Worcester Magazine January 7 - 13, 2016 by Worcester Magazine

JAN. 7, 2016 - JAN. 13, 2016

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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2015

Kirk A. Davis President Kathleen Real Publisher x331 Walter Bird Jr. Editor x322 Steven King Photographer x323 Joshua Lyford x325, Tom Quinn x324 Reporters Colin Burdett, Sarah Connell, Brendan Egan, Brian Goslow, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Kara Senecal, Corlyn Vooorhees, Jessica Picard, Contributing Writers Megan Baynes, Lauren Delage Editorial Interns Don Cloutier Director of Creative Services x141 Kimberly Vasseur Creative Director/Assistant Director of Creative Services x142 Matthew Fatcheric, Becky Gill, Stephanie Mallard, David Rand Creative Services Department Helen Linnehan Ad Director x333 Diane Galipeau x335, Rick McGrail x334, Media Consultants Kathryn Connolly Media Coordinator x332 Michelle Purdie Classified Sales Specialist x433 Worcester Magazine is an independent news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES: Please call 978-728-4302, email sales@centralmassclass.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, P.O. Box 546, Holden, MA 01520

DISTRIBUTION: Worcester Magazine is available free of charge at more than 400 locations, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each at Worcester Magazine offices. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law. SUBSCRIPTIONS: First class mail, $156 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to Holden Landmark Corporation, 22 West St., Suite 31, Millbury, MA 01527. ADVERTISING: To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call 508.749.3166. Worcester Magazine (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of The Holden Landmark Corporation. All contents copyright 2015 by The Holden Landmark Corporation. All rights reserved.

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ven if you don’t have a child in school, chances are you’ve heard about Common Core. Locally, School Committee member Donna Colorio has made sure folks know about it. This week, contributing writer Corlyn Voorhees tells you just what Common Core is, how it has been implemented and the controversy surrounding it. She speaks with education officials, advocates, opponents and others for an indepth look at an issue that has divided many educators and parents. With a petition aimed at giving voters in Massachusetts a chance to repeal Common Core, this week’s cover story examines the pros and cons of Common Core – and whether it is turning the state into a leader or follower when it comes to excellence in education. - Walter Bird Jr., Editor

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4 City Desk 8 Worcesteria 10 Editorial 11 1,001 Words 12 Education 18 Cover Story 24 Night & Day 30 Film 31 Krave 34 Event Listings 39 Classifieds 47 2 minutes with…

Winter Education Series

JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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January 7, 2017 - January 13, 2016 n Volume 41, Number 19

Looking Back: 15 THINGS IN 2015

ear or at the start of each new year, Worcester Magazine consults with expert prognosticators, respected professionals with impeccable credentials, to find out what the biggest challenges, issues and accomplishments should be over the next 12 months. Using scientific methodology and calculating odds and percentages, we predict what will most capture the city’s attention – and how the city should deal with it.

No, you’re not buying that? OK, so it is much more low-tech than that, but we do not blindly throw darts at the wall, either. Actually, based on issues, people, events and other city happenings in previous years – and with an toward the following year – we come up with what we see as important efforts we would like to see the city undertake. At the end of the year, we look back on our decidedly non-scientifically-compiled list and see how reality matched up to what we thought.

Here, then, is a look back on what we thought the city should accomplish in 2015 – and the grades we think were earned. You might agree, you may vehemently disagree. We hope you will enjoy our look back on “15 Things Worcester Should Do In 2015.”

1. ELECT JOE PETTY

We went out on a limb on this one. It is not often a media outlet will come out for a candidate almost 10 months or so before an election. We meant no disrespect to any of the candidates who might challenge Mayor Joe Petty. We simply felt the second-term mayor and longtime councilor was good for Worcester. Over the next several months,

a series of events unfolded that challenged that: violence in our high schools and a Black Lives Matter movement that became fiercely local and resulted in a slate of race dialogues headed by the U.S. Department of Justice. Then there was the Summer of The Gun. Gangs started shooting their rivals at an alarming rate. The ages of the shooters were younger than ever, their victims often just as young. There was wild controversy over School Superintendent Melinda Boone, who ultimately left for a job in her home state of Virginia. As these incidents raged, one of Petty’s colleagues, At-Large Councilor Mike Gaffney, rose from first-term unknown to viable threat to the chairman’s seat on both City Council and School Committee. He took to social media, was unafraid to criticize the mayor – and anyone else he felt was not doing the right thing – and gained an ally in a local blogger who slapped a bunch of Gaffney ads on his website and became a sort of online campaign manager. He also became the darling of the conservative local radio media. In Gaffney, Petty faced his biggest political threat, yet. He did not waver and did not falter. In the preliminary election, Petty reigned supreme. In the general election, he once more came out on top. Gaffney had fought hard, but Petty still scored a resounding victory. We felt at the outset of 2015 that Petty was the right person for mayor in Worcester. We believe that still, but we also saw him rocked by a seemingly endless series

WOO-TOWN INDE X

Bernie Sanders brought The Bern to Worcester. Love him, hate him or otherwise, Sanders has energized many younger voters. +1

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016

The flip side to Sanders’ visit is the quick way it was put together, so fast that the large venues in Worcester weren’t available. -3

Then again, North High School proved a pretty decent venue, even if some people ended having to park several blocks away. +2

GRADE: A

2. REBUILD PUBLIC TRUST

How the city fared in this regard last year may depend on the color of your skin. If you are white, you may think there was no problem in the first place, that no trust needed to be regained. Or, perhaps you think it is the other side that needs to rebuild trust. If, however, your skin is another color, you just may wonder why no one seems to get it. The city held a series of race dialogues last year after tensions mounted between – and even within – the African-American community and city officials. Whether those dialogues were effective, or needed, depends on your point of view. We maintain that talking can never be a bad thing, when done productively. Unfortunately, some used their respective positions in the community to further their agendas. What resulted was a discussion on race that more often than not centered on what a local blogger felt about some of the people involved in the dialogues, than on the larger issue of whether there is a racial divide in the city. Also last year, four protesters who took part in blocking traffic in Kelley Square went to continued on page 6

-4

Total for this week:

A weekly quality of life check-in of Worcester

The city said it messed up by not plowing the first storm. Naturally, some folks reacted rationally: by demanding the city manager and DPW chief be fired. -2

of challenges. We are eager to see how those experiences shape his approach over the next two years.

As if the city’s heroin epidemic wasn’t enough to worry about, the District Attorney has warned a deadly batch called “Hollywood” could be headed to Central Mass. -6

Area Pats fans lament as their team loses out on a first round playoff bye. Curse those Broncos! -2

An Auburn couple gives birth to baby girl just after midnight on New Year’s Day, tying with another couple for first birth of 2016 in Massachusetts. +4

A new City Council and School Committee is sworn in to a new two-year term. The roller coaster that is Worcester politics is off for a new ride. +2

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40 Years of Worcester Magazine: How it all began (Editor’s Note: Starting this week, and continuing throughout our 40th anniversary year of 2016, each weekly edition of Worcester Magazine will feature a Look Back on issues from the past. From the very first issue in October 1976 right up through the present, we will take a look at the people, places, news, events and more that have landed on our pages and in your hands. We figured, what better place to start for our first Look Back than where it all began? Here, then, are the first words in print from Worcester Magazine’s original founders, Dan Kaplan and Ryck Bird Lent.)

nd then, we had ourselves a magazine. Sure it takes time – a lot of late nights in the office trying to figure out the next step. But then, sooner or letter, you hit upon the formula. It seems so simple, you wonder why it took so long to conceive it. All you have to do is hire some writers who can make their prose flow as smooth as a brook. Add a photographer or two who can capture moments in a manner you’ll never see in person. Find a graphic designer who can make a page of photos and type look beautiful. Add some paper and ink and watch the presses roll. Sit back and make a trip to the bank every so often. You’ve got yourself a magazine. That’s one way of describing how we got here. The real story is much too complicated, and besides, we wouldn’t want to be too free about our trade secrets.

But we’re here, folks, and we welcome you to WORCESTER Magazine. Of course, the first issue of any magazine is an important one. People reading the magazine are curious and critical. Rightly so. It’s been tried before, can these folks do any better? Our answer s here, in this first issue. From the beginning we set out to be the best publication in Central Massachusetts. We reminded ourselves of that every step of the way, on every day, until we took the magazine to the printer. And next month we’ll do the same. You see, we feel an obligation to you. You’ve spent good money for this magazine. You ought to get articles that you’ll enjoy and information that’s useful. We want every story in this magazine to be interesting. The writing has to be smooth and readable, the information accurate and well-researched. We want a magazine that looks beautiful, with photographs and illustrations that add depth and character to the articles. Those are the tasks we’ve set for ourselves in this issue and in the months ahead. With you in mind, we’ll be tough and thorough investigators. We’ll rate and evaluate consumer goods and services. And we won’t be afraid to name names. That’s really not an easy task. But already, we’ve had feedback from many people in the area and they’re behind us. That includes charter subscribers who told us they wanted a magazine like the one you see here. That also includes advertisers, who said they believed in a magazine like WORCESTER. They said so by advertising here.

We feel that the initial support for the magazine can be translated into support for the community. You can’t just open your doors anywhere and say, “Hey folks, how about a magazine?” In the coming months, we’ll continue to provide the same kind of reporting you see first evidence of in this issue. Each month, we’ll take a look at some of the problems the area faces. In this issue we’ve examined the growing problem of juvenile delinquency. It has taken on new aspects, and is no longer just mischief. It’s crossed the border into violence, which many do not understand. In the pages that follow, we provide a profile on the local kid who made it big: Mark Fidrych, from Northboro. Of course, Mark doesn’t fit into any molds, which is why he’s one of the interesting people of Central Massachusetts. There are more personalities, not just like Mark, but just as interesting. In th ecoming months, you’ll find out about them. The bike trails we’ve researched provide another example of the kinds of reporting we’ll be doing every month. It’s how-to, or service journalism. This includes consumer reporting on various services, from rating car mechanics and restaurants to how to buy a stereo. And so now, with a moment to catch our breath, we’re on to next month’s WORCESTER Magazine. We expect the next will be at least as much fun as this one, and just as useful to you. We want to be your magazine. - Dan Kaplan and Ryck Bird Lent

JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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court, with the city manager offering to drop the charges if they agreed not to repeat that action elsewhere. The protesters balked, and the case has continued. Then there was the audit of Mosaic, a black-run nonprofit, and others taking part in a grant-funded program. Some claim it was racially-motivated. The ensuing report found some problems with how the agency was performing its duties under the grant. So, has trust been rebuilt? It would not appear so. Whether it involves those who think Mosaic and other members of the minority community are not being held accountable, or people who believe an agenda is being carried out against communities of color, there remains some unrest. Just what city officials can do about it, we are not certain, but the issue is likely not completely off the radar.

GRADE: C

and other amenities is planned exclusively for college students in the Canal District. The city’s restaurants and music venues continue to try to offer college kids things to do off campus. Worcester’s Woo Card program can help lure students off campus, but the city still has not made the leap from a place that has college kids living in it several months out of the year, to a thriving college town. One of the biggest hindrances is transportation. There is no real cohesive transportation unit, yet. There also is a lack of college-theme destinations in and around downtown. Try naming a downtown city that does not have at least an outdoor cafe, or retail shops, or anything, really. Downtown Worcester does not have it. Yet. We recognize the efforts being made. Really, though, these colleges have been here for years, and the city should have long ago had a master plan that included making it a true college town.

GRADE: C

5. ADD BUSINESSES TO THE SOUTH WORCESTER INDUSTRIAL PARK

3. ESTABLISH A DOG PARK

We can keep this one relatively brief: A dog park has been on our To Do List for at least two years running now. City councilors have failed miserably. Not only did they not open just one dog park in 2015, the de facto dog park at Boynton Park dissolved into controversy when a city employee allegedly ran over makeshift barrier set up by dog owners – who, by the way, really had no business doing that, because technically, the city still bans dogs in its parks. This one has been a boondoggle, and while we know the city’s Parks Department is working diligently to meet the requests of dog lovers who really only want a safe place to walk and play with their pooches, the City Council has not exactly filled us with confidence that it will end years of futility on this issue.

GRADE: F

4. MAKE WORCESTER A TRUE COLLEGE TOWN

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016

Talk about the skin of your teeth. We had all but wrapped up our look back at 15 Things in 2015 when, at the 11th hour, came news that the city had sold one of the parcels at the industrial park commonly referred to as SWIP to O&S Realty, the wholly-owned real estate holding company of Absolute Machinery, according to the T&G’s Nick Kotsopoulos. Absolute Machinery is pretty much the best customer the city has at SWIP, and the $10,000-sale (the first sale of city-owned land in the industrial park, it was reported) will allow the company to expand. Until that news broke, we were feeling pretty pessimistic about SWIP. It has languished as one of the hardestto-market properties in Worcester. There is a businessman hoping to open a wind turbine business there, and the planned $725,000 expansion of Absolute Machinery is absolutely a positive thing. Hopefully, the city can build on that and make a real jobs producer out of SWIP in an area of the city that could really use jobs. We had originally slapped a C-minus on this one, but what the heck, we’re in a good mood.

GRADE: B-

6. OPEN UP THE LAKE

Indian Lake opened up this past summer, after being closed almost the entire summer of 2014. However, it was shut down a few times for algae treatment. What gives? Why is the city having so much trouble with this particular body of water? Some folks suggest there is more than meets the eye, but it may simply be that the conditions are right for the abundance

Main Street. Much progress has been made to revitalize downtown, with the suggestion that a new vitality in the city’s core will permeate other neighborhoods. We certainly would like to see new life on Main Street, particularly the north end. A planned residential complex in the old courthouse would help. Just how fast that takes shape is anyone’s guess. In the meantime, we urge the remaining business owners on that stretch of Main Street to take the bull by the horns.

GRADE: D of blue-green algae that has plagued the lake. Advocates such as Beth Proko and the Indian Lake Watershed Association have certainly worked hard on the issue and pushed the city to pitch in. We have a winter to get through before we see whether those efforts have paid off, so our grade is tempered a bit.

GRADE: B-

7. FIX THE TRAFFIC MESS AROUND WASHINGTON SQUARE AND FRONT AND FOSTER STREETS

We’re not sure whether the city took overt steps here, but we have noticed a slightly better flow of traffic through this area. What has not been resolved, and again we lay this at the feet of councilors, is the line-up of taxis under the bridge out front of Union Station. This is not supposed to happen, but the city has allowed it. A proposed taxi area elsewhere never took off. City of Worcester, get rid of the taxis.

GRADE: B-

8. REVITALIZE ALL OF MAIN STREET

This is a tough one. When it comes to roads, yes, we think the city has not made fast enough progress fixing up what really is a rough stretch of road through Downtown Worcester. At the same time, when it comes to empty storefronts, it isn’t like the city manager can stand out front and wave a flag, like a parking lot attendant, and shout, “Set up shop, here!” Worcester Magazine has suggested, and we bring it forward again, the idea of business improvement districts that see area businesses actually raise money toward the improvement of their particular neck of the woods. We applaud efforts made by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, and expect to see innovative approaches to bringing some life back to

9. GO FOR IT, JETBLUE

We have been strong supporters of the niche airline since it set up shop in Worcester in 2013. We remain in JetBlue’s corner, but our enthusiasm is tempered by the reality that it continues to fly to the same two destinations in Florida. We desperately would like to see a more business-friendly operation, one that links with New York and Chicago, to name a couple hot spots. There have been a number of photo ops up at Worcester Regional Airport, and plenty of promises of things to come. When, exactly will those “things” start coming? We are not airline experts, but with about three years under its belt, we expect JetBlue to decide whether its future lies in Worcester. If so, we want to see flights to Puerto Rico at some point, and to key spots in continental U.S. We also want to see another airline or two start flying out of Worcester. Remember, that was suggested as a distinct possibility when JetBlue first arrived. On its surface, given there has been no expanded flight servicee and no new airlines, one might expect an “F,” but we are eternal optimists and we do like the attention being paid to the airport by Massport, the city and federal officials. We just want to see JetBlue, well, go for it.

GRADE: C

continued on page 7

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An upstart freshman councilor made a bold bid for mayor, while an ex-School Committee member hoped to parlay her fight against Common Core into a return to her old seat. There was also the business of trying to end more than 60 years without a black man on the Council. Well, the mayoral hopeful lost, the ex-School Committee member won and Worcester did, in fact, elect a black man to Council. Well, OK, a small fraction of Worcester did. The city does not get a failing grade, if only because it managed to crack the 20-percent threshold.

GRADE: D

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10. GIVE A NEW CONTRACT TO SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT MELINDA BOONE

Ah, here’s where we will swallow some crow. We supported Boone, and believed in her ability to improve the academic performance of the city’s public schools. When we put out the call for a new contract, a lot of events had not yet unfolded. The School Committee, of course, went ahead and awarded Boone a new pact. And then all hell broke loose. There were fights at North High School, with administrators being assaulted during them. Students and teachers started clamoring for police in the school. The mayor and police chief got involved. A student brought a gun to Burncoat High School. We also saw Boone continue her penchant for eschewing the press when it came to disseminating information. Only when emails were leaked did we learn of two school employees arrested on child porn charges. Then, right before a citywide election that many saw as at least a partial referendum on Boone, she up and quit to take a job in her home state of Virginia. Yes, it’s safe to say things did not go at all as we expected. We still believe Boone did some good in Worcester. But the way things ended, well, that just doesn’t sit right with us. So this grade is on our part, Worcester.

GRADE: D

11. GET OUT AND VOTE

We’ll say this, voting in the Nov. 3 election was up from the primary, but that’s not saying much. Of the city’s 93,460 registered voters, 19,954 showed up to the polls. Just 21.35 percent. Ouch. The City Council and School Committee elections were important last year, and there were certainly some exciting races.

our members expect the best. Don’t you?

12. GLAM UP COES POND

The good grades may seem lacking on our year-end report card, but here’s an area where we give an enthusiastic thumb’s up. Unlike its failure to open a dog park, the city has made strides with Coes Pond. Volunteers this year helped spruce up the beach area. There are plans to move the old Stearns Tavern to the old Coes Knife factory spot, and have the Seven Hills Foundation run the building. The coup de grace, however, is an effort to build a multi-generational, all-purpose playground. We editorialized about it recently, suggesting playgrounds have become almost too safe, but that should in no way be taken as a stance against a playground that welcomes all. We are excited anytime the city actually follows through with something. In this case, a dedicated group of advocates and volunteers has refused to let Coes Pond languish in its Glory Days. It is safe to say a revitalized Coes Pond is a thing of the near future.

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So with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey’s declaration that we are entering the third act of the “Broadway smash hit” that is Joe Petty’s reign as mayor, the obscure phrase, no disrespect to Jared and natural question arises – which Broad- his jewelry. There are a few that are awesome with no context. My winner? “Naked SWAT way show is this, exactly? Perhaps team.” Apologies to anyone looking for the ”Cats?” Everyone is aware of the ban Sexy Weapons and Tactics calendar, but you’re going to come across a much more depresson dogs in all Worcester’s parks, and ing story. the city’s impotence when it comes to the issue of designating a dog park is stunning – could that all be because we’re in a production of the longrunning musical? It could be ”Cabaret” – the plot of that one would seem to jive with the 18-hour day Petty and others keep pushing. It also features a reading of “Casey at the Bat,” which is the only Worcester connection I can remember in the more than one SIT-IN: When can you make a statement just by sitting? When everyone else is standing, Broadway plays I’m familiar with. It specifically during an ovation for Mayor Joe should satisfy Petty’s opponents, too, Petty’s inaugural speech. At-Large Councilor since I’m pretty sure it’s also about the Mike Gaffney, who has not backed down rise of right-wing politics, although I from fiery denouncements of Petty even after don’t really remember how that turned a failed mayoral run, chose to conspicuously remain sitting while everyone else on the Haout. Of course, there’s really only one nover Theatre’s stage stood to applaud the choice here: ”Wicked.” As in, “that mayor. That list included others who have been paragraph musing about which Broad- critical of the mayor, including School Committee members who are fighting his recomway play Joe Petty is secretly acting mendation to install interim Worcester Public out was Wicked dumb.” Schools superintendent Marco Rodrigues

THIS ISN’T BING: Markey the lesser-known of the the two U.S. senators from Massachusetts, was on fire in his address to the crowd at the City Council and School Committee inauguration ceremony, making the statement that “Worcester has always welcomed people. That’s what makes this city so great.” Then he went one step further - “If you Google ‘diversity,’ Worcester comes up,” Markey claimed. Clearly, this is just a modern twist on the old “look up X in the dictionary and you’ll find Y,” because Googling diversity for me brings up the definition of the word (“the state of being diverse” - thanks for nothing, Internet) and a few news articles on how diversity policies “make white men feel threatened.” So what can you search for online to bring up ‘Worcester’ as a result? You could do “Paris of the ‘80s,” but c’mon, that’s cheating. “Galleria” gets you there, although that’s another semi-

as the permanent school boss, and fellow councilor Konnie Lukes, who never has a problem going against the grain. So what did Gaffney accomplish by sitting down while everyone else was standing up? Sticking out in a crowded photo op is always a good thing, although it would have been an even better photo if he took out a pillow and pretended to take a nap during the ovation. Just a suggestion for next time.

ROBBERIES AND RACIAL PROFILING:

It was a bad week for Worcester-based convenience store chain Honey Farms. Worcester police say they think the same person robbed the location at 110 Lincoln St. – two minutes down from the police station, in case you think location matters – and 353 Grafton St. In both cases clerks handed over cash after allegedly being confronted by a short, light-skinned man with a handgun. One historical note: Honey Farms was labeled one of the most robbed lo-

{ worcesteria } cations in the city by other media after an astounding 21 robberies over just the first six months of 2015. That was up from three in the first six months of 2014. Call it a targeted crime wave – maybe a crime typhoon. And it looks like the crimephoon is continuing into the new year. On top of all that, Honey Farms will pay up to $25,000 to resolve allegations of racial profiling at one of their locations after a manager followed a Hispanic customer out of the store and reportedly denigrated his heritage while accusing him of shoplifting. Since, legally, you can’t discriminate against people based on race, and security camera footage revealed the customer hadn’t stolen anything, Honey Farms ended up losing more money than they would have if the customer actually had been shoplifting – and probably more than they lose every time an armed robbers hits one of their stores.

SANDERS IN THE HOURGLASS: Next time he comes, he’d better make sure the DCU Center isn’t booked. Bernie Sanders’ rally at North High School on Jan. 2 was a rollicking good time, but not everyone got into the main area, and overflow areas had to be set up around the gym. The speech itself was pretty standard, with Sanders giving Wall Street and Republicans some third-degree Berns, but let’s be honest – if you’re voting Republican, it’s not like the Vermont Senator’s charisma was going to convince you to switch sides. What was cool about the rally, regardless of your political persuasion, was the visible, touchable humanity of the candidate, who is listed as the Democratic front-runner for president in some polls. Unlike Donald Trump’s visit just a little while ago, there were no Secret Service agents in sight. Sanders glad-handed people waiting in line before the speech, and even had to wait on the way out of North’s parking lot for traffic to clear, stoically enduring people with smartphone cameras ogling him and his sensible Ford sedan. No media time beforehand, unlike Trump, but I suppose treating everyone the same is what populism is all about, and Trump’s affection for the media is well-documented – sort of. TRAVEL THE GLOBE: Last week the Boston Globe put a short entry in their real estate sec-

tion - “What is it like to live in downtown Worcester?” they asked. The interview was with the president and chief executive of the Family Health Center of Worcester and the vice president of Seven Hills Foundation – you know, just your average downtown Worcester couple. For the final verdict, the venerable Globe lists one “pro” and one “pro and con.” The positive is Worcester’s walkability score – 93, according to some arcane formula, which is a good sign. The mixed review comes for transportation – they knocked a few points of for hour and a half trains to Boston, but plug I-290 and the “handsomely restored” Union Station. One line in particular caught online commentators’ eye - “Worcester Regional Airport is a bus-ride away from the city’s new transportation hub.” Not a lot of love for the airport in the comments section, although to be fair, people who comment on articles online tend to be the no mercy, take no prisoners type. A few pointed out the lack of flight options out of ORH. The Globe is correct, though – Worcester Airport is great if you want to go to Florida, Florida or maybe Florida.

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SUPER(INTENDENT) FORUM: Former Worcester Public Schools superintendent Melinda Boone had her detractors in the city. The School Committee election this past November had shades of choosing a new superintendent as well, and everyone and their uncle seems to think they’d do a better job selecting a school boss than the people who do it for a living. Maybe they’re right, maybe they’re wrong, but regardless, on Jan. 13 at 7:45 a.m., the Worcester Education Collaborative and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau will host a forum at Mass College of Pharmacy on 25 Foster St. to talk about the opportunity facing the new School Committee and unveil a report - “The Urgency of Excellence” - which will contain “considerations” for selecting the new WPS Chief. The report was unsolicited, lest anyone think this is a political maneuver. Of course, there are two talked-about internal candidates – current interim supt. Marco Rodrigues and South High principal Maureen Binienda – so we might find out soon enough whose side the WRRB/WEC is on, if any.

• Domestic Relations • Criminal

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JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

commentary | opinions slants& rants { }

Editorial

The New Year brings with it new hope, new resolutions, a new beginning

or Worcester Magazine, 2016 marks our 40th anniversary. We invite you to join us on a year-long reflection of how we have covered Worcester and its surrounding communities every week since 1976. Each week, we will offer a snippet from a story, editorial or other content from four decades of Worcester Magazine. Oh, and there will be a party, too. But more on that later this year. Worcester Magazine has certainly evolved over the years. Its ownership has changed hands. Employees have come and gone. The newsrooms have literally changed. You can find us now at 72 Shrewsbury St., in a refurbished building and still going strong. The journey here has been a long, sometimes strange one. It has seen joy and sorry, triumph and tragedy, good times and bad. We have covered everything from birthdays to presidential visits, and everything in between. We have been with you in the worst of times in Worcester, including the death of six brave, fearless firefighters whose job brought them into a brick-layered coffin one fateful winter’s night in 1999. We have been there for the highs, such as President Barack Obama’s one and only visit to Worcester, where he spoke to graduates of Worcester Technical High School. We have been there through a changing media landscape that has been challenging, to be sure. Indeed, even as this is written, one cannot see the writing clearly on the wall for the future of the print newspaper. But we are not standing idly by. The Internet has brought with it new and seemingly limitless possibilities. If you have followed us for a while, you have seen the transformation from weekly paper to daily online news source. We know that, regardless of the fate of the paper form of media, the future relies on a vibrant and relevant online product. We have witnessed the arrival of more media outlets, the rise of bloggers and the resilience of local TV in the form of Charter TV 3 and WCCA TV. Of course, in our business, you do not last 40 years without the dedication, commitment and tireless efforts of many. From owners and publishers to editors and writers, production staff to delivery drivers – hundreds have called Worcester Magazine their occupation. Hundreds more will, too, we hope. It is nothing less than a distinct privilege and honor to help shape public opinion and inform those who rely on you to let them know what’s happening in City Hall, which new restaurants are popping up and which bands they don’t want to miss. Sometimes, we make mistakes – and when we do, our readers let us know. Ah, the readers. No newspaper lasts this long without people who want to read it. We have done our level best to make Worcester

continued on page 11

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 7, 2016

Harvey

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie! Janice Harvey

ancy Evans of Acton walked the long driveway to North High with me. The crowd waiting to hear presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was wrapped around the school two hours before the senator from Vermont was scheduled to speak. “I support Bernie all the way,” she told me. “The last time I attended a presidential rally was in California, June of 1968.” It took a minute to blow the dust off my brain and understand Evans had been in the hotel ballroom the night Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Robert Kennedy as he cut through the kitchen. Clearly Bernie Sanders has had an impact on Nancy Evans. Evans and I parted as I made my way to the media entrance, but her story stuck with me. It’s been 48 years since she felt compelled to support a candidate with her presence at a rally. Evans feels the Bern. Bearded, grizzled, braided, spiked and rosy-cheeked from bucking the breeze, they came to Harrington Way Saturday, Jan. 2, and they cheered. Loudly. Michael Smith’s daughter, Addie, was so pumped to see her candidate she treated it like Black Friday shopping. “She’s here somewhere,” her dad said, before finally spotting her. “She’s been sitting in a lawn chair since noon, afraid she wouldn’t make it in.” Addie Smith and her dad are both stumping for Sanders, evidence the candidate is reaching more than one generation under the same roof. Unlike the crowd drawn to Trump’s Worcester rally, this crowd seemed a tad happier and much less likely to put a protester into a full nelson for voicing opposition. One guy shouted “Liar!” early on, but that appears to be standard rally practice. There’s one in every crowd. In the press “box” panic ensued when the never-reliable Worcester Public Schools WiFi crapped out (Note to the

people pushing for PARCC testing to replace MCAS: better update your stuff!). Live streaming went belly-up as reporters resorted to pencil and paper, the archaic tools of yesteryear. Technology, ain’t it grand? Phone cameras rose over the heads of the supporters as the 74 year-old Sanders entered the gymnasium. Bernie has true appeal; the crowd was in love with the guy, Brooklyn accent and all. With more individual contributions than any other presidential candidate in the history of the United States, Sanders can rightfully call this a campaign of the people. Blue-collar Worcester is a good fit for Bernie. He backs all the right ideas to make us nod: economic equality, family and medical leave, livable wages, free college, hiring of more teachers and a stop to Citizens United. Walmart took a big slap from Sanders as he explained how the Walton family pays slave wages to its employees (we liberals know that, but shop there in a pinch, albeit guilt-plagued). He took a bigger swipe at Wall Street and condemned the bankers who continue to bathe in champagne and gulp caviar like Skittles, instead of breaking big rocks into little rocks on a chain gang. Regarding the Right’s penchant for fear mongering and blaming immigrants for everything but the bad plowing, Sanders hit one outta the pahk: “Latinos picking tomatoes for 8 bucks an hour are not threatening the middle class of America.” Sanders’ campaign crew estimated a crowd of 3,000, with 2,000 crammed into the gym, and another 1,000 spread between the cafeteria and the auditorium, where speakers delivered his address. With no reliable live streaming it must have been like listening to FDR’s fireside chats, but the mood remained upbeat. Whether or not Sanders can wrestle the nomination from Hillary Clinton is still a big question mark, but for a few hours Saturday night, Bernie Sanders made Worcester believe anything is possible.

Recalling advocacy To the Editor: Walter Bird’s “ANALYSIS: Worcester Councilor Economou separating from the pack” (worcestermag.com, Dec. 10), captured my attention. Last summer, I helped organize a west side neighborhood meeting on crime prevention. A couple hundred residents, many representatives from law enforcement and several elected officials attended. What struck me is that one city councilor, Tony Economou, requested flyers prior to the meeting to distribute door-to-door to constituents. Recalling his advocacy to promote the crime prevention meeting, I called Councilor Economou in November about cars driving daily in the wrong direction on the one-way portion of Millbrook Street. I spoke with him around 3 p.m. on a Monday. The following day he was on the street with a notepad to record street light and telephone pole locations for possible signage. He also offered to file a petition that evening at the City Council meeting. Between his door-to-door advocacy to promote the crime prevention meeting, to street analysis for signage, Councilor Economou exhibited a quality great leaders possess: they get things done.

itor

Ed e h t o t s Letter

JOE PAG A N O President, Pagano Media Worcester

{slants&rants}

commentary | opinions

That’s What They Said “We held off on naming the school until we had kids. The kids chose Rockdale. To me, it sounds like the high school in ‘Grease,’ Rydell High.” - Susan Strong, principal, Rockdale Recovery High School, on how it got its name

“If a bank is too big to fail, a bank is too big to exist.” - Bernie Sanders, Democratic presidential contender, speaking at a rally at North High School Saturday, Jan. 2

“Isn’t that the old hippie candidate that wrote that women fantasize about being raped? And people want him as president. What is the world coming to … what next, a child molester for Congress?” - Vinny Brunetti, commenting on Worcester Magazine’s Facebook page about presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders “If you’re like me, you are here because you have a great yearning for what you know what our people and country should be.” - Mary Keefe, Democratic state representative, 15th Worcester District, introducing Bernie Sanders in his visit to Worcester “I really enjoy that part of the job because you get to meet so many interesting people … It’s good to recognize people who deserve it and that’s something I intend to continue doing.” – Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, quoted by reporter Nick Kotsopoulos in the Telegram & Gazette

1,001 words By Steven King

EDITORIAL continued from page 10

Magazine something our readers want to pick up each and every week. We have endeavored online to provide the most up-to-date news possible. We enjoy hearing when we’ve done a good job, but we do not lament that we hear about the misspellings, the grammatical mistakes and other gaffes. All of it only helps us get better – and reminds us to whom we are truly beholden. Our advertisers make it possible, of course. Without them, our readers would not have a paper to hold or website to browse. To the many local businesses that have paid to appear on our pages and our screens

throughout the years, thank you. We hope the investment has brought good returns. On this day, Jan. 7, 2016 we give you the first Worcester Magazine of the New Year – our anniversary year. We hope our weekly look back at the papers from our past bring you on an enjoyable stroll down memory lane. At the same time, we welcome you to continue on a journey with us into another 12 months of stories and photographs, news and insight, and much more. Forty years. Wow. Thanks for the ride, folks. It ain’t over, yet.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Have something on your mind? Don’t keep it bottled up, put it in words and send it to Worcester Magazine! Letters to the editor are a great way to share your thoughts and opinions with thousands of readers and online viewers each week. There is no word limit, but we reserve the right to edit for length, so brevity is your friend. If handwritten, write legibly - if we cannot read it, we are not running it. Personal attacks and insults don’t fly with us, so save them for when someone cuts you off in traffic. A full name and town or city of residence are required. Please include an email address or phone number for verification purposes only. That information will not be published. Make sure your letter makes it into Worcester Magazine in a timely fashion — send it in by the Monday of the next issue. Please note that letters will run as space allows. Send them to Worcester Magazine, 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604 or by email to editor@worcestermag.com.

spy JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Winter Education Series

Worcester’s Children Get A Jumpstart

Megan Baynes

ixty percent of Worcester’s third-grade students are not reading proficient, according to last years MCAS scores. But hoping to change that is Jumpstart, an early national education organisation that works to engage college students and recruit them to deliver a language rich curriculum in under resourced neighbourhoods. A partner company of AmeriCorps, Jumpstart, whose motto is “Children First” is a yearlong program. College students will spend a minimum of two two-hour long sessions per week with children from low income backgrounds, as they work to improve their language and literacy skills. The mission, as stated on the website, jstart. org, is to close the gap between children from low - income neighbourhoods and their more affluent peers: “Imagine starting a race know-

ing more than half of your competitors will be given a 10-minute head start. Not exactly fair, is it? But for many children, this isn’t too far off from reality. That’s because in low-income neighborhoods, children start kindergarten 60 percent behind their peers from affluent communities, leaving them woefully unprepared.” In Worcester last year, 75 percent of students were eligible for free school lunch, which is considered low income. Julie Fitzpatrick, city program and site manager, said, “We have always had our eye on Worcester, and Worcester has had its eye on us. There are lots of colleges and volunteers, and there is a high need. There is a significant amount of children who fit the low income criteria, so for us it was a very natural fit.” The program will involve 33 students from Worcester State University, and aims to help 80 students at four different centers across Worcester.

“Worcester State made a lot of sense to us,” said Mark Reilly, regional vice president of Jumpstart. “They have a very involved civic engagement centre. They also have a very strong education programme and faculty with great experience around early education.” Twice a week, students known as core members will meet with the students twice a week for what Reilly called, “intensive and deep sessions.” These are based around focusing on 20 different core story books, and involve a range of activities. The ratio is no more than one core member to three students. By comparison, the average kindergarten will have 18 to 20 students working with one teacher and one aid. One of the program’s strengths is the core member-to-child ratio. Each child is assigned a core member, and this allows them to develop a bond with their mentor. Research demonstrates that social emotional skill development

is as important as the academic acquisition of skills. “It is so important for children to have people in their lives who care about them individually, who care about their success and are excited about learning,” Reilly said, “It encourages them.” Jumpstart is supported by several other institutions. As well as being a part of AmeriCorps, the organization is supported by The United Way of Central Mass and the Amelia Peabody Foundation. “We could have the most wonderful program in the world,” Reilly said, “but if we don’t have folks who see the value in our work and support us financially, we would not be able to operate.” Both Reilly and Fitzpatrick believe there is room for the program to expand in Worcester, and take on more colleges and more

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continued on page 17

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{ education } Winter Education Series

Choosing the right college STEVEN KING

Megan Baynes I might be from Britain, but even I know, with 2,675 schools and 50 states to choose from, applying to college in the U.S. is a difficult and stressful process. Whether you are a sophomore, have just completed your SATs, or are in your senior year, it’s never too early, or too late, to start thinking about college. Joan Bress, of College Resource Associates in Worcester, works with students, families and teachers to help normalize what can become a very complex procedure, more difficult than it needs to be. Bress helps students identify the key elements they need in a college, and then plays match maker to find the right destination for them. “Our goal,” Bress said, “is to help the students learn more about themselves. It is all part

of the growth process.” The key to navigating the college selection process is to start early, whether you plan to study in Massachusetts or Madrid. It might seem ages away when you are entering in your sophomore year, but before you know it, it will be the summer before your senior year, and you will be wishing you had started earlier. Time management and keeping track of deadlines are all important skills you might as well begin using before you start at college. And what about SATs and ACTs? This part all seems confusing, and there are a lot of unnecessary acronyms, so students should remember to use the resources available and not be afraid to ask for help. If Bress can help me understand what the SAT is, she can handle pretty much any American student. The SAT is revised every few years, with the continued on page 17

Joan Bress, founder of the College Resource Association, in her home office.

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{ education }

Winter Education Series

Tips for Parents of Incoming First Year Students

Real People. Real Learning. Real World.

Kara Senecal

o your child is off to college. Nothing left to discuss or worry about. Right? Wrong. Did you remember any of these on your college-prep checklist?

Money

You’ve probably spent so much time sweating over the price of tuition and textbooks, it’s understandable if you’ve forgotten about the other little expenses your kid will have: laundry cards, toiletries, gas, etc. You might be considering getting them a credit card to help them out. Don’t. Even if your child is responsible, it’s tempting to use the card for everything, and it could be easily stolen. A smarter idea would be to obtain pre-paid debit cards such as Green Dot or PayPal. You can load the card up with money from your account whenever your budding scholar needs it, and if someone does get a hold of it, they won’t be able to ruin anyone’s credit.

Safety

You’re probably worried about your child’s safety while they’re living on campus. To protect valuables, buy a safe box that can be easily hidden or attached to the floor or a heavy piece of furniture. Buy LoJack for cars, laptops (lojack.com/laptops) and cellphones (lojack.absolute.com), and heavy duty locks for bicycles (rei.com has a list of different locks available.) It’s a smart idea for your student to take martial arts classes (self-defense classes are good too, but martial art classes address a wider variety of situations and responses.) All students should have a small first aid kit, a list of emergency contact numbers, an AAA or similar card, an external battery pack to charge cell phones and a heavy duty flashlight. In addition, set a time with your student that you know you can call and reach them. That way you can be sure they’re safe.

Health

Here’s a multi-part problem. First part: nutrition. It’s well known that most students gain weight their first year at college (the infamous “freshman 15”) because it’s tempting to eat out all the time. Help your kids eat better by buying food from local

discount grocery chains. And I don’t mean Ramen Noodles — things like Marie Calendar chicken pot pies can be purchased at Price Rite for $2, and Market Basket takes coupons in addition to their discounted prices, so there’s no reason to not be eating well. Oh, and make sure they lay off the soda and energy drinks — the calories are not good. Second part: germs are everywhere, so make sure your kids are up to date on their physicals and have a supply of pain relievers, tissues, hand sanitizers, bottled water and Cold-Eez, and hammer home the need to get at least eight hours of sleep every night and stay hydrated. Third and disturbing part: drugs and alcohol. In recent years, more college students have started to abuse drugs like Ritalin to help them focus while studying. Side effects can be very serious, including seizures, rapid heartbeat, and even psychosis similar to schizophrenia, so if your kid doesn’t need it, make sure they understand what will happen to them if they do take it (ritalinsideffects.net.) Alcohol abuse is rapidly on the rise among college students, and according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 1,800 students between the ages of 18-24 will die from alcohol-related injuries, 695,000 will be physically assaulted by a drunken classmate, 97,000 will be subjected to sexual assault as a result of alcohol consumption, and chronic drinking affects grades, performance and class attendance. The NIAAA recom-

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continued on page 17

JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

{ education }

STEM degree earnings value on the rise COLLEGE Brendan Egan

There are a lot of ways to drain a bank account these days. One of the more hotly contested ways is to sink hard-earned paychecks into a college education. Many people are against fancy book learning because, let’s be honest, it can leave a lot to be desired in the earnings department. In fact, depending on your choice of major, it may even have diminishing returns. Worcester is no stranger to colleges. There are 15 schools in and around the city. As such it has its share of students filling its libraries and coffee shops, neck deep in textbooks, glazed look in constant battle for real estate with gleaming hope in their eyes. “When you pick your major, you obviously think about what career or future you like or could be good at. With that you either need to decide what the benefits of the job are to you,” said Heather Mannarino, 21, a sociology major at Clark University. “For instance, as a social worker your work is emotionally draining. People can be difficult to work with for little pay in comparison to selling insurance where you can make a decent amount of money doing a lot of mundane paperwork in an office from 9-5.” Whether or not you went to college, or think a college education has any value these days, taking a look at the degrees that lead to the best- and worst-paying jobs gives some insight into what America values. Based on a May 2015 Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce study, science, engineering and business related degrees all pull the highest income figures. The report looked at 137 majors and accounted for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Findings show the Top 10 best-paying majors were almost exclusively in engineering fields, with the odd major out being pharmaceutical science. Social services, education and other liberal arts degrees were at the bottom of the list. According to the study, “top-paying college majors earn $3.4 million more than the lowest-paying majors over a lifetime.” It comes as no surprise that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees lead the way in earnings. As some of us find out firsthand, there just is not a lot of demand for an English degree or employees

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

that majored in art history or theater. Unfortunately, that means that also means a lot of important fields are left behind. No one ever got rich in places like early education or in social work. Whatever major you are looking for, there is probably a path to get there in Worcester. If you are looking to start up again after a hiatus from education, you can get your foot back in the door at Quinsigamond Community college. There are a multitude of choices for schools that cater to everyone, from engineers to liberal arts majors. How much should earnings factor into a student’s decision when choosing a major, you may or may not have asked? It is tough to say objectively, but it seems to play at least a small part in the process no matter what. “I don’t think people are successful or happy long-term when they choose a major or future career solely based on potential income,” said Rachel Beckwith, a 30-year-old Worcester resident majoring in psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. “I don’t think the major I chose is necessarily a huge money-maker. Having said that, having a degree in general will give me the ability to make more money than I am now without one.” Choosing psychology worked in two ways for Beckwith. She has “always been interested in psychology,” she said. But she also believes psychology is a relatively diverse field, which will open up more career options for her. “For me,” she said, “money is necessary, but it’s not a deciding factor for what I want to do with my life. I find fulfillment not in my bank account but my work and making a difference in someone’s life. I’m a sociology major because I want to help people. Yeah, I won’t be a millionaire one day, but at least I’ll be happy and want to go to work each day,” said Mannarino. While college may not be for everyone, especially when an education can leave a person in crippling debt, there is a lot to be gained from school that may not be measured in digits on a paycheck. That being said, Georgetown reports that “STEM and Business majors are also the most popular majors.” Those fields make up 46 percent of degrees. Spending all that time, effort and money needs to feel worth it in the end. Kim Wendel, 20, is a Worcester resident business major concentrating in finance at

• JANUARY 7, 2016

Winter Education Series

THE ECON OMIC VAL UE

Anthony P. Carnev ale

MAJORS

Ban Cheah

Andrew R . Hanson

Executive Summary 2015

UMassBoston. If the results of the report are any indication, she picked the right field to study if she is looking to make her money back. “I feel like if I am going to spend all of this money on school, I should go for a degree that will help me earn a decent wage,” Wendel said. “I think we should all enjoy what we do, but considering pay in this day and age is also very important. I would have loved to become a social worker, but it does not pay that well. Finance is technically my second choice. Don’t get me wrong though, I really enjoy my major.” The Georgetown report comes at a time when the merit of a college education is under serious scrutiny. Presidential candidates prepping for the primaries - Tuesday, March 1 for Massachusetts - use education and living wages as platforms for their campaigns. As

the middle class appears to diminish, raising awareness of which paths lead to financial success becomes more and more important each day. “I don’t think people are successful or happy long-term when they choose a major or future career solely based on potential income,” said Beckwith. If you want to do what you love, more power to you. You can make a living, it just may not be as financially stable as other choices, depending on your pick. But if you’re looking to make a buck, there are obvious choices to choose or avoid. Pick your passion, but maybe stay away from that philosophy or art history degree if you plan to ever break the $50,000 mark.

TIPS continued from page 15

mends the best way to prevent your child from becoming another statistic is to have a serious and mature conversation with them on the dangers and consequences of abusing alcohol. Now the fourth, even more disturbing part: mental illness. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), 27 percent of college students report experiencing severe depression, 24 percent bipolar disorder, 6 percent schizophrenia, and 12 percent report other disorders such as anorexia. Many students suffer needlessly because they aren’t aware of mental health facilities that are available to them on campus. Whether your child has a mental illness or not, be sure both you and they are familiar with the school’s mental health policies, accommodations and mental health staff before the class year begins, and make sure they understand that that there is no shame in asking for help. Oh, and for Pete’s sake, buy them condoms if they’re too embarrassed to do it themselves. You might not want to think about it, but there’s going to be experimentation in college. It’s better that they be protected.

Changes

Be prepared for changes in your children. Your child is going be influenced by everybody

around them when they’re at school, and it’s going to affect their opinions and attitudes. There are a lot of nutty professors out there who treat their podiums as pulpits and carry on like fanatical sect leaders or rabid politicians. Case in point: in my first year of college, I had a professor spend almost 30 minutes complaining about why the United States is such an awful country, and then she had the nerve to get angry when I asked her why my Early 20th Century British Literature professor was wasting half of my class time whining about 21stcentury American politics. She wanted to make me believe she knew how the country should be run, and while I didn’t fall for it, other kids have. If your son or daughter starts spouting off some bizarre vitriol they heard from their professor, just take a deep breath, let them express their opinions not matter how screwed up it sounds, calmly offer a counterpoint and then let it go. Odds are they’ll grow out of it, so it’s not worth blowing your stack over it, unless they’re talking some crazy stuff, then by all means, step in before they do something stupid. You may notice changes in their appearance, their interests, their choice of study, their personal identities or even their sexual orientation, but don’t worry about it too much; they’re just learning to become independent individuals, and as long as no one is being harmed, accept

it the best you can and ride it out. College is a time of learning for both you and your child, and if you approach it with a little preparation, the journey towards graduation will go more smoothly for everyone involved. JUMPSTART continued from page 12

preschools. “I had a core member tell me the other day about a very quiet, and reserved child they were working with,” Fitzpatrick said. “They were learning the letters in his name, and finally he was able to remember all the letters. CHOOSING continued from page 14

latest revision trying to bring it more in line with the Common Core educational standards being adopted nationally. The ACT is another standardized test, but deciding between them is something that depends on the student, and some schools advise students to not take the SAT at all. This might seem like a confusing decision, so it is probably best not to make it on your own. “Colleges have become more competitive, and now there are different expectations, from the school, the family and the media,” Bress said. “This is to the detriment of our students.”

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The other student got excited, and was congratulating him and praising him, and the child got excited, too, and beamed up at him. They realized that this was the first time they had seen him smile. “That is what we are about: getting children excited about learning.” The best thing you can do is start the discussion early about what you plan to do with your future. Here’s the bottom line, the so-called secret to applying to college, as I see it: I’ve now studied in England and America, and the underlying theme I have found is college is what you make of it. What you can bring to the college experience is just as important as what the college experience can do for you. Regardless of what school you attend, from Yale to the London School of Economics, if you make the most of opportunities available, you will be successful. Plus, I hear England is nice this time of year.

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{ coverstory }

Common Core and The Fight Over Education sachusetts curriculum frameworks, which are what’s in place now. Those incorporated Common Core, but have additional Massachusetts features that make our standards unique to our state.” With the ability for each state to customize 15 percent of the standards, Reis said the Common Core standards are just a minimum. “Lots of schools will go way beyond this,” she says. “It depends on a lot of factors. You can think of the average high school, there are a lot of AP classes, college-ready classes going on. Kids are in different courses. We want all kids to have as many options as possible when graduating. These standards were seen as the best way of doing that.”

Corlyn Voorhees

he pride and joy of Massachusetts has always been education. With some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the nation – from Harvard to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to Worcester Polytechnic Institute – and top-ranking test scores in public schools, when it comes to education Massachusetts has always been the state to beat.

When Common Core came around in an effort to consort school standards across the nation, it seemed almost natural for the Bay State to become a leader in this effort as well – and 42 other states followed suit. Today, out of the 50 states, only eight states and one territory have not adopted Common Core Standards: Alaska, Indiana, Minnesota (who only adopted the English Language Arts standards), Nebraska, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. And that number may stand to increase due to conflicting opinions over the impact of the standards. While the majority of the country seemed on board with Common Core, approval rates have since declined as parents and teachers cry out against the standards, claiming they aren’t working. And while Common Core approval and disapproval ratings near 50-50 percentages, there’s a chance Massachusetts voters will get to vote on its fate on the 2016 ballot. So what exactly is Common Core and what was the effect on student scores throughout its implementation? Is the disapproval based on a general misunderstanding of what it is, or is it a result of seeing it in action in the communities? And if Common Core isn’t working, what

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION

should we do next?

WHAT IS COMMON CORE?

“It’s a set of curriculum frameworks for math and English language arts,” said Jackie Reis, spokesperson for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. “Curriculum frameworks are different from curriculum. Curriculum frameworks are a list of what kids should know and be able to do at each grade. It’s up to each district to choose the curriculum.” Achieve, a nonprofit education reform organization based in Washington D.C., is the group that developed the Common Core Standards. Michael Cohen, the president of Achieve, said Massachusetts played a leading role in the standards development. “The previous Massachusetts standards were among the best in the country,” he said. “The leadership from Massachusetts that participated in the decision to do this – the commissioner of education, Mitchell Chester, and the secretary

• JANUARY 7, 2016

of education, Paul Reville – said, ‘We think the idea of having common expectations across the state makes a lot of sense.’ [They] didn’t want to adopt anything less rigorous than what they had. By basically setting that bar, ‘It’s got to be better than what we’ve got,’ they basically set the demand for the rest of the country. Educators from Massachusetts were deeply involved with the drafting of the standards, the review, providing feedback, etc.” According to Linda Noonan, the executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, the Common Core standards were along the natural progression that Massachusetts was heading. “Common Core was comparable to what we were going to adopt anyways,” she said. “It was a prudent move for the state to adopt Common Core and we adopted it in July of 2010. We convened the standards committees in December or January of 2011, I believe, when the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education actually adopted the new Mas-

The Education Reform Act of 1993 was the act to start it all. According to the report “Building on 20 Years of Massachusetts Education Reform” from Commissioner of Education Mitchell Chester, the MBAE spent two years producing, “Every Child a Winner,” a detailed reform plan proposed in 1991 that would eventually become the basis for the Education Reform Act of 1993. The MBAE “and their contemporaries, both in and out of government, established the framework under which public education in Massachusetts has operated over the ensuing two decades,” and they’re “often credited with creating the intellectual framework and political impetus,” for the Education Reform Act of 1993, as stated in the same report. This statement is affirmed by Noonan. “My organization basically developed the conceptual framework for the Education Reform Act of 1993,” Noonan said. “This act helped to develop high uniform standards across the state.” Those standards, she said, are very important and need to be aligned to the “real world,” which involves the kinds of expectations students meet when they post-secondary training, higher education or jobs in the workforce. “Since the 1993 act was passed, we have had standards and we have regularly updated them continued on page 19

{ coverstory } COMMON continued from page 18

several times – English, math, science [and] technology, and other subjects,” said Noonan. Cohen echoes Noonan in citing the importance of preparing students for life after graduation. He said Achieve has been working to help states align the expectations for student learning with real-world demands that students will face for over a decade now. “It started with two things,” he said. “One is we worked with a group of experts to develop a set of criteria to set the quality of academic of things like focus and rigor and clarity, grade to grade. We reviewed the standards that many states had against those criteria in math and literacy.” This was the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network that Achieve launched in 2005, where Achieve “worked with post-secondary faculty, employers and high school educators in five states – of which Massachusetts was one – to try and identify the must-have literacy and mathematics skills,” said Cohen. The next thing to do, he said, was to ask a question: Are students usually required to show that they mastered those skills to graduate high school? “What we found was a gap between the skills needed for post-secondary success and the skills they needed to earn a diploma,” said

Cohen. “We’ve been working to close that gap for more than a decade now.” Throughout the year, Cohen said, Achieve challenged states to “raise their expectations for high school graduation, strengthen the rigor of academic standards, [and] make sure some of the testing students have to do at high school level measure those standards and will tell students if they’re prepared.” Over the course of 2005, 35 states signed on to that agenda. The first area most states chose to work on, he said, was revising their math and literacy standards to be more in line with the real world standards. “At some point, as many states had finished revising their standards, we looked across the states and there were a lot of differences in what states expected of students,” said Cohen. “We identified a common core of expectations that all states had. At the same time, there was a lot of discussion around the country about a need for national standards and we argued that [with] the work we had been doing, it was possible for there to be a statewide effort to create standards.” This led to the creation of the Common Core standards, in an effort to create academic standards that applied across the nation to get every state on the same page in regards to student academic expectations.

“You can only do that by moving very quickly through the curriculum, doing it in a shallow manner, and winding up at the end with many students that haven’t mastered what’s most important.” - Michael Cohen, president of Achieve, on pre-Common Core educational standards. “Our department was in the process of looking to updating those frameworks at the time Common Core was coming together – those two efforts merged,” said Reis. “Common Core only applies to English language arts and math and those Massachusetts curriculum frameworks incorporated the Common Core in 2010. [The board] felt the Common Core standards were at least as strong as we had before. They weren’t going to take a step backward.” Because standards are so important and “we’re not standards experts,” Noonan said, hearing different stories about the benefits and negatives of Common Core led the MBAE to have independent research done to provide evidence if the standards were the right move for the state. This led to MBAE to commission

WestEd – a “nonpartisan, nonprofit research, development, and service agency,” according to their website, and a “nationally-respected educational research organization,” said Noonan – to create a 500-page report reviewing and comparing the old state standards to the proposed Common Core standards. “They basically came out and said, ‘They’re pretty much the same except for the fact that the Common Core has more strategic-thinking in math and more persuasive writing and reading of more comprehensive and complex texts in English,’” said Noonan. “Those are things the business community were seeing as deficient in people coming into the workforce and felt those were good things.” continued on page 20

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{ coverstory } COMMON continued from page 19

When Massachusetts decided to implement Common Core, the planning stage started in 2010. According to the Department of Education’s transition plan, 2010-2011 was used to “build awareness and identify what needs to change and how it will be changed.” Partial implementation started in 2011, where changes were continued to be made in certain grades, subjects and courses, and from 2012-2013, Common Core standards would be almost fully implemented across the state – where they are still in place today, unless the critics have something to say about it.

THE RIGHT CHOICE?

Cohen said there are a number of strengths to Common Core, as opposed to the previous Massachusetts standards. “One, we know there is a huge gap in the complexity of texts that students typically read in high school based on the complexity of texts when they walk into a college classroom,” he said. “We have not been preparing students with the reading skills necessary to take on a reading in any kind for a post-secondary training program. A second one has to do with writing. [Students have] been asked to write their opinions about something, but not neces-

sarily draw evidence from things they’ve read or gathered in other ways and write a coherent argument.” In math, Cohen said, one of the weaknesses in standards across the country, as one critic put it, is they are “a mile wide and an inch deep,” where students are expected to learn 40 different topics in a year. “You can only do that by moving very quickly through the curriculum, doing it in a shallow manner, and winding up at the end with many students that haven’t mastered what’s most important,” Cohen said. “Common Core has fewer topics, written in a way so students know the standard way of solving math problems, but they also need to understand what’s going on behind the numbers so they know how to think mathematically and conceptually what the math is all about.” Another strength, Cohen said, is Common Core amps up the rigor for what’s expected of students. “In Massachusetts, to pass MCAS, you basically need to master mathematics that students in high-performing countries around the world learn in eighth grade, basically a 10th-grade test to measure eighth grade skills,” Cohen says. “[It’s] not rigorous enough to ensure readiness to take the credit-bearing courses in post-secondary education.”

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Despite the overall praise from advocates like Cohen and Noonan, the approval rating for Common Core has dropped since its inception. As of a 2015 poll administered by Education Next, when answering the first question asking respondents whether they support or oppose the use of Common Core in their state, the opposition included: 35 percent of the public, 41 percent of parents and 49 percent of teachers. For the approval rating for the same question: 49 percent of the public, 47 percent of parents and 40 percent of teachers. These percentages are down from responses to the same question in Education Next’s 2013 survey. The 2013 approval rating included: 65 percent of the public, 76 percent of teachers and 62 percent of parents. While its appears that overall support for Common Core has gone down, Paul Peterson, who works for Education Next, cited multiple factors about the survey that should to be considered. In his article, “Common Core: How Much Do People Know About Its Real Impact?” on Education Next’s website, he reacted to the 2015 survey results that his colleagues and he reported. While overall approval rating for Common Core went down, Peterson noted, “opponents still number only about a third of the public, with the rest offering no opinion one way or the other.” To the first question he discusses, asking if Common Core was implemented in their state, only 44 percent of the survey respondents who lived in the 43 Common Core states said yes – meaning 56 percent, over half, either answered incorrectly with “no” or answered “unsure.” For the seven states that have not implemented Common Core, 24 percent answered “yes,” even though that was incorrect. As Peterson wrote, “…most people, no matter where they lived, simply didn’t know.” For the second question regarding the impact of Common Core, Peterson said they focused on the 44 percent of survey respondents who lived in the 43 Common Core States for their answers. Of that 44 percent, 29 percent said there was a positive effect, and 51 percent said the effect had been negative. For the subgroup of teachers in that 44 percent, the majority said the effect was negative – 30 percent positive versus 49 percent negative. “These responses, by teachers and citizens alike, could be just temporary negative responses to the difficulty of adjusting to a new system where some tests are being administered over a computer and, in many states, being used for the purpose of evaluating teachers’ effectiveness,” Peterson said. He also cites media coverage as a possible

factor over local experience. “In those seven states that had no Common Core at all, 48 percent of the public said Common Core had a negative effect on their schools, while only 36 percent perceived a positive impact,” he wrote. “Those answers are bogus, because Common Core could not have had any effect at all in these non-adopting states.” Despite what he refers to as a generally uninformed public, he said it is important to note, while only 12 percent of all teachers opposed Common Core in their 2013 survey, the percentage had grown to “half the teaching force” – or 49 percent – in the 2015 survey. Despite the disapproval ratings, Reis believes Common Core standards were the right choice for the state. “Our board wouldn’t have approved them if they were weaker standards than we had,” said Reis.

COMPARING THE SCORES

With the controversy surrounding education in Massachusetts over the years, it is important to compare the scores, starting with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report of Massachusetts’ state results from 2009 – before Common Core was introduced – and from 2015 – after full implementation of Common Core. The NAEP test is administered in late January through early March by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics. State assessments by the NAEP began in 1990, in which every state must participate in assessments for grades 4 and 8 in reading and mathematics, every two years. NAEP assesses a representative sample of students in the grades tested – which is roughly 2,500 to 3,000 in each state in each grade for each subject tested. To do this, NAEP samples between 100 and 200 schools for both grade levels. The reports are provided on the Department of Education’s website. Throughout the years, Massachusetts has scored higher than the national average in both grades 4 and 8 on the mathematics assessments and the reading assessments. continued on page 21

{ coverstory } STEVEN KING

COMMON continued from page 20

For the reading assessments, the average score in 2009 for Massachusetts’ fourth-graders was 234 and for eighth-graders was 274. In 2015, the average score for Massachusetts’ fourth-graders was 235 and for eighth-graders was 274. For the mathematics assessments, the average score in 2009 for Massachusetts’ fourthgraders was 252 and for eighth-graders was 299. In 2015, the average score for Massachusetts’ fourth-graders was 251 and for eighthgraders was 297. MCAS results, also available on the Department of Education’s website, showed improvements between 2009 and 2015 in the percentage of students scoring at the “proficient” level or higher. From third-grade to 10th-grade (excluding ninth-grade, which had no available information), every grade had higher percentages or stayed the same between 2009 and 2015 in all MCAS tests, except for Grade 4 mathematics (which decreased from 48 percent in 2009 to 47 percent in 2015). Grades 4 and 7 ELA percentages remained the same between 2009 and 2015, with Grade 4 at 53 percent and Grade 7 at 70 percent. All other grades increased in all other tests by a minimum of 2 percent and a maximum of 12 percent, showing overall improvement in the amount of

students scoring at a minimum of “proficient” or above.

THE BALLOT QUESTION

Worcester native and School Committee member Donna Colorio is heading the charge to bring the fate of Common Core in Massachusetts to the 2016 ballot. In 2013, after losing a re-election bid to the School Committee, she started Common Core Forum, which advocates for abandoning the Common Core standards in Massachusetts. “This group is a nonpartisan group, just parents and teachers,” said Colorio, who ran again and won back her school board seat in November. “We’re loosely put together and we decided to educate people on Common Core and bring in speakers. We’ve done about 50 forums or so within the state within 15 months. “For me, traveling the state, visiting many communities, talking to thousands of parents, teachers, administrators and elected officials – everyone along the spectrum [is] realizing that this is a nightmare. Common Core is a nightmare. It’s a disaster.” Colorio established the END COMMON CORE MA ballot question committee that directly handles the pursuit of the Common Core ballot question. What Colorio and others are looking to do is return to the Massachusetts standards,

pre-Common Core. “Common Core has set us back,” she says. “It’s a bad experiment. Standards need to be the states’ right to have whatever standards they want. We believe we should go back to our standards, pre-2010.” Back in September, the proposed Common Core ballot question was certified as constitutional by Attorney General Maura Healey. The next step for Colorio was to collect the required amount of signatures – 64,750 – by December. School Committee member Donna Colorio talks According to a posting on endcommoncorema.com dated Dec. about Common Core. 3, the group delivered 100,000 to go forward with this, then we have another raw signatures - 80,000 certified – to Secretary eight weeks to collect another 11,000 certified of State William F. Galvin. According to the signatures and then it will be officially on the web site, the group was expected to learn by ballot.” Jan. 6 whether the question would be included If the legislation passes on her proposal, on the ballot. Colorio said she is not worried about obtaining The next step is the petition “will be put in the required signatures to get the question on front of the legislation to see if they are willing the ballot. to file a bill that will pull us out of Common “We got 500 volunteers to go out on the Core,” said Colorio. “They have until the first street and collect signatures,” she said. “EveryWednesday of May, I believe, to act upon where I was, the people who were in education, that. If they choose not to file a bill and not continued on page 22

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had kids or were teachers, I would have to say 95 percent said ‘Thank you.’” According to Noonan, reverting back to the pre-Common Core standards would throw away 20 years of work the state has done since the reform act in 1993. “The ballot question would propose going back to old standards that were under revision eight years ago, anyway and we were ready for new standards,” said Noonan. “What the ballot question proposes is really turning back the clock. It’s going back to standards that we already as a state in a regular process rejected as not meeting our needs and we had already gone through the effort of developing new standards.” On the contrary, Colorio claims the curriculum should be updated, not the standards. “Curriculum is always updated,” she said. “Your standards are different. Curriculum is updating, not standards. Standards are benchmarked.” Noonan said the idea of having voters who do not understand all the technical aspects of standard settings vote on the fate of the issue is troubling. “It’s not an easy ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer,” she said. “The standards are approaching almost 10 years old. We would also be setting up a process for developing standards that would be totally new and would not use the process we’ve developed over 20 years to set high standards. It would also do one other thing – require the release every year of 100 percent of the test items. She said the cost estimates of developing just one test item are thousands of dollars because of the factors that go into creating the items. “It takes field testing,” Noonan said. “There are some questions that are being field tested and you do field tests to make sure the questions work [and] there is not something in there causing confusion. If you release 100 percent of the items every year, you essentially have a costly undertaking to develop a brand new test for next year. I haven’t heard of anywhere that releases 100 percent of items every year. What usually happens is a sampling of test items are released every year. That sample cannot be used again, but a lot of the questions can be used for multiple years. I think the proponents of the question ought to be asked “what is the cost implication of that part of the question?” According to the “Spring 2014 MCAS Tests: Summary of State Results,” released by the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education: “Prior to 2009, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released 100 percent of the MCAS common items to the public after each test administration for use as a tool to improve curriculum and instruction. Beginning in 2009, in order to reduce testing time and test development costs, the Department began releasing approximately 50 percent of the

common items for grades 3–8 while continuing to release 100 percent of the common items at the high school level (with the exception of the Chemistry and Technology/ Engineering tests in 2009 and Chemistry in 2014, for which no common items were released).” In response to concerns about cost, Colorio asked, “Can you put a price tag on your children’s education when this is a failure? I look at it more like they had no problems getting rid of the Massachusetts standards, so I don’t think money is the issue. If we move forward by adopting our old standards, everything is in place for that. The Massachusetts standards make more sense. Common Core is a whole different ball game.” Another problem, Colorio said, is Common Core rewards mediocrity rather than creativity. “No kid aspires to be common,” she says. “They want to strive to be exceptional. Common Core teaches to the common denominator. While Massachusetts is still number one in many areas of education, Noonan points to the raw scores. “We’re number one at very low proficiency rates,” she says. “Our students are in the 50 percent range on proficiency,” which is essentially why Common Core came about, she said. “Can you imagine [that] we’re the best in the country at that level? It’s ridiculous. That means the whole country is not doing well in getting all its children to proficiency and proficiency, we’re discovering, is not even a high enough bar. We need to teach them to a higher standard.” And a number one ranking doesn’t mean always mean success, said Noonan. “In Massachusetts, we should stop deluding ourselves that scoring means we’re doing great because its means we’re the best in a performing group of states,” she said. “I believe there’s a transition as there always is when new standards are introduced, but they’re really consistent with the direction we’ve been moving for 20 years. These are just an update, not a major overhaul. For other states, they’re a bigger leap because other states were farther behind us. For Massachusetts, it was a normal progression.” Any lower scores, Noonan said, are a result of higher expectations and some implementation adjustments. “It is not a sign that the standards are not great standards,” she said. “It’s a sign that we’re not getting our kids to where they need to be and we’re adjusting to that. That’s what we need to do.” Still, the fight is still on to get the question on the ballot and if Colorio gets her way, voters will determine its fate in 2016. “Massachusetts has always been a leader in education, not a follower,” Colorio said. “It only seems right that we would be the first state in the country to challenge this because we’re showing leadership in saying, ‘We don’t want this anymore.’ Once we show we’re capable of doing this, I’m sure many states will follow.”

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Let’s get this out of the way, first: Worcester is not unique in having a lot of car accidents involving pedestrians and bikes. But this is our city, and that’s what we’re focusing on here. For a variety of reasons, not all of which are the driver’s fault, a lot of pedestrians are hit in this city. Some streets are worse than others; Lincoln Street is one we have harped on. Most recently, a man was hit on Belmont Street while, according to sources, either walking with or riding his bike in the road. The city has implemented bike lanes in some cases, but to say Worcester is bike friendly would be a stretch. We believe a citywide outreach is needed. More signs, more flyers, maybe some community meetings. We also believe the city and state must come up with the cash to address some of the more problematic roadways. While, for example, Lincoln Street was worked on relatively recently, it remains a dangerous place to be for pedestrians. By the same token, walkers and cyclists also must be reminded of their responsibilities. Nonetheless, in this area Worcester did not meet our expectations.

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

JANUARY 7, 2016 - January 13, 2016 | art | dining | nightlife

• JANUARY 7, 2016

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Worcester Art Museum Presents Cyanotypes:

Photography’s Blue Period Joshua Lyford

yanotype is not a word many may be familiar with, though the defining blue-hued photographs that the printing process creates is easily recognizable and distinct. The prints themselves, with their cyan tone (hence the name) can be picked out of a crowd easily and are beloved by many, yet, until now, no major United States exhibition had ever given them their proper glory. That all changes with the Worcester Art Museum’s “Cyanotype: Photography’s Blue Period,”exhibition. This is the first fully realized exhibition in the country, ever, and the show is opening on Jan. 16, with a formal opening event on Feb. 18. The project is a collaboration between the Worcester Art Museum and co-curator and Worcester Art Museum assistant curator of prints, drawings and photographs, Nancy Burns, and Clark University and Clark asso-

ciate professor in the visual and performing arts department, Kristina Wilson. The project started out with another first: bringing Clark students on board from the start to help organize pieces and assist in labeling. The educational benefits are obvious, but further, the co-curators said the project began with “modest” intentions, but blossomed quickly, if not a bit unexpectedly. “She [Burns] had a whole group of cyanotypes that hadn’t gotten much exposure,” said Wilson. “We thought it was a narrow topic, but it kept on unfolding in front of us.” Wilson and Burns have worked together over the last decade and set out with the intention of a collaboration and the cyanotype pieces in the Worcester Art Museum collection seemed like the perfect beginning. The collection was a great start, but what they found as they began the task of laying out the exhibition was that cyanotypes represented an interesting dichotomy: they were at once becoming “hip” in photography circles, while being vastly underrepresented at the museum level. A side effect of this discovery is that all interested eyes are on the museum’s upcoming exhibition. If you’re the first to do something, expectations are high. “That added a lot of pressure,” said Burns. “Like it or not, this is the show that people will refer to. Hopefully it will become a touchstone, this is a very important exhibition.” The art represented in the exhibition is vast, there are 77 pieces included, and while the museum had a significant number of pieces in their collection, once word got out of a cyanotype exhibition, many pieces were loaned for the duration. Another interesting component of Cyanotypes: Photography’s Blue Period is the number of women represented. From Anna Atkin’s “Honey Locust Leaf and Pod” from

around 1854 to Barbara Kasten’s “Photogenic Painting untitled 75/31” from the mid ‘70s, women offer many of the focal points in the exhibition. “That’s something we were very happy about,” said Wilson. Part of the magic of cyanotypes is the simplicity. It was easy to grasp the process following its inception in the 1842. The process was invented by English scientist and astronomer Sir John Herschel and was relatively straightforward to utilize. “It’s a pretty easy combination of chemicals,” explained Wilson. “They are easy to find and easy to mix. Once it’s dried, it is ready to show.” Any camera that utilizes a negative (of any type) could be made into a cyanotype print, but objects could be used as well. The process is incred-

ibly versatile, even by today’s standards, but significantly more so around the turn of the century. It could be exposed by the sun and washed in water, no darkroom needed. The trade off to this simplicity is that many of the established photographers of the time continued on page 28

JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 7, 2016

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BLUE continued from page 25

shunned the process, leaving cyanotypes “virtually invisible” in the history of photography, according to the curators. “They were kind of the Polaroid photos of their day in that everyone made them,” said Burns. “Yet, the fine photography establishment kind of turned their nose at them.” Still, cyanotypes are getting their due and that distinct blue hue is getting the respect it may well deserve. “I think the blue is so patently false, it’s such an obvious fiction,” said Wilson. “In our post-modern world, I think we are drawn to that.” “We tend to relate to photographs as a representation, or symbol, of what they represent,” she continued. “Cyanotypes are the object.” In addition to the collection of captivating pieces currently being hung at the museum, Clark University students were able to learn from the curating process of the exhibition. Wilson taught an a class on cyanotypes, including in-depth research on artists in the show as well as meeting museum conservation team members, matters, framers and watch the process unfold.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 7, 2016

“We wanted the students to get a sense of the much larger part of having an exhibition,” said Wilson. This was a huge learning opportunity for those students in the class and while they each wrote essays on a particular artist, they also labeled the pieces in the show and learned about each. “My professional belief is that a curator should be able to speak to some degree on every piece in the show,” said Burns. “A curator has that responsibility to the show.” As the show nears its opening, art, photography and cyanotype enthusiasts are getting more and more excited. “There is still so much to be done,” said Wilson. “What is blue? There is this whole other layer to this.” Head to the Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., on Saturday, Jan. 16, or the formal opening Feb. 18. The exhibition will run through April 16. You can find out more information on the museum online at Worcesterart.org. Reporter Joshua Lyford can be reached at 508-749-3166, ext. 325, or by email at Jlyford@worcestermagazine.com. Follow Josh on Twitter @Joshachusetts.

night day THE &

Lyford F iles

Joshua Lyford

I LOVE THE POWERGLOVE, IT’S SO BAD: Unfor-

i GO

tunately, there are no Powergloves at Ralph’s Diner’s Starcade events on Tuesday evenings, but you can be a wizard. The first event and subsequent events seemed like this might be a quick over-and-out sort of thing, but it has continued to recur and has been absolutely awesome. Here is the gist: approximately four games (usually classics, or at at least old games) are chosen by game-master Anthony Bridgford, and those on hand compete in various challenges in a pseudo roundrobin style tournament. Once it gets down to the playoffs, a championship round is held, with the winner getting the grand prize of $25. The money is nothing next to the glory, however, and the evenings are an absolute blast. Bridgford knows his games, and there is always a good mix of popular classics that demand skill and random games most will be unfamiliar with that serve as a sort of control for learning game mechanics quickly. They fly by and the crowd is fun and upbeat, so don’t be afraid to get in there and try.

Monday, Thursday, Saturday 6:15pm

EVEN THE LUGERS GET LUCKY SOMETIMES: It is incredibly rare (and probably for good

n $200 worth of door prizes, $5 Lottery ticket raffles

reason) that I get to reference Tom Petty in anything, let alone this column, so I had no choice but to run with it. I’m sorry. It won’t happen for another six months, I swear. When life throws a softball like this at you, you’ve just got to swing. Anyway, Friday, Jan. 8 should be a fun one with a Friday Night Skate hosted by Saint-Gobain at the Worcester Common Oval. While it is unlikely anyone is getting too excited about the building materials sliding across the ice, what should get people excited is the U.S. Luge Team being in attendance, skating with fans new and old and at 6 p.m. luge demonstration/exhibition. Saint-Gobain sponsors the team and skating is free for the evening, though you will still need $3 to rent some skates. Free skating and learning about the U.S. luge team is a pretty cool way to spend a Friday night, if I do say so myself and, while they haven’t said who, there will be current and former Olympic athletes in attendance. Hey, if you’re going to learn about luge, why not learn from Olympic pros? See you there.

HOLY PUCK: I’ll make this quick since it’s a bit self-aggrandizing, but I figure I have to listen to enough voicemail, Twitter and email abuse to warrant a bit of back-patting when I am writing in the first person. The hockey/fantasy hockey podcast “Holy Puck” invited me to be a co-host on their most recent episode and it is certainly, well, something. The two full time hosts are Australians (one I met on tour a decade ago in Australia and got me hooked on Vegemite), so our schedules were way off, meaning my call in was at 4:30 a.m. If you see me this week and I act like a zombie, sorry, my internal clock is all out of wack. You can find the podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud and Stitcher. The focus was the Winter Classic game at Gillette Stadium between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. I was lucky enough to attend and throw in my two cents as well as some year-end awards, takes and opinions. Check it out if listening to two drunk Australians and one sleeping Worcester resident is your idea of a good time. CAN WE START AGAIN?: Hardcore stalwarts, Bane, played their two back-to-back 20th anniversary shows last weekend and they were doozies. I can’t speak from experience on the Saturday evening show with Dive, Reach the Sky, Caught in a Crowd and FREE, as tickets

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JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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{ film } Eight men out of luck Jim Keogh

Quentin Tarantino has made himself into a brand as identifiable as the Nike swoosh and as comfortable as a bowl of Cheerios. Oh, he still has the ability to surprise now and then, sometimes with an exploding body part, other times with a lacerating monologue. But when I sit down to watch one of his films, I pretty much know what’s headed my way, to the point where if Samuel L. Jackson isn’t separating somebody’s brains from his skull I start to wonder if QT has lost his mojo. He is in full, fine form with “The Hateful Eight,” a baroque, blood-bathed Western that reaches into the past (an Ennio Morricone score!) and then twists the genre by its chaps-covered scrotum. Tarantino made much noise about filming in 70mm, the better to illuminate the wondrous Wyoming vistas featured in the movie’s extended opening, and later in a particularly gruesome, and likely partly made-up, flashback (Tarantino is also keen to tweak the industry’s embrace of the less grand digital format). In fact, most of the film occurs inside the stifling confines of a cabin during a blizzard, where a gaggle of liars, cheats and killers gathers to lie, cheat and kill one another until very few remain — “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” crosspollinated with “Ten Little Indians.” Jackson is Civil War veteran-turned-

bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren, who hitches a ride on a passing carriage commandeered by a rival bounty hunter, John Ruth (Kurt Russell), transporting foulmouthed murderer Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to her hanging in the town of Red Rock. Also joining the party is Chris Mannix (Walter Goggins), a southern cracker and former Confederate soldier who claims to be Red Rock’s new sheriff and whose allegiances will evolve in unexpected ways over the course of the film. Their journey is awash in Tarantinian dialogue — too much of it by my reckoning — that is typically sly, profane and menacing. A letter purportedly written by Abraham Lincoln is produced, as are handcuffs. Someone ends up with a smashed nose, and I’d like to say it’s one of the guys, but can’t. As the storm hits, the four take refuge inside Minnie’s Haberdashery, which is occupied by a group of men of unknown origin and suspicious motivation. Among them are the crotchety General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern), cowboy Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), Bob the Mexican (Demian Bichir), and effete British gentleman Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), who coincidentally is the newly hired hangman at Red Rock and is traveling there to execute Daisy. Here’s where Tarantino goes into his dance. “The Hateful Eight” unfolds like a stage play, where men driven by greed, revenge and spite try to figure out how they’ll emerge alive from this claustrophobic nightmare in which the paranoia has settled like a sodden tarp. The interplay turns ugly and funny (Jackson and Goggins steal the show); it’s spiced with bombastic tirades and burrows into matters of race and the fluid nature of truth before culminating with blood geysers.

LYFORD continued from page 29

sold out way too fast for me to snag one, but by all accounts it was incredible. Not that this is any sort of a surprise, Bane has been doing what they do, and doing it well, for 20 years, not something to scoff at in any genre, but particularly hardcore. I can, however, speak from experience on the Sunday follow-up anniversary show, which was added due to the rapid sell out of the first. Bane, Dive, Down to Nothing, Mountain Man and Labeled all put on a good show, and getting the number of people they did out two nights in a row in Central Mass is a pretty huge deal, as is getting that number of people out on a Sunday night, an evening generally reserved for binge watching various Netflix programs. This was not Bane’s final show. No, that has been building since their announcement last year around

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 7, 2016

There is a school of thought (or more accurately, a debate raging across online message boards) that Tarantino has jumped the shark with “The Hateful Eight,” that it’s little more than a pastiche of homages to the greats and self-plagiarism from his earlier films. As I noted earlier, Tarantino is a trademark now, so that even the cleverness and outrageousness feel as packaged as macaroni and cheese in a box. Thing is, every now and then I want to dine on mac and cheese. “The Hateful Eight” delivers as promised.

the release of “Don’t Wait Up,” but there is a solid chance this will be Bane’s final Worcester show before they say goodnight permanently. There are a lot of people Bane meant the world to, and hopefully everyone who wanted to be on hand to send them off with a bang were at Club Oasis/London Billiards and. To those who weren’t, keep your fingers quick on the trigger when the final Massachusetts show announcement is made, I guarantee tickets will go quickly. Reporter Joshua Lyford can be reached at 508-7493166, ext. 325, by establishing the diagonal lines between three distant stars, coordinating their end points and sending three rapid laser beacon signals to the points, or by email at Jlyford@worcestermagazine.com. Follow Josh on Twitter @Joshachusetts.

ELEONORA CHATZOPOULOU

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Choose-your-own adventure books give anyone with the ability to read ownership of their story experience. Chuan Shabu’s hot pot-dining gives anyone with the ability to put things in hot broth access to a nearly endless amount of dining combinations and true ownership of their experience. When you walk through the door at Chuan Shabu, the warm smell of soup and sound of pleasant conversation greets you. Hot potstyle restaurants allow you to pick a broth and ingredients for your soup that you create right

at your table. They are the perfect activityoriented dinner for groups, and our trio was eager to dive in. Chuan Shabu has a plethora of ingredients that range from seasonal vegetables to Kobe beef. The wait staff will happily walk you through the most popular and common combinations, but ultimately the decision is all your own. With broths that can get very spicy and so many ingredients from the a la carte menu, its easy to make a unique dish. We settled on something a bit more straightforward, selecting the seafood platter ($18) that not only included a plate of raw clams, tuna, squid, flounder and shrimp, but also a cup of mixed veggies and a choice of noodles. We selected the thin vermicelli noodles and the Japanese miso broth base ($4) for our soup. From there it is as simple as dropping the ingredients in and dining away after a few minutes. If you can make a cup of noodles you can be trusted with this cooking venture, all while looking and feeling like a pro. Everything cooked wonderfully on the induction stove top that heats the bowl, but not you, and once everything started to smell right we turned down the heat and dove in. The light miso soup played perfectly with the

seafood and the veggies, creating a soup that let you explore the flavors of all the various meat and veggies. In addition to the broth, a number of extra ingredients such as garlic, jalapenos and hot peppers were brought to the table to further augment the flavor of the dish. For those who don’t trust themselves to make soup, or want a slightly quicker dining experience right from the kitchen, Chuan Shabu has a whole slew of cooked food options. Before diving into the soup we decided to munch on the tempura tofu ($5.95). The tofu in this dish was delicately fried on the outside, creating a crispy shell encasing the smooth tofu inside. The same went for the General Tso’s tofu ($9.95) that sported an orange-style sauce that mixed tangy, sweet and spicy to great effect. The dining experience at Chuan Shabu not

only

gives you excellent food, and drinks with Mai Tais and sangria at $5 year, it makes you feel like a chef in charge of your dining destiny. And with friendly staff who help create an environment that encourages you to take your time and enjoy the company of those you are dining with, Chuan Shabu should definitely be considered for your next dining excursion. Total bill: $38 before tip.

Worcester’s Best Chef Competition 9TH ANNUAL

YOU VOTE

MECHANICS HALL | 321 MAIN ST., WORCESTER | SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2016 | 5-8:30PM PRESENTED BY

Worcester’s Best Chef Competition is the premier culinary event throughout Central New England and boasts the most exclusive, creative and finest epicurean masterpieces to be found anywhere. This event showcases the highest level of culinary talent in the region, and also assists students of the culinary arts. Come eat, drink and vote your palate in the People’s Choice competition — taste through selections from prestigious wineries & craft beer brewers, experience the thrill of a live Iron Chef competition, and be part of the landmark event to crown Worcester’s Best Chef! Individual Entrance Times & Ticket Prices Vary Please Go Online To Reserve Your Arrival

2015 Overall Iron Chef Winner: Tim Russo Formerly of Volturno Pizza Napoletana, Worcester Now Owner of Lock 50 in Worcester

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WorcestersBestChef.com JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

krave IT’S EASY BEING GREEN

BITE SIZED

A big shout out to Kathryn Stanley, whom you may remember from Sweet Kitchen & Bar and Volturno on Shrewsbury Street (in the same building as Worcester Magazine, thank you very much). Stanley is now general manager of Viriditas on Waldo Street, working in partnership with owners Bob and Tim Moynagh, they of Moynagh’s Tavern

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in Worcester. “Viriditas” is the Latin word for “greenness,” meaning growth or lushness. Stanley, who has two employees helping her out, certainly hopes to experience growth in her new venture. As Stanley tells it, the idea of Viriditas came about after she waited on Tim Moynagh one night at Volturno. “He had the idea of opening up this place,” she said. “We realized the area could use this.” The coffee shop/specialty market sounds like it could be a big hit. In addition to java, you can choose from a variety of cheeses, spices and more from the market. Best of all? Most of the products, like the maple syrup from Auburn, are local. Viriditas opened last month. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and there’s a good chance no matter when you stop by, you’ll catch Stanley.

TAKING A NEW ROUTE If you like Chinese food – and who doesn’t – your options are about to expand. We hear a new Chinese restaurant will be opening where the former Route 56 Roadside Bar & Grill (and its previous incarnations) once welcomed folks for pool and music. If you’ve dined at Jasmine in Auburn, the bartender there is opening up the new restaurant in Oxford. Renovations are being done now.

A GOURMET TREAT Word is the “Phantom Gourmet” will be in town Friday, Jan. 8 to size up Livia’s Dish on Main Street in Worcester. Locals already know the dish on Livia’s, so it’s good to see the Andelmans catching on. We wish the husband and wife team of Chef Enton and Oriola Koci nothing but the best while the Phantom is around.

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 7, 2016

Everyone loves a good “All You Can Eat” deal, and IHOP has one for you. Going on now, right up through Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, you can scoff down all the pancakes you want – all day long. Start off with either five buttermilk pancakes or a short stack of two pancakes with a combo plate of eggs, hash browns and choice of meat, then keep on ordering a short stack of pancakes until you’re stuffed. While you’re at it, choose one topping: strawberries, blueberries, cinnamon apples or peaches. We’re ready for breakfast right now. Locally, you can head to IHOP in Shrewsbury, 70 Boston Turnpike. “Since the moment we opened 57 years ago, our guests have been able to get the perfect breakfast any time of day,” said Kirk Thompson, vice president of marketing for IHOP. “And now, with the return of All You Can Eat pancakes, one of our most beloved traditions, it’s even easier for our guests and fellow breakfastarians to get their fill of our warm, delicious, buttermilk pancakes, morning, noon and night through Feb. 14. And what better time to end this promotion than Valentine’s Day, when breakfasterians can celebrate their love of IHOP.” That’s right guys, if you’re out of V-Day ideas for your SO, pancakes just may do the trick.

IN THE HOUSE We know you just can’t get enough good coffee, and one of our faithful readers tells us the joe doesn’t get much better than at Sturbridge Coffee House, 407b Main St., Sturbridge. You can get some tasty breakfast sandwiches there as well. The coffee is served up Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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{ listings}

music >Thursday 7

Mizz Kitsune Electro Fusion. 21+ with proper ID Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629. Static Variations: Blue x 2 by Terri Priest. This Master Series celebrates the work of beloved Worcester artist, Terri Priest (1928-2014). It highlights her painting Static Variations: Blue x 2 (1971-72), a diptych of arrow-shaped fields of blue and alternating black and white stripes, which together create a pulsating visual effect. In its rigorous exploration of optical stimuli, the painting appears to have much in common with Op Art, yet Priest refused her contemporaries’ rejection of content for form. Instead, she saw her artwork as deeply connected to larger social issues. Priest was active in the Civil Rights movement, and paintings such as Static Variations: Blue x 2 emerged from her activism: “My works are politically motivated-that’s not an overstatement,” she explained. “For every white line there was a black line. One plus one is equal to more than two.” Free with Museum admission. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Open Mic Most Thursdays @ Barbers North. To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) Network * Collaborate * Learn. Over sixty different musicians regularly support my open mic nights all are friendly and supportive -- and many are: * Former or currently signed recording artists * Award-winning pro’s or semi-pro’s * Regularly gigging paidperformers * Published songwriters * Recording studio owner/operators * Combinations of any and/or all of the above. To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8438. Dan Cormier. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Rye & Thyme, 14 Monument Scare, Leominster. 978-534-5900. Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Black Sheep Tavern, 261 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8484. Matt Robert Acoustic Solo. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Thursday Open Mic Night. Now the frost is on the pumpkin, it’s the time for guitar plunkin...Join a decades old tradition of sharing and musical camaraderie in an old-fashioned fun roadhouse! P.A. and support of all sorts provided, be part of the fun....Hosted by Ed Sheridan. 8-11 p.m. Blue Plate Lounge, 661 Main St., Holden. 508-829-4566. Audio Wasabi. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg. 978-345-5051. Karaoke w/ Royal Crown. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Classic’s Pub, 285 Central St., Leominster. 978-537-7750. Metal Thursday Covers night: Painkiller (Judas Priest), Bomber (Motorhead), Bass Sabbath (Black Sabbath). $6. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543 or find them on Facebook. DJ (21+) Canal. N/A. 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353. DJ Tec Threat. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge, 64 Water St. 508-792-4263.

>Friday 8

Static Variations: Blue x 2 by Terri Priest. This Master Series celebrates the work of beloved Worcester artist, Terri Priest (1928-2014). It highlights her painting Static Variations: Blue x 2 (1971-72), a diptych of arrow-shaped fields of blue and alternating black and white stripes, which together create a pulsating visual effect. In its rigorous exploration of optical stimuli, the painting appears to have much in common with Op

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

and blues. Around Midnight Canal Restaurant & Bar We will be playing three sets of soulful jazz and blues this Friday at the Canal Restaurant on Water Street in Worcester from 7 to 10. Hope to see you there! N/A. 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353. Christian Music Cafe Night. January 2016 events Jan 1: Movie night!!! - Showing “Do You Believe” new release from the producers and writers of “Gods Not Dead” Jan 8th - 10th: Fire in the Spirit with Pastor David Hayner - Join us Friday and Saturday night and Sunday Morning as David ministers the Grace and Power of God. David is the cousin of Dwayne Johnson AKA “The Rock” 15th: Patti Dahl & Heartsong - A country gospel group Hailing from CT delivers “upbeat ministry for a beat up world” 23rd: Nate Fiorino: 15 year old worship leader will from Waterford NY will bring us into Gods presence 29th: Open Mic - bring your talents and giftings and use them for the Glory of God. If you have a gift to sing, play an instrument, dance, write poetry, or any other gift that you want to use to bless the body of Christ, this is your chance to shine for the Lord! Free. 7-10 p.m. Mill Church Cafe, 45 River St., Millbury. 508-864-5658 or millchurch.org Hit the Bus. 7-11 p.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-3046044. Live Vocal Jazz, Blues from the 40s to Top40. no cover . 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353 or find them on Facebook. Rakish paddy at fiddler’s. Solid rhythmic guitar, sweet and powerful fiddle, smooth lively vocals and harmonies, haunting penny whistle and bodhran. They smoothly blend their collective rock, classical, gypsy, folk and Celtic influences into a high energy, heart throbbing, foot-stomping mix. Whether in your local Pub, or on one of many Festival stages such as East Durham Irish Fest, Irish2000, the Great American Irish Festival, Boston Irish Music Fest, Bennington VT Irish Fest, the John Boyle O’Reilly Irish Music Fest, Pittsfield Ethnic Fair and The James McNally Wilson Irish Music Festival to name a few... $0. 7:30-11 p.m. Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant, 19 Temple St. 508-792-3700. Jodee Frawley & Brian Eggleston. 8-11 p.m. The Westender, 493 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough. 508-485-1185. Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Black Sheep Tavern, 261 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8484. Marshall Crenshaw. Over the course of a career that’s spanned three decades, 13 albums and hundreds of songs, Marshall Crenshaw’s musical output has maintained a consistent fidelity to the qualities of melody, craftsmanship and passion, and his efforts have been rewarded with the devotion of a broad and remarkably loyal fan base. After an early break playing John Lennon in a touring company of the Broadway musical “Beatlemania,” his growing fame in his adopted hometown of New York City helped to win Crenshaw a deal with Warner Brothers Records, which released his self-titled debut album. With such classics as “Someday, Someway” and “Cynical Girl,” that LP established Crenshaw as one of his era’s preeminent tunesmiths. Along the way, Crenshaw’s compositions have been successfully covered by a broad array of performers, including Bette Midler, Kelly Willis, Robert Gordon, Ronnie Spector, Marti Jones and the Gin Blossoms, with whom Crenshaw co-wrote the Top 10 single “Til I Hear It From You.” He’s also provided music for several film soundtracks, appeared in the films La Bamba (as Buddy Holly) and Peggy Sue Got Married, and was nominated for a Grammy and a Golden Globe award for penning the title track for the film comedy “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.” Marshall’s solo shows are filled with great songs, impassioned singing and his sly, dry wit that

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations Sunday, Jan. 10, 3-5 p.m., at Tuckerman Hall, 10 Tuckerman St., Worcester. Dinnerstein recorded her rendition of the Goldberg Variations about a decade ago through digital crowdfunding. Music Worcester sponsors her appearance The cost is $49 for adults, $17.50 for students and $7.50 for students. For more information, visit musicworcester.org or email music@musicworcester.org.

Art, yet Priest refused her contemporaries’ rejection of content for form. Instead, she saw her artwork as deeply connected to larger social issues. Priest was active in the Civil Rights movement, and paintings such as Static Variations: Blue x 2 emerged from her activism: “My works are politically motivated-that’s not an overstatement,” she explained. “For every white line there was a black line. One plus one is equal to more than two.” Free with Museum admission. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Escape The Room. Escape Games Worcester is a real life, live action escape the room game that offers a fully interactive experience. You and your teammates are locked in a room with a mystery that needs to be solved before your time is up. Each of our games has a unique and suspenseful storyline, which will be revealed as you explore the room and search for clues. All clues, puzzles and riddles will ultimately lead you to the final mystery, which will hold the key that will allow you to escape. Or will it? Can you work together to solve the mystery and escape the room? $25. 4-10 p.m. Northworks Building, 108 Grove St. escapegamesworcester.com Tiny Tumblers - Intro to Acro Ages 5-7, 6-wk session. Introduction to Acro/Tumbling for boys & girls ages 5-7. No experience necessary. Students are asked to dress in comfortable, athletic clothing with bare feet & long hair off the face/neck. Open to the public - Contact us to register! 508.949.1508 or dancers-sole@yahoo.com $50 for 6-week session, or drop-in for $10 per class. 4-4:45 p.m. The Dancer’s Sole, Studio II, 6 Main St., Webster. 508-949-1508. Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat. Let Dr. Nat start your weekend with jazz, swing, blues, soul, samba, R&B, Broadway, original songs about Worcester, and other surprises, such as special guest vocalists and instrumentalists. Dancers welcome! No cover charge, tips appreciated. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-7534030 or natneedle.com Bo & Ira Blues. Playing the blues and your favorite songs! Free. 6-9 p.m. Park Grill and Spirits, Bar, 257 Park Ave. 508-756-7995 or find them on Facebook. Jen Durkin and the business / Organicly Good Trio. 21+ with proper ID Music starts at 9! $8. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629 or find them on Facebook. Bill McCarthy Every Friday at Barbers Crossing North. Now catch Bill McCarthy playing his heart out every Friday at Barbers North (Sterling, MA) @6:30pm Visit: BillMcCarthyMusic.com for info. Free! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978422-8438. Around Midnight We will be playing three sets of soulful jazz

• JANUARY 7, 2016

puts everyone at ease and is always entertaining. The Bull Run is a fullservice, farm-to-table restaurant in a pre-revolutionary tavern, located about 35 miles NW of Boston, with plenty of free parking and rustic, old-world charm. . $25 advance; $30 day of show. 8-11 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Sawtelle Room, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com The City Boys. Come on out and enjoy the acoustic styles of Johnny Romance Nickerson and Chris The Captain Coombs. 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Southside Grille, 242 W Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057. Live Bands. 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. Bruce Mandaro...Truth² = Truth Squared. Formed from the core of the Bruce Mandaro Band, Truth2 (Truth Squared) is a new band designed to throw fresh fuel onto the fire of the jam-band scene. From rock to jazz, folk to bluegrass, they use many styles to create original songs that make your Head, Heart and Feet soar. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877 or find them on Facebook. Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242 West Broadway, Gardner. 978632-1057. Dirty Deeds (AC/DC Tribute). The area’s ultimate tribute to AC/ DC is back to rock the house at JJ’s! $5 Cover 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-8428420. Karaoke. Karaoke by DJ Nancy of Star Sound Entertainment 9 p.m.1:30 a.m. Danger Zone Saloon, 948 Main St. , Warren. 413-436-7115. Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg. 978-345-5051. Tequila Bonfire. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Jillian’s - Worcester, 315 Grove St. 508-793-0900. The Invaders. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350. Lavender Restaurant Karaoke. Join Magic Mike Entertainment DJ’s for Karaoke Night every Friday & Saturday Night! Free. 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Lavender Restaurant, 519 Boston Post Road, Sudbury. magicmikeentertainment.com DJ (21+) Canal. N/A. 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353. DJ One 3. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge, 64 Water St. 508-792-4263. On the Rocks. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035.

>Saturday 9

HeartLand Radio. 21+ with proper ID. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629. Static Variations: Blue x 2 by Terri Priest. This Master Series celebrates the work of beloved Worcester artist, Terri Priest (1928-2014). It highlights her painting Static Variations: Blue x 2 (1971-72), a diptych of arrow-shaped fields of blue and alternating black and white stripes, which together create a pulsating visual effect. In its rigorous exploration of optical stimuli, the painting appears to have much in common with Op Art, yet Priest refused her contemporaries’ rejection of content for form. Instead, she saw her artwork as deeply connected to larger social issues. Priest was active in the Civil Rights movement, and paintings such as Static Variations: Blue x 2 emerged from her activism: “My works are politically motivated-that’s not an overstatement,” she explained. “For every white line there was a black line. One plus one is equal to more than two.” Free with Museum admission. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Escape The Room. Escape Games Worcester is a real life, live action escape the room game that offers a fully interactive experience. You and your teammates are locked in a room with a mystery that needs to be solved before your time is up. Each of our games has a unique and suspenseful storyline, which will be revealed as you explore the room and search for clues. All clues, puzzles and riddles will ultimately lead you to the final mystery, which will hold the key that will allow you to escape. Or will it? Can you work together to solve the mystery and escape the room? $25. 4-10 p.m. Northworks Building, 108 Grove St. escapegamesworcester.com

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Open Mic. Open to musicians, poets, comedians or anyone with a talent! Hosted by Stephen Wright. 6-9 p.m. Nu Cafe, 335 Chandler St. 508-926-8800 or nucafe.com Jim Perry R&B Classic Rock Blues. Jim Perry Acoustics Rock ‘n’ Roller at Heart” Jim Perry N/A. 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353. Brian & Captain. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Rye & Thyme, 14 Monument Square, Leominster. 978-534-5900. Deadbeat with Special Guest: Mark Karan. Gratefully jammin’ “The Bull” Don’t miss the party! Deadbeat is a Grateful Dead Tribute Band in MetroWest Boston playing your favorites from the Dead & the Jerry Garcia Band, and a handful of others for the dead-head crowd! DeadBeat gigs are upbeat, fun, wild... perfect for you dancers, twirlers, & everyone looking to have a “real good time!” Deadbeat is: Mike (Bails) Bailey - Bass Guitar - Gary Barth - Rhythm Guitar; Vocals - Rich Cesarini - Keyboards - Jennifer Markard- Vocals - Joe Pulitano - Drums - Brian Stormwind - Lead Guitar; Vocals AND Special Guest: Mark Karan of Bob Weir’s “RatDog” and “The Other Ones.” The Bull Run is a full-service, farm-to-table restaurant in a pre-revolutionary tavern, located about 35 miles NW of Boston, with plenty of free parking and rustic, old-world charm. . $10. 8-11 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Sawtelle Room, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Black Sheep Tavern, 261 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8484. Mikey, Me, & Brotha B. 8-11 p.m. The Westender, 493 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough. 508-485-1185. Scott Babineau. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Rye & Thyme, 14 Monument Sqare, Leominster. 978-534-5900. Live Bands. 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. Bad Reputation. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Classic’s Pub, 285 Central St., Leominster. 978-537-7750. Best - Live Bands. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Speakers Night Club, 19 Weed St., Marlborough. 508-439-9314. Conduit. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350. Doctor Robert. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Jillian’s - Worcester, 315 Grove St. 508-793-0900. Karaoke. shangrilarestaurant.net Chinese & Japanese Restaurant 9 p.m.-midnight Shangri La, 50 Front St. 508-798-0888. Laquerhead. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242 West Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057. Project 135 - Classic Rock From The 70’s & 80’s. Want to experience great classic rock in an intimate environment? Come enjoy the music of Van Halen, AC/DC, Clapton, Guns n’ Roses, Aerosmith, and more. Project-135 features extreme guitar work, solid vocals, and a rocking attitude. Come on out, have some fun, and bring your dancing shoes! $5 Cover. 9-11:30 p.m. Rose Garden Restaurant and Pub, 16 Milford St., Upton. 508-529-7776. Sugar Blood Jinx! 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. The Groove Street Band. R&B, Soul, Blues and more, with a killer horn section and amazing vocals! 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420. Lavender Restaurant Karaoke. Join Magic Mike Entertainment DJ’s for Karaoke Night every Friday & Saturday Night! Free. 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Lavender Restaurant, 519 Boston Post Road, Sudbury. magicmikeentertainment.com DJ (21+) Canal. N/A. 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353. DJ Reckless. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Perfect Game Sports Grill and Lounge, 64 Water St. 508-792-4263. DJ’s. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044. Jim Devlin Trio. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035.

>Sunday 10

a diptych of arrow-shaped fields of blue and alternating black and white stripes, which together create a pulsating visual effect. In its rigorous exploration of optical stimuli, the painting appears to have much in common with Op Art, yet Priest refused her contemporaries’ rejection of content for form. Instead, she saw her artwork as deeply connected to larger social issues. Priest was active in the Civil Rights movement, and paintings such as Static Variations: Blue x 2 emerged from her activism: “My works are politically motivated-that’s not an overstatement,” she explained. “For every white line there was a black line. One plus one is equal to more than two.” Free with Museum admission. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Hip Swayers Trio. Live music and pub food made with local ingredients and love! Fine beer on tap and a sweet little town to check out spend your 2nd Sunday afternoon of the new year with the hip swayers! 1-4 p.m. the Stomping Ground, 132 Main St., Putnam. 860-928-7900. Art Carts: Family Fun - The Archaeology of Pottery. Have you ever noticed the cracks in our Greek pottery? How were they put back together? Why do they have blank spaces? Learn all about how our Greek pots were made and restored. Then, try your hand at assembling a pot! (Programming subject to change) Free with Museum admission. 2-3 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Greek Gallery, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406. Pianist Simone Dinnerstein performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Music Worcester is proud to present the return of this magnificent artist. Acclaimed pianist Simone Dinnerstein will perform J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations at Worcester’s Tuckerman Hall on Sunday, January 10 at 3:00 PM. Dinnerstein famously recorded her rendition of the Goldberg Variations nearly a decade ago and did so through digital crowdfunding. Her striking performance of the work and her unorthodox method of raising the money to do so caught the classical world by surprise, and she has since gained widespread acclaim for her interpretation of this great piano work. - See more at: musicworcester. org adults $49, Students $17.50, Youth $7.50. Ticket fees apply. Series and other discounts apply. 3-5 p.m. Tuckerman Hall, 10 Tuckerman St. 508-754-1234 or musicworcester.org Escape The Room. Escape Games Worcester is a real life, live action escape the room game that offers a fully interactive experience. You and your teammates are locked in a room with a mystery that needs to be solved before your time is up. Each of our games has a unique and suspenseful storyline, which will be revealed as you explore the room and search for clues. All clues, puzzles and riddles will ultimately lead you to the final mystery, which will hold the key that will allow you to escape. Or will it? Can you work together to solve the mystery and escape the room? $25. 4-10 p.m. Northworks Building, 108 Grove St. escapegamesworcester.com Irish Music session. Come on down and enjoy the Irish music or participate. If you can play an instrument or carry an Irish tune we would like to hear you. We take all levels of musical talent. There are no strangers here just friends that you never knew. $0. 4-8 p.m. Fiddlers’ Green Pub & Restaurant, 19 Temple St. 508-792-3700. Big Jon Short. 5-8 p.m. Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439. Jim’s Sunday Blues Jam. Every week, Jim Perry hosts the best blues jam around, and brings in very special guest performers. No cover. 6-10 p.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350. Open Mic Sundays @ Plaza Azteca! To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@ verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) Network * Collaborate * Learn. Over sixty different musicians regularly support my open mic nights all are friendly and supportive -- and many are: * Former or currently signed recording artists * Award-winning pro’s or semi-pro’s * Regularly gigging paid-performers * Published songwriters * Recording studio owner/operators * Combinations of any and/or all of the above. To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6-9 p.m. Plaza Azteca, 539 Lincoln St. Dancin’ Dead Sundays. 21+ with proper ID Weekly tribute to the Grateful Dead $5. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629.

Blue Light Bandits. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035. Karaoke w/ Royal Crown. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Classic’s Pub, 285 Central St., Leominster. 978-537-7750.

>Monday 11

Static Variations: Blue x 2 by Terri Priest. This Master Series celebrates the work of beloved Worcester artist, Terri Priest (19282014). It highlights her painting Static Variations: Blue x 2 (1971-72), a diptych of arrow-shaped fields of blue and alternating black and white stripes, which together create a pulsating visual effect. In its rigorous exploration of optical stimuli, the painting appears to have much in common with Op Art, yet Priest refused her contemporaries’ rejection of content for form. Instead, she saw her artwork as deeply connected to larger social issues. Priest was active in the Civil Rights movement, and paintings such as Static Variations: Blue x 2 emerged from her activism: “My works are politically motivated-that’s not an overstatement,” she explained. “For every white line there was a black line. One plus one is equal to more than two.” Free with Museum admission. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Open Mic/Open Decks hosted by Kroma Kode. 21+ with proper ID Sign-up for slots starts at the venue at 7:30 and is first come first serve. Open Mic 8-10 Open Decs 10-1 House equipment for DJs: Numark M3 Mixer. Please bring your own equipment! Free. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629. Blue Mondays - Live Blues. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. Michael Severens Cello! 8 p.m.-midnight Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

>Tuesday 12

Static Variations: Blue x 2 by Terri Priest. This Master Series celebrates the work of beloved Worcester artist, Terri Priest (19282014). It highlights her painting Static Variations: Blue x 2 (1971-72), a diptych of arrow-shaped fields of blue and alternating black and white stripes, which together create a pulsating visual effect. In its rigorous exploration of optical stimuli, the painting appears to have much in common with Op Art, yet Priest refused her contemporaries’ rejection of content for form. Instead, she saw her artwork as deeply connected to larger social issues. Priest was active in the Civil Rights movement, and paintings such as Static Variations: Blue x 2 emerged from her activism: “My works are politically motivated-that’s not an overstatement,” she explained. “For every white line there was a black line. One plus one is equal to more than two.” Free with Museum admission. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Storytime. Join us every week for storytime. Visit bn.com for details. Free. 11-11:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Millbury, 70 Worcester Providence Turnpike, Millbury. 508-865-2801 or bn.com It’s all about Entertainment. Its all about entertainment…Stop in any Tuesday or Wednesday because you never know what we will have going on. Indoor Cornhole boards, Darts, Board

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games, Cards, Jukebox wars and more. Perfect time to hang with friends or a chance to make new ones. 7-11 p.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877. Vertigo Trivia Night. Free to play and great prizes! Free. 7-10 p.m. Vintage Grille, 346 Shrewsbury St. 508-752-0558. Tuesday Open Mic Night @ Greendale’s Pub with Bill McCarthy Local Musicians Showcase! To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@ verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) Network * Collaborate * Learn. Over sixty different musicians regularly support my open mic nights all are friendly and supportive -- and many are: * Former or currently signed recording artists * Award-winning pro’s or semi-pro’s * Regularly gigging paid-performers * Published songwriters * Recording studio owner/operators * Combinations of any and/or all of the above. To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it! Free. 7:30-11:30 p.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350 or find them on Facebook. Dam Chick Singer. 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Hip Hop Tuesdays with Ace of Blaze. 21+ with proper ID Hookah share and pong tournament! $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629. Open Mic Tuesday w/ Key Performance. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Classic’s Pub, 285 Central St., Leominster. 978-537-7750.

>Wednesday 13

Static Variations: Blue x 2 by Terri Priest. This Master Series celebrates the work of beloved Worcester artist, Terri Priest (19282014). It highlights her painting Static Variations: Blue x 2 (1971-72), a diptych of arrow-shaped fields of blue and alternating black and white stripes, which together create a pulsating visual effect. In its rigorous exploration of optical stimuli, the painting appears to have much in common with Op Art, yet Priest refused her contemporaries’ rejection of content for form. Instead, she saw her artwork as deeply connected to larger social issues. Priest was active in the Civil Rights movement, and paintings such as Static Variations: Blue x 2 emerged from her activism: “My works are politically motivated-that’s not an overstatement,” she explained. “For every white line there was a black line. One plus one is equal to more than two.” Free with Museum admission. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Jon Bonner. 5-7:30 p.m. The Westender, 493 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough. 508-485-1185. It’s all about Entertainment. It’s all about entertainment...Stop in any Tuesday or Wednesday because you never know what we will have

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JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

night day &

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going on. Indoor Cornhole boards, Darts, Board games, Cards, Jukebox wars and more. Perfect time to hang with friends or a chance to make new ones. 7-11 p.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877. Wednesday Night Open Mic/Local Musicians’ Showcase w/ Bill McCarthy @ Guiseppe’s. To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@ verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) Network * Collaborate * Learn. Over sixty different musicians regularly support my open mic nights all are friendly and supportive -- and many are: * Former or currently signed recording artists * Award-winning pro’s or semi-pro’s * Regularly gigging paid-performers * Published songwriters * recording studio owner/operators * Combinations of any and/or all of the above. To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 7:30-10:30 p.m. Guiseppe’s Grille, 35 Solomon Pond Road, Northborough. 508-393-4405 or find them on Facebook. Nicks All Star Open Mic Jam. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Brett Brumby. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035. Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-3046044. Karaoke w/ Royal Crown. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Classic’s Pub, 285 Central St., Leominster. 978-537-7750. Ralph’s ‘80s Flashback Night. Come on down and get your 80s fix every second Wednesday of the month! Dress up in your favorite 80s gear and drink all night to your favorite 80s requests! Free. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, 148 Grove St. 508-753-9543 or find them on Facebook.

classes >Thursday 7

Art Carts: Family Fun - Antioch, the Hunt Mosaic & WAM. Ever wonder how our wonderful collection of mosaics got here? How they were made? Where they came from? Where is Antioch? Learn about all this and try your hand at making a mosaic! (Programming subject to change) Free with Museum admission. 1-2 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Renaissance Court, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406. Art Carts: Family Fun - Fun and Games. Discover the past by playing games! Learn to play chess medieval style, checkers with no kings, plus classic games such as Nine Men’s Morris and Mancala!(Programming subject to change) Free with Museum admission. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Salisbury Hall or Hassan Hajjaj Exhibtion (Contemporary Gallery), 55 Salisbury St. 508-7994406. Paint Lab for Kids! Magic Garden ($15) Ages 6-12. Bring your painting clothes! Paint Lab for Kids is a painting class hosted every week! We provide everything; canvas, brushes, paint and easels! With step-by-step instruction your child will leave with a canvas creation of their own! Ages 6-12. Seating provided for parents to stay and watch. Call to reserve your spot! 508-757-7713. $15. 5-6 p.m. C.C. Lowell Art Supplies & Framing, 258 Park Ave. 508-757-7713 or cclowell.com Krosslink.org: Bar-Stool Pitch Sessions. Jacob Edwards Library/Krosslink Entrepreneur Greenhouse Invites you to present at the Bar-Stool Pitch Sessions meeting. Talk about your business idea in a short pitch session and garner feedback from your fellow entrepreneurs! Sessions will be moderated by Elvis Dyer. Networking & refreshments from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Format for your pitch should be: A quick 60 second introduction to let the group know who you are and what your background is. A no more than 2 minute talk about what your business idea is and why you are excited about it (you need to be able to explain why you are passionate about your idea). A no more than 1 minute talk about what is stopping you from executing your idea (pick the most important one that is stopping you or preventing you from jumpstarting

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

what you want to do). Keep your pitch informal and genuine. We want you to be honest and candid so that the mentors and attendees can provide the right feedback, suggestions and recommendations. No Powerpoint presentations please, just informal discussions! All are welcome! Free. 6-7:30 p.m. Jacob Edwards Library, 236 Main St., Southbridge. 508-764-5426 or cmschamber.ning.com

Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, hosts WinterFest Jan. 9 through March 26 on Sundays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Bring your sleds, snowshoes and cross-country skis. Members are free, nonmembers are $5 per person. For more information, visit fruitlands.org or email mdelaney@fruitlands.org.

>Thursday 7 Thursday February 11

Adult Swimfit. Adult Swimfit 6 week sessions, Mon. 7-8am & Thurs. 7-8pm January 4-February 11 Workouts focused on stroke technique and development without overwhelming intense training, utilizing drills and group workouts. One class a week per session $72M/$102NM 35-4029 Monday and Thursday $120M/$180NM 35-4034 Drop in rate: $15M / $20NM Drop in rate: $15M / $20NM $72 Members/$102 general public. 7-8 p.m. Worcester JCC, Heated Indoor Pool, 633 Salisbury St. 508-756-7109, ext. 231 or worcesterjcc.org

>Friday 8

World’s Largest Ski/Snowboard Lesson. Take the day off to become...Part of Skiing/Snowboarding History & The Guinness Book of World Records! Join The World’s Largest Ski/Board Lesson! Friday, January 8, 2016 10:00am (1 1/2 hour lesson) Two options Come Alone Discounted Beginner Package for only $30! $10 Beginner Lesson (Ski or Board) $10 Rental Equipment $10 Beginner Lift Ticket (Save $64! Regular online rate is $94) Bring A Friend If you already ski or snowboard but want to introduce your friend to the sport, purchase our “Bring a Friend for Fun” (BFF) Package for only $60! $30 for a lift ticket for you $30 for a lift ticket for your Friend (Save $50! Normally $110) $30 for Lift Ticket, Lesson & Rental (normally $94). 10-11:30 a.m. Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton. 978-464-2300 or wachusett.com Art Carts: Family Fun - Fun and Games. Discover the past by playing games! Learn to play chess medieval style, checkers with no kings, plus classic games such as Nine Men’s Morris and Mancala! (Programming subject to change) Free with Museum admission. 1-2 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Salisbury Hall or Hassan Hajjaj Exhibtion (Contemporary Gallery), 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406. Art Carts: Family Fun - Antioch, the Hunt Mosaic & WAM. Ever wonder how our wonderful collection of mosaics got here? How they were made? Where they came from? Where is Antioch? Learn about all this and try your hand at making a mosaic! (Programming subject to change) Free with Museum admission. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Renaissance Court, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406.

>Saturday 9

Vinyasa Yoga: Yoga for All Levels. Part of the New Year, New You: A Wellness Series. Programs in the New Year, New You wellness series Tai Chi Saturdays January 2, 16, 30 11am-12pm Banx Room With master Jim Keenan. Wear loose, comfortable clothing Nutrition Balance January 5 6-7:30pm Saxe Room Learn from clinical dietician Michelle Palladino what you should be eating to be your healthful best. Vinyasa Flow: Yoga for All Levels January 9 9:30-10:15 am Banx Room Feel the energizing effects of starting your day with movement and relaxation. Yoga mat required. Yoga Nidra: “Guided Relaxation” January 9 10:15-11am Banx Room Feel the energizing effects of starting your day with movement and relaxation. Yoga mat required. What is Mindfulness? January 23 10:30am-12:30 pm Saxe Room Learn more about mindfulness in this interactive presentation by UMass Center for Mindfulness Forgetting to Remember, Remembering to Forget January 26 7-8:30pm Saxe Room Join UMass Neuropsychiatrist, Sheldon Benjamin, for a literary and scientific journey through memory, mind and brain. Registration is required for all events; register at mywpl.org or by calling 508-799-1655. Sponsored by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library Free. 9:30-10:15 a.m. Worcester Public Library, Banx Room, 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655, ext. 3. Yoga Nidra: “Guided Relaxation. Part of the New Year, New You: A Wellness Series. Programs in the New Year, New You wellness series Tai Chi Saturdays January 2, 16, 30 11am-12pm Banx Room With master Jim Keenan. Wear loose, comfortable clothing Nutrition Balance January 5 6-7:30pm Saxe Room Learn from clinical dietician Mi-

• JANUARY 7, 2016

chelle Palladino what you should be eating to be your healthful best. Vinyasa Flow: Yoga for All Levels January 9 9:30-10:15 am Banx Room Feel the energizing effects of starting your day with movement and relaxation. Yoga mat required. Yoga Nidra: “Guided Relaxation” January 9 10:15-11am Banx Room Feel the energizing effects of starting your day with movement and relaxation. Yoga mat required. What is Mindfulness? January 23 10:30am-12:30 pm Saxe Room Learn more about mindfulness in this interactive presentation by UMass Center for Mindfulness Forgetting to Remember, Remembering to Forget January 26 7-8:30pm Saxe Room Join UMass Neuropsychiatrist, Sheldon Benjamin, for a literary and scientific journey through memory, mind and brain. Registration is required for all events; register at mywpl.org or by calling 508-799-1655. Sponsored by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library Free. 10:15-11 a.m. Worcester Public Library, Banx Room, 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655, ext. 3. Family Discovery Day: Let it Snow! Kick off the winter season with this afternoon of all things snow. Make winter crafts including snowflake garlands, snow globes, and paintings made with ice. Read picture books about snow and the winter landscape. And if there is snow on the fields and hills, you can join us for a snowman building workshop, too! Free with admission. Noon-4 p.m. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. 978-456-3924 or fruitlands.org Art Carts: Family Fun - Arms and Armor. Knightly armor is nice and shiny, but how does it feel? How heavy is the armor? Is it comfortable? How and why did they decorate it? Discover the answers to these questions and more with our hands-on armor activity! (Programming subject to change) Free with Museum admission. 2-3 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Knights! Exhibition, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406. Paint Lab for Kids! Magic Garden ($15) Ages 6-12. Bring your painting clothes! Paint Lab for Kids is a painting class hosted every week! We provide everything; canvas, brushes, paint and easels! With step-by-step instruction your child will leave with a canvas creation of their own! Ages 6-12. Seating provided for parents to stay and watch. Call to reserve your spot! 508-757-7713. $15. 2-3 p.m. C.C. Lowell Art Supplies & Framing, 258 Park Ave. 508-757-7713 or cclowell.com

>Sunday 10

BodyPump at Worcester JCC. Try out this free special class during our Open House. It is a 55 minute class set with great music. This will shape strengthen and tone your whole body. Visitors need to sign in at the front desk and present a valid photo ID. Free. 11 a.m.-noon Worcester JCC, Group Ex Studio, 633 Salisbury St. 508-756-7109. Open House at the Worcester JCC. Let’s get fit in free special drop in classes: 11am-12noon BodyPump @Group Ex Studio 12noon1pm: RPM@ Spin Studio 1-2pm: BodyFlow @Group Ex Studio Free. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Worcester JCC, 633 Salisbury St. 508-756-7109 or worcesterjcc.org Maker/Tech Tools Demonstration. The first 50 educators to RSVP for this event receive a free drink coupon from our Cafe. We will be showcasing products featured during our Mini Maker Faire including

a 3D Printer, littleBits circuitry, Ozobots, etc. RSVP to crm2206@ bn.com Free. 2-3 p.m. Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Millbury, 70 Worcester Providence Turnpike, Millbury. 508-865-2801 or bn.com

>Monday 11

Open House: M.S. in Animals and Public Policy. The M.S. in Animals and Public Policy program will be holding its annual Open House for prospective students on Monday, January 11, 2016. For more information, vet.tufts.edu/education/graduate-programs/ degrees-offered/mapp/ or contact the Center at capp@tufts.edu. The MS in Animals and Public Policy (MAPP) is a program of the Center for Animals and Public Policy and is an intensive, 12-to-16-month graduate degree program that focuses on human-animal relationships and their implications for policy and community action. While students enter the program with different interests, skills, philosophies, and aspirations, all share a passion for understanding human-animal relationships and promoting the status of animals in society. MAPP graduates successfully pursue careers in policy-making, law-enforcement, advocacy, public education, research, animal shelter management, and applied animal behavior. MAPP graduates also have outstanding success obtaining advanced training in Ph.D. programs, law, and veterinary medicine. If you can’t make it to the Open House, contact us to arrange a visit another time at capp@tufts.edu The Center for Animals and Public Policy (CAPP) advances research, policy analysis, education and service pertaining to the important roles animals play in society, and explores the ethical implications of the human-animal relationship. Free. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Jean Mayer Administration Building, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton. 508-839-5302 or find them on Facebook. Felting with Carol Ann Tebbetts. Carolann Tebbetts will present the Art of Felt Sculpture at the January meeting of the Artist Guild of Shrewsbury .Felting manipulates fibers into a sturdy, non-woven fabric, strong enough to create three-dimensional forms. Carolann will demonstrate her recent accomplishment of creating beautiful felted sculpture elements from three installations that were part of her MFA show. In addition to teaching visual art at the secondary and post-secondary level, Carolann has had her work featured on both the DIY Network and HGTV. She has published in several art journals and magazines. She has been felting since 2003: most recently exploring nuno and 3D resist. She felts almost daily at her home in Shrewsbury where her studio overlooks Lake Quinsigamond. More information about Carolann and her work is at https://tebbetts.wordpress.com/ 5 (Artist Guild members free). 7-9 p.m. Southgate Living Center, Community Room, Julio Drive, Shrewsbury. 508-498-2377 or artistguildshrewsbury.com

>Tuesday 12

Introductory Genealogy Research. One hour appointments on genealogy resources, databases and specific topics. Allow at least one week lead time for research on specific topics to allow the librarian sufficient time to investigate resources and strategies. Register on the Events Calendar on mywpl.org or call 508-799-1655x3. Free. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Worcester Public Library, 3rd Floor, 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group. Grandparents raising Grandchildren- includes other kin. The support group meets with a Social Worker from Childrens Friend, Inc. This event is made possible through AoA and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. No cost, free childcare provided.. 6-8 p.m. YWCA of Central Massachusetts, 1 Salem Square. 508-756-1545. Introduction to Finding Grants. Discover what funders are looking for in nonprofits seeking grants and hot to find potential funders in this introductory course. Learn the 10 most important things you need to know. Registration is required at mywpl.org, or by calling 508-7991655. Free. 6:30-8 p.m. Worcester Public Library, 3rd Floor Computer Lab, 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655, ext. 3. Worcester Writers Group. Are words your continual passion? If so, how about committing to their production! The Worcester Writers Group may be able to help you. For more information about joining the group, visit meetup.com Free. 7-9 p.m. Worcester Public Library, Banx Room, 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655.

>Wednesday 13

Fun at Five Networking. Mingle with a friendly crowd at Teddy’s, strike up a conversation, enjoy a cocktail, chances to win great prizes and more fun and surprises! Join the Chamber of Central Mass South as we kick off the New Year with some networking and fun! $10 for pre-registered Members, $15 at the door, $20 for non-Members. 5-7 p.m. Teddy G’s Pub & Grille, 179 Main St., Sturbridge. 508-347-2761 or cmschamber.ning.com Yoga by Nature. Instructor: Jennie Backstrom Gentle-to-moderate flow yoga for all levels. Walk-ins welcome. Bring your own mat. To register for this event, please call Gayle Holland (508) 869-6111 x124 or email gholland@towerhillbg.org . Pardon the inconvenience while we update our online transaction system. Member $10, Non-member $17. 6-7:15 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111, ext. 124. This Is How We Roll: Drop-in Tabletop Gaming. The library is the place to game! Come play any of our collection of top-quality tabletop board games, or bring your own. Flip some cards, roll some dice, meet some friends. All ages welcome, especially adults and teens! Free. 7-8:30 p.m. Shrewsbury Public Library Temp Site, 214 Lake St., Shrewsbury. 508-842-0081 or eventkeeper.com

lectures >Friday 8

Thea Aschkenase tells her story of survival during the Holocaust. Come to hear Thea Aschkenase tell her story of survival during the Holocaust. She is an amazing woman who in spite of the difficult experiences of her youth has enjoyed a lifetime of accomplishments. After retirement from a career at UMass Medical, she completed an undergraduate degree at Worcester State College Department of Urban Studies and is the author of a recent book about her Holocaust years. Join us to hear her gripping tale. Free. 10-11 a.m. Briarwood Continuing Care Retirement Community: Birches Auditorium, 65 Briarwood Circle.

>Sunday 10

Andy Cummings! 8:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

>Tuesday 12

Entrepreneur’s Lounge: What’s It Really Like to Start a Tech Firm? The Venture Forum, a Worcester organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs launch and grow successful tech businesses, will hold its January program on Tuesday, January 12th, from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Rubin Campus Center, Odeum (3rd floor) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Venture Forum will be offering a special oneon-one discussion and moderated Q&A with successful entrepreneur, David Crouch, Founder, Partner/President of ten24 Digital Solutions out of Worcester, MA. Program attendees can learn how high growth can be achieved, and how his company gives back by helping to build a local tech community. The program’s Q&A session will give the aspiring entrepreneur a great platform to have their questions answered about the entrepreneurial world and its processes and expectations. As they say, you are the company you keep. An evening with David Crouch is sure to provide all those in attendance with some insider information that will help them achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. The end of the program will also feature an extended session of networking for all in attendance. About The Venture Forum: The Venture Forum is a non-profit organization located in Worcester, MA that offers a foundation for learning and connecting with resources essential to launching and growing successful technology businesses. For Venture Forum members and students, the event is free. For non-members of the Venture Forum, the event is $15 and $25 at the door. Students are required to register in advance, and College/University ID will be requested. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Odeum (3rd floor) , 100 Institute Road. theventureforum.org

museums/ galleries ADC Performance Center (@ The Artist Development Complex), 18 Mill St., Southbridge. 508-764-6900 or adcmusic.com Anna Maria College, 50 Sunset Lane, Paxton. 508-8493300 or annamaria.edu ArtsWorcester, “Grayscale: A Members’ Exhibition in Collaboration with the Fitchburg Art Museum” at the Aurora, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Dec. 4 - Jan. 14; Call For Art: Now! New Works, New Artists!, Through Jan. 15. Hours: closed Sunday Monday, 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday - Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Free. 660 Main St. 508-755-5142 or artsworcester.org Asa Waters Mansion, Admission: $3 for guided tour $7-10 for tea. 123 Elm St., Millbury. 508-865-0855 or asawaters.org Assumption College: Emmanuel d’Alzon Library, 500 Salisbury St. 508-767-7272 or assumption.edu Booklovers’ Gourmet, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 55 East Main St., Webster. 508-949-6232 or er3.com Clark University: Cohen-Lasry House, 11 Hawthorne St. clarku.edu Clark University: Schiltkamp Gallery, 92 Downing St. 508793-7349. Clark University: Traina Center for the Arts, 92 Downing St. clarku.edu Clark University: University Gallery, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, noon-8 p.m. Wednesday, noon-5 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. 950 Main St. 508-793-7349 or 508-7937113 or clarku.edu Clark’s Cafe and Art On Rotation Gallery, Hours: 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday - Saturday. Admission: Free for gallery. 310 High St., Clinton. 978-549-5822 or 978-365-7772 or aorgallery.com College of the Holy Cross: Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, 2-5 p.m. Saturday. 1 College St. 508-793-3356 or holycross.edu Danforth Museum of Art, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, noon-5 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 123 Union Ave., Framingham. 508-620-0050 or danforthmuseum.org Dark World Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 179 Grafton St. darkworldgallery.com EcoTarium, Cool Moves: The Artistry of Motion, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sept. 22 - Jan. 10. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $14.00 adults; $10 for children ages 2-18, college students with IDs & senior citizens. Children under 2 & EcoTarium members free. Additional charges apply for Tree Canopy Walkway, Explorer Express Train, planetarium programs & other special program. 222 Harrington Way. 508-929-2700 or ecotarium.org Fisher Museum Harvard Forest, 324 N. Main St., Petersham. 978-724-3302 or harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu Fitchburg Art Museum, Hours: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, noon-4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 25 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg. 978-345-4207 or fitchburgartmuseum.org Fitchburg Historical Society, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m.-midnight Wednesday, closed Thursday - Saturday. 50 Grove St., Fitchburg. 978-345-1157 or fitchburghistory. fsc.edu Fitchburg State University: Hammond Hall, 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg. fitchburgstate.edu Framed in Tatnuck, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 1099 Pleasant St. 508-770-1270 or framedintatnuck.com Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. 978-4563924 or fruitlands.org Gallery of African Art, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30

night day &

p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Donations accepted. 62 High St., Clinton. 978-265-4345 or 978-598-5000x12 or galleryofafricanart.org Highland Artist Group, 113 Highland St. highlandartistgroup.com Mass Audubon: Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Hours: 12:30-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 414 Massasoit Ave. 508-753-6087 or massaudubon.org Museum of Russian Icons, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 11-3 a.m. Tuesday - Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 11-3 a.m. Friday, 9-3 a.m. Saturday. Admission: Adults $10; Seniors (59 +), $7; Students, $5; Children 3-17, $5; Children <3, Free. 203 Union St., Clinton. 978-598-5000 or 978-598-5000x17 or museumofrussianicons.org Old Sturbridge Village, Kindred Spirits: A.B. Wells, Malcolm Watkins, and the Origins of Old Sturbridge Village, Through Jan. 15. Admission: $7 - $20 charged by age. Children under 3 free. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge. 800-733-1830 or 508-347-3362 or osv.org Park Hill Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday Friday, closed Saturday. 387 Park Ave. 774-696-0909. Post Road Art Center, Call to Artists: Abstract Exhibit, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Dec. 28 - Jan. 7. Hours: closed Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 1 Boston Post Road, Marlborough. 508-485-2580 or postroadartcenter.com Preservation Worcester, Hours: closed Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, closed Saturday. 10 Cedar St. 508-754-8760 or preservationworcester.org Prints and Potter Gallery: American Arts and Crafts Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 142 Highland St. 508-752-2170 or printsandpotter.com Quinebaug Valley Council for the Arts & Humanities, the Arts Center, Hours: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Friday, 2-4 p.m. Saturday. 111 Main St., Southbridge. 508-346-3341 or qvcah.org Quinsigamond Community College: Administration Building, 670 West Boylston St. qcc.edu Rollstone Studios, Hours: 11-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. Admission: free. 633 Main St., Fitchburg. 978-348-2781 or rollstoneartists.com Salisbury Mansion, Hours: closed Sunday - Wednesday, 1-8:30 p.m. Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 40 Highland St. 508-7538278 or worcesterhistory.org SAORI Worcester Freestyle Weaving Studio, 18 Winslow St. 508-757-4646 or 508-757-0116 or saoriworcester.com Sprinkler Factory, Concept & Gestation (Open Gallery), Sundays, Saturdays, Dec. 5 - Jan. 9. Admission: Free. 38 Harlow St. sprinklerfactory.com Taproot Bookstore, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 1200 West Boylston St. 508-853-5083 or TaprootBookstore.com Tatnuck Bookseller & Cafe, Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 18 Lyman St., Westborough. 508-366-4959 or tatnuck.com The Foster Gallery, 51 Union St. 508-397-7139 or thefostergallery. com Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum, Hours: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. 21 Prichard St., Fitchburg. 978-342-2809 or 978-297-4337 or topfunaviation.com Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $12 Adults, $9 Seniors & $7 Youth, Free to Members & Children under. 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111 or towerhillbg.org Tower Hill Botanic Garden: Stoddard Education and Visitors Center, 11 French Drive, Boylston. towerhillbg.org Tower Hill Botanic Garden: The Great Hall, 11 French Drive, Boylston. towerhillbg.org

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Tower Hill Botanic Garden: The Orangerie, 11 French Drive, Boylston. towerhillbg.org Worcester Art Museum, Hassan Hajjaj: My Rock Stars, Through March 6; Nude Drawing in the Galleries, Thursdays, Jan. 7 - Jan. 21; Pierre Bonnard, Dining Room in the Country, Through May 1; Veiled Aleppo, Through June 5; Arms and Armor: Company of the Wolfe Argent, Saturday; Zip Tour: Megara Stele, Saturday; Arms and Armor: Onna-Bugeisha: Women of the Samurai, Sunday; Sunday Tours, Sundays, May 31 - Jan. 24. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Free for members, $14 adults, $12 seniors, free for youth 17 and under. Free for all first Saturdays of each month, 10am-noon. 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Worcester Center for Crafts, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 25 Sagamore Road. 508-753-8183 or worcestercraftcenter.org Worcester Historical Museum, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 30 Elm St. 508-753-8278 or worcesterhistory.org Worcester Public Library, Hours: 1:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday - Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655 or worcpublib.org WPI: George C. Gordon Library, 100 Institute Road. wpi.edu

dance >Saturday 9

Worcester Contra Dance. Live music by The Berlin Country Orchestra with Tim Van Egmond calling. Beginners lesson at 7:00pm. Smoke-free and alcohol-free family friendly environment. Adults $8 Students $6 Family $18 Children under 12 free. 7-10:30 p.m. Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 Main St. 978-979-3623 or worcesterdance.org

theatre/ comedy

“Elf Jr. The Musical” - Fridays, Saturdays, Friday, January 8 - Saturday, January 9. The musical tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan who crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is whisked off to the North Pole where he is raised by Santa’s elves. His large stature and lack of toy-making abilities lead Buddy to realize that he is human and not an elf. He decides to go to New York City to seek out his true identity. “We chose to produce this musical because it’s a fun family show,” explained Theatre Arts Director Lisa Scarlett. “When the junior version became available, we were excited to have the chance to stage it especially since the musical has not been produced by another regional theatre group. We wanted to try a seasonal show, too,” Scarlett added. The show has several company numbers in which the cast sings, acts and dances. Cast members perform upbeat songs like “Happy All the Time,” “World’s Greatest Dad” and “There is a Santa Claus.” The 31 actors are from Grafton, Sutton, Uxbridge and Worcester. Cast members from Grafton include Annika Alves, Patrick Bartosiewicz, Ashley Berardi, Christina Burr, Katherine Dowling, Anna Fiore, Bobby Hammer, April Harnett, Belle and Madie Geoffroy, Juliana Kallio, Brenden Lavallee-Bartlett, Lauren Leclair, Emily Mossey, Maggie Mussler, Amanda Murdock, Rowan Paulman, Ali Schiavoni, Kelsey Sidman, Emma Swanick and Sophia Swartz. Sutton actors include Abigail, Alexanne and Charlotte Sumner, Gabe Travers and Lindsay Mulvehill. Uxbridge actors include Caroline Adam, Julia and Sophia Psuik and Nicholas Fernandes. Matthew Davis is from Worcester. Several people are assisting Ms. Scarlett with different facets

JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

night day &

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of the production. She is co-directing the show with theatre arts faculty member Laurie Baker and Shannon May, early childhood and theatre arts educator. Apple Tree Arts’ students are assisting with the production including Kate Benbenek, Delanie Burke, Grace Deschenes, Cassie Lobe and Taylor O’Connor. Teddy Kiritsy and Noelle Scarlett are co-stage managers. Tom Desimone is working on the scenery and several of the sets. Ron Burke has created a few of the set pieces. Parents are assisting with the production by helping sell tickets, making and coordinating refreshments. Dawn Geoffroy is sewing costumes for the show. Founded in 1989, Apple Tree Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that has grown to serve over 1,000 children and adults annually with early childhood music classes, group keyboard lessons, private music and voice instruction, ensembles and theatre arts programs. The school provides a wide range of performances, special community musical and theatre arts events year-round. For more information, visit appletreearts.org $10 adults; $8 seniors and children 5 and older; free for children younger than 4. 7-8 p.m. Grafton Middle School, 22 Providence Road, Grafton. Call 508-839-4286. Auditions for “Ellis Island” - Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10. Gateway Players Theatre in conjunction with the Southbridge Bicentennial will present Ellis Island - book, music & lyrics by Cheryl Kemeny. Show dates are April 22 - 24th. Performance will be held at the Southbridge Middle/High School. The 30+ member cast will be made up of all ages; 8 years and up. All cast members will be required to prepare a song of their choice for auditions. There will be some speaking roles. Auditions will be held at the Gateway Players barn at 111 Main Street Southbridge on January 9th and 10th with call backs on January 11th. Audition times will be 4-6 pm on the 9th and 10th. Rehearsals will be held on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. For more information call 508-764-4531 and leave a message. Synopsis: “Ellis Island” follows the lives of immigrants traveling to the United States during the year 1907. Whole families, single men and women and children board ships in various countries that will take them to the land o’ the free, America. Some are going to be reunited with loved ones, while others are searching for adventure or freedom. At Ellis Island the staff prepares for another busy day, inspecting the thousands of immigrants. Granting some the answer to their dreams while sending some back to their homelands. This show reminds all of the American Dream, and why people want to come to this country and it reinforces what makes our county great - equal opportunity for all. 4-6 p.m. Gateway Players Theatre Arts Barn, 111 Main St., Southbridge. Call 508-764-4531 or visit gatewayplayers.org Stomp - Sunday, January 10. Stomp is explosive, inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique-an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments-matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps-to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. Year after year, audiences worldwide keep coming back for more of this pulse-pounding electrifying show. As the Boston Globe says, “If you haven’t seen Stomp, go! If you have seen it, take someone and share the pleasure!” Stomp. See what all the noise is about. Full price tickets start at $26. 10% discounts are available for members, groups of 10+ and WOO Card holders. 2-4 p.m. Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St. Call 877-571-7469 or visit tickets.thehanovertheatre.org

outdoors >Wednesday 13

Garden Discovery: Winter Birds. These programs are designed for children ages 3-5 and their parent, grandparent or caregiver. Class begins indoors with a simple craft and storytime, then students step outside for a short walk (or into the Orangerie in extreme cold.) Please dress for the weather. Winter Birds Not all birds fly away to warmer places for the winter. Come discover who is tough enough to brave the

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

New England weather in a February garden. Learn how they manage to stay warm and explore the garden to see what treats remain for them to eat. To register for this event, please call Gayle Holland (508) 869-6111 x124 or email gholland@towerhillbg.org . Pardon the inconvenience while we update our online transaction system. Included with admission. 10-11 a.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508869-6111, ext. 124.

family >Friday 8

USA Luge Team Visit. Come on down and watch a demonstration from the USA Luge team! 5-8 p.m. Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St. 508-929-0777 or worcestercommonoval.com The Amazing Trivia Battle and Free Pizza Supper. One of the most requested YA/Family events is back! Our next amazing trivia battle is coming up in January, and registration is now open for what will surely be a fast-paced night of questions, answers, pizza, and prizes! The event will be written and hosted by Dan Barbour, the Young Adult Librarian/Volunteer Coordinator, and he’ll take teams through ten rounds of globe-trotting trivia. Movies, sports, science, landmarks, people, and other categories will be fair game as we pull questions from different countries around the world. It’s up to you and your team to figure out what’s what and hopefully finish on top and win one of three Amazon.com giftcards! Better still, every team that registers will get free pizza! This event is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library and Splat. Further Details... Date/Time of the Event: Friday January 8, 2016: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Note this is an after-hours event. Parents dropping off youth to play MUST be on time to pick up at the end of the night. We encourage all parents to be back by 9PM in case the event ends early. Also, the doors will be locked promptly at 6:45PM. Who Can Play: Anyone...who registers on time! Teams must be comprised of at least two people and no more than six (larger teams must register as two teams). Each team must have at least one person who is in grades six or above. Registration Info: Teams must register - as Teams. Please do not sign up individually. Go to the link listed under our ‘event’s webpage’. It’s going to be fun! We have very limited space so get your teams together and we’ll see you then! Free but registration is required. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Shrewsbury Public Library Temp Site, Temp Site Meeting Room, 214 Lake St., Shrewsbury. 508-842-0081 or eventkeeper.com

>Saturday 9

I’ll Never Let You Go National Storytime. When you love someone, you stand by them no matter what happens. In this month’s Picture Book of the Month we celebrate the beauty of unconditional love. Free. 11-11:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Millbury, 70 Worcester Providence Turnpike, Millbury. 508-865-2801 or bn.com

fundraisers >Saturday 9

Warm Winter Clothing Drive for the Homeless. In need of male, female & children’s warm clothing, gloves, blankets, sleeping bags, shoes etc. Coffee & Donuts will be served. Free raffle ticket to all that donate. Drawing will be at 2:30 pm on day of the event. Come see us at Veterans Inc 69 Grove Street Worcester MA. All donations will benefit the homeless vets & their families 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Massachusetts Veterans, Inc., 69 Grove St. 757-955-3040.

fairs/ festivals >Saturday 9 – Saturday March 26

WinterFest. Winter at Fruitlands means outdoor fun and adventure! Bring your sleds, snowshoes, and cross-country skis for some high-

• JANUARY 7, 2016

energy fun as you explore our snow-covered hills and woodland trails. If you prefer a little quiet contemplation and reflection, make a visit to the Art Gallery to view a selection of objects from the permanent collections or visit our special exhibition Hidden Hudson. Whatever your preference, hot chocolate and a toasty fire will help to keep you warm this winter season! Members Free, Nonmembers $5/person. Noon-5 p.m. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. 978-456-3924 or fruitlands.org

basketball Men’s Holy Cross Jan. 6 @ Colgate, Hamilton, NY, 7:05 p.m. Jan. 9 @ Bucknell, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, 2 p.m. Jan. 13 @ Lafayette, Easton, Pennsylvania, 7 p.m. Worcester State Jan. 6 Home vs. MCLA, 8 p.m. Jan. 9 @ Salem State, Salem, MA, 3p.m. Clark Jan. 6 @ MIT, Cambridge, MA, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. Wellesley College, 3 p.m. Jan. 13 Home vs. Emerson College, 7 p.m. Assumption Jan. 6 Home vs. American International College, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. Le Moyne, 3 p.m. Jan. 13 @ Saint Rose, Albany, NY, 7:30 p.m. WPI Jan. 6 @ WPI, Springfield, MA, 5 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. MIT, 3 p.m. Becker Jan. 9 @ Lesley, Cambridge, MA, 5 p.m. Jan. 12 Home vs. Elms College, 8 p.m. Nichols Jan. 7 Home vs. Western New England, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9 @ Eastern Nazarene, Quincy, MA, 3 p.m. Jan. 12 Home vs. University of New England, 7:30 p.m.

Women’s

Holy Cross Jan. 6 Home vs. Colgate, 12 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. Bucknell, 1:05 p.m. Jan. 13 Home vs. Lafayette, 7:05 p.m. Worcester State Jan 6. Home vs. MCLA, 6 p.m. Jan 9. @ Salem State, Salem MA, 1 p.m. Jan. 11 @ Keene State, WPI, Worcester, MA, 12 p.m. Clark Jan. 6 @ Wheaton College, Norton, MA, 8 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. Wellesley College, 1 p.m. Jan. 12 @ MIT, Cambridge, MA, 7 p.m. Assumption Jan. 6 Home vs. American International College, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. Le Moyne, 1 p.m. Jan. 13 @ Saint Rose, Albany, NY, 5:30 p.m. WPI Jan. 6 @ WPI, Wellesley, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. Wheaton College, 1 p.m. Becker Jan. 9 @ Lesley, Cambridge, 7 p.m. Jan. 12 Home vs. Elms College, 6 p.m. Nichols Jan. 7 Home vs. Western New England, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9 @ Eastern Nazarene, Quincy, 1 p.m. Jan. 12 Home vs. University New England, 5:30 p.m.

track & field Men’s Holy Cross Jan. 9 @ Tiger Invitational, Boston, 2 p.m. Worcester State Jan. 9 @ Tiger Invitational, Boston, 2 p.m. Jan. 10 @ Dartmouth Relays, Hanover, New Hampshire

Women’s

Holy Cross Jan. 9 @ Tiger Invitational, Boston, 2 p.m. Worcester State Jan. 9 @ Tiger Invitational, Boston, 2 p.m.

swimming and diving Men’s Clark Jan. 12 Home vs. Mount Holyoke, Wheaton, 1 p.m. WPI Jan. 9 Home vs. Roger Williams, 2 p.m.

Women’s

Clark Jan. 12 Home vs. Mount Holyoke, Wheaton, 1 p.m. WPI Jan. 9 Home vs. Roger Williams, 2 p.m.

hockey Men’s

Holy Cross Jan. 10 @ Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 4 p.m. Worcester State Jan. 9 @ UMASS Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, 4p.m. Assumption Jan. 12 @ Endicott College, Beverly, 7 p.m. Becker Jan. 8 @ Cortland State, Cortland, New York, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 @ Morrisville State, Morrisville, New York, 4 p.m. Jan. 12 Home vs. Stonehill, 7:40 p.m. Nichols Jan. 7 Home vs. Westfield State, 12:40 p.m. Jan. 9 @ SUNY Cortland, Cortland, New York, 3 p.m. Jan. 13 Home vs. Manhattanville, 8:20 p.m.

Women’s

Becker Jan. 8 @ University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, 4 p.m. Jan. 9 Home vs. Johnson & Wales. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Franklin Pierce, Rindge, New Hampshire, 7:30 p.m. Nichols Jan. 8 @ Endicott College, Beverly, 3 p.m. Jan. 12 Home vs. Trinity College, 12:40 p.m.

wrestling WPI Jan. 9 @ Ursinus, Collegeville, PA, 9:30 am

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BULKHEADS

508-835-1644 for free estimate

sales@centralmassclass.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.centralmassclass.com J A N U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6 â&#x20AC;˘ W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M

www.centralmassclass.com HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING Rutland Heating & A/C SERVICE & INSTALLATION "We cater to the independent oil customer!" Rutland, MA Call 774-234-0306 HOME IMPROVEMENT C&R, Remodeling, additions, & all home improvements, 25yrs exp. new & historic, David, 508-829-4581 HOME REPAIR/ RESTORATION Need it Fixed? General Home & Small Business Repairs Light Construction No Job Too Small Call Bob at 978-422-8632 or 978-790-8727 CELL email: fixit@callbobhill.com www.callbobhill.com

MASONRY

PLUMBING

RUBBISH REMOVAL

Donald F. Mercurio BULKHEADS Repaired & Replaced Foundation Repairs Brick*Block*Stone Basement Waterproofing 508-835-4729/West Boylston Owner Operator Insured

JOSH SHEA PLUMBING

Lee Skoglund Services 10, 15, 20-yard container service. Yard & building materials. Office equipment & materials. Attics, cellars & estates cleaned, guaranteed by your closing date! Free estimates. Lee Skoglund 508-757-4209

A Lorusso Masonry and Tile Foundation Repair, Stone Brick, Tile Backsplashes, Floors, Walls, Tub Surrounds, etc. Call 508-523-9628 PAINT/WALLPAPER Interior Painting Only $149 average 12x16 room. Prompt service. Reliable. Refs. Dutch Touch Painting 508-867-2550 Jack Wasgatt Painting Interior painting and wallpapering, wall and ceiling repairs, extremely meticulous, one man operation (no crews or subs), 33 years experience, Holden resident, fully insured Call 508-852-0271

Specializing in plumbing service and repairs.18+ years of experience. Licensed & Insured Master Plumber #13680 joshsheaplumbing.com 508-868-5730

WELLS

Mark R. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell, Inc. Roofing Experts Licensed & Insured Residential, Commercial & Industrial Specialize in Shingle, Flat Rubber & Metal Roofs Prices as Low as $2 per Square Foot! Free Estimates 978-534-3307 modonnell@mrogc.com www.mrogc.com

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688 Main Street, Holden, MA Toll Free (877) 446-3305

ROOFING

BATHTUB REFINISHING

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yesterday, my bathtub was ugly.

FOSTER PARENTS

After!

NO WATER? Stop wishing for it! A&W Welltech Corp. WELL & PUMP Installation & Filtration Service 978-422-7471 24hr Emergency Service 877-816-2642 Mobile 978-815-3188

LAWN & GARDEN LANDSCAPING & LAWN MAINTENANCE

www.devereuxma.org LANDSCAPING & LAWN MAINTENANCE Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tree & Landscaping Enhancing the view from your home. Custom & Ornamental Pruning. Mulching. Planting. Lawn Mowing. Tree Removal. Certified Arborist. Call for consultation & free estimate. (508)829-6803. davestreeandlandscaping.com

A.R.I Grounds Maintenance Snow Plowing A.R.I Grounds Maintenance is offering snow plowing and removal services. Call now to schedule your free quote. We have the right equipment to get your job done at a GREAT price! 978-514-4403 Sterling, MA

Burnham Maintenance Clean-ups. Lawn Maintenance. Shrub Pruning. Bark Mulch, Screened Loam & Compost. Patios & Walkways. Fertilization Programs. Deliveries Available. Please call 508-829-3809

SNOW PROFESSIONALS DIRECTORY

Sterling Peat Inc. Quality Screened Loam. Mulches. Compost- w/Loam Mix. 2"-Gravel, Fill. Fieldstone. 978-422-8294

MULCH & LOAM

EMPLOYMENT

ALL WORK GUARANTEED

HELP WANTED LOCAL ~ Since 1965 ~

We Also Repair and Refinish: t $PVOUFSUPQT t 5JMF 4IPXFST 8BMMT t 4JOLT 7BOJUJFT t 'JCFSHMBTT 5VCT 4IPXFST

Call for a FREE Estimate! 508-655-2044 Each Miracle Method franchise independently owned and operated.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

See our work at MiracleMethod.com/

â&#x20AC;˘ J A N U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

SNOW PLOWING TREE TRIMMING BRUSH CHIPPING Residential & Commercial SERVING THE HOLDEN AREA

508.829.3809

Hiring 7D School Bus Van Drivers for Fitchburg & Leominster. Split shift, $14/hr. Willing to train! We pay for training and holidays, and snow days. We offer 40 hours earned sick time. For more information call 508-582-5020 or email elizabeth.uceta @transprollc.com

HELP WANTED LOCAL Sterling COA is looking for a part time van driver to drive seniors to and from appointments. The job is for Thursdays from 7:30 - 3:30, with opportunities to cover vacations and illness. Please contact the Sterling Senior Center at 978-422-3032 or kphillips@sterling-ma.gov EEO/AA Millbury Public Schools Substitute Cafeteria Workers 3 Hours a day call Mary Leslie, Food Service Director @ 508-865-2929 EEC Licensed After School Program has Group Leader position available Group Leaders must have min 2 yrs experience working with school age children. Group Leaders will be supporting children with homework, organizing and implementing daily afternoon activities including gym time, pool time, rock wall, arts & crafts, exercise programs and special projects. Mon-Fri 2:30-5:30 for the school year. Please forward a letter of interest and resume to mcatlin@worcesterjcc.org Full & Part Time Direct Care!

Advocates supports adults with brain injuries. Entry level, apply at www.advocates.org

www.centralmassclass.com Yard Sale & Flea Market Directory

kee Flea Market Yan1311 Park Street (rt. 20) 2 miles off exit 8 Mass Turnpike Palmer, MA • 413-283-4910

Huge 9000 sq. ft. indoor ﬂea market open 6 days a week with over 130 dealers. Yankee Flea Market is the place to shop whether it be antiques, collectibles or just household furnishings. We also buy (and sell) complete or partial estates as well as furniture, gas & oil memorabilia, vintage beer signs and lights and much, much more. Bring your items in for a free valuation. Additional dealer space will soon be availbable as we are expanding, call us for details.

Open Tuesday-Saturday: 10-5, Sunday 11-5, FREE FREE Parking Admission Be sure to check us out on Facebook

MERCHANDISE

CEMETERY PLOTS

Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton MA Garden of Heritage II. 2 Lots w/vaults. Current value $8300.00 Asking $3950.00 for both or B/O. Call Jim 508-769-8107

Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton MA 2 lots in Heritage II w/vaults. $2,500.00 for both. Call Rick at 508-450-7470

CEMETERY PLOTS

FOR SALE

WOOD FOR SALE

Worc. County Memorial Park Paxton, MA Grave sites. 2 lots, Good Shepherd. Plot 147, graves 3 & 4. $5000.00 each. B/O Call Kris 508-735-9996

Brand New Wolfgang Puck Pressure Cooker Oven Cooks 15lb turkey in 50 min. Cooks bread in 30 min. Saves 70% electricity. Can be used as conventional oven. Call 508461-7206. Leave message, Asking $200.00. Webster, MA

Two antique oak dressers, one with mirror, in great shape. $250 OBO. 978-422-6264

FIREWOOD Seasoned 100% hardwood cut and split. Free delivery on 2 cords (128 cu. ft.) orders. Call or text Cami for more info. 508-918-0767.

Organ with bench. Pd. $2700, asking $300 or best offer. 508331-3468

FREE

Worcester County Memorial Park Two cemetery lots. Chose your own resting spot in Serenity. $1000 for both. Call 774-345-4440. Worcester County Memorial Park Paxton, MA, Garden of the Cross Premier Location Lot 31D Value $5250 Asking $4800 Call Patti at 508-799-5678 Worc. County Memorial Park Paxton. Garden of Faith, 2 plots, Section #347-A 1&2. Today’s cost is $3,900.00 for both. Asking $1,500.00 total for both. Call 508-882-3421 or 909-714-0064 SWIVEL/ROCKER Upholstered tan, clean, ex. cond. $45. Can deliver local w/ help. Princeton 978-464-2485.

Piano Mohogany, upright, w/ bench. 1st flr., easy move. Perfect for aspiring musicians. $300 OBO 508-865-4032 Golf clubs, bag, cart (used) Asking $250. 508-865-5726* Frost Free Frigidaire Upright Freezer 9 cubic FT. Excellent condition. $150. 978-537-9633

HOSPITAL BED Invacare fully electric hospital bed ,asking $500 978-534-9433

Top of Dining Hutch Thomasville Solitaire Collection, light cherry, shaker style. FREE. 508-886-0123 FURNITURE Corner Hutch Solid pine - 4 doors - 48" x 76". Accommodates 42" television. $250. Photo available. 508-829-6792 FURNITURE

Knee Scooter - Like New Tierod steering and brake. Metal basket. $175 OBO. 978-6977964. Thule Truck Racks $300. 508755-0888*

EDUCATION MUSIC INSTRUCTION Instrumental, Vocal, Jazz Improv Lessons available on most instruments 508-7526213

PETS & ANIMALS CATS/KITTENS FOR SALE Ragdoll cat Beautiful markings, male, neutered. Born 12/14. $450. 508-797-6068

Brand New Sleeper Sofa Light brown, beautiful fabric. Call 508-461-7206 Leave message, Webster MA. Comes apart for easy transport. Asking $300.00

Good Health ~ Happiness ~ Prosperity A new year brings new opportunities. If buying or selling a home is your New Year’s resolution, I would love to speak with you. Coldwell Banker is the leading seller of homes in Worcester County. Allow me to put these resources to work for you. Whether finding your dream home, or selling your current property with the least amount of stress, I can help with all of your real estate needs. I am experienced in all of Worcester County, and it would be my pleasure to assist you in 2016!

Lisa Hugo Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 6 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA (508) 723-4029 J A N U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6 • W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M

www.centralmassclass.com

2016 93 Years Sunnyside Ford

71 Years Empire Granite

Holden, Ma 508-829-4333 www.sunnysideford.com Established 1923

“The Peduzzi Family” Worcester, Ma 508-757-3091 Established 1945

20 Years

53 Years

Creative Floors

Toni and Guy

Holden, Ma 508-829-7444 www.creativefloorsinc.com Established 1996

20 Years Nana’s Stained Glass

Leicester, Ma 508-892-0369 www.nanamomma.webs.com Established 1996

120 Years Miles Funeral Directors

Proudly Serving the Wachusett Area www.milesfuneralhome.com Established 1896

Worcester, Ma 508-756-6060 www.worcester.toniguy.edu Established 1963

REAL ESTATE

2001 Suzuki Intruder 1500cc, showroom condition, lots of chrome, Vehix pipes. $4000. Call John at 978-466-6043.

Publisher’s Notice All real estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Massachusetts Anti Discrimination Act and the Boston & Cambridge Fair Housing Ordinances which make it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, ancestry, age, children, marital status, sexual orientation, veterans status or source of income or any intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free at 1-800-827-5005. For the NE area call HUD at 617-994-8300. The toll free number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275 or 617-565-5453

CONDOMINIUM FOR SALE 55+ NEW CONSTRUCTION CONDOS

Over 20 Years Safe Roads Driving Academy

Fitchburg, Ma 978-345-6200 www.saferoadsdrivingacademy.com Established 2013

40 Years The Holden Landmark Corporation

The Landmark, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, The Leominster Champion, Worcester Magazine, The Grafton News, Baystate Parent, Central Mass Classifieds

Established 1976

WORCESTER RANCH-STYLE 2br/2ba condos off Salisbury St. Open floor plan, 4 season room, marble, granite, h/w. Beautiful. New clubhouse coming. OH Jan 2nd & 3rd 13pm Don’t Wait to enjoy the Easy-Living Lifestyle! 10 Primmett Lane Berkshire Realty Group 508-414-2011

AUTOMOTIVE AUTO/MOTORCYCLE 1999 Road King Under 8,000 miles. Too many extras to list. Always stored in room temperature. $13,000 obo 978-4645525 or 781-879-8275 cell 978 -464-5525 2008 Honda Metropolitan Scooter Black and gray. Mint cond. 469 miles. Asking $1650.00. Includes helmet. 207-289-9362 OR 207-450-1492.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• J A N U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

AUTO/MOTORCYCLE

2007 Suzuki Boulevard Cruising Motorcycle C90T; 1474cc; 6300 miles, 1 owner, perfect cond. accessories and new battery. Garaged, covered & serviced. $6,000 508-8498635

AUTO/VAN 2008 Ford E250 Extended Van 3dr, A-T/AC, Power package. Roof racks. Int. shelving, tow package, 6 rims, 8 tires in good cond. Exc. overall cond. 57K miles. $14,999.00 508-829-2907

AUTOS 2009 Mazda CX-7 Blackcherry with gray & black interior. 48,000 miles $9,500. 774-8230466 2002 Chevrolet Corvette 39,000 miles Red with black interior. Car is in excellent condition! $26,000 or best offer. Call: 774-823-0466.

2008 Ford Mustang 8 cyl, 300HP. 21K miles. Never driven during winter. Always garaged. Perfect cond. $21,900 negotiable. 508-865-3528 after 3pm. 1999 Pontiac Grand Am 6 Cylinder, automatic, needs work or use for parts. 159,903 miles. $675. 978-422-8084

2010 Honda Civic 32K miles, very good cond. Front wheel drive. Automatic. A/C, power s t e e r i n g /b r a k e s /w i n d o w s / locks. $9,950 Hubbardston, MA 978-870-3291 1985 Cadillac Eldorado 74K miles. Never been in snow. Mint condition. Gray w/landau top. Bonus 2 Free Air tickets & 5 star condo for a week in FL. $5,000.00 Oakham 407-3753917 2002 Ford Taurus Wagon SEL Auto., 6 cyl., leather seats, clean. 70,800 miles. $2195 OBO. 508-243-8399.

www.centralmassclass.com AUTOS

CAMPERS/TRAILERS

JUNK CARS

LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES

Over 40 Acres! Over 3000 Vehicles!

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We Buy and PICK UP Your junk or wrecked cars or trucks. We Sell New and Used Parts. Specials on Batteries and Tires. New and Used! Airport Auto Parts, Inc. 56 Crawford St. Leominster, MA 01453 978-534-3137

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS (SEAL) LAND COURT DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT 2015 SM 010637 ORDER OF NOTICE To: Barbara L Combs; Peter P Combs and to all persons entitled to the benefit of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 501 et seq.: Federal National Mortgage Association claiming to have an interest in a Mortgage covering real property in MILLBURY, 235 MILLBURY AVENUE, given by Barbara L Combs and Peter P Combs to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. dated May 23, 2007 and recorded with the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds at Book 41223, Page 330 as affected by a modification agreement dated July 8, 2013 and recorded with said Registry in Book 51709, Page 311, and now held by the Plaintiff by assignment has/have filed with this court a complaint for determination of Defendant’s/Defendants’ Servicemembers status. If you now are, or recently have been, in the active military service of the UnitedStates of America, then you may be entitled to the benefits of the Servicemembers Civil ReliefAct. If you object to a foreclosure of the above-mentioned property on that basis, then you or your attorney must file a written appearance and answer in this court at Three Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 on or before February 1, 2016 or you will be forever barred from claiming that you are entitled to the benefits of said Act. Witness, JUDITH C. CUTLER, Chief Justice of this Court on December 18, 2015 Attest: Deborah J. Patterson Recorder 201511-0061-PRP

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• Class A, B, C Motor Homes • Trailers Parts • Propane • Service Transportation • Temporary Housing

Fuller RV Rentals & Sales 150 Shrewsbury St., Boylston 508-869-2905 www.fullerrv.com

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3 Horse Trailer 2002 Exiss XT/ 300 Gooseneck. Great condition. All alum. S.S. nose. On craigslist pics. $9,000. Paxton. Call Robert at 508-757-0887* Truck Camper 1985 Bought new in 1991. Real Life brand. Bathroom, shower, self contained. 8ft truck bed. $2900.00 B/O 774-287-0777

HARVEST STORAGE Lots of Outside Storage space. Inside storage. Secure Storage. Autos, Boats, Motorcycles, Campers. Hubbardston, MA. 978-928-3866

LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES

RUSTY ANTIQUE CARS/TRUCKS, SOUGHT & BOUGHT

BLUE COLLAR VINTAGE SALVAGE 774-696-3584 • 10AM-10PM AUTOS

BOATS

2003 Volkswagen Beetle One owner. Dark blue. 102,000 miles. Owner’s manual. Excellent condition. 5 speed, disc music, title. Call 508-829-3752 $3,500

25 HP Suzuki (Like New) with Boat & Trailer with Bonus 2 Free Air Tickets to Orlando and 5 star condo for a week. Disney anyone? Pete 407-3753917 $4,000

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Well maintained, 219K miles, 4 new tires & recent repairs. $2500. Princeton. Call 774-261-0641. 2012 Cadillac CTS AWD, 21,800 miles. Crystal red. Heated black leather seats. Panoramic roof. Dealer maintained. Under warranty. $24,500.00 978-534-8860

CAMPERS/TRAILERS 2001 Layton 40 Ft. Park Model Trailer. Bedroom has over sized bed. Kitchen complete with stove, refrigerator, and dining set. Living room area has two sleep sofas. Full attached deck, with screen room and hard top roof. Trailer is located in Wells, ME. Must be removed from site. Reason for selling moving to Florida. Price $5,000. Call 413-433-3646

Worcester Housing Authority Invitation For Bids The Worcester Housing Authority invites sealed bids for Concrete Coating at MA 12-01 Great Brook Valley Gardens in accordance with the documents prepared by Worcester Housing Authority. The work is estimated to cost $450,000. Project consists of but is not limited to: applying mineral silicate paint to concrete banding on up to 42 buildings with preparatory concrete repair. General Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at the Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. A pre-bid conference will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 13, 2016, at 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA at which time bidders will be invited to visit the project site(s) with a Worcester Housing Authority representative. Failure to attend or visit the premises shall be no defense in failure to perform contract terms. Bids are subject to M.G.L c149 §44A-J and Davis Bacon wage rates as well as other applicable laws. General Bidders must be certified by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) in the following category of work: Painting or Waterproofing, Damproofing and Caulking. Each bid shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in the amount of 5% of the bid price in the form of a Bid Bond, issued by a responsible surety company licensed to do business in Massachusetts, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority by bidders for the greatest possible bid amount (considering all alternates). Bid forms and Contract Documents will be made available on the Worcester Housing Authority website (http://worcester-housing.com/purchasing.html) at no cost. Hard copies will be made available on Jan 6, 2016 at the Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 and thereafter, Monday thru Friday 8:00 A.M. through 4:30 P. M. Copies of the contract documents may be obtained by depositing $50.00 in the form of a company check, made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority, for each set of documents so obtained. The amount of the deposit will be refunded to each person who returns the plans, specifications and other documents in good condition within ten (10) days after bid opening. Bidders requesting contact documents to be mailed to them should include a separate check in the amount of $40.00 for each set payable to the Worcester Housing Authority to cover mailing and handling costs. The contract documents may be seen, but not removed at: 1. Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 2. F.W. Dodge, 24 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02173 3. Reed Construction Data, 30 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092 4. Project Dog, 18 Graf Road Unit #8 Plan Room, Newburyport, MA 01950 Attention is called to the following: 1. Provisions of Equal Employment Opportunity; 2. Provisions for payment of not less than the minimum wages as set forth in the Specifications; 3. Provisions of Chapter 14, Acts of 1966, Imposing a Temporary Sales Tax, Section 1, Subsection 6 (d) and (k) exempting the Authority from the operation of such a chapter; 4. Requirement to furnish and pay for a Performance Bond and a Labor and Materials Bond as set forth in the specifications, 5. Insurance certificate indicating coverage for public liability, property damage and workers compensation, in accordance with the contract requirements, must be filed by the successful bidder upon signing of the contract. The Worcester Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, in whole or in part, or to waive any informalities in the bidding if it be in the public interest to do so. No bid of a General Bidder shall be withdrawn, after opening thereof, prior to thirty (30) days, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded, without the consent of the Worcester Housing Authority. Questions regarding this project shall be submitted in writing 72 hours prior to opening and directed to: John Hennessy, Project Manager, Worcester Housing Authority, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605. 508 635-3232, 508 798-4627 (fax), Hennessy@worcester-housing.com Worcester Housing Authority, Dennis L. Irish, Chairperson DATE: Dec 30, 2015

J A N U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6 • W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M

LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE Premises: 110 Stone School Road, Sutton, Massachusetts. By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain mortgage given by Theodore W. Sargent and Pamela J. Sargent to , said mortgage dated 5/25/2005, and recorded in the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds, in Book 36440 at Page 96 and now held by WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, doing business as CHRISTIANA TRUST, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee for BCAT 2014-10TT by virtue of an assignment from MTGLQ Investors, L.P., its successors and assigns to WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, doing business as CHRISTIANA TRUST, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee for BCAT 2014-10TT dated October 17, 2014 and recorded January 20, 2015 in the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 53284 Page 334, previously assigned by Santander Bank, N.A. formerly known as Sovereign Bank, its successors and assigns to MTGLQ Investors, L.P., by virtue of an assignment dated September 11, 2014 and recorded January 20, 2015 in the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 53284 Page 331 for breach of the conditions in said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same, will be sold at Public Auction on January 28, 2016 at 2:00 pm Local Time upon the premises, all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, to wit: Closing Date: May 25, 2005 Borrower(s): Theodore W. Sargent and Pamela J. Sargent Property Address: 110 Stone Road Sutton, MA 01590. The land in Sutton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, being shown as Lot B on a Plan of Land in Sutton, Massachusetts owned by Lawrence R. Towle and Mary V. Towle, 1 inch = 100 feet, dated Oct. 10, 1998, Lavallee Brothers, Inc., recorded in the Worcester Registry of Deeds in Plan Book 734, Plan 118, to which plan reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Meaning and intending to convey the same premises as conveyed by deed dated November 20, 1998 and recorded at Worcester Registry of Deeds in Book 20681 Page 387. The description of the property that appears in the mortgage to be foreclosed shall control in the event of a typographical error in this publication. For Mortgagors’ Title see deed dated 11/20/1998, and recorded in Book 20681 at Page 387 with the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds. TERMS OF SALE: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, tax titles, municipal liens and assessments, if any, which take precedence over the said mortgage above described. FIVE THOUSAND ($5,000.00) Dollars of the purchase price must be paid in cash, certiﬁed check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale by the purchaser. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid in cash, certiﬁed check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check within thirty (30) days after the date of sale. Other terms to be announced at the sale. BENDETT & MCHUGH, PC, 270 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032. Attorney for WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, doing business as CHRISTIANA TRUST, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee for BCAT 2014-10TT , Present Holder of the Mortgage (860) 677-2868

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• J A N U A R Y 7, 2 0 1 6

PUBLIC AUCTION NOTICE is hereby given. Pursuant to provision of M.L. c255 sec. 39A the following vehicle will be sold on January 23, 2016 at a private sale to satisfy our garage lien thereon for towing & storage charges and expenses of sale and notice; 2006 Ford Explorer VIN# 1FMEU73E56UA49136. The sale is at Early’s on Park Ave.,Inc. located at 536 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA 01603

TOWN OF SUTTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Sutton School Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Wally Johnson Board Room of the Sutton Municipal Center regarding the FY2017 School Budget. Any citizen interested is invited to attend this public hearing.

MORTGAGEE’S NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL ESTATE Premises: 15 Rebekah Lane, Sutton, Massachusetts. By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain mortgage given by Kevin Yarber and Karin L. Yarber to Hometown Bank, dated July 11, 2006, and duly recorded with the Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 39381, Page 324, of which mortgage the undersigned, Hometown Bank f/k/a Hometown Bank, a Cooperative Bank, is the present holder, for breach of conditions contained in said Mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same, said premises will be sold at Public Auction at 11:00 A.M. on the 3rd day of February, 2016 at or upon the mortgaged premises, 15 Rebekah Lane, Sutton, Massachusetts, as described below, being all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, together with all the rights, easements, and appurtenances thereto, to wit: The land in Sutton, being shown as Lot 3 Rebekah Lane on a Plan of Land in Sutton, Massachusetts, owned by Kenneth Linder dated April 22, 1998, and recorded with the Worcester District Registry of Deeds in Plan Book 733, Plan 23. BEING the same premises conveyed by deed dated March 23, 2006 and recorded with the Worcester South District Registry of Deeds in Book 38692, Page 186. TERMS OF SALE: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to and with the benefit of any and all rights, rights of way, mortgages, restrictions, easements, local zoning laws and regulations, building and code violations, covenants, improvements, unpaid taxes, unpaid water and/or sewer bills, outstanding tax titles, municipal or other public taxes, assessments, federal and state tax liens, other liens or claims in the nature of liens, and existing encumbrances of record created prior to the above-described mortgage, if there be any, or otherwise having priority over the mortgage described herein, if there be any, and the rights of tenants and occupants of the mortgaged premises, if there be any. The premises shall also be sold and conveyed subject to any restrictions of record and rights of redemption for unpaid federal taxes, if there be any, as shall, notwithstanding this provision, constitute valid liens or encumbrances thereon after said sale. The highest bidder shall be required to pay TEN THOUSAND and No/100 ($10,000.00) Dollars by certified, bank, treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale as a deposit. All bidders must exhibit said required deposit to the auctioneer immediately prior to the auction sale in order to qualify as a bidder. The balance of the purchase price is to be paid by certified, bank, treasurer’s or cashier’s check within thirty (30) days after the date of the sale at the offices of Attorney David E. Silverman, Silverman & Esposito, 264 Main Street, Oxford, Massachusetts 01540. The Mortgagee reserves the right to postpone the sale to a later date by public proclamation at the time and date appointed for the sale, and to further postpone at any adjourned sale date by public proclamation at the time and date appointed for the adjourned sale date. The successful bidder shall be required to execute a Memorandum of Sale and Terms and Conditions of Sale at the Auction Sale at the conclusion of the bidding. In the event the successful bidder at the Auction Sale shall default in purchasing the within described property according to the terms and conditions of this Notice of Sale and/or terms of the Memorandum of Sale executed at the time of the foreclosure, the Mortgagee reserves the right to sell the property by foreclosure deed to the second highest bidder, at its bid commitment which was made at the time of the foreclosure sale, providing that said second highest bidder shall execute a Memorandum of Sale and Terms and Conditions of Sale and deposit with Mortgagee’s attorney, David E. Silverman, Esquire, the amount of the required deposit as set forth herein within five (5) business days after written notice of the default of the previous highest bidder. If the premises are not serviced by a public sewage system, the purchaser will be solely responsible for compliance with all Title V Regulations, including, but not limited to, any inspection and upgrade requirements set forth in 310 CMR (Code of Massachusetts Regulations) 15.300 through 15.305. The purchaser will be responsible for all closing costs, state documentary stamps, and recording fees. The description of the property contained in the mortgage shall control in the event of a typographical or clerical error in this publication. Other terms and conditions to be announced at the time and place of sale. Hometown Bank f/k/a Hometown Bank, a Cooperative Bank, Present Holder of Said Mortgage By its Attorney, David E. Silverman, Esquire, Silverman & Esposito, P.O. Box 245, 264 Main Street, Oxford, MA 01540 (508) 987-2707

ANSWERS TO TODAY’S PUZZLE

NOTICE OF MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE Premises: 1482 Grafton Road, Millbury, Massachusetts By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain mortgage given by Antoinette M. Bernier to Southbridge Savings Bank and now held by Nationstar Mortgage LLC, said mortgage dated June 30, 2008, and recorded in the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds, in Book 43066 at Page 240, as affected by an Assignment of Mortgage dated June 30, 2008, and recorded with said Deeds in Book 43066 at Page 250, as affected by an Assignment of Mortgage dated July 11, 2008, and recorded with said Deeds in Book 43212 at Page 17, as affected by an Assignment of Mortgage dated October 9, 2014, and recorded with said Deeds in Book 52911 at Page 270, and as affected by an Affidavit of Correction Assignment of Mortgage dated January 7, 2015, and recorded with said Deeds in Book 53247 at Page 111, of which mortgage the undersigned is the present holder, for breach of the conditions in said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same will be sold at Public Auction on January 14, 2016, at 3:00 PM Local Time upon the premises, all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, to wit: The land in Millbury, Massachusetts, bounded and described as follows: A certain tract or parcel of land situated on the southerly side of Grafton Street, in the Town of Millbury, being part of lot #70 on “Plan of City Line Farms” Millbury, MA, by Buttrick and Pratt, Civil Engineers dated 1900, and recorded with Worcester restrict Deeds in Book 1692, Page 601, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point oil the southerly line of Grafton Street at the northeasterly corner of Lot #64 on said plan; THENCE S. 8 degrees 15’ W. by land now or formerly of Elva LeBlond, ninety-one and 14/100 (91.14) feet to a hinge nail in a tar walk; THENCE S. 11 degrees 25’ W. still by land of said LeBlond, sixty-one and 60/100 (61.60) feet to a stake; THENCE N. 78 degrees 45’ W. five (5) feet to ail iron pipe; thence S. II degrees 25’ W. by lot #65 on said plan, sixty-eight and 80/100 (68.83) feet to a point; THENCE S, 78 degrees 35’ £, sixty (60) feet to a point; THENCE N. 11 degrees 25’ E. one hundred ninety-four and 67/100 (194.67) feel to the southerly line or said Grafton Street; THENCE Northwesterly by said southerly tine of Grafton Street, sixty-two and 28/100 (62.28) feet to the point of beginning. Together with any right, title and interest within the location of the line of Grafton Street between the east and west lines of said lot extended. The description of the property contained in the mortgage shall control in the event of a typographical error in this publication. For Mortgagor’s Title, see Deed dated November 12, 1985, and recorded in Book 9059 at Page 208 with the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds. TERMS OF SALE: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, tax titles, municipal liens and assessments, if any, which take precedence over the said mortgage above described. TEN THOUSAND ($10,000.00) Dollars of the purchase price must be paid in cash, certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale by the purchaser. The balance of the purchase price shall be paid in cash, certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check within thirty (30) days after the date of sale. Other terms to be announced at the sale. Marinosci Law Group, P.C. 275 West Natick Road, Suite 500 Warwick, RI 02886 Attorney for Nationstar Mortgage LLC Present Holder of the Mortgage Telephone: (401) 234-9200 MLG File No.: 14-04554 A-4555599 12/24/2015, 12/31/2015, 01/07/2016

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Two minutes with...

Scott Malkasian and Alicia Merritt

STEVEN KING

Gun control and the Second Amendment are hot-button topics these days, especially with the president’s newest executive actions. We talked to Scott Malkasian, owner of Pullman Arms on Pullman Street, and business manager Alicia Merritt about weapons, regulations and the permitting system. How did you get into the firearms business?

I was cleaning floors and toilets when I was 12 years old at my father’s business, Roger Tool and Die. I started as a toolmaker, right after high school. I learned to make tools and molds. There were six of us Malkasians who worked here in this building at that time. I did that for many years. I’ve always had an interest in welding. When you think of welding, you think of someone with a helmet and leather clothes, smoke billowing up, that doesn’t interest me. There was a micro welder in Rhode Island that all of the mold making shops sent their work to. When I first started working for my dad I was a gopher. My job was to run things to the heat treaters and take things to the welders. When I walked into that welding shop for the first time and saw them working in a clean room environment with music playing. track lighting and welding under microscopes. I said, ‘That’s for me.’

Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. How difficult is it to obtain a firearm permit in the state and in Worcester?

To obtain your License To Carry (LTC) you have to take a basic safety course from a licensed NRA instructor. It’s a minimum of a four-hour course. Some courses provide a live fire portion for weapons familiarization, but it’s not a requirement. They will get a certificate, which they will take to their local police chief. They are fingerprinted and can apply for their pistol permit. That paperwork is also submitted to the State Police, and by law they have 40 days to approve or deny. Currently, it’s taking about four weeks. If everything checks out with the background check then the chief of police will give them the license. The chief of police has full control.

The president has announced coming executive actions pertaining to guns. Do you see a spike in firearm sales when new gun regulations are imposed? Yes. Every time a politician gets

on the airwaves talking about gun control, people start coming in to buy guns. Not just here, but everywhere. People are nervous they will lose their right to protect their homes, their families and themselves. It’s not a right to be able to hurt someone, but it is a right to be able to protect yourself.

Take me through step by step the process to buy a firearm? A lot of people think anyone can

just go out and buy a gun. The Feds, they already have a background check the 4473 NICS. Everybody in the United States that buys a firearm has to go through the 4473 NICS check, and that’s before they can do the state check. When you walk in here you have to have your license to carry and it has to be valid. You have to do your Federal Firearms License, which has to be called in, and it’s proceeded, delayed or denied. If for some reason you are delayed, you don’t get to take your firearm. If everything goes perfect then we go on to the state check. It takes about 45 minutes. By law we have the right to sell a weapon if the Feds don’t get back to us in the three days allotted for a delay, but we don’t. We already have high liability just owning a gun shop we don’t need anymore. I don’t know any gun shop that would. It’s an unknown liability.

Do we have enough regulations regarding weapons and the sale of? There are two schools of thought on that. Nobody wants a crazy deranged maniac to own a firearm. How do you do that without hurting the lawabiding citizens at the same time? Massa-

chusetts has some of the strictest gun laws. People are nervous that their rights will be taken away when they’ve done nothing wrong. You can’t fight a bureaucracy. When you have someone to talk to and a means of challenging it, you have less of a chance of getting pushed by the wayside. Typically, gun control measures only hurt the law-abiding citizens who weren’t going to do anything illegal with the guns to begin with. Criminals by their very nature do not abide by the laws. Do you think a criminal cares about gun control? There are 300 to 400 million guns in the United States, that’s just a fact. There’s a gun for every man, woman and child living in the United States. If a criminal wants to find a gun … they can. The only people these laws affect are the people who weren’t going to do anything to begin with and leaving the guns with the criminals. The cat’s already out of the bag, but we have to manage it in a way that makes sense.

The majority of the weapons you sell, are they for protection? I got into the business

from a hunting background, so I started stocking up on mainly hunting rifles and things like that, but we don’t sell a lot of hunting rifles.

What are your most popular weapons right now?

handguns, home defense handguns and AR-15s, the new name, which is the modern sporting rifle. People think AR-15 and think assault rifles. AR15s were designed by Armalite, that’s where the AR comes from. Armalite sold the design to Colt. There are probably upwards of 100 companies who make AR-15s now. A historical definition of an assault rifle is a select fire gun, a semiautomatic gun that can also shoot fully automatic. What we sell here, and for that matter all gun dealers in the country, is a semiautomatic rifle and that’s it. The AR-15 is a cool platform that looks bad-ass, but it’s really no different then buying a Ruger Ranch rifle with a wooden stock. Mechanically, they are exactly the same gun. You pull the trigger it goes bang.

Talk about the manufacturing part of your business? The manufacturing part is still

unfolding. We’ve only been here for five years. I’m still building. We don’t make firearms here. We work with other firearms manufactures. We do gunsmithing, we do full compliance on guns. We have the capabilities to do a lot more and we hope to build that as time goes on. I came from a toolmakers background, machining, which is one of the hardest parts of being a gunsmith.

The biggest sellers are concealed carry

JANUARY 7, 2016 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 7, 2016