Worcester Magazine September 3 - 9, 2021 by Worcester Magazine

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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P O H P I H IN THIS ISSUE: A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY’S FIRST WAVE OF RAPPERS AND DJS PAGE 14

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IN THIS ISSUE

Worcester Magazine 100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske Worcester Magazine is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. Legals/Public Notices please call 888-254-3466, email classifieds@gatehousemedia.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 Distribution Worcester Magazine is inserted into the Telegram & Gazette on Thursdays and is also available for free at more than 400 locations in the Worcester area. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law. Subscriptions First class mail, $156 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to GateHouse Media, 100 Front St., Worcester, MA 01608. Advertising To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call (508) 767.9530. Worcester Magazine (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of Gannett. All contents copyright 2021 by Gannett. All rights reserved. Worcester Magazine is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

Featured ..............................................................................4 City Voices ........................................................................10 Artist Spotlight................................................................13 Cover Story.......................................................................14 New on DVD .....................................................................25 Adoption Option.............................................................28 Classiﬁ eds ........................................................................29 Games................................................................................30 Last Call .............................................................................31

On the cover From left, hip-hop artists Francisco Torres (Mr. Sweet), Willie Martinez (Willie D.), Charles Safford (Chuck Chillin’), and Gino Figueroa visit the Arcadia Room above the White Eagle. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE; COVER ILLUSTRATION BY DANI CHERCHIO/USA TODAY NETWORK AND GETTY IMAGES

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FEATURED

Nark Lizard takes the helm at the Dirty Gerund Poetry Series at Ralph’s Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

“Gerund” (pronounced jerund) essentially refers to turning a verb into a noun. This obscure word makes for a fi tting title of a slam poetry group, The Dirty Gerund, where art is derived from using words in new and unconventional ways. This does come with it’s own set of diffi culties though. “People are like ‘the Dirty Gertrude?’” said Worcester poet Nikk Lessard, whose stage name is Nark Lizard. “It gets a little tough to explain,” they said with a laugh. While its meaning may not always be understood, the group’s name certainly carries weight in poetry circles across the country. “If you go to a poetry slam on the West Coast and say ‘I’m a Dirty Gerund poet,’ people will know who you are,” said Lessard. Worcester resident and poet Rush Frazier started the weekly open mic night at Ralph’s Rock Diner, as a safe space where people could come to share their work. Over a decade later, it’s a staple of the city’s art and poetry scene. August 30 was the fi rst meeting of The Dirty Gerund in almost a year and a half due to COVID. That alone would add a certain amount of pressure, but for Lessard, it was also their fi rst time running it since taking over from the previous organizer, Alex Charalambides, who had held the role for most of its existence. “Alex brought so many unique voices to the stage dur-

Worcester poet Nikk Lessard, whose stage name is Nark Lizard, at Ralph’s Diner Friday, Aug. 27. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

ing his tenure as Captain of the Dirty Gerund,” said Frazier. “Nark’s continuing the reading and leading it in this new era

really excites me.” Lessard had been a regular participant since they discovered The Gerund about four

years ago following the passing of a close friend. “I needed an outlet and it was a huge tool in coping with my grief and ﬁ nd-

ing words and a way to get through it.” They say how much See LIZARD, Page 8

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Worcester artist takes expansive view for Worcester Art Museum initiative Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

“I love working in the arts, I love being an artist, but at my core, I’m a realist,” said Hank Von Hellion, Worcester artist who works with street art murals, graffi ti, illustration, installation and photography. For Von Hellion, it is pretty straightforward. Growing up in the culture that he did, the idea that “if you see something, say something” is paramount. What one says or does about it is tied directly to one’s ability and what one is capable of, but there’s always something one can do to change the situation or express oneself to infl uence others. Presently, he has a site-specifi c installation at the Worcester Art Museum through the Central Massachusetts Artist Initiative, which expands WAM’s ongoing commitment to the rich art community in the area. Launched in December 2017, CMAI showcases the varied talents of artists who live or work in the greater Worcester region with a solo installation in the Sidney and Rosalie Rose Gallery. Von Hellion is also managing director of the Worcester PopUp at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, a workshop instructor, creative consultant and independent curator for businesses and nonprofi t organizations. The CMAI reached out to him pre-COVID, but the show ended up being pushed back and then pushed back some more, and it was installed only a few months ago. He explained that the opportunity with WAM was “a chance to highlight my thoughts and feelings about this kind of work — public art, not just creating but using that

Hank von Hellion is the most recent artist to be featured in WAM’s Central Massachusetts Artist Initiative, on Sunday, Aug. 29. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

work in a way that hopefully has some sort of positive community vibes.” The show has elements of that but also touches on his experiences growing up as a person of color, which led to mixed feelings about art institutions. “As a kid, I loved going in to see the art but felt anxiety that spaces like these weren’t always welcoming to me. I didn’t see people like me there or represented in the work. How do

you talk about that in a way that other people can relate to?” The sense of not feeling represented can create a great deal of anger and bitterness in people, he went on to say. Always a thorny issue to navigate because talking about it passionately may cause the conversation or dialogue to be more like an accusation, and he doesn’t think that is an eﬀ ective way to get the point across.

He admits it is “weird talking about my work in diﬀ erent ways — I refer to it as kitchen sink chic. I make work with a lot of diﬀ erent ideas and themes in it because that’s how my brain works.” A theme that runs through the “kitchen sink chic” is that we’re not passive visitors in this world but active participants and live life with that in mind. He works on ways to not let his art seem aggressive or threatening despite a

depth of passion. When art feels like an attack, it can turn viewers off and not just have that eff ect on those that it is directed at, but also those on your team. Von Hellion worries that often, if one feels like one can’t do something as monumental as the person with the bullhorn, one doesn’t try. He emphasized the fact that this kind of all-ornothing attitude can stifl e creSee ARTIST, Page 7

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Pet sounds as country/pop singer Billy Gilman headlines Pet Rock Fest Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

When double-platinum country/pop singer and “The Voice” fi nalist Billy Gilman was contacted about possibly headlining the musical lineup at the 23rd annual Pet Rock Festival on Sept. 12, the invitation immediately struck the right note. For one thing, he said, he’s had pets himself, ranging from goldfi sh to dogs. And he said one of his best friends is TV personality Lisa Vanderpump, founder of The Vanderpump Dog Foundation, a dog rescue organization. “When I got this (Pet Rock Festival) on my desk, I said ‘This is something I want to do,’” Gilman recalled. Pet Rock Fest (as it is also popularly called) is billed as the largest event of its kind in the Northeast, an annual festival that promotes kindness to animals and responsible pet ownership. It will be held on the grounds of the Wyman-Gordon plant, 244 Worcester St., in North Grafton, from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 12. The event features guest speakers, vegetarian food, live music, games, animal activities, children’s activities, events, a raffl e, vendors and hundreds of area animal welfare organizations. There is is a Music Stage and an Animal Action Stage. Proceeds go to animal-related charities that support a variety of causes, from shelters to law reform to farm animal sanctuaries. “I’m a big pet advocate. Major. Major,” Gilman said ahead of his First Pet Rock Fest appearance. Plus, “I’m just a singer that loves to sing,” he said. He’s

If you go What: Pet Rock Festival When: Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 12 Where: On the grounds of the Wyman-Gordon plant, 244 Worcester St., in North Grafton How much: Tickets at the door are $12 adults, $5 for children 12 and under. For more information, visit petrockfest.org or check out Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ petrockfest and Twitter @Petrockfestival.

scheduled to perform at 2:15 p.m. Although he’s just 33, Gilman has already done a lot of singing. As a child in Rhode Island, he performed as a singer and was “discovered.” His debut single “One Voice” at the age of 12 in 2000 made him the youngest male artist in history to have a solo top 40 hit on the country charts. His debut album certiﬁ ed double platinum. Speaking of voice, this time “The Voice,” Gilman had a successful second act in his career by appearing on the NBC competition in 2016 and ﬁ nishing as runner-up for the season. His coach on “The Voice,” Adam Levine of Maroon 5, told him, “You can emote so well. You can draw people in so easily.” In a recent telephone interview, Gilman was also very easy to talk with as well as upbeat in a likeable way. “The great thing about my career, I’ve always been variety driven, even at 13,” Gilman said. “But it will always sound like me.” When asked where he’s at See GILMAN, Page 8

Billy Gilman will perform at Pet Rock. PROVIDED

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Hank von Hellion is the most recent artist to be featured in WAM’s Central Massachusetts Artist Initiative. PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Artist Continued from Page 5

ativity and expression. In defi ning what a site-specifi c installation means, he described how the artists before him in the CMAI program had never really tried to use the full space. Most had taken the standard museum route with art in frames on the wall, while he really wanted to do something that would stand out and be diff erent for the program. His fi rst thoughts were about making better use of this space and then harkening back to his thoughts of “how spaces like this cause a strange kind of anxiety — this is a space I really truly want to belong in but don’t feel like I belong in.” Von Hellion reveals that there are two pieces in the show that are actually one piece. “It’s essentially an anime kind of character with a self portrait of me inside of that. I think that’s most representative of the anxiety in this body of work. On one hand, the punk culture kid wants to burn it all down, but the sensitive art kid wants to belong.” Wanting people to see themselves in it and not feel attacked was the driving force for its creation. There

are other more deliberate works that are refl ective of standard museum works, but those may or may not resonate with POC so Von Hellion thinks of his self portrait as “a kind of wink and a nod to those works.” Discussing the art scene in cities like Worcester, he clarifi ed that there are downsides to the drive for organizations to showcase a person of color. “It could cross a line from supporting to tokenism.” Tokenism can do more damage than most things, he says. “It’s not so much about the work but more about, oh look we have a POC, isn’t that great? It destroys a lot of trust. What I’ve found is that eventually the kind of artwork that you showcase becomes toned down and toned down so it doesn’t off end anyone and doesn’t raise any hackles. That defeats the purpose of supporting the creative community. To systematically water that down also destroys trust because people disengage.” Von Hellion has another exhibit coming up in November at two diff erent art galleries around the city. His goal isn’t so much to document the world as it is but rather to serve as a kind of moderator aiming to help create more spaces, where conversations about choosing our paths can take shape.

Hank von Hellion and his girlfriend Elise Reynolds are photographed near his exhibit at Worcester Art Museum.

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Gilman Continued from Page 6

musically these days, Gilman said, “I would say I’m still in the country music mainstream sound. It’s just what resonates with me and my audience. It’s more organic, and they feel it.” Gilman divides his time between Rhode Island and Nashville, but is in these parts right now touring. Rhode Island to Grafton is close, he said, so he can bring his own local band to Pet Rock Fest. “It’s great to do local shows,” he said. The pandemic, however, cost him upwards of 100 touring dates. “I could have gone just totally inward, but I got into the virtual world of online shows,” Gilman said. “Every show every week was diﬀ erent themes. It was fun. We persevered.” His Facebook following skyrocketed. Gilman has previously talked about some of the trials and tribulations of his past, including rebuilding his voice after puberty and feeling indiﬀ erence from record labels and country radio for a while. In 2014, Gilman came out as gay. Whether that hurt his career, “I don’t know. I think it’s a little bit better than it was in the ‘60s,” he said. “I don’t know if

it hurt me. All I know is I’m on a good path. If it hurt me, that’s on them.” Concerning whether his childhood was a blur because so much happened so fast, Gilman said, “I remember more than I don’t remember. I think for the most part I can remember a lot of it ... “There wasn’t a motive. I love to sing. I’m hoping to create a better world through my singing. Do I want to sell records? Of course.” He’s seen family videos of himself at 10 months old singing the theme to the show “Jeopardy!” “I just always had a passion for this,” he said. Gilman’s career now spans 25 years. “That’s a long time, but I still love it. It only stops when you stop. If you push, there’s always opportunity.” However, the decision of whether or not to appear on “The Voice” did give Gilman pause. “I don’t want to be a joke,” he said of his concerns of putting on such visible a comeback attempt. “It took me time. I wasn’t so sold on that. I held my meetings with past people that had worked with me. For two years I said ‘no.’ Everyone said, ‘What have you got to lose?’” On the show, Gilman astonished judges and TV audiences alike with his song selections and renditions of numbers such as “When We Were Young” by

Lizard Continued from Page 4

Worcester poet Nikk Lessard, whose stage name is Nark Lizard, at Ralph’s Rock Diner. Lessard is the new host of the Dirty Gerund Poetry Series. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

it helped them is a testament to the power of art and community events like this. When Charalambides had to step back, Lessard “stepped up because we didn’t want to let the show go because of that,” knowing how it had become so important to so many other people. As the host, Lessard will be doing all the booking for the show moving forward, spending every Monday night down at Ralph’s from 8:30 to midnight making sure the evening goes smoothly. They will be introducing featured poets, who do an hour-long set between ﬁ rst and second half of the open mic period, as well as booking live artists. What sets The Dirty Gerund apart, said Lessard, is that it is completely community run, without the aid of any major backers or organizations. “It shows the true grit of Worcester art and

Adelle, Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror,” “Crying” by Roy Orbison, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” and Gilman’s own original composition, “Because of Me.” “I didn’t want to be in a mold. These are songs that spoke to me.” The tremendously positive social media reaction “inspired me to ﬁ ght to the end,” Gilman said. Coincidentally, Grafton, where Gilman will be Sept. 12, is the place where Ricky Duran grew up and later became a season runner-up on “The Voice” in 2019. “He’s a great friend,” Gilman said of Duran. “We text quite a bit. He’s awesome. We all know his singing, and then when he plays his guitar, it’s like on another planet. It’s fantastic.” Looking ahead, Gilman said he’s writing some new songs and recording. The music’s country, but “country changes” Gilman said. He cited the differences between country classics like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” and “Make the World Go Away.” “It’s always been in that vein of pushing the envelope. That’s my lane,” Gilman said. Jeannie Hebert, Pet Rock Fest founding partner, said, “We are so thrilled to be able to present Pet Rock Fest in person this year. Billy Gilman is a major talent and will attract his followers from ‘The Voice’ to support our eﬀ orts to help

animals in need, which is what the festival is all about.” “We couldn’t be happier that Billy Gilman was able and willing to headline our festival this year,” said fellow Pet Rock Fest founding partner Charlene Arsenault. “We were looking for a wellknown artist whose music is appealing to all ages, but is particularly popular with the younger generation right now. He ﬁ ts the bill to a T.” T-Mobile is the entertainment sponsor for this year’s Pet Rock Fest. The musical lineup also features Ric Porter and the Roadside Gypsies, the Rafters, Three for One and Shiverlane. Pet Rock Fest has been held at several venues over the years, but the WymanGordon location has been home for the outdoor festival since 2017. The event was held virtually in 2020 Popular animal attractions back this year are likely to include K9 demos; an agility course hosted by CMDART; the Pups In The Air disc dog team; cat photo contest; amateur dog contest; animal mascots; doggie massages; demonstrations; free and low-cost microchipping and rabies shots from VCA; a doggie water park; and photos of your pets. You might catch Gilman going from the Music Stage to the Animal Action Stage. “I think this is such a great festival. I’m really excited,” Gilman said

what it can be,” they said. “It works just because people show up — that’s the power of a good community.” With that in mind, this ﬁ rst show did not have a single featured artist — “the featured artist is our community,” said Lessard. Since a lot of people had not had access to this space over the last year and a half, Lessard wanted to make sure everyone got at least a few minutes on the microphone, usually about 5 minute sets. Sharing original poetry is not the only activity on the docket, which also includes playing poetry-based games such as the Edgar Allen Popper challenge, which is one of Lessard’s personal favorites. A participant takes a bite of a habanero pepper before reciting a section of Poe’s “The Raven.” Whoever can get through the most, while staying clear and evocative, before needing a glass of water, wins the night. Prizes range from cash prizes, donation prizes from businesses or other artists to simply a free drink.

While Lessard aims to keep the show “running true to the same energy” of the last decade, they still plan to make some organizational changes, the biggest of which is forming a committee rather than leaving sole responsibility on a single person. This committee will be made up of community members who can help recommended featured artists, bringing their own connections and experiences to the table. Lessard hopes to host a town hall-style meeting for those interested in being involved. “This show has been majority led by Alex over the last few years so it will be diﬀ erent simply by having a non-binary queer person running the show,” said Lessard. “I hope to bring the same quirky energy to this that I bring to anything.” Frazier is hopeful for the same reason. “I hope [Lessard’s] presence will inspire new talent to grace the stage. I am amped and can’t wait to see what’s next.”

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CITY VOICES LANDGREN THE CITY MAY RUN SCHOOL BUSES,

WORCESTERIA

FIRST PERSON

Joyner Lucas appears in the music video, “Dreams Unfold.” YOUTUBE SCREEN CAPTURE

BUT WHO WILL DRIVE THEM?

Hanover’s ‘Caesar’ inspires a deep dive into history, literature Randy Feldman Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I recently went to see the new Hanover Theatre Repertory production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” set behind Worcester City Hall. The action was performed in front of and within the Oval in Worcester Common, which originates from 1669; a place where Isaiah Thomas publicly read the Declaration of Independence on July 14, 1776. The 1898 ornately constructed City Hall was a star of the show. Its glamour shined as its façade and balcony was lit up as a decorative backdrop in

hues of pink and shadows of light, dark and color, with Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” performed below. It was actually a moment in Worcester history. It was that good. It reminds us of when “West Side Story” was performed at Green Hill Park and covered by the national news show, “60 Minutes,” or the opening night of The Hanover Theatre, or the ﬁ rst time one walks into Polar Park to attend a WooSox game. Not only was it cool, it was also important. Worcester having a true repertory company putting on iconic, meaningful See CAESAR, Page 12

Joyner Lucas’ vanishing video, Maureen Binienda battles shadowy foes Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

‘DREAMS’ DEFERRED: Ah, the power of a cryptic social media post. When Joyner Lucas tweeted, “What, y’all tryin’ to sensor(sp) me,” Thursday, the internet freaked out a little bit. That tweet seems to have been taken down, but a subsequent Facebook post seems to indicate that he’s referring to a controversy around his new video, “Dreams Unfold,” featuring rapper Lil Tjay. It seems there was an uproar over the

video and how it parodied children’s television, with Lucas – who will be headlining Joyner Fest Sept. 5 outdoors at the Palladium – and Tjay portraying archetypical children’s TV characters and peddling drugs, violence and pornography to kids. It starts with a disclaimer that says, “This video is not suitable for children,” and ends with the words, “Let’s be better role models.” It’s kind of hard to trace the roots of the controversy, but while a lot of early responders seemed to get it, there was evidently enough uproar to have the oﬃ cial

video pulled from YouTube. (It’s unclear at this writing whether that was a decision by YouTube or Lucas’ team.) Still, the message – that hip-hop knowingly traﬃ cs unhealthy subject matter to kids – seems pretty self-evident, but we live in sadly literal times, and satire just doesn’t seem to sink in anymore. ‘CAESAR’ INTERRUPTED: We had a nice letter from local disability activist Deb Ellstrom, who enjoyed our capsule review of ‘Julius Caesar’ See VIDEO, Page 12

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WoMag is haven for left-wing fanatics Joseph Gustafson

Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Worcester Magazine is a haven for left-wing fanatics who are obsessed with race and gender. They have writers, mostly from Clark, (Moscow U.) who still think the protesters at the Capitol were white supremacists. On the contrary, they were patriots trying to stop a rigged election in four Democrat states. The courts decided to pass instead of looking at the obvious evidence of ballot tempering. So we now have an illegal president running the country who is brain deﬁ cient and totally incompetent. He’s making Donald Trump look like a rock start. Trump will win the next presidential election and restore democracy to the USA, where all people are treated equally regardless of race, gender or disability. Joseph Gustafson lives in Leicester.

Objection to portrayal of Biden Constantino Tata Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

An article recently referred to President Biden de-

stroying America. It amazes me the way Trump supporters accuse the Democrats of doing the very things that Trump and the Republicans are doing. He said the following. Border Security: He accuses President Biden of inviting the aliens in when history shows that President Biden publicly said “Do not come”. He also states they are bringing the virus but in fact they are tested and given the vaccine. About 30% refuse it so about 70% get it. Crime: He mentioned that crime wave began with the Portland riots. He forgets that those riots began under the Trump administration. Fair Elections: He states The President’s goal is ﬁ xing elections. It is the Republicans who are passing hundreds of voter suppression bills while the Democrats are seeing that everyone gets to vote. He complains about the support checks but does not mention that the ﬁ rst checks came from the Trump administration. Energy: He objects to renewable energy sources when the fossil fuels are destroying our environment. Foreign Policy: He mentions the Afghanistan withdrawal in a negative way but the withdrawal was negotiated by the Trump administration. Biden merely enforced Trump’s agreement with the Taliban. Biden’s plan for America, regain the respect we lost under the Trump regime. BTW, President Biden never encouraged his supporters to attack the Congress. He never encouraged them to interfere with the poll workers during the election. He never lied to the voters about the election. Trump did all those things. Constantino Tata lives in Southbridge.

HARVEY

Anti-vaxxers are last straw for stressed educators, health care workers Janice Harvey

Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

What if all the people who became nurses, doctors and teachers decided to quit? I’m serious. People leave jobs because of unfair treatment, lousy pay, safety issues and countless other reasons. Most people can be replaced — it’s a sad truth, but most jobs can be fi lled without much fuss. But not all. What if all the teachers with more than 25 years of experience decided to toss in the towel, collect their pensions with a percentage cut, and become WalMart greeters? Many veteran educators have chosen to live with the cut as opposed to risking exposure to a deadly virus and clashes with antivaxxers. Could newbies handle the mask/no mask nightmare? “Green” teachers have to spin many plates on a stick without throwing pandemic politics into the mix — low starting pay, administrative power struggles and standardized testing are just some of the plates they have to keep spinning. More than 44% of new teachers leave the profession within the fi rst fi ve years — currently 1 in 4 teachers are expected to leave their jobs compared to 1 in 6 who were likely to hit the bricks prior to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s no picnic, teaching kids who fell behind during quarantine, reaching the ones who were behind the eight ball to begin with because of dysfunctional family situations, and wrestling with parents who might be against mask-wearing. Could you do it? Many try, and leave the profession in the best of times because of the stress. Since January of 2020, doctors and nurses have been burning out faster than birth-

“What if all the teachers with more than 25 years of experience decided to toss in the towel, collect their pensions with a percentage cut, and become WalMart greeters? “ ALEXANDRA KOCH

day candles. Just when it looked like COVID-19 might be controlled, the unvaccinated among us rolled out the welcome mat to the Delta variant. Medical teams who were barely able to catch a breath between patients have been bombarded yet again. Who could blame any of them if they tore off their scrubs and headed home? How they work with people who denied science yet expect science to save them, I’ll never know. Burnout rates in nursing were at 40% before the pandemic, and as of January of 2021, that fi gured had blossomed to 70%. Medical staff ers are certainly better than I am — I don’t have the patience, tolerance or willingness. (Not to mention my inability to do any of the amazing things they do every day. I almost passed out in Mrs. Falvey’s biology class when the frog was dissected.) But what if they all said, “ I’m done,” and became wallpaper hangers and landscapers? My point is this: These are the most indispensable humans on the planet. They chose to serve humanity, and

spent a boatload of money educating themselves so that they’d be able to do exactly that. Teachers endure snarky remarks about having “summers oﬀ ” made by people who don’t acknowledge that many attend professional development to improve their skills during hiatus, or work summer programs to keep kids on track. These same critics don’t bother to understand what a pro rata salary entails. The idea that medical personnel are paid well enough to be worked to the point of exhaustion is maddening. Nothing of what teachers, nurses and doctors are experiencing is “what they signed up for” despite what they are told by ignorant rubes. No one signs up for working through a pandemic when choosing a career path. Here’s an idea — maybe it’s time we stop taking for granted the people who keep our kids learning and our loved ones breathing. Maybe it’s time for everyone to get vaccinated and mask up so that we don’t drive all the selﬂ ess givers out the door. It’s just a thought.

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Video Continued from Page 10D

on the Worcester Common. “I agree wholeheartedly,” she writes, “and I’ve been encouraging friends – even folk from east of here – to attend. I’m so glad I got to see it – at least, through intermission. The last bus back to my area leaves Franklin at 9:25 PM on Saturday evenings (an hour earlier during the week), so I couldn’t stay through to the end. I’m glad, though, to see what I could. Several friends, whom I encouraged to attend, sent me thanks and glowing reviews, as well.” Ellstrom is gracious as ever, but we can’t help but think there’s a problem when

the city is presenting free art and the public transportation situation prohibits access to it from many who would most beneﬁ t from a free production of that caliber. Obviously, these are challenging times, but the city has a lot of amazing things happening … it’s just a matter of thinking through the process of how best to provide access to them. BACK TO SCHOOL?: I’ll be the ﬁ rst to admit that, as a person who does not have children, I don’t follow local education issues as closely as I should, but I can’t help but be struck by the way Superintendent Maureen Binienda and her allies have taken to characterizing criticism of her. First, former mayor Raymond V. Mariano wrote, in a column in

the Telegram & Gazette, that the mayor and the City Council “have been trying to force her out quietly and outside of the public’s view. According to several sources familiar with the discussions, Superintendent Maureen Binienda, whose contract will end next year on June 30, was told not to seek a contract extension and to ‘just leave quietly.’ In private and at an executive session of the School Committee, it was clear that many members wanted Binienda to be replaced.” Mariano implies that this is some sort of shady backroom maneuver, which seems to be stretching things. Then, in response to School Committee candidate Jermoh Kamara’s public assertion that Binienda needs to be replaced, the superinten-

dent replied that, “It’s not like her to come out and say a statement like that unless coached to say a statement like that … I think I was very instrumental in Jermoh being successful in her development, I gave her a ride to school every day.” A trend has begun to emerge in the discussion, that critics are a Super-Secret Shadowy Illuminati and their puppets, and then they point toward longstanding personal relationships. Without getting into policy issues – and Binienda has been divisive on a number of issues, from sex education to the adapting to remote learning during the pandemic – there are a couple of points to be made here. First, you can like someone personally and have policy diﬀ erences with them.

That some of Binienda’s opponents are expressing dissent despite a personal relationship is a sign of a system working, not the other way around. It is literally the antithesis of the old-school neighborhood politics that have often plagued Worcester politics. Also, there seems to be an inference from Binienda’s camp that her critics have been silent until now, which is categorically untrue. Both her critics and defenders have been quite vocal for years, to the point where even a casual observer was aware of their existence and positions. There are no shadowy conspiracies here to be found, except for the Lizard People who live beneath City Hall and secretly control the WRTA to deny Shakespeare to the poor.

Caesar Continued from Page 10D

dramas (instead of splashy musicals) is hugely signiﬁ cant in creating a cosmopolitan culture, as Hanover Rep showed with its novel, interchangeable-gender version of the play. I actually saw the play three times. The ﬁ rst time I couldn’t really follow the dialogue so I decided to read three versions of the play, an old Del, Laurel Shakespeare version published in 1960 (which sold for 35 cents) the Signet classic version and the Folger Shakespeare Library version. I found it more elucidating to read the commentary about the play so I read each version’s introduction, overview afterward and commentaries preceding and following the play. I learned so much about Shakespeare, Rome and Julius Caesar that I then “went to the movies” digging into my DVD collection. First I watched the classic movie “Cleopatra,” then the movie of the play “Antony and Cleopatra,” then “Ben Hur,” “Quo Vadis” and “Spartacus” to

The Hanover Theatre Repertory put on a free production of “Julius Caesar” on the steps of City Hall. ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

get a better idea about the Romans, then to learn what Caesar’s and Roman leaders were trying to imitate I watched “Alexander” (the Great) by Oliver Stone. To know Shakespeare better I again watched the phe-

nomenal movie, “Shakespeare in Love.” Lastly, I viewed and listened to lectures from the Teaching Company, the Great Course series on the great Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius and Ed-

ward Gibbon’s “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” I learned that in issues of political leadership the U.S. and Roman Empires share some things in common. All this reading, watching,

and learning was inspired by the Hanover Repertory Company’s performing Shakespeare “Julius Caesar” for our community. Thank you. Randy Feldman lives in Worcester.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 13

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT ‘Action Geek’ Doug Chapel to display new work at Bean Counter Bakery Doug Chapel Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

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THE SECRET HISTORY OF WORCESTER HIP-HOP A conversation with the City’s ﬁ rst wave of rappers and DJs Victor D. Infante

Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

A beat dropped in the Bronx, and it echoed in Great Brook Valley, where in 1979, Francisco Torres – then a teenager – had recently moved to Worcester from the New York City borough and shared a track by the the acclaimed early hip-hop act Cold Crush Brothers on cassette with his teenage cousin, Willie Martinez. It might seem like a small, commonplace moment of adolescent music discovery, but something shifted in Worcester that day.

Torres was well-versed in the nascent hip-hop culture, but for Martinez, it was brand new, and Cold Crush Brothers’ DJ Charlie Chase was the ﬁ rst rapper he’d ever heard. “I said, this was something I want to do,” recalls Martinez. “I fell in love instantly. It was love at ﬁ rst ear.” It might seem strange in 2021, with hip-hop dominating the airwaves and Worcester so full of rappers you can’t drop a mic without thumping one on the head, but hip-hop was a totally new sound in the city at that point, and Martinez and Torres – who would take the stage names Willie D. and Mr. Sweet – soon

found themselves to be what’s generally considered to be Worcester’s ﬁ rst rappers, starting out by rapping over Cold Crush Brothers tracks. “I had already written some rhymes,” says Torres, “and I introduced Willie to it. Right away, he got the fever for it.” Soon, the pair were rapping at parties. There were likely other kids experimenting with rap at the time, but most of those have vanished into history, whereas Martinez is still active today. “We started throwing block parties in the back of my friend’s house,” says Martinez, to which Torres replies, “You couldn’t get in the basement back then. We

Clockwise from top: Gary Lucas, left, and Dan Rosario in 1987. SUBMITTED PHOTO From left, Michele Vazquez (Mini-Dee), Shawn Christopher Jackson (Papa Shawn Boo), Robert Bastien (Double B), and Blaze Myllion outside WCUW. DYLAN AZARI From left, Kqauze, Chuck Chillin' and DJ Shame in 1990. SUBMITTED PHOTO DJ Kool Chriss in the early '90s. SUBMITTED photo Gary Gee and DJ Shame in 1988, near the Worcester Galleria's parking garage. SUBMITTED PHOTO Early Worcester hip-hop ensemble, the Furior Three. SUBMITTED PHOTO Kaz Supernova in 1995. SUBMITTED PHOTO

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 15

Worcester rapper Willie D. in the early ’90s. PROVIDED PHOTO

History Continued from Page 14

had people coming to the Valley, we had crowds from the front to the back. People from downtown heard of us … We basically turned Worcester on to hip-hop.”

Rappers Delight Martinez and Torres might have been the fi rst cracks in the hip-hop dam breaking, but it was clear the genre was going to fl ow here sooner or later, just as it did everywhere. Hip-hop’s presence was starting to spread, in no small part due to one song dominating the airwaves: “Rapper’s Delight,” by the Sugarhill Gang. Scott Dinsdale, who performs as DJ Shame, says he fi rst heard the song when he was 11 or 12, roller-skating at Skylite, saying that owner Richard Fors “was good at having the new R&B, disco and rap playing. That’s how I fi rst heard ‘Rapper’s Delight.’ Unless you were in New York, in the city, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ was usually your fi rst exposure to (hiphop).” DJ Kimpa Barnes, who performs as Hitman KB, says, “I heard ‘Rapper’s Delight’ in seventh grade, and we were all

quoting everything.” Barnes – who will be performing at the Old Skool Jam Reunion at 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at the PNI Club, 290 Millbury St., Worcester – points out that Sugarhill Gang incorporated a lot of soul and R&B into their music, and that the “Rapper’s Delight” beat was “Good Times,” by the band Chic. “That was the stuﬀ I was into,” says Barnes. “I was into the funk, and they used a lot of the funk. That’s what they rapped over. That’s what drew me to it.” Likewise, rapper and later producer Gary Lucas, who sometimes records as G. Mogul, says the song “opened my ears up to, ‘What’s that?’” He says hearing the Sugarhill Gang rapping over the beat, “It was a whole new vibe … that made me start freestyling. Anytime I heard a beat, I started making up my own stuﬀ .” Shaun Benson, who formerly performed as Grand Dragon Terror X and currently as DJ Sun, says that “in the late ‘70s, we had the funk and the soul. This new thing called hip-hop was coming through. Older people didn’t like it at all. It was fun, man. They said everything in the book about it. It caught my attention, I sat and learned how to cut on the turntables. A

DJ Shame DJing at Skylite in 1986. PROVIDED PHOTO

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History Continued from Page 15

lot of DJs just mixed, there wasn’t a lot of turning and cutting locally. I was the fi rst to throw all-hip-hop parties, all over Worcester, where I scratched and cut, played and mixed.” By the mid-’80s, what had started as a small blaze in Great Brook Valley had become a wildfi re across the city, with new acts such as The Destination Crew, the W.E.C. Connection and the Furior Three following in Martinez and Torres’ footsteps. DJ Chris Davis, who performs as Kool Chriss, chalks up a lot of the city’s early hiphop infl uences to its family ties to New York City, especially families that emigrated from Jamaica and Puerto Rico to New York, and then moved on from there to Worcester, creating a path over which the culture fl owed. “Citywide, mid-’80s, back then we used to have summer programs, so we used to get a lot of kids from all over the city, and that’s how we used to congregate with one another. A lot of those kids who came from the Valley, they were linked to New York City in some sort of way.” Davis remembers a friend who used to bring back tapes of New York radio station WRKS and such. “Maybe a few years after that, you started seeing the groups and things like that.” Rapper Robert Bastien, who performed as Double B, remembers that, by the mid-’80s, hip-hop was omnipresent in Worcester’s urban neighborhoods. “Worcester doesn’t really have boroughs, but if you talk about neighborhoods, there was always something going on, there was always music … If we just wanted to get together and go sit on the corner, sit on a stoop or sit on a bench, there was music, there was something going on. There was breaking. There were dudes popping, beatboxing. People rapping, people singing. You

From left, Blaze Myllion, Michele Vazquez (Mini-Dee), Kaz Supernova, Shawn Christopher Jackson (Papa Shawn Boo), and Robert Bastien (Double B) in the WCUW Frontroom. DYLAN AZARI

can go down there on any given day and see dudes playing their music. They didn’t have airpods, they carried boom boxes around. There was always a block party.”

Word on the Street A few things become apparent the deeper you dig into the early days of Worcester hiphop: It was a very young scene, which wasn’t unusual, mostly comprising teenagers, with some, such as Lucas, beginning to perform as young as 12 years old; it was also a tight-knit scene, in a lot of ways, which is a little surprising since there wasn’t initially a lot of crossover between the urban neighborhoods; and no one really sounded the same, which is odd, as by the mid-’80s, even scenes in larger cities were beginning to homogenize into “Brooklyn Sounds” or “Atlanta Sounds.” “Worcester is kind of a cultural meting pot,” says musician Kaz Supernova, who is currently putting together a documentary about the early

days of Worcester hip-hop, “Wortown Rising.” “You’ve got a lot of infl uences. For a long time, we were kind of in our own universe, because of Boston.” The artists from Boston, being a larger city, got public attention while the ones in Worcester didn’t. “We could have been in Oklahoma, basically,” says Supernova, “because we didn’t matter. I think we got to do a lot more experimental stuff , explore things a lot. We were able to get more creative because we weren’t getting that breakthrough that everybody was trying to get. It’s very relative, I think the entire music scene is really unique. A lot of people will tell you it was about the lyricism, and I’d agree with that. There was also a lot of the grittier stuff . We were modeling ourselves on New York, we weren’t modeling ourselves on Boston.” That distinction is important, and indeed, one that’s echoed throughout the Worcester arts scenes, from punk rock to visual arts to poetry: Worcester artists have always pointed to that sense of

artistic freedom that doesn’t always exist in more commercial-based scenes. “Nobody needed to be like anybody else,” says rapper Michele Vazquez, who performed as Mini-Dee with the all-female hip-hop act, Mini-Dee and the Girleez. “You wanted to stand out. I remember that being something that was important to me, the fi rst thing, ‘Ohhh. You’re in a girl group. You have to dress up and …’ No. I played on a boy’s baseball team for four years, I was MVP. I’m not going to wear cutesy outfi ts … I’m not sounding like a boy but, you can’t mess with me. That was always important. I’m me, you’re you. We’re good. Let’s all do music.” Stephanie A. Twine-Haig, who oversaw hip-hop programming for WCUW, points out how challenging that was at a time when going from, say, Plumley Village to Great Brook Valley was unheard of. “Worcester was not a unifi ed town back in the day,” she says, pointing to the the rivalries between schools in sports and the the dangers posed by neighbor-

hood gangs. “I think that’s one of the reasons that hip-hop broke, because everybody wanted to be involved, and they found people who they’d never met before, who lived 10 feet from their neighborhood and thought, ‘Damn. He’s pretty cool. He’s not an asshole. I can have coff ee with him and we can talk. We can make music together and it’s GOOD.’” Twine-Haig says that the hip-hop scene brought out “the creativity that these kids had balled up in them. They were in the projects – GBV, Plumley Village, Lakeside – It was a small, hot place. They were not having fun. Even if they were gentle souls, they were running for their life to get home, because they had to go through three other neighborhoods. So when the scene hit, it hit big. They didn’t have to fi ght so much. They were able to just go see the girl that they wanted to see that lived over there, but before they’d have to pull up a hood and slide in with their car, and she jumps in. It’s stupid, but that was the way Worcester was back then. There wasn’t a whole lot of people willing to cross that neighborhood barrier. When the scene hit, everyone wanted to go to Institute Park for the festivals. Everybody wanted to go have a block party with (WCUW DJ) Chuck Chillin’.” Gary Goyette Sr., who performed with the Destination Crew as Gary Gee, affi rms the eff ect of crossing neighborhoods had on the scene. “We did have that cohesiveness between groups from different parts of the city who had respect for one another,” he says. “When we had block parties, people from each corner of the city were invited so they could represent their corner, and they all came together in peace. I got to grow some brotherly friendships with people from other parts of the city. ‘He’s not some kid from over there, he’s my hip-hop brother. He’s a rapper, he’s a DJ.’ We had See HISTORY, Page 17

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 17

History Continued from Page 16

respect for one another.” Of course, there was some competition, too, and Goyette explains very succinctly how that drove them as artists: “I rapped all the time in the Valley,” he says. “I lived here, I knew these people, but if I

knew people from other parts of the city were going to see me, and compare me to people in their neighborhoods at block parties and shows and little birthday parties every week? I have to bring it.”

Going to Battle Supernova says that the Destination Crew and the W.E.C. Connection, both out of Great Brook Valley, were rival crews, and that the sense of competition was a driving force in the scene. “That’s when I was kind of coming up,” says Supernova, “seeing that. You would just battle people on the streets, and you’d get a crowd of people around you, there was that kind of enthusiasm for it. People were recording, too, but battling … it was everything. From the b-boys to the DJs, everyone was doing that stuﬀ . It was a big part of the culture.” Charles Saﬀ ord, the WCUW DJ known as Chuck Chillin’, fondly remembers the competitive spirit between local hip-

Michele Vazquez (Mini-Dee). DYLAN AZARI

See HISTORY, Page 18

Mini-Dee and the Girleez perform in 1991 at Clubland, now the Palladium. Mini-Dee, center, whose real name is Michele Vazquez, “was unknowingly 4 months pregnant with my son Jorhi who has totally followed in my footsteps. We performed 2 songs: ‘When Can I Sleep All Night With You?’ and ‘Question Me Not.’ We had audio trouble and ﬁ nished acapella with standing applause!” Girleez members Jessica Foley, left, and Bobbiejo Berrios are also shown. PROVIDED PHOTO

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History Continued from Page 17

hop artists, saying that, “even though people were battling each other, it wasn’t that serious. It was like Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ video. Like, literally. The crews would come at each other kind of like serious, but once you get out there, and the music starts going … by the time you were done, crews were shaking hands, thanking out and doing their thing. It was no beef. … once the music dropped, everyone came out with their crew, came out with their people and formed a circle, everyone got to come out and do what they do, and the crowd loved you for it. Nobody was criticizing nobody, and if you messed up, you just keep it moving.” It was that spirit that also drew Danny Rosario, who rapped with the W.E.C. Connection and is now a police detective, on top of producing albums and fi lms. “It was never meant to bring together people in an angry way.” That said, Rosario says that some rappers defi nitely dominated in the battles. “Kaz, as a young man, was the most lyrically talented,” says Rosario. “He was right at the top. Gary Goyette, he was from the Valley, everybody wanted to be Gary. He was just diff erent. He was very good. He’d show up at a party, grab the mic, and the place would just erupt. … I can’t recall a single time that any of those battles ended up in violence. It wasn’t part of the culture. Even when battles would get aggressive in tone and words, you’d see those guys shake hands, acknowledge each other’s skills, and that would be the end of it.” Not that the scene was entirely without danger. “There was something always going on,” says Bastien, of hip-hop’s early days in Worcester. “You had a vibe to get out there and perform. I remember having rap battles in the kitchen

The hip-hop ensemble Chaos, featuring Beatmaster Blaze, DJ Chilly B and MC Kaz Supernova. PROVIDED PHOTO

against some dudes at a party. Music playing, people beatboxing … another guy beatboxing while someone rapped. Then the goons would come out, and you had to recognize that they were the dudes you didn’t (expletive) with. It was real. If I had to use one word to describe the scene, it was real.” The early generation of Worcester artists were, after all, mostly still kids, and if they pushed each other to be better as artists, they were also looking to each other for support, and would frequently congregate each other’s houses. Lucas recalled that his mother welcomed the young artists, rather than have her son be out elsewhere. “Even though we were all individual producers and songwriters, rappers and MCs,” says Lucas, “we would all collaborate with each other, and we would all hang out together.”

‘I’ve got a beat for you’ Whether it be Lucas’s house or other places, such as Skylite, these informal spaces proved to be incubators for talent, where the young artists would experiment and try new things, both with rapping and production, which was important at a time when kids from diﬀ erent

schools and neighborhoods had few chances to interact. Vazquez, for instance, says that, when she transferred from North High School to South High School, she “met a lot of cousins I didn’t know I had, like Gary Lucas. … The funny thing is, I always knew he sang and everything, and then one day, some of us went over, and had no idea he had a little studio in the house … It was just funny, we were just joking around, then suddenly he was like, ‘Hey. Cuz, I’ve got a beat for you!’ And a poem that a friend wrote actually for a boy ended up being a rap. It was just fun, we only got to record two songs, but the fun around it, the culture, the family vibe. Everybody was so encouraging and inspirational.” Keith Muhammad, one of the founders of the W.E.C. Connection who now performs as K Fingers, recalls he met Supernova and his musical partner, Blaze Myllion, at Skylight. “There were diﬀ erent pockets of rap hubs,” recalls Muhammad. “The Valley had the Destination Crew with Gary Gee, and of course Wilie D. … Over on the West Side, is where you got your Furior Three, with Mike McGhee (Hank Scorpio), Bob Bastien and DJ Ram (Ralph Moore) … we all used to hang

out. Kaz and Blaze, their DJ Chilly B, Ralph’s brother Bruce Moore. We all used to hang out on the West Side, and go to each other’s houses and DJ, rap, and jam … Blaze had a way of making beats that was unbelievable. He’d get a drum machine and would do things with that machine that were unbelievable. So on top of all this lyrical inspiration going on, there was this growing interest in keyboards, and drum machines and production.” Muhammad laughs when he thinks how diff erent it is now. “Before Pro Tools, we had tape decks and four-tracks.” Barnes adds that, “We did a lot of pause tapes. We’d record stuff , pause, record stuff , pause. See what we’d come up with.” Dinsdale recalls that he got his fi rst DJ gig at Skylite, which had already become a hip-hop magnet. “Before I even got into DJing,” says Dinsdale, “everybody was dancing and b-boying. …” Soon after Dinsdale started, DJ Chilly B, DJ Ram and others would also get to DJ, and the scene grew from there. “In ‘86 was the fi rst actual show that I did,” says Dinsdale, who recalls he wasn’t actually in the booth, but set up on a table in front of it. “Gary Gee, Gary Lucas and his group at the time.” A lot of the growing interest in hip-hop came from the radio, of course, but it was also fueled by the increasing popularity of b-boy dancing, which was where many of the artists who would become rappers and DJs began. That includes Davis, whom many credit as the city’s fi rst b-boy, helping import the style from the Bronx by way of Jamaican family connections, and Supernova, who actually taught a class on the style for Charlotte Klein Dance Studios as a teenager. “I think everybody who grew up in the culture was a b-boy at one time,” says Bastien. “I was part of a breaking crew, spinning on cardboard in front of City Hall and all that.” Barnes concurs, saying, “everyone in the neighborhood was pretty

much into it. We used to have linoleum with the cardboard boxes in the middle of the street, and we’d dance.” Supernova says that at Skylite, “the b-boys had the whole back corner. You didn’t even skate in a circle, the corner was coned off . There were all-night skates there, and at midnight, they would stop the skating and have a dance party, and the b-boys would dance in the center.” Other artists painted graffi ti, or beatboxed. Genre was fl uid, even if many landed as rappers or DJs. According to Benson, experimenting with art was the most important thing. “The crew had diff erent things,” he says, “rappers, MCs, DJs. The cats that made the music. Everything was based around the DJ. The crew was like family. We just rocked together, and sometimes you battled other crews. It was fun at the time. We were young teenagers, and that kept us out of trouble. Hip-hop was really important. It saved a lot of lives, kept a lot of people out of jail, even though we didn’t know that at the time.” Still, the desire to perform to bigger crowds, even pursue fame, was inevitable.

‘We didn’t have any other outlet Saﬀ ord – who began hosting his still-running show on WCUW about this time – says that local artists would “slip me a tape or a CD and I would give it a listen, and I would give them feedback on it, and it’s honest feedback. If it sucked, I’m gonna tell you it sucked. If I liked it, I’m gonna tell you I liked it, and I’ll give it some rotation. My show was on from 11 at night to six in the morning, so we had a big long format, where people had every opportunity to get at me, to get their music heard.” Rapper Shawn Christopher Jackson – who performed at the time as Kquaz and currently See HISTORY, Page 19

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 19

Gino Figueroa (MC Spice) and Willie Martinez (Willie D.), who both came from the Bronx, are shown in the White Eagle on Aug. 15. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

History Continued from Page 18

as Papa Shawn Boo – laughs as he recounts the excitement of hearing his song on the air. “I’m saying, that made me popular,” he says, “We didn’t have any other outlet. … We’re talking about a radio station here. You could drive in your car and listen to it. To hear Chuck introduce it, and to hear people call in after, you could hear the response from them. It was big. We’re talking about 1990. There was nothing like that. You’d go to Green Street Pizza and everyone’s like, ‘Hey, I just heard them play your stuﬀ .’” For Twine-Haig, “Working with the kids (at WCUW) became a really big thing. I helped quite a few kids get their start and move on to bigger and better things. It’s one of those things where mainstream people didn’t understand them. All they see are a bunch of little wannabes and thugs. And some of them were thugs, but it was the nature of the beast, and they wanted to be there. They wanted to do creative stuﬀ . They promised and pledged to keep all their gang (expletive) out of the station, and I would say 90% of it, it

stayed away, out of respect for the fact that this was a resource for us.” She says the attitude of the kids throwing tapes at WCUW and using the resource to hone their skills was, “We like this, we need to do this. we’re gonna do this.” She also attests that Green Street Pizza played Safford’s show all night, so kids would gather there to listen. Indeed, several people mentioned that local hip-hoppers and rockers mingled, given its proximity to the now-defunct Sir Morgan’s Cove and another ﬂ ashpoint for local hip-hop, the White Eagle, a bar and entertainment venue that still operates on Green Street. “My mom would say, let’s rent out the White Eagle and throw on a show,” says Lucas, “everyone would showcase their talent.” Centro Las Americas was another popular spot. “All the city would come. We’d throw a four-hour hip-hop party. Scratch DJs would do their routine, it was almost like a little event. It was cool, man. We did not know what it was going to become.” “The White Eagle is one of the oldest establishments in the city, I believe they’re grandfathered in, so I believe they don’t have to have wheelchair See HISTORY, Page 20

Charles Safford (Chuck Chillin’) at the White Eagle. Safford was among the original generation of Worcester hip-hop artists. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

20 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

History Continued from Page 19

access,” says Saff ord. “With the big room upstairs, that is a challenge, especially when you have to go up this steep fl ight of steps … I remember many nights of having to lug turntables, mixers, wire … Every piece of equipment was heavy. Most of us DJs liked the long mixers, with the graphic equalizers and the sound eff ects on it, and then the speakers themselves. It wasn’t power speakers, everything was passive, so you had to have that big, heavy-duty amp that would push out that power to those big, heavy speakers. You had to have, like, a road crew with you to move that stuff , oh man.” You also had to bring crates of vinyl albums. Putting on a show up there was a commitment, and one many artists from the community were happy to make. As the scene grew, other clubs emerged that catered to the young hip-hop acts and fans, most notably the Uptown, which was in the basement of the old Worcester Galleria, and Club Hideaway, which was underneath what’s now the Hanover Conservatory. “You’ve got to remember that, mid-’80s, early ‘90s, a lot of us were still under 21 years old. Uptown was the Mecca of teenage hangouts, if you will. It was like an adult nightclub, but no one there was technically an adult yet,” says Benson. That magnifi ed the appeal. “It was all about the music,” he says, “because there was no alcohol. It was about the dance crews, the DJs, and they opened the mics to let rappers go. With Uptown, (current Unity Radio president) Ernie Floyd was going to four in the morning. Ernie began bringing people like Biz Markie (who died earlier this year) and Big Daddy Kane,” and proximity to major and upand-coming artists had a defi nite impact. “It was amazing,” says Lu-

From left, early Worcester hip-hop artists Willie Martinez (Willie D.), Francisco Torres (Mr. Sweet), Charles Safford (Chuck Chillin’), and Gino Figueroa (MC Spice) in the Arcadia room above the White Eagle. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

cas, who opened the show with Goyette and Dinsdale. “I wish we had video of that out. Halfway through Biz Markie’s set, he brought Kane out, and he performed the song, ‘Raw.’” According to Barnes, Kane later made an unannounced appearance at Club Hideaway that night, and performed a 13minute long version of the same song. “Raw” would go on to be Kane’s fi rst major hit. “Those guys weren’t even household names yet,” says Saff ord. “Biz Markie was known, and he brought Kane. He wasn’t even a known factor yet.” He also wasn’t the only soon-to-be-famous face that made their way through Uptown. “Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Kid & Play, Queen Latifah … we met all those people,” says Saff ord, “but we knew them by their real names, not their artist names. We had met Common, and we had met Queen Latifah, and Stetsason-

ic, and the great thing about it was these people were so down to earth. Normal people, then BOOM!” T La Rock – the ﬁ rst artists signed to Def Jam Records – also hit Worcester for a notable show at Club Hideaway. Mostly, though, local hiphop artists stayed performing in the region, while trying and failing to get signed to New York-based record labels. They still performed at local clubs and music halls, at showcases at schools and at places such as Clubland, which is now the Palladium. Some, such as Lucas, moved away for a time. Others, such as Muhammad, left the scene entirely for a time, while some, such as Dinsdale, began also working in other musical genres. “I think that it just came to a point where some people got discouraged,” says Vazquez. “Some people tried their luck, moving to Boston, New York,

down South … I remember a bunch of dudes talking in the corner, ‘We just need to go down South, and we’ll get signed, really fast. You listen to the music today, and it doesn’t make any sense. All you need is a good beat.’ But guess what? They were all back in Worcester, they were just trying to recreate that vibe from when it ﬁ rst started, recreate the fun.” Nationally, too, the genre’s reputation became tarnished by an association with violence in the media. “Rap, it got a bad name,” says Benson. “You could have one ﬁ ght, and it would have nothing to do with the music, but they don’t want that type of crowd over there.” Lucas saw that come to a head at his 21st birthday party at the Marriott Hotel. “We ended up having to shut it down,” he says. “It was a packed party, everybody came out, Chuck Chillin’ was spinning, DJ Shame was spinning, all the

groups were performing. There was a beef between the Val Top Crew and the Kilby crew. It was packed, but because there was a fi ght that was about to break out, we had to shut it down. We had it under control, too, because I was friends with all of them. That’s why they were at my 21st birthday party: To show love and have a good time. But it was a full house, and security got nervous.” The vibe changed, and by the mid-’90s, the scene hit a lull for a while, until a new generation emerged, both bringing new voices and stirring some of the veterans back into action. Some, like Martinez, who now performs with Gino Figueroa (aka MC Spice), have never really left the scene. He’s eyeing an album release in the near future, as are Jackson and Muhammad. Lucas, who has since moved to North Carolina, is largely producing albums for other artists. Rosario has largely moved to fi lm, and Supernova has been immersed working on completing the “Wortown Rising” documentary and curating the Worcester Hip-Hop Congress’ Living Local Archive. Dinsdale, who has moved to Florida, is still active as a DJ, as are Davis and Barnes, who remained local. Saff ord, of course, can be heard on WCUW deep into the night on Saturdays. They’re joined now by an ever-growing roster of artists, in a scene that emerged from its hibernation largely rejuvenated, if perhaps not completely aware of what had become before it locally, which is pretty much the nature of arts scenes. “At the time,” says Lucas, “everybody looked at rap as a fad. ‘This isn’t going to go anywhere, you’re wasting your time. Get a real job.’ They were knocking it so much we were kind of like misfi ts, doing what we wanted to do, and believing in it, but a lot of people were just doubting us. As hip-hop started gaining momentum, the young crowd was always there to support us. At the end of the day, that’s what it ended up being: All about the art.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 21

TABLE HOPPIN’

Being creative has kept Webster’s B. Kind Café aﬂ oat in tough times Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Ericka Labonte of B. Kind Café in Webster is among small business owners who has learned to be creative and think outside of the box just to stay afl oat. As a fi rst-time chef/owner, Labonte is fueled by goals and passions. Her story of COVID-19 survival is familiar, one of community support and strong worth ethic. Takeout was a pandemic lifeline until dine-in returned, said Labonte, and it continues to be a big part of the café’s business. B. Kind Café and Lounge, located at 8 Davis St., goes beyond breakfast, lunch and dinner, now off ering guests an expanded menu to include gluten-free and vegan options that attract diners throughout Worcester County, according to its owner. Sundays, guests not only enjoy food and drink, but also music, specifi cally blues, played by a pianist who takes song requests. There’s also a monthly Comedy Night (regularly sold out) and Friday Night entertainment with Tom Ford on guitar. Labonte described it as “easy listening music” for all age groups to enjoy. There’s dining on a small deck outside the entrance and occasionally at several outdoor tables, weather permitting. Labonte of Webster is originally from Brazil. She loves to cook but never pictured herself running a restaurant until after she became a GM for Domino’s Pizza. “A lot of stuff happened in between jobs and when I heard that this little place was up for lease, I pushed forward,” said Labonte. B. Kind is in space formerly occupied by Mama Dolce’s Café. The property lease was signed in 2016, but Labonte only has been in business for two years. “Besides having to buy all new equipment and spruce up the interior, I also had to have knee surgery,” said Labonte. “Honestly, it was a

Ericka LaBonte, who owns B. Kind Cafe and Lounge in Webster, with her sons, Lucian, left, holding her vegan lasagna, and David, holding her French toast with fruit. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

long stretch and fi nancial hardship before I told the property owner that I fi nally was able to open the doors. Things sometimes happen in life that you least expect. COVID is one of them. Surgery another.” B. Kind is about “healthy food” made from scratch on premise, said Labonte. She buys coff ee beans from Sturbridge Coff ee Roasters and fresh produce and eggs from a local farm where she has a CSA membership. Another local business she supports is Ice Cream Pharm in

Dudley. Her menu, with breakfast served all day, includes soups, salads, protein bowls, sides, Panini, desserts, smoothies, etc. Note: Muﬃ ns, pies, Brazilian macaroons and whoopie pies are popular treats. The owner welcomes customer requests. The café currently is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday; closed Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Check

Facebook for updates. It has a full liquor license and signature cocktails include Bloody Mary and classic margarita. Call (508) 461-7662 for takeout and weekend reservations. Catering is available. Visit www.bkindcafe.com, or connect on Facebook. There’s plenty of parking in lot next to the café. Note: B. Kind Café is hiring. Mother of three sons, Labonte supports community, joining other local See HOPPIN’, Page 23

22 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

LISTEN UP

Jafet Muzic shines on personal ‘92,’ his third oﬀ ering this year Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

No one can fault Worcester hip-hop artist Jafet Muzic on his work ethic. Fresh oﬀ his collaboration with local artists K’Nen and Danny Fantom, “Stanton Capitol Records Presents: Vol. 1,” and then his engrossing solo album, “The Art of Embracing Damage,” Muzic is now out with his third album of the year, “92,” named for the year he was born. What’s remarkable about this one is not that it’s good — Muzic has longproven that he’s one of the most talented rappers in the region — but just how diﬀ erent it sounds from his previous two major works, Moreover, there’s a cohesiveness about the album, a deliberateness that’s startling. This isn’t just throwing a bunch of leftover tracks together. This is a body of work that tells a single emotional narrative: The roots of the artist’s love of hip-hop. That’s not really where it looks like it’s going to go when the album begins, though. In an intro track that refrains periodically throughout the album, overlaid voices sing the praises of Muzic and his musical skills. Usually, when you see this sort of thing, it’s simply a prelude to a display of rapper braggadocio. You know, the place where rappers start chanting about how they’re the greatest, which is honestly kind of yawn-worthy these days. Muzik doesn’t actually do that here. Instead, he takes the chorus of voices singing his praises and steps away from it, instead shining a light on what drives him and his love for the art form and the people in his life.

In the fi rst instance, he launches with a love song built on a beat sculpted from a snippet of ‘60s soul, “Can’t Wait.” “I confess it proud, 20 years of building,” raps Muzic, “every single track and project plays the role of our children.” Muzic upends numerous clichés here, most notably the myth of the solitary artist who upends relationships in favor of his career. While it’s clear from the song that both the album’s persona and his partner have made sacrifi ces for his career, it’s also presented as a partnership, something that he gains strength from. It rings with honesty, aff ection and strength, and frankly, it’s beautiful in a way few rap songs allow themselves to be. That honesty and willingness to be vulnerable is a lot of what separates Muzic from the pack, along with his willingness to not just repeat tropes that have worked for other artists. The next track, “Never Be the Same,” is a portrait of an artist’s hunger — again, a thing we’ve seen before — but here he leans into a distaste for the trappings of fame, the toxic imagery of misogyny and violence. He still wants the success — that’s obvious — but he wants it on his own terms. He looks out at the rappers perpetuating toxic tropes with disdain: “Rich and famous watch a rapper play a role model/Little boys yelling at girls ‘swallow the whole bottle’/On the block holding the Glock, trending but don’t follow.” He claims he’ll “never be the same as them,” but what’s one to do when one renounces a commercial path while still beSee MUZIC, Page 23

Jafet Muzik's third album of the year is “92.” ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 23

Continued from Page 21

businesses in preparing packaged meals to-go for the Blessed Backpack Brigade Inc. of Dudley. The nonproﬁ t gives food to people in need, said Labonte, explaining that the group’s volunteers are on Davis Street monthly. B. Kind’s guests also are generous in money donations to the nonproﬁ t, she said. Labonte admitted opening and managing a restaurant isn’t easy. There are challenges as owners face rising food costs and labor shortages, she said. “I’ve had tremendous support,” said Labonte. “I really love what I do. Our customers are fantastic. Food brings us together no matter what cuisine.” Her message on the front of B. Kind’s menu: “Be kind. Be Joyful. Be Humble. Be Thankful. The most important Be You!”

Tomato contest season The state’s 36th Tomato Contest held Aug. 24 at the Boston Public Market drew 77

Muzic Continued from Page 22

ing driven to create art? The answer: Look for something deeper. That’s certainly what he does on the gorgeous, arresting “Diaspora,” which ﬁ nds Muzic rapping in Spanish and then in English to a Latin-music beat. There’s a sizzle to the track that steams from the opening notes, and it feeds in to the retro ‘80s rap-infused “Might Be It,” a retro piece that puts a modern spin on a classic sound, rapping, “from homeless shelters to project housing/Had to become myself to stand out in thousands.” It’s a ﬂ ex, sure, but it doesn’t read cocky. It reads

entries from 15 farms. The event, sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and Mass Farmers’ Markets, is designed to increase awareness of locally grown produce. “We are fortunate in the Commonwealth that farmers grow dozens of varieties of one of the most anticipated and popular crops of the season — tomatoes,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “The annual tomato contest celebrates this delicious summertime favorite and allows us to highlight the hardworking farmers who grow them every year.” Note: While no local farms won this time around many have taken home trophies in previous years. First place winners: Slicing category, E. Cecchi Farms in Agawam, with BHN872 tomato; Cherry category: Red Fire Farm in Montague, chocolate cherry tomato; Heirloom category: Freedom Food Farm in Raynham, moonglow tomato. Kimball Fruit Farm in Pepperell took ﬁ rst in the Heaviest

Tomato Category for a pineapple tomato weighing 2.550 pounds. The MDAR reports that of 7,241 farms in Massachusetts, 517 farms annually produce more than 6.3 million pounds of tomatoes on 569 acres of land with a value of an estimated $13.89 million. An additional 16.8 acres of tomatoes are grown in greenhouses. Visit www.massgov.org for list of farmers markets and farm stands where you can buy local produce. Tomatoes are paired with eggplant in this easy-to-make dish.

like someone who deeply understands the genre and its roots. “Y’all sound the same underground or mainstream,” he raps, and the listener can feel the bite, even as they’re overtaken by the groove. When we return to the voices singing his praises, they’re now talking about these same subjects, framing the desire for the freshness Muzic delivers as something for which there’s a hungry audience. He’s not wrong. It’s also interesting here how the cadence of the voices falls within the beat, their speech patterns incorporated into the rhythm of the album, which means one of the album’s driving beats is the audience’s stated need. When we return to the mu-

sic, we have “Live On,” a tightly wrapped ode to growing up listening to hip-hop, “bumping Nas and Jay (Z).” He describes himself here as having “always been a hip-hop nerd, as far as I could go back.” The song talks about how the music got him through a hard youth, and it rings with aﬀ ection. That continues into “Wish I Could Fly,” a song which starts with a sort of meditation on gratitude for having survived a hard youth, and then moves into an elegy for the late rapper Prodigy, whose work he loved. It’s a brisk, disarming piece of work, an it sets the stage nicely for the next song, “What You Want.” Here, Muzic changes up the beat, playing with a dirty funk groove, which amps up

Eggplant tomato casserole 1 medium eggplant, sliced Salt 8 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 cloves garlic, mined 4 large ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped 1 ⁄ 4 teaspoon salt 1 ⁄ 8 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon sugar 1 ⁄ 2 cup bread crumbs 1 ⁄ 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese Sprinkle both sides of eggplant slices generously with

salt. Put slices on paper towels and let stand about 30 minutes. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in skillet and sauté garlic for 1 to 2 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes, 1⁄ 4 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mix sugar, bread crumbs and cheese. Rinse eggplant slices in cold water and pat dry. Dredge each slice in crumb mixture. In large skillet, heat remaining olive oil and sauté eggplant until tender; drain on paper towels. Place a layer of eggplant in a greased 2quart casserole. Cover eggplant with a layer of tomatoes, then the remaining crumb mixture. Repeat layers until the vegetables are gone, ﬁ nishing with a topping of crumb-cheese mixture. Bake for30 minutes, or until the top is browned. Makes 6 servings.

are a safe option but that they come with downsides, too. He said he decided to keep with paper menus for a while. “If we have a late delivery and it affects menu specials the menu is disposable,” he said. Dining out at a city restaurant last week, our party got wrinkled paper menus that in my opinion should have been in the recycle bin. My menu also had food splatters and coﬀ ee (or whatever) stains on it. Yuck, grab the hand sanitizer! We say, how about checking that paper menu before it’s dropped on the table. If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoiulefood@gmail.com.

Ditch the dirty menus The COVID-19 pandemic had restaurants rethink menus when re-opening, with some of them moving away from laminated menus and opting for disposable ones. A restaurant owner recently told me that single-use menus

the song’s heat. The song’s something of a counterpoint to “Can’t Wait,” a statement of love that both bookends the album and, seemingly, the persona’s career. It’s an extremely compelling musical statement. After another cascade of voices, Muzic winds down to “Last Dance,” wherein he expresses gratitude to the people and artists who have brought him to this point: “It’s the last dance let’s have a glass toast/ Dedicated to the legends and the past goats/It’s for the essence of my spirit from above/ It’s for hip-hop I did it for the love/I did it for the love.” That love permeates the album, a shining, deeply personal statement that radiates through every song.

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24 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CONNELL SANDERS

School-Based Health Centers among Worcester schools’ most underrated assets Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Before Courtney Pelley became the Chief of Staff at Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, she worked as a high school chemistry teacher. “As a new teacher, it took me a while to learn that the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) was there and to understand how it both worked together with and diff ered from a traditional school nurse’s offi ce, but eventually I did,” she explained. “From that point on, whenever I noticed that one of my students was struggling to see what was written on the board, or was dealing with food insecurity at home, or was in need of a physical examination in order to participate on an athletic team, or was suff ering from pain associated with a decaying tooth, or was experiencing anxiety due to violence in the community, I referred them to the SBHC where they could receive services on-site at school and be connected to the services that they needed outside of school.” I told Pelley the story of getting a fall physical in the SBHC at my own high school, nearly two decades ago. I remember I had struggled to schedule a visit with my pediatrician before the start of the cross country season and my coach referred me to Doherty Memorial High School’s nurse practitioner. Back then, I was struck by the ease of the visit; the nurse managed to squeeze me in at the end of the school day whereas my own doctor’s offi ce told me it would take months to secure an appointment. She gave me my check-up and had me back out on the running trails in no time. My coach was relieved, and so was I. Family Health Center of Worcester continues to operate Doherty’s SBHC, along with six others across the Worcester Public Schools. Edward M. Kennedy operates fi ve SBHC’s in the city, including one at the school where I am now a teacher. “This collaboration enables us to provide better access to the SBHCs, but it also improves the quality of care provided by sharing best practices, resources and strategies to best reach the

Edward M. Kennedy’s providers offer Worcester Public School students convenient physicals, sports medicine, care for acute and chronic illness, immunizations, and more. SUBMITTED PHOTO

students,” said Pelley. “Given the size of the district, it also helps to maximize our reach, both within the schools, but also at pop-up events like vaccine clinics.” Edward M. Kennedy’s providers oﬀ er Worcester Public School students convenient physicals, sports medicine, care for acute and chronic illness, immunizations, and more. As with my own experience, many students and families remain unaware that these services exist in their schools until they are directed by a teacher or a coach. I promised Pelley that I would explain to all of my incoming students how special it is to have access to an SBHC and help them to take advantage

if they are in need. Pelley cites enrollment as the primary challenge. “A student needs to afﬁ rmatively enroll in the SBHC in order to receive care,” she said. “This means a parent or guardian needs to sign and return the paperwork to enroll the student in care.” The paperwork is set to go home with students over the next couple of weeks. Every year, Pelley hopes to reach 100% enrollment, but she relies on teachers, school administrators and community members to get the word out. “Another challenge is the lack of funding mechanisms to support the school-based health centers,” Pelley

told me. “We hope that the expansion into dental will help generate some additional revenue through patient visits, and work to further fi ll this gap.” Right now, dental is off ered at Norback Elementary School and Roosevelt Elementary School. Pelley is determined to off er dental at every SBHC in the near future. My wish for the start of the new school year is that all of my students will be healthy so they can reach their full potential. You can help too. Make sure the Worcester Public School students in your orbit know about the on-site services in their buildings and encourage them to enroll if they feel like it’s the right fi t.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 25

NEW ON DVD

‘In the Heights’ soars from stage to screen The fi lm adaptation of LinManuel Miranda’s fi rst Broadway musical tops the DVD releases for the week of Aug. 31. “In the Heights”: Set in Washington Heights, the Manhattan neighborhood Miranda grew up in, the story concerns a young Dominican bodega owner and an assortment of other characters during a hot summer in the city. “The earnestly ebullient “In the Heights” fi rmly established the Miranda signature sound, a blend of hip-hop and Latin music with big, bold, brassy Broadway ballads; a style born and bred of New York City,” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review of the fi lm. “The play is seemingly a direct descendant of ‘West Side Story,’ or at least in conversation with it, but Miranda’s outlook is far sunnier than the Jerome Robbins classic.” Directing the fi lm adaptation is Jon M. Chu, who previously helmed “Crazy Rich Asians” as well as several movies in the “Step Up” franchise. “Chu crafts a brash, culturally specifi c and celebratory fi lm that is a whole lotta musical,” Walsh writes. “There are Busby Berkeley-style musical numbers, a cast of thousands and characters bursting into song and dance at every moment. It’s sincere, deeply felt and completely, refreshingly unabashed about it.” ALSO NEW ON DVD AUG. 31 “Spirit Untamed”: The second fi lm in the “Spirit” franchise, this animated feature follows a young girl and her unique connection to a wild horse. “12 Mighty Orphans”: Based on a true story, Luke Wilson plays a high school football coach leading a team of orphans in Depression-era Texas. Also stars Robert Duvall. “Beasts of No Nation”: Criterion release of the 2015 Netfl ix fi lm directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga about a child soldier in an unnamed African nation’s civil

Anthony Ramos appears in a scene from “In the Heights.” WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT VIA AP

war. “Blue Bloods: The Eleventh Season”: The most recent season of the CBS police procedural starring Tom Selleck, which concluded in May after a shortened run of 16 episodes due to the pandemic. “Fear the Walking Dead: Season 6”: The sixth season of the AMC zombie-apocalypse spinoﬀ introduces a cult leader and his zealous followers. “NCIS: New Orleans: The

Final Season”: The seventh and last season of the CBS series starring Scott Bakula and his team of naval investigators based in the Crescent City. “The Good Doctor: Season 4”: The titular doctor and his girlfriend deal with an unexpected pregnancy while the medical team struggles to handle the pandemic in the most recent season of the ABC drama. “Bugsy Malone” (Blu-ray): Freshly remastered to mark its

45th anniversary, director Alan Parker’s movie musical stars Jodie Foster and Scott Baio in an all-child cast set in the world of 1920s gangsters. “Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms” (Bluray): Animated feature fi nds the Earthrealm champions fi ghting the forces of an evil warlord in the fi nal Mortal Kombat tournament. OUT ON DIGITAL HD AUG. 31

“Jungle Cruise”: Based on the Disney theme park ride, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star in this swashbuckling adventure ﬂ ick that ﬁ nds them going down the Amazon River in search of a plant with super healing powers. “A Wake”: LGBTQ family drama concerning a religious family as the surviving siblings and their parents gather for the wake of a deceased brother.

26 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

5 THINGS TO DO

Geoﬀ Tate, High Command and more ... Richard Duckett and Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Geoff Tate, former lead singer of Queensryche, is set to perform at Rascals. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Metal Legend If you’re a fan of classic prog-metal favorites Queensryche, then there’s a show for you coming up at Rascals: The band’s frontman Geoff Tate is touring to support the 30th anniversary of Queensryche’s seminal albums, “Empire” and “Operation:Mindcrime.” It’s an exciting prospect: Tate is easily one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time, and Queensryche’s music – particularly the two albums in question – was technically adroit without relinquishing any of the grit of the era’s rock ‘n’ roll, and the songs themselves were compelling and thought-provoking. Not enough? Opening the show is rocker-actor Kurt Deimer, accompanied by Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X. Deimer has been making a splash lately with his down-and-dirty rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar,” and all told, this looks like a great night of straight up rock ‘n’ roll. (VDI) What: Geoff Tate with Kurt Deimer When: 8:15 p.m. Sept. 8 Where: Rascals, 70 James St., Worcester How much: $40

The Duende Project perform Sunday at Nick’s Bar and Restaurant. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Seeking Duende The Duende Project is one of the most unique musical experiences in the region. Featuring acclaimed Worcester poet Tony Brown, accompanied by drummer Chris O’Donnell, guitarist Chris Lawton and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Steven Lanning-Cafaro, the band eschews the clichés of “poetry and music fusion,” and hits something

a bit wilder, sometimes transforming poetry to a punk rock or funk experience, other times coming up with collaborations that are sublime and beautiful. (VDI) What: The Duende Project When: 4 p.m. Sept. 5 Where: Nick’s Bar and Restaurant, 124 Millbury St., Worcester How much: Free, donations accepted to pay the performers.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 27

‘Art for liberation and for life’ Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012) was a pioneering sculptor and printmaker and is considered to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Exploring themes around injustice, motherhood and the Black-American experience, Catlett’s work utilized a sleek, modern aesthetic to promote social equity and confront injustice, especially to African-Americans. In her words, “I always wanted my art to service my people — to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential. We have to create an art for liberation and for life.” The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross will present an exhibition of artwork by Catlett, “The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis,” on view from Sept. 7 through Dec. 15. An accompanying lecture by Rebecca Van Diver, professor of art history at Vanderbilt University, will take place during official opening events at 4 p.m. Sept. 9 in Holy Cross’ Rehm Library. A reception will follow in the gallery. A series of noontime lectures in conjunction with the exhibition will take place throughout the fall semester. (RD)

What: “The Art of Elizabeth Catlett from the Collection of Samella Lewis” When: Sept. 7 through Dec. 15; the galley is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Where: The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, 1st Floor O’Kane Hall, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester. How much: Free. For more information visit www.holycross.edu/cantorartgallery. “A Woman in Every Color,” v by artist and civil rights activist Elizabeth Catlett. CANTOR ART GALLERY

Keep on Truckin’ You might see a different kind of truck out and about in the Worcester area the next few days. The Concert Truck is a mobile music venue that strengthens communities by redefining the concert experience and making live music accessible to everyone. Pianists Nick Luby and Susan Zhang of Baltimore have converted a 16-foot box truck into a fully functioning mobile concert hall, complete with lights, sound system and piano. Since then, The Concert Truck has presented concerts across the country — anywhere you can think to park a truck. After a week of performances throughout Worcester’s elementary schools and retirement communities, The Concert Truck will perform a public Summer@MW concert outside Boylston’s Hillside Complex Sept. 10. Luby and Zhang will be joined by New York-based bassoonist and composer Joy Guidry. The Concert Truck tour is presented by Music Worcester. Also, be on the look out for Fidelity Bank ice cream truck. (RD)

w Concert Truck with pianists Nick Luby and Susan Zhang will be joined by musician Joy Guidry when the truck comes Sept. 10 to the Hillside Complex in Boylston. PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

What: Concert Truck with Nick Luby and Susan Zhang, pianists, and Joy Guidry, bassoon When: 6 p.m. Sept. 10 Where: Hillside Complex (outside), 215 Main St., Boylston How much: Free. Patrons should bring chairs or blankets for open seating on the lawn. They may may also bring food or drinks to enjoy during the performance

Grafton Flea Market, Inc. OPEN EVERY SUNDAY OUTDOOR/INDOOR

6am - 4pm High Command has, for the past few years, been one of Worcester’s most talked about metal bands, and with good reason. One need only listen to the band’s 2019 album, “Beyond the Wall,” to hear how well they marry imagination with hard-core instrumentation. More recent work, such as the singles “Everlasting Torment” and “The Infernal March/Search for Wisdom,” continue that streak, demonstrating that not only is this one of Worcester’s hardest-rocking bands, but also smart musicians with an excellent grasp of technique. (VDI)

• Acres of Bargains • Hundreds of Vendors • Thousands of Buyers • 52nd Season

What: High Command with Blazon Rite and Immortal War When: 8 p.m. Sept. 4 Where: Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester How much: $10

Rte. 140, Grafton/Upton Town Line

Grafton Flea Is The Place To Be! High Command will perform Sept. 4 at Ralph’s Rock Diner. PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

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28 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Mookie 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. Meet Mookie! Mookie originally came to us all the way from St. Thomas Humane society in 2018. After being adopted a couple times and brought back, sweet Mookie has yet to fi nd his perfect match. He would be OK with older respectful children and some other dogs. This depends on the other dog’s personality and he appreciates a slow introduction. His next home needs to be a special one and we are confi dent that the next will be his last. He is looking for a family who is home most of the time because he has separation anxiety. This causes him to continuously search for his family when they are gone. It would be great if his next adopter was versed in anxiety in dogs and was patient and understanding as to what Mookie is going through. He is able to climb fences and would be able to go out window screens if given the chance. When put into a home, Mookie loves his family with all his whole heart and it’s very hard for him to be alone, especially since other families have given up on him in the past. He is housebroken, calm in the home and loves affection and cuddles. He likes meeting new people and enjoys going for walks and exploring the outdoors. He is excited about his toys and likes to jump and play, but would much rather have your attention and love. This sweet soul is truly looking to be rescued and fi nally put into a stable home where he

will not have to wonder when it’s time to go back to the shelter. If you would like more information about Mookie or you would like to set up an appointment to meet him, please contact the shelter. WARL COVID-19 Procedures As of Nov. 9, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we want to share with you some changes we have implemented so that we can continue to serve the pets and people of our 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) 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 honored. 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 as-

Mookie is available through WARL’s animal adoption program. PHOTO COURTESY SARA MCCLURE

sist 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 Pro-

gram 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 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 29

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30 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J O N E S I N’

Enjoy Fun By The Numbers puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test! Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

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Across 1 Joan who sang “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” 5 Shaq’s former college team 8 “Family Guy” dog 13 Laguna contents 14 Street through the middle of town 15 Casual eatery, in Canadian slang 16 Underground illegal activity that may be busted by the Feds 18 Passing notices 19 “Butter” group 20 Alla ___ (cut time, in music) 21 Adorable pet 22 Some negatively persuasive strategies 24 Goes by 27 Some med. insurance groups 28 Time magazine co-founder Henry 29 Intuitive ability 30 Sports drink ender 33 Unrealistic comparisons for real-life couples (since problems don’t often get resolved in 30 minutes) 38 Obnoxious person 39 Willful participant? 40 Fit one within the other 41 “Bye Bye Bye” group ‘N ___ 42 Former spelling of “Westworld” actress Newton’s name (she restored the W in 2021) 45 Turned up on the beach 49 Otherwise named 50 Moby-Dick, for one 51 URL ending, sometimes 54 Dwarves’ representative in the Fellowship of the Ring 55 Searchlight used in Gotham City 57 “___ Holmes” (Netflix movie) 58 Release, as energy 59 MC ___ (“Keep On, Keepin’ On” rapper) 60 Jorts material 61 ___ ipsa loquitur 62 Yoked animals

“It’s Symbolic”--a trip around the keyboard. by Matt Jones

Down 1 Door frame component 2 Multi-award-winning accomplishment 3 Margarine containers 4 Paving material 5 Shaq’s former pro team 6 Pasta-draining device 7 Release from a leash 8 Food that comes in florets 9 Counterargues 10 Question about Biblical betrayal 11 High point of a house 12 They get counted or turned up 14 Jazz vocalist Carmen 17 Basics 22 Built to ___ 23 AFL-CIO part 24 “Frozen” princess 25 “Sesame Street” human character for 25 years 26 Does something 29 To an advanced degree 30 Like some bourbons 31 Lucie Arnaz’s dad 32 90 degrees from norte 34 Strident agreement 35 Heal up 36 Optimistic “David

37 41 42 43

Copperfield” character 2nd or 4th of VIII? “Okay to proceed?” “In other words ...” “The Planets” composer Gustav 44 “Whose woods these ___ think ...”: Frost 45 Carried on, as a battle 46 Flaring dress style 47 Judge seated near Sofia 48 Ignominy 51 Stone used for chess sets 52 Give out some stars 53 Watkins ___, NY 56 Day-___ (fluorescent paint)

Last week's solution

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 31

LAST CALL

Liza French and Frankie Franco of ‘WooStories’ Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

The “WooStories” podcast, developed to provide Worcester’s youth with a voice during the pandemic, turned one year old last month. Developed by the Division of Youth Opportunities, “WooStories” operates on a seasonal basis, with a diff erent group of kids for summer, fall and spring programs. Producer Liza French and co-host Frankie Franco sat down with Last Call to discuss how the program has grown and plans for the future. “WooStories” is available on Spotify and Google Podcasts. How was this set up? What did you make podcasts about? Liza French: This past school year, we had a group of about six to seven fi fth-graders who we called the dream team, they were a podcast club. The fi rst series was about how to create a tool kit for youth to make podcasts at home during the pandemic. We got together three times a week and we discussed what they wanted to make podcasts about. Chose topics they wanted to know more about, like COVID, climate change and food justice. Since we were virtual with the dream team and meeting over Zoom, we used the record function to use the audio for the podcast. We would make it clear when it was a recording session and set up guidelines beforehand on expectations of behavior. Frankie Franco: I actually heard that this series helped somebody start their own podcast. How did you pick which kids would participate? LF: The podcast is kind of within the division of youth opportunities. We have the ability to touch upon the many programs that the DYO holds. So we reached out to the staff of program coordinators through Recreation Worcester, to see who would be interested and used a permission form. Just wanted to give anyone who was interested a platform. No real application process, just if you’re a youth involved with DYO or know about DYO. FF: “WooStories” is meant to capture the stories that don’t get captured. For youth to share their stories during the

Frankie Franco and Liza French run the “WooStories” podcast, developed to provide Worcester’s youth with a voice during the pandemic. ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

pandemic with the world as well as youth workers to discuss the support they need and the support they don’t receive. Where did the idea for this come from? FF: A lot of programs weren’t able to operate during the pandemic so youth lost that support. We thought they needed a platform to express certain things, to get these things out of their head, out of their heart. LF: Something that a lot of people working with youth in any way were struggling with, was trying to make virtual learning and virtual programming meaningful rather than a random Zoom call with multiple people participating in. “WooStories” was a way to take control of a situation that was otherwise uncontrollable. Part of the vision for when we started “WooStories” is that it

would be like a love letter to the city of Worcester. My hope is anyone who listens to the podcast feels like they can have ownership over the podcast in their own way and use it to amplify their story. We’re setting up opportunities for people to get involved but I hope that if anyone wants to reach out to us with a youth or youth centered story, we could be someone to help you tell that story. We wanted to make the whole virtual situation more meaningful and more engaging. How has “WooStories” changed over the last year? LF: I think it’s in a constant state of development based on new ideas at the DYO and from the youth themselves. And like Frankie said, we’ve seen the opportunity to highlight other youth programs and spread the word about the DYO’s diﬀ erent projects.

FF: “WooStories” aligns with the mission of DYO, where we’re always fl exible and meet the community and youth where they’re at. It’s changing in a way where it’s growing and we see the vision of where it could be. Plans for the future? LF: We are hoping to bring in older youth — high school age — to contribute to the podcast and work with them to develop their own stories. We want to help support them to create those stories. FF: We’re also looking for youth who have or want to learn certain media tech skills for opportunities in working with DYO for their youth media team. What kind of stories have you heard — any common threads? Favorite story? LF: My favorite episode was when one of the kids was really interested in coding. He was just so incredibly smart but he really had one focus that he was really interested in but he didn’t have a chance to talk about it with people. So he made a workshop to explain to other youth why it’s so important to him. We also had some very inspiring episodes about following your dreams and facing your fears and what it means to have dreams and fears. It’s very inspiring to hear such wisdom from 9- to 10-yearolds. If you give youth the chance to talk about what’s important to them, often you have incredible topics like that. And the youth worker series? FF: I was a co-host and we interviewed diff erent youth workers. Each episode had it’s own theme. Those who worked at schools, youth organizations and those who worked with youth on their personal time. Mentors can guide you to who you are today and those mentors don’t get highlighted enough. Each person names at least somebody who helped them along their journey. The second thing we learned was it takes a lot of selfcare to not get burned out from working with youth. That’s something they don’t teach you, that you need to take care of your mental health, even if you’re passionate about working with youth. You want to do the most you can to help others, but you have to take care of yourself fi rst. If you’re not all right then the work is not right.

32 | SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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Worcester Magazine September 3 - 9, 2021

Articles inside

Last Call

Adoption Option

Games

New on DVD

City Voices