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 — Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Habitat Humanity continues to build with help from Bank of America, Wachusett Brewery has a ginormous case of IPAs just in time for the holidays, Assumption professors went to a big and important psychology conference, the Pirates arena football team are bringing back a favorite DB and leaf collection continues on Tuesday.
96 Cans of Beer in the Case, 96 Cans of Beer….Take One Down, Pass it Around and Merry Christmas!
If you’re still looking for that perfect holiday gift for that hoppy beer lover in your life, you’ve got to at least consider this. Wachusett Brewing Company this year came out with a Wachusett Holiday IPA 96-er. And it’s called that because it’s actually got 96 cans of eight different IPAs in one package.
This just recently hit stores, and you can go here to see the updated list of stores at which you can find the 96-er. Much better than the jelly-of-the-month club.
Bank of America Donates To Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity MetroWest-Greater Worcester announced last week that Bank of America donated $20,000 to help build affordable housing for local families and veterans. In addition, Bank of America volunteers helped remodel a single-family home at 172 Concord St. in Holliston as part of the bank’s commitment to improving access to affordable housing, said the release. The partnership helps their mission of building and improving affordable homes for low to moderate-income families, according to Edwin Shea, Bank of America’s Central Massachusetts Market president.
3 Assumption Faculty Members Attend Major Psychology Research Conference
Three Assumption psychology faculty members took part in the 59th annual New England Psychological Association (NEPA) Conference attended by hundreds held on Nov. 9 at Southern New Hampshire University.
The conference provides an opportunity for scholars and undergraduate and graduate students to learn about research that is being conducted throughout the New England region on an array of psychology topics. Alison Stoner, Ph.D., and Adam Volungis, Ph.D., and Leonard Doerfler, Ph.D., presented research and served as panel moderators.
Prof. Stoner, in conjunction with Assumption graduate fellow Lynette Rojas, Jacquelyn Raftery-Helmer, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Worcester State University, and Annika Hogan, American University undergraduate, presented their joint research on parental involvement and autonomy support as predictors of health-related quality of life in college students with a chronic medical condition.
Doerfler, director of the college’s counseling psychology program and current president of NEPA, moderated the panel “Helping today’s college students succeed: Considerations for mental health and resilience.”
Prof. Volungis, along with Assumption graduate fellow Jenna Nikolopoulos and Christopher Green, latency age and adolescent trauma specialist/trainer/consultant at The Institute of Health and Recovery, presented their research project, “Trauma-Informed Care Scale: Preliminary Factor Structure.” According to Prof. Volungis and his team, the rates of child maltreatment in the United States— about 6 million children annually, nearly three-quarters of whom have experienced a traumatic event—indicates a significant public health problem.
Pirates Bring Back All-National DB for 2020 Season
The Massachusetts Pirates have re-signed former first team All-National Arena Football League defensive back Kiante Northington for the 2020 season.
In 2018 Northington led the National Arena League with 12 interceptions. He also was third in passes defended with 18. In just his first season playing in any professional league, the 5’10”, 185 lb. DB out of Eastern Kentucky was also eighth in the league with 63.5 tackles (55 solo, 17 assisted). The Louisville, KY native returned one interception for a TD, led the NAL with 132 interception return yards, forced one fumble and recovered two for the Pirates.
Northington signed with the Pirates before the 2019 season but opted to try his hand in the Arena Football League with the Atlantic City Blackjacks. In Atlantic City he recorded 60 tackles, assisted on ten others, broke up two passes and had two interceptions.
A standout player at Butler Traditional High School in Louisville, Northington received a partial scholarship to Eastern Kentucky. He played his way into a full ride and finished his college career in 2016 as a second team All-Ohio Valley Conference performer.
After college he returned to Butler High as an assistant football coach working with the defensive backs while waiting for an opportunity to continue his playing career. He received that opportunity in 2018 with Massachusetts marking the start of a successful arena football career.
The Massachusetts Pirates are members of the National Arena League (NAL) and play all home games at the DCU Center.
Believe it or Not, Leaf Collection is Back
There’s still snow on the ground, but while people are still grunting and groaning about the plows, the DPW has announced that leaf collection will continue on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Leaves will be picked up in the areas shaded in on Routes 19, 23, 30, 33 and 34.
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