If you have been reading some of our Alna stories lately, say, the last two years, or longer if you count the school choice issue that drew statewide media coverage and which debate arguably began, but should not take much blame for, Alna’s current era of political discontent, you may be feeling glad you have not attended or watched some of those planning and selectboard meetings or a workshop or a hearing.

Whether about a boat ramp and when it was or wasn’t used before, and what it would or wouldn’t do to the Sheepscot River and whether or not it would fit shoreland rules; or one of the decisions the two selectmen elected in March have made and taken criticism for before, during and/or after each, Alna is for sure weathering choppy waters. It can be hard to watch, hard to capture in writing and it does not look or sound like anyone participating is enjoying themselves, either.

At least two residents’ voices broke with what they were saying in recent meetings.

Time will tell when the waters will calm. Maybe having a new first selectman via the election underway at press time Tuesday will help everyone.

This we know: That painting hanging in the meeting room, the one of the yellow meetinghouse, was also in the meeting room of the previous town office. And the meetinghouse pre-dates the school choice, boat ramp and other debates and divisions in town. Think of the windstorms, aging and all else it has stood through, over the generations.

Alna will get beyond this, it will just take perseverance and hopefully patience, like when treating wounds and then letting them heal, or keeping an old meetinghouse standing.