Friday, Feb. 29, 2008

 

REHABILITATION CENTER PROPOSED ON CAMPUS WOULD PROVIDE HOPE & HEALING FOR WOUNDED WAR VETERANS

By Janice O'Connor

Leslie Lightfoot, CEO of Veteran Homestead, Inc., spoke to members of the LIFE program this week about the Northeast Veteran Rehabilitation and Training Center being planned for 10 acres on campus to benefit injured war veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

A proposal to construct a rehabilitation center on MWCC property to aid wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is pending before the state legislature. A recent hearing before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets on Senate Bill 2361 drew favorable testimony.

The bill would provide Veteran Homestead, Inc., of Fitchburg use of approximately 10 acres of college land to create the Northeast Veteran Rehabilitation and Training Center, a facility that would provide rehabilitation services, housing and access to academic programs to war veterans who have suffered loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries, post traumatic stress and disfiguring burns while serving the country during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Leslie Lightfoot, Chief Executive Officer of Veteran Homestead, a nonprofit organization that currently provides housing and counseling services to veterans in Fitchburg, Leominster, New Hampshire and Puerto Rico, was on campus this week to discuss the proposal with members of the Lifelong Learning Institute for Enrichment (LIFE) program. The $6 million project would be funded through grants and contributions from major donors. Veteran Homestead is partnering with the college and Heywood Hospital to provide the services and programs.

Lightfoot praised MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino and Executive Vice President Ed Terceiro for supporting the concept from the start. Lightfoot said she initially approached the president last year to see if the college would be interested in providing the education piece and student interns from MWCC's health care programs. Half-jokingly, she asked for land as well, and was surprised to hear back within days that the college would work with her to pursue that option.

“They really get it,” Lightfoot said. “They just really understood what a win-win it is for everybody, the college, the veterans and the community as well.”

An architect's rendering of the rehabilitation building. The project also would include 10 duplex housing units to accommodate 20 veterans and their families.

The center would include 10 duplex housing units to accommodate 20 veterans and their families. Its primary focus would be on education, physical, occupational and emotional therapy with an emphasis on family counseling, and life and recreation skills. The veterans would have use of college facilities, including the Fitness & Wellness Center, as well as new amenities such as a golf simulator, trout pond and physical therapy pools. In addition to rehabilitation services, the center would enable the veterans to enroll in academic programs at the college for free, while also allowing MWCC students majoring in health care programs to work as interns.

Due to its location, the center would primarily be used by veterans from New England, but veterans from all over the country would be welcome, Lightfoot said. It would differ from traditional treatment facilities because of the academic component and because families would be able to live there as well. She said a goal is to have the center serve as a model that could be replicated in other parts of the country. In keeping with MWCC’s renewable energy initiatives, the new facility would incorporate geothermal heating and solar electricity.

President Asquino said that no matter what one believes about the war, the country's service men and women deserve wholehearted support. "Our veterans are sacrificing life and limb. They deserve a compassionate place to recover."

The proposal has the support of area lawmakers, including Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, who sponsored the bill. Brewer said it is crucial that more rehabilitation facilities become available for returning troops who require treatment. Lack of adequate care for those who have bravely served our country is an ongoing dilemma, he said, and this project would help address that problem.

“These are young heroes. We owe this as a civilization to our veterans,” Brewer said. Sen. Robert Antonioni and Representatives Robert Rice Jr., Anne Gobi and Stephen DiNatale have all signed onto the legislation.

As of yesterday, 3,973 members of the U.S. military have died since the Iraq war began in March 2003. Advances in medicine and technology since the Vietnam War have resulted in fewer fatalities, as more of those wounded survive. The Department of Defense lists the injured at more than 30,600. That count does not include more than 31,250 additional men and women who are enlisted in the National Guard and reserves who are injured, Lightfoot said. Nearly 90 percent of the service men and women are in their second tour of duty in the war, with 67 percent in their third or fourth tour. Two thirds of the returning veterans will suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, and 59 percent of blast victims have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Lightfoot, who served as a medic in the Army in Vietnam during that war, has counseled veterans for three decades. Since its founding in 1993, Veteran Homestead, Inc. has expanded to include several existing facilities to assist veterans who are suffering from terminal illness, drug or alcohol addictions or are homeless. The facilities include the Veteran Hospice Homestead in Fitchburg; the Armistice Homestead and the Hero Homestead, both in Leominster; a residential home for veterans in Puerto Rico; Victory Farm, an 80-acre organic farm in New Hampshire that offers residential treatment programs; and the Veteran Homestead Mobile Unit, which assists veterans who do not have access to medical care.

LIFE program participant Jan Perrett, an Air Force veteran who attended Lightfoot's presentation on Thursday, said she would be interested in volunteering at the center. “I think it would be wonderful to come up and walk with them around the track or go fishing.”

INSPIRATIONAL EXHIBIT SHOWCASES CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTORS

By Janice O'Connor

Toni Osier, Katie Forgues, Lindsay Cormier and Isaura Luna were among the many students who stopped by the exhibit.

How many uses are there for a peanut? While the answer may be a mystery to most, George Washington Carver certainly knew. Beyond the common uses in food, the botanist and educator created more than 100 industrial products from peanuts, including cosmetics, dyes, paints and plastics in the post Civil-War-south. Not all of the African-American inventors whose creations were on display Wednesday in the Commons area are as well known as Carver, but many of their products certainly are.

The Black Inventions Exhibit mobile museum was on campus this week with the “Black History Month Tour: The Real McCoy.” The multimedia presentation is a tribute to America’s unsung heroes - black inventors and scientists. The exhibit featured more than 100 patented inventions as ordinary as the fishing reel and rolling pin and as popular as the SuperSoaker water gun and the lemon formula used in dishwasher detergent. The tour is named for Elijah McCoy, a mechanical engineer who invented a cup that dispersed oil in 1871 that was used in lubrication systems for steam engines. Customers learned to avoid imitations in favor of "the real McCoy."

The exhibit highlights the accomplishments of African-Americans in the field of science, aerospace communication, health care, agriculture, transportation and engineering. Its main goal is to inspire students to do well in school and motivate them to achieve their dreams.

“History is important, but our goal is not to glorify people or facts, but to motivate young people and to let them know they can do anything they put their minds to,” said James Ince, the exhibit’s chief curator and executive director.

Sponsored by the office of Student Life, the exhibit attracted MWCC students, faculty and staff, as well as outside groups. A language arts class from Gardner Middle School was among the visitors. “I thought it was really amazing,” said sixth-grader James O’Donnell. “I loved it.”

Items in the collection span from the Colonial period to modern day inventions. Although there are no patent records of African slave inventions, many African-Americans obtained patents for their products after emancipation.

The Black Inventions Exhibit, now based in New York City, was founded nearly 14 years ago in Western Massachusetts. It has appeared at schools and venues throughout the country. Through the record-keeping on African-American inventions by Henry Baker, a patent examination officer in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Black Inventions Exhibit was able to document many early African-American inventions, Ince explained. Today, the exhibit keeps similar records, in part by working with private organizations to collect information.

“The Black Inventions Exhibit is such an important exhibit,” said Greg Clement, assistant dean of Student Life. “So many times our history books have been edited to leave out the contributions of very important people. The work James Ince does is so important, not only to students, but society as a whole.”

'LIVING AND WORKING IN THE NEW ECONOMY' FOCUS OF WHAT'S NEXT? FORUM

Mount Wachusett Community College's What's Next? Speaker Series will continue on Thursday, March 13 with a panel presentation on “Living and Working in the New Economy,” from noon to 2 p.m. at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster.

The free session will focus on the quality of life issues that impact the economy in the region, with particular focus on transportation, small business development, and housing and the foreclosure crisis. Panelists include Bonnie Biocchi, regional director for North Central Massachusetts Office of Business Development; State. Rep. Jennifer Flanagan, D-Leominster; David Roth, director of sales and member services of the North Central Chamber of Commerce; and Diane Silva, senior vice president of mortgage lending with Enterprise Bank.

The speaker series, now in its fourth year, focuses this year on “Embracing the New Economy” and the many areas of our lives that are affected by growth. This year’s series is sponsored by MWCC’s Center for Democracy and Humanity in partnership with the Trustees of Reservations, the Twin Cities Latino Coalition and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation.

Lunch will be provided. Reservations are required and may be made by calling Nancy Hawkins at 978-630-9163 or emailing nhawkins@mwcc.mass.edu

 

More MWCC News:

• Carol Cullins, director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund, high-fives Finz, the Worcester Sharks' mascot, who stopped by campus to promote MWCC Night at the March 7 hockey game at 7 p.m. at the DCU Center in Worcester. The Alumni Association is sponsoring a Chuck-a-Puck contest to benefit the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Special pricing and seating for students, alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends will be available at $9. For tickets, call (978) 630-9594 or ccullins@mwcc.mass.edu

  The Spring Film Series continues on Wednesday, March 5 with "Murder on a Sunday Morning," an Academy Award-winning documentary that exposes the racial bias and abuse of power in the U.S. justice system that resulted in the arrest of Brenton Butler, a 15-year-old African American high school student who suddendy found himself accused of murder. The film will be shown at 11:30 a.m. in the North Cafeteria and is free and open to the public. More information about the film can be found at www.hbo.com/docs/programs/murder_sunday/ The series will continue on April 16 with "Supersize Me."

• Thomas White, coordinator of educational outreach for the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies at Keene State College, will present a talk on the Genocide in Darfur on Thursday, March 6 from 11:30 to 12:50 in room W11. The presentation will highlight the situation in Darfur, currently the world's worst humanitarian crisis. White's talk will present background history and the geographic and politically-sponsored catalysts that have led to genocide. Founded in 1983, the Cohen Center for Holocaust Studies is one of the oldest Holocaust resource centers in the U.S., and was charged by its founder "To Remember…and to Teach." To reserve a seat, contact Liane Jablonski at ljablonski@mwcc.mass.edu

• Blank Slate/Clean Slate, an exhibition of sculptures and drawings by artist Tim de Christopher, runs through March 20 in the East Wing Gallery of the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center. Due to inclement weather last week, an artist's reception has been rescheduled to March 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit can be viewed during regular gallery hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Registrations are now being accepted for the spring Saturday Morning Classes for Kids, offered through the Division of Lifelong Learning & Workforce Development. Course topics include cooking, oceans in motion, scrapbooking, health and safety, board games, bookmaking, babysitting, calligraphy, Lego engineering, online video game making and more. Session one runs for three consecutive Saturdays beginning March 29 from 8 a.m. to noon. Sessions two and three run on three consecutive Saturdays beginning May 3, from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information or to register, contact Enrollment Services at (978) 630-9123.

• Jan Beckwith and Adrienne Linnell of the Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare, faculty and staff volunteers Raeann LeBlanc, Heidi McCann and Gayle Jaillet, and Marjorie Twirga(seond from right) of the Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue, raised awareness about animal health during Spay Day 2008, an event celebrated throughout the country on Feb. 26 and sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.

  Theatre at the Mount's season opener, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, concludes this weekend with performances on February 29 at 8 p.m., March 1 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and March 2 at 2 p.m. This rock ’n’ roll musical extravaganza 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. Tickets are $20 for evening performances 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

• Alumni from Mount Wachusett Community College’s health sciences programs will return to campus on Wednesday, March 12 to participate in a Health Sciences Career Panel. The program, sponsored by the Advising and Counseling Center, will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Commons area. Alumni from the Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Massage Therapy, Physical Therapist Assistant and Clinical Lab Science programs will discuss their career path, current positions and experience. For more information, contact the center at (978) 630-9568.

• The Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety is sonsoring a Women's Self Defense Course. The R.A.D. Women's course, for ages 13 and above, will take place March 17, 18, 19 and 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Gardner Campus. The course is led by nationally certified R.A.D. instructors and provides realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. To register, contact Melissa Croteau at (978) 630-9150 or mcroteau@mwcc.mass.edu

• The Art Club is sponsoring a lecture by AIDS activist Tim Bullock on Tuesday, March 25 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the North Cafeteria. Bullock will speak about his working with AIDS sufferers in Africa and his experience on the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage, a year-long journey that retraced the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade from the United States to West Africa to South Africa. For more information, contact Assistant Professor of Art Tom Matsuda at (978) 630-9340 or tmatsuda@mwcc.mass.edu.

• Free 2007 income tax preparation services will be offered to eligible area residents at MWCC's Gardner and Leominster campuses. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is being offered on Thursdays through April 10 at the Gardner campus and on Fridays through April 11 at the Leominster campus. Appointments can be made by contacting Denise Whitney at (978) 630-9124 or dwhitney@mwcc.mass.edu. The VITA program, an initiative of the IRS, is a service-learning project for MWCC business students coordinated by the Division of Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development and the Business Department.

• 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 instructor John Little at jlittle@mwcc.mass.edu.

• 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: March 12 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Dining Room B; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: March 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Leominster Campus, 100 Erdman Way; A.S. Nursing: March 11 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate program: March 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Complementary Health Care: March 24 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Dental Hygiene: 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