Now that summer is truly here, the list of activities begins, but first a heartfelt compliment. Sally Eastwood commends Gerry Gamage and his stepson, Arthur, for replacing their float in less than a week! Sally writes, “What a shock for Gerry to discover the float missing when he went to ‘hang’ it for the summer. He promised to build a new one, but in one week! ‘No big deal’, says Gerry. ‘We just pulled a couple of late nights.’ How fortunate we are to live in a community with such caring and thoughtful people. Thank you, Gerry and Arthur.”

Next a heartfelt loss. Long time summer resident Fred Helming died Monday evening after a long life among us. Commodore of the Southport Yacht Club, steward there for many years, he and wife Toni together were always a presence on Marr’s oint. Look for an obituary and more details concerning celebrating Fred’s life in later columns.

Many thanks to Maria Doelp for writing last week’s column packed with so much news. Kit and I were sorry to miss the Southport Central School concert and the Author’s Tea at the library. We did have a great time in Princeton for reunions and visiting friends both on campus and in town, but as always breathed a sigh of happy relief when we crossed the Southport Bridge and were home safely.

Not home safe was Frannie Johnson last Saturday night when she fell and broke her arm. After a brief hospital stay she is home quietly working on recovery. Thanks to neighbor Lynn Schafer who cared for Frannie’s beloved collie dog while Frannie was hospitalized.

Congratulations to Joan and Peter Daniel who have a new grandson. No other details yet. And a “Happy Birthday” shout out to Jackie Anderson, who will be celebrating on June 17, according to the library gang.

The Southport Central School is winding down its year with June 14 scheduled for Field Day, June 16 for graduation and student recognition at the Town Hall at 1 p.m., and June 19 Father’s Day Breakfast and the students’ last day. Enjoy the summer, everyone.

As Maria mentioned last week, Caitlin Shepherd is hard at work helping to raise funds so that the fire department members will be equipped with new self-contained breathing apparatus or SCBAs. As you might imagine, if you are a fireman or woman needing to enter a burning building, you want the most up-to-date equipment that will allow you to breath. Although the fire department does have a brand of SCBA called Survivair, the rest of the departments in Lincoln County use the type of pack Caitlin is raising money to buy, which cost about $6,000, a few thousand dollars less that we read last week. Caitlin writes that in a community our size a good number of our calls are mutual aid, so to improve our basic interoperability with the other departments, and to facilitate firefighter rescue operations, the new equipment is vital not only for public safety, but also for the firefighters’ safety. You can help with this cause by being Caitlin’s sponsor in the Rocky Coast Road Race being run on July 1, either donating through sponsorSFD@gmail.com or YouCaring.com/sponsorSFD) or you can put your contribution in the jar at the Southport General Store or the Southport Memorial Library. You may even meet Caitlin at your door as she intends to raise awareness of the need by old-fashioned door-to-door visits.

On Monday, June 19, beginning at 7 p.m., the Friends of the Southport Historical Society will hold its annual meeting at the Southport Town Hall. Maine State Historian, Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. will be the guest speaker, discussing and sharing the photographic work of E. Joseph Leighton, the early 20th century Lincoln County photographer who chronicled everyday life in our county on antique glass slides.

A reminder that on June 25, the Southport Island Association invites all members, Southport residents and guests to join neighbors and friends at the Southport Town Hall from 5 until 7 p.m. for the first event of the summer season! Kicking off the evening will be a short performance by the 2017 summer cast of the well known Boothbay Carousel Theater. Please bring a sweet or a savory to share. Cash bar beverages will be available. Don't miss this opportunity to renew old friendships or begin new ones.

The Hendricks Hill Museum will open for the summer on June 27, and it will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept. 2. Admission is free, and our enthusiastic and helpful volunteer docents are anxious to share with you the exciting story of Southport’s past. For further information, please contact Dick Snyder at (207) 633-3614 or Jim Singer at singerjo@aol.com.

Looking ahead and marking your calendars, the Southport Methodist Church’s annual Country Fair this year will be held on Wednesday, July 19 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with all our usual favorites – Silent Auction, Cookie Walk, Food Table, Plants, Attic Treasures, Books, Precious Past, and more. From 11 until 1 at the Town Hall, they will be serving our popular Lobster Roll Luncheon. Now, during work days at the church Monday mornings from 9 until noon, anyone may drop off fair items, but please no clothing. In addition the church members will also be taking part in the Southport Island Yard Sale on Saturday, July 22, organized by Cindy Heil.