To have a younger person call out, “Hi, Mrs. Sherrill” is always a compliment. That happened to me last week at the Y as I was walking by the pickleball court. The speaker was Susan Jacobs, who was wise enough to identify herself that way because I would not have recognized her married name. I knew Susan as she grew up in the Southport sailing program along with our children and as a daughter of good friends, Tom and Hilary Jacobs, but have not seen her for some time. Apparently she has spent the winter here, but since I was in the midst of a tennis game, and she was in the midst of her pickleball game, we did not have time to talk. I hope we catch up soon.

Other familiar faces from the past greeted me on the cover of the Southport Annual Report, now available at the Southport Town Hall, the Southport Memorial Library, the post office, and the Southport General Store. Earl (Gus) and Em Pratt smile at you as though they were still with us. Inside the front cover Emolyn Smith Pratt again greets us first as a young woman and then as most of us knew her later in her life along with a page of biographical details. Truly a Southport woman. Read and enjoy the story.

If you want to wait a few days before picking up your report, you will also get an insert with information about the progress of broadband installation on our island. You can also call Axion, the provider, at 207-255-0679 to get your questions answered or to find out more about the plans. The installation of broadband will not be on the agenda during town meeting because no warrant concerns this issue. A meeting later in the spring is being considered to bring us all up to date on the installation plans. As the sign at the firehouse notes, please sign up soon.

Again a reminder that the Southport annual meeting to be held in person this year on Monday, March 7 with the usual schedule of voting by secret ballot from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. with Articles 3 - 60 to be voted on in person beginning at 7:30 p.m. The wearing of masks will be encouraged, and masks will be available, but due to voting, mask cannot be required. Nothing can stand between you and your vote!

Southport Island Association (SIA) is up to some Irish good mischief, “Share Some Blarney Supper!” They are partnering with the Southport Fire Department to thank folks for being good neighbors by offering a second drive thru supper for Southport residents. On Sunday, March 13 between 4 and 6 p.m., residents may pick up a complete corn beef and cabbage supper, cooked by the Fire Department to help us celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, or you may ask to have meals delivered to your home. Once again, SIA is lucky to have the participation of Nancy Long from the Southport General Store, Marie Kelley from Sweet Dreams Bakery, SIA member Brenda Tibbetts, the SIA board, and the special contributions from Southport Fire Department Chef Matt Thibault, and cooks Gerry Gamage, Dalton Tibbetts and Geoff Chatterton. This meal is free, but contributions will be accepted to help with SIA’s program “Helping Hands.” To order a meal or meals for your family, please call Sandra Seifert at 207- 633-3546. There will be 75 suppers available. Join us in another good cheer event.

For other St. Patrick’s fun, stop by the Southport General Store not only for good food and other supplies, but also to guess how many gold coins are in the quart jar on the counter, a St. Patrick’s Day Game. The person coming closest to the correct number can claim either a large sandwich or a small cheese pizza.

Ashley, at town hall, told me we had an impressive snow squall about 7:30 p.m. Sunday night. At our house we were watching and listening to “Celtic Women” on PBS, so did not hear or see this phenomenon, but at Ashley’s house they had the windows open due to too much heat from their wood stove, so were well aware. Our weather has certainly brought some interesting sights. My favorite is the sparkle of the water and on the snow when the combination of bright sun and cold temperatures collude. Even the coves are full of ice this morning.