Many years ago, when I found out I was a writer, I realized I had only one subject I could, with any knowledge, write about: my town, Lincolnville. My own backyard. I’d see the macro in the micro. The world in a teacup. I did fear I’d run out of material for we’re pretty small, but every week, once a week since 1979 I’ve managed to fill a few pages with news from this corner of the world. So what better time than now to take a look at us in light of last week’s election?

 Election Day was probably the busiest in our history; 80 percent of us voted. With Town Administrator David Kinney out on medical leave, Registrar Karen Secotte was in charge. Doris Weed came out of retirement (where she’s happily been sternman on husband Ken’s lobster boat) just for the day, filling in as Deputy Registrar to register new voters. The regular cohort of ballot clerks, all volunteers, who sit, two to a station, each from opposing parties, were at their posts. The UCC bake table was crowded with goodies when the polls opened at 8 a.m.

 And that’s just about when the trouble started; the ballot scanning machine was cranky from the beginning and spit back every third or fourth ballot the voters fed into it. With three separate ballot sheets for each voter, and the scanner taking several seconds to read each one, it didn’t take long for a line to form. Wally and I arrived at 8:45 and there were already two loops of voters stretching across the gym, waiting to feed their ballots through the machine. Over an hour later, when we finally reached the scanner there were four lines of mostly cheerful people, chatting with each other and buying treats from the church ladies (nearly $900 went into the UCC’s heating oil account that day).

 Finally, a call was made to the Secretary of State’s office about the situation, and the election officials were told to cut a slot in a covered tub and collect the ballots in that, so voters could go on their way. After the polls closed, it took until 11 p.m. to feed all those ballots through the scanner and finally get a total. Lincolnville voted for Hillary Clinton, Emily Cain, Jonathon Fulford, and Stanley Ziegler; another way to put it is, we voted for only one winner, Stanley Ziegler, our new representative to the Legislature. The two municipal and school issues – to build a new Region 8 school and to approve EcoMaine for solid waste disposal – were overwhelmingly approved. Rosey Gerry will serve as Selectman until the June regular municipal election. We also voted to legalize marijuana, to raise money for schools, to require background checks on gun purchases, to raise the minimum wage, to institute ranked choice voting, and to fix our highways and bridges. All but the gun background checks passed statewide.

 What does this say about Lincolnville? Politically we lean Democratic, but the split between the Ds and Rs wasn’t huge. Clinton got 883 votes and Trump 510, with 124 votes going to the other candidates. That Donald Trump is our new President caught many, if not most, by surprise. He wasn’t supposed to win, according to every poll and pundit. His supporters knew otherwise. And at least 510 of them live in Lincolnville. Nationally we know that there are many people unhappy enough with the results to protest. Imagine if Clinton had won. We’d see the same protests with different participants.

 But here’s what I know. Most of us love this town; maybe we were born here, into families that go way back, or born here to more recent arrivals. Or came here ourselves from somewhere else. Adopted children are often told by their new parents “we chose you, so of course we love you.” Think of new arrivals in the same way. Here’s a Facebook post from that day: “. . . I'm standing in line today, with so many fellow Lincolnvillains, all of us holding our completed ballots waiting for the opportunity to actually cast it (an hour and 40 minutes BTW). We all have different views on what or who to vote for or against. As I'm chatting with a neighbor in line we start talking about an evening almost four years ago when so many of the same faces were in the same place, but united in support of my little boy, sick in the hospital. It has been a nasty election cycle, but when it comes to it, we will be there for each other, and kindness and compassion will win. I love this town.”

 This is the only place we can really affect. And listening to one another is a good place to start. The holidays are coming up, and the many community events this year include an evening “social” at the Community Building following the Beach tree lighting and party; Wreaths Across America comes through the Beach a few days after that. Let’s get out and find out what the other guy is thinking.

One more note on the Election:

The Library book group plans to meets Tuesday, November 15 at 6 p.m. to discuss Ann Patchett’s latest novel “Commonwealth”, a story about two blended families and the bonds forged by the six children over five decades. As always, everyone is welcome to come to the discussion even if they have not read this book. 

 This Wednesday, Nov. 16 the monthly Library Presentation will feature Lincolnville’s Charles Masalin talking about his book, “The Zig Zag Path of One Entrepreneur”. Following the talk and cookies, singer Sara Grey will perform. These monthly programs are always interesting and entertaining. Tickets are $10 and support the Library. Contact Rosey Gerry, 975-5432, to reserve.

HOLIDAY ANTIQUE and GIFT SHOW

Stop by the Holiday Antique and Gift Show this Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road. Sponsored by United Christian Church, there’ll be local antique dealers, crafters, and farmers with a wide selection of unique and affordable products including rustic chainsaw art, vintage buttons,  maple syrup and apple butter, antique tools, and Caleb Edwards' hand drawn bird cards and calendars. Ann Woodruff's attractive hand knit wool hats for all ages, Diana Wright's "Grateful Soaps", and Diane O’Brien’s Advent calendars. And wait until you see how Barbara Bentley has transformed recycled birdseed and grain bags into practical yet stylish shoulder bags.

With the Community Building’s new kitchen church members will be serving breakfast and lunch, including muffins, coffee cake, breakfast casserole, beans and franks, quiche, soup, homemade cookies and jams. As a shopper commented last year, "This show is such a wonderful surprise, and just a short, beautiful drive from town. See you again next year!" 

Lincolnville Sewer District

Jennifer Temple reports that the new Board of Trustees of the Lincolnville Sewer District (located at the Beach) is comprised of Paul Lippman, chairman and treasurer, Niel Wienges and Jennifer. The Board welcomes everyone’s participation. The engineering firm of Woodward and Curran has provided an update of work done to date as well as current doings. Residents and property owners in the district are asked to update any changes in phone or email in the past four months by contacting Jennifer at 542-0505 or by email .

Christmas By the Sea in Lincolnville

It’s coming up soon, all the Christmas activities in town. Saturday December 3 we gather on the Beach to sing carols around the bonfire, then greet Santa and go up to the L.I.A. building for a community party. But that bonfire doesn’t build itself! Andy Young has headed up the task for many years, and he’s asking for help stacking wood from noon to 2. As he says, it’s a great time with friends and friends-to-be, so give him a call, 323-1334, if you can help or just show up.

 This year Briar Lyons and Ladleah Dunn are organizing the party, and will soon be putting out a flier listing all of Lincolnville’s Christmas events throughout the month. I know they’ll be looking for the usual donations of cookies, bars and other finger foods, savory and sweet, that magically appear at the L.I.A. building during the first Saturday in December, the 3rd this year, as well as help that morning making sandwiches in the L.I.A. kitchen. The Schoolhouse Museum will be open this year during the party; perhaps Santa will be sitting up there waiting for visitors.

 Then, after the bonfire and party at the L.I.A. building at the Beach, head out to the Community Building in the Center (doors open at 6) for the first Annual Christmas Social where you can dance to some live music by Rosey Gerry, and his band, along with a surprise drummer. The price of admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item to be donated to the local food pantry. A silent auction during the first set with winners announced during set break will benefit the Lincolnville Historical Society. If you have an item or service to donate to the silent auction, let Briar Lyons know via Facebook. More details to come.

B and Bs for Vets

As our mailboxes fill up with charitable appeals this time of year, it’s nice to know how we can help close to home. Here are three for this week:

People For People, a 30 year effort to provide meals at holiday time for Waldo County families in need, is closing its doors; Paul Garelli, the founder and coordinator of PFP, is retiring. PFP always saw that 100% of donations went directly to food for those most in need. Now Waldo County Community Action Partners (WCAP) is taking it over with the same pledge.

Donations can be sent to WCAP/Heroes 4 Hunger, P.O. Box 130, Belfast, 04915.

Out! As I Want To Be has a new name as well: OUT Maine. This Rockland-based group, which has been empowering LGBTQ young people for 20 years, has a mission to “support, educate and empower LGBTQ youth across rural Maine. As the group says, it’s critical to change the message these rural kids often receive to a positive one during their vulnerable, formative teen years. Donations go to OUT Maine, P.O. Box 1723, Rockland, 04841.

And here’s one close to home. Nick Watts, son of Tammy and Chris Watts, and grandson of my good friend, Jackie Watts, is undergoing heart surgery this week, and that right after appearing in CHRHS’ Sister Act last week-end. As our family knows only too well, this kind of medical event is extremely difficult for the family, both emotionally and financially. A GoFundMe account has been set up for Nick’s family if you’d like to help.