Bay State Banner 3-3-2016

INSIDE

ASS FAMILIES P18 CHARLES DESMOND: EMPOWERING LOW- AND MIDDLE-CL

inside this week

High schools to suffer under cuts, many say pg 2

ONLINE LENDING P42 THE FED FUNDS RATE P44

business news

Mattapan startup designs athletic wear for local teams pg 10

LOOK FOR THE LATEST ISSUE OF BANNER BIZ

TRUTH BY DESIGN

» MARCH 2016

BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/BANNERBIZ

PROVERB FOUNDER DAREN BASCOME DISTILLS AND SIMPLIFIES BRANDING P34

A&E

JAMES ROONEY

THE HEAD OF THE GREATER BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REFLECTS ON HIS FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB P28

Belen Pereyra in Alvin Ailey’s ‘Revelations’ pg 14

RESTAURANT

STARTUP

James Franco stars in ‘Yosemite’ pg 14

FORMER FINANCIAL ADVISOR ADRIAN WONG IS PUTTING HIS BUSINESS BACKGROUND TO GOOD USE AS FOUNDER OF MISSION HILL’S BETA BURGER

Comedian Ron Funches at Laugh Boston pg 15

P22

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • FREE • GREATER BOSTON’S URBAN NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1965 • CELEBRATING 50 YEARS BannerBiz_3-3-16.indd 1

2/12/16 9:33 AM

www.baystatebanner.com

Parcel 8 expected to move this year City awaits archeological report, ownership transfer, before RFP

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

For decades Roxbury’s parcel 8, located at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, has lain vacant and closed to developers. This year, the Boston Redevelopment Authority plans to change that.

Among the factors that have prevented development: a complicated ownership situation.

Parcel 8 comprises four sections of land, half of which are owned by the city and half by the state, said Nick Martin, director of communications for the BRA. In August 2014, legislation was passed that would shift full ownership of the parcel to the BRA. The city currently is working with the state to complete the transfer, he said.

The BRA will manage parcel 8’s development as part of its PLAN: Dudley Square process, said Lara Mérida, BRA deputy director for community planning. The BRA aims to complete community engagement about land use by this August and issue a request for proposals before the year’s end, she said.

Future visions

In 2008, the BRA and Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee conducted a series of community workshops to generate visions for parcels 8, 9 and 10. Wealth generation

emerged as a priority, according to the planning report. Proposals for parcel 8 called for retail space — especially for local businesses — as well as for office and commercial use, residential units and a cultural or community center.

City Councilor Tito Jackson said turning the site into mixeduse commercial and residential would benefit the area. Joyce Stanley, executive director of Dudley Square Main Streets, called for such features as a restaurant and arts and culture incubator on the site.

She also expressed concerns that it may be early to release parcel 8. Most of the parcels under the RSMPOC’s purview that have issued requests for proposals have not completed development, she said, which indicates that the market may be saturated.

“It’s a matter of, is there a viable market for the site?” Stanley said. She pointed to parcel 3 developer Nuestra Comunidad’s differing proposals for what entity would anchor the site. “[Nuestra] keeps changing what’s going to be put there [on parcel 3] because there’s no market for the kind of economic development they’re talking about. … Why do you keep putting out parcels if [other parcels] you’ve put out haven’t been able to be developed?”

Walsh unveils minority & women biz set-asides

See PARCEL 8, page 8

See MBEWBE, page 19

PHOTO: CITY OF BOSTON

Mayor Martin Walsh signs an executive order establishing benchmark spending for minority- and women-owned businesses.

New equity study on city procurement to follow

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

Mayor Martin Walsh announced at City Hall last week that his administration plans to bolster minority- and women-owned businesses. During an event that filled the City Hall mezzanine, he signed an executive order establishing spending goals and declared his intent to conduct annual “disparity studies”

that will analyze the city’s procurement for any racial, gender or ethnic biases.

“It is clear that women and people of color have huge impacts on our success [as a city] and we need to make sure we support those businesses,” Walsh said, noting that minority-owned business enterprises generate $2.7 billion in revenue in Boston and women-owned business enterprises generate $3.3 billion.

Equity and inclusion agenda

Yet disparities remain strong: While Boston is 52 percent women, only 30 percent of Boston businesses are women-owned, according the city’s first Equity and Inclusion Agenda, released at the event. Additionally, while Boston is 47 percent non-Hispanic white, according to the 2010 census, the Equity and Inclusion Agenda

Planners study Hub resilience Group focuses on Rox., East Boston

By YAWU MILLER

BANNER PHOTO

Chief Resilience Officer Atyia Martin addresses the Trans-Atlantic Policy Lab, a group of planning officials visiting Boston to study community resilience in Roxbury and East Boston.

An international group of city planners and nonprofit officials convened in Dudley Square Monday to launch a week-long effort to develop strategies directed at some of Boston’s most pressing problems of inequality.

The Trans-Atlantic Policy lab was convened by the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities effort, led locally by Boston’s Chief Resilience Officer, Atyia Martin.

With some of the most racially-segregated housing patterns in the U.S., the highest rates of

inequality and a real estate market that is increasingly unaffordable to the city’s moderate- and low-income residents, Boston presents thorny challenges for the group, which met in the Bruce Bolling Municipal Building Monday morning.

Martin ran through a PowerPoint presentation outlining the stark disparities in wealth, income and education between the city’s white population and the blacks, Latinos and Asians who, together, make up the majority of the city’s residents.

“The initial indication is that it’s a long history of policies and practices that have brought us here,”

Martin told the gathering.

The 100 Resilient Cities initiative is aimed at helping cities cope with the physical, social and economic challenges they face in the 21st century. Natural disasters, like the 2005 Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans, are widely thought to have a disparate impact on low-income communities. While much of New Orleans bounced back from the hurricane, many of the city’s black residents were permanently displaced.

In Boston, blacks, Latinos and immigrants are vulnerable to economic disruptions, severe weather and other shocks, Martin noted.

“Communities of color are

See RESILIENCY, page 20

2 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

High schools to suffer under cuts, many say paper, textbooks and elevators for disabled students, she added.

“We have schools that are not equitable for our students, that do not meet federal law,” Spitz said.

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

High schools will be hit hard under BPS’s expected $38-50 million budget deficit, said parents, students and teachers testifying at a recent budget hearing held at Boston Latin School. In some cases, the effects could damage students’ competitiveness on college applications, speakers said.

While BPS’s budget is not finalized, the predicted shortfalls have raised fears at many high schools and, in some cases, already prompted cuts.

Under Mayor Martin Walsh’s proposed budget, BPS’s would receive an increase of 1.3 percent, or $13.5 million. However, the rate of inflation is 3 percent and faculty salaries and other costs are expected to rise, say BPS advocates, which mean that even this increase falls short of needs.

City Councilors Tito Jackson and Annissa Essaibi-George convened the hearing, during which councilors asked school representatives to inform of them of the dollar amount their individual budgets stood to lose and the impact of that loss.

Many parents and officials framed the funding gap as a matter of political will, not lack of resources.

“High schools are being asked to trim budgets that are not already adequate,” Mary Battenfeld, Boston Arts Academy parent, said. “It’s a lack of will to open up that [public] wallet and give our schools what they need.”

College competitiveness

If the current budget proposal goes through, students at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School may graduate without meeting college requirements, some argued.

According to Rebekah Tierney, the Burke librarian, under the proposed budget the school will lose all foreign languages as if it cuts its only remaining teacher in the department, a Spanish teacher.

“We now have one Spanish teacher and she has been cut for next year,” Tierney told the Banner.

“At the moment, we don’t have any other foreign language teachers.”

Many colleges and universities request that applicants complete

Losing librarians

BANNER PHOTO

Randy Chen, a junior at Boston Latin School, spoke at the hearing. Under the expected budget cuts, his school will do without eighth grade science. two years of study in a foreign language, and some, such as Harvard, recommend four. UMass-Amherst states on its website that two years of foreign language in high school is a “minimum subject matter requirement” for applicants.

Loss of foreign language classes was a common refrain among high school representatives. Members of the John D. O’Bryant School of Math of Science school site council Christina Yee and Shari Perry-Wallace said the school faces a deficit of at least $339,722. When increased salaries and expenses are factored in, the number rises to approximately $452,000, Yee told the Banner. To partially absorb that, the school likely will drop from offering three years of languages to two.

In some schools, certain foreign languages are slated to be cut, which could pose a challenge to some students seeking to meet colleges’ request for two years of a single language.

Boston Community Arts Academy will lose Arabic classes, said Battenfeld, parent of a grade 10 student. Another parent of a Snowden International School student said it will lose Japanese.

Many speakers also said their schools will reduce AP class offerings and lose funding for SAT prep programs.

“When you don’t offer those things, it’s very tough for a student to be able to compete with kids from the suburbs when applying to four-year colleges,” Yee said, referring to AP and language class reductions.

No science, again

Boston Latin School has been without grade eighth science for 36 years, and, due to expected budget cuts, will continue to do without.

The cut comes just as the school was on the cusp of restoring the subject, Randy Chen, a BLS junior, said at the hearing. A chemistry teacher spent the past

year developing a curriculum, but it will go unimplemented, Chen said, noting that eighth grade is also the year students take the Science MCAS. BLS cannot afford the three faculty members required for eight grade science and has officially halted plants to reinstate the subject next year, said a source at the school.

According to Barbara Peterlin, co-chair of the BLS school site council, BLS is slated for a $750,702 budget reduction.

Basic needs

In addition to curricular matters, some schools currently fail to meet basic supply and facility needs, according to Annie Spitz, a BPS teacher who has children at Boston Latin Academy and Boston Teachers Union Pilot School.

Spitz said that, in one school where she works, a student wears her coat and a blanket to class because of poor heating. Some BPS schools lack working water fountains, toilet

Some schools expect to lose librarians, which presents risks to their accreditation, speakers said.

According to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Committee on Public Secondary Schools’ accreditation guidelines, a school with 400 or more students should have a full-time, certified librarian or media specialist.

“If a school does not meet this guideline, it will be asked to indicate how adequate library services are being provided, including ensuring that the library is open throughout the school day as well as both before and after school,” the guidelines state.

Librarians said at the hearing that libraries are important to providing resources and safe, quiet spaces for students who may not be able to get access to that elsewhere, and that librarians serve school communities in ways ranging from administrative assistance to teachers to research assistance to students.

“Libraries are the great equalizer,” Burke Librarian Tierney said.

“I have students that do not have computers. They don’t have printers. They don’t have wireless. They can’t go home and do their homework. They don’t have a home.”

Cuts hit early

Although BPS’ budget is not finalized, several librarians said they already have been presented with paperwork terminating their positions for next year.

“This is not hypothetical. This is not pretend,” said Tierney. She and Burke’s technology teacher signed paperwork stating their positions will be excessed, she said.

Lauren Vogel, librarian for Boston Community Leadership Academy/New Mission High — which are housed in the same building — and for Boston International Newcomers Academy, said she received and signed papers saying she will not be at either school next year.

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

Parents, city officials battle over numbers in budget

By YAWU MILLER

The deep cuts slated for Boston high schools in this year’s city budget have sparked activism among students and parents, including packed school committee meetings, walk-in demonstrations at City Hall and the State House and a picket line at Mayor Martin Walsh’s State of the City address.

The budget pits the parent activists and students against the Walsh administration in what has become in many ways a war of numbers, with the sheer size of the city’s $1.027 billion school budget being deployed by officials and parent groups to reach radically different conclusions.

In a BPS Power Point presentation, department officials assert that this year’s budget is the largest in the city’s history.

“This is true,” Charlestown High teacher Sung-Joon Pai wrote in an email that circulated among teachers and parents. “However, it is like saying that 2016 is the highest numerical year ever. Our budget should be larger every year.”

As Pai pointed out, the $13.5 million increase in school funding over last year — a 1.35 percent bump — is $25 million less than last year’s $38 million increase, and not in keeping with the schools’ rising costs.

At the same time, the city’s increased tax revenue from new housing and office space which last year added $47.5 million to the city’s tax rolls, on top of the $46.7 million in increases the city has levied on existing properties — has many activists questioning the city’s motives in dishing out a budget that spreads cuts across virtually all of the city’s high schools.

“I don’t know the answer,” said Mary Battenfeld, an activist with the parent group Quality Education

for Every Student. “I do know it’s not because we don’t have the resources. We do have the resources.”

In community forums and School Committee meetings, the students, parents and teachers of high school students have given hours of testimony on the benefits of programs that are due to be cut under the current budget — foreign languages, SAT preparatory classes, librarian positions at most schools, Advance Placement courses.

“More than 200 people will be laid off,” said City Councilor Tito Jackson.

Jackson and other city councilors are holding a series of meetings on the school budgets, soliciting testimony from community members. While the councilors do not have the power to add funds to departmental budgets, they can vote up or down on the mayor’s budget.

“A budget is a values statement,” said City Councilor Matt O’Malley, speaking during a budget meeting in Jamaica Plain Monday. “We need to demonstrate our commitment to public education. It is expensive in Boston. We have kids who are a lot more expensive to educate than those in other school districts.”

One group requiring resources are English language learners, a group that has grown in Boston from 10,923 in 2010 to 16,228 this year, notes Battenfeld.

Sam Tyler, president of the Boston Municipal Finance Research Bureau, says rising payroll costs are forcing cuts. He notes that the city’s school funding has remained more or less constant, constituting 35 percent of overall municipal spending.

At the same time, BPS employees — teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators — receive contractual pay increases that are pushing up operational cost. Meanwhile, during the administrations of former Mayor Thomas Menino and under current Mayor Walsh (2012-2015), BPS hired 737 new

employees, increasing its workforce by 9.1 percent.

By August, unions representing school department employees will negotiate a new contract, Tyler notes.

“The cost of that contract will be added to this year’s budget,” he said.

But Battenfeld says the teachers’

salaries are a red herring in this year’s budget, given the sheer scale of the overall numbers. While scheduled salary increases account for $20 million, this year’s budget increase is $25 million lower than last year’s.

“So much of this year’s budget is being blamed on teacher salaries, it’s hard not to see it as connected to the teacher contract,” Battenfeld said.

If there one thing all sides in the debate over school funding seem to agree on, it’s the fact that costs are rising. At the same time, federal funding and the

state’s Chapter 70 education aid have been declining. The Chapter 70 funding, which the state provides to all cities and towns, has declined by $400 million since 2001, according to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.

The students, parents and teachers who are turning out at meetings across the city make a compelling case to the council, noted O’Malley.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in terms of parents and teachers coming together,” he said. “The BPS communities have taken a one-for-all approach. We’re seeing a more cohesive BPS community.”

Boys and girls basketball teams state title hopefuls

PHOTO: COURTESY PATRICK O’CONNOR

Boston city league champions in basketball are the Fenway High girls and New Mission boys. Play-off and championship games were played at Madison Park on Feb. 17-18. This week, the state tournament begins and both teams hope to contend for a state title in March. Pictured are the New Mission boys.

Massachusetts Partnership for DIVERSITY in EDUCATION (MPDE)

Invites you to its Annual

Educator Recruitment Fair on

BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

PUBLIC MEETING

RSMPOC PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 7 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM

65 WARREN STREET Dudley Branch Library Roxbury MA 02119

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Status updates on Roxbury Strategic Master Plan projects that demonstrate significant progress. These projects are Melnea Hotel and Residences, on Parcel 9, at the intersections of Melnea Cass Boulevard; Madison Tropical Commercial Development, on Parcel 10, at Melnea Cass Boulevard and Washington Street; Tremont Crossing Development on Parcel P-3, at 1290 Tremont Street; and Bartlett Place Development, at 2465 Washington Street, in Roxbury.

RSMPOC meetings are held every first Monday of the month, at the Dudley Branch Library, at 65 Warren Street for updates and community input on the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan. Working session which were formerly held at the Central Boston Elders Services will be replaced by Plan:Dudley Square-Roxbury to create a new vision and plan for Dudley Square and Roxbury. Residents, community and civic groups are invited to join the City and your neighbors at the workshops and get involved. Workshop locations will be updated and make public.

mail to:

phone: email:

HUGUES MONESTIME

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

from

10:00 AM–1:00 PM at

Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School Register for the Job Fair at www.mpde.org Set up & Registration: 9:00-10:00 AM Pre-Session: 10:00-11:00 AM Career Fair: 11:00 AM-1:00 PM Pre-Session panelists to discuss selected topics: - What makes your resume stand out?

- What do interviewers look for in potential applicants?

- What are certification requirements?

MPDE is committed to recruiting and assisting in producing career opportunities for future educators and administrators of color, and forming collaborative relationships that will enhance staff diversity within our schools districts.

Boston Redevelopment Authority One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4320 Hugues.Monestime.bra@cityofboston.gov

BostonRedevelopmentAuthority.org

Saturday, March 12th

@BostonRedevelop

Andover Brockton Framingham Randolph

Arlington Cambridge Lowell Sharon

Attleboro Canton New Bedford Somerville

Barnstable Falmouth Pittsfield Waltham

4 • Thursday, March 3, 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, 23 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210 Letters must be signed. Names may be withheld upon request.

www.baystatebanner.com

INSIDE: BUSINESS, 10 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, 14 • CLASSIFIEDS, 20 • COMMUNITY CALENDAR, 24

Established 1965

Shifting the burden to Boston’s home owners The nation’s growing wealth disparity has become a major issue in the campaign for U.S. president. While working class salaries have been stagnant or have actually declined, the country’s increase in wealth has been owned by those in the top 1 percent. Prudent public officials would recognize the problem and avoid new policies that complicate entrepreneurship or helpful strategies for the working class to build wealth. But it seems that the Boston City Council failed to get the memo. They are considering a proposal to hog-tie small landlords. They have already voted unanimously to burden Boston’s taxpayers with a 29 percent raise for police detectives over six years.

The council has under consideration a home rule petition that would severely damage one of the usual ways for those with modest income to become more affluent. Some members of the Boston City Council want to establish an ordinance requiring landlords to demonstrate just cause for evicting a tenant who has no lease and is not delinquent in rent.

A usual route to affluence for a member of the working class was to buy a three-story walk-up as a family residence. The owner’s family would occupy one flat and would rent the other two. The rent would pay for the mortgage, insurance and normal maintenance on the building, so the owner would essentially be able to save the 30 percent of family income that would normally go for rent before he became the landlord. This strategy works well only when the homeowner has good tenants.

In recognition of this common form of homeownership, the city council would exclude from its ordinance those buildings with up to four

units as long as the owner or family member occupied one unit. Otherwise a landlord cannot evict a legitimate tenant without just cause.

Such an eviction would have to be approved by a Boston city mediator. The purpose of the proposed ordinance, as set forth in the introductory clauses, is to impose on small landlords the responsibility for helping to alleviate the rental housing crisis in Boston. That is grossly unfair.

A common practice is for families to outgrow their flats in their three-unit houses. When they move, they continue to own the house as an investment. Now they become absentee landlords. If the rent revenue does not warrant hiring a management company, then the absentee landlord becomes an active small property owner.

This is a status often victimized in the courts by tenants who know how to game the system.

Real estate ownership has always been a major source of wealth. If approved, this ordinance will deprive property owners of their rights and diminish the attractiveness of homeownership as a sound investment. Now the City Council has also burdened homeowners with the cost of paying for the detectives’ pay raise. The tax rate will undoubtedly have to rise. High real estate tax rates tend to depress property values. The cost of the detectives’ raise is estimated to be $23 million per year. Their average salary will be about $100,000, which is more than twice the average pay for Boston residents. And future generations will be stuck with substantial pension payments.

The small property owners are a significant element of the economy, but it seems that public policy decisions fail to enhance their prospects for profit.

“Man, I thought when we got more women on the council they’d be tighter on the budget.”

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Unsung heroes A few weeks ago, I read a letter published in the Banner written by a Grade 7 student concerning Frederick Douglass, the great 19th century social reformer, abolitionist, orator, journalist and statesman who lived between 1818 and 1895.

The young writer wondered if racism had played a role in the absence of any monument or statue dedicated to Frederick Douglass and the causes he fought a lifetime to win.

Recently, however, I discovered another great American hero, also African American and also a freed slave by the name of Peter Salem.

At the Battle of Bunker Hill, he was there taking on the Redcoats. In fact, he fired the first shot that started that historic battle in the American Revo-

lution. His valor in that battle led to a meeting with General George Washington and later in the war, Salem fought side by side Washington in the victory of the Battle of Saratoga.

At the conclusion of the war he went home to Framingham where his legacy is recalled to this day. I believe it would be fitting to have some kind of monument or memorial to Peter Salem too.

Salem came from Massachusetts and it would be most fitting that more folks know who he was and what his legacy means to all of America.

As someone with both Roxbury and Charlestown family roots, I have always been proud to have been connected to both communities. My mother’s family started in Charlestown at the beginning of the last century when my grandparents arrived

INDEX NEWS BRIEFS ……………………………………........................ 6 BUSINESS NEWS ………………………………...................... 10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT …………………...................... 14 FOOD …………………........................................................ 17 CLASSIFIEDS ……………………………………....................... 20 COMMUNITY CALENDAR …………………........................ 24

there from Ireland. I am a Roxbury native who grew up in this community in the ’50s and ’60s.

As for the Battle of Bunker Hill, there is a Charlestown-Roxbury connection. General Joseph Warren — a doctor by profession a soldier by necessity — was born in Roxbury and died in battle at Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. He is remembered in Charlestown but seems forgotten by Roxbury for many years. A statue to him once stood on Warren Street not far from Dudley Station when I was young but it disappeared decades ago from its spot of honor and is still MIA. He should be remembered by Roxbury residents, too.

baystatebanner.com

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

The Boston Banner is published every Thursday.

Offices are located at 23 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210.

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

— Sal Giarratani East Boston

facebook.com/baystatebanner

twitter.com/baystatebanner

ONLINE STATS

»M OST VIEWED ONLINE

BRA Kicks off Dudley Plan

» MOST TWEETED

Black Engineers

» MOST COMMENTED ON FACEBOOK

State Expands Charter Schools

» MOST SHARED ON FACEBOOK

Black Engineers

Thursday, March 3, 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

The GOP War against the presidency

What role do you think the black vote will play in this year’s presidential race?

By LEE A. DANIELS The Republican majority of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has vowed to ignore their constitutional duty and not even consider the Supreme Court nominee President Obama will soon announce.

Indeed, hiding behind the preposterous dodge that a nomination should be left to the next President, these “people’s representatives” pledged to not even accept a courtesy call in their Senate offices whomever the nominee is.

Pundit Paul Waldman caustically described the Republicans’ tawdry political hustle in saying, “Even in this time of deep divisions within their party, Republicans can come together in their shared belief that Barack Obama has no right to act like he’s the president.”

But the week’s most revealing development about the brewing constitutional crisis brought on by the February 13th death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia actually occurred in another Senate committee.

What happened in the Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs was that — as has been the case since October — the committee did not take up any business at all. The reason: Its Republican chairman, 81-year-old Richard C. Shelby, of Alabama, has been so afraid of damaging his chances of winning Alabama’s March 1 Republican primary by the committee’s approving any presidential actions, he didn’t allow the committee to even meet until last week.

That means the committee hasn’t voted on any of the more than 16 nominees President Obama sent to it to consider for positions on such federal agencies as the Export-Import Bank and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Shelby’s bottling up the committee’s work has also prevented approval of the president’s nominee to direct the Treasury Department’s efforts against those in the U.S. and abroad who seek to fund terrorist groups.

When a New York Times reporter asked about the situation, Shelby, who’s been in the Senate since 1987, proclaimed, “My primary is Tuesday! We can talk about this later.”

Shelby’s dereliction of duty exemplifies the anti-Obama “political correctness run amok” congressional Republicans’ have adopted as their standard operating procedure since the president took office.

I suppose it’s too much to expect: but when conservative voters and pundits gripe about “gridlock” and “partisanship” in “Washington,” they ought to point to the people they vote for.

In fact, the actions of Richard Shelby and of his confederates on the Senate Judiciary Committee expose an old tactic of its all-out war against President Obama.

That war literally began as soon as the president took office in January 2009. As journalist Robert Draper recounted in his 2012 book, “Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives,” 15 leading Republican senators, representatives, and conservative pundits and operatives met in Washington the very night of Obama’s inauguration to plot how to ruin his presidency. And within days, as journalist Jane Mayer has described in her new book, “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires behind the Rise of the Radical Right,” a larger, highly secretive group of some of the nation’s conservative billionaires and multi-millionaires gathered in California to discuss how to achieve the same goal.

Both those groups, operating sometimes separately and sometimes in tandem, were motivated by the same credo: If we can’t run it, we’ll wreck it.

The “it,” we should clearly understand, wasn’t and isn’t just the Obama Presidency. It was and is American democracy itself. The Republican-generated Supreme Court nomination crisis is the latest evidence of the right’s attempt to resist the expansion of democracy by undermining not just the rights of individuals, but the very processes and procedures of democratic government, too. Having been out-maneuvered by Obama on such controversial issues as Obamacare and the Iran Nuclear Deal, and having seen him “shellack” their presidential ticket in 2012, they know they’re no match for him in a fair fight.

So, in hopes the next president will be a Republican, they’ve resorted to blocking his nominees for critical administrative posts and judicial vacancies altogether.

President Obama, for his part, again made clear he’s preparing to send a nominee to the Senate in order to bring the Court back to its full strength — someone with “a sterling record. A deep respect for the judiciary’s role. An understanding of the way the world really works.”

We’ll soon see if there are any Republicans left in the United States Senate who have the same commitment to fulfilling their constitutional duty.

Lee A. Daniels’ collection of columns, “Race Forward: Facing America’s Racial Divide in 2014,” is available at www.amazon.com.

All roads to the people’s house have to come through the black community. In this country, you need the black vote to win.

Charles Clemmons Muhammad

So far, we’re not seeing too much turnout. I hope black people vote.

Nicole

I hope the black vote plays a role, but I don’t think it will be as strong a role as it was eight years ago.

Greg Millien

Activist Roxbury

Unemployed Roxbury

Hopefully, more significant that it has been in the past.

I think it will increase. I hope it spurs black people to recognize our importance in the political process.

Brandon Dickerson

Bruce Bickerstaff

Benjamin Patrick

Barber Roxbury

Engineer Roxbury

Chen served as the interim executive director of Hyde Square Task Force, an award-winning organization with the mission of developing the skills of youth and their families so they can enhance their own lives and create a safe and vibrant urban community. Chen served in a variety of positions at Hyde Square Task Force during her 12-year tenure there, including three years as deputy director.

“I am honored to join this incredible organization,” said Yi-Chin. “I am very impressed by the commitment made to every youth who walks through its doors and the results it has demonstrated in the last 12 years. The work of supporting youth in their journey to lifelong success is not only relevant but urgent. The future of our city depends on it. Together with a committed board and a team of high-capacity staff, we can help change the future outcomes of these children and ultimately create a better city for everyone.”

“Yi-Chin’s successful career working with at-risk teens will enhance our work since the most challenging time for our Achievers is their successful navigation through high school,” said Simon. “We look forward to working closely with her to further strengthen the organization and increase the number of children who benefit from the life-changing mentoring relationships through Friends-Boston.”

Property Management Roxbury

Law Clerk Dorchester

It’s going to make a difference for the Democrats.

IN THE NEWS

YI-CHIN CHEN Friends of the Children-Boston announces Yi-Chin Chen as the organization’s new executive director. Yi-Chin succeeds Michelle Harrington, who will continue to contribute her skills and expertise in her new role as the director of Administration and Community Partnerships. As the executive director, Chen oversees the daily operations, fundraising efforts, and the strategic growth of the organization.

She joins the organization as the group prepares to celebrate its first class of high school graduates since its inception in 2004.

“We are very pleased to have Yi-Chin join as the new Executive Director,” said John Simon, co-chair of board of directors. “Yi-Chin has proven leadership and operational skills that will insure the future growth and success of the organization. She brings tremendous energy, optimism and a can-do attitude to the team and to the Boston families and communities that we serve.”

Before joining Friends-Boston,

6 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

NEWSBRIEFS VISIT US ONLINE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS: WWW.BAYSTATEBANNER.COM Civil rights group files complaint against Boston Latin School Last Friday, the Boston branch of the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and several other civil rights groups moved for a federal review of allegations of bias at Boston Latin School.

The groups filed a five-page complaint to the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, requesting that she investigate.

The complaint was received and is under review, according to Ortiz’s office. The complaint states that parents of Boston Latin students

and alums are concerned over what they perceive to be disproportionately severe levels of discipline for black students compared to their non-black peers for similar offenses. The document also alleges that a teacher greeted a black student using a racial slur, and says that the event was not investigated.

Mayor Martin Walsh’s office said the Walsh administration intends to perform an independent review of the school and seeks community input.

Earlier that week, Boston Latin School Headmaster Lynne Mooney Teta issued a letter to the school community apologizing for not

Boston water and sewer commission

in Your neighBorhooD

Dorchester Uphams Corner Municipal Building 500 Columbia Road Fridays, 10 am–12 pm • MaRCh 18 & apRil 22

having initiated efforts earlier to improve what she called the school’s “racial climate” and for a slower initial response to concerns. Her letter stated that reforms are underway.

This includes measures such as the convening of a 38-student member social justice advisory committee and a new partnership with YWBoston’s Racial Justice program.

Teta said the administration is collaborating with Tommy Chang, Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, and district leaders to enact the recommendations made by the Office of Equity in its investigative report.

Baker-Polito administration announces $9.3 million in workforce skills capital grants Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced last week $9.3 million in workforce skills equipment grants made to 35 high schools, community colleges and vocational training providers across the Commonwealth. The money will underwrite

vocational-technical education and training equipment purchases that connect Massachusetts students and residents to economic opportunities in high-demand industries.

“Workforce skills education and training plays an enormous role in economic and personal development by helping residents acquire the skills they need to connect with promising careers,” Baker said.

“These vocational-technical education equipment grants will help build stronger communities and a more competitive business environment that ensures more residents have the skills they need to succeed in and support the Commonwealth’s economic future.”

The Workforce Skills Capital Grant Program is a new initiative of the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which seeks to align education, workforce and economic development strategies across the state. Baker tapped Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II, Education Secretary James Peyser and Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash to work together to develop

Baker swears in Workforce Development Board

Directions for Corrections forum

Jamaica Plain Curtis hall Community Center 20 South Street Mondays, 10 am–12 pm • MaRCh 7 & apRil 4 mattaPan Mattapan public library 1350 Blue hill avenue Fridays, 10 am–12 pm • MaRCh 4 & apRil 8

Come meet with a

Boston Water and Sewer representative in your neighborhood and learn how to keep your pipes clear.

Come See Our Videos!

You can also pay your water bill with a check or money order, talk about billing or service problems, apply for a senior or disabled person discount, and more.

DON WEST

Boston City Councilor, Annissa Essaibi George (r) speaks out at a forum hosted by Sheriff Steve Tompkins at Hibernian Hall focusing on “Directions for Corrections.” Joining George are (l-r) Michelle Wu, Pres. Boston City Council, Ayanna Pressley, councilor at large and Andrea Joy Campbell, councilor District 4. Close to 400 people were in attendance listening to the Councilors take on many of the issues concerning the citizens of Boston, such as housing, violence, drug use and law enforcement.

BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

PROJECT PROPONENT: 1470 Tremont Street, LLC

KeeP wiPes out of PiPes Only toilet paper is flushable.

Tobin Community Center, 2nd Floor Mission Hill, MA 02120

*In the event of inclement weather on March 14, an alternate date of March 21 is scheduled.

phone: email:

bwsc.org

1481 TREMONT STREET

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Proposed project to construct a mixed-use development totaling approximately 35,837 SF. The proposal calls for a combination of renovation and new construction of three buildings on Tremont Street and Sewall Street. Proposed project will have 33 residential units including 3 IDP Units and 1 commercial/retail space. In addition, the development will have parking for up to 10 spaces and 33 bicycles.

mail to:

for information

PUBLIC MEETING

1470 TREMONT STREET MONDAY, MARCH 14

JOHN CAMPBELL

Boston Redevelopment Authority One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4282 John.Campbell@Boston.gov

CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: Monday, March 28, 2016

617-989-7000

980 Harrison Avenue • Boston, MA 02119

BostonRedevelopmentAuthority.org Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

@BostonRedevelop

policies to improve economic and job training opportunities for residents of the Commonwealth.

“These grants will immediately transform the quality of vocational programs and cutting edge technological opportunities,” Peyser said. “They will also enable deeper partnerships between vocational schools, community colleges, and employers.”

As part of the Workforce Skills Cabinet’s efforts to align resources to better meet common goals, the Workforce Skills Cabinet consolidated two separate capital grant programs – the former Manufacturing Training Equipment grants (administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development) and the former Vocational Opportunity Challenge grants (administered by the Executive Office for Administration and Finance) – into one unified, integrated and expanded workforce development capital grant program.

The inaugural round of the Workforce Skills Capital Grant program received 68 applications, requesting a total of $18 million in funding.

Governor Charlie Baker swore in members of the new Massachusetts Workforce Development Board at a State House ceremony last Thursday. The board is charged with making recommendations to improve the public workforce system and align policies to strengthen regional economies. Verizon New England’s Region President Donna Cupelo was named the Board’s chair, which will include public officials, business and workforce representatives.

Baker signed legislation establishing the board to advise the administration on policies to further coordinate services and improve performance accountability of the state’s One-Stop Career Centers and regional workforce boards, thus building a stronger public workforce system that is aligned with state education policies and economic development goals. The board also will recommend strategies to promote workforce participation of women, people of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities across industry sectors.

The legislation reconstitutes the former Workforce Investment Board by reducing its membership from 65 to 33 members and ensuring the makeup of the board continues to comply with federal requirements under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The board will consist of 17 business representatives and seven workforce representatives – including four representatives from community-based organizations and two from labor, one of which is chosen by the National Association of Government Employees. Executive Branch representatives from the Executive Offices of Labor and Workforce Development, Health and Human Services, Housing and Economic Development and Education will also serve in addition to the governor’s designee, two state legislators and two local government representatives.

The WIOA was signed into law by the president on July 22, 2014, replacing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, with the goal to transform the nation’s workforce system and to invest in a skilled workforce.

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

NEWS ANALYSIS

Conservatives: With God as my witness I will not vote for Donald Trump Goldwater. The GOP defectors also included an array of some of the leading conservative writers, editors and publishers.

Many of them, as Powell, publicly made clear that they were horrified at the nightmarish thought of Palin being the proverbial heartbeat away from the presidency. Palin simply being on the ticket, though, didn’t cost McCain the presidency. There were too many negatives for McCain to pinpoint her as the sole reason, such as a collapsing economy, a failed and flawed Iraq war, Bush’s abysmal overall record, and the sense on the part of GOP hard core conservatives that McCain was not one of them. However, the inescapable fact was that many in the GOP just simply saw Palin as a living, breathing disaster for the party.

Fast forward eight years later, and this time the nightmare for many is not a vice-presidential candidate being a heartbeat from the presidency, but a dubious candidate bagging the presidency itself. The hints of broken ranks and splits and

INSIDE THIS WEEK!

LOOK FOR BANNER BIZ IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF THE BANNER

JAN A. GLASS MAN

ENTREPRENEURSHIP | MARKETING

TARGETING GENERATION Z F

ONLINE LENDING P42 THE FED FUNDS RATE P44

TRUTH BY DESIGN

PROVERB FOUNDER DAREN BASCOME DISTILLS AND SIMPLIFIES BRANDING

THE BREAKFAST BA THAT WENT FROM R SWEET TO SOTHEURHEAD OF THEJAMGREAESTERROOBOSTNEYON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REFLECTS

» MARCH 2016

BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/BANNERBIZ

P34

OR THE PAST DECADE, ONE OF THE HOTTEST MARTARGET GROUPS IN ADVERTISING AND KETING HAS BEEN MILLENNIALS, the gener-

IT PAYS TO K N LAWS BEFO OW BASIC EMPLOYM ON ENT RE STARTIN G A BUSHIS YEAR INEFIRST ON THE JOB S S OFIA’S LIF ELONG

STUDY

But ation born between 1981 and 1997. and now the key the wheel keeps on turning, NCE L FINA ONAhas come round to those g success ITAL | PERS CAP to marketin the present born between 1998 and just about day — “Generation Z.” kids and teens, This age group is little more than with Genervalue, potential but the data show their the U.S. population ation Z making up 26 percent of and having $44 billion to spend. different from Generation Z promises to be very ls, Generation X, and earlier generations — Millennia the Baby Boomers. released a recently Honey & Sparks Ad agency in the context of report examining Generation Z the evolving worlds marketing. The report considers g boundaries of work and education, the dissolvin and the combetween social and cultural norms, that changes how pression of time and technology this generation will be defined. s of Generation Z Though the interconnectednes what has become is no surprise, it rises far beyond difference is that the norm for Millennials. The digital age, while most Millennials grew into the If Millennials can Generation Z was born into it. on Z uses be said to use three screens, Generati laptop, desktop and five screens: smartphone, TV, iPod-type devices. s ectednes interconn of Their perpetual state Generation Z is now always reachable, means that Generation Z-ers are the focus of most & Honey found and they are OK with that. Sparks advertising and marhave their digital that 91 percent of teens say they N THEs. » campaign ketingWHE Combine that with devices on even in bed at night. USUALLY ABLE TO PROSPER PHOTO: THINKSTOCK.COM/ PAFFY69 ARE that actually prefer SES ht be of teens percent 15 INES L BUS reported the MAL even survival mig world have aely, you vers MING.andCon with to interact IS BOOonline, Y friends es the Fedtim h ECONOM suc At n. ssio that is significantly digital. ing a rece

S

BY MARTIN DESMARAIS

the was a signal from DREAM almost zero. This ied busi d be ly of money woul ness, take WAS TO BAKE FOR Fed that the supp A LIVING. n cookin to make remained at that Sh expansive. The rate g classe w a nt, on prese the de until rful pa s and le e had studby ba low level from 2008 arned ho the bars . family an king at home, stries. She bega w to the ca period of seven years rate n her bu selling he feteria, sol d catering the Fed funds the push d them fro siness cart until The decision to raise r pa their sm stries to m 1 pm an up the su business community Over tim all even d then pic friends pplies on is important to the e, Sofia's ked ts. his an productio uct beca the official Federal mo ates d indic st it se po me a de becau n site. He way back to the pular pr licious, ca odstatus of the econda sp the fas on en y on t op ba t opini the rest ffeinated erating the r. This ca Reserve packaging of the ng institubr ug lendi ma ea ht for y the foo kma the ch timel d critic, bars, ke chine to omy. It is now felt lucky eping tra ine that wrappe who wrote eye of a local rates. wrap the to have d cleaning spiked. W ck of inv raise their interest bars. Sh about it.

John ma tions to begin to up at the en to the co hen hetr e en have to mand di Deg: king deliv r comm end of the tory and llege cafet will undoubtedly placed a Within a unity n eries Small businesses eria and large, co day.

John als college up for . ntinuing helping rev o sol st for future loans from a fri short time, Sofia cafeteria, d the ie her. ord pay higher intere w br go en wo So er loan ea t d fia rate a for rkd kfa who worke call needed st bars ev its ay morn le interest grocery Sofia ha a produc d for a ch ing from A common variab ery stores. Th in the do e rate. d an old tion site. ain of a small pu e fri is called the prim wntow er breakfas Oldschoo shcart is based on what t bar to on end had given So l, who rec family friend, Jo After a co n business distri interest a bank will fia's e of the sto hn ently ha and the Althoug ct.

That is the rate of d lost his store wa h John ha paying Jo uple of months, borrower with a high nted to pla re's buyers, job. d ercial So hn ord foo no comm fia a e a ers d ex weekly sal started industry charg perience . Success! ce severa for debt Althoug , he offere ary of $5 in the l Sofia ne sufficient revenue h he felt change, Sofia, “I’ d to help.

00. eded John large credit rating and underpaid focusing ll voluntee five days wer would He borro ’s fied job on tol — quali per r for now to count, the d ma when yo working service. A less u ca So — pay me was gratef week, 10 hours college caf naging this new s. For example, JP fia RTI MA per day acinitiative had absol n.”BY ul to have eteria an waN pay prime plus point s thr DESille — he prime MARAI for onlin d Sofia's utely no Formal some inc already raised its e sal new payro money for d, asSshe om someone Sofia fou Morgan Chase has plus 5 else to wo es. She would fin payroll. she simply ll was a problem e finally. ndTHE So a rate of prime a sm PHR d rk part-tim the down her brea allASE for Sofia paid John “TH rate to 3.5 percent. sit ERE e nt. to ’S kfa perce town pu , so ANeAPP FOR produc $500 in e to hand st ba the full am st of 8.5 ow rs.ner shcart.

THAT” ALM cash. le Thseitwrma printed points would be intere ount of Sofia bo y no OST GOE appe offsite an com ught speci rs twe tment in commerS WITHOUT SAY eve re e to mind as The div dryt shehin control The upward adjus ision al softw bog. naturally. but ugSm of labor ING FOR YOUR AVE purchasi ht aall are to fia usbu is not automatic, ularly when wa ed siness ownerSo made an Many RAGE CONsh ng, prod cial interest rates ipm ples’ssim SUM it comes to uction an . al bakedpeo ERen perple , shouldd no THE t, SE son ans,dtoo 8 | BANNER anDAY many areas. The the d in mo ord dev d sh S, likely Bu y br ney t e ice bu ere mi sin ne ea highl to us s are t for .

BIZ | MA ess apps can d supplie ss the po it is kfast ba ed nue ed sm pac e ked it. Thwit allto John bulea s. John de ten tia rs manage exp sinrness the Fed will conti is did siveRCH h app wa201 notlica ys6for a sm used livered l of even sim expectation is that ense report gotio quent plecoapp wens forhnjust abo mpsute ll. Jo all busine s, streamlin torshel funds rate at subse rarely ut Here, we ss to harnes anpdthe smartph to raise the Fed e accountin didirno ts. com take a loo s technolo t evpan on g, handle iesn, particen ow k at some the economy adjus BannerBiz gy for smoot invoices and e. He had liked a opportunities as of the bes _3-3-16.in th her grow his ope late dd t mo app job an rations.

8 re. They are to stimu s out there The objective is for small simple and d did to no business mo rate of inflation inexpenwhile holding the ney matter s. nt per year. more than 2 perce that must expect hoEXPENSIFY Business owners questionable dur ion’s agencies aut s, equipment and k is one of the nat leases for cars, truck r k’s An app for man eral Reserve Ban be somewhat highe . One of the ban aging expense office furniture will 38 | BANNER BIZ | MARCH 2016 business growth ent es of the lem r interest rates. reports, imp highe . te rate help moda to accom rized to 2/12/16 ds interest using it. Expens small business application Expensify is one of the earl 9:34 AM mortgages will unindustry, with y successify streaml of the federal fun 2/12/16 3:12 PM Also, real estate exp ens . tools is regulation es. costs r Its “Expenses ines the process of tracking over 13,000 companies doubtedly have highe Made Easy” tag and the cas from h fit exp bene ens 38 line is spot on, organizing employee es, automatical BannerBiz_3-3-16.indd rve policies are rarely One group that will as savly tim use imp Federal Rese Their e rs ort es. and can all ts other reimbur is retire debate. Economis rising interest rate sable expenses credit card transactions, cap quickly add est projects. Paper received without ated sufficient inter and cod ture mile BannerBiz_3-3-16.indd 1 will line up for or ings have not gener with a phone receipts can be entered into e expenses to different acc age, with different views local table standard of or . It is unlikely that to provide an accep nt tor use and also other mobile device. The appthe system simply by taking ounts and against the move . A savings accou ved in years invol t e a picture recen has in becom is buil will com living t for employee pliance feature 2/12/16 9:33 AM The cost is low business owners percent interest ul to and one s helpf at tha is n administrait : t free millio can ever, of $1 for individu restrict acti very small bus such matters. How ipated 00 of income. Low inesses; and $9 al users; $5 per month for ons or require approval. gh about the antic provides only $10,0 d many mor acti understand enou force per ly e ve emp mon plan ubted to use s loye th undo rs for active use es. A key feat in startups and the Fed’s move INDINERO interest rates savings. rs ure use in their consequences of of is larg the the th. some er app “active companies with in a given mon e business grow seniors to consume th, there is no user” billing — if an emp accordingly for futur an economist to Another industr loyee does not charge. federal funds rate One need not be y vet, inDiner The increase in the will likely rise s been aro o has ict that interest rates quence only to bank pred conse ing t direc plann of is business a plat und since 2009 offering are . It is good institutions that sma in the coming years ble, to and other financial accounting, tax form that takes care of all ll cts forward, if possi in levels of reproje certa move tain to and main est payroll needs. inter required to ware compan of today’s lower ral Reserve.

The ntage Fede softthe adva y’s take with services are also serve deposits thro s y rise. fund ugh w surel ava will a borro ilab mob that can s le rates ile Commercial bank recompany targ platform on any device. s to satisfy this requi ets The written by from other bank loans more establis early stage businesses and personal finance column est rate for such hed enterprise YOUR MONEY is a ment, and the inter s, is adaptable to even the sma and inDinero Banner Biz staff. is set by the Fed. However, it prim llest business. ning of the great aril y During the begin is a high k to and could be cut its benchmar a move up from er-end platform, recession, the Fed a less

YOUR MONEY:

INTEREST RATES

WHAT THE FED FUNDS RATE MEANS TO BUSINESS OWNERS TAL MAN CAPI RTISE | HU

EXPE

AN A LOT! A LITTLE (0.05%) CAN ME

S

Fed The decision to raise the funds rate is important to the business community offibecause it indicates the ion cial Federal Reserve opin y. on the status of the econom ing lend for ly time now is It e institutions to begin to rais their interest rates.

P28

RESTAURANT

TODAY’S TWEENS AND TEENS ARE THE KEYS TO MARKETING SUCCESS

STMANAAGERYOURTMOU NEY P THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

FORMER FINANCIAL ADVISOR ADRIAN WONG IS PUTTING HIS BUSINESS BACKGROUND TO GOOD USE AS FOUNDER OF MISSION HILL’S BETA BURGER

BREAKING BARRIERS: CHARLES DESMOND Cs AND THE 4

P22

VATIVE USING INNO POWER M E TO TOOLS IDDLELOW- AND M IES IL M FA S CLAS

EXECUTIVE CORPORATE CKED TO CCESS TO BLO NERALLY IS spite recent SUITES GE . De IES RIT NO RACIAL MI g African

BY MARCY MURNINGHAN

CEO Inversant Charles F. » Desmond 6 | MARCH 201 NER BIZ 18 | BAN

d 18

3-3-16.ind

BannerBiz_

2/12/16

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

BayStateBanner 2/12/16

3:20 PM

3:18 PM

BOOKS

PROFILE

COURTESY OF FRESHBOOKS, WAVE, ZOHO

recruitin interest in ards of diers of bo s s as memb nt, progres American manageme ior sen d arles F. rectors an ver, Dr. Ch we Ho the pinslow. to reach d remains ge na of s path d has ma Desmon Boston. Hi t ers abou power in nacles of inform oth ties can help ali progress 12 | of those qu ent, BIZmm opment BANNERco | MAR itm vel de CH 2016 the age, ally cour ion — — especi d compass etence an comp BannerBiz_3 ccess. su6.ind to-3-1 d 12 s apwa that lead tly d recen ve Desmon ief Executi sed as the Ch n-ba pointed , a Bosto Inversant social Officer of 2009 by in ed lfound ist Bob Hi enterprise econom ls to eur and ative too entrepren es innov versant us dreth. In

TO BOTTOM)

A

d 44

PHOTOS: (FROM TOP

complex or free app. The inDinero is its strength of capacity to help business own ers track all the moving parts of pulling in info a company, from various bank and cred it to chart curren card accounts t information and financial for budgeting make forecasts plan features graphs ning. The app read analytics. and easy-toer than many The cost is highsimilar services though, and inD , standard adv inero has no erti each individual sed pricing — request an esti business must mate.

2/12/16 3:13 PM

BannerBiz_3-3-16.ind

@baystatebanner

e

CASE STUDIES:

| MARCH 2016 44 | BANNER BIZ

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

advic

ILLUSTRATION : CALEB OLSO N

his business background as founder of Mission Hill’s Beta Burger n Rooney Reflects: Chamber of Commerce head talks about his first year on the job n Distill and Simplify: Proverb’s Daren Bascome on truth, design and branding n Plus: Advice, profiles, case studies and today’s top trends from local business professionals

legal

COURTESY OF INDINERO, EXPE NSIFY

n Restaurant Startup: Adrian Wong uses

CHARLES DESMOND: EMPOWERING LOW - AND MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES P18

TO BOTTOM)

The Banner’s bi-monthly business magazine returns with more content you won’t want to miss:

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.

PHOTOS: (FROM TOP

“With God as my witness I will Not Vote for Donald Trump.” A liberal, moderate, Democrat or Republican, or independent. This was the blaring headline on a conservative website. The flat pronouncement of anti-Trump sentiment by an avowed conservative activist merely reaffirmed what many in the GOP have frantically whispered and sweated over privately and some even publicly since Trump’s relentless unwavering dominance of the GOP presidential popularity polls from almost the moment he officially jumped in the race last June.

They fear that he will actually be the party’s nominee. And if so, what will that do to the party? GOP leaders from House Majority Leader Paul Ryan to Arizona Senator John McCain sweat that Trump could not only cost the GOP any shot at the White House but blow their majority hold on the Senate as well.

The one thing that would almost

certainly ensure that is if the sentiment voiced by the conservative activist about Trump is not just a bad case of momentary blowing smoke.

A quick glance back at the 2008 presidential contest tells why GOP leaders exhibit nervous jitters over possible GOP presidential nominee Trump. In an October, 2008 interview on Meet the Press, Republican stalwart Colin Powell said publicly what legions in the GOP had up to that point grumbled privately and that was that he would not vote for GOP presidential candidate John McCain; why? Sarah Palin. Palin, of course, was McCain’s vice-presidential pick. Powell flatly said she’s “not ready to be president.”

The dominoes for the McCain-Palin ticket quickly tumbled after that. Dozens of big name, even icon GOP stalwarts, endorsed Obama’s candidacy. They included many of the sons, daughter’s grandchildren and in-laws of Republican presidents Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, and 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry

gays, immigrants and Muslims.

The other was to have someone willing to spew as much verbal bile at Obama as possible. Trump fit the bill. Stirring the pot on this issue closely tied in with the other issue that could get the juices flowing. That was illegal immigration.

Trump again was the man. His slander of Latino immigrants as “criminals” and “rapists” got quiet nods among many, tons of media clips, and the crafting of him as a candidate not afraid to tell it like he saw it on an emotional issue no matter who it offended. It didn’t much matter how much of a polarizing figure he was. He made stupendous copy, brought oceans of attention to the GOP, and suddenly made ultra conservatives cheer lustily for him. This helped make him the party’s top dog.

The Republican National Committee has publicly said that it will back whoever the GOP presidential nominee is. It has no choice, publicly anyway. The big question though for the GOP is how many others within the party will call on God as their witness and swear they won’t vote for Trump?

CATION HIGHER EDU E BOARD OF PHOTO: STAT

By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON

outright rejection all stirred by the prospect of a Trump nomination are plainly there. One big money GOP leaning PAC, Our Principles, has already dumped several million dollars into a series of running hit ads savaging Trump as a “conservative of convenience.” As Trump notches primary victories, the noise within the GOP about “stopping Trump” almost certainly will shoot the decibels about heading Trump off even higher.

Trump for his part hasn’t done much to win any favors from the GOP establishment. But then he doesn’t have to, his campaign from the start wasn’t based on winning their favor or approval.

His mediagenic persona, brashness, and take-no-prisoners style stirred the basest instincts among a wide swatch of disconnected and alienated lower income blue collar white voters, hard-right faithful, and a cross section of GOP leaning voters disgusted with party cronyism and business as usual Washington bureaucrats.

They were the ones who stayed away from the polls in droves in 2008 and 2012. There were two keys to try and get them back. One was to pander hard to their fear and xenophobia of minorities,

8 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

Parcel 8

continued from page 1 As developers prepare bids, they also will have to consider aspects such as the size and historical nature of the parcel.

Size considerations

Parcel 8 occupies 58,174 square feet, according to BRA documents. It abuts Eliot Burying Ground and the approximately 55,000 square-foot former Harrison Supply Company property. Because of the parcel’s relatively small size, a developer likely will want to acquire the Harrison Supply site as well and develop the two together, said Norman Stembridge, co-chair of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee, which oversees the disposition process for parcel.

“Parcel 8 itself is not that big, so I would image that a developer would probably want to look at both pieces of land,” he said.

This could present further delays: The Harrison tract is privately owned and thus a prospective developer would need to negotiate with an additional party to secure the land.

PHOTO: GOOGLE EARTH

Parcel 8 abuts Eliot Burying Ground and the former site of Harrison Supply Company.

Historical limitations

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation, in collaboration with UMass’s Archaeological Services program, conducted an archeological dig on parcel 8, as part of the ownership transfer process.

Based on results of the dig, prospective developers may be required to preserve or keep open to the public historically significant

elements of the parcel.

“The main reason we did the archeology was to figure out what was developable in the parcel,” State Rep. Byron Rushing said.

The dig was completed last fall and the DCR, City of Boston and Massachusetts Historical Commission are collaborating to finalize the archeological survey report.

The MHC may decide further work needs to be done or that the

report can be published, Rushing said, adding that he expects a decision to be issued soon.

While full details are forthcoming, Rushing had some expectations of what provisions may enter the request for proposals issued for the property. The city and state are interested in requiring a developer to restore the exterior of the Nawn Factory and keep it open for public use. For example, it could serve as an exhibit space on Roxbury history and orientation center for informing people on upcoming and ongoing local events, he said. A developer would not be expected to fund the programming, he added.

An earlier archeological dig on the corner of Washington Street and Melnea Cass Boulevard revealed the foundation of two American Revolution-era buildings on the old Roxbury neck, which were burned during the 1970s, Rushing said. A developer might be asked to keep that space open to the public and displayed as an archeological site, he said.

Turn of the century

An earlier plan to develop part of the site was submitted in the early 2000s by the abutting Harrison Supply Company,

a family-owned building supply store and warehouse. Those plans fell through; parcel 8 remained vacant and Harrison Supply Co. sold its property as well.

The plans: Christopher Marrano, the owner of Harrison Supply, proposed acquiring part of parcel 8 from the state in order to construct a $100 million medical and retail complex stretching across both his land and the piece of the parcel, according to The Boston Globe. Marrano’s project development partner, Azid Mohammad, sought the help of then-Senator Dianne Wilkerson in securing control of the stateowned land, according to reports.

During a 2008 federal corruption case, Mohammed said that from 2002 to 2006, he paid several thousand dollars to Wilkerson in exchange for her to support his efforts.

Harrison Supply Co.’s plans collapsed after Wilkerson’s arrest in 2008. Financial difficulties — compounded by the company’s refusal to sell its property while it worked to acquire part of parcel 8 — resulted in business closure, Marrano told Boston.com. Subsequently, the property was sold to the unrelated Harrison Building LLC in July 2011.

BOSTON SPECIAL 5/5 ADJUSTABLE RATE

MORTGAGES

2.990 % 3.957 %

Prepare them for what’s Possible

R AT E

A P R *

No Points Portfolio lender Stable rate adjustment every 5 Years 40-Year Term In-house servicing on all loans

The Dimock Center Child & Family Services Program is now accepting applications for: ■

■

We also offer Commercial Real Estate Loans

■ ■ ■

617.221.7770 540 Tremont Street Boston MA 02116 hinghamsavings.com

■

*Annual Percentage Rate based on 25% down payment owner-occupied residences or second homes only. Maximum Loan-to-Value of 75%. $3.57 payment per $1,000 borrowed. Rate as of December 23, 2014. Interest rate and payment may increase after the initial 5-year fixed period. Payment example does not include tax escrow.

Rates subject to change without notice. Massachusetts properties only. Member FDIC/Member DIF. Equal Housing Lender

Early Head Start – offering center and home-based programs for expectant mothers – age 3 years Head Start – ages 3 years to 5 years Voucher and income eligible slots Private pay slots Early Head Start and Head Start Hours: 8:30-2:30 – limited extended day available Child Care hours: 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

We offer: Our early childhood education programs offer high-quality services to increase the school readiness of children and promote the success of families, including: ■ Low teacher-child ratios ■ Individualized curriculum, with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), physical activity, nutrition and social-emotional health ■ Developmentally-appropriate activities and materials ■ Ongoing assessment and evaluation of children’s progress ■ Nutritious meals and snacks ■ Family involvement, empowerment and goal-setting opportunities ■ Individualized case management and support for families

Applying is Easy! Call 617-442-8800 ext. 1219 Applications are also available at our offices at 1800 Columbus Avenue, or online at www.dimock.org

Looking for an affordable college? frugaldad.com can help.

Go to frugaldad.com/cheap-colleges

and use the cheap college finder to find the school to fit your budget.

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

Charter schools expand in Boston, state, drawing praise and concerns

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted last week to grant four Boston charter schools’ requests to expand, adding more than 1,000 charter seats to the city. Charter advocates heralded the vote as a step in the right direction, while BPS advocates said the move has troubling implications for the finances of district schools and the board’s priorities.

The board’s vote to permit the expansions passed eight to two, with Ed Doherty and Mary Ann Stewart as the opposing votes.

Under the move, the three Brooke Charter Schools in Roslindale, Mattapan and East Boston will merge into a single regional school, according to a DESE release. The Brooke schools currently serve a combined student body of 1,530 in grades K-8. The existing three campuses will remain open and a high school will be added to serve an additional 691 children in grades 9-12. Neighborhood House Charter School, which currently enrolls 400 students in grades pre-K through 8, will gain grades 9-12 and 428 seats.

The board also approved the establishment of Libertas Academy Charter School in Springfield and New Heights Charter School in Brockton.

Support for Brooke

Jon Clark, co-director of the Brooke Charter School, said the addition of a high school was a long-time goal and allows Brooke students to continue in a school environment that is well-suited to their needs.

“For many years we’ve had the experience of seeing many of our alums go off and struggle in other settings,” Clark said. “Our mission is to prepare our kids to succeed in college, and if we can take them all the way to college’s doorstep, we’re in a better position to do that.”

According to Brooke’s application to DESE, a July 2015 survey of families of the incoming grade 8 class received replies from 93 percent. The responders unanimously stated that they wanted their child to be able to attend a Brooke High School.

The Brooke High School will

open in August in a temporary space while administrators seek a permanent location, Clark said.

Brooke High will begin as a grade 9 school, with new grades added each year, he said. The school’s seventh and eighth grades will expand to hold more seats, thus allowing students from outside the system to enter in these years, whereas before they could enter only grades K-6.

In his recommendation statement issued earlier this month Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell CHester said the charter expansions would reduce achievement gaps.

“I believe that the schools that I am recommending for charters have a strong likelihood of success in closing the achievement gap and in improving public education in Massachusetts,” he said.

BPS concerns

BPS advocates assert that the just-approved charter school expansions will draw millions of dollars in funding from district schools, damaging those school’s abilities to function.

In a statement on its Facebook page, parent group Quality Education for Every Student estimated BPS will lose $17 million per year due to the seat expansions, while City Councilor Tito Jackson’s office pegged the figure at nearly $19 million.

The loss of funds “will have a catastrophic effect,” said Richard Stutman, president of the Boston Teachers Union, who estimated BPS would lose $15 million under the charter seat expansion. Unexpected budget changes are particularly disruptive as schools hire teachers and implement programs with the expectation that they will continue for years.

At the hearing, several board members said they did not consider the financial impact of charter schools on district schools when voting on expansion requests, according to board member Mary Ann Stewart and several BPS parents who attended.

Tracy Novick, field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, posted on her personal blog that, during the hearing, “several board members clearly stated that they did not think taking into consideration the impact charters have on districts

Be sure to check out our website and mobile site www.baystatebanner.com

was under their purview, and thus dismissed such testimony from their own consideration.”

Peggy Wiesenberg — parent of three BPS graduates, past member of the Citywide Parent Council and current member of QUEST and Citizens for Public Schools — testified at the hearing. She told the Banner that some board members stated that they judge charter school applicants based solely on the school’s merits — such as innovations offered —and do not assess potential effects on district schools or the need for another school in the area.

“They don’t do a determination-of-need hearing,” she said.

Board member Stewart said she personally was concerned about the funding that charters draw from district schools and opined that no new charter schools should be added until there is a clear assessment of the innovation and value they bring.

Brockton controversy

Dispute over the board’s evaluation policy came into focus over its vote to permit New

Heights Charter School to establish a high school in Brockton, despite opposition from many of the city’s elected officials and school officials.

New Heights Charter School will serve approximately 735 children in grades 6-12 and is scheduled to open this fall. It will target enrollment in Brockton, Randolph, and Taunton, though it may accept students from anywhere in the state, according to DESE’s report.

Board member Mary Ann Stewart attended a public hearing on the proposed Brockton charter schools, where she said public opinion was overwhelmingly opposed. State and municipal elected officials — including state senators and the mayor — as well as the school committee, school superintendent and principals spoke out against adding a charter, she said.

Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter said that a charter school is unnecessary — the public Brockton High School is well-regarded — and that the charter will draw funding from the public high school, impeding its ability to continue that success.

“The New Heights School fails to provide any additional opportunities to Brockton students that are not already available in the Brockton Public Schools,” Carpenter said in a statement, noting that,

“the nationally-recognized Brockton High School sent 92 percent of its 2015 graduates on to postsecondary education — an unparalleled record of achievement in a Gateway City.”

“The revenue lost to New Heights Charter School will have a devastating impact on the 17,000 students who will remain in the Brockton Public Schools,” Carpenter said.

After its first year, New Heights is expected to receive $10 million school district’s approximately $200 million, on an annual basis, Brockton School Committee Vice C hairman Thomas Minichiello said, according to Enterprise News.

Further requests

During the application cycle, the board received 14 expansion requests from Boston charter schools as well as eight requests from charters outside the city, according to a DESE release.

Last week, the board voted to approve the expansion of Pioneer Charter School of Science in Everett — adding grades K-6 and 420 students — and to approve establishment of Libertas Academy Charter School in Springfield. Libertas plans to open in fall 2017 and will be a grade 6-12 school for 630 children.

10 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

BUSINESSNEWS CHECK OUT MORE BUSINESS NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/NEWS/BUSINESS

www.baystatebanner.com

BIZ BITS TIP OF THE WEEK

5 tips to protect your identity and celebrate refund season The holidays may be over, but refund season is just beginning, and there’s a lot to celebrate. This tax season, while consumers are eagerly awaiting their refund, tax preparation companies, tax officials and the IRS are working together to combat one of the fastest growing threats for tax season 2016 - tax identity fraud.

Every year, criminals use increasingly advanced tactics - particularly geared toward taxpayers filing online - to steal taxpayers’ personal information, file fraudulent tax returns in their names and steal their refunds. After fraud occurs, it can take months and multiple steps by the victim to access a stolen refund and regain an identity with the IRS. Protect your identity — and your refund — with these five tax tips from H&R Block: n 1. File early and be cautious.

Filing your taxes early will allow you to claim your refund before a criminal can.

Before you file, protect your personal information by installing a security software with antivirus and firewall protections. n 2. Keep your paper records safe. Shred records you are no longer using and keep your social security card and any sensitive documents under lock and key. n 3. Do not respond to individuals posing as a tax agency. The IRS does not demand immediate payment without sending a bill in the mail first. If you receive a phone call or an email with an external link, do not click on the link or share personal or financial information unless you personally know the person on the other end. n 4. Change your password.

The 2015 tax season saw a significant increase of tax fraud in the do-it-yourself space. When using at-home tax software, such as H&R Block’s DIY products, create a strong password with capitalization, numbers and symbols or avoid the risk by visiting a tax preparer. n 5. Use tax identity protection services. Visit the IRS website to learn more about how to protect your identity. Additionally, H&R Block’s Tax Identity Shield provides clients with tools to reduce the risk of tax identity theft and resolution services, if a client becomes a victim of tax identity theft.

— Brandpoint

THE LIST According to Forbes, the Hip-Hop Cash Princes Class of 2016 — the rap acts under age 30 who are most likely to one day ascend to Forbes’ Hip-Hop Cash Kings list — are: 1. Boi-1da 6. Lil Dicky 2. Dej Loaf 7. Little Simz 3. Fetty Wap 8. Logic 4. G-Eazy 9. Metro Boomin 5. Joey Bada$$ 10. Young Dolph

TECH TALK

Outfitting champions

Mattapan startup designs athletic wear for local teams

By MARTIN DESMARAIS

Peter Edouard is an entrepreneur, but he also is an artist at heart and with his Mattapan-based startup Mathmatik Athletics, he is putting his creativity to work in designing and manufacturing uniforms and warm ups for sports teams. While it remains early going, he already seems to have slam dunked it with local high school basketball teams.

The 28-year-old Edouard has designed new uniforms for the basketball team at his alma mater Charlestown High School; the b-ball players at Jeremiah E. Burke High School and Brighton High School already wear Mathmatik gear on the court; and outside the city, the Nauset Regional High School Warriors are decked out in the company’s apparel from the bus to tipoff and even carry their gear in branded, custom-designed bags.

While big companies such as Nike dominate the sports apparel world, Edouard has a vision that creates a branding experience for the teams he works with — it is the kind of things the big boys might do with pro teams or famous athletes, but certainly not with your average high schools.

Mathmatik pumped up the delivery of the new uniforms to its local teams with a kickoff event, a photoshoot and the option of setting up customized online stores to sell school-brand gear.

Edouard said he relishes helping promote athletics in the

ON THE WEB Mathmatik Athletics:

www.MathmatikAthletics.com Boston Public Schools, in particular, remembering how important athletics were during his time at Charlestown High School from 2001-2005.

“When I was in high school it meant something if you played for Charlestown and you played for English. I kind of want to bring that back,” he said. “With new uniforms and a photoshoot you can help create a brand and create excitement.”

Home team advantage

The approach seems to be working so far for Mathmatik.

“The teams we have now, they love the uniforms, they love the photoshoot, they love everything that comes with the Mathmatik package,” Edouard said.

Brighton was the first team to wear Mathmatik uniforms back in 2014. At this point, most of the company’s business has come through word of mouth, publicly generated by the teams that wear the company’s gear.

“At the start, all the teams that Brighton was playing were asking about the uniforms. It really helped us get more clients,” said Edouard.

Edouard’s ambition does not end with BPS teams. He has plans

See MATHMATIK, page 11

“

When I was in high school it meant something if you played for Charlestown and you played for English. I kind of want to bring that back. With new uniforms and a photoshoot you can help create a brand and create excitement. …

The teams we have now, they love the uniforms, they love the photoshoot, they love everything that comes with the Mathmatik package.”

— Peter Edouard, founder, MathMatik Athletics

PHOTO: COURTESY PETER EDOUARD

A bill is making its way through Congress that would make it easier for businesses to fly small drones. For now, a company that wants to fly a drone needs a special exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration plus a certificate. The person flying the drone must also be a licenced pilot. The new amendment would exempt commercial micro-drones under 4.4 pounds from all these requirements.

— More Content Now

PHOTO: COURTESY MATHMATIK

Nauset Regional High School Warriors team members show off their uniforms, designed by MathMatik, a Mattapan-based startup.

Thursday, December 3, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21 Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11

BUSINESSNEWS CHECK OUT MORE BUSINESS NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/NEWS/BUSINESS

MathMatik continued from page 10

to continue to grow the business.

Mathmatik will get a big boost in this process over the next several months as Edouard takes part in the well-known MassChallenge startup accelerator program. He hopes MassChallenge will give him the knowledge and strategy to expand his business. But it also may provide some financial backing to do so as program participants get to pitch their business ideas with the chance to win cash investment.

Future plans

Currently, Edouard designs all of Mathmatik’s apparel and uses a manufacturing company overseas to produce the clothing. His plan, though, is to set up a factory in Boston to do this work.

He also would like to set up a store somewhere in one of Boston’s neighborhoods.

“I really want to work with BPS and I think if we have something in that area near Dudley Square it would really help out with having our presence there,” he said.

For now, Mathmatik will continue its word-of-mouth sales.

Since its main business model is to sell orders directly to teams, the company does not need a big online retail presence. What it can do is set up a customized, private online store through which teams or schools can sell apparel.

According to Edouard, he needs about 100 teams in the fold for Mathmatik to get off the ground.

While basketball teams have been his bread and butter so far, he also is looking to expand to other sports.

Typically, teams will buy new uniforms every three to four years, so if Mathmatik can keep customers coming back it, could create a near-continuous revenue stream.

As he builds his business, Edouard continues to work fulltime in sales at another Boston startup.

Indeed, he has been active in the startup world for a number of years. He originally launched a lifestyle clothing brand called Mathmatik Clothing in 2007 with several friends. That brand featured t-shirts, hats and jackets, which he described as streetwear.

That business did several fashion shows and some college tours trying to generate interest.

But Edouard admits that he was fighting an uphill battle in a very saturated market for streetwear brands. So, he decided to strike out on his own with Mathmatik Athletics.

“I figured the best way to still do clothing was to focus more on sports,” said Edouard.

Early attraction

His interest in drawing and illustration and apparel design dates back to his days at Lewis Middle School. He first started drawing there and was encouraged by a teacher to pursue the arts.

PHOTO: COURTESY MATHMATIK

Members of the Brighton High School basketball team. While MathMatik currently specializes in basketball uniforms, owner Peter Edouard hopes to branch out to other sports.

He also started designing sneakers and became particularly good at creating basketball sneakers, dreaming of one day working for Nike making shoes for NBA stars.

His mom saw the sneaker designs and got him an interview at InventHelp to see if they could make a prototype of his shoes.

She was even willing to put up the money to make it happen.

Edouard said his mother’s belief that he could successfully design shoes, even as just an eighth grader, stuck with him and gave him the confidence that he could one day have a company designing clothing and apparel.

While his path after high school graduation brought him down to Miami to a stint in film school, then back to several different kinds of jobs around Boston and a failed first startup idea, he does feel like he finally is rewarding his mom’s early faith in him with Mathmatik Athletics.

BANNER BUSINESS DIRECTORY GET YOUR BUSINESS IN OUR LISTINGS: EMAIL ADS@BANNERPUB.COM • $250 FOR A 30-WORD LISTING IN PRINT FOR SIX MONTHS

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

PHILLIPS ELECTRICAL Maintenance and construction. One Call Does It All. Floor refinishing, brick and concrete repair, painting, powerwashing, electrical and wall repair.

(781) 488-3880. Kenneth C. Phillips Jr., 92 Arlington St, West Medford, MA 02155. email: Pemcocctv@aol.com. Lic: Masters A7602

FINANCIAL PLANNING & INVESTMENTS LURIE DAVIS WEALTH MANAGEMENT Lurie Davis, Registered Investment Adviser Investments, Financial Planning, Mutual Funds, Debt Management, Roth IRA, 529 College Savings Plans and Life Insurance.

(781) 595-0396; ldwm@comcast.net; 40 Baltimore Street, Lynn MA 01902

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FIRECODE DESIGN LLC. 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)

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.

LAWYERS RICHARD ASKENASE, ATTORNEY

(former Chapter 13 Bankruptcy trustee) Attorney in Boston area for over 35 years AREAS OF PRACTICE: Bankruptcy, Mortgage Loan Modifications, Financial Issues, Real Estate (buy and/or sell).

Offices in Charlestown Navy Yard and Andover, MA call for appointment: (617) 241-7555/978-470-1601 e-mail address: askenaselaw@aol.com website: www.askenaselawoffice.com “Put my experience to work for you”

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

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.; Sergey Urman, M.D.; Lessa Denis Mahamed, O.D. Treating: Glaucoma, Cataracts, Diabetes, Ocular Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery and other vision threatening conditions and diseases.

Offering: Routine Eye and Contact Lens Exams

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 Want your ad included?

EMAIL ADS@BANNERPUB.COM

KERRY CONSTRUCTION INC snowplowing / sanding / salting driveway’s and parking lots bobcat and loader services roof shoveling, fully insured (617) 825-0592

12 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

Entertainment shouldn’t be rocket science From science to Sci-Fi, it’s all easy with X1

With X1 from XFINITY,® you don’t have to be a genius to get it, it gets you. My homework comes first, but I never miss a thing with personalized recommendations and thousands of shows available to watch with XFINITY On Demand.™ Plus, XFINITY delivers the fastest Internet in America according to Speedtest.net. Which means my homework gets done at 186,000 miles per second – that’s light speed. X1 will change the way you experience TV. Now, if only XFINITY could make washing dishes easier.

Get started with XFINITY X1 TV & Internet

79

$

99

per month for 24 months with 2-year agreement

Free upgrade to

BLAST!® Internet included for 12 months

Call 1-855-500-4262 or visit xfinity.com today

Offer ends 3/13/16, and is limited to new residential customers. Not available in all areas. Requires subscription to Starter XF Double Play with Digital Starter TV and Performance Internet. Early termination fee applies. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees, including 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 rates apply. Comcast’s service charge for Starter XF Double Play is $126.90/mo. and for upgrading to Blast! service is $13.00 more/mo. (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: America’s fastest Internet based on report at Speedtest.net/awards/us. Speedtest is a trademark of Ookla, LLC. Used under license. Money-Back Guarantee applies to one month’s recurring service charge and standard installation charges up to $500. © 2016 Comcast. All rights reserved. © ABC. All rights reserved.

NPA177809-0004 DIV16-1-203-AA-$79DP-A5spread

111475_NPA177809-0004 Rocket Science ad_A5spread_21x15.75.indd 1

2/16/16 6:09 PM

14 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT IN THE CITY THIS WEEKEND: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT — CLICK WHAT’S HOT IN THE CITY

Lawrence native Belen Pereyra returns

www.baystatebanner.com

Q&A

to Boston in Alvin Ailey masterpiece

‘Revelations’

By COLETTE GREENSTEIN

I

think if we do these outreach programs and we do it with all of our hearts and as honest and authentic as possible, and we share the legacy of Mr. Ailey and his vision, I feel like there’s this silent delivery across all these schools, and all these children — of hope, and of love, and of confidence, and beauty, and harmony, and humanity, and sharing. And it’s really a beautiful thing that could cause them to make one different decision in their life,” says Alvin Ailey dancer Belen Pereyra on what inspires her to give back to the next generation of dancers.

The Dominican-born dancer, who grew up in the “bubble of the Hispanic community” in Lawrence, Mass., experienced the joy of singing and dancing and discovering different Latin American countries every summer during what was called “Semana Hispana” or Hispanic Week. “It was so magical, the experience, because the entire week we celebrated every night a different Latin American country, so I

PHOTO: COURTESY MONTERY MEDIA

James Franco in “Yosemite.”

was able to experience so many different varieties of dance styles, music and culture,” recalls Pereyra of one of her fondest memories of growing up in her hometown.

Pereyra, who began her formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy, joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2011 and is a featured dancer in all of the Ailey premieres this season.

She is set to perform in several works when the world-renowned dance troupe returns to Boston March 17-20 at the Citi Performing Arts Center as part of the 45th

ON THE WEB The Celebrity Series of Boston presents the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from March 17-20

at Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, located at 270 Tremont Street in Boston. Tickets start at $35, and are available online at www. celebrityseries.org, by calling Citi Charge at 800.982.2787, or at the Citi Wang Theatre box office at 270 Tremont Street.

presentation by the Celebrity Series of Boston.

She spoke to the Banner by phone earlier this month about the upcoming Boston premieres and performances, and what motivates her to continue dancing professionally.

What’s been one of the biggest challenges for you professionally?

Belen Pereyra: I think believing in myself was the hardest challenge.

The most difficult part of

it is because we all have that voice. That little scared voice inside that will continue to show you examples of how you’re not good enough. It was ignoring that voice. And it worked out because it actually gave me strength.

At the end of the day, I think it makes me an artist that can tap into all those energies, all that fear I went through, and I could use it on stage.

That’s a lifetime practice, to learn how to even make friends with that part of you, that scared side of you. That was a challenge to go through all these scary phases and convince myself and really believe in myself that ‘I can do it’ even though there was a little voice, a little energy inside me, that doubted it.

See PEREYRA, page 16

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Belen Pereyra and Yannick Lebrun in Paul Taylor’s “Piazzolla Caldera,” which is one of the works coming to Boston in March).

PHOTO: PAUL KOLNIK

James Franco discusses his film ‘Yosemite’

By KAM WILLIAMS

James Franco is an actor, director, screenwriter, producer, teacher and author. He began his career on “Freaks and Geeks” and received a Golden Globe Award for his performance in the biographical film “James Dean.”

His notable film credits include “Oz, the Great and Powerful,” “Spring Breakers,” the “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Milk” and “127 Hours,” for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. On the stage, he recently made his Broadway debut in “Of Mice & Men” to rave reviews.

Franco has directed, written and produced several features and has been published in both magazines and his own books. He is currently teaching college courses at UCLA, USC and Cal Arts, as well as acting classes at Studio4.

Here, he talks about his latest screen offering, “Yosemite.”

Let me start by saying how impressed I am with the diverse and extensive body of work you’ve already compiled at such a young age, especially given how much time you’ve also devoted to your education. How have you managed to juggle the two so successfully?

James Franco: There came a time in my career when I realized that acting alone wasn’t going to allow me to express everything I

See FRANCO, page 16

ON THE WEB To see a trailer for “Yosemite,” visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mseo8idx75s

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT CHECK OUT MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT

Ron Funches from NBC’s ‘Undateable’ performs stand-up at Laugh Boston IF YOU GO

By COLETTE GREENSTEIN

Ron Funches stars as the loveable, sweet and happy-go-lucky character Shelly on the NBC sitcom “Undateable,” about a group of friends trying to figure out life, love and relationship. The actor, comedian and writer brings his unique delivery, quick wit and laid-back demeanor to Laugh Boston tonight through Saturday.

Funches, who recently gueststarred on Comedy Central’s new series “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser” and is a regular panelist on the comedy network’s @midnight with Chris Hardwick, has also been seen on Fox’s “New Girl,” TBS’s “Conan,” and in the 2015 film “Get Hard” opposite Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell. He also appeared on and has written for “The Kroll Show” starring comedian Nick Kroll and just finished voicing a character in the animated film “Trolls.”

Speaking to the Banner by phone from Los Angeles recently, Funches talked about his standup and what it was like working on the live season of “Undateable.”

One of the things I like about your stand-up is that it’s lighthearted and fun. You seem to be enjoying yourself on stage and in all your other

Laugh Boston presents comedian Ron Funches Thursday, March 3 through Saturday,

March 5. Tickets: $20-$35. For show times and to order tickets, visit www.laughboston.com. projects. Is that important to you?

Ron Funches: Yeah, it is. It’s the humor that I try to put out — make people feel better and to make myself feel good. That’s really what my humor is about.

It’s more of a reaction to negative things that happen in your life and the positive spin on that, so I’m glad that you get that from what I do. I appreciate that compliment. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work with people that I like and they tend to have a similar mindset, and don’t really try to create an easy target and do the same old thing where you’re just making fun of the stereotypical things that you think sometimes, similar to older comedy. I’d rather talk about what I enjoy and what I like. I don’t see any point in talking about things I don’t enjoy.

And speaking of working with people that you like, you’re working with fellow comics Chris D’Elia and Brent Morin on “Undateable.” How’s that going?

RF: It’s going pretty well. We actually just wrapped up the third season. We had the Backstreet

“SMART, SEARiNG, and SENSATiONALLy FUNNy.” - THE NEW YORK TIMES

Boys come on. That was a dream come true. It’s like I get to do a lot of things that I never knew that I wanted to do. It opened my eyes to how much I enjoy acting.

It’s real fun working with other comics that I respect and being able to really put our own ownership on the material, and change the jokes up. It’s one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had.

What was one of the best things about doing the show live versus taped?

RF: It’s the closest thing I’d get to being on a team sport. I never really played any sports as a kid. It’s really like being on a team where we practice Monday through Friday, and then we have our game on Friday, and we celebrate after. It’s exciting and at first scary but then it’s very freeing to know that we only have one shot.

No matter what happens you gotta keep going with it. It’s very exhilarating and exciting to do.

I would imagine as a stand-up comic this must be thrilling for you performing live in front of a television audience?

RF: That was the best part about it. Being a live performer and being able to go with the flow.

Every minute that I do it, I mean one more take for sure, but it’s as perfect you’ll get. You learn to keep

PHOTO: COURTESY RON FUNCHES

Comedian Ron Funches.

movie. Was that a blast for you?

going and go with it. It makes it a lot fun. They can tell me what to do but once the cameras are going on, nobody can stop me. I can change things up if I want to and Chris was really good at that; kind of really expanding on jokes while we were on the air. It was really fun and really good to watch.

RF: Yes. It was fun. I’m going to be on the soundtrack. I got to sing.

It was just a real fun experience. I like doing voiceovers and I’ve been doing more of it. I have a unique voice and it’s fun to be able to play with it and see all the different things that I can do. I just want to experience it. I never thought I’d be in parts in movies. I love it.

You’re voicing a character in the Trolls

SUSTAINABILITY FILM SERIES #NUSustainabilityFilm

Y D N A C Y OOT

B

’HARA by O T R RObE

Merchants of Doubt 440 Curry

Trouble in the Water 440 Curry

Last Mountain 440 Curry

Mad Cowboy 440 Curry

S

iLLiAM

y

TEd b

L. W MMER

diREc

Join us in March for our Eighth­Annual Sustainability Film Series! Enjoy watching five amazing movies that focus on making our world a greener place!

SU

2-

MAR 1

APR 9

All movies start at 12 pm. FREE Blue Gold: World vegetarian and vegan food and drink Water Wars options will be served, bring your own 342 Curry mug!

Free and open to the public!

MAURICE EMMANUEL PARENT. PHOTO BY GLENN PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY.

SPEAKEASYSTAGE.COM

"Sustainability at Northeastern" sustainability@neu.edu Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, Energy, Commissioning and Regulatory Compliance; and the Office of Community Affairs

16 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT IN THE CITY THIS WEEKEND: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT — CLICK WHAT’S HOT IN THE CITY

Franco

and filmmaking programs. So, I couldn’t get enough school, and from that point on, a lot of opportunities opened up. For instance, at NYU, I met many of my collaborators, including Gabrielle Demeestere, who directed “Yosemite.”

School also showed me that a great variety of projects were possible, as long as they were organized and scheduled in the proper way.

continued from page 14 wanted to express in all the ways that I wanted to. I had dropped out of UCLA, so I went back and finally got my bachelor’s degree at 28, I think. And I realized that school was good for me. I actually learned really well there. Not only that, I went to graduate school where a lot of my heroes would be my teachers in the writing

How did it feel playing a father in “Yosemite”?

Pereyra

several other choreographers. Can you describe what some of those performances are?

continued from page 14 You were in Boston last month conducting workshops at several schools in the area. Why is it important for you to give back?

BP: It’s extremely important for me because I believe that these types of outreach activities were the ones that sparked home in me in what I called the “dark ages” of my life. I remember having Alvin Ailey do outreach at OrigiNation [Cultural Arts Center] where I was dancing, and where I was afraid to pursue this goal. Just a glimpse of the joy I saw in their eyes and how powerful and how beautiful they were, it was inspiring. It’s really powerful the impact you create, however small it is. You don’t know whose life you’re changing.

NA ME RIC AN MA TOD STE KR D EID R

It’s my understanding that there will be a Boston premiere of works by Artistic Director Robert Battle and

BP: The world premieres include “Awakening” by Robert Battle. It’s a visually interesting piece. The lighting is exceptional and the patterns that Mr. Battle creates on stage are absolutely beautiful. It’s hard to describe that story but it’s like a leader is born in the midst of chaos. It’s a very strong piece to watch. I say to people ‘to walk in with an open mind’ because they’re not going to see your typical Ailey Company. I think Mr. Battle is definitely pushing us in a new direction, and it’s refreshing.

It kind of tests the boundaries of us as dancers, but also as the audience members, to expand their minds on what they expect us doing.

We’re also doing “Exodus” by Rennie Harris, which is a hip hop piece, well, it’s more house and that one’s a lot of fun; also a very beautiful, powerful piece. We have “Open Door” by Ronald K. Brown.

JF: That was a particularly strange and gratifying experience.

I wrote the short story it’s adapted from. It’s fiction, but I based a lot of it on trips I used to take to Yosemite with my father and brother. So, when Gabby asked me to play the father, she was essentially asking me to play my father, who passed five years ago.

I’m sorry to hear that.

JF: Thank you. By playing him and going back to Yosemite, it was That one has a twist on the Latin feel along with his usual West African influences—always an awesome choreographer to work with.

We’re also bringing back some of Mr. Ailey’s classics like “Cry” and “Love Songs.” “Cry” is a woman’s solo originally choreographed on Judith Jamison and it’s a masterpiece. It’s just beautiful. “Love Songs” was choreographed for the late Dudley Williams.

Everything is going to be so beautiful. You’re going to be on a journey no matter what night you come. There will be so many different levels going through you.

I’m very proud to be a part of this company and to be associated with such exceptional artists. We really just bare ourselves on stage, and so you’re going to see nothing but honesty on stage, an ocean of different energies. It’s a powerful tour for sure.

What inspires and motivates you to keep dancing?

almost like I was revisiting him, as if I got one more experience with him, which was nice. Strangely enough, even though I didn’t do any of the location scouting, Gabby ended up shooting at maybe four or five of the locations that my dad had taken me and my brother when I was a little kid. That was sort of surreal, and a case of fiction imitating life, or life being put on screen in the form of fiction.

What drives you to write a short story BP: You know that’s a good question. That’s why I really think it’s beyond me. I feel that the amount of work I put in to what I do, it’s almost like I don’t choose it. I feel like that the same energy that fought all that way to get me to Ailey, even under all those really crazy constraints, is the same energy that’s driving me now. Even if this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done on earth, which it is, because it’s the most intense company around, there is this unexplainable energy, maybe you can call it the universe. I believe it’s guiding my path, and I just feel like my concentration is solely on this, of course, other than family and friends. But I feel like it’s my mission. This is a huge responsibility. It’s not just ‘I’m dancing to this fun.’ I feel like it’s a calling at this moment. I feel that it is my duty to fulfill it a hundred per cent and as pure as possible because I’m changing lives, and that’s how big I see it.

— PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

JOSH LAMKIN

“Complex and surprisingly funny.

A CROWD-PLEASING 100 MINUTES.”

HE ATR E

M UE A

Why did you decide to actually live on the streets and pass for a homeless person in preparation to play Joey in “City by the Sea.” JF: I did “City by the Sea” a long time ago. A lot of actors can be very committed when they’re young. I was especially overzealous as a young actor. I would do whatever I could in preparation for a role. In addition, I was starring opposite one of my heroes, Robert De Niro. I really just wanted to go as far as I could in my preparation. So, I did sleep on the streets of Santa Monica for a weekend. I put on a disguise and stayed in one of the missions downtown overnight. And I also slept on the streets of New York. I don’t know whether my performance would’ve been the same otherwise, but it was good for me as an actor at the time, because it pushed me to commit emotionally to the character. And if anything, that sort of self-dedication can fuel your passion for the work.

What can you tell me about your next film, “Memoria”?

TICKETS ONLY $39 WITH CODE BANNER

A BU VEN T

JF: One of the areas I work in frequently is adaptations. All of the movies I’ve directed are adaptations. I really enjoy that process. Having done a lot of them, I understand the two media to be related but they work in very different ways, and you get different things out of each. Not to say that one is better than the other. Generally speaking, you could say that with a piece of fiction it is much easier to convey the interior life of a character in a very smooth and fluid fashion. You can do that with an internal monologue or internal thoughts. With film, you have actors delivering performances which enable audiences to tap into the emotions of characters in a totally different way from how they do with characters on a page.

With cinema, they’re responding to facial expressions and physical beings. And that’s something that prose cannot do. I enjoy both approaches, so I’m totally invested in both media, which is why I feel there’s value in writing a short story and also in having a it made into a movie.

FE

AT U

E LEE UGEN E

RI N

G

H OF RC W OW TH H E A 5 HA I RTS L T APR I L EAR IL 3 EAR NED NE D

AU POW GU ERF ST UL M WIL EM SO OIR F N’S ROM A

LER

C & O-C DI O RE N CT CE ED IVE

BY D

WE’LL FEED YOUR BODY AND NOURISH YOUR SOUL.

and also turn it into a movie? Do you think the audience can get the message and feel the same emotional response you’re after from either medium? Or do you see them as completely different art forms?

Eugene Lee

Food Photography © Mike Ritter

Boston’s Best Live Jazz!

the intersection of friends, food, and music

604 Columbus Avenue · Boston, MA 02118 617.536.1100 · DCBKBoston.com #DCBK

@DCBKBoston

JF: “Yosemite” and “Memoria” were put together as films at the same time. I had just graduated from NYU where I had friends who I knew were very talented.

I also knew that I kind of had a leg up in the business because I’d already been acting for a decade and a half. So, as a director, I was able to get my movies made much easier than my classmates.

I put “Yosemite” and “Memoria” together in order to give opportunities to people from NYU who I knew were very talented and very deserving. I was also confident that they would adapt my stories into movies that I’d be very proud of. So I asked Gabby for “Yosemite,” and then Nino Ljeti and this guy Vlad [Vladimir de Fontenay] for “Memoria.” These movies were really just a way to collaborate with some of my friends and classmates on projects I knew they’d be well-suited for.

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17

FOOD

www.baystatebanner.com

CHECK OUT NUTRITION AND HEALTH NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/HEALTH

TIP OF THE WEEK

PHOTO: RELISH MAGAZINE

Bad food science can be harmful There is an old adage that the squeakiest wheel gets the most oil. If you need proof that adage still rings true, consider where we are with food science research. Much of the time, the loudest are heard, regardless of qualifications, while the more informed and experienced are silenced.

You need only look to carrageenan as a prime example of flawed science accepted as gospel. Naturally derived from red seaweed, carrageenan is used to stabilize many of the foods and drinks we consume every day, such as dairy beverages and desserts. There have been numerous studies performed that meet every scientific standard, all of which prove carrageenan’s safety. However, in today’s fearful environment, flawed studies that connect carrageenan to inflammation and diabetes are cited by everyone from your favorite aunt to traditional media.

In some of these studies, carrageenan was tested on faulty cells that had considerable defects, a fact that was confirmed by the company who provided those cells.

This supplier notified all affected parties of the mistake, yet neither scientists nor peer-reviewed journals that published these studies have yet to make any public clarification regarding this fundamental research flaw.

Instead, we’ll continue to see these studies cited as legitimate. And, we’ll continue to see studies cited that have experimented with the wrong material, or studies that inject carrageenan into the foot of an animal (rather than combining it with food), and other methodology sins.

Bad science is not good for anyone.

Those charged with informing us about the food sciences — either scientists or the science media — are finding some audiences are now so skeptical of legitimate food science that they can only be filled with despair.

To learn about the proven science behind our food not found in the headlines, read Myra Weiner’s research paper in the peer-reviewed journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology.

— Brandpoint

WORD TO THE WISE

CREAMY DREAMY RISOTTO TAKES CONCENTRATION BUT THE RESULT IS WORTH IT

BY THE EDITORS OF RELISH MAGAZINE

M

aking a pot of risotto requires practically all of your attention. In addition to keeping the broth at a bare simmer, the rice needs almost nonstop stirring.

It’s not the kind of a dish you can cook in a hurry, but we have never been put off by whatever it takes to make it. In fact, we are mesmerized by the transformation that takes place in the pot.

At the beginning, all there is to see are firm grains of rice simmering in broth. But as the cooking continues and more broth is added, the rice swells and the mixture develops the creaminess that defines risotto.

To make risotto, be sure to use arborio rice, a starchy, short-grain variety once grown exclusively in Italy. It becomes creamy and almost sticky when cooked.

In Italy, risotto, like pasta, is eaten as the first course as part of a meal that has several courses, but a dish like Creamy Risotto and Shrimp can easily be called dinner. It’s that good.

For the best consistency, remove the risotto from the heat when there is still a little liquid visible; the rice will continue to absorb it. Pair this with an arugula salad and a crisp white wine or lighter red like Pinot Noir.

Pasta al Pomodoro: A light Italian dish prepared with fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil and other fresh ingredients.

— More Content Now

Serves 4 n 4 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth n 4 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon, extra-virgin olive oil, divided n 2 medium shallots, minced n ½ teaspoon coarse salt, divided n Freshly ground black pepper n 1 cup arborio rice n ½ cup dry white wine n 1 cup frozen green peas n 1 tablespoon butter n ¼ cup heavy cream n ¼ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese n 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact n Crushed red pepper flakes Heat broth in a saucepan. Keep warm.

Heat 4 tablespoons oil in a medium

saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper; sauté 2 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat in oil.

Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Add wine, bring to a simmer and cook until wine is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add 1 cup warm broth.

Cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is mostly absorbed. Continue adding broth 1 cup at a time, cooking and stirring, until rice is al dente, 25 to 30 minutes. Add green peas and cook 3 minutes. Add butter, cream and cheese, stirring until incorporated.

Sprinkle shrimp with remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, black pepper and pepper flakes.

Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet.

Add shrimp and sauté just until firm and bright pink, about 2 minutes per side. Serve with risotto.

— Recipe by Matt Moore

UPCOMING EVENTS AT HALEY HOUSE BAKERY CAFÉ Thu 3/3: Jazz By Any Means Necessary “Jazz Jam & Singing from the Heart,” 7 pm

THE DISH ON ...

“Souping” by Alison Velazquez — A full-color cookbook with more than 80 healthy hot and cold soup recipes and cleanses for losing weight, detoxification, and revitalized health. Step-by-step instructions for making and storing each soup, nutritional breakdowns and explanations of the health benefits of key ingredients allow you to track your progress. Both time- and goal-based plans ranging from one to seven days outline day-by-day menus, never offering the same meal twice.

— DK

CREAMY RISOTTO WITH SHRIMP

Fri 3/4: Artists’ Reception for ICA Teen Photo Show “Incalescence,” 5:30 pm

Be sure to check out our website and mobile site www.baystatebanner.com

Thu 3/10: Lifted Boston from Outside the Box Agency, 7 pm Fri 3/11: The House Slam, 6:30 pm Thu 3/17: Art Is Life Itself! with Nina LaNegra, 7 pm Fri 3/18: Dinner and a Movie with 2015’s Best Indie Shorts, 6:30 pm

Come By The Bolling Building to check out our new enterprise, Dudley Dough Haley House Bakery Cafe - 12 Dade Street - Roxbury 617 445 0900 - www.haleyhouse.org/bakery-cafe

18 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

AUTOMOTIVE PROVIDED BY: SIMPLYRIDES.COM

AUTO BITS

www.baystatebanner.com

AUTO REVIEW

TIP OF THE WEEK

Sensible steps to help keep your car longer More and more people are keeping their vehicles longer as the average age of a car on the road today is more than 11 years. Considering the cost of a new car is about $31,000 on average, deciding to keep your car rather than buying a new one makes financial sense, according to the non-profit Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council offers sensible steps to help motorists maintain their vehicles for safety, dependability and value. n Keep it clean: Washing and waxing your vehicle on a regular basis protects it from the natural elements that may harm the finish.

A good cleaning of the inside and outside of the vehicle prevents the buildup of damaging chemicals and dirt, reduces the potential for rust from road salt and ensures proper visibility needed for safe driving. n Rely on your senses: When driving, always be alert and rely on your senses. While you may be familiar with noises that your vehicle makes on a daily basis, any noise that is new, different or suspicious may indicate a problem. Listen for sounds such as squealing, thumping, hissing and grinding — these are all signs that the vehicle may be trying to tell you something.

Unusual smells such as burnt rubber, hot oil, gasoline, rotten eggs, burning carpet or the sweet smell of syrup can be a sign of serious, and potentially costly, trouble for your vehicle.

When you hear or smell something that doesn’t seem right, do not ignore it. Instead bring your car to a professional service technician to get an informed opinion on the nature of the sound or odor. n Stay on schedule: The key to a car running at its best is basic maintenance. Keeping up with fluid changes, tire checks, filter changes and other services will help avoid bigger and more expensive repairs. Over time, some car parts and components wear out or become damaged. Being aware of your car will help you address any issues before they become bigger problems.

In addition to following the maintenance schedule recommended in your owner’s manual, the Car Care Council offers a free custom service schedule to help you be proactive in caring for your car.

“Everyone loves a new car but sometimes the money is just not there to purchase one,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “If you treat your car as a valuable investment and commit to regular preventative auto care, not only will you end up saving money, but your car will keep on running for many miles down the road.”

For a free copy of the council’s popular Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

DID YOU KNOW A study released this week by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety proves that forward collision prevention systems with automatic braking do work, and could prevent 700,000 accidents in the U.S. per year.

Forward collision prevention technology can either warn of an impending impact or it can both warn of the impact and also provide emergency automatic braking. The systems that did both reduced rear-end collisions by 40 percent and also had a measurable reduction in injury-causing crashes. The systems that only warned of an impending impact reduced crashes by 23 percent but did not have any meaningful reduction in injuries.

— More Content Now

PHOTOS: SIMPLY RIDES

Above, the Buick Avista concept car. Below, the Avista’s interior and dashboard.

Buick Avista concept car

Auto gives glimpse into possible future customizations

By SÉKOU WRITES SIMPLYRIDES.COM

I love a good concept car.

While most concept cars tend to be impractical and verge on the ostentatious, these are often the very things that make them appealing. Also, as any car lover knows, a concept car is usually crammed with futuristic features that give us some hint of how cars of tomorrow might function.

Take, for example, Buick’s Avista Concept Car. Revealed at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Avista includes such innovative features as noise cancellation, ionic air purifiers and aromatherapy.

This tells us that Buick is imagining a future where the interior of a person’s car is imminently customizable. Not only could you potentially tune out the outside noise with noise cancellation technology but you could also change the quality and smell of the air.

Such features may not be too far off the mark but only time will tell. Buick generally uses its concept cars to inform the design language of future vehicles, so it will be interesting to see if any of these features show up in the next Enclave, for example.

Case in point, the Buick Avenir was revealed at 2015’s North American International Auto Show. It was never put into

production but its shape became the basis for the look of the new Buick LaCrosse.

In the meantime, it’s important to note that Buick has been steadily increasing their level of quality. Their recent “that’s a Buick” ad campaign was based on real consumer reactions to their latest cars. More and more, Buick is trying to become a luxury contender, not an also-ran. Although it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to take the Avista for a spin, I can tell you that the interior was sumptuous and included a touch

screen dashboard with aluminum accents.

“There is elegant simplicity in the Avista’s surfaces, which speak to the purity of the car’s performance, and a timeless beauty that’s a hallmark of Buick design,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director Global Buick Design.

Even the pattern on the seats and doors were inspired by waves receding at a beach’s edge.

“Waves, whether from the sea or in the sand, are all about motion and flow,” said Nesbitt.

“That’s exactly what this concept

is all about – flowing design and the purity of the driving experience.”

I, for one, hope the Avista finds motion on the open road one day.

AT A GLANCE

BUICK AVISTA CONCEPT CAR n No sticker price n Long and wide like a sports car n Specially created exterior color: “Dark Sapphire Jewel.” n Interior design accents were created by a 3D printer n Special features include aroma therapy

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19

MBEWBE continued from page 1

states that this demographic owns 80 percent of Boston’s privately-owned firms that have paid employees.

The Agenda outlines racial and economic disparities in areas of income and employment, wealth creation, business development and economic mobility, along with programs offered by the city that seek to address these gaps.

Spending benchmarks

Walsh signed an executive order that calls upon directors of all city departments to actively pursue MBEs and WBEs when conducting business transactions such as purchasing and contracting.

The city’s last similar program — the Minority & Women’s Business Enterprise Program — was dismantled in 2003. While the city has undertaken other efforts to bring visibility to MBEs and WBEs, it has not had a program in the interim that sets aside a portion of government contracts specifically for such businesses, said Karilyn Crockett, city Director of Economic Policy & Research.

“This is a wonderful, wonderful step at putting fairness back in place,” Joyce Ferribough said, during remarks made at the signing. Ferribough’s late husband, Bruce Bolling, sponsored the ordinance establishing the Minority & Women’s Business Enterprise program.

The 2016 executive order goes beyond the scope of the earlier MWBE program, which only targeted spending in construction contracting. This new order establishes spending goals also in architecture, engineering and

ON THE WEB Read the Equity and Inclusion Agenda:

www.cityofboston.gov/pdfs/economicequityinclusionagenda.pdf Further history on the 2003 study and MWBE program: www.baystate-banner.com/

issues/2008/05/01/news/local05010812.htm professional services, Crockett said. Depending on contract type and size, the goals range from 15-20 percent to 25-30 percent set aside for WBEs, and 10-15 to 20-25 percent for MBEs. Including minorities in earlier phases of a project has a significant impact on whether minorities are hired later in the project life cycle, Greg Janey, president of Janey Construction Management and Consultant, told attendees.

“When we get early consultants on, whether architects, project managers, or equity stakeholders, that has a direct influence on diversity during construction phases, particularly if they’re a person of color,” Janey said.

The administration said it intends to provide training to help businesses navigate the bidding process, and will announce additional procurement policies at a future point.

2003 disparity study

The Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program that ended in 2003 required city departments to make their best effort to contract at least 15 percent of their business with certified MBEs and 5 percent with certified WBEs. The program ceased operation after it was challenged in a lawsuit and the city failed to demonstrate sufficiently that MBEs and WBEs needed such a program.

At that time, the City of Boston

FUN&GAMES SUDOKU: SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 24

had hired an external public policy and public relations company to conduct a study examining city procurement for disparities. The research results were regarded as inconclusive, and the MWBE program was discontinued, Crockett said.

However, according to both John Barros, chief of Economic Development, and Crockett, that study’s lack of a clear answer did not mean there was no need for such programs. Rather, it reflected limitations on the quality and quantity of data that the city was able to provide at the time. “[The disparity study] was inconclusive because we didn’t have the right data sets to answer the question,” Barros said.

According to Crockett, the 2003 study did identify some

areas of inequality, which informed parts of Walsh’s executive order: The research pointed to disparities in architecture and engineering, which prompted the Walsh administration to create benchmarks in those areas, she said.

During the event, several business owners attested that the city’s MBE and WBE set-asides played critical roles in growing their firms.

Lisa Brothers is president and CEO of Boston-based Nitsch Engineering, a 26-year-old company and the largest women-owned civil engineering firm in the state.

She said the city’s large contract offerings were important opportunities that allowed her business to grow.

Ann Sullivan, CEO of Metro

Equipment, a 30-year-old corporation, had a similar story.

“I come from the era of setasides,” Sullivan said “If we didn’t have programs like in this executive order, we wouldn’t even have the chance to work with the city.”

Annual equity analysis

Walsh also announced a new disparity study — the first in 13 years — that will analyze the city’s procurement process for any racial, ethnic or gender bias.

Applying lessons learned from the 2003 study, the Walsh administration is taking particular care with the new study’s design, Crockett said. A request for proposals to conduct the study will be issued this year, and disparity analyses will be conducted annually, Barros said.

Black History Month celebrated State Rep. Russell Holmes addresses a gathering during the Massachusetts Legislative Black Caucus’ Black History Month commemoration in Nurses Hall at the State House.

BANNER PHOTO

20 • Thursday, Thursday, March 3, 2016 2016 •• BAY BAY STATE STATE BANNER BANNER

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS Resiliency continued from page 1 LEGAL

disproportionately impacted by infrastructure vulnerability,” she said.

Members of the Trans-Atlantic Policy Lab, the group of 30 planners from U.S. cities, Greece, England, Estonia and Germany will

LEGAL

LEGAL

focus on Roxbury and East Boston, neighborhoods with large populations of people of color and immigrants, and help develop strategies to increase community resilience.

The effort dovetails with Martin’s ongoing initiative, through which she aims to develop a resiliency strategy that draws upon city policies, interagency

collaborations and partnerships to tackle the factors that make low-income and immigrant communities more vulnerable.

Currently, Martin is gathering data to quantify and better understand the vulnerabilities affecting those communities. Martin has convened more than 200 meetings with stakeholders in Boston

LEGAL

LEGAL

‘The Hammer of Hank Aaron’

PHOTO: COURTESY MARC GOODMAN

Comcast partnered with The Smithsonian Channel and Major League Baseball on a series of MLB Legends documentaries in cities around the country. Boston’s Museum of African American History hosted “The Hammer of Hank Aaron” screening.

Dozens of attendees enjoyed the screening. Enjoying a moment before “The Hammer of Hank Aaron” screening are (left to right) Chris Hoelzl, Vice President, Programming & Development, Boston NAACP; Ayele Shakur, chair education committee, Boston NAACP; Jackie Gadsden, VP of Diversity & Inclusion, Comcast’s Greater Boston Region; L’Merchie Frazier, Director of Education and Interpretation, Museum of African American History and Darnell Williams, CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts at Boston’s Museum of African American History. “The Hammer of Hank Aaron” premiered on the Smithsonian Channel February 29 and is available On Demand.

to gather ideas and plans to finalize the city’s resiliency strategy later this year.

“We’re working to get to that ‘one Boston’ that everyone talks about, but many people don’t feel like they’re a part of,” she said.

Martin told the Banner that Boston’s resiliency effort would likely tap a nonprofit entity to work with underrepresented communities and lend its 501(c)3 status to help attract donations and bring resources to those communities.

“This is really about applying the expertise, locally, nationally and internationally, to bring in opportunities we may be missing,” she said.

The efforts likely will focus on helping people in low-income communities build assets and increase civic engagement.

“If we can help build assets within communities, we can begin to address the intergenerational wealth gap you see in communities of color,” Martin said.

During Monday’s Trans-Atlantic Policy Lab, participants shared perspectives on resilience efforts in other cities.

In Estonia, a former Soviet client state, the country is struggling to integrate a population that does not identify as either Estonian or Russian. German cities are struggling to accommodate refugees streaming in from Syria and other conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In Britain, a growing population of blacks and South Asians

has become socially integrated, but remains largely blocked from positions of political power.

During Monday’s conversation, it became clear that the European participants would learn much from their American colleagues.

While many of the Europeans spoke about the struggles of integration, blacks from the United States said integration is no longer the chief aim here.

“The word came to prominence in contrast to the legal segregation here,” noted consultant Jacqui Lindsay. “Since that time and now, we’ve been talking about shared leadership, shared power and what it means to be a full citizen – what it means to be presumed equal. It’s evolved. We’ve evolved in our thinking.”

Asked how Martin’s planning effort will work with the other planning initiatives — including GoBoston 2030, Imagine Boston 2030 and Boston Creates — Martin said she is coordinating with leadership on those initiatives to make sure residents don’t suffer from what she called “planning fatigue.”

“We’re making sure that as I do engagement, I know what’s happening with other planning processes,” she said.

Martin said her engagement effort will inform the other planning processes.

“We’re making sure our efforts tie back to Boston 2030, maintaining an equity lens,” she said. “This is the heart of how we look at this work, through an equity lens.”

LEGAL

Advertise in the Banner call 617-261-4600 x7799 for more information

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL

LEGAL

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15D2429DR

Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing Santos Diaz, Lisbeth Zeleny

vs.

Aguilar, Gludi N.

To the Defendant: The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for irretrievable breakdown of the marriage under G.L. c.

208, Section 1 B. The Complaint is on file at the Court.

File the original with the Court; and Mail a copy to all interested parties at least five (5) business days before the hearing.

Witness, Hon. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: January 29, 2016

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU16P0370GD In the interests of Keysi Peguero of Boston, MA Minor

NOTICE AND ORDER: Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor 1.

2.

NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Hearing Date/Time: A hearing on a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor filed on 02/23/2016 by Virtudes Romero of Boston, MA will be held 03/29/2016 09:00 AM Motion Located Suffolk Probate & Family Court, 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114.

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:

To all persons interested in a petition described: A petition has been presented by Hanna Wondsone requesting that Hanna Wondsone be allowed to change her name as follows:

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.

Hanna K. Wondwossen

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.

IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON 03/24/2016.

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 court papers, please contact an attorney for legal advice.

Date: February 23, 2016

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: Jessica Libby, Esq., 161 Granite Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 your answer, if any, on or before 04/14/2016. 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.

LEGAL

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: February 18, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

In the interests of Markel Jerome Love of Mattapan, MA Minor

Docket No. SU15C0410CA In the matter of Daisy Marie Torres of Boston, MA

NOTICE AND ORDER: Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor

NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all persons interested in a petition described:

1.

A petition has been presented by Denise Y. Rivera requesting that Daisy Marie Torres be allowed to change her name as follows: Daisy Marie Rivera

2.

IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON 03/24/2016.

WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: February 18, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15C0520CA In the matter of Hanna Wondsone of Roxbury, MA

NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Docket No. SU16P0280GD

NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Hearing Date/Time: A hearing on a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor filed on 02/05/2016 by Caroline Walker of Mattapan, MA will be held 03/14/2016 09:00 AM Motion Located at 24 New Chardon Street, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02114.

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 court papers, please contact an attorney for legal advice.

Date: February 16, 2016

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL

LEGAL

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT

Docket No. SU16P0278GD

SUFFOLK Division

In the interests of Jasiyah Jakiy Love of Mattapan, MA Minor NOTICE AND ORDER: Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Hearing Date/Time: A hearing on a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor filed on 02/05/2016 by Caroline Walker of Mattapan, MA will be held 03/14/2016 09:00 AM Motion Located at 24 New Chardon Street, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02114.

1.

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 court papers, please contact an attorney for legal advice.

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Date: February 16, 2016

INVITATION TO BID

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: BID NO.

DESCRIPTION

DATE

TIME

WRA-4184

Supply and Delivery of Sodium Hydroxide to Various MWRA Wastewater Sites

03/15/16

11:00 a.m.

WRA-4186

Purchase of One (1) John Deere Tractor Mower Model #4320 (or Equal)

03/15/16

2:00 p.m.

WRA-4185

Purchase of Three (3) Outdoor Rectifier Purchase of Three (3) Outdoor Rectifier

03/16/16

10:00 a.m.

7507

Hultman Aqueduct Leak Repair

03/17/16

2:00 p.m.

To access and bid on Event(s) please go to the MWRA Supplier Portal at www.mwra.com.

REAL ESTATE

LEGAL

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE DIVISION OF CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE Request for Qualifications for Fifteen (15) Trade Contractor Packages: Masonry; Miscellaneous & Ornamental Iron; Waterproofing, Dampproofing & Caulking; Roofing & Flashing; Metal Windows; Glass & Glazing; Tile; Acoustical Tile; Resilient Floors; Painting; Elevators; Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems; Plumbing; HVAC; and Electrical Major Campus Renovation Roxbury Community College, Roxbury, MA Mass. State Project No. RCC1201 DC1 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance (DCAMM), requests that qualified and experienced Trade Contractors submit Trade Contractor Statement of Qualifications Forms to the DCAMM Bid Room no later than 12:00 PM, Thursday, March 31, 2016.

SCOPE: The project consists of renovations to four (4) buildings on the Roxbury Community College Campus, including a Media Arts Center with theater, an academic office building, and two (2) classroom buildings.

This Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) is the first phase of a two-phase procurement process as set forth in MGL Chapter 149A. DCAMM, through its Trade Contractor Prequalification Committee, is prequalifying firms interested in providing public Trade Contractor services on this Public Construction Manager at Risk (“CM at Risk”) Project for the construction of the Major Campus Renovation, Roxbury Community College, Roxbury, MA through this RFQ process.

Trade Contractor Statement of Qualifications Forms from interested Trade Contractors are sought for the following fifteen (15) trade contractor packages: Masonry (ECC $3,893,941); Miscellaneous & Ornamental Iron (ECC $385,049); Waterproofing, Dampproofing & Caulking (ECC $196,207); Roofing & Flashing (ECC $986,945); Metal Windows (ECC $2,444,261); Glass & Glazing (ECC $38,801); Tile (ECC $177,772); Acoustical Tile (ECC $544,561); Resilient Floors ECC $335,804); Painting (ECC $545,397); Elevators (ECC $108,675); Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems (ECC $674,568); Plumbing (ECC $1,668,828); HVAC (ECC $5,108,477); and Electrical (ECC $5,721,025). Only prequalified firms will be permitted to submit bids for the categories in which they were prequalified. The Construction Manager is W.T. Rich Company, Inc. The Request for Qualifications may be downloaded from https://www. commbuys.com or copies may be obtained by contacting the DCAMM Bid Room, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108, 617-727-4003, Bidroom.

DCAMM@state.ma.us on or after Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

for the lease and use of rooftop and penthouse space at 121 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA, effective on or after October 1, 2016. This space is available for the installation and operation of radio communications facilities, provided the use does not interfere with the operations of two existing telecommunications companies. The available roof top space is currently under lease until September 30, 2016. These facilities can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephone, personal communications systems, paging and land mobile radio. The lease and use of these spaces will be on a non-exclusive basis.

Sealed bids will be received until 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at the Administrative Offices of the Medford Housing Authority, 121 Riverside Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Authority’s Administrative Office, @ 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2016, and an inspection of the building will take place immediately thereafter.

Invitation for Bids (IFB) copies are available free of charge for pickup on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at the above address. Contact the Authority by telephone, at (781) 396-7200 or by mail at the above noted address. Copies can also be downloaded from the MHA’s website at www.medfordhousing. org.under the CONTRACTORS tab. All bidders must check this website for any addenda before submitting a bid. For further information, contact Bernie Kirstein by phone: (781) 396-7200 x 140 or by email: bkirstein@ medfordhousing.org.

REAL ESTATE

Roommate Wanted: DORCHESTER

Wollaston Manor 91 Clay Street Quincy, MA 02170

Working Adult to share lge, safe, clean, quiet apt; utils. Incl., No smoking, near T, $675.

Senior Living At It’s Best

867-417-0227.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance Carol W. Gladstone, Commissioner

A senior/disabled/ handicapped community 0 BR units = $1,027/mo 1 BR units = $1,101/mo All utilities included.

SMALL ADS BRING

BIG RESULTS!

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Call 617-261-4600 x 7799 or visit www.baystatebanner.com now to place your ad.

MEDFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY The Medford Housing Authority, the awarding Authority, invites sealed bids

Call Sandy Miller, Property Manager

#888-691-4301

REAL ESTATE

Program Restrictions Apply.

D��� � I����� R��������� C����������� A��������� H������������, S�������� �� L������ # of Unit Types:

Sale Price:

Income Limit:

5 Units w/ 1 BR

$ 161,600

Up to 80 %

15 Units w/ 2 BR

$ 189,600

Up to 80 %

2 Units w/ 3 BR

$ 217,600

Up to 80 %

4 Units w/ 1 BR

$ 210,800

Up to 100 %

14 Units w/ 2 BR

$ 245,700

Up to 100 %

3 Units w/ 3 BR

$ 287,700

Up to 100 %

80 ‐ 82 F������ R��� B�����, MA 02115

Asset, Use and Resale Restric�ons Apply Requirement: First‐Time Homebuyer Preference: Minimum 1 Person Per BR in Unit Size Applying

MAXIMUM INCOME Per Household Size HH Size:

Up to 80 %

Up to 100 %

1

$ 48,800

$ 68,950

2

$ 55,800

$ 78,800

3

$ 62,750

$ 88,650

4

$ 69,700

$ 98,500

5

$ 75,300

$ 106,400

6

$ 80,900

$ 114,250

7

$ 86,450

$ 122,150

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE: APRIL 25 to MAY 9, 2016 Pick‐Up at Office: RE/MAX Des�ny, 363 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Office Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:30 am ‐ 5:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am ‐ 2:30 pm Online: www.MosaicAFFCondos.com ‐ Online Registra�on Required Applica�ons Also Available at 2 Informa�on Sessions: Sat. April 30, 2016 10 am ‐ 2 pm RTH Community Ctr., 20a Vining Street, Boston, MA Wed. May 4, 2016 3:30‐7:30 pm Egleston Library, 2044 Columbus Ave, Roxbury MA

DEADLINE for COMPLETED APPLICATION: MAY 23, 2016 Deliver to Office: RE/MAX Des�ny, 363 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Office Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:30 am ‐ 5:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am ‐ 2:30 pm  Applica�ons delivered by mail must be postmarked no later than May 23, 2016  Applica�ons may be delivered in person during the office hours listed above For more info or reasonable accommoda�ons for persons with disabili�es, please call 617.804.7877

WWW.MosaicAFFCondos.com Equal Housing Opportunity

Accessible Building, Units Adaptable by Buyer

Fin

22 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

UPCOMING LOTTERY: $374,000 3-BEDROOM, 1.5 BATHROOM SINGLE FAMILY HOME, WEST ROXBURY

REAL ESTATE

Neighborhood Homes

Completely renovated New windows & furnace Hardwood floors throughout Eat-in kitchen Driveway Great neighborhood Easy access to commuter rail Close to parks and shopping

Brand New Renovated Apartment Homes

Millstone Village Winthrop Street Public Information Meeting 6:30, Thursday, March 31, 2016 Medway Sr. Ctr.—76 Oakland St. Application Deadline April 22, 2016

MAX INCOME 1—$48,800 3—$62,750 2—$55,800 4—$69,700 Assets to $275,000 Units by lottery

For Info and Application: Pick Up: Medway Town Hall, Town Clerks Office or Public Lib. Phone: (978) 456-8388 Email: maureen@mcohousingservices.com

Interested? You must: 1. Be a 1st time homebuyer & complete a homebuyer education course; 2. Have a minimum household size of two (2) persons; 3. Meet income and asset requirements; 4. Submit a completed lottery application by April 6, 2016

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

Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com

MAXIMUM HOUSEHOLD INCOME 2 person: $78,800 3 person: $88,650 4 person: $98,500 5 person: $106,400 6 person: $114,250

NORWOOD RENTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Like us on Facebook

Mortgage, deed, owner-occupancy, Boston residency, household size preference, and other restrictions apply. Requirements are subject to change.

BAY STATE BANNER

Buyer selected by lottery: applications due by April 6, 2016

Follow us on Twitter

Applications are available in person at the Boston Home Center, 26 Court Street, Boston, MA; on-line at www.bostonhomecenter.com; or by calling 617-635-4663.

Department of Neighborhood Development

City of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh

Parker Hill Apartments

Medway 55+ Affordable Housing Three 2 Bedroom Townhomes Price: $174,700

@baystatebanner

38—One ($1,134), Two ($1,362) and Three ($1,566) Bedroom One Upland Apartments—1 Upland Road Utilities are not included.

Public Information Meeting 6:30 p.m., Monday March 14, 2016 Morrill Memorial Library 33 Walpole Street, Norwood Application Deadline April 18, 2016 Lottery 11:00 am, Monday, May 9th—Library Units distributed by lottery.

Bradley Properties Boston, MA

Reasonable Accommodations Available for persons with disabilities

On Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Bradley Properties located 342 Shawmut Avenue, Boston MA 02118 will be closing their waitlist for a 1 bedroom affordable market rate. The waitlist will close at 5:00 P.M. Applications can be picked up at the Management office located at 342 Shawmut Avenue, Boston MA 02118 or a request can be made to have one mailed to you by calling 617-927-7468. Office hours are M-F 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Completed applications must be submitted to Bradley Properties by the close of the waitlist. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. Chinese and Spanish translation is available (Chinese translation only available Tuesday and Thursday mornings). Please note that waiting list for a studio, 1, 2, 3 and 4 subsidized bedroom is closed. If you have any questions please feel free to reach us by phone at 617-927-7468.

Bradley Properties is an affordable housing development. Income limits, use and occupancy restrictions apply.

Units available to all eligible applicants.

For Info and Application Availability: Pick Up: Norwood Town Hall, - Town Clerks Ofc, Public Library & Leasing Office Phone: (978) 456-8388 TTY/TTD: 711, when asked 978-456-8388 Email: lotteryinfo@mcohousingservices.com FAX: 978-456-8986

MAX ALLOWABLE INCOME 80% of AMI 1 person household: 2 person household: 3 person household: 4 person household: 5 person household: 6 person household:

$48,800 $55,800 $62,750 $69,700 $75,300 $80,900

Language/translation assistance available, at no charge, upon request.

How to Return Application: FAX: 978-456-8986 Email: lotteryinfo@mcohousingservices.com Mail: P.O. Box 372, Harvard, MA 01451 Drop Off: 206 Ayer Road, Harvard, MA

Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com

HUD Income Limits 1 Person

2 Person

3 Person

4 Person

5 Person

6 Person

7 Person

8 Person

$48,800

$55,800

$62,750

$69,700

$75,300

$80,900

$86,450

$92,050

Apartments at Bradley Properties are available upon vacancies to qualified households. All applications will be used to establish a waitlist.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Bradley Properties and Trinity Management do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, familial status or physical or mental disability in the access or admission to its programs or employment, or in its programs, activities, functions or services.

Managed by: Trinity Management, LLC. 75 Federal St Fourth Floor, Boston, MA 02110 TDD: 1-800-545-1833 ext. 945

FRANKLIN MUNICIPAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST is Holding TWO OPEN HOUSES Date: Sunday, March 6, 2016 12:00 – 2:00 pm at 48 Arlington Street - 3 Bedroom, 1 Bath, 1223 sf, Oil Heat - $165,000

45 Marion Street Affordable Housing Lottery Brookline, MA Two Studios @ $765*, Ten 1BRs @ $805*, One 2BR @ $958* *Rents subject to change in 2016. No utilities include except Water and Sewer. Tenants will pay own Gas Heat, Gas Hot Water, Electricity and cooking fuel (electric). No parking spot is included.

MAXIMUM Household Income Limits: $34,500 (1 person), $39,400 (2 people), $44,350 (3 people), $49,250 (4 people) 45 Marion Street is a 64 unit rental apartment located in Brookline. 13 of these apartments will be made available through this application process and rented to households with incomes at or below 50% of the Area Median Income. Units will first be available July/August 2016.

Completed Applications and Required Documentation must be received, not postmarked, by April 19th, 2016 A Public Info Session will be held at 6 pm on March 7th, 2016 in Room 103 in Brookline Town Hall (333 Washington Street). The Lottery for eligible households will be held on May 11th, 2016 at 6 pm as the same location as the info session.

For Lottery Information and Applications, or for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, go to www.s-e-b.com/lottery or call (617) 782-6900 (x1 for rental then x4) and leave a message. For TTY Services dial 711. Free translation available.

Applications also available at Brookline Public Library on 361 Washington Street (Library hours: M-Th 10-9, F-Sa, Fri-Sat 10-5, Su 1-5)

and 15 Beaver Court - 3 Bedroom, 2 Baths, 1368 sf, Gas Heat - $165,000 Franklin, MA 02038 Income and Assets are restricted based on household size. Application Deadline is 3/25/16.

Lottery is Wednesday, March 30, 2016, 6:00 PM Applications and Information available at the Municipal Building and at www.franklin.ma.us, Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Page (Under Quick Links), or contact Maxine (508) 5204949 or mkinhart@franklin.ma.us.

ADVERTISE

YOUR CLASSIFIEDS WITH THE BAY STATE BANNER (617) 261-4600 x 7799 • ads@bannerpub.com Rate information at www.baystatebanner.com/advertise

Equal Housing Opportunity

Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

HELP WANTED

Roofers Wanted: Experienced flat roof mechanics wanted. Benefits.

Accepting Applications at: Capeway Roofing Systems, Inc. 664 Sanford Road, Westport, MA 02790.

Minorities and women encouraged to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

Harbor Health Services, Inc. is currently seeking a mission driven, community or public health oriented Dentist to join

our team as Corporate Director of Dental Services. Responsibility includes directing the Dental Departments for Geiger Gibson Community Health Center, Harbor Community Health Center - Plymouth, Harbor Community Health Center - Hyannis and the Ellen Jones Community Dental Center as well as the dental program for the Elder Service Plan.

Apply at http://goo.gl/ woa1VN

New Jobs In Fast-Growing

HEALTH INSURANCE FIELD!

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: 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

Companies Now Hiring MEMBER SERVICE CALL CENTER REPS Rapid career growth potential $ STIPEND DURING 12-WEEK TRAINING 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 THAT QUALIFY HS diploma or GED required.

Free YMCA membership for you and your family while enrolled in YMCA Training, Inc.

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.

Call 617-542-1800 and refer to Health Insurance Training when you call

Executive Director The Lynnfield Housing Authority is seeking an Executive Director to oversee the daily management and operation of 64 units of state subsidized Chapter 667 elderly/handicapped housing: 689 Prog (8). The Executive Director reports to a five member Board of Commissioners.

@baystatebanner

Qualifications: The successful candidate must have a minimum of four years’ experience in housing, community development, public administration of a closely related field; one year’s experience overseeing at least three staff persons or program administration; knowledge of the principles and practices of housing management, finances and maintenance systems in public housing; written and verbal communication skills; knowledge of laws regulating state housing programs; and experience working with people of various socioeconomic back-grounds. Public Housing Manager (PHM) must be obtained within twelve months. Must be bondable and hold a valid Massachusetts Driver’s License. Candidates must pass a CORI background check.

Salary to commensurate with experience within DHCD guidelines for 24 hours per week. Each submission should include a cover letter, resume, salary history and three letters of recommendation. The deadline for applications is March 18, 2016. Please address envelope to the attention of:

BAY STATE BANNER FANPAGE

HELP WANTED

Two openings for Math Teachers with at-risk adolescents in residential facilities run by the Department of Youth Services in Boston

Are you interested in a

• • • • •

HELP WANTED

Ms. Marilyn Yaremchuk, Chairperson Lynnfield Housing Authority 600 Ross Drive Lynnfield, MA 01940 Please mark envelope RESUME. The Lynnfield Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.

Duties include corporate over sight, policy development and implementation, budget development/management, development and implementation of dental policies and procedures and quality assurance plan; assuring compliance with regulatory agencies including State, Federal and The Joint Commission; hiring, development and retention of staff; assists with vendor negotiations; responsible for clinic hours and scheduling of appropriate levels of staff; acts as liaison with community partners, represents Harbor at State and Federal concerns; and provides direct dental care to patients. Position includes direct supervision of the Dental Team Leaders, Dentists and Hygienists.

Qualifications: DMD or DDS degree from an accredited college or university with current Full MA License, DEA and MCSR, 3 or more years of experience as a Dentist with at least one year in a supervisory or management role, knowledge of electronic dental practice systems, 3 years of experience with dental coding and billing practices, proven knowledge of budgeting and accounting, proven training capabilities, experience working in Community Health Center setting preferred.

Position is 28 Admin Hours and 12 Clinical Hours, excellent benefits package including reimbursement of licenses, CME’s, 4 weeks vacation.

Applicants please apply online at http://careers.hhsi.us/careers or send a letter of intent and current CV to jtranford@hhsi.us. For more information, please call J. Tranford at 617-533-2342 and/or visit our website at www.hhsi.us.

The Greater Boston School Human Resources Network proudly sponsors its annual

Diversity Job Fair for Educators Saturday, March 19, 2016 from 10am - 1pm, held at the Broadmeadow Elementary School 120 Broad Meadow Road, Needham

MEMBER DISTRICTS:

Acton-Boxborough Belmont Brookline Concord Concord-Carlisle Lexington Lincoln-Sudbury Needham Newton Sudbury Wayland Wellesley Weston Winchester

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our teaching staff. If you want to join a district committed to excellence, we want to talk to you. The needs are real. The opportunity is great. Be part of it.

To register, please go to www.greaterbostonschoolhrn.com Bring 13 resumes to the Job Fair.

Executive Director, Boston Franklin Park Coalition Franklin Park Coalition seeks a versatile and self-motivated leader with creative fundraising experience, connections in the abutting, or similar, communities to Franklin Park, and a commitment to urban greenspace.

To learn more, visit: http://tsne.org/executive-director-franklin-park-coalition

Member Districts are Equal Opportunity Employers

ADVERTISE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS bsb 1/4pg 3x8

(617) 261-4600 x 7799 • ads@bannerpub.com Find rate information at www.baystatebanner.com/advertise

24 • Thursday, March 3, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER

COMMUNITY CALENDAR CHECK OUT MORE EVENTS AND SUBMIT TO OUR ONLINE CALENDAR: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/EVENTS

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

THE AMAZING NINA SIMONE

MAMA KYOTA

Film screening and discussion, “The Amazing Nina Simone.” The film will be followed by a Q&A with Director Jeff Lieberman. Thursday, March 3, 6pm at the Harvard Art Museum, Menschel Hall, 480 Broadway St., Cambridge.

Free and open to the public.

The Boston Pan African Forum, Inc. presents a screening of the Documentary Film, Mama Kyota, the story of a Sufi Muslim who lives in rural Niger, West Africa and targets literacy, poverty and promotes the empowerment of women.

Clips and conversation with film maker, Pearl Robinson. Saturday, March 5, 2-4:30pm at the Dudley Branch Library.

Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

DEATH OF A SALESMAN Recognizing 100 years of the genius of Arthur Miller, Roxbury RepTheater will present his highly acclaimed masterpiece, Death of a Salesman, at Roxbury Community College. Under the direction of artistic director Robbie McCauley, we journey with the travelling salesman as he nears the end of his life, while he struggles to keep his family, his job and himself from unraveling because of his past transgressions. Miller forces the characters to face truths in this complex, layered drama. March 3-5, Thursdays @ 10am & 8pm | Fridays @ 10am & 8pm | Saturdays @ 2pm. Cost: $5 - $10. For reservations, please contact Pamela Green @ 617-541-5380 or email: pgreen@rcc.mass.edu. 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury Crossing.

MUSIC CELEBRATION WITH D’ALLEGRO Listen to d’Allegro’s take on classic and inspirational tunes by black and African American artists. Refreshments will be served afterward.

Thursday, March 3, 6pm, Mattapan Branch of the Boston Public Library, 1350 Blue Hill Ave., 617-298-9218. www.bpl.org. Free.

EXTRAPOLATION Simmons College presents Extrapolation with Daniel Kornrumpf and Kathy Soles, painters creating personal responses with their media, through March 4 at the Trustman Art Gallery, located on the fourth floor, Main College Building, 300 The Fenway in Boston. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The images of Daniel Kornrumpf and Kathy Soles entice the viewer in divergent ways. Kornrumpf is an observer who creates portraits derived from social media and his personal life. His small, finely wrought embroideries are set within a larger linen field that plays call and response to the threads creating the image.

Within his oil paintings he leaves us open space, reflective of the partial narrative available even amongst one’s intimates. Soles’ paintings are exuberant in both form and color, based on her interest in the natural world.

Painting con brio with oil, Soles uses colors that energetically evoke the sea, sand and sky. Trustman Gallery hours are 10am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. The gallery is free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible.

For more information, contact Marcia Lomedico at 617-521-2268, or visit the Trustman Art Gallery website at www. simmons.edu/trustman and visit us on Facebook.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

BLUE HILLS RESERVATION

Moderate walk, some hilly terrain, 3+ miles. Walk from St. Moritz Pond to Sawcut Notch, return on Crags Foot Path. Sunday, March 6 at 1pm. Meet at the Shea Rink parking lot at 651 Willard St. in Quincy. The Southeastern Massachusetts Adult Walking Club meets each weekend on either a Saturday or Sunday at 1:00 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. Occasionally, the Walking Club meets at other DCR sites. Some DCR sites charge a parking fee. The rangers recommend wearing hiking boots and bringing drinking water on all hikes.

BASIC KNITTING & CROCHETING Free Basic Knitting & Crocheting classes are offered for youth ages 8-13 on March 5. (2-4pm) at the Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library. The classes are for youth ages 8-13. Participants will learn slip knots, knitting and purling, and how to bind off. The class is designed so that students can complete a project during the six-week class.

Pre-registration is required. The program is funded by the Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund of the Boston Public library.

To sign up, call: 857-284-8813 or iyme. program@gmail.com or fellowestrust@ yahoo.com.

UPCOMING EXHIBIT: MUJERES For this year’s celebration of Women’s Month, we present the exhibit “Mujeres,” a unique exhibition that presents the work of Isabella Mellado. Mellado was born in Puerto Rico and is a current student of Rhode Island School of Design. Despite her young age, her paintings reveal the depth of a much older artist. Isabella’s work in acrylic and oils create portraits that are mysterious and revealing. Her subjects, who are oftentimes nationally recognized individuals and business leaders, have been said to look out at the viewer from the canvas with inscrutable gazes. Don’t miss this opportunity to see and discuss this exhibit with the artist during the opening night of her exhibition at La Galería on March 11 from 6-8pm. This exhibition will run through April 6. The gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays 1-5pm, and by appointment.

La Galería at Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, 85 W Newton St., Boston. Register here: http://bit.ly/Mellado-Register.

24TH ANNUAL KIDS SPRING EGG SCRAMBLE Join the DCR and Phillips Candy House in a wonderful spring tradition. Celebrate the 24th annual Kids Spring Egg Scramble at DCR Pope John Paul II Park on 763 Gallivan Boulevard in Dorchester, March 12. Children ages 4-8 can join in the scramble for toy and candy filled plastic eggs scattered across the field at DCR Pope John Paul II Park. It’s a fun way to welcome springtime in the great outdoors. Please arrive early to allow plenty of time for parking. The Kids Spring Egg Scramble starts at 11 am sharp and it takes only minutes for the children to gather all those eggs. Please dress for weather and mud season and call 617-333-7405, ext.

104 for weather updates. It’s over in a flash!

Don’t miss this annual rite of spring! Call the

DCR at 617-333-7404, ext 104 or visit DCR on the web at www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/ dcr/massparks/region-boston/pope-johnpaul-ii-park-reservation.html.

F. GILBERT HILLS STATE FOREST Moderate walk, hilly terrain, 4 miles.

Check out some of the features of F. Gilbert Hills State Forest such as Wolf Meadow and High Rock. Sunday, March 13 at 1pm. Meet at the main parking lot at 45 Mill Street in Foxboro.

The Southeastern Massachusetts Adult Walking Club meets each weekend on either a Saturday or Sunday at 1:00 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. Occasionally, the Walking Club meets at other DCR sites. Some DCR sites charge a parking fee. The rangers recommend wearing hiking boots and bringing drinking water on all hikes.

CASTLE OF OUR SKINS PRESENTS “NIGHT SONGS” Castle of our Skins, a Boston-based concert and education series dedicated to celebrating Black artistry through music, will present its second appearance at Roxbury Community College in a concert entitled “Night Songs,” on Friday, March 18 at 7:30pm. All art songs on the program were written by Black poets ranging from such path setters as Langston Hughes and James Weldon Johnson to living legends Sonia Sanchez and Cornelius Eady. Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave, Roxbury.

Tickets: FREE ADMISSION. For more information, please visit www.Castle-ofour-Skins.com.

20, 10am – 4pm. Maple Sugar Festival is a joint program of the DCR and Mass Audubon’s Trailside Museum. Brookwood Farm is located in the DCR Blue Hills Reservation in Canton. Take exit 3 (Houghton’s Pond) off Route 93 and follow signs to Maple Sugar Festival parking. This program is wheelchair accessible. For more information, please call 617-333-0690.

ONGOING MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER GALLERY SHOWS Through April 1, the Multicultural Arts Center will host “To My Mother Who Used to Tell Me Stories” and “Young Artists” in the galleries. Erica Frisk is back, this time showing her photographs from Guatemala and the women of the weaving community. Colorful photos of textiles and the faces of women and their daughters fill the walls of the Lower Gallery. Local Cambridge students also get the chance to show their artwork on real gallery walls as we invite back the CPS group to the Art Center. Galleries are FREE and open to the public. Regular Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10:30am - 6pm. Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St., East Cambridge.

DROP INTO ART Danforth Art Museum\School will continue its monthly tradition of hosting a free afternoon of art and art-making for children and their accompanying adults. On the first Sunday of the month, through May, from 2-4pm, families are invited to enjoy current exhibitions, tours, and hands-on activities in the museum galleries and art school studios. Each month features a different theme inspired by artwork on view in the museum, and use

a variety of artist materials. Drop Into Art is sponsored by Impact Framingham and the MutualOne Charitable Foundation.

For more information on Danforth Art Museum\School, please visit www.dan forthart.org or call 508-620-0050.

SCHOOL DAYS IN THE WEST END EXHIBIT The West End Museum is set to host a new exhibit honoring the neighborhood’s rich history of education. School Days in the West End runs through July 9, in the Museum’s Main Exhibit Hall. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Between 1800 and 1975, no fewer than 20 schools called Boston’s West End home. Following urban renewal, the last school in the community — the Peter Faneuil School — closed, and there has not been another public school in the West End or Beacon Hill since. Still, the neighborhood boasts a robust history of education, with several scholastic firsts.

School Days in the West End recounts that exceptional past through graphic story panels, artifacts, photographs, report cards, textbooks and more. In 1821, one of the first public high schools in America, English High School, opened in The West End. The Abiel Smith School was the first building in the country raised to be a public school for African Americans. The Phillips School became one of the first integrated schools in Boston in 1855. And the kindergarten program started in 1870 at the Somerset School predates the claim of Susan Blow’s St. Louis kindergarten as the first in the US in 1873. School Days in the West End is free and open to the public during regular Museum hours. The Museum is located near North Station at 150 Staniford St., Suite 7. Hours: Tuesday - Friday 12-5pm; Saturday 11-4pm.

SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM PG 19

MAPLE SUGAR FESTIVAL DCR Blue Hills Reservation Maple Sugar Festival — It’s sugarin’ time in the Blue Hills! Join us as we make maple syrup in the traditional way at beautiful Brookwood Farm in Canton. Smell the wood smoke as you watch clouds of steam rise from the bubbling sap. Savor the taste of real maple syrup and enjoy a journey through time as you learn about the history of maple sugar in Massachusetts. Activities for all ages.

Program Admission: $6.00 per person.

Ages 2 and under free. March 19 &

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.