WABI (Channel 5) reported on the upcoming 14th annual Great Maine Bike Swap that will be held at the University of Maine’s New Balance Student Recreation Center on Sunday, April 13. The swap is hosted by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) and gives people the opportunity to buy affordable and used bikes, as well as sell their own. Hundreds of bikes — from children’s bikes to mountain bikes — will be on sale.
WLBZ (Channel 2) and WVII (Channel 7) attend the Big Gig finale at the University of Maine’s Foster Center for Student Innovation. Finalists from the last three Big Gig pitch-off events competed for a $1,000 grand prize sponsored by University Credit Union. Jessica Jewell of Northern Maine Distilling Co. was named the winner. The other finalists were John and Christine Carney of Thick & Thin Designs, and Bruce and Kathy Chamberlain of Stone Fox Farm Creamery. UMaine student Christine Carney told WLBZ the experience and getting to connect with people in the community has been invaluable. The Big Gig is a series of business pitch events for entrepreneurs in Greater Bangor designed to bring together Bangor-Orono area innovators and entrepreneurs and offer networking opportunities. It was started by a partnership between UMaine, Old Town, Orono and Husson University and is supported by Blackstone Accelerates Growth.
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension publication “Children and Respect” was cited in an examiner.com parenting report titled “Respect: You get what you give.” The article states the publication helps breakdown what respect is and how better to teach it. Marilyn Ellis, a UMaine Extension 4-H youth specialist, prepared the publication.
The Bangor Daily News, Denton Record Chronicle and Lewisville Leader reported University of Maine Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Janet Waldron will resign to join the University of North Texas (UNT) System as vice chancellor of finance, effective April 28. In a prepared statement, Waldron said the decision “has come with deeply mixed emotions as I care for and respect President Ferguson, his vision and our successful partnership at UMaine.” UMaine professors Robert Rice, a professor of wood science, and Howard Segal, a history professor, spoke to the BDN about Waldron. “She has risen to be, at least in my experience here, the most competent of CFOs we’ve ever had. She has worked tirelessly to help the university through some of the most challenging times we’ve had, including the current one,” Rice said. Segal said Waldron is “extremely well respected on campus not only for her exceptional expertise in finances overall, but also for her ability to find sources of funds for various campus needs that might have been missed by less capable persons.” Waldron has led UMaine’s Office of Administration and Finance for 11 years.
WABI (Channel 5) spoke with University of Maine professors Nory Jones, a professor of management information systems, and George Markowsky, a professor of computer science, for a report about what people should expect when Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP. The discontinuation means Microsoft will no longer provide updates — including security updates — for the program. “There’s a very active cyber criminal world out there that is just looking for all sorts of opportunities. And you don’t want to be the one to give them an opportunity,” said Markowsky. Jones spoke about how the discontinuation forces businesses to upgrade and become more effective, efficient and compatible with emerging technologies.
Alper Kiziltas, a doctoral student in the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources, was featured in a Soy Biobased Products article titled “Ford interns drive sustainability.” Soy Biobased Products is a website run by the United Soybean Board (USB) — a farmer-led, famer-funded organization that invests in research, development and promotion of soy. The article focused on Kiziltas’ work as an intern at Ford Motor Co. where he worked on expanding the use of soy in vehicles by incorporating various types of nanofillers into soy-based foams. “By using soy-based materials, Ford is able to lessen its environmental impact, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and cut CO2 emissions,” Kiziltas said.
The Bangor Daily News spoke with several University of Maine officials and faculty members for the the article “UMaine relying more on lower-paid professors as budget shrinks.” Jason Canniff, a part-time faculty member who teaches English and Honors College courses, spoke about his typical work week. Pat Burnes, coordinator of UMaine’s First Year Writing Program, and Ludlow Hallman, chairman of the Music Department, spoke about hiring more adjuncts to replace retiring professors. Jeff Hecker, UMaine’s executive vice president of academic affairs and provost, said the university’s plan to pass a balanced budget for FY 2015 was an attempt to “meet our needs and commitments, while we develop a more thoughtful, longer-range plan.”
Francis Avery, a scientific research specialist with the University of Maine School of Forest Resources, spoke with WLBZ (Channel 2) about tapping the university’s maple trees. He said the trees were tapped three weeks ago, but he hasn’t seen much sap flowing yet.
The Bangor Daily News and Penobscot Bay Pilot reported on the University of Maine Symphonic Band’s trip to Vinalhaven to perform two concerts. The 45-member instrumental ensemble, which includes music majors and students pursuing a variety of academic disciplines, traveled to the island by ferry as part of their four-day, nine-performance spring tour. Christopher White, who conducts the group, said the trip marks the first time one of UMaine’s top performance ensembles has gone to an outer island to hold a concert. “So many of our kids have never done anything like this,” he said, adding that the annual tour is part of the group’s community service.
WVII (Channel 7) reported on the University of Maine’s 2014 annual Student Art Exhibition, “Be, Do, Make,” that opened Friday, April 4 in Lord Hall Art Gallery. The exhibition features 116 pieces from 62 student artists in a variety of media. Michael Grillo, chairman of the Department of Art and associate professor of art history, credits the university’s new Wyeth Family Studio Art Center with helping students create work. “We opened the new building last September, and what we’re seeing is that there’s an exuberance in the work. We’re seeing the ability to make things on a scale and size which we have not been able to do before,” he said.