Town Hall has license plates

Freeport’s Finance Department has received temporary authorization from the Maine Secretary of State’s Office to issue motor vehicle plates. Full authorization will be given after the successful completion of a six-month probationary period.

The authorization required training of staff, as well as inspection and review by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of existing registration agent status, which was successfully completed in October. Residents will no longer be required to make the trek to the motor vehicles office in Topsham to complete most vehicle registrations.

New program eyed for alternative heat

Town Planner Donna Larson is studying the feasibility of a second joint-purchasing program, modeled on last year’s successful Solarize Freeport program, for purchases of alternative heating systems such as heat pumps and pellet furnaces. Interest from the community is being gauged. Residents who are interested in learning more should contact Larson at 865-4743, ext. 120.

Winter reminders from Public Works

Looking ahead to the winter season, the Public Works Department has reminded Freeport residents that they are allowed two 5-gallon buckets of sand per storm. Sand is located adjacent to the silver recycling bullet on Hunter Road in front of the public works facility.

The winter parking ban is now in effect, from 11 p.m.-7 a.m., and will continue until April 15. No parking is allowed on public streets or in turnarounds during winter storm events. Residents should keep streets and turnarounds clear of vehicles (including trailers, campers, etc.) during a storm.

Residents who park vehicles in driveways should keep sidewalks clear so sidewalk machines are not restricted from doing their job. Residents should not push snow from their driveways into sidewalks or public streets.

For more information, call the department at 865-4461.

‘A Gateless Garden’ book signing set

Freeport Community Library will host a book signing for “A Gateless Garden: Quotes by Maine Women Writers,” on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The book was edited by Liza Bakewell, with photography by Kerry Michaels, both Freeport residents. It features 100 quotes from 1800 to the present and 100 black-and-white photos from across the state. “A Gateless Garden” features a potpourri of Maine women writers’ meditations on community, collectivity, landscape, gardening, love, desire and family.

Food for Fines

During December, overdue charges at the Freeport Community Library will be eliminated from borrowers’ accounts in exchange for donations of non-perishable food items that are comparable in value to fines. For example $1 in fines equals one can of food. All proceeds collected will go to the Food Pantry at Freeport Community Services.

Residents should alert the library staff when they bring the non-perishable food items in to be sure the donations are applied to borrowers’ accounts.

Step-up grant

The Freeport Woman’s Club is looking for a candidate for its 2015-16 Step Up Grant, a $1,000 gift for a woman over the age of 21 from Freeport or Pownal who is seeking occupational training and is experiencing financial need. Criteria for selection of the applicant are based upon financial need, clarity of goals, educational program and references. For more information, call Virginia Boyles at 865-3973.

Chorus to perform ‘Visions of Hope’

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will present its winter concert, “Visions of Hope,” Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13, at 2:30 p.m., at the Congregational Church in Cumberland, United Church of Christ, 282 Main St. The concert will include works by English composers, as well as Jewish choral pieces. The event also will feature Jay Zoller’s accompaniment of the 75-member chorus on pipe organ. Director Virgil Bozeman leads the singers, with piano accompaniment by Kellie Moody.

On the program is “Christmas Day,” a 1910 arrangement of carols by Gustav Holst. Another major piece will be organist and composer Samuel S. Wesley’s “The Wilderness and the Solitary Place.” Music from the Jewish choral tradition will include a setting by David Burger of the Naftali Imber poem that ultimately became the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikvah (The Hope).”

The chorus members hail from 18 midcoast towns. Admission is $10, with a per-family maximum of $25. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit the chorus on Facebook or at www.gfccsings.org.

Youth chorale ?to perform

The 18th annual “A Wescustago Winter” concert by Wescustago Youth Chorale will be performed Sunday, Dec. 13, at 3 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. A reception will follow.

Wescustago Youth Chorale is an 80-voice auditioned coed choir of singers from third to 12th grades. Singers hail from Freeport, Durham, Pownal, Bath, Brunswick, Portland, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, North Yarmouth, Dresden and Phippsburg. The chorale is conducted by Amanda Mahaffey of Freeport, Jen Runge of Yarmouth, and Renovia Day of Topsham.

Tickets, at $10, $5 for students and seniors 65 and older, will be sold at the door, starting at 2 p.m. For more information, see www.wescustago.wordpress.com or call Leigh at 846-0705.

‘Coastal Winds Christmas’ Dec. 15

“Coastal Winds Christmas”, by Freeport’s community concert band, featuring holiday classics such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride,” will be performed Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m., in the Casco Bay Room of the Harraseeket Inn, 162 Main St., Freeport. There will be hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. The suggested admission is a non-perishable food item for the Freeport Community Services Food Pantry or a cash donation.

For more information call 865-4747. New members to the band are always welcome.

Book illustrator coming to library

Portland artist Blue Butterfield will be the featured guest Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 6:30 p.m., at Freeport Community Library.

She is the illustrator of a new, special edition of “Christmas in Maine,” released by Islandport Press of Yarmouth, featuring intricate woodblock print illustrations. The book captures the same holiday themes as the 1941 book by Pulitzer Prize-winning Maine poet Robert P. T. Coffin. The evening will include readings, as well as a printmaking demonstration. Butterfield grew up in Bar Harbor and lives in Portland. She is known for her woodblock calendar, “A Year in Maine,” which is in its ninth year of annual production.

2015 Holiday Helpline

The Holiday Helpline program, available to Freeport and Pownal residents, provides warm clothing, toys and holiday cheer. Freeport Community Services is hoping to find volunteers, donations and the adoption of each family that has signed up. Community volunteers are essential to the success of the Holiday Helpline program. Here is how to help:

• Adopt a family: While the toys come from the toy fund, FCS still hopes to supply two articles of warm clothing per child, and one gift for each adult in the family.

• Adopt an adult: FCS provides one gift per adult, for some elderly, disabled, ill or unemployed adults. This may be the only gift they receive this holiday season.

• Provide cash donations: FCS uses these donations for items such as Bow Street Market gift cards and gas cards. Each family or adult, in addition to the gifts provided by donors, will receive a “Fund-a-Feast” Box from Hannaford and a Bow Street Market gift card. Donors also can make a contribution to the toy fund.

• Donate time: Help with gift wrapping, sorting, and delivering gifts and food boxes.

To volunteer, contact Debbie Daggett, at 865-3985, ext. 206. To adopt a family, make a contribution or apply for help, contact Sarah Lundin, 865-3985, ext. 205, as soon as possible.

2015 Citizen ?of the Year

Each year the Freeport Town Council presents a Citizen of the Year Award to honor those who have contributed significantly to the quality of the town. Nominations are now being accepted. Nomination forms are available at the Town Hall, Freeport Community Library and at www.freeportmaine.com. Deadline is Dec. 10.

Upcoming meetings

Coastal Waters Commission, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Shellfish Commission, Thursday, Dec. 10, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Winslow Park Commission, Monday, Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Town Hall.

Recyclng/Solid Waste Committee, Monday, Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall Conference Area.

Traffic & Parking Commission, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Town Council, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.