All is still around the island this morning. Gray skies bode rain and perhaps snow this evening. Our woods show damage from the storms thus far this winter, many broken and downed trees. After tonight’s precipitation, an advanced forecast promises clear weather through Christmas Day.

Weather permitting (that means no heavy ice or snow), All Saints by-the-Sea, the summer chapel on the east side of Southport, will open for a 10 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

The Rev. Kit Sherrill will again be the celebrant and preacher. Dress warmly. The chapel will be warmed before the service by a propane heater, but that heat source will be shut off before the service begins.

Usually enough heat remains, and the warm bodies keep a reasonable temperature in the building, at least as much as the YMCA tennis courts. Most if not all participants experience some magic beside the sea at that hour on Christmas Eve night. Should the weather be a concern, call Kit at 207-633-0672.

If you are not up for the late-night walk down the path in the dark, or an Episcopal liturgy, the Southport United Methodist Church will have a Christmas Eve service beginning at 5 p.m. There you will have heat and a beautifully decorated church.

People will be coming and going for the holidays. An email from Barbara and Stephen Basemen says they will be arriving Christmas Day on Southport to celebrate holidays and welcome in the new year.

Good news is that Al Azzoni has been out of the hospital for some weeks now and is recovering, no doubt helped by the notes and cards from many library friends, and, of course, the care he receives from his wife, Janet.

Twenty-six Southport Central School children entertained family, friends and neighbors with their annual holiday concert Monday evening, Dec. 15, in the Southport Town Hall. All children played some instrument, the youngest ones tooting on recorders, and the older ones either strumming on the ukulele or the guitar, or blowing notes through the saxophone. At least one, perhaps two students played the piano. Although beginning with “Jingle Bells” and ending with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” the middle of the concert was more secular folk songs and two modern pieces. There was something for everyone.

Around the room were cutouts of three-ball snowmen, each with a student’s face, sporting a carrot nose, and clothed with unique scarves, buttons and hats. After the concert each family could take their student’s snowman home. What fun to see the children so accomplished and dressed in their finest.

Our old buildings often yield surprises. Peter Brewer found a penny post card in his boat shop dated March 1947. The card was sent to Lewis C. Johnson, wife Linda’s dad, from the Veterans’ Administration at Togus. The card informed Lewis that his application for veterans’ benefits, specifically to an education and vocational training course, had been accepted. From such finds is history constructed.

Linda and I began talking about similar finds when old buildings are torn down. Often newspapers and other paper have been used as insulation. That thought led to another, which is a better use for overflow books at the library. Instead of taking them to the dump, we could use them to insulate our houses.

Then, years from now, when those houses are torn down, people will know what we have been reading (that is if the mice haven’t shredded it all). Talk with Linda if this idea is useful for you.

One more column before Christmas and it must be submitted on Friday of this week, so if you have any news to send me, please send it by Friday noon.