Dear Editor:

I feel incredibly fortunate to live in a small town on the coast of Maine. Edgecomb has been my home for over 20 years -- a place where I’ve raised my family and where my boys attended Edgecomb Eddy, a school that remains the heart of this community for so many of us. Our school isn’t just where our children learn -- it’s where our community lives and grows.  It’s why my wife and I initially moved to Edgecomb.  

On Saturday the 17th, I attended the Edgecomb town meeting. It was clear that people in the room care deeply about our town -- there was real passion and commitment. But there were also moments that gave me pause. At one point, someone was booed while speaking. It was hard to witness that kind of behavior among neighbors.

Thank you to Michael Maxim, an elected member of our community, for standing up in that moment and calling for respect in a room full of grown citizens. That kind of leadership matters.

Congratulations to all the newly elected officials -- your willingness to serve is appreciated, and we thank you. As a community, we won’t always agree, and that’s okay. But we owe it to one another to listen with respect and lead with heart.

Edgecomb is stronger when we come together -- not just in agreement, but in understanding. Let’s keep building a community we can all be proud of.

Appreciate you, Edgecomb. Maybe we should consider holding the next town meeting at the school. 

Michael Gaffney

Edgecomb