Maine

Maine musician gets stolen drums back in elaborate sting operation

Published

1 year ago

January 14, 2025

Maine musician gets stolen drums back in elaborate sting operation

CUMBERLAND, Maine — When police asked Evan Casas if he was positive the drums for sale online were his beloved set, stolen from a storage unit last year, he didn’t hesitate.

“I told them I was 1,000 percent sure,” Casas said. They were like no other, and he’d know them anywhere.

The veteran percussionist had played the custom maple set at hundreds of gigs and recording sessions since a college friend made them for him 25 years ago, when they were both freshmen at the University of Southern Maine.

Casas’ positive identification led to a Hollywood-style police sting involving a wire, a secret code word and his old friend’s wife’s aunt. No one has yet been arrested, but Casas did get his drums back, which is all he really cares about.

The wild story started with a phone call in February from a security person making her rounds at the New Gloucester storage facility where Casas was storing the drums and other possessions while building a house. She told him the lock was missing from his unit, which was odd.

When he got to the unit, he immediately saw his drums were missing, along with several other items. It broke his heart.

Casas’ college friend and fellow drummer, Scott Ciprari, made the honey-colored set while both were music education students living in Robie-Andrews Hall on USM’s Gorham campus a quarter century ago. Ciprari went on to co-found the SJC Drum company which now counts drummers from Dropkick Murphys, Rancid and Sum 41 as clients.

“The third kit that he ever made was my kit,” Casas said. “They were very special to me — my first real drums.”

Casas filed a police report but doubted he’d ever see them again.

“I was devastated. I was emotionally attached to them,” Casas said. “I honestly grieved for them like I lost a family member.”

He got on with finishing his house, being a husband and raising his two daughters. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, SJC drum aficionados sprang into action.

Casas isn’t on social media, but his old pal Ciprari is, along with the 5,000-member SJC Drums Community Facebook group. There, members fanned out, scouring Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and other online swaps, looking for anyone fencing the purloined drums. Eventually, in December — 10 months after they went missing — a member of Ciprari’s extended family located them.

“It was my wife’s aunt who found them,” Ciprari said, still somewhat surprised.

When Casas got the word, he used his wife’s social media account to look. Sure enough, there they were, offered for $1,500 on Facebook, just one town away from where they were stolen.

Resisting the urge to just buy them back and be done with it, Casas called the Cumberland County Sheriff’s detective assigned to his case. The detective assured him they’d get the drums back, then suggested an elaborate plan, if Casas was game.

He was and set up a meeting with the seller.

Reached for comment last week, the detective could only say the investigation was ongoing.

According to Casas, on New Year’s Eve morning, he met two deputies and a plainclothed detective behind the saltshed at a Maine DOT maintenance yard. The detective, a gun in his waistband and with a wireless microphone, got into Casas’ car. The deputies followed at a discreet distance as they headed for the house selling the drums.

“The plan was, once I could confirm that they were mine, I was to say, ‘These drums look legit,’” Casas said. “And then the detective would say, ‘Oh, they’re legit, huh, so you want to buy them?’ That was the code word for the deputies to roll up.”

When they got inside, Casas recognized the drums in an instant. His daughter’s pink baby blanket was still stuffed in the bass drum, where he’d put it to help deaden the sound. Casas then played his part, pretending to go out to his truck for the money while the deputies arrived.

Police later told Casas they didn’t arrest the woman selling the drums because she was conducting the transaction on behalf of a family member, according to Casas. Casas remembers the young woman looking stunned and very scared.

“I felt awful. I felt like a dad with daughters,” he said “I didn’t want to ruin anyone else’s day. I just needed to get my drums back.”

To celebrate their return, Casas’ daughters asked if he could take their picture with the drums. He did.

The original maker of the drums is also happy for their homecoming.

“I hope those drums get passed down as a family heirloom,” Ciprari said. “He was one of the first guys who supported me. Those drums mean a lot.”

His house now completed, Casas said he’ll now be keeping the drums at home, where he can play them.

“They’re not going back into storage,” he said.

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Maine

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

Published

7 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’ve ever wondered what goes into pitching a good business idea, you might want to stop by a Big Gig event.

The Big Gig Entrepreneurship Pitch Off brings professionals from across the state together to network and pitch their early-stage business ideas for a chance to win $500.

Tuesday’s competition was held at the Salty Brick Market in Bangor, and it drew a lot of spectators.

“The winners of each semifinal event get $500 and the opportunity to compete for $5,000, so that can make a huge impact on a business that’s just getting off the ground,” said Renee Kelly, a Big Gig organizer.

The winner of the competition, Colin McGuire, was also grateful for the opportunity to showcase his idea “Art on Tap,” which would connect local artists with local venues trying to put on events.

“The support tonight is huge, and it’s just giving me more enthusiasm for running with the idea,” he said.

The season finale of the competition will be held May 19th.

The location is yet to be determined.

If you’d like to apply to compete in the contest, you can go to biggig.org.

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Maine

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

Published

19 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

Are you up for a Maine food challenge, or are your eyes bigger than your stomach?

A Waterville staple, Buen Apetito has a monster burrito just waiting for someone to eat it down to the very last bite.

This thing is a beast, literally called La Bestia, and it’s definitely a mighty task for a fearless foodie.

Take on the Buen Apetito La Bestia Food Challenge in Waterville, Maine

According to Buen Apetito, if you can finish a super-sized burrito in 30 minutes or less, you’ll get the $60 meal for free, a La Bestia champion shirt, and a picture on the wall of fame. That’s not to mention the bragging rights of dominating a task few will be able to conquer.

Wondering what’s in the burrito?

The Mexican restaurant shared in a Facebook comment on a post that the burrito is filled with “grilled chicken, chorizo, and tender shredded beef or pork. Built on a layer of seasoned rice, refried beans, and French fries, it’s melted together with a shredded Mexican cheese blend and a drizzle of creamy cheese sauce, sautéed peppers and onions, green salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, creamy guacamole, and a bed of shredded lettuce all wrapped in three extra-large tortillas fused into one epic wrap.”

Let’s just say that this thing is packed full.

The first La Bestia contender took up his fork and knife in December 2025, but despite coming close, he couldn’t come out with the win.

As of March 2026, the challenge has remained undefeated. But you never know, someone is bound to come out victorious.

Just note that you can only try your hand at this food challenge on Wednesday and Thursday.

Buen Apetito Has Been a Longstanding Waterville, Maine, Restaurant

First opened in 1999, Buen Apeitito has been around for nearly 30 years.

Centralmaine.com reported that the Mexican restaurant was originally located at the Railroad Square complex off Chaplin Street before moving to 99 West River Road in 2023.

A little over a year later, in 2024, Buen Apetito shared on Facebook that it was passing on the torch to new owners, including Dalia, “the heart and soul of [the] kitchen for twenty years,” her daughter, Norma, and Norma’s husband, Shawn.

READ MORE: Famous Maine Restaurant Buen Apetito Adds Powerhouse New Owner to Crew

And it seems like not only are things still going strong, but new additions like La Bestia food challenge are only enhancing the spirit of big flavor and delicious Mexican food at the Waterville staple.

So, you think you’re up for the task of taking down a beast of a burrito at Buen Apetito? Good luck.

You Know You’re From Maine If You’ve Tried All 19 of These Foods

Here’s a number of foods associated with Maine. How many of them have you had?

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

The New York Time’s Best Restaurant Lists Feature These 7 Maine Spots

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

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Maine

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Monday’s telethon held by WABI in partnership with Penquis and Heart of Maine United Way Monday raised money for the heating of homes, something so basic, yet so significant in a state like Maine.

Danielle Hewes, Penquis contributor and volunteer, says some people might not even know that they qualify for heating assistance.

“I think there’s this misconception that you can’t get that if you’re working. Like that’s just for people on general assistance. The truth of the matter is this is for the people that are maybe not able to work, but also for the people that are working. They’re making ends meet,” she said.

For Danielle, that’s what makes events like the telethon so special: it’s making a real difference in the community with people who need the help the most.

Speaking about Penquis in particular, she said, “You learn about all of the other things they do and how they help the community and you can’t help but want to be a part of that.”

If you weren’t able to donate Monday, donations are still being accepted.

You can go to homeunitedway.org/heat.

You can also call 941-2800.

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