May Proof

TAKE A TRIP TO THE

Willie wags & MEET JAMIE CLARK

Healthier

you

MAINE FOODS TO TRY & 5 STEPS FOR A HEALTHIER YOU BURNING CALORIES IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Wildflower Walks IT’S TIME TO GET OUTSIDE

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May 2018

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CONTENTS

MAY 2018

FEATURES 50

IN CONVERSATION

Meet Jamie Clark

56

DERBY QUEENS

Maine women find health and community in roller derby

62

GET OUT

We’re going to Disney World!

Tips from two recent visits.

IN EVERY ISSUE 08

56

DERBY QUEENS

50

IN CONVERSATION

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local news & sightings

14

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

72

THE VIEW FROM HERE

ON THE COVER Owner of The Willie Wags, Jamie Clark.

Photo by Gabor Degre

2 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

PHOTOS: GARBOR DEGRE

Love: Our most renewable resource

FOOD & DRINK

HEALTH & FITNESS

HOW TO

18

20

40

IN SEASON NOW

In love with lovage

HIKE ME

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

Where to find springtime blooms

Taking painted rocks to the next level

26

42

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

4 Maine foods you should be eating

32

CREATE IT AT HOME

Rustomize your fabric

A BETTER YOU

5 steps to growing as an individual

PERSON PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) SARAH WALKER CARON; AISLINN SARNACKI; AMY ALLEN; BDN FILE; SHANNON DAPICE

of the

YEAR

HOME & FAMILY

OUTSIDE

PERSON OF THE YEAR

44

70

49

BRING ROVER TOO!

Why Maine is so pet friendly

46

LET IT GROW

Getting kids involved in gardening

WOODS & WATERS

Studying the effects of climate change on Maine’s bird population

NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN

For the first time, Bangor Metro magazine is looking to honor a Mainer for their outstanding commitment to bettering the Pine Tree State.

Find the nomination form and more information on page 49. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

Healthier

YOU

AS I WRITE THIS, my colleagues are discussing where to get pizza for lunch in Downtown Bangor (always Tesoro’s) and I am dreaming of the soon-to-come days when we’ll walk down to the Bangor Waterfront for lunch, grabbing tacos (Casa Mexicana) or pizzas (Pompeii Pizza) or those Amaze Balls (Melt) I couldn’t get enough of last year. On the hottest days, a shake from Wild Cow Creamery hits the spot too.

Enjoying lunches together is something we do often — it’s a boon for morale in the office and just plain fun. And I especially enjoy when our lunches require a walk too. I don’t mind indulging for meals when it’s for a good cause — or, even better, paired with a little exercise.

SINCE LATE LAST FALL, I HAVE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON MY HEALTH. I EAT BETTER, I EXERCISE MORE AND I AM MORE THOUGHTFUL IN HOW I SPEND MY TIME. I’ve even worked on sleeping more — which is a hidden gem of personal health. So this May issue with the theme of Healthier You is especially close to my heart.

From getting your kids into growing your own food (page xx) to healthy Maine grown foods you should be eating (page xx) to generally living better (page xx), this issue is chock full of great information. But that’s not all. We have our regular columns — Hike ME on page xx, In Season Now on page xx and Woods and Waters on page xx — also with some great ideas for living well.

And, finally, don’t miss the excellent feature on Jamie Clark and her Downtown Bangor store The Willie Wags on page xx. From the moment she filled the windows of the not-yetopened storefront with teal balloons, she began adding something wonderful to the downtown landscape. I am so glad to have her in the pages of the May issue of Bangor Metro magazine.

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro bangormetro talkback@bangormetro.com 4 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

Connect With Us Online

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

PUBLISHER

Richard J. Warren

EDITOR

Sarah Walker Caron scaron@bangordailynews.com

ART DIRECTOR

Amy Allen

aallen@bangordailynews.com

SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER

Fred Stewart

fstewart@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Julia Bayly

jbayly@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Abigail Curtis acurtis@bangordailynews.com

STAFF WRITER

Aislinn Sarnacki asarnacki@bangordailynews.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah Cottrell, Gabor Degre, Bob Duchesne, Jodi Hersey, Emily

Morrison, Crystal Sands, Liz Theriault www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Meet ELIZABETH THERIAULT Bangor Metro Magazine. May 2018, Vol. 14, No. 4.

Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company.

Bangor Metro is published 10 times annually by Bangor Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

This magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form without the written permission of the Publisher.

Bangor Metro is mailed at standard rates from Portland, Maine.

Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit.

Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication.

Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metro’s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine both in print and online.

Editorial: Queries should be sent to Sarah Walker Caron at scaron@bangordailynews.com.

Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Director Todd McLeod at 207-990-8105.

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 McLeod at 207-990-8105.

COVER PHOTO: Gabor Degre

WHO INSPIRES YOU? I’m inspired by my peers at the University of Maine. There, we’ve developed a supportive group of prospering student journalists, and we are always encouraging, helping, and pushing each other to be the best we can be. I’m inspired by my friends’ dedication to the ideals of journalism, their work ethic, their passion for writing and our compassion for one another.

WHERE DO YOU WRITE? I like to write anywhere I can, but I tend to work best in pretty quiet situations, so at home on my couch or in the library are some nice spots. I like to write in large chunks of time, so I find a place with a lot of cushions or places to lean.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR WANNABE WRITERS? I write best when I can get as much out of myself as I can. I write as much as possible, as fast as possible. I always go back and edit later, but once I get in the mindset to write, I find that the best results come from when I place no limits on myself and I’m not pausing to consider whether every word or sentence is right. I let the words flow out onto the paper as they pop into my head and this gives me the most, and often the best, to work with.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING YOU’VE READ RECENTLY? The best thing I’ve read recently would have to be Carlo Rovelli’s “Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.”

Rovelli uses the poetic beauty of literature to highlight and explain the wonders of the human race and the universe. It serves as a reminder that just because we may think we know a certain truth, it does not mean that discoveries won’t open our eyes to something different in the future. This book has influenced the ways in which I look at our world.

Meet AMY ALLEN WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE STORY OR PROJECT YOU'VE WORKED ON RECENTLY? Our readers will notice a bit of a redesign of Bangor Metro this month. It’s been fun trying some new things and incorporating line drawings, some softer colors and fun fonts through the magazine. It’s something we’ve done a little bit of in past issues, and we liked it so much we wanted to incorporate a kind of sketch art into the full magazine. I think it’s added some whimsy and fun as well as continuity — I hope our readers will let us know how they like it!

My all-time favorite thing to design was last year’s Best Restaurants issue. I made paper cutout food to illustrate the section and the cover — and it was the most fun thing for me. Figuring out how to make paper look like bagels and noodles

and cocktails and doughnuts was a creative challenge I couldn’t get enough of.

WHAT'S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR WANNABE DESIGNERS? Any time you design something (or paint or draw or do anything creative), you’re putting a little piece of yourself out there and it can be scary. Art is subjective and everyone’s going to have a different opinion, but for something like a magazine we try to appeal to the masses.

The best advice I can offer is to find balance. Don’t be afraid to try something different and stick up for things when you think they're really working, but also be open to advice and critique.

WHO INSPIRES YOU? I get to work with a team of incredibly creative

graphic designers for the Bangor Daily News. I’m inspired daily by what they do, and we constantly share tips and blog articles and new techniques.

Everyone on our team has their own set of strengths, from pen and paper drawing to editorial design to keeping us updated on the latest technology — I feel very lucky to get to collaborate and bounce ideas off this team.

My family’s also a great source of inspiration. I have an 11-year-old and a 7-year-old who love to help head up the kids craft for the magazine each month.

We usually turn it into a party and invite some friends to join us. My mother is an incredible artist and we tap her quite often (like we did this month, see page 42) to teach us something fun and unique like this month’s mandala painting.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

MAY A talk by Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of the Detective Byron mystery series, will be held at Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow Street, in the Crofutt Community Room on Wednesday, May 2 from 6-7 pm. His latest book, “Beneath the Depths” was released in 2017. Coffin is also a former detective sergeant with more than 27 years in law enforcement. Free.

FRIDAY, MAY 4 DOWNTOWN BANGOR FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK

Join local and regional artists and artisans for an evening celebrating creativity throughout downtown Bangor at the the Downtown Bangor First Friday Artwalk, 5-8 pm, on May 4. The artwalk, presented by the Downtown Bangor Arts Collaborative, aims to bring the community together through art. Free.

SATURDAY, MAY 5 KID CENTRAL FESTIVAL

Music and crafts, face painting and the annual superhero costume contest. Kid

8 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

Central Festival, presented by BangPop! returns to Downtown Bangor on Saturday, May 5 for its eighth annual event. Families will enjoy a wealth of fun and free activities both indoors and outside. There are activities for everyone ages 12 and under. Kid Central Festival begins at 10 am and continues until 3 pm. Schedule and information will soon be available at www.KidCentralFest.com. And did we mention that it’s FREE?

SATURDAY, MAY 5 CHRIS ROSS AND THE NORTH

The combination of The North’s blend of country and rock and roll with Chris Ross’s candid storytelling comes to the Bangor Arts Exchange Ballroom, 187 Exchange Street in Bangor, on Saturday, May 5 at 9 pm for an all ages show. Anchored by Ryan Curless (drums) and Caleb Sweet (bass), the rhythm section hits where you want it to, and hard – a fine tuned compatibility of artistic bonds reaching back to early childhood perceptible to the naked ear. Rounding out The North is guitarist Zachary Bence, a virtuoso with the ability to transition between earscorching guitar solos and beautiful sonic swells on the drop of a dime, his grace as a musician as boundless as his contribution to the band’s steady concord. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of show.

SATURDAY, MAY 12 TRAVIS CYR

Quiet and gentle yet vast and strong, Travis Cyr’s songs are full of vividly honest and poetic lyrics and emotionally percussive acoustic guitar. He’ll be playing at Bangor Arts Exchange Gallery, 187 Exchange Street in Bangor, at 8 pm on Saturday, May 12 for an all ages show. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 on the day of show.

TUESDAY, MAY 15 MOVING BEYOND THIS MOMENT: COURAGE, CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY CONFERENCE

Philanthropy Partners Conference, “Moving Beyond This Moment: Courage, Creativity, and Community,” will be held from 8:15 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15 at the Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main Street in Bangor. Participants will meet, be encouraged by and learn from colleagues who are using resilience, inventiveness and collaboration to transform the state.

Conference will bring together more than 400 funders and nonprofit leaders from

PHOTOS: BDN FILE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 AUTHOR TALK WITH BRUCE ROBERT COFFIN

MAY 5 Kid Central Festival

WE’RE MOVING!

Expanded Breakfast Selection!

S t ay t u n e d fo r o u r u p d at e d hours!

• b re a k f a s t • s o u p s • b a g e l s • p a s t r i e s • s a l a d s • s a n d w i c h e s • m e l t s • w ra p s • d e s s e r t s •

BELL THE CAT IS MOVING TO THE FORMER PIZZA HUT BUILDING

AT 15 BELMONT AVENUE IN BELFAST. BE SURE TO STOP IN FOR A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST OR LUNCH!

BELL THE CAT

15 Belmont Ave., Belfast (207) 338-2084 bellthecatinc@gmail.com

CATERING AVAILABLE GLUTEN FREE AND VEGETARIAN OPTIONS AVAILABLE

across Maine; offer opportunities for participants to learn together, exchange ideas and speak frankly about shared issues and current challenges; and bolster the strength, connectivity, capacity and effectiveness of Maine’s philanthropy and nonprofit networks.

MAY 19-20 ROBINSON BALLET’S SPRING FOR DANCE

Robinson Ballet Company will present Spring for Dance at the Gracie Theatre at Husson University on Saturday, May 19 at 7 pm and Sunday, May 20 at 3 pm. Spring for Dance will feature “Fiesta” excerpts from the classical ballet, Don Quixote.

This production will also feature new choreography by Artistic Director Stevie McGary, Artistic Director Emeritus Keith Robinson and Guest Artist Molly Gawler.

Gawler will present her dance piece, “Prime”, on the Cyr Wheel, a mesmerizing circus apparatus, as well as a delightful piece about the joy of living. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. They can be purchased online at robinsonballet.org, at the Robinson Ballet Studio, 107 Union St. in Bangor, or at the door an hour before showtime.

MAY 12 Travis Cyr at Bangor Arts Exchange

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

PHOTO: JEFF KIRLIN / THE THING OF THE MOMENT

SATURDAY, MAY 19 ALL ROADS MUSIC FESTIVAL

The All Roads Music Festival returns to Belfast on Saturday, May 19 for a day of performances, panel discussions, artist development sessions and special events. All Roads is a celebration of local and indie music talent that brings some of Maine’s finest emerging musicians under one banner in a city known for its passionate support of the arts and locally grown creative talent.

General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the show. VIP tickets are also available.

MONDAY, MAY 28 MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Bangor’s annual Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 28.

Check the Bangor Metro Facebook Page for more details. Free.

MAY 19 All Roads Music Festival

STILL STUMPED? 

Here are the answers to last month’s Pop Quiz.

 

 

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

WHAT’S HAPPENING

1

HERE’S A LOOK AT JUST A FEW SPECIAL EVENTS FROM THE PAST MONTH...

1: People leave the Universalist Church in Orono for the University of Maine campus on March 24, 2018.

About 100 people took part in the Stillwater March for Our Lives, one of 15 events held in Maine as part of a national movement for tighter gun control laws.

2

2-3: Hosted by Literacy Volunteers of Bangor, the family-friendly 6th Annual Literacy Tea featured awardwinning Maine author Melissa Sweet and her book “Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White.” Attendees were invited to tour 36 tables, each decorated to represent a favorite children’s book, and enjoy tasty treats as well as tea from sponsor Tea Maineia.

SHARE YOUR EVENT PHOTOS! 12 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

Email your photos and captions to

talkback@bangormetro.com

PHOTOS: (1) JUDY HARRISON; (2-3) JEFF KIRLIN / THE THING OF THE MOMENT

3

4

LET’S GET PHYSICAL!

Give your brain a workout with our Pop Quiz! Play online at bangormetro.com for your chance to win a FREE one-year subscription to Bangor Metro!

4: Eureka Farms in Palmyra was one of many Maine farms to welcome visitors on Maine Maple Sugar weekend.

Eureka Farms is run by the Edwards family and currently specializes in

Maine-made maple syrup and honey.

5: Maine favorite Rustic Overtones and frontman Dave Gutter entertained the crowd at Bangor Arts Exchange during a recent show.

PHOTOS: (4) JENNIFER MURPHY/WHITTLING FOG PHOTOGRAPHY; (5) MICHAEL MURPHY/WHITTLING FOG PHOTOGRAPHY

5

WHO’S ON THE MOVE Health Access Network (HAN), a Lincoln based community health center, has named NICOLE MORRISON, RN, as their new chief executive officer. Morrison has served Health Access Network as operations director since 2012, and has 20 years of management experience in healthcare.

SEA BAGS, the Portland manufacturer of handmade items from recycled sails, received an award from Maine Technology Asset Fund Program recently. MTAF supports projects that are innovation leading and could impact economic growth significantly. Sea Bags’ award will be used to develop new precision manufacturing capabilities to build capacity and accelerate growth in customized products.

FIND ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S POP QUIZ ON PAGE 10!

Visit our Bangor Metro Facebook page to play online! www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 13

FOOD & DRINK

OBSESSIONS

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

JEWELRY

VIDEO GAME

HONEY TRIBE RING

STARDEW VALLEY

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Jewelry designer Pamela DeSantis, owner of Honey Tribe Jewelry, has a way with metals such as brass and bronze. Warmth oozes from her art. She made a ring for my left hand to replace my wedding band after my divorce. I told her I wanted a green stone, and let her do the rest after telling her my story. I was presented with a ring I would have spotted from afar and would’ve had to purchase regardless of the cost. Pamela chose chrysoprase for me as it’s a heart-opener. And I can assure you, that it is.

Honey Tribe Jewelry can be found online at honeytribejewelry.com.

—KATIE SMITH

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? If you are a parent you may find yourself with a child or two who are curious about raising crops or, for the more ambitious of us, livestock, you might want to check out the video game Stardew Valley.

In the big picture, it’s fairly straightforward. You’re a young adult who has taken over their grandfather’s farm and must plant crops and interact with the “small town folk” of Stardew Valley in order to earn money, experience and new abilities to expand the farm. Early in the game the player is merely planting basic crops and making sure to water and harvest them as needed.

As the game progresses, the player can expand to owning livestock, creating more elaborate goods from their crops (like jams, juices, and full meals), harvest trees, stone, gold, fish, and even fight off monsters to help the town.

With visuals that are simple and colorful, very mild violence against cartoon monsters (a minimal portion of the game) and an accessible but deep farming component, Stardew Valley is one of those games that mixes entertainment, early education elements, and hours upon hours of gameplay to be sucked into. I personally recommend the Nintendo Switch version so you or your child can take it on the go. Who knows, maybe they will start giving you real world gardening tips!

—BEN CYR

YOUTUBE YOGA WITH ADRIENE WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I really have to have a way to exercise that is convenient (as in at my house), not taking up huge blocks of time (15-20 minutes) and not involving a big investment of money (in case I give it up). That’s why I was so excited to discover Yoga with Adriene on YouTube.

To use Adriene’s videos, you don’t need a lot of equipment — just a mat, comfy clothes and a device to watch it on. Adriene has a great sense of humor and a really calming voice that inspires you to complete each video. I did the 30 day challenge and will now be moving on to another series. There are all different types of videos for exercising different parts of the body or for dealing with different kinds of stress. It’s perfect for people like me.

14 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

—BARB MOWER

BOOKS “THE ORPHAN BAND OF SPRINGDALE,” BY ANNE NESBET — It was somewhat by accident that I started reading this middle grade novel about an 11-year-old girl sent from her New York home to live in her grandmother’s Maine orphanage when times got tough in the WWII era. While living there Gusta experiences small-town prejudices and learns about a huge family secret.

It’s an interesting window into a different time. Based loosely on Anne Nesbet’s mother’s childhood, this is a book with a lot of heart. And accidental start or not, I finished this book because the complex, well-developed characters, lively dialogue and interesting story gripped my attention the whole way through. I can’t wait to share it with my kids and see what they think.

PHOTOS: (TOP) THINKSTOCK; (YOGA) ZINKEVYCH/THINKSTOCK

“CONVICTION,” BY JULIA DAHL — Rebekah Roberts, a journalist in New York, is a reoccurring figure in Julia Dahl’s books. She’s curious and relentless and dedicated, but also haunted and troubled. In Dahl’s latest book, “Conviction,” Roberts investigates a Brooklyn murder that happened just after the 1991 Crown Heights riots. A teenager was arrested and convicted of the crime. But when Roberts receives a letter proclaiming his innocence, she starts to look into what happened, hitting wall after wall before discovering some deeply hidden secrets. The closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she’s in. This book was riveting and fast-paced, and like Dahl’s other novels it opens a window on secretive communities in New York.

“PLANT, COOK, EAT! A CHILDREN’S COOKBOOK,” BY JOE ARCHER AND CAROLINE CRAIG AND ILLUSTRATED BY SARAH MULVANNY — When I flipped through this cookbook for the first time, I was smitten. It’s not just a good cookbook for kids — though it certainly is that — it’s a good instructional book that teaches kids how to grow the foods they want to cook with. And it starts at the beginning: teaching kids about the parts of the plants, how they grow and what we can eat from them. There’s also info on soil, preparing the land and more. I love how gardening and cooking collide in this book.

—SARAH WALKER CARON

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

FOOD & DRINK

OBSESSIONS

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

GROCERY FIND OUI FRENCH STYLE YOGURT BY YOPLAIT

BONUS: USE THE

LITTLE JARS TO PLANT WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I was about 30 weeks pregnant when I came across Oui French Style SUCCULENTS, HOLD Yogurt by Yoplait. It became a quick addiction.

JAMS OR CANDLES, I was eating two a day. Light, creamy texture, OR KEEP ODDS hints of flavor. I do prefer the French yogurt over the Greek. The fruit is on the bottom and there AND ENDS. is a fruit print foil cover with sweet messages on the backside of the label like: “Keep smiling,” “Great things come in glass jars,” “Best savored slowly,” and “Enjoy that first bite.”

My fave flavors are — well, I love them all. Lemon, black cherry and peach are my all time favorites. They offer strawberry, raspberry, coconut, key lime, blueberry, vanilla, and plain as well. I have not been able to find mango, but I am sure it is delicious! Hopefully, with summer around the corner this will hit the shelves soon. With any luck they’ll work on a pineapple, chocolate and coffee flavor next.

It first caught my eye because of the beautiful packaging.

I am a graphic designer and a sucker for beautiful product DRAGON ROLLS AT ICHIBAN design. The adorable 5 ounce jars are cute little keepsakes after you enjoy your delicious treat. At $1–$1.50 a jar, it WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I do loves me some sushi. So I’m may sound a little expensive for yogurt, but they are always not sure why it took me so long to check out Ichiban on 266 on sale. I have used my Target Cartwheel app and each jar Union Street in Bangor. was discounted to about 85 cents a jar.

Now that I have, I’m hooked on the Dragon Maki.

Where to buy: I’ve found them at Target, Walmart, It’s the reason, when driving through Bangor on I-95 I’m Shaw’s and Hannaford. as helpless as a sailor caught by the seductive songs of the —MICHELE DWYER Greek Sirens. Only, in my case it’s the vision of the delicate maki rolls filled with crispy shrimp tempura, topped with thin avocado slices and drizzled with sweet eel sauce that has me steering my vehicle onto the Union Street exit ramp. It’s the perfect combination of flavors and textures, especially when I top it with some wasabi and pickled ginger.

Sure, it’s a bit of detour for me at times, but as long as the Ichiban Dragon Maki sings its siren song, I’m not even going to try to resist.

—JULIA BAYLY

SUSHI

16 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE

PHOTOS: GREENARTPHOTOGRAPHY & BIGACIS/THINKSTOCK

BANGOR’S BEST BLOODY MARY CONTEST SUNDAY, MAY 20 WHY DO WE LOVE IT? When asked to judge a Bloody Mary contest, you say yes. Immediately. The conversation went like this: “Do you like Bloody Mary’s?” “Yes.” “Do you want to judge a...” “YES!” Bangor’s Best Bloody Mary contest is being hosted by the Hemophilia Alliance of Maine (get it?!) on Sunday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bangor Hilton Garden Inn. It’s the first Bloody Mary competition of its kind, pitting local bartenders against one another to see whose spicy concoction will be deemed Bangor’s Best.

I’m just a little excited. Everyone has their own Bloody Mary preferences and I’ve seen garnishes from bacon to shrimp to sliders, so I’m curious to see what the bartenders come up with. Personally, I’m fan of medium horseradish, light Tabasco — and enough olives to make a meal.

Tickets to attend Bangor’s Best Bloody Mary, sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, are $20 online and $25 at the door. The cost includes five tastings (you have to be 21 or old to attend) and a vote. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Hemophilia Alliance of Maine, whose mission is to assist and enhance the quality of life for Maine’s people and families who have a bleeding disorder. Judges, including yours truly, as well as attendees, will determine who wins a $250 prize and the award for Bangor’s Best Bloody Mary.

Purchase tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/bangors-best-bloody-marytickets-44562735341. And you got the part where tastings are included, right? See you there!

—AMY ALLEN

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DATE NIGHT SPOT FOR SUMMER NIGHTS? EVENROOD’S We sit outside in the summer.

I like the atmosphere. It’s fine dining at casual prices. You can have a nice prime rib or sirloin or a burger and fries. It has a nice variety, from my Allagash White to a Chocolate Martini.

—LEEANNE HEWEY, BREWER AT THE CHARLES INN

OUR DOCK [ON BRANCH LAKE] We usually eat dinner on our porch, but we don’t go out as much as we used to. We will go out on the dock for a glass of wine.

—VICKY TABBUTT, ELLSWORTH AT LOGICAL SIP CAFE & BAKERY

BANGOR DRIVE IN It’s old school, it reminds me from when I was a kid. We bring our kids, so it’s a date night with the kids. We go three to four times a summer.

—JARROD WILLIAMS, BREWER AT COACH HOUSE RESTAURANT

REPORTED BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

in season now

FOOD & DRINK

LOVAGE

STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON

APPLES AREN’T ALWAYS red or green, carrots aren’t always orange and tomatoes come in a variety of hues beyond red. What we see in grocery stores is a tiny sample of the vast array of vegetables, fruits and herbs that are grown and sold here.

Meet lovage, one of those lesser known herbs.

You probably won’t find lovage in a grocery store though. This French herb, which has a flavor similar to celery with a texture that’s more like parsley, can be found at some Maine farmers markets in May and June.

In past seasons, I’ve bought it from Wise Acres Farm in Kenduskeag, which has a stand at the Bangor Farmers’ Market on Sundays. You can also grow your own.

The aromatic leaves of lovage can be chopped, minced, thinly sliced, torn or even pureed (with other ingredients). Mix it into sauces, salads, soups, vinaigrettes and so much more. You can also eat the stems. Perhaps use them in a stir fry?

As for the name, it means “false celery,” in French. Accurate, I say.

In this vinaigrette, the flavor of lovage is complemented by garlic.

The light, refreshing flavor of white wine vinegar combines with olive oil, a little water and a touch of dijon mustard. Seasoned with just a bit of salt and pepper, it’s perfect for drizzling onto salads. It’d also be lovely on boiled potatoes.

LOVAGE GARLIC VINAIGRETTE Serves: 4-6

INGREDIENTS 1 heaping tablespoon fresh minced lovage 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ tsp dijon mustard 4 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp white wine vinegar 2 tbsp water salt and pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS Pile the lovage, garlic and mustard in a pint jar.

Pour the olive oil, white wine vinegar and water in. Season gently with salt and pepper.

Place a top on the jar and twist to seal. Shake vigorously.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro Magazine. A longtime food writer, she is co-author of “Grains as Mains: Modern Recipes Using Ancient Grains,” and author of the popular food blog Sarah’s Cucina Bella (www.sarahscucinabella.com).

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HIKE ME

WILDFLOWER

WALKS HIKES FULL OF SPRINGTIME BLOOMS.

BY AISLINN SARNACKI

TINY, YELLOW TROUT LILIES covered the forested hill, their bold blossoms standing out against the drab carpet of dead leaves. The wildflower, emerging in the spring, is one of the first pops of color in Maine forests each year. Its slender petals curve outward into the shape of a six-pointed star.

In the woods of Annie Sturgis Sanctuary in Vassalboro, patches of these lilies cover the ground in early May, when leaves are just starting to unfurl on the trees. They draw the eyes of those who visit to walk the preserve’s network of footpaths.

Beneath its yellow blossoms, the flower’s greenery is also eye catching. The long, pointed leaves reach up from the forest floor and spill outward, green mottled with brown, like the coloring of a brook trout.

A common plant throughout Maine, the trout lily says “Spring is here at last” and is soon joined by a variety of other woodland flowers, pushing through the matted brown leaves, stamped down by months beneath the snow.

(Left to right) Purple trillium, yellow trout lily, and bloodroot.

PHOTOS: AISLINN SARNACKI

(Above) Willamina Sarnacki-Wood of Hampden checks out a lady’s-slipper.

A sign marks the beginning of the Ginger Trail loop at Annie Sturgis Sanctuary in Vassalboro. The Ginger Trail visits a clump of wild ginger, which is rare in Maine.

ANNIE STURGIS SANCTUARY IN VASSALBORO MODERATE HOME TO A WIDE VARIETY of woodland flowers, the 40-acre Annie Sturgis Sanctuary features a 2-mile trail network that is owned and maintained by the New England Wild Flower Society. Wildflowers that you’ll see on this walk include white-petaled bloodroot, vibrant yellow trout lily and a deep red, threepetaled flower called purple trillium.

Other highlights of the trail network include what’s thought to be the largest stand of wild ginger in Maine, a scenic brook and an old chimney that stands atop a forested hill known as Mount Tom. Dogs are not permitted, and the trails are for foot traffic only. The sanctuary is only open dawn until dusk, April 1 through Oct. 31. For more information, visit www.newenglandwild.org or call the sanctuary stewards at 207-623-9340.

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 95 to exit 113 (Augusta/Belfast), then go east on Route 3 for 1.7 miles, crossing the Kennebec River. Just after crossing the river, at the intersection of Route 201 and Route 102, turn left onto Route 201 and drive north for about 4.1 miles. Turn left onto Cushnoc Road (in the town of Vassalboro) and drive approximately 1.5 miles and the sanctuary trailhead will be on your left, on the west side of the road. Park on the shoulder of the road, well out of the way of traffic and without blocking any nearby driveways. Keep in mind that the sanctuary trail crosses private property. Stay on trail and respect the privacy of nearby landowners. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME Woodland flowers called lady's-slippers are in bloom beside one of the Mullen Meadow Wilderness Trails in Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.

(Right) Wild rhodora is one of several wildflowers that can be found in Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.

MOOSEHORN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN BARING CHALLENGING ESTABLISHED IN 1937, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge covers nearly 30,000 acres in Washington County.

Managed by the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, the refuge features numerous hiking trails and woods roads that travel through forest and fields filled with wildflowers that are native to the region, including lady’s-slippers and wild rhodora.

Your walk in the refuge can range from easy to challenging, depending on the trails and roads you choose to travel.

The 0.3-mile paved Woodcock Trail was constructed to be wheelchair accessible and is a great place for spring birding. The 3-mile Headquarters Loop Trail is an interpretive walk on dirt roads that visits several ponds and wetlands, as well as mixed forests and fields. And for the adventurous, there are quite a few rough, narrow trails that travel through old-growth forests.

The most challenging aspect of walking on this property in the spring is the abundance of blackflies and mosquitoes that will inevitably pester you. I suggest hiking with the majority of your skin covered with clothing and the rest covered with good bug repellent. You could even wear a head net.

Dogs are permitted if on leash at all times, and bikes are permitted on certain roads and trails. For more information, call 207-454-7161 or visit fws.gov/refuge/Moosehorn.

PHOTOS: AISLINN SARNACKI

DIRECTIONS: The Baring Division of the refuge is located in the town of Baring, which is just southwest of Calais in Washington County. From the intersection of Main Street and North Street in downtown Calais, drive west on North Street 3.3 miles (the road is also Route 1 and will become Baring Street), then turn left onto Charlotte Road. Charlotte Road leads through the refuge. As you follow the road, you’ll come across a few trailheads and a wheelchair-accessible wildlife observation deck. Follow Charlotte Road 2.4 miles, then turn right onto Headquarters Road, which soon splits to become a 1-way road that forms a loop and visits the refuge headquarters and a few different parking areas for various trailheads. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

WALDEN-PARKE PRESERVE IN BANGOR

Bangor-area residents participate in a spring wildflower walk organized by the Bangor Land Trust at Walden-Parke Preserve.

OWNED AND MAINTAINED by the Bangor Land Trust, the 205-acre Walden-Parke Preserve is known as an especially great place to enjoy lady’s-slippers in the spring. These showy woodland flowers are orchids and require specific habitats in order to grow. Collecting them is discouraged, considering some species of lady’s-slippers are quite rare. Instead, bring a camera on your hike to capture their beauty in a more lasting way.

Walden-Parke Preserve features a trail network that leads walkers to a large beaver wetland, hardwood and softwood forests, verbal pools and a portion of Caribou Bog. The main trail in the network, the Blue Trail, forms a loop hike that is about 3 miles long. And branching off of that are several side trails that visitors are welcome to explore.

Dogs are permitted but must be on leash at all times. Bicycles are permitted as well. For more information, visit www.bangorlandtrust.org or call 207-942-1010.

DIRECTIONS: From the Stillwater Avenue-Essex Street intersection in Bangor, drive about 4 miles north on Essex Street, passing Church Road on your left. Take you next right onto Walden Parke Way at the entrance of the Edgewood Subdivision. Take the next right onto Tamarack Trail (a road).

At the end of Tamarack Trail is a small parking area, a Bangor Land Trust kiosk and the trailhead.

For more of AISLINN SARNACKI’S adventures, visit her blog at actoutwithaislinn. bangordailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter: @1minhikegirl. Her guidebook, “Family-Friendly Hikes in Maine,” is available at local bookstores, Down East Books and online booksellers.

24 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF LUCY QUIMBY

EASY

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HEALTH & FITNESS

YOU ARE WHAT YOU

4 MAINE FOODS YOU SHOULD BE EATING

IT CAN BE EASY to dismiss the old adage that “you are what you eat,” as something mothers tell children to get them to eat more veggies. But what if the claim has more truth to it than we imagined?

The foods we consume impact our health in myriad ways. In fact, some research points to the fact that some healthy foods may even have medicinal properties.

Certified health and wellness coach Kristen Stone said that she became interested in the impact foods have on our health when a family member struggled with stomach issues. She now helps others learn to live more healthy lives and teaches the importance of nutrition and the potential medicinal properties of certain foods.

“We take food for granted, and we don’t appreciate what it does for us. If we can appreciate it and add better foods to our diet, it can crowd out the bad in our diets and provide overall better health,” said Stone, who studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is based in Austin, Texas.

In Maine, we have access to a wide variety of foods that can help improve your health, including these four Maine foods.

26 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

PHOTOS: DIGITAL VISION, RATMANER, MILKOS, AABOIKIS/THINKSTOCK

BY CRYSTAL SANDS

BLUEBERRIES Here in Maine, we love our blueberries in everything from muffins and pancakes to yogurt and smoothies to palmfuls enjoyed as snacks. The official state fruit of Maine isn’t just good to eat, though — it’s also very good for you.

Low in calories (one cup has about 80 calories), low in fat and high in fiber, blueberries are rich in antioxidants and also an excellent source of the nutrient manganese. Eating blueberries may benefit heart and brain health as well as help regular blood sugar levels. No wonder it’s referred to as a “superfood.”

According to Stone, “wild blueberries are arguably one of the world’s most WHEN’S IT IN SEASON? powerful foods.” Blueberries are also WILD BLUEBERRIES particularly beneficial when your body has been through a tough time ARE IN SEASON HERE or physical strain, and are a wonderful IN MAINE IN AUGUST. food when you “need a boost.”

ELDERBERRIES Elderberries have been getting a lot of attention lately, and with good reason. New research on the health benefits of elderberries indicates that they may be an effective preventative against the flu and can help reduce the symptoms of the flu once you have it.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study done in Norway during the 1999-2000 influenza season by researchers at Hebrew University’s Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem, researchers found that elderberry tincture could shorten the duration of the flu by up to four days when taken at the flu’s onset, compared to those who were given a placebo syrup.

Elderberries are readily available here in Maine and even grow wild. However, it’s important to know that the seeds, stems, leaves, and roots of the black elderberry are poisonous to humans, so, if you’re foraging for elderberries, make sure you consult with an expert to be sure the ones you choose are okay to consume.

Also, elderberries must be cooked WHEN’S IT IN SEASON? before being consumed as they ELDERBERRIES ARE are poisonous when raw.

IN SEASON HERE IN Elderberries can be used for jellies, syrups, and tinctures.

MAINE IN SEPTEMBER. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27

HEALTH & FITNESS RAW HONEY The golden nectar of honey is a favorite in teas, baked goods and more, but did you know that raw honey may also be good for you? Although many honeys in the grocery store are pasteurized to kill any yeast that may lead to fermentation, raw honey isn’t and that changes what it can do for your body.

In a 2017 review of the scientific literature on the health and medicinal benefits of honey published by the National Institute of Health, researchers in India reviewed more than 200 clinical studies. They found that raw honey may aid in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including asthma, gastrointestinal issues, and even cancer.

For allergy sufferers, raw honey is also said to help WHEN’S IT IN SEASON? symptoms by allowing the body to develop a resistance ALTHOUGH RAW HONEY IS to local pollen. The key is to purchase local raw honey, AVAILABLE FROM MAINE which will contain pollen from your area.

BEEKEEPERS THROUGHOUT Honeybees make honey through a fascinating THE YEAR, HONEY IS OFTEN process. One bee collects the nectar and then regurgitates HARVESTED IN LATE JULY, the liquid to a second bee. The second bee passes it on to AUGUST, AND EARLY the third bee, and the third bee spits out honey into the SEPTEMBER. comb and fans her wings at amazing speeds in order to thicken the delicious liquid we call honey.

RED RASPBERRIES Though they don’t receive as much fanfare as Maine blueberries do, red raspberries are another delicious Maine food worth paying attention to.

Also like blueberries, they are delicious in a variety of dishes — from snacking on them raw to cooked into muffins, pancakes and more.

Red raspberries bring a brightness to our Maine summers, and are loved for their sweet-tart taste. But red raspberries are also extremely nutritious. They are a very good source of vitamin C, fiber and manganese and a good source of vitamin K. Moreover, the initial findings of several recent studies presented at the 2017 Experimental Biology conference in WHEN’S IT IN SEASON? Chicago point to a variety of potential RASPBERRIES ARE health benefits derived from eating red RIPE AND READY FOR raspberries. According to the studies, eating PICKING HERE IN red raspberries could aid in better blood MAINE IN JULY. sugar control, a reduction of inflammation and better gut health.

WHERE TO GET THESE HEALTHY FOODS Maine ranks second in the United States, behind only Vermont, in terms of the availability of fresh and local foods. Look to farmers’ markets, pick your own farms, co-ops, natural foods stores and local sections in your grocery store for nutritious berries and honey. The Common Ground Fair held each September in Unity, Maine, also provides Mainers with an opportunity to stock up raw honey, as well as jams, jellies, and syrups from blueberries, elderberries, and raspberries.

28 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

Of course, if possible, it’s even better to grow your own when you can. As Jean English of MOFGA emphasizes, “I would also encourage people to grow some of their own fruits and vegetables — for the nutritional and economic benefits, and for the exercise and vitamin D accumulation that comes with gardening.”

We may not be what we eat exactly, but what we eat and how we get our food can certainly have a profound impact on our health.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29

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BUILDING Strength BUILDING STRENGTH WITHOUT THE GYM. FROM LYN BRAGDON, OWNER & CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR AT SUPERSLOW ZONE BANGOR

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HE REASONS PEOPLE DON’T EXERCISE are countless.

They don’t have time, don’t like sweating, don’t like gyms, don’t know what to do… you could go on and on.

But what if you could push all these things aside and build the strength you need to be healthy and active, all in just 20 minutes? What if you could do it with a flexible schedule, sweat-free, wearing the clothes you’re wearing right now?

Sound too good to be true? It’s not. At SuperSlow Zone in Bangor and its other locations around the country, none of those obstacles to exercising apply. This is not a gym in the traditional sense—it’s a professional service. All SuperSlow Zone sessions are held one-on-one with a certified instructor in a clean, quiet, temperature-controlled environment with no mirrors, noise or distractions.

Using a slow motion protocol on medical-grade equipment, your muscles will be safely and effectively pushed to help them grow stronger. SuperSlow Zone guarantees you get stronger in just 20 minutes, twice a week. Your instructor charts your progress with a proprietary iPad program so you can see your results. Due to the slow-motion protocol, fans and temperature control, there’s no reason to change or shower—you just move on with your busy day!

Retired Bangor-area lawyer Dick Hall, 71, has been working out at SuperSlow Zone twice a week for over two years. For a variety of reasons, he took several months off but has been back on track since the beginning of November.

Dick Hall

“I’ve tried exercising at home on my own and have the typical equipment like most people do,” said Hall. “I just never had the discipline to use it consistently. I also had a gym membership but didn’t get much assistance with the equipment. I would go when I wanted and sometimes there were a lot of people there and I really don’t like crowds. There’s no appointment to adhere to, or the oneon-one attention like I get at SuperSlow Zone. It was too easy to stop going to the gym.”

“I know it’s important to exercise, especially as we get older,” he continued. “The loss of bone mass and atrophy of muscles just happens if we don’t do something to prevent it. I believe I’m reversing that process that had started, or at least slowing it down.

I get a meaningful workout in 20 minutes. I can feel the results, but I also see the progress on paper as well. It gives me a feeling of satisfaction. I feel better when I can go twice a week consistently.

I continue exercising at SuperSlow Zone because I like the oneon-attention, no crowds, results based feedback, and having that appointment makes a difference!”

Joyce Clark Sarnacki is in her sixties and has been working out at SuperSlow Zone for about 15 months. Being an Executive VP at Bangor Savings is a fulfilling and challenging career but finding time for regular exercise isn’t always easy. Family is important to Joyce and making sure she’s up to the strenuous family hikes in the summer is one of many reasons she wants to stay in shape.

“There are a few things that are important to me to be able to maintain an exercise regime. First, it has to be effective or it’s a waste of time. This is a workout! The slow-motion protocol is very different and challenging. Second, fitting it into my schedule can be difficult so 20 minutes twice a week is much more manageable than other options in the area. Lastly, being able to do this and go back to work without having to change and shower is such a bonus!”

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Kathryn Smaha

“Strength training is important, but I haven’t always made time for it. With SSZ, I have an appointment that keeps me accountable.

The schedule is always on time; I can even get in early sometimes.

I’m always glad I kept my appointment and I’m always glad when I’m done! Staying in shape has always been important to me. This works well with my schedule and is very effective.”

Kathryn Smaha, in her early 60’s, has been working out at SuperSlow Zone twice a week for almost a year. Kathryn had a life altering event that many people might have accepted and succumbed to. A few years ago, the seeming simple task of getting her mail from her mailbox led to two falls on the ice and significant back injury. After months of pain, receiving multiple surgical recommendations, and getting extremely different opinions for surgical procedures, she took her health into her own hands. After much research, she discovered the Laser Spine Institute. They specialize in outpatient laser surgery utilizing the least invasive surgical practices available.

Kathryn started working out with us one year after her laser spine surgery. She follows her rehab exercise routine faithfully every day but wanted to do more. Unfortunately, working out on her own could be another accident waiting to happen. She can’t afford to slip or fall – period, no exceptions! Kathryn found SSZ and it works perfectly into her busy schedule. “I can find time for 20 minutes twice a week, and not having to change my clothes makes it that much more convenient. The one-on-one attention, someone to make sure I’m using the machines correctly is critical for me. I feel like I’ve worked out when I leave but I never feel like I did anything that could injure my back in the process.”

After two months at SSZ, Kathryn found that her rehab routine had already become easier to do. “The stretching exercises are about the same, but anything on the exercise ball that requires core strength has gotten easier. I no longer take a pain free life for granted because for me, it was gone in an instant! I want to be well – to age gracefully, stay active and independent as long as I possibly can. I believe SuperSlow Zone can help me get stronger and accomplish that without any fear of injury.”

It might be time to set your old ideas about exercise aside. Spend a few minutes today to learn about SuperSlow Zone and its accredited, safe strength-training protocol based on medical research. Then, give it a try with a free sample workout—your body will thank you for it!

Joyce Clark Sarnacki

SuperSlow Zone is located at 667 Hogan Road in Bangor and has locations nationwide. For more information, visit superslowzone.com/ bangor or call (207) 307-7063.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

A BETTER

YOU

32 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

FIVE STEPS TO GROWING AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

BY EMILY MORRISON

TURNING 39 FEELS MAGICAL. It’s a time when you can cling to your youth while preparing for the heartbreak of hitting 40. You’re not “over the hill” yet, and you’re starting to suspect the hill is more of a metaphor anyway.

Though age doesn’t always equal wisdom, the longer you walk this planet the more you understand one simple truth: You only have one mind, one body and one life to live. Though it isn’t easy to put your emotional and physical wellbeing first on your “To Do List,” take a look at the following ways you can prove there is no hill in your future.

PHOTO: ETERNALCREATIVE/THINKSTOCK

TRADE BAD HABITS FOR GOOD ONES A year ago, I noticed most of my days ended with wine. It didn’t matter whether I felt stressed, relaxed or even like having a drink. I had become a habitual drinker. When my son brought home a drawing of Mommy dancing in a cowgirl hat with an empty wine bottle in the background, I decided I needed to find a healthier way to uncork. The truth is that drinking didn’t feel good anymore. Instead of warm and fuzzy, wine made me feel tired and cranky — two dispositions that did nothing for my marriage or my children.

As of this writing, I’ve been off the sauce for over 11 months, and I’ve never felt better.

Falling into bad habits is part of life. Whether it’s spending too much time on social media, eating poorly or trash talking your colleagues, you can get sucked into negativity without realizing it. Taking a step back from habits that aren’t helping can propel you forward to ones that will.

Eliminating those bad habits can also help you live longer, researchers say. In a 2014 study by the University of Zurich, researchers found that bad habits like smoking, drinking a lot, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets can up an individual’s mortality risk. The long-term study looked at the tobacco consumption, fruit consumption, physical activity and alcohol consumption of 16,721 participants aged 16-90 between 1977 and 1993, with corresponding deaths up to 2008. Researchers concluded that eliminating negative habits translates to living longer.

THOUGH AGE DOESN’T ALWAYS EQUAL WISDOM, THE LONGER YOU WALK THIS PLANET THE MORE YOU UNDERSTAND ONE SIMPLE TRUTH: YOU ONLY HAVE ONE MIND, ONE BODY AND ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

TRADE MARTYRDOM FOR HELP It may seem like the world’s most self-evident advice, but honestly, it’s taken me the better part of four decades (and a good therapist) to admit that I can’t do it all. I’m not sure whether this stems from my Catholic roots or my overly industrious mother, but for most of my life I’ve labored under the illusion that a woman must suffer in silence. “Keep Calm and Clean On” has been my mother’s lifelong motto, and somewhere along the way it turned into mine.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33

HEALTH & FITNESS

BE A DYNAMIC, EVOLVING PERSON Whichever theory of creation you believe in (the Big Bang, Adam and Eve, the apes or some mix of these) we can all acknowledge that if humans hadn’t changed over the millennia, we’d be as extinct as the wooly mammoth. The definition of life is growth.

If you’re not growing, you’re dead. If you’re not changing, then you’re not living.

In my English classes, I talk a lot about whether the characters we’re studying are round, flat, static or dynamic. As you can imagine, the dynamic characters are the most intriguing to follow. When dynamic characters experience that big climactic moment, they have two choices. Do they let the turning point change them, or do they remain the same? Either way, both choices reflect what the character is made of: weakness or strength. Sameness or difference.

34 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

PHOTOS: SHIRONOSOV, EVGENYATAMANENKO/THINKSTOCK

LIMITING ALCOHOL, ASKING FOR HELP AND NOT BRINGING WORK HOME WITH YOU CAN ALL HELP IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH.

Trying to pick up after everyone I love is exhausting. It’s also impossible.

Who can do three loads of laundry, three loads of dishes and teach full-time while working part-time as a writer and grad class instructor? I know I can’t. Writing those words feels like I’m saying, “I’m not the Little Engine That Could. I’m the Little Engine That Crapped the Bed.” It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, does it?

The problem with all this chugging, choochooing and crapping the bed is obvious: resentment. When you toil away while others “Keep Calm and Have Fun On,” you start to feel like your martyrdom is their fault. We all need help sometimes.

It’s okay to ask for it. In fact, it’s better to do so, because people will help.

In a 1978 study, The Mindlessness of Ostensibly Thoughtful Action: The Role of “Placebic” Information in Interpersonal Interaction by Ellen Langer, Arthur Blank and Benzion Chanowitz, researchers determined that people are more willing to help once they’ve been asked. In the experiment, a participant asked others if they could cut the line for the copy machine to make a few copies. Over 60 percent of people complied with the request. When the participant supplied more information like, “Can I use the copy machine because I’m in a hurry?” cooperation increased to 90 percent.

The numbers speak for themselves. If you truly want something, all you need to do is ask. Let go of the illusion that you have to do it all and listen to that engine purr.

There have been many times in my life where I’ve needed to change. Speaking without thinking, promising more than I should, getting caught up in my work, these are a few of my turning points. After making the same mistakes over and over again, I now understand the importance of finding a filter, committing only to what I can commit to and taking less work home.

Change is inevitable — and it’s not just cerebral. Evolutionary biologists at Columbia University have discovered that humans are still evolving. At the Biology of Genomes meeting in May of 2016, two of the studies presented reveal that dating back to the time of the Romans, the British have become taller with fairer coloring.

Also, in the most recent generation, the gene that favors cigarette smoking has decreased in some groups.

I don’t know what evolutionary biologists would say about how Americans have evolved, but I do know it’s how you react, how you learn and grow from the times that try you, that determine whether or not you’ll be left behind with the wooly mammoth.

GET PHYSICAL FOR A MOOD BOOST A little self care goes a long way. Whether you run, rock out in the car, read, bathe, spend time on Facebook or binge on Netflix, find an activity that you like to do and DO IT. Without time for yourself, you won’t be much good for anyone else.

Before I started running outside every day, I spent all of my life inside, mothering my children, cooking, cleaning and teaching. Sure, I bathed. Yes, I watched movies with my husband when the kids were unconscious, but I didn’t do anything just for me. After our second child was six-months-old, I started running to lose the spare tire around my waist. As one mile turned into two, then three, then a marathon, I realized running had become my “me time.”

As it turns out, I’m not the only one who has discovered the benefits of physical activity. In a 2008 study conducted by the University of Bristol, researchers concluded that people’s mood noticeably improves after exercise. Researchers also observed that those who exercise on work days are more efficient and better able to deal with stress during their working hours.

Whether it’s running the road every day or enjoying a cup of green tea and a tabloid,

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HEALTH & FITNESS

GIVE BACK Speaking of giving, I gave a hitchhiker a lift two days before Christmas. She was standing beside the road on a 20 degree day clutching what appeared to be a small

36 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

bundle against her chest. At first, I thought she looked like an aging Virgin Mary. I’d already passed by someone holding a sign outside of Walmart and loads of Salvation Army bell ringers, so if I didn’t give the Blessed Mother some money I felt sure I was headed south — way south.

I had Dad’s Christmas sweater, Mom’s lighthouse calendar and my own hair dye left to buy. I had more important places to go and reasons to get there.

When I tried to give the woman cash instead of a lift her face fell. “What do I need this for?” she asked me. She didn’t want my money or my aloof attempt at humor. She wanted a ride home. It was hard to look at her rags, smell her smell and say “Hop in,” but in that moment I learned more about myself than I ever did about her.

I discovered what researchers from the University of Zurich found out in their 2017 study on happiness. Generosity makes people happier. In this study, half of the participants were told to spend $100 on themselves while the other half was instructed to spend that same amount on others. After both sets spent their allotment, researchers performed MRI scans on them to measure their brain activity.

When reflecting on their purchases, participants choices directly correlated with their brain activity. People who gave to others showed more activity in the part of the brain associated with happiness, and they admitted to feeling increased levels of contentment after the experiment ended.

The bottom line is, it doesn’t matter who you help or why. Whether you pick the man with sign, a bell ringer or stranded Mother Mary, the only thing that matters is whether or not you help at all. At the end of the day, you’re the one who has to take yourself home.

All in all, as the big 40 looms in the distance, I’ve discovered that life is a series of adventures inward. Some days I do better than others. I don’t always get to where I want to be, but I am getting closer to who I want to be.

Cutting out harmful habits, asking the ones I love for help, growing as an individual, taking time for myself and sharing with others, these steps have helped me walk the straight and narrow as I hope they do you.

Getting older isn’t about about some hill you hobble over. Life is about keeping one eye on the horizon and one eye on your feet.

As they say in Ireland, “May the road rise up to meet you.” Safe journey.

PHOTOS: IPOPBA, LZF/THINKSTOCK

the idea is simple. When you take a little time for yourself, you won’t begrudge the time you give away. Whatever it is you love to do, make time for it.

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BREATHE

EASY Tips for maintaining indoor air quality all year long.

BY METRO NEWS SERVICE

• INSPECT AND ADDRESS ANY SOURCES OF CARBON MONOXIDE. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an invisible, odorless gas that can contribute to poor indoor air quality and a host of health problems if it goes undetected in a home.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, potential sources of CO in a home include improperly vented natural gas appliances, such as stoves and water heaters, gas-powered tools that are used indoors, clogged chimneys, or blocked heating exhaust vents. Periodically inspect potential sources of CO and address any issues while also making sure all CO detectors are properly installed and functioning optimally.

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• INSPECT HVAC DUCTS. Ductwork is used to deliver warm or cool air in homes with heating and air conditioning systems.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to the duct surfaces without ever entering living spaces. However, the EPA notes that homeowners should consider having their ducts cleaned if an inspection uncovers substantial visible mold growth. In addition, the EPA recommends homeowners consider cleaning if ducts are infested with vermin or clogged with excessive amounts of dust or debris.

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• AVOID CHEMICAL CLEANING PRODUCTS. Chemical cleaning products may be great at disinfecting dishes, countertops and other areas in the home, but such items may be toxic and adversely affect indoor air quality. For example, chemicals such as bleach and ammonia, which are Paid Advertisement for Penobscot Cleaning Services Inc.

used in many commercial cleaning products, can linger in the air, irritating the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Homeowners concerned about the quality of air in their homes also can avoid scented products, such as air fresheners and scented detergents, which the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health notes may release volatile organic compounds into the air.

• INSPECT BATHROOMS FOR MOLD GROWTH. Mold can grow on surfaces that are routinely wet, and that makes poorly ventilated bathrooms common sources for home mold infestations. Mold can adversely affect indoor air quality when mold spores are released, potentially triggering allergic reactions, asthma attacks and respiratory conditions. After bathing in bathrooms without vents, men and women can open windows so the room dries before mold can grow. In bathrooms with vents, make sure vents are running during baths and showers and afterward until ceilings, walls and floors appear dry.

• HAVE YOUR CARPETS AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANED AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. With water temperatures of up to 260°F on truck-mounted cleaning systems, professionals can easily kill bacteria and dust mites in carpets and upholstery.

Professional cleaning can also help prolong carpet life, flush out odor sources, remove soils and pollutants, and greatly improve indoor air quality.

Poor indoor air quality can be easily addressed to ensure individuals stay healthy throughout the year.

PHOTO: GPOINTSTUDIO/THINKSTOCK

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE anxiously anticipate the arrival of spring. Months spent cooped up indoors as temperatures outside dip below freezing can take their toll, and those first warm, sunny days of spring can be just what people need to kick the winter blues.

Winter can be dreary for people confined to indoors as temperatures drop, and poor air quality in a home can add to that dreariness while adversely affecting individuals’ health. Air quality tends to suffer most in winter, but there are ways to ensure the air inside a home stays healthy all year long.

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HOW-TO

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

MANDALA

PAINTED ROCKs

TAKING PAINTED ROCKS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY ALLEN

IF YOU ENJOY THE CALM and repetition of coloring, painting mandalas might be the perfect next step. Mandalas are geometric figures, which in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism represent the universe. Creating these patterns is fun and oddly satisfying — and easy enough for small hands. This project kept a gaggle of 11-yearold girls (and one rambunctious 7-year-old boy) entertained for much longer than expected.

Smooth black rocks (which you can find at craft stores or just paint yourself) are a great surface for creating tiny masterpieces. And once complete, they’re fun to hide for others to find (see the note on the next page about Bangor ROCKS! and similar groups).

We found lots of online inspiration and videos — but the idea is simple. You can map out your design with a ruler and lightly penciled X, then starting in the center, work your way evenly down the lines and add dots at even intervals in-between. Once you’ve mastered rocks, take your talent to a small canvas, furniture or anything in need of color and fun!

40 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Smooth rocks (the beach is a great place to find perfect rocks or find smooth black rocks at the dollar or craft supply store).

• Acrylic paint • Anything with a flat round end (crochet needles, crayons, pencils, etc.)

DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. Using the flat end of a crochet needle, unsharpened pencil or any other flat round tool, practice making a few dots.

Dip your tool into the paint and practice "walking down" your dots. Make a line of dots and watch as they grow smaller as you go. Try using different tools to create different sized dots.

2. Painting your rock black will help your dots stand out more boldly on the background. We used acrylic paint to ensure our rocks could withstand the outdoor elements, and used a hairdryer to speed up the drying process.

3. Start with a center dot and evenly space your next rows to create the mandala effect. You can use a pencil and ruler to mark an X to help keep things even.

There are lots of online videos and images to help inspire you as well!

with KIDS BRIGHTEN SOMEONE'S DAY BY SHARING YOUR ROCK CREATIONS. WE'VE DISCOVERED Facebook groups all over Maine and the United States dedicated to finding and sharing painted rocks. Bangor ROCKS! and similar groups aim to brighten people’s day by hiding painted rocks in public areas for others to find. On the back of some rocks you’ll find them marked with the town they came from or the group they’re associated with.

The premise is simple — if you spot a rock that rocks, snap a picture and share it on the Facebook group’s page. If the rock makes you happy, keep it, or rehide it for someone else to find. And enjoy painting and hiding your own rocks. Just be sure to hide them in public areas and not where they might cause any damage (by, say, getting run over by a lawn mower or tripping someone). It’s a great reason to get outside and explore this spring!

HOW-TO

CREATE IT AT HOME

RUsTOMIZE

YOUR FABRIC

HOW TO ‘RUSTOMIZE’ SCARVES, SHIRTS OR ANY FABRIC INTO ONE-OF-A-KIND TIE-DYE PATTERNS. STORY & PHOTOS BY JULIA BAYLY

WHO DOESN’T LOVE THE IDEA of wearing a one-of-akind creation? Of course, not everyone has access to a personal fashion designer or tailor, but that is no reason to think you have to dress or accessorize off the rack. Even if, like me, your crafting skills are a bit rusty.

In fact, in this case, the rustier your skills are the better. More to the point, the rustier your materials are, the better.

That’s because with this project, we are going to use rusty metal, fabric and some common household items to create something pretty amazing.

42 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Look around your basement, yard, garage or storage sheds for any interesting shaped pieces of rusty metal — think old bolts, screws, washers or small engine parts. You will also need some plain fabric or item of clothing (here on Rusty Metal Farm we ordered white silk scarves from Dharma Trading Company, www.dharmatrading.com), white vinegar, dental floss, large zip-lock plastic bags, cookie sheets, salt water, shampoo and conditioner.

Take care to not use too much liquid or the rust runs into a solid color with no design detail.

DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. Soak the fabric in the white vinegar for a few minutes, and get ready for your workspace to smell like a pickle-making factory. Immersing the fabric in the acidic vinegar speeds of the transfer of the rust from metal to material.

2. Wring out the fabric and then wrap sections of it around your rusty bits, securing each with the dental floss. The tighter you wrap and more securely you tie the individual bits, the greater the contact between rust and fabric, which creates a more detailed pattern. Place your rusty-bit bundled fabric into a plastic bag, and seal it shut.

Alternatively: After wringing out your fabric, lay it flat on a cookie sheet and place rusty items on top of it. If your material is larger than the cookie sheet, you can fold the overlap onto the rusty bits, add more rust to that layer and keep going until you run out of layers to fold. Slide the cookie sheet into a large zip-lock bag and seal it shut.

3. After 24-hours take your fabrics out of the baggies, untie and discard any dental floss or twine and remove the rusty metal pieces to reveal the patterns all that rust hath wrought.

4. Immediately rinse the fabric in a saltwater solution to stop the rusting process and then handwash in a gentle bath of shampoo and conditioner.

5. Finally, iron the material to get rid of any wrinkles and hasten the drying process.

That’s it! Now you have your very own, very unique customized — or ‘rustomized, if you will — creation.

at

HOME

HOME & FAMILY

Bring

ROVER

TOO!

MAINE IS ‘TOP DOG’ AMONG PET FRIENDLY STATES.

‘THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE … for both people and pets,’ should be the new Maine state slogan after Maine was named the number one most pet friendly state in the U.S. last year by The SafeWise Report, which specializes in safety and home security. In Maine, the report counted 76 dog-friendly beaches, hiking trails and parks throughout the state and nearly 1,000 pet friendly hotels, which topped both Virginia and Arizona.

Those two states placed second and third, respectively, on the list of the most pet friendly states in The SafeWise Report.

Data from the Bureau of Labor, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and online pet resources like BringFido.com was used to create the list of the most pet friendly states. Special attention was paid to which states had the strictest anti-cruelty laws, highest percentage of no kill shelters, and largest number of pet friendly hotels and parks.

Laura Stevens of Hermon has made numerous memories with her Labradors while exploring the Maine outdoors. “We have definitely been impressed by the number of beaches, restaurants, hotels and shops that welcome dogs,” said Stevens. “We do as many outdoor activities as we can [with them]. Bar Harbor is very pet friendly, and all the shops in town have dog water bowls out front for people’s pups to stay hydrated. One of our favorite spots is York Beach. Sears Island is a great place too, with a beach where lots of people bring their pups.”

Pet owners should be aware that dogs are not allowed on some Maine beaches all year round. From April 1 to September 30, pets “WE HAVE DEFINITELY are prohibited on certain beaches in order to protect the federally endangered piping plovers. Best said the Maine Bureau of Parks BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE and Land is working closely with the Maine Audubon and NUMBER OF BEACHES, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to protect the birds’ RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND habitat in an effort to help its population grow. During those months, dog owners should plan to visit one of Maine’s SHOPS THAT WELCOME DOGS... other pet friendly sites.

BAR HARBOR IS VERY PET “To me there is no such thing as spoiling my dogs too much,” said Stevens. “They are our best friends and loyal FRIENDLY, AND ALL THE SHOPS IN companions. Their only fault is that they don’t live long enough, TOWN HAVE DOG WATER BOWLS so giving them all our love and spending as much time with them OUT FRONT FOR PEOPLE’S PUPS as possible is what we try and do every single day.”

TO STAY HYDRATED." 44 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

PHOTO: SHANNON DAPICE

BY JODI HERSEY

REALTORS

Jordi the corgi enjoys the view of Jordan Pond from the top of South Bubble Mountain in Acadia National Park.

Your listing could be on this page.

Sell it faster.

Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section.

Call 990-8000.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 45

HOME & FAMILY

LET IT

GROW

FOUR WAYS TO GET KIDS INVOLVED IN GARDENING.

PHOTOS: MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES, HALFPOINT/THINKSTOCK

BY SARAH COTTRELL

46 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS of spring around our house is when seed catalogs begin arriving in the mail. We eagerly flip through and dog-ear the pages with bright flowers and lush leafy green veggies.

Nothing quite stirs up excitement in our house as gardening season does.

Although my husband and I love spending all of our spare time in the garden, our kids had to learn to think of gardening as a fun activity as opposed to a chore. To help empower our kids to embrace their green thumbs, we tried a few kid-friendly tactics to make the garden a supremely fun place to be.

The first trick? Get the kids to feel like they are invested in the garden. Soon after Groundhog’s Day, we start tending to seedlings in our house. To get the kids to show interest, we give them small window gardens where they plant radishes, green beans, peas, and zinnias to watch bloom in a few short weeks. While the seedlings are busy turning into small plants we take the opportunity to explain the life cycle to our kids. They compare plants and show pride in their ability to grow something all by themselves.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47

CREATE A BEAN POLE TOWER BIG ENOUGH TO HIDE INSIDE!

APPEAL TO KIDS FASCINATION OF ALL THINGS GROSS!

GROW A PIZZA GARDEN!

48 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

Next, we ask our kids to be the architects of garden space to make them feel a sense of importance. Once the weather warms up and our indoor seedlings are strong enough to be planted outside, we enlist the help of our kids to plan out fun garden shapes. Last year, they dug up a circle that was eight feet wide and with the help of dad, created a climbing teepee for walking stick beans and nasturtiums! Once the plants were big enough, the kids had a secret hideaway to play in.

They’ve also created spectacular “pizza bars” in the main vegetable garden in which all the plants double as a pizza ingredients like tomatoes, basil, garlic and onions.

The third trick is to appeal to their inner fascination with all things gross by having them help us to create healthy compost with worms. With the help of the internet and a couple of trips to the local library, our kids have learned all about the importance of saving kitchen scraps for healthy compost and the marvelous process of how foods can decompose to create nutrient rich soil for the garden.

Not all days are great for being in the garden, though, which is where trick number four comes in handy. When it rains or storms out and the kids are stuck inside, we give them fun art projects to help keep their little thumbs green. A few smooth flat rocks from the backyard and some acrylic paint is all we need to create bright, colorful garden markers.

After the rocks are painted and dried we have the kids use their detective skills to figure which plants match which garden markers. They do this by matching images from seed packets or even seed catalogs to the plants in our garden.

Keeping a family garden is a fantastic way to introduce kids to the concept of being good stewards of the earth and appreciating the work and time that goes into growing our food. When the plants are ready for harvest, we celebrate with a family dinner that includes all of the foods that the kids helped to grow.

There is nothing quite like spending time in the dirt with your kids!

PHOTOS: HALFPOINT, LORIANN13, PAULROOKES/THINKSTOCK

HOME & FAMILY

NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING MAINER FOR BANGOR METRO’S FIRST-EVER

MAINE PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD

PERSON

of the

YEAR

For the first time, Bangor Metro magazine is looking to honor a Mainer for their outstanding commitment to bettering the Pine Tree State.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR: A person presently living in Maine who has provided significant leadership and contributions to their community. The contributions can be cultural, educational, social, economic, political or in any way that positively impacts the people in their community.

Nominations are now being accepted via this form and online at BangorMetro.com.

The deadline for nominations is June 1, 2018.

NOMINATION FORM Nominee’s Name:

Who are they?

Nominee’s Phone Number: Nominee’s Email Address:

Why are you nominating this person?

Your Name: Your Email Address: MAIL TO: BANGOR METRO, PO BOX 1329, BANGOR, ME 04402-1329 The Maine Person of the Year will be announced and featured in our September 2018 issue.

FEATURE

IN CONVERSATION

/ noun /

{ Wil lie Wags } •

WOMEN Supporting

/ pronounce / Wih-lee-whags

1. “off the beaten path” Origin: Maine.

Used in a sentence: “He lives way out in the willie wags.”

WOMEN / noun /

{ Ja mie Clark } •

/ pronounce / Jey-mee Ka-lahr-k

1. “smiling whirlwind of wife, mom, and entrepreneur” Origin: Maine.

Used in a sentence: “Jamie Clark started the small business The Willie Wags almost two years ago, and is only just getting started.”

HO W A SID E HU ST LE BE CA ME A TH RIV ING DO WN TO WN BU SIN ES S. STORY BY ELIZABETH THERIAULT

PHOTOS BY GABOR DEGRE

50 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

Jamie Clark, owner of The Willie Wags in downtown Bangor.

FOR JAMIE CLARK, it all happened very suddenly.

Returning home from a day of work, Jamie discovered that the national radio talk show, The Elvis Duran show, had discovered her small home-based subscription box business, The Willie Wags, on Instagram. Duran purchased boxes for all the women in his office, and even mentioned the boxes, which feature hand-tested products created by female entrepreneurs ranging from jewelry and books to body products and more, on his show.

“It just kind of exploded. In the span of two hours it went from a fun little hobby to ‘what am I going to do now?’” Clark laughed. After this national exposure, Clark realized her part-time hobby could turn into a full-time opportunity of a lifetime. But she couldn’t do it alone.

Since then, Clark and business partner Ashleigh Bachand have expanded the Willie Wags brand to include a storefront in downtown Bangor, a magazine that ships with each box and popular after-hours events.

But behind the growing small business is something simple: A celebration of female entrepreneurship and empowerment that had pretty humble beginnings.

IN THE BEGINNING When Clark first launched The Willie Wags as a subscription box in January 2016, it was a so-called side hustle — something to do when she wasn’t working at her full time job — that she ran out of her basement.

“Initially I thought that I could do The Willie Wags part time, and help my husband with the other business. But very quickly it

was exploding online and suddenly it was a ‘I’ve got my feet in two canoes and they are going downstream, and I have to pick one’ situation,” Clark said.

The other business is the restaurant-slash-convenient store in Levant, 20 minutes out of Bangor, that Clark and her husband opened a decade ago. As Willie Wags took off, she found that juggling two businesses can be challenging. Ultimately, she chose Willie Wags.

Bangor Director of Community and Economic Development Tanya Emery worked closely with Clark as she developed The Willie Wags into a downtown brick-and-mortar destination. Emery stresses the importance of new and revolutionary retail coming to Bangor.

“We have some amazing small businesses downtown, like The Briar Patch and Rebecca’s, which have been here for decades, and some new favorites like the Rock and Art Shop, but additional growth in retail creates the critical mass that people typically see at shopping centers or malls,” said Emery. “We want folks to feel like they are coming downtown because of the variety of options and experiences.”

INSIDE THE WILLIE WAGS The downtown store is a bright pop of color with a warm inviting atmosphere.

A pull away door opens to an entrance to the neighboring coffee shop. A wall has been dedicated to public engagement by offering a place to write and stick positive notes in bright primary colors. Small info cards highlighting the background stories and inspiring journeys of the female entrepreneurs are placed next to the corresponding products. A large leather couch sits in the center of www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51

FEATURE

IN CONVERSATION the store, accented by colorful pillows and surrounded by a patterned rug — inviting visitors to put their feet up and relax while shopping or having a friendly conversation.

Conversations are something of high importance to Clark and Bachand, both inside the store and beyond.

On their Facebook page, Bachand writes a weekly post called Founder Feature Fridays in which she highlights a female entrepreneur and her products that The Willie Wags carries. A recent post featured Maine native Kate McAleer of Bixby & Co., who creates clean, natural chocolate. The post, accompanied by colorful photos of the snack food, mentioned Kate’s inspiration.

“Kate faced an extremely challenging time in her life when her mother was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer,” said the post. “On top of an aggressive medical treatment plan, Kate’s mom dedicated herself and her family to

“WOMEN HAVE 80% OF THE BUYING POWER... BUT WE ARE MAKING 70 CENTS TO THE DOLLAR. IT MAKES NO SENSE. IF WE USE OUR BUYING POWER TO MAKE IMPACTFUL AND MEANINGFUL PURCHASES AND SUPPORT FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS AND PUT MONEY DIRECTLY INTO THEIR POCKETS, WE CAN HELP THEM GROW...”

— JAMIE CLARK an organic and natural food diet, daily fitness, and elimination of toxic household products and plastics. It was this courageous example that greatly influenced Kate’s mission to create clean and delicious chocolates and more.”

The mission of sharing the stories of the women behind the products they carry goes beyond the store and social media.

Clark and Bachand tried a few methods of making sure their subscribers knew the stories behind each of the products they were being sent starting with “one pagers” placed in all the boxes. They also tried tying individual rolled up papers to each item. But eventually they landed on Wicked Magazine, which they produce monthly.

“We wanted to do something more robust, that everyone could have access too, not just subscribers,” said Bachand.

52 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

“In Wicked we highlight and feature awesome woman that we have met across our journeys.”

Both women also write small segments for the magazine that focus on the theme of each month’s box. For instance, the February 2018 issue had a note with tips and tricks for family vacations from Clark on the third page, following an framable inspirational quote.

A CREATIVE ROUTE TO BUSINESS Bachand feels at home in her role as Chief Operating Officer at The Willie Wags, where she acts as Clark’s “right-hand-gal.”

Bachand assists in product acquisition, marketing, sales, managing the stores employees and anything else that Clark may need help with from week to week.

“Ashleigh does everything,” said Clark.

“She is currently in Massachusetts, so while she can’t be in the store itself, she does a lot of analytical work behind the scenes. She does online sales and inventory, reporting, and the social networking needed to connect with customers and women we want to partner with.”

The pair met through Chloe and Isabel, a jewelry company where Bachand worked as a regional merchandise manager. She was in charge of recruiting and managing a team of other merchandisers, and reached out to Clark without an answer initially. Eventually Clark did answer and when the two finally met, they immediately hit it off. They became fast friends, and talked over phone, text or messenger almost daily. When Clark first approached Bachand about her idea of The Willie Wags, she was immediately on board.

“I said that if Jamie needed help, I was there. I was excited for her,” said Bachand.

“The first month I subscribed to show my support, and by the second month I was helping choose products and I have been 100 percent on board ever since.”

The duo has created a successful, unique business that fits right in with the current national movement of women supporting women.

“There’s been this sense of urgency and reawakening in 2018. These movements [like the Women’s March, Time’s Up and #MeToo] are fabulous and are creative awareness, but there is no direct way to go and make direct lasting impact,” said Clark. “Women have 80% of the buying power in the United States, but we are making 70 cents to the dollar. It makes no sense. If we use our buying power to www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53

FEATURE

IN CONVERSATION

Inside The Willie Wags in downtown Bangor.

{ Wil lie Wags }

/ noun /

•

/ pronounce / Wih-lee-whags Alternative definition: “a

make impactful and meaningful purchases and support female entrepreneurs and put money directly into their pockets, we can help them grow and then they are the ones making the decisions at larger companies.”

And the impact of The Willie Wags on women-run businesses is getting noticed.

The Willie Wags was listed in the top 10 finalists for the InnovateHER Business Challenge for Innovations that Empower Women’s Lives in October of 2017. The competition held in Washington D.C., looks for entrepreneurs who demonstrate innovation and talent with a unique product, service, or technology that impacts the lives of women and families.

“The product lines that Jamie has in the store are fun, interesting, and unique. People have told me how much they love having a store with such a strong point of view,” said Emery. “The focus on local products, womenowned products, and interesting finds that you don’t see everywhere makes The Willie Wags a real destination in the region.”

54 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

place to empower female entrepreneurs, create meaningful relationships and tell the stories that make a difference” Origin: Maine.

Used in a sentence: “Check out everything The Willie Wags has to offer at their website: www.thewilliewags.com.”

A LOOK AHEAD Clark envisions her store helping other female entrepreneurs like her, who are starting out with the passion, the diligence, and the fearlessness needed to make a business.

“We are trying to promote their brand through ours,” said Bachand, referring to the female entrepreneurs partnered with The Willie Wags. “We are posting social media features, constantly taking pictures on Instagram and giving businesses shout outs. It’s all about getting the awareness out there.”

The newest addition to The Willie Wags is their after hours events. In an attempt to constantly expand the brand beyond just the store and the subscription boxes, Clark and Bachand created events for women to get out of the house to connect with and support other women. Some of their

events include salsa nights, plant and sips, book signings, and business workshops, all geared towards empowering women and creating relationships.

“We are super appreciative of the Bangor community and the impact it had on the businesses we partnered with. A lot of our partners sold out of their products because they weren’t able to keep up with the demand,”said Clark. “Everything we do it is mission centric and the cheerleading and storytelling we do for our partners all has to do with support and how it creates relationships between customers and creators.”

FEATURE

Vanessa Thomann laces up her skates to practice with fellow members of the Rock Coast Rollers roller derby team at Point Lookout in Northport.

56 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

DERBY QUEENS

MAINE WOMEN FIND COMMUNITY AND HEALTH THROUGH ROLLER DERBY.

PHOTO: GABOR DEGRE

BY ABIGAIL CURTIS

DECKED OUT IN A black-and-white striped referee shirt, roller skates, a bold streak of lipstick and a whistle, Jenn Hall moves with authority and grace around the roller derby track.

On the track, the 42-year-old from Belfast is better known as Glitterella. It’s the derby name she chose when she picked up the sport four years ago. It suits the avowed makeup aficionado and community theater actress to a T. Hall sparkles as she keeps a watchful eye on the knot of women barrelling around the track during the bout, as onlookers cheer and jeer from the sidelines. Roller derby is a fast-paced, fun activity and she loves every minute of it.

“Every time I put on my skates I feel like I’m on air,” she said. “When you see me on my skates, I’m my happiest.”

But if you’d asked her four years ago, it’s a safe

bet that she wouldn’t have imagined roller derby in her future. She had come to a hard place in her life, with a bad relationship behind her and question marks ahead.

She was unhappy in her skin, too, weighing 200 or so pounds more than she wanted to weigh. Hall, who works at the Belfast Co-op, took stock of her life and decided that some changes were necessary. She embarked on a weight loss and health journey, which eventually led her to the Maine’s robust roller derby community. Today, Hall credits the friends she’s made there with helping her through the ups and downs along the way.

“The whole league is my family. Those are my sisters,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes. “They’ve helped me get up. We’ve gone through heck and back but they are my family. They’re just amazing. So positive and energetic, and they will help you through anything.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 57

Members of the Rock Coast Rollers roller derby team do warmup laps during practice at Point Lookout in Northport.

Members of the Bangor Roller Derby league practice at the Skehan Recreation Center in Hampden.

58 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

DERBY BEGINNINGS Roller derby is a uniquely American contact sport with origins that date back to roller skating speed and endurance marathons of the 1920s and 1930s. One of those, called the Transcontinental Roller Derby, simulated a 3,000 mile cross-country race between New York and Los Angeles during which two person male-female teams would circle a wooden, oval banked track for 11 1/2 hours a day for as long as a month. The event was popular, attracting daily crowds which numbered in the thousands.

As the sport’s popularity grew, it evolved.

By the 1940s, roller derby had become a competitive, professional contact sport played by two teams of five members each who skated in the same direction around a track. Each team had its “jammer,” who would attempt to score points by fighting through the opposite team’s blockers. The blockers job was to hold them back or even knock them down.

Like many sports, derby provided its followers with high energy, rough and tumble entertainment. Bouts were broadcast over the radio and then, beginning in 1948, over the new medium of television. Those broadcasts drove the new sport’s popularity and increased spectator turnout for live matches. In June 1949, a crowd of 55,000 came to watch roller derby at Madison Square Garden in New York City over the course of a five-day event. Derby had made it to the big leagues.

Even at the new sport’s beginning, women were just as involved as men.

This was unusual in a time when women otherwise had few opportunities to play contact sports. And derby attracted women fans and television viewers as well.

The popularity of roller derby persisted over several decades, as new leagues were formed and teams were created in some major cities around the country, although none were based in Maine. But, by 1973, promoters citing high overhead and gas shortages because of the 1970s oil crisis put the brakes on the main roller derby league. Several attempts to revive roller derby as a professional sport were made over the next 30 years. But its modern revival as an all-female amateur sport began in Texas in the early 2000s.

Today, according to the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, there are 420 full member leagues and 49 apprentice leagues in the United States and beyond. Full member leagues in Maine include Maine

PHOTOS: (TOP) GABOR DEGRE & (BOTTOM) MICKY BEDELL | BDN FILE

FEATURE

Roller Derby in Portland and the Rock roller derby. She’s a jammer, the player “The roller derby community is Coast Rollers in Rockland. Bangor-based that scores points, and needs to be strong inclusive. We encourage people of all Central Maine Derby is an apprentice league. enough to push through the pack to score genders. In my league, we offer spots to And although they’re not affiliated with the points and so has become more focused people who are female, female identified, derby association, Aroostook Roller Derby on health and cross-training. non-binary, obviously of any background. in Presque Isle and the Androscoggin Fallen “I think about what I eat and I think We have a lot of queer skaters,” she said.

Angels in Lewiston are leagues that round about how I move my body. I weight train “We love everyone.” out the derby scene in the Pine Tree State. to become stronger for my sport,” she For Vanessa Thomann, a Lincolnville From its beginnings as a race on wheels, said. “I think people think you just put on mom who has skated with Rock Coast through its mid-life as a theatrical contact roller skates and hit people, but the sport is Rollers since 2013 with the derby name of sport akin to professional wrestling, derby exhausting. It requires you to sprint. It uses CrazieNESS, roller derby has helped her has become a grassroots organization every muscle. I sprint around the track as find a tribe of strong women she can count where all, regardless of athletic ability, are fast as I can and push a wall of people for on when the chips are down. They were welcomed. In this new iteration of roller maybe 20 feet. It requires a lot of cross- there when she broke her ankle during a derby, competition on the track seems training and dedication. It’s made me a scrimmage, when her youngest child was less important than the community that healthy human.” born and when there was a family medical has grown among its members. Today in emergency. They didn’t ask first — they Maine, roller derby has become a place of just jumped in to help. belonging for people who may not have “We all really champion each other, previously found their niche. Personalized which is wonderful,” she said. “I never derby names, unique costumes and had a pack before, of people, or fantastic makeup notwithstanding, especially of women, who have “I LEARNED HOW TO counterculture and mainstream supported me on my life journey.

COMMUNICATE WITH MY PEERS people alike have found Derby is there for you.” something in roller derby that Heather Van Dyne of Holden BETTER. I LEARNED HOW TO LEAD feels a lot like family. began roller derby in 2011 and helped to found Central Maine AND HOW TO FOLLOW. I LEARNED ‘ALL AROUND SUPER Derby in 2013. She works HOW TO DEAL IN TIMES OF STRESS HEALTHY’ in the auto industry and her Just what is so special about derby name is Shelby Fastback, AND HOW TO KEEP OTHERS CALM. roller derby? Heather Steeves after the classic 1960s muscle ROLLER DERBY’S ALWAYS OFFERING of Portland has some answers. car. And she didn’t have an Steeves, whose derby name is athletic background before she NEW CHALLENGES.” Hard Dash, had some specific tried roller derby. goals in mind when she decided “It was billed as whatever to start Rock Coast Rollers in 2011. your background, we will teach HEATHER “HARD DASH” “I was in a sedentary job and you,” she said. “I loved it. It almost STEEVES growing bored and a bit lonely,” becomes addicting.”

Steeves, who moved after college to Now, when new people come to work as a journalist in Rockland, said. tryouts, she lets them know it won’t just be “I was a young person in the midcoast another humdrum hobby or a way to while without a lot of community of peers. I away a weekday night. started Rock Coast in an effort to build a She’s also found that derby has honed “We tell them that you will learn to skate. healthy place for women.” other skills in addition to the physical ones, You will learn to play. But you’re gaining 40 to It worked beyond her wildest and helped her grow as a person.

50 sisters,” she said. “For some of these people, expectations. Other midcoast women also “I learned how to communicate with my the community aspect is just as important, and were interested in trying roller derby, and the peers better. I learned how to lead and how honestly just as healthy, as the physical benefits. league caught on. Derby did indeed provide to follow,” she said. “I learned how to deal in It’s all around super healthy.” a great aerobic and strength workout, she times of stress and how to keep others calm. found, but it was more than that too.

Roller derby’s always offering new challenges. CHANGE FOR THE BETTER “It incorporates the health of the whole I found my 50 best friends pretty immediately, For some, derby is also a catalyst for human,” Steeves said. “I think that these days and now I have a world-wide community I important change. Jenn Hall remembers we can become isolated. Just getting out and can reach out to anytime. I am never lonely.” always being “the big girl” growing up. making friends and meeting those people for And that community is not exclusive. She didn’t like the feeling but didn’t let it healthy team-focused reasons of cooperation If people remember seeing the old days hold her back from life. She was a theater and fun makes us all healthier humans.” of derby on television, they may have kid in junior high and high school, and a And happier humans. The once an image in their minds of roller derby cheerleader, too. She even got the award lonely, once bored reporter discovered players as tough or mean girls. But that’s for having the most school spirit when she new friends and new challenges alike in not the reality, Steeves said. graduated from Belfast Area High School in www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 59

FEATURE

Derby referee Jenn Hall.

60 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

1995. Still, having a body that was larger than she wanted affected her.

“I never felt good in my skin, ever since I was a kid,” she said. “I would do a certain amount of dieting and when I started losing it was like, ‘oh great, now I can have a cheat day.’ I had more cheat days than I had good days.”

About four years ago, she started going to the gym, where she worked out and lifted weights.

“I was getting to the spot where I was like, you know what, I’m not going to be like this anymore. I need to be a little more healthy, because I’m not happy,” she said.

Then one day, one of her friends who had joined the Rock Coast Rollers league invited Hall to watch a bout. Afterwards, one of the other derby girls encouraged her to join.

She was skeptical at first. “She thought I would be great for roller derby,” Hall remembered. “This is when I was well over 300 and something odd pounds.” But she

was also tempted. She remembered having loved to roller skate as a child. And the flamboyance derby allowed was appealing.

“I love dressing up. I love makeup, I love hair, I love the glitz and the glam,” she said.

And more than anything, she was more than ready to make a change.

“So I went to the tryouts.”

It was a proverbial bumpy start for Hall, who had not brought sneakers, so was forced to do the running drills barefoot. She had not run in years.

And once on skates, she fell and hit her (helmeted) head and had a panic attack.

But she didn’t want to give up.

“I waited until I got enough confidence and enough gumption to actually get up on my skates. Chain Lynx [another skater] was with me. She was there, holding on to me, saying, you can do this. And so I got my legs underneath me and thought, OK, this is good. It was amazing, actually. Oh my God, this is fun for me.”

PHOTOS: (TOP) GABOR DEGRE; (BOTTOM) JIM DUGAN

Sarah Gott, a member of the Rock Coast Rollers roller derby team, during practice at Point Lookout in Northport.

Miraculously (to her), Hall made the first cut and was invited to train with the team—a stage in the process the derby calls “fresh meat.”

“I was like, are you kidding me. You’re going to train someone that is this big, and a total klutz, to be on skates?” she remembers thinking.

During training, Hall felt her body changing. More important to her, though, was the way she felt her confidence grow.

She went to every single practice and worked as hard as she could, learning the skills and passing the tests along the way.

She did not pass the test that would allow her to be a skater, but she didn’t want to leave this new community and found other ways to participate. She was an assistant coach, and a training helper, and then became an official. She lost 100 pounds by doing derby, working out and paying attention to her diet, but felt she had extra weight to shake and decided to pursue weight loss surgery. After that, she lost almost another 100 pounds. Altogether, she says, it was the equivalent of losing “about two people.”

“It felt amazing,” she said.

Hall attributes a lot of the success of her journey to the support of her derby teammates, as well as the challenge of the sport itself.

“They saw something in me,” she said.

“That gave me a lot of confidence. I had my battles, because I couldn’t fit into the right gear. And it made me want to work harder.

I think roller derby helped me a lot to become a confident person within myself.”

Vanessa Thomann thinks so too.

“She’s quite a wonderful individual,” Thomann said of Hall. “Watching her whole derby transformation and life transformation, health and love transformation has been just amazing. It really truly is amazing. I think seeing a group of strong, talented women making these huge leaps and bounds together has helped push her to get better and take care of herself. When she first started, she would push herself but was also very sad with herself, that she couldn’t do what she wanted to do. I think what Glitterella’s done is so cool to see. She has such confidence in her own skin. She’s so funny and proud of who she is.

I think what she’s done is quite amazing.”

Hall agreed.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done. I’d never change anything,” she said. “I can truly say that I’m happy, and I never thought I could.” www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 61

GET OUT

DISNEY WORLD

WE’RE GOING TO...

DISNEY WORLD! TIPS AND LESSONS FROM TWO RECENT FAMILY VACATIONS.

BY SARAH WALKER CARON AND AMY ALLEN

THEY DON’T CALL IT the happiest place on Earth for nothing. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is a mecca of fun, happiness and excitement. If you want to go, here’s what you need to know.

62 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

Art Director Amy Allen and her family, husband Derrick and kids Maggie and Finnegan, traveled to Disney last October.

Bangor Metro Editor Sarah Walker Caron and kids Paige and Will traveled to Disney World in January.

GETTING THERE SARAH’S TIPS: Direct flights from Bangor International Airport to Orlando operate all year. In January, my kids and I flew Allegiant, which lands at Sanford Airport. The flight was affordable and the times worked with our schedule. Allegiant was a pleasant surprise with the nicest of flight staff, clean aircrafts and a smooth, well-operated flight. The downside?

You pay a la carte for everything from bags you carry-on to snacks. You can pay for seating assignments too, but if you’re traveling with children, don’t — unless you absolutely need to sit in a certain section. Allegiant guarantees that parents and children won’t be separated on the flight, so we got seats together without having to pay the extra fees for it. Score.

Also, an important aside: Orlando International Airport is the big airport where Disney’s Magical Express whisks travelers off to the on-site hotels and parks. At Sanford, which is slightly further afield, you’ll need to either arrange your own independent transportation or rent a car. I did the latter, and it worked out well since we were able to leave the Disney grounds to pick up water and snacks for our room, and get dinner beyond the main gates.

MOM TIP: SNEAK A NEW BOOK, SNACKS AND TRAVEL GAMES INTO THE KIDS’ CARRY-ON BAGS FOR A FUN SURPRISE AND TO KEEP THEM ENTERTAINED DURING THE FLIGHT OR DRIVE.

—SARAH WALKER CARON

AMY’S TIPS: My two kids, my husband and I took the ultimate family vacation trip last October. I’d never been to Disney before, my husband hadn’t been since he was 5 years old, so I got nervous about trying to plan the trip on our own. We asked around and ended up going through a travel agent — AAA in Bangor to be precise, which was awesome. We’re not AAA members, but that didn’t matter. Our agent booked the flight for us — we flew American from Bangor with a layover in D.C. both ways, into Orlando. It’s a short flight but the layover did add some hours to our trip — the trade-off being that we saved some money and got flight times that worked well for us. In Orlando, we had the Magical Express option Sarah mentioned, but we ended up catching a ride instead with my mother-in-law who lives in the area.

—AMY ALLEN www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63

GET OUT

DISNEY WORLD

STAYING

We both booked stays at “Moderate” Disney resorts.

Sarah stayed at the Caribbean Beach resort (above) and Amy stayed at the Port Orleans - Riverside resort (below). An onsite pool with a perfectly kid-sized waterslide was one of the many features at the resort.

SARAH’S TIPS: There are three levels of hotels at Disney — Value, Moderate and Deluxe. So what’s the difference?

Glad you asked.

At Value hotels, the Disney experience is very moviedriven. Many of the hotels are decorated with characters from Disney films. For instance, at the All-Star Movies resort, the courtyards feature dogs from 101 Dalmations, Herbie the Love Bug and more. Sorcerer Mickey presides over the Fantasia-themed pool area. At these hotels, there is an on-site cafeteria-style restaurant and a gift shop — everything you need, without much frill or excess. They’re a great budget-friendly way to stay on-site.

At Moderate hotels, the experience is more subtle than at the Value hotels. The island theme of the Caribbean Beach resort extends beyond the names of the buildings.

With footbridges connecting actual islands containing the playground and other recreational areas to the rest of the resort, as well as a pirate-themed pool area, it’s a lot of tropical fun. There aren’t giant Disney characters all over, but you still feel like you’re somewhere special. When my kids and I stayed there recently, it was under construction — a new gondola transportation system was being installed and the eating facilities were getting an overhaul. But there were still multiple food options — a buffet, food trucks and a small store. There was also a mobile gift shop.

As you can imagine, Deluxe hotels are the tops in terms of amenities. We’re talking a variety of restaurants and eateries, luxurious rooms, the best transportation options and more. These places are fancy, and they feel like it. Here, you’ll have access to more transportation options to get to the parks as well.

For us, the buses and the moderate hotel were just right.

—SARAH WALKER CARON

AMY’S TIPS: Our travel agent set up our Disney package and hotel for us — but I will say, the Disney website is pretty easy to navigate on your own and to pick and choose from different options. We stayed at a Moderate hotel as well — the Port Orleans – Riverside. They offer outdoor movies, pool parties, s’more and campfire gatherings, fishing and even a boat ride to nearby Disney Springs — but to be honest, we missed almost all of it because we were so busy at the parks. There was a fun New Orleans theme to everything, and the pool had a perfectly kid-sized waterslide (and an adjacent bar), which kept all of us entertained one afternoon. Do expect a lot of walking, even just to get around your resort. We used the Disney buses to get from our resort to the parks and that was the way to go for us.

—AMY ALLEN

64 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

(Left) Paige is ready to race at the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland Speedway. (Right) Catch the March of the First Order once every hour in Hollywood Studios.

ALL ABOUT THE PARKS SARAH’S TIPS: How do you decide how to break up your time between the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom? We based our timeline on what we wanted to do most — and we didn’t even get to it all.

At the Magic Kingdom, there is so much to see and do. We went there several times to try to fit it all in. At Epcot, there are some really interesting rides, but my kids’ favorite thing was the evening we traveled around the world via the World Showcase, stopping to share a dish in as many as we could. That was dinner that night, and they are still talking about how much fun it was. Hollywood Studios had some of our favorite rides and attractions, but we were able to visit them all in a little more than half a day. That will likely change when the new Star Wars section and Toy Story Land open next year. As for Animal Kingdom, the half-day we spent there wasn’t nearly enough.

—SARAH WALKER CARON

AMY’S TIPS: We highly recommend the Fast Pass, which allows you to skip to the front of the line. If you plan your trip out early and are staying at Disney resort, you can book your Fast Passes (3 per day) 60 days in advance. We mapped out a plan to hit one park each day and booked our 3 Fast Passes at whichever park we were at that day. We added Typhoon Lagoon Water Park into the mix the day we went to Epcot, and it was a big and unexpected hit for all four of us. (Note: We were told during the winter months that Disney alternates closing one of the water parks — Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach — for updates and repairs.) And I agree with Sarah — we did not plan enough time for Animal Kingdom, which was another big hit with the whole family.

One extra magical thing we got to do during our trip was celebrate my son’s 7th birthday, which just happens to be at the end of October and landed on the last day of our trip. We surprised him with tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (I’d recommend getting your tickets in advance because it was packed), and that was amazing experience for all of us. Disney offers similar after-hours celebrations throughout the year. For the Halloween party, we got dressed up and headed back the park in the evening (the party officially goes from 7 p.m. to midnight, but you can actually enter as early as 4 p.m.). We got to trick-or-treat throughout the park (so much candy!), go on rides we missed during our first trip through the park, and watch an incredible Halloween parade and fireworks display.

With confetti and cupcakes, lunch at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom is extra special when it’s your birthday.

MOM TIP: FIRST TRIP TO DISNEY? CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY OR ANNIVERSARY? LET SOMEONE KNOW AS YOU ENTER THE PARK AND THEY’LL GIVE YOU A SPECIAL BUTTON TO WEAR SO EVERYONE CAN MAKE YOUR DAY EXTRA SPECIAL!

—AMY ALLEN www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 65

GET OUT

DISNEY WORLD

WHAT TO EAT SARAH’S TIPS: There were a few things we absolutely had to have while we were at Walt Disney World. Chief among them was Mickey Waffles — specifically the giant ones topped with strawberries and whipped cream in the Magic Kingdom at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, not far from Cinderella’s Castle. Now, of course, there are plenty of places to get Mickey-shaped waffles at Walt Disney World. Our hotel, Caribbean Beach Resort, had them on the breakfast buffet. But the giant ones are absolutely the best, I think.

Another must have? A giant Mickey-shaped pretzel in Animal Kingdom. Yum. Perfectly cooked and served with cheese sauce for dipping, they were a great snack on a busy park-filled afternoon.

While you’re there, also be sure to pop over to the World Showcase Pavilions to try dishes from around the world. Also, Dole Whip — available at several locations throughout the parks and the hotels, including at the Polynesian Resort and in the Animal Kingdom — is always a treat. (It’s pineapple flavored soft serve. Delightful!)

And one last thing, though I was skeptical, eating breakfast at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, the Beauty and the Beast themed dining hall, was money well spent. Not only is it beautiful inside, but we really enjoyed the experience and fancifulness of it all. The food was pretty good too.

—SARAH WALKER CARON

AMY’S TIPS: We signed up for the meal plan and it was well worth it. Food at Disney isn’t cheap, and the meal plan let us try some of the nicer restaurants, because honestly — the food at Disney isn’t always magical (sorry Mickey, everything else is amazing). The cafeteria-style restaurants at the hotel get the job done, but we were glad to try a couple of the nicer places. Sanaa at Animal Kingdom’s Villas offered a delicious meal (my kids are still obsessed with naan which they tried there for the first time) with the amazing bonus of having zebras roaming by the windows. We did two character buffet dinners (at Chef Mickey’s and The Crystal Palace), which is also a good chance to meet and greet Mickey and friends without waiting in long lines.

—AMY ALLEN

66 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

(Left) Painting your dessert is just plain fun at Sanaa at Animal Kingdom’s Villas.

(Top) Chef Mickey’s offers a tasty buffet and a meet-and-greet opportunity.

MOM TIP: THE DISNEY WORLD APP IS VERY HANDY FOR CHECKING WAIT TIMES, NAVIGATING THE PARKS, TRACKING DOWN THE NEAREST RESTROOM, AND DOWNLOADING PHOTOS IF YOU OPT FOR THE PHOTOPASS. WE DID AND THAT’S HOW WE GOT PHOTOS OF ALL FOUR OF US TOGETHER IN FRONT OF CINDERELLA’S CASTLE, RIDING THE SEVEN DWARFS MINE TRAIN AND FREE FALLING IN THE TOWER OF TERROR.

Giant Mickey Waffles topped with strawberries and whipped cream and (above) Dole Whip were on Sarah’s list of musteats at Disney World.

Lee P. Speronis, JD, BS, CHE, CHIA Director and Associate Professor School of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management Husson University, College of Business

“The experience is completely modern and up to date.”

Lee Speronis knows what it takes to create enjoyable travel experiences. The convenience of updated passenger amenities and warm, friendly service at Bangor International Airport combine to make flying simple and enjoyable. Lee says it deserves a grade of A+, and after all, he’s the professor. Learn more at FlyBangor.com.

Non-stop flights to major hub cities with connections to the world.

BGR_Testimonials_BangorMetro.indd 3

ALLEGIANT • AMERICAN • DELTA • UNITED

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 67 3/30/18 12:10 PM

GET OUT

DISNEY WORLD

RIDES WORTHY OF A FAST PASS (AND A COUPLE RIDES TO SKIP) EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN take on rides (we’re a split vote in our office on the Spaceship Earth experience) — and we all have a different tolerance for rollercoasters and big drops. But if you’re heading

to Disney for the first time and looking for a few suggestions, here’s look at what was a hit with the whole family, and which rides you don’t need to feel bad about missing.

MAGIC KINGDOM

EPCOT

SARAH’S TOP PICKS: ENCHANTED TALES WITH BELLE This interactive storytelling is so darned cute. And though it’s best with littler kids, older ones can still enjoy it too.

SARAH’S TOP PICKS: SPACESHIP EARTH We adored this ride. It’s so cool how you travel up, up, up into a wonderful unknown and then come back down again.

It’s not scary, but definitely interesting.

TOMORROWLAND TRANSIT AUTHORITY PEOPLEMOVER What I love about this is the view of the Magic Kingdom you get on it. And I especially appreciate being able to peek inside Space Mountain without actually having to go on Space Mountain.

BUZZ LIGHTYEAR’S SPACE RANGER SPIN It’s fast moving, interactive fun that fans of the Toy Story franchise will undoubtedly appreciate.

MAD TEA PARTY It’s a classic and it’s one that is always on our must-ride list.

Sure, you can go on spinning teacups other places, but we really do enjoy this Alice in Wonderland theme version a lot.

ILLUMINATIONS: REFLECTIONS OF EARTH This excellent, stunning, beautiful fireworks show is among the best in all the parks. I love how they reflect off the water.

THE SEAS WITH NEMO & FRIENDS We’re a Nemo-loving family and this is just so cute.

AMY’S TOP PICKS: TEST TRACK Making your own race car is the ultimate experience for any kids who’s in to Hot Wheels and NASCAR.

IT’S OKAY TO SKIP: CAROUSEL OF PROGRESS

THE SEAS WITH NEMO & FRIENDS A cute ride with Nemo and pals drops you off inside a real Aquarium.

AMY’S TOP PICKS: BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD I think we rode it a dozen times — it’s fun and manageable for all ages, like most of the Magic Kingdom.

MIXED REVIEWS: SPACESHIP EARTH This was my son’s favorite ride. It was not my favorite. It’s the ride inside the Epcot ball — looks cool from the outside, inside it’s the thing animatronic nightmares are made of. Or maybe that’s just me.

SEVEN DWARFS MINE TRAIN Just be sure to get a Fast Pass well in advance because that line is no joke and the Fast Pass queue closes quickly.

HAUNTED MANSION Finn and I went on this one during the Halloween party which made it extra fun.

MONSTERS, INC. LAUGH FLOOR We kind of stumbled into this one, but it’s a funny show and a good chance to sit and rest in the middle of a hot day.

IT’S OKAY TO SKIP: TOMORROWLAND SPEEDWAY

68 / BANGOR METRO May 2018

You’ll find a whole lot of Nemos in the aquarium at the end of The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride.

(Far left) The Frozen Sing-Along Celebration isn’t just for princess fans. (Left) Storm Troopers patrol Hollywood Studios — luckily, we were not the driods they were looking for.

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

ANIMAL KINGDOM

SARAH’S TOP PICKS: FROZEN SING-ALONG CELEBRATION My daughter is a huge fan of Frozen, so this was a must-do for us. What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy the fun Frozen-themed show. It was so lively and fun.

AMY’S TOP PICKS: KILIMANJARO SAFARI Elephants, giraffes and hippos, oh my!

INDIANA JONES EPIC STUNT SPECTACULAR! My kids were pretty skeptical when I led them to this show.

Who is Indiana Jones anyway?!? But then the show started and they were enamoured with the action and excitement.

Worth it.

STAR TOURS As huge Star Wars fans, we can’t get enough of this mission ride that takes you into the Star Wars world.

AMY’S TOP PICKS: STAR WARS LAUNCH BAY Family photo with Chewy. No brainer.

RAFIKI’S PLANET WATCH This was last minute decision as we were passing by. A little train takes you behind the scenes of Animal Kingdom to a petting zoo with goats, pigs and more.

KALI RIVER RAPIDS We Fast Passed this one too — and took out our ponchos.

DINOSAUR Another Fast Pass-worthy ride.

EXPEDITION EVEREST Not going on this rollercoaster is the only regret I have about our trip, because it looks awesome. I didn’t think I was a “ride person” but turns out roller coasters are super fun.

TOWER OF TERROR One of the few “big” rides we went on and fully lived up to its name. We did lunch at Mama Melrose’s beforehand, which was one of the best meals we had at Disney, but not something I recommend before riding the Tower of Terror.

It’s a mistake, just trust me.

MUPPET VISION 3D Best 3D experience ever.

INDIANA JONES EPIC STUNT SPECTACULAR! Might be a little scary for younger viewers because there are explosions, but also, there are explosions so it’s pretty awesome.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 69

WOODS & WATERS

Timing is everything...

FOR THE BIRDS

STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON MAINE’S BIRD POPULATION.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING. We notice the big climate changes that accompany a warming planet, such as fiercer storms, melting ice caps and sea level rise, but it’s sometimes the little things that matter most. That’s especially true in Acadia National Park.

Phenology is the study of when things happen in nature. The timing of when migration occurs, when trees leaf out, when insects hatch, all matter. Every plant and animal is food

BY BOB DUCHESNE for something else, and the timing of reproductive cycles has evolved to coincide with the availability of food resources. If the timing is disrupted, bad things happen.

Acadia is home to some of these phenology studies. Abe Miller-Rushing is the science coordinator for Acadia National Park. Seth Benz is the bird ecologist at Schoodic Institute on Schoodic Point. Their research projects guide local habitat management decisions, and much of their data feeds into national networks of scientists studying nature’s timing.

PHENOLOGY IS THE Several projects study the timing of bird migration. Birds move STUDY OF WHEN THINGS about the planet in order to go where the food is. As birds return in the spring, they need to refuel from the long flight, and store energy for HAPPEN IN NATURE. the arduous process of raising a family. In their tropical winter homes, birds have no idea if the Maine winter was short or long. Their cues THE TIMING OF WHEN to fly north are based on things like the length of daylight, which MIGRATION OCCURS, WHEN increases predictably. As Maine winters get shorter, insects emerge earlier. Migrants may arrive at their usual time, only to find that their TREES LEAF OUT, WHEN food supply has already peaked.

INSECTS HATCH, ALL MATTER...

In the fall, many departing migrants feast on berries. But with warmer summers, plants set fruit earlier. The birds might discover that ACADIA IS HOME TO SOME their expected food supply of huckleberries, blueberries, viburnum, OF THESE STUDIES. and mountain ash has waned.

Maine is the most forested state in the nation. It is a key nesting region for many birds, and a critical stopover for birds heading northward to the vast Canadian forest. If nature has mistimed its banquet, reproduction and survival rates decline.

Some species enjoy a varied diet, and can adapt more quickly than species that are dependent on a single food source. When changes occur slowly, most species have a chance to adjust. Unfortunately, our current climate change is happening so rapidly that plants and animals can’t keep up. It’s already too late to save some of them.

Maine’s national park has joined other parks in trying to anticipate changes and adapt to the warming climate. A significant number of the phenology studies in Acadia are aimed at guessing the future. We know that southern species of plants and animals are moving north now that Maine’s climate is becoming more like Maryland’s. Perhaps some of these southern plants could be useful as park managers try to anticipate change and mitigate its harmful effect on wildlife.

For instance, one of the major threats comes from invasive species. Some of the decorative plants that escaped from suburban backyards and invaded Maine’s landscape originated in warmer countries.

These plants evolved to go green and reproduce earlier in spring than Maine’s native species, which gives them an advantage as the globe heats up. This often thwarts eradication efforts. But if we can figure out which southern native plant species are headed this way anyway, perhaps we can revegetate with these and crowd out the foreign invaders.

Likewise, it’s common for national parks to redirect trails when they become overworn, planting new vegetation as needed. Some of the phenology studies are trying to figure out which plants might provide alternative food resources for wildlife when their current food supply becomes unavailable due to climate change.

Humans are not immune to the ill effects of climate change. In 2012, a short winter and warming ocean prompted lobsters to molt a month early. “Shedders” are less valuable, and Maine’s lobstermen dealt with severely depressed market prices.

Furthermore, the state lacked sufficient processing capability to make alternative use of the low-value lobsters, partly because such a climate-induced economic crisis had never really happened before.

Ironically, Acadia is dealing with another phenology migration issue: tourists are coming earlier, and staying longer.

It used to be that visitation wrapped up soon after Columbus Day. Nowadays, the vacation crunch might last to Veteran’s Day in a warm autumn, such as the one we experienced last fall. This affects staffing and maintenance. It turns out that we have much in common with birds and bugs, as our own timing changes with the climate.

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

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 71

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WHEN I WAS EXPECTING my second child I felt like a traitor to my first. I worried that Baby #2 would be short changed because I loved Baby #1 with that all consuming love mothers of only children are known for: a play date arranging, tiara-toting, “Let’s count the curls on her head one more time” sort of Mommy Myopia. My two-year-old and I co-slept, co-ate, co-bathed, coexisted around the clock.

How in the world could I continue to cohabit with my first child and take care of a newborn?

The answer didn’t present itself until the morning of our second child’s birth. As I stared down at her perfect circle of a face, something felt wrong. Because we had to induce, the contractions were strong and they kept coming even after her birth. The after pains were as intense as the labor pains, and I was losing a lot of blood. (Sorry if talk of blood loss is too much for the males in the audience, but childbirth is graphic. I didn’t recount the gory details of her nativity — you’re welcome.)

“If we can’t get this bleeding under control, we’re going to need to take Mom into the O.R. She may be hemorrhaging,” the midwife told my husband.

Across the hospital room, my mother sat with red eyes, holding onto her rosary beads, praying decades of Hail Mary’s for me, her second child. My older sister stood beside me, talking me through the worst of the pain, “Breathe in and out, Emmy.

Just keep breathing,” she said.

In about the worst shape I’d ever been in, I focused on my newborn and noticed a splotch of blood in the perfect shape of a heart on her birthing blanket. I held her for a few moments and looked back and forth between her beautiful face and that little red heart. An overwhelming fear that she might never know how much I loved her came over me, and my heart burst with simple, boundless devotion for her.

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OUR MOST RENEWABLE RESOURCE

BY EMILY MORRISON

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This love took nothing away from what I felt for my firstborn.

On the contrary, I felt like it had exponentially multiplied somehow. I’m no good at math, but if I had to express it as a number it would look like this: (Love)2.

What I saw on my mother’s face that morning and how I felt while looking at my own daughter taught me that love isn’t something you have for your child. It isn’t something you find or summon the energy for at the end of a long day. Love is as infinite and organic as it gets. It comes to us as miraculous as a little red heart on a swaddling cloth, and it keeps coming, surprising us with its unexpected, unexplainable existence.

My mother already knew this. Sure, my sister is an acorn closer to Mom’s tree, and I’m a chip off Dad’s block, but Mom always said it didn’t matter who was more like who. I get it now. Love isn’t something you split between your children — it’s what you give them without measure. Yes, you split your time. You bet you split your attention, and Lord knows there’s a rotating schedule on who gets to sleep with you on Friday night, but you don’t split your love.

Today everyone is going green. We are all looking for ways to renew, reduce and recycle. This used to be my Girl Scout motto, “The Three R’s.” It’s funny that something like that can apply to being a mom, but it’s true. Motherhood has taught me that love is our most renewable resource. It’s free. It’s all around us. It is clean, pure energy. It keeps us going when our children are teething and potty training at the height of the terrible two zenith, and it’s currently seeing me through the tween years of two girls and a prepubescent son.

There are days I still wonder how I’m ever going to balance it all, but I no longer worry whether I can ever love them all enough.

I’ve got (Love)Infinity.

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.

PHOTO: GIANLIGUORI/THINKSTOCK

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THE VIEW FROM HERE

PENNY JACQUES, BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

IF CANCER THINKS MAINE IS A PUSHOVER, IT’S COME TO THE WRONG PLACE. Being from Maine, we all know what can be accomplished when Mainers pull together.

So today, we introduce a new approach to coordinated cancer care. It’s a powerful collaboration of world-class oncology teams throughout Maine, with expedited access to second opinions, clinical trials and treatment of rare cancers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. With the steadfast support of the Harold Alfond Foundation, this cancer dream team has been assembled with one simple, powerful mission: to provide Mainers a relentless new partner in their fight to overcome this disease, right here at home. To learn more, go to MaineHealth.org/cancer or call 1-844-944-8094.

N E T W O R K PA R T N E R S

H E ALT H S Y S T E M