CARMEL – A local indie wrestling impresario is bringing his promotion to his hometown to mark its first birthday.

Pro Wrestling Takeover will mark its first year with “Almost Home,” a show taking place on Sept. 22 at the Carmel Elementary School – in tandem with the town’s Carmel Days celebration – at 7 p.m. The bill will feature eight matches and include a wealth of up-and-coming wrestling talent.

The promotion has operated largely in southern Maine since its inception; this is their seventh event overall, but “Almost Home” marks the first PWT show in the greater Bangor area.

PWT is the brainchild of Ryan Waning, a longtime resident of Carmel and veteran stand-up comedian. It was born of a time when he was away from the stage, caring for his ailing father, and searching for a creative outlet. PWT – in many ways the culmination of a lifelong dream – was born of that search.

Waning was kind enough to spend a few minutes answering questions about “Almost Home,” Pro Wrestling Takeover and what it means to bring something he loves to his hometown.

Taking the field at Wayne's Wiffle for a Wish

BANGOR There's something wonderful about having a great time for a great cause, and that's just what I did this past weekend.

It's too easy to take potshots at this year's incarnation of the Olympics Games. The Zika, the air and water pollution, the body parts washing up on shore - the punchlines are there to be had for even the worst late-night staff writer. And I have long held the opinion that the Olympics are the longest running and most boring reality television series in the history.

I was back onstage this pastFridaynight as part of the Portland Comedy Festival after the considerable layoff of almost ten months. To be honest, I was nervous for that set like I haven't been for any other that I can remember. Sure, there were always the ones that would give me an extra buzz, headlining a particular club for the first time, opening for someone really big for the first time, or working with someone whose work you admire.Fridaywas a different kind of buzz altogether, it was the 'if you stink out the joint, people will think you're done' thing. And I wanted no part of that, thank you.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with an absolute legend, a former UCLA Bruin and Boston Celtic and basketball Hall of Famer - Bill Walton.

Look, I get it. It's getting to the point in the sports season that new stories aren't going to be the easiest thing to come by, so sometimes motivated writers and radio show hosts will put their hamster wheels to work and try to scare something up on their own.

I began writing a column under this title for the Maine Campus in 2002 and have never quite been able to shake the name. With a handle like mine, there aren't a lot of cleverly-turned phrases or pop culture references available, so if you think you may have read something similarly named a handful and a half years ago, you probably did.

All aboard. Everybody make sure your hands and feet are inside the vehicle before we depart. A cursory look to your right and then to your left will reveal that not all the seats are taken here on the Celtics Bandwagon. I'd venture that we are barely over half capacity.