The phone rang early this morning, early for a Sunday certainly, though not for us. Our inner alarm clocks wake us both up well before dawn — 4 a.m. most days. It was our friend Norm, excited about a photo he was sending over to us. It seems he was leaning out his bedroom window to get a shot of the sunrise when suddenly a flock of waxwings took off from a nearby berry bush, fleeing from a territorial crow. The picture is dramatic enough, a panorama of treeline, clouds and sky, even without the scattered specks of birds being pursued by the solitary crow. Best for me, though, is knowing someone so engaged with the natural world that he leans out the window on a frosty morning, camera in hand, and is doubly rewarded with the morning sky and a dramatic chase. And appreciates what he’s seen.

 He’s not alone. Because we live, most of us by choice, in the midst of wildness (Have you ever flown over our area? It’s mostly forest.) We’re more or less comfortable with the animals we share our home with.

Another friend, Corelyn Senn, perched on land between the Ducktrap Stream and Ducktrap Mountain, has a daily routine of carrying feed and lure to the remote spots of her neighborhood and tending the wildlife cameras she’s installed there.

In a recent L’ville Bulletin Board (LBB) exchange she explained that: “My cameras with lure are way up in the woods on Ducktrap Mountain, where no one lives. I hike up there to put out the meat and also to set my cameras. It is a hike, and I am going to them, the fishers, where they live, not inviting them to where I live. I live where I do and l live my life so that I can see and understand wildlife better and also share what I see with others.

 “I have one to two gray foxes coming every night. It is interesting since they are new to coming this far north (they used to be thought to come only as far as Massachusetts), and the state wildlife biologist at first claimed they were red foxes in a color phase. But, no, they are gray foxes and they are everywhere. I have one on my camera at school in Belfast every night, as well. They are the guys with retractable claws that can climb — still waiting to see that. The one that was here early tonight left when two deer showed up.”

 Here’s someone else’s take on doings around town: John Luft, of Revision Energy, reports that Lincolnville’s solar array is up and running.

“The panels are installed [next to the Lincolnville Fire Department], and the web-based monitoring system is connected, so we are all done and making solar power for the town!  Here is a link to the monitoring site that the public can use to view production,” he said.  “The only item left is a return trip in the spring by Todd Young to repair any ruts in the field and to reseed those areas.  That work has been arranged and will be paid for by Revision Energy.” 

John, also a Lincolnville resident, signs off with “sunny regards”! The panels will provide electricity for all our municipal buildings, excluding the school. Could that be another array?

 Next up on this week’s news is a meeting the L’ville Sewer District (LSD) is having with Selectmen on Monday, January 9 at 6 p.m. with an update on the status of the wastewater treatment and collection system project at the Beach.

As part of the town’s efforts to improve the Beach area, funds have been procured through grants and a loan to proceed with the project. However, due to the uncertainty around the Lobster Pound’s future, the LSD is asking the town for $29,000 to help with part of the debt on the loan for construction.

The private system that has been in place for a couple of decades is failing, and needs replacement. Property owners and all interested residents are encouraged to attend the meeting.

If you have questions about this you can email  the LSD Board or call one of the trustees: Paul Lippmann, 789-5464, Niel Wienges, 678-477-2177, or Jennifer Temple, 542-0505.

 Just last week the town was the recipient of a significant amount of money, $245,000, from the Fire Department, funds that the LFD Inc. earned from investments. Lincolnville is fortunate that our Fire Department is self-supporting in this way, thanks to a gift from Roger and Hazel Heald, many years ago, of stocks that have continued to grow. The money has been allocated to three accounts: the fire truck account, a new Beach station, and training.

 Finally, we come to the speeding issue I wrote about last week.

The Center isn't the only place with a problem.

A Beach Road resident wrote on the LBB: “I think speed in the Center, with kids crossing to library and store, is of prime concern, but with four-plus families near our hill [coming up from the Beach] walking down the sidewalk-less road with trucks accelerating up that steep hill and not bothering to slow after, we have more than one problem area!”

The writer goes on to say that, from experience, she’s seen speed circles and bumps and “they really, really work.”

 Whenever speeding comes up I get a little uncomfortable; too many times I find myself creeping up to 50 and more on certain straight stretches of road, roads that I’ve driven nearly every day for decades. It takes a conscious effort — that “being in the moment” thing — to let up a bit, to stay at the posted limit.

Except for south of the Beach on Atlantic Highway, there’s no road in town with a speed limit over 40, is there? I meant to take a drive around town and check that out; please correct me if I’m wrong.

The point is, we know the roads so well, we’re a little late for work or an appointment, the road ahead is clear... all the excuses we use to push the speed limit. It doesn’t feel like going too fast.

 But try walking on the shoulder, pushing a stroller or walking a dog. Those speeding vehicles are frightening, passing a mere couple of feet away. Some people do make an obvious point of either slowing down for the pedestrian or moving to the center, but there are others who totally ignore the vulnerable human being on the side of the road. They tear past, accelerate even, as if no one else exists.  Bad enough on our rural roads, doubly bad in the settled areas, such as the Center and Beach.

 As one woman wrote in response to my article last week, “the minute the town cop was let go, Rte. 173 became like the NASCAR race.”

I seem to remember that we were assured the Sheriff’s office would be keeping an eye on things if we voted out the police department. When was the last time you saw a Waldo County Sheriff car in town? Isn’t it time for the selectmen to weigh in?

 On a different note, the Community Birthday Calendars are in; pick yours up at Drake’s, at Western Auto, or contact Connie Parker, 789-5984.

And, best news of all, it’s Girl Scout Cookie time! Order yours from your neighborhood Girl Scout, by email or call Tracee, 763-2958.

Notice that all the following Library programs are free.

Tuesday

Come to the regular needlework night at the Lincolnville Community Library this Tuesday, January 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. This is a lively group of up to a dozen women (mostly), meeting every second and fourth Tuesday of the month to work on knitting, sewing and other handwork projects. Somebody’s always available to help if you’re stuck, and the conversations are fun. The tea kettle’s on and newcomers are welcome.  

Wednesday

John Williams will present a free program, “Your Ancestors, Your DNA,” on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. at the Library. John, who has a doctorate in molecular physics and biochemistry and spent his professional career working in scientific research, will explain what DNA is and how it can be used to research a person’s ancestors, discover more living relatives, and reveal the migration patterns followed by early humans as they populated the earth. Using his own genome as an example, he will show the kinds of information available from DNA tests offered by companies such as 23andMe.

Friday

Jessica Day’s Midcoast Music Together has been rescheduled to Friday, January 13, 11 a.m.  Families with children from newborn to age 5 are invited to come have fun singing, dancing, and exploring musical instruments together. The series is sponsored by the Ethel and W. George Kennedy Family Foundation and will continue after this on the first Friday of each month through June.

Saturday 

Julie Turkevich will be showing kids and parents how to make their own snow globes this Saturday, January 14, 10 a.m. to noon. All the necessary materials will be provided, but people may bring photos or small waterproof figures or toys to put inside the globes. These items should be 2 inches wide by 3 inches tall or smaller. This is the art program that was postponed in December. 

Wednesday, January 18

Windfern Duo – Maho Hisakawa, flute, and Nathan Hillman, viola – presents a free evening concert, “Sunlit Skies”, on Friday, January 13, 7 p.m. at Bay Chamber Music School’s Recital Hall; the Hall is located on the 5th floor of 18 Central Street in Rockport. The Duo will play selection’s from Bach’s “Goldberg Variations”, and pieces by Beethoven, Bitzana dn Devienne. Cellist Kay Allen will join the Duo for “Sinfonia”, written by Nathan.

A rally to coincide with the Washington DC Women’s March is planned for Augusta on Saturday, January 21, starting at 10 a.m. on the west side of the State House.  According to their website “everyone who supports women's rights is welcome including: Women, Girls, Men, Boys, Families, Immigrants, Refugees and the Undocumented, LGBTQ Community, People with Disabilities, Climate Change Advocates, Religious and Spiritual Communities – and anyone else who wants to come out in support. This isn’t a march, but rather a rally in support of women’s rights, civil liberties, and protection of the planet.”

For some reason Wally and I almost never go to the movies. We both did as kids; he’ll tell you about the Colonial Theatre in Augusta where for twelve cents he could watch a Saturday matinee. I grew up in a ritzier town, I guess, because it cost us a quarter to go to the Teatro. Both are now long gone, the Colonial is a shuttered ruin on upper Water Street and the Teatro is just plain gone. But boy, these winter days are long, and the trailers we see on TV for the latest movies are intriguing, so last Saturday we headed up to Belfast’s Colonial for the 1:40 matinee: Manchester by the Sea.

 Two days later we’re still talking about it.