Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood”
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Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 31 Issue 51 Thursday, December 18, 2014 50¢ City’s plans for homeless in Mattapan stirring a fuss By Lauren Dezenski reporter staff Two buildings in Mattapan undergoing renovation this month are in the spotlight as the city continues to scramble to find space to house homeless people who were displaced by the abrupt closure of shelter facilities on Long Island in October when Mayor Martin Walsh shut down the bridge to the island after city and state inspectors found it structurally unsafe. In October, city officials announced that they would retrofit the buildings, which are owned by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and set back from River Street near the Foley Senior Residences, to house programs for people recovering from substance abuse, one for men nearing the end of prison sentences, and the other for people who need a short-term residential program. Students in the upper grades at the Joseph Lee K-8 School on Talbot Avenue held a two-hour Black “Right now the city is renovating two Boston Lives Matter protest on Tuesday morning. Kids who brought in permission slips walked from the school Public Health Commission buildings in Mattapan to the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue where they chanted slogans such as “Hands up! Don’t Shoot!” to serve as a possible replacement for some of the and “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” Several teachers stood with them; three recovery programs,” said Kate Norton, spokesperson BPD cruisers and officers were parked on Blue Hill Avenue. Many passing motorists honked in support. Adam Gaffin photo for Mayor Martin Walsh in a statement on Tuesday. Also this week, the mayor’s office announced plans to convert a former city transportation building on Southampton Street into a permanent homeless ALL EYES ON THE STRAND shelter. The building – which will not be ready for occupancy until next spring— will reportedly house Students as many as 490 people when completed. brief mayor (Continued on page 7) on ideas Loan plan helps By BiLL forry eDitor seniors, disabled A team of students from UMass Boston’s stay in their homes Honors College laid out two proposals aimed at By BiLL forry in Boston. And when her revitalizing Uphams eDitor mom developed a brain Corner’s iconic Strand Yvonne Ellison has tumor that eventually Theatre last week in a Mayor Walsh and UMass Boston Chancellor Keith Motley signed an agreement lived in her home on took her life, Yvonne public presentation at last Friday that will continue the university’s new Mayor’s Policy Symposium Whitman Street near was right across the the university’s Colum- into future years. That same day, the inaugural class briefed the mayor on its Codman Square for 35 street and was her main ideas for revitalizing the Strand Theatre. Harry Brett/UMB photo bia Road campus. Seated years. A 65-year-old caregiver. in the audience among the students’ admittedly the minutiae of the Co- across the country. divorcee, she has raised Last year, though, the 100-plus people who ambitious plans viable: lumbia Road landmark, Led by their professor, four boys here on a quiet, Yvonne had to make a turned out for the Pow- Mayor Martin Walsh. reviewing earlier plans Dr. Erin Murphy, and dead-end side street near tough decision. She was erPoint walk-throughs The eight-member for revivals and studying informed by an array Dorchester High School. diagnosed with a degen- was the one person in class spent the fall se- what has worked at of guest speakers, the It was a perfect spot, erative spinal condition she says, sitting, as it that will likely cause the city who could make mester immersed in similar urban theatres (Continued on page 5) does, across the street (Continued on page 6) from her parents, who owned the single-family Four bids for city-owned comfort station house before selling it to By Lauren Dezenski put on the market this building serving modern waiting for trolleys in the her in 2003. reporter staff fall. The minimum bid needs–all while main- bustling Uphams Corner The proximity to her Four prospective buy- for a successful proposal taining the building’s business district. folks meant that her boys ers are vying for what was set at just $100. historic character, ac- The proposals range were raised with the help could be the cheapest Four private groups cording to Department from a local bistro to of their grandparents piece of real estate in the have submitted plans of Neighborhood Devel- a daycare center with and she could use public city: a former comfort sta- to turn the 102-year-old opment. The building development costs rang- transportation to get into All contents copyright tion on Columbia Road site, shuttered since was once used as a way ing from $84,500 to $1.1 her job working in the © 2014 Boston that the city of Boston 1977, into an updated station for commuters (Continued on page 21) Secretary of State’s office Neighborhood News, Inc. Page 2 THE REPoRTER December 18, 2014 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Police, Dec. 18 – 21, 2014 Courts A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. & Fire Barber Shop Thursday (18th) – MassDOT hosts public meeting about plans to improve the intersection of owner murdered Morton Street and Gallivan Blvd. with a $1.2 million on Adams Street project. Meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Charles H. A 29-year-old man Taylor Elementary School, 1060 Morton St. who had recently opened • Hancock St. Civic Association meets from 6:30 his own barber shop to 8 p.m. at the Pilgrim Church, 540 Columbia Rd., on Adams Street was across from the Strand Theatre. Info: hancockcivic@ stabbed to death last Fri- gmail.com day evening in a crime Friday (19th) – Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre’s New England Patriots owner Robert to the students about the importance that is not yet solved. The Nutcracker opens a five-show run at the Strand Kraft and several team members vis- of being active for at least 60 minutes Boston Police are asking ited the Edward Everett Elementary every day and of fueling up with nu- for the public’s help in Theatre in Dorchester this evening. Call 617-354- School in Dorchester on Monday to tritious foods. 7467 for tickets or go to ballettheatre.org identifying the assailant give the school grant funds to build a Shown above, from left: running back who killed Sean Dwyer, Saturday (20th) – The 21st Annual Mayor’s new playground and make improve- Jonas Gray; wide receiver Julian Cup Youth Hockey Tournament begins today at ments to the school’s meal delivery Edelman; Robert Kraft; cornerback who was working at locationsd across the city, including Murphy Rink systems. The “Hometown Grant” Brandon Browner; Edward Everett El- the Clover in South Boston and the Devine Rink in Dorchester. program, funded by the NFL, gives ementary School Principal Laura Mic- City Uni- • Teams throughout Boston participate in this deserving schools up to $10,000 to eli; Sheri Kasper of the New England sex Barber citywide tournament to vie for the championship help meet their health and wellness Dairy & Food Council; dairy farmer S h o p title in 9 divisions for boys and girls ages 6-14 goals. Kraft doubled the grant amount Marlow Duffy; and Pro Football, and a r o u n d (Mites, Squirts, and Pee Wees.) The tournament is to $20,000 because he was impressed Patriots) Hall of Famer Andre Tippett. 6:20 p.m. with the Everett’s plans. Players spoke when the organized by Boston Centers for Youth & Families Sean Dwyer (BCYF,) the City of Boston’s largest youth and i n c i d e n t human service agency. Games begin at 7 a.m. The took place. Championship Games will be held at the John Dwyer was found ly- “Snooks” Kelley Rink at Conte Forum at Boston Police warning follows ing in the middle of College on Sunday, January 4. A complete schedule Adams Street and initial will be online soon at cityofboston.gov/bcyf. reports from the scene alleged sexual assaults indicated that a person Boston Police warned the operator offered her the driver indecently may have been fatally the public to “exercise money and touched her assaulting her,” police struck by a vehicle. But caution” this week after inappropriately. While report. first responders quickly three reports of inde- still in the car, the victim Anyone with informa- realized that Dwyer had cent assaults involving states that she received tion is asked to call the in fact been mortally rideshare services. The a text from her actual Boston Police Sexual wounded in a knife at- warning did not specify authorized timeshare Assault Unit at 617-343- tack. He was pronounced what service was in- operator stating that he 4400. Police also advised dead at the scene and his volved in the incidents, had arrived to pick her that people “have cred- body remained in place including two with up,” police said. ible and regulated cab as investigators combed Dorchester connections. Later, around 2:50 company phone numbers the street and the barber The first incident took a.m. on Sunday, another saved to your phone” shop for evidence that place just before 1 a.m. woman was accosted by before going out and to night. Adams Street on Sunday when a female someone she thought “use only licensed cabs was closed off for hours Saturday (20th) – Boston City Singers Winter victim said she had been was a rideshare driver.