This is the season of graduations when parents, grandparents, and students can be very proud of their accomplishments.

Will and Leal Brinegar traveled to Towson, Maryland, this past weekend to attend the graduation of their granddaughter, Isabelle Abaldo, from Towson High School.

May 18 saw Sandy Bugbee Larsen get her hood, designating that she has earned a master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of New England. Mom, Kathy Bugbee, is very proud our her daughter’s achievements.

John and Jane Lunt have been happy to be part of two of their grandchildren’s college graduations. Grace Woodward, daughter of Pat Woodward, Lisa Lunt, and Michele Woodward, graduated with a degree in sociology from Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina. She will be attending Yale Divinity School in the fall, following a trip to California with friends.

Jasper Houston of Yarmouth and Southport, and son of Holly Lunt and Bob Houston, graduated with a degree in computer science from Bowdoin College. After a road trip to Utah and parts along the way, Jasper will be employed at L.L. Bean where he had a summer internship last year. Jasper was delighted to be asked to give the Welcome to Maine speech at Bowdoin’s graduation last Saturday. You can access that here: http://community.bowdoin.edu/news/2018/05/commencement-2018-greetings-from-the-state-ofmaine-jasper-houston-18/

A new sight is arising at the Southport Memorial Library for all to enjoy, involving many people. The project began when the local Rotary club suggested to the local garden club that they develop projects that involve native species of plants that encourage beneficial insect populations.

Linda Bonin of the Garden Club contacted Southport Central School suggesting the children become involved in planting a pollinator garden at the Southport Memorial Library, learning at the same time how to create gardens beneficial to the environment. Principal Lisa Clarke agreed. The children grew some of the plants from seed, and when the rain stops, probably Thursday morning, they will plant them, rotating planting duties with a visit to the Alpaca Farm next door.

First, however, the soil had to be made ready so Stephan Zalucky, of Zalucky Landscaping, LLC, helped groom the garden. Sandra Seifert shoveled the soil, and Stephan did his magic spreading the final layer. Youth Chair Linda Bonin took photos. Flagstone stepping stones were provided by Sandra Seifert, from gardens of long ago. She said it was nice to uncover these stones and have them repurposed to be used in this garden. Repurposing is a goal of the garden club.

Landscaper, Stephan Zalucky, charged nothing for his time. He wanted to participate as his mother, Carole Zalucky is a garden club member. He also wanted help BRGC as he has many appreciative customers.

Thanks to youth chair Linda Bonin, garden club member Sandra Seifert, landscaper Stephan Zalucky, the Cape Newagen Alpaca Farm, the Southport Memorial Library, the Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor, and the students of the Southport Central School for whom and with whose help this garden is built.

The Annual Meeting of the Southport Historical Society, which is open to the public, will take place on Monday, June 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Hendricks Hill Museum in the museum reference room. The annual treasurer's report will be given and posted, and officers and new board members will be elected.

Although there will be no program offered during the Annual Meeting, there will be a community event on July 16 at 7 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of the museum. In the meantime, the community is invited to attend the opening of the Hendricks Hill Museum on Tuesday, June 26, between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served in the boathouse. Also, on Wednesday, June 27 at 9:30 a.m. there will be an orientation session in the museum's reference room for museum volunteers.

This paper covered our Memorial Day parades very thoroughly last week, but I want to commend Gerry Gamage for the way he wove local families into his talk, and how he so poignantly ended the talk with the poem, “Tell My Father,” written at the time of the Civil War about a young man’s last thoughts for his Dad. Thanks, Gerry.

With summer use of the Hendricks Head Beach beginning, some folks are asking that the beach receive more attention to remove debris washed ashore and left behind by others. We all can help by picking up after our dogs (and not discarding that waste in the store’s recycling bin), and taking our own rubbish home with us. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful, free, public beach. Let’s take care of it.

We can take home some area beauty each year and keep track of our lives with one of Bob Mitchell’s famous calendars. They are available a bit earlier this year at our Island Store and in most stores in the region.

From Russ Jackson I learned New England Living television, season 2, Episode 6 featured Southport, especially Rick and Pandora Dickinson in their home on Beacon Hill, Hendricks Head Light, and Chef Kelly Farrin, who dug clams on Little David’s Island and then cooked dinner in Rick’s and Pandy’s kitchen, plus other areas in the region such as the Opera House. You can watch the show on newenglandliving.tv., salivating over the dinner described at the end of the show.