Briseno assumes duties as president of Multicultural Coalition board

Paul Briseno, assistant to the city administrator for the City of Grand Island, is the new president of the Grand Island Multicultural Coalition's board of directors.

Briseno succeeds Steve Joel, Grand Island Public Schools superintendent who had served as president since the coalition's inception six years ago. Joel will remain on the board.

Jose Zapata, with Central Nebraska Community Services and a Grand Island City Council member, is the coalition's new vice president. Kerry Nazarenus of GIPS will continue as secretary-treasurer.

Four new board members were also approved at the board's February meeting: Jennifer Larson, YWCA director; Maria Lopez, minority recruiter at Central Community College; Anita Lewandowski, senior training consultant for Principal Financial; and Kirk Ramsey, a Barr Middle School counselor and also a G.I. City Council member.

Other board members are Denise Villegas, Yolanda Nuncio, Ann Sukraw-Lutz, Maria Hines, Janet Hartmann, Donna Sanders, Javier Rendon, Jay Vetter, Bill Brennan, Steve Lamken and Pete Letheby.

Odalys Perez is director of the Multicultural Coalition.

Husker Ultra-light Club meeting is Feb. 20

The Husker Ultra-light Club, dedicated to fun flying in small aircraft, will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Grand Island Library, 211 N. Washington St.

All types of recreational flying, new rules, sport pilot, light sport aircraft and flight training are discussed. Fly-ins and get-togethers are planned during the warmer months. Anyone interested is welcome to join. For more information, contact Doug Camplin at 384-7574.

Emergency Medical Services workshop offered in Grand Island

The Emergency Medical Services Program of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services will offer a workshop on "Immobilization/Splinting" to emergency medical technicians and first responders from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Grand Island Rural Fire Station.

This workshop is worth three continuing education hours. For other information, call Carol Jorgensen, North Central Nebraska Emergency Medical Specialist, at 1-800-642-4095.

* hastings

Total lunar eclipse in prime time

Stargazers in the central United States are perfectly positioned to view a total lunar eclipse at 9 p.m. Feb. 20. The eclipse will start at 7:43 p.m. and ends at 11:09.

The Sachtleben Observatory will be open for eclipse watching beginning at 7 p.m. Call Starline (402) 462-7378 for more information and a possible cancellation if clouds intrude on eclipse night.

The eclipse will also be featured in the planetarium show "The Sky Tonight", playing Tuesday through Sunday in the J.M. McDonald Planetarium at the Hastings Museum.

The Sachtleben Observatory is located at 4725 S. Wabash Ave. in Hastings.

Hastings Family YMCA to hold Bike-a-thon

The Hastings Family YMCA will hold a Bike-a-thon Feb. 17 to raise funds for their Group Cycling Center.

Participants can bike from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with different cycling instructors stepping in throughout the seven sessions offered during this time. To attend, participants must have pledges totaling $20 or pay a $20 registration fee.

The Hastings Family YMCA is in need of new bikes for their Group Cycling Center. They are also in need of speakers, graphics for the room, sweat towels and water bottles. For more information regarding the Bike-a-thon, call the Hastings Family YMCA at (402) 463-3139.

League of Women Voters Hastings program

Tom McBride, Executive Director of Epworth Village Inc, and appointed Provider representative on the LB 542 Children's Behavioral Health Task Force, will be providing the "Update on Children's Behavioral Health in Nebraska: the Task Force Report and It's Implications" at noon Feb. 22 at the YWCA in Hastings.

This event is free and the public is welcome to attend. The program is brought to you by Hastings League of Women Voters.

Lunch will be available at 11:45 a.m. for $3.50. YWCA in Hastings is located at 604 N. St. Joseph Ave.

* loup city

Emergency Medical Services workshop offered in Loup City

The Emergency Medical Services Program of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services will offer a workshop on "Cardiac Emergencies" for emergency medical technicians and first responders from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Feb. 19 at the Loup City Community Center.

The workshop is worth three continuing education hours. For more information, call Carol Jorgensen, North Central Nebraska Emergency Medical Specialist, at 1-800-642-4095.