Worcester Magazine February 28 - March 6, 2019

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PLAY Are Worcester’s Large Nonprofits Paying Their Share?

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in this issue F E B R U A RY 28 - M A R C H 6 • V O L U M E 44 I S S U E 27

the cover

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Fair Play Are Worcester’s Large Nonprofits Paying Their Share?

Story on page 12 Photos by Matt Wright, Design by Kimberly Vasseur

Vernon Hill Elementary gets Railers treatment: The Railers have made good on their inaugural season promise of being a presence in the community. 19 Russo’s Reign: Lock 50 owner Ed Russo plans to open a second restaurant in the Canal District in April. 23

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news YWCA in Worcester touts CBA; negotiations continue for agreement on new ballpark BILL SHANER

might be in any possible agreement.

At the announcement Friday, s organizers continue Mayor Joe Petty and others alluded to pursue a community to a possible CBA for the ballpark. benefit agreement for the “We also have this coming, Worcester Red Sox ballpark project, the YWCA of Central Mas- hopefully, with the Red Sox and the stadium,” he said. sachusetts has signed on to the Linda Cavaioli, YWCA director, city’s first-ever community benefit cut him off. agreement for a $24-million reno“But we’re first,” she said, to vation of the organization’s Salem laughter from the room.

Square building.

The YWCA renovations will be The benefits agreement dictates carried out by an all-woman cona 100-percent women-led construction management team put struction management team, together by Milford-based Consigli 100-percent living wage jobs Construction. Per the agreement for construction workers with the company will set preferences benefits, and diversity guidelines for who the construction company for hiring women construction hires and brings on as apprentices. workers and apprenticeships.

The renovations will include “How great is this,” said Frank additional rooms for women T. Kartheiser, a member of the escaping domestic violence and Worcester Community Labor additional classroom and meeting Coalition, to cheers at the anspace. nouncement Friday, Feb. 22. “This District 2 Councilor Candy is the way you do business. This Mero-Carlson said the CBA signing is 21st-century business. This is was a proud moment for her, and how it works. People say ‘why would you have a CBA?’ Well, why said she’s active in pursuing a CBA for the ballpark project. wouldn’t you.”

“It’s really an exciting day today Community benefits agreefor Worcester. Who would have ments have emerged in the past thought we’d be standing here few years as effective tools for securing local benefits for economic and saying we have a community development projects — especially benefits agreement, so kudos to those that involve public subsidies everybody,” said Mero-Carlson.

— like local hiring and purchasing, “We should be employing people protections against gentrification, who live in this city and look like us,” she said. and built-in benefit for nearby As for the push for a Worcesresidents once the project comes ter Red Sox CBA, labor coalition online. organizers hosted a community The agreement comes as forum Wednesday the PNI Club, organizers with the Community Labor Coalition continue to pursue after deadline for thia story. The event was expected to feature a community benefit agreement speakers from other cities which with the city and the Pawtucket saw successful CBA agreements, Red Sox organization for the ballpark set to go in the Canal District including Odessa Kelly from Stand Up Nashville. Last year, the by 2021. While the city and the organization secured a robust CBA CLA have entered negotiations, attached to a professional soccer there has been no news on what

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Jodi Staruk, who leads the all-woman team for Consigli Contruction, speaks on the project as Linda Cavaioli, YWCA director, looks on.

BILL SHANER

stadium development. The CBA includes mandates for affordable housing units, spaces for community activities, local labor and other concessions intended to help the community.

In a past interview, Kelly told Worcester Magazine the road to a CBA in Nashville went through their version of a city council. Officials held out votes necessary to approve the project before a CBA was signed. In Worcester, the ballpark has been approved with the caveat that the manager consider a community benefit agreement.

City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. said in a statement that CBA negotiations are ongoing.

“We’ve had multiple productive

meetings with the Community Labor Coalition in negotiating a community benefit agreement for the ballpark project,” he said. “The City continues to work on a CBA that will be agreeable to all sides.”

In the past, Augustus has pointed to aspects already in the deal with the soon-to-be Worcester Red Sox, including a free ticket for every Worcester student per season, as community benefits that already exist without an agreement.

While community benefits agreements lay out certain benefits for the community, they also come with an accountability process, something Worcester Community Labor Coalition leaders like Kartheiser stress. In a past interview,

he said other CBAs around the country include an annual or biannual report, much in the vein of Worcester’s tax increment financing reports, on where the project is with the goals laid out in the agreement. The report, while carrying little legal weight, gives the community a chance to evaluate a project and its benefits in public.

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

news

Councilors express reservations on eminent domain for Midtown Mall BILL SHANER

fortunes of downtown seem fairer.

“We need to make sure businesses who stuck around do not ity councilors this week get penalized for sticking around,” pressed the city manager said Rivera, who represents Disto consider the effect on trict 4. businesses in the Midtown The request comes as the Mall as City Hall inches closer to Worcester Redevelopment Authora possible takeover via eminent ity set in motion the long and domain. complicated legal process of taking An order filed by councilors a building by eminent domain. At Sarai Rivera and Candy MeroCarlson requests City Manager Ed a meeting next month, the WRA is expected to vote on hiring appraisAugustus Jr. reach out to the tenants of the Midtown Mall — many ers, an early step toward seizing the building. In the meantime, Ecoof which are small businesses nomic Development Office officials owned by people of color — and have said they plan to meet with report back on how many busiDean Marcus, the property owner. nesses would be affected, what City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. plans there are for relocating and on Tuesday maintained eminent assisting them and time frame of domain was a last resort. Instead, closure. he said, he’d like to see the property “It appears some of them don’t owner make investments in the have any idea what is happening,” said Mero-Carlson. “I would like to space or sell it to someone who suggest the economic development will. Augustus said Marcus has been unwilling to invest or sell, so folks downstairs have a meeting with the folks in the midtown mall the move toward eminent domain is a way of applying added pressure so we can keep these folks in the on the property owner. loop.”

Action is needed at the Midtown Though the mall isn’t full, there are still a fair amount of businesses Mall, Augustus said, because of other property owners and invesin it, the District 2 councilor said. tors who have “invested money to “I just want to make sure we do lift up the downtown.” He did not the right thing for these folks that are in the Midtown Mall,” she said. name any businesses specifically.

“Their investments are not for While she agrees “something naught,” he said. “We are not going needs to happen” at the Midtown to allow other properties in the Mall, given its condition, Ridowntown to bring them down.” vera cautioned against punishing Petty’s comments reflected longtime businesses now that the

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man said he recently visited the mall, and said the business owners there see the city as “an attacking army that is going to take away their livelihood.”

“I don’t know where you’re going to relocate people with that rent and that demographic market,” Bergman said.

The building isn’t in great shape, he said, but it isn’t as dilapidated C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6

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the tenants of the mall. At-Large Councilor Khrystian King called for forward thinking and prudence if the city is to assume the mall, and said the city needs to be conscious of leaving a “place for everybody” downtown.

“When you think about how the city is progressing, how gentrification may or may not occur, we need forward thinking,” he said.

At-Large Councilor Moe Berg-

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those of Augustus. He called the Midtown Mall an eyesore interfering with the investments others have made in the downtown.

“We need to send a clear message that we are going to move the city forward,” he said. “But we aren’t going to hurt anyone in the process.”

Rivera and Carlson were not the only councilors who cautioned against action that would harm

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as people make it out to be.

“None of them felt afraid or in danger in any way,” Bergman said.

“They felt scared though, scared about what we’re going to do.”

At-Large Councilor Konnie Lukes said flatly she would not vote to give any money to any eminent domain taking. She said she remembers the legal battles that went into eminent domain takings around the Med City project and doesn’t want to put the city through that again.

“I’m not sure it’s going to slip through this Council with any easy votes,” she said.

District 3 Councilor George

Russell similarly indicated he wouldn’t support eminent domain. The tool is all well and good for existing projects like the Worcester Red Sox ballpark or a school building, he said, but not for a building that is simply underperforming. Instead, the city should rely on rigorous code enforcement.

“I have no problem encouraging [Marcus] to clean the place up,” Russell said, “but I have serious issues about (eminent domain.”

1,001 words KIMBERLY VASSEUR

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

lonely

MIDTOWN MALL

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5

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worcesteria

TWO MORE FOR YA: The School Committee race is really heating up. It’s

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blowing the City Council race out of the water in terms of early intrigue.

As of my last writing, we had three challengers officially declared: Cara Berg Powers, Laura Clancey and Chantel Bethea, in chronological order. Well, add two more. John Trobaugh announced his intention to run over the weekend, after teasing an exploration of sorts earlier in the month. Then on Tuesday, Jermoh Karama, a soon-to-be professor at Clark University in the public health field, announced her bid on the Economou & Rosen Show on Radio Worcester, in an interview that had much too much Gary Rosen and far too little Karama for my liking.

Hopefully, in a different forum she is given more time to talk about her positions, instead of humoring an exhaustive list of facts about Liberia, a country she moved from when she was 11. Also, Gary, my man, when someone talks about how there needs to be more diverse representation on the School Committee, don’t counter by saying she needs to represent “all” students if she wants to win. That is transparent and categorically a bad look. Anyway, welcome to the jungle Karama and Trobaugh.

A WORCESTER NEWS SUMMIT: What if, in Worcester, we got all nine of the local reporters and editors together with community members to hold an open forum on what news coverage in Worcester lacks and how to make it better? I think that would be a very worthwhile exercise, especially given that the long, slow roll of consolidation and downsizing has journalists here and everywhere just trying to keep up. There’s little time to think critically about what you could be doing when you’re doing the work of three people. But a summit could help us all take a step back, reassess, and, most importantly, hear from invested residents about what they want to see. Recently, in Somerville, folks with DigBoston and the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism pulled off such a forum.

The city’s local journalists met with 100 people from the community at a venue in town and had a frank open discussion. Here, from editor Jason Pramas’ recounting: “Straightforward as the event appeared from the outside, it represents a new tactic in the battle to save American journalism.” Then later: “Journalists introduced themselves, over 30 residents made statements about the things they thought needed more coverage, folks networked… and now the community can move forward to thinking about how to organize to strengthen and expand their city’s news media. With everyone involved in convening the summit looking primed to help shepherd the process along.” Seems to me Worcester could really benefit from this.

WHAT A LEGASEY: I read with interest Brad Petrishen’s story in

the Telegram & Gazette about Brittany Legasey, former City Clerk employee, and her settlement with the city over a lawsuit she filed for some Worcester Politics reasons – capital W, capital P. Basically, she said she got fired because of her affiliation with former City Councilor (and pariah) Mike Gaffney. The clerk at the time, David Rushford, disputed that, naturally. Tucked in the story is an amazing quote from Rushford: “I would say that she was the most careless employee that I ever hired.” Anyway, the case was settled in December, and Legasey was paid out $53,000 or so in lost wages. But the city didn’t have to admit to any wrongdoing, and Legasey is now under a gag order, per Petrishen’s reporting. So I guess that’s a wash?

PSSST: There’s a public hearing/subcommittee meeting on the city’s new trash plan. Yeah, the one with the clear bags instead of bins for recycling.

The Standing Committee on Public Works, chaired by George Russell, is picking the topic up at 5:30 p.m. – City Hall, third floor.

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

news

the beat

An online fundraiser for Worcester resident Andy Rodriguez has quickly raised $30,000 after he was hit by an alleged drunk driver on

Sunday and lost both his legs. Rodriguez is currently in the ICU after being pinned by the driver on Vernon Street.

Check online for coverage of a forum that happened after print deadline Wednesday on the future of the WooSox ballpark project

and a possible community benefits agreement, which would outline tangible gains for the community from the project. The forum last night was expected to feature community organizers from other cities speaking on how they got CBAs for large developments.

The investigation into Worcester firefigher Christopher Roy is officially underway. According to MassLive, a federal investigation

expected to end in March started last week. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will investigate Roy’s death in the Lowell Street triple decker in December.

A Kelley Square improvement project 25 percent design hearing was scheduled for Wednesday night. The hearing was centered

around the “peanut” hybrid light and roundabout design Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials have chosen for the intersection.

The greater Worcester area is the seventh healthiest in New England, as ranked by the health website Healthgrades. In terms of

J&W Aseda Marketplace has been accused by U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling of selling uninspected meat. The

Main Street market has been accused of selling 50 pounds of goat meat, 18 pounds of beef tripe, 18 pounds of smoked catfish and six pounds of meat pies. The market has been convicted of food stamp fraud and found to be in violation of health and safety standards in the past, according to the Telegram & Gazette.

fiscal 2020 budget, according to the Grafton News. The $200 million UPS facility has delayed as the company has lagged in applying for a building permit, causing town financial officials to take the projected revenue stream off the table.

Webster joins the rank of area communities, including Worcester, to ban flavored tobacco products. The Board of Health voted to

prohibit stores from selling tobacco with flavored products last week, according to the Telegram. The vote was 3-2. While unpopular with convenience store owners, the rule is intended to curb the marketing of tobacco products to children.

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Officials in Grafton are considering layoffs, furloughs and pay freezes as a delayed UPS project has caused a $350,000 deficit in the

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access to hospitals, Worcester ranks first nationally, but hospital quality and local specialists lower Worcester’s score. As far as the population goes, the website ranks Worcester 26th. Worcester scored better than Boston and Providence but less than Burlington. Vt., per the Worcester Business Journal.

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opinion editorial

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sex trafficking is an ugly truth

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ews that New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft is accused of soliciting prostitution at a Florida spa, where authorities say women were victims of a larger sex trafficking operation, has stunned everyone. Sports fans? Absolutely.

Patriots fans? Of course. But this goes beyond sports and football.

And its effects are certainly being felt in Worcester.

This is a city that has proudly touted its ties to the Kraft family, and has welcomed Kraft and the Patriots here on multiple occasions. They dedicated a footbridge at Elm Park in memory of his late wife, Worcester native Myra Hiatt Kraft. Kraft himself started his professional career right here in Worcester with his father-inlaw’s company, the Rand-Whitney Group. He is a benefactor whose generosity has been felt here as well. Most recently, Kraft made a sizable donation to Girls Inc. of Worcester in the form of $100,000.

He personally called CEO Victoria Waterman in November to give her the news. Girls Inc., of course, serves and mentors young girls.

This is also a city that has, of late, made positive strides in the fight against sex trafficking, listening to and supporting activists who have been waging a battle against what has, for too long, been ignored or brushed off as something less than what it is. And it is nothing less than modern-day slavery, an industry fed by a demand overwhelmingly led by men for sex, and kept in

business by a willingness on the part of many to turn a blind eye and pretend it is a victimless crime. We know, of course, that his hogwash. And Bob Kraft absolutely should know it.

Certainly, he should be aware the Super Bowl, which his team has won six times, most recently earlier this month, is among the largest single events in the world annually for sex trafficking. It is the biggest in the U.S., although advocates such as the Polaris Project stress the need for year-round attention to the issue, rather than focusing on just one event.

The fact is sex trafficking is real.

It is happening. Worcester has acknowledged it. City councilors recently adopted an ordinance requiring hotels and motels within its limits to train its employees on recognizing the signs of trafficking. It has held meetings involving representatives from agencies and organizations around the city and across the state, in an attempt to raise discussion from a whisper to a roar and turn up from dim the light being shined on trafficking.

If Kraft did, in fact, engage in sexual acts at the spa, and if what authorities are saying is true — that the spa is part of a larger human sex trafficking ring — he is part of the problem. Which act he allegedly engaged in is relevant only to those who want to excuse it as guys being guys. According to authorities, many of the women involved at Orchids of Asia Day Spa, where Kraft allegedly paid for sexual services, came from China, lived at Editor Walter Bird Jr. Culture Editor Joshua Lyford Reporter Bill Shaner

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the spa and were not allowed to leave other than when they were shuttled from one place to the next to continue the lurid operation.

Kraft has professed his innocence through a spokesman. But his name being attached to these sordid charges, while no doubt humiliating for him, is a good thing for the fight against human trafficking. He is among the most high-profile men allegedly involved, and you can bet if he or someone of equal stature weren’t

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among those charged, what allegedly happened at Orchids of Asia Day Spa would probably be a distant memory by now. Instead, major TV stations, newspapers and radio stations have been reporting on it nonstop. If anyone in the country pleaded ignorance to sex trafficking before, they can’t now. The mask has been ripped off, the ugly truth thrust upon us.

We must now choose whether to continue shrugging it off and making excuses, or to instead use our voices for those whose own voices have been muted by those exploiting them.

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opinion Rubbed the wrong way JANICE HARVEY

sibility of living out his weasley existence behind bars — and the ots of fun stuff going on arrest of a Coast Guard officer out there in the big bad who was allegedly plotting to kill world. And when I say every Democrat running in 2020, “fun,” I mean “fun” as in, with “Morning Joe” Scarborough “Wouldn’t it be fun to step on a thrown in there as a freebie. (He’d wasp’s nest and run around the have to work quickly on that one, yard screaming for help?” That because Mika Brzezinski might kind of fun. beat him to it with a post-honThe dizzying array of Onioneymoon, pillow-smothering for worthy headlines this past week constantly interrupting her.) All included quotes from the U.S. this and then the really big news: ambassador to Canada who Patriots owner Robert Kraft was happens to be a climate change charged with having his crank denier, Jussie Smollett’s Empiriyanked in a Florida “massage” cal fall from grace and the tease/ parlor! What the? threat that Donald J. Trump Jr. is This last traumatic tidbit was considering a run for the presienough to make a true Pats fan dency in 2024. These newsflashes leap off the Myra Kraft bridge came piled one on the other like in Elm Park, though the real baklava phyllo dough in a Lebadanger might not be drowning, nese bakery, along with Robert but entanglement in a plastic Mueller’s scorching memo that grocery sack. There are videos damns Paul Manafort to the pits I’m curious to see, but I can say of Hell — or at least the poswith certainty that the thoughts

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of viewing Bob Kraft paying for a “rubdown” makes my morning coffee flirt with rising before the sun.

Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla. has become the place for grinning tourists to be photographed, preferably wearing football jerseys. Prior to the sting operation that netted more than 100 patrons and at least two billionaires ( John W.Childs, CEO of the private equity firm J.W. Childs Associates was also charged), Jupiter was on the map as the home of Burt Reynolds’ dinner theater. This beats an amateur production of “Barefoot in the Park” any day for notoriety. You can’t buy this kind of publicity – or maybe you can!

You have to wonder — and everyone is, I’m sure — why a guy like Kraft, with a gazillion bucks to his name and a much-younger girlfriend on his arm, would

chance getting serviced in a strip mall spa. Was he pushed outta the big bed for forgetting Valentine’s Day? Does he just hate making small talk? Is he sick of asking: “Was it good for you?”

Excuses are floating out there.

Pats fans are willing to cut the old guy some slack, opining that he’s been lonely since wife Myra died. I’m sure he misses his wife, but enough to mortify his family and make himself the punchline of every late night monologue?

Kraft may be crafty, but this time he was thinking with the wrong head. I’m sorry, but you never hear about 77-year-old women soliciting sex from total strangers. I’m not saying it never happens, but you never hear about it. Or, God forbid, view video tapes of it.

If you need a friend to come to your aid when you’ve been popped for humiliating behavior,

perhaps you might not welcome statements from someone with an even worse reputation for satisfying primal urges with professional sex workers.

“He’s proclaimed his innocence totally, but I’m very surprised to see it,” said Kraft’s good friend, Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States and serial fornicator, accused of paying hush money to a porn star. Alleged. Kraft once gave Trump a Super Bowl ring. Trump gave Kraft a MAGA hat.

One can only imagine who tips better for a happy ending.

Janice Harvey contributing writer

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feature

FAIR PLAY

Are Worcester’s Large Nonprofits Paying Their Share?

ALEX MACDOUGALL

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s Worcester continues to experience continued growth and attract new residents to add to its skilled workforce, several key colleges and universities stand out in helping bring them to the area. Higher education institutions in the city, such as Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University and others bring fresh young talent to the city by offering world-class education opportunities, and contributing new and innovative scholarly research.

In addition, UMass Medical School and MCPHS University have become potent forces in developing Worcester’s burgeoning healthcare industry, which employs a large sector of the city’s population.

But for the city, this poses a unique challenge: It means some of the largest, wealthiest and most innovative institutions in the city are also nonprofits, and therefore pay nothing in property taxes.

Take into consideration some of the buildings on college campuses reach back into the 19th century, and that they own numerous offcampus properties for things such as student-housing, and you’re looking at millions of dollars in tax revenue the city is missing out on.

Of course, it isn’t without reason these institutions are property taxexempt: The money saved by the schools can be used to bolster students’ education, long considered the best way of climbing the income ladder in the U.S. But it’s also money that could be used to by the city to invest things such as early public education and transport: things that could provide great assistance to the new residents these

The MCPHS building at 19 Foster St. includes classrooms, labs and other student space. Under an agreement with the city, MCPHS is paying $219,390.18 in lieu of property taxes for fiscal 2019.

MATT WRIGHT

nonprofits bring in.

It is estimated about 30 percent of the city’s property is tax-exempt, which includes nonprofit organizations like colleges and hospitals, as well as religious organizations

and buildings, which are also taxexempt. With such large swaths of the city free from taxes, it’s up to residents and business owners to pick up the slack, leading to higher tax rates than some of the

surrounding areas, which creates a disincentive for businesses looking to move into Worcester.

“When companies look to grow and expand, and they want to find first-class industrial and commer-

cial space, Worcester doesn’t have that inventory,” said Tim Murray, former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts and mayor of Worcester, who now serves as CEO of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce.

feature

A building on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. Holy Cross makes a voluntary payment of $80,000 a year to Worcester.

MATT WRIGHT

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“We want to grow the tax base, not shrink it. That’s something that the Chamber is concerned about, and without a doubt our colleges and universities play an important role in the economy. But the property taxes are one of the major ways our city provides services that everyone benefits from. It’s a delicate balance, and one that needs cooperation and mutual understanding if we’re going to talk about growth and things happening.

- Tim Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce

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he idea of nonprofits being exempt from property tax can be traced to the original Massachusetts Bill of Rights in 1780, when universities such as Harvard served the purpose of training religious ministers, making them fall under a similar category to the propertytax exempt churches. But as religious aspects of schools decrease in importance, and the endow-

grams and voluntary payment agreements in place with five colleges and universities: MCPHS, UMass Medical School, WPI, Clark and Holy Cross, in addition to a separate agreement with UMass Medical’s Biotech Park. Some PILOT agreements have expired, such as with St. Vincent’s Hospital, which ended once they were purchased by a for-profit company.

According to the city manager’s office, payments from MCPHS, Clark, WPI and Holy Cross for fiscal 2019 were slightly higher than $1.3 million. Considering most of the agreements go toward the Worcester Public Library (which for fiscal 2019 is set around $5.8 million), it means the PILOT agreements have contributed significantly

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PILOTS

ments of prestigious universities have swelled to astronomically high figures, calls for colleges to contribute more by the cities they serve has risen.

To remedy this situation, the city has approached many of the colleges and universities and offered them payment in lieu of tax agreements, more commonly referred to as PILOTs, in which the institutions pay a determined amount to compensate for the tax-exempt properties they own. The city was influenced by existing PILOT Programs in Boston and Cambridge, which have agreements with colleges and medical institutions such as Harvard University and Mass.

General Hospital.

The city has had PILOT pro-

property developed for educational use. The agreement also stipulated the money go specifically toward funding the Worcester Public Library – which would become a common element in later PILOT agreements.

Other nonprofits quickly followed suit. WPI signed with the city in 2009, with installments based upon residential student housing areas, with the amount paid increasing at an increment of 2.5 percent, along with an initial payment of $157,403. More than 25 properties are included in the WPI deal, with the first yearly payment at $269,697, while their most recent payment for fiscal 2019 was $703,294. Like the MCPHS deal, the money is directed mainly toward the Worcester Public Library.

Clark University was next in 2010, with payments at 20 percent of the value of the properties included, along with a $150,000 voluntary payment. Their latest payment to the city under the agreement was for $309,471, and like the first two directs the money toward Worcester Public Library, but also includes University Park, also known as Crystal Park, in Worcester’s Main South area, mere steps from the Clark campus.

UMass Medical School signed a five-year deal in 2011, with portions of their money going to support the salary commissioner of of the city’s Division of Public Health, but also toward Worcester Public Schools.

With Holy Cross’s voluntary contribution, the amount paid is much smaller, and they have a much more limited payment plan than the other universities. Unlike the agreements

by MCPHS, Clark and WPI, theirs is not adjusted to changes in the property tax

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“People don’t want to reinvest in property because they’re going to get hit with a higher tax rate.”

To take things further into account, consider much of the recent developments in and around downtown Worcester, where millions of dollars have been poured into commercial areas such as CitySquare and the introduction of new bars and restaurants on Shrewsbury Street, which have largely been spurred by hopes of attracting more college students.

As a January 2015 New York Times article (“Long a college town, Worcester now looks the part”) put it, “Worcester is attending to the 35,000 college students who study and live here, and its primary boulevards are steadily filling up with the civic amenities that attract new residents.”

toward the funding of the library, to be expected from institutions of learning, but not much toward areas such as public transportation. UMass Medical’s agreement expired this year, after paying a total of slightly more than $1.5 million over the last five years.

The city’s first foray with cutting property tax deals with nonprofits came in 1994 with the Christopher House, a senior living center, which would serve as something of a prototype for future PILOT agreements to come. Originally, the Christopher House was known as the Belmont Home and run by the city, making it tax exempt. When it was acquired by a for-profit company and renamed Christopher House, it started to be run as a joint private-public venture.

This caused the city to come to an agreement with Christopher House to a “payment-in-lieu-oftax” with the company, where Christopher House agreed to pay the city $75,000 a year in quarterly installments. The deal is now expired.

But the first official PILOT agreement between the city and an institution of higher learning was done in 2008 with MCPHS University, then known as the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, with negotiations conducted by then-city manager Mike O’Brien and MCPHS President Charles Monahan. The agreement called for a one-time payment of $50,000 and a 25-year agreement to pay installments worth 20 percent of the property taxes on its properties of 19 and 25 Foster streets, with provisions to include any further

feature rate or the rate of inflation, meaning its $80,000-a-year payment, which is used to fund the Worcester Public Library’s bookmobile (known as “Libby”), remains static. Even when the agreement came up for renewal in 2017, Holy Cross and the city continued to agree on the initial $80,000 payment. Furthermore, the agreement states, it is the city, not Holy Cross, which is responsible for any payments related to maintenance of the vehicle, such as auto body repair.

“These agreements are not exactly on point, they aren’t just a cookiecutter,” the city’s chief financial officer, Tom Zidelis, said recently inside his City Hall office. “WPI’s differs slightly from Mass College of Pharmacy, relative to what the geographic region is.”

A TAXING SITUATION

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owever, some say the payments don’t go far enough to ease the burden of property tax payments to the city, which make up 46 percent of the city’s budget for fiscal 2019.

For example, while its payment is one of the lowest, Holy Cross’ endowment is the highest of any institution of higher education in the city, approaching somewhere near $1 billion. Clark and WPI also have endowments in the millions. With so much wealth, the amount of money paid in the PILOTs seems, to some folks, paltry by comparison.

And among the colleges and universities that have entered into PILOT and voluntary agreements with Worcester, there is a notable exception when it comes to the property assessed for the agreements: The main campuses of these institutions are not included. It’s not hard to imagine why: the total value of WPI’s main campus, for example, has been assessed at over $220 million, according to Vision Governments, the private contractor the city uses to show property records on its website.

Even at 20 percent of the residential tax rate, the school would have to

“... There are some colleges doing more than others, and most of them do different things. I think if there was a more collaborative effort between all of the colleges and universities, we could find ways to more collectively benefit neighborhoods.”

- Worcester District 4 City Councilor Sarai Rivera fork over an additional amount close to $792,000, more than the entire amount of its voluntary payment. If the main campus for Holy Cross was subject to residential property tax at a 20-percent discount, it would still amount to around $1 million. For Clark, the situation is similar as well.

In addition, the schools own property that are not included in the PILOT agreements: According to the city’s website, there are 42 properties that are owned under the name of College of the Holy Cross. And even at a 20-percent rate and excluding the main campus, the voluntary payments from Holy Cross would be quite higher than the flat rate of $80,000.

According to Zidelis, this is largely due to the plethora of historically

feature old buildings on the campuses, which can be traced back to the 19th century.

“One of the problems with these older institutions, if you took one of their old, grand buildings on campus and had to replace it, it’s hard to affix a value to that,” he said. “City Hall, for instance, is tax-exempt, and the cost of replacement would be millions upon millions. With the colleges, it’s similar.”

Then there’s the issue of the higher tax rate on businesses.

Murray noted how businesses in Worcester pay nearly twice the rate for property taxes, in part to make up for the potential revenue lost from the non-profits.

“We want to grow the tax base, not shrink it,” said Murray. “That’s

something that the Chamber is concerned about, and without a doubt our colleges and universities play an important role in the economy. But the property taxes are one of the major ways our city provides services that everyone benefits from. It’s a delicate balance, and one that needs cooperation and mutual understanding if we’re going to talk about growth and things happening.”

In addition, Murray noted, city councilors over the past several years have voted to increase the property tax burden on businesses. As it stands now, the residential tax rate in Worcester for fiscal 2019 is $34.91 per $1,000 assessed valuation for businesses, an 87-cent increase from last year. Property taxes for residents,

“We need to honor the existing agreements, but when they come up for renewal, we need to be more realistic and aggressive in our expectations...”

- Worcester At-Large City Councilor Moe Bergman conversely, have been reduced by 91 cents, from $18.91 to $18. It is seen as a factor in some businesses opting to move out of Worcester to nearby towns such as Sutton, which implements a single tax rate across the board. Other neighboring towns, such as Auburn, Webster, Clinton and Fitchburg,

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f course, PILOT agreements aren’t the only way universities contribute to the city. To hear it from the schools’ perspective, contributions made by the colleges themselves toward the development of Worcester are more effective than simply handing cash over to the city government.

Jack Foley is Clark University’s vice president for Government and Community Affairs. In an interview at Clark, he pointed out that, in addition to Clark’s PILOT, the university has established several partnerships, such as with the Main South Community Development Corporation, which works to renovate and develop affordable housing in the Main South area of Worcester, where Clark is located.

“From my point of view, the real impact on the city is what universities and colleges contribute or provide for financial support because of their development and purchasing in the city, as well as their investments in some of the organizations and neighborhoods

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

MATT WRIGHT

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

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Clark University is among the nonprofit institutions in Worcester that pay money to the city in lieu of property taxes. The amount for fiscal 2019 is $309,471.38.

are also closing the gap between property taxes on residents and businesses, which, according to Murray, could put Worcester’s aspirations to attract new businesses in jeopardy.

“It stymies growth and discourages further investment, particularly in certain sectors of the economy like manufacturing,” Murray said. “It also discourages existing property owners to redevelop their property in the hopes of attracting their tenants. It creates a disincentive for people to invest.”

Further scrutiny has come from the fact that, unlike property taxes, PILOT payments are voluntary, and the ways for the city to force the institutions to pay are weak.

Nonprofits under Boston’s PILOTs, for example, sometimes come up short in their voluntary payments.

Boston only received 81 percent of its promised payments last fiscal year, according to its city government fiscal report. According to the city manager’s office, all Worcester PILOTs have been on time and paid in full. Documents from City Hall detailing payments received from each PILOT over the last 10 years appear to offer confirmation.

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feature “From my point of view, the real impact on the city is what universities and colleges contribute or provide for financial support because of their development and purchasing in the city, as well as their investments in some of the organizations and neighborhoods in the city.”

- Jack Foley, vice president for Government and Community Affairs at Clark University and fees. Holy Cross, for instance, paid $790,000 to the city in fiscal 2018, including $630,000 for water and sewage fees, $140,000 for police details, and the remainder on fire coverage, according to the school’s financial impact report for 2018. And while UMass Medical School paid only $75,000 to the city through its PILOT in 2017, it claimed to pay in excess of $3.5 million to the city in its community report for that year, including more than $2.5 million in water and sewage fees, and more than $1

million in real estate, which is not subject to property tax exemption.

‘BALANCE’

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ther solutions to address the issue of property tax-exempt institutions have been brought forth. In his unsuccessful campaign for governor of Massachusetts, Democratic nominee Jay Gonzalez proposed an “endowment tax” as a way for colleges to

contribute more to their communities. However, the idea has little popularity among Gonzalez’s fellow Democrats. For them, taxing universities, which provide the invaluable service of being centers of knowledge and education and serve as a catalyst for social mobility (not to mention a fairly liberal reputation), seems a poor substitute for taxing the wealthy.

Some city officials in Worcester, including At-Large Councilor Moe Bergman, have been vocal about their support for PILOT

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in the city,” said Foley.

Through the Main South CDC, Foley said, about 240 new units of rental housing had been constructed or rehabbed, and had generated almost $400,000 worth of tax revenue, more than Clark’s entire PILOT payment for 2019.

The renovated housing, he said, can also help drive up property values in existing homes, further contributing to the city. In addition, Clark has provided free tuition to students who have lived in designated target areas for at least five years.

“You begin to create this environment where people want to live here and want to move here, so it really stabilized the neighborhood in the past 30 years, but also provides great benefits to the city and the neighbors,” Foley said. “I always encourage government officials to look at ways of leveraging the impact of universities in the community, as opposed to just looking at cash payments.”

And while colleges and universities may be exempt from paying property taxes, they’re still obligated to pay other types of taxes

Worcester Polytechnic Institute has a voluntary payment agreement with the city that, according to documents from City Hall, has it paying about $703,295 for fiscal 2019.

MATT WRIGHT

agreements and have proposed additional ways the city could receive money from non-profits. In a news editorial he wrote in 2016, Bergman said a more effective PILOT program could generate $10 million for the city, leading to a surplus. He also called for the city to adopt a zoning ordinance based off the model currently used in Cambridge, home of Harvard and MIT, where religious and nonprofit organizations are regulated to certain zoning districts.

Bergman said the city should pursue larger PILOT deals with universities once the current agreements expire.

“We need to honor the existing agreements, but when they come up for renewal, we need to be more realistic and aggressive in our expectations,” he said. “I’m against asking money for things like religious institutions, but more major colleges with substantial endowments should engage in more agreements.”

Other city officials, however, such as District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera, have taken a more nuanced stance toward PILOT agreements.

Rivera said she was not necessarily against the agreements with the schools, but felt that, instead of individual agreements, they should work together to form a more comprehensive plan.

“There needs to be a balance between the colleges,” said Rivera.

“There are some colleges doing more than others, and most of them do different things. I think if there was a more collaborative effort between all of the colleges and universities, we could find ways to more collectively benefit neighborhoods.”

culture COURTESY OF WORCESTER CENTER FOR CRAFTS

F E B R U A RY 28 - M A R C H 6, 2019

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culture

Worcester Center for Crafts Pasta Dinner returns JOSHUA LYFORD

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ome for the company, leave with a plate. It’s a simple premise, but with the Worcester Center for Crafts’ annual Pasta Dinner event, returning Saturday, March 2, there is a lot more under the surface.

The event serves as a major fundraising tool for the center, with proceeds going to the various programs they offer throughout the year. The plates themselves are handcrafted by center students, artists-in-residence, faculty and more. While the pasta dinner is enjoyable, it’s in the selecting of a handcrafted plate that the

real fun lies.

“They [attendees] get excited, it’s the funniest thing to see,” said Candace Casey, director of the Craft Center’s Krikorian Gallery and gallery store. “You go into the gallery and it’s no holds barred, if you don’t have a tight hold on your plate, it’s gone. It’s a statement representing their inner self, almost. I’ve seen people stick plates under the table, it’s the funniest thing. You just laugh.

People enjoy themselves and they get this beautiful plate. Most of the people start a collection of these beautiful plates.”

Casey is quick to explain that, while the competition for a favorite

plate is stiff, the event itself is a funfirst atmosphere.

“It’s a lowkey, non-intimidating event,” she said. “You walk in, everything is right in front of you. We have appetizers, you get a glass of prosecco. Hopefully, we’ll have artists in residence and students to explain the process if you’re so inclined. If you went out to dinner it would cost the same amount of money.”

This year, the Craft Center team plans to have around 200 plates available to choose from, a process that begins early.

“We’re done with the throwing part, we’re firing a kiln right now that has 48 plates in it,” said Tom

O’Malley, ceramics department head of the Worcester Center for Crafts.

“This morning, we unloaded a kiln that has 46 plates in it. Monday, 54 plates in it. We’re in the home stretch. We have one more kiln load to go, then we go through and quality inspect and check them, clean them up a little bit, wash them, and have them ready for the public. The best of them is what we bring out. It’s been a journey, we started making plates back at the end of November, early December.”

The Pasta Dinner event isn’t new for the center, they have done it for the past four years. The event goes further back than that, however. The

center held the event for many years prior to their brief closing in the early-aughts.

“We did it about 10 years in a format that was much more small scale.

It was down here in the ceramics studio, then it expanded out into the gallery,” O’Malley said. “This is the fourth year that we have done it in this larger format that includes getting to take home a handmade plate, but also includes the silent auction component that goes to help the craft center and helps us meet our fundraising goals for our event.”

A staple of the event is a silent auction, with the money raised help-

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COURTESY OF WORCESTER CENTER FOR CRAFTS

culture

Vernon Hill Elementary gets Railers treatment

the result of a hard-nosed playstyle.

Railers public relations coordinator, Tom Matthews, asks if the eye has given him special powers with the brush.

“Not that I’ve noticed yet,” he laughs. “I think the first coat just dries up like that.”

Toward the back of the library, appreciate that part of it.”

Railers forward Matt Schmalz is The Railers have made good on their inaugural season promise of be- painting-in a corner, careful to line ing a presence in the community, with up the trim work.

“I’m a modern-day Picasso,” he long-term programs such as Skate to says, matter-of-factly.

Success and Ticket to Read, as well Schmalz stands 6-feet 6-inches as fundraisers and team visits around and says he “doesn’t need the ladder the city. Most recently, the team for most of it.” He, too, is wearing his has been involved in school library steel blue jersey, leaning into his secrehabilitation programs. Last year, they gave a makeover to the Lakeview tion of wall.

“This is one of the cooler projects Elementary School library; this year I’ve been a part of,” he says. “You hear the team headed to Vernon Hill. of huge organizations, NHL teams, Doherty is working in the corner doing projects like this. This is really, of the room, doing some light trim really cool as an ECHL team.” work around a book shelf beneath Schmalz says he signs up for as a window overlooking Providence many of these community-oriented Street. He has only just begun his projects as he can. off-ice shift.

“I usually say yes to all of them,” “I did a coat, this little corner is my he says. “I was from a small town. I main spot,” he says with a smile. didn’t have any pro or junior teams in Doherty’s left eye is red, the surmy area. I missed out on that, now I rounding skin purple and bruised,

can give back.”

Schmalz says while there is no competition during these community events, they do take a sense of pride in their work. When school is in session, the events usually end in a ball hockey match with students in the school’s gym.

“They’re buzzing about, that is great,” Schmalz says.

Railers community relations coordinator Paul Harris has his hands dirty. The front office is not off the hook when it comes to community programs like this makeover.

“It’s all about making it fun for students to read,” he says. “Our sponsors wanted to help out and do a joint project. We talked about a Railers nook, but we had the means to do a whole library last year. They loved the idea of making it look like a Railers locker room. This year is different, but we went off that.”

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 20

At left, Worcester Railers forward Matt Schmalz applies a coat of paint to the library inside Vernon Hill School.

Below, volunteers hard at work in the Vernon Hill School library.

JOSHUA LYFORD

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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t’s Thursday, Feb. 21 and the Worcester Railers Hockey Club front office staff is joined by players and volunteers inside Vernon Hill School. The school is empty as the students are away for February vacation. Tarps have been thrown over bookshelves and tables as the makeover begins.

“Personally, I enjoy it,” says Railers defenseman Connor Doherty. “I remember being that age, looking up to athletes. It’s rewarding in that way.”

Doherty is wearing his steel blue and grey uniform, while there are days of painting left to be done, there are — thus far — no paint drops on his sleeves.

“The team tries to get involved as much as they can,” he says. “The front office is working really hard. It’s great to do stuff like this. I think the fans

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PHOTOS SUBMIT TED

culture CRAFT CENTER

L I B RA RY

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ing the Craft Center’s mission. This year, Casey and O’Malley said it is a “not-so-silent auction,” though they declined to divulge their secrets.

Auction items include a handwoven bag from Saori weaver Mihoko Wakabayashi, a pasta making class from Volturno Pizza, photo

by Donna Dufault, a special edition wine from Vaillancourt Folk Art, a basket of “Swedish delights” curated

by Worcester Art Museum fine art curator Birgit Straehle, a handcrafted leather case from Kristen McDonough, tickets to the Worcester Wine Festival, a $100 gift certificate donated by Julio’s Liquors, tickets to the Hanover Theatre, a behindthe-scenes tour of the EcoTarium, a Tu Moda facial and gift card, a wine basket curated by the pasta committee, a Worcester Center for Crafts gift card and more.

The library will be done in the Railers’ trademark blue, grey and white, with motivational quotes up on the walls. To mark completion, the team will host a reading program with students.

“We’ll get a bunch of our programs, bobbleheads, maybe some jerseys,” Harris says. “It’s exciting.”

The team roster and front office staff aren’t the only ones participating in the library makeover at Vernon Hill Elementary School. NAL’S Paint Center provided the paint, Sunshine Sign provided the vinyl lettering, Chick-filA provided lunch and volunteers from Unum and Cutler Associates are on hand to help out.

Corporate fulfillment coordinator Jackie Avola took the lead in lining up the moving parts of the program.

“The purpose was to find a Worcester Public School that needed some love,” says Avola, hands covered in paint. “We chose Vernon Hill. It entails a fresh coat of paint, some new furniture and inspirational quotes. I think it means a lot. For some of the students, they might not experience hockey. It makes the library fun and, hopefully, makes them excited.”

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Tickets are available online, with general admission and early-access VIP ticket options. Head to Worcestercraftcenter.org for more information.

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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! tion ing communica

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culture

Adoption option EAST DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

Pat is a talkative, curious cat. He has just one demand for his

adopter – he wants to be your one-and-only pet. Pat does not like cats. We discovered that when he came in as a stray. We put him in a cage, and he immediately started screaming at the other cats. We moved him to a room, and he calmed down instantly. We don’t think he would tolerate young, noisy children running around. He will probably be fine with older, quiet kids.

He’s 3 years old, neutered and ready to go home today!

F E B R U A RY 28 - M A R C H 6, 2019

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!

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Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Here are some of WARL’s regular needs:

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culture Lyford Files JOSHUA LYFORD

LORD STANLEY, I PRESUME: Hey, heads up... actually, that is a little redundant, eh? This whole thing is supposed to be a heads up on what’s going on around Worcester. So, uh, just keep reading or skip on by to Sarah Connell’s Lifestyle column like I assume most of you do anyway. Quick note, I am trying my hardest to hit a perfect 666 words this week, so if things seem disjointed, that’s my priority. Where was I? Oh yeah, keeping you abreast of Worcester entertainment news! I got an espresso shot in my iced coffee this morning, so I’m hovering just above my office chair while I write this. SORRY. The Stanley Cup is coming to Worcester.

Oh yeah, that’s right the Stanley Cup. The most important trophy in all of sports (take it easy Pats fans, you guys get to see that grotesque Vince Lombardi trophy all the time) will be in the Heart of the Commonwealth Saturday, March 9. I’ll be honest with you, I hesitated to write about this because I really, really want to see this beautiful piece of history and I didn’t want all my readers crowding me while I sweat, but I figured my mom already knew about this, so it won’t do too much harm. Your first chance to see it will be at Mercantile Center (if today’s wind doesn’t knock it over first), from noon-6 p.m. during “WinterFest.”

After that though, that beautiful, beautiful trophy heads off to the DCU Center prior to the Worcester Railers HC game from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (puck drop is at 7:05, mind). Hang around the concourse and get yourself a photo with this legendary chunk of awesome. This is so sick. Nothing will keep me from this coveted unit of antiquity and hope. Stick around, too, because the Railers are still duking it out for a playoff spot and the Norfolk Admirals are a buncha bums.

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DON’T BRING ME DOWN: Bruce? Groos? What the hell

was Electric Light Orchestra talking about in this song? I have no idea. Also, doesn’t matter. To toss a little color out there, I am writing this pre-deadline for the first time in a long time. It’s Monday, noonish. I have two monitors in my weird fluorescent dungeon (read: cubicle) and I am attempting to reach 666 words on my left monitor, on my right, I am refreshing the NHL Trade Deadline tracker. So, I might be a little hyped up on hockey right now. How to make this relevant to Worcester? An idea emerges! The Worcester Railers currently sit in sixth place in the North Division. Only the top four from each division make it into the playoffs. Here are some sane (and some less sane) ways they hop in.

“The Old Fashioned”: They’ve got two games in hand on

the Monarchs and one on the Mariners and Thunder. As of this writing, they’ve got 18 games left to play while I write this. If they start dominating, they can scrape the points together to make it in.

“The Railyard Dog”: I’ve gone on record a few times saying

there is no such thing as a railyard dog, as far as I know. But maybe ol’ Trax makes himself useful and causes a major distraction, gets in the heads of either the Monarchs or the Thunder (Railers face off against each of these teams three more times on the season) and they fall apart, opening a doggy-sized window to the playoffs.

“The Championship Heart Eyes”: The Railers proved they can make a

last-minute push to the playoffs in their inaugural season last year, so I’m not totally freaking out, but maybe, in accordance with my first item here, they will see the Stanley Cup in the DCU concourse on March 9 and get the eye of the tiger. Ta-da!

And here are 13 more random words. I’ve done it! 666, baby!

Joshua Lyford Culture editor @Joshachusetts

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

Revolution Pie + Pint and Craft Table & Bar Make it Official Last week, The Grid District’s newest additions, Revolution Pie + Pint and Craft Table & Bar, hosted their official grand opening celebrations with a special blessing from president and CEO of the Worces-

ter Regional Chamber of Commerce Tim Murray. DJ Jon Strader was on hand for

the evening accompanied by a parade of pizzas, straight out of the 700-degree oven. Chalk it up to my jesuit education, but The Holy Cross was my favorite, made with BBQ sauce, pulled pork, bacon, mozzarella and carmelized onions. A team of promising young servers including Tora White did an excellent job managing the high-volume event.

A big crowd turned out for the grand opening celebration of Revolution Pie + Pint. Pictured here are Krysta Kowal, Veronica Van Jura and Erin Carnegie SARAH CONNELL

Russo’s Reign

Lock 50 owner Ed Russo plans to open a second restaurant in the Canal District in April. The new venture, called Russo, is an Italian concept led by his nephew, Lock 50 Executive Chef Tim Russo. The new restaurant will be located at 65 Water St. in the former home of Canal Restaurant & Bar, a

Sounds of Joy

Singer-songwriter-comedian-tap dancer Evie Joy will play at Redemption Rock Brewing on Friday, March 1 beginning at 6 p.m. Joy is a SoFar Sounds alumnus who performs under the philosophy, “Have a thick skin, wear a crown, and always stay sweet.”

South American Sounds

Does anyone know a billionaire?

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I write you this week from the beautiful sands of Fort Lauderdale beach. We found a deal direct from Worcester Airport to nurse our vitamin D depletions in style for a few days. As someone who spent much of her childhood underwater, I still dream of a day when I can lounge by a stunning indoor pool basked in natural light and surrounded by a design sensibility that falls somewhere between Logee’s, Tower Hill and Seed to Stem. We’ll call it The Solarium and serve sustainably sourced cocktails in nothing but pink vintage glassware. What’s on the top floor of the Worcester Plaza Sarah Connell building these days anyways? contributing writer

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Local pianist Martin Gohary will be back in town on March 2 for three sets dedicated to the music of South America. Gohary will be joined by violinist Kathleen Jara at Homefield Kitchen and Brewery at 2 p.m. and later in the evening at Nick’s at 9 p.m.

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property that includes 20 parking spots and sits not far from Lock 50. Earlier this month, Ed Russo bought up all of Durgin Park’s iconic cast iron tables after the centuries-old Faneuil Hall restaurant went out of business. The furniture will occupy a distinctive cave room, which will also play home to Russo’s new Italian wine cellar. Russo is designed to be approachable, family-friendly and wholesome. Future guests can expect classic Italian dishes like Bucatini all’Amatriciana on the menu and an authentic Italian wine list. Tom Studer is the icing on the tiramisu. Studer is the seasoned general manager who helped launch Lock 50 by curating an impressive wine program and an innovative cocktail menu. After a hiatus to his home state of New Jersey, Studer is back in the city of Worcester.

culture Dos Tacos Marks the Future of Pleasant Street 296 Pleasant St, Worcester • 508-767-0075 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 28 - M A R C H 6, 2019

ou can smell sweet traces of corn flour in the air from the moment you enter Dos Tacos Cafe on Pleasant Street.

The menu, posted above a service counter at the restaurant’s far end, combines classic Mexican and Salvadorian dishes at a price point that makes Dos Tacos accessible to just about anyone lucky enough to

wander by.

Perky cactuses and a set of sunflower-emblazoned curtains catch customers’ eyes from the street. An accent wall lights up the room in kelly green and canary yellow. Hand-painted orange lettering reads, “Taqueria” between two bent palm trees. The multimodal mural is finished with a duo of sombreros, the mounted silhouette of a parrot and a shrine to our lady of Guadalupe.

Dos Tacos is cash only and always alight with the sound of children playing. The little ones can often be found taste testing plates of crispy French fries, which don’t appear on the mounted menu. Dishes are divided into six distinct sections on the wall: appetizers, tacos, pupusas, burritos, sopas and especiales. A final panel above the blue-and-white-tiled counter is dedicated to bebidas. Dos Tacos’ horchata ($2) tastes as if the intoxicating scent of a Cinnabon kiosk has been liquified and siphoned into a styrofoam cup. There is also a 7Up vending machine by the door, if you so choose.

The dishes arrive on brightly-colored plates to match the paint hues shouting from the wall. Everyone in the dining room is strangely quiet, a reality illuminated by one’s first bite of pupusa. It’s hard to chit chat when perfectly patted rounds of masa dough stuffed with beans, cheese and chicharones ($2 each) are calling your name. Little bowls of cabbage slaw nip at your tongue with citrus and brine. A green chile salsa burns quietly at the back of your mouth.

Eating with your hands is encouraged.

The tacos top out at $2.50 a piece, but you can order a meal of three tacos, rice, beans and guacamole for just $10. Dos Tacos orders its tortillas from an external distributor, which accounts for the friendly price point.

My favorite taco selections are the carnitas filled with tender braised pork and the carne asada served with thinly-sliced pieces of seared steak.

Pleasant Street is narrow and its close proximity of storefronts offers a level of intimacy that fosters a culture of walkability that would make

any urban designer salivate. Dos Tacos is a prime example of a familyrun business that has found a way to succeed in a corridor of the city better known for its international markets, churches and community housing than it is for its restaurant scene.

Sometimes I hesitate to apply star ratings to establishments like Dos Tacos that are making remarkable strides in their own league. This restaurant doesn’t aim to compete with fine dining; I would hasten to say that its mission is to bring an affordable piece of home to a diverse and flourishing city, and it has done just that.

On my last visit, I spent $10.

Explanation of Stars: Ratings are from zero to five. Zero is not recommended.

One is poor. Two is fair. Three is satisfactory. Four is good. Five is excellent.

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

culture Singin’ Stanley’s praises JIM KEOGH

T

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he eighth-graders of St. Matthew’s Elementary School wandered through the lobby of Radio City Music Hall feeling vaguely unworthy of the setting. The place was enormous and fancy, and we weren’t sure why we were there. In fact, we weren’t sure of anything. We were in the eighth grade.

The Sisters of Mercy had herded us onto a school bus for the ride from Cranston, R.I., to New York City for our spring class trip: a visit to the United Nations, a ride to the top of the Stanley Donen Empire State Building, and a stop IMDB.COM at Radio City.

Turns out we’d come to the possessed much, if any, prior awarelegendary hall to see a movie, “Singin’ ness of it. We were blindsided in the In the Rain.” If the nuns had alerted best possible way. us on our trip down I-95 that we’d be “Singin’ in the Rain” remains one watching a 1952 Hollywood musical of my favorite musicals (it competes about the transition from silent films with “West Side Story” for top spot), to talkies, there would have been a partly for nostalgic reasons and mutiny. Fearsome by reputation, the partly because it holds up so well. sisters were less scary by the time The film’s director Stanley Donen we’d reached eighth grade, and I’m died last week after outliving his convinced we could have comstars — Kelly, O’Connor, Hagen and mandeered the bus without much Debbie Reynolds, who was only 19 consequence beyond the eternal when Donen cast her as Kelly’s love damnation of our souls. interest. In reading about Donen’s As it was, we had no choice other life and career, it becomes clear why than to settle into our seats and “Singin’ in the Rain” was such a hit. suffer through this thing. Our souls He made it with subversive intenremained pristine, but from the tion, lampooning the extravagant opening credits we were determined Busby Berkeley-style pictures that to hate “Singin’ in the Rain.” had dominated Hollywood musicals Then, oh. This movie was sort of in the 1930s. People who’d grown funny. Donald O’Connor running tired of the sequined genre were up walls and doing backflips and ready for something fresh, something shouting “Gotta dance!” Gene Kelly muscular. and O’Connor harassing an elocution He made other popular musicals, coach in the “Moses supposes” num- such as “Seven Brides for Seven ber. Jean Hagen as ditzy Lina Lamont Brothers” and the classic caper “Chainsisting her crows-cawing voice can rade.” As late as 2014 he was pushing seduce movie audiences. to launch a movie he’d co-written And the athleticism. This wasn’t with his partner Elaine May. dancing — at least not what an Donen had some eighth-grade boy understood dancclunkers in his ing to be — it was gymnastics, and career, as all direcboxing, and flinging your body tors do. But “Singin’ around like you’re possessed by dein the Rain” is mons, yet never losing control. Kelly forever the jewel in was ridiculous, meting out grace and his crown. A bunch power from his compact frame like of adults who once a martial artist who could also carry rode a school bus a tune. While the scene where he to New York to see literally sings in the rain may have it will attest to Jim Keogh been iconic, in those pre-Internet, that. contributing writer pre-Netflix, pre-cable days, few of us

calendar Saturday, March 2 All That Remains with Attila

The Palladium, 261 Main St. All That Remains will be joined by the oft-controversial Attila, alongside special guests Escape the Fate, Sleep Signals, On Your Deathbed, Hope Before the Fall, Unbounded, Inari, As Within So Without, Attraction to Tragedy and Kingsmen.

Friday, March 1 Queer AF: Art & Fashion Show

The Bull Mansion, 55 Pearl St. Presented by Love Your Labels, the Queer AF art and fashion show raises funds for a youth-focused pilot program while staying focused on their goal of inclusivity and representation.

Saturday, March 2 Maple Days 2019

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F E B R U A RY 28 - M A R C H 6, 2019

Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge Kicking off on March 2 and running through March 24, OSV brings Maple Days to the living history museum. Join the team to see the entire sugar making process.

Sunday, March 3 Worcester Railers versus Adirondack Thunder

DCU Center, 50 Foster St. The Worcester Railers Hockey Club takes on the Adirondack Thunder on Sunday, March 3 as they continue to battle for a top four spot in their division.

Saturday, March 2 Luke Combs

DCU Center, 50 Foster St. Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Luke Combs heads to the DCU Center with special guests Lanco and Jameson Rodgers. This event is sold out.

calendar Saturday, March 2 Pasta Dinner

Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road The annual pasta dinner fundraiser at the Craft Center.

Eat delicious food and take home a bowl. This is also your last chance to see Eric Nichols’ powerful “Portraits in Masculinity” show.

The Score Worcester Railers Wednesday, Feb. 20 The Railers (23-225-3) stumbled, 7-2, on the road to the Manchester Monarchs.

Sunday, Feb. 24 The Railers (23-22-5-4) fell again on the road, this time, 4-3, to the Maine Mariners. The loss has the Railers four points behind the Mariners for the fourth and final playoff spot.

(Upcoming: The Railers finished their seven-game road trip Wednesday against the Manchester Monarchs. The Railers return home Sunday, March 3 to host the Adirondack Thunder, before going back on the road Wednesday, March 6 against the Thunder.)

Thursday, March 7 Born of Osiris

Worcester Palladium, 261 Main St. Born of Osiris head to the Worcester Palladium on their Simulation Tour, with guests Chelsea Grin, Make Them Suffer, Kingdom Of Giants, Before I Turn, Attacking The Vision, Fathom Farewell, Led To Believe, Callosity, White Lights and The Worst Of Us

Greater Good Imperial Brewing, 55 Millbrook St. The Mass Audubon presents a talk with Worcester residents about the potential effects of climate change and how we can help protect our community. Enjoy a beer or a snack while learning about the conundrum.

Worcester Blades Saturday, Feb. 23 The Blades fell on the road, 5-1, to the Toronto Furies.

Sunday, Feb. 24 The Blades lost, 4-1, to the Furies on the road.

Round-Up

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Worcester boxer Jamaine Ortiz (10-0) won the vacant Word Boxing Council World Youth Lightweight Championship Saturday, Feb. 23 with a unanimous decision over Ricardo Quiroz (10-1) at Twin River Casino.

On the same card, Worcester native Nick Briggs (3-0), a super lightweight, remained undefeated with a win over Andy Aiello (1-2-1).

The Railers signed defenseman Ivan Chukarov.

The Pirates re-signed defensive lineman/ linebacker Tavarus Dantzler, signed offensive lineman Khaliel Rodgers and named Tim Shelley their defensive coordinator.

F E B R U A RY 28 - M A R C H 6, 2019

Wednesday, March 6 Change is Brewing in Worcester: A Climate Cafe with Mass Audubon

Worcester 78’s Saturday, Feb. 23 The 78’s (11-5) fell at home, 156-148, to the Western Mass Zombies (Upcoming: The 78’s finish up the regular season Sunday, March 3 on the road against the Scranton Shamrocks.)

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games “Revolutionaries” — what goes around.

by Matt Jones

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J O N E S I N’ Across 1 Kiefer, to Donald 4 Agcy. concerned with ergonomics 8 Upside-down V 13 It shares a key with @ 14 “... like ___ of bricks” 15 Language family of Czech and Polish 17 Like some bazookas or missiles 19 2001 A.L. MVP ___ Suzuki 20 Org. with a bunch of particle accelerators 21 Quit at cards 23 Hall’s singing partner 24 “Beware the ___ of March” 25 “I Have a Dream” speech refrain 27 Took in 29 S.F. setting 30 Flower’s protective leaves 32 Comics explosion sound 34 AC measurements 38 Advice based on feelings 41 Terrier type 42 “And others” 43 UCLA player 44 Ebenezer’s epithet 45 Mel of baseball 46 Got ready to kiss 53 ___ Report (upscale magazine) 56 Absolutely ridiculous 57 Opportunity creator 58 Skin softener 59 Movie house 61 Explanation for weird things going on, or what each theme answer has in common 63 A whole bunch 64 “It’s either him ___!”

65 Understand 66 University of ___ Dame 67 Sword used in the Olympics 68 PGA distances Down 1 Actress Keanan of “Step

By Step”

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 16 18 22 26 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Had stock in “Just kidding” Muffin grain Group of workers High esteem Bracelet spot “___: Miami” “Little Women” author 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby “Oh, What a Circus” musical Four for the road Went for Fashionable The Blue Demons of the NCAA [whispers] YouTube video genre presented like this Prefix with skeleton Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, e.g. (abbr.)

“Everything’s fine!”

When the time comes Mauna ___ (Hawaiian volcano) Stewie’s half-brother on “Family Guy” Redundant statement, in literature Geller who claims

37 39 40 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 60 62

paranormal ability Railroad stop (abbr.)

Abrade “Ballers” network Yuppie’s ride, slangily ___ de gallo SAG-AFTRA, for one “No problem!”

Honored a king, maybe “Finding Dory” actor Willem Assume by force ___ d’Or (award at Cannes) Showed disapproval Predispositions NASDAQ rival “The Ice Storm” director Ang

Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

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SERVICE DIRECTORY

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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

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LEGAL

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Worcester Probate and Family Court 225 Main St. Worcester, MA 01608 Docket No. WO19P0531GD CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN FOR INCAPACITATED PERSON PURSUANT TO G.L. c. 190B, §5-304 In the matter of: Mart Kuljus Of: Worcester, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Department of Developmental of Worcester, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Mart Kuljus is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Donna Freitas of Uxbridge, MA (or some other suitable person) be appointed as Guardian to serve Without Surety on the bond. The petition asks the court to determine that the Respondent is incapacitated, that the appointment of a Guardian is necessary, and that the proposed Guardian is appropriate.

The petition is on file with this court and may contain a request for certain specific authority. You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 03/12/2019. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. In addition to filing the written appearance you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date. IMPORTANT NOTICE The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer.

Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person.

If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense. WITNESS, Hon. Leilah A Keamy, First Justice of this Court. Date: February 14, 2019 Stephanie K. Fattman, Register of Probate 02/28/2019 WM

last call Michelle Power

President of Pawsitively 4 Pink

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ichelle Power is the president of Pawsitively 4 Pink, an organization that aims to improve the lives of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are facing financial challenges as a result. Power’s efforts grew out of the success of her apparel company, Gosh Doggit, when she realized she could use her profits to help women who were struggling financially to manage missed days of work, medical expenses, and transportation issues. Pawsitively 4 Pink is holding its inaugural fundraiser Saturday, March 2 at The White Eagle in Worcester.

Are you from Worcester? Born and raised. I went to Woodland Street School. I’ve been a psychotherapist in Worcester for the last 25 years. I worked for several different agencies, and really over the last 15 years, I’ve been in private practice.

And at what point did you get interested in this particular cause? It was a cumulative thing.

Several years ago, a very dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I did the Avon Breast Cancer Walk twice, and then I did the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk three times. I started to have love for fighting this particular cancer.

And then my mother passed two years ago, and she had pancreatic cancer, and I couldn’t continue my career. I just couldn’t work for eight months. I took some time and focused on my other passion in life — dogs. Unfortunately, soon after my own dog passed.

Eventually, we got a puppy. And honestly, I swear to God, I believe my mother sent me that dog. She’s the most beautiful, elegant, loving animal you’ve ever met. She’s a sheepadoodle. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I have to do something with this animal right here.’ So I started

a branded T-shirt company called Gosh Doggit to represent all of the precious and naughty misbehaviors that puppies and dogs are known for. We started doing different events and people asked, ‘Well, where’s this money going?’ And then I thought, ‘Wait a minute, do I really just want to be a branded T-shirt company?’

I told myself, ‘This is your opportunity to do something you’ve always wanted to do, which is to help more people than you could by yourself.’

When did you start Pawsitively 4 Pink? We came up with Pawsitively 4 Pink in December.

It’s very fresh. I immediately felt so much love from the community. I met with Joe Bradley from the Red Sox two Fridays ago and they’re going to partner with us. Emily’s Interiors from Shrewsbury has become a major sponsor for us as well as Camosse Masonry Supply. The outpouring of individual contributions and raffles items has been unbelievable. The White Eagle has donated the venue for our first event. Bushell and Peck donated the food. The DJ was in the military with me and he’s donating his time.

What branch of the military were you in? Air Force.

What is the significance of your organization’s name? The term “pawsitively” came from three different directions. One, people love dogs. They’re going to pay attention to dogs. Two, I hope people “pause” to see what this really is about because I think it’s a huge issue in Massachusetts. We have the fourth largest population of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.

The third reason I picked that name was because it’s “positive” in that it’s an uplifting and useful organization for women. I don’t

believe there is an organization in Worcester County that does what we do, which is to financially supplement women’s income when they are diagnosed with breast cancer. I think it’s so important for people to understand the depth of this issue. Within the first year of women being diagnosed, they lose 26 percent of their annual income.

It’s an amazing loss and it jumps to 66 percent if they’re self employed. So just imagine yourself, you’re a one-income household, or a single parent, or you have children, or you work part time and you lose a quarter of your income.

That’s a lot of money. I think some people don’t understand that the insurance company can’t pays for it all. There are numerous copays and procedures that aren’t paid for by the insurance companies, and heaven forbid you should go the holistic route, then you’re not covered at all.

So tell me about the mission and the financial side of things.

Well, the mission is obviously to help as many women and their families as possible who are impacted by breast cancer. The goal is to partner with as many organizations in the Worcester County area as possible, while doing four major fundraisers throughout the course of the year.

Tell me about your upcoming fundraiser. What will make it unique? We have a group of passionate people who make it unique in and of itself. We have a Channel 5 investigative reporter, Kelli O’Hara, who is going to be the emcee for the evening and she’s going to speak. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through treatment six months ago. I asked that she would speak about her story. We’ve been donated a lot of very cool items for our raffle.

One is a trip to Myrtle Beach. It’s

DYLAN AZARI

a week’s vacation right on the ocean. Another one is a trip to Virginia Beach.

Are you a 501(c)(3) at this point? We are waiting for our tax exempt form to come in and that should be here any moment. Once that comes in, it will help tremendously because we can apply for so many more grants.

Will your Gosh Doggit T-shirt sales continue to be the primary source of revenue for this operation moving forward? Hopefully, Gosh Doggit will become a funnel system to support the day to day operations of Pawsitively 4 Pink.

Do you have an online store?

Yes, it’s www.goshdoggit.com.

– Sarah Connell

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