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A note from the editor

There's a stuffed duck in the lobby of the Bangor Police Department that has been visited by people from Germany. There's an Indian restaurant on Exchange Street that exists because someone's cousin couldn't find one. There's a couple from Austin who toured thirty homes on Zoom before deciding that this, of all places, was where they wanted to land.

None of these are big stories. Nobody's cutting a ribbon or issuing a press release. They're just people doing something, filling a gap, showing up, sticking around.

That's most of what happens in a city, if you pay attention. This week's issue is full of it.

Welcome to Issue No. 6.

Ken, the editor

THIS WEEKEND IN BANGOR

Fight Night at the Cross

New England Fights returns to the Cross Insurance Center Saturday night with NEF 66: Salute, an evening of MMA and kickboxing starting at 7 p.m.

The headliner puts Bruce Boyington (19-14) against C.J. Ewer in a welterweight bout. NEF has been running events here long enough that it feels like a genuine Bangor institution at this point. If you've never been to a live fight card, it's a different experience than watching on TV. Tickets on Ticketmaster.

The Great Home Expo

Running all three days this weekend at the Cross Insurance Center, the Great Home Expo (presented by Hammond Lumber) brings together Maine contractors, designers, and home improvement vendors under one roof.

Friday runs noon to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spring project season is here, so if your to-do list is already too long, this is a good place to get ideas and talk to real people about them.

Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour

Walking Among Bangor's Famous (and Infamous) Mount Hope Cemetery offers guided walking tours that are genuinely worth your time.

Ken D’Errico Photo

You'll hear stories about some of Bangor's more colorful historical residents, get a primer on gravestone symbolism, and take in views of the city from one of the most beautiful green spaces we've got. Built in 1834, Mount Hope is the second oldest garden cemetery in the country. Tours are a low-key way to spend a weekend morning. Check their schedule for current availability.

Your Bangor Events Digest

May 15 - May 22, 2026

Presented by:

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Friday, May 15, 2026

  • Crafts & Coffee

    • Time: 9:30 AM

    • Venue: Bangor Pubic Library

    • Description: Everyone is welcome to join the library for a hands-on craft project. No experience is needed, all supplies will be provided, and all ages are welcome to decorate the library or make something to take home.

  • Pole Conditioning 💪

    • Time: 10:00 AM

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Build strength, gain control, and level up your pole skills in this focused strength and conditioning class designed to help you become stronger, safer, and more confident on the pole.

  • Tech Tutoring 💻

    • Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

    • Venue: Bangor Public Library

    • Description: Get personalized assistance with your technology questions and challenges at this convenient tutoring session. Perfect for anyone looking to brush up on their digital skills.

  • Event Marking New Affordable Senior Housing 🏠

    • Time: 10:30 AM

    • Venue: 35 Milford St. Extension, Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: Join the community to mark the opening of new affordable senior housing in Bangor, celebrating an important step in supporting our elderly residents.

  • Great Home Expo 🏡

    • Time: 12:00 PM

    • Venue: Cross Insurance Center Location: 515 Main Street, Bangor

    • Description: The Great Home Expo offers an excellent opportunity for Maine businesses to promote their products and services directly to potential customers face-to-face.

  • UMaine Baseball vs. UAlbany

    • Time: See event page

    • Venue: Mahaney Diamond

    • Description: Head out to support the UMaine Baseball team as they face off against UAlbany. Check the event page for game time and ticket information.

  • Lyra Tips and Tricks 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Enhance your aerial hoop skills with this "Lyra Tips and Tricks" session. Learn new techniques and refine your movements in a supportive environment.

  • Korean Swordsmanship Beginners Class: First Class Free Friday 🗡️

    • Time: 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

    • Venue: Kishintaikan Dojo

    • Description: Discover the art of Haidong Gumdo, traditional Korean Swordsmanship, with a dynamic sword-focused martial art. Your first class is free!

  • A Burrow of Rabbits and Readers Book Club: Silver Elite 📚

    • Time: 7:30 PM

    • Venue: The Briar Patch, Bangor

    • Description: You're invited to the very first meeting of A Burrow of Rabbits and Readers Book Club, The Briar Patch’s genre romance book club, led by romance novel expert Megan.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

  • FOLKs Trail Days 🌳

    • Time: 8:00 am - 9:30 am

    • Venue: Downtown Bangor

    • Description: Join FOLKs for a morning of trail maintenance and community outdoor activity. Help keep Bangor's trails beautiful and accessible.

  • Bangor's European Market 🛍️

    • Time: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

    • Venue: Ingrid's German Gift Shop - 117 Buck Street

    • Description: Experience a taste of Europe at Bangor's unique market featuring various vendors and goods. A great opportunity to find local and international treasures.

  • Big Dig Week 2026 🚧

    • Time: See event page

    • Venue: Downtown Bangor

    • Description: Saturday marks the beginning of Big Dig Week in Downtown Bangor! Join in the various free community activities and see the downtown transformation.

  • ZAM Spring Art Factory 🎨

    • Time: 11:00 AM

    • Venue: Zillman Art Museum – University of Maine, Bangor

    • Description: Kids and families, drop in between 11 am and 2 pm to create some fun art at the Zillman Art Museum's Spring Art Factory event!

  • Saturday Story Stop 📖

    • Time: 11:00am - 11:30am

    • Venue: Bangor Public Library

    • Description: Bring the little ones for a delightful Saturday Story Stop. Check the event page for specific times and details on this family-friendly storytelling session.

  • Meet the Author Event with Patsy Baldus 📚

    • Time: 1:00 PM

    • Venue: The Not So Empty Nest Location: 49 Main Street, Bangor

    • Description: Join author Patsy Baldus and Sunny Bear for a rollicking, interactive adventure into the world of sunflowers. This free event promises fun for all ages.

  • Play! A Children's Ballet 🩰

    • Time: 3:00 PM

    • Venue: Gracie Theatre Location: 1 College Circle, Bangor

    • Description: Robinson Ballet invites you to "PLAY!"—an enchanting ballet featuring the beloved tale Peter and the Wolf, perfect for a family-friendly afternoon of imagination and movement.

  • Adult Prom: A Night to Remember 💃

    • Time: 8:00 PM

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Relive your prom night or experience it for the first time as an adult at this special event hosted by Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio.

  • Rob Burnell Live at The Sound Stage Lounge 🎤

    • Time: 8:00 PM

    • Venue: The Sound Stage Lounge, Bangor

    • Description: Enjoy a night of live music with Rob Burnell performing at The Sound Stage Lounge. Come check them out!

Sunday, May 17, 2026

  • Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour 🚶‍♀️

    • Time: 10:00 AM

    • Venue: Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor

    • Description: Discover fascinating facts about Bangor’s famous and infamous residents, and learn about the symbolism in gravestones, all while taking in beautiful city vistas.

  • Beginner Pole 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Start your pole fitness journey with this beginner-friendly class. Learn fundamental techniques and build confidence in a welcoming environment.

  • Intro to Pole 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Get acquainted with the basics of pole dancing in this introductory class. Perfect for newcomers to learn foundational moves and build comfort.

  • Burlesque Basics 💃

    • Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Explore the fundamentals of burlesque in this fun and empowering class. Learn basic movements and express yourself creatively.

  • Sunday Community Jam 🎶

    • Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

    • Venue: 2 Feet Brewing

    • Description: Join fellow musicians and music lovers for a relaxed and inclusive community jam session. All skill levels are welcome to participate or just listen.

  • Circus Fitness 🎪

    • Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Get a fun and challenging workout with this circus-inspired fitness class. Improve strength, flexibility, and coordination.

  • Serenity in Activity: An Introduction to Tai Chi Chuan 🧘‍♀️

    • Time: 2:00 PM

    • Venue: Spiral Studio Location: 16 State Street, Bangor

    • Description: Explore cultivating steadiness and ease through the foundations of Tai Chi Chuan, an ancient moving practice rooted in balance and embodied awareness.

  • Sawyer's 1st Birthday Party! 🎂

    • Time: 2:00 PM

    • Venue: Sawyer's, Bangor

    • Description: Celebrate Sawyer's first anniversary in their brick and mortar store! Enjoy live embroidery, permanent jewelry, raffles, and giveaways at this free birthday bash.

  • Circus Troupe Training 🎪

    • Time: 3:00 PM

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Step into the extraordinary world of Eye Candy Circus and learn to hoop, spin, dance, juggle, and even become a clown to bring endless smiles.

  • Serenity in Activity: An Introduction to Tai Chi Chuan

    with Wren Schuyler

    • Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

    • Venue: Spiral Studio

    • In a world that often pulls us toward extremes, this workshop invites you to explore a different way—cultivating steadiness, presence, and ease from within.

      Together, we’ll step into the foundations of Tai Chi Chuan, an ancient moving practice rooted in balance, flow, and embodied awareness. You’ll be introduced to its history, philosophy, and symbolism, while learning elements of the Short Yang Form through guided, accessible instruction.

Monday, May 18, 2026

  • Monday Karaoke at Paddy Murphy's 🎤

    • Time: 12:00 am

    • Venue: Paddy Murphy’s

    • Description: Kick off your week with some lively karaoke at Paddy Murphy's! Grab the mic and sing your heart out with friends.

  • Finance Committee 🏛️

    • Time: 05:15 PM

    • Venue: 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: Attend the Finance Committee meeting to stay informed on local government financial matters. Agendas are finalized the Friday prior.

  • Infrastructure Committee 🛠️

    • Time: 05:20 PM

    • Venue: 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: The Infrastructure Committee will convene to discuss city infrastructure projects and planning. Meetings are subject to change.

  • Business & Economic Development Committee 📈

    • Time: 05:25 PM

    • Venue: 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: Participate in discussions concerning local business and economic growth at this important committee meeting. Check the website for the latest agenda.

  • Government Operations Committee 🏛️

    • Time: 05:30 PM

    • Venue: 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: Join the Government Operations Committee for their scheduled meeting, addressing various aspects of city governance. Agendas are available the Friday before.

  • Beginner Lyra and Aerial Silks 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Explore the exciting world of aerial arts with this beginner class in Lyra (aerial hoop) and Aerial Silks. No experience necessary!

  • Kickboxing & Martial Arts 🥋

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Get an energetic workout and learn self-defense techniques in this combined kickboxing and martial arts class. Suitable for all fitness levels.

  • Chimera Coffee Trivia 🧠

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

    • Venue: Chimera Coffee

    • Description: Test your knowledge and enjoy a fun evening of trivia at Chimera Coffee. Gather your team and compete for bragging rights!

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

  • Bangor Water District Board of Trustees 💧

    • Time: 03:45 PM

    • Venue: 614 State St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: The Bangor Water District Board of Trustees will hold their meeting. Stay informed about local water management and initiatives.

  • Songwriters' Open Mic 🎶

    • Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: 2 Feet Brewing

    • Description: Share your original songs or enjoy listening to local talent at this supportive songwriters' open mic event. All genres and styles are welcome.

  • Beginner Belly Dance 💃

    • Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Learn the alluring movements of belly dance in this beginner-friendly class. A great way to connect with your body and enjoy a unique form of expression.

  • Tuesday Live Irish Sessions & Open Mic 🍀

    • Time: 6:00 pm

    • Venue: Paddy Murphy's

    • Description: Immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds of traditional Irish music at this live session and open mic night. Bring your instrument or simply enjoy the tunes.

  • Pole Conditioning 💪

    • Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Strengthen your core and build upper body strength in this pole conditioning class. Ideal for improving your aerial skills and overall fitness.

  • Fire of 1911 Walking Tour 🔥

    • Time: 6:00 PM

    • Venue: Bangor Historical Society, Bangor

    • Description: Follow the path of devastation from Bangor's Great Fire of 1911 and learn how the city recovered from this historic event.

  • Planning Board 🗓️

    • Time: 07:00 PM

    • Venue: 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: The Planning Board will meet to discuss zoning, development, and other city planning initiatives. Agendas are typically available the Friday before.

  • Floor & Flow Class 💃

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Explore dynamic movement and fluidity in this Floor & Flow class, designed to enhance your flexibility and grace.

  • The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning 🧹

    • Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    • Venue: Laurence E. Crofutt Community Room, Bangor Public Library

    • Description: Gisele Biron leads a workshop based on Margareta Magnusson's book, offering helpful hints on how to get started with decluttering and organizing.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

  • Tech Tutoring 💻

    • Time: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

    • Venue: Bangor Public Library

    • Description: Get expert assistance with your tech questions and issues at this afternoon tutoring session. A great resource for all skill levels.

  • The Queen City/Creative Arts Center Chess Club

    • Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: The Creative Arts Center, 54 Wilson St.  Brewer

  • Circus Troupe Training 🎪

    • Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Join the circus troupe training to refine your performance skills and learn new acts. Perfect for aspiring or current circus artists.

  • Teen Dungeons and Dragons Club 🐉

    • Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

    • Venue: Teen Lounge, Bangor Public Library

    • Description: Calling all barbarians, rangers, sorcerers, and warlocks! Join us every Wednesday for everyone’s favorite tabletop role-playing game.

  • STITCH 'N B*TCH 🧵

    • Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

    • Venue: Red Rabbit Bazaar

    • Description: Bring your latest crafting project and enjoy a social evening of stitching and conversation with fellow enthusiasts. All crafting types welcome.

  • City Council Budget Workshop 📊

    • Time: 05:15 PM

    • Venue: 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: Attend the City Council Budget Workshop to understand and provide input on the city's upcoming budget. Agendas are typically available the Friday prior.

  • Intermediate Pole Dance 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Take your pole dancing skills to the next level in this intermediate class. Focus on more complex tricks and transitions.

  • Kickboxing & Martial Arts Fitness 🥋

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Combine cardio, strength, and martial arts techniques in this dynamic fitness class. Improve your endurance and learn practical self-defense.

  • Derry-Free Horror Book Club: Freakslaw 📚

    • Time: 7:30 PM

    • Venue: The Briar Patch, Bangor

    • Description: Join The Briar Patch’s new book club dedicated to spine-tingling reads, as Vol. 16 discusses "FREAKSLAW" by Jane Flett.

  • Line Dance 💃

    • Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Learn and practice popular line dances in this energetic and fun class. No partner needed, just bring your dancing shoes!

Thursday, May 21, 2026

  • Grieving Through Reading 📖

    • Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

    • Venue: Laurence E. Crofutt Community Room, Bangor Public Library

    • Description: This book group provides a supportive space to explore and process various losses through literature, helping attendees navigate the grieving process.

  • Business After Hours May 2026

    • Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

    • Venue: Frank Webb Home; 1156 Hammond St

    • Description: Network with local business professionals at the Business After Hours event hosted by Frank Webb Home. A great opportunity to connect and grow your contacts.

  • Next Chapter Book Club 📚

    • Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    • Venue: Bangor Public Library

    • Description: Join fellow book lovers for the "Next Chapter Book Club." Engage in lively discussions and discover new literary adventures.

  • Downtown Parking Advisory Committee 🅿️

    • Time: 05:30 PM

    • Venue: 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401

    • Description: The Downtown Parking Advisory Committee will discuss parking solutions and policies for the city center. Agendas are finalized the Friday before.

  • Intro to Pole 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 5:00 PM

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: This class will help students become comfortable with pole basics, understanding momentum, hand placement, and fundamental spins to start their pole journey.

  • Beginner Pole Flow 💃

    • Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Learn to link pole moves smoothly and gracefully in this beginner pole flow class. Focus on transitions and continuous movement.

  • Chair Burlesque 💃

    • Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Unleash your inner performer with this unique Chair Burlesque class. Learn sensual movements and routines using a chair as your prop.

  • Trivia Night at Nocturnem Draft Haus 🧠

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

    • Venue: Nocturnem Draft Haus

    • Description: Gather your friends for a challenging and fun Trivia Night at Nocturnem Draft Haus. Enjoy great drinks and put your knowledge to the test.

  • The Maine Steiners in Concert 🎤

    • Time: 7:00 PM

    • Venue: Hammond Street Congregational Church, Bangor

    • Description: Experience a cappella hits, throwback favorites, and modern songs with style as The Maine Steiners, UMaine's oldest a cappella group, perform.

  • Pole Clinic Class 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Focus on specific pole techniques or challenges in this clinic-style class. Get personalized feedback and refine your skills.

  • Belly Dance Class 💃

    • Time: 7:00 PM

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Just starting your journey into the mesmerizing world of belly dance? This class is made for you to joyfully reconnect with your body and ignite your spirit!

Friday, May 22, 2026

  • Tech Tutoring 💻

    • Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

    • Venue: Bangor Public Library

    • Description: Get individualized support for your technology needs and questions. This tutoring session is designed to help you navigate the digital world with ease.

  • Bangor Contradance 🕺💃

    • Time: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

    • Venue: Unitarian Universalist Church

    • Description: Join the lively community for an evening of traditional American contradancing. No experience or partner is required, just come ready to dance!

  • Lyra Tips and Tricks 🤸‍♀️

    • Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: Continue to master the aerial hoop with advanced tips and tricks. This session offers insights to elevate your Lyra performance.

  • MDP to Host Calling Out Collins Rally with U.S. Senate Candidates David 📣

    • Time: 8PM (Rally at 4:30 p.m.)

    • Venue: Location provided upon RSVP WHEN: Friday, May 22, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. WHO: U.S. Senate candidates David Costello and Graha, Bangor

    • Description: The Maine Democratic Party will host a rally in Bangor featuring U.S. Senate candidates David Costello and Graham Platner. RSVP for location details.

  • Pole Conditioning 💪

    • Time: 10:00 AM

    • Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness Studio

    • Description: This strength and conditioning class is specifically designed to help you build the necessary strength and control to excel in your pole skills.

  • Korean Swordsmanship Beginners Class: First Class Free Friday 🗡️

    • Time: 7:30 PM

    • Venue: Kishintaikan Dojo Location: 88 Central Street, Bangor

    • Description: Explore Haidong Gumdo, a dynamic sword-focused martial art with techniques dating back to the Korean Three Kingdoms period. Your first class is free!

Editor's Note

What a vibrant week ahead in Bangor! From enriching community discussions and engaging fitness classes to live music and historical tours, there's truly something for everyone. We hope this digest helps you plan a memorable week.

Location - The Furniture Gallery, Broadway

  • Monday, 5/18: The Thai Lotus

  • Wednesday, 5/20: Brick & Embers

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Rasa Indian Cuisine | 175 Exchange St.

Downtown Bangor had a real gap in its food scene, and Rasa is filling it.

The restaurant opened on Exchange Street in late March, after months of construction delays. Co-owners Sai Guntaka and his uncle Obul Reddy run Taj, a well-regarded Indian restaurant in South Portland, and the reason for coming to Bangor is pretty simple: Guntaka's cousin is a student here, and he noticed there wasn't a single Indian restaurant in the city. So they gutted a space on Exchange Street and built one.

The Reddy Guntaka family (from left): Sai, Charitha, Geetansh, Sudarsana, Sidhansh and Hemalatha.

The menu leans South Indian, with dosas, biryani, and naan baked in a clay oven. There's a lunch buffet seven days a week from around 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., which is a great way to try a little of everything. Dinner runs until 9 or 10 p.m. most nights, later on weekends. The bar carries cocktails, beer, and Sai Lager, a beer brewed for the restaurant by Oxbow Brewing out of Newcastle. Spices come directly from India. Everything is made from scratch.

It's been open about six weeks now, long enough for the kitchen to find its footing. Worth a visit.

Hours: Mon–Sun, lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. | Dinner starts at 3:30–4 p.m.

Phone: (207) 307-7827 | Reservations: OpenTable | Menu

The Duck of Justice, Bangor's Most Famous Resident

He doesn't have a heartbeat, but he has 330,000 Facebook followers. The Duck of Justice, a taxidermy wood duck who lives in a small museum inside the Bangor Police Department, has been one of the more quietly remarkable things about this city for over a decade.

The origin story is exactly what you'd hope for. When the Bangor District Attorney's office moved locations, someone tossed the duck, and it ended up in a dumpster. Sergeant Tim Cotton, who ran the department's social media, spotted it on its way out and rescued it. He gave it a name, gave it a role, and starting in 2014 began working it into the Bangor PD's Facebook posts. The page, already known for Cotton's deadpan, warmhearted writing, found a whole new gear. People loved the duck.

It became a thing. A real thing. Visitors from across the country started stopping by the department just to take a photo with the DOJ. People came from the United Kingdom and Germany. Stephen King stopped in. The duck got its own email address for selfies. Cotton, by then a lieutenant, retired in 2022 after 30 years on the force, partly to focus on his writing, and he handed off the social media keys. But the Duck stayed.

He lives now in the Bangor Police Museum in the department's lobby, free to visit, no appointment required. Just tell the person at the front desk you're there to see the duck. They'll know what you mean.

As for Cotton, retirement hasn't slowed him down much. He's published four books since 2020, all essays drawn from his years in Bangor and his life as a Mainer: "The Detective in the Dooryard," "Got Warrants?", "Dawn in the Dooryard," and his most recent, "Donut Holes for the Soul," out last July. He still posts daily on Facebook and writes a weekly newsletter of his own. He won the Erma Bombeck Award for humor. He's been on Mike Rowe's podcast. He did the thing you're supposed to do when you retire, he kept going.

Find his books wherever books are sold, and his writing at timcottonwrites.com. And remember the house rules: keep your hands to yourself, leave other people's things alone, and be kind to one another.


They Left Texas for Bangor. They're Staying.

Shawn and Sara Good moved to Bangor from Austin, Texas in March, and they didn't come for a change of pace. They came because Texas weather was becoming genuinely dangerous, and because Bangor, of all places, checked almost every box they were looking for: smaller scale, affordable housing, a real sense of place.

Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN

They toured more than 30 homes via Zoom before flying in to see seven in person. They bought a four-bedroom house in the Little City neighborhood. Within weeks, someone left a mess on their front porch. They cleaned it up and didn't change their minds about being here.

"We see it more as fleeing Texas rather than leaving," Sara told the Bangor Daily News. "We haven't been here for very long, but we're really happy with it."

Bangor is showing up on the radar of people looking for stability, affordability, and a city that still feels like a real place. The Goods are one family. They probably won't be the last.

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Community Resource Fair at Bangor Public Library Every second Wednesday of the month, 9 a.m. to noon, Atrium and Crofutt Community Room, 145 Harlow St. Food AND Medicine brings together 18 to 20 organizations covering housing, food, public benefits, employment, and more. Free food, raffle prizes, and real answers. Last one: Wednesday, May 13. (If you missed it, mark June 11 on your calendar.)

Songwriter's Open Mic at 2Feet Brewing Every Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m. Each songwriter gets 15 minutes at the mic. Not karaoke. An actual room of people who showed up to listen.

Derry-Free Horror Book Club at The Briar Patch The Briar Patch's horror book club meets this month to discuss "Freakslaw" by Jane Flett, about a traveling carnival of troublemakers descending on a small Scottish town. The name of the club is the best part. Check The Briar Patch for date and time.

The Fantasticks is Coming to the Bangor Opera House Penobscot Theatre Company's next production, the classic musical "The Fantasticks," runs June 11 through July 12 at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St. Tickets and info at penobscottheatre.org.


Food Resources

If you or someone you know needs a meal or groceries, here are some places operating in Bangor right now. Call ahead to confirm hours before you go.

Salvation Army Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen, 65 South Park St. Meals Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 1pm. Food pantry Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 to 11am (walk-in). 207-535-9572.

Manna Ministry, 95 Center St. Hot meals Monday through Friday, 4 to 5pm. Food pantry Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3 to 4pm.

Brick Church, 126 Union St. Meals Monday through Friday, 4:30 to 5:30pm. Clothes and showers also available Tuesday and Thursday, 10am to 2pm.

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, 263 Main St. Soup kitchen daily at 11:45am. Food pantry Sunday and Tuesday, 1 to 4pm (one visit per month).

Bangor Food Pantry, 28 High St. (at Hammond Street Congregational Church). Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am to noon. Bangor residents only.

Bangor Region YMCA, 17 Second St. Food pantry Tuesdays 6 to 8am, Thursdays 6 to 7:30pm, Saturdays 12:30 to 2:30pm.

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Queen City Weekly publishes every Friday morning. Forward this to someone who loves Bangor.

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See you next Friday. — Ken, Editor

Queen City Weekly | Greater Bangor, Maine

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