A few reminders of the events this week…Thursday night, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Southport Memorial Library is another author talk with popular author Paul Doiron. Paul is a Maine game warden and has written several crime novels. 

THEN…this is the weekend … of the Annual Fireman’s Auction - perhaps you have glanced at the Southport Firehouse and noticed that it is over-flowing with all sorts of treasures, antiques, household items, furniture, boats and even two new Flexible Flyer sleds…lots of good “stuff”!  Enjoy coffee, breakfast sandwiches, juice and water and then even lunch items starting at 6 a.m. provided by the Southport Central School.  The flea market is at 6 a.m., yard sale at 7 a.m. and then at 9 a.m. Gerry Gamage will hit the gavel for the auction to start!

The Southport Yacht Club Sailing program winds down this week and many families prepare to return home for school. Our island school is preparing for the new school year anticipating 28 students from kindergarten through 6th grade. This Sunday, Aug. 20, is the Set for Success program at the Boothbay Harbor Region YMCA from 1- 3 p.m. where students and parents can get school supplies and much more!

New principal Lisa Clarke looks forward to welcoming students on Wednesday, Aug. 30, however, kindergarten, first grade students and their parents are welcome to come to school on Thursday, Aug. 24 from 9-11 a.m. to meet their teacher, take a bus ride and see their classroom. Lisa says that the staff remains the same with the addition of a new PE teacher, John Gosselin. Bus routes remain the same also.

Jane Norton reports that her family has been enjoying a wonderful family reunion at their family compound on Pine Cliff this past week. Jane’s sister, Nancy and her husband Roger McTighe are visiting from San Diego with their children Scott and Mary, plus son-in-law Scott and grandchildren Rob and Danielle, James and Melissa  ... all here to celebrate Nancy and Roger’s 60^th wedding anniversary. Nancy and Roger honeymooned on Dogfish Head in August 1957 while he was stationed at Brunswick Naval Air Base.

The event included an authentic Maine clambake with all 28 family members . Celebrating continued with Jane’s grandson Lucas graduation from Northwestern, Cameron from George Mason University and granddaughter Caroline from High school in CA.

A few interesting visitors at the Gift Barn this week generated some inquiry about the Land For Southport’s Future work to purchase and preserve the Gardner property at Hendrick’s Head Beach. Many years ago their parents had spent a very memorable honeymoon as a guest of their friend Ruth Lepper Gardner. They now plan to send their check , in memory of their parents to support this very special island acquisition. Stay tuned!

A note about the Annual Southport Rowgatta from Susan Quinby: this year bad weather forced the Coast Guard to cancel this past Saturday’s 12-nautical mile paddle for the 37 hearty pre-registrants and additional Rowgatta supporters from near and far. You are advised to contact the YMCA (633-2855) regarding refunds and donations ... or roll-over to Rowgatta XXV in 2018. and please accept our apologies for the event being canceled. Hope to see everyone next year!

We now have jeanette Murphy as our full -time post mistress  and she is happy to be here. She surely gets our “stamp of approval”!!