Inside Worcester a Journal of Observation & Opinion March 2015

Inside Worcester A Journal of Observation & Opinion March 2015

Booneʽdoggle’ Is the North High fiasco the superintendent’s Waterloo?

ALSO:

■Phil Palmieri as snow czar? ■ʽReopen the Canal, Mr. Moosey’ ■Bravehearts are armed for 2015 ■The RTA, tarred and feathered? ■Mr. Augustus, on the firing line ■SHOWTIME: Paul Daley on the upcoming St. Pat’s Parade INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 2 COVER STORY

Melinda’s misstep

By ROD LEE Infrequent encounters with Dr. Melinda J. Boone since she assumed the superintendent’s position here in Worcester have shown her to be a woman with not only the skills that are required to head up a large-city school system but also the backbone for the task. She has in almost every instance made all the right moves. Almost. Dr. Boone most recently, for instance, advocated for creation of an exam school for higher-achieving students. She also questioned education cuts contemplated by Gov. Charlie Baker. She demonstrated by these actions that she is both a forward thinker and a defender of the dollars needed to keep charter schools, kindergarten programs and other operations on an even keel. She has even somehow managed to counterpunch like Manny Pacquiao when School In better times. North High students joined middle Committee Member Brian A. O’Connell calls her performance into question as he did schoolers from Burncoat for an educational retreat last by voting against the contract extension to June 2018 that she was awarded last April at Camp Harrington in Boylston. month. Mr. O’Connell and Dianna L. Biancheria were the two dissenting votes in a 5-2 tally, both citing “needs improvement” as the reason for their nays. Although their votes were not explicitly tied to the debacle that engulfed North High staff, faculty, parents and students that same week—the first week of February—Mr. O’Connell and Ms. Biancheria would have been justified in using Dr. Boone’s mishandling of the situation as grounds for giving her a low grade. Her response to the crisis that arose over safety concerns at North was even more curious than comments offered by Leonard Zalauskas in the after- math of a series of troubling incidents. Mr. Z., who is president of the city teachers union, was quoted in the Telegram & Gazette as saying that he thinks “for an urban district, (North) is a very safe place.” The evidence suggests that just the opposite is true, and that the administration has not come down hard enough to develop (as Mr. O’Connell put it) “a culture of mutual respect” and to inflict “adequate punishment” on those who put others at risk. Not only did there appear to be a decided lack of communication between Dr. Boone and Police Chief Gary J. Gemme as the crisis (and that’s what it was) unfolded, Dr. Boone seemed to downplay the extent of the problem presented by bomb threats, fights, absenteeism and threats posted on social media. There is no attempt here to be unfair to Dr. Boone. But it was hard not to contrast the climate at North with that at the Abby Kelley Foster Charter Pub- lic School, as enunciated by Christine Lee (no relation) in an Op-Ed article that appeared in the daily newspaper. In sixteen years, Ms. Lee noted, Abby Kelley Foster has become a Level 1 school with 1,426 students in K-through-12, a high school International Baccalaureate program, a multi-million dollar campus and—most telling of all—a commitment to excellence and high expectations. A “classical liberal arts education” grounded in “the great works of Western civilization” and aiming at academic attainment, musical competence and “character formation.” The secretiveness that Dr. Boone brought to a meeting held at North did her no good. Nor, apparently, did the meeting itself. It left a representative sampling of parents feeling that “our kids are unsafe.” Could this be a crippling blow to her, long-term? Let’s hope not. She has in so many other ways been a tower of strength. INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 3 Snow commissioner? Tree surgeon? Traffic guru?

“Tis the winter of…” well you know the rest. A backhoe is used to lift snow into a large dump truck on Faraday St.

OUR TOWN/ROD LEE

Appoint Mr. Palmieri District, where his popularity ratings leave some- “giant snow throwers” that could be employed to to a new post, thing to be desired. maximum advantage when a parking ban is in Or he could take on overseeing the labors of a effect. An inference on his part that the equip- Mr. Manager couple of men from Martin Bros. Contracting Co. ment the city has now is insufficient for the task. Inc. of Paxton, who we spotted one morning as How this gets paid for when a $4 million snow If any lesson was learned from Worcester they got ready to barrier-proof an awning outside budget has been exhausted is the big question. establishing itself as “the snowiest city in the the Northworks building on Grove St. as a safe- Amid the snow flap Mr. Palmieri also took on all nation” this winter it is that District 2 Councilor guard against damage caused by falling icicles. comers including Mayor Petty, City Manager Philip P. Palmieri should abandon his dream There are no bounds to the reach Mr. Palmieri Augustus, the USDA, the Department of Conser- of winning election as a state rep could exercise as the city’s snow czar, possibly vation and Recreation and the Worcester Tree and instead build a case for being as an understudy to DPW Commissioner Paul Initiative folks in vehemently opposing wholesale named Worcester’s first-ever snow Moosey. eradication of “host” trees for the Asian Long- czar. horned Beetle in Green Hill Park. Like George W. Of course that might not work. Mr. Palmieri and Bush’s “fuzzy math,” he insisted (as did Virginia It would be like a prophecy fulfilled, Mr. Moosey are not exactly on the same page on Ryan) that it is “bad science;” that chemical treat- given Mr. Palmieri’s recent conten- snow, or trees for that matter. tions that the city (and by insinuation Mayor ment makes more sense. The councilor certainly cannot be accused of Petty) hasn’t done enough to keep sidewalks He could be right. having suffered a brain freeze as a result of the in commercial areas clear of snow. The sug- sub-zero temperatures we have witnessed of But maintaining that tractor trailer traffic on I-290 gestion being that by shirking its responsibili- late. On the contrary. He is full of “bright” ideas; above Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Ann Church ties in this regard, the city is putting the very and he has suddenly become more adversarial on Mullberry St. is responsible for structural dam- survival of small businesses—which are so and cantankerous in foisting them on his col- age to the building? Not CSX rigs rumbling past heavily dependent on pedestrian traffic—in leagues than Konstantina B. Lukes, which takes at street level? There is only one way to find out: jeopardy. some doing. give Mr. Palmieri the title of “traffic guru” and let I can picture it now, Mr. Palmieri directing him investigate. For instance. In the heat of the debate about apparatus whose operators are charged with snow Mr. Palmieri proposed that the city acquire He’ll get to the bottom of it. clearing clogged streets in the Canal INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 4 THE “I beg your pardon.” Mr. Arning disa- Armed & dangerous NEIGHBORHOODS Bravehearts tout young pitchers

JOLMA RD.—The Worcester Bravehearts may not Can you dig it be fortunate enough to head south for spring train- ing but that doesn’t preclude the organization from planning the defense of its 2014 Futures Collegiate (a Canal), Baseball League (FCBL) title. To that end, Brave- hearts GM Dave Peterson recently released the Mr. Moosey? Water, water, every- first half of the team’s roster for the new season. Of where. Ranger Chuck special note is the inclusion of three young arms

Arning says a reopened from Central Massachusetts who will figure in the STAFFORD ST.—Mention to National Park Ser- Blackstone Canal is team’s rotation for 2015. All are in their freshman vice Ranger Chuck Arning that Worcester DPW doable; and advisable. year of college. Luke Brennan was the starting Commissioner Paul Moosey is disparaging the quarterback for Doherty High’s 2013 Super Bowl- idea of a reopened Blackstone Canal on Harding champion football and the ace of the Highlanders’ St. as too expensive a proposition and you will pitching staff. A right-hander, his credentials includ- get a passionate rebuttal. Mr. Moosey recently ed a one-hit shutout of Burncoat High. Joe Caico, a went on record in opposition to Canalers’ dream lefty, is a teammate of Bravehearts Catcher TJ project on the grounds that the expense of digging up the infrastructure to make way for a Riccio at New Haven. Caico was a three-sport water experience is unrealistic. “Cost-prohibitive,” Mr. Moosey said. This determination did athlete at Holy Name. Now at Holy Cross, righty not sit well with the rank and file in the Canal District including John Giangregorio who see Austin Cave will get a chance to familiarize himself the initiative as the final piece in the neighborhood’s dramatic coming of age. As for Mr. with the mound at Hanover Insurance Park before Arning, whose attachment to the Canal District has been solidified by Worcester’s inclusion the Bravehearts’ first home game in June. He at- in plans for a new Blackstone Valley Corridor national park, he begs to differ with Mr. Moos- tended St. Mark’s in his hometown of Southbor- ey as well. “Look at Oklahoma City,” Mr. Arning told of an audience of about thirty people at ough and then spent a year at The Loomis Chaffee a luncheon meeting of the Webster Square Business Association (WSBA) at Zorba’s Taver- School in Windsor, Connecticut where he was na on February 11th. “Who wanted to go there after the bombing? No one.” The bombing of named team MVP after compiling a 6-1 won-lost the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City by anti-government militant Timothy record with a 0.47 ERA. The 2015 roster, to date: McVeigh in April of 1995—the then-worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil—killed one hundred sixty-eight people and left hundreds injured. It also shattered the psyche of Oklahoma City. Luke Brennan RHP Fr. Pierce But “OKC” has recovered and then some. Today’s Oklahoma City is the essence of “cool” Mike Bruemmel LHP So. Wheaton according to visitokc.com. The website describes OKC as a place of “warm hospitality” where “a hip, spirited environment blends with (the city’s) deep western heritage, creating Charlie Butler RHP Jr. Maine an exciting destination steeped in culture and entertainment.” The combination of “festivals, Joe Caico LHP Fr. New Haven national sporting events and treasure-filled museums” means that “the possibilities for fun in Austin Cave RHP Fr. Holy Cross OKC are endless.” OKC’s comeback has been appropriately labelled as “bootstrap urban- Mike Coggeshall INF So. Assumption ism” at its finest. “When pick-up trucks and spring tomatoes coexist with a network of bike- Logan Fullmer RHP Jr. Maine share racks and arts district….” magic is in the air. As with Worcester’s Canal District, much of this has to do with stick-to-itiveness. One example: Creation of the Plaza District Associa- Brandon Gauthier OF Fr. Dean tion, a nonprofit, resulted in City Hall in Oklahoma City acting as “dream maker” by awarding Bobby Indeglia OF Jr. Holy Cross $2.75 million for streetscape work (a matching local grant was obtained). The “walkability” of Dan Mantoni INF So. UMass-Boston the Classen-Ten-Penn neighborhood south of the Plaza District’s “iconic” NW 16th St. strip David Noworyta C Fr. Hawaii is further evidence of OKC’s resurgence. Mr. Moosey needs to emulate Canal’ers them- Dante Ricciardi INF HS Worc.Ac./Georgetown selves and “think big,” Mr. Arning said. BRV National Heritage Corridor Inc. President Char- TJ Riccio C Jr. New Haven lene Perkins Cutler, who was main speaker for the WSBA luncheon, agreed, saying pro- gress is defined by “great expectations.” As Ms. Cutler told WSBA’ers, “this is the first time a Zack Tower INF So. UMass-Lowell national heritage corridor has given birth to a national park.” Why not a canal too? John Witkowski RHP HS Avon Old Farms/BC INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 5

THE NEIGHBORHOODS Make way. The RTA’s maintenance garage on Grove St., below, is in line to be replaced by a 156,000-square-foot facility on Quinsigamond Ave. by 2016.

No busman’s holiday for the RTA O’Neil defends maintenance-facility site QUINSIGAMOND AVE.—No one is more sympathetic to the plight of embattled MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott, who recently resigned her position during “Snowmagadon” in the face of a furor over restricted and even eliminated commuter rail and bus service, than Steve O’Neil of Worcester’s RTA. Steve O’Neil: Full speed ahead. Mr. O’Neil knows Ms. Scott and like so many others who saw her in action on television he admires her pluck in defending the system she oversees. A virtual tsunami of snow and “not enough equipment” made her job in the present circumstances difficult, he said, plus “they had Big Dig costs dumped into their lap. Fifteen regional RTAs report to her” (she also has eighteen different unions to deal with). “We met with her on several occasions and she let us run our operations without interference.” Her problem, he said, was, “if you operate service in the morning, you have to get (passengers) back.” By comparison, the issues Mr. O’Neil and RTA GM John Carney have encountered in their administration of Worcester’s transit system are not as daunting. When they do arise, they have met them head-on. The RTA has also made strong and steady gains, the most recent of which was announcement of a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a charging station for its existing fleet of zero-emission electric buses. Now comes a new challenge in the form of a possible investigative expose in the Telegram & Gazette, asking the question “why are we paying for corporate welfare” in the costly cleanup of the blighted ten-acre site on Quinsigamond Ave. where the RTA intends to put a new 156,000-square-foot maintenance garage. Mr. O’Neil called Inside Worcester in to the RTA’s bus hub to explain why Quinsigamond Ave. should be a go despite pushback that may material- ize. At a meeting about the matter several weeks ago, he said, “I did my best to sell it from my perspective. This project means one hundred forty con- struction jobs, one hundred fifty permanent jobs. The neighborhood is behind it. The Canal District is behind it. The neighborhood center there is small so we are offering a community room with at least fifty spaces. We will do lighting and sidewalk work; and if not a public entity who is going to do it? The property was on the market for years, and that area is prone to flooding. I believe us being there will further the entire dialogue. We are taking it off the tax rolls but putting Grove St. (home of the RTA’s current maintenance facility) back on. Federal and state authorities “didn’t want to put another nickel into Grove St.,” Mr. O’Neil said. “We got a $39 million grant for the project. The state DOT kicked in $14 million and Environmental Affairs $2 million. Tim Murray (as lieutenant governor) and Mike O’Brien (as city manager) were active in getting money to clean up the site. “We knew what we were buying. But we found things we didn’t know were there. Building material. Concrete left behind. Coal tar, messy black gook, and asbestos. My grandfather used to work there when it was a gasification company. DEP said ̒ you can’t leave coal tar there.’ The T&G is apparently prepared to say that the corporate side should be doing something, but the T&G walked away from its property (on Franklin St.).” All of what has been found “drove up the cost to the point where, Mr. O’Neil said, “I thought maybe we should look at another site, and we did; 224 Brook St.” But NStar (seller of the Quinsigamond Ave. site), balked. A decontaminated Quinsigamond Ave. property is worth the effort, he said. “Dr. (John F.) Coakley the dentist remembers playing down there and coming home with headaches.” Headaches? Who needs them? Not Steve O’Neil and the RTA and its customers, that’s for sure. INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 6 INSIDE WORCESTER; MARCH 2015—PAGE 7

THE NEIGHBORHOODS THE ECHO CHAMBER ‘Mr. City Manager, Worcester is so fortunate to have you.’ City Manager Ed Augustus Peter Iannachino (On Worcester’s most ambitious economic- development initiative ever): “Every piece of Action Press the CitySquare project is100% locked in.” ‘You can call me Al’ Chris George, George & Co. GROVE St.—Lurking within striking distance of City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. during a luncheon meeting of the North Worcester Business Association at Tweed’s Pub (On the February issue of Inside Worces- on February 18th was Alan Cooper, a man who made his name in part as the head of ter): “Everyone knows Ringo but Bonham? Atlas Press and as it turns “Give me a W, give me an O…” Mr. Augustus leading the Figured only old hippies like me remember out to no lesser degree as cheers for the city at Tweed’s Pub before running into a a thorn in the side of buzz saw named Alan Cooper. him. Saw them in ʾ69 at the old Carousel in Worcester city managers. Framingham by sneaking under the tent. Biding his time like a leop- They were doing Dazed and Confused! ard eyeing prey from the Don’t tell Jack Foley but I also snuck into limb of a tree, Mr. Cooper listened intently as the Atwood Hall at Clark to see Hendrix!” manager focused mostly (as might be expected) on snow during his presenta- Kevin O’Sullivan, MBI tion. “Worcester has the (Also on the February issue of Inside dubious distinction of hav- Worcester): “Really nice to see all that is ing surpassed Buffalo with 103 inches” (of the white happening in the ʽNo Stopping Them’ Canal stuff) and counting, and an District...Common Core is the hot topic but expenditure “north of $5 million” for the removal of it over the course of the winter of 2014 no matter, we need more choice and less -15, Mr. Augustus said. “Our DPW folks are doing Herculean work. These are the same defense of the status quo...Terrific Brave- guys who pick up your sanitation, (who are responsible for) sewer and water. Everyone is mobilized. All of them have to be licensed as a plow operator. They’ve had no days off hearts panel discussion...Sorry to see since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.” Anticipating pushback on his message, he added that ̒Rascallion’ go as I agree with Hank the city has 6100 fire hydrants that need to be kept clear. “I’ve heard from every person in (Stolz)...Do not support sprinkler require- Worcester who had snow pushed onto the sidewalk!” he said, to laughter. But, he added, ments for Worcester’s three deckers but “compare Worcester to Dorchester. We missed one day of trash pickup. The same guys! And their average salary is $40,000.” Whatever impression Mr. Augustus’ remarks made rather an electric-based alarm system with on Mr. Cooper, it did not stop him from using the Q-and-A portion of the proceedings to crackdown on slumlords like Arlington St. rigorously interrogate the manager on two of his favorite pet peeves: the flight of young as Worcester’s Fire Prevention is first professionals from the city (or their disinterest in locating here in the first place), and an class...Mayor Clarence Plant is the best and educational system that is in his opinion subpar. Mr. Augustus parried with Mr. Cooper as best he could (as Michael V. O’Brien did when he was in the job) until NWBA President so is Ed Madaus!” Edward O. Bourgault inched in to hint by his body language that time was up. Had he not, NWBA Treasurer Neil Brosnan may have cut Mr. Cooper off, as he has in the past. In- stead, Peter Iannachino of Action Press had the last word—commending Mr. Augustus on his sterling performance as manager, to date. Applause. It appeared that even Mr. Cooper was cheering. But we can’t be sure. 5 Stars for Dodge Park RANDOLPH RD.—Positive feedback from families, seniors and others concerned about the care provided by rest homes, assisted living residences and Alzheimer’s facilities has again earned Worcester’s Dodge Park Rest Home “Caring Super Star of 2015” honors from Caring.com. In congratulating Dodge Park on its 5-star consumer rating, the website’s CEO Andy Cohen said “this important milestone speaks volumes about the positive difference Dodge Park Rest Home is mak- ing in serving older adults, and we join with the local community in celebrating their accomplishment.” INSIDE WORCESTER; PAGE 8—MARCH 2015

THE BREAKFAST CLUB SHOWTIME! Thursday, March 12 Beechwood Hotel Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, arguably Central Massachusetts’ most Steppin’ out with the Irish popular politician since the late Paul Cellucci, is guest speaker For “Burncoat boy” Paul Daley, Worcester’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Park Ave., Sun., 3/8) is “getting back to our roots.” for this event. Kevin O’Sullivan, Mr. Daley grew up off Burncoat St. His father was a police lieutenant, his mother was Irish and he vividly remembers president and CEO of Massa- “loving how everyone came out and lined the streets. Leitrim’s Pub did a great business!” Mr. Daley remains well- chusetts Biomedical Initiatives connected to the McInerney family of Irish step-dancing renown, whose performers are a staple of the annual walk. While and a tidal wave in his own the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is arguably the city’s most celebrated social event, Mr. Daley points right, will serve as chief greeter. out that like the Columbus Day Parade which showcases Worcester’s Italian-American community and the Latin-American Festival, “it’s all about inclusion. It’s not about the Irish.” Speaking of going back, DCU Center Assistant General Manager/Director of Sales Jim Moughan will be guest speaker at the Webster Square Business Association’s monthly luncheon meeting (3/11) at Peppercorn’s. “My first paying job was at the old Brown Tire Center, and then Webster Square Cinemas,” Mr. Moughan says. Worcester doesn’t get any more Irish than O’Connor’s Restaurant where Chris Powers of the Benefit Development Group will be guest speaker at the North Worcester Business Association’s monthly luncheon meeting (3/18). Mechanics Hall is getting into the act as well this month by offering a leading traditional Irish ensemble by way of the Danu´ 20th Anniversary Tour (Sun., 3/8), presented by Music Worcester and the Hibernian Cultural Cen- tre. The names have changed but the entertainment remains the same and perhaps even better. As evidence that the Harlem Globetrotters, who come to the DCU Center for one appearance only on March 27th, are surpassing previous milestones, there are some recent Guinness World Records to consider. One, Big Easy Lofton’s farthest-ever hook shot at 61 feet 4 inches. Two, Buckets Blakes’ new mark for most underhanded shots from halfcourt: six—reclaiming an honor that had temporarily slipped from his grasp. Big Easy Lofton and Buckets Blakes’ theatrics came at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, home of the Phoenix Suns. Another Trotter, Thunder Law, holds two Guinness records: Longest basketball shot at 109 feet 9 inches and longest backwards at 82 feet 2 inches. Now in their 89th consecutive year of providing dazzling family fun, the Trotters will play more than three hundred games in North America through the month of May. They began in 1926 as “the Savoy Big Five.” In a posting on Chuck and Mud perform at the Facebook, fan Dusty Boucher of Houston says, “my grandfather Worcester Senior Center. told us how he and the local guys played against the Savoy Big Five in a small town in Montana. The Globetrotters—all five of them—traveled in a big white car with [Founder] Abe Saperstein. I think it was the early 30s. Good luck to the Washington Generals, beating these guys here in Worcester; the Trotters haven’t lost to the Generals since 1971! The DCU Center’s busy first month of spring also includes such attractions as the 2015 Worcester Spring Home Show (3/6-8), the 2015 Worcester Boat Show (3/13-15) and pop sensation Ariana Grande: The Honeymoon Tour (3/15). “Folkies” would have liked what they saw at the always-bustling Worcester Senior Center on February 11th, Chuck and Mud performing for a gathering of The Retired Men’s Club of Greendale. Two of duo’s closing numbers? Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” and Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” Good stuff! With so much ice and snow around it’s fun to think ahead to Paulie’s New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival June 26-28 in the Canal District and the lineup that’s coming together for the production. Recently added to the stage for a 6/27 appearance is Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen; Mr. Cleary is an English-born funk and R&B musician who has performed with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, Ryan Adams and Eric Burdon. On a tamer note, February was “All Aboard for Love a Book Month,” another facet of “Worcester: The City That Reads” campaign headed up by John and Anne-Marie-Monfredo. Goings-on related to encouraging reading and literacy spanned the city and involved schools and businesses. For example: O’Connor’s Restaurant held a raffle of books for children; personnel of Rainbow Child Development handed out pamphlets on “Reading Aloud to Your Children;” UMass Memorial employees visited neighborhood schools to read to kids; the Belmont A.M.E. Zion Church stressed reading as part of its “Yes, We Can” homework assistance program; Grafton Street School presented children with a free book to promote reading at home for twenty minutes a day. Roll the calendar back to 1952 for “I Love Lucy: Live on Stage” at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts (3/6-8). A bellyful of laughs with you know who from the most beloved sit- com in TV history: Lucy, Ricky, Jayda McLeod, 8, works on a “Vision Fred and Ethel. For more laughs: Board” as part of “All Aboard for `Love Jay Leno! (3/22). Also at the Han- a Book Month’” activities at the over, “The Moody Blues Timeless Worcester Public Library. Youth Service Flight: The Polydor Years (3/19). Librarian Stacy Servideo monitored the session.