Gilsland Farm Public Programs
Unless noted otherwise, all programs are held at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth. For registration and details call (207) 781-2330, ext. 215.

The Basics of Butterfly Biology
Taught by popular instructor Herb Wilson of Colby College, this course will focus on the identification and biology of the butterflies of Maine. Herb will review family characteristics, feeding preferences, life cycles, and habitat preferences. Classes: Tuesdays, April 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 6:30-9 p.m. Field trip: Saturday, May 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $112/member, $130/nonmember
Advance registration necessary.

Travelers' Club
Wes Bonney will give a slide show on his travels along the Great Silk Road from China into Pakistan. Thursday, April 7, 7 p.m. Free

Junior Naturalists' Club: Vernal Pools
This new program is designed for young people ages 10-13 who have an interest in wildlife and natural history. Every other month students will get together and explore a different topic, visiting habitats, searching for wildlife, and studying behavior. This month's topic is vernal pools, breeding grounds for many species of reptiles and amphibians. On this outing we will learn the basics of vernal pool biology along with how to identify and survey a vernal pool and how to identify frog calls. We will explore several different pools in the Falmouth area, searching for wood frogs, spring peepers, and spotted salamanders as well as counting egg masses. Participants should bring a flashlight and a snack and be prepared to be outdoors. Saturday, April 9, 6-10 p.m. $24/member, $32/nonmember, Limited to 8 participants. Advance registration necessary

Nature Book Discussion Group
Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth by Jim Merkel. In the face of looming ecological disaster, many people feel the need to change their own lifestyles as a tangible way of transforming our unsustainable culture. Radical Simplicity is the first book that guides the reader to a personal sustainability goal and then offers a process to monitor progress to a lifestyle that is equitable among all people, species, and generations. Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Free.

Family Program: Good Night Nature
Bring your children ages 3-6 to Gilsland Farm for the evening to listen to the bedtime story The Big Yawn. Snacks and activities will accompany the program. Don't forget to wear your pajamas! Adults must accompany children. Thursday, April 14 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. $8/member child, $10/nonmember child. Advance registration necessary.

Course: Birding By Ear
Bird song can be one of the most rewarding aspects of birding. With the variety of songs, calls, and chip notes, however, it's no wonder most people are intimidated by the challenge of learning to identify birds by sound. Taught by naturalist and educator Chris Lewey, this workshop will focus on our most common songsters and will teach some techniques for recognizing and remembering their songs. Suitable for beginners as well as intermediate students, this program is timed perfectly to get you in the field during spring migration to practice your new skill.
Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $32/member, $40/nonmember, Advance registration necessary.

Earth Day Celebration
This year we will celebrate Earth Day by focusing on service-oriented projects at four of our sanctuaries: Scarborough Marsh, Fore River, Mast Landing, and Gilsland Farm. We will be clipping bittersweet, cleaning the shorelines, spreading wood chips, and getting the sanctuaries ready for the summer season. Refreshments will be provided. Participants should bring work gloves if possible. Children must be accompanied by adults. Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Advance registration necessary

Naturalists' Forum
Biologist Eric Hynes will present a slide show on the ongoing research at the U.S.G.S. Raptor Research Center in Boise, Idaho. This area hosts arguably the highest concentration and diversity of breeding raptors in the world, and Eric worked for several years at the center studying prairie falcons as well as golden eagles and barn owls. Monday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Free.

Birding 101
Designed for beginning birders, this introductory workshop will give you the tools to get started on a lifetime pursuit. Naturalist and avid birder Bob Bittenbender will review some common species and basic bird behaviors, pointing out clues like posture, shape, basic anatomy and habitat that will help you identify and learn more about them. Bob will also review field guides, optics, and local hot spots for spring and summer birding. Put your new knowledge to use on the Beginners' Bird Walk April 30. Wednesday, April 27, 7-8:30 p.m. $8/member, $10/nonmember, Advance registration necessary

Beginners' Bird Walk
Spring and early summer offer some of the best birding of the year. Both migrant and resident birds are singing, courting mates, building nests and raising young-all conspicuous and easy-to-watch activities. Designed for beginning birders, this session will cover using binoculars, identifying different birds and using various field guides, and studying the birds we see. This walk works well as a follow-up to Birding 101, described above. Be sure to bring your binoculars! Saturday, April 30, 7-9 a.m. $6/member, $8/nonmember, Special! Sign up for Birding 101 and the Beginners' Bird Walk is free. Advance registration necessary

Family Program: Full Moon Walk
Explore Gilsland Farm on an early spring evening. In this nature walk, we will enjoy the full moon and look and listen for animals that are active at night. Saturday, April 30 from 7-8:30 p.m. Members: $6/adult, $3/child, Nonmembers: $8/adult, $4/child. Advance registration necessary.

Kettering University names next President

Dr. Stanley R. Liberty of Bradley University to take office July 1, 2005

FLINT, Mich. - Dr. Stanley R. Liberty has been named the new president of Kettering University in Flint, Mich. He will become the university's sixth president when he succeeds Dr. James E.A. John on July 1.

Dr. Liberty was born and raised in Gray, Maine and graduated from Cheverus High School in Portland. He earned his bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering at the University of Notre Dame.
Kettering University, formerly called General Motors Institute, is located in Flint, Michigan, and is one of the country's premier co-op institutions.

It provides 2,500 students with career-based education in engineering, applied sciences, mathematics, and business management. Founded in 1919, the University also offers graduate programs in engineering and manufacturing management. Kettering is ranked among the nation's finest specialty schools by "U.S. News and World Report." For more information, visit www.kettering.edu.

"Stan's broad range of successful leadership experience in academia, business, and government provides Kettering University a terrific base from which to take the School forward," said Jane Warner, Chairperson of the Kettering board of trustees. "This solid experience combined with his innovative thinking and passion for greatness will assure Kettering's continued success as an outstanding University."

Dr. Liberty joins Kettering from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois where he has been provost and vice president for academic affairs since January of 1998. Before joining Bradley he served as dean of engineering for 13 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and as that university's interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. He also served as department chair of electrical engineering at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and as a faculty member at Texas Tech University, where he was founding director of Texas Tech's center for energy research, an associate dean of graduate studies, and a member of the Texas Energy Advisory Council.

Prior to his academic career he was employed as a design engineer by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. Dr. Liberty's research has been supported by grants from several federal agencies including NSF, NASA and the Office of Naval Research.

G-NG High School Drama Wins Regional Tournament

For the second consecutive year, the Gray-New Gloucester High School Patriot Players are regional champions. G-NG beat teams from Westbrook, Windham, Poland, and Fryeburg in the one act theater competition this past weekend. Junior Joe Moran was named to the All Festival Cast for his role as Kramer. Nykole Cadigan, Amy Day, Stephanie Hare, Kelly Ufkin, Brie Dombrowski, and Augusta Hahnel received an ensemble award for their parts as the old ladies.

The cast also included Dan Bastian and Cory Googins. G-NG drama director Eric Walker now takes his actors to Noble High School the weekend of March 26th for the state tournament.