Freeport Players

plan party, meeting

Freeport Players invites the community to don a favorite hat and join the organization for its annual potluck party and short annual business meeting, on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at Freeport Community Library. Prizes will be given for notable hats. Attendees can bring food or non-alcoholic drinks to share. Freeport Players members will supply desserts and entertainment.

Freeport Players is celebrating the accomplishments of 2015 and previewing the 2016 season, which includes “The Odd Couple” (female version), “The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (abridged),” and the popular “WFCP Hometime Radio Hour,” as well as new acting workshops and the many activities of the upcoming FebFest, Freeport’s arts and cultural festival.

For more information, see www.fcponline.org or email info@fcponline.org.

Another energy

initiative mulled

After hearing interest from residents, Town Planner Donna Larson is investigating the feasibility of a second bulk-purchasing program, modeled on last year’s successful Solarize Freeport program, for purchases of insulation and alternative heating systems such as heat pumps and pellet boilers. Interest from the community is being gauged, to see whether such a program would be feasible. Those who are interested can contact Larson at dlarson@freeportmaine.com or 865-4743, ext. 103 or see www.solarizefreeport.com.

11,052 gallons

of oil donated

The Downeast Energy/L.L. Bean oil donation has resulted in the delivery of 11,052 gallons to families in Freeport and Yarmouth. The oil came from surplus generated when L.L. Bean switched one of its facilities to natural gas. The deliveries were coordinated by Johanna Hanselman, general assistance administrator. Oil was delivered to 67 homes, with 10 of them receiving a second delivery in late December.

Trailblazers program for teens

The PORT Teen Center is offering a Trailblazer activities program this winter and early spring. Trips will occur on Fridays and include Alpine skiing, snowtubing, an indoor trampoline park and an indoor adventure park, as well as the Bath Skate Park. Students must register in advance for these. Space is limited. For more information, see www.rsu5-rce.org or the Community Programs catalog.

Coffee mugs aid

Project Graduation

Special Dunkin’ Donuts coffee mugs are now available to buy. Purchase a mug for $20 and use it for free coffee or tea (hot or cold) every Sunday at any Dunkin’ Donuts in Maine, as well as Coos and Carroll counties in New Hampshire. All proceeds benefit the Freeport High School class of 2016 Project Graduation fund.

Mugs can be purchased at Freeport Hardware, or contact Susan Karnes, 837-2925, or Chrissy Rice, 319-0397.

Freeport GOP

to meet

The Freeport Republican Committee will meet Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 6:45 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge, Mallet Drive, lower level. All Freeport registered Republicans are invited to attend. For more information or to be added to the email list, contact Jason Thyen, chairman, at jason.thyen@gmail.com.

Those who attend should bring non-perishable food items for the Freeport food bank.

Library hosting

conference event

As part of the 2016 Camden Conference/World Affairs Council of Maine event, Freeport Community Library will stream on large screen the acclaimed 2012 PBS documentary, “Stealing Africa: Why Poverty?” on Friday, Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m. (snow date is Jan. 29). The documentary takes an in-depth look at why Zambia, one of the 20 poorest countries in the world, has not reaped the economic benefits of the more than $29 billion in copper that’s been extracted from the country in the past 10 years by internationally owned corporations.

Freeport Community Library is coordinating Camden Conference-related events this month with both Merrill Memorial Library in Yarmouth and Falmouth Memorial Library. The Camden Conference was founded in 1987 as a nonprofit, non-partisan educational organization whose mission is to foster informed discourse on world issues. The 29th annual Camden Conference, “The New Africa”, will be presented live from the Camden Opera House, and live-streamed at the University of Southern Maine Lee Auditorium in Portland, Feb. 19-21. For more information, see www.camdenconference.org.

‘Happy Neuter Year’

Sponsored by PetSmart Charities, a “Happy Neuter Year” campaign will provide $20 neutering surgeries for 100 male dogs and cats during January at the Community Spay-Neuter Clinic, formerly of Freeport and now located in Topsham.

This special $20 rate is even less than the organization’s normal low-cost price and is available to all residents of Kennebec and Cumberland counties. For more information or to schedule an appointment, see www.communityspayneuterclinic.com or call 721-8395.

Community Spay-Neuter Clinic provides subsidized spay-neuter surgeries for pet owners that are on public assistance, or reduced income and can’t otherwise afford it. To date, the clinic has performed more than 20,000 spays and neuters since opening in 2010.

Masons cooking

roast pork dinner

The Freeport Masons will host a roast pork supper on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Masonic Lodge on Mallett Drive, from 5-6:30 p.m. The menu will feature roast pork, mashed potatoes, assorted vegetables, homemade biscuits, dessert and beverage. The cost is $9, with half price for children under 12.

College achievements

Two Freeport residents are among students named to the fall 2015 dean’s list at the University of Vermont, Burlington. They are Julia Fosburg, an animal sciences major in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences; and

Muriel Adams, an engineering major in the College of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences. To be named to the dean’s list, students must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better and rank in the top 20 percent of their class in their respective college or school.

Shorebird expert

at ‘Birds On Tap’

Freeport Wild Bird Supply has announced its upcoming “Birds On Tap” series, which features speakers in the field of ornithology and conservation.

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 5-7 p.m., Brad Winn will present his talk, “Understanding Shorebird Migrations to Help Direct Conservation Action,” at Rising Tide Brewing Co., 103 Fox St., Portland. Patrons can sample beers while learning about some of the most dynamic bird research in Maine. In addition, patrons can support the research direction, as a portion of the proceeds are donated to further the work of the featured speaker.

The talk will be about how rapidly evolving tracking technology is helping humans understand the habitat needs of individual long-distance migrant shorebirds. Winn is the director of shorebird habitat management at Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences in Brunswick. His work with Manomet has taken him to Arctic and sub-Arctic regions on 12 expeditions to study shorebirds on their nesting grounds.

The event is free and non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks will be provided free of charge. For every beer purchased, Rising Tide will donate $1 to directly support Winn’s research at Manomet.

Farmer for the Morning

Wolfe’s Neck Farm, 184 Burnett Road, invites preschool-aged children and their parents to its Farmer for the Morning program at the farm, Thursdays during the school year, holidays excluded, from 9-10 a.m. Participants meet in the barn for an hour-long interactive and hands-on experience that includes feeding and caring for the barnyard animals. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, see www.wolfesneckfarm.org/farmer-for-the-morning.

Browntail moth

survey requested

Another increase in the browntail moth population is predicted for 2016 by the Maine Forest Service in the Freeport and midcoast areas. Due to this projected increase, property owners, especially in coastal areas, should survey their land this winter to help determine if they need to take action against an infestation. Freeport residents will be receiving a flyer in the mail later this month that will provide information on the precautions they should take to protect themselves, and a link to the Maine Forest Service browntail moth website with more information, including a list of licensed pesticide applicators for landowners.

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.

Zumba programs

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 is held Tuesdays, at 6 p.m., in the Morse Street School gym. A seven-week session of Zumba Gold, a lower-intensity version, is held on Thursdays, 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, see www.rsu5-rce.org. Those interested can also contact the instructor via www.sharichaney.zumba.com.

Infant massage

class starting

Freeport Community Library is offering an infant massage series led by Katiya Gettys of Freeport, a 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 Tuesdays, Jan. 26, Feb. 2, 9 and 16, at 11:15 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.

Local artist’s

works 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.

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.

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.