For many years a goodly number of people have gathered at the Southport Memorial Library on Tuesday mornings for fellowship, coffee, and usually donated baked goods. A few stalwart souls still turn up, but a number of our regular friends have moved away, passed on, or have become a bit too infirm to continue to join us, so we are encouraging others to join our Southport Library Tuesday morning Coffee Group for fresh coffee, donuts, snacks and lively conversation. Help the group in their weekly endeavor to solve the world problems and other less serious subjects! There is no set topic, although jokes often carry the day. So for laughs and learning come on Tuesdays, from approximately 9:30 a.m. to noon. All are welcome!

As promised last week here is information about a second coming event at Cape Newagen Alpaca Farm. The first is the rug making class on Saturday, May 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., in which you finish with your very own alpaca rug.

Next event is several months away, but good to mark on your calendar now. On July 31, starting at 4 p.m., Romee May, Ayurvedic Yoga teacher and Ayurvedic practitioner, will lead you in a celebration of the new moon with Gentle Yoga on the porch overlooking the alpacas amidst the magical spruce giants and tidal breezes. Four people can add a trek to complete their night. If you are in need of dinner, which is not included in the cost of the yoga or trekking, head on over to Newagen Seaside Inn for a delicious dinner, S’mores by the campfire, and storytelling. Pre-registration for yoga and trekking is required with spaces limited to 12 participants. The fee for yoga will include a private welcome reception at 4 p.m., gentle yoga from 4:45 - 6 p.m., and a social reception from 6-6:30p.m. with refreshments, a chance to visit the alpacas, browse in the shop, mingle with others or just relax in a magical setting. Adding a trek to your yoga experience will be an additional cost per person. Registration is online with more details on the farm website: www.capenewagenfarm.com or call 633-0416.

Much closer in time is the meeting at the Southport Town Hall on Wednesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. with officials from the Maine Department of Transportation to discuss the major repair to the main Southport Bridge, scheduled to begin in 2022.

The Island Clean-up will be Sunday, May 5, from noon to 2 p.m. Gerry Gamage will be grilling hot dogs, and other nibbles will be available to give us energy to police our chosen section of the island. Thanks to the Island Store and the Southport Island Association for contributing to and organizing this activity to keep our island looking pristine.

Also your calendar should note the Southport Firemen’s Dinner, June 6 at the Newagen Inn. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The Spofford Trio will provide the music. Call the Inn at 633-5242 for reservations. Call soon as space fills up quickly for this event.

From Corinne Larson comes this news. “Newagen Seaside Inn will open for the 2019 season on May 17, with the Pub opening to the public for dinner on Wednesday, May 22. The Inn is
thrilled to welcome a new Executive Chef to its staff: Nathaniel Adam is a modern American chef executing global cuisine with classical French technique. His recent achievements include 2017 Claw Down Judges’ Choice winner, 2017 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year, and 2018 International Oyster Chef of the Year, both Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice. Expect to see some exciting new menu items in addition to the return of old favorites.  There will be a change to the lunch schedule this season: a limited menu will be served at the Pool Bar from June 16-Aug. 30 (weather permitting), and a more extensive menu will be available in the Pub July 1-Sept. 13. There will be no dining available to the public on Saturdays for either lunch or dinner, unless otherwise advertised.

Our summer water is in the process of becoming available. The pipes have been flushed, chlorinated, and tested, and the the Boothbay Region Water District workers are installing the meters. For daily updates you can check www.bbrwd.org. Although the top information says updated October 18, 2018, do not believe that. Move on down until you see 
 www.bbrwd.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Seasonal-Startup-Stat.... Click there and find Southport, where you can track progress road by road.

At last week’s selectmen’s meeting the Kinseys shared their experience and collected data concerning savings on electricity bills when you install solar panels. Their suggestion was that perhaps the town could install panels on the town lot off Cross Road. As the selectmen consider this idea further, stay tuned for further action. Should the selectmen decide to move forward with this idea, they will schedule a public hearing.

People continue to come and go on the island. The McWhans were in residence on Pratts Island Road recently. Rosalie Baker enjoyed her granddaughters, Brooks and Parker, for the week, especially their time at the Perry museum at Bowdoin College. The Kinseys flew to northern Florida, near Tallahassee for the wedding of Chip and Nan Davison’s daughter, Taylor, at a family estate near the Georgia border. The wedding guests, fortunately, had beautiful weather, but the Kinseys were delayed a day coming home due to the bad weather in the midwest.

Changes in our schedules coming up. Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. the Southport Bridge will begin opening on the hour and half hour rather than by demand beginning May 1. Beginning this weekend the Island Store will be open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.