Flying Club to hold meeting
Interested in learning to fly? Maybe you are a pilot needing access to aircraft? Then come to Northern Aroostook Flying Club’s informational meeting on Wednesday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Presque Isle airport, 995 Missile Street, Building 440 C, 2nd Floor — just follow the signs.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide information about flying clubs and assess the level of interest in starting a flying club here in Presque Isle. A flying club is the most economical way to obtain flight training and gain access to aircraft.
The meeting is open to anyone interested in flying. For more information, call Randy at 540-0166 or Jeff at 768-0827 or email: naac@maine.rr.com.
ACAP marks Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP ) Health Services will join the nation on Thursday, March 10, to celebrate the nationally-recognized Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
A grassroots consortium throughout the state has united to provide testing events, outreach efforts and speaking engagements to highlight HIV/AIDS and the impact it has on Maine’s women and girls. ACAP Health Services, along with the State of Maine HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis Program, the Maine AIDS Alliance, and many other community agencies statewide, have worked together to sponsor and coordinate events.
“This is an extremely important event and it should remind us that HIV does not discriminate,” said Dr. Stephen Sears, acting director of the Maine Center of Disease Control. “In fact, women make up one-quarter of all new HIV infections in the country. Getting tested should be a part of routine health care since early diagnosis and care leads to longer and healthier lives.”
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day focuses on the importance of women’s and girls’ health. It also reminds us that HIV/AIDS is not gender-biased. Women and girls are encouraged to participate in one of the events offered in their area. Testing for HIV will help women and girls know their status and provide them with opportunities for appropriate health care. Being fully informed about HIV will help women and girls learn if they are at risk and learn how to protect themselves.
HIV testing is done at the ACAP Health Services Family Planning clinics in Fort Kent, Presque Isle and Houlton. To make an appointment, call the clinic nearest you. The testing requires no blood and no needles. Oral swab testing takes 20 minutes and you get your result usually the same day.
If you would like more information about events in your area, contact Wendy Page of ACAP Health Services at 768-3026 or e-mail her at wpage@acap-me.org .
SAGE kicks off spring classes
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 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, 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 17 senior colleges in the Maine Senior
College Network.
At the March 8 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 more than a dozen courses and learning excursions — on topics ranging from Euripides to Native American mythology. Learning excursions include trips to the Presque Isle Sewer Treatment Plant — the first facility of its kind built in the state of Maine — and the Loring Military Heritage Center in Limestone.
Classes range in length from four to six weeks and will be offered between March 18 and May 11. Individual classes generally meet once a week for approximately two hours and are led on a volunteer basis by SAGE members and guests. Course formats range from lectures and discussions to field trips and hands-on learning.
SAGE has no entrance requirements, grades or tests, and no college background is needed. Another benefit is that course facilitators are local people who have a deep love and knowledge of the subject they are presenting.
The cost that participants pay for the education and interaction they get is minimal. Membership in Seniors Achieving Greater Education is $15 per semester or $30 annually (Sept. 1-Aug. 31). There are additional fees for field trips and lab courses. Full or partial scholarships to take part in the program are available through a simple, friendly and confidential process. SAGE members also have free access to most events sponsored by Cultural Affairs and the Campus Activities Board, the student-run activity committee, by showing their membership cards.
For more information, to register for a class or to make a reservation for the March 8 kick-off lunch — cost is $5 with reservations until March 3, and $6.42 without reservations starting March 4 — contact Mary Lawrence at 768-9502. To view spring course offerings, visit www.umpi.edu/sage.
Wednesday Night Movie Series
The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Student Activities Office will show “G.I. Jane” on March 9 at 7 and 9 p.m. in the University’s Campus Center Room 118. This showing is part of the Wednesday Night Movie Series; various movies will continue to be shown on Wednesdays throughout the spring 2011 semester. For more information about this showing or upcoming shows, contact the Student Activities Office at 768-9582.
Chapter reviews donations
The Maine Epsilon Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center for a breakfast meeting recently.
The meeting was called to order by President Judy Kenney. The roll call was taken. Then all stood for the opening ritual, followed by the reading of the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports.
There were no communications from our international office. Other communications consisted of the reading of several thank-you notes for the recent donations the organization has given to other non-profit groups.
A newsletter was passed around from the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce with specific notice of the new Pay-As-You-Throw program.
A letter was read from Project Graduation. It was voted to send a monetary donation to support this project. Members also voted to give a donation to Ryan’s Heart. This month the group brought tangible donations for the Sister Mary O’Donnell Shelter. It was voted to include a monetary donation as well.
Under new business, Betsy Fitzherbert updated the group on the up-and-coming Presque Isle High School Scholarship Pageant. The sorority has sponsored this pageant in the past and will again this year.
Pam Palm spoke about her new position. She is the new coordinator for the 211 program.
Marie Flewelling won our 50/50 draw. Happy Dollars were shared by many in the group.
With no other business, everyone stood for the closing ritual.
The next program will be on March 17 with Tammy Walton and Linda Swett as co-hostesses.
Breakfast was enjoyed by all.
