Frost, how brilliant the sparkle on blades of grass and rooftops, how quick to melt away under the bright rays of sun, even those filtered by the autumnal leaves which themselves radiate with astounding hues, sights to cache in one’s mind for the starkness of winter. The woods, yards, roads are covered with intricate mosaics of leaves that give off an aroma of spicy loam when kicked up by walking feet or the now nippy wind which has sent many to seek out those sweaters, gloves, hats and scarves that were tucked away not that many months ago, but yet we find ourselves mid-October, debating whether it is too early to raise the thermostat, or just layer up inside, and when we head out to the various offerings on the island.

A place that is warm, cozy and has goodies for each time of day is the General Store. Their fall hours are: Closed Monday, Tuesday-Friday 7-3, Saturday 8-3 and Sunday closed. The Barn is open Thursday-Saturday 10-3. It is there that you can attend the trivet fused glass workshop on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 to noon, or sign up for the next ornament workshop to be held Saturday Nov. 10. During both you learn how to cut glass and use different techniques to create your individual pieces which are fired in the instructor’s kiln and ready for pick up the following week.

You are guaranteed a warm welcome at the thrift/resale shop, Southport Island Treasures at 608 Hendricks Hill Road. Inside you find a wide array of seasonal and daily items to decorate and up the comfort in each room of your home. Clothing is available, and, yes, Christmas items are coming out as well. Angel continues to collect for the Southport Historical Society and you can still enter the raffle to win two fall-themed potholders and a $20 gift card to the store. Hours are Monday-Saturday 10-4. 

It is a good time of year for a hot cup of coffee or tea with friends and neighbors and that can be found at the Southport Memorial Library Table on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 each week. This table has been bringing people together for generations with its camaraderie, conversation and warm welcome to all, it also has some lore, so grab a mug, a piece of baked good and have a seat. Thursday also features the Mahjong group from 2 to 4, beginners and the more savvy can all participate in the traditional tile based social and strategy game. This Thursday, the 22nd, at 6:30, Greg Smith will present “What Really Scares You?” an interactive author talk featuring a discussion and program to delve into the psychology behind horror literature. He will read from his new book, “Prayers For Evil” and reference several other well-known horror writers, Poe, King and Jackson, if we are lucky, he will tell a few ghost stories of his own. The following Thursday, Oct. 29, James M. Kopf, scholar, author and translator currently based on Southport, will facilitate a Southport Island debut of a horror classic, Tobe Hooper’s, 1974 film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” for thrills, chills and cinema history. He has several questions to pose following the screening of the film, where he will provide a brief background on the production and some common interpretations before opening the floor to audience questions. It begins promptly at 6 and is for an adult audience. The library is located at 1032 Hendricks Hill Road and is open Tuesday 9-4, Thursday 9-4 and 6-8, and Saturday 9-4.

Then, the following day, Friday, Oct. 30 beginning at 4:30, the Southport Memorial Library, SIA and Friends of Southport School Present: Spooktober Storytime and Movie Night! This all-ages Southport community event will feature storytime, crafts, pumpkin painting, pizza, popcorn and a screening of “Boxtrolls” and will be held on the Southport Central School Field.  The first portion will run until 7 with “Beetlejuice” being shown at 7:30. Bring your own chairs and blankets and prepare for a lot of fun and a double feature. Should it rain, the entire event moves to the Southport Memorial Library. 

Robinson’s Wharf remains open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday night music is starting back this week, the 23rd, 5-8 p.m. with the Murky Water Band. Come check out the specials, have a cold one to wash the week away, see your friends, stay seated and chat, or take to the floor and move a little, it is all good.

There is plenty of activity in the shorter days, both in the community and among the animals. Encounters with birds have been amazing, from the bald eagle that soared over my head on Town Landing, to the trio of crows circling in the blue sky with a half moon behind them, geese navigating and calling in the night and herons situating themselves with the low tides for optimal dining, all magnificent, but the loon that swam within a few feet of me while I was dipping, that was truly special, the water so clear I could see its feet and the dive. As the chill sets in check on neighbors, share a dish, make a call, send a card, share your time and company, help where you can, be a listener, give a ride, we’ve entered the time of year where community matters and when we shine our brightest.

May Peace Be With You All.