Two Bean talks

this weekend

Author Peter Kick will present a program, “Desperate Steps: Life, Death and Choices Made in the Mountains of the Northeast,” Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m., at the L.L. Bean camping department atrium. The audience will learn how essential it is to prepare for every aspect of backcountry travel. Kick will examine several backcountry recreation incidents, some fatal, and some near fatal, that have occurred recently.

On Saturday, May 14, also at 7 p.m., in the camping department atrium, Mike Libecki will present “From Antarctica and Beyond: Expeditions and First Ascents around the World,” a look at the magic, power and beauty of the most remote spots on earth. An adventure climber turned worldwide explorer with more than 50 expeditions to his name, Libecki will share two of his most challenging and rewarding expeditions at two extremes, sub-zero Antarctica and the Marquesas Islands jungles.

The talks are free.

Public Works

open house

The Freeport Public Works Department is hosting an open house on Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at 7 Hunter Road, in conjunction with National Public Works Week. The event will showcase the town’s public works professionals and some of the heavy equipment used regularly, including including dump/plow trucks, the excavator, bulldozer, loader, backhoe, sweeper and

sidewalk machine. The open house is a chance to meet the people, see the equipment essential to protecting the health and safety of Freeport residents, and learn more about the department and related environmental issues. Light refreshments will be served on site.

Freeport High wins

wins recycle prize

Freeport High School has won $100 in the fifth annual Maine Recycles Championship. In eight weeks, participating schools statewide returned 379,507 containers to their local Hannaford stores and raised more than $20,000. CLYNK and Hannaford are awarding $1,700 in prize money to the winning schools. Additionally, Hannaford matched 50 cents for each dollar raised, totaling $10,178.15.

Free film

The next free film scheduled to be screened at Freeport Community Library is a documentary, “He Named Me Malala,” on Thursday, May 19, at 1 p.m. The film, by Davis Guggenheim, is an intimate portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was targeted by the Taliban and severely wounded by a gunshot when returning home on her school bus in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The then-15-year-old was singled out, along with her father, for advocating for girls’ education, and the attack on her sparked an outcry from supporters around the world. She miraculously survived and is now a leading campaigner for girls’ education globally as co-founder of the Malala Fund.

GOP to meet

The Freeport Republicans will meet Wednesday, May 18, at 6:45 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge, 33 Mallet Drive, lower level. The guest speaker is Paul Schulz, candidate for the District 48 Maine House of Representatives seat, representing Freeport and Pownal, this November. Those who attend 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, at [email protected].

School hosting

May Faire

May Faire will be held Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Maine Coast Waldorf School, 57 Desert Road, Freeport. The family day of festive activities includes Maypole dancing, games, puppet shows, food and drink. Medieval garb is encouraged. Admission to the event is free. For more information, see www.MaineCoastWaldorf.org.

Bean supper

at First Parish

A bean supper will be held on Saturday, May 14, from 5-6 p.m., at First Parish  Church Congregational, 40 Main St., Freeport. On the menu will be three kinds of homemade baked beans, macaroni and cheese, American chop suey, hot dogs, rolls, pickles, coleslaw, pies, beverages and more. The cost is $9, and $4 for children. Profits support outreach programs.

Talent show raises

$800 for charity

Members of the Freeport High School Interact Club raised $800 at their successful benefit event, a dinner and the “Freeport’s Got Talent” show on May 6 at the Freeport Community Center. All proceeds will benefit Uganda Project. The students exended their thanks to their sponsors, Antonia’s Pizzeria, Olivia’s Garden, Coffee By Design and When Pigs Fly.

Spring Cleanup

For the month of June, Wednesdays-Fridays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Freeport residents will be allowed to bring one free load of waste to the Recycling Center using the cleanup coupon contained in the town mailer that they received in their mailboxes. Residents will be required to have a 2016 facility sticker. It costs $6, and can be purchased at the Recycling Center the day of disposal or can be purchased ahead of time at the Recycling Facility and the Town Hall. As in years past, some material will have fees associated with them, review the flyer for the list of acceptable items and fees or find it at www.freeportmaine.com.

In the past, the Swap Shop has been closed during the cleanup Saturdays as there wasn’t sufficient help to supervise the donations. Last year, volunteers helped keep the Swap Shop open by managing donations and keeping the room organized. Volunteers are again needed this year. If interested, call Suzanne Duplissis at 865-3740.

Leon Gorman Park

cleanup Saturday

Volunteers will meet Saturday, May 14, at 9 a.m., at Leon Gorman Park, off Bow Street, to plant flowers and do a general cleanup. Tools and snacks will be provided. Meet at the pavilion next to the former skating pond. Parking is available on the School Street entrance. RSVP is helpful but not required. Contact Donna Larson at [email protected].

Memorial Day plans

Freeport’s Memorial Day parade and events will take place on Monday, May 30. Individuals, organizations and civic groups are invited to participate or help in the

Planning. Those interested should contact Gloria DeGrandpre at [email protected] or 232-6648.

Plant sale coming up

Rain or shine, the annual Wolfe’s Neck Farm Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Wolfe’s Neck Farm, 184 Burnett Road, Freeport. A selection of perennials, annuals, herbs and seedlings, from full shade to full sun, will be available. All plants are donated by friends, neighbors and volunteers. There are plants for the beginning gardener and those with green thumbs. Local master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. Those who want to donate plants should bring them to the farm on Friday May 20, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

College news editor

Jill Baker of Freeport has been selected to serve on the editorial board of Susquehanna Univerisity’s student newspaper, a weekly publication distributed on Fridays during the academic year. The publication has won awards from The Society for Collegiate Journalists, including recognition for its front-page layout, sports columns, sports features, feature photography, editorials and online version.

Baker will serve as assistant news editor for the 2016-17 academic year. A 2015 graduate of Freeport High School, she is a communications major in the class of 2019 and the daughter of Stephen Baker and Liz Andrews.

Woman’s Club sets

Spring Bazaar

The Freeport Woman’s Club will hold its annual Spring Bazaar on Saturday, May 14, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., in front of St. Jude Church, 134 Main St., Freeport. Plants, baked goods and raffle items will be offered for sale. Proceeds will go toward high school scholarships.

First Parish Market

calling for vendors

Vendors are now being sought for First Parish Market, where artist, crafters and other vendors can sell their wares in front of First Parish Church Congregational, 40 Main St. in Freeport. The dates are July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10 and Oct. 8, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, contact Patty at [email protected] or call First Parish Church 865-6022 and leave a message.

Mystery writer

speaking Friday

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 of the event is $15 by reservation. Those interested can call 865-4012.

Paddleboard donated for raffle

L.L. Bean has donated a paddleboard package (paddle and personal flotation device 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. Tickets are $10 for one or $25 for three. 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.

Drama students

plan fashion show

Freeport High School’s drama students will sponsor “Fashion Through Time,” a historical fashion show and thrift/costume sale, on Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. Tickets are $2. The fashion show will illustrate how western clothing styles and shapes have evolved from the Greeks and Romans to the present day. There will be clothing items and costumes for sale in the lobby.

Men’s a capella

group to perform

The University of Maine’s all-male, a capella group, the Maine Steiners, will be performing a one-hour concert on Monday, May 16, at 7 p.m., in the sanctuary at South Freeport Congregational Church, 98 South Freeport Road. Following the concert, ice cream sundaes will be served in the Community Hall. A $5 donation at the door is suggested and will be split between the performing group and the church. Reservations are not needed.

Science teacher back

for presentation

Retired science teacher Jon Wallace returns to Freeport Community Library for his third educational presentation, Monday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m., for a presentation on binoculars, telescopes and other eyepieces used to explore and investigate the world around us. Prior to his recent retirement and relocation to Maine, Wallace was an award-winning high school science teacher in Connecticut for more than 32 years.

Adult summer reading

program launching

An adult summer reading program is launching at the Freeport Memorial Library

from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Participants are eligible to win prizes both throughout the summer and at the end of the program in September. Prizes include book bags and gift cards donated by several local businesses to the summer reading raffle. The four-week signup period is Monday, May 16, to Monday, June 13.

College acceptance

focus of talk

Freeport Community Library invites high school students and their families to a presentation, “How Colleges Really Choose Students,” with Wendy Thompson of Westport Educational Consulting, On Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. The talk will help families better understand the role essays, interviews, extracurricular activities, sports, and other factors play in the admissions decisions colleges make.

Thompson served on the admissions staff at Bowdoin College from 2000 to 2012, and her college and independent school admissions career spans 30 years. She conducts college planning workshops and has helped students navigate the college search and selection process since 2003.

Upcoming meetings

Project Review Board, Wednesday, May 11, 5 p.m. site walk, 7 p.m. regular meeting, Town Council Chambers.

Coastal Waters Commission, Wednesday, May 11, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Shellfish Conservation Commission, Thursday, May 12, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Recycling/Solid Waste Committee, Monday, May 16, 5:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Traffic & Parking Committee, Tuesday, May 17, 7:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Town Council, Tuesday, May 17, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

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

Adventurer Mike Libecki presents “From Antarctica and Beyond: Expeditions and First Ascents around the World,” on Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m., at L.L. Bean camping department atrium.