First Friday features bluegrass
Freeport First Friday will present bluegrass music by the Windy Ridge Band on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Freeport Community Center. The concert is at 6 p.m., and dinner is at 7.
The Brunswick-based Windy Ridge Band has been playing bluegrass music at festivals, coffeehouses, restaurants, civic clubs, parades, weddings, private parties and even a rodeo since the band was established in 1989.
Freeport First Friday is a joint project of MASISTA (Maryellen and Sam In Support of The Arts) and the Freeport Community Center. Call Kim Hudak at FCS at 865-3985, ext. 202 for tickets. Cost is $15 in advance, $20 on Friday. Seating is limited.
Tech ‘Petting Zoo’ on display
From Jan. 24-30, the Freeport Community Library will have e-readers and tablets on display in the main lobby area for visitors to try out. Included will be the Nook SimpleTouch (e-reader), Kindle Paperwhite (e-reader), Kindle Fire HD (tablet), Apple iPad mini (tablet), Nook HD+ (tablet) and Google Nexus (tablet). will be on loan to the library thanks to the wonderful folks at the Maine State Library.
Biberstein takes poetry prize
Joe Biberstein, a junior, was the winner Jan. 16 as six Freeport High School students gathered at the Freeport Community Library to compete in the Poetry Out Loud event. He will compete in the Southern Regional Competition on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Biddeford City Theater, for five spots in the state competition. Biberstein recited “Richard Cory,” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, and “Cartoon Physics, part 1,” by Nick Flynn.
Gabby Bousquet, a senior, was runner-up. She performed “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, and “Flirtation,” by Rita Dove.
Wolfe’s Neck Farm hosting vacation camp
Wolfe’s Neck Farm has invited children in grades 1-5 to participate in a day or two of winter fun and learning on the farm during school vacation days, Feb. 20 and 21 (one or two days), from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
In the morning, campers will join the farmers in the barn full of animals, helping them care for the sheep, goats, chickens and pigs. Campers will learn about the special care farm animals need to stay healthy in winter and the changes the animal mothers are going through as they prepare for their spring lambs and kids.
Other activities include snow study and play, learning about tractors and farm equipment, animal tracking, greenhouse planting and wilderness survival skills.
For more information and rates visit www.wolfesneckfarm.org or call 865-4469 ext. 106.
Chocolate factory tours
Wilbur’s Of Maine factory tours are held Saturdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Visitors are invited to tour the factory and hear a little Wilbur’s history and see and taste the products. The cost is $4.50 and the Freeport locations are 174 Lower Main St. and 13 Bow St.
News wanted
Freeport organizations, schools, churches, parent groups, artists, Scouts, etc., whose events and projects should be included in the Tri-Town Weekly are encouraged to email information and photos to freeportnews@gmail.com. Publication deadline is each Friday at noon for the following Wednesday’s paper.
Historical society fund drive starts
The Freeport Historical Society is soliciting donations to its annual fundraising campaign.
During the nearly 40 years that the society has owned historic Pettengill Farm, the group has strived to share the farm’s unique sense of place and history with Freeport residents and friends from around the region. It is the jewel of the society’s collection and it is the group’s major strategic vision to increasingly share its land and shoreline resources with the community. A successful annual campaign will help achieve the goal. Historical society programs include:
• Vintage Baseball, a June event celebrating Freeport’s long history as a baseball town.
• Pettengill Farm Day, an autumn event featuring music, tours, cider making with kids, slate-carving and fence-building demos, and oxen-team plowing.
• Dry stone wall building workshop, and other “how-to” sessions teach relevant skills to adults.
• A new oral history program, capturing stories from residents.
• Freeport public and private school partnerships, which feature community service projects with students and research opportunities
• Fun, seasonal events, interesting exhibits and lectures at Harrington House.
For more information, see www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org.
Chamber sets meeting, after-hour events
The Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Harraseeket Inn, 162 Main St., Freeport. The guest speaker will be Kip Stone, founder of the Cool as a Moose retail store, which he began 1999. In 1988 he founded Artforms, which produces and designs T-shirts and other apparel. A Middlebury College graduate, Stone is a competitive sailor and hang-glider. The price for the evening is $45 for individuals, $350 for a table of eight. Those interested should make reservations no later than Thursday, Jan. 23.
The Business after Hours for the Freeport, Yarmouth and Southern Midcoast Maine Chambers has been scheduled at Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen & Topside Tavern, Freeport, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 5-7 p.m. There will be food, including samples from the Topside Tavern menu, and drink, raffles and a 50/50 drawing. Gritty’s will be providing a one draft beer voucher to each attendee. Space is limited.
For more information or to register for either event, contact the chamber at 847-5240 or email sande@freeportmainechamber.com.
Armchair travel series continues
Several community members have agreed to share photos and travelogues of their adventures abroad at the Freeport Community Library’s 2014 Winter Armchair Travel series. The remaining destinations in the series, starting at 6:30 p.m., include:
Wednesday, Jan. 22, visit ancient and vibrant Croatia with Sally Walsh.
Wednesday, Feb. 5, visit the Great Wall, old Beijing & the Forbidden City with Andrew Finnegan.
Wednesday, Feb. 19, visit Yellowstone National Park, with professional photographer Jonathan Strout.
For more information, see www.freeportlibrary.com or call 865-3307.
Tickets on sale for Flavors of Freeport
The 2014 Flavors of Freeport will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport Friday, Feb. 21, from 5-8 p.m. Featured are two events, the Chef’s Signature Series, showcasing chefs and food producers in the Freeport area, and the Flavors Ice Bar, featuring an elaborate ice sculpture, ice luge, fire pit, barbecue and music.
Participants include The Garden Grille & Bar, Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen & Topside Tavern, Azure Cafe, Fiore Olive Oils, Gritty McDuff’s, Buck’s Naked BBQ and more.
Tickets are $35 and offer access to both the Flavors Ice Bar and Chef’s Signature Series, plus one beverage (21 years and older).
For more information, visit www.freeportusa.com.
English class for non-speakers to begin
Regional School Unit 5 Recreation & Community Education is offering free English classes for non-English speakers in the greater Freeport area.
Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Freeport Community Services, starting on Jan. 27.
This program is free and open to the public. Non-native English speakers of all levels are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 865-6171 or email parkk@rsu5.org.
The Windy Ridge Band will perform at Freeport First Friday on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Freeport Community Center. The concert is at 6 p.m., and dinner is at 7. Send questions/comments to the editors.
