Monday: National Clean Out Your Computer Day

Feb. 8 is National Clean Out Your Computer Day. People may not know this, but computers also require housekeeping in the sense that we must take time to declutter them every so often, especially now that most of us are online more than usual. Take a moment to tune up and dust off your old files and reminisce on older times. Use this time to enjoy looking at old photos and cringe at your older self to your heart’s content. 

Tuesday: National Pizza Day and more

Feb. 9 ties with Thursday’s holiday as the busiest national holiday day of the week. Among National Pizza Day, National Bagel and Lox Day, it is also Safer Internet Day and National Toothache Day. For those who like easy and delicious food, today is your day to celebrate by making a run to OHOP or Bagel Central for some pizza or lox on bagels. Safer Internet Day, in conjunction with ConnectSafely.org, encourages safe and healthy internet use for adults and children across the country. If celebrating the importance of internet safety sounds appealing, SaferInternetDayUS.org provides information on what everyone can do to make the internet a more safe environment. 

Wednesday: National Home Warranty Day and National Cream Cheese Brownie Day

Feb. 10 is National Home Warranty Day and National Cream Cheese Brownie Day. National Home Warranty Day is an important day to acknowledge because it reminds us to take care of the homes we cherish and to appreciate all of the comfort and safety our homes provide. Arguably the best way to celebrate National Cream Cheese Brownie Day is to make or eat a cream cheese brownie, or both. Check out Betty Crocker’s Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies and cook up a tasty treat.

Thursday: National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day and more

Not only is Feb. 11 National Make a Friend Day, but it is also National Peppermint-Patty Day, National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day and National White Shirt Day. Of course, the best way to celebrate National Peppermint-Patty Day is to make or eat a recipe that includes peppermint-patties and to celebrate National White Shirt Day by wearing a white shirt, but the other two national holidays on this day are more meaningful. This day celebrates the important role friendship plays in our lives. Get out there, make a new friend, strengthen a friendship or simply reminisce on your favorite times spent with friends. If you happened to take part in National Cream Cheese Brownie Day on Wednesday with Betty Crocker’s brownie recipe, understand that unexpected things may happen on National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. Remember to breathe and stay optimistic. 

Friday: National Plum Pudding Day

Feb. 12 is National Plum Pudding Day. The best way to celebrate this holiday is to make and enjoy a favorite plum pudding recipe. If you have an afternoon to spend in the kitchen with friends, check out Taste of Home’s Tiny Tim’s Plum Pudding recipe.

The University of Maine’s Writing Center is open again to online appointments. Kate Follansbee, a fourth-year economics and communications student in the Honors College, is a Writing Center Coordinator who shared how the organization continues to provide services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from administrative work such as scheduling, website and profile maintenance and creation, Follansbee is grateful for the opportunities that she’s had working with students and faculty from a variety of disciplines and on a variety of writing samples.

During her first year, a professor in the Honors College recommended that she consider working for the Writing Center on campus. Kate immediately became interested in the opportunity to be a part of the Writing Center staff, as she has always enjoyed writing.

“Over time, I discovered what an amazing resource the Writing Center is and really wanted to be part of it,” Follansbee said.

Now, Follansbee is one of 18 peer-consultants who work at the Writing Center, three of which are English Language Learners, or ELL, consultants who are trained specifically to work with students for whom English is not their first language.

The Writing Center provides support for all types of writing from essays, websites, resumes and more. The process of finding a consultant who is right for you is simple, just visit the “About the Consultants” page on the Writing Center website to view each consultant’s personal website. On these pages, students can view each consultant’s specializations and experiences, personal writing samples and their “individual tutoring philosophy.”

Follansbee explained how the Writing Center has turned the pandemic into a positive learning experience, giving students and staff a reason to boost their website as an accessible resource.

“The pandemic has really given the Writing Center an opportunity to utilize the online component of our website,” Follansbee said. “Clients have responded very positively to the transition … When you book a consultation, you sign up for a block of time [and during the session] you and the consultant will video chat. [If one is unable to video chat,] we can work through the document in the editor function, and talk [back and forth] in the chat box.”

Follansbee noted that following these procedures ensures that everyone remains safe and healthy and that students can still receive help with their writing from peers who are trained to work with students. Staff at the Writing Center understand that this time of Zoom classes makes it difficult to stay motivated and they are here to help.

On campus, UMaine’s Writing Center can be found in Room 404 of Neville Hall, however, services are currently only offered online. As of right now, the Writing Center’s services are open and free for all UMaine community members seven days a week. The Writing Center staff is excited and ready to meet with students for the new spring semester.

If there are any questions students want to ask prior to their time working with the Writing Center, the office email is umwcenter@maine.edu. To schedule an online appointment with a consultant, visit the Writing Center’s website at www.umaine.edu/wcenter/. To keep up with the Writing Center, check out their Facebook @UMaineWCenter or Instagram @um_writing_center.

This past week, the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) at the University of Maine welcomed students to the new spring semester by hosting their regular welcome week events. In collaboration with the Campus Activities Board (CAB), and other staff and community members at UMaine, CSI was able to host events throughout the week of Jan. 25.

Christina Harrick of CSI explained that due to the COVID-19 testing result wait times, none of the welcome week events were held in a typical in-person setting. 

“The [CSI] is being extremely conscientious about safety precautions to ensure that we can still host events for our students,” Harrick said. “[For instance] for our drive-through events, we made sure that students that wished to participate wear masks and maintain a 6-foot distance from other individuals.”

On Monday and Tuesday the CSI hosted a “Stuff-A-Buddy” event that took place across these two days. According to Harrick, this event was one of CSI’s most popular events, where students could pick up a “buddy” and stuff it themselves, like a Build-a-Bear experience. This past week the CSI offered four different “buddy” choices.

“The line of socially-distanced students [for the Stuff-A-Buddy event] led from our location in the Bangor Room all the way back to the Union Market,” Harrick reported.

Jan 28 was “DIY Planner Night.” The event began at 8 p.m. in the North Pod and was hosted by CAB, a student-run organization that often hosts events on Thursday evenings. The “DIY Planner Night” was a drive-thru event where students picked up event kits in the North Pod and were asked to return to their residence to complete the activity. 

According to Harrick, the “DIY Planner” night was worthwhile for those who attended. 

“This event is sure to make students feel organized and energized for the semester ahead,” Harrick said.

On Jan 29, CSI hosted an event titled “Things You Left at Home Mingo” over Zoom at 9 p.m. According to Harrick, this popular event is one “that routinely has stellar attendance.” To participate, those who logged into the Zoom link were given an easily accessible virtual Mingo card. Students that obtained a valid “Mingo” (like bingo but with an M for Maine) during the game got their pick of a variety of prizes such as laundry detergent and even a Baby Yoda pillow — things often left at home. 

Saturday was “Paint Your Own Succulent Pot” night at 8:30 p.m. This event was a hybrid event, as it had in-person and virtual components. The in-person component was similar to that of the “DIY Planner Night.” Students were required to pick up supplies for the activity prior to the event on Saturday. The supplies included paint, a succulent pot and of course, a succulent. Once students headed back to their residences, students could share their artwork and the final succulent pot designs via a Zoom call.

Once in-person events start up again, CSI will be making efforts to ensure the events are safe.

“We will be making sure to sanitize all shared surfaces and materials before and after the [different] programs, as well as space out desks, tables and chairs to ensure a safe distance is kept between each student,” Harrick said. She also noted that that mask-wearing protocol will be strictly followed. “Those that show up without a face mask or take their mask off during the event will be asked to leave.” 

Follow the Center for Student Involvement on campus, on their website umaine.edu/studentinvolvement and on social media @um.getinvolved for information on upcoming events.

This year more than ever, the holiday season should remind us to focus on spending time with our loved ones by carrying out family traditions. Although an in-person capacity may be impossible to achieve, one way to put the love for family and friends first is to celebrate the holidays through tasty food. These recipes have been retrieved from an old family cookbook written by and belonging to my grandmother, along with two other websites.

Holiday Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a common dish, sitting in serving dishes on the endless tables of food at family reunions during the holidays, that is, if your family reunions are anything like mine. Any mashed potatoes are good mashed potatoes, but these bring surprise and a unique flavor combination to the table. Your friends and family members will be talking about these for weeks later, most likely, even into the New Year. This recipe was put together by my grandmother, so eating these is a great way to remember our history — isn’t that what the holidays are about?

Ingredients

3 pounds of mashed potatoes (peeled) 

One 8-ounce package of cream cheese

1⁄4 cup of butter

1⁄2 cup of sour cream

1⁄2 cup of milk

2 eggs

1⁄4 cup of onion (finely chopped) 

1 teaspoon of salt

A dash of pepper

Instructions

Peel potatoes and chop onion.

Boil potatoes.

Mix butter, sour cream, milk, egg, onion, salt and pepper into the potatoes.

Mix ingredients into the potatoes immediately after boiling and draining in order

to flash cook the egg properly. Mash the mixture.

(Recipe from the Martin Family Cookbook.)

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Santa’s Snacks Bar

This recipe originates from my grandmother’s handwritten cookbook. Therefore, this recipe is one of a kind, and a fun, delicious experience. This Santa’s snacks bar is a wonderful blend of crispy, flakey and smooth. For those who have random remnants from one-time baking projects, this is the perfect holiday treat recipe for you.

Although one wouldn’t necessarily think of blending these flavors and textures together, the result is magnificent. What more could Santa and families alike want to eat during the holiday season?

Ingredients

1⁄2 cup of butter

1 cup of graham cracker crumbs

1 cup of coconut flakes

1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips or chunks (depending upon personal preference) 

1 cup of chopped nuts

15 ounces of sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 F.

Combine melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, and the flaked coconut in an ungreased 9-by-13-inch pan.

Press the mixture down lightly.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips/chunks and chopped nuts over the mixture in the pan. Drizzle the pan with condensed milk.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Cool completely before cutting.

(Recipe from the Martin Family Cookbook.)

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Kolaczki (Filled Polish Cookies)

Kolaczki, a timely classic, makes for a fun breakfast treat as well as a delicious dessert in the winter months. Not only are these cookies common in Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Russia and Denmark, these cookies are quite common, and typically a tradition for many families in the United States during the winter holiday season. The bold flavor pallet of the fruit pairs nicely with the richness of the dough. The addition of lemon juice and water to the fruit and sugar ensures that this treat isn’t overwhelmingly sweet, so people of all ages, whose appetites vary, may enjoy these cookies.

Ingredients (Pastry)

8 ounces of cream cheese 

1 1⁄2 cups of butter

3 cups of flour

1⁄2 teaspoon of salt

Ingredients (Filling)

3⁄4 cup of dried apricots (or dried fruit of choice) 

1 1⁄2 cups of water

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Instructions (Filling)

Add dried apricots and water to a saucepan.

Add 2 tablespoons of sugar.

Simmer until the apricots are tender (takes around 15 minutes.) Mash or puree with an immersion blender.

If one doesn’t have an immersion blender, a food processor will do the job.

Instructions (Assembly and Baking)

Cream the cream cheese and butter until the consistency is light and fluffy. Stir in flour and salt.

Wrap what you’ve just made in plastic wrap and chill for one hour. Preheat the oven to 350 F towards the end of the hour.

Roll out the dough on a granulated sugar dusted surface.

Roll to 1⁄4 inch and cut the dough into 2 inch squares. Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each square.

Fold over opposite corners and seal the individual cookies well. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the corners just begin to brown. Cool on a rack and dust with powdered sugar.

(Recipe from polishhousewife.com)

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Pizza Candy Cane Crescent

This pizza candy cane crescent from the Food Network is a true star. Designed to look like a candy cane, the colors of a few of the ingredients are green, red and white. These comfort food candy canes pizzas are simple and delicious and family members of all ages will enjoy. If only food could be hung on the Christmas tree. 

Ingredients

One 8-ounce tube of refrigerated rolled crescent dough 

1⁄3 cup of prepared pizza sauce (Be sure to have more than 1⁄3 of a cup so there’s dipping sauce.) 

1⁄2 cup of mozzarella cheese (shredded)

24 slices of pepperoni (Feel free to exclude or substitute the pepperoni dependent upon dietary restrictions or preferences.)

2 tablespoons of sesame seeds (optional) 

2 large basil leaves (for decoration)

Instructions

Heat the oven to 400 F.

While waiting for the oven to reach temperature, roll out the crescent dough and separate the triangles at the perforated lines.

Cut the triangles in half, lengthwise, so there are a total of 16 triangles. Arrange the crescent triangles on 24 inches of parchment paper.

Arrange the triangles lengthwise in a row so the pointy ends are upright and the flat ends overlap slightly. This row should be as long as the paper. Gently press the pieces of dough together to seal.

Spread the pizza sauce over the thickest strip of dough.

Sprinkle the cheese in an even layer over the sauce.

Place the pepperoni or the substituted meat over the cheese. Fold the pointy ends of the dough on top of the cheese and meat.

Be sure to tuck the pointy ends into the other portions of the dough to ensure that the filling is enclosed.

Shape the dough into a candy cane shape.

Size of the candy cane is dependent upon the baking/sheet pan being used. Transfer the parchment onto the baking sheet.

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of the dough. (Optional)

Bake until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted (8-10 minutes). Tuck the basil leaves into the candy cane to create the appearance of a bow.

Serve with the sauce reserved for dipping.

(Recipe from foodnetwork.com)

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Snowman Banana Nog

Eggnog is a classic in December and January, however, eggnog tends to be served with alcohol. This recipe from Food Network allows for family members of all ages to enjoy an adult treat, as the snowman banana nog is a mocktail, as well as a simple craft. Another way this drink is perfect for the winter season is because of the winter flavors incorporated into the drink such as nutmeg and allspice.

Equipment (For mason jar craft)

Hot glue gun, hot glue, black buttons, red or green felt, and a ruler, scissors, and paper or metal straws.

Instructions for craft

Heat glue gun. 

Glue the buttons to the mason jars. 

Cut and glue the felt to the mason jars. 

Ingredients

5 cups of whole milk. (Oat milk can be used to substitute for those who eat dairy-free). 

1⁄4 cup of confectioner’s sugar. (Be sure to have more than 1⁄4 cup available for use, as this sugar is used as a garnish.)

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract 

1 teaspoon of grated nutmeg. (Be sure to have a bit more than a teaspoon, as this is used in a garnishing capacity.)

1⁄4 teaspoon of ground allspice

4 bananas (frozen and sliced) 

Whipped cream (used for the topping)

Instructions

Put the milk, sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, allspice and banana in a blender.

Blend on high speed until the banana takes on a liquid form. The drink should be thick and creamy.

Pour into mason jars.

Spoon whipped cream on top of each drink so the whipped cream sits higher than the jar. Grate nutmeg on top and sprinkle confectioner’s sugar (the snow) over the drink.

Insert a straw.

(Recipe from foodnetwork.com)

4 stars

“Space Force,” a Netflix original series released in May of this year, focuses on beloved actor Steve Carrell’s character and his mission towards establishing a seventh branch of the United States Armed Forces, the “Space Force,” in present day times. The “Space Force” series was inspired by President Donald Trump’s “Space Force” initiative, and should be watched as a satire. This is the reason as to why the show is praised for its humor and irony, along with its “The Office” mockumentary style. 

Steve Carrell and Greg Daniels of “The Office” co-wrote the show featuring esteemed actors such as Lisa Kudrow, known for her part as Phoebe on​ “Friends,” and Diana Silvers, John Malkovich and Tawny Newsome among others. Not only are many featured actors and actresses known for their humor, the premise of the show itself, is quite comedic.

“Space Force” has been nominated for four Primetime Emmys including Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour). Additionally, Steve Carrell earned the show another nomination at the People’s Choice Awards for Best Male TV Star. 

IMDb gives “Space Force” a 6.8 out of 10 rating. However, reviews of streamers alike praise “Space Force” with an average 8 out of 10 rating. People claim the show is not only refreshing, but provides audiences with a new sense of political humor and a show to binge watch. Now that students are finishing up their course load for the semester and are heading home to spend time with family, “Space Force” is the perfect addition to a night of entertainment.

Although only the 10-episode pilot season was aired on Netflix in May of this past year, Netflix can confirm that “Space Force” has been renewed for its second season. Due to mixed reviews from television critics, the second season is set to begin production in Vancouver, rather than in Los Angeles, during 2021. The first season was released in late May of 2020. However, due to the unpredictability of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix is unable to share a season two premiere date for the show “Space Force.” 

As of today, there will be no known changes to casting in season two of this show. However, Fred Willard, who played Fred Naird in season one, will not have return appearances in season two, as a result of his death prior to the first season of the show airing on Netflix in the late spring of 2020. 

Steve Carrell and Greg Daniels will continue to write the show, but there is a surprise in store. The ​Parks and Recreation screenwriter, Norm Hiscock, will be joining Carrell and Daniels in hopes that the writing will experience a “creative revamp.” It is unclear what specifics the writers have in store for season two. We do know for certain that the writers will have to adapt to and address the changing political climate of the United States into the plot of the show. Similarly to season one, season two of the show “Space Force” will only be available for streaming on Netflix.

The University of Maine’s Alpine Ski Team is a popular team-building winter sport focusing on competitive ski racing at the club level. Typically those who join the club team have raced in the past, but this should not be considered a barrier when deciding whether or not to join the team. Some members of the club sport have only ever skied as a hobby rather than as a sport. The ski team races for six weeks during the winter months and consists of 25 to 35 racers at a given time. 

According to co-President Kristina Glynn, the team always holds a practice prior to the beginning of the season at Mt. Abram in Greenwood. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the team will not be able to hold this practice. Typically, the group travels to mountains throughout the state of Maine to compete in timed races. 

For now, the Alpine Ski Team hosts meetings on the video conferencing platform we’ve all become quite familiar with, Zoom. Although meetings took place on a weekly basis in the past, this year, things are a bit different. This fall semester, the club has hosted around four meetings, meeting about once a month. These meetings take place on Thursdays at 6 p.m. to discuss past and future races and fundraising for the team, among other things. 

Because of the pandemic, this competition season looks a bit different. This year, the club is cutting the number of races from eight races down to four. However, to compensate for the decreased number of different races, the club members will be skiing three runs at each race. According to the co-presidents of the club, the club members are very enthusiastic about the sport and always look forward to these competitive opportunities. 

The members that represent the Alpine Ski Team have a positive outlook on these races and enjoy the opportunity to get on the mountain, feel the fresh air, and try to beat a previous time. One memorable way the club members celebrate their success is through their costume race. According to members of the team, this is the main highlight of the season. 

Glynn along with Victoria Beliveau serve as co-presidents of the team, while Ben Tyler serves as treasurer and Dale Russel is the advisor. For those who are interested in joining, it’s not too late. 

“Students can still join the team,” Glynn said. 

Those who are interested in keeping up with or even thinking about joining the team but aren’t completely sure can follow the team’s Instagram page. Their Instagram handle is @umaine_alpine. Additionally, the Alpine Ski Team has a Facebook page. Members of the club stay in contact with one another through this platform, as well as post interesting photographs and relevant information. 

“Grey’s Anatomy,” an American television show, is continuing on for another season as 2020 comes to an end. First aired in 2005, “Grey’s Anatomy” is currently filming episodes for a 2021 season, and including next year’s episodes it will total 18 seasons. At some point in time, the show will end, but when this time will come is unknown. 

The creator of “Grey’s Anatomy,” Shonda Rhimes, has won two Golden Globe awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, one AFI Award and more during the show’s runtime. Rhimes is also known for shows “Private Practice” and “Scandal.”

The show is set in Seattle Grace Memorial Hospital where the characters share both life and death experiences and those consequences on a daily basis. Together, the characters discover that medicine and relationships aren’t defined as black and white, but that life’s wonders are complicated, and at times, ironic. Nevertheless, they find a source of comfort in one another all the same. 

Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo, who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd and Dr. Meredith Grey, respectively, are the main characters of the show. Although the show closely follows the two leads, the show introduces a number of important secondary characters. Over time, Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Picken Jr. became the de facto stars of the show because of their consistent role in the show’s storyline throughout the 17 seasons. 

Many famous quotes have been born thanks to this show, and the character of Dr. Grey has a fair share of them. For example, “Pick me. Choose me. Love me.” Another, maybe less memorable, yet important quote is one that references Benjamin Franklin sharing a secret of success. According to Dr. Grey, the main barrier to success has to do with fear. The “fear of failure, fear of rejections, [and] sometimes the fear is just of making a decision.” All in all, the show is full of genuine remarks and characters, and is paired with excellent, ironic and poignant writing.

“Friends” is a genuine 90s classic that follows the lives of six close knit friends in Manhattan, New York. The six main characters of Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Joey, Ross and Chandler lived up to the show’s name and bonded on the screen as did the actors off-screen. 

“Friends” included Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller and Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing. This eccentric group of characters challenge the variety of struggles young adults face on a daily basis. 

The show first aired in 1994 and filmed for ten lengthy seasons. It aired on NBC from 1994 until 2004. Sometime after the last season aired, the show became available on Netflix and HBO, two popular television and movie streaming services. Reruns of the seasons play on the TBS network.

Season after season, the cast grew to learn and appreciate their respective characters, which allowed them to develop more each episode. This made it possible for audiences everywhere to relate and appreciate the characters and the contributions each personality brought to the show throughout the ten seasons. The writers brought wit and humor to every episode of the show. 

Given the popularity of the show, “Friends” has impacted viewers young and old both with style from back in the day and jokes that still hold up today. For example, Tribbiani’s catchphrase “How you doin’?” has become a part of the Western English slang, and Rachel’s hairstyle has been replicated from the beginning of the series up until now. Additionally, “Friends” has played a role in inspiring many other similar sitcoms, for example:​ “How I Met Your Mother,” “New Girl,” “Happy Endings​” and even “The Big Bang Theory.​”

The show’s popularity grew immensely throughout the time it first aired on television. When the series finale aired in May of 2004, 52.5 million Americans tuned in to watch. This brought the show to being the fifth most-watched series finale in America. Additionally, the finale was named the most watched television episode of the 2000s. “The One with the Prom Video” which aired in 1997 was ranked number 100 on TV Guide’s 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time list. ​

“Friends​” has received many awards for its writing, acting and viewership. The show was nominated for 62 Primetime Emmy Awards and won six of these nominations, the eighth season won the show the Outstanding Comedy Series award in 2002 and also won a Golden Globe. The show was ranked number 21 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All-Time and ranked number seven on Empire Magazine’s The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All-Time. Additionally, the Writers Guild of America ranked ​Friends​ number 24 on the Best Written TV Series of All Time list. 

To continue the “Friends” series, crowds around the world were excited to hear about HBO Max releasing “The One Where They Got Back Together” in the Spring of 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the filming and release date of this reunion episode has been postponed.

The 2015 movie “The Revenant” ​is based on the 2002 novel of the same name, which is in turn based on the true story of Hugh Glass, a man whose story was first recounted in 1915’s “Song of Hugh Glass.” ​At the Academy Awards, the film was nominated in the Best Cinematography category, a testament to its exceptional camera work. Not only did this film win lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio an Academy Award for Best Actor, but he also won Best Actor awards at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and a Critics’ Choice Award. Actors Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter also feature in the film, each delivering eloquent performances. The costumes department also deserves praise for representing the Western period drama well.

The film transports audiences into the American Old West to experience a fierce portrayal of frontier life. The film closely follows the story of Hugh Glass, played by DiCaprio, a frontiersman dealing with survival, betrayal and perseverance. After a conflict with the Indigenous Arikara people and a brutal bear attack, Glass finds himself stripped of most of his traveling party and partnered with only a companion who thinks he should be left for dead. Amidst rising tensions, Glass exemplifies wisdom and perseverance through losing those closest to him as he fights to remain a force in the wild unknown. 

As an R-rated film, “The Revenant” is certainly not family-friendly. Many scenes display considerable violence and gore, although this brutality is meant to show how frontier life was during the 1800s. One of “The Revenant’s” most admirable achievements is its transformation of its epic poem source material into a film that is gritty, realistic and tragic.

As a family owned business, The Rock and Art Shop strives to celebrate natural history, art, science and aesthetics while providing unique and memorable shopping experiences for all. As a part of local storefronts in Bangor, Ellsworth and Bar Harbor, the Sohns family strives to support the local communities in which the three Rock and Art Shop storefronts are located. 

As illustrated on their website for convenient socially-distanced shopping, The Rock and Art Shop offers a wide variety of products including, “jewelry, curious plants, natural history objects, unique gifts, accents for your home, cards, educational toys, fine bath products, or a specimen for your collection,” and more not included in this list. The owners spend genuine time, thought and effort in selecting the specific products that the store offers up for sale and “strive to source [their] pieces with as much background knowledge as possible.” The family practices ethical sourcing, and to them, “ethical-sourcing means that our taxidermy mounts are vintage or that at no time recently were killed for sport. Most of our mounts are a minimum of 20 years old.” 

Additionally, many of the suppliers and artists the store owners work with provide a great variety to sell and use farm raised specimens for their products when applicable. As explained in a short blurb under the “Cabinets of Curiosity” section of their website, a majority of the sea products The Rock and Art Shop sells have been used as much as possible prior to being sold on the shelf. For example, the shells or other creatures tend to be harvested for meat, and are then sold to stores such as The Rock and Art Shop. The same goes for animal bones once used for farming, now given a second life within this shop. 

The Rock and Art Shop also host their Sohns art gallery currently featuring artist Kat Johnson as her third solo exhibition, Naturae Poetica. Johnson’s works highlight her linoleum block prints which feature both eye-catching and natural-toned hues which play on both flora and fauna, with multiple prints available both in the shop and on Johnson’s website for sale. 

For more information on The Rock and Art Shop as well as a selection of merchandise to browse and shop, please visit therockandartshop.com or follow them on Instagram and Facebook @The Rock and Art Shop. For more information on artist Kat Johnson, her current pieces, and education opportunities, please visit her website at katjohnsonart.com.