Sports in brief . . .

    The Maine Recreation and Park Association is offering a Turf Maintenance Workshop for athletic directors, park directors and others who maintain turf areas on Oct. 22 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
    University of New Hampshire Sports Turf Manager Lance Tibbetts, a resident of Casco, will lead the  turf management training entitled “Challenges Managing Sports Turf Areas.”  
    Tibbetts will cover a variety of topics, including maintaining goal mouths and bench areas; dealing with drought conditions; how to prepare the field for the game in good conditions and bad; and routine cultural practices that can be performed during the season.
    Tibbetts has 26 years experience in the grounds industry and is a former board member of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA).  He has been recognized by STMA for Football Field of the Year in 2000; Soccer Field of the Year in 2003; and Field Hockey Field of the Year in 2008. 
    The session will run from 9-11:30 a.m. on and the registration fee is $35, which includes lunch.
    To register log on to www.merpa.org or contact Dean Jandreau at 728-3604.

    UM-Presque Isle athletes Carly Langley and Zach Barnes received Sunrise Conference cross country runner of the week honors for the week ending Oct. 3.
    Langley, a freshman from Belmont, Nova Scotia, finished 83rd out of 276 runners with a time of 21:41 at the Pop Crowell Invitational at Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. Oct. 2.
    Barnes, a freshman from Presque Isle, finished 198th out of 252 runners with a time of 34:11 at the same meet.

    The Dutch Soccer Academy will offer an indoor session of soccer beginning Oct. 18 at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle.
    Classes will be held Mondays, with the first trimester wrapping up Dec. 13. Class will not be held Nov. 22. Two other trimesters will be offered after the new year.
    The cost is $60 per trimester. A one-time $15 registration fee will also be charged.
    Grades K and 1 will meet from 3-4 p.m., grades 2-3 from 4-5 p.m., grades 4-5 from 5-6 p.m. and grades 6-8 from 6-7 p.m.
    For more information, call 492-1147 or email dsa@dutchsocceracademy.com. Those interested can also visit the academy’s web site at www.dutchsocceracademy.com.

    The Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Department has set registration dates for the winter basketball program.
    Registration for grades 1 and 2 is now under way and the program begins this week.
    Grades 3 and 4 registration will begin on Nov. 1 and that program will start on Nov. 29.
    Registration for the fifth- and sixth-grade league will begin on Jan. 3, 2011 and that program will begin on Jan. 31, 2011.
    Mini Hoopsters registration begins March 2, 2011 and the program begins March 28, 2011.
    All registrations are accepted at the recreation center office from 8 a.m.-5  p.m. Monday through Friday.  For more information, call 764-2545.

    The Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Department is hosting birthday parties for ages 4 and up at the recreation center, in addition to hosting parties at the indoor pool.
    The recreation center is available Friday and Saturday nights from 6-8 p.m., with one hour of organized gym games included in the rental. Activities vary with age groups, but include wiffleball, soccer, basketball and kickball. For more information on rentals for the recreation center, call 764-2545 or email pirec@maine.rr.com.  
    Contact the indoor pool at 764-2564 for information regarding rentals at that facility.