You may talk about old ‘Emerald Isle”
Or the island of ‘Capree’,
But the isle that I love best of all
Is Southport by the sea.

Above is the first verse of one of two poems saved by Larry Bunkowske’s late wife, Joy. This poem was written in September 1935 by George Fred Murdock, and is published at the end of the column. The second poem, written by Grace Ambler and titled “On Sheepscot Bay” will be published in next week’s paper. Both poems are lovely tributes to Southport Island. I wonder if any of you reading this column have written a poem about Southport. If so, I hope you will share.

Many Southport friends of Anne Grimes and her family gathered at the Southport Junior Yacht Club last Sunday morning to share their memories of Anne, who died Jan. 21. She was first a summer resident with her family – husband, Mike, daughters, Susan and Anne, and son, Andrew, and then for many years a year-round resident. I found it a bit of a game to try to match the persons of the next two generations in attendance with the children I used to know and see playing on Pratts Island and around the Southport Yacht Club. Many stories told centered on how Anne had encouraged others she knew to come to Southport and to purchase homes here, showing how much she enjoyed and cared for the area.

Attending the Southport Yacht Club business meeting last Saturday morning, chaired by Commodore, Anne Grimes, showed us how many of the next generation offspring have ‘sprung’ to the tasks of keeping the yacht club going. Thanks to all who agree to spend their summer vacation time on these necessary tasks.

Shall we believe the weather forecast or not? Those folks having to make that decision last Monday evening about where to have the Southport Island Association (SIA) picnic, decided to believe, so we all gathered in the Southport Town Hall instead to the Hurds’ front lawn. The food was delicious, thanks to the hot dog and hamburger cookers and to those who brought other food; the young children had lots of toys for entertainment, and the noise level indicated everyone had a good time, but it did not rain!

This Wednesday, August 14, will be the final MusicFest concert for the summer. Held on the lawn at Newagen Inn, beginning at 5:30 p.m. the Rupert’s Orchestra, which, to quote the Southport Island Association’s website, is “comprised of some of the finest talent from around the nation” with a “driving” rhythm section, “fiery horn section” and an “ explosive Latin percussionist,” plus “four of the hottest vocalists around.”
According to the website tickets are still available for this event. If the weather cooperates, as it has so far this summer, spending an evening sitting on the grass, listening to music, and watching children bound around the lawn, is a great time.

News for those on the water from the workmen at the bridge is as follows. Thursday, Aug. 22 from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. the bridge will not open. If you have clearance, you may pass under.

Coming up on Tuesday, August 27, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Southport Memorial Library, Ken Nomiyama will be sharing his life experiences. Mr. Nomiyama is a Japanese American who was born during World WII at Tule Lake, California, one of the 10 Japanese incarceration camps established by the US government during the war. In this talk, he will discuss the unconstitutional treatment of Japanese Americans during the war, the story of their mass incarceration, and how this experience impacted their lives. Ken will describe the effects on Japanese and American communities long after the end of the war. If you have any questions, please call the library at 207-633-2741.

The Southport Climate Action Committee (SCAT) invites Southport residents to a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 29, 6 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall. The Team will give a status report of the results of the January storms on Southport, the grants Southport has received, and the status of fulfilling our first objectives for communication, development of an evacuation plan and vulnerability studies. You can
call Claire Tomlin at 305-775-2166 or claire@themarketcompany.com with questions. An opportunity to participate by Zoom is anticipated. Refreshments will be served.

Another article in this paper has news about the Selectmen’s meeting last Wednesday where these actions to prepare the beach area of Southport to mitigate further storm problems were discussed and decisions were made.

Southport

You may talk about old “Emerald Isle”

Or the island of “Capree”

But the isle I love the best of all

is Southport by the sea.

’Twas forty years ago or more

I walked its rocks and shores

It seemed like music to our souls

To hear the breakers roar

The pioneers of this quaint place

Have long since passed away.

The memory of those good old souls

Are with us to this day.

The homes they built on these old rocks

Are monuments of great toil.

We see the labor of their hands

Upon this rocky soil.

The march of time goes steadily on

The old place looks the same.

And as each season rolls around

Our thoughts go out to Maine.

We see the boats go sailing by

For pleasure or for gain.

And lofty trees on distant shores

Forever will remain

The sunset in the evening sky

is wondrous to behold.

And soon on yonder western hills

The clouds seemed to turn to gold.

The darkness settles over all

The lights along the shore.

Shine brightly in the darkened night

And gulls they soar no more.

And so each year we gather here

Our children and our friends.

And often thinks what joy t’would be

If this could have no end.

So here God made this wondrous isle

This island by the sea.

And so we think that what He planned

T’was just for you and me.

--George Fred Murdock, September 1935