When I think garden, I think tomatoes ~ lots of them ~ in all shapes, sizes and hues. They’re the hottest action in my garden, requiring soil preparation, acquisition of seedlings and planting. Daily watering leads to explosive growth that seems to increase with each attempt at staking. The fruit of this labor defines summer itself: perfectly ripe fruit plucked right off the vine, still warm from the sun.

A more contemplative pursuit is the herb garden, an area I desperately need to improve this year. My herb plants tend to be scattered in haphazard pots and corners ~ all woefully unkempt.

In a fateful turn, I met Dr. Guy Esposito at this year’s wine exposition. An orthopedic surgeon by profession, he’s head of the kitchen garden for the PBS series, Ciao Italia, the first Italian and longest-running cooking show on television. His wife, Mary Ann Esposito, is the show’s host. They’re a delightful couple from New Hampshire who are devoted to promoting happiness and good living. Guy offered this advice for growing herbs from his encyclopedic knowledge of gardening:

“The reason I grow an herb garden is that it adds to the kitchen repertoire. Many of the herbs have scents that are pleasant to have in the house. Mary Ann will run out for some herbs when she’s cooking, and we pick a bouquet of basil to have in the kitchen for the fragrance.

“Outside the kitchen door is our herb garden. Anyone can make their own if they have a space of, roughly, 4 by 8 feet. Put in one of each of these plants: mint (peppermint and spearmint), sage, tarragon, thyme, rosemary and sorrel. Unfortunately, sorrel is often overlooked, but it has a lemony flavor that’s great in salads. And then add four basil and four flat-leaf parsley plants.

“There’s also a type of arugula called sylvatica that is perennial and forms a bush 10 inches in diameter. You can pick it all summer long. Try to find it from online catalog houses… and don’t forget chives!

“The plants should be spaced a foot apart in two or three staggered rows; basil and parsley can be closer. Mint is the ‘problem child’ because it’s very invasive, so plant it in pots sunk to about 2 inches from the soil line to keep its runners from spreading. And the rosemary should be in a pot, so that it can be brought indoors for the winter ~ it won’t survive outside.

“Soil preparation is important to a successful garden, and mulching properly helps to keep it moist and control weeds. In fact, you can see detailed advice in my video series The Vegetable Garden Doctor on eagletribune.com. But when you plant your herbs, work in some slow-release fertilizer. Then, once they’re growing, don’t be afraid to give them an occasional shot of liquid fertilizer.”

When purchasing perennial plants, ask for their zone number. Central Massachusetts is in Zone 5. Any plant with a zone greater than that, if left outside, will probably not survive winter. However, many of these plants may survive, and possibly thrive, during the winter months if brought into the house.

Leominster seems an anomaly. So many mid-sized towns have been hollowed out by the encroachment of huge chain stores that it is unusual to drive their downtown and see small businesses with “open” signs ~ with one major exception. For an eternity, the drive to Leominster meant a trip to Monty’s Garden for some of the best Italian food in the county. Sadly, the place is now shuttered.

But all is not lost, for right down the street is a new restaurant called Rye & Thyme. It describes itself as an American tavern, raw bar and grill, and it has taken over the Monument Grill location in an exemplar of pre-20th century brick and granite architecture.

From the moment we were seated, I had good feelings about Rye & Thyme. Beyond the handsome interior, it has a steady track of early rhythm and blues ~ call it the Al Greene Channel. Our server, Bobbi Jo, introduced herself and patiently answered my many questions regarding the selection of draft beers. With her assistance, I selected a glass of Spice of Life IPA. Brewed by the Sixpoint Brewery, it balanced the bitter flavor I crave in an IPA with strong tendencies toward the citrus flavor spectrum.

If pressed for a one-syllable description of Rye & Thyme, I’d feel justified in replying “craft.” Much of the beer list is made up of low-production run, sometimes innovative, selections. And check out the Beer & Shot combos for some very innovative pairings. The food menus also have their share of innovative spark. In short, this is a place I’d need to visit several more times in order to fully satisfy my curiosity.

I’m going to be brief about our starters because entrees are the real story, but there are a few important points to be made. First: oysters. Rye & Thyme sells basic Virginia oysters for a buck each. They also offered Connecticut Blue Points and Rhode Island Moonstones.

We started with a half-dozen Virginia Oysters served on crushed ice. They came with a heaping of horseradish, herbed vinegar and cocktail sauce. Medium in size, with an impeccably fresh and clean flavor, we devoured them in record time. And at that low price, we ordered another six.

Our salad was a serviceable Caesar. Another time, I’d choose either the Angry Caesar or Waldorf salad; they’re polar opposites in demeanor, yet, I daresay, more interesting than our rather unexciting Caesar.

Rye & Thyme’s menu takes classics from American cuisine and adds features that foodies should find compelling. For example, the Coffee Braised Short Ribs are served with a hazelnut crème fraîche. I’d be perfectly satisfied with any of these entrees, yet my mind was made up when I got to their Shepherd’s Pie, made with lamb, peas, corn and mashed potatoes.

Most everyone, me included, makes Shepherd’s Pie with ground beef. Yet, it was once pointed out by a friend that that true Shepherd’s Pie is made with lamb or mutton ~ never beef; that would be Cottage Pie. Later, after consulting Wikipedia to confirm his assertion, you might say I felt somewhat sheepish … why wasn’t that obvious?

Rye & Thyme presents its Shepherd’s Pie in a sizzling-hot, cast-iron skillet; cheesy mashed potatoes were limited to a thin top crust that sealed in tasty lamb gravy and vegetable bits. But the lamb! None of that ground meat ~ this was flake-apart tender, stewed lamb, so mild in flavor that each chunk was a treasure. I would have scoffed if told I could find such delicious lamb outside of a Greek lady’s stewpot.

It doesn’t seem possible, but my friend was just as enthused with his entree, Steak & Fries. A generous-sized hanger steak of Angus beef had been perfectly grilled: juicy red in the center, with a crusty black char on the outside ~ so delicious and pleasurable that he savored each bite. The steak was sliced and served aside a heap of shoestring fries drizzled with malt vinegar aioli. Room-temperature marinated vegetables offered flavor, color and textural contrast.

Attention to all who still miss Block 5 Bistro’s Steak & Frites: Head to Rye & Thyme, another venture by the Niche Hospitality Group, which owned Block 5.

As tempted as I was by dessert, in particular the Butterscotch Bourbon Bread Pudding, I decided to wait for a return visit ~ perhaps when the weather warms up and Rye & Thyme spills outdoors to its broad sidewalk patio. Let’s see if I can wait that long!

Rye & Thyme
14 Monument Square, Leominster
(978) 534-5900 | www.ryeandthyme.com

With the retirement party behind you, perhaps you are now ready to head to a warmer climate in search of palm trees and sunshine, or maybe you are excited about playing more golf, eating lunch out with friends more frequently or spending more time with the family. No matter the reason, you are beginning to question whether or not it is time to downsize. How do you know? The answers are as varied as the people considering the question, but there are options for staying put if that is what you choose.

Start out by asking yourself a question: Are you comfortably able to afford your existing residence or are you knee-deep in debt? If you are struggling to pay the monthly bills, or would simply like more disposable cash at your fingertips, downsizing may be an option. It is not, however, the only option.

Another vehicle to consider is the reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is the mirror image of a regular mortgage. It enables homeowners 62 and older to convert part of the equity in their homes into tax-free cash without having to sell the home, give up the title or take on a new monthly mortgage payment. The borrower retains the title of the home, and the reverse mortgage comes due at the time of the death of the borrower, when he or she permanently moves out or when the house is sold. If you love your home and have no desire to consider something smaller, this may be a good choice.

On the other hand, if upkeep and maintenance is getting difficult and taking up your free time, you may want to meet with a Realtor who specializes in downsizing. This person is an expert on what it takes to downsize effectively. He or she can speak with you about the myriad of options and can walk you through various scenarios.
A downsizing expert will be able to discuss what is currently on the market and help you to learn more about what’s out there. Ask yourself a few questions: Are you interested in a smaller home? A condo? An active adult community? Learning a bit about each of these will give you a clearer picture of what’s best for your personal taste and situation.

If you do choose to downsize, a Realtor will be with you every step of the way and will help you understand the best way to go about the process of culling your belongings and moving on to the next phase of your life.

Downsizing can be a chance to own a smaller home with the amenities you have always dreamed of for less money.

The point is: There are options. Whether it is a new loan vehicle, a refinance, credit counseling or downsizing, a Realtor can help you through the process until the day you walk through your new front door with extra cash in hand and a sense of peace.

Peggy Patenaude is a leader in real estate sales in Andover, an affluent suburb of Boston. She has won more than 58 awards since she began her career in 2002, including Top Sales Agent in Massachusetts for her nationwide company. In 2010, which was considered a challenging year in the real estate industry, Patenaude sold $18,500,000 in property. Peggy is the “go to” person when considering downsizing and has considerable experience guiding homeowners through the process of putting their home on the market to sell.

Advice for planning your move

By Kim McCarthy, owner, Generations on the Move, Inc.

If you’ve read the headlines lately, you will have noted that real estate sales are increasing and our overall population is aging. Both of these dynamics are important factors for those people who are looking to downsize. In total, there are approximately 79 million baby boomers in the U.S., and 25 percent of them are looking to downsize from their current residence to a smaller living situation. If you are in this situation, or if you have an older parent or relative that is in this situation, then please keep reading.

Let’s face it: Many people are looking to reduce the stress of maintaining their home and want to live in a home where they just lock the door and leave. However, figuring out how to deal with the overwhelming task of getting from Point A to Point B can be a challenge. Like most things in life, taking that first step and getting started can be the hardest part.

Since it probably has taken you a bit of time to decide that you want to move, it also makes sense to understand that it will also take some time to sort through all the details to make that transition happen. With this in mind, here are a few key tips and ideas for you to consider:

Moving takes time. Avoid the tendency to delay thinking about a future move. Going through some pre-planning with adequate lead time will greatly reduce stress and help ensure a successful move.

One of the hardest aspects of moving is sorting through all the things that you have long treasured, such as the kids’ school artwork, items passed down through the family, etc. In some instances, these items may hold a significant sentimental value, and in other cases, you may feel obligated to keep the item (but are not quite sure why). My advice is that if you aren’t sure about something, put it in a box with other “unsures” and leave it to look at later. Deal with the items you can decide on now, and over time, that box of “unsures” will be minimal.

Be realistic about the space you are going to have available. Everything you have in your “big” house will not fit into your “smaller” new home. Take pleasure in allowing your loved ones to choose the items they would like while sharing with you why it holds a special meaning for them. Most other items can be donated to charity or groups that could benefit greatly from your generosity. You will feel great about “paying it forward.”

The next step is looking at where you want to live. Fortunately, there are many wonderful options for you to consider. Active adult communities are popping up in many places, and most have terrific amenities such as swimming pools, exercise rooms, fitness classes, craft rooms and spaces for impromptu or planned social gatherings. In addition, several communities are geared toward having generous outdoor space designated for active lifestyles that include tennis, golf and walking/bicycling trails. The popularity of these communities is on the rise, so selecting where you would like to live is something that you will want to do early because you might find that there is a waiting list.

If all this seems like more than you want to handle on your own, don’t worry ~ there are professionals to help!

A Senior Move Manager (SMM) knows exactly what you are going through because he or she specializes in helping people 55-plus downsize every day. A SMM provides a flexible, concierge-level of service that helps to ensure a smooth transition from one living location to the next. A SMM often refers to himself or herself as that “extra pair of hands” or an “extra family member” that is available to help. Best of all, SMMs have the experience, network and resources to make your move a success. A SMM handles everything from your floor plan, helping you sort through years of memories and coordinating the movers to packing your belongings, changing your utilities and communicating with family (as needed). Best of all, when you first step into your new home on moving day, your entire home will be unpacked and ready for you to enjoy ~ no boxes to throw away, no pictures to hang, no beds to make ~ everything will be ready for you.
Whether you want to tackle the move on your own or hire a senior move manager to assist, I wish you much success!

Generations on the Move, Inc. was founded in 2007 to help people transition into a retirement lifestyle with ease. Generations on the Move, Inc. is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (www.nasmm.com) and was recently awarded the Circle of Service Award. For more information, contact Generations on the Move, Inc. at (508) 210-0345 or www.generationsonthemove.com.

A Worcester business is joining in as one company tries to make the case that Americans are ready to eat a few bugs for the sake of the environment and their health. Living Earth in Worcester is the only company in Massachusetts to carry Cricket Bars.

Living Earth General Manager Frank Phelan said of the product, “I decided to carry the Chapul Cricket Bars for a number of reasons. It is a unique product that features an underutilized source of high-quality protein ~ insects. Other parts of the world take advantage of this ubiquitous source of protein, and we eat lobsters, shrimp and crabs, which are arthropods of the sea. Why not arthropods from land?

“Another reason is the curiosity factor in carrying such a unique product. We are always looking for unusual products that meet our ingredient standards, and Cricket Bars will at least elicit a reaction, even if someone is not willing to try it.

“The third reason is that 10 percent of the profits go to water conservation efforts in the Southwest. Water is becoming the most important commodity in the world, and a company that makes a commitment to conserving this natural resource is to be supported.”

Chapul was formed in late 2011 by a young team out of Salt Lake City. Pat Crowley came up with the idea after listening to a talk on the environmental and health benefits of eating insects.

“Eating insects makes sense on so many levels,” Crowley said, “and the major barrier is a cultural perception, so that’s where we’re focusing a lot of our efforts.”
Chapul’s cricket energy bar concept was modeled after the sushi industry’s California Roll, which in the early 1970s, was designed to introduce Americans to the idea of eating raw fish, previously unheard of in American restaurants. The California Roll was crafted in Los Angeles when Ichiro Mashita substituted avocado for raw tuna and turned the nori inside out to provide Americans with a gentle introduction to the new cuisine.

Using Mashita’s example, Chapul mills baked crickets into a protein-rich flour and then mixes small quantities of that flour into energy bars made primarily of organic dates, nuts and chocolate, all familiar and popular flavors. However, given the high protein and calcium content of their innovative cricket flour, even a small amount fortifies Chapul bars with a protein level on par with leading energy bar brands.

“Observing the psychological response to our Cricket Bars has been fascinating,” said Ruth Arevalo, culinary scientist and Chapul’s lead chef.

“I have eaten insects in Thailand and Mexico, where it is often a normal part of the diet. It’s so interesting to see the wide variety of reactions in the U.S. to what is actually a delicious and healthy food product. It’s been fun to see enthusiastic responses to the flavors we have created.”

For more information, visit chapul.com or lefoods.com.

It’s a significant challenge to make sure babies get in much-needed naps while on the go. SnoozeShade Deluxe ($39.99) sun and sleep shade is designed to fit strollers and car seats so babies can find rest in a shaded place and have their delicate skin protected from the sun and other weather elements.

SnoozeShade Deluxe is a more upscale alternative to the SnoozeShade Original fabric. Designed with smooth, silver exterior fabric and new safety-certified snaps instead of traditional Velcro, the SnoozeShade Deluxe protects from 97.5 percent of UV rays while projecting a sleeker look. It’s available in the same styles as the classic line: SnoozeShade Original, SnoozeShade Infant Car Seats and SnoozeShade Plus.

SnoozeShade Deluxe Original fits all joggers and strollers and encourages sleeping by blurring visual stimulation that may keep baby awake through the zip-up shade. SnoozeShade Deluxe Plus also provides a “snooze mode” screen in addition to a “lookout mode” window, which filters UV ray lights but lets baby see what is going on outside of the stroller.

SnoozeShade Deluxe Infant Car Seat conveniently fits most car seats and also features a lookout panel that protects babies from 80 percent of UV rays while allowing them to watch surrounding activity. To create a darkened and soothing environment, just put up the outer layer to remove visual stimulation, so that babies can ease into nap mode without distractions.

For more information, visit snoozeshadeuse.com.

Sleep can be blissful

A restful night’s sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Infants have a hard time falling asleep and often wake many times throughout the night. Due to the lack of quality sleep, infants can become cranky and fussy during the day.

Mommy’s Bliss, makers of the No. 1-selling natural colic remedy in the United States, has just released the Sweet Slumber line of bedtime routine products for infants. The new lineup includes a baby wash, a nightly massage cream and a calming bedroom mist. All three of these new releases contain essential oils that are historically associated with relaxation and sleep, including English lavender oil, German chamomile extract and ylang ylang flower oil.

Mommy’s Bliss Sweet Slumber Baby Wash
The troubles of bathtime can sometimes become a daunting task, especially if the little one is cranky or fussy. The Sweet Slumber Baby Wash combines the benefits of a body wash, shampoo and bubble bath in one convenient bottle, allowing for an easy and soothing bathtime before bed. This tear-free formula contains no drying agents and won’t irritate sensitive skin. $7.99 for 11.75 fl. oz.

Mommy’s Bliss Sweet Slumber Massage Cream
The Sweet Slumber Massage Cream is a gentle, moisturizing cream used to relax children while nourishing their delicate skin. This non-greasy cream absorbs quickly into baby’s sensitive skin without irritation. $6.99 for 8.25 fl. oz.

Mommy’s Bliss Sweet Slumber Mist
A peaceful and soothing bedroom is sometimes just what a child needs to fall asleep smoothly. The Sweet Slumber Mist creates a calm and familiar bedroom environment that prepares children for a relaxing and easy sleep. This gentle, calming bedroom mist is ideal for baby’s blanket, pajamas and bed ~ all without containing any alcohol or artificial fragrances. $5.99 for 3.25 fl. oz.

The Sweet Slumber line is 100 percent vegetarian and vegan, and the packaging is 100 percent recycled with post-consumer resin. Products can be purchased at Walgreens, Diapers.com and DrugStore.com.

A special blanket for grandparents’ house

Zoobies, the award-winning plush animals that turn into pillows with blankets inside, now offers Glow Bugs!

A quick recharge under a light will bring more than 30 minutes of glow-in-the-dark magic to any unlit room. Glow Bugs transform from cuddly bug characters into snuggly pillows and comfy coral fleece blankets, complete with nightlight glow material, making them the perfect 4-in-1 plush bedtime companion.
See the full collections at Zoobies.com.

Jelly Belly now offers snow cones

The fun of Jelly Belly’s jelly beans is available ice cold, with the Jelly Belly Snow Cone collection.

Featuring items such as the Jelly Belly Portable Ice Shaver, decorating kits and flavor syrups in the Top 10 Jelly Belly flavors, grandparents and grandchildren can have fun making flavorful and fun creations in the home.
The Jelly Belly Electric Ice Shaver is a smart, portable electric appliance that makes snow cones instantly and conveniently. All you need is ice! The cone holder is removable, which makes cleaning easy and simple. This portable ice shaver machine comes with two ice molds, four disposable snow cone cups and spoon straws.

For more information, visit jellybelly.com.

Give someone’s grandchild a book

The seventh annual book drive by Worcester: the City that Reads Committee to collect books for summer reading has begun. The committee was founded by John and Anne-Marie Monfredo eight years ago to promote literacy in the community and the importance of being a lifetime reader. In six years, the committee has given out more than 154,000 books to Worcester-area children.

Traditionally, the books are distributed to low-income students, social agencies and groups with summer school programs. In addition, books have also been given to schools and groups during the year for special projects.

According to the research on literacy, challenges not only exist in Worcester but across the nation. Sixty-one percent of low-income families in the nation have no children’s books in the home. In low-income neighborhoods, there is an average of only one age-appropriate book for every 300 children.
Studies indicate that children in homes that have books are more likely to succeed in school, while children who don’t have adequate reading skills are much more likely to drop out of school.

A recent study found that the ability to read well is the single best indicator of future economic success ~ regardless of family background.
Donate new or gently used books, pre-kindergarten to grade 8, at the following sites through May 15:

People’s United People’s Bank ~ all six city branches and branches in Shrewsbury, Marlboro and Leominster
Commerce Bank (all four city branches) and the Holden branch
Bay State Savings Bank (all branches)
Bank of America (at Tatnuck Square)
TD Bank (all branches)
Worcester Public Library
Stop and Shop on Lincoln, Grafton and West Boylston streets.
Shaw’s Market on West Boylston Street and Webster Square
RSVP and the Senior Center on Vernon Street
Worcester Credit Union
Starbucks Coffee on West Boylston Street
Panera’s on West Boylston Street
Light Labs on Shrewsbury Street
DCU Center and the Worcester Sharks
Jewish Community Center on Salisbury Street
Leader’s Way ~ Kung Fu Academy on Burncoat Street
Greendale YMCA
St. Vincent’s Hospital at the entrance door on Summer Street
CVS on West Boylston Street
Barnes and Noble Book Store on Lincoln Street
Worcester Public Schools School Committee Office, 20 Irving St.

For more information, call John or Anne-Marie Monfredo at (508) 853-3444.

On today’s rapidly changing arts scene, enamellists are a rare breed, as the painstaking art form is demanding and punishing. However, for Ashland artist Judi Daner, enameling has always been much more a labor of love than work. Sitting down to talk with this witty and charming 70-something artist, one is immediately struck by the youthful vibrancy and passion that she has for her work. For she has the intensity of a coiled spring, and it’s palpable.

As Daner sits with her shoulders hunched, speaking of her work, it’s as though the years melt away. She becomes caught up in the moment; her voice rings with unbridled enthusiasm, and her eyes light up as she speaks of a half century working as an enamellist. What’s immediately clear is that she keeps her eyes focused on the future and the road ahead and never looks at life through the rearview mirror.

Daner grew up in New York, is a graduate of the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., and settled in Massachusetts decades ago. She has been working in enameling since her first summer after college, when, in her early 20s, she started her career doing finish work at an enamel giftware company in Connecticut. Of those early days, she recalled, “It was a great schooling, but I really didn’t know much about it at all when I started.” Chuckling, she added, “I thought that enamel was something that you put on your fingernails, but oh, it’s so much more.”

Daner explained that the process involves the firing of glass onto metal in a kiln at a temperature ranging from 1350-1650 degrees and “the only limitation that you have is the size of your kiln.” Daner is highly creative and, as such, approaches enameling as an artist, not a metalsmith.

A walk through her home and her studio reveals a virtual treasure trove of brightly colored enamel works that hang on every wall, and her sense of pride in her creations comes through. She explains that patience and focus are of critical importance in this art form.

“I sit at a table working for hours, but it suits me.” Of the art form itself, Daner said, “Enameling seems to attract a cerebral crowd ~ very bright people, and it’s marvelous.”

Age has in no way slowed her down, as Daner divides her time between working in the medium and teaching. An exhibition of her work and that of her students, Honor Thy Teacher, concluded last month at the Worcester Center for Crafts.

As for her advice to young artists, she said, “Don’t be afraid to try something new. Take chances.”

HuMn Wallet
God willing, your grad is on the road to employment, and the HuMn wallet gives your grad a sleek, hip place to put the newfound cash. The stylish HuMn can be configured in one, two or three powder-coated aluminum plates with a shock strap. The wallet comes in a variety of colors, allowing complete customization. Best of all, the aluminum plates protect the wallet’s owner from electronic theft by shielding credit cards from RFID skimming.
For more information, visit humnwallet.com.

Box for a Bottle
If ever there was a time to break out the bubbly, college graduation is it! Give your favorite grad a bottle of his or her favorite beverage encased in a stylish Box for a Bottle. This customized wooden box comes in several graduation motifs and can be custom engraved with a personal message. The boxes are made in America, and for each box ordered, Box for a Bottle gives back to the Earth by planting a tree.
For more information, visit boxforabottle.com.

Bed of Nails
Now that school is done, the stress of the real world is coming. Arm your favorite grad with a Dr. Oz-endorsed Bed of Nails acupressure mat and/or pillow that will take the sting out of any day. Both the pillow and mat feature non-toxic plastic spikes designed to stimulate the body to release endorphins (feel good hormones) and oxytocin (pain blockers), similar to how needles work in acupuncture.
For more information, visit bedofnails.org.

Swiss Stays
Now that your grad is going into the business world, that grungy T-shirt is being traded for a wardrobe of dress shirts, and there’s only one way to make that shirt look the best it can ~ with a Swiss Stays Collar Stay! Designed to fit every size shirt collar on the market, these handy little items are the creation of David Schottenstein, a fashion innovator and founder of Astor & Black, one of the fastest growing custom clothiers in the world.
Swiss Stays are available at a range of leading retailers throughout the United States and online.
For more information, visit swissstays.com.

Vintage Marquee
Help the new grad decorate his or her first post-college apartment with Vintage Marquee Lights! Created with a rustic, “found” antique look, all Vintage Marquee Lights are available in classic rust or the new Color Line, with a choice of 11 vibrant colors. The collection includes letters, numbers, symbols and custom orders. Each sign is equipped with a hanging bracket for easy wall installation, but they look fabulous leaning on a table or against a wall. Perfect for indoor or outdoor use.
For more information, visit vintagemarqueelights.com.

Worcester poet Eve Rifkah’s remarkable collection of poems, Outcasts: The Penikese Island Leper Hospital (Little Pear Press, 2010), was inspired by the patients of the Penikese Island Leper Hospital, which was founded in 1905 and closed in 1921. During that period, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts cast out of society 36 men and women suffering from Hansen’s disease, more commonly known as leprosy. The patients lived and died on a small, lonely island in Buzzards Bay, forever bereft of friends and loved ones.

Through the power of her imagination, Rifkah resurrects these long-forgotten souls, granting them a voice ~ the voice of a poet. Almost all of her 99 poems speak to us from the viewpoint of the patients, who lived as pariahs, reviled and feared. A microcosm of humanity, the patients represent all those who suffer the pain of rejection and exile. In dedicating her book “to outcasts everywhere,” Rifkah suggests that the plight of the Penikese outcasts sounded a universal resonance.

Intrigued by Ken Harnett’s public television documentary, The Lepers of Buzzards Bay (1994), Rifkah vowed to learn more about the leprosarium and its patients. She found valuable sources in the official and unofficial records, newspaper articles, letters, journals and assorted memorabilia hidden away at Harvard Medical School’s Countway Library. Rifkah discovered the inhabitants of Penikese were both patients and prisoners, their hospital a penitentiary where they served a life sentence for the crime of leprosy.

At that time, a false belief harkening back to biblical times held that leprosy was a highly contagious disease, a danger to anyone who came in contact with the leper. Onlookers were terrified by the “mitten hands” and flattened noses. Today, we know that only 5 percent of the world’s population harbors a genetic defect making them vulnerable to the disease, which now is controlled by medication. Patients, needlessly condemned, suffered a shameful, unjust punishment.
Describing her work as a “docu-drama in verse,” Rifkah structures her work in four acts, framed by a prologue and an epilogue. Following the poems, she provides a helpful author’s note and brief biographies of each patient. In the prologue, the poet alludes to her role in telling the Penikese story, and in Act 1, she describes the island’s geological formation by an Ice Age glacier, “in a time colder than cold.” She also honors the legends of an ancient culture, with a Wampanoag Indian chanting his tribe’s legend of how the island was formed. (23) We hear, too, the shrill objections of 20th-century mainlanders to the establishment of a leprosarium so close to them:

The good citizens of Marion, Mattapoisett raged and stamped
petitions flew with nor’easter force. (23)

Artfully using figurative language and precise details, the poet evokes a keen sense of place and mood. For example, she employs personification when she describes birds that appear “dressed in sadness/gulls, pipers, plovers, terns, cormorants, gray white, black…” (61) The poet also makes effective use of alliteration in lines such as these:

Clackers and bell in medieval time announced the leper
Sonorous sounds screamed the coming of lepers. (24)

Act 2 sets the stage, envisioning land and seascapes as the patients saw them. We sense how clearly the poet imagined the haunted setting of the hospital ~ a treeless crop of rock-strewn terrain and mist-shrouded beaches. However, visiting Penikese only in her imagination proved insufficient for Rifkah. Compelled to travel there, she walked the island, viewing the 14 gravestones of those who died on the island.

At the Countway, Rifkah learned the patients spoke Russian, Hebrew, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese and Turkish ~ reflecting a plethora of national, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. Rifkah commented, “This speck of glacial moraine became a tiny United Nations of outcasts.” (94) The poet noted, too, that despite their great diversity, the patients lived together harmoniously.

Nevertheless, while all of the 30 characters were united in sharing the same illness, each suffered his or her own private agony. Two patients devolved into insanity, unwilling to acknowledge their illness. A young girl, first described as “pretty and well formed,” was later depicted as having been “suffocated by growths in her throat.” (100) In perhaps the book’s saddest poem, we hear the anguish of Morris Goldblatt, a 41-year-old Russian Jewish emigrant, inconsolable at being torn from a wife and five children who visited once, but became hysterical and never communicated again:

Why is it you don’t write? This disease is not curse enough; you curse
me with silence. (39)

In Acts 3 and 4, details from the Countway sources lend verisimilitude to poems of patients describing their daily lives ~ expressing their pain but also savoring their limited pleasures. For the patients could take comfort in freely roaming the island, enjoying the fresh air. Some grew gardens, some kept birds, and others fished and worked at paying jobs. They enjoyed listening to a talented patient’s guitar music and delighted in singing. As one says:

We clean each other with song
wash gray skies blue. (27)

Above all, the patients found solace in the compassionate treatment of Dr. Frank Parker and his wife, who dedicated themselves to the welfare of the islanders, determined to ease their pain. For 15 years, the couple remained at Penikese, maintaining their loving care until the hospital closed. In “Marion Parker Tells Her Story,” we hear the voice of the doctor’s wife:

I told Frank we could do good work, live a simple life, and bring some
pleasure to those cruelly afflicted
our friends feared for our safety. (47)

With only 13 patients remaining, the state finally disbanded the Penikese Leprosarium in 1921, sending the Parkers to the mainland, where they, too, became outcasts. Having infuriated Gov. Channing Cox because he so strongly resisted the closing of the hospital, Dr. Parker was denied his pension.

The last poem in the epilogue reveals that the doctor, vilified in the press for his “bad treatment” (91) of the patients, must flee to Montana to resume his career. We learn, too, the fate of the remaining patients ~ expelled to an even more remote and less humane leprosarium in Carville, La.

We can only marvel at Rifkah’s achievement of masterfully bringing ostracized, marooned ghosts to life. One finds little to criticize, given the impressive quality of Rifkah’s poetry. A minor cavil: had she named each of the four chapters in addition to numbering them, we could better know the particular subject of each, understanding each act’s place in the drama. A minor cavil indeed, considering how the depth of Rifkah’s research, the power of her language and the empathy of her heart all combine to create a lasting work of art.

“How many stories do you see about the city of Worcester?” asked the founder and CEO of Vertex Entertainment, based in Grafton. “You don’t see any stories about Worcester on the big screen.”

This is one issue Berry has taken into his own hands ~ by writing a screenplay for a new film called Two Days to Pay.

Worcester residents may have noticed costumed actors and film equipment taking over the streets of the city in mid-December. That was Berry and his crew shooting a pitch trailer for the film. They shut down Main Street for a period to shoot car scenes and bounced around from the Albion Hotel to Lincoln Street.

Plumley Village now stands on the grounds where Berry grew up. Laurel Street used to be a very rough part of the city, and that is where the story originates. Two Days to Pay is semi-autobiographical, as Berry wrote the screenplay about his experiences growing up in Worcester.

“This was a story I always wanted to tell,” said Berry, who is directing the film. “I started it about 16 years ago. It has been a surreal experience. It is a powerful thing to grow up in [Worcester], and it was a big deal to be able to talk about the city I grew up in and be able to show the different time periods of that city.”

His ode to the city of his youth will utilize Worcester as a character, rather than as a setting. The film will span decades, showing the different stages of Worcester’s past as the main character grows up and comes of age on the streets of the city.

Elijah Gonzalez was the first actor Berry met that fit the bill of his former self.

“All these great little kids came to the casting call, but you couldn’t get any of them to be gruff enough,” Berry said. “It was really hard casting a little me.”

Then, in passing, a friend of Berry’s mentioned an acquaintance’s son, who had done some acting. Gonzalez met with Berry, and together, they worked hard to develop a personality and idea of who the character was and what he would draw from Berry’s own past.

Things like the casting of Gonzalez have just come organically for Berry and Two Days to Pay. When the crew couldn’t find the right car for a particular scene, Berry came across the perfect Lincoln Town Car at a red light one day in Webster Square.

He rolled down the window and asked the driver to follow him to the set on Alsada Drive. After convincing the man to be a few minutes late to church on that Sunday morning, the crew got the shots they needed and production moved forward.

That driver was the father of one of Berry’s childhood friends.

“My wife said to me, ‘That was your friend Willy sending his father down to help you out,’” Berry chuckled. “This movie was meant to be made”

For more information, visit vertexentertainment.com, go to the company’s Facebook page or follow it @VertexEntertain.

Photo: Movie poster from Two Days to Pay.

Before listening to The Klezwoods’ The 30th Meridian, had someone mentioned klezmer music, I wouldn’t have known what they were talking about. But as soon as I gave it a listen, something deeply encoded in my musical DNA resonated. Strongly.

This is because Klezwoods, a Boston-based ensemble, fuses bits of jazz, rock and modern attitude with the tradition of Eastern European Jewish dance and wedding/celebration music. In this contest of sounds, Jewish wedding wins, hands down. They accomplish this with almost every species of brass instrument, guitar, violin and percussion. The result? Klezmer music that, I daresay, won’t offend traditionalists, yet appeals to contemporary tastes.

The CD’s subtitle, From Cairo to St. Petersburg with Love, starts, as promised, with tracks that sound like music from the Kasbah ~ with a rogue trumpet player on the loose. Then, “Hot Wheels” enters with a rockish beat yielding to the full brass ensemble and soulful violin. “Play to Win” leads with guitar and trumpet and has some of the CD’s stronger jazz undercurrents. One of the more soulful pieces wraps it up: “January 7th Early in the Morning” is an elegiac piece, simple and short, featuring accordion and brass.

As an experiment, I shuffled The 30th Meridian with DeVotchka’s gypsy-punk SuperMelodrama CD and a collection of mid-20th century Paris cafe field recordings that I picked up somewhere on the web. The result was surprisingly seamless and uplifting. You’ll want to jump on the table and dance.

The Klezwoods will be playing at Nick’s Bar & Restaurant, 124 Millbury St., Worcester, at 9 p.m. Thursday, April 25. Tickets are $10. For more information on the show and Klezwoods projects, visit www.klezwoods.com.