Worcester Magazine January 25 - 31, 2018

JANUARY 25 - 31, 2018

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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’ N I P P I R T N W O T s n w o t g n i r o b h g r nei

Part six

u o g n i t h g i l h g i h s e of a seri

THE WACHUSETT REGION

Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland & Sterling

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 25, 2018

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Kirk A. Davis President Kathleen Real-Benoit Publisher x331 Walter Bird Jr. Editor x322 Joshua Lyford x325 Night & Day Editor Elizabeth Brooks x323 Photographer Bill Shaner x324 Reporter Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell, Bridget Hannigan, 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.

This Week’s Cover Story: Town Trippin’

W

orcester Magazine’s special Town Trippin’ series continues this week with a look at the serene towns of Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling composing the Wachusett Region. Writer Stephanie Jarvis looks at the issues facing each town, their histories, the businesses and other places you’ll want to check out and much more. Town Trippin’ is a look around Central Mass., giving voice to town leaders and locals, like the oldest residents of each town. Learn about Holden Days, who relented on their promise to deliver a church bell to Paxton, where the “community hub” is in Princeton, why a store owner in Rutland gave out free coffee to during a recent snowstorm and how “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is believed to have originated in Sterling. It’s all part of Town Trippin’ in this week’s Worcester Magazine.

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4 City Desk 8 Worcesteria 10 Editorial 10 Education Beat 11 That’s What They Said 12 Cover Story 27 Night & Day 29 Film 30 Krave 33 Listings 35 Crossword 38 2 minutes with…

About the cover Photos by Elizabeth Brooks Design by Kimberly Vasseur

LIVE & LOCAL Jim Polito 5-9 am

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JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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citydesk January 25 - 31, 2018 n Volume 43, Number 22

Social issues hub eyed in Worcester

ELIZABETH BROOKS

Bill Shaner

I

n Prince Albert, Canada, a rural community in Northern Saskatchewan, the scope of the drug crisis — the bodies, the broken families, the crime and declining quality of life — would make a Massachusetts official’s head spin.

From 1999-2008, crime shot up by 128 percent. Of the calls to police, 76 percent were for social issues, like overdoses. The police department there was overwhelmed and it didn’t seem to matter how much money they threw at the problem. It wasn’t getting any better. Police officials in Saskatchewan contracted a small company to take a look at what they thought was a problem with their police forces and tactics.

“We wrote a report that said you don’t have a policing problem, you have a marginalized people problem,” said Norm Taylor, president of Global Community Safety. “You have people who are facing composite and acute levels of risk. If you don’t address this upstream, and you don’t address this through a whole of government solution, you’ll never have enough police.”

That was in 2011, and it was the genesis of what would become the Hub/Cor strategy for connecting people to social services and attacking societal issues at the root with what they call a “whole government approach.” Since then, the model has spread to about 100 communities in Canada, and is slowly seeping into the U.S. Chelsea was the first city in the country to adopt it, with Springfield and a few cities in Pennsylvania also getting on board.

Now Worcester is giving it a try. All this week, employees of the city, area hospitals and human services-rooted nonprofits have been training to adopt what might come to be called the Worcester Hub. It will take the form of a council, more or less, of all the services in the area that could help someone in need, be it with addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, or any of the other problems

Norm Taylor, president of Global Community Safety, pitches the Hub/Cor model to Worcester leaders across the human services landscape at City Hall Monday.

continued on page 6

WOO-TOWN INDE X A weekly quality of life check-in of Worcester

Worcester media score a decisive victory over City Hall in the second not-quiteannual broomball match. +2

4

Worcester media fall in championship match to a Worcester Police Department team largely populated

by SWAT and gang unit members. Just sayin’. -1

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 25, 2018

The demise of Pluggy the Fire Hydrant, who is scheduled for replacement on Webster Street, pulls on heartstrings.

Pluggy, we hardly knew ya. -2

The Worcester Railers kick off an 11-game homestand with three tough losses.

Can they shoot down the Quad City Mallards on Friday to end the skein? -3

+3

Total for this week:

Area fans pack local bars to cheer the New England Patriots in their come-frombehind, 24-20, AFC Championship win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. +2

Girls Inc. of Worcester to host mentor appreciation dinner this week to honor role mentors play in young people’s lives. +1

Abby Kelley Foster Charter School Booster Club runs a shoe drive involving students from multiple schools aimed at helping those in other countries. +3

Chef Alina Eisenhauer, formerly owner of Sweet, now culinary director at The International in Bolton. +1

{ citydesk }

Councilors take stand against gentrification Bill Shaner

F

earing the downtown development boom may give rise to gentrification, two city councilors have filed an order instructing the city manager to take a look at what he can do to assist small businesses and residents who may soon be priced out.

District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera and District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 23 both spoke on their order as a way to make sure the good fortune that seems to be gracing the city benefits everyone.

Rivera called the concept “economic equity,” and said she’d like to see City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. come up with policy solutions.

“A lot of small businesses stuck it out when there was no development,” Rivera said.

“There would have been empty storefronts had they not stayed, not been there. When the time comes in, they should also reap the benefits.”

With billions of dollars in developer money,

more than a thousand high-end housing units and trendy restaurants and entertainment options set to open over the next several years, there’s good reason to believe the area will come to life in a way it hasn’t seen for decades. Between the Grid, the 145 Front Street development, the Edge at Union Station and other recent developments, the downtown is poised for residential density not seen since I-290 and urban renewal projects like the Galleria uprooted neighborhoods wholesale.

But with the surge of investment — much of it with the goal of attracting a more wealthy class of residents — it stands to reason life for some of the existing businesses and residents downtown may become difficult before it’s impossible.

Rivera said the order wasn’t anti-development.

“We don’t want to halt progress,” she said, “we want to see progress, we want to see growth, but what we really want, we want to make sure we have economic equity.”

Though Rivera and Carlson stayed away

BILL SHANER

from outlining policy prescriptions, they suggested the city manager look at a few, including an assistance fund for small businesses, development deals that include space for small businesses in the contract and actively recruiting small businesses.

Rivera put a special emphasis on businesses owned by women and people Joyce Mandell of Jane Jacobs in the Woo urges the city to of color, saying that get out ahead of the gentrification issue while they still can. when the good times roll in, marginalized affordable housing left in Worcester. Nearly peoples should not fall behind. every unit has a waiting list, she said, and the Carlson, in her remarks, focused on afford- waiting lists are long. able housing. To a smattering of applause continued on page 6 from the room, she said there is essentially no

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{ citydesk } HUB continued from page 4

that often plague the city.

The idea is to get all the social services out from inside silos and free them from bureaucratic red tape, working as a team on individual cases to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency. The program takes the form of once-per-week meetings, with a chairman and a set of rules and procedures to ensure privacy. A set of societal risk factors determine priorities, and the Hub principle calls for using data analytics to predict what services a person is likely to need.

City officials held a well-attended meeting earlier this week, in which Taylor and others pitched the program to a room of about 80 area human service leaders.

“We do a terrific job on single-silo risk lenses,” he said. “What we don’t do a very good job of, as a system, is an all-perils approach.’

Over the past several decades, social services have bureaucratized while public trust in public institutions has worsened across the Western world.

“We’re really good at it. We know how to

keep the elbows up, manage our boundaries, stay in our lanes,” he said. “If you wanted to build a system that didn’t know how to collaborate, you couldn’t have done a better job.”

The Hub method, he said, is a way of breaking down bureaucratic barriers and to encourage the sharing of useful data. In other communities, the program has saved money and improved quality of life. In Prince Albert, where it launched, quality of life has improved, according to a 2017 study from the Journal of Community Safety & Well-Being.

“We find a statistically significant decrease

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

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 25, 2018

in the rates of violent and property crimes after the introduction of the community mobilization approach, and the costs to society of these offenses also decreased,” the report read.

Mattie Castiel, Worcester’s director of Health and Human Services, said the program will help get at root causes before they manifest as drug problems or homelessness.

“Each one of you have a particular service you can bring to help get people into care,” said Castiel.

Perhaps the most important testimony came from Chelsea Police Captain David Batchelor and others who sang the program’s praises, after having launched it two and a half years ago.

“From a policing perspective, I thought this was a blessing when it came to us,” said Batchelor.

Police officers, he said, are great at responding to single incidents, getting there quickly and making sure people are safe.

What they’re not great at is handling the bad life situations that lead to incidents.

“In policing,” Batchelor said, “we have to change. We just can’t keep on sending police officers out in the street on overtime, hiring, getting all that nice equipment. We have to look at that human element.”

“Obviously, we don’t want to leave anybody behind,” she said.

The item attracted some attention from interested residents. Several came to speak to the benefits of getting out ahead of gentrification before it starts happening.

Etel Haxhiaj said displacement and gentrification across the country disproportionately affects communities of color.

“How do we make sure we are balancing the need for turning downtown into a vibrant place without pushing further into the margins people who are low income, communities of color, struggling artists, small business owners, many of whom are immigrants,” she said.

She urged city officials to pay careful attention to eviction notices, and who gets them, downtown.

Haxhiaj also advocated for the expansion of the city’s chief diversity officer position to take on the issue.

Joyce Mandell, the blogger behind Jane Jacobs in the Woo, published in August a long essay on gentrification titled “A San Francisco/East Bay Wake Up Call: Will Worcester’s Renaissance Benefit All?” She spoke at the meeting, making the case that Worcester is in a unique position to start looking at the issue before it comes to fruition. continued on previous page

{ citydesk } continued from page 6

She compared Worcester to Somerville, which only a few decades ago earned the nickname “Slumerville” but now has such rapidly-rising housing costs that teachers, firefighters and police officers are being priced out of their own town.

“I’m excited about all the great changes in this city, but we have to be very careful we don’t become victims of our own success,” said Mandell.

Mandell said she’s already heard from people who are getting priced out of triple decker apartments due to rising rents. She advocated for policy measures like inclusionary zoning, an increase of affordable housing, a fund for

owner-occupied triple deckers.

“Let’s not make the mistake of other places,” she said, adding a friend of hers from Somerville told her the city did nothing to anticipate the coming wave of gentrification, but wished they had.

“Let’s be proactive in our search for a balance between a wonderful revival and our ability to maintain our funky grit, spirit, affordability and diversity in all its glory,” Mandell said.

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

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You read it here and there and everywhere else. Boston remains a contender in the tax-break battle to land the company’s second headquarters, but Worcester, predictably, is out. The company announced the 20 finalists late last week, and since there’s been all sorts of chatter about Amazon, about Boston, but little chatter about the side effects of a massive corporation all of a sudden opening up a headquarters. If you think Boston is expensive to live in now, just wait until Amazon stuffs the city will well-paid software engineers (there’s little in the way of working class jobs associated with this development). Worcester is a natural place for displaced Boston folk to relocate, which would in turn raise property values and rents and all that around here. And the beat goes on and on.

Bill Shaner

THE WORCESTER CCC: Wouldn’t this be neat. The State House News Service is reporting the Cannabis Control Commission, the regulatory board that will oversee the recreational pot industry, is looking to move out of Boston, for one reason or another, and Worcester is on the list. Of course, it’s on the list with a whole bunch of cities and towns within the Route 128 beltway and Westborough, too, which is funny because they were the first town in the state to ban pot shops. I guess it doesn’t really matter where the CCC is, so long as they get the regulatory framework up and running in time. But I do like the idea of being able to go downtown when I’m bored and give the CCC a piece of my mind – like an old townie, but for weed.

THE PEARL/ELM DILEMMA: The Worcester

Regional Chamber of Commerce refuses to let this Pearl/Elm parking garage issue go. Stu Loosemore, the Chamber’s public policy guy, was again at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 23 – second week in a row – urging the city to do more. His appearance came after another open letter calling for action, this time from Chamber head Tim Murray. The thing is, the Department of Public Works is already bidding this project out, set to invest about $16 million in improvements. Unsatisfied, Loosemore requested the Council’s Traffic and Parking subcommittee make the item first on its agenda every meeting until the issue is resolved. Now, that might seem innocuous to you, but it’s actually a pretty brash move on the Chamber’s part to tell City Council how to schedule and prioritize issues, especially out in the open like that. In a city petty as this one, that move very well could backfire.

FIGHT FOR 14.33333 REPEATING: The Worcester Research Bureau took on the Fight

for $15 campaign with its most recent report and the conclusion was, well, inconclusive. Rather than taking a hard stance on whether a $15 minimum wage would benefit the city, the WRB argued a static number like $15 is not as useful as, say, an algorithm that takes into account cost of living. Basically, the WRB is arguing for a flex minimum wage across the state. That would be some pretty innovative policy, but it’s way out of Worcester official’s hands.

CRAPPY LAWSUIT: Did anyone else not know Holden is suing Worcester? Last Friday, the Holden Town Manager Peter Lukes sent out a press release to all of Worcester media claiming an early victory in a lawsuit over $10 million in sewer fees. The town alleges an unconstitutional tax, and the lawsuit was filed in 2013. So, that’s pretty eye catching. Town v. City. $10 million.

Unconstitutional. But the more you look into it, the less it’s news. The summary decision issued by a Worcester Superior Court judge last week merely keeps the case alive, and takes it to the trial phase. I spoke with David Moore, Worcester city solicitor, who said he felt the city has a strong case, and that there’s really nothing for Holden to brag about in the summary judgement.

The substance of the case is pretty dry, as well. Holden feels Worcester is breaching a contract struck in the 1930s to truck and dispose sewage. Worcester claims the Clean Water Act of the 1970s mostly negates that original contract. Are you still reading this? Did I put you to sleep?

CHANDLER V. BAKER: It appears acting Senate President Harriette Chandler will have to play a little politics from the top seat after all. Governor Charlie Baker came out as critical of investigation into former Senate President Stan Rosenberg this week, saying that the witnesses may be hesitant to come forward for fear of retaliation. Chandler, according to WGBH, defended the integrity of the investigation, saying “the Ethics Committee is doing exactly what they’re supposed to do.” She also promised full confidentiality for anyone who comes forward.

{ worcesteria } WORCESTER BUCKS THE TAX RATE TREND: Someone tell the folks at AWARE and the Chamber of Commerce to sit down before reading this. According to the Boston Business Journal, most communities across the state cut their tax rates from last year, both residential and commercial. The median commercial property tax rate fell about five cents in 2018 to $17.54 per $1,000 of assessed value. Meanwhile, the median residential tax rate fell 50 cents to $15.10 per $1,000. Worcester, as we all well know by now, raised both the residential and commercial tax rate, but raised them equally.

ACTION IN THE 17th: Two newcomers have joined the race for the 17th Worcester District State Rep Seat, which will be an open race as state Rep. Kate Campanale plans to take on Anthony Vigliotti for register of deeds. Harry Brooks, a Leicester Democrat and John Fullen, a Worcester Republican, have incorporated campaigns with the Office of Campaign Finance. Now, in interest of full disclosure, this isn’t exactly breaking news. They both filed the paperwork in late November, and it’s just been a while since I’ve checked. But I haven’t seen it reported anywhere else, so why not include it this week. Fullen and Brooks join Worcester Democrat David Le Boeuf in the race for the seat, and it’s well before the deadline to pull papers, so this could be a crowded field.

FREE PLUGGY: Walter Bird Jr., esteemed editor and radio host, had a interesting little story Monday about a fire hydrant on Webster Street that started to become a little community project – that is, before the DPW came around and bagged it up. I mean, come on, the fire hydrant was called Pluggy, it was out of service, it had its own Facebook page, people dressed it up with little wooden dogs and stuff. It was a nice little thing for the neighborhood. But apparently, it violated fire code, so the big bad DPW came and squashed the fun. Safety be damned, I want to see Pluggy freed. Free Pluggy.

MOBILE HOMES: Having covered MetroWest towns before – looking at you, Ashland – I’m familiar with the games played to get out of having to humor affordable housing projects under the 40b law. But Shrewsbury, our neighbor to the east, is setting a new bar in anti-affordable housing trickery. According to the Telegram & Gazette, Shrewsbury is petitioning the state Legislature to allow them to count their 48 mobile homes as affordable housing units. See, the way the 40b law works is, if you have a certain percentage of your housing stock deemed affordable, you don’t have to humor 40b developers, who usually pitch the kind of big, gaudy apartment complexes you’d see in a place like, you know, Worcester. If you don’t have 10 percent affordable housing, there’s not much town officials can do to block it. Heavens, no. In an effort to more tightly clutch pearls, town officials do whatever they can to game that system.

Shrewsbury only has 6 percent affordable housing, which is well under what’s required to get around the 40b law. While I get that town officials are doing what they think is best for the town, the whole thing kind of smacks of elitism. Someone whip up a cartoon of the Shrewsbury town manager pointing at the mobile home park and yelling to Beacon Hill, “Have a look-see at all these poors! We needn’t take in any more poors.”

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interesting meeting concerning Puerto Rico, the hurricane and Worcester today. At noon, Congressman Jim McGovern will provide an update at Worcester City Hall, in Council chambers. Given the lingering issues on the island, the amount of climate refugees from the island here, and the amount of Worcester residents who still have family over there, this update will surely be interesting. Also, the relief and resettlement effort continues on. On Thursday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m., Worcester leaders are putting on a Hurricane Evacuee Employment Info Session to help those here after the storm find work. The session takes place at the Worcester Family Resource Center, 484 Main St., Worcester. Another reminder, right here in Worcester, that the effort to rebuild Puerto Rico is going to go on much, much, much longer than anyone in the press is willing or able to focus on it. This will take years.

PAWSOX UPDATE: The tug of war going on between the Rhode Island Senate and House over the $83-million PawSox ballpark bill. House Speaker Nick Mattiello pronounced the bill “dead,” last week, according to MassLive, but who knows what that means in the parlance of Rhode Island politicians. Where we are now: the Senate approved it, the House is hesitant and, if they don’t, the PawSox are coming to Worcester. Those are the only relevant facts in this twisted legislative mess down in Providence.

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

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF

ALADDIN

AND THE CO-DIRECTOR OF

THE BOOK OF MORMON

PHOTO © JEREMY DANIEL

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9

slants/rants Editorial Scrutinizing injection sites

T

he war on drugs, by any objective measure, was an abject failure. Conceding that, however, does not mean the battle should end. And while the tactics most definitely needed to change, what they should not involve is capitulation to an indiscriminate disease that has already claimed too many lives.

There is merit to some of the arguments for safe injection sites in Massachusetts, where drug users could inject themselves with illegal drugs under the direct supervision of trained staff. Proponents say the sites, which have been implemented in some countries, including Canada, would help prevent accidental overdoses, cut down on the transmission of deadly diseases and increase the number of those seeking detoxification treatment.

One of the biggest arguments against is a legal one: drugs like heroin are illegal to use. Injection sites would place medical professionals in the presence of someone injecting an illegal drug, which would also be illegal.

There is also a moral argument, and that is proving increasingly harder to make. How can we convince our children drugs are bad if we are providing more and more ways to use them? Marijuana is one example. First, medical marijuana was legalized. Now recreational marijuana is legal. One of the arguments to legalize marijuana was that it is not a deadly drug like heroin. Yet, here we are, now considering helping users access heroin. How much longer, then, until the argument is made to legalize heroin?

There are some who already subscribe to that philosophy.

Drug use is the scourge of our nation right now. Heroin, particularly the batches mixed with other drugs like fentanyl, is nothing less than a murderer that has robbed children of parents, parents of children, friends of friends and cities and towns of a sense of safety and tranquility. It has created a palpable fear, and we are right to fear it.

The users, however, are people. They are those parents, those children and those friends who are held tightly in the grasp of a cold-hearted killer. How, then, to stomp out drug use while treating the users with dignity and respect?

When framed that way, injection sites may hold some moral appeal. But that is a mirage.

The truth is, there is no concrete evidence that supervised injection sites would truly help people find recovery. There is, however, evidence that other methods are effective. Some may just require more time. Needle exchanges have helped slow down the spread of disease.

Efforts such as the newly-created Worcester Program for Addiction Recovery help steer users in that diretion. These are the types of steps that should be encouraged and supported. Lawmakers should continue to steer money toward recovery efforts.

In the meantime, supervised injection sites will continue to be discussed. The decision may well be made to go with them, but it should be made because of what we believe is right, not because of what we fear.

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 25, 2018

commentary | opinions

The Education Beat

Grade-level reading a priority John Monfredo

A

s mentioned in my last column (“The Education Beat: School Committee faces challenges,” Worcester Magazine, Jan. 11), the School Committee, working with the administration, will be reviewing key agenda items in 2018 and, hopefully, coming up with solutions. This column will attempt to focus on an issue I raised several years ago: helping our children to be reading at grade level by the end of third grade.

As a former principal, I know firsthand how important it is for a child to become a reader. In our schools today, a child who is not reading at grade level by the end of third grade is in danger of never catching up, and may spend years being a frustrated learner. Keep in mind that falling behind in reading and feeling like a failure can take a large toll on children; they can lose all desire to learn to read. Some begin to act out in class or set low expectations.

Being at grade level is meaningful at any age, but third grade is the crucial year when students make the leap from learning to read to reading to learn. It’s an academic hurdle that, if missed, can leave children in the proverbial dust, struggling through letter sounds as their more fluent peers gain new knowledge at what seems like lightning speed. Once this type of learning lag exists, it’s difficult to catch up.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, millions of American children reach fourth grade without learning to read proficiently, and that puts them on the high school dropout track. The ability to read is critical to a child’s success in school, life-long earning potential and their ability to contribute to the nation’s economy and its security. Children can succeed at reading proficiency if policymakers focus on school readiness, school attendance, summer learning, family support and high-quality teaching.

Let’s look at some of the factors that impact our children to attain that goal and then possible solutions.

Number one is school readiness. Research show many children from homes of poverty enter kindergarten already behind.

Many lack a preschool program background of word recognition, an extensive vocabulary, social skills and an adult who has spent time reading to them. For children in poverty, preschool attendance is also one of the factors in school readiness as well as attending a high-quality program. As mentioned in my last column, a two-year kindergarten program needs to be part of the solution.

Next, attendance in the early grades. I have written a number of articles on school attendance. Just recently, Bill Shaner of Worcester Magazine wrote a very comprehensive article on this topic. As we know, student absence jeopardizes the ability of students to succeed in school. In the early grades, it has a major effect on their learning, because they lack learning the necessary skills to move on to the next grade level. Administration does have a plan and will continue to monitor the results.

Summer learning. According to research, summer learning impacts low-income students the most. Children not engaged in learning during summer can lose up to two months of academic growth. Known as the “summer slide,” the impact on our early

learners adds to the list of reasons why they are not reading on grade level by the end of Grade 3.

Parent involvement. Parents who read to their child and have an engaging learning environment have children who succeed in school.

There is no silver bullet to solving this problem, but the schools must recognize this issue as a priority and have a plan that will cut into the learning gap that exists. They can’t do it alone and they can’t do it with the limited funding that exists.

The community must be part of the learning process.

Some suggestions include: Involve our social and interfaith groups, existing pre-school groups and Head Start in a campaign mission. Have them be part of our effort to reach our parents who have children in preschool years. Have them as part of a committee that will be involved in the planning process. In addition, the Worcester Public Schools has a “Books for Babies” program, where every newborn in Worcester has a visitor come to the hospital and deliver a book to mom and baby. It’s now time to take the next step in the program. Let’s work on training volunteers or use our capable school nurses to visit the home of the newborn a month or two later with another book and information on the importance of reading to the child.

As a school district we need to advocate for a full-day preschool program in all of our Level 3 schools. Those are the schools, according to the data, that have many students in need of services. We need everyone to make this an issue with our legislative delegation by calling them and coming to our School Committee meeting Thursday, Feb. 9 at 9 a.m. at Worcester Technical High School.

Parents need to foster an understanding of print by talking to their toddler, pointing out signs in their environment, and, of course, reading to their child each and every day. The best bargain in our city is the Worcester Public Library. If you need books, visit the library or call me at 508-853-3444, and I’ll get you books for the home. In addition, parents need to be role models. Read yourself and read to your child. Again, this won’t take place for many unless parents are encouraged to read and are trained in how to do it.

As is currently taking place within our system, we need to continue to train our primary-grade teachers in the teaching of reading by utilizing best practices and trying to have a lowteacher-pupil ratio. We also need to place a trained instructional assistant in every kindergarten classroom (a recommendation I make each year, but we always lack the funding). In addition, more and more emphasis within the schools needs to be placed on making parents partners in the learning process.

Summer school cannot be an afterthought. We need to encourage parents, particularly those with children who are having difficulty in reading, to be part of a five-week summer school program. Again, this will only be possible if the needed funding is provided by the city. In the past, there have been very few programs for our primary-grade children. It’s time we explore the possibility of offering additional programs to our K-3 groups.

commentary | opinions

Time to change way City Council is elected?

Robert G. Boatright

O

n Jan. 16, City Councilor Moe Bergman introduced a proposal to increase the length of terms for Worcester elected officials from two to three years and to establish a three-term limit. Bergman contends this would allow councilors more time to focus on their work and give voters more of an ability to judge councilors’ performance in office. Would Bergman’s idea work? While Worcester elections are different in many ways from elections to other offices, we can at least speculate about the potential impact of the plan based on what we know about other types of elections.

One can break down Bergman’s proposal into three components: the change in the timing of elections, the increase in term length and the limits placed on terms. Let us first consider what we know about election timing.

Unless Worcester changed the election date for municipal races, this proposal would have the effect of making every other election coincide with either a presidential or a gubernatorial election. This would create huge disparities in turnout. This might be a good thing, given anyone elected to two terms would have to show an ability to win election before two very different types of electorates. It might also make campaigning difficult.

Like many cities, Worcester has sought to separate municipal elections from state and federal. We do this in part by removing party labels from voting, even though attentive voters are aware of who the de facto Democrats and Republicans in city politics are. Off-year elections produce lower turnout (about 15-25 percent in most cities), particularly among lower-information voters. Lower turnout has been said to benefit organizations such as teachers unions and the real estate industry, since they have the ability to motivate their members or supporters to turn out, but it can produce an electorate that is unrepresentative of the city as a whole. Some studies have revealed off-year elections have far lower turnout among minorities. In contrast, on-year elections have higher turnout (35-40 percent in midterm elections, 50-60 percent in presidential years) and the electorate is more representative of the population. However, candidates in these elections may lose the

or a School Committee member might run for Council. More consequentially, the retirement of incumbents means more open seat races, and probably more spending. It costs far more to get into office in Worcester than to stay there. One sees this in the case of the School Committee; non-incumbent candidates sometimes spend as much as $40,000, while incumbents spend next to nothing.

There is nothing wrong with reforms that result in higher spending. Yet it could well be that part of the reason why veteran incumbents in Worcester spend so little is they are known to the voters and the voters like them.

One could argue that people should not make serving in elected office their life’s work, but then again, preventing the voters from voting for whoever they want — including people who have been in office for a long time — can be seen as an abridgment of voters’ choices.

Ultimately, Bergman’s proposal would shake up municipal campaigns. This may well be desirable, given the low turnout and low turnover in office over the past few years.

Councilors would get the security of being able to focus on legislation longer, and they might spend less time raising money and campaigning, although when they did run they would face greater pressure to raise money.

When they did run, there would be greater uncertainty. They would have to figure out how to run in two very different sorts of elections, losing their seats. Nonetheless, lengthening and they would potentially subject themselves terms can be one way for councilors to focus to national political trends that have little more on learning about policy, while the low bearing on the issues of concern to Worcester. turnout and lack of competition in recent elecPerhaps this is a risk worth taking; maybe tions suggests voters will not necessarily miss we don’t want people to get too comfortable the opportunity to vote as frequently. in local office. In the end, though, it is a judgThird, Bergman proposes term limits of nine ment call, and it is not necessarily one our years, or three terms. There has been a substan- politicians should make. Are we dissatisfied tial amount of research on the consequences enough with our elected officials that we are of term limits. Although they do obviously willing to roll the dice? The best way to find introduce fresh faces into politics, there is some out would not be for the City Council to make evidence legislators in their final term become these changes, but for our elected officials to less responsive to voters, that they use their weigh the merits and put the question to vottime campaigning for other offices, or that ers in a referendum in November. they use their final term to cozy up to potential Robert G. Boatright is a professor of politifuture employers. It doesn’t seem likely a plum cal science at Clark University. He maintains lobbying job awaits the average councilor. a website summarizing data on campaign Instead, in the case of council elections, we finance in Worcester elections, available at might imagine a sort of musical chairs might http://wordpress.clarku.edu/rboatright/worcesensue – a term-limited at-large council member ter-campaign-finance/worcester-campaignmight run instead for a district council seat, finance-project/. ability to campaign on issues that have a distinctly municipal focus. How would this work in nonpartisan elections? If candidates sought to tie themselves to a popular state or federal candidate, they could benefit. On the other hand, lower-information voters may simply vote based on name recognition – presumably aiding incumbents.

One of the reasons Bergman argues for this unusual on-year/off-year setup is he has a second concern: that councilors would benefit from serving longer terms. He is on firmer ground with this proposal. Many recent studies of the dysfunction that plagues the U.S. House of Representatives have contended that two-year terms are part of the problem – that legislators do not get enough time to focus on their jobs, and that the pressures of fundraising and campaigning make it difficult for newly elected members of Congress to learn how to do their jobs. One might question how much campaigning actually goes on in Worcester. The average successful Council campaign costs a little bit less than $20,000, and there is often not enough competition that very many councilors need to worry about

That’s What They Said

Your Turn

“As the great Gloria Gaynor once said … I WILL SURVIVE!” - Pluggy The Hydrant, a fire hydrant on Webster

Street in Worcester that has been taken out of service. He has his own Facebook page and dozens of people who want to #freepluggy.

{slants/rants} Letter

tor

di E e h t s to

Allow readers to vote on list To the Editor: “18 Things We’d Like to See in Worcester in 2018,” (Worcester Magazine, Jan. 11) was an interesting wish list, but really does nothing for your readership but fill up time reading.

I would like to see you publish the list and have your readers vote for issue the most important to them. Then, using your paper and your readers help initiate change you are looking for.

J EANNE GRO SVENO R Worcester

No more plastic bags To the Editor: About the changes in recycling. To the Worcester City Council: The ocean called: “No thank you to more plastic bags.”

SHARO N NIETSC HE Worcester

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Letters to the editor are a great way to share your thoughts and opinions with thousands of readers and online viewers each week. We reserve the right to edit for length, so brevity is your friend. If handwritten, write legibly. A full name and town or city of residence are required.

Please include an email address or phone number for verification purposes only. That information will not be published. Send them to Worcester Magazine, 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604 or by email to editor@worcestermag.com.

“Holdenites love Holdenites.”

- Tom Anderson, one of the owners of Seven Saws Brewing Co., on why the company likes being in Holden.

“The Senate bill is dead in the state of the Rhode Island. Two-thirds of Rhode Islanders do not support it and, therefore, the House will not support it.”

- Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, on a proposal to build a new Pawtucket Red Sox stadium in Rhode Island.

JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

11

TOWN TRIPPIN’

HOLDEN INCORPORATED JAN. 9, 1741 FROM WHAT WAS THEN CALLED THE “NORTH HALF” OF WORCESTER, HOLDEN STARTED AS A RURAL FARMING AREA, CHANGED TO MILL VILLAGES DURING THE 1800S AND IS NOW A BUSTLING BEDROOM COMMUNITY WITH A SMALL-TOWN FEEL. Through it all, the town has maintained its family atmosphere, with citizens who take pride in their town.

“It’s very tight-knit,” said Town Manager Peter Lukes. “We run a number of family events, as do the churches in town. It brings in the community.”

One such event is the Winter Festival; although it took a hiatus this past season, Lukes is hoping it will return next year. The event, first held in 2013, is full of seasonal activities, including free crafts for children, theatrical events, a “train ride” and s’more-making over open fire pits.

Holden’s rural characteristics are maintained by its status as a rightto-farm community and places such as Lilac Hedge Farm, 350 acres dedicated to sustainable, locally-raised meats. It is also the site of the Back 40, a family-friendly event held for the first time last summer with a farmers; market, kids activities, sheep-shearing demonstrations, entertainment, food and craft beer.

Holden residents also receive a lot of services for their tax dollars.

“We’ve had exceptionally-run finances for a number of years so that our tax rate is still one of the lowest in the Wachusett region,” Lukes said.

The sports leagues, recreation department and senior center are all very active, and the public pool is popular during the summer months.

The town offers excellent DPW services, the state-of-the-art public safety complex is less than 10 years old, and “We’ve spared no expense in growing our first-responders,” Lukes said, adding, “All those things go into the ambiance of the family atmosphere.”

Holden has also consistently ranked well on a number of safety services, including being named the 20th safest city in Massachusetts, according to LendEDU. The presence of a State Police barracks adds to that safety as well.

All are reasons why people are moving to Holden at faster rates than ever,” according to Lukes.

“We’ve had explosive growth over the last 10 or 15 years in housing,” he said. “We can’t build houses fast enough and they’re selling before they’re even constructed.”

POPULATION: 18,053/35.1 SQUARE MILES 12

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 25, 2018

ELIZABETH BROOKS

Median age: 41.5 Ethnicity (%): 2 White, 1 Black, 2 Asian, 3 Hispanic, 1 two or more Percent below poverty line: 3.1

{ coverstory }

OLDEST RESIDENT

WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Number of students: 7,298 Dollar spent per student: $11,895.60 (2016) School budget: $63,713,837

THE ISSUE

With the town’s DPW facilities in three different locations, the time has come to upgrade its “very old, outdated, dilapidated, but most definitely outgrown” buildings, according to Town Manager Peter Lukes.

Currently, the town is in the design phase of an estimated $20-million project to construct a new DPW facility on a 24-acre parcel at 18 Industrial Drive. Located in Holden’s industrial park, the site once housed the Reed-Rico tool and die factory before it closed more than a decade ago. The property changed hands numerous times before finally being gifted to the town by the last owner, Lukes sayid.

Currently, the DPW garage is on Adams Road, administration is in the town hall, and the water and sewer departments are in a different location on Spring Street.

Lukes estimates the full proposal will be brought to town meeting in the springtime and would likely require a debt exclusion.

Grace Hansen, Holden’s oldest resident at 102 years old, didn’t stop driving until she was 95, loves to play cards and still enjoys cooking and baking.

“She’s got a lot of energy,” says her niece, Ruth Rojcewicz, whose mother, Ruth Martin, was Hansen’s sister. “She tries to maintain her independence as much as possible.”

Born Nov. 28, 1915 in Worcester, Hansen grew up in Shrewsbury with her four brothers and five sisters (she is the last surviving one). Hansen and her sister Ruth were very close. One night they climbed out their window and walked to Shrewsbury Street to participate in a play they had been cast in.

“After the play, they thought they’d be able to walk home, but my grandfather was in the audience,” Rojcewicz said.

Hansen also used to bake with her mother, and to this day still loves to cook and make pies.

“Her mother used to have a pie closet,” Rojcewicz said, recalling that, because the family was so large, Hansen and her mother would bake pies several times a week and store them in the closet.

Hansen’s father owned a store and butcher stop, Flint Grocery, on South Quinsigamond Avenue and all the kids helped.

“She used to help her father crank the car,” Rojcewicz recalled.

Although he was strict, “she was from a loving family. She was the last one out of the house” after marrying in her early 30s. One of Hansen’s brothers introduced her to the man who would later become her husband, Henry, who was from Worcester; he passed away in August 1979 at the age of 53.

The couple had moved to Holden because they liked the town, and together they enjoyed golfing and dancing. Prior to getting married, Hansen used to travel to Fort Devens with the USO to entertain soldiers stationed there.

Until retiring, Hansen worked in retail, including Strand’s Ski Shop, in sales and bookkeeping.

“She’s still full of life,” Rojcewicz said. “She’s a very diversified lady. She can do a lot of things.”

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{ coverstory }

BUSINESS PROFILE

HOLDEN HOT SPOTS

Flip Flops Bar and Grille is literally a hot spot in Holden – the restaurant is decked out in a beach theme with a large tiki bar, surfboards on the wall and numerous signs with pictures of that famed summer shoe.

That’s just how owner Nic Viapiano likes it.

“He’s got flip flops on until the snow comes down,” said Tanya Collette, one of the managers (Nina Toomey and Viapiano’s daughter Elena are the other two).

Viapiano originally opened the restaurant, located at 680 Main St., in 2002 as Alfresco’s, but about 10 years later, he revamped it as Flip Flops.

“It fit his persona and what he was looking for in a restaurant – a nice place to go to relax,” said Collette.

Best described as an “American bar,” the menu includes pizza (one of the more popular items), steaks, pasta, fresh salads and some “eclectic specials,” said Collette.

As part of the restaurant, Elena also manages a bakery, Baked, that is open Fridays and Saturdays and offers fresh bread, cookies, cupcakes and special order cakes. In addition, Flip Flops has live entertainment many weekends.

“It’s the kind of place you can go to by yourself. You can go with your husband, you can go with a group of friends,” Collette said. “You can always find someone you know here.”

If you’re craving something a little more than ham and cheese on a roll, you can find it on the menu at The Specialty Sandwich Co. Bar & Grill. And if you happen to love ham and cheese, well, you can get that here, as well.

Located at 624 Main St., the business opened in 2004 as a take-out specialty sandwich shop, including “sandwiches from all over the world,” said owner Vasilios Gjinis.

Using his Greek heritage, he created a diverse menu that today boasts more than 200 items – not just sandwiches, but also pizzas, burgers, fried seafood, soups and salads.

“I wanted to do something unique that no one else was doing,” said Gjinis, whose family has always worked in the food industry. As a result, his menu is “very ethnic-oriented, fully flavored, very unique,” he said.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed – Specialty Sandwich Co. won “Landmark” Readers’ Choice Awards in the categories of best takeout, lunch, catering and pizza in 2016 and best takeout, lunch and catering in 2017. In addition, the “Boston Globe” has featured his salad dressing, “a secret family recipe,” three times, said Gjinis.

Four years ago, when the next-door business closed, Gjinis tore down the wall and used the space to create the Specialty Bar & Grill, a sit-down area for patrons that also carries 24 craft beer selections. In addition, Specialty Sandwich Co. is the exclusive vendor for the Holden-based Seven Saws Brewing Co. Whether it’s take-out or eat-in, the Specialty Sandwich Co. Bar & Grill’s ambiance and unique products keep his clientele coming back, Gjinis said, adding, “We embrace our customers like our own family.”

Municipal budget: approximately $52 million (fiscal 2018, town and school) Highest-paid employee: Town Manager Peter Lukes, approximately $155,000 Median household income: $98,630 Median house value: $284,500 Municipal property tax rate: $17.61 (fiscal 2018)

SIGNATURE EVENT

Seven Saws Brewing Co. was crafted from a friendship, a love of good beer and a desire to share their passion with their community. Named after the number of former sawmills that powered the villages, the brew company is run by four friends: Tom Anderson, Troy Milliken, and brothers Tom and Paul Mulroy.

While they don’t yet have a retail location, their dream is to open a family-friendly brew pub in Holden by the end of the year, Anderson said.

“We’re in this beer renaissance right now, with all these amazing beers coming out,” he said. “We are just four guys that love craft beer.”

The quartet brew their beer in the basement of Mulroy Dental, owned by Tom Mulroy, and strive to always have about five-10 different styles on rotation. Some varieties include Penstock, a juicy New-England-style pale ale; Fire Road, a slightly sour red IPA; Flume, PHOTO SUBMITTED a double IPA; BackCut Black, a chocolatey, smooth black IPA; and Whipsaw, a mild, citrus, spicy Witbeir.

“We stick true to the roots From left: Tom Anderson, Paul Mulroy, of the style of the beer we Troy Milliken, Tom Mulroy brew,” Anderson said, adding the results are smooth, allowing them to really bring out the characteristics of each beer.

Currently, the beer is available on tap exclusively at The Specialty Sandwich Co. Bar & Grill in Holden, but the group would love to have a more permanent existence in the town the four friends all call home. Although they are “transplants” to the town, Anderson said, they absolutely love their community and “we would love nothing more than to put a brew pub in Holden.”

Having it as a place for more than just beer is key; they envision a pub that would have pizza, family nights and even a good home-brewed root beer.

“Family-friendly is really a key for us,” Anderson said.

“We’re so thankful to Holden,” he added. “The town has been so overwhelmingly supportive. It proves our point why we love Holden. Holdenites love Holdenites. We look forward to everyone coming out and trying our beer.”

so large, there is now a trolley that runs from one end of Main Street to the other, making stops along the way so visitors can hop on and off.

Thirty-nine years ago, Holden Days The event always starts with a parade at 9 a.m. Holden Days is in full swing until started as a simple sidewalk sale as a 3 p.m., with local businesses at the Marketplace at the Damon House, Kids Court at way to promote the businesses in town.

Bubar Field, entertainment at the bandstand and main stage, crafters and artisans at “Since then, it’s grown into an enorthe Craft Corner and Art Lot and the food court. In addition, the Gale Free Library, mous event that encompasses five difFirst Congregational Church and the First Baptist Church all open for the event. The ferent areas and thousands of people,” Holden police and fire departments participate as well. said Jennifer Stanovich, executive diHolden Days is funded by numerous sponsors and booth rental fees from the parrector of the Wachusett Area Chamber ticipating businesses, crafters and artisans. of Commerce, which runs the event.

“A lot of local businesses jump on board to sponsor this event,” said Stanovich.

“It’s a way to bring area businesses “They are so loyal to us.

I could go on and on about our sponsors.” together, as well as residents.”

This year’s Holden Days will be held Saturday, Aug. 25.

Held in late August, Holden Days takes place all along Main Street, with one side “It’s a fun family event,” Stanovich said.

“It just keeps getting bigger and better.” of the roadway closed to traffic so people can walk freely. Because the event has grown

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

COURTESY OF THE WACHUSETT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

• JANUARY 25, 2018

ELIZABETH BROOKS

TOWN TRIPPIN’

PAXTON

PAXTON HAS ONLY ONE SCHOOL, FEW BUSINESSES AND NO GAS STATION – BUT THAT IS EXACTLY THE CHARM OF THIS SMALL COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1765.

“There’s definitely a small-town feel to Paxton,” said Town Administrator Carol Riches.

Once largely a farming community, with some shoe shops and small industries, Paxton was formed from almost equal portions of Leicester and Rutland. Charles Paxton, a marshal of the Admiralty Court, said he would give a church bell to the town if it was named after him, although he never followed through on that promise. Later, a citizen by the name of David Davis traveled to Boston with his oxen and brought back the bell that is currently in use.

For all of its small-town aspects, however, Paxton does offer a lot for its residents, said Riches. Its master plan was developed and accepted eight years ago, a new public safety complex was built in 2009 and the town provides ambulance services as well as its own electrical service through the Municipal Light Department. In addition, the highly-active recreation department provides a slew of programs for kids and adults, such as dance, yoga, basketball and volleyball, all at Paxton Center School. The town also benefits from the 400-acre Moore State Park, once home to grist and saw mills, and Anna Maria College, situated on 192 acres and serving 1,500 graduate and undergraduate students.

“I think Paxton is a wonderful town to bring up children. I brought my children up here,” Riches said. “It’s very familyoriented. I asked my children, and they said the exact same thing. They enjoyed the small-town atmosphere.”

POPULATION: 4,860/14.7 SQUARE MILES JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

15

{ coverstory } OLDEST RESIDENT

Virginia Kimball once had a full scholarship to law school, and although her dream of becoming an attorney never materialized, her shrewdness allowed her to be successful in many other aspects of her life. Today, at 99, she is as sharp as ever, playing the stock market and competing in bridge competitions. And, she only retired nine years ago – at age 90.

Born Sept. 21, 1918 and raised in Worcester, Kimball and her husband Ray, who worked for Norton’s many years, originally lived in Rutland. She served as town treasurer there and also worked in the post office. She was in line to become the postmistress, but one night while she was sleeping, Ray poked her and said, “We’re moving to Paxton.” That was in 1938 — and the end of her job at the post office — and she’s been here ever since.

“I’ve enjoyed Paxton,” she said, but added the initial news was “quite a shock.”

In the mid-1950s, the couple became good friends with the milkman who came to their home and joined an investment club he had started.

“We didn’t have much money, so we only put in $5 or $10 a month,” she recalled.

She also loved to play the stock market – “I was interested in the stock market from the time I was kid,” she said – and by the time their three children, Raymond, Rosemary and Miles, were older, that money was enough to send them all to college.

Kimball spent much of her life working in the real estate business, first with a fellow realtor and then with her own business.

“I worked until I was 75. I worked part-time until I was 90. I loved working,” she said.

“I’ve had a busy, busy life.”

Though she hasn’t driven since she was 92, Kimball loves to read and always has a lot of people visiting her.

“I never stopped. I go all the time,” she said.

SIGNATURE EVENT

In June, kids have two things to look forward to: the start of summer vacation and the annual Paxton Days, a family-friendly event held on the town common.

“We try to do it just before the children get out of school,” said Town Administrator Carol Riches, whose office coordinates the event.

This June’s Paxton Days will be the seventh in as many years and, as always, will feature entertainment, vendors and crafters, activities for children and families, and games.

The event was established more than a decade ago by a former selectman, Fred Goodrich, who has since passed away.

“He wanted to have some community spirit and he approached me,” Riches said. “I was administrative assistant at the time.”

Paxton Days ran several years but then lapsed, and when Riches became town administrator seven years ago, she recreated the event.

“It was close to his heart,” Riches says of Goodrich. “He was still a board member at the time and he appreciated it.”

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• JANUARY 25, 2018

BUSINESS PROFILE

Since 1952, picturesque Paxton has been the perfect setting for Anna Maria College, a Catholic liberal arts college situated on 192 acres and founded in 1946 by the Sisters of Saint Anne. Their goal was to provide higher education to “women of modest means.” Today, the college serves about 1,500 male and female students.

With more than 30 undergraduate majors and seven graduate programs, Anna Maria has made a name for itself in this small town and beyond.

“Many are unique, like fire science, music therapy and art therapy,” said John Hamel, vice president of enrollment. “Criminal justice, while not as unique, is a very successful program.”

Hamel points to recent graduates as evidence of the program’s success. A graduate two years ago is now with the Secret Service, and another criminal justice major who was working for Interpol is now at the Department of Homeland Security.

ELIZABETH BROOKS The nursing program, too, has seen significant increase, Hamel said, adding the college has received more applications for that major this school year already than the total received last year altogether.

Overall, the total number of applications for admission to the college increased 30 percent from last year, and “the number of students asking for information about Anna Maria is about 2,000 higher than last year,” Hamel said.

That can only mean good things for Anna Maria, as well as Paxton, which benefits from having the college in town. College public safety officers, for instance, are all employees with the Paxton Police Department.

“It’s a savings for both the taxpayers of Paxton and Anna Maria students,” Hamel said. “We both benefit from having an arrangement like this.”

Hamel also points out the college works closely with the Worcester Chamber of Commerce, Saint Vincent Hospital and other organizations to “help students see opportunities that they’re not going to see in textbooks.”

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{ coverstory }

ELIZABETH BROOKS

THE ISSUE

Finally, after waiting years for state funding, the town will see a full reclamation and reconstruction of Holden Road (Route 31) in the near future.

“It was on the list for several years, and it’s just coming up for action now,” according to Town Administrator Carol Riches.

The project, which will include drainage and sidewalk work, will go out to bid sometime between August and October, with reconstruction beginning in 2019. “It seems a long time away,” Riches said, “but we’ve been waiting for a long time, anyway.”

Except for the Holden Road reconstruction, the town has no plans for any new projects. Although the town does have a capital plan in place, funds aren’t available at the time for any large projects, according to Riches. The last major project was the construction of a public safety complex, and the town will be paying off the bond for some time.

And, like many small communities, Paxton will be keeping an eye on its municipal budget.

“Although the budget process starts in January,” said Riches, “you’re looking at it year-round. You can never take your eyes off it.”

Holden Road (Route 31), Paxton

Median age: 38.8 Ethnicity (%): 85 White, 2 Black, 11 Hispanic, 1 two or more Percent below poverty line: 3.1 Municipal budget: approximately $13 million Highest-paid employee: Jason A. Lavallee, Paxton Municipal Light Department manager

Median household income: $91,989 Median house value: $278,300 Municipal property tax rate: $20.44 (fiscal 2018)

PAXTON HOT SPOT

ELIZABETH BROOKS

Spend some time at Theo’s Breakfast & Lunch and the staff will likely know your name upon your return.

That friendly service, homemade food and good prices keep the regulars coming back and the new ones stopping in.

Celebrating its fifth year of business in May, the mom-and-pop restaurant is owned by George and Vaia Pritsoulis, who have been in the industry about 40 years. They previously owned breakfast-lunch-dinner restaurants in Worcester and Douglas, but wanted to downsize and found the perfect place in Paxton. The building was the former location of Coffee on the Common, which had been closed for some time, so when the family went before selectmen for approval, “everyone was absolutely for it,” said Andrea Isenberger, the Pritsoulis’s daughter and one of the restaurant’s managers. “They were very excited to bring us on.”

Theo’s seats about 40 people and is open until 2 p.m., serving breakfast and a “Greek spin on the lunch half,” Isenberger said. Customer favorites are the French toast varieties and corned beef hash.

Speaking of customers, not only do they have many regulars from Paxton, but also some from Worcester and people who used to frequent the Pritsoulis’s previous restaurants.

“Our food is delicious. The atmosphere is very friendly,” Isenberger said, adding, “We’re happy to have whoever comes through the door and we’re proud to serve Paxton.”

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TOWN TRIPPIN’

ELIZABETH BROOKS

PRINCETON WITH MOUNT WACHUSETT IN THE BACKGROUND, PRINCETON IS A PICTURE OF QUIET BEAUTY. Established in 1759 from land that was part of Rutland, the town was named after one of its first proprietors, the Rev. Thomas Prince, pastor of the Old South Church in Boston. It has the smallest in population out of the five Wachusett towns.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Princeton was a prominent seasonal community. Eight trains a day pulled into town, bringing hundreds of summer visitors – including Louisa May Alcott and Thomas Edison – to the town’s hotels. When automobiles became the more preferred method of travel, the town saw fewer visitors, and the hotel either closed or burned.

“Today, Princeton is mainly a residential community, with a few businesses,” Town Administrator Nina Nazarian said. “There remains a rich appreciation for the history, buildings and major contributions by individual philanthropists.”

What does draw many to the town these days is the mountain, which also contributes to Princeton’s uniqueness for visitors and residents alike.

“Princeton regularly reminds me of a community or residents who greatly enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities,” Nazarian said, noting the availability of hiking, skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, walking, running and biking. “In addition to the mountain, the town has many hiking trails, which are actively used by residents and which the Open Space Committee has been championing regular organized walks.”

Princeton has five sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is home of Redemption Rock.

According to legend, Mary Rowlandson, the wife of a Puritan minister, was ransomed in 1676 from this rock

by King Philip from her Native American captors. And, in 1755, 4-year-old Lucy Keyes disappeared after following her sisters to the pond near Wachusett Lake, a mile from her family home. It is said that Lucy and her mother Martha haunt the woods on Mount Wachusett looking for each other.

POPULATION: 3,451/35.4 SQUARE MILES 18

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• JANUARY 25, 2018

PRINCETON HOT SPOT

ELIZABETH BROOKS

{ coverstory }

Whether you need a quick take-out lunch or you have time to chat with friends while enjoying a scone or muffin, Mountainside Market is the place to go in Princeton.

Described as “definitely a community hub” by co-owner Katherine Huck, the market is open seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and is an “anchor for a lot of people who need to get something on the fly or want to meet a friend.”

The market had been in town since 2009, and Huck, who spent years working a corporate job in Boston, decided to trade in her long commute in 2015 when the previous owners moved out of town and put the business up for sale.

“They were wonderful. They did the town a service by starting it,” Huck said. “We were lucky to purchase something that had already been established.”

Huck partnered with Robin Springfield, who had owned Honeybee Baking Co. for a decade and had gained quite a following already, to offer an in-house bakery. “She’s a big part of why we’ve been so successful,” Huck said, noting her partner has an “incredible talent.”

The two revamped and renovated the Mountainside to offer not only baked goods, but also “things we would want in a local food market,” Huck said, including specialty food items, take-home meals, wine and beer and products such as milks, cheeses, meats and soaps from area farms and vendors. Offering “specialty, unique, quality” items — like the selfserve refillable olive oil stations, for example — is particularly important to the duo, Huck said.

Beyond the food offerings, “the big draw we have is the sitting area by the fireplace,” Huck said, adding, “A lot of people, when they come in here, they know each other. It’s a support system.”

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SIGNATURE EVENT

Each December, the town common in Princeton becomes aglow with lights upon lights in a holiday splendor. The annual Lights in Common is organized by residents John and Patsy Mollica. During the event, Patsy plays the piano and sings with the Princeton Boy and Girls Scouts. One lucky child, selected through a raffle, gets to light up the common with the push of a button. Afterward, the crowd gathers for refreshments.

Median age: 45.8 Ethnicity (Percentage): 91 White, 1 Black, 1 Asian, 6 Hispanic, 1 two or more Percent below poverty line: 6.6 Municipal budget: $9,552,946.59 (fiscal 2018, town and school) Highest paid employee: Chief of Police Michele Powers, $108,708.84

THE ISSUE

With just about 3,500 residents, one of Princeton’s biggest challenges is its limited citizen involvement, according to Town Administrator Nina Nazarian – which proves difficult when it comes time to have important conversations about projects or issues in town.

“Town officials, elected and appointed, are currently reviewing the condition of our town buildings, and it is clear that some major investments must be made in order to address the current buildings owned by the town,” Nazarian said.

However, she added, “The selectboard and Facilities Steering Committee have attempted to stimulate involvement of community members in the discussion on a plan to move forward with buildings. By ratio, few residents have turned out and participated. Both the selectboard and the Facilities Steering Committee welcome input and opinions during the needs assessment and planning phase.”

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19

{ coverstory }

BUSINESS PROFILE

On a clear day from the summit of Mount Wachusett – the highest mountain in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River – you can experience a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view, including a view of the Boston skyline. That view is just one of the reasons that visitors from New England and beyond come to Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. In the winter, it is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts; off-season brings in numerous large-scale, family-friendly events.

Wachusett’s first skiing trails, Pine and Balance Rock, were created by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The first lifts, the Oxbow and West T-bars, were added in the early 1960s. In 1969, the state granted Ralph Crowley the lease to operate Wachusett Mountain in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department and Recreation.

“We are located within about an hour’s drive of a population base of more than eight million people between Boston, Worcester and Providence,” said Tom Meyers, director of marketing for Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. “We are the most accessible ski area in New England.”

With more than 250 instructors, ideal teaching terrain and carpet lifts, part of Wachusett’s lure is that it’s a great learning mountain, according to Meyers.

“In 2016,” he noted, “Wachusett earned the National Ski Areas Association Conversion Cup for offering the best program in the U.S. to turn new skiers into lifelong enthusiasts.”

Median household income: $121,500 Median house value: $368,500 Municipal property tax rate: $17.28

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OLDEST RESIDENT

ELIZABETH BROOKS

ment, according to Meyers.

Currently, he said, Wachusett employs more than 80 Princeton residents, including some of its staff members and managers, and has additional ski patrol and rangers who are volunteers.

“Many are first jobs for high school and college students,” said Meyers.

At 104 years old, Marjorie Ollila has spent much of her life with her family and working. She didn’t retire, in fact, until she was 99 from a business she had owned with her husband.

Born Nov. 2, 1913 in Angelica, Wis., Ollila moved to Michigan with her parents, five brothers and three sisters when she was in eighth grade. She was the second oldest of the nine, and today, her youngest sister is the only other remaining sibling.

“We’re the bookends,” Ollila said. “I was oldest and she was the youngest.”

Ollila attended the Bronson Hospital School of Nursing in Kalamazoo, Mich., then majored in public health at the

PHOTO SUBMITTED

• JANUARY 25, 2018

In addition to winter activities, Wachusett has been offering AppleFest and KidsFest more than 30 years. Newer events include the BBQFest, FarmFresh Fest, OktoberFest and Food Truck Fest. Wachusett also hosts weddings, receptions, proms and company outings from May through August. All of these were created to offer more opportunities for recreation and entertainment as well as more year-round employ-

University of Michigan. She worked in the Michigan Public Health Department and later as a school nurse in Negaunee, in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

She and her husband Leo moved to Massachusetts when he was hired to work at Wyman Gordon as a metallurgist.

“We got married soon after he got the job, and I’ve been here ever since,” Ollila said. “As soon as the war was over, we always said we’d go home to Michigan.”

They didn’t, though. First, they lived in Worcester, bought a house in Oxford and then eventually settled in Princeton for the school system, so their children, twins Susan and Sandra and son Paul (now deceased), could attend Wachusett. In between actively volunteering for blood drives with the American Red Cross, Ollila and her husband bought a metal-testing laboratory, Luvak Inc., in Boylston.

“We tested a piece of the Eiffel Tower because they had to replace a piece of the metal and they wanted the same type of metal,” she recalled.

Her husband lived until the age of 90.

“We had a wonderful, long marriage. It was a happy time,” Ollila said.

She continued working at the lab. Eventually, her daughter Sandra took over operations of the business. It wasn’t until the family sold the lab that she stopped working.

“I worked until a couple years ago. I was 99 when I retired,” Ollila said.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

TOWN TRIPPIN’

RUTLAND FIRST SETTLED IN 1666 AS NAQUAG, RUTLAND WAS ORIGINALLY MADE UP OF BARRE, HUBBARDSTON, OAKHAM, PRINCETON AND THE NORTHERN HALF OF PAXTON. It was confirmed as a township Feb. 23, 1713, and was officially incorporated in 1722.

“The town has a rich agricultural history,” said Town Administrator Margaret Z. Nartowicz, adding Rutland “prides itself on its open space, agriculture and its recreational activities. Rutland is a great place for families and businesses.”

In addition to its expansive open space, Rutland is known for being the geographical center of Massachusetts, marked by the Central Tree on Central Tree Road. And, Nartowicz said, “It was known for its clean air,” most likely because Rutland has the highest elevation (1,200 feet above sea level) of any community between the Berkshires and the Atlantic Ocean.

That clean air led to the town becoming a health resort center during the late 1800s, particularly during the tuberculosis outbreak.

A large-scale state hospital on 80-plus acres opened in 1898 to treat tuberculosis patients and had subsequent uses afterwards until closing in 1991, when it was known as the Rutland Heights Hospital.

In 1907, another hospital for tuberculosis-infected prisoners was built as part of an industrial camp and working farm formed by the General Court in 1903, after the state had purchased 914 acres in Rutland. The prisoners, who were sentenced for drunkenness and other minor infractions, worked in the potato farm and dairy barn.

Because the property was located on the water supply drainage area, the camp and hospital were closed in 1934. Today, remains of the prison camp can be seen in the area that is now known as Rutland State Park.

POPULATION: 8,402/35.1 SQUARE MILES JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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{ coverstory } THE ISSUE

With a tax rate of $18.13 per $1,000 assessed valuation and about 8,400 residents, the issue facing Rutland is finding a way to fund the town coffers while taking the burden off its citizens. “Residents are bearing the brunt of it, and we do have to find a way to balance that,” said Town Administrator Margaret Z. Nartowicz.

Currently, the tax base is 95 percent residential, she said, adding, “Residential growth is far outpacing commercial growth.”

That growth is only expected to continue – numerous housing developments are in the works – and, “at some point, there will be demand for services,” Nartowicz said.

According to Nartowicz, the town would like to hire a planner or a community development coordinator to help find opportunities for Rutland to expand its tax base. One such opportunity may come at the site of the former Rutland Heights Hospital site, an 80-plus acre parcel the town bought in 2008 after the state took everything down and provided funding for the cleanup costs. The property has its own zoning and is a flexible mixed-use district that could be served by light business or industry, recreational purposes or small retail shops, according to Nartowicz.

RUTLAND HOT SPOT

The current weather might say otherwise, but you can bet when the temperatures rise, the hot spot in Rutland is also the place to be chill: the town pool. Open to the public and typically open on the last day of school, the pool has been a local hangout for years, said Corinna Frohock, Recreation Program coordinator.

“I grew up in Rutland, and it was there when I was a kid,” she recalled.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

The pool and its amenities — a pool house, changing rooms, snack shack and picnic areas — are available to anyone with a membership or to those who purchase day passes. The money is then used to support the operation of the pool without any funds from the town. Other than some in-kind contributions from the town, such as maintenance work, the pool “completely supports itself,” Frohock said.

Just a short distance away from the pool is Memorial Field, which has a playground for ages 5-12, a basketball court and softball field. The court and field can be reserved for public use when not being used by the numerous leagues.

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• JANUARY 25, 2018

Median age: 39.5 Ethnicity (%): 95 White, 2 Asian, 2 Hispanic, 1 two or more Percent below poverty line: 2.2 Municipal budget: $25,174.18 (fiscal 2018) Highest paid employee: Town Administrator Margaret Z. Nartowicz, $106,330.40

BUSINESS PROFILE

During the Jan. 4 snowstorm, Rutland Marketplace served up free coffee for all the town’s plow drivers working that day, but such an act of kindness is not uncommon for owner Scott Leonard. He loves to give back to his community, whether he’s supporting the sports leagues, offering high school graduates jobs and internships, or carrying products from local vendors.

When the market celebrated its fifth year in business last October, Leonard planned a party with free hot dogs, popcorn, chips, apple crisp and cake, water and cocoa for all who stopped by. Even proceeds from the raffle – with prizes including tickets ELIZABETH BROOKS

Median household income: $95,347 Median house value: $279,600 Municipal property tax rate: $18.13 (fiscal 2018)

OLDEST RESIDENT About 12 years ago, 99-year-old Vivian Root moved into the Rutland home of her son Howard, her daughter-in-law and grandson – which would prove to be advantageous when, in 2017, she was named the town’s oldest resident. She received the Boston Post Cane award from town officials during an in-home ceremony last September.

Born and raised in a small South Carolina town, Root was one of nine children, including her twin sister Virginia. After receiving an education degree from Coker College, she taught in several different towns in her home state, but eventually moved to Massachusetts when she met and married her husband. They settled in Worcester and Root taught many years for the Grafton elementary schools, while raising Howard and her other son, Douglas. In her early 60s, she earned a master’s degree in education from what was then Worcester State Teachers College (now Worcester State University).

Over the years, Root’s hobbies have included crossword puzzles, bowling, crocheting and knitting and writing poetry – in fact, Howard said, she can still recite poems she penned in the ’20s and ’30s.

As for the secret to her longevity, according to Howard, it’s due to good genes and the care from her family. Her mother lived to be 98 and was also the oldest resident in her town. All of the girls in her family except for one outlived their husbands, and the only male to live past 90 was a bachelor. Even now, Howard said, his mom still has some color in her long hair.

SIGNATURE EVENT

{ coverstory } to Bruins and Celtics games – went not to the store, but to the Rutland Food Pantry.

“I have a mantra: cleanliness, hospitality and quality,” Leonard said.

The 4,000-square-foot store at 26 Pommogussett Road is reminiscent of the “small convenience corner-store-markets” he used to visit while growing up in Chelsea, he said, adding, “I always had pride in where I grew up. I had a great childhood.”

All the specialty sandwiches at Rutland Marketplace, in fact, are named after his high school friends. Patrons can also get produce from the local farms, fresh bread and baked goods, prepared foods, deli meats, and beer and wine. Joey’s Ice Cream Shoppe is a customer favorite and Rutland Marketplace also specializes in party platters.

Leonard spent about 25 years in retail, including in senior management positions, before deciding he wanted to open Rutland Marketplace.

“There was just a niche to have a small family grocery store. I felt the town needed it,” he recalled. “Here, you have to go to Holden for the grocery store. I’m trying to service that niche so people don’t have to go far.”

PHOTO COURTESY: FRIEND OF RUTLAND 4TH OF JULY

What was once a simple Fourth of July parade has since turned into a multi-day event to celebrate not only the holiday, but also Rutland pride and spirit. These days, with the event gearing up for its 70th year, the parade is now the last event of many to be held – a road race, a bike and doll carriage parade for the kids, a Junior Olympics, a pancake breakfast, chicken barbecue, strawberry festival and, of course, fireworks.

The event, which started in 1948, was originally organized by the Recreational Council. The Fire Department then ran it for about 10 years until 1983, when the town appointed a committee of residents to plan the celebration. Karen Greenwood has been at the helm for the last 20 of those 70 years, and she is now preparing to step down as chair and a member of the committee. Her sister, Lynne Amsden, has also been on the committee many years and is planning to retire as well.

“When everything is all set,” Greenwood said of the planning stages, “my biggest fear is what the weather is going to be. One year, we were holding onto the tent for the Boy Scouts, and it’s thundering and lightning.”

But she added, “A parade has never been canceled. It’s rained right after we’ve finished. It’s rained in the morning before we’ve started. It’s been cold. It’s been hot.”

Rutland spares no expense for its Fourth of July celebration, and yet no funding comes from the municipal budget – it is entirely paid for through donations, fundraisers and local vendor fees. Although only local town groups such as the Scouts and Little League are allowed to be vendors — “to keep it a small-town atmosphere,” Greenwood said — those that do participate donate 20 percent of their profits to the Fourth of July Committee to help fund the celebration.

Fireworks are a huge draw at Rutland’s annual “We’ve been lucky to have it this many years,” Greenwood said, “due Forth of July event to the generosity of the people we reach out to and the sponsors.”

JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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ELIZABETH BROOKS

TOWN TRIPPIN’

STERLING ONCE PART OF THE NASHAWAY INDIANS TERRITORY, STERLING WAS SETTLED IN 1720 AS A SECTION OF LANCASTER. THE FIRST PERMANENT SETTLER WAS GAMALIEL BEAMAN OF LANCASTER. Twenty years later, the town had grown to 50 families. By 1764, the town was known as Chocksett, “land of the foxes,” but in 1781, it separated from Lancaster and was incorporated as Sterling, after William Alexander, Lord Stirling, a Scottish lord who aided colonists during the Revolutionary War. Sterling has a rich history of prominent families, many whose names were used in the town’s streets and places. Pratt’s Junction was named after Lt. Joel Pratt, an aide to Washington during the Revolution. In 1863, Ebenezer Butterick developed the graded sewing patterns that are still popular today. But perhaps the most famous is Mary Sawyer, who brought her pet lamb to school one day and inspired Sarah Josepha Hale to write the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” A statue of the lamb sits on the town common today.

Originally an agricultural community, “it still maintains a lot of its rural character,” said Board of Selectmen Chair Maureen Cranson. “We still have some farms, but not as many.”

Much of what makes Sterling special, though, Cranson said, are the people who live there.

“Our volunteerism is phenomenal,” she pointed out, noting that more than 160 volunteers serve the town on various boards and committees. Over at the relatively new senior center, volunteers help keep that running as well, and many are seniors themselves.

“It’s really seniors helping seniors,” said Senior Center Director Veronica Buckley.

The Neighbor to Neighbor Fund is another example of how residents have come together in this town. Residents can donate funds to this program, which helps individuals and families who have financial need toward housing, food, utilities and clothing.

“It was started by an individual in town,” said Cranson. “He wanted to give back to the town.”

Sterling also benefits from having its own Municipal Light Department, which has been recognized by the state for its $2.7-million battery storage program. All of the town’s extra energy is stored, and during an emergency can be used to keep emergency services running for up to three weeks. Beyond that, citizens pay a much lower energy rate through the town’s Light Department services.

All in all, “we’re a small community, but a thriving one,” said Town Administrator Ross Perry. “It’s a beautiful town. We’d love to have people come see it.”

POPULATION: 7,896/30.6 SQUARE MILES 24

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 25, 2018

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Davis Farmland is not only in the business of providing a home for New England’s largest sanctuary of endangered farm animals, but also “launching a lifetime of memories,” said Larry Davis, one of the owners, along with his father John and brother Doug.

Born from a love of all things agricultural and created as a way to keep the family farm operational, the business first opened as Davis Farm Petting Zoo in 1996.

“With farming, it’s a whole different way of life that’s lost, from sealing deals with a handshake to living off the soil of the Earth,” said Davis. But, he added, “We will never escape the need for kids to play with water, play with sand, play with nature.”

The petting zoo concept was so successful the first year that Davis Farm has expanded each season, adding more animals, a water splash park, playgrounds and hands-on activities to make it live up to its slogan as the “ultimate children’s discovery farm.”

“It’s grown over time. People really seem to gravitate to it. They come from all over,” said Davis, whose children are the seventh generation on the farm. “It blows me away every time I hear how often people visit.”

In 1998, the Mega Maze, a novel concept at the time, opened across the street from Davis Farmland.

“We went to great lengths of secrecy to build that first maze,” Davis said, adding the contractor didn’t even know what he was building. Now, with corn mazes cropping up everywhere, the Davis family decided to revamp theirs last year as the Mega Farm Festival. The maze is still available, but it’s a weekend-only event with a shorter season.

The trade-off is now, it’s a full-on event with entertainment and food, including classic barbecue.

Soon, even though the temperatures say otherwise, the family will start planning for this summer’s activities, while caring for all the animals, who somehow always seem to know when it’s time to come and play with the guests, Davis said.

“We are having the time of our life planning for next season for both farm parks,” he said.

Median age: 44.2 Ethnicity (%): 93 White, 1 Black, 1 Asian, 4 Hispanic, 1 two or more Percent below poverty line: 4.9 Municipal budget: $24,308,000 (fiscal 2018, town and schools) Highest-paid employee: Sean Hamilton, general manager, Light Department, $144,502.11 (fiscal 2016) Median household income: $87,039 Median house value: $331,600 Municipal property tax rate: $17.54 (fiscal 2018)

THE ISSUE

The town’s master plan is 55 years old and badly in need of an update. Luckily, Sterling has received a $25,000 state grant to help with this process, and the Board of Selectmen has since begun the process to form a Master Plan Committee.

“The master plan is exciting,” said Town Administrator Ross Perry. “This is a way to shape what the future of your town will be.”

Additionally, the community is beginning the process of updating its 1835 Town Hall, built by a local architect, John M. Springer, to replace the original town hall, which was built around 1800. It is estimated to cost $298,000 to repair the roof and internal roof structure, according to Perry, and a design engineer has come on board.

“We hope to see some visible signs of hammering and nailing when the weather warms up,” Perry says.

The building is currently used for Recreation Department activities, as well as community and nonprofit events.

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25

{ coverstory } SIGNATURE EVENT

There aren’t many places these days where you can get in the door without spending a fortune, but take your family to the annual Sterling Fair and you won’t pay for parking or admission. It’s been that way for a long time and the committee has no plans to change it.

“We pride ourselves on the fact that we are free,” said Sterling Fair Committee Chairman Doug Downey.

An optional $3 button bought at the gate helps support the fair, but it’s completely voluntary. Beyond the gate, the only things that require money are food and the Gillette Midway rides and games, but even so there are, “lots of things you can do without spending a dime,” Downey said.

Every September, the Sterling Airport shuts down and the fair comes to this small town. All of the fair equipment is taken out of storage, kept in tractor-trailer trucks behind the police station, and moved PHOTO SUBMITTED to the airport. Jim Simpson Sr. and Jim Simpson Jr., who own the airport, close their business, and the Ciborowski family, which owns the land, donates it so the fair can run for three days, always the weekend after Labor Day. “It’s our pride and joy,” Downey said of the fair, which this year is scheduled for Sept. 7-9.

The fair started in 1836 as the Sterling Cattlemen’s Show and ran until the 1950s, when it ceased operations due to lack of volunteers. Then, in 1981, as part of the town’s bicentennial, the fair was brought back and held on the grounds of Houghton Elementary School.

“It was supposed to be a one-year thing. There were probably 2,000 people at the first fair and now we have 42,000,” Downey said.

These days at the airport, where the fair ultimately relocated, the three-quarter-mile strip is packed with activities, food vendors and the Gillette Midway. The airport hangar is transformed into the exhibit hall, where the vegetable, pumpkin, photography and crafts competitions are held. Fireworks are held Friday night, with the horse pull Saturday and oxen pull on Sunday as well as a slew of other events throughout the weekend. And because there are no admission fees, many families come all three days.

“It’s pretty cool you can come in and out as many times as you want,” Downey said.

Downey credits the fair’s success to the numerous volunteers.

“It’s completely volunteer-run. Nobody gets paid,” he said.

“It’s a department of the town. We’re actually one of the last town-run fairs that we know of.”

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 25, 2018

ELIZABETH BROOKS

OLDEST RESIDENT

Most days, you can find Ken Day at the Sterling Senior Center eating lunch. At 100 years old, he still drives himself in the Ford Focus he bought just recently when his license was renewed. He’s fascinated with computers and even has a Facebook account.

Day was born May 18, 1917, in Derby, Vt., near the Canadian border.

“I tell people I was born in the wilderness,” he said. “Think about what it looked like a hundred years ago. It was dirt roads.

“We never had electricity or running water, even in the schoolhouse. I went to a one-room schoolhouse,” he recalled.

“I’ve seen some changes. I remember the doctor coming to our house in a horse and wagon because my sister was sick. The only medicine we had was aspirin and iodine. Hard to believe the medical changes.”

In 1938 — he remembers the exact date: April 20 — Day moved to Sterling to work at a large-scale duck farm that he eventually owned. When he sold it in 1978, he and his wife Marie moved to Key West, Fla., where they enjoyed fishing.

“My house was on a little peninsula. The Atlantic Ocean was over here and the Gulf of Mexico was over there,” Day said. “The hurricane blew it away. I never sold my house here in town, so I moved right back.”

Day built his home in 1950, complete with a darkroom in the basement to satisfy his photography hobby. He started taking pictures at the schools of the students, then focused on weddings, capturing more than 200 events throughout the years.

“I still have the equipment in my basement,” he said.

Day and his wife, who lived to 88 years old, belonged to a square dance club for 14 years. They had five children: Dennis, Richard, Nathan, Carol and Rachel.

“I have been very fortunate,” Day said. “My mother lived to be 101. Back in those days, that was a long time. I’ve been very lucky to be as healthy as I am. I’m very careful what I eat. I go to bed and get up regularly. I never did drink or smoke. I think that had a lot to do with it.”

STERLING HOT SPOT

When Constantino “Kokes” Zahariadis was planning his new restaurant, he wanted to make it unique to Sterling. He tapped into the story of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” – said to be based on a true story of a young girl in Sterling ELIZABETH BROOKS – and after different variations of names, settled on the Black Sheep Tavern.

As far as restaurants go, however, Zahariadis’ is anything but the “black sheep” of the business.

“It’s a great place to hang out,” he said. “It’s cozy; it’s a great atmosphere.”

The Black Sheep will celebrate 11 years in March.

Zahariadis himself has been in the family pizza business since he was 12, and then ran his own pizza place, but found himself wanting a different atmosphere. He had been interested in the Black Sheep location, at 261 Leominster Road, for some time, and when it became available, he bought it from the previous owner and revamped it. His brother Tony is a silent partner in the business.

The full pub menu does offer pizza, but also appetizers, salads, burgers and sandwiches. Burgers and wings are crowd favorites, Zahariadis said, adding, “I’m pretty proud of the pizza. It’s not Greekstyle. It’s not Italian-style. It’s really popular. It receives lots of great reviews.”

night day

art | dining | nightlife | January 25 - 31, 2018

Steve Aoki brings electronic music, hardcore roots to Palladium

&

Joshua Lyford

Steve Aoki, a grammy nominated DJ, house musician and producer, returns to Worcester Thursday, Feb. 15, bringing his Steve Aoki Presents Kolony tour with Brooklyn rapper Desiigner to Main Street’s Palladium. While the DJ has seen incredible success across the globe, his roots in the hardcore punk scene can’t help but peek through the lights of his stage design.

“I process any project, any business venture, anything creative, through the bare-bones concept of the punk and hardcore scenes, those DIY ethics,” said Aoki. “Everything is based on your own relationships, your own sweat and blood and what you put into it. You have to go out and be immersed in that culture. You have to do everything yourself. At the end of the day it’s about transparency and authenticity. People see that.

“I’m fortunate to be raised in a scene where you don’t earn respect by the sneakers you wear, or your clothes. It’s by the zine you made or the show you put together, you have to put in the work. I’ve been so fortunate to be raised in that world. I apply that to everything in my business and creative pursuits.”

Creative pursuits like Aoki’s own Los Angeles-based Dim Mak label, founded in 1996. While the label is well known these days for signings like hugely popular The Chainsmokers, Dim Mak’s first release was hardcore punk band Stickfigurecarousel, and includes Pretty Girls Make Graves, No Knife and Cross My Heart.

“I used to have a column in Heart Attack (a California-based hardcore and punk zine), that’s how I heard of Cross My Heart, I reviewed their demo,” he said from his Los Angeles home. “That’s why I put out that 12inch. I’ll never forget those days. It’s still a part of me and what I do.”

Aoki isn’t exaggerating. He spent much of his early years playing with hardcore punk bands like Esperanza and This Machine Kills as well as putting on DIY shows in his home, which he shared with Mike Mallory, now the manager of punk rock legends, Refused.

“Mike Mallory, my old roommate, I still stay in touch with him,” said Aoki.

“We’ve all grown up. We’re doing different things, but we’re connected to the scene somewhat. We put shows together in our living room. I played in Massachusetts, I remember, with This Machine Kills. Boysetsfire was playing. It’s so cool to go back in time.

These days, Aoki’s massive live sets are known for his energetic performance, as well as for his signature cake tossing and occasional rafting through the crowd, a large-scale version of what he experienced in the DIY scenes.

“It was all chaotic, you never knew what was going to happen,” he recalled.

“Grabbing the mic, someone stage diving over your head. The rooms were shit holes, you deal with it. You never know what to expect. I like that spontaneity.”

With the Palladium set in February, Worcester has a lot to live up to, as the DJ holds Worcester crowds in high regard.

“When I think of Worcester, it’s a fucking epic crowd,” he said. “Top house crowd in the world. You guys go off. I always remember my show. I always play Worcester. I always come out and rock a set because I love the crowd so much. I have a high expectation.”

JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

27

night day &

{ arts }

A rascalish return for OSV’s ‘Midwinter Mischief’ wild thing to see what it was like shooting a gun back them.”

At the heart of “Midwinter Mischief” lies a peddler enjoying an evening in from the cold.

He spends his earnings and then some (quite a bit of emphasis on the “then some”) and must haggle and barter his way around town to repay his debt. His adventures (exploits?) bring him (and the audience) to various characters throughout Old Sturbridge Village.

“It’s a fish out of water lens. It’s a lens that,

Joshua Lyford

Old Sturbridge Village has not been shy in their embrace of immersive theatre. Following the success of their “Sleepy Hollow Experience” that debuted in October 2016, the living history museum in Sturbridge has leaned into the concept. Last year, GAVIN ASHWORTH, COURTESY OF OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE “Midwinter Mischief” launched a successful inaugural run. This year, the original story of a Yankee peddler passThe Schoolmistress ing through the village, inviting attendees to not only come along for the ride, but hop in the carriage and take the reins, returns with some exciting additions throughout January and February.

“We updated a lot, we learned from last year,” said P.J. Griffith, writer and director of “Midwinter Mischief.” “We have a few more tricks up our sleeves this year and added some scenes and changed the flow. We added a big scene, a musket firing scene in the middle of the woods. These two guys are having a competition to pay off a bar tab. They are firing live musket balls. I love it because they’re firing guns from when the Second Amendment was written. To watch them load and pouring gunpowder down the barrel, the process of ramming the ball down the muzzles. It’s a

in not an artificial way, he’s an outsider that comes into the village and isn’t great at anything but is kind of good at everything,” said Griffith. “He’s used to wheeling and dealing his way around. He’s bartering and scheming his way around. That’s the recurring theme of it. How do heroes adapt? You’ve got to make it work. You’ve got to take the curved path, the road less traveled.”

While there are traditional actors in this

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

• JANUARY 25, 2018

immersive production, many of those involved are the history museum’s own interpreters.

That brings a special set of circumstances to the forefront. These characters strengths lie not in traditional acting, but in the inherent knowledge they have in the village and time period as well as the improvisational skills necessary in their day-to-day activities.

“With Old Sturbridge Village’s historical interpreters it’s a blessing in a way. They are professional at working with the crowd on their feet,” said Griffith. “They’re a wealth of knowledge. It’s been leaning into that. ‘How do I get everyone to showcase what they know that no one else knows?’

My research wasn’t living at a living history museum, it was learning how to shape the script around the interpreters. Let’s pull out their greatest seven minutes. What do they know that people don’t know? The details of sausage making, how to prevent dying in the cold.

It’s a big thing this year, going deep into the heads of everyone there.”

In order to facilitate the historical interpreters’ characteristics, Griffith and company left room to breathe in the script, more so than last year’s event, and it makes the experience more submersive and interactive.

“It’s half script and half spontaneous,” he said. “What are the different elements that we want to talk about within the interpretation?

It’s pretty open for an audience to ask, ‘What’s this? Why does this smell weird?’ We set it up to encourage that. There’s way more stuff going on. There are little easter eggs that people

may or may not pick up on. It’s open to ask a lot of questions. The way we’ve set it up, there were back-ups and too many people coming. We spread it out more. We can take eight minutes instead of five. Little kids get really jacked up here. There’s a peddler and you’re one step behind them. They ask where he is.

You can’t ask questions during a play. This is that opportunity.”

Griffith is attracted to these immersive theatrical experiences, and the way he explained it, the reasons behind his interest are obvious.

Griffith lives in New York and has absorbed a significant amount of theatre and where immersive storytelling experiences – like “Midwinter Mischief,” or “Sleepy Hollow” at Old Sturbridge Village, or “Sleep No More” in New York – allow for audience engagement, traditional theatre tends to “bore me sideways.”

“In the age of social media and Instagram, it’s hard to pull people out of their phones,” he said. “To me, interactive theatre is an interesting response to that. What can theater give you that Netflix can’t? It’s a giant experiment.

It’s fun to watch the crowd and seeing them connect with the story and each other. They come back to the tavern in a different state of mind.”

“Midwinter Mischief” will be performed Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 27-28; SaturdaySunday, Feb. 3-4; and Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 10-11. Tickets are $30 for adult non-members, $20 for youth non-members, $20 for OSV member and $10 for youth OSV members. For more information, visit osv.org.

Night & Day Editor Joshua Lyford can be reached at 508-749-3166, ext. 325, or by email at Jlyford@worcestermagazine.com.

Follow Josh on Twitter @Joshachusetts and on Instagram @Joshualyford

night day &

Blades of gory Jim Keogh

It’s almost deflating to recall the anticipated showdown at the Lillehammer Olympics was a letdown: Nancy finished second, Tonya broke a lace, and there were no knife fights.

Driven from the sport like Moses into the desert, the disgraced Tonya has wandered in exile ever since, despite insisting she knew nothing about the plot (she did plead guilty to conspiring to hinder the prosecution). Her boxing career may have been a low point. Or maybe it was the sex tape released against her wishes; or it could have been getting booed off a Portland, Ore., stage with her band the Golden Blades. Perhaps it was the moment a judge admitted that no matter her skating proficiency, the tough poor girl from the Northwest would always be found lacking among the sport’s princesses.

Or, as “I, Tonya” posits, it was enough just being the spawn of LaVona Golden, i.e. every bad thing rolled up into one hateful, cigarette-sucking, soul-skewering package.

LaVona wasn’t satisfied to splash in Tonya’s gene pool — she thrust her daughter’s head under the water and held it there.

“I, Tonya” is unequivocally on Tonya Harding’s side, from the generous casting (Margot Robbie, 5 inches too tall, but with the same combative attitude) to the sympathetic depiction of an abysmal personal life, which leaves no reasonable viewer any other conclusion than Tonya was a victim. The number of

blows to her face from then-husband Jeff Gillooly (played as a porn-stached weasel by Sebastian Stan) is enough to convince you Harding caught a raw deal, compounded by some lousy life choices. Chief among them was marrying Gillooly.

The perspective may be a bitter pill for some to swallow (Nancy Kerrigan, for one).

Her vulgar tongue and redneck demeanor make her hard to love, and the movie leaves just a bit of wiggle room regarding her version of events. Gillooly, for instance, stares into the camera (the film frequently breaks the fourth wall) and denies the most heinous accusations against him, including that he abducted Tonya at gunpoint.

The stuff he does cop to is still reason enough to despise him. Gillooly recruits the gangthat-couldn’t-whack straight, featuring the chubby, delusional Shawn Eckhardt (Paul Walter Hauser), the “brains” behind the attack who insists he’s a counter-terrorism expert when his only visible skill involves speaking in entire paragraphs with his mouth full of junk food.

Shane Stant (Ricky Russert) delivers the baton blow to Kerrigan’s thigh (missing the knee), then can’t find his way out of the arena, eventually crashing through a glass door to reach the getaway car. These morons leave boulder-sized crumbs for the FBI to follow. Arrests come quickly.

While the acting is wonderful across the board, Allison Janney as LaVona steals the movie.

She’s taut and cable-necked, barely able to restrain what appears to be a visceral disdain for her kid. A firm believer in the power of negative reinforcement, she rules Tonya’s life through fear, manipulation and acidity, and in twisted fashion claims her brand of parenting is the greatest love of all because it produced a champion skater. The real Tonya has applauded the portrayal as spot-on; LaVona insists liberties were taken. Of course they disagree. The disappointment if they didn’t would be crushing.

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The 1994 near-kneecapping of Nancy Kerrigan by a band of misfit goons remains one of the all-time tabloid-great stories. The TV images of the injured Kerrigan pleading “Why?!” went viral before viral was a thing and ignited the fiercest national obsession with women’s figure skating since millions of smitten girls adopted Dorothy Hamill’s wedge haircut in the mid-’70s.

{ film }

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krave

night day

Rice Violet

&

{ dining}

FOOD HHH AMBIENCE HHH SERVICE HHH VALUE HHH1/2 287 Main St., Worcester • 508-770-1000 • Riceviolet.com

Escape to Rice Violet Sandra Rain

Rice Violet’s dim, silent dining room begs for an engagement that falls somewhere between clandestine meeting and hushed rendezvous. The distinct smell of a grandmother’s attic is further confirmation that you have stumbled upon a persimmon clubhouse done up in pine paneling. Take note of the mysterious staircase meandering along a wall of whitewashed bricks, the last remaining evidence of the former ‘Bay State House.’ Rice Violet is the place for a paramour: intimate and discreet.

You won’t find much behind the bar, but

customers are welcome to bring their own Singha if they please. There’s plenty of Thai hot tea ($2) and Thai iced tea ($3), both of which will prove instrumental in engineering the perfect overhead Instagram shot. Thai tea is apt to fill your oblong booth with aromas akin to a melting creamsicle, nothing but orange blossoms and anise.

The menu speaks to Central Thailand and deems itself “Bangkok-style cooking.”

Nearly half of the dishes are vegan and almost everything can be made vegetarian upon request. One server controls the entire floor, zipping in and out of the kitchen in a flourish of steaming plates and plastic takeout containers. Service is not personal, but it is painstakingly efficient.

The fried pork dumplings ($5.95) served with a light soy sauce are an excellent place to start.

One order includes seven bubbly, crisp parcels bound by nit-picky pinches and folds, arranged alongside a pile of grated carrots depended upon for crunch. The summer rolls ($5.95) are likewise tasty with their supple, springy skin and a welcome dose of hoisin.

I suggest you request some small plates and opt to share your entrees, which will arrive all at once in a rapid wave of tang and spice. A

Vegetable pad thai (front) and chicken massaman curry with riceberry (rear) at Rice Violet on Main Street. bouquet of nuts and tropical fruits will rightly envelop your senses, draping your booth in the quiet of mealtime. Perhaps this deliberate wash of far away flavors is what lends Rice Violet its whist.

The chicken in massaman curry ($13.95) abides by a platter of crinkle potatoes swimming in coconut milk with peanuts, soft

onions, bits of red pepper and thick slices of carrot. Soak up the curry with a spoonful of riceberry, a nutritious result of crossbred rice varietals. The grains are deep purple in color and maintain the floral fragrance of a traditional jasmine along with the healing properties of black wholegrain. This junction reportedly contains more than 100 times the antioxidants of green tea.

I suppose you’ll have to order the pad Thai ($11.95) to see for yourself what makes it Rice Violet’s most popular offering. I like tofu with the stir fried rice noodles, but chicken, beef, duck, shrimp, scallops or squid are also available. The noodles are tossed with fried eggs, bean sprouts, sweet radishes and scallions, then topped with ground peanuts (of which you might ask for extra).

Rice Violet’s brisk pacing and central location render it ideal for takeout, but I urge you to stop in for an escape. Wear a funny hat and arrive in separate cars. Sit in the corner and murmur to one another across the table like co-conspirators. Refill your cup of tea as many times as you’d like. There’s no judgement when it comes to Rice Violet.

On my last visit for two, our bill was $39.45.

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• JANUARY 25, 2018

krave

night day &

Bite Sized:

Hall. Ticket holders will have an opportunity to interact with chefs and sample their signature dishes. In addition, attendees will be invited to cast their votes for the “People’s Choice� competition. The “Judge’s Choice� will be determined in an Iron Chef-style competition evaluated by seven panel members. Competitors include: Candy Murphy (Figs & Pigs), Michael Arrastia (The Hangover Pub/Broth), Christopher O’Harra (The Flying Rhino), Jared Forman (Simjang), Robin Clark (deadhorse hill), Donnie Altiery Jr. (44 Catering), Bill Borbeau (The Boynton), Rick Araujo (Civic), Kenny Smith (Volturno), Josh Brown (Prezo), Kris Sellers (Five Loaves), Joao Neto (Tomasso Trattoria), Kenneth O’Keefe (Publick House), Elliot Williams (110 Grill), John Pollard (Amaia Martini Bar), Jon Paradise (Beechwood Hotel),

Leisure, Libations, and Local Fare Sarah Connell

A Piece of the Pie

On Jan. 18, Table Talk Pies owner Harry Kok-

Ellen Benson, general manager. Both Wenc and Benson formerly worked together at Strip T’s in Watertown. On Tuesday, Jan. 30, sister restaurant deadhorse hill will host a simjang takeover, at which time guests will be invited for a first look and taste of the simjang menu.

The new Korean inspired concept will feature quick, “easy-to-order� options and larger format items designed to share. The space at 72 Shrewsbury St., formerly Sweet Kitchen & Bar, has undergone a drastic transformation over the last six months, including a mural by artists Arlin Graff. “Simjang� means “heart� in Korean and speaks to Worcester’s role as the Heart of

the Commonwealth.

Falafel on Franklin

Taste of Mediterranean is located in several malls, hospitals, plazas, and street fronts throughout Canada. And now you can find “menus that characterize the healthy diets of the shores of the Mediterranean Sea� on our very own 20 Franklin St. in Worcester. I am told that their Ten Spice Homemade Special Sauce “guarantees repeat customers.� Beware, lest you develop a hummus habit.

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(Eller’s), Buddy Table Talk Pie owner Harry Kokkinis (center) invited LeaderBartlett (Depot St. ship Worcester to tour his new factory in the South WorcesTavern), Brian Treitter Industrial Park. man (BT’s Smokehouse), and Kim kinis invited 26 young professionals to tour Haslam (Maddie’s Cookery & Taphouse). With the new 50,000-square-foot factory at 25 all due respect to the gentlemen, I’d love to Southgate St. in the South Worcester Industrial see a woman on stage this year. Good luck to Park, which had laid vacant for two decades.

Candy, Robin and Kim! The new facility aims to increase production capacity and has added over 50 new jobs to Stretch & Sip Sundays its current 300 full-time and seasonal staff.

Goat yoga, aerial yoga, paddleboard yoga, and Kokkinis estimated 11,000 pies were produced even doga (that’s yoga with your pooch) have during the one-hour visit organized by Leader- flooded the stretchy market. It is my pleasure ship Worcester, a joint initiative of the Worcester to introduce wine yoga. Beginning Feb. 4 from Regional Chamber of Commerce and Greater Worcester 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Julio’s Liquors in WestborCommunity Foundation. Table Talk Pie started in ough is partnering with Fit Vine Wines. Stretch 1924 with a horse-drawn carriage and has and Sip Sundays will be held downstairs in subsequently blossomed into one of the nathe Julio’s Metro Station. Participants should Openpie 7 days tion’s leading companies. pre-register and bring their own mats. Stretch and Sip is a free, 21-plus, co-ed event.

Candy,11am Robin and - Close Kim Compete

Sample Simjang

The 11th Annual Worcester’s Best Chef Competition will take place on Sunday, Jan. 28 at Mechanics

Simjang has announced that its opening team will be led by Mike Wenc, chef de cuisine, and

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Buy 1 Burger Get 1 Half O Dinners To Go!

January 28 3-5PM Dinner for 4 for $40 2PHOHWWH 6WDWLRQ &DUYLQJ 6WDWLRQ Dinner for 2Tuesday for $25 Sample 8 wines and help us pick which )UHVK 6HOHFWLRQ RI Kids ones make it onto this years wine list!

Grab a flyer on the way outEat with Free particulars! &KLFNHQ 6HDIRRG ,WDOLDQ 'LVKHV 10 Prospect Street • Auburn • 508-832-2553 • Wednesday chucks.com 'HVVHUW 7DEOH Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 4:30-9 • Thursday $104:30-9:30 Meal Deals NLGV VHQLRUV Salad, Entree Friday 4:30-10 • Saturday 4:30 - 10 • Sunday Noon - 8& Dessert

Reservations Required

Prime Rib served every Friday & Saturday

TB Light (Tequila Bonfires)

1/12

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 JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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music

978-422-8438.

FM Live. 7-10 p.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044.

J-Mac Blues Band Live On The Radio! Doors open at 7 pm>Thursday 25 Short air-check set at 7:30 pm then we go live on air at 8 pm! J-Mac Karaoke. 8-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350. Blues Band plays high energy, electric Chicago style blues and rock, the The Bach Consort of Worcester. A concert devoted entirely to sounds that go back in time, the great sounds and grooves we’ve all the music of J. S. Bach. The concert will feature the celebrated Fifth heard and felt. Hear them again, feel them again! Tune into 91.3 FM or Brandenburg Concerto with soloists Michelle Graveline, Harpsichord; stream the show starting at 8 pm via wcuw.org! $10 ~ Free to WCUW Tracy Kraus, flute; and Peter Sulski, violin. Free. Noon-1 p.m. Assumption Members Hosted by Darren Pinto. WCUW 91.3 FM - Worcester’s College, Jeanne Y. Curtis Performance Hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Community Radio Station, 910 Main St. 508-753-1012.

Center, 500 Salisbury St. Jay Graham. 7-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory! Performing Hudson. 978-310-1933. every 4th Thursday (6-8pm) and every 3rd Friday (8-10:30pm) monthly. Joe Macey. If you like country music this is where you should be!

Dinner, Drinks, Music, Fun. 6-8 p.m. Tavern on the Common, 249 Main 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, Bar / Lounge, 65 Water St. 508-926St., Rutland. 508-886-4600 or seanfullertonmusic.net 8353 or find them on Facebook.

Open Mic Most Thursdays @ Barbers North. To check Second Annual Bach Festival: Bach Consort of Worcester. the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on $20 to General Public, Free with College ID. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Clark Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host University: Traina Center for the Arts, Razzo Hall, 92 Downing St. at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: Amanda Cote. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The GazBar Sports Grill, 1045 Central St., openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s Leominster. “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any Bowiefest! With Niki Luparelli, Dan Burke, & the Gold slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Barbers Crossing Diggers. All Bowie. All night long. facebook.com/ (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8438. nikiluparelliandthegolddiggers Tricky Niki- vocals Dapper Dan Burke Open Mic. 7-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Hudson vocals, keys Joe Bentley- bass Matthew Graber- drums Eli MateoMa, Hudson. 978-310-1933. percussion Chris Vaillancourt- guitar Kelly Roberge - saxophone Susan Brother Rex. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Catinski- backup vox Plus a ton of guest singers! Including Dawn Sweet Boylston. 774-261-8585.

Mike Barry Keri Anderson Erick Godin Gabriel Rollins Kevin Barbare Dan Cormier. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Blueprint New American Bar & Grill, 9 James Keyes More TBA There are 35 stool seats available so get there Village Square, Westminster. 978-668-5580. early if you like sitting. Xox $10 at the door 21+ to enter 8pm Doors $10 John Brazile. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. at the door. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Cove Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363508-459-2025.

1888 or find them on Facebook.

Open Mic Night With David Bazin. Acoustic Style, bring your Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill acoustic instrument down and or sing and share your talent! No Cover.

185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585.

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

Dan Kirouac. From the one-hit wonders to the lost classics, from the Subterra: Last Weekly Show - Throwdown Edition. 8PM 1960s to today, every show is a different experience, drawing from 2AM // 21+ // $5 - Ladies Free Before 10pm The Cove Music Hall 89 contemporary and oldie songs. dankirouac.com. Free. 8-10:30 p.m.

Green St. Worcester. 508-363-1888 or find them on Facebook.

Tavern on the Common, 249 Main St., Rutland. 508-886-4600.

Audio Wasabi. 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Danny Leblanc. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, Gardner. 978-669-0122.

242 West Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057.

Karaoke in the Cabaret with DJ Matt R. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Nick’s Free Entertainment. Free. 8-10:30 p.m. Chuck’s Steakhouse, 10 Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or on Facebook.

Prospect St., Auburn. 508-832-2553.

Center Stage Karaoke. Come on down and take center stage. 9 Josh Briggs. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877.

508-459-2025.

Karaoke Party with Matty J! 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Lee Ann Womack. Artists don’t really make albums like Lee Ann Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022.

Womack’s “The Lonely, The Lonesome and the Gone” anymore. The The Stillwater String Band. Join us on a Thursday night for dinner Lonely, The Lonesome and the Gone (ATO Records) - a breathtaking as we blow the foam off a few fresh cold ones and add some hot tunes hybrid of country, soul, gospel and blues - comes from Womack’s core. to boot! Free! 9 p.m.-midnight Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. VIP Tickets are available for an additional $50! VIP Package post-show 978-669-0122 or find them on Facebook. includes: Post-Show meet and greet with Q&A and photo op, Topher Brew. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. autographed The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone, autographed 508-459-9035. laminate, and exclusive access to Artist merchandise booth. Opener: DJ Cuzn Kev. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. Paige Davis - Paige Davis is a 17 year old Nashville recording artist from DJ 21+Canal. Thursday is college night @ the Canal. 10:30 p.m.New England, who was named 2017 Country Act of the Year at the New 1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353.

England Music Awards. $65 advance; $70 day of show.. 8-11 p.m. Bull DJ X Kaliber Performs at Loft at 11. 11-11:59 p.m. Loft 266 Run Restaurant, Sawtelle Room, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177. or tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Blacksheep Tavern, 261 Leominster >Friday 26 Road, Sterling. 978-422-0255.

Thank Friday It’s Dr. Nat! Start your weekend with Nat Needle. No Lizzy Marquis. 8-11 p.m. 435 Bar & Grill, 435 Lancaster St., cover. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, Cabaret, 124 Millbury Leominster.

St. 508-753-4030 or find them on Facebook.

Ricky Duran Performs at Loft, Friday at 8. 8-11 p.m. Loft 266 Dale LePage. Offering a fresh and highly creative approach to the Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177.

Great American Songbook. By boldly infusing jazz & swing, bringing you Every Friday Karaoke. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Wong Dynasty and the best music of the Mad Men generation. Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elvis, Yankee Grill, 176 Reservoir St., Holden. 508-829-2188.

Michael Buble and more. No Cover- Reservations Suggested. 6:30-9:30 Live Music. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., p.m. The UXLocale, 510 Hartford Ave West, Uxbridge. 508-779-7515 or Gardner. 978-669-0122. theuxlocale.com Boston Natural. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Bill McCarthy Every Friday at Barbers Crossing North.

Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420.

Now catch Bill McCarthy playing his heart out every Friday at Barbers Guest and House DJ’S. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. North (Sterling, MA) @6:30pm Visit: BillMcCarthyMusic.com for info.

508-799-4521 or mblounge.com Free! 7-10 p.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling.

night day &

Jennifer Antkowiak & Tom Lamark Live Jazz at Nicks.

“Jennifer’s timeless sound hearkens back to the Golden Age of music, of style and sophistication. Her beautiful voice and captivating personality delight audiences who smile and sing along. She is the epitome of ladylike elegance and playful sensuality, a picture of vintage glamour.” ~ Nicole Watson, Nick’s Bar & Cabaret Free. 9-11:59 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

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 Reckless. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508459-9035.

Sam James. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. Sons Lunaris. Hard Rock and Blues band from Lowell. Great band and sound. Come check them out, support local music and enjoy a good show. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877 or find them on Facebook.

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

Take Two. 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022.

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. 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 Facebook.

{ listings}

Island. Their songs mix country music storytelling with the flash and musicianship of bluegrass and heavy metal guitar heroes. 6-9 p.m.

3cross Fermentation Cooperative, 4 Knowlton Ave. 508-615-8195.

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 Hot Dish. Will be playing some of your favorite classic rock hits. 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, Bar / Lounge, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353.

Ernest Benoit at Tavern on the Common. Free! 7:30-10:30 p.m. Tavern on the Common, 249 Main St., Rutland. 508-886-4600 or framminghq.com Second Annual Bach Festival: Sonatas for strings and harpsichord, Michelle Graveline, harpsichord. Free and Open to Public. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Clark University: Traina Center for the Arts, Razzo Hall, 92 Downing St. Steve Tolley. 7:30-11 p.m. Happy Jack’s, 785 North Main St., Leominster. 978-466-3433.

The Glenn Hillard Band. Cool Rhythm and Blues as only Glenn can do! $5 Donation. 7:30-10 p.m. !Cafe con Dios!, Main Room, 22 Faith Ave., Auburn. 508-579-6722.

Ambience Sojourn. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Monument Tap, , Leominster.

978-798-1242.

Belit. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston.

774-261-8585.

Bill McCarthy. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8438.

Ethan Caouette. 8-11 p.m. 435 Bar & Grill, 435 Lancaster St., Leominster.

Garrick Ohlsson, Piano. Music Worcester presents pianist Garrick Ohlsson in the acoustic perfection of Mechanics Hall with a Piano Recital Program to include the Beethoven Sonata, Op. 13, Scriabin Sonata No.5, Op. 53, and Schubert Sonata in B-flat Major. Garrick Ohlsson is an American classical pianist and the first American to win first prize in the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition, in 1970. He also won first prize at the Busoni Competition in Italy and the Montreal Piano Competition in Canada. Ohlsson was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize in >Saturday 27 1994 and received the 1998 University Musical Society Distinguished Jompathon 2018. This marathon student recital is a wonderful and Artist Award in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohlsson has established himself uplifting celebration of the school’s mission “to enrich lives and foster worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical community through accessible music education and performance.” The prowess. Although long regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents public is invited to drop in anytime during the day - 8:00 am to 8:00 pm of the music of Frédéric Chopin, Mr. Ohlsson commands an enormous 100% of the proceeds will go to need-based scholarships. Admission is repertoire, which ranges over the entire piano literature. A student of the free. Donations to Financial Aid are appreciated. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Joy of late Claudio Arrau, Mr. Ohlsson has come to be noted for his masterly Music Program, Joseph and Jordan Shapiro Concert Hall, 1 Gorham St. performances of the works of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, as well as 508-856-9541 or jomp.org the Romantic repertoire. To date he has at his command more than 80 All Day Reggae Party. 1-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 concertos, ranging from Haydn and Mozart to works of the 21st century, Main St. Hudson Ma, Hudson. 978-310-1933. many commissioned for him. - See more at: musicworcester.org/MW/ Music Open House. Please join us for our annual winter open house! events/schedule-and-tickets/garrick/#.dpuf Youth $7.50, Students $25, We will have a fun instrument petting zoo so future musicians of all ages Adults $49. 8-10 p.m. Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. 508-752-0888 or can come and try out instruments. It is also a great opportunity to see the musicworcester.org school, meet our teachers, learn more about our programs and register Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Blacksheep Tavern, 261 Leominster for lessons and classes. Snow date is scheduled for Sunday, January 28 Road, Sterling. 978-422-0255. from 1-3pm in case of bad weather on January 27 (please visit our Neon Alley. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tavern on Central, 3 Central St., website for updates). We hope to see you there! Free. 1-3 p.m. Worcester Ashburnham. 978-827-1272.

Music Academy, 9 Irving St. 508-635-6900 or worcestermusicacademy. Sam James. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. com 508-459-2025.

Chris Reddy Apre Ski Party. 3-5 p.m. The Outlook Restaurant, 79 Scott Babineau. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The GazBar Sports Grill, 1045 Central Powers Road, Westford.

St., Leominster.

Second Annual Bach Festival: Peter Sulski, solo violin The Flock returns to the Cove! Come get your dose of 80’s partitas. $15 to General Public, Free with College ID. 3-4:30 p.m. Clark mayhem when The Flock returns to the Cove! 21+ Doors at 8pm Show University: Traina Center for the Arts, Razzo Hall, 92 Downing St. at 9pm $10 at the door $10 at the door. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Cove Music Gary Backstrom Band - Way Up South - The Coalboilers Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or find them on Facebook. at Ehaze. $10 Adv. $12 On Door. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Electric Haze, 26 The Fools. The Fools barged their way onto the Boston music scene Millbury St. 508-799-0629 or find them on Facebook. with their first single “She Looks All Right in the Dark”. Known for their Highway’s End. Highway’s End is an acoustic band based in Rhode outrageous live performances the band quickly gathered a loyal and JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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night day &

{ listings}

ever-growing audience. Their first national (and then international) hit record, “Psycho Chicken,” was a parody of Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer. $20 advance; $24 day of show.. 8-11 p.m. Bull Run Restaurant, Sawtelle Room, 215 Great Road, Shirley. 978-425-4311 or tickets. bullrunrestaurant.com The Middlemen. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Blueprint New American Bar & Grill, 9 Village Square, Westminster. 978-668-5580.

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

Emo Night Brooklyn. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696.

Abraxus. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508459-9035.

Eric Narwahl. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. Guest and House DJ’S. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521 or mblounge.com Rick Hamel Live Acoustic Hits. Playing Classic Rock, Pop and Country hits! 9 p.m.-midnight British Beer Company, 225 Shrewsbury St. The Change. Live band, classic rock music. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Wong Dynasty and Yankee Grill, 176 Reservoir St., Holden. 508-829-2188.

The Russo Brothers Jazz Quintet at Nicks. 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or Facebook.

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

Zen at Eleven. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg.

978-345-5051.

Fellowship of the King-Elvis Tribute. 9:30-1 p.m. Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439.

Tony Soul Project. 9:30 p.m.-12:03 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022.

DJ’s. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044.

DJ 21+Canal. 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353.

>Sunday 28

Mike G’s Sunday Jam at Greendales. 6:30-10:30 a.m. Travel Destination 508-864-4715.

Jazz Brunch. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122.

Bluegrass Brunch at Bull Mansion. Every Sunday At The Bull Mansion you can now enjoy a spectacular brunch and some downhome picking and a plucking provided by a rotating roster of bluegrass rock stars. Free W/ Brunch. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bistro, Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St. 508-755-6070 or find them on Facebook.

Donal Clancy in concert. Coolbawn Road Productions is pleased to present an early afternoon of Irish music featuring Dónal Clancy. a co-founder (and current member) of the group Danú, Dónal has also been a member of the Irish-American super-group Solas as well as Clancy, O’Connell & Clancy, with his father, the legendary Liam Clancy, and cousin Robbie O’Connell. $20 in advance, $25 at door. 2-4 p.m.

Worcester Hibernian Cultural Centre, 19 Temple St. 508-792-3700.

Concert: Seele Musicale Chamber Ensemble. Seele Musicale Chamber Ensemble’s roots were formed in November 2010 at First Unitarian Church of Worcester. Individually, the Seele Musicale musicians are teachers, music directors, orchestra members, church soloists, and chamber music enthusiasts. Their common bond is the intense love of the music they choose. Much of their interest gravitates around music of the 17th and 18th centuries. Free with Flora Admission.

2:30-3:30 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Renaissance Court, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Jazz with Damn Chick Singer. 2:30-5:30 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Hudson Ma, Hudson. 978-310-1933.

Second Annual Bach Festival: Goldberg Variations for string trio. $20 to General Public, Free with College ID. 3-5 p.m. Clark University: Traina Center for the Arts, Razzo Hall, 92 Downing St. Blues Jam with The Living Bra’s. 4-9 p.m. Dunnys Tavern, 291

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East Main St., East Brookfield, MA, East Brookfield.

Open Mic Sundays. 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!

6-9 p.m. Park Grill and Spirits, 257 Park Ave. Sunday Jam at Greendale’s hosted by Mike Gianfriddo featuring Yvette Rheault+. Mike Gianfriddo, Bryan Bishop and Alan D’Allessandro will be the house ban, with a featured artist each week, doing 2 sets & jammers playing in-between the feature artist’s sets. Bring your sticks, horns, axes & amps, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350.

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

Blue Light Bandits. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035.

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

Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508798-8385.

Karaoke with DJ Soup. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St.

>Monday 29

Industry Night With Keith. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521.

Jazz Night - Live at JJ’s. 6 p.m.-midnight JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420.

Blue Mondays - Live Blues. 7-11 p.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122.

Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508798-8385.

>Tuesday 30

Starset - Immersion:Part 1 with Grabbitz & Year of The Locust. 6-11 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696.

Tuesday Open Mic Night 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! 7:30-11:30 p.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350 or find them on Facebook.

Nick’s Jazz Jam Open Mic in Worcester. Have you ever gone to see a Jazz performance and thought, “Hey, I could to this.” Well now is your chance at Nick’s Jazz Open Mic! Bring your favorite musical instrument and perform in front of other or even with them if you have the chops. Free. 8-11 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, Cabaret, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

Boogie Chillin’. Bluesy, bluegrassy, jazzy, americana, dead, and more. 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. 508798-8385.

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

>Wednesday 31

Bring Back Pluto. High octane, funk induced guitar trio! Free. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030.

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

Open Mic. 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

• JANUARY 25, 2018

Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6-9 p.m. CJs Steakloft, 369 W. Main St. (route 20), Northborough. 508-393-8134 or find them on Facebook.

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

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

Country Night. 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. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508798-8385.

Karaoke with DJ Soup. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. Karaoke with Mikey Mic’s. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521.

arts

ArtsWorcester, Hours: closed Sunday - Tuesday, noon-4 p.m.

Wednesday - Saturday. Admission: Free. 660 Main St. 508-755-5142 or artsworcester.org Asa Waters Mansion, Admission: $3 for guided tour $7-10 for tea.

123 Elm St., Millbury. 508-865-0855 or asawaters.org Booklovers’ Gourmet, For the Love of Animals - Art Exhibit

by Janet Aleid, Through Jan. 31. Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 55 East Main St., Webster. 508-949-6232 or bookloversgourmet.com College of the Holy Cross: Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, Robert Beauchamp: Four Decades of Works on Paper, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Jan. 25 - March 28; Opening Reception for Robert Beauchamp: Four Decades of Works on Paper, Tuesday. Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday - Friday, 2-5 p.m. Saturday. 1 College St. 508-793-3356 or holycross.edu Danforth Museum of Art, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, noon-5 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 123 Union Ave., Framingham. 508-620-0050 or danforthmuseum.org EcoTarium, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $15.00 adults; $10 for children ages 2-18, college students with ID & senior citizens. Children under 2 & EcoTarium members free. Additional charges apply for Tree Canopy Walkway, Explorer Express Train, planetarium programs & other special event. 222 Harrington Way. 508-929-2700 or ecotarium.org Fitchburg Art Museum, Hours: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, noon-4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 25 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg. 978-345-4207 or fitchburgartmuseum.org Fitchburg Historical Society, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, closed Thursday - Saturday. Admission: Free. 781 Main St., Fitchburg. 978-345-1157 or fitchburghistoricalsociety.org Gallery of African Art, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Donations accepted. 62 High St., Clinton. 978-265-4345 or 978-598-5000x12 or galleryofafricanart.org Mass Audubon: Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Hours: 12:30-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 414 Massasoit Road. 508-753-6087 or massaudubon.org 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. 978-5985000 or 978-598-5000 or museumofrussianicons.org Old Sturbridge Village, Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday.

Admission: $28 Adults, $26 Seniors (55+), $14 Youths (4-17), free for

Children 3 & Under, $14 College Students with valid college ID. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge. 800-733-1830 or 508-347-3362 or osv.org Post Road Art Center, Hours: closed Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 1 Boston Post Road, Marlborough. 508-4852580 or postroadartcenter.com Preservation Worcester, Hours: closed Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday - Friday, closed Saturday. 10 Cedar St. 508-754-8760 or preservationworcester.org SAORI Worcester Freestyle Weaving Studio, 18 Winslow St. 508-757-4646 or 508-757-0116 or saoriworcester.com Sprinkler Factory, Admission: free. 38 Harlow St. sprinklerfactory. com Taproot Bookstore, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 1200 West Boylston St. 508-853-5083 or TaprootBookstore.com Tatnuck Bookseller & Cafe, Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday - Saturday.

18 Lyman St., Westborough. 508-366-4959 or tatnuck.com The Foster Gallery, 51 Union St. 508-397-7139 or thefostergallery. com Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum, Hours: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. 21 Prichard St., Fitchburg. 978-342-2809 or 978-297-4337 or topfunaviation.com Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $12 Adults, $9 Seniors & $7 Youth, free to Members & Children under. 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111 or towerhillbg.org Worcester Art Museum, Coming Away: Winslow Homer and England, Through Feb. 4; Flora in Winter 2018, Sundays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Jan. 25 - Jan. 28; Flora Preview Reception: Swept Away, Thursday; Jeppson Idea Lab: Master Vases from Ancient Greece, Through April 8; Last Defense: The Genius of Japanese Meiji Metalwork, Through Sept. 2; Rediscovering an American Community of Color: The Photographs of William Bullard, Through Feb. 25. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday. Admission: Free for members, $14 adults, $12 seniors, free for youth 17 and under. Free for all first Saturdays of each month, 10am-noon. 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org Worcester Center for Crafts, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 25 Sagamore Road. 508-753-8183 or worcestercraftcenter.org Worcester Historical Museum, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 30 Elm St. 508-753-8278 or worcesterhistory.org

theater/ comedy

Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Park Grill & Spirits - Fridays, Saturdays, Saturday, September 18 - Tuesday, December 31. Dick Doherty’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Park Grill & Spirits 257 Park Ave Worcester MA 01609 Dick Doherty’s Beantown Comedy Clubs Showtimes: Friday 9pm-Saturdays 8pm -$20pp Reservations Recommended at 800-401-2221 Prices: $20 Fri/Sat pp except Special Events Drinks and Appetizers available in the show room Full Dinner Available before Show in Restaurant Give the Gift of Laughter! dickdoherty.com. $5off with College ID and Reservations 2 for 1 Active Military or Veterans and Reservations $4 off with Dinner Receipt and Reservations. Fri & Sat Jan 26th & 27th Drew Dunn and Friends Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Park Grill & Spirits Great Food and Fun Make Reservations Early at 800-401-2221 or online at dickdoherty.com Midwinter Mischief - Saturday, January 20 - Sunday, February 11. Midwinter Mischief combines theatrical storytelling, historical interpretation and period dining to offer guests a daytime winter adventure- Imagine the tale of a Yankee peddler passing through the village who decides to settle down at the Bullard Tavern on a cold winter’s night. There the peddler spends every dollar he has earned

night day &

on food and drink, racking up a tab far beyond his means. After being confronted over his debt, the peddler fills up his cup with ashes from the hearth and promises the tavern owner that he will return with a cup overflowing of gold. From the Bullard Tavern, costumed storytellers, artisans, and villagers will entice tavern guests to wander deep into the village where they will find evidence of the peddler’s adventures and schemes. Admission to a Midwinter Mischief includes the two-hour outdoor/indoor experience and a period-inspired meal in the Village’s Bullard Tavern where guests can enjoy live music, demonstrations, and a cash bar featuring hot beverages and 1830s-inspired libations. Each day, the first experience departs the Visitor Center at 9:00 am and the last at 3:00 pm, with experiences beginning every 20 minutes (except for noon and 12:20). After your adventure, you will be led to the Bullard Tavern Great Room where you can enjoy your inclusive hearty soup or stew meal. Midwinter Mischief was written and directed by P.J. Griffith.

Non-members: $30 Adult | $20 Youth; OSV Members: $20 Adult | $10 Youth. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge. Call 800-733-1830 or visit osv.org Call for Actors! One Act Play Festival on the Mumford Whether you’re a seasoned professional or someone setting foot on stage for the first time, the One Act Play Festival on the Mumford wants you! Competing acts may include comedies, dramas, original works and published classics. Schools, churches, and community groups of all abilities are welcome to participate. Cash prizes will be awarded in three categories. Plays will be performed and judged on both nights with awards granted after the last evening’s performances. Participants are encouraged to attend and cheer on their fellow actors. Alternatives Whitin Mill Complex: GB and Lexi Singh Performance Center, 60 Douglas Road, Whitinsville. Call 508-234-6232 or visit alternativesnet.org NYC Comedy Invades Worcester - Saturday, January 27. Jordan Raybould presents a night of stand-up comedy from some of his best and funniest friends from the NYC comedy scene for one night in the Beatnik’s showroom. This showcase features professional, touring comedians and will undoubtedly be a night to remember! Sold Out. 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. Call 508-926-8877 or visit eventbrite.com

Jan. 30 vs. St. Joseph, 5:30 p.m Assumption Jan. 27 vs. Le Moyne, 1:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 @ Merrimack, 5:30 p.m.

Becker Jan. 27 vs. Lesley, 1 p.m.

Jan. 30 @ Southern Vermont, 7 p.m.

Clark Jan. 27 @ Wellesley College, 2 p.m.

Jan. 31 vs. Emerson College, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 27 @ Lafayette, 2 p.m.

Nichols Jan. 27 @ Gordon, 1 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs. Curry, 5:30 p.m.

Worcester State Jan. 25 @ Westfield State, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 @ Salem State, 1 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs. Framingham State, 5:30 p.m.

WPI Jan. 31 vs. Smith, 7 p.m.

Anna Maria Jan. 25 vs. Norwich, 6 pm.

Jan. 27 @ Johnson & Wales, 5 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs. Suffolk, 7:30 p.m.

Assumption Jan. 27 vs. Le Moyne, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 @ Merrimack, 7:30 p.m.

Becker Jan. 27 @ Elms, 1 p.m.

Jan. 31 vs. Lesley, 7 p.m.

Clark Jan. 27 vs. Springfield College, 1 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs. WPI, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 27 vs. Lafayette, 2:05 p.m.

Jan. 29 vs. Lehigh, 7:05 p.m.

Nichols Jan. 27 @ Gordon, 3 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs. Curry, 7:30 p.m.

Worcester State Jan. 25 @ Westfield State, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 @ Salem State, 3 p.m.

Jan. 31 vs. Framingham State, 7:30 p.m.

WPI Jan. 27 vs. Wheaton (Mass), 2 p.m.

Jan. 30 @ Clark, 7 p.m.

Women’s Ice Hockey

college sports Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball Anna Maria Jan. 25 @ Albertus Magnus, 7 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey

Assumption Jan. 27 vs. Franklin Pierce, 5:35 p.m.

Jan. 27 vs. Franklin Pierce, 8:35 p.m.

Jan. 30 @ Southern N.H, 7:35 p.m.

Becker Jan. 25 vs. University of New England, 7 p.m.

Jan. 27 @ University of New England, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 26 vs. RIT, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 27 vs. RIT, 7:05 p.m.

Nichols Jan. 25 @ Johnson & Wales, 8 p.m.

Jan. 27 vs. Johnson & Wales, 4:40 p.m.

Worcester State Jan. 25 @ UMass-Dartmouth, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 @ Fitchburg State, 4 p.m.

Becker Jan. 26 @ Endicott, 7 p.m.

Jan. 27 vs. Endicott, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 26 @ Sacred Heart, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 @Sacred Heart, 4 p.m Nichols Jan. 25 @ Johnson & Wales, 5 p.m.

Jan. 26 vs. Johnson & Wales, 6:40 p.m.

Men’s Swimming & Diving Clark Jan. 27 @ Coast Guard Academy, 12 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 27 @ Springfield, 1 p.m.

WPI Sat. 27 @ Hartwick, 12 p.m.

Women’s Swimming & Diving Assumption Jan. 27 vs. Merrimack Clark Jan. 27 @ Coast Guard Academy, 12 p.m.

Holy Cross Jan. 27 @ Springfield, 1 p.m.

WPI Jan. 27 @ Hartwick, 12 p.m.

Men’s Track & Field

Assumption Jan. 27 @ John Thomas Terrier Classic Invitational, Boston University, Boston Jan. 27 @ Tufts Stampede Invitational, Tufts University, Medford Holy Cross Jan. 27 @ John Thomas Terrier Classic, 10:30 a.m.

Worcester State Jan. 27 @ BU John Thomas Terrier Invitational Jan. 27 @ Tufts Branwen Smith-King Invite WPI Jan. 27 @ Wheaton Invitational, 4 p.m.

{ listings}

Women’s Track & Field

Assumption Jan. 26 @ John Thomas Terrier Classic Invitational, Boston University, Boston.

Jan. 27 @ Tufts Stampede Invitational, Tufts University, Medford Holy Cross Jan. 26 @ John Thomas Terrier Classic, 1 p.m.

Worcester State Sat. 27 @ Tufts Branwen Smith-King Invite WPI Jan. 27 @ Wheaton Invitational, 4 p.m.

"Oh, It's ON"--they're on, first.

by Matt Jones

JONESIN’ Across 1 5 10 14 15 16 17 18 20 22 23 24 26 28 29 30 33 35 37 38 39 43 48 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 60 62 65 68 69 70 71 72 73

Candy brand that comes in twos One of Australia's six "The King and I" character Planetarium roof Hardwood playing surface Ending for concert or movie Banana peel, in British English Image transmitter to the brain Early Doritos flavor Cuatro doubled Charles played by Jamie Foxx Bitter beer variety, for short It spits out bills Cassis-and-wine cocktail Altar-ed statement?

Flowers related to tobacco, tomatoes, and deadly nightshade The Bahamas' capital Dress rehearsal follower Ricky's portrayer on 1950s TV Bread in an Indian restaurant Doesn't feel so great Potential award winner usually announced in January 2016 Lady Gaga album TNT drama whose 77th and final episode aired on Christmas 2012 Abbr. on food labels Certain Wall Street trader, slangily In medias ___ Voting yes Bread for a Reuben "Afternoon of a ___" (Debussy work) Train travel 2019 and 2021, e.g.

House, in Havana "Switched-On Bach" synthesizer "This one goes out to the one ___ ..."

"Monday Night Football" network Muppet with a goldfish Burn perfume, in religious ceremonies "Take ___! (And ___!)"

Down 1 6-pt. plays 2 Panda Express vessel 3 Knocks off

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 21 24 25 27 31 32 34 36 40 41 42 44 45 46 47

Lucy Lawless title role 48 Former halfback Bettis Make more room at a booth, perhaps 49 Detergent that debuted in 1914 Highest-ranked 50 The world of simians Car, alternately 54 "Haven't Met You Yet" crooner Michael End-of-October option 59 Element #10 (Really, it's that early Art done with acid in the sequence? Wow.) Candle count 61 "Law & Order: SVU" costar Actor Chuck with a "Facts" meme 63 The Red Cross or Doctors McCarran International Without Borders, e.g.

Airport's home 64 Homes parked in parks Words before ready or serious "Come Away With Me" singer Jones 66 Tranquil destination 67 Colony insect "What ___ do?"

The Touch is the only one Last week's solution still produced "Muppets Tonight" prawn ___ cum laude Group with dues Hair tangle Flight component?

Word before child or peace Very quickly Brick that hurts when stepped on Fortune teller Screw-up Like some tiles Direct ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) Tableland Reference puzzle #860

JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

35

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An agency serving adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum is seeking energetic and creative people to fill the following positions: Special Education Teacher (BA/M.Ed) Severe Disabilities: All levels Classroom teacher needed to teach students on the autism spectrum pre-academic and vocational skills. Classes are small and energy levels are high.

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LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Worcester Probate and Family Court 225 Main St. Worcester, MA 01608 Docket No. WO94P0735GR1 CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PETITION TO EXPAND THE POWERS OF A GUARDIAN In the Interests of: Alan Duchaine Of: Worcester, MA RESPONDENT Incapacitated Person/Protected Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Dpt. of Developmental Services of Worcester, MA in the above captioned matter requesting that the court: Expand the powers of a Guardian of the Respondent. The petition asks the court to make a determination that the powers of the Guardian and/ or Conservator should be expanded, modified, or limited since the time of the appointment. The original petition is on file with the court. You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 01/30/2018. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. In addition to filing the written appearance, you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date. IMPORTANT NOTICE The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the abovenamed person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer. Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person. If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense.

WITNESS, Hon. Leilah A Keamy, First Justice of this Court.

Date: December 27, 2017 Stephanie K. Fattman Register of Probate 01/25/2018 WM

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Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

ADVERTISEMENT The Worcester Housing Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from Contractors for the Stair Tower Repairs at 200-2 Curtis Apartments (WHA Job No. 2017-13) for the Worcester Housing Authority in Worcester, Massachusetts, in accordance with the documents prepared by Allen and Major Associates, Inc. The Project consists of: repainting exterior metal stairs, including surface preparation (sandblasting tops of treads, risers, and landings to bare metal; scrape, sand, and clean undersides of treads, risers, landings, stringers) and drilling weep holes. The work is estimated to cost $ 153,219 (including Alternates). Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.149 §44A-J & to minimum wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.149 §§26 to 27H inclusive. General bidders must be certified by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) in the category of Painting. General Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday February 8th, 2018 and publicly opened, forthwith. All bids should be delivered to: Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 and received no later than the date & time specified above. General bids and sub-bids shall be accompanied by a bid deposit that is not less than five (5%) of the greatest possible bid amount (considering all alternates), and made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority. Bid forms and Contract Documents will be made available on the Worcester Housing Authority website (http:// www.worcesterha.org/currentbids.html) at no cost. Hard copies will be made available on January 17, 2018 at the Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 and thereafter, Monday thru Friday 8:00 A.M. through 4:30 P. M. Copies of the contract documents may be obtained by depositing $50.00 in the form of a company check, made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority, for each set of documents so obtained. The amount of the deposit will be refunded to each person who returns the plans, specifications and other documents in good condition within ten (10) days after bid opening. Bidders requesting contract documents to be mailed to them should include a separate check in the amount of $40.00 for each set payable to the Worcester Housing Authority to cover mailing and handling costs. General bidders must agree to contract with minority and women business enterprises as certified by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), formerly known as SOMWBA. The combined participation goal reserved for such enterprises shall not be less than 10.4% of the final contract price including accepted alternates. See Contract Documents - Article 3 of the Instructions to Bidders. A pre-bid conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the rear of 47 Great Brook Valley Ave, Worcester, MA 01605 at which time bidders will be invited to visit the project site(s) with the a Worcester Housing Authority representative. Failure to attend or visit the premises shall be no defense in failure to perform contract terms. The contract documents may be seen, but not removed at: 1. Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 2. F.W. Dodge, 24 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02173 3.

Reed Construction Data, 30 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092 4. Project Dog, 18 Graf Road Unit #8 Plan Room, Newburyport, MA 01950 Questions regarding this project shall be submitted in writing 72 hours prior to opening and emailed to Mod-Bids@worcesterha.org. Reference the WHA Job Number only in the subject line.

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Invitation For Bids The Worcester Housing Authority invites sealed bids for Siding Replacement at MA 12-16 North & Providence Street Apartments in accordance with the documents prepared by Worcester Housing Authority. The work is estimated to cost $340,000, including alternates. Project consists of but is not limited to: replacing the existing vinyl siding with new vinyl and composite vinyl siding and associated work on seven (7) two-story residential buildings. General Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at the Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. A pre-bid conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday January 24, 2018 at 69 North St. at which time bidders will be invited to visit the project site(s) with the a Worcester Housing Authority representative. Failure to attend or visit the premises shall be no defense in failure to perform contract terms. Bids are subject to M.G.L c149 §44A-J and Davis Bacon wage rates as well as other applicable laws. General Bidders must be certified by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) in the following category of work: General Building Construction. Each bid shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in the amount of 5% of the bid price in the form of a Bid Bond, issued by a responsible surety company licensed to do business in Massachusetts, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority by bidders for the greatest possible bid amount (considering all alternates). Bid forms and Contract Documents will be made available on the Worcester Housing Authority website (http://worcesterha.org/purchasing. html) at no cost. Hard copies will be made available on January 17, 2018 at the Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 and thereafter, Monday thru Friday 8:00 A.M. through 4:30 P. M. Copies of the contract documents may be obtained by depositing $50.00 in the form of a company check, made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority, for each set of documents so obtained. The amount of the deposit will be refunded to each person who returns the plans, specifications and other documents in good condition within ten (10) days after bid opening. Bidders requesting contract documents to be mailed to them should include a separate check in the amount of $40.00 for each set payable to the Worcester Housing Authority to cover mailing and handling costs. The contract documents may be seen, but not removed at: 1. Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 2. F.W. Dodge, 24 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02173 3. Reed Construction Data, 30 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092 4. Project Dog, 18 Graf Road Unit #8 Plan Room, Newburyport, MA 01950 Attention is called to the following: 1. Provisions of Equal Employment Opportunity; 2. Provisions for payment of not less than the minimum wages as set forth in the Specifications; 3. Provisions of Chapter 14, Acts of 1966, Imposing a Temporary Sales Tax, Section 1, Subsection 6 (d) and (k) exempting the Authority from the operation of such a chapter; 4. Requirement to furnish and pay for a Performance Bond and a Labor and Materials Bond as set forth in the specifications, 5. Insurance certificate indicating coverage for public liability, property damage and workers compensation, in accordance with the contract requirements, must be filed by the successful bidder upon signing of the contract.

The contract will be awarded to the responsible and eligible bidder with the lowest proposed contract price including the dollar amount of all accepted alternates. Questions regarding this project shall be submitted in writing 72 hours prior to opening and emailed to Mod-Bids@worcesterha.org. Reference the WHA Job Number only in the subject line.

Worcester Housing Authority Joseph P. Carlson, Chairperson DATE: January 2018

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Two minutes with...

Emily Rosenbaum

The Worcester JCC recently announced Emily Rosenbaum has officially joined the JCC as its new executive director. Rosenbaum brings both international and local leadership experience to the Worcester JCC. Since fall 2013, she has been the CEO of Akshaya Patrafoundation USA, a nonprofit that works in partnership with the government of India to implement the world’s largest NGO-managed midday meal program. After joining Akshaya Patra, Rosenbaum added new fundraising chapters, developed new leaders and created a Youth Ambassador program. Her efforts over the last four years have enabled a million children who otherwise would have been deprived the opportunity to attend school because of hunger and do not receive a hot, midday meal. Prior to joining Akshaya Patra, Rosenbaum served as executive director of two community development corporations in Massachusetts: the Coalition for a Better Acre in Lowell and The Twin Cities Community Development Corporation in Fitchburg and Leominster. By eliminating blighted buildings, preserving key catalyst properties, increasing homeownership and small business investment and engaging residents, her leadership of these organizations helped transform neighborhoods and improve people’s lives.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • JANUARY 25, 2018

my daughter in for the day to attend our

What makes the Worcester JCC such a unique Snow Camp. I stopped into the Cultural and welcoming organization? We have lifelong Arts committee and saw the table filled

education here for every age group, from toddlers to seniors. I recently saw a blogpost that read, “The J is where the heart is.” That really resonated with me. Whether you are a senior couple who essentially raised your children at the JCC and now you volunteer in the early childhood center and come to our “J” book club meetings, or whether you are a 9-year-old who plays basketball and swims and your parents What is your history with the city of Worcester? children in India. I served as the executive get you a scholarship to send you here, or director at two CDCs to develop programs My sister, who is three years older than whether you are a young mom with a busy me, attended Clark University. I grew up in for affordable housing. I have always enwork life who gets self care here through Western Connecticut, which is more rural. I joyed working to empower local residents. group exercise and fitness training while remember loving Worcester when I came to your young ones enjoy our excellent previsit my sister back in 1979. It was the first How have you worked to elicit positive social school and camps - the JCC is for you. The change in the community on behalf of the time I was exposed to a college campus.

JCC has been around for almost 70 years. It JCC? There are three things are always I saw a city filled with culture, education is a real institution in Worcester. Our beauimportant to me: education, community and art. I felt like I had discovered such a tiful campus is very welcoming. The foundbuilding and community bridging. They vibrant place. I’ve been living in Leominers were Jewish members of the community are all here at the JCC. Our community ster for the last 15 years and I am a member and now this is a center for everyone. What of Beth Israel here in Worcester. I feel I am is very diverse and so are we. We have a I really enjoy is that people of all ages, robust scholarship program that serves a part of the community. backgrounds and experiences can come thousands of children, enabling them together here. When you meet people at the to attend our afterschool programs and Can you describe your career trajectory? I JCC, whether they’ve been here 50 years or summer camps. More than 100 children have been a community builder for the five months, they feel a real connection to come here after school everyday. We pick past 30 years. I worked in Houston, Boseach other and to this place. Sunday, Feb. them up from local schools in Worcester ton, New York, Merrimack Valley, North 11 is our camp kickoff and we’ll be raffling and Holden. Our early childhood center Central Mass, Southeastern Mass and off some free weeks. Everyone should look is accredited by the National Association India. In all of these places I have orgafor that. for the Education of Young Children.

Our nized for social change. I have written toddlers, preschoolers and Pre-K children grants and developed programs to assist Can you share a personal anecdote to highhomeowners and small business owners. I cook, swim and do music and sports, light your passion for the Worcester JCC? worked to raise funds for the homeless and along with a myriad of other enriching After the snowstorm on Jan. 4, I brought activities throughout their days at the JCC.

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ELIZABETH BROOKS

with amazing volunteers. All of these incredible women told me their stories about bringing up their children at the J, many from the time the building came about 50 years ago. They’re still giving back and volunteering. These are their friends and family. This is their home. I ran upstairs to collect my daughter from Snow Camp and saw the room filled with excited kids who did not want to go home because they were having so much fun. I asked her what the best part of her day was at Snow Camp and she said: friends. She doesn’t know whose mom is a donor or whose mom gets a scholarship, everyone was simply together as friends. The J belongs to everybody and everyone belongs at the J. We are all family.

When you are not at the JCC, where is your favorite place to spend time in Worcester?

I love trying the different restaurants.

There are a lot of new ones right now. I also love to seek out cultural arts programming and shows. I am very excited for the JCC Gala at Mechanics Hall Saturday, Feb. 10 to benefit the JCC children’s scholarship programs. We will also be honoring Emily Holdstein for her 17 years of service. Tickets are still available on our website at www.worcesterjcc.org.

Worcester’s Best chef competition

YOU VOTE

11TH ANNIVERSARY

MECHANICS HALL | 321 MAIN ST., WORCESTER SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2018 | 5-8:30PM Worcester’s Best Chef Competition is the premier culinary event throughout Central New England and boasts the most exclusive, creative and finest epicurean masterpieces to be found anywhere. This event showcases the highest level of culinary talent in the region, and also assists students of the culinary arts.

Come eat, drink and vote your palate in the People’s Choice competition — taste through specialty cocktail tastings, selections from prestigious wineries & craft beer brewers, experience the thrill ofa a live Iron Chef competition, and be part of the landmark event to crown Worcester’s Best Chef!

PHOTO CREDIT JOE SANTA MARIA/KILL THE BALL MEDIA

PRESENTED BY

2017 “Best of the Best” Iron Chef champion Chef William Nemeroff

Individual Entrance Times & Ticket Prices Vary Please Go Online To Reserve Your Arrival

No Tickets Will be Available At The Door WorcestersBestChef.com JANUARY 25, 2018 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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