Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 33 Issue 36 Thursday, September 3, 2015 50¢ Primary will trim council choices in Districts 4,7 By Jennifer Smith reporter Staff Voters in select parts of Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan will go to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 8 in a city preliminary election that features only two district seats in contention. With only five candidates seeking one of the four at-large council seats, there will be no balloting in the rest of the city of Boston next Tuesday. In District 4, the longest serving city councillor, Charles Yancey, is attempting to stave off two challengers: Andrea Campbell, a lawyer and former member of Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration, whose grassroots energy and resonant personal history has provided a financial windfall for the Bicycles lined up outside the Bowdoin Bike School, which has recently opened a new shop on Southern campaign; and Terrance Williams, a community Avenue in Codman Square. John Savoia/ Bowdoin Bike School photo activist who ran unsuccessfully against Yancey in 2013, stresses the importance of youth outreach. Jovan Lacet, who will also appear on the ballot in District 4, has withdrawn his candidacy and endorsed Dorchester bicyclists seek Yancey. Lacet says he will mount a write-in campaign for at-large. Yancey’s opponents hope to overcome the incum- expanded and safer routes bent’s 32 years in office and the notoriously low turnout of council-only election years. Yancey, for his By Jennifer Smith US Census Bureau’s American and sustain active transportation (Continued on page 4) reporter Staff Community Survey. More people options and lifestyles,” Mayor Bicyclists in much of Dorchester are biking, it reports, especially Martin Walsh said in a statement are out of luck if they want to go in the Northeast. when Seskin was appointed. for a convenient bike ride around “We all have that story of the Her appointment and her work New VietAID chief their neighborhoods but don’t own first ride. … That ‘aha’ moment with the city’s Boston Bikes their own bikes. However, a new that turned us onto cycling and program coincide with a proposed Active Transportation Director all its possibilities,” said Noah Hubway expansion. The green and charts fresh course and more Hubway stations may Hicks, founder of the Bowdoin silver bike ports scattered across By Jennifer Smith indicate there’s a shift coming in Bike School and bike shop, which the city touch only the edge of reporter Staff the priority given to cyclists on hosts a series of weekly rides Dorchester, a neighborhood with Hue Pham has lived in Dorchester streets. through partnerships. an active biking community but two places: South Viet- The number of Bostonians who Stefanie Seksin is the city’s first relatively few internal options for nam and Minnesota. This use bikes to commute to and from Active Transportation Director. casual and safe biking, residents week, she flew from Min- work rose from 1.3 percent to 1.7 Her duties – which began just said. neapolis to her new home percent from 2009 to 2012, as two weeks ago – encompass Hubway expansions are “an in Boston, preparing to compared to the national average “implementing new initiatives important first step,” Hicks said, take over as executive di- of 0.6 percent, according to the to create people-friendly designs but the end goal should be to in- rector for the Vietnamese and programs that encourage (Continued on page 4) American Initiative for Development (VietAID) in Dorchester. Civic watchdog Joe Chaisson dead at 83 Pham, 53, brings statement to the Reporter. “He business acumen and a Hue Pham: cited for busi- By Bill forry ness sense, compassion. editor was a civic leader who fought compassionate core to the A Savin Hill native whose hard for the people of Dorchester, organization. She joins most complex issues name became synonymous with making significant changes in our the initiative at a time of community life - es- opposition to the proliferation of community that will benefit many of expansion on multiple pecially the economy, billboards across the neighbor- generations to come.” fronts: The growth of af- entrepreneurship, and hood died on Aug. 26 after a “We’ve lost a local hero and it ter school and pre-school civic engagement,” Pham lengthy fight against pancreatic is our hope that those who know programs geared toward said in a prepared state- cancer. Joe Chaisson, 83, was him continue to keep his values low-income youths, the (Continued on page 7) a lifelong Dorchester resident and dedication alive through launch of a Fields Corner who became deeply involved in building up the neighborhoods community plan, and a civic association activism in the and staying unified,” said Walsh, continuing affordable de- 1970s. This week, his passing who worked closely with Chaisson velopment program. The was mourned by a wide array of through the Columbia-Savin Hill group has recently taken neighbors, including the mayor Civic Association. on a $15 million, 35-unit of Boston. Congressman Stephen F. Lynch affordable development “Joe Chaisson’s legacy and all was among those who visited in Four Corners. Joe Chaisson: “We’ve lost a local that he stood for will forever be Chaisson’s wake on Monday eve- “For 21 years, Viet- All contents copyright hero” said Mayor Walsh. part of the Savin Hill community,” ning at Murphy’s Funeral Home AID has collaboratively © 2015 Boston Bill Forry photo said Mayor Martin Walsh in a (Continued on page 5) tackled some of the Neighborhood News, Inc. Big bank services without big bank fees. Mobile Banking Remote Deposit Online Banking eStatements Bill Pay Full range of deposit and lending products 2250 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 · 617-298-2250 4238 Washington Street, Roslindale, MA 02131 · 617-942-8500 Member FDIC Mortgage Line 617-322-3100 · meetinghousebank.com Member SIF MB Bank Services Ad 10x2 4c.indd 1 2/23/15 2:59 PM Page 2 THE REPoRTER September 3, 2015 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Sonny’s: Not sold – but family says Sept. 5 - 13, 2015 they are ‘open’ to offers on property A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. The longtime operator of a landmark Adams Saturday (5th) – City of Boston’s Poet Laureate Corner pub and restau- visits the Dudley Branch Library at 2 p.m. This rant says that rampant fall,Danielle Legros Georges will meet and engage rumors that the business with aspiring and practicing poets. Interested has been sold to a new participants can bring examples of their work for buyer are untrue. discussion. 65 Warren St. Roxbury. Richard ‘Richie’ Elia, Tuesday (8th) – Preliminary election in the city 69, has worked at the of Boston in city council districts 4 and 7 only. Polls business at 754 Adams will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are St. since the 1960s— also available for those who wish to vote in person at when it was owned and the Election Department, located in Room 241, at operated by his father, Boston City Hall. For voters who have any questions Alexander ‘Sonny’ Elia. about absentee ballots, please call 617-635-2211. The elder Elia died in For all other concerns call 617-635-3767. July 2014 at age 88. The Richard Elia, left, and his son Matthew are shown outside Sonny’s in Adams Thursday (10th) – Public meeting at 6:30 p.m. business is now owned Village Tuesday afternoon. Bill Forry photo by Matthew Elia, 41, the at Boston English High School to discuss upcoming is open to prospective “I just love the area cent months. However, 15th annual B.A.A. Half-Marathon set for Sun., namesake’s grandson and the son of Richie buyers.” and the neighborhood no deal has been reached. oct. 11, starting and finishing at White Stadium Sonny’s has been a period,” Sonny Elia “I would want $2 mil- in Franklin Park. See baa.org or email info@baa. Elia, who works nightly at the eatery, which fixture in Adams Village told the Reporter in ’99. lion for this place,” said org Participants will run along New Washington since 1968 when Sonny “These people here were Elia, who said his current Street and Forest Hills Drive with street closings does a heavy trade in food, beer and lottery, bought the bar that was just great.” plan is to continue to from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. previously known as This week, Richie Elia work alongside his son • Information session for prospective volunteers including a busy Keno business. Amaru’s Café. Prior to acknowledged that he until age 75. “I could see to help students in grades K-3 in a local school or that, Elia and his ex- and his family have a good future here for my after-school setting. If you are age 50 or over, attend “It’s definitely not true that we have sold,” Richie tended family ran a had the business ap- son. It’s a comfortable, today’s meeting at the Boston Teacher’s Union from popular luncheonette in praised and have been good business.” 1-3 p.m., 180 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester. Please Elia told the Reporter on Tuesday. “But the door the South End called The approached by several -BILL FoRRY call 617-399-4699 or email pwaters@generationsinc. Colonial. potential buyers in re- org See generationsinc.org Saturday (12th) – Savin Hill Neighborhood Yard Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information or Milton real-estate broker Flynn to obtain a map, please send a request to savinhill@ outlook.com.