From Lil Helming comes this message concerning her husband, David Helming, who died recently of COVID-19. If we wish to honor David with a donation to the Junior Sailing Program at the Southport Yacht Club, or to the Jimmy Fund with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute these were causes that meant a great deal to him. Lil says that if you wish to make a donation in his name to either of these programs, use these links for further information: https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org and http://southportyachtclub.org She asks, “Please continue to keep David, and all of us, in your thoughts and prayers and find something each day that makes you smile, whether it includes a memory of him or not. Stay safe!”

Remember that the Southport Island Association (SIA) Winter Walk is this Saturday, Feb. 6, from 1 until 3 p.m. beginning at the Southport Library. We will walk through the Newagen neighborhood with the alpacas and their owners. All of us should wear a mask and maintain social distance from each other. A storm date of Feb. 13, same time, same place, is scheduled, if necessary. Laura Blake, Geoff Chatterton and Sandra Seifert will be your SIA hosts.

Also a reminder that we can enjoy “Love (and Lasagna)” on Valentine’s Day thanks to the SIA as they partner with the Southport Island Store and Sweet Dreams Bakery to cook up a delicious lasagna dinner to share with us. Just call 633-0754 to reserve your meal, which can be delivered to you, if you wish. Otherwise you can pick you your lasagna, lightly dressed Caesar salad, a small garlic baguette, a scrumptious dessert made by Sweet Dreams Bakery and a chocolate treat in the front parking lot of the Town Hall on Valentine’s Day Sunday, Feb. 14, from 1 until 3 p.m. The meal is free, but donations are welcome.

Several public notices from Southport caught my eye and led to questions for the selectmen and others. An opening exists for an at-large trustee for the water district for this three-year term. Nomination papers are available at the Town Hall. They must be returned with signatures by March 8, and voting will be at a special town meeting on May 7.

Plans for our annual town meeting are being finalized. I think you can find a more thorough article elsewhere in this paper, but in brief, two outdoor public hearings will be held to answer any questions about the articles on the warrant, one on March 20 at 1 p.m. and one on March 24 at 3 p.m. The town report will be available in early March, and absentee ballots to vote on the articles in the warrant are available at our town hall now. We are all encouraged to vote ahead of the town meeting date, April 5, and either mail ballots to the Southport Town Hall or drop them in a secure container outside the door. Voting at the meeting on April 5 is possible, but with about 50 articles to mark, that will take you some time in the voting booth.

Aother public notice concerned a cemetery plot containing the grave of Etta Thornton Eldridge, which had not been “used or maintained” in 75 years, asking if anyone had information about the family to please contact the cemetery committee. A talk with Evelyn Sherman assured me that the grave in use would not be moved, only that the empty plots contiguous to it purchased for family members might be sold. I was concerned because Kit and I had found his mother’s grave, unmarked and not maintained, in a cemetery in Warm Springs, Georgia, about 61 years after her death. Fortunately the Warm Springs Foundation had records of plots sold, so we were able to identify her grave and, after so many years, along with Kit’s brother, Chuck, place a stone on it.

Finally, I was curious about the fate of the restaurant in Cozy Harbor that looked so forlorn last summer. Gerry Gamage assures me that the lease continues to the entity that leased it in 2019, owned by Scott Larson of Newagen Inn and Linekin Bay Resorts.

Mike, at the Island Store, reports that folks on the east side have had to stop for a female moose crossing the road. Perhaps she was so cold in the woods, she emerged to find some warmth in the sun. No sun today, Monday, as I type, with clouds assembling for a nor’easter.

Another reminder that the Island Store is looking ahead toward summer and is ready to consider applications for employment for that time. Call the store at 633-6666 to get an application and to find out more details.