Bay State Banner 2-20-2014

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Candidates enter sixweek sprint for 5th Suffolk seat ........pg. 3

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BPS seeks edge in teacher hiring process Martin Desmarais

Real estate broker Kobe Evans says demand for Roxbury real estate is high and inventory is low. Yet many sellers seek to list Roxbury properties with addresses in different neighborhoods. (Banner photo)

Roxbury real estate values depressed by historic stigma Yawu Miller Roxbury’s real estate market is booming, according to brokers who sell listings in the Boston neighborhood. But entrenched perceptions that Roxbury is a black neighborhood and lingering concerns that Roxbury is dangerous conspire to suppress home values.

For real estate broker Kobe Evans, the negative perceptions of the neighborhood surface when sellers list the address of Roxbury properties as Jamaica Plain or the South End, more desirable areas.

“Even on Williams Street in Dudley, people will say this is the South End,” Evans said.

The shifting of Roxbury’s

boundaries to demarcate race lines and dictate real estate values is not new. Neighborhood boundaries began shifting when the black community moved from Beacon Hill to Roxbury in the early decades of the 20th century.

Despite changing demographics that have seen Roxbury’s black population drop to 51 percent, some whites are still reticent to buy or rent in the neighborhood.

Residents of Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and the South End attend the same schools and ride the same public transit system. But real estate values in Roxbury are considerably lower than those in its surrounding neighborhoods.

In many cases, the perceptions of Roxbury as a dangerous neigh-

borhood are rooted in the way crime is reported.

In the 1980s and ‘90s, when former Banner Managing Editor Robin Washington worked in Boston, for a variety of news outlets, Roxbury was often a code word for black.

“I can’t tell you how many broadcast reports began with ‘a Roxbury man,’” he says, noting that often, the subjects of stories on crime were actually residents of Dorchester, the South End or Jamaica Plain. “You never heard them say, ‘a South Boston man.’

You can’t get into anybody’s head, but I think it was an easy shorthand that writers or reporters could latch onto.”

Roxbury, continued to page 8

Officials at Boston Public Schools are looking to improve the odds in their competition with other cities and towns for the best teachers.

Job one is hiring teachers earlier. According to Ross Wilson, head of the newly formed Boston Public Schools Office of Human Capital, Boston has traditionally posted jobs and hired teachers in the summer before every school year, which is a disadvantage compared to other cities and towns that hire teachers in the spring. The plan now is to start posting jobs on March 1 and begin hiring after that.

“We have, in the past, hired the majority of our staff — about 85 percent of our teachers — in July and August and that has been frustrating to us as a school system because we want to make sure we are attracting the best candidates to Boston Public Schools and that our current teachers and our future teachers all know when they have a job and they know that as early as possible,” Wilson said. “We have lost great candidates to other school systems because they do it earlier.

They hire in early spring.

“What we have done is create an opportunity to hire early,” Wilson added. “We hope to hire 75 percent of our teachers in March and April.”

In a school system that has

almost 4,500 teachers, with at least 300 positions available every year and over 800 positions expected to be open this year, it is crucial not to lose so much ground to school systems in other cities and towns, according to Wilson.

BPS officials want to make sure that the teachers who want to stay teaching in Boston and those who would like to find a job teaching here can consider these jobs at the same time as others.

Wilson also stressed that BPS must increase the diversity of its teachers in order to reflect the diversity of the city’s students to help meet their cultural and linguistic needs. According to data from BPS officials, of the c i t y ’s 4 , 4 1 5 teachers, 21 percent are black, 10 percent are Hispanic and 6 percent are Asian. The student population is currently 40 percent Hispanic, 36 percent black and 9 percent Asian.

The earlier hiring process will allow BPS to compete even better for more diverse teachers.

Ceronne Daly, BPS Director of Diversity Programs, explained that looking for teachers who have diverse backgrounds or speak different languages narrows the pool dramatically and letting other schools hire the best candidates long before Boston even posts its jobs has made it very difficult for the city to hit its goal of having teachers who can match

“We have lost great candidates to other school systems because they do it earlier.”

— Ross Wilson

BPS, continued to page 17

Business leaders discuss opportunities, challenges in Boston Martin Desmarais On Monday night the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center hosted a Black History Month community forum that featured an impressive panel of speakers examining how Boston can be more effective at providing economic development opportunities for businesses run by people of color.

The biggest message was clear — talking about economic strategies is not enough, decisive business

development action for minority-run businesses is needed.

Darryl Settles, president and founder of WiSe Urban Development and board member of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, set the tone for the evening with some daunting numbers.

He pointed out that Hispanic-owned business account for only one-tenth of 1 percent of all total business revenue in Massachusetts; African-American forum, continued to page 18

Boston Redevelopment Authority Director of Planning Kairos Shen (r) makes a point during the Boston Means Business panel discussion. Looking on are (l-r) Suffolk University Professor Richard Taylor, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Chairman James Rooney, Roxbury Technologies CEO Beth Williams and State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry. (Martin Desmarais photo)

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Heritage Guild honors 19th century luminaries

Retired Boston University Professor and author Adelaide Cromwell has led efforts to commemorate the lives of prominent black Bostonians (Banner photo) Yawu Miller When Adelaide Cromwell arrived in Boston in the 1940s, the history of the city’s African American community was all but forgotten, with the stories of prominent 19th century blacks gathering dust in out-of-print books and century-old newspapers.

The African Meeting House on Beacon Hill was an abandoned building, with a faded Grand Army of the Republic sign still affixed to its door.

“There was no indication that blacks had built it or lived in that neighborhood,” Cromwell said.

A sociologist with degrees from Smith College, University of Pennsylvania and Radcliffe College, Cromwell began researching the histories of Boston’s black abolitionists, businessmen and civic leaders and identifying their former residences. In 1975, The Heritage Guild was born through the efforts of Cromwell and 14 other black women who have worked to preserve and commemorate the 19th

century black community.

“The history of Boston’s black community is so overwhelmingly important, given the size of the community,” Cromwell said. “These people were known within their time, but people forgot them.”

Heritage Guild member Beverly Morgan Welch says the group’s work to preserve and commemorate the histories of Boston’s black historical figures is “an extremely important contribution, not only to Boston’s history, but to the nation’s.”

“African American historical sites are often lost, physically as well as in history,” said Welch, who is executive director of the Museum of African American History, which is housed in the Abiel Smith School, adjacent to the African Meeting House on Beacon Hill.

Among those commemorated by Heritage Guild plaques are: David Walker (1785-1830), who in 1829 published the seminal “Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World,” urging blacks to actively resist slavery and countering contemporary arguments against abolition with sound reasoning. The work is widely recognized as having a major influence on black and white abolitionists active in the coming decades.

Maria W. Stewart (1803-1879), a controversial essayist, lecturer and religious activist who gave the first publicly delivered speeches by an American woman on politics and women’s rights.

John Sweat Rock (1825-1866), a

physician, dentist and lawyer who was the first African American to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842-1924), a civil rights leader, editor of the Women’s Era Journal, member of the New England Women’s Press Association, charter member of the Massachusetts Suffrage Association and co-founder of the influential League of Women for Community Service. She was the wife of George L. Ruffin, the first black judge in Massachusetts.

The homes of Boston’s prominent 19th century blacks dot the Beacon Hill neighborhood where Boston’s black community was centered in the 1800s and make the city’s black history concrete, according to Morgan Welch.

“You get a sense of these people and these events taking up physical space in our nation’s history,” she said. “It’s a very different reality than hearing about a place in time where something happened 200 years ago. The buildings themselves very much help to embody the history and the people who made history in the nation.”

Cromwell, who grew up in Washington D.C., said the heritage guild grew out of black women’s groups she and other members had been part of in the ‘70s.

“We had all belonged to national women’s clubs,” she said. “The women here were not so interested in the frivolity and social aspects of these clubs.”

Guided by Cromwell’s passion for black history, the women agreed to work to document Boston’s black presence.

Other than a monument to Crispus Attucks, the patriot who became the first to give his life in the cause of the American Revolution and the black Civil War soldiers commemo-

rated in the bas-relief of their white commander, Col. Robert Gould Shaw, there was little to document the historical presence of blacks in Boston.

“I’m not a historian, but I have a great respect for history and think every group deserves to have its history made known,” Cromwell said.

“When I came to Boston I was astounded that Boston’s black history had not been made known.”

Once a residence has been documented, the Heritage Guild has to clear the plaque with the Boston Architectural Commission and, more importantly, the current owners of the residence.

“One family objected,” she said.

“But, by and large, the owners have been very positive.”

Cromwell has spent much of her personal time documenting the histories of elite African Americans.

She turned her 1952 Radcliffe doctoral dissertation on Boston’s elite blacks into a book published in 1994, titled “The Other Brahmins.”

More recently, she completed a family history documenting the Cromwells in America from 1692 to 1972 in “Unveiled Histories, Unvarnished Memories.”

Cromwell, who began a lifelong friendship with future Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah when the two were college students in Philadelphia, was a co-founder of the African Studies Department at Boston University in 1952 and founder of the Afro-American Studies Program there in 1969.

Now 94 and retired, Cromwell is keeping busy in her Brookline home. She recently published a book about her aunt, Otelia Cromwell, the first black woman to graduate from Smith College in 1900.

And she and the Heritage Guild are working on two more plaques.

Candidates enter six-week sprint for 5th Suffolk seat Yawu Miller With just six weeks to corral voters in a notoriously low-turnout district, the four Democratic candidates likely to run in the special election for the 5th Suffolk District have their work cut out for them.

They have until next Monday (Feb. 24) to turn in signatures for the seat. The primary, which will likely determine the victor in the solidly Democratic district, is set for April 1. And on the day of the general election, April 29, signatures for a spot on the ballot in the November election are due.

Carlos Henriquez won with 719 votes, squeezing out Lawton by just 43 votes.

Because the April 1 primary will be a special election, turnout could easily be half of that seen in 2010.

With so few votes and so little time, the three declared candidates reached by the Banner last weekend were going door-to-door, active voter lists in hand, snow be damned.

“It’s a sprint,” Johnson says of the six-week push to the primary.

“The timeframe is so short, you have to have laser-focus communicating what you want to accomplish and how you want to get it accomplished,” Charles says.

of the issues community residents are concerned about to inspire residents to vote, according to Paulo De Barros, chairman of the board of Cape Verdean Community Unido.

“If the candidates run exciting campaigns and address the issues people care about, it might bring people to the polls,” he said, De Barros listed jobs, youth

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

jobs, education and violence prevention as key issues of concern to voters in the 5th Suffolk District.

While those issues fall under the purview of city government, state officials control funding and create the laws the govern employment, education and criminal justice. A strong voice in the State House can make a big difference in the district.

Evandro Cavalho

Born in the city of Praia on the island of Santiago in Cape Verde, Carvalho moved to Dorchester at the age of 15 to live with his mother after his father died in Cape Verde.

“I knew no English,” he says.

“My mother worked three jobs just to make sure we had our basic needs met.”

Three years after arriving, Carvalho finished at the top of his class at Madison Park High School, went on to graduate from UMass Amherst and Howard University School of Law. He practiced as an assistant district attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, working on cases in the gun court before moving on to Liberty Mutual, where he worked in claims defense before leaving to run for office. election, continued to page 6

“The person who wins will be the one who knocks on the most doors.”

— Evandro Cavalho Those who have pulled nomination papers for the special election include attorney Evandro Cavalho, state official Karen Charles, sales professional Jennifer Johnson and school teacher Barry Lawton.

They will be contending for a pool of votes many expect will be significantly slimmer than the 2,023 that turned out in the 2010 election that former state Rep.

“The person who wins will be the one who knocks on the most doors,” says Cavalho.

Lawton did not respond to requests for an interview.

The candidates will have to get their message across to a heterogeneous community of blacks, Cape Verdeans, Latinos and whites.

In addition to running strong grassroots campaigns, the candidates will have to have a command

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Veteran political activist Karen Charles has lived most of her life in the 5th Suffolk District. She and the other candidates running for the seat have six weeks to corral voters. (Banner photo)

4 • Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

Established 1965

Quality public education a critical national challenge Athletes in the Olympics have the benefit of knowing quite a bit about their competitors and the looming contest. That is not the situation in the work-a-day world. People usually have to perform against faceless standards of excellence. When students are in school they are usually even unaware of their ultimate goal except that they understand the value of achieving high grades in their courses.

Just about everyone would like to attain the American Dream — substantial income, social status, and perhaps even wealth. With the technology based global economy changing so quickly, it is difficult to know precisely what is the best path to success. It is universally acknowledged, however, that a solid education is essential. And that means post graduate study in college or technology training.

Schools provide one of the earliest competitive environments. Social planners understand that public education is generally deficient in the United States. American students often perform at less than accepted academic standards. Invariably the reason given is the failure of black and Latino students to do well. Indeed there is some truth to that, but whites are also deficient according to general international standards.

Every three years the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests 15-year-old students from about 65 major countries on math, science and reading. The results from the 2012 tests which were released last December indicate that the U.S. is losing ground.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Americans are by no means “number one.” Since 2009, the U.S. fell in rank from 25th to 31st in math, 20th to 24th in science and 11th to 21st in reading. At the top of the list in performance are China, Korea and Japan. With an 18 percent population of blacks

and Latinos, Massachusetts was the only state with promising results in the 2012 PISA test.

There has been a general decline in high school performance in the U.S. and it is not restricted to blacks and Latinos. New York City established tests for admission to their eight exam schools, such as Stuyvesant and the Bronx High School of Science. In 1971, when the system was first established, 80 percent of those qualifying for admission were white. Only 6 percent were Asian. In the most recent year, 72 percent of those who excelled on the exam were Asian although Asians are only 12.5 percent of New York’s population.

Clearly public education in foreign countries is improving. A cadre of well-educated foreign workers will be competing with Americans in future years for choice industrial and professional jobs. Communications in today’s global economy is less complicated so the location of job sites is less restricted. Now businesses can readily be established abroad.

Another emerging development to make the competition even more challenging is the growing acceptance of distance learning. Companies such as edX are developing Internet college curricula that will be available to anyone in any country who has Internet access. Unique American university programs will soon be wholesaled around the world.

In the past, American companies have depended on the special attributes of the American work force. With the prospect of universal higher education, American workers might soon be less special. The advancement of public education in America is no longer merely a race issue. The survival of America as a singular economic power is at stake. All Americans must join together on this issue just as our athletes at the Olympics are joined together as a national team.

Young Americans face a new and challenging economic competition.

With the latest killing of an unarmed black teenager by a trigger-happy Floridian, black folk are again questioning how society devalues black lives over those of whites.

True, the jury convicted the shooter of attempted murder for shooting into the car. But somehow, the jury could not agree that actually killing a defenseless black boy is actually murder.

How could the jury not see through the shooter’s story that he saw a shotgun in a carload of unarmed teens? And how could a juror think that killing an unnamed kid could go unpunished even if the shooter did genuinely mistakenly think he saw a gun?

You could forgive anyone for being cynical about the Dunn verdict, along with George Zimmerman’s not-guilty verdict and the lame prosecution in that case. If the shooter in either of

WHAT’S INSIDE

Black Panther Party members began confronting trigger-happy cops in California in the late 1960s? The state’s uber-lax gun control laws were tightened up some, with support from the National Rifle Association and then-Gov. Ronald Reagan.

Maybe we need a new Black Panther Party.

L. E. Davis Dorchester

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these cases was black and the victims were white, would the mostly white juries come to the same conclusions?

I’m sure I’m not alone in assuming they would not.

Were we dealing with cases in which whites were gunned down by blacks in similar circumstances, I’m sure there would be a lot more scrutiny of the stand your ground laws in Florida and other states. Anybody recall what happened when armed

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ROVINGCamera

OPINION Tough sledding to end the U.S.’s disgraceful felon voting bans Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Attorney General Eric Holder was diplomatic when he said that the time to end the full or partial bans in all but two states on ex-felons voting has long passed. The bans are little short of medieval and disgraceful at best and at worst.

The states that keep the bans on their books give real meaning to the term second-class citizenship for the millions of ex-felons who are barred from the polls or must go through tortuous loops to get their voting rights restored. To no surprise, a disproportionate number of these felons are African Americans and Holder admitted as such.

What Holder didn’t say is that these are the men and women who in decades past were victims of racist poll taxes, literacy laws and political gerrymandering.

They were driven from the voting booths by physical harassment, threats and intimidation by bigoted sheriffs and voter registrars. As heinous and deplorable as that was, it at least made some perverse sense only because blatant Jim Crow racist voter disenfranchisement had a clear political intent and that was to preserve white political power in and outside the South. That intent almost certainly was still very much a factor in the political calculus of the GOP in the immediate decades after the collapse of legal segregation. Studies showed that the majority of the ex-felons, if allowed to vote, would overwhelmingly vote Democratic. Those votes could easily have made the difference for Democratic candidates in close state and national elections in some states.

That calculus seems to have been scrapped by more and more Republicans, including ultra-conservatives, who now say the bans should be modified or tossed. The apparent sea change is due in part to the worry of many Republicans over the outlandish and bloated costs of keeping tens of thousands of mostly non-violent felons warehoused in jails and prisons and in part over a sense that felon voting bans make a terrible mockery of the paper American admonition that once a felon pays their debt to society they are entitled to a second chance.

It’s a matter of simple fairness.

But paying lip service to fairness is no consolation to the black men and women who wind up behind bars. The Felon voting bans Sentencing Project, a criminal justice make a terrible advocacy group, estimates that in the next few years 40 percent of black men mockery of the paper may permanently be barred from the American admonition polls in the states with this restriction. that once a felon pays In the past, it was easy to call this a their debt to society good policy that makes it even rougher on lawbreakers. But it never was. The they are entitled to a U.S. is now the only country in the second chance. world with blatantly discriminatory laws that ban a person from voting for life based on a criminal offense. Many of the men that are stripped of their right to vote are not convicted murderers, rapists or robbers. Most are not denied the vote because of a court imposed sentence, since no states require that a judge bar an offender from voting as part of a criminal sentence, because of the seriousness of the crime or severity of the sentence.

Many offenders don’t even serve a day in prison. They may have been convicted of auto theft, or for first time drug possession, and given probation, or a fine. Since most are young men when they committed their crime the chances are good that many won’t become career criminals, but will hold steady jobs, raise families and become responsible members of the community. Yet as long as society slaps on them the legal and social stigma of being a one-time criminal they are deprived of the basic constitutional right to vote and relegated to second-class citizenship in perpetuity.

Holder had barely finished his call to the states to dump the felon voting bans before Republican governors in Iowa and Florida made it clear that they did not see the felon bans as racially-biased or a blight on society, and that they had no intention of touching the laws. It’s worth noting that Holder’s call for an end to the bans is just that — a call. The attorney general has absolutely no authority to compel the states to take action on the bans. Worse, there have been few court challenges from civil liberties organizations. And despite the slightly shifting tide in public opinion about drug laws, sentencing, and even a rethink of treatment and rehabilitation for non-violent offenders, few public officials are willing to be cursed as “soft on crime,” and most state legislatures have ignored the issue. Michigan Democrat John Conyers has touted a bill over the years aimed at lifting the prohibition on ex-felon voting, but it never gained any traction in Congress.

The only way ex-felons can get their voting rights restored is to seek a pardon from the governor. However, this is a dead end for most. So, few ex-felons even bother to request a pardon.

Holder did the right thing by attempting to verbally whipsaw the states to play fair with ex-felons and end their disenfranchisement. But for all his good intentions, the fight to end the nation’s disgraceful ex-felon vote bans will be tough sledding.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is a frequent MSNBC contributor. He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on American Urban Radio Network. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KTYM 1460 AM Radio Los Angeles and KPFK-Radio and the Pacifica Network. Follow Earl Ofari Hutchinson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/earlhutchinson The Banner welcomes your opinion. Email Op-Ed submissions to:

yawu@bannerpub.com Letters must be signed. Names may be withheld upon request.

What do you think the United States can do to remain competitive in the global economy?

We’ve got to invest in new technology, move away from dependency on oil and educate the youth.

They need to go back to “made in the USA.” They’ve moved too much manufacturing to other countries. It’s hard to compete with slave labor.

We as American people have got to get it right. We’ve stopped innovating in aerospace and fallen behind in education.

Daniel Phifer

Wayne Green

Glenn Lee

Create more jobs and provide better health care and education.

Stop spending money we don’t have. We have too much debt.

A better education system. The inner city schools aren’t good enough.

Gerry Thomas

Brenda Tuggle

Vaughn Brooks

After School Teacher Grove Hall

Unemployed Dorchester

Retired Dorchester

Service Coordinator Dorchester

Retired Charlestown

Driver Dorchester

INthe news

Michael Curry

Attorney Michael Curry, president of the Boston NAACP, was elected to the NAACP National Board of Directors during the organization’s annual meeting in New York City on Feb. 15. The 64-member board, chaired by Roslyn M. Brock, is the governing body of the association, which has hosted many of the architects of the Civil Rights Movement and has recently welcomed a new generation of civil rights leaders.

Curry will be the first representative from the Boston branch and the New England area in over 35 years.

His election to the national board of the NAACP is expected to translate into a revived NAACP presence in New England, as well as a northeast voice at the table dealing with critical issues regarding education, economic development, public safety, health disparities and civic engagement.

Curry brings over 20 years of experience in government, community and public affairs to the national board, as well as his experience as a Massachusetts attorney and leader

of the nation’s first charted branch of the NAACP. “I am deeply honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lend my experience, training and passion for equality and justice to this great association,” Curry said. “The NAACP is uniquely positioned to eliminate longstanding racial barriers and to deliver on the promise of this great democracy, and I’m blessed to join an amazing group of leaders

from throughout this country who are focused on that objective.”

“I am pleased to welcome Michael Curry to the NAACP National Board of Directors. Curry represents the next generation of NAACP leadership that will continue to advance our 105-year-old association in the fight for social justice. I look forward to working with him in his new capacity,” said Roslyn M. Brock, chairman of the NAACP.

6 • Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

from his mentor, former U.S. Attorney Wayne Budd.

Karen Charles

Attorney Evandro Cavalho, a former assistant district attorney, says he wants to expand opportunities for teens in his district. Cavalho, who came to Dorchester from Cape Verde at the age of 15, graduated from Madison Park High School at the top of his class. (Banner photo)

election

continued from page 3

Carvalho says he wants teens in the 5th Suffolk District to have the same opportunities he had.

He says he will work to improve the education system, including vocational programs, and expand access to early education.

Noting that his mother recently moved to Brockton where housing is more affordable, Carvalho says he would like to help

Bostonians earn more by supporting the current legislative push for an increase in the minimum wage.

“In Boston, the cost of living keeps going up, but incomes aren’t keeping up,” he says.

Carvalho, who volunteers with the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, says he would also make affordable housing a priority.

“We need more ways for people with low and moderate incomes to buy homes in Boston,” he says.

Carvalho touts an endorsement

Born in Toronto, Charles grew up in the 5th Suffolk District and has been working on political campaigns, including former state Rep. Charlotte Golar Richie’s first 1994 campaign. A member of the Ward 5 Democratic Committee, Charles has been steeped in the civic life of the district for many years.

Charles’ roots in the district run deep. Her parents and grandparents lived in the district and she has lived there most of her life.

“I’m running because I’m rooted in this district,” she said.

“I care about my community.

This community deserves the best, and I want to help.”

Charles says she wants to work on public safety, education, mental health and strengthening the area’s business district.

She says education reform is key to improving the quality of life in the district, pointing to the Holland School, which has been slated for state takeover due to poor student performance on standardized tests.

“I want to work on taking that school off the failing list and making it one of the best schools in the Commonwealth,” she said.

“Once we have a better school, it will have a direct impact on all the issues in our community.”

Marty Walsh, making hundreds of voter contacts for each last year.

A business development manager who works in Medford and volunteers with the Dorchester Arts Collaborative and the Greater Bowdoin Geneva Neighborhood Association, Johnson says she is running because she wants to work full time on community issues.

“I’d like to be in a better role to help in the district,” she said.

“Working with Felix reawakened my passion for politics and policy.”

Johnson says she would like to work on expanding economic opportunities for residents of the

5th Suffolk District.

“The greatest need a lot of people have in our districts is jobs and opportunity,” she says.

Johnson also point to factors that block people from getting jobs as issues she would like to work on, like businesses that conduct credit checks on prospective hires.

“People don’t realize they might be overlooked because they’ve gone through a hard time,” she says. “I think a lot of the issues we see in the district are people struggling with — at the bottom line they go back to lack of economic opportunity for people.”

Jennifer Johnson

Johnson moved to Massachusetts from Louisiana 25 years ago.

She has been living in Dorchester since 2006 and is a member of the Ward 5 Democratic Committee.

She worked on the mayoral campaigns of Felix G. Arroyo and

Sales professional Jennifer Johnson, who volunteers with the Dorchester Arts Collaborative and is active on the Ward 15 Democratic Committee, says she wants to work full time in the 5th Suffolk District, where she has lived since 2006. (Banner photo)

BOSTON STATE COMMUNITY TRUST, INC. REQUEST FOR GRANT PROPOSALS The Boston State Community Trust, Inc. a subsidiary of the Boston State Hospital Citizens Advisory Committee, Inc. is requesting grant proposals from community-based organizations located in the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, and Roslindale. This funding round invites proposals in the following funding categories: Education & Job Training Initiatives; Youth Recreation & Social Development Initiatives; and Mental Health Initiatives. A maximum of $10,000.00 per organization will be distributed in this funding round.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) will only be available for distribution to interested parties via electronic mail on Monday, March 3rd between 8am and 6:30pm. NO REQUESTS WILL BE PROCESSED AFTER 6:30 P.M. On March 3rd, interested parties must submit an electronic mail request for a copy of the RFP. An electronic version of the RFP will be forwarded to each respondent. The request should be sent to: bjohnson@bevcoassociates.comcastbiz.net.

The Boston State Community Trust reserves the right to suspend, withdraw, or amend the aforementioned RFP without prior notice.

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

Attorney Gen. asks states to restore felon voting rights Frederick H. Lowe U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who recently called for the restoration of voting rights for felons who have served their sentences, said the restriction has a disparate effect on African Americans. Felony-voter disenfranchisement began after Reconstruction so whites could diminish the voting strength of free black men, Holder said.

“Throughout America, 2.2 million black citizens — or nearly one in 13 African American adults — are banned from voting because of these laws,” Holder said on Tuesday during a speech at Georgetown University Law Center.

“In three states — Florida, Kentucky and Virginia — that ratio climbs to one in five. These individuals and many others — of all races, backgrounds and walks of life — are routinely denied the chance to participate in the most fundamental and important act of self-governance. They are prevented from exercising an essential right. And they are locked out from achieving complete rehabilitation and reentry — even after they’ve served time, and paid the fines, that they owe.”

Holder said an estimated 5.8 million Americans are prohibited from voting because of a previous felony convictions.

The Brennan Center for Jus-

tice at New York University Law School reported that Iowa, Florida and Kentucky permanently prevent convicted felons from voting unless the government approves individual rights restoration.

Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Mississippi, Nevada, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming also permanently prevent at least some convicted felons from voting unless the government approves individual rights restoration.

Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin restore voting rights upon completion of a sentence, including prison, parole and probation. Nebraska, however, has a two-year waiting period.

California, Colorado, Connecticut and New York automatically restore voting rights after release from prison and discharge from parole. Probationers may vote.

The District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Utah restore voting rights upon release.

Maine and Vermont do not

prevent people with a criminal conviction from voting.

The Brennan Center called Holder’s announcement “A Great Step Forward on Restoring Voting Rights.” Holder’s announcement calls for restoring

voting rights to those who have completed probation, parole, and paid all fines, said Myrna Perez, director the Brennan Center Democracy Program.

Holder noted in his speech that former convicts who are allowed to vote are less likely to return to prison because they have more of an investment in society.

Felony disenfranchisement has a long history in this country.

“After Reconstruction, many southern states enacted disenfranchisement schemes to specifically target African Americans and to

diminish the electoral strength of newly freed population,” Holder said. “The resulting system of unequal enforcement — discriminatory application of the law — led to a situation, in 1890, where 90 percent of the southern prison population was black. And those swept up in this system too often had their rights rescinded, their dignity diminished, and full measure of their citizenship revoked for the rest of their lives. They could not vote.”

New American Media

Gov. Deval Patrick joins Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera to tour Everett Mills, a growing business center for innovation and manufacturing in Lawrence. (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office)

8 • Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

Roxbury’s boundaries buried in town history

An 1800s granite marker, here under 10 inches of snow, delineates the historical boundary between Roxbury and Boston at the corner of Ball and Washington streets. In recent years, Massachusetts Avenue has been widely recognized as the boundary between the South End and Roxbury. (Banner photo) Yawu Miller The racially driven cartography to determine black neighborhoods has added much confusion to the location of neighborhood borders, but Boston’s neighborhood boundaries have always been confusing, even to indigenous Bostonians.

Much of the confusion has to do with the manner in which the city’s neighborhoods were assembled.

Directly south of Boston

Roxbury

continued from page 1

Stick-ups and house break-ins are a common occurrence in the South End, where low-income housing developments abut million dollar condos whose wellheeled residents are more likely to carry cash and high-end jewelry than the average Roxbury resident. Nonetheless, the South End remains a preferred area.

Yet Roxbury housing values trail far behind surrounding neighborhoods. While the median sales price in Roxbury’s 02119 zip code was $221,000 between Oct. 13 of last year and Jan. 14, in Jamaica Plain it was nearly twice that at $440,000.

In the South End/Lower Rox-

proper is the South End. East of the South End is South Boston.

North of Boston’s North End neighborhood is East Boston, the northernmost neighborhood in the city. Of course, the West End is not the westernmost part of Boston. That’s Brighton, three miles to the west.

In many ways, Roxbury’s history is a microcosm of Boston’s convoluted geographical history.

State Rep. Byron Rushing, president of the Roxbury Histor-

ical Society, says the only reliable boundaries for Roxbury are the political boundaries of the town that date back to its incorporation in 1630 and its separation from West Roxbury in 1851.

“There are lots of confusing things that happened since 1630, but generally those boundaries can be found today,” Rushing says.

In 1630, Roxbury was connected to Boston by a narrow spit of land running from the Dudley

bury zip code 02118, the average sales price was $660,000. And in Dorchester’s 02124 zip code, which runs from Bowdoin Street to Lower Mills, the median sales price was $335,000.

The stigmatization of Roxbury is tied to historically negative perceptions of blacks, according to state Rep. Byron Rushing, president of the Roxbury Historical Society.

“The over-arching issue has been race,” he says. “The name Roxbury became associated with the black community. Whites who were living in different parts of Roxbury began using other names for where they lived.”

Whites living in the Parker Hill section of Roxbury began identifying their neighborhood as Mission Hill, dropping the name Roxbury.

Sections of Roxbury were lost to Jamaica Plain at this time as well.

And the line between Roxbury and Dorchester moved east.

White flight from black areas was not unique to Boston. But the plasticity of Boston’s neighborhood lines allowed whites to essentially secede from Roxbury.

Despite the historically negative perceptions of the neighborhood, Evans is having little trouble selling homes in Roxbury.

“There’s not a lot of inventory, but there’s high demand,” he says.

“People are coming over from Brigham Circle and the South End. People gravitate here because of the location and because the price point is lower.”

Much of Evans’ clientele is African American, but whites are buying as well.

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Burial ground to the Shawmut Peninsula. Rushing points to the corner of Ball and Washington streets, at the entrance to Ramsey Park.

“If you go out there, you can find the remnants of the marker that denoted the boundary,” he says. “Unfortunately, the top got knocked off and stolen sometime after the 1930s.”

Follow the Muddy River south to Jamaica Pond, then run along the current boundary between Boston and Brookline all the way to the Dedham Line and you have the western boundary.

The historical Roxbury included Mission Hill, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale and West Roxbury. It was separated from Dorchester by a brook which now runs in a culvert between Columbia Road and Blue Hill Avenue, and originally terminated in the South Bay near the Shirley Eustice House on Shirley Street.

Things got complicated when Roxbury began to urbanize in the mid-1800s, incorporating as a city in 1846. The more rural West Roxbury split off from Roxbury in 1851, taking with it the section of Jamaica Plain south of Atherton Street.

Things got even more complicated with the filling of the Back Bay, much of which was still claimed by Roxbury in the late 1840s.

“There was a huge fight,” notes Rushing.

The settlement dictated that the land southeast of where Massachusetts Avenue. meets the Charles River would remain as part of Roxbury. Run a line from the boundary marker by Ramsey Park to that point on the Charles, and it’s clear that Northeastern

University, the Museum of Fine Arts and much of the Fenway sit well within the historical boundaries of Roxbury. The Longwood Medical area and Harvard’s Medical School and School of Public Health also sit in Roxbury.

But ever since Roxbury was incorporated into Boston in 1868, perceptions of the neighborhood’s boundaries have been in flux.

The Parker Hill section of Roxbury became dominated by Irish immigrants who began calling the area Mission Hill, after the Roman Catholic basilica that was built there.

Mission Hill residents did not begin to reclaim the Roxbury name until the 1970s when tenants facing displacement by a Harvard University land-grab on South Huntington Avenue adopted the name Roxbury Tenants of Harvard As the black community expanded in Roxbury and the South End, blacks began calling the area southwest of Massachusetts Avenue Lower Roxbury, establishing a dividing line between the neighborhoods that persists to this day.

And when the U.S. Postal Service changed the name of the Grove Hall 02121 zip code to Dorchester, arbitrarily lumping the Roxbury neighborhood in with Four Corners and Bowdoin Street, it further confused popular notions of where Roxbury is.

Brigham Circle and the Fenway portions of Roxbury were lopped off with the designation of the 02115 zip code as Boston. Although Northeastern University President Joseph Aoun’s office is in the 02120 Roxbury Crossing zip code, the university uses the Boston address.

“I’ve sold a lot of properties to younger white women who have lived in Jamaica Plain,” he says.

“There’s not much concern over the safety of the neighborhood if

And, according to Rushing, people living in Roxbury’s neighborhoods are now more likely to claim Roxbury.

“Compared to the ‘40s and the

“There’s not much concern over the safety of the neighborhood if they feel the price is right.”

— Kobe Evans they feel the price is right.”

While white buyers zeroed in on Fort Hill in recent years, whites are now buying everywhere in the neighborhood.

‘50s, the image of Roxbury has improved a lot,” says Rushing.

“People don’t argue with you any more when you say their neighborhood is part of Roxbury.”

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

Roxbury’s boundaries have been in flux since West Roxbury split off from the City of Roxbury in 1851, taking with it much of Jamaica Plain and what is now Roslindale. At that point, Seaver Street and Atherton Street served as the city’s border with West Roxbury. Then as now, the Muddy River separated Roxbury from Brookline. When the Back Bay was filled in in the 1850s, the cities of Roxbury and Boston negotiated a border that gave Roxbury the land between the Muddy River and what is now Massachusetts Avenue. At

Columbus Avenue, Roxbury’s boundary with the South End went south to just north of where Melnea Cass Boulevard now runs. Roxbury’s boundaries extended into the South Bay, which then was really a bay. The line with Dorchester, which remained unchanged from 1630 when the Puritan settlements were originally laid out, was a brook, now in a culvert which runs between Blue Hill Avenue and Columbia Road and emptied into the South Bay. (Annexation map courtesy of the Boston Redevelopment Authority).

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Annexation map shows historic city borders

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Danilo Perez weaves jazz tapestry of Panama past and present

Kevin C. Peterson Pianist Danilo Perez’s music presents complexity, exuberance and a definitive sense of place expressed through tone and rhythmic authority.

“Panama 500” is the most recent CD recording by Perez, an exacting, often didactic collection of tunes that touch on politics and cultural hegemony. It is, as most of his works, a unique jazz achievement — a post bebop meditation that explores one of South America’s important countries.

“Panama 500” is a both celebration and a lament. At once it is a musical history of the country, a chronicle of its people and their contribution to world culture and

invention. At the same time it is a tale of invasion and military conquest by the Spanish in the 16th century and the domination of the land’s indigenous people.

“Yeah, they discovered the Pacific,” said Perez, but he also noted that native people in the area were as advanced as the explorers Rodrigo de Bastidas and then, Christopher Columbus who found the country 500 years ago.

“Panama 500” examines the richness of the country using jazz as a vehicle. The results are 12 highly sophisticated musical pieces that demonstrate the vitality of the people of Panama — the Ngabe, Embera, Naso and Guna Indians — rendering them without treacly observation, but with an objectiv-

ity that is honest and precisely telling.

The Danilo Perez Quintet performed the entirety of “Panama 500” live to an enthralled and participatory audience at Scullers Jazz club in Cambridge on Saturday night.

There was much toe-tapping, head-bobbing and swerving of hips.

A significant contingent was present of Panamanians who travelled from their country to attend the concert.

“Panama 500” opens with “Discovery of the South Sea,” which gives an account of Panama before and during the early presence of Europeans. It is drawn with heavy colors depicting aspects of native music using the

human voice and the conga.

“Canal Suite” speaks to the country’s rich diversity and the creation of the Panama Canal waterway, which sparked the acceleration of interenational trade in the early 1900s. The dynamic score features the up-tempo interplay between violin, bass and guitar.

Perez is a sitting master at the piano. The son of a famous jazz performer in Panama, Perez decided on jazz early, attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Heavily influenced by Thelonius Monk, Perez’ playing is often sparse, sometimes slightly atonal and asymmetrical, causing the listener tension and expectation. His 1996 album, “Panamonk,” features his allegiance

to Monk — rarely using the base keys and always light, progressive and linear.

A professor at the New England Conservatory of Music, Perez lives in Boston.

Among the quintet present at the nearly two-hour event were Ben Street on bass, Adam Cruz on drums, Alex Hargreaves on violin and Roman Diaz on the conga.

“Panama 500” was released on the aggressively jazz-focused Mack Avenue label, which is based in Detroit and features other well-known jazz artists such as Kenny Garrett, The Christian McBride Trio and The Count Basie Orchestra.

This week Perez takes “Panama 500” across the globe for sets in Vienna, Austria.

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

14 • Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

Kevin Hart spearheads raunchy remake of ‘80s romantic romp

Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant also star in the remake of “About Last Night.” Loosely based on the 1980s original, the movie features Ealy and Bryant as a couple that decide to give a relationship a shot after a one-night stand.

Comic Kevin Hart and Regina Hall star in the now playing “About Last Night,” which is a remake of the 1980s film of the same name that starred Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. (Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures) Kam Williams Released in 1986, “About Last Night” revolved around the yearlong effort of a couple of Chicago yuppies, played by Rob Lowe and Demi Moore, to forge a solid relationship on the shaky ground of a one-night stand. The movie was adapted from “Sexual Perversity in Chicago,” a dialogue-driven

drama by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Mamet.

Loosely based on the original, a just-released raunchy remake of the same name is a romantic comedy ostensibly serving as a vehicle for popular comic-turned-actor Kevin Hart. After all, his character, Bernie, the sidekick in the source material, is now the leading man. Further-

more, the setting has been shifted to Los Angeles, where much of the humor caters to the African-American palate, since the principal cast members are now all black.

The film happens to be at its best when over the top Bernie’s talking trash. For instance, he brags about leaving a recent sexual conquest “edges nappy,” an inside joke

insinuating that the session was so steamy it had literally curled his partner’s straightened hair.

Directed by Steven Pink (“Hot Tub Time Machine”), the picture co-stars Regina Hall opposite Hart as his love interest, Joan.

Rounding out the principal cast are Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant as Danny and Debbie, the main couple played by Lowe and Moore in the original movie, who decide to give serious commitment a go.

At the point of departure we are introduced to Bernie and Danny, best friends and co-workers at a restaurant supply company. The former recounts a purely lustful escapade he shared with Joan prior to introducing the latter to her roommate. Danny goes gaga over Debbie and the cinematic table is set.

Bernie and Joan remain incessantly in heat, and can’t keep their hands off each other. By contrast, Danny and Debbie prove to be in-

trospective enough to move in together, buy furniture, adopt a pet and generally map out a future.

The plot thickens when Danny loses his job and ends up tending bar at Casey’s, a saloon frequented by his stalker ex-girlfriend, played

by Paula Patton. It doesn’t help that Bernie’s already been pressuring his suddenly-domesticated pal to revert to sowing his wild oats.

Regardless, the resulting relationship tensions still take a back seat to lighthearted banter in this superficial adventure laced with one-liners like, “If this b-- were any dumber, you’d have to water her.” The movie includes quickie cameos by NFL great Terrell Owens, as well as by Lowe and Moore courtesy of a clip from the ‘80s original.

The currently playing “About Last Night” is a bawdy variation on the theme that should establish Hart as a bona-fide box-office attraction.

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15

intheMix with Colette Greenstein

with Colette

Comedian Michael Che talks stand-up, SNL writing gig Depression. That’s how it came about. I was 26. Twenty-six is a strange age, at least for me.

I felt old and nothing was really working out. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I always wanted to try comedy. I went to an open mic place and watched everyone.

Some were so bad about it and some were so good. I tried it and I was bad at it but I felt I could do this.

When did you know you wanted to be a comic and were you the class clown?

Michael Che Laid-back, confident, comfortable, on the rise and funny are all words used to describe comedian Michael Che. Che has been performing stand-up since 2009, and in less than five years has shot up the ranks in the world of comedy. Known for performing five sets a night at various clubs in and around New York City, the hard-working Che was named one of the “50 Funniest People” by Rolling Stone magazine in January 2013, as well Buzzfeed’s “50 Hottest Men in Comedy” and Variety’s “Top 10 Comics To Watch.”

Che made his debut appearance on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2012, and in that same year he also created, wrote and starred in the web series “The Realest Candidate,” from online comedy network Above Average. Che plays himself on the faux talk show “The Henkle Factor.” He has also performed at various comedy festivals around the world including Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Comedy Central’s South Beach Comedy Festival. He was also a regular cast member on VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and has been featured on John Oliver’s “New York Stand-Up Show.”

In the spring of 2013, he was brought on as a guest writer for five episodes of NBC’s long-running sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” and in September of last year he was brought back, but this time as a regular writer on the show.

With a stage presence that belies his age and number of years performing stand-up, the native New Yorker often talks about growing up on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, gay marriage and gentrification of his old neighborhood. Che recently spoke with the Banner about his stand-up career and Saturday Night Live.

You started doing stand-up in 2009. How did that come about?

I always knew I wanted to be a comic. I just had bad stage fright. I wasn’t necessarily the class clown, but the class “smart-ass.”

Who influenced you?

Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Damon Wayans, Def Jam, Martin Lawrence and [Jerry Seinfeld documentary] “Comedian.” Seinfeld showed me the process of being a stand-up comic. I wanted to be one of those guys. That got me into the motivation of working the clubs. I would go to the

Comedy Cellar, where all those guys performed. I would hang out to see the guys talk sh--. They were kind of rock stars.

Last year you were named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “50 Funniest People,” and then two months later you become a regular staff writer on Saturday Night Live. How does that feel?

The Rolling Stone thing felt like a bizarre mistake and SNL felt like a scary moment. It’s like I have to show up and then they’re going to know that I don’t know sh--. It felt bizarre. It felt like a dream. I didn’t have a sketch background. I felt really lucky to be able to do it. It was really scary to be honest. Whenever I get an opportunity, I make sure to do it. I don’t want to embarrass the person who gave me the shot.

Now, I’m starting to settle in and feel that comedy is comedy.

When you get that first laugh, be

on par, and put on good stuff, you start to feel relaxed and feel more comfortable. The culture at SNL is about getting the funny out.

I recently read an article on Kristen Wiig and one of the things she mentioned about her time on SNL was that she basically worked every day of the week. Has that been your experience so far? And, if so, how do you find time to write your own material for stand-up?

It’s really tough. On the off weeks, you try to cram in as much stand-up material as possible. It takes me a week to unhook from the show.

How did working with Chris Rock on his new movie come about?

I’m not too sure. I think my agency called me to read for a script. When I got the call back to read with Chris Rock for the role, it seemed really weird. That was the first time I got to talk with him. It was doing a scene. It was scary as sh--. Working with him was insane. He was acting and directing. It was his writing and it was amazing. It was super cool. If I die tomorrow or quit comedy, I can tell the story and I can get a free beer.

Last August, you did 25 shows in 26 days at the Assembly Rooms during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

What was that like?

That was exhausting. It made me hate comedy for a little while.

It’s different over there. They have press and reviews. There were 10 or 12 reviewers at each show. I thought it was a place where I could work and build a show but I had a lot of fun. The crowds were great. It’s a different thing. It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone.

In the future, who would you like to work with?

I’m just excited to work. It would still be Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle and Damon Wayans.

Will you be appearing on Saturday Night Live any time soon?

I really enjoy writing a lot. I really like the position. I don’t need the extra pressure of being in the cast.

Michael Che brings his stand-up to Laugh Boston on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m., and for two shows on Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Tickets: $20 and $30 on Feb. 20; $25 and $35 on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22. To purchase tickets, go to www.laughboston.com.

16 • Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

COMMUNITY Calendar Thursday February 20

ParkSCIENCE Children’s Festival 10am - 2pm. William Devine Golf Course Clubhouse, 1 Circuit Dr., Dorchester. Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department invite families to the Franklin Park Golf Course Clubhouse for the ParkSCIENCE Children’s Festival.

The free Festival will provide fun during February school vacation week with indoor and outdoor activities including science experiments and activities, sledding and snow shoeing, arts, crafts, games, and more. For further information, please call 617-635-4505.

Petticoats at the Revolution 12:15pm. Join us to hear a remarkable story of tea and Revolution from the woman who rode through life with Paul Revere.

Actor and storyteller Joan Gatturna as Rachel Revere tells of the Boston Tea Party, the Midnight Ride and the Siege of Boston through the eyes of a woman who kept the home fires burning while her husband fanned the flames of rebellion. The character of Rachel Revere was developed with assistance from the staff of the Paul Revere House. Included with admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors & college students, $1 for children (6-18); free for Old South Meeting House and Paul Revere House members. Old South Meeting House, Museum & Historic Site, 310 Washington St., Boston.

World War I in the Historical Imagination of W. E. B. Du Bois Hutchins Center Lunchtime Talk: Chad Williams, Associate Professor of African and Afro-American Studies, Brandeis University, World War I in the Historical Imagination of W. E. B. Du Bois. For nearly 20 years, W. E. B. Du Bois labored on what he envisioned as the definitive history of black participation in World War I. During this period he traveled to France, amassed a treasure trove of documents and drafted a manuscript over 800 pages in length. However the book, titled “The Black Man and the Wounded World,” was never completed and today lies in relative obscurity. In this talk, Chad Williams tells the story behind arguably Du Bois’s most ambitious and yet unrecognized historical project. Williams explore the place of World War I in Du Bois’s historical imagination and what the history and memory of the war meant for African Americans more broadly. 12pm, Hutchins Seminar Room, 104 Mount Auburn St., 3R, Cambridge. Free and open to the public. Please feel free to bring a lunch.

“Black History/Art History” Lecture and Performance Series 5:30pm. John Peffer, Convener for Visual Arts and Associate Professor of Contemporary/ Non-Western Art, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Painting in the Vernacular: Portraiture, Photography, and the Performance of Intermediality in South Africa.

Discussion moderated by The-

resa Sims, Ph.D. student, History of Art and Architecture, Harvard University. Co-sponsored with the Provostial Fund for the Arts and Humanities, the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, and the Department of the History of Art and Architecture. http://black historyarthistory.tumblr.com/.

Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Room B-04, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge. Free and open to the public.

Interactive readings of Kadir Nelson’s “I Have A Dream” picture book Citi Performing Arts Center’s Education Department invites families to participate in empowering interactive readings of Kadir Nelson’s “I Have A Dream” picture book inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during February School Vacation Week.

The free “Interactive Readings: Stories Alive!” workshops will take place at local community centers, Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) sites and Boston Public Library branches across the city. Led by Citi Center’s Teaching Artist Toni Bee, the activities include readings of Kadir Nelson’s “I Have A Dream” with audience performance interactions, poetry workshops and take-home activities. All workshops are free and are appropriate for all ages. No registration is necessary. Friday, February 21: Boston Public Library, Dudley Branch (10am – 11am), BCYF Tobin (11:30am – 12:30pm). Saturday, February 22: Boston Public Library, Lower Mills Branch (1:30-2:30pm).

Friday

February 21 Fun and Games in the 1700s 10:30am – 12pm. For middling sorts of families, like the Reveres, it did not matter that Colonial Boston contained few toy stores, for they could rarely afford such luxuries. Instead, children ingeniously turned to common household items for toys, games, and entertainment.

Discover many adaptive uses for objects found in both historic and modern homes as you play games known and loved by generations of children. During a tour of the Revere House, children (and adults) search for beans, a thimble, straw, pieces of cloth and then try their hands at Snail, Jackstraws, and Beast-FishFowl and other popular colonial amusements. Participants will leave with directions for playing these and other games at home.

Each presentation is limited to 20 people. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Revere House at 617-523-2338.

Fee: $4.50 for children ages 5-10, and accompanying adults.

Price includes admission to the Revere House. On the Freedom Trail, in Boston’s historic North End, the Revere House was home to patriot and silversmith Paul Revere from 1770 to 1800.

Revere left from the house in 1775 to begin the ride that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized in the poem, Paul Revere’s Ride.

Built c. 1680, the Revere House

is the oldest house in downtown Boston. For further information about the Revere House, please visit www.paureverehouse.org.

Saturday February 22

The House I Live In Come to a film screening & community discussion on mass incarceration, the drug wars, and race. “45 million arrests, $1 trillion dollars, 40 years” Featuring a viewing of the award winning Sundance film “The House I Live In,” published by Charlotte Street Films (2013) and produced & directed by Eugene Jarecki. The film addresses issues of mass incarceration, America’s failed war on drugs, and communities of color. Danny Glover is one of the executive producers, and our own Dr. Charles Ogletree is a member of the cast. The film is considered one of the “most brilliant & provocative, and searing films of the year.” Discussion facilitated by Center for Church & Prison, Inc. Time: 3-6pm. Contact: Dr. Beverly Sealey, 617-661-1110. Where: St. Paul AME Church, Christian Life Center, 85 Bishop R. Allen Dr., Cambridge, Rev. Ellis I. Washington, Pastor/teacher. Organized by the Social Action Commission & the African Cultural Society. Free.

Sunday

February 23 Black Heritage Event Meet the “faces of freedom”!

Be transported by MLK’s prophetic words! Be uplifted through songs of trials & triumph! Miss Velma DuPont & The Toward Victory Company present “Toward Victory,” (the African-American historical saga in drama, dance, poetry & music). Performances will be at 4pm at Charles Street AME Church, 551 Warren St., Roxbury. Free parking! Reception!

Free-will offering. For more information, contact Ms. Scott: 508528-6326 / lcgmed@msn.com.

Tuesday February 25

Soul Food Junkies Celebrating Black History Month: To many African Americans, soul food is sacrament, ritual, and a key expression of cultural identity. But does this traditional cuisine do more harm to the body than it soothes the soul? This is one of many questions raised and explored by Filmmaker and Northeastern University alum, Byron Hurt in his documentary, Soul Food Junkies. Please join us for a screening which will be followed by a panel discussion around the topics of the African-American diet, food justice, health disparities, and visions of a healthier community. Screening and panel discussion, 6-8pm, John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute, Northeastern University, 40 Leon St., Boston. Panelists: Dr. Robert Hall, Professor, African-American Studies, Northeastern University; Vivien Morris, Registered Dietician and Director Nutrition & Fitness for Life (NFL); and Darryl Settles, Restaurateur and Owner, Darryl’s

Corner Bar & Kitchen. Sponsored by: Disparities Action Network and Center for Community Health Education Research and Service. Free and open to all.

Sorry Night Sorry Night with Gary Duehr & Jane Wang, Elijah Wald & Sandrine Sheon, and house band Dirty Water Brass Band. Presented by Foot A Push Entertainment. In preparation for that sorriest of seasons, the Lenten season, multi-media artist and poet Gary Duehr, joined by aluminum double bass player and performance artist Jane Wang, will guide us through the many possible ways that one can apologize for past transgressions [also handy for future ones]. Musicians Elijah Wald and Sandrine Sheon will be on hand to perform a New Orleans centric set with tunes from the fun, bawdy, and often down-and-out songbook.

And Dirty Water Brass Band will kick off the evening with a don’t give a damn routine. 8pm. Suggested donation at the door $10 or best offer. Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Sq., Cambridge, MA. For further information, www.lilypadin man.com, 617-955-7729.

Upcoming Through Barbed Wire presents 4th Friday Series: Reading of Prisoners’ Writings February 28. Monthly Reading of Prisoners’ Writings. Audience participation encouraged.

L i g h t re f re s h m e n t s o ff e re d .

Created and directed by Arnie King, www.arnoldking.org. Standard-size wheelchair accessible. Near T bus and train lines and Amtrak. First Parish Church Dorchester, 10 Parish St., on Meetinghouse Hill in Dorchester, rsvp throughbarbedwire@yahoo. com. Cost: donation.

Charles Trenet, le fou chantant Saturday, March 1, starting at 2pm, at Waltham Public Library, 735 Main St., Waltham, the French Cultural League of New England presents a free concert “CHARLES TRENET, le fou chantant” featuring beloved songs composed by France’s most popular singer of the 20th century. There will be a lecture preceding the music and a reception to follow.

All Stirred Up! Elementary school students from Neighborhood School in Jamaica Plain have concocted an original play, “All Stirred Up!” Synopsis: Incubating local food businesses can get a bit sticky when a shared commercial kitchen is the meeting ground. Will competitiveness or cooperation rule? Will a hoped-for Farmers Market be ready to launch? Students will share this recipe for community-building with story-telling and musical flair. Mainstage Theatre, Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury. Friday, March 7 at 7pm and Saturday, March 8 at 3pm.

Admission by donation.

Charles Trenet, le fou chantant Saturday, March 15, starting at 12pm, at Isaac Cary Memorial Building, 1605 Massachu-

setts Ave., Lexington, Voyages en Francophonie presents a free concert “CHARLES TRENET, le fou chantant” featuring beloved songs composed by France’s most popular singer of the 20th century. Voyages en Francophonie features a variety of cultural activities associated with French-speaking peoples the world over, including those from Algeria, Belgium, France, Haiti, Madagascar, Monaco, Morocco, and many more.

Arts Marathon Somerville-based OnStage Dance Company will present an Arts Marathon from 6:30 11:30pm Saturday, March 15, at its Somerville studio at 276 Broadway. For one night, the studio will be transformed into a theater, comedy club and music hall as we celebrate the arts, featuring more than two dozen acts in Dance, Music, Improv, Comedy and Visual Art. Guests must be 18 years of age to enter. A cover of $10 will go towards OnStage Dance Company, a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.onstage danceco.com/arts-marathon.html.

Ongoing Solidarity Works: Politics of Cultural Memory Solidarity Works explores how art and architecture can act as vehicles for community making, both real and imagined, and generate a sense of solidarity in contexts of conflict and crisis. Critical reflections on Islamic architecture and the politics of cultural memory are presented through multiple thematic clusters. Bridging art, architecture and history, Solidarity Works presents work in a variety of media, including textile, furniture, architectural sculpture, video, audio and networked productions. Featured is Aksamija’s prayer space design at the Islamic cemetery in Altach, Austria, winner of a 2013 Aga Khan Award.

Wolk Gallery, MIT School of Architecture + Planning. Through March 21. For more information visit http://sap.mit.edu/resources/ galleries/wolk_gallery/.

Young Artists: Artwork

by Cambridge Public School Students The Multicultural Arts Center presents Young Artists on view until March 28, in the Upper and Lower Galleries, exhibiting works by Cambridge Public School Students. The students participating in the exhibition range from grades K-12 and reflect a multitude of backgrounds. The show is a true example of the creativity and imagination from the Cambridge Public School Students and the immense young talent that we have in our backyard. In both galleries you will see a variety of different mediums used including graphite drawings, collage, watercolors, and ink washes (just to name a few). Multicultural Arts Center, Upper & Lower Galleries, 41 2nd Street, Cambridge. www. multiculturalartscenter.org/galler ies. Free and open to the public.

Regular Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10:30am - 6pm

The Community Calendar has been established to list community events at no cost. The admission cost of events must not exceed $10. Church services and recruitment requests will not be published. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF PUBLICATION. To guarantee publication with a paid advertisement please call advertising at (617) 261-4600 ext. 7797 or email sandra@bannerpub.com. NO LISTINGS ARE ACCEPTED BY TELEPHONE, FAX OR MAIL. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Deadline for all listings is Friday at noon for publication the following week. E-MAIL your information to: calendar@bannerpub.com. To list your event online please go to www.baystatebanner.com/events and list your event directly. Events listed in print are not added to the online events page by Banner staff members. There are no ticket cost restrictions for the online postings.

B

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17

BPS

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the needs of the students. She is very excited about the prospects that hiring earlier will bring about BPS’ diversity efforts.

“It enables us to reach out to individuals as they are making decisions and have them consider us,” Daly said. “When you talk about bringing in folks we are looking at recruiting locally, having different conversations with our undergrad and grad programs, going out to larger cities in which there are individuals that want to come to Boston and then looking at higher ed institutions that are focused on bringing Hispanic students into their communities and also historically black colleges and universities.

“By making a statement that we are posting jobs March 1, the

underlying statement is that we are going to hire you sooner,” she added. “The intent is: ‘Come to Boston, take a look at what we are doing and actually we are ready to make decisions earlier.’”

Wilson stressed that this is a new message BPS is sending to teacher candidates.

“We are changing our past practice. We don’t want you to leave our district and go work in a surrounding neighborhood.

We want you to live and work in Boston because this is a phenomenal place to live and a phenomenal place to work. And in the past it may have been frustrating for you to try and get a job in Boston, or you may have left because you were uncertain about your position,” Wilson said. “We want to be clear now that we are doing this earlier, that we are open for business and that are goal is early hiring and our goal is to have a staff that is highly effective and represents the racial,

LOOK FOR MORE STORIES AND UPDATES ON OUR WEBSITE

cultural and linguistic diversity of our students.”

Hardin Coleman, dean of the Boston University School of Education and a member of the Boston School Committee, is very encouraged by the hiring changes being made by BPS. “I think the district has made a

to Framingham or Brookline these kids will be in the BPS hopper,” Coleman said. “It will give [BPS] a lot of choices and a deeper richer pool … they will have more candidates to choose from.

“It will end up with the quality of the teaching pool in Boston improving significantly over the next

“I think the district has made a series of very smart moves.”

— Hardin Coleman series of very smart moves,” Coleman said.

According to Coleman, posting teaching jobs earlier and hiring teachers earlier will specifically attract more BU-trained teachers to Boston schools and will likely have a similar effect on graduating education students from other colleges in the area.

“They are eager to work in Boston and rather than losing them

two or three years,” he added.

Coleman said, with towns including Lynn, Quincy and Malden all hiring graduating teachers from local colleges in March and April, very few of Boston University’s graduating teachers would ever historically move right into BPS jobs. Now, though, he said that will change because many of the university’s students would love to stay in

Boston and a get a teaching job in the city — they just want to have these jobs lined up by May when the graduate.

Last November, BPS also adopted a new teacher hiring practice that gives individual schools more autonomy in hiring the teachers they think will be the best fit for their schools. Wilson said this also helps streamline the hiring process.

Interim Superintendent John McDonough gave Wilson and his staff the charge to take the reins on a revamp of Boston’s teacher hiring practices when he announced a “Teacher Diversity Action Plan” last month. The Office of Human Capital is currently developing a three-year plan to improve hiring and retention practices, with the earlier hiring timeline being the first big move in this direction.

BPS has also launched its first serious advertising campaign to attract more teachers. Ads can now be seen in publications including Education Week and the Metro, but also on MBTA vehicles and in subways. The efforts also include a new teacher hiring website, teachboston.org.

ANNOUNCEMENT

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owned businesses account for only two-tenths of one percent of all total business revenue in the state. Most minority-owned businesses in the state are so small that only one in 10 have employees; and of all minority owned businesses in the state fewer than

1 percent have revenues of more than $1 million.

“This is disturbing and it is not about lack of smarts, it is not about lack of capability, it is the lack of opportunities,” Settles said. “I hope these compelling statistics have given you a broader perspective about why these issues need to be addressed.”

Harvard Business School Professor Steven Rogers led the dis-

cussion, which featured addresses

by Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Mayor Marty Walsh. It also included a panel discussion with state Sen. Linda Dorcena-Forry, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Chairman James Rooney, Boston Redevelopment Authority Director of Planning Kairos Shen, Taylor Smith Properties Chairman and Suffolk University Professor Richard Taylor and

Roxbury Technologies CEO Beth Williams.

Harvard’s Rogers stressed that a thriving minority business community in a world-class city like Boston is essential.

“This is the great opportunity that Boston has and that is to make its minority business community the strongest in America. For this to happen there must be a partnership with the City of Boston, which is fast becoming a minority majority,” Rogers said. “The minority community has grown exponentially but sadly, while the minority population has grown dramatically, the city’s dollars spent with minority businesses has been embarrassingly low.”

Rogers estimates that Boston, which has a budget of about $2.6 billion, has spent less than 10 percent with minority businesses. He compares this to Chicago, which spent over 30 percent of its $8.3

point plan for Boston to bolster economic development for minority businesses. The first is to give minority businesses access to capital. The second is to make sure that graduates from local colleges, especially minorities, stay in Boston to work. The third is to provide an educational workforce for minority-owned businesses that ensures a new generation of workers that can help move companies forward.

“We need to make sure that government programs designed to encourage minority businesses remain funded,” Sen. Markey said. “Boston is growing. It’s bubbling. It’s bursting. You can feel this incredible energy now in Boston. We have a chance now to put together a plan as we move forward in this next generation.”

Mayor Walsh called the forum on economic development for minority businesses a very important

“We are committed to making Boston inclusive in every area. It is a matter of basic justice and our economic success as a city depends upon it.”

— Mayor Marty Walsh Gov. Deval Patrick — here with Carol Fulp, chief executive of the Partnership — and First Lady Diane Patrick were honored

by Eastern Bank with the Community Advocacy Award for their dedication to fighting for equal access and opportunity for all at the Museum of African American History in Boston. (Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office)

billion budget with minority businesses in 2013.

According to Rogers, it is important for the city to do business with minority businesses for several reasons. The first is that it is the right thing to do. The second is that doing business with minority firms means the city is now accessing all of the “best and the brightest.” And, lastly, because minority business have been shown, above all others, to create more jobs for other minorities.

“The largest employer of minorities is the government. The second largest employer of minorities are minority-owned firms,” Rogers said. “Thus thriving, high-growth minority-owned firms are good for cities because they create jobs for other minorities.”

Sen. Markey’s message was one of Boston’s need to continue to break down barriers for entrepreneurs of color particularly to access to capital that can help drive their businesses forward.

“We have not come as far as we have to come if we are going to provide the economic opportunities that allow each and every person in our country to be able to maximize those Godgiven abilities, which they have,” Markey said.

Markey suggested a three-

discussion and pledged the city’s support for such efforts.

“We are committed to making Boston inclusive in every area.

It is a matter of basic justice and our economic success as a city depends upon it. We cannot reach our potential unless we use the talent of all of our people,” Walsh said. “The people cannot contribute fully unless they have a level playing field. The way to do that is by creating avenues of access in every neighborhood — access to government representation, to corporate leadership, to higher education, to business ownership, to jobs and home ownership.

“You are having an important dialogue about how we will develop the future,” Walsh added.

“I am here to tell you that we as a city will be a devoted partner.”

Walsh restated his campaign pledge to have 50 percent of his cabinet people of color and to also have greater diversity at the department head level.

He also said that the city will work hard to drive economic opportunities beyond the city’s current business hubs and into Roxbury, Mattapan and Dorchester.

“In the end it is about empowering the entrepreneurial spirit that already exists in our comforum, continued to page 19

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19

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munities. We will be proactive in reaching out to the businessmen and women of color and supporting their dreams. We will strengthen small businesses in all of our neighborhoods,” Walsh said. “The first step to supporting people is understanding the challenges they face. As I said on my first day I am here to listen, to learn and to lead. With your help we will make Boston a place where everyone can climb the ladder of economic success.”

State Sen. Forry made a call to action, acknowledging that talk and strategy is not enough. She said that politicians need to listen more closely to people of color who own businesses and find out the barriers they are facing when it comes to opportunity and growth and establish clear policies that remove these barriers.

“It can’t just end after today or be addressed only on Black History Month or on Martin Luther King’s birthday. We have to make a concerted effort to say this is a priority,” Forry said.

She said there are legislative initiatives that can be undertaken to help businesses of color thrive in Massachusetts and establishing these needs to be a priority as well as making sure that any legislation enacted is followed.

“We know we can file legislation, but if there is no enforcement or no oversight then it falls to the wayside,” Forry said. “We need to hold folks accountable.

You need to hold us accountable and it is great that we are doing this today, but it can’t stop after this evening.

“In order to create real change there has to be a real public/private partnership, focused on diversity and creating access to economic wealth,” she added. “[And make sure] businesses are aware and knowledgeable about the process and what are the steps they need to take to participate.”

Roxbury Technologies’ Williams built on Forry’s call to action, but she also conveyed skepticism saying she has heard the promises in her decades of experience in the business world, but has seen little actual impact.

“I have been an entrepreneur for 11 years. I have had no government business,” Williams said.

She added that she is hoping with some new policies in place this will change.

“I think that we have a great opportunity right now and a great opportunity for us to support one another and really do call on our politicians that are here that they are going to step up because we are a minority majority city and we should be creating wealth in this city and have the same opportunities.”

Real estate developer and Suffolk Professor Taylor said he believes it will take a three- to fiveyear plan to see the city of Boston establish policies that will have an impact on the economic development of minority owned businesses.

For this economic impact to happen there needs to be a determined will by leadership to make it happen and a sustained mechanism to enact change, he said, calling out the Boston Chamber of Commerce in particular.

“The Chamber of Commerce in this town needs to get with the program,” Taylor said. “There

are no black CEOs in this town.

How are you going to tell [prospective minority professionals] that they should stay in our city past entry level jobs when there are no African Americans in the c-suites?”

Taylor concluded with remarks that he hopes Boston, and Mayor Walsh, can learn from Gov. Deval Patrick, who put in place significant minority leadership in his administration, which has driven policies that impact businesses and communities of color. He said he believes with a similar approach there will be an impact in Boston.

From Auto Repairs to Restaurant options we’ve got you covered.

Check out the

Marketplace on baystatebanner.com for local listings

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Commissioner William Evans swear in Superintendent Lisa Holmes during the Boston Police Department Command Staff appointment ceremony at the JFK Library in Dorchester. (Photo courtesy of the City of Boston)

Roxbury Community Forum: Telling Our Story Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 at 2:00 PM Dudley Branch Library 65 Warren Street Roxbury, MA

These photographs are from the exhibit, “Portraits of Purpose.”

All images copyright Don West/Fotografiks

Join us for a conversation about what makes the community of Roxbury a special place.

Share Your story. Pass it on. Light refreshments will be served.

Featuring: • Ekua Holmes, Fine Artist, Graphic Artist, EJ Designs • Yawu Miller, Senior Editor, Bay State Banner • Sarah Ann Shaw, Activist, Broadcast Journalist • Don West, Photo Journalist, Creator of the Exhibit, “Portraits of Purpose” • Kelley Chunn, Moderator, Public Relations & Marketing Consultant This program is supported by a grant from the Fellowes Athenaeum Fund of the Boston Public Library

Dudley Branch of the Boston Public Library www.bpl.org • 617/442-6186

20 20 •• Thursday, Thursday, February February 20, 20, 2014 2014 •• BAY BAY STATE STATE BANNER BANNER

Florida jury acquits man of murder of unarmed teenager Banner staff Michael Dunn, the Florida man who pumped nine shots into a car in Jacksonville, Fla., killing a teenager allegedly for playing music too loud, is facing a sentence anywhere between 20 and 60 years in jail for multiple counts of attempted murder.

But the Florida jury’s refusal to convict Dunn of the first-degree murder charge prosecutors sought has many African Americans again questioning the criminal justice system and the socalled stand your ground law in the Sunshine State.

Dunn’s dispute with the teenagers began when he asked them to turn down the music blaring from their car stereo.

Like George Zimmerman, who beat a murder rap in July

last year after killing an unarmed black teenager, Dunn argued he feared for his life when he opened fire on the car full of unarmed teenagers.

He told jurors he saw a gun in the car carrying 17-year-old Jordan Davis and three other black teenagers and said he heard Davis threaten to kill him. Yet he also testified that the music in the car in which Jordan was a passenger was “ridiculously loud” and a police investigation concluded no gun had been in the car.

Yet apparently at least one member of the jury of eight whites, two blacks, a Latino and an Asian believed Dunn’s story that he feared for his life as he squeezed off a total of 10 rounds in two volleys, the second of which came as the car Davis was in was fleeing.

Dunn was convicted of three counts of attempted murder for firing into the teenagers’ car.

Following the shooting, Dunn drove to a nearby hotel with his fiance, ordered a pizza and drank rum and cola. The following day, he drove to his home, 200 miles from Jacksonville, before eventually turning himself in.

The prosecution argued that Dunn fired into the car, not because he feared for his life, but because he felt disrespected by the teens, who refused to turn down their music at his request.

“That defendant didn’t shoot into a carful of kids to save his life.

He shot into it to save his pride,” said Assistant State Attorney John Guy, addressing the jury. “Jordan Davis didn’t have a weapon, he had a big mouth.”

The jury deliberated for 30

hours over four days.

The jury’s unwillingness to convict Dunn on a murder charge has led Florida activists, now including Davis’ parents, to push for a repeal of the state’s controversial stand your ground law, which makes it legal to use deadly force without first attempting to evade danger.

Predictably, the case has pundits from actor Wayne Brady to the Rev. Al Sharpton questioning whether the criminal justice system in the United States is ca-

Dunn’s jailhouse letters, excerpts of which have been published in newspapers and on blogs, are further fanning the flames.

In one letter, Dunn decries what he characterizes as a problack bias in the court system.

“It is spooky how racist everyone is up here, and how biased towards blacks all the courts are.

The jail is full of blacks and they all act like thugs.”

In another, he seems to advocate a strategy of killing blacks.

“That defendant didn’t shoot into a carful of kids to save his life. He shot into it to save his pride.”

— John Guy pable of meting out justice free from racial bias.

“In America — and especially in Florida — it is apparently impossible to murder a black male,” quipped comedian W. Kamau Ball.

“This may sound a bit radical, but if more people would arm themselves and kill these f---ing idiots when they’re threatening you, eventually they may take the hint and change their behavior.”

Be sure to check out our website and mobile site www.baystatebanner.com Gov. Deval Patrick celebrates the Commonwealth’s globally recognized Life Sciences supercluster at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ global headquarters. (l-r) State Rep. Nick Collins, Patrick, Vertex CEO Jeff Leiden, Mayor Marty Walsh and state Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry. (Governor’s Office photo by Taylor Nealand)

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

Docket No. SU14P0271EA

Citation on Petition for Formal Adjudication Estate of Marilyn Marie Lynch Also known as Marilyn M. Lynch Date of Death: 09/19/2012 To all interested persons: A petition has been filed by Marlene Kelsey of Stoughton, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order of testacy and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. And also requesting that Marlene Kelsey of Stoughton, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond.

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 03/06/2014. 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 date, action may be taken without further notice to you.

The estate is being administered under formal 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 recipients 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.

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

Date: February 04, 2014 Patricia M. Campatelli Register of Probate

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

Docket No. SU14P0288GD

Citation Giving Notice of Petition for Appointment of Guardian for Incapacitated Person Pursuant to G.L. c. 190B, §5-304 In the matter of Zaharia A Hassan Of Dorchester, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Siraad A Yusuf of Dorchester, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Zaharia A Hassan is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Siraad A Yusuf of Dorchester, MA (or some other suitable person) be appointed as Guardian to serve Without Surety on the bond.

The petition asks the court to determine that the Respondant is incapacitated, that the appointment of a Guardian is necessary, that the proposed Guardian is appropriate. The petition is on file with this court and may contain a request for certain specific authority.

You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 03/13/2014. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you. In addition to filing the written appearance, you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date.

IMPORTANT NOTICE The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer. Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person.

If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense.

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

Date: February 07, 2014 Patricia M. Campatelli Register of Probate INVITATION TO BID The Cambridge Center for Adult Education, the Awarding Authority, requests bids for the exterior restoration of the William Brattle House, a structure built in 1727 and listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The work consists primarily of the following: site drainage; roofing; exterior woodwork; and window conservation and restoration. The intent of this project is to make the building envelope sound and weathertight, while retaining as much as possible of the existing original or early building elements.

The project is partially funded with a grant from the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund through the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

All work must be performed in accordance with the documents prepared by Wendy Frontiero, Architect, 32 Abbott Street, Beverly, MA 01915 (tel.

617-290-8076), and must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. State law prohibits discrimination. Awarding of this contract is subject to Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity guidelines; minority and women-owned businesses are encouraged to participate. A copy of the bidding documents may be obtained by e-mail or telephone to Mimi Do, CFO, The Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 42 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138, tel. 617-547-6789 x217; mimi.do@ccae.org A pre-bid meeting will be held at the William Brattle House, 42 Brattle Street, on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 10:00 AM. Attendance is mandatory for all bidders.

Proposals shall be evaluated on the basis of price, previous experience with similar types of construction projects and historic properties, ability to perform the work in a timely manner, and references. All bids must be delivered to the Cambridge Center for Adult Education office in a sealed envelope at the above address prior to 2:00 PM on Friday, March 14, 2014, to be eligible for consideration. Work must commence by Wednesday, April 9, 2014, and all of the grant-funded work must be completed by June 30, 2014.

Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21

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

DESCRIPTION

DATE

WRA-3804

Purchase of Two (2) Truck Mounted Valve Operation Machines

03/04/14

WRA-3805

Purchase Dehumidifier Systems

03/04/14

11:00 a.m.

WRA-3798

Provide Sodium Hypochlorite to Various MWRA Wastewater Sites

03/07/14

11:00 a.m.

WRA-3801

Provide Quality to Provide 03/12/14 Assurance Diving Services for Stillwater Basin Invasive Aquatic Plant Control at Wachusett Reservoir

11:00 a.m.

Provide Diver Assisted Suction 03/12/14 Harvesting Services for Control of Invasive Plants in Stillwater Basin at Wachusett Reservoir

12:00 p.m.

Provide Removal of Hazardous Deer Island Treatment Plan Waste from MWRA

11:00 a.m.

WRA-3800

WRA-3799

03/14/14

TIME 10:30 a.m.

Massachusetts Port Authority, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, Suite 209S, Logan International Airport, East Boston, MA 02128-2909. Any submission which is not received in a timely manner shall be rejected by the Authority as non-responsive. Any information provided to the Authority in any Proposal or other written or oral communication between the Proposer and the Authority will not be, or deemed to have been, proprietary or confidential, although the Authority will use reasonable efforts not to disclose such information to persons who are not employees or consultants retained by the Authority except as may be required by M.G.L. c.66.

LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS The MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY (Authority) is soliciting consulting services for MPA CONTRACT NO. MP1501-S1, CONLEY CRANES 1 – 6 STRUCTURAL INSPECTION, CONLEY TERMINAL, 940 E 1ST STREET, SOUTH BOSTON, MA 02127. The Authority is seeking qualified multidiscipline consulting firms/teams, with proven experience to provide professional services related to structural inspections at (6) steel framed, dockside container cranes located at Conley Terminal. The inspections will be performed to assess the structural condition of the cranes, make recommendations for required repairs and make recommendations for a future program of inspections. 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 consultant shall demonstrate experience in several disciplines including but not limited to: Structural Engineering, Cost Estimating and Non-Destructive Testing of Steel Structures.

The contract will be work order based, and Consultant’s fee for each work order shall be negotiated; however, the total fee for the contract shall not exceed $300,000 over a three year period.

Each submission shall include a Statement of Qualifications that provides detailed information in response to the evaluation criteria set forth below and include Architect/Engineer & Related Services questionnaires SF 330 (www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/116486) with the appropriate number of Part IIs. Certification of the prime and subconsultants shall be current at the time of submittal and the Consultant shall provide a copy of the certification letter from the Supplier Diversity Office, formerly known as State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA) within its submittal. The Consultant shall also provide an original and nine copies of litigation and legal proceedings information, signed under the pains and penalties of perjury, in a separate sealed envelope entitled “Litigation and Legal Proceedings”. See www.massport.com/doing-business/Pages/ CapitalProgramsResourceCenter.aspx for more details on litigation and legal proceedings history submittal requirements.

EVENT

DATE/TIME

Solicitation: Release Date

February 19, 2014

Deadline for submission of written questions

February 26, 2014

Official answers published (Estimated)

March 5, 2014

Solicitation: Close Date / Submission Deadline

March 13, 2014

Questions may be sent via email to CPBidQuestions@massport.com subject to the deadline for receipt stated in the timetable above. In the subject lines of your email, please reference the MPA Project Name and Number.

Questions and their responses will be posted on 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 Comm-PASS (www.comm-pass.com) in the listings for this project.

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS P. GLYNN CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

(1)

current level of experience and knowledge of the team for similar projects, particularly the Project Manager,

(2)

geographic location and availability of the Project Manager and other key personnel to be assigned to the project,

(3)

experience and expertise of subconsultants,

(4)

demonstrated ability to perform work with minimal disruption to facility operations,

(5)

cost management and scheduling capabilities,

(6)

and affirmative action efforts, please indicate the proposed % of M/ WBE participation

(7)

current level of work with the Authority,

(8)

past performance for the Authority, if any,

(9)

experience with sustainable design concepts, and

(10) project understanding and technical approach to this project.

The selection shall involve a two-step process including the shortlisting of a minimum of three firms based on an evaluation of the Statements of Qualifications received in response to this solicitation, followed immediately by a final selection of the consultant by the Authority. The Authority reserves the right to interview the firms prior to final selection, if deemed appropriate.

A Supplemental Information Package that discusses the project scope in more detail will be available to interested parties beginning Wednesday, February 19, 2014 by contacting Susan Brace at sbrace@massport.com By responding to this solicitation, consultants agree to accept the terms and conditions of Massport’s standard work order agreement, a copy of the Authority’s standard agreement can be found on the Authority’s web page at www.massport.com. The exception to this standard agreement is the insurance requirement of $1,000,000 of commercial general liability. The Consultant shall specify in its cover letter that it has the ability to obtain requisite insurance coverage.

Submissions shall be printed on both sides of the sheet (8 1/2” x 11”), no acetate covers. Ten (10) copies of a bound document and one PDF version on a disc each limited to: (1)

an SF 330 including the appropriate number of Part IIs,

(2)

resumes of key individuals only each limited to one (1) page under SF 330, Section E,

(3)

no more than ten (10) projects each limited to one (1) page under SF 330, Section F,

(4)

no more than 3 sheets (6 pages) of information contained under SF 330 Section H addressing the evaluation items (except for the litigation and legal proceedings history), and

(5)

no more than 2 sheets (4 pages) of other relevant material not including a 2 page (max.) cover letter, SDO certification letters, covers, dividers, and other required information.

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, March 13, 2014 at the

Daniel J. Dunn, Chair Board of Selectmen

Arlington Advocate 02/13/2014, 2/20/2014

WANTED TO LEASE

On behalf of the Parole Board, the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance is requesting proposals to lease approximately 6,700 usable square feet of office space in Boston, as further defined on Map Attachment C-5 in the RFP for a term of seven years.

Proposals must be submitted to: Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Office of Leasing and State Office Planning One Ashburton Place 14th Floor – Room 1411 Boston, Massachusetts 02108 Proposals must be submitted by the deadline of March 19, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

Proposals will be opened at that time.

To obtain a Request for Proposals (RFP), please call 617-727-8000, extension 355, at any time or send a request to the Office of Leasing and State Office Planning at the above address. Please include your name, address, telephone and fax number or a business card, and cite the name of the agency seeking space and the RFP Project Number 201351000.3. This RFP can also be obtained through the Internet at http://www.comm-pass.com.

For further information, please call 617-727-8000, extension 800, during business hours.

LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF ARLINGTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM PUBLIC HEARING Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations formulated thereunder, notice is hereby given that the Town of Arlington, acting through the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen, will hold a Public Hearing on the Community Development Block Grant Program. The purpose of this hearing is to receive proposals for funds for our CDBG Program Year 40 (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015).

Said hearing will be held at 7:30 P.M., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 IN THE SELECTMEN’S MEETING ROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE ROBBINS MEMORIAL TOWN HALL, 730 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. All APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE HEARING. The Town expects to receive approximately $1,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for CDBG Program Year 40. There is a HUD requirement that all funded programs must principally benefit persons of low and moderate income; aid in the prevention of slums and blight; or meet other urgent community development needs that pose a threat to the health or welfare of the community. For further information and technical assistance in determining eligibility of proposed programs and in preparing proposals for funding, please contact the Department of Planning and Community Development, 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, Massachusetts 02476, at (781) 316-3090.

Proposals for the use of funds must be submitted in writing. Applicants should provide twelve (12) copies of each proposal to be presented at the public hearing.

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CLASSIFIED LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE DIVISION OF CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE (DCAMM) Sealed proposals submitted on a form furnished by the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance (DCAMM) and clearly identified as a bid, endorsed with the name and address of the bidder, the project and contract number, will be received at the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance, One Ashburton Place, 1st Floor, Room 107, Boston, MA 02108, no later than the date and time specified and will forthwith be publicly opened and read aloud.

Sub-Bids at 12:00 Noon:

The Category of Work is:

General Building Construction

Mass. State Project No.

TRE1301 HC1

Treasurer – McCormack Building – Office Renovation Boston, Massachusetts And the following Sub-Bids: Acoustical Tile, Painting, Fire Protection Sprinkler System, HVAC, Electrical.

E.C.C: $1,860,645.00 This project is scheduled for 270 calendar days to substantial completion and in general includes: Multiple phase office renovation on the 12th floor of the McCormack Building in Boston, Massachusetts. Demolition of existing demountable wall and drywall interior partitions including doors and interior glass, carpet, fire protection, electrical, and communications cablings. Abate existing VCT floor tiles and fire walls. Install new demountable wall, drywall interior partitions including doors and interior glass, carpet, fire protection, electrical and communications.

Minimum rates of wages to be paid on the project have been determined by the Director of the Department of Labor Standards under the provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 149, Sections 26 to 27H. Wage rates are listed in the contract form portion of specification book.

Each general bid and sub-bid proposal must be secured by an accompanying deposit of 5% of the total bid amount, including all alternates, in the form of a bid bond, in cash, a certified, treasurer’s, or cashier’s check issued by a responsible bank or trust company made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The bidding documents may be examined at the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance Bid Room, One Ashburton Place, 1st Floor, Room 107, Boston, MA 02108 Tel (617) 727-4003. Copies may be obtained by depositing a company check, treasurer’s check, cashier’s check, bank check or money order in the sum of $100 payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. No personal checks or cash will be accepted as deposits. Refunds will be made to those returning the documents in satisfactory condition on or before APRIL 10, 2014 (ten business days after the opening of General Bids) otherwise the deposit shall be the property of the Commonwealth.

WE DO NOT MAIL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS. Messenger and other type of pick-up and delivery services are the agents of the bidder and the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance assumes no responsibility for delivery or receipt of the documents. Bidders are encouraged to take advantage of a rotating credit plans and specifications deposit program initiated by the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance to encourage the easy accessibility of documents to contractors.

Carole Cornelison COMMISSIONER Central Boston Elder Services, a non-profit Aging Service Access Points, is requesting proposals for the provision of auditing services for Fiscal Years 2014, 2015, and 2016. Interested parties may obtain RFP requirements at www.centralboston.org. Complete proposals are due February 28th, 2014 at 5:00 PM and addressed to: Pranita Amarasinghe, Chief Financial Officer, 2315 Washington St, Boston, MA 02119 (e-mail: PAmarasinghe@centralboston.org).

OFFICE SPACE

Senior Living At It’s Best

DORCHESTER/ MILTON

Call Sandy Miller, Property Manager

#888-691-4301

Program Restrictions Apply.

MARCH 26, 2014

Every General Bidder must be certified by the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance for the category of work and for no less than the bid price plus all add alternates of this project.

91 Clay Street Quincy, MA 02170

0 BR units = $1,027/mo 1 BR units = $1,101/mo All utilities included.

MARCH 11, 2014

*Every Filed Sub-Bidder must submit a valid Sub-Bidder Certificate of Eligibility with its bid and must be certified by the Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance in the category of sub-bid work for which they bid.

WOLLASTON MANOR A senior/disabled/ handicapped community

@BAYSTATEBANNER

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

General Bids at 2:00 PM:

OFFICE SPACE IN BOSTON, AS FURTHER DEFINED ON MAP ATTACHMENT C-5 IN THE RFP

The Authority may reject any application if any of the required information is not provided: Cover Letter, Insurance Requirements, Litigation and Legal proceedings, SF330 Part IIs for the Prime and every sub-consultant.

The submission shall be evaluated on basis of:

Adam Chapdelaine Town Manager

The procurement process for these services will proceed according to the following anticipated schedule:

Times are Eastern Standard Time (US).

To access and bid please go to the MWRA Supplier Portal at www.mwra.com.

The Selectmen’s Meeting Room is accessible for the mobility impaired. If you require other assistance in obtaining access to the hearing, or to the materials to be presented, please contact the Arlington Commission on Disabilities office at (781) 316-3431 during business hours.

1st Class Office Space Corner of Gallivan Blvd and Washington St ample parking.

$375/mo. $695/mo. $1000/mo. $1395/mo. heated

OWNER

617-835-6373 Brokers Welcome

Parker Hill Apartments The Style, Comfort and Convenience you Deserve!

Heat and Hot Water Always Included Modern Laundry Facilities Private Balconies / Some with City Views Plush wall to wall carpet Adjacent to New England Baptist Hospital Secured Entry, Elevator Convenience Private Parking Near Public Transportation and much more ...

Available 1 bedroom $1600 Call Today for more details and to schedule a visit...

888-842-7945

22 • Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER

T

LEGALS

LEGALS INVITATION TO BID

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

Princeton Westford Apartment Homes

16 Littleton Road, Westford, MA Ten 1BRs @ $726, Thirty 2BRs @ $851 No Utilities included except sewer Princeton Westford Apartment Homes is a 200-unit community nestled into a forested preserve off of Littleton Road in Westford, MA. The community will include five four-story garden-style apartment buildings. A state of the art clubhouse outfitted with a fitness center, meeting space, swimming pool and Wi-Fi Café will also be part of the apartment community. 40 of the units will be rented to households with annual incomes not exceeding 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) adjusted for family size as determined by HUD. The first units will be ready in Spring/Summer 2014.

Household Size

Allowable Income Limit 50% AMI

1

$31,750

2

$36,300

3

$40,850

4

$45,350

The Lottery will be held on April 30th at 6 PM in same location as the info session above.

For Applications and Details on the Lottery or for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, call 617.782.6900x3 or go to www.s-e-b.com/lottery.

For TTY Services dial 711. Free translation available.

Applications and Info also available at the JV Fletcher Library on 50 Main Street, Westford, MA (Hours: M-Th 10-9, F 1-5, Sa 10-5, Su 2-5).

AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

For Elders 62 & Older

Dalrymple School 46 Grovers Ave Winthrop, MA 02152 *conversion of historical elementary school into 27 units of affordable housing for elderly residents* Developer: EBCDC, Inc. d/b/a Metro Management Rent

225 W est Deer Second Main Pump Station, Island Treatment Plant

Street

A uniq ue community of se niors

Sealed bids will be received at the offices of the Massachusetts Water managed by CSI Sup p ort & Resources Authority, Charlestown Navy Yard, Document Distribution Office, evelop ment Services of Malden.

100 D First Avenue, First Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, up to the time and date listed above at which time they will be publicly opened and read.

A coop erative ap artment is a building controlled by th e members. All maj or op erating SECTION 00020 decisi ons are voted on by th e members. Coop INVITATION TO BID ap artments h elp to ke ep q uality h ousi ng affordable.

Sealed Bids for the construction of the Elm Street Sewer Improvements for We H ofa Blackstone, v e: the Town Massachusetts, will be received by the Department of Public Works the office of the Department of Public Works, 15 St. Paul • Our ownatseparate apartment Street,• Blackstone, Massachusetts A non-profit organization; any until profits10:30 are puta.m. backprevailing into coop time, on March 29, 2005 and at which time and place said bids will be publicly services benefit its members opened and read to aloud.

Open voluntary membership without social, political, racial or The scope of workdiscrimination includes furnishing and installing approximately 3,065 linreligious ear feet 8-inch gravity sanitary sewer main all appurtenances; fur• of A building democratically controlled by thewith residents.

Completed Applications may be mailed, faxed, emailed, or delivered in person. Completed Applications and Required Income Documentation must be received by 2:00 PM on April 17th, 2014.

Type

Equal with Two (2) Enviro Cast Spiral le Cove Coop erative Ap artments Trac Seals for North

•

A Public Information Session will be held at 6 pm on March 18th, 2014 in the 2nd floor meeting room of Westford Town Hall (55 Main Street)

# of Units

DESCRIPTION TIME SENIORS LIVE DATE ROYALLY WRA-2432 Furnish Two (2) Chesterton 3/14/05 11:00 a.m.

AT CASTLE COVE Mechanical Split Seals or

BID NO.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service, Waste and Water Grants and Loan program. Special attention should be paid with respect to the (U.S.D.A.) requirements for Bids.

CHELSEA APARTMENT

All bids for this project are subject to applicable bidding laws of Massachusetts, including General Laws Chapter 30, Section 39M as amended. Attention of bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to conditions of employment to be observed and minimum wage rates to be paid under the contract as determined by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development under the provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149, Section 26-27D, inclusive, as amended.

4+ bdrms Newly renovated, 2000+ sq ft apt in 3 fam, no smkng/pets, hrdwd flrs, eat-in kit, pantry, lg master bedroom, din and lv rm, laundry rm, enclosed frnt/bck prchs, The Bidder agrees that this bid shall be good and may not be withdrawn for off street prkng, access, min to Bost. a period of thirty (30) working T days, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays

excluded after the opening of bids.

Sec 8 OK

The Owner reserves the right to waive any informality in bids or to reject any or all bids if deemed in the best interest of the Town of Blackstone.

617-283-2081 TOWN OF BLACKSTONE, MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

BSC Group, Inc. Boston, Massachusetts

Wilson Gardens Apartments BOSTON WATER AND SEWER COMMISSION L y n n ,INVITATION M a s sFOR a cBIDS husetts

The Boston Water and Sewer Commission by its Executive Director invites sealed bids for CONTRACT # 04-308-001, WATER MAIN RELAY AND nishing and installing approximately 8,135 linear feet of 10-inch gravity sanSEWER/DRAIN REHABILITATION IN ALLSTON/BRIGHTON, CITY PROPER, itary sewer main with all appurtenances; furnishing and installing approxiHYDE PARK AND JAMAICA PLAIN. Bids must be accompanied by a bid Each building h as th eir ow n activities run by a committee mately 4,100 linear feet of 6-inch PVC gravity sanitary sewer service condeposit, certified check, treasurer’s or cashier’s check, or in the form of a of resand i dents su ch as entertainment, giftapproximately case nections all appurtenances, furnishing andbingo, installing 315 bid bond in the amount of 5% OF BID payable to and to become the properlinear feet of 4-inch and 3,475 linear feet of 6-inch sanitary sewer force ty of the Commission if the bid, after acceptance, is not carried out. The bid W e h ave: A library, game room, community room, loungmain with all appurtenances, furnishing and installing fully functional sanideposit is to be returned only when all stated conditions of the Contract doces on each oor, our own laundry room tary sewer pump stations located at the Corrosion Control Facility (CCF), ument are carried out. In addition, a performance bond and also a labor and Quickstream crossing, Fire Station, and Mill River crossing with all appurtematerials payment bond, each of a surety company qualified to do business Applicants must be at least 62 years of age or T h e suc ce ss of housed a C ooperativ d epend s on building th e nances, standby generator within ea prefabricated at the under the laws of the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Executive Quickstream and Mill pump stations; furnishing and installing bitumiDirector, and or each in the sum with of 100 disabilities, % OF THE CONTRACT must be older, persons withPRICE, annual act iveRiver partic i pation of its memb ers nous concrete trench pavement (permanent); water system reconstruction submitted within the time specified in the Contract document. Bids must be income not to exceed: (Add Alternate improvements If y 1); ou miscellaneous wou ld lik drainage e more informa (Add tionAlternate 3); submitted on the forms obtained from the Purchasing Manager, Boston furnishing and installing associated manholes, paving, project wide mainteWater and Sewer Commission, 980 Harrison Avenue, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA or to a p p ly p lea se ca ll Oneand Person $47,450in sealed Two envelopes Personsto=the $54,200 nance of traffic and other appurtenances required to complete the Work as 02119, must be= submitted Purchasing specified in the Contract Documents. Work must be substantially complete Manager clearly marked meet BIDS FOR CONTRACT # 04-308-001, WATER MAIN and must HUD eligibility criteria. within 1153 days of the Notice to Proceed. The estimated cost of the projRELAY AND SEWER/DRAIN REHABILITATION IN ALLSTON/BRIGHTON, CITY ect is $4,500,000.00.

PROPER, HYDE PARK AND JAMAICA PLAIN. Bids will be publicly opened and by theManager Massachusetts read at the officeFinanced of the Purchasing on THURSDAY, MARCH 24, Bid Security in the form of a BID BOND, CASHIER’S, TREASURER’S, OR CER2005 AT 10:00 A.M. Housing There will be a non-refundable Finance Agency.charge of $25.00 for TIFIED CHECK issued by a responsible bank or trust company is required in each set of contract documents taken out. If the bidder neglects to bid on the amount of five percent of the bid price payable to the Town of each and every item, it may lead to the rejection of the bid. The rate of Blackstone. wages paid to mechanics, teamsters, chauffeurs, and laborers in the work to be performed under the contract shall not be less than the rate of wages in Contract Documents may be examined at the following locations: the schedule determined by the Commission of Labor and Industries of the (617) 261-4600 x 7799 • ads@bannerpub.com Commonwealth, a copyPlease of whichcall schedule is annexed to the form of contract 781-598-5564 BSC Group, 33 Waldo Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01608 referred to herein. Copies of said schedule may be obtained, without cost, TDD 800-439-2370 Dodge Division, at McGraw-Hill Information Services Co., Boston, upon application therefore at the office of the Executive Director. Before FindF.W. rate information www.baystatebanner.com/advertise Massachusetts commencing performance on this contract, the contractor shall provide by Town of Blackstone, Department of Public Works, 15 St. Paul Street insurance for the payment of compensation and the furnishing of all other Blackstone, Massachusetts benefits under Chapter 152 of the General Laws (The Workmen’s Compensation Law, so called) to all persons to be employed under this conContract Documents may be obtained at the office of the BSC Group locattract and shall continue such insurance in full force and effect during the ed at 33Wilson Waldo Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01608, Massachusetts from 9 a.m. to 12 isterm of thisseeking contract. Attention is calledfor to Chapter 370 bedroom of the Acts of 1963, Gardens Apartments in Lynn, actively applications our three noon and 1 to 4 p.m., upon payment of a deposit of $100.00 in the form of which must be strictly complied with. No bid for the award of this project will Project Based Section 8 wait list. a check payable to the Town of Blackstone. Any unsuccessful bidder or nonbe considered acceptable unless the Contractor agrees to comply fully with bidder, upon returning such set within theapplicants time specified in the the requirement the Minority Employee Utilization Requirement as set In order to qualify must notInstructions exceed the HUD approvedofincome guidelines listed below. to Bidders and in good condition, will be refunded his payment. Contract forth in Article VIII of the Contract and the Utilization of Minority and Women Documents will be mailed via USPS to prospective bidders upon request and Owned Business Enterprises as set forth in Article X of the Contract. Included Income Limit Category 1 Person 2 Person Person 6are Person 8 Person receipt FY of a2013 separate non-refundable check payable to BSC Group, Inc. in the3 Person with the4 Person Contract 5 documents copies 7ofPerson the Bidder’s Certification amount of $25.00 to cover handling and mailing fees.

Statement and Weekly Utilization Report. Each Contractor must complete, Very Low (50%) Income Limits $32,950 $37,650 $42,350 $54,600 $58,350 $62,150 sign and$47,050 file with his$50,850 bid the Bidder’s Certification Statement.

Failure to do The selected contractor shall furnish a performance bond and payment bond so will result in rejection of the bid. The Weekly Utilization Reports shall be Extremely Low (30%) Income Limits $19,800 $22,600 $25,450 $28,250 $30,550 $32,800 $35,050 $37,300 in amount at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price submitted in accordance with section 8.2 (ii) and (iii) of the Contract. Failure as stipulated in Section 00700 GENERAL CONDITIONS specifica-$61,000 to comply with the Minority Utilization Requirement may result in Low (80%) Income Limits $47,450of these $54,200 $67,750 $73,200Employee $78,600 $84,050 $89,450 tions. Anticipated funding for this project will be from the Unite States imposition of the sanctions set forth in section 8.2 (f) and (g) of the Contract.

Wilson Gardens Apartments in Lynn, Massachusetts is actively seeking applications for our wait list.

1 -8 0 0 -2 2 5 -3 1 5 1

ADVERTISE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS

Financed by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency.

Please call 781-598-5564 • TDD 800-439-2370

% of Income

23

1 BR

Contract Rent

30%

4

0 BR

Contract Rent

30%

Maximum Income Limits per Household Size Household Size

30 %

50%

1

$19,800

$32,950

2

$22,600

$37,650

Applications may be picked up in person at: Winthrop Senior Center 35 Harvard Street Winthrop MA, 02152 Wednesday March 5th to Friday March 7th 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Or picked up in person or by telephone at: Metro Management Company 201 Sumner Street, East Boston, MA 02128 (617) 567-7755 Located just across from the Maverick T stop on the Blue Line.

Weekdays, March 3rd to March 7th, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Evening hours, Thursday March 6th 6pm-8pm Saturday, March 8th, 9:00 am-12:00 pm Deadline for completed applications at the Metro Management address above: In person by 4 pm Friday March 28, 2014 or mailed and postmarked by that date SELECTION BY LOTTERY Use and Occupancy Restrictions apply. 5 units have a preference for households needing wheelchair accessible units. 3 units have a preference for households whose income meets 30% Income limits or less Projected Occupancy Summer 2014 For more information or reasonable accommodations call Jeff Buono, Metro Management 617-567-7755 Equal Housing Opportunity

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Attractive and Affordable This beautiful privately owned apartment complex with subsidized units for elderly and disabled individuals is just minutes from downtown Melrose.

Close to Public Transportation • Elevator Access to All Floors • On Site Laundry Facilities Heat Included • 24 Hour Closed Circuit Television • On Site Parking Excellent Closet and Storage Space • 24 Hour Maintenance Availability On site Management Office • Monthly Newsletter • Weekly Videos on Big Screen T.V. Resident Computer Room • Bus Trips • Resident Garden Plots

Call for current income guidelines Joseph T. Cefalo Memorial Complex 245 West Wyoming Avenue, Melrose, MA 02176 Call our Office at (781) 662-0223 or TDD: (800) 545-1833, ext. 131 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for an application

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23

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Neighborhood House Charter School, an exceptional preK-8 public charter school in Dorchester, seeks an outstanding leader as Head of School. The Head will implement the Strategic Plan to grow the organization, raise funds, partner with families and the community, hire and lead the Management Team, and work with the board and broader educational community. Requires belief that every child can be successful, entrepreneurial leadership, management and fundraising experience and appreciation of diversity. www.thenhcs.org. Send cover, resume and salary history to Susan Egmont, Egmont Associates, segmont@egmontassociates.com.

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CSNDC SEEKS Director Of Economic Development

Network Engagement Manager and a Grants Coordinator REGIONAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER The American Red Cross of Massachusetts seeks a dynamic leader as Regional Chief Executive Officer. Based in Cambridge, the RCEO will lead staff and volunteers in service delivery, fundraising, partnership development and management.

Responsibilities include ensuring strong visibility, raising funds, building regional capacity for service delivery, representation of the Red Cross, and program and financial management. www.redcross. org/massachusetts. Requires senior leadership experience, proven success in fundraising, track record of management experience, entrepreneurial style and outstanding public presentation skills. Send cover, resume and salary history to Susan Egmont, Egmont Associates, segmont@egmontassociates.com.

New jobs in fast-growing Health Insurance Industry!

Companies are hiring now for Member Services positions.

Rapid career growth potential.

YMCA Training, Inc. is recruiting training candidates now!

20-week training in Health Insurance & Customer Service Call Center skills. Prior customer service experience a plus. Job placement assistance provided. HS diploma or GED required. Free YMCA membership while enrolled.

Call today for more information: 617-542-1800

MASTER PLUMBER

Tenants’ Development Corp. is seeking a Master Plumber to join our maintenance team to specifically handle all aspects of plumbing and heating repairs for the 300+ scattered site housing units owned and managed in Boston South End. Job requirements are plumber’s license; minimum 5 yrs. residential experience, valid driver’s license, strong customer service skills, general carpentry & minor electrical knowledge and experience. Must be able to participate in emergency on-call service rotation and snow removal tasks. TDC offers competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Email resume to ahuggins@tenantsdevelopment.com.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Full Frame Initiative (FFI), a national nonprofit working to change how systems respond to people living at the intersection of poverty and violence, is looking for people committed to social justice to join our growing team. We’re currently seeking a Network Engagement Manager and a Grants Coordinator. Job descriptions and how to apply can be found at on our web site fullframeinitiative.org under “About Us”. FFI is committed to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. People of color and those who are informed and driven by life experience as well as professional experience are encouraged to apply. We offer a competitive salary and benefits, and the opportunity to help build an organization with national impact.

Codman Square NDC seeks a hard-working, entrepreneurial, detail-oriented professional with a passion for teaching and helping individuals improve their lives, to fill its Director of Economic Development position.

Interested individuals should possess college degree with 6 plus years of management experience, and expertise in small business development, job creation, workforce development, community lending, planning, development, and general homeowner services. As Department Director, the ideal candidate will create and implement an ambitious plan to meet our organization’s vision for the department, and support and lead a team of economic development specialists in this effort.

Please mail resume and cover letter to: Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation 587 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124 Attn: Marcos Beleche, Or by E-Mail: marcos@csndc.com No Phone Calls Please For a full job description and instruction on how to apply, visit our website at: www.csndc.com

Codman Square NDC Seeks

Grant Writer

Codman Square NDC seeks a Grant Writer to research grant opportunities, manage the proposal development and grant writing process, produce, package and timely deliver grant proposals to funders, and act as a liaison with funders. Ability to coordinate with a range of staff and external partners to develop and succinctly codify program ideas and concepts into proposals required.

Program development experience and proven track record of grant writing preferred. Ideal candidate has experience in developing grant proposals, both foundation and public (e.g., federal), for community development corps or related nonprofits. Excellent authorship and writing skills required as well as solid knowledge of Microsoft Office software, especially Word, Excel and Access.

Bachelors degree with 2 years experience in related field required.

Send resumes by March 7, 2014 to Executive Director, Codman Square NDC, 587 Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124 or tiffany@csndc.com. No phone calls please.

PROPERTY MANAGER B rook line H ou sing Au thority

Job Duties Include: • Coordination of unit turnover. oordination of annual and interim rent recertifications. nit, building, and grounds inspections. oordination of scheduled maintenance work.

Lease enforcement, including legal action.

Meetings with resident groups. esident social service coordination and referral.

Qualifications E perience in property management methods and capacity to maintain working relationships with associates and residents.

Knowledge of Massachusetts tenant/landlord law as well as D D D regulations.

Strong organi ational, communication, and supervisory skills. Driver s license.

Associates Degree, Bachelor preferred, with two years e perience with low income or assisted housing programs or three to five years e perience with property management for public or assisted housing programs.

Wages and Benefits Salary range 3 ,000 ,000, as established in the ollective Bargaining Agreement. E cellent benefits including health insurance and State retirement.

Apply by: Submitting by email a resume and cover letter to jobs brooklinehousing.org.

Submitting in person a resume and cover letter to the front desk at the B A, 0 Longwood Avenue. o phone calls please.

Dea dline: riday, March , 0 , :00 PM. ull job description at www.brooklinehousing.org The BHA is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BANNER call (617) 261-4600

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SUPERVISOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Supervisor of Quality Assurance, who will be responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring Quality Management programs for use by the Vehicle Maintenance staff on the Non-Revenue, Bus, Red, Green, Orange and Blue Lines, and will also provide supervision to the staff of Full-time and Part-time Vault Agents to ensure proper vaulting of Authority revenue vehicles.

Candidates must have: A degree in Transportation, Engineering, Technology, Business or related field from an accredited institution; five (5) years of experience in transportation operations or equipment maintenance; and related supervisory experience.

Substitutions for the above experience may be considered.

For a complete job description, a printable application or to apply online, please visit the MBTA’s Career Opportunities page at www.mbta.com or forward your resume and application to the Human Resources Directorate, Attention: A. Welch, 10 Park Plaza, Room 4810, Boston, MA 02116, or fax to (617) 222-4767 or (617) 222-4219, no later than 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 27, 2014.

The MBTA/MassDot is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

BUDGET MANAGER Finance Department

Responsible for the management of billing and financial reporting to funding sources for all agency grants and contracts under management. Generate the Massachusetts Uniform Financial Report (UFR), the Schedule of Federal Awards (by CDFA number), and the Schedule of Direct and Indirect Costs by Category on an annual basis. Manage and assign all contracts numbers for use in the accounting system. Ensure compliance with federal regulations, including grant-specific requirements. Coordinate audits and monitoring visits with federal, state, and city agencies as appropriate. Assist program directors with the budget preparation process, and distribute monthly budget performance reports.

Create and monitor annual agency-wide budget including central overhead and service budgets. Prepare contract billings, review contract billings prepared by program-specific fiscal personnel, and make all draw-downs through the federal payment management system. Make monthly cash flow projections and report on billed and unbilled status of all contracts on a monthly basis. Approve cash disbursement requests, payroll/personnel additions and other status changes, purchase requisitions, and all grant/contract proposals, agreements, and changes. Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Accounting, with five or more years of relevant experience required. Must have knowledge of state and federal contracting requirements. Superior accounting and computer skills required. Must be able to work independently with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. Must be able to work sensitively and effectively with individuals of diverse educational, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

All applications and inquiries should be directed to the Human Resources Department, 178 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02111, Fax: (617) 423-7693, or email hr@bostonabcd.org Please visit our website at www.bostonabcd.org for additional employment listings.

ABCD Inc. is an equal opportunity employer actively seeking applications under its affirmative action program.