Well, after all my enthusiasm about the Souper Bowl luncheon that was to be held last Monday, the event was cancelled due to our Nor’easter that dumped much snow on the island the day before, on Sunday. To my knowledge an alternate date has not been put forth. Stay turned.

We did have our storm, but at least at our house not so many inches of snow as forecast. No power went out here, nor are there any downed trees. Finn Carroll plowed our drive promptly so we could leave if necessary. At nine degrees this morning with still some wind, cleaning off the car and sweeping the porch got us rather chilly, but hand warmers helped.

The strangest aspect of this storm was the ice pellets. First we did have very light, fluffy snow, but most of the day the precipitation fell as icy rain. We could hear the tiny balls of ice hit the windows and see them bounce into the air. Yet the temperature remained will below freezing.

The school children are benefiting from our cold weather as the yellow flag is flying from the town flag pole indicating that skating on the school pond is now safe. Thus our island school children are able to try their skills at staying upright on the ice, sometimes with help from a teacher and sometimes with help from a chair.

Even before the flag went up, Ella Beauregard and her mother tried out Sawyer’s Pond and said the skating there was great. My body has muscle memory of how to skate, but muscle strength is lacking. Mental memory is easy to bring up after many years badgering a neighbor on whose property we first skated, asking her if the ice was ready. In later years on bigger ponds someone must have tested the ice, because word would just spread that the ice was ready. ‘Crack the Whip’ was one of our favorite games, one I certainly cannot imagine trying now.

At our Island School skating is far from the only activity. Mr. Shawn's class continued their investigation into renewable energy sources. Students spent the week taking a look at wind energy, assessing the pros and cons of this growing resource. Each student was asked to investigate, design, and test many different types of blade styles. Perhaps as these children grow older, they will help solve our energy problems.

I hear from Nancy Prisk that she has not given up hope in shepherding the effort of the nonprofit, “Land for Southport’s Future” to raise the money necessary to purchase Ruth’s House on Beach Road. For more information you can call her at 207-217-7743 or email Nancyprisk@gmail.com

Next week Sandra Seifert will be writing this column, so please either email her news to seifert@roadrunner.com, call her at 633-3546, or put a note with news in the envelope at the Island Store. The weekly deadline is Monday by 3 p.m.