Worcester Magazine June 27 - July 3, 2019

JUNE 27 - JULY 3, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

PRIDE for the first time: LGBT asylum seekers find a home in Worcester

NEWS • ARTS • DINING • NIGHTLIFE

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Pride for the first time: LGBT asylum seekers find a home in Worcester Story on page 10 Design by Kimberly Vasseur

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news Worcester Historical Museum to host historic Emmet Guard lecture GRACE LUCIER

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riginally comprised of 56 men, the Emmet Guard was bound by oath to protect both the Constitution of the United States and the rights of Irish immigrants. Named after 25-year-old Irish nationalist Robert Emmet, who was executed for an unsuccessful rebellion in Dublin, the Emmets formed a militia group to “facilitate the restoration of Ireland to her rightful place among the nations of the earth.”

According to Tom Foley, a student of the Emmet Guard’s history, the Emmets were essentially an “unofficial police force” to stand between the Irish immigrant class and threats to their citizenship.

Foley is currently working on his masters degree at the University of Rhode Island. His topic: the legacy of the Emmet Guard.

Tom Foley has dedicated his education to the Emmet Guard and the generations that formed it. His thesis research will be presented at a lecture hosted by the Worcester Historical Museum on Thursday June 27, 2019.

In addition to his already expansive research of the Emmet Guard and Irish nationalism, Foley has a more personal connection to the history he studies.

“I’m the great-grandson of Major General Thomas F. Foley, a man who was captain of the Emmet Guards from 1912-1918,” he told us while preparing notes for his presentation.

Foley’s genetic ties to the Emmets initially allowed him to access the Emmet Guard’s history. He “began researching his great-grandfather’s legacy as the centennials of WWI and WWII

passed by,” but it was the stories of the Emmets participating in WWI that drew him closer to the subject.

The men of the Emmet Guard fought in WWI in the G Company, 101st Infantry, 26th “Yankee” Division, AEF. The Yankee Division was

a decorated group, receiving six campaign streamers in WWI alone for success in six different theaters of war.

When asked why he chose the Emmets’ story for his masters degree, Foley expressed a sense of

duty to this legacy.

“I was almost immediately hooked by the individuals, especially the soldiers. This was why I went back to school, to be qualified to tell this story correctly,” he said.

Unfortunately, that story is not

straightforward or complete for the time being.

With origins that begin with Andrew Jackson’s presidency, the Emmets have a legacy plagued by prejudice, arrests, plots and lawsuits. Long before the Emmet

news soldiers of WWI, the initial Emmet Guard in Worcester was a highly contentious creation. The Government of Massachusetts even forced the group to go underground for a time due to the public’s fear of a greater Irish scheme. According to Foley, this broken history has made the Emmet lineage difficult to document.

“Every generation of Irish people in Worcester have their own version of the Emmet Guard story.”

By using “scraps and bits of information” — often offered up by others with Emmet Guard documents stored away in attics or basements — Foley has begun to piece together the fragments.

In his research, a photograph, letter or footnote could be the next connection across the generations of Irishmen in the Emmet Guard.

Specifically coveted by Foley is the occasionally published Emmet Guardsman Magazine. One issue was even written by his great-

grandfather between 1924 and 1925.

Foley’s goal is to unearth the complete story of the Emmets — beginning with the 56 officers in 1852 and ending with their achievements on the WWI battlefield.

When asked about his upcoming presentation in Worcester, Foley expressed his excitement about returning to the birthplace of the Emmet Guard.

“Worcester is the homebase of this story. I hope to be flooded with information.”

If the Emmet Guard and its history sounds familiar, Tom Foley encourages Worcester residents to come listen to his lecture. “This is a story that needs to be told,” Foley urges. “And I hope this presentation is the first of a couple lectures to make Emmet family connections.”

Foley’s presentation on Thursday will be an overview of the

information he has collected to date, as well as a discussion of his plans for a comprehensive Emmet Guards history.

Contact Tom Foley directly at tomfoley@my.uri.edu if you have information or documents about the Emmet Guard to share.

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news

worcesteria

THAT’S A WRAP: The City Council closed out its 2018-2019 season

last night. They’ll meet twice throughout the summer, once in July and once in August. Some closing notes: Konnie Lukes acknowledged that Mothers Out Front got farther than she ever did on the gas leaks issue, though in a sort of jaded way. Said something about how you “need a grassroots non-profit to get anything done in this city.” Something like that. I was half listening at that point. Other councilors pressed to make sure Eversource examines the sites of Rec Worcester and fixes any nearby gas leaks, keeping the ball rolling despite Lukes’ griping. Soccer fields were also an area of momentum. An order from Gary Rosen to look at adding more fields solely for soccer went to the manager, and an order from Mayor Joe Petty to consider employing makeshift, temporary soccer fields was also well received. Khrystian King pointed out the temporary soccer fields were used over the weekend at the Juneteenth celebration. He likened the ad-hoc soccer games to pick-up basketball, and in that spirit got behind it. You want to say it’s going to be a quiet summer but this is an election year, so we’ll see.

CLARK U’s MARY J. UANA MEMORIAL DANKADEMY: Clark University

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launched a first-of-its-kind graudate certificate in cannabis regulation program last week. The online program features courses on regulations, public health as it relates to legal cannabis, safety and education. For wizards of the dank arts only.

THIS IS WHAT YOU GET: The bus contract issue ended up being a cursory one, given the year Superintendent Maureen Binienda & Co. had. But, on the School Committee, it’s a clear dividing line. Given the fact Teamsters Union Officials (who represent Worcester bus drivers) were at Binienda’s contract renewal meeting all night, it seems to be a politically loaded issue as well. For background, the superintendent and most of the School Committee want to keep busing the same – contracted through Durham Transportation Services. Others, with Jack Foley probably leading the charge behind the scenes, want to see the city consider self operating the bus company to get some more competitive bids at the very least. Well the latter point of view appears to be panning out. The school district received one bid for busing for a new two year contract. Surprise, surprise, it’s from Durham. It’s also an increase of 16.5 percent, or almost $2 million, over the last contract, for no other apparent reason than “we can.” The School Committee’s Standing Committee on Finance And Operations will take that bid up on Aug. 13. Should be a good time.

WATCH OUT WORCESTER: The flavored tobacco ban Worcester passed last year was contentious at the time, sure, but at least we didn’t have Cumbies on our backs. That’s right, Cumberland Farms, the shiny golden boy of gas station/convenience stores, is taking a bunch of towns to court over their flavored tobacco bans. The company is making the argument that some, including Moe Bergman, made on the city council: the ordinance is discriminatory due to the fact it allows cigar shops to sell the products gas stations can’t. The counter argument there is cigar shops are 21 to enter, whereas little kids can frequent gas stations as they damn well please. Somehow, despite the fact Worcester’s ordinance contains such a provision, Cumbies chose not to lay its heavy hand on our fair city. Instead, the company chose Framinghan, Sharon, Billerica, Walpole, Somerville and Barnstable. Perhaps they’re afraid of City Solicitor David Moore unleashed. Regardless, if Cumbies gets anywhere, it could mean the end for Worcester’s flavored tobacco ordinance.

BLAME IT ON THE SWITCH: Tough day for Worcester-Framingham Line Commuter Rail riders on Monday, huh? Seemed like the line was delayed pretty much all day, the cause being a switch issue out in Boston.

Now I, and I’m sure most of the media is with me, have no idea what a switch issue is, and to be honest I don’t care. It’s 2019, and in China there’s a train that travels an equivalent distance of Boston to Chicago in four hours.

MBTA, get it together.

Bill Shaner, reporter Twitter: @Bill_Shaner

news

the beat

The city has initiated land-takings for Kelley Square reconstruction. The city is in the process of obtaining 59 temporary and 33

permanent easements on property in order to allow the $17.3 million project to move forward. The redesign of Kelley Square is the first step in improving the infrastructure of the Canal District and Green Island as well.

Worcester was granted more than $370,000 in federal money to

clean and develop brownfield sites, remove hazardous material and advance housing projects in areas surrounding the WooSox ballpark development. Supplemental funds from Massachusetts’ regional Environmental Protection Agency will also be used for the restoration program.

There will be sobriety checkpoints in Worcester County this weekend. The Massachusetts State Police will be conducting sobriety

checkpoints at undisclosed times and places from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, June 30. The checkpoint is part of the state’s efforts to promote safe driving.

Worcesterites commemorated Juneteenth and celebrated Black heritage last Saturday. Worcester’s annual Black Heritage Juneteenth

Festival was put on at Institute Park and featured Black-owned businesses, local talent of all ages and history lessons. Juneteenth, or June 19, commemorates the day slavery was abolished 154 years ago.

Country music and booze to come to the Canal District. The Moon-

shiners Country Bar will open in late August in a spot previously held

by Mambo Drink. The venue will feature live music and country-themed karaoke affectionately called “Country-oke.”

The Planning Board this week reviewed a proposal to turn the General Screw Machine Products building on Shrewsbury Street into apartments. The 24,000-square-foot building at 383 Shrewsbury St. is nearly two centuries old and has been vacant for some time. Under the plan, developers hope to turn the first floor into retail space, and create 28 apartments on the second and third floor.

along Franklin Street and behind Main Street called Allen Court. The mural was made by Spidertag, a premier street artist from Spain.

A plan to widen a congested portion of Grafton Street is gaining traction. With an eye toward alleviating bottle necks exacerbated by

the CSX truck yard on the base of the street, City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. asked the City Council to consider some land takings to allow the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to move forward with an $8.4 million project.

meeting was held in the current Doherty cafeteria, and attendees broke out in three workshops to discuss design, programming and other aspects of the new building. The building project continues to move through the state approval process.

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Worcester residents weighed in on what they’d like to see in the new Doherty FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS Memorial High School at a meeting this week. The

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A new mural has appeared in downtown Worcester courtesy Pow! Wow! Worcester. The interactive, neon mural illuminates a dark alley

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opinion editorial

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Be wary of the WooSox effect on nearby business

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ll credit where credit is due to Renee Diaz, owner of the Queen’s Cup bakery in the Canal District, for speaking up on the effect recent developments in the district may have on the cast of small, successful businesses which have opened over the past decade.

“Most people believe the baseball games will make us all millionaires,” Diaz wrote in an op-ed in the Worcester Business Journal this week, “We can hope that will be the case but it is doubtful.”

Rents, she said, will skyrocket.

Landlords will fill spaces quickly.

Parking will be a lingering issue.

Construction will cause problems for years.

These are valid concerns.

While it is easy to lean on a “rising tides” narrative for such a monumental and excitementinspiring development, we can’t be sure it will play out for the businesses nearby the WooSox ballpark development.

At its heart, the development is what you might call drive-andpark. On game day, thousands will rush into our city, fill up the street parking and parking garages near the stadium, stay for a few hours, hopefully frequent a nearby Worcester-grown small business, then leave. I say hopefully because the development will include retail and restaurant spaces of its own,

100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial 508.793.9375 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales 508.767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com President Paul M. Provost VP Multi-Media Sales Michelle Marquis Ad Director Kathleen Real-Benoit Sales Managers David Singer, Jeremy Wardwell

diverting game-day customers from nearby homegrown businesses. Otherwise, the development will supply a steady crop of office workers, hotel visitors, and market-rate tenants, which is not for nothing, but not near the influx we’ll see on a game day.

But game day also means traffic congestion, a complete shift in the vibe of the neighborhood for a few hours, and what I can only imagine is an overwhelming sense among residents that if you’re not going down there for baseball, it’s best to avoid the area.

Pros and cons of this type of drive-and-park development aside, it must be acknowledged that this is not the sort of city planning that allowed the Canal District we know and love to blossom. In fact, the Canal District and its small business economy grew without much direct support from the city – they certainly did not receive $101 million in public money to open their businesses. They took over empty, undervalued spaces, and breathed them full of life. Over time, the hard work of these entrepreneurs gave the Canal District a new identity and made it a destination for people around the area. This sort of development is often called incremental. Slowly but surely, a neighborhood character emerges,

small businesses share customer bases and help each other thrive, and word spreads. It would be a shame to see the character of the Canal District, developed incrementally over more than a decade, throttled by a large, taxpayer-subsidized drive-andpark development next door. It would take any real renaissance this city has seen and put it on its back foot.

Diaz’s anxieties are real. And I would caution a city so optimistic about this development to consider the Canal District as a possible victim, not a benefactor, of its new neighbor. And as for City Hall, I would urge that public policy and public funds be used to promote the small business community of the Canal District, and not take for granted that a ballpark will help it.

Executive Editor David Nordman Reporter Bill Shaner

Jody Ryan, Henry Rosenthal, Regina Stillings, Randy Weissman

Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Kristina Reardon

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opinion

your turn

The time has come to fully fund the schools HANNAH WEINSAFT

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with a well-rounded and hands-on learning experiences; local analysis has found our supplies budgets are just over half of what the state deems necessary. We would like to provide more opportunities to take learning out of the classroom. We need smaller class sizes in order to build stronger relationships with our students. We need to be able to provide a modern learning experience without digging into our own wallets, setting up ‘Go Fund Me’ accounts and burning ourselves out physically and emotionally.

As students, we need fully funded schools! We need our school buildings and classrooms to be welcoming and comfortable, and that starts with a school building that is not falling apart, desks that are sturdy and bathrooms with stall doors, soap and paper towels; local analysis is our facilities budget is less than 60% of what the state deems necessary. We need updated textbooks and opportunities to learn from real world experiences. We need exciting and engaging learning that will provide

us with the life skills we need as we grow into our independence.

We need counselors and health staff available to help us navigate difficult situations. Even investing in school-wide culture building like professional development for our teachers, administration and school staff on cultural inclusivity or similar trauma-informed restorative discipline practices would help us feel more invested and safe in school.

As community members, we need fully funded schools! We need our neighbors, who are parents, teachers and students, to be fully supported in their growth and engagement in the school system.

We need the schools in our communities to be places where community is built, where collaboration occurs, and where support is found. We need our schools to be an anchor in our neighborhoods.

We need the students, parents and teachers we know and love to be supported by their school and by their community. We need schools that prepare our students for their

future and for ours.

As the Joint Committee on Education considers school funding issues, we are in an extremely important moment: the difference between the bills considered amounts by both Worcester Public Schools’ analysis and Mass Budget and Policy analysis to over $100M a year. While we have continued to improve and add accountability since 1993, funding has not been updated and maintained. Other acts that claim to fund schools will not account for the real needs of our students and will attach even more red tape to the funds. We need our legislators to fight for the people of Worcester at the State House to ensure that our city does not get left in the dust. The Legislature should pass, and Governor Baker should sign, the Promise Act without further delay.

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students need.

The Constitutional requirelot has changed since 1993. ment of the state, as determined in 1993, is that Massachusetts Jnco Jeans have slimmed “has a duty to provide an educadown into fitted jeans, tion for all its children, rich and metal bands were more gorgeous than runway models, and poor, in every city and town of the Commonwealth”(McDuffy v pagers were the best way to leave Secretary). The Foundation Budget a message. This was the same Review Commission found four year that Massachusetts planned years ago that the state is not its school funding formula and doing so. The students who were similarly, much of our schools’ freshmen when that report was needs have changed in ways that published have now graduated no one could anticipate in 1993. from high school. Particularly in No one knows this better than districts like Worcester, with many those who participate in Worcester’s schools. As students, parents, students whose education require teachers, school staff and commu- more resources, we cannot wait any longer for action. nity members directly affected by As parents, we need fully funded public education in Worcester, we schools! We need enough teachhave come together to fight for a more just and equitable school sys- ers to educate our children; local estimates are that we are over tem. We are WEJA, the Worcester Education Justice Alliance. We are 700 teachers short of the level the state calculates is needed. We a chapter of the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance (MEJA), need more resources to provide after-school and extracurricular and a member of the Fund Our activities where our children can Future coalition advocating for be safe and engaged. We need $1.5 billion dollars of funding to transportation for our children to be allocated for public education and higher education to our yearly go to and from these programs. We need more resources to navigate state budget. the school system, including transWe urge our legislators to pass lation services in more languages. the Promise Act (S.238/H.585) to secure this much needed funding. We need more resources for families to help our students with postThis bill ensures that students, high school options like the college faculty and staff in public K-12 application and financial aid schools and colleges will receive processes, or professional developthe resources they need to sucment and career opportunities. ceed. These bills also ensure that As teachers, we need fully fundgateway cities like Worcester, where the lack of resources is more ed schools! We need the adequate supplies, materials and technology pronounced than in wealthier to be able to provide our students districts, have the resources our

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feature

PRIDE for the first time:

LGBT asylum seekers find a home in Worcester

feature GARI DE RAMOS

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About the LGBT Asylum Task Force

Their stories

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ately understood what that meant and referred him to the LGBT Asylum Task Force.

Unlike the other asylum seekers, Anna from Rwanda had already been to the United States before finding the Task Force.

Anna was only four years old during the Rwandan genocide and had been left on the streets by her parents because she was too weak to flee with them. In her teens, Anna was reunited with her parents, but her family could sense something was different about Anna.

“I was attracted to women, but I kept it to myself because I thought I was the only one,” Anna said. “I thought I was cursed.”

In an attempt to fix her, Anna’s family brought fellow church member home to pray for her.

Clearly not fitting in at home, Anna’s parents sent her to a private girls school in Greenfield, MA. She joined the school’s LBGTQ alliance and came to terms with her sexuality. Anna was lucky to have stayed with a generous host family who is now paying for her Masters Degree. When Anna’s mother died, however, she returned to Rwanda and decided to come out to her father. In response, Anna’s father kicked her out of the house in the middle of the night.

“I haven’t forgiven [him],” she said. “First when I was four, they left me in the streets. Now I come out, and my father kicks me out of the house and starts telling people that he’d rather have me dead.”

Pride for the first time

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lthough all of the asylum seekers long for home, they also acknowledge that they are safer in Worcester. In Worcester and unlike in Uganda, Isaac can find comfort in public expressions of Pride. “I’m happy that here you can go to the bank and see rainbow flags, see buildings with rainbow flags, see different people in different places who can love each other,” Isaac said.

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Kris as an alternate identity. The only people who know him as Kris would be gay people, “so even if they expose me, they won’t expose my real name,” he explained.

“They won’t be able to find me.”

Like Maurice, Kris had spent his life afraid of being beaten and outed. When he was 15, Kris met up with a man from an online chatroom. Unknown to Kris, the man had pretended to be gay in order to find and kill gay men in Jamaica. Thankfully, Kris escaped.

In 2016, though, he was beaten and attacked twice.

The final straw came in December of 2018. As a fan and performer of drag, Kris had a photo taken of himself dressed as a woman. A jealous ex-boyfriend got ahold of this photo and posted it online, outing Kris’s face and sexuality to the world. On his way home from work the next day, Kris was assaulted.

He fled to the United States itting in the pews of the and left everything behind. Kris HPCC, asylum seekers acknowledged the risk he took shared their stories of leaving Jamaica. “You come here trauma and resilience. First and you’ll be homeless. You have was Maurice, a young gay man nobody here,” he said. “You ask and teacher from Jamaica. Mauyourself ‘will the U.S. even accept rice came to the United States on us?’.” a visitor’s visa after being brutally Issac, an asylum seeker from attacked back home. The police Uganda, had similar fears living had found Maurice and another in his country. Isaac had been man having sex in his car and fired from his place of work after kept them for questioning. his coworkers went through his “The police officer said to me diary and found out he was gay. ‘do you know how many bullets With his former employer withare in a gun?’,” said Maurice. “She holding three months worth of told me a number, but I forgot it. salary from him, Isaac came to She then told me she would turn the United States with next to me into a strainer, which means nothing. she would use all her bullets on Isaac described the culture in me.”

Uganda as one that forces you to Maurice was able to escape, but live in a closet. “If they find out when he arrived at work the next — even your family — you’re at day, people were throwing rocks risk,” he said. “People go missing, at his car. The police, it appears, homes or shops are destroyed, had outed him to the community. people are tortured, executed Maurice was able to drive away, and killed. Some of the activists but not before his windows were that fight for LGBT people, their shattered. houses end up set on fire and Afraid for his safety, Maurice some get murdered.” left behind a comfortable life In the United States, Isaac with financial independence to was homeless but happened seek refuge in the United States. upon a woman speaking his naMaurice, who is in the process tive language in a gas station. “I of finding an attorney, feels “100 was afraid of approaching her,” times safer” in the United States Isaac said, worried that she was than in Jamaica. “In Jamaica,” he homophobic. “But I told her I said, “if someone knows you’re needed housing and she asked me gay, you’re a threat.” what I’m running from. I said that Kris, also from Jamaica, shared people thought I was gay and I a similar story. When Kris realized had to flee.” The woman immedihe was gay, he adopted the name

insurance for their physical exam and a therapist. Therapy is needed not only to help asylum seekers deal with their trauma, but also to get an affidavit from the therapist confirming that the asylum seeker is truly part of the LGBT+ community.

On top of these resources, volunteers at the Task Force also use their network to help asylum seekers find jobs once they have their work authorization. Volunteers review resumes and provide mock interviews. Together, the largely volunteer-run Task Force provides much needed support to LGBT+ asylum seekers as they adjust to life in the United States.

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get to and from the courthouse.

The dinner also featured a video lecture about the history of Pride, nce a month, LGBT+ as well as the Worcester Police asylum seekers and Department’s LGBTQ Liaision, Worcester residents Sharon McQueen, who spoke gather at Hadwen Park about the importance of developCongregational Church’s (HPCC) ing a relationship between the cafeteria. These asylum seekers LGBT+ asylum population and have all gone through personal the police force. hardships, but join the commuTowards the end of the event, nity in the cafeteria to eat dinner, meet new people and learn about my photographer friend Jacob Hunnicutt began taking photos upcoming events for the LGBT for this very article. Noticing Asylum Task Force. him, the asylum seekers called When I arrived, I was greeted Hunnicutt over for an impromptu by the ever so eager Pastor Judy photoshoot filled with smiles, Hanlon. She gave me a name tag hugs and laughs. Pastor Judy let and asked me to write my name us know that these photos were and where I come from, because not to be used for publication, but everyone is an immigrant here unless you’re Native American. Af- rather as evidence for the asylum ter taking a minute to get to know seekers’ legal cases to prove they are part of an LGBT+ community me, she asked me to sit with the asylum seekers grouped together in Worcester.

LGBT+ asylum seekers make at the back of the room. up a bigger population of WorcesThere, I met asylum seekers ter than one would expect. These Quan, Mary and Anna. Quan, an aspiring rapper on Soundcloud as asylum seekers come largely from countries like Jamaica and Quan Aqua Faust, told me about Uganda, where homosexuality is the single he had dropped the night before about the differences criminalized and homophobia between gay and straight rappers. runs rampant. Many asylum seekMary, who had just arrived in the ers find Worcester thanks to the LGBT Asylum Task Force. This United States nine months ago, June marks the first month many was accompanied by her eightof these asylum seekers have ever and-a-half month old daughter.

Members of the community took celebrated Pride. turns holding the baby. Anna — who was only a toddler during the Rwandan Genocide — told me about how she is pursuing a Masters Degree in Sustainable Development and is in search of a job. Later in the dinner, Pastor Judy approached her with the good news that Anna had a job interview scheduled for the next day.

None of the asylum seekers interviewed were comfortable with using their full names in fear that utside of monthly dinthey would face retribution from ners and a Pride celebrapeople in their home country. tion, the Task Force Some have chosen to use aliases. helps asylum seekers The dinner was prepared by a through every step of the legal volunteer church group and we process. The Task Force will find all sat together for the homey, pro bono attorneys, drive asylum delicious meal. After meals were seekers to court and provide basic eaten and new people introduced, necessities during the 8-13 month Pastor Judy mentioned that one of process. Basic necessities include their asylum seekers had recently housing, food, a cell phone and been denied asylum. She called a small monthly stipend. In any on members of the community given month, the Task Force supto come to the hearing for his ports 25-28 asylum seekers. appeal and “gay it up.” Ready to do To support an asylum seeker’s so, various Worcester residents legal application, the Task Force shared tips about the best way to also gets asylum seekers health

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Al Green and Pastor Judy at the monthly community dinner.

JACOB HUNNICUTT

Life as an asylum seeker

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You could be one of them!

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nce in the United States, however, life does not come easy. When an asylum seeker gets here, many “don’t know how to get an attorney or know that you can get a pro bono attorney or how to even do that,” Green said.

“In order to successfully petition for asylum,” Green said, “you have to be from a country that is not accepting of LGBTQ people, you have to be in danger, you have to have credible fear and you have to prove you are actually LGBTQ.” In order to prove their fear and sexuality, asylum seekers will have to gather a plethora of evidence ranging from pictures of them with a partner, a letter from a licensed therapist, verified affidavits from close friends and even police reports or newspaper articles about an assault if they experienced one.

Work authorization comes after their application has been submitted, so asylum seekers would have to do all this paperwork alone while homeless and without a source of income. Organizations like the Task Force exist to assist asylum seekers with every single

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Green, who himself was an asylum seeker from Jamaica, often hears discussions questioning the need for prominent symbols of LGBT+ acceptance. “It means the world,” he said. “It’s more than just saying ‘okay, we’re here and you can interact with us.’ It means something else when you can visibly see this symbol that announces to the world that we welcome you.”

In the United States, asylum seekers are able to celebrate Pride for the first time. This month, the Task Force accompanied its asylum seekers to Boston Pride. “I felt so alive, so respected, so loved,” Maurice said. “It was euphoric.”

“It was the first time ever in my life I was able to walk publicly and everybody knows you’re gay,” he continued. “They showered you with love and excitement and it was just amazing.”

Alice Galvinhill, the Task Force’s summer intern and a trans woman herself, was able to share this experience with the asylum seekers. “Pride is a freeing experience,” she said. “What I see in the asylum seekers is that joy times 10.”

As an intern, Galvinhill sat in on an asylum seeker’s intake exam. “She was terrified telling her story,” Galvinhill said. But at Boston Pride, “she was proudly blowing that whistle, waving and high-fiving everyone, filled with this new freedom.”

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step of the process and to provide a supportive community.

Asylum seekers come to the United States with a lot of baggage and trauma. Anna was not only a victim of homophobia, but she also survived a genocide, watched her mother get raped in wartime and grew up an orphan.

Anna relies heavily on the Task Force and Pastor Judy to help her heal.

“Sometimes it’s very hard because in the culture I come from, we don’t see a therapist or counselor,” Anna said. “But here, when I’m going through a lot, I call Pastor Judy and I’m not saying anything and she’ll say ‘just cry’ and I’ll cry on the phone and she’ll let me take my time.”

On top of dealing with trauma, many find it difficult to go from a life of productivity and financial independence back home to a life dependent on the kindness of strangers in the United States.

Isaac, for example, used to work in information technology services, but will settle for whatever pays.

“I’ll take anything that comes my way,” he said.

Similarly, Maurice had a

Anna holding Mary’s 8.5 month old baby as she baby sits.

GARI DE RAMOS

comfortable life as a teacher in Jamaica, but now spends his days at home because he is not able to work. “A few days ago,” he said, “I was really depressed and I was thinking ‘why don’t I just go home and whatever happens happens?’

But I think about it and it’s not

worth it. I’m pretty young, I can have a life here.”

“Whenever the Task Force has something to do, I immediately volunteer to get out of the house,” Maurice said. “I reached out to Quinsigamond Community College and I’m applying to their free pro-

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Slides from the LGBT Asylum Task Force’s lecture on the history of Stonewall.

JACOB HUNNICUTT

would not be here,” Anna said. “I would rather be in my country helping women from my tribe develop, but the country rejected me.”

Reflecting on the plight of asylum seekers, Pastor Judy points out that asylum seekers wouldn’t call it a struggle. “They live more out of gratitude,” she said. “The struggle is really with [Americans].

We’re stupid, our systems are stupid and they learn racism here that they did not know in their home countries.”

“The asylum seekers are very

forgiving because they are free,” Pastor Judy added. “Everything after freedom, they say, is easy.”

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gram in advanced manufacturing.”

Kris is also excited about life in the United States. He plans to apply to law school and become an immigration lawyer.

Recollecting some of the Task Force’s success stories, Pastor Judy mentions asylum seekers who went on to become scientists, pharmacists and entrepreneurs making six figures.

“Not that that’s the only definition of success,” she added. “Success is being free.”

Despite sources of hope, many miss home. “If it was a choice, I

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feature Life in Worcester

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he Church’s congregation and Worcester residents have helped create a culture of acceptance, but that does not mean things are perfect.

According to Pastor Judy, when the HPCC first announced that it would be open to LGBT+ people, several church members left, taking roughly $40,000 in donations with them.

Green also listed two examples of asylum seekers falling victim to homophobic attacks in Worcester.

First, a trans woman had been stoned getting off the bus on her way home from work. Second, Kris and his friends had gotten in a fight with heterosexual Jamaican immigrants outside a club in Downtown Worcester. They were stabbed.

“Worcester has been so welcoming of all immigrants,” Green

said, “but we’ve had issues where some immigrant communities bring their homophobic traditions with them.” To work on this, the Task Force has reached out to and collaborated with other immigrant community groups to foster a culture of acceptance and safety within Worcester’s immigrant communities.

The Worcester government has also been supportive of the Task Force and its asylum seekers. “The Mayor and City Manager came over to an apartment that we rent

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and the asylum seekers told them their stories,” said Denise Darrigrand, Chair of the Task Force’s Steering Committee. “Both have been incredibly supportive of our group and even bought tickets to our Gala.”

The Task Force has also been supportive of other LGBT+ people from abroad who end up in Worcester. Darrigrand found the Task Force during her time as Clark University’s Dean of Students. An LGBT+ international student came to her during a

crisis of faith, asking herself “how can my god love me when my god says that I’m an abomination?”

Darrigrand was able to direct the student to the Task Force, which often deals with asylum seekers asking themselves the same kinds of questions.

Asylum seekers say they are grateful to the Task Force and Worcester for their community and support. When Green first came to a service at the Hadwen Park Congregational Church, he sat behind a lesbian couple hold-

ing hands. “It made me tear up a bit because I was here in this space where I can worship that will also accept me,” he said. “It was a very profound moment for me.”

“I feel like Worcester is my home,” Anna said. In the future, Anna dreams of getting married and raising two kids in Worcester.

“I am the luckiest girl in the world.”

How you can help the Task Force

t any given moment, the Task Force helps 25-28 asylum seekers. The cost of supporting these asylum seekers adds up to roughly $32,000 per month, or $384,000 per year.

The Gala is the Task Force’s largest fundraiser and will take place this year in October 5 at the DCU Center. In its first iteration, the gala raised $50,000, but last year it raised $150,000. The Task Force hopes to maintain this number at this year’s gala.

“It’s very different compared to other galas,” Green said. “It’s fun.” On top of a silent auction and raffle, guests will be able to share a meal with and hear from asylum seekers. They promise music, a lot of dancing and definitely no corporate feeling.

If you’re not quite ready to drop $90 on a ticket to the Gala (or $640 for a table of eight), the Task Force is always looking for donations and people to volunteer their time to write grants, help asylum seekers with things like transportation or host their own small fundraiser. The Task Force’s monthly meetings are on the first Monday of the month at the Hadwen Park Congregational Church at 6 Clover St. Learn more about the Task Force at lgbtasylum.org

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Don’t Let CSAs Intimidate You PA G E 19

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culture

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Woo-bituary: Sam Fuller

TRONIC SQUARE

H

e was a reporter first.

Seventeen years old, fresh off the bus from Worcester, Sam became the sidekick of a grizzled veteran of the New York Evening Graphic.

Sam’s first task was covering city suicides. He always asked if he could keep the note the victim had left behind. Years later, when Sam Fuller was famous, he fascinated his Hollywood friends with his treasured collection of suicide notes.

He was born in Worcester on August 12, 1912. Samuel was the sixth son of Russian Jewish immigrants. His childhood home had been rough, but full of love.

Then, like now, life was hard for children of immigrants. English was not their native language. His father died when he was 12. Sam wouldn’t live in Worcester long.

World War II was primarily a civilian experience. Like his brothers back home, like the young reporters he worked with in New York, Sam Fuller became infantry. He would soon see heavy engagement in Africa and Italy and France.

For all that, and all the horror therein, Sam got a Purple Heart.

“I hate violence. That has never prevented me from using it in my films.”

He took what he learned in war and went to Tinseltown. Sam might have been a writer but for the thrill

of making movies.

“I write with my typewriter. It is my camera.”

Sam Fuller films had a look unlike any other. An aesthetic that would become all too common.

Mostly westerns and war thrillers, Fuller films feel hyper masculine, unnecessarily graphic, and a little gross.

With titles like “Shock Corridor” and “Iron Horse” and “Shark!” and “the Big Red One”, and movie called “White Dog” might sound like all the others. It is not.

“White Dog” tells the story of a stray German Shepherd who has been trained to attack and kill any black people it sees. The central question of the film is whether or

IMDB.COM

not the dog can be cured. Though Fuller was a lifelong, liberal studio executives feared the film would be received as racist and refused to release the film.

“It’s like someone putting your newborn baby in a goddamn maximum security prison forever.”

After suffering a stroke in Paris Sam moved back to Los Angeles where he spent the rest of his life surrounded by friends and admiring young filmmakers. He died on Oct. 30, 1997.

Woobituaries is a new series featuring brief profiles of extraordinary Worcesterites.

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turn 32 in July and have had a few thoughts rattling around in my brain about what being an adult really means. I am not ashamed to admit that the highlight of my week was purchasing a stainless-steel kitchen trash can with a built-in plastic bag holder and silent-closing lid. I feel fancy every time I toss an empty milk carton now. Baby’s growing up. While my consumer tastes may match up with my age, healthy eating is one cornerstone of adulting I have yet to master. Apparently frozen taquitos should not be consumed more than once a week, even if they are of the Whole Foods variety.

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JENNIFER INGHAM

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Don’t Let Joining a CSA Intimidate You

culture other farm goods for an additional price outside of the share agreement; C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 19 think flowers, meats, eggs and herbs.

Having an array of farm fresh A vegetarian friend who I consider items that might be outside of to be the holy grail of healthy living your comfort zone is a great way to recommended I look into applying challenge yourself in the kitchen, for a CSA, or Community Supported too. If you’re like me and need Agriculture program, to incorposome inspiration to fully channel rate more freshness into my meals. your inner Ina Garten, many CSA At first, I huffed, “That’s radicchio! farms offer recipes on their website, (Couldn’t resist the plant pun). I catered to items you can find in wouldn’t know escarole from kohlyour weekly haul. And if you’re wary rabi.” But in researching various CSA to take the jump into CSA-life on options in Worcester County and your own, there’s always the option beyond, I felt confident I could find to split a plan with a co-worker or an option to make my sophisticated family member to ensure nothing farm-to-table dinner party dreams, gets wasted. a reality.

Here’s a breakdown of a few CSA In Central Massachusetts, there farms and what they offer. are several farms offering CSA agreements for the summer. Many are Red Fire Farm*+ SNAP/EBT benefit friendly, ensuring Worceste and Surrounding Areas that community members with vary- Cost: Summer CSA, $630-$750 ing levels of income are able to take Red Fire Farm currently farms two part. When you join a CSA, you’re pieces of farmland, one in Granby essentially investing in farm operaand one in Montague. All vegetable tions by purchasing your “share.” This shares are certified organic. They ofshare entitles you to a box of fresh fer several additions to the standard fruits and vegetables each week, usu- CSA box, including eggs, flowers and ally from June to October. Each one bread; available at an additional cost. includes a variety of crops planted the previous year. Some even offer

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CSAs

Nourse Farm* Westborough Cost: Summer CSA, $300-$600 Nourse Farm was established in 1722, with the Nourse family farming the same acres for nearly three centuries. They offer a subscription CSA option where members shop farmer’s market style, rather than pick-up a prepared box, bin or bag.

Many Hands Organic Farm*+ Barre Cost: Summer CSA, $425-$650 Many Hands Organic Farm is certified organic and has been selling to the public since 1985. In addition to CSAs, they offer workshops on a variety of farming topics, like best practices on growing small fruits.

culture Stillman’s Farm*+ Lunenburg Cost: Summer CSA, $450-$625 Stillman’s Farm has provided seasonal produce and CSA shares for over 20 years. They offer pick up locations is several different locations around the state and have a convenient workplace option for groups of colleagues who weekly want delivery directly to their place of employment.

Pineo Family Farm Sterling Cost: Summer CSA, $375-$575 The Pineo Family Farm has been owned since 1954. Only five acres of the 150 they operate are developed for produce. The remaining land is divided for the purpose of hay production and maintenance of the nearby forest, which is inhabited by an array of wildlife including deer and turkeys.

*Recipes available on website. +SNAP/EBT payment available.

If you’re still undecided, plan a weekend visit to one or more of the above locations to sample some produce and ask follow up questions.

If you’re already sold on the idea, enjoy the happy feeling that comes from supporting local businesses and picture all the deliciousness soon to be enjoyed from your table.

I pick up my very first CSA box in mid-June.

Even though I still have no idea if rainbow chard is actually rainbow colored or whether beets

should be boiled or baked, I can rest easy knowing my horticulture and cooking knowledge will grow in the next few months. Maybe I’ll even substitute kale for that birthday cake this summer, as my journey to peak adulthood continues.

J U N E 2 7 - J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 9 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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culture Lifestyle Wreck-It

SARAH CONNELL

The Fountain of Youth Runs Purple

The Lavender Farm Festival at SummitWynds sold out this past weekend, proving once and for all that Holden residents can prevent aging by taking a peaceful stroll through 4,000 lavender plants in the lingering sunset on the longest day of the year. We’re on to you, Holden. I watched lavender yogis overlook the stunning view of Mount Wachusett while small children chased each other around a lavender labyrinth all evening. I devoured a pulled pork sandwich with lavender barbecue sauce and sipped a lavender ale from

This year’s free summer movie series will begin ‘under the stars’ at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27 at the Worcester Common with a screening of Wreck-It Ralph. Video games, villains, and havoc are all within reach. Worry not – in the case of inclement weather, the Worcester PopUp will play host at 20 Franklin St. If you are afraid of the dark, the ‘Out to Lunch’ suite is also back on the Common on Thursday with food vendors and a special performance by Dale LePage & the Manhattans from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday Wine

Find your food truck from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays, now until August 30th at Nashoba Valley Winery where there are basically as many patios as there are grape varietals. The rotating roster features Above the Clouds, Big T’s BBQ, Bird’s Nest, Chez Rafiki’s, Chubby Chickpea, Da Bomb Food Truck, K&L Bistro Pizza, Melt, Sabor Latino, Say Cheese, Say Pao, Shuck Truck, Sun Kim Bop, Travelin’ Bones BBQ, Trolley Dogs, Uncle E’s BBQ Express and Walloons. Bring your copy of Bianca Bosker’s “wine-fueled adventure,” Cork Dork, and have at it.

The sold-out Lavender Farm Festival at SummitWynds in Holden took place over the weekend.

SARAH CONNELL

Seven Saws Brewing. Most surprising, no one picked a single sprig of lavender over the course of the entire weekend. They chose instead to revel in its calming presence and dance in its shadows. All hail the lavender solstice.

For the Babies

March of Dimes kicked off its Signature Chefs Auction with a special reception at Worcester Country Club last week. The event won’t take place until September 26, but a rallying cry in support of healthy moms and strong babies starts now. Worcester Business Journal named the gala, J U N E 2 7 - J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 9

SARAH CONNELL

which brings together a dozen chefs each year, the top non-profit fundraising event of 2018. Reserve your tickets as soon as possible to make certain the NICU Family Support Program can help parents during their stay at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Everybody Say, ‘UV Ray’

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Smile. On Thursday, June 27th the AC Hotel is celebrating National Sunglasses Day with a special event called “Sunglasses at Night.” This occasion provides you with a rare opportunity to wear a pair of AC-issued retro shades whilst enjoying tapas in the moonlight. Brain Dead says Post Modern Primitive Eye Protection is in this season. Get on their level.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Senator Harriette Chandler has been named the 2019 Charitable Leadership Award Recipient at the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction on September 26.

culture

Quality Control: Worcester Pizza SARAH CONNELL

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on Demoga of MamaRoux and Jared Forman of deadhorse hill are two of my favorite chefs in Worcester, but neither is a pizzaiolo. When we set out to answer the question, “What makes pizza good and where can we find it in Worcester?” I never anticipated we’d identify so many objective markers on which they could agree.

For one thing, pizza is fashioned with nostalgia. Little league celebra-

tions. Personal pies from the frozen food section. Slices off the movie theater conveyer belt. When I was in college, I ate four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner and pizza.

Even when it’s crummy, pizza has the power to soothe us.

This week, we visited five popular pizza spots: Volturno, The Wonder Bar, Palace Pizza, Papa George’s and Dacosta’s. We wanted to dial in what makes a passable pie. By the end, a few things became clear. Demoga and Forman like their pizza to ride

the line of crispy – not crunchy, chewy – not doughy, and juicy – not dripping with tomato sauce.

Sauce There are two schools of thought on sauce. The Neapolitan pizza served at Volturno benefits from a raw sauce, which can express the bright acidity of San Marzano tomatoes with sheer simplicity.

Rich cooked sauces at shops like Palace Pizza and Papa George’s evoke visions of jarred Classico and

shakers of pizza spice. Demoga says this is a matter of preference, but he maintains one rule: “The thinner the pizza, the lighter the sauce.”

Toppings Ratios are important. “The right ingredients put together in the right way will make everything taste perfect,” says Volturno owner Greg Califano.

Forman fears that we have lost our balance. “You used to have to make do with what you had. You

to separate from the pie.

“I always call myself a shades of beige kind of guy,” Forman said as he stared down at a cheese pizza from The Wonder Bar. “These are the wrong shades for me; these are shades of yellow.”

Dough Everyone we spoke to agreed that the dough is the most important part of crafting outstanding pizza.

At Volturno and Dacosta’s, this can mean up to a 72 hour ferment.

From left: Dacosta’s, Palace Pizza, Papa George’s, Volturno and Wonder Bar.

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SARAH CONNELL

could take things from other cultures, apply what was available, and all of the sudden it became its own tradition,” he said. “As Americans, we have access to everything. And I don’t think just slapping everything onto a pizza is going to create a new tradition that is something I would be proud of.”

To illustrate his point, he ordered “The Carlos” at The Wonder Bar, an alfredo based pizza topped with macaroni and cheese and buffalo chicken.

Demoga called it a trap, explaining that even though pizza guru Peter Reinhart’s latest book includes a spaghetti and meatballs pie, “It goes against everything I learned about as a chef to put carbs on carbs.”

Demoga is a ’roni purist. He expects his peperoni to arrive like crisp little espresso shots pooled with oil and he wants no part of a cheese pizza that you added the ’ronis to later. For Demoga, Dacosta’s “Uncle Tony’s Roni’s” offers superlative cupping.

Cheese The same way Demoga gets picky about ’ronis, Forman becomes a real fusspot when it comes to cheese. He wants a nice cheese pull and nothing gloppy. At Palace Pizza, he objected to the way the cheese seemed to try

At all five stops, the first thing I watched Demoga and Forman do when a pie arrived was flip it over to identify how it had been cooked.

At Papa George’s, it was proofed in a cake pan and then cooked in the pan on the deck. “The deck” is whatever holds heat in a pizza oven, usually cinder blocks or tiles. At Palace Pizza, the pies cooked on a conveyor belt adding very little character to the crust. At Volturno, an Italian wood burning oven created perfect leopard spotting in just minutes.

Large airy bubble variance is ideal.

“No one wants a crust that’s devoid of gas structure,” Demoga told me, tearing apart a slice. “White bread resemblance with compact or uniform bubbles is a bad thing,” he explained, “Usually that means it was beaten to sh*t with a mixer.”

Over-handled dough can prevent a proper cornicione, the lip of the crust, from forming. For Demoga and Forman, there is no worse crime.

“Pizza comes down to attention to detail,” Forman said, “It’s about the people behind the food and the varied perspectives of how hard they work each day. If they don’t care, you can taste it.”

Quality Control is a new, occasional column featuring chefs on food. Check the online version for an accompanying video.

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‘Toy Story 4’ is more than child’s play JIM KEOGH

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find themselves stranded inside a dusty antiques story lorded over by a doll Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and her goon squad of floppy-limbed ventriloquist’s dummies, who will haunt your dreams.

Gabby Gabby suffers from a broken voice box in need of replacing if she ever hopes to win the love a little girl. Woody’s voice box works just fine, and extracting it will require toy-on-toy surgery. This will sound worse than depicted: One brief sequence left me recalling those terrible stories where a tourist awakens in a hotel bathtub full of

ice with fresh stitches where his kidney was removed.

But I digress.

“Toy Story 4” introduces other newbies into the mix, including a pair of stuffed carnival toys whose witty banter sounds like some serious improv (since they’re voiced

by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, it probably is), and Duke Caboom, a motorcycle-riding Canadian daredevil who is essentially a six-inch plastic Evel Knievel graced with a killer handlebar moustache.

Voiced by national treasure Keanu Reeves, Duke must execute a lifealtering stunt accompanied by a line that made me laugh harder than anything I’ve seen in a movie this year.

This particular “Toy Story” deals

Jim Keogh contributing writer

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he call came Thursday afternoon from my son, asking if I was interested in seeing “Toy Story 4” that evening. I wasn’t. The weather was dreary, my workload was tiring, and honestly, the prospect of seeing the fourth installment of anything didn’t do it for me.

Still, I said yes, because I’ve always had a tough time saying no to that kid.

And he knows it.

So here I sat at “Toy Story 4” with my 23-year-old son amid parents and their much younger children. The evidence suggesting we weren’t the target demographic seemed pretty convincing.

By the time the movie started, I was skeptical bordering on cynical. What further lessons could Buzz and Woody possibly teach me? Was I bad to wish for a scene where the family empties the bin of toys atop the bargain table at a church bazaar with the placard “FREE”?

You probably know where this is going. I enjoyed the hell out “Toy Story 4.” It was funny, touching, even beautiful in its own Pixar-ian way. My brain remembers plenty of details about the original “Toy Story” and practically nothing about the next two. This one I’ll remember.

I did not see that coming.

The story is uncomplicated.

Woody and Buzz (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, of course), and the gang accompany their child, Bonnie, and her parents on an RV road trip.

Bonnie has fallen in love with her self-made toy, Forky (a plastic spork with googly eyes, pipe-cleaner arms, and popsicle-stick feet, wonderfully voiced by Tony Hale). Woody is philosophical about the transition of Bonnie’s affection from her old toys to the new guy, and decides he’s just along for the ride.

Once Bonnie’s family reaches their destination, the movie wisely injects more new toy-blood into the story’s veins. Woody and Forky

with significant transition in Woody’s life. He reunites with former flame Bo-Peep, who preaches the joy of a toy-ish existence that doesn’t derive meaning only from human interaction. Yes, scary possibilities await beyond the friendly walls of a child’s bedroom, but so does freedom. It’s a resonant message, no matter your age. Have I mentioned I did not see that coming?

calendar Friday June 28 7 - 11 p.m.

DeadBeat Show at The Pavilion at the Beer Garden

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEADBEAT

Local band DeadBeat — a tribute to the Grateful Dead — performs for the Beer Garden’s opening weekend. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. This is an all-ages show.

66 Franklin St.

Friday-Saturday, June 28-29 8 p.m.

The Comedy Attic at Park Grill & Spirits

Come join in evening full of cocktails, food, and top-tier comedy. Comedians from Goldstar Worcester Performing & Visual Arts will be performing at Park Grill, 257 Park Ave., Worcester. The event will be upstairs at Park Grill.

T&G FILE PHOTO/MATTHEW HEALEY

Tuesday July 2, 9 - 11 p.m.

Worcester Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza

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Come see a fireworks show in East Park, Shrewsbury Street, Worcester. The display will start at 9:30 p.m..

Come celebrate Independence Day with friends and family. The event is sponsored by Price Chopper and Market 32.

culture

Artist spotlight Artist Spotlight is back! We can only run Artist Spotlight if we have artists to spotlight.

See how that works? So, if you are an artist, or know of a local artist, email Bill Shaner at wshaner@gatehousemedia.com. Fair warning, in order to publish your work, you’ll need to provide a small bio and high resolution digital copies of some of your art. We reserve the right to choose what will run, based on resolution and what will reproduce best on newsprint.

J U N E 2 7 - J U LY 3 , 2 0 1 9 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Jori Dudzikowski is a florist and illustrator living in Worcester. Dudzikowski studied illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and enjoys working primarily in gouache, acrylic, digital and ceramic. Her work is influenced directly by her imagination, dreams and the world around her. She likes to warp perspectives and create funny and interesting narratives. In 2017, she won a Gold Key and a Silver Portfolio with distinction for Scholastic Art and Writing and had her work shown at the Art League of New Britain and Carnegie Hall in New York. To see more of her work visit joridudzikowski.wixsite.com/jori

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culture

Adoption option Welcome to Adoption Option, a partnership with the Worcester Animal Rescue League, highlighting their adoptable pets. Check this space often to meet all of the great pets at WARL in need of homes.WARL is open seven days a week, noon-4 p.m., 139 Holden St. Check them out online at Worcesterarl.org, or call at 508-853-0030.

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EAST DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Meet Sterling: Sterling was brought to Tufts clinic as a stray from Milbury. Tufts transferred him to our shelter after treating him for an upper respiratory infection (URI). Sterling is shy at first but warms up quickly and becomes very talkative. At 12 years young, Sterling qualifies for our Senior for Senior Program. He is neutered, vaccinated and ready to go home today!

games J O N E S I N’

“Two By Two” – let’s get together.

by Matt Jones

Across

44 Racers in 2013’s “Turbo” 47 Captain Kangaroo player Bob 49 1/6 of a fl. oz.

50 “Arrested Development” character F¸nke 52 Peace symbols 53 Brings up 55 John Legere for T-Mobile, e.g.

58 Inhabitants of a certain sci-fi planet 60 Alexa’s device 63 “Boyz N the Hood” protagonist Styles 64 “Unaccustomed ___ am ...”

65 Lance of the O.J. trial 66 Stimpy’s companion

Last week's solution

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©2019 Matt Jones (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #942

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Call 978-728-4302 or email cmaclassifieds@ gatehousemedia.com today to place your ad here!

2 Chance field?

3 Solver’s epiphany sound 4 Group that shows off old Mustangs, e.g.

5 Level in an arena 6 Lego units 7 Item in a rowlock 8 On another continent, perhaps 9 Home to the Arizona Museum of Natural History 10 German beer brand distributed by Anheuser-Busch 11 “Who ___?”

12 Rare award feats, for short 15 Transfer gas, in a way 17 Shoe front 21 Flavor enhancer, for short 22 Blood bank supporter 23 Pig in ___ 24 Strikes it rich 26 Involve, as in conflict 29 Hiking trail display 31 Chihuahua drink?

33 Apply crudely 36 Mila of “Black Swan” 37 Fireplace, in England Down 40 Flaming 1 “Full Frontal with Samantha 41 Nintendo DS competitor, Bee” network for short

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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!

1 Pamphlet 6 Economic upswing 10 One pronoun option of many 13 Dizzy Gillespie’s faith 14 Praise in the paper, perhaps 15 Forest father 16 Trunk contents 18 Facto intro 19 “Peter Pan” beast, briefly 20 Unchecked 22 “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author Roald 25 Just makes (out) 27 Closes 28 It might be smoked in a den 30 Hobbit corrupted by the Ring 32 “It’s alright” 34 Tea container 35 Supermodel Taylor 38 Approves of 39 Groups two by two, as with this puzzle’s theme answers?

42 Hot glue ___ 43 Crunch counts 45 Game with 108 cards 46 Quizzing 48 Trap set in the kitchen, maybe 51 Danger 52 ___ a bone 54 Alliance of nations 56 Otherwise 57 Like a certain Freudian complex 59 Apiary dwellers 61 Colorado resort 62 Seat near the yard 67 Fumbles 68 Cornell of Cornell University 69 Swiftness 70 JFK flier, once 71 Recognizes 72 Walla Walla vegetable

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LEGAL Public Auction Notice Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of M.L.C. 225 sec.

39A the following vehicles will be sold July 13, 2019 at a sale to satisfy our garage lien thereon for towing and storage charges and expenses of sale and notice: 2013 Nissan Altima VIN# 1N4AL3AP3DC137470 2010 Ford Fusion VIN# 3FAHP0JA5AR430586 2013 Scion VIN# JTKJF5C70D3059362 2005 Toyota Corolla VIN# 2T1BR32E35C365634 2003 Acura TL VIN# 19UUA56663A039893 The sale will be held at Early’s on Park Ave., Inc., 536 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA 01603

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last call The Lam Family flower farmers G race and Lyh-Hsin Lam are two of the five siblings that make up Fivefork Farms. Grace was inspired to start Fivefork six years ago by her mother, Helen, who still helps her grow flowers on the 38-acre property in Upton. On the day of my visit, Helen could be found patiently training the sweetpeas in one of the greenhouses, string by string. Fiveforks’ flowers are cultivated without the use of pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers.

There’s still time to sign up for their Dahlia Community Supported Agriculture program, which begins in early September. Follow them on Instagram at @fiveforkfarms to learn more.

Because of the soil?

GL: With the soil, the moisture it holds, the wind patterns, how much sun it receives – everything.

How many employees work here?

GL: Five total. My dad does deliveries. My mom comes whenever she’s not on babysitting duty. We have a lot of people who help us.

Do you live on the premises?

LHL: Yes, I’m here with Grace.

We’re hoping to develop some other housing and then tap into the whole agritourism business.

Like an Airbnb?

LHL: Yeah. There are some crazy people out there who seem to want to get away and spend a weekend on the farm. We’ll see how it goes. I feel like we have a lot to offer out here. It’s not all just woods.

It’s a pretty quick drive for a getaway if you live in Boston or Worcester.

LHL: That’s the crazy thing. I was out in Brookline doing a market yesterday. No one’s ever heard of Upton. I can probably count on one hand in the four years we’ve been out here the number of people who know where Upton is. Everyone knows Hopkinton of course, but we’re also like 10 minutes from the starting line of the Boston Marathon. Pretty much anything outside of Route 128 might as well be Kansas.

Central Mass is really the hub of the agricultural community for Massachusetts.

Where can people see your flowers in Worcester?

LHL: At the Canal District Farmers Market and also at deadhorse hill.

From left, Grace Lam, Helen Lam and Lyh-Hsin Lam with Hope.

DYLANM AZARI

I saw a beautiful balloon installation you did at deadhorse as well.

LHL: Who would have thought this balloon thing would take off? Grace has become a balloon specialist.

– Sarah Connell

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What sort of machinery do you use out here?

LHL: We’re still pretty manual here. Even with the acreage we

have, a lot of it is still by hand.

Flowers are trickier than vegetable production. There’s not a lot of specialized cultivators for the flower field. There’s such a small market for it here compared to Europe. We spend our late nights googling equipment for cut-flower production in Holland.

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How does your DIY flower service work for special events?

GL: It’s gaining a lot of popularity. Over the last two years, more and more people seem to think DIY projects are fun if they have the time and talent. That’s one of those things where someone doesn’t really care exactly what flowers they are getting. You’ve got How many greenhouses do you to be very flexible about color and have? style. It’s super nice for the farm GL: There are six here. The three in and the farmer for someone to say, the back are heated with propane “Anything you have, we’ll just take so you can mimic different temit.” Like eating local food at a farm peratures. We began harvesting to table restaurant, it’s seasonal. anemones as early as January.

We usually grow a lot of different colors so people can pay a little What is the biggest challenge bit of an upcharge to specify their about maintaining a flower color palette. farm year round?

GL: I think it’s a blessing and a Can you describe your relationcurse. You’re just at the mercy of ship as siblings and business what’s going on with the weather. partners?

We make a plan A, B, C, D – but we LHL: I was duped. Somehow the know everything always changes youngest, the baby of the family, and it’s important to understand convinced everyone else to jump that you’re not in control of it. For on board. We don’t know how that my brother, who is a perfectionist, happened and we’re still trying this can drive him nuts. I think it’s to figure it out. Prior to starting good for him to let go a little bit. this farm I was actually working for Habitat for Humanity. I have Are there certain flowers that no background in agriculture or you know you can cultivate farming.

You’re no stranger to hard work if you worked for Habitat.

LHL: It’s more like I’m no stranger to low pay. That continues on. It really is still a family operation here. I think out of all five kids, the two of us were probably the most hands-on types. We have this little problem where we keep expanding production and then we don’t increase our headcount in lockstep.

The hours have gone up.

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How long have you been farming on this property?

GL: We bought this site in June of 2013. Before that, I started in my parent’s backyard in Randolph.

We just tried it out first to see if we had a market for flowers. I did a year of veggie farming, but I think I always knew I wanted to farm flowers.

regardless of the weather?

GL: Yes and no. You have a little bit more control over the greenhouses, but if the sun doesn’t come out in April for days on end, nothing is going to bloom. There’s a lot of trial and error. A lot of farming is learning what not to do. All of our fields have different traits.

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