Community chorus

celebrating 20th

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will celebrate 20 years of singing and community with a show called “GFCC Remembers,” on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1. Directed by Virgil Bozeman and accompanied by Kellie Moody, the singers will perform April 30, at 7:30 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St., and May 1, at 2:30 p.m., at First Parish Church Congregational, 40 Main St.

Chorus founder Sukie Rice will direct two pieces in a program comprising favorites from the group’s 20 years. Rice, a retired school music teacher, directed the chorus for its first seven years.

The chorus grew out of a Freeport Community Players tradition of performing the Christmas opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” Rice was the music director of the show, which included a Shepherds’ Chorus. “Each year we shepherds had such a great time,” Rice said. “People kept saying, ‘Why do we have to stop? Why do we have to wait a year to sing together again?’ ’’ And so the community chorus was born.

“The community portion – to me, that was what was so important,” Rice said. She believes the chorus allows people to “participate in this spiritual act of singing with others.” Fewer people belong to church choirs than in the past, she added, “so outside of their showers, where are they going to sing?”

Nearly 70 singers from 15 area towns will perform, and they have invited community chorus alumni to join them on the gospel piece, “My God Is an Awesome God.” The anniversary program of more than a dozen pieces also includes a setting of the poem, “Sure On This Shining Night”; the Nova Scotian folk song, “Away From the Roll of the Sea”; and the Cuban “Son de la loma.”

Admission is free for chorus alumni and $10 for other adults, with a per-family maximum of $25. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Visit the chorus on Facebook or at www.gfccsings.org.

Earth Day

in spotlight

A presentation Friday, April 22, at 7 p.m., in the camping department atrium of L.L. Bean, will celebrate Earth Day, highlighting sucess stores from coast to coast, with South Portland-based  nature photographer Dan Zukowski. Space is limited. Save a spot at llbean.com/adventure.

Wescustago Youth Chorale to perform

The 18th annual “A Celebration of Spring” concert by Wescustago Youth Chorale’s 90 auditioned youth singers will be performed Sunday, May 1, at 4 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center. Singers come from 12 area towns including Freeport, Brunswick, Pownal, Durham, Lisbon Falls, Bath, Phippsburg, Cumberland, Yarmouth, oFalmouth, South Freeport and Portland.

A selection of various genres of choral song will be performed, conducted by Renovia Day of Topsham, Jennifer Hand Runge of Yarmouth and Amanda Mahaffey of Freeport. Tickets are $10 adult, $5 for students and seniors 65-plus, at the door. For more information, visit www.wescustago.wordpress.com or call Leigh, 846-0705.

Lobster Cooker

aids Project Graduation

The Lobster Cooker, 39 Main St. in Freeport, is donating all counter tips for the month of April to the Freeport High School class of 2016’s Project Graduation.

On Thursday, April 28, Lori Vornees from radio station Q97.9 will be at the Lobster Cooker from 5-7 p.m. Also, from April 23-28, a dollar for every lobster roll purchased will be donated to the class.

Lawyers in Libraries

May 5 in Freeport

Freeport Community Library will participate in the statewide “Lawyers in Libraries” program, Wednesday, May 5, from 5-7:30 p.m. Lawyers will spend time in local libraries during Law Week, May 1-7, to provide resources and assistance to people in need, talk about statewide legal issues and meet with library patrons. The event is free and open to the public, but advance sign-up is required. A Maine lawyer will be available at the Freeport library for 15-minute, one-on-one, no-cost consultations. Those who would like to take advantage of the opportunity should sign-up in advance by calling the library at 865-3307.

Maine mystery writer

speaking in South Freeport

The South Freeport Congregational Church will host popular mystery author Julia Spencer-Fleming on Friday, May 13, for a lunch and talk. The lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., and will include Asian chicken salad, seasonal fruit soup, roll, and a rhubarb dessert. Spencer-Fleming, a University of Maine School of Law graduate, is a former military brat, and is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist. She has won the Agatha Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Awards, Dilys Award, Barry Award, the Nero Award and Gumshoe Awards. She has also been a finalist for the Edgar Award.

The cost for the event is $15 by reservation. Those interested can call 865-4012.

Paddle board

raffle set

L.L. Bean has donated a paddle-board package (paddle and lifejacket included) to The Port Teen Center this spring. It will be raffled off during the Sunday to Sundae 5K race on Sunday, June 5, at the Freeport Community Center. All proceeds will benefit the Teen Center. Ticket are $10 or three for $25. They can be purchased the RSU 5 Central office at 17 West St, Freeport, or by calling 865 6171. A limited number of tickets will be sold.

Series focuses on

managing diabetes

Maine Senior Guide is hosting a free diabetes workshop series beginning Tuesday, April 26, and continuing for five more Tuesday sessions, from 9:30 a.m.-noon, in the Bath Savings Institution board room at 189 Lower Main St., Freeport. The sessions are free and open to anyone with a diabetes or pre-diabetes diagnosis.

The free Stanford Diabetes Self-Management Program is taught and facilitated by Healthcentric Advisors, the quality improvement organization hired by Medicare to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes in Maine and other New England states.

People who attend the workshop will learn about healthy eating and cooking, problem solving, making action plans, planning meals, dealing with stress, relaxation and working with their health care team. The workshops include healthy snacks and time for questions each week.

Participants can register www.MaineSeniorGuide.com or by calling 232-7847.

Folk musicians

coming to Freeport

Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen will perform on Saturday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m., at the Barn at Windpointe, a rustic studio in the woods of Freeport that offers an intimate venue for enjoying music.

Kallet is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Larsen is a well-known player of the Irish flute and tin whistle, as well as an accomplished singer and concertina, fiddle, piano and harmonium player. As composers each contributes to the unique tapestry of contemporary folk and world music.Tickets are $15 and available at freeporthouseconcert.brownpapertickets.com. Contact Lyra at 869-5554 or [email protected] for more information.

High school art exhibit

The Freeport Community Library is exhibiting the artwork of Freeport High School students from Durham, Freeport and Pownal during April. The large, mixed-media exhibit, which showcases the artistic talent of some 70 area young people under the guidance of art teachers Kim Medsker-Mehalic and Charles Andreson, is sponsored and juried by the Freeport Woman’s Club. The exhibit can be viewed during normal library business hours.

Auditions for ‘The Odd Couple’

Freeport Players announces open auditions for its summer production, a female version of Neil Simon’s classic comedy, “The Odd Couple.” The auditions will take place Tuesday, April 26, and Wednesday, April 27, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. There are roles for six women and two men, ages approximately 35-65. Actors should attend either of the two audition sessions and be prepared to cold-read excerpts from the play.

In Neil Simon’s re-imagining of his original play, neurotic neat freak Florence Ungar moves in with slovenly Olive Madison. Poker night is replaced by Trivial Pursuit with the girls, and neighbors Manolo and Jesus Costazuela distract the women with their romantic overtures.

Rehearsals begin in early May. Performances are Fridays-Sundays, July 15-31, at Freeport Performing Arts Center. There will be a special pay-what-you-want preview on Thursday, July 14. For complete audition details, visit www.fcponline.org/auditions/.

Freeport Players was founded in 1989 to provide opportunities for members of the community to be involved in all aspects of theater. Freeport Players produces a wide range of theater experiences – classical and contemporary, comedies and dramas, plays and musicals.

Freeport’s Got Talent’

coming up April 29

Freeport High School’s Interact Club will be hosting a talent competition, “Freeport’s Got Talent,” on Friday, April 29, from 6-8 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center. A lasagna dinner will be served as the audience views the performances by students and community members.

All proceeds go to the Uganda Project, a charity that raises money to send Ugandan youths to trade school or college. Those interested in participating in the competition should contact club president Ethan Pierce, [email protected]. Prizes will be awarded for winning performances.

Tickets are $10 per person, $35 for a family of four.

‘Run of the Royal’

canoe race planned

The Royal River Conservation Trust is sponsoring its first “Run of the Royal” canoe race on Saturday, May 14. Patterned after Boston’s Run of the Charles, this corporate-sponsored, four-leg canoe relay race will raise money for the Royal River Conservation Trust and its plans to acquire and improve paddling access points and shoreline habitat up and down the river.

The relay race course will begin and end at Yarmouth History Center on East Elm Street in Yarmouth. Canoes and paddles will be provided, and there will be local cuisine, live music, an art show and raffle. There is an early discounted registration fee through April 22. For more information and to register go to www.rrct.org. For questions, contact race director David Truesdell at [email protected].

Free Thursday films

The Freeport Community Library invites the public to enjoy a free film once a month on Thursdays. Films scheduled, both starting at 1 p.m., include the comedy, “The Intern,” starring Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway, PG-13, on April 21; and the documentary, “He Named Me Malala,” also rated PG-13, on May 19.

Freeport GOP to meet

The Freeport Republicans will meet Wednesday, April 20, at 6:45 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge, 33 Mallett Drive, lower level. Meet-and-greet guest speaker is Ande Smith, candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat in November. Smith, a Maine native small-business owner and attorney, lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and children. Those attending are asked to bring non-perishable items to donate to Freeport Community Services. Needed are men’s, women’s and children’s personal items.

For more information or to be added to the email list, contact Jason Thyen, chairman, [email protected].

Upcoming meetings

Board of Appeals, Monday, May 2, 7 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Town Council, Tuesday, May 3, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Planning Board, Wednesday, May 4, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

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

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will celebrate 20 years  on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1