Moving On

This Week in Lincolnville

Mon, 11/09/2026 - 6:17am

Ed O'Brien

The apple tree beside the sauna, stubbornly resisting giving up its leaves. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

Last week marked the end of one heck of a long election season. I am open about the fact that I am a pretty political guy, I’m a big democracy nerd, but this cycle was a bit much even for me. It got nasty, it got mean, and now we have to move on. The political signs linger on like last week’s jack o lanterns, and it is past time to take them down. I am guilty on both counts, and I swear I will tackle the chore today.

According to Town Administrator David Kinney, eligible Lincolnville voters made our voices heard in excess of 80 percent, which are pretty impressive numbers. I arrived at Lincolnville Central School just after voting opened Tuesday, and there was already a decent line.

Elections in Lincolnville are a social event, a chance to catch up with neighbors you haven’t seen in a bit, while completing that most important civic duty. Voting in the United States was not always a guaranteed right, and it was not until the election of 1920 that women were granted the right to vote in Lincolnville. With the exception of David, women appeared to be running the thing 106 years later.

After marking your choices, feeding the ballot to the scanner and getting your “I voted” sticker, you are free to peruse the secondary reason for showing up in person on Election Day. The Lincolnville UCC bake sale was well stocked when I arrived, bearing additional supplies — cookies and muffins and sausage rolls whipped up in this second floor kitchen on Beach Road.

Both the Lincolnville Women’s Club and the Lincolnville Historical Society were holding a raffle. I seem to have lost out in both cases. There was a petition to be signed which would place a food sovereignty bill on the next ballot. As I put my name down, I overheard a woman explaining, with remarkable clarity, the concept of a citizen referendum to her two young girls. Girls who, no doubt, will grow up to be faithful participants in our democracy.

All around the LCS gymnasium were the volunteers, townspeople from both of our major political parties who offer their time to sign in voters, to assist with feeding your ballot into the scanner, making sure it all goes smoothly. Smoothly it went.

By Wednesday morning, the result were mostly in, and it was clear that Maine, and the entire nation voted generally for a change. A celebration for some of us, frustration for others. A mix of doomsday prophesiers and overly idealistic predictions. Nothing changes overnight. Divisions remain, inequality continues, everything is still too danged expensive. Well, except apparently to the individuals who spent literally billions to influence our votes. Not sure there was a great return on investment.

We voted, though. We showed up and we made our voices heard. We chatted with neighbors who voted differently from us, and we left with a cookie or muffin or ham and egg cup. With an “I voted” sticker on our shirts.

Library Happenings: Let There Be Light

Needleworkers will meet from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. All are welcome, whatever your skill with fabric arts. Mah-Jongg open play for all levels will be on Wednesday, November 11 from 5-7 p.m. and Friday, November 13 from 12-2 p.m. The writers group will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday November 14.

The big library news is that this Thursday, November 12, at 4 p.m., will be the ribbon cutting for the new Dark Sky outdoor lighting in the library parking lot. Our community library offers thanks to the individuals, businesses, and organizations who have made this possible. The Dark Sky initiative is an international project to restore and preserve the nighttime environment and reduce light pollution. As a boy who has always stared up at the stars, this is a project I love.

Have a great week, Lincolnville. If your preferred brand of politics persevered this week, don’t be too smug about it, and if the opposite is true, dry your tears and move on. We are still neighbors, and winter is coming.

Stay warm, despite the price of heating, smile and just try to be nice.

Reach out at ceobrien245@gmail.com and let me know your town news.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, November 9

Select Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

Recreation Commission, 6 p.m., Town Office

Tuesday, November 10

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

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

Wednesday, November 11

Veterans Day, Town Office Closed

Library open 2-5