Bangor Metro - September 2020

The

Aging Issue CHOO S IN G T H E B E ST CA RE

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR AGING LOVED ONE

SELF-CARE FOR CAREGIVERS RETIREMENT & THE ART OF BEING

IN THE KITCHEN WITH GRANDMA

&

RECIPES THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

Take a Visit to

STATE FAIRS THROUGH THE YEARS

$5.95

September 2020

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 2020

FEATURES 39

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

Tips on choosing the right care for your aging loved ones

44

TAKE CARE

How caregivers can practice self-care

49 RETIREMENT & THE ART OF BEING Going from “human doing” to “human being”

50

PARTY ON, AT HOME

Planning the ultimate girls’ night in

39

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

21

HIKE ME

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local news & sightings

12

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

56

GET OUT

64

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Facing the monsters under the bed

ON THE COVER The ferris wheel at the 1932 Bangor State Fair.

Original photo courtesy of Richard Shaw

2 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

PHOTOS: (TOP) ©CONTRASTWERKSTATT/ADOBE STOCK; (BOTTOM) AISLINN SARNACKI

Visit Camden, a true jewel of the midcoast

ARTS & CULTURE 10

PICTURE DAY

How will they see us in the future?

FOOD & DRINK 16

IN SEASON NOW

18

PRESERVING MEMORIES

Recipes for your apple picking bounty

Time-tested baking tips and recipes

HEALTH & FITNESS 21

HIKE ME

Hike and hunt for mushrooms

HOME & FAMILY 28

OUT WITH THE OLD

32

FAIR-WEATHER MEMORIES

How to part with family heirlooms

A look back at Maine agricultural fairs

OUTSIDE 62

WOODS & WATERS

Jackman, Maine is more than a speedbump

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

The AgiISSUE ng PANCAKES ARE COOKING in a hot pan in the kitchen, the scent of butter on metal permeating the air. The sizzle of bacon rises up, providing a soundtrack to the morning. Silverware clinks together.

Plates hit the table.

It’s morning in my house.

But is this 1984 or 2020? It could be either. Sounds like these are the ubiquitous ones that follow us through life. Just as my family growing up would sometimes make pancakes and bacon for weekend breakfasts so does my family now — my kids and I. Different people inhabit the kitchen. Different cooks stand at the stove. But the result is the same: a homemade meal meant to share.

AGING IS A LOT LIKE THIS. THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE, DIFFERENT PEOPLE INHABIT THE SPACES IN YOUR DAYS. FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, ACQUAINTANCES, TEACHERS, COWORKERS, BOSSES … THEY COME. AND THEN THEY GO. BUT THE VERY BEST ONES REMAIN WITH YOU — IN BODY, SPIRIT OR BOTH — FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. As we approached The Aging Issue of Bangor Metro, I knew what I didn’t want: an issue that focused too much on the march to death that people associate with the word “aging.” Instead, I wanted to focus on living well as you reach your late 40s and beyond.

Inside these pages, you’ll find lessons from our grandmothers on baking (page 18), which doubles as a reminder that we’re never too old to learn from each other. You’ll also find a story about family heirlooms, and whether it’s okay to part with them (page 28). The process of doing so can carry an emotional toll, but we don’t have to let it. And there’s a pair of stories just for caregivers — looking at choosing the right care for your loved ones (page 38) and taking care of yourself (page 44). Plus, there’s food, history, hiking and more.

I hope you find something useful and interesting in these pages that helps you live well, regardless of your age.

BEST,

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro bangormetro talkback@bangormetro.com 4 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

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

Comprehensive Care at one of the country’s most awarded Rural Hospitals. @carymedicalcenter

800-858-2279 · 498-3111 www.carymedicalcenter.org

163 Van Buren Road · Caribou, ME 04736 Cary is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

STAFF WRITER

Rosemary Lausier rlausier@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Aislinn Sarnacki asarnacki@bangordailynews.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah Cottrell, Bob Duchesne, Meg Haskell, Jodi Hersey, Emily Morrison, Todd Nelson, Sam Schipani, Richard Shaw, Katie Smith www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

6 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT'S YOUR

Bangor Metro Magazine. September 2020, Vol. 16, No. 7.

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.

Favorite Thing ABOUT SEPTEMBER IN MAINE?

“

September is one of my favorite times to kayak, hike and bike in Maine. The temperature is usually warm with a refreshing cool breeze. Leaves on the trees are turning vibrant colors. Mushrooms are popping up all over the place. There are fewer biting flies. In many lakes and ponds, the water remains warm from the hot days of July and August. It’s a beautiful and comfortable time to be outdoors.”

— AISLINN SARNACKI, STAFF WRITER

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.

“Endless apples at the farmers market. Most weeks, I have a hard time deciding whether I want to try one of the seemingly infinite varieties available to sample or buy a big bag of one of my tried-and-true favorites (Gingergold for early September, Honeycrisp as the month goes on), so I wind up doing both.”

— SAM SCHIPANI, STAFF WRITER

“Farmers markets! September at Maine farmers markets means fresh tomatoes, winter and summer squash and so much more. It’s my very favorite time because there’s so much good, locally grown food to be had.”

— SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

1

2

HAPPY FALL!

School’s in session — time to challenge yourself with these Pop Quiz trivia questions!

1: The Down East Community Hospital Auxiliary has hosted an annual Employee Recognition Tea to say thank you and honor all hospital employees for many years.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s event is not possible, however, the Auxiliary still wishes to recognize these dedicated employees. This year, the Auxiliary is honoring two front-line departments essential to the operation of the hospital: the Environmental Services Department and the Nursing Department.

2: Maine Savings recently celebrated the 30th work anniversary of its President/CEO John Reed. Through the years, Reed has been vitally instrumental in the growth and success of Maine Savings, including spearheading the founding of CUSO Home Lending in 1993 and founding Business Lending Solutions — a commercial lending division in 2004. Maine Savings has grown to include 11 branches, 116 employees, 30,528 members, and assets of $498 million.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ALWAYS CALL AHEAD OR CHECK WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 FIRE OF 1911 WALKING TOUR

Join the Bangor Historical Society on a walking tour of downtown Bangor that will reveal the history of the Fire of 1911. Begins at the Bangor Historical Society/Thomas A. Hill House, 159 Union St., Bangor, at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per person. Masks and social distancing required.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 THE FOCUS GROUP

Improvisational comedy returns to the Bangor Arts Exchange with a performance

by The Focus Group. Tickets start at $5 and groups will be seated in pods per CDC guidelines. Doors open at 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 MAINE AT 200: HOW SHOULD LIFE BE?

Rockland Public Library in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council is hosting this online discussion that will focus on important questions about life in Maine.

This live discussion begins at 2:30 p.m.

Visit rocklandlibrary.org for details.

JUNE 23 Bangor Pride Festival & Parade

SEPTEMBER 25-27 COMMON GROUND FAIR ONLINE

Common Ground Fair festivities will go online this year with three days of live, educational programming, virtual marketplace and more. Visit mofga.org/The-Fair.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 FAVORITE MAINE HIKES TALK

Brewer Public Library will be hosting author Greg Westrich for a talk about his favorite Maine hikes. The event begins at 6 p.m.

THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY TOURS

Built in 1834, Bangor’s 300 acre Mount Hope Cemetery is the nation’s second oldest garden cemetery. During this tour by the Bangor Historical Society, learn little known facts about some of Bangor’s famous — and infamous – residents as well as information about the importance of symbolism in the gravestones. This tour meets at the Superintendent’s House at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 1048 State Street, Bangor.

Tickets are $10 per person. Masks and social distancing required.

Answers to this month’s Pop Quiz on page 8: Question 1: C; Q2: B; Q3: B; Q4: A; Q5: A. 8 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

ARTS & CULTURE

PICTURE DAY HOW WILL THEY SEE US IN THE FUTURE?

BY TODD R. NELSON

10 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

think of ours? What were their recess games? What was their political and cultural “blog?” What were the hot button town issues of the day — parking on Main Street, granite curbing, or horse manure? Who did they vote for: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes? Might any of them have heard Lincoln’s voice?

Were they present at the Civil War monument dedication, across from the school on the elmranked town common? Was the stern principal, perhaps, a veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic?

I want to peer beyond the frame of the photo, past its two dimensions, to see the neighboring houses, the schoolyard, or the interior of the building that feels so familiar to modern students. Old photos convey a rich sense of place, of the certain consciousness of one’s sense of self and of one’s relationship to the group, and to time and to community.

However, we tend to forget the future community at whom we gaze in the casual immediacy of our temporal “frame.” History is our frame, and it’s interesting to peer around its edges. The flatness of our digital world hastens the onrush of the future, but confines it to the same dimensions.

In some latter day Castine, the future will inspect us, our shade, our nonchalance, our coats and ties and hats in the school photo taken on the same steps. They will not see boys in the attic window — liability shift — but our moment before the camera, before the time-honored façade of the old building, will look and feel customary.

“Who were they?” they’ll wonder, looking at 54 students and their teachers on the front porch in October 2005.

“What were they like?” they’ll ask as they review the old yearbooks, or wonder at the old town reports and a school and town

I WANT TO PEER BEYOND THE FRAME OF THE PHOTO, PAST ITS TWO DIMENSIONS, TO SEE THE NEIGHBORING HOUSES, THE SCHOOLYARD, OR THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING THAT FEELS SO FAMILIAR TO MODERN STUDENTS.

budget that seems a pittance by their contemporary standards, just as the 1870 budget seems a pittance to us.

“What was that young boy in the front row thinking!” as he mugged for the camera, or the girl in row two whispering to her neighbor.

Why is that kid holding a giant zucchini?

Why is the principal kneeling? There is always a shy girl, a brash boy, a distracting, errant curl or untimely gust, or nudge; a comment just too good to wait. “Smile!

Cheese!” Click. Time stops.

They’ll live on our land, in our houses, and attend our school as the heirs of this place, this light, our names. Too bad we can’t see them in their Halloween costumes. The future always has the advantage of us there. Things change, and nothing changes. Hopefully, the same bell will ring in the cupola. And a few elms will persist, survivors of a doomed race.

Todd R. Nelson was Adams School principal from 2004 to 2010.

PHOTOS: (OLDEST) COURTESY OF TODD NELSON; (NEWER) ROSEMARY WYMAN

THE SUNLIGHT LOOKS the same as it does today on a spring or early autumn afternoon. The front of the school shines, the shadows cling to the posed figures in the usual spots, and the shade line remains close to where we would see it now. There is even a familiar casualness and relaxed demeanor to this group of teachers and students gathered for the Adams School all-school photo … circa 1870.

The two boys in the third-floor window effect a surprisingly jaunty posture, though it must have been a little harrowing perching up there. Perhaps they were assigned the task of ringing the cupola bell, the same bell that we too like to ring on the first and last days of school.

And that shadowy, Lincolnesque man in the stovepipe hat? Who was he? The principal?

I loved looking at this photo of my school, the oldest continually operating public school in the United States. Built in 1855, it consolidated the little outlying oneroom schoolhouses. I imagine it was taken on picture day. The Adams School students and teachers had been herded to the front steps — and windows and doors — to stand still, smile, and gaze into the camera … gaze into the future. Like we do. Little did they know they were gazing at us. They seem a bit disorganized, somewhat less practiced at taking group photos. Was it a rare occasion?

In our day, the wide-brimmed felt hats on the students, and the stovepipe hats on the men, are replaced by baseball caps. We don’t see many dresses and petticoats, vests, long suit coats and ties during school hours. Fashion changes; deeper commonalities persist. We live on their land, in their houses, and attend their school. We are the heirs of this place, of their harbor, of this very light. Their names persist among contemporary townspeople.

Too bad we can’t see them in their Halloween costumes. And what would they

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

OBSESSIONS

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

EAT CHICKEN NACHOS AT HAPPY ENDINGS

RIDE WHY DO WE LOVE IT? One of the great things about Maine is that we have daily access to so many things people can only do on vacation.

So when I feel like exploring on two wheels, all I need to do is load my bike, helmet and other cycling gear into my car and within an hour I can be a trailhead of some prime biking trails.

Most recently, a friend and I drove about an hour north to the Penobscot River Trails, a 15-mile network of some of the nicest mountain biking trails I’ve ridden in Maine.

The trails — also groomed in the winter for cross country skiing and snowshoeing — are just north of Medway on Route 11. All trails start at the visitor’s center where you are asked to sign in and out. From there you can select routes that take you along a rolling course that parallels the river or follow the wider carriage trails. Thanks to connector trails, you can also easily ride all or some sections of both routes.

The trails are wonderfully maintained, gentle, well marked and offer stunning views around each bend. If you go pack some water, some snacks and be sure to bring your camera to record your cycling adventures.

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Among my favorite comfort foods are nachos.

I mean come on, what’s better than layers of cornchips, cheese, vegetables, sour cream and more cheese heated into something that is both deliciously gooey and satisfyingly crunchy all at the same time?

These days when I need a nachos fix I head to Happy Endings, 32 Main Street in Bangor, for the chicken nachos. Not content to offer a runof-the mill cheese and chips combo, at Happy Endings they toss on tender white meat chicken that has been marinated in Maine Man Flavahs’ Wild Blueberry Habanero Hot Sauce.

The final product is drizzled with more Maine Man Flavahs barbecue sauce and sour cream. It’s spicy, crunchy, gooey and totally delicious.

— JULIA BAYLY

— JULIA BAYLY

PHOTOS: (TRAIL SIGN) AISLINN SARNACKI; (OTHERS) ©MIZINA, ©KMFDM1/ADOBE STOCK

PENOBSCOT RIVER TRAILS

12 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

OBSESSIONS

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

READ “ARTICLES OF INTEREST” PODCAST WHY DO WE LOVE IT? The podcast “Articles of Interest” just came out with a second season.

I was already fan of the fashionfocused podcast — not “what-towear” fashion, mind you, but rather, “why-we-wear-what-we-wear” — hosted by Avery Trufelman, but this season really knocked it out of the park. All the episodes are excellent, but the ones about perfume and suits introduced me to worlds that I had never even considered and opened my eyes to how much thought goes into the tiny details that we so easily ignore every day.

— SAM SCHIPANI

Every month, many new books cross my desk. I purchase even more. These are a few that I particularly enjoyed and recommend. This month, the books are all about writers.

“HELLO, SUMMER,” BY MARY KAY ANDREWS — Conley left behind her family’s small weekly newspaper years ago. But when her big new job falls through at the last moment, she finds herself back there and helping to write about the death of a congressman. The more she digs into his past, the more questions arise. The beloved war hero has a shady past filled with both small town scandal and big time secrets. Is her family’s paper ready to expose him?

As a journalist, I loved the pace of this novel that unraveled secrets as Conley dug deeper and deeper. But this is also a story of sisterhood, families and things left behind. It’s a good porch read. (FICTION) “HIDDEN PLACES,” BY JOSEPH A. CONFORTI — Maine writers have explored the nuances of Maine’s communities and culture through fiction throughout history.

From the North Woods to the lobstering communities, mill towns to the unincorporated townships, Maine has been a setting for so many great works. This book traces the representation of the state through works of fiction, with thought-provoking commentary. This is a little academic in nature, but if you are interested in Maine’s landscape of literature, it’s worth a read. (NONFICTION) “WRITERS & LOVERS,” BY LILY KING — Casey doesn’t have a plan. She’s a writer who has just lost her mother to an unexpected death. And she’s just undergone a brutal breakup too. While her friends are getting married or otherwise pursuing success outside creative pursuits, she is still determined to make it as a writer. That’s why she’s living in a tiny apartment and waiting tables and pursuing her novel writing. This novel is a beautifully written snapshot of life as an aspiring writer. Very engaging. (fiction) —SARAH WALKER CARON

14 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

PHOTO: ©ART_PHOTO, ©SENSAY, ©PIXEL-SHOT / ADOBE STOCK

LISTEN

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

in season now

FOOD & DRINK

APPLES

STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON

AUTUMN IN MAINE means many things. The tourists have headed home and popular attractions are still open, so we get to enjoy favorite spots without the crowds. We trade our swimsuits for sweaters, and light fires in the evenings.

And we head to apple orchards for the annual picking of the apples.

In the kitchen, we cook with warm flavors — pumpkins and squash, late season tomatoes cooked into sauces and apples flavored with cinnamon.

It’s delightful.

There are so many ways to use the apples of autumn, but some of my favorites are of the treat variety: applesauce, apple cookies and apple cobbler, to name a few.

I do hope these recipes inspire you to get into the kitchen this month.

APPLE COBBLER RECIPE Serves 4-6

INGREDIENTS 4 cups fresh apple chunks (do not peel) ¼ cup light brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp fresh ground nutmeg

BISCUIT TOPPING 1 cup all purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp kosher salt 2 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks 1⁄3 cup milk

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a 2-quart square glass baking dish, combine the apple chunks, brown suagr, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir well and spread out.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, sugar and cinnamon. Using either two knives or a pastry cutter, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk until the dough holds together.

Turn the dough out onto a floured board and gently knead until it forms a smooth dough. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough into a square approximately the size of the glass baking dish. Gently transfer it to top the apples.

Slide the baking dish into the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, until bubbling at the sides and golden on top. This is delightful served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

ICED APPLE OATMEAL COOKIES Yields 3 dozen

INGREDIENTS 1 cup unsalted butter, softened ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar 2 apples, cored and shredded 2 cup all purpose flour 2 cup rolled oats 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp kosher salt ½ cup hot water

GLAZE 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tbsp milk ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter and sugars and cream together until smooth. Add the apples and mix well to combine.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, oats, baking soda and salt. With the stand mixer running on its lowest speed, add the flour mixture a little at a time until fully incorporated.

Add the hot water to the stand mixer and mix on low until smooth.

Use a medium cookie scoop, or two tablespoons, to drop the cookie dough in mounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden.

Transfer cookies to a cooking rack and let cool completely.

To make the glaze: Stir together the glaze ingredients. Drizzle on completely cooled cookies and let sit for at least 30 minutes to set. For easy cleanup, set the cooling rack on top of a parchment lined baking sheet before glazing.

HONEY CINNAMON APPLESAUCE Serves about 6

INGREDIENTS 4 cups chopped apples (about 5-6 apples) ½ cup water 1 tbsp honey ½ tsp cinnamon tiny pinch salt

INSTRUCTIONS Combine the apples, water, honey, cinnamon and a tiny pinch of salt in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing on any larger pieces, until the apples break down — about 20-25 minutes.

Cool. This can be stored in airtight containers in the fridge for up to five days.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro magazine and the author of several cookbooks including “One-Pot Pasta,” “The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook,” and “Grains as Mains.”

Her latest cookbook, “The Easy Appetizer Cookbook,” is out now from Rockridge Press.

She is also the creator of the popular food blog Sarah’s Cucina Bella (www.sarahscucinabella.com).

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

PHOTO: ©HALFPOINT/ADOBE STOCK

FOOD & DRINK

18 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

PRESERVING MEMORIES

One Recipe at a Time TIME-TESTED BAKING TIPS FROM MAINE GRANDMAS

BY JODI HERSEY

A PINCH OF THIS, a dash of that, add in a grandkid or two to help with the baking and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a sweet treat as well as long lasting memories for years to come. Connie Langley of Bangor has been whipping together a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting for her adult grandkids, Lindsay and Josh, since they were toddlers.

“I got this recipe from my mother-in-law when I was 18 years old. So I’ve been making it for 49 years. She used to make it with cold water and cocoa and then put that on the stove and stirred it, and I thought that’s too hard. So I just threw everything in together and no one knew the difference,” Langley said with a chuckle. “Then my mom had this wonderful peanut butter frosting recipe and we combined them and voila that’s been our family favorite forever. The grandkids love it and it’s something that came from both their grandmothers.”

Langley vividly remembers Lindsay, now 25 years old, as a small child eager to help mix together this family favorite in her kitchen.

“The kids would either be standing on a stool, or a kitchen chair or Lindsay would like to just sit on the counter. And back then, we’d let them do whatever they wanted. So if she wanted to eat the frosting out of the bowl as she was putting it on, who cares? Now, I would’ve never let my daughter do that,” Langley explained. “And if I don’t make it for a while, Josh ,who is 22, lets me know. He’ll say, ‘Meme, where’s the chocolate cake?’”

Over in Hampden, Jackie Tribou’s three grandkids, Emma, Thomas, and Charlotte, visit weekly where they make a loaf or two of banana bread.

“The reason we make it so much is because my bananas always go bad,” Tribou said. “They always want to make something when they come over so I’ve always done it with them. Now my oldest granddaughter, who is 13, can make it on her own.”

Tribou says some people add nuts to the recipe, but she prefers banana bread without them.

Jackie Tribou’s grandkids “When Emma made it last week, my husband ate it all. And Charlotte, Thomas, and he told her she should make more,” Tribou said.

Emma making banana bread Banana bread is one of those foods that can be eaten for PHOTO: JACKIE TRIBOU breakfast, a snack or even as a dessert at the Tribou home.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19

FOOD & DRINK

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting Chocolate Cake

Peanut Butter Frosting

Courtesy of Mildred Langley

Courtesy of Ruth Getchell

Ingredients: 2/3 cup of oil 1 2/3 cup of sugar 2 eggs 3 tablespoons cocoa 1 1/3 cups of cold water 2 cups of flour 1/8 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon vanilla Little salt

Ingredients: 2 cups frosting sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 heaping tablespoons of peanut butter A little salt Enough milk to make it creamy Directions: Play with the frosting until it’s right for you.

Directions: Combine all the ingredients and bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients: ½ cup of butter, soft ½ cup of Crisco, soft 1 egg 1 cup of granulated sugar spoon vanilla 1 teaspoon vanilla or ½ tea ract ext ond alm of on spo tea and ½ 2 cups of flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ter ½ teaspoon of cream of tar ¼ teaspoon of salt

Directions: sugar until fluffy.

Cream butter Crisco and derately (no liquid).

Soften shortening only mo add to sugar mixture.

Blend egg and vanilla and blend into sugar mixture.

Combine dry ingredients and kable dough.

Add flour to make stiff wor rs.

Cover and chill for 2+ hou Preheat oven to 375. shapes.

Roll to 1/8 thick, cut out Place on cool baking sheet.

And cool before baking. o for 1 minute then slide ont Bake 7 minutes and cool cooling rack. eat.

Wipe and cool sheet and rep ired.

Decorate and frost as des

20 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

PHOTO: ©MIZINA/ADOBE STOCK

family Courtesy of the Davenport

Homemade bread was also a big hit when Kathy Miller’s kids were growing up. She always made a harvest loaf bread which was a recipe used by her mother and paternal grandmother.

“My daughter reminded me her and her brother’s favorite was the harvest loaf cake I made. It was really like a pumpkin bread with chocolate chips and nuts in it,” Miller explained. “My son always had friends over and you couldn’t make enough of that or have it on hand. It would all disappear in a flash.”

Now when Miller’s 12- and 15-yearold granddaughters from Bradford visit her Bangor home, she makes sure to stock up on ingredients to bake one of their favorites — rhubarb crisp.

“Being farm girls we tend to use fruit when we’re baking. My grandkids love rhubarb and you see it all over the place.

You just make a crumble and chop up the rhubarb and mix that up in a little sauce pan and pour it over the crumbles and then pour more crumbles on top. It’s a very easy recipe for them to help you with.

They’re excited they helped make it, and it just perpetuates their love for cooking and taking care of themselves,” Miller said.

At the Davenport home in Glenburn, there’s always a cookie tin on the counter filled with cookies. Beth Davenport says baking cookies is a family tradition.

“Growing up my husband would visit his great grandmother’s home where there was always a tin of cookies. They didn’t make them for special occasions. These women just made cookies all the time. They were an old New England farm family where there was always a pie and a tin of cookies,” she explained.

That sweet tradition has been passed on to the Davenport’s 10-year-old granddaughter Lucy.

“She still likes to make cookies. It’s a Grandpa and Lucy thing. And she really gets into the decorating part. The last time she was here, we couldn’t have just orange frosting for the cookies. She said, ‘Grandpa, you need to make some yellow and some red because we need to blend colors.’ And she made these leaf shaped cookies that were just incredible and they were all blended from one color to another.”

From cake to cookies, rhubarb crisp to banana bread these Maine grandmothers [and grandfathers] are inspiring the next generation of bakers, by preserving one family recipe at a time. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21

HIKE ME

HIKE & HUNT FOR

MUSH ROOMS SEARCH FOR FALL FUNGI ON THESE ENCHANTING TRAILS STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

ROUND, RED CAPS of mushrooms dotted the thick bed of moss, adding pops of color to the forest floor. A hiker knelt down to inspect the colorful fungi. The sight nudged her imagination, stirring up images of fairies and forest nymphs.

Popping out of tree trunks and sprouting from the duff, mushrooms of all shapes and shades surrounded the trail. Some sported vibrant bands of color while others featured frilly gills or spotted caps. Once the hiker started to notice them, she wasn’t able to stop.

Fall is a great time to view Maine’s many mushrooms. Foraging for edible fungi requires specific knowledge about identifying species so you can pinpoint which ones are OK to eat — and steer clear of any that are toxic. But it doesn’t take any studying or skill to simply enjoy looking at mushrooms and see how many different varieties you can spot. They’re also fun to photograph.

In Maine, mushrooms can be found throughout the forest. Take a walk down any trail and you’re almost guaranteed to spot a few. But some places are especially fungi-filled. Here are just a few.

ICE POND PRESERVE

IN HANCOCK EASY

Home to a small pond that area residents used to cut ice from, Ice Pond Preserve covers 42 acres of mossy forestland and small meadows. Owned and maintained by Crabtree Neck Land Trust, the preserve also features 1.6 miles of hiking trails, a brook and small wetland areas.

The mossy forest on the preserve is a great place to find a variety of colorful mushrooms, including mushrooms with vibrant red, yellow and orange caps. Also on the quiet property, keep an eye out for resident wildlife. Foxes, deer, fishers, raccoons, bears and moose have been spotted by visitors. In addition, the forest is home to a wide variety of birds.

The trails are open to the public during daylight hours.

Dogs are permitted but must be under control at all times.

For more information, visit crabtreenecklandtrust.org.

DIRECTIONS: Parking for this preserve is at the east trailhead for the Old Pond Railway Trail. From Route 1 in Hancock, take Point Road and drive 0.1 mile to the parking lot on the right, across from Hancock Town Hall.

From there, walk along the side of Point Road (against traffic) for about 0.3 miles and the trailhead to Ice Pond Preserve will be on your left. Marked with a large sign, the trailhead is set back from the road and can be reached by a wide, mowed path. A driveway is located just before this mowed path. Be sure to stay on trail and respect the privacy of nearby landowners.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

HORSE MOUNTAIN

IN BAXTER STATE PARK MODERATE TO STRENUOUS Located in the northeast corner of Baxter State Park, Horse Mountain is the first peak to greet you when driving through the park’s Matagamon Gate. Rising above the treetops, it’s an impressive sight, with dramatic cliffs on its steep eastern side. It’s also one of the many places in Maine woods where you can find giant orange, polka-dotted mushrooms.

Growing alongside the trail near the base of the mountain, these flashy mushrooms are called fly agaric and they’re poisonous. Look but don’t touch.

Horse Mountain tops off at 1,589 feet above sea level, making it one of the smaller mountains in the park. However, from a bald outcropping on its eastern side, hikers are rewarded with a wide open view of the mountains in the north end of the park. Out and back, the hike is about 3 miles.

Dogs are not permitted in Baxter State Park. For 24 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

Maine residents, entrance to the park is free. For non-residents, it’s $15 per day or $40 for an annual pass. Camping in the park requires a reservation.

For more information, visit baxterstatepark.org or call 207-723-5140.

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 95 Exit 264, then head north on Route 11 toward the town of Patten. Drive 9.3 miles, then take a left onto Route 159. Drive 9.9 miles, and you’ll arrive at Shin Pond Village. Drive another 14.3 miles, staying on Route 159, and you’ll reach Matagamon Wilderness Campground, then cross a bridge over the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Continue another 1.8 miles to Matagamon Gate, the north entrance to Baxter State Park. Register at Matagamon Gate, then drive about 0.6 mile on the Tote Road to the trailhead parking area for Horse Mountain, which will be on your left.

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

BANGOR CITY FOREST

IN BANGOR

EASY TO MODERATE The Bangor City Forest — formally called the Rolland F. Perry City Forest — encompasses more than 680 acres in the northeast corner of Bangor. Owned and maintained by the city, this considerable chunk of conserved land is located at the edge of a shopping mecca, yet the property gives visitors a true taste of Maine wilderness.

And it’s home to plenty of mushrooms.

The forest features more than 9 miles of intersecting trails, as well as about 4 miles of gravel roads that are closed to public vehicle traffic. This makes it a popular destination for walkers, runners and cyclists. In addition, wildlife watchers prize the location for the excellent birding it provides. Black bears, white-tailed deer, porcupines, snowshoe hares, moose and a variety of other creatures have also been spotted in the forest by recreationists.

Many of the trails are named after these animals.

Dogs are permitted in the forest but must be kept under control at all times. Furthermore, dogs must be kept on leash on Main Road, Shannon Road, Tripp

Drive and East Trail. And dogs are not permitted on the connecting Orono Bog Boardwalk.

Access to the property is free. Hunting is prohibited. For more information visit bangormaine.gov/trails or call the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department at 207-992-4490.

DIRECTIONS: The forest has two main parking lots.

To get to both, use I-95 Exit 187 and drive north on Hogan Road about 0.5 mile until you reach a traffic light where it intersects with Stillwater Avenue. Turn right onto Stillwater Avenue, heading toward Orono.

To reach the west trailhead of the forest, drive about 0.1 mile on Stillwater Avenue, then turn left onto Kittredge Road. Drive about 1 mile to the end of Kittredge Road, where the parking area is located. To reach the east trailhead of the forest, drive about 1.5 mile on Stillwater Avenue, then turn left onto Tripp Drive. Drive about 0.3 mile to the parking lot at the end of the road.

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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HOME & FAMILY

28 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

Out with the

OLD GETTING RID OF FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

BY KATIE BINGHAM-SMITH

AS FAMILY MEMBERS pass on, younger generations often become the recipient of hand-me-downs — family heirlooms that have sentimental value. But in this time of tiny houses and minimalism, those items can become things held onto because of obligation instead of joy.

Do you have to keep them?

You don’t, according to Katharine Appleyard, mental health counselor in Bangor and owner of Appleyard Counseling, LLC. “For a moment, imagine that the person who left their belongings to you was still alive.

Would they want their possessions to burden you? Or, would they want you to be happy by only keeping the items that you truly love, have space for, and can take care of,” Appleyard said.

Sorting and going through heirlooms can be exhausting and if you are feeling burdened by it, consider finding someone to help and support you, Appleyard said.

Professionals like Aimee Favreau, owner of Caring Transitions of greater Portland, help folks downsize, declutter or otherwise get rid of items through donations, estate sales and more. Favreau said that parting with items with sentimental value can be tough, but it also gives those items new life.

“I try to help them understand that those items have brought years and decades worth of memories and joy to them and their family and that now offering them to someone else will bring new life and joy to someone else who could use and also appreciate them. This advice can get them to take a step back and look at things differently as a way to be able to let go,” said Favreau.

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That doesn’t mean you should get rid of everything. Keeping beloved items you love is okay.

Appleyard suggested keeping one sweater or blanket from a family member versus their entire wardrobe or linen collection is another way to hold onto sentimental items without letting it become overwhelming.

And, while you’re at it, you may want to check with other family members before selling or donating heirlooms. They may want what you no longer do.

Keeping family heirlooms is supposed to make you feel happy and comforted, not bogged down or overwhelmed so remember, you are allowed to say “no.” You are also allowed to change your mind if you thought you wanted that dining room set but it’s not serving you any longer.

Objects are not memories, afterall. And though some family members might be saddened by your decision, there are other ways to keep your loved ones near.

“It is by sharing memories and stories that we honor deceased loved ones; not by holding onto their possessions,” Appleyard said.

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HOME & FAMILY

MAINERS: Let’s Define Our Decade by

Completing the 2020 Census

EVERY TEN YEARS since 1790, the United States has successfully conducted a count of everyone living here despite depressions, world wars, domestic unrest and even a civil war. In the face of COVID-19, the 2020 U.S Census forges on, and it is as important as ever that Mainers be counted. The census is a national headcount performed by the U.S Census Bureau every ten years and is used to determine funding and political representation within and across states for the next decade. Filling out your census form is crucial because Maine receives $4,114,357,289 each year through multiple federal programs guided by U.S. Census data.

For Maine to get its fair share toward our roads, schools, hospitals, and other public services, as well as equitable representation in government, we need every Mainer to be counted by completing a census form.

During the summer, Maine was behind the rest of the country in completing the 2020 Census. In July, the Census Bureau ranked Maine at 48 out of 52 states, including DC and Puerto Rico, with a response rate of 53.9 percent, which was about 10 percent lower than the national average. Officials believe that the Bureau’s decision to halt inperson follow-ups due to the pandemic is a big reason why Maine was lagging behind.

Luckily, on July 16th, Census workers began door-to-door knocking to collect Census data from households that had not previously responded in Maine. However, until October 31, 2020, people can continue to self-respond by phone (1-844-330-2020), online at www.2020census.gov, or by mail.

We should all do what we can to ensure Mainers are counted throughout the fall because not responding to the census means

that we could divert funds, representation, and resources away from our communities.

Many Maine communities have struggled due to COVID-19, making their voices all the more important through completion of the census.

The census is the best way we can ensure that future decisions about everything from funding for schools, health clinics and fire departments, to housing assistance and infrastructure, are based on the most complete and accurate data. Let’s make sure Maine has the resources we deserve for the next ten years. We can all make this critical and direct impact on our communities by ensuring that every one of us is counted in the 2020 U.S Census.

Micaela Simeone AARP Maine

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HOME & FAMILY

Fair-weather MEMORIES

(Above, left) Side Shows at the Bangor State Fair, circa 1912.

(Above, right) A scene from the grandstands at the 1909 Bangor State Fair.

(Background) The ferris wheel at the Bangor State Fair in 1932.

PHOTOS: COURTESY RICHARD SHAW

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A LOOK BACK AT MAINE AGRICULTURAL FAIRS

BY RICHARD SHAW

ENTICING FAIR AROMAS, even those emanating from the livestock area, got me hooked on attending as a child.

So did the people in the crowd, the concession operators, and those on stage working their hearts out.

Growing up in the Queen City, I had the ideal setting at the Bangor State Fair, one of New England’s great agricultural attractions, where my parents and grandparents before me had spent idyllic summers. I saw a man shot out of a cannon there, along with reptiles, tigers, bears, and such singers as B.J. Thomas, John Fogerty and Johnny Rivers.

In the 1930s, Mom saw the Banana Man, a comic who pulled hundreds of bananas from his pockets. Dad would always mention the burlesque shows.

“I don’t want to go into that show, Ward — unless you do,” his father would comment invitingly as they walked past the show tent.

Today, you won’t find a show like that at any of Maine’s fairs, which pride themselves on a wholesome image.

But many other features remain surprisingly intact from a century ago. There are still horse and oxen pulls and blue ribbon produce. Ancient wooden grandstands still stand at fairgrounds in Union, Springfield and Blue Hill. And every time I enter a fair’s bathroom, walking over creaky floors, I could be back in 1920, when women,

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HOME & FAMILY

(Above) President Theodore Roosevelt on the day he spoke at the Bangor State Fair in 1902. PHOTO: COURTESY RICHARD SHAW (Below) The Blue Hill Fair, circa 1920. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BLUE HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY TICKET IMAGES: COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW.

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This is the place for you. Imagine hundreds of exceptional bath, kitchen and lighting products from trusted brands, in settings that help you envision them in your own home. Classic styles alongside the newest trends. A friendly, county fair mainstays, had just been granted the right to vote.

“Bangoreans were always looking for an excuse to hold a fair,” said author Wayne Reilly.

Reilly believes Eastern Maine State Fair was the biggest of all the different varieties of fairs held each year.

“The hotels were packed,” he said. “Beds were rented in the hallways. A campground near the fairground catered to fair goers.

These fairs were a magnet for pickpockets, scam artists, and pocket peddlers. The cops were on the lookout for ‘immoral shows.’

There were also several important events in the city’s history — like the race between an automobile and an ostrich.”

Automobiles were the favorite new way to get to fairs, and electricity made life in the kitchen and barns easier.

Historian Al Churchill recalled that during the first fair at the Calais Fairgrounds, in 1912, the princely sum of $1,110 was offered in prize money for the horse trotters alone. That’s $30,000 in today’s currency.

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HOME & FAMILY

(Above, left) Maine Potato Barrel Exhibition, circa 1948. PHOTO: COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOGLER LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (Above, right) A Pie Eating Contest in 1895 at the Hancock County Fair in Ellsworth.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE MAINE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION (Below) The 1910 Maine State Fair in Lewiston. POSTCARD: COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW (Bottom) The Presque Isle Northern Maine Fair, circa 1925.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF RICHARD SHAW.

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Ross Elliott, owner of the SunKist dairy farm in East Corinth, was a fixture at fairs in Bangor, Exeter and other towns, proudly showing his prize jerseys. A devout Baptist, he was disillusioned one day when he spent a quarter to see a show featuring a fivelegged cow. Behind a curtain, he spied a man strapping a wooden leg onto the animal.

In September 1938, Elliott and his jerseys became stranded at the Eastern States Exposition — the Big E — in Springfield, Mass., as southern New England was lashed by a deadly hurricane. Eventually, he made it home with stories to tell his family.

Elliott’s grandsons followed in his footsteps in the 1960s, showing their own jerseys and winning 4H ribbons with much regularity. One of Elliott’s show banners hangs in the Corinth Historical Society museum.

While world wars, depressions, droughts, even infernos, couldn’t shutter Maine’s agricultural fairs, this year’s pandemic has hit pause on the events. Of Maine’s 25 fairs scheduled for 2020, all but three — based in New Portland, Oxford and Springfield — won’t be held in 2020 out of an “abundance of caution.” And those three, explained Barry Norris, executive director of the Maine Agricultural Fairs Association, may postpone, “should the numbers not be increased.”

So, fair fanatics such as myself will be living on memories this late summer into fall. I will close my eyes and imagine devouring a blooming onion at the Bangor State Fair, savoring a rising country singer at the Blue Hill Fair, or watching a lone jockey guide his sulky around Farmington Fair’s race track. From Acton Fair in York County to Northern Maine Fair in Presque Isle, the possibilities are endless.

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FEATURE

Finding the

RIGHT FIT HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CARE FOR YOUR AGING LOVED ONES

BY SAM SCHIPANI

EVERY FAMILY HAS been there: a onceindependent parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle suddenly starts forgetting things and struggling to function in daily life. They need a little extra help — or perhaps a lot of extra help, as the case may be.

Choosing the right care for your aging loved ones can be intimidating. With so many options and steep costs, you may be at a loss for where to start. Here are a few simple steps to selecting the right care for your aging loved ones.

ASK YOUR AGING LOVED ONE WHAT THEY WANT 1 The first step in the process of finding care for your aging loved one is to ask the person what they want out of their care.

“To the degree possible, those wishes should be respected,” said Lenard Kaye, director of the Center for Aging at the University of Maine.

Joy Barresi Saucier, executive director of the Aroostook Agency on Aging, recommended opening this conversation by asking that aging person what matters most to them.

“For different people, that will mean

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STEP

different things,” Saucier said. “Sometimes, what matters most will be living very close to your family members. Other times, it might be [a] specific need and there are only certain places where [they] can get that need met.”

To help guide these discussions, Saucier recommended using the tools available online from the Conversation Project, an initiative that provides end-of-life resources to ensure people’s wishes for end-of-life care are expressed and respected.

Kaye noted that research shows that the majority of people would rather age in place, in the home and community that is familiar to them.

“Frequently, that support needs to be supplemented by community services and support,” Kaye said.

If you are an aging person navigating the process on your own, Kaye said it is important to reach out for help early in the process.

“It does nobody any good if that support isn’t sought prior to an emergency or a crisis arising,” Kaye said. “That hesitancy to ask for help keeps too many Mainers from successfully aging in place and remaining

in a familiar environment in their own neighborhoods, communities and homes.”

ASK PROFESSIONALS WHAT THEY RECOMMEND 2 Once you have determined what your aging loved one ideally wants for their care, the next step is to talk to their healthcare professionals to see what they recommend. This is especially important because your loved one’s medical realities may also shape what kind of care is best for them.

“Home care is probably not an appropriate fit for an aging parent if they need 24/7 care or supervision,” said Lori Campbell, family caregiver support supervisor and caregiver respite program coordinator at the Southern Maine Area on Aging. “State-funded home care programs are not able to provide anywhere near 24/7 care, so if there is no one to live with the person and provide full-time care, then the family should be exploring care in an assisted living or nursing care facility.”

Professional resources are not limited to doctors and healthcare workers, though.

STEP

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FEATURE “Each of [the Area Agencies on Aging] has a family caregiver support program, although it looks somewhat different in each agency,” Campbell said. “We also offer caregiver classes and a support group for family caregivers — all via Zoom right now, of course.”

Campbell said that aging Mainers can contact their Area Agency on Aging to help them find a geriatric case manager, who can help them to navigate the process of exploring options for care.

Kaye recommended that aging people take some initiative to research for themselves, whether that is through the Agency on Aging or another organization.

“I think it’s incumbent on them to become familiar with resources that are available in their community [and] do their homework,” Kaye said.

STEP

CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET

3

Finances play a big role in choosing care for your aging loved ones. Certain services may be too costly given the needs of your aging loved ones.

“When services become so intense over an extended period of time when delivered in the home, it can exceed the cost of long term care,” Kaye said.

Insurance coverage will play a large role in what is affordable for you or your aging loved one, so it is important to know what is covered by your plan.

“Many older people and their families are under the mistaken impression that Medicare covers all sorts of in-home care, when in fact, it generally only covers skilled care ordered by a doctor following a medical

PHOTO: ©NAVEE/ADOBE STOCK

Saucier recommended contacting the Maine Ombudsman Program, a statewide program that helps people navigate the long term care settings as well as the home care settings.

Another resource for aging Mainers and their loved ones is the state’s five Agencies on Aging, which are divided by region.

The agencies are dedicated to helping you determine what resources are available to you and your aging loved one where they reside.

“It’s really going to vary community to community because Maine is quite diverse, and some services that are available in some areas aren’t available in others,” Saucier said.

Saucier also dispelled the myth that Area Agencies on Aging are just for people of a certain age.

“That’s not true,” she said. “We serve people of all ages, [including] caregivers.”

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event or hospitalization,” Campbell said.

Traditionally, Kaye said nursing homes are more likely to be covered by health insurance, though that has been changing as providers have recognized the value of community-based care outside of a longterm care setting.

“Maine has set a pretty darn good example,” Kaye added. “We have now for an extended period of time prioritized community services to a greater degree than we have long term care.”

Campbell suggested consulting an elder law attorney to help with financial planning and navigating the rules surrounding eligibility for services like MaineCare. Kaye also added that some services and programs have subsidized sliding fee scales with certain eligibility criteria.

Still, sometimes despite your best efforts, you can’t afford your or your aging loved one’s first choice. If this is the case, you may need to hire a social worker or geriatric care manager to keep relations peaceable in the family.

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FEATURE “Having that third party whenever possible to address these kinds of difficult decisions and questions can really be crucial,” Kaye said.

MAKE A DECISION Ultimately, a decision needs to 4 be made about what the best care is for your aging loved one one. The options for care boil down to two main categories: in-home care, whether that is in the person’s home itself or family member’s home, and care in a facility, like a nursing home or assisted care facility.

If you have chosen care in a facility, Saucier said that there are a number of great questions you can ask of different facilities to make sure it is a good fit, including ones from the Mayo Clinic which she recommended. Questions range from certifications, safety protocols and cost to the level of communication.

“Those questions are so important to find the right fit,” Saucier said.

Weighing your loved ones’ desires is also important in choosing the best facility for them.

“If the person doesn’t enjoy swimming and the community has an indoor pool, that would not rate high on the list,” said Josephine Cirrinone, Family Caregiver Specialist at the Eastern Agency on Aging. “If they are able to manage independently but no longer want to deal with yard work, then independent living may be the most suitable. When they are concerned about their ability to manage their own activities of daily living, then the most suitable lifestyle may be assisted living [or] residential care.”

Cirrinone also said asking questions is also important for choosing the right caregiver for an in-home setting. She said to also make sure if you are hiring a caregiver privately that the company has run a criminal background check on the caregiver.

“Most agencies are required to do this, but it’s important to ask,” she said.

“I would make sure that you listen to your family member if they are concerned about the caregiver.”

Cirrinone said that starting the process of finding a home care attendant early will help build rapport between the individuals.

STEP

Still, it may take a few tries before you find the right home care attendant for your aging loved one.

“As far as a ‘good fit’ goes, often it is trial-and-error, seeing how the worker interacts with the older person, and asking for a different worker if it is not a good fit,” Campbell said.

STEP

5

START THE TRANSITION The final step is to start setting up your aging loved one with their new care.

and plan to provide care for your loved one remotely, set personal guidelines for when and how you will contact your aging loved one, whether it is once a day via phone or once a month via Zoom.

Also, make sure you have local contacts in place to supplement care.

“The work of a long distance caregiver will be made much simpler with less difficulty if they can confer with and ask the advice of local informants and local professionals who are aware of the resources and benefits that can be turned to where the older adult lives,” Kaye said.

Kaye also said to prepare for increased stress if you are committing to being a long-distance caregiver for your loved one. “[Research shows that] long distance caregiving is more likely to be characterized by increased levels of stress, strain and sense of frustration,” Kaye said.

“You need to be prepared for that and try to guard against it accordingly.”

MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKE SURE YOUR AGING LOVED ONE IS INVOLVED THROUGH ALL ELEMENTS OF THE TRANSITION SO THEY HAVE MORE BUY-IN AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE CHANGE.

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If you plan to have your aging loved one move in with you, make sure all parties are on-board and are clear on the expectations, roles and responsibilities required of each family member. “[There should be] boundaries in terms of how they live their lives and when and where they prepare their meals, so on and so forth,” Kaye said.

Setting up a separate living space like an in-law apartment or ancillary dwelling unit may help your aging loved one maintain independence.

“Research shows that they’re a really good option for people,” Saucier said. “We have older housing stock in Maine [though, so] these aren’t always available.”

If you are a long-distance caregiver

STEP

6

LISTEN TO YOUR LOVED ONE

Once your loved one has transitioned to their care environment, ask if they are comfortable with their new living situation. Listen to and heed their response.

“Encouraging open communication is so important,” Saucier said. “These are huge transitions for individuals and the family.

There’s a ton of resources online, but each situation is really individual.”

Your aging loved one’s needs may also change over time. Cirrinone said that generally changing levels of care are determined by the state’s assessing agency, but planning ahead is still important.

“It would be best for seniors to have an advance directive to help the process and to ensure their choices [and] wishes are honored,” Cirrinone said.

Most importantly, make sure your aging loved one is involved through all elements of the transition so they have more buy-in and acceptance of the change.

“Change is never easy for any of us,” Saucier said. “The more that everyone can be involved, the better it’s going to be."

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PHOTO: KATARZYNA BIALASIEWICZ PHOTOGRAPHEE.EU/ ADOBE STOCK

FEATURE

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Take

CARE HOW CAREGIVERS CAN PRACTICE SELF-CARE

BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER

BEING A CAREGIVER allows aging or ill loved ones the ability to stay at home and maintain an independent lifestyle while having the assistance they need to complete day-to-day tasks. But caregiving is far from easy. In fact, it can come with high amounts of stress.

That’s why it’s important for caregivers to take time for self-care, even if it’s only for a short amount of time.

Josephine Cirrinone, LSW, family caregiver specialist at Eastern Area Agency on Aging in Brewer, suggests that caregivers schedule self-care time like they would for any event, appointment or activity.

“The key to self-care is to not overthink the time they have,” Cirrinone said.

Cirrinone said the time off could be 15 minute increments at different times of the day, one hour or even eight hours. Every caregiver is different, but “if all you can get is 15 minutes, use that time,” she said.

One way to find that time is to wake up one hour early (before the person they are caring for will wake up) and have a cup of coffee, read or take a walk. But some people need to leave the home to get self-care.

“The key to self-care is making the time for yourself!”

Cirrinone said.

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FEATURE Here are some ways caregivers can practice self-care.

EXERCISE Daily exercises naturally produce stress-relieving hormones called endorphins in your body.

Moving three to five times a week for 30 minutes a week is ideal. Yoga, tai chi and swimming are excellent ways to reduce stress due to the combination of breathing, mindfulness and body movements. Dancing, such as Zumba, is also a fun but strenuous workout. Even something as simple as gardening — which hardcore gardeners will agree is a full on workout (those bags of mulch don’t move themselves) — can be a fun and relaxing way to bring peace of mind.

PRACTICE RELAXATION EXERCISES Deep breathing and meditation are fast ways to reduce stress and can be done anywhere. It can be as simple as taking three deep breaths or sitting down and focusing on your breath for 10 minutes. If you are looking for help in your meditation, or don’t know where to start, there are apps such as Calm and Headspace that offer resources for beginners. If mediation isn’t for you, try reading a book, pray, knit or take a long bath.

EAT HEALTHY The National Alliance on Mental Illness suggests eating well is a good foundation for a healthy body and mind, both of which are important for caregivers. Eating a balanced diet can help manage increased blood sugars and blood pressure caused by stress, strengthens your immune system and can help stabilize your energy levels while working long days.

Important nutrients for stress reduction include Vitamin C (oranges, citrus fruits), complex carbohydrates (leafy greens, soybeans) and Omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish such as salmon or tuna and nuts).

GET SUPPORT NAMI suggests joining a support group to meet people with similar experiences and challenges. EAAA provides support groups (on phone and Zoom during the pandemic), counseling and a caregiver respite program.

Meeting up with friends — even if it’s once a month — can help you feel connected and focus on the long-term.

It’s okay to ask and accept health when offered and to take a break when the opportunity presents itself. It’s important to forgive yourself often and give yourself the opportunity and space to put your health in the forefront.

46 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47

PHOTOS: ©LEV DOLGACHOV, ©PHOTOGRAPHEE.EU/ADOBE STOCK

48 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

FEATURE

Retirement

& BEING

THE ART OF

PHOTO: ©DAY OF VICTORY STU./ADOBE STOCK

GOING FROM “HUMAN DOING” TO “HUMAN BEING.” I HADN’T THOUGHT much about retirement, or made any real plan, until it simply became clear that the time was right.

Even then, my relatively spontaneous exit from the workforce in 2018 didn’t prepare me for the many benefits retired life would bring.

My 20-year career in journalism had provided an important source of pride, a challenge to my wits and a strong connection to my community and the larger world. I valued my work and the people I worked with. I would miss this engaging, rewarding part of my life.

But I would not miss the daily demands of working a full time job. My multi-tasking skills were wearing thin. The newsroom was full of bright, young reporters eager to build their own careers. My self-employed husband, Douglas, who is a few years older than me, was signalling interest in working less and travelling more.

But there was another motivation, too.

Working full time had left little room for my own interests — being with friends and family, engaging with my neighbors, developing hobbies or becoming more deliberate about personal goals and values.

I was 63, on the young side to retire, but

I had an opportunity now to create some open space in my life and see what came along to fill it. We ran the numbers and decided that, with careful planning, our finances would allow this change.

I suppose everyone worries, at least a little, that they’ll lose momentum when they retire, and miss the structure and stimulation of working. And it’s certainly true that we tend to define ourselves by our occupations.

Who would I be if I were no longer a working journalist? Would I be bored?

Worse, would I be boring? What would I do?

But, as my older sister is fond of reminding me, we are not Human Doings, we are Human Beings. Could I allow myself to step off the treadmill and just … be? Not sit around and do nothing, of course, but allow my activities to be guided by interest and serendipity, rather than by assignments and deadlines?

And, for two years and counting, that’s pretty much what I’ve done. I upped my gardening game, both flower and vegetable.

I joined a book group, a yoga class and the local gym — and made new friends in the process. I refinished a chair and painted

BY MEG HASKELL

the guest room. I took a couple of online courses and organized a meals program at our church. My curling game improved.

I have found time, too, to do a little actual work. My local library asked me to develop a slide presentation and print materials on reliable health care resources.

I’ve done some freelance writing for a former employer. And, for a few fascinating weeks last fall, I went door to door in Waldo and Hancock counties, confirming mailing addresses in preparation for the 2020 United States Census.

Though Douglas is happy in his studio and still puts in a solid 30 hours most weeks, we have enjoyed some travelling.

We got a good deal on a trip to Portugal in 2018, and in March of this year we were banging around Louisiana in our old VW camper, eating crawfish and paddling in the bayous. COVID-19 cut that trip short, but we started camping again in Maine when the weather warmed up.

I have zero regrets about having retired.

On the contrary, I am grateful every day for this sweet interlude in my life — free time, a loving home life, enough money and the good health to enjoy them all. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 49

FEATURE

PARTY ON, at Home

50 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

You’re Invited to

Girls’ Night In HE RE ’S HO W TO HAVE TH E UL TIM AT E GIR LS’ NIG HT IN

BY SARAH COTTRELL

that you need in your GIRLS’ NIGHT IN is the new monthly ritual y or a few friends in famil your in girls life. Whether it’s you and the in. night a plan to free!) stress (and your pod, it’s easy run-ins in the xious obno or lines no are There part? best The the guest list from thing every e ladies’ room, and you get to choos ent. tainm enter and code dress to the cocktails, to the comfort reigns If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that ing list of inspir this her toget supreme, which is why we’ve put Maine table delec some In), t Nigh Girls’ songs (to kick off your will that s hy show adult beverages to sip on and some binge-wort nt brillia this of ht thoug ’t have you asking yourself why you hadn idea way sooner.

The Play List Kick-off your Girls Night In with these ten booty shaking, girl-power songs that will quickly turn up the energy: DRAKE >> TOOSIE SLIDE LIZZO >> GOOD AS HELL MEGAN THEE STALLION, BEYONCE >> SAVAGE REMIX BILLIE EILISH >> BAD GUY

PHOTO: ©LEV DOLGACHOV/ ADOBE STOCK

MEGHAN TRAINOR >> ALL ABOUT THAT BASS ALICIA KEYS >> SUPERWOMAN CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND LIL' KIM >> CAN'T HOLD US DOWN KATY PERRY >> ROAR KESHA >> WE R WHO WE R FIFTH HARMONY >> BO$$

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51

FEATURE

What to Drink

While you’ve got the energy pumping, try one of these cheeky fallinspired Maine made spirits to keep the evening fun!

CANNED PEAR CIDERS FROM WINTERPORT WINERY Grab a few of these canned Pear Ciders that are perfect for single servings. Put a dozen or so on ice in a decorative bucket and you’ve got yourself a DIY bar that your guests can help themselves from.

WWW.WINTERPORTWINERY.COM HANDCRAFTED MAINE POTATO VODKA Pick up a bottle of Handcrafted Maine Potato Vodka from Cold River and set out some glasses, ice, tonic water, and fun flavors like lime wedges, crushed blackberries, raspberry liqueur, and cranberry juice. Your friends can mix up their own fun cocktails.

WWW.COLDRIVERVODKA.COM/VODKA BLUET WILD BLUEBERRY SPARKLING WINE MIMOSAS If it’s just not a Girls’ Night In without mimosas then don’t worry, just order yourself a few cans (or bottles) of Bluet Blueberry Sparkling Wine and grab a few oranges. Pour your wine to ⅔ of the glass then top with fresh-squeezed orange juice. Slice some thin wedges and use them as garnishes to keep the night fancy.

WWW.BLUET.ME/PRODUCT-CATEGORY/WINES BARTLETT MAINE ESTATE WINERY If you’re looking for a night of wine time with the girls then look no further than Bartlett Maine Estate Winery, the oldest winery in Maine. You can find a variety of reds, whites, and even a few specialty wines to fit any mood.

WWW.BARTLETTWINERY.COM MAINE MEAD WORKS Not feeling the wine? Try some mead instead! With amazing flavor blends like honey, lavender, mango, and chai, you can create a Girls’ Night In that is ultra cozy and fall inspired. Try picking up a variety of flavors to sample them all.

WWW.MAINEMEADWORKS.COM

On Election Day, vote safely.

Vote from home.

Request an absentee ballot today.

A lot has changed due to COVID-19, but not your right to vote. State and local officials are encouraging Mainers to vote safely from home in the November 3rd election. Voting from home is easy. Just follow these steps: • Request an absentee ballot online or by calling your town office • Look for your absentee ballot around mid-October • Return your completed ballot by 8 p.m. on November 3rd

Learn more at aarp.org/mainevotes. facebook.com/AARPMaine @AARPMaine aarp.org/ME

PHOTO: ©LEV DOLGACHOV/ ADOBE STOCK

Paid for by AARP

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

FEATURE

What to Watch

What’s a Girls’ Night In without a binge-worthy show to watch with your favorite friends? Not sure what to choose? Don’t worry; we’ve got your go-to categories: Steamy, Crime Junky, and LOL right here.

STEAMY STREAMING TV SHOWS THE TUDORS is perfect if you love watching period drama filled with sexy characters and all the enthralling emotions that go with sordid affairs. (NETFLIX) THIS IS US is the ultimate binge-worthy TV show with all the sexy and dramatic details to keep your Girls’ Night In interesting. (HULU) THE AFFAIR is a steamy romp through scandalous affairs between gorgeous people. (AMAZON PRIME) CRIME JUNKY BINGE-WORTHY SHOWS UNSOLVED MYSTERIES has made a comeback, and it is hairraising good fun. (NETFLIX) VERONICA MARS is the snarky private investigator digging up dirt on the rich and famous. (HULU) SERIOUS SERIAL KILLERS will have you sleeping with one eye open for the rest of your life. (AMAZON PRIME) GET YOUR LOL ON SCHITT’S CREEK follows a disgraced millionaire family now living in slums. (NETFLIX)

THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL is perfect for laughing when life gets you down with this hit comedy about a Jewish mom who finds a hidden talent for stand-up comedy.

(AMAZON PRIME) All you have to do now is pick a night.

54 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

PHOTO: ©ZZZDIM/ADOBE STOCK

FLEABAG tells the hilariously outrageous story of a woman living in London on her own terms. (AMAZON PRIME)

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55

GET OUT

CAMDEN

GET OUT:

CAMDEN

56 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

A TRUE JEWEL OF THE MIDCOAST STORY & PHOTOS BY JULIA BAYLY

IT SEEMS EVERY TIME I head to the Maine coast I fall a bit deeper in love with the region. My most recent love affair is with Camden, the self-described “jewel of midcoast Maine.” While I can’t say with 100 percent certainty it is THE jewel, it is most certainly a shiny jewel on the coastal crown.

Camden is about a 90-minute drive from Bangor making it the perfect destination for a day trip or weekend getaway.

Like so many towns along the Maine coast, Camden was founded as a fishing, manufacturing and shipbuilding hub. The Megunticook River — all 3.5 miles of it — supplied the power to operate woolen mills that up until 1988 employed close to half of the town.

In the mid-1800s people from away discovered what residents already knew — the recreational opportunities provided by the lakes, rivers, mountains and coves in and around Camden. By the end of the 19th Century, a tourist boom was in full swing with many locals employed building lavish vacation homes. Many of those homes still stand. Some have been converted to lodging facilities or restaurants.

Today, Camden is home to 5,000 yearround residents. The coastal town also attracts thousands of tourists

WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING THINGS TO DO IN CAMDEN, YOUR OPTIONS COME DOWN TO TWO BROAD CATEGORIES — BY LAND OR BY SEA. SPOILER: THERE IS NO WRONG CHOICE.

annually to enjoy those lakes, rivers, mountains and some of the most breathtaking views you can imagine.

DO When it comes to finding things to do in Camden, your options come down to two broad categories — by land or by sea.

Spoiler: There is no wrong choice.

“When it comes to Camden, it’s all about getting on the water or exploring the trails and paths around town,” Amy Rollins at the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce [2 Public Landing, 207-2364404, www.camdenrockland.com] told me when I popped in to get the lay of the land.

“There is more than enough of both to keep you busy for a day or longer.”

Rollins was a wealth of information and the regional chamber office had a ton of great literature and maps for Camden in addition to the neighboring town of Rockland. I strongly recommend making her office your first stop in Camden.

Maps and guides in hand, tiny dog Chiclet and I were off to explore this very dog-friendly coastal town.

We began by checking out Camden’s two main business streets — Bay View Street and Main Street. Like so many of Maine’s coastal communities, Camden’s downtown is compact and easily walkable. There’s free twohour parking on both Bay View and Main streets as well as at the public landing. All day free parking is available on Washington Street near the firestation and at a lot adjacent to the Camden Public Library on Atlantic Avenue.

Both are a short walk from downtown.

NOTE: Information in this piece was accurate and up to date when going to press in July. It is highly advisable to call or check a business’s website for the most current COVID-19 related information.

Up to date state COVID-19 guidelines can be found at www.maine.gov. You can also check out the Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce website at www.camdenrockland.com for updated local COVID-19 information.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

GET OUT

CAMDEN Passengers on the Schooner Appledore get a two-hour cruise around Camden with views of lighthouses, islands, lobster boats and plenty of blue sky and sea.

The Schooner Appledore is pet friendly.

Take in the views from Mt. Battie at Camden Hills State Park.

58 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

I easily found a parking spot and soon Chiclet and I were heading south. We dropped in to Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe [57 Bay View Street, 207-230-2470, www.

UncleWillysCandyShoppe.com], where there is something for every sweet tooth. A short walk away, I was able to satisfy Chiclet’s treat-tooth with a visit to The Maine Dog [47 Bay View Street, www.themainedog.net] where she was delighted to find locally made lobster flavored doggie biscuits.

Camden is a shopper’s paradise. There are galleries, antique shops, bookstores, clothing stores and gourmet food shops lining both sides of downtown. Each one carries an impressive variety of locally made or locally sourced items.

At this time, during the pandemic, every shop is also requiring patrons to wear face masks while inside. During our day in Camden, I was impressed to witness 100 percent compliance in each shop I visited in addition to an equally high compliance among people walking outside. Many shops were well-stocked with extra masks and hand sanitizer for shoppers as well.

While the shopping is great, there is a lot more to do in this coastal community, like checking out the docks and pier at the harbor. Head down Commercial Street from its intersection with Bay View Street and you find yourself at the Camden Public Landing and Riverwalk. This public space was designed specifically to blend the working waterfront, parking, pedestrian access and greenspace.

It’s also where you can access vessels of all shapes and sizes to get out on the water.

Daysailers like the schooner Surprise [www.SchoonerSurprise.com, 207-2364687] and the windjammer Appledore [207-536-6248, www.appledore2.com] offer two-hour or charter sails leaving directly from the public landing. Each ship operating from the landing has a staffed, umbrella-covered kiosk at the top of the ship’s ramp where you can get information and book passage to cruise past lighthouses and islands looking for seals, porpoises, puffins, lobstermen and other sailing ships.

Both the Surprise and the Appledore have reduced the number of passengers they normally take per trip this summer in response to the pandemic. Deck seating on both has been rearranged to allow for sixfeet between groups of the same household and passengers must wear face masks while waiting to board, while boarding and under sail any time they are not seated with their group.

If you want to explore Penobscot Bay on a more personal level, you might want to book a guided kayak tour with Maine Sport Outfitters [24 Main Street, 207-2368797, www.mainesport.com], which also has a kiosk at the landing. Tours depart twice or three times daily through the end of September taking paddlers around the islands and lighthouses as staff talk about the area’s history and wildlife. In response to COVID-19, the staff at Maine Sports Outfitters are thoroughly sanitizing all kayaks and gear between clients. Clients must adhere to the COVID-19 requirements as mandated by the state including wearing masks while checking in and maintaining social distancing at port and in the water.

Once you get your land legs back from a day sail, you can do some dryland exploring on one of the many hiking trails just outside of town. Heading north on US Route 1 for about 10 minutes you come to Camden Hills State Park [280 Belfast Road, 207-236-3109, www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/] with its 25-miles of hiking trails, camping facilities, public boat launch, picnic areas and swimming spots.

The main attraction in the park is Mt. Battie, rising 600-feet above Penobscot Bay. There are two ways to the summit. You can use footpower to traverse the 1.1-mile outand-back trail to the summit. This hike is ranked moderate and along the way you will see wildflowers, local birds and scenic views.

The other way to the top is driving the 1.6mile auto road. Either way, the reward at the top is a sweeping view of Camden Harbor, Penobscot Bay and beyond.

When Chiclet and I were at the summit, it was so clear I swear if we squinted and looked really hard, we could see the European continent far to the east. Okay, maybe not. But it sure felt that way.

While all state parks are open in Maine, be prepared to find limited parking and reduced access to facilities like public restrooms or visitor’s centers due to COVID-19 measures.

At all state parks visitors are required to carry face masks and wear them at any point in the park where it is not possible to maintain the six-feet of social distancing.

The historic stone observation tower at the summit of Mt. Battie is closed due to the pandemic and the difficulty of enforcing the six-feet of social distancing within the structure’s limited space.

EAT/DRINK When I asked Rollins at the regional chamber office if she could recommend a good place in Camden for a lobster roll, she laughed. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59

GET OUT

CAMDEN A sailboat cruises past Curtis Island Lighthouse at the entrance to Camden Harbor.

That’s because a place that serves food in Camden more than likely is going to have the ubiquitous Maine sandwich of sweet lobster meat mixed with either just the right amount of butter or mayonnaise piled on to a toasted hot dog bun with a bit of lettuce on its menu.

Camden is home to dozens of great places to eat, from formal sit-down restaurants to more casual cafes to outdoor food carts.

I could have had a lobster roll at The Camden Deli [37 Main Street, 207-2368343, www.camdendeli.com] where they also serve deli standards like Reubans and pastrami on rye in addition to sourdough paninis. They also offer breakfast items like bagels with lox or an in-season crab melt omelette.

This summer, due to COVID-19, the deli has outdoor seating only. It is also offering curbside pickup with an online ordering system. Masks must be worn inside the restaurant as patrons walk through to the outdoor seating area.

For a more upscale dining experience, head back to the public landing where you will find Peter Ott’s on the Water [16 Bayview Landing, 207-236-4032, www. peterotts.com]. There you can order not only a lobster roll, but lobster and corn chowder and lobster quesadilla in addition to haddock, steak and burgers.

Peter Otts is only offering outdoor seating, take out and curbside pick up this summer.

Seating on the deck is first come, first serve and there is an online ordering option.

60 / BANGOR METRO September 2020

In the end, I decided to get my lobster fix at Harbor Dogs [Camden Public Landing, 207230-4397, www.harbordogs.com], a take out food stand at the public landing. Owners Allison and Jesse McWilliams serve specialty hotdogs like the Harbor Dog featuring homemade apple chutney, jumbo fish or shrimp tacos and of course lobster rolls.

Allison McWilliams could not have been more kind or patient as I studied the menu harder than I studied any university textbook. After much internal deliberation, and despite having my heart originally set on a lobster roll, I instead decided to try one of the jumbo tacos. This presented another set of dilemmas — which of the taco selections to try? And do I have it with shrimp or haddock?

I opted for the Downeast Taco with a combo of both haddock and shrimp.

Looking more like a burrito than a taco, it was stuffed with the seafood, lettuce, tomato, the homemade apple chutney and tartar sauce. And yes, it was most definitely jumbo and totally delicious.

I paired it with a Maine-made blueberry soda and enjoyed my little picnic seated next to the water at the landing.

STAY There are plenty of lodging options open in Camden, but all of them have made changes from streamlining the check in procedure to housekeeping as part of the measures put in place to help control the spread of COVID-19.

The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce has an up-to-date list of Camden lodging facilities on its webpage that includes inns, beds and breakfast, cottages and camping. The site is super user friendly and allows you to filter your search based on location, price, amenities and whether a place allows pets.

At the Hartstone Inn and Hideaway [41 Elm Street, 207-236-4259, www. hartstoneinn.com], you can stay in the center of town in one of 22 rooms divided among three historic buildings surrounded by gardens. The onsite restaurant offers gourmet meals to start and finish your day with breakfast and dinner seatings.

Cocktails are available on the outdoor patio in the afternoon and evenings.

This summer at Hartstone, general manager Megan Bruns described the logistics as “a big game of tetris” that the guests never really see. All rooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after guests check out. Every room is also left vacant for 24 hours after a guest checks out.

This means at any one time, a maximum of 11 of the inn’s 22 rooms are occupied. Other COVID-19 measures include requiring all guests and staff to wear masks when not in their rooms or seated at a dining table, hand sanitizer available throughout the buildings and limiting indoor seating at the restaurant to inn guests only to accommodate social distancing. Hartstone’s restaurant is offering curbside pickup to non-guests with online ordering available.

At the Cedar Crest Inn [115 Elm Street, 207-236-4839, www.cedarcrestinnmaine. com], guests have three acres of lawn and gardens to explore. There’s also a heated outdoor pool and children’s playground for guests. All of the inn’s facilities are operating but within state mandated COVID-19 compliance guidelines.

Have you ever wanted to stay in a castle?

A room at the Norumbega Inn [63 High Street, 207-236-4646, www.norumbegainn. com] is going to have you feeling a bit like a knight or lady of the realm. At least for a night or two. Built in 1886 by the inventor of the duplex telegraph, the stone castle is as wondrous and romance inspiring as it was more than a century ago.

There are 11 guest rooms in this boutique style hotel including two rooms in the medieval looking turret. Several of the rooms also offer views of Penobscot Bay. The Norumbega Inn also offers contactless check in and check out.

The menu at Norumbega’s restaurant relies heavily on locally sourced items from the surrounding waters and land. The daily three-course breakfast is included in your stay and may be enjoyed in the dining room or back in your room. Due to COVID-19 protocols, this summer breakfast is not open to the public. There is no dine-in service for dinner, but entrees like Maine lobster with white shrimp are available to guests and the public through the inn’s curbside pickup.

DON’T MISS Take some time to stroll the gardens adjacent to the Camden Public Library.

Paths lead you between a variety of plants and trees and all converge either at the water’s edge of Camden Harbor or where the freshwater of the Megunticook River — just 20 or so feet wide at this point — joins the briny harbor.

There are ample benches, ledges and hidden alcoves throughout the gardens to sit and gaze at the view or enjoy a picnic. If it’s warm enough, take off your shoes and wade in one of the Megunticook’s shallow pools.

Peer over the wall into the harbor where you may catch the sight of hundreds of pogies — members of the herring family — feeding.

After spending time in Camden, it was easy for me to see how it became and remains one of the state’s top tourist destinations. With so much to offer on land and sea, I defy anyone to not join me in my Camden love affair. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

WOODS & WATERS

More than a

SPEEDBUMP

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT MAINE’S QUIRKIEST OUTPOST STORY & PHOTO BY BOB DUCHESNE

JACKMAN, MAINE. What are we to do with you? You are different — and kinda quirky.

From Bethel in the west to Grand Lake Stream in the east, an arc of communities serve as jumping-off points into Maine’s vast interior forest. Each offers outfitter-style stores that provision campers, hunters, and anglers. These communities host an assortment of simple motels, small inns, rustic cabins, and sporting camps. Each has unique attractions to draw visitors.

Bethel has nearby Sunday River, one of the state’s largest ski resorts. It borders the Maine section of the White National Forest. Rangeley offers some of Maine’s finest lakes.

Kingfield and Stratton boast proximity to Sugarloaf USA, Maine’s largest ski resort.

The Bigelow Preserve is here, too, offering extraordinary hiking. The Appalachian Trail runs through it. Moosehead Lake sets Greenville apart. Millinocket is the gateway to Baxter State Park and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Grand Lake Stream has been renowned for its salmon fishing for over a century.

But what of Jackman? Is it anything more than a speedbump on the way to Canada?

What sets Jackman apart is that it has virtually nothing to offer except itself. And that’s plenty.

It has no lake large enough to be called a lake. Yet Attean, Big Wood, Holeb, and Long Ponds provide ample boating and sporting opportunities. Jackman has relatively few marked hiking trails, but an abundance of snowmobile and ATV trails.

In fact, because of Jackman’s remoteness, recreational trails are seldom crowded.

Registered Maine Guides live on every corner. World-class fish and game habitat attract hunters, anglers, and wildlife-watchers. Plenty of Maine State Heritage Fish waters surround Jackman — remote pools

WHAT SETS JACKMAN APART IS THAT IT HAS VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO OFFER EXCEPT ITSELF. AND THAT’S PLENTY.

with wild brook trout populations that have never been stocked.

One of Maine’s iconic canoe trips is here. The Moose River Bow Trip offers something the Allagash can’t — a roundtrip, multi-day paddle. No need for a vehicle shuttle. That is, if you don’t mind the 1.25mile overland portage between Attean and Holeb Ponds to complete the 34-mile loop.

There are 21 campsites along the route, all set in gorgeous wilderness.

But bring your own toilet paper.

Finding land-based campsites around Jackman can be a little more problematic.

Peruse Page 39 of the Delorme’s Maine Atlas, and you’ll see numerous primitive campsites dotting the map. Some of them actually exist. Most have melted back into the ever-changing forest.

Some of Jackman’s peculiar history has also melted back into the forest. The town originally gained prominence as an outpost along the Native American trading route to Québec. Benedict Arnold’s ill-fated march to Québec passed through here during the American Revolutionary War. A wagonfriendly road was established a few decades

later, and pieces of the Old Canada Road are still apparent. The town was named after Captain James Jackman, the man hired in the 1830s to complete construction of the road.

The Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in 1888, transporting lumber products out of the forest and sportsmen into it. The trains stopped at junctions across Maine from Vanceboro to Jackman, and at smaller enclaves along the way. A few of those tiny settlements still exist. It takes miles of driving on gravel logging roads to reach Holeb.

Here, deep in the woods, a community of rustic cabins persist where a mill once stood.

In 1944, the Jackman region hosted a prisoner-of-war camp where German POWs labored in the forests and fields during World War II. A memorial still marks the spot south of town, though the camp, too, has melted back into the forest.

Today, Route 201 traces the Old Canada Road along the Kennebec River — so picturesque that it was declared a National

Scenic Byway. There are more turnouts and interpretive signs along this route than anywhere else in Maine. Maple trees dominate the forest, setting the hillsides ablaze in autumn.

Bishop’s Store defines Jackman’s downtown commercial district. The 70-year-old store is famous for its “Wicked Pizzahs,” but the pulled pork sandwich and other comfort foods demonstrate the deli counter’s culinary proficiency. You’ll find Bishop’s Store next to Bishop’s Laundromat and Bishop’s Ice Cream Parlor, across the street from Bishop’s Motel.

Jackman is known as the “Switzerland of Maine” — a title it acquired when schoolchildren in the 1960s were tasked to come up with a catchy marketing slogan. You won’t find Alps, lederhosen, or St. Bernards here, but locals say Jackman is the first place in Maine to get snow, and the last to lose it.

Somehow, it all fits for Maine’s quirkiest outpost.

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

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63

j z FACING FEAR z Z

THE VIEW FROM HERE

BY EMILY MORRISON

B

(although it sounded like the plotline of one of “The Waltons” episodes we’d watched).

For some reason I just couldn’t let it go, so I contacted my older cousin, Jennifer, the third musketeer to our shenanigans.

As luck would have it, Jennifer remembered.

“Mary said you were adopted. You got upset and walked the block [to find your birth parents] but then came back home. I seem to remember you walking down the street, but you didn’t dare cross the road on your own to get back to your house.”

For the record, Jen couldn’t remember anything about the gypsies.

So why does it matter to me now? It’s not like I’m crossing my toes anymore when I sleep or traumatized by the memory of searching for my real parents, so why am I rehashing all this?

I guess because I find myself in an adult body with an adult job parenting my teenage children still feeling like a child sometimes.

Every now and then I miss my old bed under the eaves. I miss Mary sleeping across the hall playing rhyming games with me until we fell asleep. I miss the way my father yelled up the stairs, “Good night, girls. Go to bed!” I miss being four houses down the street from our cousins and seeing them every blessed day of every blessed summer vacation.

Most of all, I miss feeling like fear is something I can control.

There are so many real, scary monsters in adult life that I can’t wish away. I can’t cross my toes and lie still and pretend this pandemic isn’t threatening my life or the lives of the ones I love. I can’t cross the street and tell my parents, “Hey, it’s all over. You’re safe now. Feel free to resume your old lives.”

And I can’t go back to my job, teaching children, and be certain that I can keep them all safe.

It seems like the older I get, the more I miss the time when my worries were something I could sleep through.

PHOTO: ©FIZKES/ADOBE STOCK

WHEN I WAS FIVE, I believed if I crossed my toes and arms and laid very still, no monsters would crawl out from the closet while I slept. If, after shutting out the light, I could scale the three feet from the doorway to my mattress without touching the floor, then the alligator who lived under my bed wouldn’t eat me.

I had all sorts of weird superstitions about sleep.

Take laying on my back, for instance. Sleeping supine was the best way to keep the ghosts away. Obviously, ghosts wouldn’t want to talk to me because judging by my stiff form they’d think I was already dead. What’s so exciting about talking to another dead person when you’re dead too?

On the off chance I was wrong, my prayers were like an insurance policy. By adding an Our Father and a Hail Mary into the mix, Jesus and his folks would have my back. With all the prayer saying, toe crossing, arm folding, and lying on my back, I was practically guaranteed a good night’s rest.

Beyond monsters, alligators, and ghosts coming to get me, for a short period of time I believed my parents weren’t really my parents. I’m pretty sure I have my sister to blame for that nutball theory.

Of course, Mary remembers the gypsy mother story differently.

In a nutshell, my sister told me, “The gypsies dropped you off on the doorstep when you were a baby and now you need to find your gypsy mother.”

Mary remembers it the other way around.

As I’m a full 16 months younger than my sister, I maintain that an act of such clever trickery could only have been perpetrated by an older sibling.

Recently, when we called our parents to settle this ancient dispute, my mother said she couldn’t recall but believed, like I did, that as the older sibling Mary was most likely behind it.

My father couldn’t remember either but assumed only an imaginative child like myself would’ve invented the lie

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.