Brave enough

We're getting ready for this year's London Bridge Days Parade, Oct. 16 on Lake Havasu City's "Main Street." This year's theme is "Havasu Heroes" and I've been in search of a few heroic MCC grads whose faces will grace the college float. Today the search lead me to Fire Station No. 2 where the city's fire department was conducting a training academy for recent recruits. Three of the officers putting the recruits through their paces (in full gear and 100-plus-degree heat) were not only graduates of MCC, they're now faculty. These guys are tough, as the students in our fire science program have, no doubt, already figured out. Hey, community college isn't for sissies!

At left: LHCFD Capt. Aaron Bracamonte, MCC graduate and faculty, doesn't even break a sweat as he takes a break from instructing fire department recruits in 100-plus degree heat.

Still time for art

You still have about a week to see the art show currently on display in The Gallery in room 204. It features provocative and innovative multi-media sculpture and "unique prints" by student Randall Shehi, who has become a fixture in our art studios at the San Juan Annex. Shehi really does have his own vision, and you're not likely to see artwork of this style or caliber elsewhere in Lake Havasu City or even this part of the state. The Gallery is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

At right: This sculpture by Randall Shehi features a delicate wing-like structure of hand-built clay set on a stand fashioned from a reclaimed trowel.

Welcome back already!

Yes, I've taken a bit of an hiatus from blogging, but I'm back now. The rush of new students in the weeks before the fall semester, combined with the wilting heat of August in Lake Havasu City left me a bit uninspired. But the temps have dropped below 100 (at least for now), and I'm feeling refreshed. It's great to see students back on campus, hauling around textbooks, putting their heads together in newly formed study groups and donning program-specific scrubs and t-shirts. Have a great semester!