Eastport to Deer Island

By Leslie Bowman

One of my favorite summer day trips is taking the Eastport ferry to Deer Island. We walk on, spend some time roaming the beach on the island, and then head back before the last boat departs for the day. The ferry leaves Eastport on the half hour and Deer Island on the hour. It’s $3 per person each way.

This time we (my daughter and I) stopped at Quoddy Bay Lobster for picnic sandwiches, which we packed with our sketchbooks, camera, water, and passports. Deer Island is part of Canada so you must pass through customs both ways. Not a problem, but you have to have a PASSPORT. On the way over I was fortunate enough to travel up top with captain Don Leslie, who I have known as long as he has been captain–30 years.

The ferry is in two parts, the boat and the scow, which is carefully pivoted during the trip in order to allow cars to drive on and off in the same direction.


Don told us that they had been seeing Minke Whales, a mother and calf, on earlier trips that day. We saw porpoise, gulls, guillemots, and cormorants.

On the island we ventured to a favorite spot, sat on the beach, and had our lunch. It was hot in our protected cove, but the water was very cold. The best place for a nap was the moss under some spruce trees. Among the species I saw were various lichens among the moss, goose tongue greens, sea orache, beach peas, crow berry, and rosa rugosa. The sea orache was perfect for harvesting, so I picked some to prepare for dinner that night.


Deer Island Point has a provincial campground and various facilities including a snack bar, so we were able to indulge in some Canadian ice cream and candy. As the tides had been running high (average 18 feet between high and low) there was much to find on the beach. The weather was perfect and the company a delight. Traveling back we got a great view of Eastport’s north end waterfront and reminisced about old times and good friends.

Here are some more photos I took throughout the day:

Summer in Stonington

By Melanie Brooks

This summer my family rented an old farmhouse in Stonington. The location is ideal -- right across the street from a rather private beach -- and close enough to town to make for a nice walk. The house has no television or Internet access. In fact, my cell phone didn't even work which provided a glint of stress at first but was kind of nice as the days wore on.

Today my father and brother-in-law went kayaking while my sister and I took naps on the beach. My mom used my watercolor pencils to capture the lupines that grow in the front yard while my 2-year-old niece took a much needed nap. We explored the island on foot and by car and ended up at Nervous Nellie's Jams and Jellies. If you're ever on Deer Isle you HAVE to stop in.

Here are some photos I took over the weekend:

The Montville Project

Last Thursday's Cool Sounds Concert was the Montville Project. It was a gorgeous night (for once) and people came out and brought their dancin' shoes!


Contradancing is an easy way to enjoy the music!


There's something about a banjo that makes me smile...


There are only three more concerts so if you haven't spent a Thursday night in Pickering Square get on it!

July 16: Evergreen (Folk)
July 23: Spontaneous Jazz (Jazz)
July 30: RetroRockerz (Rock)

Calais or Bust

By Melanie Brooks

Yesterday I had a meeting in Calais with Rob Siegel, the lead designer behind the new Calais Border Crossing. Though I am a Mainer, I had never been to Calais until yesterday...and what an adventure it was!

For starters, it was raining. I hate driving in the rain.


Look how sad I am! Admittedly there isn't much on Route 9 between Brewer and Calais but I did drive by a big Wyman's Blueberry building. I really like blueberries.

Like many of my fellow 30-somethings, I have a hard time to see. So when I drive I wear glasses. But there is a problem. I also have very sensitive eyes so I almost always have to wear sunglasses, too. This poses a problem when I want to see clearly but it's bright out. Here is my invention...


It's not cute, but it gets the job done. I don't think my poor eyesight requires contacts and I refuse to get prescription sunglasses. Even when it rains I squint. And I didn't want to hit any wildlife on the trip...like these guys!


Ha! I fooled you! You thought that since I was driving through rural Maine to the edge of the country that these little guys were real! I hate to break it to ya but they're not. They were just lawn ornaments on the front lawn of a Calais home. I like how the buck looks like he's hiding. Moving on....

I was a little bit hungry when I reached the end of the earth...I mean Calais...so when I saw a sign for a pizzeria I decided to stop in. Unfortunately they were closed for surgery.


Funny, the pizzeria didn't look that sick so I hope it isn't anything serious.

I finally made my way to the border crossing. It's still under construction but I got a great tour and used my imagination. This is what it's going to look like when it's completed.


You can read all about it in the October issue of Bangor Metro! At 5:00 pm it was time for me to head back to Bangor. Calais had been good to me and I hated to say goodbye after such a short visit. Luckily the rain wasn't so bad heading home.


(In case you were wondering...)

Bangor on the Fourth

By Leslie Bowman

The weather was our friend on the fourth. The rain stopped and held off almost to the end for the parade. And then after an afternoon and early evening that poured, there was a break that allowed for the fireworks; those who ventured out were not disappointed. Bangor sure knows how to honor its veterans and this photographer gets a little teary eyed when she thinks about the great sacrifices they make for us. Check out my photos below...

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

By Emily Sypher

For those artists out there who are looking for an artistic getaway or just some new inspiration, have I found the place for you! Haystack Mountain School of Crafts is an artists’ heaven on earth. Once you arrive you’ll never want to leave.

Haystack is a year-round establishment, though the majority of its courses run during the summer. There are seven summer sessions of both one and two week courses in a multitude of mediums ranging from beginner drawing to advanced glassblowing.


Founded in 1950 in Montville, Maine (near Haystack Mountain), the campus is now located in Deer Isle. Designed by highly acclaimed architect Edward Larrabee Barnes, the current campus received the Twenty-Five Year Award in 1994 from the American Institute of Architects’ for its design. The studio structures sit on stilts, with stairs and walkways to connect them. The running joke during my stay on campus was that we would all lose five pounds by the end of camp due to the endless amount of staircases.


When I first viewed the summer course options I felt like a kid in a candy shop–I couldn’t decide which course I wanted to take the most! I finally settled on a small metals course during the camp’s first session. Having no experience in metals I was a little nervous at the beginning, but by the end of the session I felt like a pro.


Between the amazing instructors that hail from across the nation and my fellow classmates, the learning curve in our class was phenomenal. In two weeks I could weld, solder, enamel, cold connect, cast, and more. I was truly sad to leave Haystack at the end of my two weeks, but like many of the other artists, I know I made friendships there that will last a lifetime. That sadness was also quickly replaced by excitement about the new skills and inspiration we were bringing home with us, and of course, the already brewing plans for our next summer’s adventure back.


For those who can’t commit to a full week or two-week course, Haystack also provides a number of weekend workshops as well as visiting artist opportunities throughout the summer. Since its first conception the program has grown by leaps and bounds, benefitting everyone from the surrounding community to international artists. For more information on Haystack visit their website.

Week Four: Name That Sandwich Contest

By Melanie Brooks

Welcome to the last week of the contest. I'm happy to say it's been widely successful and future contests are in the works. Like last week I am turning off the comments so no one can see your guess. I hope this one isn't too tricky! Add a comment with your guess and some way to contact you...If you don't include your email I have no way to contact you if you won!