Worcester Magazine October 18 - 24, 2018

OCTOBER 18 - 24, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

NEWS • ARTS • DINING • NIGHTLIFE

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One in three h omeless child ren gets lured within the firs into prostituti t 48 hours of b on eing alone on the streets.

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SEX TRAFFICKING

Youth a disturbing target

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in this issue O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018 • V O L U M E 44 I S S U E 8

the cover

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Youth a disturbing target Story on page 12 Photo by Elizabeth Brooks, Design by Kimberly Vasseur

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news SHINE Initiative moves ahead on work with mental illness T

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O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018

WALTER BIRD JR.

that, he was executive director of Dynamy Inc. While he brings that experience with him, it is Kaelin’s he SHINE Initiative, after own personal journey that may more than a decade, conhave prepared him most for joining tinues to be a light in the SHINE. darkness for youth when “The biggest thing I’ve struggled it comes to mental wellness and with in my life is anxiety,” said illness. In a time of change, it is Kaelin, one of seven children. Four poised to become an even bigger advocate amid a leadership change of them “that I know of,” he said, inaimed at carrying the organization cluding himself, have at some point forward over the next several years. in their lives received treatment around their mental wellness.

Paul Richard is stepping down “When I was in high school and this year after 14 years with the nonprofit, which works with youth a teenager,” Kaelin continued, “no one I know of talked about this in combating and destigmatizing mental health issues, the last seven stuff. It was one of the most taboo subjects there was. And the other as executive director. Replacing him is Fred Kaelin, a move that be- stuff that is taboo is heavy stuff, comes official Nov. 1, but is expect- but this was the kind of thing, now I realize I missed out on a lot ed to be part of the organization’s annual gala Thursday night, Oct. 18 because of the anxiety I had, especially social anxiety, and not being at Mechanics Hall, where keynote speaker Tanya Brown, sister of the diagnosed and getting a handle on it until I was an adult.” slain Nicole Brown Simpson, will The position at SHINE, he said, touch on her personal experience held a strong, personal pull. with mental illness.

“Just wanting to start normalFor the 67-year-old Richard, the izing the conversation for young time is right to pass the baton to people around mental illness the 44-year-old Kaelin.

“I think it was time for a younger and wellness,” he said. “Almost everyone is going to have some ups person to come aboard and take this to the next level,” said Richard, and downs. You’re going to have periods where you’re more well a married father of four adult at times, less well at others. You children. “I still have a passion for have to take care of yourself during this. If I continue to commit fully those times.” to what we are, and what we can “I had no idea what to call it,” be, and our potential, it would Kaelin acknowledged of his anxiety. take me well into my 70s. I don’t “One of the things about raising want to burn out, or reach a point awareness is just to let people of exhaustion where I can’t truly fulfill and honor the mission we’ve know a lot of people deal with this stuff. I felt totally embarrassed, started here.”

While he is retiring from SHINE, isolated. Even now, some of the people I’ve reconnected with are which started in 2004 through like, ‘Really? Me too.’ If only we had Fidelity Bank, Richard expects to know then maybe we could have continue working in the commubeen more friendly and supportive nity, and hopes to do work related of each other.” to mental illness.

SHINE, which receives no state Enter Kaelin, who joined the or federal funding, is working to SHINE Initiative Sept. 17 after make the experience difference for having served as chief developtoday’s youth. Operating with three ment officer at YOU Inc. Before

Paul Richard, left, outgoing executive director of the SHINE Initiative, and his successor, Fred Kaelin

WALTER BIRD JR

staff — including the executive director, the organization has a youth outreach coordinator (Megan Sullivan) and community education specialist (Jessika Zequeira) — the organization develops and presents educational information to youth and the adults in their lives about overall mental health, including mental illness and wellness.

“We have very open and candid conversations, but sharing with them genuine and evidence-based and factual information about what mental illness is, and what it is not,” Richard said. “We’re talking about causes, signs and symptoms.”

In the past five years, he said, SHINE has engaged directly with more than 32,000 young people and adults through community

and classroom conversations, teacher trainings and forums.

There have been more than 200 presentations.

“They’re multiplying, I think, faster than we can keep up,” Richard said.

Currently, SHINE focuses primarily on Central Mass, but would like to expand its reach. They get requests to bring their programs as far away as North Attleboro, Weymouth and the Berkshires.

Kaelin will be challenged with how to grow the program, marveling at what Richard and SHINE have accomplished with such a small staff. He said he is excited about a grant Richard just did with the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts that will allow

SHINE to redesign its website. It is expected to be implemented early next year. He knows there is more work to do.

“Just knowing how much [SHINE has] grown and kind of taking the baton from Paul is really such an honor,” he said. “The thing that’s exciting is figuring out, how do we expand the reach? How do we go from 30,000, to 40,000, to 60,000 people that we reach?

How many more schools can we get into? I’ve always liked kind of problem solving. When I was at Dynamy, and we were struggling, figuring out how to thrive, which we were able to do and grow. Here, it’s a very healthy organization.”

news

Health board calls for action on comprehensive sex ed A BILL SHANER

A slide from Commissioner of Health and Human Services Mattie Castiel’s presentation to the Board of Health.

ed curriculum used around the country to form a new proposal for the Standing Committee, Superintendent Maureen Binienda said earlier this week. She said she hopes to have it to the committee by late November. Pending a favorable vote from the committee, the program would go to full School Committee vote.

At the high school level, there is some sex ed education, but it’s scattershot. Because there’s no state mandate to provide sex ed, Binienda said it’s difficult with such a tight budget to assign staff to teach it. But at the middle school level, where health is a mandate, implementing a program is easier.

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s the school department redrafts a proposed curriculum for comprehensive sex education in middle schools, the Board of Health has thrown its weight behind the push for better sex ed in Worcester schools.

After hearing a presentation from Commissioner of Health and Human Services Mattie Castiel on the benefits to students Monday night, Oct. 15, the board voted unanimously to support strong, evidence-based and comprehensive sex ed in Worcester schools.

“There’s a lot of support,” said Chairman David Ford, “but we need everyone to help out to have this come to fruition.”

Castiel’s presentation focused both on the need for comprehensive sex ed – which means, generally, that contraception and healthy communication about sex are taught alongside abstinence – and the demand for it in the community. In a survey of Worcester voters, 92 percent said they feel sex ed should be taught in high school, and 78 percent felt it should be taught in middle school. Only 19 percent felt it should not be taught at all.

Meanwhile, Castiel said, teen birth rates in Worcester are twice that of the state average, and STDs are on the rise among city youth.

Castiel, students, and a local doctor all made the case that sex ed should include discussion of consent, gender identity and healthy communication.

“It needs to be taught, it’s not happening at home, it’s not happening in other places,” said Castiel. “It needs to be taught.”

The vote comes after the School Committee’s Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Supports axed a proposed sex ed curriculum called Making Proud Choices before it reached a public

meeting for discussion. A subcommittee meeting to review the proposal in September was canceled after members felt some of the lesson plans were not age appropriate. Members pointed most to role playing activities as being inappropriate for middle schoolers. The role-playing activities aim to teach children how to best navigate situations like consent and asking a partner to use a condom.

Now, school department staff are pulling together different sex

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1,001 words ELIZABETH BROOKS

furbaby SEX ED

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5

The new proposal will aim to address the concerns voiced by committee members, she said.

Standing Committee member John Monfredo, a vocal opponent of the Making Proud Choices proposal, acknowledged by email the rise in STDs and high teen birth rate in Worcester are problems.

“Thus, when there are problems within the community, the schools are asked to address them,” he said. But he maintained the curriculum was developmentally inappropriate for grades 6-8, saying it was “geared more for the high school level.”

He also maintained, “This is an issue within our society and we need all hands on deck.” He feels the school district should work with social agencies and interfaith groups.

Chairman Brian O’Connell, who was also against the Making Proud Choices proposal, said the district needs to come up with something that works for Worcester’s population.

“I prefer that we develop a program ourselves, specifically tailored to the students and families of Worcester, and I believe that our administration is distinctly well-equipped to do so,” he said by email.

Like Monfredo, he wants to see something he feels is more age appropriate, something that provides guidance to parents and guardians, and their responsibilities, something that provides “clear cautionary advice about the emotional impact of sexual activity,” and something that considers the concerns of religious and ethnic groups that may be sensitive to instruction on the subject. He referenced Muslims specifically as a group that “can be transgressed by some facets of instruction in this area.”

“These populations deserve to have their values and traditions given the utmost respect,” he said.

Of course, sex ed programs typically come with an opt out for students. O’Connell cautioned that simply giving students the choice to opt out is useless unless parents and guardians are given the opportunity to teach the curriculum in their own way.

Member Molly McCullough, who was less hesitant to adopt Making Proud Choices, but had issues with some of the role-playing activities, said the district needs to adopt a comprehensive sex ed program. The program should include a discussion of pregnancy prevention, STD prevention and making good choices, she said. But she’s wary of lesson plans in the Making Proud Choices model that seem to endorse sex, like suggestions for how to make using a condom more fun than awkward – hiding it on your body for your partner to find, for instance. That, she felt, was a step too far. Still, she said, the focus should be on getting something in place district wide.

“We do need to get it done sooner rather than later,” she said.

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news

worcesteria

PINKIES OUT: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Kummer-

speck. Usually, I stay away from coverage of the restaurant scene because it’s not my prerogative and our culture section does it better than any other outlet in the city. But I’m going to jump in on this one.

In announcing the closure of Kummerspeck, the butcher shop slash restaurant in the Canal District, owner Matt Mahoney was quoted in MassLive saying this: “At at the end of the day, Worcester just likes to go back to TGI Fridays.” Mind you, Mahoney is a Boston guy, which makes a condescending comment like this even worse. Worcester has a thriving restaurant scene, thank you very much, and the success or failure of your business is better blamed on literally anything else. I’ve heard, just through the rumor mill, there were plenty of much more legitimate reasons why the ‘Speck failed than the TGI Fridays in Millbury. I’m petty, but I’m not petty enough to publicly air those rumors as revenge for a rude but extremely telling comment. It just goes to show, you can take the restaurateur out of Boston, but you can’t take the Boston out of the restaurateur.

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A MEETING OF THE MINDS: I decided – Okay, I was assigned – to go

to a meeting held at Lock 50 earlier this week between business leaders in the Canal District and the PawSox brass. It was billed by the PawSox as a “fan plan meeting” to discuss ballpark design and aesthetics in a press release sent earlier that morning. But it was sort of invite only, and featured Canal District power players like Allen Fletcher, Amy Chase of Crompton Collective and other soon-to-be next door neighbors of Polar Park. Not necessarily “fans” in the classical sense, if you ask me. The discussion felt very much like something I should not have been allowed to. The business leaders went around the table, at the request of PawSox President Charles Steinberg, and said one thing they’d like to see in the park. They talked about about things like “mutually beneficial integration into the neighborhood,” as Fletcher put it. That’s pretty far from “ballpark design and aesthetics,” but much more important, I think. It felt like the start of a negotiation, honestly (again, why was I there?). Even worse, I was personally asked, as if I was one of the invited business leaders, what I would like to see in the new park. Taken aback, unprepared, I said I seconded the concerns about integration into the neighborhood, but added they should especially consider potential future harm to the residential neighborhoods around the park. Steinberg politely thanked me for my comment, and wrote the suggestion down in his book. I had to leave after that to go to what turned out to be the most insignificant City Council meeting possible – definitely a mistake – so who knows where the conversation went after that. Anyway, there’s supposed to be a bunch more of these fan plan meetings around the region, so look out for them – maybe they’ll be as fun as this first one.

ET TU, CREAMER: In case you missed it online this week, South High

Principal Jeff Creamer denounced a campaign mailer from 17th Worcester District state rep. candidate Paul Fullen, which featured the pair shaking hands in front of South High next to a glowing quote from Creamer endorsing the candidate. In the statement, Creamer said he didn’t know what the picture would be used for and he didn’t make that comment. He said he disagrees with Fullen’s politics and took the picture because of a family connection of some sort. Fullen won’t answer our calls. Until he does, that’s the story we have – Fullen doctored a campaign mailer and manufactured an endorsement that doesn’t exist. Wild. Also, the School Committee is expected to take up the issue, at least in a tangential way, tonight.

Bill Shaner, reporter wshaner@worcestermag.com Twitter: @Bill_Shaner

news

the beat

Worcester Public Schools officials are eyeing changes to the bus system after complaints of delays and overcrowding. Superintendent Maureen Binienda told district staff to have a report together for the School Committee on busing issues.

Two workers at the Wheelabrator trash incinerator in Millbury got stuck about 30 feet down in a boiler after a harness cable malfunctioned Sunday.

The workers were performing a monthly cleaning of the boiler when the cable jammed. Firefighters rescued the pair in the afternoon.

Several cows were rescued after a grain silo on a Lunenburg farm collapsed Sunday. Fourteen cows were trapped inside the barn, and one was seriously injured, so much so it had to be euthanized.

Locals from the neighborhoods around Kelley Square celebrated its 100th anniversary on Saturday. The celebration was technically

the 100th anniversary of Sgt. Cornelius Kelley’s death in the first World War. The celebration featured a toast at the Hotel Vernon in his honor.

The annual Rock and Shock festival took over the Palladium and the DCU Center this weekend. Horror fans and cosplayers filled downtown to show off their spookiest costumes and take in the flare.

For the fifth year in a row, Worcester scored top marks on the Human Rights Campaign’s LBGT score. The

Union Station may see some new tenants. The Worcester Redevelopment Authority received a few letters of interest for retail spaces inside the station, including The Quarters, a bar featuring old arcade games; a country music bar called Country Music Ranch & Saloon; and a nanobrewery connected to Greater Good Imperial Brewing Co.

cutting at 3 Paul Clancy Way is set for 9 a.m. and will be followed by food and tours of the new center. The center is the entryway to a new park featuring 17 miles of bike trails, green space and wildlife, as well as public art and event space.

The city’s third dog park is scheduled for a grand opening this afternoon. Officials will hold a ribbon cutting for the new downtown

dog park, at the intersection of Green and Foster Street, this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The roughly 7,300-square-foot park features a fence, a double entrance for dog safety, signage, benches and poop bags for dogs. The park is the city’s third, following the Vernon Hill Dog Park and the Beaver Brook Dog Park.

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The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Visitor’s Center is set for a grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 27. A ribbon

O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018

score measures policies and practices of more than 500 cities around the country, including hiring practices and the city’s relationship with local LGBT leaders.

Worcester was one of 78 cities to net a perfect score.

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editorial

opinion

A good step on sex ed

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O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018

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he Worcester Board of Health was right this week to endorse efforts to introduce comprehensive sex education to the city’s public schools. Now it is up to school officials to make the move and adopt the curriculum.

However, the concerns of some School Committee members about some of the content in the “Making Proud Choices” curriculum should not be ignored. There are components of the program, which would be taught to in grades 6-8, that may very well be objectionable to some parents. Superintendent Maureen Binienda has acknowledged the questions raised specifically by John Monfredo and Brian O’Connell, two members of the subcommittee charged with reviewing the curriculum, and has said an updated proposal will be presented.

It is important to note the program in Worcester schools would have an opt-out component, meaning parents can choose for their child not to participate. This space agrees with those who believe parents should be at the table for any conversation as important and intimate as sex education. Giving them the option to do that, or to not have their child take part, is wise.

Here’s the thing, however.

Statistics showing marked increases in sexually-transmitted diseases among youth, and high numbers of teen pregnancies, make it clear that either parents

72 Shrewsbury St. Worcester, MA 01604 worcestermag.com Editorial 508.767.9527 editor@worcestermag.com Sales 508.767.9530 sales@worcestermag.com President Paul M. Provost Publisher Kathleen Real-Benoit

aren’t having those discussions with their children, or they’re not getting through. A proven comprehensive sex ed program is a tool to try to break through to youth when they are at their most vulnerable. And make no mistake, while your child may be in sixth, seventh or eighth grade, they are most definitely vulnerable to the sexual messages and images on social media, in movies and elsewhere. If they are not already engaging in sexual activity, they are having the conversations with friends, or hearing and reading about it somewhere else.

It is critical not to let disagreements over some of the content in the proposed Worcester curriculum derail its implementation. Do sixth-graders need to be taught how to play games to put on a condom, which is one of the components committee members found objectionable? Perhaps not.

But they most certainly need to know the importance of using one — and how to use it properly — should they engage in sexual activity. Abstinence, too, should be taught, but it cannot be the only lesson. What has been tried so far is not working, and let’s face it, whether we of a different generation like to admit it or not, times change. How kids are exposed to sex — and the frequency in which they are — is much different. How we as adults deal with that has never been more important.

Editor Walter Bird Jr. Culture Editor Joshua Lyford Reporter Bill Shaner Photographer Elizabeth Brooks Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jessica Picard, Jim Perry, Khrystina Reardon, Corlyn Voorhees Director of Creative Services Don Cloutier Creative Director Kimberly Vasseur Ad Director Helen Linnehan Media Consultant Diane Galipeau Media Coordinator Madison Friend

letters

Voters should support Early in November

closely with schools and organizations across Worcester County presenting educational programs on critical topics such as the prevention of bullying and cyber-bullying, preventing alcohol and drug abuse, promoting healthy relationships and proper use of the internet.

In addition, Early’s office also supports youth programs by donating confiscated “drug dealer” To the Editor: money to help fund important services. Some of this support goes to youth sports teams, scouts, summer From my experience with District Attorney Joe camps, field trips, art programs and other “best pracEarly over the course of several years, I know that he tices” programs. His idea is to keep kids positively has his priorities right. When it comes to youth, he engaged and involved with responsible adults both understands that in the juvenile justice system it is after school and in the summer, keeping them off the important to balance three critical elements – social streets and involved in productive activity. control, prevention and treatment. Having said that, Early has also encouraged diversion programs I most admire Early’s passionate commitment to where older teens and young adults charged with fostering an early intervention and prevention policy. minor crimes can perform eight hours of commuFor example, collaborating with youth — serving nity service and take an online course on alcohol agencies such as YOU Inc., where I was president and drug abuse. If they complete the program, their and CEO for over 40 years — the DA’s office works

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opinion charges will be dismissed prior to arraignment so they won’t have a criminal record. Their community service might include improving and/or cleaning parks and playgrounds, or other public service projects. The funds for the materials for these initiatives come from the drug forfeiture fund.

Studies by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy have found that “sound delinquency prevention programs can save tax payers $10 for every dollar invested.” More importantly, we can help Early turn even more troubled teens into contributing members of our community by supporting him in November.

Maurice Boisvert, President/CEO Emeritus, YOU Inc. Shrewsbury

Vote ‘No’ on Question 1 To the Editor:

David Lewis Schaefer, professor of political science College of the Holy Cross

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O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018

As a scholar and citizen who is concerned with the preservation of free government in America, I urge voters to vote “No” on Ballot Question 1, which would set limits on the number of patients that could be assigned to nurses in hospitals and other health-care facilities.

The Coalition to Protect Patient Safety has estimated that this requirement would raise health-care costs by over $1 billion annually, forcing the closure of community hospitals and requiring others to reduce their services. Even more importantly, however, the mandate authorizes government intrusion into an area of decision-making that it lacks either the right or the competence to supervise, merely to satisfy labor-union demands.

Hospital managers already have every incentive, both legal and moral, to ensure that their facilities are properly staffed. Not only are Massachusetts hospitals ranked among the nation’s best, Question 1 supporters have supplied no evidence that managerial flexibility

in determining staffing levels has detracted from patient welfare.

If Question 1 passes, it will set a terrible precedent. Why shouldn’t the state set minimum staffing levels for fire departments, rather than letting these be determined by local governments and through labor negotiations? Why not go further and require banks to hire a minimum number of tellers (to prevent calculating errors), Walmart to hire minimum numbers of clerks, etc.?

Question 1 reflects the same socialist spirit exhibited in Elizabeth Warren’s call for government to take over the management of large corporations. It circumvents the deliberative, legislative process as well. Please vote no.

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feature

Sex Trafficking Youth a disturbing target

CORLYN VOORHEES

The city manager, mayor and a couple city councilors were also (Editor’s Note: This story is part of an on-hand “[That meeting was] the first ongoing series in Worcester Magatime people have tried to work zine on sex trafficking) together that I’ve seen, I mean publicly, and no longer brushex trafficking affects cities ing it under the rug because we and towns nationwide, and don’t want that reputation for officials in the second largWorcester,” said Robin Currie, est city in New England are founder and director of the Central acknowledging its reach here. The light appears to be shining brighter Massachusetts Freedom Coalition, which aims to end modern slavery on sex trafficking — in particular, the trafficking of youth — recently. and human trafficking. “If they’re going to come together in a public Just last month, Ashley Gomeeting like that, then that’s huge odrich of Lynn was indicted by a progress. grand jury for allegedly trafficking an underage girl from a Saugus group home, where Goodrich worked as a case worker and where the victim lived, in Boston and Worcester. Two Worcester men, Genaro Cabeza and Richard Saya, We decided a long time ago are also facing trial for the alleged in this country that it wasn’t sex trafficking of two 17-year-old OK to buy and sell people, girls. In separate cases in June, one said Lisa Goldblatt Grace, Worcester man, Fabian Beltran, co-founder and director of the was convicted of human trafficking Boston-based organization My Life charges, while another, Mohamed My Choice, who works to end the Abdi, was also also sentenced for commercial sexual exploitation of sex trafficking. children, “yet it still happens every So far this year, the city has day.” already seen more than triple the Youth sex trafficking is defined number of cases of youth sex trafas “the recruitment, harboring, ficking over last year. transportation, provision, or obDepartments across the city taining of a person for a commerhave acknowledged it is an iscial sex act in which a commercial sue, including Worcester Public sex act is induced by force, fraud, Schools, the district attorney’s or coercion or in which the person office and police. Now they are tak- induced to perform such an act has ing steps to combat the issue. not reached the age of 18.”

Members of several different The sexual trafficking of youth organizations met at City Hall hasn’t been as explored — or in September to talk and begin tracked — as much other issues in strategizing about the trafficking of Worcester, such as drug addiction, youth under the age of 18 for sex. but recent numbers show cause for Among those represented were the concern. city’s public schools, the state DePolice saw five new cases of sex partment of Children and Families trafficking of youth under 18 in as well as the Department of Youth 2017, according to Det. Donna BrisServices, police, the DA’s office and sette, head of the Special Crimes other community organizations.

Unit that handles trafficking cases.

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WHAT ARE WE SEEING?

“

“Any statistics you get are way lower than the actual number because those are the identified cases,” said Nikki Bell, CEO and founder of the anti-trafficking organization Living in Freedom Together.

ELIZABETHB BROOKS

As of Oct. 15 this year, 18 new cases — more than three times the number of cases last year — had been opened.

But before 2017, those cases weren’t being tracked.

That, said Sgt. Mike McKiernan, was because police may not have been classifying the situations properly, coding them instead as crimes such as “rape of a child.”

Now, he said, “We’ve received training to identify these cases” and they’re looking at it with a “wider lens.”

Brissette said police started coding these cases as “human trafficking” last year.

It is, both Brissette and McKi-

ernan said, important to note an increase in the number of cases statistics-wise does not necessarily mean that trafficking is on the rise.

“The number of cases will increase because we’re better trained to identify them,” said Brissette.

Even then, the stats may not be accurate as to the true scale of the situation.

“Any statistics you get are way lower than the actual number because those are the identified cases,” said Nikki Bell, CEO and founder of the anti-trafficking organization Living in Freedom Together.

As a survivor herself, Bell knows the issue firsthand.

“This is such an underreported crime,” she said.

Even so, Brissette said she doesn’t believe youth were typically trafficked in Worcester before the department started looking into the issue.

“I can’t tell you it wasn’t happening, but I don’t think it was,” she said.

Maura Mahoney, manager of social emotional learning for Worcester Public Schools, however, said while it may not have been known as trafficking, the practice was happening.

“As long as I’ve been doing social work, which is longer than I’ve been with Worcester schools, there

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common misconception with sex trafficking is that girls are usually snatched off the streets.

“It’s not the movie ‘Taken,’” said Grace. “That’s not what it looks like here. These are kids who grow up right in our communities, right in our schools.”

The issue, as highlighted by the training run at City Hall, is “how easily [these girls] can be brought into the fold and once they’re brought into the fold, how hard it is to get out,” DA Joe Early Jr. said.

Often, traffickers lure girls through manipulation, with the use of gifts or attention. “[Traffickers] know there’s a way to make this money,” said Early.

“They start out being loving and displaying caring behaviors, and it turns into ‘I need you to do a favor for me. If you love me you’ll take care of someone.’ It expands to more people until they’re getting the maximum amount of money out of these girls.”

Part of that can involve attachment to the trafficker due to the attention they give to victims, he said, which can progress to a fear of violence.

“They don’t feel like they can run,” said Early. “There are emotional and mental bonds that hold them down. Usually, they will get beaten up. They might be assaulted from several different people in a gang who let them know, ‘You’re ours and if you try and leave, we will kill you. We will hurt your family.’”

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IN THE SYSTEM

and wait until the victim is ready.

But sometimes, it won’t even make it to a courtroom.

“I would say not every case is going to result in a prosecution,” said McKiernan. But, he said, the information they obtain can be used to help provide services for the victim.

“We have to do what’s right for the victim,” he said. “They have a huge say in how we move forward with this. When they’re ready to discuss it, we’ll be available.”

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particularly at risk, as their “vulnerability is amplified” due to experiencing “discrimination, isolation and exploitation.”

Given the age of the victims, the issue has seeped into the halls of Worcester schools.

“It’s an issue that we are aware of and we are aware that we need to increase our ability to deal with it,” Mahoney said, noting the district is implementing training on the issue. Bell led one of those trainings at a Worcester school just this week.

It’s not necessarily that traffickers are targeting certain schools, said Worcester Police Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst, who serves as the public information officer for the department.

“It comes across that it is targeted, but the fact is that some of the kids involved in gang activity or other criminal enterprises go to the same school as the ones targeted,” he said. “The kids usually hang out within the same group or are known to each other.”

The sexual trafficking of youth also doesn’t appear to be organized by the gangs as a whole, Brissette said. Rather, it seems individual Joe Early Jr. with Assistant District Attorney Courtney Sans. members are involved.

“I think, instead of selling drugs, ELIZABETHB BROOKS some [gang members] are selling girls,” said Brissette. “It’s more have been kids who were engaging ments where they’re placed and across ethnicities and walks of life. profitable to pass girls around than in the behaviors that we’re now sold online. That’s been a big shift.”

“I can absolutely tell you stories sell drugs.” seeing and identifying as being (See: “Checked in, pimped out: The of kids who came from healthy It’s also easier to hide, she said, pulled into trafficking,” she said. role of hotels, motels in sex trafsupportive families, of kids who because it’s not as brazen as selling Worcester schools have dealt ficking,” Worcester Magazine, Feb. had every economic, social [and] drugs on the street corner. with these instances in the past, 23, 2017). emotional advantage who this isWhile police have seen traffickshe said, without going into specifThere has been a mentality of still happening to,” Grace said. “But ing cases going back several years ics, and it won’t be the last time “if we’re not seeing it, it’s not here,” some kids are disproportionately with local gangs, Brissette said, they do.

Grace said, but “it most certainly vulnerable and those are the kids the focus has been more on adult “I think, unfortunately, it’s some- is there.” who are most vulnerable in our victims. thing that we’re only going to concommunities.”

“We’ve only recently seen it with tinue to deal with more and more,” Of the youths her organization juveniles under 18,” she said.

Mahoney said. “I’m sensing that it’s serves from Worcester East to Not only can it be difficult to something that’s been happening Boston, Grace said, “85 percent … detect these cases, it can also for a while and now it’s that people are coming out of the child welfare prove challenging to prosecute are aware this is going on.” system.” ypically, Worcester police them because of the unwillingness Grace said she has seen cases of The DCF acknowledged the isare seeing trafficking cases of victims to come forward, both youth trafficking since My Life My sue in its 2018 Annual Progress and Brissette and McKiernan noted. among females ages 13-17 Choice was formed in 2002, but the who are typically associated Services Report, saying, “Children A lot of times, Brissette said, major thing that has changed is the with local gang activity, Brissette and youth who are placed in sub“They don’t even realize what visibility of victims. stitute care are at higher risk for said. they’re doing is wrong.”

“When we started this work, the According to national statistics, issues such as human trafficking Cases could take months, even kids were [sold] on the streets in and exploitation.” victims tend to be people of color years, to bring to court, she said, plain sight,” she said. Now, “they’re and are often involved in the foster In the report, the department and the process takes patience. in hotels and motels and apartcare system, although victims span also noted LGBTQ youths are They take it as far as they can go

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What’s important is detecting the signs beforehand to prevent this, he said, or find the victims to get them out.

That’s why Worcester has become involved in Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) training to detect behaviors that could indicate a youth is at risk of, or already involved in, trafficking.

Risk factors, according to Worcester County CSEC protocol, include frequent running away, possession of new clothing or accessories with no explanation, association with a known pimp, presence in an area or on a website known for commercial sexual activity, receives or sends naked pictures or videos, or has scars or signs of “branding.”

Without detection, and more importantly intervention, victims can be trapped into adulthood.

“Most of these adult women that are on the street were at one point kids that were exploited that nobody engaged and intervened with,” Bell said. “And now they’re on the streets as adults.”

The difference between a child

kids turn 18 and they may still be trapped, but all of a sudden people see them as, ‘You chose this.’ There’s a real misnomer or misunderstanding. If they don’t get out, they become an 18-year-old or 20-year-old who is still stuck.”

“We have to do what’s right for the victim. They have a huge say in how we move forward with this. When they’re TRAINING ready to discuss it, we’ll be available.” AND - Worcester Police Sgt. Mike McKiernan, on helping victims of sex trafficking.

PROCEDURES

“

I think folks in general have missed this because of a lack of awareness,” Mahoney said of sex trafficking. “We knew a sex trafficking victim and an adult is the threat of getting charged. But child was engaging in certain risky victim, Bell said, is a matter of 60 we are not looking to prosecute behaviors, but trafficking wasn’t a seconds. victims who have been exploited.” lens we were looking for.”

“You’re a victim of trafficking at The adult trafficking victims It’s not enough to simply raise 17 years old,” she said. “And then, My Life My Choice sees report the awareness of the issue, said in that 60 seconds that you turn average age they’re getting into the Tammy Mello, executive director of 18, now you’re an adult, complicit sex industry is 14, Grace said. the Children’s League of Massa[as a] criminal in prostitution.”

But despite this, she said, the chusetts.

While sections of Chapter 119 in difference in perspectives between “We really need to make a decistate law protect victims under the youth victims and adult victims is sion that kids are more valuable age of 18 from undue prosecution, vastly different. than this and we’re going to learn those protections don’t apply to “The commercial sexual exto do things differently,” she said. adult victims. ploitation industry is about the “People need to learn what they “Our goal is to help the victims,” absence of choice,” Grace said. do if they see red flags. What are said Early. “Theoretically, yes, there “What’s challenging is that these

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN THE U.S. • At least 100,000-300,000 youth are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation annually in the US. (Estes and Weiner, 2001) • At least 100,000 children are used in prostitution every year in the United States.

(The national report on DMST: America’s prostituted children, Shared Hope) • The most common age of entry into the commercial sex industry in the US is 12-14 years old. (US Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section)

feature those red flags and how do they respond?”

In 2014, the Needham-based Justice Resource Institute received the “Massachusetts Child Welfare Trafficking Grant” from the Children’s Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address the trafficking in minors in the state. The organization partnered with DCF and the Support to End Exploitation Now (SEEN) program, based in Boston, for the project.

The grant led to the formation of multidisciplinary teams in counties across the state, including Worcester.

Worcester’s multidisciplinary team consists of a variety of different government departments and organizations that play a role in fighting human trafficking, including police, schools, DCF, the DA’s office, and local advocacy organi-

proceed. After that, it’s a matter of investigating the case and providing services to the victim.

Since 2017, the DA’s office has received 109 referrals, said Sans, although not all of them have involved human trafficking cases. If a child fits any of the risky behavior criteria developed by the office, even if they’re not necessarily a victim of sex trafficking, it would result in a referral.

“The reason [the criteria] is so

broad is because they don’t want anything to fall through the cracks,” Sans said. “It’s not a perfect statute, but the goal and the aim is to keep kids safe.”

The DA’s office, with the help of advocates and organizations that have dealt firsthand with human trafficking, is working with police, schools and other organizations to pick up on the signs of trafficking.

“Prevention is always underutilized and underfunded, but we’re

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— Maura Mahoney, manager of social emotional learning for Worcester Public Schools.

a 51A Child Abuse Report is filed with DCF, even if the perpetrator’s name is unknown. DCF screens the report and immediately refers it to the DA’s office. Members of the multidisciplinary team who play in a role in the particular case are identified, as well as other departments and organizations as needed. The team convenes within 72 hours, either ... in person or via conference call, and develops recommendations for how to

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“As long as I’ve been doing social work, which is longer than I’ve been with Worcester schools, there have been kids who were engaging in the behaviors that we’re now seeing and identifying as being pulled into trafficking.”

zations.

The DA’s office developed a protocol for handling youth trafficking cases in order to “break down those silos in communication among various agencies and groups,” said Courtney Sans, head of the Child Advocacy Center’s child abuse unit within the district attorney’s office.

Once a possible child exploitation victim is identified with the aid of the “risk factor” criteria list,

feature

Holiday Handbook

2018

This Holiday Season showcase your business in Worcester Magazine’s Annual Holiday Handbook.

Coming November 15, 2018

Reservation deadline: Oct. 25, 2018

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Contact your sales representative today at 508-767-9530 or by email at sales@worcestermagazine.com to reserve your space in the Holiday Handbook.

trying to take a proactive approach to getting this stuff out there to literally save lives,” said Early. “I’d rather prevent human exploitation than have to solve it. I think prevention can never be used enough.”

PIECES STILL MISSING

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ith efforts to raise awareness and combat the sexual exploitation of youth being so new, as well as data collection, it remains hard to tell where Worcester stands as far as the severity of the problem.

“From our perspective, we’re just looking into this,” said Dr. Matilde Castiel, commissioner of Health and Human Services in Worcester. “I think we just need to get together, sit down and look at the gaps, what isn’t there, what is there and then what’s needed? I think we need to ... meet again and really map out exactly what is going on.”

Part of it involves painting a complete picture, with each

“We decided a long time ago in this country that it wasn’t OK to buy and sell people, yet it still happens every day.”

— Lisa Goldblatt Grace, co-founder and director of the Boston-based organization My Life My Choice, which works to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children, on sex trafficking.

department holding its own data, she said.

“I can’t say what needs to be changed and what need to be done unless we have the data,” Castiel said. “Without that, it’s hard to know where we are for that.”

What has been frustrating for advocates is the issue isn’t new.

The attention, however, appears to be growing.

“Worcester is kind of late to the game in getting their eyes open as to what this is,” said Currie. “We’ve

been advocating for this for seven to eight years.”

Added Mello: “No one has quite figured it out yet.”

It is not a matter of pointing fingers and placing blame, according to Currie. Rather, it is time to move forward, with the City Hall meeting only the beginning in Worcester. ”We have tons and tons of work to do,” Currie said, “but people are starting to pay attention.”

culture

ROCK AND SHOCK

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The annual Rock and Shock festival took over the Palladium and the DCU Convention Center in Worcester for three days, Oct. 12-14, with metal bands shaking the roof at the Palladium, and horror fans, celebrities and vendors filling up the Convention Center.

None other than Hulk Hogan himself, took in the fun at the DCU Saturday, Oct. 13. Actually it was New Hampshire’s Tori Colby doing a little cosplay as Hogan, while Linny Colby said she came as Brooke Hogan.

“We come every year,” Tori Colby said. “We just love seeing all the people. We like dressing up.”

Steve Van Samson was manning a booth selling his two horror fiction books, “The Bone Eater King” and “Marrow Dust.” The books center around vampires in post-apocalyptic Africa.

“It’s vampires like you’ve never seen them,” said Samson, who was taking part in Rock and Shock for the first time.

He was there with the New England Horror Writers group.

Dozens of vendors were set up inside the Convention Center, where several celebrities, including Linda Blair and Malcolm McDowell, signed autographs.

Several hardcore bands played at the Palladium throughout the weekend.

PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH BROOKS

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ELIZABETH BROOKS

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Scoops, of Scoops and Mischief, on tour with Scary Talk Radio as they work a booth at Rock and Shock at the DCU Center in Worcester.

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culture

Worcester ‘Hey, Kiddo’ author shares his truth JOSHUA LYFORD

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story, Krosoczka researched his own life and family. He spoke with family members and even found a runaway note his mother, who was addicted to heroin, wrote.

“I think the lessons I learned were more about people that dealt with addiction,” he said. “When you’re an author, you’re looking for motivation of the character. You dissect them

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

to figure out what makes them tick.

My mother died of a heroin overdose while I wrote this book. She really couldn’t help herself. While she did make that choice to start using drugs, it was well out of her control.

Suddenly, as parents, our parents are human beings. All of a sudden, adults are all human beings. What I learned, life doesn’t play out in black and white. There aren’t heroes and villains.”

“Hey, Kiddo” has made waves in the short time since its release date.

It has been shortlisted for a National Book Award, reviews have been

it represents my grandparents who raised me. My grandfather always hammered that in: remember your name, remember who you are. It’s a name that has shown up so many times in the court records in the Telegram. I’m happy to have the name out there as a positive force.”

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hen best-selling author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka sat down to tell his story, he faced some difficult truths. “Hey, Kiddo” was released via Scholastic Graphix at the beginning of October, and the graphic memoir takes a deep, introspective look at a family dealing with addiction and one person’s journey to overcome.

“It would have been significantly easier in my life to not write this book,” said Worcester native Krosoczka. “It would have been easier to not have to talk about it. The driving motivator was for my younger self, not specifically me as a kid, but kids and young people dealing with addiction. Truthfully, that’s kind of why any of us write books for young people.”

Krosoczka had his first book, “Good Night, Monkey Boy,” published

by Random House in 2001 and has been a prolific author and illustrator of children’s books ever since.

“Hey, Kiddo” is a significant step away from some of his other work, like the” Lunch Lady” and “Star Wars Jedi Academy” series. “‘[Hey, Kiddo’] is a decade-plus of building up the courage to write this,” he said. “I thought about writing it back in the early2000s when I received my first contract for a picture book. That was published in the summer of 2001.

For some time I thought of it getting published as a happy ending for this kid who dealt with so much family trauma. Every time I sat down to write the book, I’d hesitate. I feared what people might think. As I became known as the ‘Lunch Lady’ guy, I feared writing the story because I worried what people would think. If I write this, I’d have to write it authentically, I’d have to face some unfortunate truths.”

To facilitate the writing of his

positive, and Krosoczka has been speaking with media on the motivation behind the book. For the author, while the accolades are appreciated, it is the response from kids who can relate to his story that means the most.

“This book has received so many accolades, it’s miniscule in comparison to an email I received about a week before I published,” he said. “A reader copy fell into the hands of a kid who is being raised by his grandparents because both his parents are addicted. It opened a dialogue.

What got back to me, he didn’t know he was allowed to be angry. That was more profound to me than any sticker on the book.”

Krosoczka’s Worcester connection is important to the author, who held the release for “Hey, Kiddo” at the Worcester Historical Museum, 30 Elm St., earlier this month. The Gates Lane School and Holy Cross graduate also stopped by the Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. to offer free illustration classes to kids. He hopes readers will recognize some of the settings and buildings in the book. “‘Hey Kiddo’ handles some difficult topics that young people need to see in books, but silly and lighthearted books are really important for young readers, too. They offer an escape portal,” Krosoczka said. “Being an author and an illustrator, you have to be an actor. You’re acting on the page, not the stage. You have to be reminded who you are writing for and being that age. But also, I distinctly remember having an author visit my school in third grade, I know these visits can have a lasting impact.”

For the author, seeing his work in print hasn’t lost its value in the years since his first book was published.

“I think seeing my last name on the spine of a book will never lose its power for me,” he said. “Not only does that represent my hard work,

culture Lyford Files JOSHUA LYFORD

A SPOOKY QUEST: One of my roommates is a big movie buff.

In honor of the BEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR (Halloween, obviously), he asked 30 of his friends for top 10 favorite horror movies lists. I was selected and almost wrote it on the back of a napkin for him, but I figured eating up 800 words with it would be a little more my style. I am by no means a horror expert, but it is the only genre I’ve consistently watched and is really the only genre I am consistently excited to indulge in. Let’s get spooky.

“EVIL DEAD II”: This is an easy number one for me. This was

my first-ever, hands-down favorite horror movie and it still remains. I have seen this movie countless times, have a leg dedicated to tattoos from the movie and it began a lifelong obsession with Bruce Campbell (my dog’s name is Brisco County, Jr., Jr.). I love the entire trilogy, mind you, but the second is far and away the best, in my humble opinion. The first is great as a more straightforward low-budget horror film and “Army of Darkness” is a lot of fun, but “Evil Dead II” really nailed the horror/fun combo that knocks this out of the park.

“DEAD ALIVE”: Or “Braindead” if you’re Australian. If you’re

unfamiliar with “Dead Alive,” be wary of Sumatran rat monkeys. This movie was released in 1992 (I was eight) and directed by Peter Jackson. Yes, that Peter Jackson. It is hyper-gory (in a campy sort of way), and calling it fun would be an understatement. Between the lawn mower scene and that damn zombie baby, buckle up buttercup.

“MANDY”: Yeah, it just came out, but I don’t even care. It was one

of the only films in recent years where I thought to myself, I need to own this movie. First of all, Nicolas Cage was made for this role. I’m sort of a Cage apologist in general, but he just absolutely destroys it in this. He does a great job of complimenting the real star of the film: the trippy, gorgeous visuals. Every shot is perfect. This movie is a friggin’ experience, bud.

“DEMONS”: I lived in Philadelphia for a few years and dated a nice lady who worked at a VHS shop (they were still pretty popular back then) and she would bring home horror films every night. This was one of those.

Dario Argento knows his way around a horror film, and goddamn is the “trapped in a movie theatre with demons” setup fantastic.

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“THE WITCH”: In my 33 years, this is the only movie I have ever

seen in a movie theater twice. Its use of silence to build tension was beautiful, and aside from bringing a friend who apparently finished a sleeve of nips before it started and destroying that tension in the second go-round, it’s an amazing experience.

“HELLRAISER”: I have a secret. While I love horror films, I am a

huge baby. Case in point: “Hellraiser.” These are not scary movies, unless your tolerance is very, very low. Yet, when Netflix had the entire season available to stream, I naturally marathoned all of them in a previous unheated Vernon Hill apartment building midwinter. By the time “Hellraiser: Hellworld” rolled around I was having some pretty extreme nightmares.

Taste our pleasures.

“THE CABIN IN THE WOODS”: It’s incredibly difficult

to write about this movie without spoiling it, so I’ll just say this: one of the most unique crossover horror movies I’ve ever seen and the twist is about as weird as it gets.

“BLAIR WITCH PROJECT”: OK,

OK, hear me out on this alright? This movie is not exactly universally liked, but take yourself back to 1999 when it was released. I was a freshman in high school and people were going wild.

The early-era viral marketing had plenty of people in my age range convinced it was real and hey, maybe it was because I was 14, but it scared the shit out of me.

Check out Josh’s complete list at worcestermag.com.

Joshua Lyford Culture editor @Joshachusetts

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

Open the Gates

Bancroft Tower at Salisbury Park is Worcester’s own feudal castle. This month, you can climb the full 17 meters of natural stone and granite to its peak for an excellent view of the city. The tower is open to the public on Sunday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. courtesy of Park Spirit of Worcester Inc. The event is free, with a $1 suggested donation.

Wicked Good Books

This week is your last chance to purchase a ticket for the 2018 Celebration of Authors Event to benefit Worcester Public Library. Guests will enjoy an evening with four award-winning authors, including Gregory Maguire, who wrote “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” Bancroft Tower is open to the which was later adapted public Sunday, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, into a successful Broad10 a.m. to 2 p.m. way musical. The event will kick off at Mercantile Center on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

Wedding Veils and Cocktails

Truck or Treat

The Food Truck Fright Fest is activating Green Hill Park Saturday, Oct. 20. Children under 12 receive free admission, including trick or treating from 4-5 p.m. Discounted admission will apply for attendees who dress up, so we suggest you get your Jon Favreau costumes ready to go.

Bright Trees and Blues Tunes

Hoist, Toss and Ride

Raise your glass to Wachusett Mountain’s second annual OktoberFest complete with traditional German food, music and beer. Keg tossing and stein hoisting are only the beginning. The celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 20-21. Nothing beats a SkyRide to admire New England’s stunning fall foliage.

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Sarah Connell contributing writer

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Blues and Brews 2018 promises beer, live music, food trucks and the picturesque autumn scenery of Nashoba Valley Winery on Sunday, Oct. 21. Live performances start at 11:30 a.m. with Salty Dog Blues, followed

by The Fat City Band at 1:30 p.m. Food trucks will start their engines at 11 a.m. You are also welcome to bring a picnic of your own to enjoy on the lawn.

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The AC Hotel is Worcester’s freshest wedding venue and they want to show you what they’re made of. Thursday, Oct. 18, brides-to-be can sample hors d’oeuvres prepared by AC Hotel’s executive chef and taste cake from a variety of local wedding bakeries. When brides purchase three tickets, they get the fourth ticket for free. AC Hotel offers accessible, onsite parking in their underground garage on Trumball Street. Our old standby, Mechanics Hall, is hosting its own “Bridal Bash” Sunday, Oct. 21, 12-2 p.m. (Because, there’s always room for more cake.)

culture

Maddi’s is Making It 64 Water St., Worcester • 508-459-1080 • maddiscookery.com SANDRA RAIN

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here’s a certain temptation at Maddi’s Cookery and Taphouse to spend the entire evening poking around as if on a visit to Brimfield Flea Market. A phone booth sits intact between the restroom Maddi’s “damn good salad” is topped door and the gated bullpen. A Yawkey Way with homemade corn tortillas. sign ignores the fact SANDRA RAIN that the street’s name has reverted back to Jersey Street for meaningful reasons. Other vintage displays note the presence of sapajou monkeys and deaf dogs. The decor is as rambling as it is stimulating; you could visit Maddi’s a dozen times and each time notice something new.

Edison bulbs hang from the ceiling, encased by glass and rustic metal fixtures. The industrial tables and chairs look sturdy and expensive to match heavy cutting boards by which menus are presented. Wording on the website makes it seem as if outdoor dining is already available, though it is my understanding that this is not the case.

Maddi’s opened in June under the leadership of Executive Chef Christopher O’Harra and the owner of the Depot Street Tavern, Adam Hicks. Hicks purportedly named the restaurant for his two children, Matthew and Addi, who both have signature sandwiches on the menu. O’Harra and Hicks have successfully pieced together an elevated pub scene for the Canal District.

Maddi’s tap list consists of 20 brews, including strong selections from Stone Cow, Medusa and Honest Weight. Buckets of Jack’s Abby cans are also available along with seasonal cocktails. The wine list is punctuated by a floral Catena Malbec ($10) and the vastly-popular pinot noir, Meiomi ($10.) Tap handles dangle from a large wagon wheel suspended from the ceiling above the bar.

Order the shrimp tacos ($14.50) for hand-pressed chive tortillas. You can taste the effort that encapsulates every inch binding cajun shrimp, cabbage, mango salad, tomatillo salad and a sprinkle of salty cotija. All “handhelds” are served with housemade chips that offer an irresistible kettle cooked crunch.

Servers recommend the steak mac ($15) if you are hungry, served with steak tips, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, cheese sauce, buttered panko and garlic bread. I prefer Maddi’s lighter mains, like “that rice bowl” ($15) made with black rice, broccoli, carrots, corn, quinoa, mango pico and crispy chilli peanut cauliflower. Portions are gigantic. One rice bowl (that one) will last you for days. The servers will bring you styrofoam to-go containers if you’d like, but many of them are still green and may not know to wrap leftovers for you. It’s the little touches in hospitality that help me decide where to go on the rare evening I get to dine for the mere pleasure of it. I like feeling tended to; I think most guests do.

At the end of the meal, your server will give you a fortune cookie, a touch that detracts from Maddi’s cohesive concept as Worcester’s elevated pub, but is admittedly fun in its execution. Maddi’s will continue to grow into itself. For now, O’Harra’s handcrafted food is the highlight.

On our last date, the bill came to $98.44.

Explanation of Stars: Ratings are from zero to five. Zero is not recommended.

One is poor. Two is fair. Three is satisfactory. Four is good. Five is excellent.

Food: HHHH Ambience: HHH1/2 Service: HHH Value: HHH1/2

culture

‘First Man’ takes flight JIM KEOGH

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t’s easy to forget, or never to have known, that men died during the quest to land on the moon. Three of them, including Mercury Seven legend Gus Grissom, were incinerated on the launch pad. “First Man” reminds us time and again the moonshot involved human beings crammed inside a tiny capsule atop a bomb and being rocketed into outer space. This was more than an astounding technical achievement — it was a dance along the fringes of madness that put the “lunar” in lunacy.

Of course, JFK promised the endeavor will be hard. Which may explain why NASA needed Neil Armstrong to be The Guy. A dispassionate engineer and instinctive pilot, Armstrong was a taciturn sort who dispensed words with an eyedrop-

per and rarely revealed anything but missionrelevant thinking. On the surface, he was the perfect tactician — a ripple-less pond. And below? That’s anyone’s guess.

“First Man” follows two flight paths: one is a space-race procedural, detailing the courage, brilliance, terror and trauma involved with getting astronauts across the void. The other is an intimate family drama centered on the relationship between Neil (Ryan Gosling) and his wife, Janet (Claire Foy), who grapple with the immensity of the NASA mandate and the personal grief of losing their two-year-old daughter to cancer.

Jan is Armstrong’s id, saying the things he can’t — to his bosses, to their two sons, even to himself. Foy, wired and laser-eyed, is a welcome counterweight to the measured Gosling, who at times underplays to the point of catatonia.

It’s Jan who demands Armstrong explain to the boys the dangers he’ll be facing. When he reluctantly does, he approaches the conversation like a press conference, quietly asking, “Are there any more questions?”

Director Damien Chazelle, who won an Academy Award for directing Gosling in “La La Land,” does a nice job oiling the gears of a story with more moving parts than the public ever imagined. He manages to layer tension into the Apollo 11 mission (Corey Stoll as Buzz Aldrin and Lukas Haas as Michael Collins are on board), even though the outcome is never in question. The scene of Armstrong searching for level terrain to land the lunar module while his fuel runs perilously low is a nail-biter; the phrase “The Eagle has landed” raised the hairs on my arms.

The moon sequences are gorgeous, and possess a you-are-there intimacy. They’re so convincing, in fact, moon-landing conspiracy theorists may point to “First Man” as proof the whole thing was faked.

Jan Armstrong would have begged to differ. ***** On July 12, 1917, a posse of civilian deputies in the Arizona mining town

of Bisbee herded 1,200 copper miners at gunpoint into cattle cars, and transported them into the middle of the New Mexico desert with the warning that if they returned they would be shot. Their crime? Going on strike.

The fascinating documentary “Bisbee ’17” recounts this ugly piece of long-hidden history through the voices of current residents, including descendants of the miners and lawmen, as they commemorate the episode’s 100th anniversary through dramatic reenactments. The interviews and play-acting eerily echo the debates raging across the country today about deportation, labor, and the existential threat from “those people.”

“Bisbee ’17” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at 1 and 3:15 p.m.

Sunday in the Jefferson Academic Center at Clark University. The film is part of the Cinema 320 series.

Jim Keogh contributing writer

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sports p Worcester Railers look to turn things up a notch in season 2

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he Worcester Railers have big plans for season two, both for the team itself and the overall fan experience. They are referring to their second year in the league as Season 2.0.

“As with any part of our business, we love to improve the next time around, so every game we aim to get better, game to game, and it’s no different season to season,” Worcester Railers Hockey Club President Mike Myers said. “We look at the second season as a chance to be that much better and improve on each face of our entertainment and service and product, on and off the ice.

That mindset, the team hopes, will translate to a better result on ice than last year, which all things considered, was pretty successful. The Railers finished the 2017-18 regular season 37-27 and made the playoffs, where they fell in the first round to the Adirondack Thunder. It was a disappointing end, to be sure, but the team learned something important as it heads into its home opener Saturday night at the DCU Center.

(The Railers, 1-1, started the season on the road with two games against the Reading Royals.)

“We learned Worcester is definitely a hockey town,” Myers said of a team that was facing some uncertainty in a city where two previous hockey teams, both American Hockey League affiliates, had eventually left. “We learned that we had put a lot of hard work in from February 2016 until October 2017.

We realized all the hard work really

Worcester Railers Hockey Club President Mike Myers.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

paid off. We were validated by the response, I think, from the greater Worcester community and Central Massachusetts community. For that, on a personal level, I’m eternally grateful. It was special and certainly a season I’ll never forget.”

Never forget, maybe, but the Railers don’t intend to rest on their laurels. And while the coaches and players look to rewrite last year’s ending on the ice with additions such as Tyler Barnes and Nick Sorkin, the front office is looking to improve things on its end as well. Myers said the front office has taken what was largely a rookie staff last year and set

its sights on bigger and better things with a year under their belts.

“There’s definitely a different attitude toward year two from a front office perspective,” said Myers, who worked with the Worcester Sharks when they played in Worcester. “We have all the data, what this team brings, the support it garners. We know how to plan for it. Our staff is a year seasoned. There are very few new bodies in here … We’re looking to basically take a veteran staff and have that translate into larger crowds and a better in-game fan experience.”

The Railers finished 14th overall

in ECHL attendance last year, a middle-of-the-pack showing they hope to leave in the dust this season.

Attendance in other areas was better. The team finished in the top five in group sales and number one in youth hockey sales.

Boosting attendance, Myers said, is always the main goal.

“You’re in your second year and you’re always curious how many people support the initiative and not the team,” he said. “You see those people sort of fade off, but we’re at our real number now and we’re good with that. We’re seeing our group numbers grow exponentially. We’re looking for a huge boost in that area.

Our goal is to crack the top 10 right away and stay there, and in group sales I think we can get up in that top three and hang there all year.”

Corporate sales, he said, have been strong. The key, he said, is for them to show up at games.

To help put fannies in the seats, the Railers have put together a promotional schedule jam-packed with fan-friendly events.

Saturday, Nov. 3 is Guns ‘N Hoses night, with the Worcester fire and police departments facing each other. It’s also specialty jersey night, with the Police Department having won honors by generating more donations during a recent American Red Cross Blood Drive. Topping it off is an appearance by Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque.

“There are specialty police jerseys that look awesome,” Myers said.

“They’re going to be really wellreceived. There are more special jerseys than certainly I’ve ever done in a year.”

Additional specialty jersey nights include Black Panther Friday, Nov. 23 on Marvel Superhero Night; Ugly Sweater Night Saturday, Dec. 15; Be Like Brit Night Sunday, Jan. 13 and others.

Of course, bobbleheads are always popular and the team has a couple giveaways, including a Gilly Gilly bobblehead for goalie Mitch Gillam (Saturday, Jan. 12) and a Trax bobblehead for the team mascot (Saturday, March 16).

Wednesday, Nov. 14 is the Railer’s

second-ever school-day game, with more than 5,000 elementary school students expected to show up.

There will also be a teddy bear toss (also Saturday, Dec. 15).

“Part of the 2.0 is picking the things that went well, that were really well-received,” Myers said.

“Bobbleheads are always well-liked, but we really wanted to focus on some other things.”

The team has lined up celebrity signings with New England Patriots special team standout Matthew Slater (Saturday, Nov. 17) and Boston Bruins forward Ryan Donato (Friday, Dec. 7) as well as others yet to be revealed.

There will be a number of giveaways, including a texting glove Saturday, Dec. 29.

The player moves and fan experience are all geared toward a bigger and better 2018, Myers said.

“We want to pack the house again,” he said. “Our logo is is ‘Railers 2.0. Don’t Miss Out.’ We want everyone to come out that second year and prove we’re not a flash in the pan. We’re here to move the needle and get past the first round and all those things. Everything is stepped up, 2.0.”

Round-Up

The Worcester Wildcats captured the 2018 New England Football League North Atlantic Conference Championship with a 24-20 win over the New London Nightmare.

The Worcester Railers opened up their second season in the ECHL with a 2-1, overtime win on the road over the Reading Royals Saturday, Oct. 13.

The Railers and 98.9 FM Nash Icon have announced a two-year extension of their broadcast agreement for 2018-19 and 2019-2020. Eric Lindquist returns for his second season as play-byplay voice for the Railers. Now in his 10th season of calling pro hockey in Worcester, Lindquist is the Railers’ vice president of communications and marketing.

Tom Matthews comes back for his second season as color commentator. Railers games are available at 98.9 FM and online at RailersHC.com.

culture

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

O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018 W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Through no fault of her own Iddy Biddy finds herself back at WARL. Iddy Biddy is far from itty bitty and, in fact, needs to be on a diet. At just under 10 years old, she will soon be having issues related to her weight such as difficulty walking if she develops arthritis. Iddy Biddy has lived with kids although she prefers that there are no other pets (unless they are small enough for her to eat; it’s that diet thing again). Iddy Biddy’s owner also states that she needs a really big litter box.

Don’t overlook Iddy Biddy in your quest for a new family member. She is a sweet cat who needs someone who will sweat to the oldies with her. Her adoption fee is $50.

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calendar Friday, Oct. 19 Second Chance Animal Shelter pet Adoptions

Klem’s, 117 W. Main St., Spencer The Second Chance Animal Shelter’s mobile adoption unit returns to Klem’s.

Come find your new best friend.

Friday, Oct. 19 An Evening with Branford Marsalis Music Worcester Opening Night Mechanics Hall, 319 Main St. Branford Marsalis is joined by Justin Faulkner, Joey Calderazzo and Eric Revis.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21 American Craft Fair at Tower Hill

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston The Worcester Center for Crafts and the Tower Hill Botanic Garden team up for a juried fair of American craftwork. Featuring over 30 artisans from across the spectrum including jewelry, woof, ceramics, metalworking and more.

Saturday, Oct. 20 Worcester Railers Opening Night

DCU Center, 50 Foster St. The Worcester Railers drop the puck against first-year team, the Maine Mariners. Buy tickets early, as a sellout is expected.

Saturday, Oct. 20 So You Think You Can Dance Live!

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O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018

Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St. The fan-favorite competitive television dancing series comes to the Hanover Theatre, featuring series finalists like Hannahlei Cabanilla, Jay Jay Dixonbey, Chelsea Hough and more.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21 2nd Annual OktoberFest

Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton The second annual event returns to Wachusett Mountain with Germanthemed food, beer and music, as well as SkyRide.

Tuesday, Oct. 23 Good Charlotte-Generation Rx Tour

The Palladium, 261 Main St. Good Charlotte heads to the Palladium with special guests Knuckle Puck and Sleeping With Sirens.

Thursday, Oct. 25 Clutch with Sevendust The Palladium, 261 Main St. Clutch (right) hits the Palladium on their Book of Bad Decisions tour with Sevendust and special guests Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown.

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games

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J O N E S I N’ Across 1 Swingin’ Fitzgerald 5 Senate spots 10 “It’s my turn!”

14 Olympic skater/ commentator Johnny 15 “Halcyon” singer Goulding 16 Exploration org.

17 Cartoon detective played

by Matthew Broderick and French Stewart 20 “Negatory” 21 Actress Emma 22 Ear irritation?

23 “This is reallllly wonderful ...”

25 Homer’s neighbor 26 Actresses West and Whitman 28 Comprehended 30 Beans that often get refried 32 Flip option 36 Golfer Ernie 39 “Aw gee, that’s peachy keen!”

40 Dairy dweller 41 Prepared nuts used for baking and pastries, maybe 46 Rotation-producing force 47 Like some missiles 51 Number after acht 52 Canadian major league team, on scoreboards 55 Dictation expert 56 “You Will Be My ___ True Love” (song from “Cold Mountain”) 57 In the neighborhood of 59 Hong Kong director Andrew (whose “Infernal Affairs” was remade as “The Departed”) 60 Pink Floyd classic from “The Wall” 64 Diva’s delivery 65 Chili powder ingredient 66 Fantasia, in 2004 67 Breed of tailless cat 68 GE competitor 69 Father, in France Down 1 “Dallas” dynasty 2 “The Raven” heroine 3 Follow a podcast

“Suit Yourself”--all four are represented.

by Matt Jones

4 “Crumpled Papers” artist Jean 5 Branch 6 “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” singer John 7 Exclusively 8 Worn out 9 Circle div.

10 State with a town called Speedway 11 Like some poetry on the fridge 12 Operate 13 “Heartbreaker” singer Benatar 18 Lauder of cosmetics 19 Let in 24 Burnt stuff 27 Song that’s tough to do in a group 29 Mother of Perseus 30 Plug point 31 180∞ from NNE 33 Director Guillermo ___ Toro 34 Elliott of 2018’s “A Star Is Born” 35 Prefix for scope 36 “Spring ahead” time in D.C. 37 Alex, in “Madagascar” 38 “I Put a Spell On You” singer ___ Jay Hawkins 42 Credit report company with a notable 2017 breach

43 “No idea” 44 Failing the white-glove test 45 Dog trainer’s command 48 Dupe 49 Beguile 50 Bar order 52 “Paper Moon” Oscar winner O’Neal 53 Time’s 2008 and 2012 Person of the Year 54 Batmobile passenger 58 Arm bone 60 GoPro, e.g.

61 Rita of 2018’s “The Girls Tour” 62 “His Master’s Voice” company 63 “___/Tuck” (medical drama)

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Last week's solution

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O C T O B E R 18 - 24, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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last call Janet Marie Smith ballpark designer ELIZABETH BROOKS

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Have you already put your finger on some important elements of Worcester that you would like to incorporate, or, does that happen organically?

Two things that we loved the first time we came to Worcester were its grittiness and its authenticity.

Worcester has so many things that it owns. The diner, the smiley face, scientific advancements like the spacesuit. It’s a city that celebrates its light and creative side as well as its serious side. What we’ve seen happen in the Canal District organically is a real testament to the energy here. I hope we can be a part of that.

I

t often seems as though Janet Marie Smith is in three places at once. She maintains residency in Baltimore, where she is best known for for her work on the design and construction of Camden Yards. She is the senior vice president of planning and development for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And these days, Smith is frequently spotted in Worcester aside former Boston Red Sox executive Larry Lucchino planning the site for the future Worcester Red Sox. Worcester residents may remember Smith as the woman who oversaw the preservation and expansion of Fenway Park from 2002-2009.

Why baseball? I came into baseball through the back door. As a baseball fan, I caught wind when the Orioles decided they wanted to build their ballpark downtown.

Larry Lucchino worked out this deal with the state of Maryland for the Orioles to be at what we now know as Camden Yards. At first I

thought, ‘Oh, that’s too bad. I hate to see them leave Memorial Stadium.’ But then, I started thinking about downtown Baltimore and how it had totally redefined itself when the containerization came in and all of the ships went out of the inner harbor. The city was one of the first along the northeastern coast to take those piers out and create a public park. And then they put in a science center and an aquarium. They put the Convention Center downtown along with a hotel. They ultimately mimicked the market places that turned into Faneuil Hall in Boston, using the same developer, Jim Rouse, who lived in Maryland. And I thought, ‘What an amazing way to bring three million people a year into the center of the city.’

sions were made in the late ’80s.

I think, in particular, Baltimore had made its mark by reinventing itself as an urban entertainment center. America loves experts. So once [Camden Yards] turned out okay, I got asked to do some others and I’ve ended up really enjoying it. Most often, it has been a part of changing the cityscape, or it has been a part of preserving an older building as with Fenway or Dodger Stadium. In the case of Worcester, it’s about using baseball as a total area transformation. That’s what makes this project so exciting. It’s not just bringing baseball to the City of Worcester, it’s also bringing development throughout the state and city’s infrastructure plans in order to tie together the Canal District and downtown.

How did you become an authority in urban ballpark design?

Cities are always reinventing themselves. You kind of have to rewind the tape and think about what cities were like when these deci-

It must be tricky to deal with red tape when a project isn’t privately funded. I wouldn’t call it red tape, but there’s a lot more process and you can’t be such a cowboy.

I think we all appreciate that you’ve eased yourselves in.

Larry took this very seriously.

When the city of Worcester first approached the PawSox, it was during a time when the PawSox felt a commitment to Rhode Island.

As Larry called it, he had a period when he wanted to be “monogamous.” But once that moment came and went, we were impressed by a range of things, from the 10,000 postcards that came naturally through the genuine efforts of a grassroots campaign, to the professionalism and the solid leadership that the city has in your mayor and city manager. You probably don’t appreciate what a nice combination that is as much as we do from the outside.

What is it like working with Larry, and what would he say it’s like working with you? You’ll have to ask him that question, but Larry is very intense. You probably sensed that. He’s always thinking ahead. He’s always looking to challenge himself. Take a look, for instance, at the master plan that we did, or the infrastructure master plan that came after that.

You seldom see that much effort go into design. Not design as in, ‘What does it look like?’ but rather, design of the component parts and how

they fit together. He asks, ‘Are we sure that we’ve got the infrastructure to support this?’ That’s the advantage Larry Lucchino brings.

What advice do you have for women eager to upend traditionally male-dominated industries? Well, I think that’s long overdue to tell you the truth.

There’s nothing about what I do that is gender specific. In the old days, a general manager was someone who had played baseball.

Today, not only do you see women playing baseball, you also see general managers who have never tried to hit a ball in their lives and never even played Little League.

Hopefully, women are thinking about our industry and they see it as a real option.

One thing I’ve heard about Minor League Baseball is that you don’t necessarily go to watch the game. For a lot of people, it’s about family engagement. I think that’s true, but I also think it’s true that we should raise our kids to be baseball fans. I hope we never lose sight in baseball of the fact that we’re not just another form of entertainment; we have something special. I always remember when my daughter was in third or fourth grade and she was learning division. Her math teacher assigned each student a baseball player to follow through the semester to learn about their averages and statistics. I think there are a lot of things about baseball that are really teaching moments, whether it’s the strategy, whether it’s the camaraderie, or whether it’s how you think about being a team. At a ballpark, we’re all fans. There are not many other places in life where suddenly you’re with thousands of strangers, but you’re all there for the same thing.

— Sarah Connell

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