Airbase project topic of chamber talk

Steve Levesque, executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, will present an update on the redevelopment of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station for the Greater Freeport and Yarmouth chambers of commerce, Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 7:30-9 a.m., at Muddy Rudder, 1335 Route 1, Freeport. He will provide information about the new businesses and jobs that are being created. A full buffet breakfast will be served. The cost is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. Those who want to attend can register at www.FreeportMaineChamber.com or call 847-5240.

Woman’s Club guest focuses on birds

The Freeport Woman’s Club’s monthly meeting on Friday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library, will feature a talk by Doug Hitchcox, staff naturalist at Maine Audubon. He will present a “State of the Birds” program, explaining some of the major shifts and fluctuations now occurring with Maine avian fauna, as the bird population is constantly changing in Maine. Refreshments will follow the presentation and all are welcome.

Lioness-Lions prepping craft fair, luncheon

The Freeport Lioness-Lions Club is hosting its 17th annual craft fair and luncheon of fish “chowdah” and chili on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Harrasseeket Grange Hall,13 Elm St., downtown Freeport.

The luncheon runs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with homemade fish chowder, chili, steamed hot dogs, homemade pies, soda and water.

The craft fair features jewelry, hand-knit items, homemade cards and ornaments, stained glass and photography. Free coffee is available for shoppers, and there will be hourly door prizes and a raffle with many items donated by local businesses. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting any Freeport Lioness-Lions Club member. Tickets will also be sold at the craft fair. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

Proceeds from this event benefit the club’s efforts in Freeport and the surrounding communities. For more information, see eclubhouse.org/sites/freeportlioness.

Historian’s program looks at early roads

Freeport’s early roads make even the 21st-century’s frost-heave-plagued highways seem idyllic. Those early roads are the subject of a Freeport Historical Society presentation,“Rough Ridin’: The History of Roads in Freeport,” Monday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., at Freeport Community Library. The illustrated talk will be given by the museum’s collection manager, Holly Hurd.

The program will focus on the important roads that have shaped Freeport, including stagecoach routes, the King’s Highway and the Boston Post Road of the 18th century.

Hurd has been collections manager since December 2013. A resident of North Yarmouth, she has been a volunteer, board member and researcher for North Yarmouth Historical Society for many years. She is co-author of an “Images of America” book on North Yarmouth and a book on Congregational Church history.

The event accompanies Freeport Historical Society’s current exhibit, “You Can Get There From Here: How Transportation Defined Freeport,” which is on display at FHS headquarters at 45 Main St. in Freeport through Feb. 1.

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

‘Night Tree’ event for kids

A holiday tradition for children, Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s “Night Tree” event, Saturday, Dec. 6, is inspired by Eve Bunting’s book, “Night Tree.” Her story is about a family that feeds the forest animals by making decorations for a special tree. Each hour during the day, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., the story will be read and then participants will decorate pine cones with birdseed and string popcorn, dried fruit and cranberries. A short hike is then taken on the trails to leave the pinecone treats in the woods for the animals.

The cost is $5 per person ages 2 and older (free for members of Wolfe’s Neck Farm). For more information, visit www.wolfesneckfarm.org.

Library Friends to meet

Friends of the Freeport Community Library will hold its monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the library.

All are welcome to attend the meeting and join the volunteers who support and promote the library. Since forming in 2011, the nonprofit group has provided free or discounted museum and park passes for patrons, advocated for the addition of a technology librarian, sponsored “Meet the Author” book talks, raised funds for selected programs and projects and participated in a wide variety of library events. For more information, visit www.fclfriends.org or email [email protected].

Roast pork on supper menu

The Freeport Masons will host a roast pork supper on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 5-6:30 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge on Mallet Drive in Freeport The menu will feature roast pork, mashed potatoes, vegetables, homemade biscuits, dessert and beverage for $9 per adult, children under 12 half-price.

Bus planning workshop Nov. 19

A community planning workshop for Metro bus service for Yarmouth and Freeport will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6-8 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center,

53 Depot St. Organizers are seeking the public’s suggestions and ideas as planning begins for service to begin in 2015.

Those who plan to attend can contact Donna Larson by Nov. 17, [email protected].

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.

Program for parents set on youth drug abuse

“What Parents Need to Know About Youth Substance Use,” a program hosted by Casco Bay CAN, will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Casco Bay YMCA in Freeport. A session for parents of elementary and middle school youth is 11-11:45 a.m., and for parents of middle and high school students, the session is 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Learn tips to start the conversation with your youth, local trends in youth substance use and resources. To sign up, contact John Lee, 865-9600, ext. 204. For more information, see www.cascobaycan.org.

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.

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, through 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.”

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 are attending 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.

Tickets available for doll raffle

Members of the Freeport Elders are raffling an 18-inch American Girl Doll named Isabelle, with 10 outfits and a wooden bed.

Tickets are $2 each or three for $5. There is also a raffle for a $100 Walmart gift card or a $100 Hannaford gift card. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. The winners for both will be drawn Dec. 10. Raffle tickets are available at the Freeport Elders Center at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St.

Citizen of the Year

The deadline for nominations for Freeport’s 2014 Citizen of the Year Award is Dec. 4.

The Town Council is seeking nominations to honor those who have contributed substantively to the quality of the town. Nomination forms are available at the Town Office, the Freeport Community Library and can be found at www.freeportmaine.com.

Ways to help Community Services

Freeport Community Services needs help in any of the following ways:

• Work in the Thrift Shop as a customer service volunteer. Flexible shifts are available.

• Help in the food pantry as a substitute.

• Help in the FCS Furniture Annex Thursdays from 2:30-5 p.m.

• Become part of the Free Lunch Friday team, every third Friday of the month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Sign up to be on call for special projects, such as Holiday Helpline, quarterly blood drives and organizing and filling Thanksgiving food boxes.

For more information, call Debbie Daggett at 865-3985, ext. 206 or email [email protected].

Self-Improvement classes

RSU5 Recreation and Community Education is offering self-improvement classes this fall. Included is head, neck, and shoulder massage (Thursday, Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m.) with Barbara Pearl Fudala, a wellness practitioner in the Freeport area for more than 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. Information about living abroad will be covered in the class, “Living La Vida Loca: Working Overseas (Saturday, Nov. 22, 2-5 p.m.).

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

Drug take-back program daily

The Freeport Police Department has installed a secured, permanent, drug drop-off box in the lobby of the Public Safety Building. Residents can now drop off expired, unwanted or outdated drugs during the department’s normal business hours, Sunday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The police department also will continue to take part in the semi-annual drug take back program.

Upcoming meetings

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

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

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

Active Living Task Force, Thursday, Nov. 13, 7:30-8:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Recycling/Solid Waste Committee, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

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

Metro bus community meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6-8 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

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