Hunt on for best cover photo

Regional School Unit 5 Recreation & Community Education is now accepting entries for cover photos for the 2014 Spring/Summer Brochure cover contest. The photo should be eye catching, classy and professional in its look and have a “spring/summer” theme. It can be created using any graphics program(s), but final delivery should be in PNG or JPEG format, with dimensions of 73?4-by-101?2 inches. It will be used as the front cover for the 2014 Spring/Summer Brochure, mailed to over 6,000 households in the RSU 5 district.

The deadline to submit a photo is Friday, Feb. 28. Photos can be sent to Anthony Johnson at [email protected]. A winner will be chosen shortly after and the person’s name will be recognized on the inside cover of the brochure as the contest winner. Those with questions can call 865-6171.

Stuff the Truck Saturday

The Freeport Rotary Club will have a food drive they call “Stuff the Truck,” on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Shaw’s supermarket in Freeport. Members are hoping to meet or exceed their fall drive of 1,000 pounds of food for Freeport Community Services Food Pantry. The food drive is coordinated along with the annual Freeze Out campaign in an effort to support the ongoing needs of the community food pantry. Cash donations are also welcome.

Monday closings

Freeport town offices, schools and the Community Library will be closed for Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 17.

Armchair travel to Yellowstone

Coming up at the Freeport Community Library’s 2014 Winter Armchair Travel series, which starts at 6:30 p.m.:

Wednesday, Feb.19, visit Yellowstone National Park, with professional photographer Jonathan Strout.

For more information, see www.freeportlibrary.com or call 865-3307.

Library hosting coffee house

Freeport Community Library is hosting its Open Stage Coffee House, Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. This is a relaxed performance space and an opportunity for budding artists, established entertainers, and everyone young and old. The audience can enjoy music, comedy, poetry, and skits free of charge. Coffee, tea and desserts will be available for purchase. Performers should show up at the library and sign up. For more information, contact Eric Bryant at 865-0052.

Samuelson named Friends of Casco Bay director

Joan Benoit Samuelson of Freeport was elected to the board of directors of Friends of Casco Bay/Casco Baykeeper. Samuelson is the founder and chairwoman of the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race in Cape Elizabeth, her hometown. In 1984 she won the first women’s Olympic marathon. She continues to set running records in between serving as an inspirational speaker and a supporter and board member of many charities.

Library Friends to meet Monday

Friends of the Freeport Community Library will hold its monthly meeting Monday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m., in the conference room of the library. All are welcome to attend.

Friends volunteers are pitching in this week to help the library put on its annual Chocolate Bash Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. The popular, chocolate-themed evening features a tasting table filled with delectables, live music and raffles.

Since forming in 2011, the group has provided free/discounted museum and park passes for patrons, advocated for the addition of a technology librarian, raised funds for a specialized book scanner for the library and started sponsoring a “Meet the Author” series of book talks. All are welcome to join the group that supports and promotes the library. For more information, visit www.FCLfriends.org.

Rotary offers three scholarships

The Freeport Rotary Club is offering three scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are residents of Freeport, Pownal or Durham and plan to go on to a college or technical college program. There are two academic scholarships for $2,000 each and one technical scholarship for $1,000.

Eligibility guidelines include scholastic performance and economic need. The application deadline is May 1. Applications are available at the guidance offices at Freeport High School, Pine Tree Academy, North Yarmouth Academy, Vocational Region 10 in Brunswick, Waynflete School and Cheverus and McAuley high schools in Portland, Merriconeag-Waldorf School and Greely High School, as well as at www.freeport-rotary.org. Applications are also available by writing to the Freeport Rotary Club, Scholarship Committee, Attn: Ranjit Gill, P.O. Box 552, Freeport, ME. 04032.

Program to feature F. Lee Bailey

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce will present a program, “An Evening with F. Lee Bailey,” on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., the at Freeport Performing Arts Center at Freeport High School. Bailey will be interviewed by Bill Green of WCSH-TV in an informal setting about his career. There will be time for questions from the audience. Green has interviewed Bailey for his TV show, “Bill Green’s Maine.”

Bailey, who has lived in Yarmouth for several years, is a criminal defense attorney whose notable cases have included Sam Sheppard (“The Fugitive”), Patty Hearst, Albert DeSalvo (“Boston Strangler”), Ernest Medina (My Lai Massacre) and O.J. Simpson among others. The controversial attorney has been in the news recently in his efforts to gain approval to practice law in Maine. He has been prohibited from practicing law in Florida and Massachusetts. Bailey studied at Harvard College and Boston University, where he received his law degree. He was a jet fighter pilot in the Marine Corps and flies helicopters today.

There will be open seating with tickets at $25 per person, $20 for students. Tickets will be available through Feb. 14 by contacting the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce, www.FreeportMaineChamber.com or calling 847-5240.

Skating rink popular

Town Manager Peter Joseph has reported that the seasonal town skating rink adjacent to the Freeport Community Center has been open for more than two weeks now, and is seeing good use.

Low-cost spay/neuter clinic

Warmer weather may still be months away, but Community Spay-Neuter Clinic in Freeport is urging cat owners to “Beat the Heat” by spaying cats in advance of their heat cycles and preventing unwanted litters from being born this spring. The clinic is offering a special “Beat the Heat” campaign sponsored by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America. The clinic will provide $20 spay and neuter surgeries for female cats during the month of February.

Spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce the homeless pet population and is safe for kittens as young as 8 to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Spaying a female cat before the first heat cycle can be beneficial, improving the health of the pet by reducing the risk of certain reproductive cancers and infections.

Community Spay-Neuter Clinic will provide 250 female cats sterilizations for $20 in February. Visit www.communityspayneuterclinic.com or call 865-0772 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

AARP offering free tax prep aid

AARP will again be providing free tax preparation assistance for low to moderate-income households, with special attention to those 60 years and older, Wednesday mornings through April 9, at the Freeport Community Center. Assistance is available by appointment only. Call 865-4743, ext.120, to schedule.

Historian talking on comfort food

For its first public program of the year, Freeport Historical Society will host food historian Sandy Oliver, who will present a new program entitled “Comfort Food: Now and Then,” Sunday, Feb. 16, from 2-3 p.m., at Harrington House, 45 Main St., Freeport. Storm date is Feb. 23. Oliver, who lives on Islesboro, will discuss the concept of American comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and spaghetti and meatballs. These and other foods evoke homey, familiar and comforting memories and longings. Since the term “comfort food” is a recent development, she will speculate on what foods might have been considered comfort foods in the era in which these dishes were developed. She will also be signing copies of her new book, “Maine Home Cooking.”

Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door. For more information or to purchase online, see www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org.

Freeport Players present ‘Talking With,’ Feb. 22

“Talking With…”, a play by Jane Martin that consists of a collection of monologues, will be performed Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St, Freeport. The play was the winner of the 1982 American Theatre Critics Association Award, Best Regional Play. “Talking With…” gives voice to idiosyncratic characters who will both amuse and move the audience. Tickets are $10, and are available online at www.fcponline.org/tix.htm or in person at the Thrift Store at Freeport Community Center. Seating is limited.

For more information, visit www.fcponline.org or call 865-2220.

Farm hosting vacation camp

Wolfe’s Neck Farm has invited children in grades 1-5 to participate in a day or two of winter fun and learning on the farm during school vacation days, Feb. 20 and 21 (one or two days), from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.) In the morning, campers will join the farmers in the barn full of animals, helping them care for the sheep, goats, chickens and pigs. Campers will learn about the special care farm animals need to stay healthy in winter and the changes the animal mothers are going through as they prepare for their spring lambs and kids. Other activities include snow study and play, learning about tractors and farm equipment, animal tracking, greenhouse planting and wilderness survival skills.

For more information and rates, visit www.wolfesneckfarm.org or call 865-4469 ext. 106.

Chocolate factory tours

Wilbur’s Of Maine factory tours are held Saturdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Visitors are invited to tour the factory and hear a little Wilbur’s history and see and taste the products. The cost is $4.50 and the Freeport locations are 174 Lower Main St. and 13 Bow St.

Flavors of Freeport coming up

The 2014 Flavors of Freeport will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport Friday, Feb. 21, from 5-8 p.m. Featured are two events, the Chef’s Signature Series, showcasing chefs and food producers in the Freeport area, and the Flavors Ice Bar, featuring an elaborate ice sculpture, ice luge, fire pit, barbecue and music.

Participants include The Garden Grille & Bar, Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen & Topside Tavern, Azure Cafe, Fiore Olive Oils, Gritty McDuff’s, Buck’s Naked BBQ and more. Tickets are $35 and offer access to both the Flavors Ice Bar and Chef’s Signature Series, plus one beverage (21 years and older). For more information, visit www.freeportusa.com.

Hearing Feb. 12 on drug overdose bill

A bill to provide first responders with access to a medication that can reverse the effects of a drug overdose will be heard by the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m. in Room 209 of the Cross Building.

The measure, LD 1686, sponsored by Rep. Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, would provide first-responders like firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers with training and the ability to administer naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

“We have a public health emergency, and we have the ability to address that emergency and save people’s lives,” Gideon said. “The people who overdose are our neighbors, our friends and family. Their deaths are preventable.”

Statistics released last month by the Maine Attorney General’s Office showed that the number of opiate overdose deaths in the state rose from 156 in 2011 to 163 in 2012 – almost the same number of people who died in traffic crashes that year. Heroin overdose deaths are increasing sharply. Heroin overdoses claimed 28 lives in 2012, a fourfold increase from the previous year, and the number for 2013 is expected to be higher still.

For more information on Gideon’s bill go to:http://www.mainelegislature.org/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280050773

Gideon is serving her first term in the Legislature and represents Freeport and part of Pownal.

Upcoming meetings

For meeting agendas and details, visit www.freeportmaine.com.

Project Review Board, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Coastal Waters Commission, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Freeport Shellfish Commission, Thursday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

RSU Withdrawal Committee, working session, Thursday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m., Freeport High School Library.

Conservation Commission, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Recycling Committee. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Planning Board, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Sydney Morrison’s photo was selected for the cover of the Regional School Unit 5 Recreation & Community Education winter brochure.