Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 37 Issue 1 Thursday, January 2, 2020 50¢ Walsh says new ordinance will boost the city’s wetlands resilience BY KATIE TROJANO REPORTER STAFF Asserting that “climate change is the defining chal- lenge of our time,” Mayor Martin Walsh signed the Local Wetland Ordinance during a visit to Roslindale last week. It’s an initiative, he said, that “gives us greater power to protect our wetlands in the face of a changing climate. Madison Park students celebrated the opening of a new gift shop that they will run on Dec. 18. From left, “We’re using natural green space to protect our Ann-Laurie Desilus, Ginet Castillo, Sara Herrera, Gerald Santana, Ayanna Brice, Irani Perez, Samantha neighborhoods from storms, floods, and heat waves. Disla, Briannalyz Ruiz, Enaira Uribe. … and this ordinance shows what we can accom- plish when we work together,” he added, “securing a strong, resilient future for Boston. This work has Unions to help Madison Park students been a priority for my administration, and I’m proud to sign this important ordinance with our partners.” create and maintain their own business The mayor also noted that the ordinance is stricter than statewide standards. BY DANIEL SHEEHAN thanks to a $10,000 donation from low teacher Francisco Torres, The City Council unanimously approved the law REPORTER STAFF the Dorchester-based painters said in an interview that “the early last month. It protects flood-prone areas and It was all business at Madison union, will provide Madison Park vision for the store is always adjoining upland areas across the city. It also directs Park Technical Vocational High students studying business and about how we can get the stu- the Boston Conservation Commission to consider School last month when union marketing a chance to create and dents to show their knowledge future climate impacts like rising sea levels in ap- representatives from District maintain a business plan, perform about business and marketing plications for new developments, construction, or Council 35 and The Paint and financial and accounting tasks, and make money for themselves.” special events. Glass Association of New England and receive hands-on training in He added that the collaboration “As a coastal city, Boston is extremely vulner- joined with students and faculty a retail setting. between trade union representa- able to the threat of climate change with rising sea to celebrate the grand opening of Greg Schuman, a marketing tives and a vocational school was levels,” said City Councillor Matt O’Malley, chair- the high school’s new gift shop. teacher who developed the idea a natural fit. man of the Environment, Sustainability and Parks The store, which is being funded for the gift shop along with fel- (Continued on page 19) (Continued on page 16) It’s ‘Shirley’s Pantry’ now Reviewing the arts scene in Dot: 2019 BY DANIEL SHEEHAN ARTS & FEATURES EDITOR Dorchester artists were busy last year. From an arts standpoint, the neighborhood was prolific as musicians, artists, and performers churned out ma- terial and organized events that showed the rest of the city just how active the local scene has become. Here are some of the moments that defined the arts in Dorchester in 2019: Boston Answering: One of the most memorable events of the year was Boston Answering, a grass- roots music festival organized by HipStory — a media and production company started by the rapper and filmmaker Cliff Notez — as a “cultural response” to a Boston Calling festival that largely shunned local hip hop artists when it announced its lineup of performers. Hosted on May 25 at the legendary Strand The- Rep. Ayanna Pressley, at left. and Mayor Walsh were on hand with Rep. Russell Holmes, behind the atre in Uphams Corner, the festival succeeded in mayor, to help surprise Shirley Shillingford by re-naming a Mattapan food pantry that she runs, “Shir- ley’s Pantry.” Jeremiah Robinson/Mayor’s Office photo (Continued on page 12) Renaming honors longtime manager of Mattapan facility BY KATIE TROJANO Shirley Shillingford, a longtime Added the mayor: “Shirley Shil- REPORTER STAFF city employee who has run the lingford, you are amazing. The real On Dec. 23, Mayor Martin facility for the last 15 years. heroes in our community are the Walsh, Congresswoman Ayanna “This renaming— we just made people who come into a building Pressley, and neighbors joined the it official, but it’s really always like this and make sure families Boston Public Health Commis- been Shirley’s Pantry,” said Press- that walk through the doors get sion (BPHC) at its Healthy Baby, ley. “Thank you for laboring and what they need. It’s our honor to Health Food Pantry on River love, thank you for the innumerous do this, because the people that Five-term City Council- All contents lor Chuck Turner died Street for a surprise announce- personal sacrifices you have made. come here are the most needy © 2020 last week at age 79. Story, Boston Neighborhood ment, the renaming of the facility You can’t stop being a service that we have in our society, and I Page 2; commentary, as “Shirley’s Pantry” in honor of leader because it is in your DNA.” (Continued on page 5) Page 8. News, Inc. WE’RE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Come visit our four full-service Dorchester locations. Codman Square: 305 Talbot Avenue Lower Mills: 2250 Dorchester Avenue Gallivan Boulevard: 489 Gallivan Boulevard Morrissey Boulevard: 960 Morrissey Boulevard Member FDIC Member DIF 800.657.3272 EBSB.com NMLS # 457291 Page 2 THE REPORTER January 2, 2020 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Chuck Turner, former Police Man stabbed in Sun- Jan. 3 - 20, 2020 city councillor, dies at 79 day incident on Dot A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and Ave. – The police were In a statement issued is in his leadership - we around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. WBUR NEWS STAFF called in on Sunday night on Dec. 27 through Mr. will always miss him for Chuck Turner, a long- (Dec. 29) after a man was Turner’s friend and for- the work that he did, the Friday (3rd) – METCO, the state-funded pro- time community activist stabbed in the stomach mer aide, Darrin Howell, battles that he fought, gram that places Boston students of color into and Boston city council- inside a residence at the family said: “We are and his integrity, and predominantly white suburban school districts is lor who served prison 1593 Dorchester Ave., in the process of planning the love that he had for now accepting 2020-2021 applications for its revised time for a bribery scan- according to a depart- a public memorial service the people in his com- assignment system, which will select students by dal, died last week. He ment report. A second so that those who had the munity.” lottery for the first time. The deadline to enter the was 79. man was also injured in pleasure of knowing and Boston Mayor Marty lottery is today. Parents must now apply online at Mr. Turner served on the incident, which took working alongside Chuck Walsh called Mr. Turner metcoinc.org or go to the METCO office at 40 Dimock the council for five terms place around 10:45 p.m. can come together to “a staunch advocate for St. in Roxbury. after he was elected in A third man, the suspect, celebrate his life and leg- the people of Boston, who Saturday (4th) – 21st annual Haitian Indepen- 1999. He focused on equi- suffered minor facial in- acy. In the coming days, over the course of his life- dence Day gala will be held at Lantana’s, 43 Scanlon ty in the jobs market, ra- juries and was detained we hope our friends and time helped bring about Dr., Randolph., 7 p.m. Admission $85 per person. cial equality, and fought at the scene before being neighbors will reflect and so much good for our city. RSVP to 617-417-8421 or [email protected]. against gentrification transported to a local draw inspiration from Mr. Turner was the Monday (6th) – Students return to school in and displacement both hospital. the work that brought first Boston city council- City of Boston. as an activist and later ••• meaning to Chuck’s life: lor ever removed from Tuesday (7th) – Boston Mayor Martin Walsh as an elected official. B-3 police arrested helping others and im- office after he was found plans to deliver his State of the City address at 6 Councilor Kim Janey three juveniles on Friday proving the quality of guilty in 2010 of taking p.m. at Boston Symphony Hall. confirmed Mr. Turner’s (Dec. 27) for allegedly try- life in marginalized com- a $1,000 bribe and later • City of Boston offers winter fitness strength death on Dec. 25. ing to rob an Uber driver munities.” lying to federal agents training at BCYF Gallivan Community Center, 61 “He has 50-plus years who was transporting Tito Jackson, who suc- about accepting the mon- Woodruff Way, Mattapan at 11 a.m. of organizing for this them along Blue Hill ceeded Mr. Turner in the ey. He served 28 months Thursday (9th) – Nina Ott Quartet performs in city,” Janey told the Bos- Avenue in Mattapan. District 7 seat, called in federal prison. In 2013, concert at Peabody Hall, 209 Ashmont St., Dorches- ton Globe. “Transforma- The driver, who told the him “the lion of organiz- he received a $106,000 ter as part of the Dot Jazz Series. 7:30 p.m. $15 tional changes have been would-be robbers that ing and fighting for the settlement from the city tickets at dotjazz.org.