Many thanks to Maria Doelp for once again finding and reporting news while Kit and I were away. The absence of the column the previous week was due to our computer crash that took two weeks and four different help sources to fix. Even so some data is missing. Grrrrr.

We had a great trip to Portland and Bend, Oregon, another land of pine trees and water, only there we found fresh water and different pines. Great for Kit to connect with six of his Navy buddies and for all of us to see the lovely roses and other gardens in Portland.

While we were struggling with the computer, Oliver Cusano, at the Island Store, was celebrating his 70th birthday all day long last Thursday, June 13. The first tip-off to celebrations was the large flock of pink flamingos placed very early in the morning around the store and parking lot thanks to Meredith Mackusick. About 9 a.m., Mac returned in his vintage red jeep, wearing party attire to join the newspaper crowd, complete with a one-man band, to serenade Oliver and to present him with a rather large “key” to Southport, used to dub him Southport’s mayor for the day.

Dwight and Duane Lewis and their breakfast buddies provided the cake, a giant whoopie pie, which was served with the lunch time grilled hamburgers. Merriment continued all day with many greetings and best wishes and culminated in a lovely dinner at Newagen Inn.

It is always merry and lovely at Possibilities, Lynn Schafer’s shop on Route 27 just a few yards south of the Island Store. She invites folks to come and “sit a spell” enjoying the garden and conversation.

Many repurposed items for sale have been given new sparkle such as cottage furnishings and quilts. You can buy perennials, cut flowers, and get garden advice. When I stopped by on Monday a couple from Takoma Park, Md., were enjoying the garden and renewing their friendship with Lynn. Possibilities is open most afternoons, but best to call first if you are driving from a distance. (207-633-0788)

Bill Messmer’s talk at the Southport Historical Society’s Annual meeting Monday evening, June 17 titled “Hunting for the History of the Cozy Harbor Store” drew a good crowd at the Southport Town Hall.

Focusing on the three families, the Pierces, the Marrs and the Pratts, who in sequence owned the land since the late 1700s and who ran a store there since 1819, Bill underlined the theme that although the store has changed from serving the fishing trade to serving the summer trade when cod stocks dwindled, the store has remained even today, very much the same.

His pictures and maps of the area dating back as far as 1771 helped us see the beginnings and the progression as hard working people used their skills to earn their livelihood and serve the population. Descendants of each of these families in the audience added their wisdom and lore to the discussion.

Kathy Bugbee and her daughter, Sandy, returned from a weekend of graduation festivities in Burlington, Vermont. Doug Bugbee, Kathy’s son and Sandy’s brother, with his wife, Diane, had two sons graduating, one, Oliver, from eighth grade, and his older brother, Noah, graduated from South Burlington High School summa cum laude. He will be attending Tufts University in Boston in the fall.

Five old friends gathered around an outdoor table at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens last Monday, counting at least 37 years of summer friendship in the Pratts Island cottages and on the tennis court. Jan Moreshead drove down from Hallowell to join Louise Phippen, Callie McWhan, Kathy Bugbee, and myself, catching up on families and current thoughts. With grandchildren now older than our children were when we first sat on the Pratts Island rocks watching the sailing class races, we are astonished at how fast time flies.

Jan brought pictures of Andrew Moreshead still on active duty with the Army, but now stationed safely, we hope, at the Pentagon and living with his wife and son in Virginia.

While we were chattering, Kitty Hill came over to the table saying she was sure she recognized us. Kitty lived with Walter Hill in the Cozy Harbor yellow house now owned by Anne and Mike Grimes, another of the Pratts Island couples years ago. Kitty and Walter have moved back to Maine and are now living at the Highlands in Topsham.

From days past to days present: The Newagen Inn has begun its summer series of music in the pub, lobster bakes and campfire nights. Thursday night this week, June 20, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., the pub will feature Arthur Webster, and Sunday, June 23, Gabe Tonon will be playing.

On Tuesday, June 25, Newagen will host its first Lobster Bake of the season. This event is open to the public. Call the inn for reservations. (207-633-5242)

On Wednesday, June 26from 7 until 9 p.m. around the bonfire, you will find s’mores and storyteller Nancy Griffin, a former newspaper reporter and editor who has been a freelance writer for more than 20 years. She is the author of two books published last year: “Maine 101” and “Making Whoopies: The Official Whoopie Pie Book.”

A former communications coordinator for the Maine Coastal Program, Nancy is currently editor of the online newspaper, the “Gulf of Maine Times.” She lives in Thomaston. These evenings are free and open to the public.

Newagen Inn is also open for lunch every day from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and for dinner every day except Saturday from 5 until 9 p.m. with happy hour specials from 4 until 6 p.m.

Remember to mark your calendars for the Southport Island Association (SIA) summer activities, the first being Bolster Day on June 30 from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall. All Southporters and guests are invited to welcome in the Summer Season.

Tis a great time to meet and greet your neighbors and friends and finally shake off those winter blahs. We always appreciate you bringing an appetizer to share. SIA provides refreshments with donations welcome. Please visit the SIA website at www.southportislandassociation.org for additional information about SIA and the island town of Southport.

If you are planning to laugh with the cast and audience of “Spamalot” at the Boothbay Playhouse, come, if you can, on “Southport Night,” June 28, when a portion of your ticket sales will be returned to the SIA to use in support of the Southport community. Be sure to sign the register when you enter the theater. The show starts at 8 p.m.