March 31, 2007: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for new Education Center

Saturday afternoon UMF had a ribbon cutting for its new Education Center. We've been in the building all semester, but the ceremony needs to be in warmer weather so everyone can travel and you need to be "settled" in the building so it looks lived in. The ceremony was great.

The president spoke and so did three elected officials. They all were interesting and fairly short. My favorite was Janet Mills who grew up in a house that was one of three they removed to build the building. Her only notes were some scribbles on a yellow note card ("a" as in only one) and she never looked at it. She told about growing up here and who else lived in the other two houses and all the "education" that went on in the area. She knew names and dates but focused on the people and their desire to serve others and their passion for education. It was really great.

Here's the president, Theodora Kalikow:


Here's US Senator, Susan Collins who was also honorary chair of the campaign:


Here's US Congressman, Mike Michaud:


Ms. Collins is a Republican and Mr. Michaud is a Democrat and there were a few "bipartisan cooperation" jokes back and forth.

Here's State Representative Janet Mills:


Then they all got together along with Kathy Yardley, Dean of the College of Education along with 2 other folks (I forgot if they were the architect, the builder, or another campaign chairperson) and "cut the ribbon". They each had a pair of scissors and on the count of three they all cut.


This building is "green" as far as being economically, ergonomically, and ecologically sound in its design and implementation. The list of "green" features is phenomenal. The architect and the contractor were in attendance and even had slideshows of the building's progress throughout construction and all of its features. It was fascinating and informative.

And as any reception worth its salt, it had food. But they had really yummy food that was very attractively displayed. (As Chuck always says, "Presentation is everything.")



and just because I could get a closeup photo of it, here's the seal of the University:


I sat in my office with the door open doing some work both before and after the event. Lots of people were giving self-guided tours of the building, so I was glad they could see one of the offices. I had many lovely chats with alums and former professors. UMF was originally a Normal School and for many years that's all it did was train teachers. A home economics curriculum was added and then an Arts and Sciences program. So most of the people who were associated with the University from "way back" had to be in education. I loved hearing their stories and seeing their passion for and love of UMF.

April 2, 2007: Belated April Fool's from Mother Nature

I woke up this morning and there was a snow dusting! Ha! Just when I was writing yesterday about spring. MRM says it was really sleet and freezing rain but it was white on the lawn when I looked out the window . . . in Texas, that's snow. It was drizzly and wet when I went outside, but I figured that was just melting snow. That was all before 9am.

Now it's 11:00am and it really is snowing outside! Big white puffy flakes are coming down. It's great! It's not sticking, but who cares. It's snowing in April and I'm here to see it.

I remember one Palm Sunday in Texas when it snowed during mass. We were in the Fellowship Hall where one whole wall is windows. We looked out and there it was in all its glory. It was our own little Palm Sunday miracle. But in living in Texas for 35 years, that's the only Palm Sunday snow that I remember. Here in Maine, yesterday was Palm Sunday and today is Palm Monday snow. :-)

Here's the picture of the crocus in the snow this morning: