The puppy is okay, but nearly four weeks ago now, after a good romp on Hendricks Head Beach, she came home about 3 p.m. and by 3:30 p.m. was vomiting. Then she became very limp - not able to stand. Her temperature was about 5% below normal. Her heartbeat had slowed, and she was leaking urine. Her owner rushed her to our nearby vets’ office, but they could not determine the problem and recommended immediate transport to the doggy hospital in Scarborough.

Fortunately “Daddy” had been contacted by phone and was just returning home so could stop at the vet’s to pick up the puppy and take her to Scarborough while “Mom” went home to check on the puppy’s sibling, who was fine.

As soon as the vets in Scarborough looked at the puppy, they knew what was wrong. She had found some marijuana on the beach and eaten it. The doctors said in their practice the problem was very common, so they knew immediately how to treat it.

If you are readers also of the New York Times, the Sunday Magazine this past Sunday has a long article about the medical uses of marijuana, reporting on the front cover that it even “calms dogs.” But if you read the whole article, you learn ingredients vary even in medical marijuana, and that dosage is important. Research is ongoing, and results are mostly trial and error.

This time a puppy suffered from someone’s negligence. As summer approaches, next time the victim could be a toddler playing on the beach. So please, if you find Hendricks Head Beach or any other public place a peaceful place to smoke a joint or otherwise enjoy a cannabis product, take all the remains with you.

Only a few of us showed up at the public hearing Wednesday evening, May 15, at the Southport Town Hall to hear Andrew Karl of ReVision Energy explain the rapid rise of his company and what they have to offer the town of Southport. The plan they offer is to place 160 solar panels on town property near the town garage. These panels would provide electricity for the five town buildings: the town hall, the school, the library, the firehouse, and a utility building for a total cost of about $164,00. The panels come with a 25-year warranty although the inverters that change the current form DC to AC might have to be replaced more often.

Mr. Kahrl said Southport gets enough sunshine to make this plan viable. Any excess electricity we generate is sold back to the grid, and if we run low, we can receive electricity from the grid.

The selectmen seemed to agree that the project is worthy of a town vote, especially as we have the money available in the General Fund. It would ultimately save the town money on electricity and would help us do our part to mitigate global warming. The town meeting for citizens to vote on this project will be Wednesday, June 12, at 6 p.m. We need at least 40 voting members present for a quorum. Please come.

Selectman Gerry Gamage did mention that another expenditure the town faces this year is an increase in our taxes paid to Lincoln County. According to our County Commissioner Hamilton Meserve, this tax levy on towns overall went up 2.56%, from $9.9 million to $10.2 million. Each town's share is proportional, based on the value of its real estate as a percent of the county's total real estate.

The good news for Southport homeowners is that the value of our real estate is rising. Thus our county taxes also grew by 7.5%, from $868,500 to $954,050, triple the county's increase, because the value of our real estate grew faster than in other Lincoln towns. Therefore our share of this year's county tax ended up proportionally larger. The state sets valuations annually, but there's a two-year lag in values. What we get for this money is, among other things, our police and emergency services, our courts, and the county jail.

Although I have no confirmation of the event, I assume the Memorial Day celebration on Southport will begin as usual at 8:30 a.m. at the Southport Memorial Library and continue at approximately 9 a.m. at the monument near the Island Store. Perhaps confirming or correcting information will be elsewhere in this edition of the paper.

From Gail Richter comes the news that, thanks to Robbie and Kristin Campbell, the docks and floats are now in at Cozy Harbor awaiting the launching of boats and returning owners. Also in Cozy Harbor I understand that planning is underway for the reopening of the restaurant there, next to be called Cozy’s Dockside. Stay tuned for more information.

Next week your scribe will be Maria Doelp. You can send her information at pdoelp@roadrunner.com or put a note in the envelope just inside the door at the Island Store. Remember our deadline is early this week, Friday, May 24 due to Memorial Day.