First off, I need to correct some information in last week’s column about Meris Esterly’s wedding. Meris married Seth Stout, not Allen Strout. Allen, I’m told, is the young man’s middle name, and since I live near Strout Road, perhaps my mind or fingers tangled the two spellings. The couple was married on February 14, Valentine’s Day, on the beach of Gulf Shores, Ala. Seth and Meris are now at home managing the Geronimo Guest Ranch, in Winston, N.M. Thanks to Elaine Fernside for the initial news and for the corrections.

Another reminder of our annual town meeting this coming Monday, March 3, at the town hall, beginning with secret ballot voting for moderator and for election of a selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor (one person), a town treasurer, a member of the school committee, and a trustee of the Boothbay Region Water District. All the folks currently holding those offices are standing for reelection. You may vote from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

The remaining 55 Articles will come before the town when the meeting reconvenes at 7:30 p.m. Articles 3-5, seeking to fill vacancies on the library and cemetery boards and on the planning board, will take nominations from the floor and a vote. You must be a declared resident of Southport and registered to vote, but usually the voters agree to allow others a voice.

Much to many people’s surprise a large barge from Prock Marine wiggled its way into Cozy Harbor Monday afternoon, February 24. After a meeting with Harbor Master Jim Gagnon, at 7 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the men on the barge went to work extracting the moorings in the way of the dredging, which will take place in front of the town dock, allowing bigger boats to moor at Oliver’s Restaurant during low tide. The spoils from the dredging will be barged to Bath where they will be offloaded to trucks for transport to a dump. Four of the five boats currently moored in the area near the dredging will be moved temporarily to other moorings with those mooring owners’ permission. Of the moorings in the dredging area, only one will need to be moved permanently further north in the harbor, near the turnabout moorings.

A small but enthusiastic group of winter walkers gathered at the Lunt’s home on Joppa Road, Sunday, Feb. 23, to explore the further reaches of Joppa Road and then return to the Lunt’s for delicious food, drink and conversation. Kit and I missed the walk but returned in time from the Camden Conference to enjoy the refreshments and conversation. Many thanks, Jane and John, for opening your home, and to other Southport Island Association (SIA) walk organizers. The next SIA event will be the “Ice Breaker” at the Southport Town Hall on Saturday, March 15 from 5 until 7 p.m.

The topic of the Camden Conference was “The Global Politics of Food and Water.” I saw other Southporters there, including Phil Giantris, Susie and Aims McGuinness, and Bobbie and Dick Miller. We all gained much food for thought after three days of excellent speakers. In about two or three weeks the Camden Conference website will probably have all the speeches up on the website, www.camdenconference.org, if you are interested. Next year’s topic will be on Russia.

Sandra Thibault will be in Portland visiting her daughter, Betsy, to enjoy the theater and other city pleasures. Sandra reported that young Les Brewer is recovering well from surgery for reoccurring cancer at his home in Miami, Fla.

The new artist of the month at the Southport Memorial Library is Paula Ragsdale. Both paintings and designs grace the walls of the library for all of us to enjoy and purchase.

Finally, Tom Lally reminds us that his favorite stripper, Frosty Heaves, is back around the island. Just look for the bright signs.