Bay State Banner 12-24-2015

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THE MILLENNIUM GOSPEL CHOIR PERFORMS ITS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT pg 11

New state program gives minority businesses a leg up pg 9

James E. Guilford, Rox legend, passes away pg 7

plus Film: ‘Concussion’ pg 11 Will Poulter stars in ‘The Revenant’ pg 12 Thursday, December 24, 2015 • FREE • GREATER BOSTON’S URBAN NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1965 • CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

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Tax cut may hurt more than help State income tax drop sparks fear of harm to public services

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON A change in state income tax rates is drawing praise for keeping more money in taxpayers’ wallets, while others fear the move will end up costing more in public services.

“Most people will experience more loss in services than they’ll gain from a reduced-tax level,” said Harris Gruman, director of the SEIU State Council.

Meanwhile, Chip Faulkner, director for communications for Citizens for Limited Taxation, argued that the revenue cut is too small to impact services.

“I don’t see how it can [cause a reduction in services],” he said.

“It’s a very small cut.”

On Jan.1 the state income tax will decrease from 5.15 percent to 5.10 percent, resulting in a decrease in state revenue of $74 million for the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2016. Collections are estimated to be $152 million less in FY2016-2017.

This comes at a time when

several organizations are experiencing budget crunches.

State revenue gaps

Earlier this year, the MBTA’s chief administrator declared that the agency faces a funding gap of $242 million in operating expenses and must generate $7 billion to pay for equipment repairs.

Proponents of the Boston Public Schools, which primarily are funded by the district and the state, repeatedly point to lack of funding. At a recent city council hearing, Jessica Tang, director of organizing for the Boston Teachers’ Union, recounted stories of teachers who had to fundraise to afford paper in the classroom or used their own money to buy water for students during a heatwave. Last month, the Foundation Budget Review Commission said that the revenue provided to schools needs to increase by millions of dollars.

The state recently has been drawing on its rainy day fund

See TAX CUT, page 6

Roxbury tree lighting

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City Councilor Charles Yancey receives applause from colleagues and family members (behind) during his final council meeting last week. Yancey served 32 years on the body.

Yancey feted during final council meeting

Colleagues celebrate his 32 years on the body

By YAWU MILLER City councilors last week thanked Charles Yancey, praising him during his last meeting as a representative of District 4 for his passion for human rights, his dedication to issues of equity and his laser focus on the interests of his council district. Yancey, 66, has

been known as dean of the council for his 32 years of service.

While his colleagues lauded his accomplishments, Yancey, who lost to attorney Andrea Joy Campbell in the Nov. 3 election, spent most of his time thanking his colleagues and the supporters who filled a section of the council chamber before turning his focus to what he considers his

unfinished business.

“I’ve used up all my time,” he said. “I was going to talk about building a high school, of passing legislation for a civilian review board, requiring our police officers to wear those body-worn cameras, insisting that we give paid leave for families wanting to visit their

See YANCEY, page 13

Rox health ctr to be charter school

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

PHOTO: CRUZ COMPANIES

John B. Cruz III, City Councilor Tito Jackson, Barbara Cruz and Daniel Cruz celebrate Cruz Companies’ 30th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Cox Building. Residents sang songs and shared the Christmas spirit with others committed to giving back. A community supper followed at the nearby First Church of Roxbury, sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry.

A project to turn the former Roxbury Comprehensive Health Center into the Bridge Boston Charter School site holds the promise of a permanent home for the school and easy access for students, while raising residents’ worries of a traffic headache.

The BBCS’s plans, currently under review with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, call for renovating the 36,000 square-foot health center building. An adjacent residential building is scheduled to be demolished to make room for 3,000 square feet of new classrooms and a 5,000 to 6,696 square-foot gymnasium. Other improvements include installation

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

of new play areas, lighting, fencing, landscaping, retaining walls, driveways and parking spaces.

Pinck & Co. are the project managers and, last Friday, BBCS selected W.T. Rich, a Newton-based construction company, as the construction managers.

Yully Cha, executive director of

See BRIDGE BOSTON, page 7

2 • Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

Local organizer shifts focus to transit equity

By SANDRA LARSON A statewide coalition focused on transportation policy has brought a Boston organizer and activist on board to help sharpen the group’s focus on transportation priorities of community-based organizations.

Hakim Cunningham, a Dorchester native who cut his organizing teeth as an economic justice and jobs advocate, has taken on the newly-created role of social justice policy coordinator at Transportation for Massachusetts, a coalition formed in 2010 to advocate for safe, reliable, equitable transportation systems, adequate revenue, and transparency and accountability in transportation decision-making.

“My role is to bring together the communities of color to get a clear understanding of what the transportation fights are and how the current political and economic climate affects them,” said Cunningham. “They need to be at the table to create policies that keep in mind the needs of those affected by transportation who are very low income.”

Historically, many transportation decisions national and local have been made at the expense of less empowered populations.

In the mid- to late 20th century, federal highway policies favored the growth of car-oriented suburbs that welcomed affluent whites and shut out blacks. In the 1960s and 70s,

a trend toward pushing highways through cities to ease automobile travel divided and destroyed neighborhoods of color, including in Boston where hundreds of homes and businesses were razed in the path of an eight-lane extension of I-95 that would have torn through Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and the South End. The I-95 project was stopped by grassroots action, but the demolition left a swath of vacant lots and a deep community distrust of government planners still evident today.

For decades, the Fairmount rail line running through Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan passed through the black communities in its path without stopping. In recent years, grassroots community activism by groups such as the Greater Four Corners Action Coalition and local community development corporations helped change that. With new stations, followed by reduced fares and increased weekend service, rail access is improving for residents and workers in the Bowdoin/Geneva, Four Corners, Talbot Avenue, Morton Street and Newmarket areas.

And each time the MBTA raises fares or cuts services — as it is contemplating right now to ease a $242 million budget deficit and backlogged repair costs — the impact is likely to be felt most painfully by those whose transportation budgets are tight, whose reliance on it is heavy, and whose political voice may

SANDRA LARSON PHOTO

Hakim Cunningham is the new social justice policy coordinator at Transportation for Massachusetts. not be the loudest, including senior citizens, low-income workers and teens traveling to school and to jobs.

Cunningham spoke with the Banner recently about his new job and some of the key transportation issues he hopes to tackle.

“My approach is to go out into the neighborhoods and be focused on bringing their voices to the table for any policy discussions and positions we hold inside T4Mass,” he said. “I’m talking to those who haven’t been at the table as much.”

And what are some of the key transportation justice issues?

“I think it boils down to

unreasonable fare hikes and fares in relation to wages,” Cunningham said. “For individuals working lowwage jobs, fare increases take another chunk of their money. Also, just paying for transfers, even 50 or 80 cents at a time, it adds up, and can maybe be 30 or 40 dollars a week. That could be a bill, that could be some groceries! Especially if there is more than one person in a family, transportation can be a substantial portion of a household budget.”

Prior to starting the T4Mass job this fall, Cunningham, 39, was an organizer and deputy director with the Boston Workers Alliance, a grassroots group combatting urban joblessness and advocating for social and economic justice. There, he mobilized and coordinated efforts on criminal justice reform, CORI reform and the Boston Residents Job Policy.

“So I’ve done a lot of work around economic development and criminal justice — I got my organizing feet wet there,” he said. “I jumped at the chance to take this grassroots experience and use it at T4Mass.”

Cunningham has also served as citywide coordinator for the Boston Jobs Coalition, addressing issues of concern to minority construction workers. He has had a hand in a number of other organizations and initiatives, including the My Brother’s Keeper Boston advisory committee, the Center for Economic Democracy and Grove Hall Main Streets. Along with fulltime work, he is pursuing a dual degree in Global Business & Entrepreneurship at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.

Kristina Egan, T4Mass’s executive director, said the idea of a social justice policy coordinator position arose when the coalition grew rapidly from 17 to 58 members and she could no longer connect readily with every one of them.

“We needed a dedicated staff member who can understand the priorities of grassroots place-based organizations,” she said.

Egan noted that hiring Cunningham immediately brought a new perspective and new connections into T4Mass.

“He’s already brought a tremendous amount of knowledge about community issues, and has really strong relationships in the community,” she said. “Hakim is listening to conversations about gentrification and other issues and making sure we’re talking about them.”

Egan said there are groups she

hadn’t had time to meet with, addressing issues of immigrants in Fitchburg and bus riders in New Bedford, for instance — and Cunningham stepped in and connected with them.

“So all of the sudden, I understand, and the rest of our coalition understands through Hakim, what issues are top-of-mind in these organizations,” Egan said.

While his focus is on bringing underserved groups into the transportation conversation, Cunningham keeps one eye on the bigger picture of capacity building and economic development.

In some areas of Massachusetts, residents are limited to certain jobs because their bus route stops at a certain hour.

“Certain regional transit systems might shut down at 5 o’clock, or on weekends,” Cunningham said.

“People don’t really think about ... the job opportunities that come with or are taken off the table with transportation decisions.”

And this is where experience in workforce development and jobs advocacy dovetails with transportation justice.

“It’s not just looking at how to create better transportation choices,” he explained, “but how we can connect it to racial equity and economic inequalities — so people can use the transportation and also become suppliers and business owners because of it. I feel, and a lot of people I talk with feel, that we always miss the economic inequality piece. We look for social justice, we look for civil rights — but how can we make sure to focus on economically empowering individuals?”

As social justice policy coordinator, Cunningham’s learning curve includes cultivating relationships with a larger set of organizations statewide, and also stepping back from activism a bit.

“I’d say I’ve been doing ‘my job description plus’,” he said, flashing a smile. “But I have to be mindful of the line between advocacy and activism. Finding out what the needs are, reporting to the decision makers and developing policy — I have to stay in that zone, and not try to do other people’s jobs for them. I’m finding that sweet spot.”

ON THE WEB TRANSPORTATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS: www.t4ma.org BOSTON WORKERS ALLIANCE: www.bostonworkersalliance.org

Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

When BPS gains students but not funding is hearing’s focus City Councilor Tito Jackson convened a hearing last week to examine another cause of Boston Public Schools’ funding woes: students who return to BPS from charter schools mid-year.

If a student chooses to attend a charter school, funds that normally would flow to BPS to educate the child are instead directed to the charter. However, if the student leaves the charter and returns to BPS during the school year, BPS then must absorb the costs to educate the child, but on a budget only intended to cover the cost of the original enrollment, said speakers at the hearing.

“This has financial implications for the Boston Public Schools as well as the quality of the schools in our district, based on the fact that if other students are returning and we don’t get the dollars associated with them, that actually leaves the Boston Public School system to pick up the slack,” Jackson said.

Nevertheless, school officials, charter supporters and charter critics dispute the impact of these student transfers.

September. They hire specialists, gym teachers, people who are school counselors in September at the latest,” Berents-Weeramuni said. “When students come back to us, the hiring has already been done. Students are asked to be provided services that the hiring has already been done for.”

In charter schools, however, funding is adjusted to accommodate changes in student body counts.

A portion of state funds allocated to BPS as Chapter 70 aid instead is directed to charter schools as “charter school tuition.” The amount reflects actual enrollment numbers on Oct. 1 of the current school year and is distributed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in monthly installments, Hatch said.

In February, charter administrators are required to disclose the size of their student populations. DESE finishes processing the information in the spring — April at the earliest — and adjusts the following months’ payments to reflect any students who left or arrived.

As a result, future installments may be reduced in concert with a decline in enrollment figures and to correct for extra funds provided while a student was not in attendance.

Two funding systems

Extent of impact

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON

The BPS budgeting process does not accommodate the addition of new students during the academic year.

The state allocates funding to BPS under provisions of Chapter 70 aid, which requires local governments to provide a certain minimum level of funding as well. The dollar amounts are based on enrollment numbers from Oct. 1 of the previous year and are not adjusted to match changes in student counts, said Roger Hatch, administrator of school finance for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Most of BPS’s other funding sources do not reflect current enrollment either, Hatch said.

“There are very few that are current-year calculations.”

BPS’ budget largely is set by July or August, said Heshan Berents-Weeramuni, co-chair of the Citywide Parent Council of the Boston Public Schools.

This means that while district schools accept transferring students during the fall or spring, they must support those students on funds only intended to cover the students they already had.

“When BPS funds classes and schools, they fund them in

On average, 82 students transferred from various Boston charter schools to BPS schools during the four year period between 2008 and 2012, according to information provided by BPS. Per-pupil expenditures average $15,227, according to BPS budgeting information for SY2013-2014. These figures suggest the public schools must absorb an average of $1.2 million per year.

However, Hatch said that he expected that the impact of the additional students on BPS would be minor. Absorbing more students would require additional materials, but not generate other charges, such as for more teachers, he said.

“In a city the size of Boston, they probably would be spread among many different schools. It’s doubtful they would necessitate the hiring of an additional teacher or extra space.

The marginal cost, except for materials, is zero,” he said.

Material costs seemed significant to some involved in BPS. Richard Stutman, president of Boston Teachers Union, spoke this fall about district schools that struggle to afford soap and toilet paper.

At the hearing, Jessica Tang, director of organizing for BTU, described

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the plight of schools where, last year, teachers resorted to fundraising to pay for paper.

Additionally, BPS advocates said at the hearing that when the district takes in mid-year transfers, not only does it have to educate more students with fewer resources, it has to do so for students with greater needs.

Twenty-three percent of students who transferred out of charters and into BPS mid-year during SY20082009 and SY2011-2012 were students with disabilities, according to information provided by BPS. The cost to BPS to educate a regular student is $11,855, according to BPS budget listings for school years 2012-2013 through 2014-2015. By comparison, the cost to educate a special education student with moderate needs is $20,705, and the price tag for educating a special education student requiring a substantially separate classroom is and $32,955.

Unequal impact?

One question that emerges repeatedly: If BPS has to educate more students without a proportionate increase in resources, does that contribute to disproportionate harm?

During SY2008-2009 and SY 2011-2012, the students who transferred from charters to BPS midyear were primarily boys of color.

Sixty-two percent were black, 26 percent Hispanic and 64 percent male, according to information provided by BPS. Additionally, regardless of the cause — be it mid-year transfers or differences in which kinds of

students apply to or select BPS — there are indications that district schools may educate different populations than the charter schools.

District schools serve greater percentages of male students, English language learners and students who are eligible for free lunch, when compared to charters, Kathie Skinner, former director of the Center for Education Policy and Practice at the Massachusetts Teacher Association, said at the hearing. (In contrast, a higher percentage of charter students are eligible for reduced lunch).

Impact on special education students

Debate continues about the extent to which district schools educate more — or more needy — special education students, and thus the extent to which special education students are affected by strains on BPS resources.

District schools serve proportionally more special education students in some grades, although the gap between district and charter enrollment is closing, according to a study released in November by Elizabeth Setren, a PhD student in MIT’s department of Economics.

In 2014, students who were classified at special ed at the time of their application ended up enrolling in greater percentages in 9th grade Boston charter schools than district schools, Setren reported.

The gap in special needs enrollment in middle school charters and district schools narrowed but did not close at that time.

Meanwhile, Kathie Skinner argues that the kinds of special education students served by the two school systems may not be the same.

“If you look at who [Boston] charters are educating with regards to disability statuses, they’re not educating

the same students,” Skinner said.

Public schools tend to enroll students with higher levels of disabilities, she wrote in a Commonwealth magazine article. “[Statewide] students with moderate to severe disabilities are either not enrolled [at charter schools] or under-enrolled when compared with their host and sending district.”

District and charter schools offer different special education services, which may influence which kinds of special needs students apply.

Charter schools are nearly three times as likely to put special needs students in inclusionary classrooms, which means they are in the same classroom as other students, according to Setren. Meanwhile, options provided by BPS schools include full- or part-day inclusion in general education classrooms, substantially separate classrooms and out-of-district programs.

Missing funding

By many accounts, district schools are underfunded, and returning students are not the only part of the problem.

The Foundation Budget Review Commission announced in November that the formula used to assess budget needs of schools needs dramatic updates, to the tune of millions of dollars.

Exacerbating this is the state’s recent failure to reimburse BPS for overhead funds that do not disappear when money follows students to charters. Katie Hammer, budget director for Boston, said the state under-reimbursed BPS by $12 million in FY15 and $18 million in FY16.

A further complication: Any reimbursement funds that are paid are given to the city as general revenue, and not required to be directed back into schools, Hatch said.

4 • Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

EDITORIAL

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Established 1965

Toward a spirit of common humanity Not long ago, concern for human life would indicate one’s involvement in the debate over the right to an abortion. However, since the massacres in Paris and San Bernardino that are attributed to ISIS, the issue has become personal safety. Americans are coming to realize that over the years, they have devoted too little interest to the preservation of the lives of their fellow citizens.

Until the recent acts of terrorism, white middle-class Americans had no general anxiety about their personal security. In the affluent suburbs, the police were always present “to serve and protect.” Secure whites had little awareness that their black fellow citizens across America did not feel safer because of the presence of the police.

In fact, the police were often viewed as oppressive storm troopers. According to The Washington Post, an average of one unarmed black man is killed by the police every nine days.

Neither do black women feel any safer because of their gender. The recent conviction of former police officer Daniel Holtzclaw of Oklahoma City on 18 of 36 counts of rape has shed a spotlight on the victimization of women, many of whom are black. An investigation by the Associated Press found that from 2009 to 2014, 550 police officers from 41 states had lost their licenses as law enforcement officers because of sexual assault violations.

The incessant effort to succeed and get ahead seems to have induced many Americans to lose sight of the sanctity of human

life. Too often, other individuals are seen merely as allies and confederates or are simply irrelevant. This cavalier attitude to the welfare of others creates an ambience of hostility and violence that can be disturbing to almost everyone. The holiday season is a perfect time to consider how those aware that they are blessed with the gift of life must treat their fellow human beings.

Unfortunately, the violence and economic insecurity of life in America often disrupt lucid reflection on the exalted aspect of human nature. Those committed to the Judeo-Christian tradition must acknowledge that all human beings have been blessed with divine aspects to their nature. Genesis states “So God created man in His own image…” (Genesis 1:27).

Without getting into a debate about creation theory, this means at least, if it has any meaning at all, that human beings have the capacity to attain some of the wisdom and powers considered to be divine. Some of those persons considered to have made great progress on the path of spiritual attainment often are respected and elevated to the level of sainthood.

One need not be committed to any religious doctrine to understand the wisdom of the season’s greeting: “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.” It is in everyone’s best interest to keep this aphorism in mind during everyday activities. A sustained conscious effort will produce the desired results in one’s life. Concern for our fellow humans should not end with the Christmas season.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Crazy New England weather Every day in the elevator at my job someone says, “What about this weather,” as if there’s anything unusual about the insane mood swings that have been characteristic of New England weather since anyone remembers. There is nothing predictable about New England weather, and there never has been. We have the good fortune to be at the crossroads of cold air from Canada, warm air from the Southwest, the Jet Stream and crazy nor’ easters, wherever the heck they come from.

It has always been this way here.

I think the name Massachusetts in Algonquin means “wear layers, bring an umbrella.”

The worst thing you can do in my presence is complain. If you don’t like

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

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cold weather, move to Florida. If you don’t like the humidity, move out west.

This winter, we will have warm spells, like the one expected to give us a tropical-feeling Christmas eve this week, and we’ll have some bitter cold. We may get a little snow. We may get a lot. The only sure thing is that we won’t know.

You have to learn to love the unpredictability of the weather here. If not, you’ll go crazy. Or just leave.

—J. Todd

Runaway train The news that a Red Line train went several stops sans conductor was surprising enough. I think the more important detail buried in that side-

INDEX BUSINESS NEWS ………………………………...................... 9 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT …………………...................... 11 CLASSIFIEDS ……………………………………....................... 13

show was the fact that the train, a Pullman-Standard car, was built in the late 1960s. Let’s take a moment to sit with that. Imagine you commuted to work every day in a 1968 Chevy Impala.

Now think of the rust eating away at the car’s undercarriage, how many quarts of oil you would have to dump in the engine with each fill up and how you would feel seeing all the new cars with airbags, shoulder belts, anti-lock, disc brakes, radial tires, etc.

I don’t think many of us would opt to commute in the ’68 Chevy.

Why don’t we have the same attitude toward the MBTA’s rolling stock? Is public investment that distasteful to Massachusetts residents?

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Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 5

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Can the black middle class be saved?

What do you think were the most important news developments in 2015?

By LEE A. DANIELS

A new report from the Pew Research Center underscores an alarming question: Can Black America’s middle class be saved?

I don’t mean the small class of wealthy and upper-middle class black Americans who earn hefty salaries and whose net-worth runs into the millions of dollars. In today’s more open American society, they’ll do fine economically. I mean that considerable number of blacks who earn five-figure to low six-figure salaries and whose wealth, if they are homeowners, consists almost entirely of the value of that property.

Will they survive? And if many of them don’t, what will that mean for Black America as a whole?

That question has been hanging like a thundercloud over the American horizon ever since the recession of 2001 undermined a bright promise of the prosperity the country enjoyed during the 1990s: that significant numbers of black Americans were finally gaining a secure foothold in the middle class.

Blacks as a group never recovered from that recession, and the subprime housing crisis and the Great Recession that gripped the country just before President Obama won the White House made matters much, much worse.

That was so for many, many Americans, of course — in part because the fierce economic shock intensified the income inequality that had actually been shadowing the economy for decades. The Pew report’s title makes the larger point in stark terms — “The American Middle Class Is Losing Ground: No longer the majority and falling behind financially,” it declares.

That’s bad for America because it’s middle class consumers, not the rich, who are the bedrock of the American economy. And it’s bad news for the black middle class because it has always fared far worse than whites in economic downturns.

The report’s data and statistics from other sources confirm that notion’s validity. (Using a three-person household as the standard, the study defines the middle-income range as stretching from $42,000 to $126,000 annually, with lower-income and upper-income households below and above that range, respectively.)

It found that for the first time in nearly a half-century middle-income Americans no longer comprise the majority of the population. Instead, they now comprise 49.9 percent of the three broad income groups.

That may seem a minor point. But, for one thing, middle-income Americans have been steadily losing ground — ­ as income inequality has been increasing — since 1971, when they made up 61 percent of the population. For another, not only have both the lower-income and the upper-income sectors grown in population but the growth in each of them has been concentrated at the furthest extremes of their boundaries — where the poorest of the poor and the very richest of the rich reside.

The upper-income sector has experienced the most growth; it now makes up 21 percent of the population. But even more important is the growing concentration of both income and wealth at the very top of the society. Upper-income households took in nearly half the total income of all households last year. Middle-income households gained 43 percent of the total income and lower-income households took just 9 percent.

Finally, since 1983, only upper-income households recorded “notable gains” in wealth, widening the wealth gap between that sector and other Americans.

It’s no coincidence that the wealth gap between blacks and whites also has increased during that time. The economic pressure besieging the black middle-income sector has been the more severe because it’s exacerbated by the persistence of racial discrimination in the job, housing and education markets.

Among other things, that means the black unemployment rate (currently at 9.4 percent) is consistently close to twice the national average (5.0 percent); some companies remain largely closed to blacks, especially in terms of more prestigious, better-paying positions; blacks still encounter substantial discrimination in both the rental and homeownership markets, and pay more than whites for the housing they get; and the persistence of discrimination limits their ability to raise capital for starting or expanding businesses they own.

America’s strength as a — true, flawed — democracy always has rested on the role of its middle class as a bulwark of social stability and engine of equality. That’s the role a sizable black middle class could be expected to play as well for blacks as a group and the entire society.

That’s why the final answer to the question — can the black middle class be saved? — is so vital to black Americans and America as a whole.

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

The war in Syria. We’re in a crisis right now.

Ronald Manifold Chef Roxbury

A lot has happened. What I thought was important is the ISIS attacks and terrorism. We can’t seem to get a handle on it.

Racial profiling. The news media are becoming aware of the police shootings of unarmed blacks. People are getting sick and tired of it.

I think the most important news stories are the ones you don’t hear about, like police violence. It’s been going on for a long time.

Clinton Williams

Arthur Collins

Cook Roxbury

Youth Coalition Coordinator Roxbury

ISIS, Black Lives Matter and the movement against police shootings.

Housing in Boston. Gentrification.

People moving out and people moving in.

Dereck Paul

Portland Relf

Phillip

Retail Roxbury

Entrepreneur Dorchester

enforcement, the care and custody of inmates and detainees, judicial services, transportation of prisoners, recidivism, officer training, re-entry programming, and legislative advocacy.” In his role as the MSA President, Sheriff Tompkins will preside over a leadership team that includes vice presidents of Training and Leadership Development, Re-Entry and Aftercare, Information and Technology and the State Director to National Sheriffs Association.

Speaking about his desire to bring the MSA further forward into the public discussion about the need for more addiction recovery and mental health services, anti-recidivism programming, greater focus on reducing domestic violence, and providing quality education and resources for prevention across the Commonwealth, Sheriff Tompkins acknowledged the challenges even as he fully embraced them.

“I know that we as the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association hav-

en’t always been first in the minds or on the tongues of lawmakers, policy analysts or even members of the local and national media but, I intend to fully utilize the resources of this office to its best capacity to make sure that we are part of the conversation, particularly when it comes to public safety and the overall health of our communities.”

Restaurant Worker Roxbury

IN THE NEWS

STEVEN W. TOMPKINS Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins has been elected to serve as President of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, following a unanimous vote by the other 13 sitting sheriffs.

“I am both elated and honored to be chosen as MSA president,” said Tompkins. “It’s always humbling to be recognized by one’s peers and I take this mantle very seriously. I look forward to fulfilling the mission of the organization.”

Established 30 years ago, the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association is made up of the 14 county sheriffs in Massachusetts and, according to its mission statement, works “to secure a unity of action by the sheriffs of the Commonwealth in order to address the numerous issues that have a direct relationship and impact on the entire criminal justice system, and which may affect the operation of the various sheriffs’ offices.”

These issues include, but are not limited to: “those related to law

6 • Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

tax cut

continued from page 1

Looking Back, Forward at 50 Years

By J. Keith Motley, PhD, UMass Boston Chancellor As the celebration of our fiftieth anniversary comes to a close, the University of Massachusetts Boston has had much to celebrate and reflect on as we set our sights on a promising future.

For five decades, Boston’s public research university has continued to grow and to exceed expectations. And we remain committed to our mission of providing accessible, public higher education that is equal to the best.

Our 11 colleges now serve more than 17,000 students from around the world, a far cry from the classes we held in a partially renovated Boston Gas building in Park Square for 1,200 students during our early days. This semester, our graduate enrollment topped 4,000 students, and we also welcomed our largest freshman class ever.

Over the past year we opened our first new academic building in 40 years, the state-of-the-art Integrated Sciences Complex, and we also welcomed to our campus the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. In a few months we will cut the ribbon on University Hall, complete with chemistry labs, art studios, a recital hall, a theater, and yet more fine spaces for learning and relaxing. These new facilities complement our rapidly expanding research enterprise and our growing roster of academic offerings.

We now offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, and recently we introduced an Honors College with more than 500 students. Our student body represents 150 countries around the world, and roughly three-fourths of our students stay in Massachusetts to live and work after college.

We are the most diverse university in New England because we embrace students, faculty, and staff from all cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. With this comes a deep commitment to student success, in all the ways that is measured. We mold skilled professionals and innovators who will help drive our state’s economy, and we also mentor future leaders who are civically engaged and attuned to the qualities that unite the citizens of the world.

As a leader in urban education, we serve more than 2,500 younger students in Greater Boston through our various precollegiate programs, and our partnerships with more than 80 school districts in the commonwealth enable us to conduct award-winning work.

During the next 50 years, we will continue to embrace our strengths as an increasingly globalized university by broadening course offerings here at our Dorchester campus and beyond, supporting more students who seek experiential learning in other countries, deepening and extending our pursuit of knowledge, and exchanging ideas with thought leaders around the world.

The past 50 years have taught us that UMass Boston is just as strong and resilient as the students who choose our university for higher learning. We have developed an institution that is increasingly recognized, throughout and beyond our nation, as a model of excellence for urban public universities. I have no doubt we will continue to rise, and we look forward to what the next 50 years holds for us.

For more information about Boston’s public research university, visit www.umb.edu.

— money set aside to provide for services in case of an economic emergency — to afford services not supported by current revenue levels.

In summer 2007, Massachusetts held $2.7 billion in reserve, an amount equal to 7.8 percent of total state spending, according to the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. In November this year, that amount had dropped to $1.25 billion, or approximately 3 percent of total state spending. To adequately protect the state, more than 5 percent of state spending should be reserved, states a Taxpayer Foundation press release.

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“The way we’ve dealt with structural deficit is to do short-term fixes and use up our reserves as opposed to ensure we have more revenue,” Gruman said.

Sizing up $74 million

The state budget for the current fiscal year, FY2016, is $38 billion.

The loss of $74 million amounts to 0.19 percent of the total budget.

“It’s miniscule,” said Faulkner, who predicts that the tax cut will give people extra spending money while having minimal effect on the state government.

“It puts more money in the pockets of taxpayers—that’s obviously a very positive benefit,” Faulkner said. “A lot people are going to use that extra money to buy Christmas presents.”

The $74 million pales in comparison to high expense areas such as Health and Human Services, which receives $20 billion, and Education, which receives nearly $7 billion.

The revenue reduction is, however, greater than the budget for Labor and Workforce Development, approximately $50 million, and also surpasses the budget for the Legislature, nearly $69 million.

Unequal effect

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Because the tax decrease is a percentage of income, the measure generates greater savings for those making more, Gruman said.

The 0.05 percent reduction means an individual earning $35,000 pays $17.50 less in taxes, and an individual earning $66,500 pays $33.25 less. At the other end of the spectrum, someone making $1 million annually would save $500.

These wealthier people also are likely to be less dependent on services

the tax revenue would support.

“It’s going to help people in proportion to how wealthy they are.

The wealthier they are, the more they’ll gain from it,” he said. “[The lowered tax rate] will increase economic inequality and reduce the shared benefits we get form our income tax revenue.”

Personal income tax is the only major state or local tax in which higher earners pay more, notes Kurt Wise, senior policy analysts at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. Other taxes, such as sales, are not scaled based on the amount of money an individual has, and so take a greater proportion of lower-earners’ wealth.

“Cutting taxes by lowering the PIT [personal income tax] rate therefore disproportionately benefits high income households and adds to the regressivity of the overall system, even as it depletes the resources available for investments in education, transportation, public safety and more,” Wise writes.

Origins of the cut

The tax cut comes as a result of a 2000 measure that voters approved, which reduced income tax from the then-level of 5.85 percent down to 5 percent. In 2002, the Legislature passed a bill that would enact this reduction gradually, in 0.05 increments each year, assuming certain economic benchmarks are met.

The first of these five economic requirements is that the baseline tax revenues for the fiscal year — adjusted for inflation — grow 2.5 percent over the previous fiscal year. In September, Mark Nunnelly, Department of Revenue commissioner, reported that the baseline tax revenues for FY2015 had more than met this, growing to 5.37 percent over FY2014.

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Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

James E. Guilford, Rox legend, passes away Known as an artist and master barber, Guilford lived to 104

By JULE PATTISON-GORDON James Edward Guilford, Jr; a Roxbury legend, was known as a skilled barber and artist. He passed away on December 16, at the age of 104.

Guilford lived Roxbury’s history with it. Born on Sterling Street in 1911, he bore witness to a changing Roxbury through urban renewal, the jazz age and the Great Depression, only leaving for three years of military service in World War II. This November, he received the Puddingstone Award, an honor given by Discover Roxbury to those residents who preserve the neighborhood.

In his youth, he attended the esteemed Boston Latin School, where he was the only black student on the 32-member track team. He graduated in 1928 and proceeded with studies at Northeastern University School of Law, Wilfred’s Academy of Beauty Culture and the Lee Institute of Real Estate.

and world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. The list of famous clients includes Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Sugar Ray Robinson and Count Basie.

Guilford started cutting hair when he was twelve. In his teens, he worked at a barbershop during the summers and after school. At 23, he opened his first barbershop, Dunbar Barbers, on Tremont Street and ran it for eight years, until he was drafted.

When he returned from the war, he went back to Tremont Street to open Jimmy Guilford’s Men’s Hairstyling Salon. In 1962, Guilford became the first African American elected president of the Associated Master Barbers of Massachusetts. He retired in 1979, after nearly seven decades practicing his craft.

WWII tour

Guilford was known as “the hair stylist of the stars,” he recalled in a documentary. “A lot of show people who came into Boston came to me,” he said.

He cut the hair of jazz singer Sarah Vaughn, major league baseball star Jackie Robinson

Guilford served in the U.S. Army’s 29th Quartermaster Regiment in the South Pacific. The experience haunted him for years after, he said in a documentary.

He was wounded in northern Guinea while helping transport food to the front lines. Enemy planes bombed the transport ship, exploding the smoke stack and tearing through the front hatch.

Guilford escaped the sinking ship to a raft, with the help of a friend,

Bridge Boston

the siting will exacerbate a currently dangerous traffic situation.

Hair stylist of the stars

continued from page 1

Bridge Boston Charter, said the location at 435 Warren Street in Roxbury is ideal for the school, both for its size and proximity to families.

“The location is fantastic,” she said. “In terms of size, it fits all our programmatic needs and many of our families live in the immediate neighborhood.”

Approximately 60 percent of BBCS students are located in Dorchester and Roxbury, according to information filed with the BRA. But its location does not appeal to everyone. Laura Younger, member of Holborn, Gannett, Gaston, Otisfield Betterment Association, expressed concerns that

School future

The new location will allow BBCS, which has been renting spaces in a building at 2 McLellan Street on Blue Hill Avenue and one at St. Mark’s campus at 18 Samoset Street in Dorchester, to consolidate in one space, said Beth Kressley Goldstein, president of the Bridge Boston Board.

“This is significantly more productive for our educators and allows us to build a strong, vibrant culture,” Kressley Goldstein said.

The larger area offered by the new site will enable the addition of more grades, she added. BBCS currently enrolls 230 pre-K through fourth grade students. By 2019, school officials plan to add grades five through eight and enroll 400,

PHOTO: DON WEST/BANNER ARCHIVE

James E. Guilford poses with one of his portraits.

Pvt. George Watson. His friend died while saving other soldiers from the disaster.

Guilford later wrote a book to memorialize Private Watson and represented him in ceremonies.

Guilford’s army experience later served as the focus on an Emmy-winning short documentary “Surviving The War: the Story of James E. Guildford, Jr.” directed

by Jesse J. Logan.

Guilford also was recognized as an artist who exhibited widely, with paintings, water colors and according to project plans.

Arts and athletic programs will also receive a boost, Cha said.

The new site gives BBCS the performance and instruction space it needs to increase capacity of its music program, and students will no longer have to travel to a remote facility for physical education and athletics. Kressley Goldstein said that the school will add an art room, science lab, kitchen, cafeteria and library.

Impact on transit

Younger said that traffic already is dangerously congested in the area, due to buses and parents dropping off children at other schools. BBCS’s new location will be across the street from Boston Latin Academy and close to KIPP Academy Boston Elementary School.

“We’re all for good schools but

drawings featured in private collections. Guilford’s oil painting of Martin Luther King, Jr. is displayed in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in Cambridge.

Guilford also worked to advance the Boston artist community. He was a Piano Craft Guild Artists’ Association member and founding member and president of the Boston Afro-American Artists, Inc.

Family and services

James Guilford, Jr. is the

the siting for this school is imposed upon an already difficult situation,” Younger said. “Even without the siting of the school, some of those intersections are fender bender intersections.”

Boston Latin’s school buses clog up Townsend Street in the morning, she said, and parents often ignore the lights when turning into that school’ s entryway.

Younger said BBCS’ project is not well-suited to the overall context for where it is being located.

HGGOBA members are calling upon officials to analyze and fix the existing traffic snarls, before BBCS even is added to the mix, she said.

“It is a chaos early in the morning along the Quincy corridor,” Younger said. “If we were siting in a best-practice way, we would not site the Bridge School at that site.”

Cha acknowledged that traffic

father of three children — Marcia Davenport, Jeanne Eason and James Guilford III — a grandfather to five and great-grandfather to one.

Funeral services were held at Davis Funeral Home Tuesday morning and he was put to rest at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Guilford’s memory can be made to The Boys and Girls Clubs, Yawkey Club of Roxbury or the Purple Heart Foundation. flow is a key resident concern and has been a major topic during the past three community meetings.

The project staff hired MDM Transportation Consultants to assess the situation. Planners aim to reduce impact on local drivers by building an on-site traffic loop to direct student drop-off and pick-up process away from public streets.

Forty-nine parking spaces also will be provided, intended to serve 400 students and 89 staff members, according to project plans.

Current zoning requirements only specify that 34 spaces be created.

Construction ahead

Plans for the project are near completion, Cha said. Two further community meetings are scheduled for January, and will focus on adjustments to plan elements, rather than larger changes.

8 • Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

AFTER CHRISTMAS

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Also excludes: athletic apparel, shoes & accessories; Dallas Cowboys merchandise, gift cards, Jack Spade, jewelry trunk shows, Kate Spade, Macy’s Backstage merchandise/ locations, New Era, Nike on Field, The North Face, previous purchases, Samsung watches, selected licensed depts., services, special orders, special purchases, Tumi. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer, except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value & may not be redeemed for cash, used to purchase gift cards or applied as payment or credit to your account. Purchase must be $25 or $50 or more, exclusive of tax & delivery fees.

ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 12/26 & 12/27/2015, EXCEPT AS NOTED. MERCHANDISE WILL BE ON SALE AT THESE & OTHER SALE PRICES THROUGH 1/2/16, EXCEPT AS NOTED. OPEN A MACY’S ACCOUNT FOR EXTRA 20% SAVINGS THE FIRST 2 DAYS, UP TO $100, WITH MORE REWARDS TO COME. Macy’s credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, selected licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food & wine. The new account savings are limited to a total of $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible.

N5110058B.indd 1

12/14/15 4:14 PM

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Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

BUSINESSNEWS

www.baystatebanner.com

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

BIZ BITS TIP OF THE WEEK

Avoid expensive energy bills with this new housing trend Imagine being able to heat your home with no more energy than used by a hair dryer turned on low or even going off the grid altogether.

Thanks to smaller, carefully planned home designs, coupled with a superior insulation system, super energy-efficient small homes are growing in popularity.

Once perceived as the housing of commune-living hippies in the 1960s, today’s small homes feature exceptional design and comfort. Although the average size of U.S. homes increased 57 percent in the past 40 years, more Americans are becoming interested in smaller homes designed to make the most of each square foot, rather than just building bigger. This trend is seen in the growing popularity of TV shows like “Tiny House Nation,” and dozens of websites and blogs devoted to the small house movement.

Although there is no formal definition for these smaller abodes, The Tiny House Community website considers a home to be “small” if it is under 1,000 square feet and “tiny” if less than 400 square feet. At the extreme, some “tiny houses” are less than 100 square feet - about the size of a camper.

The secret to living smaller is optimizing the available space, and creating areas that are cozy instead of cramped. One key is making use of otherwise wasted space, such as adding storage under beds or under staircases, and doing away with non-critical features like the great rooms that sit unused in many homes. Small home designers are able to create a sense of openness and light in the small footprint by including numerous windows or mirrors, as well as other design touches such as lofts and curved ceilings. In essence, in the smaller spaces there is clear purpose for every element in the home.

“Attention to the small gives character to the whole,” said acclaimed architect and simple-living proponent, Sarah Susanka. Susanka is author of the book, “The Not So Big House.”

For many small home enthusiasts, the appeal is not only a simpler life in a smaller, uncluttered home, but also saving money and living green by consuming much less energy. All else being equal, it takes less energy to heat and cool a smaller home than a larger one, but many small homes also use an advanced building technique for high energy efficiency and quick construction - structural insulated panel (SIPs).

“SIP panel walls and roofs combine the insulation and structure in one unit,” says Joe Pasma, technical manager for Premier SIPs, North America’s largest SIP panel manufacturer. “The end result is much lower air leakage and continuous insulation, which helps reduce heating and cooling energy use up to 60 percent compared to other building methods - whether in a tiny house or a standard-sized one.”

As visually interesting home designs are important to many small home dwellers, Pasma notes that SIP panels can be used in virtually any architectural style.

An increasing number of builders in the U.S. specialize in tiny house designs.

These range from do-it-yourself kit homes up to fully personalized homes. Getting started is simple explains Patrick Sughrue, president of Artisan Tiny House in Vancouver, Washington.

“We use a step-by-step process in which we take one of our templates that’s close to what you want and customize it to make it yours.”

— Brandpoint See BIZ BITS, page 10

Getting govt. contracts

New state program gives minority businesses a leg up

By MARTIN DESMARAIS Large public contracts hold a potential lifeline for minority-, women- and veteran-owned small businesses in Massachusetts, thanks to state and federal preferences for historically disadvantaged businesses. But while the opportunities look great on paper, it isn’t always easy for small businesses to compete for these contracts.

A $5 million program launched recently by Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation aims to make it easier.

With the Diversity Goal Support Program, Mass Growth Capital is addressing the reality that it takes money to make money.

While this may be an old business cliché, it holds true when small businesses are vying for lucrative state and federal contracts.

Big bucks are at stake. As Massachusetts continues in a construction boom, many projects fall under state or federal regulations, meaning the amount of work that must go to small businesses is often over 20 percent, with varying percentages also mandated to go to minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.

These large projects do not begin and end with construction.

They can include service contracts covering IT support, offices supplies and cleaning.

The firms leading the projects need small businesses to get it done. However, as noted frequently by the Banner and other media outlets, many small businesses — and minority- and women-owned businesses in particular — lack the capacity to successfully compete for and handle these contracts. Not only do the small businesses suffer, but contract leaders often find themselves scrambling to hit their required small business and diversity numbers.

Mass Growth Capital is offering to lend small businesses money up front to make these deals happen — up to 75 percent of the total amount of a contract, with financing available from $25,000 to $500,000.

The small businesses have to pay the money back with interest,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MASSACHUSETTS GROWTH CAPITAL CORPORATION

Left, Rob Williams is a loan officer with Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. Right, Larry Andrews is CEO of Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. but Mass Growth Capital makes it easier by collecting the payout from the contract and paying the money out to the business doing the work. This keeps the cash flow going so the small business can operate while it does the work.

Banks, on the other hand, typically want the loan to be paid off first, so small businesses are not able to use the cash for operations.

Having the money up front allows small businesses to get the

work going before any contract payment is dished out.

Larry Andrews, chief executive officer of Mass Growth Capital, says the Diversity Goal Support Program will “give a jump start to corporations that want to grow and want to be able to compete for desirable contracts, because it gives them the capital to do so.”

In addition to financing, Mass Growth Capital will provide small businesses with technical

assistance on finance or operational issues to help them compete for and fulfill contracts.

Projects that qualify for the Diversity Goal Support Program include municipal, state, federal, hospital or university projects, or projects such as casinos that are supervised by an agency or a governing body.

Businesses are already in the

See PROGRAM, page 10

Madison Park basketball court renamed for teacher/coach

BY THE NUMBERS

75 $25,000

percent: Mass Growth Capital is offering to lend small businesses up to 75 percent of the total amount of a contract.

-$500,000 Mass Growth Capital is offering financing available from $25,000 to $500,000.

The number of companies assisted by Mass Growth Capital since 2010, with more than 9,000 employees benefitting. million The amount of financing secured by companies aided by Mass Growth Capital since 2010.

260 $83

PHOTO: PATRICK O’CONNOR

Members of the Madison Park basketball team join with Coach Dennis Wilson for a team picture after the unveiling of lettering on the gymnasium floor naming the court the “Dennis G. Wilson Court” on Friday, Dec. 18. A large crowd of Madison Park faculty, staff and alumni were on hand for the tribute to the long-time basketball coach and teacher in the Boston Public Schools.

Thursday, December 3, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21

10 • Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

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

Biz Bits

TECH TALK

continued from page 9

THE LIST According to Forbes, the most valuable teams in the National Hockey League are: 1. New York Rangers 2. Montreal Canadiens 3. Toronto Maple Leafs 4. Chicago Blackhawks 5. Boston Bruins 6. Vancouver Canucks 7. Philadelphia Flyers 8. Detroit Red Wings 9. Los Angeles Kings 10. Washington Capitals

Pocket-sized personal sensors are the latest tech device that inventors are touting as a must-have accessory for all sorts of people including parents who want to guard their children’s safety, athletes who want to monitor everything that goes into their bodies and people with health problems like asthma. The sleek, titanium Atmotube uses a battery of sensors to monitor air quality and relay even slight changes to a user’s smartphone.

NUMBER TO KNOW

$505

million: The average NHL team is now worth $505 million, which is a 3 percent increase from 2014.

— More Content Now

program

continued from page 9 application process for the new program, and at least one has already been approved — Dorchester-based Design Construction & Consulting Services Inc., led by Cesar DaSilva.

Rob Williams, a Mass Growth Capital loan officer working directly with program applicants, said the small business owners he has spoken with so far see a great value not only in the financing, but also the support that gives them a shot at winning the kind

of commercial contracts that can make or break their companies.

Established by Massachusetts legislation in 2010, Mass Growth Capital is charged with creating and preserving jobs at small businesses and promoting economic development in underserved cities and low- and moderate-income communities. It has assisted more than 260 companies, with more than 9,000 employees, to secure some $83 million in financing.

Andrews said the overall hope is that the small businesses that take part will continue to grow stronger so they can function successfully and handle large contracts without

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Mass Growth Capital’s support.

“The idea is that these companies do not stay with Mass Growth Capital again and again,” Andrews said. “The aim is to build the capacity of these businesses so they have the business discipline so they can get capital financing from another source.”

If the Diversity Goal Support Program proves successful, more funding may be added to the initial $5 million, Andrews noted.

“My thought is there will be more opportunity to increase it,” he said. “This could really level the playing field for many small businesses.”

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Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11

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

FILM REVIEW

Will Smith delivers Oscar-quality performance in ‘Concussion’

By KAM WILLIAMS In 2002, Will Smith landed his first Academy Award nomination for “Ali,” a riveting biopic about Muhammad Ali directed by Michael Mann. Although a cultural icon in his own right, Smith managed to disappear into the role in the process of delivering a brilliant performance as “The Greatest” boxer of all time.

Despite his being able to “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!” the sport eventually exacted a devastating toll on the champ.

Ali would become afflicted with a host of neurological disorders as a consequence of taking so many hits to the head.

While fans call it being punch drunk, the clinical term for the condition is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). What’s ironic is that Will Smith is on the verge of landing another Oscar nomination for “Concussion,” a picture in which he plays Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigeria-born physician whose discovered the link between football and brain damage while working as a forensic pathologist in Pennsylvania.

OVERFLOWING

JOY

Head cases

Dr. Omalu first recognized something was amiss while performing an autopsy on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ former center Mike Webster (David Morse), who died at 50 from a combination of amnesia, depression and dementia. He was shocked to observe that the Hall of Famer had the brain of a very old man, so he decided to posthumously examine those of other National Football League vets who also passed away prematurely.

Lo and behold, the research revealed they all had suffered from CTE, ostensibly as a result of the pounding their skulls had taken on the field. Unfortunately, when Dr. Omalu subsequently attempted to go public with the his findings, he was threatened and discredited by the army of lawyers and quacks hired by Commissioner Roger Goodell (Luke Wilson) to protect the NFL’s image.

Thus unfolds “Concussion,” a David vs. Goliath saga reminiscent of “The Insider” (1999), the similarly-themed expose recounting the real-life ordeal of the intrepid whistleblower who took on the Tobacco Industry when it was still hell bent on denying any link between smoking and cancer. An

See “CONCUSSION,” page 12

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The New England Conservatory Millennium Gospel Choir.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BOSTON

The Millennium Gospel Choir performs its annual Christmas concert

By SUSAN SACCOCCIA

N

ow in its ninth year, the annual Christmas concert of the New England Conservatory Millennium Gospel Choir at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston has become a cherished holiday tradition for both the audience and the choir.

Friday night, at the first of two sold-out performances, the joy of the choir was apparent as they proceeded on stage. When they began to sing, their joy overflowed and enveloped the audience.

Forming three rows on the stage, the choir, a visible mix of races and ages, wore black outfits accented by the men’s red ties and the women’s red stoles.

Also on stage were the musicians, drummer Jamal Shoffner, keyboardist David Langford and his brother Gerald on bass.

The all-volunteer ensemble, including its musicians and directors, is one of those special Boston

institutions that presents the city at its best. Drawing accomplished singers from church choirs throughout Greater Boston, its founding directors, including faculty of the New England Conservatory, formed the choir in 2000 to give praise and prayerful welcome to the coming of a new age.

The New England Conservatory Millennium Gospel Choir has performed in venues throughout

the region, including NEC’s Jordan Hall and the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs as well as Old South Church, at the inauguration of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

This year’s reunion at the MFA Boston was marked by joy as well as sadness, as the choir acknowledged the loss of cofounder Patricia Dance, who died in November. The choir dedicated the concert to Dance, who was also the choir director of St. Paul AME Church in Cambridge.

Performing as pianists and directors were Renese King, associate director of music at Union United Methodist Church; David Coleman, director of Tufts University Gospel Choir and minister of music at Greater Framingham Community Church; and two choir co-founders: Herb Jones, director of the Boston University Inner Strength Gospel Choir, and Donnell Patterson, minister of music at St. Paul A.M.E. Church.

Patterson, wearing red eyeglass frames and a red cummerbund, was a lively MC for the program, which showcased the varied individual and collective talents of all on stage.

Opening with “We Sing Praises To Our King,” a hymn by Marshall Carpenter and Carol Cymbala, the choir displayed its full power as, directed by Deborah Fair, their voices ascended to a harmonious high tide of sound.

Herb Jones directed his own composition, “In the Beginning.”

His arms and hands stretching and bending with each note, Jones guided the choir through the song’s blend of prayer and R&B groove as soloist Carolyn Saxon sang a tender conversation with God. Debbie Greene directed a highly percussive “Joy to the World,” in an arrangement by Dan Williamson

See CHOIR, page 12

12 • Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

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Will Poulter discusses his role in ‘The Revenant’ IF YOU GO

By COLETTE GREENSTEIN Winner of the 2014 Rising Star Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, actor Will Poulter has been steadily working on his craft since his debut in director Garth Jennings’ 2007 comedy “Son of Rambow.”

The British actor, who also starred in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” in 2010, has leapt from across the pond to acting stateside. He played the lovable and socially awkward teenager Kenny Rossmore opposite Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis in the film “We’re The Millers” and last year starred as Gally in the film adaptation of “The Maze Runner.”

On Christmas Day, the moviegoing public will see Poulter co-starring in the biggest film of his career to-date, “The Revenant,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Poulter plays Jim Bridger, the real-life frontiersman, trapper, scout, and guide who explored and trapped in the western part of the U.S. in the 1800’s. The film is directed by director Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who won an Academy Award last year for his film “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).”

Poulter felt a bit intimated at the prospect of being in the movie, especially working with DiCaprio and Hardy “who are far more experienced than myself,” says the actor who was in Boston earlier this month to promote the film.

“It felt like a bit of a test. I was

‘Concussion’ continued from page 11

interesting factoid which bears mentioning is that “The Insider” was directed by the aforementioned Michael Mann.

“Concussion,” however, was directed by Peter Landesman (Parkland). He adapted it to the screen with the help of investigative journalist Jeanne Marie Laksas from “Game Brain,” an article she published about the cover-up in the October 2009 issue of GQ magazine.

Landesman surrounded Smith

“The Revenant” opens in select cities on Christmas Day and nationwide on January 8.

PHOTO: KIMBERLEY FRENCH/TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX

Will Poulter portrays legendary mountain man Jim Bridger in “The Revenant.” always mindful that it was quite a big stage to be on and it was going to be for me, the biggest challenge yet. I found that the challenge was so great and there was so much to do day to day that there wasn’t actually room for the anxieties that I arrived with. I had to box those.”

The epic adventure saga is inspired by true events and tells the tale of legendary explorer and mountain man Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) who is brutally mauled by a bear while on an expedition, then is abandoned and left for dead by fur trapper John Fitzgerald (Hardy). with a talented cast, starting with the gifted Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Omalu’s feisty wife Prema. The dramatis personae also includes Oscar-nominees Alec Baldwin (for “The Cooler”) and Albert Brooks (for “Broadcast News”), as well as Hill Harper, Richard T. Jones, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Eddie Marsan.

But make no mistake, “Concussion” is a marvelous Will Smith vehicle, one that he’ll undoubtedly get to drive for the duration of awards season, possibility all the way to the Oscars on Sunday, February 28, 2016.

Through sheer will and determination, Glass sets out on an unimaginable 200-mile trek seeking revenge on Fitzgerald. Motivated by his love for his Native American wife and son Hawk, Glass endures what becomes an unbelievable fight for survival and ultimately, triumph of the human spirit.

Poulter was drawn to the role of Bridger because it sparked an interest in “playing someone who was bridging the gap between boy and man through such difficult circumstances.” He found it interesting to think about “how that

choir

continued from page 11 that featured strong drumming and pulsing piano strokes.

Before conducting a sing-along medley of carols, David Coleman told the audience, “We’re living in a dark time. But we bring good news. The people standing behind me and this music tell us that we are not alone. Our mission and message is that we are all one.”

A warm solo by Jeffrey Thomas began the majestic Jules Bartholomew hymn, “God Made Me.” At first, Patterson playfully leapt about as he directed the choir, distracting from the

natural period of maturity that we all go through whether you’re male or female; how you would experience that in this kind of environment with such difficult decisions to make that conflict with survival instinct and with the duty you feel to do your job, respond to orders, and accept rank and hierarchy,” adds the actor.

A young man himself who begins the expedition a bit naïve and trusting, unknowingly, Bridger is on his own journey of self-discovery.

“The Revenant,” which was shot in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and solo. But then he let the power of the chorale take over as both Thomas and the ensemble delivered its surging refrain, “I’m a conqueror, I’m victorious, I won’t be stopped; I’m a believer, I’m an achiever, I won’t be blocked.”

Joyful noise

Coleman returned to the stage to direct “Jesus is the Man 8,” part of his multiyear, ongoing project to create a suite of songs reflecting on the character of Jesus Christ. Vicki Zelski and Suzanne Buell were the performance’s two fine soloists. Beuell’s ecstatic delivery earned audience shouts and applause.

Renese King was both soloist

in Argentina, mirrored the bitter and harsh conditions that Glass and the other fur trappers actually lived through during that time.

Poulter wasn’t quite aware of how physically tough it would be to film the role. “I guess I had a basic level of fitness but I had little to no experience with that kind of weather.

I felt very fortunate to actually face the real weather conditions, shoot on location, always in natural light, all of these things made the experience very, very real.”

In preparing to play Bridger, the young actor was able to find plenty of information on the explorer. “I guess I was lucky in a sense that Jim Bridger went on to be quite kind of a famous and noteworthy frontiersman, mountain man, so there was a little bit more information on Jim than most. And that made my research process easier.”

The experience of living as Bridger did, in the bitter, harsh conditions of the American West not knowing whether you were going to live or die at any moment, was very real for the actor.

“Alejandro had this brilliant way of kind of making Bridger so real. You find yourself feeling what your character feels, almost accidentally, subconsciously. It’s not such a science as it kind of occasionally can be. It’s just very, very real and it’s just about playing the situation for what it is. I was grateful for that.” and director for the choir’s rendering of “Emmanuel,” a hymn

by Norman Hutchins.

Bringing the evening to a rousing conclusion, Patterson deftly directed the choir and soloist Carl Corey in “Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah — A Soulful Celebration,” an arrangement

by Mervyn Warren, Michael O. Jackson and Mark Kibble that injects Handel’s 1741 oratorio with gospel and R&B verve.

The concert concluded with a Richard Smallwood classic, “Total Praise.” Herb Jones led the soaring delivery of the song, dedicated to Patricia Dance, his hands and fingers sculpting the sounds into a single prayer of 200 voices.

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Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13 Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

Latino elected officials gather at State House LEGAL LEGAL LEGAL

By YAWU MILLER When Jeffrey Sanchez was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, he was one of three Latinos serving in that body. Across the state, few Latinos held any elected office.

Now there are seven Latinos in the Legislature, and in the most recent elections, Latinos won seats on city councils and school committees in cities and towns throughout the state.

Meeting with a group of about 50 Latino elected officials, Sanchez marked the progress Latino candidates have made.

“We’ve increased by 300 percent in five years,” he said.

Working with other Latino officials Sanchez convened the State House meeting to welcome the new elected members and let them know what resources are available to them.

The meeting included presentations from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community and the National Association of Latino

Elected and Appointed Officials.

State Representative Byron Rushing said the growing number of Latinos in the State House prompted the caucus of black legislators to change its name to the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.

“It was clear to us that it made the most sense to bring the Latino and African American caucuses together,” he said. “It’s an important alliance. We have to keep it together and it has to get stronger.”

Rushing also noted that black, Latino and Asian elected officials in Boston meet regularly.

National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Executive Director Arturo Vargas said the proliferation of Latinos in elected office in Massachusetts is mirrored in communities around the country, as more and more Latinos reach voting age.

“Latinos are making electoral gains all over the country,” he said, pointing to cities ranging from Seattle, where two Latinos were elected to the city council, and Wilder Idaho, where voters elected an all-Latino city council. “It’s happening everywhere.”

BANNER PHOTO

State Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez addresses a gathering of Latino elected officials at the State House.

Yancey

to Boston residents.

“Charles Yancey, I am because you are,” Jackson said. “You were the first elected official I met in my life.”

Many councilors thanked Yancey for sharing the knowledge he amassed during his decades on the council, coaching them on everything from parliamentary procedure to the intricacies of the state budget.

continued from page 1 children during school hours, but it would take another half-hour to go through the other unfinished business I have here, so I won’t do it.”

Yancey did, however, take time to highlight his final report as head of the council’s Post Audit Oversight Committee, which reviews city spending, hiring and contracting.

“I decided to focus on the issue of disparity in this report, because there was scant mention of that in the other financial reports which are supposed to consider all aspects of city government,” he said.

Family support

Years of service

Yancey, who was elected in 1983, has served the most consecutive terms of any councilor in the body’s 193-year history. He and at-large Councilor Stephen Murphy, who has served 18 years, were honored

by Mayor Martin Walsh and fellow councilors. Walsh gave both councilors silver Paul Revere bowls and thanked them for their service.

“I want to thank you for pushing and fighting for what you believe in,” Walsh said, addressing Yancey. “Never passing up your values. That’s something that’s very important to all of us.”

Walsh and council members also praised Yancey for his advocacy for the new Mattapan branch of the

BANNER PHOTO

Constituents, political activists and elected officials, including state Rep. Gloria Fox (foreground), gathered in the City Council’s Iannella Chamber for District 4 Councilor Charles Yancey’s last meeting.

Boston Public Library, the Mildred Avenue community center, the Area B3 police station, refurbished parks and playgrounds, and other infrastructure improvements.

At-large Councilor Ayanna Pressley noted that Yancey, as a 12-year-old boy, wrote a letter to

then-Mayor John Collins, requesting that he build a playground in the vacant lot across the street from his Roxbury home.

“The playground became his first political victory, and he never stopped,” Pressley said.

District 7 Councilor Tito

Jackson teared up as he praised Yancey for his ordinance banning the city from contracting with firms that did business with the apartheid regime in South Africa and his work on the Boston Jobs Residency policy, which mandates that construction jobs be awarded

Sitting in the risers behind Yancey were members of his family.

The seating section to his right was filled with his constituents, political activists and other supporters. Also in attendance were State Representatives Evandro Carvalho, Gloria Fox and Russell Holmes.

In his parting remarks, Yancey urged his colleagues to support Mayor Walsh — “He has a very difficult job” — and the students and teachers in the Boston schools.

He also urged council members to hold the Walsh administration and the people of Boston accountable.

“I believe that this body is stronger when it endeavors to not only hold the administration accountable, but when we hold the city accountable,” he said. “After all, this city of Boston belongs to all of us.

It’s not the exclusive property of any gender or race. After all, all of us share the cost of government.

We should participate in the decision-making of government.”

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS The MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY (Authority) is soliciting consulting services for MPA CONTRACT NO. L1375, TERMINAL B – AIRLINE CONSOLIDATION AND ENHANCEMENT, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EAST BOSTON, MA. The Authority is seeking a qualified multidisciplinary consulting firm or team, with proven experience, to provide professional services including architecture, engineering, construction management and commissioning for the enhancements in Terminal B to accommodate American Airline consolidation of operations. Project encompasses new construction and renovation of existing spaces. The scope for both the arrival and departure levels will entail apron modifications to accommodate widebody aircrafts, checkpoint enhancements, reconfiguration of ticketing, build-out of concession space, build-out of new space, holdroom and public spaces modifications. The Consultant must be able to work closely with the Authority and other interested parties in order to provide such services in a timely and effective manner.

The 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

LEGAL exceed $15,000,000.

A Supplemental Information Package will be available, on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, 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 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at the Capital Programs Department, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128. At this session, an overview of the project will be provided, the services requested by the Authority will be described, and questions will be answered.

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

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. The Consultant shall specify in its cover letter that it has the ability to obtain requisite insurance coverage.

This submission, including the litigation and legal proceedings history in a separate sealed envelope as required shall be addressed to Houssam H. Sleiman, PE, CCM, Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs and received no later than 12:00 Noon on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at the Massachusetts Port Authority, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, Suite 209S, Logan International Airport, East Boston, MA 02128-2909. Any information provided to the Authority in any Proposal or other written or oral communication between the Proposer and the Authority will not be, or deemed to have been, proprietary or confidential, although the Authority will use reasonable efforts not to disclose such information to persons who are not employees or consultants retained by the Authority except as may be required by M.G.L. c.66.

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

14 • Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. L1354-C1, CENTRAL HEATING PLANT CONDENSER WATER ISOLATION VALVES, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128-2909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016, immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly.

NOTE:

PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CENTRAL HEATING PLANT, 600 TERMINAL E EXTENSION, EAST BOSTON AT 11:00 AM LOCAL TIME ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2015.

The work includes INSTALLATION OF NINE (9) NEW ISOLATION VALVES IN THE EXISTING CONDENSER WATER SYSTEM, REPLACEMENT OF SELECTED CONDENSER WATER PIPING, AND ASSOCIATED HANGERS, SUPPORTS AND FITTINGS IN THE CENTRAL HEATING PLANT. Bid documents will be made available beginning WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2015.

Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form.

In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract General Bidders must submit with their bid a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and an Update Statement. The General Bidder must be certified in the category of MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. The estimated contract cost is THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($ 370,000.00).

Bidding procedures and award of the contract and sub contracts shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 44A through 44J inclusive, Chapter 149 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

LEGAL

LEGAL

required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or a cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid.

The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater.

The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of TEN MILLION DOLLARS ($10,000,000). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details.

This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor’s Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246).

The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000.

A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer’s or a cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid.

Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals.

The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and / or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following:

The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of $1,000,000.00. Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details.

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INVITATION TO BID

BID NO.

DESCRIPTION

DATE

TIME

*WRA-4152

Opacity Monitoring System

01/04/16

2:00 p.m.

**OP-316

RFQ/P Energy Advisory Services

01/08/16

11:00 a.m.

*WRA-4154

Purchase of One (1) New Holder Tractor

01/08/16

12:00 p.m.

**7499

RFQ/P Managed Security Services

01/29/16

11:00 a.m.

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

email

request

The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000.

Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals.

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. AP1523-C1R, FY 15-17 AUTHORITY-WIDE DOORS AND WINDOWS REPAIRS, BOSTON, BEDFORD, AND WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 021282909, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2016, immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly.

NOTE:

PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT (ABOVE ADDRESS) AT 11:00 A.M. LOCAL TIME ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2015.

The work includes PROVISION OF LABOR, MATERIALS, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO MAINTAIN, REPAIR AND REPLACE GLASS SYSTEMS ON AN “AS NEEDED” BASIS OVER A TWO (2) YEAR TERM AT ALL MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY FACILITIES LOCATED IN BOSTON, WORCESTER, AND BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority’s Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form.

Bid documents will be made available beginning THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015.

In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract General Bidders must submit with their bid a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and an Update Statement. The General Bidder must be certified in the category of DOORS AND WINDOWS.

Docket No. SU15P2986EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Georgia Mae Sharpe Date of Death: 12/06/2012 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Elbert M. Sharpe, Jr. of Boston, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Elbert M. Sharpe, Jr. of Boston, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration.

IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/14/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

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

Date: December 09, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15P2973EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Augusta Edward Dent Also known as: Augustus E. Dent Date of Death: 12/03/2013 To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Leonard D. Dent of Boston, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Leonard D. Dent of Boston, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration.

IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/14/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

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

Date: December 09, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15P3050EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Robert L. Tabb, Jr. Date of Death: 09/15/2015 To all interested persons:

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

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department

to:

No filed sub bids will be required for this contract.

This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor’s Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246).

The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.

Docket No. SU15P2744EA

Estate of Claude Madeleine Marie Pessailhan Also Known As Claude Madeleine Marie Graham, Claude M. Graham, Claude Graham Date of Death May 9, 2015 INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE

The estimated contract cost is THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($300,000.00).

To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Paul L. Graham of Stuart, FL a Will has been admitted to informal probate.

A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are

Paul L. Graham of Stuart, FL has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond.

A Petition for Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Robert L. Tabb, III of Randolph, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that Robert L. Tabb, III of Randolph, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsupervised administration.

IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/14/2016. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an Affidavit of Objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you.

UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration.

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

Date: December 14, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15D2063DR

Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing Raymond, Clara

vs.

Bastien, Joel

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: Clara Raymond, 13 Sandpiper Lane, Boston, MA 02124 your answer, if any, on or before 02/25/2016. If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer, if any, in the office of the Register of this Court.

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

Date: December 16, 2015

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

Thursday, December 24, 2015 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL

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

Niva Cruz

vs.

Nelson Montas, Jr.

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

208, Section 1 B. 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: Niva Cruz, 63 Mascot St. #2, Dorchester, MA 02124 your answer, if any, on or before 01/14/2016.

If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer, if any, in the office of the Register of this Court.

HELP WANTED

Acton Affordable Rental Housing 2—two bedroom apartments by lottery Rent: $1,373, utilities not included

Docket No. SU15D1899DR

Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing

REAL ESTATE

The Meadows at Acton, 39 and 41 Gabriel Lane Public Information Meeting 6:30p.m., Tuesday, January 5, 2016 Public Safety Bldg, 371 Main Street Application Deadline February 2, 2016

1 1/2 Baths One Car Garage Approx. 1600 sq.ft.

Pet Free

MAX INCOME 1—$48,800 2—$55,800 3—$62,750 4—$67,900

Language Assistance avail upon request, at no charge.

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

New Jobs In Fast-Growing

Application available online at: www.mcohousingservices.com

HEALTH INSURANCE FIELD!

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

Date: October 29, 2015

Companies Now Hiring MEMBER SERVICE CALL CENTER REPS Rapid career growth potential

Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

$ STIPEND DURING 12-WEEK TRAINING Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU15C0518CA In the matter of Obaid Ullah Safi of Boston, MA

NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME To all persons interested in a petition described: A petition has been presented by Obaid U Safi requesting that Obaid Ullah Safi be allowed to change his name as follows: Obaid Musazada IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON 01/14/2016.

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

Date: December 11, 2015 Felix D. Arroyo Register of Probate

REAL ESTATE

Eagle Brook Village in Wrentham Affordable Housing Lottery www.s-e-b.com

This is a lottery for the 25 affordable Single Family Homes being built at Eagle Brook Village. These 25 homes will be sold at affordable prices to households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income.

The first affordable homes will be ready in late 2015.

All affordable homes have master bedrooms with walk-in closet, Harvey double-hung Low-E Insulated Glass windows, laundry closet/room (washers and dryers not included), garage parking for one car, an unfinished basement, tile in bathrooms, laundry room/closet, kitchen and mudroom, and carpeting in the bedrooms and living room. The 3BR and 4BR homes have two zones and the 2BR age-restricted units have one zone of forced hot-air heating and central air conditioning.

Wollaston Manor Senior Living At It’s Best

The Maximum Household Asset Limit for the 3BR and 4BR homes is $75,000. The Maximum Household Asset Limits for the 2BR AGE-RESTRICTED HOMES is $275,000 (which includes equity in a dwelling to be sold).

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

Call Sandy Miller, Property Manager

#888-691-4301

Program Restrictions Apply.

Parker Hill Apartments Brand New Renovated Apartment Homes Stainless Steel Appliances New Kitchen Cabinets Hardwood Floors Updated Bathroom Custom Accent Wall Painting Free Parking Free Wi-Fi in lobby Modern Laundry Facilities

Two Bedrooms Starting at $2200 888-842-7945

SUBSCRIBE to the banner

call: 617-261-4600 baystatebanner.com

At least one household member must be age 55 or older to qualify for a 2BR (Age-Restricted) home.

For more information on the Development, the Units or the Lottery and Application Process or for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, please visit: www.s-e-b.com/lottery or call 617.782.6900x2.

A Public Info Session will be on Jan 13th, 2016 at 6 pm in the Sweatt Meeting Room in Fiske Public Library (110 Randall Road, Wrentham). The lottery will be on February 23rd, 2016 at the same location.

Applications and Required Income Documentation must be delivered, not postmarked, by 2 pm on February 2nd, 2016 Applications and Info Packets also available in the Fiske Public Library (110 Randall Road, Wrentham) Hours: Tu-Th 10-8, F 10-5, Sa 10-4

ADMIRALS TOWER CO-OP & CONSTITUTION CO-OP SENIOR LIVING AT ITS BEST! Affordable senior apartments located on the beautiful grounds of Admiral’s Hill in Chelsea, and on the Freedom Trail in Charlestown. These active senior housing co-ops are within walking distance to, shopping, banks, churches and are on MBTA bus lines.

Features such as…...

• Large studio and 1 bedroom apartments • Scenic views of the Boston skyline • Plenty of space for outdoor relaxation • Emergency Response Person living on site, on call • On site laundry facilities and air conditioning • Large community room with many social events

HS diploma or GED required.

Free YMCA membership for you and your family while enrolled in YMCA Training, Inc. Call 617-542-1800 and refer to Health Insurance Training when you call

Rent is based on 30% of income (income limits apply) to qualified seniors 62 and older and to younger persons, must be at least 18 or older, who are mobility impaired requiring the special design features of accessible units.

Call 1-800-225-3151 • www.csi.coop

Are you interested in a

Healthcare CAREER? Project Hope, in partnership with Partners HealthCare is currently accepting applications for a FREE entry level healthcare employment training program.

Program eligibility includes: • • • • •

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

For more information and to register for the next Open House please visit our website at www.prohope.org/openhouse.htm or call 617-442-1880 ext. 218.

TOWN OF EASTON POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER The Town of Easton is accepting applications for a qualified individual to fill the position of Communications Dispatcher, 32 hours per week. Minimum Qualifications: High School graduation or equivalent plus one year of experience in a general clerical position involving working with the public; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Certification of C.J.I.S system user and certification in Enhanced 911 systems through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required. Previous experience as a Public Safety Dispatcher is preferred.

Duties include but are not limited to receiving 911 emergency phone calls, business phone calls, radio dispatching for Police, Fire and EMS, operating the IMC dispatch computer system, record keeping and other related tasks.

Position requires candidate to work any one of three shifts, including holidays, nights, weekends and overtime as needed. This is a union positon and compensation is $19.23 per hour with excellent benefits as well as shift differentials.

Required applications can be downloaded at www.easton. ma.us under the “Residents” tab and then “Employment Opportunities”. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and job application to Town Administrator David Colton, 136 Elm Street, Easton, MA 02356 no later than December 30, 2015.

The Town of Easton is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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FREE TRAINING FOR THOSE THAT QUALIFY

Six 4BR Single Family Homes for $235,300 Nine 3BR Single Family Homes for $217,700 Ten 2BR Age-Restricted Single Family Homes for $194,600

Maximum Household Income Limits: $48,800 (1 person), $55,800 (2 people), $62,750 (3 people), $69,700 (4 people) $75,300 (5 people), $80,900 (6 people), $86,450 (7 people), $92,050 (8 people)

91 Clay Street Quincy, MA 02170

Are you a “people person?” Do you like to help others?

Full-time, 12-week training plus internship.

Job placement assistance provided.

PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS.

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