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Airport bans food giveaways to troops

BANGOR, Maine — For years, troops stopping for a layover at Bangor International Airport en route to or from Iraq and Afghanistan could count on being offered a chocolate brownie, whoopie pie or other homemade treat.

But the free food and beverages came to a halt about a month ago after airport officials served notice to the area’s volunteer Maine Troop Greeters that it was enforcing a ban against such giveaways.

“I think I speak for most everybody when I say I think it’s very sad we cannot do it,” greeter Gary Mock of Hampden said Tuesday as 531 soldiers passed through the airport during the afternoon. “The cookies, candy and everything we have here is all in support of the troops and to thank them.”

The volunteers have welcomed almost 500,000 troops since 2003 at BIA, a major entry and exit point for planes carrying military personnel overseas.

Some greeters complained that jealous airport vendors were responsible for the change in rules, but the airport cited liability concerns and strict rules that must be followed by airport concessionaires.

“We have people who bake things at home, and that is very hard to regulate,” said Tony Caruso, the airport’s assistant director.

Noting that concessionaires must adhere to strict federal regulations on food preparation, temperature control and handling, he said ensuring that all food is properly prepared and stored is a safety and security issue.

In May 2003, the troop greeters were allowed to move into a room in the airport’s main terminal that has since become filled with memorabilia from troops who have passed through.

Until last month, troops entering the room found tables filled with cookies, brownies, doughnuts, fudge, candies and, in season, strawberries and Girl Scout cookies.

Caruso said the greeters were told from the start they could not offer food and beverages, but longtime greeters Ina Baker and Cathy Czarnecki said they could not recall a time when food items were limited.

“We don’t want to step on anybody’s toes because we don’t want to get kicked out of here,” Czarnecki said. “It is kind of disappointing the way some of the troops come in here looking for food because we’ve had it in the past.”

As for whether vendor pressure played a role, greeter Bill Knight said, “I’ve heard those remarks and so forth.” But Caruso said the airport has not received any official complaints from airport businesses concerned about loss of revenue due to the troop greeters’ offerings.

The greeters also allow troops to call their families during the layovers on cell phones provided by Unicel and U.S. Cellular. Verizon services the pay phones in the airport.

Asked if the airport would ban the cell phone usage if Verizon complained about missed revenues, Caruso said, “That would be something between the airport and Verizon, and right now that is not an issue.”