We have had several stories of people’s journeys home from abroad, such as the Baumans from France and the Jacobs from New Zealand. Now here comes another New Zealand story. As reported previously, after his wife, Marna, died, George Denton left for New Zealand, to do what he expected would be a month or two of research. He is now quarantined there for what appears to be at best, until mid summer and at worst, straight through the Southport season.

Kerri Wolcott reports that George is content, feels very safe and is well taken care of. He has moved into a hotel apartment, owned by a good friend of his and is having three healthy meals a day delivered to him. He is writing several scientific papers for publication, which is something he has not had time to do for quite some time. While the isolation must be hard, Kerri is glad that he has his work and its contribution to focus on. Although the family misses him dearly, they feel so grateful that he is safe and sound. George’s extended stay in New Zealand does mean that a June ceremony for Marna is not practical, so the family has decided to postpone a celebration of Marna’s life until, at best, late September.

Hard at work contributing to the effort to defeat the virus is summer neighbor, Sam Calagione. In an April 8 article in the New York Times, titled “Craft-Brewed Hand Sanitizer” Mr Calagione, who owns Dogfish Head Craft Brewery that makes Dogfish Head Ale, immortalizing that area of our community, explains how he decided to dedicate his business in the near future to making Dogfish Head hand sanitizer.

In partnership with the state government in Delaware, where his brewery is located, he learned where the product was most needed. Then he marketed the product, donating all of the profit to a fund for hospitality workers. You can see his video by searching for Opinion/Craft-Brewed Hand Sanitizer - New York Times. If you are a subscriber to the Times, you can also read the article.

Not quarantined at all are the osprey, who defeated the state’s efforts last spring to demolish their home territory by taking down the birds’ nest on top of the Southport Bridge. When they returned, the birds rebuilt the nest and hatched their summer family. Now they are back once again, having been spotted for the first time by the bridge keeper on April 8. Last Thursday, when we stopped by, five birds had been seen circling around. We thought there might be a small war when the ospreys returned as several pigeons and sea gulls had been using the nest over the winter, but the osprey successfully reclaimed their territory. Not having such a fight to resettle on their nest, the osprey inhabiting the nest on the spindle at the entrance to Cozy Harbor are peacefully in residence. Summer is coming.

We hope the young sailors at the Southport Yacht Club will be able to begin their program at the usual time and continue through the summer under the able guidance of Will Jacobs. The Junior Yacht Club steps and deck are coming to completion though various work continues on entrances.

Look to the “Boating” issue of the magazine, “Maine,” May edition, to see a lovely article about the program, titled, “Wind at their Backs” with the highlighting statement “The Southport Junior Yacht Club has inspired generations of sailors to love the sport,” and beautiful pictures beginning with two opposing page spreads of the boats at sea. The article was written by someone who grew up in the program, and who we know well, our daughter, Susan Axelrod. Her colleague, Christina Wnek took the fantastic pictures including one of Will, a broad smile denoting pleasure in his work.

A reminder that thanks to the generous donations of several concerned members of our Southport community, Southport Island Association (SIA) has a Pandemic Relief Fund to address the ongoing needs of our residents affected by the far reaching effects of this situation in which we find ourselves. If you, your neighbor, or a member of your family requires help with meeting needs for food, electricity, heating, maintaining an internet or phone connection, managing housing payments, or other day to day necessities, please contact Carole Zalucky at 207-841-0577 or via email at czalucky@gmail.com Any of our SIA board members would also be able to accept your request for assistance. All requests will be protected by confidentiality guidelines.

If you would like to contribute to the SIA Pandemic Relief Fund, you can mail your tax deductible donation to SIA, P.O. Box 505, Southport, ME 04576. Please be sure to note on your check that your contribution is to be specifically directed to the pandemic fund or include a note in your envelope.

SIA continues to offer residents, concerned about being out in the community during this time of physical isolation, assistance with picking up groceries or medically related items from the pharmacy. Thanks to the donors, to Carole and Medea Harris, and others who are on tap with such direct help.

Last week’s column contained the news of the passing of Julie Thompson, wife of Bill Thompson, whose summer home is on Pratts Island. This week look for a lovely obituary about Julie elsewhere in this paper.