Steven Colburn, an associate professor of accounting at the University of Maine, spoke with WABI (Channel 5) for a report about filing taxes and the April 15 deadline. Colburn said when it comes to filing taxes, people tend to procrastinate because they’re likely afraid of making a mistake. He suggested filers use last year’s return as a guide to help complete this year’s taxes, if their income is roughly the same as it was last year. “If there is a big increase in income then it makes it a little more complicated,” he said.
WVII (Channel 7) reported the University of Maine was one of a few organizations to gather at the Brewer Community School to educate the students about healthy living during the school’s fifth annual health fair. The event included hands-on activities that covered topics such as bullying, fire safety and nutrition.
Phys.org published an article on research conducted by a University of Maine team that found stratification of the North Atlantic Ocean contributed to summer warming and glacial melting in Scotland during the period recognized for abrupt cooling 12,900 to 11,600 years ago in the Northern Hemisphere. Prevailing scientific understanding has been that glaciers advanced in the Northern Hemisphere throughout most of the Younger Dryas Stadial (YDS) — a 1,300-year period of dramatic cooling. However, the researchers determined carbon-dated bog sediment indicates the 9,500-square-kilometer ice cap over Rannoch Moor in Scotland retreated at least 500 years before the end of the YDS.
The Korea Times spoke with Carol Mandzik, manager of Business Graduate Programs and Executive Education and Internship Programs at the University of Maine, about what educational programs the university offers to international students. “At UMaine, students can double-major within or outside their primary discipline of study, and also choose a concentration, a minor or even opt into the five-year MBA program,” Mandzik said, adding students can save time and money by choosing a double-major or getting a jumpstart on their MBA.
The Penobscot Bay Pilot reported the University of Maine Cooperative Extension is taking orders for highbush blueberry plants, asparagus crowns and strawberry plants until May 1. Plants will be available for pickup May 17 at various locations throughout the state, including the Knox-Lincoln Extension office in Waldoboro and the the Waldo Extension office in Waldo. Proceeds from the “Grow it Right!” sale go toward scholarships for UMaine Extension’s statewide Master Gardener Volunteer Program and fund statewide community-based horticulture projects.
Crisanne Blackie, the University of Maine’s health and legal professions career specialist, spoke to the Portland Press Herald for an article about a report that states Maine is likely to suffer a shortage of medical professionals unless the industry boosts student enrollment at health care-related schools and recruits more workers from outside Maine. The report was published by the Maine Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research and Information. Blackie said UMaine is trying to maintain an adequate number of doctors in the state by taking part in the Maine Track Program. The program is a partnership among Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Maine Medical Center in Portland and Maine colleges and universities that allows pre-med students in Maine to compete for fast-tracked enrollment at Tufts University’s medical school.
The Portland Press Herald reported best-selling author Tess Gerritsen and singer-songwriter David Mallett will receive honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees and share remarks at the 212th Commencement May 10 at the University of Maine. Mallett will address the 10 a.m. ceremony, and Gerritsen will speak during the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. Gerritsen, who lives in Camden, has published suspense novels in 40 countries, and has sold more than 25 million copies. Mallett lives in Sebec and has a music career spanning four decades. His songs have been recorded by more than 150 artists.
The Associated Press, NBC Sports, Portland Press Herald, WABI (Channel 5), 92.9 The Ticket, WLBZ (Channel 2), WVII (Channel 7) and the Bangor Daily News were among news organizations to report on the University of Maine’s decision to buy out the contract of men’s basketball head coach Ted Woodward. The decision was reached after evaluation of the program by Director of Athletics Karlton Creech and university administration. The BDN also published a statement from Woodward who said he is “extremely proud of the Black Bear basketball program” and respects Creech’s decision. USA Today and Boston.com carried the AP report.
WABI (Channel 5) and WVII (Channel 7) reported on the University of Maine’s celebration of World Languages Day. More than 100 area high school students attended the event that highlighted French and Spanish with traditional dance lessons, a campuswide scavenger hunt and a culture bowl competition. Danielle Beaupre, a lecturer in UMaine’s Department of Modern Languages and Classics, said the best way to learn a language is through immersion. “Getting to spend a whole day in the target language that they’re studying has been a great experience for them,” Beaupre said of the students. The UMaine Department of Modern Languages and Classics, The Canadian-American Center and the Foreign Language Association of Maine (FLAME) sponsored the event.
WABI (Channel 5) covered the Maine National History Day competition held at the University of Maine. More than 300 students, teachers and chaperones from about 20 Maine middle and high schools gathered at the event to show off their exhibits, websites, documentaries and performances. National History Day (NHD) is an academic program that promotes critical thinking, research and presentation skills through project-based learning for students of all abilities. Students’ projects were judged, and the top two winners in each category became eligible to compete in the national contest in Washington, D.C. in June. A scavenger hunt with activities from a half dozen museums and history organizations, including a Civil War re-enactment group, also were offered to students.