3.5/5 Stars

Released to audiences on Oct. 22, Wes Anderson’s latest outing “The French Dispatch” features charming and quirky performances from some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

The film, with a total run time of 1 hour and 48 minutes, is composed of four short stories, each with its own unique cast of characters. Every story is told from the point-of-view of a newspaper reporter talking about an article from their respective section of travel, art, current events or food. They present their stories to the editor of the French foreign bureau of a U.S.-based newspaper. Anderson has crafted an interesting narrative, as his all-star cast is spread evenly throughout the film playing reporters, their contacts and other secondary characters. 

The first story sets the scene and features Owen Wilson as Herbsaint Sazerac giving a bicycle tour of the fictional French city, Ennui, where the bureau is based. His narrative is comical in nature, touching on what one might consider French clichés, such as an overpopulation of rats crowding the subway and cats in the streets. 

The tale features some charming sets, characteristic for an Anderson movie, beset with a blue-gray palette and yellow accents. Sazerac’s article also includes some well-rehearsed choreography, as can be seen when the city’s residents rise in the morning to flood the streets with their tedium.

The next story details the meteoric rise of imprisoned artist Moses Rosenthaler, portrayed by Benicio Del Toro. His tale, which is at times both dark and amusing, is recounted by reporter J.K.L. Berensen, played by Tilda Swinton. The story is a strange one, which usually works to Anderson’s benefit, but this particular narrative fails to captivate and can feel a tad aimless.

The next chapter in the film centers around young university students as they rally for change in the streets of Ennui. Both student Zeffirelli, played by Timothée Chalamet, and reporter Lucinda Krementz, played by Frances McDormand, give solid performances, even if the content is lacking towards the end of the piece. There are some great set pieces in this story and Anderson uses them to full effect, manipulating them by removing whole walls and structures like one does with theatrical set pieces. 

Anderson, who is known for his colorful sets and props, still brings his trademark eclectic style to this piece, but he experiments with black and white throughout the film to set the mood or switch narrators. It’s an interesting use of black and white and it feels different for each story. 

The final article is possibly the film’s best, which centers around a dramatic kidnapping tale under the guise of a food review. Jeffery Wright plays a James Baldwin-esque reporter named Roebuck Wright, who, upon an attempt to review the police commissioner’s head chef, is swept into the bedlam surrounding the kidnapping of the commissioner’s son. The script shines here, and there are some fast-paced action scenes which eventually delve into animation—an odd, but not entirely unexpected divergence for Anderson. 

Out of all the reporters, McDormand and Wright give the most compelling performances, but then again, their articles are structured around the role they play in the narrative to some degree. This presents an interesting dichotomy between the two pairs of reporters. Some are unprofessional, some inject themselves where they don’t belong and some utilize flowery prose. Ultimately, their tendencies as reporters are reflected, which is quite an achievement for Anderson to have created this level of minutiae in such brief stories. 

The narratives themselves don’t neglect to entertain or further the story, but they don’t do much more than just that. The many drawbacks that present themselves with anthologies are present in this movie: a lack of depth due to short narratives and brief performances. It’s certainly one of the most well-produced and best looking anthologies put to silver screen, but it lacks an overarching theme from which it could greatly benefit. 

4.5/5 Stars

The new silver screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi epic “Dune” has finally been released in theaters and for television screens to much success. The star studded affair features performances from Timothee Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista and Zendaya. 

The production is helmed by acclaimed director Denis Villanueve, and like his previous projects, this latest outing is cinema gold. Villanueve’s take on “Dune” has been several years in the making. Originally slated for release in 2020, the film suffered lengthy delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Despite it having been given a rather odd, stunted release via traditional box office and HBO Max same-day streaming, the film has accrued a formidable $300 million dollars domestically and abroad. 

The movie centers around a young Paul Atriedes, played by Chalamet, who is the heir to the throne of one of the most powerful galactic dynasties space has known. Atreides’ father, the stoic Duke Leto, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, is tasked by the Emperor of the universe to take over critical mining operations on the dreaded desert planet Arrakis. The goal of these operations is to acquire spice, the drug on which the machinations of the universe depend. This is both a gift and a curse for the Atreides house. “He who controls the spice, controls the universe,” said the vile Baron Harkonen, the mortal enemy of house Atreides, who upon being forced to leave the desert planet has left many a trap in his wake. 

The movie nimbly navigates the complex relationships, political plots, mysticism and exhilarating action sequences with a surprising grace. Chalamet’s performance as Atriedes can feel a bit strained at times, but it’s never so bad as to elicit unnecessary laughter. Despite the leading man’s inability to truly convince, he avoids the pitfall of pulling the audience out of the experience. 

The supporting cast, on the other hand, do an amazing job. Notable mentions are Momoa’s portrayal of the gregarious Duncan Idaho, best friend to Paul, as well as a Isacc’s portrayal of Leto. A real standout performance presents itself later in the film with the smaller role of Jamis, a feisty Fremen native to Arrakis, played by Babs Olusanmokur. 

There isn’t much to talk about when it comes to the film’s villains. Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgard do a good job of playing henchman and master Baron, respectively, but their scenes are limited and the audience never fully grasps the full scope of their vile complexion. 

The film does an outstanding job when it comes to sound design, employing the legendary Hans Zimmer who created some of the most simultaneously guttural and beautiful alien sounds he could for the film. 

The film is shot on digital and the colors pop, despite the desert palette. The shooting locations, such as Jordan, Abu Dhabi and Budapest for the desert scenes and Norway for the Atreides homeworld, showcase gorgeous landscapes with striking geological features. In terms of technicals, Villanueve doesn’t rely too heavily on CGI which is refreshing, although there is a particular dream sequence wherein it looks terrible. 

The worldbuilding done within the scope of the film feels a little lacking, but Villanueve has left that open-ended. It’s possible with the second movie in the “Dune” franchise being greenlit, audiences could see more of the detail-oriented storytelling Frank Herbert’s original novel is known for. 

The world of “Dune” was originally created back in 1965 by science fiction writer Frank Herbert. The success of his book, whose impact on sci-fi is comparable to Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, has had a lasting impact on both readers and theater audiences. The last celluloid rendition of Herbert’s “Dune” was released back in 1984, and is an abject failure despite its many quirks and potent source material. Flashy eighties action movie pomp, a droning guitar soundtrack and all around bad acting drag the David Lynch piece mercilessly through the scorching sands of Arrakis. 

Perhaps seeing how bad things can get is what has made the “Dune” 2021 release that much sweeter. Sure, it suffers from a rather flat Chalamet performance, but few other flaws present themselves. The supporting cast give top notch performances. The set pieces, locations, wardrobe, lore and sound design all create an immersive foreign world that beckons to be explored in the series’ next iteration. “Dune” this time around has got it right, thank you Muad’Dib.

You can find the Maine Campus’ film review of Frank Herbert’s 1984 “Dune” at https://mainecampus.com/2020/09/preparing-for-an-upcoming-december-adaptation-frank-herberts-1984-dune-calls-for-a-modern-refresh/.

On Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m., renowned author and lecturer for Yale’s creative writing program, Susan Choi, held a talk at the University of Maine’s Minsky Recital Hall about her latest novel entitled “Trust Exercise.” This novel won The National Book Award for Fiction in 2019.

The event was hosted by the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, a program headed by UMaine’s own Professor of English and published author, Caroline Bicks. The event was the first in-person lecture the Stephen E. King Chair Lecture Series has had since the onset of the pandemic, and a congenial return to in-person events for Choi, who is quite active in the creative writing community. 

Choi opened the talk by ruminating about her relationship with the creative writing process.

“I think a lot of writers agree that our own work is often a mystery to us,” Choi said. “It’s exciting to encounter something that gives our work a flash of light.”

Choi related her own work to a concept explored by literary critic, Andrew Miller, who said creative writing explores the author’s unled lives through their characters. 

“My own books start in some aspect of my personal experience,” Choi said.

From that point on, things are molded to the characters and the story takes on a life of its own, but the roots of the story are in lived experiences. It’s a process Choi used to craft the characters in “Trust Exercise.” 

The story takes place in the suburbs of a hot, southern, American city in the 1980s, a reference to Houston, Choi’s childhood home. Its characters are a group of hormonal and aptly dramatic high school theater kids returning to school for their sophomore year. Being a theater kid herself for a time, Choi drew from her experiences to craft a compelling narrative. Choi adds that the work builds off of some of the “intense emotional moments” associated with her time in the program, but that it is definitively different from her own life. It’s a “worst case scenario version of the past,” Choi added. 

Choi read aloud an excerpt from “Trust Exercise,” wherein the characters’ fiery relationships to one another are explored upon returning to the theater. It’s dramatic with little moments of subtly involved awkwardness, instead of employing a tough to bear, “second hand embarrassment” style, level of nuance that hits the reader in the best of ways. 

Choi then went on to read from her newest project, a short story called “Flashlight,” which is about a 10 year-old girl named Louisa who visits a child psychologist office and the ensuing tension between her and the psychologist. 

“It makes use of certain landscapes of my own childhood really well, but brings this mindspace into the service of a much darker scenario,” Choi said. 

Choi spoke about the impact Japan has had on her work. Her father, a professor, moved their family there for a brief period of time while he taught at a university. 

“It was a weird rupture in my regular American life that really stuck with me,” Choi said. 

The experience had a profound effect and ultimately helped her shape the many characters she writes about, even Louisa in “Flashlight.”

After the conclusion of the readings, the lecture was opened up to discussion and the audience members fired off question after question to Choi, trying to gain some insight into her own writing process, personal background and unique take on literature. 

The King Chair program was established through a gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation. 

“It supports the creation of innovative learning opportunities for students, and activities that advance creative writing, literature and the humanities on campus and in the community,” Bicks said. 

Bicks has tapped literary authorities such as the Boston Globe Spotlight team, a Hollywood script writer and more recently, Stephen King himself to speak, as well as creating writing workshops where students can integrate these speakers’ advice into their own works. 

“It’s about bringing artists to campus who have taken their skills and passions as humanities practitioners into the wider world to change it for the better,” Bicks said. 

In the case of Bicks and Choi, the two met first at the Bread Loaf School of English in Ripton, Vermont at a summer master’s program. From there, Bicks acquainted herself with Choi’s work. 

“From the moment I took this position, I knew I wanted to bring Choi here,” Bicks said. “She’s made a career of challenging conventional perspectives through her extraordinary body of fiction.”

The Stephen E. King Chair Lecture Series will continue throughout the year, bringing in outside authors and other important figures in the literary field. You can find more information at www.umaine.edu/stephenekingchair.

Choi’s work, “Trust Exercise,” can be found on bookshelves now, and her short story, “Flashlight,” can be accessed online. For more information about Choi and her works visit www.susanchoi.com.

On Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m., renowned author and lecturer for Yale’s creative writing program, Susan Choi, held a talk at the University of Maine’s Minsky Recital Hall about her latest novel entitled “Trust Exercise.” This novel won The National Book Award for Fiction in 2019.

The event was hosted by the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, a program headed by UMaine’s own Professor of English and published author, Caroline Bicks. The event was the first in-person lecture the Stephen E. King Chair Lecture Series has had since the onset of the pandemic, and a congenial return to in-person events for Choi, who is quite active in the creative writing community. 

Choi opened the talk by ruminating about her relationship with the creative writing process.

“I think a lot of writers agree that our own work is often a mystery to us,” Choi said. “It’s exciting to encounter something that gives our work a flash of light.”

Choi related her own work to a concept explored by literary critic, Andrew Miller, who said creative writing explores the author’s unled lives through their characters. 

“My own books start in some aspect of my personal experience,” Choi said.

From that point on, things are molded to the characters and the story takes on a life of its own, but the roots of the story are in lived experiences. It’s a process Choi used to craft the characters in “Trust Exercise.” 

The story takes place in the suburbs of a hot, southern, American city in the 1980s, a reference to Houston, Choi’s childhood home. Its characters are a group of hormonal and aptly dramatic high school theater kids returning to school for their sophomore year. Being a theater kid herself for a time, Choi drew from her experiences to craft a compelling narrative. Choi adds that the work builds off of some of the “intense emotional moments” associated with her time in the program, but that it is definitively different from her own life. It’s a “worst case scenario version of the past,” Choi added. 

Choi read aloud an excerpt from “Trust Exercise,” wherein the characters’ fiery relationships to one another are explored upon returning to the theater. It’s dramatic with little moments of subtly involved awkwardness, instead of employing a tough to bear, “second hand embarrassment” style, level of nuance that hits the reader in the best of ways. 

Choi then went on to read from her newest project, a short story called “Flashlight,” which is about a 10 year-old girl named Louisa who visits a child psychologist office and the ensuing tension between her and the psychologist. 

“It makes use of certain landscapes of my own childhood really well, but brings this mindspace into the service of a much darker scenario,” Choi said. 

Choi spoke about the impact Japan has had on her work. Her father, a professor, moved their family there for a brief period of time while he taught at a university. 

“It was a weird rupture in my regular American life that really stuck with me,” Choi said. 

The experience had a profound effect and ultimately helped her shape the many characters she writes about, even Louisa in “Flashlight.”

After the conclusion of the readings, the lecture was opened up to discussion and the audience members fired off question after question to Choi, trying to gain some insight into her own writing process, personal background and unique take on literature. 

The King Chair program was established through a gift from the Harold Alfond Foundation. 

“It supports the creation of innovative learning opportunities for students, and activities that advance creative writing, literature and the humanities on campus and in the community,” Bicks said. 

Bicks has tapped literary authorities such as the Boston Globe Spotlight team, a Hollywood script writer and more recently, Stephen King himself to speak, as well as creating writing workshops where students can integrate these speakers’ advice into their own works. 

“It’s about bringing artists to campus who have taken their skills and passions as humanities practitioners into the wider world to change it for the better,” Bicks said. 

In the case of Bicks and Choi, the two met first at the Bread Loaf School of English in Ripton, Vermont at a summer master’s program. From there, Bicks acquainted herself with Choi’s work. 

“From the moment I took this position, I knew I wanted to bring Choi here,” Bicks said. “She’s made a career of challenging conventional perspectives through her extraordinary body of fiction.”

The Stephen E. King Chair Lecture Series will continue throughout the year, bringing in outside authors and other important figures in the literary field. You can find more information at www.umaine.edu/stephenekingchair.

Choi’s work, “Trust Exercise,” can be found on bookshelves now, and her short story, “Flashlight,” can be accessed online. For more information about Choi and her works visit www.susanchoi.com.

3.5/5 Stars

Situated about five minutes outside of downtown Bangor is a cozy hole-in-the-wall diner that has served up many hot meals for the better part of four decades. Located at 125 State St., Judy’s serves up breakfast fare and operates a full bar from the hours of 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

It’s a great place to shake off the dust from the previous day, get thoroughly caffeinated and fill your belly with the kind of breakfast food that won’t break the bank. It doesn’t possess all that much square footage, but in return, it never suffers from feeling empty or cavernous. 

The interior is wood-paneled, cozy and decorated with various bar signs and hunting pictures. It’s a welcome break from some of the more typical breakfast spot decorations that permeate some of the higher-priced dives located closer to the University of Maine’s Orono campus. The establishment has a friendly and colorful cast of local characters which frequent it, a mix of hardworking Bangor residents and university students alike.

Sporting a generous menu, Judy’s has many different combinations of the typical eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, steak, flapjacks, hash and toast items available to order. Should you have an appetite, I highly recommend the Judy’s House Special. The Special includes two eggs, cooked any which way you’d like, home fries with chopped onions, a choice of sausage links or bacon and a choice of toast: wheat, white or an English muffin. Of course, should that prove to not be enough, corned beef hash can be purchased at a fair price and added on top of the home fries to complete the meal. 

In terms of culinary ability, the kitchen staff have done a wonderful job and undoubtedly know their way around a griddle. The eggs, which are best over easy, are runny and don’t have any disagreeable tinge or goo, as can be the case with poorly cooked eggs. They pair well with the accompanying golden brown, butter-slathered toast, or preferably with the crunchy English muffins. 

The home fries are pretty standard, and while they don’t get as creative on the spices as they could, they are delicious all the same. They don’t suffer from char or chewy starch due to undercooking. Throw on top of the onion-spattered home fries some of the delicious, and surprisingly not too salty, crispy corned beef hash and the meal really starts to come together. 

Lastly are the sausage links, or bacon should one choose, and with just a little syrup on top they will hammer the meal home. Pair the whole deal with a cup of coffee, or a mimosa if you’re feeling brave, and you’re well on your way to a cheery morning. 

While it’s not the most luxurious of breakfast joints, nor the most exquisite of meals, Judy’s is a good option for those who are looking for a cozy place to grab a bite and enjoy the morning in Bangor without shelling out a lot of money. Most of the meals on the menu are priced under $10, which nowadays is becoming harder and harder to find. You won’t get better company and a hotter meal anywhere in Bangor for the price and great hospitality. 

3.5/5 Stars

Situated about five minutes outside of downtown Bangor is a cozy hole-in-the-wall diner that has served up many hot meals for the better part of four decades. Located at 125 State St., Judy’s serves up breakfast fare and operates a full bar from the hours of 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

It’s a great place to shake off the dust from the previous day, get thoroughly caffeinated and fill your belly with the kind of breakfast food that won’t break the bank. It doesn’t possess all that much square footage, but in return, it never suffers from feeling empty or cavernous. 

The interior is wood-paneled, cozy and decorated with various bar signs and hunting pictures. It’s a welcome break from some of the more typical breakfast spot decorations that permeate some of the higher-priced dives located closer to the University of Maine’s Orono campus. The establishment has a friendly and colorful cast of local characters which frequent it, a mix of hardworking Bangor residents and university students alike.

Sporting a generous menu, Judy’s has many different combinations of the typical eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, steak, flapjacks, hash and toast items available to order. Should you have an appetite, I highly recommend the Judy’s House Special. The Special includes two eggs, cooked any which way you’d like, home fries with chopped onions, a choice of sausage links or bacon and a choice of toast: wheat, white or an English muffin. Of course, should that prove to not be enough, corned beef hash can be purchased at a fair price and added on top of the home fries to complete the meal. 

In terms of culinary ability, the kitchen staff have done a wonderful job and undoubtedly know their way around a griddle. The eggs, which are best over easy, are runny and don’t have any disagreeable tinge or goo, as can be the case with poorly cooked eggs. They pair well with the accompanying golden brown, butter-slathered toast, or preferably with the crunchy English muffins. 

The home fries are pretty standard, and while they don’t get as creative on the spices as they could, they are delicious all the same. They don’t suffer from char or chewy starch due to undercooking. Throw on top of the onion-spattered home fries some of the delicious, and surprisingly not too salty, crispy corned beef hash and the meal really starts to come together. 

Lastly are the sausage links, or bacon should one choose, and with just a little syrup on top they will hammer the meal home. Pair the whole deal with a cup of coffee, or a mimosa if you’re feeling brave, and you’re well on your way to a cheery morning. 

While it’s not the most luxurious of breakfast joints, nor the most exquisite of meals, Judy’s is a good option for those who are looking for a cozy place to grab a bite and enjoy the morning in Bangor without shelling out a lot of money. Most of the meals on the menu are priced under $10, which nowadays is becoming harder and harder to find. You won’t get better company and a hotter meal anywhere in Bangor for the price and great hospitality. 

3/5 Stars

On Oct. 8, the last James Bond franchise film “No Time to Die” was released. It bristled with energy right out of the gate even though it had been waiting to play in theaters for over a year. 

“No Time to Die” is an oddly situated film. Originally slated to hit silver screens across the globe in April 2020, it had to be pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic similar to its theater-mates such as Denis Villanueve’s upcoming “DUNE.” This is for good reason, as not only did postponing the film keep moviegoers safe, it also saved Eon Productions millions. 

Despite this being the last film that Daniel Craig will play as Bond, living up to the previous installment’s jaw-dropping box office earnings of $880 million will be no small undertaking. Only time will tell if audiences shell out for the big-budget flick. 

There was some drama regarding who would helm the $250 million dollar effort. After “Skyfall” and “Spectre” director Sam Mendes made his exit, the studio courted potential directors such as Villanueve and Christopher Nolan before settling on Danny Boyle. This appeared to be a misstep, as Boyle parted ways after six months back in 2018 due to creative differences regarding the script. American director Cary Joji Fukunaga was then tapped for the role and managed to wrap principal filming back in October of 2019. 

Despite his age of 53, Craig looks good in his last appearance as Bond, and the well-rehearsed fight scenes are dynamic and work to great effect. 

Jeffery Wright reprises his role as Felix Leiter, and the two actors play off each other well. Although the script is a little lacking, their chemistry is clear. Craig is also joined by Ana De Armas, playing the character of Paloma, and Lashanna Lynch, playing Nomi, MI6’s replacement 007. There is some playful banter between Nomi and Bond throughout the film, which is fun to watch. Arma’s Paloma is a quirky character, one who elicits some clever one-liners from Bond, and with any luck it’s a role we’ll see reprised in Bond’s next iteration. 

Rami Malek tries his best to keep the film engaging as the main antagonist, but the character is just a stereotypical Bond villain with a loose sense of motive.

At the end of the day, it’s all good fun when it comes to a classic Bond action movie; none of the A-list actors miss their mark for more than a scene, the production quality is good because it’s expensive, save the rare flaw which looks horridly out of place and the script needs a little help. 

The director seems to pick locations characterized by what is fast becoming a tiring aesthetic: industrial architecture consisting of cement, glass and exposed metal pipe. There are pretty shots amongst the bland, but overall, the cinematography lacks vision.  These qualms are somewhat superficial, but what really brings the movie down is its runtime. The lengthy 2 hour and 45 minute runtime really starts to wear the viewer down. Lots of needless, straightforward dialogue and many useless expositional scenes could have been cut from the back half of the movie. 

It is certainly a well put together film in the first half and does what it should by giving Craig a proper send-off. Had more care been given to narrative, it could have been something a little more attention-holding. 

Clubs are back in full swing this semester at the University of Maine. Thanks to stringent safety protocols, meetings continue to be conducted in person. With clubs operating virtually for so long, this semester in particular has seen an increase in clubs’ membership. This has been the case with UMaine’s Anthropology Club. 

Headed by President Allisyn Tidd and President-elect James Bilella, the club has seen its membership multiply in just a few meetings this semester. Anthropology Club is centered around the field of anthropology, which is the study of humans in the past and present.

Tidd took the reins about a year ago during a bit of a lull in membership and has been seeking out department members and potential guest speakers ever since.

“I got in touch with the club’s advisor, Dr. Dan Sandweiss, and started sending out department emails so all could hear about it,” said Tidd.

Sandweiss is a professor of anthropology and quaternary climate studies at UMaine and a well respected name in the field of archaeology. With some help from Sandweiss and others the club has grown from five members to about 20-30 active members since last semester.

Everyone is welcome to join the Anthropology Club. The meetings feature a diverse range of people and majors.

“The club is for everyone,” said Tidd. “Most people only get exposed to anthropology through ANT 100, and most people in college don’t start out as anthropology majors because it’s not included in high school curriculum. We wanted to make sure everyone knew about it.”

The club is about communicating and promoting discussion on the many facets of anthropology, including cultural, linguistic and biological anthropology and archaeology. It’s about exploring the field, but it’s also about having fun while facilitating connections between anthropology majors.

“We want other anthropology majors to meet each other and connect because most people don’t see other anthropology majors until their last few years,” said Tidd. “The club is a great place to meet people interested in the same things.”

This past week’s meeting featured a presentation from UMaine Research Associate Jamie Wren. Wren, who works with prolific forensic anthropologist Dr. Marcella Sorg at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, presented his dissertation research entitled “Effects of Alcohol on the Human Cranium.” His research dove into the alcohol-related biological processes that encourage osteoclast production, which in turn breaks down bone. His work was inspired by a series of forensic cases he and Sorg worked together on. 

Wren also spoke at length about his data collection and filtering processes, a topic of particular interest to those who intend to use their degree to do scientifically based research. Wren’s research aims to give medical practitioners a better idea of the effects excessive alcohol consumption has on the human skeleton and how it might inform treatment. 

Many more guest lecturers are slated for the following few months, including local archaeologists like Dr. Sandweiss and Dr. Bonnie Newsom of the anthropology department at UMaine, who will present on Oct. 20 and Oct. 27. 

“We’ve got a lot of great speakers lined up for the next couple weeks,” said Tidd. “We’re looking forward to making the club useful on campus, including exploring opportunities for volunteering.” 

Whether you’re an anthropology student or not, the club is open to all who have an interest in the study of past and present human culture. To join, contact Tidd at allisyn.tidd@maine.edu

Meetings are held every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in 232 South Stevens Hall.

Monday: World Teachers’ Day

Created in 1994 by UNESCO, Oct. 5 was set aside to acknowledge the vital role teachers play in nurturing and enriching lives across the globe. This year’s theme is “Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future,” in keeping with how the profession has adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps take some time to reflect on some of the mentors you’ve had that shaped you into the person you are today (hopefully for the better). A few ways to celebrate might be to thank an inspiring instructor you currently have for their dedication and commitment to the job, or send a letter or gift to a past teacher. In your lifelong quest for knowledge, a teacher is your most trusted companion.

Tuesday: National Transfer Money to Your Daughter Day

Are you a daughter? Do you have parents? You may be entitled to financial compensation. On this most special of days, parents are encouraged to send their darling daughters bursting envelopes sealed with kisses and stuffed with bills. In today’s digital age, that might extend to Venmo, Cash App or any sort of internet based instant transfer as well. This may seem like some malformed bit of advertising on the part of some financial institution, and well, it is. The holiday was created by Western Union, a wire transfer service that’s existed since 1872. If you fall into the daughter category you can participate in the day’s festivities by giving your loving parents a nudge, and having them send you some much needed economic stimulus.

Wednesday: National Frappe Day

With your earnings from the previous day’s activities you can (hopefully) take part in National Frappe Day. To do this, simply visit your local coffee house, chain or otherwise, and pick up a cold treat. Not all chains participate, as this holiday is lesser known than many of its caffeinated counterparts, but it may be worth asking your barista if there are any deals. 

Thursday: National Depression Screening Day

Now, perhaps more than ever due to COVID-19 isolation, it is important to examine what depression is and how to identify its symptoms. The holiday, first celebrated in 1991, aims to spread awareness, and to get those who are hurting the help they need. You can participate by reaching out to those around you who might need help, educating yourself on the signs of depression and how to combat it, speaking up about your own experiences and by contributing to charities that screen patients.

Friday: World Post Day

Established in 1969, World Post Day celebrates postal service all across the globe, highlighting advancements in communication and package delivery, as well as reminding us of the many ways in which we are connected to one another. The profession of mail carrying has been around for a millenium! To partake in the day’s celebrations send someone you know a letter or package, or thank your local mail carrier. For those who want to go the extra mile like the heroes in blue so often do, brush up on the history and some of the core values associated with the formation of the United States Postal Service.

It’s that time of year again when we’re pulling out our sweaters from the closet and spending some time outside breathing in the crisp fall air while it lasts. As the foliage changes color and the winds are just a tad chillier with each passing day, it’s important to make the most of this fall season. Add to that mix the COVID-19 restrictions, and the options may feel a bit limited when pulling together some weekend plans that are safe, active and entertaining. These locally-owned farms usually offer varieties of produce as well as idyllic scenery and a great many things to do that won’t put you or loved ones at high risk. In the spirit of engaging in socially distant weekend festivities, here’s a list of some farms that the greater Bangor area has to offer. 

Treworgy Family Orchards

Tried and true, the Treworgy family orchards situated in nearby Levant seem to be the spot of choice for most students in the area. This comes as little surprise when you consider all that they have to offer. With around 1,300 trees, there are plenty of Cortland, Macintosh, Liberty, Macoun, Honeycrisp and Gala apples to pick from, with the Mac, Cortland, Macoun and Gala varieties currently in season. As far as pricing goes, the orchard charges $1.49/lb for all types but Honeycrisp, which runs at $2.79/lb. If having a wide variety of apples to pluck from the trees wasn’t enough, the property also boasts an impressive corn maze, huge pumpkin and squash patch, ice cream stand, delicious cider donut shop and petting zoo. The maze costs $10 to get lost in and is roughly four acres. This year’s theme for the maze is the celebration of Maine’s bicentennial year. There is surely no shortage of fun to be had at this local gem and it’s certainly well worth a day.

Sullivan’s Orchard

A scenic drive up Route 43 past the dams, tens of farms and across a couple of waterways is Sullivan’s Orchard in Charleston. This friendly, family-run orchard consisting of over 800 trees has great prices and a delectable variety of apples. Currently in season are their Mac, Cortland, Zesta, Williams Pride and Snow Apple varieties priced at a reasonable $0.85/lb. Add to their selection Honeycrisps, which although not quite ripe, will run at a similarly affordable $1/lb. Although they may not have much in the way of facilities, the shack at the entrance sells their own maple syrup, pumpkins, apple cider donuts and locally grown fruits and veggies. Sullivan’s is a great spot to pick apples away from the crowds at a modest price. Roughly a mile down the road is the Chesley Family pumpkin patch which has for sale several varieties of pumpkins.

Conant’s Apple Orchard

With twenty varieties and over 1,000 trees, Conant Apple Orchards in nearby Etna is also a nice place to drop in on. In season are their Macs and Cortlands, both moderately priced. They also have for sale their own pumpkins, gourds, maple syrup, pears, cheeses, as well as homemade goods. The farm makes a mean candied apple and runs hayrides several times a day. 

Hitting the apple orchard this fall makes more sense than ever before, and with so many beautiful farms in the area why not get out and give exploring them a go? Whether it be with friends, family or someone special, getting out to enjoy both the crisp air and apples is always worth your while.