May 3, 2021
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst has received a $1 million gift from two alumni to create a new center that will forge new collaborations between nurses and engineers, bringing together two fields that can improve personal well-being and save lives.
Committing $1 million in seed funding to help establish the Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation, Michael ’76 and Theresa (Murphy) ’77 Hluchyj hope the center will be a place where nurses and engineers can collaborate on clinical solutions in new ways. “We are excited to support UMass in this new initiative,” says Michael Hluchyj. “Innovation is often accelerated at the intersection of different academic disciplines. The worldwide health crises resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic make clear the critical need for innovative solutions in clinical settings where both nursing and engineering play vital roles.”
Staff report
Wellesley Townsman
The Wellesley Health Department has reported the first case in Wellesley of the U.K. COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.7). This case appears to be from community spread and not acquired from traveling, according to a brief from the town.
The town s percent positivity rate is continuing to decrease. However, health officials are reminding the community that the town is still in the yellow (moderate) risk category and are urging people to follow COVID-19 precautions, including wearing a mask, keeping socially distant, and washing their hands, even if they have been vaccinated.
Emergency gift card project, storefront art
Community Content
Wellesley Food Pantry s (WFP) largest intake event each year is the Scouting for Food Drive in early November. Given the current public health concerns, WFP could not hold such a large event requiring almost 200 volunteers to process all donations. Instead WFP will benefit this year from a series of “mini-drives” where scouts will target certain areas of town each month to supply WFP with needed inventory well into 2021.
Different troops across town Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venture Crew will take turns identifying neighborhoods where they will collect. The scouts will distribute flyers with specific items requested for donation please provide only these items as WFP will identify what is needed and does not have extra storage space available for items less in demand. Scouts will return to these residences on the designated Saturday and collect the donations. Items should be place outside for pick-up by 9 a.m.