The ocean has had its way with us! As I began this column on Friday, Jan. 12, we await another storm tonight and tomorrow, this time arriving in Midcoast Maine at the same time as an extraordinary high tide, noted on the news as being 14.3 feet Saturday at noon. I am told the tide during the 1978 storm reached 14.1 feet. At Hendricks Head this caused the ocean to sweep away the enclosed walkway that connected the lighthouse keeper’s house to the lighthouse tower. High tide during last Wednesday’s storm was reported to be 13 feet.

Now reporting on Jan. 14 after the second storm, it seems those buildings, docks, and decks tilting into the water are tilting further, but mostly the destruction appears to be additional rather than new. People say it was new to see Robinson’s Wharf and parking lot in front of it covered with water, but I did not see any major destruction there. At least one article in the paper notes destruction of the Southport town dock, and the money it will cost to rebuild it. Gerry Gamage says that in Wednesday ’s storm 16 properties also lost their docks. Perhaps you have seen the pictures of the McWhan’s boat shed floating north in Cozy Harbor and the Randlett’s boathouse tipping into the water. Fortunately, although I heard that the ocean overtopped the Pratts Island Bridge, the bridge is still passable. Discussion at the Selectmen’s meeting last Wednesday night after the first storm noted that the helipad on the Cuckold’s was whipped away. The Conns’ house on All Saints Road was pushed back off its foundation, and much debris covered lawns in that area. You can see pictures of the damage elsewhere in this paper. My favorite picture is the All Saints dock drifting out to sea with the cross on top clearly visible. Once could claim that the theology the chapel embodies is, by that symbol, being carried abroad.

For those not with us to examine the shore damage personally perhaps one observation will help you understand the wall at Hendricks Head Beach was still in place when I drove down there Friday morning. The debris on the road, including chunks of asphalt, had been pushed away, but floating against the wall during the high tide was an A shaped frame from the side of a building, all beams intact. It looked like one could have pulled it from the water and reused it. Perhaps it was a piece of the McWhan’s boathouse.

Many folks turned up on Friday afternoon at the Southport Methodist Church for the funeral of Kathy Barter, a long-time Southport resident and participant in our community. Her brother and her niece spoke of Kathy’s spirit for fun and helping others, her many talents from hair dressing to nursing to reading to children at the Southport Memorial Library. Members of the Eastern Star Beacon Chapter brought flowers of different colors to symbolize her many strengths. Pastor Greg Foster united our thoughts of her with scripture. Mary Miller, on the organ, led us in singing familiar hymns. Afterward folks crossed the street to the Southport Town Hall to enjoy many treats and share more stories about Kathy’s life. What a lovely tribute to her.

The Southport General Store was closed on Thursday last week due to the death of one of its longtime employees, Mike Beane. We will miss his robust greetings and humor. The store will also close at 2 p.m. on Jan. 19 and remain closed through Jan. 28 so that the kitchen can be renovated. Next week, before the closing, a breakfast special of blueberry pancakes will be offered. When the store reopens, the breakfast special will be a sausage biscuit with gravy, and the following week will be French toast, sausage, and maple syrup sandwiches. These breakfasts should carry enough energy to keep the workmen and all of us at task as we clean up after the storms. Thanks to the cooks.

I hear the lining for the skating rink on the school grounds has arrived. Perhaps when the weather calms down, it can be installed, and then with some accommodating temperatures, the students can skate for recess, and the rest of us can skate when school is not in session. Stay tuned.

Looking ahead to Sunday, Feb. 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Boothbay Region High School gym, the Democrats will hold a caucus meeting to elect Southport party officers and select nominees to recommend for key local and national offices. The current officers, Bill Messmer, Jane Lunt and Leigh Sherrill, note that by attending this caucus you are committing to maintaining our democratic values and our democracy, and they thank you for your interest.