”Isn’t that the whole point?”

Sun, 11/09/2025 - 6:01pm

Ed O’Brien

Sunrise at the High Street 5 Star Resort. (Photo by Mikey Eugley)

The Waldo County Bounty produce shed at LCS converted into a temporary food pantry. Take what you need, leave what you can. (Photo by Lauren Beverage)

Sunrise at the High Street 5 Star Resort. (Photo by Mikey Eugley)

The Waldo County Bounty produce shed at LCS converted into a temporary food pantry. Take what you need, leave what you can. (Photo by Lauren Beverage)

I love that quiet time just before the sun rises, when some internal clock wakes me and I leave my bed to sit in the room that used to be the barn loft, and read the news. Everyone is asleep, even the dogs — Bella snoring like a dinosaur in her “den”, the cage where my little rescue pup seems to feel safest, wrapped up in her blankets.

The other morning, I decided to see what the internet had to say about my younger brother, part-time journalist and general rabble rouser Andy O’Brien. And there, in my search, was an article written over 12 years ago in this very publication, a story about the other Andy O’Brien, my middle boy, who is just a week away from his 16th birthday.

The woman who is now my editor for this column, Lynda Clancy, had come to interview me in those early days of my son’s cancer diagnosis. In February 2013, little Andy was diagnosed with medullablastoma, a pediatric brain cancer, and was facing a grim prognosis and a harsh regiment of treatment.

No one budgets for a devastating medical situation for your three -ear-old, and while we were fortunate to have pretty decent medical insurance, it did not come close to covering all the needs, the gaps in coverage, the loss of income that occurs when every ounce of energy must be expended to support a sick loved one.

But our community stepped in. A benefit supper, a concert at the high school. Meals delivered, a sparkling clean house when I arrived home from work with the other two, mom and brother ensconced at the hospital in Portland.

It was a time which has, in the space of the years, simply become a part of our family story, a thing that happened, a struggle overcome. Reading Lynda’s article, though, I was transported back, and what sticks with me is just how loved and supported we all felt by our little community.

Isn’t this what we do? We take care of our neighbors when someone is facing a difficult time.

For many, the difficult time is now. The days grow ever colder here in Midcoast Maine, and for too many of our neighbors the prospect of heating our homes, of paying for the weekly groceries is daunting. The statistics say this is a fairly affluent place. Yet many of us are elderly or disabled, and many are working jobs which simply do not pay what is needed to support a family without assistance. Seasonal employment remains a thing here, and when the tourists and summer folk leave, money grows tight.

Without getting into the politics of why, the government safety net has failed, federal employees are not being paid, food assistance has been discontinued. Hopefully a temporary situation.

While I hope and believe that this is funding situation will soon be resolved, now is the time to step up.

I was remiss in my duties last week and failed to include in my column the LCS-PTO clothing swap that took place this weekend. For weeks, the Parent Teacher Organization at Lincolnville Central School accepted donations of gently used clothes which were then sorted and offered to the community. Those of us with young children understand how quickly they outgrow things, and what a practical solution!

This is an annual undertaking of the PTO, and it inspired me to reach out to two of the organizers, Chelsea Mitchell and Lauren Beverage, to get their thoughts. Lauren and Chelsea are frequently at the center of the wonderful work the PTO does for our school and community as a whole.

From Chelsea: “All this gives me a sense of security, safety, and foundation in a world that otherwise seems overwhelming and chaotic. I think it is important to look for ways to help where we can contribute locally with the way things are these days.”

From Lauren: “The thing that I’m trying to instill in our daughter is that ‘if you are able to help, you help.’ The clothing swap is a labor of love, but at its core it’s just moving things around to get them into the hands of the people who need them.”

Lauren related a recent conversation she had with Town Administrator David Kinney: “…as I was setting up in Walsh Common, and he said ‘Wow! This is a lot of clothes!’ And I replied, ‘Enough to clothe the whole town!’ And he responded ‘Isn’t that the whole point?’ And it is. It’s the whole point.”

There are many ways in which you can help locally. Far more than I can list here. A few that come to mind.

Waldo County Bounty is dedicated to sharing fresh, locally grown food with the community, by providing fresh produce to local food pantries and soup kitchens, as well as “give and take” tables and sheds across the region. There is one at the edge of LCS which has recently been converted to a place to drop off non-perishable food items through the month of November in light of the recent food crisis.

The Waldo County Woodshed runs with the ethos “warm thy neighbor” and provides free firewood for those in need through eight wood lots across the county.

The Good Neighbor Fund of the Lincolnville UCC, funded by the donations of churchgoers, is set up to help with food, rent, heating, or other circumstances that may impact community members.

Homeworthy is the comprehensive homeless services organization serving thousands across Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo Counties, with housing support, case management, urgent needs coordination, as well as the Hospitality House family shelter, and the Landing Place youth services.

Every one of these organizations, and so many more, could benefit from your support, donations, or volunteer hours.

There is a reason the Holy Books of the world’s religions emphasize looking out for each other, welcoming the stranger, sharing your blessings with those in need. I may continue to be an agnostic, but this does not exempt me or anyone from what I believe, to be part of taking care of our fellow humans, without judgement or conditions.

Congratulations

With all three of my children off to Camden Hills Regional High School this year, I feel a bit disconnected from LCS, and I welcome any news from the local school that I may miss.

That said, this was the opening weekend of Chicago:The Musical, Teen Edition at the Strom Auditorium at CHRHS, featuring numerous actors and crew from LCS. I saw it Saturday night, and was completely blown away by the performance. There are still tickets available for next weekend, Friday, Saturday, and the Sunday matinee.

Alum LCS athletes were also found on the playing field last Saturday for the Large School North Eight Man regional championship football game, where the Windjammers defeated the Mount Desert Island Trojans, and will go to face off against Spruce Mountain High School for the state championship next Saturday afternoon in Auburn.

For the student athletes, performers, and tech crew, Lincolnville is proud.

Library Happenings

Needleworkers will be present from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday. From 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday the library will host cribbage and games for kids, And on Saturday, November 15, from 10-12 p.m., the library will host Paws for Tales, with Koda the Therapy Dog, including a special reading of the new children’s book Fetch Me Kindness: Koda’s Magical Gift.

Veteran’s Day

From 8-9 a.m. Tuesday the CHRHS National Honor Society will host a free of charge breakfast for all veterans and their families at the high school. Vets are asked to muster at the Camden Village Green at 10:15 a.m. for 15 minutes of silence at the wall of names to honor all who have served. At 2 p.m., there will be a veteran’s program at the American Legion Hall, 91 Pearl Street, which should last about an hour.

Thank you to all the soldiers, air forces, marines, naval personal, coast guard, and merchant marines for your service to our nation.

OK, Lincolnville, have a wonderful week. Thank you for all that you have done for my family, for this community, for this nation, for this world. Know that it is the small gestures, the small kindnesses that matter.

I was stuck in line the other day at CamdenHannaford, when a young woman found herself short a few bucks. The older gentleman behind her pressed $20 into her hand, against her protests, asking only that she pay it forward someday. This is the kind of thing that gives me hope for the future.

Stay warm, and tell me your news at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, November 10

Recreation Committee, 6 p.m., Town Office

Select Board, 6 p.m. Town Office

Tuesday, November 11

Veterans Day, Town Office Closed

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

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

Wednesday, November 12

Library Open, 2-5 p.m., 208 Main Street

Planning Board, 6 p.m., Town Office