Southport Column: No bridge but more events

Tue, 09/24/2019 - 8:15am

This time it is true. The little bridge over Decker Cove is closed until May with heavy equipment indicating that work on replacing the bridge has begun. Now, as those of you still here well know, there are many signs around the island directing traffic to drive straight ahead into the Gift Barn if you are traveling north toward the monument on Route 27, and other silly directions. I sure we will figure them all out in a few days.

Susan Quimby, calling from New York City, reminded me of one of simpler suggestions to fend off the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, which is to change your routines. If you routinely sit at one place at a table for meals, sit in another place occasionally, for example. This bridge replacement will cause some of us to change our routines, so perhaps, in addition to keeping us from sliding into the water, we will benefit in other ways.

Summer may be over with the Southport sailing program wrapped up, but not so members’ sailing adventures. Last weekend Chip Baker with Chester Jacobs, John Walsh, and Peter Smith as crew, aboard Chip’s J80, competed in the North American Championship races held on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. They finished 10th out of a fleet of 22 boats. Well done, gentlemen. An interesting fact: they were sailing Chip’s boat, Wired, which Chip had sailed as a boy. Seeing it for sale, he called the owner, surprised and delighted to be able to buy such a familiar boat.

Lynn Schafer’s shop, “Possibilities,” closed for the season last week, with Thursday, Sept. 19 being the last day. Lynn will open early June 2020 and is looking forward to seeing old and new friends return and stop in.

More news from Newagen Inn. First up we learned that Paul D’Alessio will be playing in The Pub on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. Second, in addition to Monday through Friday, the inn will be open for dinner on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 5 to 9 p.m., a rare occurrence, with the new fall menu continuing to earn rave reviews.

Third, a few spaces remain in the Plein Air Painting Workshop hosted by Maine artist, Sandy Harper, on Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Call the Inn at 633-5242 to reserve your spot.

Finally a reminder that on Saturday, Oct. 5, the Inn will host a four-course dinner with wine pairings. There will be two seatings, 5:30 and 7:30. Call the front desk 633-5242 for more information or to make a reservation.

On Sunday, Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall, Land for Southport's Future will be hosting an illustrated lecture by Libby Bischof, “A Tribute to 20th Century Maine Women Writers and Artists of Note.” Libby is a professor of history at the University of Southern Maine and the director of the Osher Map Library and the Smith Center for Cartographic Education. Everyone is welcome.

If you have noticed a few changes at our Island Store, do not think product lines are disappearing. Rather staff is rearranging some shelves and cases to create a bit more floor space. Although Leslie Berne has retired from the staff, Laura Dowling has taken over her tasks including making delicious pies for sale. Try one.

Next, a correction from Sandra Seifert. Several weeks ago I wrote about the speaker at the Southport Memorial Library, Douglas Preston, saying he was a photographer for National Geographic. Not so. He was hired to journal the daily events of the team looking for the Lost City of the Monkey Gods and to write articles about this finding, which he turned into a book.

From the osprey’s friend and one of our Southport Bridge tenders, Carl Jordon, comes this review of the ospreys’ life this summer. The first sighting occurred on April 9, and, as you remember, they had to rebuild their nest as the state workers had removed it. On June 18 the chicks hatched. On Aug. 1 the chicks fledged, having passed their first flying test, and after Sept. 15 they have not been seen, so we assumed they have flown off to warmer climes. Thanks, Carl, for being such a close observer and for sharing your observations with us. We will look for their return next year.