inside this week
Developer’s grand ambition sparks neighbors’ ire pg 6
A&E
business news
ON STAGE: ‘THE ROYALE’ PAYS HOMAGE TO BLACK BOXER JACK JOHNSON pg 18
Hub Chamber opportunity director works to advance economic inclusion pg 14
plus ‘A Fine Line’ screens at GlobeDocs Film Fest pg 19 Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival pg 20 Thursday, October 5, 2017 • FREE • GREATER BOSTON’S URBAN NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1965 • CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
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Low turnout in municipal preliminary Walsh, Janey, Edwards among victors as candidate field narrows By YAWU MILLER
In a preliminary election that continued a trend of low voter turnout for municipal contests, Mayor Martin Walsh garnered 63 percent of the 55,373 votes cast last Tuesday, easily beating out his three challengers. Second-place finisher District 7 City Councilor Tito Jackson won 29 percent of the vote, while Robert Cappucci took 6 percent and Joseph A. Wiley received less than 1 percent. Walsh and Jackson will face off again in the Nov. 7 general election. In City Council District 7, centered in Roxbury and including parts of Dorchester, the South End, the Fenway and Jamaica Plain, Kim Janey bested a field of 13 candidates with 1,532 votes — 25 percent of the 6,129 voters who cast ballots in that race. Also advancing to the Nov. 7 general election to fill the seat vacated by Jackson will be Rufus Faulk, who
received 719 votes — 12 percent of the ballots cast. Deeqo Jibril took third place with 604 votes. In District 1, which includes the North End, East Boston and Charlestown, North End resident Stephen Passacantilli garnered 3,624 votes while East Boston resident Lydia Edwards trailed just 77 votes behind at 3,547. Eastie resident Margaret Farmer was a distant third with 522 votes. In District 2, which includes South Boston, Chinatown and part of the South End, Edward Flynn received 5,083 of the 9,011 votes cast, followed by Michael Kelley, who garnered 2,860 votes. Corey Dinopoulos received 504 votes. In each race, the top two candidates proceed to the final election. Just four of the nine City Council districts had contested preliminaries. The more than 22,000 voters who turned out in the three districts with races for open seats accounted for 41 percent of the 55,373 voters
See PRELIMINARY, page 8
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOSTON RED SOX
State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry and NAACP Boston Branch president Tanisha Sullivan spoke during the Take the Lead event. They have been meeting with Red Sox leadership in the months since Orioles’ player Adam Jones and an anthem singer were made targets of racial slurs at Fenway Park.
Boston sports teams aim to lead way against racism Take the Lead initiative opens dialogue on race By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
Boston wants to send a message against racism and leaders are turning to sports teams to do it. Representatives of Boston’s major teams gathered with community activists and elected officials at Fenway last week. There, they kicked off an initiative intended to encourage Bostonians to actively oppose any racism they encounter and spur the rest of the nation to do the same.
The event was the fruit of discussions launched after Red Sox fans directed racial slurs last May at Oriole’s player Adam Jones, as well as at a national anthem singer who is Kenyan. It comes at a time when national conversation rages over football player Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protests against police brutality and other forms of oppression of people of color. Kaepernick’s protests have drawn admiration and ire — including a recent disparaging rebuke from the president.
Sports stadiums also became an arena of conversation when several white demonstrators on Sept. 13 at Fenway Park unveiled a banner calling out America’s history of racism. Last Thursday’s event, titled “Take the Lead,” was an opportunity to call attention to the history of racism in some of Boston’s teams, notably the Red Sox, which was the last major league team to integrate. Several players
See FENWAY, page 12
Questions swirl on disenrolled pupils Greater Egleston board gives its account By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
BANNER PHOTO
District 7 City Council candidate Kim Janey, celebrating victory at Darryl’s Corner Bar, received more than twice the votes of any other candidate in the race.
A number of students planning to attend Greater Egleston High School this fall turned up to school only to be informed they had been unenrolled. According to the Greater Egleston High School governing board, the striking of more than 100 students from its enrollment came as a surprise to school staff and administration as well. While
Boston Public Schools officials declined to answer questions, citing an ongoing investigation, the GEHS governing board spoke out last week, placing responsibility with BPS. In its public statement, issued on Sept. 27, the governing board asserted that the high school administration was not informed by BPS of the reason for the disenrollment and said that its headmaster’s efforts to re-enroll the students faced apparent
resistance from the district. “We are aware of recent events concerning the disenrollment of GEHS students, abrupt disruptions to school leadership, and the profoundly negative impact on the students,” governing board co-chairs wrote. After news broke of the disenrollment, BPS officials announced they were conducting an internal investigation of the school and that the longtime headmaster was being put on paid administrative leave.
See EGLESTON, page 3
2 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
Puerto Ricans struggle with aftermath, lack of aid By KAREN MORALES
As expected, Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria’s destruction has been slow and painful. The natural disaster destroyed homes, cut off most of the island from electricity and littered roads with fallen trees and debris. Supplies delivered from the mainland moved at a glacial pace, especially as it took a week for President Trump to temporarily waive the Jones Act, a law that bars foreign vessels to Puerto Rico, as well as the challenges of damaged airports and seaports. But the main problem now is distribution. Truck drivers are few, communication from towns in need is impeded by unreliable cell service and many roads are still blocked. The U.S. territory was already ill-equipped to handle such devastating circumstances not only from Hurricane Maria, but Hurricane Irma as well. With a debt load of $73 billion, Puerto Rico filed for bankruptcy in May. The federal government also has had to respond to hurricane damage on the Virgin Islands, as well as across the continental United States. But instead of distinguishing between Puerto Rico’s financial crisis and its current humanitarian crisis, Trump chose to lord the island’s debt problem over its head. “Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt,
PHOTOS: FRED PAPALI
Photographs taken after Hurricane Maria show devastation on the roads in Puerto Rico. is in deep trouble,” the president tweeted last Monday. Possibly even more callous was acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, who called the federal government’s aid efforts a “good news story.” San Juan Mayor Yulin Cruz did not mince words during a recent press conference. “We are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency,” she said, directing her statements to the U.S. government. “I am asking the members of the press to send a mayday call all over the world. If we don’t get the water and the food into people’s hands, what we are going to see is something close to a genocide,” she said. “Mr. Trump, I beg you to take charge and save lives.” The president took Cruz’s words personally, taking again
to Twitter to make his thoughts known. “Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help,” he tweeted Saturday. “They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 federal workers now on island doing a fantastic job.” Fred Papali, a physician from Baltimore with family on the island, spent three days witnessing the dire situation in Puerto Rico. Papali told the Banner that most officials on the ground have remained focused on the people, but statements like President Trump’s are a distraction from necessary aid actions. What’s really needed, according to Papali, is access to clean water,
food and cleared roads. He said he saw people having to drink rainwater and store lines that stretched around the block with customers only allowed to buy two items at a time. He described hundreds of people in line at gas stations, families in dilapidated homes, and sewage overflows. When Papali didn’t hear from his parents for a week after the hurricane, he booked a flight to the island, rented a car and made his way to Punta Santiago, an hour from San Juan, where his family resides. He was able to connect with them but found that the beach town was “completely destroyed. Just gone,” he said. “The Punta Santiago fishing pier, about a half-mile away and which had survived so many hurricanes before it, was now — quite literally — in Mom’s back yard,”
he wrote in an email updating his friends and family on the U.S. mainland. Luckily, many of the locals had already cleared some roads by the time Papali got there, but cell reception, power and running water in the area are nonexistent and residents have to make their way to the nearest city for supplies. Papali said that when he landed, he saw many military personnel waiting for instructions, with pounds upon pounds of supplies. “The problem isn’t that there isn’t enough supplies, but the distribution of it,” he said. “Especially to those rural and remote towns.” At press time, President Trump was scheduled to visit Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3
Egleston continued from page 1
GEHS’s governing board requested BPS reinstate headmaster Julie Coles and re-enroll the students, stating “these requests are in keeping with the Board’s most fundamental responsibilities to the students, their learning and their general safety and well-being. This Governing Board sincerely hopes that the District will do what is right, and put the students first.” In Coles’ place, BPS installed Stephanie Sibley to be acting headmaster with support from Deputy Superintendent of Strategy Donna Muncey. Sibley previously spent seven years leading Excel High School, until she was dismissed when that school entered turnaround status. BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang responded to the board with a statement, saying “I am disappointed that the co-chairs of the Governing Board of Greater Egleston High School have issued a public statement containing information about issues that are currently under investigation. ... As this investigation continues, we are focused on making sure all students who want to be enrolled in the Boston Public Schools (BPS) are in school and learning.”
Shaken school
The alternative high school specializes in serving students who have fallen behind, and its pupils range from age 17 to 22. Many are parents, have medical challenges or are supporting their families. Should older students remain unenrolled, they could age out of BPS eligibility, making them unable to attain a traditional high school degree. The disenrollment also hit a few days before BPS calculates its enrollment numbers for each school — and thus determines the per-pupil funding the school will receive. Greater Egleston High School is a Level 3 school. Should its performance fall, however, it will become Level 4, and be required to enter turnaround, a process in which BPS typically elects to include mass dismissal of staff and teachers.
What happened?
By the governing board’s account, the 100-plus disenrolled students included both new students who had been accepted for enrollment beginning in September, and students from the prior year who were continuing
to attend the school. The students received no notice or explanation from BPS about their removal, the governing board states. Upon discovering the problem, Coles reached out to BPS to request the students’ reinstatement, the governing board said. BPS re-enrolled several students, before promptly disenrolling them once more. At BPS’s request, Coles provided information about the students to facilitate their re-enrollment, yet the district did not respond to receipt of this information or repeated follow-up messages, according to the governing board. Instead, Coles was put on administrative leave, without explanation provided. Superintendent Chang, meanwhile, said in a statement that he contacted the board before placing Coles on leave. GEHS’ governing board cochairs said they spent a month piecing together the chain of events through conversations and interviews with faculty, staff and students. As of Sept. 19, the affected students remained without explanation or resolution to their predicament. Citing the ongoing investigation, a BPS spokesperson declined to answer the Banner’s questions on why the disenrollment occurred, or what guarantees would be made to ensure the students receive timely placement at Greater Egleston High and the school’s budget be adjusted to accommodate them. The spokesperson also declined to say how long the investigation is expected to take or if there is a deadline for it.
ARTE, CULTURA Y EMPRESARISMO ARTS, CULTURE & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Are you an artist and an entrepreneur? Is your art your business, or would you li like it to be? If yes, please join us for a workshop series where you can meet other creative entrepreneurs and learn about topics like Protecting Your Intellectual Property, Music Agreements, Selling Your Art, Social Enterprises, Fiscal Agents & Grants, Your Art & Your Brand, Social Media & Building Your Audience and Selling Online.
VILLA VICTORIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS 85 W. NEWTON STREET, BOSTON
October 23 October 30 November 6 November 13
What’s next?
At present, BPS advises students who wish to attend Greater Egleston High to visit the district’s Re-Engagement Center, its office for handling enrollment of students who have dropped out, located in Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. According to BPS’ website, students must schedule an appointment in advance. Neil Sullivan, executive director of the Boston Private Industry Council, which helps run the Re-Engagement Center, told The Boston Globe last week that the center is working quickly but had not received responses from all of the students to whom it reached out. The GEHS governing board scheduled a community meeting for the evening of Tuesday Oct. 3, with a report expected to be presented to the Boston School Committee on Wednesday Oct 4.
Time: 5:30-8pm Each workshop kicks off with networking RSVP: bit.ly/aceseries There will be a fee of $40 for the series. All proceeds will go toward the urgent capital improvements of Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, the largest Latino Art Center of New England.
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4 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
EDITORIAL
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Established 1965
Voters of color must flex political muscle With the election of Barack Obama as president, many African Americans believed that a non-racist era in politics had emerged. For countless elections, black voters had been encouraged to vote, but the candidates were always white, and there was little hope that politicians had the desire or the capacity to ameliorate the country’s acceptance of racial discrimination. But it seems now that the hope brought by Obama has been defiled by the election of Donald Trump. Voters in Massachusetts had led the way on the ideal of electing political leaders on the basis of their competence and character without being limited by consideration of race. In 1966 Massachusetts voters elected Edward W. Brooke as the first African American to be elected to the United States Senate in a general election. And in 2006, Deval Patrick was elected governor. Like Sen. Brooke, Gov. Patrick was re-elected in recognition of the high quality of his performance. One would think that this political history would render the state a bleak landscape for campaigns of racist candidates. Surprisingly, Trump did very well in the 2016 Republican primary. Even with five candidates in the race, Trump tallied 49.3 percent of the total. This was one of the highest state totals in the primary campaign. The inescapable conclusion is that Massachusetts Republicans prefer the Trump type of politics. While Hillary Clinton had 80.6 percent of the state vote in the Nov. 8, 2016 presidential election, more than 26 percent of the voters in South Boston and in West Roxbury voted for Trump. In the primary, 40.8 percent of Boston Republicans voted for Trump. Even though Boston is considered to be a strong Democratic redoubt, Trump supporters have clearly penetrated its precincts.
This creates a special problem for blacks because politicians have to respond to the needs of powerful political blocs. Aggressive elements get special attention to their demands. For example, the acceptance of excessive police force pay scales, the limitation of citizen review of police conduct, police refusal to wear body cameras and limitations on stop-and-frisk procedures are all the result of a strong police voting bloc. Without a countervailing political entity, a mayor will be forced to oblige the interests of the more powerful group. In the present election, Marty Walsh won 65 percent of the vote compared with 29 percent for Tito Jackson. The vote was closer in Ward 12 with Jackson getting 1,247 votes compared with 1,026 for Walsh, a margin of 221 votes. In the more Trump-oriented communities the vote totals shifted substantially to Walsh. Fortunately there are two competent candidates for mayor. Black voters have to begin to think strategically. It would be disastrous with the Trump attitudes so influencing public policy to have a powerless black and Latino electorate. Those not registered to vote should do so and go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7. When playing quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick took a knee to protest the random police shootings of unarmed blacks. He properly understood that these acts violated citizen’s constitutional rights. He became a sole protester, putting his future security at risk. When other players finally joined in protest, Trump became abusive. Those opposed to racial equality find fault with “Black Lives Matter,” disruptive protests for rights, as well as peaceful NFL pregame demonstrations. Colin decided to kneel. It’s time for the rest of us to stand up! Equal rights are still at stake.
“We have to vote to counter the big Trump bloc in Boston.”
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The Boston Banner is published every Thursday. Offices are located at 1100 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124. Telephone: 617-261-4600, Fax 617-261-2346 Web site: www.baystatebanner.com Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA. All rights reserved. Copyright 2017. The Banner is certified by the NMSDC, 2016. Circulation of The Bay State and Boston Banner 27,400. Audited by CAC, June 2016. The Banner is printed by: TC Transcontinental Printing 10807, Mirabeau, Anjou (Québec) H1J 1T7 Printed in Canada
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Here’s how a guy can stroll into a Las Vegas hotel with an arsenal
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the next mayor?
By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON The instant Stephen Paddock mass murdered dozens and wounded hundreds in Las Vegas, the question was asked how could a guy get 10 guns into a major Las Vegas Hotel. There are several answers. One is obvious, the others much more painful to admit. The obvious one is that Nevada is a state that takes open carry laws to an extreme. One can walk around with concealed weapons, assault weapons, holstered guns or let’s just say a mini-arsenal strapped around their hip. Or, in the case of Paddock, probably have them in bags or luggage; no questions asked. So, there was no chance that Paddock would undergo any luggage checks or any other check to prevent his gun toting at the hotel. Even if there had been minimal checks in place, Paddock still would likely have flown under the radar. The NRA has terrorized congressional Republicans and a handful of Democrats for two decades from passing even the most modest of modest gun control measures. They’ve done it through a well-oiled big money, propaganda machine that spreads cash and favors around, and bolsters that with threats to do all to boot any GOP or vulnerable Democrat that backs comprehensive gun control legislation from their seats. In the process, it has played the Second Amendment card for all its worth and created an unyielding and entrenched mass public constituency of gun owners and sympathizers who will go to the barricades against any attempt to put meaningful controls on guns. No matter how many massacres there are — and there have been plenty the past decade — Nevada lawmakers can’t be shaken from their resolute defense of virtually unrestricted gun ownership. Then there’s Trump. Though he made some faint soundings as a candidate about backing some gun restrictions, he changed his tune fast once in the Oval Office. He barely put his foot in the White House last February when he quickly signed a law dumping former President Obama’s executive order to add mental health to background checks for gun purchases. There was not one mumbling word in his canned address on the Las Vegas massacre about the horror of gun violence, let alone taking a fresh look at gun control restrictions. That’s not all that was missing from his wooden words. There was not a single utterance from him of the words “domestic terrorism” to call the carnage exactly what it is. Despite the years of carnage from these type of shootings, it’s still hard for many to come to grips with this bitter truth. This was painfully evident following the mass killing of 14 persons in San Bernardino a couple years back. FBI officials were initially loath to call the killings domestic terrorism. When they did finally brand the killings, terrorism, they made it clear that the killings would be investigated as a terrorist act “inspired by foreign terrorist organizations.” However, this still begged the question of calling the massacre exactly what it was: domestic terrorism. The refusal to consistently brand massacres of Americans by Americans as “domestic terrorism,” strikes to the heart of how many Americans are reflexively conditioned to regard terrorism. It’s almost always related to the Middle East and the perpetrators are presumed to be Muslim. The FBI’s working definition of what constitutes terrorism is: “Terrorism is an act done or threatened in order to try to influence a public body or the citizenry, so it’s more of a political act.” This virtually insures that Paddock’s slaughter won’t be tagged in official circles as a domestic terrorist act since his brothers in interviews repeatedly said that he expressed no political thoughts or had any known political affiliations. There’s one final answer to why Paddock could so easily pack at a Las Vegas hotel. He was a white, middle-aged male, who lived quietly in a small Nevada town. He did not fit the set-in-stone profile of a violent, crime-prone, type. That type is variously Muslim, Middle Eastern or a young African American, or Hispanic male. The proof is the parade of young and not so young white males who openly strap guns around their waists or pack assault weapons under their arms and have brazenly walked down city streets in dozens of states with absolutely no fear of being stopped, let alone arrested. Paddock, like them, had no worries that he’d be waylaid before his hideous terror rampage. The even more hideous truth is that Las Vegas won’t change that.
“
Even if there had been minimal checks in place, Paddock still would likely have flown under the radar.”
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.
The BPS budget. I don’t think it’s balanced right, especially with transportation. All kids should have access to a free T pass. School should be free. If you have to pay to get there, it’s not.
The humanity of the city. Homelessness and addiction are on the rise. We need a mayor who really cares.
Barbara Rosa
Stuart Spina
Office Manager Jamaica Plain
Organizer Chelsea
Housing. Everywhere you look you see new buildings, but they’re not saying who they’re building for. We know it’s not for us.
Rent control. They’re moving us out of this community. More and more people can’t afford to stay.
Kia
Vickie Wideman
Housing and education. As an organizer, I’ve seen hundreds of people displaced. Tito has been an ally fighting displacement. He’s the one who really cares about the people living here now.
Maria Cristina Blanco Organizer Jamaica Plain
The price of housing in our communities. And there’s too many drug addicts and people with mental illness on the streets.
Jasmin Hooks
Student Roxbury
Intake Coordinator Dorchester
ton’s federal Empowerment Zone. A product of this investment, Crosstown Development Phase I, has spurred increased economic opportunity in Lower Roxbury. Araujo has held a range of positions in the public and nonprofit sectors. At Action for Boston Community Development, she focused on adult education and training, and homelessness. At the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, she introduced project management as a business practice, helped strengthen municipalities’ capacity to
expand affordable housing, and participated in a homelessness placement strategy. During her decade at the Boston Planning and Development Agency, she served first as a planner and later as the deputy director of Neighborhood Planning and Zoning. More recently, she has promoted the economic mobility of Boston’s residents. Araujo holds an undergraduate degree from Vassar College and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Pratt Institute. The American City Coalition, founded by Joseph E. Corcoran, is a Roxbury-based 501(c)(3) organization grounded in an inclusive, comprehensive, and collaborative approach to neighborhood revitalization. TACC provides technical support and assistance to advance multi-sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships that focus public and private investment to improve the quality of life for Roxbury families. The American City Coalition 2136 Washington St, 2nd Floor Roxbury, MA 02119.
Researcher Dorchester
IN THE NEWS
CHRISTINE ARAUJO The Board of Directors of The American City Coalition appointed Christine Araujo as executive director. “Christine is a bold thinker who will reorient TACC to be even more responsive to our mission of being a positive change agent,” said Joseph E. Corcoran, founder and president of the board of directors. “She brings a wealth of experience helping to promote economic development and address needs and opportunities.” “I am honored by this appointment,” said Araujo. “TACC will strategically contribute to supporting Roxbury’s unique and extraordinary resources, and promote greater access to opportunity for all residents of Roxbury.” Araujo brings many years of experience in community development, land use planning, and social services in Boston’s neighborhoods. From 2001 to 2004, Araujo served as executive director of Boston Connects Inc., where she was responsible for implementing the economic and human development goals of Bos-
6 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
Developer’s grand ambition sparks neighbors’ ire By YAWU MILLER
Officials of the Boston Planning and Development Association and members of the Kensington Investment Company team arrived at the Trotter School last week intent on talking about the traffic impacts of the 45 Townsend Street development project, a proposed 300unit complex Kensington aims to build on the site of the former Radius Hospital in Roxbury. But neighborhood residents steered the discussion back to the sheer density of the proposal and the impacts on parking in the residential neighborhood. “This is supposed to be a community meeting,” said Harrishof Street resident Mark Sutherland. “We keep telling you we don’t want 300 units. You keep coming back with the same thing.” The Kensington team began meeting with abutters earlier this year, originally calling for 322 units and 180 parking spaces. In May, the firm filed a letter of intent with the BPDA outlining plans to build 322 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units with the number of parking spaces increased to 217. Because the project is subject to the BPDA’s Article 80 community review process, neighbors have been given the opportunity to weigh in on the project in a series of meetings that will stretch to Dec. 5. During Thursday’s meeting, Kensington Senior Vice President Charlotte Lewis
said the development is now set to have 300 units, which she said would house between 415 and 425 residents. The development will have a coffee shop, an office co-working space, a gallery for community events and an outdoor plaza. The units at Townsend Street will be market rate, but developers are planning 45 units of affordable housing at the Bartlett Yard site, currently being developed by the Nuestra Comunidad Community Development Corporation. Brian Beisel, a transportation engineer with Howard Stein Hudson, told neighborhood residents traffic impact from the project would add up to 44 cars to Townsend Street during the peak hour of traffic. “The majority of the traffic in the area is traveling through the area,” he said. Although designed as a side street, Townsend Street functions as a major artery, facilitating travel between Roxbury and Jamaica Plain on the west side and Dorchester on the east. With Bridge Boston Charter School now open and the Conservatory Lab Charter School constructing a new building at the corner of Quincy Street and Columbia Road, the traffic on that artery could become even more voluminous.
Traffic jam
Meeting participants pushed back on Beisel’s seemingly optimistic assessment of the project’s impact on the Townsend Street
BANNER PHOTO
Brian Beisel describes projected traffic flows around the proposed 300-unit development at 45 Townsend Street. neighborhood. “We strongly recommend that you do another analysis of the traffic count and the impact of this project,” said Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association President Louis Elisa. Residents also pushed back on the plan to include 220 parking spaces in a project that is expected to house as many as 425 residents, arguing that with the higher-income renters Kensington is seeking to bring to the site,
car ownership will likely exceed the project’s capacity, placing strain on the already-tight street parking on the surrounding blocks.
Parking
While representatives of the development team argued that the city’s guidelines called for only .75 parking spaces per unit of new construction in the area, meeting attendees called that figure unrealistic, given limited public transportation options nearby and the absence of amenities such as supermarkets in the neighborhood. “The Washington Street bus is not rapid transit,” said Project RIGHT Executive Director Mike Kozu. A Townsend Street resident called on the developers to cut the number of units by a third. “Why not just do 200 instead
of being greedy and trying to make as much money as you can?” he said. “Why not try to fit into the neighborhood?” BPDA Deputy Director Dana Whiteside said residents would have more opportunity to weigh in on the density of the project during the Nov. 14 and Dec. 5 meetings. But City Councilor Tito Jackson noted that the ongoing discussions on parking and traffic are happening in the context of a 300-unit proposal that the community rejects. “Please listen to the community,” Jackson said. “The frustrating thing about these community meetings is that you come back three or four times, but nothing changes. You’re not listening. Listen to the community. Listen to the impact advisory group and incorporate what they’re saying.”
Public Workshop
PLAN: DUDLEY SQUARE MONDAY, OCTOBER 16
2300 WASHINGTON ST.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building, 6th Floor Roxbury, MA 02119
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: October’s PLAN: Dudley Square workshop will focus on climate readiness and resiliency. There will be an opportunity to learn about environmental conditions and mitigation strategies. Feedback from the workshop will be reflected in the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for this land to be produced later this year. Throughout the evening there will be opportunity for attendees to engage in productive dialogue with City/BPDA team members and each other on elements of the material being shared as part of the workshop. PLAN: Dudley Square is an initiative to think strategically about the types of uses and the scale of development best suited for the future of Dudley Square and Roxbury. The goals of this study are to provide an inclusive community engagement process, create an updated vision with the community, and establish an implementation plan that will lead to the issuance of RFPs for publicly-owned parcels in Dudley Square. We look forward to having you join us at the workshop. For more information please visit: http://bit.ly/PlanDudley
mail to:
phone : email :
COURTNEY SHARPE
Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4431 Courtney.Sharpe@boston.gov
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7
Early data shows low scores on new MCAS tests
Next-generation MCAS aims to capture college readiness Critics say project-based assessment is more meaningful By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
The next-generation MCAS debuted this past spring for students statewide in grades 3-8, and early score projections from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education show that students did not fare well. According to DESE’s initial projections, half of test-takers failed to meet expectations in english language arts and in math, a score that indicates additional academic assistance is either required or to be considered. This year’s scores on the new test will be used only to establish a baseline expectation for a typical number of right or wrong answers. Otherwise, the low scores could have had severe repercussions, as a student must pass the MCAS in grade 10 in order to graduate, and the state ranks schools in part based on their MCAS results. Schools with poor enough rankings go into a turnaround process or risk state takeover. Some education advocates, however, say the conversation around updating the standardized test is misguided, and that education improvement comes not from a new test, but rather from a different, more engaged model of learning. “We’ve doubled down on the status-quo — an accountability system based on one high stakes standardized test,” said Jessica Tang, president of the Boston Teacher’s Union. “There’s so much more to student learning, quality, than one test…. This was a missed opportunity for the state to have a much more meaningful accountability system.”
New MCAS, new results
DESE said the low scores on the new MCAS do not indicate that student learning declined, but rather that the new test captures different things. The next-generation MCAS puts more focus on critical thinking, applied knowledge and connecting reading and writing than the previous “legacy” MCAS did, so as to better predict college success, DESE states. BTU president Tang agrees that it is common for scores to drop on any new tests, as students are not used to the format and manner of asking questions yet.
Is it better?
DESE notes that with the legacy MCAS, even high scores were a poor predictor of students’ success in college: One-third of students who enrolled in public higher education after passing the MCAS and graduating high school were assigned to remedial courses in college. The next-generation MCAS is intended to be an improved indicator of a student’s college readiness and a school’s quality. But Monty O’Neill of The National Center for Fair and Open Testing says the next-generation MCAS is not a step forward, as it blends elements of the original MCAS with the PARCC test, an exam that is not much more predictive of college success. O’Neill points to a 2015 Mathematica Policy Research report commissioned by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education that found that PARCC scores were only slightly more predictive than MCAS scores of a student’s ability to attain a B or need remedial courses in firstyear college math, and was no
Public Meeting
ROBEY STREET CONDOMINIUMS MONDAY, OCTOBER 16 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM
better at predicting these for english language arts. High scores on both MCAS and PARCC tests were only a minor indicator of college success, explaining only 5 to 18 percent in the variation of first-year college grades, the report stated.
What are tests measuring?
Opponents of high-stakes standardized testing argue that such assessments are better at capturing test-taking skills or a school population’s socioeconomic status than instructor quality and student growth. Tang and O’Neill say a major influencer of student performance on such tests is not classroom instruction, but access to outside-of-school resources and whether or not the student is low-income or has higher needs. For instance, English Language Learners often are required to take the MCAS before they have full proficiency in the language, which means their lower test scores could mask strong educational growth, Tang said. A DESE spokeswoman, meanwhile, said that if students with fewer resources show lower performance on an achievement measurement, that in itself is valuable information that can help the state take action to help them reach a high level. “Students need to know how
to read and how to do math no matter what their income level,” she said. O’Neill said standardized tests do not necessarily capture all that goes into high achievement. “[Such a test] perpetuates idea that short-answer and multiple-choice questions on paper are the way to assess critical thinking, ability to plot data sets or be creative,” O’Neill said. “Even worse, because of the high stakes attached to the test in terms of graduation and rating for the school, there’s a huge pressure to ‘teach the test,’ which means kids aren’t going to get the deep learning that they deserve.”
High stakes
Another argument against current high-stakes test use is the belief that state and district efforts to help those schools with low test scores are actually counterproductive to school quality. The Boston Public Schools recently shuttered the Mattahunt Elementary School rather than risk letting the state take it over, and while many educators and activists welcome the influx of funds BPS sends to schools deemed in need of turnaround, educators and activists also have spoken against BPS’s tendency in turnaround schools to dismiss all staff, saying mass dismissals can disrupt practices that are effective but need more time or support to bring about the desired results. “Really, the issue is not this test or that,” said Fair Test’s Lisa
Guisbond. “It’s the way the test has been used and, as far as we know, will continue to be used, to misrepresent or misjudge school quality, and then, as we see in Boston in particular, to be used to punish and/or close schools — to label schools as failing and close them or put them into chaotic turnaround status.”
Alternative assessments
Guisbond and O’Neill said several strong models exist in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts in which students are graded instead on in-depth, performance-based projects and schools evaluated based on factors other than test scores. In some such schools, student performance projects may include, for example, a 20-page history paper or science lab project. In one system, students receive feedback and a chance to rework their project if it does not pass — emphasizing revision, which O’Neill notes is a critical college skill. DESE has received federal approval to change its school ranking system to expand the factors it assesses to include student attendance rates, ninth-grade success and students’ completion of broad and challenging curriculums. DESE also will make available to the public information on school characteristics such as provision of arts, physical education and community service courses, and career and technical education; access to advanced coursework and school climate reports.
We’ve made our move. Come celebrate with us. CAMBRIDGE COLLEGE IS NOW IN BOSTON. Join us for an Open House October 19th at 5pm RSVP - info@cambridgecollege.edu
650 DUDLEY STREET
The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center Roxbury, MA 02125
PROJECT PROPONENT: Robey St. LLC PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project consists of three 3 unit condominiums and one 2 unit condominium. Featuring a total of eleven individual units all standing 3-stories tall. Each unit will have one off-street parking space located at the rear of the development. The project address consists of street numbers 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 65, 67, 86, 88 and 90 Robey Street.
mail to:
phone : email :
500 Rutherford Ave. Charlestown, MA
LANCE CAMPBELL
Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4311 Lance.Campbell@Boston.gov
CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD:
1.800.829.4723 CambridgeCollege.edu
10/23/2017
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
8 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
preliminary continued from page 1
across the city who cast ballots in the preliminary. With 390,136 voters registered in the city, turnout was a dismal 14.45 percent. The 13 candidates who vied for votes in the District 7 race undoubtedly helped push turnout there. Janey, Faulk and Jibril had organizations that worked to identify and mobilize voters through phone calls and door-knocking. In Roxbury’s predominantly black and Latino Ward 12, turnout was 20 percent, higher than the 19 percent who voted in South Boston’s Ward 6 and the 17 percent who turned out in West Roxbury’s Ward 20. At-large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, who campaigned on behalf of Mayor Walsh in West Roxbury, said the action was slow in that neighborhood. “It was really low turnout,” she said. “But the people who came out to vote were engaged. They were the super voters. That’s what I’ve heard across the city.” The so-called super voters, those who turn out for every primary as well as general elections, tend to be more white and vote more conservatively than those who vote only in general elections.
Mayoral push
Backed by a $4 million war chest, Walsh’s campaign had by far the most sophisticated ground game, with multiple voter contacts in the weeks leading up to the election through legions of door-knockers, phone banks and text messages. On the day of the campaign, Walsh’s volunteer corps, which included city
BANNER PHOTO
(above) District 7 City Council candidate Rufus Faulk greets voters outside the Lewis School in Roxbury. (right) Mayoral candidate Tito Jackson campaigns during the Roslindale Day Parade. workers, knocked on doors at not only the homes of voters committed to the mayor, but also those only somewhat likely to vote for Walsh. Walsh reported nearly $14,000 in salaries for campaign workers in the first two weeks of September and appeared to have considerable support from among the more than 16,000 workers on the city payroll. During his campaign victory party, held at the IBEW hall on Freeport Street in Dorchester, city workers and elected officials were prominent among the hundreds of supporters who turned out, underscoring the advantages that come with being an incumbent mayor. In the end, Jackson won just three wards: 11, 12 and 19. But those wards, which cover most of Roxbury and all of Jamaica Plain, describe Jackson’s core of support:
black voters and white liberals. Because those voters tend to turn out in larger numbers in the finals than in the preliminaries, Jackson stands a good chance of expanding his share of the vote on Nov. 7. But if the preliminary is any indication, Walsh won’t make it easy for his opponent. In the weeks leading up to the preliminary, Walsh’s campaign had a heavy presence in Ward 12 and throughout the predominantly black and Latino precincts in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park, going toe-to-toe with Jackson among what many see as the challenger’s natural base of support. Jackson lost to Walsh in predominantly black neighborhoods outside of Roxbury. In Jackson’s favor, Walsh has agreed to two mayoral debates.
PHOTO: PATRICK O’CONNOR
During the run-up to the preliminary election, Jackson’s push to discuss issues, including schools, public safety, real estate development and displacement were stymied by Walsh, who declined several invitations to debate Jackson
and the other two candidates. Now, Walsh has accepted invitations for an Oct. 10 debate hosted by Dan Rea of WBZ radio and an Oct. 24 debate moderated by WGBH radio hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan.
CONSECRATION SERVICE FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Saturday October 14, 2017
Celebrating the
Episcopal Elevation OF
Bishop Elect William E. Dickerson II
10:00 a.m.
LOCATION: GREATER LOVE TABERNACLE
101 NIGHTINGALE STREET DORCHESTER, MA 02124
INAUGURAL GALA
Sunday October 15, 2017 5:00 p.m.
LOCATION: THE TIFFANY BALLROOM AT THE FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON NORWOOD CHIEF CONSECRATOR Bishop Nathaniel Bond Presiding Bishop & Apostolic Leader Light of Life Ministries Jackson, Tennessee
C0-CONSECRATOR Bishop Keith Young, Sr. Vision for Souls Ministries Atlanta, Georgia
BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION!
C0-CONSECRATOR HOMILIST Bishop Brian C. Greene Bishop John M. Borders III Pentecostal Tabernacle Morning Star Baptist Church Cambridge, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts
1125 BOSTON-PROVIDENCE TURNPIKE NORWOOD, MA 02062
Visit bishopdickersonconsecration.org or call the church office 617–740–9480 to purchase gala tickets, souvenir book ads or for more information.
Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9
Court hears charter cap case appeal By JULE PATTISON-GORDON
Lawyers argued in Suffolk County Courthouse this week over a case with the potential to undo the results of last year’s heated battle over the cap on charter schools. Millions of dollars had poured into campaigns on both sides of the Question 2 ballot measure, with the lift-the-cap side bolstered further by hefty donations, totaling more than $15 million, from an organization deemed to have illegally kept secret its contributors. Ultimately, 62 percent of residents voted to keep the cap — but the ballot measure was not the only bid to lift the limits on Massachusetts’ charter schools. Before the 2016 ballot measure came Doe v. Peyser, a court case centered around five Boston children who failed to receive placements at charter schools in 2015 and instead received placement in district public schools that the state ranks as Level 3 or Level 4. These complainants say that their schools are poor quality, that charter schools would provide better education and that the cap on charter schools restricts available seats to the point of denying them access to such schools. The court dismissed the case last fall, weeks before the Question 2 vote. On Monday, attorneys representing the plaintiffs returned to court, arguing that the court had erred in its dismissal. They said that while state voters had rejected a charter cap lift, that vote’s result should not stand because it denies some children their constitutional right to equal protection and an adequate public education. Meanwhile, seven students who are of color, have disabilities and are English Language Learners, and who attend traditional public schools in Boston, intervened in the case to defend keeping the charter cap. These students argue that lifting the cap would damage the financial well-being of their schools for the
sake of schools that do less to serve their demographics, and so would harm their own educations. The defense attorneys assert as well that the plaintiffs make too big a logical leap when claiming that adjusting the charter cap is the clear and necessary solution to allegedly poor educational conditions in district public schools. Robert Toone of the Attorney General’s Office spoke for defendants on Monday. Melissa Allison, of Anderson & Kreiger LLP, spoke on behalf of intervening students, accompanied by Matt Cregor of the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights and Economic Justice. Amicus briefs supporting the charter cap were submitted by the Massachusetts Teachers Association and jointly from the Boston Branch of the NAACP, Boston Education Justice Alliance and the New England Area Conference of the NAACP. Representing the plaintiffs on Monday was Kevin Martin of Goodwin Proctor LLP. An amicus brief on behalf of these students was submitted jointly by Pioneer Institute, the Black Alliance for Educational Options and Cheryl Brown Henderson, whose father was the named plaintiff in the case Brown v. Board of Education. Plaintiffs asked the court to reconsider the dismissed case and launch a discovery process, investigating the arguments’ merits further. While the case focuses on complaints of Boston children, its ruling would affect school districts statewide.
Arguments
Plaintiffs previously argued that because one of the state’s caps on charter schools has been reached in Boston, this policy restricts the likelihood of student’s placement in an educational setting they believe superior to some of Boston’s traditional public schools. Student complainants were assigned to schools the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ranks as Level 3 and
Public Meeting
GENERAL HEATH SQUARE APARTMENTS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17
90 BICKFORD STREET
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Julia Martin House Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
PROJECT PROPONENT: Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation will be providing a project update at this Public Meeting for the General Heath Square Apartments development.
mail to:
phone : email :
AISLING KERR
Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4212 Aisling.Kerr@Boston.gov
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
4 — marking them as among the lowest 20 percent of schools, compared to other schools of the same grade span statewide. As such, plaintiffs say, they are blocked from better offerings in the form of charter schools and their right to adequate education is violated. They argue for complete removal of the cap or forraising of the cap so as to increase chances of entry through charter lotteries or remove the need for the lottery system entirely. They noted that there still would be some limits on charters, given that the state education department approves new charter schools. Defendants previously countered that the charter cap protects many students by ensuring financial viability of traditional public schools. Commonwealth charter schools are approved by the state, not the local community that has to help fund them, which makes it difficult for a district to have control over its finances. District schools also tend to serve higher-need students than many charter schools do, meaning that those students would experience reduced support for the schools that do serve them, to advantage schools that do not, intervenors say. “[The plaintiffs’] claim would require imposing a remedy that would injure other students at those schools,” said attorney Allison. Defense attorneys argued further that there is no guarantee that any potential added charter school will be of high quality or that the children necessarily will gain access under a lifted cap. One amicus brief
BANNER PHOTO
(Left to right) Attorney Melissa Allison of Anderson & Kreiger LLP, Matt Cregor of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice, and Juan Cofield and Julia Hardy Cofield of the New England Regional Conference of the NAACP outside the courthouse. Allison and Cregor represent students seeking to keep the cap on charter schools, a cause that the New England Regional Conference of the NAACP supports. states that there are fewer Level 4 or 5 BPS public schools than there are Boston charter schools on probation or operating under conditions imposed by DESE. Furthermore, defendants assert that should a condition contribute to poor public school offerings, it is not clear that the solution to that poor condition is to promote a specific kind of alternate school. Judges on Monday probed plaintiffs, questioning why their argument would not apply to expanding METCO or another alternative. “They’re just trying to use the education clause claim as a device to get to their chosen remedy,” said defending attorney Toone. Defendants previously had said that Horace Mann charter schools, which are not capped, could provide similar environments to that which the complainants seek, without adjusting the system. However, plaintiffs have since narrowed their request to increasing availability of Commonwealth
charter schools. Commonwealth charter schools differ from Horace Mann schools in part in that they do not need local school committee approval to expand and are not restricted to hiring unionized teachers, and in part because there has been a greater push to expand Commonwealth charters than there has been to expand Horace Mann schools. Plaintiff attorney Martin introduced a new line of argument on Monday, stating that it is illogical for the state to let Horace Mann schools expand but limit Commonwealth charters, as he said both are charter schools that could draw money and students from traditional public schools. “It’s OK for money to flow out of the district for Horace Mann schools as long as the teachers are unionized?” Martin said. “That’s an arbitrary and irrational response.” Speaking after the hearing, Allison said the judges’ decision will not likely come before fall 2018.
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Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11
Health Matters from Carney Hospital
MAMMOGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL IN BREAST CANCER DETECTION
“Breast self-exam might also be important for women younger than 40, especially if they are at high risk due to family history. If they begin performing breast self-exam before mammograms are recommended, they will have an advantage, because they would know what is normal for their breasts”, says Dr. Rabin. Women who choose to have a breast selfexam should have their technique reviewed by their health care provider during their regular physical exam. If a patient has a change or new symptom in their breast, such as development of a lump or swelling, skin irritations or dimpling, breast or nipple pain or a nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk, they should see their health care provider as soon as possible for evaluation. Likewise, any abnormality identified on screening mammograms should also be investigated further even if there is no other symptom or physical change. Still, it’s important to know that most of the time, these changes are not cancer.
W
e hear a lot about breast cancer awareness during October, but it’s essential for women to understand that they should be watching for changes in their breasts all year long and report those changes to their doctor.
Having regular screening mammograms beginning at age 40 is important because age is a major risk factor. Risk begins to increase at age 30. Women are at the steep part of the curve between the ages of 40 and 50 and it continues to get steeper as we get older.
Mammograms may save lives by detecting breast cancer or precancerous lesions earlier, when they are most treatable. Nevertheless some women are either not getting mammograms or delaying them for more than a year (usual screening interval).
“It is very important to get an annual screening mammogram, or at the very least, a screening mammogram every two years. In between mammograms, clinical breast exam (CBE) and breast self-exam (BSE) can be useful tools, because up to some breast cancers do not show up on a mammogram”, says, Marina Rabin, MD, an OB/GYN physician at Carney Hospital.
According to the American Cancer Society, only 46 percent of all women ages 40 to 49, 56 percent of women ages 50 to 64, and 49 percent of women 65 and older, report having a mammogram within the past year. These percentages decrease when you breakdown the numbers by ethnicity, level of education, immigration status and lack of health insurance.
Remember that regular mammograms are important and you don’t need a referral to schedule your routine annual screening mammogram. Last but not least, Carney Hospital does computerized digital mammograms which are less painful and incur less radiation.
Breast exam performed by your health care provider, and self-breast exam help establish the baseline and detect changes in your breasts since you and your physician would know the baseline well (everyone’s breasts are somewhat lumpy).
Treat Yourself Well and Make a Mammography Appointment Today! On October 17th from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Carney Hospital will host its annual “TREAT YOURSELF WELL BREAST HEALTH DAY” Mammography screening appointments can be scheduled at 1-855-412-6851 and are available throughout the day, along with complimentary coffee, chocolate and a rose for all that come in for this important screening.
www.carneyhospital.org
Carney Hospital
12 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
Fenway
continued from page 1 spoke during the event about the racism they encountered in Boston or warnings they received before moving to the city. Still, many also say that while some problems persist, conditions have come a long way. The Take the Lead initiative is meant to ensure that conditions improve a lot more.
Conversation and bystander response
One important step is simply having open conversation, said event emcee Liz Walker, pastor of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church, who also was the first black woman to be a co-anchor on a Boston newscast. People run away from
discussing racism, “even though racism always seems to fester under the surface in this country, ready to break free,” she said. State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry added that it is critical for the city and state to acknowledge its history of racism, because that shapes how to move forward. Solutions voiced during Thursday’s event focused on energizing bystanders to stand up against prejudice. The Take the Lead team unveiled a video to be played at Fenway, Gillette Stadium and TD Garden featuring Boston athletes, of color and white, telling fans to stand up against any acts of racism they encounter. “If you hear something offensive or hateful, speak up. … I’m taking the lead and you can, too, in the fight against discrimination, racism and injustice,” players say
in the video. “If we all stand together, hate falls behind.” Mayor Martin Walsh, too, underscored the need for vocal public response to reject any witnessed racism. He joined others in saying such work needs to cover the whole city, not just its stadiums. “If a person says something racist in a public setting, that reaction should be 100 times stronger,” Walsh said. “Take the Lead is a powerful message that everyone has a part to do in ending racism.” As for institutions, Dorcena Forry and Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy said response to any incidents must be rapid. Kennedy said the race-based harassment of Jones and the racial slurs used at Fenway during the following night’s game, demonstrated how prevalent racism remains. “You realize this isn’t a Boston thing, a Fenway thing. This is an American thing. This happens in malls, hotel lobbies, schools and hospitals,” Kennedy said. “We’re going to elevate and sustain this conversation as an organization.” In May, the Red Sox issued a public apology to Jones and fans gave him a standing ovation on the following night’s game. That same night, a fan referred to the anthem singer with racial slur, and the Red Sox responded with the fan’s removal and his lifetime ban from Fenway Park. Dave Hoffman, Celtics senior director of community engagement, said this year the team launched an ongoing program to have discussions and practice scenarios with youth about the need to stand up as a bystander and act, instead of
hanging back. He said they aim to reach youth before they form conscious or unconscious biases. New England Revolution President Brian Billelo said his team seeks to have its players, many of whom are from other countries, connect with communities whose populations are very different from them. To encourage more equitable access to hockey, Boston Bruins owner Charlie Jacobs said the team donates hockey equipment to youth who cannot afford it, understanding that there can be a high cost barrier to enter the sport. A moderator noted there is still a ways to go, with few people of color on the team. Kennedy said all five sports teams will join together to offer scholarships for work experience on each team and do career fairs. He also said he supports Red Sox owner John Henry’s proposal to rename Yawkey Way so as to no longer honor the former team owner who resisted integrating the Red Sox.
subjected to harsher judgment. He recalled being mocked as a black broadcaster and the difficulty he experienced in finding people who looked like him in Boston, until he was taken to Roxbury and Dorchester. However, he noted that racial prejudice goes both ways and also that the Celtics were the first in the league to have a black player, then first to have a black head coach and first to have five black starters. Tommy Harper, who played on the Red Sox in the 1970s, recalled discovering that only white players and staff received passes to the Elks Club during spring training in Winter Haven, Florida. “Right from that point on, I knew I could never be part of a Red Sox nation,” Harper said. His complaints to management went unaddressed for years, until he answered a reporter’s question about the practice — for which Harper says the management fired him. Still, when prompted, even Harper agreed that things have changed.
Boston experiences
Protest and response
Open and welcoming
The Patriots’ Andre Tippet recalled friends warning him off Boston when he was drafted, due to its reputation as a racist city. While problems persist, that reputation has become less true today, Tippet said. He added that he strives to work to the highest standard to encourage the door being opened to others. The Celtics’ Cedric Maxwell said that black people must go beyond, because they are
Kaepernick sparked debate when during the August 2016 pregame season he began taking a knee during the national anthem as a measure to call attention to police killings of black civilians and other oppression of people of color in the U.S. Kaepernick originally had sat during the anthem, but changed to kneeling when a Navy SEAL told him that would
See FENWAY, page 13
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Whittier Street Health Center is working to help our community beat this disease by finding it earlier and connecting our patients to state of the art cancer care. We invite you to join the fight! Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it is found and treated early.
n If you are a woman age 40 to 49, we encourage that you talk to your doctor about when to start getting mammograms and how often to get them.
n If you are a woman age 50 to 74, be sure to get a mammogram every 2
PHOTO: BOSTON RED SOX
Steve Burton (left) moderates a discussion. Second from left to right: former Red Sox player and coach Tommy Harper, Patriots player Andre Tippett, Boston Bruins Foundation executive director Bob Sweeney and radio broadcaster and former Celtics player Cedric Maxwell.
years. You may also choose to get them more often.
Talk to your doctor about your risk for breast cancer, especially if a close family member of yours had breast and/or ovarian cancer. Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get mammograms. Whittier Street Health Center’s mission is to provide high-quality, reliable, and accessible primary health care and support services to diverse populations, promote wellness, and eliminate health and social disparities. As one of many steps toward fulfillment of this mission, Whittier has partnered with the DanaFarber Cancer Institute to help provide greater access to cancer screening and treatment to the underserved communities of Boston. We have a convenient onsite Mammography Suite at Whittier’s main campus in Roxbury and twice weekly Mammography Van service at our brand new Quincy Commons location in North Dorchester. We encourage you to take advantage of all the services Whittier has to offer and to spread the word to your neighbors and friends. Help us build healthier communities!
LEARN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Noble and Greenough School offers an exceptional academic, athletic and creative experience with an emphasis on service-learning and community. The school supports intellectual, social and personal growth to encourage a lifetime mission of leadership for the public good. Join us for our open house:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 – 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. visit: www.admission.nobles .edu for more details
For more information, please visit us at www.wshc.org, under Clinical Services, and click on Dana-Farber Cancer Care Center. You also welcome to call us at 617-427-1000, or simply walk in and ask to speak to a Clinical Case Manager.
Whittier Street Health Center 1290 Tremont St. Roxbury, MA 02120 T: 617-427-1000
Whittier @ Quincy Commons 282 Blue Hill Ave. Roxbury, MA 02120 T: 617-585-2550
Nobles is a coed day and five-day boarding school for students in grades 7-12. 10 Campus Drive, Dedham MA 02026 • 781 320 7100
Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13
Beatboxing workshop with Chesney Snow October 19, 6-7:30p.m.
PHOTO: BOSTON RED SOX
Tommy Harper recalls the discrimination he faced as a Red Sox player in the 1970s.
Fenway
continued from page 12 feel more respectful to veterans. Since then, some, including President Trump, framed Kaepernick’s protest against racism as instead a statement against America and patriotism. The U.S. president said that the “son of a bitch” players who kneel should be fired or suspended, and fans should boycott games. Following Trump’s comments, more teams took to knees, linked arms, raised fists or remained in locker rooms during the anthem, as they sought to craft a response or avoid engaging in the discussion. While some said their choices during the anthem reflected support for Kaepernick’s message, other said they intended to show support for free speech or rejection of Trump’s comments. A number of NFL team owners issued statements. Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and arranged for Trump to be gifted with a Super Bowl LI ring, stated support of players’ ability to peacefully raise awareness for their concerns. In some games around the country, fans booed and chanted for players to stand. Kaepernick, meanwhile, remains unsigned. In a video that accrued more than 250,000 Facebook shares by Tuesday morning, Nick Wright, co-host of the Fox Network’s “First
Things First,” said that there was frequent media and public distortion of Kaepernick’s message, including conflating the timing of the protest during the national anthem playing with protest against the anthem itself. “When people march, they are not protesting traffic,” Wright said. “The players have been uniform that they’re using the anthem as a vehicle to protest inequality, police brutality and racial injustice.” He questioned whether Kaepernick would still be labeled as disrespecting the flag if his protest had been not against mistreatment of black people, but against mistreatment of returning veterans. Also this month, four people were removed from a game at Fenway Park after draping a banner over the Green Monster with the words, “Racism is as American as baseball.” One of the four said they were white anti-racist protestors seeking to remind white people in particular of the reality that racism is fundamental to American history and culture. One protester said the action was inspired by the mistreatment of Adam Jones last May. A number of fans booed the protestors, and some said they were unclear if the banner was for or against racism. The banner and protesters were removed for violation of a prohibition against hanging signs on the ballpark, and no arrests were made.
Public Meeting
PROPOSED RIO GRANDE PROJECT: ARTICLE 50 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
2315 WASHINGTON STREET Central Boston Elder Services, Community Room Roxbury, MA 02119
PROJECT PROPONENT: Rio Grande LLC PROJECT DESCRIPTION: MEETING FOCUS: The Boston Planning and Development Agency will hold a public meeting to discuss proposed amendments to Article 50 (Roxbury Neighborhood District) which would amend the current zoning to allow for a Planned Development Area for the proposed Rio Grande development. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proponent plans to develop a mixed-use retail, office and residential complex. The former Roxbury Institute for Savings Building and the former Boston Consolidated Gas Building are contributing structures to the Dudley Station Historic District and are key components of the project. In addition to these two structures a third component of the project is a new 26 story primarily residential tower to be constructed
mail to:
phone : email :
Experience the history and art of beatboxing at this workshop led by Chesney Snow, an award-winning actor, beatboxer, poet, musician and songwriter. Free with RSVP: northeastern.edu/ crossing In collaboration with the Office for the Arts at Harvard
1175 Tremont Street, Roxbury • 617-373-2555 Bay State Banner-Chesney Snow.indd 1
9/13/17 1:03 PM
Boston Recycling
HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP OFF BOSTON’S
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP OFF DAYS: October 7, 2017 (9:00 – 2:00)
at UMass Boston Bayside Expo Center 200 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, MA FREE HOUSEHOLD ELECTRONICS & TEXTILES RECYCLING EVENT
Check the City website for acceptable items
PAPER SHREDDING WILL BE AT LOCATION
No Latex or Acrylic Paint FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS ONLY NO COMMERCIAL WASTE ACCEPTED PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIRED
Check the City website for acceptable items Questions, call Mayor’s Hotline at BOS:311
DANA WHITESIDE
Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.4441 Dana.Whiteside@Boston.gov
BostonPlans.org
@BostonPlans
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
City Of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh
14 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
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Q&A
BIZ BITS
Hub Chamber opens doors
Opportunity director works to advance economic inclusion
“
We’re an influencer. We don’t have ‘authority’ over businesses — we can’t obligate them to do something. But when we put out a call to businesses and say this is imperative to the economic health of the region, they listen.”
By SANDRA LARSON
Sheena Collier joined the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce last year as its first director of economic opportunity. She is also founder and CEO of her own business, The Collier Connection. Prior to her current job and entrepreneurial venture, Collier spent 12 years working as a community organizer, project manager and partnership builder for a number of organizations in Boston and Washington, D.C. Most recently, she was the Boston Promise Initiative director at Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. She spoke with the Banner by phone about the Chamber’s growing focus on racial equity in the private sector and about how her entrepreneurial and community organizing experience informs her new role.
What is your role at the Chamber of Commerce? As director of economic opportunity, I lead and support initiatives that engage the business community in advancing economic inclusion and racial diversity in the private sector. The other efforts going on in the department of economic growth are talent retention, particularly around millennials, and industry growth — looking at the industries that are growing and working to attract them to Boston or attract them as Chamber members.
Was this a new position at Chamber of Commerce? Yes. Everyone in my department has been there two years or less. The idea came from [Chamber of Commerce President and CEO] Jim Rooney. He was new, too. As executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, he had already been doing work around diversity in construction and procurement for the convention center. So he was already thinking about achieving racial equity in Boston’s private sector. We talk about income inequality a lot in Greater Boston, but when you look at statistics across employment, education, and the like, it essentially breaks down along racial lines. And with racial equity, besides the moral and civic duty part, there’s also a business imperative. You can’t attract businesses to a place if a good portion of people say they don’t feel welcome there. So Jim felt this was something the Chamber needed to take on.
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— Sheen Collier, director of economic opportunity, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
PHOTO: COURTESY SHEENA COLLIER
Sheena Collier around it right now. A lot of companies and groups are trying to tackle the diversity issue. On one hand, that’s really great, but on the other hand, we need those many different efforts to come together in order to really move the dial. The business community understands this issue needs to be addressed, and it’s something the Chamber takes seriously. We are asking, “How do we focus on what we do best? What are we best positioned to actually affect?”
And what is the Chamber’s focus in this area? I think that as the leading convener and membership organization for businesses in Greater Boston, we’re best positioned to raise awareness of issues and to be thought leaders on what the business community should be focused on. We’re an influencer. We don’t have “authority” over businesses — we can’t obligate them to do something. But when we put out a call to businesses and say this is imperative to the economic health of the region, they listen. So I think changing the conversation is a big role we can play, and creating some shared roles for business.
What are some approaches that work? I think it’s important to have the communities that you’re actually trying to impact included in the conversation. We started with focus groups with residents of all income levels. Who is the Chamber to come in and say “Here’s how we should help communities of color” without doing some work to talk to the actual communities? Something I took away from being an organizer is, you can’t organize without bringing in the people you’re trying to serve.
What are the impediments to increasing racial diversity in Boston’s private sector?
At the recent Mass Innovation Nights event in Grove Hall [focused on blackowned tech companies] you told the audience, “We are trying to not be your grandfather’s Chamber.” What did you mean by that?
That’s a good question. I think that one — and this could be seen as an opportunity or a challenge — is that there’s a lot of conversation
We are updating to stay relevant. Having an explicit focus on racial inequity, small business and millennials is not “business
as usual” for the Chamber. It’s different from how people traditionally see the Chamber, as a group of white CEOs of large companies.
What are some initiatives you’ve been able to introduce in this first year? One area we’re focusing on is redefining talent. I’ve heard people say they can’t find candidates from diverse backgrounds, there’s not a pipeline. We don’t believe that. We are getting companies to look at access to internships through an equity lens — redefining who’s seen as a valuable candidate. We just had a Redefining Talent Summit to discuss how internships change people’s pathways and to highlight companies that are paving the way in providing good-paying internships to students from diverse backgrounds — not just diverse in terms of racial and ethnic background, but also in the institutions applicants attend. Everyone wants a Harvard or MIT student; we want them to look seriously at [community college and state university] students as well. Another area is advancing economic inclusion — making sure everyone has the opportunity to participate in the economic life of the city, and in particular, getting mid- and large- size businesses to commit to procuring from businesses owned by people of color. We’ll be launching our Pacesetters Initiative in January with a partnership of eight area companies that are committed to using their purchasing power to provide opportunities to minority-owned business enterprises. And one other initiative, very much in a planning phase, is a combination of my work around racial equity and the Chamber’s focus on talent attraction and retention. We have a strong program around millennials [in general], but we want to do more specifically around the experience of millennials of color.
You’re also an entrepreneur yourself, and have a community organizing background. How do those mesh with your work at the Chamber? I consider myself a super connector, a social broker and a strategist. I’m not from Boston, but I’ve been here since 2004 and have built a strong network. So I launched The Collier Connection
because I wanted to take the connections I have and help other people connect better with each other. I’m helping businesses and nonprofits to better connect their audience to their mission, brand or product, and I produce events myself, to help people connect. People say that Boston is resource-rich, but resource-coordination-poor. I have a skill for translating info to different audiences. And that’s a big part of my role at the Chamber, too. I don’t come from the business world — I have a master’s in education, and came to this job from DSNI — but in each case, I’ve been helping connect audiences and close opportunity gaps. So that’s a transferable skill. I used to work with trying to get parents and young people to the table in education decisions. Now I’m doing something very similar for the business community, helping them figure out how to reach this new, or, I should say, historically overlooked, audience.
Have there been any surprises in your new role? I didn’t realize how many major businesses are in Boston. This wasn’t my world, so I didn’t know what a hub this city is for innovation and major businesses. We have international delegations coming to see how we do things. So I think getting those prominent companies to invest their time and resources back into the communities of Boston is something the Chamber can influence, particularly through its lens on racial equity.
What does the Chamber of Commerce offer to non-business owners or very small businesses? Most events are open to non-members. One of the biggest values to anyone, business owner or not, is we have a lot of speakers that come to the Chamber that give insight on things going on in Boston that you might not hear elsewhere. We had a panel on the cannabis industry, for instance. We have Senator Warren coming for a forum in November, we have our Convention for the Next Generation on October 23. So there’s access to info that I think is valuable for everyone. Personally, I have learned a lot about policy issues from listening to speakers at our events.
TIP OF THE WEEK House hunting and credit By now it is something of a cliche to call homeownership the American dream. But even if sitting on your own deck, looking over your picket fence and sipping lemonade doesn’t move you, homeownership is still one of the best ways to build wealth. For many, owning a home is cheaper than renting and, in the long run, the biggest investment they will ever make. It is also a practical financial move thanks to the fact that you’re likely building equity while getting a mortgage interest tax break. So although it is perfectly fine to dream about backyard barbecues and the smell of fresh-cut grass, the path to owning your own home should also involve taking the time to do some financial sightseeing. Whether you’re about to set out to buy your first home or if you are getting ready to sell and buy another home, here are the basics of how credit impacts the home-buying process. BASICS If you are like most people, you will probably need to take out a loan. If you are able to pay cash for your home instead, count yourself among the lucky few. A huge part of taking out a loan involves your credit history and credit score. Basically, you must prove to lenders that you can be a responsible borrower and can be trusted with a mortgage of many thousands of dollars. A strong credit score may provide proof of this trustworthiness. Different types of loans have different credit requirements. Some loans require you to have a credit score of at least 620, although it is possible (with some difficulty) to be approved for a loan with a credit score as low as 580. But getting loan approval is only part of the story. BETTER CREDIT, BETTER RATE Home loans come in all shapes and sizes. Some are fixed interest mortgages, some have adjustable rates or longer terms and the list of variables goes on. Just like anything else, some loans are better for you than others. To get the loan that has the lowest interest rate, which right now is around 4 percent, usually requires a higher credit score. Rates can be considerably higher when you have a lower credit score, and the result is paying significantly more monthly over the life of the loan. The reason is that a higher credit score demonstrates that you are skilled at managing debt and have a history of responsibly paying back many types of loans. Therefore, the lender is taking on less risk when lending you money. The less risk for them, the better the interest rate for you. — Brandpoint
THE LIST According to Forbes, the top 10 highest paid TV actresses are: 1. Sofia Vergara ($41.5 million) 2. Kaley Cuoco ($26 million) 3. Mindy Kaling ($13 million) 4. Ellen Pompeo ($13 million) 5. Mariska Hargitay ($12.5 million) 6. Julie Bowen ($12 million) 7. Kerry Washington ($11 million) 8. Priyanka Chopra ($10 million) 9. Robin Wright ($9 million) 10. Pauley Perrette ($8.5 million) See BIZ BITS, page 15
Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15
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Biz Bits
will not receive his annual bonus and his other potential retirement-related benefits will not be awarded until an independent review is conducted on the data breach. — More Content Now
continued from page 14
TECH TALK Equifax CEO out after cybersecurity breach
NUMBER TO KNOW
Equifax CEO Richard Smith has been let go from the company after a data breach exposed highly sensitive information of more than 140 million Americans on Sept. 26. Equifax, which is a credit reporting agency, said that hackers exploited a software flaw that the company did not fix to take social security numbers, dates of birth and other personal data. The company said that Smith is retiring, but
PHOTOS: CELINA COLBY
Models display Makuwa Swimwear designs.
Finding power in crochet Congolese designer weaves philanthropic message By CELINA COLBY
Swimwear designer Francine Makuwa fled her home in the Congo as a refugee when she was 9 years old. As she traveled to the United States to seek asylum, an elderly woman taught her how to crochet. “While running from the war, she found peace in crochet,” says Makuwa. “I never forgot.” Now, 17 years later, Makuwa has created a line of crocheted swimwear and hopes to use it to give back to the people she left behind. “I came from a culture where a woman in a bikini was not ladylike,” says Makuwa. “Coming here,
ON THE WEB For more information about Makuwa Swimwear and to purchase online, visit:
https://wearmsw.com I learned that a woman shouldn’t be judged by what she’s wearing.” That sense of liberation drove the designer to create her line of intricate, crocheted two-pieces. She uses colorful fabric and patterns to pay homage to her tropical homeland. Having overcome significant obstacles to get to where she is, Makuwa designs for an equally bold and powerful customer. Many of her styles feature avant-garde details. The “Belle” suit boasts an open-weave train and the “Dahlia” is a traditional string bikini form crafted in a bright orange faux fur. The revealing, but tasteful, suits encourage women to embrace their natural shape. On Sunday, Oct. 1, Makuwa presented her line at Liquid Art House as part of Boston Fashion Week. The presentation was as much a reflection of herself as her designs. “One of my signatures with the models is a
big ‘fro with a flower — a sign of my African heritage,” she says. For Makuwa, the swimwear project is about more than style. Every day, she remembers the woman who inspired and taught her. “That woman is part of who I am today,” she says. Her long-term plan is to open an education and production center in the Congo where older women can learn crochet and handcraft skills that allow them to continue making a living. “In the Congo after a certain age you’re left on your own,” the designer says. “I want to raise enough money so that older women aren’t just left to die when society thinks they’re not useful.” For now, fundraising and creation are Makuwa’s priorities. She’s established a GoFundMe account for the project, and proceeds from her sales will also go toward finding a location and a teacher in the Congo to get the center started. “Why not bring the business somewhere where there is poverty and it can make a difference?” says Makuwa. “One step at a time, we’ll get it done.”
How long should you wait for a job offer? By CAROLINE M.L. POTTER, MONSTER.COM
You have an interview or two for a position you really want, and everything goes well. It’s a regular lovefest between you and the hiring manager, and your heart skips a beat when you’re told, “We’ll have an offer to you by the end of the week.” As the week goes by, you keep your phone glued to your hand as you anxiously wait for the offer to come in. But what should you do when that week goes by, and you still haven’t received an offer? Do you sit by the phone and wait, or throw in the towel altogether? Neither, says career counselor Robin Ryan, author of “60 Seconds & You’re Hired!” Instead, she says, you should continue your job search until you receive and accept a formal job offer. “Even if you’re certain an offer is coming, do not stop job-hunting,” she says. “These things have a tendency to fall apart.” Because it’s important to understand that the whole job-search process can take some time, and you really can’t ask to expedite the hiring
process, Monster spoke with Ryan about why the offer might get delayed and the steps you should take when you feel like you’re being ghosted. n Poof! There it isn’t! A number of things can delay a job offer. Some are tied to how large a corporation is and how elaborate the hiring chain of command is. If you’re applying to a Fortune 500 company, the process, as a whole, may take longer than at a small startup. However, job offers can fall apart at any time, and at any-size company. “A hiring manager may be stalling you while an offer is out with someone else for the same position,” Ryan says. “You also may be promised a job only to learn that the funding for the job is no longer there.” She reminds job searchers that mergers, too, may kill a position’s creation or eliminate an established job altogether. n Keep in touch. Don’t wait too long to follow up after an offer fails to materialize. “Contact the person who said you’d be getting an offer no more than a few days after you were to receive it,” Ryan says. Ask about its status, such as, “Where are you
at with this?” or, “When will this come through?” Ryan adds, “If you’re told that the process is going to take a bit more time, ask, ‘Are you talking weeks or months?’ “If you are being stalled, it’s risky to wait on an offer,” Ryan says. “If it doesn’t come through, and you haven’t been searching elsewhere, you’re going to get really depressed.” n Hold or fold? If you feel that your job offer is stalled indefinitely, you may be tempted to try to force a potential employer’s hand by saying that you have another offer when you don’t. “Never bluff,” Ryan says. “Many companies — especially larger ones — will call you on it, and tell you to take the other offer.” Although it may be awkward, Ryan suggests informing the recruiter, “I’m continuing to interview, but I’m still very interested in this job.” She urges candidates to try to find out what is really happening with the position and get a commitment from the company. If the offer does vanish, Ryan reminds workers, “There’s more than one dream job out there.”
11.3
According to a recent InsideSales.com report, European sales representatives are 11.3 percent better at attaining quota than U.S. sales representatives. According to the research, Europeans average 65 percent of representatives attaining quota compared to 58.4 percent of American representatives. — More Content Now
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16 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
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Dr. Cornel West Attends NDC Series on Race in Boston
The New Democracy Coalition hosted Professor and Civil Rights activist Dr. Cornel West at the Grove Hall Public library to a capacity crowd of 400 people Thursday, September 28th 2017. West spoke on race, electoral politics and civil rights. “I am pleased to be here tonight to support the efforts of the New Democracy Coalition and its leader Kevin Peterson. This organization is on the frontline fighting for truth, fighting for justice, fighting for the rights of poor and oppressed people. I applaud brother Peterson and encourage him and others working around him to keep up the fight.” West spoke to the packed audience on the importance of black history while touching on presidential politics and the efficacy of the black church.
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4 PHOTOS: DON WEST
1: Kevin Peterson (L), founder of the New Democracy Coalition and sponsor of the evening with Dr. Cornel West takes a moment with West to help field audience response 2: Dr. Cornel West speaks at Grove Hall. 3: Dr. Cornel West speaks at Grove Hall Library. 4: Dr. Cornel West takes a moment with a young audience member, Jeysaun Gant, to answer his question with a thoughtful, direct comment.
Corporations & Businesses of Color Convene at Gillette Stadium to Fuel Economic Growth More than 300 people attended The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council’s (GNEMSDC) annual Business Opportunity Conference and Expo on September 27th at the Gillette Stadium Putnam Club West in Foxborough, MA. The theme of this year’s Conference and Expo was “Fueling Economic Growth for Minority Business Development.” Highlights included a luncheon keynote address which featured Quincy Miller, President of Eastern Bank; business matchmaking “one on ones” between corporations and certified minority business enterprises and; workshops which examined best practices, success stories and inorganic versus organic growth.
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1:(right to left) The panel exploring“Growing Your Business: Organic Versus Inorganic Growth”featured Anthony Samuels of Done Right Building Services; Brandon J. Middleton-Pratt of Goodwin; Stephen DiPrete, Eastern Bank; Sean Cogdell, The Panther Group and; Peter Hurst, President & CEO of the GNEMSDC. 2: (left) Peter Hurst, President & CEO of the GNEMSDC, presents Richard Witcher, co-owner of Minuteman Trucks, Inc. with the Shining Star Award. Witcher accepted the award on behalf of his brother, William. They are equal owners of the company. Minuteman was recognized for its longstanding support of the GNEMSDC and its initiatives. 3: The panel on Best Practices and Success Stories featured (left to right): Kenn Turner of Massport; Larry Smith of the Taylor Smith Group, LLC; Tony Dolphin, Westnet,Inc.; Ingrid Beckles, Partners HealthCare; Jere Eaton, PrintabiliTees; Raul Suarez-Rodriquez, CVS Health and; Dr. Fred McKinney, Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth. 4: Members of The Bass Radio Station (WZBR, 1410AM) family sponsored the GNEMSDC luncheon. They pose here with Peter Hurst, President & CEO of the GNEMSDC (second row, third from the left).
18 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
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Q&A
THE FIGHT H H H OF THE H H H
CENTURY
White’s insights Angela White produced the film ‘A Question of Faith’ By KAM WILLIAMS
‘THE ROYALE’ PAYS HOMAGE
By CELINA
COLBY
Toran White, Mark W. Soucy, and Thomas Silcott in “The Royale.” PHOTO: MEGHAN MOORE
T TO BOXER
JACK JOHNSON H
H
hrough Oct. 8, the Merrimack Repertory Theatre presents “The Royale,” a timely show inspired by the life of Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight-boxing champion. Written by Marco Ramirez, the show follows Johnson as he trains for the fight of his life, both in and out of the ring. Johnson’s historic win over white opponent James J. Jeffries in a match dubbed “The
Angela White is a film producer, talent and business affairs executive and member of the Producer’s Guild of America who specializes in creating compelling commercial material with a distinct perspective. She is the founder of Silver Lining Entertainment, a family-owned multimedia entertainment company based in Los Angeles. White earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Rutgers University. While still at Rutgers, she produced the critically-acclaimed “Hypocritical War on Drugs.” That riveting PBS documentary conducted an uncensored investigation of the escalating socalled war on drugs. Even though the experience sparked White’s interest in the entertainment industry, she nevertheless decided to become a lawyer before launching her career. Whether renting a movie or surfing cable TV or Netflix, one likely would have seen some of White’s recent films. Her impressive resume includes “Busted,” released by Lionsgate in March and starring Rockmond Dunbar; the dark thriller “The Sin Seer,” released nationwide last year and starring Isaiah Washington and Salli Richardson; the inspirational
See ANGELA WHITE, page 21
See “THE ROYALE,” page 20
ON THE WEB For more information on “The Royale” and to buy tickets, visit: www.mrt.org/show/royale
PHOTO: COURTESY ANGELA WHITE
Angela White
Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19
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Joanna James’ ‘A Fine Line’ doc screens at GlobeDocs Film Festival
SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM PG 21
By COLETTE GREENSTEIN
“I didn’t care about money ‘cause I knew I was going to make it. I believed in myself. Why shouldn’t I do what I love?” says Valerie James in the documentary “A Fine Line” which closes the third annual GlobeDocs Film Festival on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Directed by Joanna James, “A Fine Line” is a love letter and tribute to her mother Valerie James, who since 1991 has owned and operated Val’s Restaurant & Lounge in Holden, Massachusetts. Joanna grew up working side-by-side with her mother in the family business. While she was always impressed and inspired by her mother, Joanna explains in a recent phone interview, it wasn’t until she became an adult and mother that she truly understood her mother’s story. “I realized the full extent of all the burdens she was carrying, and how we didn’t really necessarily ever feel that growing up,” Joanna says. “I thought that she just had a really uplifting story to share.” Divorced with two children to support and faced with a mound of debt, Valerie James worked most days from eight in the morning until 10 or 11 at night,
“A MIRACLE on Broadway.”
PHOTO: ROBERT FEATHERSTONE
Valerie James, New England restaurateur starring in A Fine Line, owner of Val’s Restaurant in Holden, MA. determined to make the restaurant a success. “I couldn’t afford to stop,” she says in the film. “All I thought was, I have to make it work. I have to make it work.” In researching “A Fine Line,” Joanna discovered that her mother was one of only 6 percent of U.S. restaurant owners who are women, and it was at that moment that she decided, she says, to “open it up and hear from other chefs.” Some of those other chefs include Elena Arzak, one of a very few female three-Michelin-starred chefs in the world; Cat Cora, the
first female Iron Chef Champion; Dominique Crenn, the first female two-Michelin-starred chef in the United States; Boston native Barbara Lynch, a James Beard Award winner and Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef; and Sylvia Weinstock, an internationally celebrated cake
See JOANNA JAMES, page 24
ON THE WEB For more information on the GlobeDocs Film Festival, the scheduled line-up and to purchase tickets, visit: www.filmfest.boston-
globe.com/film/ Original Broadway Cast. Photos by Matthew Murphy
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PHOTO: MEGHAN MOORE
Ramona Lisa Alexander and Thomas Silcott in “The Royale.” with the trainer and the two boxers, it really feels like you’re there in the ring,” says Sandberg-Zakian. She calls the production one of the best contemporary shows of the Merrimack season and encourages audiences from Boston to make the trip. “It’s important for us to see stories about the way people have been fighting for generations to be seen,” she says. “It’s a sobering conversation that we need to have.”
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Micky Ward, the subject of the film, trained. The physicality of the play is a marriage between the brawn of boxing and the rhythm of dancing. “Marco Ramirez is a drummer, and a lot of that percussion is included in the show,” says Silcott. Silcott and director Megan Sandberg-Zakian agree that the rhythmic fight scenes were both the most difficult and rewarding parts of production. “Especially in the scenes
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“Ken Urban is brilliant, provocative, and gushing with talent.” — OC WEEKLY
McKinley Belcher III and Samuel H. Levine
NILE HAWVER
The Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival enjoyed another successful run on Saturday, Sept. 30, despite rainy weather. The annual free festival is Boston’s biggest block party, shutting down six blocks of Columbus Avenue and offering three music stages to hear the best Boston has to offer in jazz, Latin, blues and funk. This year’s lineup featured Kina Zoré, a Boston-based Afropop group; Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Trio; Jazzmeia Horn, described by the New York Times as “a jazz vocalist on the rise;” and many others. Berklee College of Music graduate Emily Estefan, the daughter of Latin music icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan, also performed, taking on a sound completely unique from her parents. Gloria and Emilio reportedly were in Boston to see the performance. Kina Zoré front man Helder Tsinine hails from Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. His band’s mission is to share the music of that region with Boston, although its simpler aim is “an invitation to dance.” The music merges traditional African rhythms with electric, contemporary jazz beats. During Tsinine’s childhood, Maputo was torn by a civil war and he witnessed the horrors of
human violence up close. His music is positive and uplifting, seeking harmony in a difficult world. Jazzmeia Horn may be blessed with a bold personal style and share name with the famous Lena, but she possesses serious talent as well. Horn’s jazz journey began in the church choir in her native Dallas before she moved to New York to pursue music at The New School. In 2015, she won the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition. In her artist statement, she says, “I am thankful for the opportunity to play music professionally and have a deep desire to uplift the souls of others in need through my artistry.” Camille Thurman is a singer, composer and saxophonist, exuding excellence in all areas of jazz creation. At the festival on Saturday, she performed with the Darrell Green Trio. Green, too, is multi-talented, as a drummer and a composer. The two create such a natural marriage of sound, you’d think they always come as a set. In addition to the rich musical roster, the festival featured an instrument “petting zoo,” a KidsJam stage, food vendors and a series of arts booths. This year, the power of the festival was especially clear, as crowds of people made their way out in the pouring rain to dance collectively to the soulful scatting and saxophone.
Fight of the Century” on July 4, 1910 sparked race riots across the country. At least 20 people were killed and hundreds more injured. Johnson reached a level of sports celebrity largely unheard of before then, but at a difficult cost. Though based on the real-life Jack Johnson, “Royale” is not a direct historical reflection of his life. Actor Thomas Silcott, who plays the boxer, says this allowed the show to transcend the boundaries of historical fiction and draw parallels to the present day. The topic of black sports players’ role in the fight for racial equality is as relevant as ever in light of the recent NFL protests of racism, decried by President Trump in Twitter posts. “Every day he opens his mouth and makes the production that much more important,” Silcott says. In addition to the racial component, Silcott says, the play is about humanity and relationships. The actor draws from his own experience as a father when portraying the compassionate moments of the play. “The Royale” is as physical as the sport it portrays. Early in rehearsals, the cast took a trip to Arthur Ramalho’s West End Gym in Lowell, where “The Fighter” was filmed and where former professional boxer
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For more information about the festival artists visit: www.berklee.edu/beantownjazz
continued from page 18
OC TH A G T. 6 E H UID -NO OM E F V.4 ESIC OR K
Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival celebrates another successful year
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‘The Royale’
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Soul, Scat and Saxophone
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Angela White continued from page 18
made-for-TV film “Who Can I Run To?” starring gospel artists Tasha Page Lockhart, Marvin Sapp and Jessica Reedy; and the romantic comedy “My Favorite Five,” which stars Rochelle Aytes, Brian White and Jay Ellis. Among White’s other offerings are “4Play,” “My Sisters Wedding,” “The Last Letter,” “After Effect” and “C’mon Man.” Here, she talks about “A Question of Faith,” her highly-anticipated Christian film co-starring Richard T. Jones, Kim Fields, T.C. Stallings, C. Thomas Howell, Jaci Velasquez, Gregory Alan Williams and Renee O’Connor.
I was very moved by “A Question of Faith.” What interested you in the project? Angela White: My executive producer, Dr. Cameron Lewis, woke up one morning and encouraged me to look for a “faithbased movie” for our next production, so I started to reach out to my network to see who had a good inspirational story and found “A Question of Faith” after a long and extensive search. This script had some of the elements I was seeking and the writer was willing to allow me to develop the film into a broader story, which was essential to me and Dr. Lewis. The film evolved from the initial script and I brought the director, Kevan Otto, on board. He flushed the story out and made sure we were able to have a solid plotline from beginning to end that could be executed on screen.
ON THE WEB To see a trailer for “A Question of Faith,” visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St-
NvFjirQks How did you go about assembling the cast? AW: With all my feature films, I hire a casting director and we start with a wish list of actors’ names that we think could embody the story and characters. My wish list never quite works out, but God always knows what he is doing, as the cast was perfectly made for this film. We had an extensive casting call in Atlanta, and found at least a dozen local Georgia residents, all of whom starred in the picture.
What does it mean to you to be the first African American female to release a faith-based film theatrically? AW: It is a mixture of emotions from, “Wow, we are in 2017 and there are still firsts,” to “I am honored to carry that torch, as so many before me have done.” I would not be in this position if it weren’t for the many African American pioneer filmmakers who enabled us new ones to excel at our jobs.
What’s your target demographic? Evangelicals, blacks or general audiences? AW: This film is for general audiences, as we discuss several timely social themes relevant to all demographics. Everyone can understand and empathize with feelings of compassion, loss, anger, feelings of guilt, shame and
FUN&GAMES SUDOKU: SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 19
not being able to forgive. The film shows families in situations that most people can relate to or know people who have been in those situations and are seeking some form of guidance or comfort.
What message do you want people to take away from the film? AW: “A Question of Faith” is a powerful story about forgiveness, racial reconciliation and how God’s love, grace and mercy can work in your life. I would love for people to step back in their own lives and think about how they can be a better person to their fellow man, how they can learn that not forgiving can lead to years of anger and resentment that does more harm than good, how we are all one people, and how God only sees our heart. “A Question of Faith” transcends time, race, gender, class and religious ideology. This is a film that can open one’s heart and make a person reevaluate some of their own personal life decisions. We want people to walk away knowing the word of God is there to comfort you and that having faith in what you cannot see is okay, as God has your life covered, and the questions you may have are already answered.
“A Question of Faith” represents a bit of a departure for you. Were you more motivated by spirituality than profit in your decision to commit to the picture? AW: I was motivated by working on a project that could impact lives and spread the word of God. When our team decided to enter into the world of faith-based
movies, we knew of some films that had a good profit margin but we knew of so many others that did not do well. So, it was faith that allowed us to take a chance and work on a project that could affect so many lives and be in our personal walk with Christ.
Was there a meaningful spiritual component to your childhood? AW: I was raised in the church, in particularly the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, most of my younger years. My parents always have put God first in everything that we do, and attending church growing up wasn’t an option for us. I play the piano and started playing for the church by the time I was 11 years old. So, church life has always been a strong presence in my personal life.
Was there any particular moment in your childhood that inspired you to become the person you are today? AW: For me, I would say early on I had to attend many functions where I was the only African American child, and this impacted my life early on. I knew from an early age that I represented millions of people who had endured atrocities and yet persevered for my generation to be able to have a “seat at the table.” The first time I was ridiculed and attacked for the color of my skin was around the age of 7 when my parents first moved into an all-white neighborhood. These early memories defined me as I knew I would have to stand tall and strong for my family and my race. From that moment, I made sure that I excelled in school and within my career.
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ZOMBIE SAUCE n Tomatoes n Vegetables (onions, garlic, zucchini, sweet peppers, carrots, eggplant) n Salt n Olive oil
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SAUCED Attack your tomato harvest with a killer sauce recipe PHOTOS: ARI LEVAUX
It is indeed possible to have too many tomatoes, depending on the company you keep.
By ARI LEVAUX, MORE CONTENT NOW
I
n the late 1980s and early 1990s, a total of four movies about zombie tomatoes were produced. The first, “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!,” spawned three sequels: “Return of the Killer Tomatoes!,” “Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!” and, my personal favorite: “Killer Tomatoes Eat France,” wherein I vicariously fulfill a fantasy of mine. The plots of these movies were thinly-veiled attempts to tap-dance around the idea that, deep down inside, tomatoes can be relentless. To the person who just paid $3.50 for a splotched, cracked heirloom, the idea of running away from tomatoes may seem quaint. You might even clench an imaginary paring knife as you feel yourself mouthing the challenge, “Come at me bro.” But I want to state clearly for the record that it is indeed possible to have too many tomatoes, depending on the company you keep. I’ve got a friend, a vendor at the farmer’s market who is so aggressively grumpy he leaves me little choice but to call him Mr. Sunshine. He’s got a gift for tomatoes that borders on the supernatural, and he brings
stacks of boxes each week, flush with sportscar-red tomato fruits, and sells them at a price that’s hard to refuse, giving zero effs about the grumblings of other growers. And at the end of market, rather than load his tomatoes back in the truck, the price drops even further. There’s nothing like a 20-pound box of tomatoes, ripening in your kitchen, to make you feel the weight of the ticking clock, and by extension your own mortality. Or the inadequacy of your tomato processing skills, and by extension your value as a person. Luckily, I’ve developed a way of dealing with any amount of tomatoes that’s about as easy as it gets. I make an oven-roasted tomato sauce that can incorporate a variety of garden vegetables in moderation. It is so easy, versatile and satisfying that even with Mr. Sunshine practically paying me to take away his tomatoes, there is no such thing as too many.
Ari LeVaux writes Flash in the Pan, a syndicated weekly food column that’s appeared in more than 50 newspapers in 25 states. Ari lives in Montana and New Mexico and can be reached at flash@ flashinthepan.net.
Cut large tomatoes in half to speed the process, but you can leave small and even medium tomatoes whole. Lay them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt, drizzle with olive oil, and bake at 350. While that is happening, prepare your veggies. Slice the onions, peel the garlic, grate the carrots, chop the peppers and zucchini. You can include any combination of these ingredients, but they must not amount to more than 25 percent of the total amount of materials, with tomatoes being the 75 percent majority. When the tomatoes have begun to cook down, filling the pan with dilute juice that simmers around the collapsing orbs, gently add the vegetables, folding them in. Continue cooking another 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow the sauce to cool with the oven. Transfer contents of the tray(s) to a large mixing bowl, and puree with an immersion blender (alternatively, use a blender or food processor). Transfer the sauce to quart-sized freezer bags. When it’s time to use your sauce, customize it however is necessary, adding oregano, vodka, red wine, Italian seasonings or whatever you need to get it where you want to go. It is a tomato-flavored blank slate onto which you can paint any design you can imagine. You can also use this product as a stealth ingredient. I add a hit of it to my bone broth, and to my coconut curry, and my green chile stew. Though none of these are dishes that make you think “tomato sauce,” they do usually contain tomatoes, and the sauce does the job. It just goes to show: They are everywhere, but they can be handled.
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Kombucha, a fermented tea made from bacteria, yeast and juice, has become a hot trend thanks to its hyped health benefits — but do the claims hold any truth? Here’s what WebMD has to say: n There have been no clinical studies or sound evidence to confirm the numerous personal reports of kombucha’s benefits, including claims that the drink encourages weight loss, liver function and sleep. n While kombucha’s probiotic bacteria may benefit digestion, in order to have these benefits, the tea must not be pasteurized, which in turn puts you at risk of contamination.
FUSION FOOD Sushi burritos: The ultimate fusion food Combining unlikely ingredients from different ethnic cuisines is a favorite pastime among chefs. Sometimes the result is an odd, unsavory mashup, while other times it’s pure genius. The sushi burrito belongs in the latter category, according to GQ. So what is this flavorful dish? A sushi burrito is a sushi roll that has been enlarged to the size of a burrito, filled with veggies and proteins. Most major cities now have a restaurant or food truck serving up these creative and delicious wraps.
APPLES Beyond Honeycrisp: 5 delicious varieties of apples In the past decades, Honeycrisp apples have set new standards for how crisp, sweet and delicious apples can be. But these seasonal apples are rather expensive. Here are five other mouthwatering varieties you can try without breaking the bank, according to US Apple: n Jazz n SnapDragon n Baldwin n McIntosh n Cox’s Orange Pippin
EASY RECIPE The perfect breakfast burrito
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Burritos are the up-and-coming stars of American cuisine, according to The Washington Post. Many swear they are the perfect street food, ideal for lunch on the run or a hearty supper. And of course, burritos are also a protein-rich way to start your day. Here is a list of fundamental ingredients to make a killer breakfast burrito: n Black or pinto beans n Scrambled eggs n Salsa n Sausage, spicy or mild n Pepper jack cheese n Avocado n Sour cream — Brandpoint
Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23
24 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
Court challenge to millionaire’s tax Joanna James continued from page 19
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A business coalition led by the Massachusetts High Technology Council filed a constitutional challenge against the proposed Fair Share Amendment, a ballot measure which if approved would raise state taxes on income over $1 million. Joining MHTC in the challenge, which seeks to bar the question from going before voters in the 2018 election, are Associated Industries of Massachusetts and the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. The union-backed Raise Up Massachusetts coalition fired back at the corporate executives behind the lawsuit. “It’s a shame that a few dozen of the richest individuals in Massachusetts are hiding behind secretive corporate lobby organizations like the High Tech Council and the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation to oppose the Fair Share Amendment,” said Lew Finfer, co-director of the faith-based Massachusetts Communities Action Network, in a press statement. “Instead of supporting the Fair Share Amendment and the benefits that a well-educated workforce and a more reliable transportation system will create for their employees, their businesses, and our entire economy, these wealthy corporate executives are fighting the people’s right to vote, just to save themselves a small amount of money on their own personal income taxes,” said Cindy Rowe, executive director of
the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action in the statement. The Fair Share Amendment, if passed, is expected to raise as much as $2 billion in state revenue, which under the amendment would be allocated to state transportation — including mass transit, roads, bridges and other transit infrastructure — and public k-12 and higher education. The amendment is being advanced by Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of unions and community-based social justice organizations. Raise Up members point out that MHTC has long advocated for greater focus on public education and transportation infrastructure. The group has supported raising the gas tax and hiking MBTA fares to fund transportation infrastructure, and supported the sales tax as a way to provide funding for education. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, which are joining MHTC in its lawsuit against the Fair Share Amendment, have all joined the MHTC in supporting an increase in the gas tax.
Corporate tax breaks
MHTC member companies have received at least $144 million in tax breaks and other incentives from the State of Massachusetts and local communities, according to a Raise Up Massachusetts analysis of state records. The average annual compensation of chief executives whose companies received public benefits is $12.3 million.
“These corporate executives have made tens of millions of dollars running companies that benefit from investments in transportation and public education, and they don’t hesitate to take millions of dollars in tax breaks from the state,” said Deborah Fastino, executive director of the Coalition for Social Justice. “Now they’re secretly bankrolling a legal challenge to avoid paying a small percentage of their enormous incomes to make transportation and education investments that will help our economy grow.” At least 28 companies are members of more than one of the organizations challenging the Fair Share Amendment, including the Massachusetts High Tech Council, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and the National Federation of Independent Business. “These five corporate lobbying groups are led and funded by the same small group of wealthy corporate executives who are trying to hide in anonymity,” said Roxana Rivera, vice president of 32BJ SEIU, which represents 18,000 building service workers in the Boston area. “It is simply unacceptable for so few people to attempt to disenfranchise so many in this way. These corporate lobbying groups should immediately reveal the financial backers of this lawsuit so that the hardworking people of Massachusetts know exactly who is trying to take away their right to vote on this citizen’s initiative.”
designer. All of the women describe issues and challenges they faced coming up in the notoriously male-dominated culinary world. “It’s interesting, says the first-time filmmaker, “because they all shared either similar obstacles that they went through or perspectives that really shine a lot of light on what needs to be done in the industry.” Three years in the making, “A Fine Line” is coming out at a time when the issues of equality and wage parity are no longer bubbling underneath the surface of our national discourse but have jumped to the forefront. Joanna and her team are coordinating the release and distribution of the film with a very strong engagement campaign nationwide. “It’s three-fold,” explains the director/producer. “It’s lobbying for paid parental leave because the U.S. is one of the only developed countries that doesn’t offer it; equal pay for equal work; and what can be done to increase women in leadership positions and career advancement.” Excited about the momentum of the women’s movement and what she calls a “new wave of feminism,” Joanna plans a cross-country tour, working to motivate and mobilize younger women at colleges, as well as contacting state capitals to underscore the significance of the issues that the film raises. “A Fine Line” is one of 14 feature-length films screening at the GlobeDocs Film Festival that touch upon a wide range of
topics, ranging from health care and female genital mutilation to food waste and environmental issues. There’s also lighter fare, such as “Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer,” which offers an intimate portrait of Brazilian ballet star and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Marcelo Gomes. Opening the festival on Wednesday, Oct. 11 is “Bending The Arc,” which chronicles the story of Jim Yong Kim, Paul Farmer, and Ophelia Dahl, who banded together in Haiti determined to provide the resources to build real health clinics in areas that had been ignored by the medical establishment. In “Human Flow,” which screens on Friday, Oct. 13 at the Brattle Theatre, world renowned contemporary artist, activist and filmmaker Ai Weiwei explores the global refugee crisis through footage and interviews shot in 23 countries over the span of a year. In “Jaha’s Promise,” directors Patrick Farrelly and Kate O’Callaghan share the incredible story of Jaha Dukureh, a survivor of female genital mutilation and an activist who launches a powerful campaign to bring awareness to the ongoing global taboo in hopes of preventing what is still being practiced in 30 countries today, and affects 200 million women worldwide. Produced by The Boston Globe, GlobeDocs runs in conjunction with HUBweek from Oct. 10 to 15, with an aim of celebrating the convergence of art, science and technology. Screenings will be held at the Brattle Theatre, Coolidge Corner Theatre and WGBH’s Yawkey Theater.
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Texas Official After Harvey: The ‘Red Cross Was Not There’ By JUSTIN ELLIOTT, JESSICA HUSEMAN AND DECCA MULDOWNEY, PROPUBLICA
The Red Cross’ anemic response to Hurricane Harvey left officials in several Texas counties seething, emails obtained by ProPublica show. In some cases, the Red Cross simply failed to show up as it promised it would. In DeWitt, a county of 20,000 where Harvey ripped apart the roof of a hotel, Emergency Management Coordinator Cyndi Smith upbraided a Red Cross official in a Sept. 9 email: “Red Cross was not there as they were suppose[d] to be with the shelter and again no communication to what this is actually about and that you have been in DeWitt County doing anything.” With fewer than 24 hours’ notice, Micah Dyer, a school superintendent in DeWitt County, was forced to run a shelter on his own in an unused district building that would eventually house 400 people. For the first three days the shelter was opened, only two Red Cross volunteers were there — neither had any experience running a shelter, Dyer said in an interview. “Every hot meal came from us,” Dyer said. “[School district employees] had to go to our pantries and walk-in coolers and get whatever we could get so people would have food.” Dyer says the Red Cross didn’t appear with supplies until the fourth day of the storm, and didn’t bring enough cots or food for those housed in the shelter, he said. A significant portion of the Meals-Ready-to-Eat the charity did bring had gone bad, he said. The charity contested his account, saying in a statement that it maintained two shelters in DeWitt County — including the one Dyer ran — “and recorded a total of 1,599 overnight stays.” We have only a partial picture of the Red Cross’ response to the massive storm. ProPublica
received emails through public records requests from several counties, large and small. But they don’t cover the full swath of the state affected by the storm. Still, the frustration many authorities felt with the Red Cross was striking. Officials in Jefferson County, which contains Beaumont, were so fed up with the Red Cross that they kicked out a charity employee assigned to work with government officials from the headquarters for the storm response. “Everything we asked him to do, I didn’t feel was getting done in a timely manner,” said Mike White, Jefferson County’s deputy emergency management coordinator. In Colorado County, west of Houston, a local official told colleagues on Aug. 30 the charity had simply failed to show up at a shelter as promised. “Persons needing intermediate-term shelters have been transferred to the Red Cross Shelter in Sealy. Red Cross approved the shelter, but the promised shelter management teams and the supply trailer never arrived, nor do they know where they went,” Charles Rogers, the county’s emergency management coordinator, wrote. On Aug. 27, two days after Harvey made landfall, the fire marshal of Humble, a small city in the Houston metro area, sent an urgent plea as his city faced severe flooding: Could the Red Cross help to staff a shelter in his area? “I hate to say this but the Red Cross is completely out of resources and have almost no road accessibility,” responded Kristina Clark, an emergency management official in Harris County, which contains Houston. “The best thing I can recommend is to open something and message to your people
to bring THEIR OWN food, sleeping bags, clothes, medication, etc.” The Red Cross said in a statement that, overall, it has provided more than 414,000 overnight shelter stays, and with its partners served “almost 3.2 million meals and snacks.” Providing relief in the wake of the storm was an enormously difficult task. Tom McCasland, Houston’s director of housing and community development, said in an interview that it wasn’t just the Red Cross — but also city and county governments — that didn’t have the resources to respond to the storm. The storm destroyed over 15,000 homes and damaged over 200,000. “No one was prepared for this in terms of magnitude of numbers that showed up” at the George R. Brown Convention Center, one of the major shelters in Houston, McCasland said. “Given the circumstances, I can say that [the Red Cross] worked their hearts out.” Many others singled out the Red Cross for criticism. At a public meeting earlier this month, Houston City Councilman Dave Martin let loose on the charity for being the “most inept, unorganized organization I’ve ever experienced.” Martin urged Houstonians not to donate. “I have not seen a single person in Kingwood or Clear Lake that’s a representative of the Red Cross,” he said, referring to two hard-hit areas. “You know who opened our shelters? We did. You know who sent water and supplies? We did.” In an interview with ProPublica, Martin said he ran into Gail McGovern, the charity’s CEO, in a parking lot several days after Harvey hit. When he raised his concerns to her, Martin said she responded: “Do you know how much we raised with Katrina? $2 billion. We won’t even raise hundreds of millions here.’ I just thought, ‘Really, Gail? That’s your
response to me?’” Asked about McGovern’s conversation with the city councilman, the Red Cross said, “We understand his frustration.” The charity said it has raised around $350 million for Harvey. As ProPublica has previously detailed, the charity’s attempts to respond to large disasters in recent years have been harshly criticized by victims, government officials and, in many cases, by the Red Cross’ own staff. Reconstruction efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake fell far short of the charity’s public claims. After Superstorm Sandy hit New York in 2012, Red Cross leadership diverted disaster relief resources for public-relations purposes. And after floods in Louisiana, a state official wrote that the Red Cross “failed for 12 days.” While the Red Cross operates largely as a private nonprofit, it was created by Congress more than a century ago and has an officially mandated role to work with the government in providing food and shelter after disasters. As disasters have gotten larger and more frequent, the Red Cross has gotten smaller. Under the nine-year tenure of McGovern, who came from the private sector, the group has had budget shortfalls and cut staff sharply. Local chapters, including in Texas, have been shuttered. The cuts have stripped the charity of experienced disaster management personnel. Under McGovern, the number of paid employees has shrunk from 36,000 in 2008 to just over 21,000 in 2015, according to tax filings. The group sent fewer responders after Harvey than it did after Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast five years ago. Six days after Sandy hit New York, the charity reported it had “more than 5,000 Red Cross workers” responding to the disaster. Six days after Harvey made landfall, the Red
Cross reported “2,300 disaster workers” in Texas. A Red Cross spokesperson told ProPublica the Sandy response was larger because the storm affected 11 states. It also said technology has resulted in the charity becoming “more efficient and effective in our response.” The charity has said it would give $400 directly to households in the most affected areas. But the program has been beset by technical glitches and unexplained denials, according to reporting by NBC News and several Texas outlets. The Red Cross has apologized for the problems. There have also been problems with a Red Cross hotline for disaster victims. The hotline is staffed by employees of a contractor, TeleTech. A staffer at the firm described frequent trouble with a system that was supposed to identify open shelters for those who needed them. “Their programs we use to find shelters for the victims are not working properly, often telling agents that there [are] openings when in fact the shelter is full,” the staffer said. “Victims get there and are turned around and call us back saying that they used the last of their gas, only to be directed to another shelter with the same results.” The staffer requested anonymity for fear of reprisal for speaking to the media. The Red Cross said in response that “shelter populations are changing on a minute-by-minute basis” during disasters, which sometimes results in reported figures becoming quickly out of date. The Red Cross is still in Texas and is also responding to Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Overall, the Red Cross says it has partnered with local agencies to open shelters in eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This story was co-published with The Texas Tribune.
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NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS - CLASSIFIED LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE DIVISION OF CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE
bidexpress.com/businesses/10279/home One hard copy set is also available for viewing in DCAMM’s Bid Room located at One Ashburton Place, 1st Floor, Room 107, Boston, MA during normal business hours.
Electronic Bids submitted in the format furnished by the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance (DCAMM) and clearly identified as a bid will be received through DCAMM’s E-Bid Room at www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/10279/home no later than the date and time specified and will forthwith be publicly opened.
In order to access bid documents and submit bids through DCAMM’s E-Bid Room potential bidders must first be verified by DCAMM’s Bid Room and then register with the E-Bid Room vendor. Instructions on the processes can be found on DCAMM’s website www.mass.gov/dcamm/bids or contact DCAMM’s Bid Room at (617) 727-4003 or bidroom.dcamm@state.ma.us
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.
Sub-Bids at 12:00 Noon: October 25, 2017
Carol W. Gladstone COMMISSIONER
General Bids at 2:00 PM: November 2, 2017 Every Filed Sub-Bidder must be certified by DCAMM in the category for which they bid.
MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Every General Bidder must be certified by DCAMM for the category of work listed below and for no less than the bid price plus all add alternates of this project, if applicable.
Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. LP1704-C1, PIPE INSULATION REPLACEMENT, UTILITY TUNNEL, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, 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 021282909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017, immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly.
The Category of Work is: General Building Construction Mass. State Project No. CHE1601 Contract No. FC1 Toilet and Shower Renovations, Chelsea Soldiers’ Home Chelsea, MA And the following Filed Sub-Bids: Tile; Plumbing; HVAC; Electrical. E.C.C: $1,252,314 This project is scheduled for 168 calendar days to substantial completion. Scope: Renovation of seven (7) existing toilet and shower rooms, and the addition of one (1) new toilet and shower room across three (3) buildings. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, demolition, asbestos abatement, rough carpentry, millwork, doors and frams, gypsum wall assemblies, ceramic tile, acoustic ceiling tile, painting, plumbing, HVAC and electric work. A Pre-Bid meeting will be held on October 12, 2017 @ 1:30 PM. Meet at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home in front of the Quigley Memorial Hospital, 100 Summit Ave, Chelsea, MA. Minimum rates of wages to be paid on the project have been determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Labor Standards. These rates are incorporated into the bid documents. Bid documents for this project may be accessed or downloaded at no cost to potential bidders exclusively through DCAMM’s E-Bid Room https://www.
NOTE:
PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT (ABOVE ADDRESS) AT 10:00 LOCAL TIME ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017.
The work includes REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF WATER DAMAGED PIPE INSULATION FOR CHILLED WATER. ALL PIPING LOCATED IN THE UTILITY TUNNELS. Bid documents will be made available beginning THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017. Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form. The estimated contract cost is THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000.00). A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check,
The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater. The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details. 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
26 • Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL
LEGAL
LEGAL
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO TRAINEES
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration.
The Operating Engineers, Local 4 Training Fund admits apprentices of either sex, and of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to apprentices at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions’ policies and other school-administered programs. Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU17P1539GD
In the interests of Skylar Rose Randolph of Boston, MA Minor NOTICE AND ORDER: Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor 1.
2.
NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Hearing Date/Time: A hearing on a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor filed on 07/24/2017 by Joeann Randolph of Boston, MA and Ian Galipea of Boston, MA will be held 10/30/2017 08:30 AM Motion Located 24 New Chardon St Boston, MA 02114 Courtroom 14th Floor. Response to Petition: You may respond by filing a written response to the Petition or by appearing in person at the hearing. If you choose to file a written response, you need to:
File the original with the Court; and Mail a copy to all interested parties at least five (5) business days before the hearing.
3.
Counsel for the Minor: The minor (or an adult on behalf of the minor) has the right to request that counsel be appointed for the minor.
4.
Counsel for Parents: If you are a parent of the minor child who is the subject of this proceeding you have a right to be represented by an attorney. If you want an attorney and cannot afford to pay for one and if you give proof that you are indigent, an attorney will be assigned to you. Your request for an attorney should be made immediately by filling out the Application of Appointment of Counsel form. Submit the application form in person or by mail at the court location where your case is going to be heard.
5.
Presence of the Minor at Hearing: A minor over age 14 has the right to be present at any hearing, unless the Court finds that it is not in the minor’s best interests.
THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE: An important court proceeding that may affect your rights has been scheduled. If you do not understand this notice or other court papers, please contact an attorney for legal advice. Date: July 24, 2017
Terri Klug Cafazzo Register of Probate
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU17P2050EA
Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of William F O’Brien Date of Death: 04/07/2015 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by William O’Brien of Dorchester, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order of testacy and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that William O’Brien of Dorchester, 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 11/02/2017. 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: September 20, 2017 Terri Klug Cafazzo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU17C0366CA In the matter of Brianna Ann Kahrim of Roxbury, MA
NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all persons interested in a petition described: A petition has been presented by Aisha D Clayton requesting that Brianna Ann Kahrim be allowed to change his/her/their name as follows:
SUFFOLK Division
Docket No. SU17P1996EA
Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication
WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: September 13, 2017 Terri Klug Cafazzo Register of Probate
Estate of Lea Eliza Keyes Date of Death: 12/18/2016
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department
To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Sharon C. Keyes of Dorchester, 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 Sharon C. Keyes of Dorchester, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve on the bond in an unsupervised administration.
SUFFOLK Division
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 10/25/2017. 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.
To all persons interested in a petition described:
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
Docket No. SU17C0452CA In the matter of Aysa N Liverpool of Mattapan, MA
NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME
A petition has been presented by Aysa Norenee Liverpool by mother next friend Shameka Melissa Blake requesting that Aysa N Liverpool be allowed to change his/her/their name as follows: Eva J Liverpool IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON 10/19/2017. WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: September 15, 2017 Terri Klug Cafazzo Register of Probate
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
Affordable Rental Housing 9 WILLIAMS STREET RENTAL HOUSING 9 Williams Street, Roxbury, Ma 02119 Type
Studio
Section 8-PBV from BHA 30% AMI
1 BR
2 BR
3 BR
0
3*
3
0
See below*
See below*
See below*
See below*
60% AMI
0
1
7*
2
Gross Rent**
N/A
$1,164
$1,396
$1,613
70% AMI
0
0
4
1
Gross Rent*
N/A
N/A
$1,448
$1,630
UNIT TOTALS
0
4
14
3
*Preference for persons with mobility impairment 1- (1br PBV-BHA unit) 1- (2br 60% AMI unit) *Rents are based upon adjusted gross income. Section 8 available through the Boston Housing Authority (BHA). To apply, households should contact the BHA, 52 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111 ** Gross Rent includes utility allowance with tenant payment for heat, hot water, and electricity.
Use and Occupancy Restrictions Apply Applications may be requested by email at 9williams@winnco.com or picked up during the following dates and times at: 207 Dudley Street Roxbury MA 02119 (Management Office) Reasonable accommodations made Applications available: Monday-Friday 10/16/17 – 10/27/17 & Monday 10/30/17 Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday 10/21/17 Hours: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
WITNESS, HON. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court. Date: September 25, 2017 Terri Klug Cafazzo Register of Probate
TWITTER @baystatebanner
AND
AN INFORMATION SESSION WILL BE HELD AT 464 TREMONT STREET BOSTON MA (Castle Square Apartments Community Room) THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 6PM-8PM Applications will be available at the information session. For more information or an application to be sent by mail or alternate means, call Madison Park Management Office during the application period of 10/16/17 to 10/30/17. Phone: 617-445-8338 Deadline for completed applications to be in the Lottery is: In person at the Management Office by 4:00pm 11/10/17 or mail postmarked by 11/10/17 SELECTION BY LOTTERY Two units have a preference for persons with mobility impairment. Preference for households of at least one person per bedroom. Maximum Income Limits by Household:
HH size
60%
70%
1 Person
$43,440
$50,700
2 Persons
$49,680
$57,950
3 Persons
$55,860
$65,200
4 Persons
$62,040
$72,400
5 Persons
$67,020
$78,200
6 Persons
$72,000
$84,000
**Voucher Holders not subject to minimum income requirements or rent at payment standard** Contact (617) 445-8338 or TDD: 1-800-439-2370 for Reasonable accommodations regarding the application process or to request an application by mail Translation assistance is available. 2101 Washington Street Rental Housing is an equal housing opportunity Managed by WinnResidential
Brianna Ann Clayton IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON 10/26/2017.
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Thursday, October 5, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 27
BANNER CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
Income Restricted Rental Opportunity 275 Old Colony Avenue Condominiums 275 Old Colony Avenue, South Boston, MA 02127
ADVERTISE
2 Income Restricted Units Available # of Units
Type
Price
% Income Limit
Estimated Square Footage
Estimated Condo Fees
1
2 bedrooms
$214,300
Up to 80%
920
$50.69
1
2 bedrooms
$277,100
80% - 100%
1024
$64.14
your classifieds with THE BAY STATE BANNER
(617) 261- 4600 x 7799
Maximum Income per Household Size HH size
Up to 80%
ads@bannerpub.com
80% - 100%
1
$57,900
$57,901 - $72,400
2
$66,200
$66,201 - $82,750
3
$74,450
$74,451 - $93,100
4
$82,700
$82,701 - $103,400
Applications can be picked up in person or by e-mail from South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation 273 “D” Street, South Boston, MA 02127 E-mail: 275oldcolonyave@sbndc.org (Applications cannot be sent prior October 14, 2017) Please note the application distribution period is only for ten (10) consecutive days (six business days) starting on October 14, 2017 and ending on October 23, 2017. Households must include their full name and complete mailing address to receive an application. *Saturday– October 14, 2017 – 10:00 am – 2:00pm at 275 Old Colony Avenue – Note – this day only at the site* Monday – October 16, 2017 – 10:00am – 6:00pm Tuesday – October 17, 2017 – 10:00am – 6:00pm Wednesday – October 18, 2017 – 10:00am – 6:00pm Thursday – October 19, 2017 – 10:00am – 7:00pm Friday – October 20, 2017 – 10:00am – 6:00pm Monday – October 23, 2017 – 10:00am – 6:00pm Deadline for completed applications to: South Boston NDC – 273 “D” Street- South Boston, MA 02127 In Person by 6:00pm, October 30, 2017, or mailed and postmarked by that day. Selection by lottery. Asset, Use & Resale Restrictions apply. Minimum income limits apply. Preference for Boston Residents. Preference for Households with at least one person per bedroom. Preference for First-Time Homebuyers. For reasonable accommodations or more information call Michelle Zenga, South Boston NDC, 617-268-9610
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HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Free training Computer training for office jobs: Hospitals, Banks, Insurance, Colleges, Government, Businesses, and More
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START YOUR NEW CAREER AT YMCA TRAINING, INC.
Job Search Assistance Provided Free YMCA membership while in training
Call today to schedule an Information Session: 617-542-1800 Funding and enrollment based on eligibility
BAY STATE BANNER
HOISTING and PORTABLE ENGINEERS Local 4 Apprenticeship Fund ENGINEERS TRAINING CENTER John J Gaffny, Jr., Coordinator TO: INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN APPRENTICESHIP AS AN OPERATING ENGINEER FROM: THE ENGINEERS TRAINING CENTER DATE: OCTOBER 2017 SUBJECT: 2017-2018 APPLICATION PERIOD Each year at this time we notify appropriate agencies and interested parties regarding our application period. November is the only month that interested parties must apply in person. How to apply: YOU MUST APPLY IN PERSON-Applications will NOT BE MAILED (dates and times listed below) Where to apply: ENGINEERS TRAINING CENTER ONE ENGINEERS WAY CANTON, MA 02021-3708 When to apply: During the month of November only. Days and times to apply:
Monday through Friday (unless otherwise indicated below) 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm Extended days/times: Saturday, November 4, 2017 9:00 am and 11:00 am Tuesday, November 14, 2017 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm Saturday, November 18, 20179:00 am and 11:00 am Friday, November 24, 2017 9:00 am, 11:00 am Tuesday, November 28, 2017 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm The building will be closed the following dates – no applications issued Thursday, November 23, 2017 Thanksgiving
What you MUST bring: 1. Have a valid driver’s license with a current address showing that you reside in our jurisdiction. 2. Bring a social security card. How long will you be here: Be prepared to stay and complete the entire application. You will not be allowed to leave the Engineers Training Center with the application. Basic Qualifications to apply: 1. Be 18 years of age or older: 2. Capable of performing the work of the trade; 3. Have a high school diploma or equivalent; 4. Reside within the jurisdiction of Local 4; (eastern Massachusetts, 5 easterly counties of New Hampshire, state of Maine) (refer to the list) 5. Be a citizen or otherwise meet the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; 6. Have a valid motor vehicle driver’s license in your possession; 7. Have a Social Security card in your possession; Applications will only be given to the person applying for the Program that shows a valid driver’s license and social security card. Applications will NOT BE MAILED. The applicant MUST apply in person with the proper identification or they will be sent home. Allow enough time to stay for a presentation prior to the application being given to you. Applications will not leave the building – no exceptions. Also if you have any questions or concerns, call prior to your arrival.
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The Engineers Training Center is an Equal Opportunity Training Recruiting Program
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