Just a reminder that this evening, Thursday, June 8 at 7, is the “Author's Talk” at the Southport Memorial Library. Well-known author Lea Wait is the program for the evening. Her husband Bob Thomas is the featured artist of the month at the library and will be there also.

This week (chilly as it is) has a sense of calm as we await summer families and the many visitors and guests that will arrive soon. This means that we were fortunate to have a table at Oliver's on a quiet evening ... enjoying our very competent Southport waiter William Dowling, Laurie and Mike Dowling's son, and then there was the able line cook Jake Brewer. The head chef, Mike Nguyen, was delighted to tell us that they now are serving desserts from the pastry chef at the country club and Oceanside ... which meant we had to sample the rhubarb custard pie and the chocolate pecan torte, both extraordinary). This is important news, right?!

Mike mentioned that they are now serving “wine-based" drinks, which keeps them in compliance with the no alcohol restriction. They are now open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Now I better get to the other news...

The Southport Island Association has its annual Bolster Day on Saturday, June 25 at the Southport Town Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests are asked to bring a “snack or nibble" to share.

The Southport Library Aides gave Sandy Larsen a surprise farewell and good luck party this past Saturday at the library. Sandy will leave to begin her field work in occupational therapy. The library staff and the aides wish her well and are grateful for her five years serving at the library desk.

Here is a fun idea that Cindy Heil is offering. The Southport Methodist Women are having an Island Yard Sale on July 22 (rain date is July 29) from 8 a.m. to noon. You can rent a table on the church parking lot area for $15 or you can hold your own sale on your property and will be added to the Island Yard Sale map which will be given out that morning. They will advertise for you, direct people to your sale...for the benefit of all. Need more details? Email: SouthportIslandyardSale@gmail.com or call Cindy at 727-385-4314.

It will be nice to welcome Lynn Schafer back from her Kansas homestead. Lynn wants us to know that her unique shop “Possibilities” in the shed will open for the season on Friday, June 9. She will be open “most afternoons” or do call if coming a distance, 633-0788. The shop is located on Route 27, just south of the Southport General Store. Always full of fun collectibles, furniture, antiques, handmade rugs, vintage linens -- treasures for sure.

Our able Southport Public Works crew (that is Dalton Tibbetts and Aric Pickens) have planted several new garden areas around the island. Nice to see the flower garden planters around the monument and around the Southport Town Hall.

Caitlin Shepherd, a member of the Southport Fire Department, has placed several donation cans --- one at the store and one at the library --- for “Sp”air” change to help fund new air packs for the fireman (and women, of course). They will need eight at a cost of $8,000 each. They will surely need our help.

Congratulations to our island graduates...all girls this year ... Erica Eames, Nicole Clarke, Molly Thibault and Emma Rideout. Graduation is Friday, June 9 at 2 p.m.