Pingree to lead panel on women in agriculture

Wolfe’s Neck Farm will host U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree for a panel discussion celebrating Women in Agriculture, on Monday, June 29, from 1:30-3 p.m. According to Pingree’s website, panel members will include Marada Cook of Northern Girl & Crown of Maine Gina Simmons of Common Wealth Poultry Company; Alice Percy of Treble Ridge Farm; Laura Neale of Black Kettle Farm; and Jean Koons from Kennebec Creamery.

Immediately following the discussion, there will be a brief farm tour and update on the farm’s new organic dairy farmer training program. The event is open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, see https://pingree.house.gov/womeninagriculture.

B&B hosts art exhibit

The Kendall Tavern Inn Bed and Breakfast, located at 213 Main St., will hold a gallery opening for artist Shelby Crouse, on Sunday, June 28, from 6-7:30 p.m. Crouse was born in the Maine town of Mexico and now lives in Brunswick with her husband and family. Her peaceful and serene work is reflected in many media – oil, charcoals, pen and ink and especially watercolor, which has been her focus for the past 10 years. She has her own line of cards, is an art instructor, has illustrated for the Maine Educator as well as a local novelist, and has other commission experience. Her work will be available for viewing by appointment in the afternoon hours June 29 through the end of July. Those interested can call ahead at 865-1338.

Photography exhibit opens July 1

Portland photographer and artist Ann Tracy will have her photography featured at Freeport Community Library in an exhibit titled “Havana: An Insider’s Look at People, Cars and Places.”

The exhibit runs July 1-31. Tracy has traveled with Santa Fe Photo Workshops to Havana, Cuba. The organization has spent the last decade developing relationships with Fototeca de Cuba, the national gallery of photography in Havana, as well as other arts and cultural organizations. Tracy is also a self-described “digital alchemist” and couldn’t resist combining photos from her Cuba trip to create images that take on a variety meanings and elicit different emotions. Her art work has been exhibited from New York to Maui to Japan and can be found in private collections across the United States. She is a member of the Digital Arts Guild, Webists International Artists group, Professional Women Photographers and the Maine Artists Collective.

First-graders visit jewelers

Diane McLelland’s first-grade class at Morse Street School spent some time this spring learning about the state of Maine. On June 11, they visited R.D. Allen Freeport Jewelers, where store owner, Annette Evans, showed the class the collection of Maine tourmaline.

Election stats

Numbers from the Freeport’s Regional School Unit 5 budget validation referendum June 9:

• 1,296 ballots cast

• 20 percent voter turnout (6,466 registered voters)

• 102 absentee voters

• 917 Yes (70.75 percent)

• 378 No (29.17 percent)

• 1 blank (0.08 percent)

A full election report is available on the town’s website. Working on the election were Acting Town Clerk Mary Howe, election workers, wardens, and Judy Hawley from the Town Manager’s Office, who covered the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall on election day.

Hedgehog Mountain work update

The Freeport Conservation Commission has endorsed a plan to remove a couple of small trees and a few limbs from larger trees atop Hedgehog Mountain to provide a view toward the Presidential Range. Work is scheduled to be completed by late July.

Eagle Scout Quinton Lisback is building benches to allow visitors to enjoy the view. Two bridges leading to the summit trail are closed for reconstruction from June 22-July 24. While the Hedgehog property will not technically be closed, it will be difficult to access, so users expecting a casual stroll should avoid the area during that time.

Also, an intern from the National Park Service is developing a new sign system for the land, which will eliminate some of the guesswork that currently happens on the trails. These signs will be in place by the fall.

Also, construction has begun on storm water improvements to the Pownal Road Field and Hedgehog Mountain Road. Construction is scheduled to be completed by July.

Still time to sign up for Vacation Bible camp

The South Freeport Congregational Church is inviting all kids ages 5-12 to embark on an expedition to “climb” Mount Everest during the free Vacation Bible School summer camp program, running Sunday, June 28, from 4-6 p.m., and continuing from Monday, June 29-Thursday, July 2, from 9 a.m- noon. Children can explore God’s power in this interactive program, which involves music, arts and crafts, Bible stories and fun while learning about trekking on Mount Everest, the biggest mountain in the world.

For more information and registration, contact Beth at 865-4012. Spaces are still available.

Annual report now available

Printed copies of the Freeport Annual Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, are available at the Town Hall and online at www.freeportmaine.com. The cover of the report features a photograph, titled “Winslow Park,” contributed by Abigail Williams, who is an artist and Freeport resident. The town is looking for photographs or artwork of Freeport that can be donated for use in the 2015 annual report. It can be of any scene, event, or activity around town and should be taken during fiscal year 2015, July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. Photographs should be digital and of high resolution, not from a phone camera. Photos/artwork will be used as space permits.

Those wishing to contribute an item should contact Caroline Pelletier at 865-4743, ext.107 or email [email protected].

Earns degree

Samuel Skold graduated from Grove City College, Grove City, Pa., on May 16, earning a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish. Hel is a 2011 graduate of Freeport High School and is the son of Walter and Barbara Skold of Freeport.

Spring cleanup reminder

For the remaining days in June, Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Freeport residents can bring one free load of waste to the Recycling Center using the cleanup coupon contained in the town mailer that residents have received. Residents will be required to have a 2015 facility sticker ($6), which can be purchased at the Recycling Center the day of disposal or can be purchased ahead of time. As in years past, some material have fees associated with their disposal. A list of acceptable items and fees is included in the flyer and at www.freeportmaine.com. For more information, call 865-3740.

Historical maritime book talk at library

Writer Kevin Mills will speak on his most recent historical novel, “Sea of Liberty,” Monday, July 6, at 6:30 p.m., at Freeport Community Library. “Sea of Liberty” completes a trilogy based on the storied maritime history of Mills’ own ancestors who were privateers, shipbuilders, merchant mariners and lighthouse keepers. The previous two books in the series include “Sons and Daughters of the Ocean” and “Breakwater.” “Sea of Liberty” is loosely based on Eligood Mills, an early Portsmouth merchant mariner captured by the British during the Revolutionary War who ultimately made a daring escape to freedom.

Mills is a Lewiston Sun Journal sportswriter. Copies of “Sea of Liberty” will be available for purchase and signing.

Free summer lunch for kids

Freeport Community Services is running the Summer Free Lunch for Kids program, which runs now through Aug. 28, Monday through Friday except July 3, FCS will be preparing and serving free, healthy lunches for all children. Meals will be distributed at the Freeport Community Center, the Village View Apartments Community Room, at Mast Landing School, and Wildwood Acres on Elm Street. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m.-noon. There are no income or residency requirements. All children under the age of 19 are welcome.

For more information, call Sarah Lundin at 865-3985, ext. 205.

Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday to prepare, deliver, serve and monitor lunches at these sites. Those interested in helping can contact Debbie Daggett, volunteer coordinator, at 865-3985, ext. 206, or email [email protected].

Tea tasting

Five varieties of tea will be offered for sampling on Friday, July 3, from 6-7 p.m., at Jacqueline’s Tea Room, 201 Main St. in Freeport. For more information, see www.Jacquelinestearoom.com or call 865-2123.

Pancakes on the Fourth

St. Jude Church, at the corner of Main and School streets ,will be serving its traditional pancake breakfast from 7-10 a.m. on July 4, parade day. The cost for the “all you can eat” breakfast is $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. For more information, call 847-6890.

Library kids news

The Freeport Community Library Summer Reading Program runs through Aug. 27. This free program encourages children to read with programs, crafts and prizes throughout the summer. Those interested can stop by the Children’s Room to sign up.

The library is still in need of Legos to get a Lego club started. Donations can be dropped off at the Children’s Room.

Camp Seaside now enrolling

Freeport’s Camp Seaside is a summer day camp for children entering grades 1-5 and is based at Mast Landing School on Bow Street. Some of the time, weather permitting, will be spent at Winslow Park. Each week will also include a trip to a local state park or beach. Daily activities include sports, arts and crafts and games. Campers are divided into age-appropriate groups for most activities.

Camp fees include all field trips, special events and daily lunch. The day camp is, once again, teaming up with Freeport Community Services and the USDA’s summer lunch program. Staff of the day camp is made up of trained college and high school students who are also certified in CPR and first aid.

To register, call 865-6171, visit www.rsu5-rce.org or stop in at 17 West St., Freeport.

Looking for crafters

The South Freeport Congregational Church, 98 South Freeport Road, is looking for crafters for the annual Summer Blueberry Festival, Aug. 1. Vendors can include fine art, paintings, photographs, makeup demos, jewelry, antique items, purses, flowers and stampers. The fee is $25 for the full day, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Vendors must bring their own setup and display equipment. For more information, call SueAnn Randall at 865-1670.

Casco Bay CAN (Create Awareness Now) Coalition received a Greater Portland Council of Governments Regional ReCOGnition Award at its annual meeting on June 17. Casco Bay CAN is a regional initiative serving eight communities (Falmouth, Cumberland, Freeport, Yarmouth, Pownal, North Yarmouth, Gray and New Gloucester), based on volunteer participation, including a Law Enforcement Subcommittee, resulting in successful youth substance prevention and intervention services. Shown fro left are Lt. Milton Calder, Chief Joseph Charron, Chief Edward Tolan, Kaleigh Sloan, Chief Mike Morill, Lt. John Kilbride, Director Beth Blakeman-Pohl and Council of Government representative Ed Suslovic. “The success has only come from the collaboration of parents, youth, schools, advocates and law enforcement,” said Kilbride, of the Falmouth Police Department. For more information on the organization, contact Blakeman-Pohl at 865-3985×208 or [email protected]. Courtesy photoTeam members from Girls on the Run, a youth development program, volunteered their time to further beautify Leon Gorman Park. They are responsible for some of the plantings by the entrance sign. Girls in the front row are, from left, Karen Li, Tessa Errico, Lily Welsher, Grace Whittaker, Gemma Howard and Emily Wilson. Coaches in back row, from left, are Julie Coleman, Kate Smith, Sverre St. John, Chloe Whittaker and Doug Leland. Girls not pictured are Madeline Smith and Grace Foster. Courtesy photo