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Posts published in “Opinion”

Spooky World: Reviewing New England’s “Nightmare”

Spooky World: Reviewing New England’s “Nightmare”

By editorialteam on October 18, 2017

By Sonia Aviles

Think of being placed right in the middle of a ghoulish nightmare mixed with elements of your favorite horror movie on a cold, dark night surrounded by many unfamiliar faces. Then enhance that nightmare with heavy rock and roll music in the back ground mixed with the sounds of chainsaws, cheerful laughter, screams of glee and fear, and cracks of a nearby fire pit. Welcome to Spooky World!!

Spooky World is in Litchfield, New Hampshire, this haunted theme park is worth a visit on any opening night. Upon arrival, there is plenty of space to park, with at least three to four lots of parking space for a fee of $5. The parking staff is also helpful and direct cars to appropriate spaces to park so there is no hassle to find parking spaces. Generally, the ticket prices are not wallet friendly. General admission is usually $40 per ticket for a typical weekend. The food and drinks are decent there, but not worth the price. Something as simple as hotdogs or burgers would cost $5 and more where you could get the same thing at a local fast food restaurant. They do serve beer there; however, they cost just as much as buying it from a bar. A helpful suggestion would be to eat out if money is an issue. read more

In/Transit Art Exhibit

In/Transit Art Exhibit

By editorialteam on October 2, 2017

By: Desire’ Jackson – Crosby

Lines etched on simple, ripped-out-of-the-book sketch paper. Colors – pastel blue, hazy yellow, and earthy brown decorate some pages while heavy thick lines of defined color trace upon others. Simplicity sings a soft note of abstractness, telling a whimsical story that changes the more you look at it.
This is the work of Julia Morgan, titled “In/Transit”. For some reason, upon hearing the name of these pieces, I was taken to a much more figurative view of the art. I began the famous process of contemplation that comes with observing art. I thought to myself: “Maybe Julia created the messy strokes on the page when she was feeling cloudy and confused over a situation in her life”. I turned over instances and searched for situations inside the colors of the pages. Although art is open-ended, after reading the display bearing Julia’s explanation of her work, I was struck. Of In/Transit, she said “these paintings were made on buses and trains, in desert jeeps, taxis, rental cars, buses and carts across Egypt, India, Morocco and France using watercolor, pens, ink, and paint markers” I stood puzzled, but by then very intrigued. read more

Meet the new President of MWCC

Meet the new President of MWCC

By editorialteam on March 23, 2017

By Courtney Wentz | Mount Observer Staff

Dr. James Vander Hooven, MWCC’s incoming President is officially taking over on March 18th.

Vander Hooven previously worked at Landmark College, a four year school in Vermont, but he has worked at two community colleges in the past. He was President for four years at Tohono O’odham Community College in Arizona and Lakes Region Community College in New Hampshire as Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. He said, “Community colleges is where my passion is.” read more

Living for Learning: Total Immersion EducationAnother Anime Convention

Living for Learning: Total Immersion Education

By editorialteam on November 10, 2016

By Joshua Needham

For three days during October, something strange happens at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH. People from all over the country gather to share their love of anime, video games, and pop culture. Colorful costumes and home-made props fill the halls and courtyard for nearly a full 72 hours and it is clear, Another Anime Convention (AAC) is back in town.

When people outside of that culture think of such events, they likely think of the socially inept gathering to discuss Star Trek, individuals dressed as their favorite characters and roleplaying their favorite scenes with one another. What they may not think about is the professionals that make the journey to attend the gatherings. read more

A November to Remember for Metal Fans: November Music Preview

By editorialteam on November 10, 2016

By Jason D. Greenough

The temperatures may (finally…possibly) hit freezing, but the metal is burning hot! November 2016 is sure to bring any metal fan a few moments of bliss.

Want to get away from the awkward family get-together? Need something to keep you awake before you go shopping on black Friday? With retrospective releases galore, ranging from Queen’s …On Air: The Complete BBC Sessions, and Pink Floyd’s The Early Years: 1965-1972, to REM’s Out of Time  celebrating it’s 25th anniversary with a re-issue, and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger, you’re pretty much all set. But, I have a few other suggestions as well… read more

Pics…Or It Didn’t Happen!

By editorialteam on November 8, 2016

By Courtney Wentz

Everywhere you turn, someone has their phone out to snap a photo of where they are, what they’re doing, or who they’re with.

When you go to a show, whether it’s a concert, play, musical, comedy show, most of the audience has their phone out to record or take a picture of the performance, instead of living in the moment and enjoying the show. You aren’t enjoying the show if you’re on your phone the entire time trying to get that non-blurry photo.

Even when people go on a trip or vacation, you feel like you’re there because your friend is posting every second on social media. Your phone is not your brain. Yes, the photo is going to be a great reminder, but how well are you going to remember that moment? How you were feeling? How environment felt around you? read more

The Older One Gets

By editorialteam on November 8, 2016

By Rachel Vargeletis

Eyes tend to glisten with a certain, familiar

Shine of regret the older one gets.

Wrinkles tend to cast a deeper, darker shadow

Upon their chagrinned pretense

The older one gets.

“Sorry”s feel empty and

“I love you”s only feel like a way of apologizing.

The sun hurts more than is ever brightens your day,

And suddenly,

You find your feet sore from

The routine

Instead of bouncing in eager leaps across each room,

Craving sand under their seasoned edges

And wet dirt between their wriggling toes, read more

Non-traditional Students Club Launching Unique Outreach

By editorialteam on November 8, 2016

By Stevie LaBelle

The Adult College Experience Club is looking to reach out to Mount Wachusett Community College’s non-traditional student population.  While this club started out as a program within the college, it has expanded into a means for seasoned non-traditional students to mentor incoming non-traditional students.

This club is for measure of helping to ease the anxiety of these students while entering into the college experience.  Co-Advisors to the club are Melissa Sargent and Sarah Dorsey.  While they hope that students will find the club fun and engaging, their overall goal is to be available to help. read more

Preview: 2016 Boston Celtics

Preview: 2016 Boston Celtics

By editorialteam on November 8, 2016

By Nicholas Cherico

In the 2015-16 season, the Boston Celtics finished 48-34, their best record since the 2011-12 season. After a first round exit in the playoffs for the second straight season, the Celtics went into the offseason looking for more pieces to build off their success from last year.

After failing to sign top free agent Kevin Durant, the Celtics made arguably their biggest free agent signing in team history. They signed All-Star power forward/center Al Horford to a max deal through the 2020 season. Next to Durant, Horford was the best free agent available. He provides the Celtics with a deadly mid range shot. He also is going to create a lot of scoring opportunities for the guys around him with his versatility. The Celtics have lacked a skillset like this from the big man position in quite some time. read more