04 February 2010

The Northern Maine Museum of Science and Aroostook C.A.N.C.E.R. will be taking a stand against some of the worst things that fate hands out - bitter, cold weather; loss of hair; and Cancer - when it hosts the Fourth Annual Planet Head Day on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University of Maine at Presque Isle's Gentile Hall, and everyone is invited to attend.

Since 2007, Planet Head Day has been held to increase awareness of NASA's mission to Pluto and to serve as a fundraiser for the local organization C.A.N.C.E.R [Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery]. Each year, participants from Maine and Canada have donned theatrical bald caps or had their hair shaved off, and then had their heads painted to look like planets, moons, asteroids and comets.

Read more...

04 February 2010

Area volunteers with the AARP Tax-Aide Program will be on hand at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Saturdays for the next two months to help members of the community prepare their tax returns.

Volunteers will be providing this free service from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday from Feb. 6 to April 10 in Room 118 of UMPI's Campus Center. The work these volunteers are doing is connected to the VITA [Volunteer Income Tax Assistance] and TCE [Tax Counseling for the Elderly] programs.

Read more...

04 February 2010

Criminal Justice students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle will take on members of the area's police departments during the 5th Annual CJ Students vs. Law Enforcement Basketball Game.

The competition begins on Friday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in Wieden Gymnasium.

Read more...

03 February 2010

University of Maine at Presque Isle Nordic Ski Coach Alexei Sotskov is heading out on the trip of a lifetime this month when he travels to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics to serve as the Head Coach of the New Zealand Cross Country Ski Team.

Coach Sotskov will depart for Vancouver on Feb. 10 to attend his very first Olympic Games. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics begin with the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 12 and end on Feb. 28. The last race for Sotskov's team will be on Feb. 28.

As Head Coach for the small New Zealand team, he'll be overseeing everything from travel logistics and race entries to ski waxing and his athletes' physical and mental preparation. The members of the New Zealand Cross Country Ski Team are 23-year-old Ben Koons of Dunedin, New Zealand, who has been living in Maine for the past 7 years, is training with the Maine Winter Sports Center and has been on the New Zealand national team for two years, and Katie Calder, 29, of Tauranga, New Zealand, who has been on the New Zealand national team for four years.

"I'm very excited about this. Like any athlete or coach, it's the pinnacle of your career to go to the Olympics," Coach Sotskov said. "I'm hoping to gain some of the latest knowledge on what other coaches and teams are doing, how they ski, and how they prepare for races of this caliber. I'd also like to take part in the cultural experiences and just enjoy how a huge event like this gets organized. I'm thrilled to see how it all works."

Read more...

01 February 2010

With winter in full gear and warmer weather in the future, the University of Maine at Presque Isle's Outdoor Adventure Program International (OAPI) is offering a series of spring adventures for campus and community members to enjoy, including a winter mountain climb, cross country and alpine skiing, snowshoeing and rock climbing.

Read more...