Hear ye, hear ye! Things are beginning to change around the island. One more week for spring hours at the Southport General Store: weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. The hours will expand beginning Memorial Day weekend: Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Barn will be open Thursday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to noon.

A reminder of the public hearing on Wednesday May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall to allow citizens to hear the reasons the Boothbay Region Water District needs to raise its debt ceiling. A vote on this issue will take place May 30 at the Town Hall from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The next reminder is about classes at The Barn. The first is Terrarium Building, House Plant Pop-up Shop, and Herbal Tea on Saturday May 20, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Gina, co-owner of Drift & Wander in Biddeford will talk about how to care for houseplants and troubleshoot common problems. Lissa Luckey, owner of Tatnic Witch Herbals in Wells will offer instruction about blending herbal teas while she serves two of her own blends. On Sunday May 21, 4 to 6 p.m., master craftswoman Linda Perry will teach a class about shibori, the art of decorating fabric with resists and natural dye. Participants will design their own scarf to take home. On Saturday
June 12, Southport artist Jeanne Lally will offer a watercolor batik workshop. Call the Southport General Store 633-6666, or stop by The Barn to sign up.

I have heard that David Winslow died last Saturday, May 13, after a stay in the hospital. For those new to the island, David grew up here, the son of well-known parents who owned Robinson’s Wharf and a thriving tug business, which David continued to run. Years ago his father, Eliot Winslow, also captained the Argo, which offered several tours out of Boothbay Harbor, including a Supper Sail with a chicken dinner. Eliot claimed he couldn’t eat chicken every night, so he would maneuver the boat into Love’s Cove in front of his house, so that David, as a very young boy, could row out to the boat with another dinner cooked by his Eliot’s wife Marge, a spectacle the tourists loved to watch.

The opportunity to celebrate the life of Phillips Smith will be this Saturday, May 20, beginning at 2 p.m. at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Boothbay Harbor. Since many folks are expected to attended, please carpool if possible.

Now for some fun. Mark your calendars for Saturday June 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. to come to the Southport Town Hall for Bolster Day. This is one of the fundraisers that the Southport Island Association (SIA) organizes to help underwrite its many activities held throughout the year. There will be a cash bar, and attendees are asked to bring an appetizer to share. The SIA has not held Bolster Day for the past several years due to the pandemic. This is a fun event which kicks off the summer season. We all look forward to seeing old members and new faces as well.There is no need to RSVP.

Remember to register your moorings online. If you have a Southport mooring you should have received a letter and an email explaining how to do so. If you need help you can call Ashlea at the town office, 633-3318.