Sandy Smith
Sep 15, 2026
| Tues, 9.15.26|Issue #51|Penobscot Valley |
A Piece of 1776 Comes to Bangor
For three days this week, Bangor residents will have a rare chance to stand just a few feet from one of the earliest printed copies of the Declaration of Independence.
The Maine Historical Society is bringing its Dunlap Broadside to Bangor Public Library as part of a statewide tour marking America’s 250th anniversary. Printed in Philadelphia during the night of July 4–5, 1776, the Dunlap Broadsides were the first printed copies used to carry news of independence throughout the colonies. Only a small number of copies are known to survive today.
Public viewing is scheduled Thursday through Saturday, September 17–19, from 10 AM–3:30 PM at Bangor Public Library. Thursday evening also includes an opening reception and lecture from 5:15–7:30 PM.
It is not every week that something printed in 1776 comes to Bangor. This one deserves a place near the top of the calendar. |
The Dunlap Broadside coming to Bangor Public Library this week is one of the earliest printed copies of the Declaration of Independence.
How many Dunlap Broadsides are known to survive today? A. 12
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter. |
Most weeks, our job is to help you find the things happening around the Penobscot Valley. This week, one of them is genuinely rare: one of the surviving Dunlap Broadsides is coming to Bangor Public Library. That is the kind of thing you do not get many chances to see close to home. I also usually reminisce a bit but I am not 250 years old.
We have plenty more for you too — events across the Valley, fresh local business news, farmers’ markets, community opportunities, and a new Maine Thrive Voices conversation with Nancy Marshall about the career she says she was born to do.
And a thank-you to John Costello and The Costello Agency, this week’s Penobscot Valley Voice Newsletter Sponsor, for helping us keep this publication free and local.
Grab your coffee. Let’s see what is happening around the Valley this week. — Sandy |
Tuesday, Sept. 15 — 72° / 45°
Wednesday, Sept. 16 — 75° / 52°
Thursday, Sept. 17 — 74° / 52°
Friday, Sept. 18 — 73° / 47°
Saturday, Sept. 19 — 68° / 46°
Sunday, Sept. 20 — 67° / mid-40s
Monday, Sept. 21 — Around 63° / 48°
The best stretch looks like Tuesday through Friday, with Wednesday especially nice. The forecast becomes less settled heading into the weekend and early next week, so outdoor plans for Sunday and Monday deserve another look as we get closer. National Weather Service Caribou currently has rain chances returning late in the week.
Source: National Weather Service, Caribou — Bangor forecast, updated Monday, Sept. 14. |
Maine Forest & Logging Museum at Leonard’s Mills — Bradley Just a few miles beyond Orono sits more than 400 wooded acres where you can walk through a piece of Maine’s working history. The Maine Forest & Logging Museum at Leonard’s Mills includes a reconstructed late-1700s water-powered sawmill, a blacksmith shop, settler buildings, a covered bridge and trails along Blackman Stream. The mill itself is built around the kind of water-powered technology that helped early Maine communities grow.
You do not have to wait for a special event to visit. The museum grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset, and visitors can explore the trails, historic structures and interpretive displays on their own. Tuesdays are volunteer workdays, generally from 9 AM–1 PM, when volunteers may also be available to answer questions or open buildings.
262 Government Road, Bradley — about 10 miles from Bangor and the University of Maine.
This feels like a genuine Hidden Gem to me: close enough that many of us have driven right past the turnoff, but substantial enough to spend a good part of an afternoon exploring. |
Cooper Flagg Opens Card Shop in Bangor
Bangor has a new collectibles shop — and the name behind it will be familiar to just about everyone in Maine.
Cooper Flagg and his cousin Tyler have opened Flagg Trading Co. on Main Street in Bangor, built around trading cards, memorabilia and the kind of comfortable atmosphere where collectors can actually hang around and enjoy the hobby. Cooper told WABI the idea had been in the works for about two years and said he wanted to create something that could benefit the area while giving him a place to enjoy one of his own interests when he is home.
What I like about this story is that it is bigger than basketball. Here is one of Maine’s most recognizable young athletes choosing to put something back into the community he comes from — and doing it in a way that feels pretty down-to-earth.
Watch: Cooper Flagg Opens Card Shop in Bangor — WABI TV5 |
Bangor Waterfront Craft Fair
More than 60 vendors and crafters are expected along the waterfront Saturday, with food and drink trucks joining the mix. It is one of the stronger shopping-and-community events of the week and an easy reason to spend part of Saturday downtown.
International Observe the Moon Night
Maine Discovery Museum is joining organizations around the world for NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night. The free event includes telescopes, family-friendly activities, giveaways and opportunities to learn about lunar science while actually getting a look at the Moon.
Lincoln Running Festival & River Driver 50 Miler
Lincoln gets a very early start Sunday. The River Driver 50 Miler begins at 4:30 AM, while the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K begin at 7:30 AM.
All races start near the Loon statue at West Broadway and Main Street and finish at Prince Thomas Park. |
Storytime in the Garden — Old Town Bring a blanket and a stuffed animal for an outdoor story, then stay and explore the gardens. This free UMaine Cooperative Extension/Old Town Public Library program is geared toward preschoolers, although older children are welcome. No registration is required.
Living Worlds — Orono A planetarium journey through the ways life has shaped Earth — from forests and climate to the movement of water and oxygen around the planet. A good Friday-night option if you want something different from the usual movie or concert.
Soldiers at Rest Walking Tour — Bangor Bangor Historical Society leads this one-date-only walk through Mount Hope Cemetery, telling the stories of Maine men — many from the Bangor region — who served during the Civil War. Tickets are $12.
I Want My MTV — Dover-Foxcroft If your music collection once included plenty of ’80s rock, this one has your name on it. I Want My MTV, an ’80s retro band, takes the stage Saturday night at the Center Theatre.
Make Your Own Board Game — Brewer Parents, grandparents, educators and board-game fans can learn how to create their own game using everyday materials from around the house. Christyne Zimmer leads the session at Brewer Public Library. |
Here are the public meetings and civic items from current official municipal calendars for Sept. 15–21.
Wednesday, September 16
Orono — Community Development Committee
Orono — Police Department Groundbreaking
Orono — Library Board of Trustees
Hampden — Planning Board Workshop
Orono — Planning Board
Dover-Foxcroft — RERC Wayfinding, Promotion & Tourism Workgroup
Thursday, September 17
Orono — Ordinance Review Committee
Glenburn — Public Hearing & Town Council Meeting
Monday, September 21
Bangor — City Council Committees Finance Committee — 5:15 PM These are scheduled consecutively, so the later start times may move depending on when the preceding meeting ends.
Hampden — Town Council Meeting |
Stay connected with opportunities to grow your business, meet local professionals, and stay active in the Greater Bangor region.
Paul Bunyan BNI — Weekly Meeting
Early Bird Breakfast — Higher Education in the Bangor Region The Bangor Region Chamber brings together leaders from Husson University, Eastern Maine Community College, University of Maine at Augusta, Beal University and the University of Maine for a discussion of higher education and what area business leaders should know. Networking begins at 7:15 AM, with the program running through 9 AM.
Queen City BNI — Weekly Meeting Queen City meets every Thursday morning in person. Visitors are welcome, and the chapter follows BNI’s one-member-per-professional-classification model. The weekly meeting format includes open networking, member and visitor presentations, a featured presentation, referrals and testimonials.
Black Bear BNI — Weekly Meeting Black Bear meets every Thursday morning. The first meeting week of the month is in person at Eastern Area Agency on Aging in Brewer; weeks two through five are online, making this week’s meeting virtual. The chapter remains active on BNI Maine.
Business After Hours — Tyler Technologies An evening of networking, appetizers, prizes and an opportunity to tour Tyler Technologies’ Orono operation. This is a free Bangor Region Chamber member benefit, with registration requested.
Bangor Breakfast BNI — Weekly Meeting Bangor Breakfast BNI meets in person every Friday morning at the Elks Lodge. It is one of the region’s largest referral-networking chapters, and visitors are welcome. Recent chapter information continues to place the weekly meeting at the Bangor Elks Lodge. |
Northeast Bank Plans New Bangor Banking Center Northeast Bank announced plans September 8 to establish a new Bangor location at 699 Broadway, pending final regulatory approval. The banking center is targeted to open in early 2027 and will serve individuals, businesses, municipalities and organizations with deposit, cash-management and treasury services. It also represents another significant business investment along Bangor’s busy Broadway commercial corridor.
Courtney O’Donnell Preparing Bangor-Area Consulting Firm Bangor Assistant City Manager Courtney O’Donnell plans to launch her own consulting business after leaving City Hall at the end of November. She expects to remain in the Bangor area, putting her municipal experience to work for municipalities and nonprofits in human resources, labor relations, investigations, executive searches and related services. Her background includes more than five years with the City of Bangor and experience negotiating more than 20 labor contracts.
Former Marden’s Property Has a New Owner Real estate investor Larry Springer has purchased the former Marden’s property in Brewer, including the roughly 87,000-square-foot building and nearly 60 acres. Retail, storage and possible multifamily housing development have all been discussed, although no final redevelopment plan has been announced. With its size and location on Wilson Street, what happens here could have a noticeable impact on both Brewer’s commercial corridor and future housing options.
Bangor Denny’s Property Sells for $1.65 Million The property housing Bangor’s Denny’s restaurant has changed hands in a $1.65 million commercial real estate transaction. The 3,262-square-foot building sits on just over two acres near I-95 Exit 187 and remains fully leased to Denny’s — so the restaurant is not closing. The sale adds another sizable transaction to the continued commercial investment around Bangor’s Haskell Road and Mall area. |
September is one of the best stretches of the season for local produce. Here’s where the markets are open around the Penobscot Valley this week.
Tuesday, September 15
Brewer Farmers’ Market
Orono Farmers’ Market
Thursday, September 17
Brewer Farmers’ Market
Bucksport Bay Farmers’ Market
Friday, September 18
Lincoln Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market
Holden Farmers’ Market
Hampden Farmers’ Market
Newport Community Market
Saturday, September 19
Orono Farmers’ Market
Brewer Farmers’ Market
Bangor European Market
Dover Cove Farmers’ Market
Orrington Farmers’ Market A little extra in Lincoln Saturday: The Town of Lincoln has confirmed a special Farmers Market on September 19 as part of Lincoln Loon Marathon weekend. The regular Friday market will still run as usual.
Sunday, September 20
Howland Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market
Bangor Farmers’ Market |
Small Repairs Get Bigger Once Buyers See Them A loose piece of trim, a patch of damaged drywall or peeling paint may feel minor when you have lived with it for months. To a buyer walking through the house for the first time, those little unfinished jobs can start adding up quickly.
Tony LaPrino of North Star Property Solutions recommends taking care of the obvious cosmetic repairs before photos, showings or an open house — especially damaged drywall, unfinished paint and anything that makes a room look neglected. The goal is not to remodel the house. It is to remove the distractions so buyers can pay attention to the home instead of building a repair list in their heads.
North Star Property Solutions |
Don’t Wait for a Workout to Move
Movement doesn’t have to mean an hour at the gym. A ten-minute walk, a few trips up the stairs, some yard work or simply getting up from the desk regularly all count.
As the days get shorter, it is easy to become a little more sedentary without noticing it. Try building movement into things you already do — walk while taking a phone call, park a little farther away, or take one lap around the block after dinner.
Small amounts of movement throughout the day add up, and they are usually easier to stick with than an ambitious routine you never quite get around to starting. |
Wellspring’s 11th Annual 5K Race for Recovery Wellspring’s Race for Recovery brings runners, walkers, families and supporters together to celebrate recovery, remember those who have been lost and help fund treatment and recovery services here in the Bangor area. Over its first ten years, the event raised more than $310,000 for Wellspring’s work. Individual registration is $20, with advance registration open through Thursday, September 17. The race begins at the Bangor Waterfront, 1 Railroad Street. Race for Recovery registration
Friends of the Lower Kenduskeag Stream — Monthly Trail Day Here is a very hands-on way to help Bangor for an hour and a half. Friends of the Lower Kenduskeag Stream meets on the third Saturday of each month from April through November to take care of the trail running through the Kenduskeag Stream corridor. Volunteers help with litter pickup, graffiti removal and vegetation trimming. Wear sturdy shoes and work gloves if you have them; the group also has gloves, trash pickers, tools and bags available. Two very different ways to help this week — one supporting people on the road to recovery, the other taking care of a piece of Bangor that belongs to all of us. |
Finding the right home for an animal takes more than a listing and a photograph. It takes people who feed them, care for them, learn their personalities, provide medical attention when needed and keep showing up until the right family walks through the door.
Here in the Penobscot Valley, Bangor Humane Society and The Animal Orphanage in Old Town do that work every day. Both organizations help dogs, cats and other animals move from uncertainty into safe, permanent homes while also giving local families a trusted place to begin the adoption process. Each week, Furry Friends gives us a chance to introduce you to just two of the many animals currently waiting. Maybe one of them is meant to meet you.
Below are this week’s featured friends from Bangor Humane Society and The Animal Orphanage. |
Justice is an 8-year-old mixed breed boy just waiting to bring joy to a family of his own!
Justice lived most of his life with an owner who loved and cared for him until they had to enter assisted living and made the heartbreaking decision to surrender him to our shelter. Now that he's had a little time to settle and adjust, and we've been lucky enough to learn a little more about him, he's ready to find a new fur-ever home.
He has never lived with other dogs, but doesn't seem to be interested in their company in the shelter environment. We recommend he be the only dog in the home, at least to start. Because he definitely has some herding traits, we don't recommend placement with cats. Older children who understand that he is an older dog who may not be a fan of constant interaction and activity will be the best fit.
Justice is a friendly, sweet boy looking for a family willing to give him the time he needs to settle in and the safety of a predictable life. |
 Meet Justice |
Raven is a sweet 9-year-old girl looking for a special person who understands that the best relationships sometimes take a little time to build. Raven can be cautious with new people and needs time to build trust. Because of this, she will require multiple meet-and-greets before she feels comfortable going home with someone. Her future family must be patient and willing to get to know her at her own pace so her transition can be as comfortable and successful as possible. But once you’ve earned Raven’s trust, you’ve earned her heart.
She loves pets, playtime, and spending time with her favorite people.
Raven also experiences separation anxiety and takes fluoxetine daily to help her feel safe and brave. This is an important medication that she must continue taking. If her future family ever considers changing or discontinuing it, that decision must be made with the guidance and supervision of a veterinarian.
And don’t let her age fool you! Raven still loves getting out and enjoying life. She’s a big fan of walks and car rides and would love a home where she can tag along with her person for adventures. Raven needs a quiet, adult-only home where she can be the one and only pet. She isn’t looking for a busy household—she’s looking for her person: someone who will give her the time and reassurance she needs and, in return, gain an incredibly loyal companion. If you’re willing to put in a little extra time getting to know her, Raven is more than worth it. |
 Meet Raven |
Butternut Squash SoupButternut squash is showing up at Maine markets right now, and this UMaine Cooperative Extension recipe turns it into an easy fall soup with apple, carrots, potato and herbs. Makes: About six 1-cup servings
You’ll need:
To make it:
Sandy’s Tip: If you have an immersion blender, this is the recipe to use it on — much easier than transferring hot soup back and forth to a blender. Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension — Mainely Dish. |
A few dependable weekly options around the Valley if you are looking for something to do without waiting for a special event.
Tuesday — Youth Garden Club
Tuesday — Songwriters’ Open Mic
Thursday — Bangor Pub Run
Friday — Knitting Social
Geezers in Sneakers Getting Coffee — Orono Walk, talk and have coffee with other active older adults. The group heads out for about 30 minutes at 9:30 AM, then returns for complimentary coffee at 10. Walking is optional — you can come just for the conversation and coffee.
Sunday — Community Jam
Monday — Chimera Coffee Trivia |
Have something happening in the Penobscot Valley?
If your organization, business, school, town or nonprofit has an upcoming event, fundraiser, community announcement or business opening, send it our way.
https://mainevalleyvoicesmedia.com/submit-news
You can simply reply to this email with the details, or use the submission link in the newsletter. The earlier we receive it, the better chance we have to verify the information and include it in an upcoming edition. |
Nancy Marshall — “It’s What I Was Born to Do”
Nancy Marshall knew remarkably early what she wanted to do with her life.
As a teenager, an experience with Westinghouse introduced her to public relations — and something clicked. From there came her years at Sugarloaf, the eventual creation of Marshall Communications, and a career built around relationships, reputation and helping people become known for what they do best.
In this conversation, Nancy talks about those early years, building a business in Maine, personal branding, why relationships still matter so much, and something that has become increasingly important today: the connection between traditional public relations and whether search engines and AI systems recognize and trust you.
It is about 46 minutes, but it moves quickly because Nancy has plenty of stories to tell.
Worth a listen: Maine Thrive Voices, Episode 13 — “It’s What I Was Born to Do.” Listen to Episode 13 on Spotify |
Newsletter Sponsor
Section Sponsors Marshall Communications — Nancy Marshall
North Star Property Solutions — Tony LaPrino
MESA-Maine — Maine Endurance Sports Alliance
Woof, LLC — Peter Richmond
Thank you to each of these local businesses and organizations for supporting the Penobscot Valley Voice and helping us keep this newsletter free for our readers. |
If you enjoy the Penobscot Valley Voice, the best way to help us grow is simple: share it with someone else who lives or works in the Valley.
Forward this edition to a friend, neighbor or coworker and invite them to subscribe. Every new reader helps us build a stronger local publication and gives us more reason to keep finding the stories, events, businesses and people worth knowing about.
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And if you know about an event, opening, fundraiser or community story we should be covering, send it our way. This newsletter gets better when readers help us see what is happening around the Valley. |
Frank's Bake Shop — Bangor
Some businesses become part of a community simply by being there, year after year, for generation after generation. Frank’s Bake Shop has been doing that on State Street since 1945, remaining family-owned while growing from a neighborhood bakery into a bakery, café, deli, cake shop and catering business.
What makes Frank’s stand out isn’t one particular pastry or sandwich. It is the fact that after more than 80 years, Bangor families are still walking through the same doors for breakfast, baked goods, birthday cakes, lunch and plenty of things they probably didn’t plan on buying when they walked in. That's what happens every time we visit them.
For many years Frank's Bake Shop catered Anah Shriner dinners and my wife & i remember the Soucy family members fondly from those years. A new generation owns the Bake Shop and the tradition of quality and kindness continues.
That makes Frank’s Bake Shop & Catering our Best of the Penobscot Valley this week.
199 State Street, Bangor | 207-947-4594 |
September in Maine is my favorite time of year.
The mornings are cooler, the days are getting noticeably shorter, but we are not quite done with summer either. We can plan on comfortable afternoons, local markets still going, and just enough color starting to show in the trees to tell you what is coming.
My advice this week: get outside and enjoy this part of Maine while it is here. October will arrive soon enough.
— Sandy
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C. 26 There are 26 known surviving copies of the Dunlap Broadside, the first printing used to carry the Declaration of Independence to the public in July 1776. |