Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | September 8, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 5 Sell alcohol on Sunday mornings A Massachusetts representative is pushing to repeal a colonial-era law that forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages before 10 a.m. on Sundays. Alcohol can be sold in both stores and restaurants starting at 8 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with the Sunday restriction stemming in part from a very old Puritan law meant to uphold morality and religion. Rep. Adam Scanlon (D-Bristol) filed a bill, A Beautiful Brunch Act, on July 30 that would allow for the sale of alcohol starting at 8 a.m. on Sundays. About a month later, on Aug. 25, the House referred the bill to the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. When polled online, nearly 90% of WBJ readers said early Sunday morning alcohol sales should be allowed. Should Massachusetts make it legal for establishments to sell alcohol two hours earlier than the current law allows, starting at 8 a.m. on Sundays? partner Rob Sisti, owner of Bos- ton-based Sisti Marketing Group. Demers and Sisti look to bring Strand eatre back to life fulfilling its original purpose of entertainment in downtown Clinton. "Not many towns can say they have a still essentially intact 1920s vertical theatre that, up until COVID, was in daily operation," Duffy told WBJ in June 2024. What started as a venue for cinema and vaudeville was later renovated into a cinema dra house to show sec- ond-run films. is was in full swing up until the COVID-19 pandemic pre- sented struggles; the final movie night was held in Dec. 2021. News of the new tenant was first reported by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. At 102-years-old, the historic Strand eatre holds a unique architecture, and up until now had awaited the right tenant to occupy the space. Live theater, concerts, movies, and other events will be held at Strand e- atre, similar to the space in Dover. Evan Koogler and omas Bodden of Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates coordinated the lease transaction on behalf of Concord-based Barrett Prop- erties and in alliance with the Town of Clinton, involving Lee Abdella, Clin- ton's downtown consultant, and Philip Duffy, Clinton's director of economic development. It remains to be seen if this a sign of momentum for other underutilized entertainment spaces attempting to reopen in Central Massachusetts. e Foothills eatre in Down- town Worcester's Mercantile Center continues to look for a new tenant, while the owners of the long-closed Olympia eatre a few blocks away are still working on a game plan to bring the facility back to life. omes to Insulet having most recently worked as general manager of Northern European business at Kenvue, formerly known as Johnson & Johnson's consumer health company, for 20 years. WPI receives $12M gift, one of the largest in its history Worcester Polytechnic Institute has received one of the largest donations in the school's 160-year history as the es- tate of an alumnus has committed $12 million to the Worcester university. e unrestricted philanthropic commitment comes from the estate of Insulet selects new COO Insulet has named two employees to new C-suite roles shortly aer the Ac- ton-based medical device manufacturer became the sole Central Massachusetts public company to be led by a woman earlier this year. Eric Benjamin has been named the company's new COO, while Manoj Raghunandanan has been appointed its inaugural chief growth officer, according to an August 25 press re- lease from Insulet. Aer joining Insulet in 2015, Benjamin most recently served as Insulet's executive vice president, chief product & customer experience officer. Becoming COO is an expansion of this previous role, marking a transition that will see him manage the company's strategy and business development, the office of the chief technology officer, research and development, and its newly growth organization. Benjamin marks Insulet's permanent replacement for Chuck Alpuche, who announced his upcoming retirement from the COO position on Dec. 31, 2022, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that same month. Subsequently, Prem Singh was named senior vice president, global operations with transitioned responsibilities from Alpuche. Raghunandanan assumes his chief growth officer position within Insulet's new growth organization, leading the development of its global strategy while managing demand generation and enhancing commercial capacities. He comes to Insulet having most recently worked as general manager of Northern European business at Kenvue, formerly known as Johnson & Johnson's consum- er health company, for 20 years. Historic theater in Clinton to be brought back to life e Strand eatre in Downtown Clinton, a historic venue constructed in 1923, has been leased to an operating group which runs e Strand Dover in New Hampshire. Sitting at 58 High St., Strand eatre will be up and running again following its vacant status for the last few years, according to a press release issued by Worcester-based Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates on Aug. 27. is project is led by Daniel Demers, owner of e Strand Dover, and his MAKE YOUR NEXT MUSICAL DISCOVERY Connecting Central Massachusetts audiences with world-renowned orchestras, soloists, and ensembles from the worlds of classical, jazz, folk, world music, and dance. BACHtoberfest Weekend OCTOBER 24 CONCORA & Baroklyn with Simone Dinnerstein, piano OCTOBER 25 Peter Krasinski, organ Simone Dinnerstein: Bach Inventions & Sinfonias with cellist Alexis Gerlach OCTOBER 26 BACHtoberfest Choir TICKETS AND PACKAGES AVAILABLE NOW! MUSICWORCESTER.ORG | 508-754-3231 NOVEMBER 2 Kyung-Wha Chung: Violin Recital NOVEMBER 7 Orchestre National de France & Daniil Trifonov, piano NOVEMBER 14 American Patchwork Quartet Continued on next page Eric Benjamin, COO at Insulet Yes, it will help stimulate business for some restaurants and liquor retailers. 65% 2% Yes, the current law is antiquated, and thus, should not be upheld 21% No, it will promote unhealthy alcohol consumption. No, I see nothing wrong with the current law. 12%

• Cover