August 2018 Boston’s hometown VOL. 29 # 8 journal of Irish culture. $2.00 Worldwide at All contents copyright © 2018 bostonirish.com Boston Neighborhood News, Inc. MEET THE KELLY GIRLS… Evans leaves Boston Police for new role at Boston College By JenniFeR Smith and Bill FoRRy RepoRteR StaFF Marking the end of an era in local law enforcement, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans retired from the Boston force on July 30 to begin a new posi- tion as executive director of public safety at Boston College. Mayor Martin Walsh named a black officer, Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross, as the new com- missioner of the 2,200-officer Boston Police Department. Evans, a 59 year-old South Boston native who has been on the force since 1982, served in the commissioner’s role for the last five years, first on an interim basis when he succeeded Ed Davis in 2013. Walsh appointed him to the permanent position in January 2014. Walsh has been a close friend and dedicated boss, Evans said, referencing multiple daily phone calls between them. “He left me alone and I ran the department I wanted,” Evans said. “There hasn’t been a time throughout my en- tire career where I didn’t want to go to work.” An avid runner, Ev- ans said this was the time for him to make a choice that would allow The Kelly Girls (L-R): Christine Hatch, Nancy Beaudette, Ashling Keating and Melinda Kerwin. Says him to spend more time Keating of the quartet’s performances, “I often feel like we are sitting in one big circle with our audi- with his family. His wife ence – and forget that we are on stage and tied to a PA system.” has patiently waited out his decades on the force, Evans said, smiling. William Evans … the perfect ‘midlife-crisis band’ “We’ve had some re- ally tough obstacles over the last couple years with By Sean Smith Celtic and traditional And earlier this year, the (Kerwin); a Canadian na- the environment we’ve been operating in,” Evans said BiR CoRReSpondent Irish tunes and songs, quartet released its first tive who is a former Cana- in commending his force, “whether it’s Occupy Boston, Make no mistake: Chris- as well as contemporary album, “May You Always.” dian Gospel Music Awards the Marathon bombing, Black Lives Matter, Charlot- tine Hatch, Aisling Keat- folk and original music. Bands of any musical “Song of the Year” winner tesville. And they’ve shown this city proud.” ing, Melinda Kerwin, Over its four years of genre often represent (Beaudette); a one-time While applauding Evans’s work in the post, city and Nancy Beaudette are existence, the band has a fascinating amalgam performer on the nation- and state leaders also welcomed the new forthcoming grown-up women, with appeared at events and of experiences, back- ally touring “Hollywood police commissioner. Suffolk District Attorney Dan families and jobs and venues like BCMFest, grounds, adventures, and Spectacular Stunt Show” Conley said of Evans in a statement: “His unassuming other adult stuff like that. the Amazing Things Arts interests, of course, and (Hatch); and a massage demeanor masks a leader who was fiercely committed But every so often, the Center in Framingham, The Kelly Girls members therapist who once trav- to leading a department that would embody the highest four are happy just to be Bull Run Inn in Shirley, certainly have their marks eled through China as standards of professionalism, integrity and innovation girls. Hibernian Cultural Cen- of distinctions: a child of part of a Celtic music band and it made him one of the very best partners we as Kelly Girls, that is. ter in Worcester, and, Dixieland jazz musicians (Keating). prosecutors could ask for. It has been my privilege Based west of Boston, most recently, at the who is a social worker and So there’s no shortage of and blessing to work with Bill Evans. I’m sorry to see The Kelly Girls perform Maine Celtic Celebration. mother of three teenagers (Continued on page 11) (Continued on page 14) From Kieran Jordan: A note full of thanks, a testament to what the will can make happen By ed FoRRy dents that she had been no conclusive evidence of ter seeing eight doctors puBliSheR planning for more than any particular problem. and therapists, she was The dance artist Kieran a year. But as recently But her health did not diagnosed with Lyme Jordan returned recently as late June she was not improve, and for eight Disease, and she began from a week at the Willie certain she could ever take months she struggled an aggressive campaign Clancy summer school, a that trip. with the symptoms: de- of antibiotic and other legendary Irish music and It was a 12 months bilitating fatigue and medicines. dance festival in Milltown ago, in July 2017, that body aches, night sweats, Even worse, she learned Malaby in Co. Clare. It Kieran came down with insomnia, low blood sugar that the treatments were was a trip for herself, her flu-like symptoms. After counts, and all sorts of not covered by her insur- husband Vincent Crotty, a couple of days, a doctor bothersome symptoms. ance, and her friends tested her, but there was In April this year, af- and 25 of her dance stu- (Continued on page 7) Kieran Jordan and Vincent Crotty before his live concert painting at the Willie Clancy Festival. 34-Month 46-Month 58-Month % % % 1.50APY* 1.85APY* 2.20APY* If our rates go up, your’s can too! * Rates expressed as Annual Percentage Yields (APYs), are accurate as of 1/1/18, and are subject to change without notice. The bump-up option can only be exercised once during the term of the certificate. The certificate term is not extended by the bump-up/APY increase. To initiate the one-time bump-up contact a Member Service Representative at any branch office. City of Boston Credit Union will use its best efforts to comply with all APY increase requests by the close of business on the next business day. 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Minimum deposit of $500. 617-635-4545 Deposits can not be made during the term of the account. Rates may change after account is opened. Fees could reduce earnings. Subject to penalty for early withdrawal. Not available for IRA Certificates. Must be a member of City of Boston Credit Union to open Cityofbostoncu.com certificate account. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Federally Insured by NCUA. Excess share insurance by MSIC. Page 2 August 2018 BOSTON IRISH REPORTER bostonirish.com IrIsh InternatIonal ImmIgrant Center Immigration Q&A An agency accredited by US Department of Justice Birth records: necessary One State Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 (617) 542-7654 Fax (617) 542-7655 for Green Card process Website:iiicenter.org Email: [email protected] Q. I am applying for legal permanent residence in the US. Do I have to submit a birth certificate with my application? I lost my copy, so I would have to Irish graduate scores winning internship in NYC get another one from the town where I was born in my By iiiC StaFF home country. After Joseph Kelly A. Yes, you definitely need to submit a copy of your completed his master’s certified birth record (assuming such a record exists) degree in international as part of the application package for legal permanent finance at National Uni- residence and for various other immigration benefits. versity of Ireland, Gal- It is certain that US Citizenship and Immigration way, he found himself Services will not process your application without contemplating the best this document. Information regarding the specific route to pursue all of his procedures for obtaining birth certificates usually is professional and personal available from the embassy or consulate of the relevant goals. Joe recognized that home country. the J-1 Internship Ex- The record must contain the following information: change Program, “gave Person’s name; date of birth; place of birth; names of me the opportunity to both parents (if known); an annotation (stamp, seal, see a whole new side signature, etc.) by the appropriate authority indicating of things, and to start that the document is the official record or an extract taking responsibility from the official records. and shape my future.” Your birth record may be unobtainable for a number Today, the Dublin native of reasons, such as: Your birth was never officially says that his time in the recorded; your birth records have been destroyed; in US helped him become such cases, you should try to obtain a certified state- more independent and ment from the appropriate government authority in self-sufficient.