Voters can request absentee ballots

Freeport voters can request an absentee ballot by completing the secretary of state’s online request form at www.maine.gov or by filling out a request form to mail or deliver in person to Freeport Town Clerk Christine Wolfe at the town office. Any registered voter can choose to vote absentee by mail or in person prior to Election Day, Nov. 3. Ballots will be available roughly 30 days before the election (and at least 45 days before the election for uniformed service and overseas voters).

Nomination papers in the Town Clerk’s Office for those interested in seeking several seats up for election. Papers are due back to the Town Clerk’s Office no later than 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Seats up for election include one town councilor at large and one District 4 councilor, both three years; two three-year seats on the Regional School Unit 5 Board of Directors and one one-year seat; three three-year seats on the Sewer District; and one three year seat on the Water District.

The ballot also will include three statewide questions, including one citizen’s initiative and two bond issues:

Question 1 is a citizen’s initiative, “An Act To Strengthen the Maine Clean Election Act, Improve Disclosure and Make Other Changes to the Campaign Finance Laws.” Public comment is still being accepted on the exact wording of this question. Visit the Secretary of State’s website to read the proposed wording and submit thoughts by Aug. 28.

Question 2 is a bond issue, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Support the Independence of Maine’s Seniors.” If approved by voters, this would authorize a $15 million housing bond to build affordable housing across the state.

Question 3 is also a bond issue, “An Act To Authorize Two General Fund Bond Issues To Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities.” If approved by voters, it would authorize an $85 million investment in roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.

For more information, see www.Maine.gov. Questions about the election can be directed to Rep. Sara Gideon, 865-9593, or [email protected]. For information about the Freeport election, call 865-4743, ext. 123 or email [email protected].

Maine Beer Co. owners win environmental award

Daniel and David Kleban, owners of Maine Beer Co. in Freeport, have been honored by the Sierra Club Maine Chapter as 2015 Business Leaders for the Environment award winners. The award was given for their effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions locally. Active in Solarize Freeport, an effort to bring solar energy to residents and businesses of Freeport, Dan and Dave Kleban have also installed 55.12kW solar trackers to provide 50 percent of the electricity required in their business.

The award ceremony, part of Sierra Club Maine’s annual dinner, is Friday, Sept. 18, in Hallowell.

Book talk, film at library

Freeport Community Library will host Maine author James Hayman, creator of the McCabe/Savage thriller series, Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. His book talk will focus on “The Girl in the Glass,” released this month and the fourth book in the McCabe/Savage series. Copies of Hayman’s books will be available for purchase and signing.

The library will screen “The Woman in Gold,” a 2015 film starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds, Thursday, Sept. 3, at 1 p.m. In the film, an elderly Jewish woman attempts to reclaim family possessions that were seized by the Nazis. With the help of a young lawyer, she embarks upon a lengthy legal battle to recover paintings.

Program focuses on Nepal trekking guide

“Himalayan Dreams – The Quest for Kumari,” a presentation by photographer Peter Marbach, is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m., in the camping department atrium of the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport. “Himalayan Dreams – The Quest For Kumari,” is the result of Marbach’s spring 2013 humanitarian expedition to Nepal and the remote village of Kumari to document the life story of Nepali trekking guide Jagat Lama and his efforts to bring health care, education and a women’s skills center to his village.

Marbach is well known for his photographs of Mount Hood.

Space is limited. For more information, visit www.llbean.com/adventure.

Community Chorus season starts Sept. 13

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus, directed by Virgil Bozeman, will begin rehearsals for its winter concerts Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Freeport Performing Arts Center at Freeport High School, 30 Holbrook St. Registration will run from 6-6:30 p.m., with rehearsal to follow. Rehearsals are held on Sundays from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus is an adult, mixed-voice group whose members are residents of about 20 mid-coast towns. No audition or previous experience with choral singing is required. All singers are welcome, but the chorus is especially in need of tenors and basses.

On Sept. 20 and 27 and Oct. 4, Bozeman will offer a half-hour of optional instruction just prior to rehearsal for those who want to brush up on various topics related to reading music and choral singing.

Membership dues are $70. New singers are welcome to attend up to four rehearsals before deciding whether to join and pay dues.

The winter concerts are scheduled for Dec. 12 and 13. For more information, call 666-8817, visit www.gfccsings.org or find the chorus on Facebook.

Last chance for kids’ nature program

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park’s weekly series for children, Summer Nature Explorations, winds up Sunday, Aug. 30, at 1 p.m. Designed for children ages 7-10 and their caregivers, the new programs focus on hands-on nature discovery and nature awareness. Programs will include projects and experiments, active games involving stealth and creativity, and multi-sensory exploration. Pre-register by calling the park at 865-4465.

Final farm dinner tickets on sale

Wolfe Neck Farm’s family farm feast, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30, has sold out. The final farm-to-table event, the Harvest Dinner, featuring Rosemont Market & Bakery, is Sunday, Sept. 20, from 5-8 p.m. Food from Maine farms will be prepared by Chef Brad Messier of Rosemont Market. The evening will include live music, and local beverages by Maine Beer Co. and New England Distilling. Tickets are $100 and include all food and drinks. For more information, visit www.wolfesneckfarm.org.

College honors

Chris Collins, a 2012 magna cum laude graduate of Freeport High School, was named to the dean’s list at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Fla. To make the dean’s list, students must complete at least four courses with a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. A member of the Eckerd College class of 2016, Collins is majoring in marine science with a focus in marine geology. He is the son of Malcolm and Susan Collins of Freeport.

Dance Studio open house

Fusion Dance Academy is accepting applications for fall classes designed for all ages and disciplines. An open house will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the studio, located at 1456 Route 1 in Freeport. Interested dancers and parents are invited to attend and learn about the academy, its classes and its award-winning performance team. Classes for teenagers and adults start the week of Aug. 31, while classes for children ages 12 and younger start on Sept. 8.

The curriculum includes a variety of dance styles from creative movement for very young students to ballet, jazz and hip-Hop for older children and adults. There is also a Performance Team for ages 9 and up for those interested in learning choreography and the art of performing. The team performs at events throughout the year, including Red Claws half-time shows, Sea Dogs and Celtics pre-shows, and local parades, art festivals and open houses, as well as Fusion Dance’s annual recital. For more information, see www.fusiondanceacademy.squarespace.com.

Books chosen for discussion group

The Freeport Community Library hosts a book group that meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 6-7:45 p.m. to discuss a book of the group’s choosing. The group’s upcoming schedule and book selections for September, October and November are:

Sept. 2, “The Giver,” by Lois Lawry.

Oct. 7, “Middlemarch,” by George Eliot.

Nov. 4, “Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler: A True Love Story.”

For more information, call Belinda Stewart, 865-3307.

Tea tasting

Jacqueline’s Tea Room, 201 Main St., offers customers a chance to sample five varieties of tea, while browsing the gift shop, on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 6-7 p.m. For more information, see www.Jacquelinestearoom.com.

Community Service Award nominations

Freeport Community Services is now accepting nominations for the Carol Kaplan Memorial Community Service Award. The award is named after the longtime general services director for the town of Freeport. It is given annually by Freeport Community Services to an individual who embodies the mission of FCS, and who has had a positive impact on client services and/or the organization.

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 17. Nomination forms are available at the Freeport Community Center at 53 Depot St., or online at www.fcsmaine.org. Nominations can be submitted by email to Melanie Sachs, executive director, at [email protected], mailed to FCS at P.O. Box 119, Freeport, ME 04032, or submitted in person at the offices of Freeport Community Services. For more information, contact Sachs at 865-3985, ext. 204.

Past recipients include:

1999 Vaughndella Curtis

2000 Brenda White

2001 Edgar Leighton

2002 Bob Melargno

2003 Marie Forbus and Sally Amory

2004 Johanna Hanselman

2006 Peter Warren

2007 Jan Newlin

2008 Judy Miskell

2009 Fran Stevens

2010 Daric Ebert

2011 Kate and Jonas Werner

2012 Carol Southall

2013 Stephen Cogswell

2014 Marjorie Perkins and Joan Plourde

Energy audits available

The Freeport Home Energy Efficiency Program still has free energy audits available for income eligible Freeport homeowners. Eligible participants will receive energy assessments and cost-effective measures (air sealing) to reduce their heating costs. Some 30 households have already benefited from this program. For information, contact Johanna Hanselman at the Town Hall, 865-4743, ext.120.

Chamber golf tourney coming

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce will hold a Challenge Golf Tournament, a major fundraiser for 2015. This year the tournament will be held in conjunction with the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce. It’s scheduled for the Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland on Sept. 16. There will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and the day will include a lunch and awards ceremony. Non-players are welcome. For more information, call 847-5240.

Free lunch program concluding

Freeport Community Services’ Summer Free Lunch for Kids program comes to an end Friday, Aug. 28. FCS has prepared and served free, healthy lunches for all children. Meals are distributed at the Freeport Community Center, the Village View Apartments Community Room, at Mast Landing School, and Wildwood Acres on Elm Street. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m.-noon. There are no income or residency requirements. All children under the age of 19 are welcome.

For more information, call Sarah Lundin at 865-3985, ext. 205.

Upcoming meetings

Town Council, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Board of Appeals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

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