Freedom Town Column Lisa Wheeler wheelersinfreedom@roadrunner.com [11/06/2007]

By Lisa Wheeler

The Freedom Artisans are looking forward setting up in their new location the Freedom Gallery, located next to the church. Janet Johnson will once again have a wonderful assortment of handcrafted baskets, many already decorated beautifully with greens and berries. And be sure to check out her new specialty 2007 design a snowman. Donna Brooks Miller will have lots of wonderful seasonal items including snowmen and Santa's in all shapes and sizes. Collector or not, youll be sure to find something special. She also creates many beautiful tree ornaments.The First Christian Church of Freedom invites you to share a traditional Thanksgiving feast at the Freedom Town Hall on Nov. 22 at 12:30. Everyone in the community is welcome regardless of church affiliation. In the spirit of giving, there will be no charge. To help us plan in advance, reservations are appreciated (but not required). Please call Charlie Bojus at 539-3532 or Mary Hockmeyer at 539-646. Transportation can be arranged, if required.Shannon Ryan, daughter of Chris and Tim Ryan, is a standout athlete at Loomis Chaffee in Windsor, Conn. Shannon made the varsity field hockey team as a freshman, and her season is well under way. The team, the Loomis Pelicans, will make the quarter finals.You are cordially invited to Freedom Rings in the Holidays Saturday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Freedom Gallery will feature a large variety of artisans; Virginias Memories on Eaton Road (Route 153) featuring an assortment of crafty folks, Peg Scully Gallery, Antique Christmas, Freedom House B&B all in the Village; Anne Babb will be selling knit and felted items at her home at 124 Loon Lake Road, Sue Hoople selling wool and silk fiber art at her home on Bennett Road directly off Route 153. The Freedom Church will sponsor a luncheon at the town hall on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., where the Ladies Guild will be displaying and selling their handmade quilts. This is quite a happening weekend in Freedom. See you there!The Clearlakes Chorale and full orchestra will present Handel's Messiah on Nov. 30 at Brewster Academy, and on Dec. 1 and 2 at St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church in Alton. Call Peg Scully 539-2787 or Lee Allison 539-6429 for details and for tickets to hear this wonderful work. The Community Club dinner meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. at the town hall. This will be a committee prepared pot roast dinner. After dinner, Don MacDougal, will present a slide show of trekking in Alaska, Nepal and Argentina. Don is a national park service ranger in Alaska. If you cant trek in Nepal yourself, Dons slide show is the next best thing!Three members of the book club recently attended an author luncheon at the White Mountain Hotel. Lee Fritz reports that the food was very good and they found the speaker, author Ernest Hebert, quite interesting. The club met as usual on the last Monday of the month and had 12 people in attendance. All enjoyed the book, "The Old American," and liked the fact that New England authors have been the focus. The book of choice for the next meeting on Nov. 24 is "Before You Know Kindness," by Chris Bohjalian. There are lots of copies available at the library.It was standing-room-only for Leonardo DaVincis visit to the Freedom library last Thursday. Over 50 adults and children squeezed into the meeting area of the library to attend this well-received program, which revealed the mind and genius of Leonardo DaVinci. Many thanks to the Friends of the Library and the N.H. Humanities Council for sponsoring this event.The Childrens Literacy Foundation has provided 100 beautiful new fiction and non-fiction hardcover books for the childrens collection of the Freedom Public Library. The executive director of the foundation, Duncan McDougall, came to the elementary school on Friday to present the books, which were set up in a marvelous display that dazzled the students and staff. McDougall spoke to the children about how books can take you places youve never been and make you feel like youre a whole different person while youre reading. The library hopes to have all the books cataloged and ready to be checked out by the end of the week.Come to the library this Friday, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m. for all-ages pizza and movie. Pizza is $3, and the movie is "Ratatouille" about a rat who wants more than anything to become a French chef.Mark your calendars:Every Wednesday at 10 a.m., library story hour.Friday, Nov. 9, 5 p.m., library, pizza and movie night.Wednesday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m., town hall, Community Club dinner.Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., town hall, planning board meeting.Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17-18, Freedom Rings in the Holidays.Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m., town hall, FCC.