Worcester Magazine July 11 - 17, 2019 by Worcester Magazine

JULY 11 -17, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CULTURE • ARTS • DINING • VOICES

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An oral history of the musicians at the heart of Worcester’s rock ’n’ roll scene

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IN THIS ISSUE 100 Front St., Fifth Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial 508.767.9535 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

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Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Bill Shaner Contributing Writers Sam Bonacci, Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Linda Laban, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Hope Rudzinski, Matthew Tota Creative Director Kimberly Vasseur Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Anne Blake, Kate Carr, Laura Cryan, Diane Galipeau, Ted Genkos, Mia Haringstad, Sammi Iacovone, Bob Kusz, Helen Linnehan, Patrick O’Hara, Diane Parker, David Prendiville, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Henry Rosenthal, Regina Stillings, Randy Weissman Sales Support Jackie Buck, Kayla Kinney Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske WORCESTER MAGAZINE is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. Legals/Public Notices Please call 978.728.4302, email cmaclassifieds@gatehousemedia.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 Distribution Worcester Magazine is inserted into the Telegram & Gazette on Thursdays and is also available for free at more than 400 locations in the Worcester area. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law.

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6 the cover Worcester Wrecking Crew From left, local musicians Mike Lynch, Brooks Milgate, Craig Rawding, Roger Lavallee, Jeff Burch and Duncan Arsenault Story on page 11

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Photo by Matthew Healey, Design by Kimberly Vasseur

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Subscriptions First class mail, $156 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to GateHouse Media, 100 Front St., Worcester, MA 01608.

Featured ......................................................................................4 City Voices...................................................................................8 In Case You Missed It ... .......................................................10 Cover Story ...............................................................................11 Artist Spotlight .......................................................................17 Lifestyle......................................................................................18 Listen Up....................................................................................19 Dining .......................................................................................20 Table Hoppin’ ..........................................................................20 Film .............................................................................................22 Film Capsules ..........................................................................22 Calendar ....................................................................................24 Adoption Option ....................................................................28 Games .........................................................................................29 Classifieds .................................................................................30 Last Call .....................................................................................31

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Theo James stars in “Lying and Stealing,” directed by Worcester native Matt Aselton.

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COURTESY OF VERTICAL ENTERTAINMENT

The art of the steal Worcester native Matt Aselton eyes heists in ‘Lying and Stealing’ RICHARD DUCKET T

hen Worcester native Matt Aselton was reading about some famous art heists, he was struck by what a steal they could be. Take the case of the 1990 theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston where 13 works of art valued at a combined total of $500 million were stolen. “I was quite taken by how simple — two guys pretending to be cops just walked in,” Aselton said. Some thoughts evidently stole into the filmmaker’s mind while in Los Angeles and “stumbling into parties

from time to time. All the drinking and all these art works.” Aselton, who graduated from Burncoat Senior High School and comes from a large family here, hasn’t forgotten about Worcester, either, and makes return journeys. But in Aselton’s movie crime drama “Lying and Stealing” — which he directed and co-wrote, and which will be released in select theaters July 12 — Ivan (played by Theo James) is a gifted and discerning art thief who wants out while Elyse (Emily Ratajkowski) is an aspiring actress and a con-woman whose own past transgressions in Hollywood haunt her. They team up for a big, daring

heist that could set them free – if all goes well. “It takes place in L.A. It’s sort of a neo-noir art heist,” Aselton said of “Lying and Stealing,” which he directed from a script he co-wrote with Adam Nagata. Ivan and Elyse are “kind of two grifters coming together to steal from the wealthy.” At one point in the film Ivan notes that the accomplished bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks. Sutton remarked, “Because that’s where the money is.” If Sutton were alive today he wouldn’t be robbing banks, he’d be robbing the wealthy, Ivan says. Aselton noted that a shiny stainless

steel “bunny” sculpture created by Jeff Koons in 1986 sold at Christie’s earlier this year for $91.1 million. Fortuitously for the film in terms of timing, Koons had given his approval for “Lying and Stealing” to make a fake bunny. Breaking into a wealthy home and making off with the loot is one thing. Breaking through with a successful movie can be quite another matter. “Lying and Stealing” is Aselton’s second feature film. His first was “Gigantic” in 2008. He’s had a successful career, including writing and directing a number of commercials. Since 2010, Aselton has been a director and partner in Arts and Sciences, which does a variety of creative projects. There were some promising early auguries for “Lying and Stealing” when Aselton — who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife, Sara, and daughter and son — was being interviewed by telephone recently.

He was just a few days away from a special premiere of the film in New York City. “It is exciting. I’ve been living with it (the movie) for quite some time,” he said. James (Tobias “Four” Eaton in the “Divergent” series film trilogy) and Ratajkowski (almost an icon already from her modelling and social media presence alone, in addition to having good acting credentials) had been giving interviews. Their fans were buzzing. Aselton was prepared to have a healthy skepticism about some of the other seemingly great buzzes because they were so early. “Mostly stuff you don’t trust.” However, he was enthused that his mother, who has moved from Worcester to Cape Cod, was going to be attending the premiere. “My mom’s coming down which is the sweetest thing in the world,” he said.

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Afterward, Aseleton texted to a reporter, “Premiere was great.” Aselton said that when he was growing up in Worcester he always had an interest in movies. A group that included brothers, cousins and friends would often be “watching the same movies over and over again.” After graduating from Burncoat he went to Williams College in Williamstown where he majored in English literature and was the captain of the football team. At Williams there were “not a ton of film theory classes but enough to let you know there was a world you could break into,” Asleton said. It wasn’t quite a “Lying and Stealing” type break in. After graduating from college, “I was sort of floundering.” He spent some time painting houses in Maine while writing and taking photographs, and then took a job in advertising. Working in that field, “I met directors who took me under their wing and kind of walked in the back door that way.” One was Bennett Miller, who has directed commercials for AT&T, Virgin Blue Airlines and other businesses, and also helmed the acclaimed 2005 movie “Capote” as

well as “Moneyball” (2011). Another, Phil Morrison, has directed the “Get a Mac” spots for Apple and the sweet comedy-drama “Junebug” (2005). “Just watching the guys take that next step, making decisions what they wanted out of their scripts, was a huge thing for me to witness,” Aselton said. Among Aselton’s commercials are a series of spots for the Old Spice line of grooming products sold by Procter & Gamble. “Gigantic,” which Aselton also co-wrote with Nagata, is a quirky comedy about Brian (Paul Dano), a single 28-year-old high end mattress salesman who wants to adopt a baby from China. Brian’s life becomes more complicated when he falls for young, wealthy Harriet (Zooey Deschanel) when she visits the mattress store. Ed Asner and John Goodman play their respective fathers. The film received mixed reviews after its commercial release in 2009. The late Roger Ebert wrote, “On the basis of ‘Gigantic,’ Matt Aselton can make a fine and original film.” “It’s a first film,” Aselton said. There was a short shooting schedule, but he wasn’t using that in any way

as an excuse. The casting sometimes went smoothly, and other times was the result of a long pursuit. “I had exciting actors to work with. I like an ensemble where everyone has a voice ... “I think it (‘Gigantic’) did OK. It lived in the shadow. You go to the Toronto Film Festival and realize it’s playing the same day as ‘The Hurt Locker’ ... It wasn’t the Indie darling it was supposed to be, but it gave me an understanding of the market,” Ebert’s review had concluded, “Matt Aselton’s next film might be a marvel.” Now it’s ten years later. By the very nature of its story, “Lying and Stealing” is a more commercial film, Asleton said. It has gone through the “Independent film life-cycle” with the script being finished 2016-17, and then the project “re-booted” in 2017. Once again, Aselton likes the cast that came together. Ratajkowski “was terrific. She was great. She got the script and took to it,” he said. “I’d love it (‘Lying and Stealing’) to find its audience and pivot off it to develop more TV, more movies. I hope it hits.”

Aselton with his wife, Sara, and their children, Obi and Juno. PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT ASELTON

Asked about putting on a premiere of one of his movies back in Worcester, Asleton said, “I’d love that. That would be a treat.” He still has lots of family friends and family back here, and said he comes back for visits. “I’ll pop in and see all the gang,

who always seem to focus on the fact that I’m ‘So Hollywood’ now, even though I live in Brooklyn,” he said perfectly fondly. “There’s something about the Worcester crowd that won’t let you forget.”

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FEATURED

Wormtown Graveside Cinema to bring movie night to Rural Cemetery

From left, Jess Lofgren Curtin and Kat Kimball smile with John Curtin as they realize the screen is working. Wormtown Graveside Cinema is assembled at Rural Cemetery. CHRISTINE PETERSON

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BILL SHANER

magine it’s a cool summer night, you’re outside with a big group of friends in front of an inflatable projection screen, watching an all-time classic like “Gremlins” or

“The Goonies.” Now imagine you’re doing that in the middle of a graveyard – an old, historic one to boot. One like Rural Cemetery, where generations of Worcester residents are buried beneath decaying headstones,

Voices from beyond

eldritch mausoleums and ghoulish tombs. That’s the basic idea behind Wormtown Graveside Cinema, a new, free cinema project launching at Rural Cemetery later this month. “Face your mortality and watch

most of my life. There seems to be a lot of activity around our house now and I think it’s because my husband and I have been more open to it. ‘Haunted Worcester’ shares city’s paranormal experiences We are just more accepting that it happens. I’ve seen different kinds of “’Haunted Worcester’ is all about HOPE RUDZINSKI animals and seen even children walk giving the community an outlook for through our house.” everything paranormal, because we Lofgren Curtin hosts the podcast feel like Worcester didn’t have a place with technical assistance from her essica Lofgren Curtin lives in for people to do this. We wanted a haunted house, so maybe it’s husband, John, a musician and to create something different for not surprising she’s enthused writer. listeners,” Lofgren Curtin says. with everything paranormal. “We wanted to make a podcast Lofgren Curtin’s not just sharing Curtin, a special education teacher, that was for anyone who liked other people’s stories, though: She writer and artist, says her love for hearing about ghosts and the always shares her own, as she did in everything spooky inspired her to paranormal. We were aiming for third installment of the podcast. create the “Haunted Worcester” about 30 minutes each episode, to “I come from a long line of women keep it short and make it so listeners podcast and website. “Haunted Worcester” collects and shares ghost who can see beyond what everyone can listen in the car or on the go and sees, meaning I see ghosts,” she says. be able to finish the podcast,” Lofgren stories from around the area, both “I’ve been living in a haunted house online and through local live events. Curtin says.

a movie,” said Kat Kimball, an organizer. “I mean that’s pretty much it.” Kimball, most known around the area for the Worcester Death Cafes, is leading the charge, with support from “Haunted Worcester,” Rural Cemetery and others. Starting with a showing of “Harold and Maude” on July 27, the event will run into early October with showings every two weeks. On the schedule is “The Goonies” on Aug. 10, “Ghostbusters” on Aug. 24, “Beetlejuice” on Sept. 7 and “Young Frankenstein” on Sept. 21. “Gremlins” will cap the season on Oct. 5. The organizers selected the movies the same way they set out to put the event on – it’s just what they wanted to do. For Kimball, “Harold and Maude” is an all time favorite. Jessica Lofgren Curtin, organizer and “Haunted Worcester” showrunner, is sure the Goonies is going to be a smash hit. “Like, ‘Goonies?’ In Rural Cemetery? Hell yes, please,” said Lofgren Curtin. While the event promises summer fun, it has higher ideals as well. To hold such a fun and carefree event in a graveyard is a tacit promotion of what Kimball calls death culture. “Death positivity,” she said. “You’re going to die. You might as well accept it, talk about it and be there with it. There’s no need for it to be a taboo subject like it is.” The event also helps promote the

depth of history, as well and natural and architectural beauty, in the cemetery. For Lofgren Curtin and “Haunted Worcester,” that was the big draw. “I like the historical piece,” she said. “The Cromptons are right across from the Bancrofts and these are big names. (The gravesites) are beautiful, and the trees. The flora, the fauna, the stones.” The organizers, most of them at least, sat down for dinner last week at the Curtin house. Over pizza, salad and beer, a 40-minute conversation about the project dripped with excitement. Pieces fell into place quickly, they said, and already a palpable buzz on social media emerged. Monika Mangsen, the secretary and treasurer of the Proprietors of the Rural Cemetery in Worcester, said she heard of the idea at Kat’s Death Cafe and quickly brought the idea to the cemetery’s board of trustees, and the board approved. “Simple as that,” said Mangsen. For Kimball, “that was the best day ever.” Lofgren Curtin pulled up her favorite social media comment. On Facebook and in response to a group created to promote the event, Worcester man and ACLU organizer Chris Robarge commented that he’s never been more excited for a Worcester thing. That seems to be the general sentiment. Already, the organizers are anticipating a

In the first installment, Lofgren Curtin and Kat Kimball talk about Worcester’s death cafe. A death cafe is an informal gathering for the purpose of talking about death and spirituality over food and drink — usually tea and cake — which can take place anywhere. Kimball hosted Worcester’s first death cafe after attending one in Cambridge. The first two local cafes were held at Rural Cemetery on Grove Street. “One of our goals for ‘Haunted Worcester’ and the podcast was to create a place where people can feel accepted talking about death,” Lofgren Curtin says. In the second installment, author Charles Longeway discussed Worcester’s catacombs, which he wrote about in his book, “Worcester’s

Forgotten Catacombs: History of Worcester’s Underground World.” Besides sharing and collecting ghost stories, “Haunted Worcester” also hosts open mic events, the first of which they recapped in the podcast’s fourth installment. Talking about death and sharing personal stories isn’t always easy, says Lofgren Curtin, but she believes they need to be told. “Talking to people about death is always hard because you don’t know how they’re going to react, but we do get a lot of people coming to our open mic events and they are very eager to share,” Lofgren Curtin says. Lofgren Curtin says she wasn’t sure what to expect from the open mic, adding that the space was

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CINEMA

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good turnout, if not right away, then toward the end of the season. John Curtin, Jess’s husband and fellow “Haunted Worcester” organizer, put it best. “People are just excited,” he said. The idea of a cemetery cinema is new to Worcester, but it’s not without precedent. Kimball said she was inspired by similar events held in the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge and the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Santa Monica, California. However, it is one of, if not the only, cemetery cinema event offered for free. “I get so annoyed with everything costing everything all the time. It pisses me off. I just want to have

PODCAST

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small and about 10 people attended. “We all ended up sitting in a circle together, sharing each other’s ghost stories and experiences, which was perfect. We were doing readings first and then having conversations after along with cookies and tea,” Lofgren Curtin says.

something nice that we can all enjoy,” said Kimball. But offering the event for free comes with its own set of challenges. Each film comes with a licensing fee and the equipment to show the movie, especially the inflatable projector screen, comes at a cost. Of course, cemeteries are not playgrounds, nor are they traditional movie theaters. While one may feel comfortable leaving a wrapper and soda cup under the seat at a Regal Cinemas, that absolutely cannot happen at Rural Cemetery if the event is to continue. “Part of it is being there and having fun in a cool surrounding, but it’s also making sure that people maintain the respect for this. Because it really is like a beautiful park,” said Lofgren Curtin. The organizers are drafting a short

etiquette page to instruct movie goers on what not to do. “Graves are not backrests. Sit next to them but you’re not going to lean on them, drool on them, use them as a drink holder,” said Lofgren Curtin. The event will be carry-in, carryout, including seats. Folding chairs are recommended over blankets, as it will allow everyone a good view of the screen. In most respects, this event is guided by the mantra of “just do it and see what happens.” But the organizers are not opposed to making it something of a yearly institution. “If this goes well, we can do it again,” said Kimball. Lofgren Curtin quickly chimed in. “And then next year, can we talk about getting a gift shop?”

With the success of the first event, “Haunted Worcester” is eager to do more events in the fall. “We want to have some tours of downtown Worcester and show people the history but also the paranormal side. With giving tours, having guest speakers at our open mics and podcasts in the works, our goal is to always be able to educate

listeners and viewers, but also have fun doing so. I want people, younger or older to know that if you have an idea to do something, do it! Sharing ghost stories together makes me feel less crazy, and I know there’s others out there who want to be validated. I believe everyone has a paranormal story, they just haven’t shared it yet,” Lofgren Curtin says.

Jess and John Curtin, creators of the podcast “Haunted Worcester.” MATTHEW HEALEY

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CITY VOICES

FROM THE EDITOR

Hey! What happened to WoMag!?!?! VICTOR D. INFANTE CONTENT EDITOR

reetings, fellow consumers! Welcome to a glorious new era of market synergy and media consolidation! If you are reading this in the print edition of Worcester Magazine, then there are pretty good odds you discovered it

inserted in your Telegram & Gazette, which was probably a little strange. Even if you picked it up free wherever you normally do, you may have noticed that there are some Telegram writers and features jumbled alongside your WoMag favorites. Beginning with this issue, the Telegram & Gazette’s nowdiscontinued Go! section’s regular features have been merged into

a revamped Worcester Magazine. This means that Barbara Houle’s “Table Hoppin,’” Matthew Tota’s “Next Draft,” Richard Duckett’s entertainment reporting, the calendar section and “Things to Do” recommendations and my own music column will be appearing alongside WoMag favorites such as Bill Shaner’s “Worcesteria,” Janice Harvey’s opinion column, Sarah Connell’s

lifestyle column and Jim Keogh’s film column. Yeah, we know it’s a little weird. Just go with it. The goal here is to make Worcester Magazine the essential guide to the region’s arts, entertainment, dining and culture, and to amplify the perspectives and voices that make this such an exciting and interesting place to live.

So will this be some sort of rock ’n’ roll-type supergroup, like Temple of the Dog or something, or will it instead be some sort of unholy Frankenstein’s monster? We’re going to leave that to the pitchfork-wielding Internet mobs to decide, but in the meantime, thanks for joining us on what — at the very least — promises to be a fun ride.

state, very few schools have Media Arts instructors on staff. The lack of Media Arts education in our schools is something I have been dedicated to for a decade and a half, alongside groups working on legislation to incorporate Media Literacy into our schools. As a Media Arts educator and Executive Director of Transformative Culture Project, I have seen first hand the power of Media Arts to ignite passion for learning in kids of all ages.

Quality Media Arts education gives students early access to one of our most powerful artistic generators – the rapidly changing media, TV and film industry. That’s not the best part though – it also has the power to relate their education to their lives unlike almost any other tool we have, because they are engaging with media constantly. Consider the Kindergarten standard: “Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding.”

FIRST PERSON

A future for the arts in Worcester

CARA BERG POWERS

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hrough the hard work of non-profit and community partners like Pow-Wow, stART on the Street, ARTS Worcester, Creative Hub and the volunteer dedication of the Worcester Arts Council, the City of Worcester is becoming increasingly known for our growing creative economy. The efforts from large institutions to groups of friends and individual artists that are reshaping our city are too vast to enumerate, and that’s great news. According to a recent study from the National Endowment for the Arts and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Arts contribute 760 billion dollars to our economy, more than even agriculture. June 25th we got more good news with the approval of new Massachusetts Arts Standards. The new standards, rooted in 10 guiding principles, were developed over a long and thoughtful process with arts educators from across the Commonwealth. I first became aware of the process all the way back in 2014, when I was invited to join the group for evaluation of the National Arts Standards at Worcester Technical High School. Those educators met with one another several more times over the last five years, finally arriving in February of this year with the newly approved standards. With these standards in place, we have the frameworks in place to prepare every kid in the Worcester Public Schools for entry into the growing

creative economy. One of those educators was Creative Hub Worcester Executive Director Laura Marotta, who I asked a little bit more about the importance of these changes. According to Marotta, “Our students in Worcester are incredibly diverse and come from a plethora of backgrounds, families, countries, and environments. The Arts helps students to recognize their value in this world, and creates and sustains healthy communities, both within and outside of school walls.” She says that a big challenge arts educators face is the perception that arts is “extra.” “The biggest challenge for Arts Education is that there is an assumption that there exists a lack of statistical evidence that demonstrates its educational and academic value, despite numerous national studies that have provided this data. As President of the Massachusetts Art Education Association, of which we have over 900 members across the state of Massachusetts who are professionals in public art education, private art education, higher education, museum education, and more, we advocate for the impact of the Arts in many ways.” The Department of Education highlights some of the most exciting changes, including a reorganization, new evaluation practices rooted in art critique and development, and the introduction of a new discipline – Media Arts. In Worcester, music, dance and theater are in the Performing Arts Department, and then there is a Visual Arts Department, both

full of incredible educators and with strong leadership. If you did not make it out to the Teacher’s Art Show at the Sprinkler Factory this Spring, you missed out! (I have pictures.) With the addition of Media Arts, which does not fit neatly into either, the question of how to support its entry into our system will be interesting. In fact, that’s exactly how I found myself, back in 2014, sitting at a table at Worcester Technical Vocational High School with two school librarians – because across the

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CITY VOICES

WORCESTERIA BILL SHANER

WOOSOX WATCH: The official groundbreaking on the WooSox baseball park project is today and — par for the course — there’s a ton of mostly unnecessary speculation and intrigue heading in. The big rumor is whether or not the team is going to take the occasion to announce the team’s official name which, despite WooSox already being in the common vernacular, is still an open question. Those close to “insiders” have been arguing online all week whether the rumor has any veracity. In the event that it does, here is my Hail Mary pass: If anyone in the PawSox organization is reading this, know that every day I wake up and pray that the team is named the Worcester Worcesters. It is the best choice. It is the only choice. WHAT A PLATFORM: Well it’s about that time our Worcester municipal election candidates are putting together and marketing their platforms. They’re usually nothing too complicated. Conservative candidates will say they support public safety, progressive candidates will say the city’s good fortune needs to be spread to everyone, something to that effect. This year, we may see even more reductive pitches to voters. Conservative candidate for City Council and former School Committee member Donna Colorio sent out a mailer recently with two bullet points – lowest residential tax rate and “supportive of Superintendent of WPS.” Imagine that’s the battle line this year? Supportive vs Not Supportive. Ugh, wouldn’t surprise me. As if the initial debate around her contract renewal wasn’t reductive enough. Strap in.

This year’s “Art in the Park” in Elm Park might be the best ever. My favorites are “Chess in the Park,” “Tess,” “Guitar,” and “Transpollinators-mobile.” The viewing experience would be even better if the city would clean the lake. My goodness, the lake is a city showpiece that will be an unrestorable mudhole if its condition is not addressed soon. But “Art in the Park” – check it out. Jerry Lembcke Worcester Want to to have your voice heard? Send your Letters or submissions for First Person (750 words or less) to WMeditor@gatehousemedia. com. Please include in the subjust line “Letter to the Editor” or “First Person” and let us know what’s on your mind.

Now imagine 5 year olds using direct texts, videos, and archival interviews to answer questions about how actions of 5 year olds in the past – perhaps the children of the Birmingham Children’s March, or kids growing up before child labor laws, may have lived and how it compares to their own life. We’re doing pretty good – In grades K-5, as well as 7 and 8, most kids have access to arts education. But at the high school level, we can do a lot better. Only 50% of our 12th graders, and only about 30% of our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders have access to arts education. Every kid from every quadrant in the city should have access to arts education. It’s not extra. It is core to supporting the overall skills they need to succeed in college and careers. This will take time and resources, of course. But the good news is, there are things we can do right away – we can connect available dual enrollment courses with the standards and increase student enrollment in those programs and our AP Art classes

with Worcester Art Museum. We can provide more integration of arts, including Media Arts into traditional content courses. We can support programs like Creative Hub Worcester’s Spark Arts after school program. In addition to providing our talented arts educators with the professional development and paid planning time to incorporate these exciting changes, we also should have two goals to bring our District up to the new standards – (1) bring Media Arts into our offerings and (2) get to 100% Arts Access for every kid in the Worcester Public Schools. The good news is, we can do both of these things at the same time, while supporting our classroom teachers and our growing creative economy. Through partnerships, content integration, and creating aligned courses, we can ensure that Worcester Public School students are ready to lead the 21st century arts endeavors that are putting our city on the map. Cara Berg Powers is a candidate for the Worcester School Committee.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

THE STATE OF LOCAL NEWS: A very interesting but little-discussed bill is making its way through the halls of the State Legislature on the current shape that local journalism finds itself in (not good). The bill, which saw a hearing yesterday, aims to put together a 17-person commission to look at a few key things: communities underserved by local journalism, a.k.a. news deserts, the adequacy of press coverage in cities and towns, the ratio of residents to news outlets, strategies to improve access to news, identifying career pathways for potential journalists and, lastly, public policy solutions to improve the sustainability of local press business models. I’m most intrigued by the last one, and feel it’s high time the government step in and help with the absolute decimation of local journalism jobs. I can’t say much more without getting myself in trouble, but I’ll leave you with this note: Over the past several decades, the news industry has seen more proportional job loss than the coal industry, the steel industry and fishing. Yeah, it’s that bad. Surely an interesting bill to follow, and I hope our state legislature does more than simply “study” this problem at the core of democracy.

Dear Editor:

FIRST PERSON

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RENTERS’ LAMENT: A little late to this, but this data is evergreen and should play a larger role in the discussions we’re having about Worcester’s development renaissance. The Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance shared an intriguing slice of data from a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition a little while ago. The data shows that Massachusetts is the third highest state to rent in, with twobedroom apartments going for $1,758 at the fair market rate. To spend the recommended rate of 30 percent on housing, this requires $70,000 a year income. In the Worcester area, someone would need to make $23 an hour to afford a two bedroom apartment at the fair market value. But, the Alliance points out, the mean wage for renters in the area is only $13.84 per hour. That means someone looking to rent such an apartment out – a single parent for instance – would need to work 1.7 full-time jobs. Someone earning minimum wage would need to work 1.9 full-time jobs. And they say the economy is booming.

LETTER

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...

Wacky Wednesday Jam at Greendale’s Pub Good times roll at the Wacky Wednesdays jam starting at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Greendale’s Pub, 404 W. Boylston St., Worcester. Some of the musicians who performed there on a recent installment include vocalist Craig Rawding, guitarist Bob Moon, bassist John Prunier and keyboardist Jody Ryan. Photos by Steve Lanava

COVER STORY

Worcester Wrecking Crew

An oral history of the musicians at the heart of Worcester’s rock ’n’ roll scene JIM PERRY

Wrecking Crew (rek-ing crew) 1. a group of musicians that ‘wreck’ the old established ways to create a new sound and energy. 2. the name given to the group of musicians that helped the Southern California sound transition into the modern pop sound of the 1960s.

n any given night in Worcester, there is music being created by various combinations of a group of musicians that we’ll call Worcester’s Wrecking Crew. The name was coined originally for the young and ambitious Southern

Pub, while guitarist Roger Lavalee will be manning the controls at Wachusett Recording Studios up in Princeton. Bassist Jeff Burch might be bringing up the bottom with any number of countless groups, and the extraordinary keyboardist Brooks Milgate might be supplying licks for Troy Gonyea on a Thursday at Nick’s Bar and Restaurant on Millbury Street, or

local band, or Lavalee might have a gig with one of his groups, or … well, you get the picture. Lavallee remembers very clearly where it all began. Since he was a teenager, the guitarist, along with Arsenault and bassist Ron Monimee, had focused his public music career in a highly rehearsed original band, the Curtain Society, with a singular focus on the success of that project. The

in a very short time. The first show celebrated the music of The Rolling Stones. It was the 20th anniversary of the British rockers’ surprise appearance at what was then known as Sir Morgan’s Cove. It was up to Lavallee and his cohorts to do some cramming. They had one month to learn a 50-song evening. For Lavallee, it was, he recalls,

Other vocalists from all walks of life were invited to perform a song or two, “from metal bands, blues bands, folk bands,” recalls Lavalee. It was a potpourri of local talent. “We started supporting each other,” he said. “It developed into

From left, Mike Lynch, Brooks Milgate, Craig Rawding, Roger Lavallee, Jeff Burch and Duncan Arsenault

CHRISTINE PETERSON STEVE LANAVA

SEAN DOUGHERTY

arrangements were labored over, every note in place. Then, in early 2003, came the Green Street Music Series at the The Lucky Dog Music Hall. Produced and conceptualized by Greg Monroe, who hand-picked a backing band to supply the music, the shows would feature the music of a major rock act, and it was the band’s job to learn the material, all

California musicians who JIM COLLINS transformed the stuffy recording industry into a laboratory of creativity out touring with someone for a few in the 1960s and ’70s. Here in weeks. Worcester, the impact of these There’s all kinds of crosslocal musicians is just as strong. pollinating in their various Drummer Duncan Arsenault projects: Arsenault may pick might be leading a music up the sticks at Rawding’s jam, adventure with young guitar slinger Mike Lynch on Wednesdays or Rawding might drop by to at Vincent’s. Singer Craig Rawding sing some tunes at Arsenault’s Wednesday night residency at might be fronting his new blues Vincent’s. Mike Lynch might sit in project, The Cobra Kings, on for an ailing guitarist for another Tuesdays down at Greendale’s

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this great era of Worcester music.” They did those shows for several years, featuring the when he first saw what music of Tom Petty, The Beatles, he could accomplish as a David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen and others. musician. Duncan Arsenault remembers “It was so much fun, not loving every song. “I don’t such an incredible show,” think any of us were into cover he said. “It introduced me bands. We were all from original to so many musicians I never bands.” Still, he calls the experience would have met … that I never would have played with otherwise.” invaluable, “learning the music that, in some cases, I didn’t really The musicians, besides Lavallee, included guitarists Billy Claire and care for, that I never would have thought of playing otherwise. Of John Donovan, bassist Monimee, course, I loved most of it.” drummers Arsenault and Ed Through these shows, the young Barnett, keyboardist Charlene Arsenault, along with singers Dawn musicians discovered the joy of working with others, and learned Sweet, Craig Rawding and Paul Starvaski, among others. the nuances of other people’s music. MICHELLE SHEPPARD

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The players’ reputation for reliability kept them busy from that point on. Though some have stuck with their personal projects, and others have faded into alternate careers, a few of them are still extremely active, and they form the core of the Crew. They seem to be everywhere at once, involved in multiple projects at any given time. Their combined talents have enriched the local music scene in ways that can’t be measured. Lavallee, Duncan Arsenault and Rawding were the members of the Green Street Series that ended up as part of the Wrecking Crew. Meanwhile, other younger musicians started infiltrating the scene with their skills, looking for ways to express themselves with their instruments. These are the other members of the Crew.

MIKE LYNCH

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ike Lynch, the youngest of the Crew, started very young. “My father used to have a guitar hanging around just to bang on. My mom signed me up for lessons at nine

Mike Lynch hosts a Blues Jam every Sunday night at Greendale’s Pub. FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE PETERSON

years old,” he said. Lynch learned his craft from Joel Rivard at Kurlan Music Center. When his skills developed to a certain point, Rivard graciously recommended that Lynch graduate to the teaching style of local legend Joe D’Angelo. “Love that guy,” said Lynch. “We all do.” Lynch recalls how D’Angelo would tie in music to life itself. “We’d be going through jazz tunes and theory and modes,” Lynch said, “and relating it to stories and

situations. He was such a rock during that coming-of-age period when you’re, like, growing up.” Family members would bring the underage Lynch to the blues jam at Gilrein’s. “Part of it was these guys bringing me in, fostering my skills, teaching me how to improvise.” Eventually, Lynch formed a blues trio with drummer Dan Bungee and bassist Dave Kenderian, two more local workhorses. They were all recruited by singer Keri Anderson, whom Lynch knew for years. The result was Little Sugar and the Big Spoonful. “I’m just so blessed to be able to play with all these great people,” said Lynch. When speaking with Lynch recently, the conversation turned to the late Steve Going and for a brief, emotional moment Lynch couldn’t reply. After collecting himself, he described meeting Going at a CD release party for yet another project Lynch was involved in, a band led by bassist Nicole Sutka. Going and Lynch talked for a bit there. A few days later, Going called him. Just like that, Going asked Lynch to join a revised Wilbur and the Dukes. At that point, Going was working hard to revive the excitement surrounding the Wilbur name. He knew instantly that Lynch was a plus. Suddenly, Lynch was everywhere, brightening every musical event with his big smile and hot licks.

BROOKS MILGATE

orn into a musical family in Cleveland, Ohio, keyboardist/guitarist Brooks Milgate was surrounded by music. Both of his parents still play, and his brother is a drummer. When he was still very young, they moved to Florida, where he took piano lessons. He recalls that he got serious around age 11, “and I realized that this piano playing could be fun.” While in high school, he dove into music theory. After graduation, Milgate moved up to Massachusetts with a scholarship to Berklee school of Music. Around 2005, Milgate was in a band called The Luxury, then began hanging at blues jams at The Mill in Southbridge where he met Seth Loconto, and together, they formed the rock band Gutta.

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Shortly after, he started his own band, Hey Now Morris Fader. Gutta played a Curtain Society CD release party, where Milgate met Duncan Arsenault and Lavallee. At some point, he recalls having a lengthy talk with Arsenault, and they developed their relationship rapidly from that point. Brooks Milgate, second from “That kind of evolved right with Hey Now, Morris Fader into the Dive Thursdays,” bandmates from left, Alex Sacco, said Milgate, referring to Justin Day and Jeremy Martin. the extremely popular FILE PHOTO/JIM COLLINS jam that settled into Worcester’s Dive Bar for a few years. Hammond Organ,” recalls Milgate. Not enough can be said “I’m a piano player first and about the experience of these foremost, but I love the organ. musicians at the Dive Thursdays. We started learning a lot of those Every one of them recalls very old organ grinder tunes, you special nights of instant musical know, Jimmy Smith, some old creations that were of the blues tunes. It was such a great moment. While they were doing experience. these improvs, their skills were “For a good long while a great improving at a hectic pace. group of people came out to listen “One thing that comes to mind to our music and have fun. And is that was my introduction to

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most of the time, we were just kind of improvising. Duncan kind of orchestrated it, just get all the players together. Once we got there, it was really whoever had a suggestion. Just shout it out, and that’s the next song we’ll do. “In the midst of all this,” said Milgate, “there were countless other things that we threw together for a gig or two.” He recalls playing in the late Scott Ricciuti’s last project along with Arsenault and Lavallee. Milgate got together with Arsenault and fellow Crew member Rawding to form the highly praised band The Curtis Mayflower. Their 2017 CD, “Death Hoax,” was considered by many as the best of the year from the greater Worcester area. The original songs were beautifully thought out and performed with heart. Over the last few years, Milgate started gigging with the great blues man Troy Gonyea, which has become something special. This led to one of his current gigs, manning the keyboards for popular blues guitarist Ana Popovich. They

just completed a mini tour of the Midwest.

JEFF BURCH

assist Jeff Burch got his start in the ’90s at the music scene that formed in Worcester’s Tammany Hall. He worked with a band called OSV, then later teamed up with Jon Short in the Late Messengers. He worked in carpentry on the side while growing as a bassist. After taking a break for a while, Burch started playing again with two Keri Anderson projects, Whalebone Farmhouse and Little Sugar & the Big Spoonful. “I really cut my teeth on knowing how to play the upright bass with them,” he said. When Arsenault started his legendary Dive Thursdays, Burch was recruited. “The day that I got the call to do the Dive gig, it was with the late Scott Ricciuti.” Burch said that it was a challenge, but an enjoyable one. “Scott would just call out one of his own songs I’ve never played before, and just count it off ! It was an adventure,” he said. Burch called the Dive Thursdays

Jeff Burch during stART at the Station’s 15th Anniversary Celebration FILE PHOTO/MICHELLE SHEPPARD

“absolutely, exactly what I love about music.” He said that the element of surprise was always there. “People played with each other in various forms on any given night. You know, people would have to be on their toes, everyone listening. I’ve never been afraid to

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just jump into something and just go,” he said. “That’s where I thrive. I’d rather explore what anyone has to offer on any given night, with that structure behind it.” He has a running joke with his friends. “I don’t get gigs because I’m a virtuoso bass player … I’m just a real good guesser.”

what I want to do, what I believe in,” he said. “It’s more important for me develop myself as a musician. I’d rather play at Vincent’s on a Wednesday night for a meatball sandwich, and really believe in the authenticity of what I’m doing, than play somewhere doing top 40 or whatever.”

DUNCAN ARSENAULT

CRAIG RAWDING

uncan Arsenault also grew up in an extreme musical environment, his dad being the legendary jazz keyboardist Al Arsenault. His

The Curtain Society, from left, Roger Lavallee, Duncan Arsenault and Ron Mominee.

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sister Charlene has the bug as well, and she still indulges in her love for music, playing keyboards for the popular ’70s and ’80s cover band Boom Box. The family has contributed mightily to the local music scene. Arsenault seems to be the driving force behind the Crew. His attitude toward his music is very determined, and his belief in what Craig Rawding and Keri Anderson of the he does is strong. soul group, Sugar and the Cane Breakers, “For me, it might at the Lucky Dog Music Hall in 2012. sound selfish, FILE PHOTO/STEVE LANAVA but, I want to do

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t was the first two Doors albums that convinced the young Rawding that he wanted to be a professional singer. Jim Morrison, with his deep tenor voice and daring experimentation, provided the template for Rawding. “I knew from the beginning that I could do it,” he said. Throughout his career, he has looked for inspiration from many sources. “I always dig deep to find things that interest me,” he said. From his early days, he ventured into wildly different musical genres, including early rock ’n’ roll with Cathy’s Clown, which developed after the Green Street Music Series. His tastes range from the great pop music of the Beatles era to the early 20th-century blues of the deep south. Using that blues influence to his advantage, Rawding truly came of age with the hard blues juggernaut, Delta Generators, a spectacular band that produced a handful of high-quality albums, filled with powerful originals. He also is part of the popular ’80s cover band, Heavy Horses, as well as the previously mentioned Curtis Mayflower. Rawding is a force of nature whoever he takes the stage with. (Rawding also performs with

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this author in the power blues band, Rattlesnake Shake, which covers the music of the early British Blues invasion of Cream, Peter Green, The Yardbirds and other assorted bluesy gems.)

ROGER LAVALLEE

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hen Lavallee was growing up in Southbridge, he found out by listening to recordings by the likes of Yes and REM that he was fascinated by sound. Right from the start, he could hear in his head what needed to happen in order to create the soundscapes he was imagining. As mentioned earlier, he dove head first into his creative muse with the original project, Curtain Society. Then the Green Street Music Series taught him to allow things to happen in the moment without going through painstaking preparations beforehand. Lavallee currently performs live with the fun ’70s band, The Flock, and still occasionally has reunion shows with Curtain Society, who still have a devoted following. But it’s the studio where Lavallee thrives, having developed a reputation over the last few decades as THE man to turn to for a recording project. The Worcester music scene has a special quality to it, unlike many other areas of the country. It is wrong to assume that this is how it’s done everywhere. There’s a reason why some cities or towns become hot spots for certain styles of music. “I like to watch when musicians and singers suddenly

realize that, ‘Hey, I can express myself here.’ I don’t have to stay in my head,” said Duncan Arsenault. “When we first do a song, I don’t want to know all the little nuances,” he said. “It’s more like, what’s the groove.” Adds Mike Lynch, “It’s the moments. That’s what really gets me going.” Milgate can’t say enough about the other members of the Crew. “The thing I love about them is they’re all just genuine music lovers. You can have an idea for a new song, a new project, or a new set of covers you want to do. And those guys are into it. You don’t have to convince them of anything.” Hovering over a lot of the energy of the Crew is the memory of their lost partner, the late Ricciuti, who tragically died in April of 2012. His place is preserved alongside the other Crew members as they continue their musical journey.

The late Scott Ricciuti, left, and Duncan Arsenault performing with Pistol Whipped in 2011. FILE PHOTO/THOMAS CAYWOOD

CITY LIFE

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

If you are an artist, or know of a local artist, email WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com to be featured here. Fair warning, in order to publish your work, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

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Sid Solomon is a plein air painter whose landscapes of sparkling Autumn hillsides, muted Spring days of melting snow or fishing boats under a hazy summer sky convey his passion for New England and for the art of painting. He paints on site and from life to absorb sensations and a visual vocabulary of place that, later in the studio he draws upon with greater freedom of expression. More than anything else, he aspires to be a brilliant composer. He sees painting as a lens for exploring perception and viewing the world through feeling. He works in oil, watercolor, pastel and various other media and has been painting for over sixty years. Solomonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is frequently shown in venues throughout Central Mass.

CITY LIFE

The Maine attraction at Sad Summer Festival Local favorites Four Year Strong to join Arizona rockers at daylong Palladium Outdoors event LINDA LABAN

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orcester is about to be treated to Sad Summer Festival, a title that might not sound like a thrilling day out. However, this brand new (ironically named) national summer tour is packed with energetic pop punk and emo bands, including co-headliners The Maine, Mayday Parade and State Champs; and special guests, Worcester’s own Four Year Strong. The main festival takes over the Palladium Outdoors stage, but the action continues with an after-party inside the venue. The Maine not only tops the bill, but the Arizona quintet conceptualized and organized Sad Summer Festival. “When Warped Tour folded, we saw a big gap that needed filling,” singer John O’Callaghan said of the former annual punk rock festival, Vans Warped Tour, which began in the 1990s and became a summer fixture until last year’s finale. “It made room for this. After talking with other bands, specifically State Champs and Mayday Parade, we decided to take a chance. It all came to fruition relatively quickly.” O’Callaghan is speaking from a steamy Houston, Texas, the day after Sad Summer’s first ever show, farther north, but no less hot, in Dallas. Though he’s no stranger to heat, the

The Maine will perform July 14 at The Palladium’s Sad Summer Festival. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MAINE

Tempe native empathizes with fans being outdoors in the sun all day. “The first day went really well. It’s tough being at outdoor festivals in this heat. All day, the attitude was really positive; it was refreshing to see,” he said. Positivity seems to be in The Maine’s DNA. Seven albums in, its new release, a bright and bristling pop punk set titled “You Are Ok,” sees the band showing no slowdown in its 12-year career: The album marked

The Maine’s first top 10 debut on the Billboard 200 chart. Maybe it’s that anxiety-busting title? “The album seems to have resonated with people. The title, for me, is half statement and half answer — to myself. It’s something that’s not heard often enough: People ask are you OK all the time? But we need to remind ourselves that we are and then we might just start to feel better.” The continued success is notable

and celebrate local purveyors along the way. We found that everything we were looking for in a celebration was already here.

Eastern Border and the city’s premier espresso spot. Now, the industrial space welcomes large events, shows and fundraisers. We were the first wedding reception, but I can’t imagine we will be the last. We purchased 300 vintage glasses for the occasion, piece by piece. I like to think about the hundreds of homes in the community that were represented on our wedding table in their own small way. (We made sure to scrub them first.)

for a truly independent band with no record label support. “We are fortunate to still be able to do all this,” said O’Callaghan. “We are a completely DIY band and we find it very rewarding. It’s twice the work, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the space where we feel the most comfortable; it’s not for everyone, but it’s the right way for us.” While Sad Summer is a valuable platform for self-sufficiency, like Warped, it also provides an arena where bands can support one another. “We were thinking of the MySpace days and leaning into that,” he said of the online band-to-band social media site that predated Facebook, et al. “Really, we want to promote the idea of coming together. One of the big things about Warped Tour was the exposure it gave to new bands. We saw this as a great opportunity to come together as a community and support one another.” Local bands fill out the bill on each Sad Summer stop and in Worcester, the show gets a boost from seasoned Four Year Strong. “We’ve toured with them in the past, they are a national touring band and the tour’s very special guests for that geographical location,” said O’Callaghan. “But we also want bands just starting and needing a leg up.

“At the end of the day, we are all just making music and trying to have it heard,” he added. “Alone, we can tour, but it’s important to tap into the unshared audience. With this, we can play places we wouldn’t normally approach and play to several thousand people, as opposed to one thousand.” For the fans, O’Callaghan thinks events like Sad Summer fulfill both musical passions and real social needs. “It feels like people are dying to be a part of something. There are all these subsets of people, but they have shared interests,” he said. “As humans we have much more that we agree on and share, than disagree on. We’re hoping to build a sense of community where everyone is invested.”

Sad Summer Festival with The Maine, Mayday Parade, State Champs, The Wonder Years, Four Year Strong and more When: 1 p.m. July 14 Where: The Palladium Outdoors 261 Main St., Worcester. How much: $37-$40 thepalladium.net

LIFESTYLE SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

WEDDING EDITION The Worcester Wedding

According to The Wedding Report, total reported sales for weddings in Worcester County last year amounted to $138,600,880 with an average price tag of $36,245 a pop. When my now husband and I began planning our wedding in Worcester, it felt very important to keep as much of our spending in the community as possible. As a true indication of my entrepreneurial spirit, one of the first things I did when we got engaged was purchase a URL: theworcesterwedding. com. Our wedding felt like the perfect opportunity to brand my hometown as a nuptial destination

Venues

Our ceremony was set to take place on the Worcester Common, which is technically a city park. There is a very simple permitting process detailed on the City’s website along with clear contact information for someone who can walk you through the logistics – call 508-799-1190 or email specialevents@worcesterma. gov. Flash floods sent us inside for an intimate exchanging of the vows at the foot of a grand staircase inside City Hall. Our first date was in 2016 at an underground art battle at New Tradition Company on Jackson Street. This was back before New Tradition also housed

Craftspeople

When I signed us up to make our own wedding bands with Chris Ploof Designs, I didn’t realize we’d be playing with fire. Goldsmith Ann Cahoon helped us melt down a Sarah and Jacob Sanders set out to plan the most family heirloom to create a set of “Worcester” wedding in history. sentimental rings wrought in history. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 21

JOSEPH GONZALEZ-DUFRESNE

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LISTEN UP

From punk to rap, Worcester drives musicians to song VICTOR D. INFANTE

ecently, Worcester crooner Dale LePage put out a sweet little song called “Worcester Smile,” an upbeat little love letter to the city. LePage, of course, is hardly the only musician to be inspired by the city called Wormtown by the old punks and Wortown by the young hip-hoppers. Indeed, local folk icon Bob Jordan also has a great, affectionate homage to the city, called “Wormtown.” With this in mind, we asked around to see what were some of people’s favorite songs inspired either explicitly or implicitly by the city. Here are some of them:

• “If You’re Dead Please Raise Your Hand,” by Greg McKillop: The singersongwriter behind Speaker for the Dead, now currently making electronic music on the West Coast under the name RUUNE, won a lot of hearts with this ode to the music scene, and with the line, “If Massachusetts is a coffin/ then Worcester has the perfect funeral for you.”

• “Broke and Stupid,” by Joyner Lucas: Worcester’s premiere rapper has a lot of gritty songs about growing up and struggling toward success on Worcester’s streets. We could have just as easily put “Winter Blues” or “Keep it 100” here, but “Broke and

FILE PHOTO/JOHN FERRARONE

sweet, folky ukulele duet is charming and odd, and it’s eminently lovable. Amazing Dick’s “The Kelley Square Song” should also be a contender. • “Practical in Love,” by Hat On, Drinking Wine: Singer-songwriter Matt Robert uses the deteriorating city as a metaphor for a strained relationship. We’re starting to think this whole “Worcester Renaissance” thing is going to put a cramp on lyricists’ inspiration! • “Turtleboy,” by The Roadkill Orchestra: There have been a lot of songs about Worcester’s favorite piece of public art, but this outrageous one from pianistsongwriter-condiment purveyor Dr. Gonzo is probably the one that best sums up the statue’s spirit: “Turtleboy, Turtleboy/what are you thinking?/I don’t care how much you’ve been drinking.” • “Ask Around,” by Rezno: Another recent recording, this hard-hitting piece of hip-hop has a ferocious attack and tightly wound rhymes, and the video’s shot outside George’s Coney Island Hot Dogs, the back of the Palladium and other local landmarks. • “I’mma Do Me,” by Leon Legacy: The video for this song about selfrespect and overcoming adversity

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Stupid” has the distinction of both being about coming to grips with one’s past when you’ve changed, and a video that’s enormously Worcestercentric.

Rich “Amazing Dick” Leufstedt

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FILE PHOTO/MAT T WRIGHT

• “It’s Tuesday in Worcester and Baby I’m in Love,” by Amazing Dick and Helen Sheldon: If there’s a theme in songs about Worcester, it’s being unafraid of being weird in public. This

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• “City Streets,” by Clock Out: In a lot of ways, this song — which came out earlier this year — could be about any city, but knowing this hard-core band’s from here makes this portrait of urban despair and rage especially compelling.

• “Jet Airliner,” by Steve Miller Band: We actually didn’t know until now that this song was written by Clark University grad Paul Penna, which means the line “touch down in New England town/feel the heat comin’ down” is probably about Worcester. Now if we can only find a connection to “The Joker.”

CITY LIFE

DINING

Scales Seafood & More: Where More is More 45 River St, Millbury 508-865-3377 scalesseafood.com SAM BONACCI

f your motto in life is “more is more” then Scales Seafood & More has you covered! Formerly known as Scales Seafood & Ice Cream, the changed name reflects the new ownership of Chef Shari Hanson and an expansive menu. Inside the restaurant, it is as if they plopped the façade of a Cape Cod seafood shack along one wall. The menu is written out on large letterboards above twin ordering counters with bright wood paneling covering the walls. The only thing missing from the seaside experience is sand on the floor and seagulls looking over your shoulder for dropped fries. To really top off the fresh-air feel, we opted to settle into one of the numerous outside seating locations that also makes this restaurant dog friendly.

The menu is where the more is more attitude of Scales first hits you. There are over 100 items to choose from and that isn’t even including daily specials or the ice cream options. Initially I was a bit overwhelmed, but the vast majority of the items are variations on sandwiches, seafood and pizza. To sample these, we opted for the Haddock Nantucket sandwich ($7.50), Buffalo Bill pizza ($14.50 for a large) and clam strip dinner ($10.95). When the food was brought to us, the first thing that struck me is the sheer amount of it all. I had a feeling there were going to be big portions, but holy cow these are BIG portions. Our friendly waiter informed us that they had to go boxes in a way that assured me he had seen our wide-eyed response from previous customers. The clam strip dinner was piled high with big, juicy clam pieces. These aren’t cast-off clam strips that you usually get this far inland. We are talking the real deal of perfectly

fried, big pieces of seafood. Between that, crisp fries and the mild tartar sauce this was certainly a hit. The NY style pizza was thin and approachable, but not fancy, shmancy brick-oven burnt all over. There was still panache to the pie with a dollop of blue cheese dressing on each piece providing a nice balance to the homemade buffalo sauce with just enough heat. Pulled, marinated chicken instead of fried

pieces added to the approachability of the pizza. The standout was the Haddock Nantucket sandwich. This is the best fish sandwich I can remember having in a long time. By opting to go with baked haddock, the generously sized portion of fish was juicy without adding heaviness. The fish was complemented by applewood smoked bacon, tomato and mozzarella that added wonderful

texture and flavors. The bread put everything over the top, though, with the griddle-toasted ciabatta making for a hearty yet delicate delivery of the sandwich. The great thing about Scales is that more actually is more in this case. A seafood shack style restaurant inside a mill building that also serves pizza and ice cream? It sounds like too much, but it isn’t. Scales manages to package different styles with friendly service that makes you feel at home while you feast for very little money. Our meal at Scales Seafood & More came to $32.95 before tax. Explanation of Stars: Ratings are from zero to five. Zero is not recommended. One is poor. Two is fair. Three is satisfactory. Four is good. Five is excellent.

Food: HHHH Ambiance: HHH1/2 Service: HHH1/2 Value: HHHH

TABLE HOPPIN’ BARBARA M. HOULE

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Peppers, Indian Head Farm team for outdoor dinner

Enjoy an innovative and true farm-to-table dinner experience hosted by Peppers Artful Events of Northboro and Indian Head Farm of Berlin on Aug. 15 “under the open sky” in the field at Indian Head. The farm’s fresh garden produce and pasture-raised meat from Lilac Hedge Farm of Holden star in this open-air feast in celebration of local food. Tickets for the event, which begins around 5 p.m. with passed hors d’oeuvres, are $85 per person and can be purchased at Indian Head’s farmstand, 228 Pleasant St., Berlin. You also can call the farm at 978-838-2942. Rain date is Aug. 16. Live music will be featured during hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Executive Chef Jason Veilleux of Peppers Artful Events is still finalizing the menu, but plans include a plated summer salad and a large dinner buffet, ending with dessert and coffee in the farm’s greenhouse. The chef guarantees the meal will be memorable. Lilac Hedge

From left, Jason Veilleux, executive chef at Peppers Artful Events, with the owners of Indian Head Farm, James Wheeler, Janet Woodward and Tim Wheeler. Peppers and Indian Head are teaming up for their sixth farm-totable event in August. RICK CINCLAIR

Farm will provide chicken and beef for the dinner. Peppers Artful Events has long been an advocate for buying local. This will be the sixth farm-to-table collaboration between Peppers and Indian Head, according to owner Timothy Wheeler, who operates the multigenerational family farm with his wife, Janet Woodward, and sons James and Nathaniel Wheeler. A bit of farm history: The farmhouse was constructed in 1782 and seven generations of the Wheeler-Hastings family have farmed the land. In the early 1800s, the farm produced hops, while mixed farming supported the farm through the Civil War years. Dairy farming took over in the 1940s and ’50s, and mixed vegetable production in the mid-’70s, with flowers and the production of jams, pickles and relishes coming on the scene in the ’80s. The dinner is a highlight of the summer growing season, said Wheeler, and the farm’s customers look forward to the annual event. “After so many of these dinners, we pretty much know the drill,” said Wheeler. “The only thing that causes us to worry a little is the weather.

You just never know.” Wheeler recalled how several years ago the farm-to-table dinner got rained on. “We had storm clouds hover over us for about 45 minutes, which seemed like forever,” said Wheeler. “It rained and then this beautiful rainbow popped up. None of the guests left and instead hung out in the greenhouse during the rain. Peppers’ staff wiped all the tables and chairs down, reset the linens and glassware. They did a tremendous job. People still talk about that dinner, saying it was one of the best times ever.” The event was successful and provided a great photo op. Wheeler keeps a calendar at the farmstand that includes an amazing picture of the rainbow and farm landscape taken that evening. “Guests always are impressed by the food served at this dinner,” said Wheeler. “There’s variety, and it appeals to everyone. Vegetarians have lots of options.” The dinner is our pick for one of the best farm-to-table dining events this summer. FYI: Indian Head Farm is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The

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our venue. We were even more elated to see the name plate of our favorite photographer, Joseph GonzalezDufresne, hanging on the door next Our invitations were designed by to Strader’s. Gonzalez-Dufresne Renee Boulanger, owner of the offers instinctive storytelling in custom invitation and stationery boutique, Whisker Kisses. We opted his work by evoking movement and emotion in the people around for a digital RSVP on Google Forms him. Similarly, Strader maintains and it was the easiest thing I’ve ever an innate sense of timing that is done in my life. Three talented local both natural and organized when artists also brought a unique energy he DJs. It was through Strader that to our cocktail hour: Veronica Van we found Yvonne Caole-Sousa Jura, Eamon Gillen and Lukas of Unique Melody Events, whose Therien. day-of services spared no detail. In the face of pending thunderstorms The Team and faulty air conditioning, she never It felt like kismet when our DJ, Jon lost her cool. When we told her we Strader, told us that his office was wanted food from seven different located at the Ivy Corset Building kitchens, a 1,500 balloon installation, on Jackson Street, mere paces from C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 18

LISTEN UP

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features footage from the now-gone Worcide skatepark, and the line “more crowns for Wortown” is a nice

and a parade through the streets, she replied: “This is going to be my kind of wedding.”

Food and Flowers

Orchestrating the most Worcester wedding meant highlighting a variety of restaurants and cooks that we care about. We had a very special Birchtree Bread Co. pizza night for our rehearsal dinner. At the reception, Alec Lopez and Sherri Sadowski honored my four years

as an Armsby Abbey employee with a supply of mac and cheese. Julia Auger and Jared Forman of simjang fried chicken on site for our 170 guests. The men of Wooden Noodles turned out bowl after bowl of delicious ramen. Worcester Food Hub’s Bali Marle provided homemade Indonesian cuisine. Rachael Lang brought a shrimp recipe to life from her cooking blog, L’oven Feeling. The Boynton cranked out crudite. And Brendan

Melican and Iris Lyons made a grand entrance on their WooBerry bicycle to give everyone the scoop. My love for the community continues to blossom — speaking of which, Arianna Phillippi of Sparkle provided my beautiful bouquet and Fivefork Farms filled every table with native flowers. Why would you have your wedding anywhere other than Worcester?

portrait of life in the city, including the Belmont Diner and the Dirty Gerund Poetry Series at Ralph’s, and an overwhelming sense of weariness at urban life. The intertwined sense of love and exhaustion sings. • “Worcester Potholes,” by Nat Needle: There’s something distinctly Worcester about the sense of humor in piano man Nat Needle’s love song to the craters in our roads. Seriously, this one should be played in the lobby of the DPW. “Worcester potholes are a miracle from Heaven/sent down by the angels from above.”

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little shout out to the city’s ascendant hip-hop scene.

• “Main Street Rag,” by Blue Moon Band: This 1978 punk song has a wildness and frenetic bop that makes it extremely endearing, and a guitar line that is absolutely out of control. A totally fun blast from the past, and its portrait of Main Street is as relevant now as ever.

The city’s rough edges and eccentricity have provided a lot of inspiration for its musicians, but perhaps the last word belongs to the late Carl Rasmussen, of the band Dead-Wrong, who sang, in “Worcester Blues”: “Let me tell you one more thing/before I end this verse/lived a lot of places/most of them were worse.” Indeed. That about sums it up, doesn’t it?

• “Worcester Song, Pt. 2,” by MessiahCarey with Anna Rae & K-Boi: “In this city there’s no denying/ some people are barely trying…” What hip-hop artist MessiahCarey has here on this recent track is a

building more/Lord, get myself out of here.” We’re pretty sure we read that same sentiment weekly in our Facebook comments.

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• “Diner,” by Martin Sexton: Worcester’s certainly name-dropped in this ode to the fine dining establishments that once made the city famous, and we’re told the 1996 song was written at the Wonder Bar. Go figure.

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• “Congress Alley,” by Orpheus: This 1968 song by one of the most iconic bands to emerge from Worcester captures both the times it was written in and the spirit of the old Crown Hill neighborhood. Plus, it’s just ridiculously groovy.

• “Out of Worcester,” by Roger Salloom: For anyone who thinks being jaded on Worcester is anything new, there’s this 1975 classic: “It’s the same old corner and the same old stores/same old buildings and they’re

CITY LIFE

FILM

Peter Parker has a date JIM KEOGH

veryone’s favorite wall-crawler gets his passport stamped, his head pounded, and his heart nearly broken in “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s perpetual Big Bang. The film is ambitious enough – the CGI and the acting are solid, the story is twisty-bordering-on-muddled, and the explosions are loud enough to remind us we’ve landed in the midst of summer blockbuster season. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) may fight like a grown-up, but five years after Thanos snapped his fingers and reduced him to dust (an act referred to as “The Blip”), Peter has returned with the hormones of a 16-yearold. As he departs for a class trip to Europe, he plans to profess his

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FILM CAPSULES “Aladdin” — Live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1992 animated musical based on the timeless fantasy tale about a charming thief, a beautiful princess and a big blue genie. With Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Will Smith, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen. (2:08) PG. “Annabelle Comes Home” — The deadly doll wreaks horror on the family of demonologists in this franchise entry. With Mckenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga. Written by Gary Dauberman; story by Dauberman, James Wan, based on characters created by Dauberman. Directed by Dauberman. (1:46) R. “Avengers: Endgame” — Captain America and the other surviving team members attempt to set the universe to rights in the aftermath of Thanos’ victory in this Marvel franchise entry. With Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd. (3:01) PG-13. “Booksmart” — Two studious high school seniors (Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever) try to pack four years of partying into one night in the comedy “Booksmart.” (1:45) R. “Breakthrough” — A woman turns to prayer as her teenage son lies unconscious in the hospital after nearly drowning in an icy lake. With Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Sam Trammell, Dennis Haysbert. (1:46) PG. “Captain Marvel” — A female superhero leaps into action when Earth faces an intergalactic threat in this Marvel movie set in the 1990s. With Brie Larson, Samuel

love for MJ (Zendaya) atop the Eiffel Tower – if the world doesn’t require saving in the meantime. Ah, the best laid plans of a Spider-Man. Peter bounces from Venice, to Paris, to the Netherlands, to London where he tries to be a normal kid by day while taking on a host of threats in his “off ” hours, including a towering fire monster. Fortunately, he has an ally in Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal), a cape-wearing, laserzapping superhero who claims the purest of intentions: he will coach Peter to become the heir to Ironman’s mankind-preserving legacy. Readers of the comic books already know not to trust a guy whose name comprises 80 percent of the word “mysterious.” Peter has good reason for succumbing to Mysterio’s offer. The kid clearly is searching for fatherly connection in the absence of his

mentor, the late Tony Stark. In fact, the real chemistry in this film is not shared by Peter and the ever-dour MJ, but rather Peter and Happy Hogan, Stark’s assistant played with nicely calibrated pitch by Jon Favreau. Though still in mourning over Tony’s death, Peter and Happy see an opportunity to bond. Happy’s flirtation with Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), and Peter’s distress about it, provides some nice comic interplay. “Spider-Man: Far from Home” goes so heavy on spectacle that it turns numbing (a flotilla of killer drones descends on London because of course they do). No one expects a sedate Spider-Man movie, yet the creative team of writer Erik Sommers and director Jon Watts seem driven to enhance the chaos quotient from their previous collaboration, “Spider-Man:

Homecoming.” Without giving too much away, we’re left to question whether the events we’re witnessing are even actually happening, which feels a little too dream-sequency for a literalist like me. I’m agnostic about most superhero films. They come. They go. Most earn gobs of money. I’m less entranced by “Spider-Man: Far from Home” than I was by “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” which executed something truly revolutionary. And just hours before writing this review, I was channel-hopping and stumbled on 2004’s “Spider-Man 2” with Toby Maguire as the web-slinger and Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus. I was reminded how good that movie was – one of the best ever to emerge from Stan Lee’s stable, with fewer pure action sequences than contemporary Marvel movies and higher personal

Tom Holland in “SpiderMan: Far from Home” IMDB.COM

stakes for Peter. Still, die-hard Spider-Man fans will find plenty to enjoy here, and they will know to stick around for the post-credits sequence, which promises rough travels ahead for our hero without his ever having to leave home.

T&G Readers: For today’s movie showtimes, please see the television page of today’s Telegram & Gazette.

L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou. (2:04) PG-13. “Child’s Play” — The murderous doll Chucky is back in this revival of the 1988 horror classic. With Aubrey Plaza, Gabriel Bateman, Brian Tyree Henry, voice of Mark Hamill. (2:00) R. “Dark Phoenix” — The X-Men face off against their own Jean Grey after she returns from outer space following a near-fatal encounter with a mysterious cosmic force. With Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Jessica Chastain. Written and directed by Simon Kinberg. (2:00) PG-13. “The Dead Don’t Die” — A small town is overrun by zombies in writer-director Jim Jarmusch’s star-studded horror comedy. With Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloe Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, RZA, Selena Gomez, Carol Kane, Tom Waits. (1:45) R. “A Dog’s Journey” — The pooch with a purpose forms a new attachment and vows to watch over her in this sequel. With Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott, Dennis Quaid and the voice of Josh Gad. (1:48) PG. “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” — The giant reptile vies with Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah for world domination. With Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, Ziyi Zhang. (2:12) PG-13.

“The Hustle” — Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson play con women who join forces for revenge. Written by Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning, Dale Launer, Jac Schaeffer; story by Shapiro, Henning, Launer. Directed by Chris Addison. (1:43) PG-13. “John Wick — Chapter 3 — Parabellum” — The super-assassin played by Keanu Reeves is back, pursued by other hired killers looking to collect a $14 million bounty. With Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Asia Kate Dillon, Lance Reddick, Jerome Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane. (2:10) R. “Late Night” — A swell romantic comedy of a very particular sort, a film that details the delightful attachment two women — played by Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling in tip-top form — have not to any man (or even each other) but to the profession they’re completely devoted to. R. “Ma” — Octavia Spencer stars as a lonely woman who turns the tables on a group of teens looking to party. With Juliette Lewis, Luke Evans, Missi Pyle. Directed by Tate Taylor. (1:39) R. “Men in Black: International” — A new generation of alien-busting agents searches for a mole in their midst. With Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson. Written by Art Marcum, Matt Holloway; based on the characters created by Lowell Cunningham. Directed by F. Gary Gray. (1:55) PG-13. “Midsommar” — A young American tourist couple are drawn into the

darker aspects of a pagan festival in rural Sweden. With Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgran. Written and directed by Ari Aster. In English and Swedish with English subtitles. (1:40) R. “Pokemon Detective Pikachu” — The son of a missing detective teams with the titular sleuth to find his father in this mix of live action and animation. With the voice of Ryan Reynolds plus Justice Smith, Suki Waterhouse, Chris Geere, Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy. Written by Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, Rob Letterman, Derek Connolly; story by Hernandez, Samit, Nicole Perlman. Directed by Rob Letterman. (1:44) PG. “Poms” — Diane Keaton stars as a woman who starts a cheer squad at a retirement home. With Jacki Weaver, Pam Grier, Celia Weston, Rhea Perlman. Written by Shane Atkinson; story by Atkinson, Zara Hayes. Directed by Hayes. (1:31) PG-13. “Rocketman” — Mild-mannered English piano player Reginald Dwight transforms into rock superstar Elton John in this musical fantasy biopic starring Taron Egerton. With Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, Bryce Dallas Howard. (2:01) R. “The Secret Life of Pets 2” — A sequel to the computer-animated comedy reveals more of the antics our animal companions get up to when we’re not around. With the voices of Lake Bell, Hannibal Buress, Dana Carvey, Harrison Ford, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Pete Holmes, Ellie Kemper, Nick Kroll, Bobby Moynihan, Patton Oswalt, Jenny Slate, Eric Stonestreet. Written by Brian Lynch. Directed by Chris Renaud,

Jonathan Del Val. (1:26) “Shazam!” — A teen can transform himself into a full-grown superhero. With Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou. (2:12) PG-13. “Spider-Man: Far from Home” — The young web slinger’s trip to Europe with his school friends is interrupted by Nick Fury and some elemental creatures. With Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, JB Smoove, Martin Starr, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal. Written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers; based on the comic book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Directed by Jon Watts. (2:08) PG-13. “Toy Story 4” — The gang goes on a road trip and reunites with Bo Peep in the fourth entry in Disney-Pixar’s beloved computer-animated franchise. With the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, KeeganMichael Key, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Jay Hernandez and Joan Cusack. (1:40) G. “UglyDolls” — The plush toys break out in song in their own animated musical adventure. With voices of Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monae, Blake Shelton, Wanda Sykes, Gabriel Iglesias, Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX, Lizzo, Wang Leehom, Emma Roberts, Pitbull. “Yesterday” — A struggling musician wakes up to find he’s the only person on Earth who knows the music of the Beatles. With Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon, Ed Sheeran. Written by Richard Curtis; story by Curtis, Jack Barth. Directed by Danny Boyle. (1:56) PG-13.

CITY LIFE

TA B L E H O P P I N’

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 20

pick-your-own strawberry season is coming to an end, with PYO blueberries just beginning. Visit indianheadfarm.com to learn about the farm, available crops and events. Peppers Artful Events also will have a four-course Beer Dinner with Cold Harbor Brewing of Westboro, beginning at 6:30 p.m. July 26 in the Orangerie conservatory at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston. Tickets are $95 each; visit eventbrite. com, or call Peppers Artful Events, 508-393-6844. Note: Dinner guests will have free admission to Tower Hill at 5 p.m. preceding the dinner to view the gardens on the property. The beer dinner menu: first course: Fried Green Tomato, Bacon Jam, Herbed Ricotta; with Ale pairing; second course: Ras el Hanout Rubbed Red Snapper, Smashed Potatoes, Smoked Pepper Romesco, Charred Corn, Pickled Red Pearl Onions, with IPA pairing; third course: Chili Scented Chicken Confit, White Bean Garlic Puree, Pork Sausage, Crispy Chicken Skin, Butter Poached Haricot Verts, with Porter pairing. Dessert will be Stout Ice Cream, Salted Caramel and Chocolate Shavings, with Stout pairing. Peppers Artful Events operates the Farmer and the Fork café at Tower Hill. The company’s owners are John and Susan Lawrence. Reserve early for the event!

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It’s brews, bands and bites on July 20 at Old Sturbridge Village’s Craft Beer and Roots Music Festival. The event will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Visitors will be able to sample beers from dozens of craft

•••••• News from Stockbridge’s Red Lion Inn is about celebrating the creative energy of the Berkshires and the inn’s new Artist in Residence and themed pop-up events during summer. Artist John Clarke turns the Red Lion Inn into his studio and inspiration by creating work on and off-site now until Labor Day. From oil paint and pastels to pencils and photography, Clarke creates art through a variety of mediums. A native of Massachusetts, Clarke has lived in the Berkshires since 2007 after receiving his degree in classical music composition from Bates College in Maine. He previously wrote songs, short stories, and more recently, children’s poetry. Porch Pop-ups at the Red Lion Inn will take place throughout the summer, each with a different theme. The complimentary tasting of wine, beer and cocktails is set from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The schedule: July 24: Canned cocktails, Lambrusco, Rose and icecold beer are some of the options for a casual night of canned beverages; Aug. 14: Crisp and refreshing, “Summer Whites” will include a variety of wines; Aug. 28: Introducing “Chillable Reds” for wine lovers who want to find a new summer favorite with red wines slightly chilled. Visit redlioninn.com for more information. If you have a tidbit for the column, call 508-868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

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Grab a table outside Big T.’s Mill Street BBQ Company, 242 Mill St., Worcester, for al fresco dining during lunch, dinner or weekend brunch. Scott and Bob Tefft, brothers who opened the restaurant next to Coes Pond in March, made good on their promise to customers that a patio would open in time for summer dining. The patio’s debut was late May, according to restaurant manager Judy Kula. The space, open during restaurant hours, accommodates 40 to 50 at 12 tables (with umbrellas), she said. “We now have entertainment beginning at 5:30 Friday and Saturday,” added Kula. “Bike night is from 5:30 to 9 on Wednesdays.” For more information about the restaurant and hours, visit millstbbqcompany.net or call 508762-9990.

breweries. For those 21 and over, paid admission (or membership or season pass) to the village includes a limited number of complimentary two-ounce samples of beer. IDs for visitors participating in the beer tasting will be checked. Additional full pours or samples of beer may be purchased. A non-alcoholic Polar beverage tasting station will be available at the festival. For more information, visit osv.org. For Sunday Brunch goers: Oliver Wight Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village offers Sunday Brunch, with seatings from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $21.95 per person for adults; $19.95, seniors (ages 55 and up); $6.95, children 10 and younger. Kids under 3 years of age eat free. Prices and menu change for special events and holiday brunches. Visit OSV website for more information about reservations. Show your receipt from Sunday Brunch at the OSV Visitor Center and get 25 percent off standard daytime admission to the village. The offer cannot be combined with other discounts. Visit to the village must be on the same day as you had brunch at Oliver Wight Tavern.

CITY LIFE

THINGS TO DO COMPILED BY RICHARD DUCKETT, VICTOR D. INFANTE AND HOPE RUDZINSKI

Thursday, July 11

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Thursday Story Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m. July 11, Boylston Public Library, 695 Main St., Boylston. For information: 508-869-2371, lstretton@cwmars.org. Ages 0-6. Out to Lunch with the Alchemystics: 11 a.m. July 11, Worcester Common Oval, 55 Main St., Worcester. Throwback Thursday Theater: 2-3:30 p.m. July 11, Worcester Public Library Tatnuck Magnet Branch, 1083 Pleasant St., Worcester. For information: lsheldon@mywpl.org. Nutrition Classes — Sugar, Some Bitter Truths: 2:30-3:30 p.m. July 11, Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem St., Worcester. Register online at mywpl.org or call 508799-1655x3. Laughter is the Best Medicine with Jerry Caruso: 6-7 p.m. July 11, Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., For information about this or other Library programs call 978-829-1780 or visit FitchburgPublicLibrary.org. Hooked on Blacksmithing with Jonathan Maynard: 6-9 p.m. July 11, The WorcShop, 243 Stafford St., Worcester. Cost: $90-$115. For information: email theworcshop@ gmail.com. The Russo Brothers Jazz Quintet: 6-9 p.m. July 11, Sonoma Restaurant, 363 Plantation St., Worcester. $5.

Down By the River

With songs such as “Cajun Party,” “Down on the Delta” and even a cover of Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya,” the Squeezebox Stompers bring both an earthiness and a sense of unrestrained joy to their swamp-thick brand of zydeco music. Playing an eclectic bill at Folkfest that also includes the Kelly Girls, Crocodile River Music and Native American-style fluting with Helen’s Willow Wind, the Stompers are a great way to finish up a wildly diverse evening. What: Folkfest When: 5 to 9 p.m. July 13 Where: Fitchburg Riverfront Park, 51 Commercial St., Fitchburg How much: $10-$15

Starting With a Bang

Human Detention Camps: 8 p.m. July 12, the upper parking lot on the corner of Main St. and Ionic Ave. Stacy Lord and Laura Marotta, cofounders of Creative Hub Worcester, will lead the local vigil, which is part of a nationwide event. The Proven Ones: 8-11 p.m. July 12, Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Shirley. Cost: $24. For information: 978-425-4311, BryanSawyer@ bullrunrestaurant.com. Drag Queens of Jello Wrestling: 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. July 12, Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St., Worcester. Cost: $15-$20. Limited Front Row Splash Zone Seating.

What: Canal District Music Series Opening Night When: 6 p.m. July 12 Where: Outside the Worcester Ice Center, 112 Harding St., Worcester How much: Free

Saturday, July 13

The Canal District Music Series returns after a one-year hiatus, and isn’t wasting any time. This summer’s series — which will be held at 6 p.m. Fridays outside the Worcester Ice Center — kicks off with two of the area’s most beloved acts: folk duo The Promise Is Hope, followed by the African music, art and dance ensemble Crocodile River Music. Either way makes for a fun time on a warm summer evening.

P.E. James: 6 p.m. July 11, Grill On The Hill, 1929 Skyline Drive, Worcester. Summer in the Park Concert Series — Red Line: 6-8 p.m. July 11, Dr. Arthur and Dr. Martha Pappas Recreation Complex, 203.5 Pakachoag St. Auburn. For information: kpappas@town. auburn.ma.us. Genealogy Group: 6:30-8 p.m. July 11, Boylston Public Library, 695 Main St., Boylston. For information: 508-869-2371. Bruce and Nancy Filgate from the Boylston Historical Commission will be on hand. Twisted Thursday: 7 p.m.-1 a.m. July 11, Starlite, 39 Hamilton St., Southbridge. Cost: $5. “Top Gun”: screening 7:30-9:30 p.m. July 11, Blackstone Valley 14: Cinema de Lux, 70 WorcesterProvidence Turnpike, Millbury. Cost: $13.50. Rick Estrin & the Nightcats: 7:30-11 p.m. July 11, Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Shirley. Cost: $20. Family Firefly Walk: 8-9 p.m. July 11, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. Cost: $3-$8. For information: 508-8696111, thbg@towerhillbg.org. Queer Qomedy Hour: featuring Kendra Dawsey, Pete Angelo, Erin Spencer, Shaun Connolly, Julia Jeffries, Corey Saunders and Dylan Uscher, 8 p.m. July 11, The Woohaha Comedy Club, 50 Franklin St., Worcester. $15-$18. “HUNKS: The Show”: 9-11 p.m. July 11, Drafter’s Sports Cafe, 35 Chase Ave., Dudley. Cost: $19.95$34.95

Second Chance Animal Services 7th Annual Golf Tournament: 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. July 13, Musical Bingo presented by Wise Leicester Country Club, 1430 Guys Trivia: 9-11:59 p.m. July 11, Main St., Leicester. Cost: $35Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave., Worcester. $400. For information visit secondchanceamimals.org. Friday, July 12 5th Annual ELYSESTRONG Memorial Ride: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Princess Jasmine at Frances July 13, Moose Lodge 1129, 67 Perkins Branch: 3-4 p.m. July 12, Fitchburg St., Marlborough. $25. Worcester Public Library Frances Registration starts at 9 a.m. with a Perkins Branch, 470 W. Boylston continental breakfast, ride leaves St., Worcester. at 11 a.m., followed by lunch. Canal District Music Series BravHERy — Live Women’s Only featuring Crocodile River Music Experience: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. July and The Promise Is Hope: 6-8:15 13, Worcester State University, p.m. July 12, 112 Harding St., Wasylean Hall, 486 Chandler St., Worcester Ice Center, Worcester. Worcester. Cost: $397. Live, 2-day For information: 508-981-4632, experiential weekend for Women, ckburr2@gmail.com. Free. business leaders, mothers and Artist Showcase: 6-11:30 p.m. July aspiring entrepreneurs who have 12, Palladium Upstairs, 261 Main lost a sense of identity and are St., Worcester. Cost: $5-$15. seeking a path to purpose, who Donald Prange: 6-9 p.m. July have a desire to awaken Clair and 12, Park Grill & Spirits, 257 Park produce sustainable results in their Ave., Worcester. For information: personal and professional life. hagstromeric53@gmail.com. Asea New England/Mastering Marc Berger Concert: 6:30-7:15 the Fundamentals: 1-5 p.m. July p.m. July 12, Lunenburg Public 13, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Library, 1023 Massachusetts Sturbridge, 21 New Boston Road, Ave., Lunenburg. For information: Sturbridge. Cost: $12.50. mhaman@cwmars.org. Meteorites — Thunderstones from Friday Acoustics: 7-10 p.m. July 12, Space: 1-2 p.m. July 13, Worcester 308 Lakeside, 308 East Main St., Public Library, 3 Salem St., East Brookfield. Worcester. For information: 5082019 Sundance Film Festival 799-1655, wplref@mywpl.org. Shorts Tour: 7-8:30 p.m. July 12, Bruce In The USA: 1-4 p.m. July The Park View Room, 230 Park 13, Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Ave., Worcester. Cost: $8.50-$10. Road, Webster. Cost: $35. For Comedian Mike Donovan: 8 p.m. information: ck.comm.interns@ July 12, The Woohaha Comedy Club, gmail.com. 50 Franklin St. Worcester. $20. Festivals By the River: Folkfest, Comedian Carolyn Plummer: 8 featuring the Squeezebox p.m. July 12, The Comedy Attic at Stompers, the Kelly Girls, Crocodile Park Grill & Spirits, 257 Park Ave., River Music and Native American Worcester. $15. Style Fluting with Helen’s Willow Lights for Liberty — A Vigil to End

Wind, 5-9 p.m. July 13, Fitchburg Riverfront Park, 51 Commercial St., Fitchburg. Cost: $10-$25. For more information contact Beth Robbins at 978-829 1815 or email brobbins@fitchburgma.gov. Pirates v Jacksonville Sharks: 7 p.m. July 13, DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. Cost: $12-$197. Comedian Mike Donovan, 8 p.m. July 13, The Woohaha Comedy Club, 50 Franklin St., Worcester. $20. Comedian Carolyn Plummer, 8 p.m. July 13, The Comedy Attic at Park Grill & Spirits, 257 Park Ave., Worcester. $15. The Ugly Girls: 8 p.m. July 13, Oxhead Tavern, 366 Main St., Sturbridge.

Things Get Messy Things are likely to get messy as some of the Worcester area’s favorite drag queens step off the runway and into … a vat of jello? That’s right, it’s drag queen jello wrestling, which is probably something you never even knew you needed in your life. Some of the participating queens include Poise’N Envy, Veronica Powers, Ramona Mirage, DaishaDore Famouz, Bootz Kimbella, Naomi Chomsky, Robin from Human Resources, Brenda Cox and Randi Xtra Xtra, hosted by Kandi Dishe and Niki Luparelli. (And if that’s not enough drag in your week, Dishe is hosting drag queen bingo at 1 p.m. July 14, also at Bull Mansion.) What: Drag Queens of Jello Wrestling When: 8:30 p.m. July 12 Where: Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St., Worcester How much: $15-$20. Limited Front Row Splash Zone Seating

CITY LIFE

Fellowship of the King: 8:30 p.m. July 13, Greendale’s Pub, 404 W. Boylston St., Worcester. Your Mother: 9-11 p.m. July 13, 308 Lakeside, 308 East Main St., East Brookfield. WooPride “Rocky Horror” LiveCast: with the Teseracte Players, 9:30 p.m. July 13, Redemption Rock Brewing, 333 Shrewsbury St., Worcester. The Federation of Belligerent Writers and Dizzy Pirate Present — The Great FBW Bash, tribute

July 14, Leominster Elks Lodge (Dance2Swing), 134 North Main St. Leominster. Cost: $15. Fordham Road, Conduit, It’s Been Real, Evil Felipe and Brian DeStoop And The Old Haunts: 7 p.m. July 14, Raven Worcester, 258 Pleasant St., Worcester. $55, $8 under 21.

Monday, July 15 Rockets!: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 15, Technocopia, 44 Portland St.,

Magnet Branch, 1083 Pleasant St., Worcester. For information: lsheldon@mywpl.org. For ages 1½ to 3 years old with caregiver. Summer Workshops: Macrame 101 Plant Hanger: 6-9 p.m. July 15, Westminster Senior Center, 69 Main St., Westminster. Cost: $20. For information: 978-874-5569, westminsterhistoricalsociety@ gmail.com. The Dirty Gerund Poetry Series: 9 p.m. July 15, Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester.

Still Untamed It’s been 30 years for the multi-platinum, Grammywinning, rock ’n’ roll-country-Tejano phenomenon The Mavericks — give or take a break up and reunion or two. The long-time Indian Ranch favorites are touring with an anniversary show celebrating the group’s catalog from the early days in Miami’s punk and alternative scene through the chart-topping years in the 1990s and 2000s and right up to its current creative rebirth.

Wednesday, July 17

What: The Mavericks with Sweet Lizzy Project When: 1 p.m. July 14 (doors open 11:30 a.m.) Where: Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster How much: $40 to $60. indianranch.com to Pro Wrestling: 9 p.m. July 13, Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester. $10.

Sunday, July 14

Tuesday, July 16

Think Small

The 2019 Sundance Film Festival Shorts Tour is a 97 minute theatrical program of seven short films selected from this year’s festival. The seven short films consist of “Sometimes I think About Dying,” “Fast Horse,” “Suicide By Sunlight,” “Muteum,” “Crude Oil,” “The Minors” and “Brotherhood.” The Sundance Film Festival has been a prominent starting point for independent filmmakers for more than 30 years, including such notable artists as Wes Anderson, Jill Soloway, Spike Jonze, Paul Thomas Anderson, Dee Rees, Taika Waititi and Lake Bell.

What: WooPride ‘Rocky Horror’ LiveCast with the Teseracte Players When: 9:30 p.m. Jul. 13 Where: Redemption Rock Brewing, 333 Shrewsbury St., Worcester How much: $10

Girls band, 6 p.m. July 18, Oxhead Tavern, 366 Main St, Sturbridge. Free. Little Black Dress: 6-9 p.m. July Thursday, July 18 18, Sonoma Restaurant, 363 Rocket launching honoring Robert Plantation St., Worcester. Cost: $5. Summer in the Park Concert Goddard: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. July 18, Pakachoag Golf Course, 15 Upland Series — Boombox: 6-8 p.m. July 18, Dr. Arthur and Dr. Martha St., Auburn. For information: 508Pappas Recreation Complex, 523-9666, charles@wowinc.net. Thursday Story Time: 10:30-11:30 203.5 Pakachoag St., Auburn. For information: kpappas@town. a.m. July 18, Boylston Public auburn.ma.us. Library, 695 Main St., Boylston. Miss May I & The Word Alive: with For information: 508-869-2371, Afterlife and Thousand Below: lstretton@cwmars.org. Ages 0-6. 7-11:59 p.m. July 18, Palladium, Out to Lunch with Niki Luparelli: 11 a.m. July 18, Worcester Common 261 Main St., Worcester. Cost: $18$20. Oval, 55 Main St, Worcester. Terry McBride: 7:30-11 p.m. July Animal Craze at Tatnuck 18, Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Magnet Branch: 4-5 p.m. July 18, Great Road, Shirley. Cost: $26. Worcester Public Library Tatnuck For information: 978-425-4311, Magnet Branch, 1083 Pleasant BryanSawyer@bullrunrestaurant. St., Worcester. For information: com. lsheldon@mywpl.org. Musical Bingo presented by Wise The Ugly Girls Original Open Mic Night: hosted by Gregg Ackerman, Guys Trivia: 9-11:59 p.m. July 18, Beatnik’s, 433 Park Avenue, Serena May Smith and Amy Worcester. ‘Mama Bear’ Kiernan of The Ugly

What: 2019 Sundance Film Festival Shorts Tour Where: The Park View Room, 230 Park Avenue, Worcester When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 12 How Much: $8.50-$10

As the great actor Charles Gray said in what is probably his most famous role, the Criminologist in “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “there are those who say that life is an illusion.” By that same token, there are those who believe that seeing “Rocky Horror Picture Show” doesn’t count unless you’re seeing a live cast enact the film in front of the projected movie, and it’s midnight and people are throwing things and shouting obscenities. It’ll be a little earlier than midnight, and we can’t speak for the throwing things or obscenities, but iconic regional troupe the Teseracte Players will be handling the live shadowcast in a fundraiser for Worcester Pride. Just remember, streaming “Rocky” at home is NOT the same thing!

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Steps to Starting a Business: 1-2:30 p.m. July 16, Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem St., Worcester. For information: 508799-1655, wplref@mywpl.org. Author Cathryn J. Prince: reading of “Queen of the Mountaineers: The Trailblazing Life of Fanny Bullock Workman,” 5-7 p.m. July 16, Rogers Kennedy Memorial Chapel, Rural Cemetery & Crematory, 180 Grove St., Worcester. For information: 508-753-8278, wwallace@worcesterhistory.net. Concert on the Common: 6:308 p.m. July 16, Brimfield, 2 Brookfield Road, Brimfield. For information: 413-245-9977, sue@

Fishing Clinic for Grandparents and Grandchildren: 8:30-11:30 a.m. July 17, Marlboro Fish & Game Association, 1 Muddy Lane, Marlborough. For information: 508-389-6309, jim.lagacy@state. ma.us. Instructors from the Mass Wildlife Angler Education Program will provide lessons, fishing equipment and bait. Sign up by calling 508-485-6492. Make an Astronaut Figure: 11 a.m.-noon July 17, Boylston Public Library, 695 Main St., Boylston. For information: 508-869-2371, lstretton@cwmars.org. Nat Needle hosts Take Down The Wall Cafe: 6:30-8 p.m. July 17, 454 Grove St., Worcester. Free. Beekeeping 101: 6:30-7:30 p.m. July 17, Boylston Public Library, 695 Main St., Boylston. For information: 508-869-2371, efurse@cwmars.org.

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Larry Hama: “GI Joe” comic book writer signing event: Noon-4 p.m. July 14, That’s Entertainment, 244 Park Ave., Worcester. For information: 508-755-4207. Free. “Top Gun”: screening, 1-3 p.m. July 14, Blackstone Valley 14: Cinema de Lux, 70 Worcester-Providence Turnpike, Millbury. Cost: $13.50. Drag Bingo: hosted by Kandi Dishe, 1 p.m. July 14, Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St., Worcester. $5 per bingo packet. Each packet contains five cards. The Mavericks: 1-5 p.m. July 14, Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster. Cost: $70. For information: 617-431-1175, ck.comm.interns@gmail.com. Sad Summer Festival with The Maine, Mayday Parade and State Champs: 2-11:59 p.m. July 14, Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester. Cost: $37-$40. Joe Macey and Lynn Gerrits: 5-8 p.m. July 14, Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St., Worcester. For information: 774-823-3022, angelapad@yahoo.com. Dance2Swing with Fellowship of the King: 6:45-10:30 p.m.

6th floor, Worcester. Cost: $300. For information: email lauren. monroe@technocopia. Program for ages 5-15. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of a person landing on the moon, Worcester has a hometown hero who played a huge role in making that possible: Robert Goddard, universally acknowledged as the Father of Modern Rocketry. Throughout this year institutions around Worcester are joining to honor Goddard, and Technocopia plans to make a blast-off of it with Rocketry week, where students will design, make and launch rockets. Tatnuck Toddlers! Learn and Play Storytime: 10-11 a.m. July 15, Worcester Public Library Tatnuck

hitchcockacademy.org. Writer’s Club: 6:30-7:30 p.m. July 16, Boylston Public Library, 695 Main St., Boylston. For information: 508-869-2371, efurse@cwmars.org. This is group for aspiring writers, led by Susan Roney O’Brien, MFA. Science Fiction Book Club: discussing “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov, 7:15-8:30 p.m. July 16, Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem St., Worcester. Register online at mywpl.org or call 508-7991655x3. WWE Smackdown Live: 7:45 p.m. July 16, DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. Cost: $15-$497.

CITY LIFE

Born to Run

THINGS TO DO STAGE “Kamp Kaos”: Youth musical. 30 p.m. July 11, 12, 13; 2 p.m. July 14. $20; senior (65+) and children 12 and younger, $15. Barre Players Theater, 64 Common St., Barre. barreplayerstheater.com. “7 Ways to Say I Love You”: 8 p.m. July 12, 13, 19, 20; 2 p.m. July 14, 21. $20; seniors and students,

$18; youth 11 and younger, $10. Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge. stageloft.org. “West Side Story”: 7:30 p.m. July 17, 18, 19; 1 and 7:30 p.m. July 20. $20; $17 for seniors and students. Calliope Productions, 150 Main St., Boylston. calliopeproductions.org. “Trial of the Wicked Witch: The Musical”: July 19, 20, 21. Gateway Players Theatre, Fellowship

Coping with disillusionment

Rain on a window pane, coffee stains on a table ... Worcester artist, cinematographer and photographer Eric Nichols accumulates seemingly mundane photographic images toward a purpose in his exhibition “Waiting” at the Worcester PopUp July 12 to Aug. 1. “The reality of my adulthood is very different from the expectation I had imagined for myself in my early 20s,” Nichols says. “ ‘Waiting’ is an attempt to cope with my disillusionment. I use my camera as a way to investigate the minor imperfections contained in my domestic sphere. The resulting images act as documents of intimate spaces and metaphors for emotional states, creating an alternative self-portrait.”

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What: “Waiting” The Photography of Eric Nichols — Opening Reception When: 5 to 8 p.m. July 12 Where: Worcester PopUp, 20 Franklin St., Worcester How much: Free. worcesterpopup.org

Hall of Elm St. Congregational Church, 61 Elm St in Southbridge. gatewayplayers.org. “Shrek The Musical”: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17; 2 p.m. Aug. 4, 11, 18. $24 The Bradley Playhouse, 30 Front St., Putnam, Conn. $24; $21 for seniors and students. thebradleyplayhouse.org. “Singin’ In The Rain”: 8 p.m. Aug. 9, 10, 16, 17 and 2 p.m. Aug. 18. $22; $15 for ages 16 and younger. Theatre at the Mount, Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. mwcc.edu/ tam. “Newsies”: 8 p.m. Aug. 9, 10, 16, 17; 2 p.m. Aug. 11, 18. $20; seniors and students, $18; youth 11 and younger, $10. Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge. stageloft.org. “Forever Plaid”: Aug. 23, 24, 25. Bradley Playhouse, 30 Front St., Putnam, Conn. thebradleyplayhouse.org. “Beer For Breakfast”: 8 p.m. Sept. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21; 2 p.m. Sept. 8, 15, 22. $20; seniors and students, $18; youth 11 and younger, $10. Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge. stageloft.org. “Tuesdays with Morrie”: Sept. 13, 14, 20, 21, 22. Gateway Players Theatre. gatewayplayers.org. “Beautiful”: Sept. 26-29. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre.org. “There’s a Monster in My Closet”: Oct. 4, 5, 6. Gateway Players Theatre. gatewayplayers.org. “Deathtrap”: Oct. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 30. The Bradley Playhouse, 30 Front St., Putnam, Conn. thebradleyplayhouse.org. “Don’t Dress for Dinner”: 8 p.m. Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12; 2 p.m. Oct. 13. $22; $15 for ages 16 and younger. Theatre at the Mount, Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. mwcc.

Bruce In The USA not only sounds like Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, the tribute band looks a lot like them as well. Matt Ryan embraces the persona of The Boss, but the energy and passion of his singing and playing, as with the rest of the talented Bruce In The USA members, takes matters beyond duplication and into a really good live musical experience. Besides which, Bruce In The USA has plenty of great music to draw upon. What: Bruce In The USA When: 1 p.m. July 13 (doors open 11:30 a.m.) Where: Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster How much: $25-$35. indianranch.com

edu/tam. “Spitfire Grill, The Musical”: 8 p.m. Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19; 2 p.m. Oct. 13, 20. $20; seniors and students, $18; youth 11 and younger, $10. Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge. stageloft.org. “Once on This Island”: Oct. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20. New Players Theatre Guild, 15 Rollstone St., Fitchburg. nptg.org. “The Woman in Black”: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17, 18, 19, 25, 26; 2 p.m. Oct. 20, 27. $20; $17 for seniors and students. Calliope Productions, 150 Main St., Boylston. calliopeproductions.org. “Wait Until Dark”: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26; 2 p.m. Oct. 27. $20; senior (65+) and children 12 and younger, $15. Barre Players Theater, 64 Common St., Barre. barreplayerstheater.com. “The Haunting of Hill House”: 7:30 Oct. 25, 26, Nov. 1, 2; 2 p.m. Oct. 27, Nov. 3. $15; $12 for seniors and students. Pasture Prime Productions, 4 Dresser Hill Road, Charlton. “The Play That Goes Wrong”: Oct. 31-Nov. 3. The Hanover Theatre for

the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre. org. “A Murder Is Announced”: Nov. 15, 16, 22, 23, 24. Gateway Players Theatre. gatewayplayers.org. “A Christmas Story, The Musical”: 8 p.m. Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 6, 7; 2 p.m. Dec. 1, 8. $22; $15 for ages 16 and younger. Theatre at the Mount, Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner. mwcc.edu/tam. “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some)”: 8 p.m. Dec. 6, 13; 2 p.m. Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15. $20; seniors and students, $18; youth 11 and younger, $10. Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge. stageloft.org.

TICKETS Danny Klein’s Full House: 8 p.m. July 27. $20. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-4254311. Milton: 8 p.m. July 27. $15. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.

CITY LIFE

Courting ‘Kaos’ com 978-425-4311. The Menzingers - Summer 2019 with special guests The Sidekicks, Queen Of Jeans: 8 p.m. July 28. $25 in advance, $28 at the door. The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester. thepalladium.net. 508-797-9696. Davina & the Vagabonds: 7:30 p.m. July 28. $24. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-425-4311. Stick to Your Guns: Pure Noise Tour with special guests Counterparts, Terror, Sanction, Year

Of The Knife: 6:30 p.m. July 30. $20. The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester. thepalladium.net. 508797-9696. Richard Shindell: 8 p.m. Aug. 2. $26. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-4254311. The Flaming Lips and The Claypool Lennon Delirium with special guest Particle Kid. 5 p.m. Aug. 3. $45 general admission. The Palladium Outdoors, 261 Main St., Worcester. thepalladium.net. 508-

Making ‘Magic’ For the third straight year, the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra will share the magic of Mozart as part of its Bank of America Summer Concert Series. “Magically Mozart,” starting at 7 p.m. Sunday at Institute Park, will feature guest clarinetist John Fullam as soloist with the orchestra in movements from concertos by Mozart and Franz Krommer. Other works on the program include Mozart’s overtures to The Magic Flute, the Marriage of Figaro, and Lucio Silla, along with later Mozart symphonies including Symphony No. 35 (“Haffner”). Myron Romanul conducts. “Magically Mozart” replaced what had been the orchestra’s long-running “Classics to Broadway” program in 2017. “Mozart’s music is timeless and highly captivating, something both our musicians and our audiences hugely anticipate,” said Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra executive director Paul Levenson. “We are fortunate to have a wonderful orchestra and an outstanding soloist to interpret Mozart’s genius, and make his music come alive, all in the setting of being under the stars in a picturesque public park.”

What: “Kamp Kaos” — Barre Players Youth and Young Adult Theater When: 7:30 p.m. July 11, 12 and 13; 2 p.m. July 14 Where: Barre Players Theater, 64 Common St., Barre How much: $15. barreplayers.com Morgue, Germ, Night Lovell, Trash Talk: 4:30 p.m. Aug. 11. $49.50 general admission in advance. The Palladium Outdoors, 261 Main St., Worcester. thepalladium.net. 508797-9696. The Weight Band: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11. $38. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-4254311. John Mayall: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14. $52. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-4254311. Darrell Scott: 8 p.m. Aug. 16. $30. Bull Run Restaurant, 215

Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-4254311. Walter Trout: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18. $35. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-425-4311. Peppa Pig Live: 6 p.m. Sept. 6. $35.50-$70. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. thehanovertheatre.org or 877571-7469. Victor Wainwright & the Train: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29. $25. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrunrestaurant.com 978-425-4311.

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What: Magically Mozart — Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Bank of America Summer Concert Series When: 7 p.m. Sunday July 14 Where: Institute Park, Worcester How much: Free. masymphony.org

797-9696. The Nick Moss Band with Dennis Gruenling: 8 p.m. Aug. 3. $20. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant. com 978-425-4311. Trude and Tag: 8 p.m. Aug. 3. $14. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-4254311. Josh Turner: 1 p.m. Aug. 4. $53$202. Indian Ranch, Webster, 200 Gore Road, Webster. 508-943-3871 or indianranch.com/. Sarah Grace & the Soul: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8. $16. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant.com 978-4254311. DeadBeat: 8 p.m. Aug. 9. $18. Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Rt. 2A, Shirley. bullrunrestaurant. com 978-425-4311. Papa Roach: Who Do We Trust? Tour with special guests Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves: 4 p.m. Aug. 10. $45 general admission; $129 VIP 2; $299 VIP 1. The Palladium Outdoors, 261 Main St., Worcester. thepalladium.net. 508797-9696. $uicideboy$ - Grey Day tour with special guests Pouya, City

Looks like chaos, and fun, will be the order of the day as the Barre Players Youth and Young Adult Theater presents Stephen Murray’s musical comedy “Kamp Kaos.” On the opening day of Kamp KAOS, a summer camp that boasts its own 12-watt radio station, camp director Wally Schneider is already in trouble. The mortgage is due, the world’s wealthiest woman wants to buy the camp, the county health inspector is coming, and the mysterious weather phenomenon El Gordo has brought a migration of mice. When Wally accidentally eats cheese laced with sedative, it’s up to the wacky gang of counselors and campers to save the day. Murray, a local area composer, lyricist, playwright and performing arts educator, has also penned popular shows such as “Pom-Pom Zombies” and “Katastrophe Kate.”

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CITY LIFE

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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.

Meet Mary Todd: Animal Control brought us 4 cats around 2 years old that were abandoned in an apartment. That’s a stressful situation for an animal. We’re impressed with how laid-back these cats are. They adjusted quickly to being in our shelter. They aren’t bothered by the cats around them and the dogs walking by Kitty City. We think they are fine with children. They get along well with one another and enjoy being with people. July 4th was approaching, hence their names: Abraham Lincoln is a black & white 18-pounder that needed his matted coat shaved; Mary Todd is a talkative black & white cat; Martha Washington is a 15-pound tiger, and Betsy Ross is a small tiger. They can be adopted separately or with one of the other cats. We’ve taken a lot of calls asking for kittens, but WARL is FULL of adult cats waiting to be adopted. Please consider adding an adult cat to your home (your curtains and couch will thank you!).

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Here are some of WARL’s regular needs: Pet Supplies: Dog and cat food (both canned and dry). Purina brand preferred. Please no grainfree; Non-clumping kitty litter; Bedding, comforters, blankets and towels (not pillows & sheets); Kuranda Beds; martingale collars. Pet Toys – For cats: furry mice and balls with bells, stuffed animals for orphaned kittens to snuggle against; For dogs: Kongs, Ruff Wear, Jolly Balls, Tuffies, tennis balls.

Office Supplies: Copy paper (white and colors), postage stamps, pink and blue post-its, etc. Staples gift cards are always welcomed! Computers, Laptops, Printers: Newer models or gently used models are welcomed. Medical Supplies: Latex gloves, gauze, anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, popsicle sticks, Dixie cups, One Touch Test Strips.

Monetary Donations: WARL is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your donations of money, time, supplies, homes, and love are vital to our cause and the lives of the animals in our care. The animals depend on the heartfelt outpouring of people like you. Donations can be given online, mailed, or given in person at WARL. Cleaning Supplies: Paper towels, 33-gallon trash bags, sponges,

bleach, dish soap, “HE” (high efficiency) laundry detergent, Lemon Joy soap. Amazon Wish List: Can’t stop in? Do you like the ease of shopping online? Visit our Amazon Wish List, and the items will be shipped directly to WARL!

GAMES

“Unstated”--shows not set in a specific state, for a long time. by Matt Jones

J O N E S I N’

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!

8 9 10 11 13 14 17 20 21 26 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

37 38 39 40 42 43 46 47 48 49 51 52 55

Movie theaters Title for the Virgin Mary What some music stores sell Danson of “The Good Place” “___ on both your houses!” Comedian Eugene who plays Gene on “Bob’s Burgers” Cpl. and Sgt., e.g. “Fantastic” character in a Roald Dahl book Traveler’s reference Norw. neighbor Agricultural warehouse Nonchalance First openly transgender NCAA Division I athlete ___ Allums

Last week's solution

African sightseeing trips Boosler of stand-up 13.1-mile races, informally Switch ending Peter Shaffer play about a stableboy “If I Ever Fall in Love” R&B group (1992) Conduit under a road “The House of the Spirits” author Isabel Demolition expert Ocean floater with a bell Armenia and Georgia, once Liar, relatively politely Word before tender or guardian ___ Recordings (label cofounded by Lil Jon) Rainforest inhabitant Sch. founded by Thomas Jefferson “La mer” salt Protective auto accessory Put together “___ Boot” (1981 film remade as a Hulu series) Eggs in nigiri sushi Magazine unit Sleeping sickness transmitters Emperor who abdicated on 4/30/2019

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Down 1 Collegiate URL tag 2 Desserts served in bars

3 4 5 6 7

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Across 1 To be, to Brutus 5 “___ Haw” (show with the segment “Gloom, Despair and Agony On Me”) 8 Wound remnant 12 Two-way 13 Root beer brand that “has bite” 15 1991 NHL MVP Brett 16 2004-2007 Nickelodeon show with Emma Roberts set somewhere in the eastern U.S. 18 Penne ___ vodka (pasta dish) 19 Long-running soap where the location of Salem wasn’t revealed until 2013 21 ___ New York (upscale department store chain) 22 Tallahassee-to-Tampa dir. 23 Sinus doc 24 Video game designer Sid who created the “Civilization” series 25 “En ___!” (fencer’s call) 27 Starter starter? 28 It helps connect older computers to newer devices 33 Current CW show set in “Rockland County” 35 Meals in a shell 38 National Coming ___ Day 41 Backgrounds for fireworks 42 Entertain 44 A in a Wagner opera? 45 Albuquerque coll. 48 Had high hopes 50 With 54-Across, 1994-1998 Nickelodeon show set in the town of Paradise Valley 53 Valley that’s the site of the Reagan Presidential Library 54 See 50-Across 56 “And others” 57 “Alas” 58 Mark of “The Full Monty” 59 Okay, but not great 60 Ballot markings 61 The Big Board, for short

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LEGAL

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Worcester Probate and Family Court 225 Main St. Worcester, MA 01608 Docket No. WO19P2153GD CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN FOR INCAPACITATED PERSON PURSUANT TO G.L. c. 190B, §5-304 In the matter of: Jeffrey R Plotczyk Of: Worcester, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Department of Developmental Services of Worcester, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Jeffrey R Plotczyk is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Gayle R Greene of Fitchburg, MA (or some other suitable person) be appointed as Guardian to serve Without Surety on the bond. The petition asks the court to determine that the Respondent is incapacitated, that the appointment of a Guardian is necessary, and that the proposed Guardian is appropriate. The petition is on file with this court and may contain a request for certain specific authority. 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 07/30/2019. 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 above-named 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: July 01, 2019 Stephanie K. Fattman, Register of Probate 07/11/2019 WM

HELP WANTED Family Medicine Physician (Marlborough, MA) sought by UMass Memorial Medical Group, Inc. to provide primary and long-term comprehensive care to patients; manage common and complex illnesses of infants, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. Must have MA Medical License, BC/BE in Family Medicine. Apply to Leigh M. Corl, HR Business Partner, UMass Memorial HR, HB-791, 55 Lake Ave. North, Worcester, MA 01655. No phone calls.

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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Sudoku Answers

LAST CALL

Genesis Club Executive Director and Members L isa Brennan is the Executive Director at Genesis Clubhouse Inc. and Lisa Dunn and Frank Pozzi are members at the nonprofit that provides a place for those with diagnosed mental health conditions to find employment, housing, education and make connections. Founded in 1988, the clubhouse on Lincoln Street now has more than 20 staffers and serves 900 members annually with around 85 visiting the center on a daily basis. There is much more information about the many services offered at the clubhouse at the organization’s website: genesisclub.org.

DYLAN AZARI

clinical services here. But all of our members receive clinical services with our partners; with other healthcare providers in the community. We are partners with all of them in that we refer people and we will help problem solve with member’s situations. We are the only non-clinical provider, if you will. We provide the social supports and the employment focus and the back to education focus and the focus on reaching out to older adults to keep them connected. We are seen as a reputable partner in the mental health community but we do not provide clinical service here by nature of the model. How has Genesis Club helped you out? FB: It improved my selfconfidence and knowing I have the ability to change people’s lives and do things for the better for myself. It can be very crushing when I get down on myself and

this place helps take that away and helps me cope. There was also support to achieve my goals when I first moved here. It took a long time for me to feel better about myself and get the job that I have now and feel that I am successful. Today, I’m in a better spot than I have ever been in my whole life and a lot of that has to do with this place. Who is Genesis Club open to and who can become a member? LD: I work in membership. If you have a diagnosis of any mental illness, whether it be anxiety, depression or so on, you can become a member here. Or you can be referred here by a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist. Once you’re a member you’re always a member. It doesn’t matter how long you are gone for you can always come back. LB: That is part of the mission here. This place is designed for

people to express their right to meaningful relationships, the right to go back to work, and the right to have a place to come and return to. If you leave, if you’re hospitalized, if you decide to move you will always have a community to come back to, which is really important. It is open to anyone in the community; you can be from Worcester or the surrounding towns, but with a diagnosed mental illness on any scale. Most of our members run through a range from anxiety and depression to chronic major depressive disorder, schizophrenia or bipolar. There are a lot of people who are coming in with co-occurring illnesses like substance use disorder along with a mental illness. So there are some very complex diagnoses as well as some very straightforward diagnoses. – Sam Bonacci

Where does the clubhouse intersect with mental health treatment? LB: We do not provide any

From left, Lisa Dunn, Frank Pozzi and Lisa Brennan

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Why is it important to have a clubhouse in Worcester? LB: Worcester has always been on the edge of learning and responding to people with mental illness. Worcester is the second largest city in New England. If you look at the national statistics of one in four people struggle with a mental illness, there is a density here of people who are struggling and they are our family members and they are our neighbors. And so given that this is a city with a long history of inclusion and welcoming and trying to respond to our newest neighbors, I think that it’s only natural that Worcester would be

Why is your model of having staff and members work closely together so key to the experience at the clubhouse? FP: It ends the stigma of coming in with whatever level problems you have and I think it changes your life. The work and being involved with somebody creates a comfort I never thought I could have. Much like you trust a therapist, a family friend, a priest or a family member. There’s a comfort I never thought could exist and it changes people’s lives. LB: In addition, what is central to this model is that there are no power dynamics like conventional therapeutic settings. It is that evening out of the power dynamic that is also extraordinarily therapeutic because it allows people to regain a sense of selfefficacy. So when people believe that they are making the decisions about their future that tips the conventional approach to therapy on its head. That’s an important part of working side by side. LD: I can just say for myself I was very depressed and withdrawn when I came into the clubhouse. I was still very anxious and apprehensive about the whole deal and then I found myself working with the staff people and I found myself feeling like a part of something. I wasn’t just shoved away anymore. I wasn’t told I had to go to my room and not be a part of anything. You are working together all as one team.

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Can you give me a 10,000 foot view of what the clubhouse model is? LB: The clubhouse model is based on the belief that work is a form of therapy. When people have skills and when they are able to practice those skills and be in a setting where you can build relationships with people, practice your skills, regain your confidence, and learn new skills, it gives you the ability to re-enter the workforce. That is the therapeutic intervention. So it’s not just about going back to work but it’s about building a community that supports you while you’re re-entering work. It’s really two-fold.

a place where this kind of model would take hold. Our founder was working and talking with a group of people from the community 30 years ago and they were looking for a community response that was effective There just weren’t any effective responses at the community level in Worcester at that time. That is why they started the clubhouse.

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