Friday, Oct. 3, 2008

 

 

DOER COMMISSIONER SHEDS LIGHT ON EMERGING ENERGY & CONSERVATION MEASURES

By Janice O'Connor

Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Philip Giudice addressed "What's Next for Massachusetts" during the What's Next? Speaker Series forum held Oct. 1 at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster.

Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Philip Giudice shed light on energy sources, demand and conservation measures from a local, state, national and global perspective during a presentation on Oct. 1 at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster.

His talk, "What's Next for Massachusetts," launched the 2008-2009 What's Next? Speaker Series, focusing this year on the theme "Save Energy-Save Money," and sponsored by MWCC's Center for Democracy and Humanity, the Trustees of Reservations and Hannaford Supermarkets. Prior to the commissioner's address, Hannaford representatives presented TTOR President Andrew Kendall with a check for $2,500 to support the organization's conservation and preservation endeavors.

"Energy conservation is a topic so important in this contemporary environment," MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino said. "We are now confronting a severe energy crisis, where people will be unable to pay for heating oil this winter. Through this series, we will focus on where we need to be as a nation, as a society, as a country and as a world."

Giudice, a geologist and management professional with more than 30 years experience in the energy industry, spoke on the new programs and opportunities being developed by the Commonwealth to help municipalities, businesses and individuals save money by saving energy. Prior to joining DOER, Giudice served as senior vice president at EnerNOC, a start-up company providing electricity demand-management services to businesses, institutions, utilities and grid operators.

"I do think the most powerful conservation method is the off switch," he said, when addressing a host of measures citizens and business owners can do to implement cost-savings measures. Changes like improving insulation, swapping standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs and replacing old appliances with energy efficient ones will help slash demand and provide homeowners with significant savings each year, he said.

Massachusetts, Giudice said, is one of the leading states in the nation in regard to energy efficiency. The Green Communities Act, passed in 2007, is aimed at significantly expanding investment in energy efficiency measures that will reduce electricity demand and deliver energy savings to residents and businesses. Under this act, a Green Communities Program will provide up to $10 million a year statewide in technical and financial help to municipalities to promote energy efficiency and the financing, siting and construction of renewable and alternative energy facilities.

The free speaker series will continue on Dec. 4 with examples and solutions for municipalities and schools; on Feb. 5 with examples and solutions for businesses and manufacturers; and will conclude on April 25 with a community energy fair.

MWCC COMMUNITY SCHOLARS BEGIN YEAR TWO WITH NEW INITIATIVES ON AND OFF CAMPUS

By Janice O'Connor

Tina Smith and other MWCC Community Scholars recently volunteered harvesting vegetables at the Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre as a community service project. (Photo by Fagan Forhan)

As MWCC's Community Scholars pilot program enters its second year, the full-time students are fully engaged in campus activities and community internships, and are gearing up to launch a science and nature-based enrichment program for local elementary school students.

The Community Scholars program, the realization of President Daniel M. Asquino’s vision of students using their skills and knowledge to build social capital in the region, is a program of the college's Center for Democracy and Humanity and is supported by MWCC Foundation, Inc. The program was launched in 2007 to offer 12 high-school graduates from North Central Massachusetts the opportunity to attend MWCC on full scholarships and work as interns for local nonprofit organizations.

“The second year of the Community Scholars program already promises to be an exciting one, not only for the students involved, but for citizens and organizations in the community as well," Asquino said. "We're very proud of the work the students have done over the past year, and look forward to seeing their creativity and service to others continue to flourish this year."

As the new academic year begins, the students are becoming entrenched in their work plans at their community placements. "With a year under their belts working at a local nonprofit, they are now able to really sink their energies into significant projects that are truly expanding the capacity of the organizations involved," said Fagan Forhan, co-director of the Center for Democracy and Humanity.

Participating community partners for the 2008-2009 academic year are: House of Peace and Education, the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety and Community Dental Health Connections in Gardner; Cleghorn Neighborhood Center, Montachusett Opportunity Council Headstart and North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg; The Trustees of Reservations, Doyle Conservation Center and the Partnership for Latino Success in Leominster; The Winchendon Project in Winchendon; and the Young Entrepreneurs Society, Inc., in Orange.

In addition, the second year of the program implements a mentoring component in partnership with MWCC's Human Resources department. Each scholar has been paired with a college staff or faculty member to help them reach toward their professional and personal goals.

The scholars are in the process of developing a project of their design called "SPROUTS" - Supporting Positive Relationships Outside Under the Sun. Currently in the planning stages, the project will launch at the Waterford Street School in Gardner in January. The scholars will conduct a weekly after-school program for children in kindergarten through second grade that will focus on fostering a love of nature through hands-on activities while also providing the elementary school students with positive relationships with the MWCC college students. The scholars will be recruiting other Mount students to work with them this spring at the Waterford Street School, with the hope the program will continue after the scholars graduate in May.

Waterford Street School Principal Paul Guerin said the SPROUTS program is destined to be a success. "This will be a nice complement to the science our students get in the classroom. Audubon did some programs here last year, and they were sell-outs in an hour or two hours. The interest is out there in the community. Parents want to get their children involved."

"I'm hoping they'll develop an appreciation for the outdoors," said Community Scholar Tina Smith, a Natural Resources major who is doing her internship with The Trustees of Reservations. "I think there's a big disconnect from the lifestyle we have now and how nature is being affected. I think if we could help bridge that disconnect by educating young people about the world they live in, we could save some of our natural resources."

During a week-long training program in August, an entire day was devoted to developing the collective community service project. "When it came down to it, we all voted to teach kids that there's more to do than just sit inside and watch TV and play video games," said Community Scholar Tricia Cote, who is majoring in Early Childhood Education and doing an internship at MOC Headstart. "I think this will help them have a better appreciation for running around and staying fit and enjoying the outdoors."

The training sessions also included a trip to the Statehouse to meet with Senator Stephen M. Brewer and volunteering to harvest vegetables at the Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre.

 

 More MWCC News:

• Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue runs through Oct. 12 at Theatre at the Mount. Pictured, from left, are Lynn Vaillencourt of Townsend as Sister Mary Leo, Trish Aponte of Clinton as Sister Robert Anne, Michelle Caissey of Fitchburg as Sister Mary Hubert, Sandie Couture of Leominster as Mother Superior, Sister Mary Regina, and Diane Cushing of Gardner as Sister Mary Amnesia.

  The Little Sisters of Hoboken return to Theatre at the Mount in Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue! Those fun-lovin’, singin’ and dancin’ nuns from Nunsense are back – and this time, they’re taking over Las Vegas. The setting for the newest adventure of the world’s most popular Sisters is the Pump Room Lounge, high atop the third floor of the Mystique Motor Lodge in the soul of Sin City. And that means more fans, more feathers, more hats, more canes, more hoopla and more hijinks that ever. Theatre at the Mount is hosting the central Massachusetts Premier of Nunsensations with Gail Steele as director, Diane Cushing as Music Director and Choreography by Susie Michaud. The production runs October 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and October 12 at 2 p.m.For tickets to Nunsensations, call the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403 or purchase tickets online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu and remember “What happens at Theatre at the Mount, stays at Theatre at the Mount!”

• More than 40 representatives from New England colleges and universities will be on campus for the MWCC Transfer Fair, Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the South Cafeteria. Immediately following the transfer fair, a 3 Plus One information session will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Commons Area. Current 3 Plus One partners Nichols College, Franklin University and Saint Joseph's College of Maine will be represented to explain how students can earn approximately 90 credits at MWCC, at our cost, before transferring the credits toward a bachelor's degree. The events, sponsored by the Advising and Counseling Center, are open to MWCC students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit the Transfer Services website at http://transfer.mwcc.edu and the Three Plus One website at www.mwcc.edu/3Plus1

• Nationally known antiques expert Paul Royka will be on campus Oct. 10 to appraise family heirlooms & more.

  The LaChance Library is sponsoring an Open House and Antiques Appraisal on Friday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring Paul Royka, nationally known expert, author and appraiser seen on the PBS series Antiques Roadshow. A former resident of Worcester, Royka now owns a gallery on Newbury Street in Boston representing several artist estates working with individuals, trusts and institutions. Attendees are invited to bring items to be appraised, with proceeds benefitting the library. The cost is $10 per item or $25 for three items. Items that will be excluded from the appraisals are weapons, coins, stamps, jewelry, rugs or ancient antiquities. For more information about Paul Royka visit www.roykas.com.

• The exhibit "Out and Elected In the USA" will be on display Oct. 7 - Oct. 17 in the LaChance Library. Sponsored by the office of Student Life, this exhibit features 60 photographs with accompanying texts of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans who have served or are currently serving at nearly every level of elected office throughout the country.

• "Empty Place at the Table," a display commemorating the lives lost in Massachusetts over the past year as a result of domestic violence, will be on display in the Upper Commons area Oct. 14 - Oct. 17. Created by Battered Women's Resources in Leominster, the display consists of a formal dining room table set up with plates representing each victim and a description of their murder. The display is sponsored by the office of Student Life.

• A screening of the film, "The Laramie Project" will take place Friday, Oct. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the North Cafeteria. The Laramie Project, a film adaptation of the stage play by the same name, chronicles the journey of 10 New Yorkers who visited Laramie, Wyoming following the murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old, openly gay college student who was brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left to die. This October marks the 10th anniversary of his murder. The film addresses issues of tolerance, diversity and role community plays in shaping attitudes toward difference. Co-sponsored by MWCC's Diversity Committee and the Pride Club, the film is free and open to the public. For more information about the film, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awTx8iBm4u8

• Jim Donovan, former member of the band Rustic Root, led students and other members of the campus community in a Rhythmic Motivation Workshop on Oct. 1. The interactive, transformational drumming experience explores rhythms, songs, chants and concepts from West Africa, Central Africa and the Caribbean.

  "Recent Painting and Collage," an exhibition by artist Heidi D'Entremonte can be viewed through Oct. 12 in the Raymond LaFontaine Fine Arts Center. "Prelude to New Work," an exhibit of new works in clay by Professor Joyce Miller, is on display in the glass cases of the East Wing Gallery through Oct. 20. Both exhibits are sponsored by the Art Department.

• MWCC Foundation will honor long serving community volunteer Scott B. Howard as the 2008 Harold E. Drake, Jr. Citizen of the Year. Howard, chief operating officer of Bemis Associates, will receive the award during the Annual Foundation Dinner on Oct. 30 at the Colonial Hotel in Gardner. Outstanding MWCC students who receive foundation scholarship funds also will be honored. The Harold E. Drake, Jr. Citizen of the Year Award is presented in memory of Harold E. Drake, treasurer and former president of Royal Steam Heater Co. and Lynde Hardware & Supply, Inc. The award recognizes community members who exemplify Mr. Drake’s extraordinary commitment to the North Central Massachusetts region. Tickets to the Annual Foundation Dinner are $75 per person. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Reservations are required and may be made by contacting Darlene Morrilly at (978) 630-9276 or dmorrilly@mwcc.mass.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 guidelines and applications are available at http://erc.mwcc.edu. For more information, contact Lisa Derby Oden at (978) 840-3221 ext. 163.

• The enrollment center is offering Information Sessions on a number of academic programs. Upcoming sessions will take place on the following dates: A.S. Nursing: Oct. 14 and Nov. 18 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Center, Room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate: Oct. 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Devens campus and Nov. 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Center, room 12; Dental Hygiene: Oct. 1 and Nov. 5 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Burbank Campus in Fitchburg; Complementary Health Care/Massage Therapy & Physical Therapist Assistant: Oct. 20 and Nov. 24 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Center, Room 12; Clinical Laboratory Science: Oct. 15 and Nov. 12 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Laboratory Education Area; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: Oct. 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Gardner campus, and Oct. 27, Nov. 4 and Nov. 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Devens 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