Worcester Magazine October 8 - 14, 2020 by Worcester Magazine

OCTOBER 8 - 14, 2020 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES ...

Worcester suffers a year without its signature festivals

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O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

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O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020 • V O L U M E 46 I S S U E 7 Find us on Facebook.com/worcestermag Twitter @worcestermag Instagram: Worcestermag

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Holding out for a HERO

Clark University program studies the positive effects of trees in urban areas VEER MUDAMBI

trees in low-income neighborhoods leads to an effect known as urban hen we think of “green heat islands — areas of a city with a notably higher surface temperature initiatives” for comthan surrounding neighborhoods. munities, transitionAsphalt absorbs heat during the ing to renewable and day and reflects it back at night, so sustainable energy is what comes areas don’t cool sufficiently. In more to mind. For the last several years, densely populated areas, planting though, there’s been another ongotrees will mitigate this process. ing effort to make Worcester green Gateway cities are also characterin a more literal sense. ized by a high percentage of renters The goal of Clark University’s in older housing stock, which was Human-Environment Regional Obnot built with high quality insulaservatory program, or HERO, is to study the interconnections between tion and energy efficiency. There is relatively lower incentive to upgrade humans and the natural environment. While the scope is statewide, energy systems for such housing. Martin said that while she and the last 10 years have seen the program redirect its focus to a more her colleagues had discussed refocusing on Worcester in the last local level. “The common thread in our work couple of years, the COVID crisis accelerated the situation requiring is how people understand themlocal field work. selves in relation to the environIn all its 21 years, the HERO ment,” said Professor Deborah program has had a field component Martin, one of HERO’s primary with students traveling all over the faculty. In Worcester, this led to state. Working at Clark’s Hadwen working alongside the Department Arboretum, located about 15 minof Conservation and Recreation to study how to increase the city’s tree utes from campus, serves as a good alternative, said Professor John Ropopulation as well as its stewardgan, also of the HERO program. The ship and protection. arboretum was donated in the 1800s Every year, a cohort of students by horticulturist Obidiah Hadwen joins HERO in a full-year directed and boasts a number of exotic tree study, with an eight-week period species brought over from Asia. in the summer working as paid HERO helped add more trees researchers. When the 2008 Asian longhorned to the arboretum, something that hadn’t been done in 40 to 50 years, beetle infestation required the removal of thousands of trees in the according to Rogan. HERO students have set up their own projects at Worcester area, HERO studied the Hadwen, such as the impact of issue for a few years before branchmowing on species growth or quaning out to general urban forestry. tifying the effect of canopy cover Specifically, a planting initiative for on air temperature and quality by under-served communities, which taking air and surface temperature acted as a pilot for the DCR’s statereadings. wide Greening the Gateway Cities Once more, they teamed up program. Gateway cities are defined by the with the DCR to process data from heat sensors, in order to monitor Massachusetts Legislature as “midthe cooling effects of trees planted size urban centers that anchor regional economies around the state,” during the earlier greening initiafacing “stubborn social and econom- tive. The silver lining for the HERO ic challenges” while retaining “many program is that COVID provided a chance to slow down and analyze assets with unrealized potential.” existing data. From accumulated In other words, cities with lower data, it was learned that trees can than average median income and potentially mitigate heat islands higher than average renter populations, along with factors that reduce only five years after being planted. That is assuming, however, that investment in public programs, let new trees last that long. Planting alone tree planting. By increasing tree cover through- trees is only the first step — the out the state, Greening the Gateway second is ensuring their protecmay not only improve quality of life, tion and stewardship by the city. Martin said, but improve “energy ef- “People cut down trees without ficiency from the outside in.” Lack of really thinking about it,” said Martin.

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O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

Above, Professor John Rogan discusses a project with students Ari Nicholson (center), and Ahna Knudsen on a trail in Clark University’s Hadwen Arboretum Below, students spread mulch on a trail in the Arboretum. RICK CINCLAIR

FEATURED

“There’s nothing in our bylaws that encourages people to work around trees.” A future area of study for HERO students is to research urban tree protection policies across the country, and what could be applied to Worcester. She said Rogan’s work around the city and at the arboretum helps people have necessary discussions about how to protect Worcester’s urban forests. “HERO is sort of a winding road,” said Martin, discussing how the program returned to Worcester after its work in other parts of the state. “There are threads that connect in what we’ve done — coming back to Worcester has some resonance with

what we started doing in 2012 but now we’re starting to ask questions we didn’t ask before.” This new perspective, she describes, helps them look beyond the immediate planting of new trees to how to maintain the existing city tree canopy. Doing that requires changing the attitudes of people in the city toward trees — a slight switch on HERO’s normal mission. Instead of examining Worcester’s place in nature, they must understand nature’s place in Worcester.

RICK CINCLAIR

O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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Brookfield filmmaker hoped the thrill of ‘Red Fever’ proves contagious RICHARD DUCKET T

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O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

nside the walls of a compound, survivors wear homemade clothes and live without electricity and indoor plumbing. They grow their own healthy food and exercise regularly. The children attend school in a one-room schoolhouse, where they learn about Mother Savior, who built the compound to protect them from Red Fever, the disease that causes zombie-like cravings for human organs and ravaged the world. However, a young survivor named Mariana becomes suspicious after she witnesses disturbing events. It seems as though the survivors are being drugged and brainwashed. When a new survivor, Davis, arrives with his parents, Mariana forms an alliance with him and together they seek the truth about their compound and the outside world … What they discover may make temperatures climb in the dark thriller “Red Fever,” a short film that is scheduled to be shot this month at Old Sturbridge Village and the historic #2 Schoolhouse in Charlton with a cast of about 12. The writer and producer is Jenifer Stockdale of Brookfield, who specializes in suspense and horror. She has adapted “Red Fever” from her short story of the same name, which will be published in an anthology in November. Charles Alan directs. Mariana will be played by 13-year-old Maggie Montville of Dudley. While the movie “Red Fever” will stand on its own right, Stockdale is also hoping that the short might catch someone’s eye for backing as a full-length feature movie (the script for that is already written) or TV show/series. “Everyone loves the story. A lot of people compare it to ‘The Village,’” Stockdale said of the 2004 period thriller, written, produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. “I say it’s like ‘The Village’ only good. I have a much better story line.” “Red Fever” has “four or five twists, and the twist at the end is pretty big,” she said. At first you see what looks like Old Sturbridge Village surrounded by a fence, and so you might think the film is set in the 1700s or 1800s, Stockdale said. Then “you see modern people coming through and you think it’s kind of a cult. It twists

Maggie Montville, top left, stars in “Red Fever,” a short film by Jenifer Stockdale, bottom left. Above, a scene from the film, shot in the #2 Schoolhouse in Charlton. SUBMIT TED PHOTOS

you a few times. In the feature-length and TV version there are even more twists.” “She (Mariana) believes she’s being protected but after a while she notices things that are a little bit off “ Montville said of her character. “I think she has a soft side and a tough side. She’s very suspicious and notices a lot more things. She explores.” Preparations for shooting “Red Fever” were in full swing recently when Stockdale talked on the phone about what was going on. “We’re having a blast right now doing all the pre-production. We picked up a 10-foot chain link fence and razor wire on top of it,” Stockdale said. “It’s going to look pretty serious. Never a dull moment.” She had also just bought four dummies that she is going to dress up for a scene where people are being hypnotized. “With COVID you can only have so many people in the room. We can’t have any extras on the set. Everyone has to be tested, so I bought Halloween dummies. It looks like the room is full. It worked out well. They are hypnotized, so they’re not supposed to be moving anyway.” Stockdale and Alan held auditions by Zoom and cast 12 actors. “I’m in as a cameo (uncredited),” Stockdale said.

“Twelve actors and four dummies.” Stockdale sounded cheerful, but as she indicated, filming during a pandemic is no easy business and she takes her responsibilities seriously. “I’m following all the rules. I do not want to be in the paper with a COVID outbreak or someone dying,” she said. COVID testing also figured to be expensive, contributing to push the “Red Fever” budget to about $20,000 from original estimates of $14,000 to $15,000, Stockdale said. The film has an Indiegogo campaign at https:// www.indiegogo.com/projects/redfever-a-short-film#/. At the time of the interview, Stockdale joked that “Indiegogo is not going that fast.” Still, the locations of Old Sturbridge Village and Charlton are ideal for “Red Fever,” Stockdale said. The #2 Schoolhouse has chairs and desks that rise in height across each row. “It looks really cool.” A pre-shoot was done in the summer, and there are two days planned for filming on Oct. 18 and 19, with exterior shots at Old Sturbridge Village and interior filming at #2 Schoolhouse in Charlton. There is also the possibility of filming in the Rider Tavern in Charlton. “We should be able to get it done in two days,” Stockdale said. The

script is 23 pages long, and “Red Fever” will be under 30 minutes in length. Montville was being interviewed the same day the cast had had its first reading via Zoom. A student at Dudley Middle School, she said she began taking acting classes around the age of 7. She’s acted with Stageloft Repertory Theater in Sturbridge, the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, Connecticut, and the Pasture Bedtime Players in Charlton, and been in about 12 movies. She was recently seen in the short film “Boiler Pot” and the Netflix comedy “The Sleepover.” Asked if she has a preference in terms of stage or film, Montville said she likes both. “Honestly, I can’t even choose.” However, “Red Fever” is the first time she’s been cast in a lead role in a movie. “It’s very exciting,” she said. And she knows that acting is where she would like to see her future. “I would love to do that. This is my favorite thing to do — it’s kind of like a hard business but I’m hoping that I get to go far.” People have been rooting for her. For friends, “I think it’s kind of confusing for them with all the things I do, but they’re really supportive,” Montville said

Stockdale was a 4-year-old living on Martha’s Vineyard when she was cast in a small role for a movie that was filming there — “Jaws.” “I grew up loving movies,” she said. At home she would write plays and stage them in her basement with fellow neighborhood children. “If I had had a video camera, I would have probably made movies, but I’m doing that now,” she said. Stockdale wrote plays through college and had one staged by Cape Cod Community College at an arts festival weekend. “A few years I later stated writing screenplays.” She began getting involved with 48 Hours Film Project competitions in Boston, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and formed her own film production company, Cyclops-Snowman Productions, LLC, which has put out a couple of shorts including the dark comedy “The Sky is Falling.” Stockdale has been working with Charles Alan, whose background includes stage directing with the the Provincetown Theater, “so he had a bit of a learning curve (to movies) but he absolutely excels,” Stockdale said. “We were working together under high-stress activity to get the (48 Hours) movies done. He’s a good guy. I trust him with my baby, and this movie (‘Red Fever’) is my baby.”

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SUBMIT TED PHOTO

Starlite ventures to Middle Earth for outdoor event

instrumental set. Much like Moore and Graham, they’re also grateful for starlite being a welcoming place for artists and musicians while also treating them with value and appreciation. “For Sacred Lake, starlite has been a bastion of humanity in a sometimes thankless and ruthless industry,” keyboardist TJ Guzzetti talks about the venue. “Unlike many venue owners and promoters, Demetri actually spends the time to get to know the bands he features at starlite. He has frequently watched our entire set and given constructive feedback and endearing comments. Additionally, starlite has always treated our band like guests of honor and not just another act to fill seats. Demetri has made posters and personally promoted the gigs at his venue, which is something many bar owners often leave to the bands. “We were honored to be asked to play starlite’s Middle Earth fundraiser event when we were approached about it,” he adds. “Not only is this an awesome theme and an opportunity to play live, but it’s also an opportunity to do it for a special purpose.” All proceeds from the show will go toward starlite’s effort to pay for the many accumulated costs it has accrued over the past few months. There will also be an online donation link and a virtual livestream available for those who can’t make it but would still like to help in some way. Follow the art gallery and music venue’s Facebook page at facebook. com/starlitegallery.

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Left, Mike Moore of the band Fire in the Field; right, Sacred Lake. SUBMIT TED PHOTOS

usic venues all over the world are finding different ways to stay in business during this era of COVID-19. Some still have their doors shut but they’ve started GoFundMe pages for people to donate and keep their business afloat. Others have resorted to socially distanced outdoor shows, doing curbside pickup of food, canned beer and pre-made cocktails and livestreaming bands from their stage in a near empty room. The folks at starlite gallery on 39 Hamilton St. in Southbridge have always done things a little bit differently and this trend continues with what they have going on at 4 p.m. Oct. 11. It’s a Middle Earth-themed show with live bands, Tolkien-inspired cocktails, an art auction, a raffle and a lot more in an outdoor setting. The idea for the theme and the event came from starlite’s owner Demetri Kasperson. He pitched it to

his employees and a couple of acts who have performed regularly at the establishment and then it became a reality when it was announced last month. “I originally pitched the Middle

the title track of our 2020 album, “Resurrect,” was written on the starlite stage in a moment of improvisation. We were actually about to shoot the music video there for the studio track but then the pandemic hit. Needless to say, playing starlite always feels akin to coming home after a long journey. I feel quite lucky to have that lifeline in this crazy business so when the opportunity to do what I do best to help out with The Middle Earth Fundraiser was a no-brainer.” “When you walk into starlite, you get a sense of comfort right away,” Graham adds. “Demetri and the staff are helpful and cool, the bar area has a great vibe and there’s a big live room with a projector and quality sound, which is not always the case in clubs this size. After playing there a few times and talking with Demetri, I could tell that he was in this for the love of the arts. Starlite is a venue that has not just welcomed musicians of all styles to come together and perform, but also artists of all disciplines. My partner had an art show installed in starlite that showcased her sculpture, paintings and drawings when COVID-19 hit and venues were forced to close. The arts community needs places like starlite, small, intimate galleries where musicians and artists are welcomed and encouraged to leave it all on the stage.” Along with The Middle Earth Band, Hopkinton psychedelic funk act Sacred Lake will be closing the night as The Ringwraiths with an

O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

ROBERT DUGUAY

Earth theme to our staff and Mike Moore of the band Fire in the Field and Mat Jacobs of the band Sacred Lake,” Kasperson says. “They are both Massachusetts-based bands who have played regularly at starlite. I grew up as an avid J.R.R. Tolkien reader and have always enjoyed his various influences in rock music. I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate both the author, as well as classic and local artists in an outdoor setting where we could follow the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions enacted by the state. The event is limited to 40 people with advanced tickets, plus staff, and we will be serving catered food to socially distanced patrons.” The music portion of the evening will be kicked off with a performance of Tolkien poems and songs recited by Patrick Yeo as Tom Bombadil. Then The Middle Earth Band, consisting of Moore, his bandmate Jared Graham, Joel Rines from Jediah and Jay Frigoletto from The Diplomats Of Funk will be performing with special guests Lizzie Wheeler, Gracie Day and Cody Peck. Both Moore and Graham are excited to be a part of the unique show and they’re grateful for starlite’s role in the development of their band. Moore talks about how much the venue and its staff means to him. “Aside from the general aesthetic, which is totally singular, the true fostering of what someone might call a scene is built into its operation. We always get into a really experimental vibe playing there, so much so that

CITY VOICES

POETRY TOWN

What Matters RUSH FRAZIER

for Jamar Clark, and everyone else killed by police violence across the country If five people are shot outside a police station, does it make a sound? Can you hear it over cries for justice in the streets? If a Black church is bombed in the South, is anyone surprised? Does it make a sound? A sound that matters? Do all sounds matter? How close does the explosion have to be to a romantic destination? How close the explosion to your home? Do the victims have to look like someone you can identify with? Do the victims have to look like someone you can relate to? The frat boy in this bar hears the same Wednesday headlines as I do. His best thinking moves him to say aloud, “It’s just social Darwinism.” I pray to a god I don’t believe in, and a few that I do, that he chokes on something as small and dumb as he is. Does all death matter? All these smart kids, name sullied posthumously because they were Black and therefore less innocent and therefore flight risk someone felt need to take down, or cage, Overmonitor or tag-quick. Contain the freedom local schools could not silence, or smother, or recruit. Anyone can see it’s just systemic. Nothing natural about it.

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O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

Why do Black people gotta pay in advance and still get shortchanged? Why do Black people have to pay with their life? Be considered lucky if only browbeaten by police? Maybe I should say it in a romance language? Je suis Ferguson Je suis Chattanooga Je suis Worcester, Low-income Communities of color Overpoliced, underprotected, always suspected. Being a white liberal in the Northeast is easy. Mostly not risky. Listening to NPR, you can still find a way to blame it all on the South. The Midwest. Anyone not educated here. Where are you from? Where do you live? Can you register the life in this chest? Words issuing from this mouth? What sounds do I need to make in order to matter?

Rush Frazier (they/them) is a Black queer organizer and artist based in Worcester. Mx. Frazier twice represented Worcester at the National Poetry Slam, was co-grand marshal of the 2018 Worcester Pride Parade, and a past president of the Worcester County Poetry Association. Trans rights are human rights, get involved @Pride508 on Facebook.

FIRST PERSON

Opposed to Black Lives Matter

RICHARD CHAPEL

ideological theories.” The organization’s official platform, published in 2015, contains a specific call to ho/What is Black Lives “disrupt the Western-prescribed Matter as an organinuclear family structure.” Further, zation? I suspect the the organization dedicates itself to majority of people do “creating the conditions for Black not know. While they correctly Liberation through the abolition of support racial equality and equal systems and institutions of white justice, they do not wish for the supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy destruction of American democand colonialism.” Please note the racy, capitalism, the Constitution and the American way of life as we inclusion of a dedication to destroy have known it. Yes, America has its capitalism. Capitalism is what enabled America to grow into flaws and racial prejudice is a big one, but recent years have brought the most admired and desirable country to live in of all countries in significant change and far greater the world. Destroy capitalism and opportunity for blacks and other minorities. Yes, this change should you destroy the American Dream. Destroy capitalism and you destroy be accelerated but the violence, the opportunity through work and destruction and injury caused by smarts to succeed, an opportunity those under the banner of Black unsurpassed in the world. Lives Matter will not bring about Black Lives Matter is an openly positive change. Americans reject Marxist, anti-American group. arson, attempted murder, lootAnd, it is fully embraced by the ing and attacks against police as Democrat Party, media and all unlawful and worthy only of condemnation and prosecution of the the cultural surrogates calling for American Socialism. Black Lives perpetrators. If you cannot agree Matter is not about police. It’s not with this criticism of Black Lives about race. It’s not about justice. Matter then perhaps you should It’s about convincing Americans consider the BLM ideology. to HATE America so they can REBlack Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors describes herself as PLACE AMERICA. When Alexana “trained Marxist, super versed on dria Ocasio-Cortez urges Demo-

crats to “radicalize,” this is what she is calling for. And Joe Biden will be washed away like a boogie boarder in a giant wave surfing competition. In other words, a Biden Presidency is already being undermined by far-left conspirators — a very dangerous proposition. And now for antifa. Antifa’s stated goal is ANARCHY. Antifa, like BLM, is steeped in Marxism. The organization considers America and its democracy and capitalist economic structure to be a cancer on the world. They are bent on burning down America and restructuring this country in the model of Venezuela, figuratively and literally. And that means the end of law and order, the rules of life that protect Americans and make their neighborhoods safe. I don’t know about you but I’m sick of deranged lunatic anarchists throwing firebombs at the police, burning entire neighborhoods and attempting to stifle with violence any objection to their behavior and methods. Now here’s the thing: Black Lives Matter and antifa have become one-in-the same. And

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

CITY VOICES

WORCESTERIA

‘Boozy News’ and the trouble with Bernie VICTOR D. INFANTE

I’LL DRINK TO THAT: If there are two things that make the news this

year go down easier, it’s comedy and alcohol, so it seems natural that local comedian, chanteuse and burlesque promoter Niki Luparelli put them together for “Boozy News,” which she previously presented on YouTube and is now streaming at 7 p.m. Wednesdays on Facebook Live and Twitch. “While the rest of the world burns,” says Luparelli, at the start of the last week’s episode, “we’re here to give you the news you don’t really need,” taking a shot of Goldschläger and toasting “this hellscape week, 2020.” And that was taped before the announcement that the president had COVID-19. To be fair, Luparelli and her cohorts — drag queen Poise N’ Envy and comedian Zenobia Del Mar, along with web producer and drag queen Kandi Dishe — are less satirizing the news than they are poking fun at the world’s absurdity: A little less “Last Week Tonight with Jon Oliver” and more “Tosh.O,” if “Tosh.O” were actually funny. “It’s kind of an oasis where we don’t really do much political news unless it’s a funny story,” says Luparelli, in a later conversation. “It’s mostly weird and offbeat news from around the world delivered over cocktails and discussed by the panel.” So if you’re looking for a little local flavor in your stories about “Florida Man” and people going on anti-mask rampages, this is definitely the show for you!

BEYOND BERNIE: Y’know, with the primary over, it feels weird to still

FIRST PERSON

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 8

they are essentially unopposed by left-leaning mayors, governors and uninformed citizens. Actually, the citizens of the cities and neighborhoods being destroyed are all too informed. They have seen the movement for what it is: Revolution — a Marxist revolution without law and order and without the incentives of success offered by capitalism and Democracy. If you agree with the goals of BLM and antifa and you favor a return to higher taxes and more government control, vote for Joe Biden and the Democrat Party. If you like living in a peaceful America where hard work and creativity lead to success and you want to see the booming 2019 economy return, vote for Donald Trump and the Republican Party. In other words, this national election on November 3rd may be the most important vote you ever cast. Richard Chapel lives in Worcester.

be getting emails from the Worcester Wants Bernie crew, but they do manage to consistently provide some interesting tidbits. Last week, for instance, they sent an “unofficial” email with opportunities for those who, “agree that Trump must go but can’t bring yourself to make calls for the lamentable Joe Biden.” It’s good, solid meat-and-potatoes politics work, including “Campaigning in person on Sunday Oct 11, 18 and 25 with some of us for Sara Gideon running against Senator Susan Collins in Maine. Gideon is not a Berniecrat, but is way better than Biden, running without PAC money, backed by labor. Knocking off Collins will change the political landscape in January. Turning out the vote for her will have the spinoff effect of increasing Biden’s vote. This will involve getting a COVID-19 Test on Friday, getting the results on Saturday and bringing them with you. We can also do phone banking for Sara Gideon.” That said, it’s probably time this group found a new name, because this far from the primary, it feels a little cultlike, and is definitely distracting from what is actually good, old-fashioned practical politics. For more information, email worcesterwantsbernie@gmail.com.

Choice words for Holden liberals

Recommends ‘Lord of the Flies’

WILLIAM THOMAS

JOSEPH GUSTAFSON

Just love all the politically correct comments attacking a dissenter. They all seem to live in Holden. Why don’t you give up your fancy homes to reparations and put your money where your mouth is?

William B. Hines, since you are a reader, you may want to check out Nobel Prize winner William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” to see what happens to a society when you do away with laws. Maybe BLM can have a peaceful protest in your lovely town of Holden?

William Thomas lives in Worcester

Joseph Gustafson lives in Leicester

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WORCESTER ROCKS: So, the Worcester Music Awards, which is run by Pulse magazine, have been in limbo since March, what with the understandable corona-virus headaches all the media world has experienced. The net result has been that no one knows who won this year’s awards. Pulse is back up and running again, recently, so hopefully we’ll finally have an answer to the burning question: Did Bob Moon win for Worcester’s Sexiest Musician? On the other hand, the Boston Music Awards nominees are out, and there’s a strong Worcester contingent among the nominees, including Joyner Lucas, Sapling, Crocodile River Music, the Carlos Odria Trio, Josh Knowles and the Palladium. On a personal note, I’m also nominated for the third time for “Music Journalist of the Year,” to which Steve Quist at the Worcester Politics 101 Facebook group will reply, “Yes! Go back to just being a music journalist and stop putting the arts in Worcesteria!” Anyway, if you want to vote for any of these people, or any of the many other fine artists on the ballot, you can do so at https://bostonmusicawards.com/vote/.

LETTERS

COVER STORY

The year without parties

Lack of summer/fall festivals a cultural wound for Worcester VICTOR D. INFANTE

city and seeing so few people on the sidewalks and in restaurants, it’s felt like a ghost town at times. But without the festivals, I’ve kind of felt like I missed summer.” Indeed, an informal Facebook poll showed a widespread and deeply felt pain over the absence of the annual arts festival, but it’s hardly the only event lamented. The first mass gathering that was canceled because of the coronavi-

rus was the St. Patrick’s Day parade back in March, the absence of which was sort of a wake-up call to the seriousness of the matter. Other annual city celebrations that have been widely missed this summer and early autumn include Worcester Pride, the Latin American Festival, the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival, the Worcester Middle Eastern Festival, Pet Rock, the Central Mass. Jazz

Fest, Pow Wow Worcester, Saint Spyridon Grecian Festival, the WOOtenanny Comedy Festival, the Asian Festival and the Juneteenth celebration, and that’s an incomplete list. Throw in outdoor music series such as the ones at Elm Park and Newton Square, the Out to Lunch concerts on the Common and cool little local favorites such as the Punkcake outdoor festival, and suddenly you realize that a lot

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

ummer has already passed into autumn, and if you feel like something’s amiss in your perception of how time flows, you’re not alone. No music on the Worcester Common, very few new murals, a general lack of dancing and street food. For many people around Worcester, the absence of the city’s many

festivals has been a disruption on numerous levels, not the least of which is the way in which we mark time as the year progresses. “It definitely feels weird to not have stART to mark the beginning of fall,” says musician Ash L’Esperance, of The Promise is Hope. Likewise, Nikki Erskine, co-director of the stART on the Street arts festival, says, “It’s been bizarre enough being around the

A Puerto Rican food vendor holds up a fried fish dough treat at the 28th Latin American Festival celebrated on the Common in 2018. FILE PHOTO/STEVE LANAVA

COVER STORY

has been missing from the local cultural life. “We need festivals to bring us together,” says Erin Williams, Worcester’s Cultural Development Officer. “Worcester is a city made up of immigrants over the centuries: Scandinavians, Irish, Italian, Jewish, Armenian, Southeast Asians, Latinx, Dominican, Italian, Ghanaian, Albanian and many more who have made Worcester home and shared their celebrations. They bring tourism, economic spinoffs for restaurants, hotels and the local businesses. These businesses and the artists and organizers involved have lost significant amounts of money this year.” For many in the city, the loss of the festivals has been palpable. “Gay Pride Worcester is so unique,” says musician Jereme Hamel. “That’s because we are such a college town, we throw it during the fall. And the Latin festival has the best food of all our festivals — well, the Middle-Eastern Festival also was a great time to be had and food was dope too. I simply miss seeing people come together in these large groups — to forget about their problems and just eat and have fun and see culture.”

Learning From Each Other

FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE PETERSON

that will return.” Pet Rock is definitely a favorite for locals, but almost all of the events are dear to the hearts of large swaths of the city’s population. Tina Zlody, co-director for stART on the Street, says, “The Caribbean festival is hands down my favorite festival ever. I’ll never forget their first year, we were moving our festival stuff out of our HQ on Park Ave. when all of the sudden the windows of the empty store front we were occupying

started to rattle and then we heard a noise and out of this amazing fog of sound came this vision of trucks with speakers, glitter, feathers, the most amazing dancers we had ever seen ... We were in awe. We literally stopped what we were doing and got drinks at Park Grill and stood amazed and thrilled. The next year Gabe Rollins, our performance director, looked to us at this event and said, ‘We aren’t the best festival anymore.’ He was not wrong. A group of us go every year to dance, eat and enjoy the culture.

sage out with a segment that is just ‘looking for a wholesome, family event where they can bring their dog,’” says Charlene Arsenault, who organizes the event with Jeannie Hebert. “As with stART on the Street … Pet Rock Fest became a defining bookmark for the end of the summer and the kickoff to the fall around here. Twenty-two years. That’s something a lot of people planned and looked forward to, so even by virtue of longevity, the Pet Rock Festival became part of the culture, I think. I certainly hope

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Performance artist Lily, the living statue, hands back a toy gorilla to Charlotte Odame at last year’s stART on the Street festival.

O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

“

orcester being the second largest city of New England is rich with its tapestry of culture — of all ethnic origins, arts, visual and performing arts performances, the parades, and street festivals,” says Christina Andrianopoulos, Chairman-Publicity, Outreach & Program Book of the Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral Grecian Festival. “Worcester would not be the city it is without all that our diverse citizens and community have to offer.” Indeed, Worcester’s size goes a long way toward explaining why the festivals have such a visceral presence. It’s big enough to have something for just about everybody, but small enough that when everyone’s out partying, it’s felt. You have to kind of work to miss it. “Festivals evoke pride and put Worcester on the map as a truly creative city,” says Williams. “All together, we are a plethora of cultural expression. Festivals bring people

in Worcester together, and visitors learn much from Worcester’s rich cultural heritage.” Father Milad Selim of St. George Orthodox Cathedral certainly agrees with Williams’ sentiment. “Our three-day festival brought together roughly 10,000 people of different backgrounds and walks of life under one tent. It showcased the rich diversity of our great city and affirmed the need for more culturally focused events. The pandemic took away the opportunity for the people of our city to witness what our rich Middle Eastern culture has to offer in terms of food, music, faith and art.” “The festivals are our culture on display,” says Dolly Vazquez, founder of the Latin American Festival. She no longer runs the festival, but she still feels it “brings a celebration and display of Latin culture, which is an important part of Worcester. It demonstrates the legitimacy of that portion of the population. And it’s a lot of fun.” Jennifer Gaskin, organizer for the Worcester Caribbean American Carnival, says, “All the different festivals showcase a little bit of who we all are. By everyone in the city getting to experience each little bit in return we all begin to open up and accept our differences as unifying not divisive.” Indeed, for many locals, the festivals have been a lifelong touchstone. “My mom,” says country musician Stan Matthews, “who grew up in Worcester, always took me every year to the the Greek, Armenian, Italian and Irish festivals.” Not all the local festivals are centered on cultural backgrounds, of course. Some, such as the Central Mass. Jazz Festival and Wootenany, focus on particular art forms. “There are not may live venues for jazz these days,” says Jazz Fest organizer Mauro dePasquale, “especially locally or regionally ... Central Mass Jazz Fest doesn’t just present jazz artists, it celebrates jazz and the amazing diversity jazz represents through live music performed by some of the finest local, regional and internationally acclaimed artist of the genre available. It brings people together in a unique and joyful way.” Another festival, Pet Rock, is different in that it centers on animal welfare. “It brings to the city a major social event that pairs a segment of the population that struggles somewhat to get its mes-

COVER STORY

Having spent many years at a lot of different events, we try to take something away about how other cultures celebrate their heritages and learn from them. I love the idea of expanding my knowledge and understanding.”

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not be happening this year. “The most successful festival is obviously stART on the Street. This is everything in a nutshell. It is a place you can come to for free and walk around, see your neighbors, meet new people, or shop hand-

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George Combs, 8, of Shrewsbury tries out a trumpet during the season’s first Out to Lunch Concert Series and Farmers’ Market at the Worcester Common Oval in 2018. FILE PHOTO/ALLAN JUNG

A Time to Connect

“

have always felt that the city craves culture — things that are different and exciting are a bonus to that,” says Michelle May, creator of the annual Cirque du Noir arts fundraiser, which will likewise

made goods. You can hear music, see performances and experience many cultures the city has. The offerings were as dynamic and diverse as our city. It was a place you could come to with your kids and let them go and enjoy a little independence with a couple bucks in their pocket for a frozen lemonade or some treat. It is what the parents are nostalgic for.”

COVER STORY

Tamara Shillingford hydrates in her colorful costume along the Caribbean Carnival parade route. FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE PETERSON

in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thoughts, no doubt one compounded by the sense of isolation thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s come with life in the time of the coronavirus.

Lost and Found

and raised some money for our cause. Was it like the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;realâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pet Rock Fest? Of course not. Is watching Springsteen playing from his living room on your laptop the same as standing with

hile some festivals have just taken the year off with plans to return in 2021, some major annual events have tried to maintain a presence online, including Pet Rock, which held an online event Sept. 13, and the Harvey Ball Smile Awards, which were held virtually Oct. 2. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It worked out,â&#x20AC;? says Arsenault. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It happened. We had an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

thousands of fans singing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Junglelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at the DCU Center? Nope. But as with many organizations, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been forced to adapt. In a short amount of time, I think we pulled off an enjoyable, informa-

tive virtual event that captured some of the spirit of the fest and allowed folks to converge in a way, and an opportunity to support us.â&#x20AC;? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important, for the festivals and their supporters. The more you talk to people about the absence of the festivals, the more clear it is that they are not just important events, but a major part of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity, and for many, their absence couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have come at a worse time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With us being unable to present the Caribbean Carnival this year,â&#x20AC;? says Gaskin, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the city missed what has become an annual tradition in the city to come together to embrace each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s differences, culture and beauty through the art which is Carnival. Carnival to us means to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;free up.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; To let go of all your worries, pain, and burdens for that one day. I think we could all use a bit of that in 2020, so it was sad that we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

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O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

This is a sentiment echoed by Worcester School Committee member Tracy Novick, who says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A long while back, I sent (stART co-founders) Stacy Lord and Tina Zlody a message, thanking them for running a festival that I, as a parent, could let my kids be on their own at. Anyone can find something at stART: you can be a little kid with a couple of dollars and find something, or a collector with no budget limit and find something. You can sit and listen to music and not spend a dime. You can eat amazing food! You can see people show off what they can do and make. And there are so many people I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see this year without it.â&#x20AC;? The popularity of stART on the Street â&#x20AC;&#x201D; easily Central Massachusettsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; largest outdoor art festival â&#x20AC;&#x201D; canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be overrated. When asked online which festivals they missed most, stART was overwhelmingly the one most mentioned. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is just the perfect street fest,â&#x20AC;? says Bex Zumbruski of Easthampton. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the quality and variety of vendors and artists. Love the food options and the entertainment scattered throughout. I also love that there are fun activities for kids. Really, it is just the PERFECT event. I have found so many favorite regional artists through stART. All street art events should strive to be as well run and curated as stART.â&#x20AC;? Zumbruskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife, Worcester native Kae Collins, seconds that assertion and adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I also love how it brings the community together and we always run into so many people we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to see often.â&#x20AC;? Seeing people one hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen in a long time was a consistent theme

COVER STORY

able to do it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the national and international attention on race in America,â&#x20AC;? agrees Erskine, â&#x20AC;&#x153;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disappointingly ironic that festivals like Juneteenth and the Caribbean American Carnival couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take place in person.â&#x20AC;? Zlody, too, laments whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s missing, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This year has been devoid of gallery openings, theater, live music, any type of cultural and non-cultural gathering and it really sucks â&#x20AC;Ś I think there is a level of sadness and disconnect we all feel without social interaction and face-to-face discussions. In a nutshell 2020 (expletive) sucks, but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s try to come out of it with a better and more open understanding and compassion to our fellow human beings, you have no idea whats actually happening to folks, just be nice.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not hard to see where sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming from: It seems right now like everyone is in pain on a spiritual level, and the social distance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; necessary as it may be â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is exacerbating that feeling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Art, culture, food and music all feed the soul and its absence is being felt by the entire world,â&#x20AC;?

Lily and Tucker get pushed in a stroller by their owner, Nancy Cyr of Lancaster, at the 20th anniversary of the Pet Rock Festival in 2018. FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE PETERSON

says Lisa Drexhage, who organizes the annual Pow! Wow! Worcester mural festival with Jessica Walsh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although we may not be able to produce our traditional event this year as we have in the past, we are happy that the efforts of prior

years are still available to be enjoyed and act as a reminder that there is joy, beauty, art and culture in the world during the toughest of times.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a time when a community would normally turn to each other

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for support, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in many ways right now â&#x20AC;&#x201D; impossible. The festivals are, in a very real and necessary way, a mirror. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Worcester wishes it were, and what Worcester is at its best,â&#x20AC;? says Novick, talking particularly about stART, but really, the sentiment could easily apply to all of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festivals collectively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The festivals GIVE the city its character,â&#x20AC;? says May. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have so many rich ethnic communities of people in our city and the festivals allow them to feel like they are at home â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with food, music and culture. They invite people to come and learn about that culture. What is better than friends and family? If this pandemic has taught us anything it is that they

are everything.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think you can develop a sense of community â&#x20AC;&#x201D; communing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; without identifying culture as a dynamic force in shaping who were are as a city,â&#x20AC;? says Williams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The absence of the Juneteenth, Irish, Italian, stART on the Street, Latin, Worcester Pride, Southeast Asian and African celebrations, in addition to the Taste of Shrewsbury Street and mini block parties has left a void. Hundreds of volunteers work year round to build these festivals. Many of the organizers have been creative and redirected their energies to virtual mini celebrations â&#x20AC;&#x201D; new ways of experiencing cultures, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the same. We want to taste the spanakopita, dance the bachata, see the art, colors and the pageantry that tells our stories. Now more than ever festivals, celebrations are needed. They bring us together, help us experience new ways of seeing the world. Festivals support and give voice to racial equity, cultural diversity and build new audiences. Festivals bring a sense of pride and are powerful expressions of who we are. Yes, Worcester is a city of festivals, and I miss them. And when this veil of social distancing needed to keep us safe is lifted there will be dancing in the streets.â&#x20AC;?

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CITY LIFE If you are an artist, or know of a local artist, email WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com. Fair warning, in order to publish your work, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to provide a small bio and high resolution digital copies of some of your art. We reserve the right to choose what will run, based on resolution and what will reproduce best on newsprint.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

lives in Worcester. After receiving her BFA in Illustration from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2015 she has been working as a freelance illustrator. Norton has worked on several childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books and creates her art traditionally using watercolor, colored pencil and gouache as well as digitally. She also specializes in pet portraits. See more of her work on instagram at @ellieillustrates or at ellie-illustrates.com. Reach out to her at ellienortonillustration@gmail.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Ellie Norton, a local illustrator, grew up in Berlin and

CITY LIFE

LIFESTYLE

I lost a dance-off while waiting in line at BT’s Fried Chicken & BBQ “I

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O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

remember when I was growing up, we used to buy pet food somewhere around here,” I tell Brian Treitman, “They would let you bring your dog inside.” “That’s our smokehouse now,” he says, leading me through the gate at the rear of his new Park Avenue holding, B.T.’s Fried Chicken & BBQ. We step back into an immaculate space filled with stainless surfaces. A prep-cook is dry rubbing hundreds of pounds of meat and I imagine what our old mutt would think if he could see the Pet Barn now. The scene is making me hungry and I know where to get my fix. Treitman’s kids are in front of me in line and Director of Operations Bill Nemeroff ’s kids are behind me. Both duos are proud of the legacy their fathers helped to establish in nearby Sturbridge where BT’s Smokehouse was named the No. 1 barbecue joint in Massachusetts by Food & Wine, in addition to dozens of other accolades. The food is mercilessly delicious. I attribute part of BT’s flagship success to its proximity to Tree House Brewing Company. Devotees routinely make the pilgrimage from all over the Northeast (and beyond) for the BYOB and BBQ experience afforded by both elite purveyors. Sure enough, I spot Kim Golinski, Tree House’s bookkeeper extraordinaire, digging into a plate at a picnic table nearby. She’s thrilled to see Treitman and Nemeroff thriving as they expand the BT’s brand. I intend to save some of my haul to bring home for my husband, but little by little, my fried chicken and collard greens disappear. When I return with nothing but cucumber salad, I can see he’s disappointed. “We’ll go back this weekend,” I promise him. On Friday evening, we can see the line stretching down Chandler Street. We should have ordered ahead, but I hadn’t done my research, so we wait for 30 minutes or so and make small talk from six feet away with a science-fiction novelist and a little girl named Mia

Mia Pierre delights in the opening of B.T.’s Fried Chicken & BBQ on Park Avenue in Worcester. SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

who peers through the restaurant’s glass window like it might as well be a toy store. At one point, the whole line bonds when an oblivious hipster cuts in front of us all and makes himself right at home inside. One of my new pals props open the door and tries to get his attention, but he just smiles and waves in our direction while the rest of us let out a collective groan. No use confronting him. Sometimes establishing a

common enemy is just more fun. Mia challenges me to a dance-off. She’s only 4 years old, so I suspect my extensive experience at Skylight and Sh-Booms! will give me an edge, but our fellow line-mates name her the unanimous winner after she sticks the landing on what can only be described as a triple Salchow. I throw my white flag into the air and declare her the undefeated champion of Chandler Street. She

demands a rematch. By the time we get inside, it feels like we’ve all been through something special together. We’re glad we didn’t order online. After all, where would I be without Mia? When we get to the front, I am pleased to recognize a crew of fellow Doherty grads behind the counter. It’s only day three of service, but they have their routine down to a science. We order extra cornbread to toast the

next morning for breakfast with butter and fig jam. I’m no amateur. Barbecue of BT’s caliber takes patience from start to finish. If you’re willing to wait, camaraderie and gratification will reward you on the other side. Don’t believe me? Take a sniff around the old Pet Barn and watch where your feet take you. You’ll be dancing in line before you say, “beef brisket.”

CITY LIFE

TABLE HOPPIN’

Worcester chef opens third restaurant, with a fourth set for November launch BARBARA M. HOULE

closed Sundays. Reservations, especially weekends, are highly recommended. Call (508) 304-7183. Visit www.chashuramen.com for menu, etc.; Connect on Facebook. Note: The restaurant offers discounted parking at the Mercantile Parking Garage on Front Street. There also is on street parking in front and near the restaurant. Vo and Le said all their restaurants are doing well despite the pandemic. Both men agree Chashu is the biggest project they have been involved in so far, and they’re both happy with the decision to open the downtown location. It appears Chashu’s diners are happy, satisfied customers.

Storming the Castle

Tam Le and Son Vo pose for a portrait inside their new restaurant, Chashu Ramen + Izakaya located at 38 Franklin St. in Worcester. SABRINA GODIN

bored when I have nothing to do. I need to keep busy.” Le said Son had a vision for the business early on. His plan was for a beautiful restaurant where guests could relax with friends and family and where food and drink would complement each other, he said. Chashu’s not just about great Asian cuisine, but also the elegant atmosphere that features Asian art with the art deco designs of New York architecture, said the owners. The dining experience is unique, and guests often comment that being inside the restaurant takes them to a whole new place, away from busy city life outside. The restaurant currently seats 55 guests, adhering to city and state COVID-19 guidelines. There’s no outdoor seating. Guests are asked to wear masks before being seated. Temperatures are taken; hand sanitizing is provided. Restaurant hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday;

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

and asked if he would be interested in a partnership. “Once I saw the spot and heard Son out, I immediately agreed to come on board,” said Le, adding that the men had no idea that COVID-19 would force them to shut down two days before the planned March opening. The restaurant remained closed until last month. “We decided we wouldn’t do takeout from the very beginning,” said Vo. “It didn’t make any business sense for what we do. Our food is fresh and presentation is very important. We take great pride in what we do, and we don’t cut corners.” The food at Chashu is a fresh take on Asian cuisine, fusing flavors across five eastern cultures, according to the owners. Vo said he is a food enthusiast who loves travel and finding great food when visiting a new city or country. He has trained with other chefs, he said, and is dedicated to his craft. “You’re always thinking about what you’re going to do next,” said Vo. “Honestly, I get

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

The men laugh when they tell the story that they again met when Le and his wife were on their honeymoon in Cancun. Vo and his family were vacationing there at the same time. “Our families got to know each other even more,” said Le. “We really were surprised to see each other. It was coincidental, and I guess you can say it was meant to be.” Le owns Reign Drink Lab in Dorchester, Pho Linh in Quincy and is a partner in his family’s business Pho Hoa in Dorchester. He does cook, he said, and has been in the kitchen, especially at Pho Linh. He received his MBA from Babson in 2013. “I felt my strengths were outside the kitchen,” he said about his degree. Le and his wife have a son and daughter. His father-in-law, a former owner of Sakura Tokyo, owns Hien Vuong Restaurant in Worcester. About two and a half years ago after Vo looked at the Franklin Street space, he called Le and told him about his plans to open a restaurant

James Nicas and Evangeline Nicas, owners of the Castle Restaurant in Leicester, have announced October wine tasting and dinner events. The schedule: Oct. 11 at 3 p.m., guests can taste 12 “incredible” wines (three whites and nine reds) from seven countries. Call the restaurant at (508) 892-9090 for more details. Limited seating. “An Experience from the Sea” will take place at 4 p.m. Oct. 18. The seafood dinner, with wine pairings, costs $112 per person, inclusive. Call to reserve. Hors d’oeuvres, or “Oyster Extravaganza,” will precede dinner. Enjoy Oyster Rockefeller, Oysters Casino, Oysters Fire-Grilled with Garden Herb Butter and Oysters Au Natural. First course: Gulf White Shrimp Tempura with a Blackberry Tartare Sauce; Dinner: Mahi-Mahi Filet, encrusted and oven-roasted served with a Nantucket Scallop and Saffron Cream; Dessert: McIntosh Apple Tartlet with Calvados Crème Anglaise. Check the Castle’s menus for take-out. Restaurant hours: 2 to 8 p.m. Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday; Closed Monday through Thursday.

O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

n the move: Local restaurateur and chef Son Vo launched his third restaurant, Chashu Ramen + Izakaya in September, and will open a fourth, Reign Café inside the DCU Center, by November. Vo of Worcester, co-founder and executive chef of Chashu Ramen + Izakaya, 38 Franklin St., Worcester, and his close friend Tam Le of Newton, Chashu’s co-founder and CEO, have partnered with Joe and Susan Skrzek, owners of Glazy Susan doughnuts, in Reign Café. Glazy Susan doughnuts, coffee and beverages currently are being sold weekends, outside Reign Café. Check Glazy Susan’s Facebook page for more information. Vo entered the local restaurant scene in 2007 when he opened Kaizen Sushi Bar & Grill in Sturbridge, expanding his business portfolio with the Vietnamese restaurant Pho Sure in Shrewsbury in 2014. Worcester Business Journal in 2019 named Son Vo Small Business Leader of the Year. We recently sat down with Vo and Le to dish about their city restaurants. Both men have a strong work ethic, and their path to success can be attributed not only to great teamwork, consistency of food and service in their businesses and guest loyalty, but also a sense of community. Son Vo’s mother ran a restaurant in Vietnam before the family came to the United States when Vo was 14. He’s now 40, married and father of three boys. After graduating from South High Community School in Worcester, Vo served three years in the U.S. Army. He worked in sales and was a waiter in a couple of restaurants, including the former Sakura Tokyo in Worcester, before “deciding to go for it” and open his own restaurant. One of his three sisters, Cynthia Tsang, partnered with him in Kaizan Sushi Bar, he said, and another sister, Tram Vo, manages the Vietnamese restaurant Pho Sure. All three of his sisters are successful businesswomen, he said. Vo and Le first met in 2014 when Vo was a guest at Le’s wedding. Le’s wife and Vo were high school friends.

CITY LIFE

SCREEN TIME

‘A Wilderness of Error’ sows doubts JIM KEOGH

version of events favorable to their case. Instead, McGinniss famously concluded that the evidence against f you could be given the definiMacDonald offered unassailable tive answer to any one question proof of his guilt. in a notorious true-crime mysFifty years later, the MacDonald tery, what would it be? case is still the source of debate and Would you want to know if Osdissection, most recently in the fivewald acted alone? Who took the life part FX docuseries “A Wilderness of JonBenét Ramsey? Where Jimmy of Error.” The series is fueled by the Hoffa is buried? The identity of Jack 2012 book of the same name by Errol the Ripper, the Zodiac Killer, or the Morris, who argues that MacDonBlack Dahlia murderer? For me, I’d need to know whether ald likely did not do the crime and should be released. Morris bases his Capt. Jeffrey MacDonald, M.D., argument largely on the confession stabbed his wife and two young of Helena Stoeckley that she was one daughters to death on Feb. 17, 1970, of the band of hippies who invaded in their home in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. MacDonald is serving three the MacDonald home. Stoeckley, life sentences for the crimes, despite known as “the woman in the floppy hat” for her signature headwear, his assertion that the murders were repeated her claim on numerous committed by four hippies who occasions, with a notable exception. broke into the apartment in search of drugs. The saga was chronicled by On the stand at MacDonald’s trial, Joe McGinniss in his bestselling book she professed to not remembering anything about that night. “Fatal Vision,” in which he embedMorris is best known a master ded with MacDonald’s defense team documentary filmmaker who’s no and was assumed to be writing a

stranger to the crime genre. His 1988 film “The Thin Blue” line was instrumental in freeing a man from death row by exposing the flaws in the case against him. I’ll give Morris credit for making a bold move with the “A Wilderness of Error.” He chose not to direct the film (it’s helmed by Marc Smerling) and his influence is mostly felt in front of the camera, where he’s interviewed about his perceptions of the case. Morris offers valid criticisms concerning the sloppiness of the crime-scene investigation and the suppression of key testimony at A scene from the docuseries “A Wilderness of Error.” MacDonald’s trial, which damaged his defense. FX But by surrendering the directing unreliable testimony of Stoeckley years ago. The evidence is still too duties to Smerling, Morris loses his powerful for me to draw a new and others. Morris answers “I don’t usual leverage of being the inquisiconclusion, despite Morris’s valiant know” to some questions — a retor and is left in the more humsponse I admire for its candor (I also attempt to convince me that the bling position of having to answer appreciate that these replies weren’t long shadow of the floppy hat should pointed questions. He turns preachy, edited out of the film). move anyone convinced of MacDonpronouncing how a compelling narald’s guilt to reconsider the events of I emerged from “A Wilderness of rative will always surpass objective Feb. 17, 1970. Of course, we’ll never Error” as saddened and outraged evidence, and he fumbles for why know for sure, will we? as when I read “Fatal Vision” many he’s invested so much faith in the

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O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

NEW ON DVD

‘John Lewis: Good Trouble’ follows life of beloved civil rights icon KATIE FORAN - MCHALE TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

the iconic activist. But its anchor is its subtitle: As Lewis said in March of this year, to commemorate the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, “Get in documentary featuring an good trouble, necessary trouble, and American legend tops the redeem the soul of America.” new DVD releases for the As Tribune News Service critic week of Sept. 29. Katie Walsh wrote in her review, the “John Lewis: Good Trouble”: documentary reminds us that these Rep. John Lewis died in July, leaving battles weren’t that long ago, and a breathtaking legacy. Known for marching across the Edmund Pettus they especially resonate in the current climate. Bridge on 1965’s Bloody Sunday to “Lewis is such a towering figure protest voting discrimination against Black people and risking his life amid in American history, and American politics, that any tribute to him is a deadly police beatings, his more than 40 arrests during the civil rights worthy one,” Walsh wrote. “We all have so much to thank him for.” movement protesting segregation, and decades of work toward legislaALSO NEW ON DVD SEPT. 29 tion in these areas as well as health care and gun reform (just to name a “Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile”: While on a cruise in Egypt, few), Lewis is affectionately profiled Detective Hercule Poirot (David in the documentary, directed by Suchet) encounters a love triangle Dawn Porter. with a conflict that turns deadly. Among its charming moments are the ones when Lewis reflects and Also stars Emily Blunt and JJ Feild. “Charmed: Season 2”: The ongoreacts on archival footage featuring

ing reboot of the series featuring three sisters who discover they are witches. Stars Melonie Diaz, Madeleine Mantock, Sarah Jeffery and Rupert Evans. “Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America”: Documentary series breaks down historical context and compositional history for some of the most iconic hip-hop songs. “Penny Dreadful: City of Angeles Season One”: Showtime series follows a pair of late 1930s detectives (Daniel Zovatto and Nathan Lane) who encounter a disturbing Los Angeles murder. “DC’s Stargirl: Complete First Season”: CW series stars Brec Bassinger as the high school superhero who rallies an unlikely group together to fight evil. “Welcome to Sudden Death”: Sequel to 1995’s Jean-Claude Van Damme-starring “Sudden Death.” Stars Michael Jai White, Debby Ryan, Bill Burr, Ken Jeong and Gary Owen.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., is the subject of the documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble.” ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

OUT ON DIGITAL HD SEPT. 29 “The Dead Ones”: Teens in detention are hunted by a group dressed up as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. “Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna”: Animated film leads Tai and his pals to discover that as they get closer to adulthood, they’ll lose their bonds with their Digimon. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray Oct. 6. “Inez & Doug & Kira”: A woman

and her fiance investigate her sister’s death by suicide. “The Silencing”: Years after a killer may have taken a hunter’s daughter, the hunter (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and a sheriff (Annabelle Wallis) set out to find him. “Wives in the Skies”: Romantic dramedy features a pair of female flight attendants in 1965 (Rachel Alig and Maddison Bullock) delving into an interview with a British journalist (Sebastian Fernandez).

CITY LIFE

THE NEXT DRAFT

‘EQUALITY’ on tap at Greater Good MATTHEW TOTA

PHOTO SUBMIT TED

O CT O B E R 8 -14, 2020 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

lizabeth Wambui has never been prouder to order a beer than last Friday at Greater Good Brewing Co., where she and nearly a dozen current and former staff members of The Nativity School of Worcester arrived thirsty for a fresh pint of equality. That is, “EQUALITY,” an Oktoberfest lager brewed to support the school’s mission of helping boys from low-income households get the education they need to transform their lives, while fighting racism and dismantling systems of oppression at all levels in the community. “We’re lucky to be in a city that is very open to not only having these kinds of conversations but taking the actions we need to take in order for our community to be better and for our children to inherit a world that is more just,” Wambui, the school’s director of advancement, said. Greater Good and its offshoot brand Soul Purpose Brewing Co. will donate $2 from every four-pack and draft pour of EQUALITY sold to The Nativity School, which opened on Lincoln Street in 2003. The accredited, independent Jesuit middle school relies on fundraising to provide free education for its students and maintain its staff of 24. “The Nativity School of Worcester has an amazing mission that we felt deserved the attention right now,” said J.T. Ethier, beer and brand evangelist for the two breweries. The clarion call for that mission, said Patrick Maloney, the school’s president, was the consistently low graduation rates in the city for boys coming from low-income households. About 95% of the student population at the Nativity School is Black, indigenous or people of color; 91% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. “You have a population that is marginalized in a lot of different ways and is struggling through that with very few options,” Maloney said. “We see education as the surest way forward. The longer you’re in school, the higher degree you have, the less you have to deal with a whole host of issues. We want to break the cycle of poverty through the transformative gift of education.” This year, more than any other, our beer has had something to say. Brewers have told us, “Black is Beautiful,” a powerful statement to raise awareness for racial injustice and funds for police brutality reform and legal representative for those who have been wronged. They have echoed, “All Together,” a resounding global rallying cry to pick each other up after the pandemic ravaged their industry. Now Greater Good and Soul Purpose have spread the word that lagers and education and justice should be for everyone. When ordering a beer called EQUALITY and taking home cans with labels showing Black and brown raised fists, it’s hard not to think about the near-constant struggle for racial justice in America. Beers like EQUALITY and Black is Beautiful inspire meaningful conversations about police brutality and systemic racism, including among groups of people who could not be further removed from those perils. So for Wambui, even a traditional lager can lead to change, as long as the people drinking it are willing to act. “When you think about the concept of beer, it’s something that brings people together and gives them the opportunity to have these kinds of difficult conversations,” Wambui said. “Certainly, in my circle of friends, when we’re sitting and having a beer, we’re talking about the good and the bad. We hope that this leads not just to those conversations, but to action. We’re in an election year, and we hope the choices that we’re making will lead to the change that we want to see, to crying out against injustice.”

EQUALITY Lager was brewed by Greater Good Brewing Co.’s offshoot Soul Purpose Brewing Co. to benefit The Nativity School of Worcester.

CITY LIFE

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

EAST DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Brady doesn’t adjust easily to change. His

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

family moved several times and is moving yet again, they didn’t want to put Brady through that stress. He and the family’s other cat fought occasionally. We think Brady prefers to be your only pet. There were children in his home. The toddlers scared him. He was more comfortable with kids over 4 years old. The owner said Brady is skittish with anything new whether it’s people or places. It takes him a few weeks to adjust. Be patient with him. Give him a quiet place where he can feel safe. We made him a blanket teepee to hide in. He enjoys head scritches and people talking to him softly. Brady qualifies for our Senior for Senior Program.

WARL COVID-19 Procedures As of March 25, 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... finding 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: We will not be accepting linens of any kind or used, stuffed dog toys. While we are grateful for your thoughtfulness, we will not accept these donations if brought to the shelter. • Pet food, cat litter, and other shelter supplies will be essential in continuing to provide for our animals and to assist community members in need. To avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, items can be purchased online from our Amazon Wishlist - https://www.amazon.com/gp/ registry/wishlist/3AX342JIL73M0

• Weekly training classes are suspended until further notice. • The WARL Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. We have many animals in our care who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The above measures help to protect our staff and community from the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-to-face interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow our Facebook page for additional updates. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the shelter at (508) 853-0030 or info@worcesterarl.org.

Thank you for your continued FURiendship and support.

GAMES

J O N E S I N’

“Mew Coup” – didn’t see that one coming. [#711, Jan. 2015] By Matt Jones

Across

1 2 3 4 5

Flat floaters Took the hit, financially Tropical OK to ingest Wear out, as a welcome

48 Get ___ on the knuckles 49 Reporters and their entourage, e.g. 50 Key using all the black keys, for short 51 Drew in 52 Deadly sin 53 Citrus peel in a mixed drink 55 Like U2 56 More than mean 57 Non-dairy spreads 59 Cuatro y cuatro 63 “A spider!!”

Last week's solution

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Down

6 Leftorium proprietor on “The Simpsons” 7 Estrada of “CHiPs” 8 Half a fitness motto 9 Like some fog 10 Like most berries and oysters 11 “Fanfare for the Common Man” composer Copland 12 “Grand Canyon Suite” composer Ferde 16 Adobe creations? 18 Düsseldorf denial 22 Jazz pianist-singer Diana (and wife of Elvis Costello) 24 Our planet 27 Cassette parts 29 Good buddy 30 Abbr. on a rap sheet 31 Feature of Algonquin Round Table discussions 33 Acts as accomplice 35 City in 2016 sports news 36 Solemn words 37 Writer Beattie 39 Words after “know” or “settle” 40 Pearly whites 41 “Reward” offered by those who hire artists for no pay 46 Dye used by chemists

O C T O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

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!

1 “American Horror Story” actress Lily 5 Outdo by a little 10 Get droopy 13 Just slightly 14 Vice ___ 15 “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” lawman 17 Quip, part 1 19 2007 A.L. MVP, familiarly 20 Feller’s warning 21 Quip, part 2 23 Do master 25 High chairs? 26 Get in 28 “___ Can Cook” (former cooking show) 29 Dog’s foot 32 Floor space 34 Metamorphic stage 38 Quip, part 3 42 Bat maker’s tool 43 “I’ll take ‘Cartoons’ for $200, ___” 44 Control 45 Elusive swimmer 47 3/17 honoree, for short 50 “Nuts!” 54 Actress Mira 58 Quip, part 4 60 Of a pelvic bone 61 2012 Best Picture Oscar winner 62 Quip, part 5 64 Bit of sarcasm 65 Theater seater 66 “___ perpetua” (Idaho’s motto) 67 Beats by ___ (brand of audio equipment) 68 Add fuel to 69 Explanations

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LAST CALL

Arny Spielberg

musician and Without a Net cofounder

rny Spielberg told his fellow musicians to “bring the funk” while recording his original song, “Doin’ the Best I Can.” Spielberg hopes the positive message will inspire donations for UMass Cancer Center. The recording includes contributions from Duke Levine, Mike Ladd, Rob Coltun, Nicole Sutka, Erik Cohen, Michael Harmon, Brooks Milgate, Fernando Perez and Spielberg himself. Both the track and the video were produced by Michael Harmon, owner of Wachusett Recording Company in Princeton.

began as strictly a music event. It was a fundraising concert, but the whole idea was based on a metaphor for dealing with cancer. Nobody ever plans to have cancer. Nobody ever rehearses having cancer. There’s never any promises for the way things are going to turn out. We created a musical event similar to that. We got great musicians together and we agreed on a setlist. Everybody knew what songs we

were going to play and in what keys, but we purposefully did not rehearse. Everybody went off and learned the songs on their own. And we came to that moment on the stage and somebody counted it in. It worked because of the caliber of musicians that took part. Some of these events had 25 musicians from around the region. But, there was always that element of chance baked into the event. My wife is a graphic designer and last year she decided she wanted to introduce an art element. We invited artists from around the region to hand paint umbrellas.

What does the future look like for Without a Net? That’s a great question. I like to believe that next year we’ll be able to hold another live event, but, like everyone else right now, we’re just making it up as we go. You have to leave yourself open to opportunities and collaborate with really great people. Without all the musicians in Central Mass, there is no Without a Net. Nearly every one of the individuals that make up our community of musicians has been personally impacted by cancer. They’ve either had it themselves or a member of their family or a friend or a loved one has had it or died from it. A couple of years ago at one of the live events, I was on the stage to welcome the audience. I asked everybody who had a personal experience with cancer to raise their hands. I am not lying when I tell you every single person in the room raised their hands. The statistics are pretty stark. Sooner or later, someone in your circle is going to have cancer. Those are the hard, cold facts. I feel like everybody has a stake in supporting cancer research and they’re doing amazing work at the molecular level here in Worcester. To hear Arny Spielberg’s “Doin’ the Best I Can,” visit https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=P7QXnvTt aZc&feature=youtu.be. To make a donation to UMass Cancer Center, visit https://support.umasscancerwalk.org/fundraiser/2793700.

– Sarah Connell Sanders

How did you find yourself in Worcester? Are you from here originally? I moved to Worcester in ’82 for a job. It’s kind of weird. I was born in Clinton, Massachusetts, but brought up in Brooklyn,

Can I ask what your day job is? I’m a writer and an editor at Commonwealth Medicine, which is a division of UMass Medical School.

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What is the significance of the umbrella? The umbrella symbolizes shelter, but also it’s a tool to help us keep our balance. We invited these artists to hand-paint umbrellas, and last year we raffled them off. This year, the pandemic precluded us from having a live event. We did a web-based auction of the umbrellas that went really well. Over the last month, we also worked on creating a song. I wrote the lyrics in 2009, one night at the dining room table after Pam went to bed. It’s been kicking around for a while. I thought this was an especially timely and appropriate tune, not just for folks who were involved in the cancer fight, but more generally in the middle of this pandemic. I like to think the song has a very affirmative, positive and encouraging message.

New York. So, when I eventually moved back to Worcester, it really felt like moving home in a lot of respects. I’ve lived in the area ever since.

O CT O B E R 8 - 14, 2020

How did you become involved with the UMass Cancer Center? In 2009, my wife, Pam, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Individuals don’t get cancer, families get cancer. It really shook us, obviously. We found tremendous clinical and caregiver resources at the UMass Cancer Center where Pam received her chemo and radiation. She

also had surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She was diagnosed in February of 2009, and eight months later, after chemoradiation and surgery, she was given the all-clear signal. Like a lot of families, we felt deeply indebted to the UMass Cancer Center and we took part in the annual UMass Cancer Center Walk. That year, we formed Team Pam and we took part in every walk for the next five years. But, on the fifth anniversary, we said, “Let’s do something different.” We pushed around several ideas and where we landed was on this idea of Without a Net. Without a Net

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Worcester Magazine October 8 - 14, 2020

Articles inside

Last Call

Table Hoppin

Artist Spotlight

The Next Draft

Screen Time

Games

Adoption Option

Cover Story

Featured