The surprise bundled in our wind and snow storm last Thursday were the astronomical high tides. Many people saw their docks and floats lifted upward, and some people found their floats either adrift or angled strangely. Robinson’s Wharf marked the high tide, but did not suffer much damage. However, the red house across from the wharf at the south end of the Decker Cove Bridge was surrounded with water and has some water damage in the kitchen. The Southport Yacht Club in Cozy Harbor had water tickling its floorboards, but fortunately nor flowing inside. Thanks to Jim and Becky Singer and Rosalie Baker for their pictures documenting those scenes.

Persons on Southport’s growing list of households to be checked on during emergencies appreciated the neighborly calls and visits from Mike Ceccarelli, our emergency management director, or Gerry Gamage, our head selectman, or volunteer fireman, Adam Larkin. To add your name to this list, fill out a simple form available at the Southport Town Hall. You may feel secure now, but our recent weather has dealt us some surprises, and life can sometimes deal us some more. Better safe then sorry, I say.

Last week I mentioned that the Southport Memorial Library artists for the next two months are Jane Southworth, Fran Scannell, Lauren Stockwell, and Sue Heil Kibbe. Sue drew four pastel drawings of Santa with a child or in one case Santa and two children, but she has misplaced the names of the children and their parents. She encourages parents to come to the library to identify their children so she can make them a gift of the portrait of their child.

We welcome Rosalie Baker back to her Newagen home where she will be staying for some time this winter. She says that thanks to Gerry Gamage the occupied homes and lanes in the colony are quickly cleared of snow.

Helen Meserve writes that Gerry and all local firemen from Southport, Boothbay, and Boothbay Harbor will be honored on Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Harbor Theater beginning at 7 p.m. The movie, “Only the Brave,” is about Arizona's Granite Mountain Hotshots who in 2013 fought one of the deadliest wildfires in our country's history.

Gerry and fire chiefs from Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay will be there to meet people and talk a little about the role of a volunteer fireman. January is time all our local firemen do their training in the snow and cold. Let's honor them by coming to the movie and supporting their dedication to saving lives and property. The theater is offering free admission for firemen and their families and refreshments for all.

If you are reading this paper in time you might like another movie showing Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. titled “A Quiet Passion” about the life of Emily Dickinson. In addition to the movie, John Ward, retired professor of English literature at Kenyon College (Ohio) will give a short talk on Emily Dickinson before the movie and stay afterwards to answer questions. He will speak on Emily along with Jane Austen, Emily Bronte and George Eliot, all of whom struggled to gain the attention they deserved and who began publishing with men's pseudonyms.

The Souper Bowl lunch, sponsored by the Library Aides, is approaching quickly on Monday, Jan. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall. This popular event is a great way to warm up, take nourishment, and visit with island friends as well as to raise money for the library.

Kathy Barter is making progress toward better health. She has been moved to the Ventilation Unit at Maine Medical Center into Room 427. Cards will certainly cheer her up. You can send them to the address above, adding Portland, Maine 04102.

As you may guess after our cold weather, the little yellow flag is flying on the town center flag pole indicating that the school pond is safe for skating. Bring your snow shovels as new snow fall is covering the ice.