Southport Democrats have an opportunity to join others on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Rotary Hall, 66 Montgomery Road, behind the shopping center from 3 until 5 p.m. Representative Holly Stover and state senator Cameron Reny will be there to answer questions. Snacks will be served.

Remember that the final opportunity for community discussion about short term rentals will be Oct. 30, at the Southport Town Hall beginning at 6 p.m. For those who cannot attend in person, an online survey has been created to gather your thoughts on the issue - https://form.jotform.com/232644334029049.

The first discussion on Oct. 16 was well attended both by neighbors with concerns about these rentals and others, such as Clayton Pottle and folks from Cottage Connection who handle rentals for others. Sarah Sherman McGrail was the facilitator with Tammy Blackman as the note taker. Notes of peoples’ comments will be shared with the Selectmen. The basic question is how or if to regulate short term rentals. That led to the question of what qualifies as a short term rental. Should there be a fee charged to an owner who chooses to rent Southport property for a short term, and if so, could that fee be for a license to rent. If a license is required should such licenses be limited, and if limited, should island residents have priority in getting such a license?

Part of the concern expressed was the increase in such rentals. A question was raised about why the increase. Is it due to fewer hotels and motels on the island now that Lawnmere and Ship Ahoy are no more? When more people come onto the island for a short stay, do they bring more business to island restaurants or is that advantage outweighed by the traffic, noise, and clutter they cause? One of the concerns stated was if people buy island property just for rental, will that change the island’s community. As a member of a family that lived for a month many summers in rental houses, I trust we contributed to the island positively, and it is obvious we fell in love with island life as we built a home here and have lived here for 22 years thus far, but our situation is perhaps different than folks who come to experience island life just for a week or a few days.

The Southport Island Association is planning a fun Halloween time around the island. You can sign up on their website for costumed folks to visit your home for treats with the person visiting the most homes getting a prize, and you can come to Robinson’s Wharf beginning at 4 p.m., in costume or not, to enjoy games, music, and a supper provided by those who volunteer to bring a warm main dish. After food and games people can either return home to welcome the Halloweeners or become Halloweeners themselves, following the list of homes expecting hosts. Look for an email with more information. All are welcome to join in the fun.

More Halloween fun for the eyes is the inflated orange and black dragon on the lawn in front of Sweet Dreams Bakery. When the wind blows his tall figure flaps up and down as do his wings. Have not yet seen him take off yet!

The Southport General Store has begun winter hours. They are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. but closed now on Sunday. When you come in look ahead to the table stocked with Sweet Woods Farms jams, jellies, and maple syrup. The Gift Barn is still offering a variety of classes and is open Thursdays through Saturday.

About 20 people signed up to get their flu shots at the Southport Town Hall on last Thursday afternoon. Members of the Southport Island Association set up the hall with chairs and a screen behind which we could roll up our sleeves and have the druggist from Nathan’s apply the shot. Very quick and easy. Thanks SIA for providing this opportunity.

More banners with pictures of Southport veterans are going up around the island, thanks to families who purchased them and to Gerry Gamage who mounts the lift to attach them to the pole. I am particularly happy to see my husband, Kit’s picture as I enter and exit our drive as well as other banners along the way. Thanks Jim Singer and Sarah Sherman who have created them and passed along the word about their availability

The Southport Memorial Library was packed for the Writer’s Talk on Saturday, Oct. 21. Adam White, who grew up in Damariscotta and whose father was an orthopedic surgeon there, spoke about how he wove his experiences and his imagination together to create the novel “The Midcoast,” set in Damariscotta. As an English teacher and a coach at an independent school for boys in New Hampshire, he cited the advice many writers hear, “Write what you know.” His first novel, “The Midcoast,” written over 11 years, follows that advice.

A call from Susan Quimby on Saturday caught me up a bit on news of Dick Snyder whom she drives up from New York City to visit once a month until the snow flies. This past week was Dick’s 86th birthday, so she decorated the door of his room in the assistant living establishment in Auburn where he is now living, and brought him a birthday cake covered with icing looking like the colored fall leaves. In the dining room many of Dick’s friends shared the cake and joined in singing not only “Happy Birthday” but other songs led by Susan.

Thanks to whomever continues to pull the cattails from around the pond on the school grounds. Not sure whether it will be available for skating this winter or not, but it will certainly look better with a little tending.

The committee, led by school principal, Lisa Clarke, met on Thursday at the school to discuss the progress on the natural playground behind the Southport school. A stone path is in place into the woods, and trees and brush have been removed, but the actual playground equipment is yet to come. Some time was spent discussing whether or not to erect a temporary skating rink on school grounds for the children and the community. To do so, the committee will have to get school board approval.

Remember to vote on Nov. 7. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The most contentious issue on the ballet is the ownership of our electricity supply. Should it be private companies who work for profit or community owned and thus non-profit? Which will provide each of us with the best and least expensive service? Many opportunities exist to hear both sides of this argument.

The annual Veterans Day Observance at the Southport Memorial Library will be held on Nov. 11 with folks asked to gather at 10:45 a.m. You can also watch the ceremony on BRCTV - channels 7 and 1301 along with Jim Singer’s slides of our local veterans. If you come to the library, you will be awarded with some hot cider.