Worcester Magazine October 15 - 21, 2021

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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The Menzingers coming to shred The Palladium Rob Duguay Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

There’s always a risk when it comes to changing things up, but sometimes it’s a necessary path for a band to take. A shift in direction might alienate some fans but to prevent that from happening the shift has to be an extension of what made the band great in the fi rst place.

Scranton, Pennsylvania, punks The Menzingers pulled this off in a simple yet out of the ordinary fashion with their seventh album ,”From Exile,” which came in August 2020.

Rather than being chock full of new material, the latest release features acoustic reimaginings of the songs on their previous album, “Hello Exile.”

In support of both albums, with a lot of willingness to go electric, the punk rock quartet will be performing at The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester. at 7 p.m. Oct. 16, with Brooklyn act Worriers and Hamilton, Ontario, power trio The Dirty Nil opening up a stacked night.

The making of “From Exile” stemmed from an idea that the band had been fl oating around for a while. When COVID-19 shut everything down in March of 2020, it gave them a lot of time to pursue the much discussed project.

“Basically, it came down to the pandemic,” says co-vocalist and co-guitarist Greg Barnett.

“We were on tour in Australia in March of last year, we were supposed to fl y to New Zealand and then we found out that New Zealand closed their borders. We had to cut our tour short; we booked our fi rst fl ight home and as the days rolled on we realized that we weren’t going to be back on the road for a while. We were brainstorming

The Menzingers will be at the Palladium Oct. 16. EPITAPH

some things and a reimagining of the songs in an acoustic light was something that we’ve been wanting to do for a long time.

We’re a band that’s always on the road and when we’re not on the road, we’re writing a new album, so it just never really fi t in the timeline.

“All of a sudden we were all home with a ton of time on our hands, so it was one of those things where we said ‘Hey, let’s fi nally do this,’” he adds.

“What’s really cool about this batch of songs is that they really lended themselves well to that kind of reimagination.”

Barnett, co-vocalist and coguitarist Tom May, bassist Eric Keen and drummer Joe Godino were each in remote locations at their respective homes while making the album. While mod-

ern technology was a big help, the situation did present its challenges.

“It was bizarre and in a lot of ways it was one of the most challenging things we’ve ever done because we’ve always written music in the same room together,” Barnett says. “While making ‘From Exile,’ we didn’t see each other in person the entire time. We talked on the phone, we used Slack, Zoom and stuff like that to get on the same page. We hopped on conference calls, we’d send fi les over Dropbox and basically we each built our own little home studios in each of our respective houses. We would kind of wake up in the morning, get a game plan together for the day of what we’re going to accomplish and just share the fi les

around.

“Sometimes it went very smoothly, where you’d send something and people would get really excited about it, and other times, it wouldn’t feel right,” he adds. “The tricky thing about doing it remotely is that you have to spend all day recording something and then you send it to someone with them saying it doesn’t work after all that time, it doesn’t feel like it’s wasted but it was a very labor-intensive process.

I wouldn’t have changed it for the world, it was such an eyeopening experience and we learned so much about recording which has been really exciting for us.”

While the meeting of the acoustic tendencies of “From Exile” and the electric tones of

“Hello Exile” will happen on stage at some point in the future, The Menzingers are currently focusing on turning up the amps and letting it rip while on their current tour. No one can blame them after such a long time of being off the road due to the pandemic.

“Honestly, we’ve talked about it but we’re all just so desperate to play loud rock and roll after playing acoustic guitar for a year and a half on our couches that we’re going to put it on pause until our next tour in April of 2022,” Barnett said.

“We’ll explore the acoustic stuff then, but for right now we just want to play sweaty loud rock shows. I hope our fans are OK with that even though we put out an acoustic record, we’re dying to play really loud.”

8 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Local fi lm production crews react as Hollywood union ready for strike Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Over the last year, streaming services like Netfl ix, Disney Plus, HBO Max and Showtime have been a lifeline, allowing viewers binge favorite shows during the pandemic and running new movies for those not ready to return to theaters. If you use any of these services — or watch movies at all really — the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees may be the most important organization you’ve never heard of.

Consider that production has begun on movies like “Hocus Pocus 2,” “Batman,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Jurassic World: Dominion,” “Black Panther 2,” and “Fantastic Beasts.”

They are expected to be released in 2022 but if stage crews and other behind-thescenes workers aren’t treated better, it could be much longer.

It takes a village after all and all jobs on a movie set matter — cast and crew. The crew — those who work behind the scenes — are the wheels on which fi lm production moves forward. If they were to go on strike, let’s say due to poor working conditions and roundthe-clock hours, production on anticipated fi lms would grind to a halt.

Between Oct. 1 and 3, the IATSE union held a vote that almost unanimously supported a strike until employers agree to better working conditions and increased pay.

“I could die on set today — they’d have a moment of silence and go back to fi lming as planned,” said Joseph Melendez, a Webster native, who works in the set decoration department as a set dresser. As

Dan Diaz, manager of Westerman Store and Restaurant Equipment and Westerman Prop House, says he supports the production workers in their quest for better working conditions. CHRISTINE PETERSON/T&G FILE PHOTO

the name suggests, he “dresses up” the set, bringing in whatever is needed for the scene, be it furniture or fully functional kitchen appliances like stoves and dishwashers. “We’re expendable in [the production’s] eyes, even though they literally couldn’t make the movies without us.”

Talks between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers began on Oct. 6 in order to avert the strike but members stand ready to follow through on the threat. This is the fi rst time in

the union’s 128-year history that a strike has been authorized.

“The nearly unanimous vote

by Local 481, IATSE’s New England Branch, and lATSE members nationwide shows that we are united and strong,” said Chris O’Donnell, business manager for Local 481. “We don’t want to walk picket lines, but we need safer working conditions and wage and benefi t increases to protect our profession and our future.”

While not a member of the union, Worcester resident Dan

Diaz works closely with its members and fully supports them, even though a strike would directly aff ect his business. Diaz is the manager of Westerman Prop House in Worcester, where set dressers like Melendez come to rent or pick up set pieces for fi lm and television productions all over the country. He works with almost every production that fi lms in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Over the years, Diaz has amassed an expansive collection of furniture, old computers, statuary. If

it can fi t on set, Westerman probably has it. The right type of period furniture can be integral to making a scene work.

Recently at Westerman, Melendez and his colleagues were picking up items for the set of “Salem’s Lot,” the third screen adaptation of Steven King’s 1975 horror novel, which is fi lming mostly in Ipswich, with some scenes being shot in Sterling.

“I see how hard these guys work,” said Diaz. He also sees See CREWS, Page 9

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Set dressers Joseph Melendez, left, and Malique McClaran at Westerman Prop House in Worcester picking up set pieces for the fi lming of “Salem’s Lot.” Both Melendez and McClaran are IATSE members. VEER MUDAMBI

Crews Continued from Page 8

the stark diff erence in how smaller productions and larger ones like Netfl ix and Showtime treat fi lm crews. For him, the issue isn’t merely professional, but personal, as two of his sons are in the industry, with his eldest already experiencing shoulder problems that Diaz attributes to the conditions and extreme hours. The streaming services, such as Netfl ix and Apple TV, are creating the greatest tensions with the

union, said Diaz, as they rapidly churn out content at the expense of the workers.

Streaming companies are still labeled “new media” in the industry, even though their services may feel commonplace to most of us. This allows them to dictate terms for their workers such as lower pay, longer hours and working on certain holidays. These agreements are meant to provide leeway to let fl edgling media services develop on smaller budgets, but Netfl ix, Showtime and others have been able to hold on to this label See CREWS, Page 12

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Small Stones Festival of the Arts returns to Grafton Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

The fi rst Small Stones Festival of the Arts was held as a juried exhibition of fi ne art and photography Nov. 9 through 11 in 2018 at the historic Great Hall at Apple Tree Arts, 1 Grafton Common, Grafton.

For the fourth edition of the festival, the dates are Oct. 15 to 24 in three scheduled locations — the Great Hall, the Grafton Public Library and the Congregational Church of Grafton. The fi ne art and photography exhibit will be accompanied with music and literary programs, juror and artist talks, and an art collection presentation.

Grafton, just seven miles south of Worcester, is a picture-perfect setting, but even with the pandemic ravaging in 2020 when the festival went online, the event has been a big hit and grown every year.

“It was a defi nite success. That’s what spurred us on each year try to add something,” said Bonnie Frederico, a Grafton artist, a member of the Blackstone Valley Art Association, and a member of the Small Stones Festival of the Arts organizing committee from the beginning.

Now in 2021, “It’s much bigger and better than ever,” Frederico said.

For 2021, programs are in-person again but require pre-registration and mask wearing. For more information, go to www.smallstonesfestival.org. There will also be a web gallery.

Apple Tree Arts (a nonprofi t community school for the arts), the Worcester County Camera Club and the Blackstone Valley Art Association collaborated in 2018 to create the Small Stones Festival of Arts “to provide an opportunity for Central Massachusetts artists to exhibit their work and gain recognition.”

Those organizations have been joined by the Shakespeare Club of Grafton and the Clafl in Hill Symphony Orchestra in putting on this year’s festival.

But it’s still the art that’s the most important component, said Dana Wilson, who has also been on the organizing committee since the event’s inception.

“The essence of the show is the same.

The one thing is that we’ve enhanced it.

It’s organically evolving,” Wilson said.

“The real focus is the art. The whole rea-

Bonnie Frederico, a Grafton artist and member of the Small Stones Festival of the Arts organizing committee.

PROVIDED PHOTO

son the group is together is the art. We want to enhance the art. The art is really important to us.”

Actually, the number of fi ne arts and photography works at the exhibition has remained the same, as has the process, Wilson noted.

Each year the festival conducts a call to art, requesting artists and photographers to submit their artwork in two categories. Then a panel of six independent jurors (three each for fi ne art and photography) selects 144 submissions for the exhibit and awards cash prizes for fi rst-, second- and third-place winners in the fi ne art and photography categories.

The mission of the Small Stones Festival of the Arts is to “elevate the practice and appreciation of fi ne art and photography in the Blackstone Valley and beyond.”

Artists from far and wide have submitted work, including from throughout Massachusetts as well as New Hampshire and Rhode Island. This year there about 440 entries, Frederico said.

The name of the festival was taken from the Nipmuc name of the original Native American settlement in Grafton, Hassanamesit — a place of small stones.

Frederico said that a former annual arts event that had ran for a time was still in the minds of some people when the Small Stones Art Festival was created about 10 years on.

“It had previously been at our Municipal Center. People wanted to get it going again,” she said of the former incarnation.

“I think our initial goal was just to reach out to the public and put on some kind of show and get the town of Grafton to respond and see what we were trying to bring alive again,” Frederico said.

This year the 144 artworks will again be on view in the historic Great Hall, beginning with the festival’s opening reception and announcement of the juror’s winners Oct. 15. “The Great Hall itself is so beautiful,” it’s worth attending for that reason in addition to seeing the

great new art on view, she said.

In addition to cash prize winners, awards will include juror’s choice and a popular choice award for each category.

Cash awards are $500 for fi rst; $250 for second; and $100 for third place. A 2021 hardback exhibit catalog will be sold online in late November. Artwork will be available for purchase.

Fine art category jurors are Carol Arnold, a Putney Painter group member and fi rst-place prize winner in the best fi gure/portraiture category of the June 2020 Plein Air Salon Art Competition; Charlotte Wharton, a highly accomplished portrait, plein-air and genre artist whose work is displayed in national and European collections; and Susan Swinand, a prominent painter with preference for water media, who has taught at Worcester Art Museum, Clark University and Wellesley College Greenhouses.

The jurors for the photography category are David DeMelim, founder and See FESTIVAL, Page 13

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 11

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Veteran poets, new voices join for WCPA’s ‘A Walk in the Woo’ project Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

One of the uniquities of poetry as an art form is that it must either, to paraphrase W.H. Auden, be appreciated or ignored. It can’t really be played as background music at a party, or hung on a wall as decoration. The reader must be either engaged with the art, or purposefully ignoring it. Perhaps it’s the ephemeral nature of poetry that makes the Worcester County Poetry Association’s “A Walk in the Woo” project so compelling.

The project – a celebration of the WCPA’s 50th anniversary – brought poems to the streets of 13 districts in

Worcester. The poems were stenciled in chalk on the sidewalks, and only become visible in the rain. The poems are expected to remain for two or three months. The poems were picked by a judging panel that included Worcester poet laureate Juan Matos, and was helmed by poet Katherine Gregoire.

“We drafted this call for poems with an intention to appeal to Worcester’s broad diversity of voices,” said Gregoire, and Worcester returned in kind. Not only did established Worcester poets like Eve Rifkah and Stephen Siddle respond, but as-yet unpublished poets like artists D See POETS, Page 12

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Crews Continued from Page 9

for the last several years. Malique McLaran, a set dresser working alongside Melendez on the set of “Salem’s Lot,” says the situation is particularly ironic, as the “new media” often has a larger budget than traditional fi lms due to subscription revenue and is not reliant on box offi ce reception.

Even as recently as four years ago, said McLaran, who also worked on the set of “Avengers: Endgame,” signing the new media agreement for “lower pay made sense, but now it’s clear Netfl ix is here to stay.” Four years is also the amount of time that he has been in the industry but it’s only his second with the union and he supports the strike, citing the unsustainable hours asked of crews. This overworking of the set crew is romanticized to a degree as part of the

industry, so not enough people speak up because they’re just happy to be a part of it, he observed.

Melendez also pointed out how productions can often bring in workers not covered by the union to get around paying overtime — they have one to three union workers and hire the rest from outside.

“We’re forced to choose between the industry and our families,” said McLaran. In some cases, even between their work and their own health. Extreme fatigue from the short turnaround between shifts leads to accidents both on and off set. “I’ve defi nitely fallen asleep at the wheel a few times,” he said, and he knows of multiple cases of car accidents for this same reason. His point is simple: set dressers are some of the most creative and artistic people in the industry and they deserve to have a personal life.

Health of workers has taken on even more importance lately

“You get some cool gigs,” said McLaran, who worked on the set of “Avengers: Endgame.”

VEER MUDAMBI

and when fi lming for the new Halle Berry Netfl ix fi lm, “Mothership,” a positive COVID case was found on a day of shooting a school scene full of children.

Production decided to move ahead with fi lming without informing the parents “because the show going on was more

Poets Continued from Page 11

Zeutas-Broer and Elijah Johnson and Rapper Danny Fantom as well.

Fantom – whose poem “Mi Pueblo” is stenciled at the Tacoma Street bus stop – says, “It was a huge honor to have my work chosen. As a ‘rapper’ sometimes there’s a stigma around my art, so to have it recognized, celebrated and physically displayed in Worcester means the world to me.”

For Marianna Islam, whose poem “My contributions are too heavy for me to carry/So let me gently rest them at our feet” appears at the Bell Pond bus stop, this project hit a deeply personal note. “It’s only been in the last two years that I have returned to poetry as a creative expression of my own healing journey. I have so many poems

Elijah Johnson, left, and Danny Fantom display a stencil of Fantom’s poem for the WCPA’s “A Walk in the Woo” project.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KATE GREGOIRE

and through the pandemic I have leaned in to sharing some on my Instagram page as an offering. The words are meant to be read and felt by the reader in their own internal voice. I think ‘Walk in the Woo’ gave me an opportunity to share my work

more broadly. I am happy it resonated and hope to share more of my work in the future.”

The placement of the poems – which was approved by the city – was a serious concern for the project. WCPA executive director Rodger Martin says that,

important,” said Melendez. The normal crew and actors being exposed is one thing, he said, but it “crosses a line” when it concerns 30 to 60 plus kids that are only there for the day. “If they don’t care about children’s safety and well being, I’m sure that gives you an idea of how little our safety and well being is [considered].”

A positive COVID test isn’t the only warning that was ignored on the set of “Mothership.” While Melendez could not disclose the location due to an NDA, he said that when working in an abandoned building in Central Massachusetts, a structural engineer was brought in to determine if it was safe to fi lm. “There was a small area they decided they were going to use, even though they were told it was not safe,” according to Melendez. It was only by chance that no one was there when the roof collapsed, thanks to a schedule change forced by rainy weather. “Otherwise we would have been

there that night,” he said.

The two set dressers agreed that there are good points in their jobs: There is good pay overall and everyone enjoys the creative process, along with camaraderie in the crew. “It’s like our second family, because we don’t see our families,” said Melendez. But set and fi lm crews want fairness from employers who are making extreme profi ts, as well as a safe workplace and a reasonable amount of time off .

“They make enough to keep us happy and still be fi lthy rich, so it’s completely unnecessary to even be at this point,” he said.

Some may be reluctant to publicly speak out over concerns of losing the work, especially during the pandemic.

“I really hope my union holds out for how we should be treated well, in light of the overwhelming support of the strike authorization,” Melendez said.

“I will be upset if they take a deal that is less than ideal.”

“Too often rain poetry is more slogan than poetry. But these ‘Walk in the Woo’ pieces are different. They are poems and in all their myriad ways, they are love poems to this place called Worcester. One of the signifi cances to me was that we could reach into those corners of Worcester defi ned not by their architecture or building stature, but by the location of their bus stops, places which Elizabeth Bishop eloquently immortalized in my favorite poem of hers, ‘The Filling Station.’”

In that poem, the iconic Worcester-born poet Bishop writes, “Somebody/arranges the rows of cans/so that they softly say:/Esso--so-so—so./to high-strung automobiles./ Somebody loves us.”

And the love for the city certainly shows. Veteran Worcester poet Paul Szlosek, whose poem “Miracles” appears at the Coes Pond Park bus stop, says, “Although I have had poems

published both online and in print, and even some that placed or won poetry contests, being included the ‘A Walk in the Woo’ project is probably my favorite honor yet. The concept of having my lines of poetry physically becoming part (even though temporarily) of this city in which I have lived for the past 30 years and that has become such a vital part of me is mind-blowing. Plus, knowing that they most likely will be read, not by avid fans of poetry, but just ordinary people waiting for a bus in the rain thrills my poetic heart.”

Other poets included in the project are Vidya Prabhu, Brett Iarrobino, Linda McCarthy, Janet Shainheit, Jury Vybz and Mark A. Thomas aka Mumblez.

For more information, including the locations of the poems, visit https://worcestercountypoetry.org/a-walk-in-thewoo/.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 13

Festival Continued from Page 10

managing director of Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts; Jessica Roscio, director and curator at Danforth Art Museum, who has held positions at the National Museum of Women in the Arts and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and renowned fi ne art portraiture photographer Al Weems, whose work is widely published and displayed.

The gallery will have expanded days and hours this year: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 16; noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 17; 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 20, 21 and 22; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 23; and noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 24.

“The big diff erence is we expanded it to two weekend and three weekday evenings,” Wilson said.

“Our Web Gallery will be available with all submitted work after the opening on Oct. 15 at www.smallstonesfestival.org,” she said.

“People say, ‘We want you to stay open more,’ so we’ll see how it works out,” Frederico said.

The 2018 Small Stones Festival of the Arts also had a music program at the Great Hall with Apple Tree Arts’ faculty and friends who are professional musicians and students of the nonprofi t community school of the arts.

For 2021, a music off ering, “Mirror Images – Art and Music through The Periods,” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Congregational Church of Grafton, 25 Grafton Common, Grafton.

The concert features a historical retrospective of the musical arts through the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern (twentieth century) periods hosted by Paul Surapine, founding executive and artistic director of the Clafl in Hill Symphony Orchestra, and also features faculty members of Apple Tree Arts.

The Shakespeare Club of

Visitors at the opening of The Small Stones Festival of the Arts in the Great Hall in Grafton in 2019. PROVIDED PHOTO

Grafton is planning a diverse selection of off erings at the newly renovated Grafton Public Library, 35 Grafton Common, Grafton. Details may be subject to change, so visit www.smallstonesfestival.org for up-to-date information. As things stand, the schedule includes: A dramatic performance of “Spoon River Anthology” presented at 2 and 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at Grafton Public Library. Directed by Catherine Thornton, “Spoon River Anthology” is a production of Radio Active Theatre of the Audio Journal of Worcester and the Shakespeare Club of Grafton. Volunteer actors from each group will perform several excerpts from the acclaimed drama conceived and adapted by Charles Aidman based on poems by Edgar Lee Masters.

Oct. 22, 7: p.m., Grafton Public Library: Presentations by renowned local author Nicholas A. Basbanes and his newly published daughter, Barbara Basbanes Richter. Basbanes

will be discussing his most recent book, “Cross of Snow, A Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,” and Basbanes Richter will talk about her translation of Fanny Reybaud’s 19th-century French novel, “Mademoiselle de Malepeire.”

Oct. 23, 3 p.m., Grafton Public Library: Daniel Mahoney, political science professor at Assumption University, will use George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and “1984” for a talk, “Orwell on Truth, Tyranny and Human Nature,” illuminating the totalitarian eff ect of the corruption and manipulation of language.

Back in the Great Hall, a popular component of the festival has been artist and juror talks which will return again this year and begin at 2 p.m.

Oct. 17 and include a discussion by artists about their work and a presentation by jurors regarding their thoughts and perspectives about their favorite festival artwork.

Tom Saupe, a longtime art collector with over 300 pieces

in his collection, will discuss the ins and outs of collecting art in his lecture, “Eclectic Eye: Collecting Art on a Limited Budget,” at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Great Hall.

Many events will be recorded for web viewing later, Wilson said.

In 2020, the festival switched to Zoom and online and “was a huge success,” Frederico said.

“The pandemic talks were a huge hit. The camaraderie and the interest and the questions to the jurors was really great,” said Wilson.

With the expansion of inperson gallery hours and locations this year, the festival’s mission continues as “we want to make art more accessible to everybody,” Wilson said.

In terms of quality, “I think the standard has risen every year,” Frederico said. So much so in the fi ne art and photography categories that “I do think in some ways because our standard is going up, and up and up, next year we could provide cat-

egories for professionals and amateurs. It’s just my thought.

It would nice if we had another section,” she said.

It’s all indicative of a festival that’s continued to catch on with people.

“I would say it’s very healthy. An organization, the Shakespeare Club of Grafton, asked to join. The Grafton Garden Club would like to join our show. We don’t know if that would happen yet,” Frederico said.

Organizers have been learning as they’ve been going along, said Wilson.

Groups approach the festival, and ‘”when we listened, we said ‘That’s interesting.’ It’s a lot of talented people. It’s amazing.”

In 2020 the festival became a nonprofi t organization, Grafton Arts Inc., and “we worked on getting grants,” Wilson said.

Sponsors have been generous.

The festival held an auction recently. “That was new this year, so we’re just really learning how to do it,” Wilson said.

The town of Grafton itself is conducive to having an arts festival, since it is a beautiful place, said Frederico, who has lived there most of her life.

“I’m very connected to Grafton,” she said. She has said that her designs are infl uenced “by the simple beauty of things around me. It might be a bird, bottle, shell, fl owers, fruit, etc., shown either alone or in interesting combinations.”

“For a while professionally, I was a math teacher,” she said.

“I always wanted to be a painter. I started taking more and more classes. It’s something I’ve loved since I was a young girl.”

Now Frederico teaches art classes, including at her home studio, The Sellar Shop.

At the Small Stones Art Festival, Grafton Common is also a star as the happenings are right there “We have the beautiful Grafton Common with the gazebo.

Everything is in walking distance around the common,” Frederico said.

14 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

COVER STORY

The view from

A panoramic shot of the controversial Polar Park stadium – a long-running project completed around the time I arrived. Fireworks are set off at every Friday home game.

VEER MUDAMBI/WORCESTER MAGAZINE

center fi eld A discussion with Woo Sox execs on Polar Park and its place in the city Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

“You look out from center fi eld, that’s Green Hill,” says Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles Steinberg, at the mention of the Worcester neighborhood. It shouldn’t be surprising that he can visualize the city’s geography relative to Polar Park, but it is. “If you go to behind home plate and look out,” he explains, “because we wanted to see what the broadcasters were going to see, so they could talk about it, and if you look way out past Union Station, that’s Green Hill, not named for the color green, but for the urban planner who helped build Central Park.”

See FIELD, Page 15

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 15

Field Continued from Page 14

Not bad for a relative new face in town — this writer has lived here 20 years, and people still say he’s new to the city — but it’s clear that Steinberg and his team have made an eff ort to get to know the city, an eff ort that has paid off with a successful fi rst Woo Sox season, one which he says has been the most enjoyable for him since the San Diego Padres, whom he worked for at the time, won the pennant in ‘98.

“The dominant theme of our experience in Worcester has been the energy of the people,” says Steinberg, in a conversation in his Polar Park offi ce, which is adorned by guitars.

“We have met so many people, we’ve met them by the thousands, and there is a feel to each city, and people are people wherever you go. An 8-year-old is an 8-year-old, wherever you are. And yet, cities have a feel.

They have a culture. They have a sense about them. Worcester’s collective energy has been one of excitement, compassion, hospitality and passionate unity. The welcome we’ve received here has been royal.

It’s been a royal welcome, and it’s made for one of the most enjoyable experiences of our careers, and these are long careers.”

Still, it’s not all been easy, and dropping a political and economic force the size of Polar Park into Worcester’s already developing Canal District was bound to create both positive and negative eff ects for the people and businesses already there ... never mind doing all of this during a pandemic.

Welcome to Worcester Steinberg — who worked as the executive vice president of the Boston Red Sox before moving on to the Pawtucket Red Sox, now the Woo Sox — says he became aware early that Worcester and Boston were

Worcester Red Sox Executive Vice President/Real Estate Development & Business Affairs Dan Rea III. WORCESTER RED SOX

Dr. Charles Steinberg, with some of the guitars hanging on the wall in his private box at Polar Park Aug. 20. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

very diff erent cities, although for a while, when he fi rst arrived in Boston, all he knew was that Worcester was the city to the west.

“There’s a tendency in Boston and at Fenway for the world to be Boston and Fenway,” he admits, which is something pretty much the entire city of Worcester could have told him.

Still, it didn’t take him long to develop a fondness for the city, one that started when he visited for a Worcester Chamber of Commerce meeting — one of very few such things he would describe as memorable — and later that same year, when the Red Sox brought the World Series trophy on tour to Mechanics Hall.

“I remember thinking, what a glorious place it was,” says Steinberg. “It was beautiful. I thought, we have to get back here. We have to do a Red Sox roadshow here to Worcester, and that was it. I didn’t do anything in Worcester thereafter when we were at the Red Sox, or when we were at the Paw

Sox.” That said, he says principal Woo Sox owner Larry Lucchino and Executive Vice President and General Manager Dan Rea were ahead of him “on the concept that we would actually move, that we would actually come here. (Rea) had a feel for Worcester and the Canal District before I did.”

“I think I had a bit of a preview,” says Rea. “I think I was part of a group internally that realized things were going sideways in Rhode Island and we were looking for an alternative, and Worcester quickly rose to the forefront. I would come up here on ‘scouting missions,’ where we would go to bars and restaurants … multiple bars and restaurants. You stop in, you poke your head in at The Banner, the Compass (Tavern), Lock 50, and you would see this city was alive and thriving. It had this electricity, in the district particularly, but especially in the city.”

Rea — who was elected Oct. 7 as vice president of the Canal

District Alliance — is quick to point out that Worcester is a sports city, citing its history of being the site of the fi rst perfect game, the place where “Casey at the Bat” was written, the site of Ted Williams’ fi rst home run, and a place where Babe Ruth drank a lot of beer at the Hotel Vernon. “We saw that,” says Rea, “and Charles came up, he immersed himself fully in the Worcester community. I think we’ve all felt the embrace, both in the district here, and in the city as a whole.”

On the Other Hand …

A recent story in the Telegram & Gazette pointed to a mixed picture for Canal District businesses, with some — mostly bars — reporting the stadium bringing them an infl ux, with others — mostly restaurants and retail — saying it has hurt their business, with at least one restaurant owner going so far as to say he sees Polar Park as stiff competition and not necessarily a friendly neighbor.

Steinberg says that the complaints are “Absolutely understandable. We are still in Chapter One. This is the beginning of a story. There is a a passionate desire for all of us to make sure that Polar Park invigorates the city, enlivens the city, has a positive eff ect on the city, its people, its businesses its charities. We’re not so wise as to say, ‘That’s what we think will happen.’ We’re experienced.

When it happened at Camden Yards (in Baltimore), and it improved the businesses around Camden Yards, they were like, ‘what an impact this has had.”

Now, more than 100 cities have built ballparks in their downtowns with the intention of benefi tting the people in the business. Now, you have to watch the calendar and see how long it takes.”

It doesn’t happen overnight, but Steinberg points to development in San Diego and around Fenway as a proof of concept. Which is fi ne, if that’s the kind of development you want. Not everyone does. Many feel that Polar Park detracts from the more organic development the Canal District had already been experiencing, well before Polar Park.

See FIELD, Page 16

16 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Field Continued from Page 15

Steinberg says he fi rst realized this at a community meeting in 2015 at Lock 50. “You’re moving into a neighborhood that is already on the rise,” recounts Steinberg, “and we welcome you — these are my words — but we’re welcoming you into our neighborhood. And I understood that they were saying that this is not some dilapidated slum of a city, where you’re going to initiate a project. That was actually one of the parts of this that was actually so appealing to Larry Lucchino, that it was already on the move, that we were part of — and not the leader of — a resurgence. I remember walking out of there and calling Larry up, and saying, ‘We are a big neighbor, but we are a neighbor, and we better be neighborly.’”

Still, there were foreshocks to the arrival of Polar Park, among the earliest of which were the closing of the Cove Music Hall and the Dive Bar, two businesses that were pretty tightly wound into the city’s culture. Their closure — the result of real estate shuffl ing as land owners and developers jockeyed to position themselves for the stadium’s arrival — was rattling for many Worcesterites. Steinberg says he understands that, too, especially since he says those two particular businesses were actually part of the area’s attraction, and they had wanted to work with them particularly.

“We had talked long before that about how great it would be by the Cove,” says Steinberg, an avid classic rock fan. “We had wondered if we could be a participant in that. We’d love a music hall where Mick Jagger played, so we were hopeful that the Cove was going to stay and become part of the sports and entertainment vibe in this area.

We didn’t want to see that go.”

He said much the same about the Dive Bar. “We wanted it, too!” he says. “We really

The building at 300 Southbridge St., was home to a grassroots community center called The Bridge before the building was sold. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

wanted it to stay. We wanted to help preserve it. We were looking forward!” Steinberg says that one of the selling points was the food from Jonathan Demoga’s food truck, MamaRoux, which had been permanently stationed there. He says, keeping the Cove and the Dive Bar “would have been our imagination, but entrepreneurs have their own view.”

And ultimately, he says, it’s the city’s entrepreneurs that will drive the fi nal shape of the neighborhoods surrounding the ballpark.

“These are their questions,” says Steinberg. “How do businesses benefi t from bringing thousands of families and college students to an area.” Of course, unspoken the fl ipside of that is, how does bringing thousands of visitors to an area overload some businesses, price them out or — as we see with the Cove and the Dive Bar — cause the owners of the real estate to go in a diff erent direction from the businesses that lease from them. Not all of

those decisions have ended up going the way the Woo Sox team wanted them to go. “I actually thought Dive Bar would be a wonderful bit of history,” says Steinberg.

Painful changes Obviously, not every business closure in the Canal District can be traced back to the waves caused by the construction of Polar Park. The sudden closing of Fairway Beef in July caused a frantic explosion of internet conjecture as to the reasons why it closed, with many speculating that the business was being pushed out for luxury apartments or some such. The reason was eventually revealed to have absolutely nothing to do with Polar Park or Canal District real estate, but rather the condition of the meat industry, which had been erratic before COVID-19 and made even more unstable during the pandemic. That didn’t stop a number of online hot takes blaming the Woo Sox.

“I think the last few months have been hard for restaurants and the hospitality industry in general,” says Rea, “You look at Fairway Beef … and you read people with these conspiratorial musings, that the Woo Sox are puppet masters behind them. I laugh, but I’m also sad, because this has obviously been a traumatic time for a lot of restauranteurs, and a lot of people, and it’s sad that people want to make connections and fi nd machinations on the basis of that.”

One can’t blame Polar Park entirely for the negative eff ects of gentrifi cation, of businesses and families increasingly being unable to live in the city, even as more affl uent residents arrive. That was happening before the ballpark. That said, it’s also hard to deny that Polar Park has probably accelerated the process, to the detriment of the neighborhoods more vulnerable residents and organizations, such as the sad fate of the Bridge Academy and Community Center.

The Bridge was a makeshift hub of arts nonprofi ts and vocation training programs for atrisk youth that existed in the old Sargent Card Clothing Co. building on Southbridge Street, founded informally by property manager Dan Ford and eventually morphing into something bigger. Like most grass-roots organizations, it was founded out of community need, and was vulnerable to the building’s owner eventually selling the land to a developer. At last report, Ford was still looking for a new home for the organization.

Steinberg and Rea say they were unaware of the Bridge’s story, and as such, obviously couldn’t speak to specifi cs in the situation, but Steinberg said, “We’ll work with any accredited 501(c)(3) that comes to us for help. I understand what you’re saying, and the question is, can you make good come out of it, and a 501(c)(3) that is doing good work is right in our wheelhouse. There are a lot of assets we can bring.”

Steinberg expressed an interest in hearing from Ford and the nonprofi ts displaced from the Bridge, “but let us not say what we can do for them … Let us be educated by him ... our ears are open. There’s always good you can do. If the consequence of building a ballpark aff ects a charity, let’s try to have the net aff ect of that charity be positive.”

Steinberg says he understands the social responsibility of an organization such as the Woo Sox to its community, even as he acknowledges that any good they can accomplish won’t happen overnight. “(Vice President for Baseball Operations & Community Relations) Joe Bradlee on our staff ,” says Steinberg, “his work is to meet with or respond to every accredited charity in this region, and he knows, you’ve got to come up with some kind of yes. It might be small, but again, take the long lens. You don’t have to do everything you See FIELD, Page 17

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 17

Saturday October 16th 12pm-6pm 1191 Millbury St. Worcester, MA

Charles Steinberg addressed the crowd during Wormtown Brewery’s release party March 2, 2019, for the “Welcome to Worcester” beer celebrating the arrival of the Worcester Red Sox. ASHLEY GREEN/T&G STAFF

Field Continued from Page 16

imagine in year one. The clichés that the longest journeys begin with a single step are clichés because they’re true.

That’s why building relationships in this city has been so fulfi lling.”

He points to the relationship the Woo Sox have built with the Be Like Brit Foundation, after meeting executive director Cherylann Gengel at a Railers game. The Be Like Brit Foundation now operations a concession stand at Polar Park, with all the proceeds going to the organization’s Haiti Relief eff orts.

Is there any way the Woo Sox can help the Bridge, or the functions that it served in the community? That’s an open question for the future, one that seems far away from visions of a bustling entertainment and sports district, but they’re intertwined. The needs of a city’s most vulnerable populations and the dreams for its future are always concurrent.

What Will We Be When This Is Done?

Polar Park can be, pardon

the pun, a polarizing force, met by ardent, optimistic enthusiasm by some, and fi erce resistance by others. Still, in all honesty, most residents of the city’s sentiment seems to be, “It’s complicated.” There are many people who love the stadium itself, love attending Woo Sox games, but fear for its effects on the community, most immediately Canal District businesses.

“So, here, it’s the very beginning,” says Steinberg, “and you’re still in the late state of COVID atmosphere. So, you have one business that tells us, ‘Friday nights are my best nights now, thanks to your fi reworks.’ You have another business that says, ‘it’s been a mixed bag, because some of our regulars have been intimidated on coming on a game night, and some of the new folks haven’t been coming.’ You have to look at why.”

Steinberg and Rea both say a lot of the solutions to their effect on neighboring businesses are already underway, and in many cases come down to seemingly insignifi cant things, such as improved signage and expanded parking options.

They say their studies show See FIELD, Page 18

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Field Continued from Page 17

people are parking further away from the stadium now than at the beginning of the season, and walking more through the Canal District, behavior they hope to encourage, along with visitors using the train more.

“They weren’t actually immersing in the Canal District at fi rst,” says Steinberg. “They weren’t fl ocking to the Union Station Garage and then walking, they weren’t recognizing that taking the commuter rail is one of the secret joys of coming to this ballpark. Take the train, get off at Union Station, walk through the Canal District, come early.”

It’s easy to forget that ballpark has only been actually open for fi ve months, so there’s not a lot of data yet on visitor habits, although Steinberg says that even in that short amount of time, it’s changed as frequent fans learned how to navigate Worcester.

“I think there’s a misinterpretation sometimes if you open a ballpark, it’s done,” says Rea. “It’s fi nished from Day One going forward. We analogize it more to an operating system on a computer, that’s constantly refreshing itself with constant upgrades. I think that traffi c plays in that particular dynamic … Back in early March, we weren’t really sure about the contours of the season. We weren’t sure how many people we’d be allowed to host, we weren’t sure when opening day was going to be. They were challenging, but we were in them together, and we went through this with the city, going back a year, a year and a half before opening day, we were meeting (with city offi cials) on a weekly basis on our traffi c plan … how we could make this traffi c plan a dynamic one, but one we knew would evolve over time, it would have to evolve. I think we’ve tried to be open and receptive to feedback, to criticism, to the critiques that people have for us … It’s been under some unique circumstances, certainly, in a fl uid situation where we’re trying to update, just pivot where need be. There’s still work to be done, but there’s also been progress and a receptiveness on all party’s ends.”

Rea says a survey of attendees showed that 82% of visitors to the ballpark rated the parking situation as a three or better on a scale of one to fi ve.

Of course, that survey doesn’t include the guy who just wants to pick up a ke-

Deb Kaufman and brother Rick, who grew up on Grafton Street, pose for a photo on opening Day at Polar Park May 11.

T&G STAFF/CHRISTINE PETERSON

bab at Bay State Shawarma. He might still have a diff erent opinion.

Steinberg says that the Woo sox “intentionally play our Saturday games at 4 o’clock. It would be typical to play at 7 o’clock. We intentionally play at 4 o’clock so we can spill this ballpark into this neighborhood, so that people have dinner in the Canal District, so that people walk over to Shrewsbury Street, so that you are enlivening and animating the city. Last weekend of the season, we played a 4 o’clock game, and you could walk over to Mechanic Hall for a New England Symphony Orchestra concert.

We are neighbors, and want to be supportive of the Hanover.

“Imagine: A ballgame at 4, and a show at 8. What a day! So my reaction is, you’re right on the cusp of what we hope will be this bounty of benefi t. Because as our fans learn that you don’t have to

drive here, watch a game and drive home. Instead, you can come Friday evening. If rush hour has you miss the fi rst pitch, don’t worry, it’s a fi reworks night. Stay over. Saturday? Enjoy Worcester. Enjoy the Canal District. 4 o’clock? We have a game. 7 o’clock? Go to dinner. Stay over, have brunch. Go to the diner Sunday morning. You’ve got a 1 o’clock game, it’s over at 4, kids run the bases, you’re in the car at 5 o’clock, unless you want to stay for dinner again.

But you can be anywhere by bedtime on Sunday night. You can be back in Portland, Maine, by 7:30 on a Sunday night.

Now that’s one heck of a Worcester weekend, that we are a magnet for, but we aren’t the sole destination. We’re just placing ourselves in the middle of the weekend. That’s if you want to make it a two-night, three-night weekend here, but you could make it any of those

components, any of those modular constituents of that weekend, and still benefi t the businesses of that region.”

It’s a compelling vision, and maybe a quixotic one, but one that does hold a lot of possibilities. Steinberg brims with enthusiasm as he discusses random ideas, such as possibly working with Bedlam Book Café or the Worcester Public Library to host signings or presentations by sports writers.

“It’s a matter of ingenuity and creativity,” says Steinberg. “It should be, if you are bringing people to your business, that should ultimately be a help.

We’re neighbors, and I hope we have the same compassion as the city. It’s a great city … We are new, big, loud neighbors that have moved into a prospering neighborhood, and we want to fi t in as kindly, and as resonantly, as we can.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 19

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Simon Tozer Simon Tozer Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

After earning an interdisciplinary MFA during a year abroad in Scotland, Simon Tozer returned to the Worcester area to teach art at Quinsigamond Community College – the same school he began his academic endeavors. While he remains invested in arts education, Simon is enthusiastic to continue innovating methods in printmaking, and become

more active in Worcester and Central Massachusetts art. To see more of his work, visit his online portfolio, behance.net/simontozer.

This Artist Spotlight is presented by Worcester Magazine in partnership with ArtsWorcester. Since 1979, ArtsWorcester has exhibited and advanced the work of this region’s contemporary artists. Its exhibitions and educational events are open and free to all. Learn more at www.artsworcester.org.

“Simon: Wrote in Scotland,” artist book: tartan, mdf, ink on paper SIMON TOZER/ ARTSWORCESTER

October 26 • TheHanoverTheatre.org • 877.571.7469 • Tickets start at $29!

20 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CITY LIVING TABLE HOPPIN’

Pholicious off ers authentic Vietnamese fare in Holden Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Pholicious owner Thien Phan and manager Mayleena Silva inside the new Vietnamese restaurant in a former Friendly’s in Holden.

RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Thien Phan of Shrewsbury owns three local Japanese restaurants, and last month he and his wife opened Pholicious, a Vietnamese restaurant in the former Friendly’s, 1062 Main St., Holden.

Why Vietnamese cuisine this time around?

Andy Nguyen of Shrewsbury, who has worked as a chef

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at his brother-in-law’s Kyoto Bar & Grill locations in Whitinsville, Worcester and Holden, said Phan always wanted to open a Vietnamese restaurant serving the food their families grew up on. Staying up to date on what’s new and upcoming in the industry, Phan fi rst planned marketing strategy around sushi’s popularity, said Nguyen. When the Friendly’s property became available ,it was the right time and place for Vietnamese food, he said.

“There’s no sushi at Pholicious, and the food is diff erent from what other restaurants in town serve.”

Pholicious held a soft opening for family and friends on Sept. 14. The restaurant has quickly attracted regular and weekly clientele, said Manager Mayleena Silva, who previously worked as bartender at Kyoto Bar & Grill in Whitinsville.

The Holden restaurant has been renovated and seats 106 at booths, tables and the bar. The menu is fi lled with classic appetizers, noodle dishes, rice plates, Holden Bao (steamed buns with a variety of fi llings), sides, Vietnamese sandwiches and Vietnam’s national dish, Pho (pronounced “fuh.”)

Smoothies, slushies and a variety of teas, including boba or bubble tea, are on the menu.

There’s a lot to take in.

The Vietnamese Pho (broth, rice noodles, herbs, thinly sliced beef or chicken) is considered the house specialty, made by Nguyen’s sister, “an executive chef who came from Colorado” to help in the family business. There are 12 Pho

dishes on the menu, including the restaurant’s most popular, Pho Filet Mignon and Pholicious Holden, both beef noodle soups. For non-meat lovers, there’s a veggie noodle soup, Pho Chay, that has tofu in a vegetarian broth. Pho is a fragrant, nourishing soup known to appeal to American tastes.

“Vietnamese food prepared at Pholicious is what we know and love. It’s the real deal,” said Nguyen, who came to the United States from Vietnam as a youngster. “And, we’re not afraid of hard work,” he said, “pulling together as a team. No matter what restaurant, excellent food and service is always a team eff ort.”

Everyone pitches in at Pholicious, young and old, said Nguyen, who had just washed dishes before this interview.

He’s kitchen manager and a chef at the restaurant. He tells the story about how his mother came to the restaurant one day and said she could help out cutting broccoli. “I reminded her that she would be cutting more than a couple bunches,” said Nguyen. “We go through cases of broccoli every day. She said, ‘OK, no problem.’”

Silva currently is hiring, looking to fi ll waitstaff and bartending positions at Pholicious.

“We have a wonderful staff already, and we’re so lucky to have local students on board,” she said. “Everyone is friendly and professional.”

Pholicious is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; See HOPPIN’, Page 22

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 21

LISTEN UP

Broke down?

Empty?

Flat?

Erin McKeown’s latest music video is “On/Off Heart.”

PHOTO COURTESY SHERVIN LAINEZ

Erin McKeown takes deep dive into bad romance with ‘Kiss Off Kiss’ Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

With “Kiss Off Kiss,” longtime Massachusetts folk-scene veteran Erin McKeown takes the listener on a deep-dive of shallow aff airs, meaningless sex, insecurity, the frost that overtakes a heart when a relationship dies and, perhaps most importantly, holding on to one’s sense of self amid the burning car crashes that pass for romance. Cynical? McKeown pretty well signals where she’s going with all of this with her opening track, “Cupido Stupido.” The song itself has a

cheery, upbeat disposition, a sing-songy sense of innocence that belies lines such as, “I like to think that I am 21st century/ too sharp to fall for that ancient mythic (expletive)/how could someone so smart be so suddenly stupid/to think somehow I would reinvent Cupid.”

Indeed, if there’s a theme to this album beyond the awfulness of dating, it’s the feeling of being a walk-on character in one’s own life, an idea that manifests explicitly in “Litany For A Minor Character.” It’s a musically discordant piece of work, one that resembles ‘90s See MCKEOWN, Page 22

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McKeown punk rock-infused spoken word more than it does the folk music for which McKeown’s known. That said, the sense of aggression and desperation which soaks the song in lines such as, “for all this mess this blessing will you grant us/for all this struggle all this/for someone so brief a narrator/ mercy for that minor character,” followed by the refrain of “Lord hear our prayer,” makes for a harrowing emotional experience, one which seems almost at odds with the subsequent, “On/Off Heart.” “On/Off Heart” is a more traditionally structured pop-country song, and in the face of the earlier song’s delirium, the thought of a heart which turns off and on to protect itself sounds sort of tragic, a sadness which carries into the more melancholy,

“Switch Shadows.”

“Switch Shadows” is a slowly meandering brook of a song, a gentle fl ow only interrupted by a roll of percussion. “Take my hand and ditch shadows with me,” McKeown sings, “now we’re free,” but there’s a plaintive quality to the vocals which makes the listener think that’s probably not true, a slow-burn feeling that’s borne out in the slowly jazzy, “Details of the Crime,” where McKeown sings of evidence, “Evidence of the crime/ripped from the pages of/some cheap detective novels/or from a mini-series mystery of the week/the trail of evidence so evidently obvious/ how dare we speak?” The song has a low bass thump that feels like a heartbeat, adding to the its sense of foreboding. There is a criminal at large, after all, and that criminal is love itself.

The album picks up the tempo a bit with the more rockdriven “Go Along/Get Along,” which seems to echo “On/Off

Heart” a bit, with its meditation on the coldness that can come with an ending: “In your eyes I could see nothing/bright blue babies used to turn something on/but now it’s gone/you could be anyone/lying on top of me and I’m done.” The fact that the song has a fun, upbeat vibe only helps to put the discord in sharper focus, just as the moodier tone of “The Business of Show” — detailing the fi rst sparks of attraction between the persona and someone in the front row of one off her performances — seems ot denote that, for all the heat, this will not end well. Likewise, the touch of doo-wop in “My Own Baby” contrasts the song’s palapable sense of loneliness.

Things really heat up on the album with the bracing, “Is/He Does/His.” Here, McKeown’s persona fi nds herself in danger of losing a paramour to a man: “What’s his skin like?” she sings, “Woes he drink like you?/Does he like-like you/

straight and wife-like?/Was I your escape hatch?/am I an itch to scratch?/was I your status catch?/the match so you can burn for someone?” Every line of the song lacerates. The persona is wounded, and lashing out, and the listener feels it on every level, even as the song’s blistering blast of rock guitar creates an electrifying hook.

The rage cools into something more measured in the title song, ‘Kiss Off Kiss,” and it’s striking how in the transition between the two songs, the listener can actually feel the frost descend.

Then, with “Landing Spot,” we return to the more dissolute spoken word style of “Litany For A Minor Character,” and while the lyrics seem to convey the persona coming to grips with their own sense of selfvalue, the foreboding tone of the music makes that assertion suspect. The rage from earlier has cooled, but it clearly hasn’t entirely evaporated. When we

arrive at the penultimate song, “Today/Sex,” the anger burbles up again, although here it’s fueled by that sense of selfworth: “Today I could have been having/sex with you … but it wasn’t worth the price to be your accessory.”

The album ends with the steamy “Little Miss Mister,” a gritty little song. “Hey little sister baby what’s your name?” sings McKeown, her voice low and seductive. “Don’t be afraid pretty mister I won’t tell your friends.” It’s an interesting ending, one that seems to bring the listener back to the beginning of an unhealthy cycle. It’s the very last lines, though, which give the song some context: “Hey little miss mister what’s got you so down?/ whatcha say little mister do you like my album?” Is the album itself a sort of kiss off kiss? Only McKeown could say for certain.

The rest of us will just have to enjoy it for what it is.

Hoppin’

martini and a few appetizers.

Just a thought.

The restaurant went on the market in March 2019. Rovezzi has kept a low profi le since then. He’s an award-winning chef who at one time owned restaurants in Worcester and Rutland and comes from a family of restaurateurs. His parents opened Rovezzi’s on Main Street in Worcester in the late 1970s.

to the pandemic.

from Peppers Artful Events in Northboro is now available to pre-order with pickup dates beginning Nov. 22.

The packages range from small gatherings of four people to parties of 18. In addition to main dishes, the a la carte menu also off ers sides and desserts. Visit https://www.peppersartfulevents.com for more information.

Continued from Page 21

Continued from Page 20

noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant has a full liquor license and off ers takeout, but no delivery service. Telephone is (508) 901-9999. Check restaurant updates on Facebook as hours may soon be extended.

Visit www.pholiciousholden.com. Call for information about reserving holiday or special occasion parties or meetings.

FYI: Kyoto Bar & Grill locations are at 185 Church St., Whitinsville; 535 Lincoln St., Worcester; 695 Main St., Holden. Sushi, hibachi service and more.

Going out to eat is a fun thing to do. Enjoy some time in a new place and try new foods.

At Pholicious, it could be a soothing bowl of Pho, or you could celebrate happy hour with Silva’s signature Lychee

Chris Rovezzi opens spot in Brimfi eld Christopher (Chris) Rovezzi opened Villa Sofi a restaurant, 17 Main St., Brimfi eld, on Oct. 8, according to a Facebook posting. FYI: Sophia is the name of Rovezzi and wife, Tracy’s, daughter.

Restaurant hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The chef ’s recent menu on Facebook has 12 “start” options and nine main dishes ranging from Rovezzi’s handmade pappardelle with slow-cooked Bolognese to other pastas and veal, pork and chicken specialties.

The chef previously owned and operated Rovezzi’s Ristorante in Sturbridge, closing in 2019 when the restaurant suffered “catastrophic water damage and extensive repairs” as the result of a water pipe burst.

Worcester Tech’s Skyline Bistro opening Skyline Bistro at Worcester Technical High School opened to the public on Oct. 13.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It’s cash only at the restaurant. Call (508) 799-1964 for reservations. Guests are asked to wear masks when entering the school building. Culinary students assisted by chef/culinary instructors prepare the menu, and hospitality students provide service in the restaurant. Skyline Bistro had been closed for more than a year due

Wayback Burgers fall special Wayback Burgers says “Happy Fall, Y’all!” with two, limited time items.

Bourbon Bacon Burger and Pumpkin Caramel Shake will be available through Nov. 14.

The local Wayback Burgers is at 11 Tobias Boland Way, Worcester. Order online, or call (508) 755-9300.

About the menu: Bourbon Bacon Burger is two beef patties, topped with cheddar cheese, bourbon mustard, bacon and an onion ring; Pumpkin Caramel Shake is a handdipped, pumpkin- fl avored milkshake topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

Peppers Thanksgiving package The

Thanksgiving

menu

Wayland farmers market ends Oct. 20 Wayland Summer Farmers Market at Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland ends Oct. 20 Hours are noon to 4 p.m. in the garden center’s front parking lot. Vendors to include On the Knife Sharpening.

Stay tuned for updates on the winter market inside the garden center’s greenhouses.

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

Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 23

CONNELL SANDERS

Griftober — conmen, charlatons and scammers Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I love stories about grifters.

Speculate all you want. I just can’t resist a nine-part takedown of a fake doctor. Here is what I am listening to, watching and reading this October.

‘Something Was Wrong’: Season 9 What’s the Format?

Podcast Where can I fi nd it?

Audiochuck What’s the story?

“Something Was Wrong” is my favorite true-crime docuseries because host Tiff any Reese explores the trauma of abusive relationships and the healing that can follow. Season 9 focuses on two survivors tortured by a narcissist named Artie with a fake British accent.

It’s a long con with plenty of twists and turns. The story is told from multiple perspectives, dismantling Artie’s dangerous subterfuge bit by bit.

The series also reveals gaping fl aws in the justice system for victims of domestic abuse. Despite heavy subject matter, “Something Was Wrong” is compelling and addictive. You will not be able to turn it off .

Can you compare it to something similar?

Fans of Wondery’s “Dirty John” podcast will love this show. Like John, Artie is a menacing charmer with a real knack for making intelligent women doubt their own instincts and self worth.

‘The Way Down’ What’s the Format?

TV Show Where can I fi nd it?

HBO What’s the story?

Gwen Shamblin Lara fi nds celebrity as a Christian diet guru and quickly ascends to become the leader of a Tennessee cult. Let me start by saying, Shamblin Lara’s hair is an absolute star of the show. As her ego grows, so too does her towering blonde mane. She’s not just giving us volume; I’m fairly certain Voldemort has attached himself to her head with intentions to infi ltrate the church.

Whatever’s going on under there, “The Way Down” is far from fi ction. Tragedy is afoot.

Can you compare it to something similar?

If you loved “Wild Wild Country” or “The Vow,” you will devour “The Way Down.”

Shamblin Lara makes Keith Reniere look tame.

‘Who is the Bad Art Friend?’

What’s the Format?

Magazine Article Where can I fi nd it?

The New York Times Magazine What’s the story?

Everyone is talking about Robert Kolker’s portrait of a failed friendship. In short, two Boston writers fi nd themselves in a mess when one of them accuses the other of plagiarizing her life in a piece later selected to appear in the 2017 edition of Best American Short Stories.

Dawn Dorland donated her kidney to a stranger and created a Facebook group to showcase the experience for her close friends and family, one of whom included fellow writer Sonya Larson. Larson lifted

posts directly from the Facebook group for her own work of fi ction. Both women come across as self-obsessed and oblivious, so I don’t even feel icky about reading their subpoenaed group texts.

Can you compare it to something similar?

This kerfuffl e has prestige television written all over it.

Imagine if the hostility of “Succession” met the vanity of “Veep.”

Learn what Sarah Connell Sanders is listening to, watching and reading this October. MICHAEL HENDRICKSON UNITYMIKE.COM

24 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 25

NEW ON DVD

Ryan Reynolds is no ordinary character in ‘Free Guy’ Tribune News Service

An action comedy where the entire world is not what it seems tops the DVD releases for the week of Oct. 12.

“Free Guy”: Ryan Reynolds stars as Guy, a bank teller who thinks he has a perfect life, only to discover he’s merely a nonplayable character, or NPC, in the background of a violent open-world video game. With Guy now aware of the reality of his situation, he must escape before the game’s servers are permanently shut down.

“Penned by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn, directed by Shawn Levy, ‘Free Guy’ is an easy, breezy riff on video game culture that’s sure to delight avid gamers (nongamers will get up to speed quickly), and calls to mind ‘The Truman Show,’ ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ and the Apple TV+ series ‘Mythic Quest,’” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review of the movie that was partially fi lmed in Worcester.

“But it hinges on one very specifi c proposition that can make or break the movie: are you buying what Ryan Reynolds is selling?”

Ryan Reynolds in “Free Guy.” 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS, TNS

Also new on DVD Oct. 12 “The Green Knight”: Dev Patel plays Sir Gawain, a knight of Camelot who must venture on a heroic quest in this take on the Arthurian tale directed by David Lowery.

“Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain”: Documentary fi lm focused on the celebrity chef and author, who died by suicide in 2018, detailing his journey from New York kitchens to travel TV stardom.

“The Flash: The Complete Seventh Season”: The longrunning CW show based on the

popular DC Comics character returns with Grant Gustin starring as the fast-running Barry Allen.

“Black Lightning: Season 4”: Fourth and fi nal season of the CW series about a high school principal who moonlights as superhero Black Lightning, another DC character.

“Crime Story”: Richard Dreyfuss plays a former crime boss out for revenge after a home robbery. Also starring Miro Sorvino.

“Survive the Game”: Crime thriller starring Bruce Willis and Chad Michael Murray, who must defend themselves from a

gang of criminals after a drug bust gone bad.

“The Colony”: Humanity’s survival hangs in the balance in this sci-fi fi lm in which people have fl ed Earth for a planet 500 light-years away.

“The Haunting of Bly Manor”: Released on Netfl ix in October 2020, and following the streamer’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” this nine-episode horror series concerns orphaned children at a manor in the English countryside.

“Wild Bill: Year 1”: Rob Lowe stars as an American police chief who has relocated to rural England with his teenage daughter in this British drama series.

“On the Fringe of Wild”: Two teenage boys fi nd romance in a small Ontario town in this LGBTQ coming-of-age drama.

“Lady Usher”: A modernday retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

in an isolated cabin until his past catches up with him.

“The Invisible Mother”: Comedy horror fi lm about a lesbian stoner caring for her grandparents who realizes they are being tormented by the spirits of an old photo album.

“Killing Eleanor”: Dramedy about a terminally ill older woman who convinces an addict to help kill her in exchange for clean urine.

“Lust Life Love”: A starcrossed love story set in the racy world of polyamory and New York city sex parties.

“A Full Service Tree Removal Company”

Since 1980 STEVE STRATTON Owner

Out on Digital HD Oct. 12 “Don’t Breathe 2”: This sequel is set in the years following the home invasion portrayed in 2016’s “Don’t Breathe,” with Stephen Lang’s character living

Free Estimates

Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

George Balanchine teaching at the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center around 1964 in a photo by Martha Swope, as seen in “In Balanchine’s Classroom.” ZEITGEIST FILMS

Cinema 320 at WCUW Radio, 910 Main St., Worcester, will screen the documentary “In Balanchine’s Classroom” at 7 p.m. Oct. 15, 17 and 22.

In Connie Hochman’s new documentary, archival footage and interviews provide insight

into the life and work of visionary ballet choreographer George Balanchine.

Cinema 320 will also continue screening the documentary “On Broadway” at 9 p.m.

Oct. 15, 17 and 22, and expand to a matinee showing of the fi lm at 1 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 17 and 24.

Formerly Cinema 320 at Clark University, Cinema 320

at WCUW Radio debuted with screenings Sept. 24 of the documentary “On Broadway.”

The fi lms are shown in the Front Room performance space of the radio station.

Tickets are $9; $7 for seniors and WCUW members. Patrons must bring proof of vaccination and will be asked to wear a mask.

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26 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

5 THINGS TO DO

ANA POPOVIC, SORROWSEED, WORCESTER CHORUS AND MORE ...

Richard Duckett and Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

One of the blues greats Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, blues guitarist and singer Ana Popovic gave up a career in graphic design, formed her own band, and decided to become a full-time musician. Soon after, she traveled to Memphis to record “HUSH!”, her first solo release. “Two decades later, I can proudly look back at a career of thousands of shows over five continents,” Popovic says. The remarkable story also includes six Blues Music Award nominations and sharing the stage with legends such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Gary Clark, Joe Bonamassa and many others. Popovic is back on the road again, and comes to the Bull Run Restaurant Oct. 17. (RD)

JIMMY BUFFETT’S

What: Ana Popovic When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 (doors open for dinner and seating at 5:30 p.m.)

Where: Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Shirley How much: $36. Proof of vaccination or proof of negative PCR COVID-19 test required within 72 hours of performance. www.bullrun restaurant.com.

©

ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE BOOK BY &

GREG GARCIA

MIKE O’MALLEY

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY

JIMMY BUFFETT

OCT. 21-24 • THEHANOVERTHEATRE.ORG Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts.

Ana Popovic is set to perform at Bull Run Restaurant PHOTO COURTESY PETRA ARNOLD

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 27

PROMOTIONAL IMAGE

The Worcester Chorus performs Brahms Requiem on Oct. 15.

T&G FILE PHOTO/ED COTE

A Grand Return For its first in-person live public performance since the pandemic began, The Worcester Chorus returns to the stage at Mechanics Hall on Oct. 15 for a performance of Brahms’ magnificent Requiem. Chris Shepard, conductor; Mark Mummert, assistant conductor and accompanist. Presented by Music Worcester. (RD)

What: Brahms Requiem — Worcester Chorus When: 8 p.m. Oct. 15 Where: Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester How much: $49; student, $17.50; youth, $7.50. All attendees must provide proof of vaccination, wear a mask at the venue, and follow all social distancing guidelines. www.musicworcester.org

Sorrowseed is set to perform at Ralph's Rock Diner.

PHOTO COURTESY KEVCOOL PHOTOGRAP

Going to the ‘Extreme’ One of the things that becomes instantly evident when listening to New England “extreme metal” band Sorrowseed is just how talented the musicians are: The vocals are soaring and nuanced, the guitar and bass are intricate and searing, and the percussion can move from thunderous to delicate in a heartbeat. It’s an extraordinally talented band, one that can punch at hurricane velocity, or turn the volume down to showcase something fragile and beautiful. (VDI)

What: Sorrowseed with Solemn Vision, Dzö-nga, Faces of Bayon and Lucretia’s Daggers When: 8:30 pm Oct. 16 Where: Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester How much: $15

Enter Stage Left Theater of Hopkinton will present “The Laramie Project” Oct. 15-23, a 2000 play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. Directed

by Paul Champlin and featuring a cast of 16, the three-act play focuses on the aftermath of Shepard’s brutal killing.

According to Champlin, “’The Laramie Project,’ while confronting the complexities of gay rights and its detractors as its main theme, is ultimately a human story, one of inclusion and alienation, fear and yearning, violence and love.” A talk back will be held after the performances on Oct. 15 and 16 with Cathy Renna, communications director for the national LGBTQ task force. Enter Stage Left Theater is the resident theater company of the Hopkinton Center for the Arts. (RD) What: “The Laramie Project” — Enter Stage Left Theater When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 16, 22 and 23 Where: The Delbridge Family Performance Space, Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton How much: $25; $20 for students/seniors; $10 “Rush” tickets, if available, for middle or high school students. www.hopartscenter.org

Leonardo Ciampa is pictured at Mechanics Hall during the Founders Day 2021 concert in March. COURTESY/MECHANICS HALL

A Concert of World Premieres Mechanics Hall presents “The Music of Leonardo Ciampa,” a concert of world-premieres by its first Composer-in-Residence on Oct. 17. The concert will feature works for organ, piano, soloists and vocal ensemble, including the “Worcester Organ Symphony.”

Ciampa, director of music at Emanuel Lutheran Church, said, “The symphony is dedicated to the City of Worcester and all of the diverse immigrant communities who built it and made it what it is.

In homage to all of these great cultures (without wishing to single out, or omit, any), various folk melodies and musical styles are interwoven throughout the symphony. The final Triple Fugue is a nod to Worcester’s distinctive ‘triple-deckers.’”

Other works include “Triumph” for trumpet & organ (with Scott Daugherty, trumpet), “Carlisle Stories” for piano solo, “Les quatre éléments” (“The four elements”) for soprano & piano (with Letitia Stevens, soprano), and Two motets (with vocal ensemble conducted by Bradford T. Dumont). “It’s one of those ‘once-in-a-lifetime occasions’ for a musician such as myself.” Ciampa said. “A ‘big break,’ you might say!”

(RD)

What: “The Music of Leonardo Ciampa” When: 4 p.m. Oct. 17 (doors 3:30: p.m.)

Where: Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester How much: Free. Register at www.mechanicshall.org. Mechanics Hall expects staff, volunteers, vendors, clients, performers and all other visitors to be vaccinated. Masks are required for all, regardless of vaccination status.

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‘A Human Story’

28 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Sparkles Welcome to Adoption Option, a partnership with the Worcester Animal Rescue League highlighting their adoptable pets. Check this space often to meet all of the great pets at WARL in need of homes. WARL is open seven days a week, noon-4 p.m., 139 Holden St. Check them out online at Worcesterarl.org, or call at (508) 8530030.

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

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

• ADOPTIONS: At this time, adoptions are being held BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you are interested in adoption, please visit our website worcesterarl.org/ adopt/ to learn more about our available animals then call us at (508) 853-0030 ext.0 or email us at info@worcesterarl. org to schedule an appointment.

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

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

• SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS: All scheduled appointments will be honored. If you have a scheduled appointment, we will be contacting you to discuss changes to our drop off / pick up procedures.

• DONATIONS ACCEPTED except for open bags of food.

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

• The WARL Volunteer Pro-

Sparkles is available for adoption at WARL. SUBMITTED PHOTO

gram is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. We have many animals in our care who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The

above measures help to protect our staff and community from the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-to-face interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow

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

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 29

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MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANEOUS

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN PURNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN PURCommonwealth Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Commonwealth of of SUANT PROVISIONS M.L.C. TO TO PROVISIONS OF OF M.L.C. Massachusetts The Trial CourtMassachusetts Massachusetts CourtSUANT Massachusetts The Trial Court The The TrialTrial Court FOLLOWING VEHIsec sec 39A.39A. THETHE FOLLOWING VEHIProbate and Family Court Probate Family Court 225 225 Probate and Family Court Probate and and Family Court BE SOLD 11/05/21 WILLWILL BE SOLD ON ON 11/05/21 TO TO Docket WO21P3234GD Docket Docket WO21P3046GD CLESCLES Docket No. No. WO21P3234GD No. No. WO21P3046GD SATISFY GARAGE THEREOUROUR GARAGE LIENLIEN THEREWorcester Probate FamilyWorcester Worcester Probate FamilySATISFY Worcester Probate and and Family Probate andand Family ON FOR TOWING AND STORAGE ON FOR TOWING AND STORAGE Court 225 Main St. Court 225 Main St. Court 225 Main St. Court 225 Main St. CHARGES EXPENSES SALE CHARGES ANDAND EXPENSES OF OF SALE Worcester, MA 01608 Worcester, 01608 Worcester, MA 01608 Worcester, MA MA 01608 AND NOTICE: AND NOTICE: CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PECITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PECITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PE- CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PE2008 BMW 335xi TITION APPOINTMENT TITION APPOINTMENT FORFOR APPOINTMENT OF OF2008 BMW 335xi TITION FOR FOR APPOINTMENT OF OF TITION VIN#: WBAVD53578A010543 WBAVD53578A010543 GUARDIAN INCAPACITAT-GUARDIAN GUARDIAN INCAPACITAT-VIN#: FORFOR INCAPACITATGUARDIAN FOR FOR INCAPACITAT2001 Ford Econoline E250 2001 Ford Econoline E250 ED PERSON PURSUANT TO G.L.ED PERSON ED PERSON PURSUANT TO G.L. PURSUANT TO G.L. ED PERSON PURSUANT TO G.L. VIN#: 1FTNE24201HA80658 VIN#: 1FTNE24201HA80658 c. 190B, §5-304 c. 190B, §5-304 c. 190B, §5-304 c. 190B, §5-304 Subaru Forrester 20032003 Subaru Forrester X X In matter the matter of: Rogel Amado matter Michele In In the the matter of: of: Michele In the of: Rogel Amado VIN#: JF1SG63673H723847 VIN#: JF1SG63673H723847 Heredia-Alvarez Of: Worcester, Leroux Leicester, Leroux Of: Of: Leicester, MA MA RE- RE- 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Heredia-Alvarez Of: Worcester, 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated MA RESPONDENT Alleged IncapaciSPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated MA RESPONDENT Alleged IncapaciVIN#: 1C4RJFCG5EC264840 VIN#: 1C4RJFCG5EC264840 Person To named the named Respondent Person To named the named Person To the Respondent tatedtated Person To the Re- Re2010 Chevy Equinox 2010 Chevy Equinox LS LS and all other interested persons, a spondent and all other interested spondent and all other interested and all other interested persons, a VIN#: 2CNALBEW4A6268932 VIN#: 2CNALBEW4A6268932 petition has been filed by Departpersons, a petition has been filed by persons, a petition has been filed by petition has been filed by DepartHonda Accord 19961996 Honda Accord of Developmental of WorcesDepartment of Developmental mentment of Developmental of WorcesDepartment of Developmental Serv Serv VIN#: 1HGCE1824TA004207 VIN#: 1HGCE1824TA004207 ter, MA in the above captioned matof Worcester, MA in the above of Worcester, MA in the above ter, MA in the above captioned matbe held at Worcester The The SaleSale will will be held at Worcester captioned matter alleging ter alleging Michele Leroux ter alleging that that Michele Leroux is is Towing on 344 Harding St, Worcescaptioned matter alleging that that Towing on 344 Harding St, Worcesin need of a Guardian and requestRogel Amado Heredia-Alvarez is Rogel Amado Heredia-Alvarez is in need of a Guardian and request01610 November ter, ter, MA MA01610 on on November 5, 5, ing that Eva M Roeder of Nelson, in need of a Guardian and requesting that Eva M Roeder of Nelson, NH NH 2021. in need of a Guardian and request2021.

M Dauphinais of Holden, ing that E. Alvarez-Fabian of Anne M Dauphinais of Holden, MA MA ing that Ruth Ruth E. Alvarez-Fabian of Anne (or some suitable person) Worcester, MAsome (or some (or some otherother suitable person) be be Worcester, MA (or otherother suit- suitappointed as Guardian to serve able person) be appointed as Guardable person) be appointed as Guard- appointed as Guardian to serve ian to serve Without Surety on Without Surety on the bond. The ian to serve Without Surety on Without Surety on the bond. The the bond. The petition asks the petition asks the court to determine the bond. The petition asks the petition asks the court to determine court to determine that the Re- that the Respondent is incapacitatcourt to determine that the Re- that the Respondent is incapacitatspondent is incapacitated, that the ed, that the appointment of a spondent is incapacitated, that the ed, that the appointment of a appointment of a Guardian is neces- Guardian is necessary, and that the appointment of a Guardian is neces- Guardian is necessary, and that the sary, and that the proposed Guardi- proposed Guardian is appropriate. sary, and that the proposed Guardi- proposed Guardian is appropriate. an is appropriate. The petition is on The petition is on file with this court an is appropriate. The petition is on The petition is on file with this court file with this court and may contain and may contain a request for cerfile with this court and may contain and may contain a request for cera request for certain specific au- tain specific authority. You have a request for certain specific au- tain specific authority. You have thority. You have the right to the right to object to this prothority. You have the right to the right to object to this proobject to this proceeding. If you ceeding. If you wish to do so, you object to to this If you ceeding. you wishmust to dofile so,a you wish do proceeding. so, you or your attorney or yourIf attorney written wish must to do file so, you or your attorney or your attorney must file a a written appearance at appearance at this courtwritten on or bemust this file court a written at A.M. appearance at this onreturn or be-date on orappearance before 10:00 fore 10:00 A.M.court on the this court on or before 10:00 A.M. fore 10:00 A.M. on the return date on the return date of 10/26/2021. of 11/02/2021. This day is NOT a on the return date ofa10/26/2021. of 11/02/2021. is NOT a by This day is NOT hearing date, but hearing date, This but aday deadline date This day is NOT a hearing date, but hearing date, but a deadline date by a deadline date by which you have which you have to file the written a deadline by which you haveif you which you have iftoyou fileobject the written to file date the written appearance appearance to the petito fileobject the written if you if you peti- apto theappearance petition. If you fail appearance to tion. If you failobject to file to thethe written objectfileto the the written petition.appearance If you fail to tion. pearance If you fail by to file written by the the the return date,apaction file the written the pearance by taken the return action return date,appearance action may by be taken in may be in thisdate, matter without returnthis date, action may be taken in may be taken in this matter without further notice to further notice to matter you. Inwithout addition to this matter notice to further notice to you.appearance In addition you to or you. Inwithout additionfurther to filing the written filing the written you. In addition toyou filingorthe written filingyour the written or afappearance your attorney attorneyappearance must file a you written or youraffidavit attorney appearance your fidavit attorney mustthe filespecific a written af- and must fileyou a written stating stating facts must the file specific a writtenfacts affidavit statingofthe specific factswithin and 30 and stating grounds fidavit of grounds your objection the specific facts and grounds of after grounds yourthe objection withinIMPOR30 your objection within 30 days daysofafter return date. your the objection 30 days after NOdaysTANT after the returnThe date.

IMPORreturn within date. IMPORTANT NOTICE outcome of this date.outcome IMPORTANT the return TANT NOTICE The of this TICE The of this NOproceedproceeding mayoutcome limit or completely TICE ing The may outcome proceed- take proceeding may the limit above-named or completely perlimit oforthis completely take away ing may completely take take son’s awayright the toabove-named perawaylimit the orabove-named person’s make decisions about awayright the toabove-named person’s son’spersonal right to make about make decisions about peraffairsdecisions or financial affairs right sonal to make decisions about affairs per- personal affairs financial affairs affairs or financial or or both.

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WITNESS, at Hon. Hon.atLeilah Keamy, First Justice of a lawyer, may be appointed pointed StateAexpense.

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WITNESS, Hon. Hon.this Leilah A Keamy, First Justice of Date:First September 2021 this Court.

Date: October 07, 2021 LeilahCourt.

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30 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J O N E S I N’

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

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

66

-34 4 5 2 8 8 8 cla

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

Across 1 Jousting weapon 6 Subjects that get “buried” 11 “Cribs” network 14 Bend (down) 15 Herb similar to black licorice 16 Paranormalist Geller 17 In-N-Out Burger “secret menu” order 19 Peccadillo 20 Ripped up 21 Land west of Wales 22 Express a viewpoint 24 Science lab container that could be corrosive if spilled 27 Lingers on 30 “One-of-a-kind” digital asset sometimes labelled a “crypto-collectible” 31 MSNBC host Melber 32 “Empire” star ___ P. Henson 37 Jacob’s Old Testament twin 41 Genre associated with Hunter S. Thompson 44 Texas Hold ‘em stake 45 Boat or plane 46 It may touch the same-named part of a cup 47 Airport near the U.S. Open site 49 Celebratory events 51 It’s typically made with apples, walnuts, and mayo 58 Homer classic 59 Highway subdivision 60 Actor Alan of whom Bill Hader does a good impression 64 Defensive tennis shot 65 Chocolate-dipped cookie desserts supposedly named after Phil Rizzuto 68 Venezuelan’s “very” 69 Muscat resident, for one 70 Newspaper pieces 71 Programming language named for Lord Byron’s daughter 72 Evenings in ads 73 Astronaut’s pressurized outfit Down 1 Aspiring atty.’s exam 2 “___ extra cost” 3 Bleak crime fiction genre 4 Acquire 5 DDT-banning org.

6 Corrective eye surgery 7 “___ Nous” (1983 film) 8 Someone performing home repairs, e.g.

“It’s Time to Get Things Started” --this is what we call these characters.

by Matt Jones

9 Night school class, for short 10 Accompany to the airport, maybe 11 Madonna #1 title that’s ... self-descriptive 12 “If I Had a Hammer” singer Lopez 13 Covered with ivy 18 Actress Salonga 23 “Slumdog Millionaire” actor Dev 25 “Que es ___?” (“What’s this?”)

26 Cat-___-tails 27 Long story (not short) 28 “___: Legacy” (2010 sci-fi sequel) 29 Contraction and perpetual bane of grammar purists 33 Eastern European relish made with red pepper, eggplant, and chilis 34 Fish eggs 35 Airport for SXSW attendees 36 Eleventh graders, for short 38 Spot for a houseplant 39 It comprises 11 time zones 40 Diamond deciders 42 Nintendo franchise, familiarly 43 Aquarium growth 48 Brooklyn or Romeo Beckham, to Sir Elton John 50 Adjusts to something new

51 Name yelled at the end of “The Flintstones” 52 How some things are read 53 Nation that’s mostly Sahara Desert 54 It may consist of a soft drink with soft serve 55 It joins the Rhone at Lyon 56 “No” voters 57 “Stagger ___” (African-American folk song) 61 “In ___ of gifts ...”

62 “Unforgettable” singer Lovato 63 Kind of prof. or D.A. 66 901, to Nero 67 Fix, as in gambling

Last week's solution

©2021 Matt Jones (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #1062

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | 31

LAST CALL

Mary Darling, local playwright Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Worcester native Mary Darling’s play, “Good Grief,” opened Oct. 8 in Lowell for six-show run that sold out shortly after tickets went on sale. The play deals with the loss of loved ones and coping in the age of social media and has struck a chord with audiences after more than a year defi ned by loss. However, for the Southbridge playwright, “Good Grief ” is the culmination of several years of work and a personal journey for Darling from actor to director to writer. Darling sat down with Last Call to discuss “Good Grief,” the origins of the play and the possibility of performing in Worcester.

Is this a departure from previous work?

It’s a little more serious but I say that lightly since there’s still a lot of humor in it. A few years ago I started interviewing people on death because a friend of mine and I wanted to write a play together. We ended up parting ways after a while but we conducted a lot of interviews. I wanted to know more about grief and how diff erent people deal with it.

One of the people I interviewed was my boyfriend’s sister about her dad. It was a really good interview but a couple months later she ended up dying — she was hit by a train — and it completely changed where I wanted to go with the play. We started going to a grief group and that was really insightful. I found myself in the role of grief supporter and I just felt so useless. I had never watched someone I love go through anything like that and it was really hard to know what to do or say. I listened to that interview [with his sister] on repeat and it would just kill me.

After that we had a series of losses, in six years it was more than six people like back to back to back. Seeing all these diff erent perspectives, fi rst from the interviews, then the grief group and then my personal life, the play just turned into something else and went in a new direction.

How long has this all been in the works?

I started interviewing people in late

Mary Darling SUBMITTED PHOTO

2016, then this all happened in 2017 that gave it some more direction and then in 2019 I did a workshop in Fitchburg and that was really helpful. The play defi nitely grew a lot in a really good way.

Until about 10 years ago, I was mainly an actor and that was how I worked through a lot of things. That was great but once I started writing, it was a whole diff erent level of euphoria. It works in a cathartic way where I can’t say stuff out loud but I can write it and see people react to it.

How did the transition from actor to writer come about?

Coming out of a bad relationship, I

was at a low point, confi dence wise, and it was diffi cult to want to put myself on stage but I had a lot of stuff to work through. So I was taking a play writing class and one thing just led to another. I think a lot of the stuff came out in that and I learned how to workshop these plays and develop them. I enjoy that process, I save all my drafts, I like to see how things develop, take things out and put them back in.

I still act and I like it, but the high from writing from it is much higher. Sitting in the audience watching people react to it — everything they’re reacting to is something I wrote. But it’s also a testament to the cast and crew — having had the experience of being both an actor and a director, I really respect all that goes into it. So as the writer, I try not to overstep and let them fi nd their own way because they bring something completely diff erent to it. For this, I actually chose not to watch rehearsals, so then I’ll be seeing it for the fi rst time with the audience fully staged. I wrote it so I know what’s going to happen but at the same time, I don’t.

Challenges in production?

We actually had one of our lead actors quit about a month ago, but we were able to recast it and this new person, honestly, changed the show for the better. We actively re-wrote some things when they shared with me that they were non-binary. I thought that this was a great opportunity for representation to take and change this character that was originally just part of a heterosexual couple. It enhanced the show and offered up more relatability.

How do you feel now that it’s out in the world?

Sold out in Lowell, which has never happened to me and that’s pretty cool.

Since then, I’ve had people reaching out asking if it’s going to be streamed, is it going to go up again, or if there’s going to be a bonus show. I think because of the subject matter that a lot of people feel and sitting in an audience with people experiencing the same thing, it gives you a chance to be in a collective and connect not only with what you’re seeing but with the people around you. It’s a really beautiful thing that live theater off ers.

Do you think people are more receptive because of the collective grief that the world has gone through?

I do feel that the reception is much higher — I think people who thought they would never go through it have.

Even not grieving a person but the time we lost during the pandemic, it was a life-changing event for lots of people.

Going through a year of such loss — even if it’s not due to COVID but not being able to have a funeral and gathering, that just drags it out with not being able to lay their loved ones to rest. There’s probably a wider audience of people for whom the message of the play hits home.

I try to write things that aren’t platitudes, none of it is just like “oh they’re in a better place” or “this is what God wanted.” I think a big part of writing this was challenging that — we want more than just blanket condolences when these things happen. We want to say that it’s okay to not be okay. I think some people who don’t think they need to hear it do need to hear it. The thing about it is that it doesn’t wrap up in a neat bow, it doesn’t end on a happy note.

Nobody goes through a full transformation where they’re saved and happy, because that’s not how it works — it’s a thing you deal with your whole life. It doesn’t say “hey, you’re going to feel 100% better tomorrow” because you’re not.

Will we be able to see it in Worcester anytime soon?

Hopefully! I’m talking to people at the JMAC/Brickbox soon about the possibility of a run or maybe one night only.

If not, I may self-produce.

Plans for the future?

I’ve got a couple of things in the pipeline — a virtual play called “Connecting” that I’ve submitted to a few places. It profi les people during the beginning of the pandemic in lockdown who are all doing TeleHealth with this doctor so you see all their sessions. During the pandemic, theater became so much more accessible to people — breaking down cost barriers, couldn’t aff ord to come or didn’t have a car to get there, could see a show online and we don’t want to lose that just because theater’s back in-person.

32 | OCTOBER 15 - 21, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM