Southporters voted to buy the Gardner property that includes a portion of Hendricks Head Beach last Wednesday evening in a special town meeting that lasted less than an hour. Citizens voiced some concerns about how the property would be managed, especially how parking and bathroom facilities would be organized and/or created. A few persons asked questions about financing and made suggestions for use of the total property.

Among the few who voted against buying the property were those who were generally in favor of Southport’s ownership of the beach, but who wanted more information about development and use before making a final decision. Speaking for the selectmen, Gerry Gamage said that a committee would be formed to plan for the property use and possible sale of any unused portion. Stay tuned as plans develop.

Saturday evening, September 28, beginning at 5 p.m. the Southport United Methodist Church will install its new minister, Greg Foster. Pastor Foster has been preaching at the church since July 7, and he is also serving the other two Methodist Churches in the area, but Saturday will be his official installation followed by a potluck supper. All are invited.

On Sunday, October 6, to mark the new worship time of 9 a.m., the choir at the Southport United Methodist Church will sing an encore of the gospel service music they sang last summer with a few new pieces also. If you haven’t heard this group of your friends and neighbors sing gospel, you are in for a treat. Your feet will be tapping too.

Last Thursday evening in East Boothbay at the Boothbay Region Chamber of Commerce “Claw Down,” Southport was well represented. Chef Jason Chamness from Robinson’s Wharf was the judges’ choice for second place and the peoples’ choice for first place with hot, bit sized lobster beignets, served with Cajun remoulade. Although hampered by having to cook outside the facility, helpers quickly ferried to the table tray after tray of the delicacies.

Fiona Dunlap, Chef at Newagen Inn, won the peoples’ choice second place award serving a savory homemade cracker topped with Southport lobster, roasted corn butter and Meyer lemon drizzle with sea salt foam. Stacy McClellan, from Oliver’s, earned my vote for first place with a lobster ceviche served in a small martini glass, easy to eat and flavored especially well. Congratulations all.

Good food was available Saturday evening closer to home at the Southport Yacht Club (SYC). The Southport Island Association (SIA) and SYC banded together to organize a walk and potluck supper. The weather was perfect for a leisurely walk from the club to South Beach on Pratts Island, giving folks a chance to see the progress on the Pratts Island Bridge replacement. Fifty-eight good cooks exhibited their talents again with a wide variety of dishes, so good that those at the end of the line had to scrape a few bowls to fill their plates. Thanks to all the organizers, chair Russ Jackson, Jon Fauver and Janet Duchaine, Donald Duncan, Charlie Baker, Sharma Schacknow, Rimer Reed and Susan Naughton, who publicized the event.

Around the library table this Tuesday, Fleet Davies caught us up on the running of the Boothbay Region Food Pantry. Even though this organization has been around for many years providing food for those in need, many of us do not know the details of how it runs. In addition to canned foods, the pantry can store and distribute meats, bread, and fresh produce. Anyone closing a house for the season is welcome to donate excess food to the pantry as long as it is food you would serve your own family that is not wilted, spoiled, or out of date. Grant money has enabled the pantry to distribute vouchers for clients to use at the Farmers’ Market, thus having access to very fresh produce and adding customers for our farmers. Good work, folks.

Also thanks to all who have donated money and worked so hard to keep St. Andrews Hospital open, especially Southporter Jane Good. I am sure there is an article elsewhere in the paper about the annual meeting of this group last Saturday and their continuing efforts.

Linda and Peter Brewer have checked in on daughter Jessica, living in Stevensville, Mont., just south of Missoula. Jessica and her significant other have a large organic garden, which this year produced a wheelbarrow full of tomatoes among other vegetables. Jessica was busy turning the tomato crop into sauce and canning tomatoes for the winter. She continues to be employed by the Bitterroot National Forest where she took Linda and Peter into the high lakes.

Thursday, Sept. 26, in the pub at Newagen Inn, Arthur Webster will be providing music. On Sunday, Dave Gagne will be there. Both musicians play from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Wednesday evening, October 3, Cora and Lauretta Phillips will be the storytellers.

Working together since 1995 these women write many of their own stories, but “their repertoire also includes folk tales, small tales, cat tales, rat tales, and just plain tales.” Tuesday morning, when I dropped into the Inn, men were installing new carpet, necessitating open doors, but a fire in the big fireplace and hot coffee was keeping guests warm.