Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 29 Issue 34 Thursday, August 23, 2012 50¢ Dorchester’s Favorite Restaurants From take-out pizza and steak tip-subs to cocktails and apps under the stars, Dorchester’s dining scene has taken on exciting new dimensions in recent years. The Reporter takes a look at some of the neighborhood’s stalwart eateries and hot new spots in our latest dining guide this week. The guide also features the results of our first-ever Reader’s Survey of Dorchester’s favorite restaurants. At left: Pat’s Pizza co-owner Pat Newell with employees Kleber Pintz, left and Vinnie Felix. Photo by Bill Forry Right: The Ledge in Lower Mills has become a favorite, in part, because of its fabulous outdoor patio. Photo by Mike Deehan New building, streetscape eyed for Mt. Vernon St. By gintautas duMcius UMass Boston, the John F. nEws Editor Kennedy Presidential Library Executives at Corcoran Jen- and Boston College High nison Companies are planning School, among other institu- the construction of a six-story tions. apartment building at the While no plans have been intersection of Mt. Vernon St. formally filed with City Hall, and Morrissey Boulevard. A Corcoran Jennison executives nonprofit funded by developer have been in discussions with is also in the conceptual stages the Boston Redevelopment of potentially remaking Mt. Authority, the city’s plan- Vernon St. through the expan- ning agency, and have made sion of sidewalks and creation a presentation about their of space for bicycles. ideas for Mt. Vernon St. to The proposed new building, Columbia Point Associates, a with 200 units and retail collection of organizations on space on the ground floor, the peninsula. Mattapan Community Health Center President and CEO Dr. Azzie Young is shown this week would effectively serve as an The plans would closely on the third floor patio of the health center’s new home in Mattapan Square. The health center entryway into the Columbia track the vision outlined has moved into its sparkling new facility in recent weeks and will celebrate an official grand Point peninsula, which is by a master planning task opening on Sept. 10. Photo by Bill Forry already home to the Harbor force in 2011, with more of a Point apartment community, (Continued on page 5) A dream come true in Mattapan Square Dr. Young: ‘This is where we were supposed to be” INSIDE THIS WEEK By Bill Forry and, with a peek over the side, with retail space on the street Fire destroys 3 decker Managing Editor the bustling square below. level— has already come to on Fairmount St. Dr. Azzie Young is one happy It’s a view —and a vision — define the Mattapan Square A Thursday morning fire community health center that’s been a long time in the of the future. A Citizens Bank consumed a Fairmount Street president. making. branch opened on the ground three-decker, displaced nine She can see for miles from “This is where we were level of the building in July residents and left four fire- her corner suite on a third supposed to be,” Dr. Young and a CVS store— the first fighters with injuries. Lower floor perch atop 1575 Blue said in an interview with the pharmacy in the square in Mills leaders have started a Hill Avenue. It’s a whole new Reporter on Tuesday, her first recent years— will open its fund to help the victims. Page 3 perspective on the neighbor- in the new building since she doors next month. hood from up here— and it’s and her staff moved in two The facility has given the one she’ll share with all of her weeks ago. “Too many things health center, long bursting employees, who can now enjoy had to happen for this to come at the seams at its old, squat lunch or morning coffee on the about— and they all did.” storefront space further up the adjacent outdoor patio that on The four story, $32 million avenue, a new pulse of energy. a clear day like today offers stone, steel and glass facility The health center has doubled sweeping views of the Blue — which houses the health its capacity to serve patients All contents copyright Hills, the steeples of Mattapan center over the top three floors (Continued on page 11) © 2012 Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. Your bank is headed in a new direction. Maybe it’s time you headed for the exits. If you’re looking to simplify part of your life, say goodbye to banks with complicated fee structures and impersonal service, and hello to Meetinghouse Bank. We’re the only community bank in the area, and we plan to keep banking simple and stress free. Call or stop by today. Member FDIC 2250 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 Member SIF 617-298-2250 · www.meetinghousebank.com MB Exit Ad 10x2 4c.indd 1 12/2/11 10:03 AM Page 2 THE REPORTER August 23, 2012 Reporter’s Notebook On The Record Blue-collar sitdown Codman Sq. bank for Brown at Dot firm marks milestone By gintautas duMcius country going forward. Right now, nEws Editor Scott Brown, Mitt Romney, and Paul US Sen. Scott Brown traveled into Ryan have all said we’ve got to protect the heart of deeply blue Dorchester last tax breaks, special deals, subsidies for Thursday and sat down with a friendly the wealthiest Americans and for the audience of blue collar workers at an biggest corporations, and we have to excavation company’s headquarters do that at any cost, no matter what near Fields Corner. the effects are on working families. I “Even if you’re an ardent Democrat, believe that’s fundamentally wrong.” he hasn’t done enough to be fired Warren added: “I’m in this race from the job,” said Brendan Feeney, because I believe that America’s president and co-founder of Feeney working families are on the ropes and Brothers Excavation Corporation, they can’t take much more. And the which hosted the Wrentham Repub- Romney-Ryan-Brown approach is a lican at its Clayton St. offices. “We punch in the gut to them.” vote the person, not the party,” added As to the race, polling by a Demo- his brother, Greg, the vice president. cratic outfit on Tuesday showed Brown The brothers describe themselves with a five-point lead. When Public as independents and said they’ve also Policy Polling took the state’s political voted for Democrats like Congressman temperature in June, they were tied Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) at 46 percent, but likely voters prefer and state Rep. Marty Walsh (D- Brown over Warren by a 49 percent Dorchester). to 44 percent margin, according to Brown briefly spoke to the group the PPP poll conducted Aug. 16 to 19. of 40 people, many of them wearing The margin of error is 2.9 percent and yellow vests and holding hard hats in 1,115 likely voters were interviewed. their laps, and interspersed talk of his His job approval rating stands at 53 hardscrabble biography and votes in percent, with 36 percent disapproving. the Senate with shots at his opponent, Meanwhile, Warren’s unfavorable Democratic candidate Elizabeth numbers have risen to 43 percent Warren. He also played up his Mas- favorable from 33 percent in March. Mt. Washington Bank celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Codman branch sachusetts roots, saying he was raised For Warren, the race may not be last Friday with an all-day event at the bank. Malik Andrews, a Codman Square in the Bay State about parties. But if Democrats want to resident and graduate of Allston’s MATCH Public Charter High School, re- win back the late Edward Kennedy’s ceived a $2,000 scholarship from Mt. Washington Bank president Ed Merritt, and he is “prob- left. Andrews will be attending Wentworth Institute of Technology in the fall. ably going to die Senate seat, it might have to become City Councilor Charles Yancey was on hand to present President Ed Merritt here,” adding, just that, the polling firm posits. with a resolution from the council congratulating the bank on five years of “she’s not from “Democrats will have to convince service to the Codman Square and the Dorchester community. here,” a refer- voters who like him to vote against Photo courtesy Mt. Washington Bank ence to Warren’s him anyway to keep the Senate from upbringing in going Republican,” Dean Debnam, Oklahoma. president of Public Policy Polling said Friday groundbreaking planned Brown touted in a statement. the support of at Hunt-Almont Park former Mayor Menino taps Sheila Dillon City and state officials will join Mattapan residents in a ceremony to mark Ray Flynn, a for housing and neighborhood the beginning of a $790,000 renovation project at Hunt Playground at Almont Scott Brown South Boston development post Park on Friday, August 24, at 10:30 a.m. The first in a multi-phase project that Democrat, and South Boston’s Sheila Dillon is will renovate the entire 18-acre park at 40 Almont Street, this initial phase will said he welcomed supporters from coming back to work at City Hall. include an entirely new playground with rubber safety surfacing and several the Democratic Party, the Republican Mayor Menino said last week that play structures designed to engage children of all ages. Other new features will Party, the Green Party, or “if you just Dillon, director of the Rental As- include water play, ornamental fencing, picnic and café tables, and benches.