Bangor Metro - May 2021

VISIT THE FORMER

TOOTH-

PICK

CAPITAL

OF THE WORLD

CARING

for the

CARE GIVER THEN

&NOW

THE HISTORY OF

THE MAINE FLAG $5.95

May 2021

SOLVING MYSTERIES ON A MAINE ISLAND

WALK AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS

CONTENTS

MAY 2021

FEATURES 44 THE RISE AND FALL OF STRONG Maine’s history as the “Toothpick Capital of the World”

52 THE HISTORY OF THE MAINE FLAG Is it time to bring back the 1901 design?

56 A LITTLE SELF CARE GOES A LONG WAY The importance of self care for the caregivers

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

44

THE “TOOTHPICK CAPITAL OF THE WORLD”

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local events & our monthly Pop Quiz

14

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

40

PERSONAL FINANCE

Raise the value of your home with these cost-effective improvements

62

WOODS & WATERS

The controversy around Maine dams

64

THE VIEW FROM HERE

My daughter is my mother

Maine: Then & Now Design by Amy Allen

2 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

56

SELF CARE FOR THE CAREGIVER

PHOTOS: TKTK

ON THE COVER

BDN EVENTS & LEFT BANK BOOKS PRESENT

BDN EVENTS

ARTS & CULTURE 10

MYSTERIES ON AN ISLAND

Maine writer pens biography about Rachel Field

FOOD & DRINK 18

IN SEASON NOW

Go for the greens with these fresh, tasty recipes

HEALTH & FITNESS 20

HIKE ME

Take a May wildflower walk

26 HOME WORKOUTS MADE EASY Create an inexpensive, small-space home gym

HOME & FAMILY 34

CREATE IT AT HOME

Craft a wood-beaded spring wreath

36

ENJOY TRAVELING MAINE

Tips for traveling the state like a tourist this summer

ROBIN CLIFFORD CHRISTINA BAKER

WOOD & KLINE In Conversation The Field House

JOIN US ONLINE

MAY 4 AT 7PM FREE EVENT REGISTER AT tinyurl.com/BDNRobinClifford

SPONSORED BY www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

MAINE & THEN

NOW

AT THE END of March, I ordered a brightly colored table for outside to enjoy morning coffee at. I also ordered a monotone flowered rug to set it on. My seeds — both vegetable seeds and flowers — have been waiting in my dining room for warmer days.

It goes without saying that I am a little excited for the warmth of late spring and summer and thrilled at the prospect of growing things again. What about you?

As we enter the fifth month of 2021, there’s so much to look forward to. This is the month, for instance, to enjoy those populous areas of our state (see our story on page 36) before the crowds arrive. And it’s a great time to get out there and hike (see Aislinn Sarnacki’s column on page 20).

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? I hope you include reading this issue while sipping something tasty outside on your list. Afterall, then you can learn about the Maine town that used to be the self-proclaimed toothpick capital of the world (see Sam Schipani’s story on page 44). You can also dig into the history of the original Maine flag (see Crystal Sands’ story on page 50). And so much more!

Visit the former

HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL MAY!

“toothpick capital of

the world” on page 44!

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro talkback@bangormetro.com

4 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

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

SALES MANAGER

Laurie Cates

lcates@bangordailynews.com

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen

aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Fred Stewart

fstewart@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Julia Bayly jbayly@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Rosemary Lausier rlausier@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Aislinn Sarnacki asarnacki@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Sam Schipani sschipani@bangordailynews.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Duchesne, Erinne Magee, Emily Morrison, Kaylie Reese, Crystal Sands, Katie Smith www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

6 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT’S ON YOUR

MAY 2021

Bangor Metro Magazine. May 2021, Vol. 17, No. 3.

Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company.

Bangor Metro is published 10 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 207-990-8129.

Subscriptions/Address Change: The one year subscription cost is $15.95. 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 207-990-8129.

COVER DESIGN: Amy Allen

PLAYLIST?

“

I’m super into the music of my high school years right now. Smashing Pumpkins, Third Eye Blind, Pearl Jam — it’s all on rotation again!”

— SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

“My playlist is super mellow right now. I love that things in every part of my life are picking up — more school days and sports for the kids, more work projects for me, more opportunities to visit with family and friends. But as things steer their way back to the hectic days of yore, a chill old school playlist of Grateful Dead, Phish, G. Love, Chris Cornell’s posthumous ‘No One Sings Like You Anymore’ (Cornell doing John Lennon’s ‘Watching the Wheels’ might be my favorite thing right now) is helping to balance it all out. And when things feel totally overwhelming, Pandora has a channel called ‘French Cooking Music Radio’ that is basically a sedative. Ahhh.”

— AMY ALLEN, ART DIRECTOR

“My girls and I have been listening to Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore 24/7 since July and December. I’m partial to ‘Betty’ but the girls like ‘Willow.’”

— EMILY MORRISON, COLUMNIST

“For some reason, I have been completely unable to listen to music for the past few months. Whether I’m doing chores, working out or just relaxing at home, my playlist is all true crime podcasts. Crime Junkie is my favorite, but I have dabbled in a number of limited series as well, including Mommy Doomsday, The Doodler and Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer. I think the pandemic broke my brain.”

— SAM SCHIPANI, STAFF WRITER

“May is such a delightful month in Maine. Things are in bloom, the weather is pleasant and the bugs of summer have not yet descended. It’s one of the best times for bicycling so, whatever is on my playlist will revolve around two wheels.

Maybe some Blood, Sweat & Tears, some Queen, some Pink Floyd and maybe some Dinah Shore for good measure.

— JULIA BAYLY, STAFF WRITER

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

MAY FLOWERS!

April showers have brought May flowers — let’s test your “May flower” know-how !

MAY APRIL 22 - MAY 9 JE NE SUIS PAS EVANGELINE PENOBSCOT THEATRE COMPANY Penobscot Theatre Company closes out its Main Course series with a commissioned film that brings the stories of Acadian and other Francophone women to life through the lens of Maine poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem, Evangeline. The 1847 poem depicts the great deportation of the Acadians and centers on the fictional title heroine.

Je ne suis pas Evangeline — I am not Evangeline — brings the stories of real Acadian women to life and examines how these strong, opinionated women — from farmers to mill workers to suffragists, are woven into Maine’s contemporary fabric. Purchasing tickets gets you a unique link to access the performances uploaded to Vimeo for the duration of the show’s run. To get tickets visit www.PenobscotTheatre.org.

ONGOING POP ART AND INFLUENCE — SELECTIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION ZILLMAN ART MUSEUM — UNIVERSITY OF MAINE The Zillman Art Museum collection features numerous works by early Pop art luminaries such as Richard Hamilton, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, while also including works by a new generation of artists who are extending and redefining its tenants in new and inventive ways. Pop art’s continued impact on post-modernist aesthetics is reflected in the work of artists such as Alisa Henriquez, Hannah Cole and Jim Darling. The museum is open to the public by reservation only. To schedule a visit contact Mary Ellen Merlino at 207-581-3300 or email mary.ellen.merlino@maine.edu.

The museum hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and only seven visitors are permitted at one time.

Violinist and two-time Grammy nominee Jennifer Frautschi makes her BSO debut in this program of Viennese classics. This program features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Violin Concerto No 1. This is the first violin concerto by Mozart, composed when he was 19 years old. The program also includes Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 which he said was deeply influenced by Mozart. The performance is part of the digital season subscription or available as an individual household concert pass. It will be available for online viewing for 30 days beginning May 14. For tickets, visit www.bangorsymphony.org.

Answers to this month’s Pop Quiz: Question 1: B; Q2: C; Q3: A; Q4: B; Q5: C.

8 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

Find answers below.

PHOTO: BDN FILE

MAY 14 MOZART & SCHUBERT BANGOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Want the perfect gift for mom this Mother’s Day? Give her a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Give her Seniority!

Take advantage of this special Mother’s Day promotion and take $10 off the $25 membership fee making the lifetime investment just $15!

This $10 discount is a Mother’s Day promotion only and expires on May 31st.

Simply go to seniorityformom.org to Sign Up! If you have any questions or want more information, please call our Seniority Program Director, Nancy Bergin at 207-498-1380, or email her at nbergin@carymed.org

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

PHOTO: TKTK

ARTS & CULTURE

10 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

Mysteries

ON AN ISLAND MAINE WRITER PENS BIOGRAPHY ABOUT WRITER RACHEL FIELD

BY KAYLIE REESE

IN HER DEBUT book, “The Field House: A Writer’s Life Lost and Found on an Island in Maine,” Hampden resident Robin Clifford Wood has penned a biography of writer Rachel Field that carefully weaves in her own autobiographical fingerprint.

In the mid-1990s, Wood and her family purchased the Sutton Island cabin previously owned by Field, with multitude trinkets and

treasures left behind from Field’s life spent there nearly a century before. That led her onto a path of researching Field’s life, an effort that took her to Washington, D.C., Boston, New Orleans and more.

And the more she researched, the more she found mysteries that surrounded Field — the celebrated author of several volumes of poetry and books including the Newbery Award-winning “Hitty, Her First Hundred Years” — and overlaps between their life journeys.

Written with the care one only could share as a close friend, despite never having met, Wood’s biography intimately details the incredible and previously undocumented life of celebrated author Rachel Field, whose life and writing was greatly inspired by Maine’s rugged coastline and its independent, no-nonsense residents.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

KAYLIE REESE: Your writing really allows readers to get to know Rachel Field, and it’s clear you care very much about sharing her story and how much her life has impacted yours.

ROBIN CLIFFORD WOOD: I’m so glad, because I want people to get to know Rachel Field. That really is what became the mission.

It was like a calling. I feel like I’m doing it all for Rachel as much as I am for myself, and I feel so happy that I’m bringing her back to people’s attention.

One of the things I most admired about her was that she was never stuck. She would go with the flow. She adapted to whatever life threw in front of her, and she made the best of it.

KR: What led to your decision to include semi-autobiographical letters to Rachel Field in your book?

RCW: That was an epiphany. I was at a writer’s conference on Campobello Island, and one of the workshop leaders’ writing prompts was to write a letter to someone who will never read it, or something like that. The first thing I thought of at that time was writing a letter to Rachel. And I’d been struggling for such a long time over people having said, “Oh, you should share about you sharing her house,” and I was so resistant.

I really wanted this to be about Rachel’s story, not mine. So, I thought, I’m going to write a letter to Rachel. And I think the first line was something like, “Are you mad at me?” Because, I thought, how would she feel about me revealing a lot of this information? www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

ARTS & CULTURE But by addressing her like that broke something open for me. It helped me figure out what to say to her and to do for her and all the questions I had for her, and it was in that moment that I figured out how to include my own story. I could mix in letters from me, and it would be an entirely different thread woven through her story.

KR: Are you still worried that she might have been upset with you for sharing her life with others?

RCW: Long before I came to the point of including letters in the book, I had come to peace with Rachel’s approval with this whole process. Even though she’s a traditionalist in a lot of ways — as a woman in that particular social class at that time in history — she still chafed against the restrictiveness of that social hierarchy.

I finally felt like she might be OK — not just OK but happy that she was coming back. She just embraced life and the beauty of the world with such passion, and that’s what shines out of so much of her work, and that’s what should have been left behind and not just the sorrow that shut everyone down from talking about her early death.

So at one level, I’m apologizing that maybe I didn’t

write something that I thought maybe one is supposed to write when writing a biography, which is an unbiased, objective accounting of only the facts of someone’s life. But I think that’s boring. And I did try very hard to stay to the facts, but facts are slippery. Even when you read someone’s letters, that’s just one person’s memory.

And I know there were times that she misdated letters. You can’t count on anything with memory or biography. You just have to do the best you can, and every history has interpretations mixed into it. You just have to be true to the information you have.

THERE ARE OTHER WRITERS WHO HAVE LIVED IN THAT HOUSE, TOO,

For example, she has a poem called “The Skeleton Key,” and it has a little drawing of a key drawn at the top. And we have that exact key. For the first 10 years that we lived there, that was our key to the kitchen building.

And she talked about writing “Hitty, Her First Hundred Years,” her big and famous book about the Hitty doll, in front of the fireplace with Hitty sitting on the mantelpiece. And as I sit in front of that fireplace and that mantelpiece, I can just imagine her sitting in that exact room conjuring up the story about the book that has become her longest-lasting fame.

There are other writers who have lived in that house, too, but somehow Rachel’s presence outshines the rest for me.

KR: One of the things you write about is how you wish you could have had her recognize you as a friend. Can you speak more to that?

RCW: You gave me shivers even saying that. It’s an incredible experience to be so deeply immersed in somebody’s internal world, through her personal letters, the way I have been.

I really longed to know her. I wanted to ask her questions about my own writing, in fact. She was such a giver and such a supporter, and I’ve often thought of what an incredible friend she would have been to have. She was just such a loving and devoted person.

While I certainly have grieved her loss many times, and writing about her death was incredibly painful for me, it really feels like someone who has been an important and intimate part of my personal world.

BUT SOMEHOW RACHEL’S PRESENCE OUTSHINES THE REST FOR ME.

KR: What was it like to be directly connected to the space where she lived?

RCW: It was undeniable.

And especially the small and mundane things.

12 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

“The Field House: A Writer’s Life Lost and Found on a Maine Island,” is published by She Writes Press. It will be available for sale May 4, 2021.

OBSESSIONS

OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

WATCH “GORDON RAMSEY: UNCHARTED” ON DISNEY+ WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Like everyone, we’ve been binging every show we can find and recently discovered “Gordon Ramsey: Uncharted” in the National Geographic collection on Disney+. Ramsey’s brusque demeanor is usually a little much for me, but he’s great on this show. He travels to remote locations all around the world and meets up with local chefs who send him on climbing, diving and foraging adventures to learn about the area’s cuisine. Watching Ramsey get knocked down a peg (and literally knocked off a boat at one point) as he dodges hippos and traverses piranha-infested waters while taste-testing everything from swamp rats to tarantulas is a pretty fun way to learn about different cultures. For the tastier-looking treats, you can find the recipes on National Geographic’s website and give them a try at home.

Catch up now on seasons one and two while you wait for a new season to start May 31. Episodes air Sundays at 9 p.m. on the National Geographic channel; available the next day on Disney+.

— AMY ALLEN

DRINK TEA MAINEIA MILK OOLONG TEA WHY DO WE LOVE IT? The milk oolong tea at Tea Maineia is pure decadence. Even without adding milk, it is sweet, creamy and buttery in a way that I never knew black tea could be. At $15 for two ounces, it is a little pricier than the other looseleaf teas at this Winterport store, but it is well worth the indulgence.

— SAM SCHIPANI

READ Every month, many new books cross my desk. I purchase even more. These are a few that I particularly enjoyed and recommend.

“FEAR STREET: THE BEGINNING,” BY R.L. STINE — Between dance classes, volunteering, swim team and other activities, I was a pretty busy kid. But I always made time to read. And when I hit the middle school years, I found a particular love for R.L. Stine and his Fear Street series. I remember laying in bed on a sunny spring morning devouring a gripping novel from the series. When I heard that the first four books in the series were being released in a compilation, I needed it. And then I read it all over again.

If you loved Fear Street as a kid too, I highly recommend falling into the books again via “The Beginning.” Or maybe introduce your own middle schooler to the beloved thrillers.

(MIDDLE GRADE)

PHOTO: TKTK

“THE KITCHEN WITHOUT BORDERS,” PHOTOGRAPHED BY PENNY DE LOS SANTOS — Chefs from around the world share their stories and recipes in this beautiful cookbook celebrating the diverse culinary traditions found around the globe. All of the people included are part of Eat Offbeat, a New York City-based catering company staffed by immigrants and refugees. I love this book because it offers a glimpse into so many heritages and cuisines. And the stories make it extra special. Plus, it’s doing a little good — 2 percent of the cover price of each book sold through March 1, 2022 will be donated by the publisher to IRC, a not-for-profit that provides humanitarian relief, aid and resettlement to refugees and victims of conflict. ( COOKBOOK) — SARAH WALKER CARON

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

OBSESSIONS

OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

LISTEN

EAT

DONUTS FROM THE DONUT GROVE

EMBEDDED PODCAST

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I was first introduced to the donuts from The Donut Grove when my coworker and friend Sam Schipani gave me a couple for Galentine’s Day. And I have been hooked ever since. They are vegan cake donuts and come in a ton of different flavors like lemon pomegranate, maple and chocolate. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, they are everything I want a donut to be. They are sold every Saturday at the Bangor European Market on Buck Street and at Fork and Spoon in downtown Bangor and different flavors are sold each week. Make sure you get one for everyone because you will not want to share yours.

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? The latest season of the podcast Embedded features a four-episode deep dive into the 2018 mass shooting — and the aftermath — at the Maryland newspaper, the Capital Gazette.

I remember when this happened, and it hit me hard because I had just started my career in journalism. Now, nearly three years later, the story impacted me in ways I never would have expected. It’s a heavy listen, but will shed light on a truly American problem in ways you may not have thought about.

— ROSEMARY LAUSIER — SAM SCHIPANI

PLAY WHY DO WE LOVE IT? My daughter recently introduced our family to this online game and we can’t get enough. At its core it’s a geography quiz — you get dropped on a street view of a Google Map and have to figure out where you are by walking around and searching for clues via road signs (Is that in Spanish? Italian?), foliage (That’s a cactus! We must be in the desert!), labels on recycling bins along the side of the street... anything that helps narrow it down. There are lots of options, challenges and a paid version, but we like to play the free Official Maps option. You can choose to get dropped “Anywhere in the World” or narrow it down a little by getting dropped somewhere in the United States or another specific country or at “Famous Place.” The goal is to guess the exact spot you got dropped. The closer your guess, the more points you earn. It’s a fun way to spend a little family time and maybe even learn something new. Go to geoguessr.com to play.

— AMY ALLEN

16 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

PHOTO: TKTK

GEOGUESSR

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

FOOD & DRINK

in season now

GREENS LOOK FOR SPRING GREENS SPROUTING UP IN FARMERS MARKETS

BY SARAH WALKER CARON

IN MAY, with warmer temperatures beckoning, farmers markets start to show signs of the bounty to come. Some farmers will begin to arrive with bags of tender young greens — arugula, kale, spinach and more — and shoppers will grab them up. But others may still be selling their storage crops — apples, squash and more.

The recipes featured this month take advantage of the fresh greens available. Baked into a quiche or piled onto a flatbread pizza, they are a lovely treat after a long winter. And if you can find a squash to roast too, all the better. But, if not, don’t be afraid to look at your grocery store — or even buy frozen squash to use.

Whatever you do, enjoy those greens. Toss them in salads.

Cook them in recipes. Use them every way you can. After all, we all know how fleeting the season is.

HAM, CHEDDAR AND SPINACH QUICHE RECIPE 6 servings

INGREDIENTS 1 frozen deep dish pie crust 1 cup fresh baby spinach ½ cup finely diced ham 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 5 large eggs 1 cup milk 1 tsp kosher salt fresh ground pepper

18 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the pie crust on a baking sheet.

Spread the spinach, ham and cheese in the pie crust.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper.

Pour into the pie crust.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until set.

Cool slightly before slicing and serving.

ROASTED SQUASH AND KALE FLATBREAD PIZZA 4 servings

INGREDIENTS 1 large flatbread pizza crust ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup roasted diced squash 1 cup baby kale 1 clove garlic, minced ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Set a flatbread pizza crust on a baking sheet or pizza peel.

Top the pizza crust with the mozzarella, roasted squash, kale, garlic and parmesan. Slide into the oven — for a crispier crust, cook directly on the grates.

For a softer one, use a baking sheet. This can also be cooked on a pizza stone.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

EASY ROASTED SQUASH: Peel 1 small squash. Slice and then cut into 1/2inch cubes. Place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking oil spray. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in an oven preheated to 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes until tender and golden in spots.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro Magazine and the author of five cookbooks including the “Easy Frugal Cookbook,” released in July. Her book “Classic Diners of Maine” is available where books are sold. Signed copies are available at The Briar Patch in Bangor.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

HIKE ME

FLOWERS WILDFLOWER WALKS AWAY FROM THE CROWDS STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

BESIDE THE NARROW footpath, pinkpurple blossoms of wild rhodora adorn a few small bushes. Their long delicate petals and violet-tipped anthers appear to reach toward the sunlight. In an otherwise green world, the showy flowers stand out, demanding the attention of passing hikers.

Further down the trail, the forest floor is carpeted in the fat green leaves of lowlying bunchberry. And perched atop each squat plant is a singular white flower. The effect is dazzling, a sea of green dotted with white.

A cluster of lady’s-slippers grow nearby, their bulbous blossoms displayed atop tall, slender stems. Veins of deep pink thread through their pale petals. Of all the spring

wildflowers in Maine, this woodland orchid is one of the most celebrated because of its size and beauty.

Throughout the forest, a wide variety of other woodland flowers pop up throughout May and June, and many of them have intriguing names. There are starflowers and bloodroot blossoms — both white. There are yellow trumpet lilies and multi-hued trilliums, also known as stinking Benjamins.

Bluets, violets and blue-eyed grass also add color to the landscape.

It doesn’t take much effort to find these flowers. Just about any woodland trail in Maine travels past some of these springtime bloomers, but here are a few especially flower-filled hikes to get you started.

Blossoms of wild rhodora.

(Left) White starflower blossoms.

FRANCES B. WOOD PRESERVE

IN GOULDSBORO EASY TO MODERATE Frances B. Wood Preserve covers 438 acres in Gouldsboro, and is owned and maintained by the Frenchman Bay Conservancy. On the property is a hiking trail that travels through a mossy forest for 0.4 mile, then splits into a 0.75-mile loop at the edge of a bog. Throughout the forest are a variety of wildflowers that bloom in the spring, including pink lady’s-slippers, purple rhodora, white starflowers, irises and bunchberries.

The preserve neighbors another conserved property: the Gouldsboro Bay Division of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which covers 607 acres and features a 0.8-mile Salt Marsh Trail. The two properties share a parking lot.

The trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Access is free. There are no restrooms available. Dogs are permitted if under voice or leash control at all times.

In the neighboring refuge, dogs must be on leash.

For more information, visit frenchmanbay.org or call 207-422-2328.

DIRECTIONS: From the Sullivan side of the Hancock-Sullivan bridge, drive 12 miles on Route 1, then turn right onto Chicken Mill Road in Gouldsboro. Drive 0.4 mile, then turn right onto Fletcher Wood Road. Drive 0.2 mile, then continue straight onto a gravel road when the paved road takes a right turn. Drive about 0.1 mile to the parking lot.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

RENE HENDERSON PRESERVE

IN CASTINE EASY

A 100-acre parcel of wetlands and mixed forest in Castine, the Rene Henderson Natural Area is a beautiful slice of wilderness that features thick beds of ferns, old trees, a pond and plenty of wildflowers. On the property, about 2.5 miles of trails and old roads make exploration easy.

Among the wildflowers you’ll see in bloom in the spring are white, star-shaped starflowers; the tiny dark purple blossoms of blue-eyed grass; and the white blossoms of low-lying bunchberry. In fact, there’s so much 22 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

bunchberry growing in some areas that you can’t even see the ground. Also keep an eye out for long, golden wands of cinnamon ferns and large heads of skunk cabbage.

The property is owned and maintained by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Access is free. Hunting is permitted.

Camping and fires are not permitted. Dogs are permitted if on leash or under strict voice control at all times.

For more information, visit mcht.org or call 207729-7366.

Blue-eyed grass in bloom.

(Below) Thick beds of ferns are located throughout the forest of Rene Henderson Natural Area.

(Left) Bunchberries cover the forest floor.

DIRECTIONS: The preserve’s small gravel parking lot — marked with a wooden sign — is on The Shore Road (Route 166) in Castine, approximately 0.8 miles north of the intersection of The Shore Road and Castine Road. If using a GPS, it may be helpful to look up Mill Lane, which is an overgrown road that’s just a bit south of the preserve parking lot, on the opposite side of the road. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

BRANCH LAKE PUBLIC FOREST IN ELLSWORTH

Pink lady’sslippers dot the forest floor.

24 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

EASY TO MODERATE Branch Lake Public Forest covers 239 acres of forestland on the shore of Branch Lake, a large body of water that serves as a water supply for the City of Ellsworth.

Conserved in 2010, the property features more than 3 miles of hiking trails and a 2-mile gravel road on which visitors can find a variety of wildflowers throughout the spring and summer.

In May and June, an abundance of large woodland flowers called lady’s-slippers can be found along the trails. Their blooms vary in pigment from white to magenta. The other lady’s-slippers that grow in Maine are yellow lady’s-slipper, which is bright yellow; the rare showy lady’s-slipper, which is a combination of white and pink; and the even rarer ram’s-head lady’s-slipper, which is smaller with bright red veins.

Raspberries grow along the gravel road of the forest in many places, so keep an eye out for their white

blossoms. And later in the summer, you can return to pick some ripe berries.

The trails are open year round from dawn until dusk.

Access is free. Certain types of hunting are permitted on the property. Dogs are permitted if leashed or under strict voice control.

For more information, call 207-667-2563 or visit ellsworthmaine.gov.

DIRECTIONS: From the corner of Main Street and Route 1A in downtown Ellsworth, drive approximately 6.5 miles north on Route 1A and turn left onto the access road to the Branch Lake Public Forest, which is marked with a large brown sign. On the access road, drive about 1 mile to a small parking area to the left of a gate barring off the tote road. Continue on foot on the tote road, which leads to all of the trails in the public forest.

AISLINN SARNACKI is a staff writer for Bangor Metro and the editor of Act Out, a section of the Bangor Daily News.

An expert on the Maine outdoors, she is author of the guidebooks “Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine,” “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path” and “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine.” Follow her adventures at bangordailynews.com/act-out.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

HOME WORKOUTS Made Easy

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HOW TO CREATE AN INEXPENSIVE, SMALL-SPACE HOME GYM

R

BY JULIA BAYLY

eady for a good workout? With a little preparation and a small bit of space, a good workout can be had in your very own home.

Here’s what you need to know.

Working out at home comes with a great deal of convenience and flexibility. Think of it: your very own space and equipment to workout how you want at times that best match your personal schedule. And it’s easier than you might think to get started.

WHERE TO WORK OUT AT HOME When it comes to a home gym, all you need is space to dedicate to your workouts. How much space will vary based on what you intend to do. If you want larger equipment, like a treadmill, you’ll need space to accommodate that, for instance. But it’s possible to

build an effective home workout around inexpensive and portable gear as well.

You need as little as 36 square feet of space to workout in, according to the American Council on Exercise. That space is enough for cardio workouts like crunches, push-ups, squats, planks, lunges and jogging in place. If you want to use free weights, the ACE recommends 20 to 50 square feet. That gives you enough room to accommodate the range of motion for a wide variety of arm, core and leg workouts with weights.

Working out means you are going to work up a sweat, so you are going to want to make sure the floor space of your workout area is one that’s easy to clean.

But don’t worry if it’s not, that’s what exercise floor mats are for.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

INEXPENSIVE, BUT HARD WORKING GEAR

RESISTANCE BANDS — Resistance bands are perfect examples of a small, lightweight exercise tool capable of giving you a full body workout. These are basically giant rubber bands that come in a variety of resistance levels that force your muscles to work against tension. They are versatile and easy to use. ($8-$80)

MEDICINE BALLS — Medicine balls are a piece of equipment great for your core, arm and leg strength. Also called exercise balls, med balls or fitness balls, it’s a weighted ball 14 inches in diameter that is available in weights ranging from 2 pounds to 25 pounds. ($15-$75)

DUMBBELLS — Dumbbells are perhaps the most recognizable piece of workout equipment in a gym.

Also called hand weights, these are short bars with connected weights on either end. They come in sizes ranging from one pound to 50 pounds. Using dumbbells provides near infinite opportunities to build muscle and tone your body. ($10-$160)

KETTLEBELLS — A kettlebell is a rounded weight made of cast iron with a flat bottom and a thick handle on top.

They come in a range of weights from 1 pound up to 100 pounds. The placement of the handle on a kettlebell means when you pick it up, its center of gravity is away from your hands. This forces you to engage a range of muscles that help build endurance, power, balance and coordination. ($25-$200)

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HEALTH & FITNESS EASY EXERCISES TO TRY THE ARMS Use your dumbbells for a shoulder press to work out the shoulder, tricep and chest muscles. Take a weight in each hand and stand with your feet flat on the floor. Bend your arm at the elbow until the weights are parallel to your ears. Extend your arms up as far as your can and then bring them back down to the start position.

To work the triceps, grab your kettlebell with both hands and take a small step forward with your right leg so your feet are slightly staggered. Raise the kettlebell directly over your head with both arms extended. Keeping your elbows close to your ears, lower the kettlebell behind your head until your hands are in line with your elbows. Raise the kettlebell back overhead, extending your arms.

You don’t need barbells to do an effective deadlift when you have resistance bands. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart and step on the loop band until it is under your arches. Grab the top of the band with both hands, bend at your hips and then stand up straight, pulling against the band’s resistance.

THE CORE Incorporating your medicine ball into a leg squat is going to work your core muscle group. That’s because the way the medicine ball’s weight is balanced it forces you to use those core muscles to keep your balance. As you do your squats, simply hold the medicine ball with both hands straight out in front of your body and keep it there as you lower and rise from the squats.

For another core workout, try the kettlebell swing. Stand up straight with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart.

Hold the kettlebell with both hands with your arms in front of your body and palms facing toward you. Bend your knees slightly and push your hips back and then “explode” forward at the hips as you swing the kettlebell outward with straight arms until it is level with your shoulders. Then bring it back down in a controlled arc.

THE LEGS Add your resistance bands to simple squats. Place both legs inside a loop resistance band and pull it up like a pair of pants until it is just below your knees. Stand with your legs wide enough apart so the band stays in place and does not slip down your legs to the floor. With your hands clasped in front of your chest, take a big step to the right and go into the squat position until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Bring your right leg back and then do the same thing with your left leg. For another squat routine, move the band up so it’s around your thighs.

Lower yourself into a half squat and take a step sideways with your right foot followed by your left foot. Then do the same thing going to the left.

Having a gym in your home means you can exercise when you want with the equipment that best meets your fitness goals.

Your home gym means you skip the drive and lines for any equipment — both of which can turn a half hour workout into a two-hour ordeal. When you are ready to workout — day or night — your own home gym and gear is there waiting for you.

No membership fee required.

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HOME & FAMILY

CREATE IT AT HOME

Wood Beaded

SPRING WREATH DECORATE YOUR DOOR WITH SPRINGTIME TEXTURES STORY & PHOTOS BY KATIE SMITH

SPRING IS IN THE AIR and it’s time to get into the season. I don’t know about you, but I just took my Christmas wreath down. Truth be told, it would have stayed up longer had I not been inspired by the textures of wood and flowers to make a new decoration for my front door.

The fun thing about a wreath is that you can change it out with the seasons and it gives the outside of your home a mini facelift.

Seeing a wreath hanging on a front door, regardless of the season, is so welcoming.

We all know holiday wreaths usually take center stage, but why not have one for the warmer months? Especially one you can make for yourself with just four supplies you can find at any local craft store.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Fake flowers of your choice • Wooden beads (I used split wood beads because they are easier to work with and come in larger sizes) • Wooden embroidery hoop • Strong glue or glue gun

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DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. First, figure out the size wreath you want and make sure you get enough beads. Embroidery hoops are adjustable so you have some room to play around here and experiment 2. Next, simply glue the beads to your hoop.

3. When they are dry, add in your fake flowers. You can use glue or floral wire if you’d rather. Just poke the wire through the bottom of the fake flower and wrap it around the hoop.

4. Hang your wreath on a wreath hanger and enjoy.

C R E AT E I T

at

HOME

HOME & FAMILY

Enjoy Traveling

36 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

HOW TO TRAVEL MAINE LIKE A TOURIST THIS SUMMER

W

BY ERINNE MAGEE

ith summer travel around the corner, tourists will be arriving before we know it. But before they do, Mainers have an opportunity to enjoy the most popular regions.

From day trips to overnights, there’s so much to enjoy in Maine.

HERE ARE 5 WAYS TO BE A TOURIST IN OUR OWN BACKYARD THIS MONTH...

HIT THE ROAD RV sales skyrocketed during the pandemic, but enjoying life on the road doesn’t have to mean making a huge investment. Companies like Outdoorsy allow roadtrippers to rent campers, RVs and motor coaches for the duration of your trip, similar to AirBnb. Pro tip: Park your RV at the KOA in Lebanon, where guests can float the Salmon Falls River and cruise down on-site waterslides.

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HOME & FAMILY

BACK TO BASICS For those who want to share in the magic of going “upta camp” but don’t have a permanent lakeside retreat, opting for a quiet getaway in the woods is the ultimate way to indulge in this Maine tradition. Attean Lake Lodge in Jackman offers a variety of different rentals on a private island, accessible by a boat shuttle.

GET ON THE WATER Enjoy the Maine coastline with a day cruise from Sebasco Harbor Resort in Phippsburg. Offerings include private yacht charters, scenic and sunset cruises and even a Thursday pirate cruise for the little mateys. If choosing to stay overnight at Sebasco, note the largest saltwater swimming pool in the state, a mainstay to the property for the last 90 years.

SEE IT FIRST In Surry, Under Canvas is slated to open in May, offering luxury glamping accommodations just 30 minutes from Acadia National Park. This June, the Canopy Portland Waterfront Hotel makes its debut with a rooftop bar and restaurant called Luna and panoramic views of the city and harbor.

EATS AND TREATS TO GO If you haven’t yet tried MoMo’s Cheesecake, stop into the Ellsworth location (471 Main St.), open 24 hours a day and operating entirely on the honor system. Customers can purchase by the slice, with up to 50 different flavor options. The cheesecake is also sold at area Tradewind stores between the greater Bangor and Ellsworth areas. Trillium Catering in Belfast is now offering its upscale cuisine and baked goods by delivery or pick-up in the midcoast region. The food is prepared to be consumed within one to four days and comes with easy reheat instructions. The team can also provide wine and cocktail pairing.

38 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

REALTORS

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www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39

PERSONAL FINANCE

Spring

OVERHAUL THESE COST EFFECTIVE HOME IMPROVEMENTS CAN RAISE YOUR HOME VALUE

BY KAYLIE REESE

M

ay in Maine is a season of renewal. As the weather warms the ground, flowers begin to bloom, and construction season is nearing full swing.

And as Mainers begin to peel away heavy winter layers, homeimprovement projects become a lot easier to tackle.

With so many still on the fence whether to travel this summer or not, amid the second summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year may be the perfect time to instead invest in home improvements that build equity, save money and can create a fresh look.

So, with the focus of this column being on personal finance, here are a few tips to determine whether the project is worth your time and money.

IDENTIFY YOUR BUDGET BUT BUILD IN A CONTINGENCY PLAN When it comes to home-improvement costs, the financial investment spectrum is vast.

Some of the most expensive investments, such as improving the insulation in your attic or replacing an old furnace, are invisible, while some of the least expensive can still make a big impact.

Spring often reveals some of the more urgent home-improvement needs. For example, as the snow thaws, you might notice how critically important it is to replace your aging roof that endured its last harsh New England winter. These renovations often don’t provide much of a warning and can strike your wallet at inopportune times.

Thankfully, though, other improvements are not as urgent, allowing you to prepare your finances and family for a potentially chaotic living space and likely disruption of daily operations.

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PERSONAL FINANCE

When you have decided what projects you wish to tackle, be sure to settle on a budget. Setting up a solid budgeting plan will be your guiding light as you decide on what appliances or finishes to select or whether to hire a professional to help out with the project.

As many homeowners know, improvement expenses can add up very quickly, and sometimes there are unexpected costs once a project has been started. For this reason, it’s crucial to incorporate a cushion or contingency in your budget. For example, if you’re renovating your bathroom, be sure to set aside a bit of extra cash to hire a plumber if the project becomes too big to tackle alone.

CREATE A GAME PLAN AND STICK TO IT After you’ve created your budget and know what funds you have to work with, start window shopping, compare prices and read those reviews.

It can be very tempting to head right out to your local home-improvement store 42 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

and start picking out all the materials and supplies that look good to you. However, if you want to save money, it’s crucial that you do your homework.

Once you’ve figured out what you need for materials or appliances, read professional reviews and reviews from other customers online.

Perhaps spending a bit more on one brand of washing machine will be worth it, if the reviews show it will better suit your needs, or perhaps it won’t. That is for you and your budget to decide.

Second, identify the explicit goals you have set aside for making the improvements.

Are you replacing an appliance because it is aged and inefficient? Are you renovating your kitchen because the new design you envision will make you happy? Or are you updating your floors to attract buyers in the near future?

The two-pronged approach of working within a non-negotiable budget and continuing to reflect on the designated purpose of the renovations will help guide you as you build equity.

INVEST IN ENERGYEFFICIENT SOLUTIONS Replacing outdated appliances might seem like a big investment upfront, but it can really pay off in the long run. Updated appliances incorporate technological advancements designed to save resources, such as water or electricity, which ultimately saves you money on your utility bills in the long run, according to energystar.gov.

Even a very small investment, such as swapping out conventional lightbulbs for energy-efficient options, such as halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), or light-emitting diodes (LED), can save the average homeowner about $75 per year, according to energy.gov.

Swapping out old appliances for energy-efficient options around your home is an excellent way to build equity.

If you’re looking to sell or refinance your home in a few years, these updates are a worthwhile investment.

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CONSULT EXPERTS WITH TRAINED EYES I get it. There’s something about doing a project yourself that cultivates a sense of pride.

But there are times when it’s best to consult the experts and dole out the extra cash to do so.

Not all of us are gifted with the eye for design, so if you’re looking to sell your home in the next few years, consider hiring a professional to appraise your home. These real estate professionals can spot everything from potentially problematic appliances to paint colors. Spotting these problems early is particularly important if you live in one of the many charming old Maine homes and could save you tens of thousands when it comes time to sell.

Finally, know when it’s time to call professional help. This is when and why you’ve built the contingency plan into your budget. It can happen all too quickly when you realize you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, no matter how many videos you’ve watched online. But don’t fret. There are lots of professionals in the area who can help you polish off your project. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 43

FEATURE

THE RISE AND FALL OF

MAINE’S HISTORY AS THE “TOOTHPICK CAPITAL OF THE WORLD”

W

BY SAM SCHIPANI

hile most people associate the logging industry in Maine with paper mills, the plentiful forests of Maine provide wood for many products, from yo-yos to cigar lighters. In fact, at one point, one Maine town produced almost the entirety of the nation’s supply of toothpicks.

The tiny town of Strong, population 1,156, in Franklin County was the “toothpick capital of the world.” Though Strong’s hold on the toothpick industry eventually subsided, the story of ingenuity, invention and creative marketing is one to remember.

THE HISTORY OF TOOTHPICKS Toothpicks are not a modern invention. Dental forensics suggest that Neaderthals used rudimentary toothpicking tools. Archaeological records show that some of the earliest civilizations, from Ancient Greece and Rome to China, used ornate toothpicks carved from ivory, bone and silver. Even the Old Testament of “The Bible” says that “one may take a splinter from the wood lying near him to clean his teeth.”

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FEATURE

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As Henry Petroski writes in “The Toothpick: Technology and Culture,” the earliest organized manufacturers of toothpicks were the nuns of the Mondego River valley in Portugal, who made toothpicks to sell alongside sticky confections starting in the 16th century. Eventually, these toothpicks found their way to the Portuguese colony of Brazil.

It was there, according to the 1992 book “Strong, Maine AT THAT TIME, ANY SELF‘Incorporated 1801’: An [sic] Historical Account of the Sandy River Settlement,” compiled by Lewis Brackley RESPECTING FASTIDIOUS and Charles Lisherness, where a Bostonian exporter’s agent named Charles Forster observed “native boys” GENTLEMAN COULD PURCHASE with impressively beautiful teeth selling and using A TOOTHPICK MADE OF BONE, wooden toothpicks.

Forster saw an opportunity.

QUILL, IVORY, GOLD OR SILVER, At that time, any self-respecting fastidious gentleman could purchase a toothpick made of BUT AN INEXPENSIVE DISPOSABLE bone, quill, ivory, gold or silver, but an inexpensive disposable wooden toothpick that you could buy WOODEN TOOTHPICK THAT YOU instead of whittling yourself was unheard of. Unlike COULD BUY INSTEAD OF their hastily made hand-whittled counterparts, the mass-produced wooden toothpick would be of WHITTLING YOURSELF consistent shape and quality and available to the rich and poor alike.

WAS UNHEARD OF. THE AMERICAN TOOTHPICK Forster’s idea was initially met with social derision from both ends of the class spectrum. Why pay for something you can make yourself? Why use a wooden toothpick when you could use a much finer tool?

“You had to have some means to own [toothpicks] generally,” Petroski said. “He had to develop a market for them because you could just take a splinter and use it as a toothpick but he wanted people to buy boxes of them [and] pay money for things you could find around the forest or around the house.”

Forster needed to create demand for his product through a cultural revolution.

According to Brackley and Lisherness, Forster would pay welldressed young men to dine in classy Boston establishments and, upon finishing their meal, ask for a Forster’s wooden toothpick.

The establishment wouldn’t have it and the young men would make a fuss and attract the attention of the manager. This would create the appearance of demand for the products. Forster organized a similar stunt in local shops, entering the store shortly after his actors stormed out and selling his wares wholesale.

“These kids working for Forster basically created the market by asking for them and chewing on them out in the street and lounging around,” Petroski said. “It became fashionable even for women to chew toothpicks.”

Forster’s toothpicks were handmade in Boston throughout the 1850s, but by 1860, he needed to figure out how to keep up with the growing demand. The technology to mass manufacture wooden toothpicks didn’t exist at the time, so Forster partnered with Benjamin Franklin Sturtevant, an inventor who specialized in shoe manufacturing. Together, they developed a process similar to that of mass producing shoe pegs — the wooden nail-shaped spikes that once held shoes together rather than stitching or glue — in order to mass produce toothpicks.

Brackley and Lisherness wrote that “in 1869, [Forster] finally succeeded in developing a machine that was able to produce as www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47

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FEATURE many toothpicks in a single minute as an individual in Portugal could whittle in a day.”

Forster partnered with mechanic Charles Freeman, who also had a background in shoe manufacturing, to perfect the toothpick design: round and pointed at both ends instead of flat as toothpicks often were at the time. “[Forster] owned some of the most important patents,” Petroski said. “A lot of people were making toothpicks, but his were made with a special process that he patented and that’s what gave his company the advantage.”

FORSTER COMES TO MAINE Once Forster had his machines, he had to find suitable wood.

He tried willow, but the wood was small, crooked and rare.

He tried maple, but that had too much fiber and made for splintery toothpicks. Finally, he found white birch, which was pliable, odorless, didn’t splinter and worked perfectly with his machine.

That led him to Maine, where forests filled with white birch awaited.

Originally, Forster had the wood shipped from Maine, but as his operation expanded, he decided to move closer to his raw materials. In 1887, Forster opened his first toothpick mill in an old starch mill on Valley Brook in Strong.

Forster initially employed 20 men and 12 women at his factory operations to work 10 hours a day, six days a week.

Production was seasonal, shutting down when the forest became muddy and wood was too difficult to procure due to lack of logging roads.

Forster’s plants made more than just toothpicks, too.

According to Brackley and Lisherness, Forster’s also made cigar lighters called ‘loco-focos’ from bundles of wood. For a time, a political party was known as the ‘loco-foco party’ because cigar-smoking cronies of Boss Tweed in New York City’s Tammany Hall were lighting their cigars with the type of lighter.

By 1897, demand for Forster products was booming, so Forster purchased a J. W. Porter mill and property near the Strong railroad depot.

Forster died in 1901, but the company continued to grow.

In the 1930s, the company expanded again and moved to yearround production. They purchased new plants in East Wilton, Philips and North Anson (though the factory in North Anson burned to the ground in 1947) to expand products to include items like rolling pins, skewers, candy sticks, ice cream spoons, cocktail sticks and mustard paddles.

THE TOOTHPICK BOOM In World War II, American toothpicks were at their most popular. And Forster’s business was booming in other areas as well.

The company, for instance, supplied tongue blades and applicators for the treatment of servicemen. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49

FEATURE But competition was growing. Competitors sprang up throughout Maine, and even within Strong itself. Still, the town of Strong remained at the center of toothpick production, even emblazoning its fire engines with the words, “Toothpick Capital of the World.” At one point, an estimated 95 percent of toothpicks manufactured in the country were coming out of Strong’s mills, at a rate of 75 billion toothpicks per year.

Kathy and Roger Stanley, a married couple who grew up in and around Strong and still live there today, both worked at the Forster’s during its heyday. Kathy Stanley worked on the ice cream spoon wrapping machine.

“It was a busy job,” she said. “There was a certain smell to it, that wood fiber smell. It was noisy. A lot of people who worked in the mill over the years had hearing trouble.”

Meanwhile, Roger Stanley, whose father and uncle worked at the mill, took a variety of jobs at Forster’s from the time he was 15 in the early 1960s and into the mid1970s, including cleaning the dust house.

“When they fabricate these toothpicks, they run them through these machines called the rounders to sand them down and create points to pick your teeth with,” Roger Stanley said.

“You have to be careful with dust. It’s highly flammable. Every weekend had to be cleaned from the top to the bottom. We had to wear eye glasses and respirators. That was the dirtiest job in the mill [but] we had kind of a fraternity. I was an [alumnus] of the dust house.”

Roger Stanley said that the mill was truly the social heart of the town in this time period.

“One thing that always struck me was a lot of people who went in an hour early to go in and visit and chat with colleagues and have a cup of coffee,” he said. “It was a social phenomenon. There was a big camaradiere. We liked the work and we were proud of the work.”

The Stanleys noted that at one point, Forster’s Manufacturing Co. employed more people than were employable in the town, providing jobs to surrounding areas.

“Even my mother and one of my aunts and my grandmother, who lived in New Sharon in the 1940s [worked in the mill]. The 50 / BANGOR METRO May 2021

mill provided the bus and it would bring them up to Strong to work in the mill doing shift work,” Kathy Stanley said. “People would come in from the other towns. It was pretty booming for quite a while.”

THE TOOTHPICK BUST The 1980s was the beginning of the toothpick’s fall from grace. Dental floss and other oral hygiene products were deemed better for your gums and cut into the toothpick market, as did cheaper toothpick imports from China and Southeast Asia.

“IT WAS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON. THERE WAS A BIG CAMARADIERE. WE LIKED THE WORK AND WE WERE PROUD OF THE WORK.”

“Like everything else, the Chinese do it cheaper,” Petroski said. “It was a no brainer for a lot of people. They didn’t think that toothpicks had much of an intrinsic value.

They’re just a throwaway item.”

Over time, picking one’s teeth at the table became a social faux pas as well.

In 1986, the famed “Dear Abby” column condemned public toothpick use, calling it “crude, inconsiderate and a show of bad manners.”

The demand for toothpicks continued to drop precipitously. By the 1990s, only a few toothpick companies remained in America. As demand declined,

Strong’s plants tried to innovate. The Forster firm invented toothpicks with square middles that prevented them rolling off the table, and continued to diversify the wood products it produced.

It wasn’t enough.

“In Maine, they diversified but almost exclusively within the wooden novelty items [like] toothpicks, clothespins [and other] very small stuff, all things replaced by cheaper counterparts coming out of China,” Petroski said. “I think that the toothpick industry in Maine relied too heavily on little products.

There was a continuing decrease in demand and use for those kinds of things because they were replaced with plastic and other materials that function just as effectively.”

The Forster Manufacturing Company’s last mill closed in 2003. Today, the former toothpick capital of the world does not manufacture a single toothpick. In 2008, Geneva Wood Fuels bought the mill and now produces hardwood pellet fuel. They employ less than 20 people in raw material receiving and processing, pellet production, packaging and distribution, unlike the hundreds of people that were once employed at Forster’s.

“Strong kind of lost its soul in a sense,” said Roger Stanley. “We have kind of become a bedroom community. That changes things when people don’t work in the town. You don’t have personal connections.”

Like other mill towns in Maine, losing the toothpick factory in Strong has left a social, economic and cultural void in the town.

“The story of Strong is the story of 200 other towns in Maine,” Roger Stanley said.

“We had a nice town. We still do, [but] our story is very much like other towns.”

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FEATURE

The history of the

MAINE FLAG IS IT TIME TO BRING BACK THE 1901 DESIGN?

BY CRYSTAL SANDS

M

aine became a state in 1820 but didn’t have a state flag until 1901.

That original flag flew for just eight years before being replaced by the state with the flag that continues to be flown today.

But the story of the Maine flag is more complex than we might think. The history of the Maine state flag involves three flags and a lot of varying opinions about what a state flag should be.

The original Maine flag was officially approved by state legislators in March of 1901.

There are no records of what the official original flag looked like, but the legislation that was passed described what the flag should look like.

The legislative document states that the flag should feature a “buff” background with “a pine tree proper in the center” and “the polar star…in blue in the upper corner.”

Though there are photographs in private collections, the description of the flag leaves some room for interpretation, which has led to a variety of modern-day versions of the original flag.

Although this flag wasn’t the official flag for the state of Maine for long, the design of the flag remains a beloved symbol of the state.

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Original Maine, owned by Chris Korzen with his wife, Bethany Field, began as the Maine Flag Company in 2013. The company was the first to reproduce a version of the original flag for sale to the public. Today, Original Maine remains the only company that makes the flags here in Maine.

Korzen said he thinks the old Maine flag is so popular today because we “are in need of a good symbol we can take beyond our borders.”

And although the current state flag is important, more than a dozen other states have flags almost identical to Maine’s official state flag, Korzen said.

The uniqueness of the original flag may be driving its continued popularity. Flags are important symbols for people, Korzen said. They represent “who we were and who we are.”

The old Maine flag was removed as the official state flag of Maine on February 23, 1909. Civil War veterans in the state legislature wanted a flag similar to battle flags from the war, and wanted the state flag to be blue, to represent the Union blue.

The 1909 flag — Maine’s present state flag — is blue with a shield in the center featuring a moose and a pine tree. On each side of the shield, a farmer and a seaman stand. In the center at the top, there

(Above) The original Maine flag design from 1901, which has recently gained popularity.

(At left) Maine’s current flag, which was made official in 1909.

(Below) Maine’s other state flag, the merchant and marine flag, designed to be recognizable from far away and flown over the water.

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FEATURE is a small star. Across the star reads the word “Dirigo,” Latin for “I lead.”

Many Mainers may not be aware of it, but this is not Maine’s only state flag.

The state is one of two to have a second flag (Massachusetts is the other state).

The merchant and marine flag, designed to be easily recognizable from far away, is meant to be flown over the water. It features a green pine tree in the center of a white background with an anchor in front.

The word “Dirigo” is across the top of this flag as well, with the word “Maine” underneath the pine tree.

Still, the old Maine flag remains a favorite of the people of Maine. While Original Maine started out as a small business producing Maine flags, the company now sells t-shirts, tea towels, hats, stickers and more featuring the old Maine flag.

And, as the first company to begin making and selling old Maine flags, Original Maine has done much to solidify its design in the people of Maine’s hearts and mind, Korzen said.

“Because some of the details of the original Maine flag were not spelled out in the statute [we aimed for a design that was] both historically accurate and producible,” Korzen said.

The husband-and-wife team used the pine tree from the maritime flag as the basis for their design.

This version of the old Maine flag is now widely used by a variety of companies.

Senator Susan Collins’s old Maine flag face mask she has been seen wearing publicly follows this design.

The surge in popularity has led to efforts to make the old Maine flag the official state flag once again. In 2019, a bill was introduced in the Maine state Legislature to do just that. Although there was a lot of support for the change initially, the bill died in committee after outcry about the change.

There’s another push to make a change this year as well. In 2021, Legislative Document 115 was introduced in the state legislature to try to restore the original design. The bill summary states that it “replaces the current State of Maine flag with the flag that was in use before 1909.”

Although it remains to be seen what will happen with the current bill, one thing is clear: there is something about the old Maine flag that speaks to people.

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Bethany Field sews an original state flag together in her India Street neighborhood studio in Portland in 2018.

PHOTO: BDN FILE

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A Little SELF CARE Goes a LONG WAY THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF CARE FOR THE CAREGIVERS

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BY JULIA BAYLY

hen Patty Pendergast moved her mother from Greenwich, Connecticut, to her Thorndike homestead to care for her a year and a half ago, she went in with her eyes wide open. She knew if she did not make time for herself, she’d be no good to herself or her mother.

“There was never any doubt in my mind I would take care of my mom when the time came,” Pendergast said. “But there are not many Hallmark moments.”

Her 88-year-old mother Elenaor has dementia, so that means Pendergast, 66, handles her finances, medical appointments, feeding and more intimate needs like bathing and personal care.

“This is not just a half hour a day,” Pendergast said. “There are times when I’m up at 2 a.m. when she is sick or confused and wandering around the house feeling anxious.”

In a very real way, Pendergast said, the roles between she and her mom are now reversed. She now acts as the parent to her mom. Through it all, Pendergast makes sure she is taking time for herself so she does not burn out. Her homestead’s daily chore list provides the perfect opportunity to spend time away from caregiving.

“Have you seen my greenhouse?” she jokes. “I spend a great deal of time in there and outside with my goats and chickens.”

She also reserves Wednesday nights for herself so she can volunteer with her local planning board and budget committee. All of this is possible, she said, because she arranged for private health care professionals to come in on a regular basis to take over caregiving activities when she is not around.

“That’s a cool thing about Maine,” Pendergast said. “There are a lot of elder services out there.”

Pendergast said she is also able to get intellectual and social stimulation from a global network of friends.

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“I have a lot of really smart friends,” she said. “When I feel like I am starting to lose my mind, I have people all over the world I can call day or night and having a phone is a real gift in those times.”

Finding yourself responsible for meeting the physical, mental and spiritual needs of another person totally dependent on you can take up a lot of your time and energy. That’s why caring for yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver.

Unfortunately, it’s often one of the most neglected.

But mental health experts agree that when the caregivers’ needs are met, the person receiving the care also benefits.

A caregiver who doesn’t take time for themselves risks physical and emotional exhaustion. That, according to Angela Fileccia, social worker and manager of Northern Light Acadia Hospital’s healthy life resources program, can lead to what is known as caregiver burnout, a very real mental and physical condition. Untreated, chronic stresses associated with caregiving can actually trigger the release of certain hormones in the body that lead to fatigue, irritability, a weakened immune system, digestive issues, headaches, body pain and weight gain.

“There can be a feeling of never doing enough,” Fileccia said. “There can also be feelings of guilt when the caregiver wishes they could take time off.”

There are a number of ways caregivers can practice effective self care, according to Fileccia. And it doesn’t need to be overly complicated or time consuming.

“People can get stuck on this idea of self care being this big event like a whole day at a spa or a big vacation,” Fillecia said. “Those things are nice but if you are a primary caregiver, they may not always be realistic.”

Instead, caregivers can provide themselves with what Fileccia calls “micro self care.” Even spending five minutes several times a day focusing on yourself can make a huge beneficial difference, she said.

“This ‘micro self care’ can be as simple as taking those five minutes to make sure you are meeting your own basic needs,” Fileccia said. “It can be the time you are taking to make sure to drink enough water, eat properly or getting a short walk in for some fresh air — all of those things can go a long way toward your wellbeing.”

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BUT MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS AGREE THAT WHEN THE CAREGIVERS’ NEEDS ARE MET, THE PERSON RECEIVING THE CARE ALSO BENEFITS.

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FEATURE As a caregiver sometimes you need to be your own motivational coach, Fileccia said.

“We underestimate the power of self talk,” she said. “You want to counter the negative thoughts you have about taking time for self care by reminding yourself that ‘If I take this five minute break to walk around the yard I will be more available to my loved one.’”

That means practicing self-compassion as part of your self care routine, according to the “Self Care for the Caregiver” report published online by Harvard Medical School. “Being kind to yourself is the foundation to self care,” according to the report. “Self-compassion means giving yourself credit for the tough, complex work of caregiving, stepping away from the selfcritical, harsh inner voice and allowing yourself time — even if it’s just a few minutes a day — to take care of yourself.”

While small acts of self care practiced regularly are important, longer breaks are also important, Fileccia said.

“That break or reprieve is essential,” she said. “It allows you to disconnect from your daily routine and concentrate on yourself.”

It can be tricky, she said, especially if your loved one can’t be left alone. But there are resources, including local Area Agencies on Aging, that can help you locate services that provide respite care.

“This means you can find someone to either check in on your loved one when you are away or stay with them,” Fileccia said.

“That can give you peace of mind while you are away.”

Pendergast takes those micro self care breaks every day, and said they are crucial.

“I go out and dig in my garden,” she said. “I can recharge just by standing outside and listening to the woodcocks.”

Pendergast has a set routine with her mother that helps reduce any confusion the older woman may experience. At the same time, she is fully prepared for any number of things to disrupt her planning. There are times, for example, when Pendergast has to cancel or reschedule her own plans if her mom is sick.

That kind of flexibility is crucial, according to Fileccia. Holding yourself to a strict and rigid daily schedule can actually sabotage the best self care intentions, Fileccia said. She’s not downplaying the importance of having a routine, but she said it is just as important to cut yourself some slack if something throws a wrench into your scheducle.

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“Certainly design a schedule but don’t become so attached to it that if it gets derailed it sends you for a loop,” she said.

“Think of everything as an endless draft that may need revisions and that way you will get less stressed when a schedule becomes revised.”

Another important part of self care, according to Fileccia, is maintaining social connections with people outside of the caregiving setting. Spending time with friends, family or engaging in outside activities is critical to maintaining mental health and avoiding feelings of isolation.

At the same time, interacting with people also involved with caregiving can be very helpful.

According to the Harvard study spending time with other caregivers will help you realize you are not alone and there are others going through similar experiences. That, in turn, promotes the ability to be self-compassionate.

“We humans value that social interaction and camaraderie with someone who is going through the same thing as we are,” Fileccia said. “We need that understanding and support.”

There are a variety of support groups out there for caregivers, Fileccia said, in addition to online forums and social media groups devoted to caregiving. She recommends contacting your local Area Agency on Aging for a list of support resources. The national organization Family Caregiver Alliance also has some excellent tips and resources for finding support groups and practicing self care at www.caregiver.org.

Becoming adept at self care does not come easily for some, Fileccia said. But by taking it in baby steps, you can learn to carve out that time for yourself. Part of that is starting to identify those obstacles to self care — like feelings of guilt or the desire to “do it all.” Once you do, you can start changing that behavior one small step at a time.

Mental health experts compare caregiver self care to the rules covering oxygen mask use on a plane. Everyone knows you are supposed to put your own mask on before helping anyone else. That’s because you can only be of help when you’re getting what you need.

“Once you start practicing self care you are going to be refreshed and able to care for your loved one as your best self,” Fileccia said. “Ultimately, that is what people want.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

WOODS & WATERS

The Controversy Surrounding

MAINE’S DAMS

HOW MAINE DAMS CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE

BY BOB DUCHESNE

NOBODY KNOWS EXACTLY how many dams there are in Maine. There are over 750 that are at least two feet high, and hundreds of smaller ones.

Of all the manmade structures that have transformed Maine since European settlement, dams may be the most consequential, re-routing rivers and creating lakes. They’ve also created controversy, then and now.

Ancient cultures used hydropower to grind grain. Later, waterwheels powered sawmills, textiles, tanneries and other mechanical operations. Dams determined the location of many Maine villages, which grew into the larger communities we see on the map today. Deep in the Maine forest, dams diverted water for driving logs to mills. Even today, some streams that once flowed north, now flow south to where the mills once operated.

Hydroelectric dams transformed huge swaths of Maine, transforming the Maine economy as well. First among these was the Edwards Dam in Augusta, constructed in 1837 and finally removed in 1999. In 1916, a dam was completed on the West Branch of the Penobscot River above Ripogenus Gorge to supply power to the paper mill in Millinocket. Look at a Maine map today, you will see a single large body of water impounded by the dam, but containing four different place names. That’s because the raised water level made one huge lake out of Chesuncook, Caribou and Ripogenus Lakes, and Moose Pond.

Around the time dams were being built on the Penobscot River, Waterville native Walter Wyman began consolidating many small hydroelectric companies into one large one — Central Maine Power — and began transforming the Kennebec River. The company built Wyman Dam in Moscow in 1939, turning five square miles of river valley into Wyman Lake. To store more water for this dam, CMP constructed Long Falls Dam on the Dead River in 1950, creating Flagstaff

WHILE HYDROPOWER OFFERED CHEAPER, RENEWABLE ENERGY, NOT ALL THE NEGATIVES WERE WELL-UNDERSTOOD.

PHOTOS: RUSS DILLINGHAM/SUN JOURNAL VIA AP

Workers clean up hazardous materials and remove the Mill Street Dam in Lisbon, Maine in 2019, in an effort to return the river to its original flow in hopes that salmon will return to the river.

Lake, at the controversial cost of submerging two villages. Two years later, CMP built the Harris Station Dam on the Kennebec.

Most dam construction occurred prior to environmental laws.

While hydropower offered cheaper, renewable energy, not all the negatives were well-understood. Dams blocked searun fish from reaching their spawning beds, leading to the near extinction of onceprolific species, notably the Atlantic salmon.

Dams altered water temperatures, affecting aquatic life, and potentially backing up silt onto spawning grounds. In the 1970s and 80s, major projects proposed for the Penobscot and St. John Rivers proved too controversial. The projects were scuttled.

Nowadays, dams are intensely regulated and difficult to license. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees hydropower projects, in consultation with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which regulates water quality and associated water levels. The Maine Emergency Management Agency supervises dam safety. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife over-

sees protection of wildlife habitat behind dams, while the Department of Marine Resources gets involved when a dam affects sea-run fish in front of them. Repairs and re-licensing of existing dams present daunting challenges.

Dam owners are not legally required to maintain their dams, but they may be compelled to do so by a water level order or permit. If a dam fails, the owner could face huge liability for damage to life and property.

Owners may seek DEP permission to relinquish dam ownership, but they must do so in consultation with shorefront property owners, municipalities and affected Indian tribes.

Fast forward to today. Many dams are antiquated, costly to maintain, potentially dangerous, and no longer serve their original purpose. Yet they are an integral part of Maine’s infrastructure.

The lakes they created are now rimmed with homeowners, whose property value is defined by the shoreline.

Water levels are a persistent source of controversy. Too low, and submerged rocks are a hazard to boating. Too high, and residents lose their beaches.

Anglers occasionally defend dams that block sea-run fish passage, fearing the effect it might have on their freshwater species.

Conversely, lobstermen support river restoration efforts, because sea-run alewives and herring have been a traditional source of cheap bait for their traps. Meanwhile, the costs of maintaining water levels are borne by the dam owners who may no longer get any benefit. In some cases, a town may wish to take over the responsibility. But if a lake spans more than one town, the likelihood of finding an equitable way to share the expense is close to nil.

Today, the regulatory priority is on removing major dams that are obsolete. We can expect smaller dams to make headlines in the years to come, as they age, deteriorate, and transform Maine once again.

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

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THE VIEW FROM HERE

MY DAUGHTER IS MY MOTHER

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BY EMILY MORRISON

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As for your run-of-the-mill mom deets, she does all her homework, creates color coded check lists, exercises everyday, and avoids all animal products (even in her shampoo). I, on the other hand, went vegan for three days this past summer and on the fourth day I died.

Life without bacon or cheese isn’t life.

The beautiful thing about Addie is that she wants everyone else’s life to be better.

Whenever someone’s beating themselves up in her presence she naturally tells them all the ways they should be proud of who they are. And she doesn’t do this because she thinks she should — she does it because she genuinely wants to be that voice, the one that praises people and builds them up.

I often marvel at how someone so classy and wise and smart and loving and kind and aesthetically and athletically gifted came from me.

Back when she was a mischievous one-year-old, I watched her take her first steps in the library of our high school then take a nap under a table while her dad and I were painting the corner office.

It seems impossible to me now that in a month we’ll watch her take her last steps at the same school. How can I possibly tell her how much I’ve loved every step in between? How can I let her know that wherever she goes next year and all the years after that I’ll be with her still? That I’ll miss her mothering me?

I’m thinking about buying one of those airstreams, packing up the fam, and parking on her front lawn so she can continue taking care of us.

Actually, the more I think about it, I think I’ve figured out why Addie turned out so well. She had no other choice but to have all the mom skills I was lacking. She had no other option but to be amazing at everything, and I love her for raising me.

She taught me how to be a mother.

PHOTO: ©FIZKES/ADOBE STOCK

MY OLDEST DAUGHTER, Addie, has every adult trait I’ve never developed. Though I’m 42 and she’s 17, I actually suspect we’re the real life version of that “Freaky Friday” movie with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan (without the weird curse).

To put it simply, Addie is a natural mom.

For example, my son Jack is 13 and going through a real growth spurt (he eats whatever isn’t nailed down). Most mornings I hear Addie tell Jack, “You can’t eat chips and salsa for breakfast.”

The thing is, I’m the one who nicely put the salsa in a bowl before she came along and crashed our fiesta. Ay yi yi.

Sometimes she’ll say to him, “Why are you eating a hot dog at 10 in the morning?” when, you guessed it, I’m the one who put the pig in the blanket.

I figure the weiner’s like sausage, the bread’s like toast, the ketchup’s like jam, so it’s basically a breakfast sandwich, right?

Sadly, Addie does not agree.

Looking back, all the signs she’d major in nutritional science have always been there, because honestly, it boils down to survival. If this is my idea of a nutritious breakfast, someone had to know better.

Here’s another fun adult fact about Addie — to my knowledge she’s never said a mean word or curse word to or about anybody.

In fact, it’s her math teacher’s life goal to get Addie to swear one time before she graduates.

For living in a small mill town, she’s seriously minus the vocabulary.

Then, there are other mom things she does. Like when she tells me to lower the volume on my music because I usually listen to my jams at an obnoxiously loud level without earbuds. Afterwards, she’ll always apologize and say, “Sorry, I’m in a mood.”

This is my clue Addie has a headache because she has to be in real physical pain before she “gets in a mood.” For the record, I’ve never seen said mood.

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EMILY MORRISON is a high school English teacher, freelance writer and editor from coastal Maine. She is living happily-ever-after with her handsome husband, three beautiful children and two beloved dogs. And a cat.

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