Experience Maine Summer 2011

2 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | June 23, 2011

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MAINE MILEAGE CHART

Experience MaineTable of Contents

AArroooossttooookk CCoouunnttyyColorful balloon festival brightens County skies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Aroostook roads and trails await bicyclists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3White Bengal tigers will wow crowds at Presque Isle fair . . . . . . . . . .5Country stars to perform in Caribou this August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Community band strikes up the music in Houlton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Historic sites are open throughout the St. John Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

FFrraannkklliinn CCoouunnttyyRelax amidst natural beauty in the Rangeley Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

HHaannccoocckk CCoouunnttyyAll aboard an Ellsworth excursion train . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Enjoy Down East cuisine and busy musical scene in Bar Harbor . .44-46Cadillac South Ridge Trail takes hikers high to see the Acadia sky . . .46Visitors enjoy modern amenities & access to nature in Ellsworth . . . .47Check out the things to do in Trenton this summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48Explore the Blue Hill Peninsula from the mountain to the sea . . . . . .4914th Annual Bucksport Bay Festival slated for late July . . . . . . . . . . . .50

KKnnooxx CCoouunnttyyRide the train from Rockland to Brunswick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54Midcoast recalls artist Andrew Wyeth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

LLiinnccoollnn CCoouunnttyyListen to history at Musical Wonder House in Wiscasset . . . . . . . . . . .34Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens lures visitors to Boothbay . . . . . . . .55Tour boats sail daily from Boothbay Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56-58Experience sealife close up & personal at Maine State Aquarium . . .58

PPeennoobbssccoott CCoouunnttyyCelebrate wooden canoes and the trails end in Katahdin Region . . . . .8American Folk Festival brings top performers to Bangor . . . . . . . . . . .11Catch a concert in Bangor this summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-16Stay & play in Bangor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Recreational programs, live theater will take place in Brewer . . . . . . . .19Go biking & paddling in the scenic Sebasticook Valley . . . . . . . . . .23, 62Festivals headline the Sebasticook Valley calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

PPiissccaattaaqquuiiss CCoouunnttyyHike to remote Little Wilson Falls in Elliottsville Township . . . . . . . .10Whoopie Pie & Piscataquis River festivals take place this summer . . .21Greenville celebrates 175th anniversary with long list of activities . . .22Recreationists enjoy great outdoors in Moosehead Lake Region . . . . .22

SSoommeerrsseett CCoouunnttyyFeel the deck move while crossing the Wire Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Explore local shops and attend a concert or fair in Skowhegan . . .30-31

SSoouutthheerrnn MMaaiinneeVisit three coastal state parks in Portland area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

SSttaatteewwiiddeeLearn about Maine agriculture during Open Farm Day . . . . . . . . . . . .10Antiquers never know what hidden treasures they might find . . . .11, 20Stroll scenic boardwalks in Bangor, Corinna, and Lubec . . . . . . . . . . .14Kayakers can paddle almost anywhere in Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Sample the taste of Maine at a local winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Go camping in Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-25Meet lions, bears, and moose, oh, my! at the Maine Wildlife Park . . . .26Quilting is a popular Maine pastime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Maine museums focus on different themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-43Discover nature & wildlife along the Down East Sunrise Trail . . . . . . .51No matter how its cooked, a Maine lobster tastes delicious . . . . . . . . .59State fair calendar runs from July to October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

WWaallddoo CCoouunnttyyPencil Belfast concerts, festivals, & gardens onto the calendar . . . .52-53

WWaasshhiinnggttoonn CCoouunnttyyStep 400 years into history at St. Croix Island in Calais . . . . . . . . . . . .18Join the fun as Lubec celebrates its 200th birthday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Explore a rare Arctic peat bog at West Quoddy Head . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Washington County communities schedule summer festivities . . .38-39

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | June 23, 2011 | 3

By Brian SwartzSPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

An unheralded festival heldevery August in Presque Isle letssome visitors float high above cen-tral Aroostook County.

The Crown of Maine BalloonFest brings balloonists to the StarCity for a fun-filled weekend fea-turing balloon glows, excitingballoon chases across hill and dale,a citywide yard sale, and otherevents commemorating PresqueIsles role as the launch site for thefirst successful transatlantic bal-loon flight.

Held at the Northern MaineFairgrounds (accessible from themain entrance on Mechanic Streetand a rear gate on State Street), theCrown of Maine Balloon Fest rep-resents a laid-back version of

Lewiston-Auburns Great Falls Bal-loon Festival, held to packedcrowds a week earlier. Some bal-loonists and their equipment trav-el from Lewiston to Presque Isle,arriving on Thursday to ignite

the Crown of Maine Balloon Festwith the first balloon glow.

Each dusk, weather and windspermitting, balloonists inflatetheir balloons with propane-ignit-ed flames that illuminate the bal-

loons interiors. Although stillground-tethered, the balloons riseagainst the starry Aroostook sky; aflame illuminates a balloon here,another balloon there, and some-times the announcer asks two orthree particular balloonists toflame on simultaneously.

The result? Beautiful imageryand vibrant colors glowing in thenight sky.

Earlier each evening, the bal-loons launch individually from theNorthern Maine Fairgrounds anddrift away into the dwindling day-light. One perfect Friday evening, afew thousand people watchedenthralled as the colorful balloonsascended and drifted directly over-head before slipping eastward.From the fairgrounds, onlookerscould see balloons descending ashort distance away to hover above

the placid Presque Isle Stream where hundreds of people gath-ered to take photos.

Each morning and againweather- and wind-permitting balloonists inflate and launch theirballoons at dawn. Floating direc-tionally with the air currents, bal-loons drift east along the PresqueIsle Stream and across downtownPresque Isle or northeast acrossthe Aroostook River to move qui-etly above potato and broccolifields.

Balloon chasers love suchmornings. Equipped with camerasand road maps (the Maine Atlas &Gazetteer provides the best-detailed County maps), folks pileinto cars, trucks, and vans andpursue the drifting balloons. Lastyear, the Sunday morning launchsaw several balloons cross theAroostook River parallel to theRoute 1 bridge and one bal-loonist briefly hovered above therivers summer-diminished flowwhile balloon chasers lined thebridge to take incredible photo-graphs.

Then the balloon chasers fol-lowed the balloons across the highridges accessed by Higgins Roadand Parkhurst Road. The risingsun cast the balloons in perfectlight against a cloudless blue sky;escorted by powered hang gliders,individual balloons graduallydescended to thump against fertileAroostook soil. Each balloonistschase team arrived to bag theirballoon and transport it to theNorthern Maine Fairgrounds.


To enjoy long, languid rides across beautiful terrain, cyclists shouldtarget The County.

Why? At least five factors make Aroostook a bicycling heaven: An extensive multiple-use trail system stretches from Houlton to

Presque Isle, then radiates from there to Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Maple-ton, and Washburn. From Caribou and Washburn, the trail systemextends to New Sweden, Stockholm, andVan Buren.

The 18-mile St. John Valley Trail con-nects Fort Kent, St. John, and St. Francisalong the St. John River in northernAroostook County.

Aligned along the Aroostook ValleyRailroad and Bangor & Aroostook Rail-road corridors, the multiple-use trailscross farm fields, brush against Countytowns, plunge through thick forests, andspan beautiful rivers and streams. Bicy-clists will share the trails with ATVers,horse riders, and a few joggers, but forlong-distance off-road rides far from themaddening crowd, only the Down EastSunrise Trail between Hancock and Pem-broke matches The Countys off-road trailsystem.

Adequate signage sends bicyclists in the right direction at trail inter-sections.

Route 1 features wide shoulders from Houlton to Caribou. With theirconcentration not limited to white-line riding, bicyclists can enjoy theroadside scenery, from curious dairy cows to the Maine Solar System(wave hi to Jupiter and Saturn) to blossoming potato fields and anincredible sunflower patch north of the Aroostook River.

Along the Route 1 corridor, myriad country roads lure bicyclists toexplore the bucolic scenery away from the highway.

Although narrower than Route 1, these paved country lanes featureless traffic and wind over hill and dale. The road network widens geo-graphically between Caribou and Mars Hill; by consulting good maps (Irecommend The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer), bicyclists can ride 10, 20,even 40 to 50 miles without crossing their own tracks.

The scenery constantly changes, yet always blends small towns, farmsand fields, distant hills, and forest and stream. I cannot imagine describ-ing any Aroostook ride as boring; yes, broccoli and potato fields alllook alike, but their surroundings farm buildings, streams, woodededges shift with the undulating terrain.

Aroostook in high summer isabsolutely gorgeous. Yes, natural beautyabounds across Maine, but in The County(as on Mount Desert Island), bicyclistsexperience that beauty every time theycrest a hill.

Views extend east into New Brunswickand west into The Countys commercialforest.

Unlike in car-crazy Bangor and Port-land, fewer vehicles buzz along the Aroos-took highways and byways. Except indowntown Presque Isle avoidable viathe Presque Isle Bike/Walkway bicy-clists wont hop from traffic light to trafficlight while pedaling between Houlton andCaribou.

Bicyclists seeking additional informa-tion about County rides should consult

Explore Maine By Bike, published by the Maine Department of Trans-portation.

This full-color guide details 33 loop rides, including Tour 1: TheCounty, Tour 2: Potato Country, Tour 4: St. John Valley, and Tour 5:Katahdin Views.

Each tour lists detailed information, including highwaynumbers/street names, specific distances, and road conditions. ExploreMaine By Bike also describes the multiple-use trails found in AroostookCounty.

Bicyclists will enjoy pedaling on County roads & trails

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest brightens the central Aroostook skiesAroostook County

Pedaling west on Route 2 in Smyrna, a bicyclist passes an Amish farmer using horses to tow

harvesting equipment.

BDN PHOTOS BY BRIAN SWARTZ

Two balloons float high above Presque Isle during the Crown ofMaine Balloon Fest, held in late August.

A burner flame illuminates theballoon Sinbad during a balloon glow held at the

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest.

See BALLOONS, Page 7



Grab a fishing pole, pack ahearty appetite and a bicycle, andfigure on learning about historybefore heading to AroostookCounty and experiencing summer

in the Crown of Maine this year.Fort Kent invites visitors to

sample the delicious ploye (anAcadian culinary delight) and bat-tle the mighty muskie, Caribouplans a big-time country concert,Madawaska hosts the popular Aca-dia Festival, and Houlton offers abusy agricultural fair and weekly

concerts at Monument Square:Theres a lot to see and do inAroostook from June to Septem-ber.

CCaarriibboouu

Located where several majorhighways intersect near the Aroos-

took River, Caribou offers visitorsaccess to an extensive recreationaltrail system connecting ATVersand bicyclists with the St. John Val-ley and central Aroostook County.While staying at a Caribou moteland dining at local restaurants,recreationists can explore the fieldsand woods surrounding this scenic

city.The trails follow the Aroostook

Valley Railroad and Bangor &Aroostook Railroad corridorsabandoned years ago and acquiredby the Maine Department of Con-servation. Trail heads exist at vari-ous locations; the Caribou Parks &

Ride Aroostook introduces participants to Countys natural beauty


The Caribou Historical Center & Museum on the Presque IsleRoad in Caribou features a museum (above), a Conestoga wagon

(right), and a rural schoolhouse. Sunflowers greet the morning sun near Caribou.

See CARIBOU, Page 6



Folks seeking solitude and tran-quility should visit central Aroost-ook County this summer and expe-rience life amidst the rolling hills,blossom-sprinkled potato fields,and freshwater rivers and streams.

As the roads rise across the slop-ing hills, beautiful views extend inevery direction. Quiet country roadslead bicyclists and motorists pastfarms and fields and through smalltowns often accessed by the regionsexcellent multi-use recreational sys-tem. Visitors can camp at suchplaces as Aroostook State Park inPresque Isle, search for wildlife atAroostook National Wildlife Refugein Limestone, or play golf at courses in Fort Fairfield andPresque Isle.

Enjoy the slower pace of life that is an Aroostook summer.

The regions overnight accommodationsand restaurants cater to visitors, who willappreciate the renowned hospitalityoffered by County residents.

PPrreessqquuee IIssllee

The 115566tthh NNoorrtthheerrnn MMaaiinnee FFaaiirr will takeplace July 30-Aug. 7 at the Northern MaineFairgrounds, 84 Mechanic St., Presque Isle.Highlighting County agriculture with 4-Hcompetitions, harness racing, an AntiqueFarm Equipment Pavilion, and an Aug. 3pig scramble at the grandstand, the fair willfeature:

Vicenta Pages and her Royal WhiteBengal Tigers, appearing daily during thefair. A circus performer who started work-ing solo with tigers when she was 18, Pageswill bring six white Bengal tigers to PresqueIsle to perform such stunts as rotating on a

mirrored ball, trading high fives, and jumping while stand-ing on their hind legs.

Michael Trautmans Physical Comedy Theater, appear-

ing twice each dailyfrom Aug. 2-5. Based inPortland, Trautmanperforms illusions,magic, slapstick come-dy, and preposterousping-pond imponder-ables.

The Boost MobileFreestyle MX Show,performing at 7 p.m.and 8:30 p.m. Aug. 3-4.

The 4x4 ModifiedMud Drags will start at6 p.m., Aug. 1, andNMFAATV Drag Rac-ing will start at 12noon, Aug. 7. A demoli-tion derby will begin infront of the grandstandat 6:30 p.m., Aug. 7.

Musicians performduring the Northern

Northern Maine Fair features music, freestyle MX, & white tigers

Vicenta Pages and her Royal White Bengal Tigers will perform daily

during the 156th Northern MaineFair in Presque Isle.

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

A balloon hovers above theAroostook River in Presque

Isle.

See PRESQUE ISLE, Page 7


Recreation Department maintainsthe trails into adjacent municipali-ties.

To learn more about local agri-culture and history, visit the CCaarrii-bboouu HHiissttoorriiccaall CCeenntteerr && MMuusseeuummat 1033 Presque Isle Road, Cari-bou. Home to the Caribou Histor-ical Society, the museum featuressuch buildings as the WhittierMemorial and the Lyndon CenterSchool Museum; displays include aConestoga wagon and more than10,000 items ranging from farmtools to home furnishings.

The museum is open 12 noon-4p.m., Saturdays during summer.

The 4,700-acre AArroooossttooookkNNaattiioonnaall WWiillddlliiffee RReeffuuggee preservesvarious habitat used by many ani-mal and bird species. Visitors canventure into the refuge to look forblack bears and moose.

Among the events taking placein the Caribou area are:

July 9, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.: TheArootsakoostik Music Festival willtake place at Thomas Park in NewSweden. Various bands and musi-cians will perform to help raisefunds for local charities.

July 16-17, 7 a.m. daily: RRiiddeeAArroooossttooookk will offer two bicyclerides daily, originating from theUniversity of Maine at Presque Isleand encompassing different routesand terrain in central AroostookCounty. Ride Aroostook is a fund-raising event for the Cary MedicalCenters Camp Adventure, a sum-mer camp for children with Type 1diabetes.

Ride Aroostook will offer ridersa dinner at 7 p.m., July 16 at UMPIand breakfast 5-8 a.m., July 16-17,at UMPI.

For more information aboutRide Aroostook, log onto

www.ridearoostook.org. July 16-17: Land Speed Trials

will take place at the Loring Devel-opment Center, Limestone;

Aug. 6: Turn and BurnMountain Bike Event takes placeon the Cary Medical Center trailsystem, with registration startingat 8 a.m. and racing starting at 10a.m. For more information, call(207) 498-1618.

Aug. 20: Gretchen Wilson, Big& Rich, and Cowboy Troy will per-form in concert at Spud Speedwayin Caribou. This exciting Feed theCounty Summerfest benefit con-cert will be a fund raiser forCatholic Charities Maine.

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The PPllooyyee FFeessttiivvaall and EEiigghhtthhAAnnnnuuaall FFoorrtt KKeenntt IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaallMMuusskkiiee DDeerrbbyy will take place Aug.12-14 in Fort Kent.

The Ploye Festival celebrates theploye, a traditional Acadian buck-wheat pancake cooked on one sideand then buttered and covered

with brown sugar, maple molasses,molasses, or another tasty topping.

Concessions will be open indowntown Fort Kent all weekend.Ploye Festival events will include acraft fair, the Ploye Eating Contest,a parade, and a street dance.

The Eighth Annual Fort KentInternational Muskie Derby willsee several hundred anglers ven-turing onto the St. John River andits tributaries to pursue themuskie.

MMaaddaawwaasskkaa

Celebrating the 226th landing ofAcadians on the St. John Rivershore in northern Maine, the AAccaa-ddiiaann FFeessttiivvaall will take place Aug.11-15 at various locations inMadawaska. The festival will coin-cide with the Cyr Family Reunion.

On Aug. 13, the Founding Cere-mony and Historic Landing willtake place at the Acadian CrossLanding Site on Route 1.

On Aug. 14, events include theAcadian Festival Parade, a chicken

barbeque, an arm-wrestling con-test, and a fireworks display. TheAcadian Festival concludes onAug. 15 with an International Tin-tammarre.

HHoouullttoonn

The 22001111 HHoouullttoonn AAggrriiccuullttuurraallFFaaiirr will run July 1-4. The fair willfeature a midway, 4-H shows, alumberjack show, a pig scramble,and ATV drag racing.

Events scheduled for July 2include the North Country Cruis-ers Show N Shine Car Show (10a.m.), laser tag (12 noon-9 p.m.),lawnmower racing (1 p.m.), and ademolition derby (4 p.m.).

Events scheduled for July 3include a gymkhana/pleasurehorse show (9 a.m.), a scavengerhunt (1 p.m.), and truck pulling (4p.m.).

Events scheduled for July 4include the Independence DayParade (10 a.m.), antique tractorpulls (12 noon-5 p.m.), and fire-works launched at 9:25 p.m.

Appearing daily at the LittleLeague Field are:

Marriage by Knives, featuringmarried entertainers who special-ize in knife-throwing accuracy;

The Indian River Old TowneLumberjack Show, with lumber-jacks demonstrating their log-rolling, cross-cut sawing, and log-chopping skills.

Dan Grady & His Marionetteswill perform three times daily inthe entertainment tent. From July2-4, Alexandria the Great Escape Artist will appear in theentertainment tent.

Music venues include Fireman

Fred, Doubletap, and KirbsideProphet.

For a complete schedule andadditional information about thefair, log onto www.houltonfair.com.

Founded more than 20 yearsago by David McGillicuddy,MMccGGiillllss CCoommmmuunniittyy BBaanndd per-forms free concerts weekly inMonument Park under the leader-ship of Director Joe Fagnant. Theband has 60-70 members.

The bands concerts start at 7p.m., Thursdays; the 2011 dates areJune 23, June 30, July 7, July 14,July 21, July 28, Aug. 4, Aug. 11,and Aug. 18. All concerts but theAug. 18 performance have no raindates; if rain falls on Aug. 18, theseasons finale will relocate to theHoulton High School Auditorium.

McGills Community Band willhost R.B. Hall Day on June 25.Along with four other bands,McGills will honor Hall by playingmarches that he composed; themusic starts at 10 a.m. in Monu-ment Park.

Other events taking place inHoulton this summer are:

Aug. 13, 10-11:30 a.m.: TheTThhiirrdd AAnnnnuuaall CCoommmmuunniittyy BBlloocckkPPaarrttyy aanndd BBaacckkppaacckk GGiivveeaawwaayy willtake place in Monument Park;

Aug. 19, 5:30 p.m.: The DDoollllaanndd WWaaggoonn WWrraanngglleerr PPaarraaddee willsee children parading their favoritedolls or stuffed animals alongMain Street and around Monu-ment Square;

Aug. 20-21: HHoouullttoonn PPoottaattooFFeeaasstt DDaayyss will feature an arts andcrafts fair in Monument Park andthe Friends and Needles QuiltShow at the Houlton Elks Lodge.

CaribouContinued from Page 4

Headling the Aug. 20 Feed the County Summerfest concert inCaribou are country entertainers Gretchen Wilson (left) and Big &

Rich.


From North Peak of Quaggy Jo Mountain in Aroostook State Park(above), hikers can sit on a bench and relish the central

Aroostook County views. An artist paints alongside the Aroostook River in Presque Isle (right) on a summer Saturday.

Maine Fair, and the 2011 enter-tainers include the Good OldeBoys at 7 p.m., July 30; LesChanteurs Acadiens at 2 p.m., Aug.1; Celtic Weave at 7 p.m., Aug. 2;Mike LaJoie & Friends at 6 p.m.,Aug. 3; the Katahdin Valley Boys at7 p.m., Aug. 5; and the NadeauFamily at 7 p.m., Aug. 7.

For more information about thefair, log onto www.northern-mainefair.com.

The 22001111 CCrroowwnn ooff MMaaiinnee BBaall-lloooonn FFeesstt will take place Aug. 25-28at the Northern Maine Fair-grounds in Presque Isle. Depend-ing on weather and winds, bal-loonists launch their balloons inearly morning and early evening.Scheduled launch times are:

Thursday, Aug. 25: 5:30 p.m.;

Friday, Aug. 26: 5:30 a.m. and5:30 p.m., with a balloon glow atdusk;

Saturday, Aug. 27: 5:30 a.m.and 5:30 p.m., with a balloon glowat dusk;

Sunday, Aug. 28: 5:30 a.m.Other activities being held dur-

ing the balloon fest include: Aug. 25, 5-9 p.m.: Street fair at

the Presque Isle Elks Lodge; Aug. 26, 4-8 p.m.: Craft fair; Aug. 27, 8 a.m.: Citywide yard

sale; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Kiwanis/Key-bank Youth Day at The Forum.

For more information about theballoon fest, log onto www.crownof-maineballoonfest.org.

Among the other events takingplace in the Presque Isle area thissummer are:

June 24-26: Mapleton Daze; June 25-26: Maple Meadow

Farm Festival, held at MapleMeadow Farm, 830 MapletonRoad, Mapleton. Activities focus

on agriculture, such as doing fieldwork with antique tractors anddemonstrating farming techniquesused by draft teams.

July 22: Rotary Tractor Pull,Washburn;

Aug. 6-7: Mars Hill SummerFestival Days, Mars Hill.

FFoorrtt FFaaiirrffiieelldd

The 6633rrdd AAnnnnuuaall MMaaiinnee PPoottaattooBBlloossssoomm FFeessttiivvaall will take placeJuly 9-17 in Fort Fairfield.

The festivals 2011 scheduleincludes:

July 9: The County Gospel Fes-tival takes place 9 a.m.-6 p.m. atFARM Park. Donna Nelson andFriends perform The Legendskaraoke-style at 7 p.m.

July 10: Appearing at the Com-munity Bandstand are TheLeClaires (4 p.m.), the Kinney Trio(6 p.m.), and Open Mic Night(7:30 p.m.).

July 11: Fireman Fred per-forms at the Community Band-stand at 7 p.m.

July 12: Hymn singing starts atthe Friends Church at 4 p.m. ThePsychedelicates perform at theCommunity Bandstand at 7 p.m.

July 13: Fiddlers Night starts atthe Community Bandstand at 7p.m. and features an appearance

by cowboy poet Del Shield. July 14: Antique tractor dis-

play, horseshoe tournament,wagon rides, and Brian Mosher atthe bandstand at 7 p.m.

July 15: Owls of Maine presen-tation at Fort Fairfield PublicLibrary, and Christian music (5

p.m.) and Barbed Wire countryrock band (6:30 p.m.) at the Com-munity Bandstand.

July 16: Pancake breakfast from6-10 a.m., railroad motor-car ridesfrom 8 a.m.-12 noon and theMaine Potato Blossom FestivalParade starts at 1 p.m.


For a set price, intrepid adven-turers can accompany commercialballoon pilots on specific launches,morning or evening and occasion-ally during the day. During each

balloon glow, one designatedballoon may offer tethered ridesfor a nominal fee.

The 2011 Crown of Maine Bal-loon Fest will take place Aug. 25-28at the Northern Maine Fairgroundsin Presque Isle. For more informa-tion, log onto www.crownof-maineballoonfest.org.

BalloonContinued from Page 3

Presque IsleContinued from Page 5


A blockhouse built in Fort Kent duringthe late 1830s recalls a shooting war thatnever occurred. And today the blockhouselies in a historical region that more Mainersshould explore.

Fort Kent State Historic Site preserves theFort Kent Blockhouse, a two-story militarypost built with thick, squared cedar logs. Inthe 1830s, America (specifically Maine) andBritain claimed the St. John Valley and dis-puted the Maine-New Brunswick boundary.Loggers poached timber along the St. Johnand its tributaries, a Maine land agentwound up in a New Brunswick jail, and hot-heads in London and Washington holleredfor war.

Congress appropriated $10 million tosend 50,000 soldiers to Aroostook County;not all had arrived as cooler heads prevailedafter General Winfield Scott arrived inMaine. The Bloodless Aroostook Warended with England and the United Statesdivvying up the disputed territory andfederal funds created a road, now Route 2A,connecting the Penobscot Valley with south-

ern Aroostook.Federal funds also constructed a stout

blockhouse overlooking the Fish River-St.John River confluence in Fort Kent, named

for Maine GovernorEdward Kent. He wasinaugurated on Jan. 19,1838.

Now partially sur-rounded by tall evergreens,the Fort Kent Blockhousecontains a museum andopens to visitors from 9a.m.-5 p.m., daily, fromMemorial Daily to LaborDay.

Other historical sitesopen summers in the St.John Valley include the:

Acadian Landing andTante Blanche Museum inMadawaska. Home to theMadawaska HistoricalSociety, the Tante BlancheMuseum is a log buildingconstructed in the 1970s.

Other on-site buildingsare the Fred Albert Houseand Madawaska School

District No. 1, a one-room schoolhouse con-structed about 1870.

Acadian Landing displays a marble crossmarking the site of the initial Acadian land-

ing on the south shore of the St. John River.Acadian Landing and Tante Blanche

Museum are open 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednes-day-Sunday, from mid-June to early Sep-tember.

Acadian Village on Route 1 in VanBuren. Open 12 noon-5 p.m. daily fromJune 15-Sept. 15, this museum preserves his-torical buildings dating to the Acadian set-tlement of the St. John Valley. Buildingsinclude a blacksmith shop, the replica logOur Lady of Assumption Chapel, the 1880Hamlin Schoolhouse, and the Roy House.

Fort Kent Railroad Station, constructedin 1902.

Frenchville Caboose and Water Tower,located in Frenchville.

Muse Culturel du Mont-Carmel, arestored early 20th-century woodenCatholic church (Our Lady of MountCarmel) located on Route 1 in Grand Isle.Listed on the National Register of HistoricPlaces, this museum displays many Acadianartifacts. Hours are 12 noon-4 p.m., Sunday-Friday, mid-June to mid-September.

St. Agathe Museum House, located inthe Pelletier-Marquis House on Route 162in St. Agathe. Hours are 1-4 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday, mid-June to Labor Day.

Museums, blockhouse, wooden church recall St. John Valley history


The Fort Kent State Historic Site preserves the Fort KentBlockhouse, built to protect American interests in the St.

John Valley in the 1830s.

Visitors touring the Maine Solar System in Aroostook County willfind Mercury (inset) located on Main Street in Presque Isle.

The forests surrounding the Tri-Town Region (East Millinocket,Medway, and Millinocket) lure vis-itors to the upper Penobscot Valleyeach summer to photographwildlife, go white-water rafting onthe West Branch, camp and hike atBaxter State Park, and ride ATVson the regions expanding recre-ational trail network.

Millinocket is the gateway toMount Katahdin (Maines highestpeak) and Baxter State Park, main-tained as a wilderness park wherebears and moose have the right ofway on any road and any trail.Rugged mountains dominate the

Baxter horizon; few peaks offereasy hikes, and many mountainhikes require visitors to camp inBaxter the previous night.

Anglers fish the regions lakesand streams, and boaters access thelakes at several boat ramps.

IInnddeeppeennddeennccee DDaayy festivities inMillinocket will feature a paradestarting at 10 a.m., July 4, andwinding through the downtown.The parades 2011 theme is Cele-brating the Katahdin Region.Food vendors and musicians willconverge on Veterans MemorialPark. Fireworks will be launchedfrom the Stearns High School ath-

letic fields at 9:15 p.m.Festivities actually kick off with

am 8 p.m.-1 p.m., July 1 dance atthe Elks Club. Activities takingplace on July 2 include:

9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Jerry Pond KidsDay;

10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Open house atNorth Light Gallery;

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Chicken bar-beque at Knights of ColumbusHall;

7-11 p.m.: Street dance at theMillinocket Bandstand.

Events scheduled for July 4include:

10 a.m.: The IndependenceDay Parade starts at the NorthernPlaza Shopping Center and windsalong Central Street;

Live music at the MillinocketBandstand;

Childrens activities in VeteransMemorial Park;

9:15 p.m.: Fireworks launchedfrom the Stearns High School ath-letic fields.

East Millinocket SSuummmmeerrffeessttwill take place July 7-10 at OpalMyrick Park, East Millimocket.Featuring a disco theme, Summer-fest already includes such activitiesas:

July 7: Teen concerts from 1-3p.m.; a public spaghetti supper at 4p.m.; and a childrens parade at 6p.m.

July 8: Firemens Hose Down at9 a.m.; pony rides at 10 a.m.; KatieBryant in concert at 2 p.m.; 195th


Resevations 207-358-5187 or online outdoors.org/mainelodges

AMCs Maine Wilderness Lodges.

. Located in the Moosehead Lake Region

. Hiking, paddling, wildlife watching, relaxing, and fly fishing

. Private Cabin and Meal Packages

. Family and 50+ Adventure Camps in July and August

New! Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins

Penobscot CountyKatahdin Region celebrates summer, wooden canoes, & trails end


At Baxter State Park, a cow moose feeds on succulent waterplants at Sandy Stream Pond (above), hikers cross a bridge nearTracy Pond (below, left), and Elbow Pond reflects the midsummer

sky (below).

See KATAHDIN, Page 9


Army Band in concert at 6 p.m.;fireworks at 9 p.m.

July 9: Summerfest Paradestarts at Medway Public WorksGarage on Church Street at 10a.m.; Step In Time Cloggers per-forming at 11 a.m.; concerts fea-turing Jesse Hannington (12noon), Mark Guitar Miller (1:30p.m.), RFD Band (4 p.m.), Drift-wood (7 p.m.); street dance at 9p.m.

July 10: Public breakfast at 7a.m. at First CongregationalChurch; barbeque at 12 noon atOpal Myrick Park; Sing-spirationat 1 p.m.

For more information, log ontowww.eastmillinocket.org.

The 1155tthh AAnnnnuuaall KKaattaahhddiinn AArreeaaWWooooddeenn CCaannooee//AArrttss FFeessttiivvaall willtake place Aug. 13 at the MedwayRecreation Complex, Medway.

Katahdin Region residents willcelebrate the TTrraaiillss EEnndd FFeessttiivvaallSept. 16-18 at Veterans MemorialPark, Millinocket.

KatahdinContinued from Page 8


After hiking the 100-MileWilderness along the

Appalachian Trail (below), twohikers reach the Abol Bridge

on the West Branch of thePenobscot River (above).



ELLIOTSVILLE TOWNSHIP For an adventurous hike to a beau-tiful waterfall, check out Little Wil-son Falls in Piscataquis County.

Rising east of Route 15 inShirley, Little Wilson Stream flowseast to meet Big Wilson Streamnear Borestone Mountain inElliotsville Township. Downstreamfrom Moose Pond, Little WilsonFalls tumbles 39 feet through adark slate gorge rimmed by thickwoods.

Sunlight penetrates the gorge,and during low water, ledges alongthe streams southern shore pro-vide good vantage points. Highwater pushes hikers back; no mat-ter the flow, hikers should treadcarefully.

Unlike some Maine waterfalls, atrail immediately accesses LittleWilson Falls. In fact, its theAppalachian Trail, the trail of trails(and tears) for many Maine hikers.

However, AT access does noteasy access make. The AppalachianTrail literally abuts Little WilsonFalls, but here the AT meandersthrough the 100-Mile Wilderness,the legendary Maine forest stretch-ing from a Route 15 trail head in

Monson to the Abol Bridge on theWest Branch in Township 2, Range10.

The official route to LittleWilson Falls

Guidebooks typically recom-mend accessing Little Wilson Fallsvia the AT. This is the truth: hikersfollow the root-bound, terrain-hugging AT to and from the falls.

No other route exists.The guidebooks also almost

uniformly recommend one partic-ular route to the falls:

1. In Monson, turn from Route15 north onto the Elliotsville Roadat the villages western edge. A Pis-cataquis County chickadee signidentifies the turn from bothdirections.

2. Drive about 8 miles to wherea bridge carries the ElliotsvilleRoad across Big Wilson Stream.

Just before the bridge (and slightlyuphill from the stream), turn left(west) onto a gravel road at a Yintersection.

3. This gravel road accesses tent-only Maine Forest Service campsites nestled alongside Little Wil-son Stream. Drive carefully about ahalf mile to another Y intersection,bear right, and cross the stream ona bridge.

4. The Appalachian MountainClub recommends that after cross-ing the bridge, hikers should fol-low the gravel road to the left forabout 1 mile, then park and hike1.5 miles west (left) on theAppalachian Trail to Little WilsonFalls. The AT crosses Little WilsonStream at 1.2 miles and abruptlyclimbs the streams steep southbank.

The 3.0-mile round trip shouldtake 2-3 hours, minimum.Allow time for photography at thefalls. This route also providesaccess to Big Wilson Cliffs west ofBorestone Mountain.

The unofficial route to LittleWilson Falls

For adventurous hikers, anotherLittle Wilson Falls access pointexists. Overlooked by the guide-books, a rudimentary andunnamed trail reduces actual AThiking to 0.3 miles and providesintimate contact with Little WilsonStream. Were talking one slip andyoure in the drink contact, espe-cially during high flows.

Looking for an adventure? Letsfind this trail! And then the water-falls!

5. Follow steps 1 and 2 men-tioned earlier.

6. At the Y intersection men-tioned in step 3, drive straightrather than bear right across thebridge.

7. Stay on the gravel road anoth-er 0.2-0.3 miles to a large parkinglot next to Little Wilson Stream.The road ends here.

8. Walk to the parking lots west-ern edge (next to the stream) andnotice the unmarked trails headinginto the woods. Bear right on thetrail nearest Little Wilson Stream.

Sometimes an orange flag iden-tifies this trailhead. The last time Ihiked to the waterfalls, the trail-head flag was missing, but thestreamside trail does connect tothe AT.

9. Marked by the occasionalorange flag, the trail meandersalong the stream, hugs the stream,climbs its hilly bank, twists aroundroots and beneath fallen trees, andascends the steep bank deeper inthe forest while shifting away fromthe water. Abutting brush and treesconfine hikers to the trail.

10. Somewhere 0.9-1.0 mileswest of the parking lot, theunnamed trail abruptly meets theAppalachian Trail at a flagged Tintersection.

11. Identified by white blazes,the AT rolls right and left. Turn left(south), start hiking, and listen forthe falls (think Niagara at lowerdecibels).

12. About 0.3 miles from theflagged intersection, the AT sud-denly passes Little Wilson Falls.Hikers can access the falls andgorge at several points; adventur-ous hikers often cross the flat waterupstream, literally feet above thefalls, to peer into the gorge from itsnorth rim.

13. Return to the parking lot viathe AT and the unofficial trail.Caution: Just north past the trailsflagged intersection, the ATdescends steeply over stone stepsto Little Wilson Stream. If weclimb downhill to the stream,weve passed the intersection.

The 2.5.-mile round trip shouldtake 2-2 hours, including pho-tography time at Little WilsonFalls.

On Sunday, July 24, about 100 pri-vately owned Maine farms will be opento the public as part of the statewideOpen Farm Day. Maine farms have anincredibly broad range, from dairy tobeef, from wool to alpaca hair, frommaple syrup to blueberries, from veg-etables to flowers, and many more.Many will offer refreshments, opentheir farm stores, and feature greatactivities for the kids such as pettingzoos and fun educational events.

Maine agriculture is a long and richheritage, with some farms in the samefamilies for several generations. Stillothers are new ventures, with Mainerschoosing to embrace Maines farmingtradition. The Maine Department ofAgricultures purpose with Open FarmDay is to ensure Mainers young andold will be exposed to this proud tradi-tion and understand the ongoingimportance of farming in Maine.

The BDN will publish the MDAs Maine Food &Farms guide in all seven Maine daily newspapers onJuly 22; it will be available in Hannaford stores for free

over the July Fourth weekend. Check there for com-plete listings of all farms that are participating inOpen Farm Day.

Piscataquis CountyHikers can follow official & unofficial trails to Little Wilson Falls

Explore Maine farms on Open Farm Day

Learn about Maine-based agriculture by visiting a farm participating in Open Fram Day on July 24.


Deep in the woods of Elliotsville Township, Little Wilson Falls slips over a sheer drop (above) and tumbles 39 feet through a slate gorge (left). The

falls are accessed by the Appalachian Trail.

By David M. FitzpatrickSPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER

Get ready for the 10th year of afolk festival in Bangor as theAmerican Folk Festival returns tothe Bangor Waterfront August 26-28. After a banner year in 2010which saw record-breaking dona-tions from festivalgoers, the AFF isgeared up for an exciting threedays full of great performers.

From close to home, well enjoythe fiddle-based Quebecois musicof RVeillons! And Seamus Con-nolly, along with Damien Connol-ly and Felix Dolan, will bring tra-ditional Irish music. (That mightnot sound like close to home, butSeamus lives in southern Maine.)

Well welcome the Native Amer-ican performances of ChunaMcIntyre, a Yupik Eskimo, whowill give us the dances, songs, andstories from his heritage. Wellhear the Stooges Brass Band,

which will bring its unique, hip-hop-influenced, New Orleansparade-band sound to Bangor.And the Brotherhood Singers willoffer African American a cappellagospel, patriotic music, and feel-good R&B.

Leroy Thomas & The ZydecoRoadrunners will inject the crowdswith their fast-paced, accordion-led zydeco sounds. Then get readyfor master bluesman and guitarmaker Super Chikan, a favorite ofMorgan Freeman at Freemansblues club. If that werent enough,theres the boogie-woogie piano ofEden Brent, whosejazz/blues/soul/pop fusion rangesfrom light and melancholy to afull-blown juke-joint explosion.

Dont be fooled by the amusing-ly named group Hot Club of Cow-town; this Austin-based trioshard-swinging Western sound ispurported to be the best of its kindanywhere. And the group Rich inTradition will match that trio with

its roaring instrumental mix oftraditional bluegrass.

As usual, traditional music anddance from around the world willtransport festivalgoers to other

lands. Congolese sensa-tion Samba Ngo willbring his likembe beatsand guitar rhythms,while Rhythm ofRajasthan will intro-duce us to IndianRajasthani music anddance.

Los Tres Reyes willchallenge lovers toresist the romanticMexican sounds thatstoke sensuality withmusical energy, and the PedritoMartinez Group will bring Afro-Cuban percussion rhythms to thewaterfront.

Bing Xia will play her Chineseguzheng, a horizontal instrumentwith 21strings and wide range ofsounds, feelings, and moods. And,

finally, Zikrayat will introduceaudiences to the wonders of classi-cal music and dance from Egyptand the greater Arab world.

With 16 diverse acts, theressomething for everyone on tap atthe American Folk Festival. Dontmiss it!


By Richard R. Shaw

Every summer, antique collectors visit Maine insearch of that certain book, oil painting, or goldnecklace. Antique shops of all descriptions blanketthe state from Kittery to Fort Kent. Reputable dealersand a cornucopia of items have put Maine on themap and kept enthusiasts returning year after year.

Some coastal towns along Route 1, stretching fromYork County into the Midcoast and points east, offerenough antiquing to keep shoppers busy for days.Inland rural regions, stretching into Bangor andnorth to the Canadian border, take more digging onthe collectors part.

I like to pack a map and an antiques guide andhead off in search of my favorite collectibles, whichinclude vintage postcards and magazines.

Many tourist information stations hand out freeguides to regional antique shops. Two monthly pub-lications help orient visitors and locals to antiquing.The Maine Journal of Antiques & Collectibles andthe Maine Antique Digest showcase ads and fea-tures to whet every appetite.

Identify your collectible passion upon entering ashop. If you collect pictures of the Gettysburg battle-field or calendars of the Dionne quintuplets, speakup and see what happens.

Antique dealers are usually helpful once theyknow what youre shopping for. Many visitors arentlooking for anything in particular, but after an hourof browsing, pick up a Charlie McCarthy dummy orMaine wall map they couldnt live without.

Here are some tips for visiting antique collectors: Do your homework. Know what youre shopping

for before embarking on an antiques excursion.Make a list of what youd like to find, then target theshops and malls that are likeliest to stock yourfavorite Depression glass or sardine can labels. Callahead or go online for store hours.

Believe in miracles. Patience is a virtue in antiquecollecting. Collectors must believe that somewhere inMaine is an item waiting to be acquired.

Some of my choicest finds have been in shops Ivevisited on a whim, never expecting to find that sou-venir plate or felt pennant.

Check open-house sales. Antique shop ownerslove to attract customers with holiday and anniver-sary sales. My favorite is at a central Maine antiquesmall that features dealer discounts and a free snacktable.

Dont be afraid to dicker. Some dealers will nego-tiate prices on items above $10. You never know untilyou ask if theyll take $15 for that $20 West QuoddyHead Light plate.

Group shops, or malls, offer less latitude sinceindividual dealers are off site, but it still pays toinquire.

Beware of reproductions. Some antiques lookold, but arent. Check for the word repro on theprice tag to see if its a copy. A dealer recently showedme a yellowed Lincoln assassination newspaper thatwas old, but only dated to the late 19th century, notApril 1865.

Never judge a book by its cover. That modeststore in need of paint and a paved parking lot mightcontain just the treasure youve been looking for.They often have lower operating costs, which trans-late to cheaper prices on the music box or silver jew-elry youve waited years to acquire.

American Folk Festival brings top performers to Bangor Aug. 26-28

Antiquers flock to diverse shops in Maine

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN FOLK FESTIVAL

Among the performers appearing during the 2011American Folk Festival are Chinese guzheng player BingXia (above), master bluesman Super Chikan (right), and

the Western swing band Hot Club of Cowtown (below,right).

PHOTO BY JESSE SCHWARCZ

A Maine-based band performs during a Cool Sounds Concert atPickering Square in downtown Bangor. These free concerts are

held every Thursday night through late July.



A pleasant summer evening may findmusic wafting through Bangor, known asthe Queen City and home to the popularAmerican Folk Festival and Bangor Water-front Concerts. Eclectic shops and restau-rants lure residents and visitors alike to theresurgent downtown, where several monu-ments recall the citys historic past.

Visit Bangor Waterfront Park to experi-ence Bangors immediate proximity to thePenobscot River. Take a harbor cruise toexplore the river. Ask the locals for direc-tions to Stephen Kings home, an unofficiallandmark at least as well photographed asthe Paul Bunyan Statue at Bass Park.

Walk the downtown streets and check outthe locally owned restaurants featuring Chi-nese, Indian, Irish, Italian, Pakistani, andAmerican cuisines. Visit the University ofMaine Museum of Art or the Bangor Muse-um and Center for History.

Explore the outlying shopping centers,which blend national and local stores and

restaurants. Visit the Bangor City Forest onStillwater Avenue and encounter birds andunusual plants on the Orono Bog Walk.

And check out Bangors busy summercalendar.

The CCooooll SSoouunnddss CCoonncceerrtt SSeerriieess coin-

cides with the Sixth Annual Outdoor Mar-ket, located on Broad Street and West Mar-ket Square and held from 5-8 p.m., Thurs-days, until Aug. 11.

The free concerts take place in PickeringSquare adjacent to the municipal parkinggarage; brink a blanket or lawn chair and lis-ten to exciting Maine groups performingvarious types of music. This summers CoolSounds are:

June 30, 6-7:30 p.m.: Sam & Yuri, actual-ly a five-piece band specializing in folk-rockfusion.

July 7, 6-7:30 p.m.: Evergreen, perform-

ing bluegrass, the blues, folk, country, andother music.

July 14, 6-7:30 p.m.: Kayla Wass Band, afive-piece country-music band that addscountry rock to its concert repertoire.

July 21, 6-7:30 p.m.: Teen Jamboree. July 28, 6-7:30 p.m.: RetroRockerz, a

band performing music from the 1950s tothe 1970s.

Aug. 4, 6-7:30 p.m.: Flash in the Pans, asteel drum band from the Blue Hill Peninsu-la.

The DDoowwnnttoowwnn BBaannggoorr AArrttwwaallkk will start

Penobscot CountyMusic abounds throughout the summer in Bangor, the Queen City

See BANGOR, Page 15

PHOTOS BY JESSE SCHWARCZ

Downtown Bangor comes alive during the summer as the Bangor Band performs (left) in concert at Bangor Public Library

and shoppers flock (above) to the Outdoor Market held eachThursday in conjunction with a Cool Sounds Concert.



The 1964 Drifters hit Underthe Boardwalk refers to a roman-tic rendezvous beneath the ConeyIsland Boardwalk in New York, nota boardwalk in Maine. However,many boardwalks do exist in thePine Tree State, including threeplaced far from the maddeningcrowd.

Orono Bog Boardwalk

Reached via Stillwater Avenueand Tripp Drive in Bangor, the4,200-foot Orono Bog Boardwalkaccesses the 616-acre Orono Bog, araised bog where peat extends 25feet deep in places, according tothe informative Web sitewww.oronobogwalk.org.

The boardwalks entrance gatestands a quarter mile from theBangor City Forest parking lot offTripp Drive. Designed to float atopthe bog and its adjacent wetlands,the 4-foot-wide boardwalk crossesa mixed wooded fen and a coniferwooded fen (both identified byinterpretive signs) while passingthe marked Bangor-Orono townline.

At this boundary clearedthrough the thick woods, thehandicap-accessible boardwalkforms a 3,400-foot, one-way loopextending onto the bog. Benchesplaced approximately 200 feetapart provide places for visitors torelax and enjoy nature, and moreinterpretive signs detail the bogsflora and fauna. Visible in the bognear the boardwalks northern-most corner is a hydrological sta-tion that monitors water levels.

Bird watchers find the OronoBog a great place to ply their trade.Bring binoculars, because smallersongbirds flit among the dwarfconifers and, except when singing,challenge identification efforts.Birds spotted in the bog includeeagles, finches, hawks, jays, vireos,warblers, and woodpeckers.

Among the mammals seenalong or near the boardwalk areblack bears, deer, and moose, aswell as the ubiquitous chipmunksand red squirrels.

For many visitors, the bogsgreatest treasure lies in its plantdiversity. Their roots planted inacidic soil, black spruce and tama-racks reach only dwarf height, yet

live for decades in the bog. Boglaurel and sheep laurel, Labradortea and pitcher plants, starflowerand tussock cotton grass: Thesespecies and many others thrivewithin the bog and its outer envi-rons, the mixed wooded fen.

Visitors are encouraged to takephotos, but do so only from the

boardwalk. Do not step onto theecologically sensitive bog, where afootprint can collect water andalter the micro-environment. Col-lecting plants or flowers is prohib-ited, as are bicycles, skateboards,and smoking.

The Orono Bog Boardwalk isopen daily from May 1 to late

November. For more information,log onto www.oronobogwalk.org.

Quoddy Head State Park

The 1.5-mile Bog Trail at 532-acre Quoddy Head State Park inLubec accesses West Quoddy HeadBog, a delightful natural landmarklocated atop West Quoddy Head inLubec. Located at the headlandsisthmus is Carrying Place CoveBog, a National Natural Landmarkaffected by Bay of Fundy waves.

To reach Quoddy Head StatePark, take Route 189 east fromWhiting and, at Lubec Neck, turnright (south) on South LubecRoad. At the intersection withBoot Cove Road, bear left (east)and watch for the parking lot signjust as West Quoddy Head Light-house becomes visible.

Several trails extend along theheadlands wave-scoured cliffs orinland through its thick whitespruce-balsam fir forest. TheCoastal Trail rises and falls pastGullivers Hole, High Ledge, andGreen Point before reaching Car-rying Place Cove and the SouthLubec Road. The inland Thomp-son Trail connects the Bog Trailand the Coastal Trail.

From the gravel parking lot, fol-low the Inland Trail about three-eighths mile west to its intersec-tion with the Bog Trail. This trailturns north to the boardwalk,which like its Orono Bog counter-part forms a loop across a spectac-ular peat bog.

Considered a rare geological fea-ture because it sits atop a headlandrather than at its lowest point, WestQuoddy Head Bog actually repre-sents a patch of Arctic tundradeposited on the Maine coast.

Formed by glacial melt more than 10millennia ago, the bog supportsmany plant species found at nearbyCarrying Place Cove Bog and some120 miles west at Orono Bog.

Interpretive signs identify dif-ferent micro-environments withinthe bog, as well as some plants, andvisitors often photograph the lau-rels and carnivorous pitcher plants especially when the latter con-tain hapless insects. Other plantsinclude Labrador tea, rhodora, andthe carnivorous sundew.

Stay on the boardwalk and donot step onto the bog. Take lots ofphotos, not only in the bog, butalong the shore.

Corinna Boardwalk

Straddling a major crossroads incentral Maine, the Town of Corin-na seems the last place a boardwalkwould exist - but a scenic one does.Not very long, it offers a place forpeople to enjoy nature in peace and some quiet from the traffic onbusy Route 7.

The Corinna Boardwalk con-nects pedestrians with the CentralMaine Adventure Trail and reed-bordered Corundel Pond, formedby a dam spanning the East Branchof the Sebasticook River. Runningfrom Newport to Dover-Foxcroft,the CMAT crosses Route 7 indowntown Corinna; a veteransmemorial stands near the markedintersection.

The boardwalks entrance lies atforest edge about 50 yards fromthe memorial. Paralleling the river,the boardwalk opens onto abenched overlook before endingnear Corundel Pond; a foot paththen crosses the dam to the Sebas-ticooks western shore.

Take a pleasant and educational stroll on three Maine boardwalks


Grass pinks grow near the Orono Bog Walk in Bangor.

The boardwalk accessing the peat bog at Quoddy Head StatePark in Lubec forms a loop across this rare example of Arctic

tundra.

A white-throated sparrow peers from the stunted evergreensgrowing alongside the Orono Bog Walk.

In Corinna, a boardwalk winds through the woods near CorundelPond before crossing the East Branch of the Sebasticook River.

at 5 p.m., June 24 and Aug. 12.Local studios will open for tourson both days.

The Bangor Museum and Cen-ter for History several historicaltours each summer. The MMoouunnttHHooppee CCeemmeetteerryy TToouurr starts at theCemetery Superintendents Officeat 1048 State St., Bangor and takesparticipants on a tour of Americassecond-oldest garden cemetery.

Tours start at 10 a.m. on July 16,Aug. 20, and Sept. 17 and at 5 p.m.on July 1, Aug. 5, and Sept. 2.

The GGhhoosstt LLaammpp TToouurr startsnear the Bangor HarbormastersOffice at Bangor Waterfront Parkand introduces participants to thefamous and infamous people and perhaps several spooks during a tour along Bangors his-toric waterfront.

Tours start at 5 p.m. on July 5and at 7 p.m. on July 19, Aug. 9,Aug. 23, Sept. 6, and Sept. 20.

The DDeevviillss HHaallff AAccrree TToouurrstarts near the Bangor Harbormas-ters Office and introduces partici-pants to Bangors wicked side.Tours start at 7 p.m. on July 29 andSept. 30..

The FFoouurrtthh AAnnnnuuaall BBaannggoorrWWaatteerrffrroonntt AArrttss && CCrraaffttss SShhoowwwill take place July 8-10 along Rail-road Street and at Bangor Water-front Park. More than 40 artisanswill participate in this show, whichis free to the public. Hours are:

July 8, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; July 9, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; July 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.Located at 145 Harlow St., the

BBaannggoorr PPuubblliicc LLiibbrraarryy hhaass sched-uled its 2011 Summer MusicSeries:

June 29, 7 p.m.: Shades of Blue; July 6, 7 p.m.: The Lidral Jazz

Duo; July 13, 7 p.m.: Sam and Yuri; July 20, 7 p.m.: Mainely Coun-

try Band; July 27, 7 p.m.: Jose Ayerve; Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m.: Smells Like

the Nineties; Aug. 10, 7 p.m.: Amanda Ger-

vasi; Aug. 17, 7 p.m.: Jonee Earth-

quake; Aug. 24, 7 p.m.: Heart of Maine

Chorus; Aug. 31, 7 p.m.: Gilbert and

Sullivan Society.Organized in January 1859, the

BBaannggoorr BBaanndd is among the few

community bands that have per-formed continuously for morethan 150. Each summer the bandoffers free concerts at various loca-tions in Bangor. The 2011 concertschedule includes these appear-ances:

June 28, 7 p.m.: FairmountPark;

July 4, 7 p.m.: Bass Park Band-stand;

July 5, 7 p.m.: Bass Park Band-stand. Join the Bangor Band forthis historic concert, the last to beperformed at Bass Park beforeconstruction begins on the newBangor Arena;

July 12, 7 p.m.: WaterfrontStage on Railroad Street;

July 19, 7 p.m.: WaterfrontStage on Railroad Street;

July 26, 6:45 p.m.: ChapinPark;

Aug. 2, 7 p.m.: Cascade Park; Aug. 9, 7 p.m.: Waterfront

Stage on Railroad Street.Join Stephen King fans on a

TToommmmyykknnoocckkeerrss aanndd MMoorree BBuussTToouurr, which takes in the localplaces and sounds made famous inKing lore. Tour dates are July 4,Aug. 21, and Sept. 18. This event issponsored by the Greater BangorConvention & Visitors Bureau; formore information about the tours,call (207) 947-5205.

Located at the Bangor OperaHouse at 131 Main St., Bangor, thePPeennoobbssccoott TThheeaattrree will presentThe Northern Writes: New Play

Festival this summer. The festivalwill feature the productions ofsubmitted scripts, with perform-ances at 7 p.m., June 24-25, June27-30, July 1, and July 3; 2 p.m.,June 26-26; and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.,June 26.

For more information, log ontowww.penobscottheatre.org.

The BBaannggoorr SSttaattee FFaaiirr will takeplace July 29-Aug. 7 at Bass Park.Featured daily activities include:

Backyard Circus, where chil-dren become the act and entertainthe crowd.

Buffalo and Brandy, who per-form magic, music, and drum-ming to entertain fair-goers of allages.

Dino Digs, where children par-ticipate in a dinosaur dig.

Embra Rabbit Show, featuringdifferent rabbit breeds and rab-bits ranging in size from teeny tobig!

Michael Griffin, AmericasEscape Hero who specializes inescaping from such tight situa-tions as police restraints, sealedand water-filled drums, and theCloth Coffin.

Paul Bunyan LumberjackShow, with loggers demonstratingax handling and tossing, logrolling, and working with a drag-ster chainsaw.

Sea Lion Splash, featuring sealions that perform various stuntsand tricks.

West Texas Rattlesnake Show,

with snake handler David Richard-son using live rattlesnakes to edu-cate fair-goers about the ven-omous reptiles.

Fiesta Shows will operate thepopular midway. Admission willbe $10 per person daily; that priceincludes unlimited rides on themidway. Seniors age 60 and oldercan enter the fair for free on Aug.

2.For more information, log onto

www.bangorstatefair.com.After a successful inaugural sea-

son in 2010, BBaannggoorr WWaatteerrffrroonnttCCoonncceerrttss has scheduled severalwell-known entertainers to appearat the Waterfront Pavilion on Rail-road Street in 2011. Concertsalready scheduled are:

July 9, Toby Keith and EricChurch. The gates will open at 5p.m.

July 23, Melissa Etheridge. Thegates will open at 5 p.m.

July 31, Oxxfest 2011 withStone Temple Pilots, Sick Puppies,and other local and nationalbands. The gates will open at 10a.m.

Aug. 5, J. Geils Band withopening act Chris RobinsonBrotherhood. The gates will openat 5 p.m.

Aug. 7, Jeff Dunham in Iden-tity Crisis. The gates will open at 5p.m.

Aug. 20, Bob Dylan with open-ing act Leon Russell.

Sept. 3, B.B. King and Greg All-man. The gates will open at 5 p.m.

Sept. 4, Carnival of MadnessTour featuring Theory of a Dead-man. The gates will open at 5 p.m.

Sept. 5, Lady Antebellum withSunny Sweeney. The gates willopen at 5 p.m.


BangorContinued from Page 12


Young people take a spin on a midway ride at the Bangor State Fair, scheduled to take place July29-Aug. 7 at Bass Park in Bangor.

See FOLK, Page 16

Exciting stock car racing takes place Wednesdays and Saturdays at Speedway 95 in Hermon, just ashort distance from Bangor.

Sept. 17, Reba McEntire. Thegates will open at 5 p.m.

Sept. 23, George Thorogood &The Destroyers. The gates willopen at 5 p.m.

For more information, log ontowww.waterfrontconcerts.com.

The KKaahhBBaanngg MMuussiicc,, AArrtt && FFiillmmFFeessttiivvaall will take place Aug. 5-13 atBangor Waterfront Park and indowntown Bangor. Scheduled per-formers include My Morning Jack-et, Chromeo, Surfer Blood, GracePotter & The Nocturnals, The GayBlades, Dom, and Atomic Tom.

For more information, log onto

www.kahbang.com.The SSeenniioorr LLeeaagguuee BBaasseebbaallll

WWoorrlldd SSeerriieess will take place Aug.13-20 at Mansfield Stadium, locat-ed near the Fairmount School onThirteeth Street in Bangor. For

more information, log ontowww.worldseries.bangorinfo.com.

The AAmmeerriiccaann FFoollkk FFeessttiivvaall willtake place Aug. 26-28 at variouslocations on the Bangor Water-front. Performers already sched-uled to appear are:

Blues artist Super Chikan; Bing Xia, a masterful guzheng

player from China; Eden Brent, a blues pianist and

vocal stylist from the MississippiDelta;

Brotherhood Singers, a Ken-tucky group specializing in four-party jubilee-style harmony;

Leroy Thomas, the Jewel ofthe Bayou who plays Cajun, R&B,

and Zydeco; Hot Club of Cowtown, a West-

ern Swing trio from Austin, Texas; Rich in Tradition, a five-man

bluegrass band; Pedrito Martinez, a Cuban

conga player and singer who willperform with the Pedrito MartinezGroup;

RVeillons!, a Quebecois quar-tet that will bring dance, har-monies, and percussion from Que-bec;

Samba Ngo, a guitar-playerand singer from the Congo.

For more information, log ontowww.americanfolkfestival.com.

Located on Webster Avenue inBangor, the BBaannggoorr MMuunniicciippaallGGoollff CCoouurrssee offers 27 holes thatgolfers can play in 9- or 18-holeincrements.

Tournaments taking place atBangor Muni this year include:

July 9-10: Club Championship; July 14: Maine Forest Products; July 20-23: Greater Bangor

Open Pro Am; Aug. 20-21: Bangor Golf Clas-

sic; Aug. 30: WMSGA.The BBaannggoorr CCaarr SShhooww:: WWhheeeellss

oonn tthhee WWaatteerrffrroonntt will be heldSept. 10 at Bangor WaterfrontPark.

LLeeoonnaarrddss MMiillllss off Route 178 inBradley replicates a late 18th-cen-tury colonial village establishedwhere a dam provides water for anoperational sawmill. Located hereis the Maine Forest and LoggingMuseum.

Leonards Mills is open dailyyear-round, and on specific week-ends, re-enactors bring the villageto life. For more information, logonto www.leonardsmills.com.

At SSppeeeeddwwaayy 9955 on the OdlinRoad in Hermon (less than a milefrom the Bangor line), visitors canwatch exciting racing on the one-third mile track. For a full raceschedule, log onto www.speed-way95racing.com.


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The Bangor waterfront attracts vessels of all sizes during the summer.

FolkContinued from Page 15


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With a 3,000-mile indentedcoastline and 2,500 ponds andlakes (not to mention rivers andflat-water flowages), Maine offerskayakers the ideal location toexplore natures beauty by water.

Kayakings a popular summerpastime in Maine. Viewed fromthe air, Maine seems awash inwater; countless kayaking oppor-tunities exist along quiet streamsand bogs, the latter often frequent-ed by waterbirds and moose. Evenon lakes abuzz with outboards and

personal watercraft (routinelycalled jet skis, no matter themanufacturer), kayakers nose intotributary streams and venture intoshallows that would ground largerboats.

For tourists lacking their ownkayaks and rooftop-mountedkayaks roll everywhere in Mainefrom April to October outfittersoften rent kayaks, paddles, andPFDs (personal flotation devices)and, for a nominal fee, deliver andretrieve this gear at the appropriatelocation. Ask the outfitter aboutthe better kayaking destinations,what to expect on the local salt orfresh water, and what to avoid.

No kayaker ever wants to matchwits with Eastports swirling OldSow whirlpool, thats for sure.

For novice kayakers, outfittersoffer lessons and trips at populartourist destinations like Bar Har-bor and Camden. Outfitters alsoorganize specific destinationtrips; Ive seen outfitters trailerkayaks and bus (or van) kayakersto Eastport, Pemaquid, and otherports not associated with frequentkayaking.

Outfitters based at lesstouristy destinations, such asCastine or New Harbor, guide tripsinto coastal waters as pretty asthose found around tourist-

packed ports.All outfitters offer specific trips

and training; often called tours,trips can run from three hours toall day to multiple-day andprice out accordingly. Outfitterscan also customize trips, especiallyfor experienced kayakers.

Outfitters offer inland trips, too,with river runs popular duringquiet summer flows. Along thePenobscot River between Howlandand Milford, for example, kayakerscan land on the islands owned bythe Penobscot Nation and exploreOlamon Stream and the Passad-umkeag River. A hand-carry boatramp on Route 2 in Milford offersaccess to Sunkhaze Stream and itsnamesake national wildlife refuge.

Some kayakers seek whitewater(and white-knuckle) adventureson Maine rivers. Contact outfittersto see what lessons and trips theyoffer. Every good rain storm cankick up whitewater on smallerstreams, and dam operators pro-vide daily water releases on theKennebec River and the WestBranch of the Penobscot River.

Place names like ExterminatorStaircase and Troublemaker letkayakers know what to expectalong the West Branch.

Looking to dabble in sea kayak-ing? Log onto www.maine-seakayakguides.com to find outfit-ters in particular coastal regions. Irecommend checking out severaloutfitters Web sites to compare

classes, prices, and trips. Donthesitate to contact individual out-fitters to discuss the details, such asappropriate clothing.

By the way, chuck the cottonjeans and T-shirts when kayaking.Wet cotton plasters against theskin and hastens thermal transfer,and a wave-splashed novice kayak-er suffers immeasurably whilepaddling among the PorcupineIslands off Bar Harbor (or any-where else, for that matter).

Pay attention during a guidespre-trip instructions. Ask ques-tions. Practice entering and exitinga kayak, and once ensconced in itscockpit, start paddling, alwaysobey the guide, and enjoy the trip.Believe me, Bar Harbor looks fardifferent from sea level andkayakers dont disturb birds andseals nearly as much as boaters do.

Ditto kayaking on inlandwaters. Canoeists and kayakersalike can quietly approach a waterlily-munching moose on aKatahdin Region pond. Just dontget too close.

Kayakers venturing out unguid-ed should, according to the MaineAssociation of Sea Kayak Guidesand Instructors, file a float planthat names the trips participants,destination, date(s), and expectedreturn time. Visit at www.maine-seakayakguides.com to downloada float plan; click Trip Planning.Leave the float plan with someone


Abundant waterways make Maine a dream destination for kayakers


Kayakers paddle near Bar Harbor in early June 2011.

See KAYAK, Page 19


While visiting Washington County this summer,step 400-plus years into history at St. Croix IslandInternational Historic Site in Calais.

In the early 17th century, England, France, Hol-land, and Spain vied for supremacy in North Ameri-can waters, then largely unexplored by Europeansailors. Three years before English colonists estab-lished a colony Britains first permanent colonialsettlement at Jamestown in Vir-ginia, French King Henry IVauthorized an erstwhile nobleman,Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, todevelop a French colony in LA-cadie, later anglicized to Acadia.

Outfitting two ships and recruit-ing some 80 colonists, Duguadeparted France in April 1604 andreached eastern Maine coastalwaters in June. The ships crews andpassengers explored Passamaquod-dy Bay and the St. Croix River afterdiscovering a potentially usefulanchorage (Port Royal) on NovaScotias Fundy coast.

Samuel de Champlain, who laterhelped found Quebec City, chroni-cled the expedition, which putashore on a St. Croix River islandlocated about halfway between Pas-samaquoddy Bay and head of tide (at todays Calais).Working with Champlains blueprints, colonists con-structed different buildings, including a fort todefend the fledgling settlement against the hatedEnglish. The settlers planted gardens and built ahand mill and an oven.

Passamaquoddy Indians interacted peacefullywith the French colonists and sailed with de Cham-plain when he mapped the local coast. During thisexpedition he discovered and named LIsle des MontsDeserts (todays Mount Desert Island).

Dugua ordered the two French ships returned toFrance prior to the North Atlantics treacherous win-ter storms, and the colonists hunkered down for thewinter. For men accustomed to Frances temperateclimate, the St. Croix winter proved deep, cold, andkilling, with scurvy taking 35 French lives. Food trad-ing with the Passamaquoddys helped the survivorslive until French supply ships returned in June 1605.

Believing that St. Croix Island represented a poorplace for a permanent colony, Dugua abandoned thesite and relocated his men and some buildings toPort Royal. St. Croix Island fell into disuse until the

1800s.In 1949, the United States

declared St. Croix Island a nationalmonument; the Canada and theUnited States named the island aninternational historic site in 1984,and the U.S. developed an overlookjust off Route 1 in Red Beach, a vil-lage in Calais. The Canadian gov-ernment made an interpretive trailin New Brunswick.

Prior to the 400th anniversary ofits founding, St. Croix IslandNational Historic Site underwentan extensive transformation. Today,bronze statues depict Frenchcolonists and Passamaquoddy Indi-ans, and a bronze replica of thecolony depicts its buildings andlayout. Interpretive signs explainthe colonys brief history and the

French-Passamaquoddy interaction that helpedmaintain French influence in eastern Maine foranother 150-plus years.

The National Park Service completed a new, on-site visitors center in 2010, and the site offers picnictables and a vault toilet. Open sunrise to sunset yearround, St. Croix Island National Historic Site islocated 8 miles south of the Main Street-North Streettraffic light in Calais. Watch for the preliminarybrown-and-white NPS signs north of the sitesentrance.

Step 400 years into the past at St. Croix Island


A statue of Sieur de Montswelcomes visitors to St. Croix

Island International HistoricSite in Calais.


Located on the Penobscot Riveropposite Bangor, Brewer serves asa commercial and retail hub forpeople living in the municipalitiesalong the Hancock-Penobscotcounty border.

The city offers several parksand a walking path along thePenobscot River, off South MainStreet.

The BBrreewweerr PPaarrkkss && RReeccrreeaattiioonnDDeeppaarrttmmeenntt has planned manyevents this summer aimed at get-ting children outside and activewhile having fun. Among theactivities are:

Summer Youth Drama for chil-dren ages 13, 9 a.m. each Mondayand Wednesday;

Brewer Junior Gardeners, 9:30a.m., Thursday at the Brewer Chil-drens Garden on South MainStreet;

Various sports camps and clin-ics, including basketball, Britishsoccer, field hockey, and tennis;

Recreational swimming at theBrewer Municipal Pool, locatedbetween State and Wilson streets.General swim hours are 1-5:30

p.m., Monday-Friday; 6-7:30 p.m.,Tuesday and Thursday; and 12noon-4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday;

Special childrens events are: July 8, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon: Rec.

Around the World; July 13, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.:

Teddy Bear Picnic for ages 3-6; July 15, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:

Life Be In It!; July 22, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon:

Classic Day of Play; July 28, 1:30-3 p.m.: Pirate Day

for ages 4-6;

July 29, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Fieldtrip to Peaks-Kenny State Park onSebec Lake in Dover-Foxcroft;

Aug. 16, 1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.:Wild West Adventure for ages 3-6.

Programs designed for adultsinclude golf (for women), karate,softball, tennis, volleyball, yoga,and zumba.

For more information about thedepartments programs, log ontowww.brewerme.org/rec/rechome.

Located at 100 South Main St.,the BBrreewweerr PPuubblliicc LLiibbrraarryy hasscheduled the One World, ManyStories reading program throughAug. 2.

Located at 39 Center St. in

downtown Brewer, NNeexxtt GGeenneerraa-ttiioonn TThheeaattrree will present:

June 25, 3-4 p.m.: Concert andtea party to celebrate the release ofKristin Murphys new CD;

June 29 and Aug 10, 6-9 p.m.:The Night Show with Dan Cash-man;

A Night on Broadway at 7p.m., July 15-16 and 2 p.m., July16-17;

Amy Gallatin at 7:30 p.m., Aug.31.

TTeenn BBuucckkss TThheeaattrree will performHamlet at Indian Trail Park offNorth Main Street at 6 p.m., July21-23; 4 p.m., July 24; 6 p.m., July28-30; and 4 p.m., July 31.

By Debra BellSPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER

Think you have to go to NapaValley for a proper wine tasting?Think again. A Maine summer isthe perfect time to visit a localwinery and sample some of thestates harvest.

Maine offers surprisingly fertileterritory to grow grapes. ButMaine wines arent limited tograpes; they include seasonal fruitsuch as apples, blueberries, pears,strawberries, and raspberries.

To best enjoy your visit, makesure you travel with a partner andgive yourself plenty of time toenjoy a tour as well as the tastingroom. It doesnt hurt to designate adriver. If you are travelling withpeople under age 21, find outabout things that they can dowhile you are in the tasting room.

Ask questions of the operators.They will likely have a specialtywithin the winemaking industry.Find out where they get their fruitand the items you need to makewine. Do they grow their own orbuy locally? A winery visit is about

more than just the wine. Its aboutthe entire experience.

If youre new to the world ofwine, be prepared to answer thecommon question: What kind ofwine do you like? If youre notsure, tell the attendant, I enjoy allkinds of wines. Which would youstart with?

If you choose to purchase a winefrom the winery, do not leave it ina hot car.

For more information or to finda winery near you, visit the MaineWinery Guild at www.mainewine-trail.org.

Tasting room etiquette

LLooookk aatt tthhee wwiinnee.. Look at thecolor of the wine its clairty andbrilliance. Each wine will vary incolor intensity and holding yourglass up to the light will help.

SSmmeellll tthhee wwiinnee.. Swirl the winein your glass by rotating your wristand dont swirl too hard. Swirlingthe wine will release its aromas tothe top of the glass. Next, placeyour nose over the edge of theglass and keep your mouth open.Sniff deeply and try to identifyfamiliar smells.

TTaassttee tthhee wwiinnee.. Now its time totake a sip. Sip slowly, roll the winearound your tongue for severalseconds before swallowing, andexhale through your nose as yourswallow to allow your senses totake over. And enjoy the tastes ofMaine fruits.

return when expected.Every year in Maine, Maine

game or marine wardens receivereports about overdue kayakers.Most lostkayakers quickly turn up, some-times island-beached by strongwinds and waves, sometimes neg-lectful about contacting a friend tosay,Were back. But Maine watersannually claim a few kayakers.

To find the nearest boat launchfor a kayak trip, log ontowww.maine.gov/doc/parks/ andclick Boating Facilities. Belong-ing to the Maine Department ofConservations Bureau of Parks &Lands, the Web site lists severaloptions for finding boat launchesin Maine.

KayakContinued from Page 18

Sample the taste of Maine at a winery

Penobscot CountyRecreation programs and plays round out Brewers summer calendar


A footbridge accesses the Brewer Childrens Garden (left), located along the Penobscot River off South Main Street. Volunteer fire-fighters push an antique firepumper (right) along Wilson Street in Brewer during an Independence Day parade.


Brewer Auditorium

Visit Southern PiscataquisCounty this summer to samplewhoopie pies, celebrate the Pis-cataquis River, and enjoy a family-friendly country fair.

The MMaaiinnee WWhhooooppiiee PPiiee FFeessttii-vvaall got a big shot in the arm lastwinter as the Maine Legislaturedesignated the whoopie pie as theMaine State Treat and what atreat it is, as everyone visitingDover-Foxcroft on Saturday, June25 will find out.

The festival takes place from 10a.m.-4 p.m. in downtown Dover-Foxcroft and features many deli-cious whoopie-pie samples (pricedat 25 cents apiece) and severalmusic performances. Appearingon the Music Stage are

10 a.m.: Foxcroft AcademyAlumni and Student Jazz Ensem-ble;

11:10 a.m.: Doughty Hill Band; 12:30 p.m.: Zulu Leprechauns; 2:25 p.m.: Rustic Overtones.Appearing on the Whoopie

Stage: 10:40 a.m.: Birdie Googins, aka

The Mardens Lady, joins chil-dren age 10 and under for awhoopie-pie eating contest;

12 noon: Birdie Googins joinsadults for a whoopie-pie eatingcontest;

1:40 p.m.: Birdie Googinsannounces the winners of the 2011Best Whoopie Pies.

The Mallett Brothers will per-form at 7 p.m. at Centre Theatre.Admission is $15 for this concert.

For more information, log ontomainewhoopiepiefestival.com.

Located at 48 Park St., Dover-Foxcroft, the PPiissccaattaaqquuiiss RReeggiioonnaallYYMMCCAA hosts the Dover-FoxcroftFarmers Market from 2-6 p.m.,Tuesdays, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Satur-days during summer.

The YMCA will sponsor the Trifor the Y Sprint Triathlon, a physi-cally challenging event that startsat 9 a.m., July 23. Participants willswim a half mile in Sebec Lakebefore biking 12 miles through thePiscataquis County hills and run-ning 5 kilometers through Dover-Foxcroft. For more information,log onto www.prymca.org.

The PPiissccaattaaqquuiiss RRiivveerr FFeessttiivvaallwill take place July 29-30 in Guil-ford, with Steel Rail Express per-forming on stage from 6-10 p.m.on July 29.

The 2011 theme is PiscataquisRiver Festival Hollywood Style,and many parade floats will reflectparticular movies. The parade willtake place on July 30; other activi-ties include a pie-eating contestand the Miss Lilac Pageant.

In Dover-Foxcroft, the popularHHoommeeccoommiinngg 22001111 will be heldAug. 5-6 and will emphasize thetheme Mardi Gras. The paradewill wind through downtownDover-Foxcroft on Aug. 6. Arti-sans, crafters, and food vendorswill be on site that day.

The 112244tthh AAnnnnuuaall PPiissccaattaaqquuiissVVaalllleeyy FFaaiirr will take place Aug. 25-28 in Dover-Foxcroft. Based at thePiscataquis Valley Fairgrounds onFairview Avenue, this delightfulcountry fair reflects Maine agricul-ture and traditions.

On-site parking gives visitorsimmediate access to the fair, whichfeatures such events as antiquetractor pulls, a compact and busymidway, livestock exhibits, andhorse- and oxen-pulling competi-tions. Consider this fair as a greatplace to let the kids have fun whilelearning about agriculture andanimals.

For more information, log ontowww.piscataquisvalleyfair.com.

Located at 186 East Main St.,Dover-Foxcroft, the TThhoommppssoonnFFrreeee LLiibbrraarryy has scheduled sum-mertime several childrens pro-grams, all open at no charge to thepublic:

June 29, 10:30 a.m.: PonyExpress Animals;

July 6, 10:30 a.m.: Mammals ofMaine;

July 13, 10:30 a.m.: Africandance, music, and stories;

July 22, 10:30 a.m.: Geography; July 27, 10:30 a.m.: Balloon

workshop;

Aug. 3, 10:30 a.m.: Tony SohnsScience.

Besides showing movies duringthe summer, the CCeenntteerr TThheeaattrree at20 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroftschedules other events, such as:

July 16, 7 p.m.: High RyderGolden Oldies Show;

Aug. 20, 7 p.m.: Bruce MarshallGroup.


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Piscataquis CountyMaine Whoopie Pie Festival launches a busy summer in Piscataquis


The Moosehead Lake Regionappeals not only to people lookingfor moose and other wildlife orseeking natural beauty, but also topeople with specific recreationalactivities in mind.

Camping

The forests surrounding Moose-head Lake lure campers to enjoythe great Maine outdoors andcamping opportunities abound inthose forests.

No matter their desired outdoorexperience, campers can find anappropriate venue, such as:

Primitive campsites in the Lit-tle Moose Unit (Maine PublicReserved Lands) near GreenvilleJunction;

Improved campsites (RVs andtents) at Lily Bay State Park inBeaver Cove;

Privately owned campsites andcampgrounds in Greenville, Rock-wood, and elsewhere;

Privately owned cabins, oftenlocated on ponds or lakes.

No matter the venue, campingremains a truly wild pastime inthe Moosehead Lake Region,where campers may awaken to finda moose joining them for breakfastor listen to a nocturnally prowlingblack bear checking out improper-ly stored food supplies.

A loon call shatters the stillmorning, the kids laugh and splashin clear water, bacon or hot dogssizzle on a frying pan, family andfriends gather around an eveningfire: Moosehead Lake campingprovides such precious memories.

Campers should remember that

stores hence groceries, bugspray, beverages, and fuel lie farapart in the Moosehead LakeRegion.

Past downtown Greenville, theonly store located along the 16winding miles to Kokadjo lies nearFirst Roach Pond in Kokadjo.

North along 20 Mile Road con-necting Rockwood and the GoldenRoad, Pittston Farm offers the lastsupplies for campers bound far-ther north and west.

Campground stores usuallycarry camping essentials, but withtheir supply sources far apart,

campers should plan accordingly.To find out more information

about Moosehead Lake Regioncamping opportunities, log ontow w w . m o o s e h e a d l a k e . o r g ,www.campmaine.com, orwww.maine.gov/doc/parks/pro-


The Town of Greenville celebrates its 175thanniversary this summer. Although th

Experience Maine Summer 2011

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