Between the storm on New Year's Eve that left many people on the Southport Island without power and the bridge being stuck open late last Thursday afternoon (January 3), many island residents are developing the resilience of early pioneers. The power outages seemed to be mostly on the western side of the island and only of a few hours duration, just enough time for fireplaces and wood stoves to carry the burden of keeping houses warm enough to inhabit. The bridge was stuck for about an hour and a half, so I doubt that anyone had to search for ferry service.

Duane Lewis, the bridge tender at the time, explained that the bridge swung open past the optimum 90 degree angle and thus would not close. The Coast Guard brought Duane's brother, Dwight, to the rescue aboard their small Avon craft, so that Dwight could manipulate the mechanism underneath the bridge. With Gerry Gamage on a rope and Rob Hasch directing traffic, they managed to get the bridge shut, not to be opened again until the state crew checked everything out the next morning and gave the okay for continued operation. Many thanks to all who helped us reconnect with the rest of the world, and thanks to Nan Davison who performed a volunteer responsibility for me when I could not get off the island.

As we digest the outcome of the Iowa and New Hampshire political caucuses, remember that we also caucus in Maine. Maine Republicans will caucus February first and second, but as of this writing the day and place for Southport's Republican caucus had not been set. Stay tuned.

The Southport Democrats will caucus with other peninsula towns at the American Legion Hall on February 10. If you are not registered or registered as Unenrolled (Independent), you can register as a Democrat from 2 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. If you are registered as a Republican and want to change your registration, you must do so at the Town Hall before January 26. The caucus agenda will begin at 2:30 p.m. For registered Democrats unable to attend the caucus absentee ballots are available on the Democratic Web site, caucus@maine

dems.org , by phone at 622-6233, or from Kit Sherrill, caucus convener, at 633-0672. Seventeen-year-olds may register, participate in the caucus, and cast their vote.

The purpose of the caucus, for those of us a little vague about our last civics lesson, is to organize the party for the coming election, to meet local candidates, to elect members to local party offices, and to elect delegates to the party's state convention who will cast votes for the presidential candidate according to the caucus votes. Southport Democrats have two delegates to the Democratic State convention, each of whom will cast one ballot. The caucus is your chance to say for whom you want those two votes to be cast.

On another political note Southporter Lynn Orne is running for County Commissioner. Registered Republicans can sign her petition at the Island Store or the Southport Memorial Library. Two Republican candidates have filed for this position. A primary vote on June 10 will decide which candidate will represent the party. Lynn has gathered much experience both locally and in the county by serving seven years as a Southport selectman, two years on the Lincoln County Budget Committee, and as a member of the Tri-County Long Term Disaster Committee as well as being involved in the Community Resource Group, the Humane Society, the Red Cross, and as President of the Boothbay Region High School Alumni Council. Look elsewhere in the paper for a more complete article about Lynn's willingness to serve us in this new capacity.

Not political, but an annual event, the Firemen's Dinner, took place on Southport last Tuesday night, January 8. Earl Pratt (Gus) always used to cook the roast beef, but this year Gus attended only in spirit while the Southport firemen invited the other peninsular firemen to join them for this favorite event. As Carl Pierce used to say, "There's nothing like booze and free food to corrupt a man." Look for more description of this dinner in next week's column.

More eating news: the Friends of the Southport Memorial Library will hold their annual Souper Bowl Lunch on Monday, January 21, Martin Luther King Day, at the Town Hall beginning at noon. Homemade soups, fresh bread, and dessert always warms the tummy and soul, even if our warming weather continues.

Although this news is not strictly of Southport, I offer it as an illustration that the beauty of our area is exported elsewhere. My sister, Peggy Bonesteel, who lives in Syracuse, New York, sent a clipping from the Syracuse Post-Standard, published the Friday before Christmas. On the top, left hand corner of page A-2, in a section titled "Snap '07 Shot, is a color picture taken at sunset in Boothbay, Maine. The photographer, looking west across a dock, framed an island with a lone pine tree through a lighted Christmas wreathe hung on the cross bar at the top of the gangway. The caption, Fading Light, was followed by the notice of the arrival of the winter solstice. If you recognize this scene and know the photographer, I would happily give him/her credit.