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Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 1
HUD Gaming: New Age Entertainment Hopes To Hit A Jackpot On The Peninsula by Peter Michalakes for Up Portland Near Monument Square, Gabe Letourneau has opened a new kind of club: There’s loud music, flashing lights and plush comforters with tables for guests to converse over drinks and light snacks. And, of course, behind the couches and across from the alcohol-free bar, there are video games. “We could turn the music up and it’d look like a dance club,” said Gabe, the owner of HUD Gaming on Congress Street in an interview over the phone. The Portland location, which is HUD Gaming’s second, opened a month ago to significant popularity. With the knowledge that a grand opening would overflow the game room’s capacity, HUD Gaming Portland held a discrete soft opening, solidifying itself as the most flashy and unique surprise to appear in the Old Port in recent memory.
There are snacks at the ready, electronic music to set the mood, and perhaps as many lighting fixtures as your typical night club. Additionally, HUD Gaming offers cutting-edge technology with an emphasis on convenience: users can play on the most recent consoles by Xbox, Playstation,= and Nintendo directly in the store on one of several large projected screens. Many popular titles are available, and HUD Gaming’s library is constantly expanding. Customers are encouraged to bring in their own games to play with others if what they are wanting to play isn’t already present in the lounge’s library. A highly developed virtual reality set-up is also available in the back of the game room, utilising HTC Vive technology and many cutting-edge titles. “The only people who haven’t liked virtual reality were the little kids who got scared,” Gabe said. “I think the power in virtual reality is in its ability to take
A little over two years ago, Gabe started the first HUD Gaming in Biddeford, having only recently then graduated from high school. An avid gamer himself, he knew that there was a market for gaming communities that hadn’t yet been fully recognised by developers, and he sought to unite a community that had thus far mostly lacked a public face. The closest gaming club to Maine prior to his first opening was just outside of Boston, and is certainly out of the reach of the typical Maine gamer. “If you like sports, you go to a sports bar, and if you like golf, you go to a golf club,” Gabe said. “At HUD, we bring people together in a community that’s used to being by themselves.” Along Congress Street, HUD Gaming stands out as a modern space among buildings that are themselves historic. It was formerly the home of Little Lad’s Vegetarian Restaurant — a brand which remains visible on bags of popcorn, cookies, granola and other snacks still made by Little Lads Bakery in Corinth. “Portland seems to be a big fan of HUD…it has a different kind of vibe,” Gabe said. “Portland is meant to feel old in some places, but we have a very modern space in a very technical way.” The fact that HUD Gaming is able to stay open past when the bars are forced to close, given the absence of alcohol on its premises, is another big factor in its popularity. On Fridays and Saturdays, its lights keep flashing, its music keeps blasting, and gamers file in and out right up until 4 a.m. When asked why HUD Gaming hasn’t pursued a liquor license, Gabe simply said: “We want to be able to game all night.” In some ways, a game is only as good as its system allows it to be, and HUD Gaming has placed a strong emphasis on creating a comprehensive gaming service for its customers. “We’re making a place for these people to go, and we’re also trying to perfect the gaming experience as much as possible,” Gabe said. “We have computers that don’t fail, unbelievably reliable internet, crazy bandwidth…we are trying to make the gaming experience the best that we possibly can.”
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you to another world…you can travel to different parts of the world that you’d never be able to see.” Gabe spoke specifically of one virtual reality programme which has been popular with customers called theBlu. The game allows you to visit distant reaches of the ocean’s deepest depths and coral reefs, witnessing blue whales, manta rays, shipwrecks and everything else that sneaks beneath the seas. Some virtual reality games, such as theBlu, are meant to incite nearly full immersion, in which the user may momentarily forget that he or she is just playing a game a few steps away from Monument Square in downtown Portland, and is not really beneath the ocean waves or anywhere else which could be termed very exotic.
Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
How good are some of the games? Gabe notes, “There’s this one horror game that we have, where you just forget that you can take the mask off. There are people who will freak out for like thirty seconds, before they realise they can just take the headset off. It’s telling of how good the virtual reality can be.” Others, though, are more light hearted, such as the title Rec Room: just as the name implies, users play games ubiquitous to typical recreation like ping pong, paintball and racket sports in a full virtual reality setting. Customers at HUD Gaming wear the HTC Vive gear and are able to fully maneuver in his or her own open space — an entire room — within the store. “We’re waiting on our shipment of an omnidirectional treadmill [for the virtual reality room],” Gabe said. “We want the perfect gaming experience.” Many customers come with groups and play with one another, however, the separate groups within the gaming area usually end up joining forces and sharing a game together in a testament to the sense of community that Gabe has worked tirelessly to create. Gamers who come alone certainly aren’t left out, and gamers are always looking for the next player to compete against. Once in a while, Gabe encounters customers unsure of whether or not to make the venture into HUD Gaming. “So, I ask them: ‘What do you like? We can find a game for you.’” HUD Gaming is located just up from Monument Square on Congress Street in the Old Port. For more information regarding business hours, available titles and pricing, visit hud.gl in your internet browser. And finally one P.S. — If you are wondering about the name for the game room... HUD is a gaming term for heads up display. And now you know!
Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 3
Here’s What We Think...
Up Portland’s Opinion
How Time Flies! Are We Having Fun Yet?? That old line about time flying when you are having fun could not be more true than here at Up Portland because the paper you are holding (or the pixels if you read us in the e-version) marks the start of our 2nd year. This is our 13th month of coming out so officially our 1st birthday as a year is complete.
too busy, but Peter stuck with it and is now our real staff reporter... one whom we will be bidding farewell to after this issue as he graduated Waynflete and is headed to Tulane in New Orleans in a few days time. He promises to do some columns about making the transition from a Maine high school student to the big city and college, and vows we have not seen (or read) the last of him... and we hope that’s true. Peter, we truly could not have done it without you. But we met a lot of other folks, too. We recalled an article about a 14-year-old Yarmouth guy who beat most of the National Weather Service predictors during the snowstorms of 2014-15, so we had Peter get in touch and interview him. One thing led to another so today you can read monthly weather columns from the now-15-year-old “Forecaster Jack” Sillin and see his daily forecasts at www. upportland.com See more about him in this issue on Page 23 and go meet him when he gives a talk in August at the Freeport Library. There is also Mat Robedee, who has a degree in outdoor sports and recreation but works an office job in HIV/AIDS Prevention for the Frannie Peabody Centre (another place Up Portland supports). He still does that, but now he’s on a
And what a year we have had...thanks to you, the readers, you the advertisers, you the writers, you the photography helpers and you over at our printer in New Hampshire (yes, that’s you, Sharon) we managed to convince the nay-sayers we could do this, be well-read and accepted. It’s been a learning curve for all of us. From those who thought when I showed up at their doors or businesses a bit over a year back and said “Hi I’m Ted and I am starting a new newspaper for the Peninsula!” I was some nutcase (and maybe I am) to those who felt I was being a “Harold Hill.” For those too young to recall him, he was the flim-flam faux “professor” in the 1962 musical The Music Man. Hill supposedly was gonna start a boy’s band in small towns all over Iowa, but never did. He just took cash for music books and instruments from star-struck parents in one farm town then skipped to go fleece those in the next. I sincerely believe that many in Portland felt I was going to do just that, despite having moved here from the Midwest where I owned a newspaper which circulated in seven states. But thanks to your confidence and those who believed from day one, we are here to celebrate our first year and start our second. What have we done, or at least tried to do? In the months just passed, we campaigned for keeping our unique brick sidewalks (but repairing them), supported development along the waterfront and helped turn back a ballot initiative that would have blocked it. We sadly were unable to save the India Street Health Centre, though we sure tried (along with other media). We also reviewed and discovered a lot of new and old great- and not-so-great restaurants in this foodie city, and we promoted and enjoyed events ranging from art shows at the Maine Jewish Museum, to concerts by The State Street Traditional Jazz Band. We walked in the Southern Maine AIDS Walk and went to and wrote about concerts in Merrill Auditorium on the Kotzschmar Organ. The best coincidence to take place pre-dates our first edition. I was up at The Observatory to see it and discuss leaving the soon-to-be published first edition there for visitors when a tap on my shoulder got my attention. There was a Waynflete senior, whom I later found is named Peter Michalakes, standing there and he said “If you are going to start a paper, do you need a writer?” I replied that I was and I did and handed him a card, fully not thinking I’d ever hear from him. Boy was I shocked... within 48 hours not only had I heard from him, but a whole group of his fellow students (and one teacher) looking to write, deliver or be involved. Sadly many were too young to have work here, and the teacher got
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monthly adventure for you and I to enjoy in Up Portland. From climbing Mt. Washington to a kayak adventure to Fort Gorges, he’s done and written about it. There are also those who make the paper possible from both ends: buying ads and letting us hand out copies at their businesses. Clark Insurance was our very first advertiser and Tony and Denise and the crew there are still with us (thank you). Stacy at Two Fat Cats signed on to buy our back page and Micucci’s was not far behind. Grace, Town & Shore Realty, East Ender and Optimal Self Health & Wellness Centre were with us from the early days, too. Most of them still are. And there are all the spots where folks said “yes” when they could have said “no”
Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
after we asked could we leave our papers. Dock’s Seafood in South Portland not only opened their restaurant to us for distribution, but they buy ads, too. Same at the Old Port Sandwich Shop, Swiss Time, Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, Harbor Fish Market and Standard Baking, just to name a few locations. We have had our share of “bumps” along the way. Getting street boxes out on the roadways and plazas in Portland is a sometimes never-ending battle. Same with finding and hanging on to racks and shelves in shops and places like the Casco Bay Lines, where we always seem to be covered up by or moved by other publications. And we should say, too, at least three publications which were here before us have published their final editions. We can’t say we miss the competition for ad dollars, but we can and will say each paper lost is one thread out of the wonderfully diverse fabric we call home in Portland. In other words: we need each and every view and each and every journalist to be here with us. So what’s ahead? We plan to continue to do reviews and tell it like it is, whether on a plate on a screen or on a TV set. Same with the upcoming elections where we plan to support legalised marijuana state-wide and oppose a minimum wage for tipped employees which will, we feel, kill many of the restaurants which give Portland its foodie city moniker. We plan to continue exploring the city’s good, bad and ugly and we pledge to continue helping groups who want, with us, to make this a better place to live. So that’s a Happy Birthday for us, a huge thank you for and to the advertisers, readers and everybody else in this city we proudly call home. Together we made it happen and with any luck we will continue to do so!
Ted Fleischaker, Publisher, Up Portland.
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The Buck Stops Here
By Luke Reinhard / Advisor — Ameriprise Financial
6 Facts You Might Not Know About Medicare More than 50 years ago, the federal government established programmes designed to help Americans afford health care services, called Medicare and Medicaid. Since both of these programmes involve many variables, they can be somewhat complex. To provide insight into how the coverage works, here are six facts you might not know about Medicare: 1.) Medicare and Medicaid provide most of the same services, but for different people. Medicare provides services for those age 65 and over and with other qualifying conditions, while Medicaid is a programme intended for lower-income Americans based on financial need. The government continues to evolve and expand the programmes to match the ever-changing health care environment.
2.) Medicare coverage has four parts. Each part covers different categories of medical expenses. As you look into Medicare, you may see the term “original Medicare.” This term refers to what is now called Part A and Part B. —Part A is the hospital insurance portion, which covers inpatient stays in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice facilities and sometimes also covers home-based health care services. Depending on your situation, you may automatically be enrolled in Parts A and B, or you may need to sign up. —Part B covers doctor visits, durable medical equipment, home health services and qualified preventive services, among other related expenses. —Part C (Medicare Advantage plans) provides Part A, Part B and usually prescription drug coverage from private insurers. You must be enrolled in Part A and Part B before you can receive Part C coverage. —Part D covers outpatient prescription drug coverage from private insurers. You must be enrolled in Part A or Part B before you can receive Part D coverage. 3.) Everyone can enroll in Medicare – eventually. There are three different times when you can sign up for Medicare Parts A and B: —Initial enrollment period: Once you reach age 65, you may enroll within three months on either side of your birthday month. —General enrollment period: If you don’t sign up during your initial enrollment period, you have the option to enroll each subsequent year between 1st January and 31st March.
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—Special enrollment period: You may get started with Medicare at any age if you experience a qualifying condition. Qualifying conditions may include disabilities, certain cancers or end-stage diseases. After your initial enrollment period ends, you may have a chance to enroll in Medicare during a special enrollment period due to a qualifying event such as moving away from your existing coverage or losing coverage from an employer. 4.) Medicare is not free for most of us. While Part A comes with no monthly premium if you have at least a 10 year history of paying Medicare taxes, you will be responsible for deductibles and coinsurance, unless you qualify for help. For example, the deductible for 2016 is $1,288 for each benefit period, with varying coinsurance depending on the length of stay. The Part B premium costs $104.90 per month in 2016. Premiums can be higher for beneficiaries with incomes that exceed specific thresholds. 5.) Original Medicare operates without networks and caps. With original Medicare, there are no networks to worry about. You’re free to go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, including outside of your home state. In addition, original Medicare does not limit your annual costs. Health care bills owed (due to coinsurance) continue to grow all year if you don’t have supplemental insurance to help manage these expenses. This is in contrast to Medicare Advantage plans, which operate around the concept of networks. 6.) After you enroll in Medicare, you may need supplemental insurance. While Medicare covers a variety of expenses, there are limitations to its coverage. Therefore, you may need additional coverage depending on your current or future health needs. Carefully review information about what expenses each part covers before enrolling, and be sure to ask other insurance providers how their coverage complements with Medicare.
RENTALS • GUIDED TRIPS • LESSONS PortlandPaddle.net • 207-370-9730 Page 6
The federal government and most states provide resources to help you understand your options and guide you through the Medicare enrollment process. It’s good to be prepared – start learning more today so you’re ready when you become eligible for Medicare coverage.
Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
Sauntering With Mat
By Mat Robedee / Up Portland Commentator
... Is on holidays and will return in the September edition of Up Portland.
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Food For Thought... A few issues back we wrote about not only going to the grocery for something to eat, but eating AT the grocery. We mentioned the goodies at Whole Foods hot and cold bars and at Lois’ Natural Marketplace. Well, it seems Whole Foods has gone and topped themselves with a real British-style pub in the store. Called Somerset Tap House (shown at right), it’s in the space where the old cafe and juice bar used to be — though don’t worry, those have just relocated and remain staples along with the Whole Foods hot and salad bars. Somerset Tap House is an experiment by the company and is the very first restaurant in their chain anywhere in the nation with full service by a hostess and wait staff. That’s right — the Portland Whole Foods is the test for the whole nation. And from our recent Thursday evening experience, with one tweak, we’d say it will be a huge success. The tweak? Let’s get to that right off. The place has been open only since April, so management has not yet sorted out what demand will be on any given night. When we went, there was a lone waiter in a 60-seat eatery and while he was running his proverbial you-know-what off, he was still stretched. Seems that the nights around the one we ate were pretty slow, so management (as any good management is wont to do) cut back on staff to save money and (you guessed) the evening we went things got busy and they ended up short-handed. That said, our service was exemplary and the staffer they did have (apologies but we didn’t get your name and it’s not on the bill as we thought it would be) did super. He asked us to please wait a few as he wanted to drop off some food then come back and give us full attention as partner Ivan ordered a flight of beer and they have a very impressive list. In other words, he wanted to explain, recommend when asked and provide something many restaurants seem to lack: service.
Once we got off and running, the whole experience was good and, moreover, fun. Now, I will admit we have been to the UK 11 times and the atmosphere, while eclectic, was not all that pubby. The menu also does not make up for that (at least not on ones we saw online and on the evening we visited) either, as the lone wolf true pub item was the Fish & Chips. We had hoped for Shepherd’s Pie and maybe a complete British Breakfast but neither were anywhere to be seen — though Rí Rá down on Commercial Street offers an Irish breakfast which is wonderful and gives us our complete breakfast fix. So what did we have? Well, Ivan did a flight of beers from the 20+ choices (in the background at left), and to go along had the Fish & Chips. I, meanwhile, opted for the wonderful seasoned chips and to go along, a great burger cooked rare as ordered, along with a side salad. Poor overtaxed waiter (he’s in the photo above) managed to forget my add-on bacon and my requested mayo for a bit, though he more than made up for it with apologies and did nothing but encourage us to be more vocal if anything else slipped his stressed mind. Thursday evenings, by the way, are “flight nights” so if you go you get half price appetisers (they have some good ones, including chicken fingers) and those beer flights are $7 and and not $8, but please do remember this IS Whole Foods (called only somewhat unfairly by some “Whole Paycheque”) so pricing, while fair is not bargain. We got a flight, the burger with salad, Fish & Chips and a side of the house-made chips and ended up with a bill of $40.50. It was a nice supper with fun service and a great atmosphere, but given this is Portland there
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Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
are a lot of spots one could go and end up with two decent meals at that price point. So will we go back? Yes, for sure. Do we hope the management at Whole Foods makes a go of it at this “experiment” called Somerset Tap House? Yes, for sure. But do we hope they will get the beleaguered waiter a bit of help no matter what the estimate for diners is on any specific night? Yes, please! Somerset Tap House 170 Somerset Street at Franklin. Last call at 9.30 as it closes at 10 with the rest of the store. Speaking of yes, please, we have been saying ever since we got to Portland that we’d like to find a Chinese buffet which looks, tastes and is good, while not being scary. We have tried several and found everything from food which appeared to have spent weeks under lights, to picking hair out of the rice at another spot — yeah we did have to go there. Each time we swore there HAD to be one somewhere, for while we adore Panda Garden’s menu Chinese on Brighton Avenue, sometimes we like buffets, too. Well, as you can suspect, we finally found that special Chinese buffet we’ve been searching for at 50 Market Street in South Portland, just across the bridge from downtown. The place is so low-key and hidden and so unassuming that despite going to a local bank and pet shop over and over, we never noticed the Asia Restaurant until now. We are sad for that because having eaten there, we can say it’s not only good food, but the pricing is right and the buffet’s maintenance and appearance make this locally-owned eatery top-notch. I know there are those of you saying you do not like nor dine at buffets and to you I can say I mostly agree. My dad used to refer to one national buffet chain which had a location near our house in Louisville as “the feeding trough” because folks lined up for cheap Jell-O and rather questionable origin other dishes he called rather ingloriously “slop”. All I can say to you is that Asia Restaurant is none of the above. It’s quiet, the staff is present without being overbearing and the items on the buffet — from the crispy Crab Rangoons to the “Americanised” Chinese items like Egg Foo Young are fresh, hot and delicious. We checked the restaurant’s website (www.asiarestaurantmaine.com) and Please continue on the Next Page
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More Food For Thought... Continued From The Previous Page
cluded Egg Foo Young and Pad Thai. There were also Hot & Sour and Egg Drop soups (we love to mix a bit of each together in our bowl) and there was Roast Pork Fried Rice, too, among the 15 or 20 selections. As I said at the outset, Asia Restaurant is not the largest buffet in town. It’s not even the 2nd or 3rd largest. It’s well-cared-for, good, tasty Chinese food at a very fair price with good staff. And for that we have been searching high and low for over a year. We’d suggest you give it a try for the buffet or their lunch or dinner menu service. It’s hard to find, but not to be missed! Bits & Bites... more restaurant news... First off congrats to our friend Anthony Barrasso on the opening of his 2nd location in the Cumberland County Courthouse. We have a blurb on it in full in the Around Town column, but wanted to put him in restaurants, too. Also a “glad you are on the mend” note to Anthony, who had some complications after a knee replacement and spent some unexpected (we are sure anxious to get back behind the counter) time in hospital and convalescing. Glad to have you back at work as we have all missed you!... Speaking of missing, it appears we missed the Indian Pudding Ice Cream at Mt. Desert Ice Cream over at 51 Exchange Street for now. That has not stopped us from going in to have all manner of the other goodies they offer (we do adore the Boiled Coffee one) but from what we were told, the Indian Pudding didn’t come out right to meet Mt. Desert’s standards so it’s on hold, but will be back by Fall. Meanwhile, this top-20 nationally rated ice cream stand has a lot of other choices so go by and enjoy on these sultry Maine days!...
found the following, which is totally true and then some: “Our daily lunch buffet is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday. We replenish every item on the buffet regularly to ensure you enjoy the best! With everything from egg rolls to sesame chicken, you can savour all of our popular Chinese dishes, and you can eat as much as your appetite will allow...” Total truth in advertising we’d call that because it was all good, fresh and at $8.50 it’s also a bargain.
Speaking of sultry, it makes us hot under the collar (OK, OK just a bit warm under the collar) to go eat lunch at the Little Tap House over at Spring & High streets because the chef always sends out a little mouth teaser (correct French term: amuse-bouche) before your main dishes arrive... but what has us disappointed is things like some absolutely wonderful gazpacho (which was the teaser last week when we were in) don’t ever seem to make the menu. They already have (above) the town’s absolute best French Onion soup (though Pat’s Pizza at 30 Market Street of all unlikely places — whoda thunk a pizza place would offer great soup? — runs them a close 2nd) but we wish the teasers would get added, too. We really loved the gazpacho, so do not be shy, folks...add it to the menu please!...
We especially like the fact that the day we last visited (a Monday) the buffet in-
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Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
Speaking of please and pleasing, to my local readers (that’s anybody who spends over eight months a year here by my reckoning) remember that it’s “season” so plan accordingly. A recent lunch at Micucci’s (Best pizza in town, sorry Pats, stick to Onion Soup!) found the hot food and chilled salad shelves looking like they’d been hit by a plague of locusts by 2.30. Trying Two Fat Cats found little better still in stock (gotta love those Bog Pies and the Whoopies Stacy & crew turn out) and the line in front of Duckfat sent us packing to get lunch elsewhere, too. This critic’s word: plan and if you want a few more words, go early or you will find a lotta empty shelves this time of year. What’s that adage about making hay while the sun shines? Good thing all our local eateries got that down pat and welcome visitors!...
Swiss Time
“Doin’ time in Portland since 1977”
Oh, and before we wrap up, gotta say glad to see the crew over at Two Fat Cats all alive and well. A couple of them totalled an SUV they were driving/riding in when it hydroplaned on 295. Fortunately, they made it thru with just a few bumps and bruises (though the placement of one bruise was pretty curious, but we will leave that for another day). All we will say is things ended well and we are glad to see them back behind the counter making the state’s best pies, cakes & whoopies!
86 Exchange Street Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 773-0997
www.myswisstime.com Monday – Friday: 10-5 Saturday: 10-2
Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 11
The Standard Reviewer
By Bill Elliott / Up Portland’s Film & Theatre Reviewer
The Stratford Festival, which runs from April to November each year in Stratford, Ontario, is a smorgasbord of Shakespeare, classic and contemporary drama, and musical theatre. An otherwise unassuming town of around 30,000, Stratford is located about 680 miles west of Portland (about a 10 hour drive, or six hours — with stops — by plane), and sits about half way between Detroit and Toronto. Taking its name from Stratford-on-Avon in England, the town has held a theatre festival annually since 1953. Like Shakespeare’s birthplace, the Canadian Stratford has its own River Avon (which the locals pronounce “Ah-von”), which is perfect for canoeing or just for sitting on the banks picnicking and watching the swans preening themselves. The town also has an abundance of top-class restaurants, hotels, bedand-breakfasts, and stores. But, most travellers to Stratford are there for the same reason: the theatre. While the festival is no longer named the Stratford Shakespeare Festival (it officially dropped the “Shakespeare” from its title in 2011), each season typically offers three or four plays by Shakespeare. Indeed, Shakespeare remains the festival’s “beating heart,” in the words of artistic director, Antoni Cimolino, even though the majority of the productions are no longer Shakespeare plays. Each new season provides two or three musicals as well as time-honoured dramas (from ancient Greece to Arthur Miller) and world premieres of new plays. As 2016 is the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare, theatrical companies all over the world have been celebrating the milestone by focusing on the Bard’s history plays. The histories are some of the most challenging of Shakespeare’s plays and, as a result, are among the least read and performed. For example, Henry VI has three plays devoted to its title character. That’s a commitment of around nine hours if you want to sit through all three plays. Hard core Shakespeare companies, like Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company, occasionally stage the entire cycle of plays in one day (with lunch and dinner breaks) but it is a heck of a commitment for any but the most ardent of Bardolators. The Chicago Shakespeare Company is currently halfway through staging a sweeping marathon of Shakespeare’s history plays, from Edward III to Richard III. The Stratford Festival has joined the history bandwagon, presenting the “Henriad” plays: Richard II, Henry IV, Pts. 1 and 2, and Henry V. Rather than stage each play in full, the company has cut the four play cycle to two, under the umbrella “The Breath of Kings.” Conceived and adapted by company stalwart, Graham Abbey, the first part of the Breath of Kings, “Rebellion” conflates Richard II and Henry IV, Pt. 1, while “Redemption,” amalgamates the second part of Henry IV with Henry V. “Rebellion” follows the fall of King Richard II and the rise of Henry Bolingbroke, who becomes King Henry IV. Standout performances in the first part include Tom Rooney as Richard, Geraint Wyn Davies as Sir John Falstaff, and Graham Abbey as Bolingbroke/Henry.
while Rooney again shines as Justice Shallow. The rest of the cast provide more than adequate support without quite reaching the heights of the leads. Despite requiring patience and at least a passing interest in English history, the lengthy performances are worthwhile and fulfilling. I’ve seen As You Like It many times, including at Stratford a few years ago. But this year’s production is unlike any I’ve seen before. Set in Newfoundland in the 1980s, Jillian Keiley’s adaptation takes liberties with the text and context, while maintaining the essence of the play. Big hair, preppy sweaters, baggy trousers, trench coats, and head bands rule the stage, with Rosalind making her entrance looking like Boy George, while her friend Celia sports outfits bearing the hallmarks of early Madonna. Characters speak in thick Newfie brogues, giving the dialog a strangely authentic Shakespearian quality, eliciting jokes (“third” becomes “turd”) that probably haven’t resonated with audiences since Elizabeth I was on the throne. A minstrel-like troupe of musicians accompanies the actors on stage, while a minor character, Hymen, is elevated to the role of MC and narrator, commenting on the action, while inviting the audience to take part in the production by holding up props, interacting with characters, and even joining in the celebratory dance at the play’s end. This is what Shakespearian comedy should be: funny, uplifting and joyous. Macbeth is lots of fun too, but for different reasons. The Scottish play is a perennial favourite because of its main character’s unfettered and misguided ambition, egged on by his equally ambitious wife and a trio of mischievous witches. Not much fun, of course, for those who stand in his way: as with all Shakespearian tragedy, a pile of corpses litters the stage on the way to the conclusion. The plot may appear a little contrived to modern audiences: Macbeth is lulled into a false sense of security by the witches who convince him he need fear “none of woman born” and that he won’t be defeated until “Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill/Shall come.” How likely is that? Macbeth shows that hubris is man’s greatest enemy (are you listening Donald Trump??). But perhaps the most enjoyable couple of hours at Stratford this season is a journey back to childhood with The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the classic C.S. Lewis story. Adapted by British poet and playwright Adrian Mitchell, this dramatization is inventive, funny, and beautifully realised with favourites such as Mr. Tumnus, Mr. Beaver, the White Witch, and Aslan all given plenty of show-stealing moments. The set is as magical as the story, with wraparound video screens providing backdrops for the professor’s house and the mystical land of Narnia. The timeless story of the four Pevensie children — Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy — escaping the harsh realities of the London Blitz by taking refuge in a country house is both engaging and heart-warming. The characterisation of the omnipotent Aslan is as simple as could be with two actors controlling a loosely arranged wire frame, covered with pages from Lewis’s book shaped into the form of a giant lion. The characters and sets are obviously designed with children in mind but the dialog is definitely tongue-in-cheek with the occasional double-entendre aimed at adults. This year’s festival is also getting rave reviews for Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, the North American premiere of a stage version of Tom Stoppard’s Shakespeare in Love, and two classic musicals, A Chorus Line and Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. The Stratford Festival continues until the 5th of November. For more information, visit https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/.
In “Redemption,” Abbey and Davies reprise their roles as Henry and Falstaff,
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July’s Many Moods
From the quiet of the Eastern Prom on a sunny day, to the 4th of July fireworks. And from bumper-to-bumper tourist traffic down on Commercial Street to a foggy, eerily still day at the waterfront, downtown saw it all during July.
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Processed Media By Randy Dankievitch — TV Critic / TVOvermind DC’s Animated The Killing Joke Film Fails to Capitalise On Its Revisionist Opportunities Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke graphic novel has an interesting legacy. Heralded by many Batman minds as one of The Great Batman Stories but written off by the writer himself, The Killing Joke stands as one remains one of the coldest, most macabre stories written about the Caped Crusader and the killer clown. Staged in a particularly dark, twisted Gotham, The Killing Joke sees the Joker testing his now-infamous “one bad day” theory on Commissioner Gordon. Can a man be driven insane in one day, The Killing Joke asks its characters and the audience, a question that leads the story into a fascinating meta-exploration of the cyclical relationship between superhero and supervillain. However, how The Killing Joke arrives at its demented love triangle of sorts is one of the more appalling DC stories ever: to kick off his experiment on James Gordon, Joker attacks his daughter Barbara instead, paralysing her with a gunshot wound, then taking photos of her naked body to later project in front of her father’s face. Her actual presence in the graphic novel consists of about four panels, only two of which see her in active movement (as she opens the door, to then be shot through the midsection by the Joker), the only moment of The Killing Joke to eventually become canonical to DC’s world. Upon its original release, The Killing Joke was lauded as the greatest Batman story ever told, full of iconic moments later adapted in both Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan’s films, and referenced in every corner of the expanded DC universe. Over time, however, the book’s treatment of Barbara, along with the inexplicable weirdness of images like midget BDSM gimps and what attempts to be a sympathetic origin story for the Joker, has muddled its legacy a bit in literary circles, though it remains as iconic as ever in the public eye. So iconic, in fact, that when an animated adaptation was announced in 2015, it brought Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy back to the roles of Joker and Batman, arguably the two definitive voice actors for the central characters. Of course, the press surrounding the announcement addressed the Barbara issue, promising her a bigger story line (The Killing Joke was a pretty short story, after all, taking place across a few evenings in Gotham) and offering her agency and presence she wasn’t offered in the graphic novel. Hype surrounded the first images of Batgirl (in her full Batgirl garb, something we never get to see in the comic) when the trailer was released earlier this year; under the guide of producer Bruce Timm (the heralded writer of the 1990’s animated series) and writer Brian Azzarello (currently penning Dark Knight III: The Master Race for DC Comics), could this new material bring some life – literally – to Barbara Gordon? The answer is a resounding no; and in a way, the cinematic adaptation of The Killing Joke is worse off for it. Immediately introduced as a woman in over her
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head, chasing a night life of crime fighting because she likes the workout and is attracted to her instructor, the Barbara Gordon offered in Azzarello’s prequel is emptier than the character in Alan Moore’s novel; she spends the prequel chasing around a mobster who continuously sexually harasses her, only to be “saved” by Batman when she finally catches the guy and beats the hell out of him. And then, she has sex with Batman. When the footage of her steamy rooftop sequence with Batman was played at July’s San Diego Comic-Con, the panel devolved into nonsense, to the point Azzarello called someone in the audience a “pussy” regarding their comments on the scene. The audience outraged was more than justified, though: who along the way thought it was a good idea to do this, to either character? The Batman we see in the prologue is even colder and rigid than the Batman we all know and love: he spends his whole time sneering and yelling at Barbara, determining what’s best for her even as he refuses to provide actual guidance for her journey as his partner. And after she sleeps with Batman? She beats up said creepy mobster (who keeps telling her to smile, or informing her how “hot” she is) and then retires immediately from crimefighting, her two morally-compromising moments overwhelming her, and forcing her to return to her life as the girl who does something at the library, setting the stage for her unfortunate paralysation 10 minutes later. DC’s attempts to Band-Aid The Killing Joke on video is an absolute failure, robbing Barbara of her deserved place in the lore, which renders her a plot device for Batman and the Joker to ultimately laugh over (sure, they aren’t laughing at her, but this doesn’t end with Bruce confronting Joker about what he did to Barbara in any way). Her trauma only serves to fuel the game being played by the Joker against Batman – which, it turns out, is not a very interesting story itself on film. Put into movement, The Killing Joke does nothing but offer straightforward presentations of the images in the graphic novel, which offer up a more modernlooking Gotham, but eschew exploring it in favour of long, repetitive sequences at the Joker’s carnival hideout, and lots and lots of time letting Hamill ham it up, in what will likely be his last go-round as the Joker. In motion, the story of sexual assault, angel-winged gimps, and a man who just wanted to make some money for his pregnant wife is revealed to be as thin and weightless as some always thought it was. Barbara’s lack of a presence only amplifies the absolute absence of humanity in The Killing Joke. Watching this story play out on screen, there’s no debate to be had about sanity, about motivation or about the complicated tenets of justice: three important, foundational pillars of the Batman/Joker dynamic. Instead, the animated adaptation of The Killing Joke revels in the regressive, offering Barbara more space in the narrative, only to prove what little agency she has a character in this story (and considering how her paralysation made its way into DC canon, much of her existence) she actually is. The Killing Joke is certainly a story that has its moments, but contrary to what the story’s legacy has been for nearly 30 years, those moments are few and far between. Thanks to the horribly poor, inflexible adaptation offered by the DC Animated Universe (easily one of the worst among the 26 films released in the past decade), that legacy only stands to be tarnished more, and rightfully so. In a way, this is the best thing that could’ve happened to The Killing Joke. Now maybe we can finally move on, and see a new Batman/Joker story take its place. You’re up, Suicide Squad.
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Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag By Stacy Begin / Owner, Two Fat Cats Bakery
TWO FAT CATS’ HINTS AND TIPS FOR SNAGGING THAT BLUEBERRY PIE You may have noticed that it’s become quite busy around the India Street neighbourhood. Parking is tighter than usual, commercial street is backed up, the ferries are groaning under the weight of their passenger counts and, if that wasn’t enough to tell you that Summer is here, the lines extend down the sidewalk for the chance to eat Belgian fries at Duckfat. Maine’s Summer season is in full swing. I’m sure you’ve seen the difference at the bakery – when once upon a time, in February or March, we had time to chat with customers for a few leisurely minutes, we are now flying around the bakery, double timing it with an urgency that just doesn’t let up as we try to fill orders and ensure that our customers receive the service and the goodies they’ve come to expect no matter what time of year it is. Try as we might, there are only so many of us, so many hours in the day and so many pounds of flour we can manage at one time. This sometimes means we sell out early (especially true for blueberry pies), or we might not have the exact flavour you were hoping for or the size cake you need, etc. To prevent this from happening to you and provide you with the best – and quickest – service possible, here are a few hints, tips and “do’s and don’t’s” to make sure you get that blueberry pie. I might note, too, that these apply to Two Fat Cats, but many of them are applicable at a lot of spots in Portland this time of year, so whether you want a table at Fore Street or rooms at The Eastland, a lot of these same hints will help (Except the hands off the pies one below will not help you get a hotel room!): —Order ahead - our policy is 48 hours, but you can order weeks ahead if you like! When it is slower, in the Winter we can sometimes bend this rule, but it is nearly impossible to do that this time of the year. So if you promised your auntie that you would bring three blueberry pies to the family reunion, don’t wait until the day of the reunion to order those pies. Auntie is not going to be pleased with you. —If you’re not the “plan ahead” type, then you must be the “flexible” type – You like to play it by ear and you’re spontaneous. I get it. No problem. We always have something delicious. Just keep an open mind and allow us to help you put together a nice box of wonderfulness. —Please don’t touch the pies! – This is the health department talking and I understand their point of view. Sorry, but we don’t know where your hands have been. I don’t like the signs that say “you touch it, you buy it”, but if you touch it at Two Fat Cats, well... —Please ask questions – we love to talk about — food especially ours!! We’re passionate about American baking, so ask away!
—Please be considerate of other customers – the bakery is small and, when there is a full lobby, squishy. I think we can all agree to use our manners and enjoy the moment. After all, a bakery is supposed to be fun! —Do take care of your Two Fat Cats treat – We don’t use preservatives. AT ALL. So, things don’t last long, maybe two or three days if you’re lucky. Refrigeration, even for pies, is your best friend, especially during the Summer. If you’re unsure how to store your pastries, ask us. We’ll tell you. We even have a cheat sheet available! We want you to enjoy your purchase for as long as you can. —Do visit our website – We can all view websites on our phones now, which is wonderful when you need to order a cake. Take a quick peek at our site to view a list of flavours, frostings, fillings and sizes. Discuss it with friends and family if you’d like (I know a group consensus is often required). This will help you decide what interests you and will move the ordering process along when you do call. —Please don’t ask if it’s hot enough for me – Okay, this is a bit of a tangent, but so many people ask that I would like to answer the question once and for all: YES! Yes, it is hot enough for me. Thank you. I feel better now. —Expect warm, knowledgeable service – We want this to be a warm, friendly place for our customers, whether you are just visiting or stop by on a regular basis. While everyone may have a different definition of good customer service, mine goes something like this: you should receive a greeting by the time you get to the counter; you should be asked if you need any help or have questions; you should have your questions answered, and if the retail associate doesn’t have an immediate answer, he / she should find someone who can help you; if you are trying to order with less than 48 hours and we cannot accommodate your order, you should receive an apology and some options (i.e. we can take an order for the next day, we can put something aside for you today, we can give you a different cake, etc…). And you should always receive a smile and a thank you!! —Lastly, do tell us how we can improve – We really do appreciate advice, ideas, constructive criticism (even though it hurts just a little). We take it to heart, so don’t ever hesitate to contact me. See you at the bakery!
He’s Makin’ Whoopies! If you make and sell Whoopie Pies for a living, there’s no better way to promote them than to dress up as one and march in area parades and attend events. This is our friend Norman and if you want to see and taste what he’s going on about, check out one of Norm’s Whoopies at Anthony’s Italian Kitchen, Dock’s Seafood & elsewhere around Portland.
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Downtown’s Most Up-To
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Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
To-Date Map & Directory
We know more so you can worry less about... Homes, autos & liability Second homes Electronics Jewelry, works of art Boats, RVs Identity theft Denise Douglass
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774-6257
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Online at www.clarkinsurance.com
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Serving the Portland Peninsula Since 1931
Top Stops By The Numbers
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Kip Thomas
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The Observatory
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Coastal Pharmacy
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Rite Aid Pharmacy
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Hannaford (Grocery)
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Two Fat Cats Bakery
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Ocean Gate Terminal
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Maine State Pier
Maine Jewish Museum & Etz Chaim Synagogue 10 Longfellow House 9 1
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Hackin’ The Net By Ted Fleischaker / Publisher A couple different topics this month... —Just about the time I get into something I enjoy, someone or some thing comes along to ruin the fun. It can be my doctor reminding me that too many of those wonderful cinnamon rolls I get at Coffee by Design or those key lime pies at Two Fat Cats are breaking his scale. Or it might be my monthly bill from the credit card coming in to say even great sales at Reny’s or my fave bookstore need a break. Or it can be Pokémon Go. I know what you are thinking: that’s a fun and wonderful app and it is the most downloaded ever in the Apple app store in its first week. I will agree with all of the above but it’s ruined one of my favourite things to do here in Portland: Talk to folks staring at their phones in the street. Yep, you read that right: Talking to folks staring at their phones in the street. You see, when I am not playing on my own computer, I love to walk around my city. And when I do that, it gives me a chance to talk to visitors, especially this time of year. I have walked up to perfect strangers countless times when they were staring into their phones (sometimes while gesturing and sometimes not) and said one word: “Directions?” That lets me see if I can help them find that perfect bakery, lobster roll or tourist site in my hometown. It also is research because that map in the centre of this newspaper includes the places they most request (usually after the lobster rolls, a drugstore or grocery for some odd reason).
I was some idiot. The tip? If the person staring into a phone is over about 25 or 30 then it’s a decently safe bet they want those drug stores, groceries or lobster rolls. Those under 25 (and almost always under 20) are just looking for Pokémon. So my suggestion: Play on but be safe. Do not walk into poles or fall into Casco Bay or play driving. Stay off private property and, above all, do not scare your partner by shouting “STOP!” at her or him, regardless of which character might be hitching a ride on his or her back! Oh, and Pidgey, please stay out of our bed hereafter! —This is August, which means the highest of high season for us here in Portland... and it means a lot of playing around by the mobile phone firms locally and nationally as they jockey to change calling and data plans (and sock us for all the cash they can get). And it’s a time when a lot of folks try and guess what will be included (and what won’t, like maybe a headphone jack) in the Apple iPhone 7, which is due to be revealed sometime next month. I mention all of the above because I seem to have been deluged by friends asking “should I renew with (fill in phone carrier name here) or change to (other carrier name here)?” Or “My phone seems to be failing... should I buy a new (fill in brand here) or change to a (fill in other brand here) or should I wait to see the 7?”
But now Pokémon Go has ruined all that. Now, instead of wanting a lobster place or a cup of chowder or a cool Maine t-shirt, I usually get told, “Oh no, we are just playing Pokémon Go!” I walk away feeling like some idiot for asking and I am sure more than one of them wondered why I was being a pain when they were after Pikachu or one of the other 150 characters who pop up here and there around town. And to add insult to injury, my partner plays (not fanatically, but casually) so last week we were wandering through Monument Square enroute to our gym at Optimal Self on Congress Street when he suddenly said “STOP!” I was afraid he’d tripped over a shoelace or had a wasp land on his arm, but nope — there was a Pokémon character named Venonat on my shoulder (photo above) which needed “capturing” before we could move another foot! The inglorious things I put up with! We even had one named Pidgey show up in our bed, though our cat didn’t seem to notice. But it got us to talking and he gave me a tip which has (thus far) helped me get back a bit on my “A Game” and ask folks “Directions?” without acting like
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I suppose in Louisville, Albany or Kansas City those would be the only questions, but as it’s Maine and as it’s season here I hear those PLUS others. One is “I’m going to MDI and last Summer I got no coverage there. Does “company A”
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do any better than my current contract with “company C”?” Or the biggie: “I am taking the Cat to Nova Scotia and last time I went my carrier hit me with $300 in roaming fees because they do not include Canada in my plan. What do I do?” And there are also the visitors I run into on Commercial Street who have Canadian or other plans and who cannot seem to find their signals here in Portland. Last Autumn, on busy ship days, I recall T-Mobile set up a tent on Commercial and was busily selling plans and SIM cards so folks on ships could take advantage of their “borderless” plans (which they call Simple Choice) and allow use of one’s monthly 4G LTE Data in the U.S., Canada or Mexico at no extra charge.
The idea was use your U.S. plan in Portland and back home, but when the ship was calling next day in Halifax or later in Quebec or New Brunswick, you could talk there without that huge surcharge which some carriers just love to tack on their bills for leaving the USA. So my point in mentioning all of the above? Easy... before you travel or make a change or wait out Apple or Samsung or any phone supplier take some time and research what your needs and desires are and then buy or sign up accordingly. A shoot from the hip decision can leave you stranded in a contract for a long while or holding a phone you don’t like or want. And then there’s that big Maine decision: This is one of the few states where cell phone service does not even exist in some areas and is poor or spotty with some carriers in others. And those “holes” are often surprisingly close to home and can be frustrating. Regardless of what they say, for example, there’s a really poor reception area for AT&T users I have found in Freeport. Trying to send a photo of a fleece at L.L. Bean to a friend to see if it was the colour he wanted recently reminded me again that in some areas of this tourist and outlet town service is poor at best and non-existent at worst — at least with my carrier. But let’s not single out AT&T or Freeport. The further afield you go, the fewer towers and often the less (or missing) service you will find until you discover that some off-the-beaten-track areas, especially in The County, have no service at all. Our conclusion: check out some of the online sites which show reports (though some are years old) and above all, ask friends or the locals where you spend a lot of time what works and what doesn’t. We do know a few spots (Ogunquit was one last time we checked) which, in the name of beauty, have declined to allow cell towers. That means any service you do get there may well be spotty, so if you are going for a week at the beach, make sure your inn or hotel has WiFi or you might just fall off the earth to the friends back home or the office. But come to think of it, isn’t that part of why you went away in the first place... to get away? Might not be so bad afterall.
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The Optimal Corner Ned Lee / Optimal Self Community Health and Wellness Center
Meditation We are living in an era when many Americans are too busy to cook one meal a day, so to have a time in the day dedicated to sitting down and intentionally not doing anything may not rank very high on your list of priorities. Perhaps though, we could take a look at some of the benefits of this practice and see how for even the busiest people, just 10 minutes of meditation a day can make a profound difference in how we think, feel and act in our day-today lives.
ness is precious because it allows us to identify tensions that we are holding onto in our day-to-day lives; anxiety that is caused by incessant nagging thoughts, and physical tensions that we are holding in specific areas in our body. Once we can identify these spots of tension and thought patterns, we can proactively work toward releasing them. We can release tension from stressful thoughts by focusing on the breath or a positive mantra. This allows space for the mind to slowly decompress and let go of constant thinking. If you are able to sit still for 10 minutes while focusing on your breath you will surely notice a difference in your mental state and hopefully your physical state as well. You may feel your mind refreshed and revitalised, allowing you to think more clearly, productively and creatively. Meditation also has the power to lower blood pressure, regulate inflammation in the body, stabilise our emotions and increase our serotonin production. It is a great way to combat chronic mental stress and anxiety. Some of the busiest people use regular meditation to keep their mind focused and efficient in the workplace. When we learn to calm the mind using our breath we are acquiring a powerful tool for stress management. Less stress means our immune system is less fatigued; we think more clearly and we feel happier and more confident.
I have heard numerous accounts from people who have tried to meditate but felt that either they couldn’t sit still, couldn’t stop thinking or just didn’t know whether they were doing it right and therefore, gave up. I certainly have experience with all of those feelings.
Creating more space in our mind with silence and stillness makes the problems and stressors in our life seem more manageable and less consuming. When we are more calm and composed we are less quick to react negatively, dealing with what would normally be stressful situations.
What we have to acknowledge first is that learning to meditate is a process. You may be shocked to find that the very basic task of sitting still and not thinking can at times feel impossible, but ALAS young grasshopper!, you have just realised lesson one: YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF YOUR MIND. And if you are not in control of it, then it must be in control of you.
Now that we know some of the benefits of meditation, we must set ourselves up for success with our meditation practice. It is important to find a quiet time and place where we won’t be disturbed. Put your phone on silent and find a comfortable posture either sitting or lying down. If you are feeling tense, stretching beforehand can also be helpful.
In this realisation we gain the humility to know that if we want to gain some sovereignty over what’s happening in our mind, it is going to take practice and persistence. Your thoughts are persistent, but luckily, so are you. In order to find our place of inner stillness we must overcome the barrier which Steven Pressfield calls, in his classic book, The War of Art, our “resistance”.
Start by taking a few long deep breaths and watching your breath as you inhale cool air, and exhale hot, tense air. Don’t be discouraged if thoughts don’t disappear right away. This is to be expected. The mind is always thinking because it is always trying to figure things out and solve problems.
“Resistance” is the force that works against you as you strive to achieve whatever it is that you have set out to do. As the diligent yogi you are, it is your mission to win the battle against resistance every day. If one truly wishes to remain faithful to any practice then you must stay on your toes. The sly cunning of resistance can approach at any time, and it wears many disguises. Resistance can take the form of limiting beliefs such as, “I can’t do this, my mind is too busy” or “I don’t have enough time to meditate with my busy schedule.” It can manifest as procrastination, boredom or apathy. A lot of the benefit of keeping a regular meditation practice comes from what you learn from recognising your own personal resistance and denying the impulse to procrastinate and stay in your comfort zone. When you get in the habit of seeing those limiting beliefs as just thoughts — and not actual barriers that will stop you from meditating — you are cultivating some dominion over your mind, which is a valuable tool in the game of life. Imagine if whenever you had thoughts that were not serving you or were hurting you all you had to was hit a reset button. Well, meditation is, in a sense, precisely that button. Meditation is achieving a state of stillness in both body and mind. This still-
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Instead, try being appreciative of your mind for all the work it gets done and all the problems it solves, and be accepting of the fact that it takes some time to slow the momentum of the constant thoughts it generates. The goal is not to get frustrated when thoughts appear, but rather to just recognise them as they show up and allow them to float by like clouds in the sky. Another helpful tool for the beginner yogi is guided meditations. There are numerous guided meditations that can be found on YouTube which have someone’s voice guiding you through the process. This can alleviate a looming sense of wondering if you’re “doing it right”. Eventually, once you get used to the process of reaching a meditative state you won’t need any guidance... the skill will be there for you any time you need it. Finally, the beauty of meditation is it is free and available to anyone willing to put in the effort. It has the power to alleviate stress, pain and anxiety. It can illuminate the resistance that holds us back, provide deeper insight into how our mind functions and balance a busy lifestyle. There is only so much you can get from reading about meditation though. See how meditation can make a difference in your life by giving it a try. If you have questions or need a bit of help, drop in and see us at Optimal Self Health & Wellness Centre on Congress Street.
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Beyond The Forecast
By Jack Sillin / Weatherman & Meterology Student Hello everyone!
Meteorological Summer (1st June thru 31st August) is now in its final few weeks. We have also already gotten through the average hottest day of the year (statistically it’s 23rd July) which means we are beginning our slow slide into Winter. Meanwhile, why is it so darn hot out? In this month’s Behind the Forecast, I’ll explore Maine’s week or two of hazy hot and humid weather and why we don’t often see temps this toasty. 14th and 15th July brought two of the best examples of Maine’s two types of heat. When it feels really hot out, we either have reasonable temps and oppressive humidity, or very high temps and lower humidity. Thankfully, we rarely see the 90 and very humid other areas of the country see. If it’s going to be very humid (dew points >70), our temps will rarely exceed 80-85 in Portland. If we see highs in the 90’s, dew points will typically be much lower. 14th July saw very high dew points which made going outside feel like an extended trip to the sauna. Despite how oppressively hot it felt, the heat was much more due to dew points in the low to mid 70’s (Portland topped out at 72, Portsmouth saw a dew point of 75). Temps that day topped out at 77 which was recorded at 11 a.m. before southerly winds brought in cooler, but still very humid, air off the water. Who knew the mid 70’s could feel so hot? The 15th brought much warmer temps, but also much lower dewpoints. Temps soared up into the low 90’s (Portland topped out at 92) but dew points were much lower as the humid air was chased just offshore by overnight showers (dew points fell to 62 during the heat of the day). Did it feel hotter? Maybe, maybe not, but it certainly felt different. Both the 14th and 15th were unusual for Maine, even in the Summer. The average high temp in July is a comfy 79, August, on average, brings a high of 78. Why do we not see oppressive heat more often? The short answer, for Portland at least, is the ocean.
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The Gulf of Maine gets its water from the Labrador current which travels south around Nova Scotia from the icy Labrador Sea near Greenland. The warm Gulf Stream takes a hard right at Cape Hatteras and whatever is leftover is sent packing by Cape Cod, leaving the water temperature near us quite chilly all year round. The average water temperature in Portland peaks in August at a frosty 62 degrees. Simply the proximity to such cold water will dampen the effects of a warm airmass. A sea breeze (explained in my May column), often keeps temps in Portland at a steady 70-75, sometimes even lower. To have heat, the winds must be out of the SW so as to oppose the sea breeze and prevent it from developing enough to have any real impact. Another ingredient you need for heat in Portland along with a SW wind is the sun. Getting the sun to pop out with a strong SW wind is tricky because in Maine SW winds tend to come out ahead of cold fronts which bring showers and storms to the region. With a cold front approaching, often times the sun will become hidden behind the clouds which prevents strong, heat inducing sunlight from reaching the ground. All in all, we’re lucky in Portland not to have too much heat. The need for the sun, the wind, and the ocean influence to all be doing the right thing at the right time prevents us from getting any serious sustained heat, though, as my editor noted, there are some very noticable exceptions to this.
A map from the National Weather Service Gray Presentation
He did a bit of research and reports: The biggest exception was in July 1911, when what stands still today as the worst heatwave ever killed over 1,000 people in Maine and adjacent New England states. Many of the records established in that heatwave remain as the highest ever for the cities affected and for the states where they took place. To commemorate this event, the National Weather Service at Gray recently did a video explaining just what took place and how desperate folks got to escape the scorching 100-degree-plus heat in those pre-air conditioning days. The video can be seen as of this writing via a link from the Gray weather page at www. weather.gov/gyx/ or via a direct link at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFfK B7QfP7s&feature=youtu.be. He says it’s worth a look and I agree. But what happens to make us hot when we are? When we do have heat, it comes in two forms: low humidity, high temps, or high humidity, low temps. Both feel equally uncomfortable, but neither is overly oppressive. We will likely see at least a few more days like the 14th and 15th of July, and later on the 22nd
Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com
of July when we officially hit 95 degrees (which is when we took the photo at left) but as we breeze through August the days are getting shorter and temperatures will be responding to that soon enough. In a few months, we’ll be talking about nor’easters and the rain/snow line. -------------------------------------Meteorology is also sometimes known as atmospheric science. It is an apt name because there is TONS of science involved in predicting the weather. As many of you know, science involves some big words and complicated terms that can seem confusing. To try to whittle away at the behemoth that is weather jargon, I’ll be explaining a couple terms I use frequently each month so you, too, can follow along with even the most technical discussions. If you have any more questions or have a term you want me to explain, shoot me an e-mail jack.sillin@gmail.com or send me a tweet @JackSillin. Heat Index The heat index, also known as the THI (Temperature Humidity Index), or humidex, is a measure of how hot it feels outside. Think of it as the warm season equivalent of the wind chill, which measures how cold it feels out. It takes into account not only the temperature but the humidity. This means that a high temp/low dew point day would receive a similar Heat Index as a low temp/high dew point day. I tried putting in the temps and dew points from the 14th and 15th as a comparison but the calculations don’t work when the temp is below 80 degrees, as it was on the 14th. Just as an example, if temps on the 14th were a little higher, around 85, the heat index would’ve been 93, the exact same as the 15th with a high temp of 92. This shows how the heat index can serve as a common denominator so to speak for evaluating and comparing just how hot it feels on certain days.
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Immediate Coast I use lots of geographic terms when discussing the weather as geography is very important when trying to explain what might be going to happen where and when. My definition of the ‘Immediate Coast’ for example is based more on which areas see the most influence from the ocean, rather than simply their proximity to salt water. For example, I live in Yarmouth which is in the NW corner of Casco Bay. I, like many who live in Yarmouth, can see Casco Bay from my front yard. However, because I am nearly a dozen miles, and about as many islands, away from the open waters of the Gulf of Maine, it takes the sea breeze a little while longer to reach me in the Summer and likewise in the Winter. I have seen several rain/snow lines set up a mile or two to my Southeast, where most of the coast is seeing rain as I watch snow continue to pile up. I can see the water from my house but it doesn’t impact my weather as much as, say, Cape Elizabeth’s. I have included a map that shows where I am referring to when I talk about various regions in my forecasts. —Jack.
We at Up Portland found him first, but Down East Magazine recently named our Forecaster Jack as the best meteorologist in Maine. Now to be technical, he’s not a meteorologist at all (Yet!)as that’s a title one gets with a certification and a college degree (and he’s just starting to search for colleges as he’s only 15 and a North Yarmouth Academy Sophomore) but that doesn’t mean he’s not one of the best in the business. Up Portland is thrilled to have his forecast every day on our website at www.upportland.com, too. If all this makes you want to meet him even more, he will be giving a presentation at the Freeport Community Library 17th August at 6.30 p.m. about Maine weather, how he learned to forecast it and how you can help the efforts of all meteorologists in the area. If you’re around, he’d love to see you there and get a chance to say hi. Be sure to say “congrats” to our award-winner, too! Up Portland 08.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 23
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The Gossip Column
By Britain & Sydney / The Office Gossip Cats
They call these the dog days of Summer and we pussies say the dogs can have them what with all the heat and humidity we have had lately here on the Peninsula, including that 95-degree day about 10 days ago. That said, even the most sweltering of days have had no shortage of antics to report, so let’s see what we have heard... First off a fond farewell to our fave seafood salesman (fishmonger as the Brits would say, but we cats love fish in any language) Luke over at Harbor Fish Market. The boy has headed away from the shore to a desk job and for now Harbor Fish is way quieter and less fun, despite still having Dan happily at the helm. Here’s what’s funny: Luke was away a fair amount during his final weeks at Harbor Fish, not to go skiing as he does all Winter but because he was off being a groupie of his fave rock group, named appropriately enough, Phish! All the best, Luke and hope we see you around from time to time on the waterfront... Speaking of Phishing, (and water) we had to laugh loudly when we took a close look at the sidewalk cafe they have over at Shay’s Grill Pub on Monument Square. In truth the expression which came to mind first was one about an “elephant in the room” because if the need is ever there for water to put out a fire, it can be found right under one of the tables on the restaurant’s sidewalk cafe. It seems hilarious to us that a table and chairs would be allowed over a hydrant, but lo and behold there is a hydrant “hiding” right there in plain sight. As for that table when the hostess seats you, we guarantee you will not have to ask for water!... Finally, speaking of fires, we got a lot of good comments about last month’s feature on the Great Fire of 1866 in Portland by Peter Michalakes, but we are sad nobody grabbed an opportunity and did t-shirts commemorating the 150th. We even checked with the Maine Historical Society and there was not a shirt to be found anywhere. We cats bet had someone done one they would have sold like a house afire!
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All Aboard To Help Vets! On the 4th of July, the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance partnered with the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum to host a supply drive for displaced veterans and the homeless. The event was held at Portland's Ocean Gateway Terminal, where an antique railroad car was parked and filled with donations of clothing, water, sunscreen, and other desperately-needed items. Donnell Carroll, executive director of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, was there to greet passersby and help spread the word about the MHVA and how the two organisations came together to make this event a reality. MHVA Executive Director Roger Goodoak, a.k.a. Portland's "Batman," was also there to help receive donations and ensure that every pedestrian who passed by received their own American flag for Independence Day.
Lichens
|קבלת אורReceiving Light Camille Davidson
Juliet Karelsen
Through September 6, 2016
Through September 6, 2016 First Friday: August 5 & September 2, 5pm - 8pm
First Friday: August 5 & September 2, 5pm - 8pm
Fineberg Community Room | Curated by Nancy Davidson
Spiegel Art Gallery | Curated by Nancy Davidson
A new body of work by Camille Davidson, conceived and designed for the Maine Jewish Museum. Three new series of paintings - Kabbalat Ohr, the Sefirot series, and Jacob’s Pillow are infused with the ancient mystical practice of remaining receptive to receiving the shards of light, the sparks of Holiness, the remnants of Divine energy from Genesis that are still present in the ordinary moments of our daily lives. Ms. Davidson’s paintings seek to receive, hold, and liberate such moments. Boldly rendered, they are less didactic and more experiential, less literal and more expressive. With this new body of work our beautiful museum and synagogue space invites all to participate in the possibility of Kabbalat Ohr, receiving light.
These stitched “paintings” are metaphors, forest jewels and small green messengers that call attention to the beauty of the environment and its need for preservation and protection. They are sketches of changing light, hues, textures, and lines of the plants, lichens, mushrooms, mosses, and the landscapes small and large around us. Like nature they provide surprises-unexpected juxtapositions, odd compositions, tiny startling detail. They cross genres between painting, stitching, tapestry, rug making, and embroidery and reference abstract art, fantasy, landscape, textile, miniature worlds, and even science, from botany to mycology. They were inspired by Karelsen’s time spent at The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts last summer.
Maine Jewish Museum
267 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 773-2339 Monday - Friday 10am-2pm + Sundays 1pm - 5pm or by appointment
mainejewishmuseum.org
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Patriots Fans: There’s A New TB To Root For And He’s Even From Right Here In Westbrook by Nicole Laplante For Up Portland Just how our beloved Tom Brady began his career in the NFL, 22-year-old Trevor Bates embraces his identity as “the underdog.” He has a quiet confidence, admitting he loves proving people wrong. Bates did just that as he went from being “pretty much a walk-on” at the University of Maine to getting drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. Growing up in Westbrook, Trevor’s favourite sport was baseball. It wasn’t until high school that he realised his true passion was football, despite playing for the struggling Westbrook Blue Blazes squad. “We were awful. My sophomore year we went 0-8… well technically, 1-7 because of a forfeit.” Craving for some success in the sport he so loved, Bates took his best offer: a very small athletic scholarship from the University of Maine. Bates chose to redshirt his freshman year to help ease the transition from high school football to Division 1, where players are bigger, stronger, and faster. As a rookie for UMaine, he witnessed older players attracting NFL scouts to each practice. “It was eye-opening; your first year in college and the Jaguars are here, the Eagles are here… and obviously having them at practice makes you work harder. Seeing that was when I realised my dream of playing in the NFL was tangible if I worked hard enough.” It wasn’t long before Bates’ coaches started to notice his hardworking attitude, especially newly appointed defensive coordinator, Paul Ferraro. Ferraro had previously coached defense for the St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings and the Carolina Panthers.
Bates immediately got choked up and of course, agreed. After hanging up, unable to explain what just happened to his curious family, Bates simply pointed to the TV which displayed “Trevor Bates drafted to the Indianapolis Colts.” In true TB fashion, Bates was drafted late as the 239th pick in the 7th round. He’s the first Mainer to get drafted into the NFL since Gerry Raymond of Lewiston in 1982, and the first Maine Black Bear to get drafted since Kendall James in 2014. UMaine has a small football programme compared to other Division 1 schools, making it more difficult to get noticed by the NFL. The football facilities and resources at UMaine are very basic compared to those at the nation’s top college football powerhouses, where most of Bates’ new teammates spent their university careers. But Bates wouldn’t have had it any other way. Not having any luxuries and being taught the value of hard work by his coaches at UMaine has made him the player he is today. “Maine isn’t a place where you get all these lovely things thrown at you... you gotta really work. It’s a grind up there, separating the weak from the strong. Us smaller school players share the same identity; we work harder than most… having always kinda been underrated, not big enough or not fast enough... I enjoy coming out the woodwork and proving people wrong.” Now at training camp in Indianapolis with an abundance of top-notch resources at his fingertips, (including a chef on staff, nutrition guides and top-of-the-line training and recovery rooms), Bates is ready to take full advantage. Besides the facilities and resources, other differences from Bates’ college days include a larger playbook to study and a new position for him: linebacker. In college, Bates played defensive end, where he excelled. But now, with much bigger players to fill the defensive end position, Bates will use his smaller stature and quickness as a linebacker. He says its been a smooth transition so far, thanks to all the advice he’s been receiving from the coaches and veteran players like Trent Cole, who was one of Bates’
“I was a sophomore and we were playing Delaware and he [Ferraro] comes up and says ‘Batesy, I already think you could play in the NFL but if you keep playing like this, you’ll be playing for the next 15 years’. I had never heard him say one good thing so I just kinda looked at him… but hearing that from an NFL guy when I was so young was huge.” For Bates, Ferraro’s words marked the pivotal moment he knew he could reach his dream of going pro. That same year (2013), he helped UMaine win the conference championship — a moment he recalls as one of his favourite sports memories. Bates finished his final college season in December. Soon after, he found an agent and was off to a professional training centre in Tampa, where he spent the next two months in the hopes he’d be invited to the NFL Combine. Unfortunately, he did not receive the invite, leaving his only chance to perform for NFL scouts at UMaine’s pro day in March. After the pro day, Bates earned himself invitations to tour the facilities of the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs, who all showed interest in him. In April, after a month of anxiously waiting, Bates finally received the news from Colts GM Ryan Grigson two minutes before it was broadcast on national TV. “All this draft music starts playing and I’m just quivering… it was really a surreal moment.” Grigson told him, “We’re going to take you next pick, but I need you to promise me you’re gonna give us everything you got… prepare the right way, play the right way and go all out everyday.”
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favourite players growing up as an Eagles fan. There is one thing that’s remained the same moving from college to the pros, which Bates referred to as “the beauty of football,” and that is the feeling of being part of a family. “Everyone thinks the NFL is business, which it is, and they handle it like one, but at the end of the day, it’s a team and these are your brothers. That’s no different than college. It’s a very close-knit community. It was relieving to see how the vets took us rookies in.” Bates’ Black Bear family is what he says he’ll miss most. He says the university as well as the whole state has shown him incredible support. Younger kids have been contacting Bates ever since he got drafted, telling him he’s their role model. “I love to be able to use my platform in showing younger kids that they can design their own path towards reaching their dreams if they work hard enough.” Not only kids, but all Mainers, look forward to seeing just how high this underdog can jump.
About The Author Nicole Laplante is a recent college graduate looking to break into the sports industry. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in communications. This past year, she served as an athletic communications intern and assistant women’s lacrosse coach for the University of Southern Maine. Nicole enjoys playing, promoting, spectating and writing about all different types of sports.
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Around Town
News Briefs On & Near The Peninsula
ORDER IN THE COURT!!! There may not be much order in the court, but you can order from the court as you can now order Anthony's food in the Cumberland County Courthouse. Anthony’s second location is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring breakfast, lunch, salads, soups, pastry and muffins. As owner Anthony Barasso believes in supporting local businesses, the new location features pastry and pies from from Two Fat Cats Bakery, bagels from Union Bagel and Green Mountain Coffee. Anthony's has been on Middle Street for 24 years and will provide the food for this second location. The original remains open six days a week at 151 Middle Street in the Old Port.
RUNNING WITH SCISSORS JOINS FORCES WITH WATERSHED CENTRE FOR TALK & EXHIBIT Larger than life ceramic sculpture artist Kelly Rathbone will share images, information and her experiences while working as a visiting artist at the Newcastle, Maine, Watershed Centre for the Ceramic Arts this Summer 18th August at Running with Scissors Studios (RWS), 250 Anderson St. in the eclectic East Bayside area of Portland. “RWS is proud to be the host for the 2nd year in a row for the lecture portion of this programme that draws top talent from around the world to Watershed’s secluded and historic ceramic centre in down east Maine. RWS Studios is an artist work space of over 50 diverse artists and home to the rapidly growing Bayside Clay Centre, with over 20 clay artists.
history of salt at the Bug Light Park in South Portland 13th August from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Heart to Hearth Cookery is providing a programme in memory and honour of Guy and Ruth McLellan, parents of Susan McLellan Plaisted, owner of the cookery. Donations are always welcome to support the historical society but there is no fee for "Maine-ly Salt: The Importance of Salt in the 18th Century". Salt is the only rock that is absolutely vital for human life. But not only is it needed by the human body but in the 18th century when there was no refrigeration, every family produced some or all of their foods and these seasonal foods needed to be preserved for basic survival. A Revolutionary War era ditty reads: “For salt is all the Farmer’s cry If we’ve no salt we sure must die” This was written at a time when England (the colonies’ main source of salt) ceased to trade it. It is very difficult for those of us who live in this century to realise just how vital salt was for the basic food supply in those times.
Rathbone was born in Singapore and has called Indonesia, Norway and Italy her homes outside the U.S. She studied at Parsons School of Design, The Art Institute of Chicago, Penland School of Crafts and The Florence Academy of Art. She began working with clay as an apprentice for sculptor Cristina Cordova. Rathbone has been awarded ceramic residencies at Watershed Centre, the Archie Bray Foundation and the Da Wang Culture Highland in Shenzhen, China.
The demonstration 13th August will provide hands-on activities and demonstrations that will open eyes about a basic seasoning that is taken for granted nowadays. Visitors will participate in cheese-making, brining fish, making a pickle (the solution not the vegetable), making butter and those attending will see demonstrations of floating an egg (for a purpose), preserving eggs and actually making salt
The lecture will be held in the RWS gallery space highlighting in-house ceramic artist Elizabeth Ruskin, whose work can now be seen at the Maine Craft Centre as well. She has been teaching ceramics privately and in the Breakwater School Enrichment Programme in Portland. Her work is held in private collections nationally and will be featured in Rebecca Atwood’s forthcoming book Livable Pattern.
Where does Portland come in? Salt was especially important for a seaport. Vessels were exporting fish, salted and brined in one hundred pound barrels and importing one hundred pound barrels of salt. With so much salt needed, salt imports were augmented with local salt works and the making of local salt. In what is now South Portland, research has uncovered the locations of two salt works — making a product considered to be quite profitable.
This event is free and open to the public, however only a limited number of seats are available. Please RSVP to reserve your spot by giving a bell to 207/831.5682 or e-mail kate@rwsartstudios.com for more info.
The presentation and demonstration is for all ages. “For some it will be exciting to see the different colours of salt and the pounding of the rock into small crystals, or seeing the kettle suddenly be filled with shining white crystals. Others will find out exactly how salt was essential for cheese making, pickling (and in colonial times just about everything was pickled), the preserving of eggs, meat and fish,” McLellan Plaisted noted.
HERE’S A PROGRAMME WORTH ITS SALT! We all grab the salt shaker — whether in our kitchen while making something or at the table if we find the need for more salt. Well now you can get the whole
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The salt from that salt shaker will now tell more of a story to all who attend.
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