FREEPORT – Kristin Bernhart and Woody Woodbury like that their son, John Woodbury, has a place to hang out after school, in a friendly and safe atmosphere.

Once again this year, Bernhart and many others in the area are showing support for that venue, the Port Teen Center, with contributions of art at the annual auction fundraiser called “Sitting Pretty.” This year’s auction, with the theme of clocks and lazy Susans, will take place from 4-6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, at the Bradley Center, located above the teen space at the Freeport Community Center.

Bernhart and Woodbury have hung items to be auctioned on the walls of Freeport Hardware on Route 1, which they own. Other local businesses, such as the Freeport branch of Bath Savings Institution and Clayton’s Cafe & Bakery of Yarmouth, have done likewise.

“It’s a cool place for kids to hang out,” Bernhart said of the Port Teen Center. “It keeps them off the street. John likes the camaraderie after school. It gets them interested in things, like in the summer when they do teen treks. It’s at the community center, so they help out at the thrift shop when they need things moved around.”

Bernhart, a graphic designer who also paints murals, said she is looking forward to the event.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Bernhart said. “Everything’s hung up, and it’s usually standing-room only. We have an awesome auctioneer every year. Some of it will be put aside for a silent auction.”

Bernhart said that, typically, the art items sold at Sitting Pretty fetch anywhere from $20 all the way up to $600.

The Port Teen Center, which opened in 2006, is for kids in the seventh through 12th grade, regardless of residence. It is part of the Regional School Unit 5 Recreation and Community Education program. The large space offers WiFi, ping-pong and pool tables, a flat-screen television, a stereo system and, of course, a snack bar.

The center is free and is open every school day from 2:20-6 p.m.

The Sitting Pretty Auction is the brainchild of Randall Thomas, who has devoted many hours as a volunteer at the center. She and husband Jay Thomas’ son, Max, were among a group of teenagers who helped get the center off the ground. Max Thomas died of cancer after his sophomore year in high school.

“It’s in his memory that they do this every year,” Bernhart said.

Raffle ticket winners will get a lazy Susan and wall clock package, hand painted by Tina Edwards and Jay and Randall Thomas, respectively.

Darryn DuShane, director of the Teen Center, said that Randall Thomas remains the driving force behind Sitting Pretty.

“She really needs to take the credit,” DuShane said. “I just do whatever she asks.”

DuShane said the goal is to raise $10,000 at the auction – about the same as last year. The remainder of the teen center’s $45,000 annual budget, he said, comes from stakeholders such as RSU 5 and the town, L.L. Bean and from fundraisers, such as a 5K road race held in June.

The center provides a “safe haven” for teenagers – around 15 on a typical day – who might not be plugged into traditional after-school activities such as sports, DuShane said. While some will hang out there after practice at school, many others might be latch-key kids who would be home alone without supervision, he said.

“Kids from different backgrounds are able to socialize,” he said. “It’s an opportunity that some of these kids wouldn’t have.”

A CLOSER LOOK

The Sitting Pretty fundraising auction, featuring painted clocks and lazy Susans, is Sunday, March 23, from 4-6:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center. The event is a benefit for Freeport’s Port Teen Center.

Kristin Bernhart, owner of Freeport Hardware, stands near the store’s display of art that she created and will donate to the Sitting Pretty fundraiser to support the Port Teen Center, on Sunday, March 23, at the Freeport Community Center.“Mellow Yellow,” created by Kristin Bernhart, is one of the art items to be auctioned March 23. “It’s Snow Time” created by Kristin Bernhart, is among the art items to be auctioned March 23 during an auction called “Sitting Pretty,” at the Freeport Community Center.