Perhaps I should title this column “Open, Closed and Gone.”

The first “gone.” as we all know by now, is Navy pilot and Senator, John McCain. Today, Monday, as I drove around the island, our flags were at half-mast in honor of a man of such integrity. For parents of rambunctious children, the story of McCain’s life might come as good news since, as a young man, he caused much trouble, gathering almost enough demerits to be dismissed from the Navel Academy, and yet he knew when to stand his ground and exemplified the adjective, “brave.” Rest in peace, sir.

Locally to be gone and not mourned is the rock that caused the huge back-up a week ago Sunday and has been the ruin of more than one car, I am told. On a tip from Jim Singer, I called Stephanie Hawke who corroborated the news that the Department of Transportation has been gathering data about that rock for about a year and has agreed to have it gone sometime in October. Thanks, Stephanie, for staying on this case.

Closed will be our Island Store on Labor Day, a day we honor especially Oliver and Janet and all the staff for the many hours of good service and good food they have provided for us all summer and throughout the year. Be sure and check your supplies and stock up on September first or second because you will not be able to “run to the store” on the third. After Labor Day the store will shorten its hours a bit so that Monday through Saturday, it will be open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Closing for the season on Sept. 3 is Oliver’s in Cozy Harbor. If you want to enjoy a good meal — fish taco is my favorite — and watch the sunset over Cozy Harbor, get yourself over there this week.

Closed also is the Southport Yacht Club with the sailing program finished, boats put away, the final awards given out both at the banquet and at the well attended Commodore’s Reception last Saturday evening.

Being a bit too graphic perhaps, I include in “open” the birth of an alpaca baby at the Alpaca farm in Newagen. Anne Gobes writes that “Julianna had a baby boy born on Thursday, Aug. 23 at Cape Newagen Alpaca Farm. All are welcome to view the new baby during open farm hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m.

“The cria (a baby alpaca) was born at 3 p.m. while the Stitch and Sippers were busy knitting and crocheting on the porch, and a few farm visitors from All Saints Road were learning about their neighbor alpacas. Anne’s sister had just gone to check on the expectant mother, Julianna, when she came running out of the barn screaming “nose and toes, nose and toes!” which is the accurate way for a cria to enter the world ... which is what she saw!

“Julianna’s baby was just shy of 18 pounds, and was rearing to stand within minutes of his birth. He was standing and nursing 20 minutes later. He’s in with the rest of his aunties and already tearing around the paddock. There is no name for this new baby yet, but Anne and Mike are happy to entertain suggestions. His sire is Tornado Warning.”

Opening Wednesday, Sept. 5, the Southport Central School welcomes one new teacher and 24 students in grades kindergarten through six. The new teacher, Nikki Tibbetts, is not new to the school because she was a student here, was a work study student here during high school, and completed observation for one of her classes at Thomas College in Waterville under Misty Marston. For the past three years Nikki has been an ed tech at a school in Ellsworth. This year Nikki will be the classroom teacher for five students in kindergarten and grade one. During the summers Nikki lobsters with her father, cares for and shows her two horses, and is a personal trainer at the YMCA. Welcome back, Nikki.

All students, friends, and faculty will be welcomed to the school building this year by an entryway rug saying “Welcome to Southport Central School” across the top, and “Home of the Seals” across the bottom. With some newly painted spaces and enticingly arranged classrooms, the school welcomes us all.

Principal Lisa Clarke says the staff, in addition to Nikki, are all returning, totaling five full-time teachers and a variety of part-time specialists and helpers. She notes that school news can be read on the website: southport.aos98.net. Check it our for fun pictures and news of all regional schools as well.

While at the school I met our new superintendent, Keith Laser, who was visiting all the schools in the district to add his wishes for a good school year. Mr. Laser began his new duties here on July 2.

The last Open Mike night on Tuesday, Aug. 21 was well attended with much good music and fun.

I will add “filled” to my adjectives about subject matter in this column because that describes the little summer chapel of All Saints by-the-Sea last Sunday evening as many gathered for a contemplative Celtic evensong service. Teasing, I noted that a number of those attending were wearing their halos because they were entering church for the second time that day. All Saints will be open for two more Sundays with the Reverend John Ineson as minister. Look for more information about him and All Saints elsewhere in the paper.

If you are reading this column before noon on Thursday, Aug. 30 and want a mid-day break from the heat as well as an update on the progress of our community-based initiative to purchase “Ruth’s House,” Land for Southport’s Future is hosting weekly brown bag lunch gatherings at the Southport Memorial Library. Bring your lunch. Coffee and iced tea are provided. The discussion will focus on the actions that we can take now to guarantee public access to our shoreline for the generations to follow. Check out our website: https:// landforsouthportsfuture.org