Monday, June 16, was a busy day at the Southport Town Hall. At 9 in the morning the Southport Central school family, friends, and relatives gathered for graduation. Ramona was presented the gift of a rocking chair, but knowing her, I expect she will only use it for brief spells of rest. Youngsters remember her insistence on good manners, her varieties of healthy food, both for lunch and for snacks, her music, and good fun. The children sang “Bye Bye Love” to her.

Later in the evening the Southport Historical Society held its annual meeting at the Town Hall, where after a brief business meeting in which two new board members were announced, Ann Roche and Shelby Kaider, we saw videos of Carl Peirce making lobster stew and his famous wooden planes, an investigation into a single grave near Pine Cliff and Sawyers Pond of William Decker, 1796-1821, which was an illustration of how the historical society can aid in research, and finally of Ramona being interviewed by Bet Finocchiaro, of Bet’s Fish Fry, in the school cafeteria. Who knew Ramona also has talents as a tap dancer, a yodeler and a hula dancer.

Finally, Lois Weeks and Becky Singer explained their project of cleaning and documenting, with the help of their husbands, Charles and Jim, all the grave stones in the nine island cemeteries. The project, which they first thought might take three weeks, took them six years. They finished in September 30, 2013. The results of all this careful labor are nine notebooks with a page for each stone, 1,324 in all. Now Becky is putting all the information on findagrave.com for anyone who is interested in genealogy. The notebooks are available at the reference room in the Southport Museum for anyone to use. The museum will open in July on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Thanks to all four of you for such dedicated labor.

While at the Historical Society meeting I caught up with Jean Hawley who is back from her latest adventure. Jean has developed a system for solo travel, this being, I think, her third trip. The first was south through the Shenandoah Mountains, the second across the country to Washington State and back, visiting many National Parks, and this one driving first to Florida and across the Gulf Coast to New Orleans. Then north, following the Mississippi River to its source in Lake Itasca, Minn. Jean then drove back to Maine following the Great Lakes. She left on April 23 and returned home on June 3.

Thinking ahead to future events, please mark on your calendars the Southport Island Association’s (SIA) Bolster Day, June 29 from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall. Another SIA event earlier that weekend is Southport night at the Boothbay Playhouse, Friday, June 27, beginning at 8 p.m. The show is an all-time favorite, “South Pacific.” When you buy your ticket, say you are from Southport and a portion of the proceeds go to the SIA.

Further in the future is “Christmas in July” at the Southport Memorial Library, Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Many new artists from the island and Boothbay area will be offering their artistry, including jewelry, pottery and handwork.

Round-robin tennis has begun at the Newagen Inn courts on Thursday morning beginning at 10 a.m. Call or email Rosalie Baker if you want to play: (207-633-6434, cfbakeriii@verizon.net).