First a correction. For the past two weeks I have written that on Aug. 21, Barbara Baseman will be hosting the second “Breakfast with Barbara” at the Island Store from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. to get your ideas for the Southport Island Association (SIA). Somehow I jumped ahead a month. Barbara was poised to meet with you on July 21. Many apologies to Barbara. Stay tuned for a new date as the Basemens will not be here on Aug. 21.

Aug. 22 must be the correct date for the Firemen’s Auction as that is the date posted on the firehouse. Including the boat floating on the pond, I see three boats up for auction.

Another important date is Tuesday, Aug. 11, when, starting at 5 p.m. the Southport Island Association will hold its annual picnic. All Southporters, their families and guests are invited to enjoy this community event and fundraiser at the home of Janet Duchaine and Jon Fauver, 7 Poore Road, on the west side of Southport down a private driveway off Molly’s Point Road, facing little Christmas Cove. Children are most welcome for whom supervision will be provided.

Cost for the picnic is $10 per adult and $5 for children under 12, with donations for beverages. Hot dogs and hamburgers are provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Carpool if you can, and bring a lawn chair. For more info, call Janet Duchaine at 860-484-9006. Rain location will be the Southport Town Hall.

From Sylvia Stuber Heap comes news of the Henderson/Stuber family reunion at their Southport cottage that has been in the same family 115 years! Thirty-two members of the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations came from California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York State, North Carolina, Ohio and Massachusetts. They enjoyed lobster, boat rides, swimming, conversation, business caretaking, laughter, and great family fun. Now all are looking forward to the next big reunion here in 2020. Congratulations to a family that can work together to keep together such an important touchstone in their family life.

For the energetic and rapidly mobile among us comes news of the second annual Rock the Boat 5k Road Race set for Aug. 1. Southport Yacht Club (SYC) is hosting this fun community event for walkers and runners of all ages. The Rock the Boat 5k will start and end at the SYC, with the starting time at 8 a.m. The route goes from SYC to the four corners on Pratts Island, then back to the General Store, down Dogfish Head Road, around on Salt Pond Road to the Beach Road, and then back to SYC.

Traffic on the course will be limited to one lane from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Traffic on Dogfish Head, Salt Pond Road and Beach Road will be one way, traveling away from store on Dogfish Head, towards the beach on Salt Pond Road and up towards the store on Beach Road. Course marshals will be along the route to help direct cars. Please go to southportyachtclub.org and click on Events to learn more about the event or to volunteer to help. For more information, contact Hollyanna Bates 970-389-7885.  

From Cathy Havinga comes news of a big birthday for her father, Jan. He celebrated with family and friends his 95th birthday on July 20. A belated happy birthday from all your Southport friends.

About 60 people gathered in the Southport Town Hall last Sunday evening to hear Carl R. Griffin III (Chip) talk about Scot Irish in America, focusing on Samuel Ball, who was born in Massachusetts in 1729, but moved to Whitefield at age six. Ball gained notoriety when he and others were arrested and held in the Wiscasset jail for murdering two Abenaki Indian men. After two jail escapes, he avoided capture and settled with his family in Pig Cove on Southport and Squirrel Island, dying in 1800.

As a lawyer Chip knows how to mine court records and other sources for historical information, weaving these trails of data into historical accounts. Chip encourages all of us to tell our stories because from such conversation is history recorded. Thanks for the SIA for sponsoring this event.

SIA ball caps with the 04576 zip code on the front are selling well. Kathy Bugbee delivered 10 such caps to Newagen Inn for the groomsmen to wear for next weekend’s wedding.

Leading worship at All Saints by-the-Sea this Sunday will be Allison Read, Chaplain at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Look for more information elsewhere in this paper.