inside this week
Activists, city officials square off during JP planning meeting pg 7
INSIDE
Fall 2016
business news
Boston-based transportation company sees worldwide growth pg 12
LOOK FOR THE LATEST ISSUE OF BE HEALTHY
Be knowledgeable. Be well. Be healthy.
SURGERY? NOT SO FAST GOING ‘UNDER THE KNIFE‘ IS OFTEN A LAST RESORT FOR LOW BACK PAIN
A&E PATIENT STORIES PREVENTION METHODS FITNESS AND EXERCISE HEALTHY RECIPES
David LaMarr stars in ‘Jersey Boys’ pg 15 Mighty Mystic pg 15 Fenway mural pg 16 #mfaNow launches all-night parties pg 17
LOW BACK PAIN
THE LOW BACK IS A WORKHORSE, BUT SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • FREE • GREATER BOSTON’S URBAN NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1965 • CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
9/15/16 10:40 AM
BeHealthy_Fall2016.indd 1
www.baystatebanner.com
Civil rights violated at BLS, feds say 6 mo. investigation finds racial discrimination, poor handling By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
Federal attorney Carmen Ortiz concluded her six-month investigation into allegations of racial harassment at Boston Latin School on Monday, concluding that there was a climate of racial discrimination at the school and that administrators had mishandled responses, in one case so egregiously it constituted a violation of federal civil rights law. The investigation began in February in response to a complaint filed by local civil rights groups and involved review of thousands of pages of documents as well as interviews with more than 200 people, including parents, faculty, students, alumni, administrators and BPS central office employees. In a letter sent to Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang, Ortiz called out a 2014 incident in which a student threatened a black female student with lynching with an electrical cord and referred to her with a racial slur. The event and the administration’s insufficient handling of
it represented a Title IV violation, Ortiz said. Administrators failed to provide quick and effective response and the event had lingering effect on the student who was “still visibly upset when talking about it to investigators a year and a half later,” the letter stated. Ortiz highlighted other incidents as also concerning. These included what she said was insufficient response for administrators to students’ delivery of a binder of allegedly racist tweets — something that sparked the #BlackatBLS campaign. Ortiz faulted administrators for their slow response and failure to communicate about the incident or redress actions planned with faculty and the reporting students, contributing to a perception that complaints were not taken seriously. The letter also said that BPS had not provided enough guidance to the school on how to handle reports of racial discrimination and harassment. The federal investigation followed on one conducted by BPS’s Office of Equity.
See BLS, page 2
BANNER PHOTO
Protesters gathered before the Greater Boston Real Estate Board headquarters downtown, criticizing what they said were practices that favored profit over people.
Tenants rally to demand gentrification protections Activists call for policies in Renters Day of Action By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
Tenant activists from across Boston came together last Thursday bearing banners highlighting issues in areas from the Fenway to Chinatown to Dorchester and emphasizing the same overarching message: that housing, tax and land use policies must change to ensure longtime residents are not displaced as rent increases outstrip wage growth. Chanting in English, Spanish and Chinese, protesters gathered
before the Greater Boston Real Estate Board downtown headquarters, criticizing what they called missing tenant protections and practices that favor profit over people. The advocates then marched to City Hall, where they outlined demands for policy change and — illustrating predictions of community destruction should change not come — conducted a die-in. The protest concluded with activists’ speeches in Chinatown’s Reggie Wong Park, one of the last in a handful of publicly-owned
neighborhood parcels, whose future many residents fear will be beyond their control.
‘Up with the wages, down with the rents’
Demonstrating as part of a national Renters Day of Action, the local activists called for access to housing to be recognized as a human right. They highlighted several policy goals, among them a halt to rent increases and a pay increase to living wage standard — the level
See RENTERS, page 2
SJC ruling takes aim at racial profiling Justice cites ‘indignity’ of repeated stops ON THE WEB By YAWU MILLER
BANNER PHOTO
Ron Bell says he’s been profiled by police too many times to count, including an incident in Mattapan Square last week.
Ron Bell had just left a meeting of the group, Milton Dialogues: Building Race Relations in Milton, last week when he came across an acquaintance in Mattapan Square — a crossing guard whom he thought would add an important voice to a difficult discussion. No sooner had he greeted her when two Boston police officers approached the two and began questioning them. Bell, who
says he’s been stopped, searched and harassed numerous times, began to feel the rush of adrenaline that often accompanies such encounters. That fear, a feeling unfamiliar to many who are not black, was validated last week when Supreme Judicial Court Justice Geraldine Hines authored a ruling in defense of blacks fleeing the police. The unanimous SJC ruling stated that people fleeing the police may be motivated by a desire to “avoid the recurring
SJC ruling, Commonwealth v. Warren (2016): www.mass.gov/courts/docs/sjc/
reporter-of-decisions/new-opinions/11956.pdf SCOTUS decision, Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): www.scotusblog.com/case-files/
cases/obergefell-v-hodges/ SCOTUS decision, Utah v. Strieff (2016):
www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/utahv-strieff/ indignity of being racially profiled,” and that their flight should not be automatically interpreted as evidence of “criminal activity.”
See SJC, page 14
2 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
renters
continued from page 1 deemed necessary to afford basic needs, which currently is higher than the minimum wage. “Developers make all these luxury buildings, while the minimum wage is only $10,” said Pei Ying Yu, a Chinatown resident, with English translation from Karen Chen, Chinese Progressive Association co-director. In Boston, a living wage is $26.12 for a family with two children and two adults working full-time year round, and $12.97 for a single, childless adult, according to research by Amy Glasmeier, MIT professor of economic geography and regional planning. The city recently reported signs of rent stabilization in the Fenway as more units came online, with rents in older units declining by 0.4 percent as the neighborhood’s housing stock grew by 6 percent since 2011. However, according to information distributed by protest organizers, rent increased by 7.4 percent in Roxbury this year. In Jamaica Plain, rents rose 10 percent in 2014, according to the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s PLAN: JP/Rox final draft report. An Egleston resident spoke similarly of the stark contrast between earnings and rent. The affordability level outlined for units created under the city’s PLAN JP/Roxbury remains out of reach of many residents in a neighborhood where the average annual earning is $35,000, he said. According to that report, 15 percent of households in the area are at elevated risk of displacement, because they make less than $75,000 annually and live in market-rate rental housing. Some Jamaica Plain and Roxbury residents have raised complaints that under the city’s plan, 30 percent of units created would be affordable, while they want to see 70 percent. “That’s not our affordability,” the Egleston resident said. Authors of the JP/Rox report state that limited funds for subsidizing affordable development means that any deepening of the levels of affordability comes at the cost of reducing the overall number of such apartments created. Protestors at City Hall raised the spectre that much of the working class could be pushed out of Boston, thus destroying communities and damaging the city’s economic diversity and viability.
Ownership and evictions
Activists called for measures to prevent landlords and developers from speculating on real estate, increase emphasis on affordable housing and promote turnover of public land to community control. Groups such as land trusts would be able to ensure continued affordability or that land use reflects other resident priorities, several activists said. “It’s not good enough to fight
BLS
continued from page 1 Ortiz said that some of BLS’s initiatives to address the situation had been positive steps, including creating a hotline for reporting grievances, but were implemented in either a too limited or slow manner. BPS and the U.S. attorney’s office for Massachusetts declared
gentrification and rent increases,” said Suzanne Lee, CPA president emeritus and board member of the Chinatown Community Land Trust. “We must control the land in our community. That’s the only way we can make a dent and stem the tide of gentrification.” Many expressed frustration with what they said was limited community voice reflected in development plans. Among these were members of the Fenway who were protesting Emerson College’s plans to house students for two years in the neighborhood. Protestors said that plan seemed to be progressing, despite local resistance. Activists said that residents are better able to hold landlords accountable when they are local individuals or community groups, as opposed to large corporate owners. Among protesters’ requests were passage of a just cause eviction law, which would prevent corporate landlords from evicting tenants without providing an acceptable reason, such as property damage or failure to pay rent, thus curtailing their ability to make no-fault evictions. A draft of the just cause eviction bill is with Mayor Martin Walsh and the city council, Darnell Johnson of Right to the City told the Banner. While an earlier version of the bill gave tenants access to non-binding third-party mediation with landlords prior to any significant rent increases to see if an alternative solution can be found, that provision was removed during negotiations. It was replaced by a requirement that landlords file notices to quit both with the tenant and with the city’s Office of Housing Stability. With many residents unaware of their rights and resources in such a situation, this will cause the city to provide tenants with information, Johnson said. Once evicted, residents often struggle to find living quarters they can afford. Pei Ying Yu said that when a developer bought their home on Hudson Street, she and other long-time tenants were forced to leave so repairs could be made. Yu qualified for subsidized senior housing, but said her sister, who also was displaced more than a year ago, remains homeless. Greg Vasil, CEO of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, said in a Banner phone interview that procedures already are in place for handling a situation in which a landlord tries to evict a tenant early. In his view, the just cause eviction ordinance seems designed to prevent a lease from ending on its expiration date, something he said tenants should work out before signing. Vasil also said there is a danger in tenants’ calls for a rent freeze, stating that national developers testified in a March hearing that rent control in Boston would discourage them from building here. When the city had rent control, many landlords could not afford to make repairs, he said. “The form [of rent control] an agreement on implementing improvements, which will go into effect this year and cover the ensuing two school years. Under this, BPS officials must create a strategy to address and prevent discrimination and harassment including measures such as mandatory training for students, faculty and staff on policies and procedures around such issues; creation of a restorative justice system; and creation of schoolwide racial climate
BANNER PHOTOS
Above, demonstrators marched into Chinatown. Many called for a law that would curtail no-fault evictions. Below, some activists in Chinatown called for public land to be turned over to community control.
that we had resulted in properties that decayed in place,” Vasil said. “Rents were stable but quality of life over time decayed.” The way to reduce rents, he said, is not to hold rents still but to increase housing stock enough that supply outpaces demand and prices naturally drop.
Community Preservation Act
The local Renters Day of Action protest drew speakers such as Brenda Jarvis, who suffered from homelessness after she lost her job in 2013 and unemployment benefits were delayed in arriving. She spoke of sleeping in shelters — at times on cots, at times on the floor — and finally managing to get a bed reserved for her on Long Island only for the shelter to close a month later. She found out the same day that she could not return and lost most of her possessions, which were in a shelter locker. One measure that could help
surveys which will be reported to the attorney’s office. “We and the leadership of Boston Latin School are fully committed to implementing the recommendations in the voluntary resolution agreement reached with the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure all reports of racial bias are fully, promptly and effectively addressed at Boston Latin and every Boston public school,” Superintendent
Brenda Jarvis spoke of her time being homeless, calling the experience traumatic. prevent such homelessness, activists said, is a housing voucher program. If the Community Preservation Act passes, revenue generated from it could be directed
to underwrite the vouchers, said a member of the Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants, who called for quicker city action on the vouchers.
Chang said in a statement. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice, the Boston branch of the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Advocates for Children — several of the organizations that had called for the federal investigation — issued a statement in which they said the findings should spur attention to such issues in all BPS
schools. They also said that redressing the situation at BLS will require reviewing exam school admission policies to ensure that it does not prevent greater diversity among the student body. “Boston cannot fully address the harms of racial isolation until it has established an exam school admissions policy that enables BLS to better reflect the diversity of our city,” the statement said.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3
4 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
EDITORIAL
SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
By fax: 617-261-2346 From web site: www.baystatebanner.com click “contact us,” then click “letters” By mail: The Boston Banner, 1100 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124 Letters must be signed. Names may be withheld upon request.
www.baystatebanner.com
INSIDE: BUSINESS, 12 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, 15 • COMMUNITY CALENDAR, 20 • CLASSIFIEDS, 21
Established 1965
Vote ‘yes’ for better educational opportunities A volatile political issue in the Nov. 8 election is Question 2 on the ballot that permits the expansion of charter schools to 12 per year. Authorization for the expansion of an existing school or the establishment of a new school would still have to be approved by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. A “yes” vote on Question 2 is a vote for academic innovation. With the extraordinary academic success of some charter schools and the unfilled demand for admission, one would expect great support for Question 2, but there is a hitch. Public school systems have to pay to charter schools the per capita budget amount spent on each student. In Boston, that amounts to about $18,372 per student. However, of the estimated 77,200 schoolage residents in Boston, the city already has a free ride for about 16 percent who attend private or parochial schools and METCO. Nonetheless, there is some considerable objection to the cost to the city of about 7,100 students who already attend public charter schools at city expense. If the educational outcomes were unsatisfactory there would be good cause for dissent. The state board has the authority to intervene when charter schools fail to perform. However, the record of Edward W. Brooke Charter Schools indicates the extraordinary academic results that induce families involved with the education of their children to apply for admission. The results of the 2015 PARCC exam show why more than 4,000 families are on the waiting list for admission to Brooke, as well as other charter schools. PARCC is an acronym for Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, an association of states including Massachusetts, working to develop a national academic test. In the 2015 test, the Brooke Charter Schools grade 3 through 8 students scored the greatest percentage at the highest level (Level 5) of any public school in Massachusetts. With 85 percent of Brooke students at that Level 5 in the math and English language PARCC tests, the
Boston Public Schools scored only 34 percent and 39 percent, respectively, in these exams. One test result that should be of special interest to African Americans is that more black Brooke students topped the math test than the total number achieving that result in grades 3 through 8 in all Boston Public Schools. At Brooke, 109 black students attained Level 5 in math compared to only 75 in the whole BPS system. Such a result should be enough to dampen black opposition to Question 2. Clearly, African American political energy should best be focused on how to replicate the Brooke academic results in the BPS and other charter schools. There is an assumption that students in schools in high income areas will outperform students from families with lower income. That is presumed to be the primary reason for the academic achievement gap. However, Brooke students outperformed the affluent towns of Weston, Newton and Belmont on the PARCC test. The academic success undoubtedly inspires Brooke students to continue to achieve in school. According to Brooke records, 98 percent go on to graduate from high school, a rate substantially higher than in other public schools. The academic results at the Brooke Schools have been outstanding. It makes no sense to pass a law that prevents the growth of the charter school movement. Such schools develop pedagogical innovations that could improve the performance if replicated in public school systems. Indeed, charter schools have to be required to perform at the highest standard. The public has the right, in fact the duty, to be certain that public funds for education are well spent. Continued excuses for failure in the academic outcomes from public schools are unacceptable. Charter schools like Brooke indicate that educational success is possible. Brooke achievements create a challenge to public school systems. It is too soon to shut down the innovation by voting “no” on Question 2. Vote “yes,” for the children’s sake.
“I still don’t understand how the charter schools get such great academic results.” USPS 045-780 Melvin B. Miller Sandra L. Casagrand John E. Miller Yawu Miller
Publisher/Editor Co-publisher Assoc. Publisher/Treasurer Senior Editor ADVERTISING
Rachel Reardon
Advertising Manager NEWS REPORTING
Karen Miller Martin Desmarais Jule Pattison-Gordon Sandra Larson Kenneth J. Cooper Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil Anthony W. Neal Brian Wright O’Connor Marcy Murninghan
Health Editor Staff Writers
Contributing Writers
Ernesto Arroyo Don West
Staff Photographers
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Contributing Writers Colette Greenstein Susan Saccoccia Lloyd Kam Williams PRODUCTION Daniel Goodwin Caleb Olson
Art Director Graphic Designer ADMINISTRATION
Karen Miller
Business Manager
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Calls for dialogue with police As I read “Stopped, frisked and searched” in the Sept. 22 Banner, I wish the news story had been more detailed. I do understand Wahnon’s fears. I never fear getting shot as many African Americans do. My anxiety level never reaches what Wahnon’s probably did that day. However, I did disagree with a statement made
by Yawu Miller referring to “a time when videos of trigger-happy officers gunning down hapless black motorists are proliferating on social media.” I am sure that there are some trigger-happy cops of all races. No one ever wants to meet up with them. However, most police stops that end in a police shooting are not examples of implicit bias on the part of the officer.
INDEX BUSINESS NEWS ………………………………...................... 12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT …………………...................... 15 FOOD ..................…………………..................................... 19 COMMUNITY CALENDAR …………………........................ 20 CLASSIFIEDS ……………………………………....................... 21
There is often too much suspicion out there by both police and community. Society needs to deal with this issue which will not go away quietly. It will take dialogue from both sides. I believe the Boston Police Department deserves great praise in trying to lower the level of tension and work with all communities they serve. — Sal Giattani (ret)
baystatebanner.com
The Boston Banner is published every Thursday. Offices are located at 1100 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124. Telephone: 617-261-4600, Fax 617-261-2346 Subscriptions: $48 for one year ($55 out-of-state) Web site: www.baystatebanner.com Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA. All rights reserved. Copyright 2016. The Banner is certified by the NMSDC, 2016. Circulation of The Bay State and Boston Banner 27,400. Audited by CAC, June 2015. The Banner is printed by: TC Transcontinental Printing 10807, Mirabeau, Anjou (Québec) H1J 1T7 Printed in Canada
facebook.com/baystatebanner
twitter.com/baystatebanner
ONLINE STATS
»M OST VIEWED ONLINE
Stop, Frisked and Searched
» MOST TWEETED
Burden of Transit Fare
» MOST COMMENTED ON FACEBOOK
Stop, Frisked and Searched
» MOST SHARED ON FACEBOOK
Stop, Frisked and Searched
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 5
OPINION THE BANNER WELCOMES YOUR OPINION: EMAIL OP-ED SUBMISSIONS TO YAWU@BANNERPUB.COM • Letters must be signed. Names may be withheld upon request.
OPINION
ROVING CAMERA
Remember the movements that got us where we are
What do you think has changed in the two years since Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri?
By DAVID EVANS Today, in our country, we must either keep our brother or he will assuredly keep us. He will keep us in fear, in debt, in silent shame or in a posture of embarrassment before the world. Wrongs like slavery and Jim Crow were always embarrassments before the world to some Americans, but that embarrassment escalated in the two decades following World War II with civil rights activism and the advent of television and other visual media. As a child, teenager and young adult, I lived through some of those embarrassments to our country such as the lynching of black fourteen-year old Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi in August 1955; Mississippi. Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama in December 1955; April 1959, when a Poplarville, Mississippi mob entered a jail through two levels of security, seized African American Mack Charles Parker, took him out, lynched him and threw his body into the Pearl River. On August 28, 1963 we witnessed the “Great March on Washington” where Martin Luther King, Jr. made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech while Washington, DC was still a Jim Crow city. Eighteen days later (Sept. 15, 1963) four black girls attending Sunday school were killed in the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama. The next summer (June 1964), three civil rights workers, Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner, were murdered in Philadelphia, Mississippi A year later we witnessed the spectacle of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965 where John Lewis and others were brutally beaten near the Edmund Pettus Bridge. These ugly spectacles were not inconsequential and, as President John Kennedy acknowledged in one speech: “The fires of discord are burning in every city.” In fact irrepressible indignation erupted violently in Northern cities as early as 1964 and continued through 1968, in places like Harlem, Watts, Cleveland, Newark, Detroit, Chicago, Washington, D.C., etc., especially in April 1968 after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. It was in this national political atmosphere that I came to work in the Harvard College Admissions Office in the 1969-70 school year — on a “two-year leave of absence.” I chose to stay beyond the “two years” because there was a great “changing of the guard” on this campus and in this country at that time. Moreover, Dean of Admissions Chase Peterson ’52 and the two deans who succeeded him, Fred Jewett ’57 and currently Bill Fitzsimmons ’67 believed — as I believe — a changing of the guard without a guarding of the change is movement without maintenance. In recruiting and enrolling African Americans, the Harvard College Admissions Office has “guarded the change” and “maintained.” For example, before I began working in the office, Harvard and Radcliffe had enrolled fewer than 300 African Americans. Since I began, more than 5,000 have enrolled. At no time has our country needed “maintenance” of change more than today because the median-age American, at approximately 37 years of age, has never seen a successful mass movement. The Vietnam War was over before that person was born in 1979 and apartheid in South Africa ended in 1994. Even the parents of that person can barely remember the Civil Rights Movement. Without the experience of a successful mass movement, that median-age American can barely recognize the potential of a “changing of the guard,” much less “guard that change.” For example, women presidents of Brown, Harvard, Penn and Princeton don’t register as changes of the guard to him or her, and maybe not even an African American governor of Massachusetts or President of the United States. We must not only help that median-age person recognize the changing of the guard and guarding of that change, but also help him or her identify and “keep their brother” from the massive problems of too many dysfunctional public schools, the voracious criminal justice system and the student loan debt that shackles our “best and brightest” who do manage to graduate from college. Maybe it is time for the “wisdom of age” to sit down with the “vigor of youth” and reconstitute some mass movements to expose and change the public schools, hold the criminal justice system accountable and reform the unmanageable debt heaped upon our college graduates. In so doing, we will not only “keep our brother,” but also, perhaps, become a more principled nation.
David Evans is a senior admissions officer at Harvard University. Born in Arkansas, Evans studied electrical engineering at Tennessee State University and Princeton University. He has worked at Harvard since 1970.
I don’t think anything has changed. But overall there has been a growing awareness amongst white folks of the seriousness of the situation.
J. Gustavo
Managing Director Dorchester
There hasn’t been much change. Since he died, there’s still been police brutality.
Seth Jackson Student Hyde Park
We need to have meetings with police in Boston and across the country. They need to know that black people’s lives are just as important as other people’s lives. Police officers should be tried when they shoot us and answer for what they’ve done.
Dorothy Copeland
There is more awareness, and people have been mobilizing, but institutionally, nothing has changed. Given the recent incidents in Oklahoma and Charlotte, we are still a long way from fixing the problem.
Juan Leyton
Home Health Aide Dorchester
Executive Director Roslindale
I don’t think things have gotten any better. If anything, there’s been more killings.
I don’t think anything has changed. On social media you see a lot of people getting killed by police for no reason. There’s a lot more protests happening.
Renee McGahee
Jeremy Lowery
Community Engagement Coordinator Roxbury
Student Roslindale
IN THE NEWS
TINA MARTIN WGBH News reporter Tina Martin recently won the 2016 Excellence in Personal Finance Reporting Award in the Radio category, from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) in partnership with the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). Martin’s winning story, “Debt Collectors Have Rules, Too,” explores the little-known regulations on debt collectors and the rights of debtladen consumers. “Debt is an important topic, which affects so many people in our community and beyond,” said Phil Redo, WGBH General Manager for Radio. “Tina has taken a closer look at those who hold consumers accountable — namely, debt collectors — thereby holding them accountable, too.” Martin will attend the RTDNA Excellence in Journalism Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana Sept. 18-20 to talk about her story and accept the award. While there,
she will also participate in a panel discussion about best practices for consumer financial reporting. Martin contributes to WGBH News’ radio, television and digital programs as well as National Public Radio, PBS NewsHour and The Huffington Post. A graduate of Emerson College, Martin started her career in the Boston area at WCVB Channel 5 before working as a weekend morning news anchor and reporter for WFSB, Channel 3 Eyewitness News in Connecticut. She has been recognized nationally for her reporting several times throughout her career, including receiving fellowships from RTDNA and the National Press Association. WGBH News is among the fastest growing local news providers in greater Boston and draws on the talent of a multi-platform newsroom that includes 89.7 WGBH, Boston’s Local NPR, television and digital reporting. The WGBH news-
room continues to invest in substantive local coverage and has established dedicated desks for innovation, higher education and politics as well as unique partnerships to expand on that commitment, including with WNYC’s “The Takeaway,” PRI’s “The World,” the New England Center for Investigative Reporting and The GroundTruth Project.
6 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
‘Inclusive innovation’ the topic of Rox HubWeek panel By SANDRA LARSON
ON THE WEB
The Bolling Municipal Building in Dudley Square was transformed Monday evening into a marketplace for local entrepreneurs and a site for thoughtful discussions on creating an inclusive innovation ecosystem and supporting local entrepreneurs who have already taken the leap. In the spacious lobby, youthrun businesses displayed wares from candles to bow ties, while on the second floor savory and sweet food offerings from local vendors tempted attendees in advance of panel discussions and a networking hour. The Roxbury Innovation Showcase event was part of HUBWeek, the second annual weeklong festival of discussions and presentations in Boston and Cambridge exploring the nexus of innovation, art, society and technology. An “Impact to Innovation” panel was moderated by Malia Lazu. Lazu, who has fostered entrepreneurship and civic participation in roles such as president of Epicenter Community and executive director of Future Boston Alliance, asked panelists to talk about the goal of inclusion in innovation — and how they are showing innovation in pursuit of that goal in Roxbury. “Why do young people have to go to work for older people?” offered Cody Chamberlain of The Youth Innovation Project, a new program that helps startups build the capacity to create internships. “Why not have young people doing
HUBWeek info and schedule:
https://hubweek.org Epicenter Community:
www.epicentercomm.org CommonWealth Kitchen:
www.commonwealthkitchen.org Roxbury Innovation Center:
http://roxburyinnovationcenter.org BUILD Boston: www.buildinboston.org Smarter in the City:
www.smarterinthecity.com the startups and other young people working for their peers? There are so many youth creating fantastic business ideas.” Also addressing the youth realm was Ayele Shakur, regional executive director of BUILD, a nonprofit that offers a four-year entrepreneurship and college readiness program to disengaged high school students. “When a 14- or 15-year-old can say ‘I’m the CEO of a company I created’ — that’s when you redefine what’s possible,” Shakur said. Jen Faigel, executive director of CommonWealth Kitchen, spoke of the work the food business incubator has done to help launch 45 companies so far and nurture another 45 currently operating in its Dorchester kitchen facilities. Nearly 80 percent of CommonWealth Kitchen businesses are owned by people of color and women, she said. Before leading CommonWealth Kitchen, Faigel said, she spent 25 years in nonprofit affordable housing development. She grew to believe cultivating entrepreneurship
PHOTO: SANDRA LARSON
A panel discussed inclusion in innovation as part of a HUBWeek event in Roxbury on Sept. 26. (l-r): Cody Chamberlain of The Youth Innovation Project; Gilad Rosenzweig of Smarter in the City; Ayele Shakur of BUILD Boston; Liora Beer of the Fairmount Innovation Lab; Alessandra Brown of the Roxbury Innovation Center; Jen Faigel of CommonWealth Kitchen; and moderator Malia Lazu of Epicenter Community. is a better way to lift people out of poverty. “Assets are wealth,” she said. “All those people I helped with affordable housing — they’re still poor. Our work [now] is about figuring out what can we do to help people build a real, true business.” Moderator Lazu told a West African fable about a giraffe and an elephant to illustrate the challenge of inclusion. In the tale, a giraffe invites an elephant to his home. He prepares to welcome his new friend with peanuts and other offerings — then faces the reality that the elephant cannot fit through the door.
“A lot of times, people in power are the giraffes; they are well-intentioned, but don’t understand that what they have built is not for the elephants they’ve invited,” she said. Lazu pushed the white panelists to share how they try to understand their own privilege and biases as they work with aspiring entrepreneurs or students of color. “How do you self-reflect,” she asked them, “on doing this work without using your privilege to keep the house being built for the giraffes?” Liora Beer, an artist/entrepreneur and director of the Fairmount Innovation Lab in Uphams Corner, spoke of an early awareness that not everyone was included in some of the mainstream business accelerator opportunities she had, and the importance of listening and paying attention. “If you start with the idea that you have to ‘help’ people, it’s the wrong idea,” Beer said. “You constantly need to recalibrate and understand the incredible talent and initiative and ideas people bring.”
Gilad Rosenzweig, founder of the tech accelerator Smarter in the City, recalled the eye-opening experience of being the only white person among African American tech entrepreneurs at a Tech808 conference, and keeps that in mind as he works with budding entrepreneurs in Roxbury. “[Ultimately] what matters to participants in our accelerator program is that they get the best connections to help their companies do as well as they can,” he said. The two women of color on the panel — Shakur and Alessandra Brown, director of the Roxbury Innovation Center — emphasized that mentors from outside the community can’t come in with the aim of being saviors, and often have as much to learn from their mentees as to teach to them. “We don’t need people to bring innovation to Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan. The innovation is here already here. It’s about shining a light on it,” Shakur said. Brown said the mission of the
See HUBWEEK, page 13
DEVELOPMENT · INVESTMENTS · HOSPITALITY
we buy properties · quick closings 508 Geneva Avenue Dorchester, MA 02122 617-282-2896
588 Columbia Road Dorchester, MA 02125 617-265-0945
610 Blue Hill Avenue Dorchester, MA 02121 617-522-9266
1284 Mass Avenue Dorchester, MA 02125 617-282-2872
1170 Blue Hill Avenue Dorchester, MA 02126 617-825-7874
781 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02118 617-536-3254
1 Park Street Chelsea, MA 02150 617-889-0676
522 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 617-497-4218
19 Maverick Square East Boston, MA 02128 617-561-0222
1589 Blue Hill Avenue Mattapan, MA 02126 617-296-6405
112 Medford Street Medford, MA 02155 781-393-4455
430 Beach Street Revere, MA 02151 781-284-0370
666 American Legion Hwy. Roslindale, MA 02131 617-524-4601
55 Warren Street Roxbury, MA 02119 617-445-2818
366 Warren Street Roxbury, MA 02119 617-427-0042
1965 Columbus Avenue Roxbury, MA 02119 617-983-3747
call (617) 512-9275
GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 451 Washington St., Dorchester MA 02124 617-825-6757
NOW ENROLLING CHILDREN, AGES 2.9 – 6 years FULL CURRICULUM, FIELD TRIPS, MEALS, QUALIFIED,LOVING AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF. SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT. GCA does not discriminate against families or employees by race, culture, religion, gender, age or disability.
PLS140_16 5-933x7-792_BayStateBanner_CheckCash.indd 1
8/17/16 11:45 AM
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7
Activists, city officials square off during JP planning meeting By YAWU MILLER
For much of the last year, affordable housing activists in Jamaica Plain and city officials working on the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s PLAN: JP/ROX master planning project have been talking past each other. BRA officials are set to vote on their plan in October, paving the way for changes in zoning that could speed the pace of development in the triangular-shaped area running from Jackson Square in the north to Egleston Square in the east, then down to Forest Hills in the south. While the city officials have been preoccupied with transportation corridors, activated streetscapes and incremental increases in the required 13 percent affordability for new housing construction, the activists have expressed alarm at the pace of displacement of low-income renters along the Washington Street corridor and fear that the BRA will do little to stem the rising tide of gentrification. “I’ve seen a lot of my friends move out of the area to places like Brockton,” said 15-year-old Dulce Bernal, speaking through a megaphone at the PLAN: JP/ROX meeting held last week at English High School. “They want to push us out.” Bernal and others who spoke against what they see as a rapidly growing displacement took over a few tables at the center of the English High cafeteria, unfurled banners and shouted slogans through their megaphone, while BRA officials ushered community residents, developers and other interested parties through poster board displays that showed their strategies for density, transportation, land use and other planning issues. The demonstrators say that the $900,000 townhouse and luxury
BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
condos and apartments are out of reach for the majority of families in the area, who typically earn $35,000 a year. They have asked the BRA to mandate that 70 percent of new units in the designated locale be affordable, a sharp contrast to the 30 percent target guiding city officials. “You started at 30 percent, you’re still at 30 percent — that’s not progress,” shouted J.P. resident Danielle Sommer through the megaphone. “Don’t vote in October. We need real negotiations.” While there was no negotiation with BRA officials last week, Department of Neighborhood Development Director Sheila Dillon did open a door to dialogue, speaking directly to the demonstrators. “We want to maximize affordable housing in this corridor,” she said. “You have my word on it. Where we have difficulty, I think, is the private housing and how much we can extract from that.” Because private developers control most of the developable land in the planning area, Dillon said the city has little leverage to push beyond the 13 percent affordability guideline in the city’s Inclusionary Development Policy. Affordable housing activists argued that doing nothing would be better than facilitating increased development of luxury buildings that they say are driving up rents in the area. “We should declare this an emergency zone where no development can occur,” said activist Laura Foner. “We can’t say we’ll build luxury housing because that’s the only way we’ll be able to eke out a few affordable units.” During the PLAN: JP/ROX process, BRA officials have been advocating a policy that would allow developers to increase building heights beyond limits outlined in the zoning code in exchange for an increase in the required
PUBLIC MEETING
ROXBURY STRATEGIC MASTER PLAN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MONDAY, OCTOBER 3 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
ON THE WEB Key documents related to the BRA’s Inclusionary Development Policy can be viewed at: http://www.bostonredevelop mentauthority.org/housing/key-documents percentage of affordable units on site, from 13 to 17 percent. Danielle, who says she was able to find affordable housing in the neighborhood, said the city’s focus should be on stopping displacement. “For every one of me, there are dozens that have moved out,” she said. “What kind of city kicks out its young people?” Dillon said that the city has to respond to the increasing demand for housing. “Our population, whether we like it or not, is going through the roof,” she said. “They’re coming into every neighborhood. People are being displaced. We can do nothing, or we can do something to stop it. We want to build more affordable housing than we’ve ever built before.” Dillon noted that 20 percent of the city’s housing stock is deed-restricted affordable, a greater percentage than in any other U.S. city. “We need more of it,” she said. “We need to push and do as much as we can.” Activist Yohana Beyene countered that the city has been working hard to recruit tech workers and corporations like General Electric — bringing in the very
BANNER PHOTO
Affordable housing activists stage a die-in at the BRA’s PLAN: JP/ROX planning meeting. high-income residents who are pushing up rents and housing prices. And of the housing that is being built, the overwhelming majority of units are not affordable to the average Bostonian. “Be honest about who you guys are building for,” she said. Dillon said she and other city officials would continue to listen to community residents, but stressed that the BRA’s plan for the JP/ Rox area would go before the BRA board for a vote in October. “We’re not going to open this up again,” she said. Dillon’s dialogue notwithstanding, most of the city officials at the meeting did not engage the
MEET THE NEW CARNEY . J. KEITH MOTLEY
CHANCELLOR OF UMASS BOSTON AND CHAIR OF THE CARNEY HOSPITAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
65 WARREN ST
Dudley Branch Library Roxbury, MA 02119
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee (RSMPOC) public meeting with status update on PLAN: Dudley Square-Roxbury and projects under the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan. RSMPOC public meetings are held every first Monday, each month, at the Dudley Branch Library, at 65 Warren Street for updates and community input. PLAN: Dudley Square-Roxbury workshops will be held every third Monday, each month, at the Bruce Bolling Municipal Building, at 2300 Washington Street in Roxbury to update current visions and plans for Dudley Square and Roxbury. Please join your neighbors and the City of Boston at the workshops to help make the neighborhood a better place to live, work, and raise a family. All meetings are open to the public.
“CARNEY HOSPITAL STANDS WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN TO PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACE, RELIGION, EDUCATION OR ECONOMIC STATUS. IT’S MORE THAN A CONVENIENCE THAT CARNEY IS RIGHT HERE. THEY ARE A VITAL RESOURCE. THIS IS BOSTON’S CARNEY HOSPITAL.” — CHANCELLOR J. KEITH MOTLEY
mail to:
phone: email:
LILLIAN MENSAH
Boston Redevelopment Authority One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4338 Lillian.Mensah@Boston.gov
BostonRedevelopmentAuthority.org Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
@BostonRedevelop
protesters. But many of the participants did, moving between the BRA planning poster boards and the gathering of housing activists at the center of the cafeteria. “This is a thoughtful design,” said Dr. Megan Sandel, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center and associate professor of public health at Boston University School of Public Health. “But the reality is there’s going to be painful tradeoffs.” Sandel, many of whose patients live in the area, said housing stress is emerging as a major public health issue. “Development is not bad,” she said. “Displacement is bad.”
YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR CARNEY. SEE FOR YOURSELF AT CARNEYHOSPITAL.ORG/CHANGE
8 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
TIME TO CASH IN! USE YOUR MACY’S MONEY NOWSUN, OCT. 2
OUR LOWEST
PRICES OF THE SEASON! 60 -85 SPECIALS! STOREWIDE NOW-SUN, OCT. 2 %
%
INCREDIBLE
OFF
USE THIS SAVINGS PASS ALL DAY NOW-SUNDAY SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE CLOTHING & HOME ITEMS
$
1O OFF
SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE CLOTHING & HOME ITEMS
$
2O OFF
YOUR PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE.
YOUR PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE.
VALID 9/28-10/2/2016.
VALID 9/28-10/2/2016.
LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER. PROMO CODE: MORE25
LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER. PROMO CODE: MORE
Excludes ALL: cosmetics/fragrances, Deals of the Day, Doorbusters/web busters, electrics/electronics, Everyday Values (EDV), furniture/mattresses, Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, rugs, shoes for her, specials, super buys, Breville, Coach, Dyson, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, Michele watches, Natori, Sam Edelman, Samsung watches, Shun, Stuart Weitzman, The North Face, Theory, Tumi, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford, Wüsthof, athletic clothing, shoes & accessories; designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, previous purchases, select licensed depts., services, special orders, special purchases, tech watches; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: baby gear, kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Brahmin, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA, Tommy Bahama, toys. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash or applied as payment or credit to your account. Purchase must be $25 or $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.
FREE SHIPPING ONLINE & FREE RETURNS
Free shipping with $99 purchase. Exclusions apply; see macys.com/freereturns
LOWEST PRICES OF THE SEASON SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 9/28-10/2/16. N6080016C.indd 1
9/20/16 10:15 AM
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
@baystatebanner
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
BayStateBanner
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9
Library, charter costs challenge BPS By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
The strained finances of the Boston Public Schools were center focus in a School Committee meeting last week. Officials, committee members and other attendees spoke on the impact of this year’s budget shortfall, including classes teeming with students and schools without libraries. Several city officials and committee members also said that charter schools, under the state’s current funding structure, have a negative impact on district schools’ resources. The statewide ballot measure that would lift the cap lacks provisions to ameliorate this impact or shelter district schools from the cost being exacerbated, they said. Many who spoke against ballot question 2 were careful to add that their stance did not reflect on the quality of charter schools, but solely on the financial implications of an expansion decoupled from a funding mechanism. School Committee Chair Michael O’Neill and Vice Chair Hardin Coleman presented a draft resolution against the cap lift, calling it a poor alternative to reforming finance and other issues. The committee will vote the resolution on October 5.
Financial impact
Katie Hammer, city budget director, and Eleanor Laurans, BPS executive director of school finance, told the committee that even with the cap, Boston’s district schools experience a financial burden from charter schools, and that the burden
would increase dramatically with the number of charter seats. “As currently structured, state law disadvantages BPS finances relative to charter schools,” Hammer said. In part this is because during the past three years, the state has not provided temporary reimbursements to help district school accommodate the fact that their overhead and faculty costs remain the same even as funding follows children to charters. Another fiscal disadvantage, Laurans and Hammer said, is that BPS pays for charter school students’ transportation. This also is costlier because charters have citywide enrollment, incurring greater travel distances, and the varied start times prevent better cost efficiency. BPS also enrolls proportionally more students with the kinds of intensive disabilities that make their education particularly expensive, such as being blind or deaf, Laurans said. When the state calculates what it considers an adequate education budget, it does not distinguish between the different costs of educating students with disabilities who have high levels of needs versus milder levels. In part to compensate for this undercalculation, Boston kicks in additional spending — in fiscal year 2017, this was about 27 percent more than required under the state’s formula, according to Laurans and Hammer’s report. However, when it comes to setting charter school tuitions, the state requires the city to pay the same 27 percent extra per pupil on charter students as well, without
regard to whether students’ disability levels are equally high. Thus, if BPS continues to have a greater concentration of high needs students, the city will continue to provide this extra money to charter schools. If the state continues to underfund transitional reimbursement, city finances could be increasingly burdened. Marty Walz — former state representative and current head of public affairs, executive management and employment law advisory company Walz and Associates — contested the stance that charter schools impact BPS finances, arguing that charter tuitions are not taken from the BPS budget. “The contention that the Boston Public School budget is being affected by charter school tuition is not accurate,” Walz said. “The charter school tuition the city pays is not coming from the BPS budget.” Tuition does, however, come from the city’s budget, thus reducing the pool it has available to allocate not just to BPS, but to police, libraries and all other departments, committee member Michael Loconto noted. The ballot question is then, he said, a question of how much pressure voters are willing to put on the entire city budget. Speaking during public testimony, KIPP Academy Boston charter school parent Pertreena Cherrie expressed frustration that BPS’ dispute with the state’s education funding practices has generated opposition to charter school expansion. Cherrie said that the cap blocks her child from being able to continue on to high school in an environment in which she thrives,
and that BPS should address its funding concerns through advocacy to the state government, not opposition to the ballot measure. “It sounds to me like district schools need to take up their issues with the state and not prevent my child having an opportunity,” she said.
Eyes on Boston
Some saw the cap lift as likely to have a heightened impact on Boston, as it has hit its cap limit. “Question 2 is all about Boston,” said Mary Battenfeld, member of the Citywide Parent Council and the parent group Quality Education for Every Student, during public testimony. Earlier this year, Dom Slowey, media contact for Massachusetts Public Charter School Association, said that Holyoke, Fall River, Cambridge, Somerville, Lawrence, Malden, North Adams and Greenfield also are at their seat limit. School Committee Chair O’Neill expressed concern that Boston will not have control over if and how charters expand within the city, and that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which will have say, has stated that it does not consider financial impact on local communities when approving charter schools.
Short on books
Gabi Pereire, a junior at Excel High School, said this year’s budget shortfall hit her school hard, resulting in statistics classes without textbooks and AP Language Arts classes packed with 40 students each. “I don’t know how I’m expected to learn or hear myself think,” she said. “There are teachers who are unable to teach because they are
so overwhelmed.” Another sign of budget strains: Out of 126 BPS schools, 73 are without library services. Thirty-six of these schools are in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Deborah Lang Froggatt, BPS director of Library Services, presented plans to restore access to library service — although not necessarily to a library itself — to all schools over the course of five years. About 15 schools would gain access per year. Restoration plans include cultivating partnerships with city library branches, deploying floating librarians to travel between schools and pursuing options to provide primarily digital resources, which lowers the need for facility space. Several committee members expressed concerns about the slow rollout, with Jeri Robinson noting that some kindergartners would not have a library until they are in fifth grade. Donna Muncey, BPS deputy superintendent of strategy, said that libraries could be restored sooner, but not without greater financial commitment. Each school decides how to distribute the funding it receives. Committee member Miren Uriate called for an examination of why, when schools received shortfalls, some regarded libraries as the most viable area to cut. Although expressing dissatisfaction, committee members unanimously passed the proposed library plan, so as to meet the October 1 eligibility deadline for funding from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang promised the plan would be revisited before next year’s budgeting and rollout would be conducted with an eye to equity.
KNOW PLAN PREPARE You and your family can be ready for emergencies. Visit mass.gov/KnowPlanPrepare
10 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General Unclaimed Property Division
She’s a finder and a keeper. Are you?
The State Treasurer’s Office oversees over $2 billion in unclaimed money. Some of it may be yours. my name on the list was a “ Seeing huge surprise. It was so exciting to find out that I had money waiting for me from a bill I’d overpaid eight years ago! I called the office, and the staff helped me file a claim in under ten minutes. Now, I’m reunited with my cash and plan to treat my husband to a fun night out!
”
— Dana N, Brookline Actual Recipient
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11
Local economic boost seen in hotel coming to Dudley area By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
A long-planned hotel project could break ground near Dudley Square by the end of this year. Marriott Residence Inn will be constructed on parcel 9, a cityowned vacant lot at Melnea Cass Boulevard and Washington Street. Groundbreaking previously was planned for 2015, but was delayed in a dispute over worker pay, which some community members said was too low to allow economic benefits to be shared with local residents. City Councilors Ayanna Pressley and Tito Jackson also stepped in to push for higher compensation, and ultimately the hotel agreed to a starting minimum wage of $18 per hour. These changes cast the project in a new light. “I think [the hotel] is positive,” Jorge Martinez, co-chair of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee, told the Banner. “We’re going to get jobs out of it, it’s going to beautify that area and going to spur additional development along the boulevard.” There will be about 40 hotel jobs, said Kamran Zahedi, president of Urbanica, the site’s developer, and about $400,000 will be spent on workforce training. Martinez says he recommends that the developers spend the money on local organizations that already provide workforce development and solicit community advice on which kinds of trainings to bolster. Under phase one of construction, 135 hotel rooms will be built.
PHOTO: COURTESY URBANICA DESIGN
Artist’s rendering of the site. This phase is ready to go once permitting and licenses are settled — an eight- to ten-week process, Zahedi predicted, speaking to the Banner by phone last week. Next: 50 apartments, which Martinez said had been presented as designed for short-term stay by people working at the medical center or visiting children in college. The units are not expected to be used by Roxbury residents. Zahedi did not yet have information on any affordability levels for the apartments. There also will be approximately 8,000 square feet of retail, with no details yet set for the kinds of businesses to occupy the space, Zahedi said, although the hotel seeks a liquor license.
Whittier Street Health Center 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120 n (617) 427-1000 n www.wshc.org
Get Your Flu Shot Today! The Walk-In Nurse’s Flu Clinic 2016 Get Your Flu Shot Today Walk-in Flu clinic hours: M-F 8:30am-8pm Sat. 8:30am-5pm Location: Whittier Street Health Center Purple Team, Orange Team, or Green Team (3rd floor Adult & Family Medicine) 1290 Tremont Street For more information: 617-427-1000
1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120 (617) 427-1000 n www.wshc.org
Local offerings
One advantage of the hotel, Martinez said, is it is will enhance offerings to residents. The hotel complex likely will include a nice restaurant and may spur the creation of other restaurants, providing closer options for residents who otherwise might go downtown or to the other side of Dorchester, he said. Along with convenience, this will help keep dollars local, he added. “We’ll be able to keep our folks within the immediate area where we can turn a dollar over and over within the neighborhood,” Martinez said. Specifics of retail space remain in the air, and community members have requested some small
storefronts be provided for small local entrepreneurs, Martinez said. Joyce Stanley, executive director for Dudley Square Main Streets, said the hotel is unlikely to generate night business in Dudley Square unless measures are taken to facilitate travelers’ exploration of the area. This could mean maps in the hotel showing where to go in Dudley, shared marketing or even a trolley between the two areas. “If you’re in a hotel, you’re not going to go six blocks up the street, unless you know something about the neighborhood, especially at night,” Stanley told the Banner. Should that barrier be dropped, though, the extra business could help stores stay open later. Stanley said she did not expect
the hotel to prompt many new businesses to come to her district, given that onsite retail space is limited and Dudley Square currently struggles to find available spots. What the hotel will do for the economy, however, Stanley said, is attract higher income customers to an area where many venues are reliant on people with more limited spending ability. “A lot of the small restaurants right now depend on people with once-a-month income and people basically living on either welfare or social security,” Stanley said. “They don’t have a lot of money to spend on all the little cafés and things people want. You either have to bring people from outside or you have to increase the incomes in the district.”
12 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
BUSINESSNEWS
www.baystatebanner.com
CHECK OUT MORE BUSINESS NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/NEWS/BUSINESS
Business on the move Boston-based transportation company sees worldwide growth By KAREN MORALES
In a market saturated with ride-sharing apps, DPV Transportation Worldwide distinguishes itself as a premium transportation company for high-end clients across the globe. Founder and CEO Daniel Perez said that the service provides 17,000 trips a year for clients in various corporate sectors, from financial firms to pharmaceutical companies. Perez came to the United States from Colombia when he was 11 years old. As a young adult, he was a part-time chauffeur for another transportation company, where his father also worked. While attending Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology — and before proceeding to Wentworth Institute of Technology — he scored a gig driving the school’s athletic teams to games, using his own van. That job snowballed into other jobs with other college teams until Perez launched his own company in 2006. He recalls taking client calls in his living room during the first two years, using his home as his first office space. Today, DPV Transportation Worldwide has 40 employees and a fleet of 26 vehicles. Customers can ride in sedans, SUVs, luxury vans and limos, and buses. DPV’s main service is providing chauffeuring with specialized services in financial road shows or internal corporate shuttles. DPV specifically accommodates executives embarking on their financial road shows, getting them to each business meeting throughout various cities. Through its corporate shuttle services, a DPV chauffeur can transport a client’s employees throughout their company’s large facilities. In 2010, through affiliate partnerships and online booking, DPV started operating as a one-stop shop for clients who frequently use air travel for business. “If an executive from Boston is traveling to New York, then we coordinate on-theground transportation by partnering with companies in other markets,” said Perez. “We partner with other companies around the world, but at the end of the day, we are the face of the company throughout the whole experience.” DPV is a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), which according to Perez, helped him gain major corporate clients. With $2.8 million revenue in sales, Perez said that his favorite part of the job is closing deals using sale strategies and solving customer problems. “The new currency in today’s market is knowledge and innovative ideas,” he said. As part of its innovative strategy, DPV has stayed up to date on technological changes via social media marketing and a free DPV
PHOTO: KAREN MORALES
Daniel Perez founded DPV transportation ten years ago and has grown it into a $2.8 million business.
“
If an executive from Boston is traveling to New York, then we coordinate on the ground transportation by partnering with companies in other markets. We partner with other companies around the world, but at the end of the day, we are the face of the company throughout the whole experience.” — Daniel Perez
ON THE WEB DPV Transportation:
www.dpvtransportation.com smartphone app for customers. Perez said he also is looking to add on-demand services to compete with Uber and Lyft. Currently, the transportation company uses a GDS (Global Distribution System) Connectivity tool to streamline its global booking services. The GDS Connectivity is able to connect to the internal booking systems of major companies, “so that when they book on their system it will come directly to our booking system,” said Perez. “It makes us easier to work with major companies.” This new tool has increased sales by 20 percent. GPS tracking and dash cameras in every vehicle are used in case of accidents and to protect the company against false statements, said Perez. DPV has access to Traffic Land, the traffic tracking system also used by the Department of Homeland Security, to maneuver real-time traffic patterns and plan efficient trips. As for the company’s future, the CEO has set a very concrete goal: “Grow into a $10 million company within the next three years,” he said.
Back-to-School Fair
PHOTO: MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO BY ISABEL LEON
Mayor Martin Walsh stops by the Boston Teachers Union Back to School Fair in Dorchester. Parents and students of BPS were able to come by to enjoy lunch and to pick out books as gifts from BTU.
BIZ BITS TIP OF THE WEEK
If you become disabled or laid off, how can you pay your bills? The transmission on your car fails, resulting in a trip to the repair garage. Your appendix bursts, requiring an overnight hospitalization. A windstorm damages your roof, causing a leak. What do these situations have in common? They’re examples of life’s unexpected, expensive surprises that can easily result in a bill of $1,000 or more. Each has the potential to adversely impact your finances. As shocking as it may sound, twothirds of Americans today would have trouble paying an unexpected $1,000 emergency. More than half of adult Americans are considered financially unhealthy, according to the Center for Financial Services Innovation. For many Americans, an unexpected expense can present an insurmountable challenge which can have a ripple effect on their bills. And it’s not only low income families that are struggling. One in five households earning more than $75,000 a year are unsure as to whether they could cover an unplanned $2,000 expense. The great crippler of Americans’ financial health: Disability Consider these disability statistics: n More than 375,000 Americans become totally disabled each year. n For a 32-year old, a disability lasting 3 months is 6 ½ times more likely than death. n More than 50 percent of disabled Americans are in their working years, age 18-64. n Among 20-year-olds, more than one in four will become disabled before they retire. n And 95 percent of disabling incidents are not work related so are ineligible for Workers’ Compensation. Will the federal government’s Social Security Disability Insurance program come to the rescue? Don’t count on it. Benefits are only available to Americans who have paid FICA taxes at least 10 years. Also, only 32 percent of applicants qualify for benefits and the average benefit paid by Social Security Disability is $1,130 a month. If you have long-term disability insurance, typically it covers 60 percent of your base salary up to a maximum of $10,000 a month. Most income earners, regardless of income level, have fixed monthly bills that consume 65-75 percent of their paycheck. Even with a disability plan, a disabled person more than likely will have a difficult time making ends meet. Aon Integramark, a financial services company, reviewed a number of disability products and found that many will not pay if an individual can work in another capacity other than their occupation when they became disabled. For example, if you are employed as a nurse at the time you become disabled, and after your injury, you are unable to continue as a nurse, but are able to work as a cashier at a retail store, you may not be considered disabled and eligible for benefits. However, there are other policies specifically designed to address this situation, which provide benefits when you become disabled, regardless of the type of disability you suffer, as long as certain eligibility criteria are met. “Consumers have been abandoned by a lack of affordable financial security prodSee BIZ BITS, page 13
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13
BUSINESSNEWS CHECK OUT MORE BUSINESS NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/NEWS/BUSINESS
Biz Bits
continued from page 12 ucts,” says Doug Silverman, vice president of Aon Integramark. “Income Assist was designed to respond to consumer needs and help protect their financial health in tough times.”
PHOTO: SANDRA LARSON
High school students in BUILD Boston’s entrepreneurship program work on selling their bowtie creations. The youth marketplace in the Bolling Building was part of a HUBWeek event on Sept. 26.
HubWeek continued from page 6
Roxbury Innovation Center, a Venture Cafe Foundation program housed in the Bolling Building, is to support local entrepreneurship and innovation. Inclusion is embedded in Brown’s approach. “You don’t attempt to reach out to people — you actually reach out to them,” she stressed. “We ask, ‘Where are you stuck? What can I do to destroy that roadblock?’ We spend time with
them. We make them feel welcome. Our community members deserve this, and they want this.” Brown said she frequently finds herself addressing the surprise expressed by newcomers to Roxbury. Echoing Shakur, she reminded the audience that plenty of talent and ambition exists already in the community. “When you come here, don’t be surprised. Our students learn. Our community members own businesses,” she said. “My center is not here to reinvent a wheel. We’re here to build the roads for it to keep running.”
Loss of a job means loss of bill-paying power: Unemployment Another unexpected situation that can wreak havoc on an individual’s financial situation is the sudden loss of their job. While the Social Security Act of 1935 established the federal-state Unemployment Insurance system, which pays benefits to workers who are laid off, the program is over 80 years old and is showing its age. Generally, a person must work one quarter in the previous year to qualify, and the average UI payment is a little over $300 a week and lasts an average of 26 weeks. For many, that’s not enough to make ends meet. — Brandpoint
THE LIST According to Fortune magazine, the top 10 most powerful women in business are : 1. Mary Barra (CEO and Chairman, GM) 2. Indra Nooyi (CEO and Chairman, PepsiCo) 3. Marillyn Hewson (CEO, Chairman, and President, Lockheed Martin) 4. Ginni Rometty (CEO, Chairman, and President, IBM)
5. Abigail Johnson (CEO and President, Fidelity Investments) 6. Sheryl Sandberg (COO, Facebook) 7. Meg Whitman (CEO and President, Hewlett Packard Enterprise) 8. Phoebe Novakovic (CEO and Chairman, General Dynamics) 9. Irene Rosenfeld (CEO and Chairman, Mondelez International) 10. Safra Catz (Co-CEO, Oracle) — More Content Now
Boston’s Black Spending Breakdown Is your company reaching this market? The Banner has a 45% penetration rate for this market. Advertising works. Interested?
TECH TALK Comcast, one of the U.S.’s biggest cable companies, said it will launch a cellular carrier, Comcast Wireless, in mid-2017. The service will use a combination of the company’s network of 15 million WiFi hotspots and Verizon’s cellular network to keep mobile devices connected.
NUMBER TO KNOW
$9.3
million: Public accounting firm Ernst & Young has agreed to pay $9.3 million in fines to the SEC to settle charges against three of the firm’s audit partners for violating auditor independence rules by having inappropriate client relationships.
Contact Sandra at Sandra@bannerpub.com for more details.
Income of Boston Blacks -
$4.3 BILLION Estimated Expenditures by All Black Households in the Metro of BOSTON, MA
(Figures in millions of dollars. 1,000 = $1 billion)
If you need a reasonable accommodation (such as American Sign Language Interpreters, assistive listening devices, handouts in alternate formats, etc.) and/or language assistance to fully participate, please submit your request to Trish Foley at trish.foley@state.ma.us at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Such accommodations will be provided free of charge. The meeting space is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Apparel Products and Services: 209 Appliances: 27 Beverages (Alcoholic): 28 Beverages (Non-Alcoholic): 43 Books: 2 Cars and Trucks - New & Used: 224 Computers: 50 Consumer Electronics: 35 Contributions: 195 Education: 62 Entertainment and Leisure: 28 Food: 698 Gifts: 71 Health Care: 252 Households Furnishings and Equipment: 150 Housewares: 4 Housing and Related Charges: 2,034 Insurance: 203 Media: 96 Miscellaneous: 59 Personal and Professional Services: 49 Personal Care Products and Services: 76 Sports and Recreational Equipment: 8 Telephone Services: 180 Tobacco Products and Smoking Supplies: 34 Toys, Games and Pets: 27 Travel, Transportation and Lodging: 71
Comments or questions can be sent to infobluehillavestation@gmail.com.
Data compiled by Target Market Media, 2014
MBTA PUBLIC MEETING Blue Hill Ave Station Construction Contract
DATE:
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
TIME:
5:30 PM - Open House 6:00 PM - Informational Meeting
LOCATION:
Mattapan Branch Library 1350 Blue Hill Avenue Mattapan, MA 02126
MEETING AGENDA:
The MBTA Blue Hill Ave Station project team will discuss the 100% design details, project benefits, bid date/process, construction phasing and construction schedule.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21
14 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
SJC
continued from page 1 While law enforcement officials and some in the local news media expressed shock and opposition to the SJC ruling, civil rights activists and defense attorneys voiced support. “It’s very powerful that this decision is coming down unanimously and that it’s authored by Justice Hines, the first black woman on the court,” said Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice. “It’s very often the case that courts are making decisions about whether we have experienced deprivation of constitutional rights. The legal analysis often does not reflect the dehumanizing effect of being deprived of our constitutional rights.” Espinoza-Madrigal points to the 2015 Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges decision upholding gay couples’ constitutional right to be married, which he says used the word “dignity” 12 times. “The court found that depriving same-sex couples of the right
to marriage has an effect not only on their right to marry, but also on their dignity,” he said. “Since then, we have not heard the courts talk about our rights as people of color through the lens of dignity. In this decision, Justice Hines, by zeroing in on the indignity of repeated unconstitutional stops, is bringing attention to racial injustice.”
‘Dark clothing’
The SJC case, Commonwealth vs. Jimmy Warren, stems from the 2011 arrest of a suspect on charges of illegal possession of a firearm. Defendant Warren fled on foot after he was approached by officers responding to a call of a breaking and entering in a nearby home that had occurred 30 minutes earlier. The victim, who lived on Hutchings Street, said he saw a man in a red hooded sweatshirt climbing out of his window. The victim said he saw two other men, one in a black hooded sweatshirt, the other wearing dark clothing. Half an hour later, an officer saw Warren on Martin Luther King Boulevard, eight tenths of a mile away. Warren, who is black, was wearing black clothing and, as such, fit the loose description
SLEEP DENTISTRY 1-800-676-2750
I.V. - SEDATION
MASS HEALTH PROVIDER
OPEN Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays 10-5, CLOSED Tuesdays, Wednesdays
The Practice of Anesthesia & General Dentistry
386 A/B Warren Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 L. Dee Jackson, Jr, DMD, MD, General Dentist, Anesthesiologist
given by the victim of one of the men he said he saw in proximity to the man with the red sweatshirt. The responding officer asked to speak with Warren, who turned and jogged into Malcolm X Park. A short time later, he was apprehended on Wakullah Street. A .22 caliber gun was found in a yard on that street. Under the Fourth Amendment, which protects an individual against unlawful search and seizure by law enforcement, police are required to have reasonable suspicion that a person has, is or will commit a crime. Civil rights advocates say that law is routinely violated when police interact with blacks. Stop and frisk policies, where black and Latino youths are targeted for random pat-downs or searches and police stops based on vague descriptions — such as “black male wearing dark clothing” — are widely seen as violations of the Fourth Amendment. “Lacking any information about facial features, hairstyles, skin tone, height, weight, or other physical characteristics, the victim’s description ‘contribute[d] nothing to the officers’ ability to
Looking for an affordable college? frugaldad.com can help. frugaldad.com/cheap-colleges
distinguish the defendant from any other black male’ wearing dark clothes and a ‘hoodie’ in Roxbury,” Hines wrote. “With only this vague description, it was simply not possible for the police reasonably and rationally to target the defendant or any other black male wearing dark clothing as a suspect in the crime. If anything, the victim’s description tended to exclude the defendant as a suspect: he was one of two men, not three; he was not wearing a red ‘hoodie’; and, neither he nor his companion was carrying a backpack.”
A strong example
American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts Attorney Carl Williams said Hines’s defense of the Fourth Amendment is important, given the city’s contentious history of unconstitutional stops of black males. Hines cited an ACLU study that found that blacks were more likely than whites to be stopped by police, even controlling for higher crimes rates in the areas where they live. “What we know is that it’s very rare that police who engage in stop-and-frisk actually find contraband,” he said. “For every one person they catch, there are 99 others who didn’t have anything on them. If you don’t need the Fourth Amendment, then go kick down some doors in the Back Bay. I’m sure you’ll find something there.” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor made a similar argument in her dissent in the Utah v. Strieff (2016) case, which
upheld an officer’s right to make a stop of an individual and check for outstanding warrants. “Surely we would not allow officers to warrant-check random joggers, dog walkers, and lemonade vendors just to ensure they pose no threat to anyone else,” she wrote in her dissent, in which Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined. Espinoza-Madrigal says Hines has made a compelling case against racial profiling. “Being repeatedly stopped by the police is harmful,” he said. “We seldom hear this articulated by the courts in such a strong way. I think it will set a strong example for other courts around the country as they’re grappling with issues of racial profiling.” Ron Bell certainly hopes so. He says he’s been stopped, searched and threatened by police since he was 12. Asked how many times he’s been stopped, Bell says he’s lost count. “Fifty?” he guesses. “Probably more than that. I don’t know, man. It’s too many. I’m a darkskinned brother. We get it worse.” During the 1989 Charles Stewart case, when police had a blanket order to stop and search black males, Bell was stopped, and saw teens in the youth center he was running strip-searched in front of the building. When he moved to Milton in the 1990s, he says police routinely followed him home. “My son was four or five years old,” he says. “He would say, ‘Dad, they’re right behind us.’ If I’m a black professional and they do this to me, can you imagine what they do to other brothers?”
BANNER BUSINESS DIRECTORY GET YOUR BUSINESS IN OUR LISTINGS: EMAIL ADS@BANNERPUB.COM • $250 FOR A 30-WORD LISTING IN PRINT FOR SIX MONTHS
ACCOUNTANT
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
ACCOUNTING SERVICES
FIRECODE DESIGN LLC.
Focusing on small businesses. I can assist you with the following services: Daily, weekly, or monthly bookkeeping. Accounts receivable and accounts payable, financial statements. Call Irving Randolph (978) 454-4397
195 Dudley Street Roxbury, MA 02119 617-442-CODE(2633) Roxbury’s #1 Fire Extinguisher & Fire Sprinkler Company Inspections, Maintenance, Sales, Installation FREE Workplace Fire Extinguisher Training (some restrictions apply)
AUTOMOTIVE HICKS AUTO BODY, INC 10 Talbot Ave, Dorchester, MA 02124 Repair, refinish damaged vehicles. Complete interior and exterior recondition/detail. 24 Hour Towing. (617) 825-1545; fax (617) 825-8495; www.hicksautobodyinc.com
CATERING DARRYL’S CORNER BAR & KITCHEN Let us “Serve You Right” for your next celebration or event! We offer pick-up & drop off, or full service catering with great Southern and American cuisines that will satisfy all your guests. To discuss and place your catering order call (617) 536-1100. www.darrylscornerbarboston.com
HALEY HOUSE BAKERY CAFÉ Breakfast Specials, Signature Muffins and Scones, À la Carte Breakfast, Lunch Package Deals, Wrap and Sandwich Platters, Steamin’ Hot Entrees, Soup and Salads, Pizza, Side Dishes, Appetizers, Desserts, Beverages and more. To place an order call catering line Monday through Friday 8 am–4 pm at (617) 939-6837
CONSTRUCTION KERRY CONSTRUCTION, INC 22 Sylvester Rd, Dorchester. Interior & Exterior Painting; Replacement Windows & Doors; Carpentry; Roofing; Gutters; Masonry; Kitchens; Bathrooms; Vinyl Siding. Free Estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call James O’Sullivan (617) 825-0592
HYPNOSIS
MUTARE HYPNOSIS LLC Live a Fuller Life Professional Hypnotists for weight loss, tobacco, stress, fears, chronic pain and illness, dental concerns, self-esteem, salesmanship, sports, leadership, test jitters. Downtown Boston or by Skype. (617) 266-3057; www.MutareHypnosis.com.
INTERNET SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANY
n High-Speed Internet Service n Business Telephone Service n Home Telephone Service No credit review, No annual contract, Services are guaranteed IBEW and CWA Certified Technicians Sign up online or by phone www.masslocaltelephone.com 1-888-248-6582 Massachusetts Local Telephone Company Licensed Telecommunications Carrier since 1997
LAWYERS LAW OFFICE OF VESPER GIBBS BARNES & ASSOCIATES 10 Malcolm X Blvd, Boston, MA 02119; (617) 989-8800; Fax: (617) 989-8846. Attorneys Vesper Gibbs Barnes and Felicia E. Higginbottom, practicing in the areas of Real Estate (Buyer/Seller), Landlord/Tenant, Probate, Family Law (Divorce/Child Custody and Support), and Personal Injury. Open M-F, 9 am-5 pm.
DAILY GENERAL COUNSEL, PLLC Finally, small businesses can get help from a smart and experienced business lawyer at an affordable price, on a One Day and Done™ basis. n Business Formations n Contracts n Customer/Vendor Disputes n Employee Issues n Employment Manuals www.DailyGeneralCounsel.com; Email: info@dailygc.com; Phone & Fax (800) 296-7681
LAW OFFICE JAY U. ODUNUKWE & ASSOCIATES 170 Milk Street, 4th floor Downtown - Boston, MA 02109 Phone: (617) 367-4500; Fax: (617) 275-8000 Email: Harvcom@prodigy.net Creative Solutions Always Delivers The Best!!! Criminal: Drug Offenses, Drunk Driving/OUI, Assault/Probation Surrenders, Sealing Records/ Domestic Violence Civil: Personal Injury/Automobile Accidents, Landlord/Tenant Immigration: Deportation/Removal Proceedings, Green Card/Citizenship Sports/Entertainment: Soccer/FIFA Player Agent
OPHTHALMOLOGISTS URBAN EYE MD ASSOCIATES. P.C.
183 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115 720 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 262-6300; (617) 638-8119; www.urbaneyemd.com. Benjamin Andrè Quamina, M.D.; Lawrence I. Rand, M.D.; Clifford Michaelson, M.D.; Chukwuemeka Nwanze, M.D.; Purvi Patel, O.D. Treating: Glaucoma, Cataracts, Diabetes, Ocular Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery and other vision threatening conditions and diseases. Offering: Routine Eye and Contact Lens Exams
Want your ad included? EMAIL ADS@BANNERPUB.COM
REALTOR BERNICE OSBORNE, SRES, REALTOR PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES Residential, Commercial, Land, Estate sales and short sales, 14+ years of experience. Serving Greater Boston and surrounding areas. SRES® Seniors Real Estate Specialist specializes in working with seniors (persons 50+) and their caregivers. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Direct: (617) 804-5789 Office: (617) 696-4430 Email: Bernice.Osborne@nemoves.com, Web: www.nemoves.com/Bernice.Osborne
REMOVAL SERVICES FREE TREE WOOD REMOVAL Good hardwood only. Call Akee Roofing (781) 483-8291
ROOFING AKEE ROOF REPAIRS Roof Leaks repaired, Gutters repaired, cleaned, and replaced, Flatroofs replaced. Free estimates. Call (781) 483-8291
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY SKILLED NURSING & REHAB CENTER Proudly serving the Community since 1927
BENJAMIN HEALTHCARE CENTER 120 Fisher Ave, Boston, MA 02120. www.benjaminhealthcare.com; Tel: (617) 738-1500; Fax: (617) 738-6560. Short-term, Long-term, Respite, Hospice & Rehabilitation. Tony Francis, President & CEO, Notary Public
SNOW REMOVAL KERRY CONSTRUCTION INC Snowplowing / sanding / salting driveway’s and parking lots bobcat and loader services roof shoveling, fully insured (617) 825-0592
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15
ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT CHECK OUT MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT
www.baystatebanner.com
Soul of Jamaica, heart of Boston
‘i fell in love with the sound’
(L-R): Aaron De Jesue, Cory Jeacoma, Matthew Dailey and Kevin Hines star in “Jersey Boys.” PHOTO: JEREMY DANIEL
Mighty Mystic redefines the reggae genre By CELINA COLBY
‘Jersey Boys’ actor David LaMarr talks about dreams, forging your own path By COLETTE GREENSTEIN
I
fell in love with the stage,” says actor David LaMarr, “and just being able to show up and just be a different person on stage — but also give everything that you have, and then leave people transformed.” Speaking by phone from a diner in Syracuse, New York, LaMarr, who was having chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, had just come off of opening night in his first Broadway national tour, “Jersey Boys.”
LaMarr, who plays Barry Belson, a role performed by Titus Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) on Broadway, also is part of the ensemble in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical based about the life of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. “Jersey Boys” opens in Boston for a limited two-week run beginning Tuesday, Oct. 4. The musical tells the true story of Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, four blue-collar guys from Newark, New Jersey, who became one of the biggest musical acts of all time, selling more than 100 million records
worldwide. Although Compton, California, and Newark, New Jersey may seem like two completely different worlds, LaMarr and the Four Seasons group have something in common — a love for singing and performing. “It’s kind of great to be part of a show that celebrates music and its creation,” says LaMarr. “It’s a universal story about how you can achieve whatever you put your mind to.”
Musical roots He grew up singing in his grandfather’s church choir and listening to Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson, but it
was when he auditioned for his high school musical that he was “bitten by the bug,” LaMarr recalls. He took music classes and learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. “I kind of fell in love with the sound you can make, even with your own voice,” he says. Once he found his calling as a performer, LaMarr says he was determined to follow his dreams, despite his parents wanting him to follow a more traditional path, like going to college. As for striking out on his own, the 28-year-old says, “millennials are all about following their dreams.” Like most working actors,
ON THE WEB Broadway In Boston presents ‘Jersey Boys’ at the Boston Opera
House beginning Tuesday, Oct. 4 through Sunday, Oct. 16. For show times and tickets, call Ticketmaster at 800.982.2786 or visit www.BroadwayInBoston.com. LaMarr has struggled to achieve his dreams, “living off of water and cornbread,” but it’s been worth it, he says, because he’s been able to live in his truth.
Satisfying journey A New Yorker since 2014, it’s taken him a decade to get to where he is now, but LaMarr is grateful for the opportunities he’s had. He has appeared in productions of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and “Mulan,” as well as in “Dreamgirls,” “Sister Act” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” He also has been able to travel across the country and around the world, singing and acting and making people feel good. And the best part about it is that he’s been able to be “honest, truthful, and most importantly himself,” all while pursuing his dreams.
Mighty Mystic, the Boston-based champion of Reggae music, wrapped up his summer tour on the Paradise Rock Club stage last Saturday evening. Band lead, Kevin Holness broke into the music scene in 2006 with his single “Riding on the Clouds,” and became a household name in 2010 with the album “Wake up World.” Mighty Mystic is known for its compelling mix of reggae and rock sounds, and its non-traditional emphasis on showmanship in concert. Holness’s passion for music started early. “I always loved the reggae scene, growing up in Jamaica,” he says. When he moved to Boston in 1989 he found a ripe opportunity to expand his involvement. What draws the artists to the reggae genre is the element of storytelling in it. “Reggae music is the people’s music,” says Holness. “It’s an avenue to speak your mind.” Much of the music on Mighty Mystic’s latest album “The Art of Balance” addresses contemporary issues such as police brutality. Each track tells an intimate narrative, written by Holness and often inspired by his own life and experiences. “The Art of Balance” was written, composed and produced locally. Holness said that it was a powerful experience to be able to craft music in his home base with his friends and family.
See MIGHTY MYSTIC, page 17
PHOTO: TWISTED DREAMS RADIO
Mighty Mystic
16 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT CHECK OUT MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT
Hitting a home run Fenway mural beautifies sportsdominated space By CELINA COLBY
It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do. In collaboration with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Artists for Humanity has installed a large-scale mural on oft-forgotten Ipswich Street between Back Bay and Fenway Park. “There’s not a lot to look at,” says Jason Talbot, co-founder and special projects director of AFH Boston. “The street is poorly lit and a little dirty and unkempt. So we decided to jazz it up.” The result is a striking, geometric piece that brings a fresh face to an old neighborhood. The Boston Red Sox contributed project funds to the Boston Redevelopment Authority in an effort to beautify the Fenway neighborhood. As part of its 2013 Demonstration Project agreement, the Red Sox will contribute $100,000 every year, and the BRA will select projects from proposals submitted by a range of nonprofit organizations through an open application process. The projects are intended to bring
Street Pianos kick off
ON THE WEB Artists for Humanity: http://afhboston.org/ On Facebook: www.facebook.com/
ArtistsForHumanity Twitter: https://twitter.com/afhboston Instagram: www.instagram.com/afhboston/ an added level of depth to the neighborhood. “It highlights the fact that Fenway isn’t just about baseball,” says Talbot. “There’s a vibrant art scene.” Artists for Humanity employs high school students to complete commissioned art projects around the city. “It puts kids to work and keeps them out of trouble,” says Talbot. In fact, AFH is one of the largest employers of young people in the city during the summer months. For this project, they selected students who live or go to school in the Fenway, so they’ll be able to experience their own creation on a regular basis. The students found inspiration for the piece in a similar painting in the AFH collection. Clean lines and blocks of color create a sense of balance and simplicity. Ultimately, the project was just as much about benefiting its student artists as it was about bringing flair to Fenway. “Painting that mural under that bridge was by no means an easy task,” says Talbot. “All young
PHOTO: MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO BY DON HARNEY
Mayor Martin Walsh was joined by the Boston Renaissance Choir, and others to celebrate the kick off for Street Pianos throughout Boston that are free and available to the public throughout the City. people need to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes with hard work.” For many high schoolers, working with AFH is an opportunity to see the business side of art. They are commissioned, expected to brainstorm a design and then
execute it — and are paid — just as they might be in future roles as public artists. The project is positioned next to a mural by the Boston Arts Academy, and Talbot notes that several AFH graduates worked on that mural, as well. During the baseball
season, hundreds of thousands of people visit Fenway, a good many of them getting there via Ipswich Street. Eyes from all over the world will see the work of these teens. As Talbot says, “The more art, the better for everyone. Art makes you well-equipped for life.”
Group rates available. Save 10% with promo code BANNER2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT CHECK OUT MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT
PHOTOS: NATASHA MOUSTACHE
Partygoers line up to see Christian Marclay’s artwork “The Clock.”
The exhibit that never sleeps MFA Boston launches series of all-night parties By CELINA COLBY
In a city with a 2 a.m. bedtime, the last place you look for nightlife is in a museum. On Saturday, Sept. 17 the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston broke that rule by hosting an all-night party as part of their #mfaNOW programming initiative. The party featured a number of new exhibits including “UHOH: Frances Stark 1991-2015” and Christian Marclay’s “The Clock.” A live DJ spun beats and the revered floor of the museum became the scene of breakdancing and the dougie. Graffiti artist MerkThose painted a canvas live, amid food trucks and lawn games. One thing’s for sure: the 146-yearold museum had never seen a night like this. Matthew Teitelbaum, appointed in April 2015 as MFA director, has been making moves to modernize the museum and bring in the youth audience. This was his most successful program yet. According to Karen Frascona, the museum’s public relations coordinator, around 7,000 people attended the event, some waiting up to two hours in a line that snaked around the building. The event was rife with opportunity to be hokey and pandering, but instead it struck a balance between fun and intellect. The galleries were packed with people viewing and experiencing art that they otherwise never may have seen. The suspension of an entrance fee was
See MFA, page 18
Mighty Mystic continued from page 15
Mystic’s style may be rooted in Jamaica, but his stories speak to the African American experience everywhere. Though the base of the music is traditionally reggae, the band incorporates influences from rock and even a little pop in the tunes, making the tracks accessible to all audiences. The inclusiveness is part of Holness’s love of
(l-r) Matthew Teitelbaum, director of MFA Boston, and artists Frances Stark and Christian Marclay outside the museum. the genre. He says, “There is something for everyone in reggae.” Mighty Mystic’s showmanship is an unusual presence in the reggae genre. Holness performs live with such passion and vigor that one can’t help but get up and move with him. There isn’t a minute when he’s not moving about the stage, interacting with fans, belting out his lyrics or dancing wildly to the drumbeat he created. His songs are powerful in stand-alone form, but in person he brings an exceptional
life to the music. He says, “You can walk and dance and sing to the music, but you also get some substance in your belly.” Holness believes that Boston has a diverse and promising reggae scene. He attributes the continual musical experimentation in the city to the rotating pack of college students that flood the city every year. “Kids from all over the world come here with different tastes, and that forces the scene to keep growing,” he says.
18 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT CHECK OUT MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT Left, (l-r) Pete L’Official, Liz Munsell, Verena von Pfetten, Bobby Jesus, Nick Donofrio and Maggie Gram. Right, DJ Dee Diggs spins at MFA Boston. PHOTOS: NATASHA MOUSTACHE
ON THE WEB #mfaNOW www.mfa.org/programs/mfanow; http://www.mfa.org/programs/series/ mfanow-overnights
MFA
continued from page 17 a commendable move in the increasingly money-oriented art world. One of the most popular events of the evening was Collage Confessions, where partygoers could sit down for an artsand-crafts experience inspired
by Frances Stark’s confessional style. Stark herself attended, and participated in the event. For those more partial to mornings than evenings, the activity list included coffee and yoga, as well as a children’s story hour and artmaking. The event ran from 6 p.m. on Friday until 9 a.m. Saturday and any partygoers still there in the morning were
Gospel Extravaganza Sun. Oct 9 3:30 pm
Global ministries Christian Church, 670 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124 Special guests — Joy Boyz, Legendary Singing Stars, Little Sammy & New Flying Clouds, Spiritual Souls and others. Tickets $20 - $28. For info call Jeannette Farrell: (617) 298-1906
Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund 2016-2017 Program Grants The Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund was established on February 1, 1974, by a vote of the Library Trustees. The income is to be used for “literary instructive purposes at its Dudley Branch Library.” The Fellowes Trust Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that the following grants have been awarded for FY 2017.
welcome to explore the rest of the museum, free of charge. The #mfaNOW Overnights help to break down the barriers of traditional art institutions. Held in the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, this kind of programming welcomes people into what’s often seen as an intimidating cultural shrine and begs them to sit down, be comfortable and make the space their own. This work torches the idea of whispering in museums, and stopping before each painting to nod thoughtfully. It shows the public that art can be seen and experienced in a number of visceral ways, and none of them are right or wrong. And that is exactly what the Boston area needs. The MFA plans to host three more free all-night parties, on Friday/Saturday, Oct. 14/15, 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.; Friday/Saturday, Nov. 4/5, 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.; and Friday/Saturday, Dec. 9/10, 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Party themes include college (“College Edition”), elections (“State of the Party”) and “Last Call.”
Friends Meeting at Cambridge Invites You to the Adventure of Quaker Worship 10:30am & 5pm Sunday • 8:30–10am Wednesday
The Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund of the Boston Public Library is pleased to announce that the following grants have been awarded for FY 2017. All programs are free and will take place at the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library (65 Warren St., Roxbury). For dates and times of programs, please check the library’s website: http://www.bpl.org/branches/dudley.htm or Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dudley-Branch-of-the-BostonPublic-Library/221759924526225. You can also follow the Dudley Library on Twitter - @bpldudleybranch or email fellowestrust@yahoo.com.
Play Reading Book Club One for adults, one for youth (Arts Emerson)
Smart Phones Workshop for seniors & beginners (Joel Mackall, Reidren Business Group)
Boston Youth Arts Groups for Social Change Conference (Citi Performing Arts Center)
Tracing Our Roots Genealogy Workshop for adults (Joel Mackall, Reidren Business Group)
The Collective Works of Beresford St. Corbin Photo Exhibit (Tessil Collins)
Take Back the Kitchen Classes for Seniors (Haley House)
Enriched Language Arts & Math Program for adults (W.A.I.T.T. House) Cooperative Quilt Making Course for seniors (Push Cart Art) Piano Classes for youth (Carlos Vargas)
Take Back the Kitchen Classes for Families (Haley House) Makanda Project Concerts for all Mindfulness-Based StressReduction Classes for adults (Bonita Jones & Associates)
Line Drawing: Lucy Sikes
❖ We are a community that seeks to pray seriously and tries to avoid dogma and ritual. We have no creed.
❖ Sometimes our deepest meetings for worship take place
completely in silence. Most often three to six messages are offered in the course of roughly one hour of worship together.
❖ Our worship is not programmed and is not led by a minister.
We aspire to be led only by the promptings of the Spirit in our hearts and minds.
Quakerism has deep roots in Christianity. Today, active Friends Meeting participants include people from many religious traditions: Christianity, Universalism, Non-theism, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. Many LGBTQ folks participate in our community.
All are welcome in a sincere search for spiritual depth 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge • fmcquaker.org • 617-876-6883
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19
FOOD
www.baystatebanner.com
CHECK OUT NUTRITION AND HEALTH NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/HEALTH
TIP OF THE WEEK
Healthy school lunch, snack ideas
If schools and parents received report cards on the lunches they’re serving kids, most wouldn’t receive a passing score. Many lunches, whether served at school or brought from home, are made with bleached flour, artificial sweeteners, food coloring, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial preservatives, hormones and trans fats. As a parent, what can you do to keep your child healthy? Life Time The Healthy Way of Life Company, suggests checking in with your child’s school to learn where foods are sourced, the nutritional values and ingredients in order to make informed decisions. “The more highly processed foods are, the more likely they are to contain the seven unsavory ingredients. Meaning they are foods it’s best to find alternatives for,” said Laura Burbank, a registered dietitian with the Life Time Foundation. Burbank also advises actively engaging kids in packing lunch at home. “Getting kids involved in packing their lunches makes them more likely to eat and enjoy them,” says Burbank. “They feel helpful and they’re learning along the way.” — Brandpoint
NUMBER TO KNOW
3
The number of cups of chopped rhubarb typically yielded by one cup of the produce.
EASY RECIPE
Spicy Rhubarb Compote n 2 cups red wine n 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar n 3 (2-inch) strips orange peel (orange part only) n 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes n 10 rhubarb stalks, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces n ¹⁄8 teaspoon salt 1. Combine the wine, sugar, orange peel, and red pepper flakes in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the rhubarb and salt, reduce the heat and simmer until the rhubarb is tender, about 9 minutes. 2. Transfer the rhubarb to shallow dish, arranging it in single layer. Boil the wine syrup in the saucepan until it’s thick, about 5 minutes, then pour the syrup over the rhubarb, cover and chill. — Cookthink
WISE TO THE WORD Rhubarb: An extremely tart and hardy perennial plant. In most places, it’s in season from May to July. With the help of large quantities of sugar, its red, celery-like stalks are used to make compotes, jams, and pie and tart fillings. — Cookthink
Roast with the most Honey mustard elevates classic roast chicken BY THE EDITORS OF RELISH MAGAZINE
H
oney and mustard make a classic combination: The sweetness of the honey combines beautifully with the tangy acidity of the mustard. And when roasted on top of chicken or pork, the honey mustard mellows and becomes just the right seasoning — sprightly, bright, with just a touch of sweet. In this recipe, another flavor is added by the herbes de Provence. A blend of dried rosemary, marjoram, thyme, savory and lavender, herbes de Provence include the herbs traditionally used in southern France. You
can sometimes find herbs de Provence packaged in beautiful little crocks from France. Mostly likely, at the supermarket, you’ll find them in glass spice jars. Use them to flavor not only chicken but meat and vegetables. TIP: The best way to test for doneness is with a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer between breast and thigh, far enough so it goes into the thigh meat. When the temperature reaches 165F, the bird is safe to eat. Don’t wait until you can the wiggle the drumstick; by then it will be overcooked.
Look online for
NUTRITION & HEALTH NEWS at www. baystate banner.com/ news/ health
Honey Mustard Roast Chicken and Potatoes Serves 6 n Nonstick cooking spray n 3 T honey mustard n 2½ T olive oil, divided n 1 T dried herbes de Provence n 1 t salt, divided n ¼ t freshly ground black pepper, divided n 1 (3¾-pound) chicken n 1 ½ pounds unpeeled Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks n 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Coat roasting pan and rack with cooking spray. 2. Combine mustard, 1 tablespoon oil, herbes de Provence, ½ teaspoon salt and ¹⁄8 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. 3. Rinse chicken inside and out with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Loosen skin from breast and
drumsticks. With a small spatula, spread about half the mustard mixture under loosened skin and the rest on outside of chicken. Place chicken, breast side up, on roasting rack. 4. Combine potatoes, remaining 1 ½ tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt and ¹⁄8 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Toss to coat potatoes well. Transfer potatoes to pan around chicken. 5. Roast 1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours, until meat thermometer in thigh registers 165F. Transfer chicken to a platter and let rest 20 minutes. Remove rack from pan. Transfer potatoes to platter. 6. Spoon off and discard fat from drippings. Pour about ½ cup broth into roasting pan and stir to scrape drippings from bottom. Pour mixture into medium saucepan and stir in remaining ½ cup broth. Simmer, stirring often, until reduced to about 1 cup. Serve with chicken and potatoes. PHOTO BY TERESA BLACKBURN/RELISH MAGAZINE
COMING TO HALEY HOUSE BAKERY CAFÉ: THU 9/29 - Storytelling with Sumner & Linda McClain, 7PM. “What if and Then What” stories for the entire family. THU 10/6 - Fulani Haynes Jazz Collaborative, 7PM THU 10/13 - Outside the Box Productions presents #LIFTED, 7PM TUE 10/18 - Thornton Farm presents Tasting Table Tuesdays featuring GARLIC, 5-7PM
Come By The Bolling Building to check out our new enterprise, Dudley Dough A publication of The Bay State Banner
Haley House Bakery Cafe - 12 Dade Street - Roxbury 617 445 0900 - www.haleyhouse.org/bakery-cafe
20 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER 20 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
T janitors may strike over treatment
respond to a Banner phone call by press time.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
for S.J. Services, the second clean- members to analyze the actual ing firm with a T contract. While costs associated with its cleaning he takes pride in performing his contracts and restore the one hour Members of the union rep- work well, bringing the same qual- to the 25 workers. Several control board members resenting 300 MBTA janitors ity under shortened shifts poses a expressed concerns over the janitold the T’s Fiscal and Manage- challenge, he said. ABM and S.J. Services appear tors’ allegations. ment Control Board on Monday Brian Lang, FCMB member that recent staffing changes have to be making cost savings by scalharmed workers and that a strike ing back employee protections, and president of the Local 26 hotel said. were received food service union, called the couldCHECK be forthcoming. OUT MORE EVENTS AND some SUBMIT TOReports OUR ONLINE CALENDAR:and BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/EVENTS Workers in purple SEIU 32BJ of temporary workers brought on testimony moving and said allegaT-shirts filled four rows in Monday’s for one day, with minimum wage tions should be investigated. “If this is happening, we should meeting, with several standing to tes- and no benefits, to supplement tify. Janitors later marched from the the staff reductions, said Roxana take action,” Lang stated, saying meeting with cries of “huelga” (strike) Rivera, vice president of SEIU although the MBTA does not di32BJ. rectly employ the janitors, it has and “justicio ahora” (justice now). Twenty-five workers also had responsibility to ensure fair labor hours cut by exactly one hour — conditions. If firms will not proEffects felt At the top of September, the just enough for them to no longer vide such conditions, he advised two cleaning firms that serve the be eligible for health care, Rivera the MBTA to break the contracts and find other providers. T scaled back hours and staffing said. “That is cruel, and that is FCMB member Joseph Aiello levels. The change was prompted after the MBTA decided to en- wrong,” she told board members. said the workers’ reports were force a 2013 contract and no “It is very blatant what they’re troubling, and that while he wishes longer pay the cleaning firms doing there,” she told the Banner to allow privatization at the T and above the level stipulated. The later. “This [hours change] is not the potential innovation it may bring, the board also ought to draft move was presented as a cost-sav- operational.” More than one-third of MBTA labor condition requirements and ing measure as the T struggles with its finances, but janitors tes- janitors have been affected by include them in their requests for tified that it has produced a de- either loss of position or hours. proposals. “Some of this stuff seems abucline in workers’ quality of life and More than 50 janitors have been system cleanliness as fewer work- laid off, of which at least 20 were sive,” Aiello said, of the janitors’ ers are asked to achieve the same full-time, according to Eugenio testimonies. The MBTA currently is exresults. The T’s contract does not Villasante, the union’s commuspecify staffing levels; it sets stan- nication strategist. More than 83 empted from the Pacheco law, janitors had hours reduced, result- which requires public departdards for the end results. ments to make a case that outJanitors are overburdened and ing in loss of healthcare for 46. sourcing would provide equal or some have had workloads douhigher service at lower cost and bled, said Jose Farjado, who works Call to act for cleaning firm ABM. He asked The SEIU’s Roxana Rivera that savings would not be made the FCMB to intercede with clean- told the board members that they by cutting employee wages or ing contractors. cannot simply blame the contrac- benefits. FCMB member Lisa Calise said Jorge Rivera, an 11-year MBTA tors but must step up and take reemployee, said he lost benefits sponsibility for how they handle she wanted to hear from contractors on the matter soon. when his workweek was cut by business. S.J. Services and ABM did not ten hours. Rivera currently works Rivera asked control board By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
Possible strike
In addition to those who clean the T, SEIU 32BJ also represents janitors who serve buildings in the Boston area. The union negotiates the same terms with all employers and their contract expires on September 30, Villasante said. If a deal cannot be reached, the union’s 13,000 janitors are ready to strike this Friday, members said. There are several contested issues between SEIU and employers, Villasante told the Banner. Among the sticking points: The union wishes to see as many janitors in full-time positions as possible, while some employers insist on providing full-time hours to only 30 percent of that workforce. Many employers prefer to hire multiple part-time workers instead of one full-time worker in order to avoid paying benefits, Villasante said. “People cannot be forced to cobble together three or four parttime jobs to get food on the table,” Villasante told the Banner. Another issue: Employers have requested that union standards not apply to those working in buildings below a certain size — 100,000 square feet — which would affect 1,000 janitors. SEIU is not willing to abandon protections for parts of its membership, Villasante said. “There’s still time. We believe we can achieve a fairer deal,” he said. FCMB member Lang advised other members that, while they cannot control the action of other employers, they may be able to avoid service disruption by acting
quickly on the janitors’ allegation of mistreatment and showing they take the problems seriously.
Late night
Activists and state and city officials from Boston, Cambridge and Somerville also testified to FCMB members on the disparate impact that cessation of late night service has on low-wage workers and voiced support for a proposal from TransitMatters that the T resolve this by offering 24-hour bus service. This also would allow for night maintenance and cleaning on the subway, noted Rafael Mares, vice president and director of healthy communities and environmental justice at the Conservation Law Foundation. Officials and activists said that contrary to the stereotype that late night-service cuts disappoint only drunk college students, those most affected are late-shift workers at hospitals, restaurants, bars, airports and other venues who cannot afford a car or regular rideshare or taxi service to get home. Such workers may be forced to spend one to two hours’ worth of wages to get home if no public transit is provided, said First Suffolk District Rep. Adrian Madaro and Cambridge Rep. Mike Connolly. Others have chosen to sleep at work because they cannot afford the trip home without the T, said Lee Matseuda, political director of Alternatives for Community and Environment. Those who do not use the T still benefit when those who do are able to reach their place of work and provide critical services, such as hospital care, said Mela Miles of the Greater Four Corners Action Coalition. “Some folks use it, but everyone needs it,” Miles said.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR CHECK OUT MORE EVENTS AND SUBMIT TO OUR ONLINE CALENDAR: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/EVENTS
THURSDAY CREATING ART AT HOME/BIRDS OF A FEATHER September 29 from 9:30-11:30am at ABCD Jamaica Plain Head Start, 315 Centre St., JP. Two FREE workshops in Spanish and English for parents, grandparents, caregivers. Use recycled and simple art materials in imaginative ways. Learn about birds of the tropical rain forest and New England. Create habitats using clay and other materials. After 2nd workshop take home art materials to continue your adventure! Wheelchair accessible. Child care provided. FCT is a program of Community Service Care/Tree of Life Coalition. To register and for more information call 617-522-4832 or email familiescreat ing@gmail.com. Additional information at www.familiescreatingtogether.org.
SATURDAY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION INTRODUCTION AND MBSR COURSE ORIENTATION Saturday, October 1, 11:30am-3pm and Thursday, October 13, 4:307:30pm at the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library, Literacy Center 65 Warren St. Experience guided mindful meditation and more at Mindfulness Meditation Introduction and MBSR Course Orientation. Mindfulness is being aware in the present
moment, without judgment. Learning and practicing mindfulness based stress reduction, or MBSR, can improve health, reduce stress, increase resiliency and improve the ability to cope with anxiety, depression and pain. Led by Bonita Jones, MBSR and Mindfulness Instructor trained at the Center for Mindfulness, Shrewsbury, MA, Meditator since 1975, and Certified Massage Therapist since 1981. SAVE THE DATE — October 29-December 17, Saturdays, 11:30am-3pm — Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction CourseMBSR at the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library, Literacy Center 65 Warren St. Taught by Bonita Jones. Sign up for this FREE 8-week MBSR Course! Each week learn Mindfulness Meditations including Sitting Meditation, Body Scan and Walking Meditation, Mindful Movement (Yoga), Informational Talks, Group Discussions. After attending the Mindfulness Meditation Introduction and MBSR Orientation participants can apply for the MBSR course. We will have a wait list for over-enrollments. Call Bonita Jones at 617-445-8946 or email bbjbosma@aol.com to register for Mindfulness Meditation Introduction and MBSR Orientation and to apply for the MBSR Course. Funded by The Fellows Athenaeum Trust Fund of the Boston Public Library.
BLUE HILLS RESERVATION Moderate walk, some hills. Walk a 4 mile loop around Ponkapoag Pond on the green dot trail. Saturday, October 1 at 1pm.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, the largest and longest-running festival of its kind in the U.S., will be in Boston for a special showcase of an environmental film on September 29, presented by Bank of America. Four exceptional environmental films addressing the science and impacts of climate change, water scarcity, and the dark side of technology, will have their Boston premieres at Kendall Square Cinema, each followed by discussions with filmmakers, scientists, and environmental experts. The Festival is a part of HUBweek, which celebrates innovation and creativity at the intersection of art, science, and technology. For the second year, Bank of America is teaming up with HUBweek as a presenting sponsor to bring unique programming and experiences to the Boston community. General admission tickets are $8. Student and military tickets are $5. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit www.dceff.org/Boston.
Meet at the Ponkapoag Golf Course parking lot at 2167 Washington St. in Canton. The Southeastern Massachusetts Adult Walking Club meets each weekend on either a Saturday or Sunday at 10:00am or 1:00pm for recreational walks. This club is open to people of 16 years of age and older, and there is no fee to join. Walks average 2 to 5 miles. New walkers are encouraged to participate. The terrain can vary: EASY (mostly level terrain), MODERATE (hilly terrain), DIFFICULT (strenuous & steep). Walks will be led by a park ranger or a Walking Club volunteer leader. The DCR Southeast Mass. Walking Club meets at a variety of state parks. Note some DCR
sites charge a parking fee. The rangers recommend wearing hiking boots and bringing drinking water on all hikes.
WEDNESDAY STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, Harvard University, Fall Colloquium Series — Treva Lindsey, Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Ohio State University — Hell You Talmbout: Contemporary Perspective on State Violence Against Black Women and Girls. Wednesday, October 5, 12pm,
Thompson Room, Barker Center, 12 Quincy St., Cambridge. Free and open to the public. A Q+A session will follow the talk. Please feel free to bring a lunch.
THURSDAY BED BUG SEMINAR Thursday, October 6 at 10:30am at the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library 685 Tremont St., Boston, 617-536-8241. Jonathan Boyar, Associate Certified Entomologist and pest control expert will present a comprehensive talk about bedbugs. Contact Matthew Krug at mkrug@bpl.org for more information.
The Community Calendar has been established to list community events at no cost. The admission cost of events must not exceed $10. Church services and recruitment requests will not be published. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF PUBLICATION. To guarantee publication with a paid advertisement please call advertising at (617) 261-4600 ext. 7799 or email ads@bannerpub.com. NO LISTINGS ARE ACCEPTED BY TELEPHONE, FAX OR MAIL. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Deadline for all listings is Friday at noon for publication the following week. E-MAIL your information to: calendar@bannerpub.com. To list your event online please go to www.baystatebanner.com/ events and list your event directly. Events listed in print are not added to the online events page by Banner staff members. There are no ticket cost restrictions for the online postings.
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21
Advertise in
For more information, call 617-261-4600 x7799 or email ads@bannerpub.com
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
The MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY (Authority) is soliciting consulting services for MPA CONTRACT NO. M364-D4, FY 17-19 WATERFRONT FACILITIES TERM CONSULTANT, EAST BOSTON, SOUTH BOSTON & CHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS. The Authority is seeking qualified multidiscipline consulting firm or team, with proven experience to provide professional services including: inspection, design, and construction related services, as well as resident inspection, on an on-call, as needed basis. These services are expected to be provided at any Massport waterfront facility within the outer limits of Boston Harbor in South Boston, East Boston and Charlestown including but not limited to: Boston Logan International Airport, East Boston Piers, South Boston Fish Pier, Commonwealth Pier and the North Jetty, Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, Conley Container Terminal, Mystic and Moran Terminal. The Consultant must be able to work closely with the Authority and other interested parties in order to provide such services in a timely and effective manner. The consultant shall demonstrate experience in several disciplines including but not limited to: Civil, Structural, Geotechnical, and Waterfront Engineering, Permitting, Hydrographic Survey, Diving Inspection, Cost Estimating and Construction Phasing. The Authority expects to select up to two (2) consultants. However, the Authority reserves the right to select a different number if it is deemed in its best interest to do so. Each consultant shall be issued a contract in an amount not to exceed FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($500,000). The services shall be authorized on a work order basis. A Supplemental Information Package will be available, on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 on the Capital Bid Opportunities webpage of Massport http://www.massport.com/doing-business/_layouts/CapitalPrograms/ default.aspx as an attachment to the original Legal Notice, and on COMMBUYS (www.commbuys.com) in the listings for this project. If you have problems finding it, please contact Susan Brace at Capital Programs SBrace@massport.com The Supplemental Information Package will provide detailed information about Scope Of Work, Selection Criteria and Submission Requirements. In recognition of the unique nature of the project and the services required to support it, the Authority has scheduled a Consultant Briefing to be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at the Capital Programs Department, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128. At this session, an overview of the project will be provided, the services requested by the Authority will be described, and questions will be answered. By responding to this solicitation, consultants agree to accept the terms and conditions of Massport’s standard work order agreement, a copy of the Authority’s standard agreement can be found on the Authority’s web page at www.massport.com. The Consultant shall specify in its cover letter that it has the ability to obtain requisite insurance coverage. This submission, including the litigation and legal proceedings history in a separate sealed envelope as required shall be addressed to Houssam H. Sleiman, PE, CCM, Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs and received no later than 12:00 Noon on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at the Massachusetts Port Authority, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, Suite 209S, Logan International Airport, East Boston, MA 02128-2909. Any submission which is not received in a timely manner shall be rejected by the Authority as non-responsive. Any information provided to the Authority in any Proposal or other written or oral communication between the Proposer and the Authority will not be, or deemed to have been, proprietary or confidential, although the Authority will use reasonable efforts not to disclose such information to persons who are not employees or consultants retained by the Authority except as may be required by M.G.L. c.66. MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. L1354-C2, CENTRAL HEATING PLANT COOLING TOWER EXTENSIONS, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128-2909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly. NOTE: PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CENTRAL HEATING PLANT/FACILITIES I, 600 TERMINAL E EXTENSION AT 10:00 AM LOCAL TIME ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016. The work includes THE WORK INCLUDES INSTALLATION OF NEW MINIMUM 18 FOOT HIGH FAN STACKS ON THE EXISTING COOLING TOWER; STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT OF THE EXISTING FAN DECK AND STRUCTURE OF EACH CELL TO SUPPORT THE ADDED WEIGHT, AS WELL AS THE INCREASED WIND AND SEISMIC LOADS; PHASING SO THAT THREE CELLS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE DURING THE COOLING SEASON, REQUIRED RIGGING AND DISPOSAL OF ALL REMOVED MATERIALS AND WASTE FROM THE NEW WORK. Bid documents will be made available beginning THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016. Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form. In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract General Bidders must submit with their bid a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and an Update Statement. The General Bidder must be certified in the category of MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. The estimated contract cost is FIVE HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($505,000.00). Bidding procedures and award of the contract and sub contracts shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 44A through 44J inclusive, Chapter 149 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of
LEGAL a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or a cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater. The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details. No filed sub bids will be required for this contract. This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor’s Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246).
LEGAL This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor’s Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246). The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000. Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals. MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. AP1533-C1, FY 17-19 FIRE PROTECTION TERM CONTRACT, ALL MASSPORT FACILITIES, BOSTON, BEDFORD AND WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128-2909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016 immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly. NOTE: PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT (ABOVE ADDRESS) AT 10:00 AM LOCAL TIME ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2016.
The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000.
The work includes THE PROVISION OF LABOR, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, SERVICES AND MATERIALS TO INSPECT, TEST, MAINTAIN, AND REPAIR FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND FIRE PUMPS OF VARIOUS EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS FOR ALL MASSPORT FACILITIES IN BOSTON, BEDFORD AND WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.
Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals.
Bid documents will be made available beginning THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016.
MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. AP1708-C1, FY 2017-19 NONAIRSIDE PAVEMENT REPAIRS - TERM CONTRACT, MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY FACILITIES, BOSTON AND BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128-2909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016, immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly. NOTE: PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT (ABOVE ADDRESS) AT 11:00 AM LOCAL TIME ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016. The work includes EXCAVATION, PAVEMENT SAW CUTTING, BITUMINOUS CONCRETE PAVEMENT PATCHING, MILLING, AND OVERLAY, CURB SETTING, CASTING ADJUSTMENTS AND STRUCTURE REMODELING, CONCRETE PAVEMENT AND SIDEWALKS, PAVEMENT MARKINGS, MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC, AND OTHER INCIDENTAL WORK ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. Bid documents will be made available beginning THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016. Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form. The estimated contract cost is NINE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($960,000.00). A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or a cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater. The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details.
Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form. In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract General Bidders must submit with their bid a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and an Update Statement. The General Bidder must be certified in the category of FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. The estimated contract cost is THREE MILLION DOLLARS ($3,000,000.00). Bidding procedures and award of the contract and sub contracts shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 44A through 44J inclusive, Chapter 149 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or a cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater. The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of TEN MILLION DOLLLARS ($10,000,000). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details. No filed sub bids will be required for this contract. This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor’s Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246). The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000. Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals. MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
22 • Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT
The North Attleborough Housing Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from Contractors for the Carpet Replacement and Painting Project at 667-2 Elm Terrace Development for the North Attleborough Housing Authority in North Attleborough Massachusetts, in accordance with the documents prepared by Antonio Gomes Architect. The Project consists of: Base bid to remove and replace four stories of common area flooring, including corridors and community room with new resilient tile flooring. Alternates to paint common area walls, doors, door frames and interior window trim. The work is estimated to cost $ $93,000 (Base bid $48,000 + Alternates $45,000) Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.149 §44A-J & to minimum wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.l49 §§26 to 27H inclusive. General Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 13, and publicly opened online, forthwith. All bids shall be submitted electronically online at www.Projectdog.com no later than the date and time specified above. Hard copy bids will not be accepted by the Awarding Authority. Tutorials, instructions and videos on how to complete the electronic bid documents are available online as well as in the Instructions to Bidders. For assistance, call Projectdog, Inc at 978-4999014 (M - F 8:30AM - 5PM). General bids shall be accompanied by a bid deposit that is not less than five (5%) of the greatest possible bid amount (considering all alternates), and made payable to the North Attleborough Housing Authority. Bid forms and contract documents will be available at www.Projectdog.com or for pick-up at: Projectdog, Inc, 18 Graf Road, Suite 8 Newburyport, MA 978-499-9014 (M - F 8:30AM - 5PM). Go to www.Projectdog.com and click Sign Up for free, or login with your existing account. Enter Project Code 815552 in the project locator box. Select “Acquire Documents” to download documents, review a hard copy at Projectdog’s physical location, or request a free project CD. There is a plan deposit of $25.00 per set (maximum of 2 sets) payable to Projectdog, Inc. Refundable deposits must be a certified or cashier’s check. This deposit will be refunded for up to two sets for general bidders upon return of the sets in good condition within ten (10) days of receipt of general bids. Otherwise the deposit shall be the property of Projectdog, Inc. Bidders requesting Contract Documents to be mailed to them shall include a separate check for $25.00 per set, payable to Projectdog, Inc., to cover mail handling costs. The job site and/or existing building will be available for inspection at 10 A.M. on October 5. For an appointment call Dan Ouellette at 508-695-5142. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SOLICITATION FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROJECTS
LEGAL
LEGAL
On behalf of the MBTA, thank you for your time and interest in responding to this Request for Letters of Interest and RFQ/P. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
court papers, please contact an attorney for legal advice. Date: September 13, 2016
Brian Shortsleeve Acting MBTA General Manager and Rail and Transit Administrator
Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
Stephanie Pollack MassDOT Secretary and CEO
Docket No. SU16P0681GD
SUFFOLK Division
Citation Giving Notice of Petition for Appointment of Guardian for Incapacitated Person Pursuant to G.L. c. 190B, §5-304
INVITATION TO BID The Greenwood Memorial Church in Dorchester requests bids for Roof Repairs and miscellaneous exterior repairs at the Greenwood Memorial Church, which is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The project is being partially funded by an emergency grant from the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund through the Massachusetts Historical Commission. All work must be performed in accordance with the documents prepared by McGinley Kalsow & Associates, Inc., Architects and Planners, 324 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145 (617-625-8901) info@mcginleykalsow.com and meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. State law prohibits discrimination. Awarding of this contract is subject to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity guidelines. A copy of the contract documents may be obtained after September 23, 2016 by writing or telephoning the architect at the above address. A pre-bid meeting will be held at the Church at 378 A Washington Street, Dorchester, MA on Tuesday, September 27 at 3:00 PM for contractors. Bids shall be evaluated on the basis of price, previous experience with similar types of construction projects, ability to perform the work in a timely manner, and references. All bids must be delivered to the architect’s office at the above address prior to 1:00 PM, October 14, 2016 to be eligible for consideration.
In the matter of Desmond Springer Of Boston, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Department of Mental Health of Westborough, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Desmond Springer is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Department of Mental Health of Westborough, MA (or some other suitable person) be appointed as Guardian to serve on the bond. The petition asks the court to determine that the Respondent is incapacitated, that the appointment of a Guardian is necessary, that the proposed Guardian is appropriate. The petition is on file with this court and may contain a request for certain specific authority. You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 10/27/2016. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. In addition to filing the written appearance, you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date. IMPORTANT NOTICE
INVITATION TO BID The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: BID NO.
DESCRIPTION
DATE
TIME
*WRA-4287
Replacement of Activated Carbon at the Nut Island Headworks
10/12/16
2:00 p.m.
*WRA-4291
Supply and Delivery of Ferric or Ferrous Chlorite to the Deer Island Treatment Plant
10/14/16
2:00 p.m.
**EXE-038
Security Equipment Maintenance and Repair Services
10/20/16
2:00 p.m.
**7423
RFQ/P Sewer Sections 4, 5, 6 and 186 Study
10/28/16
11:00 a.m.
The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer. Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person. If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense. WITNESS, Hon. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: September 15, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
*To access and bid on Event(s) please go to the MWRA Supplier Portal at www.mwra.com. **To obtain bid document please MWRADocumentDistribution@mwra.com.
request
@baystatebanner
to:
MBTA CONTRACT NO. SWAPS01 Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is soliciting engineering services for consultation and assistance on a task order basis. The amount of $2,000,000 has been budgeted for this project. Services will include advice to and consultation with the Authority’s SystemWide Accessibility Department on matters of implementation, planning, general design, formatting and publication of the MBTA Design Guide for Access and General Engineering Consulting Services. To develop the Design Guide all existing codes, regulations, rules and best practices will need to be identified, catalogued and compared. An outline to the guide will be required prior to finalizing and formalizing the design and access policies, which will entail facilitating interdepartmental meetings. The Design Guide will be scalable in form so that it can be expanded to include additional topics and updated. Training modules will be developed to support certain topics within the guide, and periodic on-going accessibility consultation services will be utilized. In addition, the professional consulting services and efforts will include, but not be limited to, the support of the System-Wide Accessibility Department such as, accessibility related training presentations, code review and advice. This contract will be federally and state funded. The DBE Participation Goal for this contract will be two-percent (2.0%). The complete request for qualifications can be found on the MBTA website. Please use the following link: http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/current_solic itations/ This is not a request for proposal. The MBTA reserves the right to cancel this procurement or to reject any or all Statements of Qualifications.
SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU16D1402DR
Mezan Belay
vs.
To the Defendant: The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for IRRETRIEVABLE BREAKDOWN.
An Automatic Restraining Order has been entered in this matter preventing you from taking any action which would negatively impact the current financial status of either party. SEE Supplemental Probate Court Rule 411. You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon: Mezan Belay, 304 Warren St. Apt. 3L, Roxbury, MA 02119-1176 your answer, if any, on or before 10/20/2016. If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer, if any, in the office of the Register of this Court. Witness, Hon. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: August 8, 2016
Docket No. SU16P1904GD In the interests of Kaira Austin of Mattapan, MA Minor
MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 100 SUMMER STREET, SUITE 1200 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116
http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/current_solic itations/
(617) 261- 4600 x 7799
ads@bannerpub.com
FIND RATE INFORMATION AT
www.baystatebanner.com /advertise
Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate
LEGAL NOTICE
The complete Solicitation can be found on the MBTA website. Please use the following link:
ADVERTISE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS
The Complaint is on file at the Court.
SUFFOLK Division
This project is funded using federal funds. The DBE goal is six-percent (6.0%).
Parker Hill Apartments
Samuel Tegen
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
This is a Request for Letters of Interest to participate in the Request for Qualifications/ Proposals (RFQ/P) for Professional Design and Engineering Services for Accessibility Improvements at South Attleboro Commuter Rail Station. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (“MBTA”) hereby solicits Request for Qualifications/ Proposals (RFQ/P) from firms or teams interested in providing professional design and engineering services for the MBTA’s South Attleboro Commuter Rail Station Accessibility Improvements Project (MBTA Project No. J75PS01). The design and engineering services are for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the station platforms, stairways, pedestrian bridges and ramps to be fully-accessible, with 800-footlong, high-level platforms. This platform length could accommodate the MBTA’s planned maximum commuter rail train set of up to one locomotive and nine coaches. Benches, canopy, lighting, and tactile stripping would be installed as per MAAB requirements. Improvements to the vehicular traffic, parking and pedestrian access ramps will be designed.
REAL ESTATE
Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing
Stephanie Pollack Mass DOT Secretary & CEO Brian Shortsleeve Chief Administrator and Acting General Manager
NOTICE AND ORDER: Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor 1.
NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Hearing Date/Time: A hearing on a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor filed on 08/24/2016 by Connie Payne of Mattapan, MA will be held 12/05/2016 08:30 AM Guardianship of a Minor Hearing Located at Suffolk Probate Court, 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114.
2.
Response to Petition: You may respond by filing a written response to the Petition or by appearing in person at the hearing. If you choose to file a written response, you need to:
File the original with the Court; and Mail a copy to all interested parties at least five (5) business days before the hearing.
3.
Counsel for the Minor: The minor (or an adult on behalf of the minor) has the right to request that counsel be appointed for the minor.
4.
Presence of the Minor at Hearing: A minor over age 14 has the right to be present at any hearing, unless the Court finds that it is not in the minor’s best interests.
THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE: An important court proceeding that may affect your rights has been scheduled. If you do not understand this notice or other
Brand New Renovated Apartment Homes Stainless Steel Appliances New Kitchen Cabinets Hardwood Floors Updated Bathroom Custom Accent Wall Painting Free Parking Free Wi-Fi in lobby Modern Laundry Facilities
Two Bedrooms Starting at $2200 888-842-7945
Hamilton Affordable Housing Two 3 Bedroom Townhomes Price: $215,500 Carriage House Junction, 602 Essex Street OPEN HOUSE: October 23, 2016—11:00—1:00 p.m. Public Information Meeting 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 Hamilton Town Hall 577 Bay Road, Memorial Room Application Deadline November 17, 2016
MAX ALLOWABLE INCOME 1 person household: 2 person household: 3 person household: 4 person household: 5 person household: 6 person household:
$51,150 $58,450 $65,750 $73,050 $78,900 $84,750
1st Time Homebuyers—Assets to $75,000—Units by lottery For Info and Application: Pick Up: Hamilton Town Hall, Town Clerk Office and Public Library Phone: (978) 456-8388 Email: lotteryinfo@mcohousingservices.com Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com
Thursday, September 29, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS
REAL ESTATE
Wollaston Manor
Executive Director
91 Clay Street Quincy, MA 02170
Rooms for Rent
Senior Living At It’s Best
A senior/disabled/ handicapped community 0 BR units = $1,027/mo 1 BR units = $1,101/mo All utilities included.
Air conditioner, TV Call Dee Lawson 617-296-8678
Call Sandy Miller, Property Manager
#888-691-4301
Program Restrictions Apply.
Affordable Rental Housing Opportunity / Selection By Lottery 1 , 2 & 3 BR Apts. 1.
75AMORY
75 Amory Ave., Jamaica Plain, MA
Applications available beginning
2. 10/5/16 - 10/26/16 at:
AMORY
75
HELP WANTED
Type 1BR 1BR 1BR 2BR 2BR 2BR 3BR 3BR 3BR
# of Apts. 4 2 4 16 2 1 3 4 3
Rents* $1028 $841 ** $1233 $1010 ** $1409 $1150 **
Program Type 60% 50% 30% 60% 50% 30% 60% 50% 30%
sought for a new non-profit to assist reentry of formerly incarcerated people. Requirements: passionate about justice reform; experience with: incarceration & re-entry; fundraising, & grant-writing; providing direct services; management & leadership; activism; & influencing elected & appointed officials. Part-time leading to full-time. Jamaica Plain. $20K/year. No calls. Email cover letter, resume & 3 references with phone numbers, to: resumes.newstartproject@ gmail.com Deadline 10/18. www.newstartproject.org.
3.
Info Session:
75 AMORY
October 5 - 4 & 6 P.M. Held at Julia Martin House, 90 Bickford St., Jamaica Plain, MA
Maximum Income Limits (as of 3/28/16)*: #HH 30% AMI 50% AMI 60% AMI Time, Date and 1 $20,650 $34,350 $39,450 Location T.B.D. 2 $23,600 $39,250 $45,180 3 $26,550 $44,150 $50,820 4 $29,450 $49,050 $56,460 *Preferences, including min. 1 per bedroom may apply. Median income levels, rents & utility 5 $31,850 $53,000 $61,020 allowances are subject to change based on HUD 6 $34,200 $56,900 $65,520 guidelines (HUD.gov). Please inquire in advance
New Jobs In Fast-Growing
Like us on
HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION FIELD! Companies Now Hiring
MEMBER SERVICE CALL CENTER REPS MEDICAL OFFICE SUPPORT SPECIALISTS Rapid career growth potential
Are you a “people person?” Do you like to help others? Full-time, 12-week training plus internship. Job placement assistance provided. FREE TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY! HS diploma or GED required. Free YMCA membership for you and your family while enrolled in YMCA Training, Inc. Call 617-542-1800 and refer to Health Insurance Training when you call
BAY STATE BANNER
GET READY FOR
A Great Office Job! Train for Administrative, Financial Services, & Healthcare Administrative Support jobs.
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, the state’s leading advocate for a woman’s right to choose and for access to reproductive health care, seeks a new Executive Director in Boston. Requires passion for the mission, experience cultivating major donors, and solid political experience. www.prochoicemass.org. Send cover and resume to Egmont Associates, segmont@egmontassociates.com.
• Julia Martin House, 90 Bickford St., Jamaica Plain or • online Live75Amory.com; • or by phone 617.983.0052 (TTY 711) **Rent determined by PHA based on income of applicant Mail completed application to: Peabody Properties, c/o 75 Amory Lottery, 536 Granite St., Braintree, MA 02184; or fax: 617.983.0078 Note change on deadline date: Postmarked by Nov. 2, 2016
HELP WANTED
Work in hospitals, colleges, insurance agencies, banks, businesses, government offices, health insurance call centers, and more! FREE TRAINING FOR THOSE THAT QUALIFY! We will help you apply for free training. Job placement assistance provided. No prior experience necessary, but must have HS diploma or GED. Free YMCA membership for you and your family while enrolled in YMCA Training, Inc.
ADVERTISE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS
Director of Real Estate Development
(617) 261-4600 x 7799 • ads@bannerpub.com
NOAH, the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, seeks a Director of Real Estate Development to manage and help grow our active and increasingly complex pipeline of affordable and mixed income housing development activities in East Boston and in Eastern Mass communities. NOAH’s real estate team has successfully developed multiple family and senior affordable housing projects in a broad region of eastern and central Massachusetts. We have recently completed 164 units in four projects and are actively engaged with continuing work.
Find rate information at www.baystatebanner.com/advertise
Lottery Drawing:
for reasonable accommodation. Info contained herein subject to change w/o notice.
Are you interested in a
Healthcare CAREER? Project Hope, in partnership with Partners HealthCare is currently accepting applications for a FREE entry level healthcare employment training program. Program eligibility includes:
The Elm at Island Creek Village located in Duxbury, MA
New 1,2 & 3 Bedroom Affordable Apartments and Townhomes- Fall 2016
Accepting applications for 3 housing lotteries for 49 apartments for the following affordable programs: Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC), Project Based Voucher (PBV) and MRVP Project Based Voucher (MRVP) Programs Income Guidelines Household Size (HH)
PBV/MRVP (30% AMI) Maximum Income
LIHTC (30% AMI) Maximum Income
MRVP (50% AMI) Maximum Income
LIHTC (60% AMI) Maximum Income
1 Person HH
$20,650
$20,610
$34,350
$41,220
2 Person HH
$23,600
$23,550
$39,250
$47,100
3 Person HH
$26,550
$26,490
$44,150
$52,980
4 Person HH
$29,450
$29,430
$49,050
$58,860
5 Person HH
$31,850
$31,800
$53,000
$63,600
6 Person HH
$34,200
$34,140
$56,900
$68,280
Minimum income guidlines apply for the LIHTC Program only. For the PBV and MRVP programs rents are based on household income. LIHTC rents range from $552 up to $1530 based upon bedroom size less applicable utility allowance. Residents are responsible to pay electricity only. How to Get an Application: The Application intake period will begin on Monday September 26, 2016. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 10 am to 4 pm; Wednesdays from 10 am to 7 pm; and Saturdays from 10 am - 2 pm Applications can be picked up in person, emailed, faxed or mailed from the Island Creek Village Leasing Office: 42 Tremont Street, Duxbury, MA Applications MUST BE POST MARKED, EMAILED, FAXED OR DELIVERED IN PERSON BY 5:00 pm November 30, 2016 The placement of your application will be decided by a lottery held at 2:00 pm December 13, 2016 at the Duxbury Council On Aging
Attendance is not required for the lottery
Information Sessions: October 3, 2016 at 2:00 pm October 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm November 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm All information sessions will be held at the Duxbury Council On Aging located at 10 Mayflower Street,Duxbury, MA 02332 For more info or to request a reasonable accommodation, call 781-934-6714, TTY 711 or email islandcreekinfo@beaconcommunitiesllc.com Language assistance available This is a Smoke Free Community
Call today to schedule an Information Session: 617-542-1800
• • • • •
Have a high school diploma or equivalent Have a verifiable reference of 1 year from a former employer Pass assessments in reading, language, and computer skills Have CORI clearance Be legally authorized to work in the United States
For more information and to register for the next Open House please visit our website at www.prohope.org/openhouse.htm or call 617-442-1880 ext. 218.
Many people have great jobs.
YOU can get one too!
Career Collaborative is a FREE program that helps you: • F ind full-time employment with benefits such as vacation days, paid holidays and tuition reimbursement • Create résumés, references and cover letters • Interview with Boston’s leading employers You may qualify if you: • Want a full-time job • Are between 25 and 55 • Are legal to work in the U.S. Information Sessions every Thursday at 1:00 PM. Career Collaborative 77 Summer Street, 11th Floor Downtown Crossing, between Macy’s and South Station (617) 424-6616 www.facebook.com/careercollaborative We look forward to working with you!
NOAH seeks an energetic and focused Director of Real Estate to manage multiple projects. The Real Estate Director must be able to: manage multiple, complex regulatory and financing details; listen carefully to community and municipal partners; work judiciously with funding partners and investors; and patiently solve convoluted and often unforeseen issues of various financing and political complexity. See www.noahcdc.org for a full position profile. Please submit your qualifications to: NOAH Real Estate Director Search, Ann L Silverman Consulting, NOAHREdirector2016@gmail.com. NOAH is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all people, including East Boston residents, women, and people of color.
Exciting carEEr OppOrtunitiEs! Full time, per visit, and weekends available in the greater Boston areas.
Resource Registered Nurse (Float):
Support clinical team in meeting day to day patient care needs. May include admission, visits, and case management.
Community Health Nurses (Home Care RNs):
Responsible for coordinating and providing high quality multidisciplinary home healthcare services for patients. Qualifications: Licensed to practice in MA; Minimum 1 year in acute care setting or comparable work experience; home care experience preferred. To learn more about VNA Care Network contact Jennifer_MacFaden@vnacare.org call 781-247-0460.
America’s Got Talent available on XFINITY TV app.
Your all-access pass. With XFINITY X1, enjoy the latest episodes of the top 100 shows instantly, personalized recommendations, smart search and more. You can also explore the Black Film & TV collection on XFINITY On Demand to quickly find the movies, TV shows and music you love. Plus, XFINITY Internet delivers the fastest Internet in America according to Speedtest.net and gives you access to millions of hotspots nationwide. X1 will change the way you experience TV.
89
XFINITY X1 Triple Play
$
99
a month for 12 months with a 2-year agreement
Ask how to get a $200 Visa® Prepaid Card when you step up to an HD Complete Triple Play
Call 1-866-348-6455 or visit xfinity.com today.
Offer ends 10/30/16, and is limited to new residential customers. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Requires subscription to Starter XF Triple Play with Digital Starter TV, Performance Pro Internet and XFINITY Voice Unlimited services. Early termination fee applies if all XFINITY services are cancelled during the agreement term. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including regulatory recovery fees, Broadcast TV Fee (up to $5.00/mo.), Regional Sports Network Fee (up to $3.00/mo.) and other applicable charges extra and subject to change during and after the promo. After promo, or if any service is cancelled or downgraded, regular charges apply (pricing subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Limited Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. XFINITY On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Internet: Based on 2015 Speedtest.net testing. Speedtest.net/awards/us. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Speedtest is a trademark of Ookla, LLC. Used under license. XFINITY WiFi hotspots included with Performance Internet or above only. Available in select areas. Requires WiFi-enabled device. Money-back guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service charge and standard installation charges up to $500. Voice: $29.95 activation fee applies. Service (including 911/ emergency services) may not function after an extended power outage. Two-year term agreement required with prepaid card offers. Visa® prepaid card offer requires minimum term agreement. Cards issued by Citibank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa® U.S.A. Inc. and managed by Citi Prepaid Services. Cards will not have cash access and can be used everywhere Visa® debit cards are accepted. © 2016 Comcast. All rights reserved. NBCU celebrity endorsement not implied. All networks are divisions of NBCUniversal. © NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All rights reserved. NPA190664-0001 DIV16-4-203-AA-$89bau-A1
115513_NPA190664-0001 Simplify ad_A1_10x15.75.indd 1
9/19/16 5:15 PM