Rotary plans ‘Crutches for Africa’ drive

The Freeport Rotary Club will be in the Fourth of July Parade holding a “Crutches for Africa” drive while walking in the parade. The Rotary Club and district 7780 have been collecting canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs and gently used prosthetic limbs for several years and shipping them to countries in Africa for distribution to needy people. This is a great way for people to clean out attics, basements or garages and to put the items back into service. Disabled people in these countries have little to no help from their governments. “Crutches for Africa” helps the people receiving these items regain some of their mobility and independence.

Carey Lockard, manager at Ben & Jerry’s, will donate 100 coupons for free ice cream cones which will be passed out to anyone who brings a usable item to be donated. If the event is successful, it may become an annual event.

Outdoor concert at the library

Freeport Community Library will host its first outdoor concert, featuring Pan Fried Steel, a community steel band based in Yarmouth, on Wednesday, July 8, at 6 p.m. Pan Fried Steel began 15 years ago and continues to draw new members from southern and midcoast Maine. Under the directorship of Ian Ramsay, chairman of the Arts Department at North Yarmouth Academy, Pan Fried Steel plays a diverse repertoire that includes calypso, reggae, soca, swing, and music made popular by such artists as Charlie Parker, Jimmy Buffet and the Beach Boys.

Families are invited to bring lawn chairs and a picnic supper to the performance. The library has a carry-in/carry-out policy. Trash from picnic suppers must be brought back home for disposal.

In the event of rain, the concert will move indoors to the Community Meeting Room, where food is not permitted and seating is limited to a maximum of 65 guests.

Ribbon cuttings coming up

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce has two upcoming ribbon cuttings during the next week for new businesses in Freeport. Businesspeople and residents are welcome. Light refreshments will be served and people can browse the businesses while getting to know the owners and staff. These events are free and no registration is required. For more information, call the chamber at 847-5240.

On Tuesday, July 7, at 11:30 a.m., Maine Wicked Goods Mercantile will have its ribbon cutting at 304 Route 1 South, across from Freeport Bike & Ski. The store will offer antiques and collectibles, Maine items and a large selection of Moxie products.

On Wednesday, July 15, from 3-6 p.m, there will be a ribbon cutting and open house at Freeport Medical Center, 23 Durham Road. This new facility is home to Dr. Brian Knighton and several other medical professionals. It will continue as a walk-in clinic.

Tickets on sale for farm feast

Wolfe’s Neck Farm will hold a “Family Farm Feast,” featuring local food prepared by Gather Farm Fresh Eatery and Frontier Cafe?, on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 5-8 p.m. Live music, dancing and kids activities will also be part of the event. Tickets for the farm-to-table dinner, available at www.wolfesneckfarm.org, are $50 for adults, $20 for children age 4 and up and free for children 3 and under. The price includes all food, drinks and activities.

The events support the Teen Ag Program, educating the next generation of farmers and small farm advocates while filling food pantry shelves. In the past three years, the Teen Ag Program donated more than 12,000 pounds of fresh produce to local food banks.

Summer book group

On the first Wednesday of each month, unless it falls on a holiday, a small group of area book lovers meets in the sunroom at Freeport Community Library from 6-7:45 p.m. to discuss a book of the group’s choosing. On Wednesday, July 1, the group will meet to discuss “The Tragic Menagerie,” by Lydia Zinovieva-Annibal. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, the book discussion will focus on “The Long Way Home,” by Louise Penny.

Elon University graduate

Rachel Pearl Kagan of Freeport graduated magna cum laude from Elon University in Elon, N.C., on May 16, She earned a bachelor of arts in economics and computer science. She attended Freeport High School and graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts in 2011. She is the daughter of Julie and Daniel Kagan of Freeport.

Rec soccer seeks sponsors, kids

Regional School Unit 5 Recreation & Community Education is accepting team sponsorships for the Fall Recreational Soccer League for grades K-6, beginning in late August. Sponsors receive their names on the back of one team’s shirts, recognition in the fall program guide (mailed to more than 6,000 households in the area) as well as a sponsor logo and link to the business on the website, www.rsu5-rce.org. Cost is $325 per team. Those interested should email Anthony Johnson at johnsona@rsu5.org for a sponsorship form or call 865-6171 for more information. Deadline to submit a sponsorship proposal is July 31.

Those interested in enrolling in the Fall Recreational Soccer League may contact johnsona@rsu5.org or call 865-6171.

Woman’s Club chooses officers

The Freeport Woman’s Club met Friday, June 19, for its annual meeting and luncheon at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant in Yarmouth.

The slate of officers and committee leaders for 2015-16 was presented: President, Chris LeHay; vice president, Sheri Bunting; secretary, Nancy Gunn; treasurer, Jackie Twomey; community improvement, Mary Hurd; education, Brenda Howard; historian, Susan Brackett; membership, Betty Duckworth; program, Betsy Roper; publicity, Nancy Clark; service, Jaquetta Searl-Grey; tea, Jane Bastey; communications, Harriet Canter.

Action for Animals Camp now enrolling

The Center for Wildlife Health Research and Community Spay-Neuter Clinic in Freeport has openings in the second session of its Action for Animals Camp, July 20-24.

The camp is for boys and girls ages 9-13 who want to help and protect animals. Campers will meet dogs and cats who have been rescued and are now waiting for a home. They will also talk with animal humane professionals about their animal rescue work, visit a veterinary clinic and be “veterinarian for a day.” They will work with ornithologists who mist-net birds, see native songbirds “in the hand,” learn about threats to at-risk species, take a field trip to pick up plastic trash that threatens marine life, organize an end-of-week fundraiser and donate proceeds to an animal charity of their choice. The camp will be held at Mast Landing School in Freeport, and registration is through Freeport Community Education, www.rsu5-rce.org/youth-programs. Cost of camp is $165 a week. The camp is limited to 13 campers and two instructors per session.

Photography exhibit opens

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.

Historical novel writer to speak

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 ddaggett@fcsmaine.org.

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.

Upcoming meetings

Planning Board, Wednesday, July 1, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Board of Appeals, Monday, July 6, 7 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Town Council, Tuesday, July 7, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Project Review Board, Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Coastal Waters Committee, Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

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

Copy the Story Link