February camp on the farm

Wolfe’s Neck Farm announces its February school vacation camp, Feb. 16-20. With a heated indoor space as home base, participants will spend time with the animals in the barn and learn about the wilder winter residents of the farm. Activities will include feeding animals, seeding winter greens in the greenhouse, tracking animals in the woods and more. Limited space is available.

February campers are expected to bring a hearty lunch, snacks and a water bottle. Campers should also be prepared with many layers of winter clothing and a change of clothes, good winter boots, gloves or mittens, a warm winter hat, and sunglasses (for snow glare). For additional information, visit www.wolfesneckfarm.org or call 865-4469, ext.106.

Coaches needed

Girls on the Run is looking for enthusiastic and dedicated adults (ages 18-plus) of all backgrounds who are positive role models committed to empowering girls in grades 3-5 or 6-8 to realize their full potential. Running and coaching experience are not required. Lessons are scripted. Training and all materials are provided. Coaches must be available twice a week for 90 minutes for the 10-week season beginning the week of March 23.

Coaching openings are available at Mast Landing School and Casco Bay YMCA.

For more information visit www.girlsontherunmaine.org or contact Program Director Staci Olson at staci.olson@girlsontherun.org, or call 747-5677.

AARP offers tax help

AARP will once again be providing free tax-preparation assistance for low- to moderate- income households, with special attention to those 60 years and older, Wednesday mornings from Feb. 4-April 8 at the Freeport Community Center. Assistance is available by appointment only. To schedule, call 865-4743, ext. 120.

Salvation Army grateful for community support

The Salvation Army extended its gratitude to thank the volunteers and local businesses that made it possible for the organization to raise $2,684.00 at the kettle site in Freeport this past Christmas season. Deb Milite was the kettle coordinator and volunteer. The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign was supported by the following:

Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen & Topside Tavern, Linda Bean, Matt Morrison, manager, and staff.

First Baptist Church volunteers Jane and Jim Force, Bob and Dolores Brooks, Brenda Endicott, Toni Irish, Linda and Tim Capen and family, Anna Darby and Eyidi Ambila and family, Holly Gross, Alisa Coffin, Matt Carter and Susan Dunning and family, Chloe Monsen, Eden Monsen, Jackie Empey, Bev Williams, Dusty Barrett, Brenda Ruotolo, Nancy Anthony, Janet and John Schwanda, Annique Milite.

Freeport High School/RSU 5 – Dede Bennell, Service Learning coordinator and co-adviser for Interact Club, and club volunteers Lauren Schenker, Hannah Morrissey, Chloe Davidson, Julia Deardan, Maggie Davis, Lily Smith, Molly Kennedy, Ryder Bennell, Alexis Erlandson.

Also, Kenney Robinson family, Justin Roy family, Cindy Leighton, Madison and Bentley Stedl and Chris Milite.

Money raised through the kettle program supports year-round assistance for those in need with food, clothing and utilities. Also, The Salvation Army provides children with an opportunity to attend a summer camping program at Camp Sebago in Standish.

The red kettle has been a longstanding tradition with The Salvation Army. Dating back more than 123 years, the kettle has been an important source of revenue in addition to being an iconic symbol of the holidays.

$1,000 grant offered by Woman’s Club

The Freeport Woman’s Club is still looking for a candidate for its 2015 Step Up Grant, a $1,000 gift for a woman over the age of 21 from Freeport or Pownal. This is an opportunity for someone who is seeking occupational training but is experiencing financial need. Criteria for selection of the applicant are based upon financial need, clarity of goals, educational program and references. For questions and further information, call Virginia Boyles at 865-3973.

Parking ban

There is no parking on town streets from 11 p.m.-7 a.m. until April 15. Additional emergency parking bans are also regularly implemented for snow removal purposes during storms. Emergency parking bans are announced on local news networks in the same manner as school closures. Those with questions as to whether there is an emergency parking ban in place can call the police department business line at 865-4800.

Author Ellen Cooney to talk at library

The Freeport Community Library will host Maine author Ellen Cooney, Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6:30 p.m., for a talk on her most recently published book, “The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances,” published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in August 2014.

“The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances” is about two women and a pack of dogs who find a place at a training school and radical rescue center. According to a press release, it is a story of strays and rescues, kidnappings and homecomings, moving on and holding on and letting go.

Cooney is the author of eight novels and stories published in The New Yorker and many literary journals. She taught creative writing for some 25 years, most recently in the Writing Program at MIT and the Extension School at Harvard.

Dean’s list

Morrisville State College, Morrisville, N.Y., recently announced that Leanna Smith of Freeport was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2014 semester. To be named to the dean’s list, a student must achieve an average of 3.0 to 3.99 for the semester and complete 12 credit hours.

Tech, business, career classes offered

RSU 5 Recreation and Community Education is offering new technology and career development classes this winter. New laptops for student use have been purchased as a result of an Adult Education Technology Grant from the Maine Department of Education.

For those interested in learning how to promote their business, the following courses are offered: Introduction to Website Design, 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, March 23-April 13, $64 fee; and Social Media Marketing for Your Business, Tuesday, April 14, at 6 p.m., $30 fee.

Two free career-development workshops will also be offered. Write a Winning Resume is Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m., and Ace the Interview, is Wednesday, March 18, at 6 p.m.

Suggestions for future classes are welcome, or those with an interest in teaching can email parkk@rsu5.org. To register for classes, visit www.rsu5-rce.org or call 865-6171.

Local student makes dean’s list

Connor Joseph Dietrich of Freeport, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2014 semester at Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y. Dean’s list students must achieve a minimum 3.25 grade-point average and also carry at least 14 credit hours.

Metro seeking comments

Officials with Portland Metro wants to know what is most important to local residents about the expanded service from Portland to Freeport. To help, residents are asked to fill out a survey at www.gpmetrobus.com. Metro service is expected to start July 1.

Upcoming meetings

Planning Board, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Staff Review Board, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m., Town Council Chambers.

Winslow Park Commission, Monday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m., Freeport Town Hall.

Town Council Workshop with committees, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Coastal Waters Committee, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

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

A full listing of upcoming town meetings and agendas is available on www.freeportmaine.com.