Last week we were anticipating a snowstorm, but endured wind and rain instead. This week is forecast to be lovely, above freezing and sunny until Saturday. The residual, dirty snow banks lining the roads are shrinking. Do we dare hope that the weather will follow astronomy so that we experience spring as well as note its arrival on our calendars?

The crowd around the library table this morning grew to a second ring, well sugared with Ed and Sandra Thibault’s anniversary peanut butter cake, another chocolate cake, jelly donuts, and later in the morning, the arrival of Meredith Mitchell with her monkey bread, just out of the oven. While munching, we all congratulated Sandra and Ed on their 43 years of marriage and wished Cy Seifert and Peter Doelp a belated happy birthday.

Circulating around the table was the newest issue of Consumer Reports magazine, turned to an article evaluating hospitals on safety around the country. Number one was Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta. Miles achieved a safety score of 78 out of 100. I’m sure more information will be elsewhere in the paper.

While entertaining us with figures made from weaving a length of clothesline through his fingers, Donald Duncan offered again his collection of Harvard Classics to anyone who can shelve them. The Southport Memorial Library already has a set, and like many of us, Donald can hardly make himself take books to the dump. Call him at 207-633-3359 if you can house five feet of books on your shelves.

Another birthday coming up soon is April 7, when the Lewis twins, Duane and Dwight, will celebrate their day. Not sure what they have planned, but if you see them, you will know to wish them many happy returns.

With a bit of a break in the weather, workers are tackling projects around the island. Scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, is the drilling necessary to sink the piers at the town wharf in Cozy Harbor to allow an additional float there. When that work is complete, the moorings moved for the dredging will be reset.

All that stands between running water and sewage lines from Cuckolds Lighthouse to land on the southeast side of Southport are permits. Land owned by Cy Seifert and permission from the landholder on the water side of the road as you approach Newagen on Route 238 have been acquired for this project. The couple who will be innkeepers at the Lighthouse, Dan and Barb Aube, have been on the island, meeting Janet and Oliver at the Island Store, who say they are very nice.

In talking with Jason Schlosser, the general manager at Newagen Inn, I learned that he is looking for a dining room manager and would love to hire someone from the area. If you are interested, you can call him at 207-633-5242.

New plans at the Island Store are to build a pergola on the grassy knoll behind the store where picnic tables have been. If necessary, the area will be leveled a bit and the picnic tables retained allowing more space for outdoor munching in the good weather. Janet and friends have been shopping at shows for new merchandise to stock the Gift Barn.

Jim Singer wants to extend an apology to anyone who came to the American Legion for breakfast last Sunday morning. A malfunctioning furnace filled the hall with smoke, so last Sunday’s breakfast had to be canceled at the last minute. All is clean and ready now to resume the regular every other week schedule on Sunday, April 13 from 7 until 9:30 a.m.

A reminder that on April 19, 2014, the Southport post office lobby will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for our convenience. The window will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 12:15 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. On Saturday the window will be open from 9 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.