Many thanks to Maria Doelp once again for writing the column last week while Kit and I traveled to old haunts and visited with friends in Princeton, N.J., and Washington, D.C. We had a lovely time, but as always are grateful to be home, especially where we have less traffic.

Trucks parked at the town landing tell us that many craftspeople are working hard to complete the interior furnishings in the house on Cuckolds. I marvel that they have been able to come and go over the very rough seas we had over the last few days. Perhaps when the project is complete, one of our Maine magazines will publish an article along with pictures to let us all see the work that has been done.

Builders have also been hard at work on the Pratts Island Bridge. Although the sign at the beginning of the Pratts Island Road still states the bridge is closed, the surface is complete for cars to drive across, being careful not to veer to the edge where only wooden beams and orange barrels mark the walking area and the sides of the bridge.

Still more island work is evident on Beach Road behind the Metcalf home where a new driveway is being cut into the woods as part of the town project to prepare a parcel of the land purchased from the Ruth Gardner estate for sale and perhaps to allow for a few more beach parking places. No one was working at either the Pratts Island site or the Beach Road site on Tuesday when I visited, so I could not ask any questions. Thanks to Gale Richter for alerting me to the activity.

Our island school has joined the nationwide effort to lock our school children, safely, we hope, in the school building. Now to enter the school you press the button beside the door that will buzz in Eileen Higgins’ office. On a monitor she can see who is at the door and either buzz them in or bounce down the steps to open the door. Staff wear badges that allow them to enter at will. The doors are open for about 20 minutes as children are arriving and during recess. I am saddened that we need these safety measures, but realize that no school administrator can take the chance of not installing them.

We will get to fun news, but first a hospital report. I hear that Phyllis Cook is in Miles Memorial Hospital and that Ed Thibault is in Mid Coast Hospital. I am sure both persons hope they will be home for Thanksgiving. Frannie Johnson was back around the library table with only a bit of purple and yellow around her left eye to show for a fall.

As people discovered last Sunday, the Island Store personnel are taking a breather after the busy summer. The store will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. with an hour later opening on Saturday. Next Sunday, Nov. 24, the store will again be closed. On Tuesday, Nov. 26 the store will resume winter hours, which may change from time to time due to the volume of business, so check the signs on the window.

The Southport Memorial Library thanks Doug Zyskowski for donating the stained glass windows that were purchased through a silent auction with all the proceeds going to the library. The Muscarella family purchased one the windows and Joanne Boylan purchased the other for a total of $370 going to the library. Thanks to all.

Remember to mark your calendars for Friday, Dec. 6 to be at the Island Store at 4:30 p.m. to participate in “Lighting Up Southport.” Thanks to the Southport Island Association we will again have the lit buildings and animated figures around the island that Marylouise Cowan provided for many years.

Sunday, Dec. 8 the Southport Methodist Church choir will offer their traditional Lessons and Carols service with a homemade soup supper to begin. I am not sure of the time, but will try to dig out that info for next week. I assume about 5:30 p.m.

The school children will present their holiday program on Monday, Dec. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall with a snow date, if necessary on December 17. On the same they will also sing at the Gregory Wing at St. Andrews Village.

Eileen Higgins was a happy mother today when I spoke to her at the school. Both her sons, who are Navy Seals, are back in this country this Thanksgiving with one perhaps home for even longer as he will be training other Seals. We all are grateful when our offspring are home for the holidays, but especially when they are in the military.