We celebrate Bangor this weekend with the National Folk Festival. But other riches lie beyond our city’s limits. We asked NEWS writers throughout the state to tell us why they live where they live. Below you’ll find their stories about Belfast’s gothic architecture, blueberry barrens in Washington County, good neighbors such as Earl Dean of Pittsfield and the easy, peaceful feeling of back roads in Penobscot. These are the lifestyles that add music to Maine during the rest of the year. Welcome to our towns.

– Alicia Anstead

Raising my children in Pittsfield, I kept repeating a mantra: “As soon as they are all out of school, I’m moving to the ocean.” Pittsfield is not a tourist destination. No amazing lakes or scenic bypasses. No remarkable art centers or tall waterfalls or spell-binding water vistas. No mountains. No presidents slept here and no battles were fought here. No malls or museums.

It’s a simple, beautifully manicured community with a sense of pride and history, and an extraordinary school system.

My six children thrived here and, during their years in a top-notch local school system, filled my home with more than 20 exchange students from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan and Russia.

And then it happened: The children – mine and everyone else’s – grew up and left. No more size 13 sneakers in the entryway to trip over. No more basketball and football on TV. Milk was actually left in the refrigerator.

The house was much, too much, quiet.

At the same time, a job opened up in a dream location – Bar Harbor – and I was ready to apply. There it was: the lure of the salty air, the ocean sounds, sea glass on the beach. It was romantic and tempting.

Faced with my dream, I looked anew at Pittsfield. That’s when I realized that what keeps me here today is the people. Where I live isn’t about place. It is about community, my community.

Oh, the spirit, energy and loyalty of the people of Pittsfield!

Here they are:

Earl Dean, who began the Pittsfield food bank in his garage and allowed it to spill into his house until the community rented a storefront to hold all the donated canned goods.

Millie Bachrach, who in her role as the school nurse has quietly provided needy schoolchildren with coats, mittens, hats and shoes for decades.

Marietta Fletcher, who in her 80s continues to volunteer for every humane cause, including hospital and nursing home visitations.

Bernie Williams, who has led the Pittsfield Fire Department for 40 years.

Rusty Haines, who has cooked the hot dogs at every home football game for more than 20 years, even though none of his children played.

Norman Clarke, who has drawn the logo for the Central Maine Egg Festival T-shirts and booklets – at no cost – for 23 years and the dozens of volunteers who work alongside him.

Arthur Dewey, a World War II machine gunner who diligently persisted to have the Veterans’ Memorial and Park placed on Main Street.

Robert Downs, Michael Gray, Jasper Wyman and a dozen others who serve and serve and serve on town committees and boards, and say yes without hesitation and serve again.

Frank McGrady, who volunteers every summer to manage all of the town’s Little League, Babe Ruth and Pigtail baseball programs.

Maybe you know these people in your town.

But that’s Pittsfield, a community built from the soul and spirit of its people, not bricks or pavement or even natural wonders. It’s not the ocean, but it’s vast and salty. Stop by, take a walk down any of the lovely, tree-lined streets. You will get a “Good morning” and a smile. You might even find one of your own.