At age 98, Jean Luther Thompson is Southport Central School’s oldest resident alumna and teacher (Class of 1938). Mrs. Thompson, her daughter and town selectwoman, Mary Lou Thompson Koskela (Class of 1966), and granddaughter Aili Koskela Amundsen (Class of 1988), would like to challenge the island’s alumni to help build a new natural playground for Southport’s children. No donation is too big or too small and the goal is $75,000 to complete the project.

“Active, outdoor play is essential to children’s growth mentally and physically,” said Mrs. Thompson, “We didn’t have a playground like kids do today. When I went to school my principal, Violet Smith, would take us on nature walks from the Westside to Newagen, and my classmates and I learned to identify all the island’s fauna and flora along the way.”

All donations in the form of checks should be made out to Southport Island Association, but either dropped off or mailed to the Southport Central School, 438 Hendricks Hill Road, Southport, ME 04576. Donations will be deposited into a special account held by the Southport Island Association, a 501(c) 3 organization. Help us make the natural playground a reality for Southport’s children and encourage them to enjoy the outdoors and the world around them on this our very special island home.