Our resident snow sculptor, Mike Lewis, was busy on Cross Road Saturday morning as I drove by, creating a coon cat, bright with an orange and blue stripped coat and long, luxurious tail next to the pirate face. The fish to the left also received a fresh coat of paint.

Mike says he has won first, second, and third place in the Cross Road snow sculptor contest, but since he is the only entrant this year, he cannot take too much pride in his accomplishments. He hopes for competition next year.

After finishing his “at home” artwork, he was heading to Camden as a participant in the Snow Bowl’s annual Box Derby Race. Taking a large stuffed blue shark, a cardboard box and an orange, and wearing a T-shirt with orange writing, he is going as “Orange Crush.” Let’s hope only the orange gets crushed.

Tuesday morning MDOT workers were setting up to repair the Southport Bridge. Let’s hope they can finally level the deck.

Cozy Harbor remains busy with Skip Rideout’s crew adding large granite blocks to either end of the Pratts Island Bridge, four set end to end on the east side and seven set end to end on the west side. More work to come, I understand.

From debris in the front yard I see carpentry work on the Southport Yacht Club. It looks like a new door has been set into the south side of the building and some rotted wood replaced.

Dredging continues in front of the town dock at Oliver’s. Lots of rumors floating about as to what Oliver’s will offer this summer, but I will wait until I have more certainty before reporting on that topic.

Wally Reed, trustee for the Boothbay Harbor Water District, reports that the water line, the map of which we saw at town meeting, will go in next winter. Coming under Townsend Gut north of the Southport Bridge, going around Decker Cove along Plummer Road, continuing up Route 238 to Cross Road, it will connect with the line already laid. At the Route 27 end of Cross Road the line will continue to the school, the firehouse and the Island Store. Quite a digging job. Smith Climo explained that the line will go around Decker Cove because the permitting process to cross Decker Cove is too complex and would take a long time.

Fun and good eating will begin again at Robinson’s Wharf, which will open on Friday at 3 p.m. after about a month’s shuttering for renovations.

The Inn at Cuckold's Lighthouse has a website on Facebook showing the bedroom, kitchen and the living room, inviting guests to begin booking. Just type into your computer: “Facebook, The Inn at Cuckolds.” I hear that the access and egress for water and sewer has not yet been finalized, but plans are in the works.

Willard (Bill) Gordon Wyman, author of “High Country” and “Blue Heaven,” and friend of Barbara Saxon, thus a frequent visitor to Southport, died on February 25 in California. His total obituary is available at the Southport Library.

A man of many talents, Bill spent many of his years and energies in education as classroom teacher, coach, professor and college dean. A graduate of Colby College, he earned his doctorate at Stanford University. His obituary notes that “he was a calm negotiator during the years of protest about the war in Vietnam.” During his years as headmaster at the Thacher School in Ojai, Calif., he led backpacking groups into the High Sierras, becoming somewhat of a legend in this field.

From these experiences and from his teenage years on a ranch owned by his sister, Patty and her husband, he garnered the data that he would later translate into the two novels mentioned above. Anyone who met Bill knows what an interesting, likable fellow he was. We will miss him.

We have said goodbye to many friends this winter. Norman Blycher, summer resident on Southport and nearby winter resident in Topsham, died March 6 from injuries following a car accident. Look for an obituary elsewhere in this paper. Norm leaves an empty seat at the bridge table and for me, an example of courage and good humor fighting illness during most of the time I have known him.

The Southport Memorial Library will be holding a book sale on March 18, 20 and 22 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Although billed as a book sale, you will also find movies and music. Stock up for summer or travel.

A reminder of two more events this month, both at the Southport Town Hall. First is the Winter Ice Breaker on March 15 from 5 until 7 p.m. organized by the Southport Island Association (SIA). Bring something to munch if you wish, and since we are close to St. Patrick’s Day, you may want to wear green. There will be an open bar and a chance to visit with friends and neighbors.

The second gathering is Southport School’s sixth graders’ Winter Carnival on March 22 from 4 until 7 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for the sixth grade trip to New York City near the end of the school year. At 5 p.m. you can enjoy a soup and chowder supper and at 6:30 p.m. the raffle and auction begin.

Items from businesses all around the area will be offered such as a work of art by the above mentioned Mike Lewis (not the snow sculptures, however, we hope they may be gone by then), Casco Bay Glassworks, Bob Mitchell photos, Tidal Transit Kayak and many more. Enjoy the kids, enjoy the food, and have your checkbook handy to support this good effort.