Tag sale set for Saturday

The Freeport Masonic Lodge will be holding its annual tag sale in the lodge parking lot at 33 Mallet Drive in Freeport on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Hundreds of items will be available for review and purchase at unbeatable prices with the proceeds earmarked for charitable purposes. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 6.

Races raise funds for local nonprofits

The Freeport, Pownal and Durham Education Foundation and Freeport Community Services will be the beneficiaries of the third annual Freeport Half Marathon and 5K road races, Sunday, Sept. 6. The half marathon race begins at 9 a.m., and the 5K starts at 9:15. Both start and end near the FreeportUSA tower in downtown Freeport, and will take runners on a scenic road course that includes field and coastal views. The event features T-shirts and medals for participants, post-race refreshments, build-your-own goodie bags and more. The race is also part of the New England Half Marathon Tour series.

3C Race Productions, the organizer of the event, has agreed to give Freeport Community Services and the Freeport, Pownal and Durham Education Foundation a portion of all entry fees for both races. Freeport Community Services is a local nonprofit that provides direct services such as emergency food, clothing, transportation and utility assistance, as well as referrals to other community supports, for residents of Freeport and Pownal. The education foundation funds grants for teachers in every public school in Freeport, Pownal and Durham, to provide enrichment opportunities for all children.

Local businesses that have signed on as race sponsors include Azure Cafe, Buck’s Naked BBQ & Steakhouse, Endontic Associates, Freeport Hardware, FreeportUSA, Goodwin’s Volvo, HDR Engineering, The Mortgage Network, Norway Savings Bank and Royal River Natural Foods.

Both walkers and runners are welcome at this event. Those who want to participate can register online at www.freeporthalfmarathon.com or register on site on the morning of the race. Also, those who want to help volunteer for this event can contact Debbie Daggett at Freeport Community Services, 865-3985, ext. 206.

Barbecue honors board members

The Freeport Town Council will host town board and committee members and their families at barbecue in their honor, Sunday, Sept. 20, from 2-4:30 p.m., at

Harb Cottage in Winslow Memorial Park. The event is being held in

appreciation of their commitment and contributions to the town. Those who plan to attend should RSVP by Sept. 10 to 865-4743, ext. 120.

Free camping for residents

Winslow Park is offering two weeks of free camping for Freeport residents, from Sept. 12-27. Winslow Park and Campground offers100 campsites and wooded trails with views of the harbor and Casco Bay; picnic tables, grills and a tidal beach; and a boat launch for anything from trailered boats to canoes and kayaks; For more information, call 865-4198.

Harvest dance on Sept. 26

Wolfe’s Neck Farm’s 19th annual Harvest Dance, featuring the band North of Nashville, is Saturday, Sept. 26, from 6-10 p.m., at the farm’s historic Mallet Barn. The evening will feature?local music, local food and local brews. There will be a cash bar and an assortment of food trucks and vendors. Contra dancing is scheduled from 7-8 p.m., followed by North of Nashville.

Advance tickets are $20, or $25 at the door (unless sold out). For more information, see www.wolfesneckfarm.org.

Book talk focuses on genocide rescue

Lou Ureneck, author of “The Great Fire: One American’s Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century’s First Genocide,” will speak about his book Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library

In September 1922, the richest city of the Mediterranean was burned and countless numbers of Christian refugees killed. The city was Smyrna, and the event was the final episode of the 20th century’s first genocide the slaughter of 3 million Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians of the Ottoman Empire. But a YMCA worker from upstate New York named Asa Jennings staged a bold rescue with the help of Halsey Powell, a principled American naval officer and Kentucky gentleman. The forgotten story of one of the great humanitarian acts of history is the subject of Ureneck’s book.

Ureneck, former executive editor of the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram, is a journalism professor at Boston University.

Art, music, food featured at festival

FreeportUSA’s 17th annual Freeport Fall Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. More than 100 artists will exhibit works ranging from photography oil, watercolor, mixed media, fine craft and jewelry, and live bands will be performing throughout the weekend. A selection of Maine food producers will also be on hand. Freeport Community Services will be on site hosting its annual Chowdah Challenge to raise funds for camp scholarships. Hosted on the L.L. Bean campus, the two-day event is free and includes children’s art activities and music for the whole family.

Voters can request absentee ballots

Freeport voters can request an absentee ballot by completing the secretary of state’s online request form at www.maine.gov or by filling out a request form to mail or deliver in person to Freeport Town Clerk Christine Wolfe at the Town Hall office. Any registered voter can choose to vote absentee by mail or in person prior to election day, Nov. 3. Ballots will be available roughly 30 days before the election (and at least 45 days before the election for uniformed service and overseas voters).

Nomination papers are in the Town Clerk’s office for those interested in seeking several seats up for election. Papers are due back to the Town Clerk’s Office no later than 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Seats up for election include one town councilor at large and one District 4 councilor, both three years; two three-year seats on the Regional School Unit 5 Board of Directors and one one-year seat; three three-year seats on the Sewer District; and one three year seat on the Water District.

The ballot also will include three statewide questions, including one citizen’s initiative and two bond issues:

Question 1 is a citizen’s initiative, “An Act To Strengthen the Maine Clean Election Act, Improve Disclosure and Make Other Changes to the Campaign Finance Laws.” Public comment is still being accepted on the exact wording of this question. Visit the Secretary of State’s website to read the proposed wording and submit thoughts by Aug. 28.

Question 2 is a bond issue, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Support the Independence of Maine’s Seniors.” If approved by voters, this would authorize a $15 million housing bond to build affordable housing across the state.

Question 3 is also a bond issue, “An Act To Authorize Two General Fund Bond Issues To Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities.” If approved by voters, it would authorize an $85 million investment in roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure.

For more information, see www.Maine.gov. Questions about the election can be directed to Rep. Sara Gideon, 865-9593, or sara.gideon@legislature.maine.gov. For information about the Freeport election, call 865-4743, ext. 123 or email cwolfe@freeportmaine.com.

Free film at library

Freeport Community Library will screen “The Woman in Gold,” a 2015 film starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds, Thursday, Sept. 3, at 1 p.m. In the film, an elderly Jewish woman attempts to reclaim family possessions that were seized by the Nazis. With the help of young lawyer, she embarks upon a lengthy legal battle to recover paintings.

Community Service Award nominations

Freeport Community Services is now accepting nominations for the Carol Kaplan Memorial Community Service Award. The award is named after the longtime general services director for the town of Freeport. It is given annually by Freeport Community Services to an individual who embodies the mission of FCS, and who has had a positive impact on client services and/or the organization.

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 17. Nomination forms are available at the Freeport Community Center at 53 Depot St., or online at www.fcsmaine.org. Nominations can be submitted by email to Melanie Sachs, executive director, at msachs@fcsmaine.org, mailed to FCS at P.O. Box 119, Freeport, ME 04032, or submitted in person at the offices of Freeport Community Services. For more information, contact Sachs at 865-3985, ext. 204.

Past recipients include:

1999 Vaughndella Curtis

2000 Brenda White

2001 Edgar Leighton

2002 Bob Melargno

2003 Marie Forbus and Sally Amory

2004 Johanna Hanselman

2006 Peter Warren

2007 Jan Newlin

2008 Judy Miskell

2009 Fran Stevens

2010 Daric Ebert

2011 Kate and Jonas Werner

2012 Carol Southall

2013 Stephen Cogswell

2014 Marjorie Perkins and Joan Plourde

Books chosen for discussion group

The Freeport Community Library hosts a book group that meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 6-7:45 p.m. to discuss a book of the group’s choosing. The group’s upcoming schedule and book selections for September, October and November are:

Sept. 2, “The Giver,” by Lois Lowry.

Oct. 7, “Middlemarch,” by George Eliot.

Nov. 4, “Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler: A True Love Story.”

For more information, call Belinda Stewart, 865-3307.

Energy audits available

The Freeport Home Energy Efficiency Program still has free energy audits available for income-eligible Freeport homeowners. Eligible participants will receive energy assessments and cost-effective measures (air sealing) to reduce their heating costs. Some 30 households have already benefited from this program. For information, contact Johanna Hanselman at the Town Hall, 865-4743, ext.120.

Chamber golf tourney Sept. 16

The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce will hold a Challenge Golf Tournament, a major fundraiser for 2015.

This year the tournament will be held in conjunction with the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce. It’s scheduled for the Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland on Sept. 16. There will be a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and the day will include a lunch and awards ceremony. Non-players are welcome. For more information, call 847-5240.

Upcoming meetings

Board of Appeals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Conservation Commission, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Coastal Waters Committee, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Shellfish Conservation Commission, Thursday, Sept 10, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall.

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