Monhegan-inspired art at Thos. Moser

An art exhibition celebrating alumni from the 25-year-old Monhegan Artists’ Residency program is on display at the Thos. Moser Freeport showroom through Oct. 14. The show features 34 artists spanning 25 years since the program’s inception in 1989.

The Monhegan Artists’ Residency is a nonprofit organization that supports emerging visual artists and is designed to provide access to the artistic traditions and creative community on Monhegan Island, which is located off the midcoast of Maine. The program supplies living quarters, studio space, and a stipend for artists each year in the late spring, early summer and early fall. This year marks the 400th anniversary of explorer Capt. John Smith landing on the shores of Monhegan in 1614. For more than 100 years, Monhegan has been a summer haven for those who appreciate its isolation, wilderness and stark beauty. The island has inspired countless artists including Robert Henri, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Reuben Tam, Elena Jahn and Jamie Wyeth.

The Thos. Moser Freeport showroom and gallery is located at 149 Main St., and is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 865-4519 or visit www.thosmoser.com or www.monheganartistsresidency.org.

Humor writer offers inner-moose advice

Maine playwright and humorist Susan Poulin will read from and sign copies of her new self-help humor book, “Finding Your Inner Moose: Ida LeClair’s Guide to Livin’ the Good Life,” at Freeport Community Library on Monday, July 14, at 7 p.m.

Poulin’s character Ida is a lifelong resident of fictional Mahoosuc Mills, a familiar town in western Maine, where she lives in a tidy and tastefully decorated double-wide with high school sweetheart Charlie and dog Scamp. Most importantly, Ida is a daughter, sister, wife, and best friend who draws upon her experiences (as well as those of the noble and majestic moose) to offer advice on relationships, physical fitness, stress, housecleaning, work, shopping and more. The book is published by Yarmouth-based Islandport Press

Poulin created the character Ida LeClair in 1997. Poulin has been a leader in bringing a female voice to New England storytelling and humor, a genre historically dominated by men. Poulin has produced five stage shows featuring Ida: “Ida: Woman Who Runs with the Moose,” “Ida’s Havin’ a Yard Sale,” “A Very Ida Christmas,” “The Moose in Me, the Moose in You,” and her latest, “I Married an Alien.”

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

Bean supper at Grange

A public baked bean supper will be held at the Harraseeket Grange Hall on 13 Elm St., Freeport on Saturday, June 28, from 5-6 p.m.

The all-you-can-eat menu includes three kinds of home-baked beans, hot dogs, biscuits, brown bread, potato salad, pasta salad, cole slaw, homemade pies and beverages. All are invited. Cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children 10 and under. Children 3 and under are free.

Arts and crafts on church lawn

The First Parish Church Congregational is holding an Arts & Crafts Market on the front lawn of the church, 40 Main St., Freeport, every second and last Saturday of the month, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The dates are July 12 and 26, Aug. 9 and 30, Sept. 13 and 27, Oct. 11 and 25. Vendor spaces are still available. For each market day, one space is available free of charge for nonprofit groups. For more information, see www.FirstParishMarket.org, or call Patty Kennedy, 865-0848.

Friends and neighbors Sunday

First Parish Church Congregational, 40 Main St., will hold a special invitation this Sunday for all Freeport area friends and neighbors to come to church at 10 a.m. Dr. Gar Roper will be speaking about how people can support and be present for neighbors in these busy days of obligations and personal issues. All are welcome.

Sign up by July 3 for tag sale

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a tag sale on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the L.L. Bean Employment Center parking lot, Stonewood Drive. Table reservations are now open and discounts are offered until July 3. Applications are available at FreeportMaineChamber.com.

VENUE reunion and karaoke

The Theater of Awesome will be the site for a VENUE reunion karaoke and open mic night, Tuesday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m.

VENUE is the name of the music bar and bistro that used to occupy the space that is now Theater of Awesome at 5 Depot St. Singers, musicians, duos and groups including bands are invited. Donations are requested. Proceeds will benefit Freeport Players and the Theater of Awesome. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

How to prevent tick infections

Kate Colby, a field epidemiologist from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program, will lead a public health information session on ticks Wednesday, July 2, from 5-5:45 p.m., in the Freeport Town Council Chambers.

Ticks have the potential to be a lot more than a nuisance, since they can carry potentially deadly diseases. Even when these diseases aren’t fatal, they can cause a variety of symptoms that can require long-term treatment and ultimately affect one’s quality of life.

This will be a general information presentation for the community with a focus on prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of infections caused by ticks and mosquitos and rashes caused by browntail moths. The program is sponsored by the town of Freeport and the Cumberland District of the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention. The program is free.

FHS student among ‘Young Writers of the Year’

Erik Tang Ly, a junior at Freeport High School, is among three students chosen as the winners of the Maine Community College System’s “A Journey Into Writing” contest and named 2014 Governor’s Young Writers of the Year.

The contest is open to all high school juniors and home-schooled students of the same age. The students were each presented with an award and a $2,500 check by Gov. Paul LePage in a ceremony at the Blaine House on June 19. Ly won for his untitled short story.

The other top winners were Benjamin Clinton, a junior at Yarmouth High School, and Justine Nason of Portage, a junior at Ashland District School. In all, 12 finalists were chosen from 153 entries in this year’s contest, representing more than 40 Maine high schools. The nine other finalists included Evan Tims of Freeport High School. They received a plaque and a check for $500.

Camp Seaside now enrolling

Camp Seaside, a day camp that runs from June 23-Aug. 22 and offered by RSU 5 Recreation and Community Education, is now enrolling children.

The camp, for kids entering grades K-5, operates at Mast Landing School, with weekly visits to Winslow Park. Each week campers will go on a highlight trip, visit local beaches, participate in arts and crafts, sports, games and more. Highlight trips include Splashtown, Aquaboggan, Sea Dogs games and York’s Wild Kingdom.

Camp fees are $180 per week, except for the week of July 4, which is $120. Camp hours are 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Daily lunch is provided. Fees cover all care, lunch and field trips. For more information, call 865-6171.

Free summer lunch for kids

Freeport Community Services will run the Summer Free Lunch for Kids Program, which started June 23 and runs Monday through Friday through Aug. 29, except for July 4. Freeport Community Services will prepare and serve free, healthy lunches for all children. Meals will be distributed at the Freeport Community Center, the Village View Apartments Community Room, Mast Landing School and, new this year, Wildwood Acres on Elm Street. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. There is no income or residency requirement. All children under the age of 19 are welcome.

For more information, call Sue Mack at 865-3985, ext. 205

Volunteers are needed Monday-Friday from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to deliver, serve and monitor lunches at these sites. Those interested can contact Debbie Daggett [email protected].

Pancakes on the Fourth

The 23rd annual July 4 pancake breakfast will be held at St. Jude’s Church Hall, 134 Main St., Freeport, from 7-10 a.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. The menu includes all-you-can-eat blueberry pancakes and sausage. For more information, call 847-6890.

Parade openings

The July 4 parade is looking for participants -– neighborhood floats, community groups, local businesses, antique cars, etc. If interested, contact Gino Giomarro at 373-8071 or [email protected]. The parade lineup is at 9 a.m. at Freeport Middle School. The parade begins at 10.

Fourth events

A full day of events scheduled are scheduled in Freeport. They include:

7:30 a.m., 10K Road Race, L. L. Bean.

9:15, Fun Run, L. L. Bean.

10, Parade, Main Street, from Kendall Lane south to Holbrook Street.

7:30 p.m., Concert in the Park (Toad the Wet Sprocket), L. L. Bean Discovery Park.

9:15 p.m., Fireworks in town.

“Summer Day on Casco Bay,” an oil painting by Maine artist Christy DeVeault, is one of many pieces that will be exhibited when the Art Guild of Freeport holds its annual Art Exhibit on Saturday, July 12, under the big tent at the Old World Gourmet on Route 1 in Freeport. Maine art by local artists will be on exhibit. Rain or shine, the event, which runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., is free to the public. Julie Osgood, a Freeport resident and leadership board member of the American Lung Association Maine, recently presented the staff at CVS on Middle Street in Freeport with a certificate of recognition for the company’s commitment to remove tobacco products from their store and for their assistance with asking patrons to make a $1 donation to the American Lung Association. Shown from left are Osgood, store manager Derek Moran, Debbie Smith, Chris Vance, Luke Senecal, Kayla Harriman and Ian MacDonald.