Chorus to present ‘Moods of Christmas’

The Greater Freeport Community Chorus will share “The Many Moods of Christmas” with audiences at two performances in Freeport on Dec. 14 and 15.

Led by Director Virgil Bozeman, the 70 singers will perform a program that features 18 traditional Christmas carols arranged into four suites by Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett. The Robert Shaw Chorale originally recorded “The Many Moods of Christmas” suites for RCA Victor in 1963, with full orchestral accompaniment. Dorothy Cuprak, however, will accompany the chorus with a challenging orchestral reduction for piano.

The winter concert will also feature Shaw’s arrangement of the spiritual, “Set Down, Servant!” and composer Morten Lauridsen’s setting of the James Agee poem, “Sure On This Shining Night.” The chorus, whose members hail from 19 area towns, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St., Freeport, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the First Parish UCC Church, 40 Main St., Freeport. Admission is $10 for adults, with anyone 18 or under admitted free and a per-family maximum of $25. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at Music & Moore, 220 Bath Road, Brunswick, or the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St., Freeport. For more information, visit the chorus website at www.gfccweb.org.

Library Friends

to meet Monday

Friends of the Freeport Community Library will hold its monthly meeting Monday, Dec.16, at 6:30 p.m., at the library. This will be the group’s annual administrative meeting, including the election of board officers and discussion of ongoing projects and plans for the coming year. All are welcome to attend the meeting and join the volunteer group that supports and promotes the library.

Most recently, the Friends began sponsoring a “Meet the Author” series of book talks. Since forming in 2011, the group has provided free/discounted museum and park passes for patrons, advocated for the addition of a technology librarian, raised funds for a specialized book scanner for the library and participated in a variety of library programs and events. For more information, visit www.FCLfriends.org.

Food for fines

Each year during December, the Freeport Community library encourages patrons to donate canned and non-perishable food items in payment of overdue fees. When patrons present donations at the Main Circulation Desk or Children’s Desk, the library will eliminate $1 in overdue fees for each can or non-perishable item presented. All donations will go to the Freeport Community Services food pantry.

USM Chamber Singers to perform

St. Jude’s Church in Freeport is sponsoring the USM Chamber Singers performing its “Joyous Sounds for a Sacred Season” concert, Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 256 Main St., Yarmouth. The program will include music by Monteverdi, Rachmaninoff, Whitbourn, A. R. Rahman, Tikey Zes, and Hubert Bird. A special feature will be “Guiding Light ”(premiere performance), by University of Southern Maine sophomore Matthew LaBerge, and “Water Night,” by Eric Whitacre. The free-will offering will benefit local food pantries. The Chamber Singers are directed by Dr. Robert Russell, professor of music at University of Southern Maine. The musicians of the Chamber Singers represent the outstanding singers at USM.

Musical drama at Adventist Church

“The Greatest Gift,” a musical drama, will be presented at the Freeport Adventist Church 63 Pownal Road (beside Pine Tree Academy), on Sunday, Dec. 15. There will be two shows, one at 3 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. Tickets are free, and can be requested by calling 926-5551.

Steamed clams on menu

A steamed clam supper will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 4-7 p.m., at the Freeport Masonic Lodge, Mallet Drive. The cost is $15 per person and kids under 12 eat free. Tri-town seniors (65 and older) pay $10. All proceeds benefit the 2013 MCA Santa Fund. Those attending are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to be given to families in need.

Fire Rescue promotions

Darrel Fournier, chief at Freeport Fire Rescue, has announced the following promotions to lieutenant, effective Dec. 1:

Nick Jewett to Car 13 on Platoon 1. He has a bachelor’s degree from Colby Sawyer Collage, is Firefighter 1-2 certified and is an EMT Intermediate studying for Paramedic. He is also a career firefighter with the city of Portland.

Jonas St. John to Car 14 on Platoon 2. He has a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University, is certified as a Firefighter 1-2 and EMT and has worked for the USDA Forest Service.

Rotary Christmas

trees for sale

The Rotary Club is selling Christmas trees and wreaths in conjunction with the Freeport Fire Co., until Dec. 22. Hours are Friday 4-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Sun 9 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Freeport Fire Station. The proceeds go to Rotary scholarship funds, local projects and Freeport Community Service projects.

Holiday recycling

at transfer station

The Freeport Transfer Station will be open regular hours on all days other than Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Recyclables include gift wrap (not foil), gift bags, tissue paper, greeting cards, corrugated cardboard, strings of lights, 1-7 plastic, glass.

Materials not for recycling include foil gift wrap, ribbon, bow, tinsel, packing peanuts, ceramic dishes, Styrofoam.

Old computers or can be brought to the transfer station. These items are not permissible in the Swap Shop, however, even if they still function. Fees are: TV (any size) and computer monitors, $6; computer tower, laptop, $5; keyboard, $1. After the holidays, unwanted items can be donated to a charity such as Freeport Community Services, Salvation Army, Goodwill or they can be dropped off at the Transfer Station Swap Shop.

Variety of programs from Freeport Elders

Freeport Elders is offering Beginning Zumba Toning, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:15-9 a.m., at the Freeport Community Center, with instructor Brandi Davis.

The Elders are raffling an 18-inch American Girl Doll (Saige) and 15 outfits to raise money for their bus fund. The drawing is on Dec. 11 and tickets are $2 each or three tickets for $5.

Senior citizens are eligible to walk at the YMCA in Freeport at no charge from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Participants can sign up at the front desk for track use. Walkers and regular wheeled walkers are permissible. Participants should identify themselves as a Freeport Elder and wear rubber-soled shoes.

On Thursdays during December, from 9-11:30 a.m., participants can bring their own craft and lunch. After lunch board games will be played.

930 coats collected

for seniors

In November, Mainers donated 930 gently worn adult winter coats to help ensure that every older Mainer stays warm this winter, up from 600 coats that were donated to seniors last year, according to the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging. For every coat donated, L.L. Bean contributed $5, for a total of $4,650 to the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging to provide fuel assistance for seniors. Coats were collected at locations across the state, culminating at the L.L. Bean flagship store during the kick-off weekend of the Northern Lights Celebration, Nov. 22-24. The first 100 people donating coats also received a coupon for a free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cone, plus Ben & Jerry’s gave the aging agency 100 percent of the profits from sundaes sold on Nov. 23rd at their Freeport location.

Coats for Seniors is a project of Merrymeeting Bay Triad and the Maine Aging Council.

Anyone who knows of a senior in need of a winter coat can call 1-877-353-3771.

Shopping Bag sales benefit Food Pantry

Freeport USA and Freeport businesses have teamed together to offer a reusable tote bag for sale. The tote is available for $5 and all proceeds benefit the Freeport Community Services Food Pantry. Twenty-four participating businesses are listed on the bag. Those who bring the bag in to the merchants can save 10 percent now through Dec. 31. For more information and to purchase a bag, visit http://www.freeportusa.com/latest-news/freeport-10-bag/.

Volunteers needed for reading program

Freeport Community Services is seeking volunteers to read to children in day care programs. Volunteers will need to be able to drive to a nearby day care location and spend 45 minutes once a week reading to young children who will benefit from and enjoy the experience, as do the readers. For more information, call Virginia Boyles at 865-3973 or Deb Dagget at 865-3985, ext. 206.

Upcoming meetings

Project Review Board, Dec. 11, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers

Coastal Waters Commission, Dec. 11, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center

Shellfish Commission, Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center

Active Living Task Force, Dec. 12, 7:30 a.m., Freeport Community Library

Traffic and Parking Committee, Dec. 17, 7:30 a.m., Freeport Town Hall

Town Council District 4 Workshop and regular meeting, Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., Hunter Road Field House, 96 Hunter Road

Conservation Commission, Dec. 18, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center

Recycling/Solid Waste Committee, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center

Members of the Greater Freeport Community Chorus sing of “The Many Moods of Christmas” Dec. 14 and 15. Courtesy photo 
Caleb Stephens, Freeport’s Edward Jones financial adviser, is supporting the Toys for Tots program by using his office as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive. Stephens recently hosted an open house, to which many friends brought a toy. “Thank you to everyone that has given to make this season brighter for a needy child,” Stephens said in an email to Tri-Town Weekly. Residents may still get involved by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the office, 5 Depot St, Suite 24, Freeport, during regular business hours through Thursday, Dec. 12.Courtesy photo