It rained last Friday: light and heavy, soft and hard, all rain all the time. Hydroplaning into town was an edgy experience. When not flashing headlights at those who do not apparently realize that Maine law requires headlights to be on when windshield wipers are, you couldn’t help but notice how empty public spaces look without all those political campaign signs.

Weary of politics as we all must be, whether jubilant or disappointed at the election’s outcomes — most of us both — we need to lighten up. Just for fun, take a fresh look at those campaign signs. Which of them was easiest to read? Most attractive? No fair considering party affiliation or the right or the wrong of the cause. Instead, ask, which sign was the best looking.

Winner: Vote No on 1. It was easy to read and a great color scheme. In second place, Bill Hine for county treasurer. After those two picks, there was not much competition among the rest.

The signs are down, but the issues are still up.

Bewitching hours

The Thursday and Friday before Halloween a larger than usual number of visitors visited the Rumford Public Library to view the special displays of books, including graphic novels, tapes, and DVDs of spooky stories. Check any library material out those days and get a candy treat.

“We had a lot of new patrons, parents and kids. Quite a few got library cards,” library director Luke Sorensen reported. We’ll see if the library staff will top their own record come Christmastime.

Barney Martin’s three-guitar ensemble, Coos Canyon, is coming to the Rumford Falls Auditorium next Saturday evening. Doors open at 6 p.m. with  the performance at 7. There’s plenty to do between 6 and 7: Put a Chinese auction bid in, put some cash in the 50/50 pot. Then listen to favorites from 60 years ago to the present.

Burt deFrees asked his former student Barney Martin to come home and do the gig. Barney said yes.

The event, sponsored by the Rumford Performing Arts Committee, is to benefit the Jane Holt deFrees Scholarship Fund.

Hard to believe that Jane died more than six years ago. Her spirit and her work stay with us. Jane’s was a straightforward style. If she were writing about Saturday night’s Coos Canyon performance, she’d say: Be there!

Linda Farr Macgregor is a freelance writer; contact her: [email protected]