Community Corner

🌱 Why UMaine’s punter is playing through a looming transplant

Coming up: Parker McCollum on the Orono Patch calendar

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Hi Orono! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why UMaine's punter is playing through a looming transplant
  • UMaine Ph.D. student in Orono wins major NIH fellowship
  • How UMaine's new media partnership could spotlight Orono research nationally

Also on today's calendar: Old Town Varsity Football @ Orono and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What has 2 arms and a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Cooler with rain tapering off, with a high of 63 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Friday: Warmer with showers around, temps: high: 75, low: 58.
  • Saturday: A shower; breezy in the a.m., with a high of 69 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Punter for UMaine football team faces life-changing bone marrow transplant (pressherald.com) — UMaine punter Anthony Pecorella is practicing and studying in Orono while preparing for a life-changing bone marrow transplant after this football season. Living with a rare genetic immune disorder and past lymphoma, he's choosing to play one more year, commuting monthly to Boston for treatments and drawing strength from his teammates and local community connections.
   

2. In researching organ failure prevention, UMaine Ph.D. student earns prestigious fellowship - UMaine News - The University of Maine (umaine.edu) — A University of Maine Ph.D. student based in Orono has earned a prestigious NIH F31 fellowship to study how cellular stress after heart attacks and strokes can lead to organ failure. Using nematodes and planned mammalian cell studies, her work at UMaine's long-standing Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Department could inform future treatments for age-related diseases.
   

3. Announcing a New Campus Partnership with The Conversation - Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost (umaine.edu) — University of Maine's Orono campus is launching a new partnership with The Conversation, giving local faculty a chance to share their research with national and global audiences. Editors from the outlet will visit campus April 14–15 for kickoff meetings, and interested UMaine scholars are encouraged to contact campus liaisons to pitch story ideas and get editorial support.
   

4. UMaine Libraries expands support for affordable course materials through open educational resources - UMaine News - The University of Maine (umaine.edu) — Students at UMaine's Orono campus could soon pay less for textbooks as UMaine Libraries expands grants and support for open educational resources. A renewed grant program, statewide survey on textbook costs, and focus on high-enrollment courses aim to boost free or low-cost materials starting in fall 2027 and beyond.
   

5. University of Maine System sees largest enrollment in 10 years (wgme.com) — University of Maine's Orono campus is seeing a slight enrollment dip even as the overall UMaine System expects more than 28,000 students this fall, its highest total in a decade. System leaders credit strong growth in online degree completion programs and a focus on affordability for drawing more students back to finish their degrees.
   

📸 Around Orono

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Orono

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Thursday September 3
  • Parker McCollum →
    Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St, Bangor
    7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Orono Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday September 3
  • Zillman Art Museum - University of Maine Exhibitions
    Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce 40 Harlow St. Norumbega Hall Bangor, ME 04401
    10:00 am
  • Toddler Time
    Old Town Public Library 46 Middle Street, Old Town, ME 04468
    10:30 am
  • BHS -Field Hockey vs. Edward Little @ V-4:00/JV-5:30 p.m.
    Bangor High School Bangor, ME 04401
    4:00 pm
    • Friday September 4
  • BHS - Cross Country Meet @ Bangor H.S. at B-4:00/G-4:30 p.m.
    Bangor High School Bangor, ME 04401
    4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • September is Preparedness Month!
    "Taking a few minutes to make a plan, build an emergency kit, learn how to receive emergency information, and check on neighbors can help individuals… (Nextdoor )
  • Sodexo, Inc. posted a job opening for UMaine Dining - Delivery Driver in Orono. Apply here.
  • Herewith Inc. posted a job opening for Hiring Caregivers for Seniors in Orono, Maine, 04473 in Orono. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Orono here.

Ok Orono! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A shirt (Thank you Dianna H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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