At last on Friday some cool, dry air arrived, allowing us to believe we really were in Maine. Let’s hope this gift from our Canadian friends remains with us into the fall season.

Last week I missed telling you about whale sightings around the island. Two such sightings were reported to me. First on Sunday morning, Aug. 26, Perry and Jane Nies saw a whale chase poggies into Horn Cove and actually catch one in its mouth. Perry is such a good photographer. I hope he was able to grab his camera to document the sighting.

The next sighting was on the west side of the island in front of Polly Gibson’s house on Carson Lane. Polly watched the whale swimming back and forth for about half an hour. Many people have asked me what kind of whale it was, but I must leave that for someone else to discover.

As you drive more slowly by the pond and the Southport Central School, notice a nice crop of pumpkins to the north of the pond. I wonder if the school is going to have its own “pumpkin fest” or will be selling pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving.

In other school news you are invited to an Open House from 5 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 20. Come and see what a great place for children our tax dollars are providing.

Most exciting this week (and it is a short week as this column is due on Friday because of the holiday) is the arrival of the special T-shirts at the Island Store. I am sure many of you have seen the chicken, Lucy, sauntering up the hill and around the store parking lot. Her frequent visits gave birth to a new tee idea.

Coming in several different colors, mine is blue, the tee says on the front, above and below a picture of a very self-satisfied chicken “Why did Lucy the Chicken cross the road?” As you might expect, the print on the back says, “To Get To The Southport General Store, Southport ME.” The store will gladly sell you one or several, an especially good product to help carry some our island fun back home.

All Saint by-the-Sea will be open one more Sunday, Sept. 9, with services at 8 and 10 a.m. John Ineson will be the minister.

Our Southport Memorial Library has returned to the usual ‘off season’ schedule of opening Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with Thursday night the only evening hours.