Worcester Magazine February 14 - 20, 2019

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in this issue F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019 • V O L U M E 44 I S S U E 25

the cover

The long, winding road to sex ed in Worcester Story on page 12 Illustration: Getty Images/colematt

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news

Local group turns up heat on natural gas leaks BILL SHANER

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fter a natural gas inspection of several Worcester Public Schools buildings found leaks, unprotected mains and pipe corrosion, the local chapter of Mothers Out Front will hold a forum on the findings in March.

Many natural gas leaks go unrepaired for long periods of time, but it is illegal for gas companies to let leaks within 50 feet of a school building remain unfixed. In Worcester, as in many cities, there are hundreds of reported natural gas leaks from old, corroded underground pipes. The gas seeps slowly into the atmosphere, polluting the environment, costing rate payers, and possibly causing health problems. “The objective is to frame the forum as a way to share the findings with the larger community, hear from experts about the dangers of gas leaks, and also hear about current legislation to address how utilities are held accountable,� said Etel Haxhiaj, a local organizer with Mothers Out Front.

The forum will take place at the YWCA Saturday, March 2, 3-5 p.m.

Last December, three members of Mothers Out Front accompanied Bob Ackley of Gas Safety USA on a tour around Worcester school buildings. He drove a van outfitted with a computer that reads the composition of air sucked from a tube hanging from the bottom of the van. The computer detects methane gas, and pings detections to a GPS system, allowing Ackley to compile a map of gas leak detection. The team

Mothers Out Front members Etel Haxhiaj (right) and Wahya WolfPaw accompany Bob Ackley of Gas Safety USA in his van outfitted with technology to detect gas leaks. A monitor in the center console displays methane gas levels.

BILL SHANER

also inspected valves and the gas mains headed into the buildings.

In a report to Mothers Out Front, Ackley provided a leak detection map of the city, including entries at Doherty High School,

Flagg Street School, May Street School, Chander Community School, Rice Square School and the Worcester Comprehensive Education & Care. To obtain the data, Ackley drove the van slowly

along the side of the road with his hazards on. Outside the front entrance to Doherty, the graph spiked, showing methane parts per million. The bigger the spike in methane data, the bigger the

leak. Each possible leak is driven over twice to ensure accuracy.

The leak data is fed to a mapping system using google earth to construct a map of methane data, showing leaks in pipes.

news Bob Ackley of Gas Safety USA examines a gas main at the May Street School.

BILL SHANER

In the back of the van as it traveled from Doherty High School to May Street School on a crisp morning last December, Mothers Out Front Member Wahya Wolfpaw reflected on why they were out there.

“We did not borrow mother earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children,” she said.

From the front, Ackley said he agreed. “I’ve heard that before, that’s right,” he said.

At Doherty, Ackley found methane gas in the atmosphere, as well as a leak that had already been reported. The state has a system for grading leaks in severity from 1-3. Grade 1 leaks must be repaired immediately, Grade 2 leaks must be repaired eventu-

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GAS LEAKS

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ally, but Grade 3 leaks can go on indefinitely. Leaks are graded loosely on the concentration of gas detected. However, state law requires that all leaks within 50 feet of a school building are fixed, no matter the grade.

At May Street, Chandler Community School and Rice Square School, existing Grade 3 leaks and methane gas in the atmosphere were detected.

At Worcester Comprehensive Education & Care, high gas readings were recorded emanating from a valve box attached to the school.

Mothers Out Front is holding the March forum to discuss the leaks and how to get them fixed, but also to educate the public on the dangers of methane gas exposure for children. Along with harmful environmental effects and a well-documented history of killing roadside trees, gas leaks are being considering increasingly as a cause or trigger of asthma.

In a letter sent to Superintendent Maureen Binienda, the organization warned of the dangers of natural gas, including a 2016 study by the Clean Air Task Force called Gasping For Breath.

The study found that breathing in methane impairs lung function, triggers asthma attacks and can aggravate diseases like bronchitis and emphysema. Children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions are the most at risk.

In Worcester, problems with asthma are particularly bad. The city has the 12th-highest rate of asthma in the country, per a 2018 report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “We look forward to working with you to ensure that Eversource follows the law and prioritizes repairs to such leaks at as soon a time as is compatible with school calendars,� Mothers Out Front wrote in the letter.

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

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worcesteria

artists

SHE’S RUNNING: Rarely does something happen in municipal politics

culture

Artist spotlight

Sam Harnois is a senior studying communication and Spanish at Worcester State University. Harnois uses his camera and Photoshop to bring the impossible to reality.

Harnois seeks to provide “an escape from the immediate world we live in,” and his work “places a spin on the laws of the physical world and replaces them with endless possibilities of dreams.” While some of his imagery appears upbeat and happy, he hopes they will force the viewer to continue thinking about them as time goes on. Harnois currently has a photo on display in the downtown Worcester Windows exhibit, “Rebirth,” and has shown in several ArtsWorcester shows. You can find more of the artist’s work online at Samharnois.com.

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

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one could reasonably consider cool. It is, for the most part, a dry affair.

But the way in which Chantel Bethea, a Worcester parent, announced her School Committee bid last week was objectively cool as hell. She got up at the podium at School Committee to blast committee members and school administrators for a lack of input from parents, students and teachers on what sex education in Worcester should look like. “I think it needs to be transparent because Worcester states it’s a transparent city,” she said. “People need to be at the table.” Then, taking a good long look at the committee, she announced her candidacy. “So today I am announcing I will be running for School Committee. People keep saying change is coming, I say change is now. We need to change the narrative. It is respect and transparency, okay?” School Committee’s gunna be a fun one this year. Bethea will join Cara Berg Powers and Laura Clancey, Worcester parents all three, in challenging the School Committee this year.

RENTER’S DELIGHT: Kudos to the Telegram & Gazette for giving the issue of affordable housing in Worcester a good chunk of attention earlier this week, in a long story called “Need for affordable housing remains constant as area communities work to increase supply.” I was especially excited to see the idea of inclusionary zoning grace the pages of our paper of record. Worcester Common Ground executive director Yvette Dyson is quoted saying the idea would be good for the city. It would.

Inclusionary zoning is a very wonky thing, but what it would effectively do is mandate affordable housing units by neighborhood, not by building project. So instead of, say, 145 Front Street including a mandated number of affordable units in an otherwise ~lux~ building (that would make any actually lower-class person feel like a martian living in – hell, I was uncomfortable on a media tour), whole neighborhoods – Green Island, for instance – would have protection against being bought up and turned into a condo farm. I’ve been a real jerk about affordable housing in Worcester for months, especially lately, but this is the kind of issue that is in the best financial interest of City Hall to ignore, so you gotta be loud about it.

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IT’S MY CHEEBA AND I NEED IT NOW: Uxbridge will be the site of what

is likely the first small business in the state’s nascent recreational cannabis industry. Having received approval from the Cannabis Control Commission, Caroline Frankel is set to open Caroline’s Cannabis, a craft pot boutique. Cute! And it’s a local woman, not a Colorado hedge fund, so bonus points. Good for her, good for Uxbridge. But you all don’t care about Uxbridge, probably. You want to know what’s happening in Worcester. Well, not much lately. The city gave the go ahead to a few, including one proposal for Jackson Street led by Ike McBride, a person of color and all-around sterling community leader with a long tenure at the Worcester Boys and Girls Club. Hey Cannabis Control, if you want to finally flex that economic empowerment muscle the law says you have, this would be a really good one. It’s called Community Growers Partnership.

MAYORAL CANDIDATE: Watch out Joe Petty, the always-trusty Office of

Campaign Finance shows you may have a challenger. Worcester resident Owura-Kwaku Sarkodieh incorporated a campaign on Jan. 24 as a Democrat. Of course, he hasn’t pulled out papers with the city yet, but that’s because you can’t until mid March. Sarkodieh could not be immediately reached for comment, and a Google search didn’t reveal a whole lot about him. Do with this what you will. While we’re on the subject of City Council bids, rumors swirled for months that retired Register of Deeds Tony Vigliotti was considering a Council run. Well, I have it on good authority he is no longer considering it. I actually do know of a few other possible candidates and more than a few rumors. But this is my column, Bill Shaner, reporter I’ll share those when Twitter: @Bill_Shaner I feel like it.

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the beat

Woo meets Wormtown. The Worcester Red Sox and Wormtown Brewery are set to collaborate on a beer called “Welcome to Worcester, $1.25.” For each pint sold, $1.25 goes to the WooSox charitable foundation.

The brewery also announced it will be the official hometown brewery of the WooSox.

The Worcester Redevelopment Authority is set in a meeting in March to vote on required appraisals for the process of taking the Midtown Mall by eminent domain. The building, assessed at $2.4 million, has long been the subject of consternation at City Hall, as the downtown building continues to fall into disrepair.

A public campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health has the city teaming up with the SHINE Initiative in an effort

that will include advertising in print, on television and radio and on billboards. Mayor Joe Petty made the announcement earlier this week with Fred Kaelin, executive director of SHINE. It comes on the heels of the Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force, which was formed last year to address the needs of mental health service providers in Worcester.

School and government meetings, including City Council, were

canceled Tuesday in Worcester and across the region as Central Mass braced for another storm. Per the National Weather Service, 4-6 inches were expected.

Auburn officials balked on a proposal to build a municipal swimming pool this week, saying it would be much too expensive.

The board voted Monday to scrap the idea by tabling it indefinitely, according to the Telegram. The project could have costed $4.5-$9 million, but the town received a $1-million donation from a local foundation.

state. Clark University will also receive $49,000 for research.

The third annual Campquest: FUNraiser Walk To Benefit The Hole In the Wall Gang Camp is set to take place Sunday, April 28.

The 5k walk will begin at Commerce Bank Field on Chandler Street at 10 a.m. The walk is in honor of Donna Quitadamo, a teacher with 30 years in Worcester Public Schools. The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides a “different kind of healing” to seriously ill children.

plans to turn the farm into the Tree House Orchard and Family Fermentory. The 100 acres of farmland in Woodstock, Conn. includes a grazing pasture for cattle, a produce and flowers and apple trees. The purchase will include a Community Supporter Agriculture program. TreeHouse will use fruit and other produce from the farm in its beer. The brewery is also expanding its facility in Charlton by 16,000 square feet.

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Charlton-based TreeHouse Brewing bought a Connecticut farm for $1.6 million. The popular brewery

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Worcester is set to receive a $656,000-grant for anti-gang funding as part of a $7.74-million package for communities across the

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opinion editorial

City Council’s Open Meeting Law troubles

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ity councilors in Worcester, some of them, anyway, have made no secret of their dissatisfaction with the state’s Open Meeting Law. The law prohibits a quorum of public officials from meeting in any way outside regularly-posted public meetings.

That means, for example, if you serve on a three-member subcommittee and have a conversation outside a public meeting with another member, even just to gauge their opinion on an issue, you are violating the law.

Some councilors have criticized the law as overly restrictive.

Worcester councilors, in case you don’t know, have long had the practice of gaining support for orders and items that might appear on an upcoming meeting agenda.

How do they get that support? By communicating with other councilors. There has also been the practice of councilors gathering at their favorite restaurant after a meeting, Should councilors be allowed to talk to each other outside of public meetings about official matters? Some say yes, citing examples where the Council otherwise ends up looking dysfunctional during meetings when they have not had an opportunity to get on the same page or know what another councilor might intend to do during the meeting.

The Attorney General last year made it clear even if one member of a public body expresses an opinion with another by email, if

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it is shared with other members of the same body, thus creating a quorum, it violates the law. In addition, a staff member, such as a city clerk, cannot be used to facilitate deliberation between members of a public body outside of a meeting.

Last week, members of the City Council’s Public Works Committee met at and toured a Casella facility as part of a publicly-posted meeting. A total of six councilors, according to Committee Chair George Russell, were present. The press was invited, but once there, photographers were, according to Russell, told by Casella representatives they could not take photos inside the facility. Russell said reporters were allowed to join the tour, but visual images were prohibited. That led to an order filed for a Council meeting earlier this week requesting a legal opinion on whether an Open Meeting Violation occurs if a committee visits a location where not all areas are accessible to the public for viewing or recording. The meeting was ultimately canceled, so the order has not yet been acted on.

The Open Meeting Law exists for a reason, and there should be few, if any, instances where the public is excluded from any deliberations by members of a public body, such as the City Council. The law is certainly restrictive and the concerns by some councilors may seem valid in some cases. Is it really damaging the public’s right to know if

Councilor A calls up Councilor B and asks their opinion about an issue to be discussed at the next week’s meeting? That misses the point. If that is allowed, the slope is slippery enough that Councilors A, B, C, D, E and F may end up getting involved and, voila, you have a violation.

Frustrating and restrictive? Yes, but the Open Meeting Law exists for a reason. And they should be in place for our elected officials.

Editor Walter Bird Jr. Culture Editor Joshua Lyford Reporter Bill Shaner Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Kristina Reardon

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The young and the clueless JANICE HARVEY

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’ve heard adults say it many times: I wouldn’t want to be a kid again. There’s more than a few reasons I’d never want to return to childhood, the dental clinic at the old South High being among them. Watching my friends fit into Teenform bras while I still wore Tshirts is another. But when it comes to growing up 2019-style, there are perks galore, starting with the fact that Donald Trump offers kids the perfect reason to stay stupid.

Why should any kid cram to pass the MCAS tests when you can become president without knowing there’s no such thing as a “hamberder?” When you can hold the highest office in the land and think a cold snap means there’s no such thing as “global waming?” Why sweat the small stuff on the science portion of state testing? (Spelling doesn’t count anymore.) When it comes to agreeing on a budget, Trump was apparently told there would be no math, so kids should be able to skate across the math MCAS by drawing smiley faces in the answer booklet. And when the

president of the United States of America stares at an eclipse sans protective eyewear, why would kids listen when their moms tell them to avert their gaze or risk injury?

If children emulate the president, they learn it’s perfectly acceptable to hurl ugly epithets at perceived adversaries. When the president has no problem using words like “loser” and “dog” to describe people who don’t agree with him, why bother learning the nuances of thoughtful debate? Just find a nasty nickname to lob at your target and be done with it. For young boys, studying up on President Trump is Misogyny 101, since he has called women all manner of insults, from “pig” to “horseface.” For the budding racist, his constant swipes at the intelligence of African-Americans sets in stone a stereotype carved out by slave owners. By referring to Congresswoman Maxine Waters as “low IQ,” he dog-whistled to the racist misogynists of tomorrow, proving he can multi-task after all.

The most glaring evidence of Trumpism as a spreading virus among children would be the

Covington Catholic students clashing with protesters in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I’ve viewed the video. I know the student at the center of the controversy insists he was playing peacemaker when he stood smiling in front of NativeAmerican activist Nathan Phillips, a 64-year-old veteran of the U.S. Marines. The student, through his attorney, released a statement saying he was trying to “diffuse the situation” by locking eyes with Phillips as he chanted and beat his drum. Since there is no evidence to suggest otherwise, we must take his word the smirk he wore, along with the MAGA hat perched on his head, are no indication of malice.

As for his Covington classmates, a crowd of white males using tomahawk chopping gestures while wearing MAGA hats, I’m sure it was all in good fun, no?

In the days following, the boys became victims of “fake news” and members of the religious sect Black Hebrew Israelites became the instigators. The Covington kids have become, according to Trump, “symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be.” He condemned early

judgment of the boys “smeared by the media.” (Actually, they were smeared more on Twitter, Trump’s favorite soap box.) Early judgment?

This from the man who, back in 1989, took out full-page ads in four daily newspapers calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty regarding the murder of a Central Park jogger. Five young black males were found guilty, and eventually DNA proved them innocent.

Trump wanted them hanged from the get-go. Did he ever apologize?

Hell, no.

In 1989, Trump was a quasi-celebrity, known primarily for making sure his mug was on the cover of People magazine. He was regarded as a rich guy one could admire or ignore. His behavior, his affairs, his obnoxious pursuit of fame – these things were easy to dismiss, until he brought them to the White House. Now he’s a role model.

I might be able to swallow the innocence of the Covington kids if they weren’t proudly displaying their admiration of a racist by wearing MAGA hats. The chaperones should have never allowed the kids to wear such politically-

opinion charged gear to a rally that could potentially become a dangerous hotbed. Their purpose — to protest abortion — was inflammatory enough without adding fuel. Allowing the MAGA hats to be worn sent a message heard loud and clear, and it’s at the core of the controversial media coverage.

We talk a lot about cleaning up the messes made by Trump’s time in the White House. Many of his actions can be overturned with pen and paper; however, the damage done to our impressionable young may take a very long time to repair.

For some, it may be impossible to recover from his ugly assault on young minds.

Janice Harvey contributing writer

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feature ng, windi o l n e g road h T BILL SHANER

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three-hour public debate on the merits of sex education dominated a School Committee meeting last week that brought hundreds of people to City Hall. Though it wasn’t necessarily what the School Committee had on the agenda, the debate loosely focused on the difference between comprehensive and abstinence-based sex education as Worcester officials try, with great disagreement and little room for compromise, to find a curriculum that will both benefit students and pass the School Committee.

When Michael King, a representative of the Massachusetts Family Institute, the state chapter of Focus On The Family, one of the most well-heeled anti-LGBTQ groups in the country, took the podium, the Woburn man listed, in rapid succession, sexual acts he said the Making Proud Choices comprehensive sex ed model teaches as abstinent behavior. Ripples of uncomfortable sighs and gasps spread through the Council chamber as King read through the list. “... French kissing, anal sex, fingering a partner’s genitals, mutual masturbation, dry humping, sharing a fantasy, penisvagina intercourse, phone sex, foot massage, grinding, sex with clothes on, rubbing bodies with clothes on, masturbating a partner, hand job, mouth-vulva contact, mouth-penis contact, touching a partner’s nipples, cuddling, kissing passionately for hours, caressing a partner’s breast, lightly touching a partner’s body, kissing a part-

Ella James Berg Powers, 5, a kindergarten student at Chandler Magnet School, at a School Committee meeting in January where officials were discussing sexual education.

BILL SHANER

ner’s nipples, sexy conversation, hugging, kissing a partner’s neck, kissing a partner’s ears, kissing behind a partner’s knees, mouthanus contact, romantic conversations, sweet talk, complementing a partner’s body, strip tease and caressing a partner’s scrotum and testicles...”

If the intent was to strike fear into the hearts of those uncomfort-

able with sex ed, it appeared to work.

“The only reason I read that is because that is how we are defining abstinence today,” he said. “And I think a lot of people in this room would have different definition of abstinence, and if studies show that abstinence doesn’t work, maybe it’s because they’ve redefined it and they’re not really looking at the

real definition.”

His comments were met with raucous applause and cheers from the gallery.

But here’s the thing: Not a word of it appears to be true.

A Worcester Magazine review of King’s comments and the Making Proud Choices curriculum found the running list of sex acts was not from Making Proud Choices, as he

said, but from another curriculum called Our Whole Lives. Furthermore, the list of sex acts was taken out of context. It was not, as he said, a list of acts considered by the curriculum to be abstinent behavior. Rather, it was a list of sex acts included in the facilitator’s guide of a segment on how to best define abstinence, in support of a larger lesson. The document in question is included in a PDF on the Massachusetts Family Institute’s website called “The FACTS about the sex ed mandate bill,” with the Our Whole Lives curriculum credited in a footnote.

The curriculum does redefine abstinence, but in a way that is more stringent, not less. Per a summary of the segment from which King drew, Our Whole Lives redefines abstinence as “refraining from sexual intercourse (oral, anal, or vaginal), as well as skin-to-skin genital contact” (emphasis added).

Like all comprehensive sex ed curricula, Our Whole Lives maintains abstinence is the most effective way to avoid unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

King could not be reached for comment earlier this week, but the editor of Making Proud Choices confirmed via email the curriculum had no such segment on redefining consent.

King appeared to use the falsehood to undermine the credibility of studies on the subject, which overwhelmingly show sex education that teaches affirmative consent, condom use and gender identity reduces STIs and teen pregnancy, as well as delays the age

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for Making Proud Choices died in subcommittee last year. Superintendent Maureen Binienda’s attempt at a compromise proposal with the Michigan Model collapsed last week, and now officials have promised to form a task force to decide on a curriculum by the fall, when new guidelines are expected from the state. The road is going to be at least a few miles longer, and the political potholes that hung up Making Proud Choices are still in place.

Meanwhile, sexually transmitted infections are on the rise among Worcester youth, the city’s teen birth rate is one of the highest in the state, and whole graduating classes are leaving school knowing only what they’ve picked up from their peers and the Internet on safe sex, sexuality and consent.

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THE PROBLEM

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A slide from the Michigan Model number and rates of syphilis cases remained steady from 2016-2017.

In Worcester proper, the numbers are more concerning. According to the 2015 Greater Worcester Community Health Assessment, in 2012 the rate per 100,000 people for chlamydia was 583, well above the statewide rate of 357; 90 for gonorrhea, as opposed to 40 statewide; 27 for syphilis, versus 13 across the state; and 13.81 for HIV/AIDS, more than the statewide rate of 9.97.

Both STIs and teen pregnancy have been proven to drop in

places where comprehensive sex education is widely employed. In California, where comprehensive sex ed has been the law of the land for more than two decades, the teenage pregnancy rate statewide has dropped by more than 60 percent. The Hispanic teen birth rate dropped 73.6 percent between 1991-2013, according to a California Department of Public Health study.

Countless studies have proven comprehensive sex education delays sex, decreases the number of sexual partners and increases

condom use. A 2009 study from the National Campaign to End Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy evaluated 48 comprehensive sex ed programs and found 40 percent delayed sexual initiation, 30 percent reduced the frequency of sex and 60 percent reduced unprotected sex.

Abstinence-based programs like the Michigan Model for Health, on the other hand, have very little empirical backing. Evaluations of abstinence-only programs in 13 states showed no positive changes over time, and no program has

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orcester’s teen birth rate is the 17th highest in the state, per the most recent data available in 2014. There were 16.3 teen births per 1,000 women in Worcester. The state average is 10.6. The problem is particularly bad for Latino teens, who have a teen birth rate higher than 30 per 1,000 in Worcester and across the state.

Worcester County on the whole has seen a rise is STDs since 2015, when there were 171 reported cases of chlamydia, 200 cases of gonorrhea and 65 cases of syphilis.

In 2016, those numbers jumped to 2,696, 289 and 82, respectively.

Last year, the numbers had risen to 2,733, 720 and 82. The total

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youth start having sex.

Later in the night, a recent graduate of Worcester Public Schools who self-identified as queer, called King out for the vulgar display.

“One of the people who came in here, and I’m going to try to calm myself, but all this weird stuff about what abstinence is and what we’re teaching in our schools, and that very uncomfortable and inappropriate list of all these sexual acts, which, you know, I’ve never taught that when I was working at Safe Homes,” said Evren Pallares, a recent Worcester graduate. “It’s all about individuality and empowering you.”

Such has been the tenor of the debate over sex ed in Worcester, and King’s inaccurate statements speak to the confusing, uncomfortable and easily-warped nature of the topic. Opponents to modernday sex education curriculum range from extreme examples, like King, to people who, often for religious reasons, object to frank lessons on safe sex and affirmative consent in middle school. For opponents, concerns about the appropriate age for such content reign supreme. Those for comprehensive sex ed, on the other hand, want children to be armed with the best knowledge they can get on consent, protection and the possible consequences of sex.

Currently, Worcester Public Schools do not offer sex education of any kind. As the state goes without a law to mandate it, the road to pass a proposal through the Worcester School Committee has been a long and ultimately fruitless one. Mayor Joe Petty’s initial push

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Slides from the Michigan Model Model focus only on saying, “No,” and year-long periods following whereas comprehensive models completion of the report. focus on saying “No,” as well as The Making Proud Choices curriculum is broken up into eight hearing “No” and saying, “Yes.” “Ideas and concepts around lessons covering topics such as consent are evolving,” according how STIs and teen pregnancy can interfere with life goals, lessons on to the Making Proud Choices curSTI and HIV infection and preven- riculum. “Some institutions have adopted policies that emphasize tion, condom use and negotiating affirmative consent, or yes, means skills. yes and are moving away from a The curriculum includes a he two models considered number of role play scenarios, both ‘no means no’ perspective. This in Worcester before they affirmative consent approach scripted and partially unscripted, were both dropped over which allow for frank, in-class dis- encourages partners to communithe last year represent two cussion of setting boundaries and, cate openly about their wishes and different modes of thinking when it importantly, understanding other boundaries, both prior to and durcomes to sex ed. ing sexual interactions. It emphapeople’s boundaries. AbstinenceThe Making Proud Choices sizes the risks to both parties when based models like the Michigan model, which was initially proposed last summer, is what public health and school officials call “comprehensive, evidence-based, medically-accurate sex ed.” What this means is the program teaches abstinence, but not only abstinence. It also spends a considerable amount of time teaching students how to best navigate situations like asking a partner to use protection, and encouraging friends to make healthy, safe decisions for sex. Comprehensive programs are also usually inclusive of LGBTQ identities and teach aspects of gender and sexuality rarely found in abstinence-based models. When advocates say evidence-based, they mean there are surveys and studies supporting the program’s efficacy. Surveys have shown the Making Proud Choices model has led to more consistent condom use and less unprotected sex in the three months after and a higher frequency of condom use Slide from Making Proud Choices in the three month, six month been proven through rigorous evaluation to help youth delay sex for a significant amount of time, or decrease the number of partners, according to a research summary compiled by Advocates For Youth.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

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partners pressure each other and the responsibility of both parties to respect the other’s limits.”

Contrary to a myth spread around Worcester about the program, none of the role-playing exercises involve condoms. They are conversations held with the teacher as a mediator and the class as a judge. In one role-playing scenario, one student tries to convince the other not to use a condom, and the other, with the help of the class, thinks of a tactful way to insist on it.

The role playing, which has been a source of great contention for those opposed to the model, are

the program’s way of teaching the interpersonal skills needed to navigate confusing feelings, thoughts and pressures.

“This curriculum is intended to reduce the incidence of unprotected sexual behavior among adolescents and help them make a difference in their lives by making proud and safer choices about their sexual behavior,” the curriculum lays out in the introduction.

The curriculum also, time and again, acknowledges abstinence is the most effective way to eliminate risks.

“However,” the curriculum states, “realizing that abstinence is not the path that many young people will choose, the curriculum spends a great deal of time encouraging the practice of safer sex and condom use.”

The Michigan Model, on the other hand, is an abstinence-only curriculum tweaked to include optional lessons on condom use.

When Binienda offered the Michigan Model, she presented it as part of a comprehensive health program, and said the district would teach it with the optional lessons on condom use and with basic lessons on anatomy attached.

But the differences between the two models go much deeper, as many advocates were quick to point out in the weeks leading up to the mayor’s decision to drop it.

Most glaringly, the Michigan Model does not teach consent in the same way Making Proud Choices does. It hardly teaches consent at all, save for lessons on how to reject a sexual advance.

In the mission statement, the

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Top left, Evren Pallares, a recent Worcester graduate, speaks at a School Committee meeting last week. Above, Worcester resident Chantel Bethea speaks at the same meeting.

BILL SHANER

That’s when it started to fall apart.

Two subcommittee meetings to address the curriculum, in August and in September, were canceled. Around that time, O’Connell circulated a four-page criticism of the curriculum. The document, dated Aug. 18, is titled “Sex Education Curriculum Proposed for Grades 6, 7 and 8 of the Worcester Public Schools is ‘Extraordinarily Graphic, Amoral, Culturally Insensitive, Potentially Offensive to Certain Ethnic/Religious and Minority Populations and Inappropriate’ for Elementary

and Middle School Students.”

O’Connell wrote the curriculum “tramples on the rights of parents to decide when, and how, their children should be educated in this most value-focused, sensitive topic, and it effectively denies parents the option to introduce their children to the subject in the context of the family’s moral traditions and values, as the ages they consider proper.”

Families are allowed to opt their children out of the program.

O’Connell’s central argument is the frank discussion of sex is inappropriate for the age group.

“As indicated by the detail set forth above,” he wrote, “it is highly explicit – in many ways, a ‘how to do it sex manual.’”

The notion the program encourages sex is highly disputed, and isn’t buoyed by any empirical evidence, which overwhelmingly shows comprehensive programs delay sexual activity.

“Sex education is really hard for people to talk about. Sex is really hard for people to talk about. Without the foundation that a comprehensive sex ed curriculum provides to be comfortable discussing different topics about it, people

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etty made comprehensive sex education a marquee issue of his term in his inaugural address last January, alongside other initiatives like rehabbing three-decker neighborhoods and investment in public parks.

“I will not allow our students to go into the world ill-equipped because we are too embarrassed to have a tough conversation,” he said at the time. “I will not allow a young woman to forego her future because we did not give her the tools to exceed.”

Meanwhile, a group of sex ed advocates at the Worcester Impact on Sexual Health Task Force was putting together a proposal for a comprehensive program.

The coalition of parents, service providers, educators, faith leaders and youth advocates launched an exhaustive process to pick a curriculum in 2017. They sent out a survey and examined facets of the programs to figure out what would work best for Worcester students. Ultimately, they narrowed it down to three choices: Making Proud Choices, Get Real and Reducing The Risk.

By the end of 2017, the group had suggested Making Proud Choices, and sent it off to the superintendent for review. By mid-2018, Binienda had tweaked the program and filed it with the Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Support, chaired by School Committee member Brian O’Connell.

F E B R R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

authors write the Michigan Model “teaches students the knowledge and skills they need to avoid sexual behaviors that can damage their health and prevent them from reaching their full potential.”

The advice on navigating possible sexual situations focuses on avoiding them outright. In the “Communicating Our Boundaries” lesson, the student is taught one way to avoid a “risky situation” is to go out with a group of friends as opposed to going out alone with “someone you like.” Another suggestion: “Before having sex, talk to your partner about being in a long-term, committed relationship, for example marriage.”

The lesson on saying “No” focuses on how to firmly and with proper body language reject an advance. It does not teach how to understand you’re being rejected or deal with it emotionally, as the role playing exercises of the Making Proud Choices model do.

The curriculum also cautions that saying “No” the Michigan Model way may be harder in real life than in theory because “you care for the person, you want to be liked and accepted, you don’t want to look stupid, you don’t want your boyfriend or girlfriend to be mad at you, you don’t want the person to break up with you or not date you, you don’t want others to find out about your personal life.”

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feature kind of shy away,” said Sara Richman Davidow, an organizer with the WISH task force. “I think the concerns it wasn’t appropriate for where Worcester middle schoolers are at don’t take into account this was a survey specifically designed for middle schoolers in the modern day and everything they’re experiencing with the internet and the availability of misinformation everywhere.”

Regardless, O’Connell’s document made the rounds. Last week, former School Committee Member Mary Mullaney credited the document as work that made the process open and referenced both her and others efforts to directly lobby the superintendent to withdraw the curriculum after receiving it.

A few weeks later, Binienda did.

On Sept. 10, School Committee clerk Helen Friel emailed some School Committee members saying, “I wanted to let you know that the superintendent has asked me to pull the item regarding the Sexual Education Unit for further review.”

A second subcommittee meeting on the curriculum was canceled. A year and a half after the WISH task force had set out to find a sex ed curriculum for Worcester, the Making Proud Choices model died before it ever saw a public meeting.

At the meeting last week, School Committee member Jack Foley, a proponent of comprehensive sex ed, publicly criticized the subcommittee cancellations.

“I think that was a mistake,” he said. “I think the discussion should have been held, so at least we could talk about it.”

In January, Binienda rolled out the Michigan Model sex ed unit, plus a unit on anatomy. Petty called the more conservative approach “a good start.”

But at a School Committee meeting that month, it was all but torn to shreds by activists, other elected officials, members of the school Committee, parents and students. They called it inadequate, and possibly dangerous as it perpetuates nasty attitudes about consent. Some demanded a public hearing on both the Making Proud Choices and the Michigan Model Curriculum. School Committee member Dante Comparetto

Ziray DeJesus, Worcester student, speaks about their experience after the School Committee meeting.

BILL SHANER

reinforced the calls with an official motion last week, but so far no such forum has been scheduled.

Only O’Connell and School Committee member John Monfredo offered unqualified support for the Michigan Model. Others criticized it as lacking.

As the weeks after the meeting rolled on, the fate of the Michigan Model was unclear until last Wednesday, when Petty announced he would drop the proposal, and instead move ahead with adopting the wider Michigan Model health curriculum, minus the sex ed. The district would instead put together a task force to come up with a new proposal.

After nearly three hours of ideological debate at the School Committee meeting last week, the committee voted unanimously to go forward with the Michigan Model minus sex ed, and Worcester students will go without sex ed until at least next year.

called an Act Relative To Healthy Youth, has quickly racked up cosponsors. In the House, it has 108 cosponsors as of press time. In the Senate, it has 43. The entire Worcester delegation, including state Sens.

Harriette Chandler and Michael Moore, and state Reps. O’Day, Mary Keefe, John Mahoney and David LeBoeuf, have signed on.

O’Day said the bill this time has garnered many more sponsors than past sessions at this time, and he said he’s cautiously optimistic about its prospects.

“That’s a pretty significant number of legislators,” he said.

Ultimately, he said, the goal is to make sure every student in the state is getting the same information, and that it’s accurate medically, inclusive, and proven to work.

“That’s why I’ve been trying to do this for the past eight years,” O’Day said. “We want our kids in the Commonwealth, whether they live on the cape, they live in Pittsfield, or they live in Boston, or they live in Worcester, or they live in Holden, or wherever the heck they may live, we want to make sure that their educational experi-

ence is broad, well rounded and essentially the same.”

The bill, if passed, would create a uniform curriculum for every school, including charter and vocational schools, with an allowance for guardians to opt children out. The curriculum would teach consent, be appropriate for all genders and sexual orientations, and include lessons based on the best practices of comprehensive sex ed curriculums adopted in some cities and towns today.

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hen Pallares railed against King for the lude and ultimately inaccurate information at the School Committee meeting last week, he made another point: the perspective of youth in the conversation was sorely missing.

“It’s very alarming that a lot of these speakers are coming from an older generation,” he said. “Despite good intentions, the effects of these mindsets are to belittle the youth.”

STATEWIDE SEX ED

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hile the political stalemate in Worcester drags on, local state Rep. Jim O’Day is renewing a push at the state level to get a statewide comprehensive sex education model passed. It is the sixth term in a row in which O’Day has filed such a bill. Last session, it cleared the Senate, but it has never cleared the House, generally a more conservative body.

A bill filed last month by O’Day and state Sen. Sal DiDomenico,

Slide from Making Proud Choices

Of the dozens of speakers, only one was a current Worcester Public Schools student. Their name is Ziray DeJesus and they identify as non-binary, meaning they do not identify as male or female.

“As a person of LGBT status,” the student said, “it was really hard for me to grow up without the education I needed. I had to learn everything about LGBT culture about online, through friends, through some groups that were finally able to teach me things I need to know.”

When opponents to comprehensive sex ed like School Committee members John Monfredo make overtures to the “need for the assistance of the community” in teaching sex ed, DeJesus is one example of the failure of that premise. As a young LGBT person, the student did not feel comfortable turning to family members for any sort of help.

“I grew up being told I could only be one thing, and I turned out completely different from what my family was expecting, and that’s a story a lot of people have,” DeJesus said.

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culture Peter Murphy brings Bauhaus to Worcester SHERRYE LYNNE WEINSTEIN

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onan O’Brien recently (and now famously) said, “You don’t woo Worcester.” Well, former Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy’s 40 Years of Bauhaus Ruby Celebration, featuring David J definitely gives Worcester a reason to “Woo.” Typically, Worcester is overlooked as a venue for legendary performances such as this, although that was not always the case. Cue the Rodney

Dangerfield references, as Worcester definitely does not receive its share of respect as the second largest city in New England. Having said that, how Worcester managed to land the only New England appearance of these Grandfathers of Goth is beyond me, but local fans are ecstatic.

Murphy and co. appear 7 p.m.

Friday at The Palladium.

Murphy and special guest David J Haskins, along with Daniel Ash and David J’s brother Kevin Haskins, were the founding members of the British

band Bauhaus in 1978. Bauhaus emerged from the punk/post-punk genre of bands as a dark forerunner of edgy and “apocalyptic” ensembles yet to come, such as Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction, Nirvana and Marilyn Manson, all familiar oldies to the Millennials. As “Boomers” themselves, Bauhaus was inspired both in performance and music by glam and glitter rock gods such as David Bowie (inspiration for their cover of his song, “Ziggy Stardust), Marc Bolan (whose T. Rex song, “Telegram Sam,”

was one of their mainstays), Iggy Pop (his “Passenger” was a favorite) and Roxy Music. Taking a turn deeper into the shadows, Bauhaus and their enigmatic front man Murphy created music that sent shivers down one’s spine, and lyrics that were often at once imploring and chilling. Their audiences were a precursor to every movement whose followers dressed in black.

Generations have cranked up the song “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” since Bauhaus released it as a single in 1979,

and film audiences thrilled to its performance by Murphy and Bauhaus in David Bowie’s vampire-centric celluloid offering“The Hunger” in 1982. In the decades since, the song been featured on television shows and in films to the point that it has become a part of our horror culture.

Yet is is representative of only a tiny fragment of Bauhaus’ collection of work. You’ll get all the fan favorites and more on this current tour, including a large selection from the 1980 album “In the Flat Field,” tracks

culture has returned to the biting edge that can scare the pants off of audience members. A different sort of mysticism is certainly apparent in some of Haskins’ work; a bleedthrough of magickal aspirations. David J spoke of practicing “chaos magick” using symbols of desired outcomes, and currently uses more of a powerful visualization technique to help achieve his goals. Any reference to black magic is dismissed, and David J has openly condemned it due to its seemingly inherent dangers and potential for harm.

Although Murphy has traditionally prowled the stage in the guise of predatory pathos, it is evident in interviews he and and David J have mellowed a bit. Rather than always inducing chills, their musical performance often brings nostalgic smiles to the crowd. The audiences are no longer restraining themselves from dancing, obviously relishing every single performance on this tour.

Admirers who once had to scour stores for bootleg tapes are recording portions of songs on their phones and posting them on social media and Youtube. Photographers are getting photos of Murphy that perhaps are more intensely haunting at this

stage of his life than they were when he was the wild child of the 1970s, kicking and writhing onstage. Yet Murphy and David J have mastered their solo careers and lived their lives fully over the years, Murphy long ago marrying and moving to Turkey, David J touring the world while married for decades to a very understanding wife. Family is integral to the lives of these men, and also to the two other former members of Bauhaus, Ash and Kevin Haskins, who recently toured with Kevin’s daughter Diva Dompe on bass and keyboards in the band Poptone. All of these men are hovering more or less around 60 years of age, and their wisdom and appreciation for their families has ripened, as it has for the experiences on the road.

It may be that Murphy’s and David J’s stop in Worcester at the Palladium Friday is one of those memorable road experiences for both the band and their audience, resulting in goosebumps, ovations and resounding echoes of gritty Worcester. We may not be Boston, but we are surely a force. As Murphy implores in the song “Double Dare,” “I dare you to be real.” With that invocation, Worcester audiences will have arrived.

David J MATT GRIFFIN

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their way through city after city.

Comparisons of Murphy to a vampire “diva” are not altogether uncommon, even today. Much of Bauhaus’ music was rooted in a sort of melodramatic, yet gloomy mysticism, their signature performances leaving audiences spellbound. Some Bauhaus members explored kabbalistic “Magick with a k” early on.

However, beginning with Murphy’s first solo effort, “Should the World Fail to Fall Apart,” the influence of the higher spiritual vibration of Sufi mystics was evident; one that was also present in his other albums such as “Holy Smoke,” “Deep” and “Cascade.”

Murphy’s Sufism transformed his performances for a time, imbuing his music and movements with a cosmic, cyclical grace. You won’t be seeing much of that these days, as he

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Haskins. Murphy and David J continued onward over the decades with solo releases while still plugged into other explorations. They have both released a large and respectable volume of work, and Murphy hit it big early on with his album “Deep,” from which the hit single, “Cuts You Up,” was released, along with the pulsating rocker, “Line Between the Devil’s Teeth” and the beautiful yet haunting “Strange Kind of Love.” Bauhaus has done reunion tours in the past, the first in 1998, which was incredibly well received, and years later touring with Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails. But the current tour is quite special, having begun as the celebration of the 40-year anniversary of the band’s formation. Although this is not a full band reunion, Murphy and David J are reportedly leaving everyone in the dust after scorching

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from their 1981 album “Mask,” 1982’s “The Sky’s Gone Out,” and from their final album, 1983’s “Burning From the Inside.” Saucy serenader and “host” extraordinaire Murphy, iconic bass player David J, guitarist John Andrews and Marc Slutsky on drums are apparently a well-oiled machine, performing songs like “Double Dare,” “Spy In the Cab” and “Kick In the Eye” with authenticity that should leave listeners quivering.

After splitting up in 1983, the members of Bauhaus went on to collaborative ventures before going solo, also forming into their own duos and triads. In the 1980s, the result included endeavors such as Murphy and Japan’s Mick Karn’s Dali’s Car, Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins’ Tones on Tail, and a band that many are more familiar with, Love And Rockets, featuring Ash, David J and

culture Lyford Files JOSHUA LYFORD

I’M BA-A-A-CK (AGAIN): If you follow me on social media,

you probably caught me flooding the feed with photos from the Worcester Pond Scum trip to the Saratoga Frozen Springs Classic Pond Hockey Tournament. Well, fear not, we survived for the most part and, naturally, dominated the competition. Just kidding, we went 0-3, but it was a great time. Most of our off-ice time was spent poolside or at Saratoga Springs’ bizarro Ralph’s Diner, Desperate Annie’s. While it was a poor time to get my winter jacket stolen, I’ve got no complaints. It’s a great team, it’s a lot of fun, and if you ever have any interest and you’re wondering if you’ll get dominated, well, you probably will, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. It’s absolutely great. Thanks to everyone for letting this pylon come along for the ride.

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QUEER AF: The nonprofit Love Your Labels is hosting its second annual “Queer AF: Art & Fashion Show” Friday, March 1 at Bull Mansion on Pearl Street. According to the press release, “Queer AF: Art & Fashion is a fashion show and fundraising event that prioritizes inclusion & representation across models, designers, and performers considerate of gender, sexual identity, race and ethnicity, ability, age, body diversity, and more.” The event is hosted by Allison Maldonado from The Vintage Voyager. Naturally, the night centers around fashion, art and performances. This supposed snowpocalypse is coming in hot so I’m going to make this quick. The fashion segment features designers Sam Donovan and Joseph Aaron Segal of Pretty Snake, Cosmic Unicornz, The 4CE and Gerald Hopper. Thomas Evans’ photography will be on display, and the headlining show features Joslyn Fox of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 6 fame as well as a collab between City Sirens and Trailer Park Girls and singer-songwriter Giuliano D’Orazio. The funds raised at this show will be joined with funds from a Worcester Arts Council grant for a youth program pilot that “uses fashion design classes as a lens to discuss identity and expression.” Sounds like a fun way to spend a night while helping out an intriguing youth program. Cheers.

IT’S A WAYS OUT BUTTTTT: I did a story on Miss Q’s CAMPQUEST a while back, but the event returns for year three Sunday, April 28 and I wanted to put it on your radar. Here’s the gist: it’s a 5k walk that benefits the Hole in the Wall Gang taking place at Commerce Bank Field (Foley Stadium). The Hole in the Wall Gang is a really friggin’ awesome program. I won’t do it justice because I’m a crotchety old guy now, but it was founded in ’88 by Paul Newman and helps more than 20,000 seriously ill children by providing them camp experiences, and I have cried smile tears more than once reading about it. Go on, toss the name into Google and tell me you don’t do.

ASK A PUNK: If you enjoy

drinking beer, banging your head and sweating it out with some pals, consider heading to a certified ripper Friday, Feb. 15. I’m not going to tell you where it is, but if you know, you know (and if you don’t, come on, it really isn’t hard to track somebody down who does). Death Defier, Foxfires and Scare City will be tearing it up as well as first-times out from brand new hardcore bands Moss Folk and Marrow. We in Foxfires are going to see Death Defier how many FACEBOOK.COM/ TRUONG LAM Busch Lights we can drink and still make it through our set. Our record is pretty damn good so far, if I do say so myself.

Joshua Lyford Culture editor @Joshachusetts

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

Roux Krewe

Mamaroux’s bananas foster and beignets appeared on the menu at deadhorse hill for a special Carnival collaboration last week.

SARAH CONNELL

Last week, Jon Demoga of MamaRoux brought Carnival to life at deadhorse hill.

Demoga’s mirliton soup put the “roux” in MamaRoux, combining oysters, bowfin caviar, absinthe and creme fraiche. Other standout dishes included an etouffee complete with head-on shrimp, Louisiana crawfish and long grain rice; and a chicken pontabla draped in Benton’s Country ham. deadhorse hill co-owner Sean Woods and bartender Derek Grimm put out an array of historic New Orleans cocktails, from hurricanes to hand grenades.

The party isn’t over; deadhorse will offer a four-course Valentine’s menu this week featuring caviar crostini, a whole grilled fish and flourless chocolate cake.

Bright with Nelson

Snow Bunnies

Your Valentine’s Day could consist of an exclusive chef tasting dinner in an igloo at Lock 50 with complimentary bubbles. The five-course affair will unfold in two seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for $125 per person. Reservations are required.

artists culture

ight

Artist spotl

Extra, Extra

Bull Mansion is hosting a Magic Mike XXL Authorized Tribute Show on Friday, Feb.15 at 9 p.m. Male entertainers from Las Vegas, New York, Miami, Tampa and Orlando will be on site to “woo” Worcester all night long. According to the maidens of the Mansion, “Our chiseled hard-bodied entertainers have been seen in movies, on VH1, E-Entertainment, MTV, Muscle & Fitness Magazine, Abercrombie & Fitch Ads, reality TV shows, and HBO.” Lest I remind you, Matthew McConaughey won an Independent Spirit Award for the classic film, “Magic Mike?”

Greenlit

On that note, The White Eagle is hosting a Valentine’s “traffic light” party – a concept you may remember from your freshman dorm days. Wear red if you’re taken, green if you’re ready to mingle, and yellow if some poor sap still stands a chance. Show up at 9:30 before all of the good signals are taken.

diate and Span to bring the Photoshop from the imme camera and to provide “an escape a spin on the laws of biliHarnois seeksin,” and his work “places endless possi ces them with appears upbeat world we live ery world and repla the physical ” While some of his imag viewer to continue s. has ties of dream hopes they will force the ois currently Harn he on. y, goes ows and happ t them as time Worcester Wind ter orces thinking abou ay in the downtown ArtsW al displ shown in sever e at a photo on rth,” and has ’s work onlin exhibit, “Rebi find more of the artist can shows. You .

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

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

Everyone’s favorite outlandish farmer, Eric Nelson, has been appointed to a leadership role at the new Tree House Orchard & Farm Fermentory in Woodstock, Conn. Nelson was named Worcester’s Best Bartender in 2018 by Worcester Magazine in honor of his many years of service at Armsby Abbey. Tree House’s new orchard will feed the brewery’s barreling program and eventually result in production of fresh-pressed cider. This new chapter is a testament to Tree House’s signature stewardship and authenticity. A blog post this week announced, “Sign-ups for our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program at the farm, first for existing members and second for newly interested members, will begin soon. In the first year, we will be offering a full share, a half share, a flower share, a mushroom share, and a winter share, should you be interested in enjoying the literal fruit of our efforts.”

culture A Captive Audience at The Mountain Barn 174 Worcester Road, Princeton • 978-464-2044 • mountainbarn.com SANDRA RAIN

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W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

ost rural New England towns have at least one bar or restaurant. If there’s only one, it tends to become a default community center – the sort of place where a selectman posts the official minutes from town meeting right before cooking you a prime rib supper. Since 1983, Princetonians have known The Mountain Barn.

The Mountain Barn is to Princeton what Ladd’s is to Rutland or The Black and White is to Spencer. When you walk through the front door, you’re bound to encounter an entire Girl Scout troop or a meeting of the local sportsman’s club. The parking lot is always in overflow mode.

There’s knotty pine throughout the post-and-beam dining room.

It’s a perfect canvas for signs from Texaco, Gulf and Speedway. A puzzling concoction of antiques sits in the rafters, putting model airplanes, saws and rocking horses on display.

Aztec blankets hang from the walls.

Old timey lanterns illuminate the

The Mountain Barn’s seared scallop appetizer.

SANDRA RAIN

laminate surfaces of every booth.

Cocktails are all reasonably priced between $8 and $9. Most are the syrupy sort, like the Milky Way martini

and the berry sangria.

Begin with seared sea scallops ($12) served over a cucumber slaw and a generous dose of Thai

chili sauce that is as sweet as the cocktails. An array of bar snacks are also available, which is convenient because there isn’t a supermarket for many miles that can accomodate a craving for frozen mozzarella sticks ($8) after 7 p.m.

Entrees come with a tidy side salad. The half rack of baby barbecued ribs ($16) is slow cooked and slathered in sauce. My date actually said the words, “This is crock-tastic.”

The dish arrived covered by a soup bowl, ostensibly to keep the heat in.

A french fry accompaniment proved floppy at best.

The servers are kind and patient, even while being hollered at by a primly-dressed Princetonian woman who did not receive her salad prior to the main course.

I was told the chicken piccata ($16) is a house favorite, but I couldn’t help thinking it had been doused in powdered Minute Maid.

I had hoped for a sautée of fresh lemon juice, white wine, garlic and capers. What I got was closer to a Lemonhead candy reduction.

The Mountain Barn is very clean.

Booths get scrubbed with ferocity in between each seating and the paper placemats catch messes along the way.

Princeton is surrounded by more working farms than most chefs could ever dream of. It seems like such a wasted opportunity to heat and serve food that comes off a truck.

I won’t make any special trips to The Mountain Barn, but I can see why the local crowd continues to pack the parking lot year in and year out for its sheer accessibility.

Our dinner for two came to a total of $70.65.

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

Food: HH Ambience: HH Service: HHH Value: HH

You could win a $50 restaurant gift card, just by nominating your favorites. Go to worcestermag.com today!

culture

Gronk act!

JIM KEOGH

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Rob Gronkowski WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/JEFFREY BEALL

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Jim Keogh contributing writer

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Ray Allen in “He Got Game,” LeBron James in “Trainwreck,” NFL legends Dick Butkus and the late Alex Karras in sitcoms. Even Mike Tyson isn’t half bad in the “Hangover” movies and earned solid reviews for his one-man Broadway show.

Still, I’ve seen too many jocks trip over their own cleats. Former Packers QB Brett Favre displayed the acting range of a filing cabinet in “There’s Something About Mary.” NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, while charming in ads and on basketball pre-game shows, is simply a mumbling mountain man in his movie performances, beginning with 1994’s “Blue Chips” (co-starring Worcester’s own Bob Cousy).

If Gronkowski wants a true wakeup call, he should watch Robert De Niro’s performance as middleweight boxing champ Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.” By the end of the film, the retired, bloated LaMotta is telling bad jokes from seedy nightclub stages, trading on his faded celebrity for a shot as a contender in the entertainment ring. It’s a familiar hazard: Believing prowess in one profession naturally translates to another.

The football fan in me would love to see Gronkowski return to Foxboro; the human in me hopes he takes his scarred body to Los Angeles. If he pursues this the right way, maybe he will indeed become a film and TV success. Nothing would make Patriots Nation happier.

We always want Gronk to smash it.

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

s the post-Super Bowl glow dims, Patriots Nation is left with the dreaded question: What about Gronk?

Tight end Rob Gronkowski, a Golden Retriever puppy in shoulder pads, aged before our eyes this season. The team tried to trade him.

Nine years of savage blows slowed him. The playful light in his eyes diminished. He went from “Gronk smash!” to “Gronk nap!”

So it was a joy to see him rally for the playoffs and make a key catch in the Super Bowl. The speculation now is he’ll walk away from the game with his limbs aching but intact. And he reportedly wants to keep walking all the way to Hollywood. Our Rob is going to be a star.

That’s the plan anyway. Gronkowski already has 12 acting credits on his IMDB page – mostly small stuff, like a cameo in the “Entourage” movie.

He recently completed a movie called “Deported” alongside a bunch of hasbeens and never-weres. His character is “Party Boy Jake.” For a guy nearly as famous for catching cans of beer thrown at him during duck boat parades as he is for snagging Tom Brady’s passes, Party Boy Jake doesn’t appear to be much of a stretch.

Here’s the challenge for Gronkowski. He’ll get by for a while doing Gronk-like roles that require a hulking presence and minimal line memorization. But eventually he’ll have to play someone other than himself, especially as he shifts further away from his football career. I read Gronkowski has an acting coach, which indicates he’s not expecting to score in front of a camera solely on the basis his big personality. Smart move.

I do hope he’s studied his history. Hollywood is littered with the jockstraps of former athletes looking to make a second career in entertainment. Some have done a decent job at it. Two-sport athlete Chuck Connors played for both the Celtics and Dodgers before becoming a TV staple in shows like “The Rifleman” and “Branded.” Running back Jim Brown, arguably the best ever, left the sport in his prime and acted steadily for decades. More recently, Dwayne Johnson employed the theatrics he honed inside the wrestling ring to shape a profitable career as an action star. We’ve almost stopped calling him “The Rock.” Almost.

Other athletes have shown discernible talent in limited gigs:

culture

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

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W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

EAST DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Penny’s owner moved to a place that didn’t allow pets. She came from Florida and is not a fan of New England winters.

She enjoys the warmth of plush blankets in sunny windows or the electric blanket on your bed. Penny’s coat and teeth were in need of some TLC when she came to WARL. She’s now sporting a chic “lion-esque” cut after all the heavy mats were removed. Penny’s teeth were so bad that she needed them all removed. But don’t worry, she’s recovered just fine and nothing gets in her way when it comes to food. It’s adorable. Penny didn’t live with other pets or kids. She’ll be most comfortable in a home with one or two people. She is 7 years young, spayed, and ready to go home today.

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

against; For dogs: Kongs, Ruff Wear, Jolly Balls, Tuffies, tennis balls.

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

Pet Toys – For cats: furry mice and balls with bells, stuffed animals for orphaned kittens to snuggle

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

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

depend on the heartfelt outpouring of people like you. Donations can be given online, mailed, or given in person at WARL.

Monetary Donations: WARL is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your donations of money, time, supplies, homes, and love are vital to our cause and the lives of the animals in our care. The animals

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

Amazon Wish List: Can’t stop in?

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

sports p For boxer Jake Paradise, ‘Anything is possible’

Worcester boxer Jake Paradise goes to work on a speed bag inside the YMCA on Main Street.

WALTER BIRD JR.

WALTER BIRD JR.

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things. Sometimes, he gets performance anxiety. That’s due to the trauma he’s been through. Physically, he has a lot of talent.”

Overall, said Alston, Paradise “is in the best place since I met him.”

Paradise agrees wholeheartedly.

“I feel amazing,” he said. “Physically, I put the work in nonstop. I’m a workhorse, always have been. Mentally, I feel so calm and so lasered in now. I’ve never felt this way.”

As much as he wants to show the boxing community what he can do in the ring, Paradise said he is also doing it for a mother who tried to “give me the world by herself ” and for his fiancee and son.

As for his addiction, Paradise says every day is a battle, but but he wants to be a positive role model.

“I honestly want to be that beacon to those kids who are being told they can’t do something or they are not going to do something,” he said.

“I want to tell them, ‘If I can do it, you can do it. Reach for the stars.

Anything is possible.”

The Score

Worcester 78’s Saturday, Feb. 9 The 78’s topped the Jersey Express, 138-114, at home.

(Upcoming: The 78’s host the New England Outtatowners Saturday, Feb. 16 at Worcester State University.)

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Worcester Blades Sunday, Feb. 10 The Blades were blanked, 10-0, on the road by the Calgary Inferno.

(Upcoming: The Blades host Les Canadiennes Montreal Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 16-17, at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Centre.)

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Worcester Railers Friday, Feb. 8 The Railers (21-19-3-3), kicking of a three-game home weekend, came from behind to beat the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-30-3-2).

Saturday, Feb. 9 The Railers (21-20-3-3) fell, 5-1, at home against the Wheeling Nailers.

Sunday, Feb. 10 The Railers (21-20-4-3) lost their second in a row, this time falling, 4-3, in overtime to the Cincinnati Cyclones (Upcoming: The Railers played the Maine Mariners on the road Wednesday. The Railers continue a nine-game road trip with the Allen Americans Friday, Feb. 15, the Tulsa Oilers Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1617, and Manchester Monarchs Wednesday Feb. 20.)

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

“I have to,” the 0-2 Paradise said of winning his fight against another winless fighter, Francisco Artri Neto ix years ago, Jake Paradise (0-2) of Woburn. “I don’t have an passed out cold from a drug option. I have to go and show everyoverdose on a traffic island in Worcester’s Kelley Square. Just body that I’m here and that I’m comover one month from now, he will be ing. There’s a Worcester boxing family, man, all the amateurs and pros. going for his first win as a profesI’ve actually never been considered sional boxer. But he will be fighting part of it. I feel I’ve been an outcast for more than a vertical line in the for a long time, like the boogeyman. win column – much more.

On March 15 they’re going to see this “It means everything right now,” kid’s here and this kid’s a problem.” the 25-year-old Worcester-bornParadise said he thinks he should and-raised Paradise said by phone be fighting for his third win, but recently of his scheduled March 15 his first two fights as a pro ended bout at The Palladium. in losses. Paradise said mentally he A few days earlier, he had sat at simply wasn’t where he needed to be a table inside Grille 57 on Highland to win.

Street alongside others who will be “I should have creamed those fighting on a card billed as “Every Man for Himself,” the first solo boxing guys,” he said of his first two opponents. “I deal with depression and promotion for Chuck Shearns. Like anxiety, a lot of that from growing up. the other fighters there to talk up the event, Paradise briefly addressed I didn’t focus on my mental strength as much as my physical.” a gathering of friends, family, press Now, he said, he feels “amazing.” It and local boxing insiders. Mostly, is a long way from the way he felt — though, he sat with his elbows bent on the table, hands folded in front of and the things he witnessed — as a his face. He bore the look of someone youngster.

Paradise said he grew up with a with a lot to prove, someone who single mom who left his father, who knows an opportunity has come he said was physically abusive and knocking loudly on his door.

addicted to drugs. She remarried, but that relationship ultimately turned sour. When Paradise was around 16, he said he and his mother ended up homeless.

By that point, Paradise said, he was already addicted to drugs, having been introduced by a friend to oxycodone when he was 12 or 13.

“That was the start of an addiction problem that would last until I was 19,” he said, noting he took mostly prescription pills. “I would take those to school and mellow out in the back of the classroom. Growing up having a lot of people who knew my dad, they’d be telling me I was going to be like him. He was a crackhead. He wasn’t a good person. Everybody was telling me, ‘That’s what you’re going to be.’ I grew up with a lot of self hate, suicidal thoughts. I worked my way through that growing up, but it was hard.”

Paradise said he was often kicked out of school.

“I had teachers and people telling me I was worthless and stuff,” he said. “I went to seven different schools. I was always fighting, or there was always an issue … I thought there was something wrong with me.”

When he was around 16, he said, Paradise and his mother became homeless, and ended up moving in with his grandfather. Paradise “started bouncing around” before his mother found an apartment. He moved in with her and around that time graduated high school. But, he said, “I was still fighting my demons.”

His addiction, he said, “got really bad.” He said he ended up homeless again, while his mother moved in with her then-boyfriend, to whom she is now married. He stayed with them “for a few weeks,” but that didn’t work out.

When he was around 18 or 19, Paradise recalled, he “hooked up” with a young woman from his childhood and impregnated her. The woman left with the child before he was born, and Paradise said he turned to drugs.

“I OD’d. I took a fistful of pills and passed out,” he said. “I woke up on that little island in Kelley Square.”

At that point, he said, two of his closest friends, Louis and Eddy Arrington, to whom he refers as his brothers, came to his aid.

“They took me in,” Paradise said. “I started to clean up. I knew I had nine months to fix myself. I had a son on the way.”

Around that time, according to Paradise, he got back into boxing. He did not formally train at a gym and didn’t have a trainer growing up, but said he took part in more than 40 amateur fights.

“Boxing had always been the center of my life, so I got back into boxing,” Paradise said, adding he fought a lot growing up and took part in what he described as “streetheld events.”

Wyatt Blake Tobey, now 5, was born Oct. 20, 2013. According to Paradise, he hasn’t touched drugs since, and is now going on six years clean. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t other challenges.

A couple years ago, he received a phone call informing him his father was brain dead from years of abusing drugs and alcohol.

“I hadn’t talked to him in over 10 years,” Paradise said. “It hit me. I mean, he’s quote-unquote the person who made you. It was one of those situations I didn’t know how to react.

It was a little rough, but I got through that.”

Then tragedy struck just before Paradise’s pro debut in 2017 when his 5-month-old nephew died from what he said was shaken baby syndrome.

“That was really big on my family,” Paradise said. “That was the most devastating part. He had the world in front him.”

With all he has dealt with, Paradise said he is in as good a place mentally and physically as he has ever been. He lives with and is engaged to be married this year to Angelica Resendes, who he met more than three years ago. And he is training with Bruce Alston at the YMCA on Main Street as well as strength and conditioning coach Matthew Evans.

Paradise, according to his trainer, has all the physical tools. It has been the mental blocks that have gotten in his way.

“There’s nothing I ask him that he won’t do physically,” said Alston, who has been working with Paradise about three years. “He’s had a rough time of it. People were like, ‘I don’t know about this kid.’ He’s got a lot of talent. His problem is the mental

calendar

Friday, Feb. 15 Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. Music Worcester presents the Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra at Mechanics Hall.

Friday, Feb. 15 Peter Murphy 40 Years of Bauhaus, Ruby Celebration feat. David J.

The Palladium, 261 Main St. Peter Murphy and David J come together at the Palladium celebrating 40 years of Bauhaus.

Friday, Feb. 15 Artwork and Egoes: The Salisbury Portraits and their Creators

Worcester Historical Museum, 30 Elm St. Salisbury Mansion docent JoAnn Mills and site manager Robert Stacy discuss the personal and professional histories of the artists who painted portraits of the Salisbury family.

Saturday, Feb. 16 Public Safety Broomball Tournament and Winter Carnival

Worcester Common Oval, 455 Main St. The Worcester Police Department, Worcester Fire Department and EMS battle it out in a game of broomball at the Worcester Common Oval. Following the tournament, public skating will be available. Food trucks, a beer tent and a giant slide will all be on hand.

calendar Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 14-16 Hate Mail

Stageloft Repertory Theater, 450A Main St., Sturbridge A comedy by Kira Obolensky and Bill Corbett performed at the Stageloft Repertory Theater.

Saturday, Feb. 16 Live Animal Show: The Nature of My Backyard

Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Road “Creature Teachers” introduce visitors to the common animals living all around us in a live presentation.

Through Sunday, Through Feb. 17 Criminal Hearts, by Braid Productions

DCU Center, 50 Foster St. Monster Jam is back at the DCU Center with their Triple Threat Series, featuring Monster Jam Trucks, speedsters and ATVs.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-17 Monster Jam: Triple Threat Series

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

Singh Performance Center, 60 Douglas Road, Whitinsville Jane Martin’s “Criminal Hearts,” directed by Cindy Bell and presented by Braid Productions. In an unlikely turn of events, a woman and a burglar team up for revenge.

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games

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

J O N E S I N’ Across 1 “Downton Abbey” countess 5 Pokémon protagonist 8 Fix, as the end of a pool cue 13 Strong cards 14 “SmackDown!” org.

15 High grade 17 Johnny Carson’s predecessor 19 “Sorry Not Sorry” singer Demi 20 Magic, on a scoreboard 21 Like toast without butter 22 So far 23 “Weetzie Bat” author Francesca ___ Block 24 Get a sense of importance, say 26 Children’s author Blyton 28 E-mail address part 29 Ancient Roman road 30 Indian restaurant appetizer 33 Hospital count 36 Places with IVs 37 “The Battle With the Slum” author and social reformer 40 ___ A. Bank (menswear retailer) 43 “Don’t move!”

44 Super Bowl XLI halftime headliner 48 Actress Hathaway of “Ocean’s 8” 50 1010, in binary 52 Gloom and ___ 53 Figure out group emotions, maybe 58 Replacement 59 Wrigley Field judges 60 Boy band that sang “Girl on TV” 61 She, in Brazil 62 Surgeon for whom a mouthwash is named 63 Some purchases for vape pens 65 Prefix meaning “insect” 66 Their capacity is measured in BTUs 67 Attila’s band 68 “Quiz Show” figure Charles Van ___

“Double Up” — the middle two from all five.

by Matt Jones

69 1950s White House nickname 70 ___-bitty Down 1 Persuades 2 Instrument in a Legend of Zelda title 3 Win back 4 Inquire of 5 In the know 6 Began to convince 7 She/___ pronouns 8 Chief Wiggum’s kid 9 Melodramatize 10 Copenhagen’s ___ Gardens 11 How short messages may be sent 12 Bring off, slangily 16 Seeders 18 Adobe file format 22 Say out loud 25 Legislative persuader 27 Gp. that oversees the ATF 31 Airline based in Stockholm 32 False front 34 Slight decrease 35 Knightly title 38 Hall’s partner 39 PBS’s “Science Kid”

40 Rapper in the Fyre Festival documentaries 41 With “of,” in total agreement 42 Shapes up quickly 45 Barely defeat 46 Was unable to 47 Diplomat’s building 49 Podcast staffer 51 “I couldn’t find it” 54 HBO series set in New Orleans 55 “Great blue” marsh bird 56 Good for something 57 Actress Gretchen of “Boardwalk Empire” 63 “___ Ho” (“Slumdog Millionaire” song) 64 ___ Beta Kappa

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Central Mass Classifieds

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY DIVISION NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING Project File No.609226 A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT to discuss the proposed Kelley Square Improvement Project in Worcester, MA. WHERE: Worcester Technical High School, Auditorium, 1 Skyline Drive, Worcester, MA 01605 WHEN: Wednesday, February 27, 2019 @ 6:00 pm (Snow Date February 28, 2019) PURPOSE: The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Kelley Square Improvement Project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

PROPOSAL: Kelley Square poses a number of safety risks for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles. There were 403 reported crashes between January 2013 and December 2016, including 1 fatality. Twenty-one of these crashes involved pedestrians and five involved bicyclists. This project will address the safety and operational deficiencies faced by all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, while also supporting the local businesses and residents who call Kelley Square their home.

A secure right-of-way is necessary for this project. Acquisitions in fee and permanent or temporary easements may be required. The City is responsible for acquiring all needed rights in private or public lands. MassDOT’s policy concerning land acquisitions will be discussed at this hearing.

Written views received by MassDOT subsequent to the date of this notice and up to five (5) days prior to the date of the hearing shall be displayed for public inspection and copying at the time and date listed above. Plans will be on display one-half hour before the hearing begins, with an engineer in attendance to answer questions regarding this project. A project handout will be made available on the MassDOT website listed below.

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Roadway Project Management, Project File No. 609226. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of this Public Hearing. Project inquiries may be emailed to kelleysqproj.worcester@dot.state.ma.us This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857368-0603) or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting.

In case of inclement weather, hearing cancellation announcements will be posted on the internet at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Highway/ JONATHAN GULLIVER PATRICIA A. LEAVENWORTH, P.E. HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR CHIEF ENGINEER February 14, 21, 2019

PUBLIC AUCTION NOTICE Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of M.L.C. sec. 39a the following vehicles will be sold March 2, 2019 at a sale to satisfy our garage lien thereon for towing and storage charges and expenses of sale and notice: 2004 Acura TL VIN# 19UUA66204A065961 2006 Ford Explorer VIN# 1FMEU74E66UB71227 2017 Kia Soul VIN# KNDJP3A57H7413926 2009 Lexus IS250 VIN# JTHCK262695029769 The location of the sale will be Early’s on Park Ave., Inc, 536 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA 01603 CITATION ON PETITION FOR ALLOWANCE OF ACCOUNT Docket No. WO43P1401-01 Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Worcester Probate and Family Court 225 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608 508-831-2200 In the matter of: Harris Grace Date of Death: 01/10/1943 To all interested persons: A Petition has been filed by: Eugene L Rubin of Worcester, MA, Alan Feingold of Worcester, MA, Kim M Rubin of Needham Heights, MA requesting allowance of the fifty-first and thirtieth account(s) as Trustee and any other relief as requested in the Petition. You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have the right to object to this proceeding.

To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on 02/26/2019. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return date, action may be taken without further notice to you. WITNESS, Hon. Leilah A Keamy, First Justice of this Court Date: January 30, 2019 Stephanie K. Fattman, Register of Probate. 02/14/19 WM

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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

Project Title Bid Opening Bid No. Release Date 19-04 2/13/2019 Smart Burners 2:00 PM February 27, 2019 Jackson Restrepo, Chief Procurement Officer Visit our website at: www.worcesterha.org

LEGALS

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

LEGAL

classifieds

last call Eliza Lawrence and Mackenzie May School Garden Advocates

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

F E B R U A RY 14 - 20, 2019

liza Lawrence and Mackenzie May were key organizers of the first-ever Academic Gardening to Enrich our Students, or AGES, Conference held earlier this month at Worcester State University. Lawrence is an Americorps Promise Fellow, splitting her time between YouthGROW (Youth Growing Organics in Worcester) and UGROW (Urban Garden Resources of Worcester).

May works for Central Mass Grown, an organization that promotes the purchase of local agricultural products and education about its benefits to health, communities, the economy and the environment.

the idea that school gardens are going to save the world and take a more practical approach about how fun and meaningful they can be for schools.

MM: We’re also focused on the community’s impact because there are existing gardens that need champions to bring them back to life. We don’t necessarily need brand new school gardens all over the city, we need to revive some of the ones that are already here.

garden (aside from being on a trailer) needs to have a landscape fabric on the bottom and on the top to help insulate that soil from drying out, and you need to have drip tape. Schools can work with their landscapers to automate that.

EL: Resource sharing is important as well. I mentioned a couple examples of how churches or community organizations that are nearby schools have gotten involved. A lot of those run year round and they get really excited about checking in on the school What work are you doing to garden. Some schools have sumpromote farmers and connect mer programs and they can check them to schools? in on the gardens. I think it’s key MM: School connections can be challenging, because farmers don’t that we are making sure we are all connected and that organizations, What is the relationship betypically have the time to get out including higher education institween your two organizations? to schools during the school day, tutions, know where the schools MM: We sit on the steering comjust like teachers don’t always are. We actually have a Holy Cross mittee for the Worcester Food have the time to go take the kids intern right now who’s making a Hub together. and visit the farms. However, if map of all of our school gardens EL: We both want to make schools and when those connections are and what organizations are within an easier place to grow food. That’s appropriate and schools pick up how this conference came about. the phone and they call me to say, a half a mile of them so we can reach out to other organizations “Where do you recommend we and say, “Just so you know, there’s go?” I can help. Either I give them What was your goal for the a school garden here and if you’re one of our two publications that AGES conference? ever interested in being involved, EL: I think school gardens are a re- serve as a directory of farmers please let us know.” We think in Worcester County, or if I have ally romantic idea and everybody relationships with a certain farm, I that’ll help a lot, because teachers loves the idea of school gardens. are super stressed out about sumWe heard people saying, ‘We need will make those connections. mer maintenance and if we have school gardens in Worcester.’ people who are already around We had to sort of step in and tell And you were a farmer youror college interns who spend the them, “We’re already doing that self? summer in Worcester, it could and these are the challenges we MM: Yes, sometimes I still am. make a huge difference. We just have. So, let’s talk through some of I farmed for seven years in New need to be better about finding those challenges and if you want Hampshire, and then down here, those resources and connecting. to start a school garden realistiI began my own soiree raising cally, let’s discuss how you are pigs and doing a CSA. I worked at going to do that.” It’s easy to think Tougas Family Farm for five years Can you tell me about the Holy that school gardens are going to and my family still raises animals Cross and WPI greenhouses?

EL: We have greenhouses at Holy alleviate food insecurity at all the in Boylston.

Cross and WPI. There are garden schools, but most of our gardens clubs at both of those schools that consist of two raised beds, and What is your approach to sumhelp water the seedlings daily and they’re more like an experimental mer maintenance of a school make sure that the temperatures step to get people to associate garden? are all adjusted properly. It’s a themselves with growing food in MM: Automation really is the general. We wanted to disperse be-all and end-all. The ideal school great partnership and our Youth

Eliza Lawrence, left, and Mackenzie May

SARAH CONNELL

What advice do you have for community members who want to get involved?

EL: School gardens are easier than people think. A school garden can often feel like another task on a What is the tool lending liteacher’s list, among many other brary? tasks. I want teachers to know EL: Our schools and our comthat it’s really easy to get people munity gardeners have identified involved and get people excited that tools break often and they about gardening. In that way, don’t really have their own tools school gardens can become a very to begin with. Some schools have small workload on the teacher’s small hand tools, but there’s not part. It’s really beneficial to the enough of them. Sometimes, when students, and the younger they get they’re hosting big volunteer days started, the easier it is for them to in their gardens, they have no idea identify where their food comes where the tools are going to come from. from. It has been a long time com- MM: I think that any and all reading and we’ve piloted it in the past, ers should make sure that they’re but we were able to get a grant this reaching out to their schools year to buy a ton of different tools. to ask if they have a gardening We’re logging things now and program and how they can help we’re going to have a process for support it, because it shouldn’t people to be able to rent tools. all fall on the teachers, and all too often it does.

Growers have a ton of fun, especially because the greenhouses are always really warm from February to April when we’re in there and it’s so cold outside.

– Sarah Connell

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