Thank you Maria for catching us up on island news last week. With the weather anything but spring-like, it is good to learn of people in boats and hospitality establishments readying for business.

May usually brings warmer weather and the evidence of boat covers being removed and floats being reconnected to runs. May also bring the annual island clean-up sponsored by SIA (Southport Island Association) to rid our island of roadside litter. This takes place Sunday, May 4 at noon at the Southport Town Hall. Gerry Gamage will be on the grill cooking tasty hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided. Dessert will feature a green bag and sign up sheet for whatever part of the island you are willing to clean. SIA President Matt Cole reports this is a rain or shine event. So come along and join the fun.

Another May date includes the May 17 plant sale at the Boothbay Town Common from 8 a.m. to noon. BRGC (Boothbay Region Garden Club) members will provide plants from its own gardens as well as a bake and gardening gift tables. The plants are of good stock and the many Southport members of garden would welcome your participation.

One of the most talked about gardening topics this year is pollinators. In our personal Southport gardens, the need to plant for pollinators is vital. Plants including Purple Cone Flower, Black-Eyed Susan, Red Bee Balm, Sedum, Butterfly Bush, Butterfly Weed and Milkweed provide food for bees and butterflies, two very important pollinators. Without pollinators the world's food source is at risk. CMBG (Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens) dedicates June 16-23 as National Pollinators Week.

At the library several new books have been added to the collection. Two books are given in memory of Roger Roche and Bill Wyman. Both books reflect the interest of these men: "The Art of Katahdin" by David Little and the "Ansel Adams Wilderness" published by National Geographic. Roger was an accomplished artist and Bill authored two books set in the wilderness of the west. A third book is a gift from our garden club (BRGC): "Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: A People's Garden."

Two new computers have been purchased for the library by the Library Aides. One of these computers is used solely by Assistant Librarian Ann Roche for cataloging. The other computer is for public use.

Book Club meets the third Thursday of each moth at 7 p.m. Linda says the May 15 book discussion will feature "Benediction" by Kent Haruf.

The last but not least library news is the mention of our new artist of the month, James McCarthy. His "Now and Then" exhibit includes black-and-white photographs of landscapes taken in Maine over the last four decades. Photographs of Southport taken in 1974 and 1976 when he resided here are a feature of his show. He states that Southport Island is where he fell in love with Maine and its people. James will present two talks at the library about his early Southport experiences on June 12 and 14 at 10 a.m. His photographs will be featured in May and June. His website can be found at www.mccarthyphotojournal.com.