DEC. 28, 2017 - JAN. 3, 2018
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS • ARTS • DINING • NIGHTLIFE
FREE ation c u d E WinterSeries 8 Page 1
inside stories news
Job fair caters to Puerto Rico evacuees Page 4
arts
An Art Affaire at the Sprinkler Factory Page 21
two minutes ... An interview with Jermoh Kamara Page 38
Person of the Year
CLIFF RUCKER
COMING AWAY WinsloW Homer & england Through February 4
WORCESTER ART MUSEUM
Winslow Homer, Hark the Lark!, detail, Layton Art Collection Inc., Gift of Frederick Layton, at the Milwaukee Art Museum, L99.
THANK YOU CORPORATE DONORS & SPONSORS PRESENTING
PARTNER
MEDIA SPONSORS
Bay State Savings Bank
Commerce Bank
Worcester Business Journal
J.H. Lynch & Sons, Inc.
Cornerstone Bank
Worcester Magazine
Saint Francis Community Healthcare, Inc.
Grimes & Company, Inc.
CORNERSTONE Camosse Masonary Supply Fallon Health J.J. Bafaro, Inc. Ken Weld Co., Inc. CONTRIBUTING
Lamoureux Ford Leominster Credit Union Lundgren Honda of Auburn Machado Consulting O’Connor, Maloney & Company, P.C. Pagano Media Reliant Medical Group
The Protector Group
Rollstone Bank & Trust
TD Bank
St. Johns High School
PATRON
Thomas J. Woods Insurance Agency, Inc.
IN-KIND DONOR Broadway Restaurant Duva Distributors LAZ Parking Maines Paper & Food Service Park Print Shaw’s - Goldstar Blvd. Shaw’s - Stafford Street Table Talk Pies, Inc.
Chacharone Properties Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Inc.
FRIENDS
Dauphinais Concrete
Dr. Robert Blute, Jr.
Grantham Group The Grenon Family Foundation The Hanover Insurance Group Quaker Agency of MA, Inc. Risk Strategies Company Southbridge Credit Union Sullivan, Garrity and Donnelly Insurance Agencies
2
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • DECEMBER 28, 2017
Atlas Distributing, Inc. First Friday Club Griffin and Company, P.C. Hassett & Donnelly, P.C. Industrial Cleaning Products Masterman’s LLP Provo Financial Services, Inc. Francis J. Trapasso & Associates
BISHOP’S HOLIDAY DINNER
ANNUAL APPEAL
insidestories
Kirk A. Davis President Kathleen Real-Benoit Publisher x331 Walter Bird Jr. Editor x322 Elizabeth Brooks x323 Photographer Joshua Lyford x325 Reporter Bill Shaner x324 Reporter Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Jessica Picard, Corlyn Vooorhees, Contributing Writers Donald Cloutier Director of Creative Services x141 Kimberly Vasseur Creative Director/Assistant Director of Creative Services x142 Becky Gill, Stephanie Mallard, Colleen Mulligan, Wendy Watkins Creative Services Department Helen Linnehan Ad Director x333 Diane Galipeau x335, Sarah Perez x334, Cheryl Robinson x336, Media Consultants Kathryn Connolly Media Coordinator x332 Michelle Purdie Classified Sales Specialist x433 Worcester Magazine is an independent news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. LEGALS/PUBLIC NOTICES: Please call 978.728.4302, email sales@centralmassclass.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, P.O. Box 546, Holden, MA 01520
DISTRIBUTION: Worcester Magazine is available free of charge at more than 400 locations, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each at Worcester Magazine offices. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law. SUBSCRIPTIONS: First class mail, $156 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to Holden Landmark Corporation, 22 West St., Suite 31, Millbury, MA 01527. ADVERTISING: To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call 508.749.3166. Worcester Magazine (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of The Holden Landmark Corporation. All contents copyright 2017 by The Holden Landmark Corporation. All rights reserved. Worcester Magazine is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.
EDITORIAL: 508.749.3166 SALES: 508.749.3166 E-MAIL: editor@worcestermagazine.com Worcester Magazine, 72 Shrewsbury St. Worcester, MA 01604 worcestermagazine.com
&2015 2016
This Week’s Feature: Person of the Year
H
is name this year became synonymous with the positive moves being made in Worcester. It started with the obvious: the return of pro hockey. For that alone, Cliff Rucker was immediately and warmly welcomed into the Woo family. When the Worcester Sharks left the DCU Center with no need to lay down the ice during winter, hockey fans were more than a little glum. Rucker changed all that by taking a shot on net and daring to bring a new team to town. The Worcester Railers, as they came to be known, have proven ELIZABETH BROOKS a popular draw. But hockey is not all Rucker had up his sleeve. He has built a practice facility with not one, but two rinks and a restaurant, to boot. He opened up Railers Tavern just a short skip from the DCU Center. He bought into The Palladium, a concert venue whose metal past is starting to make way for other genres, like country and R&B. He owns other properties and appears well-poised to expand his local footprint in the year to come. Many believe if the Pawtucket Red Sox end up coming here, Rucker will have played a big part, at least in terms of showing how business can be done in Worcester. In short order, he has become among the top influencers in Worcester. Meet Worcester Magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year: Cliff Rucker. — Walter Bird Jr., editor
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR WORCESTER MAGAZINE
4 City Desk 8 Worcesteria 10 Editorial 10 Harvey 11 1,001 Words 11 That’s What They Said 12 Cover Story 18 Education 21 Night & Day 24 Film 26 Krave 28 Listings 36 Crossword 38 2 minutes with… About the cover Photo by Elizabeth Brooks Design by Kimberly Vasseur
We Set the Standard for Luxury 363 Plantation Street Worcester, Massachusetts 508.754.5789
The only AAA Four Diamond-rated Hotel in the Region | Voted Best Hotel, Telegram and Gazette, Best of Central Mass Award
beechwoodhotel.com DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
3
citydesk
Dec. 28, 2017 - Jan. 3, 2018 n Volume 43, Number 18
Job fair caters to hurricane evacuees City, others work to help newcomers Bill Shaner
I
t’s been three months since Hurricane Maria tore through Puerto Rico, ripping apart its infrastructure and causing thousands to flee to the continental U.S. Hundreds ended up in and around Worcester, and now many of them have a place to stay, food and support for children via the public school system. As the infrastructure in Puerto Rico remains in tatters — almost a third of the island is still without power — evacuees in Worcester are itching to get back to work, if only temporarily. With that in mind — and with area employers saying there’s a short supply of qualified, trusted labor — business, nonprofit and government leaders came together to put on a job fair this week for post-hurricane evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The fair was held at Centro, with about 30 businesses from a variety of sectors — including health care, hospitality, manufacturing and others — taking part. When area nonprofit, government and business leaders initially got together after the hurricane hit, they formed a task force and divided the work into groups. Some took care of housing, others transitional assistance, others worked on the relief effort. Some are working on employment. With their primary needs largely addressed in the three months since the storm, employ-
ment has come into focus as an issue. Jeff Turgeon, executive director of the Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, co-chairs the employment working group. He said the group’s primary focus is connecting the evacuees with prospective employers. “As people are getting settled in, now they’re turning to that secondary thing,” said “‘OK, I want to be productive, I want to make a bit of a life for myself here, whether it be short term or long-term.’ Many are still trying to decide.” In Central Mass., and especially in Worcester, hundreds of evacuees have fled the crumbled infrastructure and collapsed economy of Puerto Rico, and more are expected to do so as travel becomes easier. The job fair is part of a larger collaborative effort between the city, the Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Investment Board, the Latino Education Institute, Workforce Central and the state Department of Transitional Assistance. It’s estimated there are about 700 evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in and around Worcester, including about 300 new students in Worcester Public Schools. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is still very much a mess. The power grid is still at only about 70 percent capacity. The death toll connected to the storm has surged from a few dozen in continued on page 6
The front entrance of Centro, where the career fair took place Wednesday, Dec. 27.
WOO-TOWN INDE X
A white Christmas? Now that’s the spirit! +2
4
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • DECEMBER 28, 2017
Coming off a nice preChristmas win over the Adirondack Thunder, the boys look to stay hot against the Manchester Monarchs Thursday night. +1
We’re all about letting due process play out, but the woman police say killed a pedestrian this week has allegedly run over others before in instances involving drugs. -5
+4
Total for this week:
A weekly quality of life check-in of Worcester
Say what you will about the DPW in Worcester, but while the roads were lousy in the early going on Christmas Day, it didn’t take long to clear them up. We give credit where credit is due. +1
BILL SHANER
This is really nitpicking, but no Dunkin’ Donuts open on Christmas? That’s a good thing, but why does it seem wrong? -1
Speaking of DD, here’s hoping the company’s partnership with Wormtown Brewery not just a one-time thing. +3
Go ahead and celebrate, CMass-area Pats fans - your team is one win - or a Steelers’ loss - away from the AFC’s top seed. Either way, we’re in the playoffs, baby! +2
OK, so it wasn’t entirely original, but Mount Wachusett Community College’s recent Do One Thing Campaign certainly captured the holiday spirit of helping others. +1
{ citydesk }
Homelessness comes into spotlight Bill Shaner
ELIZABETH BROOKS
T
hough it may not have felt like it over the past few weeks, winter is only a week old, and there’s plenty more nasty weather to get through before spring. For the city’s homeless population, which is on the rise, the cold poses immense obstacles, and can be fatal. Last week, on the winter solstice, city officials, homelessness advocates and state officials marked the longest day of the year with a message of hope, but also a plea for more support, and a more proactive strategy to keep people in homes and off the street. Paul Therien spent years homeless and suffering from a mental illness he would later learn was bipolar disorder. In those years, he was estranged from his children. He talked about getting connected to services, and eventually ending up, with his dog, in a little home. “I can’t imagine on a night like tonight being outside by myself, and that loneliness,” said Therien. “When I first went homeless, that was the biggest challenge – that loneliness.” He spoke at the Longest Night Vigil last week, on a cold night at City Hall, fitting for a memorial service for homeless people who had died over the past year. The night was declared Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Those who have lost friends and loved ones to homelessness lined up to light candles and pause for a moment of silence as faith leaders and officials watched on. In all, a few dozen candles were lit during the somber affair on the third floor of City Hall. Therien spoke from the heart about his years on the street. But he also spoke candidly about how hard it was once he got off. In the small home he had acquired, he said he felt even more lost. The house felt like a prison, and he sat in silence for three days.
continued on page 6
A vigil attendee ties a ribbon in memory of her lost loved one to the memorial board. The artwork was created by Tammy Grubbs to memorialize Michael Stoops, who was instrumental in starting the Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day events across the country.
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
5
{ citydesk } CENTRO continued from page 4
the direct aftermath to hundreds, as poor water quality and lack of power have proved deadly for hospital patients and other vulnerable residents, according to the New York Times. Of the 3.4 million Puerto Ricans on the island, it’s estimated that about 200,000 came to the United States to seek shelter. Many have come with the skills afforded by their professional experience on the island, and with licenses to teach, to provide social services, etc. Part of the relief effort in Massachusetts has been working to have those licenses honored. Jennithan Cortes of Workforce Central is working to help resolve those issues. Meanwhile, his office is working on connecting evacuees to employers in their chosen fields. At the job fair, he and others brought out employers in hospitality, human services, manufacturing, warehouse work, mechanics, administration and social services. “We’re trying to cover a lot of different industries,” said Cortes. The job fair, he said, is likely the first in a few joint ventures to connect evacuees with work here, however temporary. But it’s also only a part of the solution. Part of the job fair also entailed connecting evacuees with
services to assist with their stay here. Chief among them is English language learning, Cortes said. There are waiting lists currently for adult ESL classes in the area, said Turgeon. The group is working with the city to apply for a federal block grant that would go, in part, toward increased ESL classes. According to Karen Pelletier, director of Higher Education and Business Partnerships at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, many of the evacuees are looking at the situation on the island and wondering when they can return. Until then, she said, the working group will continue to provide the resources they can. “Hopefully, their homes get renovated and roads rebuilt and powered and everything is restored and they can go home if they want,” she said. “But if they’re here we want to make sure they’re safe and fed and housed and employed.” Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-7493166 x324 or at wshaner@worcestermag. com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.
sleigh rides
dining
HOMELESSNESS continued from page 5
What Therien spoke to was a common refrain of the night: that to truly solve the problem of homelessness, it’s not just homes, but a safety net, support and a community to reintegrate homeless people so that they do not fall back into it. The homeless population in Worcester is estimated to be about 1,111, according to a city study published earlier this month. Of that number, 96 people are thought to be living outside. Of those, city officials estimate about 70 fall into the category of chronically homeless, meaning they’ve been homeless for more than a year or for long stretches over a few years. Of the 1,111, 392 are adults without children, 207 are families and 37 are unaccompanied youth, ages 18-24 and 115 are veterans. This year is the third of a marked increase in the city’s homeless population, especially those defined as un-sheltered, according to the report. The limited inventory of safe and affordable single rooms, as well as an increase in opioid use and addiction, insufficient healthcare access and a lack of wraparound services are thought to have led to the increase. There’s also some debate as to the validity of those numbers. A recent federal report showed homelessness was down 10.4 percent
across Massachusetts over last year. But state experts question the numbers, saying that, on the ground, they’re seeing an increase, not a decrease, according to the Telegram & Gazette. Tina Giarla, a community organizer of policy and advocacy for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, said homelessness is on the rise across Worcester County, and the numbers only represent a tip of the iceberg, as they only count people being reached by services. Her office is working to expand access to homelessness prevention resources statewide, pushing the legislature to pass a homeless bill of rights, easing access to acquiring a state ID, and providing more wrap-around service. The rise in homelessness is due to substance abuse and personal factors, but she said it’s also due to factors far beyond people’s individual control, such as the rising cost of housing, the lack of affordable housing, and spikes in poverty. Erik Garcia, head of the Community Healthlink, Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program, was the keynote speaker at the vigil, and he spoke directly to Therien’s experience. To feel like you’re in prison in a home, he said, is to feel the more pernicious effects of homelessness – the lack of a community everyone subconsciously creates, that keeps
New Year! New You!
Bring additin this ad That' ional $6 for an 0 s MOR a saving OFF! E THA s N 50 of %!
ZOOM Teeth Whitening ONLY $350 (A $600 value)
THIS MONTH IN STURBRIDGE
ice fishing
• Annual Sturbridge Antique Show at the Sturbridge Host Hotel on Dec. 31 and Jan 1.
antiquing
• Annual First Day Hike on the Leadmine Mountain Trail on Jan. 1 would like to wish you a Happy Holiday Season.
sledding visitsturbridge.org WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • DECEMBER 28, 2017
MASS. HEALTH PATIENTS WELCOME
Caring, Qualified Staff • Preventive • Cosmetic • Restorative Crowns Extractions • Root Canal • Partial & Complete Dentures
• The Sturbridge Tourist Association
Check out visitsturbridge.org/events for more information and follow us on Twitter @visitsturbridge
6
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
New longer hours + weekend hours! 101 Pleasant St., Rm. 106 • Worcester 508-770-1451 • www.artofdentistry.net Open Days, Evenings & Saturdays
Emergency Walk-ins Welcome • We Accept Most Insurances
{ citydesk }
ELIZABETH BROOKS
What does #MCU mean to you?
Great. Home. Equity. Rates.
1.99
% APR
Initial Rate
Thank you # for voting us
1
Perfect for home improvement, vacations and refinancing! Initial rate of 1.99% for the first twelve months; thereafter the APR will be equal to prime rate, adjusted monthly. Maximum APR will not exceed 18%. Interest may be tax deductible, please consult your tax advisor. No fees, with the exception of an appraisal, if necessary. Rate and term are subject to change.
Elaine Dupuis joined MCU 31 years ago and is the vp, consumer credit manager. She has enjoyed helping MCU members buy or upgrade homes, refinance, and plan for vacations. Elaine and our mortgage team can help you too.
Personalize Your Banking www.millburycu.com
Your Community Credit Union!
508-865-7600 @#MCU
Auburn | Millbury | South Grafton | Worcester /MillburyFederalCreditUnion
@millburycu
NMLS# 537519 • Elaine Dupuis MLO# 627402
Paul Therien shares his personal experience with homelessness. people afloat even in the hardest times. Garcia advocated for more counselors to help the homeless connect to services and community. He advocated for more money for those counselors. He advocated for a “housing first” model, in which people are rapidly rehoused, but also for a larger homeless shelter. People are sleeping in the basements of churches, he said, and that’s not OK. The message was echoed by every speaker at the event, who all said the city does a good
job at addressing homelessness, but could do better. “This city will not let you down,” said Garcia.”You just have to have hope and to keep pushing.” Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-7493166 x324 or at wshaner@worcestermag. com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.
GRANITE COUNTERTOPS & QUARTZ! 620 Boston Turnpike (Rt. 9),
• The Biggest Selection of Marble and Granite of any Fabrication Shop! • Over 300 colors to choose from (all slabs on site)
SALE! Granite $3500/Sq. Ft. (Min. 40 Sq. Ft. Cannot combine with other offers)
Shrewsbury ¼ Mile East of Home Depot Big Blue Building
508-842-9800 Fax 508-842-9808 Mon. - Fri. 8-5, Sat. 9-4
Worcester-Boston Full Service Radio for New England
Exotic Marble & Granite, Soapstone and Quartz Surfaces Available. DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
7
{ worcesteria }
Bill Shaner
TWO CONVENTIONS: Worcester will host the 2018 conventions for both the Democratic and Republican parties next year. The GOP convention will take place April 28, the Democratic convention June 1-2, both at the DCU Center. It’s a shame the conventions don’t take place on the same day, eliciting a massive street fight a-la “West Side Story,” or “Anchorman,” if that’s more your flavor. Anyway, I want to say that both political parties choosing Worcester speaks to the city’s growing influence, but it could just be a matter of central location or a good deal on space at the DCU.
SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION:
Maureen Binienda, in her first full review from the school committee, didn’t quite hit a grand slam, as was anticipated after the praise lavished at her self-evaluation. But she did hit at least a triple. Three of the school committee members – Joe Petty, Dianna Biancheria and John Monfredo – gave her exemplary, the highest rating possible. The rest gave her proficient, the second highest rating possible. She did best, according to the Telegram, in categories related to community engagement, which is often touted as a focal point of her administrative focus. Basically, the evaluation shows she pretty much has the full support of the School Committee, which is impressive, honestly, given the response on that board to past superintendents.
CHANDLER’S AGENDA: With the rough course of the Stan Rosenberg investigation set, interim Senate president and pride of Worcester Harriette Chandler appears to have set a rough course for the 2018 legislative agenda, according to the Statehouse News Service. She wants to move quickly, maybe in January, on proposals related to the state’s housing shortage and education funding . She doubled down, on WCVB’s “On the Record” Sunday, that she does not want the permanent presidency. Of the prospect, she said ““It’s not the work, I’ve always worked hard. It’s the responsibility. You’re running a very venerable chamber, and I am not 20 years old, as you all know. The world knows it.” Chandler turned 80 last week, and she’s made it clear that if Rosenberg falls, the presidency is going to someone else. ORIGINS OF WORMTOWN: We have our answer. Those who read this column last
week may have seen an item about a line in the Boston Herald about the origins of the term ”Wormtown.” According to the Herald, the term developed in the city’s underground music venues, where popular bands would play pop-up shows (IDK what that means). And, apparently, patrons of those clubs called themselves “worms,” according to the Herald. Well, it turns out Boston media was, yet again, taking a little bit of liberty with the state’s second city. In the Herald’s vision of the Wormtown origin story, there’s only a nugget of truth. The term did develop in the city’s punk circuit, but that’s about it. I had quite a few readers email me following the item last week, all of whom pointed to a man named LB Worm, a man at the heart of the scene in the 80s, who published a zine called Wormtown Punk Punk Press. As LB Worm put it, the rock scene started to crumble in the late 1970s, and “(Wormtown) was championed by the new bands as an identity to gather under and self support through clubs and radio via Brian Goslow at WCUW.” So, there you have it, from the man himself. No one called themselves “worms,” but Wormtown was originally the banner for the city’s punk scene. Pretty cool. Also, the Wormtown zine is archived at wormtownpunk.blogspot.com. If you’re into this sort of thing, it’s a neat bit of history.
SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN: Parents, teachers and political activists caught an early glimpse last week of the school’s strategic plan, put together by school leaders, a Boston-based consultant and other community partners like the Worcester Research Bureau. The plan, as the Telegram had it, includes five strategic principles: rigorous academics; educator development; supportive school environments, modern technology and effective school governance. Those principles are intended to guide the district for the next several decades. The meeting was also a public hearing of sorts, except the strategic planning committee only heard from the public. They didn’t respond to any questions. Kind of weird if you ask me. OH YEAH, LUKES?: Speaking of that forum, some have taken exception to comments made by Councilor-At-Large Konnie Lukes, who can sometimes get herself into trouble with the more progressive wings of Worcester politics. Apparently, and I wasn’t able to independently confirm this, Lukes said something that implied Puerto Ricans are not U.S. Citizens and, when 8
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • DECEMBER 28, 2017
{ worcesteria } Ring in the New Year! BEER
she was pressed on the point by another forum attendee, she ducked and dismissed the pushback, saying she’d be criticized regardless. The moment made such a ripple in political circles that David LeBoeuf, a Democratic candidate for the 17th Worcester District state rep seat, penned an open letter to Lukes demanding she apologize. “As a government official who represents a city where more than 20 percent of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, you should be well aware that Puerto Rico is a part of the United States and that Puerto Ricans are just as American as you and me,” he wrote, adding later he hopes Lukes will “do the right thing and publicly apologize.” After reading the open letter, I gave Lukes a call. I was tight up on deadline, and didn’t get a chance to catch up with her. I will update this post online, at worcestermag.com, if and when I do.
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: Some Seattle guy thinks Boston is a front-runner to land the
second Amazon headquarters, and he thinks that after talking to a higher-up at Amazon. Casey Coombs at the Puget Sound Business Journal wrote last week that, after a conversation with Amazon real estate chief John Schoettler, he’s pegging Boston as the lead horse in the race. Schoettler, he wrote, was the one who sited the Seattle headquarters, and said he was charmed by the prospect of an urban campus in a formerly industrial part of the city. And that’s pretty much exactly what Boston is offering. The author makes a stronger case than that, if you can get past the paywall (screenshot as the page is loading). If Boston landed the Amazon bid, which is far more likely than Worcester landing it, it would still have a huge impact on Worcester.
SO LONG, COLORIO: School Committee member Donna Colorio attended her last meeting last week, after pulling the short straw in a seven-way race for six school committee seats in November. But, while she’s out for the next two years, it’s unlikely she’ll stay out of the ring come 2019. She was quoted in the Telegram this week on the issue, saying, “I don’t want to rule it out - I should never say never. I’m pretty resilient.” But, she said, she won’t run unless she had an issue to rally around, like the superintendent choice that spurred her to try again in 2015, after losing in 2013. Got to admit it, Colorio has some grit.
30K FOR TROOPER GATE: State Police are going to shell out $30,000 for two law
enforcement experts to dig into the arrest report scandal that led to a lot of lost jobs and early retirements. According to a record obtained by the Telegram, Kevin Burke, a former Essex DA, will partner with a former U.S. marshal Nancy McGillivray to launch an investigation that could last until March. This investigation is seperate from the one launched by Attorney General Maura Healey and also the State Ethics Commission. So this arrest report change is going to be investigated to death, basically.
LAWYER UP: The fight to save the Mount Carmel Church, however desperate, lives on. The Mount Carmel Preservation Society announced last week it will be hiring a canon lawyer to advocate on the church’s behalf in the Vatican. They’re also trying to create a shrine inside the vacant church so that it “remains a sacred Catholic space.” Ostensibly, this will help with the legal battle in Rome. There’s just one little catch: money. To fund these endeavors, the society is seeking “broad public support.” But will there be such support? I suppose that’s the real story. It would be nice to see the iconic building preserved, but what’s it going to take to keep it that way, and do we, as a city, care enough to open our checkbooks? Only time, and the proposition of an expensive Vatican lawsuit, will tell.
Bud & Bud Light 36 pack cans .....................................................$26.99 + dep Coors Light 36 pack cans .............................................................$26.99 + dep Busch & Busch light 30 pack cans ..............................................$17.99 + dep Michelob Ultra 24 pack bottles ....................................................$20.99 + dep Goose Island 15 pack cans ..........................................................$14.99 + dep Sierra Nevada 12 pack bottles .....................................................$13.99 + dep Stony Creek 12 pack bottles ........................................................$13.99 + dep Berkshire Brewing Co. 12 pack cans ...........................................$14.99 + dep Dogfish Head 12 pack cans..........................................................$16.99 + dep Founders 15 pack cans ................................................................$15.99 + dep Stella Artois 24 Pack bottles ........................................................$25.99 + dep Heineken & Heineken Light 24 Pack bottles................................$25.99 + dep Beck’s 24 pack bottles ................................................................$21.99 + dep
WINE
Woodbridge 1.5L all varieties ..................................................................$10.99 Rex Goliath 1.5L all varieties .....................................................................$8.99 Clos du Bois 1.5L Chardonnay ...............................................................$14.99 Cavit 1.5L Pinot Grigio .............................................................................$10.99 Relax 750ml Riesling .................................................................................$7.99 Kendall Jackson 750ml Chardonnay ......................................................$11.99 Apothic Red & White .................................................................................$8.99 Robert Mondavi Private Select 750ml all varieties..................................$7.99 Oyster Bay 750ml Sauvignon Blanc ..........................................................$9.99 Gobelsburg 750ml Rose ..........................................................................$12.99 Lamarca 750ml Prosecco ........................................................................$13.99 Korbel Brut and Extra Dry 750 ml bottles ..............................................$10.99 Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante 750 ml bottles ......................................$11.99 Ruffino Proseco and Moscato d’asti 750 ml ..........................................$11.99 Bota Box 3.0L all varieties .......................................................................$15.99 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml ..................................................$14.99
LIQUOR
Absolute Vodka 1.75L ..............................................................................$26.99 New Amsterdam Vodka 1.75L .................................................................$17.99 Johnnie Walker Red Scotch 1.75L ..........................................................$29.99 Laphroaig Lore Scotch 750ml .................................................................$84.99 Jim Beam Bourbon 1.75L ........................................................................$25.99 Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon 750ml.........................................................$29.99 Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey 1.75L ........................................................$34.99 Canadian Club Canadian Whisky 1.75L ..................................................$18.99 Captain Morgan Spiced Rum 1.75L.........................................................$23.99 Hennessy Cognac 1.75L ..........................................................................$64.99 Tanqueray Gin 1.75L ................................................................................$29.99 Patron Tequila 750ml ...............................................................................$42.99 Kahula Coffee Liquor 1.75L .....................................................................$29.99 Bailey’s Irish Cream 1.75L.......................................................................$32.99 Expiration 12/30/17 | Not responsible for typographical errors | No Rain Checks
THE LEADER LIVES ON: Former Councilor-At-Large Mike Gaffney (can I say former yet?)
has broken his complete radio silence since coming last in the at-large council race in November with two posts in the Worcester Independent Leader, his blog. But don’t get your hopes up – neither of them are about Worcester politics, nor do they carry the vitriol we’ve come to expect of the man. One is about how the GOP tax bill isn’t that bad for homeowners, with a little bit of Worcester-Shrewsbury tax rate and assessment comparison. The other, published Wednesday, is a list of helpful tips for making a productive New Years resolution. It’s a completely apolitical post, and, to my eyes, an interesting break from the standard character of his writing. Maybe Gaffney will buck Turtleboy’s advise and become a blogger after all. Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-749-3166 x324 or at wshaner@worcestermag.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.
392 Chandler St., Worcester, MA (508 753-0250 • massliquors.com Follow us on Facebook, Google+, & Twitter! Mon. 8am-10pm • Tues.-Sat. 8am-11pm • Sun. 10am-9pm GIFT CERTIFICATES, GIFT BASKETS AND SPECIAL ORDERS AVAILABLE DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM 9
slants/rants Editorial Worcester’s future a bright one
F
irst things first: yes, Worcester has a tax rate problem. Residents aren’t happy, commercial property owners even less so. Relief is needed and city planners (hello, city councilors) must roll up their sleeves and get it done. If you are a naysayer, or not used to good things in Worcester, or you believe “The Machine” is running amok, you can find things to criticize. This space has said it before: it’s OK to find fault. It just helps if you bring some solutions with you. It also helps if you’re not entirely blind to the positives. And in Worcester these days, there are positives aplenty. As we get ready to slam the door shut on 2017, we first acknowledge the positive direction the city has charted for itself. Even if the Pawtucket Red Sox don’t jump ship in Rhode Island and nestle themselves into Worcester’s Canal District, the future is bright here in the Woo. If you ascribe to the belief that change begins in the downtown core and spreads out from there, it is impossible to ignore the positive impact brought on by CitySquare. Now in its final stages, the project has reshaped the downtown image and recast its fortunes. Don’t look now, but even north Main Street is slowly coming back to life. The Roseland apartment complex at Front and Foster streets is set to start leasing. The new hotel behind Roseland is also getting ready to open. Mercantile Center has been holding public events, generating excitement for its future. The open space atop the Worcester Common underground garage may well see vertical development. While the future of the old Notre Dame remains uncertain — a deal with the developers of the Roseland complex fell through recently — there are now just two undeveloped parcels in CitySquare, according to City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. OK, you say, that’s downtown. What about the other neighborhoods? One of the biggest movements on that front was the buildout of the long-languishing South Worcester Industrial Park. Table Talk Pies opened a new production plant there, and now all the parcels at SWIP are back on the tax rolls. For those who complain about non-taxable property, this is good news. The city certainly has a large amount of nontaxed property; it is good to see usable land generating muchneeded tax revenue. Over in Quinsigamond Village, Imperial Distributors returned to Worcester from Auburn. Off Belmont Street, the city obtained land at the old state hospital for a biomanufacturing park. The introduction of two dog parks — one on Vernon Hill, the other at Beaver Brook — was welcome news after years of a ridiculous ordinance banning dogs in all city parks. A third one is expected soon. “We’re paying attention to all parts of the city,” Augustus said recently on The Worcester Magazine Radio Hour on Unity Radio. Not everyone may agree with that, but the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Is there more to be done around the city? Yes. But make no mistake, Worcester is unquestionably — and unhesitatingly — moving in the right direction. Now, about those PawSox … 10 W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M • D E C E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 7
commentary | opinions
The Education Beat
Making the holidays sparkle
multiplying. This week, work with your child on “Thank You” notes. For the parent who hears those famous words during the he holiday season has arrived. For many parents it can be stressful as they search for ways to enrich the lives of vacation break, “I’m bored,” perhaps you need to come up with a plan. During the holiday season the Worcester Public their children during the holiday break. Well, don’t fret: Library will have many special program for the children. Call this holiday column is just for you. Let’s work on getting the children to understand the spirit the library and ask what is available, or just go online and of the season. In the book, “Unplug the Christmas Machine,” check out the upcoming activities. If there is snow, take your child sledding or ice skating writers Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli suggest children really want to relax and spend time with their families. at the Worcester Common Oval arena. If you’re an indoor The authors said children want love in a steady and constant person, how about going bowling or go to an indoor rink? Another good idea is to invite a friend over to play board way. That means parents need to set priorities during the games. To make it even more beneficial for you, get together holiday season so they can give their children the attention with one or two other parents whose child gets along well they need and just do fun activities. with yours – that way you are both entertained. One idea is to try keeping the holidays on an even pace. Consider doing crafts or baking with your child, or thumb Children are excited about the holidays and when the last present is opened they feel season is over. Again, the authors through magazines in the library that offer a variety of projsuggest hosting a potluck dinner for family and friends after ect ideas. See, we did get over being bored. What can we do for the working mom? At home, shop by the holiday and make it a fun evening and bring family catalogue or by the internet. Delegate post-holiday responmembers together. sibilities, like cleaning the house or organizing post holiday How do you teach children the importance of giving? gathers with a purpose, such as getting your friends and First, remind them there are others who are not as fortunate family to cooperate with a kind deed within the community. as they. Ask your children to select some of the toys they At work, check deadlines and see if things can be put off no longer use and donate them to a shelter. Volunteer at a until January. Ask your boss about using temporary flex soup kitchen and have the children carry the food to the people. The same can be said about their clothes. Have them time. Work a couple long days and take off at weekend for holiday preparations. Also, check on personal days and use go through their clothes and what they don’t wear donate the day to spend with the children. to needy families or, as I mentioned in my last column, to Most importantly, we need to take care of ourselves durAndy’s Attic. One more idea, help the children collect canned ing the holidays. Some tips from local doctors suggest you goods to donate to social service organizations. do the following: In keeping with that theme, wouldn’t the holiday season • Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Hand contact is be great if everyone did a kind deed as part of the givthe number one cause of becoming infected with a virus. ing process? Research shows doing a good deed also helps people who witness it. You can really help make the world a • Be aware of crowded public places. Just touching the grobetter place by practicing random acts of kindness. Go out of cery cart or the mall restroom door can lead to picking up a virus. Again, wash those hands often. your way to be sure you do one good deed a day. Compli• Try and get plenty of rest and eat a balanced diet. Fruits ment and encourage others. Also, consider putting aside and vegetables can boost the body’s natural immune system. your hard feelings and reconnect with someone for whom you still hold a grudge. Call them up or send a friendly note Drink plenty of water or juice during the winter. to them as part of the healing process. The holiday season is • Be sure you have enough humidity in your home. Dryness caused by the heating system can irritate the linings in your a great time of the year to do it. nose and sinus areas so consider a humidifier. As you know, learning doesn’t have to stop during the Hope that these tips make your holiday brighter. May holiday break. Create a list of fun things to do. Instead of all of our readers have a most healthy and happy holiday saying, “Read for 20 minutes,” have a reading party or a season. PJ party and take pictures. Remind your child to read each John Monfredo is a retired Worcester school teacher and a day during the holiday break and read as a family, too. Play current School Committee member. word games or play cards using the numbers for adding or
John Monfredo
T
WORCESTER MAGAZINE’S LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Letters to the editor are a great way to share your thoughts and opinions with thousands of readers and online viewers each week. We reserve the right to edit for length, so brevity is your friend. If handwritten, write legibly. A full name and town or city of residence are required. Please include an email address or phone number for verification purposes only. That information will not be published. Please note that letters will run as space allows. Send them to Worcester Magazine, 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604 or by email to editor@worcestermag.com.
{slants/rants}
- City Manager Ed Augustus Jr., on The Worcester Magazine Radio Hour, about whether there is a deal on the table with the Pawtucket Red Sox to bring the team to Worcester. “I don’t know what day, but I do believe there’s a deal.” - Pawtucket, Rhode Island Mayor Don Grebien, on negotiations between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the city of Worcester and whether he believes there is a deal waiting to be signed. “I beat him up.” - Former St. Peter-Marian football coach Tom Henrickson, quoted in the Telegram & Gazette as saying to a judge earlier this week about a man he said assaulted him in a Worcester supermarket.
1,001 words
“No.”
By Elizabeth Brooks
That’s What They Said
commentary | opinions
united The Next BIG Thing in TALK RADIO Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-2 p.m., UNITY RADIO and WORCESTER MAGAZINE stream live at worcestermag.com
Listen Live Every Weekday
6-10 a.m. Talk of the Commonwealth with Hank Stoltz
ORC
12-1 p.m. The Worcester Magazine Radio Hour with Walter Bird Jr.
E S TE R M A G A Z I N E
W
10 a.m.-12 p.m. The Ears of Worcester with Tony Economou & Gary Rosen
1-2 p.m. Unity Radio Presents ...
The
Programming rebroadcasted 2-10p.m.
Radio Hour DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
11
{ coverstory }
Cliff and Susan Rucker in their home.
Person of the Year:
CLIFF RUCKER Joshua Lyford
12
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
Worcester Magazine’s annual Person of the Year issue highlights those in the community that have made the largest impact on the city and you’d have a hard time naming someone that has done more to change the Worcester landscape in the past 12 months than Cliff Rucker.
Rucker came onto the Worcester scene back in February 2016, a relative unknown in the city. Billed as a “North Shore businessman” in quote blocks and headlines throughout the ensuing months, the president of NFS Leasing out of Beverly would have plenty more in store for the city as the months ticked by. While the hockey team and his investments and development in the city have dramatically changed Worcester’s landscape, it is his work ethic and “do it right” attitude that makes him our 2017 Worcester Magazine Person of the Year.
OPENING NIGHT
“There was a Thursday night a month or so ago, both of my sons had practice at the Worcester Ice Center,” said Mike Myers, president of the Worcester Railers Hockey Club. “I left the second practice, had someone drive my son home, I met my wife at the DCU. We grabbed a quick bite at the Railers Tavern. They had been ransacked. Jon Pardi [country musician, CMA new artist of the year] was at the Palladium and it was a Saturday crowd with weekday workers. We headed to the Palladium and Jon Pardi was about to go on. It felt like we were in Nashville.”
Myers is seated behind his desk at Railers HC headquarters, surrounded by his hockey jersey and bobble head collection. Just behind him is a bottle of “holy water” - more accurately, the water bottle Bobby Orr drank from on his recent visit to the Railers Tavern.
Myers, the longtime director of business and community development for the departed American Hockey League Worcester Sharks, met Rucker for the first time in December 2015. Having just returned from a 15-mile bike ride and looking forward to seeing his brother perform at the House of Blues in Boston later that evening, Myers met Rucker after the businessman had left DCU Center GM Sandy Dunn’s office. “I didn’t realize the scope,” Myers said of that early meeting. “The depth and the resources we would be provided. I look back at that, at that point we were an army of two. You spend the next 18 months drinking from a fire hose until opening night. At some point it felt like it was so far away, at other points, it didn’t feel like enough time.” Fast-forward nearly two years and Myers and his wife were utilizing several of Ruckers’ – and the Railers’ – developments: the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center, the Railers Tavern and the Palladium, which was renovated and programming expansion due to investment by Rucker. “I left and I was talking to Cliff the next day,” he said. “I told him, I had a pretty interesting day yesterday. It wouldn’t have happened, it couldn’t have existed two months ago. No Ice Center, no Railers Tavern, no Palladium the way it is. Three things directly correlated to his downtown influence.”
{ coverstory }
While excitement around the announcement of a new professional Worcester hockey team was high, no one knew at the time what else Rucker had in store for the city. “I met Cliff right before the announcement,” said Worcester Mayor Joe Petty. “He was very enthusiastic about Worcester. It was great that he was supportive. It was great for hockey fans. He filled a void at that particular time. I didn’t realize the enthusiasm and the vision he had for Worcester at the time. I had no expectations of the continued development. He’s been a godsend for the city. He’s embraced Worcester and Worcester has embraced him back, as shown on opening night.” Rucker never shied away from his main goal on opening night: he wanted the team to win. When the Railers faced off against the Manchester Monarchs on a Saturday night on Oct. 14 in front of a sellout crowd of 12,135 – breaking records in attendance, revenue, concessions and merchandise in the process – the team won in a comeback victory straight out of a Disney movie. “I’ve been involved in a lot of games over the years, but I’ve never seen anything like that opening night in Worcester, ever,” said Myers. “It was unbelievable. When we got that game-winner, my head almost exploded.”
MECHANICS HALL CINEMA presents POLAR EXPRESS
Friday, December 29, 2017 2pm Starring: Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, Eddie Deezen, and Michael Jeter
LITTLE WOMEN
Tickets Only $7 Mechanics Hall Box Office 508-752-0888 www.mechanicshall.org
Friday, December 29, 2017 6:30pm • Historic Tour: 5:30pm Starring: Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Trini Alvarado, Eric Stoltz, Christian Bale and Gabriel Byrne MEL BROOKS’
BLAZING SADDLES
Monday, January 22, 2018 6:30pm • Historic Tour: 5:30pm Starring: Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Madeleine Kahn, Harvey Korman, and Slim Pickens
MECHANICS HALL WORCESTER, MA 1857 - 2017
Mechanics Hall 321 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
13
{ coverstory } A ‘PROFOUND’ IMPACT
“Opening night was epic on so many levels,” Cliff Rucker said from his refurbished downtown condo. “First and foremost, we won. That is so hard to do for a group of guys that have never played together before. They played against a team that lost in the [ECHL] Eastern Conference Finals last year. That’s hard to get there. I don’t have statistics, but I’d bet at least half or more of that team came back. For us to win, that was just epic. You throw in the crowd, the energy, the game-day experience, the tavern, the friends and family, it was absolutely a night that I will never forget.”
Rucker is seated behind a massive reclaimed wooden table. He is surrounded by exposed wood and brick. Over his shoulder, an up-close-and-personal view of Worcester’s downtown. He stated early on that he planned to make Worcester his home, and while his family still splits time between the Worcester condo and their north shore home, Rucker has once again put his money where his mouth is. Before the team announcement, Rucker – in addition to doing grassroots research and talking to community and business leaders – walked the downtown footprint himself, feeling for what it was that made the city special. “I’ve always thought this was a tremendous community,” Rucker said, hands clasped together. “It’s got incredible passion. I feel like this community as a whole, if you treat it the right way, it will have your back. That’s important to me. When you put yourself out there and make investments, when you go all-in, you want to feel that people have your back. I’ve seen that here time and time again.” Rucker — as is his nature — doesn’t say that without measure, citing a specific example. Just a few short months after the announcement of the Railers, then-team President and GM Toby O’Brien left for an opportunity with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Myers would fill the role seamlessly, but in the immediate mo-
ments after O’Brien made his announcement, the future wasn’t so clear and Rucker, for his part, turned to Worcester for help. “Out of the blue, late at night – it was the night we got approval for the rinks – he quit,” recalled Rucker. “It was late, I was sitting in my office by myself and the guy that I essentially relied on resigned and gave me what amounted to 24 hours’ notice. This is minor league sports and I totally get that, but I felt very isolated at that point in time. There were people in the community – [DCU Center General Manager] Sandy Dunn, [Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO] Tim Murray, [City Manager] Ed Augustus, [Economic Development Director] Mike Traynor – and I said, ‘I need some help right now,’ and they said, ‘What do you need?’ That was very impactful. Mike Myers stepped up in a big way and that was huge. That, to me, is the essence of the community. It’s a group of people who will band together. We transitioned through that almost like it never happened. It meant a lot.” That community that he described came to know Rucker very well as the team got underway and his other investments — the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center, the Worcester Palladium, the Railers Tavern, the Bowditch and Dewey building and others — came to fruition. “After a fairly short period of time, the
moves and seriousness with which he was approaching and talking to the ECHL about the team and putting together a team of professionals around him as he did his due diligence, I could tell this guy was serious and very smart and wasn’t a guy who cut corners,” Augustus said. “He was somebody that did it right.” That Rucker had the right state of mind to make an impact in the community was not lost on the business leaders in the area. “In the two years that Cliff has been here, he has had a profound impact in terms of investment and development,” said Murray, the former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. “The rinks and the tavern and the improvements to the Palladium, the acquisition of St. John’s parking lot and the Compass Tavern, the cleanup and paving, additional properties on Main Street and the startup cost of the Railers, you’re probably talking well over, I’d say probably close to $35 million of commitment he’s made to Worcester and Central Mass. That’s private sector dollars, he hasn’t asked for a nickel of public money. He’s been purposeful in trying to employ local vendors and contractors. “I also think psychologically, he’s given the community a huge lift in that someone of his level of accomplishment and success believes in the community and where it’s going and is
MAKE YOUR MESSAGE JUNE 9 - 15, 2016
STICK
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS • ARTS • DINING • NIGHTLIFE
FREE
BLUE5 SPACE: $
OFF
Get front page presence with Worcester Magazine Ad Notes!
ANY LARGE PIZZA!
Rediscovering Worcester’s urban waterways Mama Mary’s Pizza • 508-454-5896
inside stories news
Gun that fired “shot heard round the world,” other treasures on display on Lincoln Street Page 4
arts
Left of the Dial, WCUW gives art a new home Page 18
Worcester Magazine Ad Notes, removable self-stick notes, give your advertising message premium exposure and help drive traffic to your business with front page presence. Offering full-run distribution in addition to zoning, you can strategically target your message where you need it most. Call 508-749-3166 and speak with one of our Media Consultants.
14
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
OFF 5 ANY LARGE PIZZA! $
Mama Mary’s Pizza • 508-454-5896
willing to put his money where his mouth is. It’s been profound.” While the investments in the city have made a massive impact, purchases and development only scratch the surface of what Rucker has done and some of those moves are less brick-and-mortar and more from-theheart.
{ coverstory }
ELIZABETH BROOKS
COMMUNITYORIENTED
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the Worcester Railers battled the Brampton Beast for an early, 10:05 a.m. game. The organization hosted 4,000 excited Worcester Public School students that were bused in for a school-day game. The tickets were discounted and the Railers HC Foundation picked up the remaining cost for any hardship students.
The school-day game was an extension of the organization’s partnership with the
The Rucker family in their downtown apartment from left to right, Jacob, Jared, Susan, Cliff and Jenna.
schools, which includes the team’s “Skate to Success” program, where 100 WPS fourthgrade students learn to skate at the Ice Center every Tuesday from September through late March. The students are outfitted with skates and a helmet, get a free lunch through Niche Hospitality Group and receive Railers school gear, such as folders and pencils as well as a long sleeve jersey. The students learn to skate from Railers players and it costs nothing for students due to a partnership between the city and the Railers HC Foundation. “He’s a great businessman, but he hasn’t touched a community the way he has now and he’s able to make an impact,” said Myers. “Every Tuesday, we’re out there with the Skate to Success program and all these fourthgraders are learning how to skate. The group that came last Tuesday, 100 percent of them had never skated before. This is a field trip we provide, they all do it and they all try. All we want them to do is touch the ice, feel the cold, smell the arena, learn how to put skates on. So, if something is going on at the Oval, they aren’t intimidated, they know they can do it.” Back at his condo, Rucker opens his briefcase and takes out a collection of letters, spreading them across the table in front of him. “These are letters from one day of the Skate to Success program,” he said beaming. “To me, you’re creating value, you’re giving back
Worcester’s Best Chef Competition
11TH ANNIVERSARY
YOU VOTE
MECHANICS HALL | 321 MAIN ST., WORCESTER | SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2018 | 5-8:30PM
Worcester’s Best Chef Competition is the premier culinary event throughout Central New England and boasts the most exclusive, creative and finest epicurean masterpieces to be found anywhere. This event showcases the highest level of culinary talent in the region, and also assists students of the culinary arts. Come eat, drink and vote your palate in the People’s Choice competition — taste through specialty cocktail tastings, selections from prestigious wineries & craft beer brewers, experience the thrill of a live Iron Chef competition, and be part of the landmark event to crown Worcester’s Best Chef! Individual Entrance Times & Ticket Prices Vary Please Go Online To Reserve Your Arrival
PHOTO CREDIT JOE SANTA MARIA/KILL THE BALL MEDIA
PRESENTED BY
2017 “Best of the Best” Iron Chef champion Chef William Nemeroff
No Tickets Will be Available At The Door •
WorcestersBestChef.com DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
15
” Rob Roy Academy
There’s nothing better than
making someone look and feel better about themselves. ROBERT, RRA GRAD ’15
”
BARBERING COSMETOLOGY
CALL LIZ 508-799-2111 WWW.ROB-ROY.COM • 150 PLEASANT STREET, WORCESTER FALL RIVE R • NEW BE DFORD • TAU NTON • WORCESTE R • WOONSOCKET
Do you need a bachelor’s degree to move forward in your career? Earn an Elms College Bachelor of Arts Degree in Healthcare Management (online) or a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (hybrid) at Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) in Worcester!
{ coverstory } to the community, you’re making an impact. In the roles that I play in Worcester from a business perspective, they aren’t businesses that can be successful in a vacuum. I’m not sitting in my office day-trading. I am fully integrated in the community and it’s a symbiotic relationship. If I’m not bringing value and it isn’t recognized, then it won’t be successful. “I certainly have the capacity to be successful in an insular way. I did that. If I wanted that, then I wouldn’t have come here. I didn’t think it made enough of an impact. I wanted to be able to look back at my life and say that I did some positive things for others. That’s why I came here, and hopefully the byproduct of that is self-fulfilling. People recognize that and support the team and restaurants so we can do more school day games and skate to success programs.” For folks around Worcester like Traynor, investments are important, but having a civics-minded investor like Rucker is even more integral to the long range plans for the city. “You always want people like Cliff investing in the city,” Traynor said. “It’s not put the money in, take the money out. It’s civicsminded. A great example, opening night for the Railers, he was outside thanking everyone, shaking hands, thanking people, the party afterwards. He stood at the door of the tent and personally greeted everyone coming in. He’s just as appreciative of what the people of the city are giving him as well as what he’s delivered for us. You always want investors cut from that cloth.” While his investments and developments have been monumental, the business community can’t help but take notice of the confidence a businessman like Rucker puts in the city. “When someone comes in and believes and has the confidence in the city, it builds confidence in other developers and those that might give Worcester another look,” said Craig Blais, president and CEO of the Worcester Business Development Corporation. “That is invaluable in the development world, hav-
ing that kind of commitment in the city. We think it’s great.”
HUMILITY
Rucker has invested a huge amount of time, money and effort into his various ventures, including the Worcester Railers, but with the hockey team, the most important component is his enjoyment of the team and game. During home games he can be seen in his box, lamenting goals against and cheering when the team scores or makes a particularly transformative play. He is a busy man, to be sure, but he sees the value in these endeavors a little differently. In his trademark suit and Railers lapel pin, Rucker – when not cheering on his team – is stoic.
“Whatever situation I’m involved in today, particularly as it relates to business, I’ve made those decisions to be involved in that,” he said. “Why would I then run around and say, ‘I’m so busy? I’m so stressed. I have so many things going on.’ Who does that? That’s a non-issue. Things outside of your control, God forbid you get sick, something really unfortunate happens. Then it’s hard to relax. Barring those things, I am relaxed. I’ve chosen this. I created those situations. No one put a gun to my head and said you need to put a hockey team in Worcester. Why would I complain about doing that? I’m busy, but so is everyone else.” The values important to Rucker in both his business and personal life – Rucker and wife
“One of the best decisions I have ever made was to attend Assabet.” - Graduate, Class of 2016
ASSABET DO. MORE.
We believe career and technical education is an integral part of education. We design ours to provide students with options such as,
• entering the workforce with marketable technical skills • preparing for a two or four college • beginning a career in the military • establishing a business • building a foundation for lifelong learning
Healthcare Management
RN-BS
For more information visit www.assabet.org We’re social! #AssabetDoMore
ELMS COLLEGE • 291 SPRINGFIELD STREET • CHICOPEE, MA 01013-2839 413-265-2383 • WWW.ELMS.EDU/QCC
16
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
215 Fitchburg Street | Marlborough, MA 01752 T: 508.485.9430 ext 1250 F: 508.460.3472
ELIZABETH BROOKS
{ coverstory } partner in my restaurant ventures. All of those people are much more qualified to answer those questions.”
THE TAO OF CLIFF RUCKER
While Rucker prefers to avoid the limelight, his massive moves throughout the city make him an easy target. The man doesn’t take half measures and it is quite likely we will continue to hear about his business and development moves throughout the community.
Cliff Rucker socializes at the Railers Sports Tavern before the puck drops at the DCU center.
Susan have been married 25 years and they have five children, ages 13-21 – are straightforward and clear, and what those around him quickly find out is that when he says he will do something, expect it to get done. “I have a belief system,” he said. “It’s honesty. It’s integrity. It’s generosity. It’s compassion. It’s do the right thing and care for others. If I see someone in need, I don’t judge that person. It’s not a conscious effort for me. I don’t get up in the morning and say, I need to do good things today so that good things will happen to me. I do believe that belief system has, ultimately, in the circle of life brought me benefit, but that’s a byproduct, it’s not why I do what I do. I believe that if you lack integrity, if you’re dishonest, ultimately you get what you’ve earned.” Back at Railers HQ, Myers recalled individual moments that Rucker made a promise and did what had to be done to keep it, like when the rinks were nearly complete and pushing the Skate to Success program back to facilitate its completion. Rucker said no, they
made a promise and they would do what has to be done to get the kids in the building. “He will do what he says he’s going to do,” said Myers. “That separates him from everybody I’ve ever worked with. People will say the cliché things about him, he’s laserfocused, he’s a great businessman, great energy. All those things are true, but the reality is, he’s a doer. He came in and saw an opportunity and said, ‘Let’s do this.’ The difference between someone else coming in and Cliff coming in and say that is he rolls up his sleeves and makes sure it gets done. He’s a force of nature like Worcester has never seen.” Rucker has made it clear – from the earliest interviews following the announcement, to the interview for this story and even in follow-up emails – that the credit isn’t his, that it should go to his team and his staff. That isn’t mock humility, either; Rucker rarely allows credit to flow his way without acknowledging those around him. “One of the strong foundations of my personal value system is humility,” said Rucker.
“I can take mean people, I can take sarcastic people, nasty people, but I can’t take arrogant people. Someone who thinks they’re better than anyone else. I have excused myself from meetings very quickly with arrogant people. Humility is very important to me.” This belief in humility extends beyond his personality and into his business methods. Rucker is acutely aware of those who have made his business ventures successful. “Why should I be in the limelight?” he asked stern-faced and arms-crossed while evening traffic buzzed by behind him. “I’m not the guy doing the heavy lifting. A lot of the questions that have been asked should be asked to the person doing the work. Some of that is just pragmatic. What are the statistics of this venture today? I may know, but the president of the team is the guy to ask. I have a great staff at the Railers, I have a great partner and staff at the Palladium, I have a great facilities manager that takes care of the real estate, I have an incredible management company at the rink, I have an amazing
After the November Worcester Public School game, however, one difficulty in being a prolific investor and hockey team owner became apparent following the team’s 4-3 loss to the Beast. “Here’s the problem. The game ends at one o’clock,” he said. “I have seven more meetings to go to and I have to deal with that. It’s hard because I’m bummed out we lost. We have to deal with that 70 more times this season. I fully expect to make the playoffs and it’s something I did not anticipate. It’s hard. I’m hard-wired to be competitive.” Rucker, a fan of “Tao Te Ching,” a Chinese philosophy book that dates back to the fourth century BCE, is happy with his accomplishments, both personal and professional – but he isn’t done growing or evolving. “I’m on an evolutionary path just like everyone else, so I’m hoping to become a more compassionate and generous person, a more evolved person, a smarter person, a more cultured person on a personal level,” he said. “On a business level, I want to continue to create value in Worcester and beyond and give back to the community.” “I believe in the goodness of human nature. I don’t need to force my [values] on other people.” Reporter Joshua Lyford can be reached at 508-749-3166, ext. 325, or by email at Jlyford@worcestermagazine.com. Follow Josh on Twitter @Joshachusetts and on Instagram @Joshualyford.
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
17
Wintetrion Educaries Se
Scholarships and grants a must with student loan debt on the rise
Worcester Magazine Staff
T
he cost of college is skyrocketing, both at private and public institutions. So, too, is the burden prospective students and families are willing to take on in order to get the experience, the leg up and the status that a college degree affords. Some students end up graduating college with student loan debt obligations close in value to a home mortgage. Across the U.S., the average student loan debt obligation for graduates is roughly $30,000. In Massachusetts, the average is $29,391 for a four-year degree. Approximately 65 percent of students graduate with debt, according to a 2015 study by the Institute for College Access and Success. Many students struggle to find a high-paying job just out of college. Meanwhile, monthly student loan debt payments can hover in the $250$500 range. So, that’s the horror story. At $1.4 trillion spread among 44 million loan-holders, student loan debt is a growing problem for the country and, for many prospective students, a necessary evil. It’s in every student’s best interest to seriously evaluate the burden, and the feasibility of paying it off before committing to an institution. Part of that process should be aggressively pursuing scholarships and either low or no interest loan options. Here are a few ways, locally, you can go about getting started, as provided by the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. It’s good to have the best information before you make your plan. American Student Assistance is a free service that helps students and parents navigate the web of financial aid options and pick the best fit. ASA offers the free program SALT, which makes the process even easier – or, at continued on page 19
Options for student loan forgiveness Worcester Magazine Staff
I
t’s a reliable, if intimidating, fact of college student life: more than likely, you will finish your education with student debt. According to Make Lemonade, a loan information resource, there are more than 44 million student loan borrowers holding more than $1.4 trillion in student loan debt. The average student loan debt for a graduate of the Class of 2016 is $37, 172. The news for college students in Massachusetts is only slightly better, where, in 2015, according to forbes.com, the average student loan debt was $31,466. There are a number of strategies borrowers
18
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
can employ when dealing with student loan debt, including refinancing. But what about loan forgiveness? For the most part, student loans must be repaid even if you don’t complete your education. Can’t find a job? Still have to pay back the loan. Not satisfied with the quality of your college education? No dice, your debt still stands. But can a federal student loan be completely forgiven? Yes, under certain circumstances. Two of the most common examples involve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Under PSLF, according to studentaid.ed.gov, the remaining balancer of a direct loan is forgiven if you have made 120 monthly
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. Qualifying employment includes working for government organizations at any level, nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations and other types of nonprofit organizations that are not tax-exempt. A full-time volunteer with AmeriCorps or Peace Corps also qualifies for the PSLF Program. The following do not qualify for PSLF: labor unions, partisan political organizations, for-profit organizations and not-for-profit organizations that are not tax-exempt and do not provide a qualifying public service as their primary service.
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program forgives up to $17,500 on certain loans, while other loans may qualify for forgiveness of the outstanding portion. Public service workers and teachers are not alone in being able to qualify for loan forgiveness and assistance. Through the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program, you can get up to 60 percent of your student loan paid over two years of employment. If you work a third year, you could qualify for forgiveness toward another 25 percent. Doctors and health care professionals have several options for loan forgiveness, including continued on page 19
{ education } LOAN FORGIVENESS continued from page 18
National Health Service Corps loan repayment assistance, the Students to Service Program, the Indian Health Services Loan Repayment Program, National Institutes of Health loan repayment programs, loan forgiveness for doctors in the military and state loan repayment assistant programs for doctors and other health care professionals. For lawyers, repayment assistance can be available in several ways, including the Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan
Repayment Program, the John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program for public defenders, the Herbert S. Garten Loan Repayment Assistance Program and, like teachers and doctors, state and university-sponsored LRAPs. In addition, some universities will help graduates pay back their loans. In addition to some military doctors, other armed forces veterans and their families could be eligible for loan forgiveness, with the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard all offering LRAPs.
Other qualifying types of loan forgiveness, cancellation or discharge include: • Closed School Discharge • Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge • Total and Permanent Disability Discharge • Discharge Due to Death • Discharge in Bankruptcy • False Certification of Student Eligibility or Unauthorized Payment Discharge • Unpaid Refund Discharge • Borrower Defense Discharge
Ultimately, it is up to the college student and their family to research all available options. As you consider where to go to college, think also about your possible career choices and which ones may qualify for loan forgiveness and assistance. There are many online resources, including studentloanhero.com, that can provide more details on the programs mentioned here.
LOAN DEBT continued from page 18
least, easy as it could be. For tuition assistance, try Massachusetts Funding For College, an assistance program offered by the state government. There, the state Department of Higher Education offers various programs, such as the The Vision Project, Achieving the Dream and MASSGrant, the state’s premier need-based grant program. State residents can apply for the program, which offers grants based on need and satisfactory academic success. There are alternative state grant programs, like the Massachusetts Part-Time Grant Program and Need-Based Tuition Waivers. These can all be applied for on the state Department of Education website. The state also offers a variety of scholarships. The Paul Tsongas Scholarship grants assistance to the “cream of the academic crop,” as the state puts it: those who graduate high school in three years with a 3.75 GPA and top SAT scores. There is also a tuition waiver program for high school valedictorians. On the federal level, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship hands out money to high earners. For public servants like firefighters and police officers, there’s a special program for your children - the Public Service Grant Program, which gives out assistance for students enrolled in state schools. Of course, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other options. These are just a few. When doing your own research, Google probably won’t cut it. Instead, try searching through online grant databases, like CollegeGrant.net and Cappex.com. In Worcester County, there are also a few scholarship options available for locals. Many such scholarships are administered by the CHA. This year, the CHA handed out 417 scholarships, totaling $636,550. Awards range from $300-$5,000, and can be applied for on the CHA website. Tuition, however, is not the only expense. Books, room and board, food, supplies, ancillary fees - all these add up and every little bit counts. A $300 scholarship is $300 that won’t be tacked onto a student loan, accruing 5-percent interest annually over 20 years. Think about it like that. The slog of sifting through, finding and applying for scholarships will pay dividends over the 20 years following college. It’s worth it, trust us. DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
19
{ education }
Talking money with your college student W
hile college students earn their degrees, paving the way for future success in their chosen fields, they should also be paving the way for a healthy financial future. Unfortunately, money is not always discussed at an early age. Indeed, 36 percent of Americans say they are uncomfortable talking about money, and 18 percent say money is a taboo subject within their family, according to the American Psychological Association. As a result, many students start college without good money management skills. What’s more, the rising cost of tuition, housing and other fees makes it even more challenging to graduate in good financial standing. While students are home for the holidays (and perhaps hitting parents up for cash), consider initiating a productive conversation about responsible money management. Here are a few things to consider and discuss. • Creating a budget: Break down expenses to show where money is spent and how it’s wasted. Introduce the concept of the 50/20/30 rule of thumb, which encourages budgeters to apply half their monthly budget into fixed
potential loan debt. Encourage students to investigate these opportunities. • Free resources. Free resources exist that can help get the conversation going. For example, consider checking out Wells Fargo’s new “Preparing and Paying for College” webinar series. Families can take part in free instructor-led events that offer financial planning resources, information on responsible money management and best practices for paying for college. Webinar topics include preparing for college, applying for scholarships, funding a college education and student loan repayment. Registration is free. To receive information about the Wells Fargo webinar series, visit engage. vevent.com/rt/preparepayforcollege. costs (i.e. rent, cell phone plan), 20 percent into financial goals (i.e. car, vacation), and 30 percent into flexible spending (i.e. food, shopping, entertainment, day-to-day expenses). • Building credit: Credit can influence or limit future financial opportunities, even potentially harming job prospects. Talk about the
WSU = EXPERIENCE 161,646 hours of hands-on learning completed by our students last year Sometimes the best things happen outside the classroom. • Discover over 508 unique engagement opportunities • Our experiential learning programs give students the opportunity to partner with community organizations, school districts, and medical research firms • As part of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA), our students can cross register and leverage the internship and career networks of the 11 other member institutions across Massachusetts
worcester.edu/prepares 20
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
importance of establishing and maintaining good credit. • Funding college: Whether it’s a work-study program, an off-campus job or applying for and receiving a merit-based scholarship, there are many ways students can contribute to their college education financially and ease
College is an exciting time for students, filled with new friends, new knowledge and new experiences. Take advantage of the holiday season to encourage smart money management during these transformative years and beyond. StatePoint Media
ELIZABETH BROOKS
night day
art | dining | nightlife | December 28, 2017- January 3, 2018
&
An Art Affaire at the Sprinkler Factory page 22
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
21
night day &
{ arts }
An Art Affaire at the Sprinkler Factory ELIZABETH BROOKS
Joshua Lyford
showcases. Art Affaire is a way to bring those hundreds of participants together for a night of fun and — possibly — future collaboration. “We were kind of surprised by how many people participated,” the Sprinkler Factory’s Birgit Straehle said. “We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all meet and celebrate?’ It’s more of a celebration, there isn’t a larger purpose, aside from having us all meet. Sometimes, people show and don’t know each other, they should meet. It’s kind of a soft mixer, it’s an end-of-the-year party. Everyone needs an end of the year party. What we’ve accomplished, what we’ll do in the future.” Luis Fraire, manager of The Sprinkler Factory, got the idea while putting together a master list of artists that have participated in the shows throughout the year. “Imagine there’s a single show and there’s a closing reception for that show,” said Fraire. “The whole of 2017 was one grand performance and it’s a closing reception for the whole year. We put together a master list of everyone that exhibited throughout the year through the end of the year, not only in
The Sprinkler Factory has had an amazing year. With new gallery space, a new stage and new programming featuring theatrical productions, music and poetry, the gallery space at 38 Harlow St., shows no signs of slowing down. With hundreds of artists and performers utilizing the space over the last 12 months, the Sprinkler Factory’s reach is vast.
To cap off 2017, The Sprinkler Factory is hosting an end-of-year event in Art Affaire Saturday, Dec. 30, 6-9 p.m. The gallery space has held 17 major art exhibitions and three fundraisers as well as film screenings, theater performances and musical
Birgit Straehle lights up when she talks about what the Sprinkler Factory has to offer the community in the coming months.
Prices so good, even Santa shops here ... Beer
Bud and Bud Light 30pk ................................................................22.99+ Coors and Coors Light 30pk....................................................... 22.99+ Coors Light 12pk .............................................................................. 10.99+ Miller Lite 30pk................................................................................. 22.99+ Miller Lite 12pk................................................................................. 10.99+ Jacks Abby 12pk Cans .................................................................... 14.99+ Sam Adams All Variety 12pk ...................................................... 12.99+ Harpoon All Variety 12pk ............................................................. 13.99+ Blue Moon All Varieties ................................................................ 13.99+ Radeberger Pils 12pk .................................................................... 14.39+ Founders All Day IPA 15pk ......................................................... 15.99+ Lagunitas IPA 12pk ......................................................................... 13.99+ Shock Top All Varieties 12pk.......................................................... 13.99
Wine Black Stallion Napa Cab ................................................................. 29.99 Josh North Coast Cab Sav .............................................................. 13.99 Martini & Rossi Asti 750 ml .............................................................9.99 Korbel All Varieties 750 ml .......................................................... 10.99 2014 Louis Martini Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L ..... 43.99 2014 B Sides Napa Red Blend ................................................... 23.99 2015 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon ....................... 19.99 2013 Stags Leap Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon ............... 54.99 2014 Stags Leap The Investor Red Blend ........................... 35.99 2015 The Prisoner ............................................................................. 39.99 2013 Heitz Napa Cabernet Sauvignon .................................. 51.99
2013 Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon .............................. 39.99 2012 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon ...............................................47.99 2014 Raymond 40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon ................................................................... 31.99 2012 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon ........................................... 49.99 2014 Provenance Merlot ............................................................... 23.99 2014 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon ............................................. 35.99 2013 Cain Cuvee ................................................................................. 29.99 2013 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon......................................... 46.99 2014 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon .......................... 35.99 2014 Beringer Knight Valley Cabernet Sauvignon........ 26.99 2015 Caymus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ............................ 63.99 2013 Revolver Perdition Petite Sirah ....................................27.99 2012 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon ................................... 63.99 2014 Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon ........................................... 63.99 2012 Silverado Geo .......................................................................... 63.99 2014 Phelps Insignia .................................................................... 210.00 2013 Opus One ................................................................................. 224.99 2012 G.B. Crane Cabernet Sauvignon ................................. 188.99
Liquor Macallen 12 year scotch 750ml ................................................. 59.99 Tito’s Handmade Vodka 1.75L ..................................................... 29.99 Absolut Vodka 1.75L ......................................................................... 26.99 Belvedere Vodka 1.75L .................................................................... 49.99 Licor 43 750ml .........................................................................................9.00 Sobieski Vodka 1.75 .......................................................................... 18.99 Pinnacle Vodka 1.75L ....................................................................... 16.99
Bulleit Bourbon 1.75L ...................................................................... 49.99 Hennessey 1.75L .................................................................................64 .99 Tanqueray Gin 1.75L ......................................................................... 29.99 Glenmorangie Ten Year 750ml ....................................................37.99 Captain Morgan Rum 1.75L .......................................................... 22.99 Bailey’s 1.75L ......................................................................................... 34.99 New Amsterdam Vodka 750ml ....................................................17.99 Ketel One Vodka 1.75L .................................................................... 36.99 Smirnoff Vodka 1.75L ....................................................................... 19.99 Grand Marnier 750ml ....................................................................... 29.99 Knob Creek 1.75L ................................................................................ 54.99 Fireball 1.75L .........................................................................................27.99 Devotion Vodka 1.75L ...................................................................... 24.99 Don Julio Blanco 750ml .................................................................. 34.99 Crown Royal 1.75L ............................................................................. 42.99 Malibu 1.75L .......................................................................................... 25.99
Plus! Large stock of craft spirits and more than 1500 craft beers and don’t forget the holiday gift sets! HOLIDAY HOURS Saturday, Dec. 23: 8AM to 10PM Sunday, Dec. 24: 10AM to 6PM Christmas Day: Closed Tuesday, Dec. 26: Returning to Regular Hours Mon. - Sat.: 9:00 am - 10:00 pm Sun.: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
21 Franklin St., West Boylston • wachusettliquors.com • 508-835-3131 22
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
night day &
the galleries, but also participated in theater events, music events, film screenings. That was the inspiration, this giant list.” Though there is a $5 suggested donation for the event, it is free and open to the public. The hope is that as many artists, friends and family members as possible will attend, have some fun and take time to appreciate the area arts scene and its artists.
we had an opening on that side. That was the 2017 experiment. For 2018, we thought about combining it. Oftentimes there seems to be good chemistry between the artists. Also there is a built-in schedule the public can be aware of. The idea on top is a music performance, an opening, 5-8, and music, 8-10.” Night of, the pair said they will hang a disco ball and, in conjunction with DJ Future
ELIZABETH BROOKS
{ arts }
Momma the cat -director of audience engagement
ELIZABETH BROOKS
Luis Fraire and Birgit Straehle discuss 2017 Art Affair and upcoming 2018 exhibitions.
“The exciting thing is providing these people a way to network. You never know what will come from that,” said Fraire. “The Art Affaire evolved from the 2017 closing reception. I like it because of all of the love that goes into it. The artists and their process, it’s tremendous the amount of effort that it takes. John Pagano, for example, that was two years in the making and it comes and goes so fast.” Pagano’s “On Becoming” exhibition will be on display that evening, the final night of the show. Additionally, the group photography exhibit, “Exploration,” will be closing that same night. Fraire and Straehle said they have some exciting announcements to make the evening of Art Affaire, but didn’t want to spoil the surprise. They did, however, speak on 2018’s new programming concept, First Saturdays, which starts in February. “In 2018, we’ll introduce First Saturdays,” Fraire said. “We’ll have two exhibition openings and, hopefully, combine the exhibitions in the front and back gallery. The first weekend of the month we had an opening on this side. The second weekend of the month,
Tropicana Sound System, there may well be some dancing involved. “It coincides with new years as well, the end of the year is a time to reflect and to celebrate and to look forward,” said Fraire. “We’ll also introduce the new ideas for 2018.” Additionally, there will be a cash bar, a presentation by Cinema Worcester and, of course, delicious food, much of which will be created by Straehle herself. “There will be good-quality food,” said Straehle. “I’m making goulash for the meat eaters and then potato leek soup and I brought stollen from Germany. It’s Marzipan fruit bread. You start to eat it Christmas until February. I have a suitcase full of it.” For more information about the Sprinkler Factory, head to Sprinklerfactory.com. Reporter Joshua Lyford can be reached at 508-749-3166, ext. 325, or by email at Jlyford@worcestermagazine.com. Follow Josh on Twitter @Joshachusetts and on Instagram @Joshualyford.
If you’ve ever attended the Sprinkler Factory, you have likely met the gallery space’s director of audience engagement, Momma. Momma is a delight and enjoys both the art and the space’s visitors. While an effective director of audience engagement, Momma has no issue with putting her foot – er, paw – down when necessary. The Sprinkler Factory visitors may know her as a kind soul; area mice know her as a scourge. According to Luis Fraire and Birgit Straehle, the pair who manage the space, the cat-in-residence is quite effective at her job. “She’s very reliable, always sitting at her post when people come in. On rare occasions she’ll perform with the theater,” said Straehle of the volunteer feline. Be sure to scratch Momma behind her ears the next time you visit the Sprinkler Factory.
—J.L.
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
23
night day &
{ film }
Six great films from 2017 Jim Keogh
i GO
At the end of every year I’m always surprised by the number of good movies I’ve seen, and 2017 is no exception. Some of the purported best haven’t been released in Worcester yet (I’m really looking forward to “I, Tonya”) and others, like “The Florida Project” and “The Shape of Water” I haven’t been able to see before deadline. I did enjoy these six great ones:
Monday, Thursday, Saturday 6:15pm BINGO! at Seven Hills is #1 for gaming fun if you always have your eyes on the prize: n Chance to win $3,000 every night! n Casino 50/50, Winners Take All n $200 worth of door prizes, $5 Lottery ticket raffles n Doors open at 4:30; game papers on sale at 5:00 n Snack bar, dinner specials…FREE refills on coffee
Chance To Win
$3,000
Open to the Public Supporting Programs at Seven Hills Foundation
Every Night!
81 Hope Avenue, Worcester • 508.983.2988 • www.sevenhills.org
24
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell and Zeljko Ivanek in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
“Get Out” – Jordan Peele’s directorial debut is part horror movie, part social commentary and all compelling. An African-American man (Daniel Kaluuya) accompanies his white girlfriend (Allison Williams) to her parents’ house for the weekend, and the folks are so amazingly accommodating it’s as though they’ve been replaced by a Stepford family. The truth behind the tolerance is shocking. A house party, a bloody nose, some hypnosis and the next thing you know you’re in a modern-day nightmare. “Lady Bird” – This wonderful, quasi-autobiographical film written and directed by actress-writer Greta Gerwig chronicles the growing pains of Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan), a Catholic high school senior obsessed with escaping her hometown of Sacramento. She has one eye trained on the horizon, yet struggles with the now of her life: friendships that surge and ebb, growing sexual desire, the sense of being a stranger in her own house. Laurie Metcalf deserves an Oscar nomination as LB’s long-suffering mom whose protectiveness is almost hostile. “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” – The country has endured hurricanes and wildfires
this year, and to those I would add a third natural cataclysm: Mildred Hayes. When Mildred’s daughter is raped and murdered in a small Missouri town, she rents three billboards accusing the local sheriff (Woody Harrelson) of negligence. As played by Frances McDormand, Mildred is feisty, tough and unrepentantly vengeful, especially when squaring off against a bigoted cop played by Sam Rockwell. Their gale-force performances will earn Academy Award attention.
“Logan” – For me, 2017 was the year I may have finally hit my satiation point with superhero movies, to the point of regurgitation. Spider-Man, the Justice League, Wonder Woman, and even a LEGO Batman all had their turns saving the world. Thankfully, there was “Logan,” an elegy for the character of Wolverine made so memorable by Hugh Jackman. The scarred, vulnerable hero and a dying Professor X (Patrick Stewart) protect a young mutant girl from a sinister agency that wants to enslave her. “Logan” had me from the moment the first chords of Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” introduced the film’s trailer. “The Big Sick” – This funny, moving, autobiographical story by Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani involves a standup comic (Nanjiani) and grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan) who fall in love, despite personal and cultural differences that seem like canyons at times. When Emily contracts a rare illness that puts her into a coma, Kumail learns to bond with her grieving parents, played with grace and humor by Ray Romano and Holly Hunter. “Dunkirk” – Christopher Nolan recreates one of the pivotal moments of World War II — the evacuation of 300,000 Belgian, British and French soldiers from a French beach — by thrusting the viewer face-first into the fray. As I wrote in my review, “There is no calmbefore-the-storm processing of time, place and character. There is only the storm. … ‘Dunkirk’ is about getting men from Point A to Point B with as few casualties as possible — a virtually impossible feat and one of the great WWII triumphs. Nolan has done it justice.” Not to dwell on the negative, but if I were to list some of the worst stuff I’ve seen in 2017, I’d have to include: “Gold” (Matthew McConaughey gets fat) “The Great Wall” (Matt Damon saves China), “Snatched” (Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn being awful), “Baywatch” (dumber than the show), “Transformers: The Last Knight” (dumber than “Baywatch”) and “The Snowman” (even the serial killer is bored).
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
25
krave
night day
Piccolo’s
&
{ dining}
FOOD HHHH AMBIENCE HHHH SERVICE HHHH VALUE HHHH 157 Shrewsbury St., Worcester • 508-754-1057 • piccolos157.com
Purely Piccolo’s Sandra Rain
It is my unabashed observation that Worcester has made many attempts at imitating other great cities over the years, to no avail. As a result of our failures, we’ve learned to love Worcester’s manufacturing history and industrial architecture as we unearthed our own metropolitan identity. Rarely has a dining establishment found success in this city by attempting to channel someplace else. Piccolo’s is the exception.
A Mario De Biasi photograph, “Gli Italiani si voltano (Italians Turn Around),� hangs in Piccolo’s front dining room. The framed print depicts a captivating woman in white, walking toward the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
II in Milan; a swarm of awestruck men look on, disarmed by her brash momentum. Piccolo’s thrives off of her energy. This is an establishment marked by the power to thrust its guests into a De Biasi-fueled flashback. Set one foot down on the carefully laid tile mosaic and you may very well never return. Guests who know what to look for are likely to witness grandstanders making deals at a corner table or a legislator rubbing elbows in the back room. The Piccolo’s brand of Italian charm practically demands a local celebrity sighting. The customers are as much a part of the ambience as the restaurant's prominent painting of an old man devouring his noodles. The walls are paneled with dark wood, set beneath ornate ceiling tiles that lend gravity to the room. Snowflakes flutter outside Piccolo’s storefront windows, but the cold never creeps in. Put on your people-watching glasses, tuck a linen napkin into your shirt collar and cozy up to a basket of bread – it won’t be warm, but you will be. Ask your server what’s pouring. If you’re lucky, the bar may have opened a bottle of something nice that you won’t find by the glass on the menu. I’m partial to the Donna Laura Chianti Classico ($8.95 by the glass/$37 for the bottle) with its intense
Founded on Generations of Family Recipes Holiday Catering and Gift Cards Available
The vitello alla parmigiana: tender pieces of hand-cut veal are breaded and delicately sauteed, dressed with marinara alongside firm maccheroni. cherry notes and soft, discreet tannins, or the D’Abruzzo Riserva Montepulciano ($7.95 by the glass/$31 for the bottle) for a more robust expression. My favorite appetizer is the Milanese-style asparagi ($8.95), and it’s not not just because a farm-fresh sunny-side egg undoubtedly gets me more Instagram likes. Cracked black pepper and parmigian retain their full flavor atop an abundance of still-crisp asparagus stalks. With the right company, the carpaccio di manzo ($9.95) is likewise divine: thinlyspiced raw beef tenderloin dressed with extra
CELEBRATE
CA LL A HE A D NEW YEARS EVE OPEN NOON-1:00 AM F OR MIDNIGHT TOAST IN THE LOUNGE T TAKE -OU NEW YEARS EVE BUFFET 4:00 PM-9:00 PM NEW YEARS DAY OPEN 4:00 PM
Dine-In • Take-Out • BYOB
LA CUCINA ITALIANA
Served 10-2
Casual Waterfront Dining Open 7 days 11am - Close 308 East Main Street East BrookďŹ eld, MA
26
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
Free Live Music Saturday Nights
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
3DVWULHV 0XČšČ?QV %DJHOV 2PHOHWWH 6WDWLRQ &DUYLQJ 6WDWLRQ )UHVK 6HOHFWLRQ RI &KLFNHQ 6HDIRRG ,WDOLDQ 'LVKHV 'HVVHUW 7DEOH NLGV VHQLRUV Daily Specials
BOOK Y O UR HOLID AY PA R T Y W IT H U S
176 Reservoir St.
508-829-2188
Catering Available
Sunday Brunch
LAKESIDE
s
tes Gift Certifica Available!
Banquet Rooms Available
294 Hamilton St., Worcester 508-797-3354 lacucinaworcester.com
774-449-8333 308lakeside.com
virgin olive oil, lemon, red onions, capers and a dusting of Parmesan. For dinner, if you are inclined to order the vitello alla parmigiana ($23.95), I suggest you indulge yourself. Tender pieces of handcut veal are breaded and delicately sauteed, then dressed with marinara alongside firm maccheroni. When John Piccolo stops by your table, he’ll be pleased you’ve ordered the veal, which he’ll tell you is his favorite. I find the pappardella frederico ($18.95) equally irresistible – a dish of fresh-cut noodles, housemade sausage, ragu and roasted garlic. The sausage, purportedly made by a man called Freddy, boasts a terrific heat to liven the depths of a tantalizing pasta bowl. Piccolo’s is conducive to time travel. If you feel like you’ve leapt into De Biasi’s photo, it’s because you have. This is a restaurant that has learned to capture a distinct moment, harnessing a nostalgia as nonsensical as it is spellbinding. I don’t keep Piccolo’s in my regular repertoire of restaurants; I tend to save it for when I’m feeling sentimental, but that doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Visit for meatballs. Visit for 1954 Milan. Just don’t visit on Sundays - they’re closed. Our last dinner for two came to $73.56 with drinks.
Celebrate
New Year’s Eve DJ Sean Murray 6WDUWV DW SP
6SHFLDO 0HQX $YDLODEOH
Free Valet Friday & Saturday
krave
night day &
Bite Sized:
Whittall Mills Complex (which, I assure you, is like something out of Diagon Alley.) If you’re lucky, head roaster David Fullerton will offer to give you the grand tour.
Leisure, Libations, and Local Fare
(AIR)STREAMING
Wachusett Brewing Company’s summer Brew Yard concept has moved indoors to create a yearround destination for craft beer fans across New England. Visitors can now buy pints, grab a bite to eat from the Brew Yard food truck and fill growlers to take home, all in one visit. Stop by Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 12-8 p.m.; Saturday; 12-10 p.m.;
Sarah Connell
GETTING PUNCHU
Niche Hospitality recently hosted a Prohibition Repeal Party in their cryptic little cocktail bar, Still & Stir, which included a star-studded punch competition. As beverage director Silas Axtell explained, “Prohibition has a huge effect on the development of American drinking culture, the spirits we enjoy and the way we enjoy them. Holding a party in honor of the repeal is a lot of fun for me, and important to those of us who make a career out of the industry that was abolished for 13 years.” Axtell invited a group of like-minded bartenders, including: Timothy “TK” Kennedy of Armsby Abbey, AJ and Carlos Martinez of Volturno, Derek Grimm and Sean Woods of deadhorse hill, John Erdmann of Railer Tavern and the “home team” of Mark Anthony Rousse and Steve Holloway. Said Axtell, “The idea was to create a sense of comradery for our bar brethren in Worcester. I want to create a professional culture for hospitality professionals in Worcester. As the industry grows in this town, I think it will be important for all of us to stay connected.” The United States Bartenders Guild helped organize and sponsor the event, in addition to Narragansett, Angostura Rum and Anchor Distilling. Grimm and the Citizen’s team tied for second place, only one vote shy of Woods who took first place. “Seeing bartenders from all over the city come out and compete is giving validity to the culture we’ve been trying to cultivate,” Grimm said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to be behind the bar with.” He went on to say, “I’m looking forward to the next event, where I plan on making Woods cry when I destroy his entry.”
BOOKS AND BELLY LAUGHS
If you’ve got a sense of humor about things,
Runner-up of the USBG punch competition, Derek Grimm (center) of deadhorse hill, pictured with Emily Briggs (left) of The Pint and Sarah Connell of Worcester Magazine. Chuck’s Steak House Margarita Grill Mexican Cantina, may very well be the right place for you on New Year’s Eve. For one thing, their memorable decor includes a collection of mounted vintage Worcester Magazine clippings and covers. They also maintain a sizable library, a typical feature of all-American steakhouse-grill-cantinas. On New Year’s eve, Chuck’s will host a buffet and comedy show for just $60. Comics include Nick Chambers, Anne Diaz, James Dorsey and Tom Dwyer. If Dwyer’s Worcester Lampoon column is any indication of his comedic genius, you’re in for a good show. Rumor has it a $100 bill is tucked into one of the thousands of literary volumes in the Chuck’s library, so if comedy isn’t your thing, you can always busy yourself with books until midnight.
ROASTED!
Steam Energy Cafe launched its food menu this week in the Worcester Ice Center and I see
holiday lattes, smoothies and “steamwiches” in your future. With plenty of parking and brilliant baristas, the fast-casual spotlight is on Steam. Roasteries are likewise on the rise, including Fuel America, slated to open in fall 2018 at Mercantile Center. If that news excites you, I encourage you to checkout the Acoustic Java roastery and tasting room in the historic
and Sunday, 12-6 p.m. Ned LaFortune, CEO of Wachusett Brewing, said, “The new indoor Brew Yard was built using reclaimed wood from a 200-year-old barn that the Wachusett team carefully took down and reconstructed in to the space. It is also equipped with its signature, one-of-a-kind Airstream bar, plus an enormous copper fire kettle, indoor games and garage doors that open up to the outdoor Brew Yard.” I, for one, have big plans to visit for a personal reenactment of Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss’ 2015 Vogue magazine Airstream photoshoot. See you soon, Ned!
New Year’s Eve Comedy Show and Dinner 7:30 p.m. All you can eat Prime Rib Italian Holiday Chicken (Sautéed chicken tossed w/fresh baby spinach in a sundried tomato pesto cream sauce) Stuffed Sole Baked Ziti Alfredo. Coffee & dessert. 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. James Dorsey and 3 of the areas best comics. $60 pp Includes Dinner, Show, Tax & gratuity. Limited to the first 64. $30 pp for show only (If available)
Gift Certificates! Purchase $100 or more in Gift Certificates, receive a $20 Gift Certificate for you to use between Jan. 1 - Feb. 9, 2018 THE SECRET SANTA $500 GIVEAWAY
If you spend $50 in the month of Dec at any one visit (not including gift certificates) you receive a scratch ticket. Don’t scratch it! The scratch ticket must be scratched on a return visit in the month of January in front of a server. Every ticket is a winner and 1 person will win a $500 Visa Gift Card
10 Prospect St., Auburn 508-832-2553 chucks.com Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 4:30-9 • Thursday 4:30-9:30 Friday 4:30-10 • Saturday 4:30 - 10 • Sunday Noon - 8
CATERING • GIFT CARDS • VOTED BEST SPORTS BAR! CATCH ALL THE GAMES HERE!
50¢ Wings All Day Saturday & Sunday
112 Green St., Worcester • 508-755-0879 • thebannerbar.com DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
27
save the date for...
baystateparent’s
KidsCon & CAMP EXPO 2nd Annual
Saturday, January 27 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Marlborough
Kids are FREE! $5 per adult
Your one stop resource for all things kids Over 60 Vendors plus lots of entertainment such as: • Animal Adventures • Happy Face Painting • Hodge Podge the Giant Puppet • Kayla Daly • Kosmic Kelly • Mr. Magic
• Rosalita’s Puppets • Toe Jam Puppet Band • Violet The Clown And Lots More! Plus Give-aways Galore! New This Year Mom’s Mini Mall
Sponsored By #bspkidscon18 • baystateparent.com/kidscon 28
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
night day &
{ listings}
music >Thursday 28
Karaoke. 8-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-8531350. DJ Night - Every Thursday. 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420. Open Mic Most Thursdays @ Barbers North. To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8438. Open Mic/Local Musicians Showcase Every 3rd Thursday @ KBC Brewery. To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6:30-9:30 p.m. Kretschmann Brewing Co (KBC Brewing) - Brewery and Beer Garden, 9 Frederick St., Webster. Coots on Scoots show and jam. Southern and classic rock, blues, etc. Musicians/singers will be invited to jam. Fun time with friendly folks in relaxed venue. 7-10 p.m. B-Mans 140 Tavern, 348 Redemption Rock Trail, Spencer. NightbTrain. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585. Open Mic @ The Blue Plate. Show off your musical talents, collaborate, or just listen to some cool tunes in a laid back atmosphere. Most Thursdays. PA provided. Free. 7-10 p.m. Blue Plate Lounge, 661 Main St., Holden. 508-829-4566. Open Mic Nights. 7-10:30 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Hudson Ma, Hudson. 978-310-1933. Ron Williams. 7-11 p.m. The Monument Tap, Leominster. 978-7981242. Ukulele Club w/ Rich Leufstedt. Join the 20+ participants in Union Music’s Annual Ukulele Club. Open to all skill levels. Rich Leufstedt enlightens the League of Crafty Ukematicians every month in the ways of sweet strumming. Sing along and learn songs. Meet, greet, and jam at 7PM Free Event. 7-8:30 p.m. Union Music, Union Music Performance Center, 142 Southbridge St. 508-753-3702 or find them on Facbeook. Chris Reddy Acoustic Loops from Hell. 8-11 p.m. Blueprint New American Bar & Grill, 9 Village Square, Westminster. 978-6685580. John Brazile. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. 508-459-2025. Open Mic Night With David Bazin. Acoustic Style, bring your acoustic instrument down and or sing and share your talent! No Cover. 8-11 p.m. Belfont Hotel, 11 South Main St., Millbury. 508-917-8128. The Original Cowards. Original rock from Northampton, MA. Echoes of Neil Young, Dinosaur Jr., Status Quo, and T. Rex. 8-11 p.m. Ralphs Rock Diner. Zack Slik. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Rye & Thyme, 14 Monument Square, Leominster. 978-534-5900. Audio Wasabi. 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. HiFi Wards electric blues. Peter Ward, Bob Berry and George Dellomo play the blues and some classic country too! No cover charge. 8:30-10:30 p.m. Dunny’s Tavern, 291 East Main St., East Brookfield. Karaoke in the Cabaret with DJ Matt R. Karaoke in the Cabaret with DJ Matt R 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, Cabaret, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or find them on Facebook. Allston Police. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place.
508-459-9035. Center Stage Karaoke. Come on down and take center stage. Thursday is Karaoke night at Beatniks. 9PM...No Cover No Cover. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877. Karaoke. DJ Nancy, of Star Sound Entertainment. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-798-8385. Karaoke Party with Matty J! 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022. Sam James Performs at Loft, Thurs at 9. 9-11:59 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177. Thirsty Thursdays. Worcester’s New Weekly Club Night brought to you by Subterra Entertainment When: Thursdays Where: The Cove Music Hall Why: Because you like to Party! All your favortie tunes mixed and remixed! Pop | Dance | House | Remixes | Underground | Vocal $2 Drafts | $3 Beers | $3 Shots | Drink Specials huge sound & light show! Free Street and Lot Parking all night Hosted By: Massappeal DJ Ray Toreba Spacedrift 9pm - 2am // 21+ // $5 Door Ladies Free Before 10pm No Dress Code $5 at the door- Ladies free until 10pm. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. The Cove Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or thecovemusichall.com DJ Cuzn Kev. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. DJ 21+Canal. Live Dj pushing out all the latest hits for you’re listening and dancing pleasure! (Thursday is college night @ the Canal ) 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353.
>Friday 29
Calling All Campers! It may be winter but we are celebrating Camp! We’ll sing camp songs in our morning rally and work on a special art project. Don’t pack a lunch because it’s hot diggety dog day! We’ll supply hot dogs, chips, and popsicles. Wear your camp shirt if you have it because it’s summertime once again! Extended AM & PM options 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM, $10/member, $15/non-member 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, $18/member, $22/non-member 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM, $15/member, $18/non-member For details, please contact Sandy Scola at sscola@ worcesterjcc.org or at (508) 756-7109 x235. $31/members, $36/ non-members. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Worcester JCC, 633 Salisbury St. 508756-7109, ext. 235 or worcesterjcc.org In with the New. It’s time to welcome in the new year with noisemakers, party hats, and masks. We’ll play games with our friends and have a special treat to eat. Come join the party and welcome 2018! Extended AM & PM options 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM, $10/member, $15/ non-member 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, $18/member, $22/non-member 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM, $15/member, $18/non-member For details, please contact Sandy Scola at sscola@worcesterjcc.org or at (508) 756-7109 x235. $31/members, $36/non-members. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Worcester JCC, 633 Salisbury St. 508-756-7109, ext. 235 or worcesterjcc.org Winter Family Sing-a-Long. Come warm up indoors and join us for a fun family sing-a-long hosted by Margaret McCandless. Families of all ages are invited to enjoy the music! Space is limited. Seating will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free for members and with admission. 11:30 a.m.-noon, 12:30-1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111, ext. 124. Hip Swayers Trio. Sway out the new year with the trio at BirchTree! Free. 6-9 p.m. Birchtree Bakery, 138 Green St. 774-243-6944. Bill McCarthy Every Friday at Barbers Crossing North. Now catch Bill McCarthy playing his heart out every Friday at Barbers North (Sterling, MA) @6:30pm Visit: BillMcCarthyMusic.com for info. Free! 7-10 p.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8438. Brett & Lisa Brumby. We have the very talented duo of Brett & Lisa Crumby performing some of your favorites and some originals as well, that are sure to become some of your favorites. One of the best guitarists in Worcester, makes Brett a must see. N/A. 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, Bar / Lounge, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353 or find them on Facebook. Chris Reddy Acoustic loops from Hell. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585. Dan Cormier. 7-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St.
night day &
Hudson Ma, Hudson. 978-310-1933. Dustin Brideau. 7-11 p.m. The Monument Tap, Leominster. 978798-1242. Rick Hamel. 7-10 p.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-3046044. Thursday with special guest Pup. 7-11:30 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696. Dave Harrington. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Happy Jack’s, 785 North Main St., Leominster. 978-466-3433. Brian Chaffee. 8-11 p.m. 435 Bar & Grill, 435 Lancaster St., Leominster. Free Entertainment. free. 8-10:30 p.m. Chuck’s Steakhouse, 10 Prospect St., Auburn. 508-832-2553. Gale County. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tavern on Central, 3 Central St., Ashburnham. 978-827-1272. Kevin Shields. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Quinn’s Irish Pub, 715 West Boylston St. 508-459-2025. Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Black Sheep Tavern, 261 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8484. Louzy & Friends. Punk / Alternative Rock Show...check out this line up...Louzy...Wave Break...Thrash Frog & The Wrong Roads Right Wave Break: facebook.com/wavebreakofficial/?fref=mentions&pnref=story The Wrong Roads Right: facebook.com/wrongroadsright/ $5. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877 or find them on Facebook. Ricky Booth Performs at Loft, Friday at 8. 8-11 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177. Scott Babineau. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The GazBar Sports Grill, 1045 Central St., Leominster. The Royal Furs. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Rye & Thyme, 14 Monument Square, Leominster. 978-534-5900. Zack Slik. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242
Since
{ listings}
West Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057. Every Friday Karaoke. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Wong Dynasty and Yankee Grill, 176 Reservoir St., Holden. 508-829-2188. Karaoke. 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Foodworks, Route 20. 508-752-0938. Live Music. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. Boom Box. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350. Cover Story. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. Every Friday - Original Rock Bands. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Speakers Night Club, 19 Weed St., Marlborough. 508-439-9314. Ghost Train. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035. Guest and House DJ’S. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521 or mblounge.com Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg. 978345-5051. Karaoke Fridays at Three G’s Sportsbar. Join Magic Mike Entertainment every Friday night for Karaoke! Free! 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Three G’s Sports Bar, 152 Millbury St. magicmikeentertainment.com Karaoke with DJ Bruce. Free. 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Meiji Asian Cuisine, 24 Leicester St., North Oxford. 508-731-0120. Riff Raff plays The Kasbar. Riff Raff rocks the Kasbar. JIm Provencher, Ed Fortier, Steve Kirouac, Scott Mitti, and Pat McGreal. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-798-8385. Stillwater String Band - Start the New Year Early! Kick off your New Year celebrations early at the Gardner Ale House with the Stillwater String Band! The Stillwater String Band features David “dave” West - guitar and vocals Walter Crockett - guitar and vocals Bill Fisher -
SERVING YOU 1975
“Where Good Friends Meet for Food and Drink”
Wexford House RESTAURANT Great Burgers • “El salad” with Shrimp or Chicken Lobster, Scallop or Clam rolls • Soup & Sandwiches Fresh Seafood - Great Steaks - Homemade Italian - Chicken Dishes
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Allen’s Specialty –
Nominated for Best Middle Eastern Food
Middle Eastern Food Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11:30am-10:00pm Located at the corner of Shrewsbury Street and Route 9 in Worcester. Ample parking in the rear.
508-757-8982
Get your vision back with a new pair of blades. Buy 1, Get 1 Free when you replace your NAPA Wiper Blades at participating NAPA AutoCare Centers. Offer valid November 1 - December 31, 2017
199 Oxford Ave., Dudley, MA • 508-461-6591 Valid for most passenger cars, light trucks or SUVs.
Conveniently book your appointment online! WWW.PROAUTOMOTIVEMA.COM
LIVE & LOCAL 199 Oxford Ave. • Dudley, MA
508.461.6591 Jim Polito
Conveniently book your appointment online! WTAG.COM 5-9 am WWW.PROAUTOMOTIVEMA.COM
Jordan Levy 3-6 pm
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
29
night day &
{ listings}
bass and vocals Free! 9 p.m.-midnight Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122 or find them on Facebook. Way Up South Live at JJ’s. 9 p.m.-midnight JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420. Talk is Cheap. 9:30 p.m.-midnight Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022. DJ Tec Threat (upstairs). 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. DJ’s. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044. DJ 21+Canal. Live Dj pushing out all the latest hits for you’re listening and dancing pleasure! 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353. DJ Joe T Performs at Loft at 11. 11-11:59 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177. Safe House Radio Show. This is a live radio broadcast with 2 living DJs hoping to drag you out of your lonely IPods and phone apps to hear the local & national metal, thrash, screamo, punk and alternative you wont hear on mainstream radio. Tune into WCUW 91.3FM in the Worcester and surrounding areas. Or stream live on wcuw.org (hit the listen live button in the upper left corner of screen) Join your DJs Summi and Momma Bear for an hour of metal, thrash, screamo, punk & alternative. You’re not alone in your digital world. Were out here live! Call in to let us know your listening @ (508)753-2284 after 11pm. Hope you tune in to hear local and national metal and more! 91.3fm or wcuw.org It’s your community radio! So enjoy it already! Sheesh! 11 p.m.-midnight WCUW Studios, 910 Main St. 508-753-2284 or find them on Facebook.
>Saturday 30
Grade “A” Fancy. Fun band playing blues, bluegrass, vintage, goodtime music! Popular spot for brunch or lunch. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. BirchTree Bread Co., 138 Green St. 774-243-6944 or find them on Facebook. Winter Family Sing-a-Long. Come warm up indoors and join us for a fun family sing-a-long hosted by Margaret McCandless. Families of all ages are invited to enjoy the music! Space is limited. Seating will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Free for members and with admission. 11:30 a.m.-noon, 12:30-1 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111, ext. 124. Sip & Stitch Saturdays. Every Saturday at 1PM. Most every Saturday afternoon Creatives come together at Nick’s armed with knitting bags and sewing needles. Come with an existing project or start a new one. Meet like-minded people, knit/sew/crochet, share food and drinks made by Jeff at the Bar and have fun! Come as you are, Come as you will. Drop in, drop out. Free! 1-5 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or find them on Facebook. Pitch and Sip, cards and drinks, Saturdays at Nick’s. Like card games? Come play Pitch, Here’s how. wikihow.com/Play-Pitch High, Low, Jack, Game, play to 11. Not a league, just an ongoing Saturday pick up game. Free. 2-5 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030 or find them on Facebook. Singer/Guitarist Cameron Sutphin. Like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger before him, Cameron Sutphin has been traveling around the United States performing classic country and folk music wherever he stops, as a solo acoustic artist. With his newly released Nashville recorded EP, Heartbreak Town, Cameron takes his songwriting and performance to a whole new level, this being his first full band and
Out of this world selections, down to earth prices - Tatuaje - Padrón - General Cigar - Rocky Patel - DrewEstate, Liga Privada, T52 & Unico - A. Fuente Opus X
Featuring cigarette and pipe tobacco and accessories
560 LINCOLN St., WORCESTER 508-852-5700 Mon. - Fri, 9am-6pm • Sat. 8am-4pm • Sun. Closed
30
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
night day &
studio album. Transcending the genre of folk Americana, Cameron’s music echoes inspiration from singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Neil Young - combining simple melodies and a lyrical intensity, while establishing a unique sound of his own. Donations accepted. 2-4 p.m. Booklovers’ Gourmet, 55 East Main St., Webster. 508-949-6232. Four Year Strong. 6-11:30 p.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508797-9696. Open Mic! Come join our weekly open mic night! Hosted by Stephen Wright. All family friendly performers welcome. Show up and add your name to the list. Look forward to having you! 6:30-9 p.m. Nu Cafe, 335 Chandler St. 508-926-8800 or nucafe.com August First. 7-10 p.m. Medusa Brewing Company, 111 Main St. Hudson Ma, Hudson. 978-310-1933. Belit. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585. Dana Lewis Live! Every Saturday night. Live, acoustic music, Family food, Full Bar, Lottery and Me! Playing the Hits of the 50’s to the 80’s. “The Sound Track of your Youth” No Cover. Be There! Free! 7-10 p.m. Nancy’s Quaker Tavern, 466 Quaker Hgwy (Route146a), Uxbridge. 508779-0901 or find them on Facebook. Dave Malouin. 7-11 p.m. The Monument Tap, Leominster. 978-7981242. Ramlin’ Dan Stevens. Ramblin’ Dan Stevens plays some rockin’ finger-style blues and American roots music emanating from the depths of the delta, careening through the streets of New York to the present. N/A. 7-10 p.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, Bar / Lounge, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353 or find them on Facebook. Sean Fullerton. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Happy Jack’s, 785 North Main St., Leominster. 978-466-3433. Brian Chaffee. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Rye & Thyme, 14 Monument Square, Leominster. 978-534-5900. Fatal Portrait-A tribute to King Diamond w/ Galvanized. Fatal Portrait- A Tribute to King Diamond facebook. com/kingdiamondtribute/ With Guests: Galvanized facebook.com/ GalvanizedRI/ 8pm $10 at the Door 21+ to enter facebook.com/ events/178665266022526/ $10 at the door. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Cove Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or find them on Facebook. Jay Smith. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The GazBar Sports Grill, 1045 Central St., Leominster. Left - Right. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Barbers Crossing (North), 175 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8438. Live Music. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Black Sheep Tavern, 261 Leominster Road, Sterling. 978-422-8484. Matt Piaseczny. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242 West Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057. Scott Babineau. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tavern on Central, 3 Central St., Ashburnham. 978-827-1272. Tim & Lou. 8-11:30 p.m. Blueprint New American Bar & Grill, 9 Village Square, Westminster. 978-668-5580.
We & The DAWG Sat Dec 30th 8pm with special guest Cliff Goodwin! We & The DAWG take the year out in style, with a dance party the night before New Years Eve! With special guest Cliff Goodwin (played guitar with Joe Cocker for a dozen years) We are super excited about this show! Last time we played the White Eagle was a blast, people dancing all over the place, we hope it will be just as fun! With the incredible vocals of Bruce Reed, the dog-pound horns, and the rest of their funkyasses--- oh ya! Dance Dance Dance! Only $10 cover ! 8-11:30 p.m. White Eagle Polish Club, 112 Green St. 774-245-1991. Live Music. 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. Sean Fullerton and his Mad Loops Laboratory! Sean Fullerton is a solo Acoustic/Electric performer with 2 decades of professional experience specializing in Blues, Rock, Folk, Memphis Soul and Fingerstyle Guitar using a wide variety of guitars, harmonicas, guitar effects and looping, vocal harmony technology, and Bose and Tech 21 sound systems. Sean performs solo for many venues and events throughout New England year-round. Dinner, Drinks, Music, Fun. 8:3011:30 p.m. Happy Jack’s, 785 North Main St., Leominster. 978-4665788 or seanfullertonmusic.net 9-Teen Live at JJ’s. 9 p.m.-midnight JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420. Cam Knopp. 9-11:59 p.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. Guest and House DJ’S. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. MB Lounge, 40 Grafton St. 508-799-4521 or mblounge.com Hip Swayers Ring in the New Year! Sway our way for our last Saturday night show of 2017 - so glad we get to spend it at Vincent’s! Free. 9 p.m.-midnight Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439. Hot Letter. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035. Matt Brodeur Trio. A house favorite and just a good time. Join us as we welcome the New Year a little early. Playing all your favorite classic rock , 80’s hits and everything in between. $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877. Ricky Duran Solo Acoustic! 9 p.m.-noon Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022. Sam James. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. Stacy’s Mom’s New Year’s Eve EVE Party! Join Stacy’s Mom for our very special New Year’s Eve EVE Party at Greendale’s Pub on Saturday, December 30th, 2017! We all know from years of bad experiences that going out on New Year’s Eve is always expensive and can be somewhat dangerous with all the people drinking and driving. Stacy’s Mom wants you to be safe and sound to ring in 2018, so we suggest you skip all that craziness completely and stay home on the actual NYE, but we hope you’ll come out the night before for a real party, courtesy of Stacy’s Mom! We’ll be playing the best in Classic Rock, Alternative and Pop the way only Stacy’s Mom can, including incredible vocal harmonies, searing guitar solos and a groove that will most definitely get you on the dance floor! Come out and rock all night with
one of the only all female bands in Central MA! 21+, $5 Cover, music starts at 9 pm! $5. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350 or find them on Facebook. Talk is Cheap. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Frank’s, 274 Shrewsbury St. 774-4202253. DJ’s. 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Compass Tavern, 90 Harding St. 508-304-6044. DJ 21+Canal. Live Dj pushing out all the latest hits for you’re listening and dancing pleasure! (Thursday is college night @ the Canal) N/A. 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-9268353. DJ Joe T Performs at Loft at 11. 11-11:59 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177.
{ listings}
>Sunday 31
Noon Years Eve. Join the festivities at our annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration with two kid-friendly countdowns at 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m., create and toast resolutions, make 2017 time capsules, and more! Noon Year’s Eve at the EcoTarium offers fun the whole family can enjoy together! 10 a.m.-4, noon-6 p.m., 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way. 508-929-2700 or ecotarium.org Bull-Grass Brunch. Join us every Sunday Morning and Afternoon for the best in Brunch and Bluegrass. Featuring a rotating cavalcade of Central MA and New England’s finest pickers and pluckers playing classic
DEC. 30th 7:05pm
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS NIGHT RAILERS SCARF GIVEAWAY
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
31
32
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
night day &
and contemporary Bluegrass. Check out the Facebook event page to see who’s coming up in the next few months! Enjoy one of our Ultimate Bloody Mary’s and take in a fantastic show all in our beautiful historic downtown location. Free W/ Brunch. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bistro, Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St. 508-755-6070 or find them on Facebook. JOMP Youth Orchestra ~ JYO. Celebrating New Year’s Eve! Conductor: Timothy Terranella Associate Conductor: Regie Pineda Music by Beethoven, Humperdinck, and Rossini. Admission is free. Admission is free. 3-4:30 p.m. Joy of Music Program, Joseph & Jordan Shapiro Concert Hall, 1 Gorham St. 508-856-9541 or jomp.org New Year’s Eve 80’s Bash with Flock Of Aholes. Grab your spandex, Air Jordan’s and Aquanet hairspray because we are back baby to ring in the New Year 80’s style! A celebration of your favorite 80’s tunes played by the most kickass 80’s tribute of all time, the Flock of A$$holes! Grab your tix now because the KOMMISAR is coming to town! 21+ w/Valid ID Only Tix Just $20 Advance / $25 Day Of Show Secure yours here: http://bit.ly/123FlockEH $20 Advance / $25 Day Of Show. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629 or find them on Facebook. New Years Eve with The Flock! At Electric Haze. Is it really the end of another year? Are we really gonna have the most incredible time ushering in 2018 together? Yes! Electric Haze on Millbury Street will be hosting the biggest and best New Years Eve Bash in Worcester. Let’s do this together, everyone! We are so grateful for all our friends and would love to be there with you when the brand new year pops. Happy Holidays everyone and see you on New Years Eve! $12. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St. 508-799-0629 or find them on Facebook. NYE with Brother Maynard. Dinner show including free buffet and champagne toast $75. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. McNally’s Grille & Pub, 88 Sargent Road, Westminster. 978-874-1444. Open Mic Sundays @ Park Grill & Spirits. To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6-9 p.m. Park Grill and Spirits, 257 Park Ave. New Years Eve Dance Party With Little Red & The Riders. 7:00pm Group Dance Lesson - 7:30pm DJ Dance Music 8:00 To 11pm Little Red & The Riders ~ DJ AlanHep2theJive ~ Pot Luck Buffet ~ Bring A Dish If You Wish ~ Sun.. Dec 31st Admission $14 ~ Table of Eight $100. To Buy online visit our website: below... All Dance2Swing Events Are Always A Mixture of Singles & Couples $14 Table of Eight $100. 6:45-11 p.m. Leominster Elks Lodge 1237, 134 N. Main St., Leominster. 978-728-4533 or dance2swing.com Pink Talking Phish. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Palladium, The, 261 Main St. 508-797-9696. Acoustic Shoes. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston. 774-261-8585. DJ Darin Boisvert. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. South Side Grille & Margarita Factory, 242 West Broadway, Gardner. 978-632-1057. Fun with Hands. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Rye & Thyme, 14 Monument Square, Leominster. 978-534-5900. TOOL Year’s Eve w/ Opiate, Mr Self Destruct, and Reservoirs. Join us at the Cove Music hall for the final Party of the year when New Year’s Eve becomes TOOL Years Eve! Opiate Tool Tribute facebook.com/opiatetooltribute.RI/ Mr Self Destruct facebook. com/mrselfdestructnineinchnailstribute/ Reservoirs facebook.com/ reservoirsband/ $10 in advance/ $13 DOS 8pm 21+ to enter Ticket link: showclix.com/event/tool-years-eve-w-opiate-mr-self-destruct-nin $10 in advance - $13 at the Door. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Cove Music Hall, 89 Green St. 508-363-1888 or find them on Facebook. Decades By Dezyne Live at JJ’s. 9 p.m.-midnight JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420. Hit the Bus. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Michael’s Cigar Bar, 1 Exchange Place. 508-459-9035. Karaoke. DJ Nancy, of Star Sound Entertainment. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club
KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-798-8385. Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-7988385. Karaoke. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Partner’s Pub, 970 South St., Fitchburg. 978345-5051. Karaoke with DJ Soup. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St. New Year’s Eve Karaoke Party with Matty J. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Padavano’s Place, 358 Shrewsbury St. 774-823-3022. Ney Years Eve Party at Nick’s w/ The Nic-O-Tines and Nat’s Cats. Nick’s New Years’ Eve Party with Nat’s Cats & The Nic-OTines 9pm champagne toast at midnight, favors $25 $25. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, Cabaret, 124 Millbury St. 508-753-4030. New Years Eve Late Night DJ. New Years Ever Bash, Late Night DJ, Party Favors and More! N/A. 10 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Canal Restaurant & Bar, 65 Water St. 508-926-8353.
>Monday 1
Blue Mondays - Live Blues. 7-11 p.m. Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Gardner. 978-669-0122. Jazz Night - Live at JJ’s. 7-10 p.m. JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420 or jjsnorthboro.com Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-7988385.
>Tuesday 2
Silent Movie Piano with Richard Hughes. Silent movie pianist, Richard Hughes, takes you on a trip into the colorful past when Nickelodeon theaters showed black and white flickers to the accompaniment of live piano. Richard recreates the atmosphere by playing ragtime, novelty and Tin Pan Alley tunes. Free and Open to the Public. 2-3 p.m. Briarwood Continuing Care Retirement Community: Birches Auditorium, 65 Briarwood Circle. 508-852-9007. Worcester Children’s Chorus Mid-Season Auditions. Audition to join one of the five choirs of the Worcester Children’s Chorus. Placements available for singers ages 8 - 18. Learn to sing. Make new friends. Travel! $5 Audition Fee. 5:30-7 p.m. Assumption College, Kennedy Hall, room #105 (by appointment only), 500 Salisbury St. worcesterchildrenschorus.org Tuesday Open Mic Night @ Greendale’s Pub with Bill McCarthy Local Musicians Showcase! To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@ verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 7:30-11:30 p.m. Greendale’s Pub, 404 W Boylston St. 508-853-1350 or find them on Facebook. Service Industry New Year’s Party. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. The Pint, 58 Shrewsbury St. Boogie Chillin’. Bluesy, bluegrassy, jazzy, americana, dead, and more. Jon Bonner - Guitar & Vocals Dan Villani - Violin/fiddle Fernando Perez
- Percussion Joining us sometimes are Zack Slik on mandolin, Chris Houston, Scott Sheehan or Matt McManamon on bass, and other special guests. Free! (Tips are appreciated if you appreciate us.). 9-11:59 p.m. Vincent’s Bar, 49 Suffolk St. 508-752-9439 or find them on Facebook. Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-7988385. Karaoke Tuesdays at 9:30. 9:30-11:59 p.m. Loft 266 Bar & Lounge, 266 Park Ave. 508-796-5177.
>Wednesday 3
Open Mic Wednesdays at CJ’s Steak Loft in Northborough. To check the schedules and open slots visit: Bill McCarthy’s Open Mic World on Facebook. Bill McCarthy (originator of the “Half-Hour Sets!”) is your host at another great Open Mic Night! Email Bill McCarthy to reserve it at: openmcc@verizon.net (make sure you put “open mic” in the email’s “subject box”) To check the schedules and open slots visit Facebook. Any slot marked as “open” usually is! Free! 6-9 p.m. CJs Steakloft, 369 W. Main St. (route 20), Northborough. 508-3938134 or find them on Facebook. Pizza & Games. Free Pizza for patrons from 7PM-9PM...Cornhole boards will be out, Darts, board games and such plus tables for cups if that’s your game. 7-11 p.m. Beatnik’s, 433 Park Ave. 508-926-8877. Open Mic. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. The Raven, 258 Pleasant St. 508-304-8133. Country Night - Live Music at JJ’s. 9 p.m.-midnight JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill, 380 Southwest Cutoff, Northborough. 508-842-8420. Karaoke. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Club KasBar, 234 Southwest Cutoff. 508-7988385. Karaoke with DJ Soup. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Whiskey on Water, 97 Water St.
classes >Thursday 28 – Monday 24
Fight Weight Fitness Full Body Ladies Group Fitness Course. Fight Weight Fitness is a total body group workout that combines fun with functional strength training, boxing techniques, and cardiovascular conditioning. Our energizing workouts are designed to mimic a boxing match experience with 12 rounds against your toughest opponent, yourself. Our unique training regimen is passed down from world champion boxing trainers, taught by a professional athlete, and mixed with 21st-century high-intensity interval training. In an efficient, 1-hour timeframe, these workouts are designed to: - Boost metabolism to burn fat during and up to 2-hours post workout - Increase your strength and stamina - Improve your body composition - increase muscle mass and decrease fat mass Our workout is customizable to fit your fitness level and flexible enough to adapt to a wide variety of individuals that don’t have a lot of time to devote to exercise, don’t have the knowledge or expertise to train by themselves, or those that are looking to re-energize or shake up their regular exercise routines. $15 Drop In Price, $10 if prepay for 10 classes $100. 7-8 p.m. Fitness Grind, 88 Webster St. 508-287-2194.
>Thursday 28 – January 11
Garage Band: Digital Audio Design. Channel your inner DJ and drop a beat with GarageBand on our iPads! Learn about digital audio production and jam with friends or go solo to create a track. GarageBand is a user-friendly iOS software application that provides preset MIDI keyboards and loops to create a unique tune. No prior musical knowledge or technical savvy required. You can use a variety of the pre-made loops, or combine them with your own melodies and beats. Participants are encouraged to post their completed tracks on Worcester Public Library’s SoundCloud page. All materials provided; for children ages 8+. Free. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Burncoat Branch - Worcester Public Library, 526 Burncoat St. 508-799-8328.
>Saturday 30
Storytime in the Conservatories. Join us in the conservatories to hear stories about plants, the seasons, and the natural world around
{ listings}
us. Free for members and with admission. 11:30 a.m.-noon Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111, ext. 124.
>Wednesday 3
Community WorcNite #16. The WorcShop is proud to present Community WorcNights! Come create, make art, check out our facilities. This event is: bring your own supplies, and potluck, so grab a dish and an unfinished project and come spend some time with good people in a place made to cultivate creativity. We’ll have someone on hand to answer questions about The WorcShop and give tours. How to find us: Turn in at the Blue Hive parking lot (233 Stafford St.) drive to the back of the lot and turn right to go behind the building. There will be a large garage door. The entrance to the WorcShop is the door on the right with the blue awning. Cost: $0 - Free Event $0 - Free Event. 6-9 p.m. The WorcShop, Classroom, 243 Stafford St. 774-545-0720 or eventbrite.com Google Drive, part of the Winter Computer Class Series. Google Drive provides a great solution for working on and storing documents in “the cloud,” as well as backing up important files and sharing files with others. *A valid Gmail address is required to participate in this class. Basic knowledge of computers and a valid email address is required to participate in these classes. Register online at mywpl. org or call 508-799-1655x3 Winter Computer Class Series Saturdays: Microsoft Word Saturday, December 2 from 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. Microsoft Publisher Saturday, December 16 from 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. Organizing Your Genealogy Resources Electronically Saturday, January 6 from 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. Online Job Searching Saturday, January 20 from 9:15 10:45 a.m. Learn to Touch Type Saturday, January 27 from 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays: Gmail Wednesday, December 6 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Google Drive* Wednesday, January 3 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. *a valid Gmail address is required to participate in this class Google Docs* Wednesday, February 7 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. *a valid Gmail address is required to participate in this class free. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Worcester Public Library, 3rd floor computer lab, 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655, ext. 3.
arts
ArtsWorcester, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday - Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Free. 660 Main St. 508-755-5142 or artsworcester.org Asa Waters Mansion, Admission: $3 for guided tour $7-10 for tea. 123 Elm St., Millbury. 508-865-0855 or asawaters.org Assumption College: Emmanuel d’Alzon Library, 500 Salisbury St. 508-767-7272 or assumption.edu Booklovers’ Gourmet, “Musical Sketches” by Tim Oliver, Through Dec. 30; For the Love of Animals - Art Exhibit by Janet Aleid, Tuesday Wednesday. Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 55 East Main St., Webster. 508-949-6232 or bookloversgourmet.com Clark University: University Gallery, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, noon-8 p.m. Wednesday, noon-5 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. 950 Main St. 508-793-7349 or 508-793-7113 or clarku.edu Clark’s Cafe and Art On Rotation Gallery, Hours: 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday - Saturday. Admission: Free for gallery. 310 High St., Clinton. 978-549-5822 or 978-365-7772 or aorgallery.com College of the Holy Cross: Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, 2-5 p.m. Saturday. 1 College St. 508-793-3356 or holycross.edu Danforth Museum of Art, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, noon-5 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 123 Union Ave., Framingham. 508-620-0050 or danforthmuseum.org Dark World Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 179 Grafton St. darkworldgallery.com EcoTarium, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $15.00 adults; $10 for children
DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
33
night day &
{ listings}
ages 2-18, college students with ID & senior citizens. Children under 2 & EcoTarium members free. Additional charges apply for Tree Canopy Walkway, Explorer Express Train, planetarium programs & other special event. 222 Harrington Way. 508-929-2700 or ecotarium.org Fisher Museum Harvard Forest, 324 N. Main St., Petersham. 978-724-3302 or harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu Fitchburg Art Museum, Hours: noon-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, noon-4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 25 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg. 978-345-4207 or fitchburgartmuseum.org Fitchburg Historical Society, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, closed Thursday - Saturday. Admission: Free. 781 Main St., Fitchburg. 978-345-1157 or fitchburghistoricalsociety.org Fitchburg State University: Hammond Hall, 160 Pearl St., Fitchburg. fitchburgstate.edu Framed in Tatnuck, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. 1099 Pleasant St. 508-770-1270 or framedintatnuck.com Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. 978-4563924 or fruitlands.org Gallery of African Art, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Donations accepted. 62 High St., Clinton. 978-265-4345 or 978-598-5000x12 or galleryofafricanart.org Highland Artist Group, 113 Highland St. highlandartistgroup.com Mass Audubon: Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Hours: 12:30-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 414 Massasoit Road. 508-753-6087 or massaudubon.org Museum of Russian Icons, Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Adults $10; Seniors (59 +), $7; Students, $5; Children 3-17, $5; Children <3, free. 203 Union St., Clinton. 978-5985000 or 978-598-5000 or museumofrussianicons.org Old Sturbridge Village, Cabinet Making in Early 19th Century New England, Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, through Dec. 31; Make No Little Plans, Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, through Dec. 31. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday. Admission: $28 Adults, $26 Seniors (55+), $14 Youths (4-17), free for Children 3 & Under, $14 College Students with valid college ID. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge. 800-733-1830 or 508-347-3362 or osv.org Park Hill Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday Friday, closed Saturday. 387 Park Ave. 774-696-0909. Post Road Art Center, Hours: closed Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 1 Boston Post Road, Marlborough. 508-485-
2580 or postroadartcenter.com Preservation Worcester, Hours: closed Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, closed Saturday. 10 Cedar St. 508-754-8760 or preservationworcester.org Prints and Potter Gallery: American Arts and Crafts Gallery, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 142 Highland St. 508-752-2170 or printsandpotter.com Quinebaug Valley Council for the Arts & Humanities, the Arts Center, Hours: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Friday, 2-4 p.m. Saturday. 111 Main St., Southbridge. 508-346-3341 or qvcah.org Rollstone Studios, Hours: 11-4 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. Admission: free. 633 Main St., Fitchburg. 978-348-2781 or rollstoneartists.com Salisbury Mansion, Hours: closed Sunday - Wednesday, 1-8:30 p.m. Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 40 Highland St. 508-7538278 or worcesterhistory.org SAORI Worcester Freestyle Weaving Studio, 18 Winslow St. 508-757-4646 or 508-757-0116 or saoriworcester.com Sprinkler Factory, Admission: free. 38 Harlow St. sprinklerfactory. com Taproot Bookstore, Hours: noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 1200 West Boylston St. 508853-5083 or TaprootBookstore.com Tatnuck Bookseller & Cafe, Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday - Saturday. 18 Lyman St., Westborough. 508-366-4959 or tatnuck.com The Foster Gallery, 51 Union St. 508-397-7139 or thefostergallery. com Top Fun Aviation Toy Museum, Hours: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. 21 Prichard St., Fitchburg. 978-342-2809 or 978-297-4337 or topfunaviation.com Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. Admission: $12 Adults, $9 Seniors & $7 Youth, free to Members & Children under. 11 French Drive, Boylston. 508-869-6111 or towerhillbg.org Worcester Art Museum, Coming Away: Winslow Homer and England, Through Feb. 4, 2018; Jeppson Idea Lab: Master Vases from Ancient Greece, Through April 8, 2018; Last Defense: The Genius of Japanese Meiji Metalwork, Through Sept. 2, 2018; Nude Drawing in the Galleries, Thursdays, through Dec. 28; Rediscovering an American Community of Color: The Photographs of William Bullard, Through Feb. 25, 2018. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday - Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission: Free for members, $14 adults, $12 seniors, free for youth 17 and under. Free for all first Saturdays of each month, 10am-noon. 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406 or worcesterart.org
Worcester Center for Crafts, Hours: closed Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday. 25 Sagamore Road. 508-753-8183 or worcestercraftcenter.org Worcester Historical Museum, Hours: closed Sunday - Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday. 30 Elm St. 508-753-8278 or worcesterhistory.org Worcester Public Library, Hours: 1:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday - Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday. 3 Salem Square. 508-799-1655 or worcpublib.org WPI: George C. Gordon Library, 100 Institute Road. wpi.edu
theater/ comedy
Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Park Grill & Spirits - Fridays, Saturdays, Saturday, September 18 - Tuesday, December 31. Dick Doherty’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Park Grill & Spirits 257 Park Ave Worcester MA 01609 Dick Doherty’s Beantown Comedy Clubs Showtimes: Friday 9pm-Saturdays 8pm -$20pp Reservations Recommended at 800-401-2221 Prices: $20 Fri/Sat pp except Special Events Drinks and Appetizers available in the show room Full Dinner Available before Show in Restaurant Give the Gift of Laughter! $5off with College ID and Reservations 2 for 1 Active Military or Veterans and Reservations $4 off with Dinner Receipt and Reservations. Fri & Sat Dec 29th & 30th Chris Zito Steve Halligan and Friends Special Event! Sunday Dec 31st 2 Shows! 7:30pm & 10:30pm Double Headliners $35pp Show Only $79.50pp Dinner&Show Includes Champagne Toast (21+) and Favors Corey Rodrigues Dick Doherty and Sarah Martin Fri & Sat Jan 5th & 6th Peter Martin and Friends Fri & Sat Jan 12th & 13th Mike McDonald Sarah Martin and Friends Fri & Sat Jan 19th & 20th Shawn Carter Maya Manion and Friends Dick’s Beantown Comedy Escape at Park Grill & Spirits Great Food and Fun Make Reservations Early at 800401-2221 or online at dickdoherty.com Comedy Show “Last Laugh Of 2017” - Friday, December 29. *Doors open at 7:00PM. $20 In Advance / $25 At The Door. 8-10:30 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, 35 Major Taylor Boulevard. Call 508-9816823.
family >Saturday 30
images of knights and princesses, of sinners and saints, and heroes and villains. You might discover the armor worn by knights and how it was used. Or create your own heraldry so your friends (and foes) can identify you. Ask our friendly docent what topic will be on tap today! (Programming subject to change) Free with Museum admission. 10:3011:30 a.m., 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Medieval Gallery, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406.
>Wednesday 3
Stroller Tour: China. It’s never too early to visit the Worcester Art Museum to start learning about art! This tour is designed for children 0 - 3 years old, their siblings, and their parents/grandparents/guardians. A Museum teacher will engage caretakers and their infants and toddlers with art and stories in the galleries. Stay for tea, coffee, juice and snacks after your tour. Free with Museum admission. Stroller access to Lancaster Lobby is through our Tuckerman Street Entrance. Free with Museum admission. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406.
fairs/ festivals >Sunday 31
Worcester’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. Get ready to ring in the New Year at the City of Worcester’s New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Worcester Common Oval. Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with iceskating, fireworks, street performers, live music and a heated tent! The Worcester Common Oval Public Ice Skating Rink will be open for public skating from 1:00-8:00 p.m. with the New Year’s Eve festivities beginning at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m. 5-8 p.m. Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St. 508-929-0777 or worcestercommonoval.com
poetry >Wednesday 3
WCPA Board Meeting. Join us for the monthly board meeting of the Worcester County Poetry Association. This is a working meeting, not a poetry reading. We welcome to respectful input of the poetry community. Free and open to the public. 7-9 p.m. WCPA Office @ the Sprinkler Factory, Second floor, off the main gallery, 38 Harlow St. 508-797-4770 or worcestercountypoetry.org
Zip Tour: The Last Judgement. Zip tours are fast-paced views of one artist or work of art, and last only 20 minutes. Free with Museum admission. (Programming subject to change.) Free with Museum Admission. 1-1:20 p.m. Worcester Art Museum, Meets in Lancaster Lobby, 55 Salisbury St. 508-799-4406. Art Cart: Medieval. The Middle Ages! The name brings to mind
“It’s the Liquor Talking” Radio Show & Podcast!
Broadcasting LIVE from Julio's Liquors
Saturday 11am - 1pm!
Listen on WCRN AM830 or stop by Julio’s and join the fun! No Radio, No problem! 34
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
• DECEMBER 28, 2017
DECEMBER 28, 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
35
Classified www.centralmassclass.com
978-728-4302 FAX: 508-829-0670 Email:
sales@centralmassclass.com
Reaches Over 90,000 Readers in Print and Online • Ads post immediately! New postings every day!
AUTOMOTIVE
JONESIN’
HOMES
EMPLOYMENT
"No Two Ways About It"--words and phrases that are *almost* palindromes. by Matt Jones
SERVICES
MERCHANDISE
Across 1 7 11 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 24 26 27 30 33 34 35 38 41 42 44 45 47 48 49 51 52 54 57 59 60 61 65 66 69 70 71 72 73 74
36
Anthony of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Beethoven and the like Maple tree output Part of ACTH Up to it "In Treatment" actress Wasikowska Period that doesn't involve levies or charges (almost, except for letters 3 and 9) Shapiro of NPR Tissue additive, sometimes Greek vowel FBI agent Kurt of "Blindspot" Poet Sandburg Chews out Wayne's "Wayne's World" cohost "___ du lieber!" Muscles that are crunched It may be shaved or crushed When duels may occur, in westerns His "Frozen Adventure" appeared before "Coco" in theaters "And ___ Was" (1985 Talking Heads hit) Place for a soak (almost, except for letters 2 and 6) Heady brew Daly of "Spider-Man: Homecoming" Vitamin B3 Web portal with a butterfly logo Talk incessantly ___-Caps (Nestle candy) It's really a light crime Van Gogh painting that set an auction record Superfood seen in seed form "I'm not lying!" Place with polar bears, perhaps Some car cleaners, slangily Census info, in part Give quick attention to (almost, except for letters 5 and 7) Flock formation shape Fictitious cookie guy Spunkmeyer Plaza Hotel girl of kid-lit Mess up "Star Wars" universe character Boba ___ Word before date or jacket
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!
Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 23 25 27 28 29 31 32 36 37 39 40 43
46 Facility 50 Words in some greatest hits album titles 53 One of Buddy Holly's last hits 54 "___ my doubts" 55 "Copy that" 56 What a star may stand for 58 Held expectations (for) 60 Lemon peel 62 Similar (to) 63 "Deal or No Deal" container
Japanese syllabic writing Matinee figure Puzzle cube creator Rubik Pick up on Needle ___ haystack Bobby-___ (1940s teen) Numbers to crunch ___-Wan Kenobi Luminesces 64 Hip or quip ending Iroquois Confederacy tribe 67 Box full of model components Some trick-taking feats, in bridge 68 Peyton's brother (almost, except for letters 5 and 6) Broadcast Last week's solution Some poker hands Legendary sunken island Southwestern wolf Moby-Dick's pursuer Central idea Hurting and sore Design again from scratch (almost, except for letters 5 and 6) Broadway composer George M. ___ Drink in a mug Leather shade Rapa ___ (Easter Island) As well ©2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) "Twin Peaks" actress Sherilyn Reference puzzle #860 ___ B'rith
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • DECEMBER 28, 2017
ARE YOU HIRING? Our Readers make GREAT employees.
Call or email us for more information 978-728-4302 sales@centralmassclass.com
Classified
978-728-4302 FAX: 508-829-0670 Email:
sales@centralmassclass.com
www.centralmassclass.com
Reaches Over 90,000 Readers in Print and Online • Ads post immediately! New postings every day!
AUTOMOTIVE
HOMES
EMPLOYMENT
SERVICES
Community Bulletin Board TOP HAT CHIMNEY SWEEP C.S.I.A. Certified Sweep #1529 Insured
SAFES NEW USED
OVER 100 MODELS IN STOCK ON OUR SHOWROOM FLOOR TO CHOSE FROM FIRE PROOF SAFES • INSULATED VAULT DOORS • HIGH SECURITY SAFES • BURGULAR RESISTANT SAFES • HOME & OFFICE SAFES • DEPOSITORY SAFES
Professional Cleaners Since 1982
Randy Moore 508-839-9997
TopHatChimneySweepmass.com
SNEADE BROS. VINYL SIDING & REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Fully licensed & Insured
Richard Sneade
508-839-1164
55 Green St., Worcester 508.757.1434 • www.josephslock.com
www.sneadebrothers windowandsiding.com
MERCHANDISE
Flooring 30 Years in Business
C&S
Carpet Mills CARPET & LINOLEUM 30 Sq. Yds. $585 Installed with Pad Berber, Plush or Commercial Free Metal Included Call Tom
800-861-5445 or 508-886-2624
Drummer Seeks Band Pro drummer into classic rock, country n more seeks pro working band/tribute w/gigs. Serious bands only!
Call John at 774-303-1984
HELP WANTED
Looking for more
FOR SALE
Judas Priest Tickets
CLASSIFIEDS?
GA Floor Worcester Palladium March 2018 4 TICKETS LEFT! Selling at cost, hurry, won’t last! 774-303-1984
Visit us online: CentralMassClass.com And search our listings for: • Home Services • Items For Sale • Cars & Motorcycles • Help Wanted • Apartments/Real Estate • And so much more!
Full and Part-Time Sales Positions print
digital
social
mobile
If you’re looking to join a fast-paced, dynamic organization and move your career forward while helping local businesses achieve their goals, here’s your opportunity to shine! If you are well-versed in all aspects of the sales process from initial contact, presentation, close and renewal; have a record of achieving or exceeding goals; and possess amazing customer services skills while building long-lasting customer relationships...we want to hear from you! Prior advertising sales preferred as well as a solid understanding of digital marketing and advertising, however training is available for the right candidate.
3 Story Gabled Dollhouse 28”x18”, 6 rms w/ furn., exc. cond. Asking $125. 978-355-0185. Can deliver. Brand New Drum Set Adult, 4 pc, all deep power sizes, Gloss Black. Complete w/new hardware & pedal. Best offer. 774-303-1984 Marine Engine 7.4 w/ periperal equipt. Filters, etc. Needs work. $300. 508-335-3997
Send cover letter and resume to: bbrown@holdenlandmark.com DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
37
Two minutes with...
Jermoh Kamara
Jermoh Vainga Kamara is the founder and president of HVK Children’s Foundation. After completing training in Ghana to construct a microflush latrine and implement Lab-in-a-Box, a preloaded educational library system that is accessed from offline and powered by solar panel, Kamara resigned to launch a similar project for schools in Liberia. What is your history with the city of Worcester? I grew up in Worcester. I came
out here at 9 years old with my family from the country of Liberia. I went to Canterbury Street School, Sullivan Middle and South High, where I graduated. Now I am in graduate school in New York, pursuing my masters in public health at New York Medical College at the School of Health Sciences and Practice. I have a lot of options once I finish. I like the opportunities in New York because of the international organizations that are based there, but I also have roots in Liberia and other S
OK
TH
E AB
IZ
EL
O BR
parts of Africa. Really, it comes down to who will take me on as an employee.
Can you give us some background about your organization, HVK Children’s Foundation?
HVK is short for Hawah V. Kamara Children’s Foundation, named after my aunt. She is now deceased, but she valued education and loved helping people. I’ve always had a passion to help people in Liberia, I just didn’t know when or how to do so until I got to Providence College. A professor there runs a similar program in Ghana. I joined him in Ghana and worked on education as part of a health project. I got a grant from the Rotary Club of Foxboro. They gave me $5,000 to work on a sanitation project in Ghana with a professor from Providence College. I saw the impact on the population and I wanted to do the same work in Liberia.
When did your organization transition from idea to reality?
We registered HVK Children’s Foundation in 2016, but I had already been focused on donating books from Providence College, school supplies and hand sanitizer to Liberia
38
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM • DECEMBER 28, 2017
since 2013. In 2015, I spent four months back in Liberia. When I came back to the U.S. in December, I knew I wanted to do more. I began reading books about education and health and how all of this stuff intersects. It was my first semester in grad school and I learned so much about how public health has an impact on where people live and learn, and everything in their surroundings. All of that has an impact on their health and I realized this was how I would bridge health and education. The longevity of education has a huge impact on health outcomes and on income, as in how much people make. They’re really correlated.
How are you taking a unique approach in Liberia? Liberia is a young country that
has been through so much poverty, surviving 17 years of civil war. Since 2013, when the war ended, the country took on a new form of government. Since then, little has been done in terms of education and health. There’s a need for better policy and better education programs and reform. It’s crazy. When I was thinking about my foundation, I considered all of my experiences in Liberia - working with a couple of schools, donating computers and books as well as building a latrine. I came back to the U.S. from Liberia and I was like, “OK, I want a foundation to encompass all of these things that I’ve experienced.” All of the tools that we worked on in Ghana, I wanted to bring back to Liberia to engage with schools. I was able to use the same technology in Liberia that we had used in Ghana because I had already been trained in everything. Right now, our educational model will give about 20 schools computers that include an offline portal containing 64 gigabytes worth of information that children (and teachers) can use for literacy or math. In the next year, 2018, when we go back to Liberia, we are going to be working directly with teachers at the school. Right now, we have the Zoe Louise Preparatory School, where we are donating and training teachers to implement the program. We really want to help the schools to build the administrative capacity to teach and use technology. Technology is the face of the 21st century and for many children growing up in Liberia. Not only do they not have quality education, they also don’t
have simple computer skills like typing, sending emails and researching.
What is 21st Century Success? We’re
starting with students in the primary levels, grades 3-6. We want to do photovoice, a technique in communitybased participatory research. We will keep up with the kids until they get to high school. We would also like to connect kids to the organization through an internship program. We saw a gap in that 85 percent of the population under age 25 does not have job opportunities. We want this program to help kids at the elementary school and also at the high school level. Once they have literacy skills, they can learn how to fill out a resume, public speak and write a proposal. These skills will give them a better opportunity to seek out jobs. Applying for a higher education degree opens tons of opportunities in Africa, but applying through scholarships is necessary. If you don’t have basic writing skills, it’s almost like you are never going to get an opportunity. We really want to open the way for children to have the skills necessary to survive in the 21st century. All the schools in our network have a whole school model to look at coordinated health programs within the school to teach best practices of sanitation and hygiene.
Do you feel a lot of buy-in from the community and the teachers? Yes, when
I was there in 2015, they loved the idea before the organization even existed. They are really happy that the school is getting this technology. They are thrilled to be in our network. The school will benefit, the students will benefit, and we will bring a lot of opportunities we hope to engage the schools with.
What are some upcoming opportunities for people in Worcester to contribute? We
need help. Right now, there are only four of us on our board. We need people who are interested in things like project management, k-12 education and grant writing. Everyone involved will have the opportunity to travel with us to Liberia. They’ll have to take care of their own plane tickets, but in terms of dwelling, I have family to take care of that for us. — Sarah Connell
What if we told you the #1 digital agency is right down the street from your business?
There are more ways than ever to market your business, and WORCESTER MAGAZINE is here to help! We’ve added the power of 2017’s Best Digital Agency, ThriveHive, to bring you everything you need to market your business online. We’ll help you stay connected to your customers and find new ones. There’s a great big world of opportunity out there waiting for you. And it’s closer than you think. Contact WORCESTER MAGAZINE to get started today.
+ *ThriveHive was named Best Digital Agency in the 2017 Local Media Digital Innovation Contest
POWERFUL. DIGITAL. MARKETING. 508-749-3166, ext. 331 | worcestermag.thrivehive.com DECEMBER 28, 2017 • WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
39
40
WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
â&#x20AC;¢ DECEMBER 28, 2017