Johnston awarded grant to study biodiversity

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Robbie O’Connell will be making an appearance in the University’s of Maine at Presque Isle’s Wieden Auditorium on Sunday, March 14 at 2 p.m.

Ireland’s top music magazine, Hot Press, has called O’Connell “a national treasure” and “a man blessed with an enviable turn of phrase and a gift for melody bestowed on only the few.” O’Connell’s performance at UMPI will include traditional Irish songs and stories.

A University of Maine at Presque Isle program that serves local residents over 50 and believes in “learning for life” will host its spring kick-off with a luncheon event at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 18 in the Campus Center.

Seniors Achieving Greater Education [SAGE] has worked for more than a decade to bring short courses in arts, sciences, and specialty areas to the region’s senior community. SAGE is one of 16 senior colleges in the Maine Senior College Network, and the only one north of Orono.

At the March 18 luncheon, participants will have the opportunity to socialize with SAGE members. Following lunch, they will learn all about upcoming SAGE classes. This spring, SAGE officials are offering a dozen courses and learning excursions – on topics ranging from Buddhism to Journalism Ethics. Learning excursions include trips to the WAGM-TV station in Presque Isle and the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge in Limestone.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host its Annual Job & Career Fair in the Campus Center from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17. Thirty businesses and governmental agencies from the region and across the state are expected to participate in the event.

“The Job & Career Fair provides a unique opportunity for our students and the public to network with employers, discover opportunities, and to gain professional employment,” Barbara DeVaney, Director of Career Services, said.

Educational partners at the Houlton Higher Education Center are joining together on Tuesday, March 2 to present a “Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!” event for area preschoolers, elementary-age students and community members.

This year’s event – a collaboration between UMPI, the Houlton/Hodgdon SAD 29/70 Adult Education program, and NMCC – is being held throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The event is part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day, which calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of Theodore Geisel, the beloved children’s author also known as Dr. Seuss.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is pleased to present Judy Wicks – the founder of the White Dog Café in Philadelphia, the co-founder of the nationwide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies and the founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia – as its next Distinguished Lecturer.

Wicks will deliver her talk Local Living Economies: Green, Fair and Fun on Wednesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in the UMPI Campus Center. Responding to the challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and the global financial crisis, Wicks will discuss the growing localization movement that is transitioning from an economy dominated by multinationals and long distance shipping to local living economies that produce basic needs at home while working in harmony with nature.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will be offering two courses this spring starting on Wednesday, March 24 as part of its American Management Association’s certificate programs. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, March 17.

These spring courses, part of a multi-course curriculum leading to Certificates in Management and Human Resources Management, are specifically created to meet the unique needs of working professionals who want to be more effective in their current positions and better prepared for future advancement, according to Keith Madore, campus AMA coordinator.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Reed Fine Art Gallery will present the exhibition The Art of Tim Finnemore from March 7 through April 9, providing an up-close look at the paintings and drawings of the northern Maine-based artist.

Tim Finnemore (1951-2001) was born and raised in Aroostook County, growing up on a potato farm in Limestone, Maine. His love of art came early – he drew since childhood – and stayed with him throughout his life. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Art from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1973.

Momentum Aroostook, MMG Insurance and the University of Maine at Presque Isle are teaming up for the third year in a row to provide the area’s young professionals with a one-of-a-kind leadership development opportunity.

The three entities will host the Young Professionals Institute, a professional development short course designed specifically for emerging leaders looking to hone their professional skills. The program will be offered at the University during eight afternoon sessions between March and April. The Wednesday sessions will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 and April 7, 14 and 21 in the Alumni Room, located on the second floor of the Campus Center.