Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood”
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Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 30 Issue 24 Thursday, June 13, 2013 50¢ Hope prevails at Martin’s memorial Mass Richard family greets neighbors, remembers a son, brother & friend By Bill Forry Editor An overflow crowd packed St. Ann Church in Neponset on Sunday morning for a celebration of the life of Martin Richard, a Dorchester boy who would have turned 9 this weekend if he had not been killed on April 15 by one of two bombs that exploded at the Boston Marathon. Seated in the front pew were his family: Parents Bill and Denise Richard, their elder son Henry— who read the second reading at the Liturgy— and Martin’s little sister, Jane, 7, who lost her left leg below the knee in the bomb attack. Jane wheeled herself around in a wheelchair — and won a standing ovation from the congregation as she pushed herself up St. Ann’s center aisle alongside her friend, Fr. Sean Connor. The St. Ann’s pastor con-celebrated the Mass with Bishop Robert Hennessey, Fr. Sean Connor, pastor of St. Ann Church, was joined by seven-year-old Jane Richard and scores of youngsters as he de- Rev. John Connolly and Fr. livered his homily during Sunday’s memorial Mass and birthday celebration for the late Martin Richard. Some 640 people attended the Mass at the church on Neponset Avenue. Photo by Gregory L. Tracy/ Pilot Media Group Michael Banks, OFM Cap. (Continued on page 5) Officials target homeowners’ hurdles Greenway Gov. Patrick brokers loan pool build-out for first-time, low-income buyers to move By Gintautas dumcius who are participating in the nEws Editor so-called Home Ownership forward Gov. Deval Patrick this week Compact with the thousands By Gintautas dumcius used a two-family home on of loans include, among others, nEws Editor Glenway Street in Dorchester Sovereign Bank, Citizens Gov. Deval Patrick said on to highlight a push for 10,000 Bank, Rockland Bank and Tuesday that his administra- loans over a five-year period Trust, and Blue Hills Bank. tion will provide $1.9 million to first-time, lower-income The Glenway Street hom- in capital funds for designing homebuyers. He also pointed eowner, 29-year-old Rashida the completion of the Nepon- to $1.3 million that is being Constantine, beamed as the set River Greenway Trail. funneled into foreclosure governor stood on her brick Administration officials added prevention grants and other steps, with fresh mulch on that the state Department of programs. either side of him. The metal Transportation is committed Standing outside a two-story fencing and recycling bins to funding the completion of home with yellow vinyl siding, that once could be spotted in the project, which is expected Patrick was joined by the ho- the front yard were gone, and to cost between $11 million and meowner and administration under the porch, red, white, Governor Deval Patrick spoke during a Monday event on $15 million and will take place officials to tout the programs and blue bunting was hanging Glenway Street to announce a new agreement with mortgage over several phases before and promote “Housing Week” a few feet off the ground. lenders. At left are homeowners Rashida Constantine and her wrapping up in three years. in Massachusetts. Lenders (Continued on page 13) husband Sean. Photo by Bill Forry (Continued on page 4) Warren wants ‘short-sales’ cleared by fed agency By Gintautas dumcius experts say. The agency in sumer advocate before she buy the home at fair market nEws Editor question, the Federal Housing was elected to the US Senate value, then work out a rental Some struggling homeown- Finance Agency (FHFA), in 2012, last week wrote an or re-sale to the family liv- ers in Massachusetts are being oversees Fannie Mae and opinion piece for the Reporter, ing in it,” she wrote. “The forced out of their homes due Freddie Mac, two government- laying out the problem: “In mortgage company gets the to a federal agency’s obstinate supported organizations that some of those short sales, same amount as in a sale to All contents copyright policy on so-called “short handle mortgages. friends, families, or nonprofit strangers, but the homeowner © 2013 Boston sales,” activists and housing Elizabeth Warren, a con- organizations are willing to (Continued on page 9) Neighborhood News, Inc. Page 2 THE REPoRTER June 13, 2013 Reporter’s Notebook On The Record With primary on Aug. 13, Rep hopefuls hard at work Dorchester Chief Ninety employees By Gintautas dumcius says she’s staying out of the 12th from Sun Life Financial nEws Editor Suffolk race “at this time. I want the helped brighten a dreary Several of the candidates hoping to community to be able to make that day in Dorchester last succeed state Rep. Linda Dorcena decision,” she said, praising several Friday when they joined Forry in the State House hit the of the candidates. “It wouldn’t be fair forces with the Boston campaign trail this week, wasting for me to come out.” All of the 12th Celtics and Boston Cares little time in their bids for public office. Suffolk candidates worked on Dorcena to makeover Victory Pro- That’s probably because the primary, Forry’s state Senate campaign in some grams’ ReVision Family which will likely be determinative form or other. Home, a shelter for 22 in the heavily Democratic district, is women and their chil- looming: Massachusetts Secretary of Menino to attend fundraiser dren that is connected State Bill Galvin, the state’s elections for mayoral candidate to an onsite one-acre chief, announced last week that the – in Newton urban farms. Pictured primary will be on Aug. 13, with the Mayor Thomas Menino may be at right, l-r, are Vic- general election on Sept. 10, two weeks staying out of the race to succeed him tory Programs’ Senior before the Sept. 24 election that will in Boston, but he does plan on hitting Director of Development winnowing down the candidates for up a fundraiser for a mayoral candidate and Communications mayor and City Council. in Newton. Setti Warren, who was Marc Davino, Boston Stephanie Everett, a former aide elected mayor of that city in 2009 Celtics legend Robert to state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and is running for reelection, plans Parish and Victory Pro- (D-Jamaica Plain), made it official last on having Menino as a “special guest” grams’ President & CEO Thursday via an e-mail sent to sup- at a campaign event later this month, Jonathan Scott. Later, porters letting them know she’s in the according to an e-mailed invitation. Celtic’s Forward Jared race for the 12th Suffolk House seat. The evening fundraiser is at a private Sullinger and Celtics “As a mother, I have seen firsthand the home on Oxford Road in Newton on Walter McCarty helped struggles our schools face educating Thurs., June 27. Suggested donations paint the shelter’s walls our children with limited resources,” range from $50 to $500. and played with kids. she wrote in her pitch. “I look forward to Warren served as an aide to former the opportunity to insure our children US Sen. John Kerry and spent a receive the very best education from year in Iraq as a Navy intelligence Alleged Dunkin’ thief nabbed on Ames St. specialist. He mounted a brief run teachers who have access to adequate The Boston Police Department last week arrested a 40 year- for the US Senate in 2011, dropping tools. I am ready to strengthen our old man they say robbed five McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts out soon after consumer advocate and economy by securing funding for job outlets in Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury over the past fellow Democrat training programs to put our neighbors Elizabeth Warren two weeks.Richard Calderon-Colon, 40, was sleeping in a car (no relation) jumped into the race. back to work in good paying jobs. Most parked outside 27 Ames St. when officers woke him up at 7:54 Menino, who has been recovering importantly, I am ready to continue a.m. on June 8 and arrested him. at the Parkman House from a recent fighting for youth violence prevention In one of the cases, at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Morton Street surgery for an enlarged prostate, was funding that keeps our youth safe and in Mattapan, police say, Calderon-Colon ordered a coffee and a back in his City Hall office on Monday, engaged in healthy activities.” donut, ate the donut and then asked for another, after which he pulled out a as the candidates hoping to succeed Everett, who lives in Lower Mills handgun and demanded money. Police say he also first ordered coffee in three him jockeyed at campaigning across with her husband and their children, of the other four robberies. In addition to the Morton Street Dunkin’ Donuts, the city. He has said he is staying out has her former boss’s backing. Chang- he’s also charged with holding up the Codman Square McDonald’s and the of the Boston mayor’s race – for now, Diaz said in a statement that Everett Edward Everett Square Dunkin’ Donuts. Calderon-Colon was scheduled for at least. is “tough, smart, compassionate.” She arraignment Monday in Dorchester District Court. has also worked at the Massachu- setts Port Authority (Massport), the Endorsement Corner: Connolly Metropolitan Area Planning Council, announces campaign chairs City gathers Blue Hill Avenue advisors and the Department of Transitional City Councillor At-Large John The city agency tasked with planning and economic development is setting Assistance.