Mark Breen gives ‘This Winter’s Forecast’ at OLLI Program

COURTESY
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Mark Breen, will present the OLLI-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program on Tuesday Dec. 4. ‘This Winter’s Forecast’ will be presented at 2 p.m. at the Nolin Murray Center next to St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Pleasant Street in Springfield, Vermont.

Breen, senior meteorologist at the Fairbanks Museum, and the voice of VPR’s ‘Eye on the Sky’ weather forecast, acknowledges that the challenges of predicting Mother Nature are considerable. Even weather forecasts from day-to-day can vary considerably as a storm changes track, a weather front stalls, or a thunderstorm pops up to spoil your outdoor plans. So why would we think we can predict the weather months in advance? He’ll discuss the differences between daily and seasonal weather forecasting, including looking at ocean temperature cycles, sun spot cycles, El Nino, and the Polar Vortex. Using these features, as well as over 120 years of detailed weather records from the Fairbanks Museum, Breen will make a specific forecast for this winter!

This is Breen’s eighth presentation to the OLLI group. He is one of the group’s favorite presenters with his easy speaking style and extensive knowledge. “In Vermont, in particular, weather plays a big role in the economy,” Mark said. “I enjoy wonderful conversations with farmers, skiers, factory managers, teachers, hang-gliders, bicyclists, hunters, hikers, just to name a few. They each help me understand the different parts of the weather that affect their activities, which in turn helps me to focus on certain aspects of the weather, say the wind, or humidity, or temperature.”

OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), affiliated with the University of Vermont, is a local membership program geared towards seniors 50 years and older who want to engage in meaningful learning, “just for the fun of it!” People of all ages are welcome to attend.

The OLLI series programs are selected with input from the local members and carry varied themes from semester to semester including history, art, music, literature, health, nature, science and current events.

Programs are held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons and last about an hour and a half.

Membership is $45 for the semester which includes nine programs. Non-members are encouraged and welcome to attend individual lectures for a single program fee of $8. Memberships, as well as single program fees, may be paid at the program.

On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the re-scheduled program ‘Classics of Hollywood’s Golden Age’ will be presented to make up for it being cancelled due to inclement weather on Nov. 27.

Brochures will be distributed throughout the area towns at businesses, the local libraries, town halls and Chamber of Commerce offices. Programs will be highlighted in the local media. The complete Springfield and state-wide program list will be available on the internet at www.learn.uvm.edu/olli Choose State-wide programs from the menu, and then scroll to Springfield.