Dorchester Reporter “The News and Values Around the Neighborhood” Volume 35 Issue 30 Thursday, July 26, 2018 50¢ Gross takes helm at BPD as Evans heads to BC From his days on patrol, First person of color Gross ‘just got it done’ in commissioner role By Bill forry By Jennifer Smith editor newS editor Even in the early years of his career Marking the end of an era in local working the streets of Dorchester law enforcement, Mayor Martin Walsh and Mattapan, Boston’s next police on Monday named a black officer, commissioner was seen a “go-to guy” Superintendent-in-Chief William by superior officers, who quickly sized Gross, as the new commissioner of up William “Willie” Gross as having the 2,200-officer Boston Police Depart- qualities that, if harnessed properly, ment. The appointment, the first for would likely move him up the depart- a person of color in the history of the ment’s ranks. department, will become effective next “Willie is a really good policeman week when current Commissioner who never took himself too seriously. William Evans will retire to take over He didn’t get all locked up in the as executive director of public safety badge,” recalls Robert Dunford, a at Boston College. former Boston police commander who Walsh talked about Gross at the retired in 2012 after serving in the Monday morning press conference same role that Gross presently holds: Mayor Martin Walsh, Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and Super- where he announced the appointment. (Continued on page 12) intendent-in-Chief William Gross at City Hall on Monday. Chris Lovett photo (Continued on page 12) Bowery Bar Early objection touts its around proposed patio dining Uphams Corner pot shop experience By Jennifer Smith newS editor By iSaBel lord A proposal for opening a recreational reporter CorreSpondent The Bowery Bar in Lower Mills is marijuana shop in Uphams Corner officially open, offering fresh spins landed with a thud at a preliminary on American cuisine after 4 p.m. meeting with the Hancock Street Civic on weekdays, and after 11:30 a.m. Association last week. on weekends. With both indoor and Benjamin Virga and his business outdoor dining, the latest addition to partner at Bridgestone Realty Corpora- the Dorchester food scene has all the tion have worked as property managers ingredients for success. in the Dorchester and Mattapan areas The space is a familiar one, but for about a decade, he said. They plan improved, particularly inside. For- to get into cultivation and distribution merly the Ledge— and, until last year, of recreational marijuana, and have ester— the interior of the restaurant begun the process of acquiring 33 has been totally renovated by the Hancock St., the current site of the new ownership group, which includes “Love Thyself,” by Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez. (Courtesy of the artist) Kriola restaurant, for their shop. Bolger and Shawn Ahern, who also Last Thursday night was not a city- own Lucy’s American Tavern in Adams organized meeting, but intended as a Corner. The ‘Too powerful’ Afrocentric mural discussion with civic member officers bar area has and Virga. It nonetheless resulted in a new layout finds its place on Quincy St. wall a packed room with a few dozen at- tendees from the neighborhood, nearby with spacious By dana forSythe 199 Quincy St., Quiñonez completed booths and businesses, and elected officials’ offices. wBUr reporter “Love Thyself,” at the end of May. It’s Opposition was stated to varying the entrance Just for fun, Jojo Vallera decided to the last of five city of Boston-funded shields pa- degrees throughout. take a different route through Grove art projects along the Quincy Street “I’m in vehement opposition to this in trons from Hall to visit her godson on Sunday. Corridor and the Grove Hall Business the elements, the residential neighborhood that we With him in tow, Vallera shuffled District. In the last two years, the city are, and in consultation with the neigh- a f e a t u r e down Quincy Street until she let out has spent about $70,000 on the murals, The Bowery Bar host- (Continued on page 9) ess, Gwyneth Sau- that will be a gasp and immediately scrambled for art for utility boxes, and new banners ter, joyfully presents particularly her iPhone. throughout the neighborhood. the restaurant’s new welcome later “Wow,” she said, staring up at The mural centers on a black woman weekend lunch menu. in the year. “Love Thyself,” the latest mural by with a natural afro hairstyle, her eyes Photo courtesy But, for now, Cambridge artist Victor “MARKA27” closed and her hands in a meditating Bowery Bar the star of the Quiñonez, who co-founded the artistic pose, with bright, geometric patterns show remains studio Street Theory. “All I can say bordering her face and body. On her the rear patio, with its small bar, din- is God bless the artist. It captures chest rests a luminous, turquoise ing space and a lounge. It can seat up everything this generation needs to heart, with lotus flowers and arum to 140 people, with seating underneath see. It captures the third eye, the heart lilies intertwined around her arms and strings of outdoor lights and misters. and the soul, and it captures a black body. Quiñonez refers to his aesthetic Off in the corner, the lounge is a space woman, with her natural hair, no less!” as “neo-indigenous,” paying homage to for patrons to drink, recline, and be Covering the entire side wall exterior Native, African, and Latinx ancestries. All contents copyright © 2018 Boston (Continued on page 4) of a three-story apartment building at (Continued on page 16) Neighborhood News, Inc. In s! e D l o a r S c Your Neighborhood h & e s s l t e a t r n f o e r Real Estate Partner R www.galvingroupre.com / 617-436-2000 / 375 Neponset Ave. Dorchester 02122 Page 2 THE REPoRTER July 26, 2018 dotnews.com DOT BY THE DAY Three-alarm fire displaces 16 in Codman July 26 - Aug. 9, 2018 Square; one injured in earlier Mattapan blaze A snapshot look at key upcoming events in and around the neighborhood for your weekly planner. Sixteen people were ages and the cause of displaced in a three- the incident is under Thursday (26th) – Join Dr. Darcy Ogada, as- alarm fire last Friday investigation. sistant director of Africa Programs for The Peregrine morning at a mixed-use Earlier on Friday, Fund, for a talk on critically endangered African Talbot Avenue build- firefighters responded vultures, at Franklin Park Zoo at 12:15 p.m. This talk ing in Codman Square. at 5:36 a.m. to 614 will take place in the Children’s’ Zoo Meeting Barn Firefighters responded River St. for a fire that and is included with Franklin Park Zoo admission. to the 320 Talbot Ave. sent one resident to the Tuesday (31st) – Artists in Residence Workshops building fire at about hospital with non-life will be held at Dorchester’s Town Field from 10 a.m. 6:40 a.m. Heavy smoke threatening injuries, to 1 p.m. Free. For information on this and other was already showing the department reports. ParkARTS programs, please call the Boston Parks when they arrived, the Five residents were and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505 or department tweeted. displaced by the fire, follow @BostonParksDept. The building is a which did an estimated Thursday (2nd) – The Mayor’s Office begins its three-story structure $100,000 in damage. citywide free movie series oin Boston parks today housing Alex Market on A GoFund Me page at Doherty Playground/Town Field, Dorchester the first floor, below two set up by a relative of with“The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature.” The film floors of residences. All the displaced family begins at dusk. occupants were safely was started over the • Info seession at Grove Hall library for volunteers evacuated, and no inju- weekend with a goal of sought for Boston Debate League, 1:30-2:30 p.m. ries were reported. By raising $5,000 to assist Contact Cynthia Lewis at volunteer@bostondebate. 7:15 am., the blaze was them with necessities. org. knocked down, Boston As of Monday, the fund Friday (3rd) – Artists in Residence Workshops The smoke was already heavy by the time fire crews Fire said. It caused had collected $120. arrived at 320 Talbot Ave. will be held at at Hunt/Almont Park, Mattapan, 10 about $750,000 in dam- Boston Fire Department photo a.m.- 1 p.m. Groups of six or more must make prior arrangements by calling the Parks Department at homicide by reckless currently suspended – as that he should be held 617-635-4505. operation, leaving the the person operating without bail. The suspect Saturday (4th) – Tenean Beach Day hosted by Police, scene of a crash caus- it when Beaubrun was is due back in court on Port Norfolk Civic Association and Save the Harbor/ ing personal injury or struck down. Aug. 16. Save the Bay starts at 11 a.m. with family fun, BBQ Courts death, operating with a Judge Serge Georges and more. Free. suspended license, and a set bail at $25,000 and Two shot, one dead Tuesday (7th) – Artists in Residence Workshops marked lanes violation. ordered Lundy to remain Sunday in Mattapan will be held at Dorchester’s Town Field from 10 a.m. & Fire According to pros- in Massachusetts and The Boston Police to 1 p.m. Free. The New New England Aquarium ecutors, Beaubrun was submit to GPS monitor- reported that two men will visit Town Field from 10 a.m.