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April 30, 2008

New research finds 40 percent of inmates returned to prison

By Globe Staff

Nearly four out of 10 Massachusetts prison inmates released in 2002 returned to prison within three years, according to new research by the Urban Institute and the state Department of Correction.

Thirty-nine percent of the 1,786 inmates released that year returned, compared with the national average of 53 percent.

Interviews with 178 of those who returned showed that substance use and employment instability were among their greatest challenges when they were back in the community, the Urban Institute said in a statement.

While they were incarcerated, 96 percent of those interviewed had participated in a prison program and 76 percent had received help preparing to return to society. But when they returned to the community, few used any local programs or services, researchers found.

The research highlighted the need for programs to be provided to inmates when they return to society, officials said.

"When the inmates get out and go back to their communities, they need assistance in the community, particularly with substance abuse (problems) and employment. ... They just start to unravel without those supports," said Rhiana Kohl, who was a co-author on the two studies for the Department of Correction.

Posted by mfinucane at 6:16 PM | Comments (0)

Down and out in Boston: A resident's lament, sans gas

(Editor's note: The gas outage in downtown Boston doesn't just affect businesses and restaurants. Here's a resident's take on a life put on hold.).

By Paula Nelson, Globe Staff

So, it's Day 5 without a hot shower in my own apartment. No gas service. No clear end in sight.
And no one to tell me just when I might be able to turn that shower spigot back on, to wash and dry my laundry, or to cook some of the $200 worth of groceries I bought last Friday night.

But thankfully as The Globe said today, Mayor Thomas Menino is "satisfied with the pace of the service restoration."

I spent the first night in my apartment in the Financial District hoping for the best. The second and third nights at the Doubletree at $150 a night. That was a "special" rate. No one can seem to tell me if I'll get that money back.

I spent the fourth night in my apartment, wanting to try to correct the crick in my neck from the too-soft hotel mattress, then going to a friend's apartment for a hot shower before work this morning.

Now, I'm waiting to hear anything from anybody about what I'll be doing tonight. Such a great adventure (dripping sarcasm).

They actually replaced the gas meters in the basement of the building where I live on Water Street. But the gauges, as I understand it, need to be replaced next. It's unclear who is supposed to do that; at one point National Grid said they would have someone do it, but they have since advised that we should have a plumber take care of it.

Even after they are replaced, the lines between the gauges and the appliances need to be bled of water. There is no gas flowing to my appliances at this point, including my beautiful Thermador oven. If that water got into the beautiful Thermador oven, then that will need to be replaced. Who's responsible for that?

As I mentioned, the meters were actually replaced late yesterday, yet my landlord Michael got a call from National Grid at 1:30 this morning telling him to open the building so that they could replace the meters! Who's in charge of this whole thing? He told them that they had already replaced the meters. Sigh.

I guess I'll try to make my way to the third floor of City Hall, where they have set up a window or something for residents to bring their complaints and sad stories. I'll bring my hotel bills. But I'm running out of clean underwear, what do I do then?

Paula Nelson is the Globe's director of photography.

Posted by rgreene at 5:47 PM | Comments (0)

Tennessee official to become chancellor of UMass-Amherst

By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

Robert C. Holub, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Tennessee, is poised to become the next chancellor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Jack M. Wilson, president of the University of Massachusetts, announced this afternoon he will recommend Holub over three other finalists to become head of the university's flagship campus at a special board of trustees meeting Monday. The 22-member board is expected to approve Holub decisively.

"Robert Holub is a distinguished scholar, a proven administrator and is driven by a desire to make UMass Amherst one of the premiere public universities in the nation," Wilson said in a statement. "Excellence has been the hallmark of Dr. Holub’s academic career and will be his watchword and goal at UMass Amherst."

Before coming to Tennessee, where he served as the Knoxville campus's chief academic officer the past two years, Holub was a professor and administrator at the University of California at Berkeley for nearly three decades. In 2003, he was named dean of the College of Letters and Science, which has 18,000 undergraduates.

Holub, 58, said he was honored by Wilson's recommendation.

"This is an outstanding university that aspires to rise even higher," he said. "I was attracted to this position because President Wilson, the Board of Trustees and the UMass Amherst community all harbor an ambitious vision for this campus. It is a vision that inspires me and calls me to this great flagship campus,” Holub said.

Holub specializes in 19th- and 20th-century German intellectual, cultural and literary history, and has written extensively on the poet Heinrich Heine and the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Holub and his wife Sabine have three young children.

Holub's appointment comes after a lengthy national search. If approved, he will succeed interim chancellor Thomas W. Cole Jr., who took over for John Lombardi when he departed last year to become president at Louisiana State University.

Last spring's news that Lombardi would be stepping down as UMass-Amherst chancellor as part of a restructuring of university leadership outraged faculty members, who cast a vote of no confidence in Wilson and the board of trustees.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:27 PM | Comments (0)

Amber Alert issued for baby taken by parents

Police would like to know if anyone sees Lucas Whalen, Michael Whalen, or Danielle Boyle.

By Globe Staff

Authorities have issued an Amber Alert, seeking a baby who was taken by his parents even though they had lost custody of him.

Michael Whalen, 42, and Danielle Boyle, 24, were supposed to turn 6-month-old Lucas Whalen over to a temporary custodian yesterday but failed to do so, said Sergeant Robert Bousquet, a State Police spokesman. Arlington police are looking for the trio.

Because of statements and threats made by Michael Whalen, there’s reason to believe that Lucas is in danger, police said.

Michael Whalen is a white male, 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, with dirty blonde hair and tattoos. Danielle Boyle is a white female, 5-foot-4, 135 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Lucas weighs 25 to 30 pounds and has hazel eyes, police said.

The couple are believed to be driving a dark gray 2007 Ford 500 with Massachusetts license number 49RF83, Bousquet said.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:14 PM | Comments (0)

Yoko Ono, Massachusetts company joust in federal court

By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff

A lawyer for a Massachusetts company insisted today that his client owns the rights to 10 hours of documentary footage of John Lennon and Yoko Ono filmed in 1970 and hopes to win a federal court battle with Lennon's widow so the world can see it.

"I'm sure there will be a substantial audience for it," Joseph T. Doyle Jr., a lawyer for World Wide Video of Lawrence, told reporters after a five-minute scheduling conference in US District Court in Boston. "We're the lawful owners, and she isn't."

US District Judge Rya W. Zobel has asked lawyers for World Wide Video and for Yoko Ono to make arguments on May 21 on a motion by Ono to dismiss the company's copyright infringement lawsuit against her.

In March of last year, she blocked World Wide from showing "3 Days in the Life," a two-hour film based on the footage, at a private school in Maine. World Wide sued her last month, and Ono filed a countersuit, alleging that she has rights to the footage.

The Globe viewed portions of the film last year. The grainy images on the black-and-white videotapes were shot in February 1970 by Ono's ex-husband, Anthony Cox, in Lennon and Ono's London estate. Lennon was 29 and was to be a member of the Beatles for just two more months.

The tapes capture Lennon in the midst of one of his most creative periods; he's recently released "Instant Karma" and is seen practicing the song "Remember." He is also seen smoking marijuana, discussing how he kicked a heroin habit, and saying he would like to spike Richard Nixon's tea with LSD.

Ono's lawyer, Jonathan Albano, declined to comment after the brief hearing.

Posted by mfinucane at 4:45 PM | Comments (0)

Tangled in lines, United Van Lines

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

The entangled truck.

By Globe Staff

It used to work for Wile E. Coyote when he wanted to build up some speed. But getting caught in utility wires was no laughing matter this morning for the driver of a moving van in West Roxbury.

The van was snared and tipped slightly by low-hanging utility wires on Tarleton Road as it turned off Temple Street.

Police at the scene said it appeared that digging on a nearby house lot had affected one of the poles supporting the wires, causing the wires to droop.

Posted by mfinucane at 4:08 PM | Comments (0)

Former Middlesex retirement official to pay $12K in conflict of interest case

By Globe Staff

A former Middlesex Retirement Board member has admitted violating the state's conflict of interest law by improperly awarding a friend a building renovation contract for the board's headquarters, the State Ethics Commission said today.

Lawrence P. Driscoll also violated the law while on the board by voting to hire his friend as the Billerica headquarters facilities manager and submitting reimbursement requests for conferences he did not attend and personal expenses, the commission said.

Driscoll agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty and a civil forfeiture of $2,683, the commission said in a statement. He also repaid $2,437 of the $5,120 in expenses for which he requested reimbursement.

The commission said Driscoll had failed to disclose his friendship with the contractor who was awarded the $557,000 contract.

"Public employees who have private friendships that overlap with their public duties need to perform their public duties fairly and objectively and disclose those personal relationships to avoid creating an actual or apparent conflict of interest," said Karen L. Nober, executive director of the commission.

"It also goes without saying that public monies may not be used to reimburse personal expenses," she said.

Posted by mfinucane at 3:41 PM | Comments (0)

Battling the bullies: state health officials release prevention guide

By Globe Staff

Saying that being bullied can leave a mark on a child for life, state public health officials today released a comprehensive guide to prevent bullying in the state's schools.

"Our kids deserve to grow up in an environment that is free from harassment and violence," Department of Public Health Commissioner Jon Auerbach said in a statement. "Bullying is not an inevitable part of growing up and we need to do more to stop it."

In 2005, nearly one in four Massachusetts middle or high school students surveyed reported being bullied, health officials said. The officials cited research indicating that children who are bullied are more likely to become depressed, more likely to have considered suicide, and less likely to succeed academically. They also noted that research suggests that bullies are more likely to commit crimes as they grow up.

The guide includes chapters on what teachers can do to prevent bullying, what school personnel can do after bullying has already occurred, and what strategies students can use themselves to address bullying.

State health officials said being bullied is a particular problem for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth.

"No guide alone can change a culture of bullying, but we hope this guide will help by providing administrators, teachers, and students with practical advice on what works and what doesn't work in preventing bullying," Auerbach said.

Posted by mfinucane at 2:19 PM | Comments (0)

Man who shot girl, 3, thanks her for forgiveness

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Kai Leigh Harriott, a smiley 7-year-old with her hair in pig tails, watched the video screen from her wheelchair today as the man who shot her said thank you.

Anthony Warren thanked Kai for publicly forgiving him for accidentally shooting her as a 3-year-old as she sat on her porch in the summer of 2003. He said that act of reconciliation has given him strength to improve himself at the Old Colony Correctional Center, where he is serving a 13 to 15 year sentence.

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

"To be blessed with the opportunity to be forgiven by a beautiful person like Kai, it made me want to change," Warren said on the video as he sat on a wooden bench in the prison chapel. "It made me want to be less colder and harder. It made me really want to take a look at myself and take a look at my duties and responsibilities as black man in my community."

Warren has was one of nine inmates interviewed for a video that organizers hope will deter young people from crime by showing the hard truth about life in prison. The entire video, “Voices from Behind the Wall,” will debut next month at a youth peace conference. Organizers played the short clip today of Warren at a community center in Dorchester at a press conference that designated May as “Peace Month.”

Kai sat in the front row with her mother, Tonya David, and her wide eyes on the screen as a crush of more than two dozen media cameras recorded her reaction.

“She gave me a second chance to really make a difference to show people out there that forgiveness is good,” Warren said.

He took a deep breath and leaned in, looking directly into the camera.

“I want to thank Kai,” Warren said. “I want to thank her mother. I want to thank her family. I want to apologize to my community. I just appreciate the opportunity ... that’s she’s given me.”

The video ended and reporters surrounded Kai, towering over her with cameras, microphones, and recorders.

"I want to say to him that thank you for making an apology video” Kai said in soft, whisper of a voice. “You can inspire so many other people by telling them that don't carry around guns and don't do bad things."

Posted by aryan at 1:50 PM | Comments (0)

State releases short list of rail proposals for New Bedford, Fall River

By Globe Staff

State transportation officials said today they had considered a host of proposals for providing passenger rail service connecting Boston with Fall River and New Bedford and whittled them down to a handful that will now undergo further review.

Four of the alternatives on the short list call for providing passenger service from the two cities that would link up with existing commuter rail lines. The linkup would happen either in Attleboro; in Middleborough; in both Attleboro and Middleborough; or in Stoughton.

A fifth, non-rail alternative calls for providing express bus service in a dedicated lane up Route 24 to 128 and the Southeast Expressway. The state will also study what would happen if it did not take any steps to improve transportation links at all.

The state has sought public input on the South Coast Rail project after Governor Deval Patrick said last year that he believed connecting Boston and the two cities would stimulate economic growth -- and he hoped to see it happen by 2016. Kristina Egan, South Coast Rail manager, said 65 alternatives were weighed before the list was whittled down.

Several of the rail proposals call for using existing freight lines, while one calls for construction of new track on an abandoned rail bed, Egan said.

“The Patrick Administration views South Coast Rail as a way to stimulate the economy while protecting the resources that make the area so special,” Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen said in a statement.

The alternatives will now undergo an in-depth state and federal environmental review, during which opportunities will continue for public input, state officials said. The preferred alternative will be selected in 2010.

Posted by mfinucane at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)

Progress reported in restoring gas service in Boston

By Globe Staff

The blue flames are coming back on, gradually, in the North End and Financial District.

National Grid says it has restored natural gas service to more than half of the 410 customers who lost service after a weekend water main break that broke a gas line and sent torrents of water streaming into the company's distribution network.

The company said in a statement this morning that "virtually all" of the North End customers were back on line.

The company also said it had introduced gas back into 98 percent of the 13 miles of affected gas mains and the next task is the "tedious operation" of pumping water out of customers' pipes.

Hundreds of residents and dozens of businesses coped with a fourth day without gas Tuesday.

The company said it had opened a customer service center this morning inside Boston City Hall, where residents can get information and help submitting claims. Boston Water and Sewer Commission staff will also be available. Customers can also call National Grid at 1-800-732-3400 for more information.

Posted by mfinucane at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)

Arraignment slated in Chelsea homicide

By Globe Staff

A 21-year-old Chelsea man who had been asked by his mother and her boyfriend to leave his home allegedly forced his way back in Tuesday and stabbed the boyfriend to death.

Eugene Teixeira is facing arraignment today in Chelsea District Court on a charge of home invasion and murder in the death of Shadeed Wiggins, 25, who sustained eight stab wounds and defensive stab wounds to his hands in the alleged attack at a Chester Avenue home.

Prosecutors said that Wiggins had joined the mother in asking Teixeira and another of her sons, who was 16, to leave the home.

But they returned armed with baseball bats and forced their way inside, attacking Wiggins, prosecutors said. The 16-year-old is also facing charges of home invasion and disorderly conduct.

Posted by mfinucane at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)

April 29, 2008

African king tours Boston homeless shelter

(Dominic Chavez)

The king is greeted warmly by shelter director Reilly.

By Brian Ballou, Globe Staff

A homeless shelter for women in Boston had an unusual visitor today: an African king.

King Kpoto-Zounme Hakpon III of the Republic of Benin is nearing the end of a two-week trip to the United States, the first ever for a king from his country.

As he stepped out of the rain and into the basement of the Women's Lunch Place on Newbury Street, about 60 women gathered around him and applauded.

Hakpon was resplendent in a flowing, full-length leopard-print robe and gold accoutrements, including his cane-like "staff of office," which was handed to him when he became king in 1997.

The executive director of the shelter, Sharon Reilly, had talked with Hakpon at a private reception earlier in the trip and invited him to the facility.

Hakpon traveled to Boston to offer an apology for his ancestors' role in the transatlantic slave trade. He also said through an interpreter, "I came here so that the people of African descent can reconnect our lines and heritage, to reconstruct the homeland."

"The women here are honored to have the king visit. He gives a different level of importance to the poor and homeless here in Boston," said Reilly.

Benin is now a multiparty democracy. But kings still receive widespread public recognition as cultural icons.

Benin is a French-speaking country in West Africa with a population of more than 8.2 million citizens, with an area slightly smaller than Pennsylvania. The capital city is Porto Novo, which was founded in the 16th century by King Te-Agbanlin, one of Hakpon's ancestors.

Posted by mfinucane at 7:19 PM | Comments (0)

Grand jury indicts 13 on gambling charges

By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff

Former New England Mafia captain Vincent M. Ferrara was among 13 people indicted today on gambling charges by a Norfolk County grand jury.

Ferrara, 59, of Boston's North End faces one count of conspiring to use a telephone for gambling purposes, based on calls that he allegedly made to bookmakers last year that were tapped by the Massachusetts State Police.

The misdemeanor charge carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. But Ferrara, who has been on probation since his release from federal prison nearly three years ago, could be sent back to prison for up to three years if he violated a requirement that he not commit any new crimes.

Boston attorney Martin G. Weinberg, who helped win Ferrara’s freedom in the federal case, said, ‘‘Innocent people get charged with offenses they did not commit. Mr. Ferrara intends to vigorously defend himself against this misdemeanor allegation.’’

Norfolk District Attorney William R. Keating said in a statement that the indictment has "brought a substantial illegal gaming racket operating on the South Shore and in and around Boston to an end.''

He credited the State Police Special Services Section, which targets organized crime, with uncovering gambling offenses allegedly committed by members of the gambling ring between June and October of last year.

State Police Colonel Mark Delaney said, "The Massachusetts State Police are committed to disrupting criminal organizations wherever and whenever they occur. These indictments and the invstigation that led to them should make that eminently clear.''

The indictment charges the alleged ringleader, Dominic Santoro, 62, of Quincy and Marstons Mills, of organizing a gambling ring, using a telephone to register bets, placing bets and conspiracy.

One of the other defendants was Alfred Stankus, 60, of Brighton, a freelancer who has written a column on betting for the Boston Herald. He faces charges of conspiracy and placing bets by telephone.

None of the defendants have been arrested. They will be summoned to appear in court for arraignment. No date has been set.

Ferrara, who served nearly 16 years in prison for racketeering, extortion and gambling, was freed in May 2005 after a federal judge shaved several years off his sentence because of government misconduct.

US District Judge Mark L. Wolf found that Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Auerhahn failed to tell defense lawyers in the early 1990s that a key witness had tried to recant his assertion that Ferrara ordered the 1985 slaying of Vincent "Jimmy" Limoli in the North End.

Ferrara said he was innocent of Limoli's slaying, but would plead guilty to murder, along with racketeering charges, under a deal that sent him to prison for 22 years, rather than risk a conviction that could lead to life in prison.

Posted by mfinucane at 6:26 PM | Comments (0)

Former Boston police officer pleads guilty in drug case

(Globe file photo)

Prosecutors said this still picture showed Ortiz collecting a debt for drug dealers.

By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff

A former Boston police officer pleaded guilty today to federal charges that he conspired to extort $265,000 on behalf of drug dealers while in uniform and threatened to kill the man who supposedly owed them the cash.

Jose A. "Flaco" Ortiz, 45, formerly of Salem, also admitted in US District Court in Boston that he participated in a related scheme to distribute cocaine he obtained from the victim. In brief and barely audible remarks in court, he denied personally threatening the victim but said he relayed warnings from Colombian drug dealers that the victim "might be in some kind of danger" if the man did not pay the debt.

Ortiz, who spent 21 years on the force before his firing last May, is the fifth officer to plead guilty to federal charges since September. All the cases, including one involving three officers, revolved around drugs.

He could spend the rest of his life in prison if US District Judge Rya W. Zobel issues the harshest possible sentence. But federal prosecutors are recommending a prison term of 11 to 14 years because Ortiz has admitted his guilt and waived his right to appeal, if he receives the lighter sentence.

"It's not a happy day for law enforcement" when a police officer pleads guilty to a crime, First Assistant US Attorney Michael K. Loucks said after the hearing, which was handled by another prosecutor.

But Loucks praised Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis for helping federal authorities pursue cases of police corruption. ``No matter what organization, there are always going to be people who commit crimes,'' Loucks said.

Ortiz's lawyer, Scott A. Lutes, of Providence, R.I., said his client changed his plea because he wanted to take responsibility for his misdeeds.

"He candidly admits his guilt and feels terrible about it," said Lutes.

Posted by aryan at 6:12 PM | Comments (0)

Firefighters blast media in march on State House

By Megan Woolhouse and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

A sea of several hundred chanting firefighters dressed in red T-shirts marched on the State House today to defend their reputations after what union officials described as months of attacks and “bogus stories” planted in the press by City Hall.

(Bill Greene/ Globe Staff)

Edward Kelly, president of Local 718, said that the media has launched "vicious attacks" against firefighters. Boston firefighters have been criticized in the last few months for resisting mandatory drug tests after autopsy results indicated two firefighters were under the influence of alcohol and drugs when they died fighting a West Roxbury restaurant fire last August. Since then two other Boston firefighters have been arrested on drug charges.

"We do what needs to be done," said Robert B. McCarthy, president of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts. "We ask one thing in return: respect."

The crowd of firefighters chanted: “What do we want? Respect! When do we want it? Now!”

The rally came on an annual lobbying day by firefighters for better benefits and staffing, pleas that were mixed with the criticism of the media. It was organized by the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, an umbrella union that represents 12,000, and drew firefighters from Somerville, Brockton, New Bedford, and beyond. Union officials said that roughly 30 Boston firefighters attended.

The crowd booed at a mention of The Boston Globe, and McCarthy blasted articles in Boston Magazine and CommonWealth Magazine that he said depicted Boston firefighters as unprofessional. The sharpest rhetoric was saved for the Boston Herald, which ran an editorial Monday that said it was time to "start yanking back" on the "ludicrously long leash" given to the union during contract negotiations.

“The Herald said it was time to start tightening the noose on the fire department,” said McCarthy, apparently jumbling his words when he referenced the editorial. “We’re not dogs ... we won’t be treated as dogs.”

Boston firefighters have been locked in contentious contract negotiations in which mandatory drug and alcohol testing has become a major sticking point. Union officials said today that they deserve an increase in pay or benefits in exchange for drug testing, a quid pro quo that they said was given to other city departments.

In March, a Boston firefighter was arrested and charged with drug possession after police said they found him smoking marijuana in his Boston Fire Department vehicle in Dorchester. Anthony Gaston, 47, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Last week, a Boston firefighter on disability leave was arrested after police said he illegally bought $200 worth of OxyContin painkillers from a known drug dealer. William Boyle, 58, allegedly bought the pills Friday at the Broadway MBTA station, on the Red Line. He has been a city firefighter for 10 years and has been out on disability since last April.

(Bill Greene/ Globe Staff)

Posted by aryan at 5:50 PM | Comments (0)

They played dodgeball across the equator -- but was it a record?

By Taryn Plumb, Globe Correspondent

It was perhaps the first interhemispheric bout of its kind -- but the 10-second dodgeball game still wasn't enough to gain Guinness Book of World Records fame.

The record-keeping authority has informed a group of Bryant University students that a dodgeball game they staged across the equator in Ecuador will not be accepted as a world record. Representatives did not specify a reason in an email.

Five students played the game on Jan. 12 during a trip to Latin America sponsored by the Rhode Island university. They sent their claim to Guinness in February.

Playing two on two -- with one referee -- the students pitted northern hemisphere against southern hemisphere, using the red-painted marker of the equator as the center line. In the end, the northerners came out victorious, 2-0.

Palmer native Bryan Wojtowicz, who played on the southern team, said he and his fellow dodgeballers were a little "let down" by the news. He said he believes the bout was too spur-of-the-moment for Guinness -- the London-based agency says on its website that it prefers that record attempts be approved ahead of time.

Otherwise, the 22-year-old, who will don a cap and gown on May 17, has no other plans to go for Guinness gold. "I think I'm going to focus on getting a full-time job," he said with a laugh.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:49 PM | Comments (0)

From fire to ice in just a few days -- weather service issues frost warning

(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff)

Beautiful but deadly -- to plants -- frost etched across a window.

By Globe Staff

Last week we had fire. Tonight we could have ice.

Frost, to be exact. The National Weather Service has issued an advisory warning of "a touch of frost" in the early morning hours Wednesday in parts of coastal Massachusetts north and south of Boston as well as southeaster Massachusetts and Martha's Vineyard.

The forecasters warned farmers and gardeners to protect vegetation and to cover or bring indoors potted plants.

Don't turn the heat off tomorrow morning, either. The forecasters expect more frost early Thursday morning, with temperatures dropping near 30.

The frost warning comes after heavy rain ended a string of sunny, dry days in which brush fires broke out across the state. Just last Wednesday spring seemed well on its way, with the temperatures rising to 84 in Boston.

The weather service reported that the rains dropped more than two inches of rain in areas around the state from Monday afternoon to this afternoon.

Posted by mfinucane at 4:27 PM | Comments (0)

Boy who was overcome by fumes released from hospital

By Globe Staff

Jobanny Matias, the 11-year-old from Leominster, who was one of two boys overcome by carbon monoxide in an idling car last week in Lunenburg, has recovered enough to be released from the hospital, the Worcester County district attorney's office said today.

The other boy who was in the car, Alejandro Thomasian, 9, of Fitchburg, died Sunday of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The boys were four-wheeling with their fathers and another man in a wooded area Friday when one of their three vehicles became stuck in muddy water that had collected on a low point in the road, officials have said. The boys were overcome by the carbon monoxide as they sat in the back seat of the idling Jeep, keeping warm while the men worked to free the vehicle.

Posted by mfinucane at 3:28 PM | Comments (0)

Some gas service restored; Menino satisfied with repair effort

By John C. Drake, Globe Staff

Mayor Thomas M. Menino has asked National Grid and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission to give the city a joint assessment of how a 12-inch water main break Saturday led to a loss of natural gas service for more than 400 residents and businesses in the Financial District and North End.

At a noon press conference, Menino said he was satisfied with the pace with which National Grid is restoring gas service to customers, a process expected to continue through Thursday.

"I think they’re doing the best job they can," Menino said.

Since the break, natural gas service has been restored to roughly 85 customers, the bulk of which are in the North End, according to a release issued today by National Grid. Boston’s chief of environment and energy, James Hunt, said at the news conference that about 100 more customers "are being lit as we speak."

National Grid said it has sucked 60,000 gallons of water – the rough equivalent volume of an Olympic-size swimming pool – from 13 miles of natural gas pipes in the area, which covers 30 streets.

More than 410 business and residential customers – and many more residents who live in apartment complexes with a single meter – lost gas service early Saturday morning after the water main break in the Financial District punctured a gas line. While the bulk of the water has been removed, the complicated process of removing pockets of remaining water could stretch into winter, meaning customers will see periodic disruptions of gas service for the rest of the year.

At today’s press conference, Menino also said he did not believe there was a dispute between National Grid and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission over the incident. "They're working well together," he said.

A spokesman for the water and sewer commission told the Globe Monday it was directing customers seeking reimbursement for costs and loss of business related to the gas service interruption to National Grid. A National Grid spokeswoman said the utility did not believe it was liable.

Hunt said it was too early to say who would be ultimately responsible and said the focus for now should be on restoring service.

“Today we don’t know the cause of that, and it will be a little time before we do know the cause,” Hunt said.

Posted by aryan at 1:38 PM | Comments (0)

A gas tanker crash -- again -- in Everett

(Michael Layhe Sr. for The Boston Globe)

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

A woman was seriously injured today when a tanker truck carrying gasoline collided with her car at an Everett traffic rotary. It was the second time in recent months a tanker had crashed in the area.

Darcy DeSouza of Lynn was driving on Route 16 at Sweetser Circle at about 10:17 a.m. when she cut off a truck driven by Walter Nutting of Brockton. The truck struck DeSouza's 2001 Hyundai Elantra, causing it to roll over, said Trooper Thomas Murphy, a State Police spokesman.

DeSouza was in serious condition at Massachusetts General Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said. Nutting was not injured, Murphy said.

There were no significant traffic delays. State police are investigating the crash, he said.

The accident happened near the scene of a crash in December, in which gasoline spilled and ignited two triple-deckers and 21 cars, while miraculously sparing residents from injury or death.

Though no fuel spilled in today’s accident, State Senator Anthony Galluccio, whose district includes Everett, said the accident highlighted the need for new safety measures regarding the tankers.

In the first accident, he said, "almost 10,000 gallons of gasoline spilled and there was a 10-foot wall of fire that continued down into the neighborhood. Today’s accident just demonstrates again that there is a serious likelihood of accidents of this nature and we have to minimize damages that flow from these accidents in every way conceivable.”

Galluccio has worked on a number of bills aiming increase tanker safety, including one that would require trucks carrying petroleum and liquefied natural gas to have double-hulled tanks and another that would allow communities to establish safer truck routes.

Posted by mfinucane at 1:19 PM | Comments (0)

Veteran federal prosecutor nominated for Superior Court judgeship

By Globe Staff

A veteran federal prosecutor who was part of the team that pursued a conviction against shoe bomber terrorist Richard Reid has been nominated to be a state Superior Court judge.

Timothy Q. Feeley, 58, of Marblehead, has served more than 17 years in the US Attorney's Office, rising to chief of the office's Major Crimes Unit.

Feeley also worked for nine years on complex civil litigation at the former Boston law firm of Gaston & Snow, where he was a partner, the governor's office said, announcing the nomination today.

“Tim Feeley brings to the trial bench humility and an understanding of the human condition that will ensure fair and thoughtful administration of justice,” Governor Deval Patrick said in a statement.

Patrick also nominated Maureen H. Monks, 49, of Jamaica Plain, a partner in the Women’s Law Collective in Cambridge, to the Middlesex County Division of the Probate and Family Court.

Lawrence Moniz, 60, a Taunton lawyer, was also nominated for a position on the Bristol County Division of the Juvenile Court, the governor's office said.

Posted by mfinucane at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)

April 28, 2008

Work-related deaths rise in Massachusetts

By Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff

Eighty workers died in Massachusetts last year on the job or from work-related causes, the highest number since 2003, according to a report released today. The findings triggered calls for the federal government to impose tougher penalties on companies that put workers at risk.

Construction remained the most dangerous industry, with 20 worker deaths last year. They included a 28-year-old carpenter who plunged 48 feet down an elevator shaft in Woburn that had been covered with an unmarked board. In other high-risk cases, nine firefighters died across the state, most from illness, and a 53-year-old Verizon employee died in Plymouth when his bucket collided with high-voltage wires.

Labor leaders called on federal officials today to increase fines for worker deaths, and urged Massachusetts authorities to increase oversight, as well. Last year, companies paid an average of $5,383 for a worker's death, which advocates said is far too low to deter employers from breaking the law.

"The penalties are frighteningly low," said Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, a labor advocacy and training group that co-authored the report with the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. "The fines are not enough to dissuade an employer from putting a worker at risk."

Labor leaders and advocates released the report to coincide with Workers' Memorial Day amid conflicting analysis nationally on workplace safety. Senator Edward Kennedy, who called federal workplace oversight weak, will hold a hearing Tuesday in Washington on the matter.

The Bush administration countered that worker fatality rates are at historic lows and praised federal enforcement.

In Massachusetts, labor unions and advocates will gather at the State House on Tuesday to remember workers who died on the job, or from work-related illnesses.

Posted by rgreene at 5:44 PM | Comments (0)

Second boy improving after carbon monoxide poisoning

A day after the death of a 9-year-old boy who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning while four-wheeling with his father and friends in Lunenburg, a second boy injured in the tragedy is showing signs of improvement, according to police.

Eleven-year-old Jobanny Matias of Leominster was upgraded from critical to stable condition today at Massachusetts General Hospital, according to Lunenburg Police Chief Daniel Bourgeois.

"We have just been notified that the second boy's condition is now stable,'' said Bourgeois. He said the investigation into what appears to have been a tragic accident is continuing.

Nine-year-old Alejandro Thomasian of Fitchburg died yesterday. An autopsy conducted today by the state medical examiner's office confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death.

The boys went four-wheeling Friday night with their fathers and another man in a wooded area behind a Lunenburg auto body repair shop when one of the three vehicles they were using, a Jeep Cherokee, became stuck in the mud. The boys were overcome by carbon monoxide as they sat in the back seat of the idling Jeep while the men were working to free it from the mud, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early. The Jeep's exhaust pipe was apparently blocked by mud, causing the toxic fumes to fill the car, according to officials.

When the adults discovered the boys were unconscious they rushed them to a nearby auto body shop, where they were met by emergency personnel who worked to save the boys, officials said.

Posted by jpeter at 4:58 PM | Comments (0)

Winthrop coach found not guilty in ear-biting case

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

Richard Fucillo, an assistant football coach at Winthrop High School who was accused of nearly biting off the ear of his wife's boyfriend in a jealous rage last March, was found not guilty of the assault in Suffolk Superior Court today.

A jury deliberated for less than two hours before delivering the verdict to Fucillo and the jubilant members of his family, who had been in courtroom every day during the six-day trial, said Fucillo's lawyer, Thomas Brant.

"It's been a nightmare," said Fucillo of the last year as he stood in the courthouse. "It has been a living nightmare."

Fucillo, who was charged with mayhem, aggravated assault and battery and violating a restraining order, would have faced up to 20 years in prison if he had been found guilty, Brant said.

Fucillo, who has three children with his estranged wife, later celebrated the verdict with beer and wine at his home in Winthrop .

"Half of Winthrop is coming," he said in a telephone interview. "It's a small town, though."

His plans after the party are simple, Fucillo said.

"I just want to go back to work, get my divorce, and see my children as much as I possibly can," he said.

Posted by jpeter at 4:28 PM | Comments (0)

Vandals rip up 18 new trees in Roxbury

(David Kamerman/Globe Staff)

Greg Mosman, the city's tree warden, replanted one of the trees today at the Clifford Playground.

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Vandals tore up 18 new trees that had been planted last week in a playground in an industrial corner of Roxbury.

A dog walker found the red maples and white swamp oaks this morning lying on the ground at the Clifford Playground. The 4- to 8-foot tall saplings were in a grove of 50 trees planted Wednesday by volunteers from the Home Depot Foundation. It was part of the city’s effort to plant 100,000 new trees in Boston by 2020.

“It’s disappointing and frustrating,” said city tree inspector Leif Fixen, who returned to the park today to replant the trees in a cold rain. “You try very hard to make a difference in a neighborhood and somebody comes and rips them out.”

Clifford Playground is a splash of green grass in the Newmarket Industrial Park, a neighborhood dominated by red brick factories and blacktop parking lots surrounded by chain-link fences and razor wire. The playground on Shirley Street is across from the headquarters of the city Park Department on Massachusetts Avenue.

“People just don’t realize the impact of their maliciousness,” said Parks Department spokeswoman Mary Hines, who walked to the park with an umbrella today to inspect the damage. “To deliberately pull out 18 trees, I mean, come on.”

None of the 18 trees sustained serious damage. With some fresh top soil and cedar mulch, all were replanted and upright by this afternoon.

“We are not going to let this stand in our way,” Hines said of the city’s effort to plant 100,000 trees. “It’s a blip on the screen. Those trees are back in the ground and God is watering them right now.”

Posted by aryan at 2:39 PM | Comments (0)

Motorists urged to avoid Financial District today during repairs

By Michael Naughton, Globe Correspondent, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Motorists are being urged to avoid the Financial District today because Congress Street will be reduced to one lane as work crews repair a water main break that knocked out natural gas services to some 400 customers, which included scores of restaurants and bars.

Gas was reconnected this morning to some businesses and residents in the North End, and service to the neighborhood should be completely restored by the end of the day, said Jackie Barry, a spokeswoman for National Grid.

Crews have divided the Financial District into five sections that are being isolated so water can be removed from the pipes. The bulk of customers in the neighborhood should have gas service back sometime today, Barry said. The hope is that all customers will be back online by Tuesday morning, Barry said.

"We are doing everything we possibly can to minimize the impact on traffic and restore service to our customers as quickly as possible," Barry said.

Nearly two dozen National Grid trucks were scattered throughout the Financial District overseeing pump trucks that collected more than 35,000 gallons of water from an area that covers 30 streets and includes 13 miles of gas lines. The break early Saturday poured into the pipes, rupturing them and causing problems for businesses and residents for most of the weekend.

Water continues to cause problems in isolated sections of the Financial District, and crews are working to remedy the problem with 12 specialized drip trucks, some of which can suck up to 2,000 gallons of liquid out of the pipes.

“It is critical to remove as much water as possible from the system in order to achieve the correct pressure levels to be able to reintroduce gas,” said William Akley, senior vice president of Gas Operations for National Grid, in a statement. “If there is too much water in the system when gas is introduced, this could cause further delays, and that’s the last thing we, or our customers, want.”

Even after service is restored, the water may continue to cause problems in the gas system for some time, Akley said. The flood may have also damaged some customers’ gas-fired equipment. [Call National Grid at 1-800-732-3400 with questions.]

On Sunday, Carolyn Carty Sapontzis of New Jersey left Boston with an unsatisfied craving for Joe's clam chowder. The stove in Brian Dacey's North End apartment did not work. And the Horan brothers, Bud and Dan, sacrificed showers.

"It'll be a good grunge day," Dan Horan said while walking his dog in front of the Marriott Long Wharf with his brother Sunday. Horan was staying at the Oakwood Apartments on India Street, only a few blocks from where the main broke at Devonshire and Washington streets. Part of Devonshire Street remained blocked off as crews worked to finish repairs. Mud, sand, and rocks still coated some of the street.

The break, which occurred about 3 a.m. Saturday, also flooded streets in the Financial District and the Blue Line platform at the State Street subway station. It did not affect subway service.

For Carty Sapontzis, the repairs were coming too late. She was visiting Boston with her husband and two children and was in search of a meal at Joe's American Bar and Grill on the waterfront when she suddenly halted after seeing a sign on the door that read in part "we will remain closed until further notice." Carty Sapontzis had eaten Joe's chowder on a previous visit to Boston and was looking forward to having another bowl.

"I'm definitely disappointed because I wanted to get some good chowder," she said, "and tonight we're on our way back to New Jersey."

While Sapontzis and her family headed toward Faneuil Hall in search of a replacement chowder, Dacey looked for a hot drink. The North End resident's gas service was cut off, rendering his stove useless.

"It's just making due without cooking and having to go to Starbucks for coffee and tea," he said while walking his dog at Christopher Columbus Park. "For us it's not a big hardship, just more of an inconvenience."

At Faneuil Hall, restaurants and the food court were not affected and remained open during the weekend. Nate Wing, a manager at Cheers at Faneuil Hall, said the restaurant was busier than usual Saturday because many other surrounding restaurants had no hot water and were forced to close.

Like Joe's, the Hard Rock Cafe near Faneuil Hall was closed Saturday and Sunday because there was no gas to heat water to wash dishes or for employees to wash their hands. The restaurant's gift shop remained open.

"As a company we're just not going to take a chance," said Mark Frisicano, manager of the restaurant. "We'll be in here every day until it comes on. When it does, we'll open as soon as we can."

While restaurants eagerly wait to reopen for business, Brain Dallas awaits a hot shower.
Dallas, 25, a Philadelphia native who has lived at the Oakwood Apartments for the past month while on business in Boston, chose a cold shower over no shower.

"It was rough," he said. "I haven't had to take a cold shower like that in a long time. It's pretty hard to shave with cold water, too."

Despite the icy shower, Dallas said he wasn't angry.

"These things happen. What can you do?" he said.

Megan Woolhouse of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Posted by aryan at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)

April 25, 2008

Amtrak trains delayed between New York and Boston

By Jillian Jorgensen, Globe Correspondent

A signal and switch problem is causing Amtrak delays this evening between New York City and Boston, officials said.

Traffic was halted during an investigation into the problem that stopped Acela Train 2168 around New Rochelle, N.Y., just before 6 p.m. today, according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

The train was en route to Boston, Magliari said. Trains began moving again around 7:30 p.m.

Delays of up to 90 minutes were expected for trains scheduled to travel between Boston and New York in the early evening, Magliari said, with the delays getting shorter later into the evening.

Posted by mfinucane at 8:47 PM | Comments (0)

Brush fires continue to blaze across the state

By Jillian Jorgensen, Globe Correspondent

Wildfires continued to burn throughout the state today, with 73 blazes measuring a quarter-acre or more, according to the state Bureau of Forest Fire Control.

David Celino, chief fire warden for the bureau, said the blazes have raged this week because of low humidity and lack of rainfall recently.

Higher humidity levels are expected this weekend, with chances of rain Sunday and Monday, he said.

An elderly homeowner in Wendell was critically injured earlier this week when he was overwhelmed by burning brush on his property, Celino said, but there have been no wildfire fatalities.

Posted by mfinucane at 8:34 PM | Comments (0)

EPA: Charles River gets high marks for cleanliness

(Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff)

With no worries about water quality, kayakers paddled their way back to Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton yesterday.

By Tania deLuzuriaga, Globe Staff

The water is still murky and its shores are still home to the occasional beef jerky wrapper, plastic bag or empty bottle, but federal environmental officials said today that the Charles River is the cleanest it has been since they began monitoring water quality in 1995.

The river scored a "B++" this year, meeting boating standards 100 percent of the time and swimming standards 63 percent of the time, slightly better than last year when the river was given a "B+" for meeting boating standards 90 percent of the time and for swimming 62 percent.

"We can all be very proud that our hard work to reduce bacteria levels in the Charles River is paying off," Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office, said in a statement.

"The Charles River is one of our signature waterways and it is clear that more than a decade of focus and attention ... has begun to turn the tide toward the promise of a clean, fishable and swimmable river," said state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles.

Still, problems persist. For the past two summers toxic blue-green algae blooms caused by phosphorous have exploded in the river, putting humans and animals at risk. Stricter rules aimed at reducing storm water overflows and phosphorous pollution introduced by the EPA last October should improve the situation, said EPA spokesman Ken Moraff.

“When you look at the river, you don’t want to see psychedelic colors,” he said.

Posted by mfinucane at 6:39 PM | Comments (0)

Police arrest suspect in Fitchburg slaying

By Globe Staff

A 20-year-old Fitchburg man is facing a murder charge for allegedly shooting a .22-caliber rifle into his ex-girlfriend's living room Thursday night, killing her current boyfriend.

Andrew Jacob was ordered held without bail after pleading innocent at his arraignment today in Fitchburg District Court in the slaying of 18-year-old Gabriel Cintron, also of Fitchburg. Jacob is facing charges that include murder and resisting arrest, said Worcester district attorney's spokesman Tim Connolly.

Cintron was shot through the window as he stood in the living room of the home on Normandy Road in Fitchburg at about 10:22 p.m. Prosecutors said that Jacob had fathered a child with Cintron's girlfriend and had recently had an altercation with her.

Cintron, who was shot once in the chest, was taken to Leominster Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Connolly said.

Police later found the .22-caliber rifle wrapped in a sweatshirt a short distance from the murder scene, Connolly said.

Christopher LoConto, Jacob’s attorney, said he was just familiarizing himself with the case, but promised a vigorous defense.

“We’ve got a long way to go and we just started,” he said. “We certainly want to see if the case is as it appears to be.”

An autopsy is under way at University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. The next hearing in the case is slated for May 29.

Posted by aryan at 5:20 PM | Comments (0)

Dandelions mean spring

(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

A carpet of dandelions stood out this afternoon on Stoughton Street in Dorchester.

Posted by aryan at 4:17 PM | Comments (0)

State Police probe fatal crash on Interstate 195

By Globe Staff

State Police are investigating a crash early yesterday on Interstate 195 in Dartmouth that killed a 20-year-old Fall River man.

Alex M. Santos of died after his 2000 Chevy Blazer went out of control at about 6:10 a.m., careening into the median and rolling over. Santos was ejected from the vehicle, which then burst into flames, State Police said in a statement.

Santos was taken to St. Luke's Hospital and later to Brigham and Women's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Posted by mfinucane at 4:14 PM | Comments (0)

Chemical brew causes hazmat incident in East Boston

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

Firefighters wearing air tanks waited outside the facility this morning.

By Matt Collette, Globe Correspondent

Fire crews responded in force this morning when a drum of improperly mixed chemicals caused a hazardous materials situation in an East Boston boatbuilding facility, officials said.

Crews working to build pleasure boats at Boston Boat Works called for help when they noticed smoke and an unusual smell in the supermarket-sized facility, said Steve MacDonald, a Boston Fire Department spokesman. They called for help just before 8 this morning.

The hazmat situation was declared a 2-alarm incident because more manpower is needed in decontamination efforts, MacDonald said.

“This was a place that uses different kinds of chemicals in the boatbuilding process – lacquers, adhesives, bonders, epoxies, things like that,” MacDonald said. “A lot of them are meant to be mixed together."

No one was injured, but hazmat crews hosed down employees as they left the building and gave them white jumpsuits to wear as their clothes were cleaned to remove potentially hazardous particles.

Fire crews searched the facility and found a 55-gallon drum smoldering, which they determined was caused by improperly mixed chemicals, MacDonald said. The mixture was not dangerous to the employees, MacDonald said.

Hazmat crews were on the scene until noon. A private company will assist the property owners in cleanup.

Posted by mfinucane at 3:53 PM | Comments (0)

Menino blasts Public Works employees after investigation

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

Mayor Thomas M. Menino issued a strong rebuke today to the city’s Department of Public Works after an investigation found that employees routinely left early and managers failed to ensure that basic tasks were completed.

(Patricia McDonnell/Globe Staff/file)

“We can do better, and we will do better,” Menino said a City Hall press conference, adding that “any abuse of the public trust is unacceptable.”

Six to eight workers will face disciplinary hearings next week and dozens more could face similar measures as the investigation continues. To implement reforms, Elmo Baldassari was promoted to deputy commissioner of public works and will oversee the highway, sanitation and recycling divisions.

The four-month investigation of maintenance yards included undercover surveillance by a private investigator hired by the city. It was completed more than a year after the Boston Finance Commission, a city watchdog agency, found that West Roxbury public works employees assigned to fill potholes, sweep streets, and pick up trash often arrived late, left early, and performed "very little work" while on the job.

A resulting city audit of four work sites and the headquarters of the department's highway division, completed in October, showed that little had changed since the watchdog agency's report, and that the problems were potentially more widespread and chronic.

The results of that audit compelled Chief of Public Works Dennis Royer to hire a private investigator to spy on his own employees. What the investigator saw over five weeks beginning last month, including employees falsifying co-workers' time sheets with the knowledge of their supervisors, has placed many city workers' jobs in jeopardy.

According to the mayor’s office, dozens of employees are currently under investigation for falsifying records, insubordination, and untruthfulness.

Posted by aryan at 3:38 PM | Comments (0)

Boston police add Dorchester man to 'most wanted' list

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

Boston police today asked for the public's help in locating a 28-year-old Dorchester man who allegedly participated in one of the most brutal crimes in the city in 2007, the stabbing murder of a 16-year-old on a Dorchester street.

(Boston Police photo)

Pedro Ortiz is described by police as short, stocky man who was one of six people who allegedly attacked Terrance Jacobs near the intersection of Blue Hill Avenue and Havelock Street on May 22, 2007, stabbing him to death.

Five other men have been charged in the case. Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley's office says Jacobs was attacked as the outgrowth of a "simmering dispute'' between groups in the neighborhood.

Anyone with information about Ortiz is asked to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS or they can text the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463).

Posted by jellement at 2:23 PM | Comments (0)

Army identifies remains of World War II airmen from Mass.

(Defense Department)

The crew of the B-24D Liberator included Second Lieutenant Kenneth L. Cassidy of Worcester, who is in the back row, second from the left. Second Lieutenant Ronald F. Ward of Cambridge is not pictured, although he was aboard the plane when it was lost on Dec. 3, 1943.

By Globe Staff

The remains of two Massachusetts soldiers who disappeared in a 1942 bombing run over the Bismarck Sea have been identified and will be returned to their families, according to a release issued today by the Defense Department.

The airmen -- Second Lieutenant Ronald F. Ward of Cambridge and Second Lieutenant Kenneth L. Cassidy of Worcester -- were two of 11 soldiers whose remains were identified. The crew of the B-24D Liberator were lost Dec. 3, 1943 after taking off from Dobodura, New Guinea.

According to the Defense Department, the men were on an armed reconnaissance mission over New Hanover Island in the Bismarck Sea. The crew reported dropping their bombs on target but never returned to Dobodura despite several radio contacts with their base.

The men will be buried with full military honors.

The other soldiers were: Captain Robert L. Coleman, of Wilmington, Del.; First Lieutenant George E. Wallinder, of San Antonio, Texas; Second Lieutenant Irving Schechner, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Technical Sergeant William L. Fraser, of Maplewood, Mo.; Technical Sergeant Paul Miecias, of Piscataway, N.J.; Technical Sergeant Robert C. Morgan, of Flint, Mich.; Staff Sergeant Albert J. Caruso, of Kearny, N.J.; Staff Sergeant Robert E. Frank, of Plainfield, N.J.; and Private Joseph Thompson, of Compton, Calif.

Posted by aryan at 1:29 PM | Comments (0)

Mainlanders, you're lucky: Vineyard gas has soared past $4 per gallon

By Globe Staff

If you think gas prices are getting high at your local service station, just look across the water to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, where the prices have edged over $4 per gallon.

At the airport service station, manager Jennifer Medeiros, 32, said prices for unleaded gas had edged over the $4 mark a few days ago and were now at $4.12.

“Nobody’s happy about it, but we’re trying to make the best of it. We’re trying to keep the prices down as low as we possibly can,” she said.

Glenn Seelye, a clerk at Tisbury Shell, said unleaded was $4.19 at his station. He said hard-pressed people, instead of filling up, are buying only $10 worth, enough to get them by until they can get to the mainland to buy cheaper gas.

Martha's Vineyard Taxi owner Morgan Reitzas told The Associated Press he had been forced to raise fares for longer routes to Chilmark and Aquinnah, which can now cost $75. Reitzas said that even with the higher fees and some disgruntled customers, he was barely breaking even.

On Nantucket, the other major island favored by vacationers off the coast, clerks at two gas stations reported prices just below $4 this afternoon.

AAA Southern New England reports that the average gas price in the Boston area today is $3.49, compared with $3.13 a month ago and $2.77 a year ago.

Gas prices have been hitting record highs in recent days. Experts say the average price could hit $3.90 or $4.00.

Posted by mfinucane at 1:22 PM | Comments (0)

1,000 new Boston trees for Arbor Day

(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

Volunteers Leasia Ward(left), Luis Sota (center), and Mike Nonni planted a tree Thursday in Harambee Park.

By Globe Staff

Oak by oak, maple by maple, and honey locust by honey locust, 1,000 trees have been planted in Boston in the month of April. With each birch, linden, and tulip tree, the city has inched closer to growing 100,000 new trees by 2020, a goal unveiled with great fanfare on Arbor Day in 2007.

A year later, officials have surged past their initial benchmark by putting 2,327 saplings in the ground, a mark well above the first-year goal of 2,000. To mark Arbor Day and the anniversary of Grow Boston Greener, Mayor Thomas M. Menino was scheduled today to plant the 1,000th tree in April at Franklin Field in Dorchester.

The project began with a comprehensive inventory of the trees in Boston that found a tree canopy covers 29 percent of the city. The coverage varies widely: West Roxbury, the city's leafiest neighborhood, is almost half-covered, while South and East Boston each have coverage of less than 10 percent. Officials say the planting of 100,000 trees would bring the proportion citywide to 35 percent by 2020.

To reach that goal, the city increased the capital budget for trees on streets to $500,000 and raised $200,000 for planting trees on private property. That includes a $125,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation which will used to plant 1,300 trees.

According to the city, some 300 individual residents have signed up for private tree plantings. There have been three trainings for tree captains, a designation for neighborhood leaders who plant 15 trees or more. And five community workshop have been held in neighborhoods that lack shade, including Roxbury, Dorchester, and Brighton.

After meeting its 2,000-tree goal this year, the city is looking to gradually ramp up planting. Officials hope to plant more than 10,000 trees annually from 2013 to 2015; the number will then drop back to 2,000 by 2020.

Posted by aryan at 12:37 PM | Comments (0)

Exit interview: Ali Noorani reflects on immigration landscape in Massachusetts

Ali Noorani, the executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, leaves today to run the National Immigration Forum in Washington D.C. For the past four years, he has been a leading advocate for immigrants in Massachusetts.

(Globe file photo/2005)

Before leaving, he answered some questions from the Globe's immigration reporter, Maria Sacchetti:

What is the top immigration issue in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts has the opportunity to integrate a new generation of immigrants and refugees in a way that serves the entire Commonwealth. To do this, we need to serve the needs and aspirations of immigrants and refugees just like we serve the needs and aspirations of any other person.

How does the debate over immigration in Massachusetts compare to other states?

Having leadership in the State House that doesn't scapegoat immigrants at every turn makes a huge difference. But, while one could argue life hasn't gotten worse for immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts, I think we have a long way to go before life gets better.

How has the recent immigration changed Massachusetts, since the state is still mostly white?

Massachusetts is dealing with a demographic transition the rest of the country has already undergone. It is beautiful to see immigrant communities, restaurants and stores throughout Massachusetts -- it makes the area all the more special.

What should public policy makers do about immigration?

Immigration is not an abstract issue, it is about people. Fundamental to our country is the fair treatment of all people -- our laws need to reflect this core value.

What do you think your biggest accomplishment was here?

I am most proud of the fact that our Coalition has grown from less than 50 member organizations to over 115 organizations across Massachusetts doing work across New England. None of our accomplishments would have been possible without such a strong membership.

What do you wish you could have done more of?

I wish I could have figured out a way to meet the immigrants who make the Red Sox so amazing!

Noorani bio:

--A native of Salinas, Calif., Noorani graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and receiveda master's in public health from Boston University.

-- Previously served as director of public health for the Codman Square Health Center and Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, managing efforts ranging from HIV/AIDS to youth development. Also worked for the City of Boston coordinating funding and technical assistance to environmental justice projects across the region.

-- Received the Alfred L. Frechette Award from the Massachusetts Public Health
Association for exceptional leadership in promoting social justice and
received the 2007 Boston University Young Alumni Award.

Posted by rgreene at 10:42 AM | Comments (0)

Harvard gets $100 million from Rockefeller

(Dina Rudick/Globe Staff/file)

The campus of Harvard University.

By Globe Staff

Harvard University announced today that it received $100 million from David Rockefeller, the largest gift from an alumnus in the school’s history.

The money will be used to increase international learning opportunities for Harvard undergraduates and build three new study centers at Fogg Art Museum, where students will come face-to-face with original works of art.

"Harvard opened my eyes and my mind to the world," Rockefeller said in a statement issued by the school. "It was because of Harvard's language requirement that I spent the summer of 1933 in Germany and saw firsthand the ominous rise of fascism. And it was at Harvard that I first studied art history. Harvard provided me with an intellectual framework to understand what I was seeing and experiencing that has stayed with me for my entire life.”

The gift was first reported by the New York Times. Rockefeller, a member of the Harvard College Class of 1936, is the former chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank.

Here is the full release from Harvard:

David Rockefeller gives $100 million for Harvard Undergraduate Programs Largest gift from an alumnus in Harvard's history

CAMBRIDGE, MA (April 25, 2008) — David Rockefeller, a member of the Harvard College Class of 1936 and longtime University benefactor, has pledged $100 million to increase learning opportunities dramatically for Harvard undergraduates through international experiences and participation in the arts. Rockefeller's gift is the largest from an alumnus in Harvard's history.

"Harvard opened my eyes and my mind to the world," Rockefeller said. "It was because of Harvard's language requirement that I spent the summer of 1933 in Germany and saw firsthand the ominous rise of fascism. And it was at Harvard that I first studied art history. Harvard provided me with an intellectual framework to understand what I was seeing and experiencing that has stayed with me for my entire life. I have enjoyed working with President Faust in structuring this gift and I support her vision for Harvard's future. In that context, I hope my gift will help enable future Harvard undergraduates to experience similar opportunities to learn about the world in which they live."

"This is a magnificent act of generosity from an extraordinary friend of Harvard," said Drew Faust, president of Harvard University and Lincoln Professor of History. "Our students stand to benefit immeasurably from greater opportunities to experience other cultures and to engage with the arts. Harvard has had occasion to thank David Rockefeller many times before, but never more so than today, for his profound commitment to learning experiences that hold the promise to transform people's lives."

Approximately $70 million of the gift will enable undergraduates to learn about other cultures directly by participating in high-quality international experiences, which may include study for credit, internships, service, work, research, or travel. Rockefeller has designated $30 million of his gift to provide hands-on learning opportunities in the arts.

As a cornerstone of the recently announced effort to renovate the Fogg Art Museum, the arts component of Rockefeller's gift will enable the construction of three new study centers in which undergraduates will have personal encounters with original works of art. These study centers — representing the University's three main collections of the Fogg, Busch-Reisinger, and Sackler museums — will allow Harvard to add interaction with works of art to the undergraduate curriculum. Since there are more than 260,000 objects in the collection, students will have direct access to a variety of works in an exciting and suitable setting.

The gift's international component will provide annual stipends for experiences abroad to hundreds of undergraduates who might not otherwise be able to afford to participate. Rockefeller's gift will also enhance the capacity of the Office of International Programs and other offices, such as the Office of Career Services, to expand their ability to serve both faculty and students by offering robust advising and a support framework for new program development. The gift will also establish the President's Innovation Fund for International Experience, which will provide funding at the president's discretion for innovative undergraduate programming suggested by Harvard's international centers and professional schools.

Last year, 1,450 Harvard undergraduates participated in international experiences, more than double the 667 students who took part just four years earlier. Still, a recent survey of graduating seniors indicated that many did not take part in such experiences because of financial constraints.

"Internationalism permeates Harvard," said Michael D. Smith, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. "Increasingly, our society is grappling with issues of global significance, and enabling our undergraduates to incorporate international experiences into their study is thus more important than ever. This generous gift greatly enhances our efforts to build our study abroad programs around the incredible educational value of living and learning while immersed in another culture," he said.

In addition, a portion of Rockefeller's gift will provide Faust with valuable seed money to fund recommendations made by the University-wide Arts Task Force, which she formed last November. Chaired by Cogan University Professor Stephen Greenblatt, the task force draws its membership from faculty, students, and others across the University who represent many fields and modes of engagement with the study and practice of the arts. Their recommendations might include expanding a program designed to recognize and support talented student artists in the practice of their craft; launching artist-in-residence programs; or developing courses and international experiences using works of art as the basis for historical, anthropological, and cultural exploration.

Rockefeller has previously given $40 million in gifts to Harvard, including $25 million to create the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies. Established with Rockefeller's initial grant in 1994, the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies has become one of the pre-eminent institutions of its kind in the world. In May 2006, he made his most recent gift to the center of $10 million. The center is distinguished as the first interfaculty initiative for international studies at Harvard. More than 70 leading scholars from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and eight of the University's graduate and professional schools serve on the center's policy committee.

Harvard has retained the internationally renowned architect Renzo Piano to design the Fogg Art Museum's renovation. While construction dates are contingent on the community approval process, Harvard hopes that work will begin sometime in 2009.

"Students and scholars come from around the world to learn from works of art in our collections," said Thomas W. Lentz, Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of the Harvard University Art Museums. "This will help to create a new intellectual and visual dimension for future generations at Harvard, especially for our undergraduates, by dramatically increasing our ability to make these works accessible. This is an extraordinary gift to those scholars," he said.

Rockefeller has enjoyed seeing the programmatic impact of his previous gifts. "The center has more than fulfilled my expectations, and has played an important role in helping Harvard transform itself from a U.S. institution with an international reputation into a truly global university," Rockefeller said. "Latin America is a critical part of the world, and understanding the changes occurring there is essential. I trust that the center will continue to be a leader in Latin American studies far into the future."

Rockefeller's desire to leverage his giving has been rewarded at the center many times over. For example, his initial gifts to the center, which provided endowments for three chairs in Latin American studies, have inspired other donors, and Harvard now benefits from seven endowed professorships dedicated to the study of Latin America. In addition, eight endowed fellowships for visiting researchers now enrich the Harvard community each year.

Working closely with Rockefeller to help take the center from vision to reality was then-President Neil L. Rudenstine. Rudenstine recognized that studying a region such as Latin America would best be achieved by engaging scholars from numerous fields and from many of Harvard's schools. He found himself immediately attracted to Rockefeller's idea.

"In the early 1990s, David Rockefeller had the vision to help lead Harvard's effort in creating the first university-wide center of its kind," said Rudenstine. "David realized that the time was right to turn attention — in a much more powerful and concentrated way — on Latin American affairs. The goal was to involve Harvard faculty and students from all the professional schools — as well as the Faculty of Arts and Sciences — to collaborate with colleagues and students throughout Latin America on a wide range of new initiatives. Since then, there have been hundreds of joint projects in research and education, as well as a full program of lectures, conferences, cultural events, and other activities. The David Rockefeller Center has quickly become a major educational presence throughout the Americas, and has, in addition, been an influential model for other university-wide international centers, not only at Harvard, but at other institutions in the United States and abroad," he said.

The research grants given to faculty by the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies have supported work on ways to reduce inequalities in access to good schools, health care, and affordable housing; reduce air pollution and protect the environment; strengthen democratic institutions; and improve U.S.-Latin American relations. The center has published a dozen books on such topics as the effectiveness of free trade agreements, the Cuban economy, and the role of social enterprise throughout the region. The center, in conjunction with the Inter-American Development Bank, also publishes books on economic development.

Rockefeller is the former chairman, president, chairman of the executive committee, and CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank, and former chairman of the board of the Rockefeller Group. He is known as an innovative philanthropist with a wide range of interests, including Latin America, modern art, and the sciences. He has been a generous donor to many of Harvard's faculties and schools. A past member of the Executive Committee of the Committee on University Resources (COUR), he also served as honorary chair of The University Campaign, which raised a record $2.6 billion for Harvard between 1994 and 1999. He has been a generous donor to the Museum of Modern Art, Rockefeller University, and numerous other institutions and causes. An active Harvard alumnus for decades, he served on the Board of Overseers from 1954 to 1966, and was president of the board from 1966 to 1968. In recognition of his many forms of service to the University, he received an honorary degree in 1969.

Posted by aryan at 9:10 AM | Comments (0)

April 24, 2008

C. Hale Champion, former senior public official, 85

By J.M. Lawrence, Globe Correspondent

C. Hale Champion, who in half a century of public service held senior positions in local, state and federal government and in academia, died Wednesday at Mount Auburn Hospital of complications from prostate cancer. He was 85.

In Massachusetts, one of Mr. Champion's highest-profile posts was serving as chief of staff for Governor Michael Dukakis while Dukakis was running for president. Mr. Champion had been the first executive dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government for eight years when Dukakis beckoned in 1987, asking Mr. Champion to leave the ivory tower.

“I needed somebody I could absolutely count on,” Dukakis said today, “and he was a rock. You had absolute confidence in him.”

Mr. Champion, who also served as head of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, was remembered by friends and former colleagues as a shrewd behind-the-scenes player with a strong intellect and a gift for cutting to the heart of complex matters.

“He would take a problem and boil it down to its essential elements,” said former Massport director David W. Davis, whose friendship with Champion spanned 40 years. “He was always fully engaged in the work.”

Born in Coldwater, Mich., Mr. Champion was an Army veteran of World War II.

He spent the early part of his career mostly in journalism, leaving in 1958 when he was hired as press secretary for newly elected California Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown.

Brown lost to Ronald Reagan in 1966 and Mr. Champion packed up his files to take a post at Harvard as a Kennedy Fellow at the Institute of Politics.

At Harvard, Champion was tapped by Boston Mayor Kevin White in 1968 to run the Boston Redevelopment Authority. He spent 18 months heading the BRA and oversaw the building of Quincy Market and commitments of $1 billion in commercial development, but left because of political difficulties with board members.

Mr. Champion then became executive vice president of the five-campus University of Minnesota system for two and half years before Harvard President Derek Bok convinced him to return to Cambridge. He was Harvard’s vice president for financial affairs from 1971 to 1977.

The Carter administration recruited Mr. Champion in 1977 to become undersecretary of Health Education and Welfare. Mr. Champion also was chairman of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation from 1990 to 1992 and taught at Harvard until retiring in 1995.

He spent his later years caring for his wife who suffers from Alzheimer’s, his son said.

“He became her caregiver. He stepped up and kept the home running,” Thomas said.

In addition to his son and wife, Mr. Champion leaves a daughter Katherine Champion Murphy of Cambridge; two granddaughters and a grandson. A memorial service in Cambridge is being planned.

Posted by mfinucane at 8:25 PM | Comments (0)

At MIT student BBQ, piano hurled off a dormitory roof

(Evan Richman/Globe Staff)

Pre-flight inspection: Albahar checks out the soon-to-be-flying baby grand.

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

A cookout this afternoon at an MIT dormitory was typical for students at the science mecca: grilled chicken, veggie burgers, and hot dogs. Fruit punch and lemonade. And a piano was hurled off a seven-story roof onto another piano.

It was the revived annual piano drop at the Baker House, an event that could only take place on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"It didn't go as well as we expected," said organizer Abdulaziz Albahar, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering who is president of Baker House. "We expected the pianos to shatter into a lot of different pieces. But the one that we dropped off the roof was really, really, really strong."

Like a true engineer, he figured that you'd have to take the sturdy baby grand up 15 stories to get it to shatter.

To build excitement, the piano drop was preceded by a different stunt. A shopping cart with a large stuffed bear inside came hurtling down.

Finding the pianos was not hard. (The baby grand came from an MIT fraternity, and another came from a donor in the suburbs of Boston.)

Getting permission from the school to drop the baby grand from the roof was another story. (Yes, they had permission.) The students had to submit schematics to officials to show that the prank was safe and get approval from the MIT police, the campus activity office, and the school facilities office. They also had to pay a state trooper to oversee the operation and promise to wear harnesses when they went on the roof to do the deed.

The piano drop tradition started in 1972, but stopped in the late 1990s until it was revived in 2005. Like most MIT pranks, there is no larger point.

Albahar said the piano that was on the ground "definitely shattered" and he had a few fragments of it as souvenirs. The baby grand, he said, would be reused next year.

Was the miraculous piano still playable?

"A little bit. Not too much," he said.

Taking wing: the piano that fell to earth.

(Evan Richman/Globe Staff)

Posted by aryan at 7:08 PM | Comments (0)

State officials, with brush fires raging, pin their hopes on rain

By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

State fire officials, grappling with a rash of explosive, wind-driven brush fires that have raged from the Berkshires to Nantucket, are hoping that rain this weekend will soak the state and prevent even more fearsome blazes.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a quarter-inch of rain for the state on Saturday night and Sunday morning, which firefighters hope will be enough to douse the twigs, leaves and parched fields that have provided perfect kindling for scores of brush fires over the last two weeks.

In Boston, only 1.45 inches of rain have fallen this month, about an inch less than normal for April, said Rebecca Gould, meteorologist at the Weather Service’s Taunton office. The last rainfall was April 13, she said. In addition, humidity levels have been very low and the weather warm and sunny, which has allowed even seemingly minor backyard leaf fires to rage out of control.

Just yesterday, firefighters battled more than a dozen brush fires that scorched parts of Hopkinton, Weymouth, Orange, Billerica, Abington and other towns. One fast-moving blaze devoured two garages in Groton.

Most of the blazes have been unpredictable and some have kicked up flames of 15 to 25 feet, said David Celino, chief forest fire warden in the Bureau of Fire Control of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

“It’s keeping us hopping,” Celino said yesterday. “This is dangerous fire behavior.”

Posted by mfinucane at 6:15 PM | Comments (0)

Two-alarm fire damages Weymouth home

By Matt Collette, Globe Correspondent

Firefighters battled a two-alarm blaze in Weymouth this afternoon that displaced the residents of a single-family home.

The fire department received a report of the fire at 1:39 p.m. While en route, firefighters were informed that an elderly woman was trapped inside, said Gabe Araujo, a fire dispatcher. When firefighters arrived, the woman was safely out of the home.

Almost two hours later, just before 3:30 p.m., the fire was extinguished. The fire department did not have an estimate of the extent of the damange.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:18 PM | Comments (0)

From an environmental settlement, help for a 'green' project

By Globe Staff

A real estate company that manages a Maynard building has agreed to settle claims of environmental violations by paying $15,000 to the state to put high-tech solar hydrogen generators on the roof, state environmental regulators said today.

Wellesley Rosewood Maynard Mills LP will help fund equipment components that will be used by Nanoptek Corp., one of the building's tenants, to put the generators on the roof, the Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement.

Nanoptek has developed a device that produces hydrogen and oxygen, using only water, sunlight, and a photocatalyst. The hydrogen will be captured and used to generate power to the building complex and to fuel a shuttle bus that will transport workers and visitors from the South Acton train station to the building, the DEP said.

The DEP said that the real estate company had violated its air quality plan by burning oil rather than natural gas and it had operated an industrial wastewater pretreatment system without a licensed operator. The company agreed to comply with all regulations.

"MassDEP looks forward to the environmental gains that can come from the technology," Martin Suuberg, director of the agency's central region office in Worcester, said.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:00 PM | Comments (0)

Six injured in Saugus triple-decker fire

(Bill Brett for The Boston Globe)

Firefighters battling the blaze.

By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff

Four firefighters and two residents were injured in a fire in a triple-decker on Central Street in Saugus this afternoon.

A fire captain was in the worst shape after barging into the building to rescue a disabled woman on the second floor. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital. The other firefighters and the woman and her husband were taken to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, said Fire Chief James L. Blanchard.

The woman and her husband were in good condition. There was no further information available on the condition of the firefighters.

Blanchard said firefighters from five other communities had raced to the four-alarm fire to assist Saugus.

With schoolchildren on vacation, the street was packed in the midafternoon with both adults and children, watching the spectacle, some of them shooting pictures with their cellphones.

Blanchard said he didn't know how many people lived in the home.

Posted by mfinucane at 4:35 PM | Comments (0)

Appeals court OKs emergency search of woman's purse

By Globe Staff

A Beverly police officer who found drugs in a woman's purse was justified in the search because he was trying to help EMTs who believed she might be suffering from an overdose, the state appeals court ruled today.

Linda A. McCarthy, 54, was found "thrashing" on the floor of a Beverly restaurant in May 2006. A police officer called for EMTs, who told him they believed she had overdosed and asked whether he knew what she had taken.

The officer searched an open woman's handbag several feet from the defendant to see if he could find the drugs, which could help the EMTs in treating McCarthy. He found cocaine and marijuana.

McCarthy recovered, but she was charged with cocaine and marijuana possession. She challenged the search of her handbag in a pretrial motion.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court said there was no question that the officer had no probable cause to search the handbag and, under normal circumstances, the warrantless search would have been considered invalid.

But it said there was an "emergency exception" to the law, which applies when officers are responding "to an immediate need for assistance for the protection of life or property."

"In such medical emergencies, time is of the essence, requiring swift action," the court said, ruling that there were reasonable grounds for the officer to believe an emergency existed. "It was therefore reasonable for him to search the defendant's handbag."

Posted by mfinucane at 3:52 PM | Comments (0)

Former RMV clerk sentenced for $76,000 theft

By Globe Staff

A former clerk with the state Registry of Motor Vehicles pleaded guilty today to using her position to steal about $76,000 from the Registry.

Diana Coroniti, 36, of Walpole was convicted of larceny over $250 by continuous scheme. She was sentenced to five years in prison, the first year of which will be spent under house arrest, the attorney general’s office said.

Worcester Superior Court Judge Peter Agnes also ordered Coroniti to pay $25,000 restitution to the Commonwealth, perform 500 hours of community service, and undergo counseling for a gambling addiction.

Coroniti began work as a clerk at the Registry branch in Framingham in January 2001. In June 2004, she was she was transferred to the Milford branch.

At the Milford branch, prosecutors said, Coroniti stole $76,000 in cash between January 2005 and June 2005.

Posted by mfinucane at 2:51 PM | Comments (0)

Simmons leader stepping down; health executive to take over

(Simmons College)

Helen Drinan (left) will be an interim replacement for Simmons College president Susan C. Scrimshaw.

By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

Simmons College president Susan C. Scrimshaw will step down at the end of the academic year, the Fenway college's trustees announced today, and will be replaced by trustee chairwoman Helen Drinan, a top healthcare executive.

Scrimshaw, a well-known public health scholar, will depart after less than two years as the head of the small, women's college to return to the health-care field.

Drinan, senior vice president of Caritas Christi Health Care System and a graduate of Simmons School of Management, will assume the post on an interim basis but has pledged to serve at least two years, college officials said. She will announce her departure from Caritas today and will begin working at Simmons next month before officially taking over in July.

Scrimshaw's departure comes as somewhat of a surprise given her relatively short tenure and the college's recent successes in boosting its stature and enrollment at a time when many women's colleges have closed, contracted, or decided to admit men to boost their ranks.

Steve Jonas, vice chairman of the board of trustees, said the board was pleased with Scrimshaw's performance and was surprised to learn of her desire to step down.

"We have been foursquare in support of the initiatives she started," he said. "She put many positive changes in motion, and now we have to see those through to the next stage."

Jonas praised Scrimshaw for sharpening academic standards, promoting faculty research, and strengthening the college's diversity and sense of community. He said the board will not begin searching for a permanent president for at least a year.

The college, which has 2,100 undergraduates and 2,600 graduate students, is currently conducting a search for a provost and may select someone with the qualifications to succeed Drinan, he said.

Drinan, a well-known figure in the business community who worked for two decades at BankBoston Corp., said she was "honored and thrilled" to become president of her alma mater, where she received a master's from the School of Library and Information Science and an MBA in 1978.

"I can hardly believe my good fortune," she said.

In 2006, Drinan was thrust into the public eye when she pressed for the removal of Caritas president Robert M. Haddad, following sexual harassment allegations. Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley had initially decided to reprimand Haddad. Caritas is part of the state's Catholic hospital chain.

Drinan called Scrimshaw a "model academician" and a "luminary in her field" who has led the college well. She said she would seek to continue Scrimshaw's emphasis on academic excellence and support for faculty research, quipping that she expected faculty to "give her the benefit of the doubt, if not more so," despite her business background.

Drinan added, however, that she planned to re-examine the college's programs and marketing with an eye on improving its competitive standing.

"Simmons is a unique franchise in higher education, but the challenge is to maintain its original mission in changing times. We're going to have to think hard about how we want to position ourselves."

With the number of high school graduates projected to decline in the coming years, Simmons needs to gain a more national profile, she said. However, the college is not considering admitting men, she said.

In a statement, Scrimshaw said she was looking foward to her "first sabbatical in four decades," and that the college was "well positioned for the future."

Posted by rgreene at 2:35 PM | Comments (0)

Boston sportscasting pioneer Don Gillis, 85

(Courtesy WCVB-TV)

By Globe Staff

Don Gillis, Boston's first TV sports anchorman, died Wednesday night at the age of 85 in Falmouth. He had suffered from Alzheimer's disease in recent years.

"We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our former colleague, the dean of Boston television sports, Don Gillis, and extend ourheartfelt sympathies to his family," WCVB-TV (Channel 5), his former station, said in a statement.

In October 1962, Mr. Gillis became the city's first nightly TV sports anchor on the old Channel 5 (WHDH-TV).

Mr. Gillis, who got his start in radio in New Bedford, was well-known as both a sports anchor and host of the "Candlepins" program. After the old Channel 5 went off the air, he served as sports director at WCVB-TV from 1972 to 1983 and hosted the bowling program until 1995.

His resume also included doing play-by-play for the Celtics, Bruins, Patriots and Red Sox.

His son, Gary, also a former Boston TV sportscaster, said, "My father was proud of his versatility. He was a good reporter and a good anchor, and he was most proud of his relationships with the athletes he covered because he felt there was mutual respect. He understood that they operated in a unique environment."

A US Navy veteran, Mr. Gillis was on board the USS Missouri when America accepted the Japanese surrender.

"He wrote the blueprint for local sportscasting, which I use to this very day. He left an enormously large pair of shoes, which I am still trying to fill and he remains the conscience of our sports department," said Mike Lynch, the current WCVB-TV sports anchor.

"A true Boston legend, there was no one better. He leaves a legacy of warmth, humor and mentorship to the many who followed in his footsteps. He will be missed," the station said.

Posted by mfinucane at 1:41 PM | Comments (0)

Channel 7 parent company: Goldklank 'deeply regretful'

(Globe Photo / Wiqan Ang/file 2007)

By Globe Staff

Randi Goldklank, the general manager of WHDH-TV, is "deeply regretful" about an incident Sunday night at Logan International Airport in which she allegedly scuffled with police officers, the president of the station's parent company, Sunbeam Television Corp., said today.

"The unfortunate events of last Sunday night were unanticipated," Ed Ansin said in a statement. Goldklank is undergoing medical treatment and has been placed on administrative leave, Ansin said.

"We wish her a speedy recovery as do her many friends in Boston and throughout the broadcasting industry," said Ansin, who described Goldklank as "an outstanding broadcast executive with a record of great success."

In the meantime, Mike Carson, the previous general manager of WHDH-TV and its sister station, WLVI-TV, who has been working as a consultant to the stations, will temporarily resume his duties as general manager beginning next week, Ansin said.

Goldklank, a hard-charging executive who oversaw an aggressive news operation, was arrested Sunday night and charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery on a police officer.

A State Police report described her getting off a flight, flailing her arms and smelling of alcohol. She allegedly struck one state trooper, breaking the prescription eyeglasses in his shirt pocket, and threatened to call a news crew and put another trooper on television and "ruin [his] life."

Posted by mfinucane at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)

Patrick called 'budget hero' for pre-K funding

(Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff/file)

By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick has gone from "failure to act" to "budget hero" in a year, according to a national education advocacy group, which is hailing his decision to increase funding for pre-kindergarten programs.

Last April, Pre-K Now sharply criticized Patrick for failing to live up to his campaign pledge to increase funding for pre-kindergarten education and called his decision to level-fund the program "an opportunity sorely missed." This year the group has singled him out for praise for proposing to triple the funding. The $15 million boost, if approved by the Legislature, will provide access to pre-K programs for 11,000 more three- and four-year-olds.

"In times of crisis, we can clearly see what a governor's priorities are," Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now, said in a statement. "Governor Patrick's commitment to funding increases for Pre-K shows true leadership that will bring long-term returns to children and to the state."

Posted by aryan at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)

Big Papi jersey fetches $175K

(Frances Roberts/AP)

Frank Gramarossa, project executive for the new Yankee Stadium, removed the jersey from the floor of a service corridor 10 days ago.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

It's not much of a shirt, it's true. It's torn. It's dirty. Being buried in the concrete under a stadium construction project and then being drilled out by jackhammers will do that to you.

But the David Ortiz jersey that a construction worker buried under the site of the new Yankee Stadium is a quirky piece of baseball history -- and it sold this afternoon for $175,100 on eBay.

The bid from Kevin Meehan, the owner of Imperialcars.com in Mendon, was the highest of 282 for the battered No. 34 David Ortiz jersey.

"I actually thought it was going to sell for more money," said Meehan, who bid only in the final moments of the weeklong eBay auction that ended at 12:30 p.m. "I have three young boys that I take to the games and they would have killed me if I didn't buy the shirt."

The Yankees, despite being the targets of the would-be curse, donated the jersey to the Red Sox' official charity, the Jimmy Fund, which auctioned it off to raise funds for cancer care and research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Mike Andrews, The Jimmy Fund chairman and former Red Sox second baseman, said the charity was "absolutely thrilled."

"We are grateful for the generous bid, and extend our deep gratitude to the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox for coming together again in the fight against cancer," he said in a statement.

Meehan said he was eager to give to the Jimmy Fund because his father died of cancer and his stepfather has the disease.

"It's personal," he said. "It's a lot deeper than just the shirt."

Meehan plans to eventually display the jersey from his favorite Red Sox player in one of his car dealerships. He said he has no intention of selling it.

"It was just a win-win all the way around," said Meehan, who also will receive a new Ortiz jersey, a Yankees T-shirt and two tickets to a Red Sox game where he will be presented with the unusual piece of sports memorabilia.

Construction worker Gino Castignoli, a Red Sox fan from the Bronx, dropped the jersey into two feet of wet concrete during construction of the new stadium, hoping to hex the Yankees. The team found the jersey after receiving information from anonymous tipsters and had it jackhammered out.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Posted by mfinucane at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

Red Sox tickets allegedly used to reward Big Dig inspector

(Globe file photo)

Tickets similar to those shown above were allegedly given to a plumbing inspector by P.J. Riley & Co.

By Globe Staff

A Big Dig contractor is accused of improperly rewarding a state inspector with a pair of $80 Red Sox tickets for issuing plumbing permits and performing inspections on several projects, according to the State Ethics Commission.

A vice president of P.J. Riley & Co. allegedly gave inspector Taylor Roth two tickets to several games from 2004 to 2006 in violation of the state’s conflict of interest law, according to the Ethics Commission. Roth is a senior inspector at the State Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gasfitters.

“Roth received the Red Sox tickets as a reward for permits he had issued and/or inspections that he had performed of P.J. Riley’s work as a senior inspector and/or to influence such official acts that he would perform as a senior inspector,” according to a complaint issued by the Ethics Commission.

To read copies of the Ethics Commission complaints in Microsoft Word, click here for Taylor, here for Thomas Riley, or here for P.J. Riley & Co.

The tickets were allegedly given to Roth in connection with projects at the Dewey Square ventilation building, the Massport Black Falcon Terminal, and the ventilation Buildings for the Sumner and Callahan tunnels.

Roth, the company, and the vice-president, Thomas Riley, all face charges before the Ethics Commission, which can impose civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation of the conflict of interest law. A hearing will be scheduled within the next 90 days.

Riley and other officials at P.J. Riley & Co. could not be immediately reached for comment. There was no answer at the State Board of Examiners of Plumbers and Gasfitters.

Posted by aryan at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)

Red Line restored after small fire

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

Service on the Red Line has resumed this morning after a small trash fire on the Longfellow Bridge halted trains for 21 minutes, according to a spokesman for the MBTA.

Boston firefighters responded to extinguish the small blaze, which required that power be shut off on the third rail at 10 a.m., according to spokesman Joe Pesaturo.

Posted by aryan at 10:30 AM | Comments (0)

Boy, 7, and man, 51, killed in separate car crashes

By Globe Staff

A 7-year-old boy was killed in a car crash in Oxford Tuesday when a 79-year-old driver lost control on Interstate 395 and hit several trees, State Police said.

The boy was wearing a seat belt when the 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass veered off the interstate just north of Exit 5 at 6:30 p.m., according to a press release. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not released because of his age.

The driver, Jose Rivera of Worcester, suffered serious injuries and was taken to UMass Medical Center.

Thirty minutes later, State Police responded to three vehicle crash on Interstate 290 in Worcester that killed a 51-year-old man and injured two others. Joseph Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene after the sport utility vehicle he was driving swerved into another lane near Exit 10 and rolled over.

Both crashes remain under investigation.

Posted by aryan at 9:07 AM | Comments (0)

MBTA officers to practice stepped-up searches today

By Globe Staff

Don’t worry, it is only a drill. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority says that commuters can expect to see more people getting their bags searched this morning.

It is a dry run for the authority’s new program of stepping up searches of riders’ bags when the mass transportation security threat level rises to orange. (Right now, it’s yellow, one level below.)

The MBTA Transit Police will get help with the stepped-up searches from workers from the US Transportation Security Administration, said Deputy Transit Police Chief John Martino.

“This shouldn’t alarm anyone. It’s just a standard exercise of existing plans so we will be prepared if a situation arises,” he said.

He said the searches might delay the average passenger “a minute or two. ... I don’t expect people will notice anything different,” he said.

Posted by mfinucane at 8:00 AM | Comments (0)

April 23, 2008

Creator of low-cost pumps for African farmers wins MIT prize

(Courtesy of the Lemelson-MIT Program.)

Martin Fisher demonstrates one of the pumps.

By Globe Staff

A San Francisco man who is credited with changing the lives of thousands of farmers in Africa with his irrigation pumps has won the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability.

Martin Fisher is co-founder and chief executive of the San Francisco-based non-profit KickStart, which has developed and marketed low-cost, human-powered pumps that allow farmers to boost the productivity of their land -- and increase their earnings.

Rather than simply giving the pumps away, KickStart has worked with wholesalers and retailers to market the pumps, with the idea of someday creating a self-sustaining market for them.

“Our goal is to ensure that local farmers can buy moneymaking irrigation pumps on the local market," said Fisher.

"By learning and understanding African societal needs and cultures firsthand, Fisher has harnessed the entrepreneurial drive of many Africans and empowered them with sustainable technological inventions," Joshua Schuler, executive director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, said in a statement.

The program is funded by the Lemelson Foundation, a philanthropy that supports inventors and entrepreneurs. Jerome H.Lemelson, one of US history's most prolific inventors, and his wife founded the program in 1994.

Posted by mfinucane at 8:36 PM | Comments (0)

Curley family drops case against NAMBLA

By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff

The parents of Jeffrey Curley, the 10-year-old Cambridge boy raped and smothered by two men who lured him into a car, have dropped their federal lawsuit against a group that advocates sex between men and boys, which the parents claimed had incited their son's 1997 murder.

Jeffrey Curley (File Photo)

Lawyers for Robert and Barbara Curley filed papers Tuesday in US District Court in Boston ending their wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against the North American Man/Boy Love Association and 18 reputed members after almost eight years of litigation.

Robert Curley said his lawyer recently told him that the plaintiffs had only one witness prepared to testify that NAMBLA somehow spurred Charles Jaynes, one of the boy's convicted killers, to commit rape and murder on Oct. 1, 1997. A judge ruled the witness was not competent to testify, Curley said.

"That was the only link we were counting on,'' said Curley, a 51-year-old mechanic in the Cambridge Fire Department. "When they ruled that out, that was the end of the line.''

Sarah R. Wunsch, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberities Union of Massachusetts, which defended NAMBLA and most of the defendants in the civil suit, said the case never had any merit.

Jaynes did belong to NAMBLA for a year, Wunsch said. But, she said, there was nothing illegal about the magazines he obtained from the organization -- they are available in some bookstores -- or the association website that the Curleys alleged he viewed shortly before the murders.

"There was never any evidence that NAMBLA was connected to the death of Jeffrey Curley,'' said Wunsch. "It's been our view that for the last eight years, it's been the First Amendment that's been the defendant in this case. In America, there's freedom to publish unpopular ideas, and that's what this case was about."

Posted by mfinucane at 5:24 PM | Comments (0)

With wind on the way, more concern about brush fires

(Justine Hunt/Globe Staff)

Firefighters douse a brush fire on Reservation Road in Boston's Hyde Park section over the weekend.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Brush fires have been breaking out all around the state in recent days. But fortunately, there has been little wind to fan the flames.

On Thursday that will change. Winds of 20 mph gusting to 25 mph are expected and, with low humidity and the woods as dry as a tinderbox, that could spell trouble, said David Celino, chief warden for the state Bureau of Forest Fire Control.

The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon that covers northern Connecticut, southwest New Hampshire, and most of the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The forecasters said the area of greatest concern was in Massachusetts north of Route 2 and in southwest New Hampshire.

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan today also warned that improperly discarded smoking materials can cause forest fires at this time of year and reminded people that it's illegal to throw cigarettes out of their cars.

“Conditions are perfect right now; the snow pack has receded, we are waiting for new growth to sprout, humidity is low and the days are getting hotter,” Coan said in a statement.

Celino said today has already been a very active day for brush fires, noting a 230-acre blaze burning in Devens, and a 50-acre conflagration in Milford.

Celino said leaf litter, twigs, and shrubs have been dried out because of the recent low humidities and relatively high temperatures and "until those shrub layers and grasses actually green out, we're going to continue to see this extreme fire behavior."

Posted by mfinucane at 4:47 PM | Comments (0)

FBI: Bank robber has hit 13 locations in the area

A surveillance camera picture of the man who robbed the Eastern Bank in South Boston on Dec. 22, the first robbery in the spree.

By Globe Staff

The FBI says a bank robber has been hard at work in the area, hitting 13 banks in the past four months.

The robber has hit banks in Boston, Watertown, Quincy, Belmont, Natick, and Arlington, passing a teller in each case a note demanding money. In at least one of the robberies, he threatened that he had a gun, said FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz.

The first robbery in the spree was Dec. 22. The last was on Tuesday at the Leader Bank on Pleasant Street in Belmont.

“Experience has shown that he’s going to continue robbing banks until he’s caught,” said Marcinkiewicz.

The suspect is described as a white male, 30 to 40 years old, 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-0, with a medium to heavy build. In at least two of the robberies, he wore a Boston Water & Sewer work jacket.

Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI at 617-742-5533.

Posted by mfinucane at 3:53 PM | Comments (0)

Hello 80 degrees, goodbye snow shovels

(Tom Herde for The Boston Globe)

The glorious 80-degree weather today drew bathers to Nantasket Beach.

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Forsythia bushes have bloomed, exploding in bursts of yellow. Green buds are wiggling out of the tips of long-dormant branches. And Commonwealth Avenue is awash in the creamy pink blossoms of magnolia trees.

Here is one more telltale sign of spring: The temperature surged into the 80s today in Boston for the first time since Oct. 22. While weather in New England can be famously fickle, it may finally be time to say goodbye to one loathsome winter chore.

"I’d say the odds are good you can put away the snow shovels,” said Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton.

The temperature peaked at 82 degrees this afternoon in Boston and got as high as 85 degrees away from the coast. A sea breeze kept temperatures in the 60s and 70s on the South Coast, the south shore of Cape Cod, and Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Dunham said.

A small cold front is expected to drag high temperatures into the 70s on Thursday, but it will still be sunny and spring-like.

Posted by aryan at 3:38 PM | Comments (0)

Army Corps denies permit for Winthrop beach restoration

(Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff)

Sunbathers on the seawall in Winthrop last summer, where houses and the ocean are separated by only a few dozen yards.

By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff

The US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it has denied the state a permit to dredge 500,000 cubic yards of sand from the ocean bottom to bolster 37 acres of the eroded Winthrop Beach shoreline, dashing the hopes of residents who blame erosion for flooding problems in the area.

In a written statement, Brigadier General Todd T. Semonite, the North Atlantic Division commander of the Corps, said that the decision was made "due to public interest factors and the availability of less environmentally damaging alternatives."

The proposal called for dredging up sand 8 miles offshore and hauling it by barge to the shore because it would have taken years to truck the sand through the town's narrow residential streets.

In a settlement reached last year between the state and the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association, which strongly objected to the project based on the possibility it would threaten lobster and other species, the state agreed to a one-time-only use of the dredging site; that there would be no dredging of the area for 15 years afterward; a moratorium on overall ocean floor dredging for five years; and to commit to a $250,000 lobster monitoring study in the area.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation has been trying to get approval for the dredging for the past decade. The National Marine Fisheries Service office in Gloucester, which was advising the Corps, objected, based on concerns about the impact to a habitat "essential to the survival of cod and other species," according to the statement.

Winthrop Beach area residents blame the beach erosion for a string of flooding problems over the years. A one-year independent study from 2004 to 2005, commissioned by the state Division of Marine Fisheries, which opposed the project, concluded that the dredging would not have a permanent negative effect on sea life.

Posted by mfinucane at 2:24 PM | Comments (0)

Abington husband charged with murder

By John R. Ellement and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

ABINGTON -- Residents on a quiet side street in this town made repeated 911 calls to police Tuesday night when bursts of gunfire erupted at the home of John and Barbara Tassinari.

Barbara Tassinari’s brother, Frank Scolano, lives next door to the couple on Pilgrim Street and heard the blasts. Scolano grabbed his .32-caliber silver pistol and ran outside to try to help his sister, according to a police report.

Scolano met John Tassinari, who said his wife had been unfaithful, according to the report. Twenty-nine-year-old Barbara lay dead on the driveway with apparent gunshot wounds to her head, police said.

"I'm gonna to kill you," Scolano yelled, according to the report. "You killed my sister, you shot my sister."

Scolano took John Tassinari to the ground, according to report, and pressed the silver pistol to the back of his head. At that moment, Officer Ronald Sweeney pulled up in his police cruiser, drew his firearm, and ordered Scolano to put down his gun, the report states.

John Tassinari, 29, was arrested at the scene. He was arraigned in Brockton District Court today on one count of murder and held without bail.

Abington Police Chief David Majenski said that Tassinari used two .45-caliber pistols to fire more than a dozen rounds, which could be heard by dispatchers as neighbors flooded police with 911 calls. Additional weapons were recovered in the home, Majenski said.

Assistant District Attorney Shelby Smith said in court that Tassinari called 911 after the shooting, told Abington police that he killed his wife, and went outside to wait for officers to arrive when he ran into Scolano.

Defense lawyer William F. Sullivan called the slaying a “horrific tragedy” but declined to discuss specifics of the case.

Tassinari was issued a firearm permit in 2004, Majenski said. Before Tuesday night, Abington police had never responded to the couple's home for reports of domestic violence or any other reason, Majenski said.

An autopsy has been scheduled today by the state medical examiner to determine Barbara Tassinari's official cause to death. No additional information was released.

This morning, detectives were still combing through the blue split-level house with tan shutters on the west side of Abington, which is 20 miles south of Boston.

John Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com

(Justine Hunt/Globe Staff)

John Tassinari was taken to court today by Lieutenant Kevin Smith and charged with killing his wife.

Posted by aryan at 2:14 PM | Comments (0)

The birth of magnolias on Commonwealth Avenue

(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The bright burst of pink magnolia blossoms on Commonwealth Avenue has become one of Boston’s rites of spring. The annual canopy of flowers makes the stately brownstones and ornate street lamps of Back Bay seem almost new.

The trees are the legacy of Laura Dwight, a Detroit native who lived in an apartment on Commonwealth Avenue and died 25 years ago at age 84. In 1963, Dwight was upset by the decline of her once-elegant neighborhood and fought back by planting magnolia trees, which cost $8 to $20 apiece. She enlisted the help of volunteers from an MIT fraternity.

Here are excepts from a story published in the Globe in March 1995 that recounted Dwight’s story:

Every spring, April on Commonwealth Avenue brings magnolia blossoms, cream and raspberry against the brownstones lining the sunny side of the street.

It seems like a tradition as old as Back Bay, but it isn't. The avenue has been a magnolia display place for only three decades, thanks to a woman named Laura Dwight, who spearheaded the drive to plant the elegant Magnolia x soulangiana, saucer magnolias, back in 1963.

Dwight's trees cost $8 to $20 each, depending on size. To plant them, Dwight organized volunteers from an MIT fraternity whose house was on the avenue.

Dwight had read somewhere that Boston was about as far north as magnolias would survive. Despite some argument with friends about which variety would do best (or perhaps whether dogwoods might be better), she chose the saucer magnolia plus a few star magnolias here and there. Some dogwoods were planted on the shaded south side of the street, but they have proved far less eye-catching.

Dwight died in 1983 at the age of 84. Although she was descended from the John Dwight who settled Dedham in 1634, she was born in Detroit and only returned to Boston, a lady of independent means, later in life. Settled into an apartment on Commonwealth Avenue, she became distressed -- some say irate -- by the decline of this once-elegant neighborhood.

Built as upscale private townhouses, the brownstones had fallen out of favor with the wealthy and had been converted to small college dormitories, fraternity houses, apartments and even rooming houses for transients. Dwight became an early and active member of the Neighborhood Association of Back Bay, dedicated to turning the area around.

Her success with magnolia planting led her to organize the Back Bay garden club in 1967. A few years later she co-founded the Friends of the Public Garden, the organization credited with reviving and preserving the neglected Common and Garden.

Saucer magnolias, developed in 1820, were the first magnolia hybrid ever produced, according to Judith Leet, a writer for Arnold Arboretum's magazine Arnoldia. Though the variety has done well on Commonwealth Avenue, the garden clubbers plan to shift to a different and reportedly superior type, Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel.' It is a more recent chance hybrid that occurred in the garden of Messel, an English horticulturist.

(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

Boston University students Ruth Morris and Murray Cohen ran Saturday afternoon under the canopy of magnolia trees on Commonwealth Avenue.

Posted by aryan at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)

Elderly woman attacked in Hyde Park

By Globe staff

An 88-year-old woman was attacked in her Hyde Park apartment early this morning, Boston police said.

The victim was physically assaulted inside her room in a housing complex on Summer Street about 4 a.m., police said. Authorities took the woman to a local hospital for treatment after she was found severely beaten. She is expected to survive.

Police spokesman Eddy Crispin said there were no apparent signs of forced entry and it was unclear whether anything was taken from the woman's apartment.

He said police are canvassing the area looking for clues and any evidence.

Crispin said the suspect is described as a black male, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a slight build wearing a black stocking cap.

The Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit is also investigating the attack.

Posted by mbello at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)

April 22, 2008

Bold graffiti artists strike -- in Brockton police parking lot

By Milton Valencia, Globe Staff

BROCKTON – Graffiti artists went on a spree Monday night and early Tuesday, scrawling their "tags" in several locations -- including a mobile command post parked in the police station lot.

Police arrested four people for vandalizing the van, and are investigating whether they are responsible for other graffiti throughout the city that could cost thousands of dollars to clean up.

“It’s destruction of property,” Police Chief William Conlon said. “It’s disheartening to residents and business owners and government leaders – anybody who’s got to look at it.”

Facing charges of vandalism and vandalism by tagging were: James Cook, 17; Duane Bailey, 20; Kent Coffey, 20; and Steven Gavazzi, 23.

Conlon said a passerby called police just before 3 a.m. Tuesday after seeing people painting the van, and officers who canvassed the area saw the four walking not far away.

One of the group had paint on his hand, and police searching them found spray paint cans of the same colors used in the graffiti, Conlon said. He said the four later confessed.

Later Tuesday, a construction worker renovating the Manning Pool, a $2 million project, found graffiti on the pool sides, the cement apron around it and on the walls of the pool house, the chief said.

Also, a local florist who had recently removed spray paint from his wall found that he had been hit again, the chief said.

He said it was the latest in a surge of graffiti vandalism that has given neighborhoods a bad image.

“Maybe it’s becoming more of a fad, but it’s a disheartening fad and it costs many thousand dollars to remove it,” the chief said. “These kids are so young that are doing it, I don’t think they can see beyond their noses to see the detrimental effect it has had on the community.”

Posted by mfinucane at 5:56 PM | Comments (0)

Trio held without bail in Worcester slaying

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

Three people have been arrested for the slaying Monday of a Westborough man in Worcester, according to a press release.

Lance Savage, 37, of Worcester was the first arrested last night for the murder of Jack A. McGuire, 35. Worcester police found McGuire dead in the driver’s seat of a 2003 BMW sedan on Florence Street in Worcester early Monday with a stab wound to his upper left leg.

April Marlborough, 26, of Wales was arrested at 2 a.m. today and Rick Lopez, also known as Janleer Povez, 28, of Worcester was arrested at 5 a.m. All three are being charged with one count of murder. Marlborough is also facing charges from several outstanding warrants and Savage is charged with one count of trespassing.

All three were arraigned today in Worcester Central District Court and were ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty. The next hearing in the case is slated for May 20, Worcester district attorney's spokesman Tim Connolly said.

Police believe the slaying is drug-related. No more information was immediately available.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:23 PM | Comments (0)

Davis tries to reassure residents after shootings

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said this afternoon that a spate of shootings in Dorchester Monday night that left four men injured was the result of ongoing feud between two neighborhood gangs.

The attacks in Dorchester capped a violent day in Boston that included the non-fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy in the South End and the slaying of a 20-year-old man in Jamaica Plain.

"The incidents that occurred in the last 24 hours are troubling," said Davis, who spoke to reporters outside a luncheon at the Boston Wharf Hotel.

The city has seen a 40 percent drop in non-fatal shootings compared with last year, Davis said, which is a good overall trend.

"We have to stay out there in the street," Davis said. "We have to push forward with our initiatives to make sure that this city is the safest city in America. That's our goal."

The violence Monday started early in the morning when the 13-year-old boy was shot on Washington Street a few feet away from his home. Later in the afternoon, 20-year-old Luis Troncoso, a father of two infant girls, was fatally shot in the head at Southwest Corridor Park in Jamaica Plain.

State Police are investigating Troncoso's killing because the park is state property, but Davis said he was well-known to police. He declined to say more about Troncoso because State Police are the main investigators. Troncoso's shooting was not random and police believe it was gang-related, according to two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation.

The 13-year-old boy, whose name is not being published by the Globe because he is a witness, is believed to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time, said two law enforcement sources. When he was shot, the boy was talking to people believed to be involved in an ongoing gang feud with another group in the South End, the two sources said.

When Davis spoke to reporters this afternoon, he stood with Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, a former Boston police commissioner. The luncheon was for local students who earned scholarships from Operation Progress, a fund started by Los Angeles police officers, and the Police Athletic League.

Two dozen Los Angeles police officers came to Boston over the weekend to participate in Monday's marathon for a friendly competition with 25 Boston police officers. Los Angeles won by one minute.

Davis said the department has emulated many of Los Angeles law enforcement tactics to reduce crime. Davis and other command staff officials will walk through Jamaica Plain this afternoon to speak with business owners and residents about the effectiveness of teams of police officers who have been patrolling the neighborhood.

Posted by aryan at 4:29 PM | Comments (0)

Channel 7 general manager charged after alleged tirade

(Globe Photo / Wiqan Ang/file 2007)

By John R. Ellement, Michael Levenson, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The general manager of WHDH Channel 7 was arrested after an allegedly drunken, obscenity-laced tirade at Logan International Airport in which she threatened to call a news crew and put a state trooper "on TV and ruin [his] life," according to a police report.

Randi Goldklank flailed her arms and screamed at State Police when they took her into custody after her Delta flight landed Sunday night, according to the report. She had to be helped off the plane by two crew members, according to the report, and struck a trooper in the chest, breaking the prescription glasses in his pocket.

"I'm a big shot in Boston and I'll have your [expletive] jobs," Goldklank told the troopers, according to the report. "You think you're a [expletive] tough guy, just you watch and see what the [expletive] happens to you when I get out of here."

[The first page of the police report can be found here. The second page is here. The Globe redacted the obscenities and Goldklank’s personal information, including her address, date of birth, and Social Security number.]

Goldklank, 40, was scheduled to be arraigned today in East Boston Municipal Court on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery on a police officer. Her lawyer, David Eisenstadt, appeared on her behalf this morning and argued successfully to have her arraignment postponed until May 19. Eisenstadt declined to discuss the allegations today, saying he did not believe in trying a case in the media.

“I’m very confident that my client will be well served by the judicial system,” Eisenstadt said.

Goldklank defended her behavior to the Boston Herald Monday night and told the paper she was inappropriately touched by a male passenger seated beside her. There was no mention of the male passenger in the State Police report. Trooper Eric Benson, a department spokesman, said this morning that “there has been no complaint made to the State Police alleging any such improper contact.”

A spokesman for Delta Air Lines did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment about the allegation of inappropriate touching on the plane.

Channel 7 also did not immediately return several phone messages seeking comment. The station posted a story on its website that said Goldklank had been placed on administrative leave.

According to the report, she was overheard by police telling medical personnel that she had had "about three dozen drinks." Goldklank smelled of alcohol and was so intoxicated that police had difficulty booking her, the report stated. But then Goldklank's tone shifted.

"The defendants demeanor changed and she became quiet," the report says. "After a few minutes she leaned toward Sergeant Luce and stated, 'You think I’m cute and I think you're cute, just drive me home.' "

A State Police form called an alcohol influence report described her as disorderly, argumentative, and unsteady on her feet. Troopers overheard Goldklank tell paramedics that she was depressed because her mother had recently died, and that she had been taking Lexapro, an antidepressant.

Goldklank took over Channel 7 in 2007 and also runs its sister station, WLVI-TV (Channel 56).

Posted by aryan at 4:13 PM | Comments (0)

Man shot by Lynn police officer after car chase

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

A Lynn police officer shot a man Monday night after a car chase and a series of collisions, police said.

The 36-year-old man was shot in the upper torso and taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is currently in stable condition, according to a Lynn Police Department news release. Police did not release the man’s name or the name of the officer who fired the gun.

At 10:30 p.m., officers responded to a report that the driver of a 2001 Lincoln Town Car hit a telephone pole on Maple Street and drove off, according to the news release. The driver fled on Euclid Avenue, crashed into a stone wall near Flax Pond, and kept driving, police said.

An officer began chasing the car but stopped when he drove onto the wrong side of the road, police said.

“A series of collisions followed, and an officer was forced to discharge his department issued firearm,” police reported in the news release.

The news release did not indicate what forced the officer to fire his gun. The driver of the car may face several charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon.

Posted by aryan at 2:33 PM | Comments (0)

Woman pleads not guilty to drunken driving in accident with Sandra Bullock

By Steven Rosenberg, Globe Staff

GLOUCESTER -- The woman accused of driving drunk and plowing into a sport utility vehicle carrying movie star Sandra Bullock told authorities that she had “two glasses of wine,” according to a police report filed today in court.

The arresting officer, however, wrote in his report that Lucile P. Gatchell, 64, appeared "dazed and confused.”

“I immediately detected the strong odor of liquor from her person as she sat inside the damaged motor vehicle,” wrote police officer Kevin Mackey, who responded to the accident on East Main Street at 9:50 p.m. Friday. “Her eyes were blood shot and glassy. Her speech was extremely slurred as she spoke.”

Bullock is in the area shooting the romantic comedy "The Proposal" and had finished filming for the day in Rockport. She and her husband, Jessie James, and their driver were not injured in the head-on collision.

Gatchell was silent and reserved and wore sunglasses during her arraignment this morning in Gloucester District Court. She declined to address three newspaper reporters and six television cameras covering her brief court appearance. One of the cameras was from Inside Edition, a celebrity focused television tabloid.

Gatchell pleaded not guilty to charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, and failure to stay in a marked lane. She was released without bail and is due back in court June 6.

“Ms. Gatchell is very relieved that no one was injured in the accident,” said her lawyer, Benjamin Richard. “She also wants to extend her gratitude to Ms. Bullock, and Mr. James for the concern they showed to her at the time of the accident.

Mackey wrote in his report that the Gloucester resident failed four field sobriety tests Friday night and her blood alcohol level registered .20, which is more than twice the legal limit.

The day after the collision, police said, Gatchell was told several times that she hit Bullock, and each time she expressed shock as if it was the first time she heard.

"She said, 'My first drunk driving incident and I hit Sandra Bullock,' " Mackey said. "She was almost laughing. But crying, too.

"Ms. Bullock was very personable and was concerned for [Gatchell's] well-being," Mackey said.

Posted by aryan at 9:40 AM | Comments (0)

April 21, 2008

Police probe shooting in Jamaica Plain park

A 20-year-old man has died after being shot in the head in a Jamaica Plain park this afternoon, according to Boston Police and the Suffolk District Attorney's office.

Authorities said the man was shot around 4 p.m. near the corner of Boylston and Lamartine Streets near the Stony Brook MBTA station.

He was rushed to Brigham and Woman's Hospital, where he later died, authorities said.

Police are combing the scene for evidence. No arrests have been made.

Posted by mbello at 4:28 PM | Comments (0)

Heartbreak Hill or bust for some spectators

(John Blanding/ Globe Staff)

Cat Beck (left) and Ana Hoyos (center) screamed for runners near the top of Heartbreak Hill.

By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

NEWTON -- For hardcore marathon fans, Heartbreak Hill is the only place to watch.

Spectators camped out here today on the edge of Commonwealth Avenue with tents, beach chairs, coolers, and grills in what has become an annual ritual. They clap, cheer, and ring cow bells just past the race's 20-mile mark, inspired by runners fighting through exhaustion and breaking through the wall.

"It's awe-inspiring," said Ken Bresler, a 50-year-old from Newton watching the race with his daughter. "It sends chills up my spine."

Other spectators took a sense of pride, and duty, in their heartfelt cheering.

"We're right here, every Boston," said Donna Murray as she watched her three young children play in a grassy island next to the course. "You have to."

College students, who turned out in force for the race, saw the race more as an excuse for a day-long outdoor party. One group of Boston College students wore T-shirts that read "You Run, I'll Drink" and said the race was a perfect backdrop for some bacchanalia.

"Heartbreak’s the place to be," said Tim McLaughlin, a 19-year-old freshman from Long Island.

Posted by aryan at 3:58 PM | Comments (0)

Man, 35, dies from stab wound in leg

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

Worcester homicide detectives said today that drugs were the probable motive in the fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old man found dead this morning in a parked car.

Jack A. McGuire apparently died from a stab wound in his upper left leg, a Worcester Police Department news release said. McGuire’s body was found slumped in the driver’s seat of a 2003 BMW sedan.

Officers responded to a call at 4:18 a.m. to Florence Street, where the car was partially obstructing a driveway. McGuire, a Westborough resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The release did not say why detectives believed drugs motivated the slaying.

Posted by aryan at 2:33 PM | Comments (0)

Being British on Patriots Day

(Joanne Rathe/Globe Staff)

Ian Graves, a 16-year-old high school junior from Chelmsford, played a Red Coat today who bayoneted a Minute Man on Lexington Green. "It's more fun" to be on the British side, Graves said.

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The Red Coats are berated by the crowds as bloody backs and lobsters, booed and hissed, and told year after year to just "go home." They are the sinister villains, the occupying army, the losers that were defeated in the Revolutionary War by a rag-tag collection of militia and Minute Men.

Depicting a British soldier on Patriots Day may seem like an odd hobby. But that did not stop some 80 dentists, high school teachers, and attorneys today on Lexington Green from donning breeches, tricorn hats, muskets, and those madder red colored coats.

"Someone has to play the bad guys," smiled John Kahler, 51, a banker from Norwalk, Conn., who has been dressing as a Red Coat at re-enactments since 1982. "People are smiling when they heckle you, so they are not that serious. And we heckle them back."

The ranks of Revolutionary War reenactors who play British soldiers are dominated by Anglophiles, born contrarians, and history buffs who value the complexities and nuisances left out of most text books.

"Not everybody plays a British soldier on Patriots Day," said Paul O'Shaughnessy, commanding officer of His Majesty's Tenth Regiment of Foot, one of four groups that portrayed the British in today.

As the country’s bicentennial approached in the 1970s, O'Shaughnessy could not follow his friends who joined Minute Men and other colonial re-enactment groups. "Something in me wanted to against the tide and not do what everybody else was doing," said O’Shaughnessy, a 51-year-old engineer who lives in Lexington.

That desire to be different and the "impossibly cool" uniforms of the Red Coats made it any easy decision for O’Shaughnessy to join the British at this first commemoration of Lexington in 1972.

That allure still exists for new recruits such as 16-year-old Ian Graves, a junior at Chelmsford High School, who played the Red Coat today who bayoneted Jonas Parker, one of seven Lexington men killed April 19, 1775.

"The British side looks better," Graves said. "It's more civilized. The uniforms -- bright red is way better than drab brown" of the Minute Men.

"So what they lost," Graves said of the Red Coats. "It's more fun."

Posted by aryan at 1:27 PM | Comments (0)

Boy, 13, shot in South End

By Globe Staff

A 13-year-old boy was shot twice early this morning in the South End but is expected to survive, police said.

The boy was shot shortly after 1 a.m. on Washington Street, police said. When officers arrived, he was found inside an apartment with two gunshot wounds in his groin.

The boy was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he is in stable condition, police said. His name was not released.

Police have not reported making any arrests.

Posted by aryan at 9:48 AM | Comments (0)

Tricorn hats and musket shots on Patriots Day

(Joanne Rathe/Globe Staff)

By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

LEXINGTON -- Hundreds gathered at hallowed Lexington Green early this morning for the annual Patriots Day reenactment of the historic battle of Lexington, kicking off a full slate of ceremonies marking the start of the Revolutionary War.

In a youth parade through the flag-lined center of town, boy scouts wearing tricorn hats marched in mock high step to the rat-a-tat-tat of a middle school band. Girl scouts, their merit badges on full display, struggled to hold American flags much taller than they. Parents waved from the sidewalk at their children or ran along side with camcorders to preserve the moment. Families dined at the First Baptist Church's pancake breakfast, then gathered at the green for a ceremony honoring the 233d anniversary of the battle that started the war for independence.

At 8 a.m. musket fire punctuated the end of the National Anthem and the American flag was raised high above the green as young children, who were celebrating a week off from school, played on hay bales that lined the green. Watching the ceremony from a park bench, Barbara Bell, 63, of Stow, said she was taking in as much of the weekend's historical offerings as she could. On Saturday, she woke up early to watch the reenactment at Concord's Old North Bridge and this morning she was back for more.

"I was lucky to get a spot," Bell said.

Parents took pictures of their children with Red Coats and colonists. "There aren't too many opportunities to go back in time like this," said Dan Olsen of Arlington, who smiled as he snapped a photograph of his daughters, Alma, 7, and Naomi, 3.

His wife, Susan, said their Patriots Day tradition would continue with a second parade at 2 p.m. in Lexington. The youth parade was just a warm up, she said.

The Olsens, like many early-rising history buffs, said they had no plans for the Boston Marathon.

"There's too much going on over here," she said.

Posted by aryan at 8:39 AM | Comments (0)

April 20, 2008

Wheels Up!

Shepherd One is now airborne, taking Pope Benedict XVI on a 7 1/2 hour flight back to the Vatican.

About 3,000 people, many of them immigrants from around the world, gathered at JFK Aiport in New York to see the pope off.

Vice President Dick Cheney paid tribute to the pope and American Catholics.

"Pope Benedict XVI has stepped into the history of our country in a special way,'' Cheney said.

The pope, in his remarks, reflected on the highlights of his trip, and wished America well.

"These days that I have spent in the United States have been blessed with many memorable experiences of American hospitality, and I wish to express my deep appreciation to all of you for your kind welcome,'' he said. "It has been a joy for me to witness the faith and devotion of the Catholic community here.''

This will be the final dispatch of this pope-visit blog. Thank you for reading, and feel free to send comments to Michael Paulson, the Globe's religion writer. And you can find all of our coverage, including video, here.

Pasted below is the full text of the pope's remarks at the JFK Airport farewell ceremony. Click on "full entry" to read the remarks.

This is the text of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks at the farewell ceremony at JFK Airport Sunday night:

"Mr. Vice-President,
Distinguished Civil Authorities,
My Brother Bishops,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The time has come for me to bid farewell to your country. These days that I have spent in the United States have been blessed with many memorable experiences of American hospitality, and I wish to express my deep appreciation to all of you for your kind welcome. It has been a joy for me to witness the faith and devotion of the Catholic community here. It was heart-warming to spend time with leaders and representatives of other Christian communities and other religions, and I renew my assurances of respect and esteem to all of you. I am grateful to President Bush for kindly coming to greet me at the start of my visit, and I thank Vice-President Cheney for his presence here as I depart. The civic authorities, workers and volunteers in Washington and New York have given generously of their time and resources in order to ensure the smooth progress of my visit at every stage, and for this I express my profound thanks and appreciation to Mayor Adrian Fenty of Washington and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York.

Once again I offer prayerful good wishes to the representatives of the see of Baltimore, the first Archdiocese, and those of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville, in this jubilee year. May the Lord continue to bless you in the years ahead. To all my Brother Bishops, to Bishop DiMarzio of this Diocese of Brooklyn, and to the officers and staff of the Episcopal Conference who have contributed in so many ways to the preparation of this visit, I extend my renewed gratitude for their hard work and dedication. With great affection I greet once more the priests and religious, the deacons, the seminarians and young people, and all the faithful in the United States, and I encourage you to continue bearing joyful witness to Christ our Hope, our Risen Lord and Savior, who makes all things new and gives us life in abundance.

One of the high-points of my visit was the opportunity to address the General Assembly of the United Nations, and I thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his kind invitation and welcome. Looking back over the sixty years that have passed since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I give thanks for all that the Organization has been able to achieve in defending and promoting the fundamental rights of every man, woman and child throughout the world, and I encourage people of good will everywhere to continue working tirelessly to promote justice and peaceful co-existence between peoples and nations.

My visit this morning to Ground Zero will remain firmly etched in my memory, as I continue to pray for those who died and for all who suffer in consequence of the tragedy that occurred there in 2001. For all the people of America, and indeed throughout the world, I pray that the future will bring increased fraternity and solidarity, a growth in mutual respect, and a renewed trust and confidence in God, our heavenly Father.

With these words, I take my leave, I ask you to remember me in your prayers, and I assure you of my affection and friendship in the Lord. May God bless America!"

Posted by mpaulson at 9:01 PM | Comments (0)

Benedict's homily at Yankee Stadium

In Pope Benedict XVI's final homily of this six-day trip to the US, he paid tribute to the 67-million member Catholic Church in the US, which, for all its troubles, remains one of the most vibrant and important in the world.

"Our celebration today is also a sign of the impressive growth which God has given to the church in your country in the past two hundred years,'' Benedict said, while celebrating Mass for 57,000 at Yankee Stadium. "From a small flock like that described in the first reading, the church in America has been built up in fidelity to the twin commandment of love of God and love of neighbor. In this land of freedom and opportunity, the church has united a widely diverse flock in the profession of the faith and, through her many educational, charitable and social works, has also contributed significantly to the growth of American society as a whole."

Benedict repeatedly acknowledged the bicentennials of five American archdioceses, including Boston, during the Mass, and Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston concelebrated the Mass in recognition of the anniversary.

"Today we recall the bicentennial of a watershed in the history of the church in the United States: its first great chapter of growth,'' Benedict said. "In these two hundred years, the face of the Catholic community in your country has changed greatly. We think of the successive waves of immigrants whose traditions have so enriched the church in America. We think of the strong faith which built up the network of churches, educational, healthcare and social institutions which have long been the hallmark of the church in this land. We think also of those countless fathers and mothers who passed on the faith to their children, the steady ministry of the many priests who devoted their lives to the care of souls, and the incalculable contribution made by so many men and women religious, who not only taught generations of children how to read and write, but also inspired in them a lifelong desire to know God, to love him and to serve him."

Although the day had been heavily overcast, the sun broke through during the Mass, and the boisterous crowd was silent throughout the homily, which was interrupted only by the rumble of passing subways.

The pope twice alluded to the church's opposition to abortion, placing it in the context of its charitable works, saying "the Catholic community in this nation has been outstanding in its prophetic witness in the defense of life, in the education of the young, in care for the poor, the sick and the stranger in your midst.'' And then, talking about the importance of "unchanging truths" of Christian faith, he said, "they are the truths which alone can guarantee respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of each man, woman and child in our world -- including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb." The first time the homily was interrupted by applause was when the pope mentioned "the unborn child.''

When the pope finished the homily, the crowd shouted "Viva!" and "Benedetto!" He responded by waving before turning to the profession of faith and the remainder of the Mass. The prayers of the faithful were said in English, Italian, Polish, French, Tagalog, Croation and Igbo, and the pope read several paragraphs of his homily in Spanish, in recognition of the diversity of the Catholic population in this country.

The Mass was the last major event of the pope's six-day trip to the US. From Yankee Stadium, he is to return to Manhattan and then travel to JFK Airport, where a crowd of 3,250, many of them immigrants, are gathering to see him off on his 8:30 p.m. return flight to Rome.

by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

All blog posts on the pope's visit are here.

The full text of the pope's homily is below; click on "full entry.''

This is the homily that Pope Benedict XVI delivered at Yankee Stadium today:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the Gospel we have just heard, Jesus tells his Apostles to put their faith in him, for he is "the way, and the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6). Christ is the way that leads to the Father, the truth which gives meaning to human existence, and the source of that life which is eternal joy with all the saints in his heavenly Kingdom. Let us take the Lord at his word! Let us renew our faith in him and put all our hope in his promises!

With this encouragement to persevere in the faith of Peter (cf. Lk 22:32; Mt 16:17), I greet all of you with great affection. I thank Cardinal Egan for his cordial words of welcome in your name. At this Mass, the Church in the United States celebrates the two hundredth anniversary of the creation of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville from the mother See of Baltimore. The presence around this altar of the Successor of Peter, his brother bishops and priests, and deacons, men and women religious, and lay faithful from throughout the fifty states of the Union, eloquently manifests our communion in the Catholic faith which comes to us from the Apostles.

Our celebration today is also a sign of the impressive growth which God has given to the Church in your country in the past two hundred years. From a small flock like that described in the first reading, the Church in America has been built up in fidelity to the twin commandment of love of God and love of neighbor. In this land of freedom and opportunity, the Church has united a widely diverse flock in the profession of the faith and, through her many educational, charitable and social works, has also contributed significantly to the growth of American society as a whole.

This great accomplishment was not without its challenges. Today's first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, speaks of linguistic and cultural tensions already present within the earliest Church community. At the same time, it shows the power of the word of God, authoritatively proclaimed by the Apostles and received in faith, to create a unity which transcends the divisions arising from human limitations and weakness. Here we are reminded of a fundamental truth: that the Church's unity has no other basis than the Word of God, made flesh in Christ Jesus our Lord. All external signs of identity, all structures, associations and programs, valuable or even essential as they may be, ultimately exist only to support and foster the deeper unity which, in Christ, is God's indefectible gift to his Church.

The first reading also makes clear, as we see from the imposition of hands on the first deacons, that the Church's unity is "apostolic". It is a visible unity, grounded in the Apostles whom Christ chose and appointed as witnesses to his resurrection, and it is born of what the Scriptures call "the obedience of faith" (Rom 1:5; cf. Acts 6:7).

"Authority" … "obedience". To be frank, these are not easy words to speak nowadays. Words like these represent a "stumbling stone" for many of our contemporaries, especially in a society which rightly places a high value on personal freedom. Yet, in the light of our faith in Jesus Christ - "the way and the truth and the life" - we come to see the fullest meaning, value, and indeed beauty, of those words. The Gospel teaches us that true freedom, the freedom of the children of God, is found only in the self-surrender which is part of the mystery of love. Only by losing ourselves, the Lord tells us, do we truly find ourselves (cf. Lk 17:33). True freedom blossoms when we turn away from the burden of sin, which clouds our perceptions and weakens our resolve, and find the source of our ultimate happiness in him who is infinite love, infinite freedom, infinite life. "In his will is our peace".

Real freedom, then, is God's gracious gift, the fruit of conversion to his truth, the truth which makes us free (cf. Jn 8:32). And this freedom in truth brings in its wake a new and liberating way of seeing reality. When we put on "the mind of Christ" (cf. Phil 2:5), new horizons open before us! In the light of faith, within the communion of the Church, we also find the inspiration and strength to become a leaven of the Gospel in the world. We become the light of the world, the salt of the earth (cf. Mt 5:13-14), entrusted with the "apostolate" of making our own lives, and the world in which we live, conform ever more fully to God's saving plan.

This magnificent vision of a world being transformed by the liberating truth of the Gospel is reflected in the description of the Church found in today's second reading. The Apostle tells us that Christ, risen from the dead, is the keystone of a great temple which is even now rising in the Spirit. And we, the members of his body, through Baptism have become "living stones" in that temple, sharing in the life of God by grace, blessed with the freedom of the sons of God, and empowered to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to him (cf. 1 Pet 2:5). And what is this offering which we are called to make, if not to direct our every thought, word and action to the truth of the Gospel and to harness all our energies in the service of God's Kingdom? Only in this way can we build with God, on the one foundation which is Christ (cf. 1 Cor 3:11). Only in this way can we build something that will truly endure. Only in this way can our lives find ultimate meaning and bear lasting fruit.

Today we recall the bicentennial of a watershed in the history of the Church in the United States: its first great chapter of growth. In these two hundred years, the face of the Catholic community in your country has changed greatly. We think of the successive waves of immigrants whose traditions have so enriched the Church in America. We think of the strong faith which built up the network of churches, educational, healthcare and social institutions which have long been the hallmark of the Church in this land. We think also of those countless fathers and mothers who passed on the faith to their children, the steady ministry of the many priests who devoted their lives to the care of souls, and the incalculable contribution made by so many men and women religious, who not only taught generations of children how to read and write, but also inspired in them a lifelong desire to know God, to love him and to serve him. How many "spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God" have been offered up in these two centuries! In this land of religious liberty, Catholics found freedom not only to practice their faith, but also to participate fully in civic life, bringing their deepest moral convictions to the public square and cooperating with their neighbors in shaping a vibrant, democratic society. Today's celebration is more than an occasion of gratitude for graces received. It is also a summons to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations.

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people he claims for his own, to proclaim his glorious works" (1 Pet 2:9). These words of the Apostle Peter do not simply remind us of the dignity which is ours by God's grace; they also challenge us to an ever greater fidelity to the glorious inheritance which we have received in Christ (cf. Eph 1:18). They challenge us to examine our consciences, to purify our hearts, to renew our baptismal commitment to reject Satan and all his empty promises. They challenge us to be a people of joy, heralds of the unfailing hope (cf. Rom 5:5) born of faith in God's word, and trust in his promises.

Each day, throughout this land, you and so many of your neighbors pray to the Father in the Lord's own words: "Thy Kingdom come". This prayer needs to shape the mind and heart of every Christian in this nation. It needs to bear fruit in the way you lead your lives and in the way you build up your families and your communities. It needs to create new "settings of hope" (cf. Spe Salvi, 32ff.) where God's Kingdom becomes present in all its saving power.

Praying fervently for the coming of the Kingdom also means being constantly alert for the signs of its presence, and working for its growth in every sector of society. It means facing the challenges of present and future with confidence in Christ's victory and a commitment to extending his reign. It means not losing heart in the face of resistance, adversity and scandal. It means overcoming every separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy between faith and political life, since, as the Second Vatican Council put it, "there is no human activity - even in secular affairs - which can be withdrawn from God's dominion" (Lumen Gentium, 36). It means working to enrich American society and culture with the beauty and truth of the Gospel, and never losing sight of that great hope which gives meaning and value to all the other hopes which inspire our lives.

And this, dear friends, is the particular challenge which the Successor of Saint Peter sets before you today. As "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation", follow faithfully in the footsteps of those who have gone before you! Hasten the coming of God's Kingdom in this land! Past generations have left you an impressive legacy. In our day too, the Catholic community in this nation has been outstanding in its prophetic witness in the defense of life, in the education of the young, in care for the poor, the sick and the stranger in your midst. On these solid foundations, the future of the Church in America must even now begin to rise!

Yesterday, not far from here, I was moved by the joy, the hope and the generous love of Christ which I saw on the faces of the many young people assembled in Dunwoodie. They are the Church's future, and they deserve all the prayer and support that you can give them. And so I wish to close by adding a special word of encouragement to them. My dear young friends, like the seven men, "filled with the Spirit and wisdom" whom the Apostles charged with care for the young Church, may you step forward and take up the responsibility which your faith in Christ sets before you! May you find the courage to proclaim Christ, "the same, yesterday, and today and for ever" and the unchanging truths which have their foundation in him (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10; Heb 13:8). These are the truths that set us free! They are the truths which alone can guarantee respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of each man, woman and child in our world - including the most defenseless of all human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb. In a world where, as Pope John Paul II, speaking in this very place, reminded us, Lazarus continues to stand at our door (Homily at Yankee Stadium, October 2, 1979, No. 7), let your faith and love bear rich fruit in outreach to the poor, the needy and those without a voice. Young men and women of America, I urge you: open your hearts to the Lord's call to follow him in the priesthood and the religious life. Can there be any greater mark of love than this: to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who was willing to lay down his life for his friends (cf. Jn 15:13)?

In today's Gospel, the Lord promises his disciples that they will perform works even greater than his (cf. Jn 14:12). Dear friends, only God in his providence knows what works his grace has yet to bring forth in your lives and in the life of the Church in the United States. Yet Christ's promise fills us with sure hope. Let us now join our prayers to his, as living stones in that spiritual temple which is his one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Let us lift our eyes to him, for even now he is preparing for us a place in his Father's house. And empowered by his Holy Spirit, let us work with renewed zeal for the spread of his Kingdom.

"Happy are you who believe!" (cf. 1 Pet 2:7). Let us turn to Jesus! He alone is the way that leads to eternal happiness, the truth who satisfies the deepest longings of every heart, and the life who brings ever new joy and hope, to us and to our world. Amen.

* * *

Queridos hermanos y hermanas en el Señor:

Les saludo con afecto y me alegro de celebrar esta Santa Misa para dar gracias a Dios por el bicentenario del momento en que empezó a desarrollarse la Iglesia Católica en esta Nación. Al mirar el camino de fe recorrido en estos años, no exento también de dificultades, alabamos al Señor por los frutos que la Palabra de Dios ha dado en estas tierras y le manifestamos nuestro deseo de que Cristo, Camino, Verdad y Vida, sea cada vez más conocido y amado.

Aquí, en este País de libertad, quiero proclamar con fuerza que la Palabra de Cristo no elimina nuestras aspiraciones a una vida plena y libre, sino que nos descubre nuestra verdadera dignidad de hijos de Dios y nos alienta a luchar contra todo aquello que nos esclaviza, empezando por nuestro propio egoísmo y caprichos. Al mismo tiempo, nos anima a manifestar nuestra fe a través de nuestra vida de caridad y a hacer que nuestras comunidades eclesiales sean cada día más acogedoras y fraternas.

Sobre todo a los jóvenes les confío asumir el gran reto que entraña creer en Cristo y lograr que esa fe se manifieste en una cercanía efectiva hacia los pobres. También en una respuesta generosa a las llamadas que Él sigue formulando para dejarlo todo y emprender una vida de total consagración a Dios y a la Iglesia, en la vida sacerdotal o religiosa.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, les invito a mirar el futuro con esperanza, permitiendo que Jesús entre en sus vidas. Solamente Él es el camino que conduce a la felicidad que no acaba, la verdad que satisface las más nobles expectativas humanas y la vida colmada de gozo para bien de la Iglesia y el mundo. Que Dios les bendiga."

Posted by mpaulson at 3:41 PM | Comments (0)

The scene in the stands

Globe reporter Tania deLuzuriaga is embedded with the Boston pilgrims at Yankee Stadium; she was barred from bringing a laptop inside but banged out this dispatch on her BlackBerry:

Mass is about to start here in Yankee Stadium and there's an aura of anticipation in the air.

The bishops are filing in and most everyone is seated.

We arrived just before noon, after waiting in the security line for 40 minutes. Chaos ensued as people looking for their seats converged with those looking for the bathroom or a snack. Yes, while it was prohibited to bring food, among other things, into the stadium, the concessions are in full operation, a prospect that may enable some to celebrate their first Mass while eating popcorn.

The seats for the Archdiocese of Boston are located in an upper tier of the park, but right behind home plate.

"They're great seats," said Tim Higgins of Easton, who is attending the Mass with his wife and two children. "The archdiocese really took care of us."

The crowd is tremendously diverse. Knights of Columbus in feathered chapeaus and satin capes wander by girls in tight jeans and flip flops. And senior citizens in their Sunday best rub elbows with priests in black cassocks and men in Yankees windbreakers.

"It's all different people, and all different languages," said Philomene Pean, a Haitian immigrant who lives in Everett. "It's amazing."

By Tania deLuzuriaga, Globe Staff

To read all of our dispatches about the papal trip, click here.

Posted by mpaulson at 2:38 PM | Comments (0)

The scene at Yankee Stadium

For the third time in history, a pope today will celebrate Mass at Yankee Stadium, and the crowd is huge and exuberant.

The crowd of 57,000, many of whom have been here since 9 a.m., was entertained by Stephanie Mills, singing songs from "The Wiz" as well as Supremes covers, and Harry Connick Jr., who said that now, when he's asked whether he's a practicing Catholic, he can say, "I can't practice any better than this -- I'm playing for the pope!" After the singing, the perimeter of the field was surrounded by young men and women clad in white, holding aloft giant, fluttering, paper birds. There are also a variety of high school bands and several choirs performing as priests process onto the infield.

The stage set for the liturgy is spectacular -- a diamond of white, yellow, and purple constructed over the infield, with yellow and white ribbons billowing inward toward the pitcher's mound, above which the papal crest is suspended. The flower-bedecked sanctuary rises just above second base; the gold and red seal of Pope Benedict XVI is hanging over a throne from which the pope will preside. The outfield is being unused. It's overcast and in the high 50s here.

Most of the worshipers in the stands got tickets through parishes in New York and four other archdioceses that are marking bicentennials this year, Baltimore, Boston, Louisville, and Philadelphia. The crests of those dioceses are hanging in the stadium, and their archbishops, including Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, will concelebrate the Mass. Those dioceses also got extra allocations of tickets for the Mass, and there are 3,000 Bostonians here.

The stadium is surrounded by security. I came in on a press bus from Manhattan, and as we were escorted by police through the perimeter, we could see that the streets around the stadium are barricaded with orange dumptrucks weighed down with sand. There are heavily armed security personnel outside and inside the stadium. Security closed off the stadium at 1 p.m., and said they wouldn't allow anyone in starting 90 minutes before the Mass.

The crowd is shouting, waving, and screaming as the pope prepares to enter the field in his popemobile, and the Mass will begin shortly.

This is the third papal Mass at Yankee Stadium -- which the Yankees say is a record for any US venue. Pope Paul VI said Mass here in 1965, and Pope John Paul II in 1979 (that was also the year he visited Boston).

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

To read all of our dispatches about the papal trip, click here.

Posted by mpaulson at 2:02 PM | Comments (0)

Steinbrenner speaks

Greetings from Yankee Stadium. Your intrepid correspondent was welcomed to the press box by a Yankees official who, upon hearing I worked for the Boston Globe, immediately blurted out, "I'm sorry.'' And then (and I am not making this up) the Yankees press staff handed me a statement on the pope from George Steinbrenner.

Just to show how objective I can be, here's what The Boss has to say: "The visit by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is wonderful for New York, our nation, and indeed the world. His message of brotherhood rings loud and clear. We welcome him to Yankee Stadium with respect, reverence and enthusiasm.''

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

To read all of our dispatches about the papal trip, click here.

Posted by mpaulson at 1:39 PM | Comments (0)

Report from ground zero

NEW YORK -- Eighty feet below street level, surrounded by cranes, backhoes, pipes, and jagged rock, Pope Benedict XVI clasped the hands of survivors and relatives of those killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and asked God to "bring peace to our violent world."

Commemorating the dead where the World Trade Center once stood, the 81-year-old pontiff said not a word, save for his prayer for peace. The 30-minute ceremony was as brief as it was stark.

As a thick, cold fog shrouded lower Manhattan, the pope’s bullet-proof Mercedes descended to ground zero, down a ramp lined with the flags of the Vatican, New York City, New York State, New Jersey, and the Port Authority. At the base of the pit, a small crowd was assembled, including 16 relatives of the dead as well as a handful of city and Port Authority police officers and firefighters who had responded to the attacks.

Emerging from his vehicle wearing a white overcoat to stave off the cold, the pope walked into the center of the crowd. Silently, he knelt and prayed at a gold and white kneeler set before a pool of water and gravel. Then he lit a candle emblazoned with the papal seal and spoke his prayer aloud.

"God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world, peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth," he said, in part. "Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred."

After the prayer, the pope sprinkled holy water in four directions, blessing the site. Then Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York introduced the guests to the pope, one by one. They were men and women, with the officers in dress blues. Many knelt and kissed the pope’s ring or clasped his hands and spoke.

"Today was an incredible experience to get to actually talk to the pope and ask him to bless the ground that we’re on, because we lost so many beautiful people that day," said Salvatore Cassano, a New York City firefighter who is now chief of department and was incident commander on Sept. 11.

Casssano, who is 63 and a 39-year veteran of the department, said he kissed the pope’s ring and the pope told him: "God bless you and God bless the department."

"That was really important for us," he said in an interview afterward. "We suffered so many heavy losses, it was nice to get the personal blessing from the pope, directly, for the people that we lost and the people that are still helping to protect the city."

Desiree Gerasimovich of New Jersey, whose sister, Pamela Boyce, was working on the 92d floor of Tower One and was killed in the attack, also met the pope and kissed his ring. She called it a "wonderful moment, a surreal moment."

"I don’t know if you ever find closure, but days like this make it a little bit better," she said afterward. "A lot of people are trying to embrace this new pope, because everybody just knows John Paul, and him coming to this site and being here in New York shows how close he is to the people."

The Archdiocese of New York gave each of the 24 people who met the pope a rough-hewn cross made from steel salvaged from the towers and a white candle emblazoned with a papal seal.

"It was very moving in many ways," said Carter Brey, the principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic, who played Bach suites as the pope entered ground zero. "It was moving to be down there. It was moving to be near the families of the victims. It was a little bit surreal, as well, to be in such close proximity to the pope. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

In addition to the relatives and survivors, cardinal and politicans witnessed the blessing. They included Governors Jon Corzine of New Jersey and David A. Paterson of New York and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York. All seemed moved.

"This was a very important moment for all New Yorkers," Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said afterward. "This is sacred ground for New York and of course to have the pope visit it was very, very special for all of us, not just the people of the Catholic faith."

-- by Michael Levenson, Globe Staff.

We'll be blogging all day right here.

To read the full text of the pope's blessing at ground zero, click on "full entry."

This is the full text of the blessing Pope Benedict XVI offered at ground zero this morning:

"O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.

We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here-
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all."

Posted by mpaulson at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)

From the Road: The singing girls of St. Ann's Parish

Globe reporter Tania deLuzuriaga is embedded with a busload of about 40 pilgrims who left Boston early this morning to attend this afternoon's papal Mass at Yankee Stadium. Here's her first dispatch:

HEADING SOUTHWEST ON I-84 -- Some are dozing, others are reading, and the girls from St. Ann parish in Dorchester are singing along with the Von Trapp family “Doe -- a deer, a female deer…” as "The Sound of Music" plays aboard our bus headed for the Bronx.

Two buses chartered by the Catholic Foundation left Boston College High School at 6:30 this morning, loaded down with weary travelers and seemingly enough food to feed most of Yankee Stadium. Before departing, the Rev. Thomas S. Foley, the pastor at St. Ann’s, led the group in a prayer for a safe journey. “May it be a wonderful experience in faith,” he said. Foley, who did not make the trip, left the bus with a shout of “Vive el Papa!”

A congenial atmosphere took root as soon as we boarded the bus, with strangers swapping stories and sharing snacks. The girls from St. Ann’s, many of whom spent the night together at a sleepover, are a bit sleep-deprived and giddy about their big day, which may explain why they spontaneously broke out in the song, “Our God is an Awesome God” complete with the corresponding sign language, about a half-hour into the trip.

“I slept five hours last night,” said Rae-Anna Muise, 13, of Dorchester, who was lying across two seats flipping through a Seventeen magazine with her friend Michelle Olson, 14, sitting on top of her.

While the girls' giggles and singing dominate the back of the bus, it’s much quieter up front where most people are dozing or reading. Clara Garcia has been knitting most of the trip. The 60-year-old Guatemalan immigrant said she’s excited about the prospect of her first papal Mass.

“I didn’t think I had any chance of getting tickets,” said Garcia, who attends St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Jamaica Plain.

But while the mood on the bus is somewhat subdued, many expect that to change once we arrive.

“I think once we get there it’s going to be a different thing,” Garcia said. “I think I’ll feel something very heavy inside that’s going to make me a better person.”

We'll be blogging all day right here.

Posted by mpaulson at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)

The scene at ground zero

NEW YORK -- Rusted metal pipes. Backhoes. Cranes. Construction trailers. Buckets of concrete. Very little has been done to dress up ground zero in preparation for Pope Benedict XVI, who is due to arrive here at 9:30 a.m. for a stark and somber prayer service.

A thick, cool fog is hanging over lower Manhattan, shrouding the tops of the skyscrapers. Ground zero is a construction site -- an approximately four-story-deep pit of jumbled rock and concrete, dark, grey puddles, and backhoes. To one side, a small area has been marked with orange cones. A tarp there is covering, for now, a pool of water and raw earth where the pope plans to kneel and pray. He then plans to light a candle and sprinkle holy water on the site.

A group of 20 -- survivors and relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, as well as police and firefighters who responded to the attacks -- will then light candles from the pope’s candle and receive his blessing. No remarks are planned and the staging will bring the pope face to face with the rawness of the tragedy.

This event is the first of two major public events today, the sixth and final day of Pope Benedict XVI's trip the United States. The pope will also say Mass for nearly 60,000 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Benedict then departs for Rome tonight after a departure ceremony at John F. Kennedy International airport.

The Globe has four journalists covering the pope today. Michael Levenson is at ground zero, Michael Paulson is at Yankee Stadium. And we've embedded reporter Tania deLuzuriaga and photographer Dominic Chavez on a bus with some of the 3,000 pilgrims from Boston heading to the stadium Mass; Tania is going to attempt our first Blackberry blogging, since it sounds like she's going to be barred from carrying a laptop into the stadium. This item was written by Levenson. We'll be blogging all day right here.

Good morning.

Posted by mpaulson at 7:52 AM | Comments (0)

April 19, 2008

Benedict's address at Dunwoodie

Pope Benedict XVI has wrapped up a boisterous rally with 25,000 seminarians and young people at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, and is now heading back into New York City, where he will spend the night at the Upper East Side residence of his ambassador to the UN.

On Sunday, the final day of his six-day trip to the US, he is planning to pray at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, and then to celebrate Mass for 57,000, including 3,000 Bostonians, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston will be a concelebrant of the Mass, in recognition of the fact that this year marks the bicentennial of the Archdiocese of Boston.

And then, at about 8 p.m., before a crowd of about 3,000, Benedict is to board Shepherd One at JFK airport for the long flight back to Rome.

Below is the full text of the pope's address at Dunwoodie, as the seminary is often called because of the section of Yonkers in which it is located. To read the text, click on "full entry.''

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

The text of Pope Benedict XVI's address to seminarians

"Your Eminence,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Young Friends,
"Proclaim the Lord Christ … and always have your answer ready for people who ask the reason for the hope that is within you" (1 Pet 3:15). With these words from the First Letter of Peter I greet each of you with heartfelt affection. I thank Cardinal Egan for his kind words of welcome and I also thank the representatives chosen from among you for their gestures of welcome. To Bishop Walsh, Rector of Saint Joseph Seminary, staff and seminarians, I offer my special greetings and gratitude.

Young friends, I am very happy to have the opportunity to speak with you. Please pass on my warm greetings to your family members and relatives, and to the teachers and staff of the various schools, colleges and universities you attend. I know that many people have worked hard to ensure that our gathering could take place. I am most grateful to them all. Also, I wish to acknowledge your singing to me Happy Birthday! Thank you for this moving gesture; I give you all an "A plus" for your German pronunciation! This evening I wish to share with you some thoughts about being disciples of Jesus Christ ? walking in the Lord's footsteps, our own lives become a journey of hope.

In front of you are the images of six ordinary men and women who grew up to lead extraordinary lives. The Church honors them as Venerable, Blessed, or Saint: each responded to the Lord's call to a life of charity and each served him here, in the alleys, streets and suburbs of New York. I am struck by what a remarkably diverse group they are: poor and rich, lay men and women - one a wealthy wife and mother - priests and sisters, immigrants from afar, the daughter of a Mohawk warrior father and Algonquin mother, another a Haitian slave, and a Cuban intellectual.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Padre Felix Varela: any one of us could be among them, for there is no stereotype to this group, no single mold. Yet a closer look reveals that there are common elements. Inflamed with the love of Jesus, their lives became remarkable journeys of hope. For some, that meant leaving home and embarking on a pilgrim journey of thousands of miles. For each there was an act of abandonment to God, in the confidence that he is the final destination of every pilgrim. And all offered an outstretched hand of hope to those they encountered along the way, often awakening in them a life of faith. Through orphanages, schools and hospitals, by befriending the poor, the sick and the marginalized, and through the compelling witness that comes from walking humbly in the footsteps of Jesus, these six people laid open the way of faith, hope and charity to countless individuals, including perhaps your own ancestors.

And what of today? Who bears witness to the Good News of Jesus on the streets of New York, in the troubled neighborhoods of large cities, in the places where the young gather, seeking someone in whom they can trust? God is our origin and our destination, and Jesus the way. The path of that journey twists and turns ? just as it did for our saints ? through the joys and the trials of ordinary, everyday life: within your families, at school or college, during your recreation activities, and in your parish communities. All these places are marked by the culture in which you are growing up. As young Americans you are offered many opportunities for personal development, and you are brought up with a sense of generosity, service and fairness. Yet you do not need me to tell you that there are also difficulties: activities and mindsets which stifle hope, pathways which seem to lead to happiness and fulfillment but in fact end only in confusion and fear.

My own years as a teenager were marred by a sinister regime that thought it had all the answers; its influence grew - infiltrating schools and civic bodies, as well as politics and even religion - before it was fully recognized for the monster it was. It banished God and thus became impervious to anything true and good. Many of your grandparents and great-grandparents will have recounted the horror of the destruction that ensued. Indeed, some of them came to America precisely to escape such terror.

Let us thank God that today many people of your generation are able to enjoy the liberties which have arisen through the extension of democracy and respect for human rights. Let us thank God for all those who strive to ensure that you can grow up in an environment that nurtures what is beautiful, good, and true: your parents and grandparents, your teachers and priests, those civic leaders who seek what is right and just.

The power to destroy does, however, remain. To pretend otherwise would be to fool ourselves. Yet, it never triumphs; it is defeated. This is the essence of the hope that defines us as Christians; and the Church recalls this most dramatically during the Easter Triduum and celebrates it with great joy in the season of Easter! The One who shows us the way beyond death is the One who shows us how to overcome destruction and fear: thus it is Jesus who is the true teacher of life (cf. Spe Salvi, 6). His death and resurrection mean that we can say to the Father "you have restored us to life!" (Prayer after Communion, Good Friday). And so, just a few weeks ago, during the beautiful Easter Vigil liturgy, it was not from despair or fear that we cried out to God for our world, but with hope-filled confidence: dispel the darkness of our heart! dispel the darkness of our minds! (cf. Prayer at the Lighting of the Easter Candle).

What might that darkness be? What happens when people, especially the most vulnerable, encounter a clenched fist of repression or manipulation rather than a hand of hope? A first group of examples pertains to the heart. Here, the dreams and longings that young people pursue can so easily be shattered or destroyed. I am thinking of those affected by drug and substance abuse, homelessness and poverty, racism, violence, and degradation - especially of girls and women. While the causes of these problems are complex, all have in common a poisoned attitude of mind which results in people being treated as mere objects ? a callousness of heart takes hold which first ignores, then ridicules, the God-given dignity of every human being. Such tragedies also point to what might have been and what could be, were there other hands - your hands - reaching out. I encourage you to invite others, especially the vulnerable and the innocent, to join you along the way of goodness and hope.

The second area of darkness - that which affects the mind - often goes unnoticed, and for this reason is particularly sinister. The manipulation of truth distorts our perception of reality, and tarnishes our imagination and aspirations. I have already mentioned the many liberties which you are fortunate enough to enjoy. The fundamental importance of freedom must be rigorously safeguarded. It is no surprise then that numerous individuals and groups vociferously claim their freedom in the public forum. Yet freedom is a delicate value. It can be misunderstood or misused so as to lead not to the happiness which we all expect it to yield, but to a dark arena of manipulation in which our understanding of self and the world becomes confused, or even distorted by those who have an ulterior agenda.

Have you noticed how often the call for freedom is made without ever referring to the truth of the human person? Some today argue that respect for freedom of the individual makes it wrong to seek truth, including the truth about what is good. In some circles to speak of truth is seen as controversial or divisive, and consequently best kept in the private sphere. And in truth's place - or better said its absence - an idea has spread which, in giving value to everything indiscriminately, claims to assure freedom and to liberate conscience. This we call relativism. But what purpose has a "freedom" which, in disregarding truth, pursues what is false or wrong? How many young people have been offered a hand which in the name of freedom or experience has led them to addiction, to moral or intellectual confusion, to hurt, to a loss of self-respect, even to despair and so tragically and sadly to the taking of their own life? Dear friends, truth is not an imposition. Nor is it simply a set of rules. It is a discovery of the One who never fails us; the One whom we can always trust. In seeking truth we come to live by belief because ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ. That is why authentic freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in; nothing less than letting go of self and allowing oneself to be drawn into Christ's very being for others (cf. Spe Salvi, 28).

How then can we as believers help others to walk the path of freedom which brings fulfillment and lasting happiness? Let us again turn to the saints. How did their witness truly free others from the darkness of heart and mind? The answer is found in the kernel of their faith; the kernel of our faith. The Incarnation, the birth of Jesus, tells us that God does indeed find a place among us. Though the inn is full, he enters through the stable, and there are people who see his light. They recognize Herod's dark closed world for what it is, and instead follow the bright guiding star of the night sky. And what shines forth? Here you might recall the prayer uttered on the most holy night of Easter: "Father we share in the light of your glory through your Son the light of the world … inflame us with your hope!" (Blessing of the Fire). And so, in solemn procession with our lighted candles we pass the light of Christ among us. It is "the light which dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride" (Exsultet). This is Christ's light at work. This is the way of the saints. It is a magnificent vision of hope - Christ's light beckons you to be guiding stars for others, walking Christ's way of forgiveness, reconciliation, humility, joy and peace.

At times, however, we are tempted to close in on ourselves, to doubt the strength of Christ's radiance, to limit the horizon of hope. Take courage! Fix your gaze on our saints. The diversity of their experience of God's presence prompts us to discover anew the breadth and depth of Christianity. Let your imaginations soar freely along the limitless expanse of the horizons of Christian discipleship. Sometimes we are looked upon as people who speak only of prohibitions. Nothing could be further from the truth! Authentic Christian discipleship is marked by a sense of wonder. We stand before the God we know and love as a friend, the vastness of his creation, and the beauty of our Christian faith.

Dear friends, the example of the saints invites us, then, to consider four essential aspects of the treasure of our faith: personal prayer and silence, liturgical prayer, charity in action, and vocations.

What matters most is that you develop your personal relationship with God. That relationship is expressed in prayer. God by his very nature speaks, hears, and replies. Indeed, Saint Paul reminds us: we can and should "pray constantly" (1 Thess 5:17). Far from turning in on ourselves or withdrawing from the ups and downs of life, by praying we turn towards God and through him to each other, including the marginalized and those following ways other than God's path (cf. Spe Salvi, 33). As the saints teach us so vividly, prayer becomes hope in action. Christ was their constant companion, with whom they conversed at every step of their journey for others.

There is another aspect of prayer which we need to remember: silent contemplation. Saint John, for example, tells us that to embrace God's revelation we must first listen, then respond by proclaiming what we have heard and seen (cf. 1 Jn 1:2-3; Dei Verbum, 1). Have we perhaps lost something of the art of listening? Do you leave space to hear God's whisper, calling you forth into goodness? Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey as an unfolding of holiness.

In the liturgy we find the whole Church at prayer. The word liturgy means the participation of God's people in "the work of Christ the Priest and of His Body which is the Church" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7). What is that work? First of all it refers to Christ's Passion, his Death and Resurrection, and his Ascension - what we call the Paschal Mystery. It also refers to the celebration of the liturgy itself. The two meanings are in fact inseparably linked because this "work of Jesus" is the real content of the liturgy. Through the liturgy, the "work of Jesus" is continually brought into contact with history; with our lives in order to shape them. Here we catch another glimpse of the grandeur of our Christian faith. Whenever you gather for Mass, when you go to Confession, whenever you celebrate any of the sacraments, Jesus is at work. Through the Holy Spirit, he draws you to himself, into his sacrificial love of the Father which becomes love for all. We see then that the Church's liturgy is a ministry of hope for humanity. Your faithful participation, is an active hope which helps to keep the world - saints and sinners alike - open to God; this is the truly human hope we offer everyone (cf. Spe Salvi, 34).

Your personal prayer, your times of silent contemplation, and your participation in the Church's liturgy, bring you closer to God and also prepare you to serve others. The saints accompanying us this evening show us that the life of faith and hope is also a life of charity. Contemplating Jesus on the Cross we see love in its most radical form. We can begin to imagine the path of love along which we must move (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 12). The opportunities to make this journey are abundant. Look about you with Christ's eyes, listen with his ears, feel and think with his heart and mind. Are you ready to give all as he did for truth and justice? Many of the examples of the suffering which our saints responded to with compassion are still found here in this city and beyond. And new injustices have arisen: some are complex and stem from the exploitation of the heart and manipulation of the mind; even our common habitat, the earth itself, groans under the weight of consumerist greed and irresponsible exploitation. We must listen deeply. We must respond with a renewed social action that stems from the universal love that knows no bounds. In this way, we ensure that our works of mercy and justice become hope in action for others.

Dear young people, finally I wish to share a word about vocations. First of all my thoughts go to your parents, grandparents and godparents. They have been your primary educators in the faith. By presenting you for baptism, they made it possible for you to receive the greatest gift of your life. On that day you entered into the holiness of God himself. You became adoptive sons and daughters of the Father. You were incorporated into Christ. You were made a dwelling place of his Spirit. Let us pray for mothers and fathers throughout the world, particularly those who may be struggling in any way - socially, materially, spiritually. Let us honor the vocation of matrimony and the dignity of family life. Let us always appreciate that it is in families that vocations are given life.

Gathered here at Saint Joseph Seminary, I greet the seminarians present and indeed encourage all seminarians throughout America. I am glad to know that your numbers are increasing! The People of God look to you to be holy priests, on a daily journey of conversion, inspiring in others the desire to enter more deeply into the ecclesial life of believers. I urge you to deepen your friendship with Jesus the Good Shepherd. Talk heart to heart with him. Reject any temptation to ostentation, careerism, or conceit. Strive for a pattern of life truly marked by charity, chastity and humility, in imitation of Christ, the Eternal High Priest, of whom you are to become living icons (cf. Pastores Dabo Vobis, 33). Dear seminarians, I pray for you daily. Remember that what counts before the Lord is to dwell in his love and to make his love shine forth for others.

Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests contribute greatly to the mission of the Church. Their prophetic witness is marked by a profound conviction of the primacy with which the Gospel shapes Christian life and transforms society. Today, I wish to draw your attention to the positive spiritual renewal which Congregations are undertaking in relation to their charism. The word charism means a gift freely and graciously given. Charisms are bestowed by the Holy Spirit, who inspires founders and foundresses, and shapes Congregations with a subsequent spiritual heritage. The wondrous array of charisms proper to each Religious Institute is an extraordinary spiritual treasury. Indeed, the history of the Church is perhaps most beautifully portrayed through the history of her schools of spirituality, most of which stem from the saintly lives of founders and foundresses. Through the discovery of charisms, which yield such a breadth of spiritual wisdom, I am sure that some of you young people will be drawn to a life of apostolic or contemplative service. Do not be shy to speak with Religious Brothers, Sisters or Priests about the charism and spirituality of their Congregation. No perfect community exists, but it is fidelity to a founding charism, not to particular individuals, that the Lord calls you to discern. Have courage! You too can make your life a gift of self for the love of the Lord Jesus and, in him, of every member of the human family (cf. Vita Consecrata, 3).

Friends, again I ask you, what about today? What are you seeking? What is God whispering to you? The hope which never disappoints is Jesus Christ. The saints show us the selfless love of his way. As disciples of Christ, their extraordinary journeys unfolded within the community of hope, which is the Church. It is from within the Church that you too will find the courage and support to walk the way of the Lord. Nourished by personal prayer, prompted in silence, shaped by the Church's liturgy you will discover the particular vocation God has for you. Embrace it with joy. You are Christ's disciples today. Shine his light upon this great city and beyond. Show the world the reason for the hope that resonates within you. Tell others about the truth that sets you free. With these sentiments of great hope in you I bid you farewell, until we meet again in Sydney this July for World Youth Day! And as a pledge of my love for you and your families, I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing.

* * *
Queridos Seminaristas, queridos jóvenes:

Es para mí una gran alegría poder encontrarme con todos ustedes en este día de mi cumpleaños. Gracias por su acogida y por el cariño que me han demostrado.

Les animo a abrirle al Señor su corazón para que Él lo llene por completo y con el fuego de su amor lleven su Evangelio a todos los barrios de Nueva York.

La luz de la fe les impulsará a responder al mal con el bien y la santidad de vida, como lo hicieron los grandes testigos del Evangelio a lo largo de los siglos. Ustedes están llamados a continuar esa cadena de amigos de Jesús, que encontraron en su amor el gran tesoro de sus vidas. Cultiven esta amistad a través de la oración, tanto personal como litúrgica, y por medio de las obras de caridad y del compromiso por ayudar a los más necesitados. Si no lo han hecho, plantéense seriamente si el Señor les pide seguirlo de un modo radical en el ministerio sacerdotal o en la vida consagrada. No basta una relación esporádica con Cristo. Una amistad así no es tal. Cristo les quiere amigos suyos íntimos, fieles y perseverantes.

A la vez que les renuevo mi invitación a participar en la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud en Sidney, les aseguro mi recuerdo en la oración, en la que suplico a Dios que los haga auténticos discípulos de Cristo Resucitado. Muchas gracias."

Posted by mpaulson at 7:15 PM | Comments (0)

Cardinal O'Malley recounts meeting with the pope

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley grew emotional today as he recounted to reporters the dramatic and unprecedented meeting earlier this week between Pope Benedict XVI and five people from Boston who had been sexually abused by priests.

Asked how difficult the meeting was for him personally, O’Malley paused for a long moment and appeared to tear up.

“Just seeing the book makes a great impact,” he said, referring to a handmade book he gave the pontiff listing the names of nearly 1,500 alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. As the pope slowly turned the pages, the cardinal mentioned that some of the victims died from suicide or drug abuse.

“I know the Holy Father was touched by it as well,” he said, speaking at a news conference at Boston College’s Silvio O. Conte Forum where the Boston Catholic Men’s Conference was held today.

By Tania deLuzuriaga, Globe Staff

O’Malley, who has personally met with hundreds of Boston-area abuse victims, quietly brokered the historic meeting, writing three times to the Vatican to request the audience in the months after Benedict decided not to visit Boston during this week's trip to the United States.

“I was anxious to dispel the idea that the Holy Father was avoiding coming to Boston because of the sex abuse crisis,” O’Malley said. “I also wanted him to appreciate that this is such a serious issue and we needed to hear from him about this.”

While a defining moment of Benedict's trip to the United States, it remains to be seen whether the meeting marks a turning point in the church's posture toward the abuse crisis. Asked what lies ahead for the Boston Archdiocese, O’Malley said he hopes that people who are concerned about the safety of children will “see us as allies.”

“The sexual abuse problem is not something that’s just a Catholic problem or a church problem, it’s a human problem,” O’Malley said. “Certainly, the fact that the church dealt with it so poorly in the past was the scandal. But I’d like to think that our Catholic people now are sensitized and working very hard to try and bring about reconciliation and to make our church just the safest place possible.”

Posted by mfinucane at 6:51 PM | Comments (0)

The scene at Dunwoodie

Pope Benedict XVI is now out at St. Joseph's Seminary, in the Dunwoodie section of Yonkers, where he is attending a rally with thousands of seminarians and young people. Globe reporter Michael Levenson is there, too, and sends this report:

From a distance, the rally resembled a rock concert -- tens of thousands of youth gathered in a sun-splashed field. They were packed in elbow-to-elbow in many places. There were concession stands selling chicken fingers and French fries and bottled water. The teens were splayed out on towels and beach blankets. They wore T-shirts emblazoned with messages such as "JC Rules" and "Christ Our Hope."

They all faced a giant concert-style stage set. The stage was framed by two Jumbotron-style screens, two giant white flags printed with the Vatican seal. And the stage was backed by a giant portrait of Christ ascending, giving off rays of light.

The teens danced and sang as musical acts performed. They included the Rev. Stan Fortuna, a Fransciscan friar who played electric guitar, sang Catholic-themed pop songs and led the exuberant crowd in chants of "Benedetto! Benedetto!" and "Christ Our Lord! Christ Our Lord!" The MC was the comedian Mo Rocca, who had audience members cheer when he called out their countries -- Czech Republic! El Salvador! The biggest star was American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, who performed her hits as well a spiritual number called "Up To The Mountain."

"It's really empowering to see youth -- especially from across the nation come together for a cause," said Sarah Doyle, 18, of Worcester, Mass., who was one of 45 Boston University students who made the pilgrimage to the event in matching red T-shirts. "Especially as a freshman, it's very encouraging."

"It's such a blessing to see that our church is this strong," said Leo Gameng, 21, a BU junior from Chicago. "All the young people here are showing we believe in our God and our Heavenly Father."

"It's packed for the right reason," said Veronica Checo, 18, of Brooklyn, who was with a group of Brooklyn youth all wearing T-shirts that read "Too Blessed to Be Stressed." Her friend, Tito Gary, nodded and chimed in, "Packed for Christ,"

"It's amazing. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience right now. It's so many people joining together. It's wonderful," said Jen Churik, 17, of Long Island.

As the crowd waited for Benedict, the Jumbotron screens showed an educational video about Catholic teachings on marriage.

At 5:15 p.m, the pope arrived, ferried in the popemobile around the perimeter of the field. As organ music filled the air, the youngsters cheered and waved yellow and white kerchiefs -- the Vatican colors. The pope smiled and waved at the youth, many of whom ran to the edge of the field to get close to the popemobile.

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 5:41 PM | Comments (0)

Firefighters douse four-alarm brush fire in Boston

(Justine Hunt/Globe Staff)

Battling the blaze on Reservation Road.

By John Guilfoil, Globe Correspondent

Boston firefighters were busy this afternoon when a brush fire in Hyde Park went to four alarms.

The fire broke out around 1:45 p.m.in a hilly, wooded area near Reservation Road and took the fire department several hours to knock down.

The lack of fire hydrants in the area meant more units were required to provide hose so firefighters could get to the flames.

"The chief hit four alarms on it because we needed manpower to get water to the fire," said Steve MacDonald, a fire department spokesman. "We had to drop several thousand feet of hose to have enough water supply to put out the fire."

MacDonald said there were no injuries and there was never any danger to surrounding homes.

"If it was a windy day today, there might have been a different story," he said.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:32 PM | Comments (0)

Statement from cheerleader's family

Here is the statement released today by Lauren Chang's family:

Lauren was an energetic, spirited, tenacious, intelligent and beautiful young woman with an infectious smile. She brought these same qualities into all aspects of her life; her family and friends, her work, and her education. She approached all aspects of her life with enthusiasm and energy that spread to those who surrounded her. We were the fortunate recipients of her love and friendship.

We are heartbroken that her life was tragically cut short; she will be in our hearts forever.

Lauren died doing what she loved, cheerleading and being with her friends. We hope her death will shed light on the inherent risks of cheerleading, and we hope that additional safeguards are taken to insulate against those risks. We do not want to discourage people from participating in the sport but rather to encourage awareness of those risks.

We have discussed our concerns with State Representative Peter Koutoujian, who is here today to discuss what he plans to do to address our concerns.

My family wishes to celebrate Lauren’s life with our friends and relatives in private, however, we wanted to express how we wanted Lauren to be remembered particularly for those who did not have the pleasure of knowing her.

We would like to thank everyone for their support and condolences.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:21 PM | Comments (0)

Cheerleader's death spurs calls for better safety practices

(Photo by Energized Athletics)

By Erin Ailworth, Globe Staff

Lauren Chang's siblings called today for more regulation and increased safety practices to protect cheerleaders like their "energetic, spirited, tenacious" sister, who died following a competiton last weekend.

"We hope her death will shed light on the inherent risks of cheerleading," sister Nancy Chang said, reading a statement through tears at a news conference outside Newton North High School.

Lauren Chang died Monday, a day after she collapsed during a performance at the Minuteman Cheerleading Championships in Worcester. It appears that her lungs collapsed following a kick to the chest, authorities have said.

Nancy Chang was joined by her brothers, as well as Re[resentative Peter Koutoujian, who co-chairs the Legislature's Committee on Public Health.

Koutoujian said he is working with the family to form an "appropriate response" to Lauren's death. He said that responses could mean anything from filing legislation to regulate cheerleading training and safety practices, requiring more medical personnel to be stationed at events, or starting a campaign to educate the public about how athletic, and often risky, cheerleading has become.

Koutoujian said the public's perception of cheerleading also needs to change.

"We don't think of cheerleading as something that is athletic, that is competitive, that is driven," he said. But Lauren "fought through pain, she fought through injury ... and all she wanted to do was cheer."

Family members spoke little at the news conference of the details surrounding Lauren's death.

"All we know is what happened," brother Jason Chang said. "We wouldn't want that pain for anyone else."

Posted by mfinucane at 4:11 PM | Comments (0)

The scene on Fifth Avenue

The scene at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 51st Street: Overhead, a hovering helicopter. On every rooftop, a battery of snipers. Along the streets, metal barricades, and an amazing array of law enforcement with bullhorns, dogs, earpieces, and a variety of weaponry. No cars on one of the busiest arteries in Manhattan. Just a sea of people, many of them waiting for hours and hours, hoping to catch a fleeting glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI.

That's what I encountered when I emerged at midday from the Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral -- a sort of eerie anticipatory calm, with no traffic, no kiosks, just a long stretch of Catholics waiting to wave their Vatican flags and their pre-printed signs, "Welcome Benedict XVI.''

I watched the popemobile from the cathedral steps, alongside a group of priests and nuns who had attended the Mass inside, and although the pope-parade was brief, there was no missing it. First there was the huge roar of 30 motorcycles. Then there was the scream of people who realized the pope must be coming. Then some youngsters started chanting his Italian nickname, "Benedetto! Benedetto!" A 20-year-old woman standing in front of me, Sisan Walker of Miami, started repeating, "Oh my God! There he is! Oh my God!" She was so excited she couldn't hold up the piece of pink cardboard on which she had scrawled, "We (heart) Benedict XVI'' in magic marker - instead she handed it to a nearby priest who started waving it in the air. Walker and her friend, Doriana Vega, 22, of Mexico, had travelled to New York just to glimpse the pope from a sidewalk -- they had no tickets to the Mass today or tomorrow -- so they had arrived at 5:30 a.m. and waited 8 hours to watch him drive by.

The motorcycles were followed by a few police cruisers. And then came the white popemobile, surrounded by a huge number of police, Secret Service, and who knows what other kinds of law enforcement, some on foot and some in black limos, black SUVs and black vans. The popemobile, manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, looks kind of like a pick-up truck with a giant, bulletproof, rectangular glass bubble sitting on the truckbed.

Inside the glass was the pope, Benedict XVI, smiling and waving, as well as his ever-present personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein, who has become a bit of a heartthrob in the Catholic blogosphere, and the archbishop of New York, Cardinal Edward M. Egan.

The popemobile drove slowly past the Banana Republic and Faconnable stores that are across from the cathedral in Rockefeller Center, and then, the glass-enclosed pontiff passed the H&M on the next block, receded from sight, his movement followed by a sea of human arms, holding cameras and cellphones in the air, tracing the arc of the pope's path uptown.

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 3:03 PM | Comments (0)

Notes from the wafer watch

One observation from this morning's Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral: Rudy Giuliani, the twice-divorced former mayor of New York, took Communion. HIs reception of the consecrated host was clearly visible to me and all the other reporters in the cathedral because it was captured on television cameras broadcasting the Mass to the press seats to the side of the altar. After the Mass, Giuliani, who is a Republican, confirmed his decision to take Communion, despite being married outside the church, to Reuters Vatican correspondent Phil Pullella.

Giuliani's action follows the declaration earlier in the week by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat who supports abortion rights, that she intended to take Communion during the papal Mass at Nationals Park on Thursday.

The decisions by Giuliani and Pelosi, of course, are hardly unusual -- large numbers of Catholics who have remarried without an annulment or who support abortion rights routinely take Communion, despite church rules prohibiting that. But the question of whether politicians who publicly violate or oppose church teachings should take Communion became an issue during the 2004 presidential campaign, when an abortion-rights-supporting Catholic, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, was the Democratic nominee, and the issue continues to resurface from time to time. The church's actual position on the denial of Communion remains somewhat unsettled -- a handful of bishops have suggested they would deny Communion to abortion-rights-supporting politicians, but most, including Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, have said they do not wish to politicize the Eucharist in that way.

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 2:40 PM | Comments (0)

Actress Bullock unharmed in Gloucester car crash

(AP File Photo)

Sandra Bullock smiled at a 2005 news conference.

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

GLOUCESTER -- Movie star Sandra Bullock and her husband were hit in a head-on collision by a drunk driver last night on East Main Street in this seaside town.

No one was injured, but both cars were towed. Lucille P. Gatchell, 64, of Gloucester was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to stay in marked lanes, a police report said.

Gatchell's blood alcohol level was .20, more than twice the legal limit, the report said.

Bullock and her husband, Jesse James, were in a rented black 2008 Chevy SUV, which was being driven by Mark Hussey, 55, of Londonderry, N.H. Hussey told police he was driving down the road at 15 to 20 miles per hour when Gatchell's Subaru Forester veered into his lane.

Police responded to the accident at 9:50 p.m. The accident occurred outside the East Gloucester Laundromat.

"Mrs. Bullock was very personable and was concerned for (Gatchell's) well-being," said Police Officer Kevin Mackey, who responded to the scene.

Mackey said when he approached the scene James and Bullock were hugging each other. The couple were driven away about 20 minutes later by Bullock's security detail, he said.

Police are being inundated by calls from celebrity magazines, said Police Lieutenant Jerris Cook.

Bullock, 43, who is known for films such as "Speed," "Miss Congeniality," and "While You Were Sleeping," has been in the area to shoot a romantic comedy titled "The Proposal."

Lucille Gatchell's Gloucester police booking photo.

Posted by mfinucane at 1:01 PM | Comments (0)

One dead in Bridgewater highway crash

By John Guilfoil, Globe Correspondent

One man died after a crash on Route 24 north in Bridgewater early this morning.

State police said the driver of a 2003 GMC Sierra pickup truck lost control and rolled over off the right side of the road at around 5:45 a.m.

The driver was not wearing his seat belt. He was flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton where he later died.

His name is being withheld pending family notification. The state police are investigating the cause of the crash. The right lane of the highway was closed for two and a half hours after the crash.

Posted by mfinucane at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)

News flash: Benedict reads Hawthorne

One striking feature of this morning's homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral: Pope Benedict XVI made a reference to Nathaniel Hawthorne, the acclaimed 19th century American novelist from Salem, Mass.

Who knew? Benedict is obviously widely read -- he is an accomplished theologian and a prolific writer -- but any fondness for American literature is news to me. But Rachel Zoll, the talented religion writer for the Associated Press and a proud native of Salem, spotted the Hawthorne reference in the homily immediately, and kindly called it to my attention.

Benedict was using the architecture of the cathedral as a metaphor, for reflections on the vocations of the clergy and nuns who make up the congregation today, and, when he turned to the windows, said, "many writers – here in America we can think of Nathaniel Hawthorne – have used the image of stained glass to illustrate the mystery of the church herself."

After the Mass, I promise to go grab a copy of "The Marble Faun" to see what he's talking about.

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 10:35 AM | Comments (0)

Benedict's homily at St. Patrick's

The pope has just finished delivering his homily here at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, in which he addressed himself to 3,000 rapt clergy and nuns gathered in the grand Gothic cathedral on Fifth Avenue.

"The spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral are dwarfed by the skyscrapers of the Manhattan skyline, yet in the heart of this busy metropolis, they are a vivid reminder of the constant yearning of the human spirit to rise to God,'' Benedict said.

He devoted a few sentences to the sexual abuse abuse crisis, which, among its many impacts, has seriously damaged the morale of many priests around the country.

“Within the context of our need for the perspective given by faith, and for unity and cooperation in the work of building up the church, I would like say a word about the sexual abuse that has caused so much suffering,’’ Benedict said. “I have already had occasion to speak of this, and of the resulting damage to the community of the faithful. Here I simply wish to assure you, dear priests and religious, of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian hope to the continuing challenges that this situation presents."

Then the pope alluded to comments that his predecessor, John Paul II, made in 2002. At that time, John Paul II said, “we must be confident that this time of trial will bring a purification of the entire Catholic community, a purification that is urgently needed if the church is to preach more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its liberating force.’’

This morning, at St. Patrick’s, Benedict echoed that language, saying, “I join you in praying that this will be a time of purification for each and every particular church and religious community, and a time for healing. I also encourage you to cooperate with your bishops who continue to work effectively to resolve this issue. May our Lord Jesus Christ grant the church in America a renewed sense of unity and purpose, as all – bishops, clergy, religious and laity – move forward in hope, in love for the truth and for one another.”

In addition to the abuse issue, Benedict in his homily mentioned the divisions within the Catholic Church.

“For all of us, I think, one of the great disappointments which followed the Second Vatican Council, with its call for a greater engagement in the church’s mission to the world, has been the experience of division between different groups, different generations, different members of the same religious family,’’ he said. “We can only move forward if we turn our gaze together to Christ! In the light of faith, we will then discover the wisdom and strength needed to open ourselves to points of view which may not necessarily conform to our own ideas or assumptions. Thus we can value the perspectives of others, be they younger or older than ourselves, and ultimately hear 'what the Spirit is saying' to us and to the church. In this way, we will move together towards that true spiritual renewal desired by the Council, a renewal which can only strengthen the church in that holiness and unity indispensable for the effective proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world.’’

I've posted the full text of the homily below (click on "full entry").

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

The full text of Benedict's homily at St. Patrick's:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With great affection in the Lord, I greet all of you, who represent the Bishops, priests and deacons, the men and women in consecrated life, and the seminarians of the United States. I thank Cardinal Egan for his warm welcome and the good wishes which he has expressed in your name as I begin the fourth year of my papal ministry. I am happy to celebrate this Mass with you, who have been chosen by the Lord, who have answered his call, and who devote your lives to the pursuit of holiness, the spread of the Gospel and the building up of the Church in faith, hope and love.

Gathered as we are in this historic cathedral, how can we not think of the countless men and women who have gone before us, who labored for the growth of the Church in the United States, and left us a lasting legacy of faith and good works? In today’s first reading we saw how, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles went forth from the Upper Room to proclaim God’s mighty works to people of every nation and tongue. In this country, the Church’s mission has always involved drawing people “from every nation under heaven” (cf. Acts 2:5) into spiritual unity, and enriching the Body of Christ by the variety of their gifts. As we give thanks for past blessings, and look to the challenges of the future, let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church in America. May tongues of fire, combining burning love of God and neighbor with zeal for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom, descend on all present!

In this morning’s second reading, Saint Paul reminds us that spiritual unity – the unity which reconciles and enriches diversity – has its origin and supreme model in the life of the triune God. As a communion of pure love and infinite freedom, the Blessed Trinity constantly brings forth new life in the work of creation and redemption. The Church, as “a people made one by the unity of the Father, the Son and the Spirit” (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4), is called to proclaim the gift of life, to serve life, and to promote a culture of life. Here in this cathedral, our thoughts turn naturally to the heroic witness to the Gospel of life borne by the late Cardinals Cooke and O’Connor. The proclamation of life, life in abundance, must be the heart of the new evangelization. For true life – our salvation – can only be found in the reconciliation, freedom and love which are God’s gracious gift.

This is the message of hope we are called to proclaim and embody in a world where self-centeredness, greed, violence, and cynicism so often seem to choke the fragile growth of grace in people’s hearts. Saint Irenaeus, with great insight, understood that the command which Moses enjoined upon the people of Israel: “Choose life!” (Dt 30:19) was the ultimate reason for our obedience to all God’s commandments (cf. Adv. Haer. IV, 16, 2-5). Perhaps we have lost sight of this: in a society where the Church seems legalistic and “institutional” to many people, our most urgent challenge is to communicate the joy born of faith and the experience of God’s love.

I am particularly happy that we have gathered in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Perhaps more than any other church in the United States, this place is known and loved as “a house of prayer for all peoples” (cf. Is 56:7; Mk 11:17). Each day thousands of men, women and children enter its doors and find peace within its walls. Archbishop John Hughes, who – as Cardinal Egan has reminded us – was responsible for building this venerable edifice, wished it to rise in pure Gothic style. He wanted this cathedral to remind the young Church in America of the great spiritual tradition to which it was heir, and to inspire it to bring the best of that heritage to the building up of Christ’s body in this land. I would like to draw your attention to a few aspects of this beautiful structure which I think can serve as a starting point for a reflection on our particular vocations within the unity of the Mystical Body.

The first has to do with the stained glass windows, which flood the interior with mystic light. From the outside, those windows are dark, heavy, even dreary. But once one enters the church, they suddenly come alive; reflecting the light passing through them, they reveal all their splendor. Many writers – here in America we can think of Nathaniel Hawthorne – have used the image of stained glass to illustrate the mystery of the Church herself. It is only from the inside, from the experience of faith and ecclesial life, that we see the Church as she truly is: flooded with grace, resplendent in beauty, adorned by the manifold gifts of the Spirit. It follows that we, who live the life of grace within the Church’s communion, are called to draw all people into this mystery of light.

This is no easy task in a world which can tend to look at the Church, like those stained glass windows, “from the outside”: a world which deeply senses a need for spirituality, yet finds it difficult to “enter into” the mystery of the Church. Even for those of us within, the light of faith can be dimmed by routine, and the splendor of the Church obscured by the sins and weaknesses of her members. It can be dimmed too, by the obstacles encountered in a society which sometimes seems to have forgotten God and to resent even the most elementary demands of Christian morality. You, who have devoted your lives to bearing witness to the love of Christ and the building up of his Body, know from your daily contact with the world around us how tempting it is at times to give way to frustration, disappointment and even pessimism about the future. In a word, it is not always easy to see the light of the Spirit all about us, the splendor of the Risen Lord illuminating our lives and instilling renewed hope in his victory over the world (cf. Jn 16:33).

Yet the word of God reminds us that, in faith, we see the heavens opened, and the grace of the Holy Spirit lighting up the Church and bringing sure hope to our world. “O Lord, my God,” the Psalmist sings, “when you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104:30). These words evoke the first creation, when the Spirit of God hovered over the deep (cf. Gen 1:2). And they look forward to the new creation, at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and established the Church as the first fruits of a redeemed humanity (cf. Jn 20:22-23). These words summon us to ever deeper faith in God’s infinite power to transform every human situation, to create life from death, and to light up even the darkest night. And they make us think of another magnificent phrase of Saint Irenaeus: “where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church and all grace” (Adv. Haer. III, 24, 1).

This leads me to a further reflection about the architecture of this church. Like all Gothic cathedrals, it is a highly complex structure, whose exact and harmonious proportions symbolize the unity of God’s creation. Medieval artists often portrayed Christ, the creative Word of God, as a heavenly “geometer”, compass in hand, who orders the cosmos with infinite wisdom and purpose. Does this not bring to mind our need to see all things with the eyes of faith, and thus to grasp them in their truest perspective, in the unity of God’s eternal plan? This requires, as we know, constant conversion, and a commitment to acquiring “a fresh, spiritual way of thinking” (cf. Eph 4:23). It also calls for the cultivation of those virtues which enable each of us to grow in holiness and to bear spiritual fruit within our particular state of life. Is not this ongoing “intellectual” conversion as necessary as “moral” conversion for our own growth in faith, our discernment of the signs of the times, and our personal contribution to the Church’s life and mission?

For all of us, I think, one of the great disappointments which followed the Second Vatican Council, with its call for a greater engagement in the Church’s mission to the world, has been the experience of division between different groups, different generations, different members of the same religious family. We can only move forward if we turn our gaze together to Christ! In the light of faith, we will then discover the wisdom and strength needed to open ourselves to points of view which may not necessarily conform to our own ideas or assumptions. Thus we can value the perspectives of others, be they younger or older than ourselves, and ultimately hear “what the Spirit is saying” to us and to the Church (cf. Rev 2:7). In this way, we will move together towards that true spiritual renewal desired by the Council, a renewal which can only strengthen the Church in that holiness and unity indispensable for the effective proclamation of the Gospel in today’s world.

Was not this unity of vision and purpose – rooted in faith and a spirit of constant conversion and self-sacrifice – the secret of the impressive growth of the Church in this country? We need but think of the remarkable accomplishment of that exemplary American priest, the Venerable Michael McGivney, whose vision and zeal led to the establishment of the Knights of Columbus, or of the legacy of the generations of religious and priests who quietly devoted their lives to serving the People of God in countless schools, hospitals and parishes.

Here, within the context of our need for the perspective given by faith, and for unity and cooperation in the work of building up the Church, I would like say a word about the sexual abuse that has caused so much suffering. I have already had occasion to speak of this, and of the resulting damage to the community of the faithful. Here I simply wish to assure you, dear priests and religious, of my spiritual closeness as you strive to respond with Christian hope to the continuing challenges that this situation presents. I join you in praying that this will be a time of purification for each and every particular Church and religious community, and a time for healing. I also encourage you to cooperate with your bishops who continue to work effectively to resolve this issue. May our Lord Jesus Christ grant the Church in America a renewed sense of unity and purpose, as all – Bishops, clergy, religious and laity – move forward in hope, in love for the truth and for one another.

Dear friends, these considerations lead me to a final observation about this great cathedral in which we find ourselves. The unity of a Gothic cathedral, we know, is not the static unity of a classical temple, but a unity born of the dynamic tension of diverse forces which impel the architecture upward, pointing it to heaven. Here too, we can see a symbol of the Church’s unity, which is the unity – as Saint Paul has told us – of a living body composed of many different members, each with its own role and purpose. Here too we see our need to acknowledge and reverence the gifts of each and every member of the body as “manifestations of the Spirit given for the good of all” (1 Cor 12:7). Certainly within the Church’s divinely-willed structure there is a distinction to be made between hierarchical and charismatic gifts (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4). Yet the very variety and richness of the graces bestowed by the Spirit invite us constantly to discern how these gifts are to be rightly ordered in the service of the Church’s mission. You, dear priests, by sacramental ordination have been configured to Christ, the Head of the Body. You, dear deacons, have been ordained for the service of that Body. You, dear men and women religious, both contemplative and apostolic, have devoted your lives to following the divine Master in generous love and complete devotion to his Gospel. All of you, who fill this cathedral today, as wells as your retired, elderly and infirm brothers and sisters, who unite their prayers and sacrifices to your labors, are called to be forces of unity within Christ’s Body. By your personal witness, and your fidelity to the ministry or apostolate entrusted to you, you prepare a path for the Spirit. For the Spirit never ceases to pour out his abundant gifts, to awaken new vocations and missions, and to guide the Church, as our Lord promised in this morning’s Gospel, into the fullness of truth (cf. Jn 16:13).

So let us lift our gaze upward! And with great humility and confidence, let us ask the Spirit to enable us each day to grow in the holiness that will make us living stones in the temple which he is even now raising up in the midst of our world. If we are to be true forces of unity, let us be the first to seek inner reconciliation through penance. Let us forgive the wrongs we have suffered and put aside all anger and contention. Let us be the first to demonstrate the humility and purity of heart which are required to approach the splendor of God’s truth. In fidelity to the deposit of faith entrusted to the Apostles (cf. 1 Tim 6:20), let us be joyful witnesses of the transforming power of the Gospel!

Dear brothers and sisters, in the finest traditions of the Church in this country, may you also be the first friend of the poor, the homeless, the stranger, the sick and all who suffer. Act as beacons of hope, casting the light of Christ upon the world, and encouraging young people to discover the beauty of a life given completely to the Lord and his Church. I make this plea in a particular way to the many seminarians and young religious present. All of you have a special place in my heart. Never forget that you are called to carry on, with all the enthusiasm and joy that the Spirit has given you, a work that others have begun, a legacy that one day you too will have to pass on to a new generation. Work generously and joyfully, for he whom you serve is the Lord!

The spires of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral are dwarfed by the skyscrapers of the Manhattan skyline, yet in the heart of this busy metropolis, they are a vivid reminder of the constant yearning of the human spirit to rise to God. As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us thank the Lord for allowing us to know him in the communion of the Church, to cooperate in building up his Mystical Body, and in bringing his saving word as good news to the men and women of our time. And when we leave this great church, let us go forth as heralds of hope in the midst of this city, and all those places where God’s grace has placed us. In this way, the Church in America will know a new springtime in the Spirit, and point the way to that other, greater city, the new Jerusalem, whose light is the Lamb (Rev 21:23). For there God is even now preparing for all people a banquet of unending joy and life. Amen."

Posted by mpaulson at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)

The Mass at St. Patrick's

Pope Benedict XVI is getting a rapturous welcome here at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. He was greeted on the cathedral steps by Cardinal Edward M. Egan and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and repeatedly turned to stretch his arms out toward the crowds on the streets outside.

The cathedral is swarming with security -- there are men in black suits with earpieces everywhere. Outside, I saw fire and police apparatus for blocks surrounding the cathedral. There are metal barricades lining the streets, and vehicle traffic is largely barred.

After the pope, wearing a rich white mozzetta, walked through the cathedral and its sanctuary, he prayed before the blessed sacrament in a chapel, and then descended into the cathedral's lower level to vest for the Mass in white and gold. As he processed again through the cathedral, the congregation repeatedly rose in applause.

Egan, delivering an official welcome to the pope at the start of the Mass, described St. Patrick's, which is on Fifth Avenue and is a favorite stop for many tourists, as "a beloved house of prayer for not only Catholics across the nation but also for visitors of all faiths, races and cultures from every corner of the globe.'' He referred to the pope as "our supreme shepherd,'' asked Benedict to "confirm us in our faith,'' and said, speaking for the clergy and nuns gathered here, "we pledge to you our loyalty and our love.'' That generated another round of cheers, in response to which Benedict smiled, nodded, and stretched his arms out toward the congregation.

The Mass has begun.

Posted by mpaulson at 9:28 AM | Comments (0)

Medford man makes good

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York -- born in Boston and raised in Medford -- has just greeted the congregation here at St. Patrick's Cathedral and welcomed the pope to the nation's largest city.

"It says everything about America that a small-town, middle-class kid named Bloomberg could grow up and be asked to welcome the pope,'' Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg began his brief remarks by thanking the Catholic clergy and parishes for their role in the city. "So many New Yorkers look to you for wisdom and guidance,'' he said.

Bloomberg is Jewish, and the city has a large Jewish population, which the mayor alluded to in his brief remarks, mentioning that tonight is the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover.

"New York is buzzing, and Pope Benedict couldn't have picked a better time to come,'' he said. "A beautiful spring weekend, the 200th anniversary of the archdiocese of New York, and, to top it all off, it's Passover.''

Bloomberg noted that the pope has been greeted everywhere by sunshine, and said, "I don't know if the pope is responsible for the fantastic weather we have, but, as Cardinal Egan (of New York) told me, there are no accidents.''

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 8:45 AM | Comments (0)

Preparing for a pilgrimage

In today's Globe, Tania deLuzuriaga wrote about the thousands of Catholics in the region who plan to descend on New York to see the pope this weekend.

Below, we have video profiles of several young Catholics making the trip. Click play below to see what they have to say about the pope, their faith, and what they hope to learn from the experience.

For full papal visit coverage, click here. To view the videos in a larger player, click here.

Posted by jtuohey at 7:50 AM | Comments (0)

Saturday at St. Patrick's

Today is the penultimate day of Pope Benedict XVI's trip to the US, and, after a day focused on geopolitics and interfaith relations, he's turning his attention back to internal church audiences. Today is also the third anniversary of Benedict's election as pope.

I'm blogging from a chapel to St. Therese of Lisieux on the left side of the altar in the grand St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. There are about 3,000 people gathering here for a 9 a.m. Mass that the pope is going to say for priests, deacons, and nuns; he's expected to touch on the impact of the abuse crisis on clergy. The Cathedral of Saint Patrick Choir is singing a Bach composition, "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring,'' as the congregation works its way through security and takes its seats.

Among those who just walked by: Rudy Giuliani. And in the press box: the writer Peggy Noonan.

"It's a tremendous blessing, to just walk from the West Side over, to see all the people on Fifth Avenue waiting to see the pope, and to see the people, music playing, praying, banners for the pope,'' said Deacon Don Gray of Holy Family parish in New Rochelle, N.Y., who is vested, like the other clergy here, in a white alb with a stole representing the Archdiocese of New York. "It kind of spurs you on in your faith, to see so many people that follow the Lord. It's an unbelievable experience.''

After the Mass, the pope is to take his one spin through Manhattan in the popemobile, along Fifth Avenue, and big crowds are already lining the route. And then this afternoon, the pope heads out to Dunwoodie, a neighborhood of Yonkers, where the New York archdiocesan seminary is located. There he is to bless a group of about 50 youth with disabilities, and their caregivers. And then he is to attend a "rally" with seminarians and young people, also at the seminary; among the crowd are expected to be about 150 from Boston, many of them from either St. John's Seminary in Brighton or Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston.

More later.

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 7:46 AM | Comments (0)

April 18, 2008

The greening of the city -- with Celtics banners

(Bill Brett for The Boston Globe)

Worker Charles McCarthy of Accent Banner putting up the new signs today at a lightpole on Causeway Street near the TD BankNorth Center.

By Globe Staff

The Celtics are back in the playoffs -- and if you're walking in some parts of downtown Boston, you 'll be reminded of it for the next few weeks.

Curt Dietrich, president of Accent Banner of Medford, said his crews are in the process of placing vinyl playoff banners 2 1/2 feet wide and 5 feet long on 186 light poles in the area near the TD Banknorth Garden and on Cambridge Street.

A 20-foot-by-35-foot banner is hanging at the Statehouse and a slightly smaller one is hanging at City Hall.

Dietrich said he’s a Celtics fan and happy with the way their season has gone. “I turn them on all the time," he said.

The high-flying hoopsters begin a playoff series Sunday night, but for sports fans that's only the beginning of athletic events to savor in the city this long weekend.

Let's not forget the Bruins, who will continue a hard-fought playoff series Saturday. Also this weekend: the Red Sox will defend their home turf with games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; women runners will compete in Olympic marathon trials Sunday; and thousands of runners will strive towards the finish line in the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Posted by mfinucane at 6:43 PM | Comments (0)

Former Boston Mayor Kevin White released from hospital

By Globe Staff

Former Boston Mayor Kevin White, who was injured in a fall in late March, was released from the hospital today and is at home resting comfortably, a spokesman said.

The 76-year-old White, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, broke his ribs and injured his back when he fell at his winter home in Jupiter, Fla. on March 25.

He was hospitalized at first in Florida, then airlifted to Massachusetts General Hospital, which released him today, said George Regan. White is now back at his Beacon Hill home.

"MGH has done a miraculous job," Regan said. He also said White's wife, Kathryn, wanted to thank people for the outpouring of support since White's accident.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:39 PM | Comments (0)

Boston man sentenced to 18-20 years in baby's beating death

By Globe Staff

A 28-year-old Boston man has been sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison for killing his girlfriend's 23-month-old baby in 2006.

Daniel Santana pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter for fatally beating Jaziel Ponce on June 26, 2006, at the Harbor Point Community Apartments in Dorchester, the Suffolk district attorney's office said.

Santana also pleaded guilty before Judge Margaret Hinkle to drug charges for having heroin and cocaine in his dresser drawer at the time of the offense, prosecutors said.

In an impact statement provided to the court, the child's father, Miguel Ponce, wrote, "I will never be the man I used to be. I have no life without my son."

Prosecutors said the baby's mother had gone to stay with Santana at his apartment. She asked Santana to watch the child, who was napping in an upstairs bedroom, while she ran some errands.

Less than two hours later, Santana came downstairs holding the child in his arms. The child was struggling to breathe and was pronounced dead later at the hospital.

An autopsy determined that he died of blunt trauma to the abdomen and lacerations of the liver, prosecutors said. He also had bruises on his ears, sternum, lower chest, abdomen, forearm, hand, and back.

Posted by mfinucane at 4:14 PM | Comments (0)

Woman jumps from roof to escape Quincy fire

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

A Quincy woman jumped from the roof of her home today to escape a fire.

Julianne Princiotto climbed from a second-floor window to a lower roof of her Arnold Road residence while flames were billowing out the windows. She then jumped eight to 10 feet down after coaxing from a Quincy police officer, said Quincy Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Starr.

“She could have very easily died there,” Starr said. “If she didn’t get out the window, it would’ve been difficult to get her out.”

Firefighters responded to the home at around 11:30 a.m. Princiotto’s husband, Kevin Barry, was in the back yard when the fire started. Officials believe the fire started in the garage and traveled into the rest of the house through a breezeway.

Princiotto was transported to an area hospital. Starr said he believed she was in fair condition. There were no other injuries.

Though damages are estimated at $300,000, Starr said he believes the house is salvageable.

The cause of the fire wasn't immediately determined; Quincy police are investigating along with the state fire marshal.

Posted by mfinucane at 3:47 PM | Comments (0)

One person injured in Jamaica Plain stabbing

By Globe Staff

One person has been transported to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and another person is in custody after a stabbing this afternoon, Boston police said.

The stabbing, which appeared to be the result of a domestic incident, happened at about 2:51 p.m. on Amory Street in the city’s Jamaica Plain section, said Officer Eddy Chrispin, a police spokesman.

No further details were immediately available.

Posted by mfinucane at 3:42 PM | Comments (0)

Passersby alert Dorchester residents to fire

(Mark Wilson/Globe Staff)

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

Drivers beeping horns and screaming neighbors alerted residents of a Dorchester three-decker today that a fire had erupted in the basement and was quickly flowing up the exterior of the house.

"Everybody outside [was] shouting, ‘Fire! Fire!’” said first-floor resident Dorothy Belcarris. “People were out there honking horns.’’

Belcarris and her son, Orlando, realized the building was on fire after hearing the noise and seeing smoke flowing into their apartment.

“People are good,” said Belcarris, how escaped out the front door. “I didn’t have time to do anything. I just got out and left.’’

No one was injured in the blaze on Milton Avenue. At least four residents had to run out of the building when the fire started.

Deputy Chief Joseph Fleming, who directed firefighting efforts, said that the flames started in the basement, extended into the walls, and spread onto the exterior of the red-shingled apartment house. The cause of the 9 a.m. fire remains under investigation.

Fleming said windows in the basement apartment were not large enough to qualify as emergency escape routes as required by the state building code. He said the fire department will notify city building inspectors about the issue.

Fleming estimated damage at $400,000. The American Red Cross was helping 10 people who were displaced by the fire.

Evette Sewell and her boyfriend, Troy Rose, were sleeping late in their third-floor apartment when they were awoken by the sounds of shouts. The couple managed to escape the building by ducking beneath the black smoke that had filled their apartment and the hallway.

Firefighters had to go in and rescue Baby, one of the couple's two cats. The other tabby has not been seen since the fire.

“We are all still here,’’ Sewell said. “We are blessed.’’

(Mark Wilson/Globe Staff)

Troy Rose clung to Baby after firefighters rescued the cat from a fire on Milton Avenue.

Posted by jellement at 3:30 PM | Comments (0)

Southborough Town Meeting restricts where sex offenders can live

By John Dyer, Globe Correspondent

Southborough Town Meeting members approved a warrant article last night that restricted where registered sex offenders could live in town.

The new bylaw would prohibit sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, day care centers, parks, and other recreational facilities.

Serious offenders classified as so-called Level 2 or Level 3 offenders were also barred from living within1,000 feet of any elderly housing.

Registered sex offenders who already lived in town were exempt from the bylaw.

Town Meeting members approved the measure by a vote of 47 to 32, said Town Clerk Paul Berry. Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Bonnie Phaneuf said proponents argued that the bylaw would be a tool to help police monitor sex offenders.

Critics said it would give residents a false sense of security and concentrate offenders in neighborhoods where they could live farther than 1,000 feet away from schools and other buildings.

Posted by mfinucane at 2:54 PM | Comments (0)

State forms commission on veteran mental health care

By Globe Staff

A day after the release of a study that found that nearly 1 in 5 veterans is suffering from depression or stress disorders, the Patrick administration announced that it had created the Commission to Study the Hidden Wounds of War on Returning Massachusetts Service Members.

“We cannot allow the brave men and women who serve our country to struggle with treatable mental health problems,” Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray said in a statement. “This administration is committed to ensuring that our veterans are cared for completely.”

A Rand Corp. study estimated that about 300,000 veterans among the nearly 1.7 million who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan have mental health problems. And more than half are slipping through the cracks, not getting necessary treatment, the study said.

When the Massachusetts bill was proposed last May, a legislative committee said that 28,000 service members had returned to the state and about 25 percent of them had faced “serious mental health challenges.” Governor Deval Patrick signed the bill two weeks ago.

Critics told the Globe last year that the system was vastly unprepared and underfunded to handle the onslaught of veterans returning home with mental health issues.

The death of an Iraq war veteran from Belchertown who took his own life after allegedly being turned away for treatment at the Northampton VA medical center also has been called a reflection of the problems with the system.

Experts say that soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan seldom find themselves safely "behind the lines." They can be subjected to mortar attacks, roadside bombs, and civilian massacres.

Representative Anthony Verga, one of the champions of the bill, said the commission could lead to Massachusetts becoming one of a handful of states with a comprehensive post-deployment care program for veterans and their families.

Posted by mfinucane at 1:55 PM | Comments (0)

Authorities looking for Cape police impersonator

The Bourne Police released a sketch of the suspect.

By Globe Staff

Police in a Cape Cod town are looking for a man who pretended to be a police officer and stopped a teenage girl’s car late last month, then asked her if she would kiss him and go for a ride.

The 17-year-old high school student was driving on Route 28A in Bourne at about 5:15 p.m. on March 31 when the car, which displayed red and blue lights, stopped her, said Bourne Police Chief Earl Baldwin.

The girl gave the man her license and registration. Then he said that she could avoid the ticket if she kissed him and went for a ride with him, Baldwin said.

She said she would rather get the ticket. She left the scene -- and two days later reported the incident to police. A police sketch shows the suspect in sunglasses, wearing a round hat like those worn by state troopers.

Baldwin said police have an "active investigation" underway that has looked at possible suspects and is tracing down old police cruisers.

Posted by mfinucane at 1:27 PM | Comments (0)

High court rules that predators can face charges for online messages

By Globe Staff

The state Supreme Judicial Court ruled today that a person can be charged with enticing a minor simply by sending online messages.

Lawyers for a man appealing his conviction on a child enticement charge argued that he never engaged in anything more than “sending words” over the Internet. They argued that the law required the man to do something more, such as travel to an agreed rendezvous location.

Ruling in the case of Commonwealth v. Richard Disler, the SJC disagreed, saying that a person can be charged with enticement, if, with criminal intent, they “employ words, gestures, or other means” to induce a minor to enter or stay in a vehicle, building, or outdoor space.

“There is nothing in the language [of the law] that supports the defendant’s contention that, in addition, there must be an overt act in order for the crime of child enticement to occur,” the court said.

Disler was convicted after exchanging a series of instant messages with undercover police officers who were posing as a 14-year-old girl.

The court, in an opinion written by Justice Roderick Ireland, also rejected a variety of other arguments by Disler, including claims that the statute was too vague, that it violated free speech rights, that Disler's conviction should be thrown out because the girl he was corresponding with didn’t really exist, and that he was entrapped.

“We are pleased with the decision of the SJC. The Disler case shows that the statute in question is a very useful and important tool to fight online predators who would harm children,” Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in a statement.

Posted by mfinucane at 12:34 PM | Comments (0)

Tap a toe to banjo as the Paul Revere museum celebrates 100 years

An image on a postcard of what the Paul Revere House looked like shortly after it opened as a museum on April 18, 1908.

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

It will cost 25 cents today to hear third-graders recite poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, tap a toe to a vaudeville-style banjo player named Uncle Shoe, and eat a cake decorated to look like the olive-colored clapboard house once home to Paul Revere.

That’s because the museum where Boston’s most famous silversmith lived is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The Paul Revere House has rolled back the admission price to when it first opened on April 18, 1908.

Built in 1680, the home had been slated for demolition at the beginning of the last century when it was bought by one of Revere’s descendants and restored.

“It’s a longtime iconic structure for the city,” said museum director Nina Zannieri. “When he moved out, it became a boarding house for sailors and then an immigrant and tenement home and shops, so the history also reflects the entire history of the North End.”

Revere lived in the home when he set out on horseback in 1775 and rode to Lexington to warn that the British were coming.

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear,” Longfellow wrote in his famous poem, “Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.”

Those lines will be recited today by third-graders from the Eliot School in the North End as part of the celebration. Other festivities include music sung by students from St. John’s school, performers portraying two of Revere’s descendants, and the announcement of the winners of a student essay contest.

Posted by aryan at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)

A flap over flags

(Reuters/Jason Reed)

Several readers have e-mailed to ask about a flag with stars and bars that they saw in a picture on Boston.com from the White House welcoming ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI. The readers thought it was a Confederate flag and were concerned. I double-checked with the White House this morning, and it turns out it's the state flag of Mississippi. If you're curious what the confusion is about, I've posted images in our Q&A section, which is here.

If you have a question, feel free to e-mail.

Posted by mpaulson at 11:56 AM | Comments (0)

Teen killed in Middleborough crash

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

A Rehoboth teenager was killed early this morning when her car collided with a tractor-trailer truck in Middleborough, police said.

Maria L. Franey, 19, was driving a 2007 Hyundai at 2:30 a.m. when it collided with the tractor-trailer at the intersection of Route 44 and Old Center Street, said Middleborough Police Lieutenant Bruce Gates.

Franey and her passenger, Colleen Brown, 20, had to be cut out of the car, Gates said. Franey was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown suffered serious injuries and was taken to Morton Hospital and later transported to Boston Medical Center.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Karl Anthony Thomas, 32, of Hartford, was treated and released at Morton Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Posted by aryan at 10:48 AM | Comments (0)

A tie vote leaves Tisbury dry -- for now

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The tie goes to the runner in baseball. The same is not true for the drinker in Tisbury.

Voters reached a 690-to-690 stalemate on a referendum this week that would have allowed beer and wine sales in the Martha’s Vineyard town, which has been dry since at least before Prohibition began in 1920. The measure fell one vote short of the majority it needed to pass.

It was clear that the proposal had divided Tisbury, said Town Clerk Marion Mudge, but no one was prepared for a dead tie. It was Mudge and two other election officials who retrieved the totals Tuesday night from the automated ballot box at Town Hall.

“After we picked our jaws up, we looked at each other and said ‘Wow,’ ” Mudge said. “Then we announced the results, and everybody went ‘Wow.’ ”

A group led by local restaurant owners has already filed a petition for a hand recount, which could be scheduled at a meeting next week. The machine recorded 21 ballots that left the referendum question blank, which has buoyed hopes that there may have been a malfunction and that a recount may break the tie.

Of the 12 towns that ban the sale of alcohol in Massachusetts, four of them are on Martha's Vineyard. However, the lingering vestiges of the island’s Puritan roots may be weakening. Aquinnah, another island town, is poised to end its 137-year ban on alcohol sales in May when voters are asked to give final approval to a petition that has already passed once and been signed by the governor.

In Tisbury, Mary Snyder is a member of a committee pushing to keep the town dry. The sale of beer and wine at restaurants would set a bad example for young people, Snyder said, especially in the summer when the town is packed and tourists may drink late into the evening. It would also hurt long-time island residents, she said, who are used to a "bring-your-own-bottle" policy when they go out to eat and won’t be able to afford the restaurant markup for wine.

“For most Yankees, the economics are overwhelming, I think,” Snyder said.

“I’m surprised it was a tie,” she continued. “Everybody was surprised it was a tie. I hoped obviously that the no side would win.

“And as of now, the no vote stands.”

Posted by aryan at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

Two men shot in South Boston

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

Two young men were shot in the Mary Ellen McCormack housing development in South Boston this morning and suffered what police described as non-life threatening injuries.

The men, 18 and 23 years old, were shot at 4 a.m. in a building on the 300 block of Old Colony Avenue, police said. Several neighborhood residents said one of the men was shot in a courtyard while the other was shot inside one of the apartment buildings.

The residents, who were afraid to give their names, said they heard several gunshots. They said they looked in the hallway and saw a man lying on a first-floor landing with a woman kneeling over him, begging him to stay awake. The victims were taken to Boston Medical Center.

It was not immediately clear what motivated the attack. No arrests have been reported.

Detectives have been on the scene much of the morning. Residents said they saw police recover several shell casings and a firearm.

Posted by aryan at 8:54 AM | Comments (0)

British prime minister to speak in Boston today

(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, shown above a White House news conference Thursday, will speak today to Boston.

By Globe Staff

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is slated to speak today at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

Brown, who is no stranger to the area because he has summered in the past on the Cape, will be delivering a major foreign policy address, Kennedy Library and British consulate officials have said.

Governor Deval Patrick is expected to be among the dignitaries attending.

Brown met Thursday with President Bush, as well as the three presidential candidates. Brown reportedly discussed issues including Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process, and the international economic slowdown.

Posted by mfinucane at 8:41 AM | Comments (0)

Video: Reaction to the pope's meeting with abuse victims

The two videos below offer some reaction to the meeting Pope Benedict XVI held with Boston victims of the clergy abuse scandal yesterday.

 

Two local victims, who weren't among those the pope met with, talk about how the pope has addressed the scandal thus far on his visit.

 

NECN's Jim Braude gets analysis on the pope's meeting.

Posted by jtuohey at 8:35 AM | Comments (0)

Benedict and the Big Apple

Pope Benedict XVI this morning is on the move to New York City, having wrapped up his three-day visit to Washington, D.C., with his historic meeting with clergy sexual abuse victims yesterday afternoon and then a speech to educators and an interfaith gathering.

This morning is the speech that drew the pope to these shores in the first place: an address to the United Nations. This is a big moment for a pope -- John Paul II spoke at the UN twice, in 1979 and 1995, and Paul VI spoke at the UN in 1965. (Sorry, but the Vatican has posted the older speeches only in Italian.)

Benedict talked about his expectations for the speech during his remarks at the White House Wednesday morning, where he said, "On Friday, God willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts under way to make that institution an ever more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world’s peoples. On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity – as brothers and sisters dwelling in the same house and around that table which God’s bounty has set for all his children."

New York, of course, is greeting the pope with tabloid headlines. The Daily News splashes this morning with "The Pope of Hope," while the New York Post goes for a rebus, featuring the letters NY, an image of a heart with the papal seal inside, and a picture of the pope, along with the words, "Pope's Big Apple Weekend.'' Of course, inside, the Post gives the pontiff the tabloid treatment, featuring stories with the headlines "Papal audience for perv-priest victims" and "Cathedral cab bursts into fiery inferno.''

In New York I'll be joined by my colleague Michael Levenson, who took a look around yesterday while I was wrapping up in DC; if you missed his look at preparations, here it is.

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 7:00 AM | Comments (0)

April 17, 2008

Reaction to the pope's meeting with victims

Reaction to the pope's meeting with abuse victims from Boston is starting to come in. Here are some samples:

"This is a small, long-overdue step forward on a very long road. We're confident the meeting was meaningful for the participants and we're grateful that these victims have had the courage to come forward and speak up. But fundamentally it won't change things. Kids need action. Catholics deserve action. Action produces reform and reform, real reform, is sorely needed in the church hierarchy. Some talk is OK. A meeting is better. Decisive reform is crucial. We do vulnerable children a severe disservice if we set extraordinarily low expectations for a brilliant, experienced, powerful global leader like the pope. In the Gospel of Luke, we're told 'To whom much is given, much is expected.' The pope has been given the reins of a vast, wealthy, powerful global monarchy. He must use those reins to safeguard the vulnerable." Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach CA, southwestern regional director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)

“This is a welcome first step. We hope that all the bishops will make themselves available to survivors in their diocese, listen to their stories and treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve. We need to bring closure. Meeting with a victim is a transformative experience and we hope that the pope is transformed by it and now takes the additional steps needed to attain closure. First, hold accountable the bishops who knowingly transferred abusive priests and demand their resignations. Second, insist that survivors be treated with justice and kindness rather than as litigants. Finally, address the underlying issues that caused the sexual abuse crisis in the first place: the culture of clerical secrecy and the lack of meaningful lay involvement in decision making.” Dan Bartley, president, Voice of the Faithful

"I was not a victim but very much affected by the crisis. This goes a very long way to make up for Cardinal Law. Kudos to Cardinal O’Malley for his efforts." Carolyn E. Stys, a former Milton resident now living in Virginia

"The pope has been hiding this abuse issue for 20 + years as it was his job to do so before he became pope. The only reason he is meeting with a few hand picked victims is because Catholics are sick and tired and have stopped giving to the church. Please don't fool yourself into thinking this is anymore than a PR move as that is all that it is! This is by far not over in my eyes. I hope I'm wrong." Paul Livingston, San Diego

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 9:14 PM | Comments (0)

Town turns down Nestle Waters offer

By Sarah Schweitzer, Globe Staff

The town of Clinton has turned down a proposal from Nestle Waters North America Inc. that would have allowed the company to pump 240,000 gallons of water daily out of underground aquifers for bottling.

"The risk/reward trade-off wasn’t worth doing a deal like that," said Joseph Notaro, a selectman.

The water was to have been pumped from land that is owned by Clinton but which lies in the next-door town of Sterling.

The company estimated the deal would have meant up to $300,000 a year in revenue for Clinton and up to $200,000 annually for Sterling. Sterling residents opposed the deal, saying that it would have brought large trucks rumbling through town, depleted water needed for wells, and threatened local streams and brooks.

The five-member board of selectmen rejected the proposal in a unanimous vote last week.

Posted by mfinucane at 7:26 PM | Comments (0)

Quincy man convicted of choking his mother with Lifeline device

By Globe Staff

A 61-year-old Quincy man is facing a life sentence for killing his elderly mother in 2006 by choking her with the cord of the Lifeline emergency communication device she wore around her neck.

Hugh Crawford was convicted this afternoon in Superior Court of second-degree murder in the death of 92-year-old Mary Crawford, the Norfolk County district attorney's office said in a statement.

"Elder abuse is often among the most invisible forms of domestic violence, and this case shows how serious and tragic it can be," said District Attorney William Keating.

A Quincy ambulance, alerted by the Lifeline device -- a wearable device that can summon emergency help when an elderly person is in trouble -- responded to Mary Crawford's home on Tyler Street on June 8, 2006. She died of her injuries on June 11. Her son was arrested the next day.

An autopsy determined her death was a homicide. Testimony showed that her injuries were consistent with being choked by the cord of the Lifeline device, prosecutors said.

Sentencing before Superior Court Judge Paul Chernoff is scheduled for Friday. The mandatory sentence for second-degree murder is life in prison, with parole eligibility after 15 years.

Posted by mfinucane at 6:30 PM | Comments (0)

Dorchester woman faces charges after doughnut shop assault

By Matthew Collette, Globe Correspondent

A Dorchester woman is facing charges after she allegedly assaulted another woman in the parking lot of a Dorchester doughnut shop, Boston police said.

Just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, a 34-year-old woman was pulling up to the drive-through window of the Dunkin' Donuts on Morrissey Boulevard. The woman saw 27-year-old Kerry Gates backing up and honked, fearful that Gates would bump into her.

When the woman pulled away from the drive-through window, she found that Gates had blocked the exit. Gates then pulled the woman out of her car, threw her to the ground, and assaulted her, police said today.

Gates was arraigned on two counts of assault and battery, police said.

A 30-year-old man who was a passenger in Gates's car was also arrested and charged with being an accessory before the fact.

There was no listing in the telephone directory for Gates in Dorchester.

Posted by mfinucane at 6:05 PM | Comments (0)

Boston public health officials warn of rabies cases

By Globe Staff

Boston public health officials are warning West Roxbury residents to stay away from wild animals after two rabid animals were found in the neighborhood.

The two animals, one a stray cat and the other a skunk, were found between March 20 and April 2. During the same period, a domestic cat in another neighborhood was found to have rabies, the Boston Public Health Commission said in a statement released yesterday.

The commission said the spike in cases was unusual. Only five cases were reported in the whole city last year.

The commission also urged people to make sure their pets are up to date with their rabies vaccinations.

People bitten by an unknown stray animal or wild animal that might have rabies should wash the wound well with soap and water and call the doctor or go to the nearest emergency room, the commission advised.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:49 PM | Comments (0)

Mobster pleads guilty in Springfield slaying

(AP File Photo)

Frankie Roche at a 2005 appearance in state court.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

It may sound like the plot from a movie: A New York mob family becomes dissatisfied with the money flowing into it from a "crew" in a smaller New England city. And members hatch a scheme to kill the man who heads the crew.

But prosecutors say the story that unfolded in Springfield was all too real.

Frankie A. Roche, 35, of Westfield pleaded guilty today in federal court to murdering Adolfo Bruno, the alleged head of the mob crew in Springfield. In a statement of charges filed today with the plea agreement, prosecutors alleged that Roche and other members of the crew acted to "usurp control" of the crew in order to increase the income from racketeering both for themselves and the Genovese crime family in New York.

Roche, who was paid $10,000 to commit the 2003 slaying, could have faced the death penalty. But in exchange for his plea to a charge of murder in aid of racketeering, prosecutors will recommend that he receive a life sentence, the plea agreement said.

Roche has also agreed to cooperate fully with law enforcement, and if he provides them "substantial assistance," his sentence could be reduced further, according to the court documents.

Warren T. Bamford, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston office, said La Cosa Nostra, more commonly known as the Mafia, is still a major concern throughout Massachusetts and the FBI will continue to target it.

"I still think sometimes there is a misconception that the LCN has gone away, but that's incorrect, both in western Massachusetts and eastern Massachusetts,'' Bamford said. "There are still organizations in existence, crews, groups that are still active and thriving...and it's important for us to go after them.''

Bamford said that the turmoil and power struggle in the Genovese family is not uncommon within the Mafia. "It kind of represents how they do business, how they act and how they settle differences,'' Bamford said.

Roche admitted to murdering Bruno on Nov. 23, 2003, shooting him with a .45-caliber pistol as he exited a Springfield social club, prosecutors said.

The crew's illegal activities included illegal gambling, extortion, and loan sharking, according to the documents. The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI, and several other agencies, the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement.

Roche's attorney, Colleen Quinn Brady of New York, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:32 PM | Comments (0)

Bidding for 'Curse' Red Sox jersey tops $30,000

(Dominic Chavez/Globe Staff)

The David Ortiz jersey that had been secretly buried at the new Yankee Stadium was shown today to Jerry House (right) and 8-year-old Ryan Reardon, both of whom are cancer patients. Michael Andrews (center) is chairman of development at The Jimmy Fund, which is auctioning the jersey to raise money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

It was meant to be a curse on the New York Yankees, but it may turn out to be a blessing for people with cancer.

The Red Sox jersey that caused a big splash in the media when a construction worker revealed he had placed it in the concrete under the new Yankee Stadium was unveiled for the first time today in Boston at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The Yankees donated the tattered David Ortiz jersey to the Jimmy Fund, which raises funds for cancer care and research at Dana-Farber.

The fund is auctioning the jersey on eBay, where bidding started at $500. By late afternoon, a bid of $30,101 was shown on the auction website.

It's not the first time Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and his family have donated to the fund.

"As much as they’re the evil empire (for Boston sports fans), they’ve been quite generous to the Jimmy Fund," said Bill Schaller, a Dana-Farber spokesman.

(Frances Roberts/AP)

Frank Gramarossa, project executive for the new Yankee Stadium, removed the jersey from the floor of a service corridor on Sunday.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:08 PM | Comments (0)

Preparing for the pontiff in New York

By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

NEW YORK -- An organist played through the entire scale, filling the vast nave of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick with the shrillest high notes and the biggest, deepest basses, as he tuned up the 78-year-old, 9,000-pipe organ that will serenade Pope Benedict XVI. Outside, workers on their hands and knees scrubbed the stone steps, while a newly hoisted Vatican flag fluttered in the breeze.

In New York, there was a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation today as the city geared up for the pope’s visit. Workers went into cleaning and decorating mode, wheeling ficus trees into the cathedral and washing away the last remnants of grit as they prepared for the pope to arrive Saturday morning to celebrate Mass for priests, deacons, and members of religious orders.

"You can see a lot more activity and excitement -- maybe the word is more of an awakening," said Chuck Leonard, a 65-year-old investment banker and regular parishioner at the cathedral who stopped by to say a prayer to St. Jude. "When he comes, it’s almost like a lightning bolt. It’s a very positive effect."

Margie and David Acker were among 33 pilgrims who had come from the Diocese of Savannah, Ga., to see the pope celebrate Mass on Sunday at Yankee Stadium. "We’re going to see our Papa!" Margie Acker exulted during a visit to the cathedral. "I love him. What a gift to us. He’s a shepherd for all of us -- for all denominations."

Their friend and fellow pilgrim from Georgia, Betsy Lindsay, reached into her pocketbook and produced a large ticket to the Mass, printed in gold ink and stamped with an image of the pope. "We feel like Willy Wonka," Lindsay said. "We’ve got the golden ticket."

Dick McKinney, who was visiting from Seattle, said he hoped that Benedict, who was formerly the enforcer of doctrinal fidelity at the Vatican, would inspire Catholics to more closely integrate Catholicism into their lives.

"I hope he can cause people to be stricter about the teaching," McKinney said. "I’m not confident about that, but I’m hopeful."

Leonard freely offered that he has differences with the Catholic Church and believes priests should be allowed to marry. But he echoed Mckinney’s sentiment nevertheless, saying Benedict’s arrival in New York sparked in him "an impulse to look inside," and reexamine his commitment to his faith.

Benedict has a series of events planned, including a speech to the United Nations, a visit to a seminary in Yonkers, the Mass at the cathedral and a visit to the Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side, where he will meet Jews on Friday just ahead of the Sabbath and the Passover holiday.

At the synagogue today, security was tight as guards posted at the entryway forbade anyone from going inside. But preparations were clearly underway, as a dozen workers used long-handled mops and ladders to scrub down the synagogue’s crimson awning, wash its ornate sandstone façade, and polish its bronze handrails. During a peek inside, workers were busy decorating the sanctuary with buckets of white flowers. The wooden benches were polished to a brilliant shine.

"I’ve never been so thrilled to do a job as this one," said Raymond G. Saleeby, the president of REMCO, the company that was cleaning the synagogue. "This is history."

He was outside the building, standing by his chauffeur-driven Mercedes, and watching with arms folded as his workers cleaned and then took a break to eat slices of greasy pizza on the synagogue stairs.

"I told them ‘Don’t drip!’" Saleeby said.

So what’s the secret to cleaning a building in preparation for the pope?

"We do it with a little bit of holy water," he said with a laugh.

Posted by aryan at 4:26 PM | Comments (0)

EXCLUSIVE: Pope meets with Boston abuse victims

By Michael Paulson
Globe Staff

WASHINGTON _ Pope Benedict XVI, in a dramatic move likely to alter forever the image of his pontificate, met this afternoon with five victims of clergy sexual abuse from Boston.

The private meeting, which was first reported by the Globe this afternoon and has since been confirmed by the Vatican, was brokered by Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston.

The meeting took place at the papal nunciature, which is the home of the pope's ambassador to the United States. The meeting did not appear on the pope's schedule, but took place during the window between a Mass this morning at Nationals Park and a talk that he is to deliver later this afternoon to Catholic educators gathered at Catholic University of America.

A papal spokesman told the Associated Press that O'Malley presented the pontiff with a notebook listing the names of more than one thousand abuse victims from the Boston archdiocese.

The meeting between a pope and abuse victims is a huge development in the clergy sexual abuse crisis that has roiled the Catholic Church since 2002, when the Globe started publishing a series of stories about abuse by priests. The pope at the time, John Paul II, did not visit the United States after the crisis broke -- he traveled to Canada and Mexico but flew over the United States without stopping in 2002 -- and neither he nor Benedict is known to have met with abuse survivors prior to today, despite repeated requests from victims.

O’Malley facilitated the visit with victims after the pope declined his repeated entreaties to visit Boston. O’Malley had argued that the pope could best directly address the abuse issue in Boston, viewed by many as the epicenter of the crisis, but the Vatican cited the pope’s age and health in deciding to limit his travels to New York, which is the home of the United Nations, and Washington, which is the seat of the US government.

In an interview with the Globe last Friday, O’Malley said a papal visit with victims “is really his call.’’

“I am convinced that he is very aware of the needs of our country and certainly wants to be helpful to the church in the United States by his visit,’’ O’Malley said.

Asked again last night about the prospects for a papal visit with victims, O’Malley said, cryptically, “nothing has been announced.’’

But in the Friday interview, O’Malley said he has found meeting with victims to be very helpful.

“I think it has been very positive, in helping to understand the serious damage that is occasioned by child abuse,’’ he said. “I think in the past, people were not aware of the long-range effects. And, certainly, if you have the opportunity to meet with survivors, it becomes very apparent that this kind of tragic activity in their childhood often marks a person for life and is a source of great distress.’’

O’Malley also said meetings with victims can help some reconnect with their Catholic faith.

“It also, I think, has given me an opportunity to try and reach out to survivors and to help them to realize that in the Catholic Church we have a great sorrow for what happened to them,’’ he said. “And many of the survivors themselves, in my experience, are looking for a way to reconnect with the church. Some have walked away from the church, but others have a real desire to have a relationship with the church.”

The victims – including men and women, all of them abused as minors by priests in the Boston area – met with the 81-year-old pontiff at the papal nunciature, which is the Vatican’s Embassy here, for about a half hour. They were accompanied by O’Malley.

None of the participants could immediately be reached for comment.

But David Clohessy, the national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a telephone interview, "It’s a very long-overdue small step forward, especially if it leads to reform. Talk can produce change or complicity. We hope it's the former. But the cold, hard reality is no child is safer tomorrow than they are today.''

Others were more sanguine. Carolyn E. Stys, a lay Catholic who grew up in Milton but now lives in Virginia, e-mailed after reading about the meeting to say how delighted she was. "I was not a victim but very much affected by the crisis,'' she said. "This goes a very long way to make up for Cardinal Law. Kudos to Cardinal O’Malley for his efforts."

The scale of the abuse is still the subject of some controversy, but the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, which did a study for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, found that 4,392 priests had been accused of abusing 10,667 individuals between 1950 and 2002. The crisis led in December 2002 to the resignation of Cardinal Bernard F. Law of Boston, who was criticized for failing to remove abusive priests from ministry; John Paul II named Law to oversee a prominent basilica in Rome, and appointed O'Malley to replace him as archbishop of Boston.

Today’s meeting caps a remarkable start to Benedict’s first papal trip to the United States, in which the 81-year-old pontiff has repeatedly discussed the abuse crisis. His comments have been criticized by victim advocates, who want him to go further by disciplining bishops who failed to remove abusive priests, but the remarks have nonetheless been striking for their detail and frequency.

"This is a huge step forward,'' said the Rev. Keith F. Pecklers, a professor of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. "We basically were told before he arrived that he would probably address this topic at one event, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and now we've had three references, plus this meeting, which is hugely significant. It means he is trying to communicate that he's taking this very seriously, and that it's the fundamental issue in the US church right now in terms of trying to move forward. He wants to give a clear signal to America that he gets it.''

In his most recent comments, in a homily delivered at a Mass at Nationals Park this morning, Benedict told 46,000 worshipers “to assist those who have been hurt.’’

“I acknowledge the pain which the church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors,’’ he said. “No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse.’’

His remarks this morning followed a lengthy discussion of the abuse crisis last night in a speech to the 350 American bishops, who gathered to meet with the pope at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in northeast Washington.

“Among the countersigns to the Gospel of life found in America and elsewhere is one that causes deep shame: the sexual abuse of minors,’’ he said after vespers in the basilica crypt. “Many of you have spoken to me of the enormous pain that your communities have suffered when clerics have betrayed their priestly obligations and duties by such gravely immoral behavior.’’

Most strikingly, Benedict echoed a comment made by Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, saying, “responding to this situation has not been easy and, as the president of your Episcopal Conference has indicated, it was ‘sometimes very badly handled’.” He urged the bishops to work on prevention measures, but also said that most clergy “do outstanding work.’’

Benedict, who was previously not known for his concern about this issue, made clear that the issue is of concern to him on Tuesday, when he chose to take, as the first of four pre-submitted questions from reporters, a query about the abuse crisis.

“It is a great suffering for the church in the United States, for the church in general, and for me personally that this could happen,’’ he said on the plane, dubbed Shepherd One. “If I read the histories of these victims, it’s difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing and to give the love of God to these children.

We are deeply ashamed, and we will do all that is possible that this cannot happen in the future.’’

Benedict has a long and complex history with the abuse crisis. He also has a deep familiarity with the crisis, because in his previous post as prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, he was in charge of the office that oversaw the abuse cases that were referred to Rome by dioceses around the world. Early in the crisis, when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he appeared to minimize the scope and seriousness of the crisis. But just before he was elected pope, he referred to abusive behavior as “filth.’’ And, after being elected pope, he removed from ministry a prominent Mexican priest, the Rev. Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, who was repeatedly accused of sexual abuse but was not disciplined by Pope John Paul II.

Michael Paulson can be reached by e-mail at mpaulson@globe.com.

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 4:12 PM | Comments (0)

Mistrial declared after juror accused of sexual harassment

By John R. Ellement and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

A Suffolk Superior Court judge declared a mistrial today in a brutal murder case after two weeks of unsuccessful deliberations in which the lone holdout was accused of sexually harassing female jurors.

The panel sent a note to Judge Patrick Brady Wednesday saying that the eight women on the jury were being sexual harassed to the point that one broke down in tears. The man accused of the abuse was the only person voting to acquit two men of the 2004 murder of Betsy Tripp, who was tied up, tortured, and had her throat slashed.

The judge rejected the accusations and accused the jurors of using the harassment allegations as a tactic to rid themselves of the lone holdout. Brady did however grant a mistrial this afternoon when jurors still failed to reach a unanimous verdict.

Prosecutors had taken the sexual harassment allegations to the Supreme Judicial Court and asked Associate Justice Margot Botsford to investigate. Botsford declined to intervene in the case.

A new trial has been scheduled June 9. The defendants -- Quincy Butler, 34, and William Wood, 33 -- are both charged with first-degree murder and armed assault with intent to murder. According to prosecutors, the two men broke into Tipp’s Dorchester home with an “addiction-fueled robbery plot” on Feb. 12, 2004. It ended with Tripp dead and another victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the face that claimed his left eye.

Tripp’s sister, Cynthia Gorton, thanked the jurors this afternoon and said she was confident the men would be convicted because of the strength of the investigation by police and prosecutors.

“I’m honored that they would put that much time into my sister’s life,” Gorton said of the jurors.

The original jury had deliberated for four days when one juror was dismissed for health reasons. An alternate joined the jury on April 9 and deliberations started over.

Posted by aryan at 3:55 PM | Comments (0)

Prices increase on ferry to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

Ferry rides to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are going up 50 cents to $2 because of higher fuel costs.

The Steamship Authority voted Tuesday on fare hikes that will take effect May 1. Hy-Line Cruises, their private competitor, added a $2 one-way fuel surcharge that began April 1.

The Steamship Authority's treasurer, Robert Davis, said fuel this year would cost at least $1.5 million more than the authority budgeted, according to minutes of the meeting.

The new rates on the steamship:

--One-way tickets to Martha’s Vineyard from Woods Hole will go from $6.50 to $7.

--Parking at Woods Hole and Palmer Avenue lots will go from $10 to $12 per day from May 15 to Sept. 14.

--Rates for each segment of a car or small truck trip to and from Martha’s Vineyard will increase by $2.50.

--One-way Nantucket fares from Hyannis will go from $14.50 to $16 and from $30 to $32 on the high-speed boat.

--Parking at Lewis Bay and Yarmouth Road lots will go from $12 to $15 per day from May 15 through Sept. 14.

--Rates for cars and small trucks to and from Nantucket will go up to $5 per segment.

Posted by aryan at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)

Pope addresses abuse, again

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For the third day in a row, Pope Benedict XVI this morning directly addressed the clergy sexual abuse crisis that has roiled the Catholic Church in the United States.

In the homily he has just delivered at a sun-drenched open-air Mass in the brand new Nationals Park stadium in Washington, Benedict told about 46,000 worshipers that he understands the suffering the crisis has caused.

"I acknowledge the pain which the church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors,'' he said, his voice low, somber, and measured as he read his comments about the abuse crisis in heavily accented English. "No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse.''

Benedict is rapidly making it clear that he views the abuse crisis as a major issue in the United States; the first statement he made on the plane here Tuesday was about the abuse issue, and then he addressed it again in detail when speaking to the bishops last night.

This morning, he addressed his concerns about the crisis to laypeople.

"Yesterday I spoke with your bishops about this,'' he said. "Today, I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt. Also, I ask you to love your priests, and to affirm them in the excellent work that they do. And above all, pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his gifts upon the church, the gifts that lead to conversion, forgiveness, and growth in holiness."

As he has done in his previous remarks on this issue, Benedict urged "loving pastoral attention" for victims, as well as measures to prevent future abuse.

"Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the church,'' he said. "Great efforts have already been made to deal honestly and fairly with this tragic situation, and to ensure that children -- whom our Lord loves so deeply, and who are our greatest treasure -- can grow up in a safe environment. These efforts to protect children must continue."

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

The full text of the pope's homily is below.

The text of the pope's homily:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
"Peace be with you!" (Jn 20:19). With these, the first words of the Risen Lord to his disciples, I greet all of you in the joy of this Easter season. Before all else, I thank God for the blessing of being in your midst. I am particularly grateful to Archbishop Wuerl for his kind words of welcome.

Our Mass today brings the Church in the United States back to its roots in nearby Maryland, and commemorates the bicentennial of the first chapter of its remarkable growth - the division by my predecessor, Pope Pius VII, of the original Diocese of Baltimore and the establishment of the Dioceses of Boston, Bardstown (now Louisville), New York and Philadelphia. Two hundred years later, the Church in America can rightfully praise the accomplishment of past generations in bringing together widely differing immigrant groups within the unity of the Catholic faith and in a common commitment to the spread of the Gospel. At the same time, conscious of its rich diversity, the Catholic community in this country has come to appreciate ever more fully the importance of each individual and group offering its own particular gifts to the whole. The Church in the United States is now called to look to the future, firmly grounded in the faith passed on by previous generations, and ready to meet new challenges - challenges no less demanding than those faced by your forebears - with the hope born of God's love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5).

In the exercise of my ministry as the Successor of Peter, I have come to America to confirm you, my brothers and sisters, in the faith of the Apostles (cf. Lk 22:32). I have come to proclaim anew, as Peter proclaimed on the day of Pentecost, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Messiah, risen from the dead, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father, and established as judge of the living and the dead (cf. Acts 2:14ff.). I have come to repeat the Apostle's urgent call to conversion and the forgiveness of sins, and to implore from the Lord a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church in this country. As we have heard throughout this Easter season, the Church was born of the Spirit's gift of repentance and faith in the risen Lord. In every age she is impelled by the same Spirit to bring to men and women of every race, language and people (cf. Rev 5:9) the good news of our reconciliation with God in Christ.

The readings of today's Mass invite us to consider the growth of the Church in America as one chapter in the greater story of the Church's expansion following the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. In those readings we see the inseparable link between the risen Lord, the gift of the Spirit for the forgiveness of sins, and the mystery of the Church. Christ established his Church on the foundation of the Apostles (cf. Rev 21:14) as a visible, structured community which is at the same time a spiritual communion, a mystical body enlivened by the Spirit's manifold gifts, and the sacrament of salvation for all humanity (cf. Lumen Gentium, 8). In every time and place, the Church is called to grow in unity through constant conversion to Christ, whose saving work is proclaimed by the Successors of the Apostles and celebrated in the sacraments. This unity, in turn, gives rise to an unceasing missionary outreach, as the Spirit spurs believers to proclaim "the great works of God" and to invite all people to enter the community of those saved by the blood of Christ and granted new life in his Spirit.

I pray, then, that this significant anniversary in the life of the Church in the United States, and the presence of the Successor of Peter in your midst, will be an occasion for all Catholics to reaffirm their unity in the apostolic faith, to offer their contemporaries a convincing account of the hope which inspires them (cf. 1 Pet 3:15), and to be renewed in missionary zeal for the extension of God's Kingdom.

The world needs this witness! Who can deny that the present moment is a crossroads, not only for the Church in America but also for society as a whole? It is a time of great promise, as we see the human family in many ways drawing closer together and becoming ever more interdependent. Yet at the same time we see clear signs of a disturbing breakdown in the very foundations of society: signs of alienation, anger and polarization on the part of many of our contemporaries; increased violence; a weakening of the moral sense; a coarsening of social relations; and a growing forgetfulness of God. The Church, too, sees signs of immense promise in her many strong parishes and vital movements, in the enthusiasm for the faith shown by so many young people, in the number of those who each year embrace the Catholic faith, and in a greater interest in prayer and catechesis. At the same time she senses, often painfully, the presence of division and polarization in her midst, as well as the troubling realization that many of the baptized, rather than acting as a spiritual leaven in the world, are inclined to embrace attitudes contrary to the truth of the Gospel.

"Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!" (cf. Ps 104:30). The words of today's Responsorial Psalm are a prayer which rises up from the heart of the Church in every time and place. They remind us that the Holy Spirit has been poured out as the first fruits of a new creation, "new heavens and a new earth" (cf. 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1), in which God's peace will reign and the human family will be reconciled in justice and love. We have heard Saint Paul tell us that all creation is even now "groaning" in expectation of that true freedom which is God's gift to his children (Rom 8:21-22), a freedom which enables us to live in conformity to his will. Today let us pray fervently that the Church in America will be renewed in that same Spirit, and sustained in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel to a world that longs for genuine freedom (cf. Jn 8:32), authentic happiness, and the fulfillment of its deepest aspirations!

Here I wish to offer a special word of gratitude and encouragment to all those who have taken up the challenge of the Second Vatican Council, so often reiterated by Pope John Paul II, and committed their lives to the new evangelization. I thank my brother Bishops, priests and deacons, men and women religious, parents, teachers and catechists. The fidelity and courage with which the Church in this country will respond to the challenges raised by an increasingly secular and materialistic culture will depend in large part upon your own fidelity in handing on the treasure of our Catholic faith. Young people need to be helped to discern the path that leads to true freedom: the path of a sincere and generous imitation of Christ, the path of commitment to justice and peace. Much progress has been made in developing solid programs of catechesis, yet so much more remains to be done in forming the hearts and minds of the young in knowledge and love of the Lord. The challenges confronting us require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith. But they also call for cultivating a mindset, an intellectual "culture", which is genuinely Catholic, confident in the profound harmony of faith and reason, and prepared to bring the richness of faith's vision to bear on the urgent issues which affect the future of American society.

Dear friends, my visit to the United States is meant to be a witness to "Christ our Hope". Americans have always been a people of hope: your ancestors came to this country with the expectation of finding new freedom and opportunity, while the vastness of the unexplored wilderness inspired in them the hope of being able to start completely anew, building a new nation on new foundations. To be sure, this promise was not experienced by all the inhabitants of this land; one thinks of the injustices endured by the native American peoples and by those brought here forcibly from Africa as slaves. Yet hope, hope for the future, is very much a part of the American character. And the Christian virtue of hope - the hope poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, the hope which supernaturally purifies and corrects our aspirations by focusing them on the Lord and his saving plan - that hope has also marked, and continues to mark, the life of the Catholic community in this country.

It is in the context of this hope born of God's love and fidelity that I acknowledge the pain which the Church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors. No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention. Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the Church. Great efforts have already been made to deal honestly and fairly with this tragic situation, and to ensure that children - whom our Lord loves so deeply (cf. Mk 10:14), and who are our greatest treasure - can grow up in a safe environment. These efforts to protect children must continue. Yesterday I spoke with your Bishops about this. Today I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt. Also, I ask you to love your priests, and to affirm them in the excellent work that they do. And above all, pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his gifts upon the Church, the gifts that lead to conversion, forgiveness and growth in holiness.

Saint Paul speaks, as we heard in the second reading, of a kind of prayer which arises from the depths of our hearts in sighs too deep for words, in "groanings" (Rom 8:26) inspired by the Spirit. This is a prayer which yearns, in the midst of chastisement, for the fulfillment of God's promises. It is a prayer of unfailing hope, but also one of patient endurance and, often, accompanied by suffering for the truth. Through this prayer, we share in the mystery of Christ's own weakness and suffering, while trusting firmly in the victory of his Cross. With this prayer, may the Church in America embrace ever more fully the way of conversion and fidelity to the demands of the Gospel. And may all Catholics experience the consolation of hope, and the Spirit's gifts of joy and strength.

In today's Gospel, the risen Lord bestows the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and grants them the authority to forgive sins. Through the surpassing power of Christ's grace, entrusted to frail human ministers, the Church is constantly reborn and each of us is given the hope of a new beginning. Let us trust in the Spirit's power to inspire conversion, to heal every wound, to overcome every division, and to inspire new life and freedom. How much we need these gifts! And how close at hand they are, particularly in the sacrament of Penance! The liberating power of this sacrament, in which our honest confession of sin is met by God's merciful word of pardon and peace, needs to be rediscovered and reappropriated by every Catholic. To a great extent, the renewal of the Church in America depends on the renewal of the practice of Penance and the growth in holiness which that sacrament both inspires and accomplishes.

"In hope we were saved!" (Rom 8:24)." As the Church in the United States gives thanks for the blessings of the past two hundred years, I invite you, your families, and every parish and religious community, to trust in the power of grace to create a future of promise for God's people in this country. I ask you, in the Lord Jesus, to set aside all division and to work with joy to prepare a way for him, in fidelity to his word and in constant conversion to his will. Above all, I urge you to continue to be a leaven of evangelical hope in American society, striving to bring the light and truth of the Gospel to the task of building an ever more just and free world for generations yet to come.

Those who have hope must live different lives! (cf. Spe Salvi, 2). By your prayers, by the witness of your faith, by the fruitfulness of your charity, may you point the way towards that vast horizon of hope which God is even now opening up to his Church, and indeed to all humanity: the vision of a world reconciled and renewed in Christ Jesus, our Savior. To him be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

* * *
Queridos hermanos y hermanas de lengua española:

Deseo saludarles con las mismas palabras que Cristo Resucitado dirigió a los apóstoles: "Paz a ustedes" (Jn 20,19). Que la alegría de saber que el Señor ha triunfado sobre la muerte y el pecado les ayude a ser, allá donde se encuentren, testigos de su amor y sembradores de la esperanza que Él vino a traernos y que jamás defrauda.

No se dejen vencer por el pesimismo, la inercia o los problemas. Antes bien, fieles a los compromisos que adquirieron en su bautismo, profundicen cada día en el conocimiento de Cristo y permitan que su corazón quede conquistado por su amor y por su perdón.

La Iglesia en los Estados Unidos, acogiendo en su seno a tantos de sus hijos emigrantes, ha ido creciendo gracias también a la vitalidad del testimonio de fe de los fieles de lengua española. Por eso, el Señor les llama a seguir contribuyendo al futuro de la Iglesia en este País y a la difusión del Evangelio. Sólo si están unidos a Cristo y entre ustedes, su testimonio evangelizador será creíble y florecerá en copiosos frutos de paz y reconciliación en medio de un mundo muchas veces marcado por divisiones y enfrentamientos.

La Iglesia espera mucho de ustedes. No la defrauden en su donación generosa. "Lo que han recibido gratis, denlo gratis" (Mt 10,8). "

Posted by mpaulson at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)

Class on hold in Roxbury while students watch pope

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

Pupils at St. Patrick School in Roxbury may not have been able to take a field trip today to Nationals Park in Washington D.C., where Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating Mass with more than 45,000 people. But 45 students were still part of the crowd.

The first- and eighth-grade classes at the Catholic grammar school are watching the Mass on television in their classrooms to share in the papal visit, said principal Mary Lanata.

“It’s getting caught up in the excitement and being a part of the [45,000] people in the baseball stadium,” Lanata said. “This is living history."

For the younger students, it will be an introduction to the papacy. Lanata said they were excited “to make sure the pope said Mass the same way.”

Posted by aryan at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)

The scene at Nationals Park

It's another stunningly beautiful day in Washington -- sunny, with a projected high of 76 -- and the brand new Nationals Park, which opened last month, is the setting for Pope Benedict XVI's first public Mass in the US. I'm in a press box on the sixth floor level here -- from my seat I can see the domes of the Capitol and the Library of Congress, and to my right and left are stadium seats packed with an estimated 46,000 people.

On the field are 14 cardinals and 250 bishops and 1,300 priests and some very lucky laypeople. Of course, there's sacred ground, and then there's sacred ground -- the infield has been fenced off to protect the grass for baseball, so the seating is only in the outfield and the stands. The altar, in the outfield, was designed by students at the Catholic University of America here in Washington.

Around the stadium, people lined up to buy $20 Benedict T-shirts and other souvenirs. In the stands I met Ann Johnson, 49, of Bel Air, Maryland, who came to the Mass with her daughter and her sister.

"I saw Pope John Paul II in Baltimore, and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world when he came out in the popemobile -- I can't describe it to you because I feel like I'm going to cry,'' she said. "The pope does so much good for the world. This pope is so new, everyone is curious to see the kind of relationship he'll have with folks here. I'm looking forward to seeing him.''

Janae Zarate, 21, of Fresno, said she flew out with a group from the Neocatechumenal Way, a Catholic movement, because "I wanted to hear the word of the Lord.'' Zarate said she saw Benedict once before, at World Youth Day in Cologne in 2005. "He gives a sign of hope that there's something else out there, beyond what we see every day in our life,'' she said.

Vern Heeren, 65, and his wife, Carole, 62, told me they converted to Catholicism five years ago, drawn in by the magnetism of John Paul II. The Lincoln, Calif., couple said they got tickets to the Mass from their parish. "It just seemed like a wonderful opportunity,'' Vern Heeren said. "We didn't think there was any possibility we could do something like this.''

Benedict arrived around 9:30, and took a brief spin around the perimeter of the field in his popemobile. There are four choirs performing, with a total of about 500 singers.

The pope is now seated in his throne, and the crowd is cheering. The Mass is about to begin.

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 9:45 AM | Comments (0)

TV Guide

Good morning from Nationals Park, where the pope is scheduled to say Mass for about 45,000 people starting at 10 a.m.

For those of you who want to watch from home, Boston Catholic Television is airing the Mass, and the US bishops conference is streaming it here. Last night, I watched the pope's vespers service at the National Shrine on streaming video, and, while it wasn't exactly hi-def TV, it was pretty great -- it seemed like they had a camera in every corner of the shrine -- and the commentary, not surprisingly, was quite detailed and filled with insider-y observations.

I also got an e-mail from Comcast, saying that, if you want to watch the Mass on your own schedule, digital cable customers can watch the Masses (the one here this morning and the one Sunday at Yankee Stadium) for free through April 27. Here are the details, sent along for the from Comcast's Marc Goodman:

"The two Papal Masses, which occur during the Pope’s first visit to the United States, are scheduled for Thursday, April 17 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., and Sunday, April 20, at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Both events will be covered as part of EWTN’s live coverage of the Pope’s entire trip to the United States, with Comcast Digital Cable customers also having the ability to watch the Masses anytime they want with the ability to pause, fast forward and rewind. Each Mass will be available for On Demand viewing by the next morning and will remain available through Sunday, April 27...Comcast Digital Cable customers can watch the masses by choosing the “Get Local” section of On Demand and then selecting the “Papal Mass” folder."

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 8:44 AM | Comments (0)

April 16, 2008

Benedict and the Bishops

The pope's speech tonight to the bishops was a blockbuster -- 6,000 words delivered over an hour, about half devoted to answering three pre-submitted questions from bishops -- and a reminder of what his former students are always talking about -- it was rich and wide-ranging and frank and provided a lot of fodder for further discussion.

After the speech, Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston phoned to give me his reaction -- he was seated up front with the other cardinals. Here's what he said:

"It touched on every theme imaginable, which I’m sure that he will continue to unpack during the rest of his trip here. It was quite an address. I think that there weren’t any surprises, but the fact that he was so thorough -- that's his way -- and that he included so many different themes and tied them all together. It was so artful. He is a born teacher.''

I asked the cardinal what message he took from the speech, and he said, "Certainly the call to rededicate ourselves to the values of the Gospel, and to evangelize, to help our people to rediscover the riches of the Gospel. I think it was a pretty hopeful address, at the same time recognizing the many challenges that the church faces in our country and in the world.''

As for the pope's lengthy discussion of the abuse crisis, O'Malley said, "I was not at all surprised. I expected him to address that. He was certainly very aware of how focused we have been on the problem in the US, and how much people have suffered. He also recognized the efforts that have been made to create safe environments for our people.''

I'll have a story in tomorrow's paper, but for those of you who just want to read the pope's words, I'm posting the (very) full text below:

"Dear Brother Bishops,

It gives me great joy to greet you today, at the start of my visit to this country, and I thank Cardinal George for the gracious words he has addressed to me on your behalf. I want to thank all of you, especially the Officers of the Episcopal Conference, for the hard work that has gone into the preparation of this visit. My grateful appreciation goes also to the staff and volunteers of the National Shrine, who have welcomed us here this evening. American Catholics are noted for their loyal devotion to the see of Peter. My pastoral visit here is an opportunity to strengthen further the bonds of communion that unite us. We began by celebrating Evening Prayer in this Basilica dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a shrine of special significance to American Catholics, right in the heart of your capital city. Gathered in prayer with Mary, Mother of Jesus, we lovingly commend to our heavenly Father the people of God in every part of the United States.

For the Catholic communities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville, this is a year of particular celebration, as it marks the bicentenary of the establishment of these local Churches as Dioceses. I join you in giving thanks for the many graces granted to the Church there during these two centuries. As this year also marks the bicentenary of the elevation of the founding see of Baltimore to an Archdiocese, it gives me an opportunity to recall with admiration and gratitude the life and ministry of John Carroll, the first Bishop of Baltimore - a worthy leader of the Catholic community in your newly independent nation. His tireless efforts to spread the Gospel in the vast territory under his care laid the foundations for the ecclesial life of your country and enabled the Church in America to grow to maturity. Today the Catholic community you serve is one of the largest in the world, and one of the most influential. How important it is, then, to let your light so shine before your fellow citizens and before the world, "that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Mt 5:16).

Many of the people to whom John Carroll and his fellow Bishops were ministering two centuries ago had travelled from distant lands. The diversity of their origins is reflected in the rich variety of ecclesial life in present-day America. Brother Bishops, I want to encourage you and your communities to continue to welcome the immigrants who join your ranks today, to share their joys and hopes, to support them in their sorrows and trials, and to help them flourish in their new home. This, indeed, is what your fellow countrymen have done for generations. From the beginning, they have opened their doors to the tired, the poor, the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free" (cf. Sonnet inscribed on the Statue of Liberty). These are the people whom America has made her own.

Of those who came to build a new life here, many were able to make good use of the resources and opportunities that they found, and to attain a high level of prosperity. Indeed, the people of this country are known for their great vitality and creativity. They are also known for their generosity. After the attack on the Twin Towers in September 2001, and again after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Americans displayed their readiness to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters in need. On the international level, the contribution made by the people of America to relief and rescue operations after the tsunami of December 2004 is a further illustration of this compassion. Let me express my particular appreciation for the many forms of humanitarian assistance provided by American Catholics through Catholic Charities and other agencies. Their generosity has borne fruit in the care shown to the poor and needy, and in the energy that has gone into building the nationwide network of Catholic parishes, hospitals, schools and universities. All of this gives great cause for thanksgiving.

America is also a land of great faith. Your people are remarkable for their religious fervor and they take pride in belonging to a worshipping community. They have confidence in God, and they do not hesitate to bring moral arguments rooted in biblical faith into their public discourse. Respect for freedom of religion is deeply ingrained in the American consciousness - a fact which has contributed to this country's attraction for generations of immigrants, seeking a home where they can worship freely in accordance with their beliefs.

In this connection, I happily acknowledge the presence among you of Bishops from all the venerable Eastern Churches in communion with the Successor of Peter, whom I greet with special joy. Dear Brothers, I ask you to assure your communities of my deep affection and my continued prayers, both for them and for the many brothers and sisters who remain in their land of origin. Your presence here is a reminder of the courageous witness to Christ of so many members of your communities, often amid suffering, in their respective homelands. It is also a great enrichment of the ecclesial life of America, giving vivid expression to the Church's catholicity and the variety of her liturgical and spiritual traditions.

It is in this fertile soil, nourished from so many different sources, that all of you, Brother Bishops, are called to sow the seeds of the Gospel today. This leads me to ask how, in the twenty-first century, a bishop can best fulfill the call to "make all things new in Christ, our hope"? How can he lead his people to "an encounter with the living God", the source of that life-transforming hope of which the Gospel speaks (cf. Spe Salvi, 4)? Perhaps he needs to begin by clearing away some of the barriers to such an encounter. While it is true that this country is marked by a genuinely religious spirit, the subtle influence of secularism can nevertheless color the way people allow their faith to influence their behavior. Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.

For an affluent society, a further obstacle to an encounter with the living God lies in the subtle influence of materialism, which can all too easily focus the attention on the hundredfold, which God promises now in this time, at the expense of the eternal life which he promises in the age to come (cf. Mk 10:30). People today need to be reminded of the ultimate purpose of their lives. They need to recognize that implanted within them is a deep thirst for God. They need to be given opportunities to drink from the wells of his infinite love. It is easy to be entranced by the almost unlimited possibilities that science and technology place before us; it is easy to make the mistake of thinking we can obtain by our own efforts the fulfillment of our deepest needs. This is an illusion. Without God, who alone bestows upon us what we by ourselves cannot attain (cf. Spe Salvi, 31), our lives are ultimately empty. People need to be constantly reminded to cultivate a relationship with him who came that we might have life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). The goal of all our pastoral and catechetical work, the object of our preaching, and the focus of our sacramental ministry should be to help people establish and nurture that living relationship with "Christ Jesus, our hope" (1 Tim 1:1).

In a society which values personal freedom and autonomy, it is easy to lose sight of our dependence on others as well as the responsibilities that we bear towards them. This emphasis on individualism has even affected the Church (cf. Spe Salvi, 13-15), giving rise to a form of piety which sometimes emphasizes our private relationship with God at the expense of our calling to be members of a redeemed community. Yet from the beginning, God saw that "it is not good for man to be alone" (Gen 2:18). We were created as social beings who find fulfillment only in love - for God and for our neighbor. If we are truly to gaze upon him who is the source of our joy, we need to do so as members of the people of God (cf. Spe Salvi, 14). If this seems counter-cultural, that is simply further evidence of the urgent need for a renewed evangelization of culture.

Here in America, you are blessed with a Catholic laity of considerable cultural diversity, who place their wide-ranging gifts at the service of the Church and of society at large. They look to you to offer them encouragement, leadership and direction. In an age that is saturated with information, the importance of providing sound formation in the faith cannot be overstated. American Catholics have traditionally placed a high value on religious education, both in schools and in the context of adult formation programs. These need to be maintained and expanded. The many generous men and women who devote themselves to charitable activity need to be helped to renew their dedication through a "formation of the heart": an "encounter with God in Christ which awakens their love and opens their spirits to others" (Deus Caritas Est, 31). At a time when advances in medical science bring new hope to many, they also give rise to previously unimagined ethical challenges. This makes it more important than ever to offer thorough formation in the Church's moral teaching to Catholics engaged in health care. Wise guidance is needed in all these apostolates, so that they may bear abundant fruit; if they are truly to promote the integral good of the human person, they too need to be made new in Christ our hope.

As preachers of the Gospel and leaders of the Catholic community, you are also called to participate in the exchange of ideas in the public square, helping to shape cultural attitudes. In a context where free speech is valued, and where vigorous and honest debate is encouraged, yours is a respected voice that has much to offer to the discussion of the pressing social and moral questions of the day. By ensuring that the Gospel is clearly heard, you not only form the people of your own community, but in view of the global reach of mass communication, you help to spread the message of Christian hope throughout the world.

Clearly, the Church's influence on public debate takes place on many different levels. In the United States, as elsewhere, there is much current and proposed legislation that gives cause for concern from the point of view of morality, and the Catholic community, under your guidance, needs to offer a clear and united witness on such matters. Even more important, though, is the gradual opening of the minds and hearts of the wider community to moral truth. Here much remains to be done. Crucial in this regard is the role of the lay faithful to act as a "leaven" in society. Yet it cannot be assumed that all Catholic citizens think in harmony with the Church's teaching on today's key ethical questions. Once again, it falls to you to ensure that the moral formation provided at every level of ecclesial life reflects the authentic teaching of the Gospel of life.

In this regard, a matter of deep concern to us all is the state of the family within society. Indeed, Cardinal George mentioned earlier that you have included the strengthening of marriage and family life among the priorities for your attention over the next few years. In this year's World Day of Peace Message I spoke of the essential contribution that healthy family life makes to peace within and between nations. In the family home we experience "some of the fundamental elements of peace: justice and love between brothers and sisters, the role of authority expressed by parents, loving concern for the members who are weaker because of youth, sickness or old age, mutual help in the necessities of life, readiness to accept others and, if necessary, to forgive them" (no. 3). The family is also the primary place for evangelization, for passing on the faith, for helping young people to appreciate the importance of religious practice and Sunday observance. How can we not be dismayed as we observe the sharp decline of the family as a basic element of Church and society? Divorce and infidelity have increased, and many young men and women are choosing to postpone marriage or to forego it altogether. To some young Catholics, the sacramental bond of marriage seems scarcely distinguishable from a civil bond, or even a purely informal and open-ended arrangement to live with another person. Hence we have an alarming decrease in the number of Catholic marriages in the United States together with an increase in cohabitation, in which the Christ-like mutual self-giving of spouses, sealed by a public promise to live out the demands of an indissoluble lifelong commitment, is simply absent. In such circumstances, children are denied the secure environment that they need in order truly to flourish as human beings, and society is denied the stable building blocks which it requires if the cohesion and moral focus of the community are to be maintained.

As my predecessor, Pope John Paul II taught, "The person principally responsible in the Diocese for the pastoral care of the family is the Bishop ... he must devote to it personal interest, care, time, personnel and resources, but above all personal support for the families and for all those who … assist him in the pastoral care of the family" (Familiaris Consortio, 73). It is your task to proclaim boldly the arguments from faith and reason in favor of the institution of marriage, understood as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, open to the transmission of life. This message should resonate with people today, because it is essentially an unconditional and unreserved "yes" to life, a "yes" to love, and a "yes" to the aspirations at the heart of our common humanity, as we strive to fulfill our deep yearning for intimacy with others and with the Lord.

Among the countersigns to the Gospel of life found in America and elsewhere is one that causes deep shame: the sexual abuse of minors. Many of you have spoken to me of the enormous pain that your communities have suffered when clerics have betrayed their priestly obligations and duties by such gravely immoral behavior. As you strive to eliminate this evil wherever it occurs, you may be assured of the prayerful support of God's people throughout the world. Rightly, you attach priority to showing compassion and care to the victims. It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged.

Responding to this situation has not been easy and, as the President of your Episcopal Conference has indicated, it was "sometimes very badly handled". Now that the scale and gravity of the problem is more clearly understood, you have been able to adopt more focused remedial and disciplinary measures and to promote a safe environment that gives greater protection to young people. While it must be remembered that the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America do outstanding work in bringing the liberating message of the Gospel to the people entrusted to their care, it is vitally important that the vulnerable always be shielded from those who would cause harm. In this regard, your efforts to heal and protect are bearing great fruit not only for those directly under your pastoral care, but for all of society.

If they are to achieve their full purpose, however, the policies and programs you have adopted need to be placed in a wider context. Children deserve to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. They should be spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent today. They have a right to be educated in authentic moral values rooted in the dignity of the human person. This brings us back to our consideration of the centrality of the family and the need to promote the Gospel of life. What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today? We need to reassess urgently the values underpinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike. All have a part to play in this task - not only parents, religious leaders, teachers and catechists, but the media and entertainment industries as well. Indeed, every member of society can contribute to this moral renewal and benefit from it. Truly caring about young people and the future of our civilization means recognizing our responsibility to promote and live by the authentic moral values which alone enable the human person to flourish. It falls to you, as pastors modelled upon Christ, the Good Shepherd, to proclaim this message loud and clear, and thus to address the sin of abuse within the wider context of sexual mores. Moreover, by acknowledging and confronting the problem when it occurs in an ecclesial setting, you can give a lead to others, since this scourge is found not only within your Dioceses, but in every sector of society. It calls for a determined, collective response.

Priests, too, need your guidance and closeness during this difficult time. They have experienced shame over what has occurred, and there are those who feel they have lost some of the trust and esteem they once enjoyed. Not a few are experiencing a closeness to Christ in his Passion as they struggle to come to terms with the consequences of the crisis. The Bishop, as father, brother and friend of his priests, can help them to draw spiritual fruit from this union with Christ by making them aware of the Lord's consoling presence in the midst of their suffering, and by encouraging them to walk with the Lord along the path of hope (cf. Spe Salvi, 39). As Pope John Paul II observed six years ago, "we must be confident that this time of trial will bring a purification of the entire Catholic community", leading to "a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate and a holier Church" (Address to the Cardinals of the United States, 23 April 2002, 4). There are many signs that, during the intervening period, such purification has indeed been taking place. Christ's abiding presence in the midst of our suffering is gradually transforming our darkness into light: all things are indeed being made new in Christ Jesus our hope.

At this stage a vital part of your task is to strengthen relationships with your clergy, especially in those cases where tension has arisen between priests and their bishops in the wake of the crisis. It is important that you continue to show them your concern, to support them, and to lead by example. In this way you will surely help them to encounter the living God, and point them towards the life-transforming hope of which the Gospel speaks. If you yourselves live in a manner closely configured to Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep, you will inspire your brother priests to rededicate themselves to the service of their flocks with Christ-like generosity. Indeed a clearer focus upon the imitation of Christ in holiness of life is exactly what is needed in order for us to move forward. We need to rediscover the joy of living a Christ-centred life, cultivating the virtues, and immersing ourselves in prayer. When the faithful know that their pastor is a man who prays and who dedicates his life to serving them, they respond with warmth and affection which nourishes and sustains the life of the whole community.

Time spent in prayer is never wasted, however urgent the duties that press upon us from every side. Adoration of Christ our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament prolongs and intensifies the union with him that is established through the Eucharistic celebration (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, 66). Contemplation of the mysteries of the Rosary releases all their saving power and it conforms, unites and consecrates us to Jesus Christ (cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 11, 15). Fidelity to the Liturgy of the Hours ensures that the whole of our day is sanctified and it continually reminds us of the need to remain focused on doing God's work, however many pressures and distractions may arise from the task at hand. Thus our devotion helps us to speak and act in persona Christi, to teach, govern and sanctify the faithful in the name of Jesus, to bring his reconciliation, his healing and his love to all his beloved brothers and sisters. This radical configuration to Christ, the Good Shepherd, lies at the heart of our pastoral ministry, and if we open ourselves through prayer to the power of the Spirit, he will give us the gifts we need to carry out our daunting task, so that we need never "be anxious how to speak or what to say" (Mt 10:19).

As I conclude my words to you this evening, I commend the Church in your country most particularly to the maternal care and intercession of Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the United States. May she who carried within her womb the hope of all the nations intercede for the people of this country, so that all may be made new in Jesus Christ her Son. My dear Brother Bishops, I assure each of you here present of my deep friendship and my participation in your pastoral concerns. To all of you, and to your clergy, religious and lay faithful, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the Risen Lord.

* * * (pre-submitted questions are read by bishops)

1. The Holy Father is asked to give his assessment of the challenge of increasing secularism in public life and relativism in intellectual life, and his advice on how to confront these challenges pastorally and evangelize more effectively.

I touched upon this theme briefly in my address. It strikes me as significant that here in America, unlike many places in Europe, the secular mentality has not been intrinsically opposed to religion. Within the context of the separation of Church and State, American society has always been marked by a fundamental respect for religion and its public role, and, if polls are to be believed, the American people are deeply religious. But it is not enough to count on this traditional religiosity and go about business as usual, even as its foundations are being slowly undermined. A serious commitment to evangelization cannot prescind from a profound diagnosis of the real challenges the Gospel encounters in contemporary American culture.

Of course, what is essential is a correct understanding of the just autonomy of the secular order, an autonomy which cannot be divorced from God the Creator and his saving plan (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 36). Perhaps America's brand of secularism poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in God, and respects the public role of religion and the Churches, but at the same time it can subtly reduce religious belief to a lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive acceptance that certain things "out there" are true, but without practical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing separation of faith from life: living "as if God did not exist". This is aggravated by an individualistic and eclectic approach to faith and religion: far from a Catholic approach to "thinking with the Church", each person believes he or she has a right to pick and choose, maintaining external social bonds but without an integral, interior conversion to the law of Christ. Consequently, rather than being transformed and renewed in mind, Christians are easily tempted to conform themselves to the spirit of this age (cf. Rom 12:3). We have seen this emerge in an acute way in the scandal given by Catholics who promote an alleged right to abortion.

On a deeper level, secularism challenges the Church to reaffirm and to pursue more actively her mission in and to the world. As the Council made clear, the lay faithful have a particular responsibility in this regard. What is needed, I am convinced, is a greater sense of the intrinsic relationship between the Gospel and the natural law on the one hand, and, on the other, the pursuit of authentic human good, as embodied in civil law and in personal moral decisions. In a society that rightly values personal liberty, the Church needs to promote at every level of her teaching - in catechesis, preaching, seminary and university instruction - an apologetics aimed at affirming the truth of Christian revelation, the harmony of faith and reason, and a sound understanding of freedom, seen in positive terms as a liberation both from the limitations of sin and for an authentic and fulfilling life. In a word, the Gospel has to be preached and taught as an integral way of life, offering an attractive and true answer, intellectually and practically, to real human problems. The "dictatorship of relativism", in the end, is nothing less than a threat to genuine human freedom, which only matures in generosity and fidelity to the truth.

Much more, of course, could be said on this subject: let me conclude, though, by saying that I believe that the Church in America, at this point in her history, is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way, to a society which markets any number of recipes for human fulfillment. I think in particular of our need to speak to the hearts of young people, who, despite their constant exposure to messages contrary to the Gospel, continue to thirst for authenticity, goodness and truth. Much remains to be done, particularly on the level of preaching and catechesis in parishes and schools, if the new evangelization is to bear fruit for the renewal of ecclesial life in America.

2. The Holy Father is asked about "a certain quiet attrition" by which Catholics are abandoning the practice of the faith, sometimes by an explicit decision, but often by distancing themselves quietly and gradually from attendance at Mass and identification with the Church.

Certainly, much of this has to do with the passing away of a religious culture, sometimes disparagingly referred to as a "ghetto", which reinforced participation and identification with the Church. As I just mentioned, one of the great challenges facing the Church in this country is that of cultivating a Catholic identity which is based not so much on externals as on a way of thinking and acting grounded in the Gospel and enriched by the Church's living tradition.

The issue clearly involves factors such as religious individualism and scandal. Let us go to the heart of the matter: faith cannot survive unless it is nourished, unless it is "formed by charity" (cf. Gal 5:6). Do people today find it difficult to encounter God in our Churches? Has our preaching lost its salt? Might it be that many people have forgotten, or never really learned, how to pray in and with the Church?

Here I am not speaking of people who leave the Church in search of subjective religious "experiences"; this is a pastoral issue which must be addressed on its own terms. I think we are speaking about people who have fallen by the wayside without consciously having rejected their faith in Christ, but, for whatever reason, have not drawn life from the liturgy, the sacraments, preaching. Yet Christian faith, as we know, is essentially ecclesial, and without a living bond to the community, the individual's faith will never grow to maturity. Indeed, to return to the question I just discussed, the result can be a quiet apostasy.

So let me make two brief observations on the problem of "attrition", which I hope will stimulate further reflection.

First, as you know, it is becoming more and more difficult, in our Western societies, to speak in a meaningful way of "salvation". Yet salvation - deliverance from the reality of evil, and the gift of new life and freedom in Christ - is at the heart of the Gospel. We need to discover, as I have suggested, new and engaging ways of proclaiming this message and awakening a thirst for the fulfillment which only Christ can bring. It is in the Church's liturgy, and above all in the sacrament of the Eucharist, that these realities are most powerfully expressed and lived in the life of believers; perhaps we still have much to do in realizing the Council's vision of the liturgy as the exercise of the common priesthood and the impetus for a fruitful apostolate in the world.

Second, we need to acknowledge with concern the almost complete eclipse of an eschatological sense in many of our traditionally Christian societies. As you know, I have pointed to this problem in the Encyclical Spe Salvi. Suffice it to say that faith and hope are not limited to this world: as theological virtues, they unite us with the Lord and draw us toward the fulfillment not only of our personal destiny but also that of all creation. Faith and hope are the inspiration and basis of our efforts to prepare for the coming of the Kingdom of God. In Christianity, there can be no room for purely private religion: Christ is the Savior of the world, and, as members of his Body and sharers in his prophetic, priestly and royal munera, we cannot separate our love for him from our commitment to the building up of the Church and the extension of his Kingdom. To the extent that religion becomes a purely private affair, it loses its very soul.

Let me conclude by stating the obvious. The fields are still ripe for harvesting (cf. Jn 4:35); God continues to give the growth (cf. 1 Cor 3:6). We can and must believe, with the late Pope John Paul II, that God is preparing a new springtime for Christianity (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 86). What is needed above all, at this time in the history of the Church in America, is a renewal of that apostolic zeal which inspires her shepherds actively to seek out the lost, to bind up those who have been wounded, and to bring strength to those who are languishing (cf. Ez 34:16). And this, as I have said, calls for new ways of thinking based on a sound diagnosis of today's challenges and a commitment to unity in the service of the Church's mission to the present generation.

3. The Holy Father is asked to comment on the decline in vocations despite the growing numbers of the Catholic population, and on the reasons for hope offered by the personal qualities and the thirst for holiness which characterize the candidates who do come forward.

Let us be quite frank: the ability to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and the religious life is a sure sign of the health of a local Church. There is no room for complacency in this regard. God continues to call young people; it is up to all of us to to encourage a generous and free response to that call. On the other hand, none of us can take this grace for granted.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers. He even admits that the workers are few in comparison with the abundance of the harvest (cf. Mt 9:37-38). Strange to say, I often think that prayer - the unum necessarium - is the one aspect of vocations work which we tend to forget or to undervalue!

Nor am I speaking only of prayer for vocations. Prayer itself, born in Catholic families, nurtured by programs of Christian formation, strengthened by the grace of the sacraments, is the first means by which we come to know the Lord's will for our lives. To the extent that we teach young people to pray, and to pray well, we will be cooperating with God's call. Programs, plans and projects have their place; but the discernment of a vocation is above all the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the Lord and his disciples. Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God's call.

It has been noted that there is a growing thirst for holiness in many young people today, and that, although fewer in number, those who come forward show great idealism and much promise. It is important to listen to them, to understand their experiences, and to encourage them to help their peers to see the need for committed priests and religious, as well as the beauty of a life of sacrificial service to the Lord and his Church. To my mind, much is demanded of vocation directors and formators: candidates today, as much as ever, need to be given a sound intellectual and human formation which will enable them not only to respond to the real questions and needs of their contemporaries, but also to mature in their own conversion and to persevere in life-long commitment to their vocation. As Bishops, you are conscious of the sacrifice demanded when you are asked to release one of your finest priests for seminary work. I urge you to respond with generosity, for the good of the whole Church.

Finally, I think you know from experience that most of your brother priests are happy in their vocation. What I said in my address about the importance of unity and cooperation within the presbyterate applies here too. There is a need for all of us to move beyond sterile divisions, disagreements and preconceptions, and to listen together to the voice of the Spirit who is guiding the Church into a future of hope. Each of us knows how important priestly fraternity has been in our lives. That fraternity is not only a precious possession, but also an immense resource for the renewal of the priesthood and the raising up of new vocations. I would close by encouraging you to foster opportunities for ever greater dialogue and fraternal encounter among your priests, and especially the younger priests. I am convinced that this will bear great fruit for their own enrichment, for the increase of their love for the priesthood and the Church, and for the effectiveness of their apostolate.

Dear Brother Bishops. with these few observations, I once more encourage all of you in your ministry to the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care, and I commend you to the loving intercession of Mary Immaculate, Mother of the Church."

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 8:36 PM | Comments (0)

One-car crash kills man in Marion

By Sarah Gantz, Globe Correspondent

Police are investigating a one-car crash on Interstate 195 east in Marion today that killed the car’s driver.

The man, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, crashed head-on into the bridge abutment at the Route 105 overpass after losing control of his 1998 GMC Jimmy SUV, State Police said in a statement.

State Police responded at 3:15 p.m. to the accident. The victim was declared dead at the scene, the statement said.

Posted by mfinucane at 7:38 PM | Comments (0)

Rally urges state's leaders to boost support for Mass. colleges, universities

By William McGuinness, Globe Correspondent

Students, faculty, and staff from across the Massachusetts higher education system rallied outside the State House today to press leaders for more support for public colleges and universities.

With megaphones and cheers, hundreds of members of the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts urged officials to make funding a higher priority. Later, they delivered thousands of postcards to their state representatives asking them to support Governor Deval Patrick's $2 billion capital bond bill to finance infrastructure improvements at the 29 public institutions, to fund the basic operating budgets of the schools, and to add an additional $17 million in MASSGrant, the state's basic financial aid program.

UMass-Amherst professor Max Page, a founding member of the group -- known as Phenom -- said the day’s events were centered on pressuring representatives to fix, fund, and make the state’s higher education system more affordable. He said that if the Legislature passes the bond bill, major repairs can begin on eroding public university buildings.

But his group’s major push was on bolstering the state’s financial aid system. Concern has been growing that turmoil in the financial markets is making it more difficult for students to get money for college.

“We have one of the most expensive higher education systems in the country, and yet the MASSGrant program has been cut dramatically,” said Page, who also is president of the Massachusetts Society of Professors.

Between 1989-2004, allocations to MASSGrant fell from around $57 million to $24 million, according to a report by the state Department of Higher Education.

Tessa Simonds, a senior at UMass-Amherst, told the crowd on the Common, “MASSGrant can mean so much more for the state.”

She said that when financial aid drops, students are forced to take out more loans.

“Even though I get need-based loans and money from scholarships, I will still graduate more than $14,000 in debt,” Simonds said. “That is unacceptable.”

Simonds was one of about 80 students from state's flagship campus to make the two-hour trip. Interim Chancellor Thomas W. Cole Jr. and Provost Charlena Seymour gave their support to "Lobby Day" in a recent e-mail to students, and asked faculty to accommodate those wishing to attend by postponing assignment due dates and other measures. The school even provided funding for transportation to Boston.

"This coming budget year appears to be a difficult one for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," Cole wrote in the e-mail. "We encourage all members of the campus community to express their thoughts, concerns, etc., to the Legislature whether by participating in Lobby Day or by other appropriate means."

Robert Connolly, spokesman for the UMass system, said: “It is continuously important to make the case for public higher education. And that’s what Phenom's doing.”

Posted by rgreene at 5:19 PM | Comments (0)

6 firefighters hurt in Brookline blaze

(John Bohn/Globe Staff)

By James Vaznis, Globe Staff

Six firefighters were hurt this afternoon in Brookline battling intense flames in a three-alarm blaze on Harrison Street.

The firefighters were taken to nearby hospitals. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear. Fire Chief Michael O'Reilly said the injuries included shoulder injuries and minor burns.

The blaze broke out shortly after 2:30 p.m. in a 2 1/2-story wood frame home off Brookline Avenue. Flames shot through the second floor and into the attic.

Three of the firefighters were injured when they were on the second floor and conditions deteriorated rapidly with a flashover and thick smoke, said O'Reilly.

"All you could see was a ball of fire," he said. The firefighters had to be pulled to safety.

As conditions worsened, all firefighters were ordered out of the structure. The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation.

Posted by aryan at 4:54 PM | Comments (0)

Judge declares mistrial on final claim in Drumgold case

(Globe file photo)

Shawn Drumgold accused two Boston police detectives of violating his civil rights after he was wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years.

By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff

A judge declared a mistrial this afternoon after a federal jury said it was hopelessly deadlocked over the sole surviving claim against Boston police by a man wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years for the murder of a 12-year-old girl.

US District Court Judge Nancy Gertner had urged the jurors today to persevere and try to reach a decision in the case of Shawn Drumgold, who sued two Boston Police detectives for allegedly violating his civil rights in the investigation of the 1988 fatal shooting of Darlene Tiffany Moore.

“If you cannot agree, it's your right to fail to agree,” Gertner said. “So we’ll ask you to go back and try one more time.”

After resuming deliberations this afternoon, the jury told the judge they were "hopelessly hung," and she declared a mistrial.

A week ago the same jury all but cleared the two retired detectives of violating Drumgold’s civil rights, rejecting 10 of his 11 claims. It rejected all allegations against retired detective Timothy Walsh. The judge allowed the case to continue, however, on one claim against Detective Timothy Callahan.

Today the jury was trying to determine whether Drumgold’s conviction was caused when Callahan did not disclose at the criminal trial that he gave an undetermined amount of cash to a witness. That witness, Ricky Evans, testified that he saw Drumgold near the Roxbury street corner where Moore was gunned down.

If the jury had decided that Callahan’s lack of disclosure caused the verdict, they would have had to determine if Drumgold should be awarded damages.

It was not immediately clear what will happen next. Gertner said from the bench that she is inclined to dismiss the 10 claims rejected by the jury and allow a retrial on the one remaining count.

Rosemary Scapicchio, Drumgold’s lead attorney, objected and said the defense would move for a full retrial. Scapicchio argued that the judge could not cherry-pick portions of a partial verdict. The city opposes a full retrial. Gertner did not issue a decision this afternoon.

Before the six-week trial started, the city's defense had cost taxpayers $1.23 million in legal fees and expenses, according to William F. Sinnott, the city's corporation counsel. That legal bill for the city is now well over $2 million, estimated Drumgold’s lead attorney, Rosemary Scapicchio.

Lawyers for the city presented evidence intended to suggest that Drumgold's conviction might have stemmed from an ineffective defense by his lawyer, Steven J. Rappaport, or that prosecutors might have been at fault for withholding evidence, not the police. Prosecutors have immunity in federal civil rights lawsuits.

Darlene Tiffany Moore was struck by two stray bullets as she sat on a mailbox on a Roxbury street corner talking to friends on the night of Aug. 19, 1988. Two gunmen wearing Halloween masks fired at a crowd in what police believed was a gang shooting that killed an innocent bystander.

Ten days later, the case seemed to have been solved when Drumgold, then 22, and a second man, Terrence Taylor, were charged with killing the girl. Drumgold was convicted the following year; Taylor was acquitted by the trial judge because no witness placed him at the scene.

But Suffolk prosecutors reopened the case in 2003 after several prosecution witnesses interviewed by the Globe recanted statements and testimony used to convict Drumgold. The witnesses said police had bullied them into providing incriminating evidence, and the trial judge threw out the conviction.

Posted by aryan at 3:58 PM | Comments (0)

Lowell police shoot son who threatened his mother with cleaver

By Globe Staff

A Lowell Police officer this morning shot a son who was allegedly wielding a meat cleaver and threatening his mother, police said.

Officers responded to the apartment on Moody Street at about 6:45 a.m. after receiving a 911 call, according to Police Superintendent Ken Lavallee.

Lavallee said he didn't know the suspect's exact age but believed he was a teenager. Neighbors said he was 14 years old.

Lavallee said the suspect ignored numerous orders to drop the cleaver, raising it over his head in a threatening manner. Officers determined the mother's life was in danger.

An officer fired a single shot. The suspect was taken to Lowell General Hospital and transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is in surgery and in critical condition, Lavallee said.

The suspect will be charged with several counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. Lavallee said the officer who fired was placed on administrative leave, pending the results of an investigation.

But he said, "The preliminary investigation indicates the officer was justified in his actions."

Posted by aryan at 3:11 PM | Comments (0)

Kennedy on Benedict

US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, has just issued a statement about the papal visit. Kennedy, of course, is one of the most prominent Catholic politicians in the world, and his brother, the late President Kennedy, was the only Catholic ever elected president. Ted Kennedy differs with church teachings on a variety of matters, but still has praise for the pope. Here's his statement:

“Pope Benedict’s visit to the United States is a remarkable opportunity for Catholics and for all Americans to reflect on how we can come together to bring healing to the entire world and to all people of every faith. It’s a very difficult time for our country and the world, and I’m hopeful that the power of faith and unity will be a lasting legacy of our role in the Pope’s visit.”

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 2:21 PM | Comments (0)

Plumber's torch seen as cause of Framingham fire

By Globe Staff

A plumber's torch was the cause of a three-alarm fire last week that heavily damaged a six-story apartment building in Framingham, state and local fire officials said today.

The fire Friday afternoon at the Jefferson Village apartments caused about $3 million in damage, with as many as 72 apartments affected, Framingham Fire Chief Ollie Gadson said in a statement issued jointly with the state fire marshal's office.

Investigators determined that the fire started when a torch used by a plumber accidentally touched the lining of the chase, or space for pipes, in a second-floor bathroom. That "caused a smoldering fire that eventually erupted into open flames," the statement said.

Firefighters used aerial ladders so save occupants from the fire, which broke out about 12:20 p.m. and took about 3 1/2 hours to knock down.

Three residents were taken to hospitals but none of their injuries were considered serious. Eight firefighters were also treated and released, officials said in the statement.

Posted by mfinucane at 2:20 PM | Comments (0)

Southbridge man held without bail in NYC slay case

(Family photo via Worcester Telegram & Gazette)

Chelsea Frazier and her son, Alijah.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

The Southbridge man who allegedly schemed to kill his ex-girlfriend during a trip to New York is being held without bail today at the city’s Rikers Island jail, prosecutors said.

Carlos Cruz, 36, was arraigned in the early morning hours in Bronx Criminal Court, along with his cousin, Devon Miller, 25, who allegedly was the triggerman in the slaying of 18-year-old Chelsea Frazier. Both face charges of first- and second-degree murder, along with weapons charges.

The two men pleaded not guilty before Judge Judith Lieb, said Melvin Hernandez, an assistant spokesman in the Bronx district attorney’s office. A pretrial hearing in the case is slated for Friday.

“They pleaded not guilty. Obviously, they deny the charges. It’s a tragedy all around, for everyone involved,” said attorney John Sandleitner, the defense attorney for the two men.

Frazier was found shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in the driver's seat of her car in the Bronx with two gunshot wounds in her torso. She was shot while her 1-year-old son, fathered by Cruz, was in the back seat.

Cruz paid Miller to kill Frazier, a New York detective said in a criminal complaint released by the district attorney’s office.

Family and friends told the Globe yesterday that the killing was retaliation because Cruz was upset that Frazier recently broke off their engagement.

Posted by mfinucane at 2:06 PM | Comments (0)

$28 billion House budget avoids large cuts

By Matt Viser, Globe Staff

The House this afternoon released a $28 billion budget that includes new taxes, budget cuts, and more than a third of the spending increases sought by Governor Deval Patrick.

The House proposal funds about $80 million of the $213 million in spending increases that were in Patrick's fiscal 2009 budget for a variety of programs including education, police, and social programs.

Patrick, for example, proposed spending $15 million more to fund an additional 892 prekindergarten classrooms, but House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi is only backing $3 million. Patrick also wanted to double for the second year in a row the amount spent on extended school day programs, to $26 million, but DiMasi is backing only $2.5 million.

"Hopefully better times are ahead, but if not this budget prepares us well," said Robert DeLeo, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means.

The House budget also includes $109 million in direct budget cuts, which are spread throughout the budget to limit the impact.

The governor has identified $344 million in cost-saving plans, including $124 million through a mixture of "constrained growth in agency and program spending" and cuts to legislative earmarks.

The House voted last week to raise $392 million in corporate and cigarette taxes, a major political victory for the governor, who has been seeking corporate tax changes since he took office.

The House is also going along with the governor's plans to spend $10 million on homelessness programs; raise $51 million by increasing state employee healthcare contributions; and raise $166 million in additional taxes and increased enforcement of tax collections.

Patrick aides claimed victory yesterday after being briefed on the proposal, saying DiMasi was embracing most of their initiatives, such as additional prekindergarten classes and extended school-day programs.

"We see a lot to like in this budget," said Leslie Kirwan, the secretary of administration and finance. "They've adopted many of the reforms that the governor initiated."

Over the next several days, House lawmakers will file amendments to the budget, before debate later this month.

The Senate will weigh in following House deliberations, and then the different plans will have to be reconciled before July 1, when the budget takes effect.

Posted by aryan at 2:05 PM | Comments (0)

The first popemobile ride

I just got off the phone with my colleague Farah Stockman, who works in the Globe's Washington bureau, and she covered the pope's first popemobile ride in the US, which whisked Benedict XVI from the White House to the nunciature, where he is now having a birthday lunch with the American cardinals (except for Cardinal Bernard F. Law, the archbishop emeritus of Boston, who stayed in Rome...)

Farah watched from the corner of 17th and Pennsylvania, just by the White House, and said it was quite a scene. She describes a mix of devout Catholics, anti-Catholic protesters, and curious tourists, all thronged side-by-side trying to get a lunch hour glimpse of the man of the hour.

Some folks had gathered as early as 7 a.m. to get a good spot, while others just stopped by to see what the fuss was about. A group of Baptists held "Trust Jesus" signs as a young man shouted anti-Catholic vitriol through a megaphone; he eventually was encircled by members of the Neocatechumenal Way, a Catholic group that likes to sing and managed to drown him out. At a nearby park, encircled by police tape, were members of the ever-present Westboro Baptist Church, best-known for their anti-gay slogans and their protests at military funerals, but apparently also hostile to Catholics; they were surrounded by counter-protesters. And Farah's corner also featured a group of anti-celibacy protesters. Welcome to Washington!

At one point, a scream went up from the crowd, but it turned out just to be a group of bicycle cops; when the fleet of motorcycles started whizzing by, though, the crowd knew the moment was at hand. The popemobile, a white, bulletproof glass enclosed Mercedes-Benz, moved by at a good clip, but Benedict was clearly visible, smiling and waving. People in the crowd gasped and shouted; some hoisted kids into the air or stood on chairs at the nearby Au Bon Pain.

And then, as fast as he arrived, the pope was gone.

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 1:43 PM | Comments (0)

Individual remarks by Bush and Benedict

The White House has now also released a transcript of the remarks by the president and the pope made on the South Lawn. Here you go:

"PRESIDENT BUSH: Holy Father, Laura and I are privileged to have you here at the White House. We welcome you with the ancient words commended by Saint Augustine: "Pax Tecum." Peace be with you.

You've chosen to visit America on your birthday. Well, birthdays are traditionally spent with close friends, so our entire nation is moved and honored that you've decided to share this special day with us. We wish you much health and happiness -- today and for many years to come. (Applause.)

This is your first trip to the United States since you ascended to the Chair of Saint Peter. You will visit two of our greatest cities and meet countless Americans, including many who have traveled from across the country to see with you and to share in the joy of this visit. Here in America you'll find a nation of prayer. Each day millions of our citizens approach our Maker on bended knee, seeking His grace and giving thanks for the many blessings He bestows upon us. Millions of Americans have been praying for your visit, and millions look forward to praying with you this week.

Here in America you'll find a nation of compassion. Americans believe that the measure of a free society is how we treat the weakest and most vulnerable among us. So each day citizens across America answer the universal call to feed the hungry and comfort the sick and care for the infirm. Each day across the world the United States is working to eradicate disease, alleviate poverty, promote peace and bring the light of hope to places still mired in the darkness of tyranny and despair.

Here in America you'll find a nation that welcomes the role of faith in the public square. When our Founders declared our nation's independence, they rested their case on an appeal to the "laws of nature, and of nature's God." We believe in religious liberty. We also believe that a love for freedom and a common moral law are written into every human heart, and that these constitute the firm foundation on which any successful free society must be built.

Here in America, you'll find a nation that is fully modern, yet guided by ancient and eternal truths. The United States is the most innovative, creative and dynamic country on earth -- it is also among the most religious. In our nation, faith and reason coexist in harmony. This is one of our country's greatest strengths, and one of the reasons that our land remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for millions across the world.

Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people whose hearts are open to your message of hope. And America and the world need this message. In a world where some invoke the name of God to justify acts of terror and murder and hate, we need your message that "God is love." And embracing this love is the surest way to save men from "falling prey to the teaching of fanaticism and terrorism."

In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred, and that "each of us is willed, each of us is loved" -- (applause) -- and your message that "each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary."

In a world where some no longer believe that we can distinguish between simple right and wrong, we need your message to reject this "dictatorship of relativism," and embrace a culture of justice and truth. (Applause.)

In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but "in a spirit of mutual support."

Holy Father, thank you for making this journey to America. Our nation welcomes you. We appreciate the example you set for the world, and we ask that you always keep us in your prayers. (Applause.)

POPE BENEDICT XVI: Mr. President, thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the people of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your invitation to visit this great country. My visit coincides with an important moment in the life of the Catholic community in America: the celebration of the 200th anniversary of elevation of the country's first Diocese -- Baltimore -- to a metropolitan Archdiocese and the establishment of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville.

Yet I am happy to be here as a guest of all Americans. I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel, and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society. America's Catholics have made, and continue to make, an excellent contribution to the life of their country. As I begin my visit, I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States, and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they are proud to be citizens.

From the dawn of the Republic, America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation's founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the self-evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature's God.

The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time, too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideas and aspirations.

In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with America's Catholic community, but with other Christian communities and representatives of the many religious traditions present in this country. Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the freedom to worship God in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual group can make its voice heard.

As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more human and free society.

Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience -- almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good, and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate.

In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good. Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in Eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows time and again that "in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation," and a democracy without values can lose its very soul. Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent "indispensable supports" of political prosperity.

The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God. She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman. Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling and to hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.

For well over a century, the United States of America has played an important role in the international community. On Friday, God willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts underway to make that institution an ever more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world's peoples.

On this, the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity -- as brothers and sisters dwelling in the same house and around that table which God's bounty has set for all his children. America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. In this way, coming generations will be able to live in a world where truth, freedom and justice can flourish -- a world where the God-given dignity and the rights of every man, women and child are cherished, protected and effectively advanced.

Mr. President, dear friends, as I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America. (Applause.)"

posted by Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 1:15 PM | Comments (0)

Joint Statement from Bush and Benedict

As the pope left the White House a little while ago, the two leaders (President Bush and Pope Benedict XVI) issued a joint statement about their meeting. Here it is:

"JOINT STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HOLY SEE

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush met today in the Oval Office of the White House.

President Bush, on behalf of all Americans, welcomed the Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance, which he offers to the whole human family. The President wished the Pope every success in his Apostolic Journey and in his address at the United Nations, and expressed appreciation for the Pope’s upcoming visit to “Ground Zero” in New York.

During their meeting, the Holy Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest to the Holy See and the United States of America, including moral and religious considerations to which both parties are committed: the respect of the dignity of the human person; the defense and promotion of life, matrimony and the family; the education of future generations; human rights and religious freedom; sustainable development and the struggle against poverty and pandemics, especially in Africa. In regard to the latter, the Holy Father welcomed the United States’ substantial financial contributions in this area. The two reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents. They further touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights.

The Holy Father and the President devoted considerable time in their discussions to the Middle East, in particular resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict in line with the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security, their mutual support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, and their common concern for the situation in Iraq and particularly the precarious state of Christian communities there and elsewhere in the region. The Holy Father and the President expressed hope for an end to violence and for a prompt and comprehensive solution to the crises which afflict the region.

The Holy Father and the President also considered the situation in Latin America with reference, among other matters, to immigrants, and the need for a coordinated policy regarding immigration, especially their humane treatment and the well being of their families."

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 1:01 PM | Comments (0)

From the South Lawn

Greetings from the White House's South Lawn, where the crowd of thousands is now dispersing after an elaborate welcoming ceremony. The president and the pope have gone into the Oval Office to meet, and next time we see the pontiff he'll be taking a ride on his popemobile through the streets of the capital.

The day is picture-perfect here in Washington, sunny and clear and in the high 60s -- a little too warm, apparently, for some in the crowd -- three girl scouts standing in front of me fainted over the course of the welcoming ceremony, and one by one they were carried off or escorted to medical help by nearby Marines.

Security was unbelievably tight -- at one point I thought I saw the orchestra walk by with big violin cases on their backs -- a reporter who apparently spends more time in the big city than me informed me that those were not violins, but guns.

I saw the ceremony from a penned in area packed with press; most of the visiting Catholics were similarly penned in to various sections of the lawn, and some watched from bleachers. As is common for these visits, many held pairs of Vatican and US flags; I did see some cute little girls with handmade signs reading "We love you Pope Hope!"

Karen Hawk, a 59-year-old Holyoke native who now lives in Centreville, Virg., told me she came to the White House today because she viewed this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the pope. "It's fabulous,'' she said. "In my lifetime this is the only time I will get this close to the pope. And I'm from a long line of Irish Catholics." Like many in the crowd craning to see, she had one regret "I'm just a little too short.'' Her son, 37-year-old Charles Hawk, said he also thought Red Sox nation needed to show a little gratitude, given its successes. "We figured as Red Sox fans we should pay homage,'' Charles Hawk said.

Jaime and Zoraida Fonalledas told me they flew up here from their home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, just for a chance to see the pope. They're active in the Knights of Malta, and they saw John Paul II during his stop in Puerto Rico in 1986; here they're also planning to go to Mass with the pope at Nationals Park tomorrow. "We wanted to hear his words of peace and unity and love,'' Zoraida said. "And people here are so happy.''

I'm being evicted from the lawn (not just me -- everyone -- the event is over). More later.

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 11:15 AM | Comments (0)

Plymouth probate judge resigns over misconduct charges

By Globe Staff

A Plymouth County probate and family court judge who was accused of breaking the rules of conduct for judges by operating a real estate business has agreed to resolve the charges against him by retiring, the state Commission on Judicial Conduct said today.

"I sincerely regret having created, in my private life, an appearance of impropriety, which although I never intended, violated my obligation to conform even my off-the-bench conduct to the code that governs all judges," Judge Michael J. Livingstone said in a public apology issued as part of his agreement settling the case.

Livingstone said in the letter that he took "full responsibility" for his conduct and he hoped that his voluntary resignation would preserve public confidence in the judiciary.

Livingstone had been accused of running a real estate business and collecting attorney fees over four years, violating rules that require judges to stay away from commercial enterprises.

The commission alleged that the judge claimed to have an arm's-length relationship with both his real estate firm and his former private law practice.

However, the commission alleged, Livingstone sent a threatening letter to a tenant, collected and deposited rent checks, secretly collected fees from former law clients through an arrangement with another lawyer, and claimed business expenses on his tax returns related to his supposedly closed law practice.

Posted by mfinucane at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)

The scene at the White House

So I'm sitting on a driveway in front of the press briefing room, next to the West Wing, where you see all those televised press conferences. Next to me on the asphalt are Tim Russert and Matt Lauer. A parade of visitors is streaming by, including the Knights of Columbus with their plumes, a troop of boy scouts, a sea of bishops, Catholic school students, and various religious leaders, including Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios. Other reporters claim they just saw Barney, or some Bush family dog (Miss Beazley?), but I'm staring at my screen (blogging for you, dear readers) and missed the story (well, at least the Scottish terrier angle). Lots of local color -- I saw Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston entering the White House gates, and Imam Talal Eid of Boston just walked by; at the pressroom I ran into various folks from home, including John Norton, of the Catholic publication Our Sunday Visitor, who hails from Shrewsbury, and a producer, Patti Hanley, who shoots for Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (a PBS program -- check your local listings) who is an Adams native and confesses she has a Red Sox tattoo, although she won't say where.

The only news so far is that the White House has released the menu for the dinner tonight that the pope is skipping. Here's what His Holiness will miss: Morel-encrusted Diver Scallops, Ramp Spatzle, Angel Hair Asparagus Bisque, Duo of Veal, White Truffle-Potato Dumplings, Baby Carrots and Boletus Mushrooms, Heirloom Lettuces and Candied Pumpkin Seeds, Spring Squash Carpaccio, Styrian Pumpkin Oil Vinaigrette, Raspberry Crisp and Mint Coulis.

Even though the pope won't be there, all the Catholics on the Supreme Court will, including Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Alito, and Thomas. And the big name tonight will be Tommy Lasorda, the former Dodgers manager.

Good news! I just saw the terrier.

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 9:46 AM | Comments (0)

Benedict's birthday plans

Today, Pope Benedict XVI’s first full day in the United States, is also the pontiff’s 81st birthday, and the day will feature a mix of pomp and substance.

The primary birthday celebration will be a lunch with the American cardinals – including Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston – at the nunciature, which is the Embassy Row manse of the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States. No word yet as to what will be on the menu.

But the two weightiest events of the day are a morning visit to the White House, at which the pope will meet privately for about 45 minutes in the Oval Office with President Bush, and an afternoon session with all the American bishops, at which the pope will deliver an address.

At the White House, a welcoming party of as many as 9,000 people are expected to gather on the South Lawn for what presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino described as “one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House.’’ All the bells and whistles the White House can muster will be on display, including a 21-gun salute, a Marine band playing the national anthems of the Holy See and the United States, trumpets and flowers and, of course, dignitaries galore, including Vice President Dick Cheney, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, the Harvard law professor Bush chose to be his representative to the Holy See. The American soprano Kathleen Battle, who has had a long professional association with Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine, will sing "The Lord's Prayer" -- a song choice that Perino yesterday explained by saying "many people across America and across the world say that prayer in order to provide themselves comfort and confidence in getting their day started. And so we think it's perfectly appropriate."

Perino had quite a bit to say about expectations for the visit yesterday, and you can read more about that here.

The day promises to be picture perfect – the forecast for Washington today is sunny with a high of 69.

After the White House meeting, Benedict will take his first spin through town in his white Mercedes-Benz popemobile.

This evening, Benedict will lead a vespers service with the US bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where he will also deliver a speech to the bishops.

The White House is holding a dinner in honor of the pope's visit, but he's not attending. Instead, at about 7:30 tonight, it's back to the nunciature for sleep.

For all the blog posts on the papal visit, go here.

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

Posted by mpaulson at 6:57 AM | Comments (0)

April 15, 2008

Harvard institute hails six innovative government programs in Mass.

By Globe Staff

A Harvard institute has included six Massachusetts programs on its list of the top 50 innovative government programs in America.

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation singled out:

-- The town of Barnstable's efforts to deal with residential growth;
-- A Boston program designed to prevent foreclosures;
-- A Boston schools program designed to prepare excellent teachers;
-- A Suffolk County program designed to prevent teen prostitution;
-- A state program to simplify the paperwork for affordable housing developments; and
-- A state program under which state facilities agree to reduce their electrical demand when the electrical grid is under stress.

"We commend the innovative initiatives of these Top 50 Programs," Gowher Rizvi, director of the institute at the Harvard Kennedy School, said in a statement. "In their path to finding new ways for doing the public's business better, these programs are paving the way for nationwide -- and even global -- reform strategies."

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said he was encouraged by the recognition for the Support to End Exploitation Now project, which, he said, brings together law enforcement agencies, social service providers, and other public and private organizations to assist girls and young women who are being exploited.

“The exploitation of youth through prostitution is something that our society cannot and will not tolerate,” Conley said in a statement. “These young girls need to know that there is a way out, that they will not be prosecuted for coming forward, and that they can get the help they need through a program created to help them break free from the adults who exploit them."

The Innovations in American Government Awards Program was established in 1985. The top 50 this year were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants.

Finalists will be announced on June 3. On June 12, the finalists will present their programs before a selection committee at a public event. The winners will be announced and honored in September.

Posted by mfinucane at 7:26 PM | Comments (0)

British prime minister to speak in Boston

(Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

Brown strides toward his plane at Heathrow Airport as he begins his trip to the United States, which will include a speech in Boston.

By Globe Staff

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston this Friday and deliver a foreign policy speech, a library spokesman said today.

"We're thrilled, absolutely," said spokesman Brent Carney, who offered no further details.

Brown will visit the United States for several days, making stops in New York, Washington, and Boston, said Joseph Pickerill, an official at the British consulate in Boston.

He said Brown, who has never given a speech before in the United States as prime minister, would give a major foreign policy address directed at an international audience.

Posted by mfinucane at 5:05 PM | Comments (0)

The pope has landed

Pope Benedict XVI touched down here at Andrews Air Force Base at about 3:50 p.m., and is now en route to the nunciature, the home of his ambassador to Washington, where he will spend the night.

He was greeted under a cloudless sky by a crowd of about 1,000 folks, many of them Air Force employees and their families, but also a lot of kids from a local Catholic high school, Archbishop McNamara, who had spent the day waiting on several reviewing stands set up along the tarmac.

The Alitalia plane dubbed Shepherd One, adorned with US and Vatican flags on its nose, taxied along a runway and pulled up in front of the reviewing stands precisely at 4 p.m., as scheduled. An honor guard and a variety of prelates and other dignitaries lined a red carpet rolled up to the plane's forward door. The pope, dressed in white robes and clutching his skullcap in his hand lest it blow away, waved and smiled. President and Mrs. Bush, joined by their daughter Jenna, greeted him as he descended. As he neared the crowd, he wiggled his fingers as he waved, but he did not approach the reviewing stands, and he made no public remarks.

The crowd was enthusiastic, waving flags and cheering. "It was amazing,'' said Vincent Harrington, a 16-year-old high school junior who was taking photos of the pope on his cellphone. "I got so many good pictures.''

The pope has no public events tonight. Tomorrow, his 81st birthday, he is to meet with President Bush at the White House, where as many as 12,000 people are to gather on the lawn to greet him -- the largest crowd at the White House during the Bush administration. The pope then is to take his first popemobile ride in the United States, to the nunciature, where he will have a birthday lunch; tomorrow late afternoon he is to meet with the US bishops.

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

For all blog entries on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 4:54 PM | Comments (0)

Grand jury to probe sisters' deaths in South Boston fire

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

A grand jury investigation has begun into the South Boston fire earlier this month that killed two young sisters, prosecutors said.

Acia Johnson, 14, and Sophia Johnson, 2, died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries in the April 6 fire that destroyed their home on West Sixth Street, police said today. Their deaths were ruled homicides.

"We'll be presenting evidence to that grand jury," said Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

"We hope to get at the truth and determine who is responsible for the deaths of these two young innocent children."

The grand jury convened yesterday, Conley said. He declined to identify any suspects in the case.

Two city officials briefed on the probe have told the Globe that investigators believe someone used an accelerant and set the home on fire about 3 a.m. The girls were found trapped under debris in a rear upper room and taken to Boston Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

The girls’ mother, Anna Reisopoulos, suffered serious injuries in the fire. The Globe has reported that the Department of Social Services had received a dozen reports of child neglect and abuse in the family and had removed Acia Johnson and her twin brother, Raymond, from the home in 2003. But friends, neighbors, and school officials said the children continued to live with Reisopoulos, and DSS continued to receive reports of neglect.

Anyone with information about the blaze is urged to contact the Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 800-494-TIPS.

Posted by aryan at 4:38 PM | Comments (0)

Mailing that last-minute return

(Tom Herde/Globe Staff/file 1997)

Patti Melchin, a postal worker, collected a tax return in 1997 from a motorist outside Fort Point Station. The same scene will play out tonight until midnight outside the 24-hour post office as procrastinators rush to make the tax deadline.

By Globe Staff

The increasing popularity of e-filing has eliminated one tax day tradition: post offices no longer have extended hours on April 15.

But that does not mean the United States Postal Service will not be working hard tonight to help procrastinators get their returns in the mail by midnight, said post office spokesman Bob Cannon.

Large post offices already stay open a little late in Woburn (6:30 p.m.); Worcester (6 p.m.); and Lowell and Lawrence (5:30 p.m.). At South Station in Boston, postal employees will be stamping mail in the lobby during the evening rush.

And for those that really push deadlines, there is Fort Point Station, the only post office in New England staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To help accommodate tonight’s rush, postal workers will be out at the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and Summer Street collecting returns from drivers.

Inside Fort Point Station, tables will be set up in the lobby where postal workers and representatives from the Internal Revenue Service will assist last minute filers.

"People will show up with just their W2s," Cannon said, "And not much else."

Another option for last-minute filers in the Boston area: about a dozen automated postal centers, which, while unstaffed, are also open 24 hours a day. The centers can be found in several sections of Boston, as well as in Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, Waltham, Needham, Braintree, and Lexington.

Posted by aryan at 4:06 PM | Comments (0)

Boyfriend charged in NYC slaying of Southbridge woman

(Craig Ruttle/AP)

New York City detectives led Carlos Cruz away from the 43d precinct in the Bronx today after he was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting death of Chelsea Frazier.

By Globe Staff

A Massachusetts man has been arrested in the killing of his girlfriend over the weekend in New York.

Carlos Cruz, 36, of Southbridge is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of Chelsea Frazier, 18, also of Southbridge. Cruz's cousin, Devon Miller, 25, of New York, is also charged with murder.

Frazier was found shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in the driver's seat of her car in the Bronx with two gunshot wounds in her torso. She was shot while her 1-year-old son was in the back seat.

Police are not looking for any suspects other than Cruz and Miller, said a spokesman in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Public Information.

Cruz was the father of Frazier's child. He suffered a minor gunshot wound to the leg in the incident. He allegedly recruited his cousin to kill Frazier in a staged robbery of the couple, The New York Times reported today on its website.

Investigators told the Times that Cruz's cousin came to the door of the car, shot Frazier, and fled. But as his cousin ran away, Cruz shouted that he had forgotten to shoot him, at which point the gunman shot Cruz.

The robbery was apparently motivated by Cruz's troubled relationship with Frazier. Cruz paid Miller $1,000 to kill Frazier, police told the Times.

The two men will be arraigned tomorrow in Bronx Criminal Court.

Frazier's stepfather, Raymond Snow, told the Globe Monday that Frazier had dropped out of Southbridge High School during her sophomore year, but had earned a GED and was studying massage therapy. He said Frazier went to New York to buy spring and summer clothing for her son. Family members are now taking care of the boy, he said.

Posted by mfinucane at 4:05 PM | Comments (0)

Man who led rush-hour highway chase remains hospitalized

(Justine Hunt/Globe Staff)

The aftermath of the chase and crash.

By Globe Staff

A 46-year-old Quincy man remains hospitalized after leading police on a chase yesterday that began when he ran a stop sign in Quincy and ended with a crash on Interstate 93 in Boston.

John Sloane is being treated at Boston Medical Center so he could not be arraigned today in Quincy District Court on charges that include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, and resisting arrest, said Quincy Police Captain Michael Miller.

Sloane is undergoing a series of tests and cannot be arraigned until Wednesday afternoon at the earliest, said David Traub, spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney.

The rush-hour crash also injured two Quincy police officers. Miller said they were treated and released from the hospital.

Quincy police originally tried to stop Sloane in the city’s Squantum neighborhood at about 6 p.m. for allegedly running a stop sign. But he fled and, during the chase, rammed his car into a police cruiser, Miller said.

The chase continued onto I-93 northbound during rush hour, where Sloane also allegedly rammed his car into a State Police cruiser and another Quincy cruiser, Miller said. The incident backed up traffic for miles.

The Quincy charges relate to Sloane’s ramming of the cruiser in that city. More charges will probably be filed for Sloane’s alleged misdeeds on I-93, Miller said.

Posted by mfinucane at 3:18 PM | Comments (0)

Thousands of Mass. high school grads need remedial college classes

By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff

Thousands of Massachusetts public high school graduates are failing placement tests in math and English when they arrive at college, forcing them to take noncredit, remedial classes and casting doubt on the MCAS exams as a measure of college readiness, according to a new state report.

The report, released jointly today by the departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education, showed that the problem crossed socioeconomic lines, with large numbers of graduates from both urban and suburban districts unprepared for introductory college classes.

Overall, 37 percent of public high school graduates from the class of 2005 who attended a public college or university in Massachusetts enrolled in at least one remedial course in their first semester in college.

At three Boston high schools, more than 70 percent of students who entered the state's higher education system took at least one remedial class their first year. In suburban Hanover, 33 percent did, while in Lynnfield and Needham the figure was 27 percent. Remedial courses do not count toward a degree.

The report marks the first time education researchers have detailed how public high school graduates from individual school districts perform in Massachusetts public colleges. State education officials distributed the reports last week to nearly 300 high schools across the state.

"This is a statewide problem," said Linda M. Noonan, managing director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, which supports tougher educational standards. "There's something systemic that we're not doing to get these kids ready to do college-level work."

The findings raise concern that the city's public schools are failing to prepare students to earn college degrees, and are worrisome because students who take remedial courses are far more likely to drop out of college, often without the skills needed to land a good job. Businesses have lobbied for education reforms to develop a more educated workforce.

Patricia F. Plummer, commissioner of the Department of Higher Education, said: “Now more than ever, post-secondary education and training is a necessity in today’s new economy. Even entry-level positions demand ever-increasing levels of skill and knowledge."

"These reports will be critical as we move toward our goal of better aligning the work of our secondary schools with that of our colleges," Paul Reville, chairman of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said in a statement. "This information should prompt our secondary schools to reevaluate whether they are properly preparing their graduates for college."

The district breakdowns follow a February report that tracked the performance of graduates on placement tests statewide. That report also found that 65 percent of students enrolled in a community college took at least one developmental course, as did 22 percent of students at state colleges and 8 percent of students at state university campuses.

Overall, half of students who scored in "needs improvement" on the Grade 10 Math MCAS exam had to take remedial math in college.

Jeffrey Nellhaus, acting commissioner of the Department of Education, said he hoped the information would help high schools do a better job preparing students. Future reports will be released each spring.

"This is data we've never had before, and will be vitally important as we move into this next phase of education reform," he said. "Our graduates should enter college well prepared, not in need of remedial help. These local reports will give our schools the information they need to make sure this trend does not continue."

Educators and researchers said the study suggested that merely passing MCAS, a hurdle to high school graduation, does not guarantee college readiness.

"The dirty little secret is that MCAS doesn't test 10th grade skills, much less college skills," said Robert Gaudet, an education researcher at the University of Massachusetts's Donahue Institute. "Passing is not that hard, it's getting to proficient that's tougher."

Noonan agreed, saying that MCAS "is not a college readiness metric."

Among students who scored a "needs improvement" on the 10th-grade MCAS math test, half were forced to take developmental math classes, compared with 20 percent who scored "proficient."

Students who received special education instruction in high school, Hispanic and African-American students, and students from less-affluent backgrounds and those with limited English proficiency were more likely to enroll in remedial classes.

At Bunker Hill Community College, educators said the advent of high-stakes testing had not improved performance on college placement tests.

"I haven't seen any significant change," said Deborah Barrett, the college's coordinator of student assessment. "It's very frustrating for students. They think that they've graduated from high school, they passed the MCAS, so they're ready for college."

Posted by rgreene at 2:43 PM | Comments (0)

The scene at Andrews Air Force Base

The media -- several hundred of us -- have now arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, just outside of Washington, to wait for the pope. There is a high school band warming up, and a few sun-drenched reviewing stands filling up mostly with Air Force employees and their families. Many of the kids are holding the yellow flags of the Holy See, as well as the stars and stripes, to wave when they see the president and the pope.

I managed to find two women from Massachusetts, both of them serving in the Air Force, both of them excited to see the pope, but also to see the president. "I've been in the Air Force for 22 years, and I have not been this close to my boss before,'' said Master Sergeant Barbara Poirier, 41, of North Attleborough. I wasn't sure whether she was referring to the pope or President Bush, but it turns out she meant the president, who is coming to Andrews to greet the pope. This will be the first time the president has gone to the airport to welcome a visitor (I mean in an official capacity, obviously). Poirier was seated next to Tech Sergeant Jennifer Taylor, 29, of New Bedford, who called this afternoon "a once in a lifetime experience, to see the pope and the president,'' Taylor said she had visited the Vatican as a tourist, but had missed seeing the pope.

A helpful Air Force official, noting that I was combing through the crowd of several hundred looking for New Englanders, kindly pointed out a guy in the back row wearing a Red Sox cap. That turned out to be Don DeSaulniers, 56, a retired civilian Air Force employee originally from Bellingham, but now living in Lusby, Md. Don was relatively taciturn, noting obliquely that his cap was causing him a lot of trouble, but his wife, Barbara, said the couple had considered going to see the pope at Nationals Park, but that the chance to watch from the tarmac meant they'd get a better view.

I also found an Arlington native in the crowd, Joyce Kearney, now of Laurel, Md., who told me she considered it "a blessing" to be able to be here. "I've lived to be 68, and I'm finally getting to see a pope,'' she said.

To read all the pope visit blog posts, check out this site.

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

Posted by mpaulson at 2:09 PM | Comments (0)

A cute and cuddly world record

(Shawsheen School)

By Kate Augusto, Globe Correspondent

The mountain of 5,657 stuffed animals in the gymnasium at Andover’s Shawsheen School was more than twice the height of a second grader: A 10-foot mound of Beanie Babies, teddy bears, smiley alligators, and puffy dogs. There was a child-sized Winnie the Pooh, a 4-foot penguin, a 5-foot Bugs Bunny, and a stuffed gorilla the size of, well, a gorilla.

No, this was not some type of cathartic group therapy to help purge the tots of their attachment to stuffed toys. The elementary school collected the animals for charity and hoped in the process to set a new Guinness World Record. (The “largest gathering of plush toys” is a real category tracked by the London-based chronicler of all that is inane.)

For 12 years the magnet school has run a stuffed animal drive with its pre-kindergarten through second graders. The toys are given to a program that pairs tutors from Phillips Academy and Andover High School with middle school students from Lawrence. The bounty of stuffed bears and mice is also shared with children in northern Belize at hospitals, libraries, and orphanages.

This year Shawsheen upped the ante after parent- and toy-drive organizer Rachel Combs saw that National Geographic KIDS Magazine had set a record by collecting 2,304 stuffed animals. Andover Police Chief Brian Pattullo and school committee member Deb Silberstein acted as official adjudicators and helped tally the 5,657 toys. The school more than doubled the current mark set in 2006, though it may take Guinness a few weeks to make it official.

The students learned of their feat at an assembly Monday when the cuddly creatures were piled so high they nearly touched the basketball rims in the gymnasium.

"It was like they won the lottery when we announced it," said Mary Kay Poe, an administrative assistant at the school. "They were screaming and yelling. It was hysterical."

Posted by aryan at 1:54 PM | Comments (0)

Public health officials warn consumers of contaminated cereal

By Globe Staff

State public health officials, noting that two people have already fallen ill, are asking people to take a look at their cereals to make sure they're not eating brands that could make them sick because those brands are contaminated with the salmonella bacteria.

The Food and Drug Administration announced earlier this month that Malt-O-Meal was voluntarily recalling its unsweetened puffed rice and puffed wheat cereals with "best if used by" dates ranging from April 2008 to March 2009 because of potential salmonella contamination.

The product was distributed nationally, both under the Malt-O-Meal brand and under other brand names, including Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw's, Shoprite, Tops, and Weis Quality.

State public health officials said they found the products selling at Massachusetts retail stores, including under the Shaw's and Hannaford brand names.

While stores have removed the products from their shelves, consumers should throw out any of the cereal they find or return it to the store for a refund, the Department of Public Health said in a statement.

The 34-year-old Barnstable County woman and the 18-month-old Bristol County baby whose illnesses were linked to the cereal are now recovering, the department said.

Posted by mfinucane at 1:39 PM | Comments (0)

South Boston sewage tunnel worker hospitalized

By Globe Staff

A worker in a sewage tunnel being built in South Boston was hospitalized after reporting chest pains this morning and elevated levels of carbon monoxide were found in his blood, a Massachusetts Water Resources Authority spokeswoman said this afternoon.

But air monitors in the tunnel continued to show safe readings after the incident, which occurred about 11:15 a.m., and others on the crew of about 30 are continuing to work, said Ria Convery.

The man affected was the driver of the small locomotive that transports workers along the 2-mile tunnel, which is about halfway complete, Convery said.

Convery said the man’s job puts him “in pretty close contact” with the exhaust from the locomotive.

“They’ll examine the locomotive to see if anything’s wrong with it,” she said.

Rain and sewage are typically piped together to Boston's water treatment plant. But during heavy storms, the rain can overwhelm the sewer system, forcing a mix of runoff and sewage into relief valves that empty into the harbor.

The tunnel will store storm water so it can later be pumped to the Deer Island sewer treatment plant.

The project is intended to virtually eliminate the overflows into the harbor and dramatically reduce beach closings.

Posted by mfinucane at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)

Sexual abuse victims blast pope’s comments as hollow

By Anna Badkhen, Globe Staff

Massachusetts victims of sexual abuse by priests reacted angrily to the statements Pope Benedict XVI made about the scandal, calling his comments “hollow” and not genuine.

“These words don’t mean anything,” said one victim, David Carney. “If you want to fix a problem, do something about it.”

Benedict called the abuse “a great suffering for the church in the United States and for the Church in general and for me personally.”

“He talks about the suffering of the church, but what about the suffering of the children?” said Robert Costello, the founder of A Matter of Truth, a Boston-based organization of victims of sexual abuse by clergy.

“It almost sounds like the church was the victim, but it’s about our innocent babies,” said Maryetta Dussourd, who said her three children and four nephews were abused by a priest. “He’s hollow. He’s just being diplomatic.”

Dussourd and other victims said they were incensed that the Pope was not visiting Boston, the epicenter of the scandal.

“He should be ashamed that he is not meeting with survivors and talking with us,” Costello said, reacting to Benedict’s statement that he is “deeply ashamed” of the scandal.

Posted by aryan at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)

Media on the move

Greetings from Maryland, where I'll be blogging about the pope's visit today. The pope, Benedict XVI, is en route now from Rome Fiumicino, aboard a chartered Alitalia Boeing 777 dubbed, for the moment, Shepherd One. This is the pope's eighth trip during his three years in office, and his first to the US.

I'm on board a bus packed with reporters, driving from the Westin City Centre, which is the official media hotel, out to Andrews Air Force Base. Security is so tight that we had to gather on the sidewalk six hours before the pope is scheduled to arrive; happily, the Secret Service German shepherds did not eat the Wheat Thins I put in my messenger bag to help me get through the afternoon. There are multiple buses of media, and we're being escorted by a small motorcade of police -- which makes the trip much faster. Once we arrive at the tarmac, we'll be allowed to interview members of the Bishop McNamara High School band, from Maryland, which is going to play while the pope alights, and any dignitaries that are here to greet the pontiff. But we've been instructed not to cross the carpet on which the pope and President and Mrs. Bush will walk.

There are more than 5,000 reporters and other media folks credentialled to cover this trip, from all over the world. The other day, I was interviewed by the Dutch evening news. In the security line this morning I saw a reporter with a Vatican flag coming out of his green baseball cap. There are a lot of Catholic outlets represented, as well as the secular folks, and a lot of new media pioneers -- photographers wielding video cameras and reporters with blogging duties and so on. There are also a lot of interest groups critical of the pope who have gathered in Washington to call attention to their concerns; I ran into Barbara Blaine and Peter Isely of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests on an Amtrak train yesterday; today they're having a vigil at a parish where an abusive priest was stationed.

The pope is already making news -- in his traditional in-flight remarks to reporters, he used the most personal, and arguably the strongest, language yet used by a pontiff in reference to the abuse crisis, saying he is "deeply ashamed" by the abusive behavior of priests. Survivors are already reacting -- in Boston, attorney Mitchell Garabedian gathered some of his clients to comment, and Peter Isely, a SNAP official, immediately issued a statement calling for action rather than words, saying, "Benedict has done essentially what John Paul II did - make a few vague, brief remarks about the continuing crisis, and nothing more."

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff

To read all the posts on the papal visit, go here.

Posted by mpaulson at 12:29 PM | Comments (0)

Patrick releases little fish in a big pond

(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff)

By Globe Staff

Governor Deval Patrick paid homage to an annual rite of spring today by helping 700 little fish find their way in a big new pond.

No, he was not showing freshman legislators around the marble halls of Beacon Hill. Patrick was on the muddy bank of Jamaica Pond releasing hatchery-raised trout in their new home.

The photo op with schoolchildren and environmental officials was meant to highlight the annual effort to stock about 500 Massachusetts lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and streams with fish raised at hatcheries operated by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The fish released today in Jamaica Pond included 400 rainbow, 100 brown, 100 brook, and 100 tiger trout. The 60-acre pond is believed to be tens of thousands of years old and is home to largemouth bass, yellow perch, and chain pickerel, snapping turtles, crayfish, eels, and freshwater clams.

A list of all trout-stocked waters in Massachusetts can be found at www.mass.gov/masswildlife

Posted by aryan at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)

Menino takes campaign against illegal guns to Washington

(Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Mayor Thomas Menino (center) and Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (right) listened today at a summit on illegal guns to
Joe Samaha, the father of Reema Samaha, who was shot and killed at Virginia Tech.

By Globe Staff

Mayor Thomas M. Menino told a congressional task force this morning that Boston police have recovered 202 guns this year that have been used to commit crimes despite the city’s strict firearms laws.

The majority of those guns were illegal and as many as 60 percent came from other states with weaker laws, he said.

“Illegal guns know no borders,” Menino said, according to prepared remarks provided by his staff. “This only reinforces the need for common sense federal action to help close these gaps and protect our police, our residents and our community.”

During Menino’s testimony at the Rayburn House Office Building he discussed a coalition he formed with Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York and 13 other mayors to campaign against illegal guns. In less than two years, the group has grown to more than 300 mayors who represent 53 million Americans across the country that Menino said has transcended geographic and political boundaries.

“That’s why I am here – because I believe that working with our coalition will help keep illegal guns out of Boston and all of America’s cities and towns,” Menino said.

“When I get the phone call in the middle of the night with news of another senseless tragedy,” Menino said, “I ask myself – and we all should ask – ‘Where did the gun come from?' ''

Posted by aryan at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)

April 14, 2008

ACLU: Harvard spied on protesters?

By David Abel
Globe Staff

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts has denounced Harvard University for photographing protesters at a political rally last month near Harvard Square during which university police arrested two protesters.

Officials at the ACLU also want Harvard to explain why an undercover officer was taking photographs at the rally, what the university intends to do with the photos, and whether it is sharing information with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces, as have universities around the country.

“The concern we have is that Harvard police were gathering intelligence about a lawful political protest on public property,” said John Reinstein, the ACLU’s legal director. “A university is a place where we would expect there’s room for political discussion, where appropriate protests would be allowed, as part of academic freedom. We want to find out the scope of the university’s activities.”

In a statement, Joe Wrinn, a Harvard spokesman, said the university is not participating with the Joint Terrorism Task Forces and that it does not have a political intelligence unit or an undercover unit.

“The detective who made the arrest in question is well known throughout the University community,” Wrinn said. “The arrested parties were not arrested for protesting, but for their disorderly conduct, which occurred within a university building.”

He added that Harvard does not have a policy on filming protests. “We film when there is potential for violence, property damage, vandalism, HUPD arrest, or other circumstances require it,” he said.

Asked what the university does with the photographs, Wrinn said: Harvard Police “has a policy of not discussing security details publicly.”

The ACLU's concerns were first reported in the Harvard Crimson.

The rally, held in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, occurred on March 3 on a sidewalk along Massachusetts Avenue. In a police report, university Police Detective Thomas Karns wrote that he was conducting “plain clothes surveillance” and “photographing the demonstrators for intelligence gathering.”

At some point during the rally, one of the protesters, Patrick Keaney, 38, a mechanic from Boxborough, asked Karns whether his photos “had gotten his good side,” according to the report.

Keaney was with another protester, Lisa Nieves, 29, of Jamaica Plain, who had a camera and began snapping pictures of Karns.

“I put my hood up so that she would not be able to photograph my face,” Karns wrote in the report. “Miss Nieves bent down and attempted to shove the camera near my face, when I put my head down. I told Miss [Karns] that she was now on private property and not to take my picture. She said I had taken her picture and that she could take mine.”

Karns wrote he then entered the Holyoke Center on Massachusetts Avenue, and that Nieves followed him and persisted in trying to take his picture. He repeated that she was on private property and then identified himself as a Harvard police officer, according to his report.

“I told her I wanted to know who she was and why she was taking my photograph,” he wrote.

Karns wrote he put his hand up in front of him and Nieves “walked into it on two occasions.”

He wrote she began screaming that he was assaulting her. “She yelled this several times, until a crowd gathered,” he wrote in the report.

Karns then arrested her on charges of disturbing the peace. When he placed handcuffs on her right wrist, Keaney linked arms with her in an effort to prevent the officer from cuffing her left wrist, wrote Karns, who also arrested Keaney on charges of interfering with her arrest.

The two are being represented by the ACLU. Reinstein said prosecutors dropped the charges against Nieves but that Keaney still faces the charges against him.

Posted by dbeard at 6:43 PM | Comments (0)

Kahlil Gibran, Boston sculptor and cousin to famous poet, dies

By Bryan Marquard, Globe Staff

Sculptor and painter, inventor and writer, Kahlil Gibran nourished creativity since he was old enough to mold clay with his hands, sometimes selling for pennies the tiny animals he fashioned while sitting on a curb in the South End when he was only 4.

"I believe talent is a grace," he told the Globe in 1967. "You don't deny it, you don't affirm it. But if you don't work at it, you can lose it. The only sin is in squandering talent."

Internationally honored for his work, Mr. Gibran was at home in many disciplines. From Copley Square to the South End and Jamaica Plain, his outdoor sculptures trace a map of Boston's neighborhoods. A tripod he designed is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. His paintings, drawings, and sculptures are in galleries, museums, and private collections across the country. And with his wife he penned a biography of his cousin, the poet Kahlil Gibran, who wrote "The Prophet" and for whom Mr. Gibran was named.

Robust and active until his final hours, Mr. Gibran died early Sunday in Massachusetts General Hospital of heart failure, not long after going to the emergency room because he was feeling ill. He was 85 and had lived in the South End most of his life.

A restless imagination drew Mr. Gibran to many facets of the fine arts and took him down avenues some artists might shun. He restored musical instruments and for his own photography once designed and built a 600mm lens. A childhood bereft of money had turned him to a life of invention.

"He was a spellbinder," Jean English Gibran said of her husband, speaking from their home in the South End. "This house has his signature on it. He made everything: He made the table where we sat, the desk where I work. He was a welder and made our saltshaker. When he was young, he didn't have a penny. If he saw something that he loved, he'd make it."

Concentrating on painting in his 20s, Mr. Gibran spent time in Provincetown, where he opened a boutique with his first wife, Eleanor Mott Berg, who now lives in Sweden. By the early 1950s, he set aside painting for sculpture.

"My marriage was breaking up, due to me," he told the Globe in 1967. "I had too much energy. Painting made me restless, didn't demand enough of me. After the divorce, psychiatry made me understand I had to sculpt. Now, at night, after a day of sculpting, I am genuinely exhausted."

Honors soon followed: a George Widener Medal, two Guggenheim Fellowships, a fellowship and award from the National Institute of Arts & Letters, and the gold medal in an international exhibit in Trieste, Italy. (For examples of his work, go to kahlilgibran.org.)

And though sculpture earned him a place in the world of art, his name remained both blessing and curse. "He said that all his life," his wife said.

Mr. Gibran was a godson to the poet and philosopher who wrote "The Prophet," which has sold millions of copies in the United States alone, turning him by some accounts into the third best-selling poet ever, behind Shakespeare and Lao-tzu. In 1974, Mr. Gibran and his wife published "Kahlil Gibran, His Life and World," a biography they hoped would turn the myth back into a man.

"Kahlil and I worked for many years excavating and trying to analyze," Jean Gibran said. "He wanted to portray Gibran to the best of his ability, and we wrote the truth about him. I think it was the first very honest portrait of Gibran printed."

In a review, Globe critic Robert Taylor called it a "splendid biography" and "an extremely well-written book."

In addition to his wife and former wife, Mr. Gibran leaves a daughter, Nicole of Seattle; a son, Timothy of Stockholm; two sisters, Suzanne Huggin and Selma Vassall, both of San Diego; two grandsons; and a granddaughter.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon Church in Jamaica Plain. Burial will be private.

Posted by rgreene at 4:13 PM | Comments (0)

Former Mafia boss Cadillac Frank pleads guilty

(AP Photo/FBI/file 1995)

By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff

Former New England Mafia boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme pleaded guilty today to lying and obstruction of justice as part of a deal that may allow him to be released from prison by the end of January.

Salemme wore a charcoal-colored suit and a blue tie in US District Court this afternoon and took no chances as he formally entered his plea. He had mistakenly told Judge Richard Stearns that he was already 75 years old, and made it clear he did not want to be accused again of making a false statement.

“I want to make one correction,” Salemme said. “I won’t be 75 until Aug. 18th. Anything can happen, your honor.”

Stearns scheduled sentencing for July 15. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have both recommended that he serve five years in prison. With credit for the time he has served since his arrest on the charges in November 2004, plus earned good time, Salemme could be released by the end of January, prosecutors said.

Salemme pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment that charged him with making false statements and obstruction of justice after he began cooperating with investigators in 1999 in a probe into the FBI's corrupt handling of longtime informants James "Whitey" Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi. Salemme admitted he misled investigators when questioned about the 1993 disappearance of South Boston nightclub owner Steven DiSarro.

However, Salemme did not admit to allegations in the indictment that he watched his son, Frank, strangle DiSarro, then helped him dispose of the body. The younger Salemme died two years later of lymphoma. DiSarro's remains have never been found.

A plea agreement signed by Salemme and filed with the court today says that he "denies any responsibility for the disappearance and presumed murder'' of DiSarro. One of his lawyers, Steven C. Boozang, told the Globe in February that his client, “100 percent denies any involvement in DiSarro's disappearance and presumed murder."

Assistant US Attorney Brian Kelly said today that prosecutors were prepared to prove at trial that the defendant was present at the killing. The plea deal did not require Salemme to admit to each allegation in the indictment.

Stearns does not have to follow the recommendations to sentence Salemme to five years. Under federal guidelines, which are advisory, Salemme faces a sentence ranging from 51 to 63 months.

Salemme was indicted on racketeering charges in 1995, along with Bulger and Flemmi, then began cooperating with the government after learning Bulger and Flemmi were longtime FBI informants who had given authorities information about local Mafia leaders, including him. He pleaded guilty to racketeering and extortion charges and admitted participating in eight gangland murders in the 1960s.

Posted by aryan at 4:12 PM | Comments (0)

Drumgold testifies he was beaten in prison and called a 'child killer'

By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff

Shawn Drumgold told a federal jury today that prison inmates and correction officers repeatedly beat him and called him a "child killer" during the more than 14 years he spent in prison in the killing of 12-year-old Darlene Tiffany Moore.

With the number 5,182 displayed on courtroom computer screens to underscore the number of days he was wrongfully imprisoned after the 1989 conviction, Drumgold said his time behind bars was an ordeal for himself and his family.

"I was terrified when I first got to Walpole,'' said Drumgold, 42, referring to MCI-Cedar Junction, where he was brought on Friday the 13th in October, immediately after a Suffolk County jury convicted him. "It was probably one of the most scariest moments of my life. I was 24 years old.''

Drumgold, subdued and occasionally tearful, described the sound of clanging prison doors, the attacks one can provoke by accidentally taking an inmate's seat without permission at the chow hall, the repeated head counts correction officers make each day, and the desperation he said he felt knowing his daughter was growing up without him.

Drumgold testified for about 45 minutes as his legal team sought to persuade a jury in US District Court in Boston that a retired Boston police detective, Timothy Callahan, was responsible for his wrongful conviction and that the former inmate should receive damages. Drumgold was released after a judge concluded in 2003 that he was wrongfully convicted.

Last Wednesday, the jury all but cleared Callahan and another retired detective, Richard Walsh, both of whom Drumgold sued for allegedly violating his right to a fair trial in the 1988 slaying.

But US District Judge Nancy Gertner allowed the case to continue on the only one of the 11 claims in which jurors sided with Drumgold. The jury found that Callahan violated Drumgold's civil rights by concealing that Callahan had given a prosecution witness cash before the witness testified at the murder trial.

Callahan's lawyer, Mary Jo Harris, made a painstaking argument today after Drumgold's testimony. She told the jury that the witness in question, Ricky Evans, a former homeless teenager who placed Drumgold near the murder scene before and after the shooting, was not a crucial witness.

Harris said that even if jurors at the murder trial in Suffolk Superior Court had known that Callahan had given Evans cash, Drumgold would probably have still been convicted. The key evidence against Drumgold, she said, was the testimony of teenagers who witnessed the shooting of Moore at a Roxbury street corner on Aug. 19, 1988.

"Ricky Evans, I would submit to you, is a secondary player,'' she said. "He was not an eyewitness to the shooting."

Suffolk prosecutors agreed in 2003 that Drumgold did not get a fair trial, prompting a superior court judge to toss the conviction. However, he has never been exonerated by prosecutors or Boston police.