Firewood raffle ?for charity

Doherty’s North Freeport General Store is again selling tickets for a firewood raffle to raise money and awareness for the Epilepsy Foundation. The winner of the raffle will receive a cord-and-a-half of firewood split and delivered. The firewood is being donated by longtime Freeport resident and local business owner Chris Stilkey of D.C. Stilkey and Sons, who also has epilepsy.

Tickets are $2 each or five for $5. The firewood will be on display at the North Freeport General Store until the drawing on Friday, Feb. 15. Tickets are available at the store or by calling Becky and James Daniel at 865-0645.

First Friday music ?and dinner

The Freeport First Friday event on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center is titled, “Baby, It’s Cole Outside,” featuring the songs of Cole Porter sung by Lisa Bossi, Elizabeth Guffey (Chanson) and David Watts. A five-course dinner in the style of the TV show “Downton Abbey” will follow at 7 p.m. Patrons are encouraged to “dress” if they choose. Cost is $18 and space is limited. Call Kim at FCC for reservations at 865-3985.

Mushroom expert ?in Freeport

The Freeport Conservation Trust is presenting a talk and slide show by Maine mushroom expert Greg Marley on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. He will present “Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms: Grand Adventures and Possible Pitfalls,” and will be selling and signing his books. The public is invited and contributions are welcome to cover the speaker’s fee and to support protection of mushroom habitat in Freeport.

Community Services seeking volunteers

Freeport Community Services is in need of volunteers, including drivers, to offer rides to medical appointments on a flexible basis and helpers in the thrift shop and the estate furniture sale at the 2 Depot St. location. To volunteer, call Debbie at 865-3985.

Public peddler ?licenses available

The Freeport Town Clerk’s Office is accepting applications for public peddler licenses for residents until Jan. 23 and non-residents from Jan. 24-31. Applications are available during normal business hours. The town has three public peddler locations available for the 2013 licensing year.

Licenses will be issued by the Town Council by lottery on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m. Non-refundable license application fees are $55 for residents and $110 for non-residents.

If awarded, resident licenses will be $500 and non-resident licenses will be $750. Questions regarding the process can be directed to the town clerk at tstevens@freeportmaine.com or 865-4743 ext. 123.

Rabies clinic this week

There will be a rabies clinic at the Town Hall on Saturday, Jan. 26, for dogs and cats, from 9 a.m.-noon. The cost is $15 per vaccine. Residents can also license their dog at the clinic. The cost of registration is $6 for a spayed or neutered dog and $11 for a dog that hasn’t been spayed or neutered.

For more information, call the Freeport Town Clerk’s office at 865-4743, ext. 122.

White Nights event ?on Jan. 26

Freeport Community Services is holding its biggest fundraiser of the year on Saturday, Jan. 26. The 2013 “White Nights – Keep the Light on All Year Long” event will run from 5:30-10 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center. The event will feature food, live music and community spirit. Tickets are $50.

For tickets or information, contact Kim Hudak at 865-3985.

Library news and notes

January’s Art in the Library artist is Julia Doughty. Her sculpture will be on display throughout the month of January. For more information about the artist and her work, go to juliamdoughty.com.

The Chewonki team will present “Turtles, Frogs and Newts, Oh My!” on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The evening of activities will take a closer look into the world of amphibians and reptiles with hands-on activities and live animals.

Family Laughter Yoga will take place on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 10 a.m. in the Children’s Room.

February’s Art at the Library will feature the artwork by the Art Guild of Freeport, which will be on display throughout the month.

“Bugs from Around the World” will be presented on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Jim Nutting’s collection of live and preserved insects and invertebrates will be on display.

The Library Book Club will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in the library’s sunroom to discuss the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy.

The Thursday midday movie on Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. will be “The Long Hot Summer,” starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Orson Wells, Lee Remick and Angela Lansbury. The film is not rated.

The library will present Open Stage Coffee House on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in the library’s Community Meeting Room. Admission is free for performers and audience members. Performers can show up and sign up and will be given 10 – 15 minutes each. Coffee, tea and desserts will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Eric at 865-0052 or at ericjbryant@comcast.net.

The GWC (Giving Children Warmth) program will be making blankets for children in Afghanistan by knitting squares and sewing them together. The group meets on Mondays from 2:45- 4 p.m. to teach volunteers from age 11 through adult to knit.

Storytime for toddlers and preschoolers takes place every Tuesday morning. There are two 15-minute story times at 9:30 and 9:45 for younger kids with shorter attention spans. At 10, there is a 30-minute story time for preschoolers. The morning features songs and a small snack.

Kids pull snow tubes up the sledding hill for another run at the L.L. Bean Winter Carnival at the company’s Desert Road outdoor sports complex in Freeport on Jan. 20. For more from the event, see Faces and Places.