Sitting Pretty raises $10,000

The March 23 Sitting Pretty benefit raised $10,000 to support the Port Teen Center. “We are always so amazed at the quality of the art produced by local teen and adult artists, and we sincerely appreciate the generosity of those that come out and enjoy the great food and art, and the wonderful company,” said Darryn DuShane, Teen Center coordinator. Each year a different “canvas” is presented at the auction and this year more than 80 artists painted and sculpted lazy Susans and clocks. Final bids ranged from $25-$695.

“Our artists are our best ambassadors, they represent what is best about our community. It is an honor to help host this event each year and I want to personally thank all the local businesses and individuals that donate time, money, food and energy to Sitting Pretty,” said Randall Wade Thomas, a member of the host committee. Those who want to paint for Sitting Pretty next year, or learn more about what is happening at the Port Teen Center can contact DuShane at 865-3985.

Bead company show rescheduled

The trunk show of the American Bead Co., hosted by R.D. Allen Freeport Jewelers, 13 Middle St., has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. These local artisans are developing a following with their handcrafted charm beads made from local bedrock. The beads, which come in two sizes, are compatible with other charm bead brands and are all sterling silver. New beads will be introduced at the trunk show. There are currently five Maine beads including a Freeport Fuschite Bead, which is a limited edition R.D. Allen Freeport Jewelers exclusive. For more information, call 865-1818 or see www.rdallen.com.

FHS charity walk coming up

The entire Freeport High School student and staff body will be doing a 2-mile charity walk through town for their wellness day, called Fit for Charity, on Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m. Students are getting pledges and all money will go to Epilepsy Foundation and Muscular Dystrophy. Past and current students have been afflicted by these diseases. The service club and Jobs For Maine Graduates students are organizing and leading the event.

Wilbur’s offers factory tours

Wilbur’s of Maine, voted “Best Maine Chocolate” and “Best Maine Candy Store” in 2010 and 2011, is known for its chocolates, chocolate-covered blueberries and cranberries, penny candy, fudge and more. Wilbur’s opens up its factory, at 174 Lower Main St. in Freeport, to tours every Saturday from 11a.m.-2 p.m. Participants will hear some of Wilbur’s history and take a hands-on tour. Cost is $4.50 per person includes samples. For more information, call 865-4071 or visit www.wilburs.com.

Town seeking full-time police officer

The Freeport Police Department is seeking applicants at least 21 years old for a full-time police officer position. An associate’s degree or a combination of relevant training and experience is desirable. Preference may be give to graduates of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Basic Police School; however the minimum requirement is the successful completion of the Maine Law Enforcement pre-service school. The deadline for applications is 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 8. Applications are available at Freeport Police Department, 16 Main St., or at www.freeportmaine.com.

Marley show is Sunday

Maine comedian Bob Marley will appear at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, Sunday, April 6, at 7 p.m., in a show is sponsored by the Freeport High School class of 2014 Project Graduation, which raises approximately $30,00 to provide graduating seniors with activities during their final week of school. Tickets are $20 and seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased at the school, Houses & Barns by John Libby, the Pet Pantry and online at www.eventbrite.com. For more information, call Cindy Drake, 841-3480.

Auction to benefit YMCA program

The annual YMCA Adaptive Services Auction is Wednesday, April 2, from 6-9 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park St., Freeport.

The event raises money for the Y’s Adaptive Services Program, which enables people who have lost movement through illness or accident to return to as normal a life as possible. The service is open to all regardless of ability to pay. The Adaptive Services program now includes the Livestrong at the YMCA cancer survivorship program. The evening will include a silent and live auction and hors d’oeuvres and wine bar. Tickets are $40 single, $70 pair, or $45 single, $75 pair at the door the night of the event. Tickets can be purchased at any branches of the Y of Southern Maine or online.http://www.ymcaofsouthernmaine.org/casco-bay-ymca/auction.

First Friday features N.E. Town Duo

The N.E. Town Duo will perform at the next Freeport First Friday event, April 4, starting at 6 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. The concert is followed by dinner.

N.E. Town is Rob Babson and Sandy Pardee, who have been playing together as members of the Delta Knights Band for 16 years. Several years ago they formed a duet to bring their favorite soul, folk, R&B, blues, swing, and rock to people who shared their love of great songs.

This month’s dinner will be prepared by chef Jennie Gwilym, of Catering to You. She plans a meal of roasted salmon, rice pilaf and asparagus, with brownie sundaes for dessert.

Seating is limited. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 on Friday. Call Kim Hudak, 865-3985, ext. 202, for tickets. Freeport First Fridays are a joint project of MASISTA (Maryellen and Sam In Support of The Arts) and the Freeport Community Services, building community with good food, good music and good neighbors.

Edible Books Festival at the library

The Freeport Community Library will host its first Edible Books Festival, Wednesday, April 16, from 6-7:30 p.m. Participants are invited to submit a prepared dish to be judged. All entries must be edible and based on a book or a poem. Everyone attending the festival will have the opportunity to cast their vote for the best entry in the five categories: Wittiest, Most Creative, Most Literary, Most Appealing and Best in Show.

There will be separate voting for kids and adult creations.

For more information or to register, email Bartolediblebooks@gmail.com. Contestants should bring their entry to the library on April 16, from 1-4 p.m. People’s Choice Voting will be 6-6:30 p.m. Awards will be made at 6:45 p.m. and finally sampling the food will happen after the awards. Ideas for entries can be found at www.books2eat.com.

FEDC board position available

Freeport Economic Development Corp., a private, nonprofit organization that performs the Freeport community’s economic development functions, is seeking qualified applicants to fill a vacancy on its board of directors. Directors serve as volunteers, and are nominated and elected by the existing board for a three-year term. Individuals with a passion for public service, close ties to the Freeport community, and relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

Applications are available at www.freeportecon.com, or by contacting Keith McBride, executive director, 865-4743, ext. 117. The board is hoping to have all applications submitted for consideration prior to April 15.

Learn organic gardening

The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association will host an organic gardening workshop Wednesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library.

Open to folks of all gardening skill and experience levels, the workshop is designed to provide the essential skills and knowledge needed to make the transition from conventional to organic gardening. The instructor is Dave Colson, of New Leaf Farm in Durham, who leads MOFGA’s Agricultural Services Program and has worked with the organization since 1985, when his family’s farm first earned its organic certification. The Colson family has hosted dozens of farm apprentices, many of whom have gone on to start their own organic farm operations in Maine. Now, as a member of MOFGA’s staff, Colson is scaling back farm production and sharing the wealth of knowledge that he has gained through decades of organic farming in Maine.

A $10 materials fee, in check or cash will be collected at the workshop. Pre-registration is necessary. Call 865-3307.

Library Friends host book sale preview

Friends of the Freeport Community Library will host a Friends Preview Night Friday, April 4, from 5-7 p.m. to kick off the library’s annual book sale, which runs from April 5-10.

Those who attend the preview night will have first choice of the selection of books and movies for sale. Anyone who has contributed to Friends of the Freeport Community Library during the past year is eligible to take advantage of the sale preview. Others who would like to shop that night can do so with a $10 donation to the group at the door.

The book sale features a large collection of fiction and nonfiction adult and children’s books, audio books and movies in great condition. Regular hours of the April 5-10 book sale are Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Monday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; and Thursday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Freeport HS teams launch bottle drive

The Freeport High School baseball and softball teams will hold a bottle drive in Freeport, Pownal and Durham on the morning of April 5. The teams will be going door to door asking for donations. Residents can also leave bottles on front porches in bags marked for the ball teams or they can bring bottles to a trailer that will be at the Freeport High School parking lot from 9 a.m.-noon.

The teams are also selling Sea Dog ticket booklets for $20. Both teams are raising money for bus food for their away games as well as other “extras” like summer ball.

Thrift shop seeks volunteers

Freeport Community Services is seeking the help of volunteers in its Thrift Shop and Estate Annex. There are flexible shifts during the week and weekends for anyone who enjoys helping the community. Those interested can call Debbie at 865-3985, ext. 206.

Upcoming meetings

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

Freeport RSU Withdrawal Committee, Thursday, April 3, 6:30 p.m., Freeport High School Conference Room.

Freeport Appointments Committee, Thursday, April 3, 6:30 p.m., Freeport High School Conference Room.

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

Freeport Project Review Board, Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

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

Club hosting documentary

Freeport High School’s Amnesty International Club is hosting a movie night on Thursday, April 3, in the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St., at 7 p.m. The featured film is journalist Jeremy Scahill’s 2013 documentary, “Dirty Wars,” which was nominated for an Academy Award and is about Scahill’s investigation into U.S. military conduct in the Middle East. Admission is free, and proceeds from refreshments will go to the club to help prevent human rights abuses around the world.

AARP tax prep help

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

Water quality volunteers needed

Friends of Casco Bay is looking for volunteers who don’t mind getting their hands wet when they monitor water quality at one of 40 sites around the rim of Casco Bay.

Training for new water quality monitors is set for Saturday, April 12. A five-hour session, a hands-on introduction to EPA-certified sampling methods, will be held at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Participatns will learn to test for dissolved oxygen, a measure of how much oxygen is available to marine life, as well as water temperature, salinity, water clarity, and pH. Volunteers work in teams to monitor at 7 a.m. and at 3 p.m. on 10 selected Saturdays from April through October. Volunteers must be 16 or older, although parents and children may work together.

For more information, see http://cascobay.org/water-quality-monitoring/ or contact Peter Milholland, citizen stewards coordinator, at pmilholland@cascobay.org, or 799-8574.

Members of Freeport Players paid a visit to Mainely Hair on March 25 and presented the owner, Alice Pelletier, with a dozen cupcakes to thank her for sponsoring theater productions for many years. The Freeport Players is celebrating its 25th year as an active community theater and members are performing unannounced “cupcake bombings” around town to their supporters and partners. Shown from left are Elizabeth Guffey, Pelletier, Maryellen Carew, Sam Hunneman, Sally Grover and Betsy Roper.  Han Xu is marking the one-year anniversary of Fuji Sakura, a sushi restaurant on Main Street in Freeport located upstairs from the China Rose, which Xu purchased in December 2012.