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 — Friday, Dec. 13 — a MA family’s life was saved by using safety belts, and they were honored for it; WPI professors are researching yet another industry-changing idea; Becker’s got the number one nursing program in the state; now’s your chance to get in on the Jingle Run 5K this weekend; and the state approved a Washington Square hotel project for Worcester.
Last Call to Join the Jingle Run
It’s one of the most widely-participated in 5K races in Central Massachusetts. The Worcester Jingle Run is nearing the starting line, happening on Sunday, Dec. 15, starting at 11 a.m. (the kids start at 10:30 a.m.) from Worcester Common. The Worcester Jingle 5k is also collecting toys for Plant the Seed Foundation. Toys can be dropped off at the race packet pickup locations.
Sign up NOW right here, where you can also get more information about packet pickup, the race map and more.
The after-party takes place at Pepe’s Italian Restaurant.
Massachusetts Family Joins “Saved by the Belt” Club
Fitchburg residents Loren E. Conley, Emanuel Torres-Morales, Emanuel Torres Jr., Ezio Torres, Seriah M. Torres, Suliana E. Torres and Eliani M. Torres joined Ohio’s “Saved by the Belt” Club earlier this week after their safety belts saved them from sustaining life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred on Interstate 80 in Lucas County on Sept. 4.
On behalf of Ohio State Highway Patrol, Trooper Jason D. Fitzgerald from the Massachusetts State Police presented the family with “Saved by the Belt” certificates signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Thomas J. Stickrath and Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Patrol superintendent.
“The family is a living testimony to the effectiveness of safety belts,” Lieutenant Fisher said. “Everyone needs to buckle up every trip, every time.”
In 2018, 419 people in Ohio were killed in traffic crashes where a safety belt was available, but not in use.
The “Saved by the Belt” Club is a joint effort by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and more than 400 Ohio law enforcement agencies. This club is designed to recognize people who have benefited from their decision to wear safety belts.
Loren also received a “Saved by the Belt” license plate bracket.
WPI Researcher Uses Corrosion Test Chamber to Simulate Road Salt Impacts on Future Car Designs
A Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) professor—in collaboration with national laboratories and a global auto parts supplier—is testing a new type of welding that may make the joint between light metal alloys more resistant to corrosion, including salt spray, leading to future designs of durable, next-generation metal car joints used in ultra-light car doors and other vehicle body applications, the college said in an announcement.
Adam Powell, associate professor of mechanical engineering, was awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office for the research. As the lead institution, WPI is receiving $750,000 while two other groups—Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)—will split the remainder. Magna International will contribute in-kind time and materials to the project.
Powell said that the auto industry is seeking to reduce the weight of cars and trucks while maintaining the lifespan of a car. One of the ways to do that, he said, is to use advanced lightweight materials such as aluminum and magnesium alloys.
“We’re trying to show that corrosion can be much less of a problem with this new type of welding,” said Powell, who is the principal investigator on the project. “We think that this process holds a lot of promise and could make a significant impact on energy use in motor vehicles without reducing the lifespan of a car.”
WPI is currently conducting a series of experiments in a lab using a piece of equipment known as a cyclic corrosion test chamber, which stands about three feet tall and resembles a tanning bed. Powell and his research team place the small sections of welds—which look like tea light candles—in rows inside the chamber. The welds are then exposed to a variety of corrosive environments, including salt spray, high temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and high humidity.
Auto companies can then use this simulation capability to do virtual experiments and predict corrosion over the 15- to 20-year lifespan of a car. As a result of the research, Powell and his team aim to show that the new welding process will lead to more durable subassemblies made of the two dissimilar metals.
In addition to Powell, five WPI researchers are working on the project. They are Brajendra Mishra, a co-principal investigator and head of WPI’s Metal Processing Institute; math professor Marcus Sarkis-Martins and computational scientist Siamak Faal, both of whom will help develop computer simulation models; postdoctoral fellow Kübra Karayagiz; and PhD student Qingli Ding.
Nursing Program at Becker Ranked No. 1 in Massachusetts
Nursingprocess.org ranked Becker College’s Registered Nursing Program number 1 out of 50 nursing schools in Massachusetts. Ranking factors included: academic quality, NCLEX-RN exam performance, affordability, and the overall reputation of the school, with academic quality and NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate given the maximum weight as indicators of the College’s performance record.
“Our nursing students have consistently posted above-average pass rates for NCLEX in both our associate’s and bachelor’s programs, which is a testament to the academic preparation and depth of knowledge they receive,” said Dr. Robert Caron, interim dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The college’s nursing programs have also been recognized by Colleges of Distinction for a strong record of preparing graduates for real-world success.
According to Nursingprocess.org, Becker was commended for providing “compassionate, patient-centered care, demonstrated professionalism and leadership qualities, collaboration as a team, practice in patient safety, and effective use of informatics.
State Certifies Washington Square Hotel Project in Worcester
On Wednesday, the Commonwealth’s Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) approved six projects for participation in the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP), including the Washington Square Hotel project in Worcester, according to an announcement.
These projects, five of which are located in Gateway Cities, are expected to create 234 new jobs and retain 250 jobs throughout Massachusetts, while leveraging approximately $140 million in private investment. The EACC also voted to approve two new Certified Vacant Storefront Districts in Fall River and Webster, and the first Certified Vacant Storefront Project, a culinary incubator in Fitchburg.
Washington Square Hotel is a 35 year old privately-held real estate development firm that has developed over four million square feet of retail, office and hotel properties, including four hotels in Massachusetts This project includes 105 rooms and suites for a Hilton Hotel, six stories high and 74,000 square feet. Hotel amenities will include a pool, fitness center, meeting room space and a parking garage. The company plans to create 35 new jobs, and make a private investment of $21.8 million. The city has approved a ten-year tax financing agreement with a value of approximately $2.1 million. The EACC Board has approved EDIP investment tax credits in the amount of $262,500.
“Our administration shares the commitment with our communities to promote a business environment that drives job creation, supports entrepreneurs and stimulates local commercial development across all regions of the state,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “The EDIP is just one of the tools that the Commonwealth makes available to businesses of all sizes who seek to start, locate and grow in Massachusetts.”
Follow us on The016.com, the social network for Worcester and you!
