Bangor Metro - Jan/Feb 2019

B WINTER IT'S A NICE SEASON FOR A

WHITE WEDDING A VISIT TO THE CITY OF

BROTHERLY LOVE HOT TIPS FOR COLD FUN X-COUNTRY TRAILS TO TRY

& $5.95

SKIJORING WITH YOUR POOCH January 2019

CONTENTS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

FEATURES 46 EMBRACE WINTER WITH SKIJORING A fun, fast, thrilling way to bond with your dogs

52

WHAT ABOUT MUSHING?

Taking it to the next level with dog sledding

56 SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BRRR! Embracing the cold with a winter wedding

64

GET OUT

Fall in love with the city of brotherly love

46

SKIJORING HOW-TO

56

WINTER WEDDINGS

08

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Local news & sightings

16

OBSESSIONS

What we can’t get enough of this month

72

THE VIEW FROM HERE

New year, new me

ON THE COVER Amy Shedd shows off the L.L. Bean boots keeping her warm during her outdoor wedding in Millinocket.

Photo by Emily McIntosh Photography

2 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

PHOTOS: (TOP) COURTESY OF JILL CARTER; (BOTTOM) EMILY MCINTOSH PHOTOGRAPHY

IN EVERY ISSUE

ARTS & CULTURE

FOOD & DRINK

HEALTH & FITNESS

14

20

24

A WARMING TREND

Christopher White’s new book shares how Maine lobsters are on the front line of environmental changes.

IN SEASON NOW

HIKE ME

Warm up with a recipe for Creamy Garlic Fettuccine

Kick and glide your way around great local cross-country ski trails

22

30 MORE THAN THE WINTER BLUES

VALENTINE’S DAY DESSERT

A sweet take on Pots Au Chocolate

Combatting SAD during a Maine winter

32

I RESOLVE TO...

PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ©RAMSEY/ADOBE STOCK; SARAH WALKER CARON; AISLINN SARNACKI; BOB DUCHESNE; COURTESY OF CHARLES RIGGI; AMY ALLEN

The history of resolutions and why they don’t work

34

VROOM! VROOM!

A love affair with your car

HOW TO

HOME & FAMILY

OUTSIDE

36

70

Slime-making pro tips from kids

40 THE APPLICATION FOR MY DAUGHTER’S AFFECTION

38

42

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

CREATE IT AT HOME

Make your own heart garland

WOODS & WATERS

Putting the glam in camping

PAWS OF LOVE

The story of a local therapy dog who won the hearts of hundreds www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

WiMAINE nter in “USE WHAT YOU HAVE,” my mother tells me. It’s November, a day or two after Thanksgiving, and she’s recounting advice given to her by a friend. The woman, an elderly widow who teaches painting to a group of neighborhood women, had been talking about a set of crystal champagne goblets like the ones that sit in a box in my china cabinet.

It could have easily been said about so many things though.

I save serving pieces for special occasions that don’t seem to come often enough.

The Christmas-themed mugs and dessert plates I keep carefully boxed for those weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years. The special goblets I reserve for mousse, on those rare occasions I make it.

Why don’t we use these things?

The practice of saving some items “for best” is, in fact, a horribly wasteful one. It means I have whole shelves of items I do little more than look at. There seems much wisdom in the advice my mother relayed to me. So I am counting this among my resolutions for this year: I will, indeed, use what I have.

Maybe I will even sip orange juice from those champagne goblets, since I don’t plan to up my champagne intake.

Welcome to 2019 and the January/February issue of Bangor Metro. Don’t miss Emily Morrison’s examination of the history of resolutions — and why they don’t work (and see why the one I shared might just work) — on page 32.

In this issue, you’ll also find our delightful cover story on winter weddings by the equally delightful Abigail Curtis (page 56) as well as features on the winter sports of skijoring (page 46) and mushing (page 52), both by veteran musher Julia Bayly. Aislinn Sarnacki shares cross country ski trails for every skill level on page 24. And so much more!

I do hope you adore this issue of Bangor Metro. Have a wonderful day!

SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR

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

4 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

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

COPY EDITOR

Kaylie Reese kreese@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 Bob Duchesne, Jodi Hersey, Emily Morrison, Todd Nelson, Richard Shaw, Katie Smith www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5

6 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

MEET THE STAFF

Bangor Metro Magazine. January/February 2019, Vol. 15, No. 1.

Copyright © Bangor Publishing Company.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Director Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.

Subscriptions/Address Change: The one year subscription cost is $15.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date. Please contact Fred Stewart at 207-990-8075.

Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.

COVER PHOTO: Emily McIntosh Photography

Meet

KAYLIE REESE

This month we’re featuring copy editor extraordinaire Kaylie Reese, whose keen attention to detail and knowledge of grammar help us give you the best Bangor Metro we can each month. We adore her and think you should, too.

JOB: Copy editor FAVORITE STORY IN THIS ISSUE:

As a hiker and recreationist, I always look forward to learning more about trails nearby to check out. Aislinn Sarnacki’s outdoors features are always top-notch, and this month’s story on local cross-country ski trails is no exception. Another favorite is Julia Bayly’s story on skijoring, which is a combination of two things I love: my dog and cross-country skiing. That said, I don’t think my pup and I would be a good match for the activity, as she prefers to herd and I’d prefer not to trip.

MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT YOUR JOB:

The most challenging thing about the job is sitting still in front of a computer for long periods of time.

WHAT ARE YOU READING THESE DAYS?

Need a

GIFT IDEA?

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subscription to BANGOR METRO!

Reading is my absolute favorite past-time. Lately, I’ve been reading nonfiction travel and adventure narratives, including “Travels with Charley” by John Steinbeck, “Blue Highways” by William Least Heat-Moon, and “Pure Land” by Annette McGivney.

FAVORITE WINTER ACTIVITY IN MAINE:

I grew up in Maine, and my family always made getting outside a yearround priority. Downhill and crosscountry skiing are among my favorite winter activities, but I truly love hiking.

And there is something especially magical about trudging through snow and ice toward a summit.

BEST ADVENTURE TOOK IN 2018:

YOU

My husband and I try to take advantage of every adventure opportunity we can.

This summer, we bought a van, converted it into a small adventuremobile, and drove west to Washington state, south to Arizona, then back to Maine via the Great Plains and Appalachia. We both enjoy the outdoors and decided to check out more than a dozen several national parks and monuments along the way. It was most certainly an unforgettable experience.

bangormetro.com www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7

WHAT’S HAPPENING

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 MUSIC@NOON PERFORMANCE Identical twins and Juilliard graduates saxophonists Peter and Will Anderson are known for their unique renditions of classic jazz songs and innovative original music. Their Music@Noon concert will be held on Wednesday, January 9 from noon to 2 p.m. at Farnsworth Library, 16 Museum St. in Rockland. It will showcase innovative and virtuosic arrangements of well-known classical pieces including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and American in Paris, Debussy’s Clair de Lune and Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Solfegietto

by C.P.E. Bach, Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu, Dvorak’s Humoresque and Anitra’s Dance by Grieg. Tickets are $30, $10 for under age 25, and include a freshly-prepared lunch provided by Atlantic Baking Company plus access to the museum following the performance.

8 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 “THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE” A National Theatre Live Broadcast of "The Madness of King George III," will be shown at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11 at Collins Center for the Arts. Written by Britain playwright Alan Bennett ("The History Boys," "The Lady in the Van"), the cast of this new production includes Olivier Award winners Mark Gatiss in the title role, and Adrian Scarborough. Tickets are as follows: Adult $15, senior $10, student $8. All fees included. Subscribers receive 50 percent off all fees, deduct $1 from ticket price. www.collinscenterforthearts.com

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 MAKERSPACE AND TECH SALE! Hands-on activities, Maine-based creators and inventors! Feed your imagination and ingenuity at this special hands-on event, designed for kids & adults (recommended for youth age 7-99)!

The Challenger Learning Center of Maine, 30 Venture Way, will host a Makerspace and Tech Sale from 10am to 1pm. You will be able to choose projects, from handicrafts to electronics!

Workstations will be set up so you can design, test, build, glue, craft…MAKE! The event will also feature an electronicthemed mini- flea market. Professionals & amateurs will have tables of second-hand items that are “all-things-electronic” for people to purchase. Be inspired by the makerspace activities to purchase items to continue the build/test/tinkering at home! (Don’t forget to bring cash). Preregistration price is $3 per person/$12 family max. Admission at the door: $5 per person/$15 family max.

JAN. 19-20 SNOWCON GAMING CONVENTION On the dark, cold and often snowy days of winter, a bright spot appears in late January as the SnowCon gaming

PHOTO: AP PHOTO/ROBERT F. BUKATY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

FEB. 8-10 2019 US Toboggan Championships

convention takes place at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Tabletop game lovers come from near and far to play old favorites, try new games and partake in tournaments. And if you love playing games, this is where you want to be too. Visit www.snowconmaine.com for more details.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 ERTH’S PREHISTORIC AQUARIUM ADVENTURE The creators of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live present Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Collins Center for the Arts. It is an immersive experience that invites spectators to jump in and explore unknown ocean depths where prehistoric marine reptiles lived eons ago – and maybe live still today.

Erth shows are at the forefront of family entertainment using actors, technology, puppets, science and imagination to create a visual experience that connects young audiences to the real science of

paleontology. Orchestra $33/$30; balcony $30/$27; K-12 $15. All fees included.

Subscribers receive 50 percent off all fees, deduct $2.50 from ticket price. www.collinscenterforthearts.com

FEBRUARY 8-10 2019 US TOBOGGAN CHAMPIONSHIPS The U.S. National Toboggan Championships is a perfect combination of competition, costumes and tailgating in Maine's great outdoors in February! The annual competition draws toboganners of all levels for races. Join in the fun while everyone strives to stay warm and win a trophy! www.camdensnowbowl.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 “LATE NITE CATECHISM: TIL DEATH DO US PART” A solo comedy play about a nun, "Late Nite Catechism: Til Death Do Us Part"

will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, at the Gracie Theatre, Husson University. After teaching countless students about the saints, venial sins, limbo and more, Sister is now offering up hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and the Last Rites. Tickets are available at gracietheatre.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FANTASY BALL 2019 Dress as your favorite character for Fantasy Ball 2018, a magical night in a fantasy-themed formal ball to be held from 5 to 10pm at the Bangor Arts Exchange, 193 Exchange Street in Bangor. This year’s theme is fairytales.

Go back to the time of nobility and royal courts. Be introduced as you enter the ballroom. Hors-d'oeuvres and refreshments will be available, coat check will be provided, photo opportunities will abound and dancing will commence.

Music will be provided by Happily Every After Entertainment Design, photo ops

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9

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WHAT’S HAPPENING areas, Memorymaker Photobooth, preball dance lessons, costume contests, door prizes and silent auction too! For ages 14 and older.

PHOTO: ©ARTEM MAZUNOV/ADOBE STOCK

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 “THE GREATEST PIRATE STORY (N)EVER TOLD!” Flung into the future by a musical-loving Sea Witch, a crew of misfit piratesturned-actors must now perform the greatest pirate epic ever seen on stage in "The Greatest Pirate Story (N)ever Told!" It will be staged in Orono at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21, at Collins Center for the Arts. When the pirates' script is partially obscured by a tragic squid ink accident, the crew must turn to the audience to fill in the missing bits of the plot. Cast members improvise their musical adventure, seamlessly weaving the audience suggestions into scenes, songs and more. Orchestra $30; balcony $25; K-12 $15. All fees included. Subscribers receive 50 percent off all fees, deduct $2.50 from ticket price. www.collinscenterforthearts.com

FEB. 21 The Greatest Pirate Story (N)ever Told!

STILL STUMPED? 

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

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Visit our Bangor Metro Facebook page to play online!

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 11

WHAT’S HAPPENING

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

2

1 1: The Cancer Support Center of Maine hosted a Holiday Gathering. The organization was founded after Barbara Vittum’s battle with breast cancer and her appreciation of the support she received during her journey, and offers free services to cancer patients including rides to appointments, connecting patients with programs for food, gas and social services, and emotional support during their own battles.

2: The murals paying tribute to inspiring Mainers on the exterior of the Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center in Bangor have gained lots of attention. The organization invited the public inside recently for the grand opening of the “Stories of Maine” display, a colorful new literary exhibit.

3: Rape Response Services recently held a Dessert Auction fundraiser. Rape Response Services is a subsidiary of Penquis.

SHARE YOUR EVENT PHOTOS! 12 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

Email your photos and captions to

talkback@bangormetro.com

PHOTOS: JEFF KIRLIN / THE THING OF THE MOMENT

3

WINTER WONDERS!

It’s winter time in Vacationland!

Play online at bangormetro.com for your chance to win a FREE one-year subscription to Bangor Metro!

4 4: Karen Stewart poses for a selfie with Jeff Kirlin at Maine Discovery Museum’s 16th Annual Art Auction. The auction is made up of artwork crafted for our event and donated by incredibly generous Maine artists.

5: Midcoast Humane hosted its first Shelter-bration recently at the Maine Maritime Museum. For more about Midcoast Humane and how to help homeless pets, visit midcoasthumane.org.

5

FIND ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S POP QUIZ ON PAGE 11!

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

ARTS & CULTURE

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

A WARMING

TREND IS THE MAINE LOBSTER INDUSTRY IN HOT WATER?

BY JULIA BAYLY

PHOTO: (LOBSTER) ©RAMSEY/ADOBE STOCK

IN HIS LATEST BOOK “The Last Lobster: Boom or Bust for Maine’s Greatest Fishery?” Christopher White notes that lobstermen are sometimes referred to as the state’s “patron saints of lost causes.”

Maine’s lobstermen and women have long been subject to the whims of food trends, supply and demand, the weather, fuel prices, labor markets and supply costs.

Now, according to White, they are facing an even greater and more far reaching issue: that of persistent global warming.

Global warming, White said, is a major factor in recent downturns in the Maine lobster harvest that went from record amounts of upwards of 132 million pounds in 2016 to 110 million pounds the following year — a drop of nearly 20 percent.

Over the course of a year, to put a personal picture on this situation, White spent time in Stonington with three lobster boat captains whom he said are on the front lines of climate change and global warming.

And if the lobstermen and women are on the front lines, the lobsters are the advance scouts.

“More and more lobsters are showing as in indicator species of the effects of global warming and ocean warming,” White said. “You can argue back and forth how many different factors are influencing the reduced harvest every year — and there are a number of factors — but the biggest is the warming of oceans.”

Working from a 2013 study published in Science Daily by Dr. Malin Pinsky, associate professor of with the department of ecology, evolution, and natural resources at Rutgers University, White shows how lobsters are among 360 marine species moving north in the Atlantic Ocean as waters warm.

“I didn’t know how much marine species were moving north until I found this professor at Rutgers,” White said.

“The (2014) study showed that lobsters are moving north at 43 miles per decade.”

That migration north, he said, makes the lobster something of an environmental indicator species.

At the rate of migration, White said, in 40 or 50 years the bulk Maine state crustaceans population will be far enough into Canadian waters that they will be off limits to Maine lobstermen and women.

“We definitely need to be thinking of a plan now,” White said. “We need to

look at how to stop ocean warming and global warming and ways to adapt to the coming climate change.”

White said he got the idea for “The Last Lobster” by combing the topics of his two previous books, “Skipjack” and “The Melting World.” “‘Skipjack’ is about the problems of overfishing faced by the fishermen in Chesapeake Bay,” White said. “‘The Melting World’ is about the disappearance of glaciers in North America due to global warming. I decided it would be interesting to put those ideas together.”

with regard to temperatures and sea levels, up until a century or so ago.

“We have seen the sea levels rise 8 inches in the last 100 years thanks to melting glaciers,” White said.

White hopes that by telling the stories of lobster captains like 55-year-old Julie Easton of Stonington, people will get a feel for the urgency of the global warming crisis.

In the book, White quotes Easton who said, “Lobstermen are just starting to get our heads around this whole global warming thing. If it is warming, we’re out of luck. What we fear most is coming out here one morning and finding no lobsters in our traps. No one talks about it, but that’s what we worry about.”

People need to start talking and doing something about it, White said.

“These personal stories are needed to get people to understand the AT THE RATE OF immediacy of what is happening,” he said. “That is the approach I MIGRATION, WHITE SAID, take to environmental writing IN 40 OR 50 YEARS THE BULK — telling real stories about real people’s lives.”

MAINE STATE CRUSTACEANS The people in Stonington POPULATION WILL BE FAR who rely on lobsters for a living are doing what they ENOUGH INTO CANADIAN can in the short term to keep WATERS THAT THEY WILL the industry alive in Maine, White said.

BE OFF LIMITS TO “They are doing things like trying to keep the prices of MAINE LOBSTERMEN lobster from dropping through AND WOMEN. the floor by stimulating demand around the world,” he said. “They are working in a very progressive manner.”

But everyone needs to get on board for the sake of the lobster, other marine species and for humanity.

Looking at changes in the ocean and “I really hope people reading my book land temperatures can be frightening, see the lobstermen as a window through White said, and it can appear things are on which to view global warming and what a course that is set in stone. it is doing to our planet,” he said. “I hope “It is difficult to see how we can stop this they see that these effects are not all in the warming quickly,” he said. “The momentum future but that it is happening right now is underway to see temperatures increase and one of the places it’s happening is on this century 3 or 4 degrees centigrade, and the Maine coast.” that is very scary.”

The oceans, he said, have been in a stasis since the last ice age 12,000 years ago

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15

ARTS & CULTURE

OBSESSIONS

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

WATCH “THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF”

PLAY "SPRYO REIGNITED TRILOGY”

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? For someone who, admittedly, is not the best at baking, I do love a good baking competition. They’re fun and dramatic — exactly what I like to watch.

So naturally, I found “The Great British Bake Off” on Netflix and decided to give it a go. I quickly became addicted.

Each week there is a theme and competitors are given three challenges where they have to create a perfect bake for the judges. At the end of each episode, a “Star Baker” is picked and someone goes home.

It sounds very dainty but is actually intense. Everyone is timed and things can go terribly wrong such as an under baked baguette or a toppled gingerbread!

After watching five episodes, I decided I could be a star baker, too, and make some muffins — which I burned. I’ll just live vicariously through those who can actually use an oven.

—ROSEMARY LAUSIER

WEAR CHART METALWORKS MEDIUM SILVER NECKLACE $175 — CHARTMETALWORKS.COM. WHY DO WE LOVE IT? My tastes in jewelry run more toward the funky and unique, and less toward the blingy and expensive.

For Maine jewelry makers, one of the most Maine-centric has got to be Chart Metalworks. Based in Portland, Chart has since 2008 taken nautical charts — like the ones sailors use on their boats — and turned them into super-cool pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and home accents, set in silver, metal and/or glass.

Want an image of the lower Penobscot, Frenchman’s Bay or Portland Harbor memorialized in a necklace? Chart has you covered. Their jewelry was only made cooler to me when this fall I heard that Diana Nyad — who in 2013 at age 64 became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida and who is a bit of a personal hero of mine — had a custom Chart necklace commissioned to commemorate her historic swim. I can tell you with great certainty that I will never swim even the tiniest fraction of what Nyad has swam in her life, but that I would happily wear that necklace as a reminder of her perseverance.

—EMILY BURNHAM 16 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? When I was 10, thrill and excitement filled both my brother and me as our parents showed us a gift they had gotten us for our birthdays: a brand new PlayStation. It was state of the art in the late ’90s, complete with three games. One of them would be remembered by many: “Spyro the Dragon.”

“Spyro the Dragon” was first released in 1998.

It was one of the first open-world games of its time and quickly caught fire (no pun intended). It was soon followed by two others: “Ripto’s Range” (1999) and “Year of the Dragon” (2000).

The “Spyro” series eventually included many other games and even a revamped story, “The Legend of Spyro.” But to the kids of the ’90s, nothing compared to the original three.

As a huge fan of the original series, I was thrilled for the “Spyro Reignited Trilogy,” released in early November. It contains new versions of the first three original games in one disc/downloadable file to play on PlayStation and XBox. I’ve dived well into the games and have to say, I am impressed at the care developer Toys for Bob took to keep much of the original gameplay (the original games were developed by Insomniac Games), while still adding small and enjoyable tweaks of their own.

While much of the gameplay (controls, voices, music) remains the same, revamped graphics make it more entertaining and enjoyable to play. Improved camera controls and animations make exploring each world smoother and small character details and tweaks make it feel more magical.

I won’t give too much away, but I will say, from one Spyro fan to another (or even if you’ve never experienced the adventures before), “Spryo Reignited Trilogy” is sure to bring a smile to your face.

—CALLIE PICARD

READ

PHOTO: (TOP) ©REDPIXEL/ADOBE STOCK; (MAP) ©ROB BOUWMAN/ADOBE STOCK

So many books cross my desk at Bangor Metro, and I purchase even more. Every month, I select a few that catch my attention.

“MAID: HARD WORK, LOW-PAY AND A MOTHER’S WILL TO SURVIVE,” BY STEPHANIE LAND — A woman who dreams of being a writer. An abusive relationship that needs to end. A baby. A struggle to survive. A mother whose working poor status threatens to keep her in poverty forever. From the first page to the last, I was enthralled by this story of scrappiness, challenges and unrelenting effort. Stephanie Land’s memoir throws back the curtain on mothering and living in poverty and the drive and tenacity it took to overcome. The book “Maid,” comes out on Jan. 22, 2019. (Adult) “THE BEST AMERICAN FOOD WRITING 2018,” EDITED BY RUTH REICHL — In a first for “The Best American,” food writing gets the spotlight, showing how modern culinary journalism is more than recipes and cooking tips. From a tale of what happened to a lunch program after celebrity chef Jamie Oliver left to an eye-opening look at the Florida citrus industry through the lens of a famous two-part New Yorker series that became a book, this book celebrates the important and good work that American food journalists are doing to shine a light on food systems, challenges with food regulations and more. But in the 28 pieces are also tales of tradition, the evocative nature of food and more. A must-read for anyone who cares about what we eat. (Nonfiction) “SUSTAINABLE HOME,” BY CHRISTINE LIU — Sometime between summer and autumn, my daughter, who was 10 at the time, took an interest in reducing our waste.

Specifically, she independently decided to cut back on her plastic usage. We’d long before moved to glass storage containers and almost exclusively used reusable grocery bags. But her buy-in, at what’s really a young age, made having a more eco-friendly household even easier.

And so does this book. From tips on having indoor plants to advise on natural laundering, this book is filled with projects, tips and advice that’s practical and achievable. I especially love the tutorial for making your own t-shirt bags and the sections on composting. (Nonfiction) —SARAH WALKER CARON

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17

FOOD & DRINK

OBSESSIONS

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

ORDER LOGICAL SIP CAFE AND BAKERY ACAI BOWLS WHY DO WE LOVE IT? When I started taking yoga classes at Om Land Yoga on Center Street in Brewer, I would look out the window, across the street, to Logical Sip. I decided to go in for breakfast one morning and ordered an acai bowl. It’s now my favorite thing to order.

Logical Sip’s acai bowls are smooth, tasty and not too sweet. They’re made with blended ice, almond milk, yogurt, blueberries, banana (which I typically don’t like), honey and acai with coconut, granola, honey, chocolate chips, banana and blueberries on top. You can get them in half and full sizes and take out any toppings you don’t want. I get the half-size with half the chocolate chips.

It’s perfect for a healthy breakfast or lunch if you don’t feel like having that sandwich with all the bread.

I still go to yoga classes across the street and enjoy that immensely, but knowing I will get my now weekly acai bowl afterward makes it even better.

—ROSEMARY LAUSIER

DRINK HOT APPLE CIDER AT WEST MARKET SQUARE ARTISAN COFFEE HOUSE WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Hot apple cider, with its bright flavors and warmth, is a delight on these cold and dreary days. And the Hot Apple Cider at West Market Square Artisan Coffee House is one worth sipping. Dusted with cinnamon and served at a hot but drinkable temperature, I love it. But what really makes it special is that the baristas steam the apple cider to heat it, giving it a wonderful frothiness. It’s delightful.

—SARAH WALKER CARON

18 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

GO

LOCAL EATS

$2 TACO TUESDAYS AT NOCTURNEM DRAFT HAUS FROM 3-10 P.M. EVERY TUESDAY WHY DO WE LOVE IT? My family recently attended our first $2 Taco Tuesday at Nocturnem in downtown Bangor, and we’ll be back — as in, every Tuesday from now on. They’re serving up very straightforward delicious soft tacos filled with ground beef. (There are other options if you want to get fancy and pay more than $2.) The tacos are just spicy enough to make a beer the perfect beverage to wash them down, and Nocturnem just happens to be the perfect place for tons of local brews. My husband and I are also obsessed with Bissell Brothers’ The Substance, which you can often find on tap. Described by Bissell as a “brightly dank ale,” it’s a hazy, tasty IPA that finishes smooth and goes really well with tacos. “Family-friendly” might not be exactly how I’d describe Nocturnem Draft Haus, but our kiddos were far from out of place on taco night at dinner time. We’ll see you there next Tuesday!

—AMY ALLEN

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Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Food & Drink section.

PHOTO: ©MIZINA, ©SKABARCAT, ©LUIS CASTRO & ©CASANISA/ADOBE STOCK

Call 990-8000.

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in season now

FOOD & DRINK

GARLIC

STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON

IN THE DARK DAYS OF WINTER, storage crops sustain us. Winter farmers markets bear tables with crates of carrots and cabbage, winter squash and potatoes. But there’s one item that is lovely in the winter and brightens dishes with ferocity: garlic.

Oh, how I love garlic.

At the Maine Harvest Festival in November, a vendor offered me a deal on a pound of garlic. I nearly bought 2 pounds, knowing my family would roast and saute garlic for dishes all winter long.

A member of the Allium family, which also includes onions and leeks, garlic has been consumed for thousands of years by humans. In fact, it’s known to have been consumed in ancient China as far back as 2700 BC. But did you know that garlic has been hailed for centuries for its medicinal qualities? According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine division of the National Institutes of Health, garlic has been used to treat myriad ailments over the years. “In the past, garlic has been utilized as a remedy during the various epidemics such as typhus, dysentery, cholera, influenza, and whenever an epidemic has emerged, garlic has been the first preventive and curative remedy,” the USNLM states on their website.

In ancient China, it was used to achieve yin-yang balance.

Nowadays the zesty root is a kitchen staple used in cuisines around the world.

In this creamy pasta dish, perfect for bone-chilling winter nights, garlic is highlighted. It gives the creamy sauce a lovely vibrancy. The bacon and roasted red peppers take it over the top. Enjoy!

CREAMY GARLIC FETTUCCINE WITH BACON AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS Serves: 4-6

INSTRUCTIONS

INGREDIENTS 1 pound fettuccine 4 ounces bacon, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup heavy cream A pinch of ground nutmeg ¾ cup freshly grated Romano cheese Salt and pepper, to taste Thinly sliced roasted red peppers Finely chopped fresh parsley

Cook the fettuccine according to package directions.

While the fettuccine is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the bacon and brown. Once it’s just about done, add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Use a slotted spoon or a wire mesh skimmer to remove the bacon and the garlic from the pan.

Whisk the heavy cream and nutmeg into the pan. Add the Romano cheese and whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Remove from heat and stir the bacon, garlic and roasted red peppers into the sauce until thoroughly combined. Add the cooked, drained fettuccine to the sauce and toss well to combine. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro magazine. Her newest cookbook, “One-Pot Pastas” will be released by Rockridge Press on Jan. 15. She’s also the author of “The Super Easy 5-Ingredient Cookbook” and the popular food blog, Sarah’s Cucina Bella (www.sarahscucinabella.com).

Neighbors HEALTHCARE YOU CAN COUNT ON, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. Hospitals and healthcare facilities across Maine have united to work together and harder than ever for a healthy Maine and a healthier you. Visit MaineMadeUs.com

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FOOD & DRINK

Valenti n e' s Day DESSERT MY FAVORITE VALENTINE'S DAY DESSERT: POTS AU CHOCOLATE STORY & PHOTOS BY KATIE SMITH

22 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

GROWING UP, my mother always went big for Valentine’s Day, as it was her favorite holiday. She’d make a prime rib or roast a chicken with tiny red potatoes, and she’d set the table with red cloth napkins and light candles.

My sisters and I always anticipated our special dinner and would pool our money together to buy her flowers or chocolates.

There was always a heart-shaped chocolate wrapped in red foil and tied with a white or silver ribbon on our dinner plate with a card. As we got older, she’d slip a pretty pair of socks or something sparkly in a pretty paper bag and set it on the edge of our dinner plate next to a wine glass filled with sparkling grape juice or cider.

Dessert was the best part, and it always consisted of a yearly tradition of sugar cookies and Pots Au Chocolate — a rich decadent dessert that only takes a few minutes and four ingredients to whip up.

She’d serve this rich dessert in tiny white bowls, topped with fresh whipped cream. My sisters and I would eat it slowly, savoring every last bite. Looking at the tiny bowls, we’d never think it would be enough. I know I asked my mother more than once to make a double batch, but it was never necessary.

Now, I make this dessert for my three kids on Valentine’s Day and sprinkled throughout the year, simply because its deliciousness is too good to only taste once a year — not to mention it’s incredibly inexpensive and easy to make.

If you have a chocolate craving, this will cure it in no time. And there is virtually zero baking — in fact, it can be made in the microwave. The longest step is waiting (with bated breath) for it to chill and set up before it can be served, but I am not above tasting a few bites while still in its liquid form.

POTS AU CHOCOLATE Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS 1 Âź cups light cream heated in microwave or stove until skin forms on top 2 egg yolks 2 to 3 tablespoons of liqueur, such as Amaretto or Kahlua 1 cup chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate, but for a richer dessert you can use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips)

INSTRUCTIONS Combine chocolate, egg yolks and liqueur in a blender until smooth. Add warm cream and mix until blended.

Pour into individual bowls or ramekins and chill for three to four hours. Serve with whipped cream or with melted caramel and a sprinkle of salt on top for a salted caramel variety.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23

HIKE ME

KICK & GLIDE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS TO EXPLORE THIS WINTER STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI

BREATHING IN the fresh, cold air, she stood at the edge of a snowbank, her ski poles helping her keep balance as she snapped into her skis. She heard the click of her boot fitting into the bindings. Ready to go.

Arranging her feet parallel to one another, she set off on the groomed track, picking up speed as she found a rhythm. Kick, glide. Kick, glide. The snow, firm with a dusting of powder on top, was perfect for cross-country skiing.

She followed the trail into the frozen forest, through aisles of fir trees cloaked in white. At the slightest puff of wind, sparkling snow crystals rained down from branches overhead, landing without a sound. Quiet.

Peaceful. Mysterious. The winter forest drew her in until she felt a part of it.

Swish, swish, swish. She moved through the trees with grace, her skis gliding over the snow, her breath condensing into puffs of icy fog. This was a reason to love the winter, she thought.

This was a reason to celebrate each snow.

24 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

WITCH HOLE POND LOOP IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK MODERATE WHEN THERE’S ENOUGH SNOW on the ground, one of the most popular activities in Acadia National Park during the winter is cross-country skiing. Of the 47 miles of historic carriage roads in the park on Mount Desert Island, about 27 miles are groomed for cross-country skiing by Friends of Acadia, a nonprofit conservation organization that supports the park.

Of those trails, the 3.3-mile Witch Hole Pond Loop is a popular, scenic ski route. Following the carriage roads around Witch Hole Pond, Halfmoon Pond and Duck Brook, this adventure features a few small hills and visits a gorgeous stone bridge. Adding to the scenery, much of the twiggy vegetation around the ponds is vibrant red — a beautiful contrast to the snow.

Park admission is free from Nov. 1 through April 30. For more information, call 207-288-3338 or visit www.nps.gov/acad.

DIRECTIONS: Cross the causeway onto Mount Desert Island on Route 3 and veer left where the road splits, remaining on Route 3. In about 7.8 miles, the road will become two lanes; stay in the right lane to turn right and enter Acadia National Park. At the stop sign, turn right to drive to the large parking lot of Hulls Cove Visitor Center. A short hiking trail leads to the Witch Hole Pond Loop at the west end of the parking area.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 25

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

Caroline Noblet and her 7-year-old daughter, Annika, both of Bangor, cross-country ski at the Bangor Municipal Golf Course last winter.

BANGOR MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE IN BANGOR EASY AFTER BANGOR MUNICIPAL Golf Course closes each November, it isn’t long before the property sees a new type of athlete. As soon as snow covers the course’s well-manicured lawns, it becomes a playground for winter recreators — cross-country skiers, snowshoers and ice skaters. With small, rolling hills and open terrain, it’s the perfect place for people of all ages and skill levels to enjoy the snow.

About 9 miles of trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing. These trails explore small hills and travel along the edges of the forest as they circle the greens. Also, a small loop trail is lit in the evening for skiers to enjoy after the sun goes down. Groomed by the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department with support from Penobscot Valley Ski Club, the trails are free for public use. To learn more, visit www.bangorgc.com or call 207-992-4490.

DIRECTIONS: The golf course is located at 278 Webster Avenue in Bangor. From Interstate 95 Exit 183, turn east on Route 2 and take the first road — Norway Road — on your right. Drive 0.4 mile, then turn right onto Webster Avenue. Drive about 0.2 mile and the main parking lot for the golf course will be on your left. A bit farther down the road is a smaller parking area.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27

HEALTH & FITNESS

HIKE ME

QUARRY ROAD TRAILS IN WATERVILLE EASY TO CHALLENGING LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE downtown Waterville, Quarry Road Trails and Recreation Area is a hub for public recreation, featuring a vast network of intersecting trails, 7 miles of which are groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter. Traveling over hills, through the woods and along the banks of Messalonskee Stream, these trails vary greatly in difficulty and are labeled, with green trails being the easiest, blue trail being more difficult and black trails being most difficult.

With a state-of-the-art snowmaking system, the trail network has a longer ski season and more reliable snow conditions than other trails in the area. And for evening skiers, more than a mile of trail is lit until 9 p.m. each night.

Skiing on the trails requires a pass — ranging from $8 to $12 — which can be purchased at the Quarry Road Welcome Center Yurt near the main parking area.

The yurt is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily during the winter and offers rental ski equipment and snacks. To learn more, visit quarryroad.org or call 207-314-0258.

AISLINN SARNACKI is a staff writer for Bangor Metro and the Outdoors and Homestead sections of the Bangor Daily News. An expert on the Maine outdoors, she is author of the just-released guidebook, “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path,” and also “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine.”

Follow her adventures on her blog, actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com.

28 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

DIRECTIONS: Take I-95 Waterville Exit 130 and turn south onto Main Street.

Drive about 0.6 mile, then turn right onto Eustis Parkway. Drive 0.6 mile, then turn right onto North Street. Drive 0.1, then turn right onto Quarry Road. Drive 1.3 to the main parking lot by the yurt.

Find your perfect

AUDIENCE

Advertise your business in BANGOR METRO! CALL 990-8134 for details

bangormetro.com www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29

HEALTH & FITNESS

More than the ‘WINTER

BLUES’

MEDICAL SCIENCE HAS shown that the short days and lack of sunlight in northern latitudes can have negative physical and emotional effects on some people. In fact, seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is treated by doctors and therapists as a real and potentially life-threatening condition.

According to the online site American Family Physician by the American Academy of Family Physicians, roughly 4 to 6 percent of the population suffers from SAD, also known as “winter depression.”

Four times more common in women than in men, it often does not appear until a person is in their 20s, and its impact does decrease with age, according to Dr. Amy Movius at Eastern Maine Medical Center, who adds the chances of being hit with SAD increase the farther north a person lives.

“In Maine we are at risk because we have such short days,” Movius said. “It can be dangerous. It’s like any form of depression, but in this case people notice it seasonally when they feel down, lose interest in things, do not sleep well, their heads are all foggy and there can even be thoughts of suicide or self-harm.”

Symptoms can also include changes in appetite, with cravings for sweet and starchy foods, weight gain, a “heaviness” 30 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

in the arms and legs, reduced energy levels, fatigue, a tendency to oversleep, difficulty concentrating, irritability, increased sensitivity to social rejection and a tendency to avoid going out at all.

Exposure to sunlight is important as it helps the release of the neurochemical serotonin in the brain which is associated with healthy moods. Serotonin levels impact sleep patterns, appetite, memory and learning and those levels can dip without enough sunlight exposure, resulting in SAD. According to online weather data computed by the U.S. Navy, Bangor averages less than nine hours of sunlight per day in December, assuming there is no cloud cover, which can be the case about 50 percent of the time.

By March the amount of daylight in Greater Bangor is up to around 10 hours and continues to increase until the longest day of the year in mid-June, when there are more than 15 hours of daylight.

Those darker months can be a real issue for those affected by SAD. But rather than doing like the bears and hibernating away the dreary months of winter, there are other, more healthy options.

“I am a huge believer in self-care,” Movius said. “Practice good nutrition, with a

BY JULIA BAYLY

good diet, and try to get exercise and expose yourself to sunlight as much as you can.”

For those days when getting outside is an issue or when there is no sunlight, use of specialized light boxes that simulate sunlight is an alternative. These boxes can be purchased online or at most major retail department stores.

When using so-called “light therapy,” an individual sits in front of a specialized light box for about 30 minutes per day during the late fall and through the winter. The best kind of light to use can be recommended by a therapist or doctor.

Adding vitamin D, normally absorbed by the body from sunlight, via supplements can also help battle SAD. “I’m a huge fan of vitamin D, it’s one of my favorite supplements,” Movius said. “At this latitude, we are all vitamin D deficient, even if you do get outside because of that lack of sunlight. Everyone in my family gets nagged daily to take their vitamin D.” Vitamin D supplements are available over the counter from most pharmacies and drug stores.

Movius stresses that if a person suspects they may be suffering from SAD they should consult with a medical or mental health provider not try to go it alone.

PHOTO: ©KEGFIRE/ADOBE STOCK

HOW TO COMBAT SAD DURING A MAINE WINTER.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31

HEALTH & FITNESS

I RESOLVE

TO…

WHERE RESOLUTIONS CAME FROM AND WHY THEY DON'T WORK

BY EMILY MORRISON

EVERY YEAR, when that cold January wind begins to blow, Mainers firmly resolve to do more of the things that are wicked good for us and less of those that aren’t. This soulsearching tradition dates back 4,000 years to ancient Babylon when, in mid-March, Babylonians planted their crops, crowned a king and made promises to the gods in return for fertile soil and their good favor.

When Julius Caesar came along, he changed the calendar from lunar to solar and moved New Year’s Day to Jan. 1. Apparently, being emperor meant redefining the nature of time and telling people to sacrifice more.

For the Romans, the sacrifice was literal.

They believed that Janus, the god who lived in arches and doorways and whom the month of January is named for, could look back into the past and ahead into the future.

In an effort to please Janus, the Romans offered sacrifices (think rams, goats, young virgins) and promised not to kill anybody for the rest of the year.

With the onset of Christianity, the first day of the new year became a time for reflecting about one’s past mistakes and resolving to avoid them in the future.

Today, New Year’s resolutions are less about pleasing deities and more focused on selfimprovement. According to recent research, even though nearly 45 percent of Americans report making New Year’s resolutions, only 8 percent claim to have achieved them.

The reason for the discrepancy between aspirations and outcomes boils down to one

basic problem: burnout.

Take, for instance, the world’s most common resolution — losing weight. This is a grand resolution, but going on a five-day bouillon broth diet isn’t as grand. Usually, the more drastic our approach, the more discouraging our results. Instead of patiently researching diets that are right for us and committing to exercise plans that don’t involve every muscle in our bodies revolting, we go into starvation mode and Olympic training simultaneously.

And that’s where we fail. We’ve become as crazed as our sheep-slaughtering ancestors.

Instead of logically working through our problems and how best to solve them, we pin our hopes on the quick fix. When sacrificing ourselves doesn’t work (or isn’t sustainable) we get discouraged. Then, instead of rethinking the bouillon broth experiment, we concede defeat and feel further from our ideals than ever.

In the end, accomplishing new goals isn’t about what we resolve to do; it’s how we resolve to do it. The most successful resolutions are well thought-out action plans that replace bad habits with good ones. When those practices become routine, when we anticipate and work through discouragement (because that’s also part of the process) then we’ll have proved how far from ancient Babylon we’ve really come.

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33

HEALTH & FITNESS

VROOM! VROOM! B A LOVE CONNECTION

BY JODI HERSEY

AMERICANS HAVE A REAL LOVE connection with their cars. A new survey by GM found 42 percent of all people name their vehicles, and women are more likely than men to give their set of wheels a name.

According to the 2018 National Name Your Car Day survey commissioned by GM BuyPower Card, 55 percent of those surveyed refer to their vehicles as female. The top three most popular names are Betty, Betsy and Ruby.

“There is such an emotional connection that drivers have for their cars. Naming them is just one way they show attachment,” Chris Duke, host of Motorz TV and GM BuyPower Card ambassador, said.

Survey participants said the car’s personality, make, model and color influence their vehicle’s name, which is why more than 43 percent of those surveyed wait a month before naming their car.

Some of the most memorable named vehicles among us include Herbie from the movie “The Love Bug,” KITT from TV show “Night Rider,” General Lee from the TV show “Dukes of Hazzard” and the famous Batmobile from the Batman movie series.

This Valentine’s Day is as good as a time as any to give that special vehicle in your life a little love and possibly even a name.

34 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35

HOW-TO

CRAFTING WITH KIDS

PRO TIP:

Beads add a fun texture to your slime and create snappy air bubbles

SLIME TIME PRO TIPS FROM THE SLIME EXPERTS

STORY BY AMY ALLEN

IF YOU HAVE KIDS of just about any age, there’s a good chance you’ve made slime. The slime phenomenon started a while back and kids keep coming back for more — getting more creative each time around. Our little How-To helpers are big slime fans and are sharing some Pro Tips this month on making the stretchiest, snappiest, slimiest slime around.

There are lots of basic “recipes” out there but after playing with slime for the afternoon, even the grown-ups realized why making slime is so addictive. You can follow a recipe, but you can also just wing it. Adding a little of this and a little of that changes the consistency, the color, the fluffiness and the sparkle-factor, making it an ongoing science experience that’s also a fun toy.

The basic ingredients are inexpensive and you likely have them all on hand — Elmer’s glue, baking soda, contact solution or liquid starch, and then add-ins like glitter, scented lotion, shaving cream and beads add to the fun. We’ve even figure out how to get slime out of your clothes — use a quick scrub made with baking soda and hot water.

So, next time you’re cooped up in the house with kids on a blustery winter’s day and everyone’s asking, “What can we do?” (four of my least favorite words), get out the glue and slime it up.

36 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Plastic cup for mixing ingredients • Popsicle sticks or plastic spoons for stirring • Plastic coated paper plate for kneading and squishing • Elmer’s glue — see our Pro Tips at right about various types of glue • Liquid starch and/or contact lens solution • Baking soda • Foam shaving cream • Lotion • Food coloring and/or puffy paint • Fun add-ins like glitter and beads

PRO TIP:

Clear or glitter glue makes transluscent slime, but tends to make it stickier. Try adding more baking soda and liquid starch or contact solution to adjust the stickiness

PRO TIP:

Puffy paint will color slime without staining hands

PRO TIP:

Foam shaving cream makes slime fluffy and less sticky

BASIC SLIME RECIPE • 8 fl oz Elmer’s white school glue • 1 Tbsp of baking soda • 2 Tbsp of contact lens solution • Food coloring Mix your glue and baking soda in a plastic cup, then add food coloring. Add the contact solution and mix until the slime begins to take form (adding more contact solution if needed to make it less sticky) and knead the mixture on a plate until fully mixed.

PRO TIPS FROM THE KID EXPERTS

PRO TIP:

PHOTO: (OPPOSITE) ©14KTGOLD/ADOBE STOCK

For stretchier slime, try adding lotion

 Contact lens solution is a great activator for your slime, but liquid starch works faster with less need for kneading. A capful of liquid starch is about the right amount for the average batch of slime.  Add lotion for stretchier slime that clicks and snaps when it breaks. It also makes it smell nice.  Try puffy paint instead of food coloring — it absorbs better into the slime and doesn’t stain hands.

PRO TIP:

Invite friends and make it a snow day party!

with KIDS www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 37

HOW-TO

CREATE IT AT HOME

DO IT YOURSELF

HEART

GARLAND

SIMPLE AND FUN VALENTINE'S DAY DECOR STORY & PHOTOS BY KATIE SMITH

AS VALENTINE’S DAY APPROACHES, we make plans to give our loved ones chocolates, candies and sweet cards. But why not give our home some love, too?

I’ve always enjoyed doing a craft and decorating a bit for Valentine’s Day to make my house feel more festive around this time of year. It seems as though Valentine’s Day gets snubbed a bit as it comes on the heels of Christmas and New Year’s — everyone seems to be tapped out once the middle of February rolls around.

Change that.

Making a fun and easy heart-shaped garland with the kids or by yourself to hang on the mantle, banister or over a window will add a whimsical touch to your home.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 7 wooden heart cutouts from a craft store. You can also cut out heart shapes from a sturdy piece of cardboard.

• Yarn of choice. I like something on the thick or bulky side, but anything will do.

• Contrasting leather ribbon, regular ribbon, or thread will work. I used leather ribbon found in the jewelry section of the craft store.

• Scissors • Glue (optional)

what you'll need

1

2 at

HOME DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. Begin by wrapping the yarn around the heart any way you'd like. The goal here is to be whimsical, not perfect. I like letting some of the wood or cardboard show through as it gives the garland some texture.

2. After wrapping, tuck in loose ends and add a dot of glue to keep them more secure.

When you've wrapped them all with yarn, wrap with a bit of your contrasting thread or ribbon and tuck in loose ends.

3. Take a piece of yarn of desired length (measure where you want to hang it first) and thread into each of your hearts making a garland.

4. Hang it up and admire.

3

HOME & FAMILY

ESSAY

THE APPLICATION FOR MY

DAUGHTER’S

Affection

BY TODD R. NELSON

40 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

And on what exactly is compatibility based? Her mother and I just celebrated 41 years together and were such babies when we got hitched, totally out of synch with the typical timing of our generation in marriage and childbearing. It seemed so effortless. We never experienced the dating scene or practice partnerships. We clicked. Sure, it means, in many ways, we’ve grown up together — to the extent that we even consider ourselves grownups. The concept of maturity rankles.

But we fathers of daughters preside over a unique line of demarcation. The men in our daughters’ lives are compared to us, for better or worse. And we tacitly judge the men they choose. I would gladly be their model but not their judge.

For if there is any model in me it derives from so many other antecedent fathers in my life. Fatherhood is comprised of an attitude toward love derived from myriad influences, like manhood itself and partnership.

As I do in most matters of the soul, I resort to the words of poets. Their paternal advice and fond hopes filter these moments for me.

For instance, the fatherhood and companionship in a moment described by Richard Wilbur in “the Writer,” coaxing his daughter’s compositions. He hears her tympanic strokes on the keyboard as she composes a writing life like her father’s.

Young as she is, the stuff Of her life is a great cargo, and some of it heavy: I wish her a lucky passage.

How much more than writing is being composed.

There is the fatherhood and companionship so gently embodied in Philip Booth’s swimming lesson with his daughter. This, too, could be the transition to buoyancy of all kinds, the trust and finesse it takes to feel secure in water, to chart one’s own course; to set out, and depart the security of a father’s arms. ….remember when fear cramps your heart what I told you: lie gently and wide to the light-year stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

And the poem I have given to lots of young couples planning nuptials, one I hope to blubber through some day when my girls have accepted a partner, “A Wedding Toast,” also by Richard Wilbur. what love sees is true; That the world’s fullness is not made but found.

Life hungers to abound And pour its plenty out for such as you.

One of the most striking, subtle models lodged in memory was only hinted at by a friend’s son, speaking to his father at his own wedding. “Thank you, Dad, for showing me how to love a woman.”

Would that every marriage lived up to that possibility and linked generational vows like that.

My questionnaire notion makes things more unrealistic, more like the magic questions of fairy tales. What then might the precise qualifier be — to meet my daughter

PHOTO: ©DAIZUOXIN/ADOBE STOCK

MY DAUGHTER HAS WEARIED of the dating game. At 33, she seeks relief from the fruitless stream of interested young men who request time and attention and yet offer not the soulful companionship she craves. Her heart wants reciprocation — humor, adventure and affection. I imagine Penelope and her suitors — non-starters.

I am the father who laughed and tickled and read her bedtime stories; removed the training wheels on her twowheeler when the time came; helped her find her buoyancy in the swimming pool; mentored her writing; championed her international adventures.

And I am now sidelined, though still coaching her ride.

“How about a time-saving application?”

I mused.

Something that would simultaneously raise the bar and move the starting line by dispensing with a few preliminary questions.

“Dear hopeful young man: I understand you wish to pass time with my daughter.

Fantastic! Did she inform you of the application process? Perhaps not. But due to the paucity (know that word?) of men who have the soul-size, vocabulary, and grammar qualifications on a level with my baby girl, it has come to this. Use ink. Extra points for fountain pen.”

Reverse engineering anything is so difficult, working backward from desirable outcome to the questions that will achieve it. The answer is: Mr. Right.

What’s the question? There could be so many. How about a flow chart? The engineering mind isn’t helpful.

In love, so much is simple gestalt and ineffable granularity.

at Starbucks and get off to a good start? I can write the poem about the training wheels. I can write this essay, in all sincerity, yearning on her behalf for the same abundance her mother and I have enjoyed, for abundance has so many unique and unexpected ways in which to occur.

Dear Mr. Right: You could surprise me with answers and questions I’ve never considered. If you’ve followed this letter with understanding and insight, if it resonates in your heart, then let it become the application for my daughter’s love. You’ll know if you’re in the ballpark.

You’ll be a blend, knowing poetry trivia questions and all the lyrics to “Bohemian Rhapsody” by heart, and perhaps a question and answer or two beyond even my wildest dreams.

But most pertinently, you’ll echo the poets and know already that “what love sees is true.”

Todd R. Nelson lives in Penobscot.

DEAR HOPEFUL YOUNG MAN: I UNDERSTAND YOU WISH TO PASS TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER. FANTASTIC! DID SHE INFORM YOU OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS? ...DUE TO THE PAUCITY (KNOW THAT WORD?) OF MEN WHO HAVE THE SOUL-SIZE, VOCABULARY, AND GRAMMAR QUALIFICATIONS ON A LEVEL WITH MY BABY GIRL, IT HAS COME TO THIS. USE INK. EXTRA POINTS FOR FOUNTAIN PEN. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 41

HOME & FAMILY

42 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

Paws of LOVE PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHARLES RIGGI

HOW A THERAPY DOG WON THE HEARTS OF HUNDREDS AND SET A STATE RECORD FOR THE MOST NUMBER OF PATIENT VISITS. BY JODI HERSEY

FROM THE MOMENT their eyes met, Chip Riggi of Corinth knew Gunny was destined for greatness. The love connection began in 2005, when Riggi and his wife Elaine purchased their four-legged friend from Woodland Farms Shetland Sheepdogs in Fairfield to train him to become a therapy dog.

During the past 13 years, Riggi has traveled to nursing homes, hospitals and throughout his neighborhood with Gunny, to help brighten up the day of patients, staff and those in need of love from a furry friend. Gunny was so good at his job that Therapy Dog International (TDI) named him the most documented dog in the state of Maine, with more than 400 patient visits. It’s an accomplishment Riggi is proud to share with others.

“A big part of Gunny’s therapy work was as a surrogate for all the patients whose best friends were still in their

hearts,” Riggi explained. “In some cases, especially [if the patient had] Alzheimer’s, they would pet Gunny but call him by their lost pet’s name.”

From Ross Manor and Country Villa nursing homes in Bangor to the Lafayette Cancer Center in Brewer, the Orono Commons nursing home, The Charlotte White Center in Dexter, and the Hibbard Nursing Home in Dover-Foxcroft, Gunny visited them all.

“We averaged about 20 individual resident visits per each nursing home. We could spend 10 minutes with a patient or a half-hour. However, patients are only half of the work Gunny did,” Riggi explained. “The other half is family and friend visitors and especially staff. To have a nurse, who has been out straight and crazy, take just a minute to say ‘hi’ to Gunny and give him a little pat does wonders.”

Sandi Blanchard, a nurse in Bangor, has been fortunate enough to be in Gunny’s company more than once.

“It’s absolutely amazing the positive effects these animals have on patients,” Blanchard said. “Some of these folks felt alone, scared, depressed, lonely and forgotten.

When they would see Gunny coming through the door, they felt loved again.”

Blanchard said one of her patients was changed for the better after meeting Gunny.

“There was an elderly gentleman who had become so depressed after he lost his wife that he lost all interest in living.

He was placed in a residency facility and met Gunny there who made him grin from ear to ear,” Blanchard explained.

“He said, ‘Life has its ups and downs and many unfortunate goodbyes. However it still goes on. That dog showed me there’s always something good to look forward to.’ I will never forget that.”

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 43

HOME & FAMILY

(Far left) Charles Riggi with his beloved dog Gunny, a certified therapy dog. (Left) A painting of Gunny.

PHOTOS: (FAR LEFT) COURTESY OF CHARLES RIGGI; (PAINTING) JEANNE MCNALLY

Paid Advertisement for Broadway Veterinary Clinic & Pet Care Center

Paid Advertisement for Broadway Veterinary Clinic & Pet Care Center

44 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

Throughout the experience of being a handler to a therapy dog, Riggi kept track of Gunny’s work on log sheets that he turned in to Therapy Dog International. Each location they stopped at was recorded as a single visit, no matter how many patients they spent time with.

“Each quarter TDI would publish the titles, when earned, of all the dogs in their system, which spans the country. This is how I know Gunny was the most documented in the state. He earned all the titles they award,” Riggi said. “Although Gunny was certified, which essentially means he carried a million dollars in liability insurance from TDI, there are many dogs doing therapy work that are not certified and if you think about it, every dog is a therapy dog, especially with their own families.”

The words were especially true for Riggi, who found he and his wife in need of Gunny’s therapy services when Elaine was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I had to put Elaine into Hibbard Nursing Home the last two weeks of her life, when cancer made it impossible to have her stay at home. She needed 24/7 care, not to mention pain meds. Gunny was by her side for hours, up until the end. Somehow, he knew,” Riggi shared.

Elaine passed away in 2014. Just two short years later, it was Chip who needed Gunny’s comfort after suffering a heart attack following his nephew’s wedding in New Jersey. The incident left Riggi in a coma and on a ventilator for three weeks.

During that time, Gunny was boarded at Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor until Chip’s sister, Rachele, decided the duo needed to be together.

“She got him out of the kennel and brought him back to New Jersey. Once I was out of the coma, I had several months of rehab at a nursing home in Oakland, New Jersey. While I was in rehab, my sister would bring Gunny to visit me and naturally, everyone else,” Riggi said.

Riggi has story after story of individuals who have been blessed by Gunny’s visits.

REALTORS

THERE ARE MANY DOGS DOING THERAPY WORK THAT ARE NOT CERTIFIED AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EVERY DOG IS A THERAPY DOG, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

“Gunny and I walked into the Hibbard Nursing home in Dover [one day], and a middle aged lady comes up to me and asks, ‘Is this Gunny?’ I said yes, and she immediately dove on the floor and started loving Gunny, hugging him and going on about what a wonderful boy he was,” Riggi said. “Then, the lady said Gunny had to meet her brother who was at the nursing station.

When we got there she told her brother, ‘This is Gunny,’ and immediately he dove on the floor and they both were just loving up Gunny. So I asked where they heard about Gunny, and they said they were with their mom last night and she could not stop talking about how she loved Gunny’s visits.

I asked what room their mom was in, and we would put her first on the list for today’s visits. That’s when they said their mom had died. In the last hour of her life, in the last conversation with her children, she spoke of the joy Gunny brought her. I don’t think it cuts deeper than that.”

Gunny passed away in 2018. He touched hundreds of people’s lives in his 13 years on earth but none more than his beloved owner.

Not a day goes by that Chip doesn’t think about him and the special bond they shared.

“I went through Gunny’s records and found some log sheets I never turned into TDI because Gunny already earned all the titles they award and discovered he really did over 600 visits to the nursing homes alone,” Riggi said. “I don’t really feel my relationship with Gunny is unlike anyone else’s, I was just the taxi driver. For me, just to see a patient, family or staff [member] give a smile and a pat [on his head] was reward enough.”

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FEATURE

Embrace Winter with

SKIJORING

Jill Carter and Tika take to the trails for a fast paced skijor run.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF JILL CARTER

46 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

SKIJORING A FUN, FAST, THRILLING WAY TO BOND WITH YOUR DOGS

BY JULIA BAYLY

JILL CARTER CAN’T REMEMBER the exact date she first put on a pair of cross-country skis, harnessed up one of her Siberian Huskies, attached herself to the dog with a special towline before taking off down the trail.

She does, however, remember falling a lot.

That was around six years ago, and Carter has learned a lot about the dog-powered sport known as “skijoring” since then.

ROOTS IN SCANDINAVIA Popular in Scandinavian countries, skijoring translates into “ski driving” in Norwegian and is a combination of cross-country skiing and dog sledding.

The dog or dogs are outfitted with a traditional dog sledding harness, which is attached by a rope or towline to the skijoring belt worn by the human member of the team.

Over the past decade or so, its popularity has been gaining in the United States.

“I became interested in the world of dog-powered sports years ago,” Carter said. “I’ve always liked being in the outdoors. And let’s face it: If you don’t have an outdoor winter activity in Maine that you enjoy, you might as well move to Florida.”

Carter’s first introduction to dog-powered sports was through volunteering to help a musher with her large kennel of sled dogs at races.

“I loved it, but I also realized I was never going to have a kennel of 30 or 50 dogs to get into mushing,” Carter said. “So skijoring became the natural alternative.”

But first she had to master cross-country skiing.

“I did not grow up cross-country skiing,” she said. “So when I picked it up in my 50s, it was a real challenge.”

GETTING THE HANG OF THINGS Carter, who is now 63, began skiing in the classic style of propelling herself using a striding or running motion with the skis.

For skijoring, she said, you need to ski using the skating method, in which the skier uses a side-to-side motion with the skis to go forward.

“Skating is a faster way to ski and you need to skate-ski to keep up with a running dog,” Carter said. “That was a real challenge, but now I’m better than I used to be.”

Since the human skis along with the dog, rather than the dog actually pulling, in theory, any dog can learn to skijor.

“The key to enjoying skijor is having a dog that is trained,” Carter said. “The better trained your dog is, the better run you will have.”

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47

FEATURE

IN THE OFF SEASON JILL CARTER KEEPS HER DOGS AND HERSELF IN SHAPE FOR SKIJORING BY HIKING SOME OF MAINE’S TRAILS. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JILL CARTER

48 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

There are no programs or courses in Maine on how to teach a dog skijor commands.

However, many sled dog kennels in the state often have trained huskies for sale. Costs of a sled dog well-versed in trail commands can run into the hundreds of dollars.

For the many, a better option is to work directly with their dog or dogs teaching basic commands through repetition and practice. At the minimum, the dog should follow basic commands for turning right or left, ignoring distractions on the trail and slowing or stopping.

NATURAL RUNNERS The most popular breeds for skijoring are the huskies.

“Siberian huskies are natural pullers and want to run,” Carter said. “So it was not a problem to convince my dog, Tika, to run. The problem was me learning to stay upright on my skis.”

The trick, Carter said, was working with Tika on a leash during the offseason.

“You can walk with the dog on leash and teach them commands so when you get on skis, they have heard and hopefully respond to those words,” Carter said.

Carter lives near Lily Bay State Park outside of Greenville, and that’s where she headed with Tika for that first run.

“At that time they were not grooming or plowing the main road down to the lake,” Carter said. “On that road, there were a couple of good sized hills. Skiing along the flat part was not too bad, but those hills were a big challenge.”

Going up was not so bad, Carter said, but going down the other side took all of her snowplowing skills to slow herself and Tika down.

“Since I outweigh the dog, when I fall she would just stop and not pull,” Carter said.

“She got real tired of that and would just look back at me like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’”

And while six years of practice has not made perfect, Carter said she has gotten the hang of it, and the family dog team has grown to five Siberian huskies.

“It’s such a wonderful way to bond with the dogs,” Carter said. “When you skijor, it’s just you and the dog out there.”

ECONOMICAL SPORT In terms of cost of entry, skijoring also not an expensive sport to get into, she said.

“You don’t need to spend a lot of money on equipment,” Carter said.

All that is needed is the padded skijor waist belt or a padded hip belt, which runs

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FEATURE around $35; a towline, which costs between $15 and $20; and harnesses for the dogs.

Harnesses cost between $15 and $30, depending on size and materials.

“If you are going to spend a ton of money, it would be on the skis,” Carter said. “You can get an inexpensive pair of skate skis at a swap sale or spend hundreds at a ski shop.”

Another piece of essential skijor gear for Carter is a small, plastic beach shovel.

“I do stop to scoop up [dog] poop,” she said. “I don’t carry it out, but I do toss it off the trail and into the woods. We do skijor on groomed cross-country trails, and I don’t want people to complain about seeing poop all over the place.”

Carter, who is now proficient enough to skijor hooked to two of her huskies, said the dogs know when the gear comes out, they get to run.

“We swap out who gets to go from run to run,” Carter said. “Actually, whenever the weather permits, we are taking some dogs out for something — skijoring, walking or hiking.”

The trickiest part, she said, is hooking to dog or dogs up at the start.

“They just want to go,” she said.

“Ideally, you can have someone there to hold the dogs while you get organized, get your skis on and are ready to go.”

If a person is alone with their dog or dogs, Carter suggest standing so the skis are perpendicular or sideways to the dog, so they can’t just take off and pull you down the trail.

“When you first take off the dogs are so excited you just have to hold on and go with it until they calm down,” Carter said. “Once they do calm down, you are just skiing along behind them and they are running in front. The dogs are working, and I’m working, too.”

As far as Carter is concerned, the Scandinavians are really onto something with skijoring.

“I’m really surprised more people here don’t do it,” she said. “It’s the most fun you can have with your dog.”

PLACES IN BANGOR TO SKIJOR: Dogs are allowed to ski on a leash or connected to their humans on the University of Maine Ski Trails in Orono, the Bangor City Forest Trails and the Taylor Road Loop of the Penobscot Valley Ski Club.

In Maine, skijoring equipment is available from Nooksack Racing Supply and from Mountain Ridge Sled Dog Equipment.

50 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

ANY DOG CAN LEARN TO SKIJOR. IN FORT KENT SANDRA CARON SKIED FOR YEARS WITH FAMILY DOG MADIE. PHOTOS: JULIA BAYLY

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 51

FEATURE

Writer Julia Bayly with her dog sledding team in northern Maine.

MUSHER

HANDLE BAR WHEEL DOGS

BASKET

52 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

TEAM DOGS

WHAT ABOUT

MUSHING? STORY & PHOTOS BY JULIA BAYLY

FOR SOME DOG-POWERED sports enthusiasts, skijoring can be the gateway sport into full on dog sledding, or “mushing.”

Mushing is a team sport where human and dogs each do their part to cover a lot of snowy ground together.

While any dog can learn to ski in front of its human, sled dogs are huskies that have been bred over generations for the sole purpose of running and pulling. Nothing — and I mean nothing — makes a husky happier than seeing the mushing gear coming out and the prospect of running.

Don’t believe it? Check out a sled dog race and take a look at the sad, frustrated faces of the dogs left behind. Listen to their howls of protest as they watch their fourlegged teammates take off.

While some kennels have bred huskies

TEAM DOGS

with faster dogs like German Shorthair pointers or the speedie Salukis to get a faster, leaner racing sled dog, the bulk of dogs involved in the sport are the traditional huskies — the Siberians, the Alaskans and the Malamutes — and you definitely need more than one to pull a sled.

A JOB FOR EVERY DOG A sled dog team is only as good as its lead dog. This is the dog that runs at the very front of a team and follows the musher’s commands to “gee” [turn right], “haw” [turn left], “on by” [ignore distractions], “whoa” [come to a complete stop] and “line out” [stand perfectly still to hold the team in place while stopped on the trail].

It’s a lot to ask of a dog, so the best lead dogs are smart, confident and in tune with their musher.

SWING DOGS

Next down the line are the “point dogs.”

It’s their job to help the leaders guide the team.

Behind the point dogs are the “swing dogs,” and they are the ones who do the most in steering a team around the corners.

All the dogs behind the swings are “team dogs.” They are the brawn that do the major pulling.

The last dogs in the line are often the largest and strongest. Known as the “wheel dogs” they are the ones who do the heavy work if a sled gets stuck in snow or ice and needs to be pulled out.

The dogs run in pairs, so to fill each team role with two dogs, it’s a minimum 10-dog team. However, mushers can and do run happily with teams as small as three or four dogs. In distance mushing, on the other hand, it’s not unusual to see teams of 16 or even 22 dogs.

POINT DOGS LEAD DOG

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FEATURE THE SLED Traditional dog sleds are made of wood with the main body, or “basket,” riding on two ski-like runners. The musher stands footboards on on these runners that extend beyond the rear of the sled and hangs on to the “handle bar” that rises over the basket.

Unlike skijoring, mushing has ways to slow and stop the dogs beyond voice commands. Dog sleds are equipped with “drag mats” that extend between the footboards. By standing on or using a foot to push down on the mat, the sled becomes more difficult to pull, and the team will slow down.

There is also a brake that has claws to grip the snow and ice. Like the drag mat, it is foot-operated.

Dog sleds are still made of wood, but modern sleds are also made out of lighter weight materials such as carbon fiber for serious racers who are looking to get the lightest sled possible so their dogs can cover longer distances faster.

TIME AND TRAINING There is really no such thing as a “casual musher.” Taking care of the team from feeding to scooping poop to checking each dog daily to assess their health and condition is nonstop.

A running team is a happy team, so the dogs should be harnessed up and ran several times a week at the minimum during the winter.

Then there is the expense.

Team dogs can cost anywhere from $50 to $200. A proven, trained command leader can go as high as $1,000 or more, depending on the dog’s lineage.

A good, used sled can be purchased for around $400, with the top racing sleds going for upwards of $6,000.

Then there are the harnesses, one per dog; tow lines to attach the dogs to the sled; and specialized “booties” worn by the dogs when conditions warrant.

High-quality dog food for even a small team can run around $1,500 per year, with veterinary costs in the hundreds of dollars for routine exams, vaccines and supplements.

All in all, it can be a sizable investment to get started and maintain a team.

But there is also no better way to spend a bright, crisp Maine day than behind a team of huskies running down the trail.

Luckily, there are kennels in the state that offer rides so anyone can get the thrill of mushing for an afternoon or overnight trek.

Among them are Mahoosuc Guide Service in Newry, Lone Wolf Guiding Services in Greenville, Maine Dog Sledding Adventures in Millinocket, New England Dog Sledding in Mason Township and Song in the Woods in Abbot.

With these friendly folks, all you need is a love of dogs and adventure.

Oh, and remember, real mushers never say, “Mush.”

SLED DOG COMMANDS GEE: TURN RIGHT

WHOA: COME TO A COMPLETE STOP

HAW: TURN LEFT

LINE OUT: STAND PERFECTLY STILL TO HOLD THE TEAM IN PLACE WHILE STOPPED ON THE TRAIL

ON BY: IGNORE DISTRACTIONS

54 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

GIVE IT A TRY! MAHOOSUC GUIDE SERVICE IN NEWRY MAHOOSUC.COM

LONE WOLF GUIDING SERVICES IN GREENVILLE LONEWOLFGUIDINGSERVICES.COM

MAINE DOG SLEDDING ADVENTURES IN MILLINOCKET MAINEDOGSLEDDING.COM

NEW ENGLAND DOG SLEDDING IN MASON TOWNSHIP NEWENGLANDDOGSLEDDING.COM

SONG IN THE WOODS IN ABBOT SONGINTHEWOODS.COM

www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 55

FEATURE

Amy and Chris Shedd at the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket.

56 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

PHOTO: EMILY MCINTOSH PHOTOGRAPHY

B

SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING

BRRR! WINTER WEDDINGS A FIT FOR SOME HARDY MAINERS.

BY ABIGAIL CURTIS

WHEN AMY SHEDD made plans for her wedding last March, the Bangor woman added something special to the “something borrowed, something blue” list of bridal must-haves: wooly socks and L.L. Bean boots.

And they weren’t just for show, either. She and Chris Shedd, her groom, decided they would hold the ceremony outside at the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket, with a view of Mount Katahdin so beautiful it took their breath away.

But so did the cold.

It was a windy day, where the thermostat read 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but the windchill made it feel closer to zero degrees Fahrenheit.

“Oh my word,” she said, adding there were probably more than 2 feet of snow on the ground.

“It was very, very cold that day. ... I actually wore Bean boots during the ceremony because I knew my feet were going to be cold.”

But for her and for other Mainers who have gotten married during the winter, the cold and snow somehow just add to their warm feelings about their weddings.

“I felt like it was a great experience,” Amy Shedd said of her winter wedding. “We’re in the

phase right now where all our friends are getting married pretty much all at the same time, and I felt I was going to weddings in the summer constantly. I wanted to do something a little bit different. ... It was special, and something people hadn’t seen before. I think it will help us remember our day for a little bit longer.”

These winter brides and grooms are a small and hardy group, as summer and fall remain by far the most popular seasons to hold a wedding in Maine and elsewhere. According to wedding website The Knot, 78 percent of all weddings take place between May to October. The least popular months are January, February and March, with only 5 percent of weddings taking place in the deep winter.

But for those who do give the colder months a chance, the benefits can be great — and sometimes a little surprising. Vendors and venues can be more available and affordable, guests may be more likely to come to the wedding, and no one should have to try too hard to incorporate festive seasonal cheer and cozy firelight into their decor. What’s more, winter brides and grooms will always have a story to tell that’s a little bit different from most everyone else’s.

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FEATURE

The Brooks-Brewer wedding at French’s Point, a wedding and event venue in Stockton Springs.

58 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

WOODSY WINTER WEDDING That was the case for Larkspur Morton of Montville, who married her husband, Neal Taylor, on Dec. 18, 2004. The couple, both environmental educators, had gotten engaged the previous January and wanted to get married before the year ended. At first, they envisioned walking into the DeMerritt University Forest at the University of Maine with a couple good friends and just having a small ceremony.

“That was our original, very simple plan,” Morton said.

But they decided to make it a little more of an event. They borrowed a house from a friend in Searsmont, invited a few friends and family to stay for the weekend, and planned a special forest ceremony there.

They splurged on fancy sweaters — hers a Norwegian wool sweater and his a soft cashmere kind. They finished the outfits with a long cream fleece skirt for Morton, a pair of Carhartt pants for Taylor (his first-ever Carhartts), and with his-and-hers Norwegian fleece wedding crowns made

by Morton’s mother, who is Norwegian.

“Honestly, they kind of pulled the look together,” she said.

They also spent some time searching for just the right spot to be married. They found it in a clearing near two trees growing side by side, and on a chilly day with a few inches of snow on the ground stood under the trees to say their vows.

“It felt like a great symbol of being different and connected. Creating this union but not expecting we would be the same,” Morton said.

Afterward, they went inside the warm, firelit house to feast on a chocolate ganachecovered Yule log cake with meringue mushrooms, made by a friend who was a talented baker.

“I think winter is a gorgeous time of year to get married,” Morton said. “And I think it really helped us to make it small. If it was summertime, we would have had the expectation to make it much bigger. But I love the coziness of a fire and twinkle lights and all of that.”

PHOTOS: CA SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

“I think it’s fabulous to get married in the winter,” Melanie Brooks, editor of Real Maine Weddings, said. “Winter weddings are probably not for everybody, but they’re different. I know a lot of people want that backdrop of leaves in the fall. But if you can get a beautiful white background and some snow falling, that can be pretty magical. It lends itself to a different kind of creative process.”

Jessika Brooks-Brewer, who owns French’s Point, a wedding and event venue in Stockton Springs, agreed. She was a winter bride herself and said she incorporated such seasonal elements as having her bridesmaids carry hurricane lanterns instead of flowers, a touch that helped brighten up the short winter day.

“We wanted our wedding to feel a bit like a gathering of cherished loved ones. I think the winter weather helped with that,” she said. “We wanted to make them feel warm, appreciated and cozy. Summer can be such a harried time for people. Winter just has a slower pace to it.”

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FEATURE

Larkspur Morton and Neal Taylor in Searsmont wearing Norwegian fleece wedding crowns.

Marian and Albert Fowler, who got married in Millinocket on December 4, 1965.

SNOWY CEREMONY Another December bride, Marian Fowler of Belfast and Norcross, also remembers her chilly 1965 nuptials fondly. She and her high school sweetheart, Albert Fowler, had planned to get married in June, as is more traditional, but ended up postponing the wedding for a number of reasons. Then Albert Fowler, who was in the Air Force and stationed in Massachusetts, had orders to go to Sioux City, Iowa, and that hurried them up a bit.

“I was ready to get married, and so was he. I said, ‘Oh, a Christmas wedding would be nice,’” Marian Fowler recalled. “He said, ‘Well, I was thinking a little earlier.’

I thought, ‘Well! Isn’t that romantic.’ But I found out later it was because if I changed my mind again at least he could go hunting.”

They day they chose was Dec. 4, and the venue was the First Congregational Church in Millinocket, where they had both been baptized. She browsed for her wedding dress at Hussey’s General Store in Waterville but ended up purchasing a long, silk, traditional one at a store in Bangor. Albert Fowler came home for Thanksgiving and fit in a hunting trip. He did not get his deer that year, his wife said, but he did get his bride.

“It was cold and very snowy,” Marian Fowler said. “There’s one picture that shows us waving goodbye at the church door. I think I can see snow blowing past the windows.”

Then, the couple got into their car and drove down Interstate 95, which was not yet finished, and went to Bangor for an overnight honeymoon trip.

“The weather was the challenge — it really was,” Marian Fowler said of her winter wedding. “Those that could, came.

Those that couldn’t — well, that was understandable.”

“...WE WANTED TO EMBRACE WINTER IN MAINE... WE’RE GOING TO PLAY UP THE WARMTH AND COZINESS OF HAVING IT BE WARM INSIDE AND COLD OUTSIDE.” —SAMANTHA MATHIEU 60 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

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PHOTO: EMILY MCINTOSH PHOTOGRAPHY

Amy Shedd shows off the L.L. Bean boots keeping her warm during her outdoor wedding in Millinocket.

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FEATURE

COZY, FESTIVE TOUCHES When Rachel and John Dobbs of Bangor got married on Jan. 11, 2003, they chose the date because they are both “winter people,” Rachel Dobbs said, and because it fell during winter break at the University of Maine, where she was a student.

“We just decided that January was really fun,” she said.

Once they set a date, they started to get creative. Rachel Dobbs’ niece, who was two at the time, threw punched-out paper snowflakes on the ground before the couple instead of flower petals. For cake toppers, they had a snowman and woman. And for centerpieces, Rachel Dobbs’ mother got Christmas wreaths at Christmas time and kept them outside so they would still be fresh. Rachel Dobbs wore a plain, sleeveless wedding dress she found on clearance and a silvery fur capelet borrowed from her mother-in-law.

They found that having an off-season wedding made it easy and more affordable to find a venue and a DJ. It also meant that the gift items on their registry were much less expensive because of afterChristmas sales.

“It was fun,” she said of her winter wedding. “It was unique and unusual. It definitely fit our personalities more than anything else, and I didn’t mind being cold at all.”

62 / BANGOR METRO January/February 2019

Mount Katahdin in the background at Amy and Chris Shedd’s wedding at at the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket.

Rachel and John Dobbs of Bangor at their 2003 winter wedding.

Neither does Samantha Mathieu, a Belfast native who lives in Saco with her fiance, CJ Gehin-Scott. They are planning a wedding on Jan. 5 at Point Lookout in Northport and said they are looking forward to the cold.

“It’s so beautiful in the winter, and we wanted to embrace winter in Maine,” she said. “We’re going to embrace the cold.

We’ll have the wedding inside, with a lot of fires. Fireplaces and candles. We’re going to play up the warmth and coziness of having it be warm inside and cold outside.”

PHOTO: (TOP) EMILY MCINTOSH PHOTOGRAPHY; (DOBBS) CONTRIBUTED

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GET OUT

PHILADELPHIA

FALL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY OF

BROTHERLY

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TAKE A TRIP TO PHILADELPHIA STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON

WITH ITS RED LETTERS and green and purple sides, the famous L-O-V-E sculpture has been photographed, filmed and observed countless times since it was installed in John F. Kennedy Plaza in Philadelphia in 1976. It was restored in 2017 and reinstalled on Feb. 13, 2018.

Among the most recognized pieces of American art, it was created in 1966 by Robert Indiana. And, in a way, that’s one small connection between the City of Brotherly Love and the Pine Tree State.

Indiana came from the midwest and lived in New York, but it was in Maine where he settled in 1978, when he moved to Vinalhaven and lived until his 2018 death at age 89. His “Seven” sculpture sits in front of the Portland Museum of Art. As if you needed another reason to hop on the short flight from Bangor or Portland to Philly, right?

The vibrant city has a long and storied history beginning with its founding in 1682 by William Penn, a Quaker who instilled his ideals of racial harmony and religious tolerance. It was the home of America’s first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751. It’s the location of the first Fourth of July celebration, held in 1777. And it boasts the distinction of being the first capital of the United States. Today, it’s a thriving city with a rich cultural scene, popular dining scene and so much more.

And over its more than 330-year history, it’s been home to so many notable people including Benjamin Franklin to Kevin Smith, Walt Whitman to M. Night Shyamalan, Edgar Allan Poe to P!nk.

Ready to go? Here’s what you need to know when you visit.

WHAT TO DO: Historic Philadelphia is a city where old meets new, history meets modern day. The birthplace of the United States, it’s where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were drafted and signed. And the No. 1 thing you can do while in Philly is to take in the rich history.

Make a point to stop at Independence National Historical Park, which is home to Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, the National Constitution Center, the Benjamin Franklin Museum and the Independence Visitor Center. Run by the National Park Service, there are so many opportunities indoor and out to explore history there. Among my favorites is the Benjamin Franklin Museum & Franklin Court, which gives a window into the genius and intellect of Benjamin Franklin through artifacts, computer animations, interactive displays and more. As an adult it was

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PHILADELPHIA fascinating, but — importantly — it was also interesting to my children, who were 6 and 8 at the time.

While you are there, stop by the Liberty Bell Center to see the famously cracked bell and snap a photo in front of it. Also nearby is the outdoor exhibit, The President’s House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation.

Through videos, signs and structures, it tells the stories of the enslaved people who served George and Martha Washington.

I happened upon this during a visit last year and found a history lesson that I wish everyone could experience.

More history can be found at the Museum of the American Revolution, which has a variety of Revolutionary War history and memorabilia including General George Washington’s original headquarters tent, Revolutionary War weapons and centuries-old military documents.

Oh, but there’s more. The Philadelphia Zoo, which has the distinction of being the oldest zoo in the United States, has more than 1,300 animals including species that we don’t regularly see in North America.

Giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, there’s so much to see and do.

If you have young children with you, make a point of stopping at the Please Touch Museum. It’s a completely handson experience where kids can make music in the instruments area, get their hands wet in the pint-sized Schuylkill River, launch rockets and so much more. Totally great fun but it’s best for kids ages 7 and under.

And, of course, you don’t want to miss the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where that iconic “Rocky” scene was filmed. But don’t just go for the staircase.

The renowned art collection is worth savoring. Fashion, sculpture, paintings, drawings and so much more from around the globe and through the ages — there’s so much to take in.

How does one distill all that’s worth seeing in Philadelphia? The One Liberty Observation Deck gives a bird’s eye view of the city. I’d recommend taking a bus tour to see as much as you can, and spend some time considering which of the many, many museums and historic sites interest you most.

There’s also the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, The African American Museum, the Betsy Ross House, the Eastern State Penitentiary, the Independence Seaport Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Morris Arboretum, Penn’s Landing and so much more.

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And if you happen to be in Philly on Jan. 1, don’t miss the Mummers Parade.

The longest running folk parade, it features bright and elaborate costumes, intricate performance routines and creative scenery.

Definitely worth seeing.

There’s also a thriving nightlife scene including speakeasies, jazz clubs, dive bars and luxe lounges.

WHERE TO STAY: To say there’s a lot of options is a vast understatement. Philadelphia has more than 16,000 hotel rooms, with more being added to the count. On my visits to Philadelphia, I’ve stayed in a variety of hotels all walking distance from Independence Hall.

Among my very favorites was the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, which is in the former Philadelphia Saving Fund Society Building, or PSFS Building located in Center City. Renovating the building into a hotel, the original charm and history of the 1932 building was preserved including the original vault, which remains inside the lobby with its gleaming silver vault

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PHILADELPHIA door. The PSFS sign is also still mounted on the building’s roof, a great landmark for helping you find your way.

I also really enjoyed staying in the Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel and the Hilton Doubletree Hotel in Center City, both of which were really comfortable. But with so many hotels and rooms available throughout the city, there is a vast selection to choose from. Find a hotel with a location and amenities that work for you.

WHERE TO EAT: There are so many fantastic places to eat in Philadelphia. From the ubiquitous cheesesteak sandwiches of Pat’s and Gino’s to the vegan small plates and creative cocktails at Charlie was a Sinner, the food scene is vast and noteworthy. (At Charlie, the vegan ricotta cheese was a revelation, but the charred shishito peppers were my favorite.)

My must-stop on every visit is Reading Terminal Market, which features dozens of food vendors in stalls. Don’t miss the donuts at Beiler’s Donuts & Salads. Dozens and dozens of flavors — dipped, glazed, sprinkled, filled and topped — fill the glass display cases. The Salty Caramel was my favorite on my most recent trip — it hits all the right notes of salty, sweet and creamy.

There’s so much to choose from there, from cheesemongers and bakeries (highly recommended: picking up a few cheeses,

MY MUST-STOP ON EVERY VISIT IS READING TERMINAL MARKET, WHICH FEATURES DOZENS OF FOOD VENDORS IN STALLS. DON’T MISS THE DONUTS AT BEILER’S DONUTS & SALADS. DOZENS AND DOZENS OF FLAVORS — DIPPED, GLAZED, SPRINKLED, FILLED AND TOPPED — FILL THE GLASS DISPLAY CASES.

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bread and charcuterie to enjoy in your room!) to Thai, Middle Eastern, Cajun, southern and more. Just a couple more favorites: I love DiNic’s for sandwiches and Molly Malloy’s for a sit-down.

Also, the creative and seasonally flavored lemonades at Iovine Brothers are a refreshingly healthier option for quenching your thirst and offsetting the more decadent options.

New to the Philadelphia food scene is The Bourse, a food hall that opened in October 2018. The globally inspired dishes — think tacos, Korean fusion, high-class French fries, poke and even Egyptian cuisine — served with the vendors are worth a try.

Plus there’s the authentic fare of Chinatown, the many versions of cheesesteak-inspired dishes, juiceries and so much more.

HOW TO GET THERE: Flying is so easy. In less than two hours, you can fly from Bangor International Airport or Portland Jetport to Philadelphia International Airport. Once there, you have several options for getting into the city. There’s Uber and Lyft, as well as traditional cabs. There’s also shuttles. Or take the train. There’s an inexpensive train that runs from the airport to several stops around Philadelphia. I used that option on my last trip and found it to be both easy and economical. Once in Philly, there is a subway system, cabs and cars to help you get around, but I’ve found the city to be pretty walkable.

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WOODS & WATERS

Putting the

GLAM

IN CAMPING THAT TIME I ACCIDENTALLY WENT GLAMPING STORY & PHOTO BY BOB DUCHESNE

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I WENT GLAMPING by accident last summer. I was tenting with friends in Cape Breton National Park, Nova Scotia, when a freak wind came up overnight. The howling gale flattened our tents, with us still in them.

By dawn, all three tents were damaged. We spent the next two days in an oTENTik. An oTENTik is a cross between a tent and a cabin. It’s a wooden frame that supports canvas walls and roof. Parks Canada has been erecting them all over its national park system. It’s their entry into the world of glamping.

“Glamping” is a word combining “glamour” and “camping,” but it’s unclear exactly what qualifies as glamorous camping. It can refer to any style of rustic shelter that provides more amenities than what you would normally

expect in your own tent. But that’s a pretty nebulous description. It’s been applied to cottages, tree houses, safaristyle tents, Airstream trailers and even converted shipping containers.

The word glamping first appeared in print in 2005. Glamping wasn’t added to the Oxford English Dictionary until 2017, and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary added the word last year. It’s not yet a legal word in Scrabble.

Whatever glamping is, it’s popular, here and abroad. But is glamping a Maine thing?

Well, maybe, kinda, sort of.

Perhaps Mainers were glamping long before there was glamping. According to Glamping.com, Spencer Pond Camps northeast of Moosehead Lake and Eagle Lake Sporting Camps in northern Aroostook

County are glamping destinations, even though both are more than 100 years old.

Mainers have bivouacked in pop-up trailers and truck-top campers since they were invented. Many of our rustic cabins have been around since the 19th century. If that’s glamping, then we’ve been doing it.

Or maybe the rest of the western world is ahead of us. A Google search of Maine glamping turns up only a handful of possibilities. Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport leads the way with an ambitious village of camp cottages on wheels, A-framed huts, and luxury glamp tents. The glamp-tents have kingsized beds, heaters and air conditioners, an indoor mini-fridge, and an outdoor beverage cooler.

No argument, that’s glamorous camping.

It’s a far cry from our glamping experience in the oTENTik. The tent cabin had a propane heater, but that was about it for amenities. Mattresses were small but comfortable. There was a tiny table in the cabin, but guests were asked to cook and eat outside at the picnic table. A charcoal grill on the deck provided the only means

of cooking. I didn’t ask, but perhaps the Canadian park service just didn’t want bears to explore the cooking aromas emanating from cabins. The fabric door wouldn’t even slow a bear down.

I needed more data and found exactly what I wanted at Maine Forest Yurts. It was raining as I was led into the first yurt

by Bob Crowley — yes, that Bob Crowley — winner of television’s “Survivor” in 2008. Some of his winnings from the show purchased 100 acres of beautiful oak forest on Runaround Pond in Durham. He built three yurts, soon to be four.

Yurts are portable round tents used by Mongolian nomads. Perhaps Mongols were the first glampers. The western version is permanently fixed on a wooden floor, with fabric stretched across a lattice frame in the shape of a traditional yurt.

This yurt was named Zen Den. The wood stove was smoldering as we stepped in from the cold and wet. It was

toasty and cozy. Solar cells powered LED lights. Gravity fed the water supply. Gas heated the cook stove. There was also a gas heater available to back up the wood stove, since the yurts are open year-round.

Bob Crowley says there are many reasons people enjoy the glamping at Maine Forest Yurts. His hundred acres of hiking and cross-country skiing delight some. Access to the pond is enticing.

It’s close to the recreational offerings at Pineland Farms and Bradbury Mountain State Park. It’s just 15 minutes to L.L. Bean in Freeport and a mere half-hour to Portland. But the biggest surprise, according to Bob, is that women love the yurts for the comfort coupled with outdoor ambiance.

Zen Den was just an upscale tent. But it felt like my living room. It was a sweet place in the woods to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine after a day of adventure.

So this is glamping? I get it now.

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

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pNEW YEAR New Me THE VIEW FROM HERE

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IN A VAIN ATTEMPT to commit to my New Year’s resolutions, I’ve decided to share them with the world (or at least the lovely people in Greater Bangor). I figure if I write them down here, dear readers, I may actually stick to them.

BE LESS JUDGY — I’m pretty open-minded, but some days, when the devil on my shoulder won’t pipe down, I forget there’s only one Judge Judy. I’m OK with making those run-of-the-mill judgements about people who mess up my coffee order or drive 10 mph under the speed limit. Those baristas and Sunday drivers will never hear my mill-worker mouth through my car window.

I’m talking about holding my tongue when I feel like someone else is a bad person-parent-seed-egg-politician-citizen-bossemployee. I don’t want to send this kind of negativity out into the world. Instead, I want to work harder to put myself in another’s shoes and tap into the well of love my mama gave me with her mill-worker mouth.

PRACTICE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS — I’d like to do more of these. Pay it forward and not expect any change back for my “good deed.” At the end of every day, in those blissful moments when my children are feigning sleep, I’d like to be able to say, “Hey, I did something I didn’t have to today, and it made that person’s day better.” It could be something as simple as holding the door for a stranger, letting a busy mother go ahead of me in line or saying hello to an old friend. On a larger scale, I want to volunteer more: help out in a soup kitchen, participate in my children’s school activities and share a hot meal with my nosy neighbor down the road.

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book club, read the national news again (no matter how dismal the headlines) and stop living vicariously through the tabloids.

Any person with a shred of common sense knows that neither Jenna and Channing or Brad and Angie (or Jen for that matter) are ever, I mean Taylor Swift never, getting back together.

SPEND LESS — Wouldn’t it be lovely to know how much you make and how much you spend? Wouldn’t you think by the time you hit 40 you’d have some rough idea of both? I’ve been blissfully unaware of money matters for two decades too long.

When I hear other people talk of “budgets” I think, “God, who wants to count their pennies before they spend them all?” That’s like trying to buy a 50 cent gumball with 47 cents. Who wants 47 chiclets? Having a budget and sticking to it is hard work, but it’s also worth it. If I want to be able to do nice things for and with my loved ones, then I need to do less online shopping, impulse buying and spending beyond my means.

BE MORE POSITIVE — This is easier said than done. I’ve noticed that in the midst of hard times in my life, I’ve either gone into a state of constant prayer or channeled all my frustration outward until anger radiates off me like Kanye West at an award show. If only I could remember that life begins again every day. Be thankful. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This too shall pass.

Someone else out there is living through worse. In the coming year, I want to practice positivity and remind myself that nothing and no one is perfect, least of all me.

All in all, whether you find yourself jotting down your resolutions on a napkin or in an article, please know that the resolutions you make aren’t as important as what they stand for – the desire to be better. We are all works in progress, green and growing. Some of just need a little more compost than most, and the new me wants the new you to know that is “A-OK.”

PHOTO: ©ANAUMENKO/ ADOBE STOCK

GET SMARTER — You know, for someone with a couple of college degrees and two different teaching gigs, I’m remarkably uninformed. I only read what I assign my students at school (all classics, I assure you), but when it comes to the state of the world today, I’m clueless. Most of my free time is spent squeezing in a run, checking my Facebook feed and googling celebrity gossip.

Splitting the atom I am not. This year, I’d like to join my sister’s

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