‘Almost, Maine’ auditions set

Freeport Players will hold auditions for “Almost, Maine,” by John Cariani, Monday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 17, from 7-8:30 p.m., at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St. The play, directed by Elizabeth Guffey, will be presented Sept. 11-21. There are roles for adult men and women (approximately late 20s to early 50s). Actors are encouraged to email their intent to audition to info@fcponline.org. For full details, visit www.fcponline.org/auditions.

100 animals, 100 homes

Following months of preparations, the Coastal Humane Society of Brunswick met its goal of finding loving, permanent homes for 100 animals as part of “Midnight Madness,” its mega-adoption event, on June 1. The event was the formal kick-off to Coastal Humane’s participation in the Rachael Ray/ASPCA $100,000 Challenge, a nationwide adoption competition among leading shelters. Coastal Humane, which serves Freeport, is the only animal shelter in New England that was invited to participate in the contest.

The shelter opened its doors at 12:01 a.m. on June 1 to adopters, some of whom had waited for four hours while being entertained by hula-hoopers, face painters, movie-watching and other entertainment, to adopt puppies and dogs at its Range Road building, and kittens and cats at its Pleasant Street location. By 4 a.m., Coastal had placed 67 animals with new families.

The shelter reopened at 10 a.m. for extended hours, and by 4 p.m. Sunday, 100 animals had been adopted.

“On an average weekend, we typically adopt out 25 dogs and cats. To find new homes for 100 animals in the space of 10 hours -– that’s something we’ve simply never done before,” said Dr. Mandie Wehr, shelter veterinarian and director of shelter operations.

Coastal’s next event will feature fee-waived cats for adoption. It’s been dubbed “Certified Pre-Owned Pets,” and will take place Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22. For more information, see challenge.coastalhumanesociety.org, or visit Coastal on Facebook.

Sign up for summer reading

Freeport Community Library announced that the sign-up date for the summer reading program is Wednesday, June 11, at 3 p.m., and continues through the end of June. Children who sign up can participate in the special events throughout the summer, including juggling and comedy, Sparks Ark, reading to a dog, crafts and more.

Restaurant sales to aid boosters

Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro, 140 Main St., will donate 10 percent of lunch and dinner sales on Wednesday, June 11, to the Freeport High School Baseball and Softball Booster Club.

Travis Libsack wins Principal’s Award

Travis Libsack, son of Jennifer and Jamy Libsack, was selected as Freeport High School’s Maine Principals’ Association Principal’s Award recipient for 2014. He was honored recently at a luncheon in Bangor where U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was the keynote speaker.

A senior at Freeport High School, he will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall to study mechanical engineering. During high school, he has been a member of the Math Team, Model UN, World Quest Team and the Interact Club which performs community service all year long. He has logged more than 500 hours of community service between school and the Boy Scouts, where he has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He also swims competitively after school with the Stripers Club and plans to swim in college next year. He is also a founding member of the RoboGoby Project Team that is working on building a submersible. They hope to have a prototype soon and their progress can be followed on their blog, robogoby.blogspot.com.

Merriconeag alum joins conservation corps

The Maine Conservation Corps recently welcomed Wyatt McCurdy of Freeport to serve as a field team member and AmeriCorps national service member for a three-month, 450-hour term of national service. McCurdy is the son of Brian McCurdy of Meeker, Colo., and Jessica McCurdy of Freeport.

The Maine Conservation Corps conducts conservation projects throughout the state, including extensive recreational trail construction and rehabilitation. McCurdy is a 2012 graduate of Merriconeag Waldorf High School and attends the University of Maine at Farmington, majoring in environmental studies and minoring in Spanish.

Farm invitation

Wolfe’s Neck Farm, 184 Burnett Road, is hosting Summer Weekend Family Barnyard Programs, inviting visitors into the barn and pastures to meet and learn about the animals and the care they need, and then see the newly renovated discovery garden. The program will culminate in a tractor ride up into West Bay. The programs are open to all ages and are scheduled on Saturdays in July and August. There are two sessions: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

The cost is $8 per person (infants not yet walking are free). Participation is limited to 12 per session. Reservations are recommended. Call 865-4469 or see www.wolfesneckfarm.org.

Broadway, comedy, juggling at Theater of Awesome

“The Golden Age Of Broadway,” with Meg Doherty, will be performed Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, at 8 p.m., at the Freeport Theater of Awesome, 5 Depot St. The show will focus on the times that brought such musicals as “South Pacific,” “Guys and Dolls” and “West Side Story,” and on the stars of the era, such as Carol Channing, Julie Andrews, Elaine Stritch and Gwen Verdon.

The following week, Boston comedian Mike Donovan takes to the theater’s stage on Saturday, June 21, at 8:30 p.m. Although best known for his sports-related material, Donovan covers a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from pop culture to all nature of human foibles. A native of South Boston, he regularly works the top clubs in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and has been featured on several TV shows.

“Double or Nothing,” a family-friendly show that features juggling, comedy, magic and more, is scheduled for Thursday, June 26 and Friday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. Steve Corning and Shane Miclon have joined forces to create this zany performance. Their professional careers have brought them all across the U.S. and beyond with highlights including Disney Cruise Lines and Cirque Mechanic.

For tickets and more information on the shows, see www.theaterofawesome.tixato.com/buy or call 675-4000.

Church cooking up beans

A baked bean and pasta supper will be held Saturday, June 14, from 5-6 p.m., at the First Parish Church Congregational, 40 Main St., Freeport.

On the menu are three kinds baked beans, macaroni and cheese, American chop suey, hot dogs, rolls, pickles, cole slaw, homemade pies, beverages and more. Cost is $8 for adults, $4 children. Proceeds support church outreach programs, and more.

Library Friends meet Monday

Friends of the Freeport Community Library will hold its monthly meeting Monday, June 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the library. All are welcome to attend the meeting and join the volunteers who support and promote the library.

Since forming in 2011, the group has provided free or discounted museum and park passes for patrons, started sponsoring a “Meet the Author” series of book talks, advocated for the addition of a technology librarian and offered support for a wide variety of library events and programs. For more information, visit www.fclfriends.org.

Park gets spring clean-up

The L.L. Bean maintenance crew, accompanied by a group of L.L. Bean employees and local landscape architect Travis Pryor, completed a massive spring clean-up of Leon Gorman Park on Wednesday, May 28.

All materials were donated by L.L. Bean. Trail mulch was put down, landscaped beds were weeded and mulched, walkways were cleared of debris and flowers were planted. Those interested in volunteering some time to the town’s public spaces should contact Donna Larson, town planner, at dlarson@freeportmaine.com.

Passport update

Starting July 1, the Freeport Community Library will no longer be a passport acceptance facility.

Anyone who needs to obtain or renew a passport, get passport forms, or ask questions about passports can visit http://travel.state.gov, call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 or contact one of the passport acceptance facilities in the area including: Brunswick Post Office, 725-2542; town of Brunswick Tax Office, 725-6657; Prince Memorial Library in Cumberland, 829-2215; Topsham Town Hall Planning Department, 725-1724; or Portland Post Office, 871-8423.

Shellfish license lottery

One resident commercial shellfish license and one resident student commercial shellfish license (age 14 to 26) are available for the 2014-15 licensing year.

Applicants must provide identification and proof of primary residence when applying. Applicants for a student license must provide proof of age. High school students must provide a letter from the principal to show proof of attendance. College students must provide proof of a minimum of 12 college credit hours per semester to be considered full-time students.

Applications are available at the Freeport Town Clerk’s Office, and the deadline to submit is Sunday, June 15, at 4 p.m. Since Town Hall is closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 13-15, applications can be dropped off at the Freeport Public Safety Building, 16 Main St., on those dates.

The lottery drawing will be held at the Freeport Town Hall in the Town Clerk’s Office on Monday, June 16, at 2 p.m.

Applications for recreational shellfish licenses for July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, are also available at the Freeport Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours. For more information, call 865-4743, Ext 123 or email tstevens@freeportmaine.com.

Holt’s work on exhibit

Acrylic paintings and sculpture by local artist Anita Holt are on exhibit during June in the Freeport Community Library. A self-taught artist, Holt has been painting for 35 years. She also teaches workshops in Portland.

Each month the Freeport Community Library highlights the creative work of local artists. For more information, see www.freeportlibrary.com.

Ann Marie Barter, assistant principal of Freeport High School, presents Travis Libsack with the Maine Principals’ Association Principal’s Award. Three Freeport Lioness Club members, from left, Kelly Profenno, Dawn Connolly and Cathy Ingerson, pose as super heros to promote their upcoming food drive to benefit Freeport Community Services on Saturday, June 14, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at Shaw’s Supermarket in Freeport. Donations of non-perishable food items, as well as cleaning and personal-care items, are needed. Especially needed are tuna, macaroni and cheese, soup, and peanut butter. For more information to have items picked up, email fllclub@comcast.net.