Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 29 Issue 17 Thursday, April 26, 2012 50¢ Steward taps N.C. man for Carney post Meets mayor, legislators; Walczak story still simmers By Gintautas Dumcius news eDitor A health care executive from North Carolina has been hired to take over as president and CEO of the Carney Hospital next month. Andrew Davis was introduced to the Dorchester Avenue hos- pital’s board at a private Andrew Davis meeting on Monday. “Values” transparency Accompanying Davis University (Alabama) were Ralph de la Torre, graduate, he is a certified the chairman and CEO of public accountant. Stephen Frederick and Katherine Bergeron have purchased the old Engine 18 firehouse building on the Steward Health Care The Davis appoint- Harvard Street near Four Corners. The historic structure dates to 1869 and needs substantial repairs System, which owns ment comes after Bill before the couple — both artists— move in to use the space for both their home and studio space. Carney Hospital, and Walczak, who was Photo by Bill Forry Josh Putter, Steward’s named the head of the chief operating officer. hospital 14 months ago, Davis comes to Boston abruptly parted ways A late save for old Engine 18 from his post as chief with the company earlier executive officer of Da- this month. Artist couple eyes it as both home and arts space vis Regional Medical After Davis was seen Center in Statesville, waiting to go into the By Bill Forry The sale has been cheered by search for a building to house North Carolina, and meeting on Monday, manaGinG eDitor neighbors and preservationists, Frederick’s collection of artwork. chief executive officer of the Reporter approached A historic firehouse on Harvard who have worried that the Their search has covered some Sandhills Regional Med- Keith Motley, chancellor Street near Four Corners has been landmark brick structure might 60-plus properties across Greater ical Center in Hamlet, of UMass Boston and purchased by a couple with deep become too decrepit to save Boston, but they always kept one North Carolina. A Troy (Continued on page 13) roots in Boston’s arts community without a swift intervention. eye peeled on the Harvard Street who intend to restore the 1869 Katherine Bergeron and her building that captured their building and use it for their home partner, Stephen Frederick, first imagination. City looks to clean up and, eventually, for performances noticed the firehouse two years ago “I’ve always been an admirer and exhibit space. when they began an exhaustive (Continued on page 4) Blue Hill Avenue By mike DeeHan area and find out what special to tHe reporter kind of community the Walker goes the Planned City Hall is teaming neighborhood would like up with residents and to become. distance to fight cut to gang merchants for a reinvigo- A flyer publicizing program rated effort to reshape a Wednesday (April hunger – $50k purse the Blue Hill Avenue 25) meeting called on corridor. Mayor Menino’s residents to help de- By lisa HaGen was in shock because assailed Neighborhood Response velop a plan of action “to special to tHe reporter she could not imagine By colleen Quinn Team is working with lo- transform Blue Hill Ave For the past 24 years, anyone in the state or state House cal groups in an attempt corridor to a walk-able Monica Matthews has country being hungry. news service to root out crime in the (Continued on page 3) walked 440 miles and She “choked and teared A 64 percent cut to raised over $50,000 to up” because her two an anti-gang program end hunger. children were ages 6 Monica Matthews INSIDE THIS WEEK Has walked 440 miles in a House committee’s As the second high- and 8 at the time, and proposed state budget M a t t a p a n r e s i d e n t est individual online she said she could never the city including the caught some lawmakers Ashard Jones will ap- fundraiser for The Walk imagine them hungry. breast cancer walk and off-guard and has set off a pear this weekend at for Hunger, Matthews, a “My motivation is just March of Dimes, which flurry of efforts to restore Hibernian Hall in Ms- Mattapan resident, con- hoping to one day end raises money for prema- funding. sng Lnks’ production of tinues to walk each year hunger in this state ture babies. Despite the The House Ways and Stephen Sondheim’s mu- to support Project Bread, through different incen- weather being different sical “Into the Woods.” Means Committee bud- the Massachusetts anti- tive programs and by each year, Matthews Page 6. get released last week hunger organization. showing people how to said the walk is easy for recommends funding the In 1988, Matthews start little gardens, cook her since she maintains a so-called Sen. Charles was encouraged to par- healthy meals, and buy good physical condition. E. Shannon Community ticipate in The Walk good foods,” she said. “I look forward to it ev- Safety Initiative at $2 for Hunger, the 20-mile A native Bostonian ery year, and thousands million, it’s lowest level walk that began in 1969, who also lived in the of people participate for since the start of the when a co-worker asked South End, Dorchester, the same cause, which is recent recession, and her to join a team. Once and Roxbury, Matthews very exciting,” she said. down from $5.5 million All contents copyright she learned about the has participated in other “Most people are not just © 2012 Boston program, she said she charitable walks around (Continued on page 17) (Continued on page 17) Jessamyn Mayher photo 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 April 26, 2012 Reporter’s Notebook On The Record Challenges loom for Vets plan for Memorial Day Dot’s State House team By Gintautas Dumcius in what is ex- news eDitor pected to be a Members of Dorchester’s State fierce election House delegation could see challeng- in the fall. ers this year. Incumbents have pulled The Kerry nomination papers from the Secretary man, Drew of State Bill Galvin’s office, and so o ’ B r i e n , have several individuals looking to pointed to the unseat them. Candidates for district senior sena- and county offices must gather enough tor’s support signatures and submit them to be for youth jobs, certified by the registrar of voters by and added a Tuesday, May 1. quote from a State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, R e p u b l i c a n a Jamaica Plain Democrat who Felix Arroyo p r e s i d e n t , represents a part of Dorchester, could Queries Brown role Ronald Rea- face several challengers, including gan, about Roy owens, a perennial candidate how the “best social program is a job.” with an anti-abortion platform, and But two attempts down in D.C., two Republicans, David Wyatt and where hyper-partisanship reigns, to Plans are well underway for the 2012 Memorial Day observances in Dorchester. Charles F. Klauder. If all three add funding to youth jobs through The solemn ceremonies include a parade to Cedar Grove Cemetery, where challengers make it onto the ballot, unrelated legislation have failed, veterans and families gather to remember those lost in service to the nation. they’ll likely have an uphill climb in O’Brien noted. “It very much broke This year’s observances begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 28. This year’s host a solidly Democratic district known down on partisan lines,” he said. post for the Memorial Day observances is the St. Mark’s VFW Post. The 2012 as the Second Suffolk. Arroyo sought to directly place Memorial Day Committee includes: top, l-r, Steve Bickerton, Mike McCloud, State Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, blame on Brown, pushing O’Brien in Dan Magoon, Mike Hegarty; bottom, l-r, Paul J. Kelley, John o. Scannell, a Democrat representing the Twelfth his testimony: “There was no roll call, Frank Cahill, Bruce Brown. Suffolk District from Lower Mills who there was no roll call vote.” O’Brien was first elected in 2005, may face responded. “And I honestly don’t a challenge from fellow Democrat know whether he [Brown] actually Neponset Greenway walk set for May 6 Edmond Romulus. participated in the debate.” The Neponset River Greenway continues to grow with new spur paths and State Rep. Nick Collins, a fresh- Kerry, a Democrat known for often now access to the Baker pedestrian bridge. On Sunday, May 6, at 1 p.m., the man Democrat from South Boston, is seeking bipartisan resolutions, has public is invited to join Boston Natural Areas Network and members of the up for re-election, and an unenrolled frequently worked with Brown, who Neponset River Greenway council to take an afternoon walk along new sections candidate, Gregory Eardley, is replaced the late Edward Kennedy of the Neponset Greenway trail to discover the diverse habitat and rich history mulling a run, according to Galvin’s in the Senate, on various issues.