Meet historical society director

The public is invited to meet James Myall, Freeport Historical Society’s new executive director, at a reception Thursday, Nov. 13, from 5-7 p.m., at the Harrington House, 45 Main St. Visitors can also view the current exhibit, “You Can Get There From Here: How Transportation Defined Freeport.” Historical society staff and members of the board of trustees will also be in attendance to answer questions and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the society’s work.

Refreshments will be served. RSVP is requested. Call 865-3170.

‘Chicago’ coming to Freeport

Freeport High School’s drama department will present the musical, “Chicago,” Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 13-15, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the door.

The show is directed by Simon Skold, Freeport High School’s drama teacher.

The music is by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. It is set in Prohibition-era Chicago.

Student Cheyenne Carter plays Velma and Josef Biberstein plays Billy.

“Both of them are wonderfully talented seniors at Freeport and I am thrilled to see them shine. They are a Velma and a Billy to remember,” said Skold.

Sophomores Zoe Fox (Roxie), Maya Pierce (Mama) and Jay Pier (Amos) are also part of the large ensemble. University of Southern Maine graduate Jesse Wakeman returns to FHS as music director for the show. He worked on last year’s “Boys from Syracuse” with Skold. Skold has also taken on the role of choreographer with the assistance from local parent Jen Fox.

Writers and Poets Soiree

“Upstairs at Azure,” a writers’ and poets’ soiree, will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m., at Azure Cafe ?. The group meets to give writers a forum to share their work, fiction, poetry or non-fiction in an intimate group. Writers and poets, published or unpublished, are invited to join. Call 272-3641 or email Gar Roper at [email protected]. The total enrollment will be limited to assure that all attendees get to participate. There is space available for two additional members.

“Upstairs at Azure” takes its name from the space provided by Jonas Werner, owner of Azure Cafe ?, and a poet himself. Azure will also be providing wine and snacks. Membership is free, but a $5 contribution is suggested for each meeting.

Drop off toys at Edward Jones office

Caleb Stephens, the local Edward Jones financial adviser, is supporting the U.S. Marine Reserve Toys for Tots program by using his office as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive. Local residents can help needy children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the local Edward Jones office, 5 Depot St., Suite 24, Freeport, during regular business hours, Nov. 5-Dec. 10.

“With the holiday season around the corner, we are all getting ready for the festivities,” Stephens said. “And as this is the season of giving, now is a great time to remember the less fortunate in our community.”

Event focuses on staying active in winter

The L.L. Bean Bike, Boat & Ski Store in Freeport will host its Fall Healthy Living Series together with the American Lung Association on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. This new event will focus on staying healthy, active and in shape throughout the cold winter months. It is free of charge and open to the general public. Those who attend do not need to be a participant in the Trek Across Maine.

Elizabeth Fraser of Girl Gone Raw will talk about the benefits of raw eating and provide demonstrations and samples. Other presenters include Registered Maine Guide Lani Cochrane and nationally certified Iyengar yoga teacher Cindy Berliner. L.L. Bean outdoor experts will be on hand to discuss activities such as cross-country skiing and snow shoeing. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Registration for the Healthy Living Series is appreciated. RSVP to [email protected] or 624-0302. Registration and more information is on the Trek Across Maine’s website at BikeTrekNewEngland.org.

Three students commended

Merriconeag Waldorf High School has announced that Mindy Dixon, Zach Neveu and Jesse Saffeir have been named Commended Students in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corp., which conducts the program, will be presented to these scholastically talented seniors. Commended Students place among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2015 competition by taking the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Merriconeag Waldorf School, founded in 1984, serves some 245 students in early childhood through Grade 12. For more information, see www.merriconeag.org or call 865-3900.

Green crabs topic of annual meeting

The Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association will hold its annual meeting Thursday, Nov. 13, from 5-8 p.m. at Hilton Garden’s Old Town Hall Meeting Place at 5 Park St., Freeport. The keynote presentation, entitled “Observations on the population dynamics of green crabs and their effects on cultured and wild populations of soft-shell clams,” will be given at 7 p.m. by Dr. Brian Beal, professor of marine ecology, University of Maine at Machias. Earlier in the day there is an optional field trip to one of Beal’s study sites.

Admission fees are $15 for university students, $25 for adults, $35 for families, and $50 for businesses. More information and advance registration is available at gommea.org/news.html.

Sparkle Express tickets on sale

Amtrak Downeaster’s Sparkle Express, part of Freeport’s Sparkle Celebration, is Saturday, Dec. 6.

This round-trip adventure from Freeport to Brunswick includes a reading of “The Polar Express,” by Chris Van Allsburg, by a real train conductor. Those who attend can bring their own copy of this Christmas classic to follow along or pick one up at Sherman’s Bookstore in Freeport. To buy tickets and for more information, visit sparklecelebration.com.

Student wins Ocean Awareness Contest

Katherine Rigney, a student at Coastal Studies for Girls in Freeport, has won first place for her essay in the 2014 Ocean Awareness Student Contest.

The contest was launched by filmmaker Linda Cabot in 2011 as a companion to her environmental documentary, “From the Bow Seat.” She founded and funded the Ocean Awareness Student Contest to inspire other high school students to become ocean advocates. The 2014 contest gave out over $27,500 in prizes in several categories. More information about the contest is available at www.fromthebowseat.org.

Bean supper Saturday night

A baked bean and pasta supper will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 5-6 p.m., at First Parish Church Congregational, 40 Main St. in Freeport. On the menu will be three kinds baked beans, macaroni and cheese, American chop suey, hot dogs, rolls, pickles, cole slaw, homemade pies, beverages and more. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Proceeds support outreach programs.

Sports equipment swap and sale

The Freeport Ski Boosters will hold a winter equipment swap and sale on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1-3 p.m., in the high school cafeteria, 30 Holbrook St. A large selection of used Alpine and Nordic ski equipment, outerwear, ice skates and other gear will be on sale. Sale proceeds will be split 75 percent to the seller and 25 percent to Freeport School’s Ski Boosters to support the middle and high school Alpine and Nordic ski race programs.

Sellers can drop off gear at the high school cafeteria on Friday, Nov. 7, from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Unsold items can be picked up from 3:30-5 p.m. For more information, call 319-2362.

Town’s early roads focus of talk

The Freeport Historical Society will host an illustrated presentation by Collections Manager Holly Hurd on the development of Freeport’s early byways, Monday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., at Freeport Community Library.

Hurd’s talk, “Rough Ridin’: The History of Roads in Freeport,” accompanies the museum’s exhibit, “You Can Get There From Here: How Transportation Defined Freeport,” on display at the historical society headquarters at 45 Main St. through Feb. 1. Hurd has been collections manager at Freeport Historical Society since December 2013.

Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. The event is made possible by grants from Norway Savings Bank and the Maine Humanities Council.

‘The Tourist’ to be screened

“The Tourist,” a suspense-filled comedy, filmed on the waterways of Venice, will be screened Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library. It stars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, and was released in 2010. The library screens a broad range of films on the first Thursday of each month.

Energy audits available

The Freeport Home Energy Efficiency Program still has free energy audits available for income-eligible Freeport homeowners.

Eligible participants will receive energy assessments and cost-effective measures (air sealing) to reduce their heating costs. Participation in this program typically saves 100 gallons of heating fuel per household. Some 30 households have already benefited from this program. For more information, contact Julie Fraser at the Town Hall, 865-4743, ext. 121.

Free movie day

All Freeport residents are invited to enjoy a free film at the Nordica Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Proof of residence in the form of a license, ID or school ID are required to receive a free ticket to any available showtime. Tickets are limited to seating capacity and there will be no rain checks. Donations will be accepted to benefit the Freeport Players.

Trivia Challenge Thursday

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce will hold its second annual Freeport Trivia Challenge on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Freeport Grill, 175 Lower Main St. Trivia master Cole Tamminen will again be the emcee for the event.

Teams of four can enter for $150. The winning team receives $200 cash. General questions will be interspersed with those about Freeport’s past and present. There will be door prizes and free light snacks.

Teams can register by contacting Sande Updegraph, 847-5240, ext. 1, or emailing [email protected].

Author luncheon features King, Conley

Yarmouth-based author Lily King, whose novel, “Euphoria,” last week won the first-ever Kirkus Prize for Fiction, and Susan Conley, cofounder and executive director of The Telling Room, will both be featured at an author luncheon Friday, Nov. 7, at the South Freeport Congregational Church. The lunch runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Community Hall of the church, 98 South Freeport Road, and begins with the authors speaking about their experiences and their works.

King is the author of several novels, including “Father of the Rain,” which was a Publishers Weekly Top Ten Book of the Year and the winner of the Maine Fiction Award. Conley, a Maine native, is a novelist, memoirist and creative writing professor. Her latest novel, “Paris Was the Place,” was an Amazon Fall Big Books Pick for fiction, an Indie Next Pick and an Elle Magazine Readers Prize Pick.

The Telling Room is a nonprofit creative writing center for students ages 6 to 18.

The cost is $15 per person and tickets must be purchased by the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 5. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the church office at 865-4012.

Writer to talk on Popham Colony novel

R. deVillers Seymour will speak Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m., at Freeport Community Library, about his first novel, “Beyond: Popham: The First English Settlement in New England.”

Little is known and much is speculated about this earliest of colonial footprints. In his book, Seymour weaves historical fact with adventure and romance. The author has practiced clinical psychology in Maine for over 25 years, has been a professor and teacher and has written and produced for television.

Strout exhibit at library

Freeport Community Library is featuring the fine-art photography of Jon Strout during November in its Main Reading Room, Monday through Saturday during normal business hours.

Strout grew up near Brunswick, where he lives. The natural beauty of Maine has always inspired him. Photography has become his passion, and since his recent retirement from his dental practice, he has the freedom to photograph what inspires and excites him. Landscapes and figure work are his favorite areas of interest and he prefers to work in black and white.

His photography has been exhibited throughout Maine, including Bowdoin College, and at shows in Portland, Falmouth, Freeport, Yarmouth and Brunswick. Strout teaches the marine photography courses at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklin.

Holiday art sale and auction

The Art Guild of Freeport’s annual Art Show & Sale is being held on Saturday, Nov 8, from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center.

Along with paintings for sale, there will also be a silent auction table with proceeds going to Freeport Community Services. For more information, contact Christy DeVeault, president of the Art Guild of Freeport, at 865-3040.

Self-improvement classes scheduled

RSU 5 Recreation and Community Education is offering self-improvement classes this fall. Included are Foot Massage (Thursday, Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m.) and Head, Neck, and Shoulder Massage (Thursday, Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m.) with Barbara Pearl Fudala, a nurse and licensed massage therapist. She has been a wellness practitioner in the Freeport area for some 26 years with a practice in massage therapy and energy therapies.

Upcoming travel workshops include Finding Great Travel (Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6-8 p.m.), which will explore traveling on a budget; and Living La Vida Loca: Working Overseas (Saturday, 11/22, 2-5 p.m.).

For more information on course offerings, visit www.rsu5-rce.org or call 865-6171.

Upcoming meetings

Planning Board, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Municipal Facilities Committee, Thursday, Nov. 6, 7:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Winslow Park Committee, Monday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Town Council, Monday, Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

A full listing of upcoming town meetings and agendas is available on www.freeportmaine.com.