Friday, Feb. 1, 2008

LIFE PROGRAM CELEBRATES INTERGENERATIONAL PROJECT

By Janice O'Connor

LIFE volunteer art instructor Georgia Canfield taught Elm Street School fifth-graders, including Joshua Nguyen, the fine art of creating intricate paper cutouts.

There was no evidence of a generation gap on Wednesday, Jan. 30, when children and adults of all ages filled the North Cafeteria to celebrate the finale of the Lifelong Learning Institute for Enrichment's fall Intergenerational Arts and Writing Project.

The LIFE program event, which had been rescheduled from December due to inclement weather, drew more than 75 program participants, parents and members of the community, including Gardner Superintendent of Schools Carol Daring. "This was a wonderful program," she said, adding that she particularly enjoyed the new element this year that involved the highly creative Gardner High School poetry club.

The intergenerational project, led by LIFE Program Coordinator Lorraine Wickman, was a collaborative exchange involving more than 50 students and LIFE program artists. In one program, Elm Street School fifth-graders were paired with LIFE artists to paint, crochet, create scrapbooks and work on other art projects. Twenty-five students and artists met weekly for six weeks in this program.

A second project paired students with LIFE participants to write about various topics of their choice. The collection of work by the 20 participants was printed in a booklet. A third program paired eight members of the Gardner High School poetry club with LIFE artists. The students wrote three poems each, and the artist they were paired with selected one poem as inspiration for a framed work of art.

"I liked learning new things," said Tessa Jaillet, who discovered an ability to crochet during the program through her lessons with LIFE volunteer Louise Breen ."I thought it was really fun."

The LIFE program was established in 1998 as an enrichment program for lifelong learners age 50 and above. In addition to the Intergenerational Project, the LIFE program offers classes, trips, an active walking club. It also publishes Tapestries, a collection of literary works and artwork. The most recent issue of Tapestries, published in December, is now available through the LIFE office, 978-630-9176.

MWCC ADMINISTRATOR TO PARTICIPATE IN GLOBAL MINISTERIAL MEETING DURING ENERGY CONFERENCE

Ed Terceiro

Ed Terceiro, executive vice president and resident engineer at Mount Wachusett Community College, has been asked to participate in the global Ministerial Conference taking place during the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference March 4-6 in Washington, D.C. Attendance at the ministerial-level meeting is by invitation only.

Hosted by the United States government in cooperation with the American Council on Renewable Energy, WIREC 2008 is the third global ministerial-level conference on renewable energy, following events in Beijing in 2005 and Bonn in 2004. WIREC 2008 will build upon the outcomes of the two earlier conferences, to foster increased political support and public awareness for renewable energy, new and innovative actions to promote widespread adoption of renewable energy, and advanced tools for collecting and disseminating best practices to end users. The conference will bring together government, civil society and private business leaders to address the benefits and costs of a major and rapid progression in the global deployment of renewable energy technology.

Terceiro, a member of the American Council on Renewable Energy’s Higher Education Committee, in December was invited by the German government to join a delegation of 12 U.S. educators, engineers and congressional staff to study Germany’s renewable energy workforce development strategies. The study tour was sponsored by Germany’s Ministry of Education and Research and the Heinrich Böll Foundation – North America.

Mount Wachusett Community College has developed a national and international reputation as a leader in utilizing alternative energy, energy conservation and CO2 reduction following its conversion from electric to bio-mass heating in 2002. The college’s investment in renewable energy has led to a savings of over $2.4 million, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 22.5 percent, and a reduction in water consumption by 12.7 million gallons.

The college is in the process of developing workforce development training programs in renewable energy. The emerging green economy is expected to create millions of “green collar” jobs in the United States, in fields such as bio-fuel development, energy-efficiency and renewable power.

SGA AND SILVER SNEAKERS ORGANIZE DRIVES TO BENEFIT FIRE VICTIMS

Professor William Lefrancoise makes a donation to the SGA's fundraising drive to benefit Lawrence fire victims. Among the volunteers manning the booth on Thursday were Legal Studies Club President Nathaniel Katisch, SGA President Katie Forgues, and SGA Vice President Lindsay Cormier.

The Student Government Association and the Silver Sneakers fitness group organized successful drives this week to benefit victims of the devastating fire in Lawrence in January that destroyed nearly a full city block and left 150 people without homes.

Generous students, faculty and staff at the Gardner, Leominster and Devens campuses donated $370 during the one-day drive organized by the SGA. The effort also collected boxes of household items, games and personal care products to help those in need. The items were delivered to Lazarus House, which joined with the American Red Cross, the lead emergency response agency, in caring for those whose lives have been devastatingly affected by this horrific fire.

At the MWCC Fitness & Wellness Center, instructor Paula Magee organized a collection drive with members of the Silver Sneakers fitness group. The effort brought an outpouring of donations from the community, including clothing, household appliances, dishes, blankets and other items needed to help displaced families set up new homes.

MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino said he was proud of the initiative shown by students, staff and faculty to help those in need. "Once again, our college community mobilized quickly to make a difference in the lives of others by giving of their time and resources."

THEATRE AT THE MOUNT OPENS 2008 SEASON WITH BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

Theatre at the Mount opens its 2008 season with a production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, with performances on February 22, 23, 29, March 1 at 8 p.m., and March 2 at 2 p.m.

Buddy - with book by Alan Janes and music by Buddy Holly – is a rock ’n’ roll musical extravaganza that has received worldwide praise and numerous prestigious awards and nominations, including two Laurence Olivier Awards (one for Best Musical), a Tony Award, and two Outer Circle Awards.

Buddy is the story of rock and roll legend Buddy Holly and his meteoric climb to the top of the charts to become the biggest selling recording artist worldwide before his tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 22. The production features more than 20 Buddy Holly hit songs, including Peggy Sue, That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave On, Heartbeat, and Raining in My Heart, all performed live on stage.

Directed by Tara McRae, the production features Ethan Caouette as Buddy Holly, Jaime Perez as Ritchie Valens, and Marc Clermont as The Big Bopper. Also appearing in the cast are Melissa Gates, Katrina Caouette, Amanda Carpenito, Chelsea Young, Emily Smith, Alison Laverdiere, Kim McDowell, Andrew Caouette, Mike Moisan, Paul Caouette, Jay Garceau, Taylor Lawton, Andy Francis and Doug Dame.

Tickets for Buddy are $20 for evenings and $15 for matinees and may be purchased at the TAM box office at 978 632-2403. Tickets may also be purchased online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu

More MWCC News:

• The ALANA Club, the MWCC Diversity Committee, and the Student Life office are hosting a free Campus Social on Monday, Feb. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the North Cafeteria. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to mingle at the event and enjoy great cultural hors d'oeuvres.

• The United Way of North Central Massachusetts and MWCC are launching the North Central Massachusetts Community Wealth Workshop Series, which is a free, six-month development process designed to help nonprofit organizations become more self-sustaining by creating a for-profit business to support the philanthropic works of their organizations. The series will be led by Community Wealth Ventures of Washington, D.C., which is a for-profit subsidiary of Share Our Strength, one of the nation’s leading anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations. Up to eight nonprofit organizations will be selected this year to engage in a rigorous business planning process to help them launch or grow an earned income venture. A free information session will take place on Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Four Points Sheraton in Leominster. Registration is required. Interested agencies can call Jennifer Wiley-Cordone at MWCC’s Institute for Nonprofit Development at 978-840-3221, ext. 199.

• MWCC is a founding sponsor of the North Central Massachusetts Minority Coalition’s first-ever forum on Race, Poverty and Justice. This four-part community initiative includes the following free sessions: "Structural Racism" on Feb. 6; "Race, Women & Women of Color" on March 27, and "Race & Health Disparities," on May 28, each taking place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Fitchburg State College. The fourth forum, the capstone event and luncheon, will be sponsored by MWCC on June 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton, Leominster. The topic of the forum is "Internalized Racism: Racial Inferiority & Superiority." Admission is $25. The North Central Massachusetts Minority Coalition is a strategic alliance between the region’s five minority-led agencies (Spanish American Center, Hmong-Lao Foundation, Three Pyramids, Inc., Twin Cities Latino Coalition, and the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center). The Minority Coalition also includes faith-based and agency representatives, who are working within the coalition to organize, empower and support people with disabilities and other disadvantaged poor and working class people. For more information contact MWCC's Minority Coalition representative Marsha Poor at (978) 630-9374 or m_poor@mwcc.mass.edu To register for any or all of the forums, go to theminoritycoaltion@mwcc.mass.edu

• The Campus Activities Team for Students (CATS) and the Student Life office are sponsoring a Valentine's Day Celebration Chocolate Sampler on Wednesday, Feb. 13 from 11:30 to 12:30 in the south cafeteria. Free samples of chocolate desserts will be available for students, faculty and staff, while supplies last.

• An American Red Cross Blood Drive will take place Wednesday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Commons area. To register, call health Services at 978-630-9136. Walk-ins are welcome.

• Volunteer musicians and singers are needed to perform in educational recording sessions during an advanced audio production course at MWCC. Students enrolled in the college’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications degree program will record the performers on Wednesday evenings between 5 to 8 p.m. throughout the spring semester as part of the academic program. Choirs, quartets, soloists and other singing groups are needed, as well as woodwind, brass, percussion and string musicians, a brass quartet and a big band jazz band. Rock bands are not being recorded as part of this course. The volunteer performers will get an opportunity to learn more about the recording process as it pertains to their specialty. Some performances may be aired on cable access stations. For more information, or to reserve a recording space, contact adjunct instructor John Little at jlittle@mwcc.mass.edu.

• The Spring Film Series series kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 20 with The U.S. vs. John Lennon, which offers a compelling look at the United States government’s attempt to silence one of rock & roll's most outspoken critics of the Vietnam War. The documentary details the struggle between the Richard Nixon administration and the iconic peace activist and former Beatle. The 96-minute film will be shown at 11:30 a.m. in the North Cafeteria and is free and open to the public. For more information about the film, go to www.theusversusjohnlennon.com The film series will continue on March 5 with "Murder on a Sunday Morning," and on April 16 with "Supersize Me."

• The enrollment center is offering Information Sessions on a number of academic programs. Upcoming sessions will take place on the following dates: Clinical Laboratory Science: Feb. 13 and March 12 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Dining Room B; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: Feb. 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner Campus, room 341 and March 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Leominster Campus, 100 Erdman Way; A.S. Nursing: Feb. 12 and March 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate program: Feb. 21 and March 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Complementary Health Care: Feb. 25 and March 24 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Dental Hygiene: Feb. 6 and March 5 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, Room 12. Prospective students interested in attending an information session are asked to call the enrollment center at (978) 630-9110 (TTY (978) 632-4916), or send an email to admissions@mwcc.mass.edu