At BC High by Tom Mulvoy the Fear That We Might Year Began, Jones Says
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Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 33 Issue 10 Thursday, March 5, 2015 50¢ L.A. educator is picked to lead Boston’s schools By Lauren Dezenski reporter staff Public schools in the city of Boston will enter a “new era” with the selection of Dr. Tommy Chang as their new superintendent, school committee members said Tuesday night in voting, 5-2, to approve his selection. Chang comes to Boston from Los Angeles where he has been serving as Boston fighters responded to a roof collapse and subsequent gas leak at the former Bayside Expo Center an instructional super- on Columbia point on Wednesday morning. The incident prompted evacuations fro adjacent buildings intendent in that city’s Dr. Tommy Chang for most of the day. The Bayside property is now owned by UMass Boston. Photo by Lauren Dezenski Unified School District. “We cannot rest on our laurels as one of the best districts in the nation,” said school committee Roof collapse prompts gas leak at Bayside member Michael Locanto, who voted for Chang. “We cannot continue to do things as we have in the By Lauren Dezenski ters circled overhead as past and expect a different result,” adding that for reporter staff two ladder trucks were the “collective success of the children in Boston, “we In the latest mark of deployed to survey the need nothing short of full community support for a winter of discontent, damage to the Expo our new superintendent.” a partial roof collapse Center structure. School Committee Chair Michael O’Neill said at the vacant former UMass Boston pur- that Chang, whom the committee reached by phone Bayside Expo Center chased the Expo property following the vote, is “deeply honored; there’s no on Wednesday morning –a 275,000-square-foot question about it. He knows the responsibility at ruptured a gas line, building with an adja- hand and he’s looking forward to it.” prompting the evacu- cent 20 acres for parking In the hours before the meeting for the vote, which ation of a neighboring – for $18.7 million in took place at BPS headquarters on Court Street, 2010 and commissioned building on Mount A view of the damage to the Bayside Expo Center’s (Continued on page 4) Vernon Street and the roof as seen from the air. Photo courtesy WBZ TV a report that found the cutting off of power to building in “fair to poor” nearby buildings. No Mount Vernon St., set off evacuated until noon condition with “multiple South Bay Mall injuries were reported as the building’s sprinkler due to the gas situation deficiencies” noted. “We a result of the incident. system, alerting the fire and power to the office knew at that time that owners make case A section of the roof department, spokesman center and the nearby the Expo Center was collapsed at roughly Steve MacDonald told DoubleTree hotel was cut not repairable and the for expansion 7 a.m., according to the Reporter. off as crews shut down cost of turning it into UMass Boston, which The adjacent Bayside utilities in the area. classrooms was prohibi- By Lauren Dezenski owns the property, and Office Center, home to Boston Fire responded tive. It has been closed reporter staff Boston Fire Department the Corcoran Jennison with its technical rescue since then,” said UMass Representatives behind a proposal to expand the officials and the debris Cos., SEIU Local 99, response that involves Boston spokesperson South Bay Mall to include new housing, retail, and came down on a gas the state’s Registry of firefighters trained to DeWayne Lehman on a movie theater are making the rounds at a series line, fracturing a pipe. Vital Statistics, and the specifically respond to Wednesday. of community meetings in Dorchester. On Monday The collapse, at 200 Dorchester Reporter, was a gas leak. Two helicop- (Continued on page 4) evening, they spoke to members of the Columbia- Savin Hill Civic Association at the Cristo Rey High School on Savin Hill Avenue. Emphasizing that the plan is still in its early A TALE OF TWO CHARLIES stages, Keith Hague and David Germakian of Edens, the company behind the proposed shopping center Wherein they faced nightmares along a rapid transit line expansion, sought input and answered community questions regarding transit, traffic congestion, and literally brought the commuter By peter f. stevens pedestrian access. trains, subways, and trolley cars reporter staff “The success of the development is really going to a halt, has turned every T rider Is it a case of life imitating to be the access for pedestrians, vehicular access, into a version of the misfortunate art or of art imitating life? not impacting neighborhoods,” Hague told the 70 “Charlie” of yore. As crowds waited Many locals have heard, or at members of the civic association at the meeting. in the frigid elements for trains that least heard of, the old folk song The same concerns had been raised at a meeting “M.T.A.” – better but incorrectly never came and buses that arrived known as “Charlie on the M.T.A.” erratically, if at all, everyone likely (Continued on page 5) The tune’s tale of a misfortunate felt that they were being taken for guy named Charlie who is taken an endless ride by the T. At least INSIDE: for an unending ride around and the fictional “Charlie” caught his Epiphany under Boston on the M.T.A. – the train. Now, another Charlie, rookie School plans precursor to the MBTA – strikes Massachusetts Governor Charlie a political chord these days. Baker, probably feels like “Charlie expansion on The snow and ice of the on the MBTA” – the ride won’t end region’s worst winter in years unless he and his administration Centre Street find a way to pay. have exposed pretty much Story, page 3 All contents copyright every problem bedeviling the Not surprisingly for Boston, the © 2015 Boston MBTA. The weather, which (Continued on page 13) Neighborhood News, Inc. Page 2 THE REPoRTER March 5, 2015 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Gavin Foundation, UMass March 5-14, 2015 team with city on anti- A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. drug, alcohol effort The Boston Public Schools will partner with the Thursday (5th) Gavin Foundation and UMass Boston to run a new Hear from both sides in the debate over the Boston school-based drug prevention program that will 2024 Olympics proposal and what it could mean for be piloted at Dorchester’s own McCormack Middle Dorchester’s Franklin Park. The forum, sponsored School. by the Franklin Park Coalition, starts at 6:30 p.m. The program— Too Good for Drugs— takes aim at at the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse, 1 Circuit Dr., alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use and will focus Dorchester. on seventh graders. “This program’s aim is to address prevention of Friday (6th) drug and alcohol use through our schools,” said • Elizabeth Seton Academy presents its first juried Mayor Walsh. “The curriculum will include good art show. The opening reception will be from 5 p.m. decision-making, resisting peer pressure, and cul- to 8 p.m. at Laboure College, 303 Adams St, Milton. tivating healthy communication and relationships In partnership with Labourè College and Art New with others. It emphasizes the pertinent information England. Please e-mail [email protected] to Boston youth will need to understand the negative request more information. consequences of alcohol and drug use.” • The Archdiocese of Boston Black Catholic Choir The curriculum is based upon 10 one-hour sessions fourth annual Gospel Music Workshop featuring with professionals who have been trained by the Thomas Wade Jefferson will be held at St. Katharine Mendez Foundation. The curriculum consists of 14 Drexel Parish, 517 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester from core lessons and an additional 12 lessons that can 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also on Sat., March 7 from 9 a.m. be infused into other subject areas (such as English, to 3 p.m. (lunch included). Cost: $15. Science, and Social Studies). Students engage in • Dorchester Civic Forum Series continues at role-play and cooperative learning activities and are First Parish Dorchester, 10 Parish St. at 7 p.m. This encouraged to apply the skills to different contexts. month’s public safety topic tackles ways of improving DoWN FoR THE CoUNT— The sign at the now- “Sadly, now more than ever school-based drug- relations between members of our community and defunct Ups n’ Downs bar was removed by workers prevention programs are a necessity,” said UMass the BPD. Three different resident-driven approaches last week. The Neponset Circle bar shut down two Boston Chancellor Keith Motley. “Statistics show will be presented and discussed. Evening parking years ago and its liquor license has since been sold. that 9 out of 10 people with addiction started using around the Mather Elementary School. Sponsored The new owner of the building— Dennis Keohane substances before they turned 18. We hope that by by Bowdoin Geneva Residents Assoc. and First of Milton— intends to have office space for his own focusing on adolescents before they are exposed business on the second floor. Keohane says the first Parish Dorchester. to drugs and alcohol, we can diminish the risk of floor will be occupied by a physical therapist. addiction, and increase the likelihood of success in Image courtesy Dennis Keohane Saturday (7th) school and in college.” • County Donegal Association hosts St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance, 7 p.m. at Florian Hall, 55 Hallet St., Dorchester.