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.

Open auditions ?for ‘Cinderella’

Freeport Family Performing Arts is holding auditions for “Cinderella, the Story You Never Knew,” directed by Tim Ryan and Jake Junkins, Sunday, Feb. 3 from noon-4 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the Freeport Performing Arts Center. Adults and children from the RSU 5 area are encouraged to participate to learn staging, acting, directing and production skills. All who audition are offered a part in the production.

Special election nomination papers available

Nomination papers for a seat on the Town Council for District 2 area available in the Town Clerk’s Office, 30 Main St., Freeport. Nomination papers with no fewer than 50 signatures are due to the Town Clerk’s Office no later than 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13. The special election will be held Wednesday, March 20 in the Town Hall Council Chambers, 30 Main St., from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

For more information, contact the Freeport Town Clerk’s office at 865-4743 ext. 123.

Hearings to focus ?on parking, ?farm-stand changes

The Town Council has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m., in the Freeport Town Hall Council Chambers, to discuss proposed amendments to the Traffic and Parking Ordinance pertaining to parking on Hunter Road in the vicinity of the Hunter Road Recreational Fields and along the access road to the fields for a distance of 700 feet.

The Planning Board has set a public hearing for Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Freeport Town Hall Council Chambers to discuss possible amendments to the Freeport Zoning Ordinance. The amendments would expand the definition of “agricultural farm stand” to provide more flexibility in setback requirements for farm stands that sell agricultural and animal products. Amendments to the definitions of regarding agriculture and animal husbandry, consideration of definition of “agritourism,” and whether any of the issues should be subject to site plan review. Submitted materials are available for viewing in the Freeport Town Planner’s Office.

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 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.

Public peddler licenses available

The Freeport Town Clerk’s Office is accepting applications for public peddler licenses for non-residents through Jan. 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.

Freeport Community Services seeking volunteers

Freeport Community Services is in need of volunteers. The new Estate Furniture Annex, at 2 Depot St. is successful and FCS is looking for volunteers to help with service to their customers. They are also looking for drivers to offer rides to medical appointments on a flexible basis. To volunteer, call Debbie at 865-3985.

Promoting safety ?and tolerance

TARP, the Tolerance and Respect Project, Freeport Community Services and State Representative, Sara Gideon will be hosting a conversation with an expert panel about community safety in the wake of Newtown, Conn., to prevent violence and foster understanding. The conversation will take place on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Freeport Performing Arts Center. It is open to the public and free child care is available. For more information, contact Dede Bennell at bennelld@rsu5.org.

Free tax help

Perry Bradley and Marlene Budd from AARP will be providing free tax preparation assistance for low to moderate income households with special attention to those 60 or older from Feb. 6-April 10, on Wednesday mornings at Freeport Seafood Company, 175 Lower Main St. Assistance is available by appointment only. Call 865-4743, ext. 120 to schedule.

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.

Historical society to celebrate chocolate

Food historian and author Sandra Oliver will offer a look at chocolate and its evolution in American cookery at a Freeport Historical Society program on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m., at the Old Town Hall on Park Street (on the grounds of the Hilton Garden Inn) in Freeport.

Oliver, who lives in Isleboro, will discuss how chocolate was gradually incorporated into American cookery. From chocolate’s start primarily as a beverage to the recent era of “chocolate decadence” and “death by chocolate,” Oliver will describe early chocolate creations. Cakes, for example, were made chocolate by the use of chocolate filling or frosting in plain cake. Chocolate was added to the batter later around the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, leading to the creation of the rich, dark devil’s food cake, the opposite of the popular white, fluffy angel cake. Freeport candy maker Andy Wilbur from Wilbur’s of Maine will demonstrate how contemporary chocolates are made. The audience will have the opportunity to taste a 19th-century chocolate drink, sample two cakes made from historic recipes, as well as sample contemporary chocolates from Wilbur’s of Maine. The two historic cake recipes are posted on the Freeport Historical Society’s website at www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org . Tickets are $10 per person.

Reservations are recommended, as this event sold out in 2012. For more information, call 865-3170 or visit www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org .

Late fee looms for dog licenses

The town of Freeport reminds residents that all dog licenses expired on Dec. 31, and a $25 late fee will be charged for dog license renewals after Jan. 31. Licenses are required for all dogs 6 months or older. A rabies certificate and proof of spaying or neutering are required when applying for a license. The cost is $6 per dog or $11 per dog that has not been spayed or neutered. Register at town hall or at www.freeportmaine.com .

Winter parking ban

The town of Freeport has announced its annual parking ban, which prohibits parking on all town streets from 11 p.m.-7 a.m., is in effect through April 15.

Library news and notes

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.

Story time for toddlers and preschoolers takes place every Tuesday morning. There are two, 15- minute story times at 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. 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.

February’s Art at the Library will feature the artwork by the Art Guild of Freeport.

Freeport Middle School book reviews and talks will be on display at the library through Feb. 5. Sixth-graders from Freeport Middle School will have more 40 book review talks that can be listened to or watched by scanning the QR code next to the picture of the book. A QR scanner can be uploaded to a mobile device.

The library will be hosting its annual chocolate bash on Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature chocolate treats to sample for $2 per person, raffles for items such as a basket of chocolate goodies, chocolate desserts like cakes and Arlene’s famous whoopee pies and a basket of art donated by the Art Guild of Freeport. Music will be provided by Cul de Sax.

The library will present the first Armchair Travel Series on Monday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. The presenter will be John Bowdren, who will discuss travel to Puglia, Italy.

“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 library will be closed on Saturday, Feb. 16, and Monday, Feb. 18, for the Presidents Day holiday. The library will reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 9:30 a.m.

Upcoming Meeting

Feb. 5 – Town Council Meeting – 6:30 p.m. – Freeport Town Hall