Northern Iowan t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f n o r t h e r n i o wa’s s t u d e n t - p r o d u c e d n e w s p a p e r s i n c e 1 8 9 2
JUNE 22, 2012
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VOLUME 108, ISSUE 57
FRIDAY
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA
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NORTHERN-IOWAN.ORG
SOLAR BOATS
Solar Panthers splash into third place at international solar boating championship KARI BRAUMANN
Executive Editor
The University of Northern Iowa solar boat team took third place overall at the 2012 Solar Splash World Championship of Intercollegiate Solar Boat Racing last weekend. Teams from around the United States and the world vied for the championship title at the competition, held at George Wyth State Park in Cedar Falls. UNI served as the official host of the championship. Istanbul Technical University of Turkey placed first overall, followed by the team from Cedarville University in Ohio. UNI’s third place overall finish is the team’s third the past four years. The team placed third
Photo courtesy of University Relations
Members of the University of Northern Iowa solar boat team are pictured with their vessel at the 2012 Solar Splash World Championship of Intercollegiate Solar Boat Racicng at George Wyth State Park in Cedar Falls. The UNI team claimed third place overall in the competition for the third time in the past four years.
in 2009 and 2010, falling one point shy of another thirdplace finish in 2011. In addition to their overall placement, the UNI team earned first place in the Sprint Event, third place in Solar Endurance, second place in the qualifying heats and an award for outstanding drive train design. “Compared with many topnotch engineering colleges in the United States as well as worldwide, I am extremely happy with the overall performance of my Solar Panthers team this year,” said Reg Pecen, the group’s adviser, in a press release. Pecen is a UNI professor of industrial technology. This year is the second in a row UNI has hosted the competition. UNI will host again in June 2013.
STURGIS FALLS
37th annual Sturgis Falls Celebration to bring Mardi Gras flavor to Cedar Falls KARI BRAUMANN Executive Editor
The 37th annual Sturgis Falls Celebration will take over Cedar Falls this weekend with dozens of events, including live music, a parade, contests, food and more. This year’s theme is “Mardi Gras at the Falls.” The weekend-long celebration begins Thursday with the Gateway Market. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., vendors will gather near the shelter area in Gateway Park selling various family-friendly items, including jewelry, sunglasses, clothing, arts and crafts and more. Booths with information about local wellness services and Cedar Falls Patch will also be present. Gateway Market will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday as well. Later on Thursday, live music will take the Gateway Park stage. The Mittens will perform at 5 p.m., Lick It Ticket performs at 6:30 p.m. and Cornmeal will go on at 8 p.m. Starting at 8 on Friday morning, a new event will
take place at Gateway Park along the river. About a dozen chainsaw carvers from around the Midwest will make carvings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All the weekend’s carvings will be auctioned off at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Friday’s schedule is filled with events taking place in multiple venues. Live music will be available on the Overman Park stage, including ensembles such as The Chocolate Crackers, Cedar Valley Jazz Club and more. Kid-friendly performances and activities will be available all day on the Kidsway stage, located in the Kidsway tent next to Overman Park on Franklin Street. The Sturgis Falls opening ceremony will take place on the Overman Park stage Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Over at Gateway Park, the Vic Ferrarri band will play from 9 p.m. until midnight. Saturday features another day full of events for all ages. More kids’ arts and crafts activities are available in the Kidsway area, along with multiple performances
by Dean Franzen, “The Dean of Juggling.” Area organizations will take part in a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. Musical performances will continue throughout the day at the Overman Park and Gateway Park stages. Because of a cancellation on the Overman Park stage, Sturgis Falls attendees will be able to enjoy a performance by the nine-piece Marine Jazz Band from New Orleans Saturday afternoon from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Other events of the weekend include a carnival at 2nd and State Streets Thursday through Sunday, the Cedar Basin Jazz Festival at Sturgis Park Friday through Sunday, a classic car show Sunday at Gateway Park and many more. Food and beverages will be sold by various vendors at Overman Park and Gateway Park. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www. sturgisfalls.org. Smartphone users can download a mobile app for iPhone, Android or Windows Phone.
WHITNEY PHILLIPS/Northern Iowan
Ryan Pearson (left, guitar and vocals) and Andrew Thoreen (right, bass), members of Lick It Ticket, play at the HuB Dec. 2, 2011. Lick It Ticket will play at the 2012 Sturgis Falls kickoff concert Thursday at Gateway Park.