Recognition for Bustins Island

Bustins Island, a small seasonal community located in Freeport, was awarded recognition as Maine’s eighth Firewise Community by the National Fire Protection Association and Firewise Communities/USA. Presenting the award July 18 to Bustins Island was Forest Ranger Specialist Kent Nelson, from the Maine Forest Service and Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Also speaking at the event was Freeport Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Paul Conley. The Firewise Communities/USA status was earned by Bustins Island in December 2014 after several requirements for the application were completed, but because residents gather during the summer months, the award was presented last week.

Receiving the award for the Bustins Island community was Faith Baker, chairwoman of the Bustins Firewise Task Force. After the award was presented, the island held its 2015 Firewise Day with special guest Smokey Bear from the U.S. Forest Service.

Bustins Island is a village corporation granted municipal governing autonomy by the Maine Legislature in 1914. Freeport provides fire, rescue and police support. There are about 117 cottages on Bustins, and roughly 230 residents on a summer weekend, according to Baker.

For more information on how neighborhoods can become Firewise Communities, visit www.firewise.org.

Calling all junior firefighters

The Freeport Fire Rescue Department is hosting a Fire/Rescue Junior Academy Aug. 3-7, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., for those ages 14-18. There will be hands-on training in fire and EMS skills taught by local fire department members and officers. A muster challenge and family cookout will take place on Friday. Families who have a junior firefighter interested in attending should call Sarah Cass at 865-3421, or email [email protected].

More music at library

Drummer Jordan Messan Benissan, a native of Togo, West Africa, will come to the Freeport Community Library on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 6 p.m. He is a teacher and performer and will entertain the audience with African drumming. The event is for children ages 6 and up.

Music’s Quill will return to Freeport Community Library on Friday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m., and will be joined by guest soprano Erin Chenard, presenting a program of songs and dialogues by English composer Henry Lawes (1595-1662). The evening of music combines voice accompanied by the lute.

The library’s first outdoor concert on July 8 was called a big success, with some 150 people turning out to enjoy the community steel drum band, Pan Fried Steel.

Town committees seek members

The town is in need of residents interested in serving on the newly established Active Living Committee, as well as other town committees. The Active Living Committee will consist of seven members and serve as a resource for initiatives outlined in the Active Living Plan. For those interested in serving on any town board or committee, applications are available at the Town Hall and at www.freeportmaine.com.

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. Some 30 households have already benefited from this program.

For information, contact Johanna Hanselman at the Town Hall, 865-4743, ext.120.

Nomination papers ready

Nomination papers are available for the Nov. 3 municipal election in the Town Clerk’s Office for those interested in seeking several seats up for election. Papers are due back to the Town Clerk’s Office no later than 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Seats up for election include one town councilor at large and one District 4 councilor, both three years; two three-year seats on the Regional School Unit 5 Board of Directors and one one-year seat; three three-year seats on the Sewer District; and one three year seat on the Water District.

For more information, call Freeport Town Clerk Christine Wolfe at 865-4743, Ext. 123 or email [email protected].

Winter People adds, promotes employees

Winter People Inc., a 28-year-old custom uniform and apparel provider, promotional products distributor and retail store located in Freeport, announced several recent new hires and promotions.

Faith Baker of Durham was hired as business development manager. She has experience as a marketing consultant in several industries, and previously worked as assistant director of marketing at Fluid Imaging Technologies of Scarborough.

Dee Quatticci of New Gloucester was hired as accounting clerk. She previously worked as assistant manager at the Simons Company in Portland.

Nina Elliott of Freeport was hired as customer service associate. She previously employed as Assistant Store Manager at The Body Shop in Freeport.

Ashley Bailey of Cumberland was promoted from supervisor of accounting to finance manager, and Heather Provost of Durham was promoted from accounting clerk to assistant retail manager.

Winter People Inc., founded in 1987 by the Bouton family, provides a full range of image marketing services to national and regional business and organization accounts. The Winter People retail store is located at the historic Big Indian on Route 1. For more information, see www.winterpeople.com.

Historical society events

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 5 p.m., the last summer tour of the historic Pettengill Farmhouse and grounds will take place.

The saltbox, built about 1800, has been preserved as a study house, marking its unique character as a home sustained over generations without the modern conveniences of running water, electricity or telephone. The house is situated on 140 acres that supported a saltwater farm and dairy, most recently by Mildred Pettengill and her brother, Frank. The home is now under the management of the Freeport Historical Society.

The one-hour tour will include a history of the farm and house, and will be led by Holly Hurd, historical society collections manager. The cost is $10 for the general public and $8 for Freeport Historical Society members. Those wishing to take part must register and pay for the tours at least 24 hours in advance. Attendees should meet at the gate entrance at the end of Pettengill Road, and will carpool to the site. Attendees should be at least 12 years old. No dogs are permitted on the grounds of Pettengill Farm.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org or call 865-3170.

Meanwhile, the Freeport Historical Society’s exhibit, “Cobblers to Capitalists: Two Centuries of Freeport Shoemaking,” continues through Jan 15, 2016, at Harrington House, 45 Main St. A donation of $3 to support the work of Freeport Historical Society is suggested.

Shoemaking was an important industry in Freeport for more than 100 years beginning with the Davis brothers factory on Beech Hill Road in 1872, and ending with the final pair of shoes manufactured in town by Eastland Shoe in 2001. The exhibit describes the history of shoemaking in Freeport, from the early itinerant cobblers who constructed custom-made shoes at people’s homesteads in the late 18th century, to the late 19th century assembly-line production characterized by a number of people making different shoe parts. Photographs, a number of shoes, early Bean boots, cobblers’ benches, hand tools, sewing machines, and other items related to the shoe industry are highlighted.

College honors

David Vitale, a 2012 graduate of Freeport High School, was initiated into Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honors Society, and elected secretary during the 2015 spring semester at University Maine. He also received Most Outstanding RA Award for the YAK (York, Aroostook and Kennebec) Complex.

Three Freeport students were named to the spring dean’s list at the University of Maine at Farmington. They are Samuel Bennett, Christopher Forest and Hannah Goodenow.

Tea tasting

Five varieties of teas will be available to sample on Friday, Aug. 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.

Blueberry Festival this weekend

South Freeport Congregational Church’s annual Summer Blueberry Festival is Friday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 2, on the church grounds at 98 South Freeport Road. Friday’s events run from 3-8:30 p.m. and include a jewelry and treasures sale, lobster dinner and concert by the Wicked Good Band. Saturday’s events start at 9 a.m. and include blueberry baked goods, bouncy house, pony rides, arts and crafts vendors, hula hooping, Spark’s Ark, Earth Jams Music, face painting, lobster roll lunch, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, smoothies and lemonade. A blueberry pancake breakfast is Sunday from 8-9:30 a.m., followed by an outdoor worship service under the tent, from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Cost of the Friday night lobster dinner is $20; Friday night concert is $10, combination dinner and concert $25, Saturday lunch prices vary, kids events on Saturday $5.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, see the Events and Happenings page at www.southfreeportchurch.com or call 865-4012.

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, Aug. 5, the group will meet to discuss Louise Penny’s “The Long Way Home,” the 10th in Penny’s popular Inspector Armand Gamache series.

Book talk

Author Chris Lombard will discuss his book, “Land of Horses: A True Story of a Lost Soul and a Life Found,” Wednesday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m., at Freeport Community Library.

Growing up in a small Maine town, Lombard had never ridden a horse, never even touched one, but on one fateful night when he thought he had lost everything, he met two horses and his life was changed forever. The encounter inspired him to leave everything behind and go in search of his newfound connection to horses. He has been back in Maine since 2003 and resides in Durham. For the last 10 years he has traveled the northeast helping people and their horses to build the trust that will allow them to be safe and have fun in any type of training or riding they choose.

Parents can learn about substance abuse by kids

What Parents Need to Know About Youth Substance Use, a free presentation for parents of children in grades 4-12, will be held Thursday, July 30, from 5:30-6:15 p.m., at the Casco Bay YMCA in Freeport. Parents can learn tips to start the conversation about substance abuse with kids, local trends in youth substance use and resources. The event is hosted by Casco Bay Create Awareness Now Coalition, a group of local individuals, schools, law enforcement agencies, organizations and businesses who work together to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse in Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, North Yarmouth, Pownal and Yarmouth.

For more information or to sign up, call John Lee, 865-9600, ext. 204 or see www.cascobaycan.org.

Cover photo sought for brochure

The RSU 5 Recreation & Community Education 2015 Fall Brochure is getting ready for publication and is accepting cover photo entries. The photo should be eye-catching and professional in its look and have a fall theme. It can be created using any graphics program(s) you like, but the final delivery should be sent in PNG or JPEG format. It will be used as the front cover for the 2015 Fall Programs Brochure, mailed to some 6,000 households in the RSU 5 district. The deadline to submit a photo is Friday, July 31, at noon. Photos can be sent to Anthony Johnson at [email protected]. For more information, call 865-6171.

Concert series continues

Winslow Park hosts Thursday concerts at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 13. This year’s Summer Concert Series theme is “Let’s Dance!” Day-use admission is charged (resident $2, non-resident $3). A playground and picnic area is also nearby for use. Campers and season pass holders attend free. The concerts are:

July 30: Zulu Leprechauns, renditions of songs of the past and present.

Aug. 6: The Delta Knights, rhythm and blues, oldies and familiar roots.

Aug. 13: Jimmy & The Soul Cats, back by popular demand, rhythm and blues.

Rain dates are Aug. 20 and 27. For more information, call 865-4198 or visit www.freeportmaine.com.

Farm offers tours

Wolfe’s Neck Farm is offering barnyard and organic garden tours on the hour, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, weather permitting. After meeting cows, sheep, goats and chickens, participants will ride in the hay wagon to see pastures and visit the seaside vegetable plot run by the Teen Agriculture Program. This is a drop-in program for all ages. Cost is $5 per person, free for ages 3 and under. Advance registration is not necessary. For more information, see www.wolfesneckfarm.org or call 869-5433.

Summer programs at state park

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is offering a new series, Summer Nature Explorations, designed for children ages 7-10 and their caregivers. The programs focus on hands-on nature discovery and nature awareness. Programs will include projects and experiments, active games involving stealth and creativity, and multi-sensory exploration. Programs are one hour long and are free with park admission. They take place on Sundays through Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. Pre-register by calling the park at 865-4465. For more information about the park, see www.maine.gov/wolfesneckwoods.

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 [email protected] 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 can contact [email protected] or call 865-6171.

Free lunch

Freeport Community Services is running the Summer Free Lunch for Kids program, which runs now through Aug. 28, Monday through Friday. 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.

Upcoming meetings

Board of Appeals, Monday, Aug. 3, 7 p.m., council chambers.

District 2 Town Council workshop, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m., Mallet Barn, 625 Wolfe’s Neck Road, followed by regularly scheduled council meeting, Town Hall.

Shellfish Conservation Commission workshop, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m., council chambers.

Bustins Island annual meeting with town officials, Tuesday, Aug. 25, boat leaves the Town Dock at 5 p.m. for Bustins Island.

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

Residents of Bustins Island were on hand July 18 when the island was awarded recognition as Maine’s eighth Firewise Community by the National Fire Protection Association and Firewise Communities/USA. Courtesy photo