Worcester Magazine January 11 -17, 2018

JANUARY 11 - 17, 2018

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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news

Councilors wants johns off the streets Page 4

arts

Worcester florist readies for FTD America’s Cup Page 17

music

Worcester’s secret music scene Page 19

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 11, 2018

insidestories

Kirk A. Davis President Kathleen Real-Benoit Publisher x331 Walter Bird Jr. Editor x322 Elizabeth Brooks x323 Photographer Joshua Lyford x325 Reporter Bill Shaner x324 Reporter Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Jessica Picard, Corlyn Vooorhees, Contributing Writers Donald Cloutier Director of Creative Services x141 Kimberly Vasseur Creative Director/Assistant Director of Creative Services x142 Becky Gill, Stephanie Mallard, Colleen Mulligan, Wendy Watkins Creative Services Department Helen Linnehan Ad Director x333 Diane Galipeau x335, Sarah Perez x334, Cheryl Robinson x336, 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

This Week’s Cover Story: 18 Things We’d Like to See in Worcester in 2018

T

he list gets bigger each year; who knows how much longer we can go? Newsprint, after all is a precious commodity. Nonetheless, here we stand on the doorstep of 2018, door now open to all the possibilities, hope and uncertainties that lie ahead.

This week, Worcester Magazine presents 18 things we’d like to see in Worcester this year. From an answer to whether the Pawtucket Red Sox are, in fact, coming to Worcester, to a new future for The Aud at Lincoln Square, and more, this week’s cover story offers suggestions for some of the accomplishments we’d like to see in 2018. At the end of the year, as we did just recently for 2017, we’ll take a look back and assign grades based on how we think Worcester measured up. But that’s 12 months down the road. For now, possibility and hope ring fresh in the New Year. Here are 18 Things We’d Like to See in Worcester in 2018.

— Walter Bird Jr., editor

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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 2018 by The Holden Landmark Corporation. All rights reserved.

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EDITORIAL: 508.749.3166 SALES: 508.749.3166 E-MAIL: editor@worcestermagazine.com Worcester Magazine, 72 Shrewsbury St. Worcester, MA 01604 worcestermagazine.com

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4 City Desk 8 Worcesteria 10 Editorial 10 Education Beat 10 1,001 Words 11 That’s What They Said 12 Cover Story 17 Night & Day 22 Film 23 Krave 25 Listings 28 Crossword 30 2 minutes with…

About the cover Photo by Elizabeth Brooks Design by Kimberly Vasseur

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citydesk January 11 - 18, 2018 n Volume 43, Number 20

Councilors wants johns off the streets Bill Shaner

I

n its first meeting of the year, the City Council made one early priority loud and clear: curbing prostitution by way of targeting johns.

District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera filed an order requesting city officials carry out stings on johns in areas of the city where they frequently solicit prostitutes. The problem is particularly bad in the Main South area, she said. Lately, johns - people paying money for sexual services - have been driving up to random women on the street, sometimes girls, soliciting them for sexual services.

“Johns are really affecting the quality of life because of the predatory behavior,” said Rivera.

The johns, she said, are mostly out-oftowners who come to the neighborhood to seek out prostitution.

“If you’re truly coming out to a neighborhood to purchase a human being,” she said, “something is very seriously wrong with that.”

The council passed the order unanimously.

Other councilors and members of the public spoke in favor of the order as an innovative way to combat the problem. Enforcement would fall to the police department. Rivera

said officers are in favor of the idea.

She pushed to make the stings a priority in the next budget.

“Budget season is coming up very quickly,” she said.

The issue is particularly troubling in Main South, she noted, due to the density of schools in the area and the relatively high number of students who walk.

“The neighborhood is becoming more and more concerned with this behavior,” Rivera said.

The goal of the operation is twofold: to curb the practice in general and to make prospective johns wary of the Main South area. Decreasing the demand will decrease the supply, Rivera said.

“No one is going to set up a ski shop on a beach in Barbados,” she said.

Rivera also advocated for services, as opposed to arrests, for women involved in prostitution, saying they often suffer from substance abuse problems and deep sexual trauma.

The tactic of going after johns, which is sometimes called a reverse sting or a demandside sting, is a growing practice across the country. It is employed in 1,200 municipalities across the country, according to Demand

Sarai Rivera speaks on the order Tuesday night as new city councilor Sean Rose listens on.

Forum, a website that tracks the practice. The stings can take the form of street-level arrests, online baiting, and stings within a brothel. A 2015 Time Magazine article took a deep dive on the practice and found that it draws from

WOO-TOWN INDE X

The big chill, followed by the big warmup. +1

4

Did the DPW actually make it through the first bout of wintry weather without any major complaints?

Yes, yes it did. +3

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 11, 2018

Sorry, but if you live on a public way, shoveling out a space does not entitle you to it. -2

what law enforcement call the Nordic Model, under which the sex workers themselves do not face arrest, only the clients. Since 1999, continued on page 6

+3

Total for this week:

A weekly quality of life check-in of Worcester City Councilor Sarai Rivera calls for more stings on johns to help combat prostitution. Police have done this before. Not a panacea, but not a bad thing, either. +1

WALTER BIRD JR.

A vegan mac & cheese cookoff to be held in Worcester. Vegan or not, consider us jacked for mac! +1

A continued lack of volunteers on city boards and commissions is not good for the city. Learn how you can get involved and consider volunteering. -2

Cold weather may have directly/ indirectly led to recent fires in and around the area, as folks try to stay warm. -1

College sports starting to kick back into action after holiday break.

Don’t miss the action. +2

{ citydesk }

Former councilor’s lawsuit of local blog raises questions Bill Shaner

W

hen news broke last week that former City Councilor Michael Gaffney filed a lawsuit against Turtleboy Sports, it was the culmination of months of fallout between the former allies. The former councilor and the blog worked in tandem for years, pushing the same priorities and attempting to vilify the same figures in Worcester politics.

But the lawsuit, which alleges fraud and libel on the part of Turtleboy Sports, shows just how quickly the relationship crumbled in the weeks before the municipal election last November, in which Gaffney came in last for an at-large seat, and his wife, Coreen Gaffney, was crushed by incumbent Sarai Rivera in the District 4 race.

That the lawsuit was filed is, in and of itself, a piece of news that shows the fractures in the conservative wing of city politics. But within the civil complaint, and in the days following, many more questions emerged and more figures in Worcester politics were drawn in. Depending on how far the lawsuit, which is filed in Dudley District Court, goes, we may yet find answers to some of the questions raised.

Did Turtleboy blackmail Gaffney?

T

he last paragraph of Turtleboy’s initial response to Mike Gaffney’s lawsuit contains what could be classified as an open threat, if not blackmail: “Oh, and there’s more. And Mike knows there’s more. There’s been rumors going

around for a looonnnnngggg time about Mike’s personal life and alleged infidelity, which many believe was the reason he dropped out of the race,” the post read.

It goes on to say Turtleboy has information about the affair, “but we don’t have to go there Mike. Nobody wants that. At the same time nobody wants this lawsuit either.”

The clear implication here is, if Mike Gaffney presses on with the lawsuit, Turtleboy will release information about Gaffney’s alleged infidelity.

Since the post, which ran last Friday, the blog already has. Tucked within a second response to the lawsuit are screenshots from someone the blog calls “you know who.”

Though the identity is blocked out, the screenshots contain messages like “he loves me more than anything, I know this,” and “coreen is a non-issue right now.”

Did Margaret Melican lie to the Citizen Advisory Council?

T

hough she is not named as a defendant in Gaffney’s lawsuit, local attorney Margaret Melican is referenced several times in the court document. She is listed as a contributor to the blog, which employs anonymity for all its authors. Gaffney also claims Melican was part of a Turtleboy Sports Facebook group called The New Turtle Group. Gaffney alleges that, within the group, Melican advocated for the publishing of a post ahead of the election in which Turtleboy encouraged his supporters to not vote for Gaffney. Turtleboy, Gaffney claims, posted the story “at the behest of Mar-

Former coucilor Michael Gaffney

garet Melican.” If true, the allegations suggest Melican is deeply involved in the inner workings of Turtleboy Sports.

Last year, accusations of her involvement with the blog, which many feel is a hateful, divisive local voice, weighed heavily in a Citizen Advisory Council hearing on her application to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals. During that hearing, she was asked straight out about the nature of her involvement with the blog. She said the extent of her involvement was posting limericks to the

Facebook page.

“My relationship with Turtleboy Sports, which I’m sure is what you’re talking about, is really limited to once in a while I write a little limerick relating to a story that they’re writing,” she said at the June 2017 hearing, in response to a CAC member’s question. “I don’t know why you would assume that of me, but that is the limit to my relationship to them.”

Melican has represented the blog and its owner, Aidan Kearney, in court. The blog’s continued on page 6

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{ citydesk } GAFFNEY continued from page 5

LLC and Melican’s law practice also share a business address: 2 Foster St. Melican could not be reached for comment.

Was Coreen Gaffney a Turtleboy blogger?

I

n response to Gaffney’s lawsuit, Turtleboy tucked an interesting nugget of information into the post. Coreen Gaffney wrote for the

website, the anonymous blogger alleged, at least once.

“Coreen wrote at least one blog for us. She was a Turtleboy blogger,” the author wrote.

Turtleboy claims Gaffney dropped a previous lawsuit against Gordon Davis and Rosalie Tirella because that information would have come out in court.

The author does not say which blog post or posts Coreen Gaffney allegedly wrote. But the author also claims Coreen Gaffney was in the same Facebook group as Margaret Melican and others, and was the one that fed messages

to her husband that were ultimately referenced in the lawsuit.

Is Aidan Kearney a Turtleboy writer?

T

his has been an unresolved question around the website for so long it has fallen to the background. The blog maintains Aidan Kearney is the advertising guy, and doesn’t have anything to do with the editorial

content. Many people, however, believe him to be the principal writer. There’s evidence to support the claim, including screenshots of Kearney’s personal Facebook page in blog posts and the fact that before Turtleboy was Turtleboy, it was called AidanFromWorcester.

If this lawsuit pushes ahead, those questions could be put to rest. Kearney is not only personally named in the lawsuit, but Gaffney identifies him as a writer.

“At all times relevant, Defendant Aiden (sic) Kearney was a writer,” Gaffney wrote in the criminal complaint.

JOHNS continued from page 4

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the philosophy has been slowly spreading throughout the U.S. Worcester officers have carried out streetlevel stings in the Main South area before in which johns were arrested. In July 2016, officers performed a sting that resulted in the arrest of five men and three women, according to a MassLive report at the time.

Six other women opted to seek treatment as opposed to arrest under a jail diversion program being offered at the time.

But the practice is not without criticism.

Amnesty International and other human rights groups would rather see prostitution completely decriminalized, arguing that criminal laws against consensual sex trade violates the human rights of sex workers, according to the Time Magazine story. A Vice News article from earlier this year quotes sex workers in Canada who said the practice of john stings sometimes drives sex workers and clients to meet behind closed doors, putting the worker in a less safe situation.

None of that criticism made it to the room Tuesday night, where the order was unanimously praised as a solid direction for tackling the issue.

“When we’re talking about stings, we’re talking about helping women escape the life,” said Councilor-At-Large Khrystian King. “We now that prostitution will end when men stop purchasing sexual favor.”

Representing the Main South Community Development Corporation, Casey Starr threw her support behind the measure. She said her office is across the street from a high and elementary school, and girls as young as forth grade have been propositioned by johns.

Councilor-At-large Moe Bergman said he supported the order, but advocated for more tools to tackle the demand side than arrests. He said the charge of soliciting prostitution is a misdemeanor, and johns will be “right through the door” in court and back on the street.

“We have to have reasonable expectations,” he said. “The court system in and of itself can’t take care of that problem.”

Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-7493166 x324 or at wshaner@worcestermag. com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.

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{ worcesteria }

Bill Shaner

3D CHESS WITH KONNIE LUKES: Councilor Konnie Lukes

went full attorney at the City Council meeting Tuesday night. She filed an order requesting that the city look at reducing the number of people on certain committees if quorum is an issue. As Lukes is always at odds with the administration, the order prompted Mayor Joe Petty and City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. to get up and say that quorum isn’t an issue. Augustus said the 12-percent vacancy rate is in line with numbers going back many years. And he said so right on cue for Lukes, it seemed. After they spoke, she put her cards on the table. She got back up and asked, essentially, that if quorum isn’t an issue, why is the city considering a move to allow non-citizens to serve on boards and commissions? Bam. An argument in reverse and no one knew she was making it. Now, personally, I don’t agree with Lukes at all here.

I see nothing wrong with allowing Worcester residents without full citizen status to serve on boards. The disaster that is federal immigration policy should not preclude the city from tapping talented residents for what are essentially volunteer positions. But if that were your persuasion, the tactic of getting the city manager to state publicly that quorum isn’t an issue is a smart move. Still, it’s not the only reason why the Human Rights Commission is pushing for the change — there are many merits, actually — and Augustus countered with that point. It’s also unclear what, if any, authority the council will have on this matter. The HRC pitched it to the Citizen Advisory Council, who on Tuesday said it needed more information before making a decision. The CAC reports to the City Manager, so likely, it’s either the CAC or Augustus himself who will make that call.

CHANDLER AND THE BIG THREE: On Monday, acting Sen.

President Harriette Chandler, pride of Worcester, participated in the first leadership meeting of 2018, in which the governor, the senate leader and the speaker of the house meet to establish some priorities. Afterward, according to Politico, she doubled down on her request to tone down on talk of who will take the presidency if Stan Rosenberg does not return. “We’re pleased that we’re moving forward as a Senate. You know, it’s not easy to start with a little black cloud over your head and we’re trying to do the best we very possibly can do,” she said.

ON HOMEOWNERSHIP: As if on cue, the Worcester Business Journal answers Joe Petty’s inaugural call for more home ownership with some cold hard data suggesting it’s a good idea. Worcester county is becoming a homeownership destination of late, and the rate of single-family home sales is skyrocketing. The cause, according to the WBJ, is the soaring cost of living in and around Boston. It’s driving people west. “People are fleeing that unaffordability and are coming into Worcester County,” Cassidy Murphy of the Warren Group told the WBJ. Also, this stat: In Worcester County, the median single family home is worth $257,700. Compare that to some of the MetroWest towns, where the average is closer to $600,000. The choice is clear.

Come to Worcester. But not too many of you. I like my rent the way it is.

MILLENIALS KILLED THE...:

Boring fundraiser industry! Put it on the list. Here’s a new one for you. Paul DePalo, a local who’s running for governor council, appears to be skipping the lukewarm-pasta-and-watered-down-drinks-in-themusty-function-hall route to raise money for his bid. Instead, he’s putting Golden Eye 007 – a very popular old school video game – up on a projector at the Lilypad in Cambridge for all to play. The gaming will be accompanied by a DJ and drinks. The fundraiser takes place Thursday night at 6:30. If this is the future of party politics, I’m OK with that.

A BEER WITH TOM: Speaking of millennial candidates and fundraisers, Tom Merolli, Democratic candidate for Ryan Fattman’s Senate seat, is holding a campaign kick-off at a hip new brewery in Milford called CraftRoots. The fundraiser starts at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14.

Donations of $25 or more come with a courtesy flight of beer from CraftRoots. Pretty neat.

INSIDE BASEBALL: The dream of a PawSox move to Worcester may have taken a blow

Tuesday, as the Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee voted near unanimously to support an $83-million funding package for a new ballpark, and send it on to the Senate for a vote. This is bad because the PawSox have indicated that, if the R.I. Legislature passes the bill, they might stay in Pawtucket. Still, there are a few votes to go, and a few vocal opponents to

{ worcesteria } pass by. In both the senate and the house of representatives, there are legislators who are not in favor of the idea of public funding for a sports stadium project, especially after the state sank $75 million into Curt Schilling’s failed gaming studio. So, WooSox hopefuls, this is the time to be paying attention to Rhode Island politics. The senate is expected to vote on the measure next Tuesday.

GRANDKIDS?

GARAGE CRISIS: The Chamber of Commerce came after the city hard earlier this week

on the issue of the Elm/Pearl parking garage and its terrible elevators. The Chamber said in a letter that the garage has reached a “crisis point.” They also worked in a dig about the tax rate (as the Chamber is want to do), saying it’s unacceptable that the commercial tax rate has gone up for the past three years and this is the condition a parking garage used by many downtown companies is in. But wait. Director of Public Works Paul Moosey called me up to say they’re in the process of fielding bids for a project to renovate the garage, including its elevators, and have $16-17 million tucked away for it. If Stu Loosemore at the Chamber gave Moosey a call, Moosey could have told him that.

WE’LL TAKE IT FROM HERE.

WINTER BOUT: The snowstorm last Thursday pretty much shut down the entire area, but it

didn’t stop the Worcester Magazine team from pulling out what was likely the only local news story of the day: that City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. publicly criticized the WRTA for shutting down the bus system at noon. Jonathan Church, the WRTA administrator, said he made the call that morning because the outlook had worsened. Augustus said he felt it was unfair for those who took the bus to work in the morning. Something to pay attention to the next time it snows.

STRATEGIC PLAN MEETING: Not to be missed for those who want their voice heard in the

school district strategic planning process, there’s a meeting later this month to field public input.

On Wednesday, Jan. 24, 6 p.m. at Claremont Academy, the strategic planning committee will hold a meeting titled Setting the Course, in which people can say what they want to see in the Worcester Public School district 10, 20, 30 years from now. Planning is very important, as is public input, and these meetings are being held for a reason.

GREENWOOD VAPOR INTRUSION: The DPW is currently testing the Greenwood Gardens housing authority project for what could well be air contamination from the Greenwood Street landfill. The testing devices went into the apartments on Tuesday and it’ll be a few weeks before the tests come back. What they’re looking for is a chemical compound known as TCE, which is harmful to developing fetuses and pregnant women. It was detected in the groundwater around the housing unit and likely stems from the landfill, as the compound was used for years in grill cleaners, dry cleaning fluid and other things. While air contamination is never good, this complex houses elderly and disabled people, mostly, and no women of childbearing age live there.

VIOLENT ARREST: The Worcester Police Department has a federal lawsuit on their

hands. According to the Telegram, a Worcester woman filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Monday alleging a plainclothes officer violated her civil rights when she was violently arrested as a 14-year-old girl. Her name is Melissa Montanez and she’s taking on Officer William Hinson, who allegedly arrested her without identifying himself as a police officer in the Honey Farms on Grafton Street. Montanez said that, as an eighth-grader weighing no more than 90 pounds, the officer roughly took her out of the store, and also smacked her head against the police cruiser as he was getting her in the car. The lawsuit accuses the Worcester Police Department of employing a “policy or custom of indifference to misconduct by police officers by failing to properly investigate complaints of misconduct and to discipline officers who used unreasonable force.”

WHISTLEBLOWER: A whistleblower lawsuit against Worcester County Sheriff Lew

Evangelidis has moved to the interesting part – the stuff you see on “Law and Order” – as a Superior Court jury heard opening statements Tuesday from the sheriff and from the plaintiff, Jude Cristo, a former employee and selectman in Millbury, according to the Telegram. He claims he was fired in 2011 in retaliation for reporting some political details of the runup to the 2010 election. Evangelidis has denied the claim.

PLEASE END THIS: You could hear the groan ripple through the room as Councilor Gary

Rosen got up on Tuesday to talk about recycling. Please. For the love of God. Do something about this issue so I never have to hear about it again. Also, if the wind blows the trash out of your recycle bins, just pick it up. If there’s trash on your street, pick it up. Not hard.

Bill Shaner can b reached at 508-749-3166 x324 or at wshaner@worcestermag.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.

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slants/rants C

hanges appear to be coming to how Worcester recycles. Whether these changes are for the benefit of residents remains to be seen.

The current system has residents make use of green, open-top containers that are put out on sidewalks and curbs on whichever day a resident’s particular recycling pickup falls. The service is free, with the city subsidizing the cost. One of the biggest problems, critics say, is when the wind blows and takes recyclables with it. The issue is not dissimilar to the trash problems in the city, with complaints of overflowing receptacles and items being discarded on sidewalks, in streets or dumped roadside around the city.

Some councilors have made recycling a top priority, newly-minted At-Large Councilor Gary Rosen chief among them. They have called for a new system, but a one-sizefits-all solution has been elusive. There was talk of using larger, rolling bins, such as those used in many surrounding towns, but skeptics point to the many hills in Worcester.

Rolling trash bins, they say, are not practical. Plus, they need to be stored somewhere, and many residents reside in triple-deckers and apartments where storage is little to none. The city piloted a program implementing separate bags for recycling, which may well end up being put in place. Large, clear bags could be used in lieu of the current bins. One argument in favor is they would eliminate some of the hassle for residents. They would not require long-term storage and you would only have to make one trip to dump the bag outside. Currently, residents must retrieve the smaller bins once they have been emptied.

One of the problems, however, is cost. Where residents currently are not charged, the new bag system would carry with it a fee. The idea tossed around inside City Hall has been to slip some clear bags in with the sleeve of yellow trash bags that are currently sold in stores. The price would go up, of course, which raises some questions, not the least of which is: what about those residents who do not use yellow trash bags? Yes, a large number of folks take part in the current system, but some do not.

Maybe they have their own dumpster or access to trash disposal. Under the new system, they would be forced to buy something they do not need, in order to obtain the recycling bags. Could that lead to less recycling?

City councilors are expected to resolve problems in the city, so it is commendable that they have tackled recycling.

But not all answers are as easy to come by as they may first appear; a one-size-fits-all solution is even harder to find.

One potential solution could be an opt-in program. Yes, the city would like to get out of subsidizing recycling?

But since it is already doing so, what about easing in by offering the choice to maintain the open-bin program? That may not solve the wind-blowing issue, but it may be worth considering. City officials would do well to keep all options on the table.

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• JANUARY 11, 2018

School Committee faces challenges John Monfredo

A

fter an elegant inaugural ceremony earlier this month, it’s back to work, and my focus as a School Committee member will continue to be making decisions based on what is best for our students.

School Committee members and our school administration will now continue to move forward on a number of items carried over from 2017. A new strategic plan, closing the student achievement gap, tackling chronic absenteeism and continuing to decrease our dropout rate and increasing our graduation rate will continue to be addressed.

I also suggest we look at prevention strategies, such as more preschool programs, a new K-1 program (a two-year kindergarten program) and more resources for children in the early grades. We will also need to make reading at grade level by the end of third grade a priority. Working with the administration, we must continue to increase the number of AP courses offerings to our students and support the Advanced Placement model at Goddard Academy in grades 6-8 as well as our additional model this year: the Hanover Academy at Burncoat Middle School in grades 7-8.

First, we need to listen and review the new strategic plan coming up for discussion in February. This joint venture between the Worcester Research Bureau and the Worcester Education Collaborative, in collaboration with the public schools, has been an ongoing discussion since last year. Chaired by Superintendent Maureen Binienda, the task force is supported

1,001 words

recycling changes

The Education Beat by the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy and has been seeking input from the community. The idea is for the plan to guide the school system’s decision-making and educational priorities for the foreseeable future.

“The district recognizes that a strong public school system is paramount to both the education of students for engaged, responsible citizenship and for success after high school, and also as a critical component for the long-term economic growth of the city,” Binienda said last year.

The goal is to produce a final plan by February, which would need to be approved by the School Committee to take effect in early spring or at the beginning of the new school year in September. For more information, visit worcesterschoolsstrategicplan.wrrb.org.

There is also the ongoing process of closing the achievement gap. As I have stated many times, the gap starts in the pre-school years, with children not being exposed to reading at home. I believe early literacy is an essential component of academic success impacting the educational voyage of each child.

Many children across the country are entering school without the necessary basic early literacy skills for lifelong success. According to research, the early years are the time when a child’s brain undergoes the most growth and development. This period is essential to set the stage for future learning. Early literacy is regarded as the single best investment for enabling children to develop skills that will likely benefit them for a lifetime. Addressing that, my wife Anne-Marie and I started “Worcester: the City that Reads” 12 years ago, and have collected over 570,000

By Elizabeth Brooks

Editorial The good, bad to

commentary | opinions

jocular

commentary | opinions books for students to take home.

Another program on early literacy is the Books for Babies program started by the Worcester Public Schools several years ago.

Coordinated by Elizabeth Vecchio, this program is run in collaboration with UMass Memorial Hospital, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Worcester Educational Development Foundation. It works on developing an early literacy program for new mothers in Worcester. Books are delivered to mothers in the hospital before they go home with their babies. In addition, RSVP volunteers not only deliver the books, but also provide information about the school programs, resources and activities parents can do at home with their baby to begin the process of developing early literacy skills. The information is translated in several languages.

However, more needs to be done at the school level. Why can’t the state support a full-day preschool program for all students in Level 3 schools? Prevention is cost-effective and we need to lobby our legislators to move on this issue. In the meantime, I have suggested a K-1 program for our district: a twoyear kindergarten program for those students not ready for first grade. Part of the issue is Worcester is the only district in the state allowing students who are 4 years old to register before turning 5 on Dec. 31. Research show

that that many of them are not emotionally or socially ready. There are also many 5-yearolds that fall into the same category. After testing the students, I suggested we establish a K-1, two-year kindergarten program. At the moment, our superintendent has put together a committee that is in the process of making the necessary recommendations to move forward for the 2018-19 school year.

We also continue to grapple with chronic absenteeism. As we know, every student absence jeopardizes the ability of the students to succeed in school and for schools to achieve their mission. We know academic achievement scores go hand-in-hand with school attendance. Excessive school absence is a precursor to dropping out of school.

Reducing school absences is most challenging and there have to be many solutions to the problem. This year, Binienda formed a committee (of which I am a member) to address this problem in a consistent manner. The School Committee must continue to support all endeavors to resolve this issue.

The School Committee faces many other challenges as well. This column will address some of them in the coming weeks.

John Monfredo is a retired Worcester Public Schools principal and longtime School Committee member.

{slants/rants}

That’s What They Said

“I never thought it would be me.”

“While repairing a dilapidated garage may not be as appealing to some, as new park construction, or other ‘new’ initiatives, it is of critical importance to our existing business community that contributes in multiple ways, to our city’s wellbeing.” - Stu Loosemore, general counsel and director of government affairs and public policy, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, in a letter to Mayor Joe Petty on the condition of the public Pearl/Elm parking garage.

- Rebecca Zwicker, a drug recovery coach and advocate working with the Worcester Program for Addiction Recovery, which seeks to turn drug overdose victims toward recovery.

“Hanover & UNUM seem to be the saviors of our fine city. Perhaps Holy Cross, Clark U., WPI, Assumption, et al, could take a hint. Look at the money in their endowment accounts, think they could cut a check or 2?”

- Dean Binienda, on Worcester Magazine’s Facebook page, commenting on a story about grants awarded the Hanover Insurance Group Foundation.

Music Worcester

Great Performances Since 1858

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J A N U A R Y 1 1 , 2 0 1 8 • W O R C E S T E R M A G1/9/2018 A Z I N E . C4:09:04 O M PM 11

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ELIZABETH BROOKS

PAWSOX ANSWER

MORE HOMELESS SOLUTIONS

More specifically, this space calls for an answer — for better or worse — within the first three months of the year on whether the Pawtucket Red Sox will move to Worcester after their contract at McCoy Stadium expires in 2020. It is possible we’ll get

It is no secret the city lacks housing solutions for the homeless. Much is done to help the homeless population, particularly during the winter, when temperatures can drop to freezing and lower. But more is needed. That’s not to say a solution is easily found, but under City Manager Ed Augustus Jr., the city has proven to be forward in its thinking when it comes to issues like homelessness. We want to see the city follow through on its “housing first” model to end chronic homelessness.

BRIDGE RESOLUTION an answer even sooner, given the current climate surrounding the PawSox in Rhode Island. Lawmakers are being asked to vote on a revised stadium bill as soon as possible.

Even if they vote in favor, it’s no guarantee team chair Larry Lucchino will agree. Either way, Worcester deserves an answer sooner rather than later.

City councilors have been meeting in executive session on how to resolve the debacle that was the promise to build a multi-milliondollar skybridge connecting the Major Taylor parking garage, the Hilton Garden Inn and the DCU Convention Center. You may recall a judge in 2016 ordered the city to make good on a $10-million skybridge. This is a problem that rests squarely at the feet of Augustus’s predecessor, even if he couldn’t be blamed for the economic collapse that put the squeeze on the city’s finances.

So what’s going on behind closed doors? Hopefully, we’ll find out this year. With all the capital projects in Worcester’s immediate future, a bridge from a hotel to the DCU, while perhaps holding some appeal for potential clients of both, just doesn’t seem to fit.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

3-IN-3 WEEKEND! JAN. 19 VS. JACKSONVILLE • JAN. 20-21 VS. WHEELING

2-3-4 FRIDAY

$2 POPCORN $3 HOT DOG $4 BUD LIGHT

IN THE

ZONE

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SUNDAY KIDS GIVEAWAY PRESENTED BY THE WORCESTER BRAVEHEARTS

JANUARY 11, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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A PRODUCTIVE CITY COUNCIL

We applaud the city for (somewhat) relaxing the rules on food trucks, but this space firmly believes the decision made years ago to block food trucks and carts from operating within a certain distance of the brickand-mortar restaurants was, not unlike banning dogs from all parks, a big mistake. One

Specifically, we want to see councilors set clearly attainable goals for themselves and the city – and work to achieve them. That includes coming up with a clear plan to address the tax rate each year. Yeah, we know, it’s not conducive to political longevity to actually take a position on taxes, but the usual grandstanding one night of the year isn’t cutting it. Perhaps it starts with eliminating talk of a “single tax rate” and just discussing ways to make the tax rates more equitable for all. But that’s just one aspect of the council’s job. We’ll be watching to see whether they chart a distinct course of action for 2018 – and come through on it.

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ELIZABETH BROOKS

could make a strong argument that shooing away food trucks was one of the reasons downtown Main Street eventually became a ghost town. The concerns of restaurant owners shouldn’t necessarily be ignored, but the idea that a hot dog vendor is going to put a dent in the business of a gourmet burger joint or an upscale steakhouse is absurd. Enough, Worcester. Let food trucks and food carts set up where they want. It may seem harsh, but if your restaurant loses customers to a food cart or a hot dog vendor, you may be in the wrong business.

MORE BIKE LANES

These are part of the Complete Streets program laid out by the city, and are an important part of making all forms of transportation viable in Worcester. It is not without its challenges. Just as there are many motor vehicle vs. pedestrian issues in Worcester, we have seen cyclists struggle to be accepted by motorists. Not all streets are conducive to bike lanes (hello, Shrewsbury Street), but where they make sense, they should continue to be pursued.

A HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTEL TRAINING POLICY FEB. 23 - MARCH 1,

2017

WORCESTERMAGAZIN

E.COM

NEWS • ARTS • DINING

• NIGHTLIFE

FR EE

This one simply makes all the sense in the world. The problem is not enough people are aware of the issue: with Worcester opening up more and more hotels, that means more options for the men who profit off the trafficking of women in sex.

And if you don’t think it’s happening, you aren’t paying attention. A story early last year by Worcester Magazine (“Checked in, pimped out: The role of hotels, motels in human trafficking,” Feb. 23) illustrated of le ro e Th the problem. Now councilors have before in hotels, motels them a policy that would mandate all g in ck ffi human tra hotels in Worcester to implement training to recognize human trafficking. This one WO RC ES TE R should be passed well before the end of UM ses ART MUSE the year. io Ar t Clas d tu S th u Yo s inside storie music newsmounted horse Police graduate program Page 4

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Augustus has said it himself: Worcester needs to be an 18-hour-a-day city. It isn’t right now. We have stores that close at 9 p.m., some even earlier. There is fun to be had at night, but sometimes at a steep price. There are plenty of restaurants that call out to the foodie in each of us.

Worcester, as has become a common refrain, is headed in the right direction. We’d like to see more efforts toward a booming nightlife.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

FILE PHOTO/STEVEN KING

FOOD TRUCKS, PLENTY OF FOOD TRUCKS

MORE NIGHTLIFE

ses

worcesterart.org/clas

• JANUARY 11, 2018

A NEW AIRLINE

Worcester Regional Airport is proving many of the naysayers wrong, an effort largely led by JetBlue and the efforts of Rectrix Aviation.

A diligent owner in Massport has been the key, however, and we see no sign of that agency turning its attention away from the airport.

The time is now for a new airline, not just new flights from JetBlue, although we’d like to see those as well. New flights to JFK are a great start. Let’s see the momentum continue.

THE AUD

A report to the city manager was due this month regarding the Heritage Architectural Foundation’s feasibility study on turning the old Worcester Auditorium into a cultural facility. The Aud isn’t an easy sell, as we noted in our recent look back at 2017, but it is, as our own Bill Shaner put it so poetically, a “goddamn beautiful hunk of stone.” We want to see a solid plan for its redevelopment this year. So does the city. Here’s hoping it happens.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

A NEW A BIGGER FIRST NIGHT FUTURE FOR MIDTOWN MALL The city has made no secret of its desire to see something new done with the Midtown Mall on Front Street. Sure, maybe owner Dean Marcus is reluctant to sell, and yes, eminent domain is the last resort. The fact is, while a good case can be made for saving something like, say, ELIZABETH BROOKS

the old Notre Dame Church across the way from City Common, it’s hard to think of one that justifies keeping the Midtown Mall in its current incarnation as the rest of CitySquare is completely redesigned.

This space, however, has a soft spot for the many immigrants who have been afforded an opportunity to start their own business in the mall. Surely, the city and Marcus can come up with better quarters for them.

The city deserves kudos for not letting 2017 end without at least some sort of celebration. The longtime First Night Worcester event ended after 2016, so the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Destination Worcester and City Hall went to work on a much smaller affair on the Common.

Now it’s time to think a little bigger. This space doesn’t see the need for events spread out over the city, but with the Common as the anchor, it might be nice to maybe tie in the nearby DCU Center, with a shuttle for those who would rather not walk, for an indoor component. And because we had it on last year’s list of things we’d like to see, we’ll keep a carnival on the Common on here.

MORE BIG CONCERTS

ELIZABETH BROOKS

The DCU Center. Hanover Theatre, The Palladium. These are some of the bigger music venues in Worcester and they each have had some big-time shows. We want more. Judas Priest at The Palladium? Damn, that has our juices flowing. But we want more.

Sure, with outdoor arena shows all the rage, it is hard for the DCU to grab acts like U2 anymore, but we don’t believe it’s impossible. What about an intimate night with Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds at Hanover? Kelsea Ballerini at The Palladium? Metallica at the DCU? Dare we dream of a Guns N’ Roses-AC/DC double bill with Axl Rose? Or some of the newer acts looking to establish themselves? Hey, we’re not booking agents, we’re music fans.

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POW! WOW! WORCESTER PART III We can just keep this on the list year after year, because, from the first one in 2016, POW! WOW! won us over. Arts is a huge part of Worcester and this event is art on a truly grand scale. We like the idea of

ELIZABETH BROOKS

incorporating more local artists and even partnering more with local museums and art galleries. Hats off to the creative geniuses behind POW! WOW! Worcester and here’s to an even bigger and better year three.

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{ coverstory }

A NEW NORTH HIGH

ELIZABETH BROOKS

No, not a building, we’re talking a whole new culture and direction for a school that has been plagued by violence, which seems to have lessened, and a general malaise among teachers. School Superintendent Maureen Binienda took the unusual step of naming herself principal while Lisa Dyer is on leave. Obviously, that is not a long-term solution. North High needs a principal and leadership team with a clear vision for the future. The superintendent should provide the support needed, but it is up to the principal to ensure the day-to-day operations of a school. For whatever reason, things at North High have not gone in a steady, forward direction. That must change – and it must change soon. The easy call is a new principal, but really, an overall culture shift is needed.

BIG TIME BOXING AT DCU

MORE THAN JUST TRASH TALK

ELIZABETH BROOKS

City officials have been talking for quite some time on what to do about the trash problem in the city. It is one of the less appealing aspects of life in Worcester, the garbage that is left out on sidewalks or strewn in the streets. Illegal dumping is an eyesore, although not limited to just Worcester. There have been suggestions of changing the hours at the Millbury Street drop-off site, among others, but really, just as a culture shift is needed at North High, so is an attitude adjustment among residents when it comes to dealing with trash.

It simply is not cool to dump sofas and junk on the sidewalk or by the roadside. A solution isn’t easy to come by, but more than just talk is needed this year. Let’s see the city try some pilot programs, not unlike with recycling (which, by the way, we admit is not perfect) and see what happens.

Hey, Evander Holyfield, your show at The Strand in Providence, R.I. was great, but how about giving Worcester some love? Holyfield’s boxing promotion company has a World Boxing Welterweight Tournament planned for 2018 – and no site has yet been chosen. How about the DCU? Hey, if Worcester is big enough to be mentioned in conversations with Amazon, surely it can make a statement in the squared circle. If not Holyfield, maybe Worcester’s own Jose Antonio Rivera or Rhode Island’s Jimmy Burchfield can work some ring magic and bring boxing back into the main hall at the DCU.

NO CHANGE TO CITY VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Assuming City Councilor Konnie Lukes is unsuccessful in doing away with the Citizen Advisory Council, this space stands opposed to the suggestion that applicants for city boards and commissions should not have to be registered to vote. Yes, we know that means many residents will not be allowed to serve, and yes there is a shortage of volunteers on many boards, but the answer isn’t to strip requirements; rather, the city should be more aggressive in its efforts to educate the thousands of eligible volunteers on why they should do so. There may be some creative ideas to help beef up the ranks. If not a small stipend, what about some form of tax rebate, not unlike some senior work relief programs, for those who volunteer? Maybe not, but the first course of action shouldn’t necessarily be to change the rules.

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Auburn | Millbury | South Grafton | Worcester

• JANUARY 11, 2018

Worcester-Boston Full Service Radio for New England

ELIZABETH BROOKS

night day

art | dining | nightlife | January 11 - 18, 2018

&

Worcester florist readies for FTD America’s Cup page 18

Sally Jablonski gathers sunflowers in her workspace to arrange a bouquet of her favorite flower.

JANUARY 11, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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night day &

{ arts}

Sarah Connell

Herbert E. Berg’s childhood home, something akin to an Ecuadorian greenhouse, is located in Quinsigamond Village. It was built in the 1870s to accommodate Swedish immigrants destined for careers in Worcester’s wire manufacturing industry. Today, 19 Blackstone River Road is inhabited by one of America’s most distinguished floral design competitors: Sally Jablonski.

Jablonski lives above the fragrant oasis of Herbert E. Berg Florist Inc., which has operated in the space for the last 83 years. Berg, who excelled as an agriculture student at North High School in his adolescence, sold the shop to Jablonski 23 years ago, just as she was making a name for herself as a fierce competitor in the country’s most prestigious floral design circuit. In 1989, she was a contender at the FTD World Competition in Tokyo, and in 1996 she competed at what she imagined would be her final FTD America’s Cup. The ’90s marked a pivotal time in the flower industry as online business disrupted the market. The Economist reports that between 1992-2014, the number of florist shops in America fell from 27,000 to 15,000. But flowers are timelessly extravagant, heartstirring and sophisticated, and florists willing to evolve persisted with ease. Herbert E. Berg Florist Inc. was no exception.

Jablonski’s selection as a competitor in the 2018 FTD America’s Cup in July marks her reentry into the national competition field.

“At 57, I’m at the top of my game,” she said.

Jablonski is one of only 10 floral designers from around the country chosen to battle the pressures of time and mechanics before an audience of esteemed peers. A blind judging will take into account physical balance, scale, textural interest, depth, color, composition, line and rhythm, among other principle elements.

Asked whether she has any rituals to calm her nerves before competition, Jablonski said she likes to sew.

“I plan to design my own outfit for the competition,” she said. “That will relieve some of the stress.”

Competitors will have three back-to-back 90 minute sessions to design each of their

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ELIZABETH BROOKS

Worcester florist readies for FTD America’s Cup Sally Jablonski displays a photo of some of her past arrangements from the WAM ‘Flora in Winter’ show.

pieces. While two of the sessions will entail surprise packages, one of the themes has already been revealed: “Your best line.”

“A good competition designer stretches the rules as far as they can go,” Jablonski said when asked whether she has any ideas for that piece. “I sent in a lot of questions.”

One thing she knows for certain: her interpretation will be inspired by the Millbury greenhouse where she got her start working after school at age 10 when they specialized in geraniums.

For now, Jablonski is busy finalizing her creation for Worcester Art Museum’s Flora in Winter, which will be held Jan. 25-28. Each display will be inspired by precious works of art throughout the museum. Jablonski has contributed to the event the last 14 years, her favorite being “Chess Players” - a tribute to • JANUARY 11, 2018

her father, an avid chess player, who was able to witness her inspired arrangement of White Gerbera Daisies before his passing. Jablonski used her father’s chess board for the creation, but was sure to return it in good condition at his ardent request.

This year, Jablonski will construe “The Discovery of the Honey by Bacchus,” a 15th-century Italian masterpiece by Piero di Cosimo, which depicts a step forward in the history of civilization. Jablonski will likewise take steps forward in coming years to keep her shop in bloom.

Asked whether she is paying attention to the latest trends, which call for organic, pesticide-free and sustainably-grown flower varieties, Jablonski was straightforward in her response.

“There are not a lot of local growers any-

more, due to all of the big box stores,” she said, “but we buy local where we can.”

Most of her flowers, Jablonski said, come from South America, a global market that allows her to buy varieties out-of-season for customers willing to pay the price. Still, she tries to avoid excessive pesticides. “ “I wouldn’t eat any flower unless I grew it in my backyard,” she said.

In Jablonski’s backyard, the damaging winds from the recent bombogenesis have died down but 10 inches of snow and stinging cold temperatures acted as a firm reminder of her uncompromising determination. Inside, one of America’s foremost floral designers is aglow with inspiration, preparing to share Worcester’s flowery fire with the world.

night day &

{ music }

Songs from a room: Inside Worcester’s secret music scene

ELIZABETH BROOKS

Sarah Connell

When Morgan Vines moved to Central Massachusetts from Austin, Texas, she wasn’t expecting to find a scene like the one she had grown accustomed to in the live music capital of the world. Nevertheless, Sofar Sounds Worcester took her by surprise.

Event coordinators Yves Falanga and Morgan Vines with SoFar sounds.

“When I came up here, I went to every show and I found that Sofar had this hip and unique vibe that brought Worcester to life for me,” Vines said.

Before long, she found herself taking on a leadership role to help identify artists and venues for Sofar Worcester’s exclusive monthly pop ups.

You don’t have to know someone to get the Sofar invite, but you do need to apply for the privilege. Most shows are capped around 30 attendees. The date is typically announced a month in advance, but once you’ve been accepted, you still won’t know the venue’s address until approximately 48 hours before the show. Even then, you won’t find out who the artists are until you walk through the door.

Plenty of heavy hitters have materialized for the pint-sized Sofar shows: Ed Sheeran at Sofar Washington D.C., Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Sofar NYC and Robert Pattinson (“Twilight” actor turned acoustic dreamboat) at Sofar London. While no Grammy winners have serenaded the Sofar Worcester crowd yet, it’s never out of the question.

“We’ve had artists travel from New York to come to Worcester and others who have passed through on tour,” said Vines.

You never know who will turn up.

The rules are simple. Guests are expected to arrive on time, unplug and give their full attention to the performer. Vines recalled a recent show at which one of the artists told her how nice it was to perform to spectators who were “actually listening.”

Sofar started in 2009 with an audience of eight friends at a London flat. Today, Sofar, short for Songs from a Room, maintains a presence in 397 cities around the world.

“We’re trying to bring live music back to life,” Vines said simply.

Ticket prices for Sofar Worcester have remained steady at a suggested $10 per person, with the option of contributing more or less at each guest’s discretion. The money goes toward funding artists, paying for a videographer and providing necessary equipment at unconventional venues.

Recent hosts have included the Worcester Historical Museum and Arts Worcester, where guests were able to wander through exhibits in between sets. Vines said the most successful locales are not too flashy, allowing attendees to relax and listen to the music, citing Sofar’s December event at Worcester CleanTech Incubator. She is tight-lipped about the locations of upcoming shows, but references the possibility of a hair salon or even a senior living facility. Living rooms and backyards are not out of the question either. Vines and her Sofar teammates welcome email queries from performers and potential hosts at worcesterma@sofarsounds.com.

Sofar Worcester has aroused the same level of curiosity provoked by events like Secret Walls or Cirque du Noir, and taken our intrigue in a whole new direction. The shows are admirably serene and profoundly intimate – an earnest whisper among friends. Welcome to the club.

JANUARY 11, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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night day &

The Best

photos of 2017 all photos by Elizabeth Brooks

Clockwise from right: A Worcester firefighter guides a ladder toward the 96 Williams St. house fire; Malcolm Halliday sits in the spotlight with Clara Barton and plays a Beethoven selection from the upcoming event “Around the World in Forty Years”; a proud mother walks in the Worcester Pride Parade.

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• JANUARY 11, 2018

night day &

Clockwise from top left: Mary Duane raises a medium frame from the hive. The medium frames are used to hold the honey; Tomiko Walker and Kevin Lynch of E.P.O.C.A. gather members and supporters to ride a bus to the State House; Lisa Monteiro and her daughter, Jackie Monteiro, share a laugh in Elm Park; Pastor Judith Hanlon on the altar of Hadwen Park Congregational Church; Juxtaposition; a father and daughter take a stroll through the Worcester Common.

JANUARY 11, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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day Support the Worcester night{ film } St. Patrick’s Day Parade! Britain’s light in the darkness &

Jim Keogh

The Grand Marshall Banquet Award Dinner with Grand Marshal William “Bill” Riley of St. John’s Food for the Poor Saturday January 27, 2018 St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral Hall 192 Russell St., Worcester Cocktails 6:00 P.M. Dinner and Awards 7:00 P.M. Traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage *Vegetarian or chicken alternative available only with advanced request

Please bring a can good to be donated to a local food bank

Tickets: $40/pp - stpatsparade.com or 774-696-6367

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• JANUARY 11, 2018

Gary Oldman has described “Darkest Hour” as a love letter to the British people, but it has also inspired many film critics to pen valentines about his performance as Winston Churchill.

Consider this one of them.

Oldman so thoroughly inhabits Churchill that “Darkest Hour” sometimes feels more like a séance than a movie, a ritualistic (if heavily dramatized) raising of the spirit of the British Bulldog. Oldman’s stirring depiction of the courageous prime minister who defied Adolf Hitler reminds us a jowly man in a top hat was equally as capable of rescuing the world as a Superman in a cape.

“Darkest Hour” unfolds across May 1940, when Germany, having already rolled through Poland, Denmark, Norway and Czechoslovakia, is tightening its grip on France while the fate of Western Europe hangs in the balance. On the beaches of Dunkirk, 300,000 British, French and Belgian soldiers languish in the sand, their annihilation by approaching Nazi forces all but inevitable. In Parliament, the debate rages over whether Great Britain should pursue a policy of appeasement, recommended by outgoing prime minister Neville Chamberlain, or adopt a new strategy proposed by his replacement, Winston Churchill.

Regarded as a political lightweight, Churchill meets with ambivalence from Britain’s elite, including King George VI, who decries Winston’s military and political record as “a litany of catastrophe.” His regular one-on-one meetings with Churchill are among the movie’s best moments, showing how the men bridged an alarming contrast in personal styles — Winston, a hard-drinker prone to blustery tantrums; George, reserved and thoughtful to a fault (he’s played by Ben Mendelsohn with masterful understatement) — to turn an uneasy partnership into a formidable alliance.

Thanks to believable prosthetics and a foam “fat suit,” Oldman is nearly unrecognizable as Churchill — a thin man instantly gone to seed in the makeup trailer. The signature circular glasses perched on his nose, the howitzer-sized cigar clenched between his teeth, and the rousing rhetoric erupting from his lungs complete the transformation. I’ve seen pieces of John Lithgow’s wonderful portrayal of Churchill on “The Crown,” but Oldman’s performance is next level — a history book reopened, crackling radio broadcast replayed.

It is known that Churchill took Great Britain to war, and the evacuation of Dunkirk was a miraculous confluence of bold decision-making by Churchill’s team and poor strategizing by Hitler’s forces. But “Darkest Hour” takes us into the bunker for a deeper consideration of the battles being waged between Churchill partisans and those aligning with Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup) and Viscount Edward Halifax (Stephen Dillane), who counseled entering into peace negotiations with the Nazi regime, spurring Churchill’s classic rejoinder, “You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in his mouth.”

Directed by Joe Wright, “Darkest Hour” is emotive storytelling, pure lump-in-your-throat stuff, especially when Churchill ramps up the oratory. At one point, seeking inspiration, he bolts from his limousine and heads into the Underground (the subway), where he gauges working-class Londoners’ thoughts on bending to Hitler (hint: they’re against it). By the time he emerges from the train, the stunned passengers are in tears and his direction is set. The moving scene provides context for Churchill’s most famous speech. It also never happened in real life. Ah, the mixed blessing of historical fabrication: The feelings are comforting; the facts are wrong.

With all this said, Oldman surely will contend for an Academy Award, having just secured a Golden Globe for best actor in a drama.

In a career marked by some tremendous work, “Darkest Hour” may be his finest hour.

night day { dining}

krave

Loving Hut

&

FOOD HHH AMBIENCE HH SERVICE HH1/2 VALUE HHH 415 Chandler St., Worcester • 508-459-0367 • lovinghut.us

Chandler Street’s own little Loving Hut Sandra Rain

Consider an evening at the Loving Hut on Chandler Street less of a culinary experience than a learning experience. Take, for example, the mission statement, which calls for peace, love and harmony with each other and the planet. Consider, for a moment, the wall of “Vegetarian and Vegan Elite” featuring the likes of Albert Einstein, Moby, Brad Pitt and Alicia Silverstone under the auspicious heading, “They are intelligent. They are brave, They are famous. They are beautiful.

They are athletic. THEY ARE

VEGAN.” You are not simply here for dinner, you have come to preview a lifestyle. Perhaps it will resonate, and if not, consider this a chance to pass fried dough off as an entree. Bon appetit!

The decor is simple, the tea is hot and the dining room is always packed. Expect an eclectic crowd representing the vegan contingent from each area college. An incandescent Loving Hut logo has been affixed to the ceiling like a bat-signal and beacon of plant-based hope.

The service is as green as the food – and unequivocally less seasoned. Be patient on busy evenings and enjoy the unfettered innocence of vegan youth. Plates are meant for sharing, so don’t expect entrees to come out all at once. This is an “out as up” sort of joint.

Many of the dishes are intriguing in their monikers. Do you dare sample the “Pineapple Sea Mystery?” Will you take a chance on the “Curry Surprise?” Is today the day you find out what it means to place quotation marks around words so familiar as “shrimp” and “scallops?” Skip the peanut cold noodle ($4.95), unless you have a thing for Skippy

Live Entertainment is Back!

The peanut cold noodle appetizer from Loving Hut on Chandler Street. on spaghetti.

Do order the golden wontons ($4.95) fried up with spicy curry and diced vegetable, served with a slippery plum sauce. Warm up with a bowl of steamed wonton soup ($3.95) for moist parcels of soy protein and ground veggies in a savory broth swimming with bok choy. The Thai coconut soup ($3.95) tastes the way tanning oil smells, which is to say, maddeningly tropical.

As for entrees, it is difficult to resist a dish with a bold title like spicy cha-cha ($9.95),

though I caution the health conscious among us that this platter of crispy breaded soy “shrimp” could easily pass for a carnival dessert. Instead, try the Mongolian-style rice ($8.50) enlivened by lemongrass and spicy ginger. Or, God’s rice noodles ($8.95), a sautee of broccoli, snow peas, cabbage and soy protein, laced with fruity curry. If, indeed, you came for the county fair goods, indulge in the Eden sesame ($8.95) for a pile of crispy gluten tenders dripping with orange sauce.

The menu is too long. Do we really need “Pineapple Sea Mystery” and “Seaweed Delight?” Still, the Chandler Street Loving Hut has zeroed in on its concept, offering delicious Asian-inspired vegan cuisine to a very specific Worcester demographic. While I may not be the prototypical vegan customer, I enjoy fair prices and an undeniably hearty meal. At this point, Loving Hut’s appeal surpasses the plant-based community, but they needn’t pay us any mind. Success is inevitable when you’ve got Alicia Silverstone in your corner.

On my most recent visit, our party of four rang up a meager tab of $57.95.

Good Food. Done Right.

Hand-made meals crafted with care.

Karaoke every Friday Night January 20 ~ The Dinosaurs January 27 ~ The Change

In the historic Jefferson House on the north end of

Holden, Route 122A

Sushi • Gluten Free Entrees Available

Function Rooms • Gift Certificates Take-Out • Keno 176 Reservoir St. Holden • 508.829.2188 • www.wongdynasty-yankeegrill.com

“It’s the Liquor Talking” Radio Show & Podcast!

Broadcasting LIVE from Julio's Liquors

Saturday 11am - 1pm!

Listen on WCRN AM830 or stop by Julio’s and join the fun!

No Radio, No problem!

er Draft Be tails ck Craft Cobar Full Lunch Serving ner and Din

Hand-cut Steaks Fresh Seafood Vegetarian Specialties Sandwiches

TUESDAY NIGHTS

Steak, Chicken or Blackened Haddock Fajitas for two with a pitcher of margaritas $

29.95

Open 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 8 pm. Sunday • Closed Monday 1 Princeton St., Holden/Jefferson • 774 345 4058 t h e h a r v e s t g r i l l e . c o m • Reservations helpful JANUARY 11, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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night day

krave Bite Sized:

Leisure, Libations, and Local Fare Sarah Connell

LEGACY BAR & GRILL WILL OPEN ON MILL I’m a bit of a broken record when it comes to my call for waterfront dining options in

Legacy Bar & Grill is set to open at 242 Mill St., formerly home to Birkbeck’s Waterfront Grille.

7 Course Tapas-Style Dinner with Wine Pairings $50/Person $90/Couple

As a lackluster bookkeeper, I can feel the tax season jitters coming on in full force. But the Center for Women & Enterprise knows staying on top of your financial recordkeeping is critical to success. On Thursday, Jan. 11, 5-7 p.m., CWE is offering an introduction to best practices for your small business. Topics covered will include bookkeeping terminology, records to track and organize, explanation of each financial statement and bookkeeping systems.

The workshop will be held at Crompton Collective. Registration is required, including a fee of $20. Partial scholarships may be available to those who qualify.

Worcester. With an increasing number of street-facing properties located along the city’s numerous blue spaces, I had begun to lose hope that I’d ever watch the sun set over Coes Reservoir while eating a chicken sandwich and sipping a 20-ounce beer. But, alas, I see great promise in Legacy Bar & Grill. The new establishment, set to open later this month SCARFING IT DOWN at 242 Mill Street, is appealing to our local It has been tough leaving the toasty conindustry crowd as owners go about staffing fines of my apartment during this stretch of Monday a full-service restaurant. As someone who sub-zero temperatures, but certain can’t-miss Buy 1 Burger Get 1 Half O enjoys working up3DVWULHV 0XČšČ?QV %DJHOV an appetite from time to events are just plum worth bundling up for. time by way of candlepin frames at Colonial There’s something strangely compelling about Bar & Grill comes as a welcome Bowl, Legacy2PHOHWWH 6WDWLRQ &DUYLQJ 6WDWLRQ competitive eating. Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Tuesday blessing. might be six months hence, but Brew City’s )UHVK 6HOHFWLRQ RI Charity Kidsaround Eat Free the corner.

Burger Race is right ALWAYS&KLFNHQ 6HDIRRG ,WDOLDQ 'LVKHV ON TIME Indulge in the scrutiny of several local teams Cliff Rucker was named Worcester Magazine’s Person as they race to devour five signature burg'HVVHUW 7DEOH chief among ers at Brew City Tuesday, of the Year for a variety of reasons, Wednesday Jan. 16. Prepare for them, in my humble opinion, is his impressive dunking and chipmunking.

TheDeals fun starts at $10 Meal NLGV VHQLRUV aptitude for reuniting R&B songstress Ashanti 7 p.m.

Salad, Entree & Dessert

Sunday BrunchDine-In Specials Served 10-2

Live Music Saturday Nights 8 pm Check out our website Open 7 days for upcoming events!

11am - Close

thegraftoninnma.com • 25 Grafton Common, Grafton, MA Wine & Dinner Night Reservations Required

LAKESIDE Casual Waterfront Dining

Prime Rib served every Friday & Saturday

Open 7 days Mon - Sat 11am - Close Sunday 10 - Close

308 East Main Street East BrookďŹ eld, MA WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ATTENTION ALL SIDE HUSTLERS

The People’s Kitchen wants to take you on a wine tour of Italy Tuesday, Jan. 16 with four courses featuring an antipasto, striped bass, veal bolognese, porchetta and Nonna’s Steam gelato. Chef Cotoni’s featured menu pairs wines from the Piedmont, Montepulciano, Montalcino and Valpolicella regions. The evening will showcase Nebbiolo and Sangiovese in their purest forms. Tickets can be reserved online for $75 per guest, including tax and gratuity.

Thurs. January 25 • 6 pm

24

with legendary aughts rapper Ja Rule. He’s not always there when we call. But he’s always on time. Cliff gives us his all. The historic duo will perform together at the Palladium Saturday, Jan. 13. Tickets range from $39-$99. Doors open at 7 p.m. Nothing but the hits.

THE COTONI-LA WINE MIXER

Wine Dinner

774-449-8333 308lakeside.com

&

Free Live Music Saturday Nights

• JANUARY 11, 2018

Thursday, January 25th Join us for a tasting of the Kendall-Jackson family of wines paired with Appetizers Main Course Dishes Desserts prepared by the 308 Lakeside chefs Try some new wines and enjoy great food at this one price inclusive event $55 per person from 6 to 8:30 Daily Specials

Free Valet Friday & Saturday

music >Thursday 11

Drinks with Superman Shawn. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508799-4521.

Karaoke. 8-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-8531350.

Dan Kirouac - with special guest Joe Budroe. dankirouac. com. Free. 6-8 p.m. Tavern on the Common, 249 Main St., Rutland.

508-886-4600.

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”) 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.

Worcester Chamber Music Society’s Young and Brilliant Cafe concert. Program MOZART Divertimento in D Major for String Quartet Ginastera Impresiones de la Puna for flute and string quartet Mozart Quartet in C Major for flute and strings Thursday, January 11, 2018 6:30 PM Dinner | 7:45 PM Concert Nuovo Restaurant, 92 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester Tickets: Dinner + Concert $66, Concert only $30 At 16 Mozart wrote his Divertimento in D. Full of playfulness and youthful exuberance, it gives a glimpse of the treasures he would gift to the world. Ginastera, at 18, wrote his flute quintet, “Impresiones de la Puna,” where the flute, like a dream of the Argentinian altiplano, floats and haunts, and joins the strings for a joyful, Latin dance! And at 26, Mozart’s Flute Quartet in C is a testament to the grace of his period, and to the possibilities of youth and brilliance. Tracy Kraus, flute; Krista Buckland Reisner, violin; Peter Sulski, viola; Joshua Gordon, cello With guest Lilit Hartunian, violin Dinner and Concert: $66 Concert only $30.

6:30-9 p.m. Nuovo Restaurant, 92 Shrewsbury St. 508-217-4450 or worcesterchambermusic.org Open Mic. 7-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Hudson Ma, Hudson. 978-310-1933.

Chad Clements. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585.

John Brazile. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. 508-459-2025.

Open Mic Night With David Bazin. Acoustic Style, bring your acoustic instrument down and or sing and share your talent! No Cover.

8-11 p.m. Belfont Hotel, 11 South Main St., Millbury. 508-917-8128.

Scott Babineau. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Blueprint New American Bar & Grill, 9 Village Square, Westminster. 978-668-5580.

Audio Wasabi. 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122.

Carlos Odria Trio Live at Nick’s. Carlos Odria is a breathtakingly talented musician, fusing elements of Latin American folk music, Spanish flamenco, jazz and Afro-Peruvian rhythms into a fascinating mélange.

Listening to a song such as his “Two is One,” it’s impossible to not be struck by the lush sound, the immense technical skill and sheer beauty he creates. 9-11:59 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

Center Stage Karaoke. Come on down and take center stage.

Thursday is Karaoke night at Beatniks. 9PM...No Cover No Cover. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877.

Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell. 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m.

Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035.

Karaoke Party with Matty J! 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022.

DJ Cuzn Kev. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. DJ 21+Canal. Live Dj pushing out all the latest hits for you’re listening and dancing pleasure! (Thursday is college night @ the Canal) 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353.

DJ X Kaliber Performs at Loft at 11. 11-11:59 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177.

night day &

>Friday 12

Auntie Trainwreck. 9:30-12:30 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022.

Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat! Start your weekend with Nat Needle at Nick’s Worcester, 124 Millbury St. No cover charge this and most Fridays.

Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat (TFIDN) is an unfettered romp through Nat’s musical imagination backed up by his hefty piano chops and hip vocals!

Special guests are welcome to sit in, and often do! Help me make this the time& place to connect, escape, network, chill, eat, drink, and above all be merry... but if you’re blue, why be alone? 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, Cabaret, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or find them on Facebook.

Mauro DePasquale and the Jazzed Up Trio. Voted Best Entertainers in Worcester Living Magazine and nominated Best Jazz in the Pulse Music Awards. Jazzed Up offers a romantic blend of jazz classics and American songbook classics mingled with a stunning repertoire of original works by Mauro DePasquale. No Cover- Reservations Suggested. 6-9 p.m. The UXLocale, 510 Hartford Ave West, Uxbridge.

508-779-7515 or theuxlocale.com 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! 7-10 p.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling.

978-422-8438.

Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell. 7-10 p.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044.

Ethan Caouette. 7-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Hudson. 978-310-1933.

Jim Perry. The sounds of soulful blues and classic rock. N/A. 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, Bar / Lounge, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353 or find them on Facebook.

Cailte Kelly. 7:30-11 p.m. The Monument Tap, Leominster. 978-7981242.

Fridays with Friends - Claflin Hill Jazz at the Mill Series.

Join us for a fabulous night of jazz with The Glenn Zaleski Trio, one of the most-in-demand trios on the New York City jazz scene! The second in a three-part jazz series presented by Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra. For tickets and information: 508-478-5924 or ClaflinHill.org $19, $50 per season. 7:30-9 p.m. Alternatives Whitin Mill Complex: GB and Lexi Singh Performance Center, 60 Douglas Road, Whitinsville. 508-234-6232 or alternativesnet.org Mark Marquis. 7:30-11 p.m. Happy Jack’s, 785 North Main St., Leominster. 978-466-3433.

Amanda Cote. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242 West Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057.

Free Entertainment. free. 8-10:30 p.m. Chuck’s Steakhouse, 10 Prospect St., Auburn. 508-832-2553.

Jay Graham. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585.

Kevin Shields. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. 508-459-2025.

Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Blacksheep Tavern, 261 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-0255.

Michael Spaulding. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tavern on Central, 3 Central St., Ashburnham. 978-827-1272.

Sean Fulllerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory! Sean Fullerton is a solo Acoustic/Electric performer with 2 decades of professional experience specializing in Blues, Rock, Folk, Memphis Soul and Fingerstyle Guitar using a wide variety of guitars, harmonicas, guitar effects and looping, vocal harmony technology, and Bose and Tech 21 sound systems. Sean performs solo for many venues and events throughout New England year-round. Dinner, Drinks, Music, Fun. 8-10:30 p.m. Chuck’s Steakhouse, 10 Prospect St., Auburn. 508-832-2553 or chucks.com Tim & Lou. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Blueprint New American Bar & Grill, 9 Village Square, Westminster. 978-668-5580.

Whitney Doucette. 8-11 p.m. 435 Bar & Grill, 435 Lancaster St., Leominster.

Every Friday Karaoke. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Wong Dynasty and Yankee Grill, 176 Reservoir St., Holden. 508-829-2188.

Live Music. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122.

Auntie Trainwreck’s First Show of 2018! 21+, No Cover, music starts around 9 pm! 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-798-8385 or find them on Facebook.

Boom Box. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350.

Cara Brindisi Live at Nick’s Cabaret. 9-11:59 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or on Facebook.

Drunken Uncles. 9 p.m.-midnight Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022.

Guest and House DJ’S. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521 or mblounge.com Hot Letter - Live Music at JJ’s. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420.

Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg. 978345-5051.

Karaoke Fridays at Three G’s Sportsbar. Join Magic Mike Entertainment every Friday night for Karaoke! Free! 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Three G’s Sports Bar, 152 Millbury St. magicmikeentertainment.com Miranda. Progressive/Funk/Rock $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877 or find them on Facebook.

Neon Alley. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place.

508-459-9035.

The Blue Light Bandits. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. DJ Tec Threat (upstairs). 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. DJ’s. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044.

DJ 21+Canal. Live Dj pushing out all the latest hits for you’re listening and dancing pleasure! 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353.

Safe House Radio Show. This is a live radio broadcast with 2 living DJs hoping to drag you out of your lonely IPods and phone apps to hear the local & national metal, thrash, screamo, punk and alternative you wont hear on mainstream radio. Tune into WCUW 91.3FM in the Worcester and surrounding areas. Or stream live on wcuw.org (hit the listen live button in the upper left corner of screen) Join your DJs Summi and Momma Bear for an hour of metal, thrash, screamo, punk & alternative. You’re not alone in your digital world. Were out here live! Call in to let us know your listening @ (508)753-2284 after 11pm. Hope you tune in to hear local and national metal and more! 91.3fm or wcuw.org It’s your community radio! So enjoy it already! Sheesh! 11 p.m.-midnight WCUW Studios, 910 Main St. 508-753-2284 or find them on Facebook.

>Saturday 13

Sip & Stitch Saturdays. Every Saturday at 1PM. Most every Saturday afternoon Creatives come together at Nick’s armed with knitting bags and sewing needles. Come with an existing project or start a new one. Meet like minded people, knit/sew/crochet, share food and drinks made by Jeff at the Bar and have fun! Come as you are, Come as you will. Drop in, drop out. Free! 1-5 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or find them on Facebook.

Chris Reddy Apre Ski Party. 3-5 p.m. The Outlook Restaurant, 79 Powers Road, Westford.

Winter Concerts - Ivan Lin. Piano and violin duo. Member $7, Non-member $18 per person, including admission. 3-4 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111, ext. 124 or towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org “Frozen” Sing-a-Long with Anna and Elsa. Dreams do come true! Meet Anna and Elsa, take photos, read Frozen stories, and join us for a sing-a-long! This series was made possible by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library. Free. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Roosevelt Branch Worcester Public Library, 1006 Grafton St. 508-799-8327.

Music Night for Puerto Rican Aid. Join us for a night of music, food, and fun at the Barre Players Theater on January 13th! Tickets are $15 per person and include authentic Puerto Rican food and a show featuring some of the best talent around! All proceeds will go to Unidos Por Puerto Rico! $15. 6-11 p.m. Barre Players Theater, 64 Common St., Barre. 978-257-1641.

{ listings}

Carlos Odria: guitarist | composer | musicologist. Peruvianborn guitarist Carlos Odria has been described as a “breathtakingly talented musician- with an immense technical skill” (Worcester Telegram) and as a “guitar wizard” (Gamble Rogers Fest). His original compositions and arrangements of jazz standards and Latin American tunes deliver an exciting blend of international styles such as bossanova, Afro-Peruvian festejo, rumba flamenca, and Afro-Caribbean vibes with an improvisational approach inspired by the rich tradition of American jazz.

No Cover- Reservations Suggested. 6:30-9:30 p.m. The UXLocale, 510 Hartford Ave West, Uxbridge. 508-779-7515 or theuxlocale.com Open Mic! Come join our weekly open mic night! Hosted by Stephen Wright. All family friendly performers welcome. Show up and add your name to the list. Look forward to having you! 6:30-9 p.m. Nu Cafe, 335 Chandler St. 508-926-8800 or nucafe.com Adam Makes Noise. 7-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Hudson Ma, Hudson. 978-310-1933.

Ja Rule & Ashanti. 7-11:30 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696.

Live Music. N/A. 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, Bar/ Lounge, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353 or find them on Facebook.

Tribe. folk rock and improvisational jams at a fun venue. 7-10 p.m.

B-Man’s 140 Tavern, 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Sterling. 978-4229763.

Covenant. This band will keep you on your feet! $5 Donation. 7:30-10 p.m. !Cafe con Dios!, Main Room, 22 Faith Ave., Auburn. 508-579-6722.

Chris Fitz Acoustic. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Monument Tap, Leominster.

978-798-1242.

Dave O’Brien Performs at Loft, Saturday at 8. 8-11 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177.

Go Gadget Go. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242 West Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057.

Heather Ralston & Joe Macey. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8438.

Joe Macey. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585.

Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Blacksheep Tavern, 261 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-0255.

Mike Melendez. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The GazBar Sports Grill, 1045 Central St., Leominster.

Our Buddy Karl. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Blueprint New American Bar & Grill, 9 Village Square, Westminster. 978-668-5580.

Terry Brennan. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. 508-459-2025.

The Duende Project Live at Nick’s. Spoken Word/Rock/Jazz Fusion theduendeproject.com Free. 8-2 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

The Flock of A#$Hole’s 80’s bash at The Dance Ranch.

Howdy! This is the make-up date for the December show that got snowed out. We’ve had a great time playing here the handful of times we’ve been there and we’d love to share this phenomenal time with each and every one of you. Oh, and this is the first show in Worcester besides New Years Eve since we’ve been awarded “Best Band In Central Mass” for the second year in a row in the Worcester T&G. We are so grateful and want to thank you for voting for us. It’s truly an honor to have such great friends! $10. 8:15 p.m.-1 a.m. Dance Ranch & Saloon, 70 James St. 508-757-6977 or find them on Facebook.

Live Music. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122.

Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory! 8:30-11:30 p.m. Happy Jack’s, 785 North Main St., Leominster. 978-466-3433 or happyjacksrestaurant.com Guest and House DJ’S. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521 or mblounge.com Heads of Steam. Boston/Worcester music scene veterans Heads of Steam - including members of retro-punk godfathers The Steamies, proto-alternative pioneers Idaho Alaska, and post-punk resuscitators

JANUARY 11, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

25

night day &

{ listings}

Frigate - take a decidedly trippier direction, toward Neptune. Delivering covers ranging from what can be semi-adequately described as psychedelic garage to alt-wave hippie, you never know what’s coming next. And neither do they. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877 or reverbnation.com Hit the Bus. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place.

508-459-9035.

Let it Bleed. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350.

No Alibi - Live Music at JJ’s. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420.

Sean Daley. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg.

978-345-5051.

Wildee. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. Three of a Kind. 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022.

DJ Screwloose. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. DJ’s. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044.

DJ 21+Canal. Live Dj pushing out all the latest hits for you’re listening and dancing pleasure! (Thursday is college night @ the Canal ) N/A. 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-9268353.

verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! 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! Jazz in the Cabaret at Nick’s. Dam Chick Singer is a Jazz trio featuring Denice Cascione, Joe D’Angello and Pete Premo. No cover. Chip is in the front bar slinging drinks and food is available until 10pm free. 8:30-11:30 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or find them on Facebook.

Boogie Chillin’. Bluesy, bluegrassy, jazzy, americana, dead, and more.

Jon Bonner - Guitar & Vocals Dan Villani - Violin/fiddle Fernando Perez - Percussion Joining us sometimes are Zack Slik on mandolin, Chris Houston, Scott Sheehan or Matt McManamon on bass, and other special guests. Free! (Tips are appreciated if you appreciate us.). 9-11:59 p.m.

Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439 or find them on Facebook.

Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-7988385.

Karaoke Tuesdays at 9:30. 9:30-11:59 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177.

>Wednesday 17

Hip Hop Show. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629 or find them on Facebook.

Wack Wednesday Jam night. 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350.

New Englands Future 5 Press Conference. New England’s Future 5 Press Conference...Promotional & Media event hosted by Rivera >Sunday 14 Promotions Entertainment and Former three-time world champion Jose Blues Jam w/Jim Perry. 6:30-10 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Antonio Rivera. 6-9 p.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877.

Boylston St. 508-853-1350.

Open Mic Wednesday’s at CJ’s Steak Loft in Jazz Brunch. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Northborough. To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill Gardner. 978-669-0122.

McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the Bluegrass Brunch at Bull Mansion. Every Sunday At The Bull “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Mansion you can now enjoy a spectacular brunch and some down-home Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you picking and a plucking provided by a rotating roster of bluegrass rock put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) To check the schedules and stars. Free W/ Brunch. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bistro, Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St. open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6-9 508-755-6070 or find them on Facebook. p.m. CJs Steakloft, 369 W. Main St. (route 20), Northborough. 508-393Open Mic Sundays @ Park Grill & Spirits. To check the 8134 or find them on Facebook. schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Take Down The Wall Cafe Jan. 2018. Monthly 3rd Wednesdays Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host Open Mic bringing artists with and without disabilities together to share at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: creativity and humanity. Refreshments and snacks free. Sign up for openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s your act at the door. Free. 6:30-8 p.m. Alternatives Worcester Satellite, “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any Coffeehouse Room, 454 Grove St. 508-579-5997 or natneedle.com slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6-9 p.m. Park Grill and Spirits, Local Musicians’ Night. There’s a lot of underground music 257 Park Ave. happening in Worcester, and now it’s coming to a library near you! Each Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-798- night, two local bands play, and no cover charge! All ages are welcome.

8385.

December 13 - Abdul Sherzai + Fist Inc. January 17 - Mitchell & Spear Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg. 978+ Leah Raczynski February 28 - Instar + Privacy Papers free. 7:30-8:30 345-5051. p.m. Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room, 3 Salem Square. 508-799Karaoke with DJ Soup. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water 1655, ext. 3.

St. Cara Brindisi. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. The Blue Light Bandits. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 508-459-2025.

Exchange Place. 508-459-9035.

Open Mic. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. The Raven, 258 Pleasant St. 508-304-8133.

Worcester Jazz Collective at Nick’s. The Worcester Jazz >Monday 15 Collective is an award winning group that explores jazz in its many Industry Night With Keith. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton forms. The group’s repertoire spans the genre of jazz from traditional St. 508-799-4521. to contemporary and draws on the diverse backgrounds and musical Jazz Night - Live at JJ’s. 6 p.m.-midnight JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, experiences of its members to bring a unique musical performance to 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420. each audience it performs for. The WJC was formed in 2014 by bass/ Blue Mondays - Live Blues. 7-11 p.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 baritone guitarist Tom Lubelczyk and pianist Martin Gohary. Since its Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. creation, it has been a showcase for the many wonderful musicians that Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-798- make up the Worcester jazz scene, often featuring different lineups and 8385. musical identities for each performance. No Cover. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. >Tuesday 16 Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-798Tuesday Open Mic Night @ Greendale’s Pub with Bill 8385.

McCarthy Local Musicians Showcase! To check the schedules Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg. 978and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook. Bill 345-5051.

McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another Karaoke with DJ Soup. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@ St.

26

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 11, 2018

Karaoke with Mikey Mic’s. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521.

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 Asa Waters Mansion, Admission: $3 for guided tour $7-10 for tea. printsandpotter.com 123 Elm St., Millbury. 508-865-0855 or asawaters.org Rollstone Studios, Hours: 11-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday Booklovers’ Gourmet, For the Love of Animals - Art Exhibit by Janet Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. Admission: free. 633 Aleid, Through Jan. 31. Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Main St., Fitchburg. 978-348-2781 or rollstoneartists.com 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 55 Salisbury Mansion, Hours: closed Sunday - Wednesday, 1-8:30 East Main St., Webster. 508-949-6232 or bookloversgourmet.com p.m. Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 40 Highland St. 508-753Clark University: University Gallery, Hours: noon-5 p.m.

8278 or worcesterhistory.org Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, noon-8 p.m. Wednesday, noon-5 p.m. SAORI Worcester Freestyle Weaving Studio, 18 Winslow St. Thursday - Saturday. 950 Main St. 508-793-7349 or 508-793-7113 or 508-757-4646 or 508-757-0116 or saoriworcester.com clarku.edu Sprinkler Factory, 38 Harlow St. sprinklerfactory.com Clark’s Cafe and Art On Rotation Gallery, Hours: 6 a.m. to 1 Taproot Bookstore, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. p.m. Sunday - Saturday. Admission: Free for gallery. 310 High St., Clinton. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 978-549-5822 or 978-365-7772 or aorgallery.com 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 1200 West Boylston St. 508College of the Holy Cross: Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Art 853-5083 or TaprootBookstore.com Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, 2-5 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 p.m. Saturday. 1 College St. 508-793-3356 or holycross.edu Lyman St., Westborough. 508-366-4959 or tatnuck.com Danforth Museum of Art, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum, Hours: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Monday - Tuesday, noon-5 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 closed Monday - Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. 21 Prichard p.m. Friday - Saturday. 123 Union Ave., Framingham. 508-620-0050 or St., Fitchburg. 978-342-2809 or 978-297-4337 or topfunaviation.com danforthmuseum.org Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, EcoTarium, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $12 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $15.00 adults; $10 for children Adults, $9 Seniors & $7 Youth, free to Members & Children under. 11 ages 2-18, college students with ID & senior citizens. Children under 2 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111 or towerhillbg.org & EcoTarium members free. Additional charges apply for Tree Canopy Worcester Art Museum, Coming Away: Winslow Homer and Walkway, Explorer Express Train, planetarium programs & other special England, Through Feb. 4; Jeppson Idea Lab: Master Vases from Ancient event. 222 Harrington Way. 508-929-2700 or ecotarium.org Greece, Through April 8; Last Defense: The Genius of Japanese Meiji Metalwork, Through Sept. 2; Rediscovering an American Community Fitchburg Art Museum, Hours: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, closed of Color: The Photographs of William Bullard, Through Feb. 25; The Monday, noon-4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 25 Merriam Parkway, Calling of St. Matthew, Saturday. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Fitchburg. 978-345-4207 or fitchburgartmuseum.org Fitchburg Historical Society, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 closed Monday - Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to p.m. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, closed Thursday 8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

- Saturday. Admission: Free. 781 Main St., Fitchburg. 978-345-1157 or Admission: Free for members, $14 adults, $12 seniors, free for youth fitchburghistoricalsociety.org 17 and under. Free for all first Saturdays of each month, 10am-noon. 55 Fitchburg State University: Hammond Hall, 160 Pearl St., Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Fitchburg. fitchburgstate.edu Worcester Center for Crafts, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m.

Framed in Tatnuck, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 10 a.m. to to 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 25 Sagamore Road. 508-753-8183 or 6 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 1099 Pleasant St. worcestercraftcenter.org 508-770-1270 or framedintatnuck.com Worcester Historical Museum, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. 978-45610 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 30 Elm St. 508-753-8278 or 3924 or fruitlands.org worcesterhistory.org Gallery of African Art, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 Worcester Public Library, Hours: 1:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to to 5:30 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday - Wednesday, 9 a.m.

5:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Donations to 5:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655 or accepted. 62 High St., Clinton. 978-265-4345 or 978-598-5000x12 or worcpublib.org galleryofafricanart.org WPI: George C. Gordon Library, 100 Institute Road. wpi.edu Highland Artist Group, 113 Highland St. highlandartistgroup.com Museum of Russian Icons, Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday. Admission: Adults $10; Seniors (59 +), $7; Students, $5; Children 3-17, $5; Children <3, free. 203 Union St., Clinton. 978-598Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Park Grill & Spirits 5000 or 978-598-5000 or museumofrussianicons.org Fridays, Saturdays. Prices: $20 Fri/Sat pp except Special Events Drinks Old Sturbridge Village, Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and Appetizers available in the show room Full Dinner Available before closed Monday - Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday.

Show in Restaurant Give the Gift of Laughter! dickdoherty.com. $5off Admission: $28 Adults, $26 Seniors (55+), $14 Youths (4-17), free for with College ID and Reservations 2 for 1 Active Military or Veterans and Children 3 & Under, $14 College Students with valid college ID. 1 Old Reservations $4 off with Dinner Receipt and Reservations. Fri & Sat Jan Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge. 800-733-1830 or 508-347-3362 12th & 13th Mike McDonald Sarah Martin and Friends Fri & Sat Jan or osv.org 19th & 20th Shawn Carter Maya Manion and Friends. Make Reservations Park Hill Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Early at 800-401-2221 or online at dickdoherty.com Friday, closed Saturday. 387 Park Ave. 774-696-0909.

Comedy in the Cabaret at Nick’s - Monday, January 15. Start Post Road Art Center, Hours: closed Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 your week off with a Laugh! Nick’s will be open at 4pm today. Tonight, p.m. Monday - Saturday. 1 Boston Post Road, Marlborough. 508-485Luis Vazquez hosts local comedians in the cabaret at Nick’s starting 2580 or postroadartcenter.com at 8pm then Bruce host’s his famous Midnight Trivia in the front bar Preservation Worcester, Hours: closed Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Midnight. Free. 8-10 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, Caberet, 124 Monday - Friday, closed Saturday. 10 Cedar St. 508-754-8760 or Millbury St. Call 508-753-4030 or visit Facebook.

arts

theater/ comedy

college sports Men’s Basketball

Anna Maria Jan. 11 @ Mount Ida, 6 p.m.

Jan. 14 vs. Rivier, 5::30 p.m.

Assumption Jan. 13 vs. Pace, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 vs. American International, 7:30 p.m.

Becker Jan. 11 vs. Wheelock, 6 p.m.

Jan. 13 vs. Elms, 1 p.m.

Jan. 16 @ Southern Vermont, 7 p.m.

Clark Jan. 13 vs. Babson, 1 p.m.

Jan. 17 @ Coast Guard Academy, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 11 @ Navy, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 vs. Boston University, 1:05 p.m.

Jan. 17 vs. West Point, 7:05 p.m.

Nichols Jan. 4 @ University of New England, Biddeford, Maine, 6 p.m.

Worcester State Jan. 13 vs. MCLA, 3 p.m.

WPI Jan. 13 @ Coast Guard, 3 p.m.

Jan. 17 @ Emerson, 5:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Anna Maria Jan. 11 vs. Suffolk, 5 p.m.

night day &

Jan. 12 @ St. Joseph’s (Conn.), 1 p.m.

Jan. 15 vs. Emmanuel (Mass.), 7:30 p.m.

Assumption Jan. 13 vs. Pace, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 vs. American International, 5:30 p.m.

Becker Jan. 11 @ Dean, 7 p.m.

Jan. 13 vs. Newbuiry, 3 p.m.

Jan. 16 @ Wheelock, 6:30 p.m.

Clark Jan. 11 @ Mount Holyoke, 7 p.m.

Jan. 13 @ Babson, 1 p.m.

Jan. 17 vs. Smith, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 11 vs. Navy, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 13 @ Boston University, 2 p.m.

Jan. 17 @ Army West Point, 7 p.m.

Nichols Jan. 11 vs. Salve Regina, 5:30 p.m.

Worcester State Jan. 13 vs. MCLA, 1 p.m.

WPI Jan. 11 vs. Coast Guard, 7 p.m.

Jan. 13 @ MIT, 2 p.m.

Jan. 17 @ Wellesley, 7 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey Anna Maria Jan. 12 vs. Saint Michael’s, 5:35 p.m.

Assumption Jan. 13 vs. Saint Michael’s, 6:05 p.m.

Jan. 16 @ Franklin Pierce, 7:30 p.m.

Holy Cross

Jan. 12 @ Sacred Heart, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 13 vs. Sacred Heart, 7:05 p.m.

Nichols Jan. 5 vs. St. Thomas (Minnesota), Warrior Ice Arena, Boston, 6:15 p.m.

Worcester State Jan. 11 vs. Framingham State, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 13 vs. Salem State, 4:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 vs. Connecticut College, 7 p.m.

Women’s Ice Hockey

{ listings}

Holy Cross Jan. 15 vs. Wheaton, 1 p.m.

WPI Jan. 17 @ Wheaton, 6:30 p.m. vs . UMass-Dartmouth, @ Wheaton

Men’s Track & Field

Becker Jan. 12 @ Southern Maine, 4 p.m.

Jan. 13 vs. Southern Maine, 8 p.m.

Jan. 16 vs. Post, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 5 vs. Post, Lady Crusader Night, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 13 @ St. Anselm, 2:05 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 12 @ Tiger International Worcester State Jan. 13 @ Tufts Invitational #1 Jan. 17 @ URI Heptathlon WPI Jan. 13 @ Bowdoin Invitational, 12:30 p.m.

Men’s Swimming & Diving Clark Jan. 11 vs. Wheaton, 1 p.m.

Jan. 12 @ Trinity, 6 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 15 vs. Colgate, 1 p.m.

WPI Jan. 17 @ Wheaton, 6:30 p.m.

Vs. UMass-Dartmouth @ Wheaton

Women’s Track & Field

Women’s Swimming & Diving

Wrestling

Clark Jan. 11 vs. Wheaton College, 1 p.m. vs. Mount Holyoke, 1 p.m.

Jan. 12 @ Trinity, 6 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 12 @ Tiger International Jan. 13 @ Beantown Challenge Worcester State Jan. 13 @ Tufts Invitational #1 WPI Jan. 13 @ Bowdoin Invitational, 12:30 p.m.

WPI Jan. 14 vs Hunter (NY), @ New York, Mt. St. Vincent, 12 p.m. vs. Merchant Marine (NY) @ New York, Mt. St. Vincent Vs. Muhlenberg (PA) @ New York, Mt. St. Vincent

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Across 1 6 9 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 23 25 26 27 29 30 33 37 38 42 43 44 45 46 50 51 54 55 60 61 62 64 65 66 67 68 69

Mature insect stage 528i maker Arrears Once less than once Noise at the dentist Andrews of "Mary Poppins" Port-au-Prince or Fort-Liberté, as an example of what to call cities? "___ we all?"

City SE of Oklahoma City Just the right amount of stellar?

Haves and have-___ They may be removed in "premium" versions Some smartphones Uncool sort Uncle, in Oaxaca Software problem Jazz combo instrument Facebook action Oscar news about "Reds" or "Bulworth" (or "Network")?

Shirt sleeves Journalist Cokie who appears on ABC and NPR Afternoon break Part of FWIW Congo basin animal Solar system center Surprised sounds Madeline of "Blazing Saddles" Much, much smaller?

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28

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6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 28 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 45 47 48 49

Made some barnyard noises 50 What a two-letter abbreviation may denote Half of a 1960s pop quartet 51 "August: ___ County" Put a sharper edge on (2013 Streep film) "___ Unchained" (Tarantino movie) 52 Show interest in, in a way Continent-wide money 53 Figure out Chicken Cordon ___ 55 Laundry Triangle sound 56 "Alice's Restaurant" Late-night host Meyers chronicler Guthrie Program begun under FDR 57 Affirmative votes Alchemist's potion 58 Bismarck's home (abbr.)

Stadium capacity 59 Wheel accessories Crispy sandwich 63 Word after "brand spanking" Mild Drill piece Last week's solution Island strings, for short Diploma equivalent Power in old movies ___ about (roughly) Show sorrow Eye surgery acronym Outlaw Notable period Current measure Utmost degree Put gas in Holiday procession Intense fear ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) Short play length

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 11, 2018

Reference puzzle #860

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WORCESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS/PROPOSALS January 11, 2018 SEALED BIDS/PROPOSALS shall be received at the Purchasing Office, 69 Tacoma Street., Worcester, MA 01605 IFBs/RFPs may be picked up at the location above or may be downloaded from our website: www.worcesterha.org/purchasing, or call (508) 635-3203, TTY/TDD (508) 798-4530. Bidders/Proposers are responsible for ensuring they have received any/all addenda prior to submitting a bid/proposal. Separate awards will be made for each IFB/RFP. WHA reserves the right to reject any or all responses, in whole or in part, deemed to be in their best interest. Award of all contracts is subject to the approval of the WHA Executive Director or Board of Commissioners. The Operating Agency shall indemnify and hold harmless the WHA and its officers or agents from any and all third party claims arising from activities under these Agreements as set forth in MGL c.258, section 2 as amended.

Bid No. Release Date Project Title Bid Surety Bid Opening 17-46

1/12/2018

IFB - Plumbing Services - On Call Pre-Bid Conference at Purchasing Dept, 69 Tacoma Street 18-02 1/11/2018 RFP - Summer Camp (GBV & Curtis Apartments) Pre-Bid Conference at Public Safety Dept, 32 GBV Avenue 18-03 1/11/2018 RFP - Summer Camp (GBV & Lakeside Apartments) Pre-Bid Conference at Public Safety Dept, 32 GBV Avenue Jackson Restrepo • Chief Procurement Officer Visit our website at: www.worcesterha.org/purchasing

5% N/A N/A

2:00PM 10:00AM 2:00PM 10:00AM 2:30PM 10:00AM

January 31, 2018 January 23, 2018 February 2, 2018 January 19, 2018 February 2, 2018 January 19, 2018

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Home Services, Items for Sale, Cars & Motorcycles, Help Wanted, Apartments and Real Estate and MORE! JANUARY 11, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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Two minutes with...

Katherine Calano

Katherine Calano is the city of Worcester’s Homeless Projects manager for Health & Human Services. She sees safe permanent housing as a basic human right for all. In Calano’s expert opinion, the demonstrated solution to chronic homelessness is permanent, supportive housing, which means rent is guaranteed (subsidized) and support services are provided to help individuals overcome whatever may have caused them to become homeless. With those support services, Calano knows it is much more likely tenancy can be maintained, allowing an opportunity for recovery from the effects of being without a home for so long. In her role, she is likewise focused on preventing people from becoming homeless in the first place whenever possible. in Hartford, Conn. and lived there until age 6, when my family moved “over the mountain” to the town of Avon to care for my grandmother. We only moved 10 miles from the city to the suburbs, but my eyes were opened to the socioeconomic differences between those two communities, even at such a young age. I believe experience, along with my family’s compassion and humanistic ideals, influenced my passion for human rights and social justice. Fast-forward to 2008, when I came to Worcester to go to Clark University. I studied sociology for my bachelor’s degree and went on to get my master’s in community development & planning from Clark in 2013. The projects and case studies in my graduate classes all centered on the Worcester community, which really led to a personal commitment to this city, and along with that, opportunities to build connections and get more involved in community issues, like refugee resettlement, urban agriculture, and ultimately, issues of homelessness.

pass Network was wrapping up. Looking back, I don’t think I really understood initially what the position entailed. I just saw “homelessness” and thought I would go for it. I spent over two years in the city’s Housing Division within the Economic Development Department, overseeing federal Housing & Urban Development (HUD) grants that benefit people experiencing homelessness in Worcester. It was really valuable experience in grant management, local government and relationship-building with a variety of organizations. In 2015, the Department of Health & Human Services was reinstated and Dr. Mattie Castiel came on board as commissioner.

She and I met to talk about homelessness in the city, and she decided HHS needed to have an active role in combating homelessness. From there, I started going out with the Quality of Life Task Force and focusing on more system-wide initiatives.

It was a very natural transition into where I am now.

How are you working to combat homelessness in the city? In HHS we are working

to mobilize different sectors around this issue. Our vision is to tear down silos not only among social service organizawork on housing and homelessness really tions, but also across business, education, began in 2012, thanks to an opportunity healthcare, philanthropic and religious from my professor at the time, Dr. Laurie Ross. Laurie suggested I get involved with institutions to commit to working on the solution as a community. We have hosted the state Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth, researching best practices three major public events in the past two years to raise awareness and mobilize for counting young people experiencing leaders to take action to address homehomelessness. Following that project, I lessness. My role is largely as a convener actually got to implement my research, and a capacity-builder among providers working locally with The Compass who serve this population. One example Network, a community-based initiative was our partnership with the faith-based focused on ending youth homelessness community last year to establish the overin Worcester, as an outreach coordinator flow shelter for single adults at St. John’s for the annual homeless youth count. In Church, called Hotel Grace. HHS convened 2014, the city posted a position for the the players to operate the program, helped “Housing and Homelessness Coordinator” right around when my role with the Com- them navigate the requirements for es-

Can you describe your career trajectory? My

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 11, 2018

tablishing temporary shelter and fostered partnerships with other homeless service providers. Now in its second year operating, the faith-based shelter has grown its capacity to carry the program forward. I have to give credit to the individuals and agencies doing this work on the ground every day. Long before I started working at the city, our system made really great progress in shifting to housing first and homeless prevention, which stemmed from the 2007 Plan to End Homelessness that the city and partners created. Yet, 10 years later, there is still a huge need and much work to be done.

Can you share an anecdote to illustrate the harsh living conditions you have witnessed in your role as the Homeless Projects manager?

Doing outreach with the Quality of Life Task Force has been really eye opening. The first situation that comes to mind was of an individual that was unsheltered on the streets for years.

He was resistant to help because he prided himself on being selfsufficient living outside.

He was in and out of hospitals last fall, and on the first night that Hotel Grace opened in 2016, it was going to be below zero, so all of the outreach teams were out in full force. We found him in a terrible state with frostbite on his feet.

Long story short, his feet needed to be amputated.

What can our readers do to contribute to your efforts in a positive way?

The first thing I would ask is for readers to look at themselves and consider any stigma or bias that they might harbor against people without homes. Just try to put yourself in their shoes. At the end of the day, they are human beings like you and me. They are someone’s child, sibling, parent or friend, who have fallen on hard times and may not have the network of support that you or I have to get a fresh start. We need to start a dialogue across our city that re-humanizes the issue of homelessness, and each determine to be part of a long-term, community-wide solution.

– Sarah Connell

ELIZABETH BROOKS

Where are you from and how did you end up in the city of Worcester? I was born

Thankfully, right around the same time, a housing unit became available for him and he accepted the offer of housing. Now, a year later, he still has his own room and is doing really well. Still, it is devastating to see a situation go that far. It is difficult to accept that, for whatever reason, so many people choose to sleep on the streets or in a tent night after night; or to see that so many families are found ineligible for state shelter, just because they don’t have paperwork to prove their housing emergency. And yet, in some ways, that is my motivation to coming to work and fighting for housing for all.

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