Worcester Magazine February 4 - 10, 2022 by Worcester Magazine

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | CULTURE § ARTS § DINING § VOICES

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IN THIS ISSUE

Worcester Magazine 100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske Worcester Magazine is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. Legals/Public Notices please call 888-254-3466, email classifieds@gatehousemedia.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 Distribution Worcester Magazine is inserted into the Telegram & Gazette on Fridays and is also available for free at more than 400 locations in the Worcester area. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law. 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 Gannett. All contents copyright 2021 by Gannett. All rights reserved. Worcester Magazine is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

Featured ..............................................................................4 City Voices ........................................................................10 Artist Spotlight................................................................13 Cover Story.......................................................................14 Adoption Option .............................................................17 Next Draft .........................................................................18 New on DVD .....................................................................20 Classiﬁ eds.........................................................................21 Games................................................................................22

On the cover Musician Giuliano D'Orazio of Worcester smoking a joint in 2016. T&G FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE HOCHKEPPEL

From the Editors: Time to Redecorate Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

You might have noticed some renovations around here. First off, Craig S. Semon has been writing the "Screen Time" column for the past few months. Then, a few weeks ago, comedian Shaun Connolly came on board with the humor column, "Bad Advice." This week introduces our newest column, "Cannabis Confidential," which we're really looking forward to watching grow. On the other hand, Barbara Houle's "Table Hoppin'" column will be returning to the ACT section of the Telegram & Gazette, while my own "Song to Get You Through the Week" will be moving from ACT to WoMag. Sometimes, you just have to redecorate and try a few new things to keep everything fresh. Life is change, after all, and we hope you enjoy the ones we've made.

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FEATURED

Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies tap into the joy of dance Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Chloé Arnold is a multi-talented person who can put on many hats — and taps. Tap dance is where it all started for Arnold, a dancer, Emmy-nominated choreographer, actress, director, producer, ﬁ lmmaker and entrepreneur who will be bringing “Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE!” to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts for a show at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Syncopated Ladies is a female tap dance band from Los Angeles created by Arnold. Numbers such as “Beyoncé Tap Salute” (which you can see on YouTube) convey both visual joy and also seem to add more layers of joy to the music as well. Little wonder that Beyoncé shared their work saying, “They Killed It,” and transformed the homepage of Beyonce.com to feature Syncopated Ladies and invited them to perform live internationally. Originally from Washington, D.C., Arnold recalled during a recent telephone interview that “when I was 9 years old I saw the movie ‘Tap.’ (I said) ‘That’s what I want to do.’” “Tap,” a 1989 dance drama, starred the late Gregory Hynes and Sammy Davis Jr. (in his last role). “Shortly thereafter, I had the honor to meet Gregory Hynes, and that changed my life,” Arnold said. Based on that experience, “I

“Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE!” comes to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts for a show at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17. SUBMITTED PHOTO

know how important it is for us to tour. I know what it’s like to see an artist come to town,” she said. So Arnold is touring and will be in town, but this won’t be her ﬁ rst dance experience in Worcester.

Last summer she was here when the upcoming Apple TV+ musical ﬁ lm “Spirited,” starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia Spencer, shot a dance sequence in Mechanics Hall. “Spirited” is a remake of Charles Dickens’ novella “A

Christmas Carol.” “It’s unreal to be coming back so soon,” she said. Dickens gave a live reading of “A Christmas Carol” in Mechanics Hall. Arnold is the choreographer for “Spirited,” the ﬁ rst full-

length feature movie she has choreographed. “Mechanics Hall — it’s a beautiful hall. The craftsmanship. It’s just absolutely gorgeous,” Arnold said. “It was See LADIES, Page 5

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Ladies

‘Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE!’

Continued from Page 4

amazing.” One of the dancers in the Mechanics Hall sequence for “Spirited” was tap dancer Michelle Dorrance. Dorrance is also the founder and artistic director of Dorrance Dance, the award-winning New York City tap dance company that performed at The Hanover Theatre Oct. 2 with a show that was also the oﬃ cial opening of Music Worcester’s 2021-22 season. Now Arnold will also be at The Hanover Theatre with her own show. “Michelle is a great, dear friend of mine,” Arnold said. “Dorrance Dance, now Syncopated Ladies — Worcester becomes the buzz word. I’m so grateful your town has enabled art and tap dance, and I can’t wait to come back up,” she said. It likely won’t be quite as warm in Worcester in February as it was in July, but Arnold has something she can tap into, so to speak. “We’re gonna warm it up. That’s for sure.” “Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE!” features ﬁ ve dancers and a singer, and the narrative is drawn from their own stories. Besides Arnold, the dancers include her sister and fellow producer, Maud Arnold. They all have tremendous stories to draw from. “Our story is quite unique to our personal journeys. From the idea of having a dream, then the obstacles you face. Feeling the joy within to overcome these obstacles and how we found freedom through our expressions,” Arnold said. Besides tap dance numbers, the show unfolds in monologues and “digital experiences.” “It’s a journey of any person with a dream. I feel like it’s really a personal journey told with upbeat music, high-tech digital content,” Arnold said. The soundtrack includes songs by Beyoncé, Adelle and

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester How much: $55, $45, $35 and $25. Call (877) 571-7469 or visit www.TheHanoverTheatre.org for more information. For Hanover Theatre safety protocols, visit https://thehanovertheatre.org/plan-your-visit/ safety-protocols/

“Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE!” features ﬁ ve dancers and a singer, and the narrative is drawn from their own stories. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Justin Timberlake, “but it’s all going to be entwined,” Arnold said. Syncopated Ladies has its own band, but because of COVID it won’t be on this tour. “We pared it down to an intimate performance — ﬁ ve women tap (dancers), one singer. But our band has recorded to make it feel like a live performance.” Just as COVID emerged as a crisis in 2020, Syncopated Ladies had a 33-city tour planned. All the tour dates were canceled, Arnold said. When the ﬁ rst iteration of the show was put on about a decade ago, “we always had the dream of making this a tour as a main stage show,” she said. But it was also envisioned that “our show will be perpetually universal.” So now that Syncopated Ladies is back on the road as a main stage show, “we’re infusing some of our recent experiences because we haven’t been on tour since 2020,” Arnold said. “The show is unique for you all. We’re surviving a pandemic.” Arnold had not only dis-

played dance talent from a young age, but scholastic ability as well, including winning The Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship. When she was 16, another multi-talented and also very inﬂ uential artist, Debbie Allen (of “Fame” fame and many other shows) cast Arnold in a production of “Brother’s of the Knight” at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Allen subsequently took Arnold under her wing as a mentor, and Arnold worked with her for over a decade as a performer, choreographer, director and producer. Arnold also graduated with a degree in Film from Columbia University. Her choreography has been featured on television shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Good Morning America,” “The Ellen Show,” “The Talk” and over 50 episodes of “The Late Late Show With James Corden.” Utilizing her ﬁ lmmaking skills, Arnold has made Syncopated Ladies the most viewed Female Tap dance band in history, known for their viral selfproduced content, amassing over 100 million views online.

With her sister Maud, she produced the award-winning documentary “Tap World,” and they are the co-directors of the critically acclaimed DC Tap Festival. The two have been recognized by Columbia University as Rising Stars, and by the U.S. House of Representatives as arts preservers and ambassadors. Tap dance has undergone a great revival as an art form in recent years, epitomized by two tap shows, Dorrance Dance and Syncopated Ladies, coming to The Hanover Theatre in quick succession. “I think you always have people who love the art to the core, and I think what’s diﬀ erent now because there is the internet it allows you to reach people without massive amounts of money,” Arnold said. “I studied ﬁ lm at Columbia. I like to put the pieces online.” Paradoxically, when producers see that you are reaching people, they green light shows that cost money, Arnold noted. Asked what other forms of dance she likes, Arnold credited “my mentor Debbie Allen.”

“I also do jazz, hip-hop, African jazz. Ultimately if it moves me, I move.” As for what is her favorite dance movie, Arnold said “Still to this day the movie ‘Tap.’ Not because it’s the best movie ever done, but because it changed my life and it never gets old to me.” As was mentioned earlier, there will be more good things to tap about at “Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE!” at The Hanover Theatre. “This iteration of the show will be totally new (because) our story is evolving,” Arnold said. That story now includes choreographing her ﬁ rst movie. But for all that she does, the stage is a special place to express that story. “COVID has has isolated so many of us, and our show is about joy,” she said. And tapping that out on stage never gets old for her, either. “Maud and I are currently pitching television shows and movies, but I will say the concert stage is where the magic happens for me,” Arnold said. “For me the duality of being a performer, director/producer drives the inspiration on both sides, but performing is the essence of it all. The performance component is the magic, the unlocking of the art that lives in your soul.”

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Melissa Mitchell, of Worcester, lets her axe fly at Far Shot. ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Right on target Throwing axes at Far Shot Worcester a cathartic, exciting delight Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

When the zombie apocalypse comes, I’m handing my wife, Lea, the axe. That was, perhaps, the most striking lesson of a Jan. 26 visit to Far Shot Worcester, the axe-throwing, knife-throwing and archery facility that opened up on Front Street in October. In a tournament between us and three of our friends, she trounced us all. Only our friend Missy came close. Two other friends did OK, too, but I was left in the dust, coming in dead last. When the zombies come … at least I

have people skills? Still, even with three out of every four of my axes bouncing oﬀ the target — there’s metal fencing between throwing ranges to keep bouncing blades from hurting anyone — it’s impossible to deny that the game was both fun and viscerally satisfying. “It’s a diﬀ erent activity, for sure,” says Benn MacDonald, the president of Far Shot Recreation, which owns the Worcester range, as well as locations in Syracuse, Albany, Providence and two in Canada, where the company was founded. “It’s also primal. All that weight leaves your body when it leaves your hand, and when it hits the wood, it’s a satisfying sound.”

McDonald says that, in its short existence, the Worcester facility has drawn work events from neighboring offi ces, families of various sizes, fi rst dates and even divorce parties. Having just watched my wife wield an axe with deadly accuracy, I pressed him on that last one. “They’re just recently divorced,” says McDonald. “They go out with their friends, forget what’s going on, and it’s fantastic!” Whatever the reason, it’s defi nitely a great way to blow off steam and frustration. The Wednesday night we visited had a trickle of small groups coming

through, mostly young couples. Two who were there contemporaneously with us were also throwing axes, while another couple took up the archery range, with a staff member teaching the young woman how to shoot, and her seemingly picking it up quickly. “It’s been around for 25,000 years,” says McDonald, of archery. “It’s a very natural sport. Every continent developed it on their own, independent of each other. It hasn’t quite picked up the way axe-throwing has,” he says, but he’s defi nitely seen the impact of popular fi ctional archers such Hawkeye and KatSee TARGET, Page 7

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James Mullally aims before letting his axe fly at Far Shot. ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Melissa Mitchell, of Worcester, clinks axes with opponent Gary Hoare, of Worcester, before a match at Far Shot. ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Target Continued from Page 6

niss Everdeen. According to McDonald, axe-throwing is easily the facility’s most popular activity, with archery being second and knife-throwing, “more challenging.” Which is kind of a shame, as I found knife-throwing to be strangely satisfying, even without the visceral heft of an axe handle. Hitting the target felt extremely rewarding, although to be fair, I missed more than I hit. If McDonald sounds like he has a soft spot for archery, it’s because he does: He started out as an archer, and opened the ﬁ rst Far Shot so he would have a range to practice on more regularly in 2016. He had no experience with axe-throwing at the time, but he and his collaborators taught themselves, and then went on to help found the World Axe-Throwing League, which governs a tournament of more than 300 teams each season, with more than 6,000 individuals competing. McDonald

Far Shot president Benn MacDonald watches the axe throwers.

A bullseye for Tony Brown, of Worcester, at Far Shot.

ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

is currently the league’s Head Judge. Worcester doesn’t have a club, yet, but McDonald hopes that will happen, eventually, as Worcester embraces axethrowing. He says Worcester has been “very supportive of us.” “It’s a great town, a great

community. Once we started looking into it, we fell in love with the Common, we fell in love with everything about this place.” McDonald is deﬁ nitely cognizant of how good a location the facility has right there on the Worcester Common. “We’ve seen this street

change quite a bit in the last two years,” he says. “We’re hoping to see more businesses down here, more restaurants and other activities which we can bounce oﬀ of, so you can go axe-throwing, then go to a restaurant, for example. If you’re in town for an event, you can come here afterward.”

For the moment, though, Far Shot Worcester seems to be oﬀ to a good start. When asked if there was anything else he thought visitors should know, he looked thoughtful, then answered, “Wear closed-toed shoes. We want everyone to leave with all the ﬁ ngers and toes they came in with.”

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WORCESTERIA

How does the Duende Project connect to ‘The Suicide Squad’? Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

How does the recent comic book blockbuster “The Suicide Squad” connect to one of the bands that regularly plays Nick’s Bar and Restaurant? The answer was revealed by the British online comic book news magazine, Bleeding Cool. In an article titled, “Kaleidoscope, The Suicide Squad Character Created By Two Fans In 1982,” writer Rich Johnston discussed the origins of the blink-andyou’ll-miss-it cameo. Johnston reveals the character’s fi rst and only appearance, in “Dial H for Hero,” at the time a back-up feature in the comic book, “New Adventures of Superboy.” In the ‘80s, “Dial H for Hero” followed the adventures of Chris King and Vicki Grant, who transformed into diff erent superheroes each time they spelled out the word “H-E-R-O” on a magic dial they found. Also, they would only become each hero once, so it was diff erent every time. Consequently, DC Comics needed a LOT of new characters, and turned to readers for help: Readers would send in their creations, and if they were used, DC Comics would credit the creators and send them a Tshirt to say thanks. And of course, they’d own the rights forever, although it was very rare to see one of these characters twice. Kaleidoscope was one such character, created by Christopher Lawton of Fall River, and his mother, Nancy M. Lawton, who died in 2016. In a short online conversation, Lawton – currently the guitarist of the Worcester music-poetry ensemble, the Du-

The Duende Project. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

ende Project, which plays regularly at Nick’s – said that he had sent DC Comics several character creations, but “Kaleidoscope was the only one they took of mine.” For Lawton, “being a comic book nerd, it was very cool. However, being 15 and in high school it didn’t get noticed beyond a friend or two.” Eventually, Kaleidoscope became a distant memory. That is, until she made an unexpected reappearance, when Lawton watched “The Suicide Squad.” Earlier this month, says Lawton, “I was home with COVID and ordered the movie. It

was about 2 a.m. when I saw her on screen. My initial thought was, ‘No way!’” He says he recognized her instantly, saying, “Even in a prison jumper she has a distinct look.” Still, he took to the web to verify her identity, and she was indeed credited as being his character, played by actor Natalia Safran. Lawton and his mother are even thanked in the movie’s credits, although no one notiﬁ ed him that the character was being used. (Remember, DC Comics still owns the character outright.) “Mom was thrilled with the initial publication,” says Law-

ton. “She’d have been over the moon seeing her name on the big screen.” Asked how he felt to see that character appear on screen, Lawton replied, “Forty years on it made me feel like my greatest artistic ‘success’ came at the age of 15. It kinda makes me laugh at the absurdity of it all. It’s deﬁ nitely brought a smile.” The character Kaleidoscope, created by drummer Chris Lawton and his mother, Nancy Mae Lawton, in 1982, appears in “The New Adventures of Superboy” No. 35. DC COMICS

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CONNELL SANDERS

Would you like to read my diary?

‘ORIGIN’ at Worcester PopUp marks launch of Juniper Rag art magazine Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I’ve kept a diary for as long as I’ve known how to write. My entries are directly proportional to the amount of freelancing I’ve committed to during any given period of time. They also refl ect my overall happiness. (Sad Sarah writes a lot of bad poetry.) As a result of these two factors, I haven’t fi lled very many pages over the last fi ve years — a victory in some respects. I’m writing for publication. I’m content and in love. There’s no time for weepy iambic pentameter. Nevertheless, once in a while, the old leather volumes in my desk drawer catch my eye and I fl ip through them for long enough to remember why I’ve hidden them away. The stories that weigh the heaviest are the hardest ones for me to share. I was surprised to receive an invitation a few months back to participate in a visual arts show curated by the independent lifestyle publication, Juniper Rag. I’ve written a couple of pieces for the magazine in the past about art and travel, but I don’t consider myself an artist. I began to think about how I could turn my written words into something more aesthetic. Eventually, I settled on acrylic letter beads. The project gave me an opportunity to read back through the personal diary entries of my past, some of them painful and others humiliating. I highlighted lines here and there, then strung them letter by letter onto elastic. The truth is, I don’t much care if my creations get left on the bus or shoved to the bottom of a glove compartment. I just like the

The truth is, I don’t much care if my creations get left on the bus or shoved to the bottom of a glove compartment. I just like the idea of setting them free. SUBMITTED PHOTO

idea of setting them free. As a columnist, I tend to write for an audience. I submit my work knowing it will be subject to public scrutiny. Curiously enough, my personal writing is that which aff ords me the most pride and healing. It is also the most intimidating. By releasing it in tiny installments as jewelry, I hope to experience some sense of relief. Unlike the other pieces featured in the show by talented and accomplished professionals, my little beaded creations are both amateur and free. If you care to peer inside my most private thoughts, the ones that will never see the pages of a magazine, please join us on Feb. 5 from 6-10 p.m. 20 Franklin St. If the idea of reading my diary makes you squeamish, I don’t blame you. I, myself, am sick to my stomach just thinking about it and in no way off ended. You are not the fi rst one to be made uncomfortable by vulnerability, or for that matter, art.

“ORIGIN,” an art exhibition at the Worcester PopUp at the JMAC, 20 Franklin St., from Feb. 5 to 18, will celebrate Juniper Rag, a visual art and lifestyle magazine. An “oﬃ cial launch” from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 5 will feature a performance by Boston singer Mali Sastri, best known for her work with the band Jaggery, as well as installations and presentations. Juniper Rag showcases the work of artists from Worcester, the United States and around the world. The ﬁ rst issue of the quarterly debuted last spring. See ‘ORIGIN’, Page 12

Juniper Rag is available for sale at Bedlam Books, The Market Pantry and CC Lowell. There is also a digital version. ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

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CITY VOICES LANDGREN MOVE OVER ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE, MEET THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY!

WORCESTERIA

BAD ADVICE

Love is in the air at Chuck E. Cheese Shaun Connolly Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

DEAR SHAUN: WoMag sux! After years of Harvey’s ranting and raving, her distorted political opinion or bias. Now if this Connolly is gonna spew his liberal again biased opinion. It looks like I won’t be delving any further into Worcester Democrat Magazine! Just my opinion, and hopefully the silent majority. — Disgruntled DEAR DISGRUNTLED: I am so sorry to hear this. While I do not see a speciﬁ c question in your email, it seems you are in dire need for some life advice. First, continue to work on your vocabulary, whether it is the crossword, jumble, spelling bee, Wordle, etc. “spew” and “delving” are some great words and I am honestly im-

pressed. Your ﬁ nal words read, “hopefully the silent majority as well.” Every time I read “silent majority” I think of farts. The majority being the smell that can take over a room, the silent is that noise you hope you don’t make. Sometimes, though, farts can be a loud minority. Which is honestly disappointing. If you are going to have such an impolite noise you might as well have the smell match, am I right? The silent majority is really the times when it sneaks out like a gas leak and then the acrid sewage smell engulfs the nostrils of those around you. Then you think to yourself how could such an awful thing come from me? This smell, something I produced, is ruining the mood and well-being of See ADVICE, Page 11

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones perform at Bash Festival in Phoenix, Ariz., on May 11, 2019. KEITH SPARBANIE/SPECIAL FOR THE REPUBLIC.

Bosstones call it quits; Rosen stirs the pot Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

BOSSTONES BOW OUT: Were you at the Punk in Drublic concert Sept. 26 outside the Palladium? If so, then you were present for the last concert by Boston music legends, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The iconic ska/punk band wrote on its Facebook page, “After decades of brotherhood, touring the world and making great records together, we have

decided to no longer continue on as a band. Above all, we want to express our sincere gratitude to every single one of you who have supported us. We could not have done any of it without you.” The Bosstones has always had tight ties to Worcester, and played here frequently, including a show for Worcester Artist Group in 1991, the Cranking & Skanking Fest in 2018 at the Palladium, and of course, last year’s Palladium show, where the band opened for pop punkers NOFX.

“I’m glad I got to catch them one last time at that show,” says Ted Kistner, former owner of the Cove Music Hall and current owner of Drafter’s in N. Grosvenordale, Connecticut. “I thought they were great, they put on a solid performance … they came out and just just did their thing. They put on a show. They’re one of those bands that go out on stage and leave it all out there.” No public reason has been See BOSSTONES, Page 11

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POETRY TOWN

Gold Star Boulevard Dave McGrath Special to Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK Driving with A Worcester girl, With one hand on, She knows all the turns. Steering by chance Reasons for each swerve, Stealing a glance, The distracting curves.

Sworn of Starbucks Becoming a regular, Filling up my soul With a cup of her stellar. Her eyes smooth the roads That use to seem hard, It’s another early afternoon On Gold Star Boulevard.

A view of Gold Star Boulevard. T&G FILE PHOTO/PAUL KAPTEYN

Bosstones Continued from Page 10

given for the breakup, but it’s deﬁ nitely going to have a seismic eﬀ ect on the local musical landscape. Michael O’Connor Marotta, the editor of the online Boston music website, Vanyaland, wrote that the band breakup, “obviously means no more Bosstones music (for the immediate future, at least), but it also marks the end of the band’s celebrated Hometown Throwdown series, an annual multi-night live bash held around the holidays. Started in 1994, the Throwdown has become part of the DNA of Boston music, and after a return from hiatus in 2007, has continued in recent years, pre-pandemic, at Boston’s House of Blues as a

Christmas tradition.” ROSEN STIRS THE POT: Life after City Council is evidently serving Gary Rosen well, judging by a recent episode of his WCCA-TV cable access show, “Rosen’s Roundtable.” Talking to current District 2 City Councilor Candy MeroCarlson and Councilor AtLarge Moe Bergman, the conversation turned toward MeroCarlson being removed from the Standing Committee on Economic Development, which she previously chaired. Rosen suggests the removal was “payback” from Mayor Joe Petty for Mero-Carlson’s support of Richard Cipro against Sean Rose in the District 1 race. Mero-Carlson goes on to comment that those sorts of conﬂ icts shouldn’t make a diﬀ erence in committee assignments. Fair enough. It’s fairly obvious the

Advice Continued from Page 10

people around me. My advice is to eat less, beans, dairy or carbonated products, that way you won’t fart as much. This why you wrote to me right? DEAR SHAUN: Is it wrong to be in love with the SW Cutoff Chuck E. Cheese’s mascot? I just can’t get them out of my head. — In Love DEAR IN LOVE: Love is not wrong. Whether you are in love with the costume or the costumed, there is nothing wrong with that. Due to your specifi city of the Chuck E. Cheese over at the SW Cutoff , it makes me think that it is more the person who dons the mouse uniform. However, maybe there is something about that gray fur and purple shirt on this specific outfi t that truly enchants you. Either way there is nothing wrong with those feelings. The act of love is not shameful. It is how you act on that love. If you try to strike up a conversation with the anthropomorphic

move was to boost Rose, and honestly, it’s not clear if leaving her on the committee but not keeping her as chair would have been the bigger insult. In any case, the episode didn’t venture into issues such as the weakness of her win last election against challenger Johanna Hampton-Dance, 1,163 to 904 votes, or how weird it is that the former Worcester Democratic City Committee chairwoman is generally considered to be part of the City Council’s conservative wing. It also leaves open some big questions about how important standing committees really are, especially when most of the city seems content to battle it out on just about any issue in the public comments section of City Council meeting. Perhaps it’s time to take a closer look at all of those, and how they run.

Is love in the air at the Chuck E Cheese’s off Route 20 in Worcester? T&G FILE PHOTO/CHRISTINE HOCHKEPPEL

mouse and the mouse reciprocates, you’re in, sister. However if you practice robotic movements, rehearse all of the songs and join Chuck’s band to then try and cop a feel of Mr. Cheese’s soft coat, that’s a no-

go. My advice is to play some games in the arcade, earn enough tickets and buy Chuck something nice. That will at least open the door to the start of a healthy relationship, whether romantic or platonic.

And maybe it’s time to take another look at Rosen, because this gem of Worcester politics almost passed by unnoticed until Ben White of Talk of the Commonwealth put it on our Twitter, blowing it up into fullﬂ edged political buzz. The lesson: If “Rosen’s Roundtable” can provide this sort of drama out of local politics, then it’s going to be must-see watching as we go into the next political season. SENT TO COMMITTEE: Once in a while, you can cause a small amount of whimsical chaos and serve the civic good all at the same time. At least, that’s what seems to have happened when I wrote a column Jan. 11, noting that there were 35 open seats on local citizen boards and committees in Worcester, and explaining how to apply. The column was wide-

ly shared on social media, and according to Jeannie Michelson, principle staﬀ assistant to the city manager, it did its job … maybe a little too well. According to Michelson, they were barraged with so many applications that she’s still processing them all and getting back to people. “It’s a good problem to have,” she says. Michelson says that the applications are spread out over several committees. There are actually a few more open seats on committees, mostly because a new committee has been added, the Urban Forestry Tree Commission. Does this mean people should ease up? By no means! It’s too soon to say if the barrage has ﬁ lled all the seats, so if there’s a committee you’re interested in, drop them an application, and of course, attend meetings to see them in action.

12 | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

FIRST PERSON

Feeling haunted by the ghost of Ginger Joe Fusco Jr. Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

We were watching our four grandchildren so their parents could go to a B&B in New Hampshire for their anniversary. The 12-year-old Izabelle was changing upstairs for bed when we heard her scream then come running down the 15 stairs into the kitchen. “Something dressed in white fl ew by me and into Nana’s box,” she exclaimed. “The Ghost of Ginger,” I replied as I snacked on some honey-roasted nuts. Ginger was my mother-inlaw. When she passed a few years back, her remains were put in a marble, mauve-colored urn that sits on a In Loving Memory shelf in the sitting-room upstairs. “This is a fi rst.” I told my wife. “Your Mother’s on the loose!” I had been dating Cyndi for a few months when I fi rst met Ginger 37 years ago. She invited us over for Baked Macaroni &Cheese and Gin Rummy. It was …diff erent. In 1987, we went to dinner with Ginger and her husband Joe (a great guy) on New Year’s Eve. They cut the evening short and left us in the restaurant because they felt …frisky. Ginger was frugal. Once, she took our pre-teen twins to the Ponderosa buff et and lined their jacket pockets with aluminum foil so they could smuggle chicken wings out of the restaurant. When I came home from work and kissed them goodnight, they reeked of BBQ sauce. I have other memories of Ginger that will remain untold. She did think I was “quite a catch,” a quote I’m quick to remind my wife of on many an occasion.

Joe Fusco Jr. is haunted by the ghost of his mother-in-law. SUPERHERFTIGGENERAL

As I’ve grown old, my belief in an after-life has diminished. Why would an apparition hang around our 2nd ﬂ oor if heaven was such a paradise? My wife disagrees with me and my daughter Heather won’t go upstairs when she visits anymore since the alleged sighting. That night, I told Izabelle

that she probably saw a reﬂ ection on the television screen and the house was ghost-free. A few nights later, while showering in the upstairs bathroom, I had this strange feeling that someone was ogling me. I toweled oﬀ and walked over to the sitting room. It smelt like BBQ sauce!

Joe Fusco Jr. is a poet and humorist living in Worcester. He’ll be a featured reader for the Worcester Public Library 4 p.m. Feb. 11 on Zoom. Watch the reading online at https:// mywpl.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/pondering-the-pandemic-duringthe-rust-years-a-virtual-poetry-reading-with-joe-fusco.

‘ORIGIN’ Continued from Page 9

About 120 artists, photographers and creative businesses have been featured in the fi rst three issues. The magazine was founded by by Atelier ID Global of Paxton. Michelle May and Payal Thiff ault founded the design agency in 2017. “ORIGIN” will feature more than 55 pieces of art from local and national artists. Local highlights include work by the fi rst cover photographer Frank Armstrong, whose show “American Roadsides” opens soon at Fitchburg Art Museum; Archy LaSalle and Tara Sellios, both featured in The Museum of Fine Arts Boston collection; ArtsWorcester’s Sally Bishop Prize winner Kat O’Connor; CMAI artists John Pagano and Cesar Rodrigues who, are currently on view at Worcester Art Museum.John Pagano; and artists Robin Reynolds, Shabnam Jannesari, Lisa Barthelson, Lydia Kinney, Patti Kelly, Don Hartmann, Scott Boilard, Karen Nunley, Kate Morgan, Piya Samant, Carrie Crane and Keri Anderson. The opening and launch party is free. Face masks and either vaccination cards or negative PCR tests are required for entry. “The creative economy is such a signifi cant part of every ecosystem from business to entertainment. The magazine features the work of creatives and creative businesses from all over the world, as we share their contribution to community and mark how they are essential,” Juniper Rag says in a statement. “Our commitment is to deepen serious emerging, middle to professional level artists’ relationships with viewers, offering new opportunities to share their work and expand their networks.” For more information about Juniper Rag, visit www.juniperrag.com.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | 13

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Lisa Hayden Lisa Hayden Special to Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Writes Lisa Hayden: "Is nature ever untouched by human inﬂ uence? I explore this intersection on my canvas, combining a lifetime love of painting and the natural world. Using a palette of blues and greens and expressive motion, I aim to capture the feeling of both the outside world and the touches left behind by human creations — a vertical stroke suggesting fences, old piers, boats, windows. Painted and textured with brushes and palette knives, my work ranges from seascapes and abstracted land-

scapes to fully abstract pieces. Each painting is a journey in itself, with a captured sense of time passing and experiences lived." Hayden studied painting at the University of Miami before returning to her native Massachusetts where she continued classes in painting and other art forms at the Danforth Museum and Worcester Art Museum. Four years painting in an environment of warm ocean waves, wild greenery, and colorful architecture has melded with the last 30 years of New

England shores, forests, ﬁ elds, and the Boston Seaport to create her visual viewpoint. Though she lives in Northborough, she considers most of New England to be a local drive and participates in many art events throughout the region, from Cape Cod to Portland, Maine. Visit www.MeltedTheory.com for more about the artist, including local events This Artist Spotlight is presented by Worcester Magazine in partnership with ArtsWorcester. Since 1979, ArtsWorcester has exhibited and advanced

“Wooded and Open,” acrylic on canvas, 24” x 36” LISA HAYDEN/ARTSWORCESTER

the work of this region's contemporary artists. Its exhibitions and educational events

are open and free to all. Learn more at www.artsworcester.org.

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COVER STORY

CANNABIS CONFIDENTIAL An ongoing journey into the heart of Worcester’s marijuana scene Continued on next page

Workers tend marijuana plants Sept. 9 in the grow room at Mission Dispensary in Worcester. T&G STAFF/CHRISTINE PETERSON

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | 15

A man prepares marijuana for smoking at the Summit Lounge in 2019. T&G FILE PHOTO/RICK CINCLAIR Eric Casey Special to Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

It feels appropriate that Worcester has become the hub of the region’s cannabis scene. In a strange sort of way, the growth of the city in the past decade has mirrored the growth of the industry. Around 2012, telling someone you planned to move to Worcester or telling someone you planned on getting involved in the cannabis industry would have often elicited a similar response of bemusement, or even concern. Now, Worcester’s “renaissance” and the cannabis industry both have national buzz and a burgeoning reputation. In both cases, the people who were involved before the buzz are left to wonder if there’s a place for them in this new world. Folks who have lived in Worcester their entire lives now watch the construction of new developments wearily, wondering what this means for the cost of living, wondering if this means the end of the city as they know it. Similarly, those who were involved in the legalization movement (or the illicit market) before cannabis became the topic du jour wonder if there’s any room for them in an industry that is suddenly ﬂ ush with cash and interest from corporate America.

I’ve worked in the cannabis business as long as there has been a legal industry here in my home state of Massachusetts. When I started as an intern for a cannabis business consulting fi rm in the winter of 2014, medical dispensaries had yet to open, and I shared an offi ce with two other people in my boss’ attic. By the time legalization had been approved in 2016, we had a State Street offi ce overlooking the Old State House in Boston, and millions of dollars of investments were fl owing into the state, as large corporations sought to gobble up as many business licenses as possible.

In the years since, I’ve bounced around a bit and worn a number of hats in the industry — policy analyst, legalization campaign volunteer, dispensary outreach coordinator, and cannabis transport driver — to name a few. Whether it be witnessing the unbridled joy of the 2016 legalization campaign victory party, or having an octogenarian threaten to kill me at a public meeting for attempting to help a cannabis business open in his town, I’ve seen a lot in this caSee CANNABIS, Page 19

16 | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

LISTEN UP

Michael Gutierrez-May oﬀ ers quirky, empathetic ‘Drifting to the Right’ Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

In 2020, mental health therapist Michael Gutierrez-May of Uxbridge ended up in the limelight for all the wrong reasons when his song “Cold Wind, Warm Breeze, Hot Girls, Cool Dudes” was mocked on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The admittedly goofy song had been written and recorded in an hour for an online challenge, and in no way should have been fodder for the late-night funnyman. But having gone through that ordeal, it seems only fair to review GutierrezMay’s most-recent actually intentionally released album, “Drifting to the Right.” And that’s good, because while it is certainly a quirky, unconventional album, it’s also a fascinating one: Work that manages to be both lovely at turns and also more than a little weird. The album starts with the off beat, “Brooklyn for Beginners.” It’s more spoken than sung, making it a bit more of poem than a song. Gutierrez-May’s voice has a slightly off -kilter warble, but with the accompanying piano by Karen Sauer, the result is a charming love letter to the New York borough. It’s also a nice, gentle way of easing the listener into the album, which takes an immediate turn into more serious subject matter with the title song, “Drifting to the Right.” “He’s hurting and he’s angry,” sings Gutierrez-May, “He’s looking for a fi ght/ he’s losing his perspective/ and drifting to the right.” Perhaps it’s that he’s a therapist by trade, but Gutierrez-May approaches this song with a great deal of empathy, watching an old acquaintance unravel under the pressure of a world which seems more frightening and more beyond his control with each passing day.” Gutierrez-May’s off beat vocal stylings actually manage to highlight the song’s sense of compassion, while the lovely harmonies by Colette O’Connor make them soar. Gutierrez-May’s biggest strength throughout this album is that ability to

Michael Gutierrez-May’s most-recent album is “Drifting to the Right.” SPECIAL TO THE T&G/SABRINA GODIN

look beyond the ﬂ aring rage and into people’s underlying pain. That’s a rare gift in this world, and it’s even more striking when someone can do it without capitulating to the cultural forces that proﬁ t from stoking that sort of rage. This is particularly on display with “Head Full of Garbage,” the ode to Jan. 6 insurrectionist, Ashli Babbitt, who died in the storming of the U.S. Capitol. There’s a sense of regret in the song, a recognition of tragedy, even as he sings, “at the U.S. Capitol/a woman died/head full of garbage/(expletive) and lies.” Gutierrez-May exhibits no sympathy for the forces that drove the insurrection, but he does reserve sympathy for people

caught up in the madness. He looks past the rage to ﬁ nd humanity. That’s a more rare gift than it might seem. Structurally, most of Gutierrez-May’s songs are simple, even unassuming. “I’m a Realist” is a gentle acknowledgement that a father won’t likely be there for his child forever, a gentle melody highlighted particularly by Raianne Richards’ ﬂ ute. Likewise, “Dream” – which features a lovely piano roll near the beginning from Sauer and subtle blues harp touches and atmospheric synth keyboards from producer Stephen Martin – simply reveals a desire to dream at night without nightmares. The songs are sold by their delicacy and ear-

nestness. They resonate with honesty. While there’s a lot good about this album, it’s not going to be to everyone’s taste. There’s a sort of indelible weirdness that many people won’t be able to look past, but it’s worth the eﬀ ort. The song “Never Again,” for example, begins with surreal imagery – “It was on the porch from Amazon, a small atomic bomb/I ordered atomic ﬁ reballs, imagine my aplomb!” – then spirals into the frustration of trying to get reimbursed for an erroneous online banking transaction, then into the wild rhetoric and realities of election obstruction, singSee ‘DRIFTING’, Page 17

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | 17

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Twix Twix was surrendered to WARL when her owner was deployed. Twix is a delightful lady, who has delicate tastes. She prefers people to other rambunctious guinea pigs, vegetables, and of course time to popcorn around her cage. Twix will do ﬁ ne as an independent guinea pig as long as her person or people give her plenty of love and spend time with her so she does not get lonely. If you are interested in meeting Twix, please email us at info@worcesterarl.org to schedule an appointment. As a reminder, in order to adopt a pet from WARL, you must be 21 or older and be able to show proof of home ownership or lease/

rental approval to have pets. Adoption Option is 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. COVID-19 Protocols: The Worcester Animal Rescue League remains closed to walkin visits with the animals and appointments must be made, in advance, to meet with any of the animals. Masks are required. Visit https://worcesterarl.org/ for more information. Twix is available through WARL's animal adoption program. SUBMITTED PHOTO

‘Drifting’ Continued from Page 16

ing, “I stood all day and tried to vote and fi nally wore out.” He traces the thousand pinpricks of rage, from the trivial to the alarming, and reveals how people feel pushed to extremes, or at least to heartbreak. “Cadillac Dreams” is, in a lot of ways, one of the latter types of songs. Indeed, in a lot of ways its pretty much a straight-up blues number. Gutierrez-May crafts a noirish narrative of adultery and betrayal, even as his innate sense of humanity shines through, and the song is elevated by O’Connor’s vocals and Cliff Goodwin’s whiskey-soaked blues guitar. The album’s penultimate song, “It is What It Is,” returns to the litany of a world on fi re, from wildfi res in the West to the Black Lives Matter protests. It’s interesting how the

song’s persona tries to take the same tack as in, “I’m a Realist,” but there’s a deﬁ nite building sense of being overwhelmed. He takes the rage which has been simmering across the album – across the last few years – and demonstrates how easily it can infect a person. The album ends with the song, “Imaginary Tomato,” where he sings, “I threw an imaginary tomato at the Trump International Hotel.” From there, the song – accompanied again by Goodwin’s guitar – explores the corrupting inﬂ uence of rage, how, “Even an army of deadly nightshades couldn’t straighten this thing out.” All your left with is rage, which is pretty much where this album began. It’s the kind of rage that feeds on itself, and consumes everything it touches, especially the person carrying it. GutierrezMay handles that rage gingerly, and while his songs might seem unusual, his perspective and empathy resonate beautifully.

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THE NEXT DRAFT

After hiatus, Rapscallion to reopen in February at Sturbridge homestead Matthew Tota Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Rapscallion Brewery’s new Fiskdale pub opened briefl y last summer before the pressure from the pandemic and a misunderstanding with another tenant – by all accounts over food truck hot dogs – forced it on hiatus. Short as its time at 3 Arnold Road was, Rapscallion found over those four glorious months a more than suitable replacement for its former homestead at Hyland Orchard, where it spent nearly a decade before leaving at the end of 2020. In February, Rapscallion will reopen the pub, this time with its own food program after taking over Homefi eld Kitchen & Brewery’s old space downstairs. “We’re feeling pride and a little more pressure,” said Rapscallion co-owner Cedric Daniels of reopening the pub. “We have a great community that we serve. A lot of them live in this town, but a lot of them just love coming to this town. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to come back. If it wasn't for this location, Sturbridge might have been on hold.” Rapscallion closed the pub in August, in part because its partnership with Homefi eld, which had been providing food to fulfi ll a license stipulation, ended. Rather than rush to come up with another plan, Rapscallion opted to temporarily close the pub. For the last 5 months it has focused on fi nishing its brewery and taproom in Spencer, where it makes all of its beer. and getting its production schedule back to normal. “We would have been ready months ago,” Daniels said. “We decided as a company to focus on See DRAFT, Page 19

Rapscallion Brewery is set to reopen its pub on Arnold Road in Sturbridge later this month. The brewery has made few changes to the decades-old building, once more to the Napoleon Restaurant. SUBMITTED PHOTO

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | 19

Draft Continued from Page 18

getting Spencer up and running.” When Rapscallion leased the space on Arnold Road, it started working with Homefi eld to meet the food requirement. For most of last year, Homefi eld operated more as a to-go restaurant and fermentory. Owners Jonathan Cook and Suzanne LePage felt they had to close their tiny. rustic taproom — always fi lled with warm people and good music — to the public and relished Homefi eld’s new direction. Rapscallion’s moving upstairs gave Homefi eld yet another outlet for its food and brews. And Cook and LePage initially were excited at the prospects of teaming up with Rapscallion. The partnership deteriorated somewhere along the way, though. Daniels said Rapscallion expected to open the pub seven days a week and hoped Homefi eld’s kitchen could meet that schedule. On days Homefi eld could not off er food service, Rapscallion suggested that it could bring in a food truck. Daniels said he might have suggested hot dogs. “I told them, ‘Your food program is awesome because you're passionate.’ So we wanted them to handle 100% of the food,” Daniels said. “They did fantastic. His (Cook’s) crew did fantastic. But for the off -days, when we needed a solution, there was some sensitivity there.” Homefi eld felt blindsided by the suggestion, later accusing Daniels and Rapscallion of operating the pub without an occupancy permit. Daniels, for his part, said Rapscallion never opened without the town’s permission. Then in the fall, Homefi eld announced on Facebook it would not renew its lease after over six years on Arnold Road, posting a goodbye message

along with the hours for its fi nal days. “None of us will ever forget the many magic moments over the years,” Homefi eld said. “It's been a great experience and, even though events beyond our control radically changed our trajectory, we have no complaints. We say goodbye with gratitude and a strong sense that our mission has many more seasons ahead.” As of this week, Cook and LePage were not ready to share their plans for Homefi eld’s future. With Homefi eld leaving, Rapscallion moved into the newly-empty downstairs space, complete with a full kitchen and a bar. Daniels and his brother Peter have launched two successful restaurants in Acton and Concord, so they were confi dent in reopening the pub with their food program. The menu will consist of around 20 items, Daniels said, including gluten-free and vegan options. “We envision a spin-off of both Acton and Concord, but just at a smaller scale,” he said. The pub is it to open in two phases, Daniels said. First, Rapscallion wants to get the kitchen up and running, then add the second bar and additional seating downstairs. Between the upstairs and downstairs, the pub can hold around 100 people, he said, not including all of the outdoor seating. After so many years at Hyland Orchard, Rapscallion has missed having a regular spot in Sturbridge. And Daniels is antsy for the brewery’s return. “The three or four months we were open, it was fantastic. We were still in a lull of the pandemic, but people were thrilled we were down the street,” he said. “We were able to retain a lot of the charm and character of our company.” For updates on the offi cial reopening date for Rapscallion’s Sturbridge pub, visit https://www.facebook.com/ DrinkRapscallion.

Cannabis Continued from Page 15

reer which has brought me to every corner of the commonwealth. Now, I’m putting aside my vocation in cannabis for something I believe will be much more fulﬁ lling: Getting a chance to be open and honest about my thoughts on developments in the industry and cannabis scene. I’m hoping that my experience and unique viewpoint of this space will allow me use this column to peel back the curtain and answer some burning questions that your average cannabis consumer may have, such as: •Why is the pre-rolled I’m smoking burning so unevenly? (It has a lot to do with how they’re stored) •Why does my local dispensary have a new cast of budtenders every few months? (It

turns out working in the cannabis industry isn’t always all sunshine and medicated lollipops) •Where did I put that damn lighter? (Check behind the sofa cushion) Occasionally, A portion of these columns may — in the eyes of some in the insular and secretive cannabis industry — make me a traitor to my profession. It is what it is. I’ll chalk that up as the cost of shining a bit of light on an industry that has been largely hidden behind opaque windows, opaque packaging, and general opaqueness about who is actually growing your weed — and how. That being said, this column won’t be all doom and gloom. I am not a former cannabis industry worker scorned, so to speak. There are — despite signiﬁ cant odds — good people producing high quality products right here in Central Massachusetts. I look

forward to talking with them. There’s also people who have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, who have somehow managed to navigate the state’s arcane application process to start their own legal cannabis companies, overcoming a litany of roadblocks along the way. All of these folks deserve to have their stories told. Regardless of the subject, the through-line of this column will always be this: Cannabis consumers, workers, and the general public at-large deserve transparency and a voice. Cannabis coverage in the Commonwealth has come a long way since 2016, but it largely still follows the topdown coverage approach of quoting press releases and executives, allowing businesses to shape the narrative. It’s high time for someone to ﬂ ip the script and start analyzing the cannabis scene from the bottom up.

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NEW ON DVD

Paul Rudd, left, and Mckenna Grace in a scene from “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” SONY PICTURES

‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ dusts oﬀ the proton packs A reboot of the 1980s spectral comedy franchise tops the DVD releases for the week of Feb. 1. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”: A third sequel to the slacker comedy about busting ghosts, this time with the next generation tackling the spectral presence (and intergenerational legacies) in rural Oklahoma. Helmed by Jason Reitman, son of “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman, the reboot “brings a new family into the ghostbusting dynasty, which includes a single mom, Callie (Carrie Coon), and her two kids: brainy tween Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and gawky teen Tre-

vor (Finn Wolfhard),” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. “Callie is a bit of a loser, bad with money and down on her luck. When her estranged father dies and she inherits his property, she hauls her kids oﬀ to rural Oklahoma to investigate the value of his ramshackle old dirt farm,” Walsh continues. “As one might surmise, said ramshackle old dirt farm is bursting with mysterious artifacts and ghost-hunting gear. With Phoebe’s round glasses, mop of dark curly hair and skill with numbers, anyone with even the most casual passing interest in ‘Ghostbusters’ can

see where this family story is going.” ALSO NEW ON DVD FEB. 1 “Cliﬀ ord the Big Red Dog”: New movie adaptation of the beloved children’s books by Norman Bridwell about the adventures of Emily Elizabeth and her big red dog Cliﬀ ord, romping about New York City. Directed by Walt Becker and starring Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, John Cleese and Tony Hale. “Deadlock”: Bruce Willis leads a group of mercenaries who hold a nuclear power plant for ransom, with a military veteran who works at the plant being the only person in a posi-

tion to stop them. “The Spine of Night”: Animated ultra-violent fantasy fi lm set in a magical realm where heroes from across the ages are fi ghting to stop a malevolent force. With voices by Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel and Joe Manganiello. “Superhost”: Horror thriller about two travel vloggers who decide to create viral content around their most recent “superhost” in a last ditch eff ort to gain viral internet fame, unaware of the woman’s sinister intentions. “Wayne’s World”: Limited edition Blu-ray SteelBook cele-

brating the 30th anniversary of the comedy classic, originally released Feb. 14, 1992, that chronicles the adventures of slackers Wayne and Garth, the “Saturday Night Live” characters made famous by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey. OUT ON DIGITAL HD FEB. 1 “They/Them/Us”: Two divorced parents, both in their 40s, ﬁ nd themselves at a crossroads as they try to juggle being single parents with an adult romantic relationship. “City of Vultures 2”: A gangster rejects an opportunity to go straight and instead makes moves to take over the South Side of Chicago.

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22 | FEBRUARY 4 - 10, 2022 | 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!

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Across 1. Air marshal’s org. 4. Hilarity, on the Interwebs 8. West ___ (Long Island locale) 13. “Believe” singer 14. Opera showstopper 15. See 22-Across 16. Flag position in remembrance 18. Go inside 19. Holiday visitor, maybe 20. “Along with all the rest” abbr. 22. With 15-Across, “A Change Is Gonna Come” singer 23. Robbie who was Cousin Oliver on “The Brady Bunch” 26. “Famous Potatoes” state 28. Meat and mushroom dish originally made with a mustard and sour cream sauce 33. Notable time division 34. Appear 35. Column style simpler than ionic 37. Bits of work 39. Prepares, as kiwifruit 42. Prefix before “plasmosis” 43. Ancient artifact 45. First-timer, slangily 47. Yes, in France 48. German-born NBA player who appeared multiple times on “Parks & Recreation” 52. “You ___ not pass!” 53. Gang leader? 54. Mo. for most of Sagittarius 56. Promotional bit 58. Skewered dish 62. Knock for ___ 64. 1986 Fabulous Thunderbirds song (or the album it was on) 67. Neutral brownish color 68. Singer Fitzgerald 69. Low quartet? 70. Adjust to fit 71. Archetype for one of “The Odd Couple” 72. Miss Piggy, for one Down 1. “Easier said ___ done” 2. Put on the marketplace

“Fenders”--failing to see the significance here. by Matt Jones

3. Pound sound 4. Back muscle, in the gym 5. “Kia ___” (Maori greeting) 6. Subject of many toasts 7. Rubenesque 8. Country with fjords 9. “Sanford and ___” 10. What uncramped areas have 11. Furniture store with meatballs 12. Salon do 13. Sox home, on scoreboards 17. Reuben ingredient 21. Org. recommending regular checkups 24. Instruction part 25. Word after family or phone 27. Owl sound 28. Pub pour 29. Miscalculated 30. Earner of 21 merit badges 31. “Good ___” (Gaiman/ Pratchett novel) 32. Repair 36. Salon do 38. “Revenge of the ___” (“Star Wars” subtitle) 40. Key’s partner 41. “Last Night in ___” (2021 film) 44. Sound-activated infomercial gadget 46. Out of money

49. Joint with a 90-degree bend 50. Grade school orchestra section 51. Justice Kagan and forward Delle Donne, for two 54. Numbers to be crunched 55. Airline with Hebrew letters in the logo 57. Beach bird 59. Osso ___ (Italian dish) 60. Not too many 61. Some partners, for short 63. Unlock, in poetry 65. “Low” rapper ___ Rida 66. Beatles adjective

Last week's solution

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