Since taking over this column in the beginning of the year, I find myself returning to a common theme as I write about this town that I love. We are place diverse in opinion, background, and economic privilege, even if, like most small Maine towns, we may share a lack of other forms of diversity.

21 years ago, this little town was preparing to celebrate its bicentennial. A major undertaking, involving years of planning, with townspeople from all backgrounds… My mom, Diane Roesing O’Brien, wrote at that time about the experience of planning the event, with a massive parade, vendors, live music, you name it.

The bicentennial had been on the minds of certain townspeople for years. Jackie Watts, the mother of the Lincolnville Historical Society, first invited interested people to her house to discuss the 2002 Bicentennial way back in 1975, my mother among them.

Former Town Administrator mentioned the Bicentennial at his first town meeting, June 23, 1986, stating “Lincolnville is having a Bicentennial in 16 years, and we have to plan for it.” When the thirty-one members of Lincolnville’s Bicentennial Committee first met in early 1999, Skip was there.

Diane relates the contributions of so many towns people — those with roots that go back to the founding, those who came in the 1970s and 1980s to raise their families, the new arrivals who came for a productive retirement. So many names, people that are still among us, and those we dearly miss.

Rosey Gerry, of course, a man who’s love of this town knows know bounds.

And Tom Sadowski, who I most remember for his many contributions to the town motto contest. Lincolnville: Just South of Liberty, A Little Bit Beyond Hope; Lincolnvillle: Each to the Beat of His Own Drum; and of course Lincolnville: The Capital of Love. None of these genius submissions were selected, but many were made into T-shirts.

Diane recounts the need to keep Rosey and Tom separated during meetings as they were like “two fidgety boys in a classroom” telling jokes, hatching plots, and generally disrupting order.

Peg Miller and Barbara Tarantino (mother of our newest Selectboard member), who had thorough knowledge of how to run a bean supper, invaluable experience. They joined with Dorothy McLaren to plan the craft and food venders. Jannette Wooten joined with Rosey to raise money through three separate auctions, keeping track of bids where Rosey took on the natural role of auctioneer.

Pat Jordan, Gilbert Knight, and Don Heald, of the Lincolnville Town Band, with assistance from Keryn Laite helped insure the creation of the Bicentennial Bandstand at Breezemere Park, designed by Jack Silverio.

Peggy and Larry DiGiovanne, new to the town at that time. Marilyn Caron, Bob Carter, Arlene Day, Cindy Dunham, Vicky Eugley, Everett Fizer, Joy and Richard Glock, Barbara Hatch, Bob Heald, Betty Johnson, Arlene Jurewicz, Jan and Sandy Lyle, Bill O’Brien, Shelia Polson, Tom Russell, Stephanie Thostenson, and of course Diane herself rounded out the committee. I am sure I have missed someone, but I was living in Rockland at the time…

A diverse group to be sure, a microcosm of the town. And somehow, over two and half years of active planning, and at least 27 years of it being in the back of the minds of townsfolk, they pulled it off. Bickering and compromising, strangers became friends.

Diane wrote 22 years ago: “As we finally approach our big week-end and the culmination of all this hard work I’m seeing our committee as a microcosm of the town, a tiny Lincolnville, and we really did manage to get along! Especially since we live in a town with as much Character as it has characters .”

 A town with Character with characters. Truer words have not been written. And it is bittersweet reading the names and contributions of those we have lost. Man, the Bicentennial was a good day. Do we really have to wait 79 more years before doing it again?

Election Results

Congratulations to Mike Ray and Robyn Tarantino on their election to the Select Board. The town also approved the budget for Lincolnville Central School and the Five Town CSD. Article 4 on the ballot also passed, addressing the Land Use Ordinance, for the purpose of increasing housing opportunities in town.

Running unopposed for town offices were Tracee O’Brien and Amy Peterson elected to the School Board; with Ed O’Brien, John Williams, and Leda Stoutenburg elected to the Budget Committee. My wife made sure to point out to me Wednesday morning that she got two more votes than me.

Condolences

Thoughts are with the family of Edwin “Pecky” Kibbe, the youngest son of Dr. Frank Kibbe, and had strong Lincolnville roots. 

And sympathy to the family of David Reino Masalin, another with strong Lincolnville roots, and who attended the Youngtown Schoolhouse.

OK, Lincolnville, I am sure I am not the only one looking forward to a fewer clouds this week. School gets out Wednesday, good luck parents! Keep an eye out for the younger Lincolnvillains as they explore this amazing place we live. And as always, be kind.