Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 30 Issue 32 Thursday, August 8, 2013 50¢ Meeting focuses GraND on parking lot fix rEuNIoN in adams Corner By Mike Deehan Attorney Larry DiCara, Special to the RepoRteR a former Boston City The Cedar Grove Civic Councillor who is repre- Association held a spe- senting Supreme Realty cial meeting on Tuesday Trust — the business evening to r eview plans entity that owns the for a proposed Boston building that will lease Sports Club at 540 Gal- space to BSC— pre- livan Boulevard— one sented the plans for the of the village’s most renovations and re-use prominent properties of the site. that also includes an The change in the adjacent, privately- building’s use from retail owned parking lot that to a fitness center will has long been heavily require approvals from used by neighborhood the city’s Zoning Board of residents and other busi- Appeals, which DiCara nesses. Neighbors see expects to seek this fall. the proposal for a new Renovations to the park- fitness center as a chance ing lot and the build- to upgrade and improve ing would take place Lift-off for the new First Parish steeple. The rebuilt lantern section and supporting structure was swung safety in the heart of the throughout the winter into place on Tuesday morning after a seven-year absence from its longtime home atop Meetinghouse busy business district. and the fitness center Hill. Photo by Chris Lovett Boston Sports Club could open by the spring (BSC) intends to open of 2014. Sean Weir, its 31st location in the president of the Cedar First Parish gets steeple back first floor of the building Grove Civic Association, most recently occupied said that he expects the By Bill FoRRy ber 2006 and has sat on tion of the entire historic ish Street to watch the by a Rite Aid pharmacy. (Continued on page 5) eDitoR a vacant lot across the church. spectacle unfold. The steeple of the street from the church Before the steeple’s Rev. Lavoie read from First Parish Church — ever since. The structure lift-off, Rev. Arthur Psalm 90— the same Landmark status Dorchester’s oldest and underwent a complete Lavoie delivered a prayer read 116 years most storied congrega- restoration in recent memorable invocation before when the church tion— was returned to its months at the hands of from the elevated plat- building was dedicated. eyed for ‘sore spot’ proper spot atop the bell expert carpentry stu- form of a bucket truck, A church has stood atop tower of the Dorchester dents from the North which hoisted him some Meetinghouse Hill since on Grampian Way landmark on Tuesday Bennet School— which 30 feet above a crowd of 1690 and the congrega- morning. The steeple has played a critical role more than 150 people tion itself dates back to By toM Mulvoy was removed in Novem- in the ongoing renova- who gathered along Par- (Continued on page 19) aSSociate eDitoR The building, its grandeur as the Kehew- Wright House long faded Shining link in the Emerald Necklace into the mists of time, is today a model of Devine golf decrepitude perched atop Savin Hill at 24 course in Grampian Way. Franklin Park But the Boston Land- 24 Grampian Way marks Commission is a landmark designation. By toM Mulvoy looking past the wreck of To that end, the com- aSSociate eDitoR its remains to its history mission will hold a public As the sun slowly as long a place of import hearing for consideration climbed into the August- in the neighborhood of its recommendation blue eastern sky on and the city and recom- next Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Tuesday morning, Rus- mending that the house, 5:45 p.m. in the Boston sell Heller and Dennis which sits on almost Redevelopment Author- Roache sat down in the three-quarters of an ity boardroom, Room small patio outside the acre accompanied by a 900, in Boston City Hall. clubhouse at the William dreary-looking one-time Built in the early J. Devine Golf Course at stable building, be given (Continued on page 11) Franklin Park to talk a bit about the expanse of fetching greensward in front of them. INSIDE “We do what we can The third green at the Devine Course at Franklin Park beckons from 421 yards when we can with what away as this free-swinger finishes his tee-shot backswing. Photo by Bill Forry M o n t h - l o n g we have,” said Heller, the pay attention to what’s Hyde Park, while noting of the golf course have education guide green superintendent in front of us.” Roache, that in recent years the more or less followed the at what is popularly the general manager of number of rounds played guidelines of a master starts this week known as the Franklin the Devine layout as well has averaged 35,000, plan that was published Page 4 All contents copyright Park course. “We level, as the city’s other golf said that the improve- in 1998. “The plan set out © 2013 Boston we strip, we re-sod, we course, George Wright in ments across the breadth (Continued on page 21) Neighborhood News, Inc. Page 2 THE REPoRTER August 8, 2013 Reporter’s Notebook On The Record Menino the ‘statesman’ puts New tot lot dedicated pundits in pondering modes in Mattapan By GintautaS DuMciuS and his wife, Joyce London Alex- newS eDitoR ander Ford: “The co-founder of the On a rainy Wednesday, a month highly influential National Conference before he announced that he wasn’t of Black Mayors and founder of the running for another term, Mayor World Conference of Mayors, Mayor Thomas Menino walked, with the Ford says he agrees with his friend help of a cane, through the lobby of Tom Menino and has been encouraging East Boston Neighborhood Health his network of mayors to support Golar Center’s Maverick Square location to Richie, who if elected mayor of Boston, meet the press. East Boston Council- will make history on two fronts: as lor Sal LaMattina walked slightly the first woman and the first African ahead of him, and then quickly veered American to hold the seat.” right when he saw the media horde The second tidbit was even more awaiting the mayor. “Get out of here, intriguing. Menino’s campaign com- Sal,” Menino said with a broad smile. mittee earlier this week sent a $100 “They don’t want you; they’re looking check over to Rob Consalvo, the Hyde for blood.” Park councillor who is also running The day before, City Councillor At- for mayor. Large John Connolly had launched The Consalvo campaign’s de- his mayoral campaign and that posit, available on the state Office brought on the first question tossed of Campaign and Political Finance’s at Menino: What are your thoughts website, also featured $100 from on Connolly’s announcement? “Young Sandra Henriquez, a former Menino man. Wants to be mayor,” Menino said. administration official now working “Good luck to him.” for the Obama administration, and Mayor Thomas Menino, State Senator Linda Forry and other leaders were on Menino continued bantering and $250 from Steven Samuels, CEO of hand to re-dedicate a section of the 18-acre Hunt Almont park in Mattapan answering related questions for Samuels and Associates. last weekend. The new playground area is part of phase one of capital work several minutes and by the end of the But take a look at whom the Menino by the Menino administration, which has committed more than $796,000 for campaign committee has donated to improvements to the entire property. The new tot lot inside Almont Park is day, various pundits and those who named for Tre’Vaughn Anthony Matthews , a two year-old Mattapan boy who fancied themselves Meninologists in the past: $100 to LaMattina, the died tragically in 1996 when the drawstring of his sweatshirt became entangled seemed convinced that the mayor was aforementioned East Boston council- in a slide at the park. Other work to come includes a new turf football field, going to go for a sixth term four-year lor, earlier this year and again last improved lighting and pathways, a parking lot at the 18 acre site, and outdoor term. year, when he unsuccessfully ran for exercise equipment. Photo by Jeremiah Robinson “If there is to be any surprise at all Suffolk County register of probate. in this upcoming mayoral season, it Worth noting: No donations in will be that Tom Menino chooses not to 2011 to John O’Toole, the District 3 West Nile threat level now ‘moderate’ candidate Menino strongly backed in make it an even two dozen,” a Boston State health officials raised the threat level for West Nile Virus to moderate Dorchester, enough so that he earned Herald columnist wrote on March 26. in Boston this week following positive tests for the illness in mosquito traps a shout-out from O’Toole after he Two days later, Menino stood inside located in Jamaica Plain and Hyde Park. There have yet to be any recorded won the seven-person preliminary. grand old Faneuil Hall, surrounded by human cases of mosquito-borne illnesses in Boston this season, but the Boston , who was supported by family and friends, and said he would Frank Baker Public Health Commission is advising residents to use insect repellant and, childhood friend , a state not run again. Marty Walsh when possible, to wear clothing that includes long sleeves and pants. For more representative who is now running for Menino has largely stayed out of the information, call the BPHC at 617-534-5611 or visit bphc.org.