This Week in Lincolnville

Sun, 10/11/2026 - 5:00pm

Ed O’Brien

The view into Northern Lincolnville, showing the clearing done by the volunteers of the Lincolnville Hills Project. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

A familiar road, leading into the heart of Camden Hills State Park. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

The view into Northern Lincolnville, showing the clearing done by the volunteers of the Lincolnville Hills Project. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

A familiar road, leading into the heart of Camden Hills State Park. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

It was nearly 19 years ago that we started this parenting journey in a room at Pen Bay Hospital, where our daughter arrived into this world, red-faced, wailing, and with a head of dark hair. It was a couple days later when maternity staff watched us buckle her into the brand new car seat and they sent us on our way, two terrified young parents with only the vaguest idea of what to do.

I recently recalled to my wife as we walked into the Common Ground Fair a couple weeks ago that there was a period of six years when she was either heavily pregnant or literally had a baby attached at her hip during our yearly visit to the event.

What a journey it has been. The early days of babies and toddlers; hearing every parent’s worst nightmare — your child has cancer. Seeing first-hand the reality in the adage “it takes a village” as our village and beyond stood up to support us as we faced a reality that no family should have to face.

Cancer treatments complete, but never fully forgotten, we moved into the school years, and open houses and musical performances at Lincolnville Central School, cross-country meets and school plays. The pandemic, which affected our children more than us, a period of time in the middle of their development into young adolescence, which has shaped this generation. Generation Z, the Zoomers.

Now we are in the last stages of their childhood. Independence and leaving home. The parenting role has shifted, from active involvement to something more like guidance. Not that we don’t put our feet down from time to time, but they are moving beyond our ability to affect their choices so directly. We have had to go from active teaching to becoming semi-voluntary mentors. Hoping they consider our opinions, value our experience.

I took to the woods this weekend, walking a familiar road — dirt and gravel this time — heading for Cameron Mountain. I have written about this walk in this publication at least a couple times before. A path I first walked with my father, with a role of Necco wafers in his pocket, and a pail for the blueberries. My personal Blueberries for Sal.

Walking with or carrying on my back my own little ones, who would sit, as I once did, in a patch of berries, staining their mouths and hands with the sweet, blue orbs.

This day I walked alongside my son, nearly 17 years old, every day looking less like a little boy, and more like the man he is becoming. He had things on his mind, and he talked. I mostly just listened, occasionally offering my thoughts when he specifically asked. I have been guilty of sometimes chiming in when I should just shut up; I am working on this.

I see so much of my wife in him, but when he opens up I hear myself, I hear my Dad. He is just starting to accept this.

On the way up, a truck crept slowly down the road that leads to where the trail splits, Bald Rock to the left, where most of the visitors to our State Park will be headed, and the Cameron Mountain trail to the right, a true road less traveled.

I knew the guy behind the wheel; we were little boys together. Matthew Silverio. My Dad often shared the story of coming to pick me up from a get-together, and Matt’s Dad marveling that 4-year-old Eddie was wholly unfazed by the fact that the back of my low slung corduroys were completely packed with snow.

"Now that is a true Maine man,” was what my Dad always quoted him saying.

Matthew had spent the morning with the Lincolnville Hills Project, clearing brush to ensure that the view of interior Lincolnville from Cameron remains unobstructed.

So much attention is paid to our coastal views, the sailboats and rugged islands, but I really appreciate the trees and ancient rolling hills of the interior.

I introduced Matt to my son, his dogs introduced themselves to us, and we went on our way.

Two miles down, past the walls and cellar holes of a long forgotten Lincolnville neighborhood, we came to the spot where we left the forest, the overhanging trees gave way to the bright red of a wild blueberry field in autumn. I fell behind my son on the path up to the top of the low hill, his body toned with youth and football and lacrosse, mine impacted by too much time sitting, 51 years of life, and more than a couple extra pounds. It felt good, though, so good to be out in cool air, the bright sunshine, the fall foliage.

The walk back always goes quicker, that mild downhill trek back to the car at Steven’s Corner. The car that my son had driven us there in, finally facing the manual shift again, now that he has been a licensed driver for nine months. I am not sure if I helped him with what was troubling him, but I am glad he let me in.

Our children do not belong to us. They are their own people from the moment they arrive. We as parents are tasked with teaching and then guiding them for an incredibly short time; hopefully longer, should they choose to let us. So we try to appreciate the time we have with them, that they share what they allow us, and we stand with them through triumph and heartbreak.

Library Happenings

Needleworkers meet on Tuesday from 2-5 p.m.. MahJonng will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, and from noon to 2p.m. Friday. Join your neighbors for cribbage 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday.

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, join Author Dale Ruth Sherburne for a talk about her book Neither Wife Nor Widow, an exploration of the realities of long term caregiving for a loved one. In addition to an author, Ms Sherburne is an advocate for greater resources and support for caregivers.

There will be a book sale preview party from 5-7 p.m. Friday, with the book sale taking place Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Buy them by the bag for $13. A busy week at our library.

LCS-PTO Clothing Swap

The Parent Teacher Organization of Lincolnville Central School continues its planning for the autumn clothing swap, on the 23-25 of October at the Tranquility Grange . This is an amazing event, and such an incredible way to upcycle the clothes you or your kids have outgrown, and get some new stuff. Leave your clean donations at the box outside the LCS front doors, and volunteers will sort and organize them for the October sale. Thank you so much to the Tranquility Grange for offering the space.

Flea Market at the Community Building

From 8 a.m to Noon the monthly flea market will be held at the Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road. As always expect local crafts, vintage goods, decorations, farm products, and church lady baked goods. Proceeds from table rentals will go to the Lincolnville United Christian Church for their ministries and upkeep of the 1820 Meeting House.

This is the last regular flea market of the season, with the annual Holiday Market coming in November.

End of the Season for the Schoolhouse Museum

The final regular hours for the Lincolnville Historical Society’s Schoolhouse Museum at 18 Beach Road, will be Monday, from 1 to 4 p.m. If you haven’t recently, and find yourself and your kids with some time at the end of the long weekend, stop by and check out artifacts from our little town’s history. There is a current exhibit of the wonderful handmade Jack-in-the-boxes once made by the Jax company of Ducktrap.

LIA Meeting:

This week also marks the final Lincolnville Improvement Association meeting of the year. They will gather at the Beach Schoolhouse, 33 Beach Road for a 5:30 p.m. potluck followed by a talk by Brent Wucher, of Calderwood Farm, titled From the Ground Up: Cultivating a Regenerative Farm and Resilient Communities. He will explore how modern farming practices can restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, and capture carbon, while feeding the community and providing local food security.

The program is open to all. Bring a dish to share, BYOB, and join you friends and neighbors, new and old.

Sympathy

It was with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Christopher Strazzula, after a long battle with brain cancer. I met Chris and his wife Jenni the way people in a certain stage of life meet each other, through our kids. Chris was an incredibly warm and kind man, always with a positive thing to say. My heart goes out to Jenni and their twin boys, and to all his family and the people he impacted in his far too short time here.

There was a light scatter of frost on my windshield the other morning. The woodshed is full, the oil tank a low level anxiety in the back of my mind. The days grow short and winter is waiting in the wings.

The makings of a tomato soup using the last of the year’s harvest that my wife threw together yesterday is slowly simmering on the stove. The dogs and boys are snoozing, still under our roof for the moment. Later, there will be yelling at football on TV. I will make snacks, and then, serve soup.

Be good, Lincolnville, be kind. If you have the privilege of having a parent around, thank them for doing the best they could with what they had. If not, send those thoughts into the universe. If you are able, go for a walk in the woods.

Reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, October 12

Indigenous Peoples Day, Town Office closed

School House Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

Tuesday, October 13

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

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

Select Board,6 p.m., Town Office

Wednesday, October 14

Planning Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

Library open 2-5