Voice Shorts

Briefs compiled by Marta Olson

Meeting to discuss future of Cascade Ave.

River Falls is planning reconstruction of Cascade Avenue from Spruce Street to Wasson Avenue. There is a meeting Sept. 24 to further discuss a concept plan for the project. According to the City of River Falls, traffic volume will increase by 15,000 annual average daily traffic over a 50 to 60 year time-frame. This is an upcoming project for the city.  The plan had been pushed back due to budget constraints.

Establishing the plan for improvements will require cooperation from the city, UW-River Falls and the citizens of the area. The city is making phases for this undertaking by first developing a precise concept plan.  After a plan is developed the city hopes to find funding for this large project.

Chicago Cuatro Orquestra to perform

The Wyman Series is offering an array of artistic performances, starting Sept. 24 with the Chicago Cuatro Orquestra. The Cuatro is a string instrument, similar to a guitar, with a history of more than 300 years. Two Puerto Rican brothers, Orlando and David Rivera, started the Chicago Cuatro Orquestra. The orchestra’s purpose is to educate and entertain.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. in the Abbott Concert Hall in Kleinpell Fine Arts and is free for UW-River Falls students. The concert is open to the public.  Admission is $3 for 18 and under and $5 for the general public.

Professor to lead ethanol presentation

Corn ethanol is receiving a tremendous amount of media coverage as the prime candidate for ultimately replacing high-priced and increasingly scarce gasoline supplies.

On Sept. 24 both students and the community can explore the process of producing ethanol on a vast scale, how it is created and the resources - both monetary and physical - required to make corn ethanol a reality. Discuss the national and global impacts of diverting corn from its traditional role as a food commodity toward ethanol production and what other energy alternatives might be considered. Presented by Dr. Brad Mogen, department of biology.

The presentation will be at the lower-level of the River Falls Public Library from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event is admission-free.

New York Times senior editor to visit

Greg Brock was appointed a senior editor at The New York Times in May 2006 after spending four years as the paper’s news editor in the Washington Bureau. He oversaw coverage of the White House, Congress and all government agencies. He was news editor on the Foreign Desk during the 9/11 attacks.

He will be on campus 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Riverview Ballroom. This is a free event open to the public. The New York Times and the American Democracy Project sponsor his appearance.

UW-River Falls goes to Egypt for J-Term

Students, faculty and the public now have the opportunity to travel to Egypt over the January Term 2008. The informational meeting about the Jan. 8-20 trip will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in Kleinpell Fine Arts room B107.

The trip includes visits to cities such as Cairo, Memphis, Giza, Luxor, Aswan and other surrounding areas, as well as a Nile River cruise and an air excursion to Abu Simbel. Participants will explore pyramids, temples, tombs, the Citadel, Sphinx, City of the Dead, Aswan High Dam, Valley of the Kings and more.

The package is all-inclusive with airfare and all accommodations. The estimated cost of the trip is $3,990 plus tuition for students enrolled for credit.

The study tour is led by Art History Professor Steven Derfler. For more information, contact Derfler at 715-426-0639 or steven.l.derfler@uwrf.edu.

Local artists display unique textiles

Through Sept. 24 students can stop by to see the exhibition of Guatemalan textiles. The hand-woven objects are from the personal collections of local artists. There are more than 60 items, by seven different artists.

The exhibit contains clothing, including shirts, skirts, pants, head coverings and hair ornaments. All of the pieces were made in the traditional Mayan dress style of several villages, each having their own distinctive elements with patterns, colors and weaving structure.

The hours of Gallery 101 are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., as well as Sunday 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is located on the first-floor of Kleinpell Fine Arts.

Poet visits public library, reads new book

Poet Evelyn Klein will be at the River Falls Public Library from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 25.  The Minnesota poet will be reading from her new book, From Here Across the River. Klein’s book of poems illustrates her journey of self-discovery. Klein explores topics of love and relationships.

Klein’s work has appeared in journals, newspapers and other publications. Klein grew up in Milwaukee, received her Master of Science teaching degree from UW-River Falls, and now works in Minneapolis.

After the reading audience members are welcome to read their own works. To sign up to read call Kate Chaffee at 425-0905.

Afton man innovates sewage treatment

Afton resident Clint Elston has designed the world’s first self-contained sewage treatment system, which is housed in his basement. The system reuses dish, shower, sink and laundry water, and recycles it into drinking water.

The system collects food particles and toilet “matter” in a tank where thousands of small red worms live. The worms eat the waste and turn it into soil. Bio-Matter Resequencing Converter is the official name Elston has given his system. Elston removes about 10 gallons of soil from the tank each year and uses it as compost for his plants.

A computer system monitors the water, tests it for problems and the water goes through an extensive filtering process. The system’s total cost is about $55,000. Elston’s company Equaris builds the system and about 10 units have been sold around the world.