ROCKLAND—After three years, the Osprey Nest Café, a teen-run restaurant curriculum at the Mid-Coast School of Technology, is back and better than ever.

Their Mexican-themed lunch featured chafers of chicken mole, shrimp enchiladas, vegan Chilaquiles, Arroz Rojo, Caldo de Pallo, and other delicious sides, salad, and soup. The showpiece of the dessert station (besides the fried ice cream, Mexican rice pudding, and other sweet treats) was a gigantic dark chocolate castle fashioned by the freshman pastry chef students.

“It took the students about three weeks to make the castle,” said, Steven Watts, Baking & Pastry Teacher. “No one has ever baked before. In my class, we’re pastry chefs. Pastry chefs get very creative.”

Watts previously owned Sweet Sensations and Three Dogs Café in Rockport and has been teaching the Mid-Coast School of Technology students since September.

“I really love to teach; it’s fun,” he said. “We have a beautiful kitchen and I share a lot of my recipes with the students. I like to show them that [the culinary program] is not all about making chocolate chip cookies. We’re pastry chefs; this is stuff you’ll learn at a culinary institute and these kids are learning it in high school.”

The Osprey Nest Café runs for six weeks from March 28 to May 12. The café and bake shop are open to the public with cuisine themes changing weekly. It is a simulation environment designed to give students the opportunity to interact with guests and learn to produce restaurant-quality food, just as they would when beginning a career in the hospitality industry.

For more information visit: mcst8.org/ospreynest.  Reservation link: https://www.rubiconcampus.org/osprey/


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

BOOTHBAY HARBOR—On a chilly but sunny March afternoon, on the deck of Brady’s Restaurant about a dozen Mainers, some holding beers, watched a parade of lobster boats travel through the opening of the Boothbay Harbor Footbridge and into the inner harbor, right up to Brady’s deck, horns blaring and people cheering.

“The Footbridge where the boats are coming through is being renovated,” said Brady’s owner, Jennie Mitchell, who organized the impromptu event. “They took out the center section, and will be replacing it, so this will be the last time—ever—that any boats of this size will be in the inner harbor again.”

Mitchell said trying to get all of the lobstermen to gather on a Friday afternoon was like herding cats.

She stopped mid-sentence to shout across to a friend on a passing lobster boat, “Will you herd those cats, Paula!”

The lobster boats steamed toward Brady’s and in less than a span of 10 minutes, circled around and headed back through the Footbridge. The photos captured on that day show a scene that will never be reprised again.

Bill Hallinan, a Boothbay lobsterman and one of the parade participants, arrived to enjoy a brew. He and the other lobstermen were up for the idea of a boat parade to show solidarity with everyone in the industry who is currently under siege after the environmental group Seafood Watch put Maine and Canadian lobster on the detrimental “red list,” discouraging the public from buying lobster. The issue escalated over the debate that lobster fishing gear is responsible for the entanglement of right whales. [See related story: Photographer Cheryl Clegg captures what Maine lobstermen are going through lately]

“We were sitting around the bar hashing it over, and I think Jennie come up with the idea and we just kinda threw it all around, sounded like a great idea,” said Hallinan.

As of mid-March, Maine lobstermen are fighting back by suing the Monterey Bay Aquarium over the “red list” designation.

“I’m glad to see that happening,” said Hallinan. “I don’t think Monterey Bay has any right to falsely accuse us [of entangling right whales] when they don’t have any backup data.”

Troy Plummer, a member of the Maine Lobstermen's Association’s board of directors, also participated in the boat parade.

“What Monterey Bay Aquarium did was defame the entire industry with no real data or proof and it’s caused direct financial harm to us,” he said. “Last year we had the lowest price we’ve had in over a decade. When a corporation like Whole Foods drops the product entirely, it stands to reason there’s less demand and it’s going to hurt us.”

Local support has been strong, he said.

“Last year we started to get more public support from the community at large,” he said. “Banks stepped up; restaurants, lobster buyers, a lot of people.”

Asked what he wants the public to know about the red list designation or why Maine lobstermen are being targeted for right whale deaths, he responded: “I don’t know of a lobstermen who has ever seen a North Atlantic right whale and I know some lobstermen who’ve been fishing longer than I’ve been alive. The notion that we’re the ones entangling them is laughable.  They’re not here. They’re off Canada or are in Cape Cod Bay. They transit our coast but further out than the entire Maine small boat fleet fishes. The government considers this body of water from Brady’s Footbridge, which is around six feet deep at high tide, all the way 200 miles offshore as ‘one place,’ so the right whales are in the Gulf of Maine for a short time but they’re counting this entire body of water as The Gulf of Maine. We fish primarily closer to shores than where the whales transit.”

Enjoy our gallery of photos and a new drone video courtesy BRTV Studio.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

BOOTHBAY HARBOR—On a chilly but sunny March afternoon, on the deck of Brady’s Restaurant about a dozen Mainers, some holding beers, watched a parade of lobster boats travel through the opening of the Boothbay Harbor Footbridge and into the inner harbor, right up to Brady’s deck, horns blaring and people cheering.

“The Footbridge where the boats are coming through is being renovated,” said Brady’s owner, Jennie Mitchell, who organized the impromptu event. “They took out the center section, and will be replacing it, so this will be the last time—ever—that any boats of this size will be in the inner harbor again.”

Mitchell said trying to get all of the lobstermen to gather on a Friday afternoon was like herding cats.

She stopped mid-sentence to shout across to a friend on a passing lobster boat, “Will you herd those cats, Paula!”

The lobster boats steamed toward Brady’s and in less than a span of 10 minutes, circled around and headed back through the Footbridge. The photos captured on that day show a scene that will never be reprised again.

Bill Hallinan, a Boothbay lobsterman and one of the parade participants, arrived to enjoy a brew. He and the other lobstermen were up for the idea of a boat parade to show solidarity with everyone in the industry who is currently under siege after the environmental group Seafood Watch put Maine and Canadian lobster on the detrimental “red list,” discouraging the public from buying lobster. The issue escalated over the debate that lobster fishing gear is responsible for the entanglement of right whales. [See related story: Photographer Cheryl Clegg captures what Maine lobstermen are going through lately]

“We were sitting around the bar hashing it over, and I think Jennie come up with the idea and we just kinda threw it all around, sounded like a great idea,” said Hallinan.

As of mid-March, Maine lobstermen are fighting back by suing the Monterey Bay Aquarium over the “red list” designation.

“I’m glad to see that happening,” said Hallinan. “I don’t think Monterey Bay has any right to falsely accuse us [of entangling right whales] when they don’t have any backup data.”

Troy Plummer, a member of the Maine Lobstermen's Association’s board of directors, also participated in the boat parade.

“What Monterey Bay Aquarium did was defame the entire industry with no real data or proof and it’s caused direct financial harm to us,” he said. “Last year we had the lowest price we’ve had in over a decade. When a corporation like Whole Foods drops the product entirely, it stands to reason there’s less demand and it’s going to hurt us.”

Local support has been strong, he said.

“Last year we started to get more public support from the community at large,” he said. “Banks stepped up; restaurants, lobster buyers, a lot of people.”

Asked what he wants the public to know about the red list designation or why Maine lobstermen are being targeted for right whale deaths, he responded: “I don’t know of a lobstermen who has ever seen a North Atlantic right whale and I know some lobstermen who’ve been fishing longer than I’ve been alive. The notion that we’re the ones entangling them is laughable.  They’re not here. They’re off Canada or are in Cape Cod Bay. They transit our coast but further out than the entire Maine small boat fleet fishes. The government considers this body of water from Brady’s Footbridge, which is around six feet deep at high tide, all the way 200 miles offshore as ‘one place,’ so the right whales are in the Gulf of Maine for a short time but they’re counting this entire body of water as The Gulf of Maine. We fish primarily closer to shores than where the whales transit.”

Enjoy our gallery of photos and a new drone video courtesy BRTV Studio.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

Is it possible after endless snowstorms, that mid-March is nearly upon us? The sweet music of Ireland is calling and the taps are flowing. St. Paddy’s Day falls on a Friday this year and here are places to spend Holy Day with friends and family. Remember there are now Uber services in the Midcoast, along with taxi services. Sláinte 

Friday, March 17, 2023

Belfast

Rollie’s Bar & Grill will open at 7 a.m. and the kitchen will open at noon, featuring traditional Irish fare with green beer and lots of Guinness and Jameson as well.

Boothbay Harbor

• Brady’s Restaurant will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl to benefit the BRES teachers’ supply fund starting at 2 p.m. Collect your lucky charms as you have a blast sampling, sipping, and saving around the harbor. Tickets are $20 and get you a custom design t-shirt by your local favorite bartenders. The Saltwater Hillbilly will be playing at Brady’s from 2 to 5 p.m. 

Camden

•  Gypsy Rose (located at the Cedar Crest Inn) will be hosting a St. Paddy’s Day evening at 5 p.m. with live music, specials, and the promise of “no green beer!” The music doubleheader features Tom Dimenna (sometime after 5 p.m. Call for details) with an acoustic performance playing the music of Gordon Lightfoot for the dinner show. After Tom finishes up around 8:00…. The Little Cornbread Muffins will take the stage for the late show from 8:30 on until close. $5 cover for this event.

• Blue Barren Distillery will be hosting a “Just Because” St. Paddy’s Day party from 7:30 to 11 p.m. with DJ Dave McMahon, serving up specialty cocktails. No cover charge. Donations will go to the AIO Food Bank.

Rockland

Rock Harbor Brewing Co. will be open from 12:00 to 10:00 p.m. and will be serving St. Patrick’s Day food and drink specials.

Liberator Brewing Co. in Rockland is hosting its fifth annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 3 to 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, March 18 from noon to 7 p.m. They’ll be offering a new spring lineup of craft brews, a special St. Patrick’s Day craft beer, and special food items. No cover and drink specials.

•  There will be a Sober Shenanigans St. Patrick’s Day event held by the Coastal Recovery Community Center (11 White Street, Rockland) from 3 to 6 p.m. Wear your best Irish looks, listen to music and eat amazing food.
There will be crafts and prizes. All are welcome.

Rockport

Bleecker and Greer will be hosting a tasting of some Irish cheeses and Irish-style Maine beers with other light bites from thekitchen. Live acoustic folk music from local performers from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in-store or on our website at mainemeat.com/stpattysdaytasting.

Lincolnville

The Whale’s Tooth Pub will be serving Irish fare, drink specials, and live music, beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Searsport

• Splendiferous Sweet Shoppe will have samples of St. Patrick Day-themed treats, Shamrock Green Shakes and Sundaes available for purchase, a door prize, a guessing game, and a "Find the Leprechans" contest for the kids starting at 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. wear Green and you get a 10% discount on all purchases.

Thomaston

• Starting at 11:30 a.m., Station 118 will be serving up Traditional St. Patrick’s Day food and drink specials with live music from 5 to 8 p.m.


Note: If your establishment isn’t listed here it’s because either we were unable to find any details of your event posted online or it was restaurant seating only, not a public party. We will be adding more details and more listings as they become available. Please check back! To contact us with more details, email  news@penbaypilot.com

BELFAST—The age-old advice for writers has always been, “Write what you know.”

So, we’ll get into why 11-year-old Ian Norwood would start his short story, “The Greatest Weapon,” with two characters sharing a beer at a bar.

The story starts off with two adventurers, Adam and Theor, in an alternate universe small town, not unlike Belfast, who are having quite a philosophical conversation. [See the attached story.]

Ian, who lives in Brooks, and is homeschooled, is an avid reader of graphic novels, particularly fantasy and sci-fi and is a fan of multiverses. Given that he doesn’t spend a lot of time in bars hanging out with guys over a beer, he penned a pretty realistic scene.

“Well, I’ve watched a lot of movies and read a lot of books so I just imagined that’s what they would say,” he said.

Even though his adventurers are two characters roughly the same age, they each fit the trope of “writing mentor” to “young protagonist.” The overarching theme in the conversation between the men is basically a martial artist tenet: “To outsmart and defeat an enemy, don’t fight him with anger or hate; disarm him with love.”

Excerpt from ‘The Greatest Weapon’

“How are ya gonna smash a buncha enemies with love?”

“Well... they won’t be expecting a nice response, so it’ll catch them off guard.” said Adam. Both of them signaled to a passing waitress for a refill.

“At first I didn’t like this contest, because I didn’t want to write about love,” he said. “But then I realized I could do whatever I wanted with this theme. So, I made it a fantasy. In this context, the adventurers are people who explore the world, discover treasures, and defeat evil. Basically heroes.”

Ian has been writing for fun since he was six years old.

“I like making intricate worlds that can connect to other worlds as a multiverse,” he said. “I like it because anything is possible; there is literally nothing that’s impossible except if it creates a paradox and destroys the universe.”

“The contest’s theme was about love and the parameters were it had to be 2,000 words or fewer,” said Crystal Vaccaro, the Youth Assistant Librarian who chose Norwood as the winner of the contest out of 20 entries. “His story stood out for being creative; there’s great dialogue, and it explored a theme that went beyond romantic love.”

“I loved that the message of the story is that love will heal,” said Vaccaro, “as opposed to violence.”

He has a comic series that he keeps in notebooks in which he has drawn as well as voiced the characters. This is the second contest that he has won.

The prize for winning was a gift certificate to Left Bank Books in Belfast.

Thanks to Ian, it’s a nice thought to consider that Belfast has an alternative universe and it is populated by adventurers who like to unwind after fighting evil with a cold beer every once in a while.

Hail To The Rad Kids is an ongoing feature highlighting teens in the Midcoast with special talent. 


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

CAMDEN—Lighthouses and lobster. That’s what Maine is known for, right?

While they may seem utilitarian to Mainers who’ve grown up with them, a new book is determined to find beauty in the elusive nature of these historical structures.

In his new coffee table book, Gleams and Whispers: Maine’s Lighthouses and Their Allure, Rockland photographer and author Bob Trapani is compelled to find a deeper understanding of Maine’s 66 lighthouses. 

Not merely content with standing on a lawn to snap a photo of lighthouses he photographed, Trapani climbed through rockweed-covered ledges, stood outside in sub-zero winter temperatures at dawn, trudged through waist-high snow, waded through the ocean, and laid down in brine pools to capture, “the romance, mystery, drama, isolation, dedication and heroism” of lighthouses for his book.

“When I take a photo of a lighthouse, I’m always looking for a way to dig deeper than the typical emotions we associate with lighthouses,” said Trapani. “Where is the light? What do I want to show? How will the photo capture how I feel about it at the moment? The only way to find that out is to be out there all year-round, in all seasons and weather. To linger. To look up, down, and around. And oftentimes, I don’t photograph a lighthouse to show a pretty scene, I’m looking to capture some emotion I might have about it. At the time of taking the photo, I don’t really have time to process it; I have to look at the photograph later to really immerse myself in the scene and enjoy it.”

Trapani’s background has given him exclusive access to Maine’s lighthouse. As the Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation, he was able to get access to lighthouses that the general public doesn’t typically have. In addition, he has cultivated long-time connections with members of the lighthouse community and for the last 25 years, has worked as a volunteer lighthouse technician and as a Coast Guard Auxiliarist.

Unlike many photo books of lighthouses, in which the text is mostly factual or historical, Trapani juxtaposes his own creative writings on the opposite page of each photograph.

“To be able to express myself in creative writing perhaps allows other people reading it to explore their own feelings about what these lighthouses mean,” he said. “They’re not static; not just structures built to save lives. I see them as timeless, and they mean more to us than their utility. They do speak to us in some sort of silent language.”

Here are five photographs in which Trapani explains what it took to get the shot.

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Lubec (p. 75)

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West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. Photo courtesy Bob Trapani

A blood-red sky in January, at dawn.

“This was a sub-zero morning at about 5:30 a.m. probably minus five degrees with considerable windchill,” he said. “I only had about five minutes to get this shot and had to take my gloves off to shoot the photo. If my hand had been exposed any longer, I would have gotten frostbite. It was a challenge just to endure. The photo shows you how cold the air is with the sea smoke and it looks like the world is on fire. To me, the lighthouse is a sentinel, on watch all year-long. I wanted to just sit there and look at this sunrise, but at the same time, I knew I had only moments to capture this shot.”

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Lubec (p. 68)

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West Quoddy head Lighthouse. Photo courtesy Bob Trapani

A close-up is a fresnel (pronounced freh-nel) lens.

“This was towards dusk and I was inside the lighthouse, trying to capture the fading light in the lens,” he said. “This whole glass prism and brass assembly was simply gorgeous. This type of photo gets people to start thinking beyond just this utilitarian use of this lens. The first lens was created in 1822, imported from France and England, and allowed light to go beyond what it could ever go before. And here we are nearly 200 years later. Nobody’s been able to perfect it. I try to find imagery that is thought-provoking, and get people to think about it differently.”

Owl’s Head Lighthouse, Owls Head (p. 53)

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Owls Head Lighthouse. Photo courtesy Bob Trapani

“I was out on a tourist boat and the boat was moving. I held my camera over the side barely over the water. It was June and I wanted to capture something a little different here by showcasing the movement of the water in the foreground. I saw the reflections and ripples of the water as the symbolism of time. You can see the Camden Hills behind it. I always tell people if you want to see the splendor of the Owls Head light see it from the south side.”

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Bass Harbor (p. 139)

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Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. Photo courtesy Bob Trapani

“This was taken outside at night,” he said. “We were checking on the light late in the day and I stayed long enough to be able to capture the photo under the cover of darkness. I was standing on the gallery. What’s really cool about a shot like this is there’s just this shroud of darkness and suddenly the light is center stage. It flashes and you’re standing in the dark with these bursts of light and the rhythm of that light is almost mesmerizing. ”

Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde (p.107)

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Marshall Point Lighthouse. Photo courtesy Bob Trapani

This shot was taken at dusk and I was standing on the lawn zooming in. This was wintertime and the color is dazzling as one light is setting, one is turning on. Between the sun setting, the water, the coastline, the crashing of the waves, the cold, this shot speaks to why we love lighthouses.”

Gleams and Whispers: Maine’s Lighthouses and Their Allure is available for purchase through Moments in Maine by visiting shop.momentsinmaine.com or calling 207-691-8400.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Hobby art, as a definition, is someone who takes a casual approach to his or her craft, and in the case of the Rockland Public Library’s first annual Postcard first  Post-It Note Art Show, artists of all ages and all artistic backgrounds are invited to participate.

The show is still accepting Post-It Note art until the end of the month. The only requirement to enter a piece of art is that it be on a 3” x 3” sticky note. Art can be drawings, paintings, or collages, but if items are added to the sticky note, it must be able to support its weight when stuck to a wall. Art pieces will not be returned. On March 31, artists and interested members of the public will be invited to come to the library and select a piece from the show to give to a friend or to keep to start their own “Post-It Note Art Collection.”

Here are some of the interesting pieces tacked up on the show so far.

 FMI:   https://www.facebook.com/events/971067817608084/?ref=newsfeed


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

It’s no secret that reading for pleasure has been on the decline for decades due to the competition between electronic media and television. What if there were a way to entice people to read more literature in short increments?

I just came back from West Palm Beach, and while waiting for a breakfast sandwich at a café, noticed an odd cylindrical device by the door with a frosted glass sign that instructed: “Select. Read. Enjoy.”

It was a Short Story Dispenser—who knew there was such a thing?

Short Story Dispensers are stand-alone kiosks that produce short fiction and nonfiction stories for the public. Stories are available in one-minute, three-minute, and five-minute lengths. I pressed the button for a one-minute story, not seeing any coin operation or a place to slide my credit card. It was free. The story that scrolled out on recyclable sustainably sourced paper was printed on demand using thermal technology, and curled out like a grocery receipt.

It was a poem. [See inset below] I’m not a huge fan of poetry as a medium, but as I was waiting for my sandwich, I had time for a one-minute poem. I read the bio info first, and realize the author, John Davies, who refers to himself as “an exiled Scouser in Ireland” has had work published in the Maine Review literary journal. Then, I read the poem and it took me out of West Palm Beach, out of a bustling café for one minute, and into a bird cage.

Preserving The Last Starling

The bird contained
within a bone-melded cage
tries to breathe:
a bubble of air rises,
a pump slowly concertinas;
water drips steadily
as anaesthesia
into a bottomless dish.
The dangling oval glass
banishes all the bird
imagined itself before.
Fluttering it climbs,
climbs to the high perch;
nestles there in the box
made for dreaming,
and the entire cage
thrums when it sings.

©John Davies

The concept is the invention of Short Édition, a French publishing house of short literature: poetry, short stories, and flash fiction with a U.S. branch in Philadelphia. In addition to their online platform, Short Édition publishes fiction around the world via 300 Short Story Dispensers, primarily in English and French with additional language translations.

There are 137 Short Story Dispensers and 14 Short Story Cubes installed in the United States. To find out where a Dispenser is, there is an interactive map on the website. The closest Dispensers in New England are in Boston with the nearest being in the lobby of Lafayette City Center, a mixed-use office and retail complex.

Universities and schools are big proponents of the Dispensers, as are cafés, public libraries, airports, and hospitals—basically, any place where a few idle moments can turn into an emotional and intellectual engagement with stories.

“Short Édition has an editorial team and we work with authors all over the world,” said Melissa Falcou, the U.S. sales representative. “Every one of our authors receives royalties.” While the website is currently pausing any more incoming submissions, the company has amassed hundreds and hundreds of original works for flash fiction stories in the categories of short fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, comics, children’s, and classics. The stories are all curated, edited, and loaded into the Dispenser, and even if a person pressed the one-minute button 100 times, he would not receive the same story.

The Dispensers come in different sizes for different purposes and can give schools and universities the chance to showcase local authors or students and raise literacy rates in an engaging, interactive way.

“Sometimes schools will curate content through contests and class work and will promote that work on their Dispensers,” said Falcou. The purchasers of the Dispensers cover the costs of the paper. As for the cost of each one, “It really depends on the project, but it is usually located between $6K to $11K,” said Falcou. 

As The Washington Post states, “Maine is a fertile ground for literary talent.”

I could see these Dispensers in airports, cultural centers, and cafés, promoting Maine authors. I can also see how schools and libraries, and programs like The Telling Room, could spark the love of pleasure reading for kids and teens in fun, low-stakes way.

As for adults, who are too busy looking at their phones while waiting for a breakfast sandwich? Why not get lost in a bird cage poem for a minute instead?


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

BELFAST—Like homemade strands of popcorn on a Christmas tree, hundreds of hand-painted paper mittens are strung across the storefront windows of the Belfast Co-op this month. Apart from their colorful cheer, each mitten equals a dollar’s worth of food for someone who is struggling with hunger in Waldo county.

The sixth-grade students who are creating these mittens come from all over Waldo county as part of the Waterfall Arts’ Bridge program.

Bridge is a “free after-school art club for creative sixth graders to connect to themselves, each other, and the community through quality creative experiences.”

“The kids wanted to use art to raise awareness about local organizations,” said Alessandra Martinelli, Outreach Coordinator for the Belfast Community Co-op. “Last year, they chose the Heating Assistance Program at Waldo County Action Partners. They raised $500 and the sales from their artistic mittens went toward buying oil and wood and winter jackets.”

Martinelli said that this year the Belfast Co-op wasn’t sure if they had the time to do the project again, but the Bridge students insisted upon it. 

“So, we let them pick a new organization and they chose the Belfast Soup Kitchen,” she said.

“The kids had a discussion and talked about what was an important need in the community and they decided that the Belfast Soup Kitchen was the best choice for their fundraising effort,” said Waterfall Arts Program Director Amy Tingle. “They were aware that there’s a problem in Waldo county in that people are food-insecure and going hungry and they wanted to serve that need.”

In order to make their decision, the students toured the Belfast Soup Kitchen, explored the kitchen and walk-in, and listened to how the soup kitchen worked. Both Martinelli and Tingle estimated that, with the number of meals the Belfast Soup Kitchen puts out each day including the Meals on Wheels Program, the kids’ efforts are going toward 350-500 meals a day.

The kids decorated the paper cut-out mittens with paint, paint sticks, colored pencils, and stamp pads and Waterfall Arts then dropped off the colorfully decorated paper mittens to the Belfast Co-op.

“We place them in baskets by the registers so people can buy them–they’re $1 per mitten,” said Martinelli. “Some people buy 10 or 15 at a time and every time a mitten is purchased, it’s hung up on a strand in the front windows.”

Martinelli estimated that so far hundreds of mittens have been sold with all of the proceeds going to the soup kitchen and that the project will only last until the end of this month.

For more information, visit the Belfast Community Co-op and Waterfall Arts Bridge Program.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

 

It’s a misconception in small Maine towns that homelessness is not an issue.

Visitors to Midcoast Maine assume that if they don’t see people living in tents on the sidewalk or green spaces in coastal and inland towns, Maine doesn’t have the same housing problems as urban areas.

What they can’t see are the campers and RVs that stay hidden in the backroads and rural areas of Maine, where dozens of families have been forced out of permanent housing.

Several Midcoast social service agencies have been searching out these families this winter. Emily Caroll, a case manager, for Kennebec Behavioral Health, and Jess Breithaupt, Food Security Community Connector at Healthy Lincoln County, have a two-part aim to go above and beyond to reach them.

Caroll, Breithaupt, and volunteers who help source and assemble food and supplies, have been driving a van filled with food, water, medicine, blankets, pillow, coats, clothing, cleaning items, toiletries, and other comforts, to families who are living deep in the woods in campers and RVs, mostly off-grid.

“We at Healthy Lincoln County have been working with a variety of volunteers, churches, and organizations, collecting supplies to be able to do this level of outreach,” said Breithaupt. “We’ve also been able to distribute NARCAN to prevent overdoses and to make sure they have medication if they need it.”

The effort started out of practical reasons: to record a “point-in-time census” and survey how many people across the state are experiencing homelessness for at least one night, according to Breithaupt. “Getting this accurate information will help us bring in more money to each county to build programs,” she said.

“Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve visited 21 families in locations where people are living in campers,” said Breithaupt. “It blows my mind. I didn’t know it was that many people. And that’s just one county.”

None of these families are on a register, none of them expect anyone in a van to just drive up to their campers. The project is relying on anonymous tips from neighbors and community members in order to even find these families.

A day after two back-to-back snowstorms in late January, Caroll and Breithaupt drove their brightly-colored van down a rutted dirt road, searching on both sides for a tell-tale camper with tarps over it. The tarps, along with footprints in the snow, are a giveaway that a family might be living there.

Getting out of the van in their heavy coats and snowboots, Breithaupt and Caroll trudged down an unplowed part of the road and called out, “Hello—”

If the residents of the camper were initially wary to see strangers, their fears usually dissipated once they saw the colorful van and heard why Breithaupt and Caroll were there.

“We tell them that we’re here to drop off any supplies and to feel free to come to the van and take anything they need,” said Breithaupt. “From that point, if the person is willing, we ask him or her for a little bit of data for the census.”

Families are initially shocked, then amazed, then thankful, that someone cares that much to come to find them and to offer help.

“These are proud Mainers,” said Breithaupt, explaining why people in their circumstances don’t seek out help on their own. 

To get a sense of the demographics of these camper communities, Breithaupt and Caroll reported that in their missions, they’ve come across families with children, single mothers with children, and communities of adults.

Often, once the people begin talking, Breithaupt says, she starts to hear the whole story.

“One family was evicted from their apartment while they had COVID-19 virus,” said Breithaupt. “It would have been an issue they could have taken to court, but they didn’t have the resources to do that, so they moved onto a small plot of land and put a camper on it and that’s the situation they’re trying to get out of now.”

Many of the families Carol spoke to are looking for housing, but there is nothing available to buy and the skyrocketing rents in Maine have been too prohibitive to afford.

“They’re stuck. Vouchers have run out, and hotels that previously housed some of my clients have closed,” said Caroll.

Breithaupt said while the housing market has been tight for more than a decade, the massive influx of newcomers to Maine as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic put a further strain on housing and rental resources.

“You can put two and two together,” she said. “A rent that was $800 per month pre-pandemic is now $1,600 a month. How can anyone afford that?”

“The other problem that wasn’t necessarily COVID-19-related was the rise of Airbnb properties,” said Caroll. “There were a lot of smaller, lower-income rental properties we saw turn into Airbnbs over the summer. They figured they could get more money renting the unit for three months and close it up the rest of the year. It took away a lot of housing for low-income families.”

The van of supplies is providing a much-needed resource to these families during the winter.

“One family we just visited experienced the joy of being able to pick out what they wanted, such as toothpaste,” said Caroll. “They were excited to have blankets and food. When we’re there, we’re also giving them information on how to access more help through Healthy Lincoln County. One elderly disabled gentleman had no idea that we could have meals delivered to him. The look of relief on his face when we told him there was a meal delivery service available and if he couldn’t get out to the soup kitchen, we’d bring it to him—that moment really stuck with me. ”

Through casual observation, Caroll and Breithaupt have noted that some of these families are living without heat, or if they have heat, it’s jury-rigged, sometimes dangerously, from temporary tanks into the camper.

“There are a lot of tarps strewn over the tops of the campers to keep out the snow and often, people use whatever insulating material they can find to stuff up under and around the camper,” said Breithaupt.

Breithaupt said that the solutions to finding housing for low-income earners are still not on the horizon, although it’s been at the forefront of every social service agency’s agenda.

“There are tiny-housing communities that are on the horizon in some parts of Maine,” she said. “I’ve gone to Rotary meetings and asked members if they have in-law apartments they’re not using that could be re-purposed as short-term housing.”

For now, it’s just Mainers making do, as they’ve done for centuries, surviving, getting by.

For more information or how to help visit: healthylincolncounty.org


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

 

 

ROCKLAND—With fewer than 200 square feet on 497 Main Street, Dana Ruth, a self-taught metalsmith and studio jeweler, has everything she needs to make her art and she couldn’t be any more pleased to be in Rockland, Maine.

At the height of the pandemic, she packed her dog in her car and traveled to Maine from Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived for the last 22 years. She drove with her sights set on Acadia, and along the winding, small-town roads leading up north, she fell in love with Maine.

Even though she’d made a nice, successful life in Atlanta, she said it never felt like home, and the “unhealthy constant state of haggard hurry and hustle” had worn her down.

“I took that epic road trip just spending time here, when I left Maine, it did not leave me,” she said. “There’s a peace and pace to this place that I needed.”

Rockland had been her favorite town to visit.

“While I couldn't put my finger on it, I knew it was special,” she said.  “I had walked right by the storefront one day and could never have imagined that I would be moving in three months later, opening my flagship tiny store!”

Called Modern Metalsmith, her store sits on the quiet side of the north end next to Fiore.

“After 16 years in Atlanta, as a working/teaching community jewelry fabrication studio + supply, I relocated my atelier to the tiniest little store you've ever seen,” she said.

The store has enough room for a jewelry counter, a narrow working space in back, and a small sink. Open the basement door, step carefully down the wonky stairs, and you’ll come into an even tinier workshop with several worktables jammed with various tools and supplies, where Ruth makes all of her hand-crafted jewelry and repairs.

From hand tools to torches, saw blades to casting crucibles—she’s got everything she needs to goldsmith and make her magic.

Dana Ruth works primarily as a goldsmith making rings, bracelets, necklaces, and custom pieces. Her personal aesthetic is one-of-a-kind, rustic, refined jewelry.

“I make small-batch hand-crafted pieces; I don’t work with platinum and diamonds,” she said.

In fact, she offers a couple of interesting services. The first is ethical wedding bands, which are crafted from Moissanite or lab-grown diamonds, luxurious sustainable alternatives to traditional diamonds. The second service is permanent bracelets; welding a dainty handmade 14k gold chain to join around one’s wrist permanently without a clasp.  Although, they can be removed if needed. Spouses, couples, and families often choose matching styles to celebrate their bond. Beyond that, she also offers repairs, online classes, and tutorials.

“I am thrilled to join the Rockland Main Street business community and proud to serve my local community and beyond with my craft and trade services,” she said.

For more information visit https://modernmetalsmith.com


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

CAMDEN—Hundreds of participants enjoyed an outing to celebrate the annual Camden Winterfest held at the Camden Amphitheatre on Saturday, January 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for all of the classic Winterfest traditions —ice carving, a doggie fashion show, Polar Plunge, good food, a story walk, indoor crafts, and a mobile sauna. Many families came out with sleds and enjoyed the snowy hills.

With a high of about 37 degrees, dozens of hardy souls walked into the ocean by the Camden boat landing. The plunge was a benefit for Sundog Outdoor Expeditions.

Check out our gallery!

Ahh, the weekend. Just out of three back-to-back storms and time for some calm. How refreshing. This weekend promises adult fun in all forms: whisky tastings, jumping into ice-cold bodies of water, dancing, and vibing to some sweaty music.

Basement Club Vibes at Sophia

Friday, January 27 —Belfast

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Sophia, that underground vibe chill bar we told you about a few weeks ago in Belfast, likes to stay super under the radar. No Facebook or website for them. No, sir. If they do any advertising at all, it’s in an Instagram Story that only lasts 24 hours. So, miss it and you can kiss it. Luckily, Weekend Spotlight pays attention. They are having a special session with DJ Leather Mommy starting at 8 p.m. that promises to provide “sweaty beats.” I don’t know what that means, but I hope there are box fans available. FMI: @sophiaisabar


Art Opening at Waterfall Arts

Friday, January 27 —Belfast

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Photo of artwork courtesy Waterfall Arts
A new art opening takes place at Waterfall Arts with a reception featuring many of the artists from 5-7 p.m. Free to the public. The exhibition features works chosen from submissions by members of the Midcoast Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA) – ranging from photography to painting to monoprints and mixed media work. FMI: Waterfall Arts

Camden Winterfest

Saturday, January 28 — Camden

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Camden is pushing this annual event up a little earlier this year. This is a day for little kids and big kids; it all depends on what you’re into. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Camden Public Library, and First National Bank are putting on this day-long event outside. Enjoy ice carving, a doggie fashion show, a Sundog Polar Plunge with a portable sauna, delicious food from local vendors, craft stations, face painting, music, and story walk for kids. Visit librarycamden.org/winterfest2023 for a full schedule and to sign up for ice carving.


Dance Party at Marshall Wharf Brewing

Saturday, January 28 — Belfast

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There will be a DJ spinning at Marshall Wharf Brewing Company at 8 p.m. and a dance party. That’s all they’ll tell us and all I know.


Burns Night Supper

Saturday, January 28 — Belfast

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The Maine Celtic Celebration’s annual Burns Night, celebrating Scotland’s most famous poet Robert Burns, will be held at the Waldo County Shrine Club at 20 Northport Avenue in Belfast, starting at 5 p.m. See our latest story. Watch Braveheart or Rob Roy beforehand and get in the mood! Tickets are $50 and cover all food and whisky tastings at the event. Tickets can be purchased online: Burns Night, locally at Left Bank Books, or at the door, if not sold out.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Haggis. Whisky with a “y.” Robert Burns.

You’ll find out what all of this means January 28, even if you have no Celtic blood in your ancestry.com profile. The Maine Celtic Celebration’s annual Burns Night, to celebrate Scotland’s most famous poet and working-class joe, will be held at the Waldo County Shrine Club at 20 Northport Avenue in Belfast, starting at 5 p.m.

Robert Burns, Scotland’s most celebrated storyteller, inspires Burns Nights across the globe when people tend to gather, typically around his birthday, in the spirit of laughter and celebration, poetry, and food. The tradition was started by his friends a few years after his death and has turned into a night of fun rituals.

Tickets are $50 for a good cause.

“This is a major fundraiser to support the Maine Celtic Celebration held each July in Belfast,” said media contact Melissa Samuels.

Robert Burns

(born January 25, 1759)

Robert Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist who is considered the national poet of Scotland and is probably most famous for penning the New Year’s eve song, “ "Auld Lang Syne.” With little schooling and a lifetime of performing manual labor, Burns educated himself and continued to write poems and songs in his lifetime.

Attendees will be invited to enjoy a whisky tasting, followed by hearty finger foods and an evening of poetry, speeches, and musical performances.

The Stray Aways, a quartet of fiddle/guitar, piano accordion, and whistle-playing Irish musicians are scheduled to perform that evening.

“Front Street Pub is working with us with the whisky tasting along with an open cash bar,” said Samuels.

A common ritual of a Burns supper is “the presentation of the haggis.”

Haggis, Scotland’s notorious dish, is sheep’s organs with minced onion and other spices. The haggis comes from a butcher in Bangor and is the most authentic haggis to be found in the U.S.

Burns wrote a poem, “Address To A Haggis,” which according to custom, is carried in on a silver salver — or tray—while people stand around it and slow clap. A designated reciter of his poem follows, after which the haggis is served to the crowd.

“We’ll have two MCs with a special sword, and a special sword for cutting the haggis,” said Samuels. “They’ll make this grand declaration, talking about this haggis, then after cutting it, will pass it around to participants. We’re not having a formal dinner, but we will have traditional hearty food that you can dine on buffet style.

Besides haggis, other offerings on the menu include Neeps and Tatties cake, Guinness pulled-pork sandwiches, vegetable crudities, salmon bites, cheese and crackers, and desserts.

Guests may participate in a Toast to the Lads and Lassies and anyone who has ever read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, will need to pay close attention to this toast.  According to the UK’s The Telegraph, “Any man making the toast should tread with care since it is followed by a reply from the women.” There will also be reciting of Burns’s poetry.

“Hosting guests is a very important part of Celtic culture to make people feel welcome so they can tell stories and relax in each other’s company,” said Samuels.

While the event encourages people who have kilts and tartan to wear them, it doesn’t matter if you don’t.

“If you don’t have a kilt, great, you can judge other people’s kilts,” she said. “The idea is to have some joy around the event. It’s the middle of the winter. Instead of staying home and feeling melancholy, go out and have fun with people.”

This is an all-volunteer event and all proceeds go to pay performers, stages, rental equipment, and other elements of this event or the summer Celebration. Tickets can be purchased online: Burns Night, locally at Left Bank Books, or at the door, if not sold out.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

ROCKLAND—When it feels like six months of winter is the norm in Maine with back-to-back snowstorms, you’ve got to find ways to still get together and have fun.

The Strand Theatre’s newest winter fest, The Big Rockland Chill, was a big hit on Saturday, January 21, taking over Oak Street and spilling into the theater. The community-wide event started in the afternoon at 1 p.m. and went through the late evening with the last shoe at The Strand Theatre screening, The Shining. Fitting!

Check out our gallery of frozen yoga, Yeti and Teddy characters, the pet parade, the Planet Pan steel drum band, games, firepits with marshmallows, a disco party, and food on the street, (including a pop-up hotdog station by chef Kerry Alterio from Café Miranda, who said that even though the restaurant is still closed officially, he can’t resist a good community event.)

WATERVILLE—If there was one last piece to slide into place to cement Waterville’s place in Maine’s creative economy, it has been the recent opening of the $18-million Paul J. Schupf Art Center in downtown Waterville.

After seven years, Colby College, city officials, business leaders, and Waterville community members have seen their plan come to life with the December 17, 2022 opening. It’s a venture that aims to make art accessible and flexible to all, and in some cases, free. Come join us on a virtual tour.

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The exterior view from Main Street. Photo by Kay Stephens

The three-story glass-enclosed minimalist building hosts three programming divisions and is home to the community arts organization Waterville Creates and its three programming divisions – Maine Film Center, Ticonic Gallery + Studios, and the Waterville Opera House, which is connected by an enclosed sky bridge. Schupf Arts also includes an extension of the Colby College Museum of Art via the Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art.

1st Floor - Clay Studio & Arts-Education Classroom

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Waterville Creates
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Ticonic arts-education classroom. Photo courtesy Paul J. Schupf Art Center

Ticonic Gallery + Studios is where the hands-on art process happens.

“We have a dedicated clay studio with three kilns and eight wheels for adults and youth,” said Waterville Creates President & CEO Shannon Haines. “Any clay member can come in 24-7 with a key card, throw work on a wheel and we will fire it,”

“We also have an after-school Clay Club, which just started,” Haines said. 

After the community conducted numerous polls and surveys to determine what the public wanted to be offered in an art center, pottery classes and art classes were at the top of the list.

“There’s nothing else like it like in Waterville,” she said.

Next door to the clay studio is an arts-education classroom offering painting, drawing, and sculpture, along with 3-D printing workshops in weekly art clubs for youth, regular after-school programs for teens, special one-time workshops, and multi-week classes. “On Thursdays, kids can just drop in for two hours and participate in an art-making activity,” said Haines. FMI: Ticonic Galley + Studios.

1st Floor − Ticonic Gallery and Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art

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Ticonic Gallery
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Ticonic Gallery

Ticonic Gallery

The Ticonic Gallery is a bright white-walled room with 15-foot high ceilings. The idea is to present a selection of exhibitions each year that incorporates local, regional, established, and emerging artists.

The inaugural exhibit, “Common Threads” was created through a series of workshops over the summer of 2022 engaging the community around questions, such as: “What are stories that need to be told?” The exhibit used work created by the community under the guidance of two artists, Elizabeth Jabar and Colleen Kinsella.  Haines said this gallery will display six to eight exhibitions each year and the next one will be Youth Art Month. FMI: Upcoming Exhibits

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George Sopko, Director of Media Relations, Colby College and Waterville Creates President & CEO Shannon Haines. Photo by Kay Stephens
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Ticonic Gallery. Photo by Kay Stephens

The Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art

The Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art is an extension of the Colby College Museum of Art. Its inaugural exhibit, called “Light on Main Street,” which is on view through January 23, features contemporary art with two video installations, along with a sculpture of terraced beanbags covered in green shag carpeting that also serve as fun seating to view the videos and art.

“We’re excited to be in the heart of downtown and have this new state-of-the-art gallery space,” said  Julianne Gilland, Deputy Director of the Colby College Museum of Art. “We have a long collaboration with Waterville Creates and other arts partners, so this is a natural extension and sort of a new ‘front door” for the Colby College Museum of Art.”

“One of the great things with these large walls, light, and projection, is that we’re now able to display artwork that we might not always be able to over at the other space,” she said. FMI: See their website for upcoming exhibitions at both locations. 

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Artist Jennifer Steinkamp tree animation, single-channel video in The Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art. Photo by Kay stephens

 

Community Spaces

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One thing that sets this Center apart from other art galleries and maker spaces in Maine is the degree of accessibility to art that’s not so formal or ritualized. For example, in the second-floor hallway, there is a cart with free art supplies—notebooks, colored pencils, markers, and scissors. One can simply sit with a coffee, beer, wine, or other beverage and create; there’s no pressure to buy anything or be part of anything. There are also multiple comfortable sitting areas around the Center that encourage people to stop moving, sit, and reflect.

2nd Floor — Maine Film Center

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The venerable Railroad Square Cinema, Maine’s only Sundance Art House Project cinema, and hub for Maine International Film Festival, which has been located at Railroad Square since 1978, moved its three theaters to the second floor of the Paul J. Schupf Arts Center under the umbrella of the Maine Film Center.

“We do first-run films, as well as one-off events such as filmmaker-hosted events and parties,” said Haines. The largest theater has 111 seats, the second one has 41 seats, and the third is a micro-cinema with 21 seats that can be rented out for private events, premieres and parties. 

Snacks, Beer & Chocolate Café

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Kate McAleer, founder of Bixby Chocolate, was on hand on opening day to serve customers. Photo courtesy Waterville Creates
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There are two concession stands in the building. The one on the first floor belongs to the award-winning Bixby Chocolate, which serves chocolate beverages, specialty coffees, chocolates, bonbons, toffee, and Maine sea-salted caramels. The second concession stand on the second floor serves typical theater fare such as candy, chips, popcorn, drinks, wine, and craft beer. There is plenty of open seating in the hallways of both floors to enjoy the food and drinks under the expansive windows.

Connection to Waterville Opera House

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The Center sought to connect the space to the adjacent Waterville Opera House and managed that feat architecturally with a sky bridge on the second floor. All of the stunning costumes on mannequins that people see as they walk up to the sky bridge belong to past theatrical productions of the Waterville Opera House. In addition, there is now a rehearsal space for the Waterville Opera House, called Studio 1902, which is used for actors, directors, and backstage crew. It has a state-of-the-art projector, lighting, and sound system and was designed to be exactly the same size as the Opera House stage so that the actors can rehearse in a comparable space. Four shows a year will be provided at the Waterville Opera House. FMI: Visit their website for the next upcoming show.

Waterville’s Art Community

“We think of the Center as the capstone of Phase One in the revitalization of Waterville,” said George Sopko, Director of Media Relations, Colby College. “There are a tremendous amount of art assets in central Maine—the Waterville Opera House, Colby College Museum of Art, Maine Film Center, and Waterville Creates that have now been all brought together under one roof.”

“People are delighted to see this in the downtown area and the vibrancy it’s brought the area, especially at night,” said Haines. “We’re open 365 days a year.”

Both galleries are open six days a week (closed on Tuesday) between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. To learn more visit: Paul J. Schupf Art Center


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

CENTRAL MAINE—Two bookstores with unique concepts have opened this winter in Waterville and Gardiner, giving bibliophiles and the surrounding communities more reason to curl up with a good book this winter.

The Banned Bookstore

Waterville, Maine

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Photo courtesy Maddie Smith

Maddie Smith is the founder/owner of a new, online independent bookstore that celebrates and promotes books that have been traditionally banned by libraries, parents, and community groups. She decided to offer this unique store concept as a way to “bring readers a variety of interesting, diverse books at an affordable price point.”

“I’ve always been an avid reader throughout my life,” she said. “The whole idea for the bookstore started with wanting to sell an interesting curation of books. I found an article about a book being banned recently in the South and was kind of astounded that this sort of thing is still happening. Banned books are definitely an interest/passion of mine. I think if a book isn’t appropriate for children or school, it simply shouldn’t be available in a school library, but banning a book, especially a classic, seems excessive.”
 

For example, some of the classics in her collection include Wuthering Heights, (banned for its depictions of physical violence and psychological cruelty) The Odyssey, (banned for violence, sexism) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, (banned for racist language and coarseness) and The Great Gatsby (banned for sex, violence, adultery, and language).

Other categories in her collection include contemporary works, biographies and memoirs, mysteries and thrillers, non-fiction, poetry, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, short stories and essays, and women’s fiction.

Using micro-entrepreneur ingenuity, Smith used social media to launch her new business, including making videos that show her turning her spare room into her office for her online bookstore.  “I’ve gotten a much bigger response than I thought I would, which I’m grateful for,” she said. “Starting a venture like this was easier than I thought in execution, but I would never have been able or felt comfortable to do it before I graduated college with two bachelor’s degrees in business.”

To learn more about The Banned Bookstore visit their Facebook page.


Stone Broke Books & Bread

Gardiner, Maine

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Bread baked on premises. Photo courtesy Stone Broke Bread & Books

A micro-community supported bakery that once operated out of a homestead is having a ribbon cutting ceremony at 347 Water Street in Gardiner on Saturday, January 21 at 12 p.m. Owned by Joshua Rollson and Rachael M Rollson, Stone Broke Books & Bread has been open under the radar since November. With a new commercial kitchen and retail space in Gardiner comes an expansion of the bakery and its bread subscription program, and retail space which allows room for a small press bookstore. 

Along with being a baker, Joshua is a writer and a small bookmaker and Rachael, also a writer, is finishing her Ph.D. in Aesthetic Philosophy.

“We have a 12-year-old child that we homeschool and for us, it was important to do things together as a family and this was a way I could add another facet to his baking and we could be in the same space,” said Rachael.

The bookstore is a cozy space with brick walls and according to Rachael, “has a great feel with brick walls and lights. I just love the history and energy of the space. It’s got a lot of features.”

The bookstore is in the front of the building and the bakery is in the back. “I have a carefully curated collection,” she said of her small press book inventory, which she said features a lot of underrepresented voices. “We’re trying to be a hub for doers, makers, thinkers, homesteaders, poets, and writers—people who want to connect with their community.”

“This area lacks a diverse bookstore that fits the needs of the community,” the couple said in their announcement. “Our goal is to provide space to focus on small publishing houses and events that match our community's values, bringing attention to diverse, alternative, and under-represented interests. We want to bring opportunities for different perspectives to the community we care about. Bread, books, and connections to people create spaces of care and we want to be a part of the change that increases these values.”

Rachael said the store concept is “a bread and puppet concept, where in order to feed the mind, you need to feed the body.”

The grand opening will also feature a seed swap with a seed saver demo.

To learn more about Stone Broke Bread & Books visit their website.

Find out more details of the ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 21 at 12 p.m. visit: Event


Kay stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

 

 

Once this storm clears out, we’ve got a burst of January energy this weekend with a brand-new outdoor street & theater festival hosted by The Strand Theatre, and two road trips to central Maine for a hilarious night of community and some good books and bread to warm you up.

The Big Rockland Chill

Saturday, January 21 — Rockland

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The Strand Theatre is kicking up its heels for a new outdoor winter festival, “The Big Rockland Chill,” which is taking place outside in the Oak Street Alley in Rockland and in the theater. The event starts at 1 p.m. with outdoor activities ranging from giant snowflake-making, a s’mores station, appearances from Yeti and Teddy, artist Kim Bernard’s colorful ice-block building, and “froga,” (frozen yoga) hosted by Earth Flow + Fire starting at 1:30 p.m. Other outdoor activities will be hosted by RSU13 Youth Alliance, Café Miranda, and Maine Sport Outfitters. From 2-3 p.m., Restorative Justice Project Maine will host a community-building circle around the bonfire. At 3 p.m., a Pet Parade will take place. Following the parade at 3:15 p.m. will be a live steel pan performance by Planet Pan, with audience participation. The outdoor events will culminate in a Yeti Disco Party from 4 to5 p.m.

Indoors at The Strand, free screenings start at 1 p.m. with an encore presentation of Rockland: A Maritime Heritage. From 2-5 p.m., family-friendly winter-themed short films will be screened. Evening screenings will include a family-friendly movie at 6 p.m. (TBD) and a movie for adult audiences at 8 p.m. FMI: visit www.rocklandstrand.com  or call (207) 594-0070.


Killer Road Trip: Monty Python Sing-Along

Saturday, January 21 — Waterville

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Pythonites—this one is for you. Maine Film Center is screening the 1975 cult classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail at their brand new theater in the Paul J. Schupf Arts Center. Considered as one of the best comedy movies of all time with its “parodies and jabs to the mythologized image of the Arthurian legend,” come dressed in costume, or just as you are for this sing-along version of the movie which starts at 7 p.m. One night only! Starts at 7 p.m. Tickets start from $7: Waterville Creates
 

Killer Road Trip: Stone Broke Bread & Books Ribbon Cutting

Saturday, January 21 — Waterville

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One of Gardiner's newest businesses, Stone Broke Bread & Books, which had a soft opening a month ago, is hosting its first ribbon-cutting ceremony for the public. Stone Broke Bread & Books will host the ceremony at 12 p.m. The public is invited to check out the diverse bookstore and bakery that is very in tune with the needs of the community. Stay tuned for our forthcoming Penobscot Bay Pilot story.  There will also be a seed swap from 5-7 p.m. the same day featuring a special speaker. FMI: Stone Broke Bread & Books


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

UNION—The community organization Knox County Gleaners is getting closer to its goal of building a community kitchen in Union. 

Nancy Wood, SNAP Ed Nutrition Educator for Knox County, and Lorain Francis, the former Program Director of AmeriCorps Seniors, founded the initiative that very few people have heard about.

What is Gleaning?

“ ‘Gleaners’ is a Biblical term,” said Wood. “In the Book of Ruth, it states that landowners had to leave the perimeter of their farmed fields unharvested, so that the poor, widows, and orphans, could come and glean what produce had been left behind.”

It’s called “the best kept secret in Knox County,” said Wood, noting that the organization is often misunderstood because many people mistake the word “gleaners” for “cleaners.”

 

The dictionary defines gleaning as “gathering leftover grain or other produce after a harvest.”

 

The women started the all-volunteer initiative in 2019 to use surplus food from farmers, gardeners, and orchard owners to benefit households that were struggling to make ends meet and buy enough food for their families.

 

The food collected then goes to food pantries, soup kitchens, libraries, senior homes, and other community hubs. Beyond helping the surrounding community, KC Gleaners volunteers also do a service for area farmers, alleviating a labor shortage by planting, weeding, and harvesting, packing and washing. 

 

Their efforts also serve to reduce food waste in farms, gardens, and orchards, providing a cyclical effect.

 

“We just finished our fourth harvest this year and over the last four years, we’ve grown,” she said. “We went from collecting 2,500 pounds to 20,000 pounds of gleaned food and what we recognized over the last couple of years is that sometimes we’ve collected too much! For example, if we have a farmer come to us and tell us he’s got 600 pounds of tomatoes you can come and get, we then scratch our heads and say ‘where are we going to distribute 600 pounds of tomatoes?”

 

Wood, who teaches cooking and nutrition classes in schools, food pantries, soup kitchens, and senior residences, knew of a logical solution: Build a community kitchen, which would give the organization the ability to process and provide fresh gleaned foods and prepare “ready to heat and eat” meals.

 

“A kitchen would vastly help us to repurpose this food,” she explained. “With 600 pounds of tomatoes, for example, we could break it down, make tomato soup freeze batches, and so on. That’s the first purpose of the kitchen. The second purpose would be to teach cooking classes to the community, the idea being we can show you five different ways to use an ingredient, such as lentils, that you’ve never cooked before that will be inexpensive, tasty, and nutritious.”

 

Wood said the way inflation and the high cost of groceries have been impacting Midcoast family budgets, their entire philosophy is to provide food so that it’s one fewer need that someone has to pay out of pocket for.

 

“Spend the money you would have spent on food to put gas in your car, fill up your oil tank, or buy your medication,” she said.

 

The kitchen they’re currently fundraising and building out is in the same building as the Come Spring Food Pantry and while the donations they’ve garnered so far have got them further ahead with all of the commercial kitchen equipment they need, the building itself has some serious infrastructure issues, such as plumbing and electrical, that need to be fixed first, as there currently is no running water in the part of the building where the kitchen will be constructed.

 

Café Miranda, in Rockland, and which closed permanently in 2022, temporarily re-opened in early December for one weekend, serving pizzas as a fundraiser for the Knox County Gleaners. “ It was fabulous for [Café Miranda owner] Kerry Alterio to do that for us and it gave us quite a bit of exposure.”

 

The effort, along with a New Year’s Eve raffle, raised more than $7,500 for the community kitchen. To stay in touch with the progress of the kitchen visit: Knox County Gleaners

 


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

It’s the start of a new year and isn’t it kind of refreshing to wipe the slate? Check out what’s happening in 2023 all over Maine with dance parties, buzzed-about movies, and art openings.

Snow Bowl Party

Friday, January 6 — Camden

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There might not be much snow on the ground, but the Camden Snow Bowl is heating up inside with a funky band on Friday night. The Little Cornbread Muffins (Emmett Lalor, Jason Dean, and others) will be rocking the house from 5 to 7 p.m. Grab drinks and food from the Camden Snow Dogs concession. In fact, keep the Snow Bowl on your Friday night calendar, because more Friday shows are coming up this winter. FMI: Snow Bowl


Let’s Go To The Movies

Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8 — Statewide

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Three independent theaters/venues are screening buzz-worthy and worthwhile films kicking off this weekend and the best part? They’re all at 2 p.m.!

Show People at The Strand, Rockland
As part of a year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary, The Strand Theatre will present the new film series “100 Years of Movies” starting with Show People (1928) on January 7 at 2 p.m. The silent film follows starry-eyed country girl Peggy Pepper (Marion Davies), who dreams of being a movie star. Tickets are $8/General Admission. FMI: The Strand
 
The Menu at Lincoln Theater, Damariscotta
A couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. The January 7 show starts at 2 p.m. and tickets are $9 for adults. FMI: Lincoln Theater
 
The Banshees of Inisherin at Stonington Opera House, Stonington
Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them. the January 8 show starts at 2 p.m. and is only suitable for adults. Tickets are $9. FMI: Opera House
 

Killer Road Trip: First Friday in Waterville

Friday, January 6 — Waterville

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First, start at the brand new just-opened art center Paul J. Schupf Art Center (93 Main Street) and move on to Colby College Museum of Art’s Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery for an afternoon/evening of vibrant creativity in Waterville. Meet artists, participate in various workshops, listen to live music, eat delicious local food, and come together as a community from 4 to 7 p.m. Free to the public. FMI: First Friday in Waterville


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

You have to do it. You don’t want to do it. But it’s time.

We are now officially in Year 2023 and that Christmas tree has to come down. Instead of dragging it to the transfer station, here are a few places locally that take un-ornamented Christmas trees back as food for the animals or to be chipped up into mulch. Here are a few ideas and places to enjoy your road trip and make a fun day of it.

Christmas Tree Collection

Starting Monday, January 2 —Waterville

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Organic, unadorned trees are the best for recycling or feeding goats. Photo courtesy Belfast Co-op

Trees can be dropped off at the curb of Quarry Road Recreation Area located on North Street (place on the left side of the road below the 1-95 overpass). Make sure they are free of all decorations, tinsel, and stands. The City of Waterville Department will begin picking them up to be chipped and reused as mulch. For more information call the Department of Public Works: 207-680-4744.

Make a Day of It: Go visit the Colby College Museum of Art or the newly opened Paul J. Schupf Art Center or catch an indie flick at the Railroad Square Cinema. Try authentic Lebanese cooking such as spinach and cheese pies at the Lebanese Cuisine, which was featured on Food Coma TV in 2018. Five minutes away in Winslow is Big G’s Deli, a state icon for sandwiches bigger than your head, but be aware, this small eatery is massively popular, and it is usually a half-hour wait. Best to order for takeout ahead.


Bonfire of the Trees

Saturday, January 7— Hallowell

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Poster courtesy Vision Hallowell

Bring your tree to Granite City Park by 3:30 p.m. so that the organizers can assemble them all into a big public bonfire. At 5:15 p.m. the tree lighting will commence.

Make a Day of It: The Hallowell Antique Mall is a unique spot with a huge variety of historical items. You never know what you’re going to find. Down the road is the ever-popular The Liberal Cup, a brew pub with great beer and affordable prices with classic English pub fare.


Christmas Tree Drop Off

Saturday, January 7— Albion

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Photo courtesy Hart to-Hart Farm & Education Center

The Hart to-Hart Farm & Education Center (16 Duck Pond Ln, Albion) is happy to take back your Christmas trees as food for their goats. The take-back event goes from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Things to make sure of: Trees must be untreated and tinsel/ornament free. If you’re unsure whether your tree is chemical-free, please contact the business where you purchased your tree. This is for the health and safety of the goats. While visiting the farm, enjoy petting the goats and other animals.  FMI: Details

Make a Day Of It: Ten minutes up the road, check out Stone Tree Farm & Cidery, a delightful place open on the weekends that we covered in a 2021 story. 

With no snow on the ground, they may still have outdoor games still available such as corn hole and croquet sets on site as well as Cam Jam frisbee. Mammie’s Country Kitchen nearby is a cool little spot open on the weekends to grab some homestyle cooking like a chicken casserole or homemade Whoopie Pies. There is also the locally popular Unity House of Pizza, an unassuming place with a no-frills restaurant on one side and a bar with a pool table on the other. Local reviews attest to their good pizza and hot sandwiches.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

As social gatherings continue to creep back to normal again, the good news is there are more NYE events happening around this Midcoast this year than 2021-2022.  Here’s your guide to what’s happening on December 31, 2022—Happy New Year!

Belfast

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Bonfire by the Bay. Photo courtesy Our Town Belfast

Bonfire By The Bay

Looks like Belfast’s biggest wintertime event, New Year’s Eve by the Bay, is once again on hold due to the Covid-19 virus. Instead, The Drum and Rabble Marching Society will meet under the Main and High traffic lights at 11:30 p.m. If you'd like a drum please email mike@pilut.com or meet up at 171 High Street at 11:00 p.m to receive a drum. Otherwise, take your own pot or pan, bucket, drum, or big tin can to make a lot of noise. At 11:50 p.m. they will head toward the bonfire and light it up at midnight.


Union

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Keg drop. Photo courtesy Sterlingtown Public House

Sterlingtown Public House

Sterlingtown is doing its annual wild and wacky traditional NYE Keg Drop. starting at 3 p.m. and going to 10 p.m. with a full menu, NYE specials, and plenty of locally brewed beer, wine, cider & mead. They’ll have the firepits going outside and will be lowering the keg from the roof at  9 p.m. to celebrate the arrival of 2023. FMI: Details are available on their website, no reservations are necessary.

 
Camden-Rockport
 
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Holiday on the Harbor
 
Rockport’s Holiday on the Harbor “First Night” is back ON this year! Come down to Rockport Harbor and celebrate New Year's Eve with family and friends. Food trucks, luminaries, fire pits, music, and fireworks, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. See Facebook page for more info.
 
Rockport Opera House
After the fireworks display, go to the Opera House and dance to The Right Track, Midcoast Maine's popular 11-piece classic R&B/soul/funk band with a full horn section, starting at 8 p.m. Cash bar. FMI: Rockport Opera House
 
Samoset Resort
 
The Samoset Resort’s adult event (21 and up) starting at 9 p.m. will feature live entertainment featuring Creatures of Habit and a cash bar.  Tickets are $25. Please note no tickets will be mailed; this reserves your name at the door: http://bit.ly/3FSAwjj
 
Midcoast Rec Center
 
MRC is trying something new this year. From 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. there will be a glow-in-the-dark public skate and games such as Stick & Puck, Broomball, Pickleball Open Play, Triples Tennis, Golf Games, and Board Games. BBQ dinner, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-serve basis. Entry is by donation - "Pay what you Wish" and all proceeds support MRC scholarships, sports/fitness programs, and facility improvements. Raffles and door prizes will be held at various times during the night, with prizes including Zamboni rides, skate passes, and more. Additional tournaments and games will be held throughout the night with a $5 cash entry fee. FMI: MRC
 

 
Rockland
 
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Ada’s Kitchen
Come party with the people at Ada’s Kitchen. There will be a prosecco toast, Italian specials, a DJ, and dancing going from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. FMI: Ada’s Kitchen
 
Trackside Station
 
Trackside plans to ring in 2022 with an adult event (21-plus) with live music by No Guts No Glory from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dance the night away and watch the ball drop on their 150-inch projection screen. Ages 21 plus - $10 admission. FMI: Trackside
 
The Rockland Elks Club
 
Ring in 2023 dancing to the band, The Dogs from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. FMI: Elks Club

Warren
 
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St. George River Cafe
 
St. George River Cafe is throwing a New Year's Eve party from 5 to 10 p.m. $20 buffet. Featuring opening acts Adrian Piel and Tom DiMenna from 5 to 7 p.m., a British New Year’s toast at 7 p.m., followed by Phog Band FMI: NYE
 

Note: If your establishment isn’t listed here it’s because either we were unable to find any details of your event posted online or it was restaurant seating only, not a public party. We will be adding more details and more New Year's events as they become available. Please check back! To contact us with more details, email  news@penbaypilot.com

An unpleasant reality many employees are finding out in these last days of 2022, is that the vacation and PTO you’ve accumulated in 2022 may not roll over for 2023. In other words, this is the week to use it or lose it.

Here are some depressing stats:

  • 55% of Americans don’t use all of their paid time off.
  • American workers failed to use 768 million days of PTO in 2018.
  • 28 million Americans don’t get any paid vacation or paid holidays, as the United States is the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation days and paid holidays.

 

Here then, are several road trip ideas to take on these last days of 2022 that are rightfully yours and enjoy them to the fullest without checking into your work email or Slack once! Each idea involves an adventure, a bite, and a sip.

Stillwater River Trail of Lights

Orono, Maine

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Even though Gardens Aglow in Boothbay garners national attention for its twinkling winter wonderland, just an hour up from the Midcoast, the Stillwater Trail of Lights is a low-key way to get your light fix without all of the crowds.

Organized by the Stillwater River Trail Little Free Library #42955, the trail opens at 4 p.m. every night through the end of the year. While up there, visit the University of Maine’s Emera Astronomy Center, which is only $7 for adults. Check out their list of cool upcoming programs.

There are no fewer than three breweries in this tiny area, all worth trying out and if you are looking for authentic, reasonably priced Mexican food with killer margaritas, The Tacorita is hands down, one of the best restaurants in Orono.


Hygge Lunch and Plunge Into Art

Yarmouth & Portland

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Fried whole belly clams, pickled herring remoulade, and cabbage at Trudy Bird. Photo courtesy Trudy Bird/FB

Here’s a leisurely bump down the coast to take on Friday. A new Scandinavian-inspired restaurant has opened in Yarmouth called Trudy Bird’s and based on the owners’ life-changing experiences with smørrebrød  in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

The menu features open-faced sandwiches, such as shrimp in finnan haddie cream, dill on a Danish rugbrød — rye bread. Or try the twice-cooked pork belly with a hard cider glaze. With 20 draft beers and ciders leaning heavily toward Belgian- and Farmhouse-styles, as well as the traditional aquavit, a distilled spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, you’ll be feeling the hygge in no time.

According to its Facebook page, the restaurant launched a quiet opening the week of 12/12/22 and will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Down in Portland, get your art on this week. Check out “Lenor will Never Die,” at Space Gallery on December 30 at 7 p.m. Lenor is an aging Filipino star with an unfinished script that she finds herself once again, the star of, after being knocked into a coma. Also on December 30, the Portland Museum of Art has free admission every Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Here’s a list of their current programs and exhibitions.


Downeaster To Boston

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Boston 

If your PTO rolls over into January, Amtrak’s Downeaster is offering a fantastic deal in January with a $20 round-trip fare, providing five daily round-trips between Brunswick and Boston. Technically if you go early enough, this could be a day trip to Boston for lunch and back. But, it might be better for an overnight.

Chill out for the ride with a Bissell Brothers craft brew, now available on board all trains in the Downeaster Café. The train arrives at Boston North Station. The T’s Green and Orange Lines can be taken from there to downtown.

Some upcoming Boston events you won’t find in Midcoast include a Union Oyster House Pub Crawl (Jan. 6), a Signature Spirit of Boston Lunch Cruise (Jan. 7), Hamilton at the Citizens Bank Opera House (Jan. 17), an exclusive Bourbon tasting at A.T. O'Keeffe's (Jan. 19), a Sing-Along and Drag Performance of RENT (Jan. 21), and Leçons de Ténèbres by François Couperin (Jan. 21).

As for food and drink, consult the Portland Phoenix for the latest reviewed fare and Best Deals under $17. 


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

WESTPORT ISLAND—An old potting shed that had been sitting in Joelle and Adam Webber’s backyard for years has been transformed into a neighborhood drive-by art shack. Instead of a roadside fruit and vegetable stand, imagine a tiny space filled with handmade crafts—all for sale on the honor system.

“The shed was pretty run down, and last summer I spent a day every week refurbishing it,” said Joelle Webber. “It was the happiest day of my week.”

Webber, who crafts sculptural and artist books under the name Mermaid Bindery, thought it would make the perfect space to share her crafts with the public without having to start a brick-and-mortar shop. Her home is in Westport Island, a quiet, small Maine community in the Midcoast area of Sheepscot Bay with about 720 year-round residents.

“Westport Island is a unique area geographically, but our craft shed is not the first one on the island,” she said. “There’s a potter nearby who also operates this curbside cottage industry. It seemed like a really fun thing to do. I also knew I didn’t want the shed just to contain my own work, but also to share the work of several other artists in the area.”

The micro-craft businesses include Amy Mussman’s Mainely Primsicals, featuring cotton and wool fabric animals and creatures and Heather Webber, Off the Sheep, a word-of-mouth fiber arts business.

“I essentially think of Crafts in the Woods as a fiber arts shed to distinguish it from the potter’s shed down the road,” said Webber.

The craft shed is located at the end of the couple’s driveway at 75 East Shore Road, Westport Island. “It’s completely on the honor system,” she said. “We’ve been open since late July and most people who know about us are from the community. People drive up, take a look around, and we have little tags that go with each item. People tear off half the tag and attach the money with a paperclip into the cashbox so we know what has sold.”

The Webbers, who both love books, also offer a lending library out of the craft shed, so people can borrow books without having to check them out and just return them at an unspecified date.

“So far, it’s been a really great experience,” she said.

To learn more about Crafts in The Woods, visit their Facebook page.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

 

GARDINER—The Blind Pig Tavern, an upscale bar and restaurant at 266 Water Street, offers their version of a classic holiday cocktail in the form of the “White Christmas,” which despite its appearance, is actually a frothy white swirl of a margarita.

Mercedes Pease, a bartender at The Blind Pig, created the cocktail.

“We do a lot of margaritas here, so I thought this might be a nice twist for a Christmas cocktail,” she said.

Having been with the restaurant for two years, this is Pease’s first bartending job and she’s been given free rein to invent cocktail recipes. “The owner makes most of the cocktails, but she encourages us every day to come up with a concept of our own,” she said.

Instead of a heavy eggnog or cream-based drink to approximate the look of a snowy landscape, the cocktail, instead, relies upon a lighter calorie coconut cream and white cranberry juice as its base.

“I actually just came up with this cocktail yesterday and had a lot of people order it,” she said. “It’s garnished with rosemary and cranberry to get you in the Christmas spirit.”

If you like your cocktails festive and bright, this is definitely it. Upon the first sip, appearances deceive. Rather than a sugary taste of foam, instead, there is a nice combination of sugar from the coconut cream and cranberry juice with the citric acid of lime juice and tequila.

This $12 cocktail, according to Pease, pairs very well with their Cranberry Panzella dish, a salad with French bread croutons, cranberries, smoked almonds, torn burrata, and a honey vinaigrette. She also makes a white chocolate and peppermint martini for a true dessert cocktail.

Speaking of cocktails, the name of this bar/restaurant is fitting. “Blind pig” was a term invented during the Prohibition Era (1920-33), when alcohol was illegal in the U.S. The term was a slang word for a speakeasy, a business or bar that sold alcoholic beverages illegally.

Watch the video to see how the cocktail is made. You’ll need:

  • 2 oz. tequila
  • ½ oz. Triple Sec
  • A splash of white cranberry juice
  • Two dashes of lime juice
  • A dash of agave
  • A dash of cream of coconut (brand name: Coco Real)

 

First, sugar rim a rocks glass regular sugar and holiday sprinkles. Add ingredients above to the pint glass and shake. Strain cocktail into the rocks glass and garnish with a couple of candied cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.

Make the cocktail yourself for your next holiday party, or have it made for you by Mercedes at The Blind Pig Tavern.

Happy bittersweet holidays!


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

For the holidays and to highlight activities and adventures, we’re shining the spotlight on Maine businesses. Clutter-free gifts are gifts of services or experiences. Shop locally and support innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive in this state.

Indoor Rock Climbing

Orono, Maine

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The back story: UMO’s Maine Bound Adventure Center features a 32′ high climbing wall and a 12′ high bouldering wall that’s 45′ long.

‘The 32-foot wall, which we call The Tower, has several different ‘faces’ to the structure,” said Trinity Cutshall, a student employee. “On one side is an auto-belay, where you can belay yourself on a tension-based system that lets you down slowly. The rest of the Tower uses a manual belay system that challenges your endurance. We have routes for all ability levels. We also have an easier slab wall, which is easier for beginners and you can do different types of routes with a different skill sets. As for the 12-foot bouldering wall, it’s 45 feet long and you don’t need any gear, but it’s challenging, a short series of difficult moves. You just climb along the wall on various handholds and if you fall, it’s onto a large pad.”

Cost: Day passes are $12 for 6 years old and older. Note: gift certificates cannot be issued, because payment must be done in person. FMI: Before your visit, please review and complete the General Use Liability Form, and bring it with you. The form can be found here. Please note that anyone under the age of 18 must have their liability form signed by either a parent or court-appointed guardian unless they are enrolled at UMaine. FMI: Maine Bound Adventure Center

In their words: “I’d say the majority of positive feedback we get is about our staff. We always have staff supervising the climbing walls so that people are safe and we end up interacting a lot with the climbers, which they appreciate.”


Art Course: Weaving

Thomaston, Maine

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The back story: Bobbie Tilkens-Fisher is a tapestry weaver and instructor in Thomaston who runs workshops out of her home and studio called At Home Modern Weaving Studio. She has taught a number of weaving workshops and multi-day retreats in her studio, at Haystack Mountain School of Craft, and at The Fiber College of Maine. “Weaving is easy and endlessly creative,” she said. “It’s portable and affordable, if you don't go crazy buying yarn. Best of all, it is beautiful and very meditative. I sell looms and all the tools you need to get started.” All of Bobbie's workshops are geared toward all levels and she prides herself in creating a warm, playful, and stress-free environment for her students

Cost: Private lessons start at $50/hour and her workshops start at $150. All prices include all the materials needed to make a tapestry and students get to keep their looms. FMI: Workshops

In her words: "Weaving lessons make are a very thoughtful gift. Weaving is easy to learn, endlessly creative, and very meditative - all while making something beautiful for your home!"


Cedar Grove Sauna

Montville, Maine

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Photo courtesy Cedar Grove Sauna

The back story: Jackie Stratton was transitioning careers in 2020 and started Cedar Grove Sauna at the height of the pandemic in Dec 2020, inspired by how good a sauna session made her feel through Maine’s cold winters. The sauna’s offerings were timed with people not going out to concerts, to dinner, etc, and immediately became a midcoast Maine hot spot. Jackie not only started the business, but she learned carpentry and built all the saunas herself! Cedar Grove Sauna hosts two rustic wood-fired saunas with cold plunges set in a scenic pastoral landscape, while the mobile sauna pops up along the coast in a different spot each weekend, allowing guests to enjoy a saltwater cooldown. Each sauna offers pre-booked private and community sessions.

Cost: Private 90-minute sessions in Montville are $100, and seat up to six people. Community sessions start at $30. FMI: Cedar Grove Sauna

In her words: “My favorite part of running the business is witnessing ‘the melt’ and seeing how amazing people feel after the experience.”


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

THOMASTON—The Watts Hall Community Players tried something new this year, providing the space at Watts Hall for an event that connects back to Nature during the Christmas holidays.

The 2022 Evergreen Extravaganza, Merry Mannequins event invited 13 contestants to adorn mannequins with evergreen boughs, winter greenery, and other embellishments. It took the teams four-to-five hours to assemble the outfits, an ephemeral exercise that could only be enjoyed in one day, as evergreen boughs were not allowed to remain in the building as a potential fire hazard. Multiple photographers were on hand to capture the event from the assembly to the final result.

Brae Maple Farm Master Gardener Volunteers won the People’s Choice Award for their evergreen mannequin, which looked straight out of Fairie Magazine, with a bodice made from birch, a lush, evergreen skirt, pine cones, dried hydrangea, and pheasant feather plumage.

“There were two dresses that were forest-based in the materials they used, but I think what gave the edge to the winner was that headpiece,” said Daryl Hahn, a co-organizer of the event.

The second winner was Georgene Arbour, who also provided a forest-themed dress for the mannequin.

“It was merry and bright,” said co-organizer, Sheilagh Guyer.

“When we saw some of the names on the list who’d been invited, we knew we were going to have something special,” said Hahn. “They are very talented people, but it far exceeded our expectations—the work was fabulous.”

There was one mannequin that wasn’t designed as a dress, but rather as a woodland creature by Nancy Lloyd.

Admission was by donation. More than 150 people went through Watts Hall to look at the Merry Mannequins.

“Honestly, since it’s a new and different event, we would have been pleased if only 25 people showed up,” said Hahn.

The public reaction was more than they anticipated.

“People were enthralled and enchanted,” said Hahn. “Everything about it ended up being extraordinary.”

Even though the Merry Mannequins had to be disassembled that day, four of them ended up at various locations in Thomaston. One, made by Annie Bailey, Jacinda Martinez, Korina Buozys, and Ellery Kemp is at Flaura, the flower, wine, and gift store. Another is at the Thomaston Public Library (made by the librarians and the other by Nancy Lloyd). And second-place winner, Georgena Arbour’s forest dress is at Weskeag Farms.

The event raised $700. All proceeds from this event went towards the Energy Assistance Program through AIO, helping to keep our communities warm this winter.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

We’ve got a couple of fun and funky things to do this weekend while you’re all out and about. Although Friday night into Saturday will be bringing some light snow, all events listed are Thursday and Sunday, so get out while you can!

Go Underground with Sophia and BoneBroth

Thursday, December 15 — Belfast

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If you’re looking for a vibe that is adult, chill, eclectic, and doesn’t have a whiff of the holidays in it, first go check out the new underground beer and wine bar I just covered, Sophia, at 4 p.m. Bring your own records—they love that! Then, go to The Underground Lounge (in the basement of the Basil Burwell Community Theater-17 Court Street) to see BoneBroth. Their PR states: “Spearheaded by irrepressible fiddler Cara Lauzon, an inveterate traveler who incorporates musical ideas from dozens of countries, BoneBroth creates a unique, improvisational brew of world music, Balkan melodies, and funky rhythms. Rounding out the band is veteran guitarist Eenor (Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade), bassist Eric Halsey, drummer Jason Dean, and rapper Mateo Mendoza.” Doors open at 6;30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets: Only $10; cash only at the door. FMI: BoneBroth


Limoges & Barnes at Dot’s

Sunday, December 18 — Lincolnville

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If you haven’t been to Dot’s Market in Lincolnville in a while, it’s a nice change of pace. They have tables and WiFi to enjoy a cup of coffee, barista drinks and teas along with their homemade muffins, scones, croissants, quiches, and sandwiches. Alice Limoges (ironically we did a story about her at Dot’s back in 2014) along with Bill Barnes, neice, Bella Barnes, and Abby Aldridge-Peacock will be putting on a performance of original music, jazz, and some holiday favorites from 2 to 4 p.m. Then take a walk over to Lincolnville Beach. It’s super nice in the winter when no one is around. Check out the lesser-known galleries and shops during the quieter months. A $20 donation is suggested, but no one will be turned away. FMI: Dot’s

Mexican Fare Pop-Up

Sunday, December 18 — Rockland

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Penobscot Bay Language School (28 Gay Street)  is going to teach you the meaning of “Las Posadas” (the inns) with a holiday party celebrating Mexican holiday traditions and fare from 1 to 4 p.m. Traditional snacks from Mexico will be provided (including tacos de canasta, guacamole, ponche, gelatina, and other authentic treats!) A Maine family with strong family ties to their Mexican heritage is behind this event. This event is open to the public, with a suggested $5-$10 donation (online or at the door). FMI: Penobscot Bay Language School


Note: there will be no Weekend Spotlight next weekend. Happy Holidays!

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

WINSLOW—What do you do when you have an extra garage sitting around in the middle of nowhere?

Craig Stanton, a 47-year-old professional car detailer, took a look at the garage that had outlived its usefulness for his detail business and decided it would make the perfect structure to smash wine bottles, old electronics, and other bound-for-the-dump junk.

On November 1, he opened a business out of that garage called The Rage Room. A “rage room” is a trend that took off in Japan around 2008 to support employees of large companies who used them as a way to relieve stress after a long, packed work day. 

“I followed a few business owners around the country who own these rage rooms and was scrolling through TikTok one day and thought, why not?” he said.  “It’s a great reliever for stress and to take out rage on used items.”

It’s a controlled environment where patrons can rent the room for 20-30 minutes and let loose by throwing glass bottles against the wall or venting some frustration using a bat or sledgehammer to bust open old printers. But, mostly it’s just fun.

He said the town planning board was “super excited” when he told them what he wanted to do with the garage.

“A woman from the town office told me, ‘I could use one of those this morning.’”

Packages start at $20 for one person with 20 minutes to demolish a box of 15 items and go up to $225 for five people up to 45 minutes to break more than 65 items. Stanton provides them with protective headgear, protective goggles, cut resistant gloves, and ensures that the clothing they are wearing is suitably protected.

He has a Plexiglass window to keep an eye on his customers and cameras, in case customers want a recording of their rage session.

“Inside there’s a lot of smashing, and clanging, and ka-booming,” he said. “I also hooked up a Bluetooth stereo system, so they can play their own music.”

Rage Against The Machine, perhaps? Or Enya?

Statistically, women make up the majority of the clientele at most rage rooms around the world. The toll that the last three years of the pandemic has taken on working women as well as the political erosion of their rights might provide some clues into that.

“Most of the customers we’ve had have been couples, mother-daughter combos, or five women at a time,” he said. “I think they just like to break stuff and then they don’t have to clean it up.”

Stanton sources his inventory from yard sales and collecting bottles. “For $40 bucks, I can haul away two truckloads of stuff.”

He takes care to dispose of the broken stuff conscious of the environmental impact.

“We recycle all of the glass and the metal goes to a metal scrap bin. People just love it,” he said. “They say it’s better than going to the gym. Better than yoga. People will come out of the room, sweating, and just wear themselves out.”

To book a session, visit his Facebook page or call for an appointment (207) 250-1923.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

 

 

 

BELFAST—When the dimly lit basement bar on 84 Main Street in Belfast opens at 4 p.m., there’s likely going to be mellow music on the Bluetooth system or on the turntable at the end of the bar, where customers are encouraged to take in their own vinyl. Maybe there will be a few folks at the bar chatting, reading a book, or drawing in a sketchbook. In the corner, people might be playing one of the board games lining the shelves. Or sipping on a glass of red, scrolling on a phone.

Whatever people want to do, it’s the atmosphere that Sophia’s owners Steve Garrand and Luke Olson intentionally created, wanting to run a place, that they themselves would like to hang out in. The art on the walls all comes from friends. Besides themselves, they only employ one other bartender. The vibe certainly appeals to someone who just wants a quiet hideaway for a few hours and doesn’t want to be distracted by blaring sports on the TV or loud groups.

Garrand, a boatbuilder, and Olson, who manages an art studio, decided to take on Sophia’s a second business venture, but only if it could be done with simplicity. For that reason, they only have a beer and wine license and offer a variety of quality beers, wines, apertifs, and beverages that can be opened with a corkscrew or bottle opener.  For snacks, the idea is to be pared down, such as pickled eggs and Moroccan sardines — something that is hearty, filling, and cheap, and can be put on a plate in a few seconds.

“I grew up working in the restaurant business as a kid, washing dishes and a line cook, and always thought having my own place would be cool,” said Olson. He said the small space, formerly the cider bar Perennial, informed that decision because it didn’t feel overwhelming.

Sophia is the mother of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

“It’s a beautiful name, an ancient name,” said Olson.

They’ve done no advertising, preferring word of mouth and a limited platform on Instagram to drive traffic. Even after opening in August, Garrand said locals have mostly been drawn to their basement bar.

“We’re still a work in progress,” said Garrand. “We’re trying to let the customers come in and shape the place.”

“The community response has been overwhelming,” said Olson. “People like that it’s cozy, welcoming, and kind.”

Sophia is open 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

Stay tuned to their Instagram handle for special events and updates @sophiaisabar


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

It’s not easy finding a lot of happenings this month that don’t involve the ho-ho-ho, but we’ve cultivated a few off-the-radar events that are worth exploring this weekend.

Café Miranda comes out of retirement for one weekend

Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 —Rockland

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Café Miranda, which was a fixture in Rockland for the last 29 years, had to close this past June, unable to find staff, to the heartbreak of the community. Well, the gang is getting back together, just for one weekend, and it’s for a good cause–to benefit the Knox County Gleaners, a new community kitchen that’s working with local farms to glean produce, then take it to local food pantries for neighbors in need. You can only pre-order their pizza for a Firday and Saturday pick up. But it’s nice to see Kerry and the gang firing up the old wood-fired oven again. There will also be raffle items from The Strand, The Farnsworth Art Museum, and more. FMI: Order Here


Killer Road Trip: Unspoken Word

Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10 — Blue Hill

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Books as an art form. Take a day trip up to Blue Hill to check out the work of 19 artists from Caribou to Portland, at the Blue Hill Public Library, which is hosting an exhibit “Unspoken Word” by the Midcoast Maine Book Arts Group up until December 30 in the library’s Howard Room. “Artists’ books use the structure or function of the traditional book to express artistic ideas, and can have either the form of a traditional book or sculptural forms that incorporate images, calligraphy, experimental bindings, or mixed media.” The exhibit is on view all week, but Friday’s hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Free to the public. FMI: Blue Hill Library

Killer Road Trip: The Vault Market: Naughty or Nice

Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 —Winthrop

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A while back, I did a story on Freckles Salvage Co., a quirky vintage store in the lake district of Winthop that was getting all kinds of press for being different, a little weird, and  a lot of fun. Each month, they throw an under-the-radar pop-up called The Vault in a 6,000-square-foot space (whose cavernous interior is worth the visit alone). At the market, people will find a curated selection of vintage goods including; furniture, art, books, home decor, clothing, accessories, and more under the theme “Naughty or Nice.” Whatever you find, it’s going to be one of a kind. Both days go from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, it’s a cool town to check out for restaurants, as well. FMI: The Vault


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

CAMDEN—A LEGO miniature replica of the Camden Public Library is currently on exhibit at, you guessed it, the Camden Public Library.

This elaborate set piece, built by Maine native Colby Adolphsen, took approximately seven weeks to construct.

As a father of two small boys, living in Waldoboro, Adolphsen said, “I felt a strong nostalgia after playing with LEGOs as a kid, and in the last couple of years, I’ve gone back to it, building replicas after my kids go to bed.”

The library underwent a major expansion in 1996. Having grown up in the area, Adolphsen visited it often with his family.  For the design, he worked off photos he’d taken and scenes from his memory.

Since there isn’t a LEGO kit for the Camden Public Library. he had to sort through thousands of pieces from other kits and bulk purchases and buy pieces from secondhand sellers to construct hard-to-build sections such as the library’s exterior, including the Brick Garden, the circular bench of the Children’s Garden, and the Rotunda.

“As I’d build certain areas, sometimes they didn’t look right, so I kept working at it until I felt it was a good representation,” he said. “And obviously with LEGOs, you can’t get every detail completely correct, but I wanted to get the main parts of it down so that they were instantly recognizable.”

If the detail on the outside of the library is impressive, people will be delighted to see the interior work he put into the build. Each section of the library on both floors has been painstakingly recreated, down to the tiny red chairs. He has several librarians checking out books for patrons at the desks as well as tiny library patrons at the computer stations.

“The interior of the library was the first big interior build-out I’ve ever done,” he said, noting, he used a special LEGO lighting kit to illuminate the inside.

This fall, he contacted library director Nikki Maounis to inquire whether the library might be interested in featuring his LEGO replica.

“I thought it was amazing,” said Maounis of his work. “I just couldn’t believe the amount of time he put into it. People just stare at it and they just discover new things everywhere they look. All of a sudden you’ll hear someone say ‘Oh my Gosh!’

Adolphsen has built other miniature replicas of iconic landmarks in the Midcoast, such as the Rockland Breakwater, as well as a section of the Marshall Point Lighthouse.

He stores his replicas in his home office, but admitted he’s running out of room. Though he’s been asked about selling his replicas, he said it would take some work to figure out how to price them.

For Adolphsen, they’ve been more than just a hobby, particularly through the pandemic.

“When I’m in the middle of doing one of these projects, I get in the zone,” he said. “I’ve taken something apart three times. Hours can go by and I won’t even realize it.”

His LEGO library has made people feel like kids again as they observe every scene inside and out. “I just build pieces that are fun for me, but I’ve been blown away by the positive response to them,” he said. “It validated for me it’s really nice to build something that resonated with people who live here in the Midcoast.”

To see more of Adolphsen’s LEGO replicas visit: https://www.instagram.com/chorangebricks


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

Here are a couple of fun and distracting things going on in Maine this weekend with a special performance, a hip holiday event, free cider, and the perfect spot for rage-o-holics.

Lucky Betty’s Opens for Parade Watching

Friday, December 2 — Camden

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Not usually open on Fridays, Lucky Betty’s will be opening at 4 p.m. for a special night, so grab a seat at the bar or the tables to watch the Christmas By The Sea parade roll through downtown Camden beginning at 6 p.m. Daiva will also have some festive music, gingerbread house and cookie decorating, and pizza for sale.
 

 

“Walkin’ The Line” a Johnny Cash Tribute

Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 —Thomaston

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Scott Moreau is a cool cat. Moreau, a native of Litchfield, has traveled the world performing as Johnny Cash for more than a decade. In 2012, he wrote an original show, “Walkin' The Line,” based on interviews, anecdotes,and portions of Johnny's autobiography Cash, featuring more than 25 of Johnny's best-loved songs. He’ll be giving two performances of “Walkin’ the Line – A Tribute to Johnny Cash” at Watts Hall Community Arts Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., in the upstairs auditorium of Watts Hall, 174 Main St. The nearby Block Saloon will provide a cash bar, and concessions will be available by donation. Seating is general admission; doors open at 6:30 p.m. both nights. FMI: Tickets and Details

 

Killer Road Trip: The Rage Room in Winslow

Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 —Winslow

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Feeling stressed? You can rage out at Central Maine’s newest entrepreneurial venture, The Rage Room, run by Craig Stanton, who dreamed up a fun use of his extra garage space. A rage room or an anger room is a place where you can smash all kinds of bottles and electronics. Rage Rooms, which started in Japan, have been popular in other areas of the country, but it’s the first one in central Maine. As a car detailer, this is his side gig and the place is picking up all kinds of buzz around the state. A Pen Bay Pilot story is coming soon. In the meantime, you can book individual or party appointments with Craig via email or by calling (207) 250-1923.


Two Places To Get Free Cider This Weekend

Friday, December 2 —Camden/Rockport

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On Friday, The First National Bank (44 Elm Street, Camden) is offering free hot cider and reindeer food snack mix from 5 to 7 p.m. This will be a prime location to watch the Christmas by the Sea parade. And on Saturday, Freya’s ice cream (7 Main Street, Rockport) will also be offering free hot mulled cider from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

GOULDSBORO—Maine lobstermen are under siege these days with many of them frustrated over not being heard. Cheryl Clegg, an award-winning Boston-based commercial photographer, is making sure that they are both seen and heard. Taking a journalistic approach with her camera in her latest series, “The Endangered Lobsterman,” she has captured the hard-working ethos of lobster-fishing families in a corner of Downeast Maine.

Clegg was 14 when she first visited the small fishing village of Corea within the town of Gouldsboro.

“I spent a month there with my friend’s family and then came back next year,” she said. “I’ve kept in touch with the people I met there and have returned every summer. And last year, my husband and I bought a house there.”

Her childhood visit and the years she has spent around Corea’s lobstermen made a deep impression on her, which would later formulate a portrait series she started this fall, after the environmental group Seafood Watch put Maine and Canadian lobster on the detrimental “red list,” discouraging people from buying lobster over a hotly debated claim that lobster fishing gear is directly responsible for the entanglement of right whales.

The Endangered Lobsterman features portraits of families in Stonington, Gouldsboro, Milbridge, and Steuben, who have been affected by the rating, as well as other factors, such as high fuel costs and low prices per catch this past summer and fall and a slew of new federal regulations that pose formidable challenges to the industry. Whole Foods’ decision to stop selling Maine lobster last week has put additional financial stress on the fishery, and drew statements from Maine’s politicians, who are fighting back against the designations.

Clegg said on her website: “This threatens the way of life and livelihood of Mainers throughout the state, as well as all lobstermen throughout the New England area. It is not only the lobster fishermen, but anyone associated with lobster (restaurants, boat builders, sternmen, suppliers of bait, trap suppliers.....the list goes on.)”

The purpose of the Endangered Lobsterman series is to put a spotlight on these families and to hear their stories on how these changes in the industry are impacting them emotionally, physically, and economically.

“So much has changed since I was a kid,” she said. “Many people out of state have moved into Corea and have bought homes. For the last couple of centuries, locals have been on the wharves and fishing. They could walk to work. Now, so many of the fishermen are living inland.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by the locals: will they still be able to continue in the career that they know and love?

“As I started to see this happen, I started taking pictures of people before the culture changed too much,” she said. “This is a way of life you can’t find in many places. I started this series as a labor of love.”

Her volunteer work on this series developed because she was concerned people reading the news aren’t getting the whole story.

“When I heard about this Monterey Bay aquarium red-listing suggesting to ban the purchase of Atlantic lobster, I wanted people to realize, maybe it’s not just Dad going fishing,” she said. “Maybe it’s Mom and Dad who fish or the whole family, and all the livelihoods at stake over this designation. And it has nothing to do with being against right whales, but to my understanding, there has not been an entanglement attributed to Maine lobstermen since 2004. One of the lobstermen I interviewed had been fishing for 60 years and he’d never seen a right whale in his lifetime.”

Because of her longstanding connection to the area, she said lobstering families were happy to pose for photos.

“Most people were receptive and more than friendly, and willing to have their picture taken, she said. “Not that everybody likes it; I had to ask some of them to take their sunglasses off.” She also asked that everyone wear their oilskins (protective fishing clothing) for every shot. “It also demonstrates who in that family is a fisherman–sometimes it’s the entire family.”

For her effort with this project, she said, “I’m getting heartfelt thanks from families and sometimes the stories I hear bring a tear to my eye.”

For more information and to see more portraits visit: https://www.cleggphoto.com/the-endangered-maine-lobstermen


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

ROCKLAND—Five years ago I took a tour of the house where Edna St. Vincent Millay was born in and wrote a story, A peek inside the Rockland house where Edna St. Vincent Millay was born. The Rockland Historical Society bought the property in March 2016 and it has taken more than six years to raise the capital to completely renovate the historic site.

On Saturday, November 26, 2022, the public was invited to tour the south side of the house, now that it has been completely renovated.

The north side of the house has been rented out to a tenant to help defray the operating costs of the house. Kathy Onofrio, the Millay House’s treasurer, said they used exclusively local businesses to complete the interior work, including general contractor Kirk Rouge, Green Leaf Roofing, Bunker Hill Flooring, Cayouette Floors, Evergreen Insulation, Marvel Street Painters, Irv’s Drywall, Matt Pietrosky (electric), Don Maxwell (plumbing), Viking and Hammond Lumber, and Kelsey Appliances. The extensive renovations preserved the original woodwork and restored floors, added new walls, a new kitchen, and bathrooms.

Here’s a before-and-after look at the interior of the house and a bit of back story.

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The living area in 2017. Photo by Kay Stephens
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The refurbished room with donated furniture and a Christmas tree in 2022. Photo by Kay Stephens

“The Board consulted on every detail, including the color of the walls,” said Onofrio. “We originally had wallpaper, but wanted a more neutral look and it was more cost-effective to paint the walls. We also received donated furniture that would fit in with the era of the house, along with artwork.”

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Another view of the living room in 2022. Photo by Kay Stephens
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All of the books on the living room bookshelf are related somehow to Edna St. Vincent Millay and donated from the Rockland Historical Society. Photo by Kay Stephens
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On the south side apartment, an original stained glass window remains. The one on the north side (the tenant’s side) is long gone, however.

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The narrow stairs up to the second floor have seen a marked improvement from its well-worn state pictured in 2017.  The house was built in 1891 and research show that the first tenants on the north side were Henry Tolman Millay and his wife, Cora Buzzell Millay, Edna’s parents.

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Streetside bedroom in 2017. Photo by Kay Stephens
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So, while the original room where it’s thought Edna St. Vincent Millay was born could not be viewed, there was a room on the south side very similar to it. The original floors were refinished.

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Tiny room at the end of the hallway on the north side might have been Edna’s nursery. Photo by Kay Stephens
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The south side back bedroom will be the quarters for visiting writers. Photo by Kay Stephens

“This is one of the few houses in Rockland that... still has the original footprint of both sides being mirror images of one another,” said Lisa Westkaemper, the Millay House’s former treasurer.

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Original kitchen in 2017. Photo by Kay Stephens
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renovated kitchen with all new appliances. Photo by Kay Stephens

The kitchen received extensive renovations. Westkaemper was told this house was right on the cusp of having indoor plumbing when it was built.

“With a fully renovated kitchen, we are planning on having writing events and a writer-in-residence program,” said event planning volunteer Hannah Wells.

For more information about Millay House Rockland and upcoming writing events visit: millayhouserockland.org


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

GOULDSBORO—Maine lobstermen are under siege these days with many of them frustrated over not being heard. Cheryl Clegg, an award-winning Boston-based commercial photographer, is making sure that they are both seen and heard. Taking a journalistic approach with her camera in her latest series, “The Endangered Lobsterman,” she has captured the hard-working ethos of lobster-fishing families in a corner of Downeast Maine.

Clegg was 14 when she first visited the small fishing village of Corea within the town of Gouldsboro.

“I spent a month there with my friend’s family and then came back next year,” she said. “I’ve kept in touch with the people I met there and have returned every summer. And last year, my husband and I bought a house there.”

Her childhood visit and the years she has spent around Corea’s lobstermen made a deep impression on her, which would later formulate a portrait series she started this fall, after the environmental group Seafood Watch put Maine and Canadian lobster on the detrimental “red list,” discouraging people from buying lobster over a hotly debated claim that lobster fishing gear is directly responsible for the entanglement of right whales.

The Endangered Lobsterman features portraits of families in Stonington, Gouldsboro, Milbridge, and Steuben, who have been affected by the rating, as well as other factors, such as high fuel costs and low prices per catch this past summer and fall and a slew of new federal regulations that pose formidable challenges to the industry. Whole Foods’ decision to stop selling Maine lobster last week has put additional financial stress on the fishery, and drew statements from Maine’s politicians, who are fighting back against the designations.

Clegg said on her website: “This threatens the way of life and livelihood of Mainers throughout the state, as well as all lobstermen throughout the New England area. It is not only the lobster fishermen, but anyone associated with lobster (restaurants, boat builders, sternmen, suppliers of bait, trap suppliers.....the list goes on.)”

The purpose of the Endangered Lobsterman series is to put a spotlight on these families and to hear their stories on how these changes in the industry are impacting them emotionally, physically, and economically.

“So much has changed since I was a kid,” she said. “Many people out of state have moved into Corea and have bought homes. For the last couple of centuries, locals have been on the wharves and fishing. They could walk to work. Now, so many of the fishermen are living inland.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by the locals: will they still be able to continue in the career that they know and love?

“As I started to see this happen, I started taking pictures of people before the culture changed too much,” she said. “This is a way of life you can’t find in many places. I started this series as a labor of love.”

Her volunteer work on this series developed because she was concerned people reading the news aren’t getting the whole story.

“When I heard about this Monterey Bay aquarium red-listing suggesting to ban the purchase of Atlantic lobster, I wanted people to realize, maybe it’s not just Dad going fishing,” she said. “Maybe it’s Mom and Dad who fish or the whole family, and all the livelihoods at stake over this designation. And it has nothing to do with being against right whales, but to my understanding, there has not been an entanglement attributed to Maine lobstermen since 2004. One of the lobstermen I interviewed had been fishing for 60 years and he’d never seen a right whale in his lifetime.”

Because of her longstanding connection to the area, she said lobstering families were happy to pose for photos.

“Most people were receptive and more than friendly, and willing to have their picture taken, she said. “Not that everybody likes it; I had to ask some of them to take their sunglasses off.” She also asked that everyone wear their oilskins (protective fishing clothing) for every shot. “It also demonstrates who in that family is a fisherman–sometimes it’s the entire family.”

For her effort with this project, she said, “I’m getting heartfelt thanks from families and sometimes the stories I hear bring a tear to my eye.”

For more information and to see more portraits visit: https://www.cleggphoto.com/the-endangered-maine-lobstermen


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

 

I’m always looking for events that will appeal to adults and while many of the upcoming weekend in December events are holiday-themed, there are still a few little gems here and there to check out.

Lobster Trap Tree, Live Music, Parade of Lights,

Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26 — Rockland

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Rockland is the place to be this weekend! Friday evening the town lights up the iconic lobster trap tree at 6 p.m. at Harbor Park. After that, head over to Ada’s Kitchen for a live show at 7:30 p.m. where Keenan Hendricks and Josef Berger of the Rigometrics will be performing casual jams and unique covers of some of their favorite classic rock, folk, and blues. Then, bundle up on Saturday and find a place on Main Street to watch the Parade of Lights, which starts at 6 p.m. 

 

Finally! The Edna St. Vincent Millay House is Finished

Saturday, November 26 — Rockland

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Five years ago, I covered a story on the house the famous poet Edna St. Vincent Millay grew up in. It had just been purchased and needed a lot of work to restore.  So, it’ll be exciting to check out the house for its grand opening to the public. Millay House Rockland invites everyone to view the progress at 198A Broadway, on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. FMI: Millay House
 

Killer Road Trip: Brunswick Block Party

Saturday, November 26 — Brunswick

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For Small Business Saturday, head down to downtown Brunswick where the block party is. After a few tumultuous years, keep in mind 78% of business owners surveyed say holiday sales will impact their ability to stay in business in 2023. After the tree lighting at 5 p.m., the Block Party starts. Besides receiving discounts from a number of local stores, all of the shops on Pleasant Street will stay open late for shopping, hot drinks, cocktails, and more. FMI: Brunswick

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

NORTHPORT—Everyone is feeling the strain of inflation this year. With food costs spiking 11.4% over the past year and the cost of uncooked poultry, including turkey up 17%, soaring prices for a traditional Thanksgiving meal have got people thinking about alternative ways to shop, and how to budget for a T-Day dinner that won’t break the bank.

We spoke with Georgia Parker, M. Ed, a MaineHealth | SNAP Ed- Nutrition Education Coordinator, who took us around Wentworth Family Grocery, an independent grocer in Maine, to discuss strategies for a budgeted Thanksgiving.

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Maine SNAP-Ed provides individuals with the tools to shop, cook, and eat healthy food on a limited budget.

“Before you go into the grocery store, the first thing you want to do is a grocery game plan,” she said. “When you are planning your Thanksgiving menu, first take a look at what you already have for staples in your pantry.  If you have no idea what to make, look at what’s on sale the week before Thanksgiving at your local store and build a menu solely around the on-sale items.”

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First, check what fresh fruits and vegetables are seasonal and available, and therefore, lower priced this time of year, such as apples, pears, butternut squash, potatoes, turnips, late-season kale, and spinach. MOFGA has a downloadable Nov-De seasonal food guide here

“Then go into the store and look at the weekly flyer or go online and see what’s on sale or what coupons are available,” said Parker.

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This nearly seven-pound ham could feed 10 people. Photo by Kay Stephens

A 20-lb turkey does not have to be the star of the menu every single year. The problem is, too many times, we are beholden to our notions of what a traditional Thanksgiving should look like and our budget goes right out the window with all of the “shoulds.”

Challenge the notion of what tradition means in the first place. Food and Wine magazine suggests serving alternative proteins that are less expensive cuts of meat, such as ham, whole chicken, or pork tenderloin.

Then there is game meat, such as venison, that the first European settlers of this country hunted and served for the first Thanksgiving meal in 1621.  For omnivores, this might be the season you go completely out of the box with a vegetarian main dish, such as this mushroom wellington recipe from NY Times, which will result in noticeable savings at the checkout line. 

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Look at dried and canned beans as another excellent protein source for the meal. Photo by Kay Stephens

“During the holidays, we all have these ideas of certain meals, but it’s all about what will fit in your family dynamic–we can get really creative with the proteins,” said Parker.

When building your recipes, Maine Snap-Ed suggests focusing on the five food groups and varying your protein options to include beans, lentils, peas, nuts, and seeds.

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First look at what you already have in your freezer or pantry, then look at what’s on sale that week to build your vegetable side dishes. Photo by Kay Stephens

For sides, Parker suggests looking at items that you may already have at home and building a dish from those ingredients, whether they are canned or frozen. She offers some recipes from the Maine SNAP-Ed website, which are nutrient-dense, while containing only a few ingredients, such as parmesan roasted potatoes and creamed green beans.

“With vegetables, whether it’s fresh, frozen, or canned, it’s all going to provide the same vitamins and minerals and with grains, strive toward offering whole grains for the nutritional benefits,” she said.

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For dessert, Parker recommends starting with what you have in your pantry first and creating or finding recipes where those items could be used. She suggests buying store-brand items when possible.  The Maine SNAP-Ed website provides a variety of dessert recipes as well such as crustless pumpkin pie.

Planning ahead now can alleviate the stress on your bank account as we all navigate these record-high food prices this season and by using these Maine Snap-Ed tools, you will start to see tangible savings on your weekly grocery bill.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

This weekend has a smattering of everything: releasing your inner goofball with comedy and Xmas sweaters, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in November, and a winter wonderland in Boothbay that you can once again, walk through on a crisp, dark night.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Saturday, November 19 — Rockland

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The American Legion will be the place to laugh it up this Saturday night from 4 p.m. to midnight with a party and costume contest to benefit the Pope Memorial Humane Society. $10 gets you in the door and a host of other benefits, including live music and a spaghetti dinner. Here’s a gallery of photos I’ve done in the past on what to expect for this evening. FMI: Ugly Sweater Party

 

Nerdy, Goofy Stand-up Comedy

Saturday, November 19 — Thomaston

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Watts Hall is hosting their first-ever Stand-up Comedy Night with comedian Johnny Ater.He’s your goofy brother, your dorky Dad, your silly Grandpa,” as he has been described. He’ll perform along with Maine comedians, Ian MacDonald and Nick Gordon. The show goes from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $20. FMI: Details

Killer Road Trip: The “Best Irish Beers in Maine” Competition

Saturday, November 19 — Portland

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It’s St. Paddy’s Day...in November! The Maine Irish Heritage Center is hosting the third annual “Best of All Things Irish in Maine” awards with a special live show and Irish craft beer fest from 6 to 9 p.m. Maine breweries will showcase their best Irish-style beers. General admission is $60. VIP ticket holders will enjoy unlimited pours of all the Irish beer on offer. Food trucks will be available on Gray Street. Best to get a hotel for this one! FMI: Tickets and Details

Killer Road Trip: Gardens Aglow

Saturday, November 19— Boothbay

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Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens kicks off its annual light display extravaganza this weekend. This year, the outdoor wonderland returns to its roots as a walking event with a new, reimagined design and more than 750,000 LED lights woven through 14 acres of central gardens. But be aware it can be crowded and you will need advance tickets before you go! Arrival times are at 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.,  and 7:30 p.m. FMI: Gardens Aglow


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

LINCOLNVILLE—It’s been more than a year since Michael and Karrie Nowak moved into their new home and turnkey inn, the Youngtown Inn, and now they are finally ready to put the word out that Aster & Rose, the inn’s renovated restaurant, has found its stride.

The couple previously owned a restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio, called The Black Pig, and had been contemplating moving to the coast of Maine with their three children for a number of years. With Karrie’s relatives in Gardiner and Portland, and the timing of the pandemic, it made sense to the Nowaks to sell their restaurant, the building, and their house in Cleveland and move up to Maine in the summer of 2021.

“I spent a number of years in Vermont as well and we always knew we wanted to move back to New England,” said Michael. “After taking a number of trips back up here, we knew we wanted to make that a reality. We were looking for a commercial property and The Youngtown Inn checked all of the boxes.”

After Labor Day, 2021, the couple took over from MaryAnn and Manuel Mercier, who’d owned the inn and restaurant for 30 years. The changes made to the restaurant were subtle. They updated the electronic/internet infrastructure along with some structural work. The restaurant’s ambiance also transformed into the sage and stone look that it has now with all-new lighting fixtures. In addition, the tiny bar with six seats and a cozy fireplace received an upgrade as well.

Initially, Michael only cooked breakfast and dinner for the guests of the inn. As they needed to hire staff and research purveyors, it seemed premature at the time to open to the public.in 2021.

“When we first took over, we planned on just doing a traditional bed and breakfast for the guests,” he said. But being way out in the center of Lincolnville, some of their guests couldn’t get dinner reservations or didn’t want to drive very far to go to dinner. Some guests still had pre-fixe packages they’d purchased before the sale of the Youngtown Inn, which the Nowaks honored by cooking them special dinners.

That process of opening to the public happened gradually within a few months after a few pop-up weekend dinners.

The pared-down menu, which changes daily based on the seasonal ingredients Michael can get, is hearty. Trained in French techniques as well as at a French culinary school, Michael said his cooking is very influenced by the region but with ingredients that are seasonally available. Beyond that, his first chef position was in an Italian restaurant, which has contributed to his passion for making pasta by hand. 

“I fused it all together into this old-school European style of cooking—a lot of Italian-style and French technique on the menu, which is why you’ll see a traditional French paté next to cavatelli and fettuccine,” he said.

The Nowaks were settled on keeping The Youngtown Inn’s original name for the inn.

“This area is historically known as The Youngtown region and there was no reason why we wanted to change that,” he said.

The name of the new restaurant comes from the birth flowers of September and June, correlating with Michael and Karrie’s birthdays.

“We’ve had a lot of locals hear about us by word of mouth and come back again and again,” he said. “What we’re definitely seeing now is a dining room full of people who live here year-round.”

Though the doors have been open to the public for quite some time, the restaurant’s popularity has come predominately from word of mouth.

“We want people to know that the restaurant is separate from the inn and welcome to all,” he said.

Dinner service: Wed through-Sat at 5 p.m. For more information visit: Aster & Rose


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Local businesses and restaurants are honoring veterans and active-duty military personnel today, November 11. Here is a list of places offering deals on their social media channels. Best to confirm with each business prior to visiting. Typically proof of service, such as a military ID, VA cards, and veteran organization membership cards, can be used.

The Waterworks Restaurant (Rockland): A whiskey and bacon special with two free slices of bacon when you order whiskey. Also: 15% off your meal.

Rio’s Spiked Café (Searsport): Veterans get 10% off their bill and will donate all profits from Veteran’s Day to AMVETS.

Eclipse of the Pearl (Rockland): 50% discount on appetizer.

Papa Jacks, food stand (Warren): Discounted meal and free beverage.

Street Food 330 (Rockport): One free Americana burrito.

Applebees Grill and Restaurant (Thomaston): A free entree off a special menu such as a bacon cheeseburger, chicken tenders platter, fiesta lime chicken, a six-ounce sirloin, double crunch shrimp, chicken penne or oriental chicken salad.

Dunkin Donuts (Midcoast): A free donut of your choice. For orders placed in-store only.

Here is a list of other national chain restaurants and food businesses offering discounts on November 11.

If any bar or restaurant in the Midcoast is offering a discount, please email us with your business name, website URL, and description of your offer.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

ROCKLAND—On a scale of cleanest to dirtiest states, Maine ranks nearly at the top for being the most pristine, according to Best Life, topping out at 48 out of 50.

Mainers know that just by looking around, but it takes work to keep the streets clean. In Rockland, a small group who calls themselves the Wednesday Walkers has offered to pick up trash in Rockland this week as part of an effort around World Kindness Day. 

“World Kindness Day falls on November 13 and we’ve been doing activities connected to kindness since 2013, starting with an AIO Food Drive,” said Patty King, the library’s Deputy Library Director. “Kindness and libraries are a perfect fit. Libraries connect people to the community and to each other. And kindness does the same thing: it connects you to yourself, other people, and organizations.”

Led by King, the Wednesday Walkers have said they get multiple benefits out of this weekly practice: exercise, socializing, and the satisfaction that their small actions lead to the greater good.

Typically, the group meets at the Rockland Public Library every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., as part of a movement that started when the library was the recipient of a fitness grant in the spring of 2018. This past Wednesday, a small group walked around Rockland’s neighborhoods to pick up cans, trash, cigarette butts, and other debris found in the gutters.

Fae MacDonald showed up with her metal grabber. “Sometimes we walk around certain neighborhoods, or go down to the water—and we do a lot of talking,” she said with a laugh.

The library is offering activities and prompts with an entire week dedicated to activities and ideas that promote kindness, leading up to World Kindness Day on Sunday (the library will be closed that day.)

To find out more about Wednesday Walkers and the library activities visit: Rockland Public Library.

Visit the website for World Kindness Day.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

This weekend feels a bit like the Midcoast in the 2010s, when there were all sorts of interesting things going on. It’s a good time to get out, and meet some new people who enjoy some of the same hobbies/interests.

Run Wild! 5K Walk/Run & Afterparty

Saturday, November 12 —Belfast

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Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. is hosting a pretty cool gig to benefit wildlife conservation this Saturday. Their first annual “Run Wild!” 5K run/walk fundraiser takes place on the Belfast Rail Trail. Registration starts at 1 p.m. and the race starts at 2 p.m. Every registration includes one free beer ticket to join us at the afterparty hosted by Marshall Wharf Brewing with live music by Down East Dead. Running/walking in your favorite animal costume is encouraged FMI: Registration and Details

Random Acts of Kindness

Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13—Rockland

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World Kindness Day is an international holiday, formed in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world and is observed annually on November 13 as part of the World Kindness Movement. All week the Rockland Public Library has been promoting random acts of kindness through ideas and prompts. On Saturday, come to the Library to pick up random acts of kindness ideas and information about local charitable community organizations, and on Sunday, kind bomb someone locally. Check out what the library is doing. FMI: World Kindness Day.

“Folks, Punks, and Freaks” Party

Saturday, November 12—Belfast

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And now time for something completely different. The Downeast Music and Minstrels’ Gallery Roundup is hosting an evening of punk, folk, and sonic sounds at the Belfast Maskers Theatre. The bands include: Bears Don’t Care and Bards of Gungywamp visiting from Connecticut, Jake Tantog visiting from Pembroke, with a sonic sound finale from Belfast’s eclectic stir of Osmia. The suggested donation is $10 to $20. The ad says to bring cash. The show starts at 6 p.m. FMI: Belfast Maskers


Risqué Red Dust

Sunday, November 13—Rockland

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In the 1930s, when studios were making risqué movies, they were “desperately trying to lure depression-era broke moviegoers into theaters. Hollywood made films full of sex, violence, drinking (during Prohibition), and grotesque and shocking material. During this brief period of early talkies and little censorship Hollywood studios created many films that challenged and transcended the "moral" and sexual boundaries of their times.” At 8 p.m. the Strand Theatre will be screening Red Dust with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow about a love triangle between a plantation owner and a prostitute. FMI: Tickets and Details.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

PROSPECT—During the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the state’s biggest scarefest attraction, Fort Knox’s Fright At The Fort, didn’t exactly die—but let’s just say, it’s been reanimated for 2022 and this weekend is the last two days to experience it.

“As the biggest fundraiser of Fort Knox, the years we were on hiatus were tough,” said Executive Director Dean Martin. “We survived on PPP loans, and made it work, but after two years of resting peacefully, we’re back.”

This year’s theme is simply Return of Fright—basically, the “greatest hits” of all of the past scary exhibitions, according to Martin.

“We always try to theme it around some kind of B-grade horror movie,” he said. “We always have some of the old favorites, but this year it’s fresh, and new, and we’ve probably gone bigger than we’ve ever gone before. We’ve gotten a lot of feedback, this is the biggest and best one yet.”

With an average of 2,500 people coming through Fort Knox on each night of Fright—that’s 12,000 to 15,000 visitors each year— the organizers had to implement some new changes to ticketing, especially when things started to get out of hand in 2018. That year, Fright at the Fort’s Stephen King-themed event saw some 5,000 people come through on one night. Its popularity ended up shutting down the traffic for two hours in every direction rendering it unsafe, so they needed to start capping the number of people who could enter the attraction to specified blocks of time.

 

Tickets are only available online, no at-the-door sales, which will help to maintain control and order and provide a better guest experience.

“We still have about 1,500 tickets left for both this Friday and Saturday nights, but we sold out last Saturday and I expect to do so again,” said Martin. “It is our 21st year of Fright and generated more than $100K toward the maintenance and operations of Fort Knox. We are also doing the Scavenger Haunt again this year. On this Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. kids can come dressed in costumes and ‘hunt’ for monsters throughout the Fort and grounds for the regular price of admission. They then turn in their scorecard at the Gift Shop and receive a bag of candy and a chance to win a caldron full of candy (drawn at 4 p.m. on Halloween).”

The shuttle bus will be running from 5 p.m. until the end of the evening on both Friday and Saturday night, using the old Bucksport Mill (now Whole Oceans) parking lot next to the Bucksport Methodist Church (3 River Road - Bucksport). Lastly, the Lil Red Snack Shack, a food truck, will be selling ribbon fires, chicken fingers, and other Halloween-themed food.

For online tickets visit: fortknoxmaine.com/fright-at-the-fort


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

It feels like Halloween is definitely back on track. In the weeks leading up to October 31, we have combed through every cool event going on to bring you a comprehensive rundown of Halloween-themed events. From parties to art, from poetry to theater, we’ve color-coded these events for adults and parents, and kids to make finding them easier.

Friday, October 21

· Adults and Parents and Kids: The Trail of Terror at the Union Fair takes place Friday night and Saturday night (going through Oct. 22, 28 and 29) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each night. $10 per person cash only; recommended for adults and kids 12 and older. FMI: Tickets and details

· Adults and Parents and Kids: Fright at the Fort is back after two years! It starts tonight (going through Oct. 22, 28 and 29) This year's theme for Fright at the Fort 2022 is 'Return of Fright' held at Fort Knox Historic Site in Prospect, Maine from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. where monsters, aliens, zombies, and other scares lurk around every corner. Tickets are only online this year for $15. FMI: Tickets and Details

· Parents and Kids: The Shotwell Drive-in is hosting the Addam’s Family at 8:15 p.m. $20 per film per car. FMI: Tickets and details

Saturday, October 22

· Parents and Kids: Take the Pumpkin Express —pick a pumpkin, hop aboard the train in Unity for a train ride to our pumpkin patch to pick your pumpkin from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. FMI: Tickets and details

· Parents and Kids: Inspiring Bright Beginnings Childcare Trunk or Treat at 3 Emery Avenue Thomaston from 4 to 6 p.m. This event will run until 6 p.m. or while supplies last. FMI: Details.

· Parents and Kids: Trunk or Treat/Monster Mash at Leroy H. School in Winterport. Come for some spooky (but not too spooky) fun! Admission is $3 per child or $5 per family. There will also be dancing, games, photo booth, playground fun, 50/50 Tickets, and popcorn from 1 to 3 p.m. FMI: Details

Friday, October 28

· Adults, Parents and Kids: The Plaisted Preserve in Owls Head is the site for a Halloween Pumpkin Walk with lit pumpkins carved by locals. The walk is kid-friendly, short, and fairly flat and goes from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. FMI: Details

Saturday, October 29

· Adults, Parents and Kids: The Plaisted Preserve in Owls Head is the site for a Halloween Pumpkin Walk with lit pumpkins carved by locals. The walk is kid-friendly, short, and fairly flat and goes from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. FMI: Details

· Parents and Kids: The Seaside Village Preschool Community is hosting a Trunk or Treat at the Camden-Rockport Middle School from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. FMI: Details

· Adults, Parents and Kids: The Front Street Pub in Belfast starts off with a family lunch party from 11 a.m. to  3 p.m. with a harborwalk, a pumpkin painting. Halloween craft table and a spooky photo booth with kids’ food specials, then a spooky costume-themed dinner from 4 to 6 p.m., and finally a late-night costume dance party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $10 cover. Prizes awarded for best costume. FMI: Details

· Adults: The Block Saloon in Thomaston is hosting a Bewitching at the Block. Doors open at 6 p.m.  Tickets include passed bites and desserts throughout the night, plus, music, dancing, contests, and games. There will also be Halloween-themed cocktail specials. Tickets $50 per person. FMI: Details

· Adults: Ada’s Kitchen in Rockland is throwing a Halloween Dance Party with James York aka The Wildcard DJ spinning vinyl. There will be prizes for the best costumes and spooky Halloween drink specials. No cover. Starts at 9 p.m. FMI: Details

· Adults: Watts Hall Community Arts in Thomaston is throwing a 1920s Speakeasy Murder Mystery Dinner Theater from $55 at 6 p.m. FMI: Details

· Adults: Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. in Belfast is having a dance party with DJ Dex in the Beer Garden starting at 7 p.m. No cover with a costume. FMI: Details

· Adults: Lucky Betty’s in Camden is hosting an adult-only Camden Costume Classic, a fundraising event of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce. Your $50 ticket price includes: one alcoholic beverage, snack foods, music, dancing, and a costume contest with cash prizes. Ticket sales are limited. FMI: Details

·Adults: myrtle Street Tavern is having a Halloween Hootenanny with a costume contest, a DJ and giveaways starting at 9 p.m. FMI: Details

· Adults: The Pour Farm’s 5th annual Edgar Allen Poetry Slam is back, going from 6 to 9 p.m. Read a spooky poem you wrote, bring a classic, or just come out and drink a few beers with the ghosts. FMI: Details

· Adults, Parents and Kids: The Eric Overlock Memorial Skatepark in Belfast is hosting a Spooktacular Showdown/Hoedown with a two-part event. Join them from 1p.m. to  4 p.m. at the skatepark for a little friendly competition (with prizes!) and then at 6 p.m. at the Boathouse for music and good times. FMI: Details

Sunday, October 30

· Adults, Parents and Kids: Stone Tree Farm & Cidery in Union is hosting a family-friendly Halloween Party at 1 p.m. FMI: Details

Adults, Parents and Kids: Rockland Golf Club is hosting a sober Halloween party from 3 to 6 p.m. Kid-friendly, alcohol-free costume and dance party. Games, snacks, and music provided - Please RSVP. FMI: Details

Monday, October 31

· Adults: Halloween party at The Grey Owl in Rocklandfeaturing Harper and Midwest Kind. 7 p.m. $20 cover. FMI: Details

Note: More events will be added for the week leading up to Halloween. Check back for more listings to come or email to list your event (Midcoast only).


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

This weekend has a smattering of art, music, food, comedy...and goofy dogs doing goofy things. Weekend Spotlight will be on hold after this weekend until November, as most of the upcoming events will be Halloween-related. See our 2022 Halloween Rundown: Events for Adults, Parents, and Kids.

Killer Road Trip: Pemaquid Fall Festival

Saturday, October 22 —Bristol

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Take a nice, meandering back road foliage drive down to Bristol this Saturday for a rural festival at The Byre Farm. King Ro Market will be serving pulled mangalitsa pork, beans, and baked apple for $20.00 a person. Oyster Creek Fiddlers will be playing while artisans will be on hand to display their crafts, including spinning wool and a 1910 bean thresher demonstration. FMI: Details

Jamaican Fare, Wine & Music

Saturday, October 22—Unity

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Here’s another beautiful country drive. The Port Harbor Jamaican Grill food truck will be at the Stone Tree Farm & Cidery serving up jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail, and more from 12 to 6 p.m. They’ll have wine, hard cider, mulled wine, and wine slushies, along with live music from singer/songwriter Riff Johnson from 3 to 6 p.m.

Killer Road Trip: Dog Video Fest

Sunday, October 23—Damariscotta

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Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta is hosting a DogVideoFest, exactly the same format as the ever-popular CatVideoFest that comes to the Midcoast every nonce in awhile. Every year the organizers go through thousands of dog videos and “put together a 75-minute reel of the best, funniest, most touching and most surprising canine vids we can find.” The show starts at 2 p.m. FMI: Details and Tickets


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

LINCOLNVILLE CENTER—‘Tis the season of the witch and Joni Dyer, from Lincolnville, is having fun with its most recognizable symbol—the broomstick.

Back before there were Hoovers and Roombas, the only way a person could clean the house was to use thin sticks, reeds, and other fibers to sweep the dust from the floor and ash from the fireplace. Typically, it was a woman who did this chore. According to History.com, the word “broom” was originally called “besom” in the Early Modern English Period, then later modified to “broom,” which literally meant “thorny shrubs for sweeping.”

Dyer’s handmade brooms are one of a kind and are for sale at the Lincolnville Center General Store.

“I walk the beaches all summer and I find these walking sticks—they’re just so beautiful,” she said. “Then, looking at those sticks, it just came to me: I’m going to make some brooms because I love Halloween.”

Not giving away her secret materials, Dyer said she collects certain types of grasses and reeds she finds out walking, and fashions them into the thick, shaggy, brush of the broom.

“I’ve been a witch often in the past, so I’ve made my own brooms,” she said. Dyer wouldn’t say whether she meant for Halloween or year-round.

The symbolism of the broom itself has roots in pagan fertility rituals and in secretive female empowerment in earlier centuries when women were only valued for their household and domestic contributions. The shaft of the broom symbolized male fertility whereas the brush symbolized female fertility. According to The Witches’ Bible, one purpose of the broom was to “sweep the Circle clean of all evil influence.” The other purpose of the broomstick, disguised as just a simple, household cleaning tool, was to take it to the field where crops were growing and leap around upon it, or dance with it, as a way to inspire the crops to grow. As the authors Janet and Stewart Farrar of The Witches’ Bible state: “The higher, the leap, the higher the crop would grow.” The notion of leaping or “flying” with a broomstick between a woman’s legs sent the prudish society of The Middle Ages into a frenzy.

The symbols of house and hearth also intertwine in Dyer’s other handmade work, her driftwood sculptures of rows of houses, which also can be found at Lincolnville Center General Store.

“I got inspired by another sculpture I’d once seen,” she said. “And in my beachcombing walks, I found all my supplies for making these sculptures, except, of course for the paint and glue.”

A self-taught artist, Dyer integrates found items in Nature for a variety of pieces, including door stops made from rocks, and sculptures made from cooked lobster shells. “I just have fun with it; I see art in everything I find,” she said.

Her work can be found at Hilltop Hearts and Crafts on Facebook.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

 

FREEDOM—It is perhaps no coincidence that nearly 40 neglected and abused horses and donkeys, and other equines will soon spend the rest of their lives at peace... living in Freedom.  

Northeast Equine Sanctuary, a new 640-acre facility in Waldo County, is soon to be in operation as an offshoot of Peace Ridge Sanctuary, a 20-year-old nonprofit that operates multiple licensed animal shelters in Maine.

The new Freedom facility is currently finishing up construction of stables and other shelter buildings, along with miles of fencing which will make this bucolic 640-acre sanctuary operational this fall.

The project has been years in the making according to Melissa Andrews, Director of Development, Humane Education and Outreach.

“Peace Ridge operates an equine rescue operation at the main shelter facility in nearby Brooks, which cares for 500 animals year-round,” she said. “However, the need for equine rescue services has outgrown the shelter space in Brooks, so expansion was necessary. We've been working on this expansion for a long time to better meet the need, and with help, we hope to meet substantial goals for the benefit of equine welfare.”

Currently under construction is a multi-use green barn at the top of the hill that has space for an on-site steward who can give 24-hour-a-day care.

“We have some special needs animals, so there is some pasture space out back for them to run and she’ll keep a careful watch on the animals,” said Andrews.

Down further from the multi-use building is a large horse barn space with heated space, wash stalls, and eight individual horse stalls, including office and medical space.

“It will be able to accommodate our current horse population in addition to allowing us to take in horses on the emergency wait list,” said Andrews.

Andrews said there is a great need for equine rescue in Maine. According to internal documentation, most of the rescues come from cruelty and neglect cases, or other emergency situations where horses are in need of rehabilitation including refeeding programs, major medical care, or problems due to old injuries, all of which make immediate intervention necessary — or the animal faces the uncertainty with having no viable place to go, or worse, ends up at the auction house.

“We are trying to take the crucial step, opening up another shelter, especially for these animals, so we can stop so many of them ending up being passed around with little care and worsening conditions, which makes ending up at an auction house dangerous,” said Andrews. “At an auction, even horses in good condition can be shipped to slaughter.”

The animals most in need of help, according to Andrews, come from a variety of backgrounds, including irresponsible breeding and summer camp programs, the racing industry, and farms where they are used for heavy work.

The property will also serve the dual mission to support wildlife conservation efforts. The organization has partnered with a number of state-licensed wildlife rehabbers who use the land as an important release site for rehabilitated wildlife. Most recently, a group of 26 juvenile raccoons from Wilderness Miracles Wildlife Rehab were released.

“We are very happy to assist in wildlife care,” said Andrews. “All of the wild animals who come here will enjoy all of this protected acreage.”

According to Founder and Executive Director Daniella Tessier: “This is a project meant to secure a legacy of equine rescue in Maine. With the public’s help, we are building a facility that will be an enduring resource in our state forever, just like our other sanctuaries. Now that the buildings are built, we need to secure operations support from donors, so we can start putting this place to work.”

For more information visit: peaceridgesanctuary.org/northeastsanctuary


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

‘Tis the month where we just can’t get enough of fall foliage, beer fests, apple events, spooky tales, and even a dance party with great apps and drinks. Enjoy these seasonably warm temperatures this weekend and all that the Maine coast has to offer.

Dance Party at Watts Hall

Friday, October 14 —Thomaston

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Time to get down...to Thomaston. The Watts Hall Band is a 10-piece, vocally-driven band with a full horn section, keyboards, sax solos, and guitar leads. They are known for playing high-energy and danceable rock, blues, and R&B and will be at the Watts Hall (174 Main Street Thomaston) from 7 to 9:30 p.m. A ticket will get you catered hors d’oeuvres from the Mid-Coast School of Technology (available by donation) and a cash bar by The Block Saloon. FMI: More info and tickets $15 or $16 at the door)

Killer Road Trip: Octoberfest in Boothbay

Saturday, October 15—Boothbay

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Taste beers from four breweries—First Mile Brewing Company, Black Pug Brewing Company, Blaze Brewing Company, and Maine brewery newcomer Ækeir Brewing— while eating bratwurst and pretzels. A $30 ticket includes a commemorative stein, entry into the tasting event, local bratwurst from Springdale Farms, Bavarian pretzels, Sauerkraut from Morse’s Sauerkraut and mustards from Raye’s Mustards. The event starts at 12 p.m. and goes on until 8 p.m. Note: they have a capacity of 65. Entry will be first come first served. Show up in traditional Oktoberfest garb and receive a door prize! FMI: Details

Ghost Stories with Host from Travel Channel

Saturday, October 15—Rockport

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Adam Berry from Travel Channel's “Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters” will be spinning some tales over at the Rockport Opera House at 7:30 p.m. You’ll hear some of his personal experiences (never before told on television) of the supernatural, along with first-hand accounts of true paranormal tales and investigations from “Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters.” Tickets are $50. FMI: Details


Great Maine Apple Day

Sunday, October 9—Unity

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Photo courtesy MOFGA

Take a road trip over to Unity on Sunday to enjoy a day at MOFGA headquarters (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) for a free tour through the orchard, workshops, cider pressing, educational displays about fruit trees, a huge display of heritage apples, apple art activities for kids (and adults) – screenprinting, apple stamps, and more from 12 to 6 p.m. FMI: Details


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

PORTLAND—In 2005, Michelle Souliere started a blog called Strange Maine to be a nexus for everything that is weird, strange, spooky, and unexplained in Maine.

Between Maine’s history, legends, and mysteries, she’s had a lot of rich source material, Stephen King, notwithstanding.

“The blog started because I was just naturally interested in these topics,” she said. “I wound up with a copy of Loren Coleman’s book Mysterious America and thought, ‘There must be stuff like this in Maine. I started poking around and there wasn’t any central point for information like that in Maine and figured maybe somebody needs to do that!”

She opened The Green Hand Bookshop in Longfellow Square in Portland in 2009, an eclectic used bookshop that features an abundance of horror and sci fi titles, including vintage kitschy titles such as “Wicked Cyborg” and “The Cannibal That Overate.”

“All the fun stuff, my favorite stuff,” she said.

Ironically, there is another Strange Maine shop in Portland, as well, a landmark run by Brendan Evans.

“Both Brendan’s store and my blog were named after an anthology of horror stories written by Charles Waugh called “Strange Maine” published in the late 1970s,” she recalled. “This was all weird fiction, based in Maine.”

The Turner Beast

The Turner Beast is a creature that has been described as a husky-looking wolf with bulky shoulders, big eyes, a flat snout, short mangled ears, and a bushy tail. Before it was proven to be a hybrid, some researchers claimed that it could possibly be a Dire Wolf. It was spotted in Turner, Maine and was estimated to weigh about 120 lbs. It has been known to kill pets and livestock, mostly dogs, most likely for territorial reasons. Later DNA testing of the animal in the pictures revealed it to be a wolf-dog hybrid.

-Story courtesy Cryptid Wiki

 

 

Souliere turned the material she has been gathering for years from her blog into two books: Strange Maine: True Tales from the Pine Tree State and Bigfoot in Maine.

“Strange Maine,” published in 2010, came out just as she was opening her bookshop.

“I was doing a lot of things at once,” she said. The book soon found an audience amongst horror fans and creative non-fiction readers.

“People definitely latched on to the tales of the Specter Moose, the Loup Garou, and the Strange Beast of Turner, Maine,” she said. “I also had a chapter about strange things found in the Maine woods, including Maine’s version of Bigfoot. That chapter expanded into its own book, published in 2021 and became a finalist for the 2022 National Indie Excellence® Awards, in the Regional Non-Fiction: Northeast category.

Souliere’s “Bigfoot” book dovetails nicely with the world’s only cryptozoology museum, located in Portland, Maine, called International Cryptozoology Museum.

“I’ve done a bunch of book signings there and before the owner Loren Coleman had his own space, he shared space in the back of my bookshop,” she said.

Souliere will be giving a Zoom talk on October 13 via the Portsmouth Public Library on the topic of strange happenings in Maine titled, “There's Something in the Woods”  at 7 p.m. Find out more details here.

For more information visit Strange Maine blog and The Green Hand Bookshop.


Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com