Worcester Magazine January 10 - 16, 2019

JANUARY 10 - 16, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

NEWS • ARTS • DINING • NIGHTLIFE

FREE

19 THINGS IN

2019 Our annual list of what we’d like to see happen in Worcester in the new year.

2

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

in this issue J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019 • V O L U M E 44 I S S U E 20

the cover

19 Thing in 2019 Our annual list of what we’d like to see happen in Worcester in the new year.

Story on page 11 Photos by Elizabeth Brooks, Design by Kimberly Vasseur

21

Drug overdoses lead to call for more services: With overdoses in Worcester on the rise amid a statewide decline, public health officials are calling for more mental health, medical and recovery services. 4

Massachusetts Pirates name new head coach: The Massachusetts Pirates, unable to come to terms with National Arena League Coach of the Year Ameer Ismail for a second year with the team, have named Anthony Payton their new head coach. 27

31

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Find us on Facebook.com/worcestermag Twitter @worcestermag Instagram: Worcestermag

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

Discover Central Massachusetts aims to tell region’s story: Whether you are listening in on a City Council meeting, or enjoying drinks in the Canal District, you’ve likely heard about the development renaissance going on in Worcester ... 20

3

news

Drug overdoses lead to call for more services BILL SHANER

4

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

W

ith overdoses in Worcester on the rise amid a statewide decline, public health officials are calling for more mental health, medical and recovery services.

At a Board of Health meeting earlier this week, Commissioner of Public Health Mattie Castiel made the case for more local recovery coaches, outreach workers and wider distribution of the overdose reversal drug Narcan to combat the problem. “To me, if we want to see these numbers decrease we need mental health treatment and mental health treatment when you need it. You need medically assisted treatment when you need it,� said Castiel.

What she often refers to as the social determinants of health play into the problem as well.

Better housing options, reentry programs for prisoners, treatment and trauma work in the public school system are all ways to address the root of the problem, she said.

Year-end data shows the overall number of overdoses in Worcester has continued to rise, but the number of fatal overdoses has dropped. Per data compiled by the police department, overall overdoses, regardless of drug, rose 9 percent in Worcester from 20172018, and rose 202 percent in the five years since 2013. For opioids specifically, there were 1,109 overdoses in 2018. Of those, 68 were fatal, a rate of 6 percent. In Police data on overdoses in 2018 2017, there were fewer overdoses, C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6

news

School districts rail against state education funding formula BILL SHANER

vided an overview of the problem – that, essentially, rural and orcester and Brockurban districts alike are punished ton, the two school by an algorithm that doesn’t take districts perhaps at the into enough account the costs forefront of an effort of special education, English to force the state to change its language education, low income education funding formula, took services and health care costs. the show on the road this week, The gap in funding, he said, hosting three public forums in has widened from $2.1 billion in which dozens of school officials 2011 to $2.6 billion in 2018. explained the ways in which “It’s felt most noticeably in the state formula harms their the lowest wealth communities districts. of the state,” said Allen, adding The forums were held in Fitch- later, “The lower wealth commuburg, Malden and New Bedford. nities do not have the ability to In Fitchburg on Tuesday night, spend what the foundation says Worcester Public Schools Chief they should be spending.”

Financial Officer Brian Allen proAs district after district pre-

W

sented graphs of the areas they were under funding to make up for areas they are drastically lacking in funding, a pattern quickly became apparent: the state funding formula was negatively affecting many more districts than Worcester or Brockton, the two behind talk of a potential lawsuit against the state for more funding.

The meetings came at a critical time, as the state Legislature is just beginning a new session.

Both Gov. Charlie Baker and Sen. President Karen Spilka have identified education funding as a key issue to tackle. Earlier C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 7

Brian Allen, chief financial and operations officer for Worcester Public Schools, explains the school funding issue to the crowd assembled at Fitchburg State University earlier this week.

BILL SHANER

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

5

news OVERDOSES

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4

6

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

but more fatal incidents. About 8 percent of the 957 reported overdoses were fatal, at 76. The death toll for 2018 may be liable to rise as the medical examiner has yet to release some reports, per police police.

By month, January 2018 proved the most deadly, with nine fatal overdoses. But April was the busiest for first responders, with a total of 112 overdoses, three of which were fatal.

In keeping with the diminished death toll in the face of rising overdose numbers, first responders used a significant amount of Narcan, the overdose reversing drug, in 2018. The Fire Department administered 288 doses of Narcan in responding to a total of 904 opiate-related calls.

Police administered Narcan at another 92 incidents.

Per data kept by the Police Department, the majority of

“To me, if we want to see these numbers decrease we need mental health treatment and mental health treatment when you need it. You need medically assisted treatment when you need it.”

families with service agencies, added a recovery coach to the quality of life team, and created an Android app called Stigma Free Worcester, which directs people toward available places for treatment.

Castiel called on more from the medical community to address the problem, like providing — Commissioner of Public Health Mattie Castiel more medically assisted treatment options to people strugoverdose victims were men, at tation & Health Care Center at up in the prison system are still 69 percent, and White, at 53 per- 119 Providence St. disproportionately more vulner- gling with addiction. UMass Memorial Medical Center, she cent. Most were also residents Comparatively, the state figable to addiction, she said. said, has been particularly active. of Worcester, at 73 percent. Beures dropped in 2018. According “Racial and ethnic disparities cause racial data is not available to the most recent data available, still continue to persist,” she said. The hospital has used a grant to create a system in the emergency for every call, the second largest overdose deaths declined 1.3 She advocated for more room for connecting overdose category is “unknown,” at 26 per- percent in the first nine months prevention work in the Worcesvictims to addiction treatment cent, followed by Hispanic, at 15 of 2018, and 4 percent between ter Public School System, from as well as a system of referral percent, and Black, at 4 percent. 2016-2017, according to state De- suspension rates to reassessing that aims to pick up on trends in By location, the Queen Street partment of Public Health data. zero tolerance drug policies to triage homeless shelter was Though the statewide numtake into account counseling and medical records that indicate a substance abuse problem. the busiest location, with 15 bers show a drop, Castiel said treatment options for children overdose incidents on the year. certain populations have proven who have found themselves Bill Shaner can be reached at Nearby, 12 Queen St. recorded more vulnerable. Overdose rates caught up with drug use.

508-767-9535 or at wshaner@ eight overdose calls. Union Staamong Latino and AfricanBut the city has been active gatehousemedia.com.

Follow him tion followed, with 11 overdose American populations have on the issue in the past year. It on Twitter @Bill_Shaner. calls. There were eight overdose generally risen, and the homeadopted the HUB/Core social incidents at Worcester Rehabili- less, veterans and those caught service model for connecting

news SCHOOL FUNDING

looms, Binienda said the set of meetings held this week was an effort to recruit more support from more districts across the state to pressure the state to enact change.

“We decided the best way to get the message out is to march through the whole state,” she said. “When it gets time for the governor’s budget, there’s more than 100 cities and towns that have the same information and are standing up for children in our large urban, small urban, suburban, regional districts.”

1,001 words ELIZABETH BROOKS

Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-767-9535 or at wshaner@ gatehousemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.

hint J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

7

and a minimum state aid guarantee.

As district after district showed similar funding probthis week, Baker said he was lems, a trend emerged. High optimistic the Legislature and health care, special education his administration could reach and English Language Learner a deal for education funding reform by the summer, according costs forced districts to underto the State House News Service. fund building operations and maintenance, teacher profesHe said in his inaugural address sional development, school supfunding formula concerns outlined by the Legislature’s Founda- plies and teachers themselves. In tion Budget Review Commission Worcester, the district employs roughly 600 fewer teachers than would be in his annual budget the foundation budgets say they offering later this month. should.

Of course, this isn’t the first When Superintendent Mautime state leaders have set out to fix the problem. Last year, a pro- reen Binienda revealed that fact, a ripple of sighs and gasps passed posal to implement some of the through the auditorium. suggestions died as the House Later, Binienda connected the and Senate could not reconcile differences in their funding plans problem to larger socio-economic issues. before the deadline to pass a “For the cities and towns, budget. students that come from poverty This year, Baker promised to really need additional services, file the education funding proso you talk about social and posal separate from the budget, emotional learning services, so it could have its own set of extra support services, school hearings, according to the State readiness services,” she said.

House News Service.

As the threat of a lawsuit still Allen used the example of Worcester, a large urban district, and Southborough, a relatively well-off suburban district, to articulate the point. Worcester spends roughly $12,500 per pupil per year, narrowly meeting the foundation budget requirement.

Southborough, on the other hand, spends about $18,600 per student, well over the requirement, and they do so with $8,000 per student coming from extra local revenue, something poorer municipalities do not have the ability to do.

Wealthy cities and towns, he said, have the money to effectively cover their foundation budget gaps, where less wealthy districts do not.

And it could be a very expensive problem to fix. Per numbers compiled by education experts highlighted at the meeting, a baseline fix would cost the state $300 million, while a wholesale fix of the problem could cost as much as $1.1 billion. The $300-million figure would fix disparities in health insurance, special education and english language learners. The $1-billion figure would also provide more funding for low-income districts C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5

news

worcesteria

ALL SWORN IN: Like everywhere else in the state and country, our

Legislative delegation is all sworn in and ready to tackle what should be, by all accounts, a frustrating and largely-underwhelming legislative session. I say that not based on any particular challenge coming up in the next two years. It’s just that’s how it’s always been, and I don’t see this being any different, save the lunacy that will be this upcoming presidential contest. Anyway, the only newcomer on the scene locally is Democrat David LeBoeuf, representing the 17th Worcester District in the state House of Representatives. He comes in with all the enthusiasm afforded and pretty much solely reserved for freshman legislators. On the federal level, U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern comes in a two-decade veteran, but this time with a serious power boost.

He acknowledged the new position, as chairman of the House Rules Committee, in a very Worcester way. His father, Walter, who used to be president of the Worcester County Package Store Association, used a ceremonial gavel at those meetings. Seeing the Rules Committee lacked a gavel, he went down to Washington to give his son the gavel used to rule on the high matters of packie owners the county over. “A small piece of Worcester right here in the Capitol Building,” McGovern wrote in a post about the gavel, “and something I’ll always treasure.”

Said it before, said it again, I hear there’s a t-shirt you can buy with this phrase on it – so Worcester it hurts.

8

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

AIRBNBONUS CASH: District 3 City Councilor George Russell this

week floated the idea of taxing short-term rental operations like the kind hosted on apps like Airbnb, taking advantage of a new state law that allows municipalities to tax up to 6 percent on short-term rentals on top of a 5.7-percent statewide tax. It’s a good idea, sure. I mean, hotels have to pay a tax, this is basically a hotel, and in other cities Airbnbs have come to take up valuable units of housing that could otherwise put up a family. But something to consider as city officials consider putting the work in here: no one really Airbnbs in Worcester.

This, from the Worcester Business Journal, which apparently knows these kinds of things: “Despite having the state’s second-largest city, Worcester County ranked near the bottom in Massachusetts for 2018 income and guests on hospitality platform Airbnb.” Unsurprisingly, Boston, MetroWest and the Cape are the hot spots, per the WBJ, at year-end totals of 465,500, 230,100 and 166,300 guests respectively.

Worcester County, on the other hand — and this is the whole, geographically huge county — saw only 24,700 guests. So sure, it’s a fine idea and why not, but let’s not make this out to more than it is. This tax, if implemented, will likely do very little.

WORCESTER WHITMAN: Every once in a while, you read something

so powerful, so encapsulating of an issue, it makes you feel like a jerk for trying so hard and using so many thousands of words to try to explain it. Someone else just comes along and accomplishes so much more with a Facebook post, in this case, and it makes you want to lie down in traffic. The post is by Worcester artist Matt Cousens and here it is, in all its glory: “I feel like maybe people like me who’ve always lived in Worcester were cool with their messy [swear word] house but still liked complaining about the mess. And transplants are the new significant other gentrif....er....cleaning the mess up, pointing out what slobs we were/are. And maybe we’re cool with the tub being clean now, but the ‘live laugh love’ decal on the door and the fancy yogurt in the fridge haunts us so when the ball and chain is at work we lift that drop ceiling panel where we had that party stash and we clip our toenails in bed and download tinder to our Android.” Could just about bring a tear to my eye.

Bill Shaner, reporter wshaner@worcestermag.com Twitter: @Bill_Shaner

news

the beat The project to rehabilitate the old Worcester Courthouse for housing has been delayed due to financing issues. Trinity Financial told the Worcester Planning Board the renovation project will be delayed, but they expect to finish work by summer 2020. The project was announced in mid-2017.

The Worcester chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America

will hold its Queer Feminist Winter Potluck at Stone Soup Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Put on by the DSA’s Queer Caucus, organizers ask that those attending be part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has fined Cnossen Reality Trust for violating wetland regulations at its Com-

merce Drive property in Uxbridge. The company cleared wetlands without a permit and altered flood plains. The company promised to restore the altered wetlands area.

First responders pulled an ATM from Lake Quinsigamond on Sunday. The ATM was reportedly dumped at a cove near the I-290 beach.

The ATM was emptied before tossed in the lake, police said. The ATM was from Greendale’s Pub on West Boylston Street, which was broken into early Sunday.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden will be closed for the rest of January for maintenance work. But,

TOWERHILLBG.ORG

due to the closure, Tower Hill members will be able to go to a number of nearby museums for free, including the Worcester Historical Musem, the Ecotarium, Old Sturbridge Village and the Museum of Russian Icons.

new process via a Senate bill two years ago, claiming board members at the time played a role in bringing an environmentally damaging project to town.

Two kayakers capsized in the French River in Oxford on New Years Day and were pulled from the water by first responders. Fire-

fighters had to cut through thick knots of trees and shrubs to save the pair.

competition, part of the Joint Mathematics Meeting, takes place in Baltimore and will feature competitors from the U.S., the United Kingdom and Canada.

Riverdale Mills in Northbridge announced last week it will lay off 25 percent of its workforce due to tariffs on steel imports from Canada, Mexico and Europe. Steel prices for the wire manufacturer have doubled since the trade war started, CEO Jim Knott Jr. told the Wall Street Journal.

Hanover Insurance completed the sale of its specialty insurance business Chaucer. The London-based firm sold for $940 million.

Hanover bought the firm in 2011 for $510 million.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Worcester Polytechnic Institute student Praneet Mekala will compete in an international math contest later this month. The

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

Uxbridge has the approval of Gov. Charlie Baker to implement a town official recall process by popular vote. Activists sought the

9

opinion editorial

Easy call on new contract for city manager

10

W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

I

t took many long months for City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. to successfully negotiate the move of the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester. It should take much less time for city councilors to work out a deal to keep him here beyond 2020.

In this week’s edition, Worcester Magazine lists a new contract for Augustus as one of the 19 Things In 2019 we’d like to see in Worcester. While his current, threeyear contract doesn’t expire until next year, councilors in the past have extended the city manager’s deal before it expires. Augustus has the wind at his sails right now in Worcester and has easily earned an extension that would see him in place at least through the opening of Polar Park in 2021.

He has not done it alone.

Mayor Joe Petty had a gut instinct about Augustus after former City Manager Mike O’Brien resigned in 2013. He wanted Augustus from the get-go and went to bat for a man with zero experience in municipal government. Some called it a political stunt, an expansion of power among a close group of powerful Democrats. The search for a permanent replacement for O’Brien (Augustus initially was hired on a nine-month contract) was seen as a political ploy. In the end, Augustus stayed. Many applauded the move. Many also railed against it.

Fast forward several years. Pride in Worcester is bursting at the seems, and while he can’t take all the credit, the city manager’s

100 Front St., 5th Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial 508.767.9527 WMEditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales 508.767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com President Paul M. Provost Publisher Kathleen Real-Benoit Editor Walter Bird Jr.

efforts have led the way. He has surrounded himself with an administrative team that has accomplished much in recent years.

Crime is down; initiatives to tackle homelessness, opioid abuse, sex trafficking and other issues have been enacted; downtown development continues unabated; oh, and did we mention the Boston Red Sox’ Triple-A Minor League affiliate is coming here?

There is always room for improvement, and Augustus wouldn’t deny that. But he has earned praise for what he has accomplished. His critics singled out his lack of experience, suggesting he was little more than a professional politician. In fact, the former School Committee member and state senator who also worked with U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern has made that one of his strengths. He has leveraged the partnerships forged in Worcester, Boston and beyond to the benefit of his hometown. He didn’t start the renaissance, or resurgence, or whatever you want to call it, but he absolutely has continued and strengthened it—and his political experience helped.

Perhaps what critics missed in Augustus is what they didn’t know about him. That he is smart. That he listens. That he is a collaborator.

That he brings others to the table.

That he is willing to pause when others might pounce. That he can be trusted. Those aren’t judgments this space is throwing out, they are observations made by those who know him, by those who have sat

across from him during contract negotiations, by those who work with him day in and day out. From the mayor, to department heads, to a man in Pawtucket Red Sox Chairman Larry Lucchino who has dealt with city leaders and politicians at all levels. To hear him speak of Augustus is to hear a man who respects him as much as a person as a city official.

That is the kind of leader Worcester should want. It’s the kind of leader Worcester needs. It’s the kind of leader Worcester has. A new contract? That’s an easy call.

Culture Editor Joshua Lyford Reporter Bill Shaner Photographer Elizabeth Brooks Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Kristina Reardon Director of Creative Services Don Cloutier Creative Director Kimberly Vasseur Multi Media Sales Executives Diane Galipeau, Helen Linnehan Sales Support Specialist Madison Friend WORCESTER MAGAZINE is an independent news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manu-

Letters to the Editor Policy

Have something on your mind? Don’t keep it bottled up, put it in words and send it to Worcester Magazine! Letters to the editor are a great way to share your thoughts and opinions with thousands of readers and online viewers each week. There is no word limit, but we reserve the right to edit for length, so brevity is your friend. If handwritten, write legibly – if we cannot read it, we are not running it. Personal attacks and insults don’t fly with us, so save them for when someone cuts you off in traffic. 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. Make sure your letter makes it into Worcester Magazine in a timely fashion – send it in by the Monday of the next issue. Please note that letters will run as space allows. Send them to Worcester Magazine, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 or by email to WMEditor@gatehousemedia.com.

scripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement.

Legals/Public Notices Please call 978-728-4302, email cmaclassifieds@gatehousemedia.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester MA 01608 Distribution WORCESTER MAGAZINE is available free of charge at more than 400 locations, limited to one copy per reader. 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 GateHouse Media, 100 Front St., Worcester, MA 01608.

Advertising To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call 508.767.9530. WORCESTER MAGAZINE (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of GateHouse Media. All contents copyright 2019 by GateHouse Media. All rights reserved.

WORCESTER MAGAZINE is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

feature 19 THINGS IN

2019 Our annual list of what we’d like to see happen in Worcester in the new year.

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

Last week, we doled out grades on the previous year as we wrapped up the 18 things we wanted to see in 2018. This week, with our gaze trained squarely on the next 355 days (we’ve already burned up 10!), and in no particular order, we put out the call for 19 Things we’d like to see happen in Worcester in 2019.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

11

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

feature A NEW CONTRACT FOR ED AUGUSTUS JR. It seems to be getting harder and harder to find serious critics of the city manager. Landing the Pawtucket Red Sox, whether you agree with the move or not, was a deal of near-epic proportions for the city, and Augustus pulled it off. As others have noted, Augustus has surrounded himself with talented and driven people. A good leader does that, and it is paying off. Crime is down, new development continues, more and more outsiders—prospective businesses and residents—are taking a look at Worcester, investments are being made in schools, recreation, the arts and more. There is some cause for concern. A number of businesses closed up shop last year and, as the city becomes more attractive to new residents and developers, rents are going up. The city must be mindful of that (more on that later). Still, it’s hard to swing the hammer down too hard for the city being successful. The city manager has absolutely earned a contract extension.

12

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

SUCCESSFUL BODY CAMERAS ON COPS PILOT PROGRAM They didn’t offer up any details or a timeframe, but the city did, at the end of last year, announce an agreement with the police union on a pilot program to put body cameras on officers. There should be no dragging of feet on this one. It has already taken several years just to get to this point. Roll out the pilot program, work out the kinks and move toward instituting a permanent program.

MORE GROWTH AT WORCESTER REGIONAL AIRPORT Call us greedy, but with a new airline, American Airlines, setting up at the airport last year and another, Delta, scheduled to start service there this year, why not ask for more? JetBlue and Rectrix, under the watch of Massport, gave new life to the long-struggling airport. Could competition at Logan Airport between Delta and JetBlue pay dividends for Worcester? Here’s hoping for destinations and additional flights from JetBlue, and who knows, maybe the announcement of a new airline or two in 2019.

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

feature FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

A SAFE YEAR FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Not much to say on this one. An already-tortuous month of December for the Worcester Fire Department turned even more so with the line-of-duty death of Christopher Roy on Dec. 9. That brought to eight the number of LOD fatalities for the WFD since 1999. A huge knock on wood for the Worcester Police Department and their officers, and the hope that all emergency personnel serving Worcester and region remain safe this year. As one observer put it so poignantly after Roy’s death, it’s just too much for one city.

culture

ight

Artist spotl

tion ing communica

r study uses his nois is a senio rsity. Harnois Sam Har to reality. ester State Unive impossible ish at Worc

diate and Span to bring the Photoshop from the imme camera and to provide “an escape a spin on the laws of biliHarnois seeksin,” and his work “places endless possi ces them with appears upbeat world we live ery world and repla the physical ” While some of his imag viewer to continue s. the dream ntly has will force ties of Harnois curre ows he hopes they and happy, t them as time goes on.

Worcester Wind ter thinking abou ay in the downtown al ArtsWorces displ sever in on n show e at a photo rth,” and has ’s work onlin exhibit, “Rebi find more of the artist can shows. You .

Samharnois.com WORCE

STERMA

GAZINE

.COM

25

13

wanted - 11, 201 8 APRIL 5

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Let us feature your artwork in Worcester Magazine’s Artist spotligh! Contact Joshua Lyford at jlyford@gatehousemedia.com for more information!

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

artists

feature SEX EDUCATION THAT WORKS There are valid concerns among those critical of the proposed sex education curriculum for middle schoolers in Worcester. It is good that Superintendent Maureen Binienda pulled back the program for tweaking. However, with STDs and pregnancy rates on the rise in the region, there is every reason to implement a smart sex ed program for students, especially for our younger pupils. Do they necessarily need to be taught to play games such as hide the condom? No, but if personal and political agendas end up derailing sex ed in Worcester (efforts to push forward related bills on the state level continue to face resistance), it is only to the detriment of our most vulnerable population.

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

14

You may not have heard, but a certain Minor League Baseball team in Rhode Island with an affiliation to a certain Major League Baseball team in Boston is headed to Worcester in 2021. There is, rightly so, a ton of excitement around the arrival of The Team That Has Not Yet Been Named. At the same time, even before that announcement, Worcester’s sports scene was on the rise. The Worcester Bravehearts and Worcester Railers have led the way, but other teams have joined them. The Massachusetts Pirates in football, Worcester Blades in women’s hockey, Worcester 78’s in basketball, and other local teams, not to mention a budding crop of talented boxers, give fans plenty of reason to cheer. The business community’s support is also critical for many of these teams.

A NEW WORCIDE It was a front-page story in Worcester Magazine when it happened, so we don’t have to rehash it too much, but the destruction of the DIY skatepark known as Worcide at the end of Washington Street was big news in 2018. It is safe to say the city manager did not expect the blowback that came from his decision to level the skatepark. There was no warning and some critics noted the timing: negotiations to bring the Pawtucket Red Sox here were ongoing at the time. Augustus insisted there was no link between the two. In any case, the city and skatepark organizers have since moved toward a new space. Crompton Park is the city’s preferred site, while skaters were hoping for something similar to their old digs. We want to see a new skatepark in short order, preferably more than one.

FILE PHOTO/STEVEN KING

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

MORE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SPORTS

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

feature A DOHERTY LOCATION The coming year will see work move forward on the new $210-million South High School, but the city also needs to determine where it intents to build a new Doherty Memorial High School. Depending on the chosen site, they could run afoul of preservationists. The current space is tight, unless a vertical build in adopted. It is also surrounded by parkland, and taking more of it for a new school is likely to run into opposition. A close watch will be kept on this one.

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

‘HONEST THIEF’ SCREENING IN WORCESTER The new Liam Neeson action flick that was shot in Worcester last year is expected to be released this year and, well, what better place for a screening of the premiere than where it was filmed? Hanover Theatre, Mechanics Hall—both would be suitable locations. Or maybe the DCU Center? Neeson and co. kept a relatively low profile during filming, save for a visit to the St. Vincent Cancer and Wellness Center in December. It would be great to catch an up-close glimpse of the “Taken” star, along with Kate Walsh and his other co-stars.

A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH FOR JOSE ANTONIO RIVERA

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Worcester’s own former three-time world champion boxer made his return to the ring last August at the age of 45. There were signs of rust, but overall Rivera looked good in his first fight since 2011. He plans to fight again this year, and even before coming out of retirement last year he was hinting at another title shot. Could that come this year as well?

We wouldn’t bet against it.

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

15

feature

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

CONTINUED WORK ON OPIOID CRISIS The city, through partnerships with the district attorney’s office, police and others, has fought an opioid crisis that has torn through cities and towns across the state and country. The overall number of reported overdoses in 2018 (1,349, according to the Worcester Police Department) rose 9 percent over 2017, indicating the tide has yet to ebb. There is some positive news. Of the total overdoses, 1,108 were attributed heroin/opiate/opioid use, of which 68, roughly 6 percent, ended in death. That represented a slight decrease from 2017, when 957 overdoses were attributed to heroin/opiate/opioid use. Of them, 76, or almost 8 percent, ended in a fatality. The total fatalities in 2018 will likely rise, pending the release of reports from the state medical examiner. In all, it is clear much work remains on the opioid crisis. It will require an attack on all fronts, with resources for those struggling with addiction, the arrests and prosecution of drug dealers, and other efforts.

FILE PHOTO/STEVEN KING

HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS

16

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

We awarded a strong grade at the close of 2018 because of the concrete plan drafted to combat homelessness. Now we want to see the steps taken to identify housing as part of the city’s Housing First model. The number of individuals identified as chronically homeless shot up almost 64 percent last year. The city’s Quality of Life Team and others partners have done a lot to reach out to the homeless, and that includes dealing with the risk factors for homelessness, including mental illness. Getting them in homes is a big step. Let’s see that this year.

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

MORE VOTERS IN LOCAL ELECTION A state election last year, seemingly fueled by feelings—pro and con—toward President Donald Trump saw voters come out in strong numbers. Early voting was instituted as well. In Worcester, of 111,210 registered voters, 49,715 (44.7 percent) cast ballots in the Nov. 6 election. Ah, but will that translate to this year’s local election? Recent history indicates no. Of 106,939 registered voters in 2017, just 16,323 (15.3 percent) went to the polls. That was down from the 19,954 (21.35 percent of 93,460 registered) voters who cast ballots in the 2015 municipal election. Can the city top 20 percent in November? Here’s hoping.

feature

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

MORE CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL OFFICE If you’re the incumbent, you might prefer little to no opposition, but the democratic process works best when voters have options. In 2017, there were just eight candidates for at-large council—and that is deceiving because one of the candidates didn’t really campaign. There were contested council races in district 1, 3, 4 and 5 (although again, in District 4, one of the candidates did not actively campaign). For School Committee, there were seven candidates. In 2015, there were 12 candidates for at-large council; races in districts 1, 2 and 4; and 10 candidates for School Committee. Some say there is a progressive movement afoot on the local political scene, which could lead to more candidates this year. Whatever their causes (voters can decide who to support), more contenders are needed.

The Theatre District in Worcester is a work in progress. Momentum must continue this year. Hanover Theatre has been a true gem for the city, and has created other entertainment opportunities.

This year, we should see more doors open, quite literally. After some delay, the WooHaHa! Comedy Club is poised to open this month. Work continues on the black box theater at the Worcester PopUp. There is plenty to be excited about on the theater scene.

This year should see even more reason for excitement.

MORE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

This includes implementation of steps to combat Worcester’s trash problem. Augustus said recently the city is in a good place if trash is the top concern. He has a point. Crime is down, development is up, more folks are looking at Worcester as a place to call home. But make no mistake, trash is a quality-of-life issue, and in too many parts of the city, there is simply too much trash. A revamped recycling program is expected this year, and the city manager promises more in the way of enforcement on illegal dumping and littering. There is more to it than that. While not everyone is on board with a plastic bag ban, it would eliminate at least one source of trash on property around the city. Even if it is not enacted, more vigilance could combat that problem. That, and heightened enforcement of existing policies. Other areas to consider are the expansion of municipal solar and wind projects, trash pick-up policies that push the city toward zero waste, and pressure on Eversource to fix leaks in natural gas pipes throughout the city.

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

FILE PHOTO/STEVEN KING

MORE THEATER IN THE THEATRE DISTRICT

17

feature

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

MORE BIKE LANES AND PEDESTRIAN PROTECTIONS In 2018, we called for more bike lanes. The overall grade ended up being a “C,” with the city starting projects, including the multi-million-dollar redo of downtown Main Street that will incorporate a dedicated bike lane. Cyclists and pedestrians alike need to be included in any work on the roads they use, and the city appears poised to deliver. Of course, that doesn’t mean all will be smooth sailing. Pedestrian safety leaves much to be desired in Worcester, and new sidewalks and other infrastructure improvements alone will not do the trick. Enforcement on distracted driving is needed to help address some of the dangers posed to pedestrians and cyclists, not to mention other motorists. Better signaling, enhanced crosswalks and other measures will, of course, help.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

18

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

It is one of those touchy subjects in Worcester. Some point out the city, at 13.4 percent as of July last year, already has more than the 10 percent required by the state when it comes to affordable housing.

That is true. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it has enough. And with increased development and the city becoming more attractive as a living space, rents are going up and will continue to do so. Just as the city is working on getting the homeless into homes, it must be sure not to be putting others out on the street, or losing them to other, more affordable communities. The city must remain committed to providing affordable housing opportunities throughout the city. The development renaissance is in full swing, but the rental market is in a squeeze and unchecked, gentrification could displace residents and cause homelessness.

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

MAKE THE ASK Another controversial topic, to be sure. The city has with many of its nonprofits a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes, or PILOT, program. Some say it’s time to up the commitment on the part of some of the more financially well-endowed nonprofits, such as local colleges. Others say it is asking too much of a community that already does much to help the city. Nonprofits do good work. Colleges, of course, attract thousands of students every year, and they spend money here. Still, with more than 30 percent of property exempt from taxes, some say the city could ask for a little more in the way of PILOTS or voluntary contributions.

Is the city better off with schools such as Holy Cross and WPI, and hospitals like UMass Medical Center? Absolutely.

But could some places afford to pay a little more, given the financial benefit they receive in paying no property taxes? As some city officials suggest, it’s worth making the ask.

culture ELIZABETH BROOKS

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

19

culture

20

W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

Discover Central Massachusetts aims to tell region’s story

Stephanie Ramey, executive director of Discover Central Massachusetts.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

JOSHUA LYFORD

W

hether you are listening in on a City Council meeting, or enjoying drinks in the Canal District, you’ve likely heard about the development renaissance going on in Worcester.

If not, you’ve probably seen the freshly-erected buildings or bright signs advertising incoming restaurants and retail. Perhaps you heard about the big baseball news with the Pawtucket Red Sox. If you’re a Worcester lifer, you’ve surely discovered much of what Worcester and Central Massachusetts has to offer, but for the newly arriving or those just stopping in for

a visit, Discover Central Massachusetts aims to show off the region.

Facilitated by a recently-released widget and phone app, now more than ever the organization is hard at work getting area highlights in front of as many eyes as possible, but as the mayor, city manager and powers-that-be attempt to establish Worcester as an 18-hour city, getting the city’s well-established (and occasionally well-hidden) nightlife the attention it deserves proves to be a difficult prospect.

“I think we’ve done a great job of marketing families. I think we’ve done a great job with the cultural entities in the area. I think we’ve got a strong foodie presence,” said

Stephanie Ramey, executive director of Discover Central Massachusetts.

“What we’re still missing, there’s still a story to be told. I want to resonate with that younger audience. Where do I go to see a cool live band?”

Discover Central Massachusetts is a small team and there are innumerable businesses in the area, but public-facing access is facilitated online at Discovercentralma.org through their free calendar.

The calendar which features events as far reaching as guided hikes through Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, familyfriendly events at the Worcester Public Library and Worcester Art

That younger generation — college students particularly — have a historic tendency to leave the city.

“I can’t even keep up,” Ramey laughed. “I’m not the poster child for nightlife, but every single weekend I am conflicted with multiple things.

Where else can you have a true city experience and within 20 minutes be skiing at Wachusett or be out in the Brookfields going apple picking, or going on a sleigh ride? It’s such a diverse territory. There is something for absolutely everyone here.”

Ramey lights up when she discusses the area. She begins to whirl her hands in front of her as she visualizes the activity in Central Massachusetts. It is unlikely she would need access to the Discover Central Massachusetts event calendar to rattle off an impressive list of events.

“I say it all the time,” she said. “I chose to raise my kids here because I appreciate the diversity, the access to green space and cultural attractions. I feel like I’m going to raise a well-rounded family because of the experience they have here.”

Ramey isn’t exaggerating. As something of a Central Massachusetts evangelist, she said as much in her Pulse Magazine “People to watch in 2019” interview several days ago.

Museum, to hockey games with the Worcester Railers and wine-yoga combinations throughout the area.

The calendar is extensive and accessible, with dozens of potential event ideas on any given week. What can be strengthened, according to Ramey, is in the domain of nightlife.

“I think we need to do a better job of telling the story to that millennial audience,” she said. “It’s not just about museums and going to expensive dinner, there’s a really cool, gritty, culture in Worcester. Do you know about the Dive Bar? Do you know about a place like Ralph’s? Those are things that are authentic to Worcester. That younger demographic, they C O N T I N U E D O N N E XT PA G E want the hidden gems in their city.”

culture

Troy Gonyea, Hard At Work JIM PERRY

T

to plan out a trip to the area. The app is downloadable on all major app stores (by searching Discover Central MA!).

“The success of every business in this city is ultimately my success, it’s our success,” said Ramey. “I can then build experiences that are then worthy of tourists that will drive their fascination and their interest here.”

21

Ramey is careful to bolster her own affinity for the city with those of others, however.

“I can’t speak for every population in the city,” she said, “that would be insane and foolish. You can’t see tourism through the lens of Stephanie,

so I’m really trying to get different leaders throughout the community to show me and show others what is special to others.”

To facilitate the widening — or perhaps the diversifying — of that lens, Ramey and Discover Central Massachusetts released their widget and app; the widget sits on the organization’s website as a way

“It was a tough one, for live recording, from a technical aspect,” Gonyea said.

Besides their residency at Nick’s, Gonyea and his band will do the official CD release party at Chan’s in Woonsocket, R.I. Saturday, Jan. 19.

Also, with his intense interest in all things blues, Gonyea joins the staff at WICN radio 90.5 with his own show. Called “Radio Roller Coaster,” it will air from 4-6 p.m. on Saturdays, beginning this week.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

DISCOVER

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

“This one really feels like me,” he said.

The selections, which include originals, accompanied by classy personalized covers of some of Gonyea’s favorites, are cohesive to listen to as a whole. Gonyea is able to capture that “loosely tight” thing, sounding well rehearsed, yet right on the edge of collapse.

The CD is tightly engineered and recorded by the brilliant Roger Lavallee. The live remote was a challenge.

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

roy Gonyea was one of the lucky ones who knew his path in life at a very early age. When he first heard the sound of the blues as a teenager, he knew it was for him. And he’s still going strong. One of the most respected guitarists in the blues world, Troy is still hard at work on his legacy.

These days, Gonyea has taken up residence at Nick’s on Millbury Street in Worcester, performing the first and third Thursday of every month, the next of which falls on Jan. 17. He is promoting his new CD, “Click Click Spark,” which was recorded on the same stage. The evening’s music is liberally sprinkled with the songs from the recording.

His band consists of the amazing Brooks Milgate on keyboards, who on the night I saw them, supplied the bass with his left hand, and Andy Plaisted, who filled the groove pocket on drums (on CD, the explosive Marty Richards supplied the beat, while Marty Ballou played the bass).

The small confines of Nick’s, littered with retro décor, is the perfect intimate setting for Gonyea’s music.

The band is, in a sense, “loosely tight,” the music always feeling on the edge of a cliff, but never dropping off. Gonyea’s voice, much like the buzz saw qualities of Leon Russell, drips with raw energy, while his reverb drenched guitar work impresses with every note.

At 41 years old, Troy Gonyea has experienced an incredibly rich lifetime of blues. He has already played with a treasure trove of masters of the genre, and continues to expand his style, constantly pushing the

most sought after harmonica players in blues, became close with the young Gonyea, and they ended up taking a few trips to Chicago together. The destination was a Muddy Waters tribute night at Buddy Guy’s Legends. For a teenager like Gonyea, this must have been like a dream.

“A lot of those original players were still alive then,” he said.

He lists Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rogers and others as musicians he got to play with. He actually found himself as part of an amazing band, which included Jerry, Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.

“I did some gigs with them, and I didn’t realize until after ... what a band,” Gonyea said.

Early in his career, Gonyea was in a local group that featured Ronnie Sloan on harmonica and bassist Dave Clark.

They worshipped the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and harmonica player Kim Wilson in particular.

Gonyea recalls the obsession fondly.

“Clark was an absolute ... fanatic,” he said. “He call ahead to make sure it was cool.” would go tape live shows and we would listen over and over. I would To the house musicians, which take the tapes home and listen to included the great guitarist George McCann and drummer Bill MacGil- them, and learn all the parts, and livray, this young cat was special.

Jimmie Vaughan? Oh my God.” After a short time there, Gonyea All of that homework paid off. shifted over to Gilrein’s on Main When Vaughan left the Thunderbirds, Gonyea was offered the job.

Street for Barbecue Bob’s Sunday “That was a fantastic gig,” he said.

Jam. It was there that he began “I was with them for about four forging relationships with the years, and at the same time, I was world-class musicians who made it doing solo acoustic gigs, you know, a point to stop in at the legendary blues club on their tours. Among the raw old blues.”

Gonyea’s path has gone in so luminaries were harmonica player many different directions, far too Jerry Portnoy, who was in Muddy many to mention, but always Waters’ band for a period. As Gonyea recalls, “Jerry was always very dedicated to the blues. He feels as good to me.” though this new CD is a perfect Portnoy, one of the finest and reflection of where he is now. envelope. His extraordinary feel and touch, which were apparent from the very beginning, have carried him far and wide in the blues world.

He began his journey back in the early ’90s, at the ripe age of fifteen, begging his mom to take him to The Plantation Club for their Sunday Blues Jam. “There was a lot of lobbying, you know, convincing” he recalled with a smile. “She finally agreed to it. We’d

culture Lyford Files JOSHUA LYFORD

YOU’LL NEVER SHINE IF YOU DON’T GLOW: If

22

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

I can achieve one thing with this week’s column, I hope that it’s getting the awful (but massively successful, ugh) Smash Mouth song “All Star” stuck in all of your heads. Hence, the lyrical subhead kicking this bad boy off. There is RAILERSHC.COM a tie-in, however!

Since it’s been a minute since I’ve gotten to talk about hockey in this delicious lil chunk of 700 word count heaven, let’s get back to it. The ECHL released their All-Star Weekend lineups and guess who made the cut? If you just yelled Gilly!

Gilly! then your trophy is in the mail (not really, I spent all my money on groceries and nips this week). Worcester Railers goaltender Mitch Gillam got the nod and will be headed off to Toledo to protect the net (and, presumably, his wonderfully-kempt head of hair). This shouldn’t be a huge surprise, as Gilly has a tendency to stand on his head at all opportunities. He’s also a really nice guy and presumably just the sort of dude the ECHL would want on the front lines as a league ambassador. All-Star weekend kicks off Monday, Jan. 21 and will be broadcast on the NHL Network. (Alas, that’s a bit rich for my blood. Plus, they blackout local games, woof.)

Congratulations Gilly and for the fans of the man in net out there, head to the Railers game against the Reading Royals to grab yourself a smiling little bobblehead.

THE DOMAIN OF NIGHTLIFE: Maybe you’ve already read my story this week on Discover Central Massachusetts, maybe you haven’t. Either way, I couldn’t help but crack up at the line buried in there, “the domain of nightlife.” So much so that I had to expound on this a touch. I interviewed Stephanie Ramey at Z Cafe, just down the street from our new digs downtown (spoiler alert: it’s weird working in a massive cubicle farm) and I appreciated her enthusiasm about the city.

There was something I didn’t notice until much later, though. I made reference to the similarity of two quotes in the story, one in Worcester Magazine and one a bit earlier in Pulse Magazine’s “People to Watch in 2019” article featuring Stephanie. You can read the article if you care a whole lot about that, but I noticed a different quote of hers in the same story that I really appreciated: “But we are not trying to become Boston.

We are our own community.” If you’ve read my column, listened to either of my radio shows or met me in person, you’ll likely know how important that sentiment is to me (and, obviously, countless others). With the whirlwind surrounding the area development renaissance, the influx of new businesses, the new baseball team, the luring of college-area “yopros (I hate this term so, so much)” and many of the wholesale changes to my favorite city in the universe, I worry that there will be a tipping point where Worcester loses what makes it so special. That’s not to say I’m opposed to general growth; I like seeing the city thrive, but I’d like to see it maintain its identity. That identity is the sole reason I love it here. I am thankful the executive director of an organization whose chief goal is to attract tourism to the city seems to understand that identity, as well. So, long story short, props where props are due. Maybe some other folks can start tossing that line Joshua Lyford out there, as well.

Culture editor @Joshachusetts

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

Get With the Program It seems like Greater

Good Imperial Brewing Co. has

something going on nearly every night of the week. The brewery’s programming ranges from fitness to trivia, in addition to live music and crafting. Upcoming Greater Good Imperial Brewing and notable events include Kick It & Sip Company hosts Game Time Trivia It, a music-driven and every Wednesday evening. kick boxing-inspired @GREATERGOODIMERPIALS. workout, that will take place on Jan. 13 at 10:30 a.m. and Game Time Trivia with weekly prizes for winners every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Greater Good has local artists booked every evening from Jan. 17-19 for live performances by Arny Spielberg & Bob Sarkala (Thursday), Jared Fiske (Friday) and Alex2e (Saturday).

Carrying the Torch

Technocopia is hosting an artisan workshop on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. for those interested in glass flameworking solid sculpture. The threehour session includes a safety training and orientation along with plenty of “hands-on torch time.” Participants will have a chance to make small animal figures, marbles, pendants or ornaments. Closed-toed shoes and natural fiber clothing are a must for this Technocopia experience. More information is available on their website at technocopia.org.

Booked Up

Glazy Susan is popping up at Bedlam Book Cafe, Worcester’s newest independent bookstore, located in the Crompton building. Glazy Susan

Honest Noodles

Free Swim

23

For over a decade, I rarely went a single day without clocking at least two hours in the pool. When my collegiate swimming career came to an end, I swore off bathing caps for good. Pool memberships were pricey for a first-year teacher, and anyways, I wanted to find out what my natural hair color was after all of those years in the chlorine. I took up running and reveled in the change of scenery with every mile. This year, for some reason, the cold winter months have made me increasingly nostalgic for kickboards and lanelines.

As if on cue, the YWCA of Central Mass announced a fitness open house from Jan. 7-12 with no strings attached.

Anybody up for a swim?

Sarah Connell contributing writer

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Our favorite pair from Wooden Noodles is teaming up for a night of ramen at one of the best breweries in New England, Honest Weight. On Saturday, Jan. 12, 4-8 p.m., Wooden Noodles’ steamy and satisfying bowls will provide the perfect compliment to Honest Weight’s most crushable brews. The brewery is located less than an hour’s drive from Worcester.

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

is Worcester’s first independent doughnut company. Doughnuts are made from scratch by Joe and Susan Skrzek using locally-sourced ingredients.

The Skrzeks are lifelong Worcester residents; they take pride in using bacon from Stillman’s Quality Meats, maple syrup from Pure BS, Hebert’s Chocolate, Acoustic Java Coffee, local apples and local honey. “We make all of our doughs, glazes and fillings completely from scratch – we do not use pre-made doughnut mixes. We are currently members of the Worcester Regional Food Hub, but we intend on opening a storefront in the city in the near future,” say the Skrzeks. “We are at Crompton Place every weekend eating or shopping, so we’re thrilled to be doing an event at Bedlam. We’re super appreciative of Nicole [DiCello, owner of Bedlam Books] for giving us the opportunity.”

culture A Shared Experience at Chuan Shabu 301 Park Ave., Worcester 508-762-9213 chuanshabuworcesterma.com SANDRA RAIN

C

24

W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

huan Shabu may attract the most diverse clientele in the city. A table of professors discussing feminist theory. A booth filled with 20-something men transfixed by the basketball game. A family spanning three generations, tossing shrimp into a simmering hot pot. It boils down to this: guests of all ages and cultural backgrounds are drawn to experience.

Hot pot restaurants are interactive. Experimentation is encouraged.

Your table is a cooktop, used to make a cauldron bubble in order to prepare a variety of noodles, vegetables and thinly sliced meats. One glance around the dining room reveals the crowd awash with curiosity, mixing

and matching flavors to their own specifications.

The dining room itself is fairly chic. Trippy light shades billow like a Magic Eye illusion, casting silhouettes on the walls.

Hardwood panels line the ceiling while slate-gray tiles cover the floor. Every design element offers unique texture, including a wavy facade that frames the open kitchen.

People love choices Hot pot for two at Chuan Shabu on and Chuan Shabu is ripe for them. Think of it as a choose-your-own-advenand satay. Ask for recommendations ture dinner. Do you want the deep from your server for maximum mixumami of a Japanese miso broth ing and matching of complimentary ($3)? Or the numbing spice of an oily flavors. mala broth ($5)? How about both, Next, select a variety of meats like split between two sides of a metal Angus sirloin ($9), chicken breast cauldron? A sauce bar offers ladles ($7), or even chewy bits of beef tripe brimming with barbeque, soy, ginger ($6). Seafood is available as well.

Shelled shrimp are the most popular ($9), but you can fancy things up with twin lobster tails ($19) if you’d like.

If you find these additions are not cooked to your specifications, there is no one to blame but yourself. Everything arrives raw and the rest is up to you.

Other key elements include Chuan Shabu’s vegetable selection. I am partial to the lush tufts of bok choy ($4), snow white radish slices ($4) and nutty chunks of violet marbled taro.

The udon noodles ($2) are thick and slurpy, while the vermicelli Park Ave. ($2) is slick and slender.

There is no shame in tucking a napkin into your shirt. Hot pot is a messy affair, albeit a popular one, and it’s no secret that Chuan Shabu probably isn’t a first-date spot unless your prepared to get sloppy.

If you aren’t into soup, there’s a typical menu of crab rangoons

($5.95) and pork lo mein ($7.95).

And if you’re keen on joining in the adventurous spirit of Chuan Shabu beyond just hotpot, the sizzling frog legs (17.95) await.

The staff is indispensable in this dining environment where service can be unfamiliar or potentially dangerous. Chuan Shabu’s servers recommended cook times and combinations with intense patience, running mango mai tais ($8.50) all the while.

Chuan Shabu is an engaging dining experience for virtually anyone willing to eat outside the box. The DIY nature of this concept prevents perfection, but that’s part of the fun. On our last date night, the total came to $95.12.

Explanation of Stars: Ratings are from zero to five. Zero is not recommended. One is poor. Two is fair. Three is satisfactory. Four is good. Five is excellent.

Food: HHH Ambience: HHHH Service: HHHH Value: HHH1/2

culture ‘Bird Box’ haters unite, we’re at war.

JIM KEOGH

N

ot long ago, the internet was aflame with the “dress controversy.” Some looked at the photograph of a striped dress and saw it as gold and white.

Others looked at the same dress and insisted the stripes were blue and black. The Gold and White people and the Blue and Black people went to war, and it lasted until the next stupid thing stole their attention.

That stupid thing is “Bird Box.” The Netflix movie stars Sandra Bullock as Mallory, a woman thrust into an apocalyptic world where people must shield their eyes from a malevolent force that, if seen, drives you to commit suicide. Bullock spends much of the film stumbling around in a blindfold — scavenging for food blindfolded, navigating deadly rapids blindfolded, fighting off a homicidal maniac blindfolded, and (my

favorite) riding shotgun blindfolded in a car driven by a guy who also is blindfolded.

“Bird Box” has inspired intense debate about whether it’s, well, good. The subject came up at a recent family gathering when someone threw out the question of who’d seen “Bird Box” and what they thought of it. I instantly responded, “I hated it” just as my niece said, “I loved it.” We looked at each other, baffled, and posed the same question, “Why?” Here’s why. I’m OK with preposterousness in a science fiction thriller. I loved “A Quiet Place,” which imagines a

future in which making a sound can earn you a bloody death inside the jaws of sightless monsters who possess supernaturally-acute hearing.

The movie sold me on the twisted logic of its ravaged world from the opening scene — it may have had plenty of antecedents from the horror genre, but it still felt fresh and creepy.

“Bird Box” feels only derivative — of “The Happening,” “The Road,” “World War Z,” and a bunch of others. It’s beyond ludicrous, and full of plot holes even Tom Brady could lope through. We learn nothing about the mysterious aura that can wipe out the human race yet apparently can’t open a door. (Inside spaces are safe. Maybe the Bad Thing needs to be invited inside, like a vampire.) For instance, why do some of the people exposed to this existential evil kill themselves and others just become jerks?

The group of people who hole up in a well-appointed house to escape the scourge are like a bag of assorted bagels — something for every taste: from John Malkovich’s cranky shootfirst a-hole to Trevante Rhodes’ strong protector who, oddly, flirts mightily with nine-months-pregnant

Mallory. I suppose if the end of the world is racing up on you, then what the hell?

As if the movie isn’t annoying enough on its own, Netflix recently was forced to issue a statement urging people not to accept the “Bird Box Challenge,” which evidently entails throwing on a blindfold and walking into furniture or even into traffic. Welcome to the idiocracy.

A Facebook friend recently commented that “Bird Box” may be the worst movie ever made. I cautioned him to withhold judgment until he’s seen “Holmes and Watson,” which is so aggressively awful it may one day enter the popular lexicon (“Crap! I totally Holmes and Watsoned that test.”) But I will grant him it was at the very least one of the dumbest films of 2018. Maybe 2019, too.

Jim Keogh contributing writer

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

25

calendar Friday, Jan. 11 MA Learn to Ski & Snowboard Day 2019

Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton With one-day-only reduced pricing, Wachusett invites newcomers to skiing and snowboarding to hop on the mountain and learn how to rip.

Friday, Jan. 11 An Evening of Illumination

Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge OSV teaches visitors how early New Englanders spent their evenings. Long before texting and TV, there was lamplight and candles casting a warm glow on the activities of families.

Friday, Jan. 11 Open Heart, Open Mind, Open House

Worcester PopUp, 29 Franklin St. Worcester Pride presents Open Heart, Open Mind, Open House, the first annual open house thanking the community for a successful 2018. Refreshments will be provided.

Saturday, Jan. 12 Worcester Railers Gilly Gilly! Bobblehead Night

Tuesday, Jan. 15 Yoga at the Hall

Saturday, Jan. 12 Rambudikon Local Fest

Thursday, Jan. 17 Winter Talk Series: The Castle on the Hill

DCU Center, 50 Foster St. The Railers take on the Reading Royals at the DCU Center and fans receive a free Mitch “Gilly! Gily!” Gillam bobblehead.

The Palladium, 261 Main St. MassConcerts and The Rambudikon Agency present Martial Law, No Eye Has Seen, Hivetower, Ivory Tower, Unbounded, Interchange, Bring Out Your Dead and Attraction to Tragedy.

Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. Yoga aficionados and newcomers alike are invited to experience yoga at Mechanics Hall with yoga instructor Doreen DeFazio and pianist Brett Maguire.

Park View Room, 230 Park Ave. Preservation Worcester presents a talk on the castle that once stood overlooking Main Street. The building is long gone, but Jan Parent is here to give you its history.

Tuesday, Jan. 15 Bach’s Goldberg Variations with Simone Dinnerstein

26

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St. Presented by Music Worcester, listeners are invited to experience Bach’s original magnum opus in a whole new way with the 11 member Pam Tanowitz Dance Company.

The Score Worcester Railers Friday, Jan. 4 The Railers (13-15-3-2) fell on the road, 4-1, to the South Carolina Stingrays.

Saturday, Jan. 5 Staying on the road, the Railers (13-16-3-2) lost again, 4-1, this time to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

Sunday, Jan. 6 The Railers closed out their South Carolina road trip with a 3-2 win over the Swamp Rabbit.

(Upcoming: The Railers host the Reading Royals at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 at the DCU Center and the Manchester Monarchs at 3:05 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14) Worcester 78’s Saturday, Jan. 5 The 78’s knocked off the Oneonta Octane at home, 127-117.

Sunday, Jan. 6 On the road, the 78’s outlasted the New England Outtatowners, 118-116.

(Upcoming: The 78’s host the ATC Cardinals Saturday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at Worcester State University.

Worcester Blades Saturday, Jan. 5 The Blades were blanked, 3-0, at home by the Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays.

Sunday, Jan. 6 The Blades fell, 7-2, at home to the Rays.

(Upcoming: The Blades hosted the Rays Wednesday night.)

Round-Up The Massachusetts Pirates have signed former Utah Utes linebacker David Luafatasaga and former UCLA offensive lineman Kenny Lacy for the 2019 season.

Worcester Railers goalie Mitch Gillam has been named to the Easter Conference All-Star squad for the 2019 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic Monday, Jan. 21.

calendar Massachusetts Pirates, headed into second year, name Anthony Payton new head coach WALTER BIRD JR. Editor’s Note: This story first appeared online at worcestermag.com

T

he Massachusetts Pirates, unable to come to terms with National Arena League Coach of the Year Ameer Ismail for a second year with the team, have named Anthony Payton their new head coach.

The Pirates will start their second year of play in the NAL this year. The team made the playoffs in their inaugural season last year, losing in the semifinals, 50-36, to the Columbus Lions.

“I would first like to say that we wish Ameer the absolute best moving forward,” Pirates President Jawad Yatim said. “Whatever he decides to do I know he’ll be successful and we certainly appreciate all the work he put in last season. He’s still a good friend of mine and I wish him the

best, just except when he plays us of course.”

Payton moves up from associate head coach, offensive coach and quarterbacks coach. It will be his first time as head coach in 26 years of coaching.

In addition, Sergio Gilliam has been named defensive coordinator.

Payton’s resume includes stints as offensive coordinator in 2016 with Spokane in the NAL and in 2015 with

Portland in the Indoor Football League. Before that, he worked as a wide receivers coach with Louisville in the AF2 and in the AFL with Las Vegas and Buffalo.

Although his title has changed, Payton says he won’t change his approach.

“I welcome it. I really didn’t look to be the head coach of the Massachusetts Pirates, but I feel like I’m ready,” he said. “For me it’s just all about winning. Whether I’m an assistant coach, position coach, coordinator or head coach, I’m going to do my job the same way. Nothing changes for me other than the fact that now I don’t have to get permission to do a lot of the things that I’ve wanted to

do in the past. Now I’m in a position where I will take the blame for all of the things that don’t go right and I can give the people that help me out the credit for things that go well.”

As the offensive play caller last season, Payton helped the Pirates rank as the highest scoring team in the NAL. The offensively-explosive team led the league in touchdowns (123), most offensive touchdowns, total offensive yards and average yards per play.

The Pirates also had the numberone ranked passing offense, with 3,677 yards and 229.8 yards per game. Additionally, Pirates quarterbacks registered the most yards per completion (12.2) and yards per attempt (7.3).

QB Sean Brackett, in particular, seemed to thrive under Payton, becoming the league leader in total offense, while passing for a league best 226.4 yards per game. Brackett was the NAL’s Most Valuable Player

while earning second-team honors on offense.

In addition, wide receiver Devonn Brown was an NAL first-team offensive selection, with 24 touchdown receptions and 1,024 receiving yards.

He averaged a league-best 19 yards per catch. “[Payton] came in and worked extremely hard for us,” Yatim said of the former wide receiver. “It’s funny, because I felt like sometimes last year we were competing as to who would stay in the office the latest. He’s that kind of guy and he takes an extreme amount of pride in his craft and it paid off for him and our organization last season. He’s fully entrenched in our culture and immediately bought into what we have going on here.

As the new defensive coordinator, meanwhile, Gilliam notches his second promotion with the Pirates, having been promoted last year from defensive backs coach to special teams coordinator.

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

27

culture

Adoption option

28

W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

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

This is little Brocolli. He is sad. He is sad because he and his brother were about to be dumped out on the street by their owner when a kind, rabbit-loving person swooped in for the rescue and brought them to WARL. Brocolli has reason to be sad. He and his brother Brusell Sprout are bonded and need to be adopted together, and this makes their adoption a bit harder than usual. Brocolli, like his brother, also appreciates good spelling, and is dismayed that staff have spelled both their names wrong. Although Brocolli hates his name, he has more pressing issues, for instance, really being annoyed with staff because he was neutered, and he is not planning on letting us forget it. Staff here at WARL like our bunnies. However, staff are also sad because these two boys need to be in a new home and they have been with us for a very long time. Please tell all your bunny-loving friends about Brocolli and Brusell Sprout.

Their combined adoption fee is $120.

Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Here are some of WARL’s regular needs: Pet Supplies: Dog and cat food (both canned and dry). Purina brand preferred. Please no grainfree; Non-clumping kitty litter; Bedding, comforters, blankets and towels (not pillows & sheets); Kuranda Beds; martingale collars.

Pet Toys – For cats: furry mice and balls with bells, stuffed animals for orphaned kittens to snuggle against; For dogs: Kongs, Ruff Wear, Jolly Balls, Tuffies, tennis balls.

Office Supplies: Copy paper (white and colors), postage stamps, pink and blue post-its, etc. Staples gift cards are always welcomed!

Computers, Laptops, Printers: Newer models or gently used models are welcomed.

Medical Supplies: Latex gloves, gauze, anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, popsicle sticks, Dixie cups, One Touch Test Strips.

Commercial Washers: Each day we wash and dry close to 45 loads of blankets, towels, bed and toys.

Sometimes there isn’t enough hours in the day for us to wash all the dirty laundry, or Heaven forbid a machine breaks. A commercial washer will ease that stress, speed up the process, and relieve the staff and volunteers of washing small loads multiple times each day so they can instead use their valuable time and talents with the animals.

Paving: A dirt parking lot behind the building often becomes an unwanted pond or skating rink due to poor drainage and dirt consistency, but paving it could cost the shelter thousands of dollars that we’d rather use towards the mounting medical bills. Can you help?

Digital Camera: for photographing the pets. Newer models or gently used models are welcomed.

Cleaning Supplies: Paper towels, 33-gallon trash bags, sponges, bleach, dish soap, “HE” (high efficiency) laundry detergent, Lemon Joy soap.

Amazon Wish List: Can’t stop in?

Do you like the ease of shopping online? Visit our Amazon Wish List, and the items will be shipped directly to WARL!

games J O N E S I N’

46 47 50 51 52 53 54 56 57 58 61 63

Like popular library books It’ll show you the way Insulting comment “___ not kidding” Language for Llanfairpwllgwyngyll ___ Donuts Quavering, like a voice Draw out Wailers fan, maybe Presidential policy pronouncement, probably Birthstone of some Scorpios Burkina Faso neighbor “Oh,” overseas Mess up, as lines Prefix with vision or Disney Part of Q&A, for short Lummox

Last week's solution

©2019 Jonesin’ Crosswords (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #918

29

Down 1 Hasbro game with

36 40 41 43 44

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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

voice commands 2 Division of a geologic period 3 “Glee” character Abrams 4 One of four singers on the “Lady Marmalade” remake 5 Coca-Cola bottled water brand 6 “The Reader” actress Lena 7 Publicize 8 Links gp.

9 Language spoken in “The Lord of the Rings” 10 Souvenirs 11 They may be steel-cut 12 Prefix meaning “inside” 15 National bird of Australia 18 Character pursued

by Gargamel 22 Aquarium accumulation 25 Aberdeen resident 27 End of the end of October?

29 “___ Yellow” (Cardi B song) 30 Spiner of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” 31 Spaghetti ___ e olio (garlicky pasta dish) 32 “That’s swell!”

33 Physical force unit 34 Realm of one “Christmas Carol” ghost 35 “Tom Sawyer” band

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

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!

Across 1 Gymnastics equipment 5 Pointillism detail 8 It’s called “orange” but is really black 13 “Grand Ole” venue 14 Salve plant 16 Collect little by little 17 Element #19, whose chemical symbol derives from the word “alkali” 19 “No Hard Feelings” band The ___ Brothers 20 Here, at the Louvre 21 Italian city where “Rigoletto” is set 23 ___ facto 24 British tabloid since 1964 26 Not so much 28 Card game holding where it’s impossible to score 19 points 34 Number on a liquor bottle 37 Instrument with stops 38 Actor Keegan-Michael 39 Julia Roberts, to Emma Roberts 40 Singer with the hit 2008 debut album “19” 41 Lima, for one 42 Belarus, once (abbr.)

43 Afghani neighbor 44 Spend thoughtlessly 45 Stephen King series that makes many references to the number 19 48 Yokozuna’s activity 49 “The Stranger” author Camus 53 Hare crossing your path, e.g.

55 Eucharist disks 59 “See-saw, Margery ___” 60 Cold-weather coat 62 Golf course hangout known as the “19th hole” 64 Simon’s brother 65 Chuck 66 Comédie segment 67 Charges on personal property 68 “Karma Chameleon” singer ___ George 69 Achievement

“Hey Nineteen” — welcoming in the new year.

by Matt Jones

classifieds Friends ask where I ďŹ nd such cool stuff and helpful services...

My secret is CLASSIFIEDS!

Over 90,000 Readers!

978-728-4302 cmaclassifieds@gatehousemedia.com

30

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

LEGAL WORCESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS January 10, 2019 SEALED PROPOSALS shall be received at the Purchasing Office, 69 Tacoma Street., Worcester, MA 01605 RFPs may be picked up at the location above or may be downloaded from our website: www.worcesterha.org, or call (508) 635-3202/3203, TDD (508) 798-4530. Proposers are responsible for ensuring they have received any/all addenda prior to submitting a proposal. Separate awards will be made for each RFP. WHA reserves the right to reject any or all responses, in whole or in part, deemed to be in their best interest. Award of all contracts is subject to the approval of the WHA Executive Director or Board of Commissioners. The Operating Agency shall indemnify and hold harmless the WHA and its officers or agents from any and all third party claims arising from activities under these Agreements as set forth in MGL c.258, section 2 as amended.

Bid No. 18-39

Release Date 1/10/2019

Project Title

Bid Opening

Purchase or Lease of Office Space

2:00 PM February 19, 2019

Jackson Restrepo, Chief Procurement Officer Visit our website at: www.worcesterha.org

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Sudoku Answers

last call Susan L. Smith Audience Development Specialist M Can you give us a synopsis of your husband’s most notable works? His last two plays, “A Journey to Kreisau” and “Karski,” comprising The Kreisau Project, were a turning point in a number of ways. Not the least of these was the fact that both these plays provided him with the opportunity to witness the response to his work directly from audiences in Germany and Poland. The two plays also were significant, each in its own way, in a furtherance of The Kreisau Project’s mission to pursue reconciliation between Germans, Jews and Poles. When you scan his more than 20 play titles, you may note some titles suggesting serious themes, such as “Lamentation on a High Hill,” “The Brewster Papers,” “Blood Summit” and “The Story of Dr. Faust,” along with Marc’s last two plays. And then, a batch of other titles reveal his joy in the whole cultural phenomenon known as American Vaudeville.

Performers from many different cultures met each other on the same stages, from roughly the 1880s to the 1920s. Marc’s thesis: vaudeville music is the American folk song; vaudeville comedy is that convergence of dozens of national funny-bones to become the American sense of humor.

When did you connect with Facing History and Ourselves and how has it expanded your reach? I first learned about Facing History and Ourselves in the spring of 2013, through friends of ours who lived in Brookline where this non-profit is based. After meeting with now-retired Associate Director of Facing History Marty Sleeper, and of course after he’d read both scripts, the organi-

zation agreed to include information on their site. The information about the plays described how roughly 14,000 educators in their worldwide network would be able to receive a copy of either or both of these scripts. When they are used for classroom study purposes only, no fee is charged to the educator. One particularly eye-opening comment came from a gentleman who teaches high school students in Tennessee, where he serves as executive director of EduSource Unlimited.

Regarding “A Journey to Kreisau,” he writes: “The historical timeline of events was wonderful. The thing that struck me the most was the bewilderment of the students as the world spiraled downward.

‘How could that happen, didn’t they see it?’… and by doing it in this medium (a play), it is personal

PHOTO SUBMITTED

… It is hard to find quality curricula that ends as powerfully as the play, asking the questions of faith, life and death.”

What role has your son taken on as part of this project? Joe has definitely been instrumental with the updating, redesign and editing on the website; and we mutually discuss the various steps we envision on this whole project as it progresses. He and I proofread each other’s copy before it’s officially posted on the site, an essential step. In addition, understanding that an aging mom needs to engage in some realistic advance planning, Joe has agreed to take on full responsibility for the project after I’m no longer around.

31

Describe what it means for you to “transmit memory through the arts.” There are dozens of kinds of art that serve as paths for storytelling, for focusing people’s attention on events and individuals in our past. Think of composers — musicians, visual artists, choreographers, dancers, playwrights, filmmakers, directors and actors — the list could well go on from there. In Marc’s view, the storytelling power of “A Journey to Kreisau” and “Karski” was necessarily tied to the personalized focus of each play. Within each script, there are a few facts and dates for timeline and context.

The power of each play does not lie in statistical figures, but rather in getting inside the thoughts and responses of Freya and Helmuth James von Moltke and of Jan Kar-

ski to the unimaginable horrors surrounding them.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

What is The Kreisau Project?

The genesis of the project goes back to 1991, when Marc and I made one of our occasional day trips to Northampton. I enjoyed gallery browsing; he was magnetically drawn to a used bookstore there, down a half-flight of steps.

On this particular trip, he discovered a soft-cover galley proof of a book called “Letters to Freya: 1939-1945.” This was not only a time period that had absorbed Marc’s interest since boyhood, but the book seemed to promise a portrayal of a segment of German life that he was not at all familiar with. He read the galley proof, thought it would make a fantastic story for the stage or film, and placed it on a bookshelf. He told how that one book, about a decade later, led him on a life-changing path while addressing a group gathered at the Goethe InstitutBoston in January 2011 to com-

memorate the passing of Freya von Moltke one year after her death at age 98. In essence, Marc felt that when you learn of a story of great moral courage, especially when stories of that period (1930s and ’40s) in Europe are primarily focused on perpetrators and victims, then you have an obligation to bear witness to that story. Likewise, later, with strong encouragement from Freya, he turned his focus on Polish underground hero Jan Karski, sometimes referred to as the man who tried to stop the Holocaust. Karski had written his book, “Story of a Secret State,” first published in 1944. Marc, then a 10-year-old boy, read the book in the year it was published and never forgot about this incredible human being. The Kreisau Project hopes to expand the numbers of young students and adults of all ages who learn about these two stories, either from reading the scripts or presenting them as stage plays.

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019

arc and Susan Smith retired from their leadership of Worcester Foothills Theatre in 1999 after 25 years. In 2002, the Smiths dedicated themselves to a new creative mission: the pursuit of reconciliation between Germans, Jews and Poles, and transmission of memory via the arts. The Kreisau Project consists of two plays written by Marc Smith, “A Journey to Kreisau” and “Karski.” Both plays have been performed in America, as well as in cities in Germany and Poland.

In addition, the plays are utilized within the curriculum for Facing History and Ourselves, a nonprofit organization that develops highquality educational materials to examine prejudice and injustice.

Marc and Susan were married 43 years. He passed away in 2011. You can learn more about the Smiths’ efforts at thekreisauproject.com.

32

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N U A RY 10 - 16, 2019