Move to northern Maine (Bangor, Presque Isle: crime, homes, transfer)

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Esta

Children don't go to bars. and some adult restaurants. It's socialist to make rules for everybody.

I can't totally agree, but I do see your point.

I take my kids to restaurants at times, and even though we always request to sit in the Non-Smoking section, we always had to breathe in the Smoking Sections fumes, because the restaurant's idea of divider was a 3-ft. wall. The Smoking Ban has fixed that.

But honestly, I think it's a bit draconian. We figured out pretty quick which restaurants had smoke problems, and we simply stopped going there. We didn't need the government to come in and save us.

On the other hand, I will say that if most smokers were more courteous, this never would have been a problem. I'm all for individual rights, but I'm also for common courtesy and decency. It's like Chesterton said: "If you don't obey the big laws, you won't get no laws. You'll get thousands of small laws." What's the difference between someone smoking next to my chair in a restaurant, and my taking off my sweaty socks and hanging it over the back of their chair? They're my socks, **** it! Don't you oppress me!

But seriously, there's nothing inherent to socialism that entails making rules for everyone. If anything, capitalism is worse in that regard. Try making an insurance claim or actually talking to a person from your bank on the phone some time.

[Esta]

Well believe ot or not in MA there is a perfume ban. And now in schools there is a soda ban. Also about a month ago in texas police went into a bar and arrested people because they might drive home drunk.

[LvngInXile]

Something else you might want to take into account Mark is that a casino has recently opened in Bangor. I don't know the details of where it's located and such (I'm assuming out by the Mall) as I haven't been up that far in a double handful of years, but I'm sure it will have some impact on the city's profile over the short to mid-range future.
I can say that Brewer, which is Bangor's "Sister City" was a very scenic area with what was good schools at the time (early 90's) and a disproportionately-large number of houses with fireplaces. One thing I would recommend to check out when you're scouting around in that region would be a truckstop named Dysart's. They used to have the best coffee in the world there and the homemade pie was top-shelf as well.
Of course one of the neater possibilities that living near or doing business in the Bangor area offers is the off-chance that you'll run into SK when he's out and about (as a wordsmith yourself I'm sure you know to whom I'm referring). Make sure you aren't driving the first time you go by his home so you can take in the interesting iron-work in the gates without distraction.
By and large I'd second what Esta has said so far about anything north of Bangor being prime, just keep in mind that it gets remote quickly.

Best of luck and it's a move you will never regret,

~Xile

[bonmot]

I lived in Aroostook County years ago when I taught school. There were a lot of farms and it was very peaceful. I would suggest Downeast Magazine--they delve into many different cities and I know have done articles about improvements in Aroostook County. We are moving to Eastport, Maine in a few years from Michigan. Maine has a lot more sun than we do!

[Azbound]

The smoking ban was part of the Maine Tobacco Initiative..the intent of the smoking ban in bars etc has as much to do with people who have to work there as it does with protecting patrons from the perils of second hand smoke. Mainers have historically had exceptionally high death rates from heart and lung diseases. The conclusion was smoking was the biggest factor affecting health in our state, hence the initiative for change. Although the bars were empty in the beginning you can bet they filled back up!! People just step outside for a smoke now. It makes it so much easier for people living with non-smoking related lung disease to go out for dinner or a comedy show and still breathe! Part of my strong feelings come from watching my own Mom die of smoking related complications and of being of service through Hospice at the bedsides of many Mainers dying of lung cancer. I am so spoiled by the smoking rules, it is difficult to go to other states where the restrictions re smoking are less limiting.

[Esta]

It is good for everybody to be happy where they live. That is why we will be heading back to Pa

[willb8073]

Mark,
Do yourself a favor and move up to the County, I'd suggest Stockholm, get yourself a nice little house on a hill (you wont believe the view of Madawaska Lake if you set yourself up right). They have a Little League system your kids can be a part of, minutes from the lake, nice little grocery store/ gas station in town, plenty of fishing holes, no crime, nice little restaraunt.
Your kids will go to high school in Caribou (town of about 8,000) great school. Id suggest working in Caribou, just look out for moose in the summer on 161 traveling back and forth. Honestly can't beat it.
Let me know if you have any questions.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by willb8073

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks, Willb!

Other questions:

1.) Do you know if there are any other youth sports other than baseball? How about soccer? Basketball? Volleyball?

2.) You know, I hear the horror-stories about how close-minded and clannish people are in northern and western Maine. But I know there are at least two (usually three, four, or five) sides to every story. Are locals welcoming to newcomers?

3.) Has the increased security at the Canadian borders had any adverse affect on local communities?

4.) How far would one have to drive to get to a bookstore? Caribou? Presque Isle? Bangor? Or would it be quicker to hop over the border into Fredricton?

5.) I'm not afraid of the Maine winters. I look forward to them actually. But what are the summers like around Stockholm and Caribou?

[MinnesotaGirl]

Hello Mark-
We will be relocating from Minnesota to the Bangor area and having never visited until my interview, I had many questions. So I have some information to share with you. Yes, the housing market is very affordable. There are several 4 bedroom homes in and around the Bangor area for less than $160,000. I know, I looked at several! I found the community to be very friendly and I asked a lot of questions and found people more than willing to make suggestions on places to eat, places to live and schools....I also looked at several communites that surround Bangor and there were all nice. Brewer, Orono, Winterport, Hamden.....

There are lots of traditional sports opportunities for children/teens. Although, we are in search of youth Lacrosse and that has escaped us.

In downtown Bangor, there are several used bookstores. One was huge and one store specializes in Stephen King.

Good luck! We can't wait to move!

[Ole Man Wintah]

I'll add that anything north of Augusta is quite nice I'm from the Waterville area China Lake region we roll up the sidewalks about 9 pm everynight Bangor is nice it really is the hub for northern communties north of that is the real bug country for a couple hundred miles. Maine families really get out for the kids and school events you should enjoy that.

Dave