Poetry themes featured

at chorus concerts

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will present its spring concert, “Everyday People,” Saturday May 4, at 7:30 p.m., at the First Parish Church, 40 Main St., Freeport, and Sunday, May 5, at 2:30 p.m., at the Tuttle Road United Methodist Church, 52 Tuttle Road, Cumberland.

The concert explores themes that have inspired poets and musicians. The highlight of the program will be poetry by Robert Frost set to music by composer Randall Thompson in “Frostiana,” seven poems including “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

“Frostiana” was commissioned by the town of Amherst, Mass., to celebrate its bicentennial in 1959. Frost taught English at Amherst College intermittently from 1916-1938. Thompson was granted permission to choose the texts for the suite. Since the town’s male and female choruses rehearsed separately, the work was composed so that only three of the seven songs are performed by full chorus.

Other pieces on the program include “Lift Ev’ry Voice for Freedom,” by Moses Hogan, and “Sweet Vale of Avoca,” Cliff Hardin’s setting of a traditional Irish air with Thomas Moore’s poem, “The Meeting of the Waters.”

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus is a group of mixed-voice singers from 20 towns in the mid-coast area. Next year, the chorus celebrates 20 years of making music together. The chorus’ mission is to enrich the community by promoting and fostering an appreciation for choral music that is stylistically and culturally diverse. Artistic Director Virgil Bozeman, choral director at Richmond Middle-High School, and accompanist Dorothy Cuprak of Richmond have led the group for seven seasons.

Admission is $10 for adults, children under 12 are free. Tickets are available at the door. Go to www.gfccweb.org or call 751-6301 for more information.

Youth chorale

celebrating spring

The Wescustago Youth Chorale presents “A Celebration of Spring,” its 15th annual spring concert, featuring selections of traditional choral, international and pop music, on Sunday, May 5, at 4:30 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St.

Tickets are $10 adult and $5 student, and are available at the door.

A reception will follow.

Wescustago Youth Chorale is an 80-voice auditioned choir of children ages 8-18 from 12 area towns. It is conducted by Amanda Mahaffey, Lise Dunn and Renovia Marro. For more information, see www.wescustago.wordpress.com or call 846-0705.

Town seeks field house proposals

The town of Freeport is requesting proposals for housekeeping maintenance of the field house at the Hunter Road Recreational Facility. The contract runs from May 8, 2013-Nov. 30, 2014. Proposals are due by 11 a.m. on May 1 and should be sent to Town of Freeport, Attn: Albert Presgraves, Town Engineer, 30 Main St., Freeport, ME 04032. Details of the request of proposals are available at www.freeportmaine.com. Those with questions can contact Presgraves at 865-4743, ext. 106.

Town announces

public hearing

There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the proposed 2014 Operating, Capital and TIF budgets for the town.

Fire and Rescue Explorers recognized

Freeport Fire and Rescue hosted a banquet on April 20 to acknowledge the achievements of 17 boys and girls from the Explorers Post 60. Thomas Miller, a sophomore at Freeport High School, was awarded Explorer of the Year. Some of the Explorers are junior firefighters who will become firefighters and EMTs. The students will also be recognized at the school assembly on May 3 and many will go on to Region 10 Vocational School.

Kids sought

for boatbuilding project

Freeport Historical Society and Compass Project are looking for eight to 10 Freeport-area kids, 12 years or older, to spend a week building a replica of a skiff that was used as a work boat at Pettengill Farm. The plan is to use photo documentation from Mildred Pettengill to guide the skiff’s size and lines and use as much lumber as possible from Pettengill Farm.

The historical society also is looking for donors to contribute to this project. All donors will have their names on a plaque on the skiff and will be invited to the launching party, which includes a “maiden voyage.” For more information, contact Christina White, director of the Freeport Historical Society, at 865-3170. Tax-deductible donations can be made online at www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org or can be sent to 45 Main St. Freeport, ME 04032.

Beacon Hospice

needs volunteers

Beacon Hospice needs volunteers to visit patients and families in the Freeport, Brunswick and Bath areas. The organization is about to begin their spring hospice volunteer training, a seven-week free training course to prepare those interested in visiting terminally ill patients and their families living at home or in facilities. Time and location of training is flexible and built around the needs of the volunteer. References, a background check and medical screenings are required. Contact Donna Teague, Volunteer Coordinator at 772-0929 for more information and an application.

Compost bin giveaway

The town of Freeport is offering a free compost bin to 10 Freeport residents on a first-come first-served basis who have never successfully composted. In exchange for the free compost bin, residents must agree to attend a Recycling Committee meeting on Oct. 23 to share their stories of success and/or challenges with committee members. It will be an informal meeting with refreshments provided.

Instruction on composting is available by contacting Suzanne Duplissis, recycling center manager and master gardener. Sign-up forms are available at town hall or at the recycling center. Submit the completed form in person at the recycling center on Hedgehog Mountain Road or mail it to Recycling Center, Town of Freeport, 30 Main St., Freeport, ME 04032.

Theater of Awesome presents sword swallower

The Freeport Theater of Awesome, 5 Depot St., will present “Unbelievable Mentalism & Sword Swallowing!” by Roderick Russell on May 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information, see www.awesometheater.com.

Library news and notes

The GWC (Giving Children Warmth) program will be making blankets for children in Afghanistan by knitting squares and sewing them together. The group meets on Mondays from 2:45-4 p.m. to teach volunteers from age 11 through adult to knit.

Story time for toddlers and preschoolers takes place every Tuesday morning. There are two 15-minute story times at 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. for younger kids with shorter attention spans. At 10, there is a 30-minute story time for preschoolers. The morning features songs and a small snack.

The Thursday midday movie on May 2 at 1 p.m. will be “It Happened One Night,” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.

The library will present Tech Talk: Be an Informed Utility Consumer, on Wednesday, May 8 from 2-3 p.m. Wayne Jortner and Eric Bryant, Freeport residents and senior counsels for Maine’s Public Advocate Office, will speak about available providers and rates for electricity, local and long-distance telephone service, bundled plans, VOIP, cell phone and Internet.

Freeport Yoga Co. will present “Yoga for Kids” on Thursday, May 9 at 10 a.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their toddler or preschooler for morning yoga that includes stretching, breathing and fun.

The Thursday midday movie on May 16 at 1 p.m. will be “Argo.” This film is rated R for language and some violent images.

Upcoming meetings

May 7 – Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Town Hall.

May 8 – Coastal Waters, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

May 9, Shellfish Commission, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

May 13, Winslow Park Commission, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.