Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | July 6, 2020 | Worcester Business Journal 7 Time to open college campuses F L AS H P O L L Should Central Mass. colleges be planning to have in-classroom instruction this fall? With the exception of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, which will have online-only instruction, all the Central Mass. colleges and universities who have announced their plans for the fall semester plan to have a hybrid of in-classroom and online instruction, with most starting their semesters early in August and then closing campuses before December. When polled online, nearly two-thirds of WBJ readers said local colleges should open their campuses this fall Yes, it is the best way to ensure students would commit to enrolling for the fall. COMMENTS: "I believe there can be a balance, between those attending because they learn best in person with those who are finding success at home." - Ed Niser Yes, their social distancing measures should prevent a spike in on-campus cases. 24% Starfires from Massachusetts, as well as the New Britain Bees in Connecticut and Nashua Silver Knights in New Hampshire, which is owned by the same ownership group as the Bravehearts e first Bravehearts home game is scheduled for July 11. Minor League Baseball, which has separate leagues, has said it will not play any games in 2020. Uxbridge cannabis microbusiness given final licensure for distribution e Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission gave Blackstone Valley Naturals of Uxbridge, doing business as Yamna, the final greenlight to commence operations. Yamna is a licensed microbusiness. Cannabis microbusinesses in Massachusetts are co-located Tier 1 marijuana cultivators and/or product manufacturers limited to purchasing 2,000 pounds of cannabis from other marijuana establishments in a single year, according to the CCC. Microbusiness licensees are not allowed to have an ownership stake in any other marijuana establishments and a majority of its executives have to have been Massachusetts residents for at least one year prior to applying. Yamna received approval to cultivate and manufacture cannabis in February, according to Co-owner Kevin MacConnell, who owns the business with Tim Phillips, who originally hails from Uxbridge. e pair started their cannabis industry work in Colorado before beginning the licensing process in Massachusetts. ey plan to collaborate with Gibby's Garden, another Uxbridge- based cannabis microbusiness, according to MacConnell. Among the products they plan to distribute are pre-packaged eighths and pre-rolled cannagars. 8% Yes, online instruction is not as effective in teaching students. 32% No, case spikes in other parts of the country suggest the situation is too tenuous. 25% 6% 5% No, parents, students and staff will not feel safe enough for classes to meet in-person. No, online-only classes would be just as effective. "Colleges and the attendees are an important piece of the local economy and not exempt from the pool of consumers needed to reinvigorate commerce. The people administering the schools are adults. The students at the college level are adults. We must expect them to act as such and follow the protocols in place." Yamma owners Kevin MacConnell, left, and Tim Phillips W

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