Beginning a bit early this week, tomorrow when I normally would write I will be watching the ice harvest in South Bristol. I have read a lot about the history of what used to be quite the industry and occurred here on Southport in a minor way to supply fishing boats and summer boarding houses. Sawyer’s, Beal’s, and Boyd’s ponds, were dammed and when ice was 12 or more inches thick, it was cut and stored in barn-like ice houses which used sawdust between double walls for insulation until the ice was needed. The ice houses, I believe three, were in the area of where the Pine Cliff Bridge used to be. If you are curious about any of this, the Hendricks Hill Museum has many ice cutting tools and background information in their boathouse, so once they reopen for the season, make sure to visit and either guide yourself, or get a docent to take you through the house and the boat house. It is always worth the trip, and free, though donations are welcome, or you can consider a membership to the Friends of the Southport Historical Society.

That is quite a bit in the future, so back to the present where I am being serenaded by the barred owl just outside my work area window. At least two have been with me all week. They love the mature forests, especially pine groves. My hope is that the trees around me will be a good nesting site. They apparently often return to the same nest each year, and their young were here last year, so I might indeed get to continue to hear and see them. The delightful “who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all? never fails to thrill me and their big soulful eyes speak volumes, even if the encounter with them is fleeting. They mate for life and should begin nesting in March, laying only 2-3 eggs. I wish my visitors in this bit of forest all the best with their new family.

I often see one on the utility pole close to the school on my way up the west side on route to the Southport Memorial Library located at 1032 Hendricks Hill Road. They have had great success with their Thursday game nights this month. There will not be one this week as the Book Club meets on the third Thursday of each month, but you can circle Feb. 26 for the next one, featuring Classic Board Games. It will be held from 6 to 7:30, with light refreshments and snacks. There are games available but feel free to bring your own favorite. Regular hours are Tuesday 9-4, Thursday 9-4 and 6-8, and Saturday from 9-4. They offer many services in addition to the wonderful collection of volumes to check out. There is WiFi, access to computers, printer, and scanner, used books for purchase, the butterfly collection, art show, museum passes, the children’s room and the coffee table on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 on. In addition to coffee and sweets, this Tuesday will also feature Tarsha Damore, from 10 to 11 a.m., who graciously offers tech support and answers to questions regarding your phones and computers. Having seen her in action I will say that her knowledge is wide ranging and her patience unending, so bring your inquiries.

The Southport General Store will be hosting round two of the Winter Supper Series: Baked Beans and Book Swap, Friday, Feb. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. Two meat-based beans and one vegetarian option will be offered along with cornbread, iced tea, coffee and sweet desserts. The cost is $25 which entitles you to unlimited of the aforementioned, so go and enjoy a bowl, or more, and a seat at the table with friends and neighbors. If you are unable to stay, to go is available. Remember to bring your gently loved books to swap with someone else’s books, you can get a synopsis given to you on the spot as well, so you can be sure if it is the book for you.

The store’s first Friends and Tacos will begin on Tuesday the 24th and then be each Tuesday following, from 4 to 6 p.m. Cost for these will be $15 per person, giving you the community style taco bar and chips and salsa. You might just need to make it a Tuesday tradition.

In more food related news, you will not want to miss the free Community Potluck Lunch, known as Souper Bowl, on the last day of February, Saturday the 28th. We all know how a potluck works, so dust off the cookbooks to find something new, or buy the ingredients for that amazing soup that everyone loves and you have made for possibly generations. Whichever route you choose to go, bring your soup, with a list of ingredients, plug in the Crockpot and share with the community. This event will be held at Town Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is hosted by the Southport Island Association. You may know them through the fun, community forward events, like this one, for all to enjoy, but they do so much more as well, and I would like to give them a bit of a shout out. SIA has been around since 1948 and has developed because of superb leadership, community support and desire to serve. They continue to evolve and adapt, with the focus on fostering a strong sense of togetherness, creating opportunities for collaboration, and enhancing the quality of life for everyone on Southport Island.

They contribute to vital community assets such as Southport Central School, the Food Pantry, New Hope Midcoast, The Community Center, Rebuilding Together, LifeFlight, the Ambulance Fund and more. They offer educational grants to elevate the experience of learners of all ages. These grants exist to support extracurricular activities and experiences that promote well rounded, open minded, lifelong learning. They offer Helping Hands assistance to bridge the gap for Southport residents experiencing extraordinary financial hardships related, but not limited, to job loss, medical bills, family disruption, or unexpected calamity that negatively impacts economic stability. These requests are handled with the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality so that our community members know that they can get the help they need without fear of judgment or exposure.

A group with the community at its heart, neighbor helping neighbor.

That wraps events up for now. We seem to be looking good weather wise for the week, above freezing, maybe a little rain, nothing we cannot handle. I had to chuckle when I was with a group of people this past week and everyone agreed how warm and beautiful it was, it was 26 degrees, they were not wrong, it really was warm and beautiful. Many of us have a special appreciation for this time of year, or will not allow it to deter us from going places, or enjoying the natural wonders that winter can bring, ice skating, skiing, brisk walks, and snowshoeing. It is fun to look at all the animal tracks left in the snow; it gives one a good sense of who we share the island with. Despite the warmer temperatures the snow is still plentiful, still good for building snow figures. I so enjoy coming upon them here and there, worthy of a smile, as are many things, may you find some of those things, or may they find you over the course of the week, and May Peace Be With You All.