1 THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 FREE charlestown PATRIOT-BRIDGE Big New York developers gobble Still Upbeat up two properties Chain Forge gets another extension, in Industrial Park developers seeking complex funding By Seth Daniel July 11, allowing the developer – By Seth Daniel CVPA Chain Forge LLC – until The developers of the Chain September to wrap up financing. Two New York residential Forge (Building 105) hotel proj- The developer has received several developers have gobbled up large ect received another extension extension already. industrial properties in the Bunker from the Boston Planning and However, this might be the final Hill Industrial Park over the last Development Agency (BPDA) to extension, as the developer agreed 30 days – with one of the develop- secure funding, but officials and to pay $95,000 in order to approve ers adding a parcel in the Park to the developers are upbeat about the amendment, and agreed that another they purchased in 2015. the progress recently made to get any further requests for extensions Cyan All three sales, including the one the project moving. would result in a re-negotiation of in 2015, were much higher than The BPDA granted the latest the assessed value. extension at its Thursday meeting, Magenta It has begged the question as to (CHAIN FORGE Pg. 13) whether developers are land-bank- ing properties across Rutherford in anticipation of the planning study Acquitted shooter in murder Yellow Yellow announced by the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) arrested with gun 16 months later earlier this year. One thing on By Seth Daniel in Roxbury by the Boston Police Black the docket during that study will Youth Violence Strike Force, who be the Bunker Hill Community The suspected shooter of the recognized him and knew he had late Ryan ‘Duce’ Morrissey, who an outstanding warrant for armed (PROPERTY Pg. 3) was acquitted of the crime and robbery. The armed robbery had freed in February 2018, was arrest- occurred about one week prior in ed June 28, allegedly with a loaded Roslindale. gun and heroin, in Roxbury by Upon seeing the suspect, offi- Photo by Keiko Hiromi Lawsuit filed Boston Police. cers promptly approached and Chris Smith, executive director of Boston After School & Beyond (third Alexander Soto, 21, former- placed the suspect under arrest. against Encore from left) and Aaron Dworkin, CEO, National Summer Learning ly of Charlestown, was arrested Association (R) with Courageous Sailing students in the Navy Yard on around 1:30 p.m. on June 28 (SHOOTER Pg. 3) Wednesday, July 10, during a celebration of Boston’s summer learning pro- By Seth Daniel gram. See Pages 8 and 9 for more photos. A class-action lawsuit filed CITY SQUARE CONCERT SERIES Monday in Middlesex Superior Court on behalf of a New York Natural Classroom man is accusing Encore Boston Boston Public Schools, Courageous Sailing Harbor of not following the state’s Blackjack rules when it comes to awarded for summer learning program variations on the game – in partic- Special to the Patriot-Bridge “My summer learning expe- ular the ‘6 to 5’ variation. riences at Courageous Sailing A second piece of that suit Students from across Boston have taught me skills I will use in alleges that electronic kiosks for last week start the “5th Quarter of the workplace and in any learn- redeeming winnings at the casino Learning,” using the city’s amaz- ing environment: to build connec- were withholding change, round- ing natural and local resources tions with the people around me, ing down to the lowest dollar as a classroom to have fun, learn solve problems, step up and take amount for the payment. critical life skills, and help slow charge when needed,” said Urvi Encore, in a statement, denied the summer slide. Gipstein, a Courageous Sailing the accusations. Boston students, many of student instructor and rising junior And the Massachusetts Gaming whom can’t afford tradition- at Boston Latin School. Commission (MGC) said it is al summer programs, joined More than 47,000 students have reviewing the allegations. city, state and national leaders benefitted from Boston’s sum- “The MGC is aware of the law- July 10 at Courageous Sailing in mer learning efforts since its launch suit and reviewing its content to Photo by Derek Kouyoumjian the Charlestown Navy Yard to in 2010, making it a singular suc- determine next steps,” said MGC showcase Boston’s role as a lead- cess for the students and families Jamaal Coleman and Carrie Johnson perform on vocals as the East Coast Spokesperson Elaine Driscoll. er that is inspiring cities across of Boston, Mayor Martin Walsh, Soul Band rocked out to a Tina Turner-inspired rendering of ‘Proud Mary’ Encore Spokesperson Rosie Massachusetts and around the the Boston Public Schools (BPS) during the July 10 Concert in City Square. The series has been an absolute Salisbury said they have followed nation to rethink summer learn- hit this year, and the Friends of City Square said July 10 was one of the larg- est crowds they’ve ever had in attendance. The next concert is Aug 14. See NCORE Pg. 6 ing and enrichment. (E ) (SAILING Pg. 11) Page 16 for more photos. 2 PAGE 2 THE CHARLESTOWN PATRIOT-BRIDGE JULY 18, 2019 editorial YES, DRUGS ARE BAD, BUT ALCOHOL IS STILL THE WORST We’ve all become aware of the opioid epidemic that has spread throughout the country in recent years and that has been responsible for about 60,000 premature deaths annually in the United States. The dangerous and deadly drug fentanyl, which often is laced into heroin, chiefly has been responsible for the rise in opioid overdoses. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that alcohol abuse still rates as the number one health problem in the country, as it has for decades. Here are a few statistics: It is estimated that excessive drinking is responsible for 88,000 deaths per year in the United States, about one in 10 deaths among working-age adults. The cost in 2010 was almost $250 billion. And drinking is a serious problem among adolescents. More than nine percent of those 12 to 17 years drink alcohol, and almost five percent engaged in binge drinking in the last month. Drinking in the teen years makes a person five times more likely to become an alcoholic than if they had waited to take their first drink after the age of 21. For men, risky drinking is more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks in any week, according to the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse. And for women, it’s more than three drinks on any day Black or more than seven drinks in any week. (The institute defines a drink as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits.) Among people aged 15 to 49, alcohol use is the single most common risk factor for death and disability. In 2016, alcohol accounted for 6.8 DiDomenico urges action on high quality pre-K percent of male and 2.2 percent of female deaths. Sen. Sal DiDomenico recent- Finally, alcoholic beverages are classified by the International Agency ly testified before the Joint for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to Committee on Education in sup- humans) -- the same category as asbestos -- with 3.6 percent of all cancer port of his bill, S.265, An Act cases and 3.5 percent of cancer deaths worldwide being attributable to ensuring high-quality pre-kinder- garten education. This legislation consumption of alcohol. would expand preschool, using So here are a few ways to ensure that neither we nor our friends and grants from the state, beginning loved ones become one of those statistics this summer: with high-needs communities 1) If you are planning on going out for a night, leave the car at home that are ready with a state-ap- proved expansion plan. and have your cell phone programmed to call an Uber. Drunk-driving “Across Massachusetts, lawyers say their business is way down thanks to Uber use by millennials people are ready for more pre- -- so be smart and plan ahead while you’re still sober and before you school,” said DiDomenico in his leave your house! testimony before the Committee. 2) Friends don’t let friends drive drunk -- take their keys and drive “I have heard from countless parents who want this learning them home yourself or get them an Uber. opportunity for their children, 3) Do not drink and captain a boat -- it IS against the law (just like but often can’t afford it or are drinking and driving a car) -- and the risks to your passengers and other on waiting lists. Local commu- Sen. Sal DiDomenico testifies before the Joint Committee on Education boaters on the water are huge if you are captaining under the influence. nities, led by community-based programs, school districts, and mayors, have solid plans for pre- in pre-K, many attend schools viding 3- and 4-year-olds in those school expansion and are waiting with high student-to-teacher neighborhoods with pre-K edu- for new public dollars to begin ratios, low family engagement, cation administered by qualified implementation. That is why I and inadequate teacher quali- teachers in programs following filed this legislation, and I am fications. These children enter federal Preschool Expansion confident this bill is an important kindergarten at a disadvantage Grant quality standards. Since next step towards improving and c harlesTown as compared to their peers who his election to the Massachusetts expanding high quality early edu- receive high-quality pre-kinder- Senate in 2010, fighting to pro- PATRIOT-BRIDGE cation for our kids” garten education.