Worcester Magazine June 13 - 19, 2019 by Worcester Magazine

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in this issue J U N E 13 - 19, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ V O L U M E 44 I S S U E 42

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Cloudy with a chance of Juice Bombs Story on page 12 Photo by Michael Hendrickson Design by Kimberly Vasseur

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news

In Worcester, Access to Solar Energy is Not Equal GARI DE RAMOS

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assachusetts is leading the nation on efforts to combat climate change and switch to renewable energy, but one wouldn’t realize this walking through neighborhoods like Main South. When wandering the streets of Worcester, it may become apparent that the solar energy Massachusetts proudly touts is primarily located in wealthier neighborhoods. This is a problem that Emmanuel Asare, Worcester resident and installer at Solar Flair, tried to solve. In 2017, Asare heard about the “Solar in Your Community Challenge,” a competition by the U.S. Department of Energy designed to introduce more community-developed solar across the country. Having worked there previously, Asare identified Main South’s Boys and Girls Club as a popular community space that could benefit from solar energy. Over several months, Asare and his team put together a proposal, presented it to the Boys and Girls Club, made changes based on regulations and worked with National Grid. By 2018, however, their plans came to a halt. It turned out that the Boys and Girls Club required so much solar energy — 220 kilowatts to be exact — that they would need an expensive, standalone interconnection to allow access to Worcester’s grid. Neither the Boys and Girls Club nor Asare were able to find the funding for this necessary interconnection, so the community development remains without solar. Although Worcester has an impressive 390 solar projects as of May 2015, these projects are largely absent in Worcester’s poorest neighborhoods. A Worcester Magazine review of census data and city-provided data on solar projects show Main South and Downtown, for example, produce the least amount of solar energy: 229 kW in Main South and 36 KW in Downtown. By comparison, Worcester’s

news projects are large, off-site solar arrays that power multiple properties. This is essentially buying solar in bulk, making it cheaper for everyone involved. While this alleviates the problem of needing upfront capital, a low credit score may make developers wary of taking low-income residents on for

this kind of project. Asare said that there are several households in low-income areas looking to switch to solar, but “investors are only interested in large quantities of 10 to 20 households.” “I have maybe four people who want to go solar,” Asare said. “Larger quantities would be more

profitable for investors since one house might cost $20,000 to go solar and only return $40,000, whereas 10 houses would cost less and maybe return $400,000.” “It’s an injustice,” Asare said of the inequitable distribution of solar energy. “We can’t afford solar, so now we have to pay higher prices.”

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their own homes and therefore have no control over their energy system. Second, they lack the upfront capital or good credit score to install affordable solar. Switching to solar is better for the planet, and it is also better for peoples’ wallets. But Asare agreed with Diamondstone – the upfront costs present a barrier. “People in low-income areas use a lot of energy and in the process we are paying a very high bill,” Asare said. “If we had the money to afford solar, we wouldn’t have to pay this high bill.” But Asare said the dynamic is different with more well-off clientele. “When I speak to customers they are so happy to be paying nothing or to be paying $10 on their utility bill,” he said. To combat the inequity, there have been and are efforts to bring clean energy to vulnerable communities. On a state level, in last year’s legislative sessions, there were two bills seeking to address environmental justice in Massachusetts. Original drafts of the ambitious clean energy omnibus bill, “An Act to Promote a Clean Energy Future,” sought to provide a definition of environmental justice populations, but the bill was passed without the provision. Also last year, the House bill “An Act Relative to Environmental Justice and Toxics Reductions in the Commonwealth,” aimed to reduce toxins, fund environmental projects and promote outreach in environmental justice communities. Although the bill was referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means in March of 2018, no action has since been taken. While bills grind through the legislative process, local advocates feel direct action at the community level may prove more effective. RENEW, for example, was able to bring solar panels to the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker House in the Piedmont neighborhood. Their second project – what would have been the first community-owned, community-shared solar array on a church – was stalled because of a costly engineering upgrade required for the roof. Looking for alternatives, Diamondstone points to community solar projects. Community solar

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wealthier neighborhoods on the East Side, West Side/Tatnuck Square and Burncoat have 1,088, 489, and 1,259 kW of solar respectively. Long story short, the more solar energy a neighborhood has, the more wealth and less poverty it has as well. The neighborhood around Lincoln Street, however, is an outlier in this relationship. Although it is the third-poorest neighborhood in the city by zip code, the neighborhood produces the second largest amount of solar. The majority of its solar comes from K-12 schools and commercial buildings, with a significant amount of solar from residential buildings as well. Limited access to solar energy is what activists and experts call an environmental justice problem. As a movement, environmental justice seeks the equitable distribution of environmental hazards and goods. Literature on environmental justice largely focuses on hazards such as exposure to pollution and consistently finds that low-income areas and areas with large populations of people of color are most at risk. The presence of this phenomenon in Worcester was highlighted by a 2012 study from several students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The study, titled “Environmental Injustice In Five Worcester Communities: The Role of Income, Race , and Education on Unequal Exposure to Environmental Hazards,” found that poorer neighborhoods like Main South and Piedmont were more vulnerable to environmental hazards, like air, water and land pollution than Worcester’s wealthier neighborhoods. Higher rates of exposure to pollutants lead health problems like asthma, allergies and lung disease, per the research. Vulnerable communities not only bear the brunt of environmental hazards, but also face the most barriers when accessing environmental goods such as clean energy. Although Massachusetts has programs that make solar energy more affordable, these do not target the most vulnerable communities. Jeuji Diamondstone, member of Renewable Energy Worcester (RENEW), said vulnerable communities have difficulty accessing clean energy for several reasons. First, they are less likely to own

news

worcesteria

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THE INFAMOUS YCU STUDY: Very interesting request coming from School Committee member Brian O’Connell concerning the research of the Youth Civics Union on teacher diversity in Worcester. For background, the Youth Civics Union is one of the groups who joined the call for the ouster of Superintendent Maureen Binienda. They did so after a meeting of the Mayor’s Commission on Latino Education in which they presented their research. A survey-based study, the report probes the links between who feels represented by their teachers and who decides to go into teaching. The group of high school students said they felt the superintendent was mostly sort of dismissive of the research. Now, after they’ve presented their research at Harvard, the School Committee is bringing them in to get honored sometime in the fall. But O’Connell wants a copy of the research first, and per the Telegram, they’re getting that research next week. He called the move an act of “due diligence.” There’s a lot to read into here, given that O’Connell has been one of Binienda’s staunchest supporters and the issue of teacher diversity has been one of the district’s most persistent problems. It feels to me like a set-up to a political play, but only time will tell. Something to keep an eye on, but I think it’s safe to say the YCU’s research has struck a nerve. LITERAL NAZI: Facebook sort of blew up this week with a post depicting a real, bonafide Nazi military flag flying proudly in the front lawn of a Southbridge home. I went to investigate, and found the flagpole that seemed to match the one in the Facebook post, but in the place of the Nazi flag in the picture was an American one. On another flag pole on the property flew a confederate flag with what looked like a riff on the “don’t tread on me” snake overlaid. The flag flew under and American one. Given I cannot 100 percent confirm this person flew a Nazi flag, I won’t name the street or homeowner. I also called and sent Facebook messages to the likely person, but did not receive a response. I would have knocked on the door, but the extremely prominent no trespassing signs coupled with some loud symbols of a proud gun owner dissuaded me. But I will say that this house is just a few hundred feet from an entrance to Southbridge High School – a school with one of the highest percentages of students of color in the state. That any person feels comfortable flying a Nazi flag in 2019 is obviously worrisome. That they would fly it so close to a school full of black and brown children is disgusting. For shame. Of course, there are going to be sympathizers who will try to say, “well, you know, it’s his right to free speech.” While that is legally the case, the Nazi flag in 2019 means one thing: an endorsement of genocide. It’s the expression of a threat and it should be treated as such. Let one of these people feel comfortable and you allow the contagion to spread. Luckily, this person appears to have not felt very comfortable. On Monday, the picture of the flag went up on Facebook. It was shared more than 200 times. By Tuesday, the flag appeared to be down. Paper tigers, as they say. NIP BLASTERS UNITE: I don’t have the time anymore to watch the City Council every week, so if something interesting happened there, I didn’t catch it. It is what it is. I do still check the agenda though, so let’s take a look at some of these councilor orders. The one that really jumps out to me is Sarai Rivera again throwing out the idea that the city should ban nips (out-of-towners, read: airport bottles, shooters, to-go shots etc.). While I can sympathize with the spirit of the order – there are empty nips literally everywhere and it has gotten much worse since all retailers switched from glass bottles to plastic – just don’t do it. A Worcester without nips is a dystopian, horrible Worcester, and that is all I have space to say. Bill Shaner, reporter Twitter: @Bill_Shaner

news

the beat

City Manager Ed Augustus, Jr. requested, among other things, that

the size of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee be reduced from 9 to 7 per the counsel of the committee itself. In the memo sent to City Council this week, Augustus also asked to bring cable services and cultural develop divisions from the economic development office to the manager’s. The request was passed on to the municipal operations subcommittee.

Voters in Southbridge want to see a ban on recreational cannabis business overturned. A

question on the ballot Tuesday passed 676-417 which effectively instructs the town government to work toward overturning a ban passed by voters in 2017. After the ban was passed, voters complained the wording of the question was confusing.

An illegally operated radio station in Worcester has agreed to cease broadcasting and surrender all equipment to the federal gov-

ernment in a court injunction this week. Per the state U. S. Attorney’s Office, the Christian Praise International Church, operating at 97.1 and 102.3, has ceased operations. The broadcasts had apparently interfered with other operators.

Over the past week two teen girls from Worcester were reported missing. Kalifa Foreman,

who went missing on Thursday, was reported home safe by Tuesday afternoon. However Trinidy Degon, a Worcester teen who was last seen on Park Ave. on Monday afternoon has not been located as of press time. Check online for updates.

Trinidy Degon FACEBOOK

The Worcester Public Library held a ground breaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon

The Worcester Bravehearts are off to a good start. Last week,

The biomanufacturing park at the old Worcester State Hospital now has a name. The

Worcester Business Development Corp. has named the new park “The Reactory,” after consulting with the Boston-based marketing firm Proverb, per the Worcester Business Journal. The 46-acre site will be transformed into a 530,000 square foot biotech space.

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the baseball team set attendance records in two consecutive games. Last Wednesday, the team got 5,157 fans out for the second Baseball in Education day. The day before, 4,933 fans came out. The two totals broke the Future’s Collegiate Baseball League record for consecutive games, which previously was 8,514.

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for the Franklin Street “front door” renovation, a development intended to re-orient the library toward the Worcester City Common. The project costs $12.7 million.

opinion your turn

An Aud Proposal

JOHN DYER

inevitably arise from these projects or, better yet, do some thinking on how to avoid problems altogether or proactively improve things. The Aud is a good case study. The Architectural Heritage Foundation has two years to close on the deal, according to the Telegram & Gazette. The foundation envisions a “innovative digital

technology, arts and education center” that might include a restaurant and IMAX theater. All of that sound great. The details have yet to be parsed out, though. In the next two years, city officials, restorationists and the public will have an opportunity to discuss the Aud’s future. That gives everyone a chance to think creatively.

Here’s a leftfield proposal: The Aud should incorporate a Worcester version of a British debating society, the Oxford Union. Most Americans associate the Oxford Union with snobby young men holding forth on politics. That’s a caricature. It’s true the Union convenes debates, but it also hosts balls, notable speak-

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proposed for the nearby vacant Wyman-Gordon property. City magine a renowned author officials appear to be hoping these reading from her new novel on projects will ignite a real estate Monday, a Nobel Prize-winning boomlet as investors buy up and scientist delivering a lecture on renovate the empty spaces above Tuesday, student leaders meeting Main Street’s first-floor shops, ofon Wednesday to discuss volunfices and restaurants. teering efforts, a screening of loSome argue that gentrification cally produced films on Thursday, a is going to be a serious problem. video game competition on Friday Worcester Magazine has writand a rave on Saturday night. ten about the concern over the That could be the future of the years. To me, however, that’s not Worcester Memorial Auditorium. the debate we should be having. If Worcester residents should be Worcester grows, it’s going to have ecstatic about the Architectural to add more expensive housing Heritage Foundation’s proposed that reflects an increasingly attracacquisition of the Aud. The deal tive market. That’s a good investbetween the city and the Bostonment climate. Without private based group will result in almost investment, there’s nothing, even $100 million in renovations to the when taxpayers pony up bigtime. 1933-era white elephant that has Instead, we should be floating been vacant since 1999. ideas and interrogating future Together with the WinnComvisions for the city assuming it’s panies’ expected redevelopment going to grow. Many of the projects of the Lincoln Square Boys Club mentioned above are in their inand Trinity Financial’s conversion cipient stages. Some are still seekof the former Worcester County ing financing. Even the completed Courthouse into apartments, the projects, like the apartments news is more evidence of a city downtown, have yet to realize on the rise. The Aud and WPI’s their full potential. We don’t know Gateway Park would anchor one how they will affect the city when end of an axis of growth that runs they all come online. The baseball through CitySquare — the redestadium and other imminent developed Galleria Mall site — and velopments are going to massively the soon-to-be-built stadium for change the Canal District in some the soon-to-be-renamed Pawunforeseeable way. Today we might tucket Red Sox and the hotels, want to consider how the commuapartments, retail and restaurants nity will address the problems that

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opinion ers, runs a pub and library and offers members snooker rooms and meeting and study space. The American equivalent, the campus center — think cafeteria, bookstore and student-run radio station — is a pale comparison. To understand why the Union is applicable to Worcester, one has to understand that the University of Oxford is a collection of more than 40 independent units like The Queen’s College, St. Edmund Hall and, coincidentally, Worcester College. The university is only an umbrella organization. A student from Christ Church might have little reason to interact with someone from Green Templeton College. It’s not like they never cross paths. But students dine, study and sleep within their colleges. The Oxford Union was created as a venue to bring Oxford University students into one place where they might meet friends, exchange ideas, compete against each other in serious debates and silly games, hear speeches from ex-heads of

state and other luminaries, enjoy a pint — maybe not so easy given the drinking age in Massachusetts — or attend a black-tie dance. Importantly, while the Union serves University of Oxford students (and faculty), it is independent of the university. It’s a charitable trust run by elected student leaders, so the people running the show know what their like-minded constituents want. Worcester could benefit enormously from somehow following the model. Nearly 32,000 students attend Worcester-area schools, according to the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, or HECCMA. I’ve known many of them over the years. Colleges and universities spend more than $1 billion annually in the city. As someone who teaches at two local colleges, I’ve witnessed and benefited from that largesse. What’s always struck me most, however, about higher education in Worcester is the lack of interaction between students from the dif-

ferent colleges. Worcester college students aren’t mingling enough. They meet on athletic fields. They sometimes work together in internships or odd jobs. They might hook up at a party or bar. But, based on random chats with college students over the years, Clark University kids don’t appear to hang out with Holy Cross kids who don’t appear to hang out with WPI kids who don’t know any Clarkies. There are exceptions. They don’t change the rule. Worcester has no Beanpot, the hockey tournament that has pitted Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern against each other for 67 years. Folks studying at Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College — who represent almost twothirds of local students — usually also work part or full-time jobs or have family responsibilities. They’re busy living their lives. The HECCMA statistic that highlights the separateness is 1,310, or the total number of cross

course registrations in Worcester colleges and universities from 2013 to 2016. In other words, only 4 percent of Worcester-area students in higher ed took courses at schools other than their own in that time period. WPI engineers and Clark geographers are not taking theology courses at Holy Cross, whose students in turn are not enrolling in geography or engineering courses across town. In a video, HECCMA noted that more students availed themselves of this remarkable opportunity to take courses with the best minds from the consortium’s 11 institutions when the schools provided transportation. That observation coincides with increasingly few teens bothering to earn their drivers’ licenses in an era when they talk to friends on their smartphones via texting or social media. Students today are already products of a culture that walls them off from each other. A Worcester Union could bring them together from disparate campuses,

creating a new community whose synergy would contribute to the city’s renaissance.

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feature Treehouse Brewing Co. in Charlton brews 3 of the top 10 rated beers in America according to BeerAdvocate. MIKE HENDRICKSON

NELL

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B Y S A RA H CO N

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he first time I tried a hazy IPA from Tree House Brewing Company was July 6, 2013. I know this because I tweeted about it. I had traveled with a friend to their original brewery in the town of Brimfield for fresh air and the prospect of an actual tree house, which co-founder Dean Rohan was happy to show me just as long as I promised to be careful on my way up. We were the only ones there. I was not impressed by the humble platform I found suspended in the branches and I told him so. I was, however, silenced by the beer. Her name was Julius and I knew immediately that she was special. Fruit-forward and pillowy with just a wisp of bitterness for dimension. All of the IPAs I had tasted before her prided themselves on sheer aggression and an audacious hop presence. These beers weren’t so much complex as they were cocksure. Julius, on the other hand, was intensely pungent

with aromas of mango and citrus juice, but somehow she left no trace of malt sweetness on the palate. I was captivated. This was only the beginning for Tree House, which has grown rapidly over the last six years. Two moves and more than 3,500 batches of beer later, the brewery now boasts three of the top 10 rated beers in America on BeerAdvocate. The Alchemist’s Heady Topper — a New England IPA that spawned more than 6,000 imitations — is also on that list. My run in with Julius opened a floodgate of citrusy blossoms, velvety bodies and sticky hops. In October of 2013 I began working nights at Armsby Abbey, which is to craft beer what the MoMA is to contemporary art. That is to say, they have one of the most exclusive draft lists in the country and a bevy of national accolades to prove it. I tried my first Heady Topper at a staff party during an interlude between tart pours from 750-milliliter bottle after

750-milliliter bottle. Beer nerds are serious. Lots of sniffing and swishing, followed by a chorus of “Drink it or drain it!” The Heady was something of an afterthought for our host, who kept it stocked in his fridge with the level of nonchalance I’d reserve for a six pack of Chobani yogurts. I stepped out on the porch with the can and took my time. It didn’t float across my palate as Julius had; instead, it offered a slightly bitter finish that never lingered. Heady was capable of showcasing dank, earthy hops with complete self control. It helped me understand the notion of “balance” in a beer. The cultish, hazy, double IPA’s black-and-silver branding first became a discernible omen for the craft beer crowd when The Alchemist began canning Heady Topper in 2011. Diehards chased down delivery trucks, waited in long lines, and braved the black market. The beer’s cloudy appearance was on account of brewer John Kimmich’s decision to leave Heady Topper unfiltered

Greater Good’s Pulp Daddy DIPA surpassed 47 rival IPAs from across Massachusetts to take home the championship belt in Mass Brew Bros’ 2019 blind tasting tournament. MIKE HENDRICKSON

feature FILE PHOTO/STEVEN KING

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feature and unpasteurized. A few of his brewing peers were critical, but most hailed the new form as an innovation. One such conspirator was Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead who set out to further perfect the style. Hill’s interpretations have been lauded as downright elegant. According to Instagram, my first hazy brew from Hill Farmstead came on March 19, 2014. I have encountered Hill twice since then, both times at Armsby Abbey, and I have visited his brewery twice in Greensboro, Vermont. Without fail, Hill is polite, soft spoken and profound. I once heard him say to a large group at a tasting, “If your expectations weren’t met, then abandon beer altogether.” He was joking, but he wasn’t wrong. RateBeer has voted Hill Farmstead the Best Brewery in the World six times over the last seven years. Hill’s beers are delicate, sophisticated, hand-crafted and somehow simple. He is the best in the business and his immaculate work is the most compelling explanation for the global obsession with New England IPAs. A New England IPA is classified by the 2019 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines as a “Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale.” According to the official definition, the style exhibits a color of straw to deep gold, a high degree of cloudiness, high hop aroma, and low to medium perceived bitterness. By contrast, a West Coast IPA maintains severe levels of bitterness, in my opinion, only rivaled by licking pine needles off the forest floor. If Hill Farmstead, The Alchemist, and Tree House played the leading roles in this hazy motion picture, then social media has rounded out the supporting cast.

Buyer Beware ines don’t scare a craft beer enthusiast in 2019. They will wait for hours, sometimes with their children by their sides, to obtain flashy $7 cans to pour out and post on Instagram with hashtags like #hazebros, #hazecraze, #hazyipa, #juicebomb, and simply #neipa. New England IPAs are particularly suited for photos due to their distinct turbidity and golden hue. It’s easy to pick one out of a lineup. Alex Kidd is one of the most revered beer bloggers in America, depending on who you ask. Kidd goes by the moniker “Don’t Drink Beers.” He has amassed 42.2k followers on Instagram. In addition to writing beer reviews, Kidd is an attorney and a successful podcast host. His use of satire to chronicle beer culture pays particular heed to a group he has referred to as the “IG hazefluencers.” Kidd’s descriptions of hazy IPAs acknowledge the limitations of breweries emulating the likes of Tree House, The Alchemist and Hill Farmstead. He is critical of any IPA devoid of bitterness, the quality which initially drew people to IPAs in the first place. In a review of Root + Branch’s Life and Fate earlier this year, he wrote, “It seems to narrow its focus on fringe consumers, pushing a juice narrative for those outliers who ‘can’t stand IPAs’ so you give them lemon meringue instead.” Put another way, it lacks balance. Without a nuanced interplay of hops, malt

J.T. Ethier is the beer and brand specialist for Greater Good Brewing Company and Soul Purpose Brewing Company on Millbrook Street in Worcester. MIKE HENDRICKSON

and proper water chemistry – a beer is incomplete. Part of Kidd’s influence comes from his tendency to coin new language for the beer world to embrace, regurgitate and adopt as proper lexicon. In many ways, the popularity of a style is propelled when a vocabulary develops around it. Social media expedites this process. Kidd’s taxonomy of the New England IPA ranges in his posts from “haze” to “pulp” to “egg drop soup” to “hollandaise” and finally, “PuréePA.” Haze is meant to be a byproduct of increased calcium chloride, adding hops late in the boil, employing less flocculent

yeast strains — brewer lingo for strains which are slow to clump — and making use of adjuncts like oats and wheat. According to the Brewers Association, juicy or hazy IPAs can contain other adjuncts to “promote haziness,” but some brewers have faced criticism for altering the aesthetics of their beer by adding pectin or flour. Boston-based beer blogger Lisa Nichols runs the account Pork and Pints Boston, which has amassed 31.1k followers on Instagram. Nichols remembers one such case when Tired Hands brewer Jean Broillet IV openly discussed using green apple

puree and wheat flour to achieve a hazy look in his aptly named Milkshake IPA series. “That sent a firestorm through the forums,” said Nichols. Nichols recognizes the appeal for breweries rushing to tap into the haze craze. “So many people are sharing and liking New England IPAs and when you establish hashtags, a beer becomes more popular,” Nichols said. “Social media was a huge help in its growth as a style. A hazy IPA is an Instagram photographer’s dream.” Brewing a hazy IPA with fidelity means evading the presence of chunky sludge at the bottom of

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Redemption Rock Brewing Co.’s Warcastle New England IPA (left) is brewed with Columbus, Centennial, Chinook, Cascade and dry-hopped with Citra. MIKE HENDRICKSON

the glass. This is harder to identify in a can, which can prove problematic for buyers who wait in line for hours and unknowingly purchase subpar products at top dollar. The Boynton’s bar manager Jonnie Coutu reports that some breweries instruct him to store their New England IPA kegs upside down to mitigate the sediment. Even New England IPAs that pour like flawless orbs of liquid gold can turn out to be trash. As a general rule, they should not taste gritty or muddy from hop particles or yeast left in suspension. They should not taste astringent or puckering. They should not taste strongly of onions and garlic. They should not taste cloyingly sweet. Many of Worcester’s breweries are approaching the New England IPA cautiously. With Tree House in close proximity and the unique availability of Hill Farmstead at Armsby Abbey, brewing a hazy IPA in Worcester can prove intimidating.

Formulating the Juice .T. Ethier is the beer & brand specialist for Greater Good and Soul Purpose Brewing, located on Millbrook Street in Worcester. Ethier became acquainted with Heady Topper in college, grew up near Tree House, and eventually landed a job at Trillium Brewing Company in Boston before securing his present role. Ethier is not convinced that we’ve seen the exemplary interpretation of a New England IPA yet. “Some of the styles of beer that we drink today have been fine-tuned for hundreds of years. The New England IPA is still a relatively new style in the world of beer,” he said. Greater Good attributes its haze to strains of low-flocculating yeast known for remaining in suspension, thus creating a cloudy appearance. The yeast is slow to drop to the bottom of the

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fermentor during the brewing process. “The thing that can really set you apart with a New England IPA is an out-of-this-world hop ratio,” said Ethier. Extreme dryhopping creates natural haze and intense aromatics, but can impart a limited shelf life. Redemption Rock Brewery is another newcomer to the Worcester scene, opening its doors on Shrewsbury Street at the end of January 2019. I asked

yeast during fermentation called biotransformation, which can create compounds that can also contribute to haze.” Polyphenols, or tannins, are the molecules that create the sensation of gripping your tongue while drinking black tea or red wine. All beer contains some tannins. Carlson isn’t convinced that water chemistry or yeast flocculation are the most important factors when creating haze,

Katrina Shabo is the Director of Marketing at Wormtown Brewery on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. MIKE HENDRICKSON

head brewer Greg Carlson to delve into the science behind his haze. “The more technical answer is that beer haze is caused by proteins from the grains binding with polyphenols, which can be derived from either the grains or hops,” Carlson said. “This accounts for most of the haze in a New England IPA, but there’s also a goal with these beers to achieve a reaction between the hops and

though he emphasizes that water chemistry is vital in a broader sense for virtually all styles of beer. “I’ve successfully made hazy New England IPAs with several different yeasts, most of which have been medium or highly flocculent,” Carlson said, “I’m inclined to think that different yeasts have different behaviors when it comes to biotransformation, which may be a bigger

feature Therein lies the genius of haze. Unlike most “white whales” — exceptionally rare beers that often have long lives, allowing them to be coveted and traded — New England IPAs are best consumed fresh.

The Hypebeasts of Haze he #hazebros are the hypebeasts of New England IPAs. Like streetwear diehards and sneakerheads alike, they brave long lines and sky high prices for drops, sometimes only to turn around

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and low flocculation to create a longer life suited for wide distribution. To master the formula, they’ll need to consider more than just haze; breweries also have juice to contend with. New England IPAs are best brewed with water in which high levels of calcium chloride ease the bitterness and put forth a creamy, sometimes chewy mouthfeel. Iterations are aptly named: “Left Coast Hop Juice,” “Space Juice,” “Juice Bomb,” “The Juice is Loose” and “Juice Box,” just to name a few. Originally, the New England IPA was about brewing soft and aromatic hop-forward beers. Now, looking the part of the murky IPA is about more than embracing our farmhouse roots. It’s about taking a distinctive photo to post online. It’s a personal choice to drink the proverbial Kool-Aid. New England IPAs do not ask much of your palate in the way of calibrating for bitterness, making them a great entry level beer. Most “milkshakes” offer striking visuals and worthy stand-ins for dessert. They do not, however, attempt balance – nor do they taste like beer. The best comparison I can make is the case for cold brew coffee. Cold brew is full bodied and round on the palate with a slight sweetness and low acidity that develops naturally. A good cup of cold brew doesn’t require adjuncts like cream and sugar, unless of course, you’re hoping for dessert. In my opinion, there is no place for wheat flour or apple puree in a proper New England IPA. Feel free to disagree.

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contributor to haze than the most recent research indicates, which found the protein-polyphenol reaction to be the biggest contributor.” Wormtown, Worcester’s largest brewery, was built on the success of its West Coast IPA, Be Hoppy. In April, Wormtown released a companion brew called Don’t Worry for year round distribution in 16 ounce cans. Rather than referring to Don’t Worry as a New England IPA, director of marketing Katrina Shabo calls it an East Coast IPA. “We dubbed Don’t Worry as an East Coast IPA instead of a New England IPA because although Don’t Worry is hazy, we didn’t craft it to be a complete juice bomb and wanted it to have a nice, well-rounded hop bitterness with tropical fruit notes,” Shabo said. Representatives from the brewery confirmed that while Be Hoppy is pulled from retail establishments if it sits for longer than 90 days, Don’t Worry is undergoing regular panel testing to determine its official lifespan, which will likely be shorter. Therein lies the genius of haze. Unlike most “white whales” — exceptionally rare beers that often have long lives, allowing them to be coveted and traded — New England IPAs are best consumed fresh. Late-stage dry hopped beers impart a pungent nose, which deteriorates with time. Hazy beers do not sit on shelves or in beer cellars. Instead, consumers drink and repeat. This hasn’t stopped juggernauts like Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) from taking a crack at the style. Large brands are working to stabilize adjuncts

feature

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and trade or resell their haul without ever touching it. A #hazebro limits him (or her) self to a singular style known primarily for its looks. It’s a cultural phenomenon and Central Massachusetts marks an important stop on the most exclusive haze trail. I recently visited Tree House’s Charlton brewery, sometimes called “the juice machine,” and I had plenty of company. I can’t tell you the exact date because I only posted it to my Instagram story and it disappeared after 24 hours. The internet moves fast

boundless buzz, Tree House maintains its quality and its heart. In February, they bought an orchard and farm fermentory in Connecticut to expand their barrel-aged offerings. Today, June 13th, marks the first day of Tree House’s summer pop up in the Prudential Center’s south garden in Boston. Draft pours will be $8 a piece and if the sun is shining, you can bet that the #hazebros will be out in full force. I’m sure my old friend Julius will have them unzipping their fanny packs to fish out their

with leading university researchers to advance the science of hops and identify superior traits in the hop genome. Over the last year, Fox News, The Independent and Yahoo Lifestyle have all reported that drinking IPAs can give you “man boobs.” There is sparse scientific research to back this theory, though hops have long been used as an herbal remedy for women’s menstrual cramps. What is more likely to cause a prevalence of “man boobs” among the #hazebros in our midst is

IPA’” said longtime Armsby Abbey beer manager Ian Mcginnes, “which is crazy to think about, considering 10 years ago this style didn’t exist and a style like the German Helles, that has been around for hundreds of years, has only 1,536 entries in the Beer Advocate log.” What is it about New England IPAs that resonates with so many Americans? If it’s our collective sweet tooth, then I see no cause for concern. Everything in moderation. If it’s just about the ‘gram, then I suggest saving

Greg Carlson is the head brewer of Redemption Rock Brewing Co. on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. MIKE HENDRICKSON

these days. Both parking lots were jampacked. Lines wound up and down in complicated corrals. The crowd was patient, but it was a far cry from the woodland respite I encountered in 2013. The group in front of me drove from Philadelphia and the group behind me flew from D.C. Somehow amidst growth and

Off-White wallets. I hope they can appreciate her for more than just her looks. There is some irony in the internet’s gendering of an IPAs fandom as #hazebros, particularly given that research from the global hops supplier Hopsteiner shows that hops contain the strongest known plant-derived estrogen. Hopsteiner partners

their caloric intake. Throwing back two 16 oz. cans of Sam Adams’ New England IPA equates to roughly the same amount of calories as drinking a chocolate milkshake from McDonalds. Any pilsner fan could tell you that. Regardless, the style has proliferated. “There are 6,309 beers in Beer Advocate’s log under the style ‘NE

yourself the calories and ordering a nitro iced tea from Redemption Rock for the same visual impact. And if it’s the beer you’re after, I hope you’ll commit to a pilgrimage up north and lay yourself a proper foundation. There’s a lot more to this world than that pretty can of hop-forward haze might have you believe.

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WCLOC Hosts World Premier for Worcester Native’s Play ‘Liv and Di’

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Blues, Brews And Barbecue JIM PERRY

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he Bull Run in Shirley has long been one of the best live music venues in Central Mass., bringing in the finest performers in folk, funk and especially blues music. Its schedule is filled with the best of the best at affordable prices. Utilizing a dinner theater format, it makes for a great night out for music lovers of all ages. Over the past couple of years, owner George Tocci has added a new concept to the restaurant: a full-blown outdoor barbecue and concert. Dubbed “Blues, Brews and Barbecue,” Tocci has found a formula that is working quite well. “It has sold out every year,” he said. “We have to turn people away.” In 2017, the event’s first year, Bull Run held the event on Memorial Day. Last year, it switched to July 4th. For 2019, Tocci has chosen Father’s Day, this Sunday, June 16. Music will be supplied by the Peter Parcek Band. “Peter is great,” says Tocci. “We’re glad to have him.” The show begins at 2 p.m. Peter Parcek, 2013 New England Music Awards Artist of the Year, is a virtuoso blues guitarist who has a unique style combining deep, traditional influences with a modern atmospheric touch. His latest

album, “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven,” exemplifies his approach, with a production that echoes the great producer Daniel Lanois. Drenched in a sonic stew that combines southern Delta stylings with gritty slide work, Parcek owes a great debt to the great originators of the blues. “The pull of the masters is real strong,” he said. “I guess for me, it was just realizing there’s no way you’re ever going to sound like them. I mean, you can ‘want’ to.” It’s his way of saying that it’s okay to let the influences infiltrate your music, so long as you make your own statement with it. His playing is not flashy, choosing instead to create moods with a certain restraint. “The phrasing, the tone, the attitude, the attack. It’s not that easy,” he said. Parcek opens the album with a thumping shuffle, “World Keep On Turning,” and the mood is established. From the jaunty instrumental, “Shiver,” to the tremolo drenched title track, the sound is dark but full of life. Parcek spent some time in England as a young man. While there, he had the good fortune of bearing witness to some of the most influential British blues of the time. Young white Brits, like Eric Clapton and Peter Green, were playing clubs while Parcek was there, and he

Peter Parcek SUBMIT TED PHOTO

soaked it all in. Since then, Parcek has made his name in the blues world, opening for such legends as Susan Tedeschi, The Grateful Dead, Koko Taylor, Johnny Copeland, as well as recording and producing for Pinetop Perkins.

When Buddy Guy heard him play, he said, “You’re as bad as Eric Clapton ... and I know Eric Clapton.” George Tocci says there is a seating capacity of approximately 80 people for the outdoor show. “The barbecue is set up over to the side. People can move around during the

show,” he said. There is a variety of food choices, even for non-meat eaters. As for Parcek, he can’t wait to show off his band to all the fathers out there. “I’m really lucky,” he said. “I get to play with world class people.

WCLOC Hosts World Premier for Worcester Native’s Play ‘Liv and Di’

SUBMIT TED PHOTO

ALICIA PHANEUF

blue painted bedroom, with chocolate brown accents and symmetrically organized furniture is what audience members will first see upon walking into the Worcester County Light Opera Company at 21 Grandview Ave. for the world premiere of John Dufresne’s play “Liv and Di.” Despite the initial appearance of a standard bedroom, “Liv and Di” combines elements of a romantic comedy with that of political satire, and incorporates moments that even break the fourth wall to create a seemingly unconventional plot line.

“Liv & Di,” features a married couple, Diane and Livingston Moody (Kate and Kevin Moylan respectively), who have been battling a rocky marriage. “Di is a married woman who is feeling a little stuck,” said Kate Moylan. “She’s feeling like things are getting a little boring in their marriage and is looking for a little excitement.” “It appears that I have a wandering eye,” said Kevin Moylan. “I don’t think Livingston is cheating, but I think he does have a wandering eye on some level. He feels like he’s stuck, but Diane is more of an adventurous person. I want security.” It becomes clear that the

Moodys are not the only couple facing relationship difficulties when they are joined by their friends, Vita and Finn, who are struggling with their own disconnected marriage. Just when you think this play is going to be a typical rom-com, character “45” suddenly shows up in the Moodys’ bedroom after hitting a golf ball through their window. Character “45” emulates President Donald Trump – red baseball hat and all. Director Linda Oroszko explained that this abrupt introduction of “45” is exactly how it happened to Dufresne as he wrote the play. “John was writing this funny

culture eally r e h t a h w to d a D t a Tre . .. y a D ’s r e th a F is wants th John Dufresne JOHNDUFRESNE.COM

Kevin Moylan. “One of the themes of the play is redemption, and John said that everyone has the chance to be redeemed, but it’s up to them to take it.” Oroszko hopes that “the audience walks out with a little more compassion toward other people because everyone up there reveals their stories in life and everybody’s got a story. You don’t know the other person’s story until you really know that person, I think there’s a lot of underpinnings of storytelling.” The cast is made up of nine actors: Kate Moylan (Diane), Kevin Moylan (Livingston), Caitlin Lahey (Vita), John Morello (Finn), Scott Lyerly (Finn for the June 14 performance), Nick Leonelli (“45”), Monica Borci (Caddy), Vic Kruczynski (Rudy) and Lisa Mielnicki (Mimi “the personal assistant device”). “Liv and Di” will run at the Worcester County Light Opera Club Thursday to Sunday, June 13-16, and Dufresne will be back in town for most of the performances where he will offer Q&A sessions to follow.

Can’t take Dad out? A Chuck’s Gift Certificate makes the perfect gift!

10 Prospect St., Auburn • 508-832-2553 • chucks.com Mon. - Wed. 4:30-9 • Thurs. 4:30-9:30 • Fri. & Sat. Noon - 9:30 • Sun. 4 - 9

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little rom-com about a couple who had been married for years, and about what happens to them. And John watches a lot of news, and President Trump just inserted himself. So, John just wrote it down on the page and he said that it just released him,” said Oroszko. “It became absurd that ‘45’ just walks into your bedroom, and he just went with it. It turned into a political satire. I think the audience is going to be charmed by the humor of it.” This is not Oroszko’s first time directing one of Dufresne’s plays. In 2015 Oroszko directed “Trailerville,” which Dufresne brought to WCLOC. Oroszko explained that the play was well-received by the audience, and when she heard Dufresne was writing another play and wanted her to direct it, she was “happy to do so.” “As a director you have to have a vision and you have to tell the cast your vision so that they all work within it because there can only be one play that comes out here. I can’t have nine plays coming out,” said Oroszko. “But then you have to create an atmosphere where they are free to create something … so the rehearsal process where you see their imaginations come alive and create these people is the most rewarding part.” Though a Worcester native, Dufresne eventually moved to Florida; however, he flew up to Massachusetts to attend one of the cast’s rehearsals. “He was willing to listen to our interpretations. Maybe we were doing things different from how he envisioned them, but he was very supportive and that was really exciting” said Kate Moylan. “It was a cool experience – to meet somebody who’s writing the play that you’re performing,” added

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Let us feature your artwork in Worcester Magazine’s Artist spotlight! Contact Bill Shaner at wshaner@gatehousemedia.com for more information!

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

Dining Alfresco in the Canal District

Lock 50’s patio keeps growing. Now, guests can lounge in the summer sun on a third tier made of turf or sip cocktails from the comfort of adirondack chairs. Lock 50 features live music most evenings in addition to $1 oysters on Wednesdays and tiki nights on Thursdays. Just a few doors down, Maddi’s Cookery and Taphouse has also expanded to offer patio seating. Maddi’s will mark its one year anLock 50’s menu features seasonal niversary on June dishes like snap peas and carrots with 19 with free cake and oysters to show grilled onion, citrus herb crème fraiche, customer apprecia- feta and dill. tion. SARAH CONNELL

Free After Three

Admission to Tower Hill Botanic Garden is free on Thursdays in June, July, and August after 3 p.m. Explore the beer garden while you enjoy live music from a variety of local artists. Right now, exhibits include “Winds, Waves and Light” featuring shimmering stainless steel sculptures that shift with the wind, and “Honoring Tree” —the photography of Tony King. This week, yoga in the garden kicks off at 6 p.m.

13 Minute Masterpiece

John Vo is leading a “drink and draw” session at Wormtown Brewery, June 19 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. where he will be completing 13-minute watercolor portraits. He is a Worcester Public Schools grad, a Holy Cross alumnus, a Fulbright Scholarship recipient, and the owner of Nine Dot Gallery in Worcester. Vo’s work explores his identity as a Vietnamese-American and concepts of belonging.

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Roaming Plan

Everything’s coming up NOMS, the diner-style pop up with a passion for local farm-sourced food. This weekend, NOMS is popping up at The Medusa’s Saloon, June 15, from 5-9 p.m. Previous menus for NOMS pop ups have included everything from a cold grilled herb fruit kabob to a boiled eggs flatbread. Owners Bryan Baltazar and Jennifer Palazzo are also preparing for their roaming café debut, which will feature a three course tasting in the Worcester Regional Food Hub’s commercial kitchen on Saturday, July 13 for just $30.

Keeping it Tasteful at Valentinos

Taste of Shrewsbury Street kicks off at 3 p.m. on June 18. You can find me at the outdoor lot party at Valentino’s, which is basically the only venue in Worcester for a lady in her early 30s to dance to Lizzo like no one is watching. The party will feature music by DJ Juice aka Justin Mykel Moore and beverages sponsored by Corona, Truly, Kahlua, Jameson, Absolut and Avion. Yes, that Avion. Where are all my Entourage fans?

The “Musicians’ Musician”

Mitch Chakour has performed at Fenway Park with Aerosmith and opened at the House of Blues, now you can see him at the Beechwood in Worcester as part of the Patio at Sonoma Summer Music Series on June 13. In decades past, Chakour was Joe Cocker’s music director, keyboardist and vocalist. This is only the first in a series of notable outdoor performances at the restaurant scheduled for Thursday evenings all summer long from 6-9 p.m. Sarah Connell contributing writer

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Get Juicy 1269 Main St. Worcester 508-755-8818 juicyseafoodma.com SANDRA RAIN

want you all to check your preconceived notions at the starboard quarter and visit Juicy Seafood in Webster Square this week. To begin, draft beer is $2.99 and this is a fine excuse to get your hands dirty. Servers will provide gloves, bibs and wet naps, but as you can imagine, the juice escalates quickly. The nautical theme is pervasive. Dangling nets, mounted fish and marine fasteners envelop every bare surface. Odd license plates from midwestern states like Minnesota will lead you to believe that the juiciest seafood actually hails from Lake Superior. Walls are covered in

JIM KEOGH

customer’s signatures which date back as far as 2018. The post and beam construction doesn’t appear to be weight-bearing, but it advances the narrative. Am I in the bayou? Southeast Asia? Cape Cod? Duluth,

face develops a pattern of fissures like a cracking egg lit from within by a flashlight, and soon police cars are being overturned and army helicopters plummet from the sky. When she’s really stressed, she cries first — then the fissures, the cars, the helicopters, etc.

Poor Sophie Turner. Surely she was cast as Jean in 2016’s “X-Men: Apocalypse” for her notoriety as Sansa Stark in “Game of Thrones,” and not for her acting chops, which are exposed here like diseased tonsils. She’s hardly alone. Jennifer Lawrence — an Oscar winner — ap-

Food: HHH Ambience: HHH Service: HHH1/2 Value: HHH pears in her fourth X-Man movie as Raven/Mystique, and is so obviously disinterested that her performance borders on self-loathing. The rest of her teammates are an equally inconsequential collection of superpowers in search of a personality. (Can somebody please crack a joke? How about a smile?) Chastain’s bleachedhair, bleached-skin extraterrestrial who leads an alien regiment out of the woods at a dinner party — the movie’s creepiest visual — had potential to be something special, but within this murky screenplay her purpose to the story is ill-defined. “Dark Phoenix” only crashes and burns; it doesn’t reanimate, doesn’t rise. In this Summer of Superheroes, it will go unloved and unremembered. So X-Men will go away and retool, like Spider-Man, Batman, Hulk – oh hell, they all do it. My only suggestion is they return as fully formed adults ready for a fight, not Scooby-Doo’s Jim Keogh gang. contributing writer

light reflects off Jessica Chastain’s stiletto heels than he is with staging a compelling action sequence. “Dark Phoenix” is the last of the Xmen movies produced by Fox (which has been bought by Disney), a series of films whose up-and-down quality reads like the EKG of a heart attack victim. I confess I’ve never been a huge fan of the young X-ers learning to harness their god-like gifts in a world that’s hostile to them. Maybe it’s a reflection of my own station in life, but give me the beaten and weathered Logan/Wolverine over these superpowered tadpoles every day. Phoenix is Jean Grey, whose telekinetic powers inadvertently cause a tragic accident and land her in the care of Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), the mentor to troubled mutants. Called with her fellow X-Men to rescue a team of astronauts stranded in space, Jean (Sophie Turner) is enveloped by a cosmic force that nearly destroys her. Ultimately, the energy infusion endows her with powers transcending those of any other living creature, including Charles and the exiled Magneto (Michael Fassbender), and they are fearsome when weaponized. The battle for Jean’s soul is largely internal. When she’s stressed, Jean’s

Minnesota? The answer is all of the above. Vietnamese-Cajun seafood boils have given way to a new genre of cuisine celebrated by everyone from David Chang to the James Beard Foundation.

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

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’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve sat through a lot of bad movies. More often than not, I walk into the theater with a general sense of the quality of the product I’m about to see. So enduring “Dark Phoenix,” whose trailer betrayed a clear and present threat of the crappiness to come, wasn’t an apocalyptic experience. My expectations were low, and they were met. Apparently, the low-expectations crowd includes the filmmakers themselves. Despite the cost to make “Dark Phoenix” (a tragically-spent $200 million) everyone involved seems to have adopted a just-letit-be-over attitude. The actors are lethargic, the writing is lazy, and first-time director Simon Kinberg seems more concerned with how the

SANDRA RAIN

dimension. Sometimes you can tell that whoever prepared your meal really gave a damn. Juicy’s understands this distinction. The seafood combos are the real draw here. Allow yourself to dip the glutenous bread sticks in any sauce that has pooled at the bottom of your plastic bag then order some hush puppies ($3.75) for an excuse to dip deep-fried breading in ranch dressing. Juicy Seafood would be an outrageous affair with a large group of friends open to sharing a mutual experience. I for one would like to have my next birthday party there. If you can see past the importance of sustainable sourcing on account of volume, then “Juicy’s” will give you the feels. On my last superb and sloppy dinner date, our total came to $69.69. Seriously.

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No flight for this ‘Phoenix’

Juicy Seafood in Webster Square provides a hands-on seafood boil experience for large groups.

The tables are covered in butcher paper, on which servers can make note of orders or mark their own territory. The crowd is jovial. Large groups dine family style on dungeness crab ($32) and fried catfish ($12) as they sing along to “Old Town Road” and sip “Henny” mai tais ($12.50) with sheer glee. Juicy’s is the next communal frontier. Best of all, the menu is one page. This is really all I want in most restaurants. Figure out a short list of fine-tuned dishes that you can sustain with care and consistency. Prepare a limited number of meaningful plates with love and intention, and I will try anything you put in front of me. I also appreciate the emoji guide to seafood which transcends all cultural barriers. Your seafood will arrive in a plastic bag, inflated like a balloon from a thick cloud of steam. Tear it open and let the garlic and butter vapors wash over you, spiced to your specifications. On my last visit, I opted for lobster tail ($32.99) and no head shrimp ($11.99) along with corn and potatoes. Perhaps it was the fact that I was coming off an involuntary fourday juice cleanse, but I was vibing with my oozey shellfish in another

culture

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

SHERI BREADY PHOTOGRAPHY

W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M J U N E 13 - 19, 2019

Meet Winter. Winter came to WARL from St. Thomas Humane Society in search of a new family. Winter is shy when meeting new people and appreciates a slower introduction. She would benefit from a family who can give her plenty of space and time to acclimate to her new home and family. Winter gets along well with other dogs, but we are unsure if she likes cats. She would be best with no small children as she gets easily overwhelmed. This beauty is ready for someone special to take a chance on her. Winter has so much love to give she will surely make a great addition to some lucky family. Winter is 2-3 years old, spayed and ready to go home today!

calendar

Friday, June 14, 7 p.m. French New Wave Series Film #4: Hiroshima Mon Amour

Acoustic Java Roastery, 6 Brussels St., Worcester A cornerstone of the French New Wave, the first feature from Alain Resnais is one of the most influential films of all time. A French actress (Emmanuelle Riva) and a Japanese architect (Eiji Okada) engage in a brief, intense affair in postwar Hiroshima, their consuming mutual fascination impelling them to exorcise their own scarred memories of love and suffering. With an innovative flashback structure and an Academy Award–nominated screenplay by novelist Marguerite Duras, Hiroshima Mon Amour is a moody masterwork that delicately weaves past and present, personal pain and public anguish. Presented By Cinema-Worcester.

Saturday, June 15, 7 a.m. King’s Tour of the Quabbin

Bike 65, 100 or 125 miles with the Seven Hills Wheelmen from Rutland, MA. to the Quabbin Reservoir! Paved roads, not much traffic and plenty of hills! Entry fee is $15 $30. Limit to first 300 riders. Helmets required. Call 508-831-0301 or email Lynne Tolman at LToleman@LToleman.org.

Saturday, June 15 - Sunday, June 16 Father’s Day Weekend with Sheldon’s Harley Davidson Sheldon’s Harley Davidson, 914 Southbridge St., Auburn Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free demo rides, raffles and spin to wins with Harley Davidson! Lunch at noon on Sat. and Sun.

Sunday, June 16, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Baseball, Brews & BBQ

The Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge Not only will you learn about the history of baseball and brewing, but you can take part in early American games and try a variety of beer from local breweries. The Village will bustle all day with music from well-known bands, delicious BBQ and tons of fun for the whole family. And to truly make Dad happy, bring him to our Father’s Day BBQ Brunch at the Oliver Wight Tavern.

Network with local enterprising women and grow your business with new connections! WIN meets once a month at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester. Featuring speakers from WIN and a Q & A afterwards. Admission is $20-$40 dollars.

Wednesday, June 19, 1 - 4 p.m. Neighborhood Nature: Elm Park

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Tuesday, June 18, 12 - 1:30 p.m. Women’s Information Network (WIN)

Kids get to explore nature in Worcester! There will be crafts, scavenger hunts and learning about Worcester’s plant and animal life through hands-on activities. The program is free and runs from 6/19 to 8/16. Elm Park is located at 214 Highland St.

Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square, Worcester The 2010 United States Census references that 4.7 million Americans had Alzheimer’s Disease by 2010. Our baby boomers are aging and by the year 2060 it is estimated that 13.8 million people in the U.S. will have AD or a similar aspect of dementia. This free information session will showcase digital resources from the National Institute of Health and National Library of Medicine. We will discuss the signs of dementia, review some of the causes, discuss diagnosis and discover ways to reduce memory impairment through prevention.

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Wednesday, June 19, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Dementia and Aging Discussion

games

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J O N E S I N’ Across 1 Success story focus, maybe 12 Catered to? 15 Stat that may figure into a walking itinerary 16 Bambi’s aunt (in the book) 17 She played Edith Bunker in 2019 18 Music game with a floor pad, for short 19 “48___” (Nick Nolte film) 20 Like the works of Sappho 22 Brazilian jiu-___ 26 Gregarious beginning? 27 Most down 33 “Passages” author Sheehy 34 Charlotte or Gabrielle, in Broadway’s “Cinderella” 35 Radius neighbor 36 Aunt, in Asuncion 37 First option 38 Is down with 39 Measuring cup marks, for short 41 Frilly underskirts 44 She played Romy 45 Conned person’s revelation 46 Intense loathing 48 “Starry Night” setting 49 Gavin of “The Love Boat” 52 Calendar divs. 54 Theta preceder 55 State with the shortest motto (“Hope”) 61 “___ blu, dipinto di blu” (“Volare” alternate title) 62 “Bake him away, toys” speaker 63 Packers’ pts. 64 Moldable, squishy material in some ASMR videos Down 1 Late comedian Kinison 2 TV actor Longoria 3 The Once-___ (“The Lorax” narrator) 4 Part of WTF? 5 Woven compositions?

“Themeless Plug” – another freestyle for you. by Matt Jones

6 Petri dish substance 7 P.D. investigators 8 Gen. Eisenhower’s WWII command 9 “Rent” heroine 10 Final answer? 11 Roan answer 12 NYC historical site where the Stamp Act Congress met 13 Finished like the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee 14 What the “cool” smiling face emoji wears 21 Marinara brand 22 “Hold on!” 23 Cowed 24 Dramatic performances, quaintly 25 Maple syrup, essentially 28 Longstocking of kids’ books 29 Ait, e.g. 30 Les ___-Unis 31 ___ clear message to 32 Oregon, for one 40 TV lawyer Goodman 42 It still holds up 43 Boat propeller 47 Gardasil maker

50 “___ Mark!” (line from “The Room” in memes) 51 “___ the Pigeon” (“Sesame Street” song) 52 It’s perpendicular to the warp 53 Fuzzy fruit 56 Kaitlin’s “It’s Always Sunny...” role 57 Some smartphones 58 Turkish title 59 “The Sound of Music” extra 60 Dentist’s deg.

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Last week's solution

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J U N E 13 - 20, 2019

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin (Never known to fail) O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity, O Star of the Sea, help me and show me where you are my mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity, (make request). There are none that can withstand your power, O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (three times). Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (three times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and you must publish it and your request will be granted to you. YCM

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WORCESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS SEALED BIDS shall be received at the Purchasing Office, 69 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605. IFBs may be picked up at the location above or may be downloaded from our website: www.worcesterha.org/purchasing, or call (508) 6353202/3203, TTY/TDD (508) 798-4530. Bidders are responsible for ensuring they have received any/all addenda prior to submitting a bid. Separate awards will be made for each IFB. WHA reserves the right to reject any or all responses, in whole or in part, deemed to be in their best interest. Award of all contracts is subject to the approval of the WHA Executive Director or Board of Commissioners. The Operating Agency shall indemnify and hold harmless the WHA and its officers or agents from any and all third party claims arising from activities under these Agreements as set forth in MGL c.258, section 2 as amended. Project Title Bid Opening Bid No. Release Date 19-19 6/17/2019 Lending Services 10:00 AM July 1, 2019

last call Megan Jasper CEO Sub Pop Records W

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J U N E 13 - 19, 2019

orcester native Megan Jasper is the CEO of Sub Pop Records based out of Seattle. Some of Sub Pop’s recent releases include albums by Iron and Wine, The Postal Service, Band of Horses, Flight of the Conchords, Fleet Foxes, The Head and the Heart, The Shins and Father John Misty. Sub Pop’s first certified platinum release was Nirvana’s 1989 album, “Bleach.”

How did you wind up in Seattle? Brian Goslow would let us hang out at WCUW where he had a couple of different radio shows that he did back then. And Mark Lynch was the program director at WICN and he gave my friend Judy, my sister, and me a show from midnight to 3:00 a.m.

How old were you? I think I was a sophomore in high school. It was on Friday nights. What did you cherish about Everything revolved around that growing up in Worcester? radio show. It exposed me to all I grew up in the Burncoat area and the new records that were coming when I was in junior high school, out so I could stay current on my family moved over toward music. And I felt like I was doing Salisbury Street. I went to Forest something that probably kept Grove and Doherty. I remember I me out of trouble. When I went kind of felt like a full-blown misfit to college, I stopped doing radio in Worcester. I didn’t really know and I really just tried to study, but where my place was. There was I knew a lot of people who were nothing I loved more than what musicians in local bands. I would was happening in the music scene. either run around Boston with That’s really where I felt like I them or I would go to shows and belonged. try to sell t-shirts or merch or records. After college, I actually Was there a physical space bought a one way ticket to Berlin. where you could go see music? I went to Germany with no plan. I It seemed like almost everything had no way to make money, but I that was happening was hapwas determined to make it work. I pening at Ralph’s and I was too got a call from the band Dinosaur young to get into Ralph’s. But, I Jr. because their roadie fell in love do remember sneaking in a few the first night and he jumped off times and having the time of my the tour and they needed somelife. The Severance family would body to fill in. I took the train from have parties and bands would play Berlin to Amsterdam and I went in the basement. Then, the punk on the tour with them. It worked rock venue Exit 13 opened in 1981 out so well that later in the year or ’82. The first band that played they asked me to do the U.S. tour there was the hardcore band Flip- too. During that tour I stopped in per from southern California. That Seattle and I met the two people was a huge deal. I was so lucky who had just started Sub Pop because the people who worked Records. I totally fell in love with the door just let us in. And I know Seattle. I said, “I don’t know where that’s not right, but I have to tell I’m going next, but I love the city. you, I went to so many shows there Maybe I’ll come out here.” And and I never drank. I never did they said, “Well, let us know if anything I wasn’t supposed to do, you do.” After the tour, I saved my but I saw a million great shows. I money and I moved out to Seattle. also saw some great shows at what Weirdly, this coming September, was then called E.M. Loew’s. I saw that will have been 30 years ago. the Plasmatics play there.

You started as a receptionist and now you’re the CEO of Sub Pop. What are some career defining moments for you? I started as an intern. Bruce and John, Sub Pop’s owners, asked me if I was good with phones. I became the receptionist and I will tell you to this day that was maybe be the best job I have ever had. I love my job now. But back then, before emails and texting, it was all about traffic control and everybody who needed anything or had questions or whatever had to call me. I learned a lot about how the business worked. And then some of my absolute heroes would call and I would just be blown the f*ck away. Nick Cave called once and I just remember going, “Holy shit, f*cking Nick Cave is on the phone asking me questions.” Back then, it was totally normal for the Mudhoney guys to pop in all the time and The Nirvana guys to pop in all the time. The Pearl Jam guys and Mother Love Bone would come up and grab new records. It was such a small music community and everyone was so tight. Can you give me an overview of your infamous prank on the New York Times? Jonathan called me one morning and said, “Someone from the New York Times is looking for information on Seattle and they want to talk about words that we use. I don’t have time for this; I think you’ll have way more fun than me.” My phone rang and it was a writer from the New York Times. He told me that they were doing a huge piece on grunge and they wanted to include a

lexicon. This was also at a time when there was such an intense spotlight on Seattle and its music scene. Everything was blowing up. Marc Jacobs had come up with the “Grunge Collection.” Every department store was full of people that didn’t know who Nirvana was, but were wearing Nirvana t-shirts. I mean, it was just fucking bizarre. So this writer asks me if I can share lexicon and I was a little bit stumped because there isn’t one. I started randomly jotting shit down. Words that rhymed or phrases that just sounded stupid. I said to him,”Why don’t you give me a word and I’ll give you

the grunge translation?” He started off with “boots.” And I said, “kickers.” The words progressed, I just tried to get more absurd with my answers, but he never caught on. He just believed it all. He was so busy typing. We hung up and maybe two months later my mom called me up and said, “Holy shit, have you seen the paper today?” I was like, “No.” And she said, “You’re in it. Go get it.” So I, I ran down and sure enough there was a huge feature on grunge, including the f*cking lexicon. – Sarah Connell

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Saturday, June 22, 9:30am-5:30pm

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