Meet Betsy and Gar Roper

Betsy and Gar Roper, residents of Freeport for 12 years, are taking over the responsibilities for the Freeport News column. Betsy is the former owner-director of a children’s residential summer camp in Poland Spring. Gar is mostly retired from a career in marketing and now devotes his time to writing. Gar and Betsy are both involved in acting and community service. They are excited to be working as a team to gather and share the news and happenings of the Freeport community.

If you have news to report, contact Betsy and Gar at freeportnews@gmail.com. Deadline for submission is Friday morning of each week for inclusion in the following Wednesday’s Tri-Town Weekly.

‘Stuff the Bus’ with Rotary on Saturday

The Freeport Rotary Club will again sponsor a “Stuff the Bus” food drive to benefit Freeport Community Services Food Pantry, Saturday, Spet. 28, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at in front of the Freeport Shaw’s store. Rotary volunteers will be on hand to distribute a list of products currently needed by the food pantry and will be asking shoppers to donate these items to help “stuff the bus.” It is the second year that the Rotary Club has sponsored this food drive. Last year the club was so successful with the event that members were able to deliver literally more than a ton of food to the Freeport food pantry.

“We are a service organization with goals to help our community,” said Michele Bois-Gilbody, club president, “and we are grateful for the generosity of so many people who assist us in reaching our goals.”

Road projects completed

The Public Works Department has wrapped up the scheduled summer overlay work. The following projects were completed during the 2013- 2014 year:

Litchfield Road (1,400 feet), Old County Road (2,940 feet), Lambert Road (4,350 feet) and Desert Road (8,420 feet).

Libraries aid Bibliotheque de Lac-Megantic

Freeport Community Library has joined other participating libraries across the state to raise funds to help rebuild Bibliotheque de Lac-Me?gantic in the aftermath of the fatal train crash that destroyed the downtown area of Lac-Me?gantic, Canada, earlier this month. The town’s library, the Bibliotheque de Lac- Me?gantic, was one of the buildings razed, with 60,000 items lost.

Library officials are asking for monetary donations. Anyone who wishes to donate can find a donation can on the circulation desk of the Freeport library.

Mallett Brothers highlight Harvest Dance

Wolfe’s Neck Farm will hold its annual Harvest Dance, an evening of food, music and fun, Saturday, Sept. 28, from 6-11 p.m., at the historic Mallett Barn. Contra dancing with Loper, Muise and Rogers is from 6:30-7:30 p.m., followed by music by the Mallett Brothers Band.

Local food trucks El Corazon (tacos and burritos) and Love Cupcakes will be serving, along with Maine Shore Lobster Bakes (clam chowder, corn chowder and fried clams).

Those who attend must be 21-plus. Advance tickets are $15, or $20 at the door. See www.wolfesneckfarm.org or call 865-4469, ext. 107.

Flu shot clinic coming

Seasonal flu shots will be available on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 9-11 a.m., in the Freeport Town Council Chambers, sponsored by CHANS Home Health Care.

Bustins Island vs. town golf

On Tuesday, Aug. 27, town officials met with officials from the Bustins Island Village Corp. for the annual dinner meeting. Before the meeting, a town golf team composed of Councilor Rich DeGrandpre, Fire Chief Darrel Fournier, Police Chief Jerry Schofield, and Town Manager Peter Joseph mounted a valiant effort to defeat a team composed of Bustins Island’s finest golf professionals. Due to primarily home-court advantage, the town team was not successful. A rematch is scheduled for next summer.

Library to host authors

The Freeport Community Library will host two book talks and signings in October.

On Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m., John Ford, author of “Suddenly the Cider Didn’t Taste So Good” and “This Cider Still Tastes Funny,” will speak. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Freeport Community Library.

On Oct. 24 at 7 p.m., Barbara Walsh, author of “August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm,” will speak. This event is part of the Freeport Community and Merrill Memorial Library’s joint “Community Read” program.

Volunteer recognition

Freeport’s annual volunteer recognition barbecue will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 2-4:30 p.m., at Harb Cottage at Winslow Park. Any town board or committee volunteers who did not receive an invitation should contact Johanna Hanselman at 865-4743, ext.120.

Two events on historical society calendar

The Freeport Historical Society has scheduled its Historic Barns & Quilts Tour fundraiser, on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Pettengill Farm Day, on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Historic Barns & Quilts Tour will feature visits to four unique barns built during the early 19th through late 19th centuries. Select vintage and antique quilts, organized by theme (for example, children’s quilts,) and will be displayed and discussed at each barn.

The event begins with coffee and orientation at Cotton Weeds Quilt Shop on Route 1 South in Freeport. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance. These can be purchased online at www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org or by check (mail to 45 Main St., Freeport, ME 04032).

Visitors to the 38th annual Pettengill Farm Day will find juggling, docent-led tours of the historic saltbox house, apple cider and butter-making, sack races, oxen teams and much more.

Presentations include:

• At 10 a.m., learn how to “read” the forest with A Forest Forensics Walk with forester Rene Noel.

• At 11:30 a.m., learn to Build a Hemlock Post Fence with Nathan DesJardins.

• At 1 p.m., Bees and Beekeeping will be discussed by Phil Gaven, owner of The Honey Exchange.

New this year is the Maine Quilt Heritage project, a project of the Pine Tree Quilters Guild. Since 1987, the guild has been documenting quilts statewide for the purpose of preserving quilt heritage. Bring your family quilt(s) for physical analysis and have it/them documented. To date, the guild has documented more than 2,600 quilts in Maine.

Families will enjoy the Storytelling Tent for children with readings by Kathy Koerber and other local educators. Local apples will be pressed at the antique cider press, and there will be rides in the horse-drawn hay wagon from Topsham’s Hideaway Farm. Also on hand will be steer teams from Thunder Hill Farm in Waterford, alpacas from the Upper Farm in Freeport, and barnyard animals from at Wolfe’s Neck Farm.

Pettengill Farm is located 1.3 miles from the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport. From Main Street, turn right onto Bow Street, which becomes Flying Point Road. Watch for right-hand turn onto Pettengill Road and bear right to proceed onto the property. On-site parking is free. Event donation is $5 for adults, $2 children.

Sponsors are Bath Savings Trust/ Bath Savings Institution, Coffee by Design, Sherman’s Stationary & Books, Freeport True Value Hardware and Island Treasure Toys.

For more information on both events, call 865-3170 or see www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org.

Freeport honored for report

Town Manager Peter Joseph has announced that Freeport has once again been honored by the Maine Municipal Association this year with another award for its annual report. Freeport was awarded first place in its population category (5,000 and over). The content of the annual report is produced by the department heads; however, the bulk of the organization, editing and gathering of the material is handled by Caroline Pelletier, the assistant to the town planner.

MMA’s competition recognizes municipalities for reports that have excellent content, are well organized and visually appealing. Some 226 municipalities entered reports this year.

Betsy and Gar RoperLisa Bonenfant, an artist from Auburn, was at The Wishful Moon, on School Street, painting glass ornaments on Saturday, Sept. 21.  Bonenfant has a wide variety of painted glassware, slates and ornaments on display at store, and also does custom orders.