A cup of coffee and a 7:30 a.m. conversation with two teachers at the Southport Central School is a great way to start a day. My thanks to Liz Reed, teacher of grades K-1, and Misty Marston, teacher of grades 2-3, for sharing so much enthusiasm about their International Polar Year curriculum. I had called the school to talk with these teachers about their successful presentation in South Portland at the Maine Science Teachers' Winter Conference, tipped off about this event by Principal, Mike McGuire. But typical of all good teachers, Liz and Misty talked instead about the children, how much they are learning, and how the curriculum is integrated among many different subjects.

Thanks to the efforts of these teachers the Southport Central School was among six schools in coastal Maine to receive a grant from Linking Science Inquiry and Language Literary (L/SILL). The grant included $2,500 a year for two years, teacher training, and free science kits. Last year the teachers, including Julia Denney who is now on maternity leave, attended the National Science Teachers' Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Closer to home they have attended training and hosted training sessions sponsored by the Maine Math and Science Alliance and training at the University of Southern Maine. The money has provided books, magazines, videos, and supplies for the children.

The teachers have tapped local resources too. Dr. George Denton, a local island resident and professor at the University of Maine, has worked for many years on the core sampling project in Antarctica. Although accustomed to teaching young adults, he was particularly adept at tailoring his talk both to the younger elementary students and then to the older ones. An island resident has donated a 70-year-old stuffed seal to the classroom, and scientists from Bigelow Laboratory have talked with the children about their work.

One of the many advantages of our small island school is that the 30 children in grades kindergarten through six can move among the classrooms as their interest and needs require. Also the teachers can cooperate to integrate the focus on the International Polar Year across the curriculum. Building on last year's curriculum that included writing books as well as reading them, the older children this year have researched and written their own books on the Arctic and Antarctic then shared them with the younger children.

In music class the children have written an Arctic song, and they have made papier-mâché Arctic animals that are also boards for the macala bean game. If you saw the Holiday Show you know that polar references were woven into the story and songs. Children are using the scientific method to frame their questions and applying what they are learning to their daily lives. They become careful observes and learn to draw what they see. Since each student has a computer, they learn to search for answers to their questions. For example, when a second grade student wondered how broad a polar bear's paw was, he Googled polar bears and found the answer.

If you need a lift to your day or wonder if your tax dollars are being well spent, drop by the school and observe the teachers and students at work. Much more colorful and exciting learning is going on than I can describe here, and for us old folks, even those of us who spent much of our adult life in schools as I have done, the Southport School is a special place, much different from the rote learning and "desks in a row" places we remember.

As promised here is a report from the annual firemen's dinner. Ted Lingard, Matt Thibault, Guy Randlett and Gerry Gamage prepared a menu of 85 pounds of beef, baked potatoes, peas, and apple pie for the firefighters from Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor as well as Southport. All food was supplied by the Southport General Store. The officers waited on table. Bruce White says, "I think everyone walked out smiling."

News came from Mimi Havinga that Harry Hightower, a long-time Southport summer resident, died at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, January 12. Although Harry was originally from Georgia, for many years he and his first wife Isabel were Boston area residents so that he could easily drive to Southport where in 1967 he built his A frame home on Dogfish Head overlooking the Sheepscot River. A thoughtful and gregarious man, Harry was active in All Saints by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, serving on the Governing Committee, and also in the Southport Yacht Club. His first wife Isabel, also an active church member, died a number of years ago. Harry loved to travel. He and his second wife, Betty, had returned to Southport last June from a trip on the QE II when Betty succumbed to a virus. Harry is survived by his son, David, who resides with his family in London, England. We will miss Harry's friendly greeting and wide smile at the post office and around the island but know that his 94 years were well spent.

A correction to last week's column. Although Lynn did not leave her petition for support in her bid for a seat as County Commissioner in public places for people to sign as I reported last week, she has obtained the required Southport signatures to run as a Republican candidate in the June primary. Her Republican opponent for the office is Jay D. Warren. I was not the only one in error, however. Other papers around the region reported that Lynn was running as the Democratic candidate. When asked about this confusion she said, "I support and represent the people and the issues regardless of the party affiliation. To me that is the first priority." How I wish we would hear similar dedication from all our candidates for public office.

The Republican Headquarters for Lincoln County did not yet have information about the Southport Republican Caucus time and place before this column was due, but elsewhere in this paper last week an article stated that caucus packets would be distributed Wednesday, January 16 at the monthly county-wide Republican meeting. The article suggested persons with questions call Dawn Gilbert at 633-4500.