A number of people braved the damp and cold last Saturday to join the alpacas for the Southport Island Association Winter Walk. Thanks to Anne Globes, Mike Ciccarelli, and their family for sharing these warm, interesting animals with us. Upon return to the library, we enjoyed coffee, hot chocolate and donuts as well as wine, cheese and other nibbles.

Also look for pictures and the story about the musical “My Son Pinocchio” that had three performances at the Opera House last weekend. Many Southporters were in the production, which was dedicated to my husband, Kit Sherrill. Kit so much enjoyed performing with this group in his younger years when we first moved to Southport permanently, especially portraying Scrooge, a role he loved to play. I especially thank Emily Mirabile and Media Harris, who, I am told, were responsible for this dedication.

The right hand door on our post office is still shattered causing the door not to close. It has been neatly covered with cardboard and propped slightly open, but we hope it can be replaced soon. Nearest guess is that our wind storms caused the damage.

A note for your calendar. A celebration of life for Southporter Mike Beane, will be held at the Opera House on Saturday, May 11, from 1 until 4 p.m.

Sometimes life gets more complicated than we anticipate. As many of you know, Maddy Kaler won a seat on the Southport School board, with the results of that vote being announced at the annual town meeting. The next day, Tuesday afternoon, she received word that she would no longer be able to be a substitute teacher as it was a conflict of interest and part of the school committee policy. This was not a situation that Maddy was informed of when she first filed her
nomination papers. So she has decided to resign from the school board position because she often substitutes in area schools. Maddy notes that this was a very difficult decision because she was very excited to be a fresh addition to the board. Let’s hope the situation can be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

Sunday’s wind and rain storm brought more seaweed, sand, and other debris ashore, especially at Hendricks Head Beach. A tree, fortunately a rather skinny one, came down near the Methodist Church, but not on the main road. It was being cleared away on Monday morning. Any other trees that had blocked island roads had been cleared by the time I drove around the island about 2 p.m. on Sunday. The wind and rain wilted me enough that I chose church attendance via video, thanks to a working generator as we had lost power.

Does anyone have a room or a one-bedroom apartment for rent? Betsy Thibault, a familiar family name on the island and an employee of the Southport General Store, needs a space to call home. You can contact her at the store or by calling 207-315-6419. If requested, she has many references to vouch for her worthiness.

The gardening group met again last Thursday morning at the Southport Memorial Library in the Mystery Room. This week we discussed ferns with Claire Tomlin bringing in several examples for us to explore. We also talked about sprucing up the area in front of the Town Hall, which has gotten a bit droopy this winter. A meeting and discussion will continue each Thursday morning beginning at 10 at the library. Everybody is welcome. For additional information call Claire Tomlin 305-775-2166.

Also news from the library is a gathering on Tuesday afternoons for all those with an artistic bent from 1 to 3:30 p.m. You are invited to drop in to draw or paint. Bring your own materials, but no oil-based paint. You will find no instruction, no criticism, and no pressure.

Remember that you have until March 15 to purchase a banner to honor a person who has served in the military. The banners will begin appearing on poles around the area in early May, in time for Memorial Day and will remain up until Veterans Day. Contact Sarah Sherman (633-7161 or shermanmcgrail@yahoo.com) or Jim Singer (751-8540 or singerjo@aol.com) to place your order.

A reminder that you can sign up for a workshop to learn to dye Pysanky Eggs on March 30 by emailing Annie at Annie@SouthportGeneralstore.com or calling her at 633-0402. Lots of other artistic gatherings are planned for the coming months too, including a Triangle Shawl Knitting opportunity on April 20 from 9 a.m. though noon.

And you can still put money in a donation can on the checkout counter at the store for three young children of Sam and Shale Maynard who have died, leaving the children in the care of their grandmother.