Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 29 Issue 21 Thursday, May 24, 2012 50¢ It’s the day when we remember our fallen heroes Talk of long-ago battles and of the conflicts America is engaged in today will fill the air in cemeteries across the nation on Monday as America takes a time-out to remember that from the time when colonists first took up arms against the British crown in the late 18th century to this very week, hundreds of thousands of Americans have given their lives in service to the welfare of the United States. In Dorchester, Memorial Day means a time- honored salute to the neighborhood’s fallen soldiers that begins with a parade from the McKeon Post to Cedar Grove Cemetery, where hundreds are expected to gather for solemn observances begin- ning at 10 a.m. For a roundup of events planned locally for the Dr. Francis Murphy, longtime organizer of Dorchester’s Memorial Day observances, speaks at Cedar Grove Cemetery in 2009. Today’s editorial recognizes his contributions. Page 6. Photo by Bill Forry holiday, please see Page 3. Dot parents: School policy casts our children adrift By gintautaS duMciuS The children of Carl at the O’Bryant School Beth Nagy moved to “We really don’t see part of a system-wide nEwS Editor and Beth Nagy attend of Math and Science Dorchester in 1999, and each other anymore,” she restructuring in 2010. A City Hall hearing on the Thacher Montessori in Roxbury and the she and her husband said, noting exceptions Like the other parents Tuesday put the spotlight School in Milton. Johan- Joseph Lee School in have two children, one in like Christmas, when at the hearing, she voiced on several Dorchester na and Orin Gutlerner Dorchester. sixth grade and another they all go caroling, or her disappointment families and their school- have two children, with Representatives from in eighth grade. She Halloween, when they’re with the school lottery related plight: They all one enrolled in the Per- those three families remembers when her out trick-or-treating. system. “It’s not re- live in the Carruth Street kins Elementary School joined two others at children used to hang out Her children started ally a choice,” she said, corridor within blocks in South Boston and the Committee on Education with the other neighbor- out at a Dorchester explaining her decision of each other, but their other unassigned. The hearing to express their hood kids, and she was school – the Lee Academy to enroll her children in children go to different children of Karen and frustrations with the able to regularly talk Pilot School – but that the Thacher Montessori schools. Michael Johnson are Boston Public Schools. with their parents. was later dismantled as (Continued on page 7) Out of gas in Adams Corner By Bill Forry stream of commercials Managing Editor and weather reports to It may be the busiest the few motorists who weekend at the pumps continue to stop here in everywhere else, but all’s a vain search for gas. quiet at the two service The man whose family stations in Adams Cor- has owned the Soda Hut ner neighborhood right station for about 30 now. The village’s two years by his count, says gas vendors are out of he hopes to have a new A gas pump at the Soda commission— and have operator up and running Hut station on Gallivan been for some time. And there within the next Boulevard bears bad the issue has become week or so. “We’re plan- news for needy motor- a point of concern for (Continued on page 17) ists. Photo by Bill Forry The owners of the new Fields Corner store A Sweet Life won an online contest neighbors and even of- and a visit from ‘Cash Mob Dorchester’ on Monday. From left, Beverly Hilaire, ficials at City Hall. INSIDE THIS WEEK Edwin Hilaire, and Mae Riggs, Beverly’s mom. Photo by Bill Forry The old Soda Hunt fill- up station at the corner Last Dance of Gallivan Boulevard For Our Disco Queen ‘Cash Mob’ swarm helps and Granite Avenue has Donna Summer, who been closed for weeks attended Burke High now. The station’s pump and lived locally, passed candy store find sweet spot away last week. handles are bagged in Story, Page 21. By ElizaBEth Murray and the neighborhood Dorchester did not even plastic, the cashier’s SpEcial to thE rEportEr economy. know the business was office is locked up tight, The Dorchester ‘Cash The Dorchester Ave. there. This event helped and the coolers that Mob’ struck again this store— located right “create a buzz”, she said. were once a handy spot week, as members of next to the Fields Corner The Cash Mob aims to pick up tonic and ice the group swarmed a Branch Library— opened to support locally owned are cleaned out. Eerily, new Fields Corner candy on April 16. Executive businesses by pushing a the new-fangled outdoor shop, ‘A Sweet Place’, in Director of Fields Corner lot of revenue into local TV monitors above each Main Street Evelyn Dar- businesses at one time. All contents copyright their ongoing attempt to gas bay continue to © 2012 Boston bolster local businesses ling said many people in (Continued on page 4) pump out an endless Neighborhood News, Inc. Your bank is headed in a new direction. Maybe it’s time you headed for the exits. If you’re looking to simplify part of your life, say goodbye to banks with complicated fee structures and impersonal service, and hello to Meetinghouse Bank. We’re the only community bank in the area, and we plan to keep banking simple and stress free. Call or stop by today. Member FDIC 2250 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124 Member SIF 617-298-2250 · www.meetinghousebank.com MB Exit Ad 10x2 4c.indd 1 12/2/11 10:03 AM Page 2 THE REPORTER May 24, 2012 Reporter’s Notebook On The Record Pressley aide to consult; National champs saluted Arroyo, Linehan add staff at State House By gintautaS duMciuS running for treasurer in 2010. The Ice nEwS Editor Creamsmith, which prices its wares at A top aide to City Councillor At-Large $9.95 a quart, was one of Grossman’s Ayanna Pressley is joining a national stops that year. public affairs and communications firm. James Chisholm, Pressley’s Familiar faces, backdrops chief of staff, will be heading to Resolute in US Senate race ads Consulting’s new Boston office as a vice Dorchester residents are seeing some president. He joined Pressley’s City familiar faces in the television ads for Hall staff in Jan. 2010, after working the Massachusetts Senate race. on her first campaign. His last day was “Her father was janitor; my father last week. was a janitor,” says Catherine O’Neill, Resolute Consulting, based in a Savin Hill resident whose statement Chicago, Pressley’s hometown, was opens US Senate candidate Elizabeth founded in 2002. The company, which Warren’s latest ad, which started has worked with heavy hitters like airing yesterday. O’Neill is active in AT&T and Coca-Cola, also has offices local politics and recently wrote a in Atlanta, Detroit, Columbus, and politically-themed play, “Murph.” “Big Washington, D.C. banks, institutions, Wall Street — she’s Pressley and Chisholm worked not afraid of anybody,” O’Neill says later together in US Sen. John Kerry’s in the 30-second ad. office, Pressley as a political director Sandi Bagley, who once chaired The Boston College men’s hockey team —who notched yet another NCAA and Chisholm as a deputy press sec- the Ward 15 Democratic Committee, National Championship this year—were recognized by the Legislature at the also appears in the ad, saying, “The State House on May 16. Shown above, l-r, Rep. Marty Walsh, Boston College retary. Chisholm has also written for Hockey Coach Jerry York, Kevin Hayes, a junior player from Dorchester, ESPN.com and studied at Connecticut consumer protection agency she started Representative Linda Forry, Rep. Walter Timilty, and Senator Jack Hart. College. is vital.” Warren, then a top adviser Photo courtesy of Senator Hart’s office. “We are thrilled to expand into to President Obama, helped set up the northeast and welcome a person the Consumer Financial Protection of James’ caliber to the team,” Greg Bureau. Reading Contest kicks off in Lower Mills Goldner, Resolute Consulting founder The ad also features Warren talking A kick-off party for the summertime reading contest Read and CEO, said in a statement. “James’s to supporters at Spukies, a pizza shop Your Way to Fenway will be held at the Lower Mills Branch knowledge and experience will further on Washington Street in Lower Mills. Library, 27 Richmond St., on Saturday, June 2 from noon- 2 enhance our ability to serve our growing An earlier Warren ad was also shot in p.m. Join the Lower Mills client roster.” Lower Mills, using the former Baker Branch for stories, games, and to pick up your application Separately, District 2 City Councillor Chocolate Factory as a backdrop. for the Fenway summer essay contest and celebrate the Bill Linehan has tapped a former Warren is expected to be Democrats’ beloved park’s 100th birthday. The party is for all ages, although the contest candidate for state representative as choice to face off this fall against US is for children ages 5-17. his aide. Mark McGonagle will start Sen. Scott Brown, a Wrentham in Linehan’s office on June 4. Republican seeking a full six-year term.