Sun, 02/01/2026 - 5:18pm

Ed O’Brien

Corelyn Senn’s trail cam caught this Wiley fella crossing a quarry on a cold winter’s night. (Photo by Corelyn Senn)

It is a balmy 8 degrees as I sit down to write this. The first of February in Lincolnville, Maine, the ground blanketed with a nice thick cover of snow. It seems like there have been too many years recently when the lakes barely froze over, and I like seeing the snowmobile trails being used, people out on cross-country skis, and ice fishing shacks set up.

Many of us lifelong and/or yearlong Mainers can get a bit smug about being here in February. February is when it gets real. Christmas is a memory, spring is a far off dream. The cold hurts your face when you force yourself to go outside. Every morning I intend to go for a walk with my Bella dog, but most days I just let her out the back door, where she soon returns, shivering and with cold ears. Conrad, the other dog, loves it, and frequently convinces Ma to let him back outside throughout the day.

The cat gives me that look whenever I leave the front door — she wants to be outside, but it is too cold, and this is somehow my fault. I remind her that all the mice are probably snug in their dens, anyway. She glares, and goes off to find a warm spot to curl up.

Life continues, however, and even when the cold hurts your face, there is work, there is school, there are things to do.

So why do we live here? Economically, it doesn’t make sense. There are many places to live in this country where the price of housing is cheaper, where energy costs are less, taxes are lower, jobs are more plentiful and pay more. Where the air doesn’t freeze in your nostrils in February.

I believe I have shared here before how I met a beautiful woman on a warm July evening 23 years ago. A first date turned into many, as summer stretched into autumn, and Maine was at its most wonderful. Things were getting serious.

We were both experienced enough in the dating world to understand certain things. She was also a girl from Maine, and we agreed that should we still be together after February, maybe there is something worth salvaging.

That said, and 22 Februarys later, there is a beauty to this time of year. Driving down Route 3 last night, leaving Augusta from what is likely our last District 3 Music Concert, the full moon shone over frozen fields, ponds, and hardy snowmobilers. The pines remained green and tall alongside their leafless brethren.

Maybe some of us are like those pines, stubbornly maintaining our green in spite of the weather trying to beat us down. Willing to accept a lot of punishment for a place we call home.

Maybe a place we call home, where we know our neighbors and they know us, is more valuable than a slightly higher standard of living than in some place that isn't Lincolnvillle.

I continue to think of our New Mainers, who chose to live in this place where February hurts your face, who make Maine better by being here, working and raising families in a state where we are desperate for young people ready to work difficult jobs.

Here in Lincolnville, things don’t close up when the weather turns chilly. We love our summer folks and welcome you back with open arms, but others of us will continue to grumble, then jump on the sled, pack up the fishing traps or cross country skis, or just curl up by the fire with a book and secretly love February.

Budget Season

It has begun: The municipal and school budgets are being developed. Democracy nerds, start attending Select Board and School Committee meetings if you want to understand how your tax dollars are spent. As always, I include at the end of my column the scheduled municipal meetings. Next Tuesday and Thursday, the Select Board will hear the budget requests from town services for budget consideration. As it has been for over 200 years, our town will need our approval. Town Meeting will be Thursday, June 11, where we will all have the opportunity to vote yes or no to the town budget.

Sympathy

Lincolnville recently lost Ben Hardy, the youngest of a generation of Lincolnville Hardys, and a heck of a nice guy. You’ve probably seen him driving one of the family’s collection of old cars at the Memorial Day or Strawberry Festival parade. Love to his family.

Library Happenings

Thursday, February 5, from 3-5 p.m., the library will host after school card and board games. For the younger children, they will host Music Together- dance, music, and movement for little ones 0-5 with their caregivers, February 7, at 10 a.m.

Bundle up, Lincolnville, it is a bit chilly out there. Find ways to move your body, even if the wind and cold is too much outside. I find dancing to old music while cooking dinner helps- my teenagers are always sooo impressed by my moves!

Look out for your community, for your neighbors. Make sure all are safe and protected, regardless of where they were born. As always, send me an email, ceobrien246@gmail.com, let me know your thoughts, your town news.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, February 2

School Committee, 6 p.m., LCS

Select Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

Tuesday, February 3

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

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

Wednesday, February 4

Comprehensive Plan Review, 6 p.m. Town Office

Thursday, February 5

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

Friday, February 6