Freeport Players ?to hold auditions

The Freeport Players have announced auditions have been scheduled for the production of “The 39 Steps”, a fast-paced, comedic adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock classic that will run from July 19- Aug. 4. The auditions are for one woman and three men and will take place on Sunday, April 7 and Monday, April 8, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the Freeport High School cafeteria.

Appointments are not required, but actors are recommended to notify Elizabeth Guffey at info@fcponline.org .

Auction to benefit Dominican Republic trip

The Freeport Interact Club will host an auction on Friday, March 15, at 6 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center. The Freeport Interact Club is a community-service club whose members work with the Rotary Club to bring aid and service to other countries. The club will be taking a service trip to the Dominican Republic to install water filters, teach residents how to maintain the filters, donate money to hospitals, and bring shoes and clothing to the children of La Romana. Proceeds from the auction will go to the trip.

District 2 special election

The special election for the District 2 council seat is 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.

Community Services seeks volunteers

Freeport Community Services is in need of volunteers to work with customers at the new Estate Furniture Annex, at 2 Depot St. The group is also looking for drivers to offer rides to medical appointments on a flexible basis. To volunteer, call Debbie at 865-3985.

Free tax help

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 the Freeport Community Center. Assistance is available by appointment only. Call 865-4743 ext. 120 to schedule an appointment.

‘Lunch with Locals’ series

The Freeport Historical Society is hosting a series of lunchtime meetings to assess the strengths and weaknesses of its collections with input from the community. The “Lunch with Locals” series will take place on Thursday, Feb. 21, Friday, March 22 and Tuesday, April 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. The meetings will be at the historical society’s headquarters at the Harrington House, 45 Main St. The public is invited to bring a brown bag lunch for informal discussions about particular aspects of the collection, as well as a rare close-up view of the society’s collections. The project is funded by a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. For more information or to RSVP, contact the historical society at 865-3170 or info@freeporthistoricalsociety.org.

Historical society hosts? presentation, rum tasting

The Freeport Historical Society will host “Peddling Your Wares: A Look at Itinerant Merchants in Early 19th Century New England” presentation and rum tasting,” Sunday, March 10, at 1:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library.

Tom Kelleher, curator of Historic Trades, Mills and Mechanical Arts at Old Sturbridge Village, will present a first-person visit to learn how a wide variety of goods reached settlements and the importance of the exchange of news. The presentation will be followed with questions and answers and a tasting of Eight Bells rum from New England Distilleries. The program is funded in part by the Maine Humanities Council. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, contact the Freeport Historical Society at 865-3170, www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org or on Facebook.

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. 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, which will be on display throughout the month of February.

The tour guide for the next Armchair Travel Series, Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m., will be Ethel and John Wilkerson, who will present a barge trip through France. The program Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m., features tour guides Burt Brewer and Chris Hastedt, who will present a sailing trip to Newfoundland, St. Pierre and Miquelon.

The Thursday midday movie on Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. is “Undertaking Betty,” starring Christopher Walken, Naomi Watts and Brenda Blethyn. The film is rated PG-13. The March 7 movie at 1 p.m. will be “To Kill a Mockingbird,” starring Gregory Peck. The film is not rated.

This month’s Tech Talk, Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m., will focus on using Ancestry.com and other genealogy resources.

Upcoming Meeting

Feb. 26 – Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall.