So here in Lincolnville we have so far managed to avoid many of the challenges faced by the rest of the country this summer, the extreme heat and clouds of smoke. Sure, it has been a bit damp, and its been a long time since I recall as many foggy days. But this is a reality of living on the coast of the North Atlantic.

And it is summer! Unfortunately that no longer means long days of doing nothing, like I remember from my youth.

The ways a young boy entertained himself in a small town in those long summers of the 1980s… Living where I grew up, on a piece of land carved out of the state park, I benefited from lots of woods to explore. And these were in the days before ticks! Theoretically, I could walk through the woods to Camden from my dooryard, but I never tried that.

I did climb to the top of Frohock and Derry Mountain a few times, even illicitly camped there as a teenager (this is against State Park rules, people). I knew the way to the old gold mine, just a pit and a bunch of quartz boulders. I spent hours at Frohock Brook. Not fishing, mind you, but I sailed a number of homemade boats piloted by toy soldiers down the “rapids”. Found salamanders.

Bikes were a big part of my childhood, and as I got older, I rode everywhere. Getting together with my friends up on High Street on the other side of town, doing the kinds of things that parents don’t need to know about, and somehow never landed any of us in the emergency room.

Late July and August brought haying and blueberry raking, and lots of swimming. 

Are my kids’ childhoods, in the same physical place, different than my own? Sure, in some ways. But my childhood was different than my parents, and my grandparents. Some things are probably worse, but some things are arguably better. I distinctly remember telling my mother this when she told me as a kid how things were better when she was young. 

It is still summer and kids are still being kids. Mine may spend more time than I would like on screens, but they also run around with friends, ride their bikes around town, wrestle with dogs, go swimming.

My daughter has followed in my footsteps, spending much of her summer breading clams and onion rings for Rick McLaughlin.

The boys pick up odd jobs as they come, and of late have been ordered down to the Schoolhouse Museum by their grandmother to do work for the Lincolnville Historical Society for a little money in their pockets and, if they are lucky, lunch at Scott’s Place.

Things change, things stay the same. And that is OK.

Fire Department Reserve Program

The Lincolnville Volunteer Fire Department has just announced a Reserve program, for citizens who wish to assist in large scale emergencies or major storms. Lincolnville has long had a strong and dedicated force of volunteer firefighters, but this program is designed for people looking for a way to give to their town without the major time and training requirement of becoming a volunteer fire fighter.

This got me thinking about the ways people give back in this town, and the general culture of service that seems to exist here. The fire department, of course, always ready to drop everything, 24/7, are an extreme example.

There will be an open house at the fire station in the Center on Thursday, July 20, from 6:30 to 8p.m. for anyone who might be interested.

Bernard Young Salt Shed

The salt shed where the town’s supply which keeps the roads passable in the winter are stored has been christened the Bernard Young Salt Shed in honor of our former long time road commissioner, the late Bernard Young. Maintaining the roads of a small hilly town with our climate is no small task, and Bernard was one of the best, and I believe he would be well pleased with the honor.

Lincolnville Improvement Association Fundraiser

The Lincolnville Improvement Association is selling hats to raise funds for its scholarship fund. Contact Dan Leary at dan_leary@hotmail.com to order yours and display your wicked local pride!

Western Auto Museum of Schwinn

Mikey down at Mike’s Align and Repair told me he wouldn’t give me an inspection sticker until I got new tires for my little Honda, rule stickler that he is.

So the other morning I spent a half hour at Young and Hickey’s Western Auto while Danny put some new tires on. I love Western Auto; it really does feel like stepping back in time, not the least because it is the last Western Auto in the country. But if you haven’t seen it, you have to check out the back room and Danny Hickey’s collection of vintage Schwinn bicycles. It has to be one of the most unexpected hidden surprises in this town. And you can even grab an ice cold can of Moxie for the road.

Condolences

Sympathy to the family of Ronnie Rainfrette. Ronnie was quite a character, and I will miss chatting with him at Drake Market or Western Auto.

Have a lovely week, Lincolnville. Go out and explore, look for ways to give back to your community, be kind. Reach me at ceobrien246@gmail.com .

Bayshore Baptist Church, 9:30a.m. Sunday School, 11:00 worship, 2648 Atlantic Highway