Fortunately the heavy winds and rain we experienced before dawn Monday morning did not disturb the Christmas decorations going up in the town center. The Methodist Church, the Southport Town Hall, the school, the firehouse, and the figures around the pond tell us Thanksgiving is past and Christmas is coming. On Friday, Dec. 1, at 4:30 p.m. come to the South General Store for “Southport Lights Up.” Cookies and hot cocoa will energize you to sing some Christmas carols and share some good cheer with your island friends. Perhaps Santa himself will show up. Look especially for the new pond lights display and the figures of Santa and Snowman on either side of the school entrance. All this fun is provided by the Southport Island Association with partnership from the Southport General Store.

On more business-like matters, last Wednesday evening at the Southport Planning Board’s meeting two items were under discussion, both potential amendments to the Land Use Ordinance: (1) an amendment concerning blasting on the island,  and (2) an amendment to register and regulate short term rental property. The Board agreed that the blasting ordinance only needed a few edits before moving on to the necessary public hearing to get it on the town warrant, but the draft of the Short Term Rental amendment initiated much concern, most focused on the many requirements. After a lively discussion, including summaries of the three public meetings on the issue, the amendment was rewritten with fewer requirements. A public hearing will be held this Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. in the town hall on the blasting amendment, and the following Wednesday evening, Dec. 6 at 5:00 p.m. on the Short Term Rental amendment. Following input from the public, both amendments will be voted on by the town at the annual town meeting in March.

Congratulations to the Southport firemen, whose truck in the Fire Truck Parade last Saturday afternoon, Nov. 25, won the People’s Choice award. Good work, everyone. You deserve an award not just for the truck in the parade, but also for being able to put out the recent fire on Squirrel Island.

The ocean was putting on a good show last Monday morning. The rain was over, and the sun was out, but the wind was pushing the water up over the road at Hendrick’s Head Beach, and surf was pounding rocks at the lighthouse. Only one boat was still anchored at Town Landing, and one other boat was bouncing up against the pier there. Surf was active against the rocks as well. No damage had been reported to town hall, and the only power outage was apparently at Newagen, so we were lucky. I wonder when we will get snow!

Hope to see many of you on Friday to celebrate the hard work many volunteers have done to light up our island