The red oak tree stood at the end of our hen yard, ignored for the most part, until it started shedding sheets of bark. That’s when we first started looking up. The branches were bare, even as every other tree in its neighborhood was putting out leaves. Still, it was easy to look away; trees die all the time, right? But as each year passed, it began looking deader and deader. The base of the tree, where the strong roots start, began shrinking away, no doubt a result of the hens scratching relentlessly at the soil. Had the hens killed it?

 It began to look dangerous this spring, looming over the henhouse and garden. It leaned in the direction of our barn. One day this summer we heard a terrible crash in its general vicinity; not the oak, but a birch tree in the woods had snapped in half, burying the old wreck of a car that came with this place. What if the oak gave way while we were picking raspberries under its thin shade?

 Our neighbor and tree guy, Richard Lermond, had been eyeing the oak as well. He could take it down he said, but suggested “we wait and see if she comes back this spring.” Sure. All the while, he’d been studying the best way to tackle it – how not to hit the barn, not to destroy the garden beds, not to get hurt in the process. Then the time was right; “keep the hens in tomorrow”, he said. And so, bright and early a day or two before Thanksgiving the Goodridge-Lermond Tree Service trucks pulled into our driveway.

 Richard’s crew – Mike Grant, Josh Adams and Alex Bryant –  introduced themselves. Mike would be climbing, the two younger men said. Richard directed them all to begin taking down the fence, carefully snipping out the wire to save it, and leaving the posts intact. Why bother, I wondered; it will all be crushed anyway.

 A little sidebar here: This is the first summer in forty-plus years of keeping hens that the damn birds have stayed in their yard. It’s the first fence we’ve ever built that they couldn’t either fly over or tunnel under. Free-range eggs, free-range meat – sounds nice and organic and humane and healthy, right? Do you know what a couple of rampaging hens, just doing what comes naturally, will do to a bed of tender seedlings? “They’ll eat the bugs and ticks and things.” Yeah, along with the bean plants and lettuces and everything else you’ve planted. Watching the only impregnable fence we’d ever built come down in five minutes was wrenching.

 But Richard knew what he was doing. The first step was to thunk the base of the oak; if it was rotten or hollow there’d be no climbing into it; it was still sound, he decided. Huge coils of rope were laid out on the ground, and a ladder propped up on the sturdy pine tree standing 10 feet from the oak. Mike was up the ladder and into the pine in seconds. Alex and Josh gave me a running commentary on what was happening, while Richard roamed around the area, studying and planning for the final felling. Mike was busy securing ropes to the pine, and then swinging across to the oak. The pine was his rescue tree if the oak gave way unexpectedly, they explained.

 Mike called for a chain saw, and one was attached to a rope, and he hauled it up. One after another long, dead branches crashed to the ground with a pause after each so Josh and Alex could haul them away. Then he swung back to the pine, and down to the ground. Richard, meanwhile had decided they could bring down the main trunk with three men on a rope pulling it away from its natural lean. And that’s what they did. Mike made the giant notch near the base, using the longest chain saw I’d ever seen, though Alex said they had a bar a foot longer than that if needed. Then two quick cuts through the back, one on each side, a mighty pull on the attached rope, and the oak fell neatly between the two standing fence posts.

 Then everyone grabbed a chain saw and in twenty minutes turned that huge oak into 16” long pieces, although several of them are 3’ in diameter. Not a single garden bed or raspberry plant was harmed. Both Josh and Adam, who’ve been working for Goodridge-Lermond Tree Service for a couple of years, said it’s amazing how Richard figures out the best way to take down a tree. Our oak, in spite of fence, henhouse, garden and barn, landed exactly where he’d planned all along.

 But the old oak isn’t the only tree on my mind. This Saturday is the day we gather at the Beach to light the town Christmas tree. In fact, after leaving our place last week, Richard and his crew headed down to string new lights on the tree in preparation for the season, a task they’ve done for several years now.

 One of the first years we lived here there was no fir tree growing at the Beach. Instead, a tree was cut and installed down there each December. Wally remembers going with a group of men in Bill Munroe’s (of Munroe’s Lumber, now Viking) truck to cut a tree up on the Whitney Road where Bill owned some land. Eventually, a tree was planted there, but after a few years it died and was replaced.

 For many, singing carols around the bonfire with the lighted tree behind us, is one of our favorite Christmas traditions. Help Andy Young, 323-1334, with the bonfire if you can – he starts early on Saturday afternoon to build it – or bake cookies for the L.I.A. Christmas party, or just bundle up and join us at 4:00 at the Beach. Santa arrives at 4:30, then he goes up to the L.I.A. building (33 Beach Road) so the children can climb on his lap. This year Michael O’Neil will be on hand to take photos of each child with Santa and print them out on the spot.

 And this year, following the L.I.A. party, a Christmas Social, sponsored by the Lincolnville General Store and featuring a silent auction, a band, and more will be held at the Community Building in the Center. The doors open at 6, music starts at 7. What fun for our town!

Town News

The town is in the process of studying all aspects of the harbor and is working with Collins Engineers, Inc. If you want to be part of the process or have thoughts on the harbor you’d like to see considered, contact Jodi Hanson, interim Town Administrator, 763-3555.

Anyone who plans to shop online at Amazon can do it and support the Lincolnville Community Library at the same time—and at no extra cost! Before starting to shop go here . Amazon will then donate a percentage of the price of items purchased to the Library. 

 Holly and David Edwards will present a free program on beekeeping Wednesday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at the Library. They will discuss the basics of raising bees successfully and offer suggestions on how to get started. They will also talk about some of the most fascinating aspects of the lives of these insects and explain what makes them such important pollinators.

 The couple started raising honeybees in Camden in 2012 and last year moved to Lincolnville where they have more space for the hives. At the height of the past season they had 24 colonies at their apiary and produced more than 25 gallons of honey. There will be photos, beekeeper’s tools and a full hive setup, sans the bees, to view during the library presentation. Holly and David also plan to bring samples of their delicious Edwards Apiary honey for tasting.

 As always, call 763-4343 or email for information on Library programs and services.

Cuddle Baby Workshop

Make your own soft doll of all natural materials for the baby or toddler in your life at Spindlewood Waldorf Kindergarten, December 3 and 17, two Saturday mornings, 9:30-noon with dollmaker Bridget Qualey. Register by calling SusanSilverio, 763-4652. $20 supply fee covers all materials, including upcycled wool and cashmere sweaters and wool fleece from the Spindlewood flock. Spindlewood is located at 105 Proctor Road, Lincolnville Center.

"Music and Reflection on the Season of Advent"

Celtic harpist Alex Bigney will provide the music at the Sunday, Dec. 4 Advent program at United Christian Church, 18 Searsmont Road. "When Alex . . . plays, the harp laughs, sighs, dances a jig, and cries a lament. Family tradition is at the heart of his music. His great-great-grandpa was the village fiddler in Kirkmount, Nova Scotia, and Alex plays the harp with the same spiky rhythm and Scotch snap that got folks kicking up their heels in his grandpa's day. He performs traditional Celtic tunes, along with many original compositions." In addition to the music, seasonal readings and moments of quiet reflection complete the 45 minute program. All welcome.

Night Kitchen

100th

“Watch out, pigs are currently loose on Rt. 52 near the Christmas tree farm. Sheriff's department is on it.” Not a typical L’ville Bulletin Board post I guess, but we’ve come to expect all sorts of oddities to show up on our town Google group.

I didn’t see those pigs, but the post brought out lots of comments. Pigs are slippery critters; Wally and I came upon a young couple herding home some six tiny black piglets on the Belmont road the other day; a flock of noisy and obnoxious guinea hens brought up the rear.

Local giving

Here are three more local volunteer/charitable organizations you might consider when making year-end donations:

Partners for Enrichment is the group that brings artists and writers and scientists and performers to the Lincolnville, Hope and Appleton schools. Send a contribution to 721 Camden Road, Hope 04847.

Restorative Justice Project works with young offenders who must demonstrate accountability, repair harm, stay in school and keep connected to families and communities. Donate on their website or at P.O. Box 141, Belfast 04915.

P.A.W.S. animal adoption center in Camden has many ways you can donate, from a check to supporting one of their fundraisers to adopting an animal or by donating goods. Here’s a partial list of things they always need: Cat food - dry and/or wetn Clay kitty litter - non-clumping, Dog collars - all sizes, Laundry detergent, Tall kitchen trash bags, Toilet paper, Cotton balls, Towels - new or used, dish soap, liquid hand soap.