•J' lli am• M archi one , Jr . 1 Mrs · 1'1 . St . 228 Wnsh 1n gto~135 CR- 2 5 Bright.on Ml\ 0 Michael Norton and Nicole Evangilista of St. Anthony's School in Brighton present Globe Santa with a check for $300 collected by students during Ad­ vent. Taking part in the ceremony were Ronald Laasanen, Charles Hanf, Jen­ nifer Mancini, Michael Callaghan, Brian McWhinnie and Deborah Dwyer. A PAID CIRCULATION NEWSPAPER VOL. 101, No. 1 PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN ALLSTON-BfllGHTON SINCE 1884 FRIDAY JANUARY 3, 1986 35 CENTS Innovative theatre Going relocates nowhere to Allston Deadlock results in By Tom LeCompte bus driver"walk-out A balloon, a set of bongo drums, a toy soldier, a styrofoam head, a sea shell, a hammer, a brick, a blanket, a Nearly 26,000 of Boston's 57,000 public school set of copper bowls, some candles, a students had to find another way to get to school tumbling mat-such are the tools that this week. The reason: a deadlock in contract negoti­ the performers at the Double Edge ations between school bus company officials, the Theatre in Allston use to hone their school department and union leadership which skills. ' resulted in the first school bus driver strike in the Now in its fourth season, the Double city in five years. Edge is one of a handful of alternative Some 600 drivers took to the picket lines Thurs­ theatre companies in the Boston area day after talks broke down Monday. School depart­ devoted to bringing the new and the un­ ment negotiators refused to return to the bargaining usual to the stage. Over the past three ~(lble unless the union rescinded its demands that years, the theatr~ has presented six -'a pension fund for d.-ivers be established, that a productions, clo~~ a number of ., _ · ute midday i::afety check be added aad that workshops, which.--nave gained it a ·medical coverage for drivers be increaJfro m 70 reputation as one of the most striking­ to 100 percent. ly innovative companies anywhere. Schools Superintendent Dr. Laval Wilson claimed As of last August, the theatre moved the three issues would add $1.7 million to the $14 into its first permanent home at the million contracts the city has with two bus compa­ Church of Saints Luke and Margaret in nies, Transcom Inc. of Roxbury and National School Allston. Later this month, the theatre Bus Service of Buffalo, N: Y. Meanwhile, union offi­ will hold its first production inside its cials claimed the school department and the bus new space, "The Chekhov Project: companies were attempting to renege on 13 benefits Work on 'Three Sisters,"' to be led by granted to them in their previous contract. guest director Jacques Chwat. Talks had been going on since last summer when Chwat, a leader among tne theatre the school committee first opened bids for new vanguard, says the production will be transportation contracts. Prior to this, the bus unlike any other presentation of the drivers, members of the United Steelworkers of play, although he is not sure exactly America Local 8751, had negotiated without a strike · a four-year contract with ARA Transporation Com­ h~;"m not directing a production of Jacques Chwat will guest direct the first production at Allston's pany of Philadelphia. continued on page 8 Double Edge Theatre. In granting the new contracts, the school commit­ tee got the companies to agree to hire all the previ­ ous drivers and uphold the financial portion of the ARA contract-in essence fixing the amount paid i~-B in '85: Looking Back to drivers. In addition, the companies agreed to im­ pose five contract reforms, or "work rules,", The start of a ne"". year is usually a time for designed to improve service. people to assess themselves: their hopes for the In September, drivers called off negotiations af­ months ahead and the ways in which they might ter the school department dismissed 14 drivers who improve their lives. It is also a time to reflect on had criminal records. An eleventh-hour agreement the events of the past year and the way people was reached just hours before a scheduled walk-out lived from day-to-day. There were several signifi­ October 15. The school department agreed to give cant events that occurred in Allston-Brighton dur­ the drivers the option to take their criminal r .JCOrds ing 1985, and this week, the Item looks at some before a judge, to seek another job in the system that had an impact on its residents. or to take a cash settlement amounting to $8,500. At this point, all parties-the school department, McLaughlin tenure extended, questions raised the bus companies and the union-seemed optimis­ District 9 City Councilor Brian McLaughlin won tic that the signing of a contract was not far away. a second term of office in November by an 800-vote Publicly, union officials said at the time that all margin over his opponent, Richard Izzo. It was a they wanted was justice for their discharged drivers campaign fraught with accusations and charges, and for the companies to adhere to the ARA most notably, from Boston University, whose stu­ contract. dent newspaper accused McLaughlin of not car­ ''We felt it was just a matter of time before it was ing about his student constituency and urged settled,'' recalls Michael Kennedy, general manager students not to vote for him. The university ad­ of National School Bus Service. "We were offering ministration agreed, and authorized the pho­ a contract that was nearly identical to the ARA tocopying and distribution of the editorials on contract.'' campus. And, adds school spokesman Ian Forman_of the Then, less than two weeks after the election, U.S. union's position, "At the time, they said they had A scene from the Allston-Brighton Parade held Attorney William Weld's·office said McLaughlin no further economic demands.'' earlier this year. continued on page 7 continued on page 9 PAGE2 THE ITEM January 3, 1986 A.C. Oil Inc. POLICE BEAT FUEL OIL 1.04 per gallon • ,zi Polite robber collects Small Delivery (50 Gallons) Accepted TO LINDA We Service Fuel AND OUR $1,500 in small bills Assistance Customers/ BELOVED CHILDREN: ' We Deal only in In hopes of ma.king things as easy A "very polite" black male robbed Name Brand Quality Fuel as possible for all of you at the time Arrests of my death, I am enclosing information, the Merchants Bank of Boston of PLEASE CALL 426-607 6 vital documents and a plan for my final arrange­ $1,500 Christmas Eve morning. Ac· Stephen Warren, 25, of Gordon ments - everything needed to handle the situation with minimum confusion at that stressful time. cording to a bank teller, the suspect Street, Brighton, was arrested late last handed her a note asking her to stay If yon will follow this plan, I believe everything will Friday night and charged with assault be taken care of. calm and to hand over ten and twenty and battery with a deadly weapon. I hope you approve of this arrangement. It is one of dollar bills. The suspect fled in an Warren is accused of striking a male the ways I am able to express my feelings about our unknown direction. He was described victim in the face with a beer mug in wonderful life together. as about 30 years old, 5'6" tall, weigh­ "Molly's" on Brighton Avenue. Ase­ ing 180 pounds with a beard and cond victim suffered lacerations as the mustache, wearing dark pants, a multi· result of a fight that ensued. Warren WE BUY colored ski jacket and white sneakers. and the two victims were treated at St. DIAMONDS Elizabeth's Hospital. Other Crimes •JEWELRY D A 30-year-old Malden woman was •GOLD SHARON MEMORIAL PARK Police arrested David Burns, 20, of New England's Leading Jewish Cemetery robbed of $17 on the comer of Bright­ Glenco Street, Brighton, on Christmas •SILVER on A venue and Cambridge Street on PRE-NEED PLANNING AVAILABLE Eve and charged him with willful and •COINS P.O . BOX 276, DEDHAM ST. Christmas Eve. The victim told police malicious destruction of property. SHARON, MA 02067 • 828·7216 a black male came up behind her, stuck HIGH PRICES PAID Police said they received a call about a something in her side and demanded man breaking glass at a building on her pocketbook, threatening to kill her The JEWELRY Commonwealth A venue. Burns was al­ ----------------~D For Your FREE Fam.Jly Records And Planning Booklet, I if she didn't give it to him. The suspect CENTER I Mall This Coupon Now. A·B 7 I legedly spotted running from the scene was described as in his late 20's, 6'2" and was caught by police and brought 282 HARVARD ST. I Name I tall, with a medium build, wearing a back to the building, where he was iden· brown hat and jacket. At Coolidge Comer I Telephone # I tified by witnesses. While he was being D booked at the Area D Police Station, Brookline I Address I 734-9329 A Brighton woman had her purse marijuana cigarettes were allegedly containing $40 snatched from her arm found on Bums's possession. ~~-----~~---~----J on Western Avenue on Christmas Eve D by an unidentified male. According to police, the woman was grabbed from Police arrested Willian Dandridge, behind and the suspect took the money 29, of Otisfield Street, Roxbury; Billy from the purse and then dropped it·in Jones, 22, of Woodbine Street, Roxbu­ an alley.