Worcester Magazine January 21 - 27, 2022 by Worcester Magazine

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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KEEPING THE CUPBOARDS FULL FOOD PANTRIES ADJUST TO ‘COVID NORMAL’ IN FIGHT AGAINST FOOD INSECURITY PAGE 10

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IN THIS ISSUE

Worcester Magazine 100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske Worcester Magazine is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. Legals/Public Notices please call 888-254-3466, email classifieds@gatehousemedia.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 Distribution Worcester Magazine is inserted into the Telegram & Gazette on Fridays and is also available for free at more than 400 locations in the Worcester area. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law. 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 Gannett. All contents copyright 2021 by Gannett. All rights reserved. Worcester Magazine is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

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Featured ..............................................................................4 City Voices ..........................................................................6 Artist Spotlight..................................................................9 Cover Story.......................................................................10 Next Draft .........................................................................16 Listen Up ...........................................................................19 Adoption Option.............................................................20 Classiﬁ eds.........................................................................21 Games................................................................................22 Last Call.............................................................................23

On the cover GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY DANI CHERCHIO / USA TODAY NETWORK, GETTY IMAGES

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FEATURED

4th Wall Stage Company eyes returning to the stage Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

It has been well over two years since the 4th Wall Stage Company took to the stage with a live, in-person production. A lineup of shows for the ﬁ rst part of 2022 was going to change all that, but the dates have been changed as the geometric rise of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has rearranged plans. However, Barbara Guertin, managing director of 4th Wall, is keeping the faith. “I do believe in our uncertain times people need an escape,” she said. “People want to get out of their homes and see shows again.” During a recent visit to New York City she went to the theaters, which “were packed,” she said. “There were so many standing ovations in the middle of shows it was so heartwarming.” Returning to Worcester, she said, “No way we’re not going to do a show.” In October 2019, 4th Wall had kicked oﬀ its eighth season with “Naughty Bits,” a bit of a romp in collaboration with Lowell’s Image Theater whose popular “Naughties” show is a collection of provocative, humorous and outrageous original skits and songs. Performed by members of both companies, “Naughty Bits” added “some extra Woosta spin” when it was staged at Fiddler’s Green as a fundraiser for 4th Wall. Co-

Barbara Guertin, managing director of 4th Wall, is pictured in 2019 discussing a scene in “The Women who Mapped the Stars” during a dress rehearsal at the Worcester Historical Museum. STEVE LANAVA/T&G FILE PHOTO

median Cindy Gray was host. 4th Wall was going to get serious with its next scheduled show for 2019-20, playwright Anna Ziegler’s “Photograph 51,” which tells the story of Rosalind Franklin, the English

chemist whose work led to the discovery of the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The problem was that Franklin never received the credit she was due. The play was to have been presented by the 4th Wall

Stage Company for eight performances beginning March 19, 2020, at the Worcester Historical Museum to celebrate Women’s History Month. “We never did get that oﬀ the ground,” said Guertin, who

would have directed “Photograph 51.” The production was and remains a victim of COVID. “We think we’re gonna have See STAGE, Page 5

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Stage Continued from Page 4D

to postpone it again. That is the name of the game right now,” Guertin said. A few weeks ago, 4th Wall had three productions lined up for the fi rst part of 2022, as it seemed safe to return to the theater again assuming certain protocols were followed: h “If I Forget” by Steven Levenson, was to be staged at the Brickbox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, 20 Franklin St., opening Jan. 27 and running for 11 performances. h “Photograph 51” by Anna Ziegler, would fi nally be staged at the Worcester Historical Museum opening on March 17. h Chekov’s “The Cherry Orchard” was scheduled to open May 12, again at the Brickbox Theater. The dates have subsequently all been changed, but the shows will still take place this year, Guertin said. She will be directing all three. 4th Wall’s 2022 will actually begin where its last show to be performed left off with “Naughty Bits.” ‘We have secured April 21-22 at the JMAC for a 4th Wall Cabaret Fundraiser,” Guertin said. “Everyone has been clamoring for a Part II, so we are in the process of curating ‘More Naughty Bits.’” “If I Forget” will now be at the Brickbox May 12-22 (the original “Cherry Orchard” dates), and “Cherry Orchard has been rescheduled for the Brickbox to run Nov. 2-12. Dates for “Photograph 51” are still to be determined as concerns about COVID persist. The Worcester Historical Museum’s theater is a small space. Still, after rehearsing for two years, “it’s basically in the can,” Guertin said, half jokingly. “After two years, it’s fully rehearsed.” 4th Wall has been a great addition to the local theater scene since it staged its fi rst produc-

Frank Bartucca founded 4th Wall Stage Company in 2011. CHRISTINE PETERSON/T&G STAFF

tion, Eugene O’Neill’s “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” in six performances over two weekends in October 2011, in what critics called “a stunning triumph of acting, directing and staging.” The company was founded by Frank Bartucca, artistic director, and a veteran actor and director. Originally from New York City, Guertin has acted, directed and produced for ﬁ lm and the stage. Productions such as “Photograph 51” will continue the 4th Wall tradition of presenting plays about women who have made contributions to the world. Examples of past plays include “The Women Who

Mapped the Stars,” about ﬁ ve women astronomers, and “Golda’s Balcony,” about the life of Golda Meir. When possible these plays are performed during March, which is Women’s History Month. In early January it had become obvious that the run for “If I Forget” starting Jan. 27 would have to be pushed back as COVID cases swelled. The cast had been rehearsing by Zoom for a couple of weeks. However, at a cast meeting the prevailing mood was “everyone wants to move forward,” Guertin said. The play, a depiction of an

American Jewish family at a crossroads, dealing with an aging parent and coming to grips with what their Jewish culture means to them, was described by the New York Times as “ … passionate and provoking … ‘If I Forget” speaks to the head and the heart.’” “Steven Levenson wrote ‘Dear Evan Hansen.’ It is really well written. When you direct something as solid as this play, I deﬁ nitely think Levenson is in the same category as Sam Shepard,” Guertin said. Set at the turn of the 21st century, the play’s 85-year-old patriarch, World War II veteran Lou Fischer (played by Bartucca), has just lost his wife to cancer. As the father becomes less able to care for himself, it becomes a classic case of his three adult and sometimes quarrelsome children struggling with how to care for their father, and “probably the bigger story is ‘where do we all go from here?’ The dialogue really hits home,” Guertin said. Besides Bartucca, the cast includes Alice Springer, Beth Goldman, Michael Legge, Lorna Nogueria, Fred D’Angelo and Shane Parretti as Lou’s 15-yearold grandson. “There are some very seasoned actors in this production. Shane jumped in both feet forward,” Guertin said. “Levenson knows how to write dialogue for an 85-yearold as well as a 15-year-old … I call it a dramedy. It can be incredibly funny, shocking, moving, all at the same time.” We’ll have to wait just a little bit longer to see it. 4th Wall “had a pretty rigorous schedule for the spring,” Guertin said. Chekov’s “The Cherry Orchard” (translation by Tom Stoppard), now moved to November, is a follow-up to 4th Wall’s successful production of “Uncle Vanya.” “The Cherry Orchard” will feature a multiracial cast, Guertin said. Over the course of the pandemic, members of 4th Wall would get together for weekly

play readings via Zoom. “We read all kinds of plays. It was kind of a master class for acting,” Guertin said. As for staging a production online, “We thought about it,” she said. “It was just too much uncertainty and we didn’t want to do a second-rate production.” She emphasized that she wasn’t saying other online productions have been second rate. The uncertainty includes the issue of rights for such shows, she said. 4th Wall had had its eye on the space at 20 Franklin St. from the time it was fi rst suggested as a “black box theater” that various groups could use several years ago. When the JMAC and Brickbox Theater carefully opened as the pandemic had struck in 2020, Guertin was watching. Now 4th Wall has it booked for at least three events this year. “For ten years I’ve been writing letters. We want to use this space,” Guertin said. “We love doing shows at the Worcester Historical Museum, but clearly being on a bigger stage, especially a fl exible one at the JMAC, defi nitely suits our needs. Most of the things we’ve done have been experimental. We have a history of using all kinds of spaces. Our priorities are more about the actors, but moving forward I would like to have the option so that we could have something that looks like ART (American Repertory Theater).” For its shows at the Brickbox, 4thWall will use social distancing for seating, and people will have to bring proof of vaccination and wear masks, Guertin said. “We want audiences not to feel there are any issues there. I do think audiences are clamoring to get back. I hope people will say it’s time to come out and make that journey to the JMAC and know that there’s a lot more theater coming.” For more information, visit www.4thwallstagecompany.org. Also, www.jmacworcester.org.

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CITY VOICES LANDGREN

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Want to get involved in city government? Boards, committees have open seats Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Looking at a press release from the Worcester Arts Council Tuesday about grant recipients, something near the bottom of the email caught my eye: There was a list of the current members of the WAC, followed by the sentence, “There is one open seat on the Council.” That struck me as a great way for people to get involved in local arts. Sure, it’s not a glamorous job, but it’s a necessary one, especially if you’re from a district or neighbor-

hood where people feel they either haven’t beneﬁ tted from the city’s public art mania, or hasn’t had a voice in how and where it occurs. Then, it occurred to me that there were probably seats open on a few other boards and committees, so after being pointed to the right part of the website by Jeannie Michelson, principle staﬀ assistant to the city manager — http:// www.worcesterma.gov/ boards-commissions, then scroll down and click on “Current Vacancies” — I learned that there are actually 35 seats See INFANTE, Page 8

“Culture is the foundation of education, of sustainable governance. It provides perspective. It has a positive effect on the community, as it nurtures a sense of belonging.” TRUTHSEEKER08

‘Worcester’s greatest asset is its diversity, its people’ Vanessa Joga Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

My name is Vanessa, and I am the co-founder and executive director of a cultural nonproﬁ t organization called Guardians of Traditions. Culture is the foundation of education, of sustainable governance. It provides perspective. It has a positive eﬀ ect on the community, as it nurtures a sense of belonging, while also

reinforcing our identity, which in turns strengthens community participation. Worcester’s greatest asset is its diversity, its people. You see, I’m an immigrant from Dominican Republic; my ﬁ rst time driving around town, speciﬁ cally the Main Street area, I was amazed by the sounds that reminded me of my home country, yet I still craved a deeper connection to what was familiar to me, and that’s why I co-founded Guardians of Traditions.

During an event about Bachata music and its connection to African-Americans that we presented to the students of South High, many students voluntarily came to the stage to dance with us. At one point, one of them gave me a hug and told me, “I had no idea my people was so important in your culture!” That moment had such a lasting impression on me. It reminded me that where See JOGA, Page 8

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BAD ADVICE

Dealing with rude relatives, nosy neighbors Shaun Connolly Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Editor’s Note: Worcester comedian Shaun Connolly provides readers bad advice in his brand-new weekly column. Send your questions to woocomedyweek@gmail.com. DEAR SHAUN: Recently I posted a photograph of myself on social media; something I rarely do. A family member remarked that I look terrible in the photograph. When I replied that I thought it was a cute picture, they said, “Take a better look at it.” This is an ongoing issue. How can I best handle it without blocking them? – Not So Photogenic NOT SO: This is obviously rude, unnecessary, and trolllike behavior. You just said “family member” without making a distinction so I will give you some scenarios for each ring of hell, I mean family member-type. If this is your sibling you are legally within your rights to drive to their house, knock on their door and challenge them to a physical contest that you know you are better at than they are (i.e. ﬁ st ﬁ ght, shrimp eating, etc.). If this is a parent you can send them memes of Minions from “Despicable Me” calling THEM ugly but in like sparkle font and their dumb boomer brain will see it and think its a compliment. If this is an uncle or aunt, they are no longer your family member. Get that White-Out out and remove their name from your tree. Call your cousins and say how sorry you are that they are orphans now. If this is your family dog or cat then welcome to our new reali-

ty. Our pets are sentient and will soon laugh at GIFs of us playing the piano. DEAR SHAUN: I have a snoopy, busy-body neighbor who sneaks onto our property, peeps in our windows and is a general nuisance. We posted the property but unless there’s snow and he realizes he’s leaving tracks, he keeps on coming around. We know because we see him on our cameras. Any creative ideas for keeping him in his own yard? – Not Ready to Move NOT READY: First, oﬀ er him tea or a beer or whatever they’d like. Sit down with a smile and ask him how his day is. Ask him how his week and month are, ask him about his life. Ask him about his family, his hobbies, his job, what he had for dinner, where he went on vacation as a child, what family’s pet’s name is, and all about his favorite sports teams, movies, TV shows and bands. After every single answer, respond with, “I already knew that.” Then when he catches on that you’re being a maniac to have a conversation with, he’ll say something like, “Hey, what gives?” And you’ll go, “Sorry, I’ve just been inside your house so much I feel like I already know you.” And then when he is like, “Uhhhh …” You can then say, “jk, lol not really that would be insane, but thank you for all of that personal information, I have so much it’s like I could steal your identity.” And then he’ll be like, “Drat, some of that stuﬀ I said would be clues for my passwords and security questions … wait, why did I say that out loud?” After that, I bet he’d probably not want to snoop around anymore.

Worcester comedian Shaun Connolly looks at how to deal with nosy neighbors. GETTY IMAGES

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Joga Continued from Page 6D

there’s roots, there’s power. It made me see that while Worcester is very diverse and culturally rich, we needed to do better at elevating the voices of the marginalized and stereotyped. It made me determined to show that it is possible to retain our identity and still be part of the community; that an engaged community is a city that thrives. At the end of the day, what makes us diff erent shouldn’t really matter. Can we accept the diff erences and move on? Can I be myself and still be accepted? For me, it was writing about my experience being Latina, about coming from a country many think it only has baseball players and drug dealers; I wanted to tell everyone about the rich culture we have; I wanted to tell everyone that we have the fi rst city of the Americas (yes, America is a continent, not a country); I wanted to tell everyone that we have the fi rst university, fi rst hospital, fi rst courthouse and that we have proudly been celebrating carnival since the 1500s. I also wanted to tell everyone that even though I come from an island, I had a lot of things in common with everyone else, but a lot of times we focus too much on the diff erences. So, next time you see someone who looks diff erent from you, talk to them, ask them where they’re from and tell them about yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much you have in common. Vanessa Joga is a native of the Dominican Republic who has lived in Worcester for 8 years, where she founded a cultural nonprofi t organization called Guardians of Traditions.

Worcester City Hall, the Worcester Common and Front Street are seen from the top of 507 Main St. RICK CINCLAIR/T&G STAFF

Infante Continued from Page 6

currently open on city boards and committees at the time of this writing. We’re not even talking obscure committees. We’re talking things that people in Worcester gripe about all the time: The brand-new Aﬀ ordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees has six seats open, and that’s about as hot a topic in town as anything that’s not putting a ceiling on the number of gourmet doughnut vendors. The Cable Television Advisory Committee needs three members: One particularly from District 4, one from District 3, and one from Districts 1, 2, 3 or 4. (There are, evidently, enough from District 5.) This is a big one, too, because the city is renegotiating its cable contract, and goodness knows people aren’t shy about ex-

pressing their opinions on that. The brand-new Green Worcester Advisory Committee is currently looking to fi ll all seven seats, and there are seats open on the Accessibility Advisory Commission, the Citizen Advisory Council, the Community Development Advisory Committee, the Conservation Commission, the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, the Historical Commission, the Off -Street Parking Board, the Planning Board, the Status of Women Advisory Committee and the ever-popular Zoning Board of Appeals. This doesn’t even include newly created boards which will soon need to be fi lled, including the Urban Forestry Commission and the Latino Advisory Commission. A lot of the committees need representatives from particular districts, with representatives from Districts 3 and 4 being the most needed for many seats.

And while minority representation on the committees has improved greatly over the years — from comprising 13% of the membership in 2003, to 28% now, according to data provided by the city manager’s offi ce — there’s always room for improvement. So, you might be wondering: How does this work? Well, fi rst off , you apply online at the aforementioned web page. Then, you’re invited to a meeting of the Citizen Advisory Council, which votes on whether to accept your nomination. Then, Michelson and a liaison from the committee in question sit down with you and talk about what the committee does and what’s expected of its members. Then, it goes to the city manager, who decides whether he wants to appoint you. “Wait!” you say. “Ed Augustus Jr. makes the fi nal choice!?!? I said mean things about him on Twitter! I’ll never

get through!” You might think that, but of 103 applications in 2021, 25 didn’t show at their CAC meeting, according to demographics provided by the city manager’s offi ce. Of the 78 remaining, all but three were accepted. And I really, really want to know what they said on Twitter to get denied, because honestly, it’s kind of hard. There was no data handy, but confl icts of interest seemed to be the most compelling reason to turn someone down. Evidently, Augustus does not read Twitter. Which is probably for the best. In all seriousness, this might not have the cache of sounding off at a City Council meeting or the drama of a protest, but it’s a place where just about anyone can make a real diff erence. It’s the grunt work of civic engagement, but it’s the place where an everyday voice can actually shift the tides a bit, and that’s something that should be valued.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Alice Dillon Alice Dillon Special to Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

“Volume One,” embroidery thread on canvas fabric, 12” x 9”. ALICE DILLON/

Alice Dillon is a ﬁ ber artist from Worcester. She has been interested in the arts and sewing since childhood, but began actively identifying as an artist in college after teaching herself how to embroider. Dillon’s work focuses on combining linear imagery and repetition in an eﬀ ort to bring androgyny to a classically feminine medium. Recent bodies of work have focused on portraiture, language used during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of hands in lesbian imagery and culture. Dillon is a graduate of Clark University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in art history and history and a master’s degree in history studying women in the HIV/AIDS activist art movement. She exhibits her work regularly in Worcester, and has been published in Sunspot Literary Journal and Juniper Rag. In addition to maintaining her artistic career, Alice is the associate director of ArtsWorcester. To view Alice’s artwork, visit adillonart.com or @adillonart on Instagram. This Artist Spotlight is presented by Worcester Magazine in partnership with ArtsWorcester. Since 1979, ArtsWorcester has exhibited and advanced the work of this region’s contemporary artists. Its exhibitions and educational events are open and free to all. Learn more at www.artsworcester.org.

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COVER STORY

UNDAUNTED BY ‘COVID NORMAL’ Food pantries keep with challenging times Continued on next page

Derek Fraser, Operations Coordinator at the Greater Worcester County Food Bank, slides boxes of food down a conveyer belt in April 2020. Despite the omicron surge and supply chain issues, the food bank has been able to keep its shelves stocked. CHRISTINE PETERSON/T&G STAFF

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Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Most people assume that the Omicron surge will exacerbate already prevalent supply chain issues and create the kind of food shortages that we saw early in the pandemic. In the few weeks since the start of 2022, reports are coming in nationwide that Omicron is indeed amplifying issues of hunger and food insecurity. But one of the big problems this time around is actually a diff erent kind of shortage — manpower, which includes volunteers and staff . h Because of the wildfi re spread of the virus, large groups of people are getting sick more-or-less at the same time. We see airlines canceling masses of fl ights, businesses closing their doors temporarily, and school superintendents stepping in to sub for sick teachers. So what about institutions that cater to society’s most vulnerable? How are food pantries doing? Home to a large number of food pantries and charitable organizations, Worcester seems like it should have been hit hard. But for those in the city who have made it their mission to provide food where it is most

needed, donations have stayed fairly high and business continues as usual — or at least, COVID-usual. “We’re doing OK — challenges with COVID are nothing new,” said Michael Moreshead, assistant to the

executive director of Friendly House Food Pantry. They are operating with air fi lters and masks, and staff are all vaccinated and set to carry on. Friendly House was providing rapid tests limited to fi ve per family just

before Christmas, trying to get tests in people’s hands before the holidays, but the test kit supply was exhausted very quickly. In terms of See PANTRY, Page 12

Above: Jennie Bastien serves meals to those in need at the Mustard Seed on April 24, 2020. The Mustard Seed has seen a decrease in the number of people who come in for its take-out dinner, but an increase in use of its food pantry. ASHLEY GREEN/T&G FILE PHOTO

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Paula Bushey of The Mustard Seed Catholic Worker. T&G FILE PHOTO

Pantry Continued from Page 11

food, Moreshead was unambiguous about giving “credit to the Worcester County Food Bank — they have consistently come through.” “I go into our warehouse and we always have food. We’re very grateful to our donors,” said Jean McMurray, executive director of Worcester County Food Bank, a centralized hub for the collection and distribution of food which serves 119 agencies. WCFB’s supplies mostly come from either the state or federal government, with the rest donated by supermarkets and food companies. So far, there has not been a loss of food from either. The experiences of the last two years have kept them

adapting and they have been prepared for staff and supply shortages. Almost from the very beginning of the pandemic, WCFB and their network of agencies had nimbly moved from a schedule-free system where agencies could come in any time and pick out what they needed, to an appointment-based system, which ”has worked really well.” “The only things that really aff ect us are gas prices,” McMurray said, “since we have three trucks and the diffi culty in hiring new staff , especially for in-person positions.” As an essential organization, WCFB is unable to completely transition to a virtual workplace setting, meaning some positions will still require staff to work on-site. Paula Bushey of The Mustard Seed Catholic Worker confi rmed that volunteer numbers

Ashley Carter, Farm Market Coordinator at REC, says the pandemic trend of buying from local farmers has somewhat reduced the variety and availability for REC’s purchases. T&G FILE PHOTO

have certainly dropped since the Omicron surge began, but wouldn’t call it a shortage, as it hasn’t aﬀ ected Mustard Seed’s ability to stay open and provide meals. She explained that many church volunteers are usually older people at a higher risk and while they may not have COVID, they are “very nervous about being in a group setting.” They still have a solid team most nights and have seen no diﬀ erence in donations. “A couple of churches really support us such as St. George’s,” she said. “Even if we got fewer donations, we have

enough money to buy food at the moment.” Other food pantries such as St. John’s Food for the Poor are busier than ever. Bill Riley of St. John’s said that besides feeding about 300 people a day, they have a mask mandate and are working with the city to help homeless people isolate themselves when they test positive. He feels they have more food than most organizations. “Everything’s running good here.” He gave all the credit to masking up. “It works!” Supply chain issues have not been a worry for most food

pantries thanks to partnering with WCFB. Though the ones that are not part of WCFB’s network, such as the Regional Environmental Council, a local food justice group which has its own sources, are experiencing diminishing supply on a smaller scale. In pursuing its mission to provide low-income communities with access to aﬀ ordable and fresh produce, REC purchases from local farms, which it, in turn, sells at its mobile farmers markets throughout the city. See PANTRY, Page 13

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | 13

Jean McMurray, executive director of Worcester County Food Bank, says so far, the warehouse remains stocked with food. CHRISTINE HOCHKEPPEL/T&G FILE PHOTO

Pantry Continued from Page 12

However, the pandemic trend of buying from your local farmers versus a grocery store has had the unforeseen consequence of reducing the variety and availability for REC’s own purchases. “Everybody turned toward local farm stands [early in the pandemic] and now that trend is keeping up,” said Ashley Carter, Farm Market Coordinator at REC. “When people go to buy local, they go to the same farms that we go to, and we ﬁ nd the pool of produce is already smaller — it’s already been planned, planted and picked.”

At the moment, REC is still meeting the necessary volume of produce, but getting it from fewer farms. While not a problem yet, it has potential to become one. “Fast forward to March, it’s going to get dicier,” she said. This particularly holds true for popular high-calorie items that can be stocked up over a longer period of time such as potatoes, carrots and onions. “People come to market for a good deal, they don’t want to spend their whole beneﬁ t on expensive greens,” said Carter. Staﬃ ng wise, REC has avoided a major shortage, Carter continued, which she largeSee PANTRY, Page 14

Joseﬁ na Velez, food pantry coordinator at Friendly House, packs food bags full with vegetables in September 2020. ASHLEY GREEN/T&G STAFF

14 | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Pantry Continued from Page 13

ly credits to mandatory masks as well as dusting off a strategy from 2020 of “staffi ng up.” Planning for slightly more staff than may be needed on any given day means that numbers will be normal if anyone needs to call in sick. “We know someone’s going to get COVID,” said Carter, “and we need to be wellstaff ed enough to maintain the COVID precautions on the market.” The agencies that serve people directly are seeing a diff erent problem: Bushey observed that, since the pandemic, they have seen a decrease in the number of people who come in for their take-out dinner. “We used to have maybe 120 people on average per night but that dropped down to below 100 and sometimes as few as 30-50 people.” While she is not sure where so many of their regulars have disappeared to, on the other hand, Mustard Seed volunteers have had more opportunity to get to know people with the smaller numbers. Conversely, as dining hall crowds decline, their food pantry has more visitors. As many who come to the food pantry are unmasked, testing and PPE for volunteers at the Mustard Seed is vital and it has been made clear that any volunteers who test positive must share the information immediately. With Mustard Seed’s own contact tracing system, two volunteers will call or email the rest when there is a positive test. That being said, “We’ve had very few people test positive,” said Bushey. Though the importance of frequent testing cannot be overstated, the scarcity of convenient take-home COVID tests poses a major problem. The alternative PCR test, which while more reliable, must be administered at a testing center, of which there are very few, and each with its prohibitively long lines. According to Bush-

Marie Gonzalez, who runs the El Buen Samaritano food pantry, says that many people are seeking at-home COVID tests and PPE in addition to food. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

ey, one Mustard Seed volunteer got tested at the Mercantile and had been waiting for three hours and six minutes from the moment they got in line. “They want people to test but there’s not enough testing available,” she said. All groups have had to balance their mission of providing food with their responsibility to promote COVID safety measures in the community. Marie Gonzalez, who runs the El Buen Samaritano food pantry, feels this keenly, with as many people calling to ask about athome COVID tests and PPE as they do about food — and the demand for both has risen sharply in the last few weeks. “I never would have thought I’d be giving COVID kits, along

with toys or food and people saying it was the best Christmas present they ever got because they could see their family,” said Gonzalez, who gave out over 600 testing kits from Dec. 17 until they ran out on Jan. 3, but not before EBS was featured on the local news. Gonzalez said the news coverage caused EBS to be ﬂ ooded with inquiries about testing kits, despite having long since run out. COVID kits are not the only resources with demand exceeding supply — PPE such as N95 and KN95 masks, particularly in children’s sizes, are becoming increasingly diﬃ cult for low-income families to procure. “With the surge, a Paw Patrol mask isn’t going to keep them safe,” she said, emphasiz-

ing the importance of proper masks for children. With children returning to school, Gonzalez worries about the continuing resistance to vaccination, especially in lowincome communities. These attitudes could be exacerbated by breakthrough infections, with people questioning the vaccine’s eﬀ ectiveness. “People are still getting COVID despite being vaccinated, but guess what, you’re not in the ICU. You’re not in the emergency room. You’re still alive,” Gonzalez said. Promoting vaccination and safe practices is what she views as part of her responsibility as a “trusted messenger.” When speaking with parents hesitant to vaccinate their young children, “I

take my leadership hat off , and speak as a parent.” McMurray agreed that food pantry staff and leadership wear many hats and fulfi ll many needs. “Staff are heroes,” she says, but adds that it only comes together when everyone does their part during possibly the most challenging time ever in our history. She draws inspiration from the community and the agencies they supply. “These are the folks on the front lines helping people and they do it because it’s in their hearts and that’s how we keep going.” Bushey shares that sentiment. “Everyone says that people don’t think of others, but they really do,” she says.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | 15

CITY LIVING TABLE HOPPIN’

2 Chefs brings friends’ dream to life Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Italian restaurants and pizzerias in Worcester have long been a thing, with 2 Chefs Italian Restaurant & Bar on West Boylston Street the latest opening. In 2021, four friends got together and decided to partner in the restaurant. Ednardo Cardoso, his brother Josimar Cardoso, Marcio Santos and Douglas Cooney have years of experience in the hospitality industry and know what working in a restaurant is really like. At one time or another, they worked side by side at local businesses. Ednardo Cardoso said people thought he was crazy when he was looking to buy a business during the pandemic. “I was crazy,” he joked, explaining he’s really happy that he made his dream a reality. “I was driving by Wild Willy’s location one day and just decided to call and take a look at it,” he said. Wild Willy’s had been vacant since 2019. “It needed work, but it had potential,” said Cardoso, who had looked at other business properties in and around the city, including the former Wexford House restaurant on Shrewsbury Street before it sold. His brother and friends all in, Cardoso announced 2 Chefs opening on Dec. 6 after nine months of renovations and cleaning. The interior has changed with the addition of solid, long wooden tables near entrance space once used for ordering and pickup. Cardoso and partners are especially proud of the dining room’s

Josimar Cardosa, left, and Ednardo Cardosa at the bar in 2 Chefs Italian Restaurant & Bar on West Boylston Street. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

highly polished wooden bar that has a collection of natural wine corks sealed in the top. The bar seats 25 and replicates one from Eddy’s Pub, the business before Wild Willy’s, said Cardoso. He explained that the West Boylston Street property owners are relatives of the former pub owners. “They showed us family photos of the restaurant before we built the new bar,” said Cardoso. Going further back than Eddy’s Pub, does anyone remember Stuart’s Diner or Stuart’s Restaurant and Cocktail

Lounge at this site? The kitchen at 2 Chefs Italian Restaurant & Bar, 317 West Boylston St., Worcester, is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Bar remains open after kitchen closing. Telephone the restaurant at (508) 459-9229 for takeout and information for reserving small parties. No delivery services. Visit www.2chefsrestaurant.com; connect on social media. Restaurant accommodates more than 90. Note: A seasonal out-

door patio in front of the building is planned for spring, or early summer. The owners have created a small menu of Early Bird Specials (Salads, Burgers and Sandwiches, Entrees) available every day from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m. Also, a LateNight Menu (dine-in only) will feature $9.99 specials from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Chicken Parm Egg Rolls, Risotto Arancini, Cheese Pizza, Chicken Tenders and Cheese Flatbread (with two toppings at no charge) are some of the $9.99 items. The regular menu at 2 Chefs is fi lled with plenty of variety. This is one busy restaurant kitchen! You can fi nd Seafood ala 2 Chefs (chopped clams, mussels, shrimp, haddock, calamari sautéed with fresh garlic and wine over linguine and the restaurant’s marinara sauce); Pappardelle Bolognese, Gnocchi, Shrimp Fra Diavolo; Chicken with Vodka Sauce; Chicken Florentine; Spaghetti and Meatballs; Buff alo Chicken Mac & Cheese and more under Saute. Entrees range from Baked Haddock and North Atlantic Salmon to Cajun Ribeye and BBQ Ribs, Turkey Dinner, 2 Chefs Meatloaf, Shepherd’s Pie, Beef Lasagna, Eggplant Rollatini and the roast beef Brazilian style Carne Assada. Appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas and fl atbreads, burgers and sandwiches and desserts pretty much round it out. The dish on owners: Ednardo and Josimar Cardoso came to Worcester from

Brazil. Ednardo is former owner of Little Brazil Restaurant in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and in Worcester has worked at 111 Chop House, VIA Italian Table and Funky Murphys Bar & Grill. He was head chef at Quinn's Irish Pub in Worcester before opening 2 Chefs, where he is general manager. Both he and his brother worked at J. Anthony’s Italian Restaurant in Auburn and Periwinkles & Giorgio’s in Auburn before that. Josimar Cardoso previously was employed at the familyowned La Cucina Italiana in Worcester and manages 2 Chefs kitchen. Marcio Santos is head chef at 2 Chefs and helps create menus and manage the back of the house. He was former head chef at Piccolo’s Ristorante in Worcester and has done stints at other restaurants. Douglas (Doug) Cooney, 2 Chefs house manager, has tended bar at local establishments, including Funky Murphys and the former Irish Times. “We’re all like brothers, having known and worked with each other for so many years,” said Ednardo Cardoso. “We’re family, and we make a good team.” He said as owners they were fortunate to start off in business with a full staff and didn’t have to recruit people. “Any one of us can fi ll in wherever needed,” he said. “So far it’s all good.” Diners should know that the new 2 Chefs is not associated with the former Two Chefs Restaurant in Spencer. “People See 2 CHEFS, Page 16

16 | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

THE NEXT DRAFT

Redemption Rock treating third anniversary as stepping stone

“One of our strengths is we built in core values — what we stand for as a brand — and stayed true to that mission,” Babineau said. “To be able to continue to do that through the pandemic has been a good test of those values.”

Just three years in, Redemption Rock has already achieved one of its major goals as a business: achieving full certiﬁ cation as a B Corp, the ﬁ rst brewery in Massachusetts to attain the status. B Corps track how their decisions as businesses

aff ect their workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. The brewery from the start stayed true to its charitable tipping program, collecting tips for local nonprofi ts, even amid the pandemic. To date, it has donated nearly $50,000 to 21 diff erent nonprofi ts. When Redemption Rock had its fi rst hiring round since opening, it experimented with blind hiring in an eff ort to embrace the diversity of the city. As other breweries talked about striving for more equity and inclusion, Redemption Rock took action. The brewery did not know the names, genders or races of those who applied, weighing their merit instead on responses to a set of carefully crafted questions. Along the way, Redemption Rock released 62 unique beers, not including shandies and other beer-based concoctions, launched an espresso program to give the taproom more of a café feel, expanded its outdoor seating with a new patio and worked with 25 local artists to create murals for the taproom and labels for cans. See what I mean about a thriving operation? This is an admirable list of accomplishments, but Babineau said that Redemption Rock would have done much more had it had the

about it,” said Cardoso. “We have no connection at all.” Also, Cardoso said the name of the restaurant evolved before all the partners committed. “There deﬁ nitely are more than two chefs in the business,” he said.

Despite being open only a short time, local restaurateurs and chefs have shown support for the new restaurant, said Cardoso, and customers already have acquired a taste for Pappardelle Bolognese, Chicken Parm and Braised Short Ribs

Risotto, and the apps Chicken Parm Egg Rolls and Spaghetti and Meatball Bites. At the bar, the drink Transfusion (Tito’s vodka, Concord grape juice, lime and ginger ale), a wellknown golf-club standard, is truly refreshing, according to

Matthew Tota Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Redemption Rock Brewing Co. won’t mark its third anniversary this weekend as a signifi cant milestone. The pandemic has stolen two years from the young brewery. As an outsider, I see a thriving operation thus far unfazed. CEO Dani Babineau and the other founders, on the other hand, see one that has not yet come close to reaching its potential. Profi ts? The doors open every week — mark that down as a victory. Still Redemption Rock stands as one of the strongest breweries in the state, even if its numbers don’t bear that out. The brewery’s mission of bettering the community and industry around it in humble, but powerful ways has not waivered under the stresses of the times. If measuring emotional fulfi llment and righteousness, not barrel production and sales, count Redemption Rock among the largest, most accomplished breweries in the country. And as the brewing industry turns the page on what VinePair called “arguably the worst year craft beer has ever seen,” that has to matter more than anything else.

2 Chefs Continued from Page 15

continue to ask us whether we know the owners, and we’ve seen social media postings

Redemption Rock CEO Dani Babineau. SUBMITTED PHOTO

time or energy. “We’re not where we want it to be three years into the business,” Babineau said. “We’re starting to think it’s a great jumping off point, though.” This year, Redemption Rock wants to round out its staff with at least three more hires and continue to expand its distribution reach. On the beer side, head brewer Greg Carlson is looking to experiment more with traditional styles, tweaking them in interesting ways to make them more appealing to a broader audience. For instance, he plans to brew a dark lager with bourbon barrel-aged coff ee beans. Before blowing by its anniversary, though, Redemption Rock will take a day to savor its progress. The brewery is throwing an all-day party Jan. 22 with music and food trucks. Even Babineau is giving herself a day to refl ect. Just a day. “My personality goes more toward planning and living in the moment; I’m more like, ‘Three years down, what’s the next three years look like?’” she said. “I’m hoping we’ll see a lot of the customers who made the last three years possible, with people telling stories and sharing their memories. That makes me sentimental about those things.”

the bartender. Another city restaurant adding new vitality in a neighborhood. If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | 17

CONNELL SANDERS

The long journey into Dry January Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I have long enjoyed cooking dinner with a glass of wine and hosting champagne brunches for my best friends. However, like many of us enduring the pandemic, alcohol crept into the routine of my daily life and lost some of its cachet in the process. I started taking it for granted rather than drinking mindfully. I stopped appreciating the ritual of indulging in something special to mark an occasion or celebration. Eventually, it came time to reset. It just so happened that I was attending an important event with an open bar on the

very ﬁ rst week I went dry. The tickets had been expensive, albeit for a good cause. I decided to order a cocktail to keep my hands busy — drinks were “free” after all. I resisted the urge to take a sip, but it wasn’t easy. I liked the weight of the glass and the comfort of clinking my ice around during lulls in polite conversation. The aroma of good bourbon had not eased my temperance; I wanted to feel the gentle bite of citrus and oak on my tongue. For my next round, I requested soda water with a fun garnish in a wine glass instead. Best not to tempt fate. The next challenge arose on the weekend of a highly anticipated dinner party. My friend

and his partner had painstakingly prepared four delicious courses with wine pairings. I slipped, stealing tastes from my tablemates here and there. Most of all, I didn’t want to miss out on the full experience, which had been so thoughtfully curated by someone important to me. Afterward, I felt guilty for breaking my resolution, no matter how slight. I asked my husband to pick me up a bottle of non-alcoholic red wine from the package store. It was lousy. The deep ruby liquid smelled like a bag of Wonder Bread and tasted like cherry popsicles. I dumped out the glass and reﬁ lled it with cranberry juice. I found imitation sparkling wine easier to

stomach. The best one is a bubbly called Steinbock. It’s not the real thing, but it’s also not cloyingly sweet like the rest. I was pleased to ﬁ nd that three of my favorite downtown restaurants oﬀ ered tasty sansspirits alternatives. Armsby Abbey’s virgin bloody mary ($6) held up to my expectations of the real thing. Their mulled mule ($6) was also a winner — a “zippy” solution of ginger beer, lemon, and mulled apple cider. Deadhorse hill served me a marvelous pineapple soda ($5) with cinnamon, grapefruit and a playful cherry garnish. Chashu Ramen + Izakaya mixed me up a mocktail called The Mars ($8) combining ginger, lychee, yuzu, and pome-

granate. At Chashu, I also tried The Sun ($8) made with pineapple juice, shishito pepper syrup, ginger beer and lychee. I thought $8 was relatively expensive for an alcohol-free beverage, but I appreciated the care and eﬀ ort that went into a creative oﬀ ering. The last time I declared a dry period with any sort of intentionality, I was a college swimmer. “Dry season” was a prechampionship ritual the whole team partook in together for an entire month. We stayed in on Friday and Saturday nights watching DVDs of “Grey’s Anatomy” and drinking coconut water. Our camaraderie See JANUARY, Page 20

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18 | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

3 THINGS TO DO

FUNNY LADIES, ARTSWORCESTER AND BRIDAL EXPO Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK Note From the Editors: Because of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, events may be canceled with little notice. Visit Worcestermag.com and Telegram.com to be kept abreast of changes, and consult the venue’s website or social media before attending.

Comedian Kerri Louise. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Funny Ladies

Two shows at ArtWorcester

Samuel Slater’s Restaurant in Webster will host “Three (More) Funny Ladies” on Jan. 22 featuring comedians Kerri Louise, Emily Ruskowski and Maya Manion. Louise is an American standup comedian. She was a finalist on the second season of “Last Comic Standing” and has appeared on television programs such as “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn” and “The View.” Ruskowski is a Boston-based standup comedian. She has performed across the country and participated in several comedy festivals. In 2015, she was named of one the Comedy Studio’s Comics in Residence and opened for Maria Bamford at the Wilbur. Maya Manion was born in Vermont but moved to Rhode Island for show biz. Maya was featured on “Nic at Night’s Funniest Mom in America” and entertains all over New England, making hundreds of dollars a year. Maya only travels as far as she can drive in one night because no one will watch her kids for longer. A 21+ event. What: “Three (More) Funny Ladies” When: 8 p.m. Jan. 22. (Doors open at 7:30 p.m.). Where: Samuel Slater’s Restaurant, 200 Gore Road, Webster How much: $20. www.samuelslaters.com.

ArtsWorcester presents” meld merge mix,” a solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Lisa Barthelson that will be on view in the East Gallery, as well as on the organization’s website, beginning Jan. 20. A public reception will be held Jan. 21. Described as a sharp look at sustainability, “meld merge mix” is an immersive, site-specific installation that scrutinizes consumerism and its persistent byproducts. Through the creation of a new environment using one family’s castoff debris, Barthelson reimagines the impact of “disposable” objects familiar to our everyday lives and actions. ConcurA work by Lisa Barthelson. rently at ArstSUBMITTED PHOTO Worcester, “Dodge and Burn,” a juried members’ exhibition, will be on view in the West Gallery, as well as on the organization’s website, beginning Jan. 20. A public reception will also be be held Jan. 21. Dodging and burning are the ways photographers in the darkroom either lighten or darken different areas of an image, resulting in a heightened visual contrast. Paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, and mixed-media works by 32 artists capture elements of contrast — visual or thematic — within a single piece. Beth Kantrowitz, curator and co-director of Drive-By Projects, served as juror. Both exhibitions run through Feb. 27. What: Reception for “meld merge mix” by Lisa Barthelson and “Dodge and Burn,” a juried members exhibition When: Reception 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 21. Exhibitions run through Feb. 27. Visit www.artsworcester.org for gallery hours. Where: ArtsWorcester, 44 Portland St., Worcester How much: Free

Bridal expo at DCU The Worcester Wedding & Bridal Expo, described as the largest two-day bridal event in the Central Massachusetts area, returns to the DCU Center on Jan. 22 and 23. The event “provides couples with all the wedding products and services they need to plan the perfect day.” Presented by Jenks Productions, the show will feature a wide selection of styles at prices to fit any budget. “Combining glamorous fashion shows with the presence of multiple wedding vendors, Jenks Productions’ wedding & bridal shows offer couples the incredible opportunity to shop for every element of their wedding at one wedding & bridal show.” What: Worcester Wedding & Bridal Expo When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 24; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 25 Where: Guests should enter Door 1 or Door 2 of the Convention Center, 50 Foster St, Worcester How much: $10 admission. Masks required. For additional information, visit jenksproductions.com.

The Worcester Wedding & Bridal Expo returns to the DCU Center on Jan. 22 and 23. GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | 19

LISTEN UP

Louie Gonz, William Hurt dive deep into the fog with ‘Gathering’ Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

“King 3 Productions Presents: The Gathering,” the recent oﬀ ering from Worcester rapper Louie Gonz and his production partner, William Hurt, is an interesting piece of work. It’s really more about the ﬂ ow than it is any lyrical narrative: Everyone is adrift in the hiphop, in relationships, in streets. Gonz and the many featured

artists here give voice to that sense of drift, and the result an album that pays oﬀ more with each playing. It’s an album that rewards the listener for getting caught up in the tide. Indeed, the opening number, “On Some (Expletive),” kicks oﬀ the album with a hook by Gonz and rapper Mr. Pacheco that plays into a sense of straight-up inebriation: “I’m on some (expletive) right now/ gonna get lit right now,” but that’s a starting point, not a

destination: Soon, Gonz’s persona is digging into a sense of displacement – “always ask me where I’ve been,” he raps, “I move around,” then soon after, “I cannot (expletive) with your energy” and “you’re not a friend, you’re more like an enemy.” Relationships are drifting, and the persona doesn’t know where he stands with just about anyone. The feeling’s reenforced by a verse from rapper See ‘GATHERING’, Page 20

Louie Gonz. JASON GREENOUGH/FILE

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‘Gathering’

ADOPTION OPTION

Continued from Page 19

Floyd is available for adoption through WARL. WARL

Meet Floyd! Hey Everypawdy, my name is Floyd! I am a lovable playful young boy. Don’t ask me how this is pawssible but I was found wandering around Leominster with a leash attached and no one was looking for me. I’m a big boy with lots of energy but I’m not all energy. I can chill, and I am crate trained. Here’s the thing (and just ask my friends here at the kennel), I’m a big, young dude trapped in a tiny kennel, seeing the same people every day. They are great people, but when someone new comes, I get a tad bit excited. I like to run and jump and sit and give paw. I love to show oﬀ to everyone who visits, in hopes that you will take me home. There is a lot more I could be doing, but I haven’t been taught yet.

Would you like to be the very lucky one to teach me? And trust me, once I get all my zoomies and excitement out, I can relax and enjoy lots of rubs and loves. You people have no idea what you’re missing out on and now you have a chance to get all of this in one awesome pup! By the way, I love to play with dogs to! Please call the shelter today and ask about setting up an appointment to visit with me. COVID-19 Protocols: The Worcester Animal Rescue League remains closed to walk-in visits with the animals and appointments must be made, in advance, to meet with any of the animals. Masks are required. Visit https://worcesterarl.org/ for more information.

Woocitypat that adds a manic, aggressive quality at the bridge. The question that quickly presents itself is, “What do you hold onto when everything is adrift?” The fi rst answer comes in “Professional.” The song, which rests heavily on a hook from Mr. Pacheco, has he and Gonz trading verses that portray a sense of professionalism being what carries the song’s personas through the haze of street violence, and more metaphorically, a life in hip-hop. The refrain, “I’m gonna let it go,” conveys a sense of acceptance, but when it moves on to the next song, “Let It Go,” that phrase also denotes releasing anger. Indeed, the wordplay refl ects the fi rst song, where the phrase “getting lit up” can denote either intoxication or being shot. Gonz is a gifted lyricist, and it’s clear that he and his collaborators are aware of the layers of meaning throughout, and how they form subtle links from song to song. The song “Now We Up,” which pairs Gonz with rapper Novian Wright, breaks up the vibe a bit, with images of dollars piling up being contrasted with lines such as, “I can’t focus on no other (expletive) with money on my mind.” Success is paired with struggle. Indeed, success is portrayed as being as unstable a foundation

January Continued from Page 17D

made up for what we lacked in keg parties. As a grown woman, dry living is a more solitary experience. I have to remind myself that I can still go for after-work drinks with friends

as anything else. There’s no rapper braggadocio here, an echo of the earlier, “I’m a professional.” The personas know where they’ve been, and cling to whatever they can as they move into an uncertain future. Fittingly, the next song is “Do You Believe?” It’s a self-interrogation of faith in one’s self, and in other people. There are no answers here, though, but the questions ﬂ oat forward with the beat. The album comes to a surprising caesura with “Stang,” the ﬁ rst song in which Gonz does not make a vocal appearance. Instead, Rema Night takes the mic. The beat remains in the same palette as the rest of the album, but there’s more of a bounce here, one that well-suits Night’s swagger. There’s a clarity and assertiveness to her rap style which stands out among the fog that Gonz and his collaborators have been navigating. Indeed, the shift of tone carries over into Gonz and Mr. Pacheco’s “Tetris,” which has Gonz declaring, “I don’t got time to be stressing/I don’t got time for depression/I don’t got time for the game/I don’t got time for your lectures.” Everything seems to be following in line, but Pacheco’s verse in the middle of the song seems to shadow the song, casting a glance backward at the chaos behind the personas. Then, in “On the Run,” the perspective shifts again as Gonz sings, “I don’t want to live like that/ waiting for a girl to come back.” What do you hold onto when everything is adrift? The song

has a bittersweet feel which pulses with the dull pain of absence. Gonz again relinquishes the mic on “With It All,” giving the stage entirely to Wright, and it’s interesting to see a lot of the album’s themes echoed in Wright’s voice: An inability to trust people, an awareness of being used, a slow-burning musical ambition. The song is, in a lot of ways, a mirror for the rest of the album, and it adds another layer of humanity to the portrait. Indeed, when Hurt makes his fi rst vocal appearance on the album, in the subsequent song, “Get A Bag,” there’s a sense of being somewhere entirely diff erent from where the album began: “I woke up in the morning feeling blessed/got myself dressed/no stress/I’m about to get a bag.” The perspective has switched down to the streets again, and with it an entirely unapologetic portrayal of dealing: “Cause I want that money,” raps Hurt, “and I don’t care if they love me.” There is a sort of clarity in the song, a sort of understanding of where one stands in the world. It is, like much else in this album, an illusion, and when the album ends with the bracing, “Don’t Look At Me Wrong,” the album’s persona fi nds himself again in a fog made thicker by gunfi re. In a lot of ways, it’s a dark ending, one that haunts the listener when the album ends all the way up to the last note being clipped, as if to punctuate a sudden, unexpected end.

and colleagues and forgo the whole drinking part. It’s not all pain and sacriﬁ ce to impose my own dry season as an adult. Waking up fresh and hydrated with bright dewy skin is a real plus. I’d like to say I shed a few pounds, but to be honest, I’ve replaced my alcohol consumption with Ben and Jerry’s ounce for ounce — c’est

la vie. My wallet is a little heavier. I look forward to my ﬁ rst frosty beer when all this is over, but for now, it feels empowering to exercise self-control, and more importantly, I’m proud of myself. Are you partaking in Dry January? I’d love to hear about your experience. Find me on Instagram at @sarah_connell.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | 21

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ceived no later than the date and time specified above. and ed online at www.biddocsonline.com General bids and sub-bids shall bereaccompanied by a bid deposit that is te and timenot specified above. less than five (5%) of the greatest possible bid amount (considering all shall be accompanied by made a bid payable deposit to that alternates), and theisHolden Housing Authority. he greatestBid possible amount (considering all will be available for pick-up at Formsbidand Contract Documents (may be viewed electronically and hardcopy rewww.biddocsonline.com ble to the Holden Housing Authority. quested) at Nashoba Inc. atat433 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749 Documents will beor available forBlue, pick-up (978-568-1167). may be viewed electronically and hardcopy reper set (maximum of 2 sets) payable to There is aStreet, plan deposit of $50.00 ue, Inc. at 433 Main Hudson, MA 01749 BidDocs ONLINE Inc. deposits may electronically paid or by check. This deposit will be $50.00 perPlan set (maximum of be 2 sets) payable to refunded for up to two sets for general bidders and for one set for subbidders return of deposit the setswill in good ronically paid or byupon check. This be condition within thirty (30) days of receipt of general bids. the deposit shall be the property of the ets for general bidders and for oneOtherwise set for subAwarding Authority. Additional sets may be purchased for $50.00 sets in good condition within thirty (30) days of Bidders requesting Contract Documents to be mailed to them shall include herwise the deposit shall be the property of the a separate check for $40.00 per set for UPS Ground (or $65.00 per set for onal sets may be purchased for $50.00 UPS overnight), non- refundable, payable to the BidDocs ONLINE Inc., to t Documents to be mailed to them shall include cover mail handling costs. 0 per set for UPS Ground (or $65.00 per set for dable, payable to bidders the BidDocs to with minority and women business General must ONLINE agree to Inc., contract enterprises as certified by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), formerly known as SOMWBA. The combined participation benchmark reserved for e to contract with minority and women such enterprises shall not bebusiness less than 13.0% of the final contract price iny the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), formerly cluding accepted alternates. Request for waivers must be sent to combined participation benchmark reserved for ) 5 calendar days prior to the DHCD (David.McClave@mass.gov) be less thanGeneral 13.0% ofBid the date final contract price in- WILL BE GRANTED AFTER THE - NO WAIVERS es. Request for waivers mustOPENED. be sentSee to Contract Documents - Article 3 GENERAL BIDS ARE of the Instructions Bidders. 5 calendar daystoprior to the @mass.gov) CONFERENCE VISIT:THE WAIVERSPRE-BID WILL BE GRANTED/ SITE AFTER and Time: Wednesday, 26 January ENED. SeeDate Contract Documents - Article 3 2022 at 11:00 AM Address: 9 Flagler Drive, Holden dders. Instructions: Meeting will begin at Community Building and then proceed E VISIT: to 2022 units. at Covid-19 protocols must be observed, including face coverings y, 26 January 11:00 AM Address: 9 Flaand social distancing both prior & during the Pre-Bid Conference. SITE VISIT BY APPOINTMENT: NONE begin at Community Building and then proceed The Contract Documents may be seen, but not removed at (by appointls must be observed, including face coverings ment only): prior & during the Pre-Bid Conference. Worcester Housing Authority Nashoba Blue Inc. T: NONE 630 Plantation St 433 Main Street may be seen,Worcester but not removed at (by appointMa. 01605 Hudson, MA 01749 verdini@worcesterha.org 978-568-1167 ity Nashoba Blue Inc. 433 Main Street Hudson, MA 01749 978-568-1167

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ADVERTISEMENT TO BID VERTISEMENT TO BID The HoldenAuthority, Housing invites Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed thority, the Awarding sealed from Contractors for- the Electric he Electricbids Baseboard to ASHP Phase 1 in Baseboard to ASHP - Phase 1 in Holden, Massachusetts, accordance accordance with the documents in prepared by with the documents prepared by Shekar & Associates, Inc. c. of: Installation of air source heat pumps, refrigerant stallation ofThe air Project source consists heat pumps, refrigerant pipe with insulation, exhaust fans, soffits and electrical work consisting of st fans, soffits and electrical work consisting of electrical power to indoor & outdoor heat pumps & related conduit, circuit & outdoor heat pumps & related conduit, circuit breakers & wiring for a total of eighteen (18) apartments. Full or portions of l of eighteen (18) apartments. Full or portions of the project may be impacted by the pandemic. The Notice To Proceed for ed by the pandemic. To Proceed this projectThe mayNotice be issued as muchfor as 90 days from the date DHCD approas much asves 90 the days from the date DHCD approconstruction contract. act. The work is estimated to cost $496,000. ost $496,000. Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.149 §44A-J & to minimum wage rates as rec.149 §44A-J & tobyminimum wage rates as inclusive. required M.G.L. c.l49 §§26 to 27H to 27H inclusive. THIS PROJECT IS BEING ELECTRONICALLY BID AND HARD COPY G ELECTRONICALLY HARD COPY Please review the instructions in the bid BIDS WILL BID NOT AND BE ACCEPTED. EPTED. Please review the instructions in the bidelectronic bidder. The bids are to be documents on how to register as an . Tutorials and inprepared and submitted at are www.biddocsonline.com ster as an electronic bidder. The bids to be structions on how to completeand the inelectronic bid documents are available . Tutorials t www.biddocsonline.com online (click the "Tutorial" tab at the bottom footer). plete the electronic bid on documents are available General l" tab at the bottombidders footer).must be certified by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) in the following category of work, HVAC, ertified by the Division of Capital Asset Manageand must submit a current AMM) in the following category of work,DCAMM HVAC, Certificate of Eligibility and signed Prime/General Contractor Update Statement. nt DCAMMDCAMM Certificate of Eligibility and signed General Bids will be received until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, 16 Februntractor Update Statement. aryPM 2022 publicly opened online, forthwith. ed until 2:00 onand Wednesday, 16 FebruSub-bids for the trades listed below will be received until 2:00 PM on ned online, Filed forthwith. Wednesday, 2 February 2022 and publicly opened online, forthwith. s listed below will be received until 2:00 PM on Filed sub-bidders must be DCAMM certified for the trades listed below and 2022 and publicly opened online, forthwith. bidders must include a current DCAMM Sub-Bidder Certificate of Eligibility DCAMM certified for the DCAMM trades listed below and and a signed Sub Bidder’s Update Statement. ent DCAMM Sub-Bidder Certificate of Eligibility SUBTRADES Bidder’s Update Statement. All Bids should be submitted online at www.biddocsonline.com and re-

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22 | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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Across 1 Rootless aquatic plant 5 “Don’t make me laugh!” 8 Steve Irwin exclamation 14 Mario Kart character 15 Modern prefix with tourism 16 Emu or ostrich, e.g. 17 “The $64,000 Question” emcee born one month too late? 19 “The Audacity of Hope” family 20 Have ___ of mystery 21 Hanna-Barbera feline 23 Ready to leave the queue 25 One of many during 2021 for “Jeopardy!” 26 Mike the Tiger’s sch. 29 Like some ciders 30 “Green Acres” costar Eva 32 Godparent, sometimes 33 “Fences” playwright born four months too soon? 36 Tennis variation 39 2018 Hannah Gadsby stand-up special with quite a few serious moments 40 “Mad Men” actress born ... in exactly the right month? 42 Take ___ (lose money) 43 Purchasing agent 44 Onyx or opal 47 College maj. for instrumentalists 48 Tabletop gamer, stereotypically 50 Unlikely to fall over 52 Girl with a flock 54 “___ Rock ‘n’ Roll” (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts song) 55 Leo’s home? 58 Queen guitarist astrophysicist born two months too late? 60 Mission to the moon 61 French dressing ingredient no longer regulated by the FDA 62 Frigid finish 63 Most bleached out 64 T-shirt size that may cost slightly more 65 SFO listings Down 1 Convenient 2 Ride while you wait for repairs 3 Andromeda, for one

“The Birthday Game”--not the right calendar section. by Matt Jones

4 Fess up 5 “I’m with ___” (2016 campaign slogan) 6 Bank holding, briefly 7 Sounds from mall Santas 8 Holey footwear 9 Morocco’s capital 10 “Let’s just leave ___ that” 11 Family that runs the “Convenience” store in a Canadian sitcom 12 Greek vowel 13 “That’s pretty much it” 18 Rocket, in the U.S. 22 Surname of Roth’s complainer 24 Alerter of the 2000s 26 Deadly sin 27 Little twerp 28 “Reader” whose last print edition was in 2019 31 Industrious sort 32 Taproom orders 33 Push up against 34 Decreases 35 Newtonian topic 36 Late performer who once dated Nicole Richie and Mandy Moore 37 “Hawaii Five-O” setting 38 Les Etats-___ 41 Bar fixture 44 Wallace’s dog 45 Composer Grieg

46 “Aaagh! That’s way too bright!” 48 Count for MLS or NHL games 49 Disney World attraction 51 Arm bones 52 Liver secretion 53 Grand ___ (auto race) 55 Anti-mosquito device sound 56 ___-Locka, Florida 57 U.S. currency 59 Not feeling so good

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | 23

LAST CALL

Scott Alderman, tour producer, metalhead and author Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Fans of heavy metal may remember the infamous 2000 “Tattoo the Earth Tour” with Slayer, Slipknot and Metallica headlining. Shrewsbury resident Scott Alderman was the producer and sat down with Last Call to talk about earning the enmity of Sharon Osbourne, organizing shows in rodeos and parking lots, making sure the stage didn’t catch fi re (again) and his upcoming book, “Caravan of Pain” out March 15. Why was the “Tattoo the Earth Tour” so infamous? The tour struggled to come together — getting it off the ground while we had so many people and entities trying to stop us from doing it. When we started the tour, we were still building it, in a way. It began in the middle of July but we didn’t announce it until the middle of June. I didn’t know the end dates when we started or who was going to show up to the fi rst show. Plus we had Slipknot, who had just gone platinum, and they’re just an insane band, and their fans are insane. Insane in a good way or bad way? I think in a good way. I had a sense back then that the kids who go to our shows are not going to go shoot up their high school. They’re getting it out of their system — I always thought of it as giving them a place for that. But we got banned in Boston — we were so loud, there was so much cursing on the stage that old ladies were riding around trying to fi nd the party to get it shut down. Within a couple days, the mayor banned Slipknot and Tattoo the Earth for life — and it was one of our better shows. We had like 12,000 people but we couldn’t tattoo because it was still illegal in Massachusetts. We couldn’t even do a demonstration. Who was the fi rst band that committed? Slipknot — we were trying to fi nd a headline band. I was trying to get Red Hot Chilli Peppers or Metallica. I had a guy who was working with us and he mentioned Slipknot — said they’re hot, they just went platinum, and they’re a little bit dangerous. When we saw that Slipknot was really the band we wanted, we went to their agency and they had already committed to playing Ozzfest. So we worked on them and doubled the off er and they left Ozzfest and really pissed Sharon Osbourne off . You think you made a powerful enemy that day? Oh yeah, oh my lord. It was a double edged sword. Clear Channel — that was Live Nation back then — at the time owned all the amphitheaters. She had the pull (with Clear Channel) and got us out of those locations, so we were left playing rodeos, parking lots and horse tracks. The original tour was supposed to be like 38 days but it got cut down to 18 shows for lack of locations. She had got a big headliner — a hot band — and then we stole them away. She had every reason to be angry — I would have done the same thing in her place. When she found out that half of our dates were Clear

Scott Alderman of Shrewsbury, is author of “Caravan of Pain,” which goes on sale March 15. SCOTT ALDERMAN

Channel venues, she was like, “no way.” So how about the tour itself — once you got it going? It was like “Spinal Tap” meets “Carrie.” Every show was just insane. In Kansas, the stage got lit on fi re, and in Wisconsin, the leader of Slipknot got maced a few hours before the show by the head of security at the venue. This is the craziness of the tour — it turned out that the year before Slipknot had performed there with Ozzfest and didn’t like how they’d been treated so it was off to a bad start. That show, Wisconsin, had the worst vibe ever. Were you worried at all then? That show, yeah I was scared — but I was scared the whole tour, cause I just had a nightmare that someone was going to die at one of our shows. The problem was we were playing alternative venues — not amphitheaters. Playing at amphitheaters was like going to a fi vestar hotel after you’ve been camping. Mostly, we were

playing at parks where you had to set everything up from scratch. That’s the part that really wore us down — setting up the stage at a Texas rodeo in August — it was 110 degrees. It wasn’t meant to support a music show and people don’t like to go to alternative venues because they’re not known. Though we didn’t have any problems with our fans. They knew what they were doing. The EMTs told me that the metal fans usually don’t get hurt — it’s the shows like Blink 182 or Green Day that attract younger kids and they can get hurt. Had you wanted to do a second year? Yes! But basically, everyone screwed us the second year — Slipknot’s manager and Sharon Osbourne. We were going to do Slipknot and Marilyn Manson but Ozzfest just doubled every off er. We were in the position where we’d have to pay three to four times what the show was worth and still play in rodeos. Plus, Clear Channel owned thousands of radio stations and were able to keep us off the radio. That’s something that hasn’t changed one bit — the music industry is run by a very small group of people. They spent millions to stop us in our tracks. There is some satisfaction in that though — that they spent so much money to do that. Absolutely, I get a lot of satisfaction out of it. Getting it off the ground and being one of those people that made it real sort of changed me. That was in some ways more important to me than anything. Obviously I would have loved to have sustained it for 20 years like Warped Tour and made all that money but it just didn’t work out that way. That’s why we shifted gears and did the fi rst tattoo convention in Massachusetts. When did the law change in the Commonwealth? Once I saw that we weren’t going to put out a second tour — which was just crushing — I saw that the law had just changed in Massachusetts. I decided to put on the fi rst tattoo convention in the fall of 2001. We drew like eight or nine thousand people. We had artists from all over the world, and guys who did hand tattooing from Borneo — it was a really successful show. What inspired you to write the book? I sketched out an outline of what became this book in the year following the tour. I wrote a memoir in 2020 and my plan was to write a few of them about my life. The next one was going to be about the time 30 years ago, when I worked at an AIDS hospice during the AIDS epidemic in New York City — a heavy book. Then the pandemic hit, and I wanted to write a book but I didn’t want to write that one — so I settled on Tattoo the Earth. What did you learn from this whole experience? I was out of my mind for the majority of trying to get this off the ground. It was a crazy vision quest. A part of what I learned is to trust my own instincts. Now, I’m much more comfortable with who I am and what makes me up. “Caravan of Pain” will go on sale on March 15.

24 | JANUARY 21 - 27, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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