BELFAST — We're combining this month's "Look at that face!" column on adoptable dogs and cats with a super good cause. All it requires is that you pop into Rollie's Bar and Grill in Belfast this Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 5 p.m. and quaff a brew, or in the parlance, down a pint for P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center in Camden.

This will be the seventh "Pints" benefit Heidi Vanorse, co-owner of Loyal Biscuit Co., has organized for animal shelters in the Midcoast.

"The community has been awesome in donating prizes for the raffle," she said. "We currently have 45 prizes and one live auction item, making this the most amount of prizes we have had so far for a Pints event."

Rollie's will donate a dollar for every pint sold and proceeds from raffle and auction item sales will go towards the P.A.W.S animals. Laura Stupca, shelter manager at P.A.W.S., said, "All the money that's raised can help us by going toward animals that need to be vaccinated, spayed and neutered. It also goes toward dog food, cat food, litter and toys."

You've likely seen Maggi, an adult Border Collie mix, in our "Look at that face!" column before. That's because she got bypassed getting adopted this weekend and one of her biggest champions, P.A.W.S. volunteer, Diane Sturgeon, wanted to make sure she got a wee bit more attention. Sturgeon who faithfully walks Maggie and other dogs at P.A.W.S. every weekend has come to know this shy girl well.

"Maggie originally came into the shelter as a stray, so we don't know much about her background, but she is head shy, so we're guessing someone was probably quite rough with her at some point in her life, which is why we need a family to come along that will be patient and give Maggie the time and love she needs to learn that people are actually okay," said Sturgeon.  "She's very food motivated and would love it if you brought her some delightful meat treats for that first introduction.  She's been in the kennels for months now and has reached the point where she's really sad about going back in after her walks, so she will sometimes just flop down to try to convince the human on the end of her leash to give her just a few more minutes outside in the fresh air. Let her get a couple sniffs in before you make any sudden movements, so she could get comfortable with you. You should probably know that once Maggie does get to know you, she'll want to hang with you forever and will probably ask for some serious belly rubs!"

The benefit goes from 5 to 8 p.m. Musician Paddy Mills will be providing the entertainment, along with a raffle and auction. For more information on what's available for auction visit their Facebook page.

CAMDEN — "Chuck, how many times would you say you come to the Camden Hannaford Supermarket a day," I asked.

"Oh geez, I try not to be here any more than once a day," he said.

"He's here twice a day if not more," said Hannaford Customer Service Manager Allie Bowen.

"Well it's like yesterday, I just got back from Hannaford and Kathy says, 'Did you get the half and half cream?' cause she can't stand having her coffee with just milk, so I had to come back. I'm embarassed when I have to come back again and they always say 'oh it's you again,'" said CHuck Hendrick.

Hendrick, 79, grew up in Camden and has seen the evolution of the grocery chains in this spot through the years. In the early 1950s, he said it was just a lot filled with open woods and fields. "Then they built the highway," he said, referring to Route 1. "'Cause you used to have to go through Rockport."

The town's only chain grocery store started as Camden IGA Food Liner, originally located at Tannery Lane, then later in the Reny's Plaza location, before it moved to where Hannaford now sits near the Camden and Rockport line. It was originally owned by Norman Cote, and later, by Harold Crockett. IGA was eventually bought by Graves Supermarket in 1998 and Hannaford Supermarket took over in 2007. Just this winter, Hannaford has begun working on renovating and expanding the size of the store, tearing through what was the old Movie Gallery walls to make room for its new and improved produce section.

You know you live in a small town when people are really buzzing about the grocery store's new renovations. "People are excited," said Bowen. "The renovation has been a long time coming. We're putting in a pharmacy. We're getting about 3,000 new products in the store and new things in the deli and bakery. We're getting a sushi chef and a new recyclable bottle service, so it will be much cleaner."

"It's very nice," Hendrick agreed. "There's a better selection now and I don't have to go very far. I would like to see some small golf carts to get around the place, with a basket on it. Bobby agrees with me," he said referencing Bob Josselyn, the store's general manager.

"Do you know everybody here on a first-name basis?" I asked.

"No, not really," said Hendrick.

"Yes, he does," said Bowen.  "And we all know his dog, Homer, because we can hear him howling in the parking lot while we push carts."

Asked why he comes to Hannaford at least once a day, Hendrick said, "Well, it used to be once a week I'd come do a shop, but we've got a bunch of kids and they come eat all the food up. Not that I mind — they've got to eat, but then they'd take all the leftovers home so I gotta come back here."

Walking around the new section of the store, he said he liked the new paint job and the open space. "Do you know every aisle by heart?" I asked.

"Yeah, unfortunately," Hendrick said.

"What's your favorite aisle?" I asked.

"The rum aisle," he said. We took a walk on over to it. I like how he calls the entire aisle "the rum aisle," as if no other products there exist.

"Ever since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, my doctor, Dr. Vickers told me to drink three fingers of rum a day," said Hendrick. "It's been three years since I did that, and my count went down. So here's where I get my Mount Gay. But you know what? Ever since I had kids, I can't have my happy hour until my kids are all settled in, 'cause a lot of kids have to be transported." Hendrick and his wife, Kathy, have five adult children and raise their granddaughter, Sydney.

Hendrick said when he goes shopping he can't get in and out without running into at least one person he knows. "Cause you've got to imagine, I grew up here. I know a lot of people," said Hendrick.

"Well Chuck, you're here for the interview," I said. "What are you going to pick up while you're here?"

"Ahh, I don't know yet. I gotta check with Kathy. Probably nothing," he said, waving as he walked out of the store.

You just know that he'll be coming back a little later on.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com.

Hope R. Angier, interior decorative painter

Shlomit Auciello, photographer

Anne Cox, rug hooker

Alexis Iammario, community artist

David Lyman and Chuck Kruger, The Bert and I Company of Maine creative director and show producer

Tom Ulichny, director of the Midcoast Music Academy


The doors open at 6:30 p.m.  The presentations start at 7 p.m. Stay after to enjoy conversation and light snacks; $5 cover at the door.

For more information, visit Midcoast Magnet's website or email rockland@pechakuchamaine.org

Video credits: HoopME! Rendezvous in Maine by Emma

Breathing Breaks and Wonky Planes by Caterina Suttin

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

HOPE — Live storytelling has become a thing in the last decade where people stand up in front of an audience and without notes, tell a story that captivates the audience. Sometimes they're screechingly funny; sometimes they just gut you. NPR hosts its own version called Snap Judgment and The Moth.org is particularly noted for its "terrifying and exhilirating" live events. This Saturday evening, Feb. 16, the Midcoast will get a chance to witness a storytelling slam (essentially a contest of highly engaging stories from local talent) led by Judith Black, a nationally known storyteller. Sweet Tree Arts, a community arts organization in Hope, which just launched in February, are kicking off their very first event with Story SLAM.

Having been featured 10 times at the National Storytelling Festival, and serving three times as Teller-in Residence at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesboro, Tenn., Judith Black is sought after as both a performer and workshop leader throughout the world. Her original historic stories strive to offer nontraditional vantage points on people, places, and events, in the hopes of creating a broader understanding of our national past.

Black will be running a workshop from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.  in which she will show people how  "to take a story that you love and bring it alive," said Lindsay Pinchbeck, Sweet Tree Arts Director. "She's an amazing storyteller and has won a number of award." Her website, Stories Alive, give some clips of her past perfomances.

"Storytelling is an art that we've kind of lost. How you bring a story alive depends on your gestures, your facial expressions or body movement. The craft of it is really interesting. You don't have to nail it perfectly, you just have to tell it with passion," said Pinchbeck. "Traditionally, it's a bit of a competition, but we're just having fun with it."

Starting at 5 p.m. on the same day, the Story SLAM will kick off with five local storytellers: Andy Swift, Tracy Lord, David Lyman, Eliza Greenman and Jerry Stone. They will have five minutes each to tell a story based around the same theme: Opportunity.

"These are just five remarkable extroverts who love to tell a story," said Pinchbeck.

For example, Jerry Stone will be talking about how he went from being an orphan to an ordained minister.

Note there will be adult content in these stories and may not be appropriate for a younger audience. Tickets for this fundraiser are $25 in advance and $30 at the door available on line at www.sweettreearts.org or at the Hope General Store. A light dinner is included with the ticket and there will be a cash bar.

 Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

It's two days before Valentine's Day and you need a card that isn't sappy, syrupy or sickening. (Or maybe you love sappy, God help you.)

We did a little card-hunting in the Midcoast to find the best, most unique and clever Valentine's Day cards. Starting in Belfast with Yo Mama's Home, we found a rack of really funky, handcrafted cards. Lisa Agostini,  buyer for Yo Mama's Home said: "I pick these cards for their uniqueness, elegance, humor. I just try to find the most unusual cards that intrigue me from an illustrative point of view."

She hand-picks her card vendors, buying from individuals, a collective of artists and independent companies that range from commercial to letterpress cards. The "friggin love you man" card came from Ferdinand, an artist in Portland, and Agostinis said she also loves Found Image, a company that offers a "nostalgic, fantastic imagery from the arts and crafts period to the crazy 1950s." She said, "We try to have a mixture of blank and message cards, in case they'd rather not have to think of what to write." 

Danica Fullington, a book seller at Sherman's Books and Stationery in Camden, said they buy from several vendors, but don't get to choose which cards arrive.

"They send us a box and it's always a surprise," she said. "We read them as we open them."

The overly sexy ones are hidden in the top rack labeled "Child" because as Fullington says, "We figure kids aren't going to read any cards that are listed under the Child label anyway."

In Rockland, scoot on over to the Grasshopper Shop, where the revolving rack of V-Day cards greets vistors walking through the door. Assistant Manager Hope Billingsley said they, too, buy from several different vendors.

"We have funny cards, some more serious, some sweet and unique, some interesting," he said. "It's a wonderful way to express your feelings for someone special."

Whatever your perspective is on Valentine's Day, pop on over to any of these three stores and you'll find a card that fits your personality and makes someone's day.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

CAMDEN — Every year the U.S. National Toboggan Championships has tried to outdo itself in terms of ice parties, costumes and hilariously-named toboggan teams. The blizzard of February 2013 altered the event a bit, condensing the weekend's packed roster activities into one day, but not the enthusiasm.

On a sunny 30-degree Sunday, the usual suspects were out on the ice in their die-hard ice shacks, but because Saturday's events had been cancelled and Hosmer Pond was buried in snow, the high-energy vibe from the last few years was replaced with a bit more of a subdued atmosphere. Partly, it was because you had to slog through 2-feet of snow to get anywhere on the ice; partly, because the population was smaller, but the 2013 Toboggan Races actually felt like a time warp back to 10 years ago when the locals made it their event. Small, personal and neighborly. 

Though there were a smaller number of teams and outrageous costumes, there were still many who came out to play. The Royal Dutch National Toboggan Team won "Best Costume" as well they should. Every year, they come up with a theme and costume that is wicked over-the-top and this year's theme of giant whistles on their heads alludes to "whistling in" the Dutch Queen Beatrix who will abdicate on April 30 after 33 years as head of state, so her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander can become the first king in a century. The whistles on the top of their heads were made out of "foam and feathers from a blue chicken." Asked if they were disappointed by the storm changing the Toboggan Races schedule, they said, "No, no, we were amazed by the people here that they could make it all happen today."

The Pirates of the Dark Rose came out to pillage the chute. "We were doing a lot of screaming and "arrrgggh" ing down the chute," said one gentleman, who preferred to go by his pirate name, The Viceroy.  Asked if they were keeping warm, Blood Thirsty said, "It's the the rum keeps us warm. And me mates."

"And the rum," added The Viceroy, once again.

Arma-Sledden, a wacky Mayan themed three-person team was headed up by Andrew McCabe, Deirdre Rynne, and Nicanor Garrido. "We're representing Mayan gods. The end of the world did not come to fruition, so we decided to go sledding," said McCabe.

Asked if they were prepared to meet their maker on the chute, Garrido said, "We were more worried about that yesterday with the storm." Added McCabe,  "We had pictures of Nick angrily shaking a shovel at the storm fully decked out in his costume."

One of the first two-person teams I came across were the experimental team Flux Capacitors, a nod to the Back To The Future trilogy, headed up by Mainers, Kristin Cole (Marty McFly) and Josh Robinson (Doc Brown). Their sled had the actual licence plate Out A Time. Other notable costumes included the four (wo)-man team, The Desperate Housewives. Gywneth, Nicole, Sylvia, Nicole, (who preferred to go by the real housewives names) admitted their wigs and weaves and faux fur coats were a deliberate fashion choice to keep them warm.

"Nobody outside of our friends and family know what we are until we say 'Desperate Housewives' and then everyone is like 'oh yeaaah!'" said Nicole. Asked if they were desperate to win, Nicole said, "Actually, we're just desperate for a good time. We're all moms, so this is kind of a break for us."

The Ice Cold (Polar) Bears were a four-person team and first timers from Massachusetts. They deserve the "Come Hell Or High Water" award (if there were such an award) for making it up here. Gabriel Lortie, Dan Kinan, Kerry Kinen, and Nicole Hendricken planned on being here all weekend, but while the Kinens were able to come up Thursday night, Lortie and Hendricken drove through the blizzard Friday night.

"It's a great place, we're having a blast," said Lortie. "I can't believe they cleaned the parking lots and got everything ready in time," said Kerry Kinen. "We can't wait to come back next year," added Dan Kinen.

All in all, Sunday ended up being the perfect weather day to cram in all of the fun and festivities of the 2013 U.S. National Toboggan Championships. And like the Flux Capacitors and the Arma-Sleddin teams could tell you, when you're "out a time," you've got to make the most of what you've got!

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com.

On Jan. 25,  news spread across the Internet that the Rev. Alois Bell, pastor of the St. Louis-based Truth in the World Deliverance Ministries, and her congregation had dinner at a local Applebee's. When the bill came for the party of 20, the auto-gratuity (common for parties of this size) was fixed at 18 percent.

"I give God 10 percent why do you get 18?" Bell wrote on her credit card receipt, after crossing out the additional tip amount and writing 0%. (Note: the 18 percent tip was still included on her credit card charge.) The server who discovered the credit card slip told another Applebee's server, Chelsea Welch, who then posted an image of the receipt on Reddit.

Welch reportedly said she posted the note as a joke, and because she thought others would find it "entertaining." Welch was quoted in the  Consumerist.

It has been more than entertaining; it has sparked a viral debate that has pit wait staff all across America against patrons and business owners. According to The Consumerist, Welch admitted she posted the original image of the pastor's signature, because she thought it was illegible. She even provided an inaccurate physical description of the customer just to throw people off. Just when Internet sleuths began to contact her about the pastor's identity, national news outlets began to run the story and the pastor's name was figured out.

This past Wednesday, Pastor Bell reportedly lodged a complaint with the Applebee's restaurant, citing that due to the viral nature of the photo, her reputation was ruined. Welch was immediately terminated.

Applebee’s spokesperson Dan Smith was interviewed by The Smoking Gun, confirming that Welch had been terminated over the incident. He also reportedly said that his company apologized to Bell for violating her "right to privacy."

The way these things move faster than the speed of light, the pastor then apologized for her actions via The Smoking Gun in a followup interview.

Welch also told Consumerist she assumed the person who wrote the note wanted it seen, though maybe not by millions of people.

We called the local Applebee's in Thomaston to see if there was any comment to this story.

"I already know what you're going to ask me, I heard it on the radio this morning," said an Applebee's employee who asked to be anonymous. "I see both sides of the coin, but as far as Applebee's policy goes, a guest's personal information is not supposed to be shared." Pressed if she had a personal opinion, she said, "I do, but as an employee of Applebees, that's the only thing I can say about it."

An invitation to local servers to comment on this story yielded a not entirely unexpected response.  One former server who also asked to remain anonymous said, "This is unfortunately still happening. There are those who feel they shouldn't pay a person to wait on them, because the wait person collects a check.  Most of these morons don't realize that servers actually work for modern day 'slave wages.' I believe they can get legally paid $2.65/hour…it used to be $2.16 when I waited tables — which in and of itself is actually atrocious. Let's say the restaurant has a slow night and the wait person only gets one table — and the bill is $30. That means the wait person might get $6.00 if he or she is lucky…plus the $2.65 an hour for the eight-hour shift."

The former server went on to say: "I understand not leaving 20 percent for bad service, but if the service is seriously bad say something. Don't make the rest of the wait staff world pay for one bad egg, and for the love of God — don't use religion as a weapon. Nice way to 'win souls.'"

To comment on this story, go to our Facebook page and give it to us straight!

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com.

Short films are like visual hors d'eouvres; they're meant to be sampled in bite-sized, stimulating storylines. It's the second year that The Farnsworth Art Museum has teamed up with the Strand Theatre to offer this international film series, called Rockland Shorts: International Short Film Series. The nine films were culled from more than 300 submissions.

The title of this month's screening is "Trials and Tribulations," something David Troup, Communications Officer at the Farnsworth Museum wanted to clarify.

"At first glance, the title seems as though these films are dark or sad, but actually it's about overcoming these trials," he said. "It's actually very hopeful."

The decision to feature short films follows the Farnsworth's artistic mission.

"It allows the fillmaker to experiment with different ways of telling a story without having to worry about a traditional narrative," he said. "In a more standard film festival, you can't really get away with it. In this slate, you still have stories that are being told, but in very interesting, experimental ways."

For example, Troup noted one stand out films in the upcoming slate is Oh Willy.

"I think people are really going to be mesmerized by this one," he said. "It's claymation done in felt characters about a young man trying to come to grips with his past with flashbacks to his nudist mother. But, remember these are felt characters. It's fascinating and beautifully lit."

Oh Willy is a 16-minute short from Belgium, France and The Netherlands. Directors Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels explain its concept:

We were inspired by Diane Arbus’ photos of people living in nudist colonies. The photos are as poetic as they are uncomfortably banal and confronting. We wanted to achieve the same tension between poetry and shockingly uncensored imagery by combining the wool with the theme of naturism and question of what it means to live in a natural way.

Another stand out film Troup said to look for includes: Next Floor. "I think people are going to be pretty riveted by this one, although it's not a easy fim," said Troup. "It's a little grotesque dealing with unsustainable consumption."

This 12-minute Canadian film is described by director, Denis Villeneuve:

During an opulent and luxurious banquet, complete with cavalier servers and valets, eleven pampered guests participate in what appears to be a ritualistic gastronomic carnage. In this absurd and grotesque universe, an unexpected sequence of events undermines the endless symphony of abundance.

The slate of films starts Friday, Feb. 1 at 8:00 p.m. at the Strand and only lasts an hour. (The bar opens in the balcony at 7:30 p.m. for those who wish to get there early.) Afterwards for the next half hour, select filmmakers and media artists included in the series will join in a discussion at the Strand in person or via Skype for a conversation with the audience.

Following The Strand event, patrons are encouraged to go on over to FOG Bar, starting at 9:30 p.m, where drink specials will be served."The idea is to be able to continue the conversation of the films," said Troup. "So often when you go to these movies or events, you drive home alone and miss out on having a community to discuss your impressions with. That's what we're trying to do with these after-events, providing a place to continue the discusson."

Admission is $8.50  for the general public and $7.50 for Farnsworth members. The films are not rated. Some of the films include adult language and sexual content and are not suitable for young audiences.To find out more about the films, visit: http://farnsworthmuseum.org/rocklandshorts

Rockland Shorts is split up three times a year. The next events will be in April and June.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

NORTHPORT — For someone who doesn't "do" winter, I will admit staying inside for five-to-six months gets old.  Except when it's like last week's temperatures of 20 below windchill; then you can take your ardent outdoor enthusiasm and shut-skies.

Point Lookout in Northport is changing all that with this latest Cheap Date. Just this winter, the facility off Route 1 has begun to offer snowshoe rentals for only 10 bucks per person.They have more than three miles of snow-covered terrain and trails and if you're a member of their Fitness Club, rentals are free. The snowshoes are modern and well-constructed — not the kind that look like badminton rackets that Jack London's characters might have worn in Call Of The Wild. 

I strapped on a pair and went toddling up to The Summit to get a feel for the Point Lookout Trail. I might mention I've never worn snowshoes before; it felt a bit like standing on Daddy's shoes as a kid dancing at a wedding. Really weird at first. But this Cheap Date has all the perfect elements: a gorgeous view of the ocean and mountains with a companion (best bud or main squeeze). All you need to do is add a backpack of artisanal cheeses, champagne, strawberries and Funyans and this is the best ten bucks you'll spend on an afternoon in the middle of godforsaken winter in Maine.

Rentals include a variety of snowshoe sizes to fit kids up to 250-pound adults. For more information, contact Point Lookout's Fitness Center.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

About this time of year, you look at your wind-chapped nose in the mirror while pulling off a wool hat that leaves your hair looking like a cat that just got an enforced bath and you think, "Good God I need a change."

Sogno Salon, based in Rockland, feels your pain and this is the first year they've offered a free "Vugly"  (a hybrid of "Very Ugly") makeover to seven local women who "have worn the same style and look for way too long."  Participants had to willingly email a photo of their Vugly hair and Sogno Salon would pick the ones who most needed new haircuts and color, smoothing treatments and makeup. To top it off, they got to have a professional photo of themselves taken by photographer Amy Wilton.

Nancy Mason-Allen, owner of Sogno Salon said, "I just like to be able to make women beautiful. This is our chance for us to do it at no cost for a bunch of great women."

The salon has done Ambush Makeovers in the past, when women were nominated for a change by friends and family, but this is the first year they've allowed women to nominate themselves.

Two victims, er, willing participants, were confident to show us their before and after photos and speak to us about their experiences.

Lara Webb, 30, had almost 12 inches of hair cut off to be donated to Locks of Love.

"My hair just looked really frumpy," she said of her "Before" style. "I've had this style for maybe four years. I just really wanted a change. When I saw the Vugly contest I said to myself, 'I'm definitely going to win that!"

Jenn Baca, her stylist, explained: "We cut her hair very layered with a bob with some foil treatment to bring out highlights and dimensions. The foil allows me to place the color where I want it, to make it more chunky and pop in certain places."

Namara Hathaway, 34, another participant said, "I've had the same style my whole life from 10-years-old on, so for 24 years. I've always had long, curly hair, but it's dead. I just wanted to get rid of the dead ends and just have a style." 

She admitted she was a little apprehensive to have the makeover at first.

"It is such a big change," she said. "Hair is so important because it represents who you are and how people perceive you." 

As a new mother of an 8-month-old girl, Gwenaviere, Hathaway also works full time at Bank of America.

"My whole time is with her and I haven't really done anything for myself," she said.

Ten inches of her hair was cut off and colored with highlights.

"We're just putting in some more dimensions to her natural hair color," said Laura Gollard, her stylist.

She also got a makeup treatment. "I don't wear makeup, so I'm really excited to see what they're going to do."

Asked why having a makeover is so important to a woman, Webb said, "It's really important to be confident about how you look and that will reflect how you feel about yourself. As a mother, I want to be confident for my boys, for them to see that women can be strong."

Asked who'd be the most surprised about her makeover, Webb admitted, "Probably my mom, who is watching my sons right now. She said, 'Don't let them take off more than an inch!'"

Both women said they were thrilled about the makeover and makeup.

"I feel fabulous," said Webb.

"I'm very, very happy," said Hathaway. "I feel lighter, freer, able to move easier."

"I'm absolutely pleased with how these all turned out," said Mason-Allen. "We're having such a great time and everyone is so happy."

"Real change comes from within" goes the old saying. But that was likely from a man who'd never had a bad hair day in the middle of winter.

To see more of the makeovers, stay tuned to Sogno Salon's Facebook page.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

ROCKPORT — High school morning announcements have come a long way since the days when principals would click on the intercom switch with the inevitable torque of feedback (FWWWWWWAANNG!) and some inadvertent heavy breathing before intoning, “Good morning, students....”

Welcome to the Class of 2013, where students are the ones doing the morning announcements over a live TV broadcast — turning the eye-rolling, get-this-over-with formula into high-quality (and hilarious) video entertainment, all the while delivering the school’s morning news.

Two groups of mostly seniors at Camden Hills Regional High School in Chris Walker-Spencer’s TV Studio classes are responsible for the broadcasts titled WJAM News. Recently, in between sports and the “What’s For Lunch” segment, several of those students did a Saturday Night Live-style video parody of Brad Pitt’s cringe-worthy Chanel No. 5 commercial and a school re-enactment of the viral pop song, “Gangham Style” renamed of course, “Camden Style.” (To see these videos on Vimeo click on Chanel No.5 and Camden Style.) These brief video clips, called “intros”, are prerecorded to introduce the next segment of the five-minute daily broadcast.

CHRHS has always had a video/film department since it initially opened in 2000 (originally outfitted with analog editing equipment and cameras), but when the digital revolution took off, it has steadily upgraded to a top-notch facility with state-of-the-art film and video equipment, iMacs and software, such as Final Cut Pro.

“Six or seven years ago, Apple representatives came here to take a look at our video lab and went ‘Wow, this is great. We’ve only seen one lab better than this on the East Coast, and that was in Long Island,'” said Walker-Spencer.

Since 2006, under the guidance of Walker-Spencer, students have taken over the morning announcements using the power of this video/film lab to produce a high-quality broadcast with a filmmaking sensibility.

“Basically every second period, which is 80 minutes, we have a certain amount of time to come up with stories for intros and prepare for live broadcast,” said senior Eliot Grigo.

Every week, the students rotate their various roles from working behind the scenes on script, audio and video switching, and management of the daily video broadcast to on-screen talent, where students have to get over their fear of public speaking and read the news from the teleprompter, while injecting bits of their own personality into the broadcast.

They’re having a lot of fun coming up with new ideas that not only engage their audience, but also allow them to stretch their creative video skills.

“We pick up things when we’re watching TV or Tumblr or viral videos on Facebook outside of school," said senior Kristina Alex. “If we find it funny, we’ll bring it to the class and try to make something out of it.”

"Even though it’s one person’s idea, we all combine our ideas on set,” added Grigo.

Whatever they’re doing, it’s definitely working to get the entire student body to tune in each day.

“We try to make them funny,” said senior Jordan Knowlton.

“We get a lot of positive feedback from other students,” said Grigo. “I think the Gangham style [mashup] was probably the best received.”

They’re allowed to use the high school as their background for their stories, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get in trouble from time to time. Recently, when filming a video “intro” to go with a sportscast, two of the boys brought mountain bikes into the school and proceeded to ride them to the boy’s bathroom until an administrator called them out. At that point, Walker-Spencer had to pop out from where he’d been filming the boys to say: “It’s okay. They’re in my class.”

With their newly developing parody and satire skills, the students realized they might have gone too far in a recent ‘End of the World” broadcast Dec. 21 they’d done, standing outside the school.

“We decided to do a small, live breaking news segment outside talking about the world ending,” said Gringo. “And it was a joke, very sarcastic, about the levels of water rising. We had one part where we acted like we were freaking out and swore... that’s when Spencer comes in and told us....”

“...That footage had to hit the cutting room floor on the broadcast,” finished Walker-Spencer, smiling.

With only a half year under their belt, the students are already doing quality video work that even rivals first-year film students.

“They’re always working on ways to improve their own work or try new things,” said Walker-Spencer. “Eventually we’ll put these videos out online so the community can take a look.”

Check out their YouTube videos embedded in this article. It will give you a whole new appreciation for those dreaded morning announcements. In addition, meet the WJAM News crew up close and personal in the latest issue of Sound Off, sponsored by Five Town Communities That Care. 

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

You may have heard of Midcoast award-winning blogger and comedian Erin Donovan through her I'm Gonna Kill Him blog, video series and comedy show. This Saturday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m., she's transforming her blog stories to a live performance at the Camden Opera House.

The "I'm Gonna Kill Him" comedy show is an hour-and-a-half, multimedia production featuring the funniest of Donovan's work. Culling material from her days in New York City, her Match.com marriage, and her abrupt and shocking transplant to Maine, Donovan finds humor in just about every aspect of middle-aged life.

Donovan is regularly featured on Bangor Daily News, Errant Parent, Aiming Low, Scary Mommy, The Mouthy Housewives and BaristaNet, as well as The New York Times. Her blog was nominated by Nickelodeon for Best New Blog in 2010. Most recently, Donovan was named by BlogHer as a 2012 Voice of the Year and won its People's Choice award in Humor. In addition, the editors from She Knows named her blog a 2012 funniest blog. Donovan currently is working on a pilot for Nickelodeon.

Once you read her answers to the following "5 Things to know about 'I'm Gonna Kill Him," you will not want to miss her show!

Q: Your blog material tends to "go there" as in "Don't go there" but you "go there." That is, you are not shy about discussing awkward marital sex, ("Cosmo's 30 Day Sex Challenge"), body image ("The Hair Down There") while skewering the modern notion of Suzy Cream Cheese Homemaker ("Co-What?). What's the overall reaction from women on your no-bulls*** sense of humor?

A: Anyone who has ever been privy to a girl's night out can attest — women have a tremendous capacity for bold and bawdy discussions. Very little remains off the table between friends. Because of that innate appetite for the real stuff of life, I've attracted a bunch of loyal female readers along the way. I've offended more than a few men with the title of the blog - I'm Gonna Kill Him - as though I am actually in the business of killing husbands. And that is just silly; I would obviously outsource that.

Q: Does your husband (nicknamed "G" in your column) ever turn to you while you're having a conversation, fight, or particularly intimate moment and say, "Don't even think of putting that in your column?" Follow up question: do you do it anyway?

A: Absolutely! But I have also learned my boundaries, allowing him to relax his grip. I do not discuss my in-laws nor do I delve into his professional matters. Basically, I try to steer clear of the people who feed me Thanksgiving dinner and those who enable us to eat dinner at all. If I sense it's a touchy subject, I'l write it in exchange for his first right of refusal after reading it. There was once a piece I wrote about my first trip to Maine, after we became engaged, that ruffled his feathers. We were living in NYC at that point, and we had decided to head north for a first Thanksgiving with my future in-laws. I was suffering a urinary tract infection and had lost all sense of humor and ability to listen to him talk in the car. He took advantage of my weakened position and played a cruel joke on me. He told me that his mother would be serving an artisinal cheese known as Fromunda cheese. I continually asked the people I am supposed to be impressing to serve me Fromunda cheese, which, as it turns out, is a disgusting word invented by men to describe the sweaty matter that collects beneath the undercarriage. From unda a man's... you get it. He didn't love the idea of me telling that story at first, but after he read it, he realized that - as I mostly do - I was poking fun at myself, not at him.

Q: Moving to Maine from New York City is like running full sprint to catch a plane on one of those people movers in airports and stumbling to a screeching halt once your sneakers leave the rubber mat. Yeah, it is kind of like that at first. How did you adjust to the different pace of life up here?

A: The first year was rough. I am a city girl. I like hustle and bustle and noise. The idea of kayaking and canoeing would send me running for the hills. Which then turns to hiking, which I also hate. But I've found myself in a really special community here in Camden. A medley of writers and innovators, and maybe more importantly for me at this stage of my life, mothers. I've made irreplaceable friendships, which warm me through the bitter winters. And I just have to look at my children thriving in this softer, slower existence to know that it was the right move for us. I often remember this one little story about the city whenever I'm feeling a longing for it: I was dining with my husband and our first-born at a restaurant downtown when a family was seated beside us. I looked over at the little girl, who was probably four years old, and asked her what she wanted to eat. She glanced at me and said, "Ehh, I had the falafel last time and it was lousy." My mind exploded at the realization that their childhood is so fleeting there. To even know what falafel is at that age, and more so to know what constitutes good and bad falafel? I still don't know.

Q: As a writer talk about the decision you made to get out of your sweatpants behind your keyboard (I'm a writer, too, c'mon I'm wearing them now) and put yourself up on stage for all the world to see you as a live performer. Was it an easy transition to make? Did you need Xanax?

A: Are you offering me Xanax?

It was a big leap for me as I wasn't one of these kids who did a lot of theater or choir. I did a lot of reading V.C. Andrews by flashlight as a kid.   When my piece, Dead Vagina Walking, won a Voice of the Year in Humor award last year, I had to read it before a crowded room of bloggers and editors and literary agents in Los Angeles. The response was so great that it lit a little flame inside me and I knew I had to evolve my work. The shows are really fun, especially here in Maine, because comedy is in short supply but particularly comedy as done by a female.

Q: Can you talk about your Nickelodeon pilot? If you are obligated to stay mum, can you at least give us a hint as to whether your column material might end up being a character on national TV?

A: I can't say much about the show other than that we filmed part of it here in Camden recently. As it's presently slated, it's a reality show about me and a few other female bloggers/humorists. I'm really hopeful...because I'm 33 years old and I'm still waiting to be discovered in the mall.

To buy tickets, visit the Camden Opera House online event page or call 207-236-7963

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Thanks to Maine Memes, this is the way Mainers are reacting to everyone complaining about wanting to go to Florida right now.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

It's got to feel like a bit of a burn when some guy who has only been home-brewing for one year beats out more than 100 contestants in Maine Homebrewers Competition, a statewide contest run out of Bangor. However, nice guys do finish first, and Zafra Whitcomb, an employee at The Belfast Co-op humbly acknowledged his good fortune.

“I’m still kind of in shock that I took first," he said. "And this was the first lager style that I’d ever done.”

In 2012, for the Maine Homebrewers Competition, Whitcomb submitted four different beers and a sparkling mead. There were 17 finalists for each style of beer and in the end, there was one absolute winner or "Winnah" as it says on the bottle's label. His beer, made with Sorachi Pils hops (a type of Japanese hop used in Sapporo), came in as the Grand Prize Winner.  “It's a great summer beer,” he said.

As part of the Grand Prize, Whitcomb got to have his beer commercially brewed and distributed by Penobscot Bay Brewery, in Winterport.

“It’s really exciting that quantity of beer being made," he said. "I make about 10 gallons at home at a time. This was more than 200 gallons made in this batch."

The first batch of "Winnah" was brewed the second week of October 2012 and wasn’t ready to bottle until the beginning of December.  The brewery packaged 70 cases of Whitcomb's beer and a couple of kegs, which ended up on tap at Darby’s Restaurant in Belfast and Nocturnem Draft House in Bangor. Nocturnem's kegs sold out in two weeks and this past Friday, Darby's just tapped their first keg of Whitcomb's beer (complete with his own personal tap titled "Zafra's Sorachi Pils").

The Co-op was also thrilled to be able to stock Whitcomb’s beer in their craft beer section.

“Everyone was really excited like ‘when’s your beer coming, when’s your beer coming?’” he said.

Three cases of "Winnah" arrived before Christmas and at the time of this interview, they had already been sold out. The Co-op was waiting on more cases to arrive and it is now in stock again.

As home brewers are legally prohibited from selling their brew commercially, Whitcomb said the recognition was the best perk of having won the contest. Because of the contest's rules, Whitcomb won't earn any proceeds from beer sales. Like all contestants, he also signed a waiver to grant to Penobscot Bay Brewery an irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to all commercial and intellectual property rights to the winning beer. 

"If I ever decided I wanted to get into the business, it’s great to have that honor,” he said. He’ll continue to brew variations on his original recipe for friends and family to be given away.

The upshot is that if all of the limited batches of "Winnah" sell out and there is a demand for more, Penobscot Bay Brewing Company may invest in renaming and relabeling the beer and continuing to sell it, as they have done for past Grand Prize winners, such as their Building 5 Rye IPA.

Whitcomb's working on a new brew for this year’s contest, trying different styles like a Porter, and a low-alcohol Polish smoked wheat beer called a Grodziskie, but he’s not sure what he’ll submit this year.

“Brewing is a fascinating thing," he said, cheerfully. "It’s a combination of all the things I like, such as cooking, chemistry, physics, biology and engineering all wrapped up. And in the end, you get beer.”

Help a guy out and drink some "Winnah" next time you're in Belfast and while you're at it, submit your own review on our Facebook page.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

"Snowed In 5" refers to the fifth year that Three Tides and Marshall Wharf Brewing Company will be hosting its blow-out dance party in Belfast this Saturday night, Jan. 19, featuring DJ Ian Hammond and DJ Matty T.

This is also the first year that Three Tides restaurant has been able to stay open year-round. General Manager David Carlson said: "We now have a full time staff so we're able to keep the ball rolling and steamroll right through the winter. We stated this five years ago and the concept of being snowed in was kind of a joke at first because the first time we threw a party, we got a four- or five-inch snow storm."

Carlson continued: "Ian I've known for maybe 18 years. He started spinning up in Orono at the University of Maine. He's been all over the world and spins predominately French house, which is kind of like modern disco. And then Matty T. is a really good friend of ours. He's in Portland now, but used to DJ in Belfast and has spun a lot of stuff at Three Tides. So, the two of them pretty much have this on their calendar every year and come up. Every year, more and more people come out for it. I would consider it our best dance party of the year."

Snowed In 5 descibes the evening's music as "Deep, tech, funky, indie."

Ian Hammond has dj'd parties, clubs and bars in New York, Lithuania, Boston, Portland (Maine), Los Angeles, Lake Tahoe, Oregon, Montana, and all over New England. "Heavily influenced by the sounds he was hearing in the early 90s warehouse parties, Ian began djing with radio shows on WRUV-Burlington (Univ of Vermont radio), and WMEB (Univ of Maine radio). He went on to develop and hone his dj skills and sound at the legendary beach raves and club parties of late '90s Nantucket Island."

DJ Matty T. is one half of the award-winning DJ duo, Jason Keith and Matty a.k.a. ATOMIK. "Beginning in 2008, Matty and Jason's parties around Portland took off like a shot. They have received many nominations from The Portland Phoenix' "Best Music Poll," and won the 2009 wepushbuttons.com award for Best Club DJs.

The show starts at 9:00 p.m. at Three Tides restaurant and bar in Belfast. There is no cover, but only open to those 21 and over with proper I.D. For more information visit: Three Tides on Facebook

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

Rockport resident Douglas Day took this photo Wednesday afternoon at the Snow Bowl (note the porcupine sitting in the tree above), adding:

"Steve Pixley, intrepid Snow Bowl Patrol member, trees the ferocious porcupine, which may have endangered skiers at the top of Ragged Mountain!  The beast then proceeded to eat shoots and not leave, fearing for his life with Steve still lingering nearby."

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

If you're just tuning in, the free little Half House that sits at 27 Pascal Ave. in Rockport we reported on last week (see original story here) generated quite a response and several people emailed to let us know its mysterious origins, why it was cut in half and where that other half of the house exists.

Chris Harrison of West Palm Beach, Fla., first saw the story and contacted us. He is the son-in-law of Donald Rhodes, one of the original occupants of the house.

"My understanding is that the house was a duplex built in the 1800s," said Harrison. "The neighbors on the left wanted a driveway and wanted to purchase the 27 Pascal Ave. house. However, one of the two owners of the duplex wanted to sell and the other didn't."

In response to the original story, several locals floated the speculation that the two families who lived in this duplex couldn't get along, so they cut the house in half and one of the warring owners took the other half of the house and settled it somewhere in the Midcoast.

This, apparently, is not the case.
 
Rhodes, also of West Palm Beach, has the full story. He was 3 years old when his parents bought 27 Pascal Ave. around 1946. Explaining how the house lost its other half, he said: "The story always told to me was that the people next door [to 27 Pascal Ave.] were the Thomases and they didn't have a driveway because the house sat so close to the property line of the duplex. The Thomases wanted to buy the whole duplex, but by then, the heirs of the duplex couldn't get together and agree to sell the whole thing so, one of the heirs sold the Thomases the left side of the duplex. The Thomases tore that side down [where a driveway still sits today.]"

When the Rhodes family moved in, the house had already been cut in half.

"That's when my dad got out of the army and bought the property," Rhodes explained. "When he bought it it was in real bad disarray." 

In the 1800 sepia-toned photo you can see the two front doors right next to one another.  In the 1946 black and white photo, the Half House's doors and windows have been repositioned.

"My dad put it all back together," said Rhodes. "He moved a window and today, the door is now in between the two windows."

He and his two siblings grew up in that little house, Rhodes said, adding he lived there until he turned 17 and joined the Air Force.

"Growing up in that house in the 1950s was like growing up in Mayberry," Rhodes said. "I have a lot of fond memories living there. I went to Rockport Elementary School, which was at the end of Pascal Avenue, the same building where Hoboken Gardens now sits today. My grandfather founded the family business in 1917. He was a blacksmith and built a machine shop, then a full-service garage called Rhodes Garage, across from the Baptist Church on Pascal Avenue."

By and by, the little house had changed owners. Rhodes tried to buy it back in the early 2000s, but a family dispute obstructed the sale. Rhodes's nephew, who owned the house, sold it to someone in Camden, who then, according to Rhodes, tried to leverage a foundation underneath the house, then abandoned the project.

"Either he ran out of money or something, but he did quite an amateurish job trying to renovate the house and it has sat that way for several years," he said. "I'm really so sad to see it so badly damaged."

Doug Day clarified that the gentleman who attempted the renovation actually had ambitious designs for the Half House but when his mother died, he had to let the project go.

The house was sold one more time. Today the owner is Day, who also owns the big house (28 Pascal Ave.) across the street. He inherited the Half House in its current dilapidated condition; hence his initial desire to give it away free to a willing person who could move it off the property. Since this story posted, he has been in touch with Rockport assessors with more outside-the-box ideas, including rebuilding the Half House to its original specs.

"It still makes sense to start over on the Half House," Day said. "But I've been taken by the possibility of rebuilding the original. Trouble is there's really not enough lot left. The ideas continue and the offer stands to help pay for the removal. I have two different plans for the property. One is to recreate the original, only slightly smaller. The other is another intriguing architectural design by Richard Morris Hunt."

So now that the mystery of where the Half House's other half went has been solved, we will be interested in seeing what this little property's fate will be. Like all houses, this one's story isn't over yet.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

BELFAST — Bell the Cat, a cafe and restaurant just off Route 1 in Belfast, has been around for nearly 19 years, but like the cat who desperately needs that bell, it has been an under-the-radar joint for too long. Now located in the plaza on Starrett Drive (where the old Movie Gallery used to be -- across from Walgreens), this little cafe is putting out a big, creative vibe.

Their Tuesday Open Mic nights has "Cheap Date" written all over it. It's got the perfect formula. On one side of the place, their full restaurant is open from 7:30 a.m to 9 p.m. on weeknights and even later on the weekends. The other side of the big space (divided by what looks like confessional booths) is the Back Room, a large open comfortable space scattered with couches where people can gather and sing, orate or play their hearts out with no cover charge. It's got a new beer, cider and wine bar with local brews on tap for only three bucks or so. (Cheap beer doesn't mean bad beer in this case; some of their brews come locally, like from Andrews (Lincolnville) and Baxter (Lewiston), and from Founders, the number-one Midwest microbrew.)

Bell the Cat has reasonably priced and delish apps after 4 p.m., so conceivably, you and your date or pal can split an $8 nacho plate and a couple of beers and still have a great evening for under $15 while enjoying some acoustic or popular music or beat-your-breast poetry or even some stand-up comedy from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The joint's even got free WiFi.

Next time you're looking for something to do on a Tuesday night, Bell the Cat has got you covered. To find out more visit: Bell the Cat on Facebook.

Cheap Dates is a new series dedicated to scrounging the most amount of fun out of the Midcoast on the fewest dollars.

To reach Kay Stephens, contact news@penbaypilot.com.

"Rover Reporter" Diane Sturgeon is a dedicated volunteer to P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center in Rockport, taking dogs for walks every weekend. She would like you to meet Joel.

Meet Joel, a rambunctious, but cuddly eight- or nine-month-old lab mix puppy who needs an owner willing to exercise him and work with him on "good dog manners."  He sometimes thinks the leash is a tug of war toy, so he needs to be reminded that that behavior is not allowed.  He loves every person he meets and has a great time downtown sitting for treats in all the stores and trying to get every person he sees to pay attention to him.  He'll sit and give serious puppy dog eyes with his big goofy ears cocked a little bit askew if you don't notice him right away. As soon as he has your attention, his tail goes wild and he'll lean right in for plenty of love --sometimes going for the full-on flop over for belly rubs.

It's really sad to see Joel still in the kennels because he has so much rambunctious energy and is waiting for a home. Joel is very eager to please and loves treats, so he'll be easy to teach plenty of tricks beyond the standard "Sit!" A smart and energetic boy like Joel is waiting for someone to come along, so wouldn't you like to be the one to give this gorgeous boy a home?

Browse P.A.W.S.' "Adopt A Pet' gallery or contact them at: http://www.pawsadoption.org/contact-us

This all started with a local Facebook yard sale post by local resident, Douglas Day.

As often happens on Facebook, a larger story emerges out of a simple post. 

Lake Superior State University is Michigan's smallest public university with an enrollment of 3,000 students. And apparently, each year, they compile a list of trendy, overused words in the media and on social media that bug the heck out of them. Here is their 2013 List of Banished Words and some of the comments their readers have made in reference to the banned words.

Fiscal Cliff

"If only those who utter these words would take a giant leap off of it." Joann Eschenburg, Clinton Twp., Michigan

Kick The Can Down The Road

"I would definitely like to kick some cans of the human variety every time I hear politicians use this phrase to describe a circumstance that hasn't gone their way." Christine Tomassini, Livonia, Michigan

Double Down

"This blackjack term is now used as a verb in place of 'repeat' or 'reaffirm' or 'reiterate.' Yet, it adds nothing. It's not even colorful. Hit me!" Allan Ryan, Boston, Massachusetts

Job Creators

"One of the most overplayed buzz terms of the 2012 presidential campaign. Apparently 'lowering unemployment' doesn’t have the same impact." Dennis Ittner, Torrance, California

Passion/Passionate

"Diabetes is not just Big Pharma's business, it's their passion! This or that actor is passionate! about some issue somewhere. A DC lobbyist is passionate! about passing (or blocking) some proposed law. My passion! is simple: Banish this phony-baloney word." George Alexander, Studio City, California

YOLO

"Stands for 'You Only Live Once' and used by wannabe Twitter philosophers who think they've uncovered a deep secret of life. Also used as an excuse to do really stupid things, such as streaking at a baseball game with YOLO printed on one's chest. I only live once, so I'd prefer to be able to do it without ever seeing YOLO again." Brendan Cotter, Grosse Pte. Park, Michigan

Spoiler Alert

"Used as an obnoxious way to show one has trivial information and is about to use it, no matter what." Joseph Joly, Fremont, California

Bucket List

"The expression makes me cringe every time I hear it -- and we've been hearing it for several years. I'm surprised it isn't already in your master list. Let's emphasize life and what we do during it. It's such a grim way of looking at 'what I want to do,' and often it is in selfish terms." Shea Hoffmitz, Hamilton, Ontario

Trending

"I'm sick of chirpy entertainment commentators constantly informing us of what 'is trending right now.' I used to like a good trend until this." Nancy, Victoria, BC

Superfood

"It's food. It's either healthful or it's not. There is no 'super' involved." Jason Hansen, Frederic, Michigan

Boneless Wings

"Can we just call them chicken (pieces)?" John McNamara, Lansing, Michigan

Guru

"Unless you're teaching transcendental meditation, Hinduism or Buddhism, please don't call yourself a guru just because you think you're an expert at something. It's silly and pretentious. Let other people call you that, if they must." Mitch Devine, Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Bonus Round: even though these next two words are not part of LSSU's "Banished List" I would like to have them formally banished.

Just Sayin'

Initially, a cute and snarky way of interjecting a little value judgment on someone's behavior, but now so vastly overused it has lost its cuteness. We know you're just saying it, you just did.

Meh

It's basically a verbal shrug, a comment on an forum or story thread that means, "So what?" But it is so played out, it just makes me want to stab my eyeballs with a lobster fork.

Pilot readers, please let us know on our Facebook page what your own banished words are or comments to these.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

I initially discovered Lauren Merritt’s exceptional drawings at Center for Contemporary Maine Art last May, when I stumbled upon a black sketchbook perched atop a podium. That alone struck me as weirdly incongruous — a sketchbook is as personal and private to an artist as a diary is to a writer.  And here it was out on public display.

Flipping through the pages, I couldn’t believe I was looking at a 17-year-old’s work. The incredible lifelike detail done in graphite pencil was impressive enough, but it was the context of his work that got me. This was dark stuff, deeply personal and very advanced.

In person, Lauren, now 18 and a junior at Camden Hills Regional High School, is just as private as his sketchbook, but in the same way that book was perched on the podium, he’s committed to putting himself out there and be a more open person. 

'Nowadays, everyone is stuck in media, what’s happening, what’s now? They derive their happiness off other people and I’m trying to find an inner state where I’m more accepting.'

In one of his self-portraits, which happens to be the lead photo of this article, Lauren sees his own reflection in his iPod, while doodling in his notebook. It reminds me of the famous Norman Rockwell self-portrait, the one with the cigar in his mouth, but a teenage self-portrait has all of the high school details forgotten in adult art like the Algebraic formulas, the presence of an iPod, a random doodle of a squid sitting on top of a hot air balloon because… well, just because. It doesn’t have to make sense.

The whimsical part of his paintings and drawings, like dragons and a gnarled, heavily rooted tree contrasts the stark political subject matter that he has chosen to portray this past year, such as war, weapons, historical violence and the loss of innocence.

His drawing of an American soldier holding a knife to a young Vietnamese man in his 20s is riveting.  

“We watched some videos in history class about Buddhist Monks that set themselves on fire and it was videotaped for the news cast,” said Lauren. “I guess that struck me how in our current wars, news stations don’t show that kind of video footage anymore, because it strikes people too hard. So, I ended up finding this photo offline and I really wanted to draw this Vietnamese civilian — he wasn't even a soldier — as he’s looking up at this American soldier in fear. And you can see he was tied up to another captive. We don’t know if the soldier was threatening him or if he killed the Vietnamese man. It gets you kind of thinking and wondering why we even treated these people this way. I was really trying to focus on the emotion in his face — the fear.  It’s just crazy that someone took a picture of this moment. It’s just inspiring to draw this and reflect on our past.”

A series of these drawings served as reflections about a world outside of Camden he was beginning to discover. This next drawing, which goes with the first one is titled:  Money is the real weapon of mass destruction. It’s an atomic bomb covered in paper money.

“I just wanted to just to show how so much money is put into the military and how much our U.S. Government uses it as power,” he said." The intent, along with the money, is really what inspired that drawing.”

The next one is titled: One in the Chamber. What you don’t clearly see, because the drawing isn’t finished are the words at the bottom, which read: “You've got to remember who is control of the gun.”

He drew this in tandem with the atomic bomb drawing last year as well.

“I guess it continues the theme of the military in what people can purchase today and what people actually do with the weapons." he said. " There are obviously black markets for weapons that the U.S. government has sold other countries. It can be sort of viewed as another political statement, in that our government is in control of all of these weapons.”

Given that guns are currently being purchased in record numbers more now than ever since the Sandy Hook shootings (and subsequent threat of a weapons ban),  it was only natural to ask if Lauren felt this particular drawing had become even more politically relevant. But he hesitated to come up with a definitive answer to the question: did he believe in gun control? Did he think mental illness was the larger issue?

“That’s a hard line to cross," he said. "It really depends. One, we do have a lot of guns that are unnecessary and unneeded, for example, for hunting. People can really take advantage of buying the semi-automatic weapon. But on the other hand, it’s really hard to control [the number of guns in this country].”

His own experience with weapons provides the background to his realistic drawings. He had experience hunting with his dad when he was younger and Skeet shooting. He used all different kinds of shotguns, but lost his taste for it.

“They’re very dangerous and you’ve got to be very careful,” he said.

The consistent impression I get with Lauren is that he doesn’t think he has all the answers; he’s working on trying to discover answers for himself. Having grown up with divorced and remarried parents, half-siblings and having transferred from Rockland into CHRHS in the middle of last year, he is still trying to fit into a system where students have all grown up with one another in the same communities.

“When I lived in Rockland, everyone knew each other since the fourth grade," he said. "When I came to Camden, I knew a few people, but not very well.”

He sometimes struggles between making the effort to be social and welcoming to people and finding the alone time that he needs to stay balanced.

“There are some really friendly people at school, and I do like hanging around them, as long as I can still get away by myself,” he said. “I’m still learning about myself, so for me to be really happy, I need to be in a state of peace. But the bad thing about that is, you still have school, and work and other responsibilities. I was in this state of peace for a couple of days and I was happy, nothing bothered me, but I forgot about my homework for a couple of days. I caught back up to it, but you get out of that state and you’re not really happy anymore. It’s just hard to develop that inner peace and balance all the stuff that’s in your real life.”

One of the most telling questions you can ask a young artist is: “What’s your motivation for wanting to do art at all? Do you feel it’s not worth doing unless someone sees it, praises it, purchases it?"

“I just want to try and finish the idea from start to finish,” he answered. “I just want to see the end result. It’s mentally straining, because I’m always hovering over it, working on the details. A lot of times I just zone out until it’s finished and if I don’t finish it in a day, I don’t feel I’ve accomplished anything."

His cousin introduced him to meditation and yoga and initially skeptical, he admitted he’s tried to develop more of an open-minded view.

"I used to listen to music when I drew but recently, I’ve been going into mediation, silence," he said. "Reflecting on myself instead of everyone else."

“Nowadays, everyone is stuck in media, what’s happening, what’s now?" he continued. "They derive their happiness off other people and I’m trying to find an inner state where I’m more accepting. You judge people subconsciously. It’s really hard to do if you’ve been taught that for years. And people focus on their happiness being what they do for their jobs, or all this stuff. People don’t survive on that in other countries; they depend on each other.  it’s interesting to study ancient cultures so I guess I’m going to try and figure a way to bring that into my new art.

So this all comes around to the initial question, “What motivates you to draw?” For Lauren, an-hour-and-a-half roundabout conversation in Camden Deli over a cup of coffee boils down to this: He draws because sometimes it is the only space in his life where he can find that inner calm and peace that eludes him in his everyday life.

Best answer I’ve ever heard from an 18-year-old.

Hail To The Rad Kids is a feature that highlights teens with artistic or musical talent.  Another place to check out Lauren's work, along with other teens, is Sound Off, a monthly feature sponsored by Five Town Communities That Care to publicly recognize the contributions that middle and high school teens are making in our community.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

A frozen hotspot is about to emerge in two weeks, an outdoor night club created literally out of 12,000 pounds of ice. When it opens, the Samoset Resort’s FROST Ice Bar & Lounge will be “the hottest coolest” thing to hit the Midcoast in years.

In the weeks leading up to its unveiling on Friday, Jan. 18, Chef Tim Pierce, of Samoset’s La Bella Vita restaurant and Enoteca Lounge, will work with a crew to construct a large ice bar, a luge, tables, chairs — and even glasses out on the frozen back deck of La Bella Vita that overlooks the Penobscot Bay. 

This is the first season in more than four years that the Samoset Resort has been open year-round. “We thought we’d try to do something big here to bring some excitement into the community,” said Pierce, who will do the majority of ice carving himself. He first learned ice-carving skills as Culinary Institute of America in New York, where he studied, and later, discovered he had a knack for it. With 20 years of ice carving experience under his belt, including instructing the ice carvers for the Camden Winterfest, this will be his biggest project for the Samoset Resort.

Inspired by the original ice bars and lounges in Scandinavia, FROST Ice Bar and Lounge promises to be "a glistening, outdoor frozen fantasy land." A talented team of ice carvers and designers, led by Pierce, has begun the initial preparations and will start carving and assembling the 300-pound blocks of ice using chisels and chainsaws next week. Everything in this outdoor wonderland, with the exception of the comfortable fire pit will be created out of ice, including tables, seats, couches, and stools, some of which will be covered in faux polar bear skins. Along with life-sized ice sculptures, there will also be an ice luge.  Sponsored by Cold River Vodka, Vermont Spirits and Ripe Bar Juice, FROST’s bartenders will be pouring a variety of specialty cocktails as well as sponsored spirits down the luge. “We’re going to be create a special menu for this event outdoors,” said Pierce. Hors d’eouvres will also be passed and with even more surprises for the evening.

A band, aptly named The Icicles, will be playing Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18 and 19, starting at 5:30 p.m.

“It’ll be all lit up outside with some lights even incorporated into the ice bar itself. It’s going to be really posh,” said David Day, Director of Food and Beverage.

FROST will be entirely weather-dependent. Past its opening weekend, the ice bar will be open the following weekend Jan. 26-27 from 5 to 10 p.m. and possibly more weekends, as well. “As long as the weather cooperates, FROST bar could be here for months,” said Pierce.

One last reminder for those attending this completely chill event. FROST Ice Bar and Lounge is outside on a Maine winter night and even the cocktail glasses will be made of ice. So wear your longies and your mittens—so you can still look cool while staying warm!

For more information visit: samosetresort.com/frost-ice-bar-a-lounge.html

In Yankee magazine's January/February 2013 issue, its editors created a fictional town called "New Englandville" encompassing "everything we love about New England in one perfect place." Compiling the best of the best of New England in a fictionalized town "blessed with beauty and belonging," Yankee included Camden Public Library as its fantasy library. In the article, the editors praise its "comfy armchairs, soaring ceilings, and awe-inspiring windows facing the harbor's frothy dark water."

Camden Public Library Director Nikki Maounis was thrilled not only to be included in Yankee, but to also receive a framed cover of the issue from the magazine's staff. "The article talked a lot about the Reading Room [on the third floor] and the contrast we have on the different floors," she said. "The Rotunda, pictured in the article, is the main floor where all the action happens. It's very much a community center with people in and out, people reading books to each other, talking, using computers and so forth. The Reading Room is much more of a quiet space, the kind of place where people write books and think great thoughts."

The Reading Room seemed to capture the imagination of Yankee editors the most, as it was described as "dozy and cozy."

In the last three years, grant money from the Stephen King and Branta foundations has allowed CPL to completely transform this space from what Maounis called "a very underused space" into a much more comfortable and popular area. After doing research on the interiors of other libraries around the country as well as conducting a local poll, CPL completely updated the look of the Reading Room with more comfortable furniture, new carpeting and a fresh coat of paint.

It's a transformation that has been met with much community gratitude.

"I'm reminded of that quote, 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,'" said Maounis.

Asked if she knew the town's library would be in Yankee magazine, Maounis said it was a complete surprise. She said that the magazine's staff asked her for a photo of the Rotunda more than six months ago and so, she'd had an inkling CPL would be in some kind of feature. But she had no idea what it was until Yankee sent them a copy of the magazine abd a framed cover of the issue.

"It is very gratifying to see this in Yankee because we've worked very hard," she said. "For the fifth year in a row, Camden has received the honor of being a Library Journal 'star library' based on the quantity and quality of our services. It's often said that a good public library acts as a 'third place.' There's home, there's work or school and then there's the library. And in Camden, it's very much that third place in that we serve as a community center."

Check out the library sometime as well as their copy of Yankee magazine and see for yourself what makes Camden's the "fantasy library" of New Englandville.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com.

Why is Maine so.... (what's the word you're looking for?)

A screen capture of a Google search drop down menu is intriguing. As you start to type your search terms, Google Instant automatically shows results for a popular search that begins with those letters.  So, when someone types in "Why is Maine so. . ." a menu of of most commonly asked queries pops up (presumably to save time).

The first four queries we got kind of sum up what the rest of America thinks of us, non?

Why is Maine so liberal...

Why is Maine so democratic...

Why is Maine so boring...

Why is Maine so white...

Fact versus perception: is Maine a state comprised of poor, liberal, white (and boring) people?

What do you think? Why is Maine so......(insert your word here.)

Kay Stephens can be reached at kaystephenscontent@gmail.com

ROCKLAND — Out! As I Want To Be is celebrating a new year, a successful fundraising goal and a new drop-in space with an open house Friday, Jan. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

Ever since Lincoln Street Center for the Arts' doors closed in June, Out! As I Want To Be has been meeting with advisors, teens and young people in temporary space at Youthlinks in Rockland, while looking for a new space to gather in the evenings. Out!, an organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning young people ages 14-22 (as well as straight allies), has now secured a new drop-in space on the third floor of 328 Main St. in Rockland, Suite 305 (above FOG Bar and The Black Parrot).

Out! has another reason to celebrate. This summer the organization received a matching grant challenge from an anonymous donor, which specified through Dec. 31, all individual donations of more than $100 would be matched dollar for dollar, up to $20,000. In late December, Out! met its goal, securing the matching grant, which will start the New Year with $40,000 to better serve the LGBTQ youth. The community support will strengthen the organizational capacity and programs for LGBTQ youth, including its twice weekly drop-in and outreach in schools.

Founded in 1996, Out! provides affirmation, support, advocacy, education and outreach by and for young people in their quest for identity. Out! holds a drop-in two times a week, now at 328 Main St., Suite 305 (third floor), in Rockland on Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m., and Fridays, 6-9 p.m. One of four drop-in centers in the state, Out! is the only one that primarily serves rural LGBTQ youth.

For more information, visit outmaine.org, call 1-800-530-6997 or email outmaine@yahoo.com.

To reach Kay Stephens, email news@penbaypilot.com.

ROCKPORT — Yes, yes, holiday burnout, everyone has it. But coming up this weekend is no ordinary play and you may miss out on the chance to hurt yourself laughing if you don't attend.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 4, 5 and 6, the Everyman Repertory Theatre will present The Eight: Reindeer Monologues at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport.

Here's the back story: Scandal erupts at the North Pole when one of Santa Claus' eight reindeer accuses Santa of sexual harassment. As mass media descends upon the event, the other members of the sleigh team share their perspectives and a horrific tale of corruption and perversion emerges, which seems to implicate everyone from the littlest elf to the tainted Saint himself.

With each deer's confession, the truth behind the shocking allegations becomes clearer and clearer...and murkier and murkier. This dark, dark, R-rated Christmas comedy is a "brilliant satire of gender and sexual politics in contemporary America, filled with penetrating humor," — (L.A. Weekly), and "Wickedly Topical" — (New York Times).

Here then, are five things to know about The Eight:

1: So, our understanding is..Santa is under a sexual harassment claim from one of the eight reindeer in which "a horrific tale of corruption and perversion emerges." Any salacious details you can give us about the accuser's motivation?

As Blitzen said, “Why would she throw her career away? A Prank? PMS? No. A reindeer has a right to her own body. When a doe says no, it means no.”

The play is typically performed before Christmas. Some companies do it every year. But, we felt that there was way too much going on before Christmas and then nothing at all afterwards. We’re still well within the 12 days. This is definitely a show that is going to appeal to a much younger audience than typically attends our productions, as well as our normal patrons. In fact, David Troup, our director, has put the show together like a documentary about the incidents described in the play. We’ll be showing dailies, outtakes, rushes from the film that he has put together specially for the show.

Dasher (Lou Carbonneau): Superhero
Cupid (Joseph Ritsch): Gay
Hollywood (David Greenham): Star
Blitzen (Jennifer Hodgson): Angry
Comet (David Troup): Saved
Dancer (Abigail Norman): Confused
Donner (Paul Hodgson): Sad
Vixen (Ashley St. Pierre): Resigned

Not at all. Our November show in 2011 – Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage was a non-stop 85-minute descent from a civilized meeting between parents to discuss violence between two 8 year olds to drunken recriminations. It’s one of the tightest and funniest shows we’ve ever done, littered with profanity and hilarious dialogue. We also did Reza’s Art at the CMCA last August, “rife with juicy one-liners, knife-sharp comebacks,” according to The New York Times.

Remember when it only cost five bucks to fill up your gas tank? Remember when five bucks was the extent of your teenage budget for an evening? This doesn't count the "creative math" you did sneaking a fiver out of your mom's purse. (Editor: Not everyone is as larcenous as you. Kay: Valid point.) This Cheap Date is for the Boomers and Gen-Xers who only have to time-travel back to their teenage years (and budget) for a good time.

All you have is $10 to spend. First stop, French and Brawn to get the half-size Coca-Cola bottles, 50 cents each for you and your date.

Next, hit Oakland Park Bowling Lanes on a Friday night when things are slow if you really want the lanes to yourself (or just want as few people to know how badly you suck at candlepin bowling) or on a Saturday night when the place is popping. Classic moments will abound when you ponder what it would be like to actually join a bowling league, and relive scenes from The Big Lebowski, (a film, which my mom recently made me turn off the TV because there were too many "F" words. And yes, I'm in my 40s.)

Renting shoes comes to a total of $3 and two strings of bowling costs $5.50. So, all told, you're up to $9.50 out of your total budget so far. What to DO with only 50 cents left?

Two words homes: Pac-Man. Yes, Oakland Lanes owns a first-generation Pac-Man arcade game that takes a couple of quarters. There you go. No evening is complete without a few rounds of sweating anxiously to avoid the ghosts from stalking and eating Pac-Man. (Fun fact: In Japan, the sound effect for eating is “Pac Pac”.)

Oakland Parks also serves food and beer and has a wild array of arcade games, a pool table, and air hockey, as well as Dance Dance Revolution, if your date feels like pitching in a couple of clams to extend the evening's entertainment. If you go, send us a photo of your time traveling evening and happy dating!

Cheap Dates is a new series dedicated to scrounging the most amount of fun out of the Midcoast on the fewest dollars.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com

You thought you were done, didn't you? All the holiday hoopla, the snow, the relatives and the clean up. No, you're not done. Pop a five-hour energy drink and wrangle into some Spanx; we've got New Year's Eve coming up Monday night and you're going to get your second wind. Here is the New Year's Eve rundown and where to go to find every type of entertainment to put you in the 2013 mood. (Oh and get this — The Midcoast Interact Club and The Rig are offering child care until 1 a.m. in Camden that night. No excuses! FMI: New Year's Eve child care

Belfast

New Year's by the Bay

Starting with the granddaddy of Midcoast celebrations, the 16th Annual New Year's by the Bay is a day-long arts and entertainment extravaganza leading up to a bring-your-own drum noisemaking procession down to the celebratory lighting of the bonfire by the bay while the Bad Daddys Blues Band rings in the New Year at The Boathouse.

The performances range from hot Gypsy jazz to Mime and Music and a whole lot of eclectic music and storytelling in between. Then, if that wasn't enough, the Activities And Dance features a Poetry Slam, interpretive dance, and more crazy boo-tay shaking music. Word on the street is that The Hips will be the best dancing band that evening, over at The Boathouse.

One button admits you to all performances & activities of the New Year’s By The Bay 2013 chem-free, family friendly, cultural celebration. Food purchases are separate. Adults – $18; Students K-12, $5; children under 5 are free. For more information visit www.nybb.org

Light jazz and art at Ocean's Edge Restaurant

On New Year's Eve, from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m., Ocean's Edge Restaurant (part of Comfort Inn's Ocean's Edge) will featured Hugh Bowden on guitar and John Gallagher on bass, as they play jazz standards from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Artist William Landmesser will be displaying his original artwork and answering questions from 5:00 p.m on. FMI: belfastmainehotel.com

Camden/Rockport

Music & Games at the Rockport Library

The Rockport Library has got the day-tripper New Year's thing going for people who like to go to bed at 9 p.m. on Dec. 31. (No judging! It's cool.) Singer-songwriter Alice Limoges will offer a ukelele workshop from 10 to 11 a.m. A board game bonanza is happening from 1 to 3 p.m. Folk singer and songwriter Resa Randolph and family will perform bluegrass, traditional folk, jazz and blues, showcasing guitar and banjo. Finally, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. guitarist and teacher Martin Gibson will be performing and offering a workshop.

Registration is required. For more information, call 236-3246 or email: rpl@rockport.lib.me.us

Natalie's Count Down Party

Make sure you join Natalie's at Camden Harbour Inn for their 6th annual Count Down Party. No admission, complimentary champagne toast at midnight, live jazz music, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and fun party favors. Count Down Party starts at 10.30pm.

The Samoset's Breakers Jazz

Want mellow? New Year's Eve at the Samoset Resort will feature Breakers Jazz from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the Samoset Ball Room. No Cover Charge. Cash Bar.
Big Band, Swing, Jazz, Light Rock and more! FMI: Samoset Resort

Ragged Mountain Ski Club's New Year's Party

The Ragged Mountain Ski Club is hosting its second annual fundraiser (hence the high ticket price),a James Bond-themed party titled Snowfall (at hearstudios, 4 Union Street, Camden) Creative Spy, Villain, and Bond Girl Attire is encouraged. This year's event will feature hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, and dancing to music provided by an amazing D.J. There will be free transportation home in the local area. Tickets are $80 each or $150 for a couple. (The guest price will be $70 for a total couple's price of $150.) For a little fun, check out the photo for your spy name ahead of time (mine is Kringler Shussing).

The Smokestack Grill

The Smokestack Grill and the local band 4Lo will be putting on a rockin' night on the town on New Year's Eve. 4Lo brings high energy to current covers and classics and The Smokestack Grill will have drink specials and eats for one really hot New Year event.

Rockland

Trackside Station

They will have dinner specials leading up to 9:00 p.m, then they are switching over to Funky Town with VJ the DJ ('80s, '90s and contemporary). They promise to be festive with six TVs to watch the ball drop in Surround Sound and will offer a champagne toast at midnight. FMI: Trackside Station

Thomaston

Billy's Tavern & The Dolphin Strikers

Billy’s Tavern in Thomaston welcomes back local rock and roll band, The Dolphin Strikers on New Year's Eve.  This five-piece band calls their brand of locally flavored music “Brine Rock," featuring growling guitar, ripping harmonica, and a pleasing array of styles from alt-country to ska to straight ahead, four-on-the-floor grinders.  Billy’s Tavern will special New Year's hours with music and dancing from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Expect a champagne toast, shenanigans, and the best house-made potato chips this side of The County. There will be a $5 cover at the door.

Waldoboro

The Bog Tavern's New Year's Eve party

Bullwinkle's Family Steak House/The Bog Tavern will be hosting their annual New Year's Eve celebration with dinner specials, giveaways, the band Midlife Crisis starts at 9 New Year's Eve toast. FMI: 832-6272

 Note: We will be adding more details and more New Year's events as they become available. Please check back! To contact me with more details: Kay Stephens can be reached at kaystephenscontent@gmail.com

Colleen Wellman, manager at The Smokestack Grill in Camden, offers no illusions about what's going to happen to you if you down "Armageddon," the bar's signature cocktail for this Friday night's "End Of The World" party. "This is designed for the maximum hangover," she said. "If you're going to party your last night on earth, might as well go out with a bang."

Armegeddon is Wellman's original creation designed for the maximum sweetness, a taste, she said, sailors and boat people seem to prefer. "They have been out for days and they just want something to hit them as soon as possible," she said.

This cocktail starts with a shaker full of ice, to which Wellman adds:

• One part Smirnoff Raspberry vodka
• One part Souther Comfort
• One part Peach Schnapps
• Top with equal parts cranberry juice and orange juice
• Shake glass and pour mixture into a cocktail glass and top it off with Chambord Raspberry liqueur
• Garnish with pineapple and a twist of orange

The end result is a persimmon-colored drink that tastes like a Jolly Rancher hard candy going down. Clearly, from all the sugars in this concoction, buyer beware: it is going to make your head hurty on 12/22/12. If there is a next day.

Friday evening kicks off The End of The World party at The Smokestack Grill, as well as other Midcoast venues to celebrate the end of the Mayan calendar on 12/21/12. To see what is going on that night, check out our "End Of The World" Rundown.

Kay Stephens can be reached at kaystephenscontent@gmail.com

Don’t call them hunks of junk — they’re works of art and when Larry Oakes, the owner of Automaster Collision Center in Spruce Head gets behind the wheel of one of his customized “Rad Rods,” you’d better strap in good. He’ll take a quarter inch off the back tires doing a dramatic smokeout before the thing shoots like a bat out of hell down the road.

Rad Rods are his own term for the international craze of “Rat Rods,” a style of hot rod or custom car, in which the owners assemble vehicles out of old parts, vintage features from the 40s, 50s, and early 60s… and just plain random, off-the-wall additions that make the car totally unique. (Back in October, we did a feature on Jack Churchill’s steampunk motorcycle to see another example of a "Rat Rod.")

Oakes owns two Rat Rods he built from the frame up, including a third he’s currently working on and he’s like a little kid with a big toy when he gets behind the wheel of one. (See accompanying video that shows what it is like to be a passenger taking off in one!)

As a kid, his father bought the property in Spruce Head, on which he and his family now live and operate Automaster Collision Center. The business is a family affair with his daughter, Lindsey Simms, heading up the finances.

'I’m gonna put a sign on the windshield that says: Shut up: it’s done.'

“I’ve always played with hot rods as a kid, starting with go-carts,” said Oakes, adding he learned everything on his own. “It just came to me. I’ve always been able to see something once and figure it out. I’m lucky that way and I just have fun with it.”

Oakes’s hot rods were never originally intended to be a collector’s item, the way they are today.

“Rat Rods originated a ways back when you just built up a car with a bunch of old stuff because you didn’t have a lot of money,” he said. “You didn’t have enough to finish it right, so you just grabbed what you could from this guy or this junk yard and put it all together and made it work.”

Even though he’s a collector of both motorcycles and what he calls “shiny cars,” his true love is his cobbled together hot rods.

“Guys who build them are artists, they really are,” he said. “Pretty much you can get away with making it look however you want on the interior as long as the vehicle is safe, has good suspension, and good brakes. It’s got to pass inspection... but,” he added with a smile, “They can’t refuse you for being ugly.”

Oakes’s custom “Rat Rod” pickup features shotgun stocks and rifle butts as stick shifts and arm rests. “I tow for the local police department and they trust me, so they come to me with guns they’ve confiscated,” he said. “Once they seize a gun, it will not go back to the owner, so they bring them to me, I disarm it. I pull the firing pins and weld the breeches and I put them in my hot rods.”

Other wacky features of his custom-built pickup, which sits on a Chevy S-10 frame, includes interior door panels made from Oakes’ own collection of cowboy boots.

“I’ve always been a cowboy boot fan,” he said. “I think I have somewhere around 12 pair in my closet—I just bought four more pair, so I sacrificed some of the boots that were more than 20 years old and cut ‘em up for door panels.”

Not stopping there, Oakes re-fashioned wrenches to function as the pickup’s gas pedals.

His second Rad Rod, nicknamed the “Fat Rat,” is a 1948 “all chopped up” Chevy that was built in 30 days for $1,000. A lot of the parts he already had laying around the shop. He put his collection of old wrenches in this vehicle as well, welding them with pieces of rebar to make linkages to open the doors. He used Chevy small block valve covers for arm rests and stop signs and license plates for door panels. A .38 special pistol handle was welded as a handle to manually move the windshield wipers.

Currently he’s working on a 1941 Studebaker complete with a custom frame, low to the ground.

“We’re doing a suicide straight axel front end with a ’39 Chevy front grill,” he said. He’s planning on making this one more bare bones, not as quirky, but more “Rat” he says. “We just want to go out and have fun with it.”

The downside to all this fun is that he can’t go to the convenience store to get a cup of coffee in one of his Rad Rods without it taking two to three hours. That’s because everyone stops him to ask what he’s driving, how it was made and a thousand other questions, which he takes good-naturedly in stride. “The number one question I get  all the time is: ‘When you gonna paint it?’ The patina on the truck is all Mother Nature,” he said.

“I think I’m gonna put a sign on the windshield that says: Shut up: it’s done.”

Both of Oakes’s Rad Rods have been featured in Rat Rod Magazine. They can now be seen on display at The Owls Head Transportation Museum for the winter, where Oakes will eventually do a presentation on the construction of the vehicles.

Asked if he’s been approached to sell them, he admitted, “I’ve had several guys ask about my pickup truck, yes.”  Although he is hesitant to let one go, he said, “Everything is for sale for the right price but…” he said, shaking his head. “They’re like my babies. I might have to let my daughter go before I let one of them go. No, don’t say that,” he laughed. “My daughter won’t like that much.”

Kay Stephens can be reached at kaystephenscontent@gmail.com

Folks, it's the last week to shop local and in honor of the innocence of children everywhere, this last series is dedicated to crafters who make special things for kids by hand. All of these items can be found through the unique Maine (and green) resource, The SunriseGuide. It’s important to shop local and to support the innovators and entrepreneurs who keep the creative economy alive. Happy holidays to all!

Lincoln Canoe & Kayak handcrafted sleds

The backstory

This Freeport company, known for its custom canoes and kayaks, hand-builds each sled in which you pick your own custom color and the craftsmen build to order (solids or stripes).  Their sled molds are made through a proprietary process — making them very light, very fast and effective sleds — great for sliding down hills or for pulling child while on snowshoes or skis. 

Where to find it/price range:

Find it online for a range of $120-140 per sled.

In their words: "We realized how lucky we are to live and work on the coast of Maine. In the winter, almost all of us can strap on some snowshoes, XC-skis, or skates and go for it right out our front or back doors. While many of us in the shop enjoy far-flung adventuring in different environments, we want to inspire people to get out and enjoy their home base."

Bella Luna Toys Jamtown Junior Rhythm Pack

The backstory

This Rockland-based business has a wild following in the Midcoast, probably because they have cornered the market for "Waldorf toys, wooden toys and natural toys to nourish the senses and inspire the imagination." Bell Luna Toys was named by Reader's Digest as one of the best online sources for fair-tade toys.

The toys featured here are handcrafted musical instruments, called the Jamtown Junior Rhythm Pack made by made by village artisans in Peru and Bali. This award-winning percussion kit features three authentic, handmade instruments for small hands and a cool bag for collecting more intruments over the years.

Set Includes:

• Pair of Junior Coconut Claves (rhythm sticks)
• Junior Shaker (carved dried gourd)
• Junior Double Drum (double headed, wooden bark frame)
• 30-page Junior Activity Guide
• Learn-Along Songs Compact Disc
• Simple Rhythm™ Cards
• Junior Travel Bag 

Where to find it/price range:

Find it online for $48.95

In their words: "What I love about them is that they're real, quality instruments, they're not toy instruments. They're child-sized, child-friendly. The drum has a really great tone. It's a real drum made in Peru. I love that they're certified fair-trade made. " — owner, Sarah Baldwin

Island Treasure Toys Treehouse

The backstory

This Yarmouth-based business began in February 2001 as a home business on a small island off the coast of Maine where owners Melissa and Doug (who go by their first names) noticed their youngest daughter would spend many hours on the beach combing for treasures. In 2002, when they'd outgrown their home, they opened a small brick and mortar store in Yarmouth and run a business specializing in natural and Waldorf-inspired toys. This environmentally-friendly Anamalz Treehouse features swinging vines, leafy canopies, and natural high-quality construction, made of organic maple wood, cotton, wool, water-based paint, and formaldehyde-free glue. (Animals sold separately).

Where to find it/price range:

Find it online for $119.95

In their words: "Not only are their toys eco-friendly, the company is committed to giving back by way of their anamalz saving animals program." — Reviewer

Kay Stephens can be reached at kaystephenscontent@gmail.com

Actor John Burstein, most known nationally for his Slim Goodbody character, will play Ebenezer Scrooge in John Bielenberg's upcoming adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol at the Camden Opera House Dec. 14 -16. We posed questions to Burstein, and here are five things to know about his modern take on the claasic character, Scrooge:

1. Slim is so upbeat and positive, a "super hero of health." How different from Slim is your Scrooge going to be?

Scrooge is a vastly different character than Slim. Physically, Slim is outgoing - celebrating human vitality - Scrooge is squeezed up within himself (think of chewing on a lemon, and you get the idea of what a squeezed-in sort of person he is). Slim smiles, Scrooge frowns. Slim embraces - Scrooge defends.

2. If Slim's idea of a holiday feast would be healthy servings from each food group, what would Scrooge prefer?

Scrooge would prefer that people not engage in all this nonsense about Christmas altogether. It's humbug!

3. In the classic book and movie versions of "A Christmas Carol," Scrooge completely lacks a sense of humor. Will your Scrooge be the same or will there be surprising lighter moments?

Hopefully, there will be a lot of laughs. Just because someone is greedy, doesn't mean he lacks a sense of humor. Scrooge can be very cutting, yet funny, in many of his responses. I believe Dickens wrote the character this way.

4. This adaptation is done as a musical. Will Scrooge be singing? If so, what about?

Scrooge will be singing - just a bit - but mostly in anger about people's desire for special treatment on Christmas.

5. Who is a modern-day version of Scrooge that you can relate to?

Wall Street money managers, investment bankers, Bernie Madoff - and all those who place profit above all else. Scrooge at least learns from his mistakes. I'm afraid many of those in the financial community will never see the consequences of their focus on money.

• The show will be running at the Camden Opera House on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 16 for a 2:30 p.m. matinee. Tickets are available online at camdenoperahouse.com or by calling 207-470-7066.  You can also pick them up at HAVII in Camden and City Drawers in Belfast. Tickets also available at the box office before each performance. Adults - $12, Seniors - $10, Kids 6 to 12 years old - $6.

Kay Stephens can be reached at kaystephenscontent@gmail.com

It's rare to meet a 17-year-old author of something that's actually very put together and very good. Over an egg cream soda and a ginger vanilla at Belfast's Chocolate Shoppe, Hila Shooter pulls a manuscript with editor's marks out of her backpack. She's a little shy about showing it to me, even though it is professionally typeset and in its final editing stages before publication.

It's called Ticket to Ride, How Teens Can Fundraise and Realize Our Dreams, a project that took only a year to write (only!) with help and guidance from her parents, both former publishers. They might have encouraged her, but Hila did all of the legwork, including starting a campaign launched less than a month ago on the project funding site Kickstarter. Her own fundraising goal to get the book published was $3,500 and as of our meeting, she had already surpassed that, with donations totaling $3,750 from 86 backers.

Donations on Kickstarter came almost 100-percent from people Hila and her family knew personally. "People were just incredibly generous," she said.

This is not Hila's first successful fundraising campaign. Last year, she wanted to take a three-month semester program to go to Ecuador. As a home-schooled student from Monroe, she had the drive, the time and the desire to explore a new culture — but not the funds. It was going to take nearly $12,500 to go there, and though at the time she wasn't sure how she'd do it, she'd made up her mind it was going to happen.

An excerpt from Ticket to Ride details her resolution and the initial reaction from her friends:

  “You’re raising $8,500?”
    I let my finger drop from Ecuador on the world map I was using to show my friend Clayton. “More or less.” I hadn’t told him that $8,500 was just the tuition, leaving $4,000 in expenses unmentioned.
    He raised his eyebrows.
    We had been friends since we were six, running around with his little brothers and my little sister, playing tag and climbing trees. I knew him well enough to know that right now, he thought I was crazy.
    “How?”
    I shrugged nonchalantly. I didn’t tell him that just that morning I’d been almost in tears, not knowing how I would ever succeed.
    He looked skeptically at Ecuador on the map, then shrugged, too. “Okay then.”
     We went back to playing cards with his brothers. Neither of us knew at that moment that in a year’s time, he would also be on the plane.
    Later, as I told him more about trekking in the Andes and exploring the jungle, his eyes lit up. I showed him the Kroka Expedition blogs from past Ecuador semesters, written by the students as they lived their adventure. A smile spread across his face as he began reading.
    When I saw Clayton again the following week, his skepticism had melted and been replaced with his own thoughts of adventure. We were swinging on the play-set with my sister Cori when a friend walked by and asked how we were.
    “We’re both raising $12,000 to go to Ecuador,” Clayton called back.
    She stopped.
    “Wow, that’s… a lot.” I could tell she was trying not to discourage us. She smiled, the unspoken question in her face: “How?”
    “Well, good luck.” The meaning behind her words was abundantly clear, “good luck with that.”
    Her unspoken skepticism stung, but she had a point. I had no idea how we were going to raise it all.

Without using Kickstarter, Hila reached her Ecuador goal the old-fashioned way. She didn't ask her parents for the money. She didn't put it on a credit card. She didn't read The Secret and hope the funds would magically appear in her account. She put together a plan and worked for it by doing a series of odd jobs such as gardening and dog walking, as well as busking on the street playing her fiddle. Additionally, she tapped into all of her networks and sent out fundraising letters. This is what makes her one of the Rad Kids. The girl made her own dream come true by working hard for what she wanted. Gah! Why is this such a radical concept? Perhaps because we see endless examples of the Millennial Generation getting whatever they want — all they have to do is ask for it.

The Ecuador experience gave her the confidence and the material to write Ticket to Ride. But lest anyone thinks that was easy, the writing itself was a challenge that got her down at times. Her first draft was just a bunch of lists and anecdotes that her parents helped her shape into a how-to nonfiction book. 

"I got so discouraged," she said. "I felt like I was completely patronizing people in my writing — that was my biggest struggle, like trying to find the balance between telling my own story and telling other people how to do it. It was really tricky. I didn't want to be like 'do this or do that' and I didn't want to be (and here her voice changes to the patronizing tone) 'oh look what I did. I'm so cool.'"

It took multiple drafts to get the manuscript to where it is today, which strikes just the right balance between personable narration and realistic goal setting for teens who want to achieve a big dream on their own. Her father, an editor, was "immensely helpful," she said. When asked what she was most proud of about the book, again, her answer is no less than a superlative-laden tribute to her parents. "Well, first-off I have extremely incredible, amazing, really supportive parents. That's probably the biggest thing," she said.

Her advice to teens who want something badly but don't have the money or even the parental support is simple. "I just received an email last night from a kid who wants to go on the semester program to Vermont like I did in Ecuador and what I told him is getting a fundraising letter out to as many people as he can is a great start and to give something free back as a token of appreciation," she said. "For me, I had a bunch of handmade cards I gave to people who helped fund my trip, like a little 'thank-you.' It helps to have a specific dream you're shooting for and have a specific amount as a goal. Then look for odd jobs and get to know the people you're working for. Sometimes when they realize how hard you're working toward something, they will pay you a little bit more toward your goal."

Some of her book's tips to get kids to find work toward their own goals include:

• Babysit
• Clean houses
• Rake leaves
• Walk dogs
• Deliver newspapers
• Mow lawns/garden
• Tutor
• Utilize your skills to design something and sell it.

So far the money has been used to have the book professionally edited, designed and typeset, with the remaining funds slated to self-publish around 500 copies under her own imprint, Mountain Song Press, in the spring. She's not quite sure what she needs to do yet to market and distribute it, as this will be a new journey for her. For anyone who gets inspired by her story, all you have to do is check out her Kickstarter page to see how she has combined personal experience with social media (video testimonial) along with donation incentives. This is the future of crowdfunding (a collective effort for people who pool their resources to fund an initiative). And while the idea of crowdfunding is very exciting, never forget the one simple reason why this is a success story.

"The more you work for something, the more you get out of it. And the more you you want something, the more you're willing to work for it," she said. For more information about her adventure visit: www.tickettoridebook.com

"Everyone has a story" — so goes the old adage. Sometimes you can see the whole story just looking into an animal's eyes.

This is Maggie's story. She's an adult Border Collie mix who has been at the P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center (formerly Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue League) since September.  She originally came into the shelter as a stray. Based on her mannerisms, she may have been smacked around, since she seems head shy and is very submissive. She's extremely sweet, but needs an opportunity to warm up to people. At first, she was adopted, but, following a run-in with a porcupine, her new owners brought her back.  The thing is, if you look in her eyes, you're not going to see the whole picture.

She doesn't show well in the kennels because she gets scared and barks; but outside the kennels, she's very sweet, shy at first. But, she'll sneak in to sniff new people and give kisses, licking people's hand before darting away. She loves long walks and belly rubs. She's extremely food-motivated, so introducing yourself to her with treats makes things go more smoothly. She likes most other dogs, as long as they are nice to her. She walks well on leash and last weekend was her first time hitting downtown, where she did pretty well going in and out of stores & getting snacks. The walk there was a bit tiring so she did need to take a break for a belly rub at Loyal Biscuit, but after a short rest she bounced right back and made the trek back to the shelter.

"It can be common for shelter dogs to behave differently when they are in their kennel," said Laura Stupca, P.A.W.S. Shelter Manager. "They may jump, bark and act like they don’t like you, when in fact they are just scared.  If people can look beyond a dogs kennel behavior they will see a truly great dog.  Maggie is a sweet girl who just needs time to warm up and once she does you will have a friend for life." 

For more information on Maggie and how to meet her visit her page at P.A.W.S. or contact: 207-236-8702