The second weekend of Freeport FebFest, a month-long celebration of the arts in Freeport, is all about the music.

Freeport Friday Just Desserts will offer up music from David Watts, a singer, pianist and music instructor at Freeport High School, at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 5, at the Freeport Community Center. Admission is $5 for tasty music and desserts.

On Feb. 6, the Freeport Community Library and Freeport First Parish Congregational Church both will have music in the air. Miss Lisa’s Songs & Stories – music, dancing and stories for instants, toddlers and preschoolers, a free event at the library – will run from 10:30-11 a.m. At the Congregational Church, from 4-7 p.m., singer and acoustic guitarist Randy Lindsey will perform a free folk traditions music session.

Then, on Thursday, Feb. 11, when people are gearing up for the following weekend, FebFest will give them something to laugh about. The Mediterranean Grill will host the Freeport Players’ Comedy Showcase, featuring Karen Morgan, Zac Stearn and friends. Five comedians will perform individual stand-up comedy acts for adults. Seating is limited and admission is $15.

Elizabeth Guffey, artistic director for Freeport Players, said has seen both Morgan and Stearn perform.

Morgan began her comedy career as a finalist on Nickelodeon’s “Search for the Funniest Mom in America.” She performs in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.

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“Karen tells stories, many of them from the South, where she is from,” Guffey said. “It’s not a lot of one-liners.”

Stearn has been performing stand up comedy since he was 7, when he was billed as “Maine’s Youngest Comedian.”

“Zac is interesting, because his mother was deaf so he does a lot of comedy about growing up in a deaf household, and interacting with the deaf,” Guffey said. “He gives you the greatest faces. There’s more physicality to what he does.”

On Friday, Feb. 12, FebFest switches gears. At 7:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center, the Freeport Writers Group will present “Eclectica II,” readings by local authors including Jonas Werner, Guffey, JoyEl Couch, Sam Smith, Monica Kissane, Calvin Hooker, Cole Tamminen and Lillian Haversat. The authors use a wide range of literary genres, including poetry, memoirs, editorials, young adult fantasy, plays and novels.

Refreshments will be available. The event is BYOB, and parental discretion is advised. Admission is whatever people care to contribute, and $10 buys an anthology of work by the group. The event contact is info@fcponline.org.

FebFest changes its tone again on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Freeport First Parish Church Congregational. All proceeds from the “Miracles Eatery” public dinner, to be served from 5-7:30 p.m, will go toward an innovative new church program that will train unemployed or underemployed people in culinary and other skills, as well as more economic self-sufficiency. A pasta dinner at the church will cost $10 and up and the traditional bean supper will be $8.

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Sonya Voutour, a member of the church and owner/bake master at Maine Shore Lobster Bakes, approached the congregation with the Miracles Eatery concept in November.

“Everybody we’ve talked to was overwhelmingly supportive,” Voutour said. “We’ve connected with the high school.”

Through that connection with Freeport High, Voutour has arranged for 10 students to help serve the Miracles Eatery dinner.

“Those two days are going to be our kickoff days,” Voutour said. “We’re keeping it very simple for those kickoff days.”

Voutour said she learned the concept of letting people help themselves – and receiving assistance in turn – from Jim Lumsden, a Freeport native and teacher who started the lobster bakes business 50 years ago.

“He worked with a lot of kids, giving them a hand in life,” she said. “When I took over the business five years ago, I continued that. We got a homeless high school student a job, we help kids pay for their driver’s education.”

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Miracles Eatery, which will develop into a four-days-a-week meal at the church in May, can be for adults, too.

“If there’s a person who’s lost their job and can’t put oil in the tank, instead of giving them a handout, let them come down and volunteer for us, and we’ll help them out,” Voutour said.

The program will not be limited to cooking. The church will put people to work doing dishes, maintenance work, cleaning and painting.

The event doesn’t end with the dinner. At 7, well-known local artist Tom Acousti will perform. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, with a $2 discount for people attending the Miracles Eatery dinner.

For more information on the concert, see www.tomacousti.com/feb13. The event contact for the dinner is Patty Kennedy at patty4kennedy@gmail.com, 865-0848 or Sonya at Miracleseatery@gmail.com, 865-6022.

2016 Freeport FebFest Schedule

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Wednesday, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24: Coffee by Design, 95 Main St., 8-10 a.m., Freeport Creative Arts presents Urban Sketchers Group. Bring along your materials, buy a cup of coffee or tea and sketch away. Free.

Wednesday, Feb. 3 and 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Freeport High School room 103, RSU5 Community Programs presents “Getting Comfortable, On Stage and Off.” New and experienced actors join newcomers for theater workshop with Carmela Castro of Freeport Players. Admission, $15, $20 non-Regional School Unit 5 residents. www.rsu5-fce.org.

Friday, Feb. 5, 6:45 p.m.: Freeport Community Center, MASISTA and Freeport Community Services present Freeport First Friday “Just Desserts” featuring music from David Watts and friends. Admission, $5.

Friday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m.: L.L. Bean Flagship Store camping department atrium, L.L.Bean Lecture Series event “The Isle of Shoals: 5,000 Years of Marine Ecology.” Learn about the archaeology of 17th century fishing stations, with a focus on Maine’s Isles of Shoals. Free, space is limited. www.llbean.com/adventure.

Saturday, Feb. 6, 10:30-11 a.m.: Freeport Community Library, Miss Lisa’s Songs & Stories. Music, dancing, songs and stories for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. www.freeportlibrary.com.

Saturday, Feb. 6, 4-7 p.m.: Freeport First Parish Church Congregational , Folk Traditions Music Session, facilitated by Randy Lindsey.

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Monday, Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m.: Freeport Community Library, poet Jennifer Lamson-LaPlume reads from “Anything But Empty.” www.freeportlibrary.com.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5-7 p.m.: Royal River Heat Pumps, 132 U.S. Route 1, Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce presents Business After Hours, featuring exhibit of works by local artists Julia Doughty and Polly Smith. Free. Registration required at www.freeportmainechamber.com.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6-8 p.m.: Freeport High School room 203, RSU5 Community Programs presents “Collage Glass Charm.” Make your own mini-collages using paper, text, photos and other ephemera. $35, $40 non-RSU 5 residents. Register at www.rsu5-fce.org.

Thursday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.: Mediterranean Grill, 10 School St., Freeport Players hosts Comedy Showcase with Karen Morgan, Zac Stearn and friends. Stand-up comedy for adults. Admission $15, seating is limited. info@.fcponline.org.

Friday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Freeport Community Center, Freeport Writers Group presents “Eclectica II,” readings by local authors including Jonas Werner, Elizabeth Guffey, JoyEl Couch, Sam Smith, Monica Kissane, Calvin Hooker, Cole Tamminen and Lillian Haversat. Admission, pay what you want, $10 buys an anthology of work by the group. info@fcponline.org.

Saturday, Feb. 13, 5-7:30 p.m.: First Parish Church Congregational, Main Street, “Miracles Eatery” public dinner. Enjoy either a homemade pasta dinner or a traditional bean supper. All proceeds to benefit new program that teaches unemployed or underemployed youth and adults culinary skills to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Pasta dinner $10 and up. bean supper, $8.

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Saturday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m.: Tom Acousti in concert, First Parish Church Congregational. Admission $12 in advance; $15 at the door, $2 discount if you attend the Miracles Eatery Dinner prior to the show. For reservations, email gracie@tomacousti.com.

Friday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.: L.L. Bean Flagship Store, camping atrium department, L.L.Bean Lecture Series, “The Shetland Islands, UK: Archaeology & History.” Professor Gerald Bigelow of Bates College talks about the “Broo” catastrophe, still unsolved. Space is limited. www.llbean.com/adventure.

Friday-Sunday, Feb. 19-21, 5-9 p.m.: Hilton Garden Inn, FreeportUSA presents Flavors of Freeport. Throughout the weekend, find a variety of food events from chocolate factory tours and cocktail competitions, to a wine dinner and lobster brunch. Free tastings and demonstrations hosted all over town. Flavors of Freeport Ice Bar with music by Motor Booty Affair. Full scheduled at www.FreeportUSA.com.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m.: Pine Tree Academy gymnasium, 67 Pownal Road, Pine Tree Academy presents Pops Concert with Coastal Winds and the Pine Tree Academy Band. 865-4747.

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Bow Street Market, RSU5 Community Programs presents “Identifying Wines in Blind Tasting.” Develop knowledge of many wines by tasting with a purpose. $29, $34 non-RSU 5 residents. Register at www.rsu5-fce.org.

Thursday, Feb. 25, 6-8:30 p.m.: Freeport Community Center, RSU5 Community Programs presents “Celebrating Citrus.” Culinary arts workshop with instructor Christine Burns-Rudalevige. $39, $44 for non-RSU 5 residents. Register at www.rsu5-fce.org.

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Friday, Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m.: Freeport Community Library, “Stories and Readings from the Poemobile,” with Freeport poet and founder of the Dead Poets Society of America, Walter Skold. He’s made dead poets’ graves his destination as he’s criss-crossed the nation in his Poemobile. Skold visited his 500th grave last summer. : www.freeportlibrary.com.

Friday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m.: L.L. Bean Flagship Store, camping department atrium, L.L.Bean Lecture Series, “Benedict Arnold’s March To Quebec: Geologic & Topographic Challenges,” presented by Bruce Rueger of Colby College. Space is limited. www.llbean.com/adventure.

Saturday, Feb. 27, 3 p.m.: Freeport First Parish Church Congregational, Pine Tree Academy Bell Ringers in concert. Donations accepted. 865-4747.

Feb. 27, 7 p.m.: Maine Coast Waldorf School, Greater Freeport Community Chorus Cabaret Night. Musical from members of Greater Freeport Community Chorus and Freeport Players in a cabaret format. Admission $15, reservations recommended. 844-1166.

Saturday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.: Freeport Community Library, Open Stage Coffee House, an opportunity for performers to get in front of a supportive audience of peers and fans. Performers can sign up for slots upon arrival until schedule is full.

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2-4 p.m.: Freeport Community Library, Music Jam-Along. Make music with friends and neighbors.

Freeport Firsh Parish Congregational Church members Sonya Voutour, left, and Patty Kennedy are getting ready for the Miracles Eatery Public Dinner, scheduled for Feb. 13 at the church.


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