A reminder that this Friday, Feb. 21, the Southport General Store will host a second Bean and Weiner Supper from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. If anyone else is glued to the television set zooming in on the Camden Conference, here is a chance to grab dinner and get back to conference. Those who chowed down at the first supper can tell you how good the food is. No need to reserve ahead of time.

Carla Boussen gives this news. “Keepers of Burnt Island Lighthouse (KBIL) is gearing up for the summer. We’ve brought on new board members and will be looking for volunteers—greeters, guides, gardeners and program helpers. Also hoping for previous volunteers who know the ropes plus brand new volunteers in order to blend the tried and true with new energy and ideas.” She asks that we stay tuned for more info coming soon in the Boothbay paper.

About 20 people attended the public meeting last Monday night at the Methodist Church to discuss the ideas for using the Southport land donated by the Winslow Family Trust to the church. Previously church members had met several times to share ideas among themselves and then with abutters to hear their thoughts Surveys of the land have been done, and Gerry Gamage, Smith Climo and Bob Johnson have walked the land to discern what might be the best use for the parcel that is about 20 acres. The bequest comes with the caveat to use it to benefit the community. Thus church members are proposing to divide the approximately 20 acres into 8-10 housing lots, hoping for young buyers who will build year-round houses for their families.

The church does not plan to build the houses, but will prepare the lots for building by putting in an access road and electricity. Buyers would have to procure water through wells. Since most of Southport land is designated as residential, a hearing will be held by the Selectmen on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall, to discuss an ordinance change on this land from ‘residential’ to ‘growth'. This change would allow division into smaller lots sizes, from 80,000 feet to 40,000 feet, about an acre each. At the March 3 annual town meeting, a vote will be taken on this change, allowing Lot 27, currently the name of the undivided land, to be designated a growth district.

Although these actions will take time, the church members want to move on these plans as quickly as possible because affordable housing is a critical issue on Southport and elsewhere. What is spent on preparing the land for sale will determine the cost of the lots. Profit is not the goal for the church.

Do stop by the Southport Town Hall during office hours to say hello to our new Administrative Assistant Brittany Burns. I am sure many of you know Brittany as a familiar face around town, and now she is behind a desk helping to keep the town running smoothly. Thanks, Brittany.

Remember the creation of a knitting group at the store that will have a day and time set by the end of this month. If you would like to attend, please note your preferences either when you stop by the store or on line at Annie@SouthportGeneralStore.com.

I hope the younger folks among us are enjoying the snow. I know I look longingly at the sleds and skies in my garage, wishing I still could dare to take them down, put them on and go swishing through the snow. Ah well, memories!