Worcester Magazine May 28 - June 3, 2021

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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WORCESTER

MAGAZINE

BATTLING

COVID

IN RURAL

INDIA

WORCESTER NATIVE AND HUSBAND ON THE FRONT LINES

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IN THIS ISSUE

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Worcester Magazine 100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske Worcester Magazine is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement.

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City Voices ..........................................................................7 Cover Story.........................................................................9

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Featured ............................................................................15

WoMag is moving to Fridays

Artist Spotlight................................................................19 Next Draft .........................................................................20 Screen Time .....................................................................24 Adoption Option.............................................................28 Classifieds ........................................................................29 Games................................................................................30 Last Call .............................................................................31

On the cover Worcester native Katherine Komenda and her husband are battling the COVID-19 pandemic in the rural Indian village of Dunagiri (Page 12).

DUNAGIRI RETREAT

In what is surely bound to be a divisive and extremely controversial move, Worcester Magazine will be published on Fridays beginning with the May 28 issue. "Sacrilege!" we hear some say. "J'accuse!" say some others, who will take this as evidence of skullduggery and malfeasance. It's really not that exciting, though: It's just to accommodate production schedule issues. Rest assured, WoMag will continue to be inserted in the Friday edition of the Telegram & Gazette, and will continue to also be available free at select newsstands. Now if you'll excuse us, we have to hide from an angry, pitchfork-wielding mob!

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CITY VOICES Worcester Magazine’s Letters To The Editor Policy Letters to the editor are a great way to share your thoughts and opinions with thousands of readers and online viewers each week.

There is no word limit, but we reserve the right to edit for length, so brevity is your friend.

If handwritten, write legibly - if we cannot read it, we are not running it. A full name and town or city of residence are required.

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Send them to Worcester Magazine, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 or by email to WMeditor @gatehouse media.com.

FIRST PERSON

WORCESTERIA

Help support ‘starving’ artists Parker Carlin Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Joyner Lucas, left, and Mark Wahlberg appear in the music video for “Zim Zimma.” PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

Joyner Lucas hangs with Wahlberg, Lopez and Diddy in video Veer Mudambi and Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

A pandemic didn’t slow Joyner Lucas down much, did it? While most of us barely got to see our friends in real life, Lucas was mingling with an all-star crowd over this past year, at least judging from his recordings and videos. First off, Will Smith put out a remix of Lucas’ song “Will,” wherein Smith replied classily to Lucas’ hero worship. Then, in April, Lucas dropped the music video for “Ramen & OJ,” a collaboration with rapper Lil Baby which centers on the idea of being unable to return to the person he was before he was rich and famous. Now, he’s out with a new music video for his song “Zim Zimma,” from his 2020 album, “Evolution.” The song itself is pretty much an upbeat club banger, with a great hook. Really, it’s the video itself that’s of interest.

The first part has Mark Wahlberg “borrowing” Lucas’ BMW, and giving a demonstration of

typical Boston driving. The second part has Lucas hilariously asking to borrow comedian George Lopez’s car ... one which he never lets anyone touch and refused to sell to Jay Leno! Lastly, Lucas races in tiny toy cars with rapper Diddy.

The video, directed by Lucas and his longtime video collaborator Ben Proulx, might not be one of Lucas’ deeper works, but it’s definitely a good time.

(VDI) Your handy guide to Worcester food pantries — When a 10th grade U.S. history class tries to address an issue as part of a State Civics project, we know it is serious and widespread. The project required students to identify and address a specific need in their community — the class chose food access. Their simple and elegant solution, called “The Community Cupboard” brochure, was a student-led effort in which they gathered the names, addresses and requirements for places to access food, then entered the inforSee LUCAS, Page 8

Since art is a beautiful gateway to creativity, design, attraction, and captivation and local businesses seek to attract customers, their relationship should become symbiotic and consequentially support one another through artist support and expressive decorations; restaurants especially like to decorate their walls, and artists make a living off of essentially selling their decorative creations. One of the best ways for artists to keep from “starving” — as the saying goes — is for local businesses to showcase the work of local artists in their establishments by allowing any customer to buy the works that are displayed around them. This is exceptionally beneficial for restaurants as customers spend prolonged amounts of time sitting

and enjoying the environment around them. I have been to restaurants before that adopted this practice and it made the experience far more enjoyable and lighthearted. Not only did it give me something to look at while I ate, but it made things personal. Being an artist myself, I greatly appreciated knowing that the art on the walls were from people in the community like me who want to be able to sell artwork to local people who would appreciate it more than shipping precious works across long distances. Furthermore, imagine going out to eat and being able to add a piece of beautiful art to the tab along with a good meal, both made by someone nearby. It would benefit the artists, the businesses, the customers, and the community as a whole.

Parker Carlin lives in Uxbridge.

Local businesses to showcase the work of local artists in their establishments. FREE-PHOTOS

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K1

DON LANDGREN FACING OFF OVER DUFFY FIELD

POETRY TOWN

‘Wormtown to Woo’ Robert Eugene Perry That ’70s DJ named it Wormtown, just trying to ignite the punk rock scene — but every city has a seedy underbelly, so the politicians and the admen objected, yet Watch now!

Worms push through the offal, offering fecundity to the soil, bringing new life to arid landscapes.

A decade later I moved to the city, greeted by the “Wormtown Rocks” scrawl next to Rick’s Café Underground, another place those wonderful worms were at work.

Underground artists, musicians, poets rise and fall, decades pass they leave their mark or not, no city is to blame for ignominy or fame — Now we stole “The Woo” from England our sister city, hoping to woo the bankers, pumping up the urban renewal, white washing our graffitied past — Leaving a hollow sound where once there was a roar.

Some of the veterans of the Wormtown movement gathered at Ralph’s Rock Diner for their 30th reunion in 2008. The moniker “Wormtown” was coined by Lenny Saarinen, better known as Mayor L.B. Worm.

JIM COLLINS/T&G FILE

Robert Eugene Perry is a poet and author of several books, his most recent collection of poetry, “Surrendering to the Path,” was released by Human Error Publishing in 2020.

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Lucas Continued from Page 7

mation into a database. People can’t use resources if they don’t know they’re available. “People might go across the city not realizing there are nearer options,” said Mike Papagni, a history teacher at South High School.

Setting up a food pantry or soup kitchen is only the first step — the second is getting the word out. The pamphlet by the students lists the locations of all food pantries, soup kitchens and other places in Worcester where residents can access food. It’s no secret that food insecurity is a problem in this city and issues such as urban food deserts, poverty and homelessness are all contributing factors.

While a number of good Samaritans have taken steps to counter this by providing free food to those in need, the question still remains of how to make sure that this help reaches the people who need it most. “I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished to help the Worcester community,” said Papagni. The pamphlet will be available at various points around the city, such as the Boys & Girls Club, Worcester Baptist Church and local eateries, with-

in the next few days. (VM) Radio Goo Goo: Is anyone surprised that DJ Matt Siegel, of Kiss 108’s “Matty in the Morning,” was back on the radio the day after he apparently quit in an epic meltdown because he was asked to stop making jokes about the fact that pop star Demi Lovato has come out as nonbinary, and is using genderneutral pronouns? Actually, it seems more people were surprised he was still on the air.

This was the first time he had any public attention in years! As to Lovato, I’ve admired them since I reviewed them at the DCU Center, so much so that I was drawn to go back and look at my 2014 review, where I write (and please excuse the retention of the original pronouns), “‘Happiness and healthiness is a choice,’ she said, ‘and I’m living proof,’ referring obliquely to her much-publicized troubles with substance abuse, bulimia and bipolar disorder, which caused her to take a brief hiatus from her career while she sought treatment. It was a prosaic, vulnerable moment that was greeted with empathy and cheers.” I found Lovato an interesting and inspirational figure then — and a particularly important one for young women — and I still do. (VDI)

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COVER STORY

OFF THE MAP

Worcester native and her husband fight to save COVID-ravaged village in India

A Himalayan sunrise DUNAGIRI RETREAT

Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Located in the remote Dunagiri area of the Himalayas, the village of Chari cannot be found on any regular map. It is situated 400 km or a 12-hour drive north of New Delhi, in the district of Almora of the Indian state of Uttarakhand, on the border of China and Nepal. The nearest train station is a five-hour drive and the nearest full hospital is about three hours away. h In a country of almost 1.4 billion people, the village is in danger of falling through the cracks of India’s COVID-19 crisis response. But Worcester native Dr. Katherine Komenda, along with her husband, Piyush Kumar, are fighting to make sure that doesn’t happen. See MAP, Page 10

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Komenda, with a PhD in religious studies and Sanskrit, is a longtime Indophile, a Fulbright and Ford Foundation scholar, a student of Sanskrit, Indian philosophy and yoga.

She has lived full time in Dunagiri since 2013. Kumar is an engineer who worked with the World Bank for 10 years in Washington, D.C., before returning to contribute to his home country. He ran a software development company in New Delhi before moving to Dunagiri and devoted himself to sustainable development.

Julieane Frost, Komenda’s older sister, may get the credit for sparking her interest in South Asia. Frost, who is senior marketing manager at Worcester Art Museum, worked at Clark University’s International Office at the time and brought home an international student from India, when her younger sister was in high school.

For the last 15 years, Komenda and Kumar have run Dunagiri Retreat, an eco-yoga retreat center where visitors participate in programs including meditation, yoga and communing with nature. The retreat also generates a liveli-

A wild Himalayan cherry tree grows near the retreat.

DUNAGIRI RETREAT

hood for the surrounding villages, supporting about 30 families, who are now at the back of the line for COVID aid.

Though small and remote, the area has significant spiritual history that spans thousands of years, and the villagers are simple hill people or “pahadis” — small farmers, with tiny fields and a few head of cattle.

Referring to the devastation of the COVID emergency in India, Komenda said, “the truth is that the entire medical system has collapsed in India.” In rural areas, where the medical infrastructure was already minimal, she said, it is now nonexistent. So Komenda and her husband are helping the district magistrate establish a See MAP, Page 11

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A winter morning view from Dunagiri. DUNAGIRI RETREAT

Map Continued from Page 10

response from the ground up, starting with a COVID facility in Dwarahat, a slightly larger village about an hour away, on which Dunagiri is completely dependent for basic healthcare and medicine.

Official aid has been slow in coming for Dwarahat, let alone Dunagiri and the other smaller villages. Knowing it would be months before any meaningful help arrived, the couple began reaching out to their own network. “We’ve been on the phone all day, every day, to help our [local government] get oxygen concentrators and supplies,” said Komenda. The situation is a microcosm of what is playing out all over the country as the healthcare system buckles under the sheer weight of numbers, and Indians struggle to get healthcare. “[People] have to do it family to family, friend to friend, and even getting a hospital bed is through connections and networking.”

Their friends and wellwishers from all over the world are arranging donations. Kumar and Komenda are using these funds to bridge the last mile gap in effective delivery of aid. They have an India Duna-

giri Region COVID relief effort at a GoFund Me page where they have raised almost $10,000.

Frost is admiring of the way that her sister and Kumar try to take care of their local community. “I think they really care very much for the wellbeing of their neighbors. I’m so proud that they are trying to get medical equipment and supplies to the area.”

Her youngest sister, according to Frost, has always been resilient and absolutely fearless. “I don’t know if I would be that way. I think it’s amazing that she has been able to really integrate into India and Indian culture,” Frost said.

Dunagiri’s location acts as a double-edged sword — on the one hand, the remote location initially acted as a buffer to slow the spread of COVID infections, mimicking social distancing on a geographic level.

However, once COVID arrived, the location proved to be a handicap, and assistance has been similarly slowed by the distance. The community of about six villages with a combined population of about 1,200 was doing relatively well after the first COVID wave last year. “Seemingly getting back to normal, before we heard about cases hundreds of miles See MAP, Page 12

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Visitors starting the day off with meditation. PHOTOS BY JANE CRAGGS

Map Continued from Page 11

away in early April,” explained Komenda.

It was only when Kumar’s family in New Delhi began to fall ill about the same time, he and Komenda began to make preparations for the second wave, which proved difficult in a society that refused to believe such a thing was imminent.

A big part of this, emphasized Kumar, was the government aggressively pushing the narrative that India had “won the war” against COVID and encouraging people to believe the danger had passed. It is true that strict social distancing and economic shutdown measures did halt the spread in 2020. However, when life returned to normal, massive crowds gathered for religious festivals and political rallies —

all of which became super spreader events throughout the country. To make matters worse, criticizing the government response can result in being charged with treason and sedition.

According to Reuters, India reported more than 4,529 deaths from COVID on Wednesday, May 19 — the worst single-day death toll in any country since the pandemic began and a bleak indicator of the scale of the outbreak. More than 314,000 new coronavirus infections were logged on Thursday, April 22, the highest number of single-day cases reported globally since the pandemic began, and this week, India is reporting about 307,000 new infections on average each day. There have been 25,496,330 infections and 283,248 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.

As startling as those num-

bers are, authorities say that it is just a portion of the true toll and that the real numbers are far higher. The exact case numbers and death counts are elusive, making it problematic to mount an effective grassroots response.

“If we don’t gather accurate data, how do we make informed decisions?” asked Komenda. Efforts to track the rate of COVID cases and deaths are often stymied not only by government obfuscation, she said, but by lack of public cooperation. When a death is deemed to be COVID-related, the body is not released to the family, a practice that clashes with the Hindu funerary ritual of cremation. Out of compassion, doctors often do not report the cause of death as COVID — which allows the family to claim a member who has passed on. While a comfort to See MAP, Page 13

Two visitors prepare for their morning meditation.

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Map Continued from Page 12

the families in allowing them to mourn their loved ones in a culturally appropriate manner, this skews the public health data.

Additionally, people in the community are reluctant to have COVID tests, either from fear of being quarantined, or believing they have the seasonal flu. The number of people complaining of coughs, fevers and other symptoms is rising but officially, there are no COVID cases due to the absence of testing. In Dunagiri and other parts of India’s vast rural areas, people are dying with COVID symptoms without being tested.

As in the U.S., the COVID crisis also highlighted India’s existing social inequalities, causing some groups to be hit harder than others, even beyond the initial danger of contracting the life threatening infection. Economic and societal fallout will affect communities for years to come, according to Komenda, leaving orphaned children, loss of primary breadwinners and failed businesses, all while the prices of essential commodities “are shooting up through the roof.”

Regarding challenges in terms of sending relief materials, both Komenda and Kumar explain that it is hard to communicate, even to good Samaritans, that money is not the answer every time. “All the money in the world doesn’t help if the medications and supplies aren’t available,” said Komenda, “we’ve got donations sitting in an account, but trying to buy the supplies during a catastrophic shortage is a nightmare.” Despite that, they are aware that monetary donations may be the simplest way for Americans to provide aid at the moment.

While COVID was an unprecedented strain on the American healthcare system, the breakdown in India ap-

Katherine Komenda takes in the view from Dunagiri. DUNAGIRI RETREAT

proaches a completely new level. “Americans don’t really understand what it means to have an entire health infrastructure collapse,” said Komenda. This was what many feared would be the case with COVID in India. “What is happening right now is the worst possible pandemic scenario.”

“It’s hard for us to imagine what they’re going through because we’re in a very different situation,” said Frost, “here we are about to go back to normal at the end of the month.”

Though both Komenda and Kumar have the first shot of the vaccine, the vaccination drive in India has faltered as vaccine shortages become more pronounced and second shots prove hard to find. Two reasons

“Americans don’t really understand what it means to have an entire health infrastructure collapse. ... What is happening right now is the worst possible pandemic scenario.”

Dr. Katherine Komenda

have contributed to this — one of the largest manufacturers of vaccines in the world, the Serum Institute of India, has run into a wall regarding the ingredients, and the Indian government exported large quantities of vaccines when the country’s own numbers were more promising. “When we got our initial shots about a month ago,” Ko-

menda said, “we were praising the vaccination program but the supplies have evaporated now.”

Even as her adopted country struggles with the dire straits of the pandemic, Komenda feels that they are relatively safe due to the remoteness of their area.

What they wish to do is “communicate to the world on behalf

of those who are at the back of the line” that times are tough and help is desperately needed.

“The normal trade routes of shipping companies have been disrupted due to international tensions [between China and India] and the inevitable manufacturing slowdowns at this time. It’s a perfect storm.”

Talking about loved ones at home in Worcester, Komenda indicated it has been difficult to stay in touch. “It’s been a challenge and WIFI connectivity is spotty, but we are fortunate this landline is working so they can call me. Everybody is extremely worried but I’ve been traveling in India for 30 years of my life and they’re used to me being in precarious situations, though this may take the cake.”

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FEATURED

Milano The Great channels adversity into art Liz Fay Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Milano the Great's most recent single is “Skeye Red.” PHOTO BY DENZEL DERANAMIE

It took only a few seconds for Milan Scott to understand the nightmare he’d woken up to on March 18, 2014. It was early in the morning when the 22-yearold Worcester resident experienced the scare of his life, after being disturbed from his sleep by two men standing over him holding butcher knives and a crowbar. While struggling to lift himself off the ground, Scott looked down to see himself covered in his own blood, realizing he’d already been dragged from his bed, struck in the head by a crowbar, and stabbed multiple times.

After roughly 30 minutes of receiving brutal beatings and life threats, Scott was left for dead by his two attackers who disappeared from the scene unscathed, after robbing the home of $80,000 in cash, which Scott had spent years saving. After being found by his father, who had left earlier that morning to drive Scott’s mother to work, Scott was rushed to the hospital, where he survived a total of 15 stab wounds throughout his face and body and a sliced tendon, leaving him with an immobile left index finger to this day.

Having survived such a violent assault, the now 30-yearold Worcester rapper and songwriter has worked to channel the pain and adversity he’s faced into his artistic persona, “Milano The Great.”

“I’m a really resilient person,” he said. “I’ve never let the hard times I’ve been through render me from pursuing a bright future, or discourage me.

I never ran in the face of adversity. I didn’t run from the city, I

didn’t run from my attackers, I stayed and I figured it out and still continued on with my life.”

In his most recent single, “Skeye Red,” which was released earlier this month, he vents the pain he’s both witnessed and endured, while remaining resilient by nature.

“Pain in my heart, pain in my eyes, look up the sky’s red” and “made it through the door ya ya made it through the war ya ya, built it up from the floor ya ya.”

For Scott, not running away from his problems has been a major factor toward becoming the inspirational man and artist he is now. According to Scott, “If I would’ve left the city I might not even be making music.”

Scott’s 2021 track “Neva Ran” provides another sample of the artist’s fiery spirit when he raps “Dark days made me that (expletive) I needed to feel that pain” and “Them boys cut from a different cloth they don’t compare to I, I really been all through it deserve my piece of the pie.”

While Scott’s song lyrics only hint at the violence and injustices he experienced, Scott plans to release an emotionally charged and detail filled music video for “Neva Ran” on June 1.

Scott’s manager, Happi Hongla, a former executive assistant to Atlantic Records, describes the music video as “a cinematic experience based on true events.”

Scott revealed that music has always been an important part of his life, but it wasn’t until this past year, after meeting Happi, that he began to intentionally develop a musical career for himself.

According to Hongla, “There are so many ways he’s evolving See MILANO, Page 18

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Encompass offers support system for Worcester area foster parents Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

For Sarah Ahola, it was a Friday when she got the call that two girls would be arriving at her place at 5 p.m. Though this was her second foster placement, the incoming sisters were older than the previous child — that was when Ahola realized she didn’t have an appropriately sized bed.

“I really didn’t want them to have to go to an emergency placement just to come to me later. So I spent some of that day just preparing their room but it required a team effort. At that time I had one bed and a crib.”

Having a network for lastminute needs or being able to turn to an experienced foster parent would have been invaluable, Ahola said. Even though friends and family often want to help, she felt, they don’t always know how. While in her case, she had some friends who gave her tips and filled her in on the process, navigating that world is still intimidating.

Aiming to address these issues, the pilot of the Encompass program is underway now in Greater Worcester.

“The Greater Worcester area is very spread out and that makes it difficult to get services or find providers who accept MassHealth, which is what kids have when they come into the system,” said Catherine Twiraga, president of the Massachusetts Alliance for Families, which is part of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, in explaining how Worcester was chosen. She lamented the fact that a paucity of providers has created a situation where children have been known to be

Encompass is a pilot program underway in the Worcester area that offers support services as well as specialists to foster families.

GETTY IMAGES

on an eight-month waiting list for a therapist.

Twiraga says that foster parents are not returning to the system, likely due to the lack of support. To alleviate the demanding circumstances, Encompass connects families to a network, letting them turn to experienced foster parents for

help and advice. “While you wait those eight months for a therapist, someone could say, ‘I had a kid just like them so try this …’” she said.

This support network that Encompass provides is part of a two-pronged approach. Volunteer coordinators will connect with community members to

offer services like babysitting (requested by a landslide), yard work, meal deliveries or grocery shopping. On a more personal level, trauma coaches, who may be experienced foster parents or specialists drawn from partnerships with local nonprofits, will meet with families individually, as well as in

groups, to help them connect to others in similar situations.

Ahola, who is project coordinator at the MSPCC and a social worker by profession, agrees that a trauma coach would have been a great resource.

“It would have provided adSee ENCOMPASS, Page 17

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 17

Encompass Continued from Page 16

vice on how to use my training as a social worker to understand what fostering would look like in my home,” she said.

She says that other services that might seem like a small thing — delivering a meal, helping with homework, yardwork — can be a lifeline for foster parents.

“A carebox would have been really helpful for me — my most recent placement included a child older than the previous child so I felt I didn’t have everything I needed such as the right size clothes, school supplies, etc.”

As a coordinator for the Encompass program, she is really excited to provide a welcome box for brand new placements since fosters sometimes only have a few hours to prepare.

“No doubt that this would have been an amazing help when I was a brand new foster parent.”

Encompass was initially begun as a response to a survey carried out by the MSPCC in which 50% of foster parents said they only received support from family, friends and neighbors during emergencies, and 17% said they never received regular support at all. This lack of a reliable support system leads to fewer foster parents returning to the program and therefore fewer placement options for kids. In an effort to address the situation, MSPCC applied for a grant from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts in order to better support foster parents.

The pitch was enough to sway Dr. Janice Yost, president of the HFCM, and her colleagues, who approved a $657,735 grant. The multi-year grant will cover five years, supporting the planning year, the pilot year, as well as three years of implementation. After a year of planning, the pilot began in the Worcester area with the goal of expanding to all of Massachusetts, though some

Catherine Twiraga, president of Massachusetts Alliance for Families and longtime foster parent. CATHERINE TWIRAGA

changes have been necessary due to the pandemic.

Yost spoke of the close relationship that MSPCC has with the Mass. Department of Children and Families, so all the organizations involved were looking at the issue of retaining good fosters. Encompass, according to her, will try new strategies and compare the results with Springfield (where they are not trying new strategies at this time) to see if there is a success rate in retention of foster parents.

“This is not a petri dish in a laboratory kind of thing — you’re dealing with human beings, so what you can do is compare to the most similar subjects that you can find,” she said.

They expect to see people foster longer and take on more children — the positive data will go to the administration or Legislature and be used to advocate for changes to the system across the state. Yost pointed out that “in general, you can change policy two ways — administrative or legislative side. On the administration side, the commissioner of the DCF has been involved with this project from the beginning,

Sarah Ahola, project coordinator for the Encompass pilot program and a foster parent, says things like delivering a meal, helping with homework or yardwork can be a lifeline for foster parents. SARAH AHOLA

which is a very favorable sign.”

The Worcester East and West DCF helped identify foster fam-

ilies in Greater Worcester who would be interested and could benefit from the program.

While other foster support programs have been set up in other parts of the country, what sets Encompass apart is that it is designed to be preventive in nature. There are programs that help families in distress, but according to Ahola, Encompass is meant to help families get started on the right foot. It is open to all three types of families: unrestricted (no relation to foster placement); kinship (connection, be it family or friend); and pre-adoptive (on the road to adoption.)

“There is a focus on kinship families since the Worcester Child Protective Services offices do a good job of placing children with kin. Kinship families are traditionally less involved with services because they might not see themselves as a ‘foster family’ but they may need the same level of support and not ask for it because they

feel they have a responsibility to look after the children without assistance.

A lot of time was spent on planning the roll-out of Encompass, which included examining programs already established in New York and Oregon.

“The organizations that we learned from during the planning year were wonderful, but doing bits and pieces of the work that we were trying to do,” Ahola said. “We wanted something that was ‘all encompassing,’ so we took the best of both programs.”

The volunteer aspect of the pilot, which begins next month, will be virtual due to the constraint of limiting face-to-face interactions between families and volunteers but a return to in-person programming will allow genuine relationships to be built. Ahola recalls how they got pretty creative in their attempts to make volunteers feel See ENCOMPASS, Page 18

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Milano Continued from Page 15

as a person, I mean, just turning what once was a hobby into a serious career endeavor has been a huge step in the right direction for him.”

Over the years, Scott turned to music creation as an outlet for healthy self expression and opportunity to share his versatile life experiences from the perspective of his lavish character Milano The Great. Scott identifies himself as an artist with a flair for the finer, more luxurious things in life — opulence being a popular theme in many of his lyrics, as heard in his popular track titled “Milano <3”, where he pays tribute to the popular fashion line Milano Di Rouge, rapping “You caught my eye you had Milano on your body, I’m like it must be meant to be I’m on your body ayyy,” and especially in

Worcester hip-hop artist Milan Scott performs as Milano the Great.

PHOTO BY DENZEL DERANAMI

his song “perpetual,” where his boss rapper mentality comes fiercely into play saying, “And I know it don’t take too much time to go put in that work, and I know it don’t take too much time to put boy on that shirt, never late I go to work, I’m up now I know they hurt.”

Having experienced an as-

sortment of life’s ups and downs — surviving a violent home invasion, being robbed of $80,000, losing friends, gaining a daughter and developing a career as a music artist — it’s safe to say Scott has acquired a fair amount of wisdom, which is why he feels his mission as an artist is to motivate and inspire his listeners here in Worcester, and cities everywhere.

“I almost lost my life,” Scott said. “So I’m definitely not wasting any time with anything I’m doing. Anything I do, I do it full fledged and put my all into it. What happened to me was definitely a wake-up call for how short life can be, you gotta cherish every moment and be serious about what you do, and realize the value of time.”

Follow Milan on social media @milanolvtl and find his music on YouTube and all streaming services as Milano The Great.

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Encompass Continued from Page 17

like they were part of a team and doing impactful work and new staff coming on board virtually.

The program asks for tangible donations in the form of care boxes, gift cards and weekly meal deliveries. It’s often the most mundane items that have the most impact.

“It’s the things that you don’t expect,” said Twiraga.

“The little things that make a difference like a pair of pajamas that fit.” The goal is to provide a child with something that’s theirs, that they can leave with and symbolize some consistency between moving from place to place. “Nothing breaks your heart more than seeing a child come into home with nothing but the clothes on your back,” she said.

Looking back on her own start as a foster parent almost 20 years ago, Twiraga said she would have benefited most from emotional support and education offered by Encompass. “The best support for a foster parent is another foster parent,” she said. Twiraga remembered that any time she was struggling and talked about it with her sister, the advice was always the same.

“She would say ‘just hand in your notice.’ But I couldn’t really do it.”

Though Twiraga said the kids she’s fostered “have given me as much as I’ve given them and changed my family for the better,” she’s currently taking a break from it to focus on helping her son. She wishes she had the trauma training then that she does now. Specifically, an understanding of the damage that can be done by in utero alcohol exposure. “It reprograms the brain,” she said.

“We’re still struggling.”

Though the challenges may make fostering impractical for some, there are different ways to help the program, and Encompass makes it easy for

community members to find these opportunities. Program coordinators will begin matching volunteers with families by next month.

“I hear often that a lot of people would like to be [foster parents] but can’t for whatever reason,” said Twiraga. In her case, she finished up her fostering career as a hotline home — “the homes you call after 5 p.m. when the office is closed,” she explained. A child is usually placed at a hotline home for one night before they are moved to a more long-term placement. “It’s very intense but I think they have the biggest impact,” she said.

Hotline homes have to be ready at any time for a sudden placement, with a child likely arriving fresh from a stressful situation. In recent years, the opioid crisis has been the primary driver behind children being taken out of homes, said Twiraga. “It’s what separates families and takes hold very fast.”

For example, she said, a child may be coming straight from a drug bust by police or an overdose case, so “the very act of coming into care is a traumatic event,” which is why trauma coaching is so vital.

“Children don’t put themselves there,” she emphasized, “it is what has happened to them, and teens especially get a bad rap but they are in survival mode.”

The pivotal role that foster parents play in the life of children who have been separated from their biological families cannot be underestimated: They afford children the opportunity to develop healthy relationships, self-esteem, emotional balance and valuable life skills. Encompass reflects the commitment to bolstering the lives of foster parents with as many resources as needed to accomplish the mission entrusted to them.

“These children don’t need saving,” said Twiraga, “they just need support.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 19

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

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CITY LIVING TABLE HOPPIN’

THE NEXT DRAFT

After surviving pandemic-plagued opening, Oakholm Brewing turns two Matthew Tota Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Dawn Abbruzzese and John Piccolo at Piccolo’s Restaurant on Shrewsbury Street, where Piccolo and Bill Brady will host a wine dinner June 7. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Chefs John Piccolo, Bill Brady to host wine dinner on Shrewsbury St. Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

An exciting collaborative dinner event with executive chefs John Piccolo and Bill Brady is scheduled for June 7 at Piccolo’s Restaurant, 157 Shrewsbury St., Worcester.

Brady, owner of Brady’s, 37 Mechanic St., Leominster, and Piccolo together created a sixcourse dinner menu that will incorporate their unique cooking styles. Marcio Santos, chef at Piccolo’s Restaurant, will be in the back of the house with the host chefs. A “visiting

chef ” may join the group, according to Piccolo.

The dish: The wine dinner at 5:30 p.m. is $157 per person, inclusive. Seating is very limited and by reservation only. Call Piccolo’s Restaurant (508) 754-1057 after 4:30 p.m. (open Tuesday through Saturday) to reserve, or purchase tickets at the restaurant. “We expect the event to sell out quickly and it’s first-come, first-served. No exceptions,” said Piccolo.

The event marks the first wine dinner at Piccolo’s Restaurant in several years, “way before COVID-19,” according to Piccolo. “People had been ask-

ing me to do a wine dinner and I talked to Bill and we decided to go with it. As chefs and both members of the Escoffier Society, we’ve been known to raise a glass together once in a while,” joked Piccolo, who recalled how he previously had teamed up with other local chefs in presenting wine dinners.

“We’re excited to be in the kitchen, pair the wines and share the experience with friends,” said Piccolo. “It promises to be a unique night of fine wine and food.”

See HOPPIN’, Page 22

The first time Andrew Woodward handed me one of his beers, his brewery only existed on paper.

In June 2019, the 90-yearold barn at Oakholm Farm in Brookfield looked worn and dusty, an enclave for spiders, and had not yet transformed into Woodward’s handsome taproom. A broken concrete foundation occupied the spot where his 10-barrel brewhouse now sits. And instead of a beer garden, wild grass grew into the woods.

We stood under a tent, drinking beers from a trailer Woodward had rigged with taps and a cooler for kegs.

I visited the farm to write about the idea of Oakholm Brewing Co., the brewery Woodward founded with his friend Chris “Babe” Predella and Predella’s father, Rick, leaving impressed with their dream and tenacity. I told Woodward he would have an instant hit when they opened, and not just because of the location.

Oakholm debuted in May 2020, one unremarkable weekend in the middle of a state shutdown, limited to selling beer to-go in a parking lot.

Quarantining, I spoke to Woodward, the head brewer,

Andrew Woodward, head brewer and co-founder of Oakholm Brewing Co. in Brookfield, stands in his taproom, transformed from a dusty 90-year-old barn.

MATTHEW TOTA

about the occasion by phone instead of visiting, forced to see the new taproom and brewhouse through photos.

He sounded optimistic despite the circumstances — the worst a new brewery could ask for — reassured by the initial response and by canning five of his beers.

A year later, Oakholm has become one of those true destination breweries, having more than survived the chaos of 2020. It enters its second See DRAFT, Page 21

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 21

Draft Continued from Page 20

year feeling like it has been in business for 50, ready for the state’s full reopening and the bigger crowds that will no doubt follow.

“I just wanted people to enjoy the beer and brewery. I wanted them to come and feel like I felt when I walked into this barn, even though it was dusty and dirty, but seeing what it could be,” Woodward said. “That whole experience of being here with all this open air and land. The worry would be not that people wouldn’t fall in love with the land, but that the beer would not be up to par with all these other brewers out there. But it’s been good.”

Consistency and hard work were key factors in Oakholm adjusting to the challenges of the pandemic. Woodward grinded in the brewhouse to make sure the brewery had enough beer every week, while Babe Predella oversaw construction of the backyard beer garden.

So when the state permitted breweries to open for outdoor service last June, Oakholm had a seamless transition from the parking lot to the beer garden, then eventually into the finished taproom, albeit at a reduced capacity.

“We were doling beers out of the beer trailer, and we had so much space,” Woodward said.

“All the tables were far apart.

Nobody was on top of each other. At a certain point during the summer, people just wanted to get out. And we had the space, which really helped us. If we didn’t have the space, if it were just this taproom, we would have struggled a lot more.”

Oddly, having to stagger its opening because of the pandemic helped, too, Babe Predella said, allowing them to manage production and move at a slower pace.

“I think as tough as the coronavirus was, it was a decent ease into the brewery,” he said.

“We had regulations to follow.

If we just opened the doors without that, I don’t know how we would have done it.”

Even in the colder months, Oakholm remained busy. Huge bonfires fed by an endless supply of wood pallets kept its guests warm, along with Woodward’s milk stout.

Woodward hopes to welcome even more people to the brewery this summer. They want to improve the beer garden and plan to build a concrete stage that will act as a small amphitheater for musicians.

“We want this to be bigger and better than last year,” he said.

Both Woodward and Babe Predella, I was surprised to learn, have continued working full time while putting in long hours at the brewery. And Rick Predella had been retired.

“For Andrew and Babe, it’s been a second full-time job,” Rick Predella said. “I’m retired., but I spend probably 50 hours a week here. It’s kind of a love.”

I asked him whether he pinches himself every time he strolls around the beer garden greeting customers, given the year Oakholm just lived through. I made the mistake of mentioning luck.

“It’s not luck. It’s a lot of talent,” he said. “We always knew — well we always hoped — it would be a destination. You combine that with our great beer and our outstanding staff.”

It is, indeed, hard not to fall in love with Oakholm’s pastoral setting. But I find the taproom even more beautiful. I visited for the first time in person last week.

Maybe it’s because I saw the old barn before it became the taproom and walked through it while listening to Woodward describe his vision. Standing in it with the three owners, I couldn’t believe the transformation. I must have told Woodward a hundred times while talking to him.

At one point, while gawking at the space and chatting with Rick and Babe, Woodward quietly handed me a beer.

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22 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CONNELL SANDERS

Wins and wines at the WooSox game Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I had a wine night at the WooSox game last week when I found myself hankering for enough oily food to raise the Tin Man from the dead. My husband agreed to join me under the condition that I solemnly swear not to climb up any tall surfaces for a loud and passionate public performance of my favorite Taylor Swift songs.

I filled out the Google Form I had devised especially for such occasions, which stipulates that in the event we run into Jake Gyllenhaal, I am legally obligated to belt out a rendition of “All to Well” in Taylor’s honor. With that, we set off in search of pinot at Polar Park.

Hoppin’ Continued from Page 20

Wine dinner menu: Sashimi Tuna Crudo and fresh herb crostini; Cannalloni Con Vitello (veal, ricotta and mascarpone wrapped in fresh spinach pasta, sauce Besciamella (Italianstyle Bechamel Sauce) and crispy pancetta); Storione Alla Romagna (grilled sturgeon fillet wrapped in grape leaves, zesty white wine salsa); Insalata Bella Donna (mixed greens, roasted butternut, toasted pistachio and green goddess dressing); Agnello Alla Griglia (grilled lamb chop, Simon and Garfunkel breading over red lentil hash); Blueberry Black Pepper Cake, with vanilla bean gelato and blueberry grappa drizzle.

Brady earlier this month reopened his restaurant (indoor and patio seating) after closing all operations during the pandemic. He said he is very fortu-

“Did you just email me a Google Form?” he asked.

“Don’t question me on wine night,” I told him.

I thought I detected an eye roll but I couldn’t be sure. Besides, nothing could spoil my evening. Everyone knows, there’s no squabbling on wine night. I skipped down Green Street with my head held high.

Inside the stadium, I surveyed the dining options: Wonder Bar Pizza, George’s Coney Island Hot Dogs, BT’s Smokehouse — oh, the possibilities.

“What do you want for dinner?” he asked me.

“All of it,” I told him, “I want all of it.”

In the first inning, we ate our way through four Coney dogs See WOOSOX, Page 23

nate to have the majority of his staff return to work. His executive chef Justin Smith has been with Brady since he owned the former Sonoma Restaurant in Princeton.

The reopening of Brady’s has gone really well, according to the owner, who has experienced several sold-out nights.

“We’ve had a few hiccups along the way, like when we lost power with full restaurant capacity,” said Brady. “We pulled through with emergency lighting until the city’s power was restored,” he said. “It could have been worse.”

FYI: Piccolo’s Restaurant also has inside and outside seating Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended.

While restaurant jobs are plentiful, the industry continues to face a nationwide labor shortage. Restaurants have a new challenge, dealing with it the best they know how, according to Piccolo and Brady.

At Polar Park, I ate my way through George’s Coney Island, Wonder Bar Pizza, and BT’s Smokehouse, all paired with wines from 90+ Cellars. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The June 7 wine dinner is a good sign of what’s ahead. For summer and fall, local restaurants and businesses have created new outdoor patio spaces and set up dining tents. Guests also can expect chefs to put locally sourced food at the top of creative new menus.

We say, relax and enjoy!

A recipe from Ina Garten If you’re firing up the grill this weekend and planning to serve a couple sides with the meal, consider Ina Garten’s potato salad recipe. It’s easy and takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Her cookbooks are the best. Once when we interviewed Garten, Food Network TV host and cookbook author, she talked easy recipes.

This potato salad is one of them.

The recipe, courtesy of Ina Garten:

Potato salad 3 pounds small white potatoes Kosher salt 1 cup mayonnaise ⁄4 cup buttermilk

1

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard ⁄2 cup chopped fresh dill

1

Freshly ground black pepper ⁄2 cup chopped celery

1

⁄2 cup chopped red onion

1

Place potatoes and 2 tablespoons of salt in large pot of water. Bring water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are barely tender when pierced with a knife. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then place the colander with the potatoes over the empty pot and cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel.

Allow the potatoes to steam for 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, dill, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Set aside.

When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters or in half, depending on their size. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, pour enough dressing over them to moisten. Add the celery and red onion, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282.

Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 23

WooSox Continued from Page 22

ordered “up” and we shared a 90+ Cellars Sauvignon Blanc that smelled like the freshly cut grass in centerfield. WooSox pitcher Kyle “Heart of the Commonwealth” Hart started the game with three hitless innings, and my favorite player, Jeter Downs, hit a single.

“He’s the most highly touted prospect,” said my husband.

“I loved him with Mariah Carey back in ‘98,” I responded.

“Different Jeter,” he claimed.

“I don’t think so,” I told him.

“Let’s get pizza.”

We ordered a slice of cheese from The Wonder Bar and split a 90+ Cellars Pinot Noir which offered subtle notes of black cherry, violets and Louisville Slugger. Jack Lopez got a hit and the scoreboard ticked up to a 4-0 lead for the WooSox. “Oh my god, do you think Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are here to support Jack?” I asked my husband.

“Different Lopez,” he alleged.

“Whatever,” I told him.

“How about a pulled pork sandwich?”

Atop the Worcester Wall, we waited in line for BT’s where I promptly covered myself in barbecue sauce. We paired our pulled pork with a glass of 90+ Cellars Pinot Grigio that tasted like apricots and honeysuckle with a hearty “smack” of minerality that could only be rivaled by Kevin Smith’s solo home run for Buffalo in the seventh.

“He’s probably just getting out his aggression because he’s upset that Will and Jada have been having marital issues,” I mused.

“Different Smith,” my husband sighed.

“Don’t you think the Worcester Wall would be a perfect spot to really belt out some Taylor Swift right now to raise some spirits? I’ll bet everyone in the bleachers would love …”

“I think wine night is over,” he said.

“Probably for the best,” I agreed.

We left the park full and happy with another WooSox victory under our belts. I can’t recommend a WooSox wine night highly enough. Just ask my husband.

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At Polar Park, a slice of Wonder Bar Pizza met its match when paired with a wine from 90+ Cellars. SUBMITTED PHOTO WM-0000466737-01

24 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

SCREEN TIME

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Until “28 Days Later” I disliked zombie movies. In most zombie pictures, the creatures moved so slowly that not eluding them seemed either absurd or incompetent or both. Somehow, the shambling undead managed to overcome their quarry, who logically could have escaped if they’d only walked a little quicker. I just couldn’t buy it.

But in “28 Days Later” the zombies sprinted at their prey like they were being timed in the 40 at the NFL combine. Not only did they devour their victims, they outran them. That was terrifying. When “The Walking Dead” premiered, I abandoned the show after two episodes because it felt like a retreat to the old slow ways (friends who are “TWD” fans scold me for pulling the plug too soon).

“World War Z” proved zom-

bies can be interesting when their identities are largely kept under wraps. Like Steven Spielberg’s masterful decision to keep the shark in “Jaws” largely out of sight to heighten the tension (and because the fabricated animal kept malfunctioning), “WWZ” director Marc Foster’s choice of optics suggest the zombies’ viciousness, but we get no real clear shot of one until Brad Pitt encounters a hissing, snapping undead man up close in a lab.

One of Foster’s long shots is particularly frightening: zombies climbing over one another’s decaying bodies to successfully scale a wall, a strange union of cohesion and madness.

“Zombieland” showed how to have fun with the genre; “Train to Busan” revealed the terror of traveling by rail with reanimated corpses as your seatmates.

Zack Snyder’s new Netflix See ZOMBIES, Page 25

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 25

NEW ON DVD

‘Chaos Walking’ a New World for Daisy Ridley, Tom Holland The movie adaptation of an award-winning young adult sci-fi series tops the DVD releases for the week of May 25.

“Chaos Walking”: Based on the book “The Knife of Never Letting Go,” the first entry in a series by Patrick Ness, the movie stars Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland, of “Star Wars” and “Spider-Man” fame, respectively.

In development for nearly a decade, the sci-fi film “is neither the disaster one might fear nor the thrilling hoped-for first installment of a would-be trilogy,” Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Crust writes in his review.

“The year is 2257 A.D. and New World, a 64-year journey from the settlers’ home planet, Earth, represents a colonization opportunity gone wrong,” explains Crust. “Similar to Earth in many ways, the beautifully dystopian planet features breathable air, drinkable water, lush forests and perpetual daylight. Unfortunately, it is also home to an unwelcome native species, the Spackle or Spacks, and its atmosphere has a disorienting effect on males, wherein their every thought is broadcast aloud to others.”

Without the proper filter, this disorienting effect causes men to be “chaos walking.”

Zombies Continued from Page 24

film “Army of the Dead” features scores of zombies who vault around decimated Las Vegas like parkour champions.

Snyder’s monsters are the rotting flesh-and-bone equivalent of the CGI undead in “I Am Legend” — largely hibernating during the day, very fast, very strong and capable of issuing

Daisy Risley, left, and Tom Holland, right, brace for battle “Chaos Walking.” MURRAY CLOSE

Women, unaffected by this phenomena, supposedly perished in a war with the Spackle, leaving an all-male settlement ruled by the menacing Mads Mikkelsen. Into this situation enters Ridley’s character, the lone survivor of a settler ship who crash lands on New World.

“The stars don’t fare too badly, as their innate appeal retains intact,” Crust writes. Holland’s conflicted man-boy dealing with a meta-power isn’t far removed from Peter Parker,

but he’s really good at it. Ridley’s Viola is strong, confident and capable and the actor’s winsomeness is occasionally allowed to break through. The duo share a spark or two but the relationship is never allowed to roam anywhere near the boundaries of the film’s PG-13 rating; sexual tension is kept well below simmer. The stellar supporting cast, especially Mikkelsen and Cynthia Erivo in a role that demands more attention from one of

those doubtful sequels, also goes a long way toward the movie’s watchability.”

Also new on DVD May 25 “Long Weekend”: A quirky young woman enters the life of a struggling writer at just the right moment in this romantic comedy.

“American Fighter”: A college wrestler enters the dangerous world of underground fighting to get the money needed to save his ailing mother.

Stars George Kosturos, Tommy

an ear-splitting battle scream that could make even the bravest warrior curl up in a fetal position and accept their fate.

In “Army of the Dead,” Dave Bautista plays Scott Ward, who is conscripted to lead a team into walled-off Las Vegas, where the world’s zombies have been sealed, to retrieve $200 million from a casino vault. He’s got to act quickly because the president had ordered the entire city to be nuked in a few days.

The film is an endless source of amusement for all the wrong reasons. Allow me to highlight three: h The team members are equipped with a seemingly endless supply of ammunition, the ability to make accurate head shots on moving zombie targets from any distance, and a talent for horrendous decision-making that lands them in a perpetual state of peril. Every opportunity to flee is stymied by their own idiocy.

h Scott’s estranged daughter, Kate (Ella Purnell), is insufferably screechy and demanding. When she insists on joining the mission, we know two things will happen: 1. The lifeor-death drama will spur a father-daughter reconciliation, and 2. Her presence as a brash and impetuous amateur will lead to the deaths of others.

Snyder wants us to admire her spunk. We do not. h Wisecracks can kill. Comedian Tig Notaro plays the

Flanagan and Sean Patrick Flanery.

“Happily”: In this dark romcom, a happily married couple, played by Joel McHale and Kerry Bishe, discover their friends are jealous of their healthy relationship. The story takes a turn when a mysterious stranger arrives promising to correct the loving couple’s “defect.”

“Supernatural”: The Complete Fifteenth and Final Season”: Catch up on the final adventures of the Winchester boys, Sam and Dean, as the long-running TV series concludes after 15 seasons of fighting demons and other supernatural beings.

“My Fair Lady”: The 1964 classic starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, which won eight Academy Awards, including best picture, is now available in ultra-high definition for the first time thanks to a recent 8K film transfer. This 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo includes more than two hours of special features.

Out on Digital HD May 25 “Deliver Us From Evil”: An assassin trying to solve a kidnapping case finds himself becoming the hunted as he’s chased by a man looking for revenge in this Korean film.

helicopter pilot hired to airlift the team to safety. When Scott radios her on the casino rooftop to check the chopper’s status, the copter not only won’t start but several important parts are on fire. Rather than deliver an honest assessment that could result in a change of strategy, Tig insists things are fine and jokes that she’s working on her tan.

I could go on, and on … like a zombie, but you get the idea.

This stuff is deadly.

26 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

5 THINGS TO DO

JOHN ‘PAPA’ GROS, JAKE OWEN AND MORE ....

Richard Duckett and Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Cure for the Blues There’s something utterly electrifying about listening to New Orleans bluesman John “Papa” Gros’ most recent album, “Central City,” something about the way he taps New Orleans’ history of brass and jazz to create a sort of vibrancy, which he balances with a soulful vocal undercurrent. The serious of funk of “Deep in the Mud” positively pops, and “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” flows with a sort of effortless groove.

Not enough to get you out? The event also features a pop-up restaurant from local favorites MamaRoux.

(VDI) What: John “Papa” Gros When: 8 p.m. June 3 Where: 555 E. Main St., East Brookfield How much: Tickets $25 to $75 Continued on next page

John “Papa” Gros PHOTO BY ZACK SMITH

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 27

Rock of Ages Do you yearn for the days of rock ‘n’ roll when both the guitars and the hair were flammable? If that’s the case, then Drafters – now in its new home in Thompson, Connecticut – has the perfect show for you, as “the world’s most authentic ‘80s cover band,” Aquanett, delivers the hits of the likes of Def Leppard, Journey, Bon Jovi and more in the inaugural session of the venue’s “Bands & BBQ” series. What more do you need in a party than BBQ meat and free-flowing glam rock? (VDI) What: Bands & BBQ Memorial Day Weekend Kickoff with Aquanett When: 4-7 p.m. May 29 Where: Drafters, 1017 Riverside Drive, Thompson, Connecticut How much: $10 in advance, $15 at the door

Tequila Bonfire PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

Jake Owen PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Lighting the Bonfire

A little ‘Honkytonk’ music

What: Jake Owen, with special guests Angie K & April Cushman When: 6:30 p.m. May 28 (parking lots open 4:30 p.m.; gates open 5 p.m.)

Where: Northlands, Cheshire Fairground, 247 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, New Hampshire How much: About $139 to $199 per pod (up to five people per pod) depending on availability. www.northlandslive.com.

Tequila Bonfire may be the hottest country rock band in Central Massachusetts, and it gets in the spotlight at Indian Ranch May 30.

The band covers the latest country hits by the biggest country stars, performs original music, and has opened for national acts including Montgomery Gentry, Big and Rich, Chase Rice and Darius Rucker. (RD)

Aquanett PHOTO/BRIAN EVANS

What: Tequila Bonfire When: 1 p.m. May 30 (doors 11:30 a.m.)

Where: Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster How much: $15. Please note: This show will be sold at a limited capacity with distanced seating. www.indianranch.com

Grafton Flea Market, Inc.

Listen Closely The trio of hip-hop artists at the core of Stanton Capitol Records – K’Nen, Jafet Muzic and Danny Fantom – have been killing it lately, what with their recent collaboration, “Stanton Capitol Records Presents: Vol. 1,” as well as Jafet’s subsequent solo release, “The Art of Embracing Damage.” Now, SCR is hosting a listening party for the former record, with music by DJ Kidkash and other fun attractions.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of these local scene stalwarts, or are looking to explore the Worcester hip-hop scene now that the city is coming back to life, this makes for a pretty chill evening. (VDI)

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6am - 4pm • Acres of Bargains • Hundreds of Vendors • Thousands of Buyers • 52nd Season From left, Danny Fantom, K’Nen and Jafet Muzic are the principal rappers of Stanton Capitol Records. SUBMITTED PHOTO What: Stanton Capitol Records listening party When: 9 p.m. May 29 Where: Electric Haze, 26 Millbury St., Worcester How much: $10

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Country singer-songwriter Jake Owen has been known for going “Down To The Honkytonk” in his friendly and catchy single that’s been certified Gold. He’s also heading to Northlands for a show May 28. With nine No. 1 singles in the country charts and an inclusive approach to his audience, Owen is pretty much welcome anywhere he goes. New Hampshire native and country singer-songwriter April Cushman will be one of Owen’s special guests. Her debut album, “The Long Haul,” is about to be released.

Country music fans going to Northlands will get another treat May 29 with a visit by Aaron Lewis. (RD)

28 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Max 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.

Calling all experienced shepherd owners and lovers.

Max is a big lovable boy who weighs in at 110 pounds. This handsome hunk came to the shelter after his previous family had some lifestyle changes and they could no longer give him the attention, love and exercise he required. Max is looking for a strong and skilled leader who can provide him with everything he needs to live out a happy and healthy life.

Being that he is so large, a large home with a yard will be very important for him. Max is playful and true to his breed, is obsessed with tennis balls and always enjoys a good game of catch. As mentioned above we are looking for an experienced shepherd owner for Max, someone who knows their behaviors, quirks and how to handle his size. At times, Max can be stubborn and is looking for a confident leader who can work on positive reinforcement training to brush up on his skills. He is extremely smart, loyal and is the type of dog who thrives off of a routine schedule. He has been around children in his previous home and enjoys meeting new people.

Max will alert you when new guests arrive and makes an excellent alarm system to protect his family. Max has fun meeting like- minded dog friends

Max is available for adoption. SUBMITTED PHOTO

outside of his home, but he has never lived with them and has never been around small animals. He is looking to be the only pet in his next home. Max will make a wonderful companion for some lucky family. If you are interested in learning more about Max and scheduling an appointment to meet with him,

please contact the shelter.

WARL COVID-19 Procedures As of Nov. 9, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we want to share with you some changes we have implemented so that we can continue to serve the pets and people of our commu-

nity while keeping our team protected. h ADOPTIONS: At this time, adoptions are being held

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you are interested in adoption, please visit our website worcesterarl.org/ adopt/ to learn more about our available animals then call us at (508)

853-0030 ext.0 or email us at info@worcesterarl. org to schedule an appointment. h CASUAL VISITS TO THE SHELTER are prohibited. We will strictly enforce this in order to keep our animal care team protected while still maintaining the most essential function of our operation ... finding homes for animals in need. h ANIMAL SURRENDERS: Our business practice for surrendering a pet remains the same. All pet owners must contact WARL in advance of surrendering a pet. Please call (508) 853-0030. h SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS: All scheduled appointments will be honored. If you have a scheduled appointment, we will be contacting you to discuss changes to our drop off/ pick up procedures. h DONATIONS ACCEPTED except for open bags of food. h Pet food, cat litter, and other shelter supplies will be essential in continuing to provide for our animals and to assist community members in need. To avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, items can be purchased online from our Amazon Wishlist - https:// www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3AX342JIL73M0 h Weekly training classes are going on for adopters. h The WARL Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. We have many animals in our care who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The above measures help to protect our staff and community from the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-toface interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow our Facebook page for additional updates.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the shelter at (508) 853-0030 or info@ worcesterarl.org.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 29

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30 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J O N E S I N’

Enjoy Fun By The Numbers puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken GRZQ LQWR QLQH [ ER[HV 7R VROYH VXGRNX WKH QXPEHUV WKURXJK PXVW ˉOO HDFK URZ column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can ˉJXUH RXW WKH RUGHU LQ ZKLFK WKH QXPEHUV ZLOO DSSHDU E\ XVLQJ WKH QXPHULF FOXHV DOUHDG\ provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

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Across 1 Jazz group 6 Org. that meets in schools 9 Winter Olympics vehicles 14 Without missing ___ 15 Director Howard 16 Campus town bordering Bangor 17 *”Batman & Robin” role for Uma Thurman 19 One making references 20 “Desperate Housewives” actress Hatcher 21 Three ___ match 22 Four, in France 23 *What your remote might have slipped under 26 Cartridge contents 29 Boise-to-Missoula dir.

30 Source of some pressure before photo day?

31 Airline until 1991 33 Treasure hunter’s need 34 ___ California (Mexican state) 38 What each character in the starred theme answers is (comprising a full set from the periodic table) 42 Carries out 43 Participate in crew 44 Word after zinc or iron 45 Used chairs?

46 Utter 48 “___ Tac Dough” (Wink Martindale game show) 49 *Response to “I had no idea” 55 Offers one’s views 56 Roget’s entry: Abbr.

57 Line of symmetry 61 Less than enthusiastic 62 *WWE wrestler and member of the Undisputed Era (and not the chess player) 64 Split second 65 Craft in the tabloids 66 Alphabet quintet ³%HOOHÀHXU´ DXWKRU Joyce Carol 68 Payroll deduction 69 Command that can also create a PDF Down 1 1st Lieut.’s boss 2 Instrument among the reeds 3 Israeli P.M. Golda 4 Bare-bones 3UH¿[ PHDQLQJ ³HDU UHODWHG´

“It’s Elemental”--parts of a full set.

by Matt Jones

6 “When Doves Cry” singer 7 Actress Feldshuh who played 3-Down on Broadway 8 Indeterminate number 9 Plague member? ³'DYLG &RSSHU¿HOG´ character Heep 11 Crime boss known as the ³7HÀRQ 'RQ´ 12 First month in Madrid 13 Tabitha formerly of MTV News ,W¶V GH¿QLWHO\ D WKLQJ 22 Witty remarks 24 “All Eyez ___” (1996 Tupac Shakur album) 25 Policy honcho 26 With 27-Down, Apple portable player from 2005 to 2017 27 See 26-Down 28 ACL’s locale 32 Gore and Green 33 Tiny noise at a bowl?

34 Bike race with hills 35 Kinda 36 “Harvesting the Heart” author Picoult 37 Guinness of “Star Wars” 39 Waiter’s weights &DLUQ WHUULHU RI ¿OP 41 Toy with a string attached 45 Stockholm citizens 46 Pricey stadium seating

47 “And ___ Davis as Alice” (“The Brady Bunch” credits closer) 49 ___ voce (softly) 50 “Pagliacci,” e.g.

51 ___ in the bud 52 Preserved for later 53 Uncle Sam’s land, informally 54 Nilla cookie 58 Number not found on a clock 59 “The pressure ___” 60 Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide ___” 62 Nevertheless 63 Talk and talk and talk

Last week's solution

©2021 Matt Jones (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #1042

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | 31

LAST CALL

Eric Matta: Ultimate Obstacles Coach and Elite Ninja Warrior Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Eric Matta is the owner of Ultimate Obstacles in West Boylston where the 2021 National Ninja League New England Regional Championship is set to kick off May 28. Aside from his own elite competitor status, Matta is an accomplished coach for local youth.

Is your kid climbing up the wall after a year in isolation?

Enroll them in the upcoming Ultimate Summer Program at www.ultimateobstacles.com.

How did you discover the world of competitive obstacles and Ninja Warrior?

I did more of the outdoor competitions like the Spartan races and Tough Mudders. I started doing those in 2013 at shorter 5k distances and then I kept working my way up to eventually completing multiday races. The longest one is called The Death Race. My first Death Race was 71 hours. You just have no idea what you are going to get when you sign up.

They tell you what to bring and you have no idea what you’ll have to do. Anyways, that’s how I started with the obstacle course racing. Eventually, it led me to doing more Ninja Warrior style competitions. Those are kind of the opposite because they’re much shorter in duration. They’re just a straight line of obstacles with a lot less running. I found Ninja Warrior to be another way to challenge myself, plus it was something fun to do. I’ve never been into traditional sports or exercise.

That’s wild. I just assumed you were some sort of super athlete to begin with, and then this was a natural pro-

Eric Matta DYLAN AZARI

gression to more intense competition.

Well, I didn’t play any traditional sports, but I did do martial arts. I did Kung Fu for 27 years. It’s funny, when you hear “Ninja Warrior” people associate it with martial arts, but it doesn’t have any direct correlation. That said, growing up, martial arts kept me agile, which has been really helpful for climbing, swinging, jumping, and that kind of stuff.

I’m curious about the parameters of your competitions. Do you know what obstacles you’re going to face or how many there will be?

Both sports are pretty neat in the way that you don’t know

what you’ll be going up against.

It’s always a surprise to see what will be at a race or a ninja competition. That’s where we get to have fun at work too. At a normal gym, you might be limited in your creativity and also your staff ’s resourcefulness. At Ultimate Obstacles, we can create basically whatever we think of, as long as we can figure out how to do it in a safe manner.

We love to challenge people and the obstacles get pretty creative, along with certain staples. The Warped Wall was a staple for American Ninja Warrior, as well as the cannonballs you hold onto and swing across. But, the show comes out every year and they add

new things to keep it interesting.

Which obstacle is your greatest strength and which one is your greatest weakness?

As a runner, I favor fast courses that go from A-to-B — courses that you can move through without a lot of technical elements to slow you down.

I definitely struggle with balancing obstacles. They can look super simple, but a balance obstacle can throw anyone off. The strongest person might be able to pull themselves up and over the wall and then there’s a simple beam on the floor and somehow they mess it up.

What is your proudest accolade?

Outside of coaching, I have qualified every single year to move on to the National Ninja League Finals. I’ve never been on the show. They’re very honest about the fact that you have to have a compelling backstory.

This last year, I competed in the elite division and I qualified to go on to regionals. I guess the proudest thing is I’m 39 and I’m turning 40 this year. I’m going against everyone from the 16year-olds all the way up to the 40-year-olds, and actually, then I will bump into a new age category. But, the fact that I’m still competing at the elite level and I can keep up with the young guys makes me proud.

Is there a big competition coming up?

Yes, it’s super exciting for us.

Because of COVID, they had to change around the competition format this year. They added another layer of regionals, and we’re actually hosting the New England Regional event for the National Ninja League. New England has the densest area of ninja gyms in the country.

We’re going to be hosting right around 600 athletes over the two weekends.

How young can kids start if obstacles pique their interest?

Six to eight is the first age category of each division.

When we opened up the gym five years ago, our original plan was to open up as an adult facility. As we were building out, we’re like, “You know what?

The kids love this too. Why don’t we make some space for them?” Now, the sport is huge for kids. It would have been a big business mistake for us not to include the kids.

32 | MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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