Growing up, we had a full set of World Book Encyclopedias on the bookshelf in the front hall. I was the kind of kid who, from time to time, would pull down a volume and spend a good chunk of the afternoon flipping through it; 1980s doomscrolling.

All the information in the world was contained in those thick, hard-bound books. Or so my young self believed.

The news arrived by way of the early morning delivery of the Bangor Daily News, a far thicker paper than what you get today. I initially only read the comics page — an entire newspaper page of three panel strips. Most were great. I never got Shoe, and Mark Trail and The Phantom used to just annoy me- but Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, wonderful stuff. The less I say about The Family Circus, the better.

As I moved into adolescence, I found Doonesbury at the bottom of the Editorial Page, which led me to reading the Letters to the Editor. 1980s social media.

Household news was supplemented later in the day by Channel 5 local news at 6 p.m., national news at 6:30 p.m. That was it. Even Public Radio didn’t have a morning news program. We had Morning Pro Musica with Robert J. Lurtsema, the classical soundtrack to my reading of the comics page.

Here we are in 2026, and the information which can be found on that little black rectangle I keep in my pocket would blow the mind of my eight-year-old self sitting with an encyclopedia in his lap. It feels like the answer to nearly every question is right there. You don’t even need type, though I still have a hard time just speaking out loud to that phantom in our kitchen, Alexa.

“Alexa, what time will it start raining tomorrow”, my wife asked the air as she stood over the stove, preparing dinner.

After “Alexa” gave a weather report-accurate answer from her speaker in the corner, Tracee thanked her, and the speaker responded “No problem, I hope you had a good Saturday.” Creepy.

All the information in the world is there, just ask.

Seems like a wonderful thing, but I am not so sure. The six o’clock news was replaced by 24 hour coverage on CNN, thrust into the spotlight by Operations Desert Shield and Storm. Then came the 24-hour news competitors. This wasn’t ABC, CBS, and NBC, which pretty much shared the same information. Now you could find a news channel that catered to your personal social/political views.

Social media appeared, streaming videos. The algorithm designed to show us more of what it thinks we want to see. Is the information accurate, or even true? Is there a bias? Doesn’t matter, it will show it to us, and we will consume it.

The accuracy of the old World Book Encyclopedias could be questioned, I am sure, but at least the goal was to present fact-based information, free of ideology. This is no longer the case, leading to a world where facts do not seem to matter, where our feelings about something seems more important than the truth.

We can look at facts and come to different conclusions, but when the “facts” we are each presented with are completely different, we end up with a world so much more divided.

We don’t believe each other, we don’t trust each other. I am certainly as guilty as anyone at doomscrolling, at consuming media which matches my worldview. This is why it is important to turn off the screens, to interact with humans, neighbors and strangers, in the real world. Common ground on everything is not possible, but understanding can sometimes occur.

School Board

I wrote a few weeks ago about the Lincolnville Central School budget, and the fallout from a $141,000 reduction in state funds, putting the school in a difficult situation. Without a significant reduction in the school budget, the taxpayers of Lincolnville will face a steep tax increase, at a time when everything seems more expensive and many of us are already facing struggles with our personal budgets.

Our superintendent and principal have proposed some potential cuts, and they are not easy ones. Contrary to what some would say, there is not a lot of “fat” in the budget, and trying to find places to make up for the loss in revenue is going to impact students’ learning experiences.

The School Board will meet Monday, April 6, at 6 p.m. at Walsh Common at LCS. They will be voting on potential budget changes to go on the warrant, which will be brought before the Budget Committee and then the town for a vote at the LCS town meeting on May 19 and will be on the ballot June 9. We want our youth to get the best education possible. We also want to remain a town where our elders can afford their property taxes. 

Our Principal, Justin Bennett, our Superintendent Shawn Carlson and our School Committee, are all available via e-mail, though it is getting late in the budget process. They are, however, the best people to connect with, and will have the most accurate, up to date information.

There are tough decisions to be made, but know that all these people hold the well being of our children in mind while managing an awareness of the burden on the tax payers of Lincolnville. Whatever the final budget looks like, we will have the opportunity to vote on it on June 9.

Library Happenings

Needleworkers will stitch and… share conversation on Tuesday, April 7, at 3 p.m. Cribbage will be held on Thursday, April 9 at 3 p.m., all skill levels welcome. 

On Friday, April 10, grades K-2 will hike down from LCS for stories with Mrs. H. Mahjongg will be at noon, and LCS students will be welcomed at 3 p.m. for afterschool stories, books and games.

The first crocuses have broken through in the dooryard of Sleepy Hollow, and only the last bits of snow remain in he back field, perhaps to be eliminated by today’s cold rain. Frohock brook roars in the woods, and soon the peepers will make themselves heard from the pond out back.

Have a great week, Lincolnville. Some giant bunny seems to have come through earlier, and made a mess of my house- eggs everywhere. I’m going to wake the kids so they can clean them up before heading out to the Lincolnville UCC.

Be well, be aware, listen and be kind. Reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, April 6

School Board 6 p.m., Walsh Common,LCS

Tuesday, April 7

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

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

Wednesday, April 8

Property Tax due

Library open 2-5 p.m.

Planning Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

Thursday, April 9

Library open 2-5 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Beginner’s Meeting, 7 p.m., Lincolnville Historical Society, 33 Beach Road

Harbor Committee, 5 p.m., Town Office

Friday, April 10

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

Library open 9-2 p.m., 208 Main Street

Nomination Papers due at the Town Office by 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 11

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Sunday, April 12

United Christian Church, 9:30 a.m. Worship and Children’s Church, 18 Searsmont Road

Bayshore Baptist Church, 10 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages, 10:40 a.m. Coffee and Baked Goods, 11:00 a.m. worship, 2648 Atlantic Highway