Teen center hosts Business after Hours

The Port Teen Center, 53 Depot St., is hosting Business after Hours, Wednesday, March 18, from 5-7 p.m., as part of the Freeport chamber’s monthly business-to-business networking series. The event provides a chance to see the center, meet the director and some of the teens that the center serves. There will be games, activities and door prizes. The refreshments have been donated by Bow Street Market.

There is no charge, but registration is requested at www.FreeportMaineChamber.com, or call, 847-5240 for more information. You do not need to be a member of the Freeport chamber to attend.

FMS spring fundraiser launch

Freeport Middle School is starting its spring fundraiser with spring bulbs for sale. Bulbs for all zones can be purchased by visiting the following FlowerPower website: http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/454208/0qQoS9UEWwB1. Bulbs are shipped directly to the buyer. The fundraiser is open now through April 30.

College students here for Habitat help

Philadelphia University students are in Freeport during their spring break to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. The students are helping build homes and improve the community during the week of March 16 as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program. First Parish Church Congregational on Main Street in Freeport will host the students while they are in Maine.

“We are thrilled to have Philadelphia University volunteer with us for the third year in a row as part of our Collegiate Challenge program. These students are helping us to make a huge difference in the lives of families in Cumberland County,” said Godfrey Wood, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland executive director “We also must extend our thanks to First Parish Church Congregational UCC for hosting the volunteers and to the Casco Bay Regional YMCA in Freeport for allowing them to use their shower facilities.”

Habitat for Humanity is in the final stages of an eight-unit community in Freeport. Once the project is complete this summer they will move on to its biggest build to date, a 13-home community off Broadturn Road in Scarborough.

Choral concert set for March 31

Wescustago Youth Chorale and the University of Southern Maine Chamber Singers will hold their third annual joint concert on Tuesday, March 31, at 7 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main St. in Yarmouth. Both groups will perform special selections, and then join together for a few combined pieces. The Wescustago Youth Chorale is made up of 80 voices from 12 area towns and is conducted by Amanda Mahaffey and Jennifer Hand Runge. The USM Chamber Singers is conducted by Dr. Robert Russell. A suggested donation $10 will benefit both groups. For more information contact Leigh at 846-0705 or see www.wescustago.wordpress.com.

Art of cooking explored in classes

RSU 5 Recreation and Community Education is offering a diverse selection of enrichment courses and workshops. Master the art of promoting your business online in Intro to Website Design, starting Monday, March 23, at 5:30 pm. This course runs for four weeks and costs $64.

Culinary classes include Cooking with Rosemont Market, a new workshop series featuring Brad Messier, executive chef of Rosemont Market Productions. He will explore the Art of Cooking Braised Short Ribs on Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m., and Quiche with Local Flavors on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m. Each workshop costs $30 and includes the food fee.

Master the art of gluten-free baking with Emily Marcus, the kitchen manager at Bam Bam Bakery in Portland, who will teach Gluten-Free Desserts on Monday, March 30, at 6 p.m. The $30 fee includes She will also teach Gluten-Free Brunch (featuring a savory bruschetta) on Tuesday, April 14, at 6 ($29, includes food fee).

Learn from University of Maine Cooperative Extension master gardeners and explore the art of gardening in How to Grow Seedlings on Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m. ($12), and Fruit Trees on Tuesday, April 7, and Thursday, April 9, at 6 ($15).

For more information and to register, visit www.rsu5-rce.org, call 865-6171, or stop in at 17 West St. in Freeport

RSU 5 Recreation and Community Education is always looking for ideas and instructors for new courses. If you have an idea for a course, or are interested in sharing skills and interests as an instructor, email [email protected]

Freeport outdoors

There are over 1,200 acres of open space in Freeport, owned privately, by nonprofit organizations, by homeowners’ associations and public entities. The spaces open to the public provide opportunities to hike, swim, bike, camp, skate, snowmobile, picnic, and boat. A new page on the town’s website provides a list and description of some of Freeport’s natural resources that are open to the public. Go to www.freeportmaine.com to find “Freeport Outdoors” under Quick Links. On this page there are trail maps, coastal access points and more.

Local vet to be celebrated

A celebration of the life of Dr. David Bourassa, who died Jan. 27, will take place on Saturday, March 21, from 3-6 p.m., at Freeport Performing Arts Center at Freeport High School, 30 Holbrook St. Bourassa, who founded Freeport Veterinary Hospital, practiced veterinary medicine in Freeport for 25 years and was well-known in the community. He also provided neutering and spaying services for the Coastal Humane Society.

Masons to serve ham dinner

The Freeport Masons will host a boiled dinner on Saturday, March 21, at the Masonic Lodge on Mallet Drive in Freeport from 5-6:30 p.m. The menu will feature ham, assorted vegetables, homemade biscuits, dessert and beverages for $9 per adult, children under 12 for half-price.

Tea tasting

Five varieties of tea can be sampled Wednesday, April 1, from 6-7 p.m., at Jacqueline’s Tea Room, 201 Main St. For more information, see www.Jacquelinestearoom.com or call 865-2123.

Pirates game to support FCS

The Portland Pirates are partnering with Freeport Community Services to offer a Freeport Area Community Night on Saturday, March 28, starting at 7 p.m. at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Three dollars of every ticket will be donated to the FCS Food Pantry. Buy tickets through Ticketmaster at http://bit.ly/1GJiHMp (enter the code FREEPORT to see the special price), or call 207-PIRATES.

Class of 2015 bottle drive

As part of Project Graduation fundraising, Freeport High School class of 2015 is holding a fundraising bottle and beverage can drive at Bow Street Market during March. Bottles and cans can be brought directly to the store or a pickup can be arranged. Dunkin’ Donuts Community Mugs are also available. Buy a mug for $20 and bring it into any neighborhood Dunkin’ Donuts in Maine or Coos and Carroll counties in New Hampshire and receive free hot or iced coffee every Sunday in 2015. For more information, contact Aly at [email protected] or Liz at [email protected].

Pejepscot Historical Society topic of talk

The Freeport Woman’s Club will host Dr. Jennifer Blanchard of the Pejepscot Historical Society in Brunswick, at a meeting Friday, March 20, at 1 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library. Blanchard will describe how the historical society runs its unique historic house museums, the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum and the Skolfield-Whittier House; and she will describe how local history is brought to life for a 21st-century audience. All are welcome.

The Freeport Woman’s Club is a service organization that has been in existence for 90 years. It meets once a month at the Freeport Community Library. The club’s fundraising projects include a Spring Bazaar and a bake sale on Election Day. Money raised provides local scholarships, community improvements, donations to Freeport Community Services and support for women seeking career education. The monthly meetings include presentations on a variety of topics. New members are welcome. Contact Nita Voskian, 865-1155.

Tree pruning at Pettengill Farm

The Freeport Historical Society will hold a hands-on workshop Sunday, March 29, from 2-4 p.m., at Pettengill Farm, with Maine Cooperative Extension Educator Dr. Richard J. Brzozowski, on the pruning of fruiting and flowering trees. Participants can learn when and how to prune, with an eye to maintaining healthy and productive trees. Brzozowski obtained his doctorate at the University of Missouri in Columbia in agricultural education. In his work as Extension educator, he travels throughout Cumberland County and Maine educating farmers and gardeners on a broad range of agricultural topics.

Tools and eye protection will be provided. Work gloves and appropriate footwear are advised, as the group will be working outside.

Pettengill Farm is owned and maintained by the Freeport Historical Society. Its small apple orchard, whose trees will be included in the demonstration, likely dates back 75 or more years.

Tickets are $5 for FHS members, $10 for non-members. Registration and payment are required in advance. To do so and to get directions to Pettengill Farm, call 865-3170 or visit www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org. In case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled.

Armchair Travel series concluding

On Monday, March 23, at 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Library will present its final travel series program, “The Falklands and Patagonia,” with Chris Hastedt and Burt Brewer. The series features local residents sharing their recent travels abroad with slide presentations and personal memories of trip highlights.

Father-daughter dance

The 26th annual Starlight Cotillion Father Daughter Dance is Friday, March 20, from 6-8 p.m., at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport. A limited number of tickets are available and must be purchased with cash or check, in advance at the RSU 5 Recreation and Community Education office, 17 West St. Tickets are not sold at the door or available to purchase online.

An evening with Linda Greenlaw

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce will present an evening of live conversation between with nationally renowned swordfish captain and bestselling author Linda Greenlaw and Shannon Moss, news journalist and host of TV show “Split Screen with Shannon Moss.” The event will take place Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St. Tickets are $20 each and will be available through March 23. For more information, visit www.freeportmainechamber.com or call 847-5240.

Sitting Pretty 2015 ­– ‘Best of the Best’

The annual fundraiser for The Port Teen Center will take place Sunday, March 29, from 4-6:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St. The event will feature an auction of items hand-painted by local teen and adult artists. They include canoe paddles, Russian nesting dolls, tables, chairs and Adirondack chairs. All items can be previewed on Facebook by searching “Sitting Pretty, The PORT Teen Center.” Items can also be previewed or purchased at Clayton’s in Yarmouth, through March 28. All proceeds will help to keep the doors open to The Port Teen Center. For more information or to make a secret bid, contact Randall at 522-1383, or [email protected].

Chronic pain workshop set

Casco Bay YMCA will offer a six-week course on chronic pain management, April 28- June 9, from 1-3:30 p.m. at the YMCA, 14 Old South Freeport Road.

Every year millions of people are diagnosed with conditions that cause chronic pain and restrict activities. Each chronic pain self-management workshop consists of a group of about 8-12 people who meet weekly for six weeks. Participants explore the pain and symptom cycle, and strategies to manage pain and other health symptoms. Participants are led through a gentle stretching program, designed to promote moving without fear of more pain. In addition, the group will review tips for improving communication, sleep, nutrition, relaxation and more.

The class is free except for the cost of materials, $45, including textbook, course workbook and relaxation CD. For more information or to register, call 396-6583 or email [email protected].

Auction to benefit student service trip

Pine Tree Academy of Freeport will hold a fundraising silent and live auction on Sunday, March 22, at 5 p.m., at the Brunswick Seventh Day Adventist Church, 333 Maine St., Brunswick. Admission is $10, and reservations can made by calling 865-4747. All proceeds from the auction benefit the senior class service trip to Quintana Roo, Mexico, in association with the Red Cross. The students leave in April, during spring break.Each year the senior class selects an international destination to spend two weeks in service doing medical relief work, construction, clothing distribution, etc.

Items in the auction include hotel packages, rounds of golf, sailing trips, white water rafting adventures, classical music tickets, artwork from local artists, gift cards to restaurants, museum memberships, and more. Donations are also accepted at www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/pta-class-of-2015-mission-trip/264757 for those who wish to donate outside of the event.

Book sale coming soon

The Freeport Community Library is collecting gently used books for the annual library book sale, which will be held first full week of April. Hardcover and paperbacks are accepted, but textbooks, computer books or books in poor or musty condition are not accepted. Books can be dropped off from Monday, March 30 through Friday, April ,3 during normal business hours. Receipts for income tax purposes will be provided upon request. For more information, call Elaine at 865-3307.

‘The Giver’ author to speak March 27

Award-winning Maine writer Lois Lowry will speak at a luncheon at South Freeport Congregational Church, 98 South Freeport Road, on Friday March 27. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lowry has written more than 30 children’s books, including “The Giver” and “Number the Stars,” each winners of Newbery Medals, as well as an autobiography.

The luncheon is a sit-down catered event, with the author speaking for about half an hour prior to eating. A book signing will follow. Tickets are $15 by reservation only. Call 865-4012 to reserve tickets before March 25.

Variety show coming up

The Freeport Lioness-Lions Club will presents its 29th annual variety show, “One Hit Wonders: Fashions, Fads and Trends,” on Saturday, March 28, at 7 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. For more information or for tickets, contact Martha Daly, 865-6188, or Tina Snow, 319-9472.

Rotary offering 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 an academic college, university program or technical college. There are two Academic Scholarships for $2,000 each and one Technical Scholarship for $1,000.

Eligibility guidelines include outstanding community service, scholastic performance and financial need. The application deadline is May 1. A scholarship application can be obtained from the guidance offices at Freeport High School, Pine Tree Academy, North Yarmouth Academy, Vocational Region 10 in Brunswick, Waynflete School, Cheverus High School, Merriconeag Waldolf School, Greely High School, McAuley High School, Baxter Academy or online at www.freeport-rotary.org. Applications are also available by writing to the Freeport Rotary Club, Scholarship Committee, Attn: Ranjit Gill/Karen O’Rourke, P.O. Box 552, Freeport, ME. 04032.

Upcoming meetings

Conservation Commission, Wednesday, March 18, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Town Council workshop with committees, Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Regional School Unit 5 budget review with public comment, Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m., Freeport High School.

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