First reminders: (1) the family Halloween party at Robinson’s Wharf Sunday, Oct. 31, will soon be upon us. Dig out your old costumes or create new ones and show up at the wharf at 5 p.m. to enjoy some chili, mac ’n cheese, or hot dogs, then head out trick or treating to those homes that have registered as Halloween friendly and expectant. To register your home call Eden Climo at 513-739-2422. For more information and regular updates follow Southport Island Association on Facebook, or visit the SIA webpage!

(2) Absentee ballots for the Nov. 2 voting continue to be available from Donna Climo at the Southport Town Hall until 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28. After that such ballots are only available to those folks who can show a special need. Ballots can be returned either in person at the town hall or put into the ballot box again hung outside the door to the town offices. Voting in person will be at the town hall on Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

(3) You have until Oct. 31 to return the questionnaires sent to taxpaying residents of Southport concerning the plans to enhance the Southport School grounds, referred to as the Southport Community Project. Please let the committee know your ideas and thoughts. Additional questionnaires are available in the lobby of the town offices.

From Nancy Prisk comes this news about our broadband progress. “Axiom reports that they are receiving a steady stream of calls from Southporters requesting to sign-up for Southport Fiber Internet service. It is clear that the road signs you see around the island, and the brochures at the Post Office and the Town Office are getting the attention of both year-round and seasonal residents. In response to a key question about how to get TV and phone access over the Internet, the Southport Broadband Committee's website has posted an update to courses being offered to Southport residents. For more information please use this link, https://
www.southportislandcommunitybroadband.org/ or reach out directly to the Committee by email southportcommunitybroadband@gmail.com or with a written note to Post Office Box 298, Southport, ME 04576.”

Good news from Ashley at the town hall is that those solar panels we voted to install are paying off. For example, last year in October the electricity bill for the Southport Memorial Library was $137. This year the October bill is $16.86. In general the electricity bills for the town buildings run about $16 each due to reductions enabled by the solar panels. Well done, everyone!

We can gather again this year at the Southport Memorial Library for the flag ceremony to honor our Veterans on Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m. You will also be able to tune into either Channel 7 or 1301 to hear author Jack Flowers talk and see pictures shown by Jim Singer. For more information check the poster in the Southport post office.

Good news from our Island Store is that the back room is open again for groups to gather for good food and conversation. Various clothing and other items from the Gift Barn are also for sale there.

To those reading from afar, brilliant colors remain with us as I type on this Monday morning, but temperatures have fallen back to more normal levels, from the high 60s to the mid-40s. I still am risking one plant outside, the mandevilla, because it is blooming so nicely, and so far we have not had a frost. With high winds and heavy rains forecast for tomorrow, Tuesday, I may regret that decision.