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Jessica Tang poised to be next teachers union president pg 3

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Racial slurs thrown at Sox games Events recall team’s troubled past, raise questions on city’s present

By JULE PATITSON-GORDON

BANNER PHOTO

Mayor Martin Walsh secures a voter’s signature in Dudley Square. The city’s Election Department made nomination papers available Tuesday last week.

Mayoral, council candidates in competition for signatures Candidates descend on Dudley seeking supporters

By YAWU MILLER

Nomination papers were issued last week for the 2017 mayoral and city council races, and candidates wasted little time hitting the streets, some as solo acts, others with armies of volunteers to collect the signatures they will need to secure a spot on the Sept. 26 ballot.

In Dudley Square, Mayor Martin Walsh and mayoral challenger and District 7 City

Councilor Tito Jackson stood no more than 15 yards apart, each holding a clipboard for signatures.

Walsh, who told the Boston Herald that Roxbury is an important base for his re-election effort, said he received a warm reception from the potential voters he greeted in Dudley Station.

“It’s great,” he said, pausing from gathering signatures and posing for selfies. “Almost everyone I’ve talked to said they’re voting for me.”

Nearby, Jackson explained the nomination process to Dorchester resident Anthony Anderson.

“I just need your signature and your address, and it will allow me to appear on the ballot,” he said.

Mayoral candidates need 3,000 signatures of registered voters in order to appear on the ballot. While that threshold should not present much of an obstacle for Jackson or Walsh,

See SIGNATURES, page 8

Reports of racial slurs hurled during a recent Red Sox game turned a national eye to the team’s troubled history with discrimination. In the stands, a white fan wearing Red Sox paraphernalia criticized the national anthem rendition by Kenyan singer Mercy Mungai and referred to her with a racial slur. One night earlier, fans allegedly targeted Baltimore Orioles player Adam Jones with slurs and Jones said one threw a bag of peanuts at him. The peanut thrower was ejected, as was the man who disparaged Mungai.

For many, such instances of racism in liberal Boston speak to a reality all-too familiar.

“This incident lays bare the racism that many residents of our city grapple with on a regular basis, and clearly demonstrates that we have more work to do,” City Councilor Ayanna Pressley said. “The work ahead of us is not only for Fenway and the city at large to feel safe to visitors, but to be safe, welcoming and inclusive of people who call Boston home year-round.”

Jones has said that while he has been subjected to derogatory taunts in Fenway before, the Monday night in Boston was the worst he experienced.

Problematic history

Historically, the Red Sox have a poor record on race. In 1945, the team held tryouts for three black players — Jackie Robinson, Sam Jethroe and Marvin Williams — that seemed little more than pretense. The team elected to sign none of them. By accounts of Clif Keane, a sportswriter at the time, at the end of tryouts someone shouted, “Get those N-----rs off the field!” Keane reportedly suspected team owner Tom Yawkey was the one who said this.

Robinson went on to become a star for the Brooklyn Dodgers and earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jethroe was named Rookie of the Year in 1950 while playing with the Boston Braves, and Williams left an impressive record playing in the Negro Leagues. The Red Sox would continue to overlook and reject

See RED SOX, page 6

Fairmount Line free for two weeks Capuano pays riders’ fares with campaign funds

By YAWU MILLER

For years, activists along the Fairmount commuter rail line have advocated for increased service, arguing that the public transit-dependent populations in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park need better options to get to jobs along the long-underutilized rail line and in downtown Boston.

Two years ago, the Baker administration backed off of plans to make a $200 million investment

in new trains for the line, citing low ridership and the high cost of the cars, which advocates said were necessary to increase frequency of service.

While activists and state officials have been struggling in a chicken-and-egg dilemma, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano grew impatient. Monday, he joined local activists and state officials to kick off two weeks of free rides on the line, for which he will pay using his campaign account.

“I’m always pushing to expand the system,” Capuano said,

standing on the platform at the Morton Street stop. “I’m always afraid they’ll cut services that are less used.”

Ridership on the line has increased nearly threefold, from 800 per day in 2012 to 2,260 per day in 2016, according to a study released last month that was commissioned by The Boston Foundation. That study came as a surprise even to MBTA officials, who had undercounted the ridership.

The T’s method, counting passengers disembarking at South Station, failed to take into account

BANNER PHOTO

See FAIRMOUNT, page 17

Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition member Marilyn Forman joins U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano at the Morton Street station.

2 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

New Codman Sq. units underscore need for affordability Rents stabilizing in older housing stock

By YAWU MILLER

Mayor Martin Walsh joined neighborhood activists to cut the ribbon on 44 new units of affordable housing in the Codman Square area Monday. In a city where 21,865 residential units were permitted at the beginning of the year, the ones in Dorchester stood out.

“These homes are a testament to the neighborhood’s resilience,” Walsh said, recalling a visit to Southern Avenue 20 years ago when the area was in rough shape.

“There were some abandoned buildings,” he said. “We walked down New England Avenue. It was filthy.”

But, Walsh noted, the neighbors had a plan for redevelopment.

The Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation worked with the neighbors to bring that plan to fruition.

The long-vacant Whittier School building was rehabbed into 15 units of housing. Next door, the NDC built 13 new units of housing along with a community center. Across Codman Square on Washington Street, the NDC rehabilitated a three-story bow front brick building into eight units and, near the corner of

BANNER PHOTO

Mayor Martin Walsh cuts the ribbon on the newly opened Whittier Lyndhurst Washington homes, a scattered site development of 44 affordable units built by the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Washington and Park streets, another eight units along with 1,000 square feet of commercial space.

Progress

The 44 units are part of a broader push for the construction of middle income and affordable housing in Boston, more than 7,000 units of which have been built since Walsh released his housing plan in 2014.

Walsh acknowledged, however, that the city has much more

work to do to help stem the tide of displacement.

“It’s a big issue, still,” Walsh said. “Obviously, people are concerned about being priced out of the city. There’s low-income housing here, but this will force the owner across the street to fix their house. People will say, it’s a beautiful neighborhood. The price will go up. That’s what happens when there’s investment made in the neighborhood.”

Codman Square NDC Executive

BANNER PHOTO

Codman Square NDC Executive Director Gail Lattimore, Mayor Martin Walsh, state Rep. Russell Holmes and City Councilor Andrea Campbell at the ribbon cutting.

Director Gail Lattimore said the new affordable units are part of a broader effort to maintain stability in a neighborhood that has garnered increased interest from well-heeled buyers.

“We’re seeing people being pushed out,” she said. “Not just low-income people, but people who make $40,000 to $50,000 a year. We’re concerned about home values rising too fast.”

With eyesores disappearing from the neighborhood, a new Fairmount Line Commuter Rail Station open on Talbot Avenue and the new housing filling long-vacant lots, Codman Square residents are beginning to face the displacement many see as the double-edge sword of neighborhood revitalization.

For now, city officials and CDCs are still pursuing housing production as a strategy for relieving pressure from the market.

For renters, some relief may be in sight.

The 7,000 new subsidized units, along with a total of 12,001 new housing units built and 7,237 permitted, may be taking the edge off the city’s rental market. Average rents in housing units built prior to 2010 dropped 4 percent from $2,071 to $1,984 between 2015 and 2016. In neighborhoods, including Roxbury, the drop was more dramatic. Roxbury, for instance, saw average rents drop 9 percent from $1,757 to $1,598.

For now, city officials and

CDCs like Codman Square are betting that production will help them beat back displacement. At the beginning of the year there were 21,865 units of housing in the planning stages that have not yet been permitted.

Continued investment

Walsh said he’s not hopeful that the federal government will continue funding affordable housing at the same level it has in past years, but also said he did not expect that the shortfall would affect affordable housing production, given the passage of the Community Preservation Act, a local property surtax, and the increased funding raised through higher Inclusionary Development Policy assessments.

The city raised the total number of affordable units developers are required to build or fund from 13 percent to 18 percent.

“That’s actually helping us increase affordable housing,” Walsh said. “We’re actually raising more money and we’re going to continue to make investments inside the housing stock here in the city, inside our budget.”

The city will also continue to sell land to developers, including developers of affordable and moderate-income housing.

“We’ve put a lot of our land out to be developed in the last year,” Walsh said. “We still have more land, but I think we have to figure out how to get the costs under control.”

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

Jessica Tang poised to be next teachers union president

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

Jessica Tang is poised to become president of the Boston Teachers Union when the current president steps down this summer. Tang has served as the BTU’s director of organizing since the position’s creation in 2013, where she led several policy campaigns and community organizing efforts. She was a union board member before that. Tang is the uncontested candidate to take over from President Richard Stutman when he resigns.

With Tang’s advancement, the BTU will join the ranks of several other major Boston local unions helmed by people of color. In the role she will represent approximately 7,000 actively-working union members and about 3,500 members who are retirees. The presidential term length is two years. May 3 closed the primary elections, which were held only for those races with more than two contenders. Final appointments will be decided via the general election this June 7. Tang is running with a slate of officers that includes music teacher Johnny McInnis as candidate for political director.

Holistic movement

Tang says she intends to continue taking a holistic approach to improving outcomes for students.

This includes not only advocating for more public education funding, but also weighing in on policies that impact students’ lives outside the classroom — and thus their ability to perform within it.

“We also are advocating against a lot of harmful policies that hurt our families that may not seem directly related to education, but impact our students’ abilities to have schooling,” Tang said in a Banner phone interview. “We are talking broadly about building a movement for social justice that includes economic justice … [and] racial justice. … The fight for public education goes hand in hand with these other fights.”

This philosophy has led the BTU to participate in immigrant rights demonstrations, including with the Cosecha movement and other groups on May 1; support the Fight for $15; hold teach-ins on the day of the People’s Climate March; join the Women’s March on D.C.; participate in affordable housing demonstrations; and advocate for diversity work.

Within the BTU, Tang established internal organizing committees on topics such as LGBTQ inclusion, teacher diversity, restorative justice and immigrant rights, branding an “Unafraid Educators” campaign to create sanctuary schools that protect and serve students regardless of the way pupils self-identify, their abilities or their immigration statuses.

Tang says that in her current role, she has been working to foster more relationships with allies and stakeholders, build coalitions and grow a social justice movement. The active cross-sector collaboration also gives the BTU opportunities to show themselves as active part of the community and to fight anti-union narratives, which Tang says identifies among her goals.

“I think the union is oftentimes misunderstood,” Tang said, stating that many people seem unaware of the power and purpose of unions to address social equity problems.

“Unions have made important contributions to addressing social inequalities. When unions have the lowest participation, we have the largest income inequality.”

BANNER PHOTO

Jessica Tang (l) moderated a panel during an emergency town hall meeting at Madison Park last year. Presenters sought to address the future of the city’s public schools.

On the panel with her: (l-r) Daphne Penn, of the Union of Minority Neighborhoods; Megan Wolf of Quality Education for Every Student; and Heshan Berents-Weeramuni of the Citywide Parent Council.

Also high on Tang’s list of goals Camacho served on the parent adis the unsigned contract between visory council launched by Tang. the teacher’s union and the city, with negotiations entering their Johnny McInnis 16th month. Tang says the union McInnis has taught music in is pushing for a contract that in- Boston for 22 years and has been cludes certain provisions around the president of the Black Educateaching conditions and serving tors of Alliance of Massachusetts high-need students. since 2011. If elected, he would be Annissa Essaibi-George, vice another person of color in BTU chair of the city council’s Committee top leadership. In June, McInnis on Education and a former Boston will face off against Colum Whyte, Public Schools teacher, praised co-editor of the BTU monthly Tang’s focus on addressing issues in newspaper and a teacher at the children’s communities that affect Joseph Lee K-8. their abilities to be engaged in their Among McInnis’ top goals are academics. Essaibi-George said amplifying educators’ voices in Tang, a former teacher with politi- policy decisions, soliciting more cal experience, can effectively lever- member feedback and improving age both of these perspectives in the communication with membership presidency role. over key issues regarding elected “Being a former teacher herself , officials and education legislation. she has a firm understanding of the issues teachers deal with in the class- = room but also has a firm grasp of the political perspective as well, which is really important for the union president to have,” Essaibi-George said.

“She’ll do an incredible job.”

Stakeholders

McInnis praised Tang’s efforts to better engage union membership. “[Tang also has been active] within the union, getting members more informed, getting opportunities for members to be more proactive within the union and inviting them to be part of different groups — whether that be teachers that participate in inclusion programs, art teachers, etc.” McInnis said in a Banner phone interview. “She provided us with a forum to come communicate and develop strategies that support students in our schools.”

Angelina Camacho, co-chair of the Citywide Parent Council, praised Tang for engaging a wide range of stakeholders. She said Tang has worked not only to address teachers’ needs but also actively works to engage parents — a practice that Camacho says the school department should focus more on. Camacho served on a parent advisory council that Tang launched and since then has collaborated with her on parent engagement and policy issues, such as the successful No on 2 ballot campaign, which opposed lifting the cap on charter schools.

“Jessica’s been doing hard work over the years to not only be an excellent teacher, but an excellent leader who looks at the full package of what makes education great,” Camacho told the Banner.

Camacho said while she regrets seeing any race in which a candidate runs unopposed, she believes one reason for the empty field is the strength of Tang’s candidacy.

“If you don’t hear anything, you assume everything’s fine,” McInnis said, emphasizing the need to provide policy and political information so members can rally.

He said the innovation partnership zone legislation is one concern on his radar. He regards the zone policy as an effort to expand charter schools despite the defeat of ballot Question 2. Under this system, should a district have one or more underperforming schools, the district or the state commissioner of education could seek to allow several schools to create and implement improvement plans with a greater level of budgetary, curriculum and management autonomy.

McInnis also said current practices in turnaround schools and school slated for closure can be too

disruptive and harmful to teachers and students. He said personal experience with this is one reason he is running.

Whyte states on his campaign website that he would strive to inform elected officials, the media and the general public on the importance of including teachers in developing education policy. He also opposes education privatization and will address neighborhood poverty and its impact on students.

Filling out Tang’s slate of officers are Erik Berg, running unopposed for vice president, and Betsy Drinan, for secretary treasurer.

Drinan drew top tallies over three competitors in the May primary, and will advance to face in June the candidate who garnered the second-highest votes, Karen Cross.

Stronger After Cancer: Sharing Your Cancer Journey to Advocate for Change

As a cancer survivor you have the power to make your community healthier. Sharing your story is a proven way to help others take action to be healthier, less afraid of cancer, and feel more in control of their health. Your story is also a very powerful tool that can educate lawmakers to ensure that all communities have excellent health care.

If you are a cancer survivor and are passionate about improving the health of your community, we welcome you to attend a workshop at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to be a voice for change. The workshop will provide participants training from experts at Dana-Farber, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and other organizations. The training includes: • Strategic storytelling to create change • Talking about cancer without stigma • Using social media to amplify your voice • Advocating for policies to improve public health and lives of people with cancer REGISTER by emailing Sarah_Gunn@dfci.harvard.edu or by calling 617-632-4433.

This free workshop is open to all cancer survivors, regardless of where care was received.

Friday, June 2 9:00AM-1:00PM Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Yawkey Conference Center, Room 308 450 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA Parking, breakfast, and lunch will be provided Those interested in being a Voice for Change will also have the opportunities to serve on patient and family councils, attend community health trainings throughout the year, and participate in the Legislative Action Network.

4 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

EDITORIAL

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INSIDE: BUSINESS, 10 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, 12 • BOSTON SCENES, 15 • CLASSIFIEDS, 18

Established 1965

Inexplicable animus May Day is supposed to be a joyous time. Children celebrate the emergence of spring by dancing around the maypole and workers acknowledge their solidarity. However, May 1 in Boston last week was neither. First of all, the weather was so cold that spring seemed to be in retreat, and an unprovoked racial assault by a spectator in the center field bleachers at the baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles demonstrated once again that the racial conflict in Boston is still quite unresolved. One wonders whether the propensity for violence is genetic.

Some people have speculated that the incident occurred because Donald Trump has essentially confirmed that such racial misconduct is now acceptable. However, that speculation fails to recognize that with 49.3 percent Trump had the highest vote in Massachusetts of any state primary before his nomination.

Clearly there already was a sizeable population of state residents who are hostile toward African Americans.

During the Red Sox-Baltimore game, a Red Sox rooter threw a bag of peanuts at Adam Jones, Baltimore’s black center fielder, and called him the “N” word. The spectator was ejected from Fenway Park, but it is still unclear why whites in Massachusetts would want to insult blacks, even without provocation.

There is no historical basis for such racial conflict. There is no record of blacks having initiated attacks on whites in the state. Perhaps some whites find the demeanor of blacks too assertive. Indeed, blacks in Boston have never been obsequious, a state of mind sometimes imposed by violent whites in the South. No one can provide a reason for the unprovoked violent

behavior at Fenway Park.

Family genealogical research has now become a fad. The progeny of American immigrants from Europe can trace their family origins to the districts of their original countries.

While genes can control the color of one’s eye or a cleft chin that runs in the family, personality traits might also be genealogically affected.

Violence between ancient European groups was common. The only essential requirement was to determine what tribe would be “the other” or the “outsider” and therefore an appropriate enemy.

On the other side of Fenway Park in the left field stands there was a more festive May Day event. The friends and family of Donna Gittens, the black CEO of MORE, a marketing promotion company, had assembled to support her future in baseball. She had been chosen by the Red Sox to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the ball game. Donna’s celebrants were totally unaware of the hostility building across the park, and they were absolutely unconcerned about the racial background of others in and around the Gittens party.

Racism is such an ugly affliction, every citizen should stand against it.

The Red Sox management is right to remove racial agitators. No one should accept in silence the vicious racial harangue against any citizen. Such prejudice clearly exists, and everyone must be responsible for creating an environment that is alien for bigots and comfortable for everyone else.

Boston has to work to change its culture. The “City on a Hill” must have a metropolitan demeanor in order to sustain its lofty reputation.

But there must be some considerable effort to identify the causes of the mindless white racism.

“Man, let’s keep it moving before they get hostile.”

USPS 045-780 Melvin B. Miller Sandra L. Casagrand John E. Miller Yawu Miller

Publisher/Editor Co-publisher Assoc. Publisher/Treasurer Senior Editor ADVERTISING

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OPINION

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House tax plan does not stop the gaming

What do you think is the importance of public transportation?

By GARY KALMAN For all the concerns raised by economists and others about the House tax plan, it is generally assumed that the proposal will reduce the gaming of the tax system by multinational corporations. Among the more active debates: Will the currency adjust perfectly or will retail prices rise? Is the plan legal under our trade agreements? Do foreign investments take a dive?

While all those questions are hotly debated, consensus is that the current gaming will end. “Not to worry,” we are told, “that’s covered.” In a recent article, Marty Sullivan, chief economist at the nonpartisan Tax Analysts, was quoted saying that “the basic, fundamental structure of it seems much more resilient to gaming — by far.”

So, it is curious that earlier this year, General Electric, Pfizer and others that have been called out for aggressive tax avoidance publicly aligned with a coalition of companies to push the House tax plan.

Between 2001 and 2015, Verizon paid an average of 12.4 percent in federal income taxes, as opposed to the 35 percent statutory rate, on steadily increasing profits. In five of those years — all profitable — the company paid no federal income tax. General Electric, for more than a decade, paid negative 1.6 percent on $58 billion in profits. Yet, the senior management of these companies clearly believe they will do better under the proposal.

How do you reconcile these competing assumptions? I didn’t understand, so I asked. After several conversations with economists, the answer is in the definition of “gaming.” The House plan, if implemented, would end the incentive to invert or book profits offshore. That is true. Instead, it would shift the gaming from location of profits to location of sales.

The few economists looking closer at this problem have written about how Microsoft or Apple could potentially locate servers in tax havens. Any downloads of software, music or movies could count as foreign sales and therefore generate no tax liability. That would increase the impact of tax avoidance as those companies currently do owe taxes on profits they book offshore — to be paid when they repatriate those profits to the U.S. parent. By switching from a system in which companies pay on all their profits to a so-called “territorial” system, the House plan would permanently exempt future taxes on all revenues booked offshore, opening the door to rampant abuse.

There is also the potential for exporters to merge with importers to share excess tax credits. This would reduce or eliminate tax liability for the importer on whom the plan relies to pay the lion’s share of the taxes.

When asked about this, one economist responded, “that is not gaming.”

True, mergers are a legitimate business practice but, in this instance, it is still a practice driven not by product or service quality, not by delivery or manufacturing efficiency, but by the tax code.

While there are numerous incentives in the tax code to affect corporate behavior, this one has no other purpose than tax avoidance. One entrepreneur who started an outdoor recreation company (an importer of materials and equipment) said he would consider buying a wheat exporting company to offset his tax liability. Not much synergy between rafting supplies and wheat, but the tax credits would be attractive.

It seems a misplaced goal to stop the booking of profits offshore as an end unto itself. It is not as though the majority of profits are actually held offshore — waiting to be brought back to this country. A Senate investigation found that half of the funds booked offshore are held in Treasuries or other U.S. investments. Rather, the issue is the lost tax revenue or, as most in the public would see it, tax dodging. Since tax dodging via tax havens and other methods would continue among the largest players, it seems misleading to say to the public that the House plan would end the gaming.

Our goal in tax reform should be to agree upon a corporate tax rate that helps the country cover our costs, and then minimize the unintended ways to avoid paying it.

The most straightforward and hardest to game among reform proposals is to leave the basic structure in place but end the ability for multinationals to defer paying the taxes they owe. Individuals pay taxes on money they earn, whether they earn it in Des Moines or Dublin. Small and wholly domestic businesses pay taxes, timely, on their earnings.

There is no economic justification behind the special treatment of multinationals. We should also tighten rules to prohibit inversions and ensure companies are playing by the rules by publicly reporting — country-by-country — their profits, taxes paid, and certain operations.

This is a pragmatic, comprehensive and comparatively simple tax reform that solves the specific problem of lost revenue due to offshoring profits in tax havens.

Gary Kalman is executive director of the FACT Coalition, a nonpartisan alliance of more than 100 organizations working toward a fair tax system.

At any point you can up and go. If you plan accordingly, you can get to your destination without worrying about parking and traffic.

It’s a lifeline to what matters most in our lives — work, health care, education and worship. And it’s good for the planet.

Devin Edwards

Mela Miles

Kamari James

Organizer Roxbury

Student Roslindale

It’s about getting people from origin to destination. As a child in Chicago I rode the train to work and school and had the opportunity to see the city and meet people.

People can easily get to jobs within the city that they ordinarily wouldn’t be able to reach. It’s a means to economic growth.

Jobs are often located in parts of the city where there’s traffic and no parking. People need to get to those jobs.

Gerald Francis

Susan Sullivan

Paul Holmes

Executive Director Weymouth

IT Consultant Cambridge

created a year-round youth civic engagement program aimed at at-risk Boston youth and provided paid opportunities for them to create effective strategies to increase urban democratic participation and community engagement. In addition, he managed one of the largest SummerWorks neighborhood sites in Boston, serving 100-plus low-income youth annually. His experience also includes serving as an advisory board member at the Greater Boston YMCA Roxbury Branch.

Richards is one of the founding trustees of the Grove Hall Trust, a resident-led neighborhood foundation that puts choice and control for investing grant dollars directly in the hands of Boston’s Grove Hall community.

Before his work in the nonprofit field, Richards worked in ad pitching, design and creative marketing in Atlanta, Georgia for Firstline Creative & Media, LLC,

a global full-service marketing and communication company.

Richards earned a B.A in mass communications from Clark Atlanta University. He also holds a certificate in nonprofit management and leadership from the Moakley Center for Public Management at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.

Legislative Aide Mattapan

Transit Company Executive South Boston

I don’t have a car. It’s the only way to get around.

IN THE NEWS

ANTHONY RICHARDS Anthony Richards is the director of community affairs for the governor’s office. In this role he communicates regularly with community organizations, law enforcement, nonprofits and private organizations in order to hear their views and concerns and connect people, groups and organizations to resources and information within the administration. The Office of Community Affairs staff is charged with attending and convening constituent meetings to promote dialogue around initiatives and policies from Governor Charlie Baker’s administration.

Richards’ background includes a range of mentorship and leadership experience. In a previous role he was the director of the Elm Hill Family Service Center, one of the largest neighborhood sites within Action for Boston Community Development’s citywide network.

While at ABCD, Inc. Richards

6 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

Red Sox

Walsh receives ‘Good Guys’ award

continued from page 1

PHOTO: DON WEST

The Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus presented Mayor Martin J. Walsh with its annual “Good Guys” award on May 5 at the Parker House Hotel in Boston, for his outstanding work in support of women’s issues. Presenting the award are Gail Jackson-Blount, board president (center) and Sarah McCarthy Welsh, executive director.

The 30th Annual

MALCOLM X

MEMORIAL AND AWARDS BREAKFAST Featuring: Rahsaan Hall American Cilvil Liberties Union

Red Sox today

In 2003 the Red Sox got a new owner, John Henry, whose history included helping black residents of the South register to vote during the 1960s. That same year the team signed on David Ortiz, a Dominican of African descent, who played a critical role in the team breaking its World Series championship dry spell in 2004. By 2013, the team included Japanese player Koji Uheara and Aruban shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Still, in 2008, a Boston Magazine story reported that many athletes regarded Boston as so racist that

Special Video Tribute: Honorable Minister Louis Farrahkan Nation of Islam Theme: 30 Years of “By Any Means Necessary!!”

Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.

Reggie Lewis Center 1350 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA (Malcolm X Blvd - Entrance)

Donation: $50

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Public Meeting

151 LENOX STREET DISPOSITION PLANNING THURSDAY, MAY 25

black players, including scouting and then declining to sign Willie Mays. The team’s routine rejection of talent has been largely seen a major factor in the perceived “curse of the Bambino.”

It was not until August 1959 that the Red Sox diversified, bringing on Elijah “Pumpsie” Green and becoming the last league in the nation to integrate.

Issues continued, with Red Sox player and later staff member Tommy Harper (rated most valuable player in 1973) reporting extensive racism. His allegations included racial slurs from fans and staff, as well as unequal pay, accommodations and opportunities.

He blew the whistle on discriminatory conditions, including reporting that only white players got access to an exclusive Elks Club and that the team was conducting sham interviews of minority candidates, in violation of diversity agreements. In 1979, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination cited the team for failure to comply with promises to improve racial diversity in hiring throughout the ranks, including players, coaches, managers, ticket takers and grounds crew. Harper said he faced employment retaliation for exposing the team’s discrimination — an accusation that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission upheld.

Community Workshop

PLAN: DUDLEY SQUARE MONDAY, MAY 15

65 WARREN ST

5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Dudley Branch Public Library Roxbury, MA 02119

830 TREMONT STREET

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

People’s Baptist Church Roxbury, MA 02118

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) is seeking community feedback on a potential disposition of the BRA-owned vacant parcel of land at 151 Lenox Street. Community input will be used to craft a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the parcel.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: May’s workshop will ask participants to prioritize both housing and economic development goals for city-owned land in Dudley Square using benchmarks established by the community in previous engagement workshops. Feedback from the workshop will be reflected in the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for this land that will 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.

mail to:

phone : email :

REAY PANNESI

mail to:

Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.6239 Reay.L.Pannesi@boston.gov

phone : email :

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

they did not wish to play here.

Following the reported racial incidents in May 2017, the Red Sox banned for life the fan who admitted to directing a slur at the anthem singer, and Boston police said they spoke to Jones about his allegations. A Major League Baseball spokesperson said the MLB would review protocols around handling reports of slurs in all 30 stadiums, and Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy decried the harassment and apologized to Jones.

Henry and Kennedy said they may permanently ban any fans who use offensive language.

“No player should have an object thrown at him on the playing field, nor be subjected to any kind of racism at Fenway Park,” Kennedy said in a statement. “The Red Sox have zero tolerance for such inexcusable behavior, and our entire organization and our fans are sickened by the conduct of an ignorant few.”

Jones told USA Today that steeper punishment than ejection from the stadium should have been taken against the person who threw a bag of peanuts at him, and proposed $10,000 to $30,000 fine.

“At the end of the day, when you throw an object onto the field of play, the player has no idea what it is. What if something hit me right in the eye and I can’t play baseball anymore. Then what?” Jones said.

The day after Jones was targeted, Red Sox fans greeted Jones with cheers and a standing ovation, in a demonstration against racism. Jones said the ovation was greatly appreciated.

Local politicians reacted as well, going on record to condemn the abuse.

“Fenway fans behavior at the #RedSox game last night was unacceptable & shameful,” Governor Charlie Baker wrote on Twitter.

“This is not what Massachusetts & Boston are about.’’

“No one should be subjected to racial slurs anywhere in our city,” Boston City Council President Michelle Wu said. “It’s an insult to all of Boston and all Red Sox fans that these words were used in the name of our home team.”

Mayor Martin Walsh and City Councilor Tito Jackson, a mayoral candidate, both decried the incidents.

State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry said the racial harassment demonstrates a need for continuing work on combating intolerance in sports and in the state. Forry met with Kennedy and his staff to discuss protocols on reacting to hate speech and making games welcoming.

“I acknowledge and thank President Kennedy for his quick response in denouncing the use of racial slurs and am encouraged by Red Sox’s zero tolerance policy which includes a lifetime ban from Fenway Park,” Forry said. “When hate speech is used, we must take immediate action. I encourage fans to follow Sam Kennedy’s lead, speak up and play a role in making the Red Sox experience great for everyone. “

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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

call 617-261-4600 x7799 for more information

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

In face of cuts, BPS details supports for district’s low-performing schools

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

During recent budget hearings, city councilors fired off questions on how the city is supporting schools deemed underperforming. The question appears especially pressing as Boston Public School parents and education bloggers Kristin Johnson and Bob Damon write that several of the schools receiving cuts are those with low and lowest level rankings from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and with high populations of students considered particularly vulnerable. Fifteen schools ranked by the state as among the bottom 20 percent statewide (Level 3, 4 or 5) will see a budget cut by more than 1 percent, according to a March 2017 BPS presentation.

Boston Public Schools officials took time during the hearings to outline their efforts to support low-performing schools, through measures such as visiting assistant teams, continued funding support for schools exiting turnaround and a fund for extra supports. Not all councilors seemed to agree that the measures go far enough.

Who feels the cut?

While some services and supports such as facility repair, psychologists, athletic coaches and transportation are budgeted centrally, schools receive funding based on their pupil counts. Declining enrollment has resulted in 49 schools receiving smaller budgets this year.

The logic behind per-pupil funding holds that should schools lose students, they also lose expenses and can absorb cuts by making a reduction in classes or teachers. But critics are concerned that there are cases in which departing students are spread among various programs and classrooms, making significant spending reductions a challenge.

The students who are left behind in schools with similar levels of expenses and fewer resources are disproportionally more likely to be black, Latino, English language learners, low-income, special education or with high needs, according to Johnson and Damon.

“Every indicator of students within the achievement gap was overall higher within the group of schools facing budget reductions,” Johnson writes. This year’s cuts also come after a fiscal year 2017 budget that reduced the funding allotments for children with autism and socioemotional needs.

According to Johnson, among the 49 schools facing reductions, 42 percent have a higher-than-district-average number of English language learners and 46 percent have a higher-than-average number of students whose first language is not English. Sixty percent have higher numbers of students with disabilities; 66 percent have more economically disadvantaged students and 72 percent have more students regarded as “high needs.” In regards to race, 26 percent of these schools have a higher-than-average number of Latino students and 54 percent have a higher-than-average number of black students.

According to a BPS equity analysis of the proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, 75 percent of the funding cuts to low-level schools with declining enrollments are absorbed through reductions related to lessened need for classroom

capacity, such as changes to teacher and aide budgeting. Another 25 percent of cuts affect student support, administration and instructional support funding.

Support teams

The district’s strategy for providing aid to underperforming schools includes targeted support teams such as technology assistance teams that visit certain schools on a quarterly basis to examine operations and help school leaders problem-solve on challenges, according to Liza Veto, the director of the office of turnaround and transformation at BPS. Thus far, tech teams have been sent to all Level 4 schools and are being piloted at two Level 3 schools.

Another effort is three- to four-person academic response teams comprised of licensed members with subject matter expertise, said Dan Anderson, director of academic response and transformation teams at BPS. The teams are sent to six Level 3 and six Level 4 schools.

Each of the three Academic Response Teams supports two schools simultaneously for a two-month period. The teams provide teacher coaching, team support, professional development and similar aid, Anderson said. Interested principals apply for this program.

Extra dollars?

According to a May 2 BPS presentation, in FY18 the district seeks to mitigate budget strain on low-performing schools by providing them with approximately $3.18 million in extra support, slightly up from $3.14 million in the prior year’s budget. City Councilor Tito Jackson, chair of the committee on education, however, says the new funding does not make up for the cuts.

The approximately $3 million of support funding includes $325,000 in support to Level 4 schools (down from $358,000 in FY17); $125,000 in academic support and student learning opportunities during school vacations for Level 3 and 4 schools (down from $246,800 in FY17) and $139,600 in professional development and similar support for Levels 3 and 4 (up from $59,000 in FY17). This latter item is used flexibly based on the individual school’s need. For instance, at the Mattahunt it had supported provision of a dedicated family engagement staff member, Veto said.

The district’s support funding for low-performing schools also includes $1.28 million in staffing for academic response teams and central offices related to turnaround (compared to $1.33 million in FY17); and $1.30 million in turnaround transition funds (compared to $1.13 million in FY17), newly instituted this year to pick up where some grants have run out. Other state grants this year support Level 4 and 3 schools, with the full level of these grants not yet known for this year.

However, Jackson stated during the council meeting that the extra funding does not replenish the funding cut due to declining enrollments.

“The money you’re giving is exponentially less than the money being cut on school-site level,” Jackson said. “We’re going to cut Level 3, 4, 5 budgets by about $11 million and replace that $11 million by $3 million.

How do we make progress there?…

If you’re not paying for what was the baseline before, how does the new stuff make any progress?”

BPS’ Anderson said during a

hearing that in addition to the $3 million fund, $1.25 million will be divided among the individual schools that are losing money due to declining enrollment.

A March BPS presentation shows a different picture, stating that the budget includes $15 million in supports for Level 3, 4 and 5 schools, although this calculation includes state and federal dollars as well.

Turnaround funding

BPS officials and city councilors agreed that heightened funding is among the factors critical to achieving school performance improvements. Many of them cited alltoo-frequent problem of struggling schools coming out of turnaround status only to decline again once the infusion of extra funding is cut.

“We tend to allocate resources reactively — we get [schools] to a certain point then back off,” Councilor Mark Ciommo said.

According to Donna Muncey, BPS deputy superintendent of strategy, while turnaround processes are given a three-year timeline, it actually takes a school about five years to solidify the improvements, and the higher level of funding ought to persist for two additional years.

“Most of the national research on turnaround [says] that it really takes about five years for turnaround to consolidate and become the way of the school,” Muncey said.

“Even if a school turns around in three years, it still needs to consolidate its practices.”

Currently BPS is working on a

ON THE WEB A Political Education blog: http://boston politicaleducation.blogspot.com/ City council underperforming school hearing: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=-49tefu4Kys step-down plan to allow provision of heightened funding to schools exiting turnaround, with that supplement gradually stepped down over three to four years. For as long the school remains at Level 4, the district will maintain the level of funding the school had been receiving under the federal-funded School Redesign Grant. Once the school exits Level 4, the district will continue to foot the bill to maintain extended learning time, and will decrease remaining extra support funding in steps over four years, according to BPS spokesperson Dan O’Brien.

During FY18, transitional funding supports the Burke High, English High, Channing Elementary, and Winthrop Elementary, O’Brien said.

Tiers and rankings

BPS’s ranking system and the state’s ranking system are not the same, creating some confusion, noted City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George. While a family is guaranteed to have a number of BPS Tier 1 and Tier 2 schools on their school choice lists, it is the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education level rankings that determine if a school is at risk of state takeover or is required to develop a turnaround plan. The disparity may make it difficult for families to assess the quality of their schools.

The two systems’ ratings do not always align: Essaibi-George noted

that the Russell School is a Level 1, according to the state, but Tier 3 according to BPS. DESE levels compare schools to others across the state of the same type (for example, elementary schools) and reflect factors such as student growth, high school graduation and drop-out rates, attendance and success at narrowing proficiency gaps. Schools with too low DESE levels are required to develop turnaround plans and, if the plans fail to raise their levels, could be taken over by the state. Level 3-5 schools are performing among the bottom 20 percent of liketype schools statewide, and Level 1 schools are closing achievement gaps and have higher growth in certain subject matters than Level 2 schools, Veto said.

Meanwhile, BPS tiers compare schools within BPS and currently are based on 2013-2014 MCAS testing data. Tier 1 schools have MCAS scores in the top 25 percent and Tier 4 schools in the bottom 25 percent.

Essaibi-George also noted that school’s abilities to have full enrollments are impacted by the assignment system and ranking system.

She said that if a family lives near many BPS Tier 3 schools, they may only see a select few of those schools appear on their list, limiting their options and restricting that school’s chance at filling its classrooms.

“We’re finding in a lot of our assignment process that if a neighborhood or area has too many [BPS Tier] level 3’s, only a certain number will show up, and it affects family’s ability to choose the school they want to choose and in turn, affects enrollment at that school,” Essaibi-George said. “You can’t make a choice on something you can’t see or have as an option.”

8 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

COMMENTARY

The unintended consequences of hate

By HASAN ZILLUR RAHIM, NEW AMERICA MEDIA

The pickup truck was following her. Dr. Sarah felt nervous but tried to convince herself it was just her imagination. He couldn’t possibly know she was a Muslim, particularly since she was not wearing the optional hijab, the traditional Islamic head-cover to indicate modesty.

She pulled into the parking lot and got out of her car. The pickup slowed. As she crossed the street to get to her office, the driver, a middle-aged white man, rolled down the window and screamed at her: “Go back home!”

The heat of the man’s hate felt as if it were burning a hole in the back of her head. She ran to the safety of her hospital.

Dr. Sarah was born in Chicago to Muslim parents. After receiving a doctorate in psychology, she began working at a hospital in Silicon Valley in the pain management department as a psychologist, a job in which she has flourished for over a decade. When she reported the incident to her concerned supervisor, she advised her not to drive alone for a few weeks.

A week earlier, an engineer of Asian background, an American citizen, was confronted in the parking lot of a grocery store in San Jose by a driver who screamed: “Go back to where you came from.”

For many residents, the sprouting of bigotry in what is the heart

of Silicon Valley, with a diversity of culture, religion and ethnicity rare in the world, is shocking.

“Before, I used to call my friends and relatives in India to ask if they were okay,” said Assemblyman Ash Kalra during a rally organized in response to the growing climate of fear following the election. “Now they call me to inquire if I am safe in Trump’s America!”

Trump has indeed loosened the shackles of bigotry among his supporters, emboldening them to threaten those who don’t look like them, and to hurl insults like, “Go back to where you came from!”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has reported harassment and threats targeting Muslim women and children in Minnesota, North Carolina, New York and California in just the past two weeks alone.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there were 867 hate incidents in the ten days after Trump’s win in November.

The advocacy group South Asians Leading Together (SAALT) put out a report in January that documented 207 hate incidents targeting South Asians, Muslims and Middle Easterners in 2016. The report noted the climate resembled the months following the 9/11 attacks, and attributed the spike in hate to campaign rhetoric during the 2016 race.

Here in San Jose, police documeted four cases of crimes targeting Muslims in 2016. There were no cases prior in the years going

back to 2011. Experts say the numbers are misleading, and that because victms are often reluctant to come forward, due to cultural or linguistic barriers, or because they are scared, the figures could be higher.

One of those cases involved the Evergreen Islamic Center, where a letter was received just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday that read, in part: “There’s a new sheriff in town — President Donald Trump.

He is going to cleanse America and make it shine again. And he’s going to start with you Muslims.” The letter went on to make reference to Nazi Germany, saying Trump would “do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews.”

Still, despite the rising tide of Islamophobia, something remarkable began to happen among members of the local Muslim community in the days and weeks following Trump’s win. Having learned in the aftermath of 9/11 that a culture of shame and silence only promoted the politics of fear, area Muslims instead started forging bonds with community residents at a grass-roots level.

Several members of Evergreen (myself included) joined “Indivisible East San Jose,” one of nearly 6,000 ‘Indivisible’ groups that sprang up across the nation as a response and resistance to Trump’s presidency.

Meeting once every month, members knock on doors in San Jose’s depressed areas, informing undocumented workers, for

example, of their rights if ICE shows up and the availability of free legal help. A few families in dire straits have been escorted to sanctuaries in synagogues and churches.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, Evergreen teamed up with local Christians and Jews as members of “Abrahamic Alliance” at a church to prepare meals for the homeless.

For most, this was their first experience with a soup kitchen. Many were shocked to find that in one of the most prosperous areas in the world, there were people for whom a decent meal and a bed to sleep on are luxuries often beyond reach.

As remarkable is the growing outreach and solidarity extended to area Muslims from other immigrant communities. There have been several marches staged to commemorate the Japanese internment and to draw connections between that dark period in U.S. history and its echo against

Muslims in Trump’s time. Meetings were held with Internment survivors who spoke of the importance of resistance.

Then there are the acts of individual kindness.

“Just think about it,” said Peggy, who drove an hour from the city of Santa Cruz with several friends in a show of solidarity with Evergreen following the recent threats.

“Would we have even met if it were not for Trump? No! This is the silver lining in the dark cloud that hangs over our nation now.”

For local Muslims, the bridges now being formed in the era of Trump are a case of serendipity, the unintended but cathartic consequences of hate.

Hasan Zillur Rahim wrote this story with support from New America Media’s Tracking Hate Fellowship program. Rahim is a professor of mathematics at San Jose City College and the Outreach Director of the Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose.

BANNER PHOTO

City Councilor Tito Jackson chats with commuters at the Dudley Square bus station as he collects signatures for his mayoral bid.

signatures continued from page 1

both of whom have substantial organizations, collecting signatures can demonstrate the strength of a political organization. By 8 p.m. last Tuesday, the Walsh campaign boasted 12,317 signatures collected by several hundred volunteers in every ward in the city. On his Facebook account, Jackson said he had collected more than 3,000.

In addition to Jackson and Walsh, Roslindale antiviolence advocate Mary A. Franklin, Dorchester resident Donald M. Osgood Sr. and Christopher G. Womack are running for mayor.

As fierce as the competition for mayoral signatures was last week, the race to gather signatures for at-large and district council seats could be even more fierce. Although district councilors are required to submit just 200 signatures — because they’re competing for a limited pool of registered voters, and each voter can nominate only one candidate in the race — the 14 people who declared for the District 7 seat must race to submit signatures.

If more than one candidate obtains signatures from the same voter, the first to submit the signature secures the voter’s signature.

Nomination papers are date- and time-stamped as soon as they’re submitted. Election Department officials typically count signatures submitted by a candidate until the 3,000-vote threshold is reached (or 150 in the district race), then stop. Signatures beyond the minimum threshold are not certified.

In addition to securing a spot on the ballot and flexing political muscle, the signature-gathering serves another important purpose, notes Jackson campaign volunteer Ron Bell, who caught potential voters waiting for the 42 bus in Dudley Station.

“The importance of getting signatures is to identify voters and get them to the polls on September 26 and in November,” he said. “It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. We’re working around the clock.”

Many District 7 candidates were in Dudley Square last Tuesday, although many of the commuters who pass through the MBTA’s busiest bus terminal don’t live in the Roxbury-based district.

Some candidates stuck to knocking on doors of registered voters in the district.

“I’m really thankful to have a team of volunteers who were out with me, hitting the streets, knocking on doors and collecting signatures,” said District 7 candidate Kim Janey.

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For more information, call 617-261-4600 x7799 or email ads@bannerpub.com

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

Fear and defiance greet House Republicans’ health care bill Sen. Markey: bill “dead on arrival” in Senate; Political pain promised for House yes-voters

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

Sen. Edward Markey and other speakers at a Health Care For All panel on Monday morning spelled out the human pain that would be dealt should the Donald Trump and House Republican’s health care bill pass. At the end of last week, the House rushed to pass a bill that would repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a health care policy that is expected to roll back protections on people with preexisting conditions, threaten those dependent on Medicaid and raise prices on seniors and many who are not already healthy and affluent.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill, the American Health Care Act, will result in loss of coverage for 24 million Americans by 2026, but has yet to finish its analysis. The House voted 217213 in the favor of the AHCA. Many speakers said legislation could bring drastic consequences to them or members of their families. Sen. Markey offered a spot of hope, predicting the bill would collapse in the Senate. Republicans, he said, will have a tough fight to balance more moderate Senate Republicans with demands of the radical Freedom Caucus.

“The bill that passed House representatives is dead on arrival in the Senate of the United States,” Markey said.

The bill will move more slowly in the Senate, where legislators are required to wait for completion of the Congressional Budget Office analysis before voting. Some Senate Republicans said they would write a new bill from scratch. In such a case, Markey said Massachusetts delegation would be sure to oppose any new bill that turns out to be only a watered down version of the American Health Care Act. “We will not pass ‘Freedom Caucus lite,’” Markey said.

Many also are starting to wage political war against the representatives who passed the bill — each of whose vote was critical to the passage.

The House bill allows states to alter some current protections such as required minimum benefits.

Repeal of the ACA could also mean that insurers once again are able to set a lifetime cap on expenses for what are deemed essential health services. Under the bill, states could seek a waiver to permit insurance companies to charge people differently based on their current health — meaning people with pre-existing conditions potentially could be charged more. The federal government would set aside $8 billion to help subsidize people facing large premium increases and established other programs states can opt into to help cover high-risk pools.

Health economists have said these

policies have a poor track record.

Planned Parenthood, which provides a variety of women’s health services including cancer screenings in addition to abortions, would lose significant funding.

Brian Rosman, policy director of Health Care For All, said the repeal and replace is a double blow.

He warned attendees at the panel that Massachusetts’s history of socalled Romneycare does not spare it, given that the previous program relied on federal partnering.

A life-or-death question

With the Senate’s actions uncertain, the possibility of any policy that includes a lifetime coverage cap and higher rates for people with pre-existing conditions sparked fears.

Diane Pickles, a volunteer with the American Heart Association, said her son Jake was born with a serious heart condition. It took three open-heart surgeries during the days after his birth to keep him alive. With chronic illness and frequent hospitalizations following, “at age four, Jake was halfway to the million dollar lifetime cap we had on our plan,” Pickles said.

The family since switched health plans and Jake is now 22.

Pickles said she fears that when he ages out of eligibility for coverage under his parents’ plan, he may not be able to get coverage for the frequent treatments he needs and the heart transplant doctors have long said will one day be necessary. No parent should have to worry that an insurance company will deem their child to be an unacceptable or unworthy risk, she said.

“Reject any law that allows penalties for pre-existing conditions or [the imposition of ] a lifetime cap,” Pickels asked legislators. “His life, like that of so many others, literally depends on it.”

Another speaker said she was diagnosed with cancer at age 10 and requires annual screenings to monitor effects. She currently is a Tufts University student and fears that if she has to change plans due to moving to another state, she would lose her protection based on her childhood diagnosis.

The bill would cap Medicaid funding and likely halt its expansion.

“This bill that just passed is a giveaway of the $860 billion that will be cut from Medicaid and packaged as a tax break for the wealthiest in our society,” Markey said. “The cuts hit the disabled, the poor, the young, and seniors disproportionately. The beneficiaries are the wealthy in our society, disproportionately.”

Among those expected to see higher costs are seniors. Kathy Paul of Massachusetts Senior Action Council said MassHealth meant that when her husband was battling

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BANNER PHOTO

Kathy Paul of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, spoke on the bill’s damaging effect on seniors during a Monday health care panel. To her right: Dennis Heaphy, of the Disability Policy Consortium, and Brian Rosman, policy director of Health Care For All. kidney failure and diabetes, she could focus on caring for him, not worrying how to meet hospital costs on a fixed income.

“We [seniors] are not going to just sit back and die so Congress can make their billionaire donors happy,” Paul said.

Dennis Heaphy of the Disability Policy Consortium said that threats to Medicaid have people with disabilities concerned that they will lose access to the care that makes it possible for them to live outside of nursing homes and engage in their communities.

“People with disabilities are scared our rights are being denied,” Heaphy said. “We’re scared they’ll take away everything that enables us to exist in society. ... We’re afraid of going back to a pre-Medicaid time when people with disabilities

were kept in institutions or locked in their homes or dying.”

Political pain

Save My Care, a health care advocacy group opposed to the Trumpcare bill, this week fueled more than $500,000 into launching a TV and digital ad campaign to lambaste the 24 House Republicans who voted to pass the bill. The ads will run in the representatives’ districts and include statements such as, “[Arizona Congresswoman Martha] McSally voted to raise your costs and cut coverage for millions, to let insurance companies deny affordable coverage for cancer treatment and maternity care, and charge up to five times more for people over 50.”

In response to the House vote, the Democratic online fundraising platform ActBlue established a fund

to receive donations that will go to support yet-to-emerge 2018 Democratic challengers in districts represented by congress members who voted for the bill. ActBlue will hold the funds in escrow and then release them to the candidates who emerge from the Democratic primaries for use in their campaigns.

Many politicians have spoken out, including Gov. Charlie Baker, who said the House Republican plan would produce “a massive loss of critical funds for the commonwealth.”

While Massachusetts’ senators oppose ACA repeal, Health Care for All’s Rosman and Robert Restuccia of Community Catalyst called upon residents to call friends and family in other states and urge them to turn out for town halls and contact their senators.

38th Annual Fundraiser honoring: Paul Goodnight esteemed artist

&

John Jenkins, CEO West Insurance

celebrating the power of creative expression and the art of building resilient communities june 8, 2017 • 5PM-8PM at museum of the national center of afro-american artists 300 walnut avenue, roxbury

tickets at: artofcommunity.eventbrite.com

10 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

BUSINESSNEWS

www.baystatebanner.com

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

BIZ BITS TIP OF THE WEEK Don’t be confused

by TV technology The technology in our TV sets has changed a lot in the past decade. When it comes time to buy one, it’s easy to lose track of which features matter for a good TV-watching experience.

You might find a TV at a tempting price, but you don’t want to end up wasting money on a picture that blurs at the height of the action, looks distorted from side angles or doesn’t support the latest technology. At the same time, does the expensive model and its alphabet soup of features really give you a better picture for the price?

Since your TV set is a major source of entertainment for you and your family, it’s important to know what to look for before you start shopping.

Screen type: OLED or LCD? For starters, there are only two kinds of TV panel technologies available right now: OLED (pronounced “oh-led”) and LCD. Many experts who have performed detailed technical reviews have deemed OLED the best TV tech ever made.

Combined with rave reviews and its superslim design, this tech is worth paying a bit more in price. Unlike OLED, LCD (liquid crystal display) requires a backlight to make the picture. Most of today’s LCD sets use LED lighting. LCD can create a bright, colorful picture but black levels will not be as dark as OLED, and some details can be lost in the shadows.

Brighter, more colorful picture.

One big improvement in recent years has been the expansion of color capabilities in TVs. Nano cell and quantum dot technology, for example, are designed primarily to deliver a bigger spectrum of color than conventional LCD sets, creating more realistic-looking pictures.

Viewing angles are important.

Research shows that only about 10 percent of TV viewers sit directly in front of the TV, so viewing angle is extremely important. Moving even by as little as 10-15 degrees can make colors look washed out and black levels will start to degrade.

Sharper resolution. The more pixels you have, the better the image quality. If you picked up on the buzz about 4K “Ultra HD,” you know these TVs have more than 8 million pixels and display sharper, more lifelike images. Be sure the set you’re looking at has 4K resolution and supports HDR; otherwise you will be missing out on what’s quickly becoming the gold standard in TV features.

— Brandpoint

THE LIST According to Forbes, America’s top 10 public companies in 2017 are: 1. Berkshire Hathaway (Investment services) 2. Apple (Computer hardware) 3. JP Morgan Chase (Bank) 4. Wells Fargo (Bank) 5. Bank of America (Bank) 6. AT&T (Telecommunications services) 7. ExxonMobil (Oil and gas operations) 8. General Electric (Conglomerates) 9. Wal-Mart (Discount stores) 10. Microsoft (Software and programming)

TECH TALK YouTube users can preview new interface Starting this week, YouTube users have the ability to test out the company’s See BIZ BITS, page 11

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF SAVVOR

Savvor, open since 2014, specializes in traditional dishes of the American South, including chicken and waffles, and Caribbean-influenced favorites such as plantains and fried whole fish. The bar features Savvor’s seasonal house-infused rum and specialty cocktails.

Savoring entrepreneurship Savvor serves up Southern and island comfort in Leather District

By SANDRA LARSON

When Eddy Firmin was ready to start his own restaurant after spending years in the corporate world and as a restaurant coowner, he created the kind of place he would want to go to.

“This is me,” he says, sitting recently in the dining room of Savvor, the restaurant and lounge he opened in downtown Boston in 2014. “It’s stuff I like to eat — good food, nothing crazy. Our recipes come from all over — from my mother, from family members, borrowed from a lot of places.”

The menu at Savvor combines two types of food Firmin favors: the island flavors of the Caribbean and the comfort food of the American South. Customers craving Caribbean might choose the fried whole fish with escovitch salad, coconut curry stew or oxtail; those looking for southern soul will find it in dishes like chicken and waffles, gumbo, crawfish hushpuppies and mac and cheese.

A dream grows

Firmin’s family came to the U.S. from Haiti when he was 10, and he grew up in Dorchester. As the oldest of four siblings and as witness to his parents holding multiple jobs to support the family, he learned about hard work and taking responsibility, he says.

Though soccer was the sport he knew best, he set out to master basketball after learning that it could lead to a college scholarship. His method paid off. He won a scholarship to UMass-Amherst.

“

I like that you plant a seed, you wait for it to grow, and you have to nurture it while it’s fragile.

The journey is what drives me, watching the seed growing into something.”

— Eddy Firmin

ON THE WEB Savvor restaurant and lounge is at 180 Lincoln St., Boston.

For more information and to make reservations, visit: www.savvorbostonlounge.com.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAVVOR

Savvor owner Eddy Firmin Armed with a degree in economics, he entered the world of banking and finance, working for State Street Bank and then Arthur Andersen consulting.

All the while, the entrepreneurial bug kept him thinking about having his own business one day. His first taste of this was as co-owner and managing partner of the Blue Wave restaurant and lounge in Boston’s Fort Point Channel neighborhood.

When Blue Wave, which specialized in casual Italian-American and pub fare, closed its doors in 2011, he decided it was time to create an establishment that would reflect his own tastes.

His vision turned into Savvor, a welcoming “one-stop shop” for many types of people, he says, describing it as a “restaurant-slashlounge with great food, a great bar, a great drink list and a lounge with cool music.”

It took nearly two years to open the new restaurant — between choosing a space, putting a business plan together, finding

financing and going through the licensing process. The fact that he’d been in the business consulting industry and had a decade of restaurant co-ownership experience gave Firmin some leverage.

But even so, eight banks said No, he recalls, before he finally secured a business loan. On the positive side, the Leather District location he found had been a nightclub previously and he was able to buy the existing liquor license.

Finally, everything came together. The lease was signed in fall of 2013 and Savvor opened its doors in February 2014 downtown at 180 Lincoln Street, a short walk from South Station.

A versatile space

With 2,000 square feet, the high-ceilinged 145-seat restaurant contains a main dining area and a smaller room that can be reserved for more intimate parties. A large lounge area contains two bars, banquette seating, a sound set-up for live music and DJs, and room for dancing.

Savvor draws a diverse range of customers on any given night, Firmin says.

“It varies. We have a 70th birthday party scheduled soon. We’ll have younger people who don’t show up until 11 o’clock. All kinds of people feel comfortable here,” he says. Downtown-area professionals will pop in for a post-work cocktails or dinner. Others come in for dinner dates, nights out with friends, or family celebrations.

Music lovers stick around for live music or DJ-spun tunes in the lounge, open until 2 a.m. Dinner is served until 10 (10:30 on Saturdays), with a smaller late-night menu offered until midnight.

Success has not been a straight line. Firmin and his staff went “back to the drawing board” a few times to adjust the menu when dishes they thought would be great didn’t hit the target with the typical customer. A chicken and quail dish was

See SAVVOR, page 11

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11

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Savvor

continued from page 10 simplified to chicken and waffles, for instance. Little by little, they distilled their ideas into a menu that Firmin believes hits the mark in being simple, authentic, made from scratch and tasty, at a reasonable price. (Entrees range from $15 to $24, and side dishes from $4 to $8.)

The name, pronounced “Sayvor,” is meant to bring to mind the concept of savoring the food, the moment and the atmosphere, in different languages — savor, sabor, saveur. The double-V turns the name itself into a conversation-starter.

Savvor has 12 employees, most working part time. Firmin has two cousins as business partners, but he functions as the “face” of the business. He estimates he is at Savvor 95 percent of its open hours. Most nights he is shaking hands and chatting with diners and performing tasks from serving drinks at the bar to answering

the phone and busing tables. General Manager Courtney McCall, who previously managed at Boston Harbor Hotel and No. 9 Park, has been on the Savvor team from the start.

Firmin feels the business provides opportunities for the community, with monthly art exhibits showcasing the work of local artists, and the live music offering exposure to up-and-coming local musicians. Future goals include continuing to grow the business and being recognized as a welcoming place with high-quality food, and eventually being able to open additional locations.

After three years, owner Firmin is by no means feeling settled or bored. Hard work and long hours notwithstanding, he continues to savor the satisfaction of business ownership.

“I like that you plant a seed, you wait for it to grow, and you have to nurture it while it’s fragile,” he says. “The journey is what drives me, watching the seed growing into something.”

Biz Bits

comments section has also been updated.

You Tube hasn’t announced a roll out date for the new interface design.

new user interface. Although YouTube is still working on the new site, users can opt into the preview of the new design.

Visual changes include the desktop UI is now draped in white across the page with less red. The new design also includes getting red of the side bar where users can subscribe to channels and your history. The

NUMBER TO KNOW

continued from page 10

$4.2

billion: U.S. airline passengers paid $4.2 billion in baggage fees in 2016, a 10 percent increase from 2015, according to the Department of Transportation.

— More Content Now

Stocking Jamaica Pond

PHOTO: ALASTAIR PIKE, OFFICE OF GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER

City Councilor Matt O’Malley joined Governor Charlie Baker, state officials and students from Mary Curley Elementary and Middle School to help the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife stock Jamaica Pond in Boston with trout.

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Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council Join us in supporting supplier diversity and minority business development.

Certify. Develop. Connect. Advocate.

For more than 42 years, GNEMSDC and our predecessor organizations have provided opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to grow and prosper by selling goods and services to our corporate members, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and other MBEs.

July 28, 2017 Supplier Diversity Golf Classic Stow Acres Country Club, Stow, MA

September 27, 2017 Business Opportunity Conference & Expo Gillette Stadium Putnam Club One Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA Keynote Luncheon Speaker: Quincy Miller, President of Eastern Bank

To sponsor or purchase tickets, go to events@gnemsdc.org or call 617-578-8900, ext. 314.

For information on how to certify your MBE, contact Denise Massingale-Lamb at dmlamb@gnemsdc.org, 203-288-9744, ext. 111.

GNEMSDC Offices:

Massachusetts 101 Huntington Avenue, 17th Floor Boston, MA 02199 617-578-8900

Connecticut 333 State Street Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-288-9744

Visit our website: www.gnemsdc.org

12 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

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‘Daddy’ Warbucks on truth in acting

John Wilson’s preliminary study of Gabrielle.

Gilgamesh Taggett stars in ‘Annie’

By COLETTE GREENSTEIN

HEADSTRONG EXHIBIT OFFERS A SNEAK PEEK INTO JOHN WILSON’S CREATIVE PROCESS

By CELINA COLBY

A

n intimate, informative retrospective of John Wilson’s sculptures and drawings opened at Martha Richardson Fine Art in Boston on May 4. The artist is known for his large-scale bronzes of African American heads, including “Eternal Presence” on the lawn of the National Center for Afro-American Artists in Roxbury. This latest exhibit of his work reveals both Wilson’s creative process and his deep devotion to the black body.

Wilson conceived his famous head sculptures in the 1970s, well before the commissions came rolling in.

Inspired by Buddha sculptures in the Museum of Fine Arts

where he studied, he envisioned a monumental piece that would speak to the African-American community in Boston. His sculptures are bold, proud declarations of love for African heritage and traditions.

Passion and persistence

Behind the gallery desk sits “Gabrielle”, a bronze bust of a woman with natural curls and a fearless expression. Accompanied by “Gabrielle No. 8,” a charcoal sketch, the bust radiates the energy of a warrior. Wilson’s earliest head pieces were of his daughter’s friend Roz, and in the current show, “Roz No. 10” is one of the only pieces in color.

These images of women hold a particular poignancy. While Wilson’s head of Martin Luther King, Jr. is stoic and reverent, the female busts convey passion and persistence, the feelings that must have driven Wilson throughout his career.

The preparatory sketches are dynamic works in their own right. Wilson’s expert use of tones and shade create a sculptural depth in the drawings that elevates them

A natural-born performer since he was a child growing up in Caro, Michigan, Gilgamesh Taggett channeled his love for the arts into a career as an actor. His path to the theater stage wasn’t a straight line, however.

Along the way, Taggett dabbled in wildly varying lines of work, including chef, juggler and fire-eater, wedding and club DJ, web designer, singer, director and comic book artist. In addition, he traveled across the U.S. and Europe to pursue his passion and love for storytelling.

“I really think it’s the path that life teaches you that prepares you for what you’re going to do,” the actor says, speaking recently about landing his first national tour in 2014.

At the age of 45, Taggett was cast as Oliver Warbucks in the national touring production of the musical “Annie,” and it was worth the wait, he says. “I think I’m in a place in my life where I can appreciate it properly,” says the actor.

Truth in acting

IMAGES: COURTESY MARTHA RICHARDSON FINE ART

Above: Preliminary study of MLK maquette Below: Gabrielle in bronze well above mere brainstorming. “Roz,” a black pastel and charcoal work from 1973, shows the young woman from behind, her feet firmly planted, her hands on her hips.

Her head is turned to the side, displaying the profile that spawned a thousand brushstrokes.

Some of the sketches are site-specific visions of Wilson’s sculptures. “Martin Luther King, Jr. Park,” a black crayon drawing, depicts a lone man confronting the large head in a barren, wintry park.

A longtime admirer of Wilson’s art, Richardson began working with the artist in 2010. Despite Wilson’s passing in 2015, the gallerist remains close with his family.

This tight bond with the artist allows her to curate his work not just as an art expert, but also as a friend. The gallery will display Wilson’s works through June, 2017.

ON THE WEB For more information about the John Wilson exhibit at Martha Richardson Fine Art, visit: http://martharichard-

sonfineart.com/exhibition/

Three years after taking on “Daddy” Warbucks, Taggett finds himself entrenched in the role.

“What I really enjoy about playing Oliver is that he’s a human being. He’s a mensch. [But] not at the beginning of the show — he becomes one. He’s not a bad person. He’s just reacted to the situation of his life; the only way that he could,” explains Taggett.

The lifelong performer has long believed that the best acting is honest and truthful. “These are words that are bandied about and spoken about quite often,” he says, “but I don’t think people really understand what they mean. Putting on airs and affectations and all these things are what people think are tricks of the trade, and it can be really hard. It’s finding the truth of the

See ‘ANNIE,’ page 14

ON THE WEB The Boch Center and The Madison Square Garden Company present the U.S. National Tour of “Annie,” now in its third smash year,

at the Boch Center Wang Theatre May 9-21, 2017. For tickets and information, visit: www.anniethemusical.com.

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

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‘Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train’ Praxis Stage delivers sharp play on incarceration

By CELINA COLBY

The Praxis Stage production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” is certainly a timely choice. The show, playing at the Dorchester Arts Project, centers on Angel Cruz, a Puerto Rican man on trial for the murder of a cult-leading Korean minister. A devout serial killer, his unstable lawyer and two prison guards with radically different approaches to the job test Cruz’s faith and fate. Much like our current criminal justice system, the play exposes issues but doesn’t necessarily resolve them.

From the start, the show sets the audience up to question the rigid moral lines of right and wrong. Danny Mourino’s Cruz is sympathetic and sharp as he explains that he shot the cult leader in an attempt to rescue his best friend from the cult, not with the

intent to kill. Daniel Williams’s Lucius openly admits to murdering at least eight people, and enjoying it, but his eloquent speech and unwavering devotion doesn’t fit his crimes.

The show does bring to the forefront the flaws in the United States’ incarceration program. While the violent guard Valdez is brutally hostile to the prisoners, wishing to torture them, Daniel Boudreau’s character DiAmico bonds too much with Lucius, bringing him gifts and chatting like old friends.

Heaviness and humor

The unchained characters, Dawn Davis as public defender Mary Jane Hanrahan, and Harry Garo as Valdez, seem to be even more damaged than the prisoners. Hanrahan makes some onthe-nose points about the justice system, but has almost too little regard for the field she’s worked her whole life in. “The law is fallible, the truth will not set you free and in the court room lawful justice is an oxymoron,” she says.

“Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” perfectly balances humor and drama, keeping the heavy subject matter and tense script engaging. The show opens on Cruz attempting to

CONCERT: THE MAKANDA PROJECT

Saturday, May 20, 7 p.m.

Free to the public

PHOTO: COURTESY PRAXIS STAGE

Stephen Adly Guirgis’ “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” deals with the moral ambiguities of the U.S. prison system. pray in his jail cell. Clearly out of practice, he stumbles, “Our Father who art in heaven — Howard be thy name?” The faith theme, though dominant, isn’t overpowering. But as with the justice commentary, the show brings forth these themes without making a clear statement about them.

Though the text is too unfocused to be conclusive, the performance is highly watchable.

The cast, particularly Mourino and Williams, performs impeccably, creating dynamic, layered characters. Lucius provides an eerie and at times logical voice, constantly begging the question, What is real? Cruz is torn between youth and adulthood, faith and nihilism and prison and freedom.

And statement or no statement, we can’t wait to see which side he ends up on.

ON THE WEB For more information and to purchase tickets for “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train,” visit: www.eventbrite.

com/e/jesus-hopped-the-a-train-tickets33358126053 For more information about Praxis Stage, visit: www.facebook.com/

praxis.stage

GET READY , ‘CAUSE HERE WE COME.

Featured Soloist:

Oliver Lake

Kurtis Rivers, Oliver Lake, Arni Cheatham, Sean Berry, Charlie Kohlhase – saxophone Jerry Sabatini, Phil Grenadier – trumpet Bill Lowe, Sarah Politz, Alfred Patterson – trombone John Kordalewski – piano

Featuring Dessert Bar for Friends of Dudley Library Memorial Scholarship

“MORE THAN A BROADWAY SHOW. A celebration of music that transformed America!”

— CBS Sunday Morning

Presented by VISIONS Supported by the Fellowes Fund of The Boston Public Library; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture

MAY 23 - 28

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RAYMOND LUKE JR. PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS. ALL OTHER PHOTOS BY ANDREW ECCLES.

Live Painting sponsored by MassArt’s sparc! the ArtMobile

Motown® is a registered trademark of UMG.

Carlos Pino – bass Yoron Israel – drums

MOTOWN IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF UMG RECORDINGS, INC

For P3 & P4 seats (Tue/Wed/Thu/Sun evening)

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14 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

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SEP 6 - 24

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THE 7 FINGERS :: MONTREAL

The mind-blowing circus troupe returns to Boston!

SEP 27 - OCT 1

HOME

GEOFF SOBELLE :: PHILADELPHIA

A magical house party of the greatest proportion.

OCT 26 - NOV 19

KISS

GUILLERMO CALDERÓN :: CHILE

What you don’t know can hurt you.

NOV 9 - 11

THE STATE OF SIEGE

THÉÂTRE DE LA VILLE :: FRANCE

Stand up to the face of fear.

DEC 19 - 20

BANGSOKOL: A REQUIEM FOR CAMBODIA

RITHY PANH AND HIM SOPHY :: CAMBODIA

Survivors of the Khmer Rouge collaborate on a stunning musical experience.

JAN 24 - 28

IN THE ERUPTIVE MODE

SULAYMAN AL-BASSAM THEATRE :: KUWAIT

These are voices of the Arab Spring.

PHOTO: JOAN MARCUS

Issie Swickle (Annie) on the left; Gilgamesh Taggett (Oliver Warbucks) in center; and Ashley Edler (Grace) on the right.

FEB 14 - 17

TORREY PINES

CLYDE PETERSEN :: SEATTLE

A queer coming-of-age story comes into hallucinogenic focus.

continued from page 12

FEB 28 - MAR 4

ADA/AVA

MANUAL CINEMA :: CHICAGO

The quiet lives of twins unfold a magical, silhouetted world.

MAR 7 - 25

HAMLET / SAINT JOAN

BEDLAM :: NYC

He’s the prince. She’s the rebel.

TBA

THE WHITE CARD

CLAUDIA RANKINE :: BOSTON

From the author of Citizen comes a new play exploring the state of our racial imagination.

MAY 3 - 6

THE MIGRATION:

REFLECTIONS ON JACOB LAWRENCE

STEP AFRIKA! :: WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Great Migration brought to life through an explosion of dance, drums and canvas.

MAY 30 - JUN 3

COLD BLOOD

MICHÈLE ANNE DE MEY AND JACO VAN DORMAEL :: BELGIUM

A delightful new enchantment of stagecraft and cinema from the makers of Kiss & Cry.

OPTIONAL ADD-ON EVENT:

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GARDENS SPEAK

TANIA EL KHOURY :: SYRIA

Put your ear to the ground.Those who resist are not forgotten.

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‘Annie’

character and being unafraid of it, embracing that truth regardless of how frightening it may be.”

“Annie,” which marks its 40th anniversary this year, is directed

by Martin Charnin (the original lyricist and director) for the

19th time, with this production of the musical being a brandnew incarnation of the Tony Award-winning original.

Eternal themes

Despite taking place during the Great Depression, the beloved musical continues to resonate with audiences today, says Taggett, “because the story is

truthful. It is honest.” He believes that “Annie” is not just a story about a “little red-haired girl who meets a billionaire and lives happily ever after.” For Taggett it’s much more than that. It’s about hope and optimism and never giving up, always fighting. “Those themes are immortal,” he says.

“They’ll always exist and everybody can connect to that.”

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15

A&E

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15

ONLINE: BAYSTATEBANNER.COM/NEWS/ENTERTAINMENT

‘29 Who Shine’ honorees

PHOTO: ALASTAIR PIKE, OFFICE OF GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER

Public college and university students chosen as this year’s “29 Who Shine” honorees for their civic leadership and academic achievements were celebrated at the State House by Governor Charlie Baker, Education Secretary James Peyser, Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago and University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan.

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Obama accepts Profile In Courage Award

1

2

4

Local luminaries turned out the the John F. Kennedy Library in Dorchester as former President Barack Obama accepted the library’s Profile In Courage Award. Obama spoke pointedly about the Trump administration and congressional Republicans who voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. “I hope that current members of Congress recall that it actually doesn’t take a lot of courage to aid those who are already powerful, already comfortable, already influential,” Obama told the crowd. “But it does require some courage to champion the vulnerable and the sick and the infirm — those who often have no access to the corridors of power.”

3

5

6 PHOTOS: DON WEST

1: Eastern Bank CEO Quincy Miller; 2: Rev. Gloria Hammond, Wellesley College President Paula Johnson; 3: Former Gov. Deval Patrick and wife Diane Patrick; 4: State Senator Linda Dorcena-Forry with Senate President Stan Rosenberg; 5: Keith Motley; 6: Senator Elizabeth Warren

16 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

FOOD

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

Making yolks

TIP OF THE WEEK Turn frozen meals into a balanced, healthy option Daily meal planning doesn’t have to be a chore if you turn to your freezer for a little help. In fact, starting with frozen prepared foods as the foundation of your dinner plate and adding side dishes with fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and/or low-fat dairy can make it possible to serve a balanced meal that is quick and tasty.

For best results, fresh eggs need a little care

HEALTHY EATING The magic of kale PHOTOPIN

By ARI LEVAUX, MORE CONTENT NOW

W

e egg snobs have it good in spring.

Whether we get our eggs from a winter market, a farmer friend, a hen-ranching neighbor or one’s own backyard flock, we get them fresh.

Freshly laid eggs will elevate any egg-based dish, but the best way to appreciate a quality egg is going to be the simplest. For me, it’s all about the yolk, so I take mine soft-boiled.

Whites can be useful in places, beaten stiff into meringue or made into various foams. And the combination of white and yolk in scrambled eggs is a thing of perfection. But a choice between eating yolk or white is about has hard has choosing between sun and clouds. Turning one’s back on yolk is like bailing on the possibility of a thrilling life, and choosing the safe road.

To the fictional Padre Xantes, from Peter Matthiessen’s “At Play in the Fields of the Lord,” his daily egg yolk was a temporary reprieve from the pious life he had chosen.

Padre Xantes kept a special spoon that he used to open his daily soft-boiled egg, “ ... taking great pains, for the egg was so little cooked that its white was scarcely clouded.”

Carefully with his tongue, Padre Xantes would work the flaccid sphere to the back of his mouth, and then try to relax for a moment, “... until, unable to restrain himself a moment longer, he clamped it savagely twixt tongue and palate, uttering as he did so a tiny squeak of pleasure; the yolk exploded in abandon, mounting deliriously toward his sinuses, then sliding past the roots of his tongue into his throat.”

The first time I read this passage I considered quitting reading fiction right there, and retiring at the top. Today, knowing what I know, how tragic it seems that Padre Xantes wasn’t stationed in the Far East.

Many Asian cultures have a way with

ARI LEVAUX PHOTO

Eggs cooked with a Japanese-style marinade. barely cooked egg yolks, and enough tricks to keep Padre Xantes perspiring through centuries in Purgatory. Today, I will discuss how to soft-boil eggs with the brightest, most custardy, molten creamy yolks inside, and float them in a dark umami marinade.

The trick to peeling Fresh eggs, as usual, are preferable for this job, but in this case they do have a liability: When boiled, they are impossible to peel.

The shell breaks into little pieces that stick to the white, pulling chunks of fleshy albumen and leaving a pockmarked moonscape.

This happens because a young, muscular albumen will cling to the shell’s inner membrane, while a watery old egg white, weakened by acid from dissolved carbon dioxide, has no grip.

That’s why fresh egg whites, cracked into a hot pan, will hold a three-dimensional shape, while an old, watery egg will scatter in a thin film.

There is a fix for this predicament, a process in which all chicken keepers and their associates should be drilled. Literally, you drill a little hole, by twisting a thumbtack or small finish nail between your fingers (or with a real drill), into the wide end of the egg where

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there’s an air pocket between the shell and the sac that holds the yolk. As long as you don’t go more than an 1⁄8-inch past the edge of the shell, you won’t poke the inner membrane.

Take your newly drilled fresh eggs, or your non-drilled old eggs (at least three weeks old), and carefully place them into a pot of boiling water for six minutes. Immediately transfer them into a bowl of ice water for five minutes. Peel them in water, carefully, as the eggs will be soft beneath the shell.

Mmm, umami If you’ve ever had a fancy bowl of ramen noodle soup with a half-cooked egg inside, that’s kind of what we are going for. The dark marinade stains the outside of the egg white, while the inner part of the white remains bright white, and the yolk stays golden and gooey.

Here are my two favorite marinades: n Japanese-style: Three tablespoons soy sauce, pinch each garlic powder and black pepper, ¾ cup of water. Optional and recommended: 1 tablespoon dried bonito (fish) flakes; 1 sheet of nori, crumbled into little pieces; a few drops of sesame oil. n The Chinese-style marinade that makes me squeak like Padre Xantes: 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon each bean sauce and hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 cup water. Bring briefly to a boil and then let cool.

In your marinade of choice, submerge the eggs for at least six hours, in a plastic bag or a cup. Eat plain, or on hot rice.

You can also gussy up your soft-boiled egg Italian-style, with truffle oil and shavings of hard cheese.

Or with less flourish, Padre Xantes-style, with just a pinch of salt.

Ari LeVaux can be reached at flash@flashinthepan.net.

SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM PG 17

Kale has become one of the most popular vegetables on the block. For many, this leafy green veggie puts the “super” into superfood. Here are a few reasons why you should add more kale to your diet: n Kale has been shown to reduce cholesterol, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. n Loaded with antioxidants, kale can help protect against various kinds of cancers. n The omega-3 fatty acids in kale can help in the fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

WHOLE GRAINS Ways to incorporate whole grains into your diet Are you looking to add more whole grains into your diet? Perhaps you just want some new ideas on how to incorporate whole grains into your favorite recipes. Here are some ideas from the Whole Grains Council: n Switch half the white flour to whole wheat flour in your regular recipes for cookies, muffins, quick breads and pancakes. n Replace one-third of the flour in a recipe with quick oats or old-fashioned oats. n Add three-quarters of a cup of uncooked oats for each pound of ground beef or turkey when you make meatballs, burgers or meatloaf.

HEALTH EATING Nutty peanut butter facts Whether it’s on a sandwich, in a dessert or on a piece of celery, peanut butter is a favorite among young and old. Here are some facts about peanut butter from the National Peanut Board. n It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter. n By law, any product labeled “peanut butter” in the United States must be at least 90 percent peanuts. n According to Little Brownie Bakers, cookie bakers use about 230,000 pounds of peanut butter per week to bake Do-si-dos and Tagalongs.

— Brandpoint

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17

Fairmount continued from page 1

the number of riders who get off before arriving downtown.

But all parties agree that ridership on the line is far lower than it could be.

Starts and stops

The Fairmount Line is the only non-rapid transit line that is entirely within the city of Boston, running from the Readville section of Hyde Park to South Station, with newly finished stops in Dorchester and the Newmarket business district and construction on a Mattapan Square stop due to begin within a month. The line cuts through a swath of Boston that has historically been underserved by rapid transit with the Red Line to the east and the Orange Line to the west. The buses that traverse those areas of Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park are often crowded, bogged down in street traffic and behind schedule.

The new stops on the Fairmount Line were constructed as part of an agreement with the Conservation Law Foundation to mitigate the environmental impacts of the Big Dig highway construction project. For years the line ran through the predominantly black neighborhoods in Dorchester and Mattapan, but stopped only at Morton Street and Dudley Street.

During the administration of Governor Deval Patrick, advocates pushed for a fully-functioning rapid transit line with trains that run at intervals similar to Red Line or Orange Line trains and fares on par with those of other subway lines, which MBTA officials agreed would be called the Indigo Line. Because commuter rail trains are longer than subway

BANNER PHOTO

Members of the Fairmount Indigo Transit Coalition, MBTA and Keolis representatives and elected officials announce two weeks of free fares during a Monday press conference. cars and typically go farther between stops, they aren’t well suited for rapid transit use. The Patrick administration committed $200 million for the purchase of smaller train sets that could accelerate and brake more quickly between stations. But the administration of Governor Charlie Baker withdrew that commitment.

Access to opportunity

Currently, trains on the Fairmount Line run every 40 minutes at peak commute times and at one hour intervals at off-peak times.

Local activists who are pushing for the Fairmount Line to become rapid transit say the infrequency of

FUN&GAMES SUDOKU: SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 16

service deters ridership.

“It’s not going to be a total success until we get the vision to come to fruition,” said Mela Miles, a member of the Fairmount Coalition. “That vision is a hybrid rapid transit service. We’re not just commuters. We need it to live, work and worship. We need it to be the Indigo Line.”

Susan Sullivan, executive director of the Newmarket Business Association, noted that there are 255 businesses within walking distance of the line’s station at Massachusetts Avenue and another 150 in Readville.

“What this line represents is access to opportunity, which is

everything,” said state Rep. Dan Cullinane. “We all share a collective hope that rapid transit is in this line’s future.”

More reliable

As commuters gathered on the Morton Street platform waiting for the 8:50 train Monday, Capuano and the assembly of activists and officials paused to talk to reporters about the line. Keolis Commuter Services President Gerald Francis stressed that reliability problems that plagued the line last year are no longer a factor, noting that 97 percent of the Fairmount trains are on time.

“Our mantra is ‘Think like a

passenger,’” he said. “Each time you get in a seat, we’re getting in a seat with you.”

On the train, Francis chatted with passengers en route to South Station.

Capuano has advocated for protection and expansion of public transportation, including the Green Line expansion into Somerville. He said his advocacy for the Fairmount Line and his investment of more than $50,000 in funds from his campaign account are an extension of that advocacy.

“Changing old habits sometimes costs a little extra,” he said.

“It helps the environment. It helps my constituents.”

18 • Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER

Advertise in

For more information, call 617-261-4600 x7799 or email ads@bannerpub.com

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL Advertisement for Bid

The Brookline Housing Authority, the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from General Contractors for the Courtyard Wall Replacement at Egmont Street Development, DHCD #046071 in Brookline, Massachusetts, in accordance with the documents prepared by BSC Group.

The Project consists of: The removal and replacement of an on-site freestanding brick wall with concrete cap and foundation and associated site work at Egmont Street Development for the Brookline Housing Authority.

The work is estimated to cost $57,000.

Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.30§39 & to minimum wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.l49 §§26 to 27H inclusive.

This project is funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provided by the Town of Brookline through the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and is subject to all provisions and regulations issued pursuant to this Act. THIS PROJECT IS BEING ELECTRONICALLY BID AND HARD COPY BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please review the instructions in the bid documents on how to register as an electronic bidder. The bids are to be prepared and submitted at www.biddocsonline.com . Tutorials and instructions on how to complete the electronic bid documents are available online (click on the “Tutorial” tab at the bottom footer).

General Bids will be received until 2:00 PM on Thursday, 1 June 2017 and publicly opened online, forthwith.

All Bids should be submitted online at www.biddocsonline.com and received no later than the date and time specified above.

LEGAL and conditions of Massport’s standard work order agreement, a copy of the Authority’s standard agreement can be found on the Authority’s web page at www.massport.com. Consultant shall specify in its cover letter that it has the ability to obtain requisite insurance coverage.

the requirements of Appendix 3, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Participation Provision, Bidders must submit an assurance with their Bids that they will make sufficient and reasonable efforts to meet the stated DBE goal of 14 percent of the contract value.

This submission, including the litigation and legal proceedings history in a separate sealed envelope as required shall be addressed to Houssam H. Sleiman, PE, CCM, Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs and received no later than 12:00 Noon on July 13, 2017 the Massachusetts Port Authority, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, Suite 209S, Logan International Airport, East Boston, MA 02128-2909. Any submission which is not received in a timely manner shall be rejected by the Authority as non-responsive. Any information provided to the Authority in any Proposal or other written or oral communication between the Proposer and the Authority will not be, or deemed to have been, proprietary or confidential, although the Authority will use reasonable efforts not to disclose such information to persons who are not employees or consultants retained by the Authority except as may be required by M.G.L. c.66.

Bidders will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this solicitation, minority and female construction contractors will be afforded full opportunity to submit Bids and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin in consideration for an award.

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS - CLASSIFIED LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE DIVISION OF CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE 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.

General bids and sub-bids shall be accompanied by a bid deposit that is not less than five (5%) of the greatest possible bid amount (considering all alternates), and made payable to the Brookline Housing Authority.

Sub-Bids at 12:00 Noon: June 1, 2017

Bid Forms and Contract Documents will be available for pick-up at www.bid docsonline.com (may be viewed electronically and hardcopy requested) or at Nashoba Blue, Inc. at 433 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749 (978-568-1167).

Every Filed Sub-Bidder must be certified by DCAMM in the category for which they bid. 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.

There is a plan deposit of $25.00 per set (maximum of 2 sets) payable to BidDocs ONLINE Inc. Plan deposits may be electronically paid or by check. This deposit will be refunded for up to two sets for general bidders and for one set for sub-bidders upon return of the sets in good condition within thirty (30) days of receipt of general bids. Otherwise the deposit shall be the property of the Awarding Authority.

General Bids at 2:00 PM: June 9, 2017

The Category of Work is: General Building Construction Mass. State Project No. CHE1501 Contract No. HC1 Chelsea Soldiers’ Home – Envelope Repair Chelsea, MA

Bidders requesting Contract Documents to be mailed to them shall include a separate check for $ 40.00 per set for UPS Ground (or $65.00 per set for UPS overnight), non- refundable, payable to the BidDocs ONLINE Inc., to cover mail handling costs.

This project is scheduled for 180 calendar days to substantial completion.

Scope:

PRE-BID CONFERENCE / SITE VISIT: Date and Time: Wednesday, 17 May 2017 at 2:00 PM Address: 55 Egmont Street, Brookline, MA Instructions: Any questions regarding the Contract Documents should be directed to BSC Group at 617-896-4368 or cthomas@bscgroup.com

A Pre-Bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 @ 10:00 AM at the Sargent Building, across from Sullivan Building on Crest Ave.

Brookline Housing Authority 90 Longwood Avenue Brookline, MA 02446 617-277-2022

This project includes masonry repair and roofing at eight buildings.

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. 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.

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

Nashoba Blue Inc. 433 Main Street Hudson, MA 01749 978-568-1167 LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS The MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY (Authority) is soliciting consulting services for MPA CONTRACT NO. L1540 D1 – Piers Park Phase II, East Boston, Massachusetts. The Authority is seeking qualified multidiscipline consulting firm or team, with proven experience to provide professional services in several disciplines including but not limited to Civil, Waterfront Structural Design, Geotechnical, Community Participation, Environmental, Permitting, Landscaping Architectural, Building Architectural, Building Structural/Mechanical/Electrical HVAC/Fire Protection, Cost Estimating.

Services to be provided include permitting, preliminary design, final design, community engagement, bid phase and construction phase services and resident engineering services.

The Consultant must be able to work closely with the Authority, the East Boston Project Advisory Committee (Piers PAC)and other interested parties in order to provide such services in a timely and effective manner.

The contract will be work order based, and Consultant’s fee for each work order shall be negotiated; however, the total fee for the contract shall not exceed $1,500,000.

A Supplemental Information Package will be available, on May 10, 2017 on the Capital Bid Opportunities webpage of Massport http://www.massport. com/doing-business/_layouts/CapitalPrograms/default.aspx as an attachment to the original Legal Notice, and on COMMBUYS (www.commbuys.com) in the listings for this project. If you have problems finding it, please contact Susan Brace at Capital Programs SBrace@massport.com The Supplemental Information Package will provide detailed information about Scope Of Work, Selection Criteria and Submission Requirements.

In recognition of the unique nature of the project and the services required to support it, the Authority has scheduled a Consultant Briefing to be held at 2 PM on May 16, 2017 in the Bid Room at the Capital Programs Department, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128. At this session, an overview of the project will be provided, the services requested by the Authority will be described, and questions will be answered.

By responding to this solicitation, consultants agree to accept the terms

On behalf of the MBTA, thank you for your time and interest in responding to this Notice to Bidders Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Brian Shortsleeve Chief Administrator and Acting General Manager of the MBTA May 8, 2017 INVITATION TO BID The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: BID NO.

DESCRIPTION

DATE

WRA-4385

Supply and Delivery of 468,000 05/22/17 Gallons of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel

12:00 p.m.

WRA-4376

Purchase of HP Pagewide XL 5000 40 inch Multifunction Printer with High-Capacity Stacker and Postscript

05/22/17

2:00 p.m.

OP-348

Fire Protection Sprinkler System Service

06/06/17

2:00 p.m.

Carol W. Gladstone COMMISSIONER

TIME

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

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

E.C.C: $2,576,190

The Contract Documents may be seen, but not removed at:

Additional information and instructions on how to submit a bid are available at http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/ current_solicitations/

And the following Filed Sub-Bids: Masonry; Waterproofing, Dampproofing & Caulking; Roofing

Additional sets may be purchased for $25.00

SITE VISIT BY APPOINTMENT: NONE

LEGAL

Docket No. SU17D0623DR

Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing Renaldo James

vs.

Nicola O. James

To the Defendant: The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

The Complaint is on file at the Court.

An Automatic Restraining Order has been entered in this matter preventing you from taking any action which would negatively impact the current financial status of either party. SEE Supplemental Probate Court Rule 411.

You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon: Renaldo James, 7 Pierce St., Hyde Park, MA 02136 your answer, if any, on or before 06/09/2017. If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer, if any, in the office of the Register of this Court.

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

Date: May 1, 2017 Terri Klug Cafazzo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department

Legal Advertisement (Chapter 149) Rev 4-17

SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU17P0809GD

In the interests of Bella Leona Tompkins of Mattapan, MA Minor

MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 100 SUMMER ST., SUITE 1200 BOSTON, MA 02110

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

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Electronic proposals for the following project will be received through the internet using Bid Express until the date and time stated below, and will be posted on www.bidx.com forthwith after the bid submission deadline. No paper copies of bids will be accepted. Bidders must have a valid digital ID issued by the Authority in order to bid on projects. Bidders need to apply for a digital ID with Bid Express at least 14 days prior to a scheduled bid opening date.

Electronic bids for MBTA Contract No. H74CN11, BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OF FRANKLIN LINE OVER EAST STREET, WESTWOOD, MA, CLASS 1 – GENRAL TRANSIT AND CLASS 4A - STEEL SUPERSTRUCTURE AND PROJECT VALUE – $13,475,000. can be submitted at www.bidx.com until two o’clock (2:00 p.m.) on June 6, 2017. Immediately thereafter, in a designated room, the Bids will be opened and read publicly.

Work in general consists of reconstructing the undergrade bridge carrying the MBTA Franklin Line over East Street in Westwood, MA. The construction includes complete bridge replacement, reconstruction and raising of the track profile, and reconstruction, widening and lowering of the roadway.

Bidders’ attention is directed to Appendix 1, Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Insure Equal Employment Opportunity; and to Appendix 2, Supplemental Equal Employment Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination, and Affirmative Action Program in the specifications. In addition, pursuant to

NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Hearing Date/Time: A hearing on a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor filed on 04/21/2017 by Stephanie A. Gordon of Mattapan, MA will be held 06/05/2017 08:30 AM Motion Located at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114 Probation Dept.

2.

Response to Petition: You may respond by filing a written response to the Petition or by appearing in person at the hearing. If you choose to file a written response, you need to:

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

3.

Counsel for the Minor: The minor (or an adult on behalf of the minor) has the right to request that counsel be appointed for the minor.

4.

Presence of the Minor at Hearing: A minor over age 14 has the right to be present at any hearing, unless the Court finds that it is not in the minor’s best interests.

THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE: An important court proceeding that may affect your rights has been scheduled. If you do not understand this notice or other court papers, please contact an attorney for legal advice.

Date: May 1, 2017

Terri Klug Cafazzo Register of Probate

Thursday, May 11, 2017 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE

HELP WANTED

Free training

AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY SELECTION BY LOTTERY

2 & 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS Broadway Street Apartments

Rents*:

423 & 430 Broadway, Lowell, MA

Type # of Units 2BR 1 3BR 1

Rents* $1122** $1397**

% Income 50% 50%

**PBV rent share determined by PHA based on income of applicant.

Application pick-up from: ∙ Merrimack Valley Apartments 20 Calumet Rd., Methuen ∙ Pollard Memorial Library 401 Merrimack St, Lowell ∙ Lowell City Hall 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell or online PeabodyProperties.com; or by phone 978.686.9334 (TTY 711)

Income Limits* #HH

50% AMI

1 2 3 4 5 6

$33,600 $38,400 $43,200 $48,000 $51,850 $55,700

Mail completed application to: Merrimack Valley Apts., Broadway Lottery, 20 Calumet Rd., Methuen, MA 01844 Deadline: Postmarked by 5/26/17 Lottery Drawing: 5/31/17 at 10AM, Merrimack Valley Apartments, 20 Calumet Road, Methuen, MA *Rents & income limits subject to change. Please inquire in advance for reasonable accommodation. Info contained herein subject to change without notice.

SCITUATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST

AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOTTERY

for those that qualify!

Train for Administrative, Financial

Services, Health Insurance Customer Service & Medical Office jobs.

Work in hospitals, colleges, insurance agencies, banks, businesses, government offices, health insurance call centers, and more!

GET READY FOR A GREAT OFFICE JOB! We will help you apply for free training. Job placement assistance provided.

No prior experience necessary, but must have HS diploma or GED. Free YMCA membership for you and your family while enrolled in YMCA Training, Inc.

Call today to schedule an Information Session: 617-542-1800 HIRING NOTICE: This is a “Boston Residents Jobs Policy” Project. All residents are encouraged to apply-must be able to provide acceptable verification of Boston Residency. Applicants must bring a copy of one of the following items as proof of Boston Residency: A current driver’s license OR Massachusetts Identification Card OR Utility Bill less than 6 months old. Keith Construction’s subcontractors are seeking tradesmen for QUINCY TOWER, 5 Oak Street West, in Boston, MA. Must be dependable. Seeking all trades. Local area and low income applicants are encouraged to apply.

3 BEDROOM 1.5 BATH AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR SALE

Please call Bill Plante at 781-630-3803 or email: bplante@keithconstruction.net to set up a time to fill out an application.

The following units are ready for immediate occupancy 11 Nelson Road - $170,000 163 Stockbridge Road - $215,000

KEITH CONSTRUCTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, July 7, 2017 at 12:00 Noon

Are you interested in a

Healthcare CAREER?

Income Limits Household Size

Maximum Income

Household Size

Maximum Income

1

$54,750

4

$78,150

2

$62,550

5

$84,450

3

$70,350

6

$90,700

An Asset Limit of $75,000 also applies To request an Application or more information call Paula Stuart at Community Opportunities Group, Inc. 617-542-3300 ext 303 or email HousingLottery@cogincorp.com Applications also available at Scituate Public Library 85 Branch Street, Scituate, MA and Scituate Town Hall (Clerk’s Office) 600 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Scituate, MA See Application for Details of Income and Asset Eligibility Requirements

Project Hope, in partnership with Partners HealthCare and Boston Medical Center, is currently accepting applications for a FREE entry level healthcare employment training program.

Program eligibility includes: • • • • •

Have a high school diploma or equivalent Have a verifiable reference of 1 year from a former employer Pass assessments in reading, language, and computer skills Have CORI clearance Be legally authorized to work in the United States

For more information and to register for the next Open House please visit our website at www.prohope.org/openhouse.htm or call 617-442-1880 ext. 234.

PROPERTY MANAGER United Housing Mgt. is seeking an experienced property manager to join its team. This is a great opportunity to work for a growing company and pursue a career in property management. We offer competitive salary with a comprehensive benefit package, excellent training and opportunities for career advancement. Candidate must have a minimum of 3+ years of experience in managing Low Income project based section 8 properties w/ the ability to meet the financial objectives of ownership and management, experience and skills in team building, motivation w/ strong verbal and written communication skills, and ability to relate effectively with people of various backgrounds. Proficiency in a second language – English/Spanish w/experience in managing Co-op and tax credit properties are a plus. Transp. is a must.

HELP WANTED John Shelburne Community Council

JOB OPPORTUNITY Senior Summer Camp Counselors n Senior Counselors must be 21 years old or older n Boston Resident n 35 Hours per week (Monday thru Friday n Enjoys working with children ages 7 years old to 12 years old n Available July 5, 2017 thru August 18, 2017 Interested candidates PLEASE send resume to: John Shelburne Community Center 2730 Washington Street Roxbury, MA 02119 Or call (617) 635 – 5213 ask for Diane Galloway

Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc.

is a multi-disciplinary civil engineering firm providing our clients with planning, design and construction phase services in the aviation, bridges, building structural, roadways, site-civil and water/ wastewater fields. We are headquartered in New Hampshire with branch offices in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Florida.

Business Development Manager: We are looking

for an energetic and proven Business Development Manager to grow our ground transportation services throughout New England in accordance with our strategic plan. The right candidate will have excellent relationships with state transportation agencies such as MassDOT, VTrans, MaineDOT, NHDOT and others. Our services include bridge engineering and inspection, highway design, construction engineering, traffic analysis and other complementary services for state agency and municipal transportation projects. The ability to meet with clients, author winning proposals, participate in interviews and other business development and marketing activities is required. A BSCE and PE or ability to obtain are required. An MS, ME or MBA is preferred. (Career Code MJL20417)

Group Manager: Hoyle, Tanner is seeking a dynamic individual to continue our growth in the environmental and municipal engineering sector throughout New England. This important position involves the management and mentoring of a team of established professionals in our New England offices which concentrates on wastewater, water and stormwater engineering, including treatment plants, distribution systems, pump stations, best management practices (BMP’s) and other related activities primarily for municipal clients. The person assuming this position must have managerial experience, excellent communication skills, proven business development experience and the drive to help us implement our recently developed strategic plan for growth. The office location is flexible and includes our offices in Manchester and Portsmouth, NH, Burlington, VT, Brunswick, ME, and North Andover, MA. Client relationships in northern New England are a plus. P.E. and BSCE or BSEE are required, and an MS, ME or MBA is preferred. (Career Code MJL10417)

Send resume to: United Housing Mgt. 530 Warren Street, Dorchester, MA

Senior Structural Engineer: We are seeking a Senior Structural Engineer with 10-15 years of experience to join our growing Building Structural Services Group in our new North Andover, MA office. Responsibilities include design and inspection of building projects as well as client interaction and business development. Successful candidates will possess a BSCE degree (Masters preferred) and MA PE registration. MS, ME or MBA and Revit experience are a plus. (Career Code WRD10417)

United Housing Management LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Civil Engineering Intern: Hoyle, Tanner is seeking a mo-

02121. F: 617-442-7231 no later than May 22, 2017.

ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER United Housing Mgt. is seeking an enthusiastic assistant property manager with a minimum of 3+ years of experience in managing Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties. Responsibilities include the full range of property management functions, but not limited to recertification, and tenant relations - COS certification and Tax Credit experience are required. We offer competitive salary with a comprehensive benefit package, excellent training and opportunities for career advancement. Candidate must have the ability to establish and maintain effective communication both oral and written with employees and clients alike - bilingual English/ Spanish is a plus. Transp. is a must.

Forward resumes, no later than May 22, 2017, to United Housing Mgt., 530 Warren Street, Dorchester, MA 02121 – F: 617-442-7231.

United Housing Management LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

tivated intern to join our Land Development Group in Portsmouth, NH. Responsibilities include assisting engineers with civil design projects, quantity calculations, CADD plan preparation and limited construction observations. The preferred candidate will be entering their final year of their BSCE coursework; EIT is preferred. Start date is anticipated to be May of 2017. (Career Code WRD20417)

Marketing Intern: New Hampshire firm seeks a temporary part-time intern to assist the Marketing Department in our Manchester office with a variety of task including technical writing, proof-reading and data entry. Familiarity with MS word is necessary. Ideal candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a concentration in or working towards a degree in marketing/communications. (Career code JEP10517) If you are interested in applying for any of these positions please send resume citing career code to jhann@hoyletanner.com or mail to HOYLE, TANNER & ASSOCIATES, INC., 150 Dow Street, Manchester, NH 03101. Visit www.hoyletanner.com to learn more about us and the exciting career opportunities waiting for you.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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

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