Worcester Magazine June 7 - 13, 2018

JUNE 7 - 13, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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Move to ask health board reconsider flavored tobacco ban fizzles: After a dizzying series of motions, City Councilors voted 7-4 this week to table an order that would have requested the city reconsider a partial ban on flavored tobacco products passed by the Board of Health. 4 A last hurrah for ArtsWorcester One exhibition? This year marks the final iteration of “One,” at least as it has been known for more than half a decade. 18

in this issue J U N E 7 - 13, 2018 • V O L U M E 43 I S S U E 41

the cover

On The Rise: STDs spark concern in, around Worcester The paired bacteria, top center, are neisseria gonorrhoeae, the cause of gonorrhoea, the spiral bacterium, in the center, is treponema pallidum, the cause of syphilis, and the red clusters are chlamydia bacteria.

Story on page 12 Cover by Elizabeth Brooks and Kimberly Vasseur

Last Call with Ernest “Ernie” Floyd: As executive producer of Unity Radio and the host of his own evening listening program, Smooth Grooves, Floyd is motivated to create an avenue through which local residents can contribute to the community. 30

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news Push for reconsideration of flavored tobacco ban fizzles A BILL SHANER

fter a dizzying series of motions, City Councilors voted 7-4 this week to table an order that would have requested the city reconsider a partial ban on flavored tobacco products passed by the Board of Health.

The tabling effectively killed a proposal most councilors opposed in the long discussion leading up to the series of votes. Based on those that spoke, only three councilors were in support of the measure: Moe Bergman, who put the order on; Gary Rosen, who has supported it openly previous to the meeting; and Konnie Lukes, who said she supported it on the principle that the City Council can involve itself in public health matters.

Bergman argued the measure cherry picks the businesses and communities it impacts, and said a ban should either be universal across the state or not be in place at all.

“It’s not a clever approach,” he said.

Most councilors spoke against the move, a measure that bans flavored tobacco products in establishments without an age restriction upon entry, such as convenience stores and gas stations. They said the measure is one that reduces youth contact with the products and product advertising, and was in line with the city’s overall plan to curb youth smoking rates.

Mayor Joe Petty said when he became mayor, Worcester was the least healthy city in the state, and smoking rates were among the highest in New England.

“I don’t want to hurt any businesses out there, but I can’t be the most unhealthy city

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in the state of Massachusetts. It goes against everything I believe in,” he said.

Instead of Bergman’s order, the Council voted unanimously to support suggestions from councilors Khrystian King and George Russell to have the city manager meet with business leaders and health officials to discuss further methods for curbing youth smoking rates and mitigating the impact of the new partial ban on businesses.

The vote to table the order came after several successive motions as discussions came to a close. First, Bergman moved to file the order, saying he knew how the votes were going to go. Petty said he felt it might be more procedurally sound to withdraw the order instead of file it. Bergman protested, saying he felt withdrawing the item gives the impression it has no merit. Further, he said he heard “loud and clear” the City Council feels it has no business involving itself with Board of Health matters, and said he would object to any further votes on Board of Health issues. Petty called the reason for filing as opposed to withdrawing “ridiculous” and said the Council was going to vote either way. He then moved the floor to King, who stood up to say the Council should be involving itself in matters outside its purview because the body carries weight.

Petty then said the motion itself takes precedence over the motion to file, so the Council would first vote on Bergman’s order, and then on the move to file it.

At that point, Rosen stood up to suggest the board table it.

“We don’t have to do anything with it tonight, and I trust the manager will have those discussions,” said Rosen.

Petty said he’d vote no on the tabling,

J U N E 7 - 13, 2018

FILE PHOTO/ELIZABETH BROOKS

City Councilor Moe Bergman argued the measure cherry picks the businesses and communities it impacts, saying the ban should be universal across the state or not be in place at all. which would have brought the item back to a vote. He was in the minority. The four councilors that voted against tabling the item were Petty, King, Lukes and District 5 Councilor Matt Wally.

The series of maneuver effectively closed the book on what had become a weeks-long issue, drawing in public health advocates,

convenience store owners, trade groups and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, who sided with convenience store owners in asking for a change to the rule, which they say will hurt business while doing little to curb youth smoking rates.

Public health advocates, on the other hand, pointed to the success New York City has had in diminishing youth smoking rates over the years. They argued the move was about more than simply restricting access to the product; it had a lot to do with advertising as well. At convenience stores, the tobacco industry is afforded a direct point of contact for advertising to youth with tobacco flavors and images specifically geared toward them, they argued.

It was on this line many of the councilors voiced their opposition to reconsidering the Board of Health decision to implement the partial ban.

District 3 Councilor George Russell said he feels for the businesses affected, but “if it comes down to protecting the kids of my district, you can count me in.”

City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. said anything that cuts down point of contact between kids and tobacco advertising is good public policy.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is is a battle for our kids, between the community and the tobacco industry,” he said.

Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-749-3166 x324 or at wshaner@worcestermag.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.

news

Police update community on safety issues

Police Chief Steve Sargent, center, and other police officials met with the Human Rights Commission Monday night.

BILL SHANER

BILL SHANER

W

orcester Police Department officials this week updated the Human Rights Commission and a small crowd of residents on a wide range of police data and initiatives: from body cameras, to complaints against the department, to hate crimes over the last year.

The meeting on Monday, billed as an “update on police community relations,” featured data made public at the request of citizens and the HRC. In 2017, there were eight reported incidents of hate crimes, the majority of which were related to race, according to police data. One was related to sexual orientation. Of the eight incidents reported, police officers were the victims, according to the data.

As far as complaints against officers, whether it be for excessive force or other misconduct, there were 71 in 2017, according to a report compiled by the department’s Bureau of Professional Standards. Of those, 25 complaints were C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 7

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news P O L I C E U P D AT E

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

for excessive force. Other violations to rank high were awareness of activities, discourtesy and conduct unbecoming of an officer.

As far as the ruling on those complaints, those filed internally were more likely to find an officer at fault. Of the 11 complaints filed by employees on other employees, 65 percent found the officer to be at fault.

“We want the public to know we are policing our department,” said Capt. Ken Davenport at the meeting Monday night. We are disciplining them and pointing in the right direction.”

Only three complaints filed by residents found an officer at fault, a rate of just 5.6 percent. Davidson said it’s good there have been so few citizen complaints.

“Otherwise,” he said, “all hell would be breaking loose in Worcester and we don’t want that.”

Police officials also spent time discussing the rollout of a body camera pilot program, which Chief Steve Sargent said has been going slower than he’d like it to. He said he has a pilot program in mind, for six months on 19 officers in different units. The department has been going back and forth with the police union and legal department, he said, to figure out a program that works for all the parties.

“It’s something we are going do,” he said.

“It’s something we want to do.”

When asked, he said he couldn’t provide a timeline.

The

Police and HRC members also stressed the importance of the monthly neighborhood meetings with community members. Sargent said the meetings help reduce crime, build a rapport with neighborhood figures, and fix quality of life problems like problem properties that cause most of the issues in neighborhoods.

A survey commissioned by the HRC found that most of the people who attend the meet-

ings find them useful, but they asked that police provide more information to the meeting goers and do more to bring people in that aren’t currently going.

Diversity of the department was a focus, and police officials talked at length about a new cadet program in the works that will seek to draw more young talent from Worcester into the department.

Sargent said the department doesn’t yet

reflect the city’s diversity. The city, he said, has residents that speak more than 100 different languages.

“I don’t have a hundred officers from a hundred different places. I know that,” said Sargent.

The cadet program, which will employ young men and women from Worcester, will help the department build a class of recruits who mirror the diversity of the community.

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THE POT CAPITAL OF MASS: The Cannabis Control Commission, the regulatory body

tasked with rolling out legal jazz cabbage, has released a map of all the prospective pot shops so far and where they are, by county. Worcester County, according to the map, is set to have more pot shops than any other county in the state. Get this – Worcester County has 16 applications. The next closest are Middlesex, Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth counties, which each have 5. Now, it should be said that Worcester is the largest county, and it would take some high level mathematics ( for me while I’m on deadline) to calculate the pot-per-county resident ratio, or pot shop-per-square mile or any of those things that are actually pretty easy to do. Instead, I think I’ll take a page from the pot prohibitionists among us and base my argument on completely emotional and uneducated gut reaction. So, here goes: Woohoo! Worcester is the Hash Capital of Mass!

DEMS, DEMS, EVERYWHERE: The State Democratic Party Convention this past weekend

brought Democratic heavies and loyalists from across the state to sit in the DCU Center for eight or nine collective hours over the course of two days and get fired up on the foretold Great Blue Wave in 2018. The Worcester delegation was right up front (something I’ll get to in a later item) and it was a veritable who’s who of #worcpoli Democrats. District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera and Mayor Joe Petty had their time on the big stage, Petty repping the city and Rivera introducing Treasurer Deb Goldberg. Congressman Jim McGovern also spoke on Friday night. In the crowd, there was District 1 Councilor Sean Rose, District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, former Sen. Tom White, State Rep. Mary Keefe, Sen. Pres. Harriette Chandler, State Rep. Jim O’Day and many others. There were also candidates galore: Paul Depalo for Governor’s Council, David LeBoeuf and Stu Loosemore for 17th Worcester, and Tom Merolli for the Worcester-Norfolk State Senate seat. It was Worcester’s show to put on this weekend and I gotta say – looking out of that sea of loyal blue filling the DCU Center, cheering, I was struck with the overwhelming feeling that this had to have been one of the biggest single gatherings of nerds to grace this city in a long, long time. Since, at least, the State Republican Convention last month.

THE NOSEBLEEDS: Not everyone, however, was so enamored as I by the weekend’s Democratic Convention. The Blue Mass Group, a popular policy blog for all things Democrat, blasted the organizers of the convention for the seating arrangement. Some delegations, they said, were so far from the stage it felt like a different experience. Up there on the steep rafters of the nosebleeds, they said, where vote-talliers climbed the stairs like wobbly mountain goats.

Of course, Worcester was right up front, as is tradition for the host city. And politically heavy counties like Suffolk got prime seating. But not everyone. From Blue Mass Group: “From our $7 seats in Section 207, the conversation was, “What did we do to deserve this?” It certainly wasn’t the first time Fourth Middlesex was in a different zip code from the podium.” They want to see some sort of change to the seating arrangement or the format, so that it is more inclusive for everyone. Party politics, amirite?

YOU GO, FARMER JIM: Might as well call this version of Worcesteria a politics sandwich served on pot, because I’m going to close this column by hashing out some more Worcester County chronic controversy (I’m having fun this morning). The stage is Charlton, where a local farmer is pushing to sell his family’s 90ish acre farm to a pot growing company, who plans to roll out a massive greenhouse on the property. This being a ~ small, quiet New England town ~ hundreds came to bang on the door of Town Hall last week, protesting the plan and the damage it may cause to the community. So, this farmer, who just wants to cash out and retire, God bless him, has given the town the ultimate ultimatum. If you don’t let this pot farm go forward, I’m going to sell it to a big old 40b affordable housing developer. That’s like the ultimate NIMBY horror (Not In My Backyard, not now, not ever). A big, boxy apartment building full of poors? They’ll have to decide what’s a worse outcome: desperately-needed housing for low- to moderate-income folks, or a greenhouse growing a perfectly legal and harmless product. Pretty warped, if you think about it, that either of those things are eliciting protest, but human beings are on average a petty and fearful Bill Shaner, reporter species. The beat goes on. wshaner@worcestermag.com Twitter: @Bill_Shaner

news

The perfect backdrop for any celebration

the beat The turkey population is on the rise, and on the move. The Mass Division of

Fisheries and Wildlife wants your help gathering data about the Turkey population across the state. The office’s brood survey goes from June 1 to Aug. 31 to help estimate the number of wild turkeys in state. So, if you see some turkeys in your yard, your neighbors yard, or out in the wild, report it to MassWildlife via a survey available on the office’s website.

After a violent memorial day weekend, the body count continues to rise as a 22-year-old Worcester man named Lennyn Valerio was found dead in Holden of an apparent homicide. Not much is yet known about the victim, but the slaying comes just a few days after Sindey Krow, Jr.’s shooting death last weekend.

The Save Notre Dame Alliance

has taken to crowdfunding in its effort to stop the historic downtown church from coming down. The fundraiser, which of press time has gathered about $3,100 has set a goal of $100,000 as the organization continues to press Hanover Insurance, the owner, and city officials to stop the demolition.

A tragedy at Webster Lake took place over the weekend. A

Worcester teenager and recent graduate of South High Community School drowned Saturday while swimming near the Lakeside boat ramp. Friends and classmates of Christensen Agnant have since honored the young man with vigils and social media tributes.

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American Airlines will add a second flight to Philadelphia when the airline begins the

service in October. The new flight will offer an afternoon return from Philadelphia to Boston, leaving at 2:55 pm. and landing at 3:50 p.m. in Worcester, then a 4:19 p.m. departure from Worcester. This as well as the original flight, leaving from Worcester to Philly at 6:18 a.m. and a return flight from Philly to Worcester at 9:20 p.m. It came after local criticism that the flight schedule was impractical

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editorial

opinion

Sex ed makes sense

D

ebates over whether to teach kids about sex in school have been waged for years. It should not be dismissed that some critics have religious or personal concerns. For many, something as important — and intimate — as when to start having sex, ways to do it safely and how to deal with some of the serious consequences, such as pregnancy, is a discussion best initiated at home with parents.

The problem, however, is that isn’t happening. Or, if it is, the messages are not getting through.

In this week’s feature story, Worcester Magazine looks at why sexually transmitted diseases and infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are rising so dramatically. The numbers are particularly concerning in Worcester, but in Worcester County and throughout the state, the number of cases and rates of infection have been climbing - in some cases reaching levels not seen in years.

It is a national trend as well, and local and state health officials, as well as medical professionals, are not turning a blind eye.

Why these infections are rising is at once simple: more people having unprotected sex.

There are other aspects, however. Screening and treatment do not appear to be consistent.

Some may be getting messages that it is OK to have sex without a condom. HIV/AIDS patients, for example, may feel emboldened by medicine that keeps their viral loads below detectable levels not to practice safe sex. That opens them up to the risk of contracting other infections.

Education, too, is seen as key, and therein lies the rub. In Worcester, the overall health curriculum has not been revised in years.

Even the superintendent doesn’t know how long it has been. There is a new curriculum under review that could be in place by the

start of the next school year. Sex ed is a component, although not the major element.

On the state level, legislation to implement comprehensive health education in schools has long languished. The Senate has approved a bill, but the House has failed to act in multiple sessions - and may well not do so before the current session ends in July.

Politics has certainly come into play, and some critics have argued fiercely that sex ed in schools will lead to more sexually active teens. The numbers show us many kids are already engaging in sex. And with STIs rising, they are as vulnerable as ever.

It is hard, sometimes, to wade through personal and political conflict and see things for what they really are. When it comes to sex education, religious perspectives may also come into play. All of that should not be dismissed.

But some health officials say STIs are at crisis levels. If we continue to argue over whether our children should be learning about sex or having sex, we risk ignoring that they many of them are already doing it. To some, that may seem like a weak argument: Well, they’re already doing it, so why stop them? Parents and schools don’t have to condone sex among youngsters; indeed, discussions about why it’s OK to wait to have sex, and what the very real consequences could be, should be had.

At the same time, however, we have an opportunity to at least help protect our children when they make decisions with which we don’t agree. Moral arguments will not erase this basic truth: our youth — teens in particular — are curious about sex. If they don’t learn about it from us, they’ll learn about it somewhere else. And if they don’t learn how to and why they should protect themselves, we may be having a different conversation altogether.

Photographer Elizabeth Brooks x323 Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jessica Picard, Jim Perry, Corlyn Voorhees Editorial Interns Samantha Bratkon, Sophia Laperle

72 Shrewsbury St. Worcester, MA 01604 worcestermagazine.com Editorial 508.749.3166 x322 editor@worcestermagazine.com Sales 508.749.3166 x333 sales@worcestermagazine.com President Paul M. Provost Publisher Kathleen Real-Benoit x331 Editor Walter Bird Jr. x322 Culture Editor Joshua Lyford x325 Reporter Bill Shaner x324 10 W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Director of Creative Services Don Cloutier x141 Creative Director Kimberly Vasseur x142 Creative Services Department Becky Gill, Stephanie Mallard, Wendy Watkins Ad Director Helen Linnehan x333 Media Consultants Diane Galipeau x335, Cheryl Robinson x336, Sarah Perez x334 Media Coordinator Madison Friend x332 Classified Media Consultant Rachel Cloutier x433

J U N E 7 - 13, 2018

Letter

Worcester needs new nickname To the Editor: One of the popular street names for the city of Worcester is “Wormtown.” This may represent our past, but certainly not our future. It’s negative, ugly and derogative. Surely, there are many progressive and positive names representing the rebirth of Worcester that are attractive and welcoming to newcomers and residents alike. Just a few examples are: “Amaz-

ing City,” “Win City,” “School City,” “Wonder Town,” “Creative City,” “Why City,” “Wow Town,” etc.

With all the creative minds there are in our city, a new name or street name could be found that is much more suitable than “Wormtown.”

I would like to see Worcester Magazine or Worcester Telegram step up and conduct a contest to select a new dynamic name for the city. Fresh ideas would be welcome.

Allen Doe Holden

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opinion Musta been the wrong place, wrong time JANICE HARVEY

How could this be? I cried. I watched him play basketball in the schoolyard only one day earlier. I told him to bring sneakers to school he weather was your typical iffy New next week if he was going to insist on wearing England mix of rain and reluctant sun slider sandals. for the recent Memorial Day weekend.

“You can’t play ball in those things,” I said.

Cookouts were dampened, pools were empty and even the mosquito count was down “You’ll fall and break your neck.”

Sid grinned his big toothy smile, the smile as temps struggled to resemble summer. Lousy he was known for among his teachers and weather vexes adults more than kids – teens friends. He wasn’t wearing his glasses, having don’t really care about such things, since busted them days earlier. He squinted against they can find their friends and make a party anywhere. Potato salad can wait for the Fourth noonday sun, and continued to play, despite his footwear. He landed on his butt more than of July. once throwing shots, but the grin remained On the Friday before the three-day weekwide and he shook off the jolts. end began, 16-year-old Sidney V. Krow Jr. was “See?” I admonished. “Be careful.” cheerfully looking forward to hanging with his After the game, I walked back into the boys, meeting a few shorties (girls, for those building with Sid. The bell rang, and I asked if readers unfamiliar with teen slang) and playhe had any big plans for the weekend. The grin ing some basketball at Crystal Park. Nowhere again. “Nah,” he said. He paused in the doorin his plan was running from a shooter who way as I said: “Stay out of trouble. Be safe.” would pump a slew of bullets into his body.

“I will, Miss,” he promised.

When the gunfire ceased, Sid lay dying on It would prove to be the only time Sid Krow Main Street, having earned the pitiful and inglorious distinction of being Worcester’s first disobeyed me.

In the days following Sid’s murder, rumors homicide of 2018. multiplied as we tried to cope with our loss. I Sid Krow was one of mine.

T

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huddled with fellow teachers and counselors before homeroom; we cried and hugged, baffled by the how and the why of losing a child to the streets. If we made a list of kids we feared would come to a violent end, Sid wouldn’t even make that list. Sid was no saint — no kid is — but he wasn’t a known gang member. He was just a happy guy.

“I’m too old for the business of burying children,” I said.

I’ve learned over the years to listen well when kids talk, especially when they don’t know you’re listening. Add the internet to the mix and Facebook complicates such events with misinformation and false bravado. Teens will claim to know more than the police when one of their own is killed; suddenly, every kid Sid ever knew was his “best friend.”

For a generation weaned on sound bites, there’s a touch of celebrity that comes with knowing a murder victim, as gruesome as that may seem. But many of his classmates really had known him since elementary school, and they shared fond memories of the boy who was, according to most, simply in the wrong place with the wrong people. I kept thinking

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about Sid running in the dark without his glasses, and the idea clutched at my heart.

What struck me as I listened to Sid’s friends swap stories and theories was the resignation in their voices, the acceptance of the way Sid died. One of Sid’s closest friends came in to check on me — me! — and his words broke my heart all over again.

“I’m gonna talk about Sid today, Miss. I’m gonna mourn him, and think about what happened, and then I’m sayin’ nothing more about it. After today, I won’t talk about Sid anymore.”

This culture of violence, from school massacres to road rage to simmering vendettas, has become such a part of life to our children that they are numbed to it. They’ve shut down in the face of the inevitable, as if dying at 16 is to be expected, and living past it means you had luck on your side. In their eyes, Sid Krow’s luck simply ran out on a Saturday night in May.

Janice Harvey contributing writer

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feature On The Rise:

STDs spark concern in, around Worcester

WALTER BIRD JR.

G

etting your children to talk about sex isn’t easy. Getting them to talk about, or perhaps more importantly, listen to you talk about sexually transmitted diseases or infections might be almost impossible. But talking about STDs or STIs and sexual health in general, health professionals and experts say, is critical.

Dr. Mattie Castiel, commissioner of health and human services in Worcester, has seen it both as a physician and a parent. She knows how hard it can be to initiate a conversation with teens and youngsters about sex.

“I have two boys,” she said. “I had a tough time talking to them, and when I tried to talk to them they didn’t want to hear it from me.

It was easier coming from somebody else. I would bring a little bag of condoms … but it’s a tough thing to do. They were grossed out by it.

“So how do you do that? I have all this education and it’s still a tough thing to do.”

Tough, but, Castiel and others say, critically needed – perhaps now more than ever.

STIs are on the rise nationally as well as at the state and local level. Infections once thought to have been vanquished — or at least well-managed — are rearing their ugly heads, leading to calls for more health screenings and testing, quicker treatment and, particularly in Massachusetts, comprehensive sexual education.

THE NUMBERS

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n Worcester County, the total number and rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, especially, have climbed steadily since 2015.

While the rates of those three infections remain below statewide rates, those numbers are also on the rise.

In Worcester County in 2015, according to the state Department of Public Health, there were 2,171 reported cases of chlamydia, 200 cases of gonorrhea and 65 cases of syphilis. In 2016, those numbers jumped to 2,696, 289 and 82, respectively. Last year, the numbers had risen to 2,733, 720 and 82. The total number and rates of syphilis cases remained steady

well above the statewide rate of 357; 90 for gonorrhea, as opposed to 40 statewide; 27 for syphilis, versus 13 across the state; and 13.81 for HIV/AIDS, more than the statewide rate of 9.97.

It is, the state concedes, cause for concern.

“Yes, absolutely,” said Kathleen Roosevelt, director of the state DPH’s Division of STD Prevention. “We’ve seen an increase in STDs, especially syphilis and gonorrhea cases, across the state. We’ve seen STD rates in Worcester County, especially gonorrhea rates, increase significantly. Although they remain below the statewide average, the percentage increase from 2015-2016 to 2016-2017 is very significant. We’re seeing these rates have really increased in ways we haven’t seen in recent history. We’re very concerned.”

The concern extends nationally, with numbers from the Centers for Disease Control revealing significant increases in the total cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia over the past several years.

In 2009, the number of syphilis cases in

from 2016-2017.

Statewide, in 2015 there were 22,200 reported cases of chlamydia, 3,421 cases of gonorrhea and 784 cases of syphilis. In 2016, respectively, there were 26,403, 4,611 and 1,035.

Last year, there were 29,245 reported cases of chlamydia, 7,310 cases of gonorrhea and 1,036 cases of syphilis.

A clinical advisory sent to healthcare providers in April showed the numbers for syphilis and gonorrhea, in particular, have reached new heights in recent years.

“Cases of infectious syphilis and gonorrhea reported in Massachusetts … now approach levels not seen since the early 1990s,” according to an advisory from the state Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences.

The problem is particularly acute in Worcester, which, according to reports, has “significantly higher STI rates than neighboring communities and the state.”

According to the 2015 Greater Worcester Community Health Assessment, in 2012 the rate per 100,000 people for chlamydia was 583,

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

Number and Rate per 100,000* of Laboratory Confirmed Reports of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea as well as Reports of Infectious Syphilis** for Worcester County: 2015-2017 CHLAMYDIA

3000

2,733

2,696

GONORRHEA

800

SYPHILIS

100

720

700 600

2500

82

80

500

82

400

2000

200 2015

289

300

2,171 2016

2017

65

200 2015

2016

2017

60

2015

2016

2017

All data are current as of 5/24/2018 and are subject to change *Rates per 100,000 population are based on counts from the 2010 US census 30000 syphilis includes those diagnosed in the primary, secondary stage 8000 **Infectious and those diagnosed within the first year of infection.

1200 Courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Public Health - Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences

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feature percent, and in 2016 men having sex with men continued to account for the majority of primary and secondary syphilis cases. Of 27,814 cases that year, well over half, 16,155, were within the the MSM community.

What could be contributing to that, Rapose said, are suggestions that it’s OK not to use condoms during sex. This could be particularly alarming for those living with HIV/AIDS. Once thought to be a death sentence, HIV and AIDS have become more and more manageable with advances in medicine. Patients subsequently may be less inclined to use protection, particularly if their viral loads are low enough that the disease won’t be transmitted. That, doctors say, can lead to the spread of STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.

“If you transmit messages that it’s OK to stop using condoms, then you’re likely to pick up other infections, such as syphilis and gonococcal,” Rapose said. “If you’re only thinking HIV, there is a risk and we forget there are

other bad things in the community, such as herpes, genital warts, etc. If we become too complacent, or we only focus on HIV, these diseases we thought we had overcome many years back are likely to come back.”

Another factor, according to both Roosevelt and Dr. Phil Bolduc, could be the popularity of social dating apps. With more ways to connect and potentially become intimate with people you may not know, if sexually protective measures are not taken, and those involved do not discuss their sexual history, it could result in the transmission of diseases or infections.

“With social media apps, I do know there’s a lot of ability to connect with people that you may not know any other way. Hookups, especially,” said Bolduc, who is the HIV/Hepatitis program director and associate director of special populations for the Family Health Center of Worcester Inc. Roosevelt acknowledged social apps as an C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 15

Dr. Mattie Castiel, Worcester’s commissioner of health and human services, reviews STI statistics.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

not get a sexually transmitted infection,” said Dr. Alwyn Rapose, a practitioner of general internal medicine and infectious diseases for Reliant Medical Group based in the Worcester Medical Center. “If you do not want to remain faithful to one partner … you have to try and take the next step ... have sex with a barrier.

That’s also not 100 percent.”

In addition, screening for and diagnosing and treating STIs may be inconsistent, leading to more folks being unaware they are infected.

That, the experts say, can lead to more easily transmittable infections and diseases.

“See your physician on a regular basis and get tested on a regular basis,” Rapose said, adding there are three key contributors to the rise in STIs. “Number one, risky behavior. Number two, not getting diagnosed in time. Number three, passing it on to someone else.”

There is also a growing concern over the spread of sexually transmitted infections in the LGBTQ comunity. In particular, infections such as gonorrhea and syphilis have been rising within the MSM community, men who have sex with men.

According to the CDC, during 2012-2016, rates of gonorrhea among men increased 62.6 here is, health professionals agree, no percent. That, the CDC said, suggests either one-size-fits-all answer as to why STIs are increased transmission or increased detection trending upward. One of the most obvithrough screening. ous: more people are not using protection The rate of primary and secondary syphilis when engaging in sexual activity.

Noreen Johnson Smith is the chief development officer at the Family among men, meanwhile, has gone up every “One of the things that is very obvious from year since 2000, according to the CDC. During Health Center on Queen Street, Worcester. the name, sexually transmitted infection, if you 2015-2016, the rate among men increased 14.7 ELIZABETH BROOKS do not engage in high-risk behavior you will

the U.S. had dipped from 46,292, or 15.2 per 100,000 population, to 44,832, or 14.6. Since then, the number of cases has risen each year.

In 2016, there were 88,042 cases, or 27.4 per 100,000. The last time that number was exceeded was in 1993, when there were 102,612.

The total number of chlamydia cases increased every year between 1993-2012: from 405,332 to 1,422,976. In 2013, the number dipped to 1,401,906. It has climbed ever since: 1,441,789 in 2014, 1,526,658 in 2015 and 1,598,354 in 2016. The rate per 100,000 rose from 443.5 in 2013 to 497.3 in 2016.

The number of gonorrhea cases, meanwhile, went up from 333,004 (105.3 per 100,000) in 2013 to 468,514 (145.8) in 2016. That was the highest number of cases since 1992, when there were 502,508.

“It’s a real public health crisis,” said Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.

WHY IS IT HAPPENING?

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 13

area of concern, while suggesting they are not the driving factor.

“One of the things people think about are the online social networking apps, because it’s the most visible societal change in the last 10 years.” Roosevelt said, stressing there is no one cause. “I would not say they’re what’s driving the increase. There are multiple factors converging.”

Bolduc and others also have cast an eye toward the ongoing opioid epidemic. Those who are using drugs such as heroin, they say, may be less likely to worry about protecting themselves sexually. Some may trade sex for money or drugs, with the risk of contracting a STI not first and foremost on their minds.

“I’m really curious to see if the spike in substance abuse issue is somehow related to this,” Bolduc said. “When you’re addicted, you do all kinds of things you never thought you’d do, and protecting yourself, feeding yourself, all of that kind of becomes secondary.”

The effectiveness and reliability of long-act-

ing birth control, according to Childs-Roshak, might also play a role, with some individuals eschewing other protective methods.

“I think the idea that there is pretty much almost 100-percent protection with a longacting birth birth control, I think it does make people feel like, ‘I don’t need to use condoms because we’re in a monogamous relationship,’ but life happens,” Childs-Roshak said. “I have not seen any clear evidence on that, but I can say, from my clinical experience, I did notice a bit of a pattern.”

The stigma of having a STI is also an issue, some say.

“People who are diagnosed with a STD, they often feel ashamed, dirty,” said Joanne Calista, executive director of the Center for Health Impact in Worcester, the parent organization of the Worcester Impact on Sexual Health, or WISH. “That’s why they don’t want to get help.”

Unfortunately, said Roosevelt, stigmas do affect how individuals access health care.

“I think we are making great strides in many ways,” she said, “but I definitely think we need to keep encouraging people to get out there

Sexual Behavior Among MA Teens

Sexual Behavior Among MA Teens Percentage of sexually active Massachusetts high school students having unprotected sex.

Unprotected Sex

57% Protected Sex

and test frequently and really change the way we think about testing and make it a routine part of somebody’s sexual health and a routine part of somebody’s life, rather than something somebody does only if they think there’s a problem.”

The stigma can be even more severe for the LGBTQ communities, according to Sara Richman Davidow of WISH. “There is such a stigma with [STIs], and the education around it, a lot tends to be very hetero-normative,” she said. “Couples or partners engaging in sexual activity that identify as [LGBTQ] are not getting the appropriate information or care to sort of help them, because a lot of the protection is against pregnancy. It is important to also include information about STIs, STDs and HIV/AIDS prevention as well.”

EDUCATION NEEDED

T Dr. Phil Bolduc is associate medical director for special populations at the Family Health Center. He oversees the HIV and STI program.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

43%

here is, among those in the health community, near universal agreement that education is key, regardless of sexual orientation. The earlier that information can be delivered to people, the better they say the chances are of curbing the rise of STIs and making better decisions about sexual and overall health.

In Worcester, in addition to the sharp rise in STIs, there is other evidence to back that up.

According to city data, of those asked whether they had engaged in sexual intercourse, 9 percent of middle schoolers said yes. Of them, 38 percent said either they or their partner did not use a condom the last time they had sex.

Statewide, 43 percent of sexually-active high school students said they were having J U N E 7 - 13, 2018

unprotected sex, while 57 percent said they used a condom.

Some say there is a dire need for comprehensive health and sex education. Massachusetts does not mandate health education.

While some schools offer health ed, others do not. Sexual education is also spotty, with personal - and oftentimes political - beliefs and arguments coming into play.

On its own, Worcester is in the process of reviewing a new health curriculum, “Making Proud Choices,” of which sex ed would be a component, but not the major piece. It has, according to School Superintendent Maureen Binienda, been referred to the School Committee’s Teaching, Learning and Student Supports Standing Committee. The hope, she said, is to implement the curriculum by the start of the next school year.

While she did not know exactly how long it has been, Binienda said the school’s current health curriculum has not been updated in “a long time.”

“Making Proud Choices” would be offered in grades six and seven, and could be taught to some eighth-graders, Binienda said. Parents would be allowed to opt their students out of the class.

While saying the issue of STIs is not a school issue, Binienda acknowledged the need for helping educate students on making healthy choices.

“We’re looking at the data and it is alarming. We have to do something about it,” she said. “Certainly, it’s not a school issue. There are many reasons why there’s an increase in this health issue. I don’t always like the schools always having to take on the burden of, ‘It’s the schools’ fault that this happened.’

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feature STDs

delay in getting the bill up for vote.

“I’ve had a bill in the House now for at least C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 15 three sessions,” he said, noting the Senate has “Many years ago, when I was in school, it was the family’s responsibility. Now schools are twiced passed legislation. “For one reason or another, which I have a hard time figuring out taking the role. We don’t mind that, but when why, we haven’t been able to have the same it comes to what’s the cause of it … families have to step up, too, and teach their children.” success. It seems when the bill gets minimal WISH’s Richman Davidow said the curricu- traction, the opposite side of the issue comes forward with kind of insane misinformation.” lum is “medically-accurate, evidence-based, With the current House session winding comprehensive sexuality education that can down, chances lawmakers will act on the bill start as young as sixth grade and be adapted appear slim. up to 12th grade.”

“Well, I always say there’s a shot,” O’Day said.

That will not happen right away, according

comprehensive sex education would ensure children don’t contract STDs or become pregnant.

“In fact, in at least one of the CSE curricula that would be ‘approved’ under the Sex Ed Mandate,” he wrote, “studies show that it leads to earlier initiation of sexual activity amongst youth and greater frequency in sexual contact.

In other words, that CSE program made things worse.”

Proponents, meanwhile, including Planned Parenthood, say an abstinence-only approach has failed, and that critics are ignoring reality.

and health education] isn’t something you do for a six-week period in 10th grade,” Anthes said, “but it’s actually an approach that talks to children from the time they get into public schools about options, about healthy eating, about movement and exercise, and so in terms of the whole curriculum, the fact that you’re dealing with sexuality at different points is not out of the ordinary, because you’re trying to build a curriculum that is comprehensive in terms of dealing with the whole person.

“We understand it’s not kind of an opt-in to a six-week, ‘we’re going to tell you about

Left, Frances Anthes is president and CEO of the Family Health Center on 26 Queen St., Worcester. Right, Xuan Chau oversees HIV/STI counseling and testing outreach at the Family Health Center.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

to Binienda.

“Some schools teach [health], some schools don’t have any health at all,” the superintendent said. “I, myself, cut health as a principal because I needed a math teacher. Math is required for graduation and health wasn’t. Again, it will come down to the foundation budget and not having enough money to provide what you need for kids.”

The state, many health officials and educators say, must step up when it comes to health and sex education in schools. It is not happening overnight. While the state Senate has already approved what’s known as the Healthy Youth Act, legislation in the House has stalled.

The bill would allow schools to offer “age-appropriate and medically-accurate information” that covers abstinence and contraception. It would not be mandatory.

One of the sponsors of the House bill, state Rep. Jim O’Day, D-West Boylston, lamented the

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“We’re in session until July. It’s my intention to build some further support for it. I think that if we took a vote now, I’d be close to the 81 we need. Probably in the 60-plus range.”

The bill requires a simple majority.

“There are folks that come from fairly conservative districts and see this as a challenge to them if they support it,” O’Day said of some of the opposition in the House.

Sex education has long been a hot-button issue in Massachusetts. Critics have argued sex ed is best left up to local communities to decide. Philosophical and political debates have come into play, with some critics taking aim at Planned Parenthood, who they say is interested only in furthering a pro-choice agenda and would encourage youth to engage in sexual activity.

Posting in May on the Massachusetts Family Institute website, mafamily.org, MFI President Andrew Beckwith scoffed at suggestions that J U N E 7 - 13, 2018

“It’s really fascinating to me,” said Childs-Roshak. “There’s a group of folks I think believe if we don’t talk about things, then teens won’t do it. If we close our eyes and close our ears and just ignore it, then it will go away. The reality is kids are learning about sex on the internet.

Pornography has become the primary teaching agent for young people around relationships, which is really scary, and sexual activity.

“Kids are having more anal sex than ever before. Teens are talking about these things and doing these things. We need to give them information on how to protect themselves, not pretend it’s going to go away. It’s about providing the right education for teens.”

That, said Frances Anthes, president and CEO of Family Health Center, means more than just talking about these issues a few weeks during high school – and it should involve more than sex education.

“What I think many of us have felt is [sex

contraception.’ It’s really an approach to children about what’s going on in their lives.

Yes, we should make sure our kids know how to prevent STIs. We should make sure our kids understand what contraception is, or how you get pregnant or don’t get pregnant, but the idea of comprehensive health education should be broader than just contraception.”

With the prevalence of STIs, however, sex education is being seen by some as critical now more than ever, personal or political beliefs aside.

“Some of the politics of this, you’re just kidding yourself if you think kids aren’t engaging in this activity,” School Committee Vice Chair Jack Foley said. “We have to get in front of this with young kids as much as you can. Otherwise, they find themselves making decisions that have lifelong implications.”

Kat O’Connor, “In the Place Where Found,” conte and graphite on paper.

culture

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culture One last hurrah for ArtsWorcester ‘One’ exhibition?

JOSHUA LYFORD

F

or six years, ArtsWorcester has held its annual “One” exhibition, a sprawling gallery of work showcasing members’ finest works, across all mediums and themes. This year marks the final iteration of “One,” at least as it has been known for more than half a decade.

With ArtsWorcester’s impending move from 660 Main St. to the Printers Building’s Portland Street locale, while members exhibits will continue, the title may not.

“It’s funny,” said Juliet Feibel, ArtsWorcester’s executive director. “The reason we thought we should make it the last is because it’s awesome, but we got

tired of the name. Then, the artists came back and said, ‘You’re going to stop?’ And I’d say, ‘We’ll always have member shows, shows that have no theme that are like this.’ We’ll let the artists decide in the end. If enough people tell us that they don’t want the name to stop, then we won’t. Either way, it is certainly the final one in this space.”

At its core, “One” is a showcase of the organization’s collective talents. With members including painters, photographers, sculptors and more, the show is always eclectic and has a look and feel unmatched by others in the area.

“There’s a sense of freedom around this exhibition and a sense of play because of its unstructured nature,” said Feibel. “I want to be able to

Halie Smith, “Mason,” oil on canvas

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carry that with us to the new location. This show is always a blowout. In part, because it’s always the beginning of summer, but there is a sense of excitement and party around this event that is really special.”

This year, the executive director and the ArtsWorcester staff are anticipating around 175 pieces of art. While the number currently sits at 160, artists tend to show up with submissions right up until the deadline. The massive number of works has prompted ArtsWorcester to extend the open hours of the gallery an hour, being held 6-9 p.m.

The response over the last six years to “One” has been incredible, according to Feibel, and

a testament to the organization’s mission: to advance the careers of area artists.

“To see such energetic enthusiasm from such an incredibly diverse group of artists really speaks to our mission and to our role in the city,” said Feibel. “It’s fabulous.”

The open nature of the show offers opportunities to member artists that are unmatched, and that experience can be huge for those participating.

“You can never have too many opportunities for artists, but the level of professionalism that we expect from our artists advances our work, the fact that a curator will come, look at everything in the show and give cash prizes, is also one of the ways we work to advance their practice,” said Feibel. “This is a place where you can come and be very playful with your art, but the end result is very serious.”

The show features $500 in prizes, awarded to exhibiting artists selected by Lauren Riviello, executive director of the Brookline Arts Center. The money was put forward by individual donors.

Feibel has seen the show grow in its years in existence, but also seen the growth in the work presented itself.

“I’ve seen the quality of artwork improve,” she said. “Over the last five years, the caliber of artists who want to show through ArtsWorcester has risen. It started with an excellent foundation of excellent artists, that foundation grew and drew new artists and new levels of execution. “ With the diverse nature of a show like “One,” putting the art together in such a way that a narrative flow can be built is a difficult task, but with exhibit installer Tim Johnson at the helm, the show will assuredly achieve a desirable artistic gait.

“You tell a story as you move through the space,” said Feibel. “Tim will create narratives and flows of motion as you walk from one end of the wall to another. He’ll create a moment when you enter the gallery, what draws your eye first?

Where is the balance? It’s like music to some degree. You are composing an experience that is made up of many different parts, but that composition has to be something you see all at once and something that you move through in space and time more slowly.”

With a proposed final show in November, a collaboration with the Fitchburg Art Museum based on the concept of perspective, ArtsWorcester will soon transition out of the long-held 660 Main St. locale and into the Printers Building several blocks away. While there will be a new headquarters for the organization, the dedication to art and its members will remain the same.

“The momentum and the excitement around the move and what it means for our artists is outrageous,” said Feibel. “People are excited about it, who don’t even care about art. The desire to see a cutting-edge gallery consistently showing highquality art in the middle of downtown is a dream come true for artists, people who love art, people who just want to see the city thrive. The response has been extraordinary.”

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Smiley Face T-Shirt Giveaway Night0

culture Lyford files JOSHUA LYFORD

WE PUT THE HIGH IN HIGHBROW HUMOR: Well, this here is an inter-

esting event. The Summit Lounge, a private marijuana smoking club over on Water Street, is holding a night of comedy in their lounge. Somehow, this strikes me as a match made in heaven.

Anecdotally (I assure you), laughing your skull off at comedians while smoking weed sounds like just about the best thing ever. The show is 10 bucks, is presented by comedian Paul Cyphers and hosted by comedian Ben Bosunga. Alright, so far, so good. The show features Lindita Taka, Dave Williams, John Flagg, Jesse Burlingame, Mairead Dickinson, Shaun Connolly and Jimmy Cash. The club is 21-plus and the $10 price tag counts as a guest pass, meaning you can start using their smoking accoutrement when they open at 5 p.m., and thus be more than prepared for the show’s kick-off at 7 p.m. I have to imagine the only folks who take the time to read this column smoke weed - or else how do you get any sort of entertainment value from me - so, for those unfamiliar with The Summit Lounge, it’s BYOW (Bring Your Own Weed). If weed isn’t your thing, you’re probably a DEA agent and I ask you kindly NOT to look in my desk drawer, but you can indulge in cigars, cigarettes and hookahs on-premises. I suppose this also means spliffs are allowed, you fancy euro so-and-so.

June 9th 7:00 pm 508-438-3773 | Tickets@WorcesterBravehearts.com www.WorcesterBravehearts.com

Unity Radio is a new radio station in Worcester with local Talk, Music, Sports & Weather.

~ Listen Live Every Weekday ~ The Economou & Rosen Show Making Worcester Talk Radio Great Again 10am-12pm Tony Economou

Gary Rosen

PYTHIA, BRING THE LYRE!: Get it? Because Pythia are ancient Greek oracles?

Hmm. I guess without offering any more information there isn’t much to get. So, uh, The Mass of the Oracle (now it comes full circle) returns to Ralph’s Diner Thursday, June 14. An aside: I think a lyre could work pretty well with their sound as long as it was recorded during the witching hour in the root cellar of the Rutland Prison Camps. If you’ve missed the article and column mentions of The Oracle in the past, I have shouted several times from these very pages that you do not want to miss their next show. Here. You have another shot to see them. It’s hard to describe, but I’ll certainly try while spilling Big Y brand coffee all over my tee shirt. The Oracle is an experience.

It’s electronic music, but don’t expect a rave environment. It’s heavy, but I don’t mean mosh-metal heavy, I mean the sound has weight and there is an overall gloominess in the atmosphere. Expect robed men in ghoulish face paint and fog and dim lights and something you will either love or hate, but will absolutely tell your friends that weren’t there about it after. In short, you owe it to yourself to check this show. The show is seven bucks and The Oracle will be joined by Banshee and Limousine.

METAL HEALTH: I’ll keep this brief, because

I don’t like to be serious and I have a hard time making light of mental health issues, unless it’s self deprecating and we’re discussing my never-ending list of terrible decisions based on my particular brand of issues. Luckily, we’re not, so I’ll spare you that here. Nope, we’re talking about The Crying Gang, a new podcast that started right here in beautiful Worcester, Massachusetts. The show is hosted by Matty T, Eric James and Genevieve and is centered on mental health. The podcast is great and they released their fourth episode toward the end of May. The podcast is available on Stitcher and iTunes, as well as Thecryinggang.podbean. Let me note, too, that while they discuss serious stuff, the podcast is also a lot of fun. Podcasts are pretty polarizing, so just listen and either thank me or call me an idiot and get on with it.

THE CURTAIN, REMOVED: Yeah, yeah. I say it every week, “I’m going to pull back at ed Live om m a e r t S g.c sterMa Worce

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508-471-5265 Contact: info@UnityRadioMA.org to share your story, community event or set up a time to talk about fashioning an underwriting message for you.

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the curtain.” So, here is my weekly behind-closed-doors moment. We ran out of space in the back of the book this week (yeah, hey, remember that mailed voting card we sent out a few years ago and nobody voted for The Lyford Files? Well, this is what you get. I’m vengeful as hell back here), so we had to cut a story. Which is a shame, because it was a cool one. So, wait to see the full article in next week’s issue and here is a quick memo: Make Music Day Worcester returns for its second year, with musical events across the city. Check last year’s story for more info, or head to Makemusicday.org/ Joshua Lyford worcester. They are still looking for musicians and Culture editor volunteers. Ciao.

@Joshachusetts

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

Wake Up Sammies & Suzies

Young Air Force veteran Justin Bonner is partnering up with his soon-to-be father-in-law and The Worcester Food Truck and Beer Festival local chef, Anthony Joseph, as they introduce a returned to the Worcesnewly-renovated ter Common Oval last eatery in the weekend. Jack’s Abby’s sleepy town of experimental offshoot, Sutton. The new Springdale Beer was on venture promhand to showcase some ises “high-quality “ancient alchemy.” The fresh food and Frozen Hoagies was a an eclectic craft personal highlight, giving beer and wine me a taste for spicy ice list,” according to cream hard packed bethe restaurateurs. tween two fresh chocolate With 30 years of chip cookies. Thousands experience in the turned out for the annual food industry, event.

Executive Chef Anthony Joseph Frozen Hoagies we’re a hit at the Food with feels well equipped seventh annual Worcester Food Truck to launch the duo’s Roots B.GOOD is proud and Beer Festival. classic Italian to bring “Food with SARAH CONNELL venture, which will Roots” to Millbury at the also carry some Shoppes at Blackstone Mediterranean influence gleaned from Bonner’s Valley. “When we opened our first restaurant, travels. Joseph’s wife Jen and Bonner’s fiancée we didn’t consider – or even imagine – ourselves Sara will play a major role in daily operations. The as ‘pioneers’ in the fast food service industry,” opening is slated for July of 2018. reflects Anthony Ackil, co-founder and CEO of B.GOOD. “At that time, we followed inspiration Christopher’s Heroes Head from our families and simply wanted to cook Back to the Hangover and serve good, clean and fresh food – just as my The space formerly (and henceforth) known as Uncle Faris did for me when I was growing up.

Broth will host an event on Sunday, June 10 from However, as we evolved, we discovered ways to 4-8 p.m. to benefit Autism Speaks, an organizacreate positive impact in our customers’ comtion that, “enhances lives today and is acceleratmunities and we developed a significantly unique ing a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow.” All and deeper meaning than the farm-to-table trend eyes are on Michael Arrastia, president of the portrayed in today’s QSR and fast casual dining newly-formed Hangover Corporation as the industry. ‘Food with Roots’ celebrates everyone Hangover Pub and Broth prepare to reopen in the who contributes to having sustainable, local, near future. Organizers of the event feel excepfresh, clean food find its way onto our customtionally grateful that the Hangover Corporation ers’ tables.” B. GOOD sources from farmers who has offered to donate the space for the second sustainably grow natural ingredients located year in the row, with all profits going to Autism near each restaurant. The effort continues with Speaks. No admission will be charged, but atB.GOOD team members who carefully pretendees can donate $10 in exchange for endless pare and serve it fresh each day. The Millbury appetizers provided by the Hangover Corporaoutpost will rely on Hannah Farm, a restored tion. Team Christopher’s Heroes for Autism farm located on an island in Boston. Customers Awareness shared the volunteer at Hannah Farm and in turn, B.GOOD event details with Worcesdonates 75 percent of the total harvest. Since the ter Magazine, saying, “We majority of the crops benefit a summer camp will have comic book art for at-risk youth on the island, Hannah Farm is from a dozen artists inhelping to feed and shape the next generation. cluding Cesar Feliciano, Campers are nourished and connected to food by Mark McKenna and teaching farming, healthy eating, and entrepreJoe St. Pierre. Also raffle neurship. On Saturday, B.GOOD’s Farm Director, baskets to win.”

Casey Ballin hosted a plant-a-seed activity at the new location in Millbury, encouraging the community to plant kale seeds that will grow and be harvested to feed underprivileged youth at Sarah Connell Camp Harborview this summer. contributing writer

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culture

The Parkway is Here to Stay

granite bartop surrounded by sporting paraphernalia and an adoring Springsteen poster or two.

Championship banners billow above a picture window that looks out on Shrewsbury Street.

The bartender says, “Come as you are.” Though, I don’t recommend wearing white. Things are about to get saucy.

The crowd oscillates between late-shift nurses, Crossfitters, bachelor parties, and old timers ruminating about their 3 a.m. visits way back when the diner was open 24 hours. They don’t take Amex, so put your Centurion away. You won’t be spending the big bucks tonight.

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T

he Worcester Lunch Car Company made a name for itself as a smart money-maker of the dining field at the turn of the 20th century. By 1956, when the Evangelista family purchased the Parkway, Worcester Lunch Car Company had turned out over 600 lunch cars. Many of them found new homes across the country, but more than a few stayed right here in Worcester. During the The Parkway’s chicken parm grilled 1960s a fast food boom disrupted the diner cheese is about as Italian-American as industry and in 1961, Worcester Lunch you can get.

Car Company disbanded. All that aside, Worcester’s manufacturing workforce kept the city’s diners in business, including the Parkabout as Italian-American as you can get. The way. Three generations and millions of guests chicken parm cutlet is grilled up with provolater, Parkway Restaurant and Bar remains an lone on slices of fresh Italian spread thick with institution on Shrewsbury Street. marinara sauce. A meatball and sausage combo Guests can choose from two distinct dining sub ($7.50) will likewise do the trick, served on experiences at the Parkway. The 22-seat dining a roll swimming in melted provolone. If you’ve car is ideal for families, early risers, and teetotal- really worked up an appetite, nothing will suffice ers. It is unclear whether the man behind the like the sirloin steak tips and lemon butter grilled griddle has ever left his post. His posture has shrimp ($15.95) over rice pilaf. This is simple, molded to the Parkway’s dimensions. He is as hearty fodder designed for socializing over light much a part of the diner car as the wood panels beers. and the stainless appliances. He has mastered The Parkway is a piece of living history. the art of the homefry.

Don’t go there for gourmet cuisine or fine wine The egg breakfasts are a must if it’s classic din- (although, I did spot plenty of proper glassware if er fare that you’re after. An Italian Stallion ($6.95) you’d like a Moscow mule.) Go to the Parkway for will afford you both a meatball and an Italian a sense of hospitality, community and warm emsausage along with two eggs, toast, and a pile of brace. Let the Evangelistas roll out the red carpet homefries. The Parkway’s meatballs are one of for you. If there is one thing that 62 years of busiWorcester’s oldest and most revered hangover ness on Shrewsbury Street has taught them, it’s cures, bringing customers out in droves. You can how to make their guests feel welcome. even get a meatball in your omelet (also $6.95.)

My last dinner date at the Parkway cost It’s the Italian-American way. $39.33. *Losses incurred due to bets place on the In the rear dining room, visitors will find a Spelling Bee, not included. departure from the classic Worcester Lunch Car’s ambience. The Evangelista grandsons Food: HH1/2 have dreamed up their own clubhouse out back Ambience: HHH complete with eight flat screen TVs perfect for Service: HHH1/2 watching the game (or, as luck might have it, the Value: HHH1/2 National Spelling Bee.) Vinyl stools cozy up to a

culture

More on ‘Solo,’ and other stuff JIM KEOGH

C

ollecting my movie thoughts as spring transitions into summer: In my review of “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” I joked that Woody Harrelson deserves a Chili’s gift certificate for appearing in his one-millionth movie. I’m obviously kidding about the number, but not the sentiment — Harrelson is as omnipresent as springtime pollen. He displays a weakness for science fiction — “The Hunger Games” tetralogy, “War for the Planet of the Apes,” “Solo,” and the upcoming “Venom” — and drawling, wisdom-dispensing, good-ol’-boy roles as in “LBJ,” “The Glass Castle,” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Is he overexposed? Maybe a bit. Fortunately, he’s also good.

“Solo” is hurting at the box office. Variety reports a 66-percent drop-off from its alreadylame ( for a “Star Wars” movie) opening-weekend grosses. Fans are firing off theories to explain why, ranging from stiff competitive from “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Deadpool 2” to lingering cottonmouth from the unsatisfying “The Last Jedi,” which opened a mere five months ago.

There’s truth in all that, but I lay much of the blame on the miscasting of Alden Ehrenreich as Han. He looks nothing like Harrison Ford, is significantly shorter than Harrison Ford, and his voice is octaves off Ford’s signature timber.

I’m okay with counterintuitive casting — loved Michael Keaton as Batman — but don’t stretch it to the point where the younger and older Han barely seem to share a strand of DNA. Jean from France (so he/she claims) left a comment beneath my “Solo” review with the

same observation about Ehrenreich’s physical mismatch with Ford. Jean added, “And also, ‘The Last Jedi’ was really, really, ridiculously bad, so it turned a lot of people off from ‘Star Wars’ in France at least.”

“Deadpool 2” also is struggling for an understandable reason: “Deadpool” was irreverent, profane, stupendously self-aware, and a complete surprise; “Deadpool 2” is those things, except for the surprise. People prefer new and shiny.

I am suffering from superhero fatigue, though still looking forward to “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

Blame the Paul Rudd factor. Ever since “Role Models,” I enjoy watching Rudd in just about anything.

Netflix does it again with yet another engrossing documentary. “Evil Genius” chronicles the bizarre case of Brian Wells, who in 2003 delivered a pizza to a group of Erie, Pa., lowlifes who overpowered him, outfitted him with a “collar” bomb, then forced him to rob a bank. After the police apprehended him, Wells lay in the street, pleading for help when the bomb detonated and killed him — his execution broadcast by news cameras. The infamous case was used as the basis for the 2011 comedy (yes, comedy!) “30 Minutes or Less,” with Jesse Eisenberg playing the hapless pizza guy.

I’m sure Melissa McCarthy injects as much comic zeal as possible into “Life of the Party,” about a middle-aged woman who returns to college after an ugly divorce — to the horror of her co-ed daughter. Sorry, Melissa, the parent-at-college shtick begins and ends with Rodney Dangerfield in “Back to School” (1986).

The trailer reveals Tom Cruise up to his old tricks in “Mission Impossible: Fallout” — hanging from cliffs, piloting a helicopter into oncoming traffic, catapulting off a motorcycle across the hood of a car. Still, the most fascinating scene promises to be Cruise and Henry Cavill punching out a gang of thugs in a men’s room. Heads smash through porcelain, fists crack tile, and someone likely contracts a nasty stomach virus from the germs on the floor. Call it the Quarrel in the Crapper.

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culture Thursday, June 7 Russkie Posidelki (American Style): Russian Fairy Tales Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton Russian Fairy Tales are discussed over tea and treats, with conversation on Russian traditions and culture.

Thursday, June 7 The Wonder Years

Worcester Palladium, 261 Main St. Pop punk superstars The Wonder Years hit the Palladium with special guests, Tigers Jaw, Tiny Moving Parts and Worries. Presented by MassConcerts and The Bowery Boston.

Saturday, June 9 The Carpetball Block Party

Whittall Mills, 6 Brussels St. Highlighting the history and architecture of the Whittall Mills Complex, this indoor/outdoor evening brings big band music with the Beantown Swing Orchestra, an outdoor bazaar, silent movies, hors d’oeuvres and a genie and carpet theme. For more information, head to Preservationworcester.org.

Saturday, June 9 First Blood & Walls of Jericho

Worcester Palladium, 261 Main St. Hardcore and metal stalwarts First Blood and Walls of Jericho (pictured) are joined by Sanction, Left Behind, Underthrow and Empire.

LIVE & LOCAL Jim Polito 5-9 am

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J U N E 7 - 13, 2018

WTAG.COM

Jordan Levy 3-6 pm

culture Thursday, June 14 Late Nite Catechism

The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St. For Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The audience takes on the role of student as Sister teaches an adult catechism class in this fun piece of theater.

Through June 24 Thoughts from Places

The Sprinkler Factory, 38 Harlow St. Gary Hoare, Anne Harris, Eireen Bradley and Bill MacMillan come together in a unique melding of disparate artworks and points of view.

The Score Thursday, June 14 The Mass of the Oracle

Ralph’s Diner, 148 Grove St. The Oracle returns to the rock diner with their electronic alternate-reality spiritual cacophony, joined by Banshee and Limousine.

Worcester Bravehearts May 30 The Bravehearts won their season opener, 13-2, over defending Futures Collegiate Baseball League champion Nashua Silver Knights at home at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field.

May 31 The Bravehearts fell to the visiting Bristol Blues, 3-1.

June 2 The Bravehearts came from behind to score a 9-3 win over the North Shore Navigators on the road.

June 3 The Bravehearts improved to 3-1 on the season with a 6-1 win at home over the Pittsfield Suns.

June 4 The Bravehearts beat the Suns again, this time on the road, 8-1.

June 5 The Bravehearts fell, 3-2, at home to the Brockton Rox in a morning game.

Massachusetts Pirates June 2 The Pirates (6-3) went on the road to face the Maine Mammoths, picking up a 52-37 win.

Worcester Smiles June 2 The Worcester Smiles lost on the road, 4-0, to the New England Mutiny.

Round-Up

Saturday, June 16 Massachusetts Pirates vs.

Columbus Lions

DCU Center, 50 Foster St. Worcester arena football team the Massachusetts Pirates take on the Columbus Lions in their second matchup of the season.

Ruffles

The Worcester Railers Hockey Club announced a list of 18 protected players this offseason heading into their second season later this year. On defense, the team protected Justin Agosta, Connor Doherty, Justin Hamonic, Ryan MacKinnon, Ben Masella, Kyle McKenzie, Patrick McNally and Tommy Panico. The team is protecting forwards Barry Almeida, Frank DiChiara, Woody Hudson, Tommy Kelley, Chris Langkow, Jake Randolph, Nick Saracino, T.J. Syner and Dylan Willick. Goalie Mitch Gillam also made the list.

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Adoption option

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

Cassidy and Curlycue are probably mother and daughter. Cassidy is eight and Curlycue, with the stripe across her nose, is one and a half years old. They were abandoned in an apartment and the experience was understandably stressful for the pair. They are taking time working out what happened to them. They are timid now, but do enjoy being pet. You will need to go to their safe spaces to pet them until they relax in your home. Once they trust you, they will come to you for attention. Cassidy and Curlycue are a bonded pair and must be adopted together for a reduced adoption fee of $100.

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J U N E 7 - 13, 2018

games JONESIN’

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!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

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Across 1 Stood 9 Short outings 15 Jazz performance from an upright individual?

16 Mark somehow over the “n” in “Spinal Tap” 17 Longest-running western (U.S., 1955-1975) 18 Tattoo tool 19 Cartoonish squeals 20 Current HUD secretary Carson 21 Light-feather link 22 Swiss terrain 25 Mario Kart character 26 On the ___ (running away) 27 Longest-running home renovation show (U.S., 1979-present) 32 Upper limit 33 Way less common 34 Bermuda, e.g. (abbr.)

37 Longest-running variety show (Chile/U.S., 1962-2015) 41 Coach Parseghian of the Fighting Irish 42 They may be checkered 43 Maze-running rodent 45 Longest-running news show (U.S., 1947-present) 49 Airline based in Stockholm 52 Additive to some soaps 53 Not exceeding 54 Popular with the cool kids these days 55 After-dinner add-on 56 Half of a griffin 59 Gobsmacked 61 Longest-running sci-fi comedy (U.K., 1988-1999, 2009, 2012-present) 65 Upgrade the circuitry 66 Won over 67 Grand Slam Breakfast offerer 68 Tire company with a blimp Down 1 2018 documentary about a Supreme Court Justice 2 ___ de cologne 3 Online portal launched on the same day as Windows 95 4 Determine 5 “Woe ___!”

“Long May You Run”--people keep tuning in.

by Matt Jones

6 Alcove 7 “Benevolent” fraternal order 8 X member John 9 State capital since 1959 10 They’re made when making up 11 Ending for glob or mod 12 Wimbledon winner Rafael 13 City on the Arkansas River 14 Geyser output 20 Impolite 22 Bill-filled dispenser 23 ___ apso (small dog) 24 “Coco” studio 25 What things are “right out of,” when immediate 28 “Anywhere” singer Rita 29 Scottish kid 30 Convertible type 31 A, in Austria 35 Throat bug 36 Minimal 38 Collision sound 39 It merged with Bell Atlantic to form Verizon 40 “Antony and Cleopatra” killer 44 General who’s a bit chicken?

46 Place to grab a bite 47 Omits in pronunciation 48 Model’s place

J U N E 7 - 13, 2018

49 England’s tallest skyscraper, with “The” 50 Singer/songwriter Mann 51 Breed like salmon 56 He followed Carson 57 “... and ___ it again!”

58 Did too much, in a way 60 California wine, familiarly 61 Fed. rule 62 Is multiplied?

63 Davidson’s “The Crying Game” costar 64 Pres. on a dime

Last week's solution

©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) Reference puzzle #887

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THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – HIGHWAY DIVISION NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING Project File No. 603251 A Design Public Hearing will be held by MassDOT to discuss the proposed Signal and Intersection Improvements at Holden Street, Drummond Avenue and Shore Drive project in Worcester, MA. WHERE: Worcester City Hall, Levi Lincoln Jr. Chambers, 3rd Floor 455 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608 WHEN: Monday, June 18, 2018 @ 7:00PM PURPOSE: The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed traffic signal and intersection improvement project. All views and comments made at the hearing will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible.

PROPOSAL: The proposed improvement project consists of installation of traffic signals and making geometric improvements to provide safety and operational improvements at the intersection of Holden Street, Drummond Avenue and Shore Drive. The proposed construction will consist of installing traffic signal equipment, including but not limited to: mast arms, traffic signal heads, vehicle detection, emergency vehicle preemption, pedestrian push buttons and signage, pedestrian signal heads, and Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). Roadway modifications will include the realignment of Shore Drive and minor roadway widening to accommodate 5’ wide shoulders through the intersection and repaving approximately 1,500 feet of roadway. The project also includes the reconstruction of existing sidewalk and construction of new sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, new drainage structures, relocation of utilities, and new signage and pavement markings.

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

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

Written statements and other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the Public Hearing regarding the proposed undertaking are to be submitted to Patricia A. Leavenworth, P.E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Roadway Project Management, Project File No. 603251. Such submissions will also be accepted at the hearing. Mailed statements and exhibits intended for inclusion in the public hearing transcript must be postmarked within ten (10) business days of this Public Hearing. Project inquiries may be emailed to dot.feedback. highway@state.ma.us This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email (MassDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us). Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten (10) business days before the meeting.

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

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last call Ernest Floyd executive producer E

rnest “Ernie” Floyd loves nothing more than hearing happy people on the radio.

As executive producer of Unity Radio and the host of his own evening listening program, Smooth Grooves, Floyd is motivated to create an avenue through which local residents can contribute to the community.

What is your history with the city of Worcester? I was recruited to come to Worcester through basketball as a result of my high school years in Boston. I was born and raised in Roxbury and I attended Boston English High School. The basketball coach greeted me when I walked through the door on the first day. I was only an OK player at the time. I had the height, he had the interest, and I worked hard. By junior year, I made the team. At that time, they had scouting reports that regularly went around the city. Once my name was on there, the word was out. Holy Cross was one of 250 schools that recruited me. They sought me out more than anyone else. Villanova, Western Kentucky and Marshall were all final choices of mine, but I decided to go to Holy Cross because I wanted to stay close. My mom was alive at the time and I wanted to her to see me play.

Access at the time. They welcomed me when I wanted to pursue the idea. They ran with it for a good strong year. Greater Media Channel 3 turned into Charter and we ran it on Channel 3. In ’95, I received the Visions Community Award as a Young Leader. I remember a gentleman calling me on behalf of the Telegram and Gazette to tell me that I won and I hung up on him because I thought it was a joke. On my mission to support young people in the community, I had always felt backlash and I received opposition. I was constantly on the radio or in the paper speaking my mind. The word “teen” had a bad connotation in those days. That marked a rough period in reference to how the city was tackling youth issues.

The city wasn’t ready for a youth revolution because of the negativity associated with Worcester’s youth at the time. When the Telegram called me about the award, it was one of the first positive turns for me. Sen. John Kerry was the honorary speaker. We springboarded into the community with open discussion after that.

How did you come to launch Unity radio?

In 2012, we took a look at the media landscape and realized we felt good about Pride Productions coming back through radio.

We wanted to add to the growth of the city.

Can you describe your career thus far? I A mutual friend of mine was operating an pursued a tryout with the Milwaukee Bucks internet radio station out of his garage. I was and a position at ESPN before ending up in interested and intrigued by it. I asked various Europe. I eventually came back to Worcester questions. I had a little radio experience anfrom Dijon, France and got reacclimated. nouncing games at Holy Cross. I said to myI wanted to go into communications. In self, if you’re going to do something, you’ve got 1987, Greater Media Cable was introducing to do it yourself. I caught it just right, because cable advertising in the area and I went into the FCC at the time was in the moratorium sales. My third year in, I knew it was time to for radio licenses and they were only going reach out and support the community. I had to open the window to apply for licenses for spoken to young people throughout my time nonprofit institutions. I raised enough capital in college, so I knew I wanted to get involved to hire an engineer and an attorney. Fortuwith You Inc. and the Boys and Girls Club. I nately, we were able to receive approval. That had passion for empowering young people was 2013. We operated through the internet through media and I saw that the Worcester Youth Center was going through a lot of chal- from 2013-2017. As an internet radio station, lenges within the community. Participants of we were graciously housed at Becker College.

I became an adjunct professor, allowing me the Worcester Youth Center were sometimes misunderstood. I wanted to project a positive to create stronger ideas through connections image of who they really were. I formed Pride with students. Jeannie Hebert from BlackProductions and we launched the Youth Unity stone Valley Chamber of Commerce believed in our vision going forward. At our golf half-hour television show. I taught students tournament last October, we raised enough at the Ionic Ave. Boys and Girls Club how to funds to get the antenna up. Hank Stolz came interview, operate a camera and edit. Our show was produced out of Shrewsbury Public on and I told him that we were in the process

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of developing the station. I had a signal, he was podcasting. We combined our resources.

Talk of the Commonwealth and Worcester Magazine came together for the election in November. We covered it from beginning to end. A week later, we were consistently on air with Hank Stolz, Tony Economou, Gary Rosen, Walter Bird Jr. and Dale LePage. Later on, Podcast 508 joined as well as the Chamber of Commerce. In March, we decided to move downtown as we developed a relationship with Cliff Rucker. Now, we’re adding additional programming with an AM station called Galaxia Boston as well as sports programming with Ike McBride and Joe Paskalis. The Mass Pirates and the Railers are supporting us. The station is growing.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

What was the highlight of your athletic career at Holy Cross? Being drafted in the fifth round by the Milwaukee Bucks was probably the highlight. But before that, I made a big splash as a freshman – to say the least. I hit a big shot against Providence. Providence versus Holy Cross was the NBC game of the week. I was playing against guys who I had competed with in high school, guys who used to eat me up. I was so focused. The final play was designed for our sharpshooter, Ron Perry.

Everybody knew who would take the last shot; they double-teamed him and the ball came back to me. I looked up and shot it like I was in the final scene of a Walt Disney movie.

I hit the shot and the crowd rushed the floor and picked me up.

– Sarah Connell

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