All is not quite finished last Saturday among the repairs needed at the All Saints by-the-Sea chapel due to last winters storms, but the deck and ramp to the water side entrances are finished and were occupied by friends celebrating the progress with a ‘bring you own” picnic lunch and lemonade, ice tea, and hot coffee supplied by the organizers. Retiring committee chair, Brian Rayle, thanked the committee and other volunteers for all their hard work to complete what is usually needed and what was an extraordinary effort to clean up after the storm. He then introduced Ron Ross who is returning as committee chair for the next term. Engineering surveys and further efforts will be made to ensure the chapel’s sturdiness to withstand future storms.

The Romanian Community Dinner last Saturday afternoon, Sept. 21, was a huge success. Beautiful choices of food, beginning with either spicy chicken soup or a milder version, then continuing to a ground beef offering in the shape of a small hot dog topped with mustard, to salads of various kinds, cabbage rolls, an eggplant spread on delicious homemade bread, and a variety of special desserts filled our tummies, all planned and cooked by the Romanian staff. Four choices of wine were available for tasting and for purchase. Before all this good food was served, the store owners, Todd and Barbara Leland, greeted everyone and thanked the visiting helpers as well as the other staff for all their efforts this summer. They hinted that further new happenings were being planned. In spite of the rather chilly weather, about 100 people attended, no rain fell, and all had a great time. The Romanian students will be here until Friday, so still time to say goodbye.

Look elsewhere in this paper for the obituary of long time summer resident, Hilary Jacobs who died peacefully on Sept. 15. She will be buried in the Spruce Lawn Cemetery on Southport next to her husband, Tom. The next generation of Jacobs are active in the Southport Yacht Club, especially Chris, who has been most recently been club treasurer. 

Flipping the pages to October and to fall, here is the usual account of changing hours and closings. Robinson’s Wharf will be open through November, reopening in March. No one was visible on the grounds or at the front desk at Ocean Gate Motel and Resort, so no news from them. The Southport Island Store will be open until noon this Sunday and then closing on Sundays after Oct. 13. Last week I mentioned that Cozy’s Harborside will probably be open until Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day, although closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Newagen Inn’s last day will be Sunday, Oct. 12. They have been very busy with weddings every weekend and hosting the delightful three evening music events. The Hendricks Hill Museum is closed for the season. Southport Memorial Library is back on winter hours: closing on Wednesdays - open Tuesdays, Thursday, and Saturdays.

Thanks to Jenette at the Southport Post office for decorating the inside windows with fall foliage pictures and providing pumpkins from her garden for the outdoor decorations. Nan Jackson is our person to thank for the fall flowers and other decorations in the window boxes and barrels. 

Worth noticing is the way the sides of our roads have been cut wherever possible, providing a ‘cared for’ image and good sight lines as we are driving. I remember returning once from driving in rural England and wondering what made their roads so pretty. Of course, I may have been just paying more attention due to driving on the opposite side of the road than I was accustomed to do, but also the neatly tended edges of the roads contributed to the beauty. Now that is true on Southport too. Thanks to the Public Works Department for this effort. 

You may notice the many ‘thanks’ offered in this column. Every day we have a number of people to thank for the way our island is attended as well as how hard so many people work to keep island businesses running smoothly. As we journey into fall and then into winter, let’s keep ‘thanks’ in mind and offer it when we can.