Worcester Magazine April 22 - 28, 2022 by Worcester Magazine

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 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, Eric Casey, Sarah Connell Sanders, Shaun Connolly, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, 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 ..........................................................................9 Cover Story.......................................................................14 Artist Spotlight................................................................15 Next Draft .........................................................................17 Listen Up...........................................................................22 5 Things To Do.................................................................23 Games................................................................................26 Last Call.............................................................................27

On the cover "The Prom" is coming to the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, as part of the venue's Broadway Series. PHOTO COURTESY DEEN VAN MEER; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DANI CHERCHIO/USA TODAY NETWORK, GETTY IMAGES

4 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

FEATURED

Veteran singer-songwriter Tom Rush at BrickBox Theater for an ‘annual farewell’ Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Early in 2020, veteran folk/blues musician and singer-songwriter Tom Rush announced his “First Annual Farewell Tour.” “Emphasis, ‘annual,’” Rush said during a recent telephone interview. The tour didn’t get very far. Indeed, Rush came up with a T-shirt, the “Farewell Tour, Pandemic Edition,” with all the gigs that didn’t happen crossed out (67 of them), plus the 14 that did happen in bold. (You can buy the T-shirt on www.tomrush.com.) But despite what he called “a curious couple of years,” Rush is back touring, and will perform at the BrickBox Theater at the JMAC in Worcester at 7:30 p.m. April 23 accompanied by Matt Nakoa. “I just did three out west,” said Rush, 81, who lives in Southern Maine, about some shows earlier this month in Arizona and California. “I think I’m on the fi fth annual farewell tour at this point.” In addition to the pandemic shutting down all the venues for the fi rst annual farewell tour, Rush went down with COVID. “I got the virus early on, mid-March, 2020. I do not recommend it at all. I got off lightly. It was four weeks of feeling crummy,” he said. During the pandemic he launched an online weekly series “Rockport Sundays.” Rush lived in Rockport until recently and one of his best known songs is “Rockport Sunday.” The series is still ongoing (details at www.tomrush.com). He’s also had four vaccinations, and slowly started performing live again, fi rst at private outdoor gatherings, then public events outside, and now indoors. He noted that most of the venues he’s played at have restrictions and requirements, including the wearing of masks.

In Case You Go What: Tom Rush, accompanied by Matt Nakoa When: 7:30 p.m. April 23 Where: BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, 20B Franklin Street, Worcester How much: $50 general admission. www.jmacworcester.org

Rush still enjoys performing live and in-person, and his shows have always had the reputation of Rush being amusingly engaging with stories for the audience. “The travel is the hard part ... The couple of hours I get to play on stage, that’s the fun part. They don’t call it ‘play’ for no reason,” he said. Besides which, “I learned when you tell a joke to a video camera it doesn’t laugh.” On his tours, whether farewell or otherwise, Rush has been a fairly regular visitor to Central Massachusetts. In 2018 he gave the inaugural concert to the Grafton Performing Arts Series at Apple Tree Arts’ Great Hall, One Grafton Common, in Grafton. The historic Great Hall had been renovated as an intimate 150-seat venue. He returned there for second concert in 2019. The BrickBox Theater at the JMAC in Worcester is also still a relatively new performance space, coming into play gradually since 2020 when a big opening was nixed by the pandemic. “I’m looking forward to it. I hear it’s a fabulous space,” Rush said. Rush was born in Portsmouth, N.H., and grew up in Concord, N.H. where his father was a teacher at St. Paul’s School. Rush was an English major at Harvard University and while a student he began his musical career in the early 1960s playing the Boston-area clubs including See RUSH, Page 5

Tom Rush is back touring, and will perform at the BrickBox Theater at the JMAC in Worcester. PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL WISEMAN

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 5

Rush Continued from Page 4

the legendary Club 47, where he had a weekly spot and got to know some great artists and artists who would become great. Rush had released two albums by the time he graduated. His rich, warm voice added dimensions to folk standards, but in 1966 “Take a Little Walk with Me” he covered tunes by Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Bo Diddley, as well as recording an original song for the fi rst time, “On the Road Again.” His 1968 album “The Circle Game” was Rush’s big breakout. He sang songs by the then still relatively obscure Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor in wonderfully interpretative renditions that helped them gain recognition, as well as playing what would be his own biggest hit, the poignant “No Regrets.” “I just wanted some great songs to deliver an album and was overdue - two years overdue,” Rush said. “All of a sudden, along came Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor.” Besides folk and blues, Rush has explored country, with covers of songs making up the majority of his albums until ... “I don’t know why I started writing so much,” Rush said. “What I Know” was his fi rst studio album in 35 years when it was released in 2009 with fi ve Rush compositions out of the album’s 12 tracks. Then in 2018 his album “Voices” featured 10 original Rush compositions and just two other numbers. Both albums were recorded with producer Jim Rooney in Nashville. Rush considers “Voices” to be “my best work so far.” In terms of his own material it constituted “one third of my output of 60 years.” One review said “he (Rush) has found his own muse, and it’s really beautiful ... the album is just a joyful warm expression of life, it just feels lived-in and it feels like something you can live with – and his voice is still beautiful.” Rush eschews labels for his music, new or old. “I know folk music no longer means what it means to me. It’s come to mean anyone with a guitar, and I’d rather be a singer-songwriter,” he said. He recalled that once he was in a record store where his albums were in the folk section. Rush pointed out to the

Singer-songwriter Tom Rush announced his “First Annual Farewell Tour” in 2020. “Emphasis on ‘annual,’” he says. PHOTO COURTESTY TOM WHITE

manager that he has also sung blues. The manager put his album in the blues section. Rush then told the manager that he’s recorded country as well. Rush’s albums ended up in the “Miscellaneous” section. “I learned my lesson not to argue about genres,” he said. He recently moved from Rockport to Southern Maine, close to Portsmouth, N.H., where he was born. Rush noted that the hospital where he was born “has been converted to an old age home. I thought ‘Hmmm, there could be some symmetry.’ “ Meanwhile, the songwriting has continued during the pandemic. “I have no idea where the songs come from, and the odd thing is I have no recollection of writing the songs,” Rush said. “In my experience I do the writing early in the morning before I’m even awake yet.” Then, “after the third cup of coﬀ ee the editing kicks in.” Rush has enough songs for a new album. “I think the next one will come out even better,” he said.

However, a number of recording studios in Nashville have been closed as the city has been a COVID hot spot, he said. And Rush would like more than just “enough” songs so that he can pick and choose for his new album. “You need a surplus.” He said in his experience a song that seems like it should be a surefi re hit can fi zzle at various stages, while one that you don’t think can make it does. Take “No Regrets,” for example. “The fi rst person I sang it for was Judy Collins, and she was not enthusiastic. I put it aside for a few years.” “No Regrets” has now been covered by numerous artists. In England, the Walker Brothers version was in the Top Ten, something that Rush has credited with helping him put his children through college. “Emmylou Harris recorded it and that was the start. I don’t know where Shirley Bassey got it,” Rush said. The way a song gets around “is kind of a mystery. It takes some luck.” A few years ago he put up his perfor-

mance of “The Remember Song” on YouTube just to see if anyone would like it, he said. “Well like it’s got seven-and-a-half million plays now,” Rush said. He introduces many of his new songs “from my kitchen table” on the “Rockport Sundays” series. He’ll also play a few at the BrickBox Theater April 23. But of course, “We’ll do all the old favorites. That’s what people want to hear. Along with three or four new ones no one’s ever heard before.” Matt Nakoa also accompanied Rush at Apple Tree Arts in Grafton and the two have done a number of concerts together. Nakoa is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, a pianist, guitarist, singer and a songwriter with some acclaimed compositions in his own right. “He is a monster talent,” Rush said. Nakoa will get to play some of his original songs at the BrickBox. “He always steals the show and I pay him to do it and I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” Rush said.

6 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Wait? The Hotel Vernon serves food now!?!? Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

“We heard you started selling food here,” a young patron said as he walked into the Hotel Vernon with a friend on April 14. It has only been a week since the historic dive bar began to serve food — something that may not seem newsworthy to an outsider but to Worcesterites, it’s literally the talk of the town. In the wake of local favorites such as Nick’s Bar and Restaurant closing their doors, news that the Vernon has become a gastropub has caused quite a stir, especially when it prides itself on staying the same. “We’re happy to surprise people,” said owner Bob Largess with a laugh. According to him, the establishment wanted to be diff erent, “the Hotel Vernon is in diff erent waters, and we’ve got a new wind in our sails.” The kitchen, which has not been used in 22 years, has now been resurrected and brought up to code, and is serving Vietnamese fare courtesy of the new chefs. The food itself is not regular pub food but a fusion mix of fried seafood, a variety of sandwiches, stir fried noodle dishes, Pho soups and other Vietnamese cuisine. “It’s a good opportunity for Worcester to reconnect to the Asian community.” Food as diverse as the clientele, I was told. And as diverse as Worcester, to be honest. That evening the chefs hadn’t arrived yet, so there were no samples of the bar’s new food. “We’re a work in progress, but up and running,” said the Hotel Vernon Facebook page. Following the initial surprise, the news has elicited mixed reactions, including excitement, indiff erence and mild suspicion. When asked if they were planning to start eating at the Vernon, long-time patrons Michael and Katie Sullivan, shook their heads with a smile. “We’ll stick with Vincent’s,” said Michael. However, even if they don’t order food here, the bar has been an island of consistency for the Sullivans, who have been patrons for 40 years, in a city in the midst of a sea-change. Built in 1901, the place has stayed afl oat over the course of 122 years, through prohibition, the Great Depression, highway construction, a recession, and most recently COVID. However, the lack of smooth sailing seems to have only contributed to its character — and yes, I’m going all in on the nautical idioms, for reasons obvious to any Worcesterite or really anyone who has set foot in the bar for more than fi ve minutes. Largess is understanding of the issues that people face after two years of the pandemic. “People don’t go out the way they used to,” he said, and when they do, “there’s an elephant in the room, called cannabis — if you’re in your 20s, and go out on the weekend you’ve already dropped $100 before you get to a bar.” Like Worcester itself, the Vernon is bigger and more complicated than it fi rst appears. Upon entering, my fi rst thought was that it was almost oppressively small, before seeing the entrance to a pool table room and beyond that, entering, what I was told, was called the Ship Room. A small stage occupies the end of the Ship Room that hosts regular music shows or events.

The Hotel Vernon, during the recent reconstruction of Kelley Square. T&G STAFF/RICK CINCLAIR

“My parents had their wedding reception here in 1955,” said Sullivan. This backroom entertainment area is meant to look like the inside of an old-style yacht, complete with porthole windows, and wall to wall ship models, hence its name. As a lifelong New Englander, despite having little, if any, desire to sail, nautical imagery will always make me feel at home. “Every time I come here, I pop in to check on the boats,” said another patron, who introduced himself as Matt, a regular who may not have as many years under his belt as the Sullivans but seems just as enamored. “I’m 27, and I’ve been coming here since I was 21,” he said. Despite its long running history, I was told that the place is popular with a younger crowd, and the one dollar draft beers make it easy to see why. Surprisingly, some of the patrons prefer to keep a respectful distance from the food. Musician and radio host Nick Noble demurred and said, “I prefer to order from Kelley Square Pizza but the beer is still good.” He observed that the Vernon is much less messy now and chalked it up to the lack of peanuts, which he missed. “And open singing in the Ship Room on the fourth Wednesday of every month,” is not to be missed. Tony Wilson chuckled and stated that he would only eat there, “if you trust they’ve sorted out the rat problem.” On Twitter, three diﬀ erent people cryptically responded to the news saying “holy (expletive)” which could be taken either way.

During Prohibition, the Hotel Vernon was the most popular speakeasy in Worcester. With the façade of an inn, it served as a speakeasy to those who knew about that aspect of the business. Today, the speakeasy in the basement doesn’t look like much, but in its day, it counted Babe Ruth as a frequent patron, and is even credited with mixing the fi rst ever Cape Cod cocktail. To get in, you had to knock on the right door and say, "I’m looking for the yacht club." When asked, "who sent you?" you had to reply "Madame Rhubarb" (a Polish chambermaid.) There have also been other changes at the Hotel Vernon. It used to be open from 3 pm to 2 am seven days a week, but they have cut back to 3 pm to midnight. Largess refl ected how “we used to all go 24/7 and never be able to keep up with ourselves — now we are closed on Mondays, so we can do the stuff we need to do and everybody gets a day off .” He indicated it was a conscious decision to change the hours because, “how people go to bars and hang out at them has changed.” He went on to say that “it’s a challenge to anyone and everyone who has to survive in this business — it has changed and will keep changing.” Refl ecting the changing times and the evolving nature of a city whose time has come, even old-timer institutions like the stubbornly traditional Hotel Vernon can adapt.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 7

‘The Great Gig In The Sky’ celebrates musician Mike Schiavone’s legacy Robert Duguay Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Ever since his passing on February 28, the void that Milford’s Mike Schiavone left behind has been felt all over New England. Through his time as the guitarist in Providence bands Slurp and Delish Music, with the Springfi eld reggae-punk act Danny Pease & The Regulators, and his time fi xing and selling guitars and various types of gear at Empire Guitars in Providence, he was a major fi xture in the region’s music community. His talents justifi ed the acclaim he received from his contemporaries and he never had a bad word to say about anyone. Schiavone always had a welcoming personality and when you were in the same room with him you knew you were in the right place. In remembrance and celebration of the life he lived, “The Great Gig In The Sky” will be happening at Electric Haze on 26 Millbury Street in Worcester at 8 p.m. April 22. Delish Music will be co-presenting the show with Electric Haze’s in-house booker Shepheard Productions, with local funk staples the William Thompson Funk Experiment coming back after a long hiatus. Providence psych-rock trio The Cosmic Factory and North Shore turntablist Icculus will be opening things up. “We fi rst met Mike around 10 years ago at The Spot Underground in Providence,” William Thompson Funk Experiment co-vocalist & co-guitarist Nick Ramey says about Schiavone. “He was one of a handful of people in the room that night and I remember him distinctly coming up to me after our set and telling me how much he enjoyed it, it’s safe to say we hit it off immediately. Over the years he would attend almost all if not every one of our shows in the area, he became a close friend of all of ours and was one one of the people we looked forward to seeing. He could light up a room with his personality and beyond that was one hell of a guitar player. Most importantly, Mike was just the nicest guy and he gave everything he had to our lo-

The William Thompson Funk Experiment will participate in “The Great Gig in the Sky” at Electric Haze. PHOTO COURTESY GRATEFUL OWL

Late musician Mike Schiavone’s legacy will be celebrated at “The Great Gig in the Sky.” PHOTO COURTESY ANTHONY ZALOWSKI

cal music scene.” “We ran into our mutual friend Lee Canales at Mike’s wake,” he adds. “Lee and Mike played in Delish Music together along with our drummer Derrick and our friend Rory. He asked us if we would be interested in re-uniting to play a beneﬁ t show in honor of Mike. It’s been about two and a half years since we have stepped on stage together but I couldn’t think of a more appropriate reason to do so. We know how much we meant to Schiavone as a band and we want to do right by him and rock out for all his friend’s along with our buddies in The Cosmic Factory.” During the last weekend of Schiavone’s life, he performed a Nirvana tribute show at Dusk on 301 Harris Avenue in Providence. With him on guitar and See GIG, Page 8

8 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Creative Hub Worcester set to host gala at Mercantile Center Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Creative Hub Worcester will host its Inaugural Gala on April 29 at the Mercantile Center in downtown Worcester. The gala will include a silent auction, raffl es, a buff et dinner and live entertainment. Creative Hub Worcester is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing aff ordable and accessible opportunities in the arts for all Worcester area community members, with a focus on youth and communities who may be at-risk or underserved. The gala evening will begin with a "VIP" cocktail hour at 5 p.m. including a sneak peek at the silent auction, hors

d'oeuvres, a meet and greet with the evening's performers, and a special live performance. Doors open for general admission at 6 p.m. and the gala will feature food from various local food businesses throughout Worcester County, a cash bar provided by Struck Catering, a fashion show from local fashion designer Emmanuel Carboo (WavvzNewage), and performances by Guardians of Traditions (celebrating the traditions of Dominican Carnival), and Flamenco Worcester. Adael Mejia, the City of Worcester’s Youth Poet Laureate, will be performing spoken word poetry during the event. Dancing will be to music provided by DanceAway Sound Productions. Later in the evening the organiza-

The co-founders of Creative Hub Worcester are Worcester art teacher Stacy Lord, left, and Laura Marotta, executive director of the organization. CHRISTINE PETERSON/T&G STAFF

tion's co-founders, Stacy Lord and Laura Marotta, will unveil the new branding and website for Creative Hub Worcester before it goes live to the public. "For the past six years, Stacy and I have conceptualized and grown Creative Hub into an organization that uses art as a vehicle for healing and social change,” said Laura Marotta in a statement.

“The gala is a representation of the deepest roots of our community and celebration of all of our identities. We’re excited for you all to join us for this immersive and joyful evening.” Tickets are $75 general admission; $100 "VIP." www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-hub-inaugural-galatickets-277721611817

Gig

being a part of it,” Raposo adds. “He was an integral part of our community in so many ways whether he was playing with Slurp, ﬁ xing your guitar at Empire Guitars or just coming out to shows to support his friends. From Strange Brew in Connecticut to Electric Haze in Worcester and various venues in Providence, it's pretty clear what kind of impact he's had, and continues to have, on our regional scene. I’m super grateful to have been able to play those Nirvana songs with him that last weekend of February.” All proceeds from the upcoming show will go towards the establishing of a foundation that’s being created in Schiavone’s honor. Whether you knew him or not, it’s a great opportunity to check out some incredible acts in recognition of someone who impacted local music around these parts in an incredibly positive way.

Continued from Page 7

The Cosmic Factory is one of the openers for “The Great Gig in the Sky.” PHOTO COURTESY KYLE SHELLMER

vocals, The Cosmic Factory’s bassist Mike Baker and drummer Dewey Raposo rounded out the trio. Both Baker and Raposo look back on that ﬁ nal gig with their friend in a grateful light. “Mike was a true rockstar,” Baker says about Schiavone. “I was always starstruck watching him play with whomever he was performing with at the time over many years. I was lucky enough to perform with him and Dewey for his ﬁ nal gig. He challenged me to learn 40 Nirvana songs and was so encouraging and positive, it was inspiring. I will take that with me till we meet again.” “I don't remember playing in the Providence music scene without Mike

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 9

CITY VOICES LANDGREN THE BOSTON MARATHON KEEPS UP WITH THE TIMES ...

WORCESTERIA

Little Free Library, fashion exhibit share stories and history Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

LAKESIDE

Dining

“Pretty Powerful: 100 Years of Voting and Style” at Worcester Historical Museum includes a dress designed by Worcester resident and Swedish immigrant Hilma M. Askling, dating back to 1918. Askling came to the U.S. 1899. This outﬁ t was known as a “walking suit” and was popular for everyday wear by urban women.

IN THE COMPANY OF GOOD FRIENDS AND FAMILY...

WEEKDAY

DINE-IN SPECIALS

WORCESTER HISTORICAL MUSEUM

ed spokesman in a Zoom interview. The class chose the colors, and a parent volunteer will help build it — with the oﬃ cial opening being on May 1. Pretty Powerful: 100 Years of Voting and Style, will be ﬁ nishing its exhibition run at the Worcester Historical See WORCESTERIA, Page 12

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Community fridge to community library: Stories are an integral part of community building. A kindergarten and ﬁ rst grade class at Fitzgerald Community School in Northborough, who have been exploring this topic all year, are now ready to share some stories of their own. Teacher Maria Ravelli, known for helping start the Worcester Community Fridge project (her class was inspired to start one in Northborough as well), has been teaching the kids about how stories have been passed down through history - such as the oral traditions of indigenous cultures, and how it could be applied to their own community. “We practice project based learning,” said Ravelli, “and every year we give the class a problem to solve — this year it was how can they share stories in their community.” While the idea of totem poles held an appeal for much of the class with the carved images of various animals such as mice, bears and eagles, they settled on a more practical method through a small lending library outside the school. The kids opened a snack bar at their school to raise money to purchase the kit from Little Free Library, a national book sharing organization that sells premade kits for mini-libraries that anyone can build and set up, as well as the initial round of books to ﬁ ll it. Most little libraries have a theme of some kind such as diversity or anti-racism. The Fitzgerald free library will focus on children’s stories. “We wanted people to have books to give to their kids so they can learn how to read faster,” said Ryan, the class’s self-appoint-

10 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

BAD ADVICE

FIRST PERSON

‘I threw out my back, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been!’ Shaun Connolly Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

How did you celebrate National Cold Cut Day last month? GATE74

After all these years, still full of bologna Joe Fusco Jr. Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

National Cold Cut Day was last month, on March 3. “Pre-cooked meats that are sliced and served hot or cold in a sandwich or on a tray. Purveyors of heart disease and diabetes.” My Mom was the Queen of Cold Cuts. Depending on the day and her mood, my lunchbox contained salami and provolone with mustard on a bulky, bologna and cheese with mayo on Wonder bread, or, my personal favorite, rare roast beef with tomato, oil, and oregano on a sub-roll. My best friend in grade school Tommy Powers would mix the boogers he collected on his bedroom wall with the liverwurst on wheat bread his Mom made him every day. We never switched sandwiches and I avoided sleeping over his house like lice. During the last Summer of my highschool days, I worked in the Deli at Mi-

gliaro’s Food Market in Branford, Connecticut. We made our own headcheese, mixing pigs feet, tongue, meat trimmings, phlegm, and the crap we scraped oﬀ the bottom of our workshoes into a meat-mold, then would wait for it to congeal. The glee in our youthful, sadistic eyes when a customer unwittingly ordered our home-made concoction. Speaking of homemade, as a small child, I created my own version of a sandwich spread that I called “Fogagi.” I would take the top of a butter dish and rub it against two pieces of American cheese then put the remnants on well-done raisin-toast with a few chocolate jimmies. My Dad thought I was a ‘strange but inventive’ lad. In the mid-’70s, after my roommate Dave and I bonged in our Boston University dorm, we would stagger to Kenmore Square and the late-night Argentine sandwich-shop that satiated our nocturnal munchies. See BOLOGNA, Page 12

DEAR SHAUN: I recently threw out my back and am stuck at home either in bed or my recliner. I’ve been working from home and my fi ancé has been waiting on me hand and foot. I’m honestly the happiest I’ve ever been. Besides the excruciating pain I wish I could live my life like this. I’ve been reading more, watching movies, and journaling everyday. I’m fi nally comfortable relaxing at home without the terrible feeling that I should be out doing something. I know the moment is fl eeting. My back will heal and the weed and muscle relaxers will run out. My question is, when this unfortunate time comes, how can I hold onto a piece of this nursing home life aesthetic I’ve grown so accustomed to? DEAR CAN’T WAIT TO BE OLD: Gas prices are at an all-time high, infl ation is staggering, the housing market is ablaze, we are in a weird purgatorial time of the pandemic where we are unsure whether to go out or not. And you feel great. You’re high, you don’t have to move and your partner is waiting on you. You’ve got it made. You’ve got to retire. Now. Go for it. I just read about Jimmy Buff ett’s retirement home in Florida. Literally called Margaritaville. They’ve got bars, beaches, and a pretty busy social schedule for lively retirees. Head on there, you can have a cheeseburger in paradise as you change your latitude to change your attitude. If fi nancially this doesn’t work for you, go recreate the injury. You’ve got to get in like a city worker who gets injured on the job and just lives their life normally while accepting worker’s compensation. Except in this case instead of being a DPW worker who twisted their ankle icing the roads last winter you are laid up with a back injury, for life! This seems to be when you’re happiest, so go lift that 50lb box with just your back,

Sure, he threw out his back, but it's the happiest he's ever been! MOHAMED HASSAN

no knees, and chill out on the recliner. DEAR SHAUN: I defi nitely didn’t work out this past winter and need to get a beach body fast, any tips for getting fi t so I can at least look respectable this summer? DEAR NOT BO DEREK: Yes, I know that the reference I made about whether you feel good about your body is outdated, and truly I don’t care, this is my column. Here’s a tip, no one ever thinks they look good at the beach. Even the Kardashians sell spanx. I say you always do some sort of exercise. That doesn’t mean go to the gym every day or even every other day. I mean go take a walk even if that is just parking in the furthest spot in the parking lot at the McDonald’s to go get the Big Mac for dinner. Or, and hear me out, go with a real dadaist take on “looking good.” Before you go to the beach this summer write on your stomach, “abs.” On your sides write, “not love handles,” etc. If anything, people will appreciate your absurdist take on being fi t.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 11

CONNELL SANDERS

HARVEY

With changing political landscape, teachers union more important than ever Janice Harvey Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Worcester is looking at some big changes in leadership, and those changes could have an enormous impact on Wootown’s direction. With Harriet Chandler’s decision to make her current term as State Senator her last, Worcester will lose a genuine champion, one who was always in our corner. The void left by “Harlee’s” departure could be fi lled by Worcester’s Mayor Joe Petty, who announced his run for the seat that also represents West Boylston, Boylston, Northborough, Berlin and Bolton. Edward Augustus Jr. will step down in May after eight years as City Manager. Add to the list the impending departure of Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda, and suddenly there are many shoes to fi ll. Among those attending the announcement of the fi nalists for the superintendent’s position this week will be Melissa Cornacchioli Verdier, candidate for the presidency of the Education Association of Worcester. I’ve worked with Verdier as a teacher

and as a building representative. 15 years ago I encouraged her to someday run for EAW president, knowing that she had the integrity and drive to be successful at the job. She cut her teeth on the importance of solidarity amongst educators. The married mother of two WPS students likes to say she “bleeds union,” having been raised by a formidable Massachusetts Teachers Association ﬁ eld rep who taught her to stand and deliver when it comes to protecting workers’ rights. Lou Cornacchioli retired with the reputation of a roaring lion, and certainly he has passed along that passion for fairness and honesty in negotiation. Verdier is unlikely to be caught oﬀ guard when dealing with what teachers call “downtown;” she knows the contract from cover to cover, and she believes in holding administration accountable. That’s why the selection of a new superintendent is of utmost importance to Melissa Verdier. “ I would love to see someone in the position who wants to work with the union,” Verdier said. “ If we work together perhaps we could save the tax

Emily Parish's bird ﬁ gurines outﬁ tted in handmade Victorian dresses exhibit “both movement and motionlessness” at the Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery at Worcester State University. PHOTO COURTESY SARAH CONNELL SANDERS

The looming educator exodus is very real Sarah Connell Sanders

See HARVEY, Page 12

Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

There are some big changes ahead in city leadership, especially in the ﬁ eld of education. DIANE39/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO

I walked out to the school parking lot on the last day before vacation running through a to-do list in my head. The MCAS tickets were printed, clipped and sorted on my desk. Sixty essays were polished, proofed and oﬀ to the scholarship committee ahead of deadline. Third-quarter grades had been tabulated and personal comments conceived for each and every student. What was I forgetting? My phone buzzed with a notiﬁ cation from the calendar app. The art show. That’s right; I had to remember to swing by the art show. Now, in my thirteenth year as a public school teacher, I am experiencing something extraordinary. My former middle schoolers are adults. Not just regular adults —remarkable, talented,

inspiring adults. We’re talking Fulbright scholars, surgeons, non-profi t leaders, and artists. This revelation comes at a point in my career when I need reminding why teaching is so important. An editor recently fl agged my use of the term “administrivia” in a manuscript. “Is this a well-known term in your fi eld?” she asked. “Will other educators know what it means?” “Absolutely,” I assured her. I asked my husband if he knew what “administrivia” referred to and he confi rmed the editor’s bewilderment. “Is that a real word?” he asked me. As any teacher will tell you, “administrivia” is a big part of the job. Taking attendance, collecting permission slips, and ensuring every student goes home for break with a rapid COVID test all qualify in the realm of administrivia. See EDUCATOR, Page 12

12 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Educator Continued from Page 11

Offi cially, administrivia refers to: “Routine paperwork and other tasks that are regarded as trivial, uninteresting, and time-consuming.” Unoffi cially, it’s the stuff our master’s degrees in education don’t cover. Some people are surprised to learn that a graduate degree is required to maintain a professional teaching license in Massachusetts. To work in a public school in the Bay State, you’ve got to start the process of obtaining a master’s by year fi ve of your career. To give you an idea of the stakes, I was making roughly $50k a year in my fi fth year of teaching and at the same time, my graduate program was draining me over $20k per year while my school district awarded me only $200 per year in tuition assistance. I’m not a math teacher, but even I could tell that didn’t add up. In retrospect, there were defi nitely more cost-eff ective ways I could have gone about my higher education. I ended up waitressing three or four days a week for the rest of my 20s in order to aff ord teaching. This is relatively typical. A 2019 fi nding by the Pew Research Center showed that one in six U.S.

Balogna Continued from Page 10

We found out late in our senior-year, clear-eyed and preparing for the real world, that the proprietor had fed us grizzle, fat and the ends of the cold cuts on a sub-roll for four years.

Worcesteria Continued from Page 9

Museum on April 18, having been extended from its initial end date of March 31. It opened on Oct. 23, the 171st anniversary of the First National Woman’s Rights Convention in 1850, which took place right here in Worcester. The

teachers work second jobs, making us three times as likely overall to work multiple gigs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I’m not alone in my struggle to make education a viable career. The exodus is very real. A 2021 survey conducted by the RAND research organization found that compared to the one in six teachers likely to leave the profession annually prior to the pandemic, one in four are now likely to walk away from teaching each year. Another survey of nearly 10,000 teachers conducted by the American Psychological Association between July 2020 and June 2021 found that almost half of all teachers reported having a desire or plan to quit or transfer due to concerns about school climate and school safety. According to the survey, one-third of teachers surveyed nationally reported they experienced at least one incident of verbal and/or threatening violence from students during COVID. Like a lot of American laborers right now, we are exhausted. Working conditions are more stressful than ever. On top of that, the survey found that a much higher proportion of teachers reported symptoms of depression than the general adult population. Something has to change. So why do I stay? The kids in front of me make me laugh every day and give

me hope for the future. The students I run into years give me a renewed sense of self-transcendent purpose. I really do love my job and I especially love my school. When I arrived at the art show of my former student Emily Parish, now 24 years old, I felt a rush of pride. Her work, titled “Aviculture,” explored duality. Bird fi gurines dressed in handmade Victorian dresses exhibited “both movement and motionlessness.” Parish wrote, “Dolls give us a playful opportunity to engage with serious topics, such as our relationships with the past and criticisms of our history and current society.” As her former middle school English teacher, I felt this sentiment in the depths of my soul. Like Parish’s stoic birds, American teachers are frozen by the likes of administrivia, fi nances, and safety. Simultaneously, the profession presents unparalleled opportunities for progress by grappling with history and shaping current society. We are petrifi ed, but not fossilized. And, more than ever, we need the love and support of our communities. Emily Parish’s “Aviculture” collection is on display in The Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery, located in the Ghosh Science and Technology Center at Worcester State University.

“You bastards never complained before,” he chided us. As I’ve entered the semi-golden years, my palate for cold cuts has been cultured by Worcester’s many ﬁ ne Italian -sub establishments. Palma’s, Belsito’s, D’Errico’s, Regatta, Giovanni’s…only my cardiologist knows my preferred destination. Sometimes, I dream of Prosciutto,

Mortadella, Capicola (or, as my Grandmother called it and my son JoJo found out by googling the term then buying me a t-shirt, Gabagool), and Soppressata on freshly baked Italian bread. My wife awakens as I tear oﬀ my CPAP mask, spit out my anti-grinding mouthguard, then sprint upstairs for a cold shower. Mangia!

exhibit followed the evolution of women’s fashion design and its connection to women’s empowerment in the 100 years since the passing of the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote. If you’ve been meaning to go but just haven’t gotten around to it, this weekend is your last chance and I strongly recommend it. As voting rights come under attack across the country in the guise of security, I can think of no

better time to check out an exhibit dealing with one of the key voting rights acts in our nation’s history, to understand that democracy is a right, not a privilege. The exhibit is more than just a display of fashion through the ages but how women’s place in politics and society has changed — clothes and how they look are, after all, the most basic way in which we interact with our community.

Harvey Continued from Page 11

payers money by avoiding arbitrations and unfair labor practices which require a lawyer.” It sounds simple, but Verdier’s point is well-taken. A superintendent who doesn’t view the membership as an adversarial body could help trim the dough going to attorneys. That said, Verdier’s strength lies in her ability to listen to her colleagues and help them determine if their concerns rise to the level of a grievance or if a better understanding between a principal and an educator can be reached without drawing lines in a battleﬁ eld. Knowing the contract both as a delegate and board member is what she brings to the table in negotiations. Teachers who have worked with Verdier and served alongside her as union representatives attest to her abilities. “I’m supporting her largely because as a union delegate at North High, I was involved in the mediation of grievances. Melissa knew the contract nearly verbatim, and most importantly she never backed down,” said ESL teacher Daniel Stern. “ She understands the professionalism and tact that accompanies negotiation, because you’ll be dismissed as inappropriate otherwise. She can be ferocious, when necessary, but it’s a ﬁ ne line, knowing how and when to assert yourself.” The EAW is the largest local in the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Its membership of 2800 includes 5 bargaining units: teachers, and Group B administrators, educational support professionals, bus drivers, parent liaisons and ESL tutors. Voter turnout for past elections has been best described as anemic, with less than half of the membership casting their votes. This needs to change, especially since veteran teachers are retiring in record numbers. Younger teachers need to understand that its their time to determine the future of their union. With so many changes on Worcester’s horizon, Verdier sees this election as the perfect chance for the EAW to embrace and a major part of the city’s future. Said Verdier: “With a new superintendent and a new president of the EAW, there are great opportunities for progress.”

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 13

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Pamella Saﬀ er Pamella Saffer Special to Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

I am an Assyrian woman whose ancestors are the indigenous people of Mesopotamia in northern Iraq. My work explores my indigenous roots through a reenvisioning of ancient values and relationships between humans and the earth. I‘ve worked as a community organizer, an organizer of national and international peace conferences, have served as the head of the United Nations Offi ce for Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, run as an independent candidate for local offi ce. In South Africa I danced in the streets when Nelson Mandela was elected president. Cyprus, a meeting of women of the Middle East. Bolivia, indigenous women of the Americas. Sri Lanka, women of South Asia. Palestine, a work camp to repair streets. Libya, a roundtable on women. Iraq, survivors of the US bombing. Guatemala, a sacred Maya ceremony. I’ve been an international observer to fi rst-time elec-

tions in Nicaragua, South Africa and Mozambique. I’ve traveled to many other places but never as a tourist. In between I had a textile studio where I created hand dyed hand woven ikat fabric, which was sold and exhibited nationally, in Canada and in France. Along the way I taught children to make beautiful things with their hands and hearts. Later on, with other children, college students and older adults, we created a ﬂ ourishing garden on a neglected city space. When the opportunity arose, I took art classes at Worcester State and discovered painting, sculpture and formal ways of creating art. I haven’t sought opportunities to exhibit but through ArtsWorcester’s Material Needs Grant, I recognized the value of exhibiting to convey a message. This Artist Spotlight is presented by Worcester Magazine in partnership with ArtsWorcester. Since 1979, ArtsWorcester has exhibited and advanced the work of this region’s contemporary artists. Its exhibitions and educational events are open and free to all. Learn more at www.artsworcester.org.

774-272-4292

WM-29598367

"The Old Ones," handmade paper, mineral pigments, plant pods, 11” x 13” PAMELLA SAFFER/ARTSWORCESTER

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14 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

COVER STORY

EVERYONE’S INVITED TO Kaden Kearney and Kalyn West appear on the Broadway touring company production of "The Prom." PHOTO COURTESY DEEN VAN MEER

‘THE PROM’ Big-hearted musical with a message set for the Hanover Theatre

Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

With kinetic dancing, catchy anthems, and a hilarious sense of humor, the musical “The Prom” conveys “such genuine joy rolling oﬀ the stage,” as Sarah Holden put it in a review for New York Magazine. h But the show also has a serious storyline about acceptance and inclusivity. “It has such an important message,” noted cast member Kalyn West, whose involvement with the 2019 Drama Desk Award-winner for Outstanding Musical includes its Broadway run from 2018-19 and now its national tour. h “It’s so relevant still. It’s very important that we tell stories like this at this time,” West said. h “The Prom” comes to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts for an eight-performance run April 26 to May 1 as part of the theater’s 2021-22 Broadway Series. See MUSICAL, Page 15

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 15

"The Prom" comes to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts for an eight-performance run April 26 to May 1 as part of the theater's 2021-22 Broadway Series. PHOTO COURTESY DEEN VAN MEER

Musical Continued from Page 14

In “The Prom” some fading but narcissistic Broadway stars Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman, along with downon-his-luck actor Trent Oliver and lifelong chorus girl Angie Dickinson (not the real Angie Dickinson), decide they need a new stage and a cause. They discover, via Twitter, that trouble is brewing around a small-town Indiana prom as a student named Emma Nolan wants to bring her girlfriend, Alyssa Greene. The PTA cancels the prom. Dee Dee et al roll into town to inspire action for Emma. West has the role of Alyssa in the touring show, after being the understudy for Emma and Alyssa on Broadway while also playing the role of Shelby, a “mean girl,” in the ensemble. “It was my Broadway debut,” West said of “The Prom.” “It was a wild ride. I fell in love with the show from the very beginning.”

Just recently, however, “We’ve seen so much anti-LBTQ -legislation still getting passed. It’s a very big problem actually.” At least “The Prom” has been described as a musical with a big heart. Alyssa has her own problems as the story unfolds. At the beginning of “The Prom” she hasn’t come out, and her mother, Mrs. Greene, just happens to be the head of the PTA horriﬁ ed by the prospect of a student inviting a same sex date to the prom. Alyssa’s father, meanwhile, abandoned the family a long time ago. So Alyssa’s relationship with Emma is in for some possible denials and breakups before all can be well. “I think she’s brave ... She’s been told that who she is wrong. I really respect her. I respect her humanity in her failures and successes,” West said. “For a time she doesn’t rise to the occasion and I respect that. It’s a human journey and she does rise to what’s important.” West is originally from Salt Lake City See MUSICAL, Page 16

16 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

"The Prom" is coming to the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, as part of the venue's Broadway Series. PHOTO COURTESY DEEN VAN MEER

Musical

In Case You Go

Continued from Page 15

When: 7:30 p.m. April 26 (Press Night and Family Night followed by a Q&A with the cast); 7:30 p.m. April 27 (LGBTQ+ Night followed by a Q&A with the cast); 7:30 p.m. April 28; 8 p.m. April 29; 2 and 8 p.m. April 30; 1 and 6:30 p.m. May 1. Audio Description Services 1 p.m. May 1; ASL Interpretation 6:30 p.m. May 1.

and graduated from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. “I did not grow up in a religious household but growing up in Utah I was very inundated with Mormon culture,” she said. Asked if she could have seen a similar scenario to “The Prom” happening during the time she was in high school, West replied, “Oh for sure. I hate saying that. I knew kids who were disowned by their family when they came out. Unfortunately, that’s a big thing.” On the road with the show, audience members have shared some of their similar experiences with the cast, West said. “The Prom” tries to look for the inherent good in people. “What this does quite beautifully, it weaves the humanity with the stereotypes so that’s not all you see and everyone learns something. I think its got a really cool balance of that,” West said. And with the big heart comes funny scenes, especially involving the Broad-

What: “The Prom”

Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester How much: $39, $49, $69 and $89 depending on seat location. (877) 571-7469; www.thehanovertheatre.org

way actors looking for a bit of a spotlight for themselves as well as Emma, and big musical numbers. “The show has a really cool balance of classical musical theater comedy mixed with contemporary pop styles,” West said. “The Prom” has impressive-looking creative credentials with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw

(”Mean Girls,” “The Book of Mormon”), a book by Bob Martin (”The Drowsy Chaperone”) and Chad Beguelin (”Aladdin”), music by Matthew Sklar (”Elf ”) and lyrics by Beguelin. The show was also made into 2020 Netfl ix movie. As an actor, singer and dancer, West had graduated from Weber State University in 2013 with double bachelors degrees in musical theater and anthropology. Her goal was to move to New York City and audition for shows, but “I wanted to get my Equity card before I went out there,” she said. Being an offi cial member of Equity, the actors’ union, doesn’t automatically win you a role but it does make life easier in actually getting you into a theater to be seen for a try out. Shortly after graduation she was cast in Salt Lake Acting Company’s former annual musical satire “Saturday’s Voyeur” and received her Equity card from the company. “Once I got my card the only thing standing in my way was getting a plane ticket,” West said. On the other hand, “I didn’t have an apartment, didn’t have job.” She fl ew out to New York and stayed with a friend for a few days.

“Within a week I had a job and an apartment. It really worked out for me but that was a crazy time. I worked in so many restaurants, I was a host, a server; I did real estate for a hot minute; I taught fi tness.” She also went to lots of auditions. “I have been fortunate to be working as an actor fairly consistently,” she said. West’s credits include the fi rst national tour of “Mean Girls” and the rock musical comedy “Gigantic” on Off Broadway. On TV she’s been seen in “Blue Bloods” (CBS). “ ‘The Prom’ was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it was a dream come true,” she said about getting onto Broadway. But that kinetic dancing choreographed by Casey Nicholaw can take a toll, especially in the ensemble. After “The Prom” closed on Broadway in 2019, “I knew that the tour was going to happen,” West said. “I didn’t think I’d be returning to the show. I was looking at other things, other opportunities.” Then last spring the producers “reached out to me about the tour. I told See MUSICAL, Page 18

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 17

CITY LIVING CANNABIS CONFIDENTIAL

THE NEXT DRAFT

When new beer isn’t new enough ... Matthew Tota Special to Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Some of the cannabis-infused seltzers available from Good Feels in Medway. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Good Feels latest cannabis company to join the seltzer race Eric Casey Special to Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Cannabis in a can? It may just be the next big thing. Good Feels — a cannabis beverage company based in Medway — is hoping to make a splash with the launch of its line of ﬂ avored seltzers, and is the latest local company to make the bet that consumers preferences will continue to evolve as legalization makes cannabis more mainstream. Cannabis beverage technology has come a long way in just the last few years. In the early days of legalization out on the west coast, drinks were not exactly sought after by most consumers. A lack of research and development in the nascent cannabis beverage world often resulted in drink products that tasted heavily of chlorophyll, with producers usually attempting to mask this taste by loading their drinks with sugar. The resulting concoction usually tasted akin to Gatorade with some grass clippings in it, and the eﬀ ects would often be unpredictable in both dura-

tion and intensity. Thankfully, cannabis beverage technology has come a long way in the past few years, with Improvements in cannabis extraction and emulsion techniques allowing for the creation of cannabis beverages that don’t actually taste like cannabis. Perhaps more importantly, proper emulsion of cannabinoids in the beverage allows for the eﬀ ects to take place much quicker when compared to traditional edibles, helping novice users avoid making the mistake of consuming too much. These features make beverages an ideal entry point for the canna-curious person who prefers a consumption method that doesn’t involve smoke or vapor. Beverages currently make up just a small amount of total cannabis sales in the U.S, but many are betting that will begin to change soon. Good Feels is one of a number of cannabis companies that is betting that consumer preferences will evolve away from tradiSee CANNABIS, Page 18

The urge returns, a mix of thrill and yearning. When willpower fails to contain it, I turn to guilt, which works about half the time. It is an impulse most craft beer drinkers have felt — the desire to go out and buy new beer despite already having a fridge full of it. It cannot be controlled by reason. It comes and goes like a nagging craving. And no matter how many shiny new four-packs you buy, the hunger for something fresher never subsides. Insatiable. Why do we do it to ourselves? We can’t aﬀ ord it. We don’t need it. Another Friday afternoon where I’m planning erSee DRAFT, Page 18D

It’s hard to ﬁ ght the desire to go out and buy new beer despite already having a fridge full of it. MATTHEW TOTA

18 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Draft Continued from Page 17

rands based on how close they will take me to a bottle shop. I go grocery shopping at Wegmans in large part because I can ﬁ nish the trip in front of a bright, full display of beer. My barbershop sits minutes from a stellar craft beer store; I didn’t plan that, but you can bet that after every cut, I’m freezing my ass oﬀ in the massive walk-in cooler, salivating in front of the “New Arrivals” rack. It’s a costly addiction. Most fourpacks run anywhere from $15 to $21. Buying one or two a week quickly adds up. So much of that beer will, inevitably for me, go to waste. I try to imagine $5

Cannabis Continued from Page 17

tional methods of consumption as more new consumers are introduced to legal marijuana. The company was the brainchild of Jason Reposa, who founded Good Feels in August of 2020. Jason turned to cannabis for relief from health issues, but was looking for consumption methods that didn’t involve having to hide from his kids. After getting laid oﬀ from his job in early 2020, Reposa began exploring ways to enter the cannabis industry, and quickly noticed some of the early success that other cannabis beverage companies were beginning to have. Undeterred that a few companies had beaten him to the punch, Reposa looked at the larger picture. “How much [revenue] is alcohol getting? We’re talking about a much bigger

Musical Continued from Page 16

them it would be nice to play Alyssa or Emma or else otherwise I had done 300 performances (in the ensemble). So they came back and oﬀ ered me Alyssa,” West said. Most of the touring cast is brand new

bills sitting in the back of my beer fridge that I cannot spend. Eventually, I’ll take them, crumple them up and one by one drop them down the drain. And still I buy. Like most bad habits, it’s irrational. The satisfaction that comes after picking up another four-pack lasts perhaps a day – just long enough for me to drink one. Beer doesn’t go bad in a week, I know. Yet that knowledge doesn’t stop me from getting bored with something far too fast, then having that boredom alleviated by a post on Instagram announcing three new IPA drops. Then I’m in the car, then at the store, then pouring a glass, then seeing the cycle repeat itself. This pattern of buying helps craft beer. Craft breweries thrive by constantly releasing fresh beer. The re-

leases at times are dizzying. Brewers loves building excitement – and fear: the fear of missing out, of the beer selling out. These two emotions keep the best and most popular breweries in business. Scarcity, or the illusion of it, is a powerful marketing tool. So how do I fi ght the urge? The Northeastern University psychology professor David DeSteno has found that the emotion of gratitude can be used as a tool to boost self-control, even defeating the urge to impulse buy and staving off the need for the instant gratifi cation that follows. I’ve gotten better recently controlling the urges to go out and buy in part by taking more time to enjoy the beer I have, relishing and savoring it. If I do pick something to take home, I more and more try to fi nd larger pack-

ages. Getting a 12-pack over a four-pack can prove a smarter purchase. More beer often equals more value. On the other hand, I appreciate the breweries and stores that sell singles: I can try an enticing off ering without committing to a four-pack and running the risk of wasting the beer I don’t fi nish. Last week, the urge to buy returned while driving home after getting my car repaired. I knew the route took me past a bottle shop, and I had seen a post on Facebook about two shipments of Other Half Brewing it had on hand. It turns out the one I wanted had sold out. They had the other. I passed, though. I perused a little, admired the fridge, but didn’t purchase anything. I left empty-handed, but satisfi ed, thinking on the fridge full of beer waiting for me at home.

market than one company,” he said, “If you plant your fl ag in the ground now, you could be the next Boston Beer Company.” The company was able to get off the ground at remarkable speed in an industry where permitting and licensing requirements often lead to delays — all in the midst of a global pandemic. And even though Good Feels fi rst hit shelves only a few weeks ago, early signs have been promising. Some retailers have already placed additional orders, and a number of well-established dispensaries have added Good Feels products to their menus. With the amount of dispensaries in Massachusetts that have come on-line in just the last year, there’s certainly on shortage of potential retail partners for cannabis product manufacturers at the moment. In addition to seltzers, Good Feels also off ers a line of “beverage enhancers” that can be dropped into any beverage to add both fl avor and/or cannabi-

noids. Each seltzer contains about three milligrams of THC and two milligrams of CBD. The beverage enhancers off er consumers a more customizable experience, with the amount of cannabis being controlled by how many drops the user chooses to add to their drink. The fi rst four seltzer fl avors that Good Feels is launching with are black cherry, blood orange, grapefruit and raspberry apple. “We sampled over 250 people with 35 diff erent fl avors to settle on the four fl avors we’re launching with,” said Reposa. Similar to Red Stripe or vintage Coors, Good Feels beverages come in a distinct, stubby glass bottle. While the immediate future currently looks bright for cannabis beverages companies in Massachusetts, challenges lay ahead. In addition to the increasing number of cannabis beverage companies in the Massachusetts market, large, well-established beverage companies are also eyeing the cannabis space closely. Seattle-based Jones Soda

company recently announced they are releasing a brand of cannabis infused sodas in California, while the aforementioned Boston Beer Company has started a Canadian-based spin-oﬀ company focused on producing cannabis beverages. None of this is deterring the folks at Good Feels. The company is planning on launching another round of fundraising soon, with eyes on funding the construction of another production facility and eventual expansion into other products and other markets. Reposa dreams of the day where stigmas have diminished and regulations have been relaxed to the point where his products will be as available as alcohol is in social settings. “I can see it as clear as day. I don’t know if it’s ﬁ ve years from now or ten years from now, but it’s eventually going to happen where Good Feels will be on draft in a bar.”

to the show. “It’s just been such a gift to play her (Alyssa) and make her my own,” West said. “The Prom” has been touring for several weeks. “Its been going well,” West said. Touring during COVID can be stressful, she said, but shows have only been shut down once during a run at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore. “Everyone is vaccinated.”

From Minneapolis “The Prom” is scheduled to go to Chicago, and then The Hanover Theatre. West said she’s never been to Worcester before. “I’m excited. Very excited. That’s the joy of the touring.” The tour is currently scheduled to run until dates at Kansas City, MO, in October. Would West extend her involvement if the tour gets extended?

“We will see,” she said. “I’m looking forward to October. It feels like an eon away. That’s kind of the world of an actor. You can’t really plan far in advance.” But as she’s also exploring the musical with pretty much a whole new cast on the road from the Broadway show she’s still learning. “It (’The Prom’) really has a lot of gifts to give,” she said.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 19

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Bees and Thank You looks to change local ecology one grilled cheese at a time Monica Sager Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Worcester’s Bees and Thank You is taking the “save the bees” mission everyone has heard to a new level – and onto the road. The food truck is working to not only feed customers delicious grilled cheese sandwiches but also educate them about insecticides, positive impacts people can have on the environment, and their power to create local, sustainable change. Co-Founder Ryan Margulis said that he hopes the organization is able to make a lasting impression on humanity as well as the environment. “We’re always trying our best to promote sustainable ways of living,” Margulis said. Margulis, grew up in Lowell and attended Emmanuel College, was inspired by Sister Dorothy Stang. She ﬁ led legal claims on behalf of those whose land was being stolen in Latin America, enacting an environmental movement and advocating for reforesting the stripped down areas. “One of my classes was on Catholic social teaching,” Margulis said. “She did a lot of great things in the Amazon for uptake and farmers there to get their land back from loggers.” Stang was a champion of forest preservation and defender of small farmers. “I was super inspired to help out with that movement,” Margulis said. “After a while though I realized that people had a problem connecting with an issue that was far away. I wanted to ﬁ nd a way to connect people with the bees.” Margulis looked into honey bee pollination in the United States and learned about the need for more of the buzzing insects. There are a handful of commercial bee farms that exist to ensure that crop farmers receive the pollinators necessary to grow their goods. Essentially these commercial beekeepers provide services to a bigger system of agriculture, retail, food industries, and all of the systems and demands that interact with them. “I became super fascinated about the

Bees and Thank You co-Founder Ryan Margulis said that he hopes the organization is able to make a lasting impression on humanity as well as the environment. PHOTO COURTESY RYAN MARGULIS

whole shipping process that exists and uses honey bees,” Margulis said. “The bees live on the back of ﬂ atbed trucks and they ship from farm to farm for different pollination periods where they’re exposed to single crop pollination, various pesticides, and they’re entire life is just on a truck. There’s nothing natural about it.”

The bees are bred to do the work. Margulis said this also leads to a lot of “genetic manipulation within the bees,” providing a lower quality of life. “Over time, it’s just not doing good things for them,” Margulis said. So Margulis set out to change the local impact on the honey bees, bringing a community feel to having conversations

about what is happening to the honey bees. Bees and Thank you is now focused on creating a more conscientious consumer culture to help reduce the dependency on pesticide as well as genetically modiﬁ ed perishables, as both dramatSee BEES, Page 21

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 21

Bees Continued from Page 20

ically decrease bee populations. Co-founder Nick Laorenza added the grilled-cheese aspect to Bees and Thank You. Laorenza, who is from Haverhill and went to Central Catholic High School with Margulis, has worked to grow the business to serve over 30,000 customers to date. For the ﬁ rst year or so, the two travel around mainly during the summer time mainly to places that would allow them to set up shop. They raised money and spread awareness.

After a few years, Bees and Thank You has now gotten into fairs. This is the group’s fi rst full year with the food truck. All grilled cheeses are served on Texas toast with raw organic wildfl ower and clover honey as well as the customers choice of extra toppings. Menu items include the classic, which is American cheese with crystallized wildfl ower honey; the “sweet,” which blends American and Havarti cheeses; and the fi re, which is a spicy mixture of American and buff alo wing cheddar cheeses. There is also a vegan option with shredded Daiya and “follow your heart” mozzarella cheeses. “The food is the way we’ve been able

to provide for all of this,” Margulis said. The honey currently comes from a sanctuary in New Boston, New Hampshire as well as other local farms. There are hopes though for another sanctuary to be built soon at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley, MA. Bees and Thank You hosted a few events at the Horticultural Society last year. “This year, we’re bringing the bees there. We got approval to bring the bees on site,” Margulis said. “They love the idea. They love honey. They love the food. This year we’ll really explore that relationship.” Margulis mentioned classes for both children and adults to learn more about bees and their pollination beneﬁ ts. He even added that there have been times where families have come up to him at the food truck and the seven year old kid knows more about the bees because of Margulis’s programs, “and they love it.” “It’s a great experience to have…We’ll really have a hub,” Margulis said. “Now we’re really going to have a place where we’re going to be able to promote actual events. It’s a beautiful space.” Margulis and Laorenza provide seed packets and information pamphlets to

people as they travel with their food truck, spreading awareness and ensuring they are playing an active role in taking charge of the ecological issue. “We’re letting people know how they can help at their own homes,” Margulis said. “A portion of the proceeds goes to opening up our bee sanctuary as well as doing all of this stuﬀ at the Mass Horticultural Society.” Customers are able to also buy Bee Well Box subscriptions through the Bees and Thank You website, BeesAndThankYou.org, or at the Bee Well Box website itself, BeeWellBox.com. By partnering with local beekeepers and farmers, unique boxes of honey bee products are curated and sent to subscribers. Each box includes three jars of immunity boosting hardiness honey, one exclusive product, everything to start a pollinator garden, and a surprise gift. Little bee collections sell as low as $70 per box and provide six pounds of honey. Big bee collections go for as little as $100 a box and have 12 pounds of honey in each box. They each delivered four times a year. The subscriptions allow Bees and Thank You to build bee sanctuaries.

Tickets start at $39. Save with group rates. Tuesday/Family night & Wednesday/LGBTQ night include a post show Q & A with the cast.

sponsored by

Ryan Margulis is a co-founder of Bees and Thank You. PHOTO COURTESY RYAN MARGULIS

April 26 - May 1 TheHanoverTheatre.org 877.571.SHOW (7469)

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

22 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

LISTEN UP

SONG TO GET YOU THROUGH THE WEEK

Kristian Montgomery serves up country rock ‘Heaven for Heretics’ Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Pretty deep into “A Heaven for Heretics,” the most recent album from Kristian Montgomery & the Winterkill Band, country-rocker Montgomery sings, “All Hail the wolfman/Crawled out of his grave.” The song – “Family Owned” – is a bluesy number, with a Southern guitar skid underscoring everything, but it’s also revelatory to the whole album. Montgomery sings, “The raw and wicked/Crawl out of their holes/They want a monster/A monster of their own,” soon after singing, “That dog might roam buy he’s family owned.” The song serves up a pretty good picture of the album’s persona: That others see him as a monster, and that he sees himself that way. But he’s still tethered to his family, and throughout the album, that proves both a source of both salvation and heartbreak. The album kicks off with with “I’ll Break Your Heart Again,” a song which pretty much wears its theme on its title: “I ain’t cut out for family and working life,” sings Montgomery, “I’ve lived a life a sin/When I looked for work/I found out for sure/They don’t hire my kind of man/And come tomorrow/I’ll break your heart again.” The last two lines are separated by a spare eight count that puts emphasis on the selffulfi lling prophecy. Even when the song’s anger escalates at the bridge, there’s still a sense of resignation about the song: This is who the persona thinks he is. But does that mean it is who he is? The answer to that lies in the second song, “Come Carry Weight With Me,” which was written for Montgomery’s brother, who died of cancer. “The ashes of my mother,” sings Montgomery, “Scattered in the sound/No one is lost forever/I’m fi nally coming home.” It’s telling that Montgomery gives us one picture of a man pushing everyone

“For Elastics” is the ﬁ rst single from Worcester-area rapper Lo Gun, collaborating with British producer FarmaBeats. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO The album cover for “A Heaven for Heretics,” by Kristian Montgomery & the Winterkill Band. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

away, and then follows it with one of ﬁ nding himself in grief, and family remains the through line throughout. It’s a heavy moment, one for which the honky-tonk rocker “Times Like These” helps lighten the mood. The next song, “Here’s to the Men Who Have it All and Still Want More.” The song is actually sung in Danish, but its intent is fairly clear: A message of contempt to the rich and powerful for whom the rest of us toil. The tone is there in the vocals, and the sheer slide of the guitar drives the message home. This is followed up with “Ain’t Got Nobody But Me,” an extremely catchy song which obscures a self-destructive relationship underneath its grooveladen bass lines. “She’s candy sweet but the devil’s in deep,” sing Montgomery, “And he calls me to her lips/They taste like Tennessee whiskey/And burn like the ﬁ res of hell.” By the time the album reaches “The Year the Bottom Fell Out,” Montgomery has painted a pretty raged picture: “My lips are cracked/And the whiskey stings/But not worse than my back/I See ‘HEAVEN’, Page 24

Lo Gun, FarmaBeats team for brief and intriguing ‘Elastics’ Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

“For Elastics,” the latest recent release from Worcester-area hip-hop artist Lo Gun, is a brief and interesting piece of music. A collaboration with British producer FarmaBeats, “For Elastics” parallels gentle, rolling strings against the ferocity of Lo Gun's aggressive rap ﬂ ow. Lo Gun's tone raises to a near manic level as the song progresses, while the underlying beat has the sound of harps washing over each verse like the tide. Indeed, sometimes the mania gets buried in the tide, which is unusual. It gives the rap a sense of desperation. And make no mistake, this IS an aggressive song, despite the tone of the beat. “Everybody wanna give advice, kid,” raps Lo Gun, before launching into

his tirade. His rhymes are tight and bludgeoning, “Smash their brains out until their clueless,” raps Lo Gun, “and never know where the shooter go.” It's not subtle, and honestly, it's not trying to be. Lo Gun is hitting the beat with pure force, which adds to the song's sense of discord. Clocking in at just shy of two minutes, the song, admittedly, leaves the listener wanting more, and doesn't really have a hook or a chorus. It feels like it's a pivot inbetween two other sections of an album, which it very well may be, as Lo Gun and Farma Beats have an album on the horizon. Still, it's a tantazling little sample of an in interesting collaboration, one that's both overly linear and entirely too short, and yet still posessses a musical depth, evoking an emotional reaction from the sparest of constructions, and that's a subtle sort of triumph.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 23

5 THINGS TO DO

WHISKEY MYERS, JAMES MONTGOMERY AND MORE .... Richard Duckett and Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Blues Blast

John Arcaro will perform as part of the Winchendon Music Festival.

James Montgomery has been an active and acclaimed figure in blues music for over 50 years. An accomplished blues harpist, singer, front man and bandleader, he leads his own band, which he founded in 1970, and has played in countless sessions and tours over the years with the likes of Gregg Allman, Johnny Winter, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, James Brown and many others. Montgomery was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2018 and into the New England Music Hall of Fame in September 2021. (RD)

James Montgomery will perform in Rutland. SUBMITTED PHOTO

What: James Montgomery Band; opening, Brother Kerry & The Hoptones When: 6 to 10 a.m. April 23

Where: Rutland Sportsman’s Club, 75 Pleasantdale Road, Rutland How much: $20. www.rscma.org

PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Jazzing Things Up Good Southern Whiskey

The Winchendon Music Festival has been hosting an April series of free concerts, its first live offerings since 2019. On April 23 John Arcaro & Band will perform at Beals Memorial Library. Arcaro is a national and international jazz pianist and recording artist and teaches at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The concert will feature jazz interpretations of the “Great American Songbook” as well as contemporary jazz compositions. (RD)

The Texas band Whiskey Myers is a pretty fascinating study of the point where rawand-ragged Country rock meets the edge of contemporary pop country. The musicianship is first rate, with songs such as “Stone,” “Bury My Bones” and “Broken Window Serenade” having a rough edge to them, just enough that they cut. Even “Ballad of a Southern Man,” which should be an anathema to Yankee tastes with its romanticization of small town life, still has enough grit and soul to be relatable. It’s definitely obvious why this country rock band is growing in popularity. (VDI)

What: John Arcaro & Band, presented by the Winchendon Music Festival When: 7 p.m. April 23 Where: Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon How much: Free. Reservations required. www.eventbrite.com/e/wmfjohn-arcaro-bandtickets-307320272207

What: Whiskey Myers When: 7 p.m. April 29 Where: The Palladium, 261 Main St., Worcester How Much: $55-$75 Whiskey Myers is set to perform at the Palladium. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Continued on next page

24 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

‘Looking East’

Back to Bed

For its final Main Stage performances of the season, Worcester Chamber Music Society presents The Nason A. Hurowitz Memorial Concert titled “Looking East.” Nineteenth century Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg’s astonishingly rich and lyrical string quartet is a recogThe Worcester Chamber Music Society will present nized masterpiece. It “Looking East” at the Fitchburg Art Museum and the is joined with two BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center in perhaps lesserWorcester. PHOTO COURTESY LISA ACIUKEWICZ known but captivating works by two 20th century composers. György Kósa’s warm-hued trio from Hungary and Grazyna Bacewicz’s outstanding folk- and dance-infused piano quintet from Poland complete a program rich with Eastern flavor. (RD)

“Turned Down,” a solo exhibition of minimalist assemblies by artist Jason Fiering at ArtsWorcester, offers multiple interpretations of the bed, a site associated with rest, refuge, intimacy, illness and violence alike. The artist reflects the ambiguities of that site in the constructions themselves. Fiering said that in “Turned Down,” “I meet painting from two sides: On the one hand, I wish to keep the painting an object, a “Four Poster II,” acrylic on fabrics with steel thing with thickness that support, 66” x 12” 48”, 2022. was constructed and JASON FIERING/ARTSWORCESTER might be picked up or moved. On the other hand, I want the painting to evoke something we might see out in the world.” In 2021, Fiering was named ArtsWorcester’s Present Tense Prize winner. The prize recognizes an artist whose work exemplifies new practices, artistic risk-taking, and excellence in execution. Prize winners are rewarded with a solo exhibition and a $1,000 honorarium. (RD)

What: The Worcester Chamber Music Society presents “Looking East” When/Where: 7:30 p.m. April 22, Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm St., Fitchburg; 4 p.m. April 24, BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, 20B Franklin St., Worcester. How much: In-person: Adults $30-$40; students $10; EBT/WIC $5; youth under 17, free. Livestream 4 p.m. April 24 and On Demand May 8-14: $20 single; $38 household; $5 student. www.worcesterchambermusic.org

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What: “Turned Down” by James Fiering When: Through June 13. Public reception 6 to 9 p.m. April 22 Where: Online and at ArtsWorcester at the Davis Art Gallery on the third floor of the Printers Building, 44 Portland St. How much: Free and open to the public. www.artsworcester.org

‘Heaven’ Continued from Page 22

can still raise my glass.” It’s a melancholy note, one which fi nd the album’s persona fairly pummeled by life, if not entirely broken. Still, while the persona still has fi ght left, it’s clear there’s still further to fall: “Line ‘em up I’ll put ‘em down,” sings Montgomery, “And cast a glare for another round cause I ain’t done yet.” The fi ght’s still there, but multiple rounds of shots have rarely made a situation better. The album seems to know this, and its willingness to portray a persona that’s both honestly self-destructive and still not totally irredeemable is interesting. It certainly works. The album’s fi nal triptych of songs shifts the lens a bit away from questions of redeemability, and instead focus on the persona’s Southern roots, and how they intertwine with his relationships. “If I Live to See Virginia” fi nds the persona singing, “If I can’t

close my eyes and make you go away/If I live to see Virginia/I might ﬁ nd my way.” The toxic relationship is a dead end, and while he struggles to extricate himself, it’s clear he sees the relationship for what it is. Conversely, “Secret Watering Hole” is almost the inverse. The woman in this song seems no less earthy or rebellious as the others, and yet, somehow, she doesn’t seem as destructive. The tone is entirely diﬀ erent: “The bayou gets her what she wants,” sings Montgomery, “Gator skin and Mardi Gras/She doesn’t feel an ounce of shame/And her kisses taste like lemonade.” The album leans into the brightness of “Secret Watering Hole,” ending on the toe-tapping and positively joyful, “Peach.” For an album that began in self-loathing and self-destruction, the ending is positively happy. And maybe that’s the point: No matter how bleak things look from one angle, there’s always a chance for something better. There are still people that tether us to joy, and that doesn’t fade as easily as it might seem.

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This Week’s Answer

0422

26 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

J O N E S I N’

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Across 1. “Git ___, little dogies!” 6. Trebuchet trajectory 9. “Paper Moon” Oscar winner O’Neal 14. Furniture hauler 15. Indigo Girls, for example 16. 32 degrees, maybe 17. Did some aviation, but only with way awesome instruction? 20. Comedian/podcaster Maron 21. Seasoned veteran 22. British medical org. honoured by “Clap For Our Carers” early in the pandemic 23. This mo. 25. Soul, in France 27. Jewelry store, but only for fun? 36. Totality 37. Olympic swimmer Ian or track athlete Jim 38. Wrestler in a mawashi 39. Streams 41. Palindromic holiday 42. Took another shot at 43. Greek salad topper 44. Richards of “Starship Troopers” 46. Key near Tab 47. Essential Spanish word for “sun”? 50. “___ death do us part” 51. Tailless primate 52. Touch grass (by shortening it) 55. They may be absolute Legends 59. “___-Nomics” (1988 reggae album) 63. Completely different Bulgarian currency? 66. Red card 67. “Equal” prefix 68. Much, to a musician 69. Opener 70. Bagpiper’s accessory 71. Boxer Fury Down 1. Radio options 2. Kinks title woman 3. Done 4. Game show prize with a smell? 5. “Despicable Me” supervillain

“Point of No Return”--they don’t bounce back. by Matt Jones

6. Extra, for short 7. Cursed the day 8. “Dream ___ LLC” (Adult Swim show) 9. Microsoft font named for Mount Rainier 10. Pilot with skills 11. Get on another road? 12. Ogden’s state 13. Pharmacy supply 18. “Come Away With Me” singer Jones 19. “Giant Steps” saxophonist, familiarly 24. They’re hopefully housebroken 26. “Who ___ But Quagmire?” (“Family Guy” bit) 27. “Baby Beluga” singer 28. Pulitzer-winning novelist Glasgow 29. Stops streaming 30. Alaskan carving 31. Bedard who voiced Pocahontas 32. Agree to take part 33. “Nicely done!” 34. Acid in proteins 35. Peak performance? 40. Bulb power measurement 42. Swing a scythe 44. “The Daily Show” correspondent Sloan 45. Hoarder’s secret

48. Venetian shopping district 49. Jenkins of “World of Warcraft”-related memes 52. Doubled, a Hawaiian food fish 53. John Irving’s “A Prayer for ___ Meany” 54. “Do you need something?” 56. Bushel, byte, or becquerel 57. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” character 58. Tiniest bit 60. Pipe bends 61. Low-carb, high-fat diet 62. Shakespeare’s river 64. 1967 NHL Rookie of the Year 65. Rescue squad initials

Last week's solution

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | 27

LAST CALL

Marissa Mulneix, dog owner, and her shelter rescue, Bama Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Cattle dog mix Bama (formerly Noah), made headlines last month when he became the ASPCA’s 200,000th shelter animal transported through their Animal Relocation Program, arriving at Second Chance Animal Services in North Brookfi eld from Mobile, Alabama. With such a title, it wouldn’t be long before the 1-year-old pup found a forever home, but Worcester resident Marissa Mulneix didn’t know about any of this when she saw him at the shelter. Mulneix was also a new arrival to the city, having moved here in February to be closer to her work as a set dresser, and it was love at fi rst sight. Now Bama — named for his home state — enjoys accompanying Mulneix to work where he goes behind the scenes of TV shows and movies, including the latest season of “Dexter” and the upcoming fi lm adaptation of Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot.” Mulneix sat down with Last Call to talk about Bama’s fi rst week in his new home and speculate about his past. Describe your fi rst interaction with Bama I walked in not wanting a puppy. I was very honest with the shelter that I wanted a dog who was already pretty trained as well as good with other dogs, because I would be taking my dog to work. All the dogs were barking and he was the only quiet one. As I walked by, he just slowly got up and put his little paws on the cage door. At fi rst I wasn’t sure because he seemed a little young, but when we went into that back yard, he just jumped into my arms and I melted. That’s when they told me that he was famous. I thought it made sense that a famous dog should be behind the scenes in set production. How’s it been getting to know each other? He was quiet and unsure but very friendly from the get go. He slept at the foot of the bed his fi rst night and slowly

Marissa Mulneix and her rescue dog, Bama. SUBMITTED PHOTO

crept his way up for more cuddles. He has a crate, a couch, and a very expensive blanket, but he ignored all that and hopped onto the bed with me. He also gets highly off ended when people don’t say “hi” to him. When people walk by, he’ll stop and just look after them and whine. I have to bribe him with a treat to go forward with the walk. What’s his favorite thing to do? He lives to chase birds, it’s the only thing that makes me nervous on walks. The paws go up and the ears point and he’s ready. You mentioned he likes to sit on a pile of shoes — has he done that often? Yeah. As soon as I come home, he’ll grab my shoes and start playing with them. I’m very excited for this honeymoon phase to wear off and to see his true colors. Is he your fi rst dog?

He’s my fi rst dog of my own. My family has had dogs growing up but this is my fi rst one completely on my own. What made you take that fi rst step to get a dog? I moved here last February and I’ve always said if I don’t get a boyfriend, I’ll get a dog. But I got a boyfriend and still wanted a dog. I moved to Massachusetts to be closer to my fi lm industry job — we work all over but it’s Central Mass. usually, so Worcester seemed like a good spot. Any idea what his past was like? We really don’t know. All of his paper work just says “found.” He’s from Mobile, Alabama, but I found that out when I just googled the 200,000th dog from ASPCA. My theory is he must have been a town dog that people just took care of because he’s so nice. I don’t think a true stray dog would be so kind and approachable.

Sounds like you haven’t seen any phobias or issues then? Yeah, aside from motor cycles or trucks, he doesn’t even mind loud noises much. I even took him to work and he loved seeing all the people and watching the construction and everything. He appears to be of mixed heritage — tell me about that A bit of cattle dog and basenji — it’s an African hunting dog, at least according to the shelter. So I’ll roll with it. He defi nitely has strong herding instincts — he herds me on walks so it’s a lot of hand switching with the leash. So do people in the set design business take their pets to work? I’d say lots of people in the fi lm industry take their pets to work — even offi ce workers on the production side. Last production had this little prop dog — a chihuahua — who quietly sat on set and never made a peep. That’s really what made me want to get a dog — seeing these other set dogs. We have these things called deckers — carts we use to wheel props around the set and he’s just adopted some of those as his nap spot. How did you decide to name him after his state? He was very quiet — and I always associate that with Noahs. But he’s not a Noah — he’s pretty mouthy. Also, he definitely didn’t know the name Noah or I wouldn’t have changed it. What’s next for Bama? I have 12 weeks of training classes coming up and after that I want to put him in some kind of agility course because I think he needs a purpose. Has his behavior surprised you in any way? He’s so smart. I got this ball — it’s a type of ball that you attach to the ceiling with a string — he caught the ball, then started chewing on the string right away. Got to get a lot of interactive toys for him. Anything to add? That people should go adopt because they could be very surprised at the dogs they get.

28 | APRIL 22 - 28, 2022 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

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Worcester Magazine April 22 - 28, 2022

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