Woman’s Club hosts

humane society director

The Freeport Woman’s Club will host Joe Montisano, executive director of the Coastal Humane Society of Brunswick, on Friday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library meeting room. He will describe Coastal Humane Society’s mission and vision, animal adoptions, volunteer opportunities, and how animal sheltering in Maine differs from other places in the country. Some adoptable dogs will accompany Montisano.

Those attending are asked to bring contributions to the annual pet food drive that will take place at this meeting. It is requested that pet foods contain protein rather than fillers as the first ingredient. Pet food and supplies will be split between the Coastal Humane Society and Freeport Community Services. The program will be followed by a business meeting and refreshments. All are welcome.

The Freeport Woman’s Club is a service organization that has been in existence for some 90 years. It meets once a month at the Freeport Community Library for a business meeting and program. The club’s fundraising projects include a Spring Bazaar and a bake sale on Election Day. Money raised provides local scholarships, community improvements, donations to Freeport Community Services and support for women seeking career education. The monthly meetings include presentations on a variety of topics and are open to the public. New members are welcome. Contact Betty Duckworth, 847-0240, or elizhard32@aol.com.

Bean lectures

this weekend

A talk, “The Summit Project: Honoring Maine’s Fallen Heroes,” will be presented Friday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m., in the camping department atrium of L.L. Bean. David Cote will speak about the nationally recognized Summit Project, which pays tribute to fallen service members from Maine who have died in the line of duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Cote will share stories and photos from friends and family members who have reached mountain summits in remembrance of their loved ones.

On Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m., Bill Yeo, of L.L. Bean, will present a film, “Bikepacking Bolivia,” highlighting his adventure circumnavigating the Cordillera Real and Quimsa Cruz ranges of Bolivia, in the fall of 2015 with three companions.

Both events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. It is recommended that reservations be made at www/llbean.com/adventure.

Y plans kids’

Valentine’s event

On Friday, Feb. 12, from 5-8:30 p.m., Casco Bay Regional YMCA, 14 Old South Freeport Road, will hold “Kids Night Out – Valentine’s Day Dinner.” Children will have dinner and take part in activities such as games, arts and crafts, and free play. The Y will be transformed into a festive holiday restaurant, “Cafe ? Prime Time,” just for kids. Reservations should be made early, as this “restaurant” does not take walk-ins. Dressing up is encouraged. A minimum number of registrations may be required in order to hold this program. Children must be toilet-trained in order to attend.

Register at www.ymcaofsouthernmaine.org/main/online-registration or call 865-9600.

‘Birds On Tap – Roadtrip!’

takes off Feb. 28

Freeport Wild Bird Supply is teaming with the Maine Brew Bus for a series of road trips called “Birds On Tap – Roadtrip!”

Each tour combines two to three hours of birding at one of Maine’s bird hotspots with a visit to two local breweries. The idea for this series comes on the heels of several successful programs sponsored by Freeport Wild Bird Supply, working with some Maine breweries to combine birding and beer enjoyment. It began with the “Birds, Books, and Beers” author book signings at Maine Beer Co. in 2013. The new tradition continues with the “Birds On Tap!” lecture series at Rising Tide Brewing in Portland.

“We take the pressure off learning about complex topics from identifying shorebirds to hops characteristics. These trips are truly unique, we know of no other similar tours offered anywhere in the world,” said Derek Lovitch, co-owner of Freeport Wild Bird Supply, in a press release. “These tours are a perfect way for couples or friends with different interests to spend the day together.”

Don Littlefield, Maine Brew Bus general manager, said that “this pairing of bird observation and beer education has proven to be a real hit with all kinds of folks. It gives access to diverse areas of Maine and many different bird species, and also great locally produced Maine beer.”

In 2016, six different trips will be offered, from Kittery to Lewiston. Traveling in the Maine Brew Bus, the first half of each tour is spent in the field with Lovitch, learning about the birds and their habitats. This is followed by two brewery tours led by the Maine Brew Bus guides.The first trip, called Surf and Suds, is Feb. 28, in the York and Ogunquit area, finding winter waterfowl and alcids (sometimes referred to as the “penguins of the north”). The bus then stops at Hidden Cove and Fore River Brewing.

The full schedule, information on each tour, and how to register are posted at www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com/birdingtoursinMaine.asp.

Coffee house Feb. 27

The next Open Stage Coffee House is set for Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m., in the Freeport Community Library meeting room. The coffee house is a relaxed performance opportunity for budding artists and established entertainers, featuring music, poetry, skits and comedy. Just show up and sign up to perform or just plan to be in the audience. Admission is free and refreshments are served.

For more information, contact Andrea Bryant, andreabryant73@gmail.com, or call 939-5399.

GOP to meet

The Freeport Republican Committee will meet at Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 6:45 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge, Mallett Drive, lower level. Guest speaker will be Ande Smith, candidate to represent Maine’s 1st Congressional District. Smith resides with his family in North Yarmouth. Those who attend are asked to bring non-perishable or personal items for the 12th annual Freeze Out “Warm Your Heart” being collected for Freeport Community Services.

For more information or to be added to the email list, email Jason Thyen, chairman, jason.thyen@gmail.com.

Save the date

for variety show

The Freeport Lioness-Lions Club will host its next fundraising variety show on Saturday, April 9, at 7 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. Admission is $10, and $3 for children under 12.

Solarize Freeport

Phase 2 launching

The kickoff event of Phase 2 of Solarize Freeport is set for Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Town Hall in Freeport. Participants will learn how to reduce energy costs in homes or businesses. Sessions will include information on solar, heat pumps, weatherization, pellet boilers, financing options and incentives from Efficiency Maine. For more information, contact Town Planner Donna Larson at 865-4743, ext.103, or dlarson@freeportmaine.

Saving time

The town Finance Department has issued approximately 250 sets of new vehicle license plates to Freeport residents since October. In addition to new plates, there are several other classes of transactions that the finance department can now also process, such as transfer of existing plates to a new vehicle, which usually required a trip to a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office to complete. According to the finance department, this convenience alone has saved several hundred hours of resident time driving to the bureau office, waiting in line and driving home.

Art Guild exhibit

This month, the Freeport Community Library is showing the annual display of fine art by members of the Art Guild of Freeport. Seven oil and watercolor painters will have their original landscape and still-life art on exhibit in the library’s main reading room. Artists include Shelly Breton, Christy Deveault and Beth Edmonds of Freeport, Jerry Corey of Westbrook, Caroline Paine and Debra Serino of Yarmouth and Ann Schutz of Falmouth.

College honor

The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y., has named Alayna Frey of Freeport to the dean’s list for the fall 2015 semester. Frey is one of 815 students to achieve this mark of academic excellence. To make the dean’s list, Frey had to complete a minimum of 12 credit hours and achieve a semester grade-point average of at least 3.5 with no grades of D, F, incomplete or pass/fail.

Church launches

Miracles Eatery

First Parish Church Congregational, 40 Main St., will hold two fundraising dinners, Feb. 12 and 13, and a Saturday concert on Feb. 13, to raise money and introduce its new Miracles Eatery culinary and food service community project. Dinners starting at 5 p.m. are open to the public and will showcase the Miracles Eatery and the culinary training program for high school students, and offer an affordable dining experience for Freeport area residents. The full program is slated to begin in March with a regular schedule of restaurant-style, home-cooked meals and student training.

The February menu will feature a selection of homemade pasta dinners at $10 or a traditional baked bean supper for $8. Seating and service will be restaurant style. For more information, For more information, leave a message for Sonya at 865-6022 or email miracleseatery@gmail.com.

On Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., the Miracles program will host an after-dinner fundraising concert featuring well-known Freeporter, Tom Acousti, musician/vocalist. Tickets for the concert range from $10-15. For concert tickets and details, visit www.tomacousti.com/feb13.

Landscaping is topic at series

Susan Cherbuliez, a Maine licensed landscape architect from South Freeport, will be the speaker at South Freeport Congregational Church’s next Wednesday Wisdom Series, on Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m., in the Community Hall of the church. A $5 donation is welcome. Dessert and beverages are provided.

Cherbuliez was trained in New York as a landscape architect, where she worked in both the public and private sector for 30 years, handling such projects as large parks, street improvements and health-care facilities. When she moved to Maine 10 years ago, she continued for some time to commute to New York to complete selected work of her firm, including residential projects. She maintains a limited practice in Maine.

Chocolate Bash

Freeport Community Library will host its 15th annual Chocolate Bash, a popular event including a buffet of bite-size chocolate temptations, on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Visitors can sample the array of chocolate treats for $2 per plate. There will also be raffles for chocolate desserts, a treat basket and an art basket made up of donations from members of the Art Guild of Freeport, whose annual art exhibit is on display in February at the library. Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and can be purchased the evening of the Chocolate Bash, or any time before then at the library’s main desk.The musical group Cul de Sax will provide live music at the event.

Farm programs

for kids

Wolfe’s Neck Farm is enrolling campers in grades 3-5 for February Vacation Camp, Feb. 16-18. Participants will explore life on the farm in the winter and how animals prepare for, and survive, this time of year. After barn chores and morning snack time, activities will center on what’s happening at the farm, the weather, and this year’s theme, “Winter on the Farm.” Activities could include lessons in winter barn management, livestock handling, animal tracking, building bluebird boxes and learning about animal hibernation and torpor.

Registration also is now open for all 2016 educational programs at Wolf’s Neck Farm, spring after-school programs and summer day camp. For details and registration information, call 865-4469, ext. 106, email education@wolfesneckfarm.org or see www.wolfesneckfarm.org.

Winter reminders

The Public Works Department reminds residents that for the winter season, 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.

Also, no parking is allowed on public streets nor in turnarounds during winter storm events. Residents should keep streets and turnarounds clear of vehicles (including trailers, campers, etc.) during a storm. The winter parking ban is now in effect, from 11 p.m.-7 a.m., and will continue until April 15.

Residents who have questions or concerns can call 865-4461.

Free tax prep assistance

AARP will conduct free tax preparation assistance Wednesday mornings beginning in February at the Freeport Community Center. Assistance is for low- to moderate-income households, with special attention to those 60 years and older. For an appointment, call 865-4743, ext. 100 and leave a message. Calls will be returned by Freeport Community Center volunteers once a week on Thursday mornings.

Upcoming meetings

Project Review Board, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Coastal Waters Commission, Wednesday, Feb.10, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Shellfish Conservation Commission, Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Traffic and Parking Committee, Monday, Feb. 15, 7:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

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

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