FIXER UPPERS RENOVATING MAINE CABINS & CAMPS
TA K E A H I K E
FAMILY FRIENDLY HIKES FOR SUMMER
C O L O R Y O U RS E L F C ALM MORE THAN A TREND, DISCOVER HOW COLORING IS GOOD FOR YOU
$5.95
July 2017
CONTENTS
JULY 2017
FEATURES 52 IN CONVERSATION: BARBARA MCDADE Bangor’s longtime librarian looks back at eventful career 58 STRIVING FOR SPECTRUM Old Town man helping others with autism aspire 64 COLOR TRENDS How Mainers are coloring to relax, destress and meet new people
IN EVERY ISSUE 08 WHAT’S HAPPENING Local news & sightings
64
COLOR TRENDS
72
THEN & NOW: NORTHEAST HARBOR
18 OBSESSIONS What we can’t get enough of this month 72 THEN & NOW Take a trip to Northeast Harbor 80 LAST WORD Avoiding the evil ticks
ON THE COVER
FIXER UPPERS RENOVATING MAINE CABINS & CAMPS
TA K E A H I K E
C O L O R Color and win! Itching to color our cover? Do it! You could win a free one-year subscription to Bangor Metro! Need a redo? Downloadable coloring contest sheets are available at BangorMetro.com. Enter by August 1 to be eligible to win. Find full contest rules and more information on page 25. YOU RS ELF CALM MORE THAN A TREND, DISCOVER
HOW COLORING IS GOOD FOR YOU
$5.95
2 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
July 2017
PHOTO: (TOP) ANDREAOBZEROVA/THINKSTOCK
FAMILY FRIENDLY HIKES FOR SUMMER
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FOOD & DRINK
HEALTH & FITNESS
24 IN SEASON NOW Early summer zucchinis are perfect for making bread
30 HIKE ME: FAMILYFRIENDLY HIKES Maine hikes for all skill levels
16 INTERVIEW Meet a fairy expert from Camden
26 THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY’S DINER A visit to Washburn’s hidden gem
36 CAREGIVER-FRIENDLY WORKPLACES Making it work for Maine caregivers
HOW TO
HOME & FAMILY
OUTSIDE
40 MAKING FAIRY HOUSES Invite whimsy and creativity into the garden this summer
44 FARM FOLLIES Magical worms and happy pigs in Brooksville
78 BROOK TROUT How Maine became home to an ancient fish
42 MAKE YOUR OWN BUTTER Small batch, homemade butter recipe
48 FAMILY OF FIXER UPPERS HGTV spotlights Maine renovators
PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ROGER MERCHANT; SARAH WALKER CARON; AISLINN SARNACKI; BDN FILE; JOHN ALTMAN; SARAH WALKER CARON
14 SHUTTERBUG Nature photographer Roger Merchant shares his work
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
AS FAR AS MONTHS GO, JULY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAVORITE. It’s the month that comes right after my birthday, when all my treats and presents are fresh and new. It’s the month where we shoot fireworks and celebrate independence. It’s filled with days of barbecues, beach excursions and swimming. But most of all — particularly as a child — I loved July because it felt endless. When July sashayed in, it was always just after school let out for summer, when there seemed to be an unending chain of days without plans or purpose. For that short 31 days, I could just relax. These days, as a single mom with two kids, the days aren’t endless in the same way. But I still love July and especially the summer fun that comes with it. And really, that’s what this issue is about: summer fun for families. In this issue, we welcome Aislinn Sarnacki, a hiking columnist for sister publication The Bangor Daily News and author of the new book Family Friendly Hikes. Her new column for Bangor Metro will detail three hikes each month — an easy, moderate and strenuous one. We’ve also brought back something we heard readers liked: projects. In the new How-to section, you’ll find a craft to do with kids and a how-to for adults. This month, several of us got together to create a fun tutorial on making fairy gardens. And, Lauren Abbate writes about how to make your own butter — a very worthwhile venture. There’s also a brand new interview series by veteran report John Holyoke. This month we meet Bangor’s longtime librarian Barbara McDade. And then there’s me, the new editor of Bangor Metro. You may recognize me from my Bangor Metro column In Season Now, or my Bangor Daily News column Maine Course. I’m a senior editor at the BDN where I oversee features for the newspaper — that’s Homestead, Food, Arts & Culture, Outdoors and Next — and am so excited to take on the challenge of editing Bangor Metro too. I hope you like the sprucing up we’ve done in my first issue. Want to tell me what you really think? I welcome constructive feedback at talkback@bangormetro.com. And one more thing … My son, Will, is an aspiring cartoonist who turns 12 this month. I couldn’t think of a better present for him than to give him his very first cartoon publishing credit. The illustration on this page is something he drew for me when I asked him for a cartoon depicting why July is such a great month. Happy birthday, Will! HAVE A WONDERFUL, ENDLESS JULY,
SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR
Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro bangormetro talkback@bangormetro.com
4 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
www.bangormetro.com P.O. Box 1329 Bangor, Maine 04402-1329 Phone: 207.990.8000
PUBLISHER
Richard J. Warren
EDITOR
Sarah Walker Caron scaron@bangordailynews.com
ART DIRECTOR
Amy Allen aallen@bangordailynews.com
SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER
Fred Stewart fstewart@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
Lauren Abbate labbate@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
Julia Bayly jbayly@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
Emily Burnham eburnham@bangordailynews.com
STAFF WRITER
John Holyoke jholyoke@bangordailynews.com
Find your perfect
AUDIENCE
Advertise your business in BANGOR METRO! CALL 990-8134 for details
STAFF WRITER
Aislinn Sarnacki asarnacki@bangordailynews.com
bangormetro.com www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
Joshua Archer
Jodi Hersey
Bob Duchesne
Joy Hollowell
Jeff Kirlin
Jane Margesson
Todd Nelson
Richard Shaw
Chris Quimby
Bangor Metro Magazine. July 2017, Vol. 13, No. 7. 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 Sarah Walker Caron at scaron@bangordailynews.com. Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Director Todd Johnston at 207-990-8134. Subscriptions/Address Change: The one year subscription cost is $14.95. 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 207-990-8075. Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Todd Johnston at 207-990-8134.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7
WHAT’S HAPPENING
JULY 7 Downtown Bangor First Friday Artwalk
JULY FRIDAYS IN JULY AT 7 P.M. DAWN OF THE SPACE AGE
A new show opens in July at the University of Maine’s Emera Astronomy Center that will look at the history of space exploration. In Dawn of the Space Age, viewers can experience the beginnings of space travel, from the launch of Sputnik 1 to the Apollo landings on the Moon, and from the assembly of the International Space Station to the first private space flights. Trace the initial competition of political systems for supremacy in space, and the peaceful collaboration between nations today. Join in the vivid, historically accurate reconstruction of humans first steps into the cosmos. Learn about the men and women who braved the risks of space travel. Witness their courage, their passion and their perseverance. $
FRIDAYS, JUNE 23-JULY 28 CINEMA UNDER THE STARS
River City Cinema returns to Pickering Square on Friday evenings this summer with their annual summer movie series, “Cinema Under the Stars.” Six movies will be shown, weather permitting. Bring your own chairs and blankets, and pick up snacks at the concessions stand. Movies begin at sundown. Free. 8 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
FRIDAY, JULY 7 DOWNTOWN BANGOR ARTWALK Join local and regional artists and artisans for an evening celebrating creativity throughout downtown Bangor at the the Downtown Bangor First Friday Artwalk, 5-8 pm, on July 7. The artwalk, presented by the Downtown Bangor Arts Collaborative, aims to bring the community together through art. Free.
JULY 20-23 THE ADDAMS FAMILY, A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY
The Penobscot Theatre Company’s Dramatic Academy will bring to life the magnificently macabre musical featuring everyone’s favorite creepy next door neighbors, The Addams Family, for four performances. In this play, Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a (blech!) normal young man. Now Gomez Addams must face every father’s nightmare: meeting his daughter’s boyfriend for the first time. The show will be staged Thursday, July 20, Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22, at 7 p.m. There will also be a Sunday matinee on July 23 at 3 p.m. $
JULY 20-23 AND 27-30 THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
Ten Bucks Theatre’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” will be staged on July 20-23 and 27-30, at Indian Trail Park in Brewer. Sir John Falstaff is up to his usual tricks. Justice Shallow and his cousin, Slender, complain to Sir Hugh Evans that Falstaff has swindled them. Evans suggests they forget their grievances and that Slender court Anne Page, Master Page’s daughter. The unrepentant Falstaff arrives on the scene, admitting to the swindle. Later, he decides to generate some income for himself. Convinced that both women are enamored of him, he writes identical love letters to Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, intending to gain access to their husbands’ wealth. Directed by Julie Arnold Lisnet. It will also be staged on Aug. 3-6 at Fort Knox in Prospect. $
TUESDAY, JULY 25 OLD-FASHIONED BLOCK PARTY
An old-fashioned block party will be held 6-8 p.m. on Forest Avenue. There will be a Bangor Band concert, homemade
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
EVENTS
Senior Community Living at affordable prices
932 Ohio Street, Bangor • (207) 942-6002
ice cream, fresh-squeezed lemonade, hot dogs, exhibits and demonstrations by Emera Maine and Bangor Police and Fire departments, Anah Shrine clowns, face painting, art activities, Bangor Public Library book rest stop. Donations collected at the event will benefit Children’s Miracle Network. Free.
JULY 27-29 MAINE QUILTS 40TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW
The Maine Quilts 40th Anniversary show will be held July 27-29 at the Augusta Civic Center. A champagne reception and show preview is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26. The quilt show will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, July 27-29. Special exhibits: Ruby Celebration; Red and White Stitched Together; and Fantastically 40! Challenge. Workshops with seven national teachers, vendors, demonstrations, lectures. Daily admission $10; multi-day $15; groups $8 with advance registration. www.mainequilts.org, info@mainequilts.org
JULY 20-30 Ten Bucks Theatre at Indian Trail Park in Brewer
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9
EVENTS
WHAT’S HAPPENING
JULY 28-30 DRUMS ON THE PENOBSCOT: A CIVIL WAR EXPERIENCE
The Bangor Historical Society presents “Drums on the Penobscot: A Civil War Experience,” at the UMA-Bangor Campus. The event will feature a Civil War camp, battle reenactments, living history demonstrations, children’s activities, dress parade, presentations by local and national historians and more. Details at www.bangorhistoricalsociety.com. Free.
ONGOING THROUGH SEPT. 2 ART EXHIBITS AT UMAINE MUSEUM OF ART
The UMMA summer exhibition are open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all summer. Jason Bard Yarmosky’s “Somewhere” show large, realistic paintings of his elderly grandmother, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Also showing is Susan Barnett with “I Wear What I Want,” Lee Cummings with “What Lies Beneath” and a young curators show “Humanity Within.” There will also be a noontime talk with Lenard W. Kaye, irector of University of Maine Center of Aging & Professor of Social Work, on July 20 from 12 to 12:30 p.m., “Caregivers of Older Adults: America’s Unsung Heroes.” Free admission thanks to Deighan Wealth Advisors in Bangor.
PHOTO: BDN FILE
ONGOING UMaine Museum of Art exhibits
10 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
EVENTS
SIGHTINGS
HERE’S A LOOK AT JUST A FEW SPECIAL EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH... PHOTOS BY JEFF KIRLIN, THE THING OF THE MOMENT
1
2 3
12 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
1: Abigail Curtis and Lauren Abbate of the Bangor Daily News talk to Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank, about hunger in Maine at the May Dirigo Speaks event. Dirigo Speaks is a series by the Bangor Daily News and AARP Maine.
2: Melissa Huston of Good Shepherd Food Bank poses for a selfie with Jeff Kirlin of The Thing of the Moment. 3: The team from Moe’s Original BBQ serve up wings at Wing Fest at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
It’s Summer in Maine!
Family-friendly fun is the name of the game! Play online at bangormetro.com for your chance to win a FREE one-year subscription to Bangor Metro!
4 5
4: Spencer Albee performs at The First Church during the All Roads Music Festival in Belfast. 5: David Mallett takes the stage at All Roads. All Roads is a one-day festival and celebration of indie music, featuring some of the most talented local music artists from
across the state and region. Bangor Metro magazine was one of the event sponsors. 6: Catherine Frederick, Andrea Irwin, Sarah Nichols and Abbie Strout at the Mabel Wadsworth 22nd Annual Celebration and Auction in May.
6
FIND ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S POP QUIZ ON PAGE 10!
Visit BangorMetro.com to play online! www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
14 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
SHUTTERBUG
ROGER MERCHANT I’M DRAWN TO NATURAL BEAUTY as it’s revealed to me. Not being a drive-by point-and-shoot guy, my image captures never come easy. I travel off-trail, up mountains and down rivers in the remote wilds of Maine. Forever on the edge of the untamed and the unknown, this is where I’m most alive, and where my best work comes from. Exploring interior Maine since 1965, I try to cut through the visual chaos that is inherent in these woods. Large landscapes, a sea of undifferentiated green, reveal autumn colors and patterns, and even more in the nakedness of winter. I seek rocky outcrops, small openings that provide unique perspectives on the familiar and flat. Compelling, tack-sharp images is my unwavering standard of excellence. Blue sky can be so boring! Weather is changing drastically in ten minutes? Drama! Grab a camera and get out to that optimal location. When the Earth rumbles under your feet, or around you, that’s where the spontaneous visual action is, powerful and planned for. —ROGER MERCHANT
Are you a photography enthusiast or artist? If you’d like to be featured in Bangor Metro, email editor Sarah Walker Caron at pitch@bangormetro.com with a little about your work and a sample photo or two for consideration. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Whimsical C R E AT I V I T Y
Fairy expert shares tips for building. BY SARAH WALKER CARON
AUTHOR LIZA GARDNER WALSH of Camden has developed a career around the fanciful, whimsical and mysterious. Her books and activity kits tackle everything from treasure hunting to ghost stories, cats to fairies. In her newest book, the recently released “Fairy House Cooking: Scrumptious Recipes and Fairy Party Fun,” published by Down East, she teaches kids and their grownups how to get in the kitchen for some fairy-themed cooking. But Walsh’s interest in fairies goes back years. “When my daughters were younger, they were just captivated by them. I’ve always been interested in magical things. But my kids, when we moved here, my older daughter Phoebe was 5 and she started building fairy houses with a vengeance,” Walsh said. Walsh noticed how her daughter could spend hours and hours outside working on elaborate fairy houses, and got inspired. “The creativity and the ability to be outside and be engaged and have it be completely open ended and self-directed [interested me as a former educator],” Walsh said. She’s since written several books about fairy house building, fairy garden building and more, aimed at getting kids outside and interacting with their world. She recently offered a few tips for would-be fairy house and fairy garden architects. “A fairy garden is a garden that is designed with the intention of attracting fairies,” Walsh said. She recommends “thinking about what you’re planting in terms of the fairies.” For instance, she said, fairies apparently like “bell-shaped flowers.” But before you get to planning and planting, you have to find the right location. “The first thing is to find a good spot — somewhere in your yard that’s kind of protected,” Walsh said. “[Find] a place you’re drawn to.” Then, you’ll need to gather your materials — plants for a garden or building materials for a house. “For fairy houses, I always encourage natural materials,” Walsh said. Natural materials can be gathered from around your yard — acorns, fallen tree bark, leaves, twigs and more will work. Once a fairy house is built though, that’s just the beginning. Keep a trained eye for visits from fairy friends and make sure you “update houses and gardens through the year.” Fairy houses and gardens will change through the seasons — both with the changes you make the natural ones that occur. “Be patient and allow it to unfold,” Walsh said. “The fairies are just happy that you’re thinking about them and that you’re taking care of the world around you.” And when you’re “creating little spaces within your garden to welcome the fairies,” Walsh said to remember something very important: Have fun.
16 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
OBSESSIONS
OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.
BOOKS Summer reading lists aren’t just for kids. These books are perfect for diving into at the beach, pool, camp or wherever you want to read this summer. “THE STARS ARE FIRE,” by Anita Shreve. Longtime Maine summer resident Anita Shreve blends the real-life history of the Great Fires of 1947 with a fictional story about a mother who must find inner strength to save herself and her children and carry on in the aftermath. This touching, nuanced tale is a page turner that will keep you enthralled through the very end. “THE LAND OF STORIES: WORLDS COLLIDE,” by Chris Colfer. Kids and adults have fallen in love with the adventures of Connor and Alex as they jump between fairy tales. Now, the duo will face their biggest battle yet in the final book in the Land of Stories series. It’ll be released on July 11. “GREEN PLATE SPECIAL: SUSTAINABLE AND DELICIOUS RECIPES,” by Christine Burns Rudalevige. From meatless main dishes to barbecue favorites, this classically trained cook from Brunswick shares sustainably focused recipes and meal ideas in her new cookbook. This is eco-conscious cooking at its best. Your summer
reading assignments.
18 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
—SARAH WALKER CARON
festival director or Ken Eisen (left) and stival program direct Fe hievement Award Film Ac nal e dlif atio Mi ern the Maine Int . Gabriel Byrne with or act t sen pre , ht) vill ter e Opera House Shannon Haines (rig Suspects” at the Wa ning of “The Usual ee scr a er aft r me on last sum
Life with a view.
Situated on a spectacular 20-acre site overlooking Penobscot Bay, Penobscot Shores is Maine’s Premier Oceanfront Retirement Community.
FILMS
PHOTOS: (BOOKS) ESKAMILHO/THINKSTOCK; (FILM FEST) BDN FILE
MAINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL JULY 14-23, WATERVILLE Maine’s largest film festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, so the 2017 edition of the 10-day Waterville event will be a birthday party, as well as a wide-ranging showcase of the best of film from Maine, the U.S. and the world. It’s also dedicated this year to director Jonathan Demme, a longtime friend of MIFF who passed away this year at the age of 73. A retrospective of some of Demme’s films will be shown at this year’s festival, from “Stop Making Sense” to his little-seen documentary “Cousin Bobby.” Also planned for this year is a retrospective of independent filmmaker Tom DiCillo, who will be in attendance; screenings of his films including “Living in Oblivion” are planned. In keeping with the festival’s unique approach to screenings, MIFF is set to show 1927 silent film “Sunrise,” the last silent film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards; it’ll be accompanied by Les Sorciers Perdus, a musical ensemble that performs scores for silent film written by Portland composer Mark Tipton. For a full schedule of screenings, visit miff.org.
Enjoy life with stunning bay views and take advantage of home ownership without property maintenance at Penobscot Shores in Belfast. Apartments in the Ocean House for sale or rent. Private cottages for sale. Call 338-2332 or visit us online at penobscotshores.com for more information.
10 Shoreland Drive, Belfast 207-338-2332 penobscotshores.com Waldo County General Hospital A Member of MaineHealth
—EMILY BURNHAM
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
OBSESSIONS
OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.
MUSIC
—EMILY BURNHAM
THEATRE THE SUMMER SEASON AT THE STONINGTON OPERA HOUSE Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House each year offers one of the best, highest-caliber summer theater lineups in the state, featuring a dynamic combination of nationally renowned performers and directors, exceptional regional artists, and an arts-loving local community. This year’s program start off with Tennessee Williams’ timeless classic, “The Glass Menagerie,” set for June 29 through July 9 at Opera House Arts’ alternate venue, the Burnt Cove Church, located just a few miles outside of the village of Stonington. Beginning July 20, OHA presents a rare musical — “The Fantasticks,” the charming, old-fashioned tale of young love — running through July 30. The season concludes in August, with the annual Shakespeare production; this year, it’s “Henry IV,” featuring Bangor native Matt Hurley as Prince Hal. For more information, visit operahousearts.org. —EMILY BURNHAM
Inside the
Burnt Cove Church in
Stonington.
PHOTOS: (BURNT COVE CHURCH) BDN FILE; (TOP) MOODBOARD/THINKSTOCK
CHRIS ROSS AND THE NORTH OVER LONESOME As far as local Bangor bands go, Chris Ross and the North are easily the most well-known statewide, having amassed a devoted following even beyond the state’s borders into the rest of New England. That’s due in large part to Ellsworth native Ross’ strengths as both a singer and a songwriter, and in more recent years, the addition of the North, a muscular-yet-nimble rock trio composed of drummer Ryan Curless, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Zachary Bence, and bassist Caleb Sweet. Buoyed by the success of the band’s 2015 album, “Young Once,” Chris Ross and the North this summer have released a new album, “Over Lonesome,” another crackling collection of Ross’ songs, brought to colorful life by the band. Running the gamut from country and folk to rock and Motown, “Over Lonesome” further refines the band’s sound, once again putting Ross’ soulful, gravelly voice front and center, with lyrics about women, hard living, simple pleasures and life on the road. Looking for a good Maine soundtrack to a road trip to the beach or up to camp? Pop this album on.
FOOD & DRINK
OBSESSIONS
OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.
CHEESE ABRAHAM’S GOAT FARM AND CREAMERY NEWPORT WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Abraham’s, a family farm in Newport, has been raising livestock for the past decade, and for the past few years has expanded its offerings to include cheese. Not just any cheese either—there’s creamy, dreamy chevre (made from goat’s milk), milder goudas and tommes (both cow’s milk), salty, tangy feta, and, most unusually, paneer, the firm, fresh, flavorful Indian cheese usually found in classic Indian dishes like palak paneer, made with spinach, or mattar paneer, made with peas and tomatoes. It’s hard to pick just one, but their chevre is top of the line, simple, fresh and delicious on anything, whether you go for the plain variety, or for flavors like Cracked Black Pepper or Fire Alarm Garlic. Abraham’s cheeses, including the chevre, as well as their yogurts and milks, are available at Eat More Cheese, Frank’s Bakery and Bagel Central in Bangor, Danforth’s Supermarket in Hermon, and at their farm, located at 1000 Elm St. in Newport, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Combine with noodles and
veggies for a
yummy stirfry!
FOODSTUFF WATCHAREE’S THAI PEANUT SAUCE WHY DO WE LOVE IT? One jar, so many culinary possibilities. Watcharee is a Yarmouthbased business founded by Thai chef Watcharee Limanon, a lawyer-turned-chef who got her start doing pop-up dinners and Thai cooking classes around New England. She makes what we think are the best jarred Thai sauces you’ll find in Maine. While the other three sauces she makes—Pad Thai and Massaman and Green curry sauces—are all delicious, the Thai Peanut Sauce is our favorite. Rich and peanut-y with just a little spice, this versatile sauce can be used in myriad ways. We like mixing it with shredded carrots, red peppers and green onions for a salad, tossing it with noodles and veggies for a stir fry, or grilling chicken or pineapple steaks and using it as a dipping sauce. And while we can’t know for certain until we try it, we bet that it would be pretty tasty drizzled over some coconut or ginger ice cream. Watcharee’s Thai Peanut Sauce retails for $9.49, and is available at Hannaford Supermarkets statewide, the Natural Living Center and Central Street Farmhouse in Bangor, Tiller & Rye in Brewer and the Belfast Co-op, as well as online at watcharee.com. —EMILY BURNHAM
—EMILY BURNHAM 22 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
RESTAURANT DISH
COCKTAIL
PHOTOS: (SPRING ROLLS) BDN FILE; (OTHERS) THINKSTOCK
CRISPY THAI SPRING ROLLS BADGER CAFE, UNION WHY DO WE LOVE IT? The Badger Cafe, tucked away in Knox County in serene, scenic Union, is a hidden gem in coastal Maine, with better-than-average pub food and a craft and imported beer selection to rival any Portland or Bangor restaurant. There’s lots to love there— from the congenial service and laid-back attitude of owners Christy and Michael Greer, to their regular movie and musicthemed weekend menu specials—but for us, the highlight is something deceptively simple. We really like things like their house-made falafel and decadent macaroni and cheese, but we love their Crispy Thai Spring Rolls. It’s simply made, with creamy, tangy cole slaw rolled inside thin spring roll paper and deepfried until just crispy and golden brown, served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. The combination of the crispy outside and creamy inside, however, is absolutely addictive. We predict your table will have eaten them all so quickly that you’ll be disappointed to see your plate is empty. Might want to order a second round, especially if you’ve spent the day hiking in nearby Camden Hills State Park or Bald Mountain Preserve, or paddling or swimming at Damariscotta Lake State Park. The Badger Cafe, located at 289 Common Road in Union, is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursdays, noon to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.
29 PROBLEMS AT NOVIO’S, HAMMOND STREET IN BANGOR
Sarah had 99
problems and this cocktail literally solved 70 of them.
WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Novio’s, a relatively new downtown Bangor dinner spot, is billed as “an inspired bistro,” and with dishes like their comforting, creative Airline Chicken featuring caribbean Jerk chicken, fried leeks and coconut rice and beans, we have to agree. And their drink menu, featuring 29 Problems, is pretty inspired too. Since Novio’s opening in late 2016, they’ve been mixing up this creative spicy-refreshing cocktail. Jalapenoinfused Twenty 2 Vodka, cointreau, fresh lime and fresh grapefruit are shaken, not stirred, and then strained into a glass with a fresh jalapeno slice. —SARAH WALKER CARON
Crispy Thai Spring Rolls from Badger Cafe in Union.
—EMILY BURNHAM www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23
FOOD & DRINK
IN SEASON NOW
In Season Now:
ZUCCHINI STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON
OH, ZUCCHINI. From the slender, delicate zucchinis of early summer to the robust, oversized ones of later days, these prosperous plants can produce many, many fruits. They are the things neighborhood legends are made of — as growers try to give away extras whenever and wherever they can. But we mustn’t discount the venerable zucchini. This summer squash, sometimes called courgette, is a good source of Vitamin C and other antioxidants. Low in calories, zucchini can be eaten raw or cooked using various methods. Chopped raw zucchini is a welcome addition to salads and slaws. The tube-shaped vegetable is also perfect for cutting into pasta-like shapes for zucchini noodles.
FROM THE SLENDER, DELICATE ZUCCHINIS OF
Cinnamon Zucchini Bread Yields 1 loaf 1½ cups all purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp salt ½ cup olive oil ½ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup packed light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 cup freshly grated zucchini ½ tsp vanilla extract Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter and flour an 8.5-inch loaf pan. Set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, granulated sugar, light brown sugar and eggs until well combined. Stir in the zucchini and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and fold in until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 4555 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center of the loaf comes out cleanly. 24 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
EARLY SUMMER TO THE ROBUST, OVERSIZED ONES OF LATER DAYS, THESE PROSPEROUS PLANTS CAN PRODUCE MANY, MANY FRUITS. THEY ARE THE THINGS NEIGHBORHOOD LEGENDS ARE MADE OF — AS GROWERS TRY TO GIVE AWAY EXTRAS WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY CAN. But, of course, there’s also another delightful use for zucchini: baked goods. Shredded or grated zucchini melts in this recipe for Cinnamon Zucchini Bread, creating a moist, airy bread ideal for breakfast. Toast slices and slather them with butter. Or just enjoy them cut from the loaf. However you choose to eat it, just do … it’s a lovely treat.
SARAH WALKER CARON is a Bangor-based food writer and a senior editor for the Bangor Daily News. Her weekly food column, Maine Course, appears in the BDN every Wednesday and she is also author of Sarah’s Cucina Bella food blog (www.sarahscucinabella.com) and a cookbook: “Grains as Mains: Modern Recipes Using Ancient Grains.”
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25
FOOD & DRINK
26 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
RESTAURANTS
There’s Something About
MARY’S DINER Washburn’s hidden gem.
STORY & PHOTOS BY JOSHUA ARCHER
Mary Baker poses for a quick photo at her diner in Washburn.
MARY’S DINER ON Main Street in Washburn is the kind of place you won’t find unless you’re looking for it. If you’re heading north on your way through town, make sure to go slow, ’cause if you blink you’ll miss the place. The diner has been around so long it seems like it’s evolved a form of camouflage that hides it from outsiders. But for those in the know Mary’s Diner has been the place to duck into for the last 20 years when it’s raining while you’re out on the ATV trail wet and hungry. Crossing the threshold into Mary’s Diner is rough if you’re claustrophobic. But it’s also the great thing if you’re dying for intimacy. There’s no room for introverts here. You’re expected to say “Hello” and answer questions. Where are you from? Got kids? Wanna try Mary’s famous Garbage Pail Omelet? You can say yes to the omelet, it’s good. Monday through Saturday, Mary Baker, the one and only, makes her way from the outskirts of town to her diner on the main drag and opens shop at 5 a.m. — right around the time the broken church bell across the street delivers a single waking gong. Summer brings in more business when the nearby ATV trails that cut through The County open for the season. If you’re in northern Maine and you find yourself taking a spin on a fourwheeler, keep your eyes peeled for little signs along the trails pointing you toward Mary’s, where you can satisfy your hunger with red blooded American food. There’s no bad time to go to Mary’s, but you better get there early. It’s only open until 2 p.m. and seats are at a premium — there are only a few of them. Mary’s menu, which covers the length of the wall behind the counter, features home cooked classics like burgers, hot dogs, ham steak and chicken nuggets. But nothing beats Mary’s breakfast food. If you’re the type of person that gets excited for all-day breakfast then Mary’s is the perfect place to summon your inner Ron Swanson www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27
FOOD & DRINK
RESTAURANTS
The counter at Mary’s Diner in Washburn.
BUCKSPORT
and dive into a plate of fluffy folded golden eggs with a stack of thick salty bacon, along with homemade toast and knuckle sized chunks of crispy potatoes enhanced with perfectly caramelized onions, which are optional of course. Neil Baker Sr., Mary’s husband, used to help with dishes and garbage runs, but ever since having to get a pacemaker, he’s had to slow down, so Mary’s left to hustle and manage breakfast orders on her own. She said she had more help when she first bought the place back in the 90s. She could count on family to lend a hand with meals and washing, but now it’s all up to her. There’s no messing around at Mary’s Diner. Mary leans on her traditions of family cooking. She’s a self-taught cook who learned the basics of cooking in high school. On Friday’s, Mary’s serves fish chowder — a highlight of the week. You won’t find a better price for a bowl of slow simmered hunks of delicious fish paired with Maine potatoes and accompanied by a grilled cheese sandwich to dunk into broth so good it might be a crime to sell it more than once a week. A sad truth about Mary’s is that until the state finds a way to keep its population from moving elsewhere, especially the northern rural half, Mary said her business will continue to dip. But don’t let that bum you out, because Mary’s a machine and plans to cook, “until ... I can’t do it,” she said. A few unwritten rules before embarking on your first trip to Mary’s Diner: speak up, listen close, don’t be afraid to ask for onions with your hash browns and bring a friend.
GUILFORD
Your listing could be on this page Attract more customers. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Restaurant Guide. Call 941-1300.
28 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29
HEALTH & FITNESS
HIKE ME
F A M I LYFRIENDLY H I K E S for Summer STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI
ESCAPING THE RELENTLESS SUMMER SUN, a family ducks into the cool shade of the forest. Sweet birdsong fills the family’s ears. “It’s a hermit thrush,” the mother might say, identifying the bird. Meanwhile, the woman’s four-year-old son is picking up acorns and sticks, fascinated by the small things, the aspects of the forest his family members would miss entirely if it weren’t for him, insistent on showing them his treasures, his small hands outstretched. His older sister, on her way to teenhood, instructs him to leave nature as he finds it, for other hikers to enjoy. She’s learned about Leave No Trace ethics from her parents, and she’s proud to pass down her knowledge. Following a well-worn, marked trail, the family has just begun their outdoor adventure, one that everyone will enjoy. Together in the woods, they’ll discover an old rock wall, a giant white pine tree and pond filled with frogs. They’ll laugh at the scolding trill of a red squirrel. And as they watch their feet, stepping over tangled tree roots, they’ll have plenty of time to talk — and to be silent. Public hiking trails are numerous in Maine, and each one has something different to offer. Some trails travel up majestic mountains, through mossy evergreen forests; others visit the state’s rocky coastline, or wind through flower-filled meadows, or visit waterfalls. These trails vary widely in difficulty, from smooth nature trails to rough and rocky alpine paths, meaning there’s a trail out there for everyone. The following are three local hikes that are great for families and small groups. All three hikes feature well-maintained and marked trails with plenty of interesting highlights, from excellent birding spots to scenic viewpoints. So put on some insect repellent — an absolute necessity this time of year — and check one of them out with your family and friends.
30 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
BIRDSACRE IN ELLSWORTH EASY
THE STANWOOD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, more commonly known as Birdsacre, is a 200-acre piece of quiet woodland surrounded by the hustle and bustle of downtown Ellsworth. The sanctuary includes a trail network, bird rehabilitation facility, a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, nature center and 19th century homestead that used to be the home of Cordelia J. Stanwood (1865-1958). The daughter of a sea captain and a prosperous merchant’s daughter, Stanwood was raised as a Victorian lady, but was determined to set her own course, shunning societal expectations. At her childhood home, Birdsacre, she devoted more than 50 years to the study of nature, and most notably birds, to become possibly the first highly respected female ornithologist photographer. Today, visitors to Birdsacre can follow in Stanwoods’ footsteps on the sanctuary’s system of footpaths, which consists of a 2-mile Perimeter Trail and many shorter trails that crisscross through woods and wetlands. It was on those trails that Stanwood spent many of her days observing birds and recording her findings in research notebooks and later, on camera. On wooden plaques erected on tree trunks throughout the trail network are quotes from Stanwood’s field notes. These passages offer glimpses of Stanwood’s deep reverence for the wilderness, her love of animals, and the peace and happiness she found in being outdoors.
As you explore the Birdsacre trail network you’ll come upon the same landmarks that Stanwood enjoyed more than half a century ago — a boulder called “Egg Rock,” a giant white pine called “Queen’s Throne,” and several small ponds. Signs throughout the trail network direct hikers to these natural features. The Birdsacre trail network is open to the public during daylight hours year round. The homestead museum and nature center open June through September, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., dependent on volunteers. Admission is free, but donations can be made at the kiosk by the parking area. Dogs are permitted on the trails but should be kept away from all bird enclosures. To learn more about Birdsacre, visit its website at birdsacre.com or call 667-8460. HOW TO GET THERE: Birdsacre is located at 289 High Street (Route 3) in Ellsworth. To get there, start at the fourway intersection of Main Street and High Street in Ellsworth and drive south on High Street (Route 1-Route 3) toward Bar Harbor. After about 1 mile, High Street (Route 3) splits off to the left from Route 1 and becomes a one-way road headed toward Bar Harbor. Take High Street (Route 3) and drive about 0.3 mile to Birdsacre on the right, just before the China Hill Restaurant.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31
HEALTH & FITNESS
HIKE ME
CARIBOU BOG CONSERVATION AREA IN ORONO MODERATE
OWNED AND MAINTAINED by the Orono Land Trust, the Caribou Bog Conservation Area features trails that lead to the summits of both Newman and Bangor hills. This trail network also visits several wetlands and ponds, offering excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife. A loop hike from the parking area to the top of Newman Hill is about 2 miles in total distance, and a loop hike of both Newman and Bangor hills is about 4 miles. There are a few steep sections in the trail network that can be avoided by taking short detours, which have been marked by the Orono Land Trust. There are also some interesting footbridges, mossy areas and stretches of lichen-covered bedrock. Newman and Bangor hills are both wooded and don’t offer views from their summits, however, not far from the summit of Bangor Hill is a spot on the trail that provides a partial view where hikers can see all the way to Katahdin on a clear day. Wetlands on the property are home to a wide variety of songbirds, wading birds and waterfowl. Commonly sighted
32 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
birds that are easy to spot are great blue herons, Canada geese and red-winged blackbirds, and if you look closely, you may spot an American bittern picking its way through the cattails and tall grasses at the edge of the water. Orono Land Trust maintains its properties and trails for public non-motorized use, including walking, skiing, snowshoeing, geocaching and bicycling. Dogs are permitted on these trails. And keep in mind that hunting is permitted on the Newman Hill property. For information and maps, visit oronolandtrust.org or email oronolandtrust@gmail.com. HOW TO GET THERE: Take I-95 Exit 191 (Kelley Road in Orono). Drive northwest on Kelley Road 0.5 mile to Stillwater Avenue. Turn right and drive 1.1 miles on Stillwater Avenue, then turn left onto Forest Avenue. Drive 1.4 miles, then turn right onto Taylor Road (also known as Dump Road). Drive 0.25 miles and take a left onto Putnam Road, which leads to the parking area.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33
HEALTH & FITNESS
HIKE ME
MOUNT MEGUNTICOOK IN CAMDEN CHALLENGING
THE HIGHEST OF the Camden Hills, Mount Megunticook rises 1,385 feet above sea level at the heart of Camden Hills State Park. Though the mountain’s summit is forested, there are several open granite ledges located along its slopes that offer stunning views of the Penobscot Bay. Several hiking trails and multi-use trails explore Mount Megunticook, forming a vast network that can easily be navigated by using a park trail map. Hiking to the summit and back down on Mt. Megunticook Trail is about 4 miles and includes a few steep, rocky sections of trail. Hikers can opt for a longer loop hike by exploring the mountain on the Ridge Trail or Slope Trail. Mt. Megunticook Trail winds up the mountain’s eastern slope through a mixed forest that includes many tall oak trees. The first leg of the trail climbs the mountain gradually but steadily and includes a few steep sections where stone stairs have been constructed for hikers to use. The trail is marked with blue blazes painted on trees and rocks, as well as rock piles called cairns. After 0.8 mile, you’ll come to a trail intersection where Adam’s Lookout Trail veers off to the left and Mt. Megunticook Trail continues straight ahead. The two trails reconnect about 0.5 miles up the mountain, at Ocean Lookout, a series of granite outcroppings along the top of the mountain’s precipitous southwest slope. From Ocean Lookout, you can look southeast to Penobscot Bay and nearby islands, including Vinalhaven and North Haven.
34 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
Inland, you can see Mount Battie and the road leading up it, as well as Bald Mountain and Ragged Mountain. Continuing on Mt. Megunticook Trail, it’s another 0.8 mile to the summit, and this last leg of the hike is well worth the effort. This section of the trail travels through a shaded evergreen forest of spruce, balsam fir, mosses and lichens. Camden Hills State Park, open year round, is home to about 30 miles of hiking trails and a 112-site camping area. Day use in the park is restricted to 9 a.m. to sunset, unless otherwise signed at the gate. Dogs are permitted in park, but they must be attended to at all times and kept on a leash not exceeding four feet in length. Park admission ranges from $1.50-$4.50, depending on your age and residency. For more information, visit www.maine.gov/camdenhills or call 207-236-3109. HOW TO GET THERE: The entrance to Camden Hills State Park that you want to use for this hike is located at 280 Belfast Road (Route 1) in Camden, just north of the downtown area. Mt. Megunticook Trail begins on the west side of the park campground, which is just beyond the gatehouse. You can park in the main parking area and walk up the campground road to reach the trailhead, which is marked with a sign that reads “Mt. Megunticook Foot Trail.” If confused, refer to park trail maps, which are posted on kiosks near the parking area and are also available online.
For more of Aislinn Sarnacki’s adventures, visit her blog at actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter: @1minhikegirl. Her new guidebook, “Family-Friendly Hikes in Maine,” released in May 2017, is available at local bookstores, Down East Books and online booksellers.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35
HEALTH & FITNESS
CAREGIVERS
CAREGIVERF R I E N D LY
Caregiver-friendly workplaces make a difference in today’s marketplace. BY JANE MARGESSON, AARP MAINE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
36 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
CAREGIVING FOR A LOVED one may be one of the most important roles you’ll ever take on in your lifetime. Anyone who has been a caregiver understands that this role, while rewarding and deeply meaningful, can also be complex and time-consuming. For caregivers who also work part-time or full-time, it can be extremely difficult to manage the demands of one’s job and the needs at home. It’s not surprising that many caregivers report feeling overwhelmed in their struggle to find a balance between these two worlds. A 2016 report issued by the AARP Public Policy Institute, “The Dual Pressures of Family Caregiving and Employment,” found that the majority (60 percent) of family caregivers work at a paying job. Interestingly, while half (51 percent) of employed caregivers are older workers ages 50 and older, the rate of employment while caregiving is especially high for millennial caregivers ages 18-34. In this age group, nearly three in four (73 percent) report holding down a paying job while providing care for an ill or aging family member. With this data in mind, it is more important than ever for businesses and employees of all ages to work together to create a caregiver-friendly environment. Certain business policies that can make a significant difference could be easy to implement. For example, an employer might offer flexible work hours on days when a caregiver needs to take their loved one to a medical appointment. Some employers may be open to supporting a telework schedule which can be especially helpful if a caregiver has to pay for outside help to care for their loved one. Today, some companies even allow for a certain number of paid caregiver days, particularly for those employees caring for loved ones with high care needs due to dementia or serious illness. A recent collaboration between AARP and ReACT, a coalition dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by employee caregivers, resulted in a study that can help stimulate these and other best practices. You can find the complete study, “Determining the Return on Investment: Supportive Policies for Employee Caregivers,” as well as other resources, at www.respectcaregivers.org.
PHOTO: KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ/THINKSTOCK
WORKPLACES
ReACT’s Employer Resource Guide highlights one of the most important parts of the process in addressing the needs of employee caregivers: How an employer can help facilitate a conversation with their employee caregiver. Having an open and honest conversation can help both parties navigate daily challenges while still ensuring that job metrics are being met. Another important resource for Maine caregivers is the AARP Maine Caregiver Resource Guide. Chock full of contact information for local, county and statewide resources, this free resource can help Maine caregivers get the type of assistance they need. The guide can also serve as an opportunity for employers to learn more about available programs that could be of benefit to their employees. Send a note to me@aarp.org for a free copy. With 178,000 family caregivers in Maine alone, we know that by sharing resources in our own communities, and enhancing workplace flexibility, we can make a difference for each other and for family caregivers across the state.
HAVE
PLANS for this weekend?
Find ideas on our online
calendar of events
bangormetro.com
bangormetro.com
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 37
PATIENT-CENTERED CARE Taking a team approach to health care at BRHC.
38 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
continually strive to make it successful. Patients have a team of health care professionals who work with the primary care provider (PCP) to deliver or coordinate the most comprehensive and personalized care. “We want our relationship with you to be a partnership to ensure your needs are met,” said Carol Carew, CEO at BRHC. “This means that you can, and should, participate in health care decisions that
Depending on individual needs, a team may include a nurse practitioner, a nutritionist, a health educator, a registered nurse care coordinator, a behavioral health therapist and dental, podiatry, and orthopedic services. Each of these team members provide different services that, again, will be described to the patient in detail. “We firmly believe that all patients have the right to considerate, respectful patient-
“WE WANT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU TO BE A PARTNERSHIP TO ENSURE YOUR NEEDS ARE MET,” SAID CAROL CAREW, CEO AT BRHC. “THIS MEANS THAT YOU CAN, AND SHOULD, PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH CARE DECISIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. are important to you and your family. Your team at BRHC is committed to fully explaining the nature of your treatment, its benefits and risks, and risks of refusing treatment.” The health care teams consist of the PCP, an appointment scheduler to make sure patients get the appointments they need, and a medical assistant who will assist the PCP at each of the patient’s appointments.
centered care at all times and under all circumstances, with recognition of their personal dignity and values,” said Carew. “We make a pledge to adhere to that philosophy every day.” Having a health care team on your side has never been easier. To take your health care to the next level, simply call BRHC at 469-7371 and choose the “new patient” option to get started.
Paid Advertisement for Bucksport Regional Health Center.
PHOTO: ANDREYPOPOV/THINKSTOCK
BUCKSPORT REGIONAL Health Center has a long, successful history of providing comprehensive family medicine to this waterfront community and surrounding towns. Since 1974, BRHC has been a leader in offering numerous specialties under one roof for the convenience of their patients. The comfortable, inviting building at 110 Broadway, in Bucksport, houses family medical services, dental services, behavioral health services, lab services, and more, making it unnecessary to travel to multiple locations for health care. This facilitates a strong family-like feeling among providers, staff and patients. BRHC has the distinction of being a Patient Centered Medical Home model of care. This designation was made by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Patient-Centered Medical Homes put patients at the forefront of their care and make them a critical part of the care team, with an active voice. Patients are no longer left feeling adrift, or left without a clear understanding of their treatment. This is an important recognition for BRHC and they
PAID ADVERTISEMENT FOR BUCKSPORT REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER
HOW TO
MAKE FAIRY HOUSES
Making
FAIRY HOUSES
Invite magic and whimsy into your yard with a fun-to-make fairy house. WE KNOW KEEPING KIDS BUSY and entertained during summer vacation is not always easy. So here’s one idea—and we’ve already tested it out for you. Not only were fairy houses a hit with boys and girls of all ages, we also got to reuse some old chipped flower pots and create something adorable for the garden. Start with a hike outside to gather materials and inspiration: pinecones, tiny plants and flowers (small hens and chicks and other succulents worked well for us), small sticks, moss, stones, and pieces of bark are all great building materials. Then we spread out the usual array of craft materials (most of which we had on hand, but we did find some fun rocks, shells and glass stones at the dollar store). Popsicle sticks, marbles, clay, string, and plenty of hot glue were our primary construction materials. For the containers, we worked mostly with clay pots, but anything from a tea cup to a wheelbarrow would make a great home for your fairy garden. Then plug in the hot glue guns and let the kids and their imaginations go wild. Here are a few inspirational ideas from our experience to get you started. 40 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
Create a gazing ball from a shell and marble.
Shells, glass stones and river
rocks are excellent decorations.
Working gently with a
hammer,
knock out
Make a snail with a marble, clay and wire.
a door
from your clay pot.
Sticks and string make a perfectly tiny ladder.
Cut a branch into thin slices for steps or pathway material.
Peel apart a pinecone to
create tiny roof shingles.
A hollow tree is the perfect spot for a fairy house.
HOW TO
MAKE HOMEMADE BUTTER
MAKE YOUR OWN
butter Small batch, homemade butter is a tasty alternative to store bought. BY LAUREN ABBATE
BUTTER IS A STAPLE on any kitchen table throughout the year, but the condiment is the perfect addition to many Maine summer traditions. Spread on warm blueberry muffins or summer corn, melt and drizzle over lobster, or melt and pour in a dish for the quintessential steamer clam experience — is summer eating even worth it without butter? While many people reach into shiny grocery store cooler doors to grab a box or two of the good stuff, butter is a dairy product that can be made at home. At Rollins Orchards in Garland, Ernest Rollins and his wife, Andrea, make their house-churned
butter every two weeks or so, selling the final product at several farmers’ markets in the Bangor area. While Rollins makes 20 pound batches at a time, the recipe for homemade butter can be made in small batches by any home cook who has the curiosity and patience to try churning butter themselves. Cream removed from milk is the fundamental ingredient. Cream from raw milk can be used to make butter, or regular pasteurized cream can be used. When selecting a cream to make butter from, the heavier the cream, the better, Ernest Rollins said, because heavier cream has a higher butterfat content.
Start with cream at about
PHOTOS: TYCOON751, FOTONEN, SEDNEVAANNA, KOSTSOV/THINKSTOCK
50 degrees in temperature.
42 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
Note: The butter milk byproduct isn’t the same buttermilk you’d make buttermilk pancakes with. However, it can be used in place of milk in recipes.
HOMEMADE BUTTER YIELDS ABOUT 1 POUND INGREDIENTS: • Half-gallon heavy cream • Salt Start with a trusty stand mixer that has a lid or a cover so the cream does not splash outside of the bowl whilst churning. Pour a half gallon container of cream into the mixing bowl. The cream should be about 50 degrees in temperature. At high speed, whip the cream for about five to six minutes. Whipped cream will be the first product made, and as the churning continues the butterfat will completely break away from the butter milk, forming clumps of yellow butter in the bottom of the mixing bowl. At this stage, the butter milk must be strained from the butter using a colander or mesh strainer. Once the butter milk has been removed, rinse the butter to remove any remaining milk coating the exterior of the butter. This rinse will prevent the butter from spoiling. After the butter has been rinsed, add about a half a teaspoon of salt to the ball of butter, working it into the butter with clean hands or a fork. While the process of making butter at home involves a few more steps than just going to the grocery store, the homemade product is a luscious reward and something you’re sure to be using throughout the summer.
Work a half a teaspoon of salt into your final product for salted butter.
A stand
mixer will
make the job
much easier.
HOME & FAMILY
David’s Folly Farm: Happy pigs, magical worms. BY TODD R. NELSON
Emma Simanton Altman and John Altman.
44 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
FOLLIES
IN 1812, CAPTAIN DAVID WASSON came home from sea to start a farm in Brooksville and bought 100 acres of low, poorly drained fields that bordered salt water. It was “folly,” to the locals, whose expansive pastures occupied the preferable high, dry ground. First came the large white farmhouse that still presides over the Coastal Road, then a three-story red barn, then 10 children — a notable clan who became ministers, transcendentalists, abolitionists, and artists whose descendants still inhabit today’s Brooksville, though not the ancestral farm. David’s Folly has been farmed continuously since 1819. Many people trace their discovery of Brooksville to a stay at The Folly, which Minerva Cutler ran as a bed and breakfast from 1920 until the 1980s. Decades ago, eminent back-to-the landers Scott and Helen Nearing planned their farming renaissance during a stay at this seminal farm. Minerva also did a thriving trade in “magic earthworms,” good old regular earthworms with a spirited legend attached. To its present-day farmers, John Altman, 52, and Emma Simanton Altman, 41, The Folly is a precious heirloom, akin to other small farms on the Blue Hill peninsula. They embrace a heritage of stewardship to produce organically-raised pork and lamb, goat cheese and more. Wasson’s farmhouse endures as residence for the Altmans and their kids: Nick, 14, Izabelle, 7, and Rye, 5 (plus William, 27, Caroline, 25, and Lily, 22, from a prior brood). Emma comes from a pig- and sheep-farm family in Malta, Montana. John hails from Maryland, but channels the influence of many years in northern New England and 30 years in Maine, formerly as a high-end home builder. After a two-year stint managing a 1,500-acre dairy farm on the Eastern Shore in Maryland, they swapped industrial farming, eschewing emphasis on crop yields and debt service, for Brooksville’s Katy Hill Farm. Its 100-acres of blueberry fields, 30 sheep and goats; cheese- and yogurt-making, and even a farm camp complete with Montana tipi was a vast improvement. “We started with this romantic idea of having a goat dairy,” says Altman. Then David’s Folly, just down the road, became available. “This land matched our intentions.” They bought the farm in May 2013. Achieving those intentions hasn’t been easy. The fields needed reconditioning; the massive barn was unsuitable for winter lambing; the old farmhouse hemorrhaged heat. The family slept in down jackets and hats. As improved and innovative systems took hold, the “shift and shuffle” of a farmer’s knack for improvisation has tapered. The new outdoor wood furnace meant zero oil bill this winter. “And no more fighting over the length of showers,” says Altman.
PHOTOS:(PIGS) JOHN ALTMAN; (COUPLE) TODD R. NELSON
Farm
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 45
PHOTOS:(LAMB & SIGN) JOHN ALTMAN; (EMMA & GOATS) TODD R. NELSON
PHOTOS:COURTESY OF DAVID’S FOLLY FARM
HOME & FAMILY
46 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
It took 16 months to produce this year’s 100 Heritage Mangalitsa/Large Black cross pigs, and 50 Tunis/Dorset cross lambs. David’s Folly exquisite bacon and pork chops are made from animals born on the farm, grazed in idyllic pastures, sent away for processing, and return for distribution to a clientele craving local, that they know personally. “The life of our pigs can’t get any better,” says Emma. “Hogs are raised in the woods and foraging the good earth. We finish pork in the fall because the bounty is so plentiful for them: acorns, apples, squash, pumpkins.” The breed is renowned for its red, flavorful meat and creamy, premium quality lard. They love forage and unconventional feeds and are GMO-free; USDA-inspected. Organic certification is pending. Farm romance persists in special events. “The barn itself is a magical, cathedral space,” says John. Friends asked to be married there in 2013. Now, the Folly hosts a dozen weddings, concerts, and educational food workshops annually, a growing value-added product. Say “I do!” down on Wasson Cove seated on hay bales or under the apple blossoms. Go on hayrides. Hold your reception with vintage china, jam jars for water and goblets for wine, and a band in the holy barn beneath the “swallow thronged loft.” It was no problem to welcome 650 people for a barn dance with The Soulbenders. On July 21, Brooksville will celebrate its bicentennial at the farm that is older than the town, including epic fireworks in the field. The future augurs more pigs, and perhaps shepherd huts or vacation cottages for farm stay vacationers. And every so often, someone drops by seeking the magical, heirloom worms they “remember as a little girl.” It’s tough being guardians of past and future. Perhaps that’s part of sustainability. LEARN MORE: David’s Folly Farm, 1390 Coastal Rd., Brooksville. David’s Folly produce is available at the following restaurants and retailers: Aragosta in Stonington, The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Tinder Hearth in Brooksville, Tradewinds Market in Blue Hill, The Night Market on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. in Deer Isle village, and direct at the farm, dawn to dusk…including eggs. Coming soon: Quail eggs and turkeys.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47
HOME & FAMILY
Family of
HGTV series spotlights Maine cabin renovators. STORY BY JODI HERSEY
48 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
CHASE MORRILL does not like to waste anything, not one little thing. The Augusta native has been salvaging old bed frames, vacuums, canoes and just about anything else he removes during reconstruction of the numerous Maine cabins he, his family and his construction crew are frequently asked to renovate throughout the year. Morrill has been in the construction field for more than 15 years. His ability to update and modernize any cabin no matter how dilapidated it is, while still maintaining its rustic Maine charm, caught the eye of the DIY network last year. It wasn’t long before Dorsey Productions was following Morrill, his sister Ashley, his brother-in-law Ryan, and their friends Lance, Dixie, and Jetti, deep into the Maine woods to film the reality show, “Maine Cabin Masters.” The show is currently in its second season of production. “It’s kind of exciting for us,” said Morrill. “They show up for the beginning, middle, and end of each camp renovation and they have endless footage so it’s interesting to see what they use, how they put it together and [yet] don’t make us look too foolish, which was definitely a concern of ours.” Morrill and his team have renovated camps in Belgrade, Wayne, Bar Harbor, Dedham and all over the state. No two camps are alike, and neither are the renovations or the budgets. However one thing that always remains the same is that Morrill is adamant his crew recycles as much as they can. “I’m probably the one most likely to save as much as we possibly can and reuse what we have. That’s been ingrained into Ashley and me from our family,” explained Morrill. “These are Maine people that need these camps redone to better suit their needs. If we can save money and reuse some of the stuff and not send things to a landfill, we do it. They (the crew) are always giving me crap about it but they’ll come around.” Working with family can be a both a blessing and a curse.
PHOTOS: LISA STANLEY & ROB WHITAKER
FIXER UPPERS
The Maine Cabin Masters crew takes a break after a long day of renovating.
Ryan Eldridge at work. (Below) The crew works together to move wood for a log cabin project.
“Chase and I fight sometimes, a lot of times. But we always end up forgetting about it an hour or two later,” Ashley Morrill-Eldridge said during the taping of the show. “There’s a definite creative difference between us. I’m more the construction designer and she’s more the interior and finish designer,” said Morrill. “Just because we’re brother and sister, we fight, but we always seem to get the job done.” During season one of “Maine Cabin Masters,” the crew just happened to have a connection, in one way or another, with every camp owner they worked with. They were either friends, friends of friends, or a relative. But Morrill admits the cabin his crew fixed up for former state legislator Rob Eaton in Hancock County was their most memorable work to date. “The home owners, Rob and Candy Eaton, were wonderful people and extremely grateful. We truly went in and saved their camp in Sullivan,” explained www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49
HOME & FAMILY
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Morrill. “TV didn’t do justice how rotten those logs were at the camp. We went in, fixed it up, made it usable again and got rid of a lot of their worries. And we got to take copper from the state house and incorporate that. It was amazing how it all came together.” This season Morrill and his team will tackle 13 cabins in the Damariscotta, Wiscasset, and Farmington areas. They’ve also received numerous requests to lend their talents and skills to neglected camps outside of Maine. “People have old family camps that just always, always need work. We got over 100 submissions this year from people from California, Michigan, and Colorado that say, ‘We’ve got a camp out here we’d love for you to fix up,’” explained Morrill. However, staying close to home, true to their roots and their rustic ways has kept Morrill and his crew well grounded and gainfully employed as their popularity has soared throughout the show. “We’re all happy and proud of what the film crew did and what we did [last season]. I think it showed Maine in a good light,” said Morrill. “It showed a lot of areas that might not be as well known to people out of the state and it’s great people around here can relate to it.”
Ashley Morrill-Eldridge takes on more of the interior and finish design projects.
Maine Cabin Masters can be seen on the DIY channel. For showtimes and listings, log onto www.diynetwork.com.
HANCOCK COUNTY
REALTORS
REALTORS
Your listing could be on this page. Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section. Call 941-1300. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51
FEATURE
IN CONVERSATION
The
NEXT CHAPTER Bangor’s longtime library director looks back at an eventful career.
AS SHE NEARED the end of her undergraduate studies at Juniata College in Pennsylvania 45 years ago, Barbara McDade had a pretty good idea what she was going to do with her life. She was going to attend law school. She’d be an attorney. Period. It didn’t turn out that way. “I’ll tell you that sad story,” McDade, a Pennsylvania native who for the past 26 years has served as the library director at Bangor Public Library, says with a chuckle. “Well, actually it’s not a sad story. It turned out very well.” McDade tells the tale while seated in a second-floor space at the library. This, her eyes say, is how it turned out. And this is pretty good. But for two fortuitous events, it all could have turned out differently, and McDade may never have ended up in Maine at all. “In my senior year, last semester — I took a law class and a) I was the only woman in the class at that time, and b) my advisor told me he would not give women recommendations to law school because they would be taking bread away from some family because the man is the breadwinner,” McDade explained. That was 1972. “But the worst part was, I took the law class and saw that there is no justice in the law. I was just so disillusioned.” Then, the second key event took place: She tried to apply for a fellowship to graduate school in the education field, but was thwarted again.
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PHOTO: GABOR DEGRE
BY JOHN HOLYOKE
Longtime Bangor Public Library Director Barbara McDade. McDade is set to retire next year.
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FEATURE
IN CONVERSATION
“I went and applied, and they said, ‘The guy who was just here was a veteran, so we have to give the fellowship to him,’” McDade recounted. “[Then they said], ‘But library science has a fellowship.’ So I crossed campus and applied for the fellowship in library science and became a librarian.” Now, more than four decades later, after stops in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey, McDade is nearing the end of what will be a 27-year career as the Bangor Public Library’s director: The 66-year-old has told the library’s board that she plans to retire in March 2018. She still smiles when she considers what might have been, and the decision to pursue a degree in library science. “[It] was the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said. In the ensuing years, she worked as a library director of a library in Augusta County, Virginia, that didn’t exist until she showed up. Her first job: Make the library a reality. And after overseeing the establishment
of that library, she made what would become another memorable career move. “I thought I needed something a little more exciting, so I got a job in Morristown, New Jersey, where I got sued for a billion dollars by a homeless man,” McDade said. “[He sued us] for asking him to leave the library because of [his] smell.” Although that man eventually settled the case for far less than a billion dollars, according to published accounts, McDade chooses to focus on the positives in that situation. “The good thing that came out of that is that it was ruled that everyone had the 54 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
McDade walks around scaffolding admiring the work on the new copper roof on the Bangor Public Library in 2014.
AND MCDADE TAKES THOSE RENOVATIONS WITH HER EVERY DAY, WEARING BOTH A PIN AND A NECKLACE CRAFTED FROM THE COPPER DOME OF THE OLD LIBRARY ROOF.
Bangor Public Library’s new two-story atrium, which opened in 2016.
constitutional right to use the library. That had never been decided in court before,” McDade said. “The other good thing was that [it was decided] that libraries can make restrictions so that everyone can have a good experience when they’re in the library.” And at about that time, she decided she might have had enough of big city life. “Being right outside New York City wasn’t really where I belonged,” she said. “Then I read this ad. It was about a [city with] a river and they had this symphony and it just sounded wonderful.” That city, Bangor, also needed a library director. “I’d always wanted to go to Maine, and I thought, ‘Maybe they’ll just fly me up.’ They did. They asked me to fly up here and
gave me an interview and I just fell in love with Bangor,” she said. “And here I am.” And here she is. During her time in Bangor, McDade has overseen several major renovations at the Bangor Public Library, including one in 1996 that required all 500,000 books to be moved to a former Marden’s store location on Outer Hammond Street, where a temporary library served patrons for two years during construction downtown. That project cost $8.5 million. In 2013, Bangor voters approved a $3 million bond issue to replace the library’s aging roof. That effort was part of a $9 million renovation and modernization project that also included the building of a two-story atrium, which opened in 2016.
And McDade takes those renovations with her every day, wearing both a pin and a necklace crafted from the copper dome of the old library roof. McDade is a serious woman with a quick smile, and she’s proud of what her staff has done since she’s been here. It’s always about the staff, you quickly learn. She’ll start a sentence telling you what a library director does, and the “I” quickly becomes a “we,” as she recognizes those staff members who make sure that the library becomes all that it can be. “I always say that my job is first to get the people who are going to do a good job, and then get them support so that they can do a good job,” McDade says. “That’s what I do. I try to get money, and I try to get a vision that we can all follow.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55
FEATURE
IN CONVERSATION Luckily, she says, Bangor has been an ideal city to pursue a career in her field. “The people are great. Bangor truly is a city of readers,” she said. “The community is involved and they’re appreciative of the books. And the library community in Maine is wonderfully cooperative. None of us are real rich, so we all have to work together to make sure that our patrons are getting what they need.” The library business has changed dramatically since she arrived in Bangor back in 1991. One difference: The Bangor Public Library of that era had just one computer. Now, things have advanced so far that McDade sometimes finds tasks she can no longer perform.
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“I can’t even check out a book any more, because we’ve changed systems,” she said with a laugh. Come March, when McDade steps away from the library she has run for nearly three decades, she’ll move onto other pursuits. “I think something will open up,” she said. “I’m ready for the next challenge, the next step, but I don’t know what it is.” But she doesn’t expect to move far from her adopted home. “I married a Mainer. I can’t leave the state, right?” she asked. “And I’m still happily in love with him and I hope he, with me. So that’s one reason [I’ve stayed in Maine this long]. But the time, actually, moved so fast that I can’t believe I’ve been here this long.” McDade has two stepchildren, and counts their three children as her grandchildren. When she does move along, she knows that the people she has met over the years will still matter most. “It’s all personal stories is what’s important,” McDade said. “I know of people that I handed a book to and it changed their lives. That’s what it’s all about.”
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
Bangor Public Library director Barbara McDade stands amid a new reading section on the second floor of the library
“THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT. BANGOR TRULY IS A CITY OF READERS,” SHE SAID. “THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AND THEY’RE APPRECIATIVE OF THE BOOKS.”
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FEATURE
(Top left) Connor Archer with Lynn Faerber, director of the Green House Nursery School in Milford, during the Courageous Steps fundraising event he organized in Old Town. (Left) Connor poses with friends in front of the Darling’s Ice Cream for a Cause truck as part of a Courageous Steps walk/run event.
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STRIVING for SPECTRUM A young man from Old Town is helping others with autism aspire. BY JOY HOLLOWELL
(Left) Connor poses with some of the thank you signage for the Courageous Steps Project. (Below) Connor walks the track with Old Town High School teacher Steve Dexter, his mentor, who was his cross country coach in middle school.
WHEN CONNOR ARCHER was in the 7th grade, he found a binder full of papers detailing observations of him at school. The same word kept coming up over and over again — Autism. “I brought the binder to my mom and asked her to explain,” says Archer. Jessica Archer was prepared. “We had talked about autism before, but Connor had never made the connection that he had autism,” she explains. “We would always use phrases like ‘different learner,’ and focused on his many strengths versus dwelling on the challenges.” That day, Jessica went into her closet and pulled out seven notebooks filled with information about her middle son. The daily journals dated back to when Connor was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. “They told the story of how he learned to talk, write, move like other kids and other things,” Jessica Archer explains. “Connor spent hours that day reading them.” Afterward, he came downstairs. Jessica was cooking at the time. Her 13year old took both of her hands, looked at his mom and said thank you. “You see, in those journals was my journey with him,” she says, “and how I became Connor’s life teacher.” When Connor was first diagnosed 16 years ago, the Archer family didn’t know much about autism other than the movie Rain Man, “which of course, is not accurate,” says Jessica Archer. She says there was no grief or anger, just relief that they finally had an answer to Connor’s mood swings and developmental delays. “[My husband Mike and I] looked at the team of doctors and said, ‘OK, now let’s do something about it,’” says Archer.
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FEATURE
Connor Archer stands near one of the gardens he created at the Green House Nursery School in Milford.
Soon after, Connor was enrolled in The Green House Nursery School in Milford. It was an inclusive school that provided Connor with the extra support he needed while keeping him in the classroom with the other preschool students. When Connor started school at Old Town, his mother would spend weeknights and weekends tutoring her son to keep him caught up. “I learned early on that I needed to teach him as much at home as he was being taught in school,” says Jessica Archer. “I would attend therapy sessions so that I could follow up at home.” Archer, a teacher, went back to school to earn a Masters in Special Education followed by a CAS in Special Education and Literacy. In addition to the extra school work, Connor participated in occupational, physical, speech and developmental therapy sessions. For seven years, Connor also received support from a behavior specialist who helped him learn things like asking someone for help, making a store purchase, as well as how to be safe. After Connor finished school most days, he would work with the behavior specialist for another 3-4 hours in the community. 60 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
“Connor’s work ethic is unbelievable,” boasts his mom. “Even though the therapists and teachers also worked to make it fun, it was always work. Everything needed to be taught and practiced over
daily basis,” Connor Archer says. “Instead of trying to overcome obstacles all the time, I went in with the mindset that I may have to learn how to deal with those obstacles. There are some obstacles in life that you may never
“THERE ARE SOME OBSTACLES IN LIFE THAT YOU MAY NEVER OVERCOME, BUT IF YOU LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM, THEN YOU CAN BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL.” and over. Connor worked and worked and worked and he improved and improved and improved and improved.” In 8th grade, Connor was voted president of the student council. As a freshman in high school, he took two honors classes, joined three bands, ran on the cross country and track teams and was elected as a representative to the high school student council. “Autism presents many challenges on a
overcome, but if you learn how to deal with them, then you can be just as successful.” Connor also began telling his life story. “I was in the audience in health class when Connor first shared his story with his class,” says Old Town High School principal Scott Gordon. “It was a pretty moving story.” The positive feedback from those talks inspired Archer to do more to advocate for others with autism.
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CONNOR ARCHER & BDN FILE
In May of 2014, the then high school sophomore created The Courageous Steps Project as a way to give back to the educators and community who helped him along the way. The group sponsored a one mile walk and run that raised money for special education programs at Old Town schools as well as his former nursery school in Milford. That summer, Connor started a back to school drive for the Old Town area school district which led to more back to school drives in the fall as well as other benefits. TODAY, THE COURAGEOUS Steps Project has its own board of directors with Connor Archer serving as CEO, as well as a fund raising committee. The soon to be non-profit has donated nearly $30,000 to programs that help children and young adults with special needs. They’ve also provided school supplies to 18 area schools as well as funding a technology expansion project at the Green House Nursery School. Since 2015, The Courageous Steps Project has provided $2,500 in scholarships to graduating seniors from Old Town High School. And the group also sponsored a unified basketball tournament. Additionally, Archer started the One Word Challenge, a community building activity. It asks folks to describe themselves in one word. Participants are then filmed saying that word, and the segments are added to an 8-minute video montage. The goal is to show that everyone has a word that makes them individuals and together those words make up a community. At least five schools as well as a summer camp/afterschool program have participated in the One Word Challenge. In 2015, Archer was named one of WLBZ2 and WCSH6’s Teens Who Care. Last year, he and his family traveled to Washington, D.C. where Archer accepted the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community award. It’s only given to one high school and one middle school student from each state, out of nearly 30,000 applicants. While there, Connor was additionally presented with a national gold medal, which is awarded to just 10 of the 102 honorees. “At that moment, I cried the happiest of tears,” says Connor’s mom, Jessica. “Eighteen years of working so hard through tears of frustration, failing and starting over and over again, questioning if we’d ever figure it out. There I sat and listened as Connor spoke to the audience with such eloquence and I recalled that little boy looking at me
Connor presents a check to the RSU 26 Special Education Department after the 2nd annual Courageous Steps Walk-Run event in 2015.
(Above) Connor presents a check for $1,000 to Old Town Elementary School principal Jeanna Tuell and assistant principal Matthew Cyr as a donation from proceeds of the inaugural Courageous Steps Project fundraiser in 2014. (Below) Connor warms up before the one mile run during a track and field meet in Hampden.
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FEATURE
(Above) Connor Archer plays the trumpet with the Old Town High School band. (Right) Connor competes in the 1,600-meter run during a track and field meet in 2014. (Below) Connor takes part in a photo shoot before a ceremony in Washington where he received a Prudential Spirit of Community Award.
“HE HAS WORKED HIS WHOLE LIFE TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF AUTISM. HIS AUTISM WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF WHO HE IS AND IT IS WHAT DRIVES HIM TO HELP OTHERS WHO ALSO HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES.”
—Jessica Archer
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF CONNOR ARCHER & BDN FILE
with those big, blue eyes in that hospital room so many years ago, and the promise I made to him that I would figure it out and stick by his side the whole way. “ In the fall, Connor Archer will begin his sophomore year at the New England School of Communications at Husson University in Bangor. He’s majoring in Business, Communications, and Technology. He lives at home and still gets some tutoring help from his mom. He plans to go on to obtain a master’s degree focusing on Business Administration. “Connor started out as a pretty quiet, unassuming young man and he has grown into someone who has served on our RSU 34 School Board, and received an Honors Diploma at Old Town High School,” says Gordon. “He is still quiet and thoughtful, but also articulate and refreshingly genuine. He has grown-up in so many ways, yet is still a kid at heart.” It may be easy for some to assume Connor has been cured of autism. “Connor will be the first one to tell you — I am an individual living with autism,” says his mom. “He has worked his whole life to learn how to live with the challenges of autism. His autism will always be a part of who he is and it is what drives him to help others who also have developmental challenges.” And while Connor humbly accepts his status as a role model, he is quick to give credit to those around him. “I was fortunate enough to have a strong support system,” Archer says. “My support base ranged from my family, friends, educators and many more that have helped me overcome many obstacles.” He’s also quick to point out that his work is far from finished. “I feel that I’ve done a good job advocating for individuals with autism. However, I don’t feel that I’ve broken the stereotypes that autism presents,” Archer says. “More and more young children and school-aged children are being diagnosed. The State of Maine, unfortunately, continues to find it challenging to meet the high demand for early intervention as the number of children diagnosed continues to rise.” For more information on The Courageous Steps Project, you can log onto thecourageousstepsproject. org or on Facebook at facebook.com/ courageousstepsproject.
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FEATURE
T R E N D S Mainers are coloring their world to relax, destress and just hang out.
BACK WHEN THEY WERE slow dancing in the school gym to Color My World, it’s doubtful today’s grown up baby boomers gave any thought to how actual coloring could help them cope in the adult world. But coloring they are, amid an explosion over the past several years of high end coloring books, crayons, pencils and gel pens. They are coloring in organized groups, in library sponsored gatherings, alone or with friends. And they are doing so in massive numbers. No one is keeping a count of the number of Americans coloring, but according to an article in the Washington Post, more than 15 million coloring books were sold in this country in 2015. Up from 1 million the previous year. “It’s a way to relax, to get your mind out of whatever the doldrums of the day are,” said Terry Dorr, a self-published coloring book author and organizer of a coloring club in Millinocket. “What it really boils down to, is just taking a break.” Her club is currently on a hiatus as she arranges a new meeting space, but Dorr said she had around 15 “regulars” who showed up every week. “We just sort of threw it together,” she said. “I was really surprised [because] 15 random people getting together once a week does not happen that often.” But come together they did to spend an hour or two filling in the black and white line drawings produced by Dorr. “I would draw a page for the coloring club, something original,” she said. “I’d have copies of it for people and they had the use of my coloring supplies [and] after awhile it grew to be more than just coloring, it was an evening out that did not cost much.”
PHOTO: ANDREAOBZEROVA/THINKSTOCK
BY JULIA BAYLY
COLORING IS PART SOCIAL, PART THERAPY It can become very much a type of group therapy, according to Dr. Cary Clark, assistant professor of nursing at the University of Maine at Augusta. “There have been some great studies that shows coloring changes brainwaves [and] demonstrates that people go into a meditative response that decreases stress while coloring,” Clark said. “It’s not just for kindergarten anymore.” Coloring, Clark said, covers three key components of stress reduction: repetition, pattern and detail. “Those three things help prompt the most positive responses that come from coloring,” she said. “Another way to look at it is that it helps bring people into the moment [and] they can let go of any negative thoughts or unpleasant images or anxiety by focusing on the moment of that coloring process.” It’s something Clare Davitt, reference librarian at the Bangor Public Library, sees almost every Monday night at the weekly coloring sessions sponsored by the library.
FEATURE
“We provide the pencils, markers and crayons,” she said. “And it is always interesting to see what things people are motivated to color.” The sessions run every Monday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Bangor library’s second floor 1912 room, though Davitt said the nice weather may slow attendance and modify that schedule for the summer. “Coloring is a way to sort of defuse your mind and take time away from cell phones and screens,” said Portland-based coloring book artist Becky Chase. “It’s kind of art therapy [and] that’s the draw [because] it’s a way to do art work and feel like you have created a piece of art without thinking you have artistic talent.” People are always on the lookout for a way to destress and lower anxiety, Clark said. Coloring fits that bill.
PHOTO: ANDREAOBZEROVA/THINKSTOCK
“When I talk to the patrons who come, they tell me it’s a way to turn their brains off and ‘zen out,’” Davitt said. “It’s a way for them to be creative without having to have a particular talent—they just pick their colors and then not have to think too much.” Davitt began the coloring group in January, riding the wave of adult coloring popularity across the county. And, like Dorr, she’s seen it evolve into something more. “It’s become a nice community gathering kind of thing,” Davitt said. “People come with friends, I once had two different couples here on dates [and] people will chit chat with each other while others are studiously coloring away.” One woman has started coming with her son who ranks high on the autism spectrum. “He is super quiet and it just seems like such a great way for both of them to get out of the house together,” Davitt said. Some people bring their own coloring books and others take advantage of the public domain individual line prints Davitt downloads from the Internet.
FEATURE
BY
N U M BER
15–20 MINUTES OF COLORING PER DAY CAN HELP REDUCE STRESS
3 KEYS TO STRESS
REDUCTION: REPETITION PATTERN DETAIL
MORE THAN
15 MILLION COLORING BOOKS WERE SOLD IN THIS COUNTRY IN 2015
COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES? YOU GET A BETTER NEURON RESPONSE IF YOU FOCUS AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE PATTERN AND DETAIL
JOIN IN! COLORING GROUP
MONDAYS 6 TO 8 P.M.
BA N G O R P U B LIC LIBR ARY
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“A lot of people struggle to get to a yoga or meditation class,” she said. “For some reason, people are attracted to coloring as a more natural and easy process and the meditative state it creates allows them to reap the benefits of it.” Even just spending 15 or 20 minutes a day engaged in coloring can help reduce stress, Clark said. It’s all about being in the moment and mindful of the project. “When you look at these adult coloring books, there is so much pattern,” Clark said. “By taking it piece by piece or just choosing one color, you are being mindful of the pattern and being that focused can really help you destress.” Clark said a study of cancer patients who were taking part in a coloring group showed they felt and responded to treatment far better. “Through engaging in ‘mindfulness art’ the cancer patients showed decreased symptoms of physical and emotional distress of treatments,” she said. “They felt comfortable and wanted to stay with the coloring group.” Those sorts of group activities— yoga, meditation or coloring—Clark said promote a type of group consciousness in which participants mirror each other’s relaxation responses. Maine coloring book author Blue Butterfield said she views it as a sort of artsy equivalent to a knitters’ circle. “Coloring is one of those things you
can do that takes your mind into a different place,” she said. “I certainly think of art as something that brings you into your subconscious and those times you lose yourself are empowering times [and] I know the more times I have to be creative, I am a happier person.” Davitt said those taking part in the Bangor library’s weekly sessions certainly appear to be relaxed and happy. “No one ever leaves what they color behind,” she said. “But I really think it’s more about the process than the finished product.”
In 2015 Chase created a 25-page coloring book “Downeast Daydream: A Maine Coloring Vacation,” with line drawings of the state’s wilderness, landmarks, animals, plants and related patterns. “Generations of people grew up in Maine [and] I’m a Maine artist, so I decided to create a Maine coloring vacation,” Chase said. Fellow Portland artist Butterfield also turned her established artwork into a coloring book when she published “Coloring Maine.” The woodcut artist and practicing physician’s assistant, said the transition
MAINE-GROWN COLORING BOOKS For those looking for coloring options, there are thousands of choices available online or at the corner bookstore, and some are Maine-grown. Chase, the Portland artist, started line drawing in 2011 and a few years ago she said she really noticed adult coloring books taking off. “I knew I could apply my art to a coloring book,” she said. “I needed some sort of theme and because I grew up here in Maine and people love the idea of Maine, I decided that is what I was going to do.”
from woodcut to coloring book was a natural, if not obvious one. “I certainly did not think in terms of creating a coloring book until a manager at a bookstore showed me some,” Butterfield said. “He told me he could not think of anything that would sell better than a Blue Butterfield coloring book.” That was in 2015 and when Butterfield approached Islandport Press with a collection of her woodblocks she wanted to turn into a coloring book, she said she got a very enthusiastic reception. “Within in two months it was put together and it went on to be their second
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FEATURE
COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES As for staying in the lines? That is up to the individual. “It’s absolutely okay to color outside the lines and there is certainly no judgement here,” Davitt said. “It’s just fun to see what colors they use or if they go for something like the glitter pens or how excited people get when we have new color pencils.” Dorr agrees. “It’s pretty amazing to see 10 of us sitting around a table and I might have an idea of what would look good but then someone else is coloring with neon green or funky orange,” she said. “Every single picture is different because of that.” It also allows people to express their individual tastes and preferred coloring media, she said. “Some will only use the gel pens and get angry if they ran out and had not finished their coloring,” Dorr said with a laugh. “Some go for pure artistic type quality while others just want to get it done in an hour.” The authors say they enjoy watching their creations come to life. “I like it when people choose unorthodox color combinations like making the ocean orange or trees blue,” Chase said. “It shows their imagination [and] they complete my drawing for me and I like the idea people will take my artwork and apply their own imaginations to it.” Clark is a bit more reserved on the whole coloring outside the lines thing. “It’s not a bad thing,” she said. “But you get a better neuron response if you focus and pay attention to the pattern and detail. Color outside the lines, but at the same time it’s important to focus on being in the moment, plus you have a really pretty product at the end.” Downeast Daydream: A Maine Coloring Vacation is available through Twin Fawn Media at www.twinfawnmedia.com Coloring Maine is available online at bluebutterfield.com Coloring prints by Terry Dorr Designs are available on Amazon.com 70 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
PHOTO: ANDREAOBZEROVA/THINKSTOCK
best seller last year,” she said. “People really seemed to like the designs that can be a bit more challenging because of the tools I use to create the woodcuts don’t always leave distinct lines—they leave more of a ‘notion’ that the colorers have to figure out.”
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THEN & NOW
NORTHEAST HARBOR
Main Street in Northeast Harbor in 1938, and below, how it looks today.
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ON THE
QUIET
Summer is the perfect time for a visit to Northeast Harbor, on the quiet side of Mount Desert Island.
SIDE BY RICHARD SHAW PHOTOS BY RICHARD SHAW, BRIAN SWARTZ, AND PAGE EASTMAN. HISTORIC PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORTHEAST HARBOR LIBRARY AND UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOGLER LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
NORTHEAST HARBOR MIGHT be called the place where the mountains meet the sea, but that title is reserved for Camden, arguably the midcoast region’s most photographed town, which boasts a storybook harbor and a well-maintained downtown. Or, how about Maine’s prettiest village? Actually, the Lincoln County shire town of Wiscasset claimed that moniker ages ago, owing to its iconic homes, museums, churches, and wooden ships. “I don’t know of any nicknames for our town other than [the archaic] Philadelphia On the Rocks,” said Eleanor Andrews, director of the Northeast Harbor Library. “It is normally referred to simply as The Village.”
A sheltered harbor dotted with sailboats, ringed by mountains, public gardens, historic hotels and cottages — not to mention its very own reported fjord — is decidedly pretty. Often referred to as the gateway to Mount Desert Island’s quiet side (translation: You’re not in Bar Harbor anymore), Northeast Harbor is suspended in time, an assemblage of the seasonal rich and resident middle class, too busy in summer and not busy enough in winter. Samuel Eliot Morison wrote of the island’s history, dating to Samuel de Champlain’s 1604 visit, and former librarian Robert R. Pyle has written of the village’s settling in 1775, and its quiet growth in the 1870s and ‘80s, fostered by www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 73
THEN & NOW
NORTHEAST HARBOR
The Asticou Azalea Gardens offer inviting color throughout the summer.
clergymen, scientists, and college presidents. State Historian Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. cowrote an Arcadia Publishing Co. pictorial of MDI, including a chapter of vintage Northeast Harbor photographs. “Aside from the location’s natural beauty,” Shettleworth said, “its attraction initially was for families who sought a less socially pressured summer experience than Bar Harbor offered.” To appreciate today’s Northeast Harbor, Andrews said, show up at the post office at 10 a.m. That is a great gathering place where
“ASIDE FROM THE LOCATION’S NATURAL BEAUTY,” SHETTLEWORTH SAID, “ITS ATTRACTION INITIALLY WAS FOR FAMILIES WHO SOUGHT A LESS SOCIALLY PRESSURED SUMMER EXPERIENCE THAN BAR HARBOR OFFERED.” anyone can find out what is going on. Before visitors begin mixing with the locals, they should know a few facts. First, since 1917, Northeast Harbor has been the commercial hub of the town of Mount Desert. The town’s other villages are Seal Harbor, Somesville, Hall Quarry, Pretty Marsh, and Otter Creek. On May 2, they voted almost 2-1 to become a Sanctuary City. Second, the Great Fire of 1947, which destroyed much of Bar Harbor and the surrounding towns, didn’t touch the island’s quiet side, but fires in 2008 and 2009 claimed four commercial buildings, leaving holes in Northeast Harbor’s Main Street economy. The village, long known for its Rockefeller and Astor-size wealth, is not immune from problems. A Bangor Daily News article by Bill Trotter, published last November, outlined some of its challenges. “When the Pearl Mist dropped anchor at the mouth of Northeast Harbor in September and brought its affluent passengers ashore,” Trotter wrote, “some local merchants thought their ship had 74 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
The docks at Northeast Harbor are pictured in the 1960s (top left) and today.
A postcard from 1945 showing Sargent Drive.
THEN & NOW
NORTHEAST HARBOR
Main Street businesspeople circa 1900.
NORTHEAST HARBOR TOWN STATS First settled: 1775 by John and Comfort
• Garry Moore, TV show host
Manchester
• Marguerite Yourcenar, novelist, essayist
Incorporated: Now part of Mount Desert,
• Gunnar Hansen, actor, author
dating to Feb. 17, 1789 Named for: (disputed) Southwest Harbor’s geographical opposite, or protection from northeasterly winds Nicknames: The Village, Philadelphia on the Rocks Year-round population: 527 Notable people: • Robert R. Pyle, former library director • Brooke Astor, philanthropist • Loren E. Kimball, hotel proprietor • Charles William Eliot, Harvard president • Durlin Lunt, former selectman 76 / BANGOR METRO July 2017
• Dennis Damon, Democratic state senator • Daniel Coit Gilman, Johns Hopkins University president Quotable quote: By Robert R. Pyle, from “Northeast Harbor Port Directory and Mount Desert Chamber Guide”, “… In Forest Hill Cemetery, Pulitzer Prize winning historian Samuel Eliot Morison rests eternally near the village librarian; television personality Garry Moore lies buried near his buddy, lobster fisherman and volunteer fire chief ‘Flicker’ Flye. … We lie side by side [here] without reference to wealth or social standing. …”
Useful trivia: Northeast Harbor is protected by a mere 300-yard opening at its entrance; it is home port for the Sunbeam V, a boat operated by the Maine Seacoast Mission; guests during the Asticou Inn’s earliest days were roused by a rising bell at 7:30 a.m. and a breakfast bell at 8 a.m. (today, breakfast is served at 10 a.m.). Landmarks: Asticou Azalea Garden, Thuya Garden, Asticou Inn, Sargent Drive, Somes Sound, The Neighborhood House, The Great Harbor Maritime Museum, Northeast Harbor Library, Bear Island Light Station, Sunbeam V mission boat, St. Mary’s-bythe-Sea, Union Church, “Over Edge,” Daniel Coit Gilman’s summer cottage Helpful websites: mtdesert.org, nehlibrary.org, mountdesertchamber.org, theneighborhoodhouse.com, acadiamagic.com/NortheastHarbor
come in. … Since then, [the ensuing debate about cruise ships] … has morphed into a full-blown conversation about the village’s economic decline over the years and what its future may hold.” Local officials later rejected the plan to attract more cruise ships, but the community debate has just begun. On a July afternoon, visitors might want to leave that controversy behind and soak up the village’s ambiance. Much of the town is best viewed on foot, beginning with the public library on one end of Main Street and continuing to The Neighborhood House, the village’s other community center. Old-timey stores worth exploring are The Kimball Shop, Brown’s Hardware Store, and McGrath’s Variety Store. Cafes serve affordable meals, and near the marina, The Tan Turtle Tavern is a lively bar and grill. If history and gardens are your thing, downtown’s The Great Harbor Maritime Museum provides a walk through the region’s history, and a short drive away is the Mount Desert Island Historical Society, partially based in an old schoolhouse. The Asticou Inn, dating to 1883, overlooks the harbor, and nearby are the famous Asticou Azalea and Thuya gardens. Somes Sound, which some claim is the East Coast’s only fjord, is best viewed from Sargent Drive. Turnoffs allow photographers and artists to capture the natural beauty. And just minutes away are the trails of Acadia National Park. Excursion boats leave the marina several times a day and take passengers out to Islesford (Little Cranberry Island), past Bear Island Light, and up Somes Sound. A Chamber of Commerce office nearby provides information on summertime events, including July 4 activities, a July 13 Neighborhood House fundraiser at Abel’s Boatyard, library book readings, and a July 26 library piano concert by Sydney Patten. While at the library, be sure to check out a charming little book by harbor native Emily Phillips Reynolds, titled, “Down Memory Lane,” as well as Letitia S. Baldwin’s photo book, “Thuya Garden, Asticou Terraces and Thuya Lodge,” and this sampling, recommended by Andrews: “Portrait of a Maine Island” by Sarah Butler, “Frankie’s Place: A Love Story” by Jim Sterba, and “The Artist’s Mount Desert: American Painters on the Maine Coast” by John Wilmerding.
The Kimball House is depicted in a postcard from 1925.
The Asticou Inn circa the 1960s.
The Northeast Harbor Library today.
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OUTSIDE
WOODS & WATERS
Members of the UMaine Fishing Club and the Penobscot Fly Fishers participated in the stocking of brook trout into the Stillwater River and the Kenduskeag Stream earlier this year. The fish were brought from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife hatchery in Enfield.
BROOK TROUT How Maine became home to this ancient fish. BY BOB DUCHESNE
THE GLACIERS IN Maine melted about 10,000 years ago. Then there were brook trout. Maine has 97 percent of the remaining lake and pond habitat for brook trout in the United States. The number is based on an assessment that looked at every state from Maine to Georgia and west to Ohio. A few brook trout populations in the Great Lakes area were not surveyed. Let’s just say Maine has most of the brook trout in America. It’s our heritage fish. To be sure, other states used to have more brook trout, but sprawling development and silting streams put an end to them. Much of Maine remains undeveloped, which is why there are so many trout waters among the northern logging roads. Probably the biggest thing Maine had going for it was that the state was under a mile of ice not that long
ago. That eliminated every living creature, and as ice turned to cold water, cold water fish were the first to colonize. Ancestors of brook trout, landlocked salmon, and arctic char were stranded in Maine’s inland waters
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as the ocean receded. They adapted to freshwater, and for thousands of years the cold water fish had no competition. All of that has changed, of course. Some of the change was natural, but much of it was man-made. The removal of the forest canopy next to streams allowed full sunlight to warm the water beyond the tolerance of trout. Soil erosion silted
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
LET’S JUST SAY MAINE HAS MOST OF THE BROOK TROUT IN AMERICA. IT’S OUR HERITAGE FISH.
streams. Bad culverts prevented fish from reaching spawning areas or safe pools. And then there was the problem of invasive fish. We’ve done a poor job of keeping non-native fish out of places where they don’t belong. Maine has a decent bass fishery, but none of them are native. With the best of misguided intentions, our own state biologists spread them around Maine a century ago. Bass tolerate warmer water, and they easily crowded out trout in marginal waters where both could exist. Other game fish were illegally introduced into some of Maine’s waters, doing great harm to native fish. Northern pike is a large, voracious predator which is native across the upper Midwest and much of Canada, but not New England. Once dumped into a lake, the population is impossible to eradicate. The muskellunge is an even larger pike. Quebec introduced it as a game fish into the St. John River watershed, and as it travelled downstream to Maine, it vacuumed up every brook trout it encountered along the way. Predation is bad. Competition is worse. Many of invaders eat the food that trout eat. Even small baitfish intended to be
eaten by trout can threaten trout. Some baitfish escaped or were simply released into trout ponds. Although they are small, they can colonize the shallow, safe places that baby trout use to feed and escape predators. There, the minnows eat the tiny trout or eat their food. Now the good news. We know that brook trout are Maine’s premier freshwater game fish, worth millions to the economy. We know that we have a fishery that other states can only admire. We are, rather belatedly, doing everything possible to defend brook trout. Many of our environmental laws protect cold water fish, requiring setbacks from streams to buffer them from the impacts of logging and development. New culvert designs are removing barriers to fish passage, and the state is even funding the quicker removal of bad culverts. Penalties have increased for those guilty of dumping invasive fish into Maine waters. We still have a long way to go. To keep up with demand and maintain healthy populations, Maine operates several fish hatcheries, and stocks these fish in popular
waters. The legislature also enacted a policy of not stocking in waters declared to be “heritage fish waters.” These are streams and ponds that have never been stocked, or not stocked in at least 25 years. The use of live bait in heritage waters is also prohibited. Meanwhile, anglers under the auspices of Trout Unlimited and Maine Audubon have been scouring some of the most remote waters in Maine, volunteering countless hours in search of ponds that should be added to the heritage list. Finally, in 2016, Maine scored a major victory for trout when 8,000 acres of prime habitat was preserved near The Forks in western Maine under the Land for Maine’s Future Program. The Cold Stream Forest Project took over five years to complete. At last, brook trout are getting the respect they deserve.
BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.
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LAST WORD
Summer IS TICK SEASON
Be on the look out for ticks this season, be you human or snowperson. BY CHRIS QUIMBY
IT’S SUMMER IN MAINE and for years I’ve heard the locals complain about tourists. (That is, locals who do not own businesses nor enjoy a little piece of paper I like to call money.) But lately I’ve heard more concern about a threat posed by disturbingly grotesque life forms lurking in the woods and deep grass — creatures that grab you as you pass by and are motivated by no less than their desire for blood. I am, of course, referring to ticks, the tiny, disgusting monsters that are not only homely, but are making us, quite literally, sick. It used to be that the only dangers in the Maine woods were poison ivy and getting shot by a drunk poacher. But now one must labor over themselves with thoughtful precision after embarking across one of our state’s fine hiking trails to reduce the probability of becoming a giant lollipop to a group of these nearly invisible parasites. In order to protect oneself, the Center for Disease Control suggests first knowing where ticks live. Specifically, ticks are found in moist or humid environments. So, for example, it is unlikely you will ever see a tick on a snowman. From extensive research of the song Frosty the Snowman, we know that snowpeople (genderneutral as to not offend) can only survive in blustery cold temperatures and even then only with a magical top hat. So, if anyone reading this is a snowperson, you need not fear ticks unless, of course, you merely identify as a snowperson but are not biologically composed of snow. In that case, the CDC would advise you to stay close to the center of the trail when hiking so as to not brush up against vegetation.
IT USED TO BE THAT THE ONLY DANGERS IN THE MAINE WOODS WERE POISON IVY AND GETTING SHOT BY A DRUNK POACHER. And also check for ticks under your top hat when returning from your journey. Upon returning to your home, the CDC also recommends showering. Firstly, because you’ve just been hiking and you probably smell like garbage. Secondly, because you might find ticks once you’ve disrobed. And that’s another thing about ticks. They are more prone than the Starship Enterprise to go where no one has gone before, sometimes being found in your naval, your armpit and even between your legs. So after showering, give yourself a thorough inspection — not a quick, superficial one that some of us Mainers get for our old cars from “that mechanic” who would throw a sticker on anything. You’re going to need to lift up every flap and bend over in humiliating positions and see things you’d rather forget existed. Remember, ticks hang out in weird places. If you want to know where they might be, think of places you’d never want to be and they’re probably there. Hanging from a leaf or some sweaty pit hair? Now you’re catching on. Also, while rummaging around the collection of the members and orifices that is your body, you will likely want to either wash out your eyes with bleach or go on a diet. I would suggest the latter, and so would the CDC. If you observe the subject in question under a magnifying glass and see what appears to be a monster from a B movie, it’s likely a tick.
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.
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