‘White Cane Day’ is Saturday

Members of the Freeport Lioness-Lions Club will be at Shaw’s and Bow Street Market in Freeport on Saturday, Oct. 5, for “White Cane Day.” They will be collecting donations for the Maine Lions Sight & Hearing Association. They will also be collecting used glasses, hearing aids and cell phones. For more information, contact Dawn at 751-3649.

Bessie’s Farm hosting fall events

On Saturday, Oct. 5, Bessie’s Farm Goods, located on Litchfield Road, will have its annual cider-pressing extravaganza starting at 1 p.m. There will be live fiddle music, complementary refreshments and cider pressed right before your eyes.

On Saturday, Oct. 19, Chris Toy will be demonstrating a variety of Asian noodles, including pad thai and spicy sesame noodles. This will be a noontime event. For more information, see www.facebook.com/BessiesFarmGoods or call 865-9840.

Chowdah (and now chili) challenge reaches 20

For the 20th year in a row, Freeport Community Services will host its popular Chowdah Challenge on the porch of the L.L. Bean Home Store, Saturday, Oct. 5, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Each year, local restaurants offer samples of their finest clam, seafood and fish chowders. As a new twist this year, some restaurants will also offer chili. Three well-known residents – Freeport Middle School Principal Ray Grogan, state Rep. Sara Gideon and Maine Clammers Association President Chad Coffin – will serve as judges. Diners can also vote for their fan favorite. Prize bowls will be handed out to the winning restaurants at the end of the day, and all proceeds will benefit the Freeport Community Servcies food pantry.

“This event has been a fall tradition for families for many years,” says Melanie Sachs, executive director of Freeport Community Services. “We are so grateful to have the ongoing support of L.L. Bean and many of our local restaurants for the past 20 years.”

Participating restaurants this year include 1912 Cafe?, Buck’s Naked BBQ, Freeport Cafe?, Freeport Chowder House, Gritty McDuff’s, Harraseeket Inn, Jameson Tavern, Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen and Topside Tavern, and the Lobster Cooker.

Participants are also invited to complete their chili and chowder tasting with a slice of homemade apple pie and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. All dessert proceeds will benefit the FCS Summer Camp Scholarship program.

For more information, contact Sachs at Freeport Community Service, at [email protected] or call 865-3985.

Blessing of the Animals

The 11th annual Blessing of the Animal, in honor of St. Francis’ Feast, will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Sacred Heart’s church yard, 326 Maine St., Yarmouth.

The event is sponsored by the Parish of the Holy Eucharist’s Church & Family Life Commission, which includes St. Jude Church of Freeport and other nearby churches.

All pets and/or pet lovers are invited to attend this prayer service and blessing with or without an animal friend. The event is free and open to the publics. For more information call 207-847-6890.

Kids can read to service dogs

Starting Oct. 7, the Freeport Community Library will host a program for children, “Read to Service Dogs,” on the first and third Monday nights of the month from 5-6. The program helps children have fun and gives confidence and motivation in reading. Children will have an opportunity to sign up for 15-minute time periods to read one-on-one to a service dog. The dogs listen quietly, are nonjudgmental and enjoy the interaction.

“It’s wonderful to watch the smiles on their faces as they come out of the story room,” said Librarian Holly Elliot, who has been in contact with Therapy Dogs International, which led to owners of the therapy dogs. Sign up by calling the library at 865-3307 to save a spot. The library will be closed on Oct. 21.

Puppet program coming

On Thursday, Oct. 10, at 10:15 a.m., Lindsay and her Life-size Puppet Pals will be at Freeport Community Library. Filled with silliness, crowd participation, and memorable characters, her series of positive short stories will delight the young and the young at heart. For ages 3-8.

Meet the authors

The Friends of the Freeport Community Library will host a new “Meet the Author” book talk and signing event, Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., with retired Maine Game Warden John Ford, author of “Suddenly the Cider Didn’t Taste So Good: Adventures of a Game Warden in Maine,” and his latest, “This Cider Still Tastes Funny.” Ford is an amusing storyteller.

On Oct. 24 at 7 p.m., Barbara Walsh, author of “August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm,” will speak. This event is part of the Freeport Community and Merrill Memorial Library’s joint “Community Read” program.

Fall fest at Wolfe’s Neck Farm

The Wolfe’s Neck Farm annual Fall Festival is Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Family activities will include apple pressing, nature art, face painting, pumpkin decorating and more. Little ones can climb on a tractor or hay bale or explore the hay-bale maze. Live music for kids and families will be featured with appearances by singer-songwriters Rick Charette and Roger Tincknell.

Yarn, material, more at Oct. 12 sale

The Freeport Elders “Bits & Pieces, Odds & Ends sale” is Saturday, Oct. 12, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., in the Elders meeting room at the Freeport Community Center. On sale will be material, skeins of yarn, thread spools, embroidery thread, puzzles and craft items. This is a fundraiser for insurance, maintenance and gas for the new bus, expected to arrive this winter. Also included in this sale will be raffle tickets for a new American Girl Doll, with a wardrobe of 15 outfits handmade by a member of the group. The drawing will be held in mid-December.

Historical society events this weekend

The Freeport Historical Society has scheduled its Historic Barns & Quilts Tour fundraiser, on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Pettengill Farm Day, on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Historic Barns & Quilts Tour will feature visits to four unique barns built during the early 19th through late 19th centuries. Select vintage and antique quilts, organized by theme (for example, children’s quilts,) and will be displayed and discussed at each barn.

The event begins with coffee and orientation at Cotton Weeds Quilt Shop on Route 1 South in Freeport. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance. These can be purchased online at www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org or by check (mail to 45 Main St., Freeport, ME 04032).

Visitors to the 38th annual Pettengill Farm Day will find juggling, docent-led tours of the historic saltbox house, presentations, apple cider and butter-making, sack races, oxen teams and much more.

Pettengill Farm is located 1.3 miles from the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport. From Main Street, turn right onto Bow Street, which becomes Flying Point Road. Watch for right-hand turn onto Pettengill Road and bear right to proceed onto the property. On-site parking is free. Event donation is $5 for adults, $2 children.

Sponsors are Bath Savings Trust/ Bath Savings Institution, Coffee by Design, Sherman’s Stationary & Books, Freeport True Value Hardware and Island Treasure Toys.

For more information on both events, call 865-3170 or see www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org.

Safety, fun at Fire Prevention Open House

A Fire Prevention Open House has been scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 5-7 p.m., at the Public Safety Building. Participating agencies include Parkview and MidCoast hospitals, the Poison Control Center, railroad police, Maine Gas, Freeport Rotary, Maine Public Safety Pipe & Drums, Freeport Hardware, Freeport Masonic Lodge and the Freeport Fire Auxiliary. Taylor Made Smoke will be offering a barbecue to participants, with proceeds going toward the Explorer program.

Chamber sets trivia contest

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce will host a trivia contest Thursday, Oct. 24, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St.

Grand prize is $200 cash for the winning team. Register a team of four, or the chamber will put individuals together with others to form a team. Registration fees for teams, individuals and supporters will benefit Freeport Community Services.

Register by contacting Sande or Carolyn at the chamber, [email protected]. 847-5240, ext.1.

Upcoming meetings

Planning Board, Wednesday Oct. 2, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers

Board of Appeals, Monday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., Town Council Chambers

Library Board, Monday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., Freeport Community Library

Project Review, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center

Coastal Waters, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center

Lindsay and her Life-size Puppet Pals will be at Freeport Community Library to entertain children on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 10:15 a.m.