The Firemen’s Auction had a sunny day in which to conduct their major fund raising event, which was well attended as usual and raised a record $35,329. Fire Chief, Gerry Gamage was the auctioneer, again presiding high above the crowd on a platform between two of the gables on the fire station. Other firemen were busy presenting the items available, while still others were helping folks find parking and negotiate the one way traffic. Volunteers from the Southport Central School provided breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and fruit, the proceeds from which will be used to buy students new ice skates and helmets for expected skating opportunities this winter. Well done, everyone. For more information and pictures look elsewhere in this paper.

This coming weekend is the Art for Art’s Sake gala at the Hodgdon Yacht facility on Ebenecook Road, Southport. On Friday, Aug. 25 the event will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.; the next day, Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. At least one of our Southport artists, Fran Scannell, will have her work on display and for sale. The large buildings at the worksite are perfect for art displays and demonstrations.

Last Thursday evening, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Southport Town Hall, a handful of people met with the Southport Climate Action Team, Smith Climo, Claire Tomlin, and their Service Provider, Shri Verrill of Sunrise Ecologic, to discuss ways in which Southport could continue to help mitigate climate change. The goal is for the citizens of the town to come up with an action list of two to six items that can then be funded by the Community Action Grant in late winter/early spring. Climo noted that the town has made efforts with several projects to lessen climate change such as installing the solar panels at the town garages, adding LED lighting on public lighting fixtures, working to extend the public water main south from the public buildings in the center of town, along the west side, around Newagen to Grand View Road, and upgrading the windows in the Southport
Central School. Other projects he suggested are installing heat pumps in the public buildings, upgrading appliances in the Southport Town Hall, and planting community gardens on the school grounds. Citizens are encouraged to suggest other community action projects at the forthcoming meetings. Projects that are on the pre-approved community action list, which were created by the Maine Climate Council, will be eligible for funding without a match requirement. Climate adaptation projects that are not on the list will require the town to provide matching funds. The public workshops are scheduled at the Town Hall on Sept. 13 and 28, both beginning at 6 p.m.

A list of 72 strategic working areas put forth by the Community Resilience Partnership is posted around town and was available on the food table at the Firemen’s Auction. The recent floods and fires we all see on the news should propel us into action in our local community. Please attend these meetings and join the discussion.

I am sure all property owners have received their property tax bill for this year. At the Southport town meeting last Wednesday we learned that the mill rate had gone up 5 cents to 5.25. Taxes are due by Sept. 30.

Chief Gardiner of the Emergency Medical Services showed us a new patch responders in the Boothbay region will be wearing consisting of a picture of a buoy floating in deep blue water, three pine trees on green grass, and the EMS initials under with is the logo. Another item discussed was the possible loss of our Coast Guard station. Look for an article about this news elsewhere in the paper. Should the station close, help would come from
South Portland or Rockland. Our head selectman, Gerry Gamage, has also been known to respond to rescue requests as he did last week when a person was injured on Damariscove Island.

Note that our Hendricks Hill Museum will be open Aug. 24, Thursday, from 5 until 7:30 p.m.

Further ahead, on Aug. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Newagen Inn, the Southport Island Association will hold their annual meeting. Please bring an appetizer to share.

Our final evening on the lawn at Newagen Inn to enjoy the Music Fest, with the Mallett Brothers, will be Wednesday, Aug. 30, beginning at 6 p.m. Bring a chair, a picnic, and blanket, if needed. Drinks and snacks can be purchased on the lawn, and food also purchased from the inn.

I am told a humped back whale was cavorting about off Capital Island last Sunday, Aug. 20. He was rolling over, displaying his hump, and stayed in the area about six hours. Wish I had seen him.