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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mexican Fare Pop-Up

Sunday, December 18 — Rockland

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

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

Killer Road Trip: The Vault Market: Naughty or Nice

Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 —Winthrop

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

“Walkin’ The Line” a Johnny Cash Tribute

Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 —Thomaston

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

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

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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

Finally! The Edna St. Vincent Millay House is Finished

Saturday, November 26 — Rockland

Killer Road Trip: Brunswick Block Party

Saturday, November 26 — 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.

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.”

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.

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. 

“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.

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.

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

Nerdy, Goofy Stand-up Comedy

Saturday, November 19 — Thomaston

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

Saturday, November 19 — Portland

Killer Road Trip: Gardens Aglow

Saturday, November 19— Boothbay

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

Random Acts of Kindness

Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13—Rockland

“Folks, Punks, and Freaks” Party

Saturday, November 12—Belfast

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

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

Jamaican Fare, Wine & Music

Saturday, October 22—Unity

Killer Road Trip: Dog Video Fest

Sunday, October 23—Damariscotta

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

Killer Road Trip: Octoberfest in Boothbay

Saturday, October 15—Boothbay

Ghost Stories with Host from Travel Channel

Saturday, October 15—Rockport

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

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.”

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

Looking at another great weekend ahead with Friday topping out as the warmest, here’s a little cultivated list of some hometown, fun, fall-like things to do and places to go.

Killer Road Trip: Damariscotta’s Pumpkin Fest

Friday, October 7 through Sunday, October 9—Damariscotta

Take a trip down to Damariscotta this weekend to see the giant and fantastical pumpkins that Maine artists have transformed all around Damariscotta and Newcastle for their annual weekend. On Friday, the artists uncover their creations, on Saturday, the annual parade starts at 2 p.m. and on Sunday, the pumpkin Regatta starts at noon. The area is teeming with things to do  which you can find on the Maine Pumpkin Trail covering 40 miles of Maine’s coastline. The event is free, family-friendly, but you’ll probably want to make use of the parking shuttles. FMI: Pumpkin Fest

Killer Road Trip: ARTober in Bangor

Friday, October 7—Bangor

Rio’s BBQ Anniversary Party

Saturday, October 8—Searsport

Remember that cute little place in Searsport I did a story on about a year ago? Well, they are celebrating being in business for one year by hosting a BBQ anniversary party with pig, chicken, and beef short rib on the grill and homemade sides and desserts. The musical lineup includes The Cedar Shakes from 2:00 to 4.30 p.m. and Tom DiMenna singing Gordon Lightfoot from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $45 and will be going fast. FMI: Details and Tickets

Hope Orchards Fall Festival

Sunday, October 9—Hope

Come to the small family-owned orchard in Hope (434 Camden Road-Rte. 105) for a day of apple-picking, (20 varieties of apples and three varieties of pears) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rosey Gerry and his musical friends will provide live entertainment from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Joining him will be bass player, Jimmy Ostergard; fiddle/mandolin queen Lise Becu and the mojo master of banjo, Stevie Davis. Check out our past story on Hope Orchards. FMI: Details

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

SEARSMONT—Waldo County Woodshed, a volunteer-run nonprofit that works to provide free firewood for people in Waldo County, is about to trade wood splitters for aprons for one night.

On Thursday, October 6, teaming up with Threshers Brewing Co. in Searsmont, the organization is aiming to put on a fancy dinner at the brewery for families who’d like a night out and for a price that doesn’t break the bank.

Dawn Caswell, Waldo County Woodshed’s treasurer explained: “Scott Bendtson, the owner at Threshers, had been to a ‘pay as you can’ restaurant out west and brought it up to our volunteers, thinking if we used Threshers’ kitchen, we could recreate the same kind of event here. Because we’ve done a lot of fundraising through Threshers, we considered this idea, We did some research. Nonprofits in Maine are only allowed to have 12 food events, so we’ve decided to host this inaugural event once a month.”

The idea is simple. There are no reservations. Any individual, couple, or family who arrives may sit down at a table adorned with a tablecloth and silverware and served family-style.

The menu planned for that evening will include non-alcoholic drinks, appetizers, soup, salad, a pork dish, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables,  a vegetarian lasagna, and dessert. At the end of the meal, there will be a box that accepts donations. It will be anonymous; no one will see what is going into the box and all proceeds will support Waldo County Woodshed.

“It’s an opportunity for people and families to get out for a nice dinner for an evening and pay what they want,” said Caswell. “Going out to dinner is a lot of money for people and if someone can’t afford to pay anything but really wants to come to this, there’s an opportunity to volunteer for an hour in the kitchen,” she said. “This will get you a meal.”

Caterers, farmers, cooks who work in commercial kitchens, and restaurant servers will provide the food and service in the front and in the back of the house. At this point, Caswell said they have one donation from a local butcher shop, but that the organization is looking for more local producers of produce and meat to sponsor products for this first event.

“We’ll have table cards that identify who is donating what and all of our volunteers will have nametags,” she said.

The first event, if all goes well, will springboard into a monthly event with different products and meat sponsors with the aim of the Waldo County Woodshed to ultimately create a year-round non-profit “Pay As You Can Café.”

“Getting the community out and being with each other is really our goal,” said Caswell. She added that if the idea takes off and they can get pop-up chefs to come in and do similar events, Threshers Brewing Co. may even have more ‘Pay As You Can’ dinners in the future.

The event will take place Thursday, October 6 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will be first-come, first-served. To donate any food to the event, get in touch with Caswell at dawncaswell1@gmail.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

As long as we’re continuing to get some lovely 60ish-degree weather this weekend, let’s get outside to enjoy it! Kicking off Rocktober with some great fall events!

Note: the Electronic Dance Party previously posted for Saturday has been canceled.

Killer Road Trip: Freeport Fall Festival

Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 2—Freeport

Take a trip down to Freeport where 175 New England artists, makers, and local food producers take over the town for a three-day family-friendly festival. Musicians will be playing live all day and there are plenty of activities for the kiddos while you walk around and take in all of the activities, artists, and food options. Here’s a daily schedule of events.  For the adults, don’t forget to check out Oktoberfest at Mast Landing Brewing Company’s Freeport Tasting Room, Fall Flannel Fest at Maine Beer Company, The Art of Boatbuilding at De’Bramble Art Gallery, Island Treasure Toys Sidewalk Sale, Wolfe’s Neck Center Fall on the Farm, Pineland Farms’ Harvest Festival as well! Free to the public.

Belfast Bay Beer Bash

Saturday, October 1—Belfast

Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. is hosting its fourth annual fall beer festival offering 40+ beers to sample. The $35 entrance fee comes with a commemorative taster glass, 10 beer tickets,  with two bands playing live music. Event starts at 2 p.m. FMI: B4

Chairlift Rides at Camden Snow Bowl

Sunday, October 2—Camden

Wheee! Fall foliage chairlift rides at the Snow Bowl are back, starting this Sunday. Ride up; hike down or ride back down. $10 per person. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oktoberfest at Sterlingtown Public House

Sunday, October 2—Union

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

And now back to our regularly scheduled program...

This weekend is all about the seasonal switchover from summer to fall with the September Equinox. The nights are getting chillier (so bring a parka to The Pour Farm) and the days this weekend are filled with rural living. We’ve picked out the best of what’s going on in the Midcoast for you to enjoy.

Cupacity Bartender Open Audition

Friday, September 23—Damariscotta

Cupacity is hosting its ‘Open Bartender Audition Night”  beginning at 5 p.m. and going until 9 p.m.This is going to be a lively event both for mixologists and the audience participants. According to Cupacity chef Bennett Perry, “Taking a cue from our favorite baking show, audition participants will compete in three mixology trials—signature, technical, and showstopper. The winner will be able to bring their very best in front of a live audience because after all, a great bartender is truly an artist and performer.” FMI: Details

The Pour Farm’s Outdoor Movie Night

Saturday, September 24—Union

The Pour Farm, a nano brewery in Union, has been having a lot of camp and fun with its annual fall outdoor free movie nights on Fridays and Saturdays. This weekend’s movie lineup is straight from the 1920s with comedy starting at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night featuring Sherlock Jr. (1924) and Buster Keaton’s Seven Chances (1925) and on Saturday night, a Soviet-era sci-fi Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924) accompanied by live music with Tom Luther. Space is limited and tickets are required. Beer and popcorn will be served. FMI: The Pour Farm

Common Ground Fair

Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25—Union

The Common Ground Country Fair, an event that celebrates rural living, is something you have to go to at least once to see how unique it is. Where else are you going to see an actual Blacksmith Shop or a Harry S. Truman Manure Pitch Off? According to the website’s “pro-tips,” most volunteers and staff say Sunday is the best day to go with the same exhibitors, food, and activities, with smaller crowds. Here’s a list of vendors and exhibitors as well as a schedule and staff picks. FMI: Info and Tickets

Grace on Ice

Sunday, September 25—Rockland

Now, this is not something you see every day. Ice Dance International, a professional performing arts ice dance company is bringing their live touring show to Midcoast as part of their New England tour, featuring some seriously talented ice skate champions. According to Artistic Director Douglas Webster, “It is an experience for the viewer, a theatrical journey with dynamic, athletic movement, intimate interaction, soaring grace and artistry, and swirling patterns that will transport the audience.” The show starts at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $25. FMI: Ice Dance International

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

ROCKPORT—Put together a rich, dark chocolate gelato in a handmade waffle cone and a beyond beautiful deckside view of Rockport Harbor and you’ve got yourself a sweet little business.

Entrepreneur Therese Inman and her husband, Garett Reppenhagen, moved to Maine from Colorado last year, had a vision that Maine would be the place for their dream job.

In Colorado, Inman worked as a CNA in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) but baked on the side.

When they got to Maine, they discovered the spot at 27 Central Street, formerly a storage room that had been initially been the darkroom for Maine Media Workshops.

“We knew moving to Maine, this was going to be the plan,” she said. “Sometimes, I come out here out on the deck and it’s just such a nice little breath of fresh air.”

Inman, who began baking desserts for Ports of Italy, handmakes her gelato and waffle cones. The gelato, which is a European-style ice cream, starts with a gelato base from Pineland Farms and is made with milk, cream, and sugar mixed with stabilizer.

“From there, I make the flavors from scratch, so the salted caramel gelato is made from sugar that I caramelize,” she said. “For the blueberries and cream flavor, I take fresh blueberries and dump sugar and a little lemon juice and salt and let it macerate while it cooks on the stove.”

A crowd favorite so far is mint cookies and cream.

“I use peppermint extract along with pureed fresh mint leaves, so it has this really nice pale green color,” she said. “Then, I dump in crushed Oreos.”

Another favorite is Tiramisu.

“I start with a Zabaglione custard, soak ladyfingers in Kahlua and coffee and layer it all together with cocoa powder on top,” she said. “It’s a little lighter version of Tiramisu.”

Soon she will roll out another menu item: crepes, both sweet and savory.

“We’ll have the standard Nutella and fruit and Crepes Suzette, which is lemon and sugar,” she said. “And for those who want savory, we’ll have ham and Gruyere, a basil, pesto with chicken, a turkey and Swiss, all the good sandwiches that you want to eat, except we put them in a crepe instead of bread.”

Down the line, Inman will also be adding beer and wine to the menu, which can be sipped on site.

“So, something for everyone. If you don’t feel like something sweet, but just want a glass of wine, out on the deck, we’ll have that.”

Reppenhagen, who works full time as Executive Director of Veterans for Peace, scoops and works the register on the weekend. The couple’s commitment to the community extends to their tip jar. Tips don’t go to the business; instead, they go to a nonprofit selected each month. This month’s tips going to Waldo County Bounty.

The business has only been open less than a month with a big word-of-mouth following. Sea Folk, the coffee shop around the corner, has been closed for several years during the COVID-19 pandemic and has recently re-opened giving the quiet town of Rockport has two food-and-drink businesses open during the day.

A grand opening is in the works the weekend after Labor Day. For more information on Freya’s Ice cream, visit the website or Facebook page.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Another nice weekend on the radar with the best day looking like Friday so far—here’s a couple of local events for music and art lovers. And a special Killer Road Trip for Friends of the Fur Babies with Woofstock!

Woofstock

Saturday, August 13—Waterville

Humane Society Waterville Area’s first annual Woofstock Festival will feature local bands, food trucks, and a beer tent from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with all ticket sales and merchandise proceeds going towards the Humane Society, as well as 10 percent of the proceeds from the vendors. The live music lineup includes Old Souls, Tyler Healy Band, Papa Tim, and the Desperate Men, Bad Daddy,  River Bottom Funk, and Cryin’ Out Loud. Buy tickets online or general admission tickets will be available at the door for $25 while they last. FMI: Woofstock

Lincoln Street Center Open Studios

Saturday, August 13 —Rockland

It may rain in the Midcoast on Saturday, so here’s a fine way to spend your afternoon. Lincoln Street Center will be hosting an Open Studio. Go check out the former high school turned art center and feel free to wander into the studios of more than six artists to chat about their work and process from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hello Newman Rocks The Dock

Sunday, August 14—Rockland

Do you wish you could relive the ‘90s sometimes? Hello Newman, the premier alternative rock band from Maine will be gracing Archer’s on The Pier for rocking the dock Sunday afternoon. They’ll be playing from 2 to 5 p.m. Open to the public.

Note: Weekend Spotlight will be on hiatus for a month while I work on a local film production. See you in September!

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

ROCKLAND—After a two-year hiatus, the Maine Lobster Festival opened to the public for free in Rockland this week. Sunday, August 7, 2022 marked a favorite event: the International Great Crate Race, where kids and adults in shorts and socks were raring to run across a long string of lobster crates attached to floats. The event was “open to anyone brave enough to risk falling into the chilly ocean with thousands of people watching your every move!”

Congratulations to the 2022 International Great Crate Race Champion Aiden Genthner, 12, of Owls Head, with 2,522 crates. His younger brother, Kobe Genther, 9, won second place with 1,798 crates.

Docked lobster boats provided the party in the background as the contestants lined up on the float in their stockinged feet. Professional photographers and a production company filming the crate races for a Maine-based independent movie documented their spectacular falls and triumphs.  The race, with approximately 100 kids and adults participating, was interrupted by a passing shower, but resumed once the sun came out.

Check out our gallery of photos and videos and download the attached 2022 Crate Race Results.

For more information visit: International Great Crate Race on Maine Lobster Festival’s website.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com 

ROCKLAND—The 75th Maine Lobster Festival is underway and there is so much to see and do this year. Culturally, the Festival is covering all bases with live music all day and night, an Arts and Crafts and Marketplace Tent, cooking demonstrations in the North Entertainment Tent, a Maine Heritage Tent, and even a Pirate Tavern. With no admission charge, it’s worth checking out all of the tents this weekend.

I happened to be in The Marine Experience Tent on Friday along with other exhibitors ranging from Maine authors and artists to a Lobster Touch Tank.

Author Ali Farell has illuminated the lobstering life in her fiction and nonfiction books.

“I’ve met so many nice people this week, so many people who’ve never even seen the ocean before,” she said.

Local lobsterman legend Virginia Oliver, a.k.a. “The Lobster Lady” is 102 years old and still lobster fishing. Oliver is one of the subjects featured in Farrell’s book Pretty Rugged about female lobstermen.

“She’s a celebrity,” said Farrell. “Everyone has seen her on TV and thinks she’s amazing—and she is!”

C. L. Alden, another local author, had posters of her books on display.

“Most of my books are inspired by the Midcoast area, so a lot of the places in the books will be recognizable,” she said. “Some names have been changed, but for example, in my book Empire is actually The Strand Theatre.”

Alden, who has been to the Maine Lobster Festival for four years noticed a bigger crowd this year.

“The crowd looks great,” she said.” I feel there are a lot of people from away this year and everybody gets excited about Maine stories. They see these quaint, New England towns, something they don’t see at home.”

Kathy Putzulu is the creator of With The Grain Woodworks, featuring scroll-sawed artwork with a lobster piece perfectly fit into a cut-out of the state of Maine shape.

Cynthia Dean, co-creator of “Paint It Shoreself Ceramics” had nautical and lobster-themed ceramics at her table, which can be hand-painted.

Two authors, Claire Ackroyd and Robert W. Spencer, representing the hybrid publishing company, Maine Authors Publishing, were manning a table with nearly 50 books from Maine authors on display.

Ackroyd, author Murder in the Maple Woods, said of her book, “It’s fiction, but the setting is real, giving you an authentic view of the processing of maple syrup production.”

At the back of the tent, MLF volunteer Aiden Willis, 13, in charge of The Lobster Touch Tank, identified various locally caught sea creatures in the tank holding them up to curious visitors, including live Maine lobsters, starfish, sea cucumbers, scallops, and crabs.

“I grew up on the water, so I have no problem touching any of these,” he said of the creatures. “I get to feel like an expert for the day.”

Note: various authors and makers appeared in the Maine Entertainment Tent all week and not everyone was profiled in this story.

The Maine Lobster Festival continues until Sunday. For more information visit: www.mainelobsterfestival.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

It’s sizzling this weekend (thanks never-ending heat wave!) but it’s also a great weekend to be outside and enjoy the various festivals that highlight Maine’s best-known food: blueberries and lobster. Oh and sauerkraut, did I mention that?

Maine Lobster Festival

Thursday, August 4 through Sunday, August 7—Rockland

Did you know that the Maine Lobster Festival is FREE this year? As a “thank you” to the community for reaching its 75th year (and after having to cancel the last two years due to COVID-19) the Festival is back with a vengeance. Highlights from Thursday to Sunday include Steins and Vines live music all day and night, and the Eating Tent with plenty of lobster dinners, rolls, chowder, mac ‘n cheese (basically Lobster Heaven). Yours truly will be there along with other Maine authors in the Marine Tent on Friday. On Sunday, don’t miss the Great International Crate Race at 2 p.m. See here for the daily schedule. FMI: Maine Lobster Festival

Wild Maine Blueberry Weekend

Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7—Statewide

Follow the interactive map on this website to tour wild blueberry farms around the state, pick wild blueberries at select locations, and sample a wild blueberry dish or drink. Locally, if you zero in on the interactive map in the Midcoast, you’ll find Brodis Blueberries and Blue Barren Distillery (in addition to its brand new Camden wharf tasting room and restaurant), Ridgeberry Farm, Sweetgrass Farm & Winery, Bluet Maine Wild Blueberry Sparkling Wine.

Maker’s Market at Morse’s Sauerkraut

Saturday, August 6—Waldoboro

Head down to Waldoboro (3856 Washington Rd, Rt. 220) to the little-known European deli and specialty grocery Morse’s Sauerkraut, as profiled by PenBay Pilot. They will be hosting a Maker’s Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with local makers offering thrown stoneware pottery, small batch beer soap, hammered metal jewelry, hand printed textiles and paper goods, blown and sculpted art glass, handmade leather goods, handmade wood objects, and more. FMI: morsessauerkraut.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

CAMDEN—It has been a twisty, tumultuous path for Blue Barren Distillery’s owners Andrew Stewart and Jeremy Howard. When they first opened on the “quiet side” of Camden in 2019, little did they know the business’s direction would be anything but quiet.

After a June 2020 fire that partially destroyed buildings in the Lyman-Morse boatyard, which forced the distillery to move its operations to a Hope blueberry barren in August 2021, Stewart and Howard had their sights set on eventually returning to Camden once the Lyman-Morse marina had been rebuilt.

With a couple of weeks of a soft opening under their belt, the distillery’s tasting room and restaurant expect to be fully launched at the official opening August 2.

“Originally we were going to move the distillery production back down to the waterfront, but that became too cost-prohibitive to move it twice, so we decided to keep production in Hope,” said Stewart. “And now the area set aside for the distillery is going to be a tasting room, a gift shop, and a bottle shop. Our plan in the future is to have a small display still so we can show people the process of distilling and maybe do classes, but that will probably happen next year.”

The tasting room will feature cocktails primarily made from Blueberry Barren’s spirit line. One signature cocktail, in particular, is finding popularity among locals: The Lavender Sky.

“It uses Barren’s Glendarragh Gin, using English lavender grown at Glendarragh Lavender Farm in Appleton with a lavender simple syrup, ginger beer, and lime — so a riff on the traditional Moscow Mule,” said Stewart.

The restaurant will have 50 seats upstairs and 50 seats outside on the deck overlooking the wharf. The restaurant space will be air-conditioned in the summer and temperature-controlled in the winter. While a new menu is being finalized this week, Stewart said, the restaurant menu will have all of the family classics, such as fish and chips, burgers, nachos, wings, oysters, and mussels.

“Potentially the plan is to be open year-round with the exception of January when we do a deep clean and a reshuffle,” he said.

Stewart said moving back to the same place they were forced to vacate after the fire and COVID-19 lockdowns have produced “so many feelings.”

“We are a little overwhelmed; there has definitely been a relief, but we’re excited and really looking forward to getting up and running,” he said. “The feedback has been really positive so far. Our staff are predominantly high school kids and college kids who live in the area and it’s just a fun, community vibe.”

For more information visit: https://bluebarren.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

BELFAST—She barely remembers it, but nearly 47 years ago Sierra Dietz, the owner of The Grasshopper Shop,  used to play in a playpen in the window of The Grasshopper Shop’s original Belfast location on High Street.

“I don’t remember anything about the first store, but I definitely remember being in the store’s second location where Chase’s Daily is now,” she said.

Dietz, whose parents, Johanna Strassberg and Ken Schweikert, founded The Grasshopper Shop in 1975, is the current owner of the Rockland location and now, the newly opened Belfast store at 105 High Street.

“My parents closed the Belfast store when they divorced, but I’m incredibly pleased to be back in Belfast,” she said. “I live in Belfast and have felt invested and part of the community for a long time. As a kid when the original Belfast store closed, it was my dream to come back and open it again.”

In 1975, when Strassberg and Schweikert still owned the stores in the Midcoast, what consumers wanted was a lot different than it is today.

“What has made the Grasshopper Shop different is how the store evolved over time, reacting to the customers' needs,” said Dietz. “Back in the late 1970s, they were selling wood stoves and macrame hanging baskets. Over time, they changed the merchandise to what the customers were looking for. Many of our long-time customers, the Baby Boomers, are at a point where they aren’t buying a lot of things for themselves but are spending more on their children and grandchildren. So, we’ve expanded our clothing and kids’ toy departments.”

The Belfast store, is in fact, still expanding. Currently, it houses Maine-themed home goods, casual, colorful clothing, a kids’ section, soaps, note cards, and themed books.

Dietz said the store is adding more merchandise, including tea, table linens, candles, more toys, umbrellas, wind chimes, and more clothing.

“Other stores sell just women's clothing, or toys, or home goods,” she said. “We have something for everyone. It’s sort of one-stop shopping to find all of those things in one location.”

“I heard an anecdote from a friend the other day who asked her kids if they wanted to go out for ice cream and they said, ‘No, we want to go to The Grasshopper Shop’ so we may need to make T-shirts that say ‘The Grasshopper Shop—Better than ice cream!”

For more information visit: grasshoppershopofrockland.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

This week’s Spotlight throws in a Thursday and a Monday event just to stretch out your weekend that much longer. The heat wave is over and the living’s easy.

Wiscasset Art Walk with Sidewalk Drums

Thursday, July 28—Wiscasset

The Wiscasset Art Walk tonight features something really unique: percussion instruments strewn throughout the sidewalks so that attendees can bang on the drums all day. Jim Doble of Union is bringing materials to build an amandinda, a xylophone-like instrument played in southern Uganda. The Art Walk goes from 5 to 8 p.m. Free to the public. FMI: Art Walk

Union Fair

Wednesday, July 27 through Sunday, July 31—Union

The Union Fair is underway, a reminder that we are past mid-summer point and all need some downtime. 4-H exhibits, livestock shows and auctions, exhibition hall, demolition derbies, harness racing, fireworks, live music, and more. Highlights this weekend include Wild Blueberry Festival Day on Friday, Children’s Day on Saturday, and Demo Derby Day on Sunday. Admission is $20 per person (includes all rides) or snag the early-bird deal (no rides)for $10 from 8 a.m. to noon. See more admission prices. FMI: https://www.unionfair.org

Happenings on the Harbor

Sunday, July 31—Rockport

Grab your picnic blanket, your lawn chairs, your YETI, and snacks–The Right Track band with opener Bella Barnes is going to get Rockport Harbor dancing with food trucks serving at 4 p.m. and the music starting at 5 p.m. This event is free to the public. FMI: Happenings on the Harbor

Belfast Summer Nights Street Party

Monday, August 1—Belfast

The 13th Annual Belfast Street Party will take over downtown Belfast from 5 to 9:30 p.m. on High Street in front of City Hall. There will be entertainment, rides, a bucking bronco, a climbing wall, an obstacle course, and all kinds of activities for children. A $10 pass gets unlimited access. Volunteers are still needed and will get a free pass for rides. Call 338-1975.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

BELFAST—Matt Burke and Jim Thompson, who moved to Midcoast Maine four years ago, have been working toward taking their cookie and granola company, Sweet Monkey Business to its fullest potential—and now they’ve done it with a production facility on Main Street in Belfast.

“I’ve always been a contractor/builder, but I was looking to do something different,” said Thompson. “We’d always wanted to do some kind of small business around food, maybe a café or something. We loved to bake and cook and Matt and I would make 50 or 60 batches of cookies to give to friends every Christmas such as a raspberry pecan cookie and a chocolate cookie dusted with powdered sugar. Many were inspired by Martha Stewart.”

The name and the business logo are a tribute to their mischievous dog, who was renowned for stealing socks.

“Matt and I would say, ‘She’s up to monkey business again,’” hence, the cheeky monkey stealing the cookie in the logo.

Friends convinced the couple that they needed to commercially sell their cookies, so tried their wares out at The United Farmer’s Market in January 2020. Of all the shortbread cookie flavors they created, the lemon cookie turned out to be the crowd favorite.

 “We just wanted to see if people would buy them,” said Burke. “A table costs about $40 a week, so we just wanted to see if people even liked them enough to go bigger.”

“People did like them; they kept coming back,” said Burke.

“We got together a quick business plan and the plan was to sell at a number of farmer’s markets,” said Thompson.

For all of the businesses that got the one-two gut punch at the start of the 2020 pandemic, nothing hurts quite like lining up all the pieces to a successful business launch, only to have no access to customers. In March 2020, they had just started using a test kitchen with The Crosby Center in Belfast and in three weeks, the entire state of Maine shut down in-person gatherings. 

“So the plan shifted to an online business,” said Thompson. “That following Christmas, everyone had an online Christmas.”

With Thompson’s baking skills and Burke’s background in marketing for technology companies, the artisan cookies took off online. Another part of their expansion included educating themselves about how to sell their products wholesale. That took a lot of research, pitching emails, and physically delivering samples up and down the coast. All of this was brand new to both of them.

“And mistakes were made,” Thomspon said laughing.

One of their “oops” moments came in the form of packaging.

“In the beginning, when we would deliver batches of cookies to people in person, we packaged them in tins or boxes with soft tissue paper,” said Thompson “When we mailed them the same way, the cookies would be destroyed. We learned quickly. Although we did get some notes saying they were appreciative we weren’t using a lot of plastic packaging.”

But the work paid off.

“I’d say we’re now in some of the best specialty stores and markets on the coast,” said Thompson.

When lockdown started easing up about a year and a half later, many businesses started to rethink the in-person model once again.

“We realized we could get bigger with more products, so we added granola to our product line,” said Thompson, who modified a family recipe. Their granola is more concentrated with nuts and dried berries than oats. “We just played around with the recipe until we were happy with it,” he added.

The business took one more turn when the couple bought the building on Main Street in 2021, renovated the upstairs apartment, then customized the working space on the ground floor, converting it into a baking production facility. Thompson said they bake nearly 8,000 cookies a week to keep up with the demand for wholesale, retail, online, and in-person farmer’s markets.

“Maine is the perfect place to try out your ideas and start a small business,” said Burke. “It’s been an amazing, supportive community. And the wholesale community is the same. It’s the perfect place to start a small new business. They want to help you; they want to welcome you.”

For more information and where to find their cookies and granola in the Midcoast, visit: sweetmonkeybusiness.com/contact

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Welcome to another hot, hot, hot, weekend. Here are three low-cost and no-cost events outdoors that are effortlessly cool.

Maine Celtic Celebration in Belfast

Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24—Belfast

Have ye got a wee bit of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, or Brittany in ye? Check out the three-day festival featuring Celtic music, a dog parade and show, a kilt contest, workshops, and even a Medival Artisan Village as well as vendors selling good food. Don’t forget the Highland Heavy Games with the famous US National CheeseRoll! This is an all-ages event with things to do and see all day and evening. Check out the schedule here. There is a $15 per person suggested donation. FMI: Maine Celtic Celebration

Pick Your Own Blueberries

Sunday, July 24—Rockport

Coastal Mountain Land Trust says it’s ‘Pickin’ Time.”  The public is invited to walk up Beech Hill Preserve in Rockport with your own containers (no rakes) to pick sweet blueberries for free. Members get first priority in the morning and no dogs, please. Registration is required first at coastalmountain.org

Goat Hugs & Doughnuts

Sunday, July 24—Windsor

Who doesn’t like hugs? Who doesn’t like doughnuts? What’s wrong with you? As part of a statewide Open Farm Day, celebrating Maine Farms, Anchor ME Farm at 584 Ridge Road in Windsor is giving you the chance to get baaaaaaaa-ck to nature and hug some adorable goats, chickens, and ducks with all kinds of handmade doughnuts, including gluten-free and vegan, for sale. This open farm day is between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. FMI: Anchor ME Farm

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

CAMDEN—In little more than a year and a half, Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, Inc has transformed the east side of Camden Harbor into a modernized marina. On Tuesday, June 12, Lyman-Morse celebrated its re-introduction to the community with the launch of its anchor restaurant, Salt Wharf.

Five hours before showtime, the finishing touches of construction in and around the restaurant were taking place as the general manager was busy making calls and the chefs prepped in the kitchen. The Appledore and Surprise slipped back into the harbor ensuring anyone inside or on the rooftop bar would have a fantastic view.

This is a working harbor and a new, improved vision of a welcoming boatyard, according to Mackenzie Lyman, Lyman-Morse’s spokesperson.

About the restaurant

The interior of the first floor is thoroughly glass-and-steel modern with a retractable glass garage door that can either open half of the restaurant to the salt air on good days and provide a snug space in inclement weather. The rooftop deck includes a wrap-around outdoor bar and several lounge spaces with million-dollar views.

The head chef is Chris Pierce, who has worked in Maine for several years, most recently at Sebasco Harbour Resort.

“He brings such a wealth of knowledge and experience to this place, in addition to this remarkable calm, personality,” said Lyman. “Working with local purveyors, he puts things on the menu with a unique twist.”

The opening night menu, which will switch up regularly, featured a raw bar section, including oysters and small plates, including deviled eggs with caviar. Other sections include soup and salad, main dishes, including a pan-roasted halibut, lobster pasta, and short rib and fingerling potatoes, sides, and dessert.

“We wanted to create an unpretentious Maine seafood, Maine local fare sea-to-table menu,” she said. “We’re trying to provide good, locally sourced food that is still casual and fun. We’re also going to be offering a rooftop bar menu with smaller plates and what we call ‘dock beers’ from PBR to Red Stripe. Or you can have craft brews with an extensive wine selection. This place doesn’t have to be reserved for your fancy, anniversary dinner.”

About the marina

Lyman described a lemonade-out-of-lemons scenario in which the original marina had to be razed and redeveloped after the buildings were partially destroyed in June 2020 during a restaurant fire. Lyman-Morse completely rebuilt what was 33,000 square feet into 34,000 square feet.

“In June 2020, we were all just coming out of lockdown and excited to start socializing again when things changed,” she said. “The mixed blessing in this was that the long-term plan had always been to improve the waterfront facilities. It’s been a cobbled-together hodgepodge of buildings over the decades. When people looked across the harbor, all they saw was an industrial space that wasn’t open to the community or to tourists. It became an opportunity to really build this place the way we wanted it, which is a modern working waterfront with a customer service vantage point. We wanted people to have amenities such as restaurants, shopping, office spaces, and a larger boardwalk with sitting areas.”

Blue Barren Distillery + Restaurant operating in the next building over, has also recently re-opened with a new tasting room, restaurant with outdoor seating, and a store. Adjacent to that is the guest lounge space with laundry and shower facilities, along with day offices.

“We’re all now used to working remotely now, so if you’re out sailing, you can still use the office for your business,” said Lyman.

The guest lounge connects to Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding Inc’s administrative offices, which serve as the central hub of the facility.

“We are a boatyard after all, so making this place friendly for both the employees and the customers was paramount,” she said. “We have everything customers need in the middle of the building development.”

The marina has been designed to be a mixed-use space. The far corner of the complex houses three retail spaces, one soon to be occupied by Archive, a luxury consignment boutique. The other two are still open to rental. Inside that facade is the new rig shop. Above the retail spaces are the crew quarters, and three luxury boutique hotel rooms as an accessory use for customers and guests. There is also more rental space upstairs for both workspace and individual office space.

“People who live here, work here, and visit here, can all use it,” she said. “We expanded the boardwalk to 20 feet. We would love people to feel part of this, just respecting the hard-hat areas, as it is still a working boatyard, but there are plenty of friendly spaces around here.”

Lyman said parking has been expanded at the top of the hill and on the other side of the marina, just off Sea Street. They will also be providing valet service. Note to visitors: these areas are not public parking spaces for Camden, but instead, available for any of the marina services, retail spaces, and restaurants.

A launch is now available to pick up people at the Camden Public Landing several times a day and deliver them directly dockside to the restaurant.

“That’s going to be kind of a novelty for people who don’t spend time on the ocean to just hop on a boat and come over for dinner,” she said.

For more information visit saltwharf.com/

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Outdoor festivals are the name of the game this weekend with themes ranging from food to music with a special historical re-enactment and a finale of Maine films to cap it off.

Killer Road Trip: Yarmouth Clam Festival

Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17—Yarmouth

This free weekend festival draws visitors from all over the country who come to enjoy the music and arts, events and competition, and of course, the main event—clams. More than 80 different types of food and beverages are featured at the Festival’s food booths, including more than 6,000 pounds of clams, 13,500 Lime Rickeys, 6,000 lobster rolls, 2,200 pancake breakfasts, 1,500 shore dinners, 400 homemade pies, and 6,000 strawberry shortcakes. Don’t miss the clam-shucking contest (The record-holder for the annual clam-shucking contest shucked 25 clams per minute.) FMI: Clam Festival

Living History Day - Fort Knox

Saturday, July 16—Prospect

20th Maine Company B is a history-oriented non-profit educational organization whose members hail from across New England. The group authentically portrays the common Maine infantry soldier during the 1862-1865 period and they are going to travel back in time to the 1860s with the Civil War Living History Encampment at Fort Knox. This family-friendly event will demonstrate how life really was back during the Civil War, from cannon fire, drills, medical procedures, and daily life. The event goes from 9 to 6 p.m. and is free to the public. FMI: Living History

MIFF Final Weekend

Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17—Waterville

This is the last weekend to see quality feature-length and short Maine films in all genres from documentary to claymation, plus a closing night party on Sunday night. Here’s the schedule of films. FMI: MIFF

Blues Fest & Pub Crawl

Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17—Rockland

The North Atlantic Blues Festival is back this weekend in Rockland. The annual two-day blues music festival (Sat & Sun) with national blues performers takes place at Rockland's Public Landing featuring more than a dozen renowned blues acts. Here’s this year’s lineup.  The Club Crawl starts on Friday night and is always a good time for the locals. Even if you don’t have tickets and there will be a party in the streets both Friday and Saturday night with blues bands playing local venues, along with rock, funk, vintage, and new music. Here’s a lineup of the Club Crawl each night. Note: some venues may charge a cover. FMI: Blues Fest

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Another lovely weekend is upon us and the energy is booming with pirates and cannons, traditional schooners racing their hearts out, live music, quality Maine films, and much more. It’s good to be alive in Midcoast Maine.

45th Annual Great Schooner Race

Friday, July 8—Belfast

The 45th Annual Great Schooner Race on July 8th, 2022 is considered the largest gathering of traditional schooners in America—and we get to watch it in Midcoast Maine every year! If you want to see all the schooners gather, go down to the Rockland harbor by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 7. The race is on Friday, July 8, promising maritime lore, high competition, and live music. On Friday morning, they’ll set off at Islesboro. The winner will finish crossing the Rockland Breakwater around 2 p.m. then anchor in the South End for an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. The best place to see the race is on the Rockland Breakwater, so get there early and wear sturdy shoes! FMI: Website

Maine International Film Festival

Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 17—Waterville

Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) is kicking off Friday for a 10-day event featuring more than 100 films, “representing the best of American independent and international cinema, and putting the spotlight on some of Maine and New England’s most exciting and innovative filmmakers.” Check out the schedule. This year MIFF honors Debra Winger. 

Pirate Takeover Day

Saturday, July 9—Belfast

Funky Folk on the Hill

Saturday, July 9—Rockport

After a gentle walk up the Beach Hill Preserve, prepare to get up to get down. Local, funky, folk rock, five-piece band Splitwillow will be playing dance music on Beech Hill at 6 p.m. as part of Coastal Mountains Land Trust’s Arts on the Hill music series. Bring your picnic blankets and lawn chairs, but please, no dogs. FMI: Facebook

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

A gorgeous sunny holiday weekend is upon us and with the sun not going down until almost 8:30 p.m. it’s time to squeeze everything out of each day and night. Here are some fun things to do this weekend, plus where to go for Fourth of July celebrations.

Belfast Summer Nights

Thursday, June 30—Belfast

‘Jaws’ at the Shotwell Drive-In

Saturday, July 2—Rockport

For anybody who remembers seeing Jaws at the original drive-in, this will be a fun retro experience. The Camden International Film Festival is screening this summer classic from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.  Tickets are $20 per vehicle. They will begin allowing vehicles into the lot an hour before the scheduled start time. Restrooms are available on site. Picnics are encouraged. FMI: Tickets.

July 4th Celebrations

Monday, July 4—Maine

Searsport is doing it up all weekend with fireworks on Saturday night at 9 p.m. and a parade at 11 a.m. on July 4. FMI: Facebook

Camden Rotary is hosting a free Music By The Sea concert at the Camden Public Library Amphitheatre from 12 to 7:15 p.m. The whole event starts out on the Village Green at Noon with a concert by the Bay Chamber Jazz Ensemble. And then the party moves to the Camden Amphitheatre at 2:00 p.m. Bring your picnic blankets and camp chairs. FMI: Facebook

Thomaston is hosting their annual Fourth of July celebrations with a pancake breakfast, a 5K road race, a parade, a craft tent, food vendors, the Nikki Hunt band from 6 to 9 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m. FMI: Website

Also in Thomaston,  Salt Water Fields is throwing a public bash with food trucks, bartending from On The Rocks, Ferda Farms oysters shucked to order, lobster sliders from Captain Dan Hendricks, live music, and fireworks. The event goes from 4 to 10 p.m.  Bring your picnic blankets and lawn chairs. FMI: Facebook

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

DAMARISCOTTA—One portrait is the deep, bold blue of twlight whereas the other two are the hot orange fire of Autumn.

River Arts Gallery is currently hosting its Members’ Show featuring 160 artists from all over Maine. Three women, Cathie S. Peterson, Laura McNelly, and Anne Holmes all have work in the show. Each fiber artist has her own preference and style. Here is the story behind each portrait.

Cathie S. Peterson

A Glimmer of Hope

Cathie has been a fiber artist for about 10 years. “I went to visit a farm near Bethel and while I was visiting I saw this giant needle-felted piece of a path going into the woods and I just said to myself ‘I just want to walk into that,’ she said. “So then I just practiced the art form. I’ve been taking watercolor classes and it has changed my process. I never took art classes in my life and until in my 50s, I didn’t even try to do anything. I wish I’d started earlier.”

“This piece I had to do at the last minute,” she said. “I bought this beautiful roving [unspun yarn with textured fibers and shape] and I laid it down and wen ‘Ahh...that’s it.’ This is the first time I’ve made a piece that wasn’t matted; I just left the wool on the felt and left the felt as the outside edge. It’s made with Angelina, which is a very superfine nylon sparkle. I couldn’t decide if it’s dusk or dawn, which is why I named it ‘A Glimmer of Hope.’”

To learn more visit her website

Laura McNelly

View to the Sea

Laura has been felting for a couple of years. Of her inspiration, she said, “I made this piece from an image of the blueberry barrens in Waldoboro on Scott’s Blueberry Farm looking down to the sea in late August or September. I’d gone up there at the height of blueberry season and took photographs, so I worked on this piece from the photograph.”

She said she’s been working on it bit by bit. “It’s wet felted and needle felted,” she said. “I started with the base and added details to it. There are so many beautiful places in Waldoboro that most people don’t see, so I like to focus on them with my work.

laura said she’s a new Member at River Arts Gallery and doesn’t have a website. “I’m just taking one step at a time,” she said.

Anne Holmes

Autumn View

Anne Holmes has been a fiber artist for the last 20 years. “I did this one from the view outside my study window,” she said. “I like doing fall colors and I was just sitting there looking outside my window one day.” Anne often buys wool from thrift shops and unspins it with carding combs. “You can undo a finished piece of clothing, rough it up, and turn it back into roving,” she said. “That gives you the opportunity to use any old thing you can get your hands on. What you’re dealing with is microscopic hooks in wool or felt.” With this piece, she laid down a base and needle-felted a pattern onto it. She then took different colored wool and carded it together to achieve the fiery oranges and yellows.

To learn more visit her Etsy site.

The Members’ Show is up until July 23. For more information visit: https://riverartsme.org/

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

After rounding the corner of the longest day of the year, we’re finally going to feel some summer temperatures this weekend. There are a few fun happenings in the Midcoast and up in Bangor for the foodies, and art and music lovers with all kinds of indoor-outdoor events!

Arts in the Park in Belfast

Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25—Belfast

Bread & Brews

Saturday, June 25—Unity

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is once again hosting a Maine-grown grain fest with beer from local breweries, grain demos and workshops, and good food and music. They’ll also be cooking up fresh bread in their wood-fired oven all afternoon, along with special workshop on pizza. See our first story on it in 2019. Get your tickets; they will sell out early. Admission costs $50 ($45 for MOFGA/MGA members) – for full event, includes beer tastings.

Killer Road Trip: Beats & Eats Food Truck Festival

Saturday, June 25—Bangor

It’s going to be a beautiful day at the Bangor Waterfront Park where food trucks and street food vendors from all over Maine will be on site starting at 11 a.m. along with beer, wine, ciders, seltzers, and live music. Ticketed events include music by Dom Colizzi's band, The Tourmalines, playing Top 40s, pop-rock through the decades from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. (Tickets $10 each.) From 4 to 9 p.m. Rowdy Yates will be playing country-rock with The Allison Ames Band. (Tickets $20 each.) FMI: Tickets

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

LINCOLNVILLE—Emmit Dayhoof is 18 with an exciting future ahead of him. 

Like so many high school seniors, he’s now easing into that pleasant lull that comes after finals are over and the graduation caps have been flung in the air. There’s nothing more to worry about other than a summer job and hanging out with friends. It’s time to just savor the last summer in the Midcoast before he heads off this fall to St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.

Recently, Midcoast Music Academy named Emmit “June Student of the Month.” He studied under the guidance of instructors Drew Weber and Thomas Ulichny, who stated, “Over the (almost) decade, I’ve known and worked with him, he’s progressed into a top echelon drummer and is the definition of a true musician’s musician.”

Full disclosure, I’ve known this kid since he was a baby. As a boy, he was always a little bit shy, but it was easy to get a smile out of him. Today, it’s even easier; his confidence has grown both personally and musically as a drummer—even with stage fright.

“It’s a lot easier for a drummer to hide behind a drum kit in the back when you’re first starting out,” he said. “I’d always put my stands up really high. I haven’t done a lot of performances, but I’ve done enough where I’d just focus on communicating with the band to make the best music we can make.”

As his parents tell it, Emmit was always a percussive child.

“I was always tapping on the dinner table with my fingers, driving my family crazy,” he said. “Or I’d just sort of chant, trying to be on-beat, which is why I ended up picking drums when it came to playing music.”

For the last nine years, he has honed his drumming skills with Midcoast Music Academy (MCMA) in private lessons, summer camps, ensembles, and recitals. He’s even mentored younger drummers.

Asked who he admires, he credits Peter Erskine, an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.

“He’s just known for holding crazy, fast tempos for 10 to 11 minutes at a time,” said Emmit. “Those songs are all jazz pieces and he’s holding 240 beats per minute, which is really tough. There are a lot of things about drums that are hard, but holding that one pattern for so long and having the stamina to keep going is probably one of the hardest thing.”

Even though Emmit has played numerous times in the high school jazz band performances, amazingly, in all four years of high school, he never found his own band to play with.

“Yeah, it’s weird, it’s like kids just don’t form bands anymore,” he said.

That’s something he’s hoping will change when he goes to St. Lawrence, which is 90 minutes away from Toronto, where there are a lot of jazz clubs and cafés.

“I’m hoping to just sit in at some of these clubs and get to know people, and maybe join a band once I get there.”

Having grown up in Maine, he loves loves the outdoors: camping, swimming, and fishing. He’s interested in becoming an environmental engineer and according to him, the outdoor program at St. Lawrence is excellent.

Watch the embedded videos to see how Emmit explains the fundamentals of drumming and then goes into a full improvised riff.

I’m not going to wax Dr. Suess in “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” but once this kid gets into a college band, he’s going to slay it. 

Hail To The Rad Kids is series that highlights Midcoast teens with artistic or musical talent. 

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

MIDCOAST—In the month leading up to Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and unjust full-scale attack on Ukraine February 24, 2022, Daria, 34, was at home in Kyiv, the country’s capital, with her two sons, Mitya, 8, and Niki, 3. Her husband was at work. A couple of phone calls later and everything in their lives would turn on a dime.

Daria and her sons are now safe and housed with friends in Midcoast Maine for the present time. Though she had a working knowledge of conversational English, we communicated by Google translate to get all of the details.  I would ask or type a question and she would type her answer.

Q: What happened just before Ukraine was attacked?

Daria: So I’ll tell you how it all started. We had our own little lives; we had a house in the suburbs of Kyiv. I have a master’s degree in customs law and was an office manager for a customs brokerage firm in Ukraine. My husband serves in Customs and Border protection of Ukraine. Our children went to school. Mitya was in third grade and Niki was in kindergarten. We were planning our summer vacation and planning to build a veranda near the house and plant new trees.

Suddenly, everything changed on the day of the invasion. A friend called my husband at work and told him that we needed to get out of the suburbs as soon as possible. And then a neighbor called and told us to pack our things. There had been no warning days before in the newspapers. An American friend had more information and told me troops were positioned in Belarus and we didn’t have much time before they started shelling Kyiv. I didn’t believe it; I didn’t want to leave our house.

But I summoned my will and I did it for the sake of my children. My husband told us to go to Poland. He had to stay back because of his job and fight the Russian troops.

Q: How much time did you have to gather your children and your belongings?

Daria: We had one day. At the end of my husband’s workday at 5 p.m., he called me and told me I had six hours to get out and go to Poland. And he had to stay behind.

Q: What did you tell your sons?

Daria: I told them we were going to Poland and in one month, we would be able to go home and they would see their father.

Q: What was behind your husband’s decision not to evacuate with you?

Daria: He remained to defend the country, although he could have left with us. He, like most men, and many women have remained to fight. He is just a civilian but was a volunteer in the army. His work is related to helping the military. He worked on the border of Romania and helped transport humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Now, he has returned to his primary job in Kyiv and is restoring the airport and Customs checkpoints destroyed by the Russian military. He is in a safer place right now.

Q: How often do you get to speak to him by telephone or computer?

Daria: We are always in touch, but as you know, a couple of days ago eight rockets were launched in Kyiv; two were shut down, and I’m always worried about whether I’ll be able to contact my husband tomorrow.

Q: What made you take up the offer of Elisabeth and Oleksii in Maine to move even farther away?

Daria: The apartment in Poland was very expensive; we were there for two months. They told us they knew we couldn’t pay for the apartment for much longer and wanted to help us. They said ‘We have a big house for you and your family,” so we flew to New York, then to Maine. We arrived on April 10 and have been living here while my oldest son goes to school.

Q: Was it a culture shock to come this far away?

Daria: For thousands of years, Ukrainian people have been valued for their hospitality and their desire to help a person in need. And I see that same trait in Americans. This is my first time in the United States and I see that Americans are very good and sincere people. Strangers learning that I was fleeing the war with my young children gave us so many things. We were given a house to live in and a car to use. People brought us things we needed, food, clothes, boots–it restores my faith in humanity. I can’t list every name of the people who have shown us hope and kindness in this community.

Q: What news do you have about your house and Bucha? Has it been fully destroyed?

Daria: A shell hit our house but did not cause as much damage as the neighboring houses. There is still a roof and walls but no windows, doors, or furniture. In our village, 1,500 houses have been destroyed, and neighbors have been left without a roof over their heads.  We have neighbors who are just using our house as a shelter at this point. They have a generator and turn it on for three hours a day to heat water. Volunteers bring food and seedlings so neighbors can grow their own vegetables. International organizations are also bringing aid to the villages. The longer the war drags on in Ukraine, the less confidence I have there will be anything left to Ukraine to return to, that it will all be a pile of rubble.

Q: Mitya, eight, has now had his school year interrupted twice with a move to two different countries during the school year. How is he faring now?

Daria: The first transition was very difficult for him in Poland because he could not speak Polish. But, he went to school there with my friend’s daughter who translated for him. Here in America, he didn’t have any friends, but he’d had a lot of English lessons, so that has helped him to understand kids here. The school has made him feel very welcomed and he has made a  friend from the Congo. His friend tells him stories about his life in the Congo too and the problems he’s experienced with their war, so Mitya trusts him—they have the same experiences.

Q: How do you find balance in your days while you wait for the end of this war? How is your husband faring?

Daria: I do a lot of work around the house. I have been planting trees and bushes and flowers in the front of the house. Housework also gives me a sense of home and reminds me of what I had in Ukraine. I want to do something pretty for Elizabeth and Oleksii.  I can’t use my law degree, because I don’t have my work permit yet. I’m also working on my driver’s license. But, I would love to do something with Ukrainian cooking and introduce that to the community. I’d like to get that work permit soon to have a stable, financial cushion for our family.  My husband misses me and the children very much. He says he cannot pass by the playground. When he sees the children there playing, his heart starts to ache. He ordered paintings from a Ukrainian artist of our likeness for a portrait and hung them in his office of an apartment where he now lives.

Q: Do you have any insights into when this war will end?

Daria: We all have hope for the American land lease since Europe has suspended the supply of weapons. We hope for American weapons, without which, we cannot win. But, if we get them, we can go on a counter-attack, and then there will be victory at the end of the year. In the midst of this, I want to thank the State of Maine for the support and assistance they have surrounded us with since the first day we arrived. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I would also like to thank President Biden and the U.S. Government for their assistance. This has been the greatest help we have received in a bloody war with an enemy who kills children and the elderly with a smile on his face. We will win this dishonest war and thank you all for your help.

Certain first and last names have been omitted for security reasons.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com