Khoury assumes presidency of Unity College

Higher education leader tapped to continue innovation at America's Environmental College

UNITY When Dr. Melik Peter Khoury assumes the presidency at Unity College this morning, he will bring in an international and innovative perspective to the highest office at America's Environmental College.

Khoury's goals include continuing the school's positive four-year enrollment trend, continuing to upgrade and repurpose student-centered facilities for their highest and best use, expanding access to a Unity College education to nontraditional learners of all ages, nationalities and creeds, and realigning the administration to inculcate sustainability and 'leadership in abundance' at every level of the operation.

UNITY   The senior administrator, attorney, poet and instructor who helped Unity College to become the first institution in the United States to have sustainability science as its focus will soon see her first book-length manuscript in print.

Moon Pie Press and Maine Poetry Central have announced Michele Leavitt the winner of the 2013 Michael Macklin First Book Award competition. Her chapbook, 'The Glass Transition,' was published by Finishing Line Press in 2010.

UNITY - Unity College is not only teaching its students about agriculture and environmental sustainability, it's also providing real life examples of area farmers and businesses that are successfully making a living at it, like MOOmilk. The organic, Maine-based dairy beverage is now a staple in the school's dining commons.

"Having the opportunity to change what is such a basic food item in our dining hall really does touch every student," explained Sara Trunzo, food & farm projects coordinator at Unity College. "The day we launched MOOmilk, students couldn't help but be aware that this was a different product."

"It tastes better," said Shayne Van Leer, Unity College senior. "I think regular milk is pasteurized at higher temperatures for a short period. MOOmilk is pasteurized at lower temperatures for longer. It's the only milk I buy."

UNITY - The Camden International Film Festival's CIFF Selects program is partnering with the Unity College Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities to present a series of free, environmentally focused documentaries at the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts.

'We are very excited to be partnering with Unity's Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities on this winter and spring screening series," said Ben Fowlie, founder and director of the Camden International Film Festival. "It is the goal of our CIFF Selects series to provide audiences throughout the state the opportunity to experience cutting-edge documentary film. This collaboration was extremely special because we were able to curate around the college's mission, highlighting new work with a focus on the environment or natural resources."

The first film in the series, 'The Atomic States of America,' will be screened at the UCCPA on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Don Argott.

In 2010, the United States approved the first new nuclear power plant in 32 years, heralding a 'Nuclear Renaissance.' But that was before the Fukushima accident in Japan renewed a fierce public debate over the safety and viability of nuclear power.

'The Atomic States of America' journeys to nuclear reactor communities around the country to provide a comprehensive exploration of the history and impact to date of nuclear power and to investigate the truths and myths about nuclear energy.

From the gates of Three Mile Island to the cooling ponds of Braidwood, IL, the film introduces people who have been on the front lines of this issue for decades: community advocates, investigative journalists, renowned physicists, nuclear engineers, Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors and former government leaders.

Based in part on Kelly McMasters' book, 'Welcome to Shirley,' about growing up in the shadow of the Brookhaven National Lab on Long Island, the film explores the evidence for serious health consequences documented by people living in Shirley, as well as near other nuclear facilities. Their concerns call into question who can be trusted to provide truthful information and how much influence the nuclear industry has over the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its decisions.

As the nation stands at the crossroads of a possible Nuclear Renaissance, 'The Atomic States of America' inspires informed discussion on the safety, viability and future of nuclear power in the United States.

Additional film screenings include 'Sun Come Up' and 'Facing Climate Change' on Feb. 21 and 'Chasing Ice' on March 14.

Camden International Film Festival is recognized as one of the top 25 film festivals in the world for documentary films and filmmakers. For more information, visit www.camdenfilmfest.org.

FREE ADMISSION sponsored by the Unity College Center for Environmental Arts and Humanities. The UCCPA is located at 42 Depot St in downtown Unity. For more information call 207-948-7469 or visitwww.uccpa.unity.edu.

Built from a one hundred year-old barn with attached farmhouse, the UCCPA is a vibrant cultural and arts center that offers an eclectic mix of music, films, art, lectures, and other various events.

Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education, which emphasizes the environment and naturalresources. Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.

The Grand commits a Love Crime'

ELLSWORTH - The Grand's hot new film program CineGrand begins its annual Summer French Film series with 'Love Crime,' starring Ludivine Sagnier ('Swimming Pool,' 'Love Songs') and Kristin Scott Thomas ('Tell No One,' 'The English Patient') on Thursday, June 28 through Saturday, June 30 at 7 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. It's French night all weekend long, as The Grand celebrates hot French films in the summertime.

'Love Crime,' the last film from Alain Corneau, director of the acclaimed "Tous les Matins du Monde," echoes both "All About Eve" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" in a story of the deadly one-upsmanship between two women in a multinational corporation. Ruthless executive Christine (Thomas) brings on Isabelle (Sagnier) as her assistant, and she takes delight in toying with the young woman's innocence. But when the protg's ideas become tempting enough for Christine to pass on as her own, she underestimates Isabelle's ambition and cunning, and the ground is set for all out war. Soon to be remade as an English language thriller by Brian DePalma ('Dressed To Kill,' 'Carrie') as 'Passion,' 'Love Crime' is a great Gallic thriller in the tradition of 'Tell No One' and 'Diabolique.'