Outreach ministry founder to talk

Mair Honan, founder of Grace Street Ministry, an outreach ministry with the homeless and marginalized in Portland, will be the featured guest at the monthly meeting of the Freeport Woman’s Club, Friday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library.

Born in New York City, Honan has resided in Maine for the past 37 years. She has been a registered nurse for more than 40 years and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor for some 30 years. She is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, having received her master’s of divinity from Bangor Theological Seminary. All are welcome to attend.

The Freeport Woman’s Club is a service organization that has been in existence for 90 years. It meets once a month at the Freeport Community Library for a business meeting and program. The club’s fundraising projects include a spring bazaar and a bake sale on Election Day. Money raised provides local scholarships, community improvements, donations to Freeport Community Services and support for women seeking career education. The monthly meetings include presentations on a variety of topics. New members are welcome. Contact Betty Duckworth, 847-0240, or elizhard32@aol.com.

Beans and more cooking at First Parish

A beans and pasta supper will be held on Saturday, Jan. 9, from 5-6 p.m., at First Parish Church Congregational, 40 Main St., Freeport. On the menu will be homemade baked beans, macaroni and cheese, American chop suey, hot dogs, rolls, pickles, cole slaw, pies, beverages and more. The prices is $9 for adults, $4 for children. Profits support outreach programs.

Ed Webster to talk on Everest mystery

Ed Webster, a well-known American rock climber, author and photojournalist, will be at L.L. Bean on Friday, Jan. 15, to present a lecture, “Mallory & Irvine: The Unsolved Mystery on Mount Everest.” His talk begins at 7 p.m., in the camping department atrium.

Webster will talk about what really happened to Mallory and Irvine, British mountaineers, on the mountain on that fateful day, June 8, 1924. He has obtained the original, 1924 photographs taken by Mallory, Irvine, and their partners on Everest to illustrate his lecture.

The talk is free. To register and for a full schedule of events, see www.llbean.com/adventure.

Bag ban, fees topic of workshop

The Freeport Recycle and Solid Waste Committee will host a workshop with the Brunswick Topsham BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) group, Monday, Jan. 11, from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Freeport Community Library. The subject will be plastic bag bans and fees. Members of the Brunswick Topsham BYOB group will talk about their structure and approach and see their brief PowerPoint presentation. The committee will share its progress in Freeport with the bag ban/fee and will brainstorm and work on next steps.

Food will be provided and the public is welcome to join.

Zumba programs start this week

RSU 5 Community Programs is offering the dance-fitness program called Zumba as part of its winter program. Zumba is based on Latin and international rhythms, and moves that are easy to follow. It is proven to help build cardiovascular health and endurance and head-to-toe muscle toning. No dance experience is necessary.

An eight-week session of Zumba Fitness just started on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 6 p.m., in the Morse Street School gym. The fee is $40. A seven-week session of Zumba Gold, , a lower-intensity version, starts Thursday, Jan. 7, at 9:30 a.m., at the South Freeport Congregational Church Community Hall. Drop-ins are welcome anytime for either class, at $6 a class.

For more details or to register, see at http://www.rsu5-rce.org. Those interested can also contact the instructor via www.sharichaney.zumba.com.

Dean’s list honor

Devin Robinson, a 2015 graduate of Freeport High School, has been named to the dean’s list at the University Of Rochester. Robinson is pursuing a double major in cell and developmental biology and psychology, with a minor in Spanish.

Recycling the holidays

According to information from the town, the following items are recyclable: gift wrap (not foil), gift bags, tissue paper, greeting cards, lights, corrugated cardboard, 1-7 plastic and glass. Foil, gift wrap, ribbon, bows, tinsel, packing peanuts, ceramic dishes and Styrofoam are not recyclable.

Christmas trees are free to dispose of in the brush pile. Evergreen wreaths, because of the wire used to make them, cannot go in the brush pile. They are still free, but go in with the bulky waste dumpster.

During the holidays the silver bullets containers see a high amount of use. Extra pickups are scheduled to keep overflow situations to a minimum. Residents are asked to place only acceptable items in the bullets and if the bullet is full, they go to a different location or leave recycled items on another day. Recyclables left outside of the containers are considered illegal dumping. For more details, call 865-3740 or see www.freeportmaine.com.

Free film

The Freeport Community Library will screen the classic 1940 film, “The Shop Around the Corner,” on Thursday, Jan. 7, at 1 p.m. The film stars James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, who play employees at a leathergoods shop in Budapest who can’t stand each another, but in fact are falling in love through their letters as anonymous pen pals.letters.

Infant massage class starting

Freeport Community Library is offering an infant massage series in January, led by Katiya Gettys, certified infant massage instructor. In four classes, she will teach parents how to help babies relax and relieve stress. Each class will build on the previous one so participants are asked to make a commitment to all four classes. Dates are Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3 and 10, all starting 10:30 a.m. Babies are welcome, ages newborn to pre-crawling (9 months). Sign-ups are required as space is limited to 15 babies. There is no cost.

For more information and to register, call 865-3307 and ask for Holly.

Search-and-rescue dog making visit

A program about search-and-rescue dogs will be presented at Freeport Community Library on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to meet a rescue dog. The event is suitable for ages 5 and up.

Artist Janet Lawrence exhibits at library

During January, local artist Janet Lawrence will have an exhibit of her watercolor artwork at Freeport Community Library.

Lawrence has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, and says she finds painting with watercolor more challenging and versatile than any other medium. She has lived in Maine the past 13 years, which has inspired her to paint more. Her favorite subject is nature.

Seeking candidates for step-up grant

The Freeport Woman’s Club is looking for a candidate for its 2015-16 Step Up Grant, a $1,000 gift for a woman over the age of 21 from Freeport or Pownal who is seeking occupational training and 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.

Dog licenses available

Dogs 6 months and older are required to be licensed by law.

Registration is available at the Freeport Town Hall or online at www.doglicensing.com. All dog licenses expire Dec. 31 of each year and must be renewed no later than Jan. 31 of each year. The fee is $6 for a spayed or neutered dog and $11 for unspayed or not neutered dog. After Jan. 31, a late fee of $25 per dog also will be charged.

Rabies clinic? Jan. 23

A rabies clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Freeport Town Hall. Dogs and cats are invited. Rabies vaccines are $15 per animal.

Freeport residents can also license their dogs during the clinic. For more information, call the Town Clerk’s Office at 865-4743, ext. 122 or 123.

Winter reminders

The Public Works Department reminds residents that for the winter season, they are allowed two, 5-gallon buckets of sand per storm. Sand is located adjacent to the silver recycling bullet on Hunter Road in front of the Public Works facility.

Also, no parking is allowed on public streets nor in turnarounds during winter storm events. Residents should keep streets and turnarounds clear of vehicles (including trailers, campers, etc.) during a storm. The winter parking ban is now in effect, from 11 p.m.-7 a.m., and will continue until April 15.

Residents who have questions or concerns can call 865-4461.

Volunteers needed for town boards

The Freeport Town Council Appointments Committee is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the Project Review Board and library Board of Trustees. Applicants for other town coards and committees are also welcome and these applications will be maintained on a reserve list for future consideration as other vacancies arise. Applications can be obtained at the Town Clerk’s office, 865-4743, ext. 123.

Tickets available for Flavors of Freeport

Tickets are now on sale for Freeport’s biggest event of the season. Flavors of Freeport, now in its ninth year, will take place Friday, Feb. 19-Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016.

It opens on Friday with the Flavors of Freeport Ice Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn, featuring frosty beverages, ice sculptures and snow machines. The highlight of Saturday evening’s festivities is FreeportUSA’s signature event, the Chef’s Signature Series, featuring bites from some of Maine’s best chefs, local brews and other beverages.

Tickets for either Friday or Saturday night are available for $27.37. Guests can purchase tickets to both Friday and Saturday night for $43.19. Tickets include entrance to the Ice Bar and Motor Booty Affair performance on Friday or Ice Bar and Chef’s Signature Series on Saturday. All event attendees must be 21-plus and should have valid photo ID. Tickets can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com/e/9th-annual-flavors-of-freeport-tickets-19911412571.

Additional weekend events will be added to the Flavors of Freeport Facebook page as they are announced. For more information, call 865-1212 or see www.freeportusa.com.

Upcoming meetings

Planning Board, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Winslow Park Committee, Monday, Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Recycling/Solid Waste Committee, Monday, Jan. 11, 5:30 p.m., Freeport Community Library.

Conservation Commission, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

Project Review Board, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 6 p.m., Town Council Chambers.

Coastal Waters Commission, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

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