Bangor Metro - December 2008

December 2008

Best of '08

Year's end is a great time to look back and celebrate one's successes. For us, flipping through a year's worth of Bangor Metro magazine was definitely good for self morale. There are so many amazing people in our neck of the woods, and it's been a privilege to tell their stories in words and pictures. We hope this "Best of '08" exercise will inspire you to take the time to go over your year's accomplishments, at work and at home, professionally and personally. It's good medicine!

Facing the tough questions

Mike Woelflein
Gov. John Baldacci has said he will not seek elected office after this term, freeing him to "do the tough things." It also makes him freer to answer some tough questions. We asked a diverse panel of regional leaders what they'd like to ask the governor. Here are some of his answers.

Songs, Blessings & Latkes

Sheila Grant
When Melinda Wentworth came to Monson, she brought a love of food, entertaining, and Jewish tradition. Her kids supplied the motivation to celebrate Hanukkah in a big way. Her husband supplied the moose menorah.

Raising Brainy Babies

Craig Idlebrook
Research shows if mama or daddy is stressed, then baby won't learn as well. Parents are Teachers Too gives first-time parents the support they need to maximize their child's all-important early development.

Slot Secrets

Melanie Brooks
Ever wonder how Hollywood Slots in Bangor can keep track of 1,000 slot machines? Feed minors in the restaurant? Keep tabs on the bar and the light bill? Read on.

Words of a feather

Annaliese Jakimides
Book artist and calligrapher Nancy Leavitt creates one-of-a-kind manuscripts with a scientist's discipline, a mathematician's precision, a child's abandon, and the feathers of many friends.

Poofing the Envelope

Henry Garfield
If there’s a will, there’s a way. When it comes to helping people with disabilities, Bobbi Jo Yeager, head of UCP of Northeastern Maine, has the will—and an engineer’s passion for problem-solving.

Soapbox Derby: Holiday Wish List

Scott K Fish and Sean Faircloth
It's been an eventful year in the world, in our state, and for Faircloth and Fish. They've hashed it out over candidates, and opined about their political mentors, congressional earmarks, and the fairness doctrine. This month, we asked them to show their softer side with this question.

Kids and Guns

Brad Eden
How can a child's natural curiosity about guns be turned into healthy respect? It could be a simple as visiting an uncle in Maine.

Earl Hornswaggle: Christmas Magic

Mark Ricketts
Earl Hornswaggle, the oldest man in Bangor.

Perspectives: Michael Grillo

Photographs by Michael Grillo

Dad's Thimble

Annaliese Jakimides
Some carefully collect, others accumulate. It all ends up in the same place: with someone else.