Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 36 Issue 34 Thursday, August 22, 2019 50¢ From left, Martin Keough, Annissa Essaibi-George, William King, Priscilla Flint-Banks, Herb Lozano (with microphone), Erin Murphy, Jeff Ross, Alejandra St. Guillen, Michael Flaherty, Domingos DaRosa, Julia Mejia, Michelle Wu, David Halbert, and Michel Denis. Not pictured: Althea Garrison.Chris Lovett photo At-large race features lots of names, but little drama BY CHRIS LOVETT City Council – and some aspiring first member in 25 years—since Tom Massachusetts House of Representa- SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER successors. Menino became mayor in 1993 —to an tives, two of which unseated members When Ayanna Pressley declared If the election was a triumph of office squarely in the public eye. And of the party’s leadership team. her upset victory in last September’s generational and demographic change, she was the first councillor from Boston But the ferment of 2018 was a far Democrat- it was also a boost for the council it- in 46 years to win a seat in Congress. cry from the doldrums of 2017, despite News Analysis ic primary self. The weaker partner of Boston’s Heightening the interest in last a challenge to Mayor Marty Walsh over Con- strong mayors, the council is better September’s election were other cam- by Councillor Tito Jackson. In the gressman Mike Capuano, she was known as an off-ramp to the political paigns, including the open race to same election, there were only eight cheered by a jubilant crowd at IBEW twilight of county administration. But succeed Dan Conley as Suffolk County candidates running for the council Hall in Dorchester that was sprinkled for Pressley, the council turned out District Attorney. There were also pri- at-large, one of them—the late Kevin with both colleagues from the Boston to be a springboard, catapulting its mary challenges to Democrats in the (Continued on page 5) Happily back home, Powers takes helm at Cristo Rey High BY KATIE TROJANO Andrew M. Cuomo’s ad- REPORTER STAFF ministration, and until Savin Hill native Rose- earlier this month when mary J. Powers has cer- she returned to her home tainly made the rounds turf to take the reins of working in public ad- Cristo Rey High School Rosemary J. Powers ministration. She served Boston, she was working Home is where the heart as chief of staff for for- as deputy chief of staff is. Katie Trojano photo mer Massachusetts Gov. for Rhode Island Gov. new job as “a fabulous A Fair Foods team organizes the food bags at a distribution point. Governor Deval Patrick, Gina M. Raimondo. opportunity for me to be Katherine Martin photos and did the same job for Seated at her desk in both back in Dorchester former Massachusetts the Cristo Rey presi- and working on some- state Sen. Jack Hart. dent’s Savin Hill Av- thing so important that On the road with Fair Foods: She later joined the enue office last Friday, brings so many themes staff of New York Gov. Powers described her from my life together. I’m Mission is to feed the hungry just thrilled; it’s really special.” BY KATHERINE MARTIN the day before. He broke Man dies after rescue Cristo Rey Boston is REPORTER CORRESPONDENT down cardboard boxes, a private Catholic high It was 7:45 in the morn- threw out old food, and from fire on Homes Ave. school that exclusively ing when Henry Nelson swept the truck, tasks A man who was res- flames spouting from the serves families of lim- parked his bike outside of that would be repeated cued by firefighters after third floor of the home. (Continued on page 15) First Parish Dorchester multiple times during his a two-alarm fire broke The fire was knocked and walked across the ten-hour work day. out in his three-decker down by 7:20 a.m. The street to the parking lot Nelson works for residence at 83 Homes victim, whose name had that housed three of Fair Fair Foods, a non-profit Ave. in Dorchester early not been released at Food’s trucks. “I’m usu- food-rescue organiza- Monday morning later press time, was report- ally the first one here. tion based in Boston died at the hospital from edly found unconscious It’s a great job if you love that was born in 1988 his injuries, according to on the third floor. organizing,” he said as when Dorchester resi- Boston Police. A dog was also killed he opened the back of a dent Nancy Jamison Boston Fire Depart- in the fire, which caused leased Enterprise truck intercepted a truck full ment personnel arrived $400,000 in damages and All contents © 2019 and began organizing Unloading the boxes for of fresh carrots going to at the scene at around displaced four people. Boston Neighborhood what had been left there distribution. (Continued on page 12) 6:30 a.m. Monday to find – REPORTER STAFF News, Inc. 28 MAGDALA STREET Beautiful single family 1630 square feet with expansion potential! Close to Adams Village and Ashmont! $675K Call Charlie at 617-645-5417. Page 2 THE REPORTER August 22, 2019 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Police, Aug. 23 - Sept. 6, 2019 A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and Courts, around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. & Fire Friday (23rd) – American Red Cross blood drive at Carney Hospital, 2100 Dorchester Ave., from 10 Armed biker nabbed a.m.- 3 p.m. With many regular donors delaying on Columbia Rd. giving to take final summer vacations and prepare – Operating with a for school to start, the American Red Cross has an description of a emergency need for blood and platelet donations to “suspect involved in a help end a summer blood shortage. More donations prior incident,” Boston are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply Police officers stopped and be prepared for patient emergencies. Make an a man riding a City appointment to donate blood now by download- of Boston Blue Bike ing the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting down Columbia Road RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS near Geneva Ave. on (1-800-733-2767. Those who donated blood earlier Greetings from Soofa on a Washington Street sidewalk. Monday afternoon, this summer may be eligible to give again. Blood and after a “threshold can be safely given every 56 days, and Power Red ‘Beta Blocks’ up and running inquiry” and “a pat donations can be given every 112 days. frisk,” arrested the • The Ashmont-Peabody Square Farmers Market rider on a weapons is open for the season at the Ashmont MBTA plaza. in Codman Square, Ashmont charge. According to The market will be open every Friday from 3-7 p.m. Codman Square and is working with Soofa, the company to display the BPD, the biker, through Oct. 18. It includes farm-fresh produce, lo- later identified as cal meats, artisan breads and pastries, live music Ashmont are now offer- Emerson College, and their local news on all of ing access to news and Supernormal to install its signs in Boston. The Daquam Baskin- and more. See the weekly vendor line-up at tinyurl. King, 19, of Boston, com/AFMCal. information to residents the platforms in promi- company is also looking and visitors as they walk nent places where the to develop partnerships was carrying a loaded Monday (2nd) – MR8K- A Run for Gratitude Raven Model MP-25. set for Sept. 2 – The Martin Richard Foundation, around the business community can access with local neighborhood districts via outdoor the digital screens that newspapers. It calls He has been charged in partnership with the Boston Bruins Foundation, with possession New Balance and DMSE Sports, will host the second digital platforms that display content posted the technology “a new have been set up in the from the community, the platform for community of a loaded firearm annual MR8K - A Run for Gratitude on Labor Day, without a license and Monday, Sept. 2 at Warrior Ice Arena at Boston communities. Early this city, and local businesses conversations to hap- month, the MIT-based on the top of the page, pen,” that will engage will be arraigned in Landing in Brighton. Registration is $45, with Dorchester District proceeds benefiting the Martin Richard Foundation. tech startup Soofa began and provide information local residents to create, installing its so-called about shows, local events “fresh, relevant, and Court. Participants who choose to fundraise and commit Two shot near Mat- to raise a minimum of $300 for the Foundation will “Beta Blocks” in city and real-time transit inspiring content.” neighborhoods, includ- near the bottom. Access Soofa is a female- tapan Square – Of- receive free entry into the race and a limited edi- ficers responding to a tion 2019 MR8K Team MR8 race shirt. The event ing Codman Square to post content to the founded company, estab- (three along Washington Soofa Signs is available lished in 2014 by MIT report of shots fired is open to runners, walkers and para-athletes of all near the Mattapan abilities, as well as families with small children. Street) Ashmont (two for free to all at soofatalk. alum and Cambridge along Dot Ave.), the com. resident Sandra Richter, Square MBTA station Register now at BostonBruins.com/MR8K. shortly after 2 a.m. on Wednesday (4th) — The Codman Square Neigh- Fenway, Chinatown, Soofa has partnerships and co-founder Jutta and Allston. with The Boston Globe Friedrichs, a specialist Monday morning found borhood Council meets the first Wed. of each month, a male victim suffer- 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the Great Hall of the Codman Sq.