Worcester Magazine August 20 - 26, 2021

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On the cover City Council candidate Etel Haxhiaj rides the bus as part of the #taketheWRTAChallenge.

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Clark’s ‘COVID Posse’ eyes intersection of pandemic and race Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

The pandemic has led to no shortage of strange situations — in-person meetings to zoom, inside dining to curbside, and handshakes to elbow bumps. However, an oceanographer, a sociologist and a morphologist working together to analyze the intersection of COVID-19 infections and race is still an unusual mix.

Nathan Ahlgren, professor of biology at Clark, began collecting data early in the pandemic on COVID infection rates in towns throughout Worcester County.

Sifting through public records, he would collect each town’s case numbers, graph them and put them up on Twitter, with the hope of making the data more readily accessible.

This would seem a perfectly normal academic pursuit, except Ahlgren, an oceanographer by training, previously researched cyanobacteria at Patch Reservoir. Having teamed up with two other Clark colleagues, Professor Rosalie Torres Stone from the department of sociology and fellow biology professor Philip Bergmann, Ahlgren was the data collector of what students have come to call “the COVID posse.”

While interdisciplinary collaboration is not unusual in academia, for those outside the ivory tower, the various departments and fi elds of research are considered fairly separate. However, Ahlgren felt confi dent enough to venture not only into issues of virology and public health, but sociology and racism as well.

Stone, in her wheelhouse, had been studying how certain factors, known as the social determinants of health, played a disproportionately large part in how a community is aff ected by COVID. Specifi cally, she looked at how where someone lives can increase their risk of infection, making her research the perfect match for Ahlgren’s location-based

Associate professor of sociology Rosalie Torres Stone, associate professor of biology Philip Bergmann and associate professor of biology Nathan Ahlgren at Clark University. ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

research.

Ahlgren’s project began when he wanted to see how things were progressing in individual towns and cities.

It was still at that point when a great deal of information was at the state or county level. However, that was too broad because Worcester County is so diverse, encompassing a range of suburban to urban areas. Ahlgren wanted to know what was going on in his city, for instance, “I was curious about why

Worcester has higher rates of infection per capita than Shrewsbury next door.”

His research on cyanobacteria to COVID is actually not so far a jump, Ahlgren explained, as cyanobacterial viruses can aff ect humans. “It was unnatural,” he said, referring to his time at Patch Reservoir. “The color was so bold that it looked like paint chips.” He went on to explain that the common thread may be that “when a scientist, no matter the discipline, sees some phenomena or

something with data, like a pandemic, you’re curious to look at it and see why it’s happening.”

Stone knew that some factors increase COVID rates and the chance of death, like age and any underlying serious health conditions. “However,” she pointed out, “they were accounted for and rates were still disproportionately high.” Then she began to read numerous See POSSE, Page 5

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 5

Posse Continued from Page 4

articles in peer-reviewed journals on the eff ect of structural racism on COVID rates, how even when controlling for socio-economic inequalities, minorities were still inordinately aff ected by the virus.

“Places which are more likely to be racially segregated have certain characteristics that would place the populations living there at risk for COVID and illnesses,” she said. These characteristics are poverty, crowded living conditions, limited access to healthcare, essential worker status, lack of the ability to isolate and work remotely, poor health behavior — lack of exercise, alcohol, drugs, etc.

Bergmann was also interested in working with the numbers from the state and county level in an eff ort to help towns and cities understand what they were dealing with. He is the one who brings the statistical skills to the table in this project. “A lot of my experience is statistical and I use a quantitative approach to studying evolution of traits, so the opportunity to work with data like this is great.”

Bergmann and Ahlgren both responded to an email from Torres asking for collaboration in understanding the racial disparities in COVID-19 cases.

“Nathan has been our data wrangler,” Bergmann said, “he is very profi cient at getting this data from public repositories.

Where I come in is the analysis — once we have the data, what do we do with it, what is it saying, what are the variations?”

Bergmann studies the evolution of body forms in lizards, specifi cally snake-like forms, and why they evolve repeatedly. Using similar statistical approaches, he looked for relationships and associations, rather than cause and eff ect, between health factors, while controlling for other factors like income, living area. “It allowed

Daily case numbers for major towns in Worcester County in comparison to the state total over the past year. NATHAN AHLGREN

me to use skills I had in a diff erent way because statistics generally works to discover relationships between variables one is interested in.”

Ahlgren remembered the point at which the work went from curiosity to a research project. “I connected with Rosalie and Phillip last summer, which was when the research and study started, but I had already started seeing the sharp diff erence between Worcester and surrounding towns probably around April or May 2020.”

While at fi rst Ahlgren made the data accessible by posting graphs on Twitter, “now I try to make weekly updates to the dashboard I built through Flourish, and what started out as something out of curiosity and concern, turned into a sociology project which is very diff erent from what I normally do.”

Bergmann expresses similar sentiments about how it all began. “Started off as a fascinaSee POSSE, Page 6

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Posse Continued from Page 5

tion — a pandemic like this is not something that almost anyone alive today has gone through. We have a wealth of data about it and thinking about how it’s spreading across society is maybe a little morbid but also interesting.” It allowed Bergmann and Ahlgren an opportunity to think about how a crisis like this translates to affecting diff erent people in different ways Stone really focused on the impact of structural racism on COVID cases but to do that she had to narrow down the defi nition since it is so broad, and decide on how to unpack the term and choose a measure that would refl ect what it really means. She landed on a measure that was the best way to assess the eff ects of structural racism — residential segregation.

Racial segregation, which typically means the physical separation of two or more different racial groups, usually leads to residential segregation. Stone explained that it stems from a documented history of structural racism, such as discriminatory housing practices that are traceable back to explicit, local/state government laws, which denied bank loans to Black families and others, channeled racial groups into certain areas, and reduced access to high paying jobs.

Residential segregation, therefore, is a signifi cant predictor of COVID outcomes.

Stone believes that social determinants of health, whether they are downstream (personal health habits, etc.) or upstream factors (housing, healthcare, etc.) are key to understanding the racial disparities in COVID case numbers.

When they were digging into socioeconomic factors, it occurred to the researchers that data from within the city could be equally as important as be-

tween cities, since there is a divide between the east and west side of Worcester, neighborhood wise. The data wasn’t as accessible but the City of Worcester has been updating data on neighborhoods and cases. According to Ahlgren, it does track with demographic diff erences, most usually income and race.

The big question that Torres tries to tackle is, how to address this? “We need to approach health as a social phenomenon and our approaches need to be intersectoral, involving diff erent institutions,” she said.

What does this kind of intersectoral approach look like? It looks like free testing in low resource areas (equity clinics), hazard pay or paid leave if people can’t socially distance, ways to limit crowding in homes or alternative housing, uniform data collection for race/ethnicity, zip code data to fi gure out where hotspots are possible.

All those indicators would be equally helpful to make vaccination campaigns more robust as well, and Torres is presently working with UMass Medical School studying vaccine hesitancy. The aim is to partner with providers to develop an intervention to get vaccines into the arms of more people.

When the vaccines were publicly available, it came time to make a decision on whether to expand the data to include those numbers. Ahlgreen was frank. “Following the cases has sort of distracted me from my actual research, so I was hesitant to expand it but I was talking to faculty about campus vaccination rates over lunch and I said I’d take a look and pull down the data.” His motivation was the same — the local aspect of vaccination is important. After all, he said, “we’re not shopping in other cities, we’re in our own communities, so I want to help people make the assessment of ‘what’s my risk?’”

The data, according to these researchers, indicates that re-

Minority percentage populations of Worcester in comparison to the minority percentage of COVID positive results. The disparities can be seen to be disproportionate in the cases of Hispanic and African American populations. Data from the City of Worcester COVID-19 Equity Taskforce. NATHAN AHLGREN

surgences will likely be along the same patterns as the initial infections — in the communities that are more vulnerable in terms of income, race and education. Situations like the COVID pandemic often have multiple points of impact, striking at various underlying issues and bringing them to the surface, such as racial disparities in healthcare. These are not always given the attention they need until someone takes a new approach to raising awareness.

For that, someone has to potentially step out of their comfort zone and think of a new way to apply their skills, which is what the three researchers from Clark undertook. “It’s been a tremendous collaboration,” said Torres of the collegial partnership, “though I’ve only met them in person once during the pandemic.”

Bergmann explained that “you can read about how COVID is aff ecting other communities more than others but it’s an altogether diff erent understanding when you see it re-

Daily case of COVID-19 in Massachusetts (per 100,000 people) by town and city as of Aug. 8. Posted to Flourish by Professor Nathan Ahlgren of Clark University. NATHAN AHLGREN

fl ected in the data.” He and Ahlgren both felt the same way, that it was a valuable way to give back and contribute to the dissemination of information about these issues.

Even though it was outside of Ahlgren’s fi eld of specialty, he wanted to use his skills of organizing and gathering data from public databases to raise

awareness. He shared that he has biracial children and it is an issue close to his heart.

“In a lot of ways,” he said, “it felt like a way I could contribute to the conversation on race and segregation in our country.

There’s been a lot of discussion about these issues, and I wanted to participate, be an ally and help educate people.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 7

Weeklong Worcester Hot Dog Safari to end with party at Ralph’s Rock Diner Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

As we head into August, it’s that time of year again — the annual Worcester Hot Dog Safari! The end-of-summer tradition kicked off Aug. 13 and will wrap up Aug. 21.

For nine of the last 10 years, residents embarked on a daylong quest with friends and family, armed with scorecards and clad in distinctive T-shirts, to sample the best hot dogs Worcester County has to off er.

The popular late summer event was not daunted by COVID last year; however, to better facilitate social distancing and safety, the event was ex-

panded to one week rather than one day. “We wanted to avoid a bunch of people standing in line together all day,” founder Tom Mahoney explained. Tshirts were made available for pre-order and curbside pick-up rather than fi rst-come, fi rstserved.

Though restrictions are now lifted, all the changes made last year improved the overall experience so organizers decided to keep it a week-long event. “One day got to be pretty overwhelming for participants and businesses,” said Mahoney.

Mahoney begins planning as early as April, and the preparation only grows with the event each year, he says. However, this year for its 10th anniversa-

ry, Mahoney was determined to make it bigger than ever.

“We’re doing an all-star year,” Mahoney explained. Traditionally, the participating locations each year were a curated collection, drawn from a list vetted by Mahoney’s great uncle. The 90-year-old personally scouts establishments throughout the year.

The 2021 Hot Dog Safari, however, features the winning hot dog places from each of the previous years, for a total of 10 locations. Normally, there are about six locations, Mahoney said. In addition to the recommendations of the family patriarch, selections are chosen See SAFARI, Page 8

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A 2020 hot dog safari participant prepares to dig in. Last year's event was extended to one week rather than taking place on one day to better facilitate social distancing. TOM MAHONEY

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The scorecard for the 2021 Worcester Hot Dog Safari. PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

Safari Continued from Page 7

with the aim of mapping out a clear route for participants to follow that changes every year. This year promised to be more scattered, as it includes the winners of various hot dog runs, further contributing to the logistical challenge.

Participants are touring more than just hot dogs as they traverse the area.

“We try to make it a tour of Worcester County,” said Mahoney, “showing off all the things that maybe people don’t know about or can get reacquainted with.”

Last year included a stop-over at Purgatory Chasm among other things. This year, with social distancing less of an issue, Mahoney put together a schedule and program of events as a guide, listing activities organized at diff erent loca-

tions such as frisbee golf at Hot Dog Annie’s in Leicester and even hopefully a WooSox game.

Shirts went on sale Aug. 14 at the kickoff party at Ralph’s Rock Diner on Grove Street. As in previous years, proceeds go to the Worcester County Food Bank.

“We decided a long time ago if we were going to do such a gluttonous thing, it makes sense for money to go towards food,” Mahoney said with a laugh.

Scorecards list all locations along with the fi ve categories on which to rate a hot dog - bun, dog, topping, presentation and value. “It’s a little subjective for each person,” said Mahoney, “but that’s part of the fun.”

On Aug. 21, Ralph’s will also be the site of the wrap-up party, beginning at 4 p.m., with music, food and a dunk tank.

The Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile will also be there. Ready, set, go!

The trophy awarded to the Worcester Hot Dog Safari champion. TOM MAHONEY

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 9

�������� Jon Pousette-Dart COURTESY OF TALISMAN BROLIN

Jon Pousette-Dart Band still making beautiful harmonies Ed Symkus Special to The MetroWest Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK

It’s been four and a half decades since Jon Pousette-Dart caught the attention of Bostonbased music promoter Don Law while playing at the Chicken Box in Nantucket.

Law convinced the native New Yorker to move to Boston, became his manager, and in short order, singer-guitarist Pousette-Dart led a duo, then a trio, then a whole band. During the 1970s, the Pousette-Dart Band released four albums of harmony-fi lled, country-tinged folk-rock, and got plenty of radio play with songs including “Amnesia,” “What Can I Say,” and “Freezing Hot.” They toured relentlessly, and Pousette-Dart continued that practice after the band called it quits in the early-’80s.

He’d still been at it, sometimes

as a solo acoustic act, often dueting with singer-guitarist Jim Chapdelaine, until the pandemic put a stop to live concerts.

But he returns, in band format, to The Center for Arts in Natick on Aug. 27, with Chapdelaine, Eric Parker on drums, and Steve Roues on bass, for an evening of new and old, acoustic and electric music. The next night, Aug. 8, they’re at the Narrows Center in Fall River He credits some of his early tastes in music to his older sister’s fondness for bringing home all sorts of records.

“She used to collect singles,” said Pousette-Dart by phone from his home in New York’s Hudson Valley. “First, she had Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley, then she started getting blues stuff – some John Hammond, Muddy Waters. As soon as I See HARMONIES, Page 24

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CITY VOICES LANDGREN NEW SIGNS OF WORCESTER’S POPULATION GROWTH

FIRST PERSON

Climbing out of the TikTok rabbit hole Joe Fusco Jr. Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

tract the infection. The super infectious Delta variant can even be spread by the vaccinated among us, and the prospect of herd immunity appears to be slip sliding away.

In the week ending Aug. 1, cases in Worcester County increased by 66.2%, higher than the state increase of 58.2% and the highest numbers in the city since May. County statistics show only 56% of residents are vaccinated, with the city having stopped at around 61%.

That’s not enough for herd immunity, people, and it leaves us all vulnerable because remember, what doesn’t kill you, will mutate and try again.

Viruses are always evolving,

It started innocently enough. My 13-year-old grandson Logan was watching a video on his iPhone.

“What’re you watching?”

“Fortnite on TikTok.” “Can you show me how to post on Tic Tac?” “Sure … but it’s TikTok, Papa.”

It started with Dad jokes under 15 seconds: “Why did the girl smear peanut butter on the congested highway?”

“To go with the traffi c jam.”

Nineteen Tokers liked my joke. Nine commented, including my favorite exchange: “What’s that supposed to mean,” asked monkeybusiness51.

“Idk. It’s just an old man,” soph2rad replied.

I was hooked. After looking up Idk, I scrolled through the TikTok content … for hours!

Lots of people lip-synching to popular songs. Lots of snippets of stand-up comics. Lots of bouncing breasts and shaking posteriors. Lots of bad jokes and sight gags. Lots of Tokers pleading “If you are watching, please like me.”

So, I liked everybody. Big Mistake. Soon, I was being followed by 22 people and was following 782 people.

I posted a few original short pieces like: “The End of a Musical Ca-

See STEP, Page 12

See TIKTOK, Page 12

WORCESTERIA

One step forward, two steps back Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

“Slip sliding away Slip sliding away You know the nearer your destination The more you’re slip sliding away” The 1977 song written and recorded by Paul Simon feels all too real right now. Why, you ask? Because the Delta variant fueled COVID surge is threatening to wipe out the gains we have made against the virus in the past year and a half.

Months of lockdowns and three vaccines later, we are still facing a fall of spiking infection rates, masking angst and classroom worries as children con-

Joe Fusco Jr. tells dad jokes on TikTok. SCREEN CAPTURE/TIKTOK

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 11

HARVEY

Week in Facebook prison an absurd outrage Janice Harvey Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

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ble gardens yielded zucchini, and somebody’s kid was fi nally potty-trained. A few family pets crossed the “rainbow bridge.” (Who came up with that? I put Scout down before that became a thing. Is his kitty soul languishing in pet purgatory? Just another thing to ponder.) I breathed a sigh of relief when I was fi nally allowed access to the Book of Faces, and able to post a picture of my mussels in garlic sauce dish.

The Trump Reinstatement Day fl op was a real spirit crusher. His devotees were so sure that the Biden/Harris administration would go poof! magically returning to power the twice-impeached man who once sold steaks and ties. My heart breaks thinking of the true believers who once again had their dreams dashed. I was

sure they would see the notreally-dead JFK Jr. assume the offi ce of vice president, since Mike Pence showed his true colors by not aiding in the overthrow of democracy. What an unholy mess their datebooks and calendars must be! First it was March, then June, then August. The only thing harder to pin down than Trump’s triumphant return is an actual date of remodeling completion from a contractor.

I was certain I was invited to Barack Obama’s 60th birthday bash; so sure, in fact, that I ordered a dress online for the occasion. Perhaps it’s for the best that I was cut last-minute. The dress arrived from Bangladesh the day after his party in a size 3X, which is not the size I checked off when ordering it. I haven’t fi gured out where to

send it, since there was no packing slip, and I ordered it in February, after seeing an ad for beautiful garments on Facebook.

My date was Larry David. He didn’t really want to go, it turns out, so it’s just as well. He probably would have embarrassed me with his crankiness. C’est la vie, old sport.

By the way, that last part about the dress and Larry David isn’t true, but it could be. I don’t have to tell the truth, because Rudy Giuliani said it’s okay to “throw a fake.” He even told the Feds that lying is perfectly acceptable, and if lying is good enough for the guy who used to be the personal attorney for the biggest liar of all, then it’s good enough for me.

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Such a week of disappointments! It isn’t bad enough that my air-conditioning is kaput during some of the hottest dog days on record, but then I was suspended from Facebook. If those twin heartaches weren’t bad enough, that Trump reinstatement thingy went bust, and I’m pretty sure I was on the original Obama birthday guest list that was chopped due to the Delta variant.

The Facebook suspension was a real outrage, since for once I wasn’t “jailed” for content. I just got sick and tired of advertisements aimed at my gender and age — Botox, dentures, Polygrip, weight loss pills, cemetery plots, Poise pads, life insurance and industrial-strength underwear — and I decided to change my birth date. That’s the kind of bright idea I get when seized by insomnia, which is yet another subject that triggers FB ad bombardment.

I dropped my age twice, fi nally thinking it was clever to punch in 2021, forgetting completely that FB members must be at least 13 years of age to take part in the incredibly stimulating arguments posted there.

Two things happened: Facebook informed me that I changed my age one time too many, which meant a possible 30-day suspension until I showed proper identifi cation, and I was banned for being underage, since as a December baby, I wasn’t born yet. Apparently, Facebook exercises fetus discrimination. Rights of the unborn, indeed!

When I was fi nally released from the FB hoosegow, I asked if I missed anything. My friend Angela, as always, made some delicious dinners while I was in the Big House, several vegeta-

12 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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The seven-day average of percent positivity is now up to 2.62%. The pandemic low was .31% on June 25. GETTY IMAGES

Step Continued from Page 10

and if not enough people get vaxxed, that provides a space for the virus to mutate, potentially overcoming any resistance provided by the current vaccine, and in turn, requiring a new one. That puts us back at square one. The rise in cases

TikTok Continued from Page 10

reer” I played the triangle in our high-school band until I started to see three sides to every story.

My followers dropped to 11.

Not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, my followings increased to 1,132.

My obsession intensifi ed. I checked my iPhone for “likes” in public restrooms. I muted Fox News to scroll through new videos. I smoked a pipe while reciting snippets of Rod

for the week ending July 25 was even higher, surging 103% and 101% in the county and state. Worcester hospitals are seeing a rise in hospitalizations from COVID-19, following a nationwide trend. The sevenday average of percent positivity is now up to 2.62%. The pandemic low was .31% on June 25.

Get your shot – you have nothing to lose except some

fantastical idea that Big Brother is watching through a microchip inserted during the jab.

And your smart phones probably give more tracking information and data than a microchip ever could. Walk-in Vaccine Equity Clinics at WPL Main Library, 3 Salem Square, are every Wednesday in August from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Get a vaccine, and the fi ne for your lost books will be waived! (VM)

McKuen poems.

Dancing, singing, bouncing, gyrating 24/7! It had to stop.

Desperate, I contacted my good friend Steve Manseau who was once addicted to MySpace for advice. He suggested I methadone to YouTube, then Instagram, then Twitter, then just writing letters to serial killers in prison.

It’s a sound plan … and as soon as I take off the nipple shirt and purple speedo from my Senior OnlyFans photo shoot, I’m all in!

co Jr. will host a release party for his new book, “Pondering the Pandemic during The Rust Years,” 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Piccolo’s Italian Restaurant, 157 Shrewsbury St., Worcester.

He will also be performing at 4 p.m. Sept. 12 at the WCUW Frontroom, with poet Jenith Charpentier and musician Ron Carlson ($8, all proceeds benefi t WCUW); 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at at Root & Press Bookstore (tickets up to $6, with open mic); and at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 at Annie’s Clark Brunch, with poet and journalist Victor D. Infante (free, with free coff ee and muffi ns). All events sponsored

by D’Errico’s Markets.

Joe Fusco Jr. book release Poet and humorist Joe Fus-

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 13

Etel Haxhiaj the fi rst City Council candidate to take up #taketheWRTAChallenge Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Even now, with the fare currently sitting at a very aff ordable zero dollars until Jan. 1, 2022, the WRTA bus system is often not a viable means for many people to get to work — or anywhere for that matter. In mid-July, local activist and blogger Nicole Apostola put out a challenge that local and elected offi cials take the bus for a week or two, saying it was only fair that those who hold or are running for offi ce to experience public transport in the same way as their constituents. h So far, only one person has responded to the #taketheWRTAChallenge, as it is known on Twitter, by actually taking the bus — Etel Haxhiaj, a candidate for District 5 city councilor. “I wanted to experience the good and the bad and see why it’s important to our community,” she said.

While waiting for and riding the bus, City Council candidate Etel Haxhiaj has spoken with other commuters to discuss the main issues with the bus — what could make it a more attractive choice to get around the city, and why keeping it free doesn’t have to mean sacrifi cing quality of service. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

14 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

“It took me 45 minutes to figure out from the WRTA website how to get the right route, where to connect, and how to plan. I only had two stops: home-work, work-home. I can’t imagine having to add another trip to run an errand.”

See HAXHIAJ, Page 15D

Etel Haxhiaj said in a tweet about her earlier ride on July 28.

CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 15

Boarding a bus to Park Avenue on a weekday morning, the vehicle was surprisingly almost empty, and remained so for the duration of the ride.

CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Haxhiaj Continued from Page 14

Haxhiaj has ridden the WRTA multiple times and on Aug. 9, arrived at the WRTA hub at Union station at 10:30 a.m. for another ride, this time accompanied by this Worcester Magazine reporter.

Right at the start, the service was far from user-friendly. The machine tracking buses and displaying the schedule has not been working for weeks, due to a massive crash during an update, according to a WRTA worker.

This leaves the schedule pamphlets and website as the only way to track buses or check the schedule. Pamphlets are only available behind the informa-

tion desk, and when Haxhiaj asks where the schedule can be found online, she’s met with multi-step directions for reaching a specifi c section of the WRTA website — fi nd this dropdown menu, click on this upper right box, etc. If the directions were diffi cult to follow when the hub is nearly empty, hearing them on a busy morning must be near impossible. A text tracking tool does exist and

would no doubt be extremely helpful, but has also been on the fritz as it relies on the same tracker as the screens.

“It took me 45 minutes to fi gure out from the WRTA website how to get the right route, where to connect, and how to plan,” Haxhiaj said in a tweet about her earlier ride on July 28. “I only had See HAXHIAJ, Page 16

16 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

A scene from the WRTA bus tour with Etel Haxhiaj on Aug. 9. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Haxhiaj Continued from Page 15

two stops: home-work, work-home. I can’t imagine having to add another trip to run an errand.”

Boarding a bus to Park Avenue on a

weekday morning, the vehicle is surprisingly almost empty, and remains so for the duration of the ride. Haxhiaj is not surprised at the lack of ridership, as it shows that most residents will take any available alternative. “We’ve got to have a good reliable system for people to use it,” she said.

While waiting for and riding the bus,

Haxhiaj has spoken with other commuters to discuss the main issues with the bus — what could make it a more attractive choice to get around the city, and why she believes? keeping it free doesn’t have to mean sacrifi cing quality of service.

Running only every hour, as it does, creates various constraints, potentially

making a 15-minute journey by car over an hour by bus. The wait time is compounded by the lack of shelter at bus stops. Exposed to elements, riders often miss the bus in bad weather when trying to stay out of the rain or snow, Haxhiaj said. Since the buses are not stagSee HAXHIAJ, Page 17

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 17

Haxhiaj Continued from Page 16

gered in their routes and schedules, missing one often means missing the next two.

At the time of writing, the only City Council member to comment on the challenge was District 1 Councilor Sean M. Rose, who voiced support for the Zero Fare initiative in an email, saying, “I think we need to do everything we can to keep it free.” Rose recalled that growing up, his family didn’t always have a car, “so the bus was our livelihood.” He intends to take the challenge “at some point.”

No other City Council members immediately responded to emailed requests for comment.

“Many of the people who take the bus are new to town and don’t have a penny in their pockets, so the buses are the only ways to get to jobs, social services, etc,” said Adam Thielker, a member of the Zero Fare Coalition and co-chair of the Transit Advisory Committee. He is also a resident of District 5 and rides the WRTA regularly. The only people who use it are those who have no other option. And those same people are ones who, Theilker describes, often carry the least sway with the city government to call for improvements.

Thielker echoed many of the complaints Haxhiaj heard.

“What most people complain about is the buses don’t show up often enough and when they do they’re not on time,” he said.

A key point in increasing ridership could be as simple as making sure buses leave on time, he said. “I don’t know what standards bus drivers are held to by WRTA, but they’re certainly loosely enforced,” said Thielker.

The Zero Fare concept has been gaining traction but must fi ght both political and social hurdles. Many elected offi cials are wary of championing it because anything provided by the

city at no cost always leads to talk of higher taxes. Haxhiaj, however, said that if the conversation is allowed to be had, people would learn that there are multiple ways to fund it beyond tax dollars. It would be a mix of public, federal and private funds, she said. Worcester received multiple federal grants during the pandemic, money that would be well spent on the WRTA. Private businesses and foundations would also support it, she said, as they have a stake in employees having access to reliable public transit.

“It’s a workforce development no-brainer,” she said.

The city could also leverage other potential sources of income that it may have largely ignored, Thielker suggested, such as curb-side parking.

Curb space is the “most valuable asset the city has,” he said, but is under utilized with the low cost in parking meters or simply having none at all.

Without this, he said, there’s no mechanism for getting commuters to pay for coming into the city and missing out on money that could do a lot of good for Worcester infrastructure.

Technically, the WRTA is not the city’s bus company, but the state’s, taking care of the entire southern half of Worcester County. So it’s something that the city is happy to let the WRTA board deal with on its own, said Thielker. But while buses and drivers aren’t directly under city control, the City Council can still bring pressure to bear for improvements.

“We’re claiming we’re a walkable city and that we want to combat climate change,” said Haxhiaj, “and all these are interconnected.” In order to attract young professionals from other urban hubs like Boston, a reliable and free public transit system is essential, she continued, and the two are not mutually exclusive.

“It’s wrong to say you can have either zero fare or quality.”

A view of Worcester from the WRTA. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

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18 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CITY LIVING TABLE HOPPIN’

Bar One and sushi making a splash Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Telegram & Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK

Bar One and sushi opened last month at West Side Plaza in Auburn, off ering sashimi, nigiri and sushi, while still serving traditional Chinese dishes and specials.

The restaurant is in good hands with fi rst-time owners Randy Cheah, Chad Wang and Joe Zheng, friends for more than 15 years who fi rst met when they were employed at Yong Shing Restaurant in Auburn. Cheah of Auburn worked at the restaurant almost 31 years. Zheng of Shrewsbury left the restaurant to become sushi chef at Empire Wok in Webster, while Cheah and Wang of Auburn remained at Yong Shing.

The men signed the lease for restaurant space in the plaza at 850 Southbridge St. in September 2019. Their decision to have their own place was based not only on a passion for the business, they said, but also the fact that Yong Shing’s owner reportedly wanted to sell.

Cheah said COVID-19 shut down Bar One’s construction over and over again. “When we hired an architect to design the space and contractors came in we thought we were on our way,” he said. “Who could have predicted a pandemic? We never expected the project to take as long as it did. Sometimes we asked ourselves, ‘Are we going to go bankrupt before this all ends.’ Thankfully, we didn’t.

We all agree it was worth the long wait. We’re very happy.”

The owners are in the res-

Joe Zheng, Randy Cheah and Chad Wang are the owners of Bar One and sushi, which recently opened in Auburn.

CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

taurant daily, before it opens and after it closes. “We don’t plan on having a day off any time soon,” said Wang, who oversees the kitchen. Zheng is sushi chef and Cheah, bartend-

er. The men joked about how they haven’t slept at the restaurant as of yet, and their families sometime come to the restaurant to see them. They are all married with children.

“We had to close the restaurant once when we fi rst opened and ran out of some ingredients,” said Wang. “We got product in as quickly as we could and reopened the next day.

We’ve been here every day since.”

Bar One and sushi operates from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. MonSee HOPPIN’, Page 20

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 19

NEXT DRAFT

Double Down Brewing Co. to open at Peppercorn’s in Worcester Matthew Tota Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

WORCESTER – Once the smell of mashed grain and boiling wort supplanted the sweet aroma of ice cream in the back of Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern, there was no looking back.

In a decade, two breweries have made their mark inside the tiny backroom, briefl y home to the restaurant’s ice cream shop.

Wormtown Brewery, there from 2010 to 2015, established itself as one the state’s fastestgrowing brewers before leaving for Shrewsbury Street. Flying Dreams Brewing Co. arrived next and began racking up industry awards. It needed more space to serve guests, moving to a taproom in Marlboro.

When Flying Dreams left last fall — and with the uncertainty of the pandemic — I worried it marked the end of Peppercorn’s long run as Worcester’s brewery incubator. Thankfully, I was wrong.

Next month, the city’s newest brewery will open in the fabled Park Avenue brewing space, helmed by two people who know the industry well.

Christian McMahan, former president of Wachusett Brewing Co., and Tom Oliveri, owner of Peppercorn’s and co-founder of Wormtown, teamed up to create Double Down Brewing Co. — a nod to their doubling down on a 20-year friendship.

They hope to open at 455 Park Ave. sometime mid-September.

McMahan, who spent three and a half years at Wachusett before leaving in November, envisions Double Down as a direct-to-consumer brewery,

The Double Down Brewing Co. team includes, from left, co-founder Christian McMahan, brewer Brian Wells and co-founder Tom Oliveri. The new brewery, located in space at Peppercorn’s last occupied by Flying Dreams, is set to open in September.

CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

meaning it will likely never distribute its brews; you can only buy the beer at its brewery, which he hopes will join the ranks of Central Massachusetts’ other stellar destination breweries.

“There are some destination breweries around, but no one has really done that in an urban environment,” he said.

Also appealing to McMahan, taproom breweries usually don’t worry about shelling the

extra penny for ingredients on a new beer that may not sell in distribution.

“In some ways, direct to consumer frees us from limitations. We can do anything with ingredients and absorb the cost

because we’re not looking to hit a price point on the shelves,” McMahan said. “We just want to make a great beer. That’s pretty freeing.”

See DRAFT, Page 22

20 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Hoppin’ Continued from Page 18

day through Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Takeout is available. It off ers fi ve TVS, Keno and an ATM. Telephone (774) 321-6075 or (774) 321-6076. Connect on Facebook. The plaza has parking in front and back of the restaurant.

Casual dining space accommodates 75 at tables and hightops. The sushi chef prepares his specialties at the 16- seat bar.

On the menu: Chefs’ special rolls, vegetable rolls, sushi entrees, appetizers (for sushi bar), salad (fi ve choices), entrees, Japanese lunch special (served until 3 p.m., except on Sunday and holidays), Sushi Party Trays, etc.

Chinese cuisine includes appetizers, mini platters, soups, fried rice, covered rice, lo mein, chow mein, poultry, beef, seafood and vegetarian dishes, luncheon special (Monday through Friday until 3 p.m.) and “Chef ’s Suggestions.”

Bar One Roll already is a favorite of the chef ’s 24 “special rolls,” according to owners.

Zheng pointed to Green Giant Roll, King Cobra Roll, 2015 Roll, Lobster Lover Roll and Yama Roll as some of his and guests’ other favorites. The specialties range from $11.95 to $15.95.

Mai Tai is so far the most popular drink at the restaurant, according to Cheah, who said the bar is a busy spot where people reacquaint with old friends and meet new ones.

The owners have made longtime friendships through work in the food industry, he said, and many of their friends stop by.

Restaurants have fought to survive the pandemic and Bar One’s owners hope the Delta variant doesn’t mean closings again. They have fi lled jobs and consider themselves fortunate to have enough labor (kitchen and waitstaff ) to support the

Participating in the 2021 Taste of Shrewsbury Street are Alex Mazin, founder and CEO of Bud’s Goods and Provisions, which is a sponsor; Jamie Chapman, hospitality manager at Wormtown Brewery; and Rony Zoghby, owner of Beirut Bite.

RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

business.

Two years in the making of their fi rst business, the owners said their initial plan was to one day open a Bar Two. For now, the personable trio is grateful to have had a successful launch of Bar One.

Taste of Shrewsbury Street returns Food tastings and live music highlight the return of Taste of Shrewsbury Street “post-COVID-19.” Billed as one of the Worcester’s biggest food events, Taste will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 along the city’s Restaurant Row. Cost is $25 per person, with admission buttons sold at participating restaurants and at tasteshrewsburystreet.com.

Proceeds benefi t the beautifi -

cation of the street and local charities supported by the Shrewsbury Street Area Merchants Association.

John Piccolo, president of the Shrewsbury Street Area Merchants Association, calls Taste an important event in the city, explaining the need “to get back to normal and start having fun again.”

Piccolo emphasized that extra COVID protocols will be in place in order for everyone to enjoy a safe event.

Presenting sponsor is Bud’s Goods & Provisions, a cannabis dispensary located on West Boylston Street in Worcester.

Founder and CEO Alex Mazin said he wanted to be involved because “Taste is an awesome event in the city of Worcester.

It’s fun, it brings the community together, and we really want-

ed to be part of that. I’m proud to have Bud’s Goods sponsor Taste of Shrewsbury Street.”

Event participants: Terra Brasilis Restaurant; Little Caesar’s Pizza; Salgabom Snacks; Woo Bar & Grill; Vintage Grille; Redemption Rock Brewing Co.; Funky Murphys; Basil n’ Spice; Flying Rhino Café; Meraki Café; Kenichi Asian Bistro; 4th and 1 Club (Muskeego Street, off Shrewsbury Street); All Systems Go (Esports Bar); Mexicali Cantina Grill; La Scala Restaurant; Subway; Meze Estiatorio; Beirut Bite; Valentinos; Parkway Restaurant; Piccolo’s Restaurant; Boulevard Diner; Pampas; Miranda Bread; Nuovo Restaurant; Volturno; Wormtown Brewery; Victory Bar & Cigar; The Pint; Leo’s Ristorante; Ralph’s Tavern; Wonder Bar; 111 Chop House; VIA Italian Table.

Additional sponsors include Atlas Distributing; Discover Central Massachusetts; Pepsi; Fidelity Bank; DCU Credit Union; Deep Eddy Vodka; Worcester City Councilor Candy Mero- Carlson.

Julio’s expansion planned Ryan Maloney, owner of Julio’s Liquors in Westboro, has plans to take over the space that Starbucks occupied next door to his business before relocating to the new Burger King building on Route 9.

Maloney said the “expansion” project will begin later this year.

Big plans, stay tuned!

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

Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 21

CONNELL SANDERS

The ghost of Mary Oliver is haunting me Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

For a long time, the wallpaper on my phone was an epigraph by Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Every time I went to scroll mindlessly through my social media feed, it was like Mother Nature staring me in the face.

I read a lot of Oliver for my American Nature Writing class at Boston College, preferring her voice to the likes of Emerson and Thoreau. You can keep the condescending prose of an avoidant twenty-something-woodsman, thank you very much. I’ll take a stroll through Provincetown with Oliver any day.

She may have preferred solitary nature walks in life, but in death she seems to follow me everywhere.

My husband gave a reading at his sister’s wedding on the Cape last week, and there she was again: “Slowing down for happiness, making all the right turns, right down the thumping barriers to the sea, the swirling waves, the narrow streets, the houses, the past, the future, the doorway that belongs to you and me.” He delivered this bit of Oliver’s poetry so beautifully that another guest sought him out during dinner to ask what it meant to him. He told me later he had fumbled like a boy who skipped his homework, caught off guard. I wondered if his loss for words was on account of the deep femininity woven into Oliver’s observations of the natural world and woman’s intense communion with the earth.

A few days later, we boarded a ferry to Long Point Lighthouse, the most remote light house on the National Seashore.

The captain let my cousins steer our ship. The youngest one was timid at fi rst. We whooped and cheered until she fi nally took the wheel. Oliver’s words rang in my ears, “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate.

Give into it … Joy is not made to be a crumb.” Tangly blonde strands whipped in the wind and the ocean glittered under her gaze.

I had been trying to book a reservation at my favorite Cape Cod restaurant, Ceraldi, every day since our arrival. On a whim, we decided to drive down to the

Long Point Lighthouse is the most remote light house on the National Seashore. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Wellfl eet pier after our day on Long Point. We stopped at Ceraldi for one last attempt. The server kindly informed us they were booked out through September. We thanked her anyway and turned to leave when a head popped out from the kitchen. Chef Michael Ceraldi asked, “Unless, you want to eat right now.” We nodded emphatically and slipped inside. Joy is not a crumb, it is a meal at Ceraldi.

He sat us down at the end of the bar.

A thunderstorm had passed and the bar’s former occupants elected to sit outside. At my place was a small piece of card stock with a picture of a goddess and a question I recognized: “Tell me,

what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I think Mary Oliver might have liked to eat at Ceraldi, cherishing her Lucky Lips oysters and a chilly bowl of musk melon soup with her life partner, photographer Molly Malone Cook.

The courses arrived with descriptions that could double as poetry. “Risotto al vino Rosso, beau’s black garlic, garden sage, Chequessett chocolate nibs, tops fi eld tuff et.” We sipped glasses of Sancerre rose, green juice, mushroom tea, and lavender chamomile. Vanilla panda cotta with fresh fi gs made my eyes grow enormous and complicated like one of Oliver’s grasshoppers. I

snapped my wings open and fl oated away.

We decided to extend our stay with a few days in the woods. Our tent is in the same forest Oliver so famously wandered each day. The story goes that she once went out without a writing utensil and from that point forward, she hid pencils in the Pinewoods. I will spend my last day here looking for them and repeating Oliver’s words to myself, “To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.”

22 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Draft Continued from Page 19

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Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org/juliuscaesar Worcester Center for Performing Arts, a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Renovations are underway inside Double Down’s 10-barrel brewhouse and retail shop.

Oliveri raised the ceiling and built a long counter; those changes, along with a new coat of paint, have made the formerly dark, claustrophobic space look brighter and more spacious.

Peppercorn’s barroom will serve as Double Down’s taproom. Oliveri plans to redesign the room to match the rustic industrial aesthetic planned in the brewhouse and retail shop.

And he’ll knockout the window and door dividing the bar from the brewery, making it feel as though Double Down has one large space to itself.

Sitting in Double Down’s beer garden outside Peppercorn’s on a recent weekday, Oliveri called the brewery a “passion project.” “We want to put out really good beer and get people here, then see what happens,” he said.

Double Down is the culmination of McMahan and Oliveri’s two-decade friendship, which began when McMahan was a sales rep for Boston Beer Co. They lost touch for a while after, but reconnected when Oliveri brought in McMahan’s creative agency to work on the early branding for Wormtown.

“When the opportunity in the space opened up and he was aware of my leaving Wachusett, we got together and said, ‘It’s time to do it again,’” McMahan said of opening a brewery with his longtime friend and collaborator. “He’s already done it once.”

McMahan and Oliveri have hired Brian Wells, a brewer at Left Hand Brewing Co. in Colorado for fi ve years, as Double Down’s head brewer. Wells, a Maynard native, moved back to Massachusetts in 2019 and spent 2020 as a stay-at-home dad, searching for the right job to get back into a brewhouse.

Now, he’ll run one.

“I like that we’re not really trying to push distribution ... The way I like to think about a new brewery is to let the beer grow organically. You don’t want to push it, then end up stretching yourself too thin, with your beer getting old on a shelf somewhere.”

Brian Wells

“I like that we’re not really trying to push distribution,” he said. “The way I like to think about a new brewery is to let the beer grow organically. You don’t want to push it, then end up stretching yourself too thin, with your beer getting old on a shelf somewhere.”

Double Down will debut with four beers, available on tap and in crowlers and growlers to go: “White Rabbit,” a hazy pale ale, “Atomic Man,” a double IPA, “Dark Epiphany,” an imperial stout, and “Subconscious Haze,” a New England IPA. The latter’s name was inspired by Sigmund Freud’s visit to Clark University in the late 1800s, where he gave fi ve lectures and received an honorary degree.

Double Down becomes Worcester’s sixth brewery (seventh if you count Wachusett’s Worcester Public Market Brew Yard). There’s a lot of pressure in that designation, in having to match the level of excellence of the fi ve other breweries around it. McMahan more than understands this: It’s part of why he picked Worcester to open a brewery.

“We’re going to be a part of continuing to make Worcester a great beer scene,” he said.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 23

NEW ON DVD

From left, Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Samuel L. Jackson are having a bad day (one in a series of them) in “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.” DAVID APPLEBY

A new mission in ‘Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’ The sequel to a raunchy buddy action comedy that turns the attention from the hitman’s bodyguard to his wife tops the DVD releases for the week of Aug. 17.

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”: Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson are back as bodyguard Michael Bryce and assassin Darius Kincaid, this time tasked with protecting Darius’ wife, played with great aplomb by Salma Hayek.

“What overly complicated international incident have they gotten themselves into this time? It involves Antonio Banderas as a fl amboyant Greek shipping magnate/terrorist, Aristotle Papadopolous, who is procuring diamond tipped drills on the black market in order to access the data junction boxes that control all of Europe,” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review.

As is often the case with sequels, the fi lmmakers “take a ‘more is more’ approach,” Walsh writes. “More explosions, more gun battles, more boob jokes, more daddy issues, more reckless rampaging around Europe.”

ALSO NEW ON DVD AUG. 17 “The Water Man”: A boy sets out to save his ailing mother by searching for the Water Man, a mythical fi gure who possesses the secret to immortality, said to reside in a remote forest.

“A Discovery of Witches, Season 2”: British fantasy series about the adventures of an Oxford historian and witch.

“NCIS: The Eighteenth Season”: The hit CBS procedural continues with more cases involving the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s Washington, D.C., Major Case Response Team.

“Riders of Justice”: Danish fi lm starring Mads Mikkelsen as a recently de-

ployed soldier who returns home to care for his daughter after his wife dies tragically, only to discover her death wasn’t actually an accident.

“Rogue Hostage”: Tyrese Gibson plays a former Marine who becomes involved in a hostage situation while visiting his stepfather’s general store. Also starring John Malkovich.

“The Rebels of PT-218”: A torpedo boat battles German forces on the Atlantic in this World War II action fi lm starring Eric Roberts, William Baldwin and Danny Trejo.

“The Truffl e Hunters”: Documentary following the men who hunt for the rare white Alba truffl e, a much sought after mushroom found in the forests of Piedmont, Italy.

“Shook”: A social media star becomes the target of an online horror campaign and has to solve a series of

games to keep her loved ones safe from harm.

“Stay Out of the Attic”: A group of movers, all former convicts, are convinced by their boss to work an all-night shift. As the night unfolds, however, they discover the horrors inside his creepy old mansion.

OUT ON DIGITAL HD AUG. 17 “After the End”: Those still alive battle for survival following a deadly pandemic that leaves the world in ruins.

“Fast Vengeance”: A man’s brother is murdered in this tale of revenge, leading him to enter the world of underground motorcycle racing in search of those responsible.

“The Land of the Owls”: Two Brooklyn couples head to an upstate retreat in the Catskill Mountains to work on their relationship issues.

24 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Harmonies Continued from Page 9

started hearing that, and learning to play guitar by listening to it, the world kind of opened up for me.”

He remembers watching the Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

“I think for everybody of my generation, a bell went off when they hit with ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’,” he said. “And when Jimi Hendrix started the Experience, that was another wake-up moment; we realized that he was light years ahead of the rest of us. I ended up falling in love with the whole melting pot of music where rhythm and blues meets rock ’n’ roll meets folk.”

At the start of his performing career, and throughout the life of the band, Pousette-Dart was doing most of the songwriting

himself, and the Capitol albums were recorded in Nashville, a place where he felt comfortable being around so many music people, and where he eventually began collaborating on songs.

“In the early-’90s the Asylum label asked me to come down there,” he said. “So, I went and did a whole bunch of writing for them. But we didn’t do a deal, and I kept all the songs, then put them out myself. But through that I met a tremendous number of really talented writers. I’ve written there with Darrell Scott, Gary Nicholson, Fred Knobloch, a whole slew of people. But I haven’t been able to get down there much recently, so I’ve come back to writing on my own.”

Though he hasn’t made an album since “Talk” in 2015, the writing continues. But with so many changes in the way music makes its way into the market

Jon Pousette-Dart COURTESY

these days, he’s more interested in putting out singles as opposed to albums.

“During the pandemic break, I’ve released three or four songs and videos,” he said.

“A recent one was ‘Bound Away.’ ”

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WM-0000474087-01

The Pousette-Dart plays at TCAN Aug. 27 and the Narrows Center in Fall River on Aug. 28. COURTESY/JON POUSETTE-DART

It’s wry and insightful song about what it’s like to constantly be on tour, as the band was throughout the ’70s. But it’s not one of his own; it’s a cover of a song by the multi-genre (but mostly rock) band Cake.

“John Troy, my original bass player, sent it to me,” recalled Pousette-Dart. “He said, ‘PD, this was us on the road in the ’70s. You should do this song.’

So, we did, and it was like paying homage to exactly what our lives were back then. It’s sort of a stream of consciousness about the road, where you’re going from one place to another and you don’t even know where you are. It’s an observation of the life of a musician.”

There’s also a batch of his own songs, many of them not quite completed.

“The more you are a writer, the more critical you get of what you do and what you don’t do,” he explained. “I’m pretty critical of just throwing stuff out there until it really meets the measure. There are some, but I’m pretty particular about what I want to do and say because of the nature of where we are in today’s world.”

For the TCAN show, the band will be playing some deep cuts as well some old standby favorites.

“We’ll be going all the way down the line,” he said. “The show will have pieces from almost all of the early albums,

The Pousette-Dart Band WHEN: 8 p.m. Aug. 27 WHERE: The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St. TICKETS: $30 member, $35 nonmembers. Tickets from the postponed June 4 show will be honored.

INFO: 508-647-0097; natickarts.org ................................................

WHEN: 8 p.m. Aug. 28 WHERE: Narrows Center for the Arts, 18 Anawan St., Fall River TICKETS: $31 advance, $35 day of INFO: 508-324-1926; narrowscenter.org

then we go into the newer music. It spans a pretty wide swath all the way through, and we defi nitely pay homage to the songs people are familiar with from that period.”

Of course, there will also be those harmonies.

“Jim and Steve sing,” he said.

“It’s not the same blend we had when Troy was with us. We have great harmonies now but it’s just a diff erent fl avor than the original band.”

Ed Symkus can be reached at esymkus@rcn.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 25

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5 THINGS TO DO Ed Tyler, artistic director of the Master Singers of Worcester, will lead the sing-along at Salem Covenant Church. CHRISTINE HOCHKEPPEL/T&G FILE

‘PRINCESS BRIDE,’ MESSIAH SING-ALONG AND MORE ...

Richard Duckett and Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Messiah sing-along with Master Singers Theologically, the most appropriate time to sing Handel’s Messiah is probably Easter. Traditionally in Worcester, it is often sung during the holidays. Musically, any time is wonderful for the glorious solos and choruses. The Master Singers of Worcester will have its 7th annual Summer Sing-Along with “Highlights from Handel’s Messiah” Aug. 25 at Salem Covenant Church in Worcester. Everyone is welcome to sing or listen. Edward Tyler is artistic director and Mark Bartlett the accompanist. Bring your own score or borrow one from MSW. The schedule is: doors, 6 p.m.; rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.; and ice cream, 8 p.m. (RD) What: Master Singers of Worcester 7th annual Summer Sing-Along — “Highlights from Handel’s Messiah” When: Doors, 6 p.m. Aug. 25 Where: Salem Covenant Church, 215 East Mountain St., Worcester How much: $10 cash or check at the door. www.mswma.org.

On Aug. 26 enjoy a night under the stars with a free outdoor movie as Movies on the Lot returns to the Francis J. McGrath lot on Salem Street in Worcester. It will be just “As You Wish” for fans of “The Princess Bride,” which will be screened at 8 p.m. The lot will open at 7 p.m. The 1987 fantasy adventure comedy follows the extensive trials and tribulations of Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and farm boy Westley (Cary Elwes) as they seek to live happily ever after together.

Famous phrases include “Inconceivable” and “As You Wish.”

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Registration is required. (RD) What: Movies On The Lot: “The Princess Bride” (rated PG) When: Lot opens 7 p.m.; screening 8 p.m. Aug. 26 Where: Francis J. McGrath Lot, Salem Street, Worcester How much: Free. Register at eventbrite.com/e/movies-onthe-lot-the-princess-bride-tickets-160616649723

“Princess Bride” PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

‘Princess Bride’ under the stars

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 27

Cinemaworcester presents ‘Ailey’

Family Bat Walk at Willard House and Clock Museum WILLARD HOUSE AND CLOCK MUSEUM

Catching up with bats Mass. Audubon, in partnership with the Willard House and Clock Museum, will be taking visitors on an after-hours tour of the museum grounds to meet some of the on-site residents, who might be a little … batty. The Family Bat Walk, led by experts from Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center, will guide visitors as they learn how bats use echolocation to navigate and find food. Downloading a special bat detector app on an iPhone or iPad will even let them record these unique soundwaves and identify the bat species. Massachusetts is home to nine different bat species, and Willard House is home specifically to the Easter Red, Hoary and Little Brown Bat. Mosquito repellent is strongly advised. (VM)

What: “Ailey,” presented by cinema-worcester When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20.

Where: Park View Room, 230 Park Ave., Worcester How much: $10; students and seniors $8.50. www.eventbrite.com/e/ailey-tickets-165647049785

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Yacht Rock Revue on Webster Lake The Yacht Rock Revue, formed in 2007, steered into uncharted waters when it released its first album of original music, “Hot Dads in Tight Jeans,” in 2020. The group has fun, but takes its musicmaking seriously as it sails into a world of soft rock hits from the 1970s and ‘80s such as “Sailing” by Christopher Cross, “She’s Gone,” by Daryl Hall and John Oates, and Rupert Holmes’ “Escape.” (RD)

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Where: Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster How much: $17-$54.50. www.indianranch.com

What: Family Bat Walk When: 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 27 Where: Willard House and Clock Museum, 11 Willard Street, North Grafton How much: $6 per family group

“Ailey” pays tribute to the brilliant and enigmatic dance pioneer Alvin Ailey, founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Director Jamila Wignot has been praised for her visually poetic documentary that uses Ailey’s own words, archival footage, and interviews with some of those who knew him. Ailey’s enduring choreography centers on the Black American experience with “Ailey” PROMOTIONAL PHOTO grace, strength, and unparalleled beauty. “Ailey” is presented by cinema-worcester. (RD)

28 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Sparkles 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.

Named after her sparkling personality, Sparkles is ready for her next big adventure, a loving home! She is a kind and loving girl who would do well in a family. She likes stuff ed animals and happily holds them in her mouth to show them off to her friends. Sparkles has met dogs here at the shelter and was a bit standoffi sh. She doesn’t mind being near other dogs and saying hello, but seems to enjoy having her space. We are unsure if she likes cats. She is a bit nervous being in the shelter and doesn’t like being left alone. She would rather her adopters be home more often than not so that she doesn’t have to anxiously wait for them to get home. She has also been able to climb out of her kennel here, so she will need to be supervised in fenced areas. Sparkles will need a strong owner as she pulls on walks. This is something she has been working on with the help of her shelter friends and a harness. She knows how to sit and give a paw for treats and is excited about learning more with her new family. If you would like more information about Sparkles or you would like to make an appointment to meet her, please contact the shelter.

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

• ADOPTIONS: At this time, adoptions are being held BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you are interested in adoption, please visit our website worcesterarl.org/ adopt/ to learn more about our available animals then call us at (508)

Sparkles is available for adoption at WARL. SUBMITTED PHOTO

853-0030 ext.0 or email us at info@worcesterarl. org to schedule an appointment.

• CASUAL VISITS TO THE SHELTER are prohibited. We will strictly enforce this in order to keep our animal care team protected while still maintaining the most essential function of our operation ... fi nding homes for animals in need.

• ANIMAL SURRENDERS: Our business practice for surrendering a pet remains the same. All pet owners must contact WARL in advance of surrendering a pet. Please call (508) 853-0030.

• SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS: All scheduled appointments will be hon-

ored. If you have a scheduled appointment, we will be contacting you to discuss changes to our drop off /pick up procedures.

• DONATIONS ACCEPTED except for open bags of food.

• Pet food, cat litter, and other shelter supplies will be essential in continuing to provide for our animals and to assist community members in need. To avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, items can be purchased online from our Amazon Wishlist — https:// www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3AX342JIL73M0 • Weekly training classes are going on for adopters.

• The WARL Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. We have many animals in our care who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The above measures help to protect our staff and community from the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-to-face interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow our Facebook page for additional updates.

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

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 29

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Technical Business Development Manager Position available in Worcester, MA. Lead strategic planning and business development projects involving scientific innovation, particularly in the area of Technical Business Development advanced therapeutics.

Coordinate with Manager Position available in partnerships Worcester, MA. internal stake-holders; forge and Lead strategic planning and business and alliances with companies, foundations development projectsact involving scientific clinical organizations; as liaison to other innovation,departments particularly intothe area of institutional plan strategic advancedinitiatives. therapeutics.

Coordinate Apply: Email with internal stake-holders; forge partnerships and jobsUMMS@umassmed.edu. Please reference alliances companies, job with ID: MB0444.

The foundations University ofand clinical organizations;Medical act as liaison Massachusetts Schoolto is other an institutional departments to plan strategic Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Apply: Email of minority Employer.initiatives.

Women and members Please reference jobsUMMS@umassmed.edu. groups are encouraged to apply. job ID: MB0444. The University of Massachusetts Medical School is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

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Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court LEGALS Probate and Family Court Docket No. WO21P2555GD Commonwealth of Worcester Probate and Family Massachusetts The Trial Court Court 225 Main St. Probate and Family Court Worcester, MA 01608 Docket No. WO21P2555GD CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PEWorcester Probate and Family TITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF Court 225 Main St. GUARDIAN FOR INCAPACITATWorcester, MA 01608 ED PERSON PURSUANT TO CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PEG.L. c. 190B, §5-304 TITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF In the matter of: Rolando C GUARDIAN FOR INCAPACITATRuiz Of: Rutland, MA RESPONDEDAlleged PERSONIncapacitated PURSUANT TO ENT Person c. 190B, §5-304 and all To theG.L. named Respondent In the matter persons, of: Rolando C other interested a petition Ruiz Of: Rutland, MA RESPONDhas been filed by Department of DeENT Alleged Serv Incapacitated Person velopmental of Worcester, MA To theabove named Respondent and all in the captioned matter allegother interested ing that Rolandopersons, C Ruiz aispetition in need has filed byand Department of Deof abeen Guardian requesting that velopmental Serv of MA Donna M Aldrich of Worcester, North Andover, in the(orabove matterperson) allegMA somecaptioned other suitable ing Rolando C Ruiz is to in need be that appointed as Guardian serve of a Guardian and on requesting Without Surety the bond.that The Donna Aldrich of North Andover, petitionMasks the court to determine MA other suitable person) that(or thesome Respondent is incapacitatbe Guardian to serve ed,appointed that theas appointment of a Without Surety on the bond.

Guardian is necessary, and thatThe the petition asks the courtistoappropriate. determine proposed Guardian that the Respondent incapacitatThe petition is on file is with this court ed, that contain the appointment a and may a request forofcerGuardian is necessary, thathave the tain specific authority. and You proposed is to appropriate. the rightGuardian to object this proThe petitionIfisyou on wish file with thisso, court ceeding. to do you and may contain a request for ceror your attorney must file a written tain specific at authority.

You have appearance this court on or bethe object toreturn this profore right 10:00 to A.M. on the date ceeding.

If you wish doisso, youa of 09/07/2021.

This to day NOT or your attorney file a written hearing date, butmust a deadline date by appearance at this on written or bewhich you have tocourt file the fore 10:00 A.M. onobject the return appearance if you to thedate petiof 09/07/2021. daywritten is NOTapa tion.

If you fail to This file the hearing date, but a deadline date by pearance by the return date, action which have to file the written may beyou taken in this matter without appearance if you object the petifurther notice to you.

In to addition to tion. youwritten fail to file the written filingIfthe appearance youapor pearance by the return action your attorney must file date, a written afmay be taken in this matter without fidavit stating the specific facts and further to objection you. In addition groundsnotice of your within to 30 filing written appearance you or days the after the return date. IMPORyour attorney must a written afTANT NOTICE Thefile outcome of this fidavit stating thelimit specific facts and proceeding may or completely grounds of your withinper30 take away the objection above-named days returndecisions date. IMPORson’safter rightthe to make about TANT NOTICE this personal affairsThe or outcome financial ofaffairs proceeding may limit or completely or both. The above-named person take away thetoabove-named perhas the right ask for a lawyer. son’s right to make decisions about Anyone may make this request on personal or financial person. affairs behalf of affairs the above-named or both.

The above-named If the above-named person person cannot has thea right to ask a lawyer. afford lawyer, onefor may be apAnyone make this request on pointed may at State expense.

WITNESS, behalf of theA above-named person.

Hon. Leilah Keamy, First Justice of Ifthis theCourt. above-named person cannot Date: August 03, 2021 afford a lawyer, one may be apStephanie K. Fattman, Register of pointed at State expense.

WITNESS, Probate 08/20/2021 WM Hon. Leilah A Keamy, First Justice of this Court. Date: August 03, 2021 Stephanie K. Fattman, Register of Probate 08/20/2021 WM

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30 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

“Spuh Day”--or is it schwa day?

by Matt Jones

J O N E S I N’

Enjoy Fun By The Numbers puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken 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!

R U O Y E C A PL AD HERE! Call

66

-34 4 5 2 8 8 8 cla

or email a.com i d e m e s u o ateh ssifieds@g

Across 1 Raises, as children 6 “___ Paradise” (“Weird Al” Yankovic song) 11 Acad. or univ.

14 Former inmate 15 Expensive drive in Beverly Hills 16 Nail polish target 17 Billy Idol song about Italian ice cream?

19 Gp. with many specialists 20 BLT ingredient 21 Jotted down 23 Manipulates 24 Repair bill item 27 Terrier treaters 28 Part of a desk set 29 1977 American League MVP Rod 30 Personnel group 31 Bits 32 Succeeded at an escape room 33 Commercial photo source that’s only for pasta pics?

37 “Catch-22” author 38 Core 39 Acrylic fiber brand 40 Turn to God? 41 Psychological org.

44 Gas station still available in Canada 45 “___ do everything myself?”

46 “Back in the ___” (Beatles song) 47 You can’t make a silk purse out of it, it’s said 49 Anti-allergy brand 51 Hex- ender 52 Boxing match with a Dutch philosopher and ethicist?

55 California NBA team, on a scoreboard 56 Lacking fruit on the bottom, e.g.

57 Italy’s largest lake 58 Capital of Liberia?

59 Gossipmonger 60 Actor Williams of “Happy Days” Down 1 Get plenty of sleep 2 Reveal, as a secret 3 Insight 4 Some 20-Acrosses

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 18 22 25 26 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 40 41

Obnoxious brat Jackie’s husband #2 Mid-May honoree Comment from someone who changed their mind after an epiphany Title with a tilde “Joy to the World” songwriter Axton Alaskan Malamute or Boston Terrier, e.g.

What dreams may do Call center equipment On or earlier (than) James Cameron movie that outgrossed “Titanic” “I smell ___!”

Closer-than-close friends “Famous Blue Raincoat” singer Leonard Former FBI director James Arctic homes Cocktail with lemon juice and soda Vans may get a deep discount here Kind of pronoun First part of a Shakespeare title Quick doc. signature Fruit banned on Singapore subways Fur-fortune family

42 Fake prefix?

43 Certain inverse trig function 45 Canada’s official tree 46 Rural opposite 48 Notice from afar 50 Baba ___ (witch of folklore) 53 Annual coll. basketball contest 54 Words before whim or dime

Last week's solution

©2021 Matt Jones (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #1054

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | 31

LAST CALL

Heleen van’t Spijker, member of the Association of Women in Science Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Professor Heleen van’t Spijker is a post-doctoral associate at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, specializing in neuroscience and neuroplasticity. But patients aren’t the only ones she wants to help during her time at UMMS. Van’t Spijker is both an active member of the Central Massachusetts Chapter for the Association of Women in Science as well as the co-founder/ president of the UMass Medical School’s fi rst ever postdoc association.

Many researchers, especially women, often face an uphill battle advancing in STEM and could use a supportive network, something van’t Spijker noticed was missing at UMMS. The post-doc association fosters networking between all current and former post-docs and provides support in the form of workshop and presentation opportunities to share their work with the larger community. Ironically, van’t Spijker’s chance to create a way for her peers to come together appeared when everyone was forced apart during the pandemic.

How did you get involved with Women in Science?

In my lab, I was very lucky that there was another senior post-doc already involved. When I fi rst came here, she invited me to come along with her to a networking event at Wormtown Brewery. It was such a fun group that I wanted to be a part of it in organizing and helping out.

Initially I was just doing really basic stuff like sending out the emails but after a year I’ve now become the treasurer.

What does AWS do?

We try to fi nd diff erent ways to support each other — I’ve always found our panel discussions really inspiring. We get members to sit on a panel and the audience asks really good questions.

We also sometimes have workshops on topics like dealing with job interviews and sending out CVs. The group is always open to everyone from every gender — we tend to ask female speakers

Heleen van’t Spijker STEVE LANAVA

and ask them to talk about experiences they’ve had specifi cally because they’re female. Most science events have only male speakers so we can highlight female speakers. A great deal of the advice given is usually helpful to men as well.

Would you be willing to speak about your experiences with sexism?

Not one event really comes to mind to me, but I must admit at a conference, there was a female professor whose work I found very interesting. I decided to approach her, but there was a guy who walked up and started repeating what I was saying. She would ask a question, I’d think and give an answer, then he would repeat exactly the same thing like it was his idea. While it’s hard to call it sexism, I don’t think it would happen to a man.

It’s hard, especially when you’re speaking to a professor for the fi rst time, it’s hard to ask that professor, “do you

see what’s happening here?” Then you leave that conversation wondering if that professor even knew what was going on or if they just didn’t care.

So what exactly is a postdoc association and how did this get started?

It’s all about postdocs getting together to help and support each other professionally but also just as friends. Now we’ve actually had our fi rst in-person pizza party.

When I fi rst arrived here in January 2019, I was thinking I want to make new friends and meet new people. When you’re in a new country, how do you meet new people? One of the things missing at UMass Med School was a way for post-docs to meet up. Everybody told me that yes, we would really have something for post-docs. After a year, I started thinking maybe we should do this. Around March 2020, with the lockdowns, we were all going to be sitting at home so how could we

make sure people still have a social connection. I reached out to all the postdocs I’d become friends with and said let’s start this now.

How long did it take to make things offi cial?

Initially, we just had a bunch of meetings about all the events we could organize like socials but there are so many things professionally that we could help each other with. We did a lot of brainstorming before sending a proposal to the school administration in June of that year. We wrote the email as a group and were all a bit nervous the university wouldn’t like it — made it clear that we just wanted to support each other, and they reacted very positively. That’s when the ball started rolling and we got an offi cial email address and were able to email all post-docs. We were able to start so many new projects, like an outreach committee, which organizes events called Science Cafes, where post-docs share their projects.

So the post-doc association doesn’t just help individuals connect with each other but gives a platform for community outreach?

Yes, each Science Café event has an audience of about 30 people from the community. It lets post-docs reach the community, which is something that scientists don’t usually get to do.

What motivates you to be so involved and try to juggle all these things?

I think I just have so much fun doing it and it’s also for me — I meet interesting people. Being a scientist is a demanding job and it’s really easy for that to take up all your time. But I fi nd that when I get out of the lab and meet people, I’m actually more eager to return to the lab and projects. Whenever you volunteer for things, you get so much as well. Professional and personal growth go hand in hand.

What advice would you give to other aspiring women scientists?

Follow whatever your interests are, no matter what someone tells you — look at what makes you curious.

32 | AUGUST 20 - 26, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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