsham.

The Maine Highland Games, now in its 38th year, bring together men and women of many different skill levels and ages to throw, heft, toss and otherwise move very heavy objects of varying size and unwieldiness.

Highland games themselves have been around for nearly 1,000 years,

“The Highland Games are really all about not just the competition, but also the cultural aspects of Scottish and Celtic heritage and history,” said Bill MacIain, chairman of this year’s games, which is administered by the St. Andrews Society of Maine and routinely draws more than 6,000 spectators each year. “So while the games are certainly at the center of it, there’s also music and dancing and food and Scottish ponies and sheepdogs, and all sorts of stuff for anyone that loves the culture.”

“The Highland Games are really all about not just the competition, but also the cultural aspects of Scottish and Celtic heritage and history.”

—Bill MacIain starting in Scotland sometime in the 11th century — perhaps not as ancient as the Greek Olympics, but still with a storied history of their own. There are Highland Games hosted all over the U.S. and Canada, though Maine’s event is one of the biggest and longeststanding in the country.

58 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Competitors come from all over the Northeast to participate in the games, which are part of a nationwide Highland Games professional circuit. In addition to professional athletes, there’s an amateur category, a junior category, a women’s category and a master’s category for people age 40-plus.

PHOTOS: (BAGPIPES)ABLESTOCK.COM/THINKSTOCK; (BAND) COURTESY OF MAINE HIGHLAND GAMES; (OPPOSITE) VICTORIA JONES

Scottish music on display at Maine Highland Games.

Robert Muelenberg competes in a Highland Games event earlier this year. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59

Athletes compete in various events at the Maine Highland Games.

60 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Robert Muelenberg is an Orono resident who is one of two Mainers who compete professionally at Highland Games around the country. Before he competed in Highland Games, he took part in strongman and powerlifting competitions for more than a decade — but got hooked on the Scottish games after his first time.

“It’s not just a bunch of big dudes throwing stuff around. It’s a celebration of Celtic culture, and the camaraderie is just fantastic. There are some great guys and women that compete, and you just spend the day together, hanging out, wearing kilts, competing and having a beer afterwards,” said Muelenberg, who by day is an associate professor of physics at the University of Maine. “The welcoming nature, coupled with the historical aspect, makes it just a ton of fun.”

The events that are part of the traditional Highland Games include the Open Stone, Braemar Open Stone, Heavy Weight for Distance, Light Weight for Distance, Heavy Hammer, Caber Toss, Sheaf Toss and Weight for Height — similar to the traditional track and field events of shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw. Except much, much heavier.

“We’re an officially sanctioned competition with judges from all over the U.S. and Canada, and people travel from all over to compete as well,” said MacIain. “We also have competitions for piping and drumming and dancing.

It’s just a whole weekend of everything Scottish. And even though most folks that come have some sort of Scottish heritage, anyone and everyone is welcome. It’s fun for everyone.”

For those who might want to try competing in a Highland Games event, the Maine Celtic Celebration, held each July in Belfast, offers newcomers a chance to get their hands dirty for the first time with their all-amateur Highland Games event.

“I encourage anyone that wants to try it to give it a shot at the Maine Celtic Celebration first, since their event is specifically geared towards newbies,” said Muelenberg. “We always need new blood in the sport, since that’s how it keeps going.”

For more information on the Maine Highland Games, set for Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Topsham Fairgrounds, visit mainehighlandgames.com. The games also feature food, dancing, animals and music from Celtic and Scottish acts including Rathkeltair and Troy & Sabra.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MAINE HIGHLAND GAMES

metro sports

HIGHLAND EVENTS Open Stone: Similar to the shot put, except a stone is used. The stone is a minimum weight of 8 pounds for women and 16 pounds for men. It is called “open” style because any style of putting (throwing) is allowed with the spin and glide styles being the most popular.

Braemar Stone Put: The stone put is heavier than the open stone, with a minimum weight of 13 pounds for women and 22 pounds for men. It must be put from a standing position.

Heavy Weight for Distance: The weight is either a block or spherical shaped weight with links and a handle. The overall length of the cannot exceed 18” and must be a minimum of 28 pounds for women and 56 pounds for men, masters men use a minimum of 42 pounds. The weight is thrown with one hand from an area of 4 feet 6 inches by 9 feet. The thrower must keep one foot inside the area and not step over the lines.

Light Weight for Distance: Thrown the same as Heavy Weight for Distance, with a minimum weight for women being 14 pounds and 28 pounds for men.

Heavy Hammer: The hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo, rattan, or PVC handle affixed through a hole in the head. The overall length cannot exceed 50 inches. The athlete stands behind the trig (toe board) with his back to the throwing area, winds the hammer around the head and releases over the shoulder. The athlete’s feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground and in a fixed position. The hammer weighs 16 pounds for women and 22 pounds for men.

Caber Toss: The Caber is a tree that has been cut and trimmed down so one end is slightly wider than the other. Women’s cabers are anywhere from 14 to 17 feet long and 60 to 90 pounds, and men’s cabers are anywhere from 16 to 22 feet long and 100 to 180 pounds. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end up. The thrower hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. He then takes a short run with the caber and then stops and pulls the caber so that the large end hits the ground and the small end flips over and faces away from the thrower. The caber toss is scored for accuracy by a judge.

Sheaf Toss: The sheaf is a 10 pound bag for women and a 16 or 20 pound bag for men. The sheaf is a bag of burlap and plastic bag stuffed with either chopped rope, straw, or mulch. The sheaf is tossed over a crossbar with a pitchfork. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses the three tries at one height, than he or she is out of the competition.

Weight for Height: The weight for height is the same as used for the Heavy Weight for Distance, except it has no chain, only a weight and a handle. The weight is tossed over a crossbar with one hand. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, then he is out of the competition. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

maine

woods & waters

Fin-tastic Whale watches a perfect summer escape.

STORY & PHOTO BY BOB DUCHESNE

I

t’s a deeply

moving experience when a whale surfaces beside your boat and looks you in the eye. You sense the intelligence. You sense the power.

Sometimes, you also sense the playfulness. They may leap for no good reason. They may lie on their sides and flap

boat and going out to look. You could be aboard one tomorrow.

Finbacks and humpbacks are the quarry for most whale watch excursions. Whales frequent areas where underwater ledges force food toward the surface. Finbacks are among the larg-

their flippers in the air aimlessly. They may just snooze. I recall a minke whale that swam under our boat repeatedly, surfacing on one side, and then diving just under the keel to resurface on the other.

This went on for several minutes. I recall a baby humpback that jumped out of the water 20 times while we watched in awe.

For most Americans, this is the stuff of National Geographic magazines. For Mainers, it’s as easy as hopping on a 62 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

est whales in the world, second only to blue whales. They are fast and can travel a long way on a single breath. Humpbacks are the type that raise their tails when diving, and often they will put on a show. The endangered North Atlantic right whale also does the tail-up dive, but it tends to frequent waters closer to Nova Scotia. Right whales are seen only sporadically along the Maine coast. The smaller minke whales are common in

PHOTO: (SPLASH) REGIONALES/THINKSTOCK

For most Americans, this is the stuff of National Geographic magazines. For Mainers, it’s as easy as hopping on a boat and going out to look. You could be aboard one tomorrow.

Maine waters, and they tend to come in closer, especially around Eastport.

Several tour boats take passengers into the Gulf of Maine daily. Bar Harbor Whale Watch operates the biggest, fastest whale watch boats in North America, so it makes sense to consider a trip with them. Its fast catamarans can cruise at over 30 knots, reducing the time it takes to reach the best spots for whales.

I’ve had some really impressive encounters with whales on small boats, too.

Among my favorites is Robertson’s Sea Tour Adventures out of Milbridge. Captains Jamie Robertson and Jim Parker operate two vessels that are licensed to carry only six passengers apiece. The boats are comfortable, and the small size puts you right down at the water’s edge with the whales. When a humpback comes over to investigate you, you’re nearly close enough to touch it.

Eastport Windjammers runs a small boat out of Eastport that’s well worth a look. Minke whales prowl the channel between Eastport and Campobello this time of year, and they can sometimes be seen from land. Captain Butch Har-

ris’ boat gets up close and personal with them. Then, it’s off to find the bigger whales. Finbacks and humpbacks can be anywhere between Eastport and the nearby coast of New Brunswick.

Southern Maine has its share of operators, too, with vessels moored in Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Boothbay Harbor, and Portland. Or go north and make it a two-nation vacation. Enjoy one of the two whale watch adventures available on Grand Manan, a Canadian island 9 miles across the channel from Lubec. Even the ferry ride from Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, provides whale watching opportunities.

I’ve never been seasick, but I’ve thought about it once or twice. The Internet is full of prevention tips, some medicinal, some folkloric. They all work to some degree. I take along a little candied ginger, which has never failed to keep my stomach settled. But for those who are prone to motion sickness, extraordinary methods provide extra insurance. Pills, patches, and bracelets serve most folks.

It also helps to avoid the problem. Don’t go out on a foggy day. I see more people

turn green because they are disoriented from not being able to see the horizon, than I have seen people sick from the motion. The bow gets most of the motion, and the stern gets exhaust fumes. Pick an outside spot along the rail in the middle of the boat. There is less motion, and fresh cool air in your face helps.

Dress warmly. It gets cold out there.

Expect temperatures to be 10-15 degrees chillier than what’s happening dockside.

Wear sunscreen, even on an overcast day.

The water reflects whatever sunlight there is, and windburn adds to the irritation.

Every shutterbug remembers to bring a camera. But how many times have they forgotten to bring extra batteries?

The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than any other body of water on Earth.

Someday, whales may disappear from our shores. Better get out there while you can.

BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63

savvy seniors

Securing the Future Take a stand on Social Security for future generations.

BY JANE MARGESSON

W

hen the Social

Security Act was signed into law in 1935, almost half of all older Americans lived in poverty. At first, Social Security was just a retirement program. Today, it offers survivors’ benefits,

ago, many older Americans could not afford to stop working. After more than 80 years, it is hard to imagine life without America’s most successful public policy program. This benefit, earned over a lifetime of hard work, is making a differ-

Sponsored by

Serving Hancock & Penobscot counties

Bangor office: 990.1995 Ellsworth office: 667.1900 lovingtouchinhomecare.com

64 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

benefits to a retiree’s spouse, and disability benefits. Social Security is a foundation of economic security for millions of Americans and their families. Here in Maine, one-third of Mainers ages 65 and older are on Social Security and rely on their benefit for 100 percent of their income. Without Social Security, over 80,000 older Mainers would fall into poverty.

Before President Roosevelt signed Social Security into law all those years

ence in the lives of millions of families every day. Social Security is the one reliable, guaranteed source of income that is there for you in good times and in bad.

As we approach election season, Social Security’s future must be a focal point of the candidates’ plans. When one considers the challenging economic climate of the last few years, strengthening Social Security now and for the future has never been more important. It’s time

PHOTO: RYAN MCVAY/THINKSTOCK

Whether they’re running for the White House or for Congress, our federal elected leaders must be asked: What is your plan to strengthen Social Security and protect future generations?

for the all candidates to lead on Social Security, and give us real answers about how they’ll keep it strong for future generations. Doing nothing is not an option.

Sound bites aren’t good enough. We deserve to know how their plan will affect our families, what it will cost, and how they’ll get it done. Whether they’re running for the White House or for Congress, our federal elected leaders must be asked: What is your plan to strengthen Social Security and protect future generations?

We hope you will join the discussion and ask each candidate this same question.

Time truly is of the essence. We cannot afford to wait. If our nation’s leaders don’t act, future generations could lose up to $10,000 a year. This is about our kids and our grandkids, and handing them a better America than the one handed to you.

To find out where the candidates stand on Social Security, go to 2016TakeAStand.org. If you are interested in protecting Social Security right here in Maine, please contact Jay Els at 207-776-6302 or send an email to me@aarp.org.

Social Security is becoming even more important in Maine and throughout the country. Employer pensions are vanishing. The cost of health care and other necessities keeps going up. Yet more people than ever may live into their 80s, 90s and beyond, with limited means to pay the bills. So the stakes really matter. Proposals offered by the candidates to strengthen Social Security should be fully debated, and people should understand how these ideas could affect them and their families.

This is a great time to talk with your friends and family about what the future of Social Security means to you. You’ve worked hard and paid into Social Security with every paycheck. It’s your money. The presidential candidates owe you details about their plan to keep Social Security strong so you get the money you’ve earned. One hundred and seventy million Americans are working hard and paying in to Social Security. Tens of thousands of them are Maine residents.

But the program needs to be updated.

The next president must have the courage to make tough decisions to ensure you get the money you’ve earned.

JANE MARGESSON is the AARP Maine communications director. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 65

metro home

Study

Time

COURTESY OF METRO NEWS SERVICE

66 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

A

student’s

academic performance is influenced by a host of factors, including the learning environment both inside the classroom and at home.

While students may have only limited control over the environment in their classrooms, they and their parents can do much to create home study environments that are conducive to learning.

• Create a “distraction-free” zone. Today’s students are inundated with distractions. Whereas students were once most distracted by radios, televisions and the great outdoors when studying at home, nowadays kids must also find time to focus on their studies with their tablets and smartphones just a stone’s throw away.

When choosing a study area at home, parents can designate a “distraction-free” zone where no televisions, radios, tablets and smartphones are allowed. Children are increasingly dependent on their smartphones and tablets, and while such devices can sometimes prove useful to students, that benefit is often outweighed by the distraction they present. When kids study at night, be sure they turn off their smartphones and only use their tablets as study aids.

• Emphasize organization. Various organization techniques can help kids be more efficient when studying. Encourage kids to separate their learning materials by subject, and keep a calendar or daily planner at home listing when their assignments are due and which days they will be tested. Encourage youngsters to keep their home study areas tidy as well, as unorganized areas can make it harder to focus or force kids to spend some of their study time cleaning up.

PHOTO: KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ/THINKSTOCK

Here’s your home work to create a great study environment at home.

LANDSCAPE SUPPLY

INSURANCE

WALDO COUNTY

HANCOCK COUNTY

• Establish quiet hours at home. Quiet hours at home while kids are studying can help them better absorb their coursework, and that may lead to improved performance in the classroom. While it’s important that kids’ study areas remain distraction-free, it can also help if distractions outside those areas are minimized. Keep televisions and other potentially noisy distractions turned off while kids are studying. If you want to catch up on a favorite television show or watch a movie, do so on your tablet instead of the television, connecting earphones so kids are not overhearing anything while they’re trying to study.

• Keep healthy snacks on hand. Hunger can be just as distracting as electronics or noisy housemates, so keep healthy snacks on hand. In lieu of unhealthy fare like potato chips or empty calories like pretzels, keep your home stocked with fruits and vegetables and protein-rich snacks like Greek yogurt. Such snacks will quell kids’ hunger pangs while also providing a boost of energy.

A strong home study environment can help students do their best in the classroom.

Searsport • MLS# 1260188 NEW! New kitchen, new counters, new cabinets. New propane furnace and on-demand propane hot water, fresh paint, new insulation! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, huge barn. $199,000 Tim Dutch 107 Main Street, Belfast Cell: 207-323-0440

Searsport • MLS#1272087 Location! Location! Large colonial family home with ocean view, 11 rooms, 4-5 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, guest apartment, elegant stairway, antique lights, corner lot, close to town. $395,000 LuAnne Adams 107 Main Street, Belfast Cell: 207-322-5930

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

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 67

Special Section Featuring Northern Maine

by Bangor Metro

Farm Family T

he family

of Jerry and Bruce Flewelling of Easton have been named the Maine Potato Board 2016 Farm Family of the Year.

The Flewelling family includes Bruce, his wife Valorie and their two sons, Nicholas and Christopher. Bruce's father Jerry, although semi-retired, still keeps up with all the activity of the farm, helping load potatoes, driving trucks, combining grain and keeping abreast of all the changes that come with farming.

Bruce's sons are the sixth generation of Flewellings to farm in Easton. The first Flewellings arrived in the United States from Wales in the late 1800s, entering the country through Riviere de Chute, Canada, which borders Easton. Jerry grew up farming with his father, A. Fen-

68 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

Sixth generation of Flewellings of Easton honored by Maine Potato Board.

ton Flewelling, until he married his high school sweetheart, Suzie Hoyt, in 1960.

Suzie was also a “farm girl.” After marrying, Jerry and Suzie settled just down the hill from both of their parents where they began their family and farm. There, they raised their family of twin boys and two daughters. Both remained on the farm until Suzie died in April 2015.

Bruce grew up working on the family farm and always knew he was going to farm. He attended the University of Maine and earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture mechanization. After graduation he came back to the farm where he and his father gradually grew their operation to raise over 900 acres of potatoes in addition to grain. Bruce and his father worked hard over the years to stay in-

PHOTOS: (FAMILY) COURTESY OF THE FLEWELLING FAMILY; (POTATOES) ERIERIKA/THINKSTOCK

formed about the industry and to keep up with new technology and varieties. The Flewellings presently supply potatoes to McCains and Frito-Lay. Bruce met Valorie while attending the University of Maine. While Valorie did not grow up on a farm, and was teased mercilessly by her father-in-law about being “from away,” she soon learned what it meant to be a farmer's wife. With her mother-in-law as a role model, she learned that living on a farm required that women play an integral role on the farm, too.

Suzie set the bar pretty high. She could jump into a tractor or truck and be out in the field working at a moment's notice. She kept her radio on her belt and would run for parts, bring out lunches

Bruce and Jerry have also served on several community and industry boards over the years. Bruce is a long-time member of the select board in Easton, the Maine Potato Growers Board of Directors, the Maine Pesticides Control Board and is a member of the Agricultural Bargaining Council. Jerry has also served on the ABC and on the board of directors for MPG. Bruce and Jerry have seen many changes in the industry over the years.

They emphasize the importance for growers to stay vigilant in exploring new methods and technology while evaluating the overall effectiveness and benefits to their business. Bruce said that the use of new and improved GPS technology is a major

Bruce and Jerry have seen many changes in the industry over the years. They emphasize the importance for growers to stay vigilant in exploring new methods and technology while evaluating the overall effectiveness and benefits to their business. and help wherever she was needed. She did this all while keeping up with the daily requirements of raising four children and keeping her house from falling down around her.

As many farmers' wives do today, Valorie worked off the farm during the day. Valorie had received her MSW prior to marrying Bruce in 1983. Throughout the years working in an agency and later in her private practice, her time was divided between the job, raising their two boys and helping on the farm. She tried to take time off during the harvest season and whenever she was needed.

Her most important role was “behind the scenes,” making and delivering lunches, keeping the work clothes (especially gloves) clean and having a hot meal waiting at the end of the long day.

She now enjoys the flexibility in her practice of having more time for her family and being more of a support on the farm. In an effort to keep up with the issues facing agriculture today and the role of women in agriculture, Valorie is a member of Maine and American Agri-Women.

investment and has proven to provide increased accuracy and ease of operation.

“We've invested in this technology on our equipment and the result is amazing. My sons have been trained in this new technology and it's exciting for them to take the lead in this endeavor,” added Bruce.

When Jerry was asked about the changes he has experienced throughout the years in farming, he stated without hesitating, “The equipment. It's so much bigger and faster. It costs a lot more too but provides so much more efficiency.”

Both Bruce and Jerry acknowledge it is almost impossible today for a young grower to get into the industry if he or she does not come from an established growing operation.

“The land, equipment, storage, markets are all very difficult to start from scratch,” said Bruce. “I was fortunate to be a member of a farming family, as are my boys. I'm confident in the health of our industry here in Maine as it will provide a future for the next generation. It's a lot of hard work, but it's what makes us content at the end of the day.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 69

y d

u t S

I U

G

n

i ion

t

ca du

e

in Ma

tE

art

m

S et

G

E D

u bo

NG I N gor

A

R a EA in B

DS

N HA

L ning N O trai al nic

OFculture E G w e

N rs LA mme

i

PHOTO: SOLISIMAGES/THINKSTOCK

NGnd I N la

ARn Rock E L si

h Tec

A n GU ng in

I

n

Waneta S I H e pl

F Tit to th O T vis

OU

LDm R O riu

A

Get Smart About Education in Maine

CLASS SYLLABUS PAGE 74

PAGE 76

LANGUAGE OF LEARNING

HANDS ON LEARNING

Penobscot Language School shares cultural experiences from around the world

UTC offers unique learning opportunities for high school students and beyond

PAGE 86

PHOTOS: (EARTH) STUDIO023/THINKSTOCK

OUT OF THIS WORLD Take a trip to the Emera Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 73

Language

of Learning Students of all ages and backgrounds learn new languages at Penobscot Language School.

BY AIMEE THIBODEAU

74 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

C

ommunication —

it’s the key to many aspects of life. A successful career, personal relationships, business transactions. If you can’t adequately express your opinions and emotions, all of these interactions become difficult. Insert a language barrier, and this difficulty multiplies.

That’s where the Penobscot Language School, which is celebrating its 30th year, comes into play. Set in picturesque Rockland, the school originally was founded in 1986 by two local individuals and was intended to be part open university, part community service, and part international peace mission. Over time, the school has expanded to offer weekly classes in at least eight languages for all ages and learning levels.

“We have students from as young as 8 to 87,” said Penobscot Language School Executive Director Joan LeMole. “These classes have served over 6,000 Maine residents [and] the school has served over 525 students from around the world.”

The school holds foreign language classes throughout the year for all levels and ages, in addition to a threeweek English immersion program during the summer.

“Weekly foreign language classes and tutorials generally draw from the Mid-

coast region, but some classes pull from as far away as Deer Isle and Hampden, especially as the school employs nativespeaking instructors,” LeMole said. “We are also expanding our programs to other areas of the state, such as French in Damariscotta, and plan to offer other languages in the Bangor and Augusta areas.”

The summer immersion session attracts participants from countries around the globe, including those this summer from China, Egypt, Peru and Morocco, just to name a few.

Students live with host families, providing a 24/7 English immersion experience. They also engage with speakers and guests and participate in local events.

“The fact that Maine's population is not especially diverse is all the more reason why a cultural center such as Penobscot Language School is needed.

The Midcoast area is home to many retirees, travelers and global-minded individuals who support all manner of international learning.”

The school also collaborates with other surrounding towns and organizations on various cultural events, including the Camden Conference.

In October, Penobscot Language School and the Camden Conference are co-sponsoring a lecture, Jewish Immi-

TRYING NEW THINGS Penobscot Language School students learn about different cultures during a sushi-making workshop in the school's state-of-the-art kitchen.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

gration: The View from Maine, by David Freidenreich who is the Pulver Family Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Colby College, where he directs Colby’s Maine Jewish History Project.

The weekly language classes take a comprehensive approach to language learning and include work in language proficiency, the ability to communicate effectively, and an overview of cultural aspects associated with the student’s language of choice.

The school’s leaders also recognize that learning doesn’t just happen in a traditional classroom through textbooks and lectures, and also offers the opportunity to study language and culture through culinary activity in the school’s newly renovated, state-of-the art kitchen.

Many times the meals are prepared

by English immersion students, sometimes paired with a local chef, willing to share traditions and flavors from their native countries.

“The Penobscot Language School fills several needs — Retirees want to stay active, parents want their children to possess an awareness of other cultures, [and] trade-related jobs grow yearly,” LeMole said. “The ability to communicate effectively is key to each of these areas.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 75

Hands On Learning

76 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

United Technologies Center offers students real world experience and career training.

T

BY DEE DAUPHINEE

heir mission

has never varied: “to provide quality technical programs designed to meet the individual needs of our students and the collective needs of our community.”

That sense of community is obvious when you walk through the doors of United Technologies Center in Bangor.

You are greeted with a smile from people who want to help.

Vocational and technical schools offer a series of courses which directly prepare individuals in jobs that have requirements other than a baccalaureate or advanced degree. Students are provided the opportunity to obtain entry-level skills enabling them to enter the job market or pursue post-secondary education. There are 27 technical public schools in Maine, all of them offering unique ways students can challenge

Students are provided the opportunity to obtain entry-level skills enabling them to enter the job market or pursue post-secondary education.

TECHNOLOGY ABOUNDS UTC classrooms are a miracle of equipment, devices, and technology.

PHOTO BY DEE DAUPHINEE

themselves — and be challenged — in a respectful, exciting environment. The schools reflect the business and industry needs of each region, and incorporate the changing technology of the modern world. Each school uses applied learning to ensure that all students acquire essential skills and knowledge in their chosen occupational areas, or in life.

United Technologies Center, known by many as simply “UTC” did not have an easy birth. It was born of a deep commitment from the school's founder, Woody Littlefield, back in 1974.

It took six years to finish the building construction and to open the doors. Littlefield saw the need in the Greater Bangor Area, and his belief in the project buoyed him, and allowed him not to take “no” for an answer from those who opposed the idea.

“In those days, there certainly were those in the academic world who didn’t understand the importance of vocational ed,” Littlefield said.

For many years, there was a knee-jerk reaction throughout the United States against any curriculum with even a hint of vocational education at a high school level. For generations, there was metal shop, wood shop, and home ec. Certainly, at the upper-middle-class level, the vision was “High School to www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 77

78 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS Student Zack Perry learns about drones in Ron Canarr's Robotics Engineering Program.

PHOTO BY DEE DAUPHINEE

Harvard.” If not Harvard, then the next best university would do. But times change. School districts — and theories — evolve. They are no longer thought of as vocational schools, but rather as Career Technical Education schools.

George Bergeron knows how far the schools have come. He has been the highly respected instructor of UTC’s Outdoor Power and Recreation Equipment Technology program for 36 years.

“There were a lot of roadblocks…a lot of skeptics,” Bergeron said. “We had the building constructed, but when we opened our doors and started taking on students, we didn’t even have a roll of electrician’s tape. But we made it work.

Within three weeks, we had benches to work on. Now look at the floor.”

Bergeron’s classroom, as with all the other departments, is a miracle of equipment, devices, and technology.

Bergeron’s classroom, as with all the other departments, is a miracle of equipment, devices, and technology.

In those early days, even if certain educators were not on board, many of the local businesses in the surrounding communities were. All manner of donations were presented in the years to come — automobiles, snowmobiles, outboard engines, motorcycles, ATVs, even heavy equipment and big rigs, and eventually computers and other hightech instruments.

And the donations continue to arrive today, from car dealerships located across the street from the school, from other states and even from Canada.

“The students get it. They understand the sense of community that comes with going here. They know how invested the greater community is in this school, and how vested the school is in them as individuals,” UTC Director Greg Miller said.

“Every morning and afternoon, the students are greeted by staff at the front door.”

Walking the school’s halls and speaking with students, it’s very obvious — these young people want to be there. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 79

BRIDGING THE GAP A culinary student at UTC sells cookies to Bridge Year students during their business classes at UTC. BDN FILE PHOTO

At UTC, two things have set it apart from many other innovative high schools throughout the country; the extreme devotion of the faculty and board of directors to remain progressive in an ever-changing world, and the Bridge Year Program.

The Bridge Year Program was the result a collaborative effort involving the faculty and teamwork of UTC, Hermon High School, Eastern Maine Community College, and the University of Maine. Now, there are seven area public high schools involved as sending schools, as well as area private schools. Students who apply and are accepted to the Bridge Year program can potentially earn 29.5 credits — equivalent to about a year of college — over the course of their junior and senior years of high school. Their individual programs of study range from business management to building con-

struction, and their future goals are just as diverse. After graduation, these students have the opportunity to enroll in a Maine community college and graduate

classes in the morning session, from 8-10:30 a.m., or the afternoon session, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., usually bussed from their sending school. While there,

"Saving time and money plus exposure to advanced courses and credit towards even higher certifications and licensures also incentivizes students to earn a college degree."

80 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

–Dr. Bill Beardsley with an associate’s degree in applied science within a year, saving them the time and money that is normally required.

From there, they can hit the road running in the workforce, or transfer to the University of Maine where their credits are applied toward a bachelor’s degree.

Bridge Year students have the opportunity to choose between attending

they are immersed in courses specific to their chosen field of study.

Taking classes at UTC often involves the real-world application of skills through job shadowing and mentorships — and the students aren’t complaining. Today, many educators throughout the state are enthusiastic about the program, and see it as an important instrument of higher education.

Maine’s Deputy Education Commissioner Dr. Bill Beardsley agrees.

“Bridge Year and similar articulation programs that enable career oriented high school students to take college courses for credit before graduation from high school, is being further advanced by new legislation that may fully recognize college credit towards high school graduation, as well,” Beardsley said. “Saving time and money plus exposure to advanced courses and credit towards even higher certifications and licensures also incentivizes students to earn a college degree. We expect matriculation into college will grow. Our next step is to write these new pathways into implementing regulation.”

Currently, Bridge Year students pay $40 per credit hour, offering a significant savings on college courses. Students and parents alike recognize the cost benefits of enrolling in Bridge Year, as the program also save in other ways — namely the time college students may need for remedial classes or to determine their career pathways. A student’s first year at any university or community college often can be stressful. Sometimes, their grades reflect it. With a Bridge Year under their belt, the transition can be seamless.

The essence of UTC is opportunity.

As technology changes rapidly (often leaving those over the age of 55 shaking our heads), all schools across the country are embracing the changes and trying to keep up. Gone are the days of making pig-shaped cutting boards in woodshop, or crude tin boxes in metal shop. Upon graduating from UTC programs, students may be certified as nursing assistants, bakers, welders (in both residential and light commercial electrical work), or become experienced in fabrication of composite materials, such as Kevlar. Students can study criminal justice, with an eye toward further study in forensic investigation, or business management.

Students interested in media can enroll in the Information Technology program, and learn 3D animation and video game development, where they will follow the same production process as professionals — complete with media deadlines. In the Commercial Video Communications program, students train with cameras, lighting, and other top of the line equipment using the same software required by today's employers. The list goes on, www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 81

REMOTE ROBOTICS Ron Canarr's Robotics Engineering classes have used found materials to create a variety of incredible robots.

PHOTO BY DEE DAUPHINEE

82 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

and is impressive. There is even a working restaurant on the center’s campus.

The atmosphere, fostered by the staff and directorship at UTC, is one of scholarship — of lifelong learning. If the Bridge Year Program, which has changed the lives of hundreds of students, isn’t impressive enough, then consider instructor Ron Canarr and his Robotics Engineering Program. He teaches the operation and modification of drones to building off-site robots — way off site.

Like, Kyrgyzstan. In central Asia.

In 2007, Canarr and his team of students built a remote controlled, wheeled robot outfitted with a used laptop, webcams and salvaged material (the wheels were liberated from a baby stroller discarded on the side of a road). Named the “UTC Explorer,” it was shipped to Canarr’s brother who was serving in the U.S. Air Force in Kyrgyzstan. The structure cost less than $200 to build. In all of the unclassified presidential military annual budget reports, the U.S. Military budget for research, development, testing, and acquisition of robotics last year was $515 billion. A far cry from the student’s $200.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 83

With the help of Canarr’s brother, the school secured permission from the base commander. The students operated the robot from “Mission Control,” a dedicated room in the Robotics Department at the school over 6,000 miles away. The UTC Explorer worked perfectly. The experiment was a complete success. Unfortunately, the project was cut short when the host country had some concerns. When Explorer was finally returned, it had been dismantled, and some rather tense phone calls followed.

A more recent project from the Robotics Engineering Lab is a submersible submarine, built from — you guessed it — salvaged and donated materials.

Whether it is international remote robotics, new nursing techniques, or innovative culinary recipes, UTC challenges students and faculty alike, and pushes the envelope of learning. In addition to the 19 courses available, UTC also offers a wide variety of continuing education classes in the evening.

Founder Woody Littlefield is retired now. Still active, he is recognized by many students when he’s out and about. An unassuming man, when pressed recently, he leaned on his shovel while landscaping at his home, and admitted he is proud of his efforts — of the school, mostly.

“On my little point of the earth,” he said, “I built a vocational school which has produced hundreds of student success stories — and more than that, the school has helped build self esteem for so many students.”

Then he smiled, and went back to work digging, still improving the ground he occupies.

DEE DAUPHINEE lives in Bradley, Maine. He is the author three books: “Stoneflies & Turtleheads,” “The River Home,” and “Highlanders Without Kilts.”

Read more about Dauphinee at ddauphinee.com.

84 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

FOUNDING FATHER UTC Founder Woody Littlefield is truly a man of vision for creating UTC when others thought practical, hands-on education had no real future.

PHOTO BY DEE DAUPHINEE

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 85

Out of This World

dreamed of traveling among the stars, exploring the galaxy, or learning about space travel? Have you ever wondered how the human body works, what makes plants grow, or how global warming is changing our world? If so, the Emera Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium at the University of Maine is the place to come explore the universe in which we live. The facility is home to the largest planetarium in Maine and enables audiences to explore these topics in a dramatic multimedia environment.

The planetarium is a modern digital facility which uses visualization to share astronomy and numerous other sciences with students of all ages and the general public. Using a cluster of special computers and two high resolution projectors we can recreate not just astronomical and space related content, but also explore numerous other topics such as biology, chemistry, climate science, engineering, mathematics and geography to name some of the possibilities.

The planetarium hosts a library of unique, immersive programs which 86 / BANGOR METRO August 2016

are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and the Maine Common Core. School visits can be tailored to teacher requirements and curriculum goals, and all programs have a live guide who interacts with students and can answer questions. We have a variety of programming to reach students from pre-kindergarten to university level in a variety of topics. Schools can add on hands-on activities in our class-

request a booking and ask questions of our staff, as well.

Emera Astronomy Center hosts a continually changing lineup of public planetarium programs and special events. Some of our new programs are To Space and Back, Life of Trees, Cell!

Cell! Cell!, Dynamic Earth - A look at our changing climate, and One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure. The facility offers a variety of special cosmic themed

The facility is home to the largest planetarium in Maine and enables audiences to explore these topics in a dramatic multimedia environment. room space to their planetarium visit if they desire to enhance curricular goals and create a richer field trip experience for their students. Teachers can find information on all of our school offerings by visiting our website, which has program descriptions, grade level recommendations, and a variety of other resources. The website offers a place to

services such as birthday party packages and corporate events.

Come join us for an out of this world experience! We bring the universe to you! For more information, call 207-5811341, visit our website at astro.umaine. edu, or find us on Facebook facebook. com/JordanPlanetarium and sign up for our email newsletter.

Paid Advertisement for Emera Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium

PHOTO: STUDIO023/THINKSTOCK

H

ave you ever

Come explore the universe and more at the Emera Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium.

last

word

I

f you stay married

Keeping It

Classy Learning how to be a class act, or fall back on doughnuts when all else fails.

BY CHRIS QUIMBY

long enough and make it your goal, you can learn helpful information about your spouse. This information can come in very handy in cultivating a healthy relationship. Or blackmail.

One important thing that has taken me over a decade to learn about my wife is that she likes things cute and girlie. She enjoys classic femininity. She’s a fan of Jane Austen, proper etiquette and ethnic fare. Although she’s been known to put the hurt on a bag of Mrs. Dunster’s donuts, she’s actually deeply driven by more respectable desires.

A few years ago, she planned a party called “The Ladies of Lang Hill” at our home in Brooks. Each of three ladies were invited to bring a female guest for the event. The party was not for sales solicitation, so there were no appeals for purchasing food storage containers, makeup or scrapbooking supplies. The only request was to be very dressed up and ready to eat.

My son and I had the honors of servings as butlers. I was Geoffrey and my son was Alfred. Our names were not derivative of classic literature, however, as we were instead inspired by “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Batman,” respectively. Sorry, Jane Austen.

I wanted this to be a very special evening for my wife, so I explained to my son that there was to be no joking around and that we would, even under the most uncomfortable of circumstances, hold in any flatulence. Mission accomplished.

When the four-course meal, poetry reading and violin and flute duets were over, all agreed that the night was a success. Neither Alfred nor myself spilled any hot coffee on the ladies and I maintained professionalism, even after being tempted by an attractive young lady to join her in rapping the lyrics to the “Fresh Prince” theme song.

On no shortage of occasions, as Heather was preparing for this event, I walked by explaining how excited I was for her and how beautiful everything looked. She suggested that perhaps sometime I could arrange a similar event for my male friends. I tried to picture what that would look like.

You see, I am the girliest of all of my closest male friends, but that is not to suggest that I am a girl. Many of my guy friends shoot animals with guns and know what a crankshaft is. Some of them are able, when they have no tissue, to actually blow their nose by holding one side of their head and shooting the contents directly only the ground.

I think a dinner party with all of the frills would be lost on them.

I do enjoy going out to eat on occasion and having romantic ambience and food not served in Tupperware, but during those times, I am usually with my wife. Part of what makes that environment more special is who I’m sharing it with and what it means to her. She does not need to know that, if left on my own, I might eat a pepperoni pizza on the toilet while reading a comic book.

She does not need to know that, if left on my own, I might eat a pepperoni pizza on the toilet while reading a comic book.

Of course, I am exaggerating. I have more class than that, but mostly because of her influence on me. She’s made me aware of things I never would’ve considered on my own. Just recently, she told me that one of the biggest selling points for her satisfaction level of a restaurant is whether its bathroom is warm or cold. She then spouted off a short list of local restaurants with the warmest, cleanest restrooms.

Although I’m learning, there’s much I still do not know. I endeavor to maintain my studies, though, in hopes of peppering her life with small blessings simply by making the extra effort. And even if I fail at creating a world worthy of Jane Austen, I can always depend on the reliability of Mrs. Dunster.

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.

88 / BANGOR METRO August 2016