I met my wife in July, a long  time ago. Things always seem better in the summer in Maine. In our early relationship, as things started to get serious, our private joke was the song “February” by Dar Williams, as in if we are still together come March, we can make this work. 

Winter in Maine is hard. Even in the absence of real snow, it is cold, and isolating. The tourists are gone, the streets are quiet. We hunker down in our homes, in our own little worlds.

I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a community. We have our own spaces, but we exist amongst others; we are stronger, we are better, when we reach out to each other.

In my own life, this means figuring out how to get three children to three different places, often at the same time. I think of a flurry of texts last week with a neighbor — a ride home from high school secured for my daughter — “Team Lincolnville” was the final message. We are better when we are together.

The Great Ice Storm of 1998 was 25 years ago. At the time I was bartending at an Irish restaurant in North Cambridge, recovering from the New Year’s Eve bar brawl of 1997, but my wife was a high school senior in Dresden.

She told me about how her mother, a Maine General Hospital nurse, took her to the shelter at the Civic Center in Augusta, where they volunteered, cleaning bathrooms, taking care of neighbors. As we do. What memories do you have of that period?

I cannot ignore the tragedy that occurred in this town this weekend. It hits close for a man that has spent almost his entire life in this little place. My heart aches for all involved, but all I can do is send my deepest sympathy. Be kind. Check up on each other.

Snow Birds

My mom and Don have made their way to Florida for a few weeks. It is always fun to hear from our wayward relations about their sunny experiences as we see through winter in Maine. Though, that said, we miss our neighbors, and look forward to seeing you when things are a bit more hospitable here. And I especially think of our new neighbors, experiencing their first Maine winter. It is pretty when the snow shines off the trees.

Music at Camden Hills Regional High School

There will be a concert Wednesday January 11, at 7 p.m., at the Strom Auditorium at Camden Hills Regional High School featuring the Renaissance a Capella group from UMaine Orono. Camden Hills’ own a capella groups Fortissima and the Off Beats will be opening for them, which feature LCS alumni! Should be a good show.

Special Town Meeting

There will be a town meeting Thursday, January 12, at 6 p.m. at the Town Office. The town is looking to use funds from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery to pay for resurfacing the tennis courts at the Lincolnville School, restoring the docks at Norton’s Pond, and repairing the heating and water system at the town office. The select board and budget committee have reviewed this, and recommend it, but the final decision is up to you. Come be part of small town democracy!

Town Calendar

Monday January 9