MARQUETTE — Northern Center for Lifelong Learning has three programs in the next month that might be of community interest.

To register interested people only have to contact the liaison rather than the NCLL office which is only staffed 8 hours a week.

Event 1: What is the Northern Michigan University Behavioral Education, Assessment & Research (BEAR) Center? 10 a.m. to noon Friday in NMU Whitman Hall Commons (Room 136). The cost is $3 for members; $6 for non-members. Presenter: Dr. Jacob Daar, NMU assistant professor and Director of the Behavior Education, Assessment, and Research (BEAR). Ever wonder what autism is, ever work with someone diagnosed with autism, maybe someone in your family or a friend has autism. The BEAR CENTER provides free behavioral assessment, consultation, and therapeutic services for children with autism, developmental disabilities, language-deficits, and other behavioral concerns. Additionally, it provides NMU students with experience in treating these disorders around the Upper Peninsula.

If interested, contact Event Liaison: Sally Olsen, 226-8347, solsen@nmu.edu

Event 2: Brain Functions — Exercise for a Healthy Mind, 6-8 p.m. Monday at Peter White Public Library Community Room. No charge. Presenters: Sonia Geschwindt, MD, Brain/Neurological Surgeon and Julianne Kirkham, PhD, Brain/Neuropsychologist. The brain is a complicated physical organ and so significant to our well-being. During the first part of this program, the focus will be on the overall structure and functions within the brain to understand how it works. This will lead into the mental and physical activities that we can do to maintain, strengthen, sharpen, and exercise our brain (mind) to help it along as we age.

Contact Event Liaison if interested: Paula McCormick, 228-5489, puree_cat@hotmail.com

Event 3: Voters’ Rights & Responsibilities, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 13, Hope First United Methodist Church, 111 E. Ridge St., Marquette. No charge. Panel: Darleen Allen, Chair of League of Women Voters; Linda Talsma, Marquette County Clerk; Secretary of State or Bureau of Elections representative. The panel of speakers will talk about voting rights and changes in the voting laws. Some emphasis will be given to the basic importance of voting, especially by the League of Women Voters. There will be ample time for Q&A.

In interested, contact Event Liaison: Jim Matteson, 228-4165, jmatteson906@yahoo.com.