Dear Editor:

Many of you are hearing about this for the first time, so here’s the short version: MaineHealth is considering closing Labor & Delivery services at Lincoln Hospital (Miles) in Damariscotta. If that happens, families across Lincoln County and surrounding communities could face hour-plus drives for childbirth care — during labor, emergencies, winter storms, summer traffic, and everything else rural Maine throws at us.

This is not a political issue. It’s a community issue. Rural hospitals across Maine have already lost maternity services, and once they close, they almost never come back. We do not want Miles to become another example.

The response from the community so far has been incredible. At a small Morning of Action this week, we gathered more than 50 physical petition signatures from a single flyer. Parents, grandparents, healthcare workers, neighbors, and local residents are speaking up because this matters deeply to our future.

Here’s how you can help right now:

1. Sign and share the new, online petition

2. Print and post flyers around your town before next week’s MaineHealth Listening Sessions

3. Forward this email to friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors

4. Contact local and state representatives and ask them to attend the Listening Sessions

5. Attend a Listening Session yourself and speak up for rural maternity care

Resources in the shared Drive include:

• 4 types of Flyers

• “Start Here to Save Miles” action packet

Upcoming MaineHealth Listening Sessions:

Monday, June 1: 5–6:30 p.m.; Boothbay Region Elementary School Gym

Tuesday, June 2: 5–6:30 p.m.; Great Salt Bay Community School Gym

This issue affects every part of rural community life: families, emergency care, workforce recruitment, local businesses, and the long-term future of Midcoast Maine. Please help us keep the momentum going!

Dirigo, after all.

Margaret Reynolds

Damariscotta