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The Mount Observer

MWCC Mascot Changes Go to Vote

By editorialteam on November 24, 2024

Lions, (No Tigers), or Bears. Oh, My!

By Jordan Chila | Editor-in-Chief
with reporting by Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Image from MWCC

From Nov. 11–20, 2024, Mount Wachusett Community College held a vote to decide whether to replace its current mascot, Marty the Mountain Lion. Marty became mascot back in 2016 and has had updated designs over the years. The college’s marketing department feels the school could revamp the identity of the mascot to be more tailored to the spirit of MWCC, while some in the community expressed reluctance to see Marty retired. read more

Americans Re-Elect Trump for Second Nonconsecutive Term as 47th President

By editorialteam on November 24, 2024

MWCC Students Share Their Thoughts

By Benjamin Heffner | Observer Contributor

Image provided by Benjamin Heffner

On the national stage, former President Donald Trump secured victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to become the 47th president of the United States. Trump became the first president since Grover Cleveland to win two nonconsecutive terms. He earned 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226, sweeping all seven battleground states. Trump also won the national popular vote, making him the first Republican to do so in 20 years. read more

How High Schoolers in Central Mass Are Getting Diplomas at MWCC

By editorialteam on November 24, 2024

By Benjamin Heffner | Observer Contributor

Image from MWCC

In June 2024, Bryce Caron graduated from Gardner High School with not only a high school diploma, but college credits as well under his belt. Caron earned his college credits through the North Central Massachusetts Early College Academy, a division of MWCC’s Early College & Dual Enrollment Department. He is now continuing his studies at Springfield College majoring in Psychology with two minors in Athletic Coaching and Sports Analytics. “Dual Enrollment really helped me get an understanding of what to expect at a college level and made the transition from high school to college so easy. I was able to make so many meaningful connections and spend the time I would have spent stressing on the small things with friends,” Caron said. read more

Student Profile: Ian Dolan

By editorialteam on November 24, 2024

Trombone and TV

By Melanie Mitcheson | Observer Contributor

Photo courtesy of Ian Dolan

From trombone practice to filming TV news, Ian Dolan has an impressive range of skills. Initially interested in computer-generated imagery (CGI), Dolan, a 19-year-old Mount Wachusett second year student, now works at his town’s cable access outlet, where he conducts interviews and films the nitty gritty of his local town meetings. Dolan has a full schedule. His five MWCC classes and two workdays
with Templeton Community Television (TCTV) don’t leave him much time for his passion: the tenor trombone, a rewarding chance encounter that all started back in elementary school. read more

Student Profile: Samuel Nieves

By editorialteam on November 24, 2024

From Dance Instructor to Social Club CEO

By Kent Yang | Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Samuel Nieves

Entering the diverse doors of Mount Wachusett Community College is an ambitious student by the name of Samuel Nieves. Nieves is a full-time student pursuing a degree in Business Administration. He grew up in Andover, Massachusetts where he was raised by his Irish grandmother, but has been living the past eight years of his life in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Nieves comes from a heritage which blends both the Puerto Rican culture and Irish culture. As a proud first-generation American, Samuel Nieves is determined to meet all of his goals. read more

Lestat

By editorialteam on November 1, 2024

An Interview with the Vampire Blackout Poem by Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief

Excerpt from page 19 of Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

“I saw
Lestat again.
I saw him
as I have seen him before,
stark in the night.

I saw him,
his life and blood;
radiant, luminous.
I saw only Lestat.

It was as if I was so
enthralled with Lestat
that I looked at nothing else
for a long time.

His laughter,
his heart.
It was confusing:
soft but distinct,
increasing but discrete delight—
my Lestat.

Rid yourself, don’t fall so
madly in love that you
lose. read more

What’s Cookin’ at MWCC

By editorialteam on November 1, 2024

Recipe of the Month: Moroccan-Style Stuffed Acorn Squash

Submitted by Benjamin Heffner (Passed on from my grandmother and great-grandmother!).

Serves 4.

Ingredients
2 Acorn Squashes
2 tsp Olive Oil
Ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/8th tsp of cinnamon and nutmeg
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
¾ cups bulgur
2 cups water

Directions:

  • Cut two acorn squashes in half and take out the seeds. Place them cut side down in a baking dish. Bake in a 400-degree oven until tender, for about 35 minutes. The filling should be made while the squash is cooking.
  • In a medium pot, heat up 2 tsp of olive oil. Add ground beef, a tsp of salt, and 1/8th tsp of cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook until the beef is brown, for about 7 minutes. Strain the meat onto another plate while saving whatever liquid remains in the pot. To that liquid, add one finely diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Then add 4 cloves of minced garlic until they’re fragrant. Stir in ¾ cups of bulgur. Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cook covered for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, but keep it covered for another 5 minutes.
  • Add in the reserved beef as well as a handful of golden raisins, some chopped parsley and a couple tablespoons of toasted pine nuts. Scrape out the flesh from the cooked squashes and add to the filling. Equally divide the filling among the 4 halves of squash. Bake another 10 to 15 minutes to warm everything.

    • read more

    Pawsitive Vibes 2024

    By editorialteam on November 1, 2024

    Pet Wellness Month at the Mount

    “Here is my turtle Bip dressed up as Leonardo the ninja turtle! He’s a 6 year old painted turtle. He likes to spend his time basking and digging in the gravel for tasty tidbits! His favorite thing is getting shell scritches!”

    — Vivian Stronghold, Health Science major

    “This is Dobby. His favorite toy is his sock from when he was born. But he does also like his peanut butter filled pacifier.”

    — Helene Metivier, Substance Use Counseling (SAC) student

    “Her name is Gypsy. She loved carrots, and her favorite word was ‘Food.’ The shelter we adopted Gypsy from told us she might be a Norwegian Elkhound mix. Gypsy loved the winter! Her favorite thing to do was scoop up snow with her mouth while running. It was the cutest thing.” read more

    Student Profile: Dakota Potter

    By editorialteam on November 1, 2024

    By Desiree Leader | Staff Writer

    Dakota Potter, a 29-year-old Liberal Arts Major from Keene, New Hampshire is not your average community college student. Potter, in his last semester at the Mount, will be graduating in May. He will be transferring to Bridgewater State University for the spring semester, where he was recently accepted into their Archeological program; but that is not what makes him different from your traditional college student.

    Potter has a gift for the English language – a gift he has been nurturing since he was just a child. “I got my start when I was really young,” he reflected, mentioning that he was quite a precocious reader. At just five years old, he was reading (and comprehending!) the Harry Potter book series, and he started writing stories when he was eight or nine. “They weren’t very good,” Potter admitted, ”but I had the passion for it.” read more