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Pike tenants seek ownership
Thelma Burns building dedication at ABCD campus
Want Chinatown development to be transferred to land trust By YAWU MILLER
PHOTO: DON WEST
Elected officials and ABCD staff attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for ABCD’s new campus, including one building that is dedicated to community leader Thelma Burns (with scissors).
Students at center of school funding battle Protest aimed at plugging gaps in 2017 budget By YAWU MILLER
Several hundred students walked out of class last week in the second such protest this year against budget cuts to Boston Public Schools. News of the planned demonstration drew a swift rebuke from Mayor Martin Walsh, who told the Boston Herald that adults who were misleading the students were
prompting the demonstration. Students who participated in the demonstration rejected the mayor’s allegation of adult provocateurs. “You’re looking at the person who organized the whole thing without outside help,” said Boston Green Academy sophomore Jahi Spaloss, clutching a bullhorn amid a throng of students gathered at City Hall Plaza. “The mayor should not assume what he doesn’t know.
He’s the one who’s misinformed.” Spaloss said adults offered support, but that the students remained in control of the event from start to finish. “We said ‘You can support us, but we are the ones running this movement,’” he said. “This is a youth-led movement from start to finish.” Inside City Hall, Councilor Tito Jackson used his remarks in
See PROTEST, page 3
A group of Chinatown public housing tenants are locked in a battle over the ownership of the neighborhood’s largest public housing development. The Mass Pike Towers Tenants Association has asked the City of Boston to exercise an option to buy their 200-unit development from Trinity Financial, the for-profit firm which has owned the complex since 2000. The tenants say Trinity has shown little interest in selling the development. “They’re going ahead with their plans,” said Bill Oranczak, president of the tenants’ association. “They’re refinancing and planning major renovations.” A call to Trinity Principal James Keefe Monday went unreturned. When Trinity bought the property 16 years ago, the tenants negotiated an option to buy the property from Trinity after 15 years. Under the terms of the agreement, the tenants were to have a six-month time period during which they could exercise their option to purchase the development. In the following six-month time window, the City of Boston was given the opportunity to purchase the property from Trinity. Because the residents missed their window, they are asking the city to purchase the property in cooperation with affordable housing developer Preservation of Affordable
Housing (POAH). Under the tenants’ proposal, land ownership of the Mass Pike Towers would be transferred to the Chinatown Land Trust. “It would be an additional resource to ensure that if there’s any more development on the land, it would be for the community,” said Lydia Lowe, a board member of the land trust. The city’s Chief of Housing, Sheila Dillon, said the city is looking at its options. “We are more interested in this if it’s not going to cost us any affordable housing resources,” she said. “This property is affordable and will remain affordable.” At the same time, Dillon said, the city is supportive of the tenant’s wishes. “The administration likes tenant involvement,” she commented. “We like tenant ownership. We’re just doing our due diligence on this.”
Rocky relations
Relations between the Mass Pike tenants and Trinity became rocky in 2004 when the developer proposed building a luxury apartment tower on the development’s parking lot. Oranczak said Chinatown tenants are opposed to the creation of more luxury housing in their neighborhood, as well as the potential loss of parking spaces. “I’m on the 12th floor,” he said. “Every time I look out my window, there’s a new building going up.”
See MASS PIKE, page 20
Millionaires’ tax passes second test State legislators vote ‘yes’ on tax By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
A proposed millionaires’ tax amendment garnered a strong show of support at the State House last week, after amassing more than 157,000 petition signatures last fall to get it considered. The so-called Fair Share Amendment needed to secure 50 “yes” votes at Wednesday’s constitutional convention to advance; it received 135, with 57 legislators voting against.
The proposed amendment to Massachusetts’s constitution would raise the income tax rate on the state’s wealthiest residents, bringing the share of income they pay in overall state and local taxes more in line with that paid by other residents. That new revenue would be directed toward education and transportation infrastructure improvements across the commonwealth. The amendment specifies that the revenue support public education, affordable public
higher education and the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation. “People hate taxes, we get it,” Sen. Karen Spilka said at the constitutional convention. “But people should also hate the idea that children may not be getting adequate education to be competing in a global economy. They should hate that their loved ones may spend hours of their lives commuting and going on unsafe bridges.” With last week’s vote, the Fair Share amendment passed the
See FAIR SHARE, page 20
BANNER PHOTO
Tenants at Mass Pike Towers are battling Trinity Financial for ownership of the affordable housing complex.
2 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
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Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3
Valedictorian credits school’s support network By YAWU MILLER
If not for Advanced Placement pre-calculus, Natalia Phillips may have made it through New Mission High School with all A-pluses. “I was adjusting to AP classes,” she said. “It was kind of rocky in the beginning. But then I got the hang of it.” That rough spot earned her an A-minus. But she still has maintained a grade point average of 4.91. Although second in her class, Phillips’ winning attitude earned her the valedictorian spot for the Hyde Park pilot school. “I was a little surprised,” Phillips said of the honor. “I didn’t expect it.” Born on the Caribbean island of Dominica, Phillips came to Boston in 2011 with her mother, two older sisters and younger brother. She attended Up Academy in South Boston before starting at New Mission. The school’s teaching staff helped Phillips with the transition. “The teachers were really nice,” she said. “I often had to stay after school for help.” Students also were helpful. When Phillips struggled to make her Caribbean accent intelligible to her classmates, a fellow Dominica-born student stepped in to help her adjust. That spirit of helpfulness, she says, extends to the teachers and administrators at
New Mission as well. “The support here is beyond what I’ve ever seen,” she said. “When I came here, I felt I really belonged. The teachers helped me become a better student.” New Mission encourages teachers to stay after school at least two days a week, ensuring that there are teachers available every school day. Teachers also are on-hand Saturdays, to help AP students keep up with the school’s rigorous coursework. “We have quite a few built-in mechanisms to help the students,” said New Mission’s principal Naia Williams. The school’s investment pays off: 90 percent of the students graduate and 70 percent go on to attend a four-year college or university, Williams said. The school shares the old Hyde Park High School building with the Boston Community Leadership Academy. New Mission enrolls 293 students, with an average class size of 22. Williams attributes the school’s success to its small size, academic rigor and focus on student support. “Every student takes at least one AP class,” she said. “In order for that to happen, you need to have a lot of support. We want students to finish school with a transcript that shows that they’re competent.” And well-behaved. In the 20132014 academic year, the school reported zero suspensions.
BANNER PHOTO
Natalia Phillips is heading to Bryn Mawr next year after she delivers the valedictory address at New Mission High School’s graduation. Phillips will attend Bryn Mawr College next year, where she plans to major in biology. Outside the classroom, she excelled in sports, playing on the school’s volleyball, softball and track teams. She also broke two BPS records: a 40’ 10” shotput throw that exceeded the previous
protest
continued from page 1 a Ways and Means Committee meeting on the school budget to congratulate the students for their demonstration. “I, for one, am very proud of the young people who are exercising what we need to see, which is real leadership in their generation,” he said.
show me how to take someone’s blood pressure,” she said. For now, Phillips is looking forward to graduation. During the ceremony, students show each other support, she says. “Everybody cheers everyone on. It’s a small school. Everyone knows everyone.”
speak about how children are our future. What would happen to our future if the previous generation slams shut the doors of opportunity in our faces?”
Review Commission last year determined that the funding formula is out of date and does not adequately take into account the costs of health care and special education.
Outside agitators?
Tight budget
At issue is a school budget that city officials acknowledge is not keeping pace with the rising costs at BPS. While Walsh has touted his $13.5 million increase in school funding, that increase is substantially smaller than the $30 million increases the schools received in the last three budgets. The city’s budget has increased by 4 percent, but the BPS budget proposed for fiscal year 2017 has increased by just 1.35 percent. After an earlier student walkout in March, Walsh reversed a series of cuts that would have taken an $800,000 slice from the budget of the Boston Community Leadership Academy. But that school will still likely see $500,000 less in funding this year, due to reductions in funding for students with autism and emotional disabilities, who make up a significant portion of that school’s student body. Other schools facing reductions include Boston Latin School, which is facing a $95,000 cut; Brighton High School, which stands to lose $124,000; Boston Day and Evening, which faces a $150,000 cut and Charlestown High, which is facing the loss of $350,000. The Joseph Lee school in Dorchester, where nearly a third of the students have autism or emotional disabilities, will see its budget slashed by $253,000. The students say they are cognizant of the cuts and their potential
record by a quarter-inch, and a 110’ javelin throw that broke the previous 103’ record. While she plans to compete in college, Phillips’ main objective is to become a surgeon, a dream that grew out of watching her mother work as a nurse in Dominica. “She would take me to work and
BANNER PHOTO
Nathan Tran Trinh and Fania Joseph rally students in front of City Hall during a demonstration last week. effects on their schools. “Marty told us in our faces that we’re not getting cuts,” said Boston Day and Evening Academy senior and demonstration organizer Luis Navarro, referring to a meeting students had with the mayor in March. “But schools are still getting cut. We’re telling him, ‘Please, be honest. We’re not fools.’” Students from schools facing cuts were out on City Hall Plaza last week and in the City Council’s Ianella Chamber to plead for more funding. “The City Council and the mayor are supposed to represent all the people here,” said Angel Peña, a student at the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science. “The cries of our students to fully fund our schools, the cries of our students to help them achieve a better future should be your own. You’re supposed to represent the voice of the people.” Marching from the Boston Common to City Hall, John W.
McCormack Middle School eighth grader Jennifer Tran said she doesn’t want other students to miss out on the opportunities she had at the Dorchester school. “I’m just scared that the people who come to the school next year won’t have the same resources we had,” she said. In City Hall, the students chanted “BPS, BPS,” before joining the hearing in the Ianella Chamber. As the City Council pores over this year’s budget, the students have emerged as the most ardent cheerleaders for the Boston Schools. BPS teachers, parents and members of the Socialist Alternative offered testimony. Angel Peña made a plea to preserve funding at the O’Bryant, where some math and science classes may be eliminated, due to funding cuts. “Imagine the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Sciences with no math and no science,” Peña said. “We often hear politicians
Many of the allegations of outside manipulation of the students, which aired in Boston’s daily papers before and after the walkout, focused on Jackson, who has in recent months been a vocal critic of Walsh’s proposed BPS budget. Jackson showed up at the students’ rally, as did BPS parents and other activists. But Jackson rejected the notion that the students were being goaded to action by adults. “These young people are intelligent enough to know that cuts are being made that will negatively impact their education,” he said. “The rhetoric that suggests that kids need an older person to tell them how to secure their future is an insult the young people.” A spokeswoman for Great Schools Massachusetts, the coalition of groups supporting a ballot measure lifting the cap on the number of charter schools in Massachusetts, issued a press release linking to a Boston Globe story highlighting union involvement in the students’ March walk-out and demonstration. “Boston spends a tremendous amount of resources on public school students,” the press release reads. “According to [the Boston Municipal Research Bureau]: ‘In the current school year, Boston’s budgeted net school spending is $157.6 million above the net school spending required by the state to provide adequate education funding for Boston students.’” Like most school districts in Massachusetts, Boston does spend more than what it is required to spend, as outlined in the state’s foundation budget. But the Legislature’s Foundation Budget
A question of priorities
Jackson says that the city spends a smaller percentage of its budget on education at a time when the city’s revenue collection is higher than ever. “The city of Boston has more tax revenue that it’s ever had since 1630,” he said. “I find it duplicitous for people to have an issue with BPS kids walking out of school, while these same people applauded when children from charter schools were on the Boston Common, wearing matching teeshirts at a rally with the governor.” Although few students spoke about charter schools as they protested budget cuts last week, the Great Schools press release, issued the day before the walkout, underscores the extent to which the battle over public school resources has filtered into the current debate over Boston’s school budget. A BPS-commissioned McKinsey report suggested the district could save money by closing 30 to 50 of its 126 school buildings. Many BPS parents fear the drive to close schools is fueled by the charters’ push to expand in Boston and other Massachusetts cities, a move that enjoys the backing of prominent politicians and local and national foundations. Back on City Hall Plaza, Spaloss said the impact of budget cuts and charter expansion ultimately falls on the students currently in district-run schools. “This issue has to do with us more than anyone else,” he said. “One-fifth of the district’s schools could be closed. We want to keep the funding in the budget. We will continue to fight. We will continue to stand our ground.”
4 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
EDITORIAL
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Established 1965
To your health! Life in America has always been difficult for blacks. According to government data, in 1900 whites lived on average for 15 years longer than blacks. Since then the gap has been closing. In 1990 whites still lived seven years longer, but federal records indicate that the gap narrowed to 3.4 years in 2014. Blacks live an average expectancy of 75.6 years compared to 79 years for whites. The closing of the life expectancy gap has not been constant. In 1982 blacks lived for 69.4 years but longevity dropped to 69.2 years in 1993 because of the effect of AIDS, homicides and the crack epidemic. Nonetheless, the trend was generally up after the 1970s with the expanded availability of Medicare and Medicaid. Advanced medical care became critically important when blacks began living long enough to become victims of cancer after the 1950s. The encouraging information about increased black longevity should inspire people to note what changes induced the improvement. The decline in infant mortality has been significant. Since the 1990s black infant
mortality has declined by 20 percent, twice the rate for whites. That result primarily is due to the fact that births to teenage mothers decreased by 64 percent. Such births have caused a high rate of infant mortality which adversely affected the longevity data. Another factor contributing to closing the racial longevity gap is that the suicide rate for black men dropped during 1999 to 2014. The rate for whites did not. Also, the current opioid crisis has more adversely affected whites, and the rash of urban violence increases the homicide rate for blacks. Several years ago the Banner launched “Be Healthy,” a magazine to inform community residents about medical issues that can be frightfully complex. With medical information from “Be Healthy” and the Affordable Care Act, black Bostonians now enjoy a better level of health than in prior years. The Banner intends to keep readers informed through the continued quarterly publication of “Be Healthy” in addition to health notes on the website.
The death of journalistic responsibility Decades ago, Americans often referred to the press as the Fourth Estate. That was an honorific to acknowledge the critical role of the press in monitoring the nation’s democratic system of government, but that term is not heard so frequently these days as the press has joined with other media to become primarily a source of entertainment. Earlier standards of journalism required that the truth of a statement be verified before it is published. Now the standard has eroded to become no more than that the statement is from a reliable source. The recent assertion by Donald Trump that Hillary Clinton is the “enabler” of her husband’s former infidelity demonstrates the inadequacy of the current standard. First of all, there has been no satisfactory account of what constitutes “enabling” in such a situation. Secondly, there is no explication of the relevance of such implied deviancy to one’s qualifications to be president.
Without greater clarification, the press might just as well have asserted that Hillary refuses to eat her vegetables. There is a reason for such deterioration in journalistic standards. The 24-hour news cycle that has been created by the electronic media has limited the opportunity to research matters before going on the air or to press. This permits someone with limited concern for the esteemed role of the press in a democracy to breach reasonable standards. Nonetheless, the press institutions are still primarily responsible for this deviancy. Trump is known by all to be an experienced TV personality, skilled in attracting an audience. The larger the audience, the more that television programs can charge for advertising. So there is a strong financial incentive to depart from prior journalistic standards. The press has voluntarily surrendered its status as the Fourth Estate in exchange for more robust profits.
I’m not opposed to veteran’s preference but it should be just that: a preference where they get a leg up, not an absolute guarantee of a job, especially at the expense of kids who grew up in this city and where in some cases the veterans are not even from Boston.
Remember when the unions (remember C.A.R.D.?) were trying to support lawsuits because blacks with lower scores were being hired before whites with higher scores? The same thing is happening with veterans right now. Some veterans are being hired with scores lower than civil-
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Opposes military preference
“I guess we better start saving more for a longer retirement.”
ians. But that’s okay because the vast majority of new hires are white. And no one says anything. Serving in the military should not be a prerequisite for getting a civil service job.
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Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 5
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OPINION
Nader elected Bush, now he’s trying to elect Trump
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How do you think the media should respond to Donald Trump?
By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON Ralph Nader is at it again. He’s been conveniently dredged up and trotted in front of a lot of cameras, mics, and reporter’s note pads in recent days. He’s got fresh media shelf life in order to answer one question and beat up on one candidate. The question is can or will Bernie Sanders do a Nader presidential campaign 2000 act and run as an independent when he doesn’t get the Democratic nomination? That won’t happen, and Nader knows it, for the simple fact that Sanders, unlike Nader, is a committed Democrat, and really believes that the key to reforming the political system lies in keeping the heat on the Democratic party from within to move to the left, and stay there. But it’s really the Hillary question that Nader has taken wild flight on. He incessantly bashes, hectors, and harangues her for being as he gleefully puts it, “Hillary the hawk” and a bought and paid for shill for Wall Street. This is the etched in stone stock Nader attack on Clinton. Legions of Sanders’ more rabid backers just as gleefully parrot this line. This can only go one place if it is left to mutate among more than a hard core few such as Nader about Clinton on Election Day. That place is a bee line to the mortal danger of a Trump White House. Nader would be right at home on this stretch of the political highway. Despite endless efforts to rewrite the 2000 presidential campaign and absolve Nader of putting Bush in the White House, history is having none of it. Nader elected Bush. Every polling study done for the 2000 Presidential election found that Nader snatched anywhere from 2 to 5 times more votes from the Democratic candidate, Gore, as he did from the Republican Bush. In both Florida and New Hampshire, the two states that Bush “won,” studies found that Nader voters would have been far more likely to have voted for Gore if Nader weren’t on the ballot than vote for Bush. The much disputed and still hotly debated Florida vote that dumped the election onto the Supreme Court and virtually guaranteed a Bush White House, involved the microscopic 537 vote edge Bush held over Gore. Nader got nearly one hundred thousand votes in the state. If he weren’t on the ballot Florida would have been a comfortable win for Gore. But forget for a moment the volumes of studies that completely blow away the attempt to whitewash Nader’s putting Bush in the White House. How about just using common sense. Now, what would be the likelihood of someone who votes for Nader, the consummate, prototypical, liberal-progressive-corporate -conservative gadfly, doing a complete volte face and voting for a Bush? You’d have to go way beyond fantasy land to conjure up that happening. The oft-heard counter from the Nader apologists is that well, if Nader weren’t on the ballot, his voters would have stayed at home. Yet, using the voter participation percentage index for presidential elections as a guide, there was a 50 percent voter turnout in 2000. This would have meant that even if 50 percent of voters that voted for Nader didn’t vote at all, this still would have given Gore upwards of 10,000 more votes than Bush would have gotten in Florida. Fast forward to presidential campaign 2016, and Nader’s drumbeat attacks on Hillary as just another deal-making, corporate, beltway politician. It’s a short step from this to say that there’s not much difference, and little to choose from, between her and Trump other than that she wears the tag of “Democrat” on her resume. The call is again for a Democratic palace rebellion. In making this claim, some retort that this will further fracture, alienate and demoralize an already nervous, shaky, and uneasy Democratic base, and could only work to the advantage of the GOP, on its head. They claim that Bernie’s political revolution would force the Democratic Party to back the progressive line on everything from labor rights, poverty, battling Wall Street and the corporations, and ending the American war making under threat of losing thousands of votes. That’s a thin reed to hang an election on. There’s much historical evidence to back up the grave peril that warfare within a political party fuels alienation and resentment. This actively aids and abets the other party. The many calls, petitions, and pleas to write in Sanders, vote Green Party, or simply stay home are ominous signs that that could happen. The eternal argument of not voting for the lesser of two evils, in this case Trump or Clinton, will almost certainly rage all the way up to Election Day. Nader almost certainly will be hauled out repeatedly to make the argument that progressive voters should reject all the exhortations from Clinton backers to jump on her bandwagon out of fear of the bogeyman Trump. Hopefully, Nader doesn’t hold himself up as example of what happens when angry Democratic voters say no to a Democratic presidential candidate. That “no” elected Bush, and that same “no” could elect Trump.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.
I think they have boosted him up. I think they should be focusing on the question of whether he’s capable of running the country.
I think they should ignore him. They give him more coverage because he’s controversial. It will hurt Hillary in the long run. I hope America isn’t that stupid.
Lascene Nappier
Joe Davis
Teacher Roxbury
Retired Roxbury
I think they shouldn’t give him preferential treatment. They ask him questions, but he never answers. He’s dodging the bullet.
I think the media should hold him accountable for every word that comes out of his mouth, just like we hold each other accountable.
Kevin Garraway
Joseph Davis
Realtor Dorchester
Painter Dorchester
IN THE NEWS
ROSABELLE FERGUS Sharon Girl Scout and high school freshman Rosabelle Fergus was appointed as a new girl member of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts Board of Directors at its annual meeting May 3. One of four newly elected girl board members, Fergus will serve a one-year term on the board. Young female members of the board of directors play a critical role in helping to determine future direction for Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. In this role, Fergus will learn governance — seeing firsthand how a board creates policies and makes decisions. She will also meet and work alongside influential professional adults and other girls, and have opportunity to voice her opinions on council business. “Electing girls to serve on our board is part of our com-
mitment to providing powerful leadership opportunities for our members,” said Patricia A. Parcellin, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. “We are fortunate to have Rosabelle join our board of directors as a Girl Board Member. Her perspective on how Girl Scouting benefits girls will be invaluable to ensuring that girls have a strong voice in the council’s decision making process.” Fergus’s favorite subject in school is mathematics and she enjoys art. When not involved in Girl Scout activities, Fergus participates in varsity cheerleading and karate. Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is 50,000 strong, with 35,000 girls and 15,000 volunteers in 178 communities in eastern Massachusetts. The organization builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
I think they’re doing a good job. They’re really letting the public know that what he’s saying isn’t right.
Della Mitchell Store Manager Roxbury
They’re not hard enough on him. They need to stop letting him be in control.
Kelvin Burton Unemployed Dorchester
6 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
NEWSBRIEFS VISIT US ONLINE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS: WWW.BAYSTATEBANNER.COM Neighborhood groups join forces Reclaim Roxbury, a community-led effort to take control over Roxbury development decisions, and the Roxbury Neighborhood Council, Inc., a longstanding advocacy organization, are announcing their intention to work together to address neighborhood impact in the midst of rampant development. Boston is experiencing a development boom that is putting pressure on Roxbury. With increasing rents, housing prices, property taxes and the threat of displacement looming over the heads of many, it is time for the people of Roxbury to reestablish control over development. This is the time to be proactive in shaping development decisions by creating a comprehensive, community-driven structure and process for organizing, engagement, governance and community visioning. In order to achieve these objectives, Reclaim Roxbury and the Roxbury Neighborhood Council, Inc. will facilitate a process towards a community-wide election for a new Neighborhood Council in the fall. The next joint meeting will be held at 6pm, on Thursday, May 26th in the Student Center of Roxbury Community College and we urge all Roxbury residents to attend. In the meantime, the two groups have called on Councilor Tito Jackson to ask the BRA for an extension of his previous call for a moratorium on PLAN Dudley’s activities until the end of 2016. This six month extension to the moratorium will give
the residents of Roxbury time to formalize a comprehensive review and approval process that creates largescale participation and development without displacement.
Fresh Start Initiative to provide information on debt to Mass residents The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP), in partnership with DotHouse Health, will launch the Fresh Start Initiative — a free legal clinic that will educate the residents of Massachusetts about various types of debt, inform them of the legal options for debt relief, and provide assistance with filing bankruptcy. The aim of the initiative is to provide eligible residents wider access to volunteer attorneys that are available to assist with bankruptcy matters on a pro bono basis. The partnership between VLP and DotHouse forms a medical-legal partnership that allows DotHouse patients to have access to pro bono attorneys to address debt related matters. Rosa Beriguete, the Community Program Manager at DotHouse says, “There is a strong relationship between finances and health, as debt is a major cause of stress. Stress causes depression, weight gain and overtime deteriorates a person’s well-being. I’m excited about this partnership because the Debt Relief Legal Clinic will not only improve our patient’s financial health, but also their physical and mental health as well.” Designed to be collaborative,
the clinic will be staffed by experienced bankruptcy attorneys who will review legal documents and facilitate a question and answer session. Prospective clients that are interested in filing bankruptcy will be informed of the benefits and disadvantage of bankruptcy, and provided assistance with gathering the required documents needed to file bankruptcy. The clinic will be particularly beneficial for individuals that may have difficulty working with computers or have limited access to the internet, as there will be volunteers available to assist with filling-out web based forms. The Fresh Start Initiative is made possible by a competitively-awarded Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The Legal Services Corporation is a private, non-profit corporation funded by Congress, and is the largest funder of civil legal aid programs in the country. The Pro Bono Innovation Fund Grant was awarded based on proposals that aimed to engage more lawyers in pro bono legal service and increase access to quality legal aid to people that cannot afford legal assistance. According to Attorney Joanna Allison, Acting Executive Director of the Volunteer Lawyers Project, “The goal for our organization, through this initiative, is to expand free legal services in the area of debt relief through the innovative use of volunteers and technology. Often people experience circumstances or traumatic events in life that cause undue financial hardship. This initiative will provide Massachusetts residents
Make Your Summer Count!
that are overburdened with debt — especially victims of domestic violence, or those that have incurred debt due to a disability, foreclosure or divorce — greater access to pro bono legal assistance to obtain debt relief through bankruptcy.” The Volunteer Lawyers Project serves the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan, as well as many other communities in Greater Boston. To have a case accepted for representation, clients must meet financial and other eligibility requirements set by LSC. Upon the launch of the initiative, clinics will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, with the location alternating monthly between DotHouse and the downtown office of the Volunteer Lawyers Project. The first two scheduled clinic dates at DotHouse are Tuesday May 24th and Tuesday July 19th at 4pm.
New playground ceremony at MLK K-8 School
MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO BY DON HARNEY
City officials, teachers and community residents gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new playground at the MLK K-8 School in Dorchester.
Summer Session I Starts May 24th Summer Session II Starts July 5th Fall Semester Starts September 7th
BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Register Now! www.rcc.mass.edu 617-541-5310
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DotHouse Health is located at 1353 Dorchester Avenue Dorchester, MA. 02122. Due to space limitations, reservations are encouraged. The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association is a non-profit legal aid organization that provides legal representation in civil matters to low-income residents of Boston primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys and paralegals. Founded in 1977, it is among the oldest organized pro bono efforts in the country. In 1996, VLP broadened its scope when it became the grantee of the federal Legal Services Corporation for the Greater Boston area. Pro bono services are provided through VLP’s panel of approximately 1,000 attorneys, law students, and paralegals representing all segments of the legal community.
PUBLIC MEETING
RSMPOC PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 6 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
PROJECT PROPONENT: RSMPOC
65 WARREN STREET Dudley Branch Library Auditorium Roxbury MA 02119
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Status update on Roxbury Strategic Master Plan projects. These projects include Parcel 9, Melnea Hotel and Residences, at the intersections of Washington Street, Melnea Cass Blvd, and Shawmut Ave.; Parcel 10, Madison Park Commercial, at the intersection of Washington St. and Melnea Cass Blvd; Parcel P-3, Tremont Crossing mixed use development, at 1290 Tremont St.; and Bartlett Place Development, at 2465 Washington St., in Roxbury.
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Boston Redevelopment Authority One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4320 Hugues.Monestime@boston.gov
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Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7
Batter up! The BASE launches girls’ baseball program ON THE WEB
By SANDRA LARSON
A Boston nonprofit known for combining baseball training and competition with academic and life skills support for boys has launched a new girls’ baseball program. The BASE, headquartered in Roxbury, started with a focus on boys. Founded in 2013 by Robert Lewis Jr. as an evolution of the longstanding Boston Astros team, The BASE’s vision statement includes “combining sports and academic opportunities to transform the lives of black and Latino boys.” In late 2014, a girls’ softball program was added, growing quickly to 200 participants. But The BASE’s core program remains baseball — and now baseball is for girls, too. “We had the softball program, but we found that girls didn’t have many opportunities for baseball, after Little League,” said Linda Antonucci, manager of girls’ baseball operations at The BASE. “I see this as something that is going to get so big — there’s really no one in the country doing girls’ urban baseball.” According to the national nonprofit Baseball for All, more than 100,000 girls play youth baseball in the U.S., but only 1,000 girls play high school baseball, despite the Title IX law that gave girls the right to try out for any sports team that uses public resources. “There are still schools and leagues that don’t allow girls to try out,” said Justine Siegel, Baseball for All’s founder and the first woman to coach a major league baseball team. “We have a cultural myth that boys play baseball and girls play softball. [But] once girls are told baseball is for them, they’re interested in playing.”
Gearing up
The BASE’s new program is still in the recruiting stage. This first year, the program will be an “instructional league,” Antonucci said, focusing on teaching girls how to play and acquainting them with The BASE’s activities and culture. On a recent Tuesday evening, The BASE’s two indoor batting cages hummed with activity during girls-only batting practice. One after another, girls in the softball program stepped up to take a turn, swinging the bat to pound a bucket of softballs to the far wall. If all goes well, the girls’ baseball practice sessions will reach this level, too, said operations
THE BASE: http://www.thebase.org BASEBALL for All: http://www.baseball forall.com ALL-AMERICAN Girls Professional Baseball League: http://www.aagpbl.org
PHOTO: SANDRA LARSON
Batter up during girls’ softball practice at The BASE. The Roxbury-based nonprofit will soon begin offering girls’ baseball. manager Karla Aguilar, who will be assisting and coaching in the girls’ baseball program. As girls sign up, they’ll attend their own baseball instruction and practice sessions on Wednesdays. Down a hallway, the scene changed to academic discipline. All ballplayers are expected to spend 30 minutes doing homework before they hit the batting cages after school, Aguilar explained. Young people just arriving chatted and sat down at tables to do homework; three teen boys listened as an instructor from the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology presented slides for a political science class that can earn the teens college credit. Shelves along the wall hold stacks of college and SAT prep guides. Open seven days a week, The BASE’s headquarters offers a welcoming space that keeps teens engaged with each other and with adults. “The BASE is my second family,” said Jalicia Morgan, 18, a Boston Community Leadership Academy senior who started in The BASE’s softball program a year ago. “I come here almost every day. Even when we don’t have practice, I come and talk to the staff, do homework.” Morgan will be entering Wentworth Institute of Technology this fall with plans to study civil
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engineering. While she didn’t have a chance to try baseball at The BASE, she is excited to say that her 11-year-old sister is joining the new program. The BASE Founder and President, Robert Lewis Jr. has been involved in baseball for 38 years. He said plans for a girls’ program were sparked last year when young women began voicing interest in baseball and wondering
why they had so few chances to play after Little League. Now, he said, “The girls are saying, ‘We want to make sure we get the same training as the boys. Are you getting us ready to be champions?’” And indeed, the girls will receive everything the boys do, “from coaches to equipment, training, conditioning, uniforms, play and travel to national
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tournaments,” Lewis said. The new girls’ program was announced at a fall 2015 gala, with excitement heightened by the presence of two pioneers of women’s professional baseball, Maybelle Blair and Shirley Burkovich. The two spoke of their days in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the mid-20th century, the era that was the basis for the film, “A League of Their Own.” In addition, Lewis noted, The BASE’s new Women’s Leadership Council — co-chaired by Janelle Woods-McNish, Director of Giving and Service at Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare Foundation and Darla Pires DeGrace, Boston Chapter President of the National Black MBA Association, along with BASE Board Member Danny Levy, Massport’s director of strategic communications and marketing — will be an important force in raising money and providing girls mentorship and connections. Recruiting for girls’ baseball is still in full swing; interested girls and their families can learn more by contacting Linda Antonucci or Karla Aguilar at 617-606-7137, by visiting The BASE’s website, www.thebase.org, or by emailing info@thebase.org.
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8 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
In election year, more immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship By ANTHONY ADVINCULA, NEW AMERICAN MEDIA
For more than a decade, Jannette Diep has been helping immigrants apply for U.S. citizenship. But as the presidential election looms, Diep, the executive director of Boat People SOS, says she has seen a rising interest among immigrants in becoming U.S. citizens. More immigrants are going to community centers like hers to find out how to become a U.S. citizen, she said. The number of people applying for U.S. citizenship shows an uptick during presidential election years, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). “They come to our office or call us,” said Diep. “They’re very eager to get their citizenship.” The good news, she said, is that applying for citizenship is easier than people think. Boat People SOS and other organizations across Houston are providing free and low-cost services to help Houstonians take the step to become U.S. citizens. The effort is part of the New Americans Campaign, a national, nonpartisan campaign now in its fifth year that helps legal permanent residents take the step to become citizens. The organizations host free workshops where legal permanent residents can get help with their applications. They help eligible immigrants access fee and language waivers. They also offer English language and civics classes. Mariana Sanchez, chief operating officer of Bonding Against
Adversity, said that between January and April, her organization alone has helped more than 1,000 immigrants file their citizenship applications. “We’re hoping that more and more will apply,” she said. There are about 8.8 million immigrants in the United States eligible for naturalization, and about 350,000 live in the Houston area, according to Benito Juarez, manager for immigrant and refugee issues at the Houston Mayor’s Office of International Communities and Refugee Affairs. “If they’d be able to vote, then they’d become part of the life of the city,” Juarez said at an ethnic media briefing in Houston. “They’d become more active [in civic engagement].” The naturalization process, from the time an applicant sends in the application to an interview with an immigration officer and taking part in the actual swearing-in ceremony, can take five to six months. That means that many immigrants are applying to become U.S. citizens now, in the hope that they will be able to register to vote in time for November. Some newly naturalized citizens say being able to exercise their right to vote is the main factor that prompted them to apply for citizenship. “Now that I can vote, this gives me a sense of ownership to be part of this country,” said Ming Shen, an immigrant from Taiwan who became a U.S. citizen earlier this year. “I’m very glad that my voice can be heard in this country.” But the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen extend far beyond November. U.S. citizens can petition family members, travel freely outside the United States, have
immunity from deportation, and get a job with the federal government. Tien Nguyen, a recently naturalized U.S. citizen from Vietnam, said that becoming a U.S. citizen allows him to travel without worrying whether he will be let back into the country. “I can now travel freely as an American,” said Nguyen. Research has shown that becoming a U.S. citizen is also associated with an increase in income. Since he became a U.S. citizen
this year, Mateo Amador Perez says he got a better-paying job and the quality of life of his family has improved. “I decided to naturalize because I knew it will bring more opportunities for me and my family,” said Amador Perez, who is originally from Mexico. “I wanted them to have the best future that I could give.” Texas State Representative Gene Wu, who spoke at the press briefing, echoed the sentiments of the newly
naturalized citizens. Forty percent of the people in his district are foreign-born, he said. “My family, myself — we are all immigrants ourselves,” Wu said. “Being an American citizen is something that I have been very proud of.”
ON THE WEB For more information about the New Americans Campaign and upcoming citizenship workshops, go to www.newamericanscampaign.org.
Mildred Haley Apartments renaming ceremony
MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO BY ISABEL LEON
Mayor Martin Walsh attends the Renaming Ceremony for the Mildred Haley Apartments, formerly called Bromley Heath. Mildred Haley was a longtime activist and contributor to the Bromley Heath community.
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Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9
Paid family, medical leave bill advances By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
When their child is injured or seriously ill, some workers cannot afford to take time off to provide care. But a bill advancing in the State House could help change that. The bill passed Monday in the state Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development with a 10-0 vote and moved to the House of Representatives. If enacted, the bill would guarantee nearly all employees in the state have access to job-protected paid leave to care for others and themselves. The bill’s provisions extend to helping their spouse, a child under 21 years, parent or legal guardian, in cases of injury or severe illness; caring for a child following her or his birth, adoption, or placement through foster care; and recovering from a non-work related serious health condition. A statewide insurance program would be established to fund wages during the leave period. If Massachusetts passes the bill, the state will become the fifth to ensure job-protected paid leave, joining California, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York.
Expected benefits
Currently, those who are least likely to receive wage replacement leave are blacks, Latinos, women, low-wage and low-income workers and those who work at firms with fewer than 50 employees, according to a study recently released by UMass Boston. This inequity can exacerbate earning gaps. Not only do workers forced to take unpaid
leave face financial hardships, but also, the study states, “workers without paid leave are more likely to leave the labor force than workers that receive pay [to take leave].” Proponents say the proposed bill provides important quality of life protections for employees and benefits businesses by reducing employee turnover and allowing for a more focused, productive workforce. “When employees can take time off when they or a close family member is sick, or after the birth of a child, they’re healthier and more productive when they come back to work,” said Beth Monaghan, board member of the Alliance for Business Leadership and cofounder of InkHouse, in a Raise Up Massachusetts press release. InkHouse has employees in Massachusetts and in California, which passed a similar law in 2002. “Because California has a statewide paid family and medical leave program, it’s cheaper and easier for us to give our employees there paid leave when they need it. By pooling costs and risk together, paid family and medical leave will allow all Massachusetts businesses, large and small, to offer this important benefit that helps our employees and our bottom line.”
What’s provided
Under the bill, each year employees could take up to 12 weeks off to care for family members and new children, and 26 weeks off for their own recovery from conditions sustained outside of work — for instance, injuries from a
vehicular collision. There are certain stipulations and limits: The combined total of leave taken cannot exceed 26 weeks, and in some cases, there is a one-week waiting period before benefits can be received. To be eligible for coverage, individuals also would have to have been employed in the state for a certain amount of time. During their leave, employees would continue to hold health insurance benefits and would receive between 50 to 90 percent of what they typically earn in a week, capped at $650/week. For weekly wages equaling up to 30 percent of the statewide average, workers would receive 90 percent. (In 2015, this amounted to $377, according to the UMass study.) Workers would receive 33 percent of any earnings greater than 30 percent of the average. The bill departs from the 1993 federal Family and Medical Leave Act and 2015 Massachusetts Parental Leave Act in several ways. It requires that the leave be paid and protections be extended more widely — only federal and local government employees would not be covered under bill. The bill also increases the scope from covering children until age 18 to until age 21. Employers would be prohibited from retaliating against employees who take this leave and required to reinstate them in the same jobs or ones with substantially similar working conditions, such as pay, benefits and status. The attorney general office’s Fair Labor Division would be responsible for assuring the law is enforced.
ON THE WEB UMASS study: https://www. umb.edu/editor_uploads/images/ centers_institutes/center_women_pol itics/ItsAboutTime_UMassBoston_ May2016ReportAndExecSummary.pdf
Insurance program
Funding for wage replacement during leave would be handled through insurance programs. All non-government employers would make regular contributions into a to-be-established Family
and Employment Security Trust Fund, run by the state treasurer. Should employees need wage replacement, it would be paid out of this fund. Employers would also be allowed to require employees contribute up to 50 percent of the premium cost. The UMass researchers estimate the average cost to cover one employee would be $159 per year, or about $3 per week. Alternatively, employers could use private insurance plans, if the coverage represents similar or better quality.
“I Am College Bound” gala
PHOTO: ADAM KANE MACCHIA
College Bound Dorchester CEO Mark Culliton, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce President and CEO James Rooney and Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins were among the more than 300 people who gathered at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center for nonprofit’s annual gala “I Am College Bound.”
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Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11
City program provides rent relief By YAWU MILLER
City officials announced Monday an initiative that will provide funding for the preservation of low- and moderate-income housing in Boston. The city has committed $7.5 million to its new Acquisition Opportunity Program, through which real estate investors will qualify for funding to acquire rental properties if they agree to maintain at least 40 percent of the units as affordable to those making no more than 60 percent of the Area Median Income. “Boston is committed to making our city a home for everyone, no matter their age, background or financial status. This $7 million investment is another leap towards creating affordable housing for all our residents,” said Mayor Martin Walsh. “We are committed to growing our affordable housing stock, and programs like the Acquisition Opportunity Program ensure that Boston residents will not be priced out of their homes and neighborhoods.” The initiative is designed to stem the displacement of lowand moderate-income renters from Boston’s overheated rental market. Under its provisions, investors will be required to
maintain affordable rents for 50 years. If a tenant leaves a unit, the unit will remain deed-restricted as affordable. “We’re asking developers to acquire existing buildings that are occupied,” said Department of Neighborhood Development Director Sheila Dillon. To be eligible for the program, developers will have to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to acquire the rental units and the management experience to maintain them. Developers will participate in a competitive RFP process. The city will certify developers that they qualify for the loans, which can be used in a competitive bidding process. The program’s $7.5 million in funding will be drawn from the city’s Inclusionary Development Fund, into which developers of large housing projects pay in lieu of including the required 12 percent on site affordable units. The funding will provide $75,000 per affordable unit, for an initial 100 units. “We’re going to evaluate this program and see how it works,” Dillon said. The Department of Neighborhood Development currently is pre-approving prospective buyers. “We’re hopeful that we get a lot of properties under agreement very quickly,” Dillon said.
Pressing need
The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Boston currently is $2,815, according to Rentjungle. com. In order to afford that rent, a family would have to earn $120,900 per year, according to SmartAsset. com, which based its calculation on a 28 percent rent-to-income ratio. Families that pay more than 30
percent of their income are considered cost-burdened. Because half of all Boston residents earn less than $35,000 a year, the city has an unusually high percentage of cost-burdened renters. The Walsh administration has set a goal of producing 53,000 new units of housing to relieve the pressure on the city’s real estate market. The plan, released in 2014, called for the creation of 20,000 units of workforce housing — housing
affordable to middle-income residents. But state and federal funding for such housing has declined in recent years. Dillon said city officials are exploring a number of options to meet the housing needs of low- and moderate-income Bostonians. “This is just another tool to get at our housing goals,” she said of the Acquisition Opportunity Program.” We’re going to continue all of our housing projects.”
American Legion Playground opened in Dorchester
MAYOR’S OFFICE PHOTO BY ISABEL LEON
Workers with the City of Boston Parks Department and Mayor Martin Walsh cut the ribbon to celebrate the Opening of the new American Legion Playground in Dorchester.
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12 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
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BIZ BITS TIP OF THE WEEK
How to keep a small business running during a move Small businesses relocate for many reasons. Business may be booming and you need a bigger facility to keep up. Perhaps you added staff and everyone’s tired of being elbow-to-elbow in your current office. Whatever the reason for your small business move, some simple steps can make the process as easy and cost-effective as possible. “Just as individuals and families tend to move more when the weather warms, spring and summer are great times for a small business to move,” says Anita Campbell, founder, CEO and publisher of Small Business Trends. “In fact, May is National Moving Month! However, small businesses may worry about moving costs and challenges getting in the way of their day-to-day operations, but moving doesn’t have to mean putting your business on hold.” Campbell offers some advice for small businesses about to relocate: n Create a plan to help minimize the inevitable disruption of moving. “Meet with key team members and make lists — lots of lists,” Campbell says. “Outline what has to be organized, coordinated and physically moved. Consider everything.” Your plan should include a timeline and schedule for your move. Detail every aspect and when it should happen, and make sure everyone on the team is aware of the timeline. n If you’re a one- or two-person show, you may be able to accomplish your move on your own, doing all your own packing and renting a moving truck. However, for multi-person offices, it may be best to leave moving to the pros. When getting quotes, be sure to have the moving company come to your site and review your operation to ensure the quote is as accurate as possible. Shop multiple companies that specialize in moving small businesses, read their online reviews and be sure to check their insurance coverage. n Even if you’re having your business professionally moved, some items you’ll want to transport on your own. Campbell recommends stocking up on moving necessities like packing tape, boxes, paper and bubble roll at Staples. Remember different items will require different sizes and styles of boxes. For example, fragile or heavy items will require reinforced boxes, while bankers boxes are ideal for file folders. n Plan where everything will go in your new location before you get there. Don’t wait until your operation is on-site; begin organizing right away. n Stay productive by scheduling your move during off hours or days. Put critical documents and data on a cloud service so you can access it while computers are in transit. Let everyone know when and where you’ll be moving by using Staples Print and Marketing services to print and send out announcement cards to clients and customers prior to the move. n “Moving is an opportunity to declutter, saving time and money because the less you have to move the lower the costs of moving,” Campbell says. “Moving also is an opportunity to innovate or upgrade. You might decide to replace old, uncomfortable office chairs. It may turn out to be cheaper to buy new desks and have them delivered than to move the old ones that have seen better days.” See BIZ BITS, page 13
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Mobile Cuts on the move Barber, marketing professional launch mobile venture By MARTIN DESMARAIS
In today’s on-the-go culture it is probably not a surprise to see a mobile barbershop when everything seems to be available on the fly, but in Boston you’ll only find one. For startup Mobile Cuts Boston, which officially hit the streets in January 2015, that is not a bad thing. However, for co-founders Christopher Roberts and Montrez Williams, it is also a challenge because there isn’t an example of how to make their mobile barbershop business a success. The closest they could come to finding a similar concept is in Los Angeles, but that is long way off and a country apart in terms of the business environment. So Roberts and Williams are full speed ahead without a roadmap. “What we are doing is groundbreaking and innovating,” said Williams. “There is no other model that we can look at to say we can go from here … We are learning as we go.” By design, Mobile Cuts sounds exactly like it is: a mobile barbershop that offers barbershop services that range from a buzz cut for $25 to an artistic shave for $45. The Elite package includes a cut, shampoo, scalp manipulation and shoe shine for $50. The Executive package offers a cut, shampoo, scalp and face massage, hot towel, straight-razor shave and shoe shine for $75. The business model is capitalizing on the advantage of being on the move and going to where the customers are, but Roberts and Williams want customers to forget about that once they step on the Mobile Cuts truck. “We want a barbershop feel and a lounge feel at the same time. We want it to be welcoming so when you walk in here it is an experience,” said Williams. “I know we are not a typical barbershop because we are on wheels, but we want to make it feel comfortable and at home for people.” Mobile Cuts’ barbershop expertise comes from Roberts, who is a master barber and has more than three decades of experience working around the city. Williams, who graduated from Emerson College, puts to work his degree in business administration and marketing to run that side of the company. Both Williams and Roberts are Boston-born and raised — Williams in Dorchester and Roberts in Roxbury. The interior design of the mobile barbershop certainly leaves the street corner quickly behind with comfortable leather barber chairs, wooded counters and trimmings and a lounge waiting area in the back. Roberts calls it an intimate setting. “We try to keep it real soothing
PHOTOS: MARTIN DESMARAIS
Above, Mobile Cuts Boston co-founders (l-r) Montrez Williams and Christopher Roberts target their mobile barbershop business toward companies and corporate office buildings that want to provide extra services to employees on location during work hours. Below, Mobile Cuts Boston co-founder Christopher Roberts, a certified Master Barber, at work in the company’s mobile barbershop truck.
ON THE WEB If you see Mobile Cuts’ mobile barbershop
— a converted RV — rolling down the street or parked on the corner it’s hard not to think what a great idea company co-founders certainly had. Visit Mobile Cuts online at www.mobilecutsbos.com
and relaxing. It is a nice environment. The client has a personal relationship with me so once they are here it is just us, one-on-one,” Roberts said. “To be in Mobile Cuts it is a beautiful experience all around.”
Steady clients
Since Mobile Cuts features a large truck and parks on the street the easy association would be with food trucks. But Mobile Cuts business model is different. Food trucks benefit from lots of foot traffic in public places and can rake in big bucks from one-time customers. Mobile Cuts does take walk-ins, but most of the business is done through appointments, so repeat customers are critical to keep revenue coming in. While food trucks deal with the city and permitting to be on public streets, Mobile Cuts focuses on corporate locations and private property. The mobile barbershop doesn’t need public permits as they get the OK from companies or office buildings to serve tenants and park on their locations. Mobile Cuts is capitalizing on the growing trend of companies and corporate office parks offering services to employees through vendors and mobile businesses that come for one day a week or for a couple hours at a time. Such services range from yoga to fitness classes to car washes to dry cleaning to pop-up restaurants. These services all benefit from
a set schedule — employees know exactly what day of the week or times they will be there — and also promotion from the company or building. Williams works with company or building coordinators to get out information about Mobile Cuts and point interested customers to the website or mobile app to book an appointment. While
the sight of a 40-foot-long mobile barbershop definitely draws some curiosity by those walking by and some may book appointments, Mobile Cuts can only succeed if they already have a slate of appointments on the books when they pull up to a location. Mobile Cuts will typically spend
See MOBILE CUTS, page 13
Thursday, March 31, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17 Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13
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Mobile Cuts
Sojourner Truth Award
continued from page 12
PHOTO: COURTESY NANB&PW CLUBST
Ms. Jan Butler (right), President of The Boston & Vicinity Club of the NANB&PW Clubs, Inc., recently presented the Sojourner Truth Award (highest award) to Dr. Karen Winkfield, Director of Hematologic Radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital, on April 30, 2016.
about four hours at a location, mostly around lunchtime, and can handle about two to three appointments an hour. Roberts is the main barber, but the company employs two other barbers that help when needed. According to Williams, the goal is to have a set location established for every day of the week. The Company needs at least five to six days a week to hit the revenue it needs to be successful. Right now, Mobile Cuts is at one corporate location every week and is trying out other locations to establish more of that work. The ideal client is the busy professional who doesn’t have the time to visit a traditional brickand-mortar barbershop and can benefit from a lunch-time appointment right outside the building where he works. With all the companies around Boston, Williams sees no shortage of opportunity for Mobile Cuts. They just have to hustle and get the name and brand out there. Williams’ marketing background comes into play in this. Roberts and Williams also started a marketing and event planning company, Exclusive Clientele Brands, that handles the boat load of focus on making Mobile Cuts the name in mobile barbershops.
They have a broader vision for Mobile Cuts that includes expansion and more trucks, but want to solidify the business first. The pair first met in a barbershop when Roberts became Williams’ barber. They have been kicking around ideas to start their own barbershop business for over a decade. They first tried to open up a traditional barbershop location, but weren’t able to get it off the ground and realized in the process that such a business was easily lost in a sea of similar options. Williams said the food truck business explosion in Boston in recent years did initially give them the idea to start a mobile barbershop business, but once they researched how they would do so they realized they couldn’t just run it like a food truck and started to focus on the connection with corporate locations. So far Roberts and Williams have funded the startup out of their own pocket and run the business out of Fields Corner Business Lab in Dorchester, but they said the pressure is on to make the business work and hit enough revenue to cover operations. But they have confidence about the prospects. “We feel really good where we are at. We are being perceived well. Everywhere we go, everybody is talking about it, everybody has an ‘ah’ moment about it,” Williams added. “That alone I feel good about.”
Biz Bits
continued from page 12 n Once you’re set up in your new location, let everyone know where you’ve landed. Update your online profiles, including your company’s Facebook page, your personal LinkedIn account, your company blog and website, and all your social media accounts. Use Staples’ Print and Marketing Services to update all your marketing materials like letterhead, brochures, signage and change of address cards. “Moving doesn’t have to interrupt your small business operations,” Campbell says. “With some planning and help from resources like Staples, you can make your small business move easy and smooth.” — Brandpoint
NUMBER TO KNOW
60
percent: According to a recent report by Harris Poll on behalf of Careerbuilder.com, 60 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, up from 52 percent in 2015 and 11 percent in 2006. The national online survey of 2,186 hiring managers found that hiring managers in IT and sales are most likely to use social networks to screen candidates.
TECH TALK Waverly Labs, a New York City-based tech company, has created the Pilot wearable that after a small pause allows the wearer to hear a translation of a spoken foreign language to the wearer’s native one. The device works offline via a mobile app and downloadable language packs. A pre-order for the $300 Pilot launches on May 25 but production isn’t planned to start until 2017. — More Content Now
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14 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER 14 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
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Haute House University (Business of Fashion) 1 day workshop hosted by Microsoft Fashion Incubator Program Launch: On May 14th, 2016 The highly anticipated Haute House University (Business of Fashion) 1 day workshop hosted by Microsoft, was a mix of fashion related start ups, designers and creative professionals of Boston! 30 budding entrepreneurs gathered for a powerful day of interactive learning, exclusive access to international internships and manufacturing. Courses taught by industry leaders in various sectors of fashion and business teaching Conscious Design, Business Strategy, Marketing, Styling and more! For all interested in attending our next workshop please email us to register at info@thehautehouse.com.
PHOTOS: KASEY CANZANO
Top left: Nancy Guetssoyan from Style Fashion Week, elite International Fashion Runway Platform. Bottom right: students participating in an interactive group project researching a celebrity on the new Microsoft Surface Pros for the style portion of the workshop.
2016 RENTAL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN All private rental properties in the City of Boston must be registered annually by July 1 with the Inspectional Services Department.
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AFTER WORK
YOUNG. BLACK. BOSTON. A new bi-weekly page in the
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Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15
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Ignorance is bliss — and other lies Artist Walid Raad rights cultural wrongs at the ICA
Anthony Weiner film plays in Kendall
Eve Ensler’s one-woman show, “In the Body of the World,” draws parallels between her own experience of surviving uterine cancer with gripping tales from war zones. PHOTO: COURTESY AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER
Josh Kriegman talks about the making of his documentary
By CELINA COLBY
Ignorance is a powerful weapon in an age where Donald Trump is a political frontrunner and internet comment sections are more crowded than Disney World. Lebanese artist Walid Raad confronts misguided conceptions of Arab nations in his exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art, on view through May 30. The multi-layered exhibit features several walls of photographs, a video piece and a walk-through installation that comes accompanied by a 55-minute presentation recorded by Raad himself. “Let’s be honest, the weather helped,” a series of collages, opens the show. Each work features a photograph of a location, sketches of the anatomy of a bullet and round, colorful stickers. The stickers signify where Raad found bullets on the photographed site. With some research, Raad discovered that the colored lines on the bullets indicated manufacturer and country of origin. These are the colors he uses to pepper his collages. The effect is unnerving. In some cases the collages are aesthetically beautiful, showers of dots coloring a bleak, war-torn landscape. But the knowledge that the stickers represent bullets brings a sinister edge to the work.
Pliable truth
A number of the photographs and a video piece are presented as being part of the Atlas Group Archive, a project that compiles cultural remnants from the Western hostage crisis in Lebanon during the civil war. This is an entirely fictional recreation of a historical period, and Raad goes as far as to attribute the works to imaginary artists who documented these events. Raad comments here on how easily historical accounts can be manipulated, especially once the media gets involved. When it’s so easy to create a convincing fiction of an event, how can we know what historical “truth” really is? “Hostage: The Bachar Tapes” is a fictional documentary about a man named Souheil Bachar, who was
See RAAD, page 17
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By COLETTE GREENSTEIN
A long-held passion for documentary filmmaking led Josh Kriegman from a career in politics to a career behind the camera. Kriegman, who served as Anthony Weiner’s chief of staff for two years when he was in Congress, knew that the former U.S. representative would be a great subject for a documentary. “I got to know him well through working with him and obviously got to recognize what a dynamic and interesting and sort of fascinating person he was, and this was years before the scandal,” said Kriegman, who was in Boston earlier this month promoting the film.
Getting to ‘yes’
AT DEATH’S DOOR EVE ENSLER’S POWERFUL NEW PLAY DEBUTS AT A.R.T.
BY CELINA COLBY
E
ve Ensler stands alone on stage before a packed house at the American Repertory Theatre during the world premiere performance of her one-woman show, “In the Body of the World.” Her chest heaves as uneven tufts of hair sprout from her chemo-ridden scalp. To a horrified audience she describes rebels in a war torn Congo, who sliced open a pregnant woman’s stomach and watched her half-formed fetus tumble out. She tells us how they dropped the baby into a boiling pot, how they stabbed it repeatedly, how they told the mother that she must eat the remains or be shot. Eve stares at us, choking slightly at the memory. “That,” she says, “Was the moment I wished to die.”
Ensler has been a champion of womanhood and feminism for decades. In 1996, her play “The Vagina Monologues” rocked the crusade for equal rights, and served as an anthem for oppressed, abused women everywhere. “In the Body of the World” incorporates these feminist beliefs, but it is mostly a story about cancer, a story about death. In a cruelly ironic twist, Ensler was diagnosed with uterine cancer after years of discussing female reproduction on an international scale. Her
See ENSLER, page 17
Winner of the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival this past January, “Wiener” is co-directed by Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg. It gives an unflinching behindthe-scenes look at the 2013 tumultuous political campaign and personal life of the former congressman’s bid to become mayor of New York City — two years after resigning from Congress because of a sexting scandal. It took a couple of years of back-and-forth conversations between Weiner and Kriegman discussing the idea and the possibilities of making the documentary, and whether he’d be open to it, according to the filmmaker. “It really got to the point where he was intrigued, but I thought he was thinking ‘I’m not really going to go for it.’ He was thinking of running for mayor. And so that was that,” said Kriegman. But one morning the director got the answer that he had been waiting for. On the morning that Wiener announced he was running for mayor, the director received a text from the congressman saying “I’m in the race. With my staff today. At my apartment. Do you want to come with a camera?” Kriegman recalled he “literally leaped out of bed, grabbed his camera and went
See “WEINER,” page 17
IF YOU GO Sundance Selects’ ‘Weiner’ opens at the Landmark Kendall Square Cinema on Friday.
16 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
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One-on-one with News One Now’s Roland Martin A CLOSER LOOK
By COLETTE GREENSTEIN
In a career that includes print, radio, television, and digital, Roland S. Martin has continually pushed the envelope for excellence in journalism by asking the tough questions and demanding answers, doing the research, and challenging those who simply throw out facts without being able to back them up. Named Journalist of the Year in 2013 by the National Association of Black Journalists, Martin is host and managing editor of TV One’s first national daily news program, “News One Now.” The program presents issues and stories from the world of politics, entertainment, sports and culture that have an impact on the African American community. In 2016, News One Now received its first NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special). Martin, who was in Boston on May 17 for the INTX: The Television and Internet Expo at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, spoke to the Banner about his role as managing editor of “News One Now,” the current media landscape and the importance of good journalism.
You seem to me to be on a crusade to make sure Americans are accountable
Watch Roland Martin weekdays from 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. ET on TV One’s “News One Now.”
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE FRONT PAGE FIRM
News One Now host and managing editor Roland Martin, actress Teyonah Parris, TV One President Bradley Siegel and actor Malik Yoba.
by holding our feet to the fire in terms of the important issues of the day, from race to politics. Why is that important to you? Roland Martin: First and foremost, I wouldn’t call it a crusade. It’s really what any journalist should do. I think one of the mistakes we often make is that we allow conversations to take place and we don’t check folks while it’s happening. People will make comments factually incorrect. They’ll make assumptions. And then we fall to the trap of ‘Well, I really can’t press somebody because I don’t want to be perceived as being on
one side or the other.’ Whereas my position is ‘No.’ You must challenge someone, and I believe the biggest mistake in media today, especially with mainstream media, is that there’s an unwillingness to be able to challenge people where they are and to confront them on the issues that are often ignored. We have a unique responsibility because of the audience that we serve to do that. I don’t want someone to turn to TV One and essentially see “Morning Joe,” from MSNBC, CNN”s “New Day,” “Fox & Friends,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning” and I’m seeing
the same show with all black faces. There has to be another objective, another focal point.
What frustrates you about the current media landscape? RM: I think what frustrates me the most is an unwillingness to take a deep dive into issues dealing with race where it’s abundantly clear. How many times can CNN and Don Lemon have an “N-word” conversation, but then will they go as in depth to deal with the racial animosity that exists among Donald Trump supporters? I was watching “Morning Joe” having
a conversation about this anger among white men and the opportunities they’ve lost since the early ’70s, and they just sort of glossed right over it, as opposed to asking the deeper question, ‘How can many of these same white men complain about economic opportunities when a lot of them are union members and they’re voting against their own special interests?’ And I’m watching it, I’m listening to it, and they sort of ran right by it. That is what really jumps out. This unwillingness to go there as it relates to white voters but will quickly go there when it comes to African Americans. You’ll see a significant debate after a black riot or whatever. White kids lose their minds — you don’t see a questioning of their upbringing, their morals, their values. You don’t see anyone asking where their fathers are, stuff along those lines. And you’ll see those double standards.
I saw the interview with Pastor Steve Parson. It was amazing that he thought he could get away with not answering your questions about what the pastors spoke about with Donald Trump. RM: That’s a mistake again,
See MARTIN, page 18
Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17
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Raad
Ensler
supposedly held captive with a group of Westerners during the war. Bachar speaks in front of the camera for some time about his experience with abuse, violence and captivity during this period. “Each man experiences captivity in his own way,” the actor playing Bachar says into the camera. These are exactly the kinds of testimonies that emerged from the crisis in the early ‘80s and ‘90s. But by using a man who’s theoretically local, Raad points out the discrepancies in a story that revolved around Western hostages only.
fight to survive led to a renewed perspective on her body and her relationship with the world. Three parts constitute the play: Somnolent, Burning and Second Wind. The deeply personal content oscillates between tragedy and humor, allowing Ensler to tell her painful story with a positive, powerful voice. The two main threads of the story are of her battle against the cancer and her experience working with women in the Congo.
continued from page 15
continued from page 15
But just as the illness permeates Ensler’s body, so it permeates the rest of her life, bringing up familial relationships and past scars. The set design is simple and flexible, serving at once as a hospital bed, Ensler’s living room and the crowded chaos of an equal rights rally. During her illness, Ensler underscores her deepening connection with nature, particularly trees. At the end, the wall behind her opens up to show a forest of live trees and flowers. Just as Ensler opened up herself and found a new strength, a new will to survive, so the stage opens up to reveal a flourishing life from
the ashes of the old one. In Somnolent, Ensler embarks on a deeply human search for reason, even if it will do nothing to alter her current situation. Sitting in a hospital bed, pushing a button that induces a rush of pain medication, she asks, “Was it the Tab? Was it the TV dinners? Was it feeling too much or not enough?” Perhaps the most striking part of Ensler’s incredible ability to overcome obstacles is her humility. Having seen such brutal treatment in the Congo, having worked with suffering women her whole life, she never once complains. She never
presumes to have gotten a bad lot. She has seen so many worse things than death. “In the Body of the World” is not a play for women. It is not a play for the abused and emotionally distressed. It is not a play for people with cancer. It is a play for humanity. Ensler takes our deepest, darkest fears and tears them from our chests, forcing us to confront them. She suggests that we must talk about death, about sickness, about rape — and in challenging these events we can get through them. She warns us, “It is where we do not live that dying comes.”
Walk-through installation
In the walk-through installation, Raad turns his cultural criticism onto the art world. When museums, art fairs and galleries swept into Arab countries, the creators categorized the artwork they found there into generic groups. Arab art was “Islamic,” “Modern,” or “Contemporary” and nothing else. This is a sharp contrast to the dozens of categories for Western art, which is carefully separated to represent different time periods and styles. In this way, Westerners were creating their own version of Arab art history. Raad’s work is sharp, critical and at times comical. It’s extremely complex, as are the histories and artworks that he feels have been appropriated and restyled by ignorant outsiders.
Memorial Day
Open House at the MFA Free Admission for All! Monday, May 30, 2016 | 10 am–5 pm Join us for family art-making activities, performances, and gallery tours.
‘Weiner’
continued from page 15 over and began shooting the campaign.” With the documentary, Steinberg and Kriegman wanted to show a real person with a heart and soul and feelings behind all the jokes and tawdry headlines. “I think our intention with the film really was to take this person who had very much been reduced to this punchline by the scandal — very much became, I think, in the eyes of many, a caricature version of himself. I had known him as a more complete person, as a human being, in addition to his flaws, with tremendous talents and a really multi-faceted and dynamic, nuanced complex person,” stated Kriegman.
Up close
The documentary does just that. It shows the rich complexity of Weiner and gives a glimpse into his life — warts and all. When asked why Weiner agreed to being filmed, Kriegman said that he thought that the former Congressman “was hopeful that there could be a version of this story that went beyond the punchline version, the New York Post headline version. I think that was the motivation. I think that he had some sense that there might be some value to having a camera in the room capturing more than just what the media was going to report on in terms of the scandal. I think that’s what ultimately persuaded him to let us film and to keep filming throughout.”
mfa.org/memorialday Memorial Day Open House generously supported by MFA Associates/MFA Senior Associates.
18 • Thursday, May 26, 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
Martin
continued from page 16 when you have journalists unwilling to get the answer. My issue wasn’t that Trump met with black pastors, as I said in that interview. Many Republicans had met with black pastors. The problem was that he couldn’t even say what they talked about. That interview was scheduled to be probably eight minutes but ended up being 18:24 because I would not relent, because my deal is, ‘No, I’m going to extend this because you need to answer this question.’ Here’s what ends up happening. What
happens is, when most reporters ask those questions, they’ll maybe ask it at most two or three times and then they’ll move on because they want to get to the rest of the questions. I would rather stay on that one question if that person is unwilling to answer, then go to the rest of the questions because that bails them out. His inability to answer the question, just like all the other pastors who have met with him [Trump], have refused to come on. Pastor Darrell Scott, he’ll jump on every other network but won’t come on TV One because I am not going to let him off the hook like CNN, FOX, and MSNBC will.
The Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund has released a
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS at Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library Send an email to fellowestrust@yahoo.com to receive the RFP and to find out more about how to apply. Technical Assistance Sessions will be held on: June 4, 2:00-4:00p.m. and June 9, 5:30-7:30p.m.
The deadline is on July 8, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
With a 24-hour news cycle, how do you go about choosing the headlines and the topics to present to your audience? RM: I’m host and managing editor of the show so I have final authority. For me, it isn’t a matter of looking at your major headlines, your major stories. It’s instinctively knowing what black folks think about and talk about. Because I’ve run three black newspapers — I was the founding editor of blackamerica.com, this is my 11th black media experience — so I have a very keen sense of those stories that resonate with African Americans that somebody else may very well ignore. We’ll look at those different things, and I want unique voices. Even if there’s a story that doesn’t have a specific black angle, ‘What is our black perspective on it?’
You’ve interviewed a who’s who from the worlds of politics, business and entertainment. Is there someone that you’ve wanted to interview that got away? RM: Well, first of all, President Obama has only given us one interview in seven years. We hit him up every three months trying for a new interview. He seems to give everybody else an interview. I certainly think he needs to sit down with us because there are a lot of questions that I have that some might think are tough. Maybe the White House thinks that I’ll be too tough which is one the reasons they won’t sit down for an interview. There’s so many folks who
1st Annual Cruz C.A.R.E.S.
WALKATHON Saturday,
June 4, 2016
I’ve actually interviewed and have had on the air. I can’t think of anybody. There are others, people who we want to talk to again. We’ve been able to with this show, and before that, “Washington Watch” (our Sunday show). We have been able to talk to a who’s who in the political world. I think also what has been interesting is that a lot of people don’t talk about, and what people don’t realize, is the number of African Americans who are in entertainment who understand our value. When they have a project that is coming out, they make it clear ‘We want to talk to Roland Martin and to TV One.’ That’s important because when they make it clear to those networks and to those movie companies that we matter, that certainly benefits us, but they also understand they have a place that they can go to, they can talk about things ordinarily that they’re not going to talk about. When Kerry Washington sits down for an hourlong interview and talks more than just about “Scandal,” her marriage, and what she’s wearing, and she can actually have a substantial conversation about the issues that she’s passionate about, for us, it’s important to be able to have that outlet.
When the morning show first began, did you have any goals in mind, and have they changed in the three years since you’ve been on? RM: Absolutely. I think when you launch a show like this here, it’s a start. You’re trying to establish your base and the thing for me
now is I have a very high standard. There’s more things that I want to do, graphically. There’s more things I want to do in field shoots. I push, push and push my staff to understand how hard we must go because I’m not interested in being the same show. I am extremely impatient with that. I want us in a new studio. I want us with more space. I want a different look. I want to be bigger. I want to be bolder. I’m constantly pushing, pushing and pushing, and it drives a lot of my staff crazy, but I’m not interested in a steady path. I’ve always said — and this is the thing that always bugs me — there’s a belief among a lot of people when you get something from black media it’s less than. There’s a belief that black media can only attract C, D-level talent. There literally is that mentality. I’ve always said ‘No, black media should be positioned to attract A-level talent, pay them accordingly, and deliver a product that is just as good or even better than what they will see on mainstream.’ I don’t tolerate, ‘Well, we’re a black network.’ I don’t tolerate, ‘Well, we don’t have this, we don’t have that.’ Just like I didn’t tolerate it, running black newspapers. That is a mentality that you have to have but you have to make it perfectly clear to every staff member that I’m not accepting anything less. When I was at CNN I never felt CNN was better than TV One. There were more things I could do because of the resources and the size of CNN but there are things that I could do at TV One that I couldn’t do at CNN.
“Making Strides for a Better Community” A 3-mile walk to benefit Cruz Youth Summer Works
08:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. Franklin Park, Dorchester Blue Hill Ave. entrance
Help Cruz Companies raise awareness and provide jobs to youth in Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan.
All are welcome to participate! For more information, please visit www.CruzCompanies.com or email CruzCares@CruzCompanies.com
Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19
FOOD
www.baystatebanner.com
CHECK OUT NUTRITION AND HEALTH NEWS ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/HEALTH
TIP OF THE WEEK
BY THE EDITORS OF
Fuel your day with superfoods
RELISH MAGAZINE
M
aking a pot of risotto requires practically all of your attention, but the effort and time are worth it. In addition to keeping the broth at a bare simmer, the rice needs almost nonstop stirring. 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.
With groggy eyes and slow movements, you peel yourself out of bed each day. Between the morning and afternoon slumps, you long for the energy of your youth. Does this sound familiar? Then you’ll be glad to know about superfoods that can help energize you from the inside out, so you can feel your best all day. n Ancient grains. Ancient grains are extremely high in protein, fiber and minerals. These grains can be helpful in managing inflammation and are a great source of energizing B vitamins for the brain and body. n Omega-3 fats. Our bodies cannot make omega-3 fats naturally, and therefore they must come from food or supplements. Cod liver oil has naturally occurring vitamin D that is needed to absorb calcium, an important factor for bone health. n Coconut. Coconut water, coconut milk and shredded coconut are all great options to add to your diet. Using virgin coconut oil is also a great way to sneak in more coconut when cooking, baking, or snacking. Simply use it in place of oil in cooking and butter in baking. — Brandpoint
Risotto with Spring Vegetables n 2 tablespoons butter n ½ cup minced onion or shallots n 1 cup Arborio rice n ½ cup dry white wine n 2⁄3 teaspoon salt n 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, heated n 1½ cups fresh green peas, asparagus tips, arugula or spinach leaves. n ¼ cup light cream, heated n ½ cup finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese n Lemon wedges
EASY RECIPE
Crab and Avocado Salad Servings: 4 n 3 tablespoons mayonnaise n 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice n 1 teaspoon cumin n ½ teaspoon paprika n 16 ounces canned crab n 2 medium (7 1/2-8 inches) stalks celery, diced n Salt n Freshly ground black pepper n 1 avocado, skinned, seeded and cubed n 3 cups chopped watercress In large bowl, mix mayonnaise, lime juice, cumin and paprika. Add crab meat and diced celery. Mix well; add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Gently stir in avocado cubes. Divide watercress on four plates; top with salad. — Family Features
THE DISH ON … “Korean Food Made Simple” by Judy Joo — As a KoreanAmerican, Judy Joo understands how to make dishes that may seem exotic and difficult accessible to the everyday cook. The book has over 100 recipes including well-loved dishes like kimchi, sweet potato noodles (japchae), beef and vegetable rice bowl (bibimbap), along with creative, less-traditional recipes like Spicy Pork Belly Cheese Steak and Krazy Korean Burgers. — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Worth the
Spring vegetable an easy addition to finicky risotto PHOTO BY MARK BOUGHTON PHOTOGRAPHY/STYLING BY TERESA BLACKBURN
1. Heat butter in a large saucepan. Add onion; cook 3 minutes. Stir in rice and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. 2. Add wine and salt; cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed. Continue cooking and stirring, adding 1/2 cup broth at a time and making sure most of the liquid is absorbed before adding more. With the second to last addition of broth, add peas. (Total cooking time is about 20 minutes.) After all broth has been added, stir in cream and cheese. Serves with lemon wedges on the side. Serves 4. Note: If you have leftovers, make risotto cakes: Form patties using about 1/4 cup leftover risotto per patty. Liberally sprinkle both sides with flour. Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add patties and cook on both sides until crispy. As a variation, you can add a bit of shredded basil or crumbled feta cheese to the leftover risotto before forming patties.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT HALEY HOUSE BAKERY CAFÉ THU 5/26: Lyricist’s Lounge from BDEA, 7 pm FRI 5/27: The House Slam, featuring Steven Wills & Cover Song Slam, 6:30 pm THU 6/2: Jazz By Any Means Necessary, 7 pm SAT 6/4: Block Party at Haley House Soup Kitchen, 23 Dartmouth Street, 4-7 pm THU 6/9: Lifted Boston from Outside the Box Agency, 7 pm FRI 6/10: The House Slam, 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
20 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
Fair Share continued from page 1
second of three hurdles to reach the ballot in Nov. 2018. The final step: Once again secure 50 votes at next year’s constitutional convention. If it makes it to the 2018 ballot and is passed by voters, the proposal would increase by 4 percent the tax rate paid on any income earned after the first $1 million. This income amount would be adjusted to keep pace with annual cost-of-living increases so that the tax continues to apply to only the top earners. In 2019, the new tax could generate approximately $1.6 to $1.7 billion in today’s dollars, according to information provided by Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition behind the Fair Share campaign.
Who pays?
Massachusetts’ top earners pay lower state and local taxes (which includes sales, property, income and excise taxes) compared to lower-earning residents, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economics. In 2015, the top 1 percent of earners — who make more than $860,000 per year — paid 4.9 percent of their income in these taxes. Meanwhile, those making $44,000-$70,000 paid 9.3 percent of their income, and the lowest 20 percent, who earn less than $22,000, paid 10.4 percent. If the millionaires’ tax is added, top earners would pay 8 percent, still a lower share than the average household, according to The Boston Globe. Under the amendment, approximately 0.5 percent of households — 20,000 residents — would pay the higher tax rate, according to the state Department of Revenue.
ON THE WEB Institute on Taxation and Economics: www.
itep.org/whopays/states/massachusetts.php
Social impact
Fair Share proponents gathered in a show of support at the State House before the convention. They say the benefits of a millionaires’ tax include repairing crumbling infrastructure, narrowing equity gaps through better education and reducing or ending student debt. Raise Up Massachusetts literature suggests the revenue be used as well to fund reforms shown to reduce equity gaps, such as expanding access to extended learning time and early education. Advocates also say it is a good time to invest in infrastructure. By the end of 2015, 415 of the state’s bridges were structurally deficient, a number expected to rise to 700 by 2025 if the level of state investment does not increase, according to information from Phineas Baxandall of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. Similarly, if funding remains level, he predicted that by 2025, 79 percent of state roads will be in poor or fair condition — up from 37 percent today. The amendment could even increase life expectancies, Rebekah Gewirtz, executive director of Massachusetts Public Health Association, said. “That is a recipe for public health,” Gewirtz told the Banner. “All literature suggests that quality education and transport that can get people to jobs, to doctor’s appointments, help people live longer, healthier lives.” Neighborhood and societal
factors, such as the state of the sidewalks and the education opportunities available, play a significant role in people’s ability to make healthier choices, Gewirtz said. For instance, repairing broken sidewalks lets people be more mobile, and providing transit to grocery stores — along with the kind of education that leads to well-paying jobs — allows people to access healthier food. In 2007, adults age 25 and up who did not have at least a high school degree were 4.5 times more likely to report their health as “fair” or “poor” and five times as likely to report serious psychological distress, according to a 2012 report from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Human Needs. Diabetes was more than twice as prevalent among that group than among adults who had graduated high school.
The million-dollar question
Legislators opposing the amendment said it threatens to damage the economy by prompting millionaires to remove themselves or their assets from the state, and thus from the tax pool and local economy entirely. During the convention, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr called the proposed tax “a further penalty on success” that targeted those who are “among the most mobile … [and] have the ability, more than other people in our society, to avoid taxation [by leaving].” He added that he expected it to be an unpredictable revenue source, reliant on expectations about the living choices of these wealthy residents. State Rep. Geoff Diehl said that wealthy investors and entrepreneurs are the primary job generators, and
PHEN symposium Mayor Martin J. Walsh joined Tom Farrington, President/ Founder of the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), at its 4th Annual Prostate Health Educational Symposia in 2016, hosted in up to 20 cities in partnership with churches within the African American communities. Each 4-hour symposium was an in-depth educational event hosting medical experts, community and political leaders, prostate cancer survivors and more. The event in Boston was held at the Greater Love Tabernacle Church in Dorchester, hosted by Rev. William E. Dickerson II, Senior Pastor. PHOTO: DON WEST
that this tax stands to discourage them from entering the state. However, Jesse Mermell, president the Alliance for Business Leadership, a group that connects progressive business leaders and policymakers to work toward reforms, told the Banner that she believes the Fair Tax amendment will provide business with desirable assets desirable, such as an educated workforce and safe, reliable transportation. “There is nothing more important that we can do for the economy and business environment in Massachusetts than investing in education and transport,” she told the Banner. Raise Up Massachusetts members assert that tax rates are less likely to spur millionaires’ residency decisions than factors such as jobs and social circles. “Research shows that high-income people move to be near family and jobs, or to places with cheaper housing markets or warmer weather, not to save a few percentage points on their taxes.” states a Raise Up Massachusetts facts sheet. The coalition predicts that those most likely to be leave due to the tax would be wealthy retired people, which could reduce the new revenue from approximately $1.7 billion to approximately $1.6 billion.
Better or just not worse?
Several Republican legislators said that there is no guarantee that the purpose of the amendment — increasing resources for education
Mass Pike continued from page 1
Mass Pike Towers is hemmed in by the ultra-hip Ink Block complex with its $2,800-a month studio apartments, One Greenway with its $3,600 one-bedroom apartments and The Metropolitan, where a two-bedroom condo is listed for $1.3 million. Although the Massachusetts Department of Transportation may soon bid out public parcels next to One Greenway, Lowe says it’s unlikely that whatever is built there will be affordable. “They say that, according to statute, they’re required to go to with the highest bidder,” she commented. Plans to redevelop the Ho Toy Noodle Factory at 73 Essex Street into a 17-story hotel are the latest in a steady march of luxury development that has changed the makeup of Chinatown. The neighborhood’s Chinese population has fallen from 70 percent in 1990 to 46 percent
and transportation — will be achieved, as lawmakers are not obliged to keep budgeting these areas at their current level. Legislators could redirect some funding and replace it with the new tax revenue, thus maintaining, not raising spending. “You can’t trust us,” Rep. Bradley Jones said. “[This will] perpetuate the myth to the commonwealth that we will respect your vote.” He argued that the Legislature has shown it cannot be trusted because it has yet to bring income tax rates fully down to 5 percent, as per a vote made in 2000. The state’s income tax rate is currently 5.1 percent. “Trying to convince voters of the commonwealth that because we need revenue, that we’ll actually spend that revenue on transit and education is a big exercise in ‘Trust me. Trust the legislators,’” Jones said.
Eyes on 2018
Lewis Fifner, director of Massachusetts Community Action Network, said that even with the amendment securing a strong majority of legislator votes at this year’s convention, there is much work still to be done. And the potential impact, he said, is huge. “There has never been a major progressive tax passed in Massachusetts. Ever. This is huge in terms of fairness,” and in terms of resources generated, he told the Banner. in 2010, according to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which documented the gentrification of Chinatowns in Boston, New York and Philadelphia in a recently released report. “Boston’s Chinatown has experienced an influx in massive luxury condominiums in the past couple decades, ignoring a 1990 ‘Community Master Plan’ that limited the height of buildings,” the report reads. “The cumulative effect has been a rise in evictions in privately-owned housing,” Lowe said. For now, residents in the Mass Pike Towers are pinning their hopes on the city and the good will of Trinity Financial. They’ve asked the firm for a 90-day extension to the six-month time period during which the city has the option to buy the development. Trinity refused. “Keefe said he doesn’t want to sell it,” said Oranczak, who sat with the developers in a meeting with Dillon and other city officials. “But we’re not backing down from this.”
Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. L1504-C2 CARGO BUILDING NO. 56 DRY SPRINKLER SYSTEM REPLACEMENT, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S - Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128-2909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016, immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly. Sealed filed sub bids for the same contract will be received at the same office until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016, immediately after which, in a designated room, the filed sub bids will be opened and read publicly. NOTE: PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT (ABOVE ADDRESS) AT 1:00 PM LOCAL TIME ON TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016. The work includes INSTALLATION OF NEW HYDRAULICALLY CALCULATED AUTOMATIC FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEM WITH NITROGEN AND LIMITED FIRE ALARM AND ELECTRICAL WORK. REMOVAL OF EXISTING SYSTEM. Bid documents will be made available beginning THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016. Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form. In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract General Bidders must submit with their bid a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Assessment Management and an Update Statement. The General Bidder must be certified in the category of FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. The estimated contract cost is FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($580,000). In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract, filed Sub-bidders must submit with their bid a current Sub-bidder Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and a Sub-bidder Update Statement. The filed Sub-bidder must be certified in the sub-bid category of work for which the Sub-bidder is submitting a bid proposal. Bidding procedures and award of the contract and sub contracts shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 44A through 44H inclusive, Chapter 149 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or a cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater. The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of TEN MILLION DOLLARS ($10,000,000). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details. Filed sub bids will be required and taken on the following classes of work: ELECTRICAL $15,000.00 The Authority reserves the right to reject any sub bid of any sub trade where permitted by Section 44E of the above referenced General Laws. The right is also reserved to waive any informality in or to reject any or all proposals and General Bids. This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor’s Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246). The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000. Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals. MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS The MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY (Authority) is soliciting consulting services for MPA CONTRACT NO. L1359-D1 HVAC EQUIPMENT UPGRADE AND SPRINKLER REPLACEMENT AT SOUTH CARGO BLDG 57, 58, AND 62, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EAST BOSTON, MA 02128. The Authority is seeking qualified multidiscipline consulting firm or team, with proven experience to provide professional services including design, and construction related services such as resident inspection relative to replacement of the HVAC equipment, associated ductwork and sprinkler replacement. The scope of work will include Mechanical upgrades to Cargo Buildings 57, 58, and 62, Fire Protection upgrades to a portion of Building 57 and the entirety of Building 58. The contract will be work order based, and Consultant’s fee for each work order shall be negotiated; however, the total fee for the contract shall not exceed ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000). A Supplemental Information Package will be available, on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 on the Capital Bid Opportunities webpage of Massport http://www. massport.com/doing-business/_layouts/CapitalPrograms/default.aspx as an attachment to the original Legal Notice, and on COMMBUYS (www.com
LEGAL
LEGAL
mbuys.com) in the listings for this project. If you have problems finding it, please contact Susan Brace at Capital Programs SBrace@massport.com The Supplemental Information Package will provide detailed information about Scope Of Work, Selection Criteria and Submission Requirements. In recognition of the unique nature of the project and the services required to support it, the Authority has scheduled a Consultant Briefing to be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, 7 June 2016 at the Capital Programs Department, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128. At this session, an overview of the project will be provided, the services requested by the Authority will be described, and questions will be answered. By responding to this solicitation, consultants agree to accept the terms and conditions of Massport’s standard work order agreement, a copy of the Authority’s standard agreement can be found on the Authority’s web page at www.massport.com. The Consultant shall specify in its cover letter that it has the ability to obtain requisite insurance coverage. This submission, including the litigation and legal proceedings history in a separate sealed envelope as required shall be addressed to Houssam H. Sleiman, PE, CCM, Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs and received no later than 12:00 Noon on Thursday, 30 June 2016 at the Massachusetts Port Authority, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, Suite 209S, Logan International Airport, East Boston, MA 02128-2909. Any submission which is not received in a timely manner shall be rejected by the Authority as non-responsive. Any information provided to the Authority in any Proposal or other written or oral communication between the Proposer and the Authority will not be, or deemed to have been, proprietary or confidential, although the Authority will use reasonable efforts not to disclose such information to persons who are not employees or consultants retained by the Authority except as may be required by M.G.L. c.66. MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. LP1408-C1, FY17-19 TERM CONTRACT FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND SERVICE OF THE DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS CENTRAL HEATING PLANT, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128-2909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016, immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly. NOTE: PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CENTRAL HEATING PLANT, FACILITIES 1, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AT 10:00 A.M. LOCAL TIME ON TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Robert Anthony Stapleton Date of Death: 01/20/2016 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will has been filed by John Stapleton of Westwood, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that John Stapleton of Westwood, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/09/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: May 04, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
Bid documents will be made available beginning THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016. Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form. In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract General Bidders must submit with their bid a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and an Update Statement. The General Bidder must be certified in the category of MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. The estimated contract cost is THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000.00). Bidding procedures and award of the contract and sub contracts shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 44A through 44J inclusive, Chapter 149 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or a cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater. The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details. No filed sub bids will be required for this contract. This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor’s Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246). The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000. Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals. MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Docket No. SU16P0935EA
SUFFOLK Division
Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Brenda Marie Simpson Also known as: Brenda M. Simpson Date of Death: 08/11/2015
BIDDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE PREBID CONFERENCE TO DEVELOP A FULL APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURE OF THE WORK AND THE EQUIPMENT TO BE MAINTAINED. The work includes: COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS SERVICES AND REPAIR OF DISTRIBUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR THE HEATING AND COOLING EQUIPMENT AT THE CENTRAL HEATING PLAN AT LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE CONTRACT TERM IS THIRTY-SIX (36) MONTHS.
Docket No. SU16P0919EA
SUFFOLK Division
To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Jean D. Miller of New York, NY requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Steven K. Hemingway of Boston, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/09/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: May 03, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU16P0918EA
Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Chester Morris Date of Death: 04/17/2001 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will has been filed by Charles Johnson of Hyde Park, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Charles Johnson of Hyde Park, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/09/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: May 02, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate
22 • Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER
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LEGAL
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU16P0731EA Estate of Beverly Diane Johnson Date of Death November 14, 2015
INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Kenneth A. Johnson of Oakland, CA.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department Docket No. SU16P0940EA
SUFFOLK Division
Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Esther Corlette Date of Death: 01/28/2015 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Shimestherlynn V. Corlette of Mattapan, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Shimestherlynn V. Corlette of Mattapan, MA be appointed as Personal Representative of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/09/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration.
REAL ESTATE
The petition asks the court to determine that the Respondant is incapacitated, that the appointment of a Guardian is necessary, and that the proposed Guardian is appropriate. The petition is on file with this court and may contain a request for certain specific authority. You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 06/02/2016. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. In addition to filing the written appearance, you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date.
Kenneth A. Johnson of Oakland, CA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.
IMPORTANT NOTICE The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer. Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person. If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense.
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WITNESS, Hon. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: April 25, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate
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Boston, Massachusetts On Monday, June 6, 2016, the waiting list for St. Botolph Terrace Apartments will be closed due to the large number of applicants on the list. If you have any questions, please contact the United Housing Management Office, located at 530 Warren Street, at 617-541-5510.
WAYLAND RENTAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING Commonwealth Residence Apartments 13 Studio ($1,278), One ($1,369), Two ($1,643) and Three ($1,899) Bedroom - ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED MAX ALLOWABLE INCOME 80% of AMI
Public Information Meeting 6:30 p.m., Monday June 27, 2016 Wayland Public Library, 5 Concord Rd Raytheon Room Application Deadline July 11, 2016 Lottery 6:30 p.m., August 4, 2016, Library
1 person household: $51,150 2 person household: $58,450 3 person household: $65,750 4 person household: $73,050 5 person household: $78,900 6 person household: $84,750 Language/translation assistance available, at no charge, upon request.
Units distributed by lottery. For Info and Application Availability: Pick Up: Wayland 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
Reasonable Accommodations available for persons with disabilities. Units available to all eligible applicants.
Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com
WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: May 03, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department Docket No. SU16P1038EA
SUFFOLK Division
Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Palmel Moore Date of Death: 01/25/2016 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Monica J. Moore of Mattapan, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Monica J. Moore of Mattapan, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve With Corporate Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/23/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: May 13, 2016 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU16P0868GD
Citation Giving Notice of Petition for Appointment of Guardian for Incapacitated Person Pursuant to G.L. c. 190B, §5-304 In the matter of Christofer J. Mitchell Of Boston, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Lavonne L. Sanderson of Boston, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Christofer J. Mitchell is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Lavonne L. Sanderson of Boston, MA and Jasmine D. Price of Dorchester, MA (or some other suitable person) be appointed as Guardian to serve on the bond.
Salisbury Affordable Housing Eight 2 and 3 Bedroom Townhomes Prices: 2 Bed/$179,900 3 Beds/$132,900 (50%) & $199,900 (80%) Sheffield Village, 54 Beach Road Units priced at 50% and 80% of median income Public Information Meeting 6:30, Tuesday, May 31, 2016 Salisbury Senior Center 43 Lafayette Road Application Deadline July 5, 2016
Units by Lottery.
ASSETS TO $75,000
MAX ALLOWABLE INCOME 1 2 3 4 5 6
50% $34,350 $39,250 $44,150 $49,050 $53,000 $56,900
80% $51,150 $58,450 $65,750 $73,050 $78,900 $84,750
For Info and Application: Pick Up: Salisbury Town Hall, Planning Dept., Public Lib., Senior Ctr or Housing Auth Phone: (978) 456-8388 Email: lotteryinfo@mcohousingservices.com Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com
Thursday, May 26, 2016 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23
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The Full Frame Initiative, a national nonprofit bringing an innovative approach to transform how systems respond to people living at the intersection of poverty, violence, trauma and oppression, is hiring: HR Generalist, Admn. Assist., and Training & Capacity Building Managers. Help us increase access to wellbeing! Competitive compensation, great team. EOE. Please visit: fullframeinitiative.org/about/jobs-and-internships/
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Newton Public Schools
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As one of the country’s premier school systems, Newton offers you the chance to work with top level educators in a school system that doesn’t just promote diversity, but actually lives it. We have opportunities for all different skill levels and talents to join us.
The Town of Easton is accepting applications for a qualified individual to fill the position of Records Manager & Compliance Officer, full time, 40 hours per week. Minimum Qualifications: Associates Degree Preferred; two to three years of experience in records management and/ or experience in municipal government; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Certified Municipal Clerk Status preferred and Massachusetts Notary Public appointment is required within 90 days of hire date. Candidate must possess excellent computer skills, specifically with Microsoft Office products. The preferred candidate would have experience in automated storage and retrieval systems, electronic records, database design/management, and web content editing. Duties include but are not limited to maintaining the Town’s record keeping system including database catalog and writing retention schedules; coordinates Open Meeting Law and Ethics Training to ensure compliance for Town employees and volunteers; assists with election preparation; maintains Town Clerk’s Website and online posting calendar in compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to the Open Meeting Law. This is a union position and the hourly rate of pay is $24.25 per hour ($50,440 annual salary) with excellent benefits. Required applications can be downloaded at www.easton.ma.us under the “Residents” tab and then “Employment Opportunities”. Interested applicants shall submit a cover letter, resume and required job application to Town Administrator David Colton, 136 Elm Street, Easton, MA 02356 no later than June 9, 2016.
Full time-Monday-Friday, 35 hour work week, with benefits. Duties include, but are not limited to: Preparation of monthly check runs for Accounts payable, from invoice receipt, program coding, approval, computer processing, and payment to vendor. Processing monthly bank reconciliations, and monthly SHA Program reports. Monthly financial reporting to the Fee Accountant, as well as the SHA Board of Commissioners. Transcription of verbal minutes of monthly Board meeting minutes to hard copy. Maintaining employee files, for current employees, as well as new hires. Responsible for the maintaining, each year, of accrued vacation/sick, personal, and compensation time. Responsibilities include the processing of employee requests for time off, getting proper approval by the E.D., then recording each request per employee onto excel spreadsheets. Setting up, and maintaining yearly utility spreadsheets, for electric, gas and water consumption per program. Filling in for the Receptionist when needed, via phone support, and taking work orders when requested by tenants, the E.D. or other staff. Provide and assist the State and/or Independent Auditors with any and all documentation they require during their annual audit of the Saugus Housing Authority. Preparation of the monthly packet to the Fee Accountant, as well as any additional financial paperwork required in order to close all programs each month. Filing as needed, as well as providing office support to other employees when required, and as deemed necessary by the Executive Director. The position requires a highly self-motivated individual, who is detail oriented, and dependable. The Candidate must have experience with Microsoft Word, and Excel spreadsheets. Prior knowledge of accounting principles and practices, A/P, A/R, and payroll a must. Past experience with PHA Housing software a plus. Must pass a physical, drug screening, and CORI. Salary range: 40’s. Interested candidates need to send resume, cover letter, and salary requirement by 6/30/16, by 1p.m. to Saugus Housing Authority, 19 Talbot St., Saugus, MA 01906, or via e-mail to: ljglynn@saugusha.com. Saugus Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Experienced Truck Drivers Wanted n Must have C.D.L. License n Dump truck experience n Good driving record n References required Contact Jason Reid: 617-828-6872
CONTROLLER Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc., a mid-size consulting engineering firm, is seeking an accomplished, results driven senior accounting and management executive to join our company headquarters in Manchester, NH. The Controller, as a key member of our management team, will report directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm. Successful candidate will have significant, progressive experience in financial management and demonstrated ability to streamline business operations to increase efficiency to drive growth and profitability. This position requires leadership, communication and interpersonal skills to work successfully with all levels of staff and management, as well as directors, bankers, attorneys and auditors. CPA preferred and CMA certification a plus. Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc. is headquartered in the lovely historic Millyard district of Manchester, New Hampshire with offices in the Northeast and Florida. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package and the opportunity to take ownership of your career. If you are interested in becoming an integral member of the Hoyle, Tanner team, please forward your resume and cover letter, citing career code CRM10516, to HOYLE, TANNER & ASSOCIATES, INC., 150 Dow Street, Manchester, NH 03101 or via e-mail to jhann@hoyletanner.com.
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HOUSING STOCK LOCATOR Housing and Homelessness Prevention Department
The Housing Stock Locator works with the family shelter provider community to develop a continual supply of readily available housing units for families throughout the Commonwealth. Engage landlords, property managers, realtors and owner networks to cultivate relationships and leads that translate to identifying units for homeless families. Educate and provide additional informational resources to landlords, property managers, and the owners on the benefits of the Commonwealth’s HomeBase program and its stabilization components in order to alleviate potential anxieties of renting to homeless families in a highly competitive market. Monitor, track and report on housing availability, accessibility and general trends. Create an electronic database of landlords, property managers, realtors and the like willing to work with the program and potentially house homeless families. Maintain daily record of activities and comply with any reporting and documentation as identified by the Director of Housing and/or the funding source. Perform other related duties as assigned from time to time. Minimum of a high school diploma/GED, and three to five years of experience in property management, realty/or marketing and sales required. Experience in or knowledge of landlord/tenant relationship or dynamic. Ability to persuade landlords, property managers and realtors to join, work cooperatively with and become advocates for the program. Ability to independently organize and develop a new program. Present an outgoing, polished demeanor, and ability to identify and reach out to new contracts and network within the local and regional areas to amass a database of landlords. Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to travel throughout the Commonwealth. Ability to work sensitively with individuals of diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Please note: this position is temporary through June 30, 2016. Continued employment is contingent upon the receipt of additional funding. All applications and inquiries should be directed to the Human Resources Department, 178 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02111, Fax: (617) 423-7693, or email banner@bostonabcd.org. Please visit our website at www.bostonabcd.org for additional employment listings. ABCD Inc. is an equal opportunity employer actively seeking applications under its affirmative action program.
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