Two important announcements: first from our Harbor Master, Jim Gagnon, who says, “waitlist letters for moorings must be in to him by Sept. 1.”

The next announcement is from our Southport Memorial Library librarians. They ask all ‘summer people’ to please, as you are packing up to go home, check to see if you have any Southport library books to return. Especially many children’s books are still checked out to folks who usually leave at the end of summer. Of course the rest of us should also return our library books on time or renew them.

On Sept. 1 our library hours revert to the winter schedule. No longer will the library be open on Wednesday, and only on Thursday will it be open in the evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday it will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. A reminder that the library is offering two more ‘Author’s Talks. Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., David Rosenfelt will talk about his books, both fiction and fact, concerning his life with dogs. On Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. will be the rescheduled talk by Author Douglas Preston, about his non-fiction book, “The Lost City of the Monkey Gods.”

From the ‘Morning Catch’ comes this announcement. “Celebrate the life of Ralva Orchard with her family and friends on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Hall, Boothbay.” Ralva was a well-known Southporter, along with her husband, Ron, living since 1956 in the house across from the Southport Post Office, mother of five children, and serving for many years as ballot clerk. Often in later years, she was a presence around the table at the Tuesday gathering for coffee and conversation at the Southport Memorial Library. I still expect to see her there, but we can see a picture of Ralva in her usual position with her pleasant, attentive smile on page 3 of the 2018 Town Report as that report was dedicated to her.

Ramona Gaudette, in the title to her letter to the Editor last week asks, “How lucky can I get?” So lucky that at her “39th” surprise birthday party at Brady’s, Skip Rideout asked her to dance. Ramona, as most of you know, loves to dance, so she reported that “made her day.” The comment above came as several of us who had read the ‘Morning Catch’ that morning, Thursday, Aug. 15, and consequently had read about this birthday party, continued the celebration by singing to Ramona at the Hendrick’s Hill Museum where we had gathered to hear Donald Duncan tell us about ice harvesting in the area.
Donald explained that beginning in about 1820, a pond on your property meant you had “free gold in your own back yard.” Free, yes, but hard work to harvest, store, and ship, all of which Donald described. Ramona functioned as a first hand commentator to Donald’s talk as her father owned an ice house that still exists as a museum in Thomaston, Maine.

If you were trying to drive through the center of Southport last Saturday morning, you had to weave around many people standing in the road as well as a fire truck parked near the monument, but, as usual, the firemen were well organized to direct traffic and to keep their auction on schedule. At the school house door, first breakfast sandwiches and coffee were prepared by Lisa Clarke, the principal, and parent helpers, and then as the clock crept toward noon, hamburgers and hot dogs appeared. As usual, by early afternoon all was tidied up with only a few items remaining to be picked up. Well done, everyone.

The rain held off so that the Spratt/Wyatt family could celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Caroline Elizabeth Wyatt, to Cyprien Le Plénier. The wedding took place in France earlier this summer where the couple will continue to live and work, but the party last Saturday night was a chance for stateside classmates and friends to celebrate the couple’s enthusiasm and love for one another.

As Bob Mitchell’s picture and story in last week’s paper so beautifully noted, we say good-bye to the Wickline family who return to their home and work in New Zealand this week. Even on Saturday, at the Firemen’s Auction, the family was helping help to serve the school’s offering of breakfast and lunch. They have been a great addition to our community, and we will miss them very much.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Southport Yacht Club, the annual Commodore’s Closing Reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. It is hard to believe that the sailing program is over for the season with the closing banquet held last Friday, Aug. 16. Look for an article elsewhere in the paper about all the awards and fun at that activity.

And on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 4 p.m., a service of Celtic Evensong will be held at All Saints by-the-Sea summer chapel. Look for an article elsewhere in this paper for more details.