There are many affecting moments when we come together as a town. Some are annual rituals such as the Memorial Day parade, the Wreaths Across America convoy, Christmas Eve services or the Strawberry Festival. Others are random: the funeral for an honored elder, a fund-raising supper for a sick child, a sudden, unexpected death: think of the tragic fire that took the lives of Gene and Ginny Dyer summer before last.

I looked around the bonfire Saturday afternoon, noting this one and that one from my own snug spot between three or four tall people who blocked the wind.  Many unfamiliar faces were scattered among the oh so well-known ones, the people I’ve known for years and years, people whose stories I know nearly as well as my own. The bonfire has been publicized so widely over the years as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas by the Sea that it’s become a favorite tradition of folks from all over. There was even, for several years, a family from England who made sure to be at Lincolnville Beach on the first Saturday of December on their annual trip to the States.

But all those “strangers” aren’t the ones I’m curious about. The bonfire and carol singing (we must get song leader, Richard Grant, a mic we mutter to each other, straining to hear, then promptly forget until next year) are one of those bonding events. I love to see people mouthing the lyrics, though of course, I can’t hear them over the din, the words to these old carols coming back to us on this once-a-year magical night. Probably they all learned them in grade school or church when they were children. In my 1950s childhood no one thought Christmas carols were forcing religion into the public schools; in music class we sang loudly about the baby in the manager, about the star and the wisemen and all of it, all the verses. Maybe some of the younger people standing around our bonfire are learning the words here on a sandy, wintry beach, the ones lucky enough to have scored a song sheet, that is. (Must have more printed for next year, we mutter).

And who is this “we”, muttering so knowingly to each other? Why, the older women of course. Somehow, there are always older women behind most of the annual, town-gathering events, women who’ve finally left child-rearing behind, women who’ve even left jobs behind, women with some time on their hands. Oh, and the men they’ve managed to rope in to their various plans for town betterment. Only this year something unimaginable happened: younger people, more energetic and with new ideas stepped in and took over. One friend came up at the bonfire, hugged me and said ecstatically into my ear (over the strains of out-of-sync “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”) “Can you believe it?! We didn't have to do any of this!!”

And she was right. Of course, the whole thing – bonfire, carols, Santa-in-the-firetruck, cookies, sandwiches, sitting-on-Santa’s-lap – all happens like clockwork after 30 years. Only someone has to coordinate, many someones have to decorate, bake, serve, clean-up. After this year a whole new generation has learned the ropes. And on top of it, Lincolnville, a town already embellished with any number of memorable, annual events, has a new one: the Christmas Social.

Thanks to Briar Lyons and Ladleah Dunn, business associates in the soon-to-be-completed Lincolnville General Store, who thought the Christmas by the Sea festivities ought to have a Center component. And what better place to hold it than the newly-renovated Community Building? So, in addition to recruiting a whole new cadre of volunteers, the two planned and executed a wonderful new event complete with band, dancing, food, a cash bar, silent auction, and with an admission price of a non-perishable item for the local food pantries. In case you missed it, here’s an album of photos from that night.

We hear a lot about how community-minded our town is, and I believe we are. An out-of-town family member who attended Saturday’s festivities with us said her daughter never experienced anything like it during her growing-up years in a Midwestern suburb. At least two couples, brand-new to Lincolnville, were at Saturday’s Social, and both said they were overwhelmed by the welcome they were receiving; within such a short time they’d met so many people I’m sure they couldn’t keep them all straight.

Still, as our town sees a steady influx of new people, people from away, change is inevitable. That phrase – “from away” – must be unique to small places. If you move, for instance, from one metropolitan area to another, one suburban enclave to another, even one across the country, you’re not considered different. There may be a regional accent and maybe ethnic foods to get used to, or climate differences from one place to another, but chances are you’re not seen as “from away”.

In Maine you are. We’ll always be; even my husband, Augusta, Maine-born-and bred, is from away. I certainly am. Chicago suburb, for goodness sake. I wonder what the percentage is in Lincolnville these days of “natives” and “non-natives.” Sometimes in church the Responsive Reading verses come with instructions: “Under 65s,” “Over 65s,” “Women,” “Men,” “Born in Maine,” “Choose your own parts,” says Pastor Susan. The Born in Mainers sound pretty sparse. But then, so do the Under 65s.

I wonder, sometimes, what it’s like to see your town filling up with new people. That is, if you’re actually “from here”. Born here to parents who were born here and maybe grandparents born here. Did you know that the U.S. Census of 1790 for Ducktrap and Canaan Plantations (which we were before we were Lincolnville) contains the surnames of 18 heads of households (out of 79 listed) which are still represented here today? Those are the male names that survived marriage; many more of the names of those earliest townspeople were absorbed into others through marriage. In other words, there are many people living here today who are descended from the original settlers. If your people did indeed stay here, make their living here, and raise their children here, this is certainly their town. If, on the other hand, you arrived here as adults, as my husband and I did, made your living here and raised your children here, is there a difference? I don’t know the answer, but it’s a question we all ought to ponder, as our town grows and changes.

At certain times in the past 40+ years there’s been friction between us. I remember the way we divided over zoning. If you grew up in a sprawling place outside a big city, the word meant protecting neighborhoods from unwanted industrialization or commercialization. If you grew up in Lincolnville zoning meant a law telling you what you couldn’t do with your own land.

A simple distinction, wasn’t it? Both sides had a point. But we couldn’t have it both ways. The solution, imperfect at times, but on the whole successful, has been the Land Use Ordinances developed over many years by our Planning Board. Much of it has been state-mandated, thankfully taking it out of our hands, putting some distance between the zoners and the never-zoners. We can disagree over the result, but at least we can’t blame each other.

A fight in Belfast over to have or not have Walmart come to town, resulted in a limit to the size of big box stores that effectively eliminated the big W, or at least that’s how I remember it. Let’s Save Main Street and Our Local Businesses won out over Lower Prices All Under One Roof. Now we see a proliferation of new small businesses along with a charming Main Street, though some call It a Camdenization of Belfast. Be careful what you wish for. That applies to both sides, doesn’t it?

What does it all have to do with our sentimental, cookie-laden, hearty celebration of Christmas-coming in Lincolnville? Mostly, it puts us all – or many of us – together in the same rooms, on the same Beach, experiencing, remembering, anticipating the same emotions at the same time. It’s like sitting in a school concert, today in the posh Walsh Common complete with stage and lights, but might just as well be the scruffy basement cafeteria/multipurpose room (still smelling faintly of hot lunch) of the old Lincolnville Central School. We’re on folding chairs, some of us holding squirmy toddlers or sleeping babies, some of us gray-haired and wishing for our slippers and TV. One by one the grades take their places and sing the sanitized, secular songs of Rudolph, and Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, while we in the audience scan the young faces. We’re anxiously looking for our own child (did Johnny remember to wipe his nose?) or we’re wondering which family that kid in the back belongs to. She looks just like our son’s classmate of 30 years ago. Must be her daughter.

Make Your Dog Legal

Coming up this week-end is John Burstein’s original musical The Night Kitchen at the Camden Opera House. “The show's creator, John Burstein, is a veteran producer of national television, stage and symphonic programs. The musical explores the inner workings of the restaurant business, and the importance food plays in people's lives. It is also provides loads of laughs and features imaginatively costumed characters from the kitchen coming alive and singing about their joys and sorrows.” Tickets are $25 and all proceeds benefit Meals-On-Wheels. Tickets available online, or call 207-536-5850, or at the Camden Town Office M-F 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for no fee walk-up or one hour before show time. And by the way, in case you were wondering, John is the husband of our former State Legislator, Chris Burstein.

Ring Out Wild Bells!

The newly-formed Lincolnville Music Project, sponsored by United Christian Church, and under the direction of Shannon Elliott, will present a program of Christmas music on Saturday, Dec. 10, 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11, 4 p.m. at United Christian Church, 18 Searsmont Road. Shannon started the Lincolnville Music Project this past summer with “the aim of connecting through music all members of the community regardless of age, experience, or training.”  Ring Out Wild Bells brings 18 vocalists and nine instrumentalists together to perform traditional Christmas carols including Christmas Bells are Ringing, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Carol of the Bells and Ring Out Wild Bells. All the music has been arranged by Elliott.  There will be plenty of opportunities for audience participation. All are welcome to this joyous Christmas musical event.  The church is fully handicapped accessible. There is no admission charge, though any donations received will benefit the Lincolnville Music Project.  A reception will follow both performances. Cookie contributions to the refreshments are welcome. For more information call 763-3800.

Helping Out

In the spirit of giving locally a spaghetti supper is planned for Feb. 5 to help CHRHS sophomore Sophia Buckley get to the National Honors Choir Festival in Minnesota in March. Have you heard Sophia sing?? Help out if you can!

Little Beagle on the Loose

Here’s a list of local businesses that would welcome you this season! How much more pleasant to roam around Lincolnville looking for Christmas gifts than fighting the crowds anywhere else? Here are some places to go:

Viking Lumber, Atlantic Highway – tools, etc.

Dot’s, Atlantic Highway – baked goodies, wine, gifts

Green Tree Coffee Roasters, Atlantic Highway – coffees, teas, mugs, coffee and tea accessories

Beyond the Sea, Lincolnville Beach—books, jewelery, scarves, gifts, notecards, candy and more

Lincolnville Fine Art Gallery, Lincolnville Beach – paintings, sculpture, quirky antique items, pottery

Sleepy Hollow Rag Rugs, Beach Road – rag rugs, hats, ornaments, beaded jewelery, Advent Calendars, Lincolnville history books: shop on line

What’s Cookin’ with Rose and Annie, Beach Road, home-cooked meals, baked goods

Western Auto, Beach Road – automotive gadgets, snowblowers (a great gift!), appliances, lots more

Four Aces Arms, Beach Road – guns, ammunition

Ank Ceramics, Boat Club, Lincolnville Center – potter: shop on line

VanderVen Studio, Lincolnville Center – pottery, sculpture: shop on line

Hannah’s Blueberries, everything blueberry! And she ships

Most of these places will issue gift certificates if asked.