Trail Challenge success

Organizers have deemed the Freeport Trail Challenge a big success. All 77 Mast Landing School fifth-graders participated. More than 50 other people of all ages turned in their completed “passports” to Freeport Conservation Trust. Photos and enthusiastic comments were posted to the Freeport Conservation Trust Facebook page. Many participants said that it was the first time they had hiked some or all of the trails ,and they are glad to know about them. The Casco Bay YMCA and the town of Freeport collaborated with Freeport Conservation Trust on the event. Prizes were donated by Dairy Queen, the YMCA and Freeport Wild Bird Supply.

Mount Everest talk at Woman’s Club

The Freeport Woman’s Club will hold its monthly meeting Friday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library meeting room, when Bill Yeo will speak about his ascent of the northeast ridge of Mount Everest. The presentation will include pictures, video footage and narration of his adventure. Yeo is L.L. Bean’s retail manager of the Outdoor Discovery School and an avid outdoorsman.

The Freeport Woman’s Club is a service organization that has been in existence for 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. Monies raised provide 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. New members are welcome. Contact Betty Duckworth, 847-0240 or [email protected].

‘Radio’ in rehearsal

Freeport Players’ “WFCP Home Time Radio Hour” will be back “on the air” with an all-new collection of music and radio sketches to kick off the holidays. The 1950s holiday edition of “Radio” will be performed Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St.

Tickets are $15 at the door. They are also available at Maine Wicked Goods Mercantile, 304 U.S. Route 1, and R&D Automotive, Varney Road; or by mail at Freeport Players, PO Box 483, Freeport ME, 04032. Patrons can save $5 and get tickets online at www.fcponline.org/tix.htm.

The “Radio” show will include hit songs of the 1950s and a few holiday favorites, new episodes of “Joe Tanner,” “Home On The Rang”e and “Rocket Space Quest,” new sketches, new product jingles, live music from the band, led by Tom Dube (Dube Music), and, of course, the Sound Effects Ladies.

The “Radio” cast of familiar faces and new talent includes Maryellen Carew, Barb Finn, Betty Gravelle, Randy Roy, Judy Lloyd, David Wallace, Elizabeth Guffey, Penny Davis-Dublin, Sam Hunneman, Cole Tamminen, Erik Brobst, Hilary Manuel, Gordon Adams, Deborah McLean, Andrew Hammann, Bernie Horowitz, Sally Grover, Trish Scott, Phil Chin, Jackie Downing, Jake Junkins, Don Labbe, Johannah DeGrandpre, MaryAt Lessard, John Paterson, Gar Roper, Denise Shannon, Betsy Roper and more.

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.

Ski swap, sale coming Saturday

The Freeport Ski Boosters’ Ski Swap is Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at The Freeport High School cafeteria, 30 Holbrook St.

Donations only to the sale can be dropped off at Freeport Middle School, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Donations and consignments can be dropped off on Friday, Nov. 13, from 4-7 p.m., and Saturday Nov. 14, from 7:30-9:30 a.m., at Freeport High School. Unsold items can be picked up on Nov. 14, from 1:30-3 p.m.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the alpine and Nordic race programs at Freeport High School and all middle school alpine and Nordic racers in Regional School Unit 5. More information is available on Facebook, Freeport Ski Boosters: Winter Gear Swap and Sale

Two local fundraisers at Otto Pizza

A Wescustago Youth Chorale fundraiser for scholarship funds will be held Tuesday, Nov 17, from 5-9 p.m., at Otto Pizza, 367 Main St. in Yarmouth. A portion of all proceeds, including full pizza pies, slices, gift cards and other sales, will be will be donated to the Freeport-based chorale. Wescustago Youth Chorale is a coed, auditioned singing group of 80 singers from 12 area towns. Singers range in age from third to 12th grades, and learn music education as well as performance skills. It is conducted by Amanda Mahaffey of Freeport, Jen Runge of Yarmouth and Renovia Day of Topsham. For more information, call Leigh, 846-0705 or email [email protected].

On Nov. 24, the day before Thanksgiving, Otto Pizza will donate a percentage of its lunch and dinner sales to the Freeport, Pownal and Durham Education Foundation, which supports all Regional School Unit 5 schools by granting funds for supplemental projects and innovations. Visit FPAD5.org for more information. To see the Otto menu, visit www.ottoportland.com.

Lioness-Lions schedule fair, chowder lunch

The Freeport Lioness-Lions Club will hold a holiday craft fair, fish chowder and chili lunch on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Harraseeket Grange, 13 Elm St. in Freeport. The fair will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and the lunch will be served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, contact Martha Daly at 865-6188 or Cindi LaHay at 865-3555.

The Lioness-Lions Club is a service organization that raises money for those in need of help in the surrounding communities. The group also collects used eyeglasses, hearing aids and cell phones. There are several collection boxes in the area. A second fundraiser, the 30th annual Variety Show, will be held April 9, 2016, at the Performing Arts Center.

Officers for the 2015-16 year are: president, Tina Snow; vice president, Dawn Connolly; secretary, Betsy Davis; treasurer, Martha Daly; and membership, Cindi LaHaye. Voted as Freeport Lioness-Lion of the Year 2014-2015 was Tina Snow; Rookie of the Year 2014-2015 was Betsy Davis. Celebrating 30 years of membership was Martha Daly, and Mary Anne Cutler celebrated 10 years.

Seminar offered for beginning farmers

University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Wolfe’s Neck Farm are partnering with the Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers to offer a seminar focused on business planning.

UMaine Extension professor Rick Kersbergen will facilitate the class, geared for beginning pasture-based dairy and livestock farmers. The weekly course will be offered remotely at Wolfe’s Neck Farm, 184 Burnett Road, Freeport, from Nov. 12 until March 2016. Course fee is $300. For more information, contact Kersbergen at 342-5971, or [email protected].

FHS’s ‘Spamalot’ premieres Nov. 13

Freeport High School’s production of “Spamalot” will be staged on Friday and Saturday, Nov 13,14 and 21, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov 15 and 22, at 2 p.m., at Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. Tickets are $5 students and seniors, $10 adults.

After Freeport High School world premiered “Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail” some 12 years ago, the musical version, “Spamalot,” is reviving the story at the same school – this time directed by Simon Skold, the man who played Brother Maynard in “Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail” in 2003. That play was directed by Tim Ryan, who was given the rights to adapt the film from 1975 into a 40-minute, one-act play.

At that time, Broadway’s “Spamalot” was in production and after Freeport’s show, the producers in New York City asked for some evidence of the high school’s production. So, some of Freeport’s cast and crew traveled to New York City, bringing props and pictures and footage of their Grail rendition with them. “Spamalot” premiered in 2005 and went on to win three Tony awards.

Library Friends? to meet Nov. 16

Friends of the Freeport Community Library will hold its annual meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the library. On the agenda will be a brainstorming session about the coming year and election of officers, including president, vice president and board members at large. The public is welcome and refreshments will be served.

Since forming in 2011, the group has provided free/discounted museum and park passes for patrons, advocated for the addition of a technology librarian, raised funds for a specialized book scanner for the library and started sponsoring a “Meet the Author” series of book talks. For more information, visit www.FCLfriends.org.

‘The Nutcracker’ features local dancers

Seven Freeport residents will be among the 300 dancers performing in the Maine State Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, Saturday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 6. The performances will also feature live music from the Maine State Ballet Orchestra, singing from the Musica de Filia Girls Chorus, and costumes and stage scenery by Gail Csoboth.

Performances are Saturday, Nov. 28, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 5, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. The local dancers are Lily Jessen, Christina Lapoint, Mary Kate Murphy, Madeline Smith, Reilly Twombly, Eleanor Williamson and Phoebe Williamson.

Tickets, at $21-$66, are on sale through Porttix at 842-0800, online at mainestateballet.org or tickets.porttix.com, or at the Merrill Auditorium box office. For more information, call Maine State Ballet in Falmouth at 781-7672, or visit www.mainestateballet.org.

Climate impact topic of series

Sara Randall, a Freeport native and environmental consultant and policy expert, will give a speech titled, “The Tides of Change: How Climate Change and Development is Impacting Freeport’s Marine Resources,” Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 6:30- 8 p.m., at the South Freeport Congregational Church, 98 South Freeport Road. Her talk is part of the church’s Wednesday Wisdom series.

For the last two years, Randall has been working as a scientific coordinator for the Freeport clam experiment, designed to examine the effectiveness of different methods to protect shellfish from invasive green crabs and other predators and how to restore soft-shell clam populations.

A $5 donation is welcomed at the door. Coffee and a dessert will be served. Those planning to attend should call 865-4012 or email [email protected].

‘Night Tree’ event

A holiday tradition for children, Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s “Night Tree” event, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, is inspired by Eve Bunting’s book, “Night Tree.” Her story is about a family that feeds the forest animals by making decorations for a special tree. Each hour during the day, a reader will share the book and children will decorate pinecones with birdseed and string popcorn with dried fruit and cranberries. A short hike will take the children on the trails to leave the treats in the woods for the animals.

Programs begin at 9 a.m. The last program is at 2 p.m. The cost is $5 for those 2 and older and free for members. Tickets are available at www.wolfesneckfarm.org.

Holiday arts-crafts benefit Nov. 21

The group Designing Women will sponsor the Fine Art & Craft Annual Holiday Showcase, Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Maine Coast Waldorf School, 57 Desert Road in Freeport. The juried show includes more than 20 select women artists and craftswomen, showcasing their pottery, jewelry, handwoven items, wearables, home accessories and fine arts.

The suggested $2 door donation and all proceeds from refreshments and lunch will benefit University of Southern Maine’s Partners for Rural Health in the Dominican Republic. Designing Women includes local women artisans who collectively support community nonprofits that benefit women and children.

Toys for Tots

Caleb Stephens, financial adviser with Edward Jones, is supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program by using his office as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive.

Local residents can help needy children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the office, at 5 Depot St., Suite 24, Freeport, during regular business hours, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, from Monday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Dec. 4.

“With the holiday season around the corner, we are all getting ready for the festivities,” Stephens said. “And as this is the season of giving, now is a great time to remember the less fortunate in our community.”

Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company, provides financial services for individual investors.

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 Office, Freeport Community Library and at www.freeportmaine.com. Deadline for is Dec. 10.

Turkeys from ?the farm

Each year, Wolfe’s Neck Farm raises a limited number of Thanksgiving turkeys and pasture-raised lamb for the community. The highest standards of care are given to the turkeys. Orders are now being taken online. See www.wolfesneckfarm.org. Frozen pasture-raised broiler chickens are also available at the farm stand.

Upcoming meetings

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

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

Traffic and Parking Committee, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Project Review Board, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

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