Critically acclaimed magician on Freeport stage

Magic’s only two-time Gold Medal Champion, George Saterial, will be on stage this weekend at the Freeport Theater of Awesome on Depot Street. His shows are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saterial exhibits the unique balance of theatrical, technical and creative abilities that have made him a critically acclaimed magician, honored by the industry’s foremost associations – the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians.

Visit the Freeport Theater of Awesome’s website at www. theaterofawesome.com to get tickets, or call 675-4000.

Community pitches in for fire victims

Neighbors who arranged a recent benefit event for the Ware Road, Freeport, fire victims say they had a great turnout, with the community coming together to volunteer time and cooking talents. All the food and silent auction items donated meant that all the money raised went to the families.

In the end, $2,140 was raised from the dinner and $1,392 was raised from additional donations and the silent auction, for a total of $3,532. The Freeport Masons submitted a matching $500 donation from the Grand Lodge of Maine, which put the total at $4,032 for both families. The fires were last month at 5 and 3 Ware Road.

The organizers thanked the many individual and business contributors for making the benefit and auction a success.

First Saturday means pancakes

The Freeport Elders Association will sponsor a pancake breakfast the first Saturday of the month starting on March 1 at 10 a.m. at the Freeport Community Center. The deluxe breakfast at $4.50 includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, biscuits, orange juice, tea or coffee. The regular breakfast without eggs and biscuits is $3.50. Seniors can deduct 50 cents.

‘Maine at Work’ performance premieres

The Maine Humanities Council will present a premiere performance of “Maine at Work,” Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St. The program takes historical documents, characters, humor, little-known facts, thought-provoking tales (tall and otherwise), and perspectives from real Mainers to show the pattern of work in Maine. According to the humanities council, it is designed to be fun and to get Mainers thinking about the issues. David Greenham, a longtime theater director in Maine, will present this 30-minute performance, followed by a discussion. No registration is required.

For more information, visit http://mainehumanities.org/programs/mainers/work.html.

Armchair travel to Yellowstone, China

Coming up at the Freeport Community Library’s 2014 Winter Armchair Travel series, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.19, visit Yellowstone National Park with professional photographer Jonathan Strout. Strout has studied with several well-known photographers, including Neal Parent and John Sexton. For more information, see his website at www.jonstrout.com.

Monday, Feb. 24, visit China with Freeport resident Andrew Finnegan, whose program is entitled, “The Great Wall, Old Beijing and The Forbidden City.” Finnegan has become familiar with China through his frequent trips to visit family members who reside there.

For more information, see www.freeportlibrary.com or call 865-3307.

Girls on the Run starts next month

The Girls on the Run program for girls in third through fifth grades will be offered at Mast Landing School. The Girls on Track program for girls in sixth through eighth grades will be offered at the Casco Bay YMCA. Both begin practice the last week in March.

Girls on the Run is a physical activity based positive youth development program. The program teaches life skills through interactive lessons and running games. The 10-week after-school program culminates with the girls being prepared to complete a celebratory 5K running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.

The program fee is $129 and financial assistance is available. To learn more, see http://girlsontherunmaine.org/.

Sitting Pretty fundraiser March 23

After decorating rocking chairs, canoe paddles, small tables and mirrors, the annual benefit auction for Freeport’s Port Teen Center this year will feature painted clocks and lazy Susans. The Sitting Pretty event will be held Sunday, March 23, from 4-6:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center.

The event has raised more than $40,000 in the past to support the center. The clocks and lazy Susans will be on display at Clayton’s Cafe? and Bakery, Route 1 in Yarmouth, prior to the event.

Bracelet class coming up

Local jewelry artisan Deb Driver will offer a class Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 5-8 p.m., where participants can create a stylish leather and bead wrap bracelet. Cost is $50 per student including all materials. Light refreshments will be served. To register, call The Wishful Moon at 865-4400 or come into the store at 12 School St. Pre-registration is required and fee is non-refundable. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled.

Hunt on for best cover photo

Regional School Unit 5 Recreation & Community Education is now accepting entries for cover photos for the 2014 Spring/Summer Brochure cover contest. The photo should be eye catching, classy and professional in its look and have a “spring/summer” theme. It can be created using any graphics program(s), but final delivery should be in PNG or JPEG format, with dimensions of 73?4-by-101?2 inches. It will be used as the front cover for the 2014 Spring/Summer Brochure, mailed to over 6,000 households in the RSU 5 district.

The deadline to submit a photo is Friday, Feb. 28. Photos can be sent to Anthony Johnson at johnsona@rsu5.org. A winner will be chosen shortly after and the person’s name will be recognized on the inside cover of the brochure as the contest winner. Those with questions can call 865-6171.

Freeport Players will present ‘Talking With’

“Talking With…”, a play by Jane Martin that consists of a collection of monologues, will be performed Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center, 53 Depot St, Freeport. The play was the winner of the 1982 American Theatre Critics Association Award, Best Regional Play. “Talking With…” gives voice to idiosyncratic female characters who will both amuse and move the audience. The collection of monologues contains adult themes and is not suitable for children. Tickets are $10, and are available online at www.fcponline.org/tix.htm or in person at the Thrift Store at Freeport Community Center. Seating is limited.

For more information, visit www.fcponline.org or call 865-2220.

AARP offering free tax prep aid

AARP will again be providing free tax preparation assistance for low to moderate-income households, with special attention to those 60 years and older, Wednesday mornings through April 9, at the Freeport Community Center. Assistance is available by appointment only. Call 865-4743, ext.120, to schedule.

Spay/neuter clinic

Community Spay-Neuter Clinic in Freeport is offering a special “Beat the Heat” campaign sponsored by PetSmart Charities, with $20 spay and neuter surgeries for female cats during the month of February. Visit www.communityspayneuterclinic.com or call 865-0772 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Upcoming meetings

Freeport Conservation Commission, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Freeport Recycling Committee. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Freeport Planning Board, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Freeport Active Living Task Force, Thursday, Feb. 20, 7:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Freeport Traffic and Parking Committee, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7:30 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Freeport Town Council, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Magician George Saterial performs three shows at the Freeport Theater of Awesome this weekend, on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.