H ow
OVERCAME MY
Anxiety
How to...
Live Your
BEST LIFE how to
How to make
baked
get ORGANIZED
OATMEAL
how to
GET OUTSIDE&
Snowshoe $5.95
March 2019
Rock PUBLIC SPEAKING
how to
CONTENTS
MARCH 2019
FEATURES 52
BACK ON TRACK
Tips for repairing your credit
56
OUT LOUD
How to rock public speaking
58 HOW I OVERCAME ANXIETY IN 2018 Inside an anxious mind
62
FRAUD PREVENTION
Safeguard your financial future
64
GET OUT: PORTLAND
Take a trip to funky, hip and historic Portland, Maine
52
HOW I REPAIRED MY CREDIT
64
GET OUT: PORTLAND
IN EVERY ISSUE WHAT’S HAPPENING
Local news & sightings
18
THE ONLINE QUESTION
What’s your favorite Maine sledding hill? Readers share their thoughts
20
OBSESSIONS
What we can’t get enough of this month
72
THE VIEW FROM HERE
Healthy body, healthy mind
ON THE COVER How to live your best life Design by Amy Allen
2 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
PHOTOS: (TOP) ©TUAINDEED/ADOBE STOCK; (BOTTOM) COURTESY VISITPORTLAND.COM
08
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FOOD & DRINK
HEALTH & FITNESS
24
28
14
Crunchy, versatile carrots are in the spotlight and a recipe for cupcakes
A HELPING HAND
Expressing gratitude through art
26
IN SEASON NOW
BAKED OATMEAL RECIPE
Try this tasty treat with wild Maine blueberries for a great start to the day
HIKE ME
Great spots for a mountain snowshoe
32
BLEEDING DISORDERS
Raising a child with hemophilia
34
DRY BRUSHING
PHOTOS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) LINDA COAN O’KRESIK; ©MOLLY SOUTHERN/ADOBE STOCK; AISLINN SARNACKI; ©HUMMINGBIRD ART/ADOBE STOCK; ©NEW AFRICA/ADOBE STOCK; AMY ALLEN
Does it help keep winter skin healthy?
HOW TO
HOME & FAMILY
OUTSIDE
36
40
70
CRAFTING WITH KIDS
Paper mache inspired by Eric Carle
38
CREATE IT AT HOME
Make your own scrubby sponges
STAY ORGANIZED
Take 15 minutes a week and make organization a reality at your house
WOODS & WATERS
There’s a scurrying in the ceiling
44 INSIDE A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD Meet a big family at a Belfast farm www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 3
EDITOR’S NOTE
How to LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE CANNED DILLY BEANS, pasta, rice, a mountain of half-used baking ingredients. Tubs of flour and sugar. It was all there, all crammed in, all accessible but not. The disorganization made me dread opening that important cabinet filled with food. Then I decided to do something about it. Setting the time for 15 minutes, I grabbed our kitchen stool, took everything out of the cabinet, evaluated it and tossed the expired or otherwise unusable items. By the time the timer beeped, the cabinet was clean, organized and far more serviceable. I knew where everything was. Nothing was toppling over. And the mountain had been replaced with neat, organized rows. That was 15 minutes so well spent.
IT WAS FREEING. IT WAS SATISFYING. IT WAS FAR OVERDUE. My inspiration came from a story in this issue by Katie Smith (page 40) in which she shared how this method — tackling one small area for a limited time — had changed her life. I totally understand. A few days later, I took a similar approach in my bedroom, clearing out some lingering stuff that had collected in a corner. Then I moved a storage unit into my room — it had been my daughter’s but she needed a larger one for her craft supplies — and used it to organize my bags, purses and makeup. What a difference organization makes. I urge you to read Katie’s story and try it too. This is a method that works for me. There’s so much more to learn and be inspired from in this issue too. Don’t miss Rosemary Lausier’s personal story of overcoming anxiety on page 58 or Crystal Sands’ story of how she overcame bad credit on page 52. Learn to rock public speaking too (page 56) and to make a tasty baked oatmeal (page 26). We created this issue with the idea of helping you live your best life. Hope it succeeds.
Hope you love this issue as much as we loved putting it together!
SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR
Connect With Us Online bangormetro.com facebook.com/BangorMetro @BangorMetro bangormetro talkback@bangormetro.com
4 / BANGOR METRO March 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
SUBSCRIPTION & PROMOTIONS MANAGER
Fred Stewart
fstewart@bangordailynews.com
COPY EDITOR
Kaylie Reese kreese@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 Lauren Abbate, Emily Burnham, Sarah Cottell, Bob Duchesne, Jen Hazard, Rosemary Lausier, Jane Margesson, Emily Morrison, Crystal Sands, Katie Smith www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 5
6 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS
HOW DO YOU SURVIVE
MUD
Bangor Metro Magazine. March 2019, Vol. 15, No. 2. 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.
SEAS N?
Opinions expressed in either the editorial or advertisements do not represent the opinions of the staff or publisher of Bangor Metro magazine. Advertisers and event sponsors or their agents are responsible for copyrights and accuracy of all material they submit. Bangor Metro magazine to the best of its ability ensures the acuracy of information printed in the publication. Inquiries and suggestions are welcome and encouraged. Letters to the editor, story suggestions, and other reader input will be subject to Bangor Metro’s unrestricted right to edit and publish in the magazine both in print and online. Editorial: Queries should be sent to Sarah Walker Caron at scaron@bangordailynews.com. Advertising: For advertising questions, please call the Sales Director Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129. Subscriptions/Address Change: The one year subscription cost is $15.95. Address changes: to ensure delivery, subscribers must notify the magazine of address changes one month in advance of the cover date. Please contact Fred Stewart at 207-990-8075. Accounts Payable/Receivable: For information about your account please contact Todd Johnston at 207-990-8129.
COVER DESIGN: Amy Allen ORIGINAL PHOTO: ©Piotr Marcinski/Adobe Stock
THIS MONTH OUR CONTRIBUTORS TALK MUD SEASON SURVIVAL
“
You really can’t appreciate mud season until you live through your first one. The mud is everywhere. In the driveways, on our shoes, stuck to our cars and coats. I learned very quickly that the best thing I can do is insist that shoes don’t leave our entrance way (so mud doesn’t get tracked through the house!) and to get the car washed often. I know mud season will pass eventually.” — SARAH WALKER CARON, EDITOR
“I travel out of Maine.” — JULIA BAYLY, STAFF WRITER
“Mud season typically signals a brief pause in outdoor recreation activities. When the ground is soft, it can be easy to alter the terrain and damage trails. However, the smell of mud is always a good indication that spring is on the way.”
“The key to surviving mud season for me is accepting it. Despite my eagerness, I keep my cute spring shoes in the closet, put my boots on, and make the trek outside. The most frustrating part for me is seeing how dirty my car gets after the winter months. Despite washing it, it will get dirty again in a days time. You just have to be patient and know it won’t last forever. Summer, and the dry ground, are only a couple months away.” — ROSEMARY LAUSIER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
— KAYLIE REESE, COPY EDITOR “As with anything, it helps to have good tools. I find that my knock-off Muck boots become my go-to footwear. They’re far from high fashion but your feet stay warm and they’re easy to clean. I also love my Subaru, which goes in ice and snow and also mud, critical for driving in Maine in February and March! I also try (and succeed some of the time) in appreciating mud season. It makes you slow down a little and laugh at yourself, when you play games like ‘swerve around the potholes’ and ‘try not to accidentally brush against your disgustingly muddy car.’ Mud season usually also doubles as maple syrup making time, and that’s a bonus. Plus, on the other side of mud season, it’s spring, and that’s worth a little trouble (and a lot of mud), in my book.” — ABIGAIL CURTIS, CONTRIBUTING WRITER www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 7
WHAT’S HAPPENING
MARCH 1-2 BANGOR HUMANITIES DAY
Since 2013, The Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center has sponsored Bangor Humanities Day, a celebration of the humanities in collaboration with area businesses, museums, and public spaces, as well as local collectives and experts. This 7th annual event is free and open to the public. For more information, including a schedule of events, see umaine.edu/mhc/ongoingprograms/bangor-humanities-day.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1 SEE “I’M NOT RUNNING”
The explosive new play by David Hare, “I’m Not Running,” will be premiering at the National Theatre and broadcast live at the Collins Center for the Arts as part of the National Theatre Live Broadcast series. Pauline Gibson has spent her life as a doctor, the inspiring leader of a local health campaign. When she crosses paths with her old boyfriend, a stalwart loyalist
8 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
in Labour Party politics, she’s faced with an agonising decision. The show starts at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $13 and available at www.collinscenterforthearts.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 2 SPOSE IN CONCERT
Maine rapper Spose will be bringing his unique musical stylings to the Bangor Arts Exchange Ballroom on Saturday, March 2. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets available through Bangor Arts Exchange. And if you can’t wait, check out his latest album “We All Got Lost” at sposemusic.com.
FRIDAY, MARCH 8 PEG + CAT LIVE!
Based on the Emmy-winning PBS Kids show Peg + Cat (produced by The Fred Rogers Company and 9 Story Entertainment), Peg + Cat LIVE! is a musical that features comedy, favorite songs from the show, Peg’s cool pal
MARCH 13-17 Maine Science Festival
Ramone and audience involvement. The show will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 8, at the Collins Center for the Arts. Orchestra tickets are $30; balcony $25; K-12 student $15. All fees included. www.collinscenterforthearts.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 9 13TH ANNUAL WINTER BEACH BALL
Get a little slice of summer this March with an annual event for a good cause. The Eastern Maine Medical Center Auxiliary’s annual Winter Beach Ball, will be held at the Anah Shrine at 1404 Broadway, on Saturday, March 9 beginning at 7 p.m. The event will benefit the Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Tickets are available online at northernlighthealth.org/Locations/ Eastern-Maine-Medical-Center/PatientsVisitors/Auxiliary.
PHOTOS: BDN FILE
MARCH
SUNDAY, MARCH 10 TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC
Hailing from counties Waterford, Dublin, Donegal and Cork, the traditional Irish ensemble Danu has virtuosi players on flute, tin whistle, fiddle, button accordion, bouzouki, and vocals (Irish and English). Danu, which has played around the globe and recorded seven albums, will perform at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 at the Collins Center for the Arts. Orchestra tickets are $35/$30; balcony $25; K-12 $15. All fees included. www.collinscenterforthearts.com
MARCH 13-17 MAINE SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Science is everywhere, and for one weekend in March every year, it’s thoroughly explored for the enjoyment of kids at the Maine Science Festival. This year’s fest is being held on March 13-17 at the Cross Insurance Center. There are also pop-up locations throughout greater Bangor too. From soda making to solar energy, aging to earmuffs, there’s so much to explore at this can’t-miss event. Find out more at mainesciencefestival.org.
MARCH 2 Spose at Bangor Arts Exchange
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 9
10 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
WHAT’S HAPPENING THURSDAY, MARCH 14 HEAR THE TEMPTATIONS AND THE FOUR TOPS LIVE
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Temptations and The Four Tops bring Motown to Orono in a concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the Collins Center for the Arts. Orchestra tickets are $71/$63; balcony $49/$35. All fees included. Subscribers receive 50 percent off all fees, deduct $3 from ticket price. www.collinscenterforthearts.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 REDISCOVER FLEETWOOD MAC
Rediscover the songs and performances that have ensured Fleetwood Mac’s place as one of the most loved bands of all time. “Rumours, the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute” is scheduled for Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gracie Theatre at Husson University. Tickets available at gracietheatre.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 LEARN ABOUT THE SINKING OF THE USS MAINE
The explosion and sinking of the USS Maine off the coast of Cuba on Feb. 15, 1898, set off a media storm of battling headlines and fake stories in American newspapers. Join Curator of Exhibits Christopher Timm to flip through the pages and images that culminated in a dramatic shift in U.S. and Caribbean relations on Saturday, March 23 at the Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St. in Bath, from 2-3 p.m. Free with paid museum admission. For information, visit www.MaineMaritimeMuseum.org or call 207-443-1316.
TUESDAY, MARCH 26 SEE THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS IN ACTION
SUNDAY, MARCH 31 ANNUAL LITERACY TEA
Book lovers of all ages will enjoy this educational and entertaining event that is also Literacy Volunteers’ largest fundraiser of the year. Tour dozens of tables, each decorated to represent a favorite children’s book, and enjoy sumptuous snacks, pastries and tea. Maine children’s author Liza Gardner Walsh will be on hand to share her book “Do Fairies Bring the Spring?” Her books will also be available for purchase and signing. Find tickets and more information online at lvbangor.org/ literacytea.
From the iconic music to the creative stunts to the amazing ball action, the Harlem Globetrotters bring a unique blend of showmanship and athleticism
STILL STUMPED?
in every performance. See them with their unrivaled family show on Tuesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. crossinsurancecenter.com
Here are the answers to last month’s Pop Quiz.
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. Five years after sustaining a brain injury while playing roller derby, Daryne Rockett is celebrating vitality, neuroplasticity, and the generosity of community with an exhibition of “The Art of Gratitude.” Learn more about Rockett on page 14. 2: Daryne Rockett with Mary Rustin at the opening of her art show. 3: Brewer Kiwanis hosted another successful “Wishing Under the Stars Gala,” raising $42,000 to help grant wishes through the Maine Make-A-Wish foundation. In the past six years, the event has raised $183,000 — enough to grant 27 wishes for children with life threatening illnesses.
SHARE YOUR EVENT PHOTOS! 12 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
Email your photos and captions to
talkback@bangormetro.com
PHOTOS: JEFF KIRLIN / THE THING OF THE MOMENT
3
MARCH MADNESS!
4
From leprechauns to mud, how much do you know about March? Play online at bangormetro.com for your chance to win a FREE one-year subscription to Bangor Metro!
4: Photographer Jeff Kirlin snaps a selfie with Hannah Young and Angela Okafor at the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Award Dinner. 5: The University of Maine Museum of Art recently held its January Member Preview, featuring works by Richard Keen, Meghan Brady and Zach Horn. The show runs until May 4. 5: Sean Kidwell and Cintia Miranda enjoy the art opening at the UMaine Museum of Art in Bangor.
5
6
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
A Helping
HAND STORY BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER | PHOTOS BY LINDA COAN O'KRESIK
tired or nauseous, which her physical therapist learned was caused by blockage of fluids in her brain. Initially, all Daryne could do was take walks, attend the wood stove, crochet and doodle designs. “We don’t realize how much we have to do until something like this happens,” Daryne said. Daryne was in and out of work for months and didn’t get back to her full duties until six to eight months ago. But Daryne said the most difficult symptom is her irritability, which she likened to a toddler because of her angry outbursts. She no longer could play the harp because she found the tuning alone to be exhausting. Daryne, who has played professionally, found she couldn’t play at her regular Celtic jam sessions because it was tiring to ignore the background noises. Even a year ago, she couldn’t listen to her golden retriever, Kitaro, panting as the noise would run her down very quickly because she couldn’t filter out the noise. “It was a big hold,” Daryne’s friend and fellow Celtic music player Heather MacLeod said. “Not only did we miss the beautiful harp music, but we missed a part of her.” Daryne underwent physical therapy, which included vestibular therapy to help with her balance; cranial sacral therapy, which helped release built-up fluid in her skull and spine; and reiki. After seeing her cranial sacral therapist, Daryne would experience immediate relief and felt well rested. Meditation, Daryne said, was essential to her recovery. It helped her accept her circumstances, and it prepared her to take things one at a time. Ten months into her recovery, Daryne started going to a specialist at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. Physiatrist Dr. John Lowry, who PHOTO: TKTK
THE DAY AFTER Christmas, bright paint supplies and canvases collected in a corner of Daryne Rockett’s living room. Daryne was working to complete the final touches of her art show, “The Art of Gratitude,” something she has been working on for the past two years. Daryne didn’t want to be an artist. But after suffering a traumatic brain injury in January 2014, that changed. In fact, everything in Daryne’s life changed, making her show nothing short of remarkable. Daryne, or “HarpPoon” as she is known in roller derby, was practicing with her Central Maine Derby team when she and her coach went for a shoulderto-shoulder hit, an offensive maneuver. Daryne knew the hit would come in hard, so she attempted to slow down, causing her head to come forward. She was hit in her jaw instead. Despite the hit not being direct to the head, Daryne and her doctor said it caused her brain to bounce off the inside of her skull. Daryne was diagnosed with a mild concussion in the emergency room. Although she hadn’t lost consciousness in the incident, she learned the injury would have a lasting impact and that she could never fully recover. After experiencing memory problems the day after the crash, Daryne went to her doctor, who put her on complete brain rest. She couldn’t look at screens or go to work because it was too strenuous for the brain. She would be put on brain rest multiple times since the injury, from one week to up to 60 days at a time. Throughout her recovery, Daryne couldn’t perform simple tasks for more than a few minutes at the time such as talking on the phone, cooking dinner or consult with a colleague or client. She would grow
14 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
Daryne Rockett holds up one of her paintings, which express her gratitude for the many helping hands in her life.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 15
ARTS & CULTURE
Orono native Daryne Rockett has found enjoyment in art after suffering from a brain injury five years ago.
16 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
treated survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing, told her she had a normal recovery trajectory but that it would take years for her to be back to 100 percent. But Daryne’s recovery trajectory significantly improved after she switched to an antiinflammatory diet in February of 2015. Daryne was previously on a low-carb diet and noticed how poorly she felt if she cheated. With an antiinflammatory diet, Daryne eats only two meals per day. She makes her own bone broth with chicken feet and eats only locally sourced, grassfed meats. An anti-inflammatory diet emphasizes the use of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats throughout the day. Daryne aims to eat six to nine servings of vegetables daily. Lowry said told Daryne he hadn’t seen a recovery trajectory take off as hers did after her diet switch. A month after she switched to her diet, Daryne got cleared to work six hours per week. The biggest change she noticed was her energy level, which was the best since her injury. “It was amazing,” Daryne said. “Besides my brain getting better, it [my recovery] was so much faster.” Through her injury, many of her friends and colleagues adapted to her condition and absences such as taking her for rides and abstaining from playing music in the background. Kirk Grant, director at the Bangor Vet Center where Daryne works, says what he has learned the most from Daryne’s injury is to be patient and let go of expectations. “When you work with someone that’s as dynamic and intelligent as Daryne, it’s easy to expect a fast return or that she’ll be the same as she was prior to the injury,” Grant said. Because strenuous activities were too much for Daryne, she started doodling Zentangle patterns — repetitive black-and-white shapes — as it brought calm to her mind, and she could finish it before she got too tired. Then she started making small mandalas. Two years in, she started tracing her friends’ and family member’s dominant hand, filling the inside with patterns and coloring them in. Eventually, Daryne went from drawing to painting, and from small pieces of paper to canvas. Daryne would start drawing patterns on canvas and would trace the hands in a certain position to represent that person. Daryne would then write a piece of prose on the outline of the hands. Daryne decided to trace the hands as a way to recognize and thank those who have had a “hand” in her journey to recovery. Once Daryne created a collection of hands, she knew she wanted to share it with everyone and on the anniversary of her accident.
“IT’S NOT JUST THE HANDS, IT’S NOT JUST THE ART, IT’S THE EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE,” DARYNE SAID. “I WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE HANDS THAT HAD A HAND IN MY RECOVERY.”
“It’s not just the hands, it’s not just the art, it’s the expression of gratitude,” Daryne said. “I wanted to celebrate the hands that had a hand in my recovery.” On Jan. 5, Daryne’s “The Art of Gratitude” opened at the Wilson Center at the University of Maine, showcasing 15 canvases and 40 hand drawings for 107 guests. The show is about Daryne’s gratitude for those who helped her the past five years in her journey to recovery. Indeed, Daryne has a lot to be grateful for. Some of the people represented in the show are her husband Jim, MacLeod and her cranial therapist Terry Hart. “It’s a celebration of self. When we view the world that way, it’s life-changing,” Daryne said. “So the celebration of Jan. 5 is a celebration of something that feels bigger than me that has emerged.” Five years after her injury, Daryne still experiences fatigue, irritability and is not able to learn information or remembers things as quickly. She plays the harp again but will be on medical leave indefinitely with her derby team. She’s now on the advisory board of the Brain Injury Association of America’s Maine Chapter — she spoke at their conference in 2017 — and shares her survivor story in an ongoing feature in its newsletter. MacLeod says Daryne has been very forthcoming with sharing her journey to recovery with others and has used her circumstances to help with the growth of others. “She has chosen gratitude as a way to heal. She’s proof of the resiliency of the human spirit and the human brain.” “The Art of Gratitude” will be on display at the Wilson Center, University of Maine, until Friday, March 15. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 17
WE WANT TO KNOW
THE ONLINE QUESTION
We want to know... WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MAINE SLEDDING HILL?
“
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
Essex Street hill. I’ve seen Some SeriouS dumps and accidents on that hill. I remember when you could warm up inside
“When I was a kid, back in the 1950’s, we went sledding right down the the middle of Parker Street hill.”
hot chocolate and Snacks. I had a lot of fun on that hill.” —SHAWN CASSUM
WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR ONLINE QUESTION! HERE ARE JUST
—SEBASTIAN STACEY
A FEW OF YOUR ANSWERS...
“I remember when they would close Cedar St. and you could sled for quite a ways — long walk back up though.” —JEFF HASKELL
“Indian Trail Park, North Main St., Brewer. When we were kids in the 70’s it was the perfect hill.”
“In Little City they used to close off Norfolk Street — amazing, fast ride down, but kind of a long walk back up. It was always great fun as all the kids in the neighborhood would end up there eventually.”
—SCOTT D’ERRICO
—JANE CALDERWOOD
the building where they sold coffee and
THANKS TO EVERYONE
“Colonel Black Mansion in Ellsworth.” —KATHY BOSSE
“Mine would have to be Essex Street hill in Bangor... There is one thing about this particular hill back in my childhood, age of about 8 years old in the year of 1975, that is still ingrained in my memory as the most exciting part of the ride — a ramp made of compacted snow at the very bottom of the hill. By the time you hit that ramp you were probably going 30 or 40 mph in that orange plastic sled that you sit in legs extended, and you would be launched skyward for what seemed like an eternity, clutching that sled and praying it would hold up on the landing because one thing that was for sure regardless the outcome you were going for it again. Then as boys will be boys we had to have a competition to see who could fly the furthest. I don’t remember anyone getting seriously hurt doing it but I don’t think they would have fessed up to in fear that an adult would end our 2,000 hours of flight training for certification to earn our wings...” —RICHARD GRINDEL
“Hayford Park.” —THOMAS GOODIN
“There was a long gradual hill on Webster Avenue that passed by the golf course and went under 395. While 395 waS being built that part of Webster was closed to traffic so Sledders were safe. If the snow was covered in a layer of ice, my 6th grade, 60 pounds (including sled) would start way up by Crestmont Road and go all the way to Perry Road. It was magical!” —BETTIEANN
18 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WE WANT TO KNOW!
FIND THE “WE WANT TO KNOW” POST ON OUR BANGOR METRO FACEBOOK PAGE OR FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT TO: BANGOR METRO ATTN: WE WANT TO KNOW PO BOX 1329 BANGOR, ME 04401
YOU JUST MIGHT BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF BANGOR METRO MAGAZINE!
WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE MAINE AUTHOR? __________________ YOUR NAME & TOWN:
__________________ __________________ EMAIL ADDRESS:
__________________ HAVE A GREAT PHOTO TO GO WITH YOUR COMMENT? WE’D LOVE TO SEE IT AND POSSIBLY SHARE IT IN OUR UPCOMING ISSUE WITH YOUR RESPONSE. EMAIL IT TO AALLEN@ BANGORDAILYNEWS.COM. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 19
ARTS & CULTURE
OBSESSIONS
OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.
WATCH
GO
“THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA” ON NETFLIX
QUEEN CITY CINEMA CLUB 128B MAIN ST. BANGOR
WHY DO WE LOVE IT? If — like me — you grew up watching “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” a popular TV show that ran from 1996 to 2003, then you may get a kick out of this edgier adaptation. “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” premiered in late October of 2018, just in time for Halloween, and has so far earned great reviews (7.8/10 on IMDb and 81 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). With 11 episodes in the first season, the show is available on Netflix. The second season is scheduled to air in April. Both TV series are based on the comic book series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” published by Archie Comics (1971 to 2009, with over 200 issues in three volumes). While I don’t want to give too much away about this new show, I will say that there’s a darkness to it that isn’t present in the 1990s TV series, including quite a bit of dark humor. And while the new show features many of the same characters as the old — including Sabrina’s two aunts and her boyfriend, Harvey — it also includes some new, charming side characters. This isn’t a family-friendly show. I like to think that’s it’s intended for an adult audience who remembers the old show and would be excited about a sassier and scarier rendition of the tale. —AISLINN SARNACKI
WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Queen City Cinema Club, which opened in downtown Bangor last summer, is the sort of place that you didn’t know you were missing until you go. Equal parts movie theater, arcade, board game palace and bar, QCCC is the sort of nerdy, funky place that fans of all stripes — and ages — can enjoy. Want to watch a classic movie in one of QCCC’s two intimate, comfortable movie theaters? Pick your flick and get comfortable. Want to battle your friends in Super Smash Brothers on a classic N64 video game console? QCCC has that, plus thousands of other video games, and hundreds of board games to choose from as well. You could even throw a private party to watch the Oscars or a big TV premiere. The fact that there’s delicious craft beer to drink (and non-alcoholic beverages too!) and hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and other tasty junk food to snack on is just a bonus — as are the special events, like themed parties, live music and trivia nights. In short, it’s nerd heaven. I didn’t know that I needed it in my life until it opened, and now I can’t get enough of it. —EMILY BURNHAM
Malikai Moulton the son of Queen City Cinema Club owner Joshua Moulton relaxes in one of the small movie theaters at the club.
READ So many books cross my desk at Bangor Metro, and I purchase even more. Every month, I select a few that catch my attention.
PHOTO: (CINEMA) GABOR DEGRE/BDN FILE; (TOP) ©IVAN KURMYSHOV; (THIS PHOTO) ©THOMAS BETHGE/ADOBE STOCK; (CAT) ©ERIC ISSELÉE/ADOBE STOCK
“ON THE COME UP,” BY ANGIE THOMAS — Racism. Social justice. Poverty. These are some of the themes in this powerful second novel from Angie Thomas, author of “The Hate U Give.” Set in the same world as her previous novel (though you won’t know any of these characters), it follows the story of Bri, a teenage aspiring rapper, as she pursues her dream amid troubles at school and home. She’s brave, she’s bold and she believes she can help her family have a better life. This is a book worth reading but for the important plot lines about racism, social justice and poverty and for the excellent writing. (Young adult) “DO FAIRIES BRING THE SPRING” AND “HOW DO FAIRIES HAVE FUN IN THE SUN?” BOARD BOOKS BY LIZA GARDNER WALSH AND ILLUSTRATED BY HAZEL MITCHELL — I’ve loved this series of fairy-themed seasonal stories since the first was released several years ago. They are whimsical imaginings of what fairies might be doing as spring arrives and summer sets in. Perfect for reading with little ones to stoke their burgeoning imaginations. And the lovely, graceful artwork brings it all to life. (Babies and toddlers) “READ HARDER: A BOOK LOG,” BY PIET AUKEMAN — This feels very meta to include in my favorite books this month, but it is absolutely a new favorite. Book Riot, a website devoted to bookish topics, created this wonderful book log for recording all the books you read. As someone who reads a lot, I love being able to end my time with a book by recording favorite quotes, scenes and more. It will be a lovely keepsake of my reading adventures this year. (All ages) —SARAH WALKER CARON
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 21
FOOD & DRINK
OBSESSIONS
OBSESSIONS WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.
EAT
DRINK
MAMA D’S CURRY IN BANGOR
WHY DO WE LOVE IT? If I’m being honest, what drew me to Rocky Ground Cider’s array of alcoholic apple ciders were the beautiful bottles: some deep green, some light green, all with a watercolor-esque logo depicting white and pink apple blossoms. But once I uncorked the bottle and tried the contents, I was hooked. Complex, earthy and pleasantly not sweet. Offering both still and sparkling ciders, the makers of Newburgh-based Rocky Ground Cider forage heirloom and wild apple varieties across central Maine. All of their ciders are naturally fermented for up to a year in oak barrels. I recommend trying Dahlia, which is a dry and earthy sparkling cider made from 72 varieties of apples. For a still cider, try Blue Raincoat, which is slightly tart and made mostly from heirloom apples from an orchard in Mercer. Rocky Ground Cider is available at a number of stores in the Bangor region, including Damon’s Beverage and Tiller and Rye as well as Burby and Bates. On the coast, their ciders can be found at the Blue Hill Co-op, Ellsworth’s John Edward’s Market and the Belfast Co-op, among other stores. —LAUREN ABBATE
WHY DO WE LOVE IT? A true obsession of mine, the Thai curry dishes at Mama D’s are some of my favorite meals in Bangor. I originally stumbled across the restaurant’s yellow curry dish — which is a sweet, creamy curry with coconut milk, pineapple, potato and bamboo shoots — when it was on the $10 lunch menu. And I just kept returning for more. I also enjoy their Massaman curry, which is similar, mixed with coconut milk, potato, carrot, onion and peanuts. Both dishes are mild, but you can add some heat to them on a five-star scale. Other curry options on the Mama D’s menu include a traditional Thai curry called Spicy Pad Ped, which packs a little heat, as the name implies. There’s also a curry dish that features sliced mangos and bell peppers, as well as a green curry mixed with eggplant, green beans, zucchini and Thai basil leaves called Gaeng Kieow Waan. All curry dishes come with a side of white rice. And if you’re looking for an appetizer, I suggest sampling the crab rangoons, which are filled a delicious mixture of cream cheese, crab, scallions and yellow curry powder. —AISLINN SARNACKI
PHOTO: (MAMA D’S) AISLINN SARNACKI; (TOP) ©ALEKSEYLISS/ ADOBE STOCK; (PIE) ©FAHRWASSER/ADOBE STOCK
ROCKY GROUND CIDER HARD CIDERS
LOCAL EATS
EAT MORE APPLE PIE AT FRANK’S BAKE SHOP & CATERING WHY DO WE LOVE IT? There are certain things about which I will not compromise — my integrity, the wellbeing of my pets, loyalty to friends and apple pie. That’s right, I said it: Apple pie. I’m a pie fan to begin with and apple is my favorite. But is there anything more disappointing to the pie pallet than a slice of mediocre pie consisting of under cooked apples, little to no spices, gelatinous filling and a cold, soggy crust? Thankfully, I can get my uncompromising pie fix at Frank’s Bake Shop & Catering in Bangor where their pie is truly the apple of my eye — not to mention taste buds. The bakery is run by the grandchildren of Frank Soucy who founded the bakery in 1945 with his sons Joseph and Frank Jr. Today the bakery turns out an array of sweet and savory baked goods made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients. And the apple pies? Oh those pies! Hand rolled, shaped and crimped by hand and bursting with Maine apples cooked to perfection inside that crust. Each bite has the perfect blend of apple flavor with cinnamon, sugar and other spices. And if you are not sure you can eat an entire 8-inch or 10-inch pie on your own, don’t worry. At Frank’s, they happily sell pie by the slice. But when a pie is that good? I’ll take a whole one, please. —JULIA BAYLY
Your ad could be on this page. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Food & Drink section. Call 990-8000.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 23
in season now CARROTS FOOD & DRINK
BY SARAH WALKER CARON
PHOTO: ©MOLLY SOUTHERN, ©BEORNBJORN, ©SERGHEI PLATONOV/ADOBE STOCK
A ROOT VEGETABLE, carrots are a good and hearty storage crop that can often be found in farmers markets through the winter months. Good raw, in salads, soups, stews and more, carrots sweeten if left in the ground until after the first frost in the fall. Carrots are also an important base ingredient in many cuisines including French mirepoix, Spanish Sofrito, German Suppengrün, Cajun Holy Trinity and Puerto Rican Recaíto. In each case, carrots are combined with other base ingredients to form an important cooking base for the cuisine. But carrots aren’t just good for savory dishes. They are also delightful in sweet ones too. As a child, it was a special treat to get a slice of carrot cake at the department store my mother loved to shop in. It was like a sweet bribe for somewhat patiently waiting for her to finish shopping … hours later. Carrots are delightful in muffins, breads and more. And in these cupcakes too. With an easy one bowl preparation, cleanup from these is easy. The trick to getting the most carrot-y flavor into them is to hand-grate the carrots. Though you can use store-shredded carrots in a pinch, fine shreds impart a better carrot flavor into their tender crumb. And then they are topped with my favorite cream cheese frosting — a nice finish.
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CARROT CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING Yields 10 cupcakes
CUPCAKES:
INSTRUCTIONS
1 cup all-purpose flour ½ cup sugar ¾ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 large egg ½ cup milk ¼ cup canola oil 1 cup shredded carrots
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 10 muffin cups with liners and set aside.
FROSTING: ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened 4 oz package cream cheese, softened (from an 8 oz package) ¼ cup marshmallow fluff ½ cup confectioners sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add the egg, milk and oil to the bowl. Whisk vigorously for two minutes, until smooth. Stir in the carrots. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Once cooled, prepare the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all frosting ingredients and whip until combined and smooth. Transfer to a pastry bag and frost cupcakes.
SARAH WALKER CARON is the editor of Bangor Metro magazine. Her newest cookbook, “One-Pot Pastas” was 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).
FOOD & DRINK
Baked Oatmeal WITH
WILD MAINE BLUEBERRIES BY JENNIFER HAZARD
IF YOU’RE CRAVING comfort food on a chilly morning, or if your traditional morning oatmeal needs a boost, this easy, make-ahead breakfast is your answer. The recipe combines the wholesome goodness of old-fashioned oats baked with berries, milk, eggs and brown sugar. It’s a better tasting option than the single serving. Just add water oatmeal and with
26 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
a little planning — just as convenient. Baked oatmeal is perfect for reheating before work or school or serving as a crowd-pleasing weekend brunch. While this recipe calls for frozen, wild Maine blueberries, the beauty is you can substitute any fruit you wish, including sweet Golden Delicious apples, red or green Anjou pears, raspberries or dried
cranberries and raisins. If you prefer a sweeter oatmeal, simply add an additional one-quarter to a half-cup of brown sugar. Or try using coconut oil in place of butter for an even healthier version. The result is a hearty breakfast that tastes like dessert. Whether you serve it to family or guests, this satisfying dish is sure to become a household favorite.
BAKED OATMEAL WITH WILD MAINE BLUEBERRIES Serves 6
INGREDIENTS 3 cups rolled oats ½ cup light brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 2 eggs ½ cup unsalted butter, melted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups frozen Maine blueberries Handful of chopped walnuts (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Next, mix in milk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla with a wooden spoon until the mixture is well-blended. Add the frozen blueberries to the base of a 9-inch, glass pie plate or casserole dish. Spread the oatmeal mixture evenly over the fruit using a silicone kitchen spatula. Place the oatmeal bake in the center of the oven, and bake 40 minutes until the the blueberries are bubbling and the oatmeal is golden brown.
PHOTO: (MIDDLE PHOTO) JENNIFER HAZARD; (OTHERS) ©NBLXER, ©JCHIZHE, ©AFRICA STUDIO/ADOBE STOCK
Transfer the dish to a cooling rack for 5 to 10 minutes. If you would like, add a handful of chopped walnuts to the top for added crunch. Serve warm.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 27
HIKE ME
Mountain SNOWSHOES WALK OFF CABIN FEVER WITH THESE WINTER TREKS STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI
STABBING HER HIKING poles into the snow for purchase, she slowly climbed the steep slope of Blue Hill Mountain. Overhead, the sun shined brightly in the clear blue sky. Chickadees called out from the evergreen trees lining the trail. As she hiked, her body warmed quickly, prompting her to shed layers of winter clothing to stay comfortable. Off came her outer jacket, hat and mittens. She paused to stuff them in her pack, then continued up the trail. In March, the days were noticeably getting longer and the sun stronger, but a fresh layer of snow had fallen the night before, reminding her that winter wasn’t over yet. Nevertheless, with all the time spent indoors over the past few months, she had been itching to get outside. In Maine, the tail end of winter often brings on a little cabin fever. At the summit, snow-covered open granite ledges. There she leaned against the concrete foundations of an old tower and enjoyed a wide open view of nearby ponds and hills and the ocean beyond. While she looked forward to the flowers and the fresh scent of spring, she had to admit that Maine’s long winter had a special beauty of its own.
BLUE HILL MOUNTAIN
IN BLUE HILL MODERATE
Rising 934 feet above sea level, Blue Hill Mountain isn’t particularly tall, but because it’s a monadnock, an isolated mountain in an essentially level area, it offers open views of the region from the bald ledges at its top. Several trails climb the mountain. On the south side of the mountain are two trailheads: one for the 0.7-mile Hayes Trail and one for the 0.9-mile Osgood Trail. Both parking lots are plowed in the winter, and both trails lead to Larry’s Summit Loop trail at the top of the mountain. The trails are also connected by the 0.25-mile South Face Trail about halfway up the mountain. Branching off the Hayes Trail before that is the 0.7-mile Tower Service Road, which is a more gradual route up the mountain. These intersecting trails offer a number of loop hikes. In addition, the 1.75-mile Becton Trail, the newest and most gradual trail on the mountain, travels down the north slope of the mountain. This trail is less traveled in the winter because the small parking area at its trailhead is not typically plowed. The trails are steep and rocky in some areas, but they are well marked and maintained. Trail access is free. Dogs are permitted if kept on leash. To learn more, visit bluehillheritagetrust.org or call 207-374-5118. DIRECTIONS: Parking is available at the Osgood and Hayes trailheads on Mountain Road in Blue Hill. From the junction of Route 172 and Route 15 in Blue Hill, drive 0.9 mile on Route 15. Turn right onto Mountain Road. Drive 0.4 mile to the Osgood Trailhead, which is on the left side of the road. Park on the right side of the road. Or continue another 0.4 mile to the Hayes Trailhead, which is on the left side of the road. A small parking area is across from the trailhead on the right side of the road. Both parking areas are plowed during the winter. The Becton Trail parking area is not plowed during the winter. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 29
HEALTH & FITNESS
HIKE ME
BIG MOOSE MOUNTAIN
NEAR GREENVILLE CHALLENGING Big Moose Mountain’s long ridge tops off at 3,196 feet above sea level, making it one of the biggest mountains in the Moosehead Lake Region. It also was home to the first full-time manned fire tower in the U.S. The tower no longer stands at the mountain’s summit, but its steel base was brought to the Moosehead Lake Region Visitors’ Center in Greenville in 2011, where it was restored and placed on display beside the busy road leading into Greenville. A 2.1-mile hiking trail, marked with blue blazes, climbs steadily to the peak of Big Moose Mountain. The slope of the trail starts out gradual, then becomes increasingly steep, especially after the old fire warden’s cabin, which is located about 1.4 miles into the hike. At the top of the mountain, over the tops of hardy spruce trees, hikers are rewarded with breathtaking views in all directions. Trail access is free. Dogs are permitted if kept under control at all times. For more information, the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands Western Public Lands Office at 207-778-8231 or visit maine.gov/littlemoose. DIRECTIONS: Follow Route 15-Route 6 into downtown Greenville. After passing The Big Apple on your right, then the Corner Shop on your left, turn left onto Pritham Avenue, and drive about 5 miles, then turn left onto North Road, which leads into the Little Moose Public Reserved Land unit. Follow North Road 1.4 mile to the Big Moose Mountain Trailhead parking lot, which will be on your left. Along the way, a couple of roads branch off North Road to the right. When in doubt, drive straight ahead.
CAMERON MOUNTAIN
IN LINCOLNVILLE MODERATE
One of the smallest peaks in Camden Hills State Park, Cameron Mountain reaches just 811 feet above sea level. However, the top of this mountain is covered with blueberry barrens. The low-lying vegetation allows hikers to enjoy an unobstructed 360-degree view of the region from the mountain’s summit. The hike to the summit of Cameron Mountain, out and back, is 5 miles, but much of the hike is on smooth, wide multi-use trails that slope uphill gradually. The steepest section of trail is the final 0.1-mile side trail that leads to the summit. You can lengthen the hike to about 7 miles round trip using Sky Blue Trail to form a loop. Park admission varies from free to $6, depending on age and residency. Dogs are permitted if kept on a leash no longer than 4 feet at all times. For more information, call 207-236-0849 or visit maine.gov/camdenhills. DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of Route 1 and Route 173 in the town of Lincolnville, take Route 173 and drive 1.3 miles to an intersection. Continue straight on Route 173 (Beach Road) and drive another 0.9 mile, then turn left onto Youngtown Road. Drive just 200 feet, then turn left into the parking lot for the north entrance of Camden Hills State Park. A multi-use trail leaves this parking area. Start your hike on the multi-use trail, which you will follow for approximately 1.25 miles to Cameron Mountain Trail, which will be on your right. 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.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 31
HEALTH & FITNESS
32 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
What you should know about
BLEEDING
DISORDERS
PHOTO: © ROBERT KNESCHKE/ ADOBE STOCK
BY SARAH COTTRELL
BECOMING A PARENT is an exciting and bewildering time for even the most prepared. So when my husband and I learned that our first child was born with a genetic mutation that caused hemophilia, we were stunned. Not only did know nothing about hemophilia — or bleeding disorders in general — but we already were swimming through the treacherous waters of high emotions that come with having a new baby. That’s why we’re excited that March is bleeding disorders awareness month in Maine. It means that bleeding disorders, such as my son’s hemophilia, can become widely recognized and better understood. Raising a child with hemophilia, for us, has meant having to assess even the most remote risk factors to our child’s safety. As a toddler, we cut up yoga mats and sewed them into the elbows, knees, and bottom of his pants to prevent bruises when he fell. Eventually, our medical team gave our son a helmet to wear to protect his head from potential injuries. None of this was covered in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” and we often felt alone trying to navigate the world with his diagnosis. As our boy grew out of his bruise-filled toddler years and entered school, we worried kids would pick on him for being different. We fretted over whether or not the teachers and school staff would be understanding that nosebleeds for our boy can be brutal and everlasting without medical intervention. But through conversations and building relationships within our community, we found that people were more curious and accepting than judgmental. As a result, our son is learning how to advocate for himself as he tells and retells his story of hemophilia to new friends as he advances through school grades. What people don’t know, though — and what leaves me and my husband agonizing almost daily — is the true cost of raising a child with a bleeding disorder. Hemophilia is expensive. The cost of treating bleeds over a lifetime beat out the rarest cancers and HIV/AIDS. For example, when my son gets a bleed from doing something as silly and
commonplace as tripping and twisting his ankle, he needs an IV factor infusion, which is given to him through a port that has been surgically implanted in his chest. That factor costs $1 per unit. Right now, a minor dose is 1,000 units. Talk about an expensive misstep. Over the course of a year, we might easily spend $200,000 on medicine alone. And that doesn’t count the trips to the hospital, the check-ups at his Hemophilia Treatment Center or the lost days of work and school in order to care for our son. Because of this expense, it has been difficult to find employer health insurance that covers all we need to cover to keep our child safe and thriving, and so we have landed on MaineCare. The struggle for safe and affordable access to health care is a familiar story for those in the bleeding disorders community. But while my husband and I definitely sweat the bigger picture of how our child will eventually pay for his hemophilia, we’re also incredibly excited about the science around bleeding disorders. Researchers are figuring out a path to curing different forms of this once-fatal diagnosis. In one experimental gene therapy study, researchers in the UK have been able to effectively cure hemophilia. After receiving one injection of a copy of a healthy version of factor VIII, which causes hemophilia type A, patients saw normal factor levels, which has given this group of men reason to hope for a hemophiliafree future. This study is still in the testing phase but will soon come to the U.S., where 20,000 people live with hemophilia. That same robust research to chase down a cure is translating to real-time changes for my son, such as advancements in how we treat our child like using longer acting medicines that allow him to do sports, play with his friends, and not miss out on being a typical kid. Bleeding disorders awareness month in Maine is a marvelous time to learn more about what bleeding disorders are, how they affect Mainers and even how anyone can reach out and support families living with disorders like hemophilia. When communities come together to accept and support kids and parents with a tough diagnosis like hemophilia, everyone wins. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 33
HEALTH & FITNESS
DOES
DRY BRUSHING help keep winter skin healthy? BY SARAH COTTRELL WINTER IN MAINE is one of the most beautiful times of year with epic white vistas and crisp clean air. But it’s also a time when dry air can make skin feel tight, dry and stretched thin. If you find yourself slathering on a ton of lotion and wondering if there is a better way to keep your skin healthy during the driest season of the year, then consider dry brushing. Dry brushing is an ancient practice dating back thousands of years, though it’s uncertain when or where it began as a practice. It is the act of gently brushing your skin before bathing in order to get rid of dead skin cells and promote general well-being. Adherents to this practice claim that the skin eliminates up to one-third of the body’s waste such as dead skin, sweat and toxins, so dry brushing can, through the manual action of brushing, improve blood flow by helping to move lymphatic fluids, which in turn can help accelerate the process to rid the body of toxins. Dead skin cells are brushed away leaving a youthful glow of fresh new skin to shine. The gentle brushing action can help move fluids through the lymphatic system help drain it. Some say dry brushing can stimulate collagen growth, which can give the appearance of plumper skin and even smooth out cellulite. Dry brushing is simple to do and, aside from the cost of a natural bristle brush (boar bristle is best), is free. To begin, get undressed and, starting at your feet, begin to gently brush in long strokes toward your heart. Make sure you cover every inch of your skin. Using a brush with a long handle can help you brush those tough to reach spots like the middle of your back. Once you’ve done your legs, move on to your arms, starting at your hands and wrists and moving your strokes toward your heart. Then move on to your torso and back making sure that all strokes lead toward your heart. When you’re done, jump in the shower to clean off any dead skin cells that are probably stuck to you after all that brushing. Experts recommend gently patting yourself dry and using a natural oil or lotion to keep your skin feeling soft and protected for the rest of the day. After dry brushing daily for a week or more, you may begin to notice some amazing changes, such as smoother and healthier looking skin. If you happen to suffer from those annoying bumps on your arms and legs — chicken skin, as some call it — that might start to disappear as your skin is being exfoliated every morning. You may even notice that your skin visibly looks healthier and might even glow. Winter skin doesn’t have to look cracked and dry and you definitely don’t have to spend a small fortune on buckets of lotion to fend off the effects of cold dry air. With five extra minutes of dry brushing added to your daily morning routine, you can reap some major glow benefits. Who doesn’t love that?
34 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 35
HOW-TO
CRAFTING WITH KIDS
PAPER
MACHE HAND-PAINTED CRAFTS INSPIRED BY ERIC CARLE STORY & PHOTOS BY AMY ALLEN
LITERACY VOLUNTEERS of Bangor hosts an amazing tea party fundraiser each spring, including storytime with a Maine author and fun book-themed tables created by local volunteers. My kids and I have a great time participating, and this year we decided to create a table themed around Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” First step: We needed colorful caterpillars. On Eric Carle’s website we found instructions for creating art in his unique style. It’s a simple process of using watered-down paint on tissue paper, letting it dry and cutting out the shapes you need to create caterpillars, cocoons, butterflies and more. For our table centerpiece, we thought paper mache cocoons and caterpillars covered in the hand-painted tissue paper would create a fun Eric Carle-inspired decoration. We skipped the tricky flour paper mache and used an combination of white Elmer’s glue and water — just as fun and messy as traditional paper mache, but a little easier to make. Give it a try at home and plan to join us Sunday, March 31 at the Literacy Tea! 36 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Paint (any kind will do) and brushes • White tissue paper • Lots of newspapers • White Elmer’s glue • Balloons (we found small water balloons for the cocoons and bodies and funky squiggly balloons for the bigger caterpillars) • Mod Podge craft glue
DIRECTIONS & TIPS 1. Roughly mix your colors and water to create a streaky effect. Paint bold strokes quickly and gently on to white tissue paper. Lift the tissue briefly so it doesn’t stick, then let dry on newspapers. 2. Mix equal parts water and white glue to create a paste for your paper mache. You can go the more traditional flour paper mache route too, but we found this is much easier and it doesn’t mold. 3. We used small water balloons and squiggly balloons for the base of our cocoons and caterpillars. Tear strips of newspaper, dip into the paste mixture and smooth it onto your balloon. Apply about three layers worth of newspaper strips to the entire balloon, smoothing out the bumps as you go. Let dry completely. 4. Depending on your project, you can add another layer of paper mache using strips of white paper towels instead of newspaper to create a clean base. We found we could skip this step and our painted tissue paper covered the newspaper print just fine. We used Mod Podge craft glue to stick down the strips of the hand-painted tissue paper on the top and final layer. The Mod Podge gives a nice finish to the final layer. 5. Complete your creations by attaching the caterpillar bodies together with hot glue, then add eyes, antennae and other finishing touches. Attach to a small tree branch for a fun spring decoration.
with KIDS Literacy Tea
tickets on Sale now
a
SUNDAY, MARCH 31 LVBANGOR.ORG/ LITERACYTEA
HOW-TO
CREATE IT AT HOME
How to make your own
SCRUBBY SPONGES REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE YOUR WAY TO NEW CLEANING SUPPLIES STORY & PHOTOS BY SARAH WALKER CARON
THERE’S SO MUCH WASTE that comes with the modern lifestyle. From packaging to food to discarded mail and so much more, much of that waste lands in landfills where it piles up. But how much waste exactly? According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on average Americans produced 4.48 pounds per person per day in 2015, the most recent year for which data is available. That adds up fast. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about how my family can reduce the waste we produce. It starts with making smarter choices like avoiding individually packed foods, buying only the fruits and veggies we will eat in a week and choosing bulk bins over prepackaged bags of flour. We already recycle whatever we can. But we can also reuse things. My daughter, for instance, recently nabbed two clean jars from store-bought marinara to organize her craft supplies. These scrubby sponges are another way to reuse things. Using netting from a clementines box, I’ve made these to scrub my pots and pans gently after use — and they work well without scratching. These could also be made with the netting backs from garlic or onions and other vegetables. 38 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Plain sponges • Netting from a clementines box or produce netting bag (sometimes potatoes are sold with these) • Scissors
For more ideas on how to reduce your household waste,
visit HELLOHOMESTEAD.COM
c
at
DIRECTIONS & TIPS
HOME
1. Gather your materials. I save netting until I am ready to make these. 2. Measure your sponge on the netting. Smaller pieces of netting, like the netting from the top of a clementine box, may require cutting the sponge in half to have enough netting to tie off.
3. Fold the netting around the sponge. I like to have two layers of netting wrapped around so that it stays secure and gets extra scrubbing power. Then tie each end in a simple knot.
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 39
HOME & FAMILY
IT ONLY TAKES 15 MINUTES A WEEK TO
Stay Organized BY KATIE SMITH
40 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
PHOTOS: ©LEONID/ADOBE STOCK
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEONE who likes to shop and buy pretty things. It’s one of my favorite hobbies. But I can’t handle a lot of clutter around me. It affects me on a visceral level, and I’m always shoving things and drawers and closets just so I can breathe easier. The two don’t pair together well. Obviously. When I open my closets and drawers, I’m always thinking, “I really need to clean and organize, but this is too overwhelming so later it is!” I know I’m not alone in this way if thinking. We all feel better when we have a clean, organized space. We feel lighter when we are able to open the food storage containers cupboard and find the exact container we are looking for with the lid fitting snugly inside. But who has the energy and space in their day? On the same token, no one wants to know how much time they spend during their lifetime
looking for matching socks, the medium-sized Phillips head screwdriver or that journal from the eighth grade. But I have to say, I’ve found the solution to living my best life through an organized pantry, a tidy hall closet and finally getting my spice drawer to a happy place — and it only takes 15 minutes per week. “The Compound Effect,” by Darren Hardy, changed my life in every aspect: my relationships, my career, and the way I manage and keep my home. What makes the “compound effect” so effective is that you’re doing small things often to reach your goals. Whether you want to or not, you are consistent about it. Over time, these small things add up, and the rewards are huge. This effect can be applied to anything: career, mental health, physical fitness, relationships, and organizing and cleaning your home. It
www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 41
HOME & FAMILY
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PHOTO: ©NEW AFRICA/ADOBE STOCK
REALTORS actually changed my feelings around the monumental task known as keeping a tidy home and made me realize I could actually have huge gains by doing small things. Instead of getting to the point of exasperation and delving into a rageorganizing afternoon and being grumpy at my whole family while sweating for hours only to have all my work undone in a few months, then be so overwhelmed about it for the following six months before I take action (again), “The Compound Effect” is the reason why I’ve been able to get a handle on my home without a big time investment. And it has been life-changing. I first tested it out one evening after my three kids were in bed while I was putting away my laundry. My drawers had gotten out of control a year ago, and I hadn’t taken the time to go through them, purge and organize. It’s so much easier to just slam them shut and go about your day. Then you find yourself looking for your favorite black T-shirt that you had your heart set on wearing because you’ve already pulled on the perfect jeans to go with it and you’re now running 10 minutes late because said T-shirt was in a wad on the left-hand side of your underwear drawer and you are mad about it. You have no one to blame but yourself. So on that night, I thought about the book and how I didn’t have to do all my drawers, but what if I did one? And that’s what I did — I tackled my pants drawer and got rid of all the pants I don’t wear, folded them and even colorcoded them. I had a stack of blue jeans,
I TAKE 15 MINUTES PER WEEK TO TACKLE ONE DRAWER OR CUPBOARD OR CLOSET. THEN I AM DONE AND FEEL FANTASTIC. I FIND MYSELF LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BECAUSE I KNOW IT JUST MAKES ME A HAPPIER PERSON.
a stack of black/gray and a stack of white/ light colored. I felt like a new woman. I looked at the clock and realized it had only taken 10 minutes, so I did my top drawer in the same fashion. Getting dressed the next morning was pure bliss. I felt as if I’d had a new wardrobe. I’ve stuck with this method for nearly six months. I set a timer. I take 15 minutes per week to tackle one drawer or cupboard or closet. Then I am done and feel fantastic. I find myself looking forward to it because I know it just makes me a happier person. The reason it feels so fulfilling is that you get the satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment without the exhaustion. And every time you reach for something in your new, pretty drawer or cupboard, a smile crosses your lips because you are able to find it and admire your work. Once your whole house is done, you can comb back over areas that are already organized and it’s a breeze. Even if you don’t think anything needs to be done, spend your 15 minutes per week editing your closet or adding a pretty drawer liner to your bathroom cabinets. I also only buy things I absolutely love or need. It’s amazing how when you do that, you don’t have tolerance for mediocre possessions in your life and you stop grabbing something just because it’s on sale or you are afraid you might regret it later. If I purchase something, I have to donate or toss something to make room for the new item. Usually, I get rid of more than just one thing; it’s funny how when you only buy things that feel special, you are more than willing to let go of other things. If you are feeling like your stuff is swallowing you whole, this method is so worth a try. And it doesn’t even have to be 15 minutes per week. Maybe you can only fit in 15 minutes twice per month or think you need to start with 25 minutes a day to get the ball rolling. Do whatever works for you — just get started. We all have more moments in the day than we realize to steal from frantically looking for things, to organizing a bit instead. And before you know it, you will have more free time, feel lighter and wonder how you ever lived any other way. It’s that easy, and it’s that rewarding.
Your listing could be on this page. Sell it faster. Advertise in Bangor Metro’s Home section. Call 990-8000.
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HOME & FAMILY
Ian and Phoebe play in the snow at Daisychain Farm in Belfast.
PHOTOS: (STRAWBERRY BACKGROUND) ©MIRKOGRAUL/ADOBE STOCK; ALL OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAISY BEAL
(Below) Sisters Sara Bennett, left, and Jean Beal picked wild blueberries several summers ago.
INSIDE A
Multi-generational HOUSEHOLD BIG FAMILY IN A FARMHOUSE BY ABIGAIL CURTIS
Everyone at the farm pitched in on Dec. 10, 2017, during the first snowstorm of the season to spread straw on the strawberry plants.
MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, it would have been very normal to have several generations of one family working together on a Maine farm and living together in the farmhouse. But times have changed. Nowadays, it is much more common for only nuclear families to share a home. One Belfast family, though, is trying a new take on an old tradition, with three generations living and working together at Daisychain Farm. That’s where Daisy and Angus Beal, both 37, live with their two children, Ian, 9, and Phoebe, 7; Angus Beal’s mother and father, Jean Beal, 67, and John Beal, 69; and Jean Beal’s sister, Sara Bennett, 70. And that’s not counting the brand-new puppy, 3-yearold dog and assorted chickens who also live at the farm. It’s a lot, but it’s working, they said. “Five adults — with a big old farmhouse, I feel that’s a good minimum number,” Daisy Beal joked. Her in-laws agreed. “I think it’s great,” John Beal said. “I think it’s not nearly so weird as people think. Until 200 years ago, it was the absolute norm. My conclusion is that the five-to-two, adult-to-children ratio, is quite therapeutic. The kids get plenty of coverage and support, and we get to participate in their lives for a long time. I really enjoy it.” It wasn’t a snap decision for the family to live this way. Instead, it was a process that involved a lot of conversations, communication and imagining of how it could work. For Daisy Beal, who grew up in a household with just her nuclear family in southern California, there weren’t a lot of models for multigenerational living that she saw in her
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HOME & FAMILY community or depicted in media. But when Jean Beal and Sara Bennett were children, they lived with for a time with two great aunts and one great uncle. “I can look back on that and see what worked and what didn’t work,” Jean Beal said. Still, the three generations of the Beal family have largely created their own path. “I don’t know what’s the normal thing for multigenerational living,” Daisy Beal said. “It does take a lot of intentionality. That’s key, so that everyone feels like they have a legitimate place to be and everyone feels like it’s their home. That didn’t just happen.”
(Above) Daisy Beal and her daughter Phoebe picked winterberries three winters ago. (This photo) Angus Beal and his son, Ian, check out the wood supply that remained at the farm in 2016.
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INTENTIONAL LIVING For the Beals, the seeds for multigenerational living were planted nine years ago, when Angus Beal, who was in medical school in Vermont, had to do a six-month rotation at a Maine hospital. He, Daisy Beal and their newborn son, Ian, moved to Portland to live in John and Jean Beal’s spacious Victorian home. Daisy Beal, a new mom in a new-toher state, knew few people in Portland and had a husband who had to spend much of his time at work. John and Jean Beal knew that from past camping trips made with Daisy and Angus Beal that they got along well and figured that sharing their home would work. “It was very convenient. We had enough space so that they could move in comfortably,” Jean Beal said. “They had places to go to have time for themselves, and so did we. It made sense.” Her daughter-in-law also has good memories of that time. “I was in a position to be very grateful,” Daisy Beal said. “Having other adults around the house with an infant was both practically really helpful and emotionally really helpful. I wasn’t isolated in a house by myself. It was great for my mental health.” After the rotation ended, Daisy, Angus and baby Ian Beal moved to Utah, where Angus Beal did his medical residency. But they wanted to move back to Maine, where Angus Beal had grown up and where Daisy Beal thought she could become one of the state’s new farmers. John and Jean Beal helped them scout for possible properties, and by 2014, Daisy and Angus Beal had settled on the old farm they found in Belfast. “Daisy was looking for the right town and the right house with the right farm potential. When they found this one, they
Ian Beal hangs the “Open” sign at Daisychain Farm in Belfast. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 47
HOME & FAMILY knew it would be a big undertaking,” Jean after Daisy, Angus and the children — worked well for us,” Daisy Beal said. “I love Beal said. “When they said, ‘How would two by then — had arrived. Sara Bennett, being able to cut out from my mind what I you like to move in with us?’ I think we a scientist who had worked in the jungles can. That’s huge for household management, asked the appropriate number of times, ‘Are of South America for the last 30 years, was even if you don’t have a farm.” you sure?’ And we decided to do it.” the last to join the household, moving in a On a typical day, you might find John She and her husband, a lawyer in private couple of years ago. Daisy’s parents, who Beal, an early riser, letting the chickens out practice in Portland, had been thinking of still live in California, are also planning of the coop, Jean Beal gathering eggs and retiring. They owned a farmhouse in Porter their own move to Belfast to be near Bennett tending to the large compost piles close to the New Hampshire border and everyone. They are building a house close to with the tractor. In fact, Bennett has taken were planning to move there. But something Daisychain Farm and expect to come east in over the management of the compost, had begun to worry Jean Beal. the next year or two. to the delight of Daisy Beal. Her science “I already knew how much work John “Each one of us is going through background shines through in her careful was thinking about doing there,” she said. transitions in our own lives,” Jean Beal said of compost records, which are important to “I thought, ‘Oh boy, I don’t want to do making the move to Belfast. “Transitioning keeping the farm’s organic certification. this alone.’ It was too much. I was already “Sarah is the queen of the compost,” understanding that it was way too much Daisy Beal said. “Which is kind of funny, work for me.” because when she first got here she said So moving to the Belfast farm and she would try anything, but she living with family seemed like a good didn’t want anything to do with answer to the question of how they heavy equipment. Then she “EACH ONE OF US would spend their retirement. tried using the tractor with They talked to Daisy and Angus the bucket, and thought, IS GOING THROUGH Beal to hammer out some of ‘Oh! This is fun.’ She’s the nuts and bolts of what been into it ever since.” TRANSITIONS IN OUR OWN living together would look Inside the 4,000 LIVES,” JEAN BEAL SAID like, and made a specific, square foot farmhouse, written-out agreement the family has found that OF MAKING THE MOVE TO about finances. They creating a mixture of would share their common private and communal BELFAST. “TRANSITIONING expenses 60 percent to space has worked well. TO THE COOPERATIVE 40 percent, with Daisy Originally, the Beals and Angus Beal taking the were going to divide the HOUSEHOLD, IT TAKES TIME lion’s share. house into two separate “It seemed reasonable,” spaces, so that Angus, AND PATIENCE AND John Beal said, adding that Daisy and their children BELIEVING IT the family anticipated some would have their own unit challenges as they moved in adjacent to Jean and John WILL WORK.” together. “I think the biggest Beal’s. But they quickly found challenge I thought would occur that sharing a kitchen actually would be control, over how we live and was both efficient and a pleasure, how we make decisions.” and when Sara Bennett moved in, Before they moved, they agreed that they kept the same space configuration. Daisy and Angus Beal would be the Upstairs, there is a door between the side “alpha,” or primary decision-makers, to the cooperative household, it takes time of the house where the older generation though they all participate in decision- and patience and believing it will work.” lives and the side where the younger making, John Beal said. Transitions are generations do. almost never completely smooth, but this ‘IT’S EVERYONE’S HOME’ That’s important, Daisy Beal said. one has worked out well. The farm is a central component of this “Having designated personal space “There has to be a lot of trust,” Jean particular cooperative household. At really is an advantage,” she said. Beal said. “It was a decision that we made Daisychain Farm, the biggest crops right That’s true, her mother-in-law confirmed. that we are committed to making work, too. now are U-pick organic strawberries “The noise is challenging sometimes,” Everybody has got the right frame of mind. and raspberries, but they also raise Jean Beal said of life in a busy, hectic It takes lots and lots of communication.” chickens for eggs and are expanding household. “I go outside, go for a walk, or So the older Beals sold their Victorian their orchard. Daisy Beal is the only go read upstairs. There are places to go.” house in Portland and their farmhouse full-time farmer, but everyone who lives In the same vein, family members also in western Maine, said goodbye to their there contributes. have found it’s important to not spend southern Maine friends and came to “Anything that I can delegate as a whole all their time together, but to nurture the Belfast. They moved into the farmhouse in chunk, where somebody is in charge of that separate relationships within the group. September 2014, just a couple of months area and gets their own subkingdom, that’s Sometimes John and Jean Beal go out 48 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
(Above) Jean Beal mows the blueberry fields at Daisychain Farm in 2016. (Right) Phoebe Beal picks flowers on a summer day at the farm.
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HOME & FAMILY
(Above) Daisy Beal tends to the apple orchard at Daisychain Farm. (This photo) The pumpkin patch in full bloom with the big family farm house in the background.
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by themselves to Rollie’s in downtown Belfast to watch a game. Angus and Daisy Beal have date nights, or outings shared with just their children. “You have to decide to take time,” Daisy Beal said. Although not everyone in the family seems to feel the need for time apart. “I think it’s awesome. I have people to play games with and people to be with when my parents aren’t right there,” Ian Beal said of sharing a home with his grandparents and his great aunt. “I like having them right next to me. If I ever want to say hi in the morning, all I have to do is walk down the hall. And also, I love being with a lot of people at dinner.” His grandparents said that living with Ian and Phoebe has been very rewarding for them, though the proximity has led to a few changes in their approach to grandparenting. “If they visit you only sometimes, you can break the rules,” Daisy Beal said. “But every day, you can’t do that. You have to come to an agreement about raising the kids. To some degree, you have to have baseline house rules.” Asked for an example, Jean Beal laughed. “I would bake more cookies if I were only seeing them occasionally,” she said. Downstairs in the farmhouse, all the space is communal, and meals have become a special time for the three generations who live at the farm to hold hands, sing a song, eat and connect. “We’re sitting down and having a conversation two to three times a day,” Daisy Beal said. “We sit down and begin eating at the same time. That’s a good dayto-day format for communications.” In fact, communication is something that they strive to incorporate into all aspects of the farm and their household, in order to help everyone feel as if they have an important place in the home. “When we moved into this house, and [John and Jean] moved in only a few months after we did, there were questions. ‘Is this your house? Is this our house? Who makes the decisions? How are the decisions made?’” Daisy Beal said. “I think it took a couple of years for us all to feel like this is our home. We all put in work. We all put in money. We all put in thought, and we all live here. It’s everyone’s home.”
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FEATURE
Back on
TRACK HOW I REPAIRED MY CREDIT AFTER A DEVASTATING DIVORCE BY CRYSTAL SANDS
52 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
PHOTOS: ©BLACKZHEEP, ©KALIM/ADOBE STOCK
AS I LISTENED to the mortgage broker explain over the phone that my credit score was too low to qualify for a home loan, I felt the shame rising up inside me. My credit score was barely over 500, and the mortgage broker explained that he just couldn’t find a lender who would take a chance on someone with a credit score that low. He told me it would take at least a year of serious credit rebuilding before I could qualify for any kind of home loan. It had been three years since a divorce that left me financially devastated. I was 35 years old, remarried and had just had a baby. I wanted more than anything to have a new home and a fresh start, but my credit score and money problems were standing in the way of my dreams. How did this happen to me? Even though it was my credit score, I had this powerful feeling of being overwhelmed by life and anything related to money matters. During my divorce three years before, I inherited a money pit of a house that I ended up having to sell for a significant loss. The cost of the divorce coupled with the loss on the house had financially devastated me. In addition to extensive home repairs I had charged on my credit cards, I lost about $10,000 on the sale of the house. I put that 10 grand on my credit cards, too. At the time, it seemed I had no choice. After the divorce and the sale of the house, I tried to find my footing financially, but my credit was a mess. I felt so
ashamed, but I just couldn’t see my way out of the situation. I was an English professor with low pay, long hours, and student loan debt. I couldn’t see how I was going to get enough money to make up the deficit I was in. It felt like I was in a deep hole financially, and it was impacting my new marriage. The money problems were like a ghost haunting me in my new life, and I could see I was caught in a vicious cycle. I knew I had to make a change. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But I set out to change my credit score and my relationship with money. In the end, I also would change my life for the better. CHANGING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY One of the first things I had to do was come to terms with what caused my problems with money in the first place. I had grown up poor, and I think a fear of “being without” was driving me emotionally. I never researched my shopping decisions, and I had the idea that I needed to dress a certain way in order to be seen as a respectable professor. I made a lot of poor purchasing decisions, including the money pit house from my first marriage. I didn’t understand that my efforts to surround myself with more were actually leading me down a path to less. In the next year after that phone call with the mortgage broker, I started small with an eye toward living my life more frugally and raising my credit score. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 53
HOW I LEARNED TO LIVE MORE FRUGALLY While I think it’s important to understand that everyone will have their own path to frugality and greater financial freedom, my steps toward it could work for others. • CUT OFF CREDIT CARDS. I made the decision that credit cards were simply off limits. Before my divorce, I wouldn’t think twice about using my credit cards to buy a new dress or grab takeout for dinner. The temptation to use credit cards to “buy now and pay later” was just too much for me. So as I set out for change, I immediately set a hard and fast rule of no credit cards. I took 54 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
them out of my wallet. They were simply off limits unless there was a true emergency. • TAKE BABY STEPS TOWARD SPENDING LESS. A funny thing happens when you take a lot of baby steps: They add up to big strides. We began eating leftovers one night a week for dinner. Instead of eating out regularly, we made it a special and rare treat. But it was more than that. I sold things I didn’t need to help pay off the debt. We canceled our cable and our house phone, keeping only the cheapest cellphone plan. Essentially, any excess that could be cut was cut. I needed every extra cent to pay off my massive credit card debt.
• GET HELP FROM CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES. While I was reluctant at first, contacting the credit counseling service was one of the best decisions I made. I was making bigger payments on my credit cards, but the interest rates were so high that my progress on the balances was very slow. The credit counseling service helped me consolidate my credit card payments and get a lower interest rate on most of my cards. In addition to making my credit card payments to the counseling service each month, I had to speak with a counselor each month. Every time I spoke with a counselor, he or she was encouraging and supportive. It
PHOTO: ©KALIM/ADOBE STOCK
FEATURE
took me five years to pay off the $25,000 in credit card debt I accumulated during and after my divorce. When I called to make my last payment, my counselor told me repeatedly to be proud of myself and to move forward a different person. “Not everyone sees this through until the end,” my counselor said. And, for the first time, instead of feeling shame about myself and money, I felt proud. • STOP BELIEVING THAT BEING A GOOD PARENT MEANS BUYING THINGS FOR YOUR CHILDREN. One struggle that was most significant for me was overcoming the notion that I had to buy my children things for them to be happy and for me to be a good mom. My childhood background played a big role in this. I grew up with so little, and I didn’t want my children to have to do without things. I talked to both of my sons about how things they wanted added up financially. My oldest did well with this, but my youngest struggled. He liked “stuff.” When he was just 7 years old, I tried a different but important angle with him. I explained to him that the toys that end up
broken and in the trash end up in landfills. I found pictures online of landfills, and I showed them to him. This was a good step for him. And, since we weren’t buying stuff for him, we were able to afford things like cello lessons and theater classes, experiences that will shape children in positive ways. • DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR YOUR SHOPPING, and make sure you don’t shop emotionally. It was difficult for me to train myself to shop logically instead of emotionally. To address this struggle, I developed a six-month rule. If I saw something online or in a store I really liked or needed for myself or someone else, I would put it in a file and then wait six months. In six months, if I still wanted or needed that item, I would consider purchasing it — but not before the sixmonth wait. What I learned was that almost everything I thought I wanted or needed wasn’t necessary. • START MONITORING YOUR CREDIT SCORE. It had never occurred to me to monitor my credit score. I think I had not
wanted to think about, but checking my credit score regularly forced me to think about it. My new husband mentioned it as a way to help me become more aware of part of my financial health, and it worked well. Monitoring my score made me more aware and also gave me the opportunity to celebrate my progress, my little victories. When I hit 700, I thought that was about as high I would ever see. When I hit 800, I did a little happy dance in the kitchen. Today, it feels like that phone call with the mortgage broker happened to another person. I have a great credit score, savings, and am even making a little dent in my student loan debt. The process took work, but over time I realized that as I was improving my credit score, I also was improving my relationship with money. And, in all of this journey, I have learned that if I spend less, I can actually work less. This means more time with my family, and that makes me happier than anything I could possibly buy.
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FEATURE
OUT LOUD HOW TO ROCK PUBLIC SPEAKING LIKE A PRO
PHOTO: ©PUSHISH IMAGES/ ADOBE STOCK
BY SARAH COTTRELL
56 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
HAVE YOU EVER had to get up in front of a room full of people to speak and found yourself getting sweaty, feeling waves of jitters and nausea roll over you as your mind goes blank? Public speaking can cause even the most stoic and calm among us to want to run for the hills. According to the National Social Anxiety Center, the fear of public speaking, or glossophobia, affects upward of 74 percent of the American population. That’s a lot of people who get nervous at the thought of having to speak in front of others. As it turns out, with a little bit of preparation and a desire to do well, anyone can speak with confidence in front of a crowd. Bangor Metro reached out to three wellknown Mainers who have mastered the art of public speaking, and they gave several truly fabulous tips. DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO OFF SCRIPT One of the biggest fears of public speaking is that you might say the wrong thing during your talk. Crystal Ponti, a freelance journalist and host of history podcast Historium Unearthia, thinks slip-ups are golden moments that make your talk even better. “While it helps to have a clear and structured plan and a script, things can sound a little robotic when you don’t sway from your prepared remarks,” Ponti told Bangor Metro. “As I’m speaking, I always gauge audience response. Did something specific cause a visible or verbal reaction? A laugh? A collective nod? If so, I try to add more of that to my presentation. It might be a little comedic outtake or maybe something specific or unique to that audience or location.” During a recent public talk at a library that was said to be haunted, Ponti found herself in an unusual situation when her talk suddenly derailed. “When there was a loud noise in the background, I immediately asked the ghost to reserve his questions until the end. This caused quite an uproar. It also gave me an opportunity to plug the latest episode of my podcast, which was a New England ghost story,” Ponti explained. “So, look for cues, and don’t be afraid to
go off script. If you have practiced and are well prepared, going off script is not as daunting as it sounds.” PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT The fear of having your mind go blank during a talk is enough to make anyone nervous. That’s why WABI TV5 News Anchor and Reporter Catherine Pegram recommends creating a plan and practicing it. “Write an outline or key points you want to cover following the storytelling format of beginning, middle and end. You’ll be less nervous when you know what you want to say, as opposed to wingin’ it,” Pegram said, adding that the next step is to start talking. “Practice the speech out loud — preferably in front of someone who can offer you support. If that’s not possible, try it out in front of a mirror or maybe in a room of stuffed animals to give you the feel of an audience,” Pegram said. “Whatever venue you choose, going over your speech out loud is key. Your ears can catch mistakes or parts you’d like to change better than your eyes can, sometimes. After all, that’s how the audience will receive the message, too — through their ears.” Dr. Steve Smith, also known as McKay, former meteorologist for WLBZ-Bangor and now a professor of public speaking at Husson College, agrees. He adds that people should think about public speaking in the same vein of athletes, musicians or teachers: They each must practice their craft in order to be amazing. “Repetition is key. In addition, knowing your topic is critical,” Smith said. “While it is important to organize information before presenting it, the key to public speaking is not to memorize a script. The key to public speaking, particularly in ‘real time’ is to be deeply familiar with your topic, then trust that you will be able to deliver that information to an audience.” QUICK TIPS FOR THE SPEAKING PART Smith suggested that a few key strategies can help make your talk go smoothly. The first strategy? Slow down.
“Nervousness tends to kick our pace into high gear, which is not helpful. Use a deliberate, even pace,” Smith said. Smith also suggested that speakers be sure to make regular, albeit not constant eye contact with audience members as this show good body language. But watch out for nervousness. “Be aware that nervousness always manifests itself in some way physically. For some, it’s wringing of hands, for some it’s adjusting clothing, for some it’s shifting back and forth,” Smith explained. “This physical manifestation usually happens without even being aware of it. So as you are practicing, take note of how nervousness might be ‘exiting’ from your body. Being aware of it is the first step to eliminating it.” GIVE YOURSELF A PEP TALK You’ve researched and organized, written your speech, and you’ve practiced in front of your friends and your dog. Now what? “I highly recommend the power pose or, as some experts call it, the Wonder Woman pose,” Ponti shared. “Right before you speak, stand tall and place your hands on your hips. Puff out your chest, take a deep breath, and smile. Then remind yourself that you belong there, that you have something worthwhile to say, and that your audience is excited to hear from you.” You could even remind yourself that the experience of public speaking lends itself well to other important skills in your life. “Building your public speaking skills can give you a general sense of confidence as you move about your day,” Pegram points out. “And it can help you handle a variety of situations in life that may be nerve-wracking, from a conversation with an employer that could lead you to a new job opportunity to resolving a dispute when a company tries to overcharge you. You learn how to get your point across and do it with self-assurance.” Tell yourself that you are ready, you are capable, and you are pumped. Then get out there and deliver your awesome talk. With enough preparation and practice, you can get over your glossophobia and become one of the 10 percent of the American population who loves public speaking.
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FEATURE
How I overcame
ANXIETY in 2018
58 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
INSIDE AN ANXIOUS MIND
PHOTO: ©TOMERTU/ADOBE STOCK
BY ROSEMARY LAUSIER
LATE ONE NIGHT in May, I found myself screaming into my pillow. It was one of those screams that comes from the deepest parts of you. It’s one you never want to make. No one heard me, but it was still embarrassing. I thought to myself, how did I get to this point? I had so much pent up frustration and couldn’t quiet my mind or sleep. A couple of months earlier, I added hours at my job at the Bangor Daily News, which meant I was finally employed full time — a dream of mine. After waking up at 4 a.m. five days per week to work two part-time jobs, feeling exhausted and run down for months, things seemed to be turning around. I would have a better income, insurance and would be staying in Bangor — the place where I grew up and loved — longer. Little did I know that about a month later, a battle would be raging inside my head, forcing me to question everything I had worked for. Part of my new job at the Bangor Daily News was joining the customer service desk. I would assist with phone calls, emails, online chats, take care of system errors, payments and digital subscriptions. Although it was a lot of work, I was able to learn fast. But as I got better in my position, mentally and physically, I started to feel a lot worse. Starting in late April, I became obsessive with hypothetical events that I was convinced could possibly happen at my work: being fired from my job, getting yelled at, and having a subscriber come
after me, in person or via email, because I messed up on some customer service issue. If something happened on a Friday afternoon, I’d have a horrible weekend. It got to a point where I couldn’t enjoy myself or any of the activities I loved to do. Those anxious thoughts would always creep back into my head when I least expected it. If the mental anguish wasn’t enough, I also experienced jaw clenching, gastrointestinal issues, restless legs, headaches and back, neck and even wrist pain. I was speaking on the phone with an angry customer one day over a credit card issue and broke out in hives. My emotions also went completely awry, as I found myself on the verge of tears almost daily when I would get home from work. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. After about three months, I decided to get some professional help and started researching local therapists. I found a woman I liked and scheduled an appointment, happy that there was some possibility I could start feeling better. After my first or second visit with her in July, she diagnosed me with General Anxiety Disorder, and that’s when my focus on my mental health began. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry, can get worse over time and is accompanied by myriad symptoms.
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FEATURE
The National Institute of Mental Health provides a list of symptoms for GAD including restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty controlling feelings of worry and sleeping problems, all of which I experienced before my diagnosis and still do at times. It’s true that by adding customer service to my other duties at the Bangor Daily, it had exacerbated some underlying anxiety I already had. I come from a long line of anxious women. It felt like I was marked from the start, it just took 24 years to fully materialize. I was grateful that I finally had a full-time job, and I loved my job, what was there to worry about? I realize how fortunate I am that my anxiety isn’t worse. I don’t have panic attacks. I’m not afraid to go out in public by myself. I can get out of my bed in the morning. But to have a looming fear at all times can be pretty debilitating and affected every aspect of my life, from social to personal. The best way I could describe how I felt was that I wanted my brain to be separate from my body and to escape my thoughts. Everyone’s mental health journey is different, and there are multiple ways to manage it. Anxiety and Depression Association of America and my therapist gave me several tips — some of which I had already been doing but have made a priority in my life.
KEEP A JOURNAL Over Christmas, I started reading Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming” and found that she kept a journal occasionally, so I decided to try it. It wasn’t until I started writing, that I was able to process my thoughts and anxieties. I determined that my anxiety was caused by my need for perfection and my fear of being judged by others. I couldn’t really pinpoint that until I started journaling. It is also good to have some of my thoughts written down so I could relay them to my therapist at a later time. TALK TO SOMEONE Therapy isn’t for everyone. You’re basically pouring your soul to a stranger, and it’s expensive. I started going once a week until I felt better enough to go every other week and then once
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PHOTOS: ©TIJANA, ©HASSELBLAD H6D, ©LEALNARD/ADOBE STOCK
THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS I’ve found this is one of the hardest habits to change. Basically, in times of “crisis,” I try to give myself a personal pep talk. What I also try to do is to build other people up. When you have a hand in building someone’s confidence or are around those who are happy as well, it really changes your attitude. I also love making people laugh, so if I can get someone to crack up, that immediately changes my mood.
a month. Getting together with friends and talking can be just as beneficial for me. I have a dear friend who I see about once a month for drinks, and we can talk to each other about basically anything. Talking it out and expressing myself to someone when I’m feeling really bogged down has significantly improved my anxiety. I just feel so much better and in a sense liberated from my thoughts after I go. EXERCISE Fortunately, I made exercise a priority about six years ago, so it is really helpful that this was already a part of my life. I try to go to Zumba, dancing, yoga and group workout classes throughout the week. Exercising releases endorphins (which make you happy), takes you away from your thoughts and forces you to focus on your breath and movements. In the spring and summer, my favorite activity is to go walking at local parks. There are a lot of beautiful ponds, trees and wildlife and serves as a form of walking meditation as well. MEDICATION Medication does not work for everybody, and you have to be super careful when taking them. You have to look at the benefits and side effects, costs, interactions, etc. Taking medication singlehandedly has been essential in my mental health journey. My doctor prescribed me Zoloft at the lowest dose, and I experienced little to no side effects. But it is important to work on other managing techniques as medication alone may not help. Both my therapist and my doctor believed that being on medication would slow my mind down just enough so I could do some more holistic therapies such as meditation and yoga. Within weeks I was feeling so much better. I’ve been working on managing my anxiety for 10 months now. Once I come home, I feel relaxed. I can go to my yoga classes and not feel like I’m about to run out in a panic, and can talk to customers on the phone without having a physical reaction to it. I still have a lot to work on. But dealing with it is one of the best decisions I made in 2018. My anxiety hasn’t gone away completely, it never will. But at least I know how to live with it.
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FEATURE
Safeguarding Your Financial Future with
FRAUD PREVENTION
PRACTICES BY JANE MARGESSON, AARP MAINE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
• REUSING PASSWORDS: Nearly half (47 percent) of Maine adults have used the same password for more than one online account. • BANK ACCOUNT ACCESS: Only 4 in 10 (42 percent) survey respondents reported having online access to all of their bank accounts, limiting their ability to keep a watchful eye on potentially fraudulent activity. • CREDIT REPORT: About half of adults (47 percent) reported that they have experienced 62 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
fraudulent charges on their credit or debit card, yet very few (22 percent) have placed a free security freeze on their credit report. • NO PASSCODE: In addition, approximately one-third of smartphone users do not use a passcode, potentially exposing a wealth of sensitive, personal information should their device be lost or stolen. Five year ago, the AARP Fraud Watch Network was launched nationwide, and I became deeply involved in efforts to raise awareness in Maine about scams, fraud and identity theft. Thanks to the participation of a team of volunteer fraud fighters, AARP Maine has given many presentations in the state and collaborated with extraordinary law enforcement partners, local community leaders and many others. Along the way, we have heard cautionary accounts from Mainers who were scammed but also have heard success stories from individuals who shared how they thwarted the intentions of fraudsters by recognizing a scam before it was too late. It may be that a lot of people feel overwhelmed and have just stopped trying to keep up with the growing need for
safer online practices. Two-thirds of those surveyed said that given the number of data breaches that have occurred, they think it is inevitable that criminals will be able to exploit their credit at some point. However, it is important to emphasize that there are powerful things you can do to make sure that your data is protected. Rather than be the next victim, you can be your own best fraud fighter instead. The AARP Fraud Watch Network recommends Mainers take these steps to protect their digital identity: • FREEZE YOUR CREDIT: Put a security freeze in place with all three credit reporting bureaus so that no one can access your credit file or open a new credit account with your information. The process is free. Placing a freeze on your credit report will not affect your ability to use your credit card and will not adversely affect your credit score. Remember, identity theft can affect Maine consumers of all ages and undermine their financial and retirement security. Parents and grandparents should consider placing a credit freeze on their children’s and even grandchildren’s credit reports as a preventive measure.
PHOTOS: ©TOMASZ ZAJDA/ ADOBE STOCK
MANY MAINE CONSUMERS unknowingly place themselves at risk, particularly when it comes to identity fraud. Reports of data breaches have become commonplace — from Equifax one year ago to Target to Uber to Home Depot. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, there have been more than 2,000 data breaches since 2015, impacting more than 7 billion records. While some security experts say almost all consumers have likely been affected in some manner by a data breach, an AARP survey conducted in Maine shows that many Maine consumers put themselves in even higher jeopardy because of their risky online behavior. For example:
• SET UP DIGITAL ACCESS: Set up online access to all of your financial accounts (bank accounts, credit cards, 401(k)s, etc.) and regularly monitor the accounts so you can stay up to date on all transactions and recognize in a timely manner any fraudulent activity that may occur. • USE SEPARATE PASSWORDS: Make sure you use unique passwords for each of your online accounts. That way, if one account is hacked, it does not put your other accounts at risk. Keep your passwords in a safe place. Further, while it is a great modern convenience, using public Wi-Fi is known to be risky. Many public networks lack strong security protections, making it easy for tech-savvy scammers to take advantage of unwary users. Visit www.aarp.org/ fraudwatchnetwork for more information. Ironically, working with financial professionals is another scenario that can pose financial risk. Thousands of Mainers depend on IRAs and 401(k)style plans for their retirement savings. These plans sometimes involve complex financial decisions and risk, leading
some consumers to seek guidance from financial professionals. While most financial professionals are trustworthy, there are those who take advantage of hard-working adults by recommending retirement savings options with higher fees, more risk and lower returns to increase their own profits. AARP is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to make necessary changes so that all financial professionals are genuinely held accountable. Judith Shaw, administrator for the Maine Office of Securities, urges Mainers to call her office first before investing. “Fraudsters take every opportunity to separate consumers from their money often depriving them of a secure financial future,” Shaw said. “Our office can give you information to make you a better investor and work with you if you are having trouble with your current financial advisor.” In one shocking example, Shaw’s office recently prosecuted the case of Robert Kenneth Lindell, 53, a former Maine legislator and financial agent. In November, 2018, Lindell was convicted by a Penobscot County Superior Court jury on 15 counts of fraud, theft and tax violations, which
included stealing from a trust set up for an elderly client’s child — a disabled veteran. “This is one of the most significant and troubling cases my office has investigated in over a decade,” Shaw said. Many cases of elder abuse involve financial fraud and scams and all too often are committed by family members or trusted acquaintances. Recognizing a common goal to combat these crimes, more than 100 organizations and individuals in Maine are effectively working together as part of the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention (MCEAP), co-chaired by Shaw. MCEAP encourages all interested parties to learn more at www.elderabuseprevention.info and to consider participating in upcoming meetings as well as the annual Elder Abuse Summit in May. No matter your financial wherewithal, you deserve to keep your hard-earned money safe and sound. Following the steps outlined here can help you do just that. Scammers are creative and relentless, but the more we work together to raise awareness, report fraud and scams to law enforcement and empower our communities to fight these crimes, the more we can successfully safeguard our financial resources. www.bangormetro.com BANGOR METRO / 63
GET OUT
PORTLAND
GET OUT:
Portland
MAINE’S LARGEST CITY IS THE ORIGINAL PORTLAND, WITH ALL ITS FUNKY, HIP AND HISTORICAL GLORY STORY BY JULIA BAYLY | PHOTOS COURTESY VISITPORTLAND.COM
Portland’s City Hall at sunset. 64 / BANGOR METRO March 2019
WHEN IT COMES TO CITIES named Portland, I will admit to a bit of my heart will always be in my hometown — the “other” Portland, way out west in Oregon. But I can also say that Portland, Maine, has captured a pretty big piece of my heart, as well. A two-hour drive south from Bangor, Maine’s largest city is a funky mix of old and new, whether you are talking about architecture, food, drink, museums, galleries, shops or markets. It’s an urban area that’s also a hop, skip, jump or bicycle ride from some of the state’s best natural sea and land resources. In other words, it’s perfect for a day trip, weekend getaway or leisurely multi-day vacations. And I’ve done all three. So, let’s break it down! GETTING THERE It’s a straight 130-mile shot south down Interstate 95 and on to Interstate 295 from Bangor into Portland. You can also take an alternate route by staying on I-95. Either way, it’s about two hours, and you are looking at a minimum $1 in road tolls, regardless which of the two routes you select. Frankly, I kind of enjoy the 10 or so seconds it takes to hand over my toll money and exchange a pleasantry or two with the toll booth operators. Whether your plans are just for a day trip or to spend a more extended stay in Portland, I recommend finding a convenient spot to park, lock your car and head out on foot. Traffic in the city can be heavy during working hours and parking a bit tricky to find. There are a number of parking garages downtown in addition to metered street-side parking, which is free on Sundays. When I drive into Portland, I start looking for the first available spot when I am still several blocks from my destination. Once I spot one, I pull in. Quite frankly, Portland is a city made for exploration on foot.
PHOTO: COURTESY VISITPORTLAND.COM + JAMES CHATMAS
Travel Tip
READY TO HEAD OUT? Among the more popular attractions in Portland — and for good reason — is the Old Port. LOOKING FOR Running along Casco Bay and bordered by PARKING? Commercial, Middle, Union and Franklin streets, Visit portlandmaine.com/ Portland’s Old Port is five blocks of working waterfront, getting-aroundunique shops, historical buildings and enough photo-ops portland/parking to fill a memory card and then some. for a list of parking You can’t help but get a sense of the city’s past when garages downtown. you’re walking on the Old Port’s cobblestone streets. What is now Portland was first occupied by Europeans in 1632. When Maine became a state in 1820, Portland was the state capital for 12 years before it was relocated to Augusta. These days the Old Port — much of which is on the National Register of Historic Places — is the heart of modern Portland and provides a window into its past. Many of the businesses in the Old Port are housed in 19th-century warehouses and buildings that were saved from demolition in the 1970s, thanks to forward-thinking historical preservationists. One of my favorite things to do in the Old Port is to grab a coffee to-go and find a bench to sit on overlooking the harbor and Casco Bay. If I look hard enough and let my mind go free to imagine, I can look through the forest of modern sailing ship masts on boats bobbing at their moorings and can almost see those fishing boats or merchant schooners from another age centuries ago sailing or steaming into port. This vision is helped by the sounds and smells of this working waterfront — seagulls screeching overhead, fog horns sounding, sea air blowing and the hustle and bustle that comes with a working waterfront, regardless of era.
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PORTLAND
(Above) Portland’s Old Port in the spring. (This photo) First Parish Church.
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THE ARTS When it comes to the arts — be it visual, musical or any other medium you care to mention — Portland has you covered. The Portland Arts’ District is a short walk from the Old Port up to Commercial street where you are going to find museums, galleries, performance venues and several great restaurants. The Portland Museum of Art has quite the collection of permanent exhibits showcasing American, European and Maine artists. In March be sure to check out the exhibit “Relational Undercurrents: Contemporary Art of the Caribbean Archipelago,” featuring works depicting the impact of the area’s colonial past on its contemporary art and culture. Never let it be said that the Portland art scene takes itself too seriously. The three-day homage to all things Felis catus, also known as CatVideoFest, will be held at the Portland Museum of Art on March 29 to 30. The event raises funds for cat shelters and cat charities with showings of cat animated videos, cat music videos and internet cat vignettes. At the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine you only have to be young at heart to enjoy all the exhibits geared toward imagination and learning. Kids can discover their own superpowers at the museum’s Action! Headquarters! Exhibit where they can try out a secret identity, choose a superpower and act out their heroic Portland-themed adventures on an actual stage with puppets! Come on, how much fun is this? When not saving the day, kids can explore the world of light and cameras, learn about Maine’s local food movement or create their own experiments to explore the world of motion. Sure, it’s all for kids, but I dare any adult not to jump in and play along. For live performances, check out The State Theatre that offers an array of musical and theatrical acts ranging from kid-friendly concerts to modern indie rock bands in the 1,800 seat venue. Portland Stage Theatre of Maine offers live productions drawing talent from Maine and
PHOTOS: COURTESY VISITPORTLAND.COM + ROBERT WITKOWSKI
Back in the present, my feet often take me over the cobblestones, and I am happy to spend an hour or two window shopping and ducking into shops that catch my fancy. And trust me, with dozens of unique, locally owned shops in the Old Port, my fancy is caught a lot. Whether you are in the market for locally sourced seafood, hand-made candy, craft beer, custom jewelry, Maine-inspired fashions, books by local authors or even something for your pet, you are going to find it in the Old Port.
PHOTO: COURTESY VISITPORTLAND.COM + CYNTHIA FARR-WEINFELD
around New England on its Main Stage. It also showcases experimental theater acts in the smaller, 75-seat theater. Then there’s the architecture in the Arts’ District where a stroll along Congress Street is another walk into Portland’s past. There’s the Wadsworth-Longfellow House where poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow grew up. The house contains original artifacts and household items belonging to the family. Head out back and check out the garden planted on what was the Wadsworth-Longfellow family farm plot. For something a bit on the quirky side, head over to the First Parish Church and check out the 600-pound chandelier with the cannonball shot during the Revolutionary War in its center. The 16thcentury church, which welcomes people from all denominations, is the oldest house of worship in Portland. One of the pews still bears the Longfellow name from the days the family worshipped there. And for trivia buffs, here are two fun historical Portland facts to experience and share. Portland’s City Hall was built by the firm Carrere & Hastings, the same designers of the New York Public Library. And, Portland High School is believed to be the oldest standing high school in the country. HEAD TO PORTLAND HEAD When you’re ready to step away from the city, it’s a short drive from Portland to Cape Elizabeth and Portland Head Lighthouse at Fort Williams Park. Regardless of the season, it is well worth the trek as the iconic light and red-roofed keeper’s house are postcard picture perfect no matter the weather or time of year. It was built in 1791 at the entrance to the primary shipping channel leading into Portland Harbor and Casco Bay and is the oldest lighthouse in the state. Today the light and park include 90 acres of hiking trails, a museum and gift shop.
WHERE TO EAT Portland has found itself on the top of numerous foodie and restaurant lists, so it’s really hard to go wrong when looking for something to eat in this city. But I do have some favorites based on personal tastetesting experience. Pai Men Miyake is a small restaurant with not a huge amount of seating and a limited menu. But it’s well worth the wait for a plate of the pork gyoza — steamed dumplings stuffed with Wolfe’s Neck Farm pork and cabbage. The gyoza simply melt in your mouth. Another favorite is the Katsudon rice bowl with panko-fried pork loin that has a crisp texture and divine flavor of pork that blends with the bowl’s pickled red onions. If it’s too crowded to get a table when you first arrive, simply give your name and contact number to the hostess and pop in next door at LFK for a crafted cocktail or sample one (or two) of Portland’s microbrews while waiting for your table. I had one of the best burgers ever at The Great Lost Bear. The Bleu Burger is a half-pound of Angus beef covered in a gooey, hot blue cheese sauce. Add bacon, tomato and lettuce, and you have grilled heaven on a bulkie roll. With around 80 local and imported beers on tap, Great Lost Bear was named Maine’s best beer bar last year by Craftbeer.com. Admittedly, I have a bit of a sweet tooth, and among my favorite Portland places to satisfy it is The Holy Donut. In either location, you will find a nearly overwhelming array of homemade donuts
for more info PORTLAND HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
at Fort Williams Park
portlandheadlight.com 1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth
What to eat RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS PAI MEN MIYAKE 188 State St. miyakerestaurants.com THE GREAT LOST BEAR 540 Forest Avenue greatlostbear.com THE HOLY DONUT 7 Exchange St. and 194 Park Ave. theholydonut.com
Don’t miss THE PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART portlandmuseum.org Seven Congress Square CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AND THEATRE OF MAINE kitetails.org • 142 Free St. THE STATE THEATRE statetheatreportland.com 609 Congress St. PORTLAND STAGE THEATRE OF MAINE portlandstage.org 25A Forest Ave. WADSWORTHLONGFELLOW HOUSE mainehistory.org 489 Congress St. FIRST PARISH CHURCH firstparishportland.org 425 Congress St. PORTLAND’S CITY HALL 389 Congress St. PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL 284 Cumberland Ave.
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in which Aroostook County potatoes, local berries and fruit, local butter and New England eggs are the key ingredients. My favorite Maine-themed flavors are maple bacon, blueberry, apple and — wait for it — Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy. WHERE TO STAY The Portland Regency Hotel & Spa is perfectly located in The Old Port. Housed in the old armory, the hotel offers valet parking ($20) in a secure lot. There is an onsite restaurant serving traditional New England fare — lobster anyone? The bar at the hotel serves cocktails, beer and pub style food. This hotel is pet-friendly. Holiday Inn Portland by the Bay is walking distance to everything fun downtown in Portland. This Holiday Inn has onsite parking ($10 a night), which makes it a perfect place to stay if you want to leave the car and explore by foot. It’s also overlooking Casco Bay and some rooms have that waterfront view. While this is not a pet-friendly hotel, it does allow certified service animals. If not staying in a hotel, I am a huge fan of Airbnb accommodations. A quick search on the Airbnb site turned up 173 houses, apartments or rooms scattered around the city and available for shortterm rentals through the site.
Where to stay HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS THE PORTLAND REGENCY HOTEL & SPA theregency.com 20 Milk St. HOLIDAY INN PORTLAND BY THE BAY www.innbythebay.com 88 Spring St. AIRBNB ACCOMMODATIONS www.airbnb.com
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PHOTOS: COURTESY VISITPORTLAND.COM + (TOP LEFT) CFW PHOTOGRAPHY; (BOTTOM LEFT) PORTLAND LOBSTER COMPANY; (RIGHT) COREY TEMPLETON
Congress Street at night.
Enjoy a lobster on the wharf at Portland Lobster Company.
Summer dining outside on Wharf Street.
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WOODS & WATERS
ON THE
THERE’S A SCURRYING IN THE CEILING BY BOB DUCHESNE
RUN
IT’S WAR. For the past several years, I’ve had flying squirrels in my ceiling. The pitter-patter of little feet in the evening has been barely tolerable. But last year, nature went nuts, literally. The trees produced so much natural food that the rodent population soared throughout Maine. I guess I should count my blessings. I haven’t experienced the rat problem that has plagued many people. And I have plenty of experience dispatching mice and fending off squirrels — well, the red and gray varieties, anyway. Flying squirrels are a different story. They don’t fight fair. For starters, flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal, an invisible enemy. They’re tiny, able to squeeze through a hole the size of a nickel. They gang up. If you have one flying squirrel in the ceiling, than you have a battalion. They’re noisy. Even though they weigh merely 5 ounces, the scurrying in the ceiling sounds like Clydesdales. There are times that it sounds like Circus Maximus up there. To make matters worse, my home is ideal squirrel habitat. It’s a log cabin surrounded by trees. There is no attic or crawl space. There is just a layer of insulation between the ceiling and roof, and undoubtedly that layer is perforated by squirrel tunnels. There are tiny gaps between uneven logs and the roof, just large enough to allow a squirrel to squeeze through. I tried trapping them, but the red and gray squirrels sprung the traps before the flying squirrels ever got near. Besides, trapping has its own problems. Trapping a parent could starve an abandoned litter in the ceiling. If there is anything worse than a bunch of live squirrels in the ceiling, it’s a bunch of dead ones. Furthermore, because
BUT LAST YEAR, NATURE WENT NUTS, LITERALLY. THE TREES PRODUCED SO MUCH NATURAL FOOD THAT THE RODENT POPULATION SOARED THROUGHOUT MAINE.
PHOTO: ©HUMMINGBIRD ART/ADOBE STOCK
Rodents
they are so colonial, new squirrels just replace the old ones. Meanwhile, what do you do with your latest captive? A rat trap may be the most humane solution, since relocating a live-trapped animal often just delays its demise. The only solution is to seal off all possible entrances. However, this must be done after all the squirrels are gone, lest you end up with a ceiling full of dead squirrels. And how do you really know they’re all gone? Professionals resort to one-way doors. Squirrels can get out through these excluders, but can’t get back in. When mounted at the squirrel entrance, eventually the attic empties. Unless the attic has a back door that only the squirrel knows about. I needed help. I arranged a visit with a pest control expert last spring, and the conversation went as I feared it would. He took one look at my obviously-vulnerable house, noted the many potential problems, and advised that the war would be long and costly. It would take much preparation and
many visits to figure out all the potential entrances. He counseled that if I was comfortable on ladders, there were steps I could try on my own. I heeded his advice. I poked newspaper into holes. Squirrels will push it out, revealing which holes are actual entrances. Unfortunately, for the next six months none of the newspaper was ever disturbed. Later, I tucked lighter tissues into smaller holes, figuring I’d make it as easy as possible for them to give themselves away. Those weren’t disturbed either. I set out baited mouse traps. The traps are too small to catch a squirrel, but a sprung trap reveals where squirrel activity is likely. Mostly, that strategy also failed. Finally, I caught a break. One fine summer morning, I was doing some maintenance on the back corner of the house. Apparently, the scratching noise attracted attention. Just 3 feet away, a
flying squirrel poked his head out of a crevice and eyed me suspiciously. Aha! I may not know all the entrances, but I know one! It’s been a war ever since. Sometimes I catch the squirrel. Sometimes the squirrel snatches the bait. I began to keep score. For two weeks following Thanksgiving, I was ahead 14-3. But should I take this as a sign of victory, or that I am hopelessly outnumbered? Were all these squirrels actually coming from my house, or were some of them coming from the trees? I stapled some wire screening under the eaves, trying to exclude woodland squirrels while restricting house squirrels to the direction I wanted them to take. I expect to battle all winter. If the ceiling is still noisy this spring, I’ve lost. But I’ll declare victory if, finally, it’s all quiet on the western front.
BOB DUCHESNE is a local radio personality, Maine guide, and columnist. He lives on Pushaw Lake with his wife, Sandi.
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THE VIEW FROM HERE
Healthy Body,
zj
HEALTHY MIND BY EMILY MORRISON
B
My “aha” moment didn’t come all at once. Please. It took about a year of pounding the pavement, drinking more water, and changing the way I viewed food and alcohol to make the mindbody connection. Here’s what I realized: Running for a half an hour every day helps me clear the worries running haywire inside my head. Drinking more water helps me quench my thirst instead of feed my hunger. Sugar isn’t my reward for surviving the day just like alcohol isn’t the only way to unwind. For me, limiting my intake of both has kept my moods more even instead of riding the up-down cycle of stimulants and depressants. The bottom line is, when I started treating my body better my mind followed suit. Yes, after a while, my jeans fit again and I did the happy dance in them, but in the end, my goal wasn’t to look in the mirror and cheer. My hang-ups came from how I saw myself, not what I saw. I was caught up in unhealthy ways of living and thinking and both parts of me needed changing. On good days, I get up early and have a hearty breakfast with my husband. My baby joeys are now 11, 13, and 15, and they run with me in our driveway. When we sit around the supper table at night I drink tea and help them with their homework. Sometimes we catch an old Friends episode and snuggle on the couch with some homemade chocolate-chip cookies. My son dips his in milk and I tell him, “You know, my secret ingredient is love.” He laughs and I realize that’s what was missing in my “Lose My Marsupial Sack” plan. Back then, I didn’t love myself enough or believe that motherhood could be beautiful, but I’ve made the connection now. Plastic perky boob person didn’t breastfeed my three children. I did. And that’s something to be proud of.
PHOTO: ©ALTANAKA/ADOBE STOCK
THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE who believe in the mindbody connection, and I’m one of them. For a 40-year-old woman who has really only broken a sweat in the past decade of my life, I feel much healthier now than when I was in my 20s, sitting pretty and not perspiring. Truthfully, I didn’t start working out because I wanted to feel better. I started running every day because I wanted to look better, to lose the baby weight that three babies (one every other year) added to my petite frame. I felt like I still looked pregnant even after my peanuts were no longer in utero. And because I didn’t have the time or the money for a gym membership, I opted for an old pair of running sneakers and our long driveway. Hence, my “Lose My Marsupial Sack” plan was born: Run five laps (1 mile) in the driveway, drink more water than wine, and eat only one sweet a day. Let me tell you, it was tough. I could jog five slow laps, add another glass or two of water, take away that second glass of wine after dinner, but the scale didn’t budge. Plus, I felt as crap-tastic as I had before I hatched my whole “Hot Mama Kangaroo” scheme. It took a while for me to figure out what was wrong, and surprisingly, it had nothing to do with my weight. My issues didn’t start on the outside with the extra pounds I’d put on. They came from the inside, from that place that kept buying glossy magazines and feeling envious of all those stick-thin cover girls I saw in them. I couldn’t walk through the mall without hating the mannequins. (Side note: size zero plastic perky boob people are not real). If I wasn’t as skinny as those models, then I wasn’t attractive anymore. If I couldn’t squeeze into my old favorite jeans, then my husband would no longer want me. If I didn’t update my look, then I was going to be one of those women who had “let themselves go” when they became a mom. Really, I was my own worst enemy because I couldn’t stop comparing myself to impossible ideals.
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.