Many thanks to Sandra Seifert who kept the Southport news flowing last week while Kit and I and many family and friends enjoyed the deep, fluffy snow and cold beauty of the Trapp Family Lodge at Stowe, Vermont. Some of us skied, all of us swam and enjoyed the hot tub, some of us did yoga, water aerobics, and several of us enjoyed massages. A great week away, but always fun to be home.

Clark and Louise Phippen also have a time share at Trapp, so we saw them often during the week for dinner and various play time activities. They are well and were eager for news from Southport as well as sending greetings to their friends here.

In a totally different venue, Gerry Hawes is enjoying the peace and quiet on an Air Force Station on the windward (eastern) side of Oahu. He sent pictures showing the lovely Hawaiian beaches.

Thanks to Oliver and Janet at the Island Store, who on one of our very cold days, greeted the fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from the Southport School with cups of hot chocolate when the students appeared at the store.

This Saturday, Feb. 9, from 3 to 5 p.m., you can roust up from the sofa and join friends and neighbors in the Southport Island Association (SIA) Winter Walk. Gather at the Zalucky residence, 28 Joppa Rd., for a short walk along Pierce Cove or, if you are feeling really frisky, a jog over to Cross Road. There are some stairs to navigate at Joppa Road, and street parking is limited, but there is plenty of space up the hill at the Town Hall. Come for the walk or just to reconnect with friendly folks as we all make our way through the Maine winter season.

You are welcome whether or not you are a member of SIA. Beverages will be provided but please bring a sweet or savory to share. Snow date will be the following Saturday, Feb. 16. Call Carole Zalucky at 207-841-0577 if you have any questions.

Please remember that the Land for Southport’s Future has a new deadline of Feb. 19 to raise $400,000 to match a donor gift for an equal amount that would cover the purchase price for the Gardiner property on Beach Road and make possible the establishment of “Ruth’s House.”

The non-profit organization has established a separate account at First Federal Savings Bank for donor gifts that qualify for this matching opportunity. Checks made payable to Land for Southport’s Future can be mailed to: PO Box 298, Southport Island, ME 04576.

This project will, on behalf of all people of this community, preserve access to our Hendricks Head shoreline now and for the generations to come. And, make it possible for Ruth’s House to become a treasured asset as a commons for community engagement and a center for art and science education. If you have questions, call Nancy Prisk at 207-217-7743 or by email at landforsouthportsfuture@gmail.com.

We continue to be tuned in for news of our Southport bridges. We know the state has scheduled bids to go out in the spring and work to begin after Labor Day on the Thompsons Bridge (Decker Cove). From one of our former bridge tenders, Duane Lewis, comes news that the state is planning to replace the Southport bridge in 2023 either with a high bridge that will not need to be opened or with a bridge that rises rather then turns. Stay tuned. With the amount of patching done on the surface of that bridge, we can only hope a smoother surface comes soon.

Last week Sandra mentioned the osprey’s nest on top of the bridge to which the birds have returned in the spring for a number of years. But today when I looked up there were a number of other birds on the nest. To me they looked like pigeons, but would love to know from some birders what they really are. If they are taking over the nest, I wonder what will happen when the ospreys return.

Tancy Mitchell underwent a bit of a patching to mend broken bones in her ankle after a fall on the ice in her yard. She currently is letting the bones knit together in the Zimmerli Center at St. Andrews Village.