On Saturday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. at All Saints by-the-Sea summer chapel, the funeral service for my husband, Kit Sherrill, will be conducted by the Rt. Reverend Thomas Brown, Bishop of Maine. If you are attending the funeral and the reception at the Southport Yacht Club immediately following the service, we ask that you car pool if possible because parking for the chapel on Route 238 and at the yacht club is limited. For those with mobility issues there is a parking area for about six cars, down the hill, closer to the chapel. For all who need a short ride, the chapel’s golf cart can take you from the lower parking lot to the chapel, and there is a ramp to avoid steps going into the nave of the church. We trust our grandsons and other volunteers will answer parking questions and direct you to a safe spot. For those who can come by boat, the church’s dock and float are available to several boats, and for those who are seated on the porch or the deck, the service will be amplified into those areas. Hope to see you there and hope it does not rain on us.

Sunday services at All Saints by-the-Sea summer chapel, at 8 and 10 a.m., will be conducted the next two Sundays, Aug. 13 and 20, by the Rt. Reverend Mark Beckwith, retired bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. He will also facilitate a bible study on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and 22, beginning at 9 a.m. on the chapel porch.

A bit more personal news. This is the last week for Toni Helming to be in residence in the Helming house on Marr’s point, although she may return for special occasions before the summer finishes. Those who have been around awhile know Toni as a mother of six children, five of them boys. She and her husband, Fred, were stalwart supporters of the Southport Yacht Club since 1969 as are many of her family members now. Well into her ninth decade, Toni is still out in the water in her kayak, having paddled the whole circumference of David’s Island last week. In spite of facing a headwind as she turned north into the harbor, she made it back to the Helming dock where son, Jim, has made a lifting apparatus to help her get the kayak back onto land. Keep at it, Toni.

Folks welcomed Meg Snyder and her daughter Blaire back to Southport for a few weeks, helping Blair celebrate her birthday at the Southport Town Hall Sunday evening. Belated Happy Birthday, Blair.

About 12 musicians showed up for the Open Mike night at the Southport General Store last Thursday, Aug. 3. Fortunately the rain held off, although the wind blew some music sheets around, and the damp caused the wooden bridge that supports the strings on the base fiddle to come loose and slide to the bottom of the strings. None the less how lovely to sit in the blue rocking chairs or at the picnic tables with friends and enjoy listening and singing together. Among the musicians were Peter Rodricks, who opened the show playing a jazzy/bluezy guitar riff. Dave Rumson played guitar with Tim Hanley, who is a member of the Newagen Crew that also includes Tim Hankins on banjo, Nancy Harriman on guitar, Mary Hanley to sing and Eben and Terry Salter to sing and play. A young woman, Louisa, led all of us in singing “House of the Rising Sun” and then did a solo with back up on “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone.” Another gentleman beat time while sitting on a box, and the player of the base fiddle was with us for a short while. Many thanks to all for a lovely evening.

Almost all of the baked goods sold out at the Southport Memorial Library’s Aug. 3 sale, although I think some books are still available to buy if you have some empty shelves. The overnight storms vanished so that Gerry Gamage had a lovely morning on Aug. 5 to give his walking tours of Cape Newagen, a place he knows well as he grew up there. The Friends of the Southport Historical Society again shine the spotlight on Gerry Aug. 10 at 1 p.m when he demonstrates and explains the construction of a wooden lobster trap. Meet at the boathouse, part of the Hendricks Hill Museum. Again space is limited, so please reserve your spot by calling the Museum at (207) 633-1102, or email hendrickshillmuseum@gmail.com. Leave your name, phone number, and number in your party.

A few hours later on Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Southport General Store, summer was celebrated from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. An antique car greeted people along side a truck filled with lovely fresh flowers from Gracelynn’s flower truck from Edgecomb. You could watch pottery being made and perhaps try a hand at it yourself. New and vintage clothes were for sale by The Noughties Clothier in Boothbay. Ann Globes was spinning her alpaca wool into yarn. Food was available in the store, and various games kept the children busy when they were not licking their ice cream. Several other artists also had unique work displayed for sale. All this fun was happening to live music played by a group called “Boogie 2 Shoes.” Many thanks to the store owners and personnel for creating this event for us.

Aug. 6 was our opportunity to celebrate the life of long time and well known Southport resident, Ramona Gaudette, who died on June 4. For those who do not know Ramona, one way to illustrate her uniqueness and sense of fun is to note that on the bulletin for the remembrance service at the American Legion Hall in Boothbay, her dates are listed as Aug. 3,0000 - June 4, 2023. We were to guess her age. Al Roberts, who was the master of the
ceremony, read a poem, “The Dash,” by Linda Ellis, who points out that when our life is listed in that manner, it is in the dash that we live. “For it matters not, how much we own…the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.” The Southport school children for whom Ramona cooked lunch for many years, the customers at Rocktide who came to know Ramona there, friends and neighbors who enjoyed her often flamboyant style joined in songs led by Gerry Gamage and Smith Climo. Standing room only in the hall was a tribute to how Ramona lived her “dash.”

Picnic time again. On Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 5 until 7 p.m., the Southport Island Association will hold its Annual Picnic. All Southporters, their families and guests are invited to enjoy this community event. Emily and Mackenzie Hurd will host the picnic at their home at 30 Cozy Harbor Road on the west side of Southport. Cost for the picnic is $10 per adult, with donations for beverages. Children under the age of 12 are free. Hot dogs, hamburgers, rolls and condiments are provided. Please expand the menu by bringing a dish to share such as a salad, baked beans finger food, and desserts. Parking is limited so please carpool if you can, and bring a lawn chair. For more info, call Janet Duchaine at 860-484-9006. Rain location: Southport Town Hall.

Continuing on to Aug. 10, the Gift Barn at the store will provide an Artists’ Talk from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Looking further ahead, on Tuesday, Aug. 22, the Southport Memorial Library presents author Gerry Boyle, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Boyle has written 16 crime novels, including the acclaimed Jack McMorrow mystery series. His latest novel is “Robbed Blind: A Jack McMorrow mystery.” The previous McMorrow novel, “Random Act,” was awarded the 2020 Maine Literary Award for crime fiction, the second time a McMorrow novel has been chosen for that honor. Refreshments will be served. Call the library at 207-633-2741 if you have
questions.