Worcester Magazine December 6 - 12, 2018

DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

NEWS • ARTS • DINING • NIGHTLIFE

FREE

Fifty years later, Indian Hill fire still burns in memories

2

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

in this issue D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 • V O L U M E 44 I S S U E 15

the cover

From left, Ray Slater, John Swenson, Bob Richardson, second row; Dave Abare, Ray Legacy, Phil Jakubosky.

Fifty years later, Indian Hill fire still burns in memories Story on page 12

38

Photo by Elizabeth Brooks, Design by Kimberly Vasseur

23

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Find us on Facebook.com/worcestermag Twitter @worcestermag Instagram: Worcestermag

3

news WRA approves revised urban renewal plan expansion A

4

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

BILL SHANER

revised expansion of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority’s downtown urban renewal plan is headed to a City Council hearing after the WRA voted to pass it earlier this week. The hearing will take place at the Council’s Dec. 18 meeting.

The WRA’s proposed plan, which expanded the boundaries to Green Street and along Lamartine Street, proved controversial last week, as plans to designate 18 unidentified buildings for demolition and 24 for acquisition were made public. Late last week, the city announced it would revised the plan to lift designations off the undisclosed properties, instead listing only the seven properties the city plans to take for the WooSox ballpark project.

Per the plan, the designation of demolition or acquisition only gives the WRA the authority to take action. City officials and WRA members have said they’ve never had plans to take down any more than the seven buildings identified.

Still, the plan outlined the possibility, and some, including City Manager Ed Augustus, Jr., said the properties outlined for demolition and acquisition present future development opportunities.

Some of the remaining 11 buildings pegged for possible demolition would have been along Lamartine Street, at the north and west end of Green Island, just along the southern border of the WooSox development, to accommodate future affordable housing development.

The original modification outline townhouses for several parcels along Lamartine Street.

At a meeting Tuesday morning, Chief Development Officer Mike

Screenshot of urban renewal plan report

Traynor said the housing would alleviate pressure on tired stock in the area.

“Our intent was to leverage some affordable housing in that area, not to displace people there, but to get better, safer housing stock,” said Traynor. “So we can revisit that going forward.”

WRA member Michael Angelini asked Traynor for clarification on what the designation for demoli-

tion actually means.

“That fact that you have designated a building doesn’t indicate any conclusion by this board that we have decided to take those properties, it simply enables us to do so?” he said. Traynor called the statement accurate.

In the future, Angelini requested the designation process be done in a more public way.

“Part of the problem we got into

here is that people concluded more than they should have about what is designated,” he said. “I would just urge us in the future that we be transparent about this. I think if we simply said that this is enabling us to do something that we have not yet decided to do.”

Traynor said he agreed, but cautioned that the negotiations with the PawSox made public vetting of the plan more complicated.

“This situation was somewhat unique in that we couldn’t daylight this until we knew the PawSox were moving forward,” he said.

WRA member David Minasian said he hopes the parts of the plan left off get taken up again soon.

The possible takings in the Green Island area can open the door for new housing stock, something Minasian said would have “addressed

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 7

news

Worcester Police to launch pilot body camera program BILL SHANER

W

orcester police are set to try a limited run of body cameras. The city manager and police union have reached a contract agreement that includes a pilot program for body cameras.

The program will begin “following necessary training and finalization of a preliminary [body camera] policy for the pilot program, which is based on best practices and Law Department review,” City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. said in a memo to city councilors.

“I look forward to this opportunity to investigate the benefits of

[body cameras] as it relates to our successful and proven community policing strategies,” he said. “It is our intention to use this pilot program to guide a permanent plan.”

At a City Council meeting Tuesday night, Augustus said the program, which has been in the works for years, is the result of a collaboration, not a top-down order.

“This is something we’re doing together, not telling [the department] to do,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll get better results that way and it was worth the wait.”

The six-month pilot will start sometime next year, Augustus said. But he cautioned he couldn’t

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

5

news B O DY CA M E RA S

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

6

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

reveal too many specifics, as the city is still negotiating a contract with the officer’s union, with which they’re looking for a similar contract.

Speaking for the Police Department, Lt. Sean Murtha said the pilot run will consist of roughly 20 officers spread across different divisions. The entire department will be trained in the use of the

cameras, but the officers involved will go through more extensive training. After that, the pilot is set to launch next year.

“This has been a work in progress for a while,” Murtha said.

“Now we’ve done the studying, we’re more or less ready to go now.”

One of the more challenging and expensive aspects of the cameras is storing the video, and the department will use the pilot

run to gauge house difficult and expensive the process is.

Community activists have long called for the department to embrace a body camera program, but for years the effort has stalled.

In June, at a community meeting, Police Chief Steve Sargent said a pilot program was in the works, but trouble negotiating with the union and city law department has delayed the process.

A few weeks later, an incident at

the Riviera Show Club led to a viral video of officers appearing to beat a man who was resisting arrest.

The incident had many, including city councilors and the American Civil Liberties Union, calling for body cameras on officers. Chris Robarge, Central Mass. field coordinator for the ACLU, said at the time body cameras would have given the officers greater accountability and transparency tools.

Now, Robarge says the ACLU is

cautiously optimistic to see police commit to a pilot program.

“Used correctly, with the right policies in place, body-worn cameras can advance civil rights and help to build community trust,” said Robarge. But, he warned, departments should steer clear of using body cameras as a surveillance device to track or monitor people, especially by using technology with built-in facial recognition software.

“We have previously reached out to the Worcester Police Department on this matter and continue to look forward to working with the city and community advocates to ensure the Worcester Police Department’s body-worn camera policy and operational procedures set the city up for a program that functions as a check and balance on police power, not yet another tool of warrantless government spying,” he said.

At City Council, all who spoke were in favor of the pilot.

“This is something to look forward to and something the council supports,” said Mayor Joe Petty.

Councilor Khrystian King, who in the past has publicly called for a body camera program, said a full camera program would serve the community well and provide a reassurance to officers.

“It speaks to transparency and accountability as we continue to improve on relations between police and the folks we all serve,” said King. “I’m very much appreciative.”

Councilor Kate Toomey, chairwoman of the public safety subcommittee, said the Council should hear the input of officers who go through the pilot.

“I look forward to the department’s insight on the trial period,” she said.

Toomey said she was encouraged by the fact the cameras were written into an agreed-upon contract, and didn’t come in the form of an edict from the city manager’s office.

“I’m really glad you have come to this part because you’ve done it together,” she said. “It’s not been top down, it’s everyone buying in and understanding it and there’s ownership over it.”

Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-767-9535 or at wshaner@ worcestermag.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.

news URBAN RENEWAL

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4

a lot of the issues we were hearing around Green Island.”

“I’m looking forward to revisiting that in the future,” he said.

“There’s a lot of hope about this project and what it’s going to do for Green Island, but there’s also a lot of concern about the housing

properties include Bafaro/Rasnick Properties at 90 Washington St.; 2 Plymouth St. (plus three vacant parcels for future consideration at 5, 7 and 8 Gold St.), Serena Massey’s property at 50 Washington St.; Worcester Ambulance LLC at 62 and 69 Washington St.; Paul J. Harrington’s property at 127 Washington St.; and Grady Hold-

try to get that clock rolling quicker than we were able to communicate what the urban renewal plan as amended was going to be to the people who might be impacted.

Some are just in the area and their buildings are, yes in the area, but we have no intention of doing anything with it. For instance, Smokestack [Urban Barbecue

“There’s a lot of hope about this project and what it’s going to do for Green Island, but there’s also a lot of concern about the housing stock that’s there and the neighbors there.”

- WRA member David Minasian stock that’s there and the neighbors there.”

Like Angelini, he called for a more transparent process in the future.

Officials discussed the seven properties set to be taken. Most will be used to construct an entryway for the ballpark on the north end of Green Street. The

ings LLC at 134 Madison St. Last week, Augustus said the confusion and controversy from the filing of the plan was in part due to the speed with which the city has to move to get the ballpark built on time.

“What ended up happening,” he said, “the MEPA review went in to

restaurant]. I can say that about every single parcel in that area, with the exception of the ones we need for the ballpark.”

Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-767-9535 or at wshaner@ worcestermag.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bill_Shaner.

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

7

news

worcesteria

FACEBOOK, U NARC: This is a weird one. My esteemed former col-

league Zach Comeau, now at the Worcester Business Journal, was doing some good reporting last week on the interesting phenomenon of legal cannabis companies getting banned from social media due to the nature of their business. Look it up, print readers. Weed may be legal in Massachusetts, but not in Silicon Valley – wait, it is legal there. Hm. Anway, Comeau reached out to Facebook to ask its reasons for allowing Cultivate in Leicester and New England Treatment Access in Northampton to have Facebook pages (they were banned at the time on Instagram, which Facebook owns). And instead of giving comment, it looks like the PR person he was dealing with just narc’d the businesses instead. This, from Comeau’s story: “A Facebook spokesperson said the pages were deactivated after WBJ asked the company’s media department for clarification whether Instagram and Facebook have different policies.” I mean c’mon. Facebook has been reduced to a breeding ground for online cults, mind-numbing conspiracy theories, racist townie Facebook groups and deliberate political disinformation campaigns. It’s got much bigger fish to fry than stores legally selling that sticky icky, but here we are.

HEADLESS ELEPHANT: Who will take the reigns of the leaderless state

Republican Party now that Kirsten Hughes, chairman since 2013, is stepping down. Well, it’s possible we could see a local face step in. Peter Durant, state rep. from Spencer, is one of three who have signaled interest, along with Elizabeth Warren challenger Geoff Diehl and MassGOP treasurer Brent Andersen. The leadership change comes after the state Republicans fared poorly in the midterm election, losing three state rep seats, including one in the 17th Worcester District, and getting knocked out in every statewide seat but the governor. So I’m sure there’s a lot more backroom detail to this leadership change than we’re getting out here in the public. But Durant could be the right choice, as there are some who for decent reason see Central Mass. as a conservative stronghold for the state.

8

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

A MAN WITH A PLAN: District 5 Councilor Matt Wally has proven him-

self a man of few words since taking a spot on the Council this year. But when he speaks, he tends to speak for good reason – something I think some of his colleagues could study. This week, he stood in the hallowed council chamber to push for a comprehensive plan for improving the city’s information technology, what he called a tech road map. Governments who embrace technology, he said, increase transparency and efficiency. Just writing to cosign this. As a reporter, I deal with the IT end of a lot of municipalities, and the difference between good ones and bad ones is glaring. Before the city fixed its website and got itself a decent one, it was honestly embarrassing. The front end of the website is not the only thing – there’s payroll process, online bill paying, data security, open government stuff like databases and archives. That’s why a concrete road map would be such a good idea. It would allow for planning, budgeting and accommodate shifts in the ever-changing internet landscape.

It’s not an interesting thing to talk about, but I think city officials need to understand that basically the only way the vast majority of the city’s citizens are ever going to interact with City Hall is online. The tech needs to be as nice as the building (er, hopefully nicer. I mean, it’s a pretty piece of architecture, but I wouldn’t want to go spelunking in the boiler room).

SPEAKING OF FACEBOOK: There was such an A+ thread on Mayor Joe

Petty’s George H.W. Bush remembrance post. Amid all the boiler plate hagiography of Good ‘Ole 41, a few locals spoke up to remind people that Bush had his problems – like, uhhhhh, war crimes, for one. I don’t think I need to tell you how poorly those comments landed on Worcester Facebook. It was wonderful.

I’m short on space, but Petty’s page is public.

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

news

the beat

Be sure to check our website for news from the third and possibly final meeting on the state Department of Transportation’s plans to redesign Kelley Square. The meeting took place yesterday, but after our print deadline. MassDOT is expected to give an indication of which proposed redesign they intend to use.

The Worcester Public Schools are rolling out a plan to match individual schools with a specific Worcester company for public-private partnerships. Companies would work with individual schools to provide resources. Agreements are in place at some individual schools, like South High School’s partnership with Unum, but Superintendent Maureen Binienda told the Telegram she hopes to streamline and better organize the process.

The bald eagle is making a comeback in Massachusetts. The

Division of Fisheries and Wildlife announced earlier this week that the 76 pairs of bald eagles identified this week is up from 68 last year, and those are just the eagles they were able to identify.

The eagles gave birth to 65 baby eagles.

Holy Cross officials announced they are suspending an investigation

into a bias-motivated assault on campus in October. After devoting 200 hours to the investigation, campus police are suspending the investigation unless they receive new information. The assault was one impetus of a campus-wide discussion on sexual violence which closed classes for a day two weeks ago.

Worcester officials may give the greenlight to up to 11 pot shops this month, issuing Community Benefits Agreements to stores through

The Worcester School Committee is expected to take up a petition

calling for more school funding from the state at its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. The petition calls for adequately funding the state Chapter 70 formula, sometimes called a foundation budget, which by some estimates short changes Worcester by $70 million per year.

Guns can be turned in at police stations in Auburn, Barre, Charl-

9

ton, Dudley, Fitchburg, Grafton, Leicester, Leominster, Millbury, Northbridge, Oxford, Rutland, Southbridge, Spencer and Webster. Northborough, Shrewsbury, Westborough and Worcester residents can bring guns to the collection site at City Welding & Fabrication in Worcester, where they will see their guns crushed.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

The 17th Annual Goods For Guns Buyback will take place Saturday Dec. 15 in 19 Central Mass. Communities. Guns can be exchanged for gift cards and officials will pass out free trigger locks. Last year, the Goods for Guns program took in almost 260 firearms in a single day.

More than 3,100 guns have been turned into to Central Mass. law enforcement officials since the programs inception.

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

an extensive city-run application process. The city began taking applications over the summer. The city has already signed four agreements: Good Chemistry on Harrison Street, The Botanist on Pullman Ave., Medicinal Alternatives on Millbury Street and Mission Massachusetts on Lincoln Street. Good Chemistry is expected to open in March.

opinion editorial

They became heroes

10

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

D

ecember is a cruel month for the Worcester Fire Department.

On Monday this week, many paused in memory of the Worcester 6, the six firefighters whose lives were lost when they rushed through a flame-engulfed Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. on Dec. 3, 1999 searching frantically for two homeless people believed to be inside. The individuals, it turns out, had fled the building after knocking over the candle that set it on fire. The six firefighters would not make it out alive.

Lt. Thomas Spencer, Lt. James Lyons and Firefighters Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey and Joseph McGuirk all died that night in a tragedy that will shadow the Worcester Fire Department and the city for eternity.

It would not be the last tragedy to befall the city’s firefighting ranks.

In just two days, the department will once again mourn the loss of one of their own on the anniversary of Firefighter Jon Davies’ death.

Seven years ago, on Dec. 8, 2011, Davies and his partner, Brian Carroll, fighting a blaze on Arlington Street, went back inside believing someone might still be inside. Davies died when the floor collapsed.

Carroll was trapped in the debris, but ultimately rescued.

Recently, Gov. Charlie Baker recognized the heroic efforts of several firefighters from around the state, including seven from Worcester. On Dec. 18, Worcester Magazine will honor one of them,

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 Editor Walter Bird Jr.

letter Impressed by

Lt. Tom Ridick, for his efforts earlier this year in helping several people escape a burning triple-decker.

Seven who lived and seven who died, heroes each of them. They never asked to be called heroes, nor thought of themselves as such.

They were doing what they were trained to do, what they do without a second thought. Which is why we keep them in our thoughts.

Had fate hatched a different plan, the seven who died 19 years ago may well have taken to a stage days or weeks after their exploits to be honored for their actions.

They are honored, instead, by a city’s refusal to let their memories fade and by families who will keep them in their hearts forever.

As the days and nights turn colder, the threat of fire will grow as people seek the warmth of a fire, candle or space heater. They are comforts we take for granted, but can turn deadly in an instant. When that happens, there will be those like Spencer, Lyons, Brotherton, Jackson, Lucey, McGuirk and Davies ready to rush in when others are rushing out. There will be those, like Ridick and his colleagues, who won’t pause for a second. They won’t make the decision whether to go in because, as Ridick told Worcester Magazine of his actions, there is no decision to be made. It was made the day they chose to become firefighters.

And while they may not have chosen it, to most of us that’s when they also became heroes.

local organizers To the editor: I applaud your selection of Denezia Fahie and Papee Paye as 2018 Hometown Heroes (Worcester Magazine, Nov. 21).

My husband and I attended the March For Our Lives, and we were very impressed and motivated by the leadership skills of these two young people and by several other students who spoke to the crowd that day. We have told many others how impressed we were by the local high school students

Culture Editor Joshua Lyford Reporter Bill Shaner Photographer Elizabeth Brooks Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell, Janice Harvey, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Kristina Reardon Director of Creative Services Don Cloutier Creative Director Kimberly Vasseur Multi Media Sales Executives Diane Galipeau, Helen Linnehan Media Coordinator Madison Friend WORCESTER MAGAZINE is an independent news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manu-

who organized that march. They are, indeed, heroes and deserve recognition.

Ms. Fahie and Mr. Paye spoke eloquently of the urgent need to end gun violence. They brought a large and diverse gathering of people together by focusing on our shared values, hopes and concerns and not by attacking and denigrating anyone. Their intelligent command of the issues, their civility, and their ability to balance well-prepared speeches with unifying, energetic chants shaped the occasion. Their maturity, dignity and humanity strengthen their message. They shine a ray of hope into the future when they

scripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement.

Legals/Public Notices Please call 978.728.4302, email sales@centralmassclass.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, P.O. Box 546, Holden, MA 01520 Distribution WORCESTER MAGAZINE is available free of charge at more than 400 locations, limited to one copy per reader. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under

will be able to step into the roles of elected leaders.

Our current president and many of our elected officials have much to learn from the example set by Ms. Fahie and Mr. Paye. As a person who came of age in the 1960s and marched with others for years to promote civil rights and to bring an end to a terrible war, I urge them not to lose hope.

Their commitment is needed and they can bring about change, but it is not easy—that’s why we need heroes.

Christie Higginbottom Rochdale

the law.

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

Advertising To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call 508.767.9530. WORCESTER MAGAZINE (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of GateHouse Media. All contents copyright 2018 by GateHouse Media. All rights reserved.

WORCESTER MAGAZINE is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

opinion Geoffrey, we hardly knew ye JANICE HARVEY

Church had rules against committing harakiri, whether by sword or bus. Go figure. here have been more than Years later, as a practically pennia few changes since Donless single mom, I shopped at Capiald Trump arrived to bust tal Toys on Chandler Street. Capital up the place. From fouling Toys was Sid’s on steroids. As a the environment to swapping mother of two possessing neither spit with murderous dictators, to the proverbial pot nor the window tear-gassing babies, he’s certainly from which to throw it, I loved that left his mark; not unlike a mongrel store, simply because I could start staking out territory,Trump has dropped his scent everywhere. And a layaway plan in August. I couldn’t look without shivering at the Stethough I will remember his reign phen King-ish clown that beckoned of incompetence for as long as I still have a memory, one of the true over its entrance, but I certainly made use of their policy. One year, aggravations of his presidency will remain for me the disappearance of while robbing Peter to pay Paul, I was sweating out where to scrape Geoffrey.

Shopping for four grandkids with- up the layaway balance. In desperation I bought a scratch ticket, out Toys R Us is the real nightmare and found myself a $1,000 winner before Christmas. How are adults expected to survive in the vast retail one week before Christmas. Never before, and never after—but that wilderness without an actual toy year, I kept the lights on and paid for store? Don’t try to snow me with Santa’s haul. Ho ho ho. stories about finding everything at I realize Trump can’t really be Target. That’s absolutely not true, and I know this because I’ve been in blamed for Geoffrey’s demise, but it Target so many times in the last few feels good to say it. After all, it’s not days, security is beginning to follow as if Toys R Us was a GM plant. Or a soybean farm. Rumor has it Toys R me. I think my face is plastered on the employee break room wall, next Us will be returning in some other to posters of a guy wanted for pass- form, though not quickly enough for me or any of the other gruming funny money and a pickpocket bling, mumbling adults I met in who looks like Betty White. the American Girl/Disney Princess All I wanted to buy was a baby aisles at Target. Or Kohl’s. Or TJ doll. One that looks like a human, Maxx. Or Walmart. Or Marshall’s. not a bug-eyed alien, or a cartoon These retailers are trying to fill the character. Why is this so hard? I wanted something sweet and snug- void left when Geoffrey the giraffe gly, not something that requires bat- filed Chapter 11 and sold everything teries so it can ask for more chicken but the public toilets. Admirable, but not good enough for Nanas trynuggets in three languages. The hunt for a doll a kid can take to bed ing to find dolls that won’t impale a 2-year-old. Oh, I know there are without waking up bruised from marvelous little toy shops here rolling over on Doc McStuffin’s and there, small businesses that medical bag has been exhausting. certainly deserve patronage. They Driving home empty-handed, I had a flashback to walking the aisles sell wonderful, unique educational items that cost more than I can of Sid’s Toy Store on Lincoln Street.

As a kid, I’d stand in front of the doll swing for my growing clan. Call me crazy, but a doll shouldn’t cost more displays and stare longingly until I than my hourly wage. Ho ho ... no. got thrown out by Sid or Mrs. Sid, Geoffrey, come back. I forgive you or whomever it was whose job it for spelling your name in a totally was to tell penniless 7-year olds to elitist manner. I make this pledge to scram. In my mind, toy stores were you, O tall drink of water: I promise pretty much what heaven must be like if you got hit by a bus right after to never buy angoing to Confession. You were guar- other Lego or a can of slime from any other anteed passage through the pearly gates, and the Barbie aisle would be retailer—unless I find your eternal reward. Every time my a better deal through Amazon. Then all bets mother served creamed salmon on are off. toast, I contemplated the pros and cons of throwing myself in front of an inbound on a Saturday afterJanice Harvey noon, until I discovered the Catholic contributing writer

T

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

11

12

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

feature

Fifty years later, Indian Hill

feature

JANICE HARVEY

T

13

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 14

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

he back room inside Smitty’s on West Boylston Street has been the scene of more parties and reunions than the bar has beers. It’s a typical neighborhood watering hole that’s been around in one form or another for decades, known previously as Ray’s Lounge. In its current incarnation, it often serves as home base for members of the Indian Hill Neighborhood group.

On a recent Thursday afternoon, Dave Abare and Ray Legacy shoved a few tables together and sat down with Bob Richardson, Ray Slater, John Swenson and Phil Jakubosky, a tight-knit bunch who grew up in the blue-collar section of Worcester that takes its name from Indian Lake. Like most of their generation, they remember 1968 for many reasons: riots, assassinations, moon landings. They’ve been friends since before RFK took a bullet, since well before

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

fire still burns in memories

feature

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

Neil Armstrong planted a flag on the moon, and they’ve remained friends, 50 years after “The Fire,” a horrific moment in time that reverberates above all else in their collective memories.

For many, “The Fire” needs no other explanation when referenced. To the Indian Hill neighbors who lived through it, it can mean one thing: the night when five teens perished in what can only be described as an inferno.

In much the same way Worcester residents speak of the Cold Storage Fire, the Tornado of ’53, or the Flood of ’55, “The Fire” lives on as a defining Worcester tragedy.

and maybe impress a girl or two.

The fire would lead to a city-wide push to dismantle every club house, camp and tree house ever nailed together by kids, after the fire chief vowed to prevent such a tragedy from ever recurring.

Legacy was one of the structure’s architects, a 14-year-old kid with an eye for design.

“This was no shack,” Legacy stressed. “It had a real window, a real door, and a second floor.”

There’s an element of pride in Legacy’s telling. He remembers in wistful tones the creation of the ”hut,” as it was referred to by reporters from the Worcester Tele-

Indian Hill Park Memorial

14

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ELIZABETH BROOKS

The passing of five decades hasn’t diminished the intense loss felt by the families and friends of the five boys who never had a prayer of escaping the flames.

Gone in moments were John Quinlivan and Michael Foley, both 16 years old, along with Warren Briggs, Ronald Vsyniauskas, and Timothy Donahue, all 17. Good kids, athletes, all Burncoat High students. They died in a makeshift cabin built to keep them out of the cold, a place to gather, play cards

gram & Gazette. Ironically, most of the kids who created the structure went on to work in the trade. It was built with pilfered material, mostly from dads’ garages, home projects, and lumber “borrowed” from nearby Norton Co. “Liberated wood,” Legacy chuckled.

Nestled deep in the woods atop a steep hill, it was the perfect twostory hideaway for sneaking a few underage beers and playing pitch.

“It’s funny, the first thing the

feature Ray Slater, center, shares his experiences the night of the fire, with Ray Legacy, left, and John Swenson.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

police asked us was were we drinking?” said Richardson. “We weren’t, only because of the blue laws. It was a Sunday, and there were no liquor stores open on Sundays back in the day.” ”It was built by us younger kids, and we kept it secret for the longest time,” said Legacy. “We were actually kinda pissed because that night we got muscled out by the older guys wanting a place to hang. We were territorial, and I didn’t cotton to that. But that’s why I wasn’t there that night.”

For warmth, the cabin had a simple makeshift stove — a 30-gallon galvanized trash pail with a stove pipe for venting. The stove was located beside the cabin’s only exit—a door that opened inward.

Dec. 29, 1968 was a three-dog night, and the ice-encrusted snow was deep.

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 16

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

15

feature

A map from the Evening Gazette showing the location of the cabin off New Bond Street.

ANDY-FISH-UM10.SQUARESPACE.COM/BLOG/

16

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

“It was a wickedly cold winter, that year,” Legacy recalled. “And it stayed that way. It was the winter that never ended.”

Abare remembers he visited the camp that evening as a fluke.

“There was a party elsewhere we didn’t attend, because it was supposed to be couples only, so we went there instead, to stay warm,” he said. “Who knows? We might never have gone up there again, but that

feature the paper the next day was that there were screams heard,” he said. “There were no screams. You couldn’t breathe in there. I remember telling myself ‘Don’t breathe!’ I always regretted not contacting the paper for a correction.”

In the ensuing chaos, the kids who were on the first level scrambled upstairs when the fire erupted. The kids on the second floor tried to climb down. The next frantic moments found Slater battling the door that opened inward, slamming it, bouncing back and slamming it again. He recalls seeing a white square of snow as Richie Halverson dragged him through the bottom half of the kicked-out door. Slater was on fire when he landed in the snow.

The five boys who remained inside were burned beyond recognition; dental records were utilized for identification. One victim was easier to identify than others: Mike Foley’s dog, also named Mike, was discovered beneath his body. His friends believe Foley died trying to protect his pup.

One of the first to arrive on the scene was the late Paul Hackett, a C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 18

A framed clipping of the Evening Gazette recounting the fire is on display at Indian Hill Park.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

17

hidden was the structure, that by the time first responders reached it, there were no walls left, only rubble to sifted through. According to fire officials, even under the best weather conditions, there would have been no chance to save the boys.

“No fire hydrant was gonna do it, the place was that far from the road,” said Legacy. “If you didn’t get to it in the first five minutes, it was too late.”

Injured that night were Slater, then just 18, in poor condition at St. Vincent’s intensive care unit, with burns of the hands, face, neck and thighs; Richardson, 20 at the time, treated and released for multiple burns of his hands and feet at City Hospital; and Richie Halverson, 15, treated for burns of the hand and released. Jakubosky, 17, and Harry Vysnauskas, 16, escaped without injury. Harry’s big brother Ron perished.

Richardson was on the second floor when he saw a bright flash.

There were no screams, no loud explosion, only a “poof,” he says.

“One of the things reported in

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

night we did. It was one of those moments in life, like the one time you take a chance going someplace in your pajamas.”

Abare had to work the next day, so he left before the fire started, as did Swenson and another friend, Ed Erickson. Hanging inside were the five who never made it out alive, and five who did. At some point, the cold prompted one of the boys to stoke the fire by pouring a cup of the gasoline kept in a 1-gallon plastic jug into a hole at the bottom of the stove. According to the the fire marshal’s office, as reported in the Telegram & Gazette, “a flame possibly shot back. Either by following a path of spilled gasoline or a ‘vapor trail’ in the air, the flame reached the gas container and created a ‘flash fire’ or cloud of flames in the shack.”

The perfect storm for disasters occurred that night, with severe ice and snow conditions on the ground, a shortage of fire department manpower due to the flu, and a 400-yard distance between the hilltop cabin and the hydrant, located at the bottom. So well-

feature

18

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

Worcester police officer, who in 2002 described what he came upon in the woods that night. It was, in his words “a sad and terrible night.”

“At first we didn’t know there was anyone inside,” he said. “It was a ball of fire from a distance.

There was one firefighter, a big guy, working so hard to save those boys. I remember him picking through the rubble with his hands until he came out with a boy in his arms. Then we carried the bodies down the hill on toboggans.”

For Slater and Richardson, the ride to the hospital came before any ambulance could arrive on the scene. A carload of would-be partiers seeking the warmth and isolation of the cabin drove up to find both boys burned – and in Slater’s case, literally smoldering. After pulling one young girl from the car to make room for the burn victims, the boys headed to Worcester City Hospital on Queen Street in a speeding vehicle.

“When Richie pulled me out, I was on fire. My hair was on fire. I stuck my head in a snowbank to put it out and I still remember the ‘sssss’ sound it made,” said Slater. “I remember standing outside of the fire, just knowing that nobody was coming out alive, and thinking that I had to get to a hospital or I wouldn’t make it, either.

“We stopped at a red light and I asked, ‘Why are we stopping?’ and the kid said, ‘There’s a cop over there.’ So I started tootin’ the horn, until the cop came over and asked what’s the problem. He looked at me and said, ‘Follow me.’ I walked into City Hospital smoking. I remember hearing a

nurse say: ‘This kid’s gonna die.’”

Richardson nodded.

“I heard her say it, too,” he recalled. “I remember thinking how odd it was that my hands and feet were burned, but I felt no pain.”

Eventually, Slater was transported to St. Vincent Hospital for treatment, where he would remain in isolation for nearly four months. The Friday before the fire, Slater had signed up for the draft, having turned 18 on Christmas Eve. The fire changed his plans.

Slater endured months of agonizing treatment. Because human skin is the natural barrier to infection, contamination of burn injuries is an immediate danger. Most advances in burn treatment have occured in the last 50 years, and Slater’s therapy involved the application of silver sulfadiazine to control infection with minimal side effects. To avoid contamination during the healing process, his friends weren’t allowed to visit until the 100th day.

The healing process in 1968 did not include grief therapy or any of the counseling available to traumatized youth today; when tragedy strikes now, schools are flooded with therapists for students to vent. For the families of Indian Hill, Mass at St. George’s on Brattle Street offered the only solace, the place where the community came together. When asked if any of the survivors received counseling, all shake their heads no.

Said Abare: “My mother looked at me and

feature

Above, an image in the Evening Gazette showing first-floor interior of the cabin. Opposite page, an image in the Evening Gazette showing the exterior of the cabin.

ANDY-FISH-UM10.SQUARESPACE.COM/BLOG/

19

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 20

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

hands over on the table top, revealing the scars left behind.

Liz Rosenberg listened to her fiance John Swenson tell the story of the fire after they’d been dating for a few months. An accomplished writer with six published novels and a career teaching creative writing at Binghamton University, Rosenberg couldn’t help but see book potential in such a compelling and heartbreaking tale.

Rosenberg sought to incorporate the fire in a novel she was already fleshing out, a story of enduring friendship, family and community.

The fire pulled all of these elements together, and “Indigo Hill” was born.

Rosenberg said the name change was at her publisher’s insistence, since use of the word “Indian” commercially is often a sensitive and confusing issue. Rosenberg and Swenson combed through a list of words that could replace the original, settling on “Indigo” because of its similarity in sound and its

A U G U S T 9 - 15, 2018

said, ‘David, life goes on.’”

Added Legacy: “We talk about the guys who died, but I think a lot about the survivors, these guys, right here.”

He made a small sweeping gesture.

“These guys survived and they didn’t end up on skid row,” he said.

“I wasn’t there that night, so I have no friggin’ clue what horrors you all saw. I have no freakin’ idea.”

The group grew quiet, Richardson’s eyes filling for a brief moment. Looking around the table at the faces of men he’s known all his life, he said, “You know what? This is the first time we’ve ever sat and talked about it, together. I mean, we’ve talked here and there, but never like this. I’m hearing things I didn’t know, and realizing some stuff I remembered a little differently.”

“Like ‘Rashomon,’” mused Slater, referring to the famous 1950 Japanese period film where four witnesses give different accounts of the same event. He turned his

feature

John Swenson, left, and Bob Richardson look over a write up about the Indian Hill fire in the Metropolitan News.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

20

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

A U G U S T 9 - 15, 2018

darkness. And while “Indigo Hill” is essentially the tale of a family grappling with a matriarch’s death and the surprises revealed in her will,

the fire knits together the characters in much the same way it did in real life. Rosenberg will read from her novel Saturday, Dec. 8, 2-4 p.m.,

feature at the Oak Barrel Tavern on Grove St. in Worcester. Slater will offer introductory remarks.

“The book is about secrets,” Rosenberg said, “the ones we keep from others and ourselves.”

The story of the fire is not without secrets. Which boy it was who decided to toss a cup of gas into the stove to keep it going remains a mystery to all but those who survived or witnessed the blaze.

For five decades the boys of Indian Hill — now husbands, fathers, grandfathers and retirees — have held onto the identity of the friend responsible for what the fire chief described as “ careless use of gasoline.” Remarkably, even as the survivors gathered at Smitty’s, the name was not revealed, nor will it ever become public knowledge. The boy who tossed the gasoline may have died that night – or he may well be sitting with a beer in front of him. This fierce determination to protect the boy from judgment and blame exemplifies the Indian Hill survivors. It is the heart and soul of their brotherhood.

In a patch of land beside the former Indian Hill School, a simple

memorial was dedicated in 2002.

When the idea of a permanent tribute was first floated, the neighborhood rallied.

“Everybody jumped on board,” said Legacy.

Raffles and fundraising parties were held, engraved bricks were sold. People volunteered their time and money willingly to finally have a place to visit, to reflect and to remember.

“The reason the monument exists is because of Jeff Cammuso,” said Abare, and Legacy agreed.

“The guy’s a human dynamo,” he interjected. The two old friends finish each other’s sentences, with Abare adding, “Jeff drew up plans, you name it. But he cringes when he’s acknowledged ... anyway, the thing took on a life of its own, and the whole neighborhood got behind it.”

Eileen Foley Brown was only 10 years old when her brother Mike died protecting his beloved dog from the flames. Her words are engraved in the marble podium fenced in by iron gates: “On the night of December 29, 1968, several

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 22

A U G U S T 9 - 15, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

21

feature

22

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

A U G U S T 9 - 15, 2018

friends gathered inside an isolated makeshift camp on Indian Hill.

They built a fire for warmth, but an explosion ensued and these five young men perished together in the burning aftermath. This memorial is a collective attempt to preserve their names, honor their existence, and cherish their memory.”

On the 50th anniversary of the fire, the Indian Hill Neighborhood Group will pay homage to the five boys of winter. Dec. 29 will, in a way come full circle, or as close to it as humanly possible, with the help of these remarkable friends, families and survivors.

“When the fire happened, the next night there was a Mass at St. George’s. The whole neighborhood was there,” said Abare. “Ray Slater was in the hospital and so was Bob Richardson, so they missed it.

We’re holding Mass that night, the 29th, and gathering in the church basement just like we did then.

Give people a chance to talk to each other, then later we have a neighborhood reunion at Wachusett Country Club planned.”

On the first truly cold Saturday

night of winter 2018, 50 years after the boys of Indian Hill sought warmth and friendship in a familiar place, Legacy and Slater walked through the doors of Smitty’s for the same reasons. The upper deck has been transformed into a stage for The Recliners, a band formed by old pals who, by the age of 65, never really stopped plugging in their amps and pounding drums in the family rec room. Slater and Legacy were here to toss back a couple beers and listen to ace harmonica player Abare play some blues, some Dylan and one or two ’60s protest songs.

“We go on at 8 because we’re old and we don’t stay up too late these days,” was Abare’s explanation for not playing late sets. Smitty’s was packed, the atmosphere relaxed.

Both Slater and Legacy were chatting and laughing while Abare and the band pay homage to the Birds.

It was hard not to think of Mrs. Abare’s direct and true words to her grief-stricken son 50 winters ago: “Life goes on.”

And so it does.

ELIZABETH BROOKS

culture

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

23

culture

24

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

Whipping up reading revolution at Bedlam Book Cafe in Worcester

JOSHUA LYFORD

B

edlam Book Cafe, 138 Green St., was born from a love of knowledge, a passion for communication and a touch of personal tumult. That Worcester would soon be receiving its very own book store was no secret and early last month, the community came out to support the “mini-revolution” that partners Nicole DiCello and Patrick Warner had up their sleeves.

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 26

ELIZABETH BROOKS

culture ‘Angels on a Tombstone’ author explores connections between Ireland, Northeast JOSHUA LYFORD

I

n his debut novel, “Angels on a Tombstone,” which was released back in July of this year, author Jeff Foran follows the trials and tribulations of lead character Jeremiah Knox, an Irish student studying law in Scotland. Knox is a member of the Fenian Brotherhood, an organization looking for Irish independence from British rule. After his plot to raid a British ammunition railcar is reported to the authorities, Knox is tried for treason, jailed and eventually sent to work in a Worcester stone quarry.

“He had some bad luck,” Foran said of Knox. “When he was deported from Ireland, he had expected to be able to do an apprenticeship

with relatives in the United States.

When he landed here, Fenian activity was very active in the Northeast.

They thought they had to keep him out of trouble and thought, ‘Let’s keep him so tired that he’ll just go to bed.’ If you remember Greek history, they took these warriors as slaves so they’d be so exhausted they couldn’t cause trouble.”

The story goes beyond Knox’s experiences as a stone worker and delves into his life and, later, family.

The character is one Foran can relate to as, he explained, Knox is based on his own grandfather, who ended up working in stone quarries in Central Mass.

“I had in mind several different people who have crossed my path,” Foran, who grew up in Northampton,

said. “There’s a number of individuals who have done extraordinary things, in my opinion. They’ve taken a bad situation and made it better. My first choice is a book I haven’t finished yet, based on some people that had entered my life. One of those people was my grandfather. He was a political radical, he was deported. That became the nexus of the story. I had a classmate who had never admitted to being in the CIA and some bad things happened to him. Individuals who faced intriguing situations fascinate me.”

In the case of “Angels on a Tombstone,” Foran’s fascinations manifested themselves in research on the characters, topics and issues of the day.

“In the case of my grandfather,

he was deported from Ireland,” said Foran. “I went back to Ireland to get a sense of where he lived. I researched newspapers back then.

He did some sculpture work in Italy, so I went to Italy and looked at the various schools that people trained at. He basically said to me as a kid, he had taken me around to some places that he had worked. It gave me some sense of what he had done, getting a sense for the reality there of his imaginative story. I did a bunch of tours around New England, as well.”

These days, Foran resides in California, just north of San Francisco.

After years working in the business world, he saw a new opportunity for himself.

“For years my career was as a

Jeff Foran PHOTO SUBMITTED

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 27

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

25

culture BOOKS

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 24

26

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

“It was surreal and amazing at the same time,” said DiCiello. “The response was, we felt like we were kind of operating in tunnel-vision while we were creating it and we were putting together what we wanted to see, but hoping it would be what other people wanted to see and received.

The response was unbelievable. It was the ultimate satisfaction and validation. We created something people want.”

DiCiello is seated in a comfortable armchair in the common space of the book store. Behind her, the commotion of Green Street can be seen, but it is not felt in the calm atmosphere of the shop. DiCiello, surrounded by the library of purchasable books, sips on a hot drink from the cafe located within the store. In the age of Amazon.com, were DiCiello and Warner surprised by the enthusiastic reaction in the Heart of the Commonwealth?

“A little,” she smiled. “We all get in our certain tribes. We’re in a tribe where we care about books, we like books. I was a little bit surprised at the response. I had been told that the juice and smoothie bar was going to be the big draw, but it’s actually been the opposite.”

The road to opening a bookstore in the bustling Canal District started long before the November open date.

DiCiello had left her job of 19 years, unsure of where her path would lead her, she considered an old hope.

“I went through a big career change,” she said. “I left my job and just wanted to do something that felt more aligned with what I was about.

I was totally lost for a long time in trying to figure that out. This was honestly something that’s been in the

back of my mind for years and years.

I never dreamed it was possible. I didn’t really entertain the idea. It was honestly desperation that led me to it. I couldn’t figure out what the hell to do with my life and nothing was working. I wanted to try something totally different and I said, ‘Why not this?’ I couldn’t believe when it started to take traction.”

ELIZABETH BROOKS

DiCiello has referred to the store’s collection of books in other media as ranging from “the academic to the esoteric,” and she isn’t exaggerating, but more than being a space for those interested in the reading and purchasing of books, DiCiello and the rest of the team saw Bedlam as an opportunity to create a “mini-revolution.”

“It felt very political to me to do this,” she explained. “I had been politically involved the last few years, after years of not being involved. I was struggling for a way to make that impact meaningful and this felt like the most meaningful way to do that.”

“I see it as being an inclusive resource for all people,” she continued. “Worcester has a really diverse population and I want this space to be something that serves everyone and welcomes wherever anyone is at. Whatever they’re dealing with, whatever they’re curious about, wondering about. I want this place to be a refuge in what has become an increasingly chaotic world.

This is sort of my vision of what I thought the world would be like when I got older.”

DiCiello was raised in Indiana and Ohio, but found herself in Massachusetts after a short time in Ithaca, N.Y., where she attended college.

When a roommate moved to Central C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 28

culture ANGELS

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 25

management consultant,” Foran said. “We consulted the top corporations around the world. I became fascinated with the way people made decisions, particularly during hard times, during a recession or revolutions or something like that. When I started thinking about the individuals I found interesting, what were the pressures on their life? Some people stuck out in that. One was my grandfather, which the book was based on. I thought, instead of a corporate book I’d try fiction. I took a couple courses at Stamford. They encouraged me there, that’s how I got there.”

To Foran, it was the creative outlet

room for imagination. I thought, ‘Boy, it would be fun to get in those corporate leaders’ heads.’ I found fiction gave me much more freedom and I liked that. It enabled me to say some things I couldn’t have said with corporate books.

“I have a point of view on how and why people make their choices.

I wanted to bring that out. I couldn’t do that in a corporate book. In a fiction book, I can play with what a person is thinking or worried about. I liked that freedom. I liked being able to explore how people got to where they got to and also to articulate a bit of my point of view.”

While Foran settles into the research of what will become his next novel, he hopes readers are left

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

with plenty to think about when they close “Angels on a Tombstone.”

“I hope on the big side, they’re pleased that they are not alone in dealing with tough times,” he said.

27

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 28

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

fiction allowed him that pulled him from the world of corporate writing.

“I think it was freedom,” he explained. “In the corporate world, you’re stuck with the economic conditions of the time. You’re stuck in those parameters, you don’t have

culture

28

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

BOOKS

ANGELS

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 26

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 27

Massachusetts, she decided to give it a try herself. She remains in Massachusetts to this day. Now, DiCiello and the rest of the Bedlam team get to share their passion for books with the rest of the community she calls home.

“I’m passionate about knowledge and communication,” she said.

“Those are two things closest to my heart and books contain that. I can’t imagine who I would be without all the books that have impacted me.

They’ve literally shaped who I’ve become and that’s a powerful thing.

The lineage of used books, the hands they’ve passed through, the things they’ve impacted in other people, that’s a deep thing. That’s a humanity-laden thing. It connects us to each other. The impact that can be spread from this one little physical object in your hands.”

Bedlam Book Cafe is open TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find out more online at Bedlambookcafe.com.

“They have to make hard choices in tough times. If they think hard and clear about what they value the most, they’ll be OK. The other end of it is be true to your heart. Even a hard-ass guy like Jeremiah finally succumbed to love and family and all that. When it’s right, don’t hesitate to go there as well. Sometimes, let your emotional side be released.

Finally, I’d say courage. Life is not easy. It takes courage and a conviction to stay with it and get the most out of it.”

“Angels on a Tombstone” is available through Page Publishing and can be found at bookstores as well as online on the iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play and Barnes and Noble.

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.

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Meet Tuxy. Tuxy was adopted as a kitten from WARL then for the next one and a half years was ambushed regularly by the resident cat. Tuxy was so scared she developed a skin condition. Our vets got her skin under control, even though she’s stressed living with the other cats in our shelter. If you hear her growling in her cage, Tuxy is just telling the other cats to leave her alone. We put Tuxy in a foster home without pets for a couple weeks where she quickly relaxed. She lived in the teenage daughter’s room and liked her brother, too. She also got along well with the 3 kids in her previous home. So, if you’re looking for a kid-friendly cat and you don’t have other pets, come meet Tuxy. She can’t wait to get out of the shelter.

29

culture Lyford Files JOSHUA LYFORD

ARCHANGEL LUMINA: If you know where these subheads

are going, you know. Anyway, I had a piece of paper placed on my desk at the very tail end of deadline. Its origins are a mystery, but it contains a bit of information on an exhibit at the Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. It’s called Lumina (hence the subhead, sort of) that kicked off Dec. 1 but runs through Jan. 20. “Step into an animated canvas of brilliant color and light!” the paper exclaims. If this printed sheet was trying to bellow like an exuberant wizard through my imagination, it succeeded. Artists Sam Okerstrom-Lang and Vanessa Till Hooper designed the exhibition, produced by nonprofit organization behind ILLUMINUS in Boston, LuminArtz. While the copy is appropriately mysterious, from what I gather, a journey through WAM will be a little different than what you’re used to with a bit of light play on some of your favorite works (Monet and the museum’s collection of stained glass windows are both referenced). With two artists behind the wheel, I’m sure we have to see it for ourselves and this isn’t like when I try to distract my dog by making the sun reflect onto our living room wall off the high-gloss back of Saga Volume Nine.

CHAIN LIGHTNING: I don’t want to take too much credit here, but following my column item mentioning the window for the Worcester Railers to keep the season afloat was closing, they won their third straight game. Three straight is great for me, a fan, but I have to imagine it’s got to feel pretty great for the guys on the team, as well. The games between the Railers and the Maine Mariners (the Railers played the Mariners Sunday, Dec. 2. My deadline will have come and gone by Wednesday’s game against the Brampton Beast) have been getting chippier and chippier. The game was great, with some high intensity and the periods were pretty evenly matched with each team having their chance with the imposing momentum, but in the end, Tyler Barnes shut it down with the game winner in the final moments of the third. Even more promising? The Railers took a season-high 45 shots on goal. Hell yeah, open it up. In other Railers news, on Friday, Dec. 7, fans can meet the Boston Bruins’ Ryan Donato at an autograph signing, 6-7:30 p.m. You may recall Donato from such epic moments as his return-to-the-lineup shootout winner against the New York Islanders a few days ago.

30

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

BONE SHAMAN: Summit Lounge Comedy returns Saturday,

Dec. 8 (which actually happens to be my birthday, by the way. I am recklessly accepting all gifts.) with comedians Shaun Connolly, Michael Marino, Mairéad Dickinson, Anthony Massa, Jesse Burlingame, Cindy Doan and Dennis Mello. The whole thing is hosted by Paul Cyphers and is presented by The Ganga Shamans. If you haven’t followed this lil column, the Summit Lounge is a private, members (and guests) cannabis club. I think I’ve made all the puns about weed and comedy that I care to, so just do the math and enjoy.

BLOODTALLOW CANDLE: I’ve mentioned it in here a few

times, but I really mean to get to a lot of things I write about. Between work and my own weird personal life, time tends to get away from me.

I’ve missed Old Sturbridge Village’s Christmas by Candlelight a few times and this year, I really don’t want to. It runs weekends through Dec. 23 and is packed with sleigh rides, storytelling, singing, cider (I assume) and it sounds really wholesome. I need that sometimes. Those brief moments of wholesome cheer cut through the fog of my miserable existence like a blinding lighthouse hazard lamp.

DEMONIC TUTOR: If you haven’t

figured it out yet, you probably won’t, so all the subheads this week were also Magic: The Gathering cards. This is largely because I was recently thinking about how sad it made me my Festering Newt/Bogbrew Witch/Bubbling Cauldron deck never really panned out.

Toodle Loo. Joshua Lyford Culture editor @Joshachusetts

culture Lifestyle SARAH CONNELL

Fluent

Jonathan Demoga is bringing fine French cuisine to The Dive Bar on Green Street with his winter concept Silly Goose. Silly Goose aims to attract an “after hours” crowd on Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The menu debuts this weekend with a prix fixe option for $38 featuring a trio of winter salads, a cassoulet and a tarte au citron. Demoga sees this as an opportunity for guests to eat through a menu in the same way they might listen to a whole album front to back. But if you can’t commit to all three courses, a croque monsieur will also be available made with grilled ham, gruyere, and sauce mornay served on brioche for $12 as well as a croque madame for $15 which boasts the addition of a fried farm egg. If you’re worried about Demoga’s beloved food trailer MamaRoux, don’t be. MamaRoux will be back come spring. In the meantime, he calls Silly Goose a “culinary itch that needs scratching.”

Imperio

The Higgins Castle has taken on new life as the New England Witchcraft & Wizard School. The space is well-suited to immersive events, invoking the atmosphere of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley or even the Great Hall of Hogwarts. General admission is $12 for adults and $7 for children on Saturday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Robes are strongly encouraged, but not mandatory. Attendees can also enroll in wizard classes such as Defense against the Dark Magic with Professor Von derTeufel, Herbology and Carnivorous Plants with Profes-

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer

The Beechwood Hotel is hosting its annual holiday Santa Brunch, including a meet and greet with Father Christmas himself, Sunday, Dec. 9, starting at 10:30 a.m. Children will interact with the big guy at their tables in the Grand Ballroom. Crepes, waffles, omelets and a carving station are just the tip of the North Pole.

The cost for adults will be $46.95 and just $19.95 for children ages 6-12.

Wintergreens

Makes Like a Girl

31

Crompton Collective is hosting a craft market for female makers Sunday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Haberdash will sponsor a mimosa bar throughout the event, which will feature prints from Ari Phillippi, soaps from Simply So Hope, handcrafted jewelry from Gracie C, vegan “junk food” from Pig Out!, Zaum bags and much more.

Sarah Connell contributing writer

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

The Regional Environmental Council’s Winter Mobile Farmers Market opens this week at the Worcester Senior Center on Providence Street Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-11 a.m. The market will also operate at the Worcester Youth Center on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through February. Organizers would like to stress that all REC Winter Mobile Farmers Market purchases can be made with cash, credit, debit, SNAP, and the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP).

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

sor Pollox, and Potions and Alchemy with Dr. Rah. Best of all, the Tipsy Troll Tavern will be well stocked with butterbeer all day long. (This subheading is unforgivable.)

culture Raviolis to Stand Behind at Rosalina’s Kitchen 83 Hamilton St., Worcester 508-926-8887 rosalinaskitchen.com SANDRA RAIN

R

32

W O R C E S T E R M A G A Z I N E . C O M D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

osalina’s Kitchen on Hamilton Street has as many quiet corners for private conversations as it does long open tables for gregarious groups. The wait staff is frank and fearless, so you might as well tell them exactly what you’re looking for in your experience because they will do their best to deliver.

Accommodations are modest, marked by banquet chairs and plastic picnic table cloths. Wood molding spans the perimeter and two different styles of tile flooring converge in the center of the dining room. None of this will matter when you taste the ravioli. Rosa-

lina’s handmade raviolis ($18) are the great equalizer here, stretched tenderly around a ricotta filling delicious enough to be its own dish.

Guests can peer over the rear partition to catch sight of stainless counters used for kitchen prep.

Aluminum cutouts of grapes and wine bottles hang in hollow frames on the walls. A tangle of electric chords looks unsightly, but somehow it feels like home. The front door sticks and it’s glass paneling is shattered, a feature that only serves to render me more protective of the establishment. Who would vandalize Rosalina’s? Some sort of derelict who hasn’t tried the raviolis, that’s who.

The fire-seared antipasto for two ($17) is an excellent starting point, if only because the mozzarella fresco is so milky-soft and dotted with tangy capers. Broccoli, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, spicy

sausage, grilled chicken and banana peppers also lounge on a bed of lettuce. A basket of fresh Italian bread also buys you time to mull over the entrées.

Along with your ravioli, I suggest an order of the lemon chicken ($18) which is superbly marinated but never soggy and sautéed in a light lemon cream sauce, then topped with spinach and served over penne.

This is a dish with beautiful bounce to it. Given the chance, I would eat it weekly.

The veal parmigiana ($20) is also a favorite, served with homemade tomato sauce and more of Rosalina’s heavenly mozzarella. Bring a bottle of red wine and revel in this ItalianAmerican classic with friends. Just make sure to resist when the servers offer you ice for your montepulciano. Then again, the beauty of BYOB is you are in control of your own destiny.

Rosalina’s has developed a strong following over the last half dozen years. Accordingly, the restaurant’s popularity necessitates some key protocols. For example, parties of four or less have a max seating time of 90 minutes, while large parties are capped at two hours. Make haste.

Owner Rose-Ellen Padavano has crafted an experience that combines outstanding traditional dishes with extreme neighborhood comfort.

Rosalina’s is the sort of place you’re sure to visit again and again.

On our last visit, dinner for two came to $57.

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: HH Service: HHH Value: HHH

Rosalina’s lemon chicken, front, and handmade three-cheese raviolis

culture Of ballads and bullets JIM KEOGH

N

etflix produces so much original content that scrolling through their tsunami of offerings becomes an overwhelming chore. I’m not sure this is a golden age for consumers of in-home entertainment, though it surely must be a platinum epoch for the creators of obscure programs with micro-audiences. Unless I get a hot tip on something new from a trusted source, I typically default to rewatching episodes of “The Office.”

landscape (a harbinger of the ravages to come). The coachman who whisks three unnerved people to a brooding hotel is as spectral and mysterious as the Headless Horseman.

So where does “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” fall in the pantheon of Coens brothers movies? If I were playing this parlor game, with “Fargo” as my No. 1, and “The Ladykillers” bringing up the rear, I’d toss “Buster” in the middle with some of their fitfully successful projects. I wish

they’d done a sharper edit on a few of the vignettes, but I never stopped admiring their brashness.

Jim Keogh contributing writer

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

33

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” supplies a welcome departure from the routine. This eccentric anthology film arrives with sound pedigree — it’s written and directed by the Coen brothers — and gives the Old West prominence and relevance, even as it subverts the era’s enduring myths.

“Ballad” comprises six separate stories, most of them bearing narrative twists that would have made them suitable for “The Twilight Zone” (except for the bloodletting).

One overly-chatty sequence aboard a stagecoach bound for a grim destination cries for Rod Serling intoning about the passengers’ fates. Another story stars Liam Neeson as a travel-

ing impresario whose featured orator charms audiences with Shakespearean soliloquies and passages from the Constitution, but whose utility may be less practical than that of a chicken who can add and subtract.

The Coens’ film begins with a song in its heart: Tim Blake Nelson is the titular troubadour, a cowboy who wanders into town and shoots a bunch of lyin’, cheatin’ scoundrels.

As the bad guys’ brains detonate thanks to his masterful aim and quick trigger finger, Buster delivers tuneful commentary about why they had to go. His perfect marksmanship is something out of a Loony Toons cartoon; his ultimate fate is right out of a, well, Coen brothers movie.

The succeeding tales (written over the course of 25 years by the Coens as whimsical short stories) reiterate the unforgiving nature of the Old West, a place where folks tended to depart violently, deservedly or not.

The dialogue is delivered in the formal old-world style the Coens employed in their 2010 “True Grit” remake, lending an air of learnedness and etiquette to the unwashed sagebrush dwellers. The filmmakers have added a dash of the bold — Tom Waits’ indestructible gold miner in “All Gold Canyon” is a thing of roaring beauty — and touches of tragic irony. “The Gal Who Got Rattled” takes its time with the saga of shy frontier woman Alice Longabaugh (Zoe Kazan), but stick it out to the ending, which thrills, shocks and saddens.

There are plenty of sly touches here. A convicted bank robber notices a pretty girl in the gallery seconds before he’s to be hanged.

A menagerie of woodland animals emerges to inspect the gouges the miner has left in the once-pristine

calendar

Through Sunday Dec. 4-9 White out Week at Greater Good!

Greater Good Imperial Brew, Co., 55 Millbrook St. A week full of holiday fun presented by Greater Good, with food, music, a paint night and more. Bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots or a gently-used winter coat for local veterans for a tour of the brew house. For a full schedule, head to Greatergoodimperials.com.

Thursday, Dec. 6 Michael McDonald’s Season of Peace: Holiday and Hits Tour

Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St. Multi Grammy Award winner, Michael McDonald heads to the Hanover with songs from his new holiday compilation

Thursday, Dec. 6 WOOtenanny Presents: Live at the Pop Up!

Worcester PopUp, 20 Franklin St. Host Bryan O’Donnell welcomes some of the area’s best comedians, with beer on hand from Wormtown Brewery.

Worcester PopUp, 20 Franklin St. Presented by Main IDEA, the Worcester PopUp welcomes youth musicians aged 10-18 to perform, solos, duos and ensembles. Proceeds benefit Main IDEA.

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

34

Friday, Dec. 7 Worcester Youth Holiday Concert

Saturday, Dec. 8 Underoath

The Palladium, 261 Main St. Underoath is joined by Dance Gavin Dance, Crown the Empire and The Plot in You.

Worcester Magazine is no longer utilizing socialweb.net for calendar listings.

Let people know about your event by linking to our online calendar at worcestermag.com.

Or go directly to worcestermag.com/thingstodo

calendar Saturday, Dec. 8 Holiday Pops Concert 2018

Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. The holiday Pops Concert heads to Mechanics Hall, with Jorge Soto, conductor; Joshua Rohde, choral conductor; MacKenzie Melemed, piano soloist; Jane Shivick, vocal soloist (pictured); and the combined choruses of Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Clark University, Worcester State University and WPI.

Sunday, Dec. 9 Holiday Concert at Worcester Art Museum

Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. The Salisbury Singers bring their annual holiday concert to the art museum.

Round-Up

35

Chris Hall, commissioner of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, for which the Worcester Bravehearts play, has announced his resignation, effective Dec. 31.

Worcester Academy grad and former Worcester Polytechnic Institute assistant football coach Joe Philbin has been named interim head coach of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Worcester Railers goalie Mitch Gillam has been named the CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2. It is the second time in his career he has received the weekly honor.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Worcester Railers Friday, Nov. 30 The Railers (8-10-2-0) won on the road over the Maine Mariners, 4-2.

Sunday, Dec. 2 Winning their third in a row, the Railers (9-10-2-0) beat the visiting Maine Mariners, 3-2, on a late goal.

(Upcoming: The Railers hosted the Brampton Beast Wednesday, Dec. 5, and will host them again Friday, Dec. 7. The team is on the road Sunday, Dec. 9 to play the Maine Mariners. The Railers are back home Wednesday, Dec. 12 to host the Manchester Monarchs, kicking off a threegame homestand.)

Worcester Blades Saturday, Dec. 1 The Blades fell, 6-1, on the road to the Montreal Les Canadiennes.

Sunday, Dec. 2 The Blades lost, 7-0, on the road to Les Canadiennes.

(Upcoming: The Blades stay on the road Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9 to take on the Toronto Fury.)

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

The Score

Worcester 78’s Saturday, Dec. 1 The 78’s fell on the road, 161-130, to the Jersey Express.

(Upcoming: The 78’s return home Saturday, Dec. 8 to host the Western Mass Zombies, then go on road Sunday, Dec. 9 to play the New England Outtatowners.)

games “Ask Me How I’m Doing”--the circles will tell you.

by Matt Jones

36

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

J O N E S I N’ Across 1 Advanced degrees 5 Thesaurus innovator Peter Mark ___ 10 Hit all the buttons at once, in arcade games 14 Temptation 15 Saint Teresa’s home 16 “The Joy of Cooking” co-author Rombauer 17 Regular “QI” panelist Davies 18 Back-country 19 Phone feature, once 20 Side-to-side movement 21 Judge on two versions of “The X Factor” 23 Any miniature golf shot 25 ___ seat (air passenger’s request) 26 Went on sabbatical, perhaps 32 One who keeps their buns moving?

33 Hunk of dirt 34 Cheese with a red rind 38 Preferred pronoun, perhaps 39 Bullwinkle, for one 40 Hoppy drink 41 “99 and 44/100% ___” (old slogan) 43 1980 “Dukes of Hazzard” spin-off 44 Big name in kitchen wrap 46 Newton’s first, alternately 49 Pine tree substance 52 Listed thing 53 Historical peak 58 Have debts to pay 61 Shipmate of Picard, Riker, Worf, et al.

62 Notre Dame’s Fighting ___ 63 Diamonds, for one 64 “It slipped!”

65 Animal whose droppings are used for kopi luwak coffee 66 “___ Wonderful Life” 67 Russian refusal 68 Reflex test sites 69 “The Giving Tree” author Silverstein Down 1 Tony candidate

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 22 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 35 36 37 39 42

Island dance Texas hold 'em, e.g.

JFK, once Once-in-a-blue-moon event Egg, to biologists ___ d’Italia (cycling event) Brio Absorbent powder Delivery assistant First sign of the zodiac Fries size Berry scheduled to be in “John Wick 3” Headliner Bumbler “Aloha Oe” instrument, for short Shortening used in recipes?

Island of Hawaii ___ Lodge (motel chain) Cool and distant “Arrested Development” actress Portia de ___ It takes dedication to write Only Ivy League school called a college (not a university) Jai ___ (fast-paced game) “American Pie” actress Suvari Kitten’s sound Supporter of the 1%, say

44 “Family Guy” creator MacFarlane 45 “Scooby-Doo, Where ___ You?” 47 “32 Flavors” singer DiFranco 48 Work shift for some 49 Sell out, in a way 50 George Jetson’s son 51 Ski area 54 Head Stone?

55 “___ Brockovich” (Julia Roberts film) 56 Apiary feature 57 “Oh, OK” 59 Informed 60 “And others,” briefly 63 “Pretty sneaky, ___” (Connect Four ad line)

Fun By The Numbers Like 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!

Last week's solution

Call 978-728-4302 or email sales@centralmassclass.com today to place your ad here! ©2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) Reference puzzle #912

classifieds

Sudoku Answers

WHAT TO BE SEEN? Over 90,000 Readers in Print and Online.

Ads post immediately! New postings everyday!

978-728-4302 sales@centralmassclass.com centralmassclass.com Sales and Marketing Manager SiC, North America needed by Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. to perform sales & mkt analyses & prep forecasts & recommendations for the product dvlpmt of the Silicon Carbide (SiC) Grains & Powders division for the Refractories, Abrasives, Specialties & Metallurgical sectors. Co. based in Worcester, MA but individual can work from home office anywhere in the US. Reqd 50-60% travel w/in N. America. Interested candidates should send resumes to Laurie Jewett, HR, Saint-Gobain, 56 Dow Rd, Bow, NH 03304.

Sales and Marketing Manager SiC, North America needed by Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. to perform sales & mkt analyses & prep forecasts & recommendations for the product dvlpmt of the Silicon Carbide (SiC) Grains & Powders division for the Refractories, Abrasives, Specialties & Metallurgical sectors. Co. based in Worcester, MA but individual can work from home office anywhere in the US. Reqd 50-60% travel w/in N. America. Interested candidates should send resumes to Laurie Jewett, HR, Saint-Gobain, 56 Dow Rd, Bow, NH 03304.

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018 WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

37

Invitation For Bids The Worcester Housing Authority invites sealed bids for Cellar Doors & Frames replacement at MA12-01 Great Brook Valley Gardens in accordance with the documents prepared by Worcester Housing Authority. The work is estimated to cost $ 266,120.

Project consists of the replacement of ninety (90) cellar doors. It includes but is not limited to: Demolition and disposal of existing doors and frames, installation of new hollow metal doors and hardware.

General Bids will be received until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2018 at the Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

A pre-bid conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 at which time bidders will be invited to visit the project site(s) with the a Worcester Housing Authority representative. Failure to attend or visit the premises shall be no defense in failure to perform contract terms.

Bids are subject to M.G.L c149 §44A-J and Davis Bacon wage rates as well as other applicable laws. General Bidders must be certified by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) in the following category of work: Doors and Windows.

Each bid shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in the amount of 5% of the bid price in the form of a Bid Bond, issued by a responsible surety company licensed to do business in Massachusetts, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority by bidders for the greatest possible bid amount.

Bid forms and Contract Documents will be made available on the Worcester Housing Authority website (http://www.worcesterha.org/currentbids.html) at no cost. Hard copies will be made available on December 5, 2018 at the Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 and thereafter, Monday thru Friday 8:00 A.M. through 4:30 P. M. Copies of the contract documents may be obtained by depositing $50.00 in the form of a company check, made payable to the Worcester Housing Authority, for each set of documents so obtained. The amount of the deposit will be refunded to each person who returns the plans, specifications and other documents in good condition within ten (10) days after bid opening. Bidders requesting contract documents to be mailed to them should include a separate check in the amount of $40.00 for each set payable to the Worcester Housing Authority to cover mailing and handling costs.

The contract documents may be seen, but not removed at: 1.

Worcester Housing Authority, Department of Modernization, 81 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA 01605 2. F.W. Dodge, 24 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA 02173 3.

Reed Construction Data, 30 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092 4. Project Dog, 18 Graf Road Unit #8 Plan Room, Newburyport, MA 01950 Attention is called to the following: 1. Provisions of Equal Employment Opportunity; 2. Provisions for payment of not less than the minimum wages as set forth in the Specifications; 3.

Provisions of Chapter 14, Acts of 1966, Imposing a Temporary Sales Tax, Section 1, Subsection 6 (d) and (k) exempting the Authority from the operation of such a chapter; 4. Requirement to furnish and pay for a Performance Bond and a Labor and Materials Bond as set forth in the specifications, 5. Insurance certificate indicating coverage for public liability, property damage and workers compensation, in accordance with the contract requirements, must be filed by the successful bidder upon signing of the con tract.

The contract will be awarded to the responsible and eligible bidder with the lowest proposed contract price. The Worcester Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, in whole or in part, or to waive any formalities in the bidding if it be in the public interest to do so. No bid of a General Bidder shall be withdrawn, after opening thereof, prior to thirty (30) days, Saturday, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded, without the consent of the Worcester Housing Authority.

Questions regarding this project shall be submitted in writing 1 week prior to opening by noon time and emailed to Mod-Bids@worcesterha.org Reference the WHA Job Number 2018-04 only in the subject line.

Worcester Housing Authority Joseph P. Carlson, Chairman

last call Frank “The Butcher” Rivera Streetwear and Sneaker Designer

38

What is your history in the city of Worcester? I was born and lived the majority of my life in Worcester. My formative years were spent in the neighborhoods in and around Main Street, Chandler Street and Park Ave. I lived with my mother, then around fifth or sixth grade moved in with my dad. Worcester is where I started to explore and express myself creatively. It’s the reason why I’m here today.

How has hip-hop influenced your identity as Frank the Butcher? Hip-hop is the

root of who I’ve become and has informed and fueled my professional growth. In the Superman comic, Superman wasn’t “super” on his own planet. The kids I grew up with were all into the same things to varying degrees. I might have been more obsessed than some when it came to hiphop and all that radiated from the culture.

Maybe as a result of that, my passion for music, sneakers, clothing, graffiti art, album cover design and magazines turned into a career in sneakers, design, fashion, culture and storytelling.

Can you describe your career trajectory? Less of a trajectory and more of an extreme reaction to loss, followed by the realization that I had to live with what I’ve decided. I lost my 21-year-old brother Franco in a car accident Memorial Day weekend 2005. Here I am, 28 years old with a wife, two young children and no college education. I was working long hours in a sheet metal shop when depression set in, post-funeral. His death shook me to my core. I called my wife and spoke to her about asking the company to lay me off. Instead of warning me that our financial circumstances couldn’t take the weight, she knew I needed a hard reset and supported me as I recalibrated my life. My renewed spirit is forever in her debt. A few months later, I connected with some guys and joined a streetwear/sneaker culture podcast as a host. This is 2005, before podcasts were even a thing. That started my 13-year journey into the sneaker/streetwear world, where I found a way to a viable career for the sake of my family.

How did your first big collaboration come about? From 2006-2010, I worked as a designer and brand manager for the sneaker shop Concepts, where I handled most of the collaborations in that window. There were a lot of great collabs and memories during that time. In 2011, using my growing relationships in the

industry, I did a three-shoe project with Adidas that means a great deal to me because it was the first billed with my own name. In 2013, I did a project with Reebok that featured my brand concept “Business as Usual” for the first time. I’d call that my official starting point.

Time is our most precious commodity as humans.

Why do you think people are willing to wait in line for hours for streetwear?

It begins with human connection, sharing a passion for something with thousands globally or even dozens in a line locally. Today, it’s a bit more layered and complicated. Some love product and fashion.

Some love the financial benefits of reselling limited edition goods. Whatever makes you happy.

What’s on the horizon for you?

I’m at Reebok currently, where I develop new ways to connect to our consumer through storytelling. Also, I have a record label and produce the artists I work with. I’m also developing a new brand that I want to use as a platform to bring awareness to different causes and charities. It’s called “Public Peace Works.” Using all I’ve learned in marketing, product, collaboration and business in a way that helps community.

What do you like to do when you have free time in Worcester? I rarely have free time, but when in Worcester you’ll find me at George’s Coney Island.

– Sarah Connell

PHOTO SUBMIT TED

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

F

rank “The Butcher” Rivera is arguably Boston’s most respected streetwear and sneaker designer.

Streetwear culture continues to experience rapid growth with the popularity of curated conventions like ComplexCon and HYPEFEST. New trends are fueled by social media more quickly than ever before. Exclusive streetwear drops routinely draw massive crowds of self-proclaimed “hypebeasts” eager to get their hands on the latests styles. Rivera’s grasp on the sneaker and streetwear scene has always been inextricably linked to hip-hop. Rivera’s love of music was what first opened his eyes to fashion’s voluminous reach, long ago as a kid growing up in Worcester.

He is the founder of BAU [Business As Usual], a brand known for its collaborations with a number of premium athletic shoe designers. Rivera is the executive producer of a new album from artists Avenue and Deon Chase called “Nightfall.”

He also works as the senior manager of brand activation and influencer networking for Reebok Classics. Despite Rivera’s widespread fame among hypebeasts and sneakerheads, he has received very little attention in Worcester’s local media. His 31,900 Instagram followers alone are a measurable indication of his marked success as a powerful influencer in his industry. You can follow him @frankthebutcher for a streetwear education.

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

39

40

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

D E C E M B E R 6 - 12, 2018