Tonight, Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall the Southport Selectmen and the Pratt Property Committee open a public comment session to all citizens who want to ask questions or express an opinion about the town's development and use of the Cozy Harbor property. Another similar session will be held in July. The selectmen and the committee have already heard from the fishermen, the David's Island residents, and the Southport Yacht Club representatives. Jeff Brown will present preliminary drawings the committee asked him to make to illustrate various scenarios for the property. No action will be taken at this meeting. The town has currently authorized only $10,000 for the property development. Some of this money will be used to mark parking spaces on the property for use this summer. Pratt Property Committee members are Maynard Brewer, Jean Hawley, Fritz Norton, Austin McKenney, and Cy Seifert. Sarah McGrail and Jennifer Wickline have also been contributing to the committee.

Thursday, May 1, some island residents will be surprised to find May baskets at their door. For the past several years the Southport Library Aides have taken up this ancient celebration of spring, creating the baskets and distributing them to our neighbors who may need an extra boost this time of year.

The sixth grade class at the Southport Central School will hold another food sale at the Southport Library on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The students are raising money for a trip to Boston.

With a successful last minute push Robinson's Wharf opened for business last Thursday, April 24. They will continue to be open on weekends, Thursday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until evening closing, usually about 9 p.m. The fresh fish market is now open every day at 8 a.m. Watch the sign board for specials.

I sometimes think we have among us, in addition to the responsive and energetic people who will be named below, one or two perverse souls whose thoughts run counter to the norm. Thirty-seven people braved the cool rain on Sunday to walk the edges of our island roads picking up trash. Yet on Monday morning about 7:30 a.m., in the middle of Route 238 between Capital Island Road and the bridge was a cardboard beer carton blatantly visible as though its owner was saying, "So there, you tidy folks."

Another story to contemplate is the article of clothing found by a member of the clean-up crew. A thong, white with red trim, had been discarded or flung into the weeds along the road. We wondered how it happened to be removed and who left without it. If your wardrobe is missing this article of clothing, you can reclaim it from Southport Island (SIA) President, John Lunt, but only after you have divulged the whole story. Who says life is boring in the wintertime on Southport.

Many thanks to Ann and Dick Charlesworth, Meredith Clapp, Maria Doelp, Ed and Liz Furber with grand-daughters Clementine and Daisy, Gerry Gamage, Jennifer and Madison Gaudette, Tim and Mary Hanley, Bruce and Enid Johnson, Nancy and Red Litcoff, Jody Lunt, Jane and John Lunt, Bill and Cathy Messmer, Lynn Orne, Michael and Penny Pollard, Nancy Prisk, Emma Rideout, Amy and Jo Shaw, Dick Snyder, Matt and Molly Thibault, Reid and Estelle Weeden, and Sophie West. Phil Smith and Barbara Baumann were not able to be present on Sunday, so they cleaned areas of the Island several days prior to the main event.

People stoked up for the physical work first on hot dogs and rolls provided by Janet and Oliver Cusano, owners of the Southport Store, and grilled by Gerry Gamage. Bruce and Enid Johnson planned the cookout, while Lynn Orne mapped the cleaning routes. Perhaps you noticed some young names listed above. Many of the Southport Brownie Scouts turned out to help, and even though the rain began just as the workers were starting out, everyone donned their foul weather gear and mustered on. Matt and Molly Thibault collected the filled bags.

The selectmen and the SIA who sponsored this event ask that everyone be more aware of objects that could blow out of open car windows or from the back of pick-up trucks. Please secure your trash and help keep our Island clean.

On Tuesday, April 29, the Southport Bridge began operating on timed openings between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. as traffic dictates and will continue on this schedule until September 30.

Matt Cole was low bidder for the Southport Library expansion and renovation project. The concrete slab will be poured soon for the new addition, but framing will begin in the fall.

Ruthie Hawley, granddaughter of Jean and Bud Hawley and a ninth grade student in Seattle, Washington, has taken first place in the local and then regional National History Day competition in the Documentary Division, senior high level. With a second place finish nationally, she has earned an invitation to join students from around the country during the week of June 14 at the University of Maryland.

The theme for this school year competition was "Conflict and Compromise in History." Influenced by her summers on Southport, Ruthie chose the work of Rachel Carson as the topic for her documentary project. With the Internet and the Department of Agriculture as her prime sources, Ruthie wrote the story line, chose the background music, selected the pictures, and narrated the text of a ten-minute video. To complete the project students must also produce an annotated bibliography, explaining why the source material they chose is important to the thesis. We will have a chance to see the video this summer when Ruthie is here. Watch this column for time and date.

Tuesday, May 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Southport Town Hall, all Southport Island Republicans and those registered as unenrolled (Independents), are invited to a social gathering for Lynn Gilley Orne, a candidate for County Commissioner, and Hamilton Meserve, a candidate for State Representative. You will have a chance to talk with these candidates while enjoying light refreshments. The Republican primary is June 10.