If you are reading this in time note that on Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Southport Town Hall, the Southport school children will entertain us with their Christmas concert. Should that be a snow day, the concert will take place the following week, Dec. 20, same place, same time.

Next up is a birthday party for Andrei Bazaiac, husband of Morgan Mitchell, at the Southport Town Hall this Friday, Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Morgan writes that “all are welcome to come and celebrate! Bring a drink or dish to share or just show up!"

The Southport Memorial Library will host a holiday open house on Tuesday, Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. First will be a children's story time and craft at 10 a.m., then live piano music from 1 until 3 p.m., and you may enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies all day. Remember also to bring non-perishable food items to the library, which they will then take to the food bank. Place donations in the box under the table that you see when you enter the front door.

Now to a discussion of process. Thanks to Skip Simonds and members of the planning board for their careful deliberation to create a process to register short term rentals in such a way to solve existing problems while also keeping owners and town personnel who will administer the process from being overburdened. The board held a public meeting last Wednesday evening, Dec. 6, to allow those interested time to review and comment on the written amendment to the Southport Land Use Ordinance regarding short term rentals. About 25 people attended and raised many of the same issues previously discussed at public meetings chaired by Sarah Sherman McGrail. Some of these suggestions required a vote by the planning board to change the printed amendment. Only one of the new suggestions was approved by a vote of the board, requiring the blue sign stating the street address be hung clearly visible from the roadway so that emergency crews could find their way if called. Thus another public hearing is needed, which will be Tuesday, Dec. 19 beginning at 5 p.m. in the Southport Town Hall.

The planning board chair explained that they thought the whole amendment was more likely to find approval from the Southport Selectmen and then again from the community if it were kept focused on the beginning issues to regulate short term rentals such as registering each rental unit with the town and having the name and phone number of a locally available contact person responsible for resolving any problems arising with the rental property. In the future, if
problems remained unsolved, additional amendments could be written and presented for the approval process. If you wish to read a printed version of the document to be discussed, either contact the Southport Town Hall or Skip Simonds.

Look in the obituaries for a notice of the passing of another Southporter, Philip Koskela, who died peacefully at home on Nov. 18.

With Veterans’ Day passed, the signs bearing names and pictures of Southport veterans have been taken down and stored or future use. Thanks to Gerry Gamage who has been mounting the lift to do this work.

If anyone is interested or you know someone who is interested, nominating papers for three opening in town governance are now available at the town office. Those positions are Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor( one position), a School Committee member, and Fire Chief, each for a three year term. Nomination papers must be completed and returned to Town Hall by noon on Jan. 4. Also, if you own a dog over six months old, you must register the dog at the Town Hall by Jan. 31. The dog owner must show proof of rabies vaccination.