Twelve years ago, a first-of-its-kind event was held at the former Loring Air Force Base that drew thousands of people and, for a few days, turned Limestone into the ‘largest city’ in the State of Maine. The 1997 event was called The Great Went and behind it was the American rock band Phish. The overnight-city phenomenon was repeated twice – in 1998 for the band’s Lemonwheel concert and in 2003 for the IT festival. Together, the three concerts brought more than 200,000 concertgoers to northern Maine and pumped more than $25 million into the economy. This month, a week-long event at the University of Maine at Presque Isle will be held to reflect upon the three Phish concerts held in northern Maine, the creative energy surrounding them, and their impact on Aroostook County.

The Phish Retrospective – which is being co-organized by Art Professor Anderson Giles, Cultural Affairs Director Carol Ayoob, and Reed Art Gallery Director Sandra Huck – will be held from Sept. 28 to Nov. 21. The retrospective will include a forum, a documentary film viewing, a guest lecture, and an art gallery exhibition.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle honored two alumni during its Annual Alumni Luncheon and Awards Ceremony, held as part of the University’s Homecoming 2009 activities the weekend of Sept. 18-20.

Alumna Jane White Kilcollins was honored with the Educator of the Year Award, which is presented to an alumnus/alumna who has received ongoing recognition as an outstanding educator. This recipient may also have shown active or supportive involvement with the Alumni Association, support of the university, a successful career that reflects well on the University, and outstanding leadership qualities.

Alumnus Ronald Fitzgerald received the Distinguished Alumni Award, which is presented to an alumnus/alumna who has made long-term contributions to the Alumni Association or the University, or who has received professional recognition that has reflected positively on the University.

In just two weeks, a Retrospective event – centered on the three Phish music festivals that took place in Aroostook County in 1997, 1998, and 2003 – will be held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and as a precursor to that event, the University will host a unique unveiling ceremony during Homecoming 2009 Weekend.

On Friday, Sept. 18 at 3:30 p.m. on the west lawn of Pullen Hall, a special ceremony will be held to unveil the IT Men – giant, 20-foot-tall, lime green traffic control figures constructed out of plywood that once stood at the concert gates of a Phish music festival. These figures have been installed on the west end of Pullen Hall in honor of the Phish Retrospective, being hosted by the Reed Art Gallery from Sept. 28 to Nov. 21.

The Retrospective – which is being co-organized by Art Professor Anderson Giles, Cultural Affairs Director Carol Ayoob, and Reed Art Gallery Director Sandra Huck – will include a forum, a documentary film viewing, guest lectures, and an art gallery exhibition.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is hosting a jam-packed Homecoming 2009 celebration from Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20, offering everything from entertainment by a trio of comedians to a Homecoming Bazaar to socials, alumni games and the annual Hall of Fame dinner.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle is pleased to announce that it will begin its 2009-2010 University Distinguished Lecturer Series with renowned speaker Thomas King, the acclaimed novelist, short story writer, and creator of the popular CBC radio serial The Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour.

King – whose first novel Medicine River was made into a television movie that starred Native American actor Graham Greene, won Best Screenplay at the American Indian Film Festival, and was nominated for a Gemini award – will speak on issues related to the Native American experience when he delivers his talk An Evening Wasted with Thomas King at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24 in the Campus Center.

An accomplished opera singer will pay a visit to the University of Maine at Presque Isle when she offers a matinee vocal performance on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Campus Center.

Suzanne Nance, well-known throughout the State of Maine as music director and host of MPBN’s Morning Classical Music program, is also an experienced vocal performer who has appeared on stages in Prague, London, the Czech Republic, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and New York, and has appeared in operas such as Cosi fan tutte, Madama Butterfly and Little Women.

Accompanied by pianist Patricia Stowell, her recital will include Spanish Rhapsody by Franz Liszt, as well as Spanish and Gypsy songs by Rossini, de Falla, Bizet and Dvorak.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle will celebrate the 222nd birthday of the signing of the U.S. Constitution with a special presentation on the First Amendment.

On Thursday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to Noon, students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to observe Constitution Day by gathering in the University’s Campus Center for a panel discussion on the First Amendment followed by a question and answer session.

Leading the panel presentation will be President Don Zillman, a nationally known expert on constitutional law; Dr. William Davidshofer, Professor of Political Science at UMPI; and Dr. Brent Andersen, a political scientist and a lecturer at the University whose area of specialty is American government.

They will discuss the history of the amendment and how those rights have been exercised over the years, and talk about recent news events that illustrate how First Amendment rights are asserted and challenged today.