TALES BEINGTOLD
A4 Thursday, June 9, 2016, Bangor Daily News
Fans Continued from Page A1 Beatle’s first visit to the Queen City, and concert-goers were out and about in town. Restaurants and bars experienced brisk business in the hours leading up to the show, and nary a parking spot was to be found between West Market Square and Hollywood Casino. Daniel Lewis, a Bangor resident, was enjoying a beer around 5:30 p.m. at Nocturnem Drafthaus in downtown Bangor before heading over to the Cross Center to buy a ticket at the door — at least, he hoped he’d be able to. “Last time I checked it wasn’t quite sold out,” said Lewis, who listed the Journey and Pat Benatar concert in 2012 as his favorite Bangor
concert so far. “I love Dave Matthews too, but I saw him last time he was here, so now I’m going to see Ringo.” Josh Parda of Eddington was planning to go to the Ringo Starr concert as well, with his wife, Gretchen Heldmann. “There must be something wrong with me, because Ringo’s body of work is my favorite post-Beatles career,” said Parda. “I love Ringo because he is who he is… there’s only two living Beatles left, so I mean, we had to go.” Back at the Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, a group of New Brunswick Dave Matthews fans had set up camp chairs outside the Railroad Street entrance and were sharing a pizza. “I’ve been coming to Maine since I was a child,” said Shelley Swift of Fredericton, New Brunswick, who was there for
her 52nd “Dave” show, in attendance with her friend Caroline Lubbe-D’Arcy, also of Fredericton. Together they attended both the Dave Matthews Band and Arcade Fire concerts in Bangor in 2014. “You know, back then Bangor was kind of a drivethrough place. Now it’s not. There are so many great concerts and so many more things to do. Fredericton is only three hours away. And it’s a lot like here. We’re kind of sister cities,” continued Swift, who had been sitting outside the gates since 9:30 Wednesday morning. Also from Fredericton was Kathy Elvin, who earlier this week won tickets to the Dave Matthews concert from a radio station in New Brunswick, scraped together the cash for gas and a motel, and beat feet to Bangor.
“The last time I was in Bangor was when I was a little kid and we went to see Stephen King’s house,” said Elvin. “When I won the tickets, they asked me what I’d do if I won the tickets, and I said I wouldn’t do anything right then because I’d be crying hysterically.” Trent and Britany Tompkins, a married couple from the town of Easton in Aroostook County, are regular visitors to Bangor for shopping and for nightlife — and, as Britany said, to get a taste of “city life.” “Before the concerts, we’d have [to] drive seven or more hours to go see anything or do anything like this,” she said. “Now we can come to Bangor and go back in the same night and not miss work and get to see bands like Dave Matthews. It’s been great for us up north. It’s amazing.”
NRCM Continued from Page A1
the Legislature in 2014 through a bill that sent the rules back to the Department of Environmental Protection for a rewrite. NRCM and others argued the rules did not match the intent of the 2012 legislation because, among other reasons, they argued, the proposed rules weren’t strict enough about cleanup after mining is completed and didn’t contain financial guarantees that cleanup could occur, should a mining operation go bust. The DEP resubmitted the exact same mining rules in 2015, which again were rejected by the Legislature. The 2015 rules failed 109-36 in the House and 26-8 in the Senate. “Although the Legislature’s 2014 and 2015 decisions to reject the LePage administration’s proposed weak mining rules were big wins for Maine’s environment, the battle to protect Maine from mining pollution is not over forever,” the NRCM wrote on its website. LePage has argued repeatedly that mining can be done safely and without harming the environment and that northern Maine desperately needs the jobs that mining operations would provide. “There’s a billion dollars of gold in this county, according to geologists in the state of Maine,” LePage said at a town hall forum in Aroostook County. “I’ve never seen too many people lose money on gold, and there are jobs.” In his May 27 letter to Pohlmann, LePage brought up mining, the organization’s support of a national monument in the Katahdin region and its decades of work against hydroelectric dams. “These policy decisions GABOR DEGRE | BDN have contributed to the dePeople listen to the Dave Matthews Band concert at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor while in their boats cline of the manufacturing Wednesday night on the Penobscot River. base that has been an anchor for rural Maine and has employed generations of without ordering food or Tripp said she’s interest- Cow Creamery expect to sportsmen and women,” drink. Most of the outdoor ed to see how Bangor’s keep their trucks open as LePage wrote. picnic tables were reserved streets handle the traffic, the crowds spill in and out of The NRCM argues that it well in advance of Wednes- but that if past events are the venue. doesn’t have any votes in Continued from Page A1 day night’s outdoor show. He any indication, they should Sarah Wilder, owner of the Legislature and that the Peter Geaghan, one of the said people are welcome to be up to the task with mini- Wild Cow Creamery, said business’s owners, frequent- gather with camp chairs in mal delays. she kept her truck open ly jokes, “It took us 35 years, the lawn around his business Late Wednesday morning serving ice cream until 1 but we finally have a good to enjoy the show. along the Bangor Water- a.m. last time Dave Matlocation.” Hotels in Bangor were front, a trio of food trucks thews Band was in town. “We treat it like it’s a heavily booked for Wednes- were busy serving people on Normally, the truck shuts busy Friday night,” Geaghan day night, with the possibil- their lunch breaks. They down about 8 p.m. said of concert nights. ity of more people looking were expecting it to be a “It seemed like no one One of the restaurant’s big- for rooms after the shows. long day. wanted to go home after the gest sellers is its boneless “There’s just a small Pompeii Pizza will serve show,” Wilder said. “We’ll chicken wings. On a normal handful of properties with up pies later than normal, stay open as long as people Friday night, the place typical- rooms left,” said Kerrie staying open until about 11 are out here.” ly sells 250-300 pounds of wings. Tripp, executive director of p.m. to catch the concert “We’re planning for 500 the Greater Bangor Conven- crowds. Grammy’s Grilled Follow Nick McCrea on pounds [Wednesday night],” tion and Visitors Bureau. Cheeses and Melts and Wild Twitter at @nmccrea213. Geaghan said. Two years ago, when Dave Matthews performed on the Bangor Waterfront, it resulted in one of the topfive busiest nights in Nocturnem’s five-year history. That was Dave Matthews Band’s first Maine performance in 17 years, and the band apparently felt things went well enough to warrant coming back to Bangor two years later. The concerts have opened other opportunities for area business owners, who have tried to find new ways of attracting the concert crowd and keeping them around. In addition to running Nocturnem, Beck also operates the Growler Bus, which provides group tours of area breweries and distilleries. On some concert nights this summer, the bus will take people on a pre-concert “pregaming” outing to Geaghan’s Brewery in Brewer and Mason’s Brewing Co. before dropping them off at the concert venue. Geaghan’s opened up the tasting room in its brewery on the concert night, and it had the Stray Dog food truck on site to feed hungry people before the shows. At Mason’s Brewing, which opened in May just in time for the concert season, outdoor seating is especially in demand on concert nights, according to owner Chris Morley. “There’s no doubt that there’s definitely a surge in business when there’s a concert,” he said Wednesday morning, adding that he has a special “concert-night menu” of primarily burgers and pizzas, which helps his kitchen staff keep up. Demand for deck space is high. For that reason, Morley is experimenting with a $100 minimum for groups sitting at outdoor tables. That’s meant to prevent people from tying up a table for hours
Concerts
reason policies live and die is because of widespread support or opposition among lawmakers. However, the organization does exert extensive influence on lawmakers, especially Democrats. Its former longtime leader, Brownie Carson, is running for the Maine Senate as a Democrat in a district that represents Brunswick, Freeport, Harpswell and Pownal.
“I’m not talking about short-term jobs for workers to install a couple of solar panels on your neighbor’s roof at our expense. I’m talking about long-term, good-paying career jobs for Mainers that will lift them and their families out of poverty.” GOV. PAUL LEPAGE
“Gov. LePage is the most anti-environment governor in Maine history,” Pohlmann said last week at the State House. “He’s angry because his attacks on Maine’s waters, air, forests and wildlife have been broadly rejected through bipartisan votes at the State House.” LePage challenged Pohlmann to identify how job creation can be balanced with economic development. “I’m not talking about short-term jobs for workers to install a couple of solar panels on your neighbor’s roof at our expense,” LePage said. “I’m talking about long-term, good-paying career jobs for Mainers that will lift them and their families out of poverty.”
TALES BEING TOLD Peruse our blogs.
bangordailynews.com/maineblogs
Fans Continued from Page A1 Beatle’s first visit to the Queen City, and concert-goers were out and about in town. Restaurants and bars experienced brisk business in the hours leading up to the show, and nary a parking spot was to be found between West Market Square and Hollywood Casino. Daniel Lewis, a Bangor resident, was enjoying a beer around 5:30 p.m. at Nocturnem Drafthaus in downtown Bangor before heading over to the Cross Center to buy a ticket at the door — at least, he hoped he’d be able to. “Last time I checked it wasn’t quite sold out,” said Lewis, who listed the Journey and Pat Benatar concert in 2012 as his favorite Bangor
concert so far. “I love Dave Matthews too, but I saw him last time he was here, so now I’m going to see Ringo.” Josh Parda of Eddington was planning to go to the Ringo Starr concert as well, with his wife, Gretchen Heldmann. “There must be something wrong with me, because Ringo’s body of work is my favorite post-Beatles career,” said Parda. “I love Ringo because he is who he is… there’s only two living Beatles left, so I mean, we had to go.” Back at the Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, a group of New Brunswick Dave Matthews fans had set up camp chairs outside the Railroad Street entrance and were sharing a pizza. “I’ve been coming to Maine since I was a child,” said Shelley Swift of Fredericton, New Brunswick, who was there for
her 52nd “Dave” show, in attendance with her friend Caroline Lubbe-D’Arcy, also of Fredericton. Together they attended both the Dave Matthews Band and Arcade Fire concerts in Bangor in 2014. “You know, back then Bangor was kind of a drivethrough place. Now it’s not. There are so many great concerts and so many more things to do. Fredericton is only three hours away. And it’s a lot like here. We’re kind of sister cities,” continued Swift, who had been sitting outside the gates since 9:30 Wednesday morning. Also from Fredericton was Kathy Elvin, who earlier this week won tickets to the Dave Matthews concert from a radio station in New Brunswick, scraped together the cash for gas and a motel, and beat feet to Bangor.
“The last time I was in Bangor was when I was a little kid and we went to see Stephen King’s house,” said Elvin. “When I won the tickets, they asked me what I’d do if I won the tickets, and I said I wouldn’t do anything right then because I’d be crying hysterically.” Trent and Britany Tompkins, a married couple from the town of Easton in Aroostook County, are regular visitors to Bangor for shopping and for nightlife — and, as Britany said, to get a taste of “city life.” “Before the concerts, we’d have [to] drive seven or more hours to go see anything or do anything like this,” she said. “Now we can come to Bangor and go back in the same night and not miss work and get to see bands like Dave Matthews. It’s been great for us up north. It’s amazing.”
NRCM Continued from Page A1
the Legislature in 2014 through a bill that sent the rules back to the Department of Environmental Protection for a rewrite. NRCM and others argued the rules did not match the intent of the 2012 legislation because, among other reasons, they argued, the proposed rules weren’t strict enough about cleanup after mining is completed and didn’t contain financial guarantees that cleanup could occur, should a mining operation go bust. The DEP resubmitted the exact same mining rules in 2015, which again were rejected by the Legislature. The 2015 rules failed 109-36 in the House and 26-8 in the Senate. “Although the Legislature’s 2014 and 2015 decisions to reject the LePage administration’s proposed weak mining rules were big wins for Maine’s environment, the battle to protect Maine from mining pollution is not over forever,” the NRCM wrote on its website. LePage has argued repeatedly that mining can be done safely and without harming the environment and that northern Maine desperately needs the jobs that mining operations would provide. “There’s a billion dollars of gold in this county, according to geologists in the state of Maine,” LePage said at a town hall forum in Aroostook County. “I’ve never seen too many people lose money on gold, and there are jobs.” In his May 27 letter to Pohlmann, LePage brought up mining, the organization’s support of a national monument in the Katahdin region and its decades of work against hydroelectric dams. “These policy decisions GABOR DEGRE | BDN have contributed to the dePeople listen to the Dave Matthews Band concert at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor while in their boats cline of the manufacturing Wednesday night on the Penobscot River. base that has been an anchor for rural Maine and has employed generations of without ordering food or Tripp said she’s interest- Cow Creamery expect to sportsmen and women,” drink. Most of the outdoor ed to see how Bangor’s keep their trucks open as LePage wrote. picnic tables were reserved streets handle the traffic, the crowds spill in and out of The NRCM argues that it well in advance of Wednes- but that if past events are the venue. doesn’t have any votes in Continued from Page A1 day night’s outdoor show. He any indication, they should Sarah Wilder, owner of the Legislature and that the Peter Geaghan, one of the said people are welcome to be up to the task with mini- Wild Cow Creamery, said business’s owners, frequent- gather with camp chairs in mal delays. she kept her truck open ly jokes, “It took us 35 years, the lawn around his business Late Wednesday morning serving ice cream until 1 but we finally have a good to enjoy the show. along the Bangor Water- a.m. last time Dave Matlocation.” Hotels in Bangor were front, a trio of food trucks thews Band was in town. “We treat it like it’s a heavily booked for Wednes- were busy serving people on Normally, the truck shuts busy Friday night,” Geaghan day night, with the possibil- their lunch breaks. They down about 8 p.m. said of concert nights. ity of more people looking were expecting it to be a “It seemed like no one One of the restaurant’s big- for rooms after the shows. long day. wanted to go home after the gest sellers is its boneless “There’s just a small Pompeii Pizza will serve show,” Wilder said. “We’ll chicken wings. On a normal handful of properties with up pies later than normal, stay open as long as people Friday night, the place typical- rooms left,” said Kerrie staying open until about 11 are out here.” ly sells 250-300 pounds of wings. Tripp, executive director of p.m. to catch the concert “We’re planning for 500 the Greater Bangor Conven- crowds. Grammy’s Grilled Follow Nick McCrea on pounds [Wednesday night],” tion and Visitors Bureau. Cheeses and Melts and Wild Twitter at @nmccrea213. Geaghan said. Two years ago, when Dave Matthews performed on the Bangor Waterfront, it resulted in one of the topfive busiest nights in Nocturnem’s five-year history. That was Dave Matthews Band’s first Maine performance in 17 years, and the band apparently felt things went well enough to warrant coming back to Bangor two years later. The concerts have opened other opportunities for area business owners, who have tried to find new ways of attracting the concert crowd and keeping them around. In addition to running Nocturnem, Beck also operates the Growler Bus, which provides group tours of area breweries and distilleries. On some concert nights this summer, the bus will take people on a pre-concert “pregaming” outing to Geaghan’s Brewery in Brewer and Mason’s Brewing Co. before dropping them off at the concert venue. Geaghan’s opened up the tasting room in its brewery on the concert night, and it had the Stray Dog food truck on site to feed hungry people before the shows. At Mason’s Brewing, which opened in May just in time for the concert season, outdoor seating is especially in demand on concert nights, according to owner Chris Morley. “There’s no doubt that there’s definitely a surge in business when there’s a concert,” he said Wednesday morning, adding that he has a special “concert-night menu” of primarily burgers and pizzas, which helps his kitchen staff keep up. Demand for deck space is high. For that reason, Morley is experimenting with a $100 minimum for groups sitting at outdoor tables. That’s meant to prevent people from tying up a table for hours
Concerts
reason policies live and die is because of widespread support or opposition among lawmakers. However, the organization does exert extensive influence on lawmakers, especially Democrats. Its former longtime leader, Brownie Carson, is running for the Maine Senate as a Democrat in a district that represents Brunswick, Freeport, Harpswell and Pownal.
“I’m not talking about short-term jobs for workers to install a couple of solar panels on your neighbor’s roof at our expense. I’m talking about long-term, good-paying career jobs for Mainers that will lift them and their families out of poverty.” GOV. PAUL LEPAGE
“Gov. LePage is the most anti-environment governor in Maine history,” Pohlmann said last week at the State House. “He’s angry because his attacks on Maine’s waters, air, forests and wildlife have been broadly rejected through bipartisan votes at the State House.” LePage challenged Pohlmann to identify how job creation can be balanced with economic development. “I’m not talking about short-term jobs for workers to install a couple of solar panels on your neighbor’s roof at our expense,” LePage said. “I’m talking about long-term, good-paying career jobs for Mainers that will lift them and their families out of poverty.”
TALES BEING TOLD Peruse our blogs.
bangordailynews.com/maineblogs
