I was well along in my adult life, and thought I knew everything I needed to know, when Tom Flagg introduced me to the bent nail can.

“You’re not throwing those out?” he exclaimed one day as I was doing exactly that – throwing away a handful of bent nails. That stung a little since from the looks of our barn workbench it was pretty clear we were already border-line hoarders. But coming from Tom, maybe I had to up my game.

He was not only weaving large rag rugs for me to sell, but had become the rarest of experts – a loom mechanic. Looms are finicky, glitchy machines, especially 200-year-old wooden barn looms, strung together with cords that stretch, pieces that misalign, and other stuff that just breaks. Tom, who learned all he needed to know about weaving by watching me work for about an hour, then went home and reassembled an old loom he’d come across and proceeded to weave himself.

Before long he could diagnose a loom problem over the phone; he had that native ability some people have to understand intuitively how things work. In today’s world they are the ones who can get inside the mind (did I just say that?) of a computer, and they’re probably 14 years old.

Yes, I often need the help of a 14-year-old to unsnarl a tech problem, but Tom’s bent nail can has become the underlying theory of my daily life. Why throw away a perfectly good nail when in a minute or two you can straighten it with a few blows of a hammer? Why throw away a perfectly good plastic bag when you can wash it out? Why use paper towels when cut-up T-shirts work just as well to clean up messes?

A can dedicated to those bent nails organizes good intentions.

Evolution gave us a thumb and a nice, big brain. Perhaps it was inevitable where that would take us. In the span of some 400 years, right here on this shore, we humans have gone from turning a piece of rock into a tool, a lump of clay into a pot, and a tree trunk into a sea-worthy boat to Amazon boxes on every doorstep.

To elaborate houses packed with more clothes, appliances, knickknacks, exercise equipment, and tech devices than we can ever use. To a dump filled to capacity with all the stuff we throw away. To a climate catastrophe coming closer and closer.

Here I have to mention Tru-Earth Eco-strips, concentrated 4” square sheets of laundry detergent. Instead of a homemade clay pot to hold stuff we buy huge plastic jugs full of soap. Enough of these sheets to do 32 loads of laundry come in a small cardboard envelope, and replace one plastic jug. They really work. 

But even as we seem to be clogging up our world with “consumer goods” we don’t really need, but have been convinced we deserve, we also have the luxury to learn. That’s an indulgence that our ancestors – those tool-making, pot-building ancestors – rarely had, or so I imagine.

In the midst of a coastal Maine summer there are the sunrise gazers who park at the Beach to watch the brightening horizon. And the moon-rise folks who regularly visit Ducktrap as night falls.

Artists, even while not creating, think about creating, though  95-year-old Alex Katz, a Lincolnville summer resident since the early 1950s, still paints as he has all his life.

There are the curious who constantly wonder how a loom works (though Tom passed away years ago), where an old road went, why we’re seeing more rare birds here these days.

And the problem solvers looking to improve our lives, our town are busy plotting out sidewalks through the Center, planning a more dynamic historical society, testing the water off our beach.

A good deal of 21st century life gets me down: politics, people living on screens, people living on the street, guns, war, the planet heating up. There’s so little I can do except vote, one vote out of 300 million. But if I reuse my plastic bags, wash my cleaning rags, and straighten out my bent nails that’s a tiny bit to the good, isn’t it?

Overdue Town Charter Amendments

A public hearing Monday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m. will address proposed Town Charter amendments.

Scroll through the above link; “Board of Selectmen” has been replaced with “Select Board” and “Selectman” has been replaced with “Select Person”, a long overdue correction in recognizing that not all those serving are men. Many years ago, perhaps in the ‘80s, Norma Schmitt was voted to the Board (nominated by Wally O’Brien!) and became the first woman to serve.

Also of interest on the town’s website is information on Property Tax Stabilization for Senior Citizens. Note that to apply for this you have to return the application to the Town Office before Dec. 1.

Blueberry Wingding Wrap-up

Wingding chair Lee Cronin says:

“A huge thank you to all the residents and friends of Lincolnville for supporting the Lincolnville Improvement Association's Blueberry WIngDIng which was held at the Lobster Pound Restaurant last Saturday. 301 breakfasts were served, 556 raffle tickets sold, not a crumb was left on the bake sale table and the white elephant table experienced its greatest success as well. In addition, we received $1,379.00 indonations which gives us a net of $9,691.00 after expenses.“In June we awarded $9,900.00 worth of scholarships to six worthy Lincolnville students heading off to college this fall.

“Recognition goes to our raffle prize donors:

“Whale's Tooth Pub, Lincolnville Beach Store, McLaughlin's Lobster Shack, Dot's Market, Lincolnville Center General Store, The Red Cottage, Aster and Rose Restaurant, Inn at Ocean's Edge, and Cellardoor Winery.“Thank you to all the volunteers: the bakers, breakfast workers, ticket sellers, white elephant donors, and of course all the members of our community and their guests for supporting this event. Mark your calendars for August 12, 2023 and we look forward to seeing you there.

And the Indoor Flea Market

Wrapping up another of the monthly Flea Markets the United Christian Church sponsors, Mary Schulein reports on last Saturday’s successful Market; proceeds benefit the church and its ongoing financial needs which includes keeping up a 200-year-old building. In addition to selling the work of local craftsmen, the Market has several tables of just plain stuff: collectibles, antiques, white elephants.

Our town certainly supports those looking to “lighten their load” of household goods as every weekend sees a flurry of yard sales.