Worcester Magazine July 3 - 10, 2019

JULY 3 - 10, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

NEWS • ARTS • DINING • NIGHTLIFE

Worcester House aims to put a

S.T.O.P.

to the opioid crisis Part of an occasional series on area efforts to combat the opioid overdose epidemic.

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in this issue J U LY 3 - 10, 2019 • V O L U M E 44 I S S U E 45

the cover

Worcester House aims to put a S.T.O.P. to the opioid crisis Story on page 9 Jonathan Oliveira holds his two-year-old daugther Aella as he addresses guests and graduates during the Worcester Community Corrections Center graduation ceremony. Oliveira is a graduate of the program and received a completion certificate along with the other program participants.

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news INterDEPENDENCE Day: Reimagine the Worcester Economy GARI DE RAMOS

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he reimagining of a capitalist economy is happening right here in Worcester.

Cooperatively-owned businesses, or co-ops, have been sprouting up in Worcester left and right over the past few years. This weekend, Worcester Roots — a local co-op incubator and developer — will host a celebration of Worcester’s many co-ops as part of International Interdependence Day. According to Addison Turner, Co-Director of Worcester Roots, the idea behind International Interdependence Day is to take something as complex as the co-op model and “root it in space and time.” The event will feature several Worcester-based co-ops, as well as food, kids activities and music, theater and comedy performances.

Interdependence — the understanding that individuals and systems depend on each other to thrive — is inherently part of the co-op model. When asked to describe what co-ops are, Turner brings up the adage “If you’ve seen one co-op, you’ve seen one co-op.”

All co-ops are run as autonomously as possible and are entirely controlled by the stakeholders who have bought into the business. Stakeholders can include workers, consumers and neighbors who all invest economically and equitably. Co-ops operate with the understanding that all sides of the business — the buyers, sellers and

Members of the Worcester Youth Co-op pose with a banner at the Worcester Roots office.

WORCESTER ROOTS PHOTO

news reshaping the economy, but also about reshaping our relationship with work.

“For most of our history, labor — which is done work for others — has been part of the social, spiritual and emotional fulfilment

INterDEPENDENCE Day will be held on Saturday, July 6th at The Compass Tavern on 90 Harding Street. The event will run from 12pm to 5pm and include the following co-ops: WooRides, 3Cross Brewery, Access Co-Op, Worcester Bookkeeping Cooperative, Renewable Energy Worcester, Future Focus Media, worX Printing Co-op, Intersection Cafe, GreenVitalize Urban Growers, Worcester Youth Co-op, Global Village, Worcester Community Skate Shop and Homes ICG, which is in the process of converting to a co-op.

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of people,” he said. “Now, there is a stark separation from slavish labor and compensatory leisure.”

Turner harkened back to Worcester’s early days as an industrial city. “At the end of the 19th century, workers around the country and also in Worcester started to fight for shorter work days and higher wages.”

“The workers were successful, but this put the working class in a trap,” he said. “Directly afterwards,

the White City amusement park came into Worcester, and this is part of the historical commercialization of leisure time. Workers had more time to spend their wages and more wages to spend, so the industrial leaders of Worcester continued to exploit the workers by commercializing their fun.”

Co-ops try to undo the separation between work and leisure by giving workers personal investment in their work that goes beyond their time and paycheck. With co-ops, it appears that the hope is for the co-op economy to spread nationwide to create an economy and culture of sustainable fulfilment.

Because he wants the co-op economy to spread, Turner pointed out that “every entry point into this movement — whether it be from the start-up economy, labor world or traditional business — is valid.”

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surrounding community — depend on one another for the co-op and community to thrive. While this model may sound idealistic, the International Labor Organization has found that the co-op model is more successful than traditional business models in times of crisis.

Because of the communal nature of co-ops compared to traditional profit-minded businesses, co-ops are easier for low-income and marginalized residents to start. Global Village, one of the co-ops that will be at INterDEPENDENCE Day, is a farming co-op started by community members who wanted to address food justice issues in Central Mass.

WooRides, Worcester’s very own carbon-free pedicab service, will also be at INterDEPENDENCE Day providing pedicab rides. 3Cross Brewery, Massachusetts’s first community-owned brewery, will have their beer on tap as well.

Interdependence Day intentionally falls close to America’s national Independence Day. “Rather than celebrate our individualism and independence,” said Turner, “we need to celebrate our interdependence.”

Like most co-op members, Turner believes that our current profit- and growth-focused capitalist economy is not conducive to an equitable or environmentally sustainable tomorrow. Turner said he envisions a future where “people have unfathomable social and ecological relationships with each other and our ecosystem.”

Co-ops are not only about

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news

worcesteria

ET TU, WYNN? I know it’s hard to believe, but a casino developer is

stiffing a contractor in Massachusetts. Yes the fine people at Wynn Resorts apparently owe Coughlin Electric, a Worcester-based company, $30 million for work done on the Encore Boston Harbor casino project in Everett. It’s really just hard to believe that Wynn, a company with such a sterling reputation in casino development – one of the most just and noble fields one can endeavor to enter – would stiff a contractor like this. Sue Mailman, owner of Coughlin, is quoted in the Boston Herald as saying Wynn ordered the company to do extra work, something called “change orders” in the industry, and basically Wynn just let those pile up without ever paying. Here’s Sue with the heat: “These casinos were supposed to be about good skilled-trade jobs for people of color, women and veterans. There’s a lot of subcontractors that worked on this project. I’m not Wynn Resorts, worth billions and billions of dollars. They’ve opened their doors and we’re not going to be paid for the work we did.” The state Gaming Commission is on the case, so hopefully this gets resolved soon.

STATE OF THE PARK: City Hall has contracted the job of designing a new skate park at Crompton Park out to Weston & Sampson, a massive company known for overall public park planning with a focus on water features. They’re handling the entirety of Crompton Park, so it makes good sense for them to do the skate park. Now, I know this because there was a little bit of an uproar going around the online Worcester world last week about how the city contracted a designer with no skate park design experience to design a skate park. Though I couldn’t find an example of work, the company’s website does list skate parks as something they’ve done before and have pulled off many large park projects that are much more impressive than what is overall a relatively small skate park. What I will say is there seems to be a lack of communication between the city and the skate boarding community of Worcester on the design of this park, and it would be nice for the city to allow some input on park features before Weston & Sampson come back with a design. I’m sure Weston & Sampson would appreciate more direction than what they’re going to get from City Hall on this as well. You wouldn’t want me in charge of telling a design firm what to do at Green Hill Golf Course. Just sayin’.

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RUSSELL’S LAST STAND: Looks like we’re on a one-way train toward

plastic bags for recycling after a meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Works last week. In a 2-1 vote, the city’s overall trash & recycling overhaul moved forward, plastic bags in tact. George Russell, chairman of the committee and among the most vocal opponents of the switch to plastic bags, voted against. Candy Mero-Carlson and Matt Wally voted for. So now the switch to plastic bags heads back to a full council meeting for a vote to adopt on July 23. The plastic bags will come with city trash bags or by themselves, and the cost of a sleeve of city bags will jump a few dollars. Anecdotally, I have not heard a single good thing about this proposed move from anyone outside of City Hall and its immediate social circles. And keep in mind those are the people who pay attention enough to know the change is being proposed. I’m envisioning a real circus in Worcester’s future once the residents who don’t pay attention to the routine mechanisms of City Hall (which I would put at a strong 90 to 95 percent) find out about this.

THE BALLOT: Hey, don’t forget, we have an election coming up in November, and a preliminary race for both School Committee and City Council in September. Last week, the Election Commission set the ballot so we are officially on.

Bill Shaner, reporter Twitter: @Bill_Shaner

news

the beat

Worcester’s public pools and beaches are now open and ready for summer fun. The city’s aqautics program kicked off this Monday. Pools

and beaches will be open from now until Aug. 25. The city’s spray parks

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will close on Labor Day (Sept. 2). The city owns and operates one pool, at Crompton Park, two spray parks, at Cristopher Colombo Park and at Greenwood Park, and four beaches. The beaches are as follows, Bell Pond Beach at 238 Belmont St., Indian Lake Beach, at 20 Clason Road, the John J. Binienda Beach, at 180 Mill St. and Shore Park Beach at 115 Shore Drive.

On Tuesday, the city treated Indian Lake for algae, closing it to all activity for the day. The treatment consisted of applied copper sulfate,

and is a common way to combat algae. If left unchecked, algae can produce harmful toxins. The application was approved by the Worcester Conservation Commission.

A driving range at the Green Hill Golf Course is now open. Last week, officials cut the ribbon on the project. The range is 300-yards uphill and features 25 stations. It is the only driving range which is open to the public in Worcester.

At the DCU Center, graduations are an increasingly large source of revenue. This graduation season, the center hosted 21 college and high

A former recreation director in Southbridge is accused of stealing $4,500 in cash from an adult flag football league. Susan Geers has

been summoned to Dudley District Court on larceny charged and will be arraigned next week.

We may see some severe thunderstorms and hail in the area this weekend. On Sunday, the National Weather Service anticipates a marginal risk for severe weather from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, including strong winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall.

Forty new recruits graduated from the Worcester Police Academy last week after a 23-week training period. The recruits consist of 26

Worcester officiers and 14 from other towns and organizations.

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school graduations, bringing more than 9,000 graduates to town. The graduations are estimated to have a $3.2 million economic impact on the city.

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A bear was spotted this week in Auburn. The black bear was spotted in a tree near Bryn Mawr School on Swanson Road. Officials have advised nearby residents to bring bird feeders inside the house. If you see the bear, officials warn to leave it alone and call the Environmental Police at 800-632-8075.

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opinion Raking the Trump compost pile and other things JANICE HARVEY

One thing is true about Donald Trump’s time in the White House: America will never be the same.

This may be the only good thing he has done since pilfering the position in 2016 – he has made us take a hard look at ourselves. The conversations which began on just two topics — what constitutes sexual assault and racism — have been particularly illuminating for me as a white woman.

I’ve had to recall incidents that I thought I’d filed away for good, and re-exam both the behavior and my response to it. I’ve had to ask myself if I’m truly attentive to the diverse population I teach.

Can I improve my teaching and their learning by more fully embracing cultural differences? I’m sure I can. There’s always room for improvement.

I believe I’m not alone in this introspective exercise. Some good must come out of this terrible time in our history. We must never forget the image of the drowned father and daughter who died at the border. I know that I won’t – it is forever stored in my heart where the Falling Man of 9/11 resides, where Robert Kennedy lay dying on a hotel kitchen floor, where his brother clutches his throat upon impact. There are moments in time that we should never brush away lest we leave our humanity curbside. We need

to look without flinching at where we have been, and where we are going, and who will need our help to travel that path in safety and with dignity.

When Donald Trump leaves office, one way or another, the irony of a man with no self-awareness forcing a nation to reflection on its own shortcomings shouldn’t be lost on us. I will return to my metaphor with this hope: that the garden called democracy has roots too deep for a carnival barker like Donald Trump to destroy.

Janice Harvey

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell come to mind. No one so ignorant of history and facts as am a teacher, and because my brain never fully rests, I’m Trump could reach the pinnacle of having trouble decompressing power without a legion of garden this summer. I’ve tried to stay gophers behind him.

The Democratic debates may away from the news, with weather not have produced a clear front updates the exception (in New England we live and die by Dopler runner, but we were able to watch and listen to adults exchangradar) but it’s no use. While I ing ideas without throwing mud was attempting to close my eyes at one another. That’s a step and ignore all things Trump for toward enlightenment in a dark a day or two, I was shaken awake age. When candidates like Cory

by Trump’s hopscotch to North Korea – which followed his “wink Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris and Liz Warren speak, I wink nudge nudge” with Vlad hear real issues being discussed.

Putin. Slumped on my patio, I I see them using the time on the wondered how long I was asleep. clock to address our real conI’m not alone. We’ve all been cerns, not wasting those minutes asleep in our hammocks, doztossing nasty nicknames, or coming, dreaming, believing that democracy is a garden that waters paring hands — or any other body parts. It’s not only civilized — it’s itself, blossoms without weedmature behavior, the kind we ing and exists without tending. should expect from anyone over While we were napping, Trump the age of eight, and demand from & Co. slipped in between the peonies and the roses and started our potential leaders. How low is the bar when we heap praise for pruning with machetes. Trump simple courtesy? There are myriad has divided the garden by spereasons to dislike Trump, but one cies, holding back its water and I’ll never forgive him for is the plucking the best blossoms for abandonment of civil discourse as his own table. The garden we call his way to reach the Maury Povich democracy is rapidly becoming his personal compost pile. I’ll end crowd. From the beginning, he my extended metaphor by saying knew he’d come up empty-handed that Donald Trump has more than in any debate with knowledgeable, serious adults so he started a few landscapers helping him: throwing chairs as soon as he the shameless Senator Lindsey descended the escalator.

Graham of South Carolina and

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feature Worcester House aims to put a S.T.O.P. to the opioid crisis Part of an occasional series on area efforts to combat the opioid overdose epidemic.

STEPHANIE JARVIS CAMPBELL

I

t is said that the first 24 hours after an inmate is released are the hardest, but at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction, the staff aims

to ease that transition through the six-month residential Substance Treatment Opportunity Program (S.T.O.P) and Short S.T.O.P., a threemonth certificate curriculum. Both are aimed at reducing recidivism and helping inmates become productive members of their communities when they leave incarceration, while learning how to remain drug- and alcohol-free.

Almost 90 percent of the inmates at the Worcester County House of Correction in West

Sheriff Lew Evangelidis was the keynote speaker for the Worcester Community Corrections Center graduation ceremony.

MATT WRIGHT

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well as Short S.T.O.P. – the programs are based on the belief that while addiction is often the reason for behaviors, it is not an excuse.

People need to be responsible and accountable for their actions, but also deserve opportunities for support, knowledge and intervention mechanisms.

“Demystifying addiction is important. Destigmatizing addiction is important,” Evangelidis said.

But, he added, “We don’t coddle anybody. I’m talking about people who are going to recover, and they have to own it.”

As such, the programs use a multilayered approach to treat addiction as a brain disease and to address it mentally, morally, physically and spiritually. “There’s a huge debate whether addiction is a choice or a disease,” said Bianca Colon, a substance abuse counselor for Short S.T.O.P. “There is a choice within it, but once it becomes addition, it is a disease.”

S.T.O.P. has shown success – according to the last compiled results from the Sheriff ’s Office, 65 percent of discharged participants in 2017 had successfully completed the program in compliance with treatment requirements. Inmates that did successfully finish S.T.O.P. had a lower recidivism rate, and of those who later had new charges, none were direct alcohol or drug offenses.

“I’m really proud of this program,” Evangelidis said. “I wish we could offer this in a bigger setting, but finances dictate what we do.”

The answer, for now, has been Short S.T.O.P., a voluntary program that focuses on substance abuse disorder, through cognitive and didactic educational classes. Located in Lower Maxi-C within the House of Correction, it has 25 beds and runs on a revolving basis so that inmates can be admitted as space

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individual counseling sessions.

Participants have the opportunity to utilize other services, such as a parenting group, job search help and Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, and they can also work to get a GED/HiSet certification, as well as ServSafe or OSHA 10 certifications.

In addition, specialty classes such as Anger Management, Victims’ Impact and Relapse Prevention are offered, and after completion, usually between 10 and 12 weeks, the program participants will be awarded a certificate.

“S.T.O.P. is a national model,” Evangelidis said. “Here, we have the best inmates with the best chance of turning their lives around. Our S.T.O.P. and Short S.T.O.P. programs give them the proper tools to understand and correct their criminogenic behavior and address their addiction head-on. Here, the recidivism rate is 29 percent versus over 50 percent nationwide. Corrections is very challenging work.

We have a tremendously dedicated correctional and civilian staff who work hard every day to help these folks turn their lives around. When that happens, our community is not only a healthier place, but we are all safer.”

S.T.O.P. substance use disorder counselor Crystal Torres said she has witnessed the changes the men experience as they work through the program, particularly when they begin to reflect on their past actions.

“To be able to have a conversation about their feelings and own up to what they’ve done, it’s huge,” said Torres, who runs the Victims’ Impact classes and also works on the inmates with coping skills, triggers and self-esteem.

For the people who run the program, that is one of the most important aspects of S.T.O.P., as

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Boylston, according to Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis, have a substance use disorder, and many of those are from the opioid epidemic, which he called a national crisis.

“We are at a war in America with an opioid epidemic that has lost more than we lost in the Vietnam War,” said Evangelidis. “We lost 70,000 people last year to opioids.

Those are facts.”

But at the

Worcester County House of Correction, the sheriff and his staff believed there were inmates who wanted to change their lives and break free from their addiction cycles. Instead of spending time idly in jail, what would happen if they were allowed an opportunity to work on themselves? As a result, S.T.O.P. was created more than 10 years ago, with its first client on Jan. 9, 2006, and followed by Short S.T.O.P. last year on July 9, 2018.

“We don’t judge people here – that has already happened. We are not the judge or jury. Our job is to take care of the custody part,” Evangelidis said. “For our inmate population, re-entry begins on day one at our correctional facility.

We don’t let them off the hook; it’s no one’s fault but their own that they are in here. But, if they take responsibility and prove they want to make things better, we will meet them halfway and give them resources to give them opportunity to succeed when they are released.”

S.T.O.P. is a 36-bed, in-house extensive treatment program in a segregated unit and staffed by three substance use disorder (SUD) counselors. It is a voluntary program for those inmates who have “earned their way in through good behavior and a sincere effort to help themselves,” according to Evangelidis.

“Everyone lives together, works together. We find this is a very supportive program. If they’re not here to support each other, they don’t belong in this program,” Evangelidis said.

The five-day program — the only one of its kind in Massachusetts — begins at 8 a.m. with a morning meeting, and the rest of the time is divided into caseload groups, substance abuse educational and life skills classes, and

feature becomes available.

“Every time we go to a graduation at S.T.O.P., it’s a very moving thing. But every time we’d walk away, the sheriff would say, ‘Why can’t we do this in other parts of the building? Why can’t we help more inmates?’” said Special Sheriff Andrew Abdella.

Based on the success of S.T.O.P., the Sheriff ’s Office was able to obtain a Massachusetts Justice Reinvestment Initiative Recidivism Reduction grant through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. A shortened version of S.T.O.P., the program runs Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m., with meetings, individual counseling and caseload groups.

Two mandatory specialty groups, Anger Management and Relapse Prevention, are also part of Short S.T.O.P., and upon completion, participants will earn certificates.

Other classes include substance

some point, life won’t ever be a struggle. “It’s about understanding that you’re going to struggle – but having the capacity to get through it without harming yourself.”

For many of the inmates, acceptance of their past actions and consequences, such as family members and friends deserting them, can also be difficult, said Colon. “A lot of these guys have experienced trauma in their lives.

Not everyone who has experienced trauma becomes an addict, but almost certainly, every addict has experienced some sort of trauma,” she said.

Admittance to both S.T.O.P and Short S.T.O.P. is a rigorous process – inmates who want to be considered have to apply and then do an interview, answering some tough questions about themselves, their substance abuse and why they want to be in the program. If they are accepted, they must maintain

Above, each graduate of the Worcester Community Corrections Center received a small gift when they were presented with their certificate.

Left, WPD Deputy Chief Edward McGinn addresses the Worcester Community Corrections Center graduates.

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J U LY 3 - 10, 2019

MATT WRIGHT

abuse education, family, coping skills, emotions and triggers.

Through these discussions, the inmates hopefully learn to become comfortable with themselves and their past. “What they’ve been doing is numbing themselves – some of them for most of their lives,” explained Colon.

“Part of recovery is being comfortable being uncomfortable,” she said, adding that society has perpetuated a fake belief that at

good behavior, show commitment to the program and the work that needs to be done, and also follow rules, such as arriving for classes on time, bringing necessary materials and completing homework.

Those who fail to follow the rules first receive a vocal reprimand, then an informal written behavioral contract, and finally, a formal 30-day behavioral contract if the actions continue.

“We believe in behavior modifi-

S.T.O.P. participant until his release from incarceration in April, said of the program, “You get to know yourself really well. It’s a humbling experience. I thought I had everything figured out. I didn’t have anything figured out. It helped me more than I thought it would.”

That help came in the form of getting his GED, which his counselor encouraged him to pursue, Benjamin said, and even everyday tasks like sweeping the floor became accomplishments for him, allowing him to set daily goals.

“You can’t come into this program and coast by. This is an opportunity,” said Benjamin.

“We are facilitators. We try to cation, not just throwing someone increase motivation for these guys,” out of the program,” said Director Burns said. “We try to help them of Substance Abuse Lesa Vaudreuil. through those moments of, ‘Do I Through it all, there are words really want to keep doing this?’ If of encouragement and hope. “You we are able to be the first person to may not accomplish your goal believe in them, by the time we get that day. It doesn’t mean you fail,” to six months, that’s a huge step.” said Scot Burns, a substance use That’s exactly how Benjamin felt disorder counselor who works about his counselors. “I owe my life in the S.T.O.P. unit. “If you look at to these people,” he said. “They’ve everything as a failure, how are you given me a chance to reach my going to progress?” high point. I was ashamed to say I Benjamin (last name withheld was an addict, but now I’m not. I to protect privacy), 28, who was a

see how far I’ve come.”

Jamie (last name also withheld), a fellow participant in the S.T.O.P. program who was recently released on parole to a long-term residential program, said he previously had been distrustful of people. But now, “I trust my counselor with my life,” he said. “That’s what this place has given me.”

Jamie, 45, spent his younger years in foster homes and lock-ups.

“It wasn’t long before I was used to no family and no homes. Then I started using. I stopped caring because that’s how I protected myself,” he recalled. “I’m a smart person — I know I’m a smart person — but I didn’t act like a smart person.”

Fentanyl-laced heroin led to a one-month coma, and later, after being incarcerated, Jamie didn’t know how to handle his past or respond to the people he had hurt.

“It goes all the way to the end – everyone’s affected,” he said, but added that through S.T.O.P. and his counselors, “they helped me recognize my behaviors and patterns.”

If people like himself have help, such as from the counselors and

feature other staff members at the House of Correction who show they care, then the inmates have more of an opportunity to be better members of society, Jamie said. “People need compassionate people in their lives,” he said. “If they have that, they’re apt to change.”

Benjamin added, “Don’t look at us as inmates – look at us as people trying to change. If your son or daughter is struggling with addiction, get them help. Don’t give up on them. This correctional facility didn’t give up on us.”

Prior to graduating from S.T.O.P.

Evangelidis presents Anthony Bonnell-Ruziak (right) with a certificate during the Worcester Community Corrections Center program graduation ceremony.

MATT WRIGHT

and Short S.T.O.P. and before being released from incarceration, inmates meet with the reintegration counselor, who helps to set up a tailored aftercare plan. The plan typically includes residential placement into a long-term residential treatment program, transitional housing or sober housing. Inmates also receive assistance scheduling appointments for a primary care physician, substance abuse and mental health services if needed, and have active Mass Health insurance upon release.

“We want to make sure they go back to the right environment,” Evangelidis emphasized. “It’s a really important part of what we do. Re-entry starts on day one.

You don’t just talk to them the day they’re getting out.”

“That’s someone’s son, that’s someone’s father,” Vaudreuil said.

“These guys return to our communities. We have to remember that.

They’re our next-door neighbors.”

Part of the planning requires that all the inmates work on a relapse maintenance plan, whether they are involved with S.T.O.P.

Lesa Vaudreuil, a director at the Worcester County House of Corrections S.T.O.P. and Short S.T.O.P. programs.

MATT WRIGHT

or Short S.T.O.P. For some of the inmates, this is particularly hard to do, but, Colon said, even if they do have a relapse, it “doesn’t mean you want to relapse. Your relapse plan is your insurance. For some, relapse is part of the journey.”

Benjamin said he felt he was prepared for life after incarcera-

tion and eventually would like to go to college. “I’m all set. I haven’t been able to say that with other incarcerations. Usually they kick you out the door,” he said.

Had he not been part of S.T.O.P., things might have been different for him, Benjamin said. “I honestly told myself this was the last time I

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feature was going to jail. I might have been dead. I might have been incarcerated again. There’s not telling. I can tell you what I’m going to be – and that’s successful,” he said.

“Until this point, I haven’t lived life at all. If life throws me a curveball, I don’t need to get high,” he added. “It’s hard getting released from incarceration. There’s a lot of emotions thrown at you. But now I know how to handle it.”

The 24 hours after incarceration is a pivotal time.

“Take that hour to go to a meeting. Spend time with your loved ones. That’s what makes you whole,” aid Torres.

Colon added, “What’s day one going to look like for them? The first 24 hours is a big point for them. Can you get that 24-hour coin?”

Many times, Vaudreuil said,

inmates who have been released will later call to check in with their counselors. “They like that they’re able to call here, either for an update or help. They like that there’s a sense of community. It’s their connection to us,” she said.

Other times, it’s to hear the encouraging words they received from their counselors when they were incarcerated. “Sometimes, they’ve never had that opportunity for someone to be proud of them,” Vaudreuil said, and once they’re released, “now, all of a sudden, they have to do it on their own. They have to earn the respect again. We teach them that. Addiction is a selfish disease. Giving them hope is what they need.”

For those who have a relapse and might find themselves back

Richard Turner addresses guests and graduates during the Worcester Community Corrections Center graduation ceremony. Turner is a graduate of the program and received a completion certificate along with the other program participants.

MATT WRIGHT

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

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nother piece in the fight against opioids is trying to help people before they end up in jail — or keep them out of jail again — through the Community Corrections Center programs in Worcester, Webster and Fitchburg. Each one is a day reporting center for people who have appeared before a judge and have been found guilty of a crime but don’t require a prison sentence, or for paroled inmates or inmates ordered to do community service to finish out their sentences, according to Evangelidis.

Violators will end up receiving a jail sentence, but for those who successfully complete the program, they graduate with new skills and certifications.

“This is the future of incarceration,” he said.

The participants are required to report daily, submit to random drug tests and perform community service, but are given opportunities for resume-building, work experience and substance abuse management. They take a series of cognitive behavior therapy classes, can earn a HiSet certificate, and receive job readiness training and work placement – all to help reduce recidivism and to help individuals with recovery from opiate addiction.

Case managers at the courthouses work with the Community Correction Centers, which are under the Worcester County Sheriff ’s Office and partnered with the Office of the Commissioner of Probation and Office of Community Corrections. The Webster location, however, is directly funded through the Sheriff ’s Office and has become not only a reporting center but also a resource center for the entire South County community, according to Evangelidis.

“We have people who say, ‘The minute I walked into that center, I was never judged,’” he said. “I’m proud of it. It’s the only model of its type.”

Despite the gains, however, Evangelidis said he is limited by his budget. “The inequity of sheriff funding is completely unfair and disgraceful,” he said, noting that the Worcester County House of Correction has more inmates and also has fewer teachers and substance abuse counselors, but receives less funding — a difference of more than $20 million — than the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction. “Where is the fairness in that?” he asked. “There isn’t any.”

Proper funding is especially important because, Evangelidis said, “I believe we’re going to look back and say the opioid issue is the issue of our times. I just believe sheriffs play a major, major role in society in the epidemic – and finding solutions to the epidemic. I’m honored to be working with people who are dedicated.”

“We know not everyone survives this disease. This disease kills people every day,” Colon said. “There are thousands upon thousands who lose their lives every day. We’re trying to stop that from happening to you and your family. It’s hard to find a family in America these days that hasn’t been affected by this disease.

That’s why we’re passionate about this program – we can save lives.”

She added, “It’s tough. You can’t save everyone. If you save one person, that’s one family. But you can go to work every day and try to make a difference.”

Said Wilson, “It’s more than an epidemic – it’s a war. Because of the drugs, they took the wrong path. I can speak for these guys here. They didn’t grow up wanting to be in jail and a drug addict and a shame to our families. Fueled by the addiction, we became trapped.

“I’m not that guy anymore. I want you to sit down next to me and hear my story, so we can rise above this,” he added. “There are so many things we can do to make things better. I know what I’m going to do when I get out of here: I’m going to raise my hand and say, ‘I’m Bill Wilson, and I’m here to help.’”

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Bill Wilson is a participant at the Worcester County House of Corrections Short S.T.O.P. substance abuse Program.

MATT WRIGHT

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living,” he said — he credits the program and the staff for motivating him.

“I’ve never seen more dedication,” he said of the staff. “That empowers me more, to keep working in this field. I feel I have a calling.

I’ve changed so much.”

Rafferty said that when Wilson speaks, it isn’t a “performance.” He added, “This is why we do what we do. It’s stories like this that invigorate me. He’s gone above and beyond anything I’ve ever seen.

He’s the example of what we’re looking for.”

But Wilson didn’t always feel that way. “My life had become to the point where I could not function. Everything revolved around alcohol and substance abuse. I lost jobs, friends, family and girlfriends,” he said.

“I remember the first drink I had.

I stole it from my mother’s liquor cabinet,” Wilson recalled. “I’ve done basically every drug known to man. In the process, I lost myself. I became a different person. I never grew up and took responsibility for myself and my actions.”

Today, however, he said, “I’m tired of losing. I’m tired of not being me. My goal is to get me right – I work on that every day.”

Wilson’s goal is to be an “outstanding person” and to work in the substance abuse field. “If I can save just one, I’ll be happy,” he said, adding, “For the first time in my life, I’m happy. I have this willpower, this determination, this exhilaration to succeed. I just know I’m going to make it. I don’t want to take a step back. Every day, I’m taking steps forward.”

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in jail again, the staff seeks them out to talk to them and find out what happened. Because addiction is a recurrant disease, her philosophy, and Assistant Director of Substance Abuse Walter Rafferty’s as well, is “we’ll never give up,” Vaudreuil said.

“I’m not going to focus on the negativity, that you had a relapse,” she added. “I’m going to focus on, you had a good two-week run. We need to focus on the positive.”

Like S.T.O.P., Short S.T.O.P. has been successful as well. Since its inception just about a year ago, 119 inmates have entered Short S.T.O.P., 74 have graduated to date and 23 are currently enrolled (the remainder were administrationdischarged or self-discharged), according to the Sheriff ’s Office.

Currently, there is a waiting list of inmates who want to be admitted into the program. And, said Vaudreuil, three post-graduates have asked to stay in the program to help provide support to the participants and co-facilitate the groups.

“That’s how well received this program is,” Vaudreuil said.

William Wilson, 54, is one of those who is still involved with Short S.T.O.P. He graduated on April 16, but applied for and was accepted to stay as a post-graduate support to others still in the program while he himself completes his sentence. In and out of jail since 1981, he has been at the House of Correction for more than a year.

And although he had reached a point in his life where he wanted to change — “I receded into somebody that was existing rather than

feature Wilson credited the program’s staff with motivating him every day to do exactly that. “We have a community of people who understand the problem and we’re working to fix it together, from inmates to professionals. It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing,” he said. “I thank everyone for the opportunity, and I can’t stress how important it is for me to keep this going.”

For Adam Gagnon, who graduated from Short S.TO.P. on May 10 and has since been released on

first starting using drugs because he “wanted to be part of the crew,” he recalled. At 17, an accident with a chop saw that required extensive surgery on his arm led to taking painkillers like Oxycontin.

“That’s when the love affair with opiates started, and like most affairs, it had a horrible ending,” Gagnon said.

When the painkillers weren’t strong enough anymore, he turned to heroin and cocaine and had been in jail six times throughout

Special Sheriff Andrew Abdella discusses the Short S.T.O.P. substance abuse treatment program at the Worcester County House of Corrections.

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parole to a long-term residential program, the program’s staff also had encouraged and motivated him in numerous ways. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Unfortunately, this has become a part of me – institutionalized because of drugs and alcohol. To see these people come in every day – selfless,” he said of the staff. “I’ve always been involved with selfish people.”

Gagnon, 35, said the staff ’s care, influence and positive impact have all been extremely meaningful for him. “I’ve gotten hope from them.

Somebody who has no ulterior motive wants to help me, and they want to help me for the sake of helping me. It’s huge,” he said. “The positive reinforcement has been key for me.”

It wasn’t that long ago, he said, that he was often in what he called negative space. “I put myself in negative situations because of that negative space. This time, I wanted more. In order to get more, you have to give more,” he said.

The youngest of four kids, Gagnon was 10 years old when he

the years. “I didn’t really want to learn anything about it,” he said of his substance abuse. “I didn’t really want to change anything. I didn’t know change was possible.”

Through Short S.T.O.P., however, he learned not only about his substance abuse, but also about self-awareness, honesty, relapse and anger management. “I’ve always had anger issues, and it’s always brought me back to a bottle or drugs. I’ve had a lot of rage in my life, and I’m able to identify that now. It’s huge,” he said. “I’m still a work in progress, but putting myself out there to get to this point was probably the hardest part.

That comes from admitting you’re wrong, that you have weaknesses.

Who wants to do that?”

Gagnon added, “This is my first time putting myself in an environment where the potential for growth is infinite. I was at a really low place when I got here. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve gained so much from the program. This program has taken me out of my comfort zone.”

culture Rick Estrin Plays The Bull Run JIM PERRY

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“The reigning, undisputed, undefeated champion of the guitar,” is how Estrin admirably describes Anderson. “He’s a genius, man.” Estrin points out that Anderson is also a sought-after engineer and producer.

Anderson built a studio in his California home. Dubbed “Greaseland,” the studio is a go-to choice for many artists now, including Tommy Castro and Eddie Floyd. The last two Nightcats albums were recorded there as well, with Anderson handling production.

The Nightcats also include key-

boardist/bassist Lorenzo Farrell and drummer Ronny Smith.

Estrin, who has never played the Bull Run, is stopping there in the middle of a strange mini tour, which includes one-off gigs in Norway, then Atlantic City, followed by the Bull Run. Then, after a few more northeast gigs, they fly off to Estonia, and Russia, only to return home again.

“That’s the way it is now,” said Estrin. “You used to be able to connect the dots a little more, you know, less travel, more work.”

Recalling the early days of touring,

Estrin said, “We used to work five, six nights a week, driving, you know, three or four hundred miles between gigs. You get used to it.”

When I informed Estrin that the Bull Run was a great ‘listening’ venue with a well-educated blues audience, he was pleased. “We can do that other stuff, boogie ’til you puke, you know,” said Estrin, “but I prefer it when people are watching the show.”

Rick Estrin and the Nightcats at the Bull Run. A perfect match. Estrin agrees. “We’ll get ’em.”

J U LY 3 - 10, 2019 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

he last time Rick Estrin and his band came through Central Massachusetts was in 2015, at Viva Bene restaurant in Worcester. During a rollicking show, a woman from the audience, who was in the middle of a mental breakdown of sorts, suddenly lurched at him while he was onstage and grabbed him.

It was a bizarre occurrence, which was eventually quelled by security.

After she was escorted from the club, Estrin resumed with his usual cheeky humor, and proceeded to tear the house down. A true class act.

Rick Estrin returns to the area to play the Bull Run in Shirley on July 11. He fronts the Nightcats, winners of Band of the Year at the 2018 Blues Music Awards, and one of the most exciting groups on the blues circuit.

Estrin himself won Blues Music Awards honors for song of the year, and best male artist in traditional blues.

A fifty-year veteran, Estrin is known for his bitingly funny take on life, having penned classics like “Dump That Chump,” “My Next ExWife” and “The Booty Song (I Love to Watch You Walk Away).”

People hear the term “blues” and expect something, well, blue. “It’s got the name, ‘the blues’, and people tend to think of it that way,” said Estrin. “But there’s a lot of lighthearted blues. I mean, it’s supposed to make you feel good.”

Estrin emphasizes the blues’ ability to make people feel better. “Blues was always meant to lift people up.

When they’re sad, you know, lifting them up out of that. It takes them to another place to show them, you know, they’re not alone.”

The Nightcats were started by Estrin and Charlie Batey back in 1976, and they stayed together until 2008, when Batey made the decision to retire from the road. During their time together, they recorded four albums, toured incessantly and received a handful of Blues Music Awards nominations. Estrin scored

a W.C. Handy Award for song of the year in 1993 for his tune, “My Next Ex-Wife.”

Little Charlie’s exit from the band created a conundrum for Estrin. The first order of business was to change the name of the band. Estrin would be the centerpiece. But finding someone to replace Batey was a challenge.

“When Little Charlie left, I didn’t know what I was gonna do,” he said.

Almost right away, they landed Chris ‘Kid’ Anderson, who had just finished a short stint as guitarist for Charlie Musselwhite’s band.

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culture Want to Write For First Person?

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J U LY 3 - 10, 2019

Hey, you. Yeah, we’re talking to YOU. You look like you have something to say. So this is your chance: Worcester Magazine is looking for contributors to our weekly First Person column! We’re seeking essays from our readers about whatever facet of Worcester life they want to share. And not just politics: We want to hear about things in this city we might not otherwise ever know: Things that make the city uniquely yours. Tell us your story, and the story of the people around you.

To submit for consideration, please send a 750 word essay to WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com with the words “First Person” in the subject line. Let us know what’s on your mind.

A Comedian vs. Comedian Q&A with Lou Ramos SHAUN CONNOLLY

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ou Ramos is a comedian whose residence every Tuesday at Beatnik’s on Park Ave. have put together some great mid-week crowds and comedians from all over New England. Lou, a former hip-hop MC with the Worcester band Day One, has burst onto Worcester’s ever growing comedy scene with an equally unique voice and new shows. A Clinton resident, he’s been in comedy two years. He is part of the chaotic and super creative group, The Federation of Belligerent Writers, which have a show on July 13th at Ralph’s Diner. I stopped Lou during his busy comedy schedule to talk shop.

What made you start comedy?

I always wanted to. My mom put a cable box in our bedroom when were kids and told us to stay off HBO. I was 8 years old watching Carlin, Dangerfield, Kinnison, Def Jam. Martin was probably the first comic that made want to do it. Then I was introduced to hip-hop about a year later and that took over until about two years ago. But I never stopped watching all the greats.

You could say I’ve been a student far longer than a comic and all that stage time as an MC has really been nothing but beneficial How do you like the Worcester scene?

Man, everything. When I first started I had only done my showcase at ImprovBoston. I was nervous about starting out on my own and going to mics in Worcester. Still, as soon as I met everyone on the scene, it was all love. Everyone wants to see everyone else succeed. You, Bryan, Staples, Ramirez, Landry... all of y’all were so welcoming those first few mics and everything I do now is a direct effect of the influence everyone on the scene at time provided Does your previous hip-hop experience crossover into your comedy?

It does. As an MC confidence is key.

You have to deliver your lyrics with

passion and convey your personality to strike the desired effect within your audience, all while staying on beat. The biggest difference is finding that rhythm without music, discovering the beat of laughter to ride. The two crafts have many similarities, as a writer it’s been my journey to find those common threads and use them to my advantage You produce a bunch of shows, how have those been?

The shows have had positive reactions from all the comics and people who have attended. My chief goal is to provide weekly stage time for comics around the area, as it is so crucial to continue developing one’s act and driving out to Boston or CT or NYC just aren’t options yet for some of us. So, I decided to pursue creating my own shows to benefit everyone on the scene.

Why should people go and support comedy?

This world is a beautifully chaotic place. Anxiety is real. Depression is real. I know these things first hand.

We get so caught up in the chaos that we forget about the beauty.

There’s absolutely no better way to relieve all of that than laughter. So, if someone lives in a town with people willing to humiliate themselves to entertain others, then they should absolutely go out.

Show support. Laugh at the funny people’s struggles as it will help them deal with their own. Also, if you don’t come out and support, then the funny people go away. Like a sad clown in the sewer with no kids to abduct.

Lou’s production schedule at Beatnik’s: 1st Tuesday, “Get the Riff Out” (Comedians riff on topics to earn more stage time, 2nd Tuesday Open Mic, 3rd Tuesday, “Roast Wars”, (Comedians roast each other and a panel of judges determine a winner) 4th Tuesday “The Dime” (Comedians get to stretch their legs and do 10 minutes of material). He also runs a monthly open mic at The Compass Tavern on the last Thursday of the month.

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

The New Franklin Street

For a long time, I had my doubts about new development on Franklin Street.

I was worried about the lack of density downtown after business hours. How could MG2’s parade of fast casual concepts possibly prove profitable in such close proximity? Launching Brew on the Grid, Craft Table, Stix, Revolution and The Beer Garden in quick succession felt unsustainable. But, it appears I was wrong. We are becoming an 18-hour city. People are sticking around downtown for a drink after work. Last week, I watched street art “superhero” Spidertag victoriously pump his fists from five stories in the air above Allen Court. Spidertag’s interactive neon mural marked a turning point for the passage between Franklin Street and Federal Street. The mural stays illuminated from sundown until 11 p.m. each night, creating a newfound Spanish artist Spidertag sense of safety and walkability for the area. The following evening, installed an interactive neon MG2 unveiled it’s crown jewel, mural in Allan Court. The muThe Beer Garden Pavillion, for a ral will stay illuminated from packed house of “Worcester VIPs.” A steady stream of going-out-tops, sundown until 11 p.m. every endoscopy salesmen, and local po- evening. liticos have occupied the 300-person venue ever since. Franklin Street is not only approachable; it is flush with action. I can’t seem to stay away.

Bridal Boost 350

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The first time I met Joyner Lucas was June 2017 while he was cheering on some local youth at an amateur boxing competition on the Common. Two Grammy nominations later, he still takes pride in calling Worcester his home.

Last week, Lucas released his new video for “Broke and Stupid” in which he sheds light on the city’s homeless population, braves Kelley Square, hypes Maria’s Kitchen, sports a Worcester Red Sox jersey and takes the corner by 100 Front St. in a Lamborghini Gallardo.

I’m going to go ahead and guess that the Chamber of Commerce had no hand in orchestrating this homage to Sarah Connell Worcester, but either way, Lucas’ virality means all eyes contributing writer are on us. Like, share, subscribe.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Prodigal Fun

J U LY 3 - 10, 2019

My wedding on the Worcester Common is just days away and I had no idea how much bodily preparation would be required of me. Yesterday, I let a woman I barely know take a scalpel to my face. See for yourself; a quick google of “wedding beauty regimen” will thrust you into a supernova of hair removal, retinol treatments and green juices. I’ve tried my best to support local practitioners. Take, for example, the aforementioned scalpel wielders at Elizabeth Grady who left my skin looking radiant and devoid of any fine lines. NKD helped me dial in my makeup application. The Headshop Hair Factory brightened up my golden tresses. Elaine Astrella applied fake lashes with painstaking precision. Bedlam Book Cafe provided straight liquified spinach hydration. I even scheduled an impulsive spray tan and teeth whitening package from Blushtan. Will my fiancé even recognize me when I walk down the aisle? I knew I had officially gone off the deep end when I cashed in all of my store credit at Sweet Janes to buy a pair of Yeezy Triple Whites for the walk from the ceremony to the reception. WHO EVEN AM I? I’m not sure my nuptials were what Kanye had in mind when he launched ‘Yeezys for Everyone.’

Either way, I’m feeling tan, smooth, boosted, and very much in love.

culture Quality Control: Fried Chicken SARAH CONNELL

include orders from McDonald’s, Popeyes, KFC, Red Pepper, Pho Sure, erran Adrià, Wylie Dufresne, simjang and deadhorse. There are some obvious holes, but enough variand all the guys who made ance to help me identify a number of ‘innovations’ are not scientists,” Jared Forman tells us, objective factors that contribute to fried chicken excellence. referring to two of the most revered Storage molecular gastronomists of the last Fried chicken is not a one day twenty years. “They didn’t invent operation; serious proprietors recogthose ‘new’ techniques. You know nize that it requires precious real eswho did? McDonald’s.”

He’s right, the technical prowess of tate. “Even though this product feels the culinary discipline draws heavily like it should be the easiest thing on on chemistry, microbiology and even the menu, it’s one of the things we have to pay the most attention to in physics. It’s not restaurateurs like our restaurants,” explains Forman.

Forman, co-owner of deadhorse hill “At deadhorse, we do a week long and simjang, who foot the research buttermilk brine for the thighs and at bills. We can thank the commercial least two or three days for the wings. juggernauts for that.

“I think for a lot of people, McDon- Chicken takes up a lot of space.”

Brine ald’s was probably their first intro“The hallmark of a good fried duction to fried chicken,” adds Jon Demoga, owner of MamaRoux where chicken is a batter that clings to the his buttermilk fried chicken sandwich chicken itself. Allowing it to rest gives the flour and the skin time to routinely commands a deep line on bind and adhere to the meat,” says Friday and Saturday nights.

“Not in the Asian household,” says Demoga. “Skin-on chicken does that better and prevents the breading Kevin La. “Growing up, my parents from sliding off.” would cook fried chicken at home “Instead of having a layer of butand use everything including the termilk on the inside of a crust of bone marrow itself.” La’s extended flour, you have flour that has been family will open Chashu Ramen + Izakaya on Franklin Street in the fall. hydrated,” Forman explains. “Buttermilk is acidic, so you’re adding We have gathered at simjang for another layer of flavor and texture. an analytical sampling of the fried It’s much thicker and more flavorful chicken landscape. Our selections

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“

than hydrating in water.”

La observes that the Pho Sure wings weren’t brined at all. “This is straight up chicken meat,” he points out, adding, “Almost all south Asian people are lactose intolerant, so traditionally, Vietnamese people just use rice flour and go straight to the deep fryer.”

The Fryer At deadhorse, Forman fries his chicken in chicken fat. He uses a fineslotted skimmer to keep burnt flecks of flour out of the oil. Demoga also warns against neglecting residual flour in the fryer. “Especially if you’re shallow frying, it’s easy for excess flour to burn, producing a bitter flavor in your chicken,” he says, holding up a McDonald’s buttermilk crispy tender to emphasize his point.

Breading simjang’s Korean-style fried chicken practically shatters when you bite into it. To create this effect, Forman breads with potato starch, rice flour and a Singoda flour that he buys from the Indian market. “Because of the lower protein content, this batter doesn’t want to cook low and slow,” he explains, “We go straight to the fryer for seven minutes on the first fry and then four minutes on the second fry.”

Feathering According to Demoga, Popeyes offers the best feathering of any commercial fried chicken. Alex Nystedt

Kevin La observes that the biggest discrepancy between Vietnamese fried chicken and southern fried chicken is the absence of a brine.

SARAH CONNELL

of Fried Chix Boston agrees, saying, “We always joke when we test our chicken that we want it to look like the best homemade Popeyes.” He likens the feathering to Corn Flakes made up of “really nice strands of flour, buttermilk and chicken that stick to each other.”

Sauce Demoga has an allegiance to Crystal Hot Sauce. “Fried chicken is really fatty and really greasy, right? So you

want to counter that with acid.” For Demoga, Crystal offers approachable heat and low viscosity. “You can dose a piece of fried chicken in Crystal to wash it down without setting your mouth on fire,” he says.

La prefers a thicker sauce for Vietnamese fried chicken. “We use a traditional fish sauce, nuoc mam, made with thai chili peppers, garlic, sugar, lime and mixed up with a starch base so it coats the chicken and has a good crunch because, again, we don’t brine our fried chicken so the sauce needs to create a sense of balance.”

Commercialization Rob Branca breezes through the dining room halfway through our tasting. He looks amused. Beyond his role as the property owner of simjang’s building, Branca and his extended family own an estimated 1,000 Dunkin Donuts combined.

Forman and Demoga lament the rise of third party delivery, particularly when it comes to fried chicken.

Branca shrugs and says, “If you’re not fulfilling a consumer need, it’s not a business.”

I reach for the last piece of Popeyes. An hour after purchase time, the meat remains moist and tender.

It crackles when I take a bite—somewhere in a Louisiana food lab, a scientist gets their wings.

Quality Control is a new, occasional column featuring local chefs on food.

Check the online version for an accompanying video.

Jack Malik’s Lonely Hearts Club fraud

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W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M J U LY 3 - 10, 2019

JIM KEOGH

ing double digits, and most of those bodies are his pals. Among them is Ellie (Lili James), his manager and ho doesn’t love a good former school chum who believes in “what if ” movie? his talent unconditionally and who What if George Bailey pines for his attention. had never been born?

One night, Jack is riding his bike What if the Russian army invaded and only Patrick Swayze and Charlie home when he’s struck by a bus. As he hurtles through the air, the lights Sheen were left to defend America? go out across the globe due to solar What if Marty McFly were forced to orchestrate his future parents’ first flares, according to news reports.

When he awakens in the hospital, date at the Enchantment Under the Jack is missing two teeth, but he’s Sea dance? also gained something: apparently, What if the world had never heard “The Long and Winding Road,” he’s the only person on the planet “Eleanor Rigby,” “Hey Jude,” “I Want to with any knowledge of The Beatles, who have been cosmically erased Hold Your Hand” or “Yesterday”?

That indeed is the premise of “Yes- from the collective consciousness. terday,” an alternately exuberant and When he sings “Yesterday” for his friends, they express amazement mushy music-comedy from writer with his newfound writing ability Richard Curtis and director Danny and scoff at his insistence the song Boyle, which posits a world where is the creative spawn of four mates The Beatles never existed except in named Paul, John, George and Ringo. the memory of one man. He’s Jack Jack’s Google search for “Beatles” Malik (Himesh Patel), a London yields only entries for “beetles.” singer/songwriter who rarely plays (Coca-Cola, oddly, has also disapcrowds with a body count exceedpeared, making this the undisputed

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Pepsi Generation.)

What would you do? Probably what Jack does. He reconstructs as much of the Beatles discography as he can from memory and begins passing the music off as his own. Audiences initially are unmoved. Then

a spot on a local TV show gets seen by singer Ed Sheeran, who tracks Jack down and proposes he become the opening act on his concert tour (later, after hearing Jack perform “The Long and Winding Road,” a chastened Sheeran describes himself as Salieri to Jack’s Mozart). Soon enough, Jack becomes an international sensation for playing songs that took the world by storm 50 years ago. The fraud gnaws at him.

Not enough, of course, to abandon the fame and fortune, nor his snaky agent, played with blunt gusto by Kate McKinnon.

The level of affection for “Yesterday” depends on one truth: If you think too closely about it, you’ll have a seizure. Yes, the Beatles’ songs are brilliant things, but they were a product of four particular men at a particular moment in cultural history — their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show was the equivalent of a viral video. Simply replicating the act is no guarantee it will ignite a modern public who’s already heard gobs

of Beatles-influenced music in their lifetime. (Though if The Beatles never existed, no one could be influenced by them, which means much of rock ‘n’ roll would sound differently.

Seizure time.)

So Curtis and Boyle go for simple fun. They swing for the fences with a killer premise, get lost along the way in a pedestrian love story, and rebound with a glorious act of redemption at Wembley Stadium.

The creative pair insert a significant character into the final third of the movie, a move you will either regard as a lovely notion or a ridiculous twist – or the ultimate “what if ” moment.

Jim Keogh contributing writer

culture

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

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Justice (b&w) and Jax (pied) are two young male guinea pigs looking for an experienced guinea pig home.

They are not well socialized and will need extra TLC (tasty lettuce and carrots). Justice and Jax will need someone to give them lots of attention. In return you may find that you can teach them tricks like “stand there and stare” or “run in circles around your cage.” They will probably never master “sit,” “stay,” “roll over” or “get back here!” You may find it refreshing that they will not follow you to the bathroom and sit whining outside the door or sticking their paws under trying to pry their way inside to be with you. We suspect that with time and attention, these boys will be wheeking away at you when they know the treats are coming. Up for a challenge?

Justice and Jax are too. Potential adopters can meet them at VCA Abbott’s Animal Hospital by appointment.

Pet Supplies: Dog and cat food (both canned and dry). Purina brand preferred. Please no grainfree; Non-clumping kitty litter; Bedding, comforters, blankets and towels (not pillows & sheets); Kuranda Beds; martingale collars.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon Wish List: Can’t stop in?

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

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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

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calendar Thursday July 4 through Saturday July 6 Cars of Summer Car Show and More!

Green Hill Park Three days of more than 1,000 awesome cars, live music, monster truck rides, food trucks and so much more. Hours: Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $10-$35.

Saturday July 6, 2019 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Coffee Cupping with Acoustic Java

6 Brussels St. (Behind Rotmans Furniture) Acoustic Java Roastery and Tasting Room will have a variety of coffees to sample from light to medium roast. Attendees who purchased tickets will get to take home a one pound bag of coffee for free. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online.

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Saturday July 6, 5 p.m.

Paint Nite: Camping under a galaxy of stars Nu Kitchen, 335 Chandler St. Come enjoy some food and drinks before painting a camping scene under a galaxy at Paint Nite. The event is two hours long and seating is limited, so come early. Tickets are $35. Ages 13+.

Sunday July 7 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Taproom Barre Class

Greater Good Brewing, 55 Millbrook St. Have you always wanted to take a bar class at your favorite brewing company? Look no further. This class is open to all levels and will be followed up with a drink of your choice. The hour long class will be taught by Rachel Antkowiak of Barre Journey.

Tickets are $20. Greater Good Brewing is located at

games J O N E S I N’

“The Secret Ingredient” — time to rack your brain.

by Matt Jones

Across

Down

58 59 62 63

“Aw, shoot!”

Cautionary connector Head boss State tree of Massachusetts Sewer rodent Fill with fury Overtly enthusiastic Made, like cotton candy “Well, golly” ___ forth Kitchen tool for potatoes Chopin practice piece 3-D scans College in New Rochelle, N.Y. Pool props City pollution Suffix for a particle Photographer Goldin

Last week's solution

©2019 Matt Jones (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #943

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1 Gp. that keeps planes from

35 37 39 40 41 44 45 47 50 52 53 54 56 57

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hitting each other 2 The Great Lakes’ ___ Canals 3 “Let me think ...”

4 “The Stranger” author 5 “Can you carry ___?”

6 Present time, poetically 7 Running speed 8 Trendy berry that will probably outlive its popularity thanks to crosswords 9 Fax cover sheet abbr.

10 Oboists need them 11 Like some goals 12 Sultanate on the South China Sea 13 Orioles’ div.

18 “If memory serves,” in text shorthand 21 “___, Mario!” (Nintendo catchphrase) 24 Abbr. on a sunscreen bottle 25 Yes, to Pierre 26 Snopes debunks them 28 Multiple-choice question choices, perhaps 29 ___ gow poker 30 “Chopped” props 33 Prepped 34 Brian who produced several U2 albums

J U LY 3 - 10, 2019

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!

1 American realist art school 7 Former “Tonight Show” host Jack 11 “What Do You Do With ___ in English?” (“Avenue Q” song) 14 BLAT ingredient 15 Entr’___ (play interlude) 16 Carson Daly’s old MTV show 17 Get a message across 19 Day of the week Uranus was discovered (abbr.)

20 Location of Ball State University 22 Future viewer 23 Farm habitats 24 Not worth a ___ (without value) 27 Classic (and, today, problematic) comic strip character Andy 31 Peevish mood 32 Went on an unfriending spree, maybe 36 “Old MacDonald” sounds 38 It’s equal to the sum of the two before it 42 Made up (for) 43 “A Streetcar Named Desire” shout 44 Sea eagles 46 Leaves town 48 Figure on Fox’s “First Responders Live”, e.g.

49 “... and Bingo was his ___” 51 Remove the rind from 55 Durational patterns in music 60 Gallery showing 61 And your secret ingredient is ...

64 “Why would this even happen?!” cry 65 “___ kleine Nachtmusik” 66 “Red Rocks” city of Arizona 67 Stereotypically Canadian interjections 68 Those things, in Tijuana 69 Setting of Hulu’s “Shrill”

classifieds uff Where do I find such cool st and helpful services?

My secret is CLASSIFIEDS! LEGAL Public Auction Notice Notice is hereby given pursuant to the provisions of M.L.C. 225 sec.

39A the following vehicles will be sold July 13, 2019 at a sale to satisfy our garage lien thereon for towing and storage charges and expenses of sale and notice: 2013 Nissan Altima VIN# 1N4AL3AP3DC137470 2010 Ford Fusion VIN# 3FAHP0JA5AR430586 2013 Scion VIN# JTKJF5C70D3059362 2005 Toyota Corolla VIN# 2T1BR32E35C365634 2003 Acura TL VIN# 19UUA56663A039893 The sale will be held at Early’s on Park Ave., Inc., 536 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA 01603

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Sudoku Answers

last call Filia Van Dessel and John Romano Worcester Free Clinic Coalition

F

ilia Van Dessel and John Romano are second-year medical students at UMass Medical School. Van Dessel and Romano serve as co-presidents of Worcester Free Clinic Coalition, managing student volunteers and overseeing six free clinics across Greater Worcester. The Coalition has built a network of volunteers to help provide quality healthcare for members of our community who face barriers to access and also helps uninsured patients find available health insurance options.

What is your primary role as a co-president of Worcester Free Clinic Coalition?

JR: Our role is largely to help the clinics collaborate more effectively and to supply the clinics with staffing in terms of physician volunteers, phlebotomists, medical students, and nurses. We help them work together to treat the patient population of Worcester that’s currently not seeking care in traditional settings.

DYLAN AZARI

Do you have relationships that you have established with primary care physicians who can help?

FVD: Yeah, we work closely with the community health centers and there’s actually a project ongoing in order to improve the referral system from our clinics to the community health centers. So it’s a work in progress, but there’s definitely collaboration and communication between the organizations.

Where do you find the individuals who are volunteering their time here?

FVD: We recently sent out an email to the greater UMass system and got responses from a ton of new physicians and nurses who are interested. There are six clinics now in Worcester. Most of the physicians who have been working here have been here for quite awhile. Each clinic has a medical director. Each of them have their own head physician as well as their physician volunteers who come regularly.

the initial interview and ask them why they’re here. Then we take them back to the physical exam room in the back.

Do your patients need to be documented?

FVD: No. We don’t ask. Anyone who comes in will be seen.

– Sarah Connell

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What does the future hold for the Worcester Free Clinic Coalition?

FVD: We have services that will help patients get insurance or a

PCP at most of the clinics and we’re trying to integrate that into our clinic workflow.

JR: I think a great candidate for our work is a disease like cervical cancer because 99% of cases of cervical cancer are prevented with an HPV vaccine. People who are poor have disproportionately low access to that type of vaccine so they’re disproportionately burdened with that disease. That’s something that we could fix. We need philanthropists to come together and put some money into this. If someone cares deeply about an issue like cervical cancer, we need to see them donate to a cause that could be quite effective based on the cost. We seriously believe that everyone deserves access to healthcare; the existence of the free clinics alone shows that people don’t have access to healthcare and that’s still a need.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Can you share an anecdote to illustrate how the program has been beneficial to the commuI arrived today to find a lovely nity? church auditorium suited for JR: I think a very typical story an assembly or a performance. would be: the patient came in and What would this space look had blood in her urine for about a like on a Tuesday during a free week and there was pain associclinic? ated with it. She simply lacked JR: Well, there’d probably be about insurance and didn’t want to go 80 people sitting in the waiting to an emergency room because area; kids running around, and a it’s expensive. She didn’t want to ton of volunteers. seek out urgent care because it’s FVD: There’s a screen that divides also expensive when you don’t the waiting room from our initial have insurance. Fortunately, she interview space which has a came in to see us and we were able bunch of tables where we bring to do a few quick tests to deterpatients. That’s where a student mine if there was an infection as or a physician or a nurse can do an underlying cause. We sent off

a culture to the labs. She’ll hear back from us in two weeks about the lab culture and come back in.

I think that’s very common that we have patients come in with an acute complaint like that. They don’t feel comfortable going to the emergency room or urgent care and they don’t have a PCP and have nowhere else to go. And you know, it’s a pretty simple diagnosis for us. A urinary tract infection is nothing too crazy; you see them all the time. But, for someone without insurance, it can very quickly turn into a more systemic infection and spread to your kidneys. It can be a sign of a more severe disorder if you have blood in your urine. It could be a sign of renal cell carcinoma, a type of cancer that impacts many individuals.

J U LY 3 - 10, 2019

Can your tell me more about your target population?

JR: Of the patients we see, almost half are uninsured. Of the people who are insured, a large chunk of them struggle to get in to see a primary care provider. Partly because there is a bit of discrimination against patients who are on MassHealth because it doesn’t reimburse as well as private insurance. This creates an overload at some of our community health centers like the Edward M. Kennedy Health Center. They’re so busy because they are willing to see MassHealth patients.The gap that we seek to fill is for uninsured patients facing a healthcare crisis, be it an exacerbation of a long term condition or an acute sick visit. We also help people who are between jobs by providing work physicals as well as school physicals for children. When people

can’t get a primary care provider, we try to help manage their chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

FVD: The overall goal is to hopefully get them into primary care, which is a struggle because of the wait lists.

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