MWCC's Weekly e-newsletter

Fri., Oct. 31, 2003

Bish Parents Host Child Safety Presentation

by Emily Ball

John Bish Photo by Robert Burns, Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise

Over 80 people attended a presentation on Child Safety, Tues., Oct. 28 featuring Massachusetts State Senator Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), MWCC Police Chief Robert Mackie, and John and Magi Bish. Three years ago, Molly Bish was taken while working at Comins Pond in Warren, MA, a small community much like Gardner. Her remains were found three years later, just five miles from her family’s home.

Senator Brewer opened the evening by stating, “Gone are the days when you think it can’t happen here. You may think it only happens in urban areas. Wrong.” He went on to speak of the recent attempted abduction that took place last week in Gardner near the Elm Street School, and stressed the importance of legislation such as the Amber Alert System.

	Magi Bish Photo by Robert Burns, Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise

The audience was overcome with tears as John Bish then went on to give a slideshow presentation of photographs of Molly growing up. “We are not experts. We are here as parents of a missing child, a murdered child,” John said. “Before June 27, 2000, we never thought this could happen to us, but it did, with tragic consequences. I hope every day that no family has to experience the ambiguous loss that we have.” The Bishes gave advice on what every parent could do to help, citing the importance of “checking in” and the buddy system, especially for teenagers.

The Molly Bish Foundation works to educate parents on what they can do to prevent themselves from ever being in a similar situation. One of the Foundation’s main goals is to provide Child Identification Kits, which are used to keep a child’s current head and shoulder photograph, fingerprints, and identifying data together.

MWCC Students Commemorate Emerson’s 200th Birthday

By Lea Ann Erickson

Over 400 students in 29 sections of Composition 101 studied the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson to celebrate the 200th birthday of the American Literary and Philosophical icon, Wed., Oct. 29. English faculty worked with students on developing student essays on several themes:

• “How relevant are Emerson’s ideas in 2003?”

• “Is Emerson’s brand of individuality a purely American idea?”

• “Can we see Emerson’s philosophy in contemporary everyday life?”

Six students shared their work with over 100 students, faculty and staff who attended the session.

MWCC student Joe Phoumine reads from his essay "Individuality," at the forum commemorating Emerson's 200th birthday.

For Joe Phoumine, Emerson’s writings on individuality struck a chord. Phoumine faced “culture shock,” when he moved from his native Laos to the United States. He said that in an effort to, “be cool,” he started experimenting with drugs and breaking the law. It wasn’t until his uncle urged him to change his ways, “before he found himself on the streets or dead,” that Phoumine listened. “I stood up for myself and went straight home. If I hadn’t stood up, I wouldn’t be here today. I’d be forever lost.”

Marinella Serrano said she was attracted to what Emerson had to say about running from your problems. When she was faced with an IRS bill she could not afford, she fled to Puerto Rico, hoping her problem would disappear. It didn’t. The IRS found her and she ultimately returned to the U.S. and worked to, “slay her giant.”

Reverend Dr. Cynthia Landrum of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Gardner also shared her thoughts on Emerson with the group. “His thoughts pervade our society and his message is an endearing one.”

Mount Wachusett Community College Library to host Queen Elizabeth I Exhibit

The MWCC Library has been selected as one of only 40 libraries nationally to host an exhibit in December 2006-March 2007 about Queen Elizabeth I. MWCC is the only community college library in the country selected.

" Elizabeth I: Ruler and Legend" is a national traveling exhibit organized by the Newberry Library's Center for Renaissance Studies, in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It is based on a major exhibit of the same name mounted by the Newberry Library in 2003 to commemorate the reign of Britain's Queen Elizabeth I on the four hundredth anniversary of her death. The Newberry Library, Chicago, is an independent humanities research library. The exhibition was funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Vance Family Fund and the University of Illinois.

In preparation for the exhibit, the college will offer programs on Queen Elizabeth including a one-woman show of Queen Elizabeth, a Shakespeare play to be studied in English, live theater and music, lectures, tours of the exhibit by local high schools, and a film series.

East Wing Gallery Exhibiting Collages, Monotypes and Pottery

The monotypes and collages of Janice Starmer will be on display in the East Wing Gallery from Wed., Nov. 12 through Fri., Dec. 19. Starmer is the Art Director for the Green Trees Gallery in Northfield, Massachusetts. A reception with the artist will be held, Fri., Nov. 14 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Both the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. As part of the Works in Clay exhibit series, the work of Joan Sinatra Hathaway is currently on display in the East Wing Gallery. Hathaway is an accomplished potter who works in both stoneware and porcelain clay bodies and fires work in a gas kiln at high temperatures. She has a broad palette of glazes that she developed after many glaze tests and varying formulas. Hathaway was recently awarded a grant to investigate copper red high-fire glazes. The crimson interior of one of the small bowls is an exquisite example of a copper red glaze. Her work is created using the potter’s wheel, rolling slabs out (to create platters, plates, and saucers,) or altering a combination of these forms - as seen in the tray with two mugs. She presently teaches art courses at Cushing Academy and also owns and operates her own pottery studio, Sunburst Pottery, in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. The exhibit is free and open to the public through Sat., Nov. 8.

Upcoming Campus Events:

• The Financial Aid office and the Student Life office raised over $2100 in much-needed funds for the Library and Emergency Student Fund at their Used Book Sale Fundraiser. Hardcover books, paperbacks and CDs from MWCC’s former radio station were popular with shoppers Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “Our library has suffered from budget cuts and these funds will help build better resources for our students,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. “Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on this effort.”

• As part of MWCC’s Decade of Civic Engagement, Theatre at the Mount, in collaboration with the Molly Bish Foundation, will provide complimentary Child Identification Kits to parents, Sat., Nov. 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the theatre lobby. These kits are used to keep a child’s current photograph, fingerprints and identifying data together in a readily accessible location. Concurrent with the Child ID Program will be a performance of the Children’s Musical, The Fabulous Fable Factory. For additional information concerning the Child Identification Program, contact Emily Ball at (978) 630-9564. The Free Child ID Kits are available to all parents, with or without the purchase of theatre tickets.

• The Student Government Association and MASSPIRG have kicked-off their holiday food drive that will continue until they reach their goal of “filling the chair” in front of Gardner’s Elm Street School, Sat., Nov. 22. Last year, they raised 600 pounds of food. This year, they hope to collect and distribute 900 pounds of food to area families. To learn how to contribute, call (978) 630-9133.

• Due to popular demand, Theatre at the Mount has scheduled an additional performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Sat., Dec. 13 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are expected to sell out by Thanksgiving. This wildly inventive musical is the biblical story of Joseph, his tribulations and his triumphant adventures with his brothers, his multi-colored coat and the great Pharaoh of Egypt. Other scheduled performances of Joseph are December 5, 6, 12 and 13 at 8:00 p.m. and December 7 and 14 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 for evenings and $12.00 for matinees, with group rates available on request. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Theatre at the Mount box office at 978 632-2403 or may be purchased online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu.

• Tickets are now on sale for North Shore Comedy Night, Sat., Nov. 22, to benefit the MWCC United Way campaign. Three nationally known comedians will perform at the event beginning at 7:00 p.m. Rob Steen began as a street performer at the age of 12 in Boston and now delivers over 350 show per year. He is a frequent guest on the Late Show with David Letterman. Tom Hayes was an executive in a multi-national manufacturing and marketing organization for over 20 years before turning to a life of comedy. The Boston Globe called comedian Larry Miles, “an excellent Boston-based comedian.” Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To order tickets call the box office at (978) 632-2403. For more information, call Diane Hamilton at (978) 630-9387.

• Pulitzer Prize winner Lucinda Franks will be the keynote speaker at a LIFE program-sponsored Wachusett Writer's Conference Sat., Nov. 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Colonial Hotel, 425 Betty Spring Road, Gardner. Franks received the Pulitzer Prize for national investigative journalism while writing for United Press International. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Franks at a pre-conference reception Fri., Oct. 31 at 7:00 p.m. In addition, participants will be able to read from original writing. Cost: $10. Saturday workshops include: Murder She Writes: Tips for Mystery Writers, Hallie Ephron; Sensory Imagery in poetry, John Hodgen; What Magazines Want, Barbara Roy; and How to Get Your Work Read, Marcia Gagliardi. Afternoon workshops include: Misdirection or Red Herrings in Mystery Writing, Hallie Ephron; Lost & Found: a Method to Delve into the Self, John Hodgen; Fact-finding for non-fictions works, researching; Barbara Roy; Marketing, Who Knows About You? Marcia Gagliardi, publisher. Attendees are asked to choose one workshop from each the morning and afternoon sessions. The conference cost is $75 and includes workshops. Brochures detailing the workshops are available by contacting Lorraine Wickman via e-mail at lwickman@mwcc.mass.edu or by phone at (978) 630-9176. In addition, the conference brochure can be viewed on-line at http://life.mwcc.edu Special room rates for conference attendees include a dinner Friday at 5:00 p.m. and breakfast on Saturday. Reservations may be made by calling the Colonial Hotel at (888) 214-4991. Mention you are attending the LIFE Wachusett Writer’s Conference. (Double: $99, Single: $85)

• To celebrate the 40th anniversary of MWCC, MWCC Foundation, Inc. produced Mountopoly, its own version of the popular board game featuring advertising by local businesses and friends. Order today. Games are only $25 each. For further information, stop by the foundation office (room 118) or contact Diane Hamilton at (978) 630-9387 or email dhamilton@mwcc.mass.edu. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover). Make checks payable to: MWCC Foundation, Inc.

Lea Ann Erickson
Director of Community Relations
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322
Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
l_erickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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