Worcester Magazine Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2021 by Worcester Magazine

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CULTURE • ARTS • DINING • VOICES

Worcester’s place in the Golden Age of gaming

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FEATURED

WICN Radio aims to grow alongside the Worcester community VEER MUDAMBI

“

Tom Nutile is an on-air host, left, and David Ginsburg is general manager at WICN Friday, January 22, 2021. RICK CINCLAIR

“Culture Beat,” airing back to back on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. “Venture Forum” spotlights entrepreneurs in Worcester County, discussing their challenges and successes. “Culture Beat” focuses on the arts and culture scene in and around Worcester. The show developed from a two-minute segment by Nikki Erskine of the Worcester Cultural Council every Thursday morning. This stopped for a time when Erskine was unable to come into the station during the shutdown, but when restrictions were lifted, she pitched the idea for a full show, sharing events and activities for people to get involved during the pandemic. Like so many other nonprofit organizations, WICN faced serious funding issues with the

with a commitment to diversity of content. As one of the few remaining jazz stations in the country, WICN has kept the genre as its mainstay but is expanding to better reflect the wide variety of residents’ musical tastes, including Latin, soul and bluegrass. This extends to the station’s talk shows as well — both existing and new additions. “One of my goals was for the station to have a more NPRish feel during the day,” said Ginsburg, himself a co-host of “Business Beat,” a business and economy interview show airing Sunday and Monday evenings. Lately, the focus has been on having guests from different nonprofit organizations and some start-ups by people of color. Two new shows just debuted as well, “Venture Forum” and

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this cultural and socio-economic diversity will trickle down into their programming. WICN is primarily a jazz station, but under Ginsburg it has taken steps to evolve into a community media platform and resource. Residents can tune in for a dose of hyper local news or a respite from national headlines. “We’ve had a lot of great GM’s running the station,” said Tom Nutile, member of WICN’s board of directors and on-air host, “but when David came in with a radio background, he took a larger look at the station and realized we should be a cultural resource and a go-to place for the community.” The station historically has been the voice of arts and culture in the city, said Ginsburg, and his driving goal is to expand on that

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

hen I was a kid,” said David Ginsburg, Worcester resident and radio host, “there was a definite sense of Worcester being jealous of Boston — wanting to be a big city and not really getting there.” Over the years, like an awkward teenager following in the footsteps of a famous sibling, Worcester has come into its own. No longer solely defined by its comparison to Boston as the second biggest city in the state, Worcester is now a destination in its own right with a character all its own. Downtown Worcester in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Ginsburg continued, was not a place you would go without reason. He chuckles that “if you had told me that in 20 to 30 years, I’d be working there happily, I’d have said you’re crazy.” This change has become most apparent in the last several years. “Worcester has undergone significant growth over the last decade,” and 90.5 WICN Radio, where Ginsburg is the general manager, plans to change with it. Worcester’s designation as a Gateway City has likely contributed to this growth, with immigrants resettling here, since these communities are a gateway of opportunity for new Americans. Midsize cities like Worcester anchor regional economies so the cities have rebuilt and attracted new investment. Ginsburg is keen that WICN “always aims to grow and reflect the community.” The city’s only NPR affiliate, WICN is a small station and Ginsburg said, ”95% of our people are volunteers who do this for a love of music.” The station has five employees, three of whom are part time so while they don’t have as much room for diversification as they would like, they have been trying to increase diversity on their 15-member board. “That has been a deliberate effort“ according to Ginsburg. Presumably,

advent of the shutdown. Their underwriting funds were hit particularly hard. Now, they conduct quarterly on-air fundraisers. “This year, we were blown away with how generous our listeners were,” Ginsburg said. While he can’t emphasize enough how grateful they feel, they also needed to do more. To provide themselves with a buffer, they opened up the recording space to the community at affordable rates, as a base from which to broadcast virtual events. Even for in-person events, the rooms are big enough for social distancing and he emphasized that they were “sanitizing everything by the book.” Since the start of the shutdowns, which gave people more time to listen to the radio, WICN’s new role has become more important than ever, providing the community both with a voice and a way to stay connected. For a station that is so grounded in the community, its history is relevant. The station started out as a joint venture between Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the College of the Holy Cross as Worcester Inter Collegiate Network and was an alternative rock station, which, Nutile said with laugh, might have contributed to them being evicted from the Holy Cross campus. Their musical journey eventually took them from rock to classical and finally, jazz. “Worcester has always been a big important city,” said Nutile, “but I believe we have a cultural renaissance taking place — perhaps slowed down a little by the pandemic but there’s more opportunity out there.” He reminisces that when he was a kid, there was much more jazz on the radio, which has decreased over time but made what WICN does even more important. Aside from diversity and better reflecting the city of their listeners, for Ginsburg, it boils down to a very simple objective. “In the end,” he said, “you’re trying to reach and engage an audience.”

FEATURED

The Promise Is Hope ‘Anxiety Relief ’ concerts sharing hope and donations RICHARD DUCKET T

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ince the release of their debut album, “Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going,” in 2015, the Worcester-based wife and husband folk duo of Ashley and Eric L’Esperance — who perform as The Promise Is Hope — had been steadily going in what seemed like the right direction.

Acclaim, awards, another album, and expanding tours were pointing the way forward. That was especially true of the increasing number of live in-person shows, which up until last March provided most of the revenue for musical acts. “It was not uncommon to be playing three or four shows a week,” said Eric L’Esperance. “For musicians it’s always a bit of a puzzle that you’re putting together, but live performances are our bread and butter.” Then the sudden arrival of the coronavirus quickly canceled all the live in-person show bookings. After what the duo has described as “a few brief panic attacks,” The Promise Is Hope planned what would soon be the first of 22 weekly “Anxiety Relief ” livestream concerts, along with some new promises. The latest, at 6 p.m. Jan. 31, will see The Promise Is Hope share the screen stage with Worcester visual artist John Vo. While the duo perform songs from their latest release, “Every Seed Must Die,” Vo will be creating live illustrations inspired by The Promise Is Hope’s music and answering questions about his work during the stream. Any donations will be split 50/50 between The Promise is Hope and John Vo. Sharing has been part of the promise since the start of the “Anxiety Relief ” concerts last March. For the first livestream, The Promise Is Hope announced that 50% of the first concert’s donation proceeds would benefit Club Passim (the legendary music club in Cambridge) and the Worcester County Food Bank. The audience donated over $1,300, half of which

Ashley, left, and Eric L’Esperance of The Promise Is Hope.

duly went to the two organizations. “Right away it felt it was important for us in our time of need to be present to the need in the community,” Eric L’Esperance said. “It seems like it resonates with the community of folks that tend to tune in.” The 22 weekly “Anxiety Relief ” concerts so far have raised a total of $13,000. Of that, $6,000 has been donated to various music venues, independent musicians, and local and regional nonprofit organizations. Over $4,000 of it has been donated directly to Worcesterarea nonprofits, including the YWCA of Central Mass, Abby’s House, Worcester Youth Center, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Community Legal Aid, Dismas House, Boys & Girls Club, MainIDEA, and Family Health

Center. The rest, about $7,000, has gone to trying to keep Ashley and Eric L’Esperance afloat financially. “The concerts are our main revenue,” Eric said. There is also some money coming in from the sale of merchandise,”a handful of music students,” and The Promise Is Hope is on the Patreon platform that allows content creators to run a subscription service. “I know it’s not a lot of money. We run a tight ship,” Eric said. COVID-19 has also directly affected the couple, as both were infected by the virus last year. “Fortunately, it wasn’t as bad as it could be. We were able to stay out of the hospital, but it was a scary event,” Eric L’Esperance said. The Promise Is Hope had

Relief.” “There’s a like a core of folks,” Eric said. There have been people watching from Tennessee, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, as well as Massachusetts. “Last week we had someone from the United Kingdom,” he said. To vary the repertoire, The Promise Is Hope has had theme nights, a Beatles night, singersongwriter shows and full request nights. In January, Ashley and Eric L’Esperance decided to split the concerts and the proceeds with other artists. Vo, a longtime friend of the couple, is the first nonmusical guest. “People will be able to see the images appear and develop through the concert. We thought it would be a cool experiment,” Eric said. The pandemic has been “a disruption for everyone, for our whole world, for us,” he said. But out of where they’ve been has come “a community of support. It’s the people that really matter,” he said. “It’s easy to get caught up in numbers and streams and sales. This (the pandemic) has really opened our eyes. It’s the people in our community that matter most. It’s helped to get a clearer sense of that,” he said. SUBMIT TED PHOTO In terms of the future, Eric L’Esperance said, “we don’t know what it will look like. We definitely been moving at what he called “a plan to tour again, but hopefully our lightening pace” pre-pandemic, heart has shifted in a good way and “paying our dues” as the duo tried we’ll be able to carry that forward.” to get established and then build a “The Promise Is Hope & John Vo following. for Anxiety Relief XXIII” will be at Now, “We’ve been married six 6 p.m. Jan. 31 on Facebook (www. years and we’ve never been home facebook.com/thepromiseishope/ this long,” he said. live), YouTube (www.youtube. The couple are writing new com/c/thepromiseishope), or The songs. Meanwhile, they live in a Promise is Hope website (www. two-bedroom apartment, one of thepromiseishope.com/tour). which has been made into a studio People can donate to Sunday’s for the livestream shows. concert via PayPal (www.paypal.me/ The viewing audience currently tpih) or Venmo (@TPIHmusic) and ranges from 35 to 100 per week, he donations will be split 50/50 between said. In the early months of March, The Promise Is Hope and John Vo. April and May, “the numbers were “Please include your email address higher because everyone was in in the description of your donation shock.” and you will be emailed one of John’s The Promise Is Hope took a break illustrations after the concert as a in the summer, but retained a a thank you.” decent sized and still very generous audience on its return to “Anxiety

FEATURED

Provoke The Truth mixes two styles to make his own ROBERT DUGUAY

To check out Rodriguez’s discography, visit Provoke The Truth’s Bandcamp page at provokethetruth.bandcamp.com or follow his projects at Facebook. com/ProvoketheTruth.

Lucas Rodriguez, who performs as Provoke the Truth. SUBMIT TED PHOTO

prolific output is incredible and he routinely shifts himself

between the kinds of music that he exhibits to keep himself from

released his sixth album, “Lyrical Preacher,” on Jan. 17. This

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here’s always something intriguing when an artist is forging their own path. They refuse to be trapped in a box and they couldn’t care less about the current trends and norms. It’s the ultimate antithesis to artistic classification and making the listener asking themselves about what they’re hearing is done on purpose. Under the name Provoke The Truth, Lucas Rodriguez is bringing a jolt of originality with both hip-hop and instrumental guitar-driven rock. His style isn’t like the rap rock that was around during the late ‘90s, think of it as if your favorite six-string virtuoso also released recordings where they spat lyrics over cool beats. When it comes to what came first for him in his musical journey, it was the electric guitar. It wasn’t until his teens when a couple of legendary rappers influenced him to start writing poetry and eventually start making his own kind of hip-hop. “I started playing guitar when I was 10 years old, so that’s definitely been my primary outlet,” Rodriguez says of his first love. “Once I got into high school I started listening to a lot of hip-hop and I was into real lyricism, artists like Nas and Eminem played a big part in that. Then I started writing my own poetry and I ended up making my own beats and that’s how I started rapping. I also have so many inspirations from so many different guitarists but my Top 3 is definitely Carlos Santana, Angus Young from AC/ DC and Randy Rhodes, who was part of Ozzy Osbourne’s band during the ‘80s.” Last year alone, Rodriguez put out five albums, four singles and an EP. He also recently

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being burnt out. “I like going back and forth in between hip-hop and rock while trying to dive into different styles of guitar,” He describes how he gets out of a creative rut. “When I get tired of that particular sound, I’ll listen to hip-hop beats and I’ll get a new perspective when it comes to creating new music. That’s really how I keep myself rejuvenated.” The year is still young, but Rodriguez wants to take 2021 to focus on his art and continue his creative voyage. He cherishes his artistic freedom and he wants to keep on making new music that’s a reflection of him without serving the status quo. “To be honest, my goals are similar to what they’ve always been,” he says about what he wants to accomplish in 2021. “I just want to make music because I love it regardless if anyone else digs it or not. I’m making my own music to my own tastes while writing, producing and recording everything on my own. I’m making my own sounds in my own original way while having my own process and that’s what I prefer to do. As far as accomplishments go, I want to keep on putting out more albums and more singles.” “This isn’t a phase for me, this is who I am and this is what I do,” Rodriguez adds. “I make music, I make music every day and I want to share it with the world.”

CITY VOICES

FIRST PERSON

POETRY TOWN

‘Front Window’ — a short story

‘The Year of Waiting’

EVE RIFKAH

ALAN IRA GORDON

he dog walks the man down the street. Casually the man saunters, the dog plods. Every day at this same time the man, the dog. The dog stays the same, a stout blue tick hound getting on in years. The man, sometimes father, sometimes son with the old dog named Blue, a good dog too. Well, I’ve watched those three for years perhaps. Time has a way of slipping and sliding like that liquid silver we played with as kids. Now I hear that its poisonous — do tell. Seems most of living was poisonous then and that was before GMOs and all those ingredients no one can say, just a mouthful of vowels and consonants coming out all gobbledygook if you dare try. But, then, who would want to? Forgive me, I believe I’ve swayed from my topic of the moving panorama from my window. The older man, the younger man, the dog. Gives me something to count while on sitting here. The clock doesn’t make sense anymore. Round and round and round it goes always the same face. But now, slanting sun, late afternoon. Shadows growing across the street. The sun hits the maple with leaves the color of claret, could drink it up. The corner of the garage — warm sunlight on brick. That’s when they come. Up one side of the street and down the other. Tells me it’s time to make din-

Eighteen months, they say, but it’s hard to wrap my head around so long. So I settle on the more reasonable-sounding twelve months. Just one year to live-out vaccine-less.

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ISRAELBEST

ner or what I used to call supper. Funny how words can flip over and mean something else in another time. Evolution of a language — a becoming, growing, well I’d say dwindling these last few decades — change for better or worse or merely different. And when did I get so high and mighty that I think dinner instead of supper? Supper, a blue-collar meal for the working grunts. Now, dinner has linen – you know, tablecloth and napkins. I do like tablecloths and cloth napkins. Makes me sad to know that most folks use paper now. Think no need to wash, fold, put away. Kindly forget the trees and what they think about it. My, I do go off on tangents more real than those in trigonometry lessons but definitely getting lost in the ether. Well, I’m old but you must have figured that out. Sitting here telling time by the trio that walk up and down the street. Has her life come to that? You may be thinking. Nope.

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It’s the time between the dark and the daylight, the only line Longfellow ever wrote that I can abide. When the wind if indeed there is a wind, dies down. A stillness in the air. You can feel if you try. Like a meditation. This time when the man, father or son, the dog named Blue, walk by and the leaves become painted still. A slowness comes into our breath, calmed. Eve Rifkah is a poet and educator living in Worcester.

I can see the methodology before me: a year of ultrafocus on careful consideration of all the nooks-and-crannies of everyday life. No science-fiction savior twist, no Mighty Mouse “Here I come to save the day!” The real-world casino deals the months before me as a hand with no cards to trade and no choice to fold. I steel myself with a fantasy that I’m tougher than the rest, abler to weather the storm as if it won’t be much different than my prepandemic lifestyle. Like the online cartoon, the artist at his drawing board facing the reader with the caption smugly pronouncing: Welcome to my world of life-long isolation, now

you’ll all experience how my kind lives. So. Can I? Can I wait it out? I’ve read and watched and searched for an ideal, belief or thought to serve as foundation or even raft as it were, to take me safely through the waiting time. And it comes to me: from Four Score and Seven Years Ago, when last we felt this close to the end of our string, wondering how we would ever live through it, the saying that eased us then beyond the brink: We have nothing to fear. But fear itself. And I know then that I can. We all can. Get through it. Til the waiting will be over. Alan Ira Gordon is a poet living in the Worcester area.

CITY VOICES

WORCESTERIA

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Minority Reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; move puts WPD on defense VEER MUDAMBI AND VICTOR D. INFANTE

FORECAST CLOUDY: The Worcester Police Department has been using

theÂ Shotspotter programÂ â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which detects gunshots and leads police to their sourceÂ â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for years, but the prospect of adopting its follow-up program,Â Shotspotter Connect, has many WorcesteritesÂ uneasy. Known as predictive policing, the program uses an AI component to analyze Shotspotter data and provide a â&#x20AC;&#x153;crime forecastâ&#x20AC;?Â for an area. It sounds good in theory and â&#x20AC;&#x153;forecastâ&#x20AC;?Â makes it sound convenient and helpful â&#x20AC;&#x201D; like the weather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a bank robbery rolling in around 2 p.m. with a chance of carjacking.â&#x20AC;?Â However, as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure our police can attest, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never that simple. My first thought went to the 2002 Tom Cruise movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Minority Report,â&#x20AC;? in which even thinking about committing a crime might bring the police to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s door.Â In reality, Shotspotter Connect is meant to facilitate efficient planning of patrols. While that seems benign, there are concerns of over representation of police in certain neighborhoods. Something that is already a significant issue. This fact was not lost on members of the Worcester community, when more than 20 residents called into the Jan.Â 19 City Council meeting during the public comment section to voice their concerns. One Worcester resident, identifying himself as Matt Whitlock, said that â&#x20AC;&#x153;predictive policing has been shown to lead to increased over-policing of communities, almost always where Black and brown folks live.â&#x20AC;? In the end, the City Council voted to discuss the technology further rather than approve it for use. The initiative required almost $150,000 in funding so Defund the WPD was also ready with a comment. The program uses crime events, temporal cycles and geographic variables, but predictive policing is only as good as the data upon which it is based. Defund the WPD saidÂ in a recentÂ press release thatÂ thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strong evidence from the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own legal history that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Worcesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historical crime data â&#x20AC;ŚÂ is inherently biased and prejudiced.â&#x20AC;? District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera echoed these concerns, stating, â&#x20AC;&#x153;this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily predict crime, it predicts future policing based on past policing and arrest patterns â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which are almost always racially biased.â&#x20AC;? For now, law enforcement is all too human and vulnerable to both implicit and explicit bias. (VM)

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IN THE WAKE OF THE INAUGURATION: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll admit, Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris was a fairly moving and exciting affair, what with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even with social distancing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the return of fashion, poetry and pop stars to the festivities, not to mention the historic occasion of Harris becoming the first female, Black and Asian-American VP. It was stirring, and it felt nice to feel a bit of hopefulness about the future, even as Biden directly laid out the challenges ahead: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A once-in-a-century virus silently stalks the country. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be any more desperate or any more clear. And now, a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.â&#x20AC;? It was both stirring and sobering, but here in Worcester, as elsewhere, life went on. At about the time as Biden was taking his oath, someone asked on a Worcester community email forum where they could donate soft goods, and they were referred to places including the Central Mass Housing Alliance Donation Clearinghouse and the Abbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House Thrift Store. A little later, on another online community group, someone admitted they were hurting financially and needed diapers. They were referred to the Marieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mission diaper outreach program and the private Facebook Group, Moms Helping Moms. The city â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and indeed, the world -Â is filled with people in dire, palpable need, but there are also people willing to reach out a hand. They seem like small things, but when the world is darkest â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and Bidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech made no bones about how dark it is right now â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small kindnesses that burn the brightest. (VI)

COVER STORY

Welcome to gaming’s

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J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

— it’s here, now — including in Worcester

COVER STORY

RICHARD DUCKET T

re you game? There has been talk for a while of gaming being about to enter a “golden

Timothy Loew of the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute based at Becker College. CHRISTINE PETERSON

setts Institute of Technology. MassDiGi is a statewide center, designated by the Commonwealth, for academic cooperation, entrepreneurship and economic development “across the Massachusetts digital and video games ecosystem.” “Central Massachusetts obviously has a large community of players and game design and game development community. It’s really led by academic institutions like Becker, WPI and Fitchburg state — important institutions in the region that offer degrees,” Loew said. Becker College, for example, says it has been consistently ranked by The Princeton Review for the past eight years as a top undergraduate school to study game design and is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. But beyond that, “The commu-

nity that builds games is a really neat one,” Loew said. “Kids, artists, musicians, people who will lend their voice to games — it’s a really creative process.” And gaming platforms are not just used for playing games. “The skill set is useful to companies well beyond games,” Loew said. Interactive health care is one area where gaming technology and know-how can be employed, Loew said. Activate has found that people are increasingly using gaming platforms to view virtual concerts, for messaging, gambling, dating and even virtual celebrations of weddings and birthdays, the WSJ said. In Central Massachusetts, “We’ve got a number of small startC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 12

However, we’re all gamers in a way, regardless of whether we play “Super Smash Bros. 64,” “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” or “Scrabble.” “People have been playing games since the beginning of time,” Loew said. Dice for example. “I play games. I think most people play games. They may not think of themselves as gamers.” Video games as we know them today “have been around 50 or 60 years give or take,” Loew said. One of the first nearly 60 years ago was created in Massachusetts. “Spacewar!” was a space combat video game developed in 1962 by Steve Russell in collaboration with Martin Graetz, Wayne Wiitanen, Bob Saunders, Steve Piner, and others. It was written for the newly installed DEC PDP-1 minicomputer at the Massachu-

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Loew said. “it’s growing at a rate that’s pretty amazing and that’s been supercharged by the pandemic around the world. It’s one of the few things we do as a species that brings us together,” Loew said. “It’s kind of neat and gives us the opportunity to engage with each other in positive ways. For many people, the last nine months have been their first opportunity for jumping into games. More people playing more games on more devices than ever before.” The growth has been particularly notable among people under 30. “We’re in the midst of a cultural shift,” wrote Sean Monahan for the Guardian in an article titled “Video games have replaced music as the most important aspect of youth culture.”

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

age.” A glimpse of that came to Worcester in 2019 when the annual “Shine Super Smash Bros. Competition” was held at the DCU Convention Center for the first time with thousands of people in attendance. For the final matches between elite players, the stream racked up more than 10 million unique views. That was just esports, and pre-pandemic. The unknowing might just have shrugged. However, “I think it (gaming) was entering a golden age,” said Timothy Loew, executive director of Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI) based at Becker College. “I think we’re there now,” Loew said. Now all the world’s a game stage, as Shakespeare might have put it. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that gaming “is set to emerge as the next dominant technology platform much the way search engines, mobile phones and social networks redefined industries in previous decades.” The consulting firm Activate Inc. told WSJ that the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated gaming’s popularity, with overall time spent gaming rising by 29% during the outbreak. Frank Topham is a video game creator and developer from Milford who also plays video games himself. “I’ve seen how a lot of people are home. Especially in the first few months (of the pandemic). Video games can definitely take a good chunk of the day. It helps to pass the time until things start to get better, although when that happens remains to be seen,” Topham said. Taking a world view, Loew said, “Some people will say games are the largest form of entertainment on the planet.” They are generating out-ofthis-world money. The global video gaming industry took in an estimated $180 billion in 2020 — more than sports and movies worldwide. “Movies, TV and music have been around a long time and have different revenue models, but clearly games have a seat at the table,”

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COV E R S TO RY

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 11

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J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

ups in the area,” Loew said. MassDiGi runs an incubator for a number of projects. “There’s been great moments here and we expect many more,” Loew said. Meanwhile, the winner of the ninth annual MassDiGI Game Challenge last year was “Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion,” an adventure game where you play as an adorable turnip who just so happens to be an absolute menace to society. The game was created by designer/programmer/artist Yukon Wainczak along with designer/artist Jennifer Kindl, marketer Jordan Kegler — all of whom met while students at Becker College – with music from Flowerblvck. “Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion” will be released this year and has been named one of the “21 indie video games to look forward to in 2021” by polygon.com. “The game is much anticipated,” Loew said. At his home late last year, But as with many forms of art, entertainment and industry, there’s Topham worked diligently at developing his new action game the glitter, but also the graft.

named “A Postmortem Nation,” about a CIA agent who is put into cold sleep and is revived 500 years

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into the future “where the world has regressed into a place of Sword and Sorcery sort of like ‘Lord of the Rings,’” Topham said. “So the agent has to figure out his past as well as fulfill a prophecy to stop an evil force from taking over the land.” Topham, 22, was diagnosed with autism at age 3, and with the rare metabolic disorder Wilson’s disease, which causes copper to build up in his liver, in 2006. A former student at Reed Academy in Framingham, Topham has developed several independent RPG (role-playing game) video games under his official name

AeroSoft. The first was in 2012. “I learned how to make video games,” Topham said. “’A Postmortem Nation” is “a culmination of things I taught myself.” It is an RPG made with the program RPG Maker MZ “and I’m tailoring it to be the ultimate user friendly free-to-play game with no microtransactions and a willingness to listen to its users and fix bugs and add new features,” Topham said. “A Postmortem Nation” was born during the unease and nervousness before the November presidential election, Topham said. Spoiler alert — “Throughout

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A player navigates his controller during the Shine 2019 esports tournament at the DCU Center. MATTHEW HEALEY

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“I would say I’m a really crappy marketer. Slowly but surely I’m getting there,” Topham said. “I’ve never really been successful in any commercial way. I’ve been running polls to see what people want. I want to make this sort of as a job.” Alexander Jersey graduated from Becker College Magna Cum Laude in 2014 with an Interactive Media Design degree. He’s discovered the gaming industry can be a challenge to find a niche in, despite its popularity. “Breaking in has been very difficult. Getting published is an uphill battle as well,” Jersey said. At the time of the interview Jersey, who lives in Medford, was unemployed. Still, he finds much to admire about gaming. “Certainly as technology has become more available, access to all games has become more widespread. What we think of as gaming has become more widespread as well. Most games are played on our phones. We have so much variety in our choices now that we didn’t before,” Jersey said. As a writer and a consumer, “what makes it fun and brings it all together is that games have tools you can’t do with a book, can’t do with television and tell stories in ways you couldn’t otherwise tell.” In viewing the field, however, “One big concern is monopolization,” Jersey said. “Studios that have had success being bought by large corporations that have a history of unethical behavior. I find that

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J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

the game it’s revealed that this fantasy world is actually a post apocalyptic United States that had suffered a civil war after the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and that Trump used his stay at Walter Reed to conduct experiments in dark magic and went into hiding after the outcome of the civil war and thus is revealed in the final third of the game as the main villain. I basically turned him into a sort of Final Fantasy-esque villian a la Kefka,” Topham said. The link to the game is https:// gamejolt.com/games/postmortemnation/544126. Topham said he can access what people are doing with the game. Not long his after it came out he noted “Over the past week or two more people tend to view it than they do play it. As far as people seeing it, it’s going pretty well,”’ he said. You don’t have to be a technological whiz to create a great video game story. Rather, you have to tell a great story, Topham said “The program RPG maker provides everything you need to make a game. It’s not about how it looks, how it sounds. It’s how you use it to make a good adventure out of that,” he said. “The characters. What sort of story do I want? Usually the story is the first thing I have in creating a game. If I get bored with a project I stop working on it.” Game creators and developers can find publishers for their games or self-publish, but just as with books, the path can be tricky, particularly if you have to go it alone.

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COV E R S TO RY

success of the Shine event at the C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 13 DCU Center. “Games have a cultural resoextremely disturbing.” nance that grows each and every Monopolization could lead to year,” he said. the decline in the quality of games As for what makes a successalong with access and indepenful game, Loew said, “It’s a tough dence, Jersey said. business.” “On the other hand, as it (gaming) grows all the taboos are going to go away,” he said. More diverse voices are abroad in the field. “What I’m seeing is people having conversations about gender and race Thousands attended the 2019 “Shine Super and integrating Smash Bros. Competition” esports tournament these ideas in at the DCU Center. their work,” MATTHEW HEALEY Jersey said. Loew acknowledged that the gaming Will everyone soon be playing industry is “very competitive ... “A Postmortem Nation” or “Turnip It has a lot of people attracted to Boy Commits Tax Evasion”? The actual barriers to entry are Nathaniel Kranjc of Chicago competes for the University of Illinois in the collegiate ”Super Smash it because they love games. That means the competition is tremenlow, and the field is democratized Bros.” tournament in 2019 at the DCU Center. dous for jobs.” in a sense, because “anyone can get MATTHEW HEALEY Around the country there sever- their hands on a game engine. But al hundred thousand total jobs in building a game isn’t as simple as it gaming and industries using game- sounds. There’s a lot more to games like technology, Loew said. than simply putting them together, “The game industry in Amerialthough that’s clearly a key part,” ca is mainly on the West coast, in Loew said. California and Washington. “Trying to build a product for a However, communities in Texas, global market requires patience as North Carolina support thousands well as perseverance and passion. of jobs.” There are also thousands of But you never know if its going to jobs in the Montreal area of Canabe ‘Ishtar’ or ‘Avatar,’ “ he said. da, he said. The 1987 movie “Ishtar” had “In this state, three thouhigh expectations but was a historsand work directly in games and a ic flop. smaller number indirectly,” Loew “Games are challenging, techsaid. nology and engines can be There is a long history of games tricky, and players can be finicky,” coming out of the area, he obLoew said. By the same token, “you served. “We’re lucky to have many see these incredible games come of the companies that we have.” out of nowhere. There’s still an eleWith Becker College and ment of mystery in putting a game Worcester Polytechnic Institute in out there no matter who you are,” Worcester, there are administraFrom “Spacewar!” to “Spelltors, teachers and students in the break.” games field giving the area “a great “Spellbreak” is described as “a advantage in terms of talent,” Loew multiplayer action-spellcasting said. game where you unleash your inner “Many of them move on but battlemage.” It was released in Sepmany of them stay,” he said of tember by Proletariat of Boston. graduates. “The skill set is useful to “There are always things hapcompanies well beyond games.” pening in our community and that Loew said that Massachusetts includes game design development, has also been fostering the growth and I think people should be proud of esports, with the Kraft Group a of the fact they are still finding their leading player, and referenced the way to global markets,” Loew said. WM-0000457979-03

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Savonne Pickett says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My artwork is very versatile, I try to mix and match different mediums to create feeling through my pieces. Pencil drawings are different values of gray while paintings and colored pencil drawings are the vibrancy that strengthens the emotional connection through my work. As an artist I create the type of art that focuses on multiple mediums that are inspired by the beauty of nature, my thoughts, music and people that I interact with. The goals that I strive for through my art are to inspire others to think more and question everything, be able to interpret what they see and to create their own narrative from the art.â&#x20AC;?

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CONNELL SANDERS

‘Battling vaccine ‘survivor’s guilt’ SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

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J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

friend chimed in on the group text this week with a surprising confession. Her employer had offered her the COVID-19 vaccine, and she wasn’t sure what to do. “I feel terribly guilty,” she wrote, “to be vaccinated before so many elders who need it.” My initial reaction was confusion. From my perspective, the more inoculated Worcesterites, the sooner I could get back to throwing elaborate theme parties, having leisurely meetings in coffee shops, and teaching real, live human children my definitive philosophy on the potato hierarchy — I mean, teaching them how to read. (French fries>chips>mashed potatoes>tater tots. Obviously.) “I feel like so many other people deserve it,” said the little gray chat bubble, “Teachers, Target workers...” To put it plainly, as a furloughed employee stuck at home, she felt guilty. I encouraged her to go through with it anyway. Too many vaccines had already gone to waste across the nation and it would be a shame if her slot was never filled out of sheer administrivia. The group agreed. “Maybe, just don’t broadcast it on the internet,” we concluded. A few days later, she sent us a private message thanking us for our support with a picture of the season’s hottest accessory: a vaccination card. Doctors predict that the CDC-issued record will be used to determine who can dine indoors, board International flights, and attend special events. The NFL even invited 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers to attend Super Bowl LV next month. I think we can all agree that healthcare workers are the priority. May we all double-tap the vaccination photos of our brothers and sisters in scrubs. These are the heroes who instill

“When presented with the opportunity to get vaccinated, I hope you take it.” PIXABAY

confidence in the American public and selflessly care for our sick, day in and day out. But, in the chaos of a pandemic scramble, let us acknowledge that the system is not perfect. Access to the vaccine is, at times, subject to chance. One NYU student, Ricardo Sheler, told The Cut about his encounter with a frantic “random dude” on the street who offered him a dose destined to end up in the garbage, expired. Sheler posted the ordeal to Snapchat and the trolls came a-knocking. He wasn’t deserving, they cried.

I saw a local professional shamed in a similar manner this week on Facebook. It’s one thing for a nurse to post a smiling photo, syringe mid-pump. It’s another thing entirely to watch someone pandering for likes with a vaccine pic, whilst working from home. I found myself thinking, “I am so glad you got vaccinated. I am so glad you will be able to hug your loved ones very soon. I only wish you wouldn’t rub it in.” The vaccine rollout has shown its flaws and raised myriad ethical questions. My feed is full of angry

elite bozos posing problematic hypotheticals like, “If I become an overweight smoker, can I be first in line for the vaccine?” Fear brings out the ugliest parts in all of us; that is something we share. When presented with the opportunity to get vaccinated, I hope you take it. That said, if you are not a frontline worker, I’m not sure I want to see any photo evidence just yet. And, if you have to go out of your way to call in a favor and cut the line, I don’t think you’re setting a very good example for our young people.

I asked my friend how she was feeling after the vaccine and she admitted a bout of imposter syndrome. Her father had set her at ease, saying he would be a lot more comfortable having her visit once she was immune to the virus. It was a good reminder that taking COVID precautions is neither selfish nor embarrassing. Protecting yourself shields the most vulnerable among us. It is the honorable thing to do.

CITY LIFE

TABLE HOPPIN’

Restaurateurs Joe and Ben Kaplan buy JPs in Westboro BARBARA M. HOULE

integral part of the Tower Hill Community. Visit www.pepperestaurateurs and sartfulevents.com to learn more brothers, Joe and Ben about Peppers, which the Green Kaplan last November Restaurant Association certified as bought JPs Restaurant a 3-star green caterer. Telephone: and Pub, a longstanding fixture Family Meal Deals at Chuck’s (508) 393-6844. on Westboro’s dining scene. It’s Note: Peppers has posted its Chuck’s Steak House in Auburn their fourth restaurant, but who’s Valentine’s Day Dinner menu on offers new Family Meal Deals. counting. its website. Take a peek! Meals for family of four is The siblings own and op$24.95, available for takeout only erate Lakeside Bar & Grille in Katzie Guy-Hamilton’s Valduring restaurant hours. Shrewsbury (six years), Herbie’s in entine’s offerings Menu selections: Worcester ( four years) and Center News from Worcester native Buffalo Chicken Mac N’ Cheese Tree Bar & Grill in Rutland (two Katzie Guy-Hamilton is that her is based on the restaurant’s years). online business, Cassata Bakery award-winning mac n’ cheese The rumor in 2019 that JPs (cassatabakery.com), offers a Valrecipe. owners Joseph (Joe) and Linda AnHomemade Meatloaf is served entine’s Love Satchel that can be tonio were interested in selling the ordered through Feb. 1. over garlic mashed potatoes and business first caught the Kaplans’ The Love Satchel, $55, includes topped with gravy, caramelized attention, according to Joe Kaplan. a dozen each of Honey Chocolate onions and mushrooms. It was just a rumor at that time, he Truffles and Rose Pasticcini CookChicken Parmesan (pan said, and it wasn’t until later in the Brothers Ben, left, and Joe Kaplan are the new owners of JPs ies packaged with a custom handseared) is with penne and also year when the brothers “stumbled” Restaurant & Pub in Westboro. written note tucked inside a dusty includes bread sticks. across the real estate listing that rose envelope. You also can order Take Out Taco Kit contains a RICK CINCLAIR they decided to make an offer the Love Satchel Book Bundle, $75, 24-ounce container of salsa, eight despite COVID-19. “Joe and Linda that arrives with a dozen Honey flour tortillas, taco beef, tomato, have eaten at the restaurant.” owned the business for 40 years Chocolate Truffles and dozen Rose lettuce, sour cream and cheese. “The restaurant previously And, regular and new custom- served lunch seven days a week, and were committed to it,” said Pasticcini Cookies, personalized Tortilla chips, too. ers often compare JPs to the iconic and we’re keeping to it,” said Kaplan. “They weren’t closing it An optional add to any meal is signed copy of Guy-Hamilton’s down. They just decided to retire.” Bull & Finch Pub on Beacon Hill, cookbook, “Clean Enough,” and a the Family Style House or Caesar Kaplan. It’s a place to find fresh the inspiration for the setting of JPs is similar to the Kaplans’ custom handwritten note. Truffles Salad, $12.95. seafood, he said, and the classic the TV sitcom “Cheers,” “where other restaurants known for a and cookies in both offers are Visit www.chucks.com and New England lobster roll. The laid- back atmosphere while at the everybody knows your name.” separately packaged. click “to go online” for more info. menu also features soups, “tasty same time serving traditional and “Joe (JPs former owner) knew his Guy-Hamilton describes the treats” (Buffalo wings, etc.), salads Telephone: (508) 832-2553. comforting food. Meals are afford- customers on a first name basis,” limited-edition Rose Pasticcini and house favorites like Delmonsaid Kaplan. “He made it a point able and satisfy your cravings at Cookies as “delicate Meyer lemon Tower Hill café open Friico steak, sirloin steak, baked to know every single person who the same time! pillow cookies that will bring a haddock, fried chicken and barbe- day-Sunday came in.” The Kaplans plan to continue Reminder: The Farmer and the moment of sweet romance to each cued ribs. There also are “everyday Both Kaplans currently work at specials,” Italian dishes, lighter fare, Fork Café at Tower Hill Botanic with JPs legacy and “not break the day.” the restaurant, rotating every cou- sandwiches and the ever- popular Garden in Boylston opens from 11 mold,” according to the owners, A former contestant on “Top who retained employees and kept ple of weeks. They also make daily fried seafood meals that include a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sun- Chef Just Desserts,” Guy-Hamilton the restaurant’s menu intact. “Hor- checks of their other businesses, has been recognized as one of the day. You must have an admission scallop roll and clam roll. with Ben Kaplan at Lakeside and ror was the reaction from a few “Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America” ticket to Tower Hill to dine in the In keeping with COVID-19 Center Tree and Joe Kaplan at customers when they first heard by Dessert Professional Magazine, café, or pick up a to-go order. guidelines, the restaurant has news that the restaurant had been Herbie’s. in addition to other awards. She For the full menu, visit www. limited seating at bar and booths. JPs Restaurant and Grill is losold,” said Kaplan. “Some people Before the coronavirus, more than towerhillbg.org. Both alcoholic and formerly led the culinary departthought we would come in and gut cated at 166 Milk St., Westboro, in a hundred people could be seated. non-alcoholic beverages are avail- ments at Max Brenner Chocolate the Westmeadow Plaza, off Route the place, or change everything and Equinox Fitness and co-foundable. For the winter, the café also As some local restaurants 9. Current hours are 3 to 8:30 p.m. close and hibernate during winter is offering hot chocolate, mulled around, including the menu. We ed the premium baked goods and Monday through Friday; 11:30 a.m. months, the Kaplans offer indoor have no intention of doing that. artisan confections brand Cassata cider and spiked beverages. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. “We have people tell us that with Rachel Graper. FYI: Peppers Artful Events in dining and takeout at all their Telephone (508) 355-0627 for take- restaurants and have “high hopes” Northboro manages the café. The they’ve been eating at JPs for 20 out orders. No online ordering for and 30 years plus,” said Kaplan. If you have a tidbit for the 32-year-old catering company for late spring and summer with “One couple recently told me that now. Visit Facebook for the menu. a return to warmer weather and column, call (508) 868-5282. Send needs no introduction. Owners A new website is in the works. five generations of their family email to bhoulefood@gmail.com. John and Susan Lawrence are an outdoor seating. Joe Kaplan said

while JPs never had a patio, there’s always the possibility of introducing al fresco dining. For now, the owners’ goal is to continue to build on JPs success.

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CITY LIFE

SCREEN TIME

Tom Brady and the art of reinventing one’s self JIM KEOGH

Van Gogh memorialized sunflowers — there was nobody better at it. om Brady is now headed to Following his combat experiences his 10th Super Bowl, and in World War II, he chose noticeably what he has accomplished darker roles (even George Bailey’s in professional football at saga begins with his pondering suithe advanced age of 43 is extraordicide), most notably in Anthony Mann nary. Brady’s late-career success in Westerns and Alfred Hitchcock Tampa Bay after two decades with thrillers. If you want to see an actor the Patriots has been the subject of bravely challenging the curation of scores of articles and enough sports- his own image, watch “Vertigo,” in talk hot air to power the Goodyear which his obsession with Kim Novak Blimp, and rightly so. The GOAT is lurid and creepy, yet brilliantly has earned this elevated level of played. attention. Or consider Matthew McCoBrady’s reinvention reminds me naughey who underwent his famed of actors who built their personal “McConnaisance” by shedding the brand playing the same kind of roles surfer dude/failed launcher/ladies for years before taking their careers in man personas for tougher stuff, a new direction, either because they beginning in 2011 with the likes of were bored or because they’d aged — “Killer Joe” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.” chronologically or creatively — out of McConaughey convinced himself the parts that put them on the map. he was better than “The Ghost of Think of Jimmy Stewart, who Girlfriends Past” and by the time he throughout his early career played won an Oscar for “The Dallas Buyers the fumbling Everyman the way Club” in 2013 he’d established himself

Brady’s late-career success in Tampa Bay after two decades with the Patriots has been the subject of scores of articles and enough sports-talk hot air to power the Goodyear Blimp. MARK HOFFMAN

as someone deserving to be taken seriously. (His one stab at recapturing old magic, playing a stoner named Moondog in 2019’s “The Beach Bum,”

was proof his earlier decision to move away from characters with names like Moondog had been a sound one.) If you admire the way Brady has preserved himself physically, then you’ve got to be smitten with how Liam Neeson has transformed himself into an action hero at an age when most actors are silently celebrating Wilford Brimley’s death because it doubles their chances of being cast in grandfather roles and diabetes medication commercials. Neeson’s arc is not supposed to be how it works: You don’t comfortably transition from “Schindler’s List” to “Taken” (and, of course, “Taken 2”) unless you’ve done some serious soul-searching about whether audiences will buy you kicking a door down without fracturing a hip. He’s made it work for him, though, and even earned the ultimate reward: He got to shoot a film (“Honest Thief ”) in Worcester. Jim Carrey couldn’t be Ace

Ventura forever, or Lloyd (was he dumb or dumber?), or the Riddler. Indeed, during the filming of “Batman Forever,” ever-dour Tommy Lee Jones growled to Carry, “I cannot sanction your buffoonery.” Carry’s terrific performance as the eternally televised man in “The Truman Show” heralded a second act that would be a little more, shall we say “textured,” than his first. Now and then he returns to the familiar (I imagine the paycheck for “Dumb and Dumber To” overwhelmed any creative reservations), but if you watched Carrey as a troubled Mr. Rogers-like TV host in the Showtime series “Kidding,” you saw someone who gleefully defies expectations from his perch on a tightrope. And Brady? I wish he was still a Patriot, but accept that he’s not. And I’d kind of like to see him go on forever.

LISTEN UP

Rockers Inspector 34’s ‘Love My Life’ is difficult, rewarding

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

VICTOR D. INFANTE

owell psychedelic rockers Inspector 34 do not make it easy on their listeners with their new album, “Love My Life,” available on Bandcamp. Indeed, by the time one’s made it to the end of the album’s final song, “Ride the River of Light (Screaming into the Void),” the musical journey is equal points annoying and transformative. Which isn’t to say there’s not a lot to like here. Quite the contrary, but the difference between this album being a good trip and a bad trip is the willingness to which the listener is willing to commit, and that’s a personal choice. As background music, this album is racket and sludge, but once you’re past that, there’s something more to be pulled from the mire. The album begins with isolated vocals singing the line, “I love my life everything is wonderful,” over and over again, as the music grows and becomes more and more discordant and dissonant. This gives way relatively quickly to the off-kilter

Alexandra Derderian – has a way of keeping the album sounding full and present, even as it constantly seems to teeter on the verge of collapse. It’s actually rather thrilling, in an aging roller coaster sort of way. Take, for example, “The World Explodes,” which at its stripped-down core is basically a blues song enmeshed in an escalating cacophony. To really hear the song, one has to concentrate past the noise to find something relatively vulnerable: “I can “Love My Life,” by Inspector 34 tell you’re frightened but where you gonna go, everybody’s dying while PROMOTIONAL IMAGE the world explodes.” Conversely, the electro-pop. “Everybody in the world subsequent song, “The Gray House,” is a winner,” sings guitarist/vocalist likewise begins as a smattering of Jim Warren, “everybody in the world blues, but congeals into a more knows what’s going on everybody in coherent rock ‘n’ roll structure as the world now has something to call it continues, as though something their own.” The lyrics run into each were putting itself back together. other like rushing water, as the mu- The moment doesn’t last: The next sic disintegrates around the words. song, “Let Down,” sounds remarkIt takes a good deal of effort ably similar in most ways, and yet to create an effect this chaotic there’s a sense of what had been seeming, and the band – which just so recently built being ripped comprises Warren, guitarist Pat to shreds with wild abandon, and Auclair, synth player Silas Price, indeed, the song ends in a disconbassist Ben Kaplowitz and drummer certing fervor.

Perhaps it’s not surprising then that the subsequent song, “Thick Bologna,” is trudge of bass and drums resulting in a quicksand feeling, beginning with the lyrics, “Oh I’m feeling pretty empty tonight.” The song conveys a feeling of depression and repressed rage that is almost impenetrable. The song itself pushes the listener away, before hitting rock bottom with “My,” a slightly brighter, more coherent version of “Love,” which again refrains the lines, “I love my life everything is wonderful.” By the song’s end, though, that emptiness has reasserted itself, with the vocals in isolation feeling drunk in their agony. That pain rises to a howl with “Grow Old,” which has the band building a pyre of music and the vocals fade to nearly inarticulate screams beneath the swirl of flame. This brings the listener to “Life,” a more restrained rendition of “Love,” with the lyrics “I love my life everything is wonderful,” this time the vocals disappearing into a matrix of digital distortion. If there’s a moment of clarity to be had on the album, it comes

with the next song, “Slake.” “Slow down,” sings Warren, “are the losses worth the gains are we able to bear the pains and what use is there in assigning blame to the guilty unable to live guilt-free unable to create the world.” The music builds again, this time hitting a crescendo before beginning to subside. Transitioning in a guitar-driven burst of rock with “False Prophets,” drums crash against the song’s jam-session feel. Again, this song has only one line of lyrics – “You’re telling me you want to be what you want” – and in the end, it breaks down into something that feels definitely over. Which leads us to the surprisingly gentle opening of “Ride the River of Light (Screaming into the Void),” which begins with sampled birdsong and a few periodic notes of music. It’s a lovely, peaceful moment, but darker notes overtake the song, eventually giving way to the metallic crash of drums and musical thrashing. The ending is jarring, even disturbing, but the definitive statement it makes echoes on into the silence.

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NEXT DRAFT

Architects work with state brewers guild on COVID challenges MATTHEW TOTA

A rendering of Untold Brewing in Scituate by Architects Jesse Widtfeldt and Taylor Theriault. SUBMIT TED PHOTO

to seat customers, Theriault and Widtfeldt said, or find ways to have the two spaces overlap, like if they have needed to take over the taproom for a new canning line because they have shifted their business into more distribution. “Can you integrate that canning line into an interesting aspect of your taproom,” Widtfeldt said, “so when customers come back in you don’t have to move it?” As for outdoor seating, the architects scoffed at my suggestion that it would be mostly useless in the dead of winter. You just have to make the area appealing. “New Englanders are hearty people. We only take our creature comforts if given to us,” Widtfeldt said. “We attend Bruins games at Fenway Park in mass numbers because the situation is intriguing. If you give people an intriguing outdoor situation, they will take it,

like incorporating gas fire pits.” Widtfeldt and Theirault normally charge about $150 an hour for their work, but they have given their time these past months to Untold and, through the MBG, other breweries in the state for free. Their commercial work has dried up because of the pandemic, so they do have more time on their hands than normal. That’s not the reason they’re doing it, though. “We don’t want to see taprooms go away,” Widtfeldt said. “They’re important to us as a cultural element of our society. COVID has sucked for everyone. But if we’re in a position where we have more time at our disposable, what better use of that time than to help out a component of society that we enjoy, and we can use our knowledge to help breweries weather the storm.”

every inch of available space. “One of the thoughts was the nature of a brewery is it is a very high, vaulted space because of the tanks and that translates across the taproom,” Widtfeldt said. “You could use that to create mezzanine space.” During a recent meeting about the contest with members of the MBG, Redemption Rock Brewing Co. CEO Dani Babineau shared how her brewery has benefited from using “the nooks and crannies” of her Worcester taproom to find any available free space for seating. Redemption Rock, Babineau said, has used “some of those flexible spaces that we normally would have had other activities, whether a space where someone would be in line for the counter or playing cornhole, to spread out or add tables.” Breweries could also use some production space in the brewhouse

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drawing up the designs for free, but the brewery will have to fund the construction itself). The first phase calls for Untold to tweak their patio in a way that will allow them to safely increase their occupancy and triple the number of seats, while the second has the brewery taking advantage of an open lot next to the patio to create more outdoor space. “A lot of it for Untold was they haven’t been able to reopen due to the lack of social distancing space. They are just open for pickup,” Theriault said. “We chatted about their challenges, and it came down to expanding their outdoor patio space, so they can allow for adequate social distancing.” Throughout the contest, Theriault and Widtfeldt have been kicking around several ways for breweries to adapt their taprooms to the pandemic, including using

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

ew breweries have ever designed a taproom with a pandemic in mind. Before last March, I would have told you that’s a good thing. Taprooms should embrace close quarters and communal reveling. I should feel cramped waiting at the bar to place my drink order in a warm, crowded room. We should sit outside only in 70-degree weather under the sun’s splendor. Now, though, give me space, give me hand sanitizer stations, give me an outdoor seat no matter how cold, because not only does it mean I can still go to breweries, it also means breweries can stay in business. Of all the lessons breweries have learned during this crisis, making their taprooms safe for a pandemic will be the hardest to put into practice. It will mean, for some, completely changing the layout. And most breweries will not be able to afford such overhauls. But two Lexington architects are trying to help, looking for cheaper, less intrusive designs for more pandemic-friendly taprooms. Last fall, Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects Inc. teamed up with the Bedford construction firm C.E. Floyd and the Massachusetts Brewers Guild to create a contest for breweries, offering to help the winner redesign its taproom to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Architects Jesse Widtfeldt and Taylor Theriault are now working with Untold Brewing in Scituate — only two breweries entered the contest. They also hope to come away with suggestions for safer taprooms that other breweries could consider. “The goal is to create process and a design that could hopefully help multiple breweries, not just the winner, but anyone following along,” Theriault said. In Untold’s case, Widtfeldt and Theriault have suggested a two-phase renovation (they are

CITY LIFE

ADOPTION OPTION

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

Meet Maggie! Maggie was surrendered to the shelter after her owners had a change in their personal life and weren’t able to provide Maggie with a stable home any longer. Shelter life has been hard on Maggie and the fact that she does not like other animals makes it more stressful here for her. Maggie is a young, smart and energetic dog looking for an active owner who wants to have fun. Maggie knows her basic commands like; sit, paw, down and can come when called, when there are little to no distractions around. She is a strong girl who weighs about 55 pounds and wears a harness when she walks to help with pulling. Maggie and her new owner would benefit from enrolling into training classes to help get a handle on her leash manners and reactivity to other dogs. She would do best with older children, teens and up, because she does like to play rough with her toys and if she has a high value treat or bone, she will guard it. Maggie loves stuffed animals and will even bring them back to you to play fetch. This cutie has a lot to offer and is looking for the right fit to come along. If you would like more information about Maggie or you would like to set up an appointment to meet her, please contact the shelter today. *Maggie is a part of our Foster to Adopt Program. She will need to come back to WARL to be spayed.

WARL COVID-19 Procedures As of Novemeber 9, 2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we want to share with you some changes we have implemented so that we can continue to serve the pets and people of our community while keeping our team protected.

more about our available animals then call us at (508) 853-0030 ext.0 or email us at info@worcesterarl.org to schedule an appointment.

• ADOPTIONS: At this time, adoptions are being held BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you are interested in adoption, please visit our website worcesterarl.org/adopt/ to learn

• ANIMAL SURRENDERS: Our business practice for surrendering a pet remains the same. All pet owners must contact WARL in advance

• Casual visits to the shelter are prohibited. We will strictly enforce this in order to keep our animal care team protected while still maintaining the most essential function of our operation...finding homes for animals in need.

of surrendering a pet. Please call (508) 853-0030. • SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS: All scheduled appointments will be honored. If you have a scheduled appointment, we will be contacting you to discuss changes to our drop off/pick up procedures. • DONATIONS ACCEPTED except for open bags of food. • Pet food, cat litter, and other shelter supplies will be essential in continuing to provide for our animals and to assist community

members in need. To avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, items can be purchased online from our Amazon Wishlist - https://www. amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3AX342JIL73M0 • Weekly training classes are going on for adopters. • The WARL Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. We have many animals in our care

who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The above measures help to protect our staff and community from the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-to-face interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow our Facebook page for additional updates. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the shelter at (508) 853-0030 or info@worcesterarl.org.

Thank you for your continued FURiendship and support.

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Down 1 Vaccine shots, in the U.K. 2 “I’d hate to break up ___” 3 Kunis of “Black Swan” 4 Theater level 5 Three, in Italian 6 Prefix before sphere 7 Undersea WWII threat 8 Movie soundtrack singer Nixon 9 Ciabatta, e.g. 10 Like most modern movies 11 Actor Bridges 12 “Dear ___ Hansen” 13 Care for 18 Karaoke night need 22 Major kitchen appliance 24 Tally 26 Take the wheel 27 Mister Ed, for one 28 Blundering 29 Cryptanalysis org. 31 Royal domain 32 Group of geniuses, supposedly (I mean, what is this trying to prove?) 33 Snake with a puff variety 36 Pay for completely 37 “We Have the Meats” chain 39 Probe persistently 40 Dart thrower’s asset 43 Chew toy material 45 One who shouldn’t be helping

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

Enjoy Fun By The Numbers 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 Door frame component 5 Roadside digital display? 10 “Doubtful” 14 Laos’s locale 15 Concrete strengthener 16 “Scream” actress Campbell 17 “Bring on the carillons”? 19 James of “The Godfather” 20 Actress Keanan of “My Two Dads” 21 English actor McKellen, when traveling? 23 The NBA’s Thunder, on scoreboards 25 Rising and falling periodically 26 Pink Floyd box set released in 1992 30 “___ Rae” (Sally Field movie) 34 Actor Danza 35 Service group for GIs 37 “Yup” 38 Before, in verse 39 Dish set with a double helix pattern? 41 Partnering word 42 Liveliness 44 Pen end 45 Otherwise 46 Fix the names attached to the picture? 47 Burma, today 49 “___ something I said?” 53 Healing spring 54 Descriptor for about 79% of a certain group of Dalmatians? 58 Actress Cornish of “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” 62 Berry that’s not so exotic since it’s seemingly in everything 63 Prank where a link leads to a video of “Unforgettable”? 65 ___ packing (oust) 66 “A League of ___ Own” 67 City in northern Nevada 68 Barely beat (out) 69 Alex of “Taskmaster” who’s releasing new #Hometasking challenges during the pandemic 70 Much-needed partner of relaxation

“Start to Change”--out with the old, in with the new. By Matt Jones

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Jason Homer

Worcester Public Library Executive Director

You won’t be commuting for long. Have you started hunting for a house? My husband and I fell in love with a house and it was gone two days later. We’re still very early in the search. Our dream would be to have a pool and a garage.

n November, the Worcester Public Library named Jason Homer as executive director. Homer will oversee seven library branches, two mobile libraries, all library staff, and a collection numbering in the millions. He brings 12 years of experience and a reputation for spearheading forward-thinking initiatives. The Worcester Public Library is currently undergoing a $12.7 million renovation.

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time will always be “Dracula.” It’s such an iconic book to me and a really interesting discussion of colonialism. I’ve read that book multiple times and I love it more every time I read it. I just started listening to “The Three-Body Problem,” this morning on my drive-in.

I loved her narration, especially when she talks about growing up in Massachusetts. Yes, I enjoyed that whole class of memoirs written by female comedians. I thought Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling’s books were hysterical, but Amy’s was so philosophical. She brought a lot of authenticity.

— Sarah Connell Sanders

I’m obsessed with audiobooks, but sometimes I feel like I’m cheating. What do you think? Parents always ask, “Is my kid still getting the benefits out of listening to an audiobook?” I believe they are using the same elements of their brain that they should be exercising through reading, whether it’s imagination

or just the retention of information. I will usually have a book I’m reading and then another book that I’m listening to. I just finished listening to “Yes Please” by Amy Poehler.

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Can you name some favorite books you’ve read recently? I went to the Public Library Association Conference this past year, the keynote speaker was Stacey Abrams. That was when I decided to read “Lead from the Outside.” It was interesting how impactful that book felt, even though she is a Black woman from the South and I am a white man from the North, I got so much out of it. I often read to escape. I’ve read a lot of fiction books this year. I’m a big sci-fi fan. I enjoy dystopian teen novels. I love them all. I actually had an advanced copy of “The Hunger Games” before it came out. I was forcing friends to read it. I think my favorite book of all

J A N . 28 - F E B . 3, 2021

Where did you grow up and how did you find your way to Worcester? I am originally from Brockton, Massachusetts, and that’s where I grew up. Brockton is a pretty diverse city and when I left, I realized how much I missed it. I went to Stonehill College, which was just a stone’s throw away from Brockton, but it felt like a different world. That experience helped me realize how much I missed city life and being part of a really vibrant community. While at Stonehill, I fell in love with libraries. For the first part of my graduate studies at Simmons, I thought that I was going to be an academic librarian. My first job out of Simmons was actually at WPI. It was my first toe-dip into the Worcester community. I ultimately decided that I wanted to work in public librarianship, and I popped around from Marlborough, Middleborough and Wellesley before becoming the assistant director in Natick and then the director. When I saw the Worcester Public Library position open, I knew that I wanted to be part of a big city. The number one thing that helped me grow as a human being was having access to great education in a community with representation from all walks of life. I was especially drawn to Worcester’s strong immigrant population.

Is there a task on your agenda that you’re really excited about? The first 30 days have been focused on listening to everyone and reacting to the different problems that our city is facing and our world is facing right now. In general, the super loud moment when I knew I wanted to come to Worcester was when I visited the Great Brook Valley branch. I could hear the kids running around and singing. I remember thinking about how much energy I sensed there. I’ve started my conversations with the Worcester Housing Authority as they work on picking their architects to update the branch and that is one thing I’m super excited to work on. I think about growing up in lower-income housing and needing a place like that library. I’m also very passionate about The Arthur M. and Martha R. Pappas Children’s Center. I’m not a children’s librarian, but I feel like I became one when I walked in and saw the rocket. I can’t wait to welcome people into that new space. I’m very sad we’re not open for kids to visit and play right now, but when we can finally do so, I have a feeling they are going to come from far and wide.

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Worcester Magazine Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2021

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