Even in the winter lots happens at Hendricks Head Beach. Last week I wrote about the dippers, organized by Morgan Mitchell to take a dip in the icy water all year round, accompanied by music. From Jason, one of the dippers, I learned they even had a picnic supper last week on the beach. Now I have news from Roberta Blaney, a Southporter who works with Toby LeConte for special Olympics. They are doing their biggest fundraiser for Special Olympics team, a bit tougher task since they are no longer associated with school, so are all volunteers, including using their own cars. The fundraiser will be a plunge into the water at Hendricks Head Beach on March 15 at 3:30 p.m. Roberta says, “Anyone can raise pledges, jump in with us, or just come to cheer on the plunging group.”

From Donna Climo comes this news. Absentee ballots for two upcoming elections are now available at the Southport Town Hall. The first is on the warrant for the Southport Town Meeting on Monday, March 4 when we will be electing a selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor; a fire chief; and the member of the school committee, each for a three-year term. The only contested vote of the three is for School Committee. Both Adam Harkins and Madeline Kaler are running for that position. The second vote is for the Tuesday, March 5 Presidential Primary. Voters can come to the Southport Town Hall to pick up a ballot, or they can call Donna Climo, the Southport Town Clerk and Tax Collector, at (207) 633-6311 to have a ballot sent to them. Samples of the ballot and the warrant are on the bulletin board outside the Southport General Store. The town hall is open and Donna is available by phone Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and also on Mondays from 6 until 8 p.m.

As good citizens we should all plan to vote and to attend the town meeting on March 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Another good idea is to get a copy of the warrant and read through it before the meeting, so that you are voting on items you have had a chance to ponder. Most of the warrant items that have a price tag have gone up in price, but that is probably not a surprise as the costs on most things have gone up in the past year. One article, #32, that has gone down in price is for the fire department. Last year they asked for $40,000. This year the asking is $36,100. Thanks, Firemen. On the other hand Article 34, which asks for funds for fire protection, is now asking $103,000 compared to last year’s asking for $85,000. I wonder what the difference is between the two categories. See what fun you can have reading the warrant!

Two other opportunities at the Southport General Store are to sign up for a workshop to learn to dye Pysanky Eggs on March 30. You can do so by emailing Annie at Annie@SouthportGeneralstore.com or calling her at 633-0402. The other opportunity at the store is to donate money to help support the care of the three young children of Sam and Shale Maynard. Both parents have died, the father just recently, leaving the children in the care of their grandmother. The father’s obituary can be found in the Feb. 17 edition of this paper. You will see a donation can on the counter as you check out.

A reminder that if you are interested in gardening, mark your calendars and plan to attend a coffee klatch to discuss gardening beginning Thursday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m., at the Southport Memorial Library. This meeting and discussion will continue each Thursday morning. For additional information call Claire Tomlin 305-775-2166.