Three Local Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, consulting editor Henry Garfield, sat down with three area veterans to find out what Veterans Day means to them. We'd like to introduce them and share some of their answers.
Photos by Shane Leonard

Charles McClead, Dedham

Do you think America is more or less patriotic today than it was during the time you served?

I think America today at least knows the truth of what's going on a little better. We're no longer blaming the military for things that go wrong. We know that the military is under command of the president and Congress. The right way to look at it is if you don't like it, your elected officials are the ones that are running it.

Was it hard to be back into the routine of everyday life when you returned home?

I came back with a bit of post traumatic stress disorder. I had a lot of anger because of the way the people who fought in Vietnam were treated when we got back. The news media made us look like we were baby-killers, bombing school buses, even though we were doing what we were assigned to do. It was ugly.


Russell Treadwell, Carmel

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

To me it is a day to show my respect and gratitude for all the sacrifices that veterans have made for our country.

What, in your opinion, are the best ways we can honor our veterans?

Don't be critical of them for doing what the civilian leadership directs them to do. Show your support in the community when you interact with members of the military.


Doug Kell, Ellsworth

Why did you join the military?

I was too young to go into the Second World War, and I felt like I hadn't done my duty. The Korean War came along, and I had a chance to be a man.

What would you like the average citizen to know about your military service?

I've reached a point in my life when I think that war is futile. We needed it 100 years ago, but it's no longer necessary. WE can be patriotic without going to war.

Holiday Open House

One Cumberland Place, the home of Bangor Metro, Maine Ahead, and Real Maine Weddings magazines, is hosting a Holiday Open House on November 18 from 4:30 to 8:30 pm.

Come do some holiday shopping from the following vendors:
Pampered Chef
Scentsy Candles
Tastefully Simple
Anthony John's Salon
Miche Bags
Tupperware
Lia Sophia Jewelry
Sharon's Stained Glass & Crafts
Dogn'i Apparel
A Body in Knead
Mary Kay
and many more...

You can also purchase Bangor Metro and Maine Ahead gift subscriptions for your friends and family. It's the gift that gives back 10 times a year!

There will also be door prizes and refreshments. Stop by after work and let us put a little jingle in your step before Thanksgiving.

Money Money Money

WARNING: Bangor Metro's price is going to change on January 1, 2011. It will still cost you $4.95 to buy it on your local newsstand, but to help us deal with the rising cost of postage, our subscription rate will go from $19.95 a year to $24.95 a year. Please send your angry comments to the U.S. Postal Service!

So. Now is the time to become a 1 or 2 year subscriber to save yourself $5. The holiday season is right around the corner. Get your friends and family the gift that gives all year long -- a subscription to Bangor Metro!

You can even use this handy form! (Click on it and it will get bigger in a new window.)

Not Your Ordinary Gingerbread Cookie...

By Melanie Brooks

On Saturday morning, Shane Leonard and I hopped in my car and drove to Belfast. The reason? We were going to take photos and interview Elaine Tucker about her fabulous gingerbread cookies for our December magazine. We had a blast hanging out in her kitchen. The weather was gorgeous and we had an amazing view of the harbor from the huge windows in Elaine's house.

We don't want to give anything away...but these cookies were just to beautiful to not share with you. Elaine decorated this one to look like me! I think she did a pretty good job, too! To see more of her fancy cookie decorating skills you'll have to wait for our December issue. I promise, it'll be worth it!

Bangor Metro + United Way = Awesome!

Bangor Metro and the United Way of Eastern Maine have partnered up to help raise money for a worthy cause. Readers who subscribe to Bangor Metro will have $5 of their subscription donated to the United Way. All you have to do is give us the promo code: UNITED when you call. Easy enough, right? Do your community a favor and treat yourself to the best regional magazine around and sign up today.

Contest for the Kids!

The holiday season is fast approaching, and we have an awesome new contest to debut. We want your kids to help us promote shopping locally for all their holiday needs this year. We'll be awarding a $50 Visa gift card to three winners in three age categories. And the three winning ads will run in our December issue!

We can't wait to see what our littlest readers come up with! All the details are below. If you click on the image it will open as a larger file.

Tim McGraw Lobster Bake

By Melanie Brooks

The good folks at McLaughlin's Seafood teamed up with Bangor Metro to host a killer lobster bake before the Tim McGraw concert on Friday. The day was gorgeous, the seafood delicious, and the company was wonderful.

We'd like to thank the other sponsors of this event -- we couldn't have done it without them!

McLaughlin Seafood for the delicious spread; Waterfront Concerts and Live Nation New England for the tickets; Granville Rental & Party Plus for the tent, tables, and chairs; Cellardoor Winery and Wicked Whoopies for filling our gift baskets; and the Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau for helping us pull it all together on the waterfront.

More pictures of the event after the jump...

Christine's Surprise Wedding Shower

The lovely ladies at Bangor Metro decided to throw a surprise shower for our sales manager, Christine Parker, at the Lucerne Inn (where she'll be getting married on October 8th). Thanks to our publisher, Mark Wellman, the day went off without a hitch and Christine was pleased as punch. Thanks again to the Lucerne Inn and Acadia Limo for making this the best Tuesday ever!

Christine had no idea where we were taking her. Once she realized we were having lunch at the Lucerne she got a little emotional.

What's better than a champagne lunch on a Tuesday? Not much...

From left to right: Tori Britton, Alex Parker, Christine Parker, Mindy Hart, Sandy Flewelling, Jen Violette, Loretta England, and Melanie Brooks.

September Cover

We had the amazing opportunity to put one of Brian Vanden Brink's photos on the cover of our September Home Issue. Lucky us! We've already sent the magazine to the printer but we wanted to see what cover photo you like best. All of these photos are from Vanden Brink's book Ruin: Photographs of a Vanishing America. We want to know what one you like best, so please vote! (Note: if you click on the image it will appear larger in the window.)

poll by twiigs.com

Maine-Made Ice Cream

If you haven't picked up your copy of our August issue yet, you're really missing out! Because summer is swiftly coming to a close we decided we'd better share our picks for Maine-made ice cream while you can still get it.

Bangor Greendrinks

Bangor Greendrinks is at it again...this time at the University of Maine Museum of Art in Bangor tonight from 5:30 to 8 pm. If you haven't been to one of these fun events yet -- now's the time to check it out. Not only is it going to be in a unique setting tonight, it's going to be chock full of interesting people. Bangor Land Trust will be there giving out information and Ann Marie Orr from Ann Marie's Kitchen will be providing the snacks. And the DRINKS! Of course there will be drinks.

Bangor Metro featured Greendrinks in our August issue. Check out the story below!

WINNERS of the Best Restaurants 2010 Readers Poll!

In case you haven't picked up your copy of the August issue, here are the results of our 2010 Best Restaurants Poll:

Best Seafood: Captain Nick's, Bangor

Best Family Restaurant: Nicky's Diner, Bangor

Best Romantic Dinner: Muddy Rudder, Brewer

Best Place to Watch the Game: Ground Round, Bangor

Best Chowder: Captain Nick's, Bangor

Best Steak: Texas Roadhouse, Bangor

Best Pizza: Pat's Pizza, multiple locations

Best Value for the Money: Geaghan's Pub, Bangor

Best Dessert: Governor's Restaurant, multiple location

Best Salad: Ruby Tuesday, multiple locations

Best Brunch: The Lucerne Inn, Dedham

Best Sandwich: Harvest Moon Deli, Orono and Jimmy V's, Bangor

Best Place to Throw a Party: Sea Dog Brewing Co., Bangor

Best Cocktails: Woodman's Bar & Grill, Orono and Miguel's Mexican Restaurant, Bangor

Best Wine List: Muddy Rudder, Brewer

Best Neighborhood Pub: Paddy Murphy's, Bangor

Best Service: Massimo's Cucina Italiana, Bangor

Best Vegetarian: Fiddlehead's, Bangor

Best Buffet: Epic Buffet, Bangor

Best Chinese Takeout: Panda Garden and Oriental Jade, Bangor

Cool Sounds Concert Series: RetroRockerz

By: Melinda Hart






RetroRockerz drew in crowds of people for the last Cool Sounds Concert Series and Outdoor Market in Downtown Bangor – bringing in the largest audience of the series for its last week.

Cool Sounds Concert Series: Teen Jamboree

By: Melinda Hart







This week’s Cool Sounds Concert Series showcased the Bangor area’s talented youth with the Teen Jamboree! Four acts shared the stage last night, each bringing their own unique sound.

Star Power

By Melanie Brooks

A couple of weeks ago I had an idea. Wouldn't it be cool if we had a way to put local people on fake covers of Bangor Metro? Wouldn't it be cool if we had some sort of cover frame that we could take to events? I decided to pick my dad's brain about it. He's a carpenter by trade and can make just about anything you can imagine.

We talked over what I wanted and how he thought it would work and he whipped up a fake Bangor Metro cover frame in no time. We decided to debut it at last night's Business After Hours at The Charles Inn.


We had a ball with it! Pictured here on the left is David Whitehill and Jessica Bloch Whitehill. On the right is Jessica Sleeth and Katy England.

For more fun cover shots, check out our facebook page. We'll be bringing our life sized cover frame to the next Bangor Greendrinks, which will be held after work on Tuesday, July 13th at the Sea Dog on the Bangor waterfront. We hope to see you there!

Cool Sounds Concert Series: Blue Northern

By: Melinda Hart




Blue Northern brought bluegrass to Bangor for the fourth week of the Cool Sounds Concert Series, performing to families and their dogs under a rainbow in Pickering Square.

Sweet Treat for the 4th of July

By Melanie Brooks

Are you looking for a sweet treat to bring to a 4th of July picnic this weekend? I think I might have found just what you are looking for in the Bangor Metro archives. I was looking through our older magazines for a certain recipe and stumbled upon Ramey's Raspberry Cake Rolls. I love fresh berries -- they're even tastier when I can pick them myself. It's not quite raspberry season yet, but I'm a sucker for anything raspberry. And jelly rolls are really fun to make. Don't let on how easy it is -- let your family and friends think you're a culinary genius.

In Your Face..

Illustration by Mark Ricketts
Text by Melanie Brooks

No, I'm not trying to be mean or sassy...In Your Face is a unique cartoon exhibit on display at Boyd Place in Bangor! You might think that it's weird for an independent senior living facility to host an art exhibit -- but they hold them all the time. Their most recent exhibit featured dozens of handmade quilts by area quilters that were out of this world exquisite!

But back to the cartoons....

Cool Sounds Concert Series: The Kayla Wass Band

By: Melinda Hart

The sun came out Thursday for the Cool Sounds Concert Series! This week, West Market Square filled up with lawn chairs to hear country tunes performed by The Kayla Wass Band.

Grad Speakers List

It's that time of year again...graduation! Here is a list of events and speakers in the Bangor Metro area: