Worcester Magazine October 15 - 21, 2020 by Worcester Magazine

OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2020 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CULTURE • ARTS • DINING • VOICES

FREE

JAILHOUSE ROCK

OpporTUNEity gives inmates a musical lifeline

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

IN THIS ISSUE

O C T O B E R 15 - 21, 2020 • V O L U M E 46 I S S U E 8 Find us on Facebook.com/worcestermag Twitter @worcestermag Instagram: Worcestermag

Note To Readers

100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com President Paul M. Provost VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Sales Manager Jeremy Wardwell 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, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota

Featured ......................................................................................4

Creative Director Kimberly Vasseur

City Voices...................................................................................8

Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Laura Cryan, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Bob Kusz, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings, Randy Weissman

Cover Story ...............................................................................11 Artist Spotlight .......................................................................15 Lifestyle......................................................................................16

Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez

Listen Up....................................................................................16

Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske

Table Hoppin’...........................................................................17

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.

The Next Draft..........................................................................19

Screen Time..............................................................................18 Adoption Option ....................................................................20 Games .........................................................................................21 Classifieds .................................................................................22 Last Call .....................................................................................23

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

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

Worcester Magazine has put its calendar section and event recommendations on hold for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other standing features may be put on hold or appear more sporadically. Also, considering the pace of news these days, some articles may be updated online as the situation changes. For the most up-to-date versions of articles, visit WorcesterMag.com or Telegram.com.

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.

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 2020 by Gannett. All rights reserved. Worcester Magazine is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

the cover

A musical lifeline: OpporTUNEity offers creative outlet for inmates at Worcester County Jail Story on page 10 John Wayne Cormier Jr., facilitater of the OpporTUNEity music program. Photo by Dylan Azari; Design by Kimberly Vasseur

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Subscriptions First class mail, $156 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to GateHouse Media, 100 Front St., Worcester, MA 01608.

FEATURED

A time of adjustment

A conversation with Harriette Chandler VEER MUDAMBI

exposed many existing problems such as in housing and healthcare, two issues that Chandler has been fighting for over much of her career. Housing, transportation and healthcare, especially women’s, are among her primary goals during her current term as well as her upcoming 11th term. “We’ve discovered that pro-women public policy will not be passed unless we do it ourselves,” Chandler said, citing her first piece of legislation as a senator that allowed women to stay in the hospital for 48 hours after having a baby. Amid the COVID-related debates, the question of police brutality and racial justice erupted this past summer, and every lawmaker has had to

take a stand — Chandler is no exception. “(Constituents) asked me to fight for change and I have to listen to that.” While she does not support defunding the police, she is part of the call for accountability. “(Police) carry a gun, they can kill people.” The power to take life is a unique position in society that requires police be held to a proportionally higher standard, Chandler said. With this in mind, in July she voted in support of a bill that furthered this goal through judicial reform. Fighting for equity is nothing new to Chandler — as a woman in politics she has been in an uphill battle her whole career — though the path has gradually become less steep. She recalled how when she started

out in politics, a woman couldn’t get a bank account unless her husband co-signed it. While society has come a long way since then, there is more to be done as women still face many barriers to entry in politics. “We need to see more Black and brown women running, women are 51% of the population and we should be heard,” she emphasized. “Men can graduate high school and college and decide to just run,” but for women, the glass ceiling is still very much a fixture as far as she is concerned. Breaking it can be a daunting task, so much so “that (women) say ‘maybe not now’ — I didn’t run for a long time because I said ‘maybe not now’ but it is now.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O C T O B E R 1 5 - 2 1 , 2020

tate Sen. Harriette Chandler has seen a lot in her 26 years representing the 1st Worcester district in the state Legislature, but she’s never seen anything like what she’s seen this year, and it’s taken a lot of adjustment. “COVID has introduced us to the world of Zoom. I never used it before and now I can’t live without it,” said Chandler, who is serving her 10th term, and is currently running unopposed for re-election. Where once her entire staff worked essentially in one room, now they not only are in separate rooms but separate houses and towns, keeping in touch with weekly Zoom meetings.

The new way of conducting business on Beacon Hill also took a sizable adjustment period. The informal lines of communication that legislators have come to rely on — quick conversations in the hallways, whispered comments during meetings or impromptu coffees — are not coming back anytime soon. “It’s been difficult,” Chandler admitted, “but we’ve all adjusted very well.” The acclimation was borne of necessity, as every senator and representative has three major issues to contend with — the COVID crisis itself, the ongoing budget discussions, and whenever they get a spare moment, any work they were doing before the crisis. The three intersect more often than not, as COVID has

Senator Harriette Chandler listens in February as commuters explain the effects the Worcester transitional services office moving out of downtown has on their lives. FILE PHOTO/ASHLEY GREEN

FEATURED

Unity Radio’s Manny Alvarado to be honored by Amplify Latinx

SUBMIT TED PHOTO

VEER MUDAMBI

ifelong Worcester resident Manny Alvarado will be recognized as a “2020 Amplifier” Oct. 15 at this year’s Latineando, an annual event hosted by the group Amplify Latinx. The organization works to advocate for Latinx communities across Massachusetts, and the Latineando, which will be held virtually this year, honors leaders who have made exceptional contributions.  Alvarado never expected to be one of the honorees, but over the last year his work with Unity Radio has helped Worcester’s Latinx voices be heard, acting as a literal amplifier. His “Unity in the Community — On Location” radio specials focused on events not covered by the traditional local media, but which were important to neighborhood residents.

“People really appreciated that I showed up and drew attention to all the good happening in the community,” said Alvarado, and before long, he found that people were counting on his being there with his iPad and microphone. These neighborhoods, especially the poorer ones, had previously gone unnoticed, or when they were in the news, it was often in the context of a crime story. “Unity in the Community” provided a voice with which to challenge that narrative. If he was asked a few years ago what he would be doing, Alvarado would have been unlikely to respond “radio.” When a friend brought him behind the scenes of Unity Radio, he met Executive Producer Ernie Floyd. Alvarado impressed Floyd, who invited him aboard as a producer. His first order of business was to make sure the show lineup reflected the diversity of its audience — hence

“Unity in the Community” taking a broad scope to include all of Worcester. However, he holds Latin American heritage close to his heart and felt a responsibility “to make sure we are heard using the platform that I had.” Born in Worcester, Alvarado spent his childhood in Great Brook Valley, living in a mix of state and federal subsidized income housing. He remembers a great deal of turmoil in the community, especially with the police, during the ’80s and ’90s. His mother was an activist who “wanted to make a difference” for underserved communities and was a huge influence on Alvarado.  Alvarado’s goal is to bring awareness and education to the community by bringing kids off the street, by mentoring young men, helping them get a GED and put together resumes. “We want to encourage our youth,

mentoring, motivating and making sure they have the tools to succeed,” he said. While recent incidents of violence from law enforcement have shocked the country, Alvarado is familiar with police brutality. As a child, he remembers seeing people being beaten by the police, and as a young man, he says he was racially harassed in college and pulled over by the police for no discernible reason.  The result was an underlying fear of the police and he worries that the Latinx youth he works with will be in the line of fire. He tries to remind his mentees that “white supremacy isn’t as much about the color of your skin as it is your background, name culture.” The current social tensions and atmosphere have definitely “motivated and inspired” Alvarado.  He knows

from his life experiences that fostering bonds between people of different backgrounds will encourage them to fight for each other as well as fight for change, so he sees his work as investing people in each other. “Whatever happens to one side will matter to the other side and we’re only here for less than a 100 years, which is a blink of an eye in the lifetime of the Earth so we have to come together, not spend it being hateful.”

O C T O B E R 15 - 21, 2020 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Special offer is for opening a Basic or Premier Checking account at the Grove Street, Worcester branch. Minimum balance to open Basic Checking is $10. For Premier Checking: minimum balance to open is $100 and as of 8/24/2020, the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is .02% for accounts with a minimum daily balance of $.01-$24,999.99, .05% for accounts with a minimum daily balance of $25,000-$49,999.99, .10% for accounts with a minimum daily balance of $50,000-$99,999.99, .12% for accounts with a minimum daily balance of $100,000-$999,999.99 and .15% for accounts with a minimum daily balance of $1,000,000 or more. Minimum daily balance to earn stated APY is $.01. Fees could reduce earnings on accounts. Rates offered are subject to change without notice. $200 promotional offer is for opening a personal checking account and activating direct deposit (of at least $25) or signing up for online banking and conducting 5 debit card transactions using your debit card within the first 60 days of account opening ($200 will be credited to the account by the last day of the statement cycle following the 60th day the account has been open). $50 promotional offer is for making 5 bill payments using online banking and enrolling in eStatements within 60 days of account opening ($50 will be credited to the account by the last business day of the statement cycle following the 60th day the account has been open). Minors (anyone under the age of 18) are not eligible for Online Bill Pay. $50 loyalty bonus will be paid after the account has been open for 12 months ($50 will be credited to the account by the last day of the bill cycle following the 365th day the account has been open). Bonuses are for new checking account customers and limited to one account per customer. Bonus payouts may be 1099 reportable. Account must be in good standing and have a positive balance at the time the bonus is paid. Offer available for a limited time on new deposits only at the Grove Street, Worcester branch and may not be combined with other promotional offers. This is a limited time offer and subject to change without notice. 2 1.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective as of 8/24/2020. Minimum opening deposit is $1,000. $250,000 maximum deposit per household for 5 month term. Automatically renews at maturity for 6 months at the then current CD rate and term. Minimum daily balance to obtain APY is $0.01. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal. Offer available for a limited time on new deposits only at the Grove Street, Worcester branch and may be withdrawn without notice. Available for IRAs. 3 Special offer is for opening a First Choice Money Market Account on new deposits only at the Grove Street, Worcester branch. 1.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective as of 8/24/2020. This is a variable rate account and the rate can change at any time without notice. Minimum balance to open account is $500. Minimum daily balance to obtain APY is $0.01. $500 minimum balance required to avoid $6.00 monthly maintenance fee. Fees may reduce earnings. Not available for IRAs. This is a limited time offer and subject to change without notice. 4 Closing cost credit available on 1-4 family owner occupied home purchase transactions only. Subject to credit approval and loan closing. One credit per loan. This offer is subject to change without notice. 5 The 1.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is fixed for 12 months. Thereafter the APR becomes a monthly variable rate equal to the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the last business day of the previous month plus a margin of 0.00%. The Prime Rate was 3.25% as of 8/24/2020 and the margin of 0.00% is guaranteed for the life of the loan. The APR will never exceed 18.00% or drop below 4.00% after the first anniversary of the agreement date. Minimum credit line is $10,000 and maximum credit line is $250,000. Closing costs may range from $240.00 to $775.00 and are lender paid. However, if you should pay off and terminate the credit line prior to the third anniversary of the agreement date, you will reimburse the lender for the closing costs that were paid by the bank on your behalf. If you request an independent appraisal, you will be responsible for the cost, which is estimated between $350.00 and $550.00. This offer is subject to change without notice and is available for new lines and owner-occupied, one-to-four-family properties only. All loan applications will be subject to credit acceptance and property approval. Homeowners insurance and flood insurance (if applicable) are required. Ask us about our HELOC programs available for credit lines over $250,000. 1

FEATURED

Nashville native lends a powerful voice to Worcester’s classical music scene RICHARD DUCKET T

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O C T O B E R 1 5 - 2 1 , 2020

orcester to Nashville is usually the journey you hear about from aspiring singers, especially if they’re going country. Christon Carney, however, has done it the other way. Originally from Nashville, he is now making his mark on the Worcester cultural scene as a singer, artist, teacher and advocate. Being a classical tenor and opera singer led him to these parts. “I grew up being exposed to a lot of gospel music. Classical music came into my life around middle school, and I’ve loved it ever since,” Carney said. Graeme McCullough, organist and director of music at All Saints Church, is glad that Carney is here and now the lead tenor of the All Saints Choir. “He is generous, kind and empathetic. And, oh my, what a voice!” McCullough said. After graduating from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Carney went to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he earned a master’s degree in vocal performance, with emphasis on vocal pedagogy. Afterward, “I decided I wanted to stay around.” But simply put, “I couldn’t afford Boston.” Boston’s loss was Worcester’s gain. “I’ve enjoyed it here ever since,” Carney said. “I love Nashville. It will always be my home-home. I call Worcester my home away from home.” He’s become involved with much that’s been happening here culturally and socially, and was photographed by the Telegram & Gazette leaping across one of the “T” letters while participating in the painting of the Black Lives Matter mural outside the DCU Center in July. “I thought it was a great opportunity,” he said of the mural event and the way it had come together. “I’m also a visual artist. It was a great opportunity to be involved with other artists. I thought it was a beautiful time.” Asked if he finds Worcester welcoming, Carney said, “I do but I think it depends on where you are in the city and who you’re talking to. I’ve been grateful, but the city isn’t perfect. There are some hurdles to jump through, but I’m willing to work to

make the community accessible to even more people.” Back in his “home-home,” Carney said, “Nashville has just been blown up so much. It’s not even ‘there’ anymore. It’s become so gentrified it just doesn’t feel like it used to.” However, “A lot of things I saw in Nashville before it become a tourist destination I’m seeing in Worcester. I definitely see a strong arts community and an opportunity for musicians to come together and be heard when they normally wouldn’t be.” Carney said one of the reasons he wanted to attend the New England Conservatory of Music was because Coretta Scott King had been a student there when she met her future husband, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She was a singer who often incorporated music into her civil rights work. “I wanted to be in the same halls and study in the same building that she did,” Carney said. Meanwhile, Carney’s voice was getting recognized. He has received numerous grants and scholarships and won competitions including the Orpheus Vocal Competition, Altech Vocal Competition and Harlem Opera Theater Competition. Carney has performed with the Nashville Opera, the New England Conservatory Opera program, the Nashville Symphony, Nashville Opera, Rhode Island Civic Orchestra and Chorale, and premiered several independent operas and orchestral works in principal roles across the country. He performs regularly with Boston Lyric Opera. “Chris joined the All Saints Choir in 2018, although we had previously worked together on one of the choir’s regular trips to sing in Boston,” McCullough said. “It was obvious from the start that he has a rare talent. Chris is a tremendously charismatic singer who sings with great understanding. His ability to communicate the meaning of the text is found in only the best singers. People don’t always realize that singers — and this is as true for choirs as it is for soloists — perhaps spend at least half of their practice time dealing with the text; how to express sadness, joy, hope,

Classical singer Christon Carney outside All Saints Church. RICK CINCLAIR

FEATURED

rector of Mechanics Hall, also spoke very highly of Carney, but noted that he is â&#x20AC;&#x153;regrettably, furloughed at this time.â&#x20AC;? Because of the pandemic, Mechanics Hall is currently closed for in-person live public events. Carney said he is looking forward to returning to work there when circumstances allow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would love to. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve not only fallen in love with Worcester, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve fallen in love with Mechanics Hall. I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself and Mechanics Hall seemed a perfect fit,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mechanics Hall â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible the performers that have come through there.â&#x20AC;? COVID-19 has similarly affected the performance world that Carney sings in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sure whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to come. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very hard to feel that your career will be sustainable, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brought a lot of musicians together,â&#x20AC;? Carney said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I definitely have a lot of aspirations. Opera is going to be number one, but having an opera career is something that not a lot of people can sustain so I want to pursue opera while being an arts advocate, administrator and teacher. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s becoming more common that teachers are still performers.â&#x20AC;? Carney said he is networking with other classical musicians, organizations and choruses in Worcester and started a small Facebook group. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to get involved in some community outreach with music â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially classical music. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping to make the music more accessible to young people and get people involved from other nationalities who havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been exposed to the music,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just in my time here so far Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve witnessed a lot of potential. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping 2021 will be year for promoting performances.â&#x20AC;?

MCU CHECKING... Customized Just For You.

Enjoy banking from your mobile device with MCUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online banking and mobile app. Features include:

â&#x20AC;˘ Direct deposit up to 2 days early â&#x20AC;˘ 24/7 access â&#x20AC;˘ eStatements â&#x20AC;˘ Mobile deposits

â&#x20AC;˘ PopmoneyÂŽ personal payment service â&#x20AC;˘ Unlimited bill pays per month

Go to the Apple Store or Google Play to download today!

K2 Auto SUMMER DISCOUNTS 5% OFF on BRAKES & FRONT-END WORK

O C T O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

consolation etc. by the subtle stresses on certain words and syllables. Chris has an intuitive grasp of this, and I think this shines through in his personality.â&#x20AC;? Carney has also worked with Mark Mummert, cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church. Recently, Carney performed a 15-minute video concert for the Music at Trinity series singing four poems by Langston Hughes set to music by Jean Berger in 1951. Each song explores the themes of love â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both realized and not. Mummert accompanied on the piano. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offering of Four Songs with poetry by Langston Hughes and music by Jean Berger was the perfect way for Music at Trinity to begin our season in this time of the coronavirus pandemic,â&#x20AC;? Mummert said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the video concert, available on YouTube, Christon sang with great expression these seldom performed works. Christonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deep love for American songs, but also song literature from marginalized composers and poets, was a perfect fit for our series at this time. Christon has helped us continue our desire to present both repertoire from the best of our inheritance and repertoire that is fresh and new, challenging us to hear and see the world differently because of the art.â&#x20AC;? Carney also teaches voice at Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester and has been executive development assistant at Mechanics Hall. A video of Carney portraying Frederick Douglass on the Great Hall stage (where the abolitionist actually spoke) was played at the recent annual meeting of the Worcester County Mechanics Association (which owns and operates Mechanics Hall). Kathleen L. Gagne, executive di-

Thanksgiving Th anksgiving Dinner $ 5.00 Serves Approx. 10-12 people

$16.95ppâ&#x20AC;˘Min.20ppl

HotCorporateCateringSpecials

Seafood $450 HoneyMapleOrange Salmon

PearChicken $400 FigandFontinaProscuitto PearStuffedChicken

508-798-7999

PumpkinChicken $400 PumpkinDate&Pecan StuffedChicken

A check our website for daily and addiional Fall catering specials www.napolideli.com

- Brakes & Shocks - Engine Diagnostics - Radiator Service - Suspension Repair

- Muffler & Exhaust - A/C Diagnostic & Repair - Electrical Diagnostics - Emission Repairs

K2AutoSpecialties.net â&#x20AC;˘ 1317 Main St. â&#x20AC;˘ Worcester â&#x20AC;˘ 508-770-0001

WM-0000450981-02

Napoli Italian Deli & Catering

fresh baked PIES today! WM-0000434037-01

CorporateThanksgivingDinner

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS & SERVICE

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

â&#x20AC;˘OneFresh24-26lb.Turkeyâ&#x20AC;˘HouseMadeWhippedRussetPotatoes â&#x20AC;˘ NewEnglandWhippedButternutSquashâ&#x20AC;˘HouseMadeSageStuffing â&#x20AC;˘ Broccoli Cheese Casserole â&#x20AC;˘ Cranberry Sauce â&#x20AC;˘ Turkey Gravy â&#x20AC;˘ 10â&#x20AC;? Apple Crumb Pie â&#x20AC;˘ One 10â&#x20AC;? Pumpkin Pie All orders must be placed by Nov. 18th Order your and picked up between 10-2 Wednesday Nov. 25th

CITY VOICES

HARVEY

FIRST PERSON

Road trip no escape The room where it happens from real world worries ANNA HILL

JANICE HARVEY

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

unshine is filtering through what’s left of the leaves outside my home; it’s one of those October days you want to hold onto before fall slips away. Yesterday was an equally gorgeous autumn day, one that begged for a road trip. My teacher pal Dr. Rick and I loaded up his Jeep with snacks and drinks — and masks — and headed off to parts unknown. (Teachers often chum with other teachers. It gives us the chance to rant about administration, kids, parents and contracts. We can make a cup of coffee last four hours swapping tales of injustice, remote teaching frustrations, back-stabbing ambition and poorly hidden romances. In short, when we gather we are every employee lounge in every workplace.) Our goal on a beautiful Saturday was to decompress and explore Western Massachusetts, perhaps crossing the border into New York. Decompress? Fat chance. There isn’t a long enough highway in existence that could allow an informed citizen to flee reality. Decompressing these days is no small task. It wasn’t easy, leaving behind a week that included a wheezy president triumphantly pulling a mask from his coronavirus-infested piehole while doing his best Benito from the White House balcony. Forgetting the fly that won the vice presidential debate wasn’t happening either. But we were determined to leave our worries behind, dammit. In search of an open breakfast joint, we stopped at a diner in Wilbraham. The two men at the counter wore no masks, and one turned out to be the owner. My eggs were undercooked and my home fries were ashen. I’m pretty sure no one has ever said, “Let’s grab some fabulous breakfast in Wilbraham!” — I know I never will. The happy chef statue outside was wearing a mask; too bad the waitress was wearing her mask under her nose. Escaping the chaos that has become the norm became even more difficult as we traveled through towns like Savoy, Charlemont and

Williamstown. We marveled at a handful of geriatrics holding “SENIORS FOR TRUMP” in the town of Lee, as my pulse quickened and my middle finger tried to take on a life of its own. I’m sure the sign holders were unaware of my disapproval, since cluelessness appeared to be their strength. Laughing about Mike Pence’s stubborn fly caused Lady Karma to send two bees from the heavens to vie for our attention. One yellow jacket committed suicide in Dr. Rick’s stout as we attempted to relax outside a New Lebanon, New York, brewery. The bee’s bestie flew down the back of my hoodie. That decompression thing was elusive. Road trips require traveling music, so I dug out some early Robert Palmer — “Sneakin’ Sally Thru the Alley,” before he ruined himself with those lipsticked clones — which we played for a while before giving in to MSNBC and listening with outrage to some Trump nonsense. Volume down, blood pressure up. Then we listened to Joe Biden woo union members in Pennsylvania. This was no way to relax. We gazed at the breathtaking fall foliage of Mt. Greylock, but as we rode along Route 2, we began counting “Biden/Harris” and “Black Lives Matter” lawn signs vs.Trump flags. We let red, white and blue obliterate the beauty of crimson, gold and burnt umber. We were our own worst enemies. I’ve written before about the futility of this uncivil war we are waging, about the toll it’s taking on us all, both physically and mentally. I admit my own part in it. Have I applied my words to my own reactions to the upheaval that dominates our lives? Hardly. I realized that just like everything else that’s been turned upside down by COVID-19 and the reign of DJT, road trips ain’t what they used to be. Normal may be a town in Kentucky, but it’s not a place found along Route 2 in Massachusetts. Frankly, November can’t come soon enough. I keep telling myself that some day I will once again shout: “Hey … is that a corn maze? PULL OVER! I want to buy some gourds and a jug of cider! Ooh! Kettlecorn!”

mother’s ear letting her know we were with her. I remember her slow labored breaths and holding my ’ve only been in there once, own breath as I waited longer and and I was 14 at the time, knee deep into my freshman year of longer after each exhale, listening for her next intake of air. And then high school. Funny how your the next one just never came … “ME”lio-centric view of the uniThe gravity of tears and of the verse changes when you find out moment winning against me in this your grandmother is in a hospital contest of strength. Moving into the bed. She had just returned from a trip corridor to see cousins and an aunt rushing up the hallway, only to find to Florida with my grandfather in they were just a few minutes too the days leading up to the stroke. late — them disappearing through In the month before she had the door. Sharing yet another first attended the funeral of her best with my cousin and best friend — friend, remarking that she hadn’t this initiation unlike all the others been able to get warm since. After weeks in the hospital with — one we never thought about or pined for. an ever present but ever changing An exit without flourishes — guard of Toomeys, I remember without drama. Just the next the family being called to gather breath that never was. The in her room. I see images of my theatrics are for the living as they mother massaging her mom’s feet grapple with the simplest of all and legs over crisp white sheets. I can picture the sunlight streaming truths. Mortality. Loss. Change. I find myself thinking of that through the large windows of this hospital room crowded with mem- day as I learn of other people’s grandparents and relatives isolated bers of our large Catholic family. I in hospital beds — perhaps with remember my sweet uncle at his

Want to Write For First Person?

sunlight streaming through windows — but without their family’s touch and comforting words and presence to see them through. I find myself in awe of nurses and end of life care providers who, with grace and compassion, usher the grandparents, the aunts, the moms and dads who were once someone’s son — someone’s daughter — through their impending inevitability. Of those who, daily, are in the room where it happens. Though I have lost others over the years, I have not again been witness to that most human but also most holy of moments. Have mourned without the reassurance of witnessing that quiet last breath, the calm stillness that follows it. But whether I was in the room or not, having been there once, I get to envision that peace for them — the letting go of worldly weights — as they move softly from this room into another. Anna Hill is the lead vocalist for the band Dodeca.

Hey, you. Yeah, we’re talking to YOU. You look like you have something to say. We’re seeking essays from our readers about whatever facet of Worcester life they want to share. And not just politics: We want to hear about things in this city we might not otherwise ever know: Things that make the city uniquely yours. Tell us your story, and the story of the people around you. To submit for consideration, please send a 750 word essay to WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com with the words “First Person” in the subject line.

CITY VOICES

WORCESTERIA

LETTER

Happy Indigenous People Day!

You catch more ‘Flies’ ....

VICTOR D. INFANTE

WILLIAM B. HYNES

THIS GUY AGAIN: It’s Columbus Day as I write this, and can I be honest? I’m really sick of talking about Christopher Columbus. Perhaps it’s because I’m largely divorced from my Italian-American heritage, but — as much as I understand the importance that Columbus held for the families of Italian immigrants who faced heavy oppression in the United States — I can’t find anything there that makes me want to venerate the man. But I was struck by something I heard Nikole Hannah-Jones say on “Wilmore” last week: To summarize: You can’t just embrace the pieces of the past you want and ignore the rest. If you want to embrace Columbus’ role in Europeans discovering the New World, then you have to also acknowledge the history of genocide, slavery and rape that came in his wake, a history which his own letters attest began the moment he arrived, or as Columbus wrote of the Arawak people in his diary, “They would make fine servants…. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.” But fine. If you want to venerate that sort of thing, by all means, go ahead. Just do us both a favor and be honest about it.

Mr Gustafson (spelled correctly) should be comforted to know that I have not only read Goldings’ book but taught it as part of the Worcester Public Schools’ English curriculum, in the turbulent sixties no less. Its lessons should reverberate to all Americans as they approach the ballot box this year. As to his disparagement of where I live, this hints at the weak argument of “ad hominem” but is probably better classified as “ad home-in-em”.

TAKING THE HIGH ROAD: On its social media presence, The Nipmuc

ART AND COMEDY: Worcester Art Museum is open to the public

Letters to the editor are a great way to share your thoughts and opinions with thousands of readers and online viewers each week. There is no word limit, but we reserve the right to edit for length, so brevity is your friend. If handwritten, write legibly - if we cannot read it, we are not running it. A full name and town or city of residence are required. Please include an email address or phone number for verification purposes only. That information will not be published. Please note that letters will run as space allows. Send them to Worcester Magazine, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 or by email to WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com.

Worcester 31 Caroline Street Plantation Street area ... Brand new One-bedroom apartment...includes washer/dryer, storage, off-street parking, heat and h/w ... No smoking, no pets. Worcester Center Hill Apts 503-505 Mill St. ...The Tatnuck area’s newest apartment homes. large 1 & 2 BR, W/D in each apt, storage, elevator, heat & hot water included. Nice walking area. No pets.

To view apartments 508-756-2147 or cathy@botanybayproperties.com

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

again! Wait, that’s not the funny part. No, the funny part is that comedian John Oliver, on the Oct. 4 installment of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” announced a fundraiser for museums where the show will tour three of the … unique … paintings it has acquired over the course of its run, including a piece of cartoon rat erotica and a recent one of talk-show host Wendy Williams eating a pork chop, bequeathed to him by Williams herself. Says the show’s Twitter account: “Museums are struggling, so, in an effort to help, we’re going to pick five museums to host these fine works of art! We’ll be donating $10K to each museum, and $10K to a food bank in their area. Museums can email john@johnoliverhasyourraterotica.com to apply!” This seems like a ripe opportunity for WAM. And just to sweeten the pot, Worcesteria pledges that if Oliver picks WAM to host the paintings, we will officially deem him, “considerably cooler than Conan O’Brien.” Mind, that’s not hard, but we would definitely proclaim it in public (and of course, the alternative would be to be LESS cool than Conan, and really, who would want that?).

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

Nation Tribal Council took a moment to “wish all our Citizens, all our Nipmuc/Nipmuk sisters and brothers, and all the descendants of the indigenous peoples of these lands and those around the world, a very Happy Indigenous People Day. May the Creator fill each of our hearts with pride in our heritage, with determination to make a difference for all indigenous people, and with reverence for our ancestors, who endured the horrors and persecution of colonization, while still leaving us with the inspiration and hope for a better tomorrow.” The Council also recently announced an “All Absentee Ballot” election for all 10 tribal council seats. According to the tribe’s social media, “The Tribal Council and the Election Committee have been working closely to preserve the integrity of our election process … To all the Citizens of Nipmuc Nation, we remind each of you that during these chaotic times your participation is extremely vital to preserving our Nipmuc heritage and voting is one of our sacred responsibilities.” Ballots were due Sept. 20, but results were not posted, and a call for comment was not immediately returned.

William B. Hynes lives in Holden

COVER STORY

A MUSICAL LIFELINE

OpporTUNEity offers creative outlet for inmates at Worcester County Jail

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

STEPHANIE JARVIS CAMPBELL

John Wayne Cormier Jr., facilitater of the OpporTUNEity music program. DYLAN AZARI

COVER STORY

t 22 months clean and sober, John W. â&#x20AC;&#x153;John Wayneâ&#x20AC;? Cormier Jr. is in a better place than where heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been for most of his adult life, he says. Now 33, he is working full time, completing classes to be a recovery coach and running a music circle â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and he owes much of that to the OpporTUNEity program he participated in while incarcerated at the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction. A community-based initiative, the OpporTUNEity program at Anna Maria College pairs instructors and college interns with inmates in the jail . It is open to those who are housed in the main jail and, for the first time, in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;mods,â&#x20AC;? a higher-security section of the prison for inmates who have longer sentences and fewer privileges. The program not only teaches them the basics of songwriting, but leads them on a journey of self-exploration and discovery through music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It really makes all the efforts worth

Anna Maria College Adjunct Professor/OpporTUNEity Songwriting Instructor Dan Thomas performing with songwriting students in December 2019. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Then prime minus

APR*

The current rate without the

APR*

(800) 649-4646

leominstercu.com

When you belong to a credit union, planning for tomorrow comes a little easier. money in your pocket for home improvements, weddings, vacations and more. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about options, and it starts with membership.

NMLS# 517287

*Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is accurate as of 10/01/2020 and is subject to change without notice. An introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) as low as 1.99% for the ďŹ rst twelve billing cycles with a periodic rate of 0.00545%. Thereafter, the APR will be set on the last business day of each month which will be either a ďŹ&#x201A;oor rate of 3.50% APR with a periodic rate of 0.00959%, or, 1.00% below the Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the last business day of each month, whichever is greater. Automatic payment from LCU transaction account required to receive the stated APR. If automatic payment is cancelled, APR will increase by .70%. Maximum rate is 18%. Floor rate is 3.50%. Draw period is 10 years with 10 additional years to repay. Equity determined by taking 80% of property value and deducting balance of any mortgages. If appraisal is required the charge will range from $400 to $550. The minimum loan amount is $10,000 and the maximum is $250,000. Property insurance required. Rate subject to change after consummation. LCU members must maintain a $25 deposit relationship. An early termination fee of no more than $750 may be imposed to cover fees paid to third parties if line is discharged within 24 months of note date. Offer applies to owner occupied primary residences only. Offer may be withdrawn without notice. All requests subject to credit approval. Actual rate and margin offered may be adjusted based on your credit history and other factors that could impact our actual rate. This may result in higher rate than our published rate.

WM-0000451593-01

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

1.99 % 1.00 % 3.50 %

O C T O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

for 12 months

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m somebody with big plans, thanks to home equity ďŹ nancing from LCU.

COVER STORY

it when you see folks like John Wayne benefit from this,â&#x20AC;? said David H. Tuttle, superintendent of the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction. The program at the jail began last fall, after Tuttle had been trying to create a music program there for some time. After hearing about the OpporTUNEity program that runs at Lincoln Street School and Burncoat Middle School in Worcester, he invited its founder, Dr. Melissa Martiros, who is also the director of music at Anna Maria College, to discuss options for the jail. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We met her, and when she left our office, we hit a homerun,â&#x20AC;? Tuttle recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They really took the vision the sheriff and I had and turned it into something special.â&#x20AC;? An added benefit is that OpporTUNEity at the jail helps fund the OpporTUNEity classes at Worces-

ter Public Schools, both Martiros and Tuttle said. The House of Correction uses commissions from the inmatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; canteen accounts to pay Anna Maria to teach the course, and some of that money is then invested into the programs at Lincoln Street and Burncoat Middle. Each week on Fridays at the jail, the students are taught a new basic skill, either lyrical- or musicalbased, and then after some handson activities, they work on writing songs based on certain themes, such as childhood, loss, breakups, addiction, anger and forgiveness. It also helps them work collaboratively with each other on song creation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavy stuff they work on. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go in with any knowledge of why theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there. They come in as really hard and intimidating and with a collective energy. A lot of that is self-protection,â&#x20AC;? Martiros

FALL IS HERE! WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE HERE TO HELP WITH YOUR FALL CLEAN-UP.

CALL NOW!

Above: Anna Maria College President Mary Lou Retelle and Sherrif Lew Evangelidis, both center, appear with the participants of the Songwriting I program and the team inside the jail who made the December concert possible. After the concert, the students were given Certificates of Completion from Anna Maria College. Opposite page: John W. â&#x20AC;&#x153;John Wayneâ&#x20AC;? Cormier Jr. sings â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wish I May,â&#x20AC;? a song composed by students in the first OpporTUNEity Songwriting class, during the December 2019 concert at the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction. This concert was the first time, in the history of the jail, that inmates were allowed contact visits with family. The participants in the course were allowed to invite family members inside the jail to watch them perform.

said. But, she added, by the end of the course, some of that tough exterior has shed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of laughter. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a level of respect for us because they know weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there to help them.â&#x20AC;? And, she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather live in a world where men who are incarcerated are able to express themselves through art.â&#x20AC;? Cormier, who has always loved

Fall Clean-ups. Leaf Removal, Trimming of Shrubs, Small Tree Removal, Gutter Cleanings and More.

WM-0000451045-01

774-230-0422

music since getting his start in a talent show in the sixth grade, said the program taught him new ways to write and approach songs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Music is by far and large my passion. It really makes you believe in yourself and gives you purpose â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and if not that, at least expression,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could always write music,â&#x20AC;? Cormier added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but to fit the lyrics over it, that was from the program.â&#x20AC;?

The Importance of Planning...

Traditional Services - Memorial Services Cremation - Celebrations of Life For information and guidance on pre-need funeral planning, please contact us

300 Park Ave, Worcester WM-0000449238-02

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

PHOTOS SUBMIT TED

508-754-1673

Celeste Rice Kimball

Roger A. Rice

3 UNITS REMAIN IN PHASE IV one Single Level and two Double Level

(dbl. level units have ďŹ rst-ďŹ&#x201A;oor master laundry) to make selections, 2 units Still time can be completed in 2-3 months

We provide full disclosure of all our prices directly on our website, including our casket and urn selection

www.ricefuneralhome.com

WM-0000447740-03

The 13-week fall program ended in December with what all involved described as an emotional, moving and supportive concert, where 12 of the students performed their original songs. The jail does not allow contact visits, but the students were able to, as an incentive, invite one or two guests to the come to the performance, held in the chapel. Cormier said he was able to hold his niece for the first time while at the concert. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Knowing that it was all original music that had been written in the three months was really special,â&#x20AC;? said instructor Dan Thomas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was heavy and significant for me, but I was feeling it more for the guys in the class â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to have people come and see you as a person and having something to offer â&#x20AC;Ś not as a prisoner but as entertainers and artists. To have that experience and to have an audience looking at them with joy and love was really moving for them.â&#x20AC;? Instructor Thomas Wilson said the concert was not only one of the highlights of his year, but also his life. To see all the families there was touching, he recalled, and the students were so eager and excited

COVER STORY

Fall is sitting by a lake, with a spiced drink in one hand and a comfort meal in the other...nothing better!

OPEN YOUR OWN KUMON MATH AND READING CENTER AND GET UP TO $36,000 IN EXPENSES COVERED! Franchise Fee: $1,000 | Investment Range: $74,428 to $156,590

Learn More Today! CALL 201.692.3159 VISIT KUMONFRANCHISE.COM ÂŠ 2020 Kumon North America, Inc. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. We offer franchises solely by means of our Franchise Disclosure Document. The United States Federal Trade Commission and certain states have laws governing the offer and sale of franchises. We will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with all applicable legal requirements in your jurisdiction.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

being able to get that out is one of the best feelings you can ask for.â&#x20AC;? Tuttle said programs like this are important because it keeps the jail safer and the inmates busy, while providing them with needed skills and introspective into their lives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the police; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the judge; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the jury. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not our job to judge them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re there to rehabilitate them,â&#x20AC;? he said. Thomas added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we put in energy and effort into lifting them up and showing them new skills and self-worth, I feel weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have more success turning the tides for some of these individuals.â&#x20AC;? Since graduating and earning a certificate from the first OpporTUNEity class, Cormier has been released and is currently on parole; he had served 15 months of his original sentence of two two-and-a-half years concurrent. He hopes to attend music therapy classes at Anna Maria College to earn a degree and is now running a music circle on Saturday nights at Opening the Word Peer Recovery Center in Webster. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea is to encourage recovering addicts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and not just from drugs and alcohol, but from any trauma. You can nourish yourself with music. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a universal tool,â&#x20AC;? Cormier said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say enough about how awesome that program is,â&#x20AC;? Corm-

O C T O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

to share their music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing but positive vibes surrounding the project. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what cool about it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; everyone thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involved, we know how important it is,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said. OpporTUNEity restarted in the spring with a new group, but COVID-19 and a subsequent jail lockdown due to the state quarantine forced the program to pause until the summer, when they completed the course with a series of Zoom and in-person classes. Although they werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to have a concert, the hope is that they will be able to for the new session that recently began in mid-September. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve missed going there and having it part of our work, especially because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so profound and so meaningful,â&#x20AC;? Martiros said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We walk away grateful.â&#x20AC;? For the teachers and interns â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and the students, as well â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they all feel the same. Not only does it provide a rewarding program for the inmates, but it also gives college students an invaluable lesson about â&#x20AC;&#x153;how, as an incarcerated male, you can have that as part of you, but still be a decent person to others,â&#x20AC;? Martiros said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been the most rewarding thing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done at Anna Maria. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect way to wrap up a week,â&#x20AC;? said Paul Boisvert, one of the interns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love it. You know they have the music inside them, but

WM-0000445857-02

Reservations required

COVER STORY

ier said of OpporTUNEity, noting that the students all call Martiros the “Good Doctor” because of her efforts. “Most people to go jail, and it ruins their lives. I went to jail, and it was the start of a new life for me. They treated us like humans. That’s new to a convict, to an inmate. We’re used to being treated a certain way. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of.”

The entire OpporTUNEity Songwriting team with Sherrif Lew Evangelidis after the December 2019 concert. From left, Dan Thomas, instructor; Christopher McClure, AMC student intern; Jayden Hornburg, AMC student intern; Evangelidis; Paul Boisvert, student intern; Dr. Melissa Martiros, Dean of Music AMC/OpporTUNEity founding director; Nick Roth, AMC student intern and Tom Wilson, instructor. PHOTO SUBMITTED

CITY LIF E

ng, ia.com . Fair warni itor@gatehousemed digital copies artist, email WMed bio and high resolution will e a small or know of a local tion and what need to provid based on resolu If you are an artist, e what will run, h your work, you’ll in order to publis We reserve the right to choos art. of some of your newsprint. on reproduce best

TLI GHT ART IST SPO

starting at only $35/mo! • 2 cleanings/year • 2 exams/year • 1 sonicare electric toothbrush • UP TO 15% OFF ANY DENTAL TREATMENT!! • Family plans also available!

of an actor and

ging Aimee ghout her upbrin a ballerina. Throu New York. Musicians, acKent,

well as schoo and aristo had all kinds and events as going on to art poets, painters found herself the country in gallery shows of creative tors, dancers, over the same types she is today. Aimee now shows all nd herself with the artist that BFA in 2006. She ls. She continues to surrou surrealistic world. that receiving her and arts festiva the luminous colors of her the Harlequin, a magical being l and of at various music , playfu paint g with the idea inspire her to uins are sexual their own to people which has been workin it. These esoteric Harleq and she world now our For several years the world that surrounds beyond the boundaries of and ng : can change itself s in their thoughts of traveli following events Greenfield. sometimes deviou ly elastic points of views. om/coletteaimee or at the in 13-15 Sept. al: ndous rawartists.c town Festiv reach treme of her work at Aug. 24, Worm own Spencer: Check out more Party in downt Spencer Street

AZINE.CO

ter in to create small town of ée is the daugh that Colette took her life in the Colette Aim in and out of of the influencesSUNY New Paltz in New York, of art flowing l at crats were many

TERMAG

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

artists WORCES

Khanani Family Dental Savings Club

19 5 - 21, 20 AUGUST 1

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

No Dental Insurance? No Problem!

Let us feature your artwork in Worcester Magazine’s Artist spotlight! Email WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com high res samples of your work and a brief bio!

WM-0000436230-01

Dental Implant, Cosmetic and Family Dentistry

wanted

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, you’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 15 - 21, 2020 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Priscilla Mavrikis Walker is an award-winning New England artist who works in watercolor, oils, acrylics and pastels. A native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, she says seascapes remain her favorite subject. She has a studio in the School Street Art Studios in Gardner and is currently president of the Greater Gardner Art Association. This watercolor is called “Reminiscent of Portsmouth.”

CITY LIFE

LIFESTYLE

A man damaged my property and my first instinct was to apologize to him SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

f the pandemic has given me one thing, it’s a new sense of agency. The lack of decorum in the presidential election is also a contributor to my demand for accountability, honesty and kindness from the individuals in my life. I call it standing up for myself. (If you’ve been on the receiving end of this monumental self-discovery, it’s possible you call it something else.) A few weeks ago, I looked out my office window in the middle of a virtual lesson and did a spit take with my morning coffee when I saw a bucket truck driving across my lawn. Saying I’m proud to be a first-time homeowner would be an understatement. I now possess a sense of peace and security I never imagined for myself. Naturally, I’m protective of the new house. Unannounced visitors making themselves at home in my driveway did not sit well. When class ended, I marched outside to get to the bottom of things. A man behind the wheel had maneuvered his way between our narrow front gates and run over a bed of flowers before tearing up the green

grass in our yard with his double rear wheels. I noted a bottle of water discarded by our garage and a few of the workers relocating a pair of shutters my husband had spent the weekend restoring. They were not alarmed in the slightest by my sudden presence. “Excuse me,” I said to the foreman, “I think you’ve got the wrong house.” He pointed to his ears to indicate that he could not hear me over the roar of the engine. “I AM CONCERNED,” I shouted over the noise. He rolled his eyes and turned off the ignition. “I think you’re in the wrong yard,” I said again. “We’re removing this tree for your neighbors,” he told me, “I figured they would have told you.” I hesitated for a second. How important was my lawn, really, if it meant having bad blood with our sweet new neighbors? Still, I felt something wasn’t right. I asked who was in charge and he told me the owner would drop by sometime after lunch. I snapped a few photos and went inside to begin my next class, distracted. When a fancy looking pickup

pulled in that afternoon, I was ready for him. Ms. Sanders came to play. I walked right up to his driver’s side window and explained the situation in my best teacher voice. He looked annoyed. “I’m sorry, but you’re trespassing,” I said. There it was again. His truck had annihilated the lawn I worked three jobs for a decade in order to someday afford and I was apologizing for it. “Actually, I’m not sorry, sir,” I corrected myself, “I’d like you to come look at the damage.” He sighed and swung one leg and then the other out of the truck before hopping down onto solid ground. He was shorter than I thought he’d be. I led him to our yard and pointed to the tire tracks and the flattened purple flowers in their wake. His workers shot me conciliatory looks. They had simply done what they were told. “I don’t understand,” he said dismissively, “These will all grow back.” “I’m throwing a 30th birthday party out here on Saturday,” I told him, “I wanted everything to be perfect.” This had been the detail stinging my ego most of all. I didn’t want to fall into a meme-worthy meltdown or anything. Then again, something finally

belonged to me — a whole house, and sharing it with my friends and loved ones gave me great satisfaction. I refused to let a delinquent bucket truck take that away from me. It was time for my last class of the day and I told the man as much. “I’d like you to make this right,” I said. I gave him a stare only a middle school teacher could deliver on cue and disappeared back inside. From my office window, I watched my husband attempt to pull into our driveway to grab a quick lunch and then back away at the sight of the truck, which glowed a hue of orange reminiscent of none other than our commander-in-chief. He approached the owner below. There was a lot of pointing and the exchanging of hard stares. I learned later that the man had agreed to replace the grass in time for our celebration on Saturday — the flowers too. I supposed that was good enough for me. Days ticked by with no sign of Yardstick Tree & Site Preservation Inc. The neighbors made us delicious cookies to apologize for our trouble, but it was never their fault to begin with. Saturday came and went. Our guests didn’t seem to mind the mud,

This is the year, Sarah Connell Sanders finds her voice. MIKE HENDRICKSON

but it gnawed away at me. My agitation was less about the destruction of my property and more about the suspension of my self-respect. Had it been any other year, I might have brushed off the presumptuous act of unlawful entry or even the decimation of my iris beds. But, this year I’m sticking up for myself. Follow-through and decency have never been more important and it starts at the top. Your move, Mr. Yardstick.

LISTEN UP

Freezepop delivers on dreamy ‘Fantasizer’ VICTOR D. INFANTE

“

antasizer” is a pretty good title for the long-awaited new album by Boston synth-pop outfit Freezepop. There’s a lush, dreamlike quality to the album that gives it a sort of otherworldly feel at times, with multiple layers of synthesizers cradling Liz Enthusiasm’s rich, expressive vocals. Moreover, the album plays with distinct themes of what is and is not real, acknowledging its own ephemeral feel and at times contrasting it with imagery of constraint or escape. The album begins with “Queen of Tomorrow,” a sci-fi-sounding title for a song that hits immediately with a sort of retro-futurist dance beat. The band — which comprises Enthusiasm, Sean T. Drinkwater on synthe-

sizers, Robert John Foster on keytar and Marie Sagan on drums — draws on generations of electropop styles to create a sound that both moves briskly at times, but retains depth. It’s got a good beat, and you can drown in it. As the album transitions into the up-tempo “Heat Lightning Hott,” the song pulses with an energy reflected in the lyrics: “Pressure’s moving in/And a charge, electric on my skin/So we freeze/And the little hairs stand up on end/Are we ready to begin?” The song is about the moment of anticipation before a summer storm, and on a metaphorical level, the swelter is palpable. And really, this isn’t an album about realized desire. That moment of suspense extends across the album, felt most immediately in the title song, where where Enthu-

siasm sings, “Even when my other crazy dreams come true/I still end up fantasizing about you.” There’s a sweetness to her vocals, but it doesn’t mask the tentativeness of the relationship, a feeling reflected in the song, “You’re Awesome; It’s Killing Me.” It makes the listener think that ”too good to be true” might be literal. There’s something remarkable about the way the band is able to coax human emotion out of distinctly mechanized sounds, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the moving, “The Ghost Rejoins the Living.” Here, rather than love being something fantastical, it instead pulls the persona into the real world. “Then I think of you,” sings Enthusiasm. “And that skipping 45’s C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 19

CITY LIFE

TABLE HOPPIN’

A hidden gem, Lucky’s Café reopens BARBARA M. HOULE

ing families with a great-tasting, dairy-free dressing that also gives back to those in need.” The salad dressings in 8-ounce glass bottles are available at local supermarkets, including Stop & Shop, Big Y, Shaw’s and Hannaford Supermarkets. Suggested retail is $5.49. Visit www.newmansown.com for more information. Newman’s Own shares a recipe using one of the new dressing varieties.

Partners Peter Armen, left, and Patty Hallinan of Lucky’s Cafe. RICK CINCLAIR

Phantoms and Fire at OSV

Breakfast bread from Calise

File under new products: Calise Bakery recently launched its first breakfast bread, Brioche Style Cinnamon Chip Texas Toast. “For four generations, Calise has been known for providing the freshest, best-tasting bread and rolls for lunch and dinner,” said Michael R. Calise, president of Calise Bakery. “Expanding our treasured brioche style bread into breakfast was a natural next step for us, but we took our time to ensure that what we brought to the table was truly different than anything else out there. Our new Brioche Style Cinnamon Chip Texas Toast offers a fresh take on the most important meal of the day, making it the perfect treat for the whole family.” The toast, dairy and egg-free, retails at $4.29 for a 16-ounce package (approximately 13 slices) in local stores including Stop & Shop, Big Y, Price Chopper, Target, Shaw’s, Roche Bros and BJ’s Wholesale Clubs. Consumers can lightly butter the toast, or use it in a French toast recipe or for dessert breads or casseroles. FYI: Makes fantastic French

toast, topped with local maple syrup and fresh berries or fruit. Calise Bakery, founded in 1908 by the Calise family, originated in Providence and today is based in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Visit www. calisebakery.com for more information; follow the bakery on Facebook and Instagram. Newman’s Own offers dairy-free salad dressings This summer, Newman’s Own, Inc., founded by Paul Newman in 1982, introduced a new line of dairyfree salad dressings. Meeting increased consumer demand for clean, wholesome ingredients, the new Newman’s Own salad dressings contain an Avocado Oil & Extra Virgin Olive Oil base and are available in Ranch, Caesar and Greek Dressing varieties, Keto and Paleo Certified. The Greek dressing is also suitable for a vegan diet. The three varieties are dairy-free, sugarfree, gluten-free, as well as soy-free and canola-free and boast an authentic, creamy texture. I can attest to the satisfying taste and flavor, having drizzled all the varieties over fresh, locally grown produce for months. Newman’s Own Pineapple Salsa is another personal favorite. “From the beginning, Paul Newman wanted Newman’s Own to stand for two principles: creating great-tasting food and donating 100 percent of profits to charity,” said Bruce Bruemmer, vice president of marketing for Newman’s Own, Inc. “The new line of Avocado Oil & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressings continues Paul’s founding tradition by provid-

Correction

The newly opened Chashu Ramen + Izakaya restaurant, 38 Franklin St., Worcester, with co-founders and owners Son Vo and Tam Le, led the Table Hoppin column on Oct. 8. The column included incorrect information about some of Vo’s other restaurants. Vo opened Kaizen Sushi Bar & Grill in Sturbridge in 2007 with high school friends Thuc Tang and Chau Ho. Vo and his sister Cynthia Tsang are partners in Pho Sure in Shrewsbury, which is managed by their sister Tram Vo. If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

Tickets for Old Sturbridge Village’s Phantoms and Fire, “this season’s most haunting outdoor experience,” scheduled Oct. 21-31, are now on sale. Guests must purchase tickets for specific arrival times, 5 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $16 per adult; $12, youth ages 4 to 17; Free for children under 4. Visit www. osv.org for more information.

Expect “spooky delights from bats and bonfires to cauldrons and candy, from ghosts to maybe even a headless horseman!” FYI: Old Sturbridge Village offers “free admission for up to three kids per adult paying full admission price (or adult member) through Nov. 28.” Visit the website for event information.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

linan’s Spicy Peanut with Chicken an all-time menu favorite, in addition to Patti’s Homemade Veggie Quiche, salads, burgers, sandwiches, daily specials and weekend brunch. This past weekend Cheeseburger Omelet and Three Cheese Omelet, “the Jeremy,” a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon, lettuce, tomato and fried egg with Sriracha mayo served with french fries, homemade muffins and fresh fruit plate were included in featured specials. In 2016, Lucky’s Café closed for more than a month to renovate and upgrade the kitchen, bringing it up to code. Some customers had thought the business had closed for good, said Armer, who previously had operated a “fish and chips joint” in Worcester. It may not be business as usual in many local spots, but Armer and Hallinan are among small independent, hard-working owners who are sticking it out to maintain what they’ve built. Lucky’s Café has been around since 1991.

CHICKEN FAJITA SALAD ½ cup Newman’s Own Avocado Oil & Extra Virgin Oil Dairy Free Ranch Dressing 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 sweet red pepper, thinly sliced 1 red onion, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper 1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled and sliced ¼ cup halved cherry tomatoes ¼ cup shredded Cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss together chicken, red pepper, red onion, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Arrange in even layer on baking sheet; bake for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender. Slice chicken breasts crosswise. Divide red pepper and onion among four salad bowls. Top with chicken, avocado and tomatoes. Drizlze with Newman’s dressing; sprinkle with cheddar. Tip: Serve the salad over a bed of greens or preshredded cabbage. Serves 4.

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

ucky’s Café on Grove Street in Worcester is back in business after more than six months of lockdown. Peter Armer, who with business partner Patti Hallinan operates the café, said the reopening on Oct. 5 went smoothly despite now working with a smaller crew. “The virus closed Lucky’s, probably for a lot longer than we expected, but we’re excited and delighted to have reopened and thankful to have such loyal fans and supporters,” said Armer. “We have worked tirelessly on a plan that keeps everyone safe, adjusting to reopening guidelines.” Armer hired a cook who works with Hallinan and an employee for dining service prior to reopening. Staffing was an issue for restaurants even before COVID-19, he said, and the pandemic didn’t make it any easier. Armer said word of mouth has proven to be an important marketing tool for Lucky’s, which is located at 102 Grove St., in downstairs space hidden from street view. Customers have given the café five-star ratings, he said, adding that people who don’t live in Worcester probably don’t know the café even exists despite a small sign outside the business. “We’ve adjusted our hours, opening early so the college students who live nearby can drop in for items like breakfast sandwiches, etc.,” said Armer. The business currently is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Daily specials and updates are posted on the café’s Facebook page. Call (508) 756-5014 for more information and take-out orders. Armer said the café currently doesn’t have curbside pickup or delivery, but he is “trying to work things out” for both options. “I would someday love to offer in-house delivery to customers who live in the area,” said Armer, who also contemplates the idea of “family-style meals” for takeout. The café’s indoor seating for more than 20 is spaced out and masks are required. There’s on-street parking, in addition to a nearby small, gated parking lot. Call the café for directions to the lot, which cannot be accessed on Grove Street, said Armer. Soup’s on at Lucky’s, with Hal-

CITY LIFE

SCREEN TIME

Only the best survived ‘The Comedy Store’

JIM KEOGH

ne of my favorite moments from the opening episode of “The Comedy Store,” Showtime’s docuseries about the famed L.A. club that incubated some of the world’s best-known comics, is watching David Letterman get uncomfortable. During an interview with the late-night legend, host Mike Binder asks Letterman about a stand-up bit he once did involving a local TV sports anchor who reports news of a murder while delivering the night’s baseball scores. Letterman winces and insists he doesn’t want to rehash what he clearly believes to be inferior material. He finally relents and delivers a brief summary of the gag, but it obviously pains him. Binder conducts about a dozen sit-downs with stand-ups, populating this retrospective with plenty of raw reactions from the men

and women who clawed for stage time in what became a crucible for emerging talent. Regular Comedy Store performers Louis Anderson and Howie Mandel recall repeatedly

being dismissed by Johnny Carson’s talent scout as unsuitable for “The Tonight Show” (Mandel eventually went on to appear 22 times). Fellow comedian Jeff Altman laments how his unwillingness to develop new stand-up material — he scolds himself for being lazy — coupled with a disastrous stint on the short-lived 1980 network variety show “Pink Lady and Jeff ” left his career bruised and bleeding. (Please allow me this opportunity to indulge in one “Pink Lady” detour. In the show, Altman was paired with two Japanese singing stars who spoke English phonetically. The banter was next-level bad. In the “Pink Lady” clip shown in the documentary, a tuxedoed Altman informs his glamorous costars that in America finding a romantic partner is easy because we have “computer dating.” To which a Pink Lady haltingly replies, “Oh, you date a computer?”) Always, a comedian had to pass

the charisma test of Comedy Store owner Mitzi Shore, who appraised new talent with a keen and unfeeling eye. If she didn’t like your style, you were done. Mitzi was the nightclub equivalent of Mickey the boxing trainer ordering Rocky Balboa out of the gym because he’s a bum and will always be a bum. There are, of course, exuberant moments recaptured. How could there not be when so many of these comics not only went on to stardom but helped helped shape popular culture for a generation? Whenever one of the Comedy Store regulars earned a spot on “The Tonight Show,” the other performers would crowd around the club’s black-and-white television to watch. One of them, Jay Leno, would eventually take over for Carson. In his interview in the documentary, Leno divulges his secret to a successful stand-up career: Once you’ve conquered an audience with your best stuff, don’t stick around.

Move on to the next club and keep experimenting, keep refining. I most enjoyed the surprises found in “The Comedy Club.” Who knew that Michael Keaton was a successful stand-up before he landed a career in movies, or that the biggest draw back in the day was none other than Jimmy J.J. Walker, aka Kid Dy-No-Mite? Or that Freddie Prinze, enraged that the newest heartthrob, John Travolta, had supplanted him on the cover of Tiger Beat and other teen mags, went to Travolta’s apartment and fired three arrows into his door with a crossbow? Prinze was troubled, and died young from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1977. The film shows a parade of his fellow comedians emerging from the church after his funeral — shocked, grieving, but no less ready to go on stage whenever Mitzi asked.

NEW ON DVD

‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’ a fun ride

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

KATIE FORAN - MCHALE TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

amiliar faces from a beloved AMC series reappear in the top new DVD releases for Oct. 13. “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”: The last time we saw Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) at the end of “Breaking Bad,” which aired in 2013, he was fleeing the massacre at the Brotherhood compound initiated by his former partner in crime, Walter White (Bryan Cranston), who died in the process. In “El Camino’s” opening flashback, Jesse and a not-yet-dead Mike (Jonathan Banks) discuss what they would do with their lives if they could successfully get out of the game, with Mike planting Alaska as a fantasy for Jesse’s hypothetical escape. The film follows the immediate aftermath of Jesse’s escape from the compound, with the help of old friends Skinny Pete (Charles Edward Baker) and Badger (Matt L. Jones), to flee from authorities and find vacuum repairman/”disappearer” Ed Galbraith (Robert Forster, who died on the same day the film was

released). After all the trauma Jesse endured for five seasons, it’s nice to see the character get the story he deserves, written, directed and produced by “Breaking Bad” creator and head writer Vince Gilligan. It’s wholly unnecessary, but it’s fun, and the combination is oddly satisfying. ALSO NEW ON DVD OCT. 13 “Bad Mothers”: Australian mystery series follows five women involved with infidelity and murder. “Broil”: After making a shocking discovery about her family, a teenager’s (Avery Konrad) lifeline may be a culinary-inclined assassin (Timothy V. Murphy). “Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite!”: The fight between cats and dogs reignites after a tech evildoer uses frequencies only the pets can hear and manufactures drama. “The Good Witch: Season 6”: The Hallmark Channel fantasy series continues as Cassie (Catherine Bell) and Sam (James Denton) host a suspicious houseguest. “The American West, Season 1”: Documentary series explores the history of the U.S. transformation

after the Civil War. “Doorman”: An ex-soldier (Ruby Rose) must protect her family from a group of sinister thieves. “Requiem for a Dream”: The 2000 film starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly is being released in 4K Ultra HD for its 20th anniversary. “Vikings Season 6: Vol. 1”: The History channel drama’s sixth season follows King Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) as the leader of Kattegat, and Ivar (Alex Hogh Andersen) and Ubbe’s (Jordan Patrick Smith) erstwhile quests. OUT ON DIGITAL HD OCT. 13 “DC Showcase – Batman: Death in the Family”: Animated film serves as a prequel to “Batman: Under the Red Hood.” “The Dance”: A couple (Irene Esser and Gabriel Aguero) hide secrets from each other. In Spanish. “Fatima”: A group of Portuguese children sees apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917, leading to challenges by officials. “Seized”: An ex-special agent (Scott Adkins) must take down a gang to save his son.

“Sibyl”: A therapist (Virginie Efira) becomes too interested in an actress patient’s (Adele Exarchopoulos) life, drawing on her as writing inspiration. In French. “The Wall of Mexico”: A rich Mexican American family builds a wall around their property to stop passersby from taking their water. Stars Jacson Rathbone, Esai Morales and Marisol Sacramento. “When the Storm Fades”: Docudramedy follows the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

OUT ON DIGITAL HD OCT. 16 “Alone”: A killer (Marc Menchaca) hunts a woman (Jules Willcox) who escaped from his clutches in the Pacific Northwest wilderness. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray Oct. 20. “Don’t Look Back”: A woman grappling with past trauma experiences a supernatural being that stalks her. “Love and Monsters”: Postapocalyptic action rom-com follows a man (Dylan O’Brien) fighting monsters for miles in order to reach his girlfriend (Jessica Henwick). “Monochrome: The Chromism”: In a black-and-white world,

Aaron Paul stars in “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.” NETFLIX

those who begin to show color are hunted. “The Secrets We Keep”: A woman (Noomi Rapace) kidnaps her neighbor (Joel Kinnaman) after she’s convinced he committed crimes against her during World War II.

CITY LIFE

THE NEXT DRAFT

Sage wisdom from the ‘OGs’ of craft beer MATTHEW TOTA

LISTEN UP

C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 16

Jim Koch, founder of Boston Beer Company.

Dan Kenary, CEO of Harpoon Brewery.

FILE PHOTO/PIERRE DUCHARME

FILE PHOTO/STEVE LANAVA

Association, which was the predecessor of the MBG, was 50 percent of the active breweries went out of business,” he said. “The brewpubs did OK. But the packaging breweries at the time, we got wiped out. We were still self-distributing, and we continued to buckle down and take Sam Adams’ lines in Worcester.” Koch also began Boston Beer Company by delivering and selling his own beer. Now he operates a billion-dollar beer business, but he started out driving his own truck and using invoice pads that he stored in a shoebox. Toil long enough distributing their own beer, he said, and brewers can increase the value of their distribution rights if they decide to sign on with a wholesaler. “Back in 1994, distribution rights were not particularly valuable; we sold for $2.50 a case then,” Koch said. “Today distribution rights can go for

$30 a case or $35 a case. So there is a payoff if you can actually build up a reasonable amount of distribution volume, then sell it to the wholesaler.” The U.S. is home to 10,000 breweries, and there has been much debate over whether the market is saturated. Count Kenary, Koch and LaFortune among those who believe the country has plenty of room for more breweries. “Particularly in a taproom environment, there’s room for 20,000 if they are run by people who are really passionate about beer, who aren’t in it to flip it and make a bunch of money, and who are reasonably good business people,” Koch said. “The craft beer taproom in some ways has become the 21st-century version of the neighborhood bar: The place where everybody knows your name, the social center, the ultimate third place in this world of work and home.”

know I could fly?/Please let me stay just until day/Bring me back to earth don’t let me fade away.” Being able to fly is usually a symbol for freedom, but if that’s the case here, it doesn’t seem desired. The persona wishes to remain Earthbound. It’s probably not a coincidence that the romantic interest in the album is always described in terms that are distant and beautiful. Earlier, they were a star. In the next song, they’re described as a “Rare Bird.” As to the persona herself, the album increasingly presents her in less than flattering terms. Earlier in the album, she describes herself as dead and cold. In “The Monster Song,” Enthusiasm sings, “There is a monster in here, there is a monster I know/She needs your heart to survive, she was

a person just months ago.” Still, in the bridge, the song’s point of view shifts, and with it, what she really wants is revealed: “Bring out the human you see/Bring out the daylight in me.” Almost none of this album is driven by external action, but rather, it’s a study in internal inaction. Wracked by depression, pain and fear, the persona repeatedly fails to take any action toward her own happiness. Even when the music seems happiest, the paralysis underscores everything, giving the album a tragic tinge. All of this begins to come into relief in the album’s penultimate song, “Heart-Rate,” with its plaintive refrain of, “You never really heard me before” echoing against a thick electronic soundscape. The listener has, until this song, not really gotten a sense of

the romantic object. They’ve always just seemed like an unobtainable desire. But with “Heart-Rate,” it begins to feel like that potential paramour is wrestling with their own demons, and with that revelation, the album’s perspective shifts yet again. “Let me sing to you,” sings Enthusiasm in the album closer, “Clockwise.” “Let me sing to you/Here in your bedroom/Let me sing to you/ But will it be, will it be enough?/Will it be, will it be enough?It can be, it can be enough.” Love can bring the dead back to life, if only for a moment. And sometimes, those moments are everything.

FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE PETERSON

expectations new brewers should have when they get into the industry: “Don’t expect to build something quick and get some big money for it. It’s not going to happen.” Part of surviving and finding success is learning the business from the bottom up, he said. That means getting to know your beer and customers first through self-distribution. “I do believe that if we did not start this business by self-distributing, we would have been out of the business,” he said. Forget the pandemic, he said, the hardest time unquestionably for Wachusett was the late ‘90s, when the industry briefly tanked and dozens of breweries closed. “I actually did a count at the end of 1999 to see how many breweries went out of business in Massachusetts, and my number from those that were part of the Mass. Brewers

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

a symphony/Then I think of you/ And the ghost rejoins the living for a day.” The Doppler pulse of the music rings joyously, but even here, there’s a sense of impermanence. That sense is magnified by the subsequent song, “Memory Disappears,” where “You don’t survive by placing ghosts around your mind.” Even love can only make a ghost so real. Even in the song “Our Solar System,” the persona describes herself as “this cold girl,” while the object of her affection is a bright, brilliant star. “Alive, alive/ This Star might die/Survive because I stole your fire/Revolve, revolve around your heart/Evolve before you blow apart.”

Love ends. The solar system ends. Everything, eventually is gone. “The shadow disappears but the fun never ends,” sings Enthusiasm, in “Step Into the Sunshine.” “The body disappears but the fun never ends.” “Sunshine” is an interesting song, one which balances its sense of wistfulness with a measure of joy. Indeed, it seems those small moments in the sunshine might be the only things in life that matter. Is that too much to place on an electro-pop song? Perhaps, but it holds up well under the weight. The themes of love bringing someone back to life and its fleetingness are revisited in “Anchor to the World Below,” and indeed are extended even further: “I can see the clock for myself, should I go Into the sky?/Look at how I float above the world Did you

Ned LaFortune, CEO of Wachusett Brewery.

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

an Kenary, Jim Koch and Ned LaFortune have long regaled young brewers with stories about how, many decades ago, they lugged their own kegs to bars around Boston and Worcester. You see them now — mostly Koch, on your TV — and would never think they ever had to work that hard to sell beer. Kenary sits at the top of Harpoon, the biggest brewery in Boston, LaFortune helped start Wachusett Brewing Company, the biggest brewery in Central Massachusetts, and Koch runs Boston Beer Company, a veritable craft beer empire that sends millions of barrels of beer across the country. It’s certainly a lot easier imagining them working behind burnished desks in large offices, rather than sweating over kegs, navigating the precarious steps to the basement of some dive. But when you listen to them speak about their extraordinary journeys as three founding fathers of Massachusetts craft beer, you understand just how much they had to grind and claw and scratch at the bottom in an industry that has ebbed and flowed for their entire careers. Kenary, Koch and LaFortune were among the headliners of last week’s Massachusetts Brewers Guild Con, an annual technical brewing and business conference that went virtual this year. Introduced as the “OGs” of craft beer, they spoke candidly for more than an hour about their own paths as brewers and their concerns

about how their industry will survive the pandemic. I expected to hear them use words like devastating and unprecedented when describing the toll COVID-19 has taken on breweries. I did not expect them to have so much hope for their industry. “I think we’re going to come out of this thing — and some won’t; but those that do would have learned a lesson that will stay with them for their remaining days in business,” Kenary said. “It will serve them well to be thinking, ‘Holy shit, things can really go wrong, what did I learn about how we react, how I react as a leader?’ I remain amazingly bullish on this wonderful industry.” Most surprising, they agreed that this year — despite the paralyzing uncertainty of the day — is perhaps the best time to open a brewery. “I’d much rather have started now, than having started a brewery five years ago when no one’s shit stank, and everyone could walk on water,” Kenary said. Resiliency will help brewers get through the rest of the year, including what is expected to be another difficult stretch for taprooms, with the weather growing colder and people no longer wanting to drink outside. “It’s never been easy,” Koch said, adding, “All of us have become quite battle-tested and resilient.” Throughout the conversation, moderated by Night Shift Brewing co-founder Rob Burns, the three brewing pioneers offered advice for their peers watching at home. LaFortune was blunt about the

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.

SARA MCCLURE

Meet Pepita! This little dude was surrendered after his

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

owner was moving and he couldn’t tag along. Pepita is looking for a nice quiet and calm home to spend his days. He loves being held and cuddled, but also likes to go for little walks to get some fresh air. Pepita is missing all of his teeth and part of his bottom jaw due to poor dental health. He is a little man, weighing in at 3.6 pounds. An ideal home for him would be with older adults who have no children or rambunctious dogs. He has lived with a cat previously and may be able to live with another small, easy-going dog. If you would like to meet Pepita, contact the shelter today.

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’

43 Richard who played Don Barzini in “The Godfather” 44 Vacation time, in slang 45 ___ the Younger (Arthurian knight) 46 Director Campion 47 Zoologist Fossey 48 Disgusting 49 Cereal with gluten-free varieties 50 Org. that bestows merit badges 51 “Love, Reign ___ Me” (The Who) 52 420, for 20 and 21 (abbr.) 53 “Just as I suspected!” 54 “On the Road” protagonist ___ Paradise 55 “Never heard of her”

Last week's solution

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Down 1 Off-kilter 2 Messed with the facts 3 World Series precursor, for short 4 “As I see it,” in chatrooms 5 Tack on 6 Shorten nails 7 Smoke 8 Palindromic prime minister

of the 1940s-60s 9 Leather sharpener used in old-timey barber shops 10 Old rulers 11 Chemist Hahn 12 “Excusez-___ ...” 13 Roxy Music name 14 Room for board games, perhaps 16 Person with a booming voice, often 21 Donut shop option 22 Upgraded 23 Fail spectacularly, like a skateboarder 24 ___ Saga (David Feintuch series of sci-fi novels) 25 “No need to pay” 26 Bishops’ wear 27 Grain alcohol 28 Put someone in their place 29 Some hats worn on The Oregon Trail 30 Lose your composure, in junior high-speak 31 “Anchors ___” 32 Senator Jake who flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery 33 Heart location? 34 Ophthalmologist’s concerns 42 Implored

O C T O B E R 15 - 21, 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!

Across 1 Last half of a ball game? 5 Used (to) 15 She uses a bird to sweep the house 17 Computer overhaul 18 Gridiron measurements (abbr.) 19 Little bite 20 Gold, to Guatemalans 21 “Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?” network 22 Bodybuilder’s units 24 Word before Earth or City, in computer games 27 Drab shade 29 She was Dorothy on “The Golden Girls” 30 Org. that listens for alien signals 31 It’s obsolete 35 Jovial question from someone eager to help 36 It covers Miami, Montpelier and Montreal 37 SOPA subject 38 Opera follower? 39 New Year’s, in Hanoi 40 Mandolin relative 41 Robin Meade’s network 42 Southwest sch. whose mascot is King Triton 44 Daily grind 45 Guy to say “’Sup?” to 46 “___ Ho” (Best Original Song Oscar winner of 2009) 47 The D in OED 50 Easy lunch to prepare 56 Insider’s knowledge 57 Viktor Bout or Adnan Khashoggi 58 Dark form of quartz

“Stretch Those Quads!”--a hardcore freestyle workout. [#570, May 2012] By Matt Jones

CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL PUBLIC AUCTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF M.L.C. 225 sec.39A THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES WILL BE SOLD ON 10/24/2020 TO SATISFY OUR GARAGE LIEN THEREON FOR TOWING AND STORAGE CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF SALE AND NOTICE: 2008 JEEP PATRIOT VIN# 1J8FF28W58D581134 2012 VOLVO S-60 VIN# YV1622FS6C2142560 2013 TOYOTA SCION VIN# JTKJF5C7XD3058977 2013 BMW x5 VIN# 5UXZV4C51DOE04875 2013 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VIN# 5TDBT48A03S172728 THE SALE WILL BE HELD AT EARLY’S ON PARK AVE. INC., 536 PARK AVENUE, WORCESTER, MA 01603

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Get Honest, Experienced Help Buying or Selling Your Home

40 Years in Business

C&S

Carpet Mills CARPET, LINOLEUM & VINYL PLANK 30 Sq. Yds. $720 Installed with Pad Berber, Plush or Commercial Call Jo-Ann at 774-230-5044 or Diane at 774-239-2937

Free Metal Included Call Tom

800-861-5445 or 508-886-2624

Sudoku Answers

HELP WANTED

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O C T O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR, SR POSITION (Shrewsbury, MA) sought by University of Massachusetts Medical School to maintain optimal perf. of all database sys. Req. B.S. C.S. or rel. field. & 6 yrs rel. exp & spec. req.; M-F: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., some nights and weekends, on call work; telecommuting perm. on as needed basis and travel to add’l worksites: Charlestown, MA and Worcester, MA. Resume & cvr ltr to jobsUMMS@umassmed.edu.

Where do I ﬁnd such cool stuff and helpful services?

My secret is CLASSIFIEDS!

Over 90,000 Readers! Call 888-254-3466 or email classifieds@gatehousemedia.com

classifieds@gatehousemedia.com • 888-254-3466

LAST CALL

Jennessa Burks art curator Has the presidential election impacted your vision for the show? We didn’t plan on coordinating our show with the election, but it certainly didn’t hurt our enthusiasm. We’re a pretty passionate group when it comes to the fact that people need to go out and vote. If our show is a reminder to the community to go out and vote for your voice to be heard, that’s wonderful. We want to center some of the issues that are going on in the current state of our nation right now, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement. We’re having these conversations that used to be kind of taboo not so long ago. We really feel like it is important to continue to shine light on equality as we move into this election. It may not have been the motivating factor for the show, but it definitely was something that continued to come up during our planning discussions.

From left, Stacy Lord, Laura Marotta, Jennessa Burks and Chris Kazarian at Creative Hub Worcester’s Aurora Gallery. So, you grew up here? For the most part. I was born here and grew up here from the age of 9. I lived in the city until about four years ago, for a total of almost 20 years.

now. I taught at Elm Park Community School before that.

Can we expect mostly Worcester artists? I would say threequarters of the artists are from Worcester, and the rest are Massachusetts based. There are a few Boston artists for whom social justice is the basis of their work and we knew they had to be included. I’m captivated by this piece you attached in your email. It’s a painting by Sharif Muhammad called “We are Kings.” Yes, Sharif has four pieces going into the show. He’s a great example of an artist that’s from outside of the city, but you cannot look at his work without seeing how perfectly it fits into the show. – Sarah Connell Sanders

My seventh-grade students have had a lot of questions about racial justice — I’ve been very impressed by the resulting discussions. How do you tackle anti-racism with fourth-graders? Cambridge is very progressive. These conversations are had openly. District-wide, we are encouraged to talk about systemic racism, white supremacy culture, the way it shows up in our schools, and the impact it has on our Black and brown students. We still have lots of work to do, but this is not the first time the parents, students and staff have heard it. In fourth grade, we tackle “hard histories.” To start the year, we’re engaging in a poetry unit to correspond with the book “Brown Girl Dreaming.” I’m in the process of writing a letter to families that explains how we will be teaching “hard histories” and we’ll be teaching them truthfully.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

I think teaching is its own art form. So, what’s the theme of the upcoming show? The best part is how community involved the show has become. We would That makes you a lifer. I know put out a call asking for members. how prideful Worcester is. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say I’m from We asked, “Who wants to create this? What are your visions?” And, Worcester anymore since I left. as a result, everything was done How did you become the lead I think you’re safe. Where’d you very collaboratively. All voices were heard in meetings. Folks curator of this exhibition? I got go to high school? Doherty. were able to join late, even though involved with Laura Marotta and we had already gotten the ball Stacy Lord, from Creative Hub Me too. We must have been rolling. We decided we wanted Worcester, through an exhibit there at the same time. Were to engage artists and their work they had at the Aurora Gallery you an artist back then? I around equity. We knew “equity” titled, “Otherness.” That was in definitely was an art nerd. I spent 2020, pre-pandemic. my extra study in the art room for would be a big and broad theme. We made sure to specify that we at least a couple of years. During were talking about amplifying Were you a participating artist my senior year, I was working the traditions, the cultures and or the curator? I was a parwith someone from RISD and I the resilience of the Black comticipating artist and I loved what really contemplated going to art munity. From there, we built a they were talking about as far school. The way my cards played curation team. I took the lead with as themes moving forward. As out, I ended up putting down my art and we have since brought in an artist and as someone from brushes for the better part of 10 Chris Kazarian for the lead with Worcester who sees the value of years and started doing art again music and performances. Live the opportunities that they’re just a couple of years ago. performers will be outside during creating, I asked them to let me know if there was anything I could And you became a teacher? Yes, the show in a space across from do to support. I teach fourth grade in Cambridge the gallery. This will allow us to

distance outside and take even more precautions. Inside, there’s ample space to be more than six feet apart. There’s a strict cap of 25 people in total at a time.

Do you have a piece featured? All of my art really focuses on uplifting BIPOC folks. I do a lot of portraits, so I have several pieces in my collections that speak to the theme of the show and I will put in a couple, but for me personally, it was more important to highlight other talents. I’ve been working really hard, less on the creation of art, but more on the curation of other artists.

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

ennessa Burks is the lead curator for Creative Hub’s upcoming show, “Nonetheless, We Amplify Resilience Together Here.” The opening will serve as a celebration of Black culture through music, food, dance, spoken word and visual arts, and will take place at the Aurora Gallery on Main Street from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 17.

DYLAN AZARI

AMERICA’S LARGEST EXTERIOR REMODELER windows • doors • siding • rooFing • gutters

Limited•time•Offer

NO Money Down NO Interest financing

options are available ***!

HOUSE FULL OF WINDOWS INSTALLED™ * $

4,579

FULL HOUSE OF SIDING INSTALLED AS LOW AS

189

PER MONTH**

FULL HOUSE OF ROOFING INSTALLED AS LOW AS

149

PER MONTH**

Quality. Value. Trust. Window World windows, siding and entry doors are backed by the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal. For a full list of products with the Seal, go to goodhousekeeping.com.

Official Replacement Windows of the Boston Red Sox

508-690-4330 • WindowWorldOfBoston.com WOBURN

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

O CT O B E R 15 - 21, 2020

15A Cummings Park

STOP THE EXPENSE, EFFORT & DANGER OF CLEANING GUTTERS.

SHREWSBURY

PEMBROKE

1000 Boston Turnpike

295 Old Oak Street

*10 Any Size 4000 Series White Vinyl Welded Double Hung Style Tilt-to-Clean up to 4’x6’ Insulated SolarZone™ w/Glass and Lifetime Limited Warranty, Glass Breakage & Labor Included. U-Value .27. ** Payment example is based on installation of 1600 sq. ft of series 2000 vinyl siding and or 1600 sq. ft of lifetime asphalt rooﬁng shingles. Standard installation included. Some additional charges likely to apply. Offers expire 10/31/20. ***Credit approval required, restrictions apply. Ask associate for details | This Window World Franchise is independently owned and operated by L&P Boston Operating, Inc d/b/a Window World of Boston under license from Window World Inc. | Fully Licensed & Insured. | MA HIC Reg# 197574

Get the Bath of your Dreams Today

TRANSFORM your old, outdated bath! • Less than 1/2 the cost of a traditional bath remodel. • Installation in as little as 1 Day*! • Mold & mildew resistant • Easy cleaning - Non-porous, No Grout. • Tub-to-shower conversions • Walk-in tubs & accessibility solutions

Limited Time Offer!

18 NO

Months

Gorgeous grout line patterns without the mold & maintenance of real grout

Payments Interest

LIFETIME WARRANTY

*Most jobs completed in as little as a day. See your dealer for details. **Offer good upon approval of credit. Includes product and labor, bath or shower and wall surround. Offer not valid in combination with any other offer, discount or coupon or on prior or current sales.Each dealership independently owned and operated. ©2019 Bath Planet LLC. All rights reserved. Offer expires 10/31/20.

REVEAL your Dream Bath

3x6” Subway

6x24” Fairﬁeld

6” Hexagonal

12x24” Roman Block

8x8” Diamond

12x12” Marazzi

Call NOW for Your FREE DESIGN CONSULTATION!

781. 957.3257 W W W. B AT H P L A N E T. C O M

O U T O F T H I S WO R L D S E RV I C E . D O W N TO E A RT H P R I C E .

Worcester Magazine October 15 - 21, 2020

Articles inside

Last Call

Games

Adoption Option

The Next Draft

Table Hoppin

Artist Spotlight

Screen Time

Cover Story

Featured

City Voices