Gap & gown measurements will be taken on April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Bookstore entrance.

• Beginning Monday, April 6, the Café will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WSCC student Nathaniel Duncan and Sue Murdock, WSCC’s Director of Human Resources, will be appearing in the Actors’ Guild of Parkersburg’s upcoming production of “big, The Musical”.

“big, The Musical” is a vibrant, funny and touching musical based on the 1987 hit movie which starred Tom Hanks. The story centers around a frustrated adolescent, Josh Baskin, who wishes he were "big" and wakes up the next morning a 30-year-old man. The story unfolds as “adult” Josh begins working as an executive at a toy company, falls in love, and discovers there's much more to being an adult than he's bargained for. And he learns we must all grow up at our own pace, in our own time.

“big, The Musical” has a cast of 16 adults and 8 teenagers from around the Mid Ohio Valley. Sue Murdock portrays Miss Watson, Josh’s secretary. She is also in the vocal/dance ensemble. Nathaniel Duncan performs in the vocal/dance ensemble. Sue is a veteran of several productions at both the Actors’ Guild of Parkersburg and the Mid Ohio Valley Theater in Marietta. Nathaniel is new to the world of community theater and to the Guild stage, but he has an extensive background as a musician, singer and songwriter.

“big, The Musical” opens at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 17 at the Actors’ Guild of Parkersburg, located at 724 Market Street. Other performance dates are April 18, 24, 25, May 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and April 26 at 3 p.m. Tickets can be ordered online at www.actorsguildonline.org. or by calling the Actors’ Guild playhouse at 304-485-1300.

Safe plants for spring

With warm weather approaching and planting season upon us, it is important to remember that not all plants and flowers are safe for children. Many annual and perennial plants commonly found in the garden are poisonous or capable of causing highly allergic reactions. Children that are crawling or toddling, particularly around twelve months of age, are most at risk of eating strange bits of plants.

Young children should be taught not to eat plants and poisonous or dangerous plants should be fenced off or removed.  Even a small amount of toxic plant substance can cause injury to a small child.  The following is a list of some of the more common poisonous plants and flowers:

• Aconitum (monkshood) – all parts
• Autumn Crocus – bulbs
• Bleeding heart – leaves and roots
• Castor bean – seeds
• Daffodil – bulbs
• Delphinium (larkspur) – young plants and seeds
• Digitalis (fox glove) – all parts
• Iris – underground stems
• Lathyrus (sweet pea) – seeds
• Lily of the Valley – all parts
• Nicotiana (tobacco) – all parts
• Oleander – leaves and branches
• Rhubarb – leaf blades
• Hyacinth – bulbs
• Narcissus – all parts
• Poinsettia – leaves and seeds
• Rosary Pea – seeds
• Snow Drop – all parts
• Tulip - bulbs
• White Cedar – yellow seeds
• Wisteria – seeds and pods

Should a child ingest part of a poisonous plant or flower, contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-682-7625.

Parking lot safety

On behalf of the WSCC safety committee, we would like to welcome back our returning students and say hello to the new arrivals who are taking classes for the first time. We would also like to remind and inform new students about some of the security services we provide. The college provides a security officer for both day and evening classes. One of the services they provide is an escort to and from your classes while you are on campus. If you are unsure of where your classes are, you can visit with our uniformed security officers and they can give you the directions.

Additionally, if you notice any lights that are not working you can also let them know and they will contact the appropriate maintenance personnel. Security also has the ability to “jump start” your car battery or air up flat tires when requested. We cannot for insurance reasons, assist you in unlocking your car doors if you have left the keys in the car. Security, however can call a local auto club or tow service to come and unlock your door.

Any time during the day or night, students, staff and faculty can pick up a “red phone”, which are located through out the campus, and they will be directly connected to the security officer's mobile phone. If you have any questions or need assistance please call on us to make your WSCC experience a safe one.

When officials at Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center expressed frustration at the shortage of trained respiratory therapists in the local workforce, Zane State College looked for the quickest way to meet the critical need.

Meanwhile, about 70 miles southeast of Zanesville, the healthcare community of Marietta was facing a similar dilemma with a shortage of occupational therapists. The leadership at Washington State Community College—which offers a program in respiratory therapy but not in occupational therapy—was anxious to find a solution.

Zane State College and Washington State Community College have recently agreed to share resources to help each community fulfill its particular need.

Washington State Community College will allow Zane State College students to complete their degree in their accredited respiratory therapist program while at Zane State College will do the same for Washington State students who want to complete a degree in our accredited occupational therapy program.

Fast forward to Don Barnes of Parkersburg, WV – a recent displaced worker. At 46 years old, Barnes doesn’t feel like he has time to waste when it comes to finding an educational path that leads to direct employment.

After communicating with Camden Clark Hospital’s recruiter, he decided to set a goal toward becoming an occupational therapist assistant. He began taking general education courses at Washington State Community College. Then, as fate would have it, he looked up one day and saw there was an informational session about the new occupational therapy assistant program through Zane State.

“There was a light at the end of the tunnel and it is not an oncoming train,” said Barnes. “Now I just need to get there by the end of next year. If I can get to the tunnel, I’m not afraid of the dark.”
“I have to admit I have never been more focused on a direction that I’m going in than I am right now. I want this bad.”

Barnes is like so many across the Mid-Ohio Valley that are searching for work but coming up with the wrong skills for the jobs that are available.

“I spent 10 years learning a trade and then the company closed. Someone then tells you you’ve got to pick a job. And I’m thinking, ‘I already did.”

And, like so many, Barnes feels the need to get it right the first time when it comes to continuing his education.
“If I don’t get it now I never will,” said Barnes.

Dreams of New York City life and pursuing acting and writing careers can be nurtured at Washington State. Rachel Hout and Travis Flores can attest to that.

PSEO students, Hout and Flores came to Washington State to further their education “beyond the reaches of high school.“

Their goal, after graduating high school, was always to go to New York City for college. Hout has received a talent scholarship for $2000 for writing and Flores received a $2000 talent scholarship for acting. Both will be attending Mary Mount Manhattan College.

They both credit Mickey Kessler, assistant professor, for preparing them for their auditions.

“He has a good balance of culture. It’s cool to relate to someone from here that has been to New York,” said Flores.

“He helped me expand my knowledge of famous plays and playwrights. I found out I like a lot of classics that I didn’t even know who they were before,” said Hout.

Hout had applied to both the acting and writing school.

“I was really happy when I got the acceptance letter. I was upset I didn’t get into the acting school, but I really love writing, so it’s okay,” she said.

Flores didn’t believe it at first, he says of receiving the acceptance letter to both the acting and writing schools.
“It’s very competitive,” he said. “It’s exciting to think what they are going to be able to pull out of us.”

Mary Mount is a small school, about 1600 students, in a big city.

Hout looks forward to being in New York City and shopping. Flores is excited for the newness that he hopes each day brings.

When it comes to the big picture, Hout is interested in being in movies, while Flores wants to complete his double major in acting and writing and then go on to New York University for his master’s.

“I want to go where ever the road takes me. Hopefully, that’s writing and acting,” he said.

Be sure to check out this months WSCC window at the Schwendeman Insurance Agency at 109 Putnam Street!

The wonderfully colorful and creative display represents the Early Childhood Development program offered at WSCC! Be sure to swing by and take a look at a job well done, and keep an eye out for the next program to be displayed mid-month.

The 2009 Spring Picnic will be held on Thursday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Classes will be suspended at this time.

This weekend was the Household Hazardous Waste Collection event at the Solvay Employee Park.

Washington State's own Ester Salem transported hundreds of batteries collected on campus over the course of this year.  The battery recycling efforts have been very successful and WSCC will continue the program in to the future!

There are some additional collection events happening in Washington County this year.  All of these events are taking place at the Old County Garage at 1405 Colegate Drive.

• May 9th from 9:00AM-3:00PM – Appliances
• August 3, 4, 5 from 9:00AM-2:00PM – Computers and Televisions
• October 17 from 8:00AM-1:00PM – Tires

It’s National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide - and the perfect time to discover how worlds connect @ your library.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April.

What makes libraries unique is access to trained professionals – librarians – to help people find and interpret the information they need to make a difference in their lives.  Libraries help keep us connected, providing a space for people of all ages, classes and races to come together, while keeping us connected to events and people around the world.

April is also National Poetry Month and a traditional time for the creation of haikus – about libraries! A poetic form with its roots in Japanese culture, haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. The most common form of haiku is three short lines, the first line containing 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, and the third line 5 syllables. Creative minds at our own library submit the following:

Books and journals and
Internet research for class.
Information now!

Cultures and ethnics
We are unique each our own.
Books connect the world.

Libraries connect
From Australia to Zaire
Wisdom of the world.

All at WSCC are encouraged to submit their own haiku using a theme of libraries, books or reading for the first annual WSCC Library Haiku Contest. Drop your entries off at the Circulation Desk or send them to refdesk@wscc.edu before noon on Thursday, April 16. The winning entry will be displayed in large letters in the windows at the library’s main entrance for all to appreciate.

If one can measure success in terms of smiles on faces, satisfaction from a creative effort, and awe in the eyes of children, then we scored on Saturday! Over 190 people attended the matinee performance of Backwoods Ramblin’.  Following the matinee, 60 children,  many with an adult assistant, made puppets. Later, about 150 folks came back for the evening show. 

The puppeteers were very satisfied, not only with the crowd, but with the assistance and friendliness of our maintenance staff and committee members.