Get out your calendars to record the variety of opportunities for voting and for fun the rest of this month and beyond.

Many special activities are planned for our children to enjoy at the Southport Central School this week. Having entertained us with their talent show last week, the students will sing to us this week in their Spring Concert at the Southport Town Hall on Wednesday, June 8, beginning at 6 p.m.; we can observe and cheer Field Day fun on June 13 beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a rain date of Thursday, June 16; and graduation will be at Newagan Inn beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 17. The children will journey to Burnt Island and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens mid-week. What a great end to the school year.

A quick review of our voting and discussion dates. The voting in the primary election will be on June 14. June 9 is the deadline for absentee ballots that are available in person from the Clerk’s office in the Southport Town Hall, by phone (633-6311) from the town clerk during office hours, and online from the Secretary of State’s website.

Another public information meeting about the fiber optic installation project will be held at the Southport Town Hall on June 22 beginning at 6 p.m. with the vote to decide the fate of this project on June 28. Absentee ballots for this vote are available and may be requested either in person from the town clerk or by phone to her as noted above. Information about the project can be followed online by going to the town’s website.

Don’t forget on June 18 to bring your favorite father to the Father’s Day Cookout at the Southport School from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Newagen Inn has underwritten and the Southport Island Association has organized this event that is open to any Southporter who arrives with a father. No reservations necessary.

More good food is available from Cozy’s Dockside, the popular eatery in Cozy Harbor, which is open every day but Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. We ate there on Sunday evening having delicious fish tacos, fried fish and chips, homemade soup, and for the non-fish eater in our crowd, fried chicken. We had a lovely view of the harbor as well as a chance to visit with Chase Brinegar and family who were coming up the dock from a boat ride. Cush is here for the summer on Marr’s Point with the two children, Hadden and Chapman, eager for the sailing program, but work causes dad to travel back and forth to Texas.

At Newagen Inn the Pub will be open for dinner Sunday - Friday from 5 until 9 p.m., and beginning next Monday from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Weddings keep the Inn busy on Saturdays.

Mooring tags are required by July 1, so see Ashley at the Southport Town Hall if you need one.

The Island Store is now open 7 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Lots of good food and stables available without having to drive into town. The new coolers are nearly finished and, by the time you read this, will be stocked with milk, juice, and soda, and other goodies. Familiar faces will greet you behind the counter and in the aisles.

Joan Hurd and I caught up a bit this past Monday as she and Nick are now here for the summer.

Look else in this paper for an article about the opening of the summer chapel, All Saints by-the-Sea. Services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. begin on June 19 and will continue until Sept. 11 with a variety of guest preachers. During the 10 a.m. service on opening day, the Kit Sherrill’s ministry at the chapel over many years will be honored. All are welcome.

Coming up is the Fourth of July parade, which will start at the Town Landing at 8:30 a.m. and march to the Southport Memorial Library where coffee and other treats will be waiting for you. Not too soon to begin planning your entry, perhaps decorating a bike, a a stroller, a car, a truck, even a lawnmower is a possibility. Perhaps the alpacas will appear wearing some decorations.

If you keep dates on your calendar months ahead, note that the Southport Island Association’s (SIA) annual picnic is planned for Aug. 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. Please sign up now to volunteer to tend bar or bring a food item to augment the hot dogs and hamburgers that will be cooked on site. Call hostesses, Sandra Seifert (633-3546) or Janet Duchaine (860-484-9006), to volunteer, or if you have questions. The event will be held at Sandra’s house on Cozy Harbor, so bring a chair to enjoy the view of the harbor. $10 for SIA, please.