Lincolnville is a small town. As of the 2020 census, there were only 2,312 of us. We might have increased in number a bit over the last five years, but we still aren’t many. What I consider the center of the Midcoast, Rockland to Belfast, Lincolnville naturally being in the middle, is only around 25-30,000 souls, even including the surrounding inland towns. Maybe a few more in the summer.

It is a little place, and generally pretty insignificant to the wider world. We are at the northern-most, eastern-most edge of this nation, the end of the line. There is even a widely shared theory that many people do not think Maine even exists, that the state is as made up as Castle Rock or Derry, the two towns frequently visited in the writings of Maine’s debatably most famous resident, Stephen King.

Fun fact, many years ago, during an internship for my master’s degree in social work, I was tasked with rewriting the interview scenarios presented to candidates applying for a job in Maine Child Protective Services. With little oversight, I set fictional case studies in the towns of Castle Rock and Derry, Maine. I wonder if those are still in use?

It is February and the isolation of living in a small town in a small place becomes apparent. While this year has so far lacked the big snow of my youth, it has been appropriately cold to my mind. 

My dog, Belladonna, has been very resistant to our morning walks. I really need to hit up the Loyal Biscuit Company to see about getting some booties for her little paws, but I also know that Bella will be as annoyed by booties as she is by the salt on the road side. We need our walks, however, as they make us both less grumpy.

Whether you have lived here 50 years or five, it is clear just how small this place is. We can’t avoid each other. The degrees that separate us are few, and we are all friends of friends at the very least. 

This tends to lead to all kinds of “dual relationships” as we call them in my profession. We interact with each other on many different levels. We see each other at the store, at the kids’ activities, at church; we patronize each other’s businesses. This is why I so often talk about the need to be kind, to be civil.

I feel like we are living in a rather uncivil times. I recently saw someone refer to it as “The Great Divide”, as we find ourselves increasingly at odds over a number of issues. These issues are real things. I am actually a bit astonished by the number of people I personally know who are or could be deeply impacted by some of the directives in the process of being implemented by our government.

So when I write of being kind, about being civil, I do not mean that one should simply ignore issues that they find important. But issues can be discussed without accusations thrown at individuals who disagree with you, without name calling, without belittlement. Such discourse is common in online spaces, and I worry about seeing it more and more in person. Making judgements about someone based on the category you have placed them in, the vehicle they drive, the signs in front of their home, the letter next to their name on the voting roll.

People are extraordinarily complex, and as much as it is convenient for the various medias to label us as red or blue, right or left, liberal or conservative, these labels don’t really mean a whole heck of a lot.

So fight for what you see as right, but fight with civil words and peaceful protest, with your buying habits and personal choices, with the way you treat your neighbors. It is much easier to be persuasive if you aren’t acting like a jerk.

I’m not going to act like I am some model of this behavior. I believe what I believe with passion, and I am certainly guilty of being petty and unkind. But I am working at this. I am trying to be better.

I believe in the basic goodness of people, and in my experience much of what I find as the most egregious bad behavior is based in ignorance and fear. There has been a disturbing tendency for people to attempt to curate their social contacts to only people who they believe they agree with. 

In this little place on the coast of Maine, I think this is much harder to do, and we are better for it. If you restrict yourself to only being around people who you think think like you, you are going to miss out on much of what makes this place wonderful.

We have the opportunity to really get to know people in a place like this. You are guaranteed to encounter the same people over and over, so be mindful of how you behave. You never know who might have your back when you need it.

An owl in the hen house

I neglected to report on this incident in last week’s column, but during that particularly vicious recent cold snap, my youngest son, good boy that he is, went out to close up the chickens for the night and make sure their water wasn’t frozen. He arrived to find a flock of very agitated dinosaurs.

Looking up, he spotted on the highest roost a full grown barred owl, staring down at him.

After getting a quick video from behind the door, he called his mom (see, cell phones and kids aren’t all bad!). Tracee came to the rescue, and with a broom, gently carried the bird out, and set it free. The owl seemed disgruntled to be removed from the warm spot he (or she) had claimed, but the chickens seemed pleased. It is hard to tell with chickens, though.

Fishing Derby

Lincolnville Central School Parent Teacher Organization will be holding its annual fishing derby this coming Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration at Norton’s Pond is open between 8 and 9:30 a.m. with fees of $10 for students, $15 for adults, and $30 for a family of 3 or more. 

Fishing will be taking place at Norton Pond, Levenseller, and Megunticook with the final weigh in at Norton’s taking place at 12:45, and prize drawing at 1 p.m. You must be present at Norton’s Pond to win. There will be prizes for children and adults.

In addition, at Breezemere park on Norton’s will be a 50/50 raffle and a chili cook-off. Special thanks go out to the sponsors for donating prizes: Drakes Corner Store, Aubochon Ace Hardware, Outdoor Sportman, Maine Outdoor Guides, Flagship Cinemas, Oakland Park Bowling Lanes, and O’Hara Lobster Bait. And of course, thank you to the dedicated members of the LCS-PTO, who are doing more than their share to build community.

Even if you don’t fish, get out there, have some chili and meet some neighbors. Should be one heck of a time for the whole gang!

Library Happenings

Tuesday will be needleworking, from 3-5 p.m.. The library will again welcome the primary classes from LCS Friday morning. And Saturday, morning, warm up with hot chocolate and stories if you need a reprieve from the ice.

Tobaggan Runners Up

Congratulations to Lincolnville boys Ben Hazen, Donny Fullington, and Brandon Allen, whose team the Hose Beaters came in second in the three-person division at the Tobaggan Championship this weekend. Brandon may be living in Appleton these days, but he's still a Lincolnville boy.

Folks, I know I tend to retread this same topic a lot, but dagnabbit, this community is importantly to me, and when we find common ground things tend to run better. Again, be passionate about your beliefs, advocate for change, but remain neighborly.

This town, this state, this nation, and this world is stronger when we debate rationally and respectfully.

If you have town news or events you want me to mention, please reach out. In addition, if you have photos of town activities you want me to share, please let me know. I am including photos from the middle school concert, but I would love photos from the younger grade concerts, when they happen. School sports photos are also welcome.

Stay warm, stay safe, and reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, February 3

School Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. LCS

Tuesday, February 4

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Wednesday, February 5

Budget Committee, 6 p.m., Town Office

Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, 6 p.m. Town Office

Thursday, February 6

Conservation Committee, 4 p.m. Town Office

Friday, February 7

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Saturday, February 8

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Sunday, February 9

United Christian Church, 9:30 a.m. Worship, 18 Searsmont Road

Bayshore Baptist Church, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 11:00 worship, 2648 Atlantic Highway