If you read the “Morning Catch” news stories put online each morning by the Boothbay Register, you know that Robinson’s Wharf is getting a new chef, and that most appointees to Southport town positions are returning. Two new appointees are David Pratt, our animal control officer and Mike Ciccarelli, our new emergency management point person. Look for both those articles elsewhere in the paper for more complete coverage. Several deputy positions are yet to be filled, those for town clerk, tax collector and treasurer.

Southport Island has been getting more coverage in the Register these days, which is great. The more we are informed, the better citizens we can be. One item in the article about municipal positions has puzzled a few of us. That article says the two positions in the public works department are to be combined into one position, which will soon be advertised. Dennis Andrews has retired as of April 1, leaving Ronald Farnham alone on the job. Does he need to apply for this lone position, is one question. The other concern is how safe will it be to have only one person on the road crew? Neither Ron nor Donna Climo, whom I saw at the town office on Tuesday, had the answers, but I hope to learn more at the selectmen’s meeting Wednesday evening.

Perhaps you noticed that the town office was closed for several days while Donna was away for training on records management and tax liens. Such training is given by the Maine Municipal Association for town personnel.

Janet and Oliver Cusano were away over the weekend partly for pleasure and partly for work as they were attending a gift show in Boston. Janet says they will have a number of new exciting and fun items in the Gift Barn, which they plan to open May 16. (Ah, how pleasant that date sounds. I am sure we will have no snow then!)

Congratulations to Dr. Ed Gibson, who celebrated his 101st birthday with family and friends on March 24. Although Ed is now at St. Andrews Village, he and his wife were for many years Southport residents.

Many thanks to all of you who have sent my husband, Kit, cards, good wishes, and prayers for his recovery from pneumonia. Kit was discharged from Miles hospital on Friday after being taken there by ambulance the preceding Monday. His violent cough is diminishing, but I am told we must wait another couple of weeks before an X-ray will show if the lungs are clear. All the well wishes are delightful, but the packet of cards made for him by the Southport School children really helped spent his recovery. Thanks to all at the school who contributed to that project.

Next week I want to find out more about the pigs. Several people have told me that Finn Carroll, who lives on Beach Road, as acquired several pigs in addition to his chickens. I see the chickens occasionally as I drive to the beach, but have not yet seen the pigs. Is there a barbecue in the future?