Southport Column: Gardner property, snow, singing and more

Wed, 12/13/2017 - 10:00am

From Nancy Prisk comes very exciting news that the organization she founded, Land for Southport’s Future, (LFSF), signed a purchase agreement on Dec. 6 with the Southport Selectmen to purchase the Ruth Gardner property across from Hendricks Head Beach.  The town purchased the Gardner property in its entirety in 2013, keeping the beach for public use and offering the home and surrounding property for sale.

LFSF’s immediate goal is to continue raising the funds needed to complete the purchase of this property.  During the past four years many folks in the Southport community have expressed their concern for what is already very limited public access to our island’s coastline. They recognize that LFSF’s initiative will make it possible for a historically and culturally significant part of Southport to be preserved and accessible forever. 

Land for Southport’s Future (LFSF) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization established to create a sustainable fund to buy and preserve land and resources on Southport Island for use by the entire community and to give the people of Southport an ongoing voice in the island’s future. The Gardner property is LFSF’s first community project. For more information, please contact Nancy Prisk at 207-217-7743 or landforsouthportsfuture@gmail.com

Saturday afternoon and into the night snow fell to a level of about five inches in our yard, cancelling our plans to enjoy the St. Cecelia’s Concert in Brunswick. Judging ourselves to be cowards, we felt somewhat vindicated when we learned on Sunday of at least two accidents on Route 27 and at least one on Southport to which Jake Sherman came to the driver’s rescue. Well done, Jake. Sunday’s sun began to melt the snow that was creating Christmas card scenes around the island, but another storm began early Tuesday morning cancelling school and sending me at least to home-based activities.

We are glad to learn Alice Thompson is home recuperating after a hospital stay and hope she can continue to heal and be well.  

Jessica Brewer arrive safely from Montana for a family visit. I hear that she and her mother and dad celebrated her mother’s birthday with a trip to Portland for the “Magic of Christmas.”

A group of men who love to sing met Sunday evening for a warm-up and planning session for a small men’s choir. The five men present and Betsey de Groff, their conductor, agreed to meet on Sunday evenings at 6:30. If interested or want more information contact Kit Sherrill at 633-0672. All Southport men eager to sing together are welcome.

Southport school children are in good voice and practicing for their musical gigs. On Dec. 18 they will be entertaining folks at Boothbay Green and then the Gregory Wing. We are all invited on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. to the Southport Town Hall, to enjoy their Christmas Concert, always a fun time to see the creativity of the school on display.

Weather permitting, All Saints by-the-Sea will open for a Christmas Eve service at 10. All are welcome, but be sure to bring a flashlight and dress warmly. Al Moses is able to warm the church before the service with a propane heater, but the heater is too noisy to continue once the service begins. The chapel has no heat or water source in the winter. Limited parking is available down All Saints Road for those for whom the walk from Route 238 is too taxing. Call Kit Sherrill at 633-0672 if weather is questionable.