In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.
These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.
In today’s edition – Wednesday, August 18 – seven Worcester County schools receive state grant funding, the Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross presents an exhibition of artwork by acclaimed African American artist Elizabeth Catlett, the Worcester Railers receive their third straight ECHL Community Service Team of the Year Award, the EcoTarium announces two new residents added to its wildlife population and Dunkin’ introduces $2 Tuesday Coffee to celebrate the start of football season.
Worcester County School Receive Grant Funding through Skills Capital Grant Program
Governor Charlie Baker Baker announced on Monday, $9.7 million in grants from the Skills Capital Grant Program on Monday, August 16.
The awardees are 47 educational organizations across Massachusetts to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education.
The newest round of funding increased the total amount awarded to high schools, colleges and other educational organizations to $102 million since the program’s inception in 2015.
In the most recent funding announcements, the following schools in Worcester County received awards:
Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester – $231,522
Computer Systems Engineering Technology
The college will enhance its Systems Engineering Technology (CSET) Lab on its Worcester campus to allow more students to enter the fast-growing Information Technology industry as Computer User Support Technicians and Information Security Analysts. As part of their required experiential learning, CSET degree students work with local employers to troubleshoot computer networking infrastructures, manage common third-party applications, design data storage solutions and much more in a structured, paid work environment.
Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School, Charlton – $250,000
Veterinarian Tech
The school will renovate the veterinary hospital where students train and work alongside veterinary professionals in the fully operational veterinary hospital. The school will eventually offer after school and evening programs to adult learners to earn a veterinary assisting certification. Bay Path will partner with Second Chance Animal Services, an organization that provides care to animals.
Central MA Center for Business & Enterprise, Whitinsville – $111,000
Welding and Metal Fabrication
Funding will support Central MA Center for Business & Enterprise to purchase additional AAR Welding Simulators to increase the learning capacity, and hands on applied learning experiences for adult workforce training and partnering high schools’ students enrolled in Innovation Pathways. The additional welders will support students to have increased hands-on instructional time to demonstrate mastery of additional skill sets required to obtain industry credentials desired by employer partners.
Fitchburg High School, Fitchburg – $71,762
Manufacturing Innovation
PathwayStudents enrolled in the high school’s manufacturing Innovation Pathway program will gain experience in manufacturing, robotics, C.A.D./blueprint reading and engineering.
Gardner High School, Gardner – $75,000
Manufacturing Innovation Pathway
The high school will purchase a new CNC machine and milling and miter equipment to support students enrolled in the manufacturing Innovation Pathway programs in makerspace, technology & engineering, robotics, intro and advanced woodworking that align to the new MACWIC certification course at Gardner High School.
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg – $250,000
Welding/Metal Fabrication
Welding is one of the top three sectors in the central Massachusetts region facing a skills gap that must be addressed. The high school will purchase new welding/metal fabrication equipment to update the existing day program, which will also used by adults in the new evening Career Technical Institute program.
Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner – $250,000
Dental Hygiene
The college will outfit its dental clinic with a modern sterilization center and upgrade the dental treatment rooms and radiographic equipment to industry standards. The dental clinic is housed within Community Health Connections in Fitchburg, which dental hygiene and assisting students provide patient care. Training provided to students will improve with state-of-the art sterilization and infection control procedures and processes that comply with CDC and OSHA guidelines and align with state licensing requirements.
Holy Cross to Host Gallery of Artwork by acclaimed African American artist Elizabeth Catlett
The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross will present an exhibition of artwork by the acclaimed African American artist Elizabeth Catlett during the fall semester. “The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis” will be on view from Tuesday, Sept. 7 through Dec. 15, 2021.
An accompanying lecture by Rebecca Van Diver, professor of art history at Vanderbilt University, will take place during opening events on Sept. 9 at 4:30 PM in Holy Cross’ Rehm Library. A reception will follow in the gallery.
Catlett was born in Washington, D.C. the granddaughter of enslaved workers and child of educators. She earned her undergraduate degree from Howard University where she studied design, printmaking and drawing. She went on to study at the University of Iowa under the tutelage of Grant Wood, and became the first woman to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from that institution.
At the age of 93, Carnegie Mellon University awarded Elizabeth Catlett an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, having previously denied her undergraduate application to study at the then Carnegie Tech.
Worcester Railers Receive Third Straight ECHL Community Service Award
The Worcester Railers have received the 2020-21 ECHL Community Service Team of the Year Award for the third straight year at the ECHL League Meetings on August 16.
The Railers launched multiple initiatives in response to the pandemic, including Food For Frontliners to recognize healthcare heroes, and the Small Business Stimulus Power Play to support local, struggling small businesses. One of the biggest issues the organization addressed was food insecurity in Central Massachusetts through a three-part program, Hockey Feeds the Need.
In addition to the new programs launched this past year, the Railers were able to continue annual traditions including the Booster Club Backpack Drive, Thanksgiving meal distribution, holiday toy shopping, and (drive-thru) Teddy Bear Toss.
EcoTarium Announces Two New Residents
The EcoTarium, a science and nature museum that features a variety of wildlife at 222 Harrington Way in Worcester, announced two new residents added to its wildlife population on Tuesday, August 17.
The EcoTarium announced Butler and Biscuit, both Swedish blue/ Indian runner hybrids, as the new ambassador ducks for the museum.
Staff report that the two ducks are in training, but visitors will be able to meet them soon.
Dunkin’ Celebrates Football Season with $2 Tuesday Coffee
Dunkin’ kicks off football season with $2 Medium Hot or Iced Coffee on Tuesdays for rewards members at Dunkin’ locations around New England starting on August 24.
Dunkin’ is also introducing the Forever NE Donut, a limited-edition Mew England Patriots-inspired treat. Dunkin’s Forever NE Donut is a classic vanilla flavored frosted donut topped with red and blue sprinkles, to celebrate New England’s hometown football team. Fans can enjoy the donut all season long at participating restaurants in New England.
To enroll in DD Perks® visit the Dunkin’ website.
