Friday, June 20, 2008

 

FIFTH ANNUAL KID EXPO DRAWS RECORD CROWD

By Janice O'Connor

Gifts of appreciation were presented to sponsors during a brief ceremony. From left, John Bish, DCU representatives Ofelia Cruz and , Tyler Merchant, Magi Bish, MWCC President Daniel Asquino and Andrea Hart de Gravelle, coordinator of civic engagement at MWCC.

The fifth annual Molly Bish Kid Expo drew a record crowd of more than 8,000 children, parents, grandparents and caregivers who flooded the Gardner campus for a day of fun focused on health and safety.

The free festival, hosted by the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety at MWCC with the support of numerous sponsors and partners from throughout the region, raises awareness of child health and safety issues by providing hands-on learning opportunities. At the heart of the event is the distribution of free Child Safety I.D. kits provided by the Molly Bish Foundation. The Molly Bish Institute was established by MWCC and John and Magi Bish in memory of their 16-year-old daughter Molly, who was abducted while serving as a lifeguard at Comins Pond in Warren in June, 2000.

"This is the fifth year and the largest than ever," MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino said during a brief recognition ceremony at the end of the event. "We do this in Molly's memory. She is here in spirit as an angel, encouraging us to continue to do this for the individuals who are the most vulnerable of our society and the future of our communities."

"I am thrilled that this has become such a big event and that it involves so many activities focused on preventive measures," said John Bish. "Mount Wachusett Community College has become recognized for making the safety of children a pivotal focus. Every child who leaves here, leaves here happy and safer, and that makes me happy," he said.

"Whenever I see a child I can't help but think of Molly," added Magi Bish. "My heart has been warmed by all the smiling faces I saw here today. That's the torch and that's Molly's legacy. She loved children."

The Bishes, MWCC Community Scholars Julie Edwards and Jessica Soto and the event's major sponsors were recognized for their support and participation. In addition, more than 200 volunteers from the college and the greater community participated.

Parents said they were delighted with the fun activities and educational opportunities available throughout the day for their children.

Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke and state Representatives Stephen DiNatale and Bob Rice served up sandwiches at lunchtime.

"This is the first time we've come here and we have found it to be amazing," said Chantal Spinazzola of Fitchburg, who attended Kid Expo with her children Brionni and Brayden, along with friends and their children.

"We're having a great time," said Rod Gelineau of Gardner, whose son, Mikhail stopped to pat Hope, a blood hound assigned to the Worcester County Sheriff's Office. "It's a very good, family-oriented event."

In addition to the free Child Safety I.D. kits distributed by the Molly Bish Foundation, the event also featured karate demonstrations; car seat safety inspections; a health and safety resource fair featuring more than 30 community organizations; 1,200 free bike helmets courtesy of Heywood Hospital; the Leominster Police Department puppet show; face painting by the Winchendon Key Club; and raffles for bikes, car seats, a playhouse and gift baskets. Other activities includes a Life Flight helicopter landing; DCU tethered hot air balloon rides; lots of safety vehicles to explore; the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue dogs and Mobile Command Unit; appearances by Smoky Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog; free food; music; entertainment; crafts; and fun fitness games.

Kid Expo is made possible through the generous support of numerous businesses and organizations in the region. Major sponsors include Heywood Hospital, HealthAlliance Hospital, Fallon Community Health Plan, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Hannaford Supermarkets, DCU and MWCC.

Kid Expo 2008 Photo Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINORITY COALITION FORUM FOCUSES ON INTERNALIZED RACISM

North Central Massachusetts Minority Coalition committee members include, from left, Marsha Poor, Dean Bailey, Sayra Pinto-Wilson, David Thibault-Munoz, Susan Blaine, Emily McRae, Leona Shaw and Adrian Ford.

Area residents engaged in powerful dialogue during the conclusion of the North Central Massachusetts Minority Coalition’s "Facing Race: We're Better Together" forum series, hosted by MWCC on Thursday, June 19 at the Four Points by Sheraton in Leominster. The final forum focused on "Internalized Racism: Racial Inferiority and Superiority" and included in-depth discussions about the affects of racism.

Approximately 60 people took part in group dialogues led by Sayra Pinto-Wilson, associate vice president for Inclusion and Community Learning at MWCC and executive director of the Partnership for Latino Success.

Diane Ruksnaitis, associate vice president of Human Resources at MWCC, provided opening remarks on behalf of the college and invited participants to fully engage in the opportunity to listen, learn and reflect.

"Mount Wachusett Community College encourages a culture committed to diversity. That is what brings us here today to discuss internalized racism," she said.

Internalized racism is defined as a situation that occurs when a racial group oppressed by racism supports the supremacy of the dominating group by maintaining or participating in the set of attitudes, behaviors, social structures and ideologies that undergird the dominating group's power. "Internalized racism is a term we all need to be familiar with. Grounded on the concept of white privilege, internalized racism has the affect of elevating white people, at the expense of people of color. This causes damage to both the spirit and the well-being of people," Ruksnaitis said.

"There is a need for us to be aware," Pinto-Wilson said. "Some of us are new to the dialogue on racism. Some of us have been subjected to racism. By being here today, you are saying there is value to a meaningful dialogue. How cool it is to be able to work it out together."

Adrian Ford, administrator of the Coalition, thanked founding sponsors MWCC, Fitchburg State College, Three Pyramids, Inc., Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc. and Haymarket Peoples' Fund for continued support of the nonprofit organization and its efforts to build collaborations and unite people for the common good.

THOUSANDS RETURN TO MWCC CAMPUS FOR 15TH ANNUAL RELAY FOR LIFE

Ed Terceiro and Relay for Life chair Kelly Lane.

The 2008 Greater Gardner Relay for Life, held June 6 - 7 to benefit the American Cancer Society, began with an exchange of commemorative plaques to recognize the success of the fundraiser held annually at MWCC.

Executive Vice President Ed Terceiro presented event organizers with an engraved plaque "In recognition for 15 years of continuous commitment to finding a cure for cancer."

Event Chair Kelly Lane responded by presenting the college with the plaque the Gardner Relay received from the ACS for being the seventh largest fundraiser out of 4,900 relays held around the country last year. The 2007 Relay, also recognized as the largest in New England, raised more than $800,000 for research, education, advocacy and programs for cancer patients and their families.

This year's Relay, which called for participants to "Remember, Celebrate and Fight Back" had 165 teams, including one from MWCC. More than 6,000 participants endured rain, extreme heat and humidity during the course of the weekend while taking turns walking the track over a 24-hour span, past tents, memorials and hundreds of glowing luminaries.

 More MWCC News:

• Rick Woods portrays the crotchety gardner Ben in Theatre at the Mount's production of The Secret Garden.

  Theatre at the Mount kicks off its summer season with the Tony Award-winning musical The Secret Garden, based on the beloved children’s book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. A beautiful story about the healing power of love and the miracle of rebirth, this captivating musical has a gorgeous score written by Lucy Simon and a touching story adapted for the stage by Tony-Award winning Marsha Norman. The Secret Garden is the story of Mary Lennox, a young and lonely English girl orphaned by a cholera epidemic in India. She is sent to live with her widowed uncle, Archibald Craven, and cousin Colin, in Yorkshire, England. The mood in the manor is dark until Mary discovers a secret garden. By nursing the garden back to life, Mary also restores life to her grieving uncle and his sick son. Performances are June 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8 p.m. and June 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for evenings and $15 for the matinee and may be purchased by calling the TAM box office at (978) 632-2403, or online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu

• The Entrepreneurial Resource Center at MWCC is accepting applications for the fourth annual Business Plan Competition. The competition, open to residents in MWCC's 29-town service area, gives innovators an opportunity to submit business plans and vie for up to $12,000 in cash prizes and more than $8,000 of in-kind services. One finalist will be chosen in each of the following three categories: start up profit, expanding profit business and start-up and expanding nonprofits. A grand prize winner will be selected from among the three finalists. Competition workshops will take place July 25 in partnership with Wachusett Chamber of Commerce at Clinton Hospital, and on Aug. 1 at Experience Gardner. Competition guidelines and applications are available at http://erc.mwcc.edu For more information, contact Lisa Derby Oden at (978) 840-3221 ext. 163.

• Registrations are now being accepted for MWCC Foundation, Inc.’s 13th Annual Golf Tournament to benefit student scholarships. The tournament will take place Monday, August 18 at Gardner Municipal Golf course, with the 19th hole at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner. Sir Jeremy Bell (aka Man in a Skirt), dressed in full highland kilt with bagpipes blaring, will emcee the post-game awards ceremony with hilarious roasts and toasts. The cost is $150 per person to play and $40 for dinner at the Colonial. Registration begins at 8:30 AM with a shotgun start at 10:00. The tournament will conclude with a social hour at 3 p.m., followed by dinner, an auction and the awards ceremony with Sir Jeremy Bell, who has entertained celebrities from Clint Eastwood to Julia Roberts. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. Visit www.mwcc.edu/alumni and click on golf tournament for details. For more information, contact Carol Cullins at (978) 630-9594.

• MWCC, in association with the Broadcasting and Electronic Media program and Phi Theta Kappa, is pleased to once again offer Commencement DVDs. This professional quality, edited DVD of MWCC’s 2008 graduation ceremony will be available for a limited time at a cost of $15 each. This low cost includes the cost of shipping and handling. Fifty percent of the profits from the DVD sales will go to MWCC’s Phi Delta Chapter of the PTK Honor Society. PTK students will donate the other 50 percent of the profits directly to the Greater Gardner Community Health Center's food pantry. To place an order in advance, contact Sheila Murphy, PTK advisor, at smurphy@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: Aug. 20 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: June 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. and Aug. 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Gardner campus, room 341, and Aug. 20 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Leominster campus. In addition, general information sessions and tours take place on Mondays (except holidays) at 3 p.m. at the Enrollment Center. 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