Worcester Magazine November 26 - December 2, 2021

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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Heroes 2021

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Cover Story.........................................................................4 City Voices ........................................................................16 Featured............................................................................20 Table Hoppin’...................................................................22 5 Things To Do.................................................................26 Adoption Option.............................................................28 Classifi eds ........................................................................29 Games................................................................................30 Last Call .............................................................................31

On the cover Worcester Magazine’s Hometown Heroes for 2021 are (top row from left), Worcester Police Officer Enmanuel “Manny” Familia, Megan Ross, Déborah González, (middle row from left) Imam Asif Hirani, Worcester Community Fridges volunteers (including organizers Maria Ravelli and Echo Louissaint), Mari Gonzalez; (bottom row from left), Dr. Erik Garcia, Woodrow Adams Jr. and Joe Prochilo.

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COVER STORY

The Best of Who We Are

Offi cer Enmanuel ‘Manny’ Familia and our other Hometown Heroes of 2021 Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

The death of Worcester Police Offi cer Enmanuel “Manny” Familia was one of those rare events that stopped the entire city in its tracks. Familia died June 4, while struggling to save three young people drowning in Green Hill Pond. Both Familia and 14-year-old Troy Love of Staunton, Virginia, died that day, and for one brief moment, the city was united in grief. h There were memorials, songs, a mural and even a craft beer brewed in his honor, and underneath it all was this burbling knowledge that Offi cer Familia represented the best of how we see ourselves as a city. We quietly wonder if we could have that sort of courage, to risk our lives for strangers, but we know from experience that it’s a rare trait. We pay tribute to a genuine act of heroism, and silently ask ourselves if we can do the same. Most of us are disappointed in the answer.

Worcester Police Officer Enmanuel “Manny” Familia WORCESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT/FILE

Still, there are people all across the Worcester community who put others before themselves, who work tirelessly to give a voice to the voiceless, to feed the hungry and help the homeless. There are people who go above and beyond to see that culture is preserved, and that knowledge is accessible. They all do it in diff erent ways, but they work every day to make the city a better place, and to make lives better for their neighbors.

Much has been written of Offi cer Familia’s passing, and we feel his infl uence

near daily. Indeed, his heroism was much on our minds as we sorted through the recommendations from colleagues and community members as to who to name as this year’s Hometown Heroes, and his example defi ned what we were seeking: The Best of Who We Are. What follows are profi les of eight individuals and organizations that, along with Offi cer Familia’s own example, demonstrate both the best of who we strive to be as a community, and whose work makes us see the light and beauty in others.

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HOMETOWN HEROES

Megan Ross, Executive Director of the Worcester Hip Hop Congress Liz Fay Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Megan Ross of the Worcester Hip Hop Congress.

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Megan Ross is a doctor, but humbly, she won’t let you call her that. In addition to receiving her bachelor’s degree in music from the College of the Holy Cross, Ross has an impressive two master’s degrees; one in Historical Musicology from Boston University and the other in Musicology from University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also

earned her Musicology PhD in 2019.

After leaving Worcester in 2011, Ross has returned to the 508 on a mission to bring positive social change to the streets of our city through the thing she loves most: Music.

Since January, Ross has been executive director for the Worcester chapter of the Hip Hop Congress, an international nonprofi t focused on the evolution of hip-hop culture by merging educational, public events with hip-hop arts:

DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffi ti.

Among the most visible results of the Hip Hop Congress’ accomplishments has been the establishment of the Living Local Archive, an eff ort to celebrate and document the history of hip-hop in Worcester through the digital preservation of related art, artifacts, audiovisual materials, publications and images.

When discussing the reSee ROSS, Page 14

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HOMETOWN HEROES

Déborah González, director of Community Engagement at Quinsigamond Community College Stephanie Jarvis Campbell Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Throughout Déborah González’s career and longtime public service work, she has drawn from her personal experiences to help others navigate their own challenges, particularly in underserved communities.

The director of Community Engagement at Quinsigamond Community College, González leads a program advisory committee to help coordinate the English for Speakers of Other Languages off erings, oversees the High School Equivalency Test instruction in Spanish, and researches barriers to higher education access for the underrepresented in Worcester County. She also connects with community-based organizations in Worcester and Southbridge, as well as public and private entities, to leverage opportunities for Quinsigamond students.

“We want 100 percent student success,” González said.

González has held the position since 2010 and previously served as associate director of admissions for Quinsigamond.

In addition, she teaches History of Puerto Rico and Spanish at the college and until recently was a student advisor.

Since the start of her career, however, González has worked with the community on ESL (English as a Second Language) initiatives and helped families navigate diff erent systems. She began working at Holyoke Community College as the ESL Support Services coordinator from 1995 to 2001, while furthering her own studies as a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After moving to Worces-

Déborah González is director of Community Engagement at Quinsigamond Community College.

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ter in 2000, she took a break from working to care for her two daughters – now 19 and 20 – and later started a job as the coordinator of the Family Resource Center at the Latino Education Institute, while also serving as a parent outreach coordinator for the Worcester Community Partnership.

At Quinsigamond, González said, “I’m continuing to do the work I was doing before, but now in a larger capacity with higher goals and more resources.”

González uses her experiences – she came to the United States in 1988 from Puerto Rico to attend UMass Amherst – to help students and families

navigate through challenges they may face. She said that although she could read and write English, she didn’t have much speaking ability at fi rst.

After graduating in 1992, González went on to earn a master’s and then a Ph.D. “The most important thing is to persist,” she said. “I came here when I was 18. I had no network, no family here. It’s possible you can do it.”

Beyond her work at Quinsigamond, González is very active in the Worcester community. Since 2009, she has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Hector Reyes House and is currently co-chair of HACE (Hispanics Achieving

and Celebrating Excellence), an organization that off ers scholarships and opportunities to participate in leadership conferences for Latino students in Worcester Public and Southbridge high schools.

A member of the Worcester Community Connections Coalition Steering Committee, González also worked with the Mayor’s Commission for Latino Educational Excellence and Advancement; served on the Worcester City Manager’s Coalition Against Bias and Hate for four years and was chair of the Education Sub-Committee in 2019; and was chair of the Board of Directors for Centro Inc., a group that helps inte-

grate Latino immigrants into the community-at-large in Worcester.

In addition, she is involved with the Latino Empowerment Organizing Network (LEON), an initiative that resulted from the pandemic but will continue its mission long-term of studying civic engagement and education within the Latino community. Last year, she was chair of the Education Subcommittee, and just recently, on Oct. 6, it hosted a candidates’ forum for the Worcester School Committee.

“What drives me to do all this is the need I see is predominant in this area and to serve as a role model to people who may not fi nd the courage or the navigating tools to succeed academically, professionally or personally,” said González. “I believe I’ve been through a lot of struggles in my life that have equipped me with a world view and personal outlook.”

She has also mentored local Latina women who aspire to graduate from college, and she takes pride seeing them working in the community, sometimes in a joint eff ort with González herself. “It feels like you’re fi nally seeing the fruits of a long, long time of hard work.

It’s really empowering to see.

It’s worth waiting to see what they’re supposed to be, what they’re becoming,” she said of the women she has mentored.

“Just knowing it had such an important impact makes you feel ‘wow.’”

González said she feels lucky to have a job that allows her to do so much good in the community. “I feel humbled,” she added. “I do a lot besides my job, but it’s nice to have a job that helps me do what I feel I’m supposed to do.”

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HOMETOWN HEROES

Imam Asif Hirani of the Worcester Islamic Center Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Describing what he does, Asif Hirani explained that as an Imam, he “not only leads his people in congregation but serves them whenever they need help.”

He is the resident worship leader at the Worcester Islamic Center but during the pandemic, he was everything to everyone — providing religious guidance, counseling, comfort, PCR tests and most importantly, food.

At the start of the pandemic, when the youth of the community pointed out that they needed to help seniors who found it hard to leave home for groceries, Hirani threw himself into fi nding solutions and soon expanded from delivering groceries to planning a food drive. With the month of Ramadan falling during the same period, WIC members could not hold their Iftar — or collective meal to break their fast — so Hirani focused on “raising the same amount of money and spending it to help the larger Worcester community.”

Gathering more than $15,000 for the fi rst food drive, WIC spent almost $50$100 for each box that could be picked up by those in need.

He recalled how that “amazing experience motivated us to do three more in just the span of two weeks.” The need was so great that they did not diff erentiate between recipients, “just like COVID doesn’t diff erentiate between who follows which faith.” He has a deep conviction that social services have to go above and beyond his own faith community so WIC supplied all regardless of background.

In addition to the food boxes, Hirani organized free clinics every Thursday, where UMass and St. Vincent doctors volunteered to give checkups, basic screening, PCR tests and now, COVID-19 vaccines. Every Friday, the mosque off ers free fl u shots. Responding to the need of the hour, he said, is a “manifestation of brotherhood in the community.”

In order to encourage his congrega-

Imam Asif Hirani of the Worcester Islamic Center. IMAM ASIF HIRANI

tion to follow social distancing guidelines and accept the vaccines, Hirani published an academic research paper advocating that mosques should be closed during the pandemic. He sees his mission as including that of education because “saving people’s lives is the prime objective of Islam.”

Hirani is on the board of Worcester Interfaith and WIC and is helping with the refugee resettlement program. He expressed his admiration for the eff ort by saying, “I really like Worcester — out of all the communities I have been an Imam in, this is the best.” Moving to Worcester in 2018 from Connecticut, he sees the diversity of Massachusetts refl ected in the Worcester mosque with more than 50 ethnicities. As always, he said, “we are here to help our fellow Americans and fellow Worcester residents.”

Hirani has left for a three-month sabbatical, which was originally planned for last year but was delayed because of pandemic, and will return on Feb. 15, 2022.

Mari Gonzalez is executive director of El Buen Samaritano Food Program.

RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Mari Gonzalez, director at El Buen Samaritano Food Program Nicole Shih Worcester Telegram & Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK

As a wife and a mother with two children, Mari Gonzalez said she wanted to continue the legacy from her parents to keep fi ghting food insecurity.

Growing up with food insecurity, Gonzalez had seen her parents fi nding sources and helping to feed a family of

six. Her parents, Maria and Osiris Reyes, who founded El Buen Samaritano Food Program in Worcester 1991, sought help through organizations such as Friendly House that provides critical assistance and later started volunteering at the organization.

Through Friendly House, a Worcester nonprofi t, her parents met the execSee GONZALEZ, Page 11

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 11

Gonzalez Continued from Page 10

utive director, Gordon Hargrove, who off ered big help in establishing El Buen Samaritano, located at 39 Piedmont St. When her parents saw that there were not enough food pantries and programs in Worcester, they thought, “why didn’t they open another one on the other side of the city.”

This year, the organization is celebrating its 30-year anniversary serving the Worcester community.

Gonzalez took over the role as the executive director at El Buen Samaritano from her parents three and a half years ago.

“I’ve always been part of EBS,” Gonzalez said. “Growing up, (I’d been) helping my mother and my father, and I remember when I was a child at seventh or eighth grade, the community and our school used to come and volunteer at EBS.” Gonzalez was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her father is Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican. The family later moved to Worcester, where Gonzalez attended school.

Raising two girls on her own, Gonzalez has also been a foster mom who fostered over 12 children for close to eight years. She is currently fostering a 14-year-old child who has been with her for the last 18 months. She works closely with HopeWell Inc., a foster care center in Worcester.

Gonzalez said the organization is a volunteer-based nonprofi t which has never been funded by the city or state, because they do not have a professional grant writer. She is also now studying remotely for a business and nonprofi t degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

Currently, EBS distributes food Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gonzalez dreams of

someday opening EBS fi ve days a week, when they they have more funds or donations.

In October, Gonzalez said, they served around 725 households with three to fi ve family members. They are looking at serving more than 3,000 people in a month.

The organization also had a fundraising campaign for Thanksgiving, when there is an expectations that there will be a shortage of turkeys. They hoped to reach the goal of gathering 800 to 1000 turkeys or hams.

During the Christmas season, they will be partnering with Marine Toys for Tots to give children Christmas toys.

They are also collecting gift cards for youths aged 13 to 18 for Christmas presents. They will also be having a winter coat drive where people can donate coats directly to EBS. EBS is also taking care of elders, too, helping 60 households at Coes Pond Village, a community apartment complex for ages 55 and older. EBS is working together with the apartments to make sure the elders and those who are disabled are not food insecure when unable to leave their homes.

Other community resources EBS provides include assistance with SNAP applications, fi nding housing, fi nding clothing and furniture and emergency food services.

Over the last 30 years, their doors have never closed, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I can see people needed someone like EBS back then because it’s not easy being a grownup. Because at the end of the day, if I lose my job tomorrow, I’ll be the one at a food pantry tomorrow. I’ll be the one looking for a home,” Gonzalez said. “It could be you or me fi ghting food insecurity, looking for resources, and I want to make sure that I continue the legacy so that no one in my community, and no one in Worcester (is food insecure.)”

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HOMETOWN HEROES

Dr. Erik Garcia, physician for Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project Cyrus Moulton Worcester Telegram & Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK

Sometimes Dr. Erik Garcia prescribes medication. Sometimes he prescribes an appointment with a case manager, housing advocate, counselor or other member of the team at Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project. And other times, he has prescribed a simple bowl of soup.

“It’s simple from a medical perspective: it’s not brain surgery,” Garcia said, recounting the story of a suicidal man who came into HOAP’s Chandler Street base. “But he looked like he could use a bowl of soup and somebody to lower the barriers (to healthcare).”

Garcia, 59, grew up in Connecticut and said he always wanted to be a doctor in New England. A residency in internal medicine at UMass brought him to Worcester in 1991 to begin that career.

But Garcia credited an experience at the former PIP Shelter on Main Street with clarifying the focus of his career: working with the homeless.

“Some of the hardest patients to take care of hated being in the hospital but loved their primary care physician,” Garcia said. And though he remembered feeling “like a stranger” in such a setting at fi rst, he quickly realized that he had found his calling.

“As soon as you show care for someone’s health and well-being, you speak the same language,” Garcia continued.

“I learned this is the job I wanted.”

A month after he fi nished his residency, Garcia started as medical director of HOAP, which is part of Community Healthlink and a division of the Family Health Center. He served in that role for 20 years, stepping down a few years ago to become one of HOAP’s lead physicians.

Over his tenure, Garcia has seen the homeless situation in the city grow “increasingly complex.” He noted that Worcester is currently both defi ning itself as a destination city with a new ballpark, successful restaurants, and a growing population … and simulta-

Dr. Erik Garcia is one of several doctors providing medical care to the homeless population.

ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

neously (like every major city in the country) struggling with tent encampments. He said that when he fi rst started in the ‘90s, about 20 to 30 people lived outside in the city. A November count put this number at 183 people.

“The very thing that makes this a wonderful and attractive city, limits the housing opportunities for people who need subsidies,” Garcia said. “We have patients living outside with housing vouchers — literally with vouchers to move in — and they can’t go anywhere because there’s no place available for them to go. That’s challenging. I don’t want the city to take a step backwards, but on the other hand, it’s a challenge.”

But Garcia said he had hope.

He praised the city for establishing a “cohesive plan to help the most vulnerable” when COVID fi rst hit by designating shelters for homeless persons — rallying St. Vincent’s Hospital, UMass Memorial and the Family Health Center to provide support, and dedicating space at the DCU Center (which Garcia ran) for COVID positive patients from congregate shelters.

“It was really wonderful, it was quite amazing,” Garcia said. “All of a sudden diff erent organizations within the city were working together, and that’s something that in my 25 years here had never happened before: that everyone came together to try to make this shelter work, everybody had something to add.”

“It really showed me what Worcester

is capable of when they take all of their resources and coordinate that care,” Garcia said. And the political will was there, and that’s what made the diff erence.”

Now we just have to continue that, which provides its own set of challenges.

But Garcia and his colleagues at HOAP are up to the task: going out to the encampments, providing medical care, writing prescriptions and, sometimes, just providing a really good bowl of soup to keep someone safe and sated.

“What we try to do is put ourselves out there — be as accessible as possible,” Garcia said. “We’re just trying to lower the barriers and help with the bureaucracy.”

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HOMETOWN HEROES

Woodrow Adams Jr. of 508 Forever Young Brad Petrishen Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Woodrow Adams Jr. spends his working hours in courtrooms fl ooded with broken dreams.

When he leaves, he works to stop the fl ow.

For the past four years, the 39-year-old court offi cer has toiled to cut the odds of seeing at-risk kids cycle into the criminal justice system.

The thousands of backpacks his nonprofi t has given away have brought smiles to young kids. The speeches he gives at schools have imparted wisdom to adolescents. And the mettle he’s shown in the face of personal tragedy has inspired children and adults alike.

Adams Jr. lost his father, his uncle and his grandmother in a terrible fi re in February at the family home on Jaques Avenue.

“I looked the devil in his face and I told him, ‘He would not break me,’” Adams said as he eulogized his father in March.

His deeds this year have matched those words.

While the past nine months have been diffi cult — reminders of fi re, such as emergency sirens or fl ame emojis on social media can trigger anxiety — Adams has kept serving others, bolstered by a passion for his cause that has only been strengthened by his loss.

“I’ve been through so much, I feel like I just can’t be broken anymore,” the married father to six said from the courthouse this month.

Adams this year again held his annual backpack drive, which since its 2017 inception has placed more than 3,000

Joe Prochilo is vice chair of the Accessibility Advisory Commission. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Joe Prochilo of the Accessibility Advisory Commission Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine

Woodrow Adams Jr. PHOTO BY TAJONN NICKELSON

fully stocked bags on the backs of students.

The idea sprung from another loss in his life — that of his 32-year-old cousin, Marcus Blakney, in 2016.

Blakney was “full of life,” Adams said — a joyful friend whose passing after a brief illness underscored the fragility of life.

Adams thought of the summer nights they’d sat on the porch and talked of helping neighborhood kids.

“Him passing really pushed me to go ahead and just do it,” he said.

Adams created a nonprofi t, 508 Forever Young, that administers the backpack drive and has in recent years expanded to tackle teen violence.

Adams regularly goes into

city schools to speak to kids, bringing with him friends, including former city gangmember-turned-mentor Derrick Kiser, as guests.

“We’re trying to teach them to chase their dreams,” he said, lamenting how many have so much to overcome because of the hands they’ve been dealt.

Adams holds an annual Stop the Violence event in June in which he uses a basketball tournament to bring kids together.

The event has brought in judges and law enforcement members, many of whom overcame similar challenges, to speak about staying on the right path.

“I was fortunate growing See ADAMS, Page 18

USA TODAY NETWORK

When Joe Prochilo joined the Commission on Disability in 2013, his fi rst question was, “When had the group last done a mobility walk around the city?” The response was blank stares. His goal was to explore and understand each and every neighborhood in the city to understand the accessibility issues. His eff orts over the years have resulted in a change of name for the group — it is now called the Accessibility Advisory Commission. As he succinctly phrased it, “No one likes to be ‘dissed’ about anything — that has a negative connotation. Let’s focus on the issues that we deal with and the value that we bring. Everything involves access and inclusion for all parties.”

Prochilo has been in this fi ght since he was around 10

years old, because of an adverse reaction to the smallpox vaccine taken over April break in 1971 so he could attend school. He developed a gradual paralysis over 10 days. Ironically, later that year in July, smallpox was declared eradicated and the vaccine was no longer needed for school attendance.

“Back then, most disabled people were in institutions because schools were inaccessible,” he said, galvanizing him to get involved at the state level by the time he was 12 or 13 to get people out of institutions and back into the community.

The Rehabilitation Act 1973 outlawed discrimination based on disability, but as he saw it, “it was the community that was inaccessible” due to the attitude toward physically challenge individuals.

The AAC compiles a yearly See PROCHILO, Page 15

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HOMETOWN HEROES

Group stocks Worcester Community Fridges Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

As free outdoor community fridges were being set up across the country in an attempt to alleviate food insecurity intensifi ed by the pandemic, a Mutual Aid Worcester Facebook post helped open the door to an initiative here.

“There are hundreds (of community fridges) all over the country,” said Maria Ravelli, who posted about starting a community fridge program in Worcester. “The community responded,” she said.

Worcester Community Fridges had an opening ceremony for its fi rst fridge Jan. 31 this year in front of space donated by Fantastic Pizza & Café, 910 Main St., whose owner, Saket Lohia, had replied to the post.

Coincidentally around the same time, Worcester Free Fridge was getting ready to be up and running, said Lucy Barrett. It opened a fridge at 300 Southbridge St. in February.

“The two separate organizations came together,” Ravelli said.

Ross Continued from Page 5

sponsibility of being an educator, Ross, a visiting professor of music at both Clark University and Holy Cross, strongly emphasized her opinions about enforcing community-based learning to bridge the gap between cultures who in one way or another misunderstand each other.

“You can’t teach music, in my opinion, without having a

From left, Jean Peterson, Carl Gomes, Natalie Turner, Karen Coveney, Rumianna Islam, Trang Le, Echo Louissaint and Guillermo Creamer Jr. at the community fridge on Portland Street.

RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Worcester Community Fridges now has fi ve free fridges in Worcester that are being sustained by their respective communities, said

Echo Louissaint.

While Ravelli, Barrett and Louissaint are among a core group of 10 to 15 Worcester Community Fridges organiz-

ers, Ravelli said, “we are a blip in the greater network of folks who keep these fridges running.”

“It really is the most openly

sense of what culture and community is. I may not be a hiphop practitioner, I’m certainly not someone who can speak on the Black American experience, but what I can provide is that historical lens, I can be an educator, I can help bring their music and their work into the light of a broader community.”

Ross says that hip-hop, “gets such a bad reputation, mostly because of its commercialized persona. If you actually get back to the roots of hip-hop culture, the authenticity of hiphop — which many of the art-

ists here embody in their living experience — that’s not the (expletive) you’re hearing on the radio, the glorifi cation of violence, and misogyny, that’s not true hip-hop culture.” She adds that hip-hop was originally a conscious art form, refl ecting on the life experiences of largely minority artists coming out of the “Burning Bronx” in the 1970s, referencing the devastating series of fi res which are largely seen as one of the catalysts for the artistic movement.

Out of 20 Hip Hop Congress community chapters across the

United States, says Ross, “Our branch has done the most out of any of the branches in terms of funding, programming, and community outreach.”

Ross, who describes herself as “an academic with a survival technique of grant writing,” believes lack of funding poses the greatest threat faced by the hip-hop community and its artists. “A lot of times hip-hop artists especially aren’t really receiving the fi nancial support that they deserve and need,” says Ross. “I try to leverage my privilege as much as I can.”

diverse program available in Worcester right now,” said Louissaint. “We only open new ones (fridges) as the community sustains the ones that we’ve brought. Once the community has embraced it and sustained it, then we look at the next community. We’re just organizers. It’s the community that sustains it. We like to think of it as a light in a really dark time.”

The Worcester Community Fridges Facebook group has 3,200 members, according to its site.

Also according to Worcester Community Fridges, almost 15% of families in Worcester have identifi ed as having experienced food insecurity within the past year.

The community fridge operates on a simple principle: “Take what you need, give what you can.”

The outside fridges are open 24/7 for anyone who comes by to access needed food items that are free of charge — or to put some food in. A list of acceptable and non-acceptable items is by the side of the fridges. Volunteers also stock See FRIDGES, Page 15

After losing her mother during her college years and becoming estranged from her father, Ross says the hip-hop community has given her a sense of family and belonging she’s never felt.

“The hip-hop community saved me more than I’ve done for them. They’ve embraced me, they’ve supported me.

They saved my career in some ways, too. Forming the Hip Hop Congress and hosting all these community-based learning activities really helped me feel alive again,” Ross said.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 15

Prochilo Continued from Page 13

report for the city manager on goals and accomplishments but this year with the pandemic, it’s been an uphill task. “We try to get ahead of construction in the city,” Prochilo said, and he will usually “walk the area in my wheelchair.” The goal is to ensure that construction in the city is done properly because it is diffi cult for people with mobility issues. On the basis of the walk-through, the AAC creates a document for contractors regarding regulations to follow during construction, with examples of things that could go wrong and safety issues that need to be corrected.

When he graduated from high school in 1979, he explained that “you had to be able to handle yourself regardless of the situation because there would be no one to help you.” He worked with groups that visited colleges and universities for disability awareness and conducted disability etiquette workshops. All well and good, but “you will learn more by spending an hour or

two in a wheelchair than a full month in a lecture hall,” he said.

For the fi rst two years of undergrad, Prochilo worked as a historical interpreter for the National Park Service and “put in scores of miles along the Freedom Trail” while working there. That helped convince him that accessibility is more than just for people on wheels, it is for elderly people, women with strollers, and anyone who happens to break a leg — universal accessibility helps everyone.

According to Prochilo, there is still a lot of work to be done on Shrewsbury Street and Grafton Hill. “Last time we looked, we had over 600 issues that still needed to be addressed.” He keeps a running list. Frost heaves in pavements will always be an issue — a fact of life in New England. “Those cause signifi cant concern whether you’re walking or wheeling but especially wheeling at night — I’ve ended up out of my wheelchair, face planted from stuff like that.”

His advice to people is “walk a mile in my shoes — get in a wheelchair or wear a blindfold or strap a limb to simulate a stroke.”

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the fridges regularly. The fridges are cleaned by volunteers at a minimum of once a day, usually more, said Ravelli.

“We encourage everyone if they’re in the area to pick up and clean up,” she said.

As some people gathered by the community fridge outside the Printers Building, 44 Portland St., recently, a quick look at the contents inside the fridge revealed only a few Lunchables boxes just prior to it being refi lled.

“We always need more food,” said Louissaint. “As

quickly as we fi ll the fridges, they empty, so we can always use more food in there.”

People who have used the fridges are often the most generous in donating. “Some of our biggest donors I fi nd are people using their extra EBT dollars,” said Barrett.

Regardless, everyone involved is in it together, Ravelli said.

Noah Rose said he “found both fridges in February. I just showed up and started cleaning and had fun doing it and started meeting people.”

For more information about Worcester Community Fridges, visit www.worcestercommunityfridges.com.

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16 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CITY VOICES WORCESTERIA

Who won the Worcester Music Awards this year?

Victor D. Infante and Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Cara Brindisi took home Worcester Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist and Best Music Video. CHRISTINE PETERSON/T&G STAFF

The Worcester Music Awards have had a rough time of it lately. First, the 2020 awards ceremony was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That seemed reasonable, all things considered, but there was still a lot of grumbling that the winners

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weren’t announced online instead, which is what happened with the Boston Music Awards. Then, rather than just start fresh, the awards recycled the short list from the previous year, which led some to feel like artists who accomplished a lot in the past year were being snubbed.

Still, the 2021 awards were handed out on Nov. 10 at El Basha Bar and Grille, and by all accounts, it was a pretty nice time. “I think it went very well,” says organizer Michael Brevde. “The biggest obstacle we had was COVID-19, and it’s been aff ecting a lot of local businesses in past years, but I think we now have a better understanding of how to run events in a post-COVID era and have learned a lot for upcoming events.”

The winners were a smorgasbord of some of the region’s favorites, and excepting a couple of oddities, it’s an extremely unobjectionable list, fi lled with local artists such as Big Jon Short, Cara Brindisi, Chuck Chillin’, The Hip Swayers, Blue Light Bandits, My Silent Bravery, Ricky Duran and the Russo Brothers. However, two advertised categories were excluded – The Lifetime Achievement Award and Worcester’s Sexiest Musician.

“There was an error with the voting as the category for the Lifetime Achievement Award was already awarded the prior year and was not removed from voting before it was launched,” says Brevde.

The winner in 2019 was the

late local rock icon, Jimmy D’Angelo. “As for the Sexiest Musician award,” says Brevde, “we decided that it was not really up to par in today’s social climate and we have retired it from future ballots.”

Considering how awkwardly it was received by several past nominees, that’s probably for the best.

Y’know, as imperfect as the WMAs are – and all such things are imperfect – it’s still nice to celebrate the musicians in our community, especially after a year and change that took away so much of their income, even as their work was often helping keep us sane while we sheltered indoors. Going down the list of winners, there’s no denying how much talent there is on the list. Brevde says, “We look forward to the next ceremony and hope to have it be even better than past years.” I’m sure they will be, but one small suggestion: Make sure next year’s awards explicitly cover this past year, too, because there was a lot of great stuff that deserves recognition.

(Visit Worcestermag.com or Telegram.com for a complete list of winners.) (VDI)

A Culture of Health On Nov. 9, I went to a virtual watch party at the The Jean McDonough Arts Center to celebrate Worcester receiving the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Culture of See AWARDS, Page 18

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 17

HARVEY

Refuge for LGBTQ is an inspiration Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Last Sunday, I toured a residence on the city’s west side.

Unlike many of the houses open to the public during the holidays, this place was not festooned to the hilt with Christmas decorations. In fact, this unassuming three-family dwelling wouldn’t catch the eye of many. Its exterior is in need of repair, and its surrounding lawns are strewn with discarded pumpkins and fallen leaves.

It wasn’t until I passed through the front door that I realized something marvelous, something miraculous had occurred: this old house is now a new home.

In 2008, the LGBT Asylum Task Force was formed when a gay Jamaican asylum seeker was referred to Hadwen Park Congregational Church for spiritual and material support.

The church members arranged housing, food, a cell phone and more until he could legally support himself. Helping this one man led to the housing and support of hundreds of LGBTQ asylum seekers.

Gala balls and silent auctions were aimed at raising money for the purchase of a home designed specifi cally for the purpose of housing men and women seeking refuge from the torment they suff ered in their homelands. Targeted for exile, mutilation and even death when their sexuality became known, asylum seekers shared their stories at these events and expressed their gratitude for the church that saved their lives. Until the dream became a reality, asylum seekers were housed in apart-

ments leased by the task force.

Now, thanks to the generosity of local foundations, the United Church of Christ national offi ce and thousands of grassroots donors, over $500,000 has been raised toward the purchase and renovation of the house.

Taking me on a tour was the Task Force Ministry Director Al Green, chairperson of the committee to oversee the house search and renovation process.

“This house is proof of the possibilities that exist when thousands of people do more than just off er thoughts and prayers, and choose to step forward in their care for society’s marginalized communities,” said Green.

“From realtors to community supporters, there have been thousands of folks who have played integral roles in getting us to this point.”

The house was purchased in August of 2020, and renovations to its interior began the following January. Three fl oors were outfi tted to accommodate nine occupants, complete with kitchen, bath and laundry facilities. Donations provide each room with a bed, dresser, desk, chair and TV. During our walkthrough, several volunteers were seen assembling furniture, hoping to have the rooms ready by the fi rst of December.

Brightly colored walls and new fl ooring made each room feel like an invitation to happier futures for the lodgers, most of whom will stay until they receive work permits, a process that can take up to two years.

On the day of my tour, I “assisted” in the assembly of a desk and chair by picking up See HARVEY, Page 18

“This house is proof of the possibilities that exist when thousands of people do more than just offer thoughts and prayers ...” the packaging and dragging a few empty boxes down three fl ights of stairs. I handed an Allen wrench to volunteer Rick, who sat on the fl oor surrounded by a million nuts and bolts and an instruction sheet that

Al Green, at the Hadwen Park Congregational Church.

RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Thanksgiving Weekend

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• Nov 26-28 • 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. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

18 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Awards

Adams

Continued from Page 16

Continued from Page 13

Health Prize for 2020-21. This is awarded annually to only 10 cities nationwide who are making sweeping eff orts to affect public health in all its forms for all residents. While public health may be on everyone’s mind with the COVID-19 crisis, the prize goes to cities that take the defi nition of public health and broaden it far beyond the medical sense.

Worcester has been doing this for years — through the fi rst Community Health Improvement Plan in 2013, the city focused on combatting the social determinants of health — indirect factors that aff ect public health, particularly structural and institutional racism in systems governing necessities such as food, housing and healthcare. The 2013 CHIP was deemed a success,

up,” Adams said, blessed with parents who kept him in line and friends and structure imparted at the Boys & Girls Club.

Adams is working to revive a spirit of childhood service he sees as too rare these days. He spends Christmas Eve bringing the Claremont Academy basketball team to UMass Memorial Hospital to give out gifts.

“It’s about bringing the community together, teaching the importance of giving back,” he said.

It’s the kind of generosity Adams felt fi rsthand when the community raised nearly $150,000 to help his family in the wake of the fi re. The feeling has stuck with him — and inspires him.

“People don’t just see me as Woody anymore. They see me

Charles Safford, AKA Chuck Chillin’, won a WMA for Best Club DJ. CHRISTINE PETERSON/T&G STAFF

and a new one is currently in the works, spearheaded by the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester. The coalition is formed by a number of local

nonprofi ts including The Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, Regional Environmental See AWARDS, Page 19

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would baffl e Einstein. In another room a man named Tim was wrestling with a bed frame.

“Yikes! That looks like a nightmare!” I said.

“Piece a cake!” he replied with a grin.

In every room, I encountered volunteers who cheerfully scratched their heads over just how to fi t “A” into “B.” On the fi rst fl oor I saw that someone had placed a vase of fl owers on the kitchen table. Already, it was looking like home.

Upon hearing about the task force and the plight of asylum seekers, Brett Perrone, owner of of Perrone Landscaping, Inc. off ered his services.

Once exterior renovations are completed in the spring, Perrone and his crew will provide an initial clean-up of the prop-

as strength,” he said. “They see me as motivation.

“I just use that to continue pushing, and giving back.”

Adams this year alone has been inducted into the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester Hall of Fame, named a “Hero Among Us” by the city and thrown out the fi rst pitch for the WooSox as a “Hometown Hero.”

Adams said the accolades are a credit to his mother, Lorraine Adams, his father, Woodrow Adams Sr., and his grandmother, Edna Mae Williams.

“She was the original,” Adams said of his grandma, describing her generosity in supporting the homeless.

Adams Sr. was a beloved deacon who taught his son the importance of helping others.

“He gave me his name, so I’m going to carry it out,” Adams said. “I’m going to live up to my fullest potential, and make sure I represent them all the right way.”

erty.

“Count me in,” said Perrone.

“Let’s make this happen!”

These are troubled times, and often it’s diffi cult to remain optimistic. With the country so polarized, and simmering tensions defi ning the day, it’s comforting to know that there are still many people willing to reach out and make the lives of others less harrowing, less hate-fi lled. Being able to close one’s eyes at night without fear of being assaulted for loving the “wrong” person is not to be taken for granted. A warm bed, a meal cooked in a clean kitchen, a friend who understands — these are the things to which I raise a glass this Thanksgiving. And to the thousands of donors who reached into their pockets to make this dream a reality, a hefty deposit was dropped in their Karma banks. For their generosity, we should all be grateful.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 19

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Council and the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, but really too many to count (I tried — members include groups from all over Worcester County, including schools and town boards). As it happens, it was thanks to Anh Sawyer, executive director of SEACMA, that I was able to attend the watch party, who let me know that morning. Here’s to living in downtown so you can dash over to events at the last minute!

The coalition allows proponents for each individual cause — be it free public transit, food justice, housing — to all work in conjunction as part of a bigger picture to better implement projects like CHIP. According to Rob Jones of Black Families Together Worcester, this had been tried before some years ago, but fi zzled out.

What made the diff erence the second time around, said Jones, was the presence of full-time staff ers for the coalition, led by Executive Director Casey Burns. One would think

that this would be the way for most communities to approach public health but the coalition is something of an anomaly and the holistic view it embodies is what allowed Worcester to come to the attention of the RWJF. While the Culture of Health Prize does come with a monetary component, the money in itself is not what makes the award so important, said Jonathan Cohen, vice president of programs and strategy at Greater Worcester Community Foundation. Cohen, along with Burns, accepted the award on behalf of the city. Gaining recognition on the national level is the real prize, he said, which will make it easier to gain support for future projects.

Everyone I spoke with at the celebration confi rmed the fact that collaboration like this was far from the norm in other cities. The various nonprofi ts are not simply working in a vacuum, they are truly working collectively for the betterment of the community. At the risk of sounding corny, while a great deal of work is left to be done, this progressive outlook makes this a city I’m proud to be a part of. (VM)

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20 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

FEATURED

Scoring ‘Dexter’ role was a dream come true for Worcester actor Tierre Diaz Liz Fay Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Having lasted since 2018 without a day job, Worcester actor and musician Tierre Diaz is no rookie when it comes to being on screen. He’s played lead and featured roles in People’s Choice Award nominee “The Purge: Election Year,” the

Tierre Diaz, right, appears on “Dexter.” SUBMITTED PHOTO

2021

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• Dec 3 • 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. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

dramatic fi lm “Bike Thief,” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” a biopic about the life of Whitney Houston, which was partially shot in Worcester and is expected out in 2022.

Earlier this year, Diaz received the surprise of his life when he found out he’d been cast in season 9 of “Dexter: New Blood.” A longtime fan of “Dexter,” Diaz said, “it was a dream come true” being assigned to play the role of Zach’s friend, an Iron Lake wrestler whose character name is yet to be revealed at the time of this writing. “’Dexter’ is and has been one of my favorite shows of all time, but the show ended 8 years ago and that was way before I began my acting career,” Diaz said. “As a fan, there was no sense of me thinking I’d ever be on the show. Then I think it was around early 2020 when I found an announcement that the show was returning and I was so excited. Then a couple weeks went by and more information about the show came out and I found out it was being fi lmed in Massachusetts … and I was like ‘Woah, I need to be on this show.’”

Landing his role in the new series was an arduous task. By the time he found casting agents to submit his portfolio to, most characters had already been booked as fi lming locations were being announced.

“When there’s already fi lming dates confi rmed, that means the majority of the casting has already happened. So I went all out. I reached out to

any type of source, found out who was casting, I sent my headshots, my availability, my acting reels, and I went all out,” Diaz said. “I put in action to try and make it happen, and more importantly, I put my energy towards it. I made the conscious decision to channel my energy that I’m already on the show. So I wrote it down in my journal. I’m big on manifestation and journaling and I just knew I was going to get on. I found out in late February that I’d been cast.”

On top of hustling last-minute to distribute his acting portfolio, Diaz had done enough research to know the “Dexter” role was being listed under a code name — a common tactic in high-profi le fi lming.

“I booked the role without even knowing it was ‘Dexter.’ It was under the code name ‘Marble.’ And at that point I said ‘yes’ to the role because of the amount of dates on it and I knew how good of a paycheck that was, and that whatever the project was I wanted in. When I called my girlfriend to tell her I booked the role (on) ‘Marble,’ we did some research and found out it was for ‘Dexter.’”

The fi rst scene Diaz appears front and center aired Nov. 14 in episode 2 “Storm of (Expletive)” when Zach and his friends show up to Dexter’s cabin, which had become home base in a missing person search. Diaz is seen wearing a forest green and gold Iron Lake letterman jacket as he and the See DIAZ, Page 28

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 21

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ coming to Worcester’s Hanover Theatre Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Natalie Holt MacDonald clearly has a glowing endorsement for playing the title character in the national touring production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical.”

She’s not a misfi t in the role, as MacDonald is on her fourth year in the national tour as Rudolph, and she also played the part at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 2019.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” will be at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester for a performance at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6.

Children can usually be relied upon to give the show a ringing endorsement as well.

“Children — they love, it they adore it,” MacDonald said.

“There always oos and aas in all the right places. Sometimes getting up and dancing to the music. So it’s really special.”

Following six years (and more than 600 performances) altogether, with a year off last year due to the pandemic, the national touring production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” from California is back on the road for November and December traveling coast-tocoast and down to Florida.

The show is based on the 1964 NBC Christmas stop motion animated television special “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” that has gone on to be broadcast annually. Among the hits are the title song and “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” The TV cast included the voices of Burl Ives and Billie Richards.

Because of his shiny nose, Rudolph doesn’t feel like he belongs in Christmastown and sets off to fi nd a place that ac-

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical’

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” will be performed at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester How much: Tickets are $29, $39, $49 and $59 depending on seat location. (877) 5717469; www.thehanovertheatre.org. Complete details about The Hanover Theatre’s safety protocols are at https://the hanovertheatre.org/safety protocols

cepts him. Along his journey, he encounters fellow misfi ts, only to realize that home is where he has belonged the whole time.

When a storm threatens to keep Santa’s sleigh from taking fl ight, what makes Rudolph different turns out to be what helps him save Christmas.

“It’s very true to the TV special,” MacDonald said of the stage musical during a recent Zoom interview. She watched the TV special many times herself growing up.

But the touring show also has some some additional choreography elements and “a couple of surprises in there,” MacDonald said.

The show’s characters include Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice the female doe, Yukon Cornelius, and Rudolph.

“There are a few challenges,” MacDonald said of playing the roles on stage.

These include “trying to stay true to the voices” in the televiSee RUDOLPH, Page 24

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CITY LIVING TABLE HOPPIN’

Salvadoran-Mexican menu showcases Picosso owner’s passion for food Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Vinicio Ayala’s own paintings decorate the walls in the dining room of his restaurant Picosso on Main.

RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

The small, cozy restaurant, aptly named Picosso on Main in West Warren, is an undiscovered spot worth a visit.

Vinicio Ayala of Amherst

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opened Picosso (Spanish for spicy) at the end of the summer and has built a menu around Salvadoran and Mexican food.

He not only makes handmade pupusas (corn fl atbread), by far the most popular street food in El Salvador, and traditional pastelitos (empanadas), but also Mexican sopes, chicarrones (fried pork rind tossed in salsa verde), tamales and tacos.

Picosso on Main advertises authentic Salvadoran and Mexican recipes made from scratch using the freshest ingredients and elevated with a modern twist. The cuisines of both countries have similarities, said Ayala, but Mexican food defi nitely is spicier than Salvadoran.

The branding of SalvadoranMexican restaurants owned by Salvadoran-Americans isn’t new to the national restaurant scene, according to Ayala.

Many Salvadorans who immigrated to large cities in the states have worked in Mexican restaurants, he said.

The fi rst-time chef/owner, who found the Warren location on a random Google search, runs the kitchen with help of his nephew. The chef ’s journey has been “interesting and amazing.”

Ayala tells the story of how he fl ed war in El Salvador to seek safety and a better life in the United States. Arriving in Los Angeles at 16, he said he was alone and didn’t speak a

word of English. A person he was traveling with off ered him a place to stay, he said. He’s forever grateful.

Ayala worked part time in Los Angeles restaurants before graduating from high school.

He took the journey from dishwasher working up the line to chef over time. His big break came when he was employed

by Nancy Silverton at her La Brea Bakery. FYI: Noted chef, baker and author, Silverton won the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef Award in 2014, in addition to other national awards. She sold her “world famous” La Brea Bakery in 2001.

Ayala said he gained invaluable kitchen experience at La Brea that led to other job opportunities at high end food businesses. “I’m a very lucky person to have worked for Nancy,” he said.

Ayala left the West Coast to be with family in Massachusetts. His fi ve siblings settled in the Amherst area, he said, and all of them at one time or another have worked tirelessly in the food industry.

The chef for several years worked beside his sister who ran an Italian restaurant and most recently was in the back of the house at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland, known for fi ne dining. The restaurant closed during COVID-19 and Ayala returned to See HOPPIN’, Page 25

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 23

Public streets fall under two ban categories: PERMANENT: December 1 - April 30 A permanent ban will remain in effect on emergency arteries, WRTA bus routes, and streets that are designated as critical to the flow of traffic. The permanent ban means that from December 1 to April 30 (April 1 on residential streets), there is no parking on one or both sides of the street between 2 am and 6 am and also when a snow emergency is declared, anytime, day or night.

DECLARED: When it snows When a ban is declared, it affects all remaining City streets. The declared ban means that parking is allowed on both sides of the street until a winter parking ban is put into effect. You can expect a winter parking ban to go into effect whenever inclement weather is forecasted.

To quickly find out whether your street has a Permanent or Declared parking ban, go to http://www.worcesterma.gov/streets/winter-weather/winter-parking.

The official source of up-to-date information on the ban is through the DPW&P Customer Service Center.

Call: 508-929-1300 Connect: dpw@worcesterma.gov Click: http:/ /www.worcesterma.gov/streets/winter-weather/winter-parking

24 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CONNELL SANDERS

Imminent closing of Neal Rosenblum Goldsmiths Gallery gets personal Sarah Connell Sanders

Neal Rosenblum Goldsmiths Gallery will close its Park Avenue showroom on December 24. Moving forward, the business will specialize in custom orders and appraisals.

Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Early in our relationship, my now-husband bought me a pair of gold hoops from Neal Rosenblum Goldsmiths Gallery on Park Avenue. The gift was sentimental for a number of reasons. For one thing, I wore my nana’s gold hoops nearly every day of high school. During freshman year, a well-meaning classmate told me I “looked pretty” with the earrings, and without them, I “just looked.”

(To be fair, it was my bangs era.

I needed all the help I could get.) From that point on, they rarely left my earlobes. I thought of my gold hoops as a secret weapon.

The Rosenblum family had also shown me great kindness in my youth. Their eldest daughter became a dear friend during middle school. On Fridays, they would open up their home as a routine gathering place for our pals to eat Corner Grille pizza and indulge in “Law & Order” marathons. My hus-

Rudolph Continued from Page 21

sion special. Rehearsals have included sessions with a dialect coach, MacDonald said.

MacDonald wears a Rudolph costume, complete with a red nose.

“There’s a bit of weight to the costume,” she said. However, hers is not the heaviest. The 12-foot Abominable Snow Monster, also known as Bum-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

band didn’t know our shared history, only that the pair of gold earrings looked striking and suited my complexion. I was charmed.

It gutted me to hear that the Gallery would be closing in 2022. Initially, I made the incorrect assumption that bigbox online manufacturers had

reared their ugly heads and stomped down on yet another local brick-and-mortar retailer.

However, when I visited Neal Rosenblum last week, I learned

ble, is operated by several people.

But the most important challenge and goal is bringing “a magical performance for the audience,” MacDonald said.

The 2021 tour had just started with a couple of stops when MacDonald was being interviewed.

“So far we’ve been getting quite full houses,” she said.

That’s normal for the tour. Usually, “The big crush doesn’t come in until after Thanksgiving,” she said.

Originally from St. Louis, MacDonald grew up in Simi Valley, California, and earned an associate’s degree focused on vocal performance from Moorpark College in Moorpark, California.

She is an actor, dancer, pianist, singer and archer, and her theater credits also include Sandy in “Grease,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Allegiance.”

She auditioned for a part in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” in Los Angeles.

“The fi rst time I was cast in a diff erent role (Clarice),” she said. She didn’t join the production, taking another gig instead. She must have made a good impression, however, because “the second year they brought me in for the role of Rudolph. It’s been a dream.”

Touring with the show she said she’s visited 45 of the 50 U.S. states. MacDonald has been to Massachusetts before, but the Dec. 6 show will be her fi rst time in Worcester.

“I love being able to see new

this wasn’t the case. Neal and his brother Chuck are, well — nearing retirement. Just as I am no longer a pizza-starved teen, they are not the expansionhungry entrepreneurs they once were. Moreover, they have earned this next phase of their careers.

“My history started in 1970 when I began to learn my craft,” Neal told me. “Through various periods, I made multiples to sell to stores and I did the craft fair circuit for years. I began to make the studio a little more public when we got to this neighborhood 28 years ago.”

When the Rosenblums moved into a traditional streetlevel walk-in space in 1993, they called upon many of their contacts in the industry. “We eventually focused on niche business, light manufacturing, and appraisal,” Neal said. “Now, as we move out of retail, we are entering a diff erent phase; it’s a new iteration.”

Moving forward, the brothers will focus on special order See GALLERY, Page 25

things,” she said. “It’s a fast tour … I really do enjoy the travel.”

Meanwhile, MacDonald is taking online courses with the Los Angeles Film School to earn a bachelor of science degree in entertainment and business.

MacDonald said she would like to build and create her own work.

“Obviously, I would like to perform as much as possible,” she said. “For me it’s about expanding my skill set. It’s all about being versatile.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 25

Continued from Page 22

help out when it reopened.

At 60, after years in other chefs’ kitchens, Ayala realized his dream to open his own restaurant. He describes himself as the kind of person who cooks for customers fi rst. He wants guests to enjoy a meal in a peaceful setting, he said, giving them a homey feeling.

While opening a new restaurant isn’t easy, Ayala said it’s also an exciting time. He loves meeting guests and enjoys food talk with chefs who eat at Picosso.

Ayala pays homage to his upbringing and traditions. His food is authentic. He said he sometimes closes his eyes when he’s in the kitchen and envisions his mother and grandmother cooking his favorite chicken stew. The Salva-

Gallery Continued from Page 24

and custom pieces, along with estate acquisitions and appraisals. “The doors will no longer be open for anyone to walk in,” he explained. “It’s an opportunity for us to fi nally devote more time to our families.”

One thing is for sure, the business is not pivoting to an online platform. “With jewelry, you get to have intimate experiences with people as they hit new milestones,” said Neal.

“We’ve always enjoyed the personal interactions with people; that’s what keeps us going — getting to know people. In some cases, we have relationships with three generations of people. We’d rather spend time speaking with a person, conferring, and making things for them than spending time on the computer to maximize a return.”

As for the building, the Ro-

dorian version of the dish is full of fl avor with an exotic spice mix, he said. “The aroma of cloves cooking in the stew still gets to me.”

Picosso on Main, 2162 Main St., West Warren (www.picossorestaurant.net) is open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays. It’s BYOB and accommodates 29 at tables and counter.

Take-out and delivery are available. Telephone: (413) 436-8073. Connect on Facebook for daily specials. Parking is in front and back of restaurant..

Ayala is the artist behind a collection of portraits hung in the restaurant. He always has enjoyed painting and during the pandemic had a chance to spend more time on “projects.”

His drawings are of family members, friends and customers he has known.

Collecting cookbooks is an-

senblums say it’s bittersweet to bid goodbye to their longtime studio, but they are pleased about the new owners. “It feels really good,” said Neal. “Altea’s bought the building and we wish them well. Once we move out in January and February, they will have full control of the space.”

Now is the time to make one last visit to 261 Park Avenue and take home a relic from this iconic Worcester institution.

The transition has made way for an unprecedented clearance sale to move Rosenblum’s current stock. All inventory will be marked down 20%-60% from now through Dec. 24. You can also inquire about future custom and personalized pieces by emailing Neal Rosenblum at: rosenblumneal@gmail.com.

Regular store hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

other passion. The chef owns more than 250 cookbooks and is a big fan of culinary anthropologist and cookbook author Diana Kennedy, who has spent 60 years studying the regional cuisines of Mexico. “She’s a passionate author,” said Ayala about the British food writer who celebrated her 98th birthday in March.

The chef ’s favorite food?

Asian cuisine tops his list when eating out, and he admits he loves rice. “It’s crazy, but I could eat it every day,” said Ayala.

In this interview before Thanksgiving, the chef said he planned to spend the holiday with family. In the past he has cooked for 35 people, but this year would be diff erent. “There probably will be four of us at the table,” said Ayala. “The next day, it’s back to the restaurant.”

Chatting with Ayala you

realize how much he loves cooking, something he has dedicated his life to.

While there are Salvadoran restaurants in the immediate Worcester area, I would recommend Picosso a foodie road trip destination.

Holiday wine dinner at Samuel Slater’s It’s a Holiday Fest wine dinner on Dec. 1 at Samuel Slater’s Restaurant, at Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Road, Webster.

Cost is $87 per person, not including tax and tip. Five courses, with reception at 6 p.m. For reservations, send email to josh@samuelslaters.com.

The restaurant is also planning a Breakfast with Santa 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 19. Adults: $21.95; children 12 and under: $12.95. Reservations required.

Send email to specialevents@samuelslaters.com or call (508) 943-1639.

Narragansett brings back Holiday Ale Narragansett Beer’s signature winter brew, Holiday Ale, is home for the holidays!

The Belgian Abbey-style ale with notes of sweet orange peel and coriander is in limited release available now through December throughout the Northeast. Sold in 16-ounce cans with suggested retail of $14.99 to $15.99 per four-pack, it’s the fi rst time this fan-favorite is being brewed at ‘Gansett’s new Providence brewery.

Get ready to toast the holiday season.

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

Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.

Discover the magic of

A Christmas Carol as you experience music, dance, love, suspense and of course, redemption!

Tickets start at $28. ©Erb Photography

Hoppin’

Sponsored by

©Erb Photography

• Dec 16-23 • 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. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

26 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

5 THINGS TO DO

‘SPAMALOT,’ SILVERBACKS, FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AND MORE ...

Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi and Craig S. Semon Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

A Comedic ‘Holy Grail’ Calliope Productions of Boylston is going out on a limb for its December production of the 2005 Tony Award-winning musical “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” The show is “Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail,’” and follows the exploits of King Arthur and his knights as they encounter the not-so limber Black Knight, killer rabbits, rude Frenchmen, the Knights Who Say Ni, and other hilariously memorable characters and adventures. Dave Ludt directs, with musical direction by John Leslie, and choreography by Jacob Sewell. The cast includes Paul Arsenault, Peter Arsenault, David Bainbridge, John Bausch, Mark Blessington, James Candalino, Rob Fossey, Erik Gladwin, Chuck Grigaitis, Jessica Guertin, Paula Guilbault, Ryan Hebert, Rob Killeen, Linnea Lyerly, Neal Martel, Erin Miller, Robin Shaye, Paul Spanagel, Lisa Tierney, and Heidi White. (RD)

What: “Monty Python’s Spamalot” When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11; 2 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12 Where: Calliope Theatre, 150 Main St., Boylston How much: $25; $20 students and seniors. All tickets are for reserved seats and must be purchased in advance via TicketStage.com at www.ticketstage.com/T/CALLIOPE. Patrons must wear masks and present proof of Covid-19 vaccinations or negative PCR test results. For more information, visit www.calliopeproductions.org.

The Knights of the Roundtable from the Calliope Theatre production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT LYERLY

Going Acoustic Start next weekend off right with a performance by Worcester’s own Giuliano D’Orazio down at Vincent’s! The singersongwriter will be conducting an evening of acoustic rock, blues, Americana and soul.

D’Orazio has been a staple of the New England music scene since 2013 and has played at well-known venues such as Mechanics Hall here in Worcester, Hard Rock Cafe in Boston and the Wren in New York. In addition to his own solo act, he is also the frontman for the band Hot Letter. (VM)

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What: Giuliano D’Orazio When: 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., Dec. 3 Where: Vincent’s, 49 Suffolk Street, Worcester How much: Free

Giuliano D’Orazio is set to perform at Vincent’s.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 27

Go Ahead and Jump Completely Unchained is out to deliver the look, the sounds and the fun Van Halen created as one of the biggest rock bands in the world, with songs like “Running With The Devil,” “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Love,” “Eruption” and many more.

(RD) What: Completely Unchained: Van Halen Tribute When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 (doors open for seating and dinner at 5:30 p.m.)

Where: The Bull Run Restaurant, 215 Great Road, Shirley How much: $30. Proof of vaccination or proof of negative COVID test within 72 hours of performance required. www.bullrunrestaurant.com

Completely Unchained: Van Halen Tribute will perform Dec. 2 at The Bull Run Restaurant.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICH BALTER

The Festival of Lights will return to the Worcester Common Dec. 3.

SAM FULLER/T&G FILE

’Tis the Season The annual Festival of Lights will return to Worcester Common, starting Friday evening. Tower Hill Botanical Garden will oversee the installation of seven different light sculptures, each in different color combinations to represent flags around the world to symbolize Worcester’s rich cultural diversity. Along with a gorgeous display, the tree lighting will have food vendors, ice skating, performances, carriage rides and a beer tent. (VM)

What: Festival of Lights tree lighting at Worcester Common When: 6 p.m. Dec. 3 Where: Worcester Common, 76 Franklin Street, Worcester How much: Free

“A Full Service Tree Removal Company”

Since 1980 STEVE STRATTON Owner

The Holiday Festival of Crafts will return Nov. 26 through Nov. 28 at the Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

‘The Delta Force of Rock ‘n’ Roll’

The Silverbacks PROMOTIONAL PHOTO What: The Silverbacks When: 8 p.m. Nov. 26 Where: Upstairs at The White Eagle, 16-120 Green St, Worcester How much: $10, call club for reservations

A Holiday Tradition The Holiday Festival of Crafts is an annual tradition put on by the Worcester Center for Crafts on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Area craft artists of the highest caliber are brought together under one roof in a one-stop holiday shopping and collecting opportunity for unique, handmade gifts and items.

(RD) What: Holiday Festival of Crafts When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 26 and 27; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 28 Where: Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester How much: $5 admission at door.

Masks required. www.worcestercraftcenter.org

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Expert Hand Climbing Crews Removals • Pruning Stump Grinding • Cabling www.templemantree.com

508-366-7693 508-839-5961

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After you carved the turkey and made mincemeat out of that mince pie, why not spend Black Friday with arguably one of the most seasoned rock bands in the area. The Silverbacks, aka “The Delta Force of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” are back and they’re bringing all the pure, unadulterated rock and rhythm and blues fixings to the upstairs ballroom at the White Eagle. Fronted by Mike Lynch on vocals, the Silverbacks is a who’s who of some of the finest musicians on the Eastern seaboard, including guitar wizard (and Worcester institution) Cliff Goodwin, Deric Dyer (aka the “Vincent Van Gogh of Sax”), guitarist and keyboardist Jimmy Perry, bassist Glenn DiTomasso and drummer Bill MacGillivray.

Expect a blistering set of classic rock and maximum R&B of the highest order. (CSS)

28 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Chips!

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

Meet Chips! This handsome boy is enthusiastic and loves to go for walks. When meeting other dogs, Chips’ manners really shine. At three years old, Chips has outgrown some of the stamina that generally accompanies long dog-on-dog play sessions. He enjoys interaction with dogs that have an easy going personality and politely walks away when he is ready for a break. As with any individual, Chips does have a few preferences he’d like you to know about. He prefers not to be bothered while he is eating something really yummy.

Chips also enjoys playing solo with his toys. Therefore, he is looking forward to learning how to trade for another toy which would allow him to engage in a good game of fetch.

When meeting new people, Chips prefers to be introduced by someone he is already familiar with. If the person is in your

Diaz Continued from Page 20

rest of the posse approach the desolate woods surrounding the cabin in search of Matt Caldwell. More about Diaz’s’ character will be revealed as the series unfolds.

While Diaz ate up the memories and friendships he’d developed on set, his most cherished

circle of friends, they will soon be in Chips’ as well! However, Chips isn’t a fan of the “pop in.”

Who is, really? If you are laying at home relaxing, watching TV, usually the last thing you want is someone knocking on your door. Chips feels the same way.

He defi nitely promises to snuggle up to you during the movie, though! Chips is an aff ectionate boy looking for a home with a person or couple who loves to go for walks and enjoys a relaxing night at home. If Chips sounds like a dog that you would enjoy sharing your home with contact the shelter today!

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 sur-

moment is when he got face time with Michael C. Hall, who plays the role of Dexter Morgan. As with landing the role in the fi rst place, getting personal facetime with Hall required time and sleuthing.

“There were small nuggets of time where we were on set with ‘Dexter,’ but when I’m around Michael, he’s working.

The last thing I wanted to do is interrupt him at his craft, and nobody really goes near him

other than the main cast. But I knew our moment was going to come,” said Diaz.

“Fast forward to the last day of fi lming. I was like, ‘I have to make this happen today, so we fi nish shooting and I’m supposed to go home. But I took it upon myself to prolong the going home part, and told the crew I forgot something on set, so I strategically waited for a moment with Michael, and I got it. And I expressed to him how I

started my acting career years after the show ended and thanked him for bringing the show back.”

According to Diaz, during his encounter with Hall, “His Dexter wall came down and his face lit up.”

Diaz will release his second album, “Manifl ex,” featuring the Insane Clown Posse and other surprise collaborators, in mid-2022. The album was written and recorded during the

Chips is available for adoption through WARL. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE GEORGON

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

same time period Diaz was fi lming “Dexter.” Diaz will perform live at the Palladium Jan. 8, opening for Redman and Methodman. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Watch “Dexter: New Blood” Sunday’s 9 pm. on Showtime.

Follow Diaz’s journey on Instagram @Tierrediaz or subscribe to his YouTube channel Tierre Diaz Offi cial”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 29

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30 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 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!

If you would like to place your ad in our classifieds please call

800-695-1924 or email classifieds@telegram.com

Across 1 Polish-born author Sholem 5 Abrupt sound at the beginning?

10 Serpentine warning 14 Cut back 15 Make a court statement 16 “Inner” prefix 17 Pentagon figure?

18 High school divisions 19 Conflict of characters, in Greek drama 20 Run-down 22 24-hr. bank amenity 23 Some Crockpot meals 24 “Sesame Street” character who mainly tweets numbers on Twitter 26 “Muy ___!”

27 Prefix meaning “ear” or “gold” 28 Stop temporarily 32 Sea near Palm Springs 35 Time changers (abbr.)

36 Level of a stadium 37 Smart ___ 38 “Alter ___” (Fox singing competition show) 39 When you may have to be out of an AirBnB 40 Neighbor of Nevada 41 Bowen Yang’s show, for short 42 British insurance syndicate 43 Early Beatles hit 45 “La mer” contents 46 “30 for 30” cable channel 47 Upscale hotel offering 52 Met dos 54 Track placement 55 React like a superfan 56 Apple on a desktop 57 Influential industry person 59 “What have ___ to show for it?”

60 Initiation procedure 61 California mission founder Junipero 62 “___ Kleine Nachtmusik” 63 Stag or doe 64 “No Logo” author Naomi 65 Person with a vision Down 1 Secluded 2 Comedian Silverman 3 Largest of the Greek Islands

“All Rise”--it happens because it’s scientific.

by Matt Jones

4 Exposes academic dishonesty, after the temperature conversion?

5 Observe covertly 6 Just-washed 7 Home of Shakespeare, after the temperature conversion?

8 Pleasant outside 9 YouTube interruptors 10 Old cereal slogan, after the temperature conversion?

11 Know-how 12 Store securely 13 People with Roman numerals after their names, usually 21 Concerned query 23 Snifter sample 25 “Ode on a Grecian ___” 26 “Butter” group 29 Response on the stand 30 Tournament placement 31 Seashore fliers 32 “Better Call ___” (AMC drama series) 33 Part of a sax ensemble 34 Stick around, then go 38 Tight position?

39 Feeling of dissatisfaction 41 China’s Sun Yat-___ 42 “___ the Right One In” (2008 movie)

44 Ottawa VIPs 48 Pong platform 49 ___ Boogie (“The Nightmare Before Christmas” villain) 50 Frontiersman who crossed the Appalachians 51 Head into 52 Brace (oneself) 53 Friend, in France 54 Jessica of “7th Heaven” 57 Rebuking noise that sounds even more pretentious with an “I” sound 58 “I’ll Be Your Mirror” photographer Goldin

Last week's solution

©2021 Matt Jones (jonesincrosswords@gmail.com) Reference puzzle #1068

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | 31

LAST CALL

Ibere Reis, Muay Thai coach and competitor Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Since moving here from his native Brazil, Ibere Reis has been teaching and coaching Muay Thai in Worcester since 2009. Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing, is also known as the “art of eight limbs” as it utilizes not just hands and feet but elbows and knees as well. Owner and founder of Team Link Muay Thai, Reis has coached multiple fi ghters at the national level, including in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, the largest mixed martial artist promotion company in the world. While he still competes for fun, Reis considers himself a teacher and coach at heart, drawing more enjoyment from helping others realize their own dreams in the sport. Sitting down with Last Call, Reis discussed how he got started, how Team Link has come through the uncertainty of the pandemic and the confi dence martial arts can instill that carries over to everyday life.

How has it been bouncing back from the pandemic and getting back to normal?

The pandemic hit us very hard and we almost closed the gym because we were in deep fi nancial debt. Happily, we were able to reopen and with some hard work, we have surpassed our numbers from before the pandemic — it feels like we are placing the bricks to build back up.

How did you get started with Team Link?

I was coaching in Brazil, and Gabriel Gonzaga, a former UFC fi ghter, who I used to work with, gave me a call and said he had an opportunity for me here.

I could keep training him and have a place where I could teach Muay Thai.

Are you still training Gabriel?

Ibere Reis is owner and founder of Team Link Muay Thai school. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Yes, but he’s retired now.

Sometimes he comes out of retirement and when that happens, I coach him. His last match was in 2019.

What’s your own competitive background?

I competed in Muay Thai for a bit but after that I just tried to help the guys out instructing at the gym and I ended up becoming a coach.

What drew you to coaching more than competing?

The feeling. Every time I won a fi ght, I was happy but there was something missing. It was like, okay, I just did what I trained for. But when I help my teammates out and see them win the fi ght, it’s a great feeling of making something happen for somebody, you know? You guide them, train them hard and have dreams for them and

see them go to that place.

That’s where I felt the most happy. I still compete for fun but coaching is way more fulfi lling.

Have you studied Muay Thai in Thailand?

No. I started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai with a coach who came from a competitive gym in Brazil. I trained with him for a couple years and then a Thai coach came to Brazil — a retired champion — and I started training with him and that’s when I really got into Muay Thai.

What would you say is the diff erence between Brazilian and Thai training?

The diff erence is that Thai training is more strategic. With my fi rst striking coach there were a lot of heavy hands, low

kicks and aggressive knees.

When the Thai coach came, it was more where to hit and why to hit, how to block better — to be the smarter fi ghter. I started to understand how to be strategic — not just blocking and looking for openings but creating openings.

What drew you to Muay Thai over Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts?

Though I love to be able to defend myself, I also love striking and Muay Thai gives you all of that. I do believe every human being should be able to be strong, confi dent and defend themselves. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I do like it but in my opinion, it became much more a sport than a self defense martial art and combat.

What sets combat apart from other sports?

It makes you confi dent and humbles you at the same time, which I don’t see in a lot of other sports. Actually knowing how to defend yourself gives you a certain tranquility and certainty. Even in a non-confrontational situation, speaking to someone who would normally intimidate you, it helps you to not feel inferior so you can be your best self.

How is it as a coach to switch between training people on a competitive level versus a more everyday level?

I love it. For me, one is more responsibility, like when I’m training an athlete for a competition. I love high level competition and putting in the work and seeing these guys developing and rising to the challenge.

It’s a diff erent experience training someone who’s just learning to defend themselves and be in shape. I know I’m adding so much value for that person that it pumps me up to be there for that guy. I love both aspects of that and it’s not hard to transition between them at all.

So the diff erence is part of the fun?

Absolutely. The beginner going to the gym who just wants to learn self defense and be healthy — I started like that. I did not think I would ever be competing or coaching. As I was training, I started to compete. Competing, I fell more in love with the sport and started coaching.

Anything to add that we didn’t touch on?

I think teaching the kids’ classes is the most fun — they learn very fast. Kids are awesome because they’re little sponges. They’re very responsive, you give them good guidance and they bring that to their whole life. They mature better and quicker, and become more confi dent ,while some adults take much longer to apply those lessons.

32 | NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM